The Compost Pile Volume 1, Issue 2 December 2019

WINTER IS HERE!

Volume 1, Issue 2 2019

for discerning weeders

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Fraktur or Hex—it’s all State Coordinator art. shares her thoughts

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There’s science in the grapes

$40 for 40. Find out about it!

DEPARTMENTS

2 President’s Message

18 Camellia

3 Agent’s Corner 4 Wildlife Happenings 4 Bonsai Bits 24 Last Word

21 Bourbon, cranberry, pecan sauce 22 Jam Cake 22 Roasted brussels sprouts

5 Education 16-17 Extension Gives Back

11 Lynx Spider 19 Bonsai Journey

5 Product Review 6 Book Review 15 Updated Publications

It is with deep regret that we mourn the passing of one of our Master Gardener Volunteers, Marsha Palmer. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends during this difficult time.

On the Cover - Lockey’s Christmas Snowman

23 Cornbread salad 23 Sweet potato casserole 23 Mince Meat

Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer Annual Christmas Party

Wednesday, December 11th

Our general business meeting will begin at 10:00 am with the party following at 11:00 am Please contact Deb Bruning deborahbruning@gmail.com with the food you are bringing Join us for food, fellowship and a celebration of the holidays!

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

by Scott Berry

Greetings!

who’s out.” Larry’s initiative on MG recertification will go far in addressing that. The second is then encouraging a broader base of participation from those who remain. That’s a familiar tune in any volunteer organization and solutions have varying degrees of success. We obviously can’t demand participation any more than we can direct “mandatory fun.” From the organizational side, the best we can do is to create an environment—and I use that term in a very broad sense—that is very appealing to the membership. One way to do that is to show in a direct way that “we care about you.” Lots of ways to interpret that but despite my rough edges I have some ideas that I’ll run with.

As you go through this publication, reading this may be the low point because I offer nothing for free nor practical insights into the world of horticulture as everything else does. But perhaps something will still remain with you. I hope so.

Larry and I had lunch together last September to share our perspectives on the organization.

Actually, it was more about what I was looking to accomplish over the next year.

I’m happy to say that several items on my wish list have already been accomplished. Wish I could take credit for them—still might—but unbeknownst to me they were already works in progress. Darn those MGs with initiative!

Hortus pulcher is our goal.

Scott

One remaining open item is membership from several perspectives. The first is “who’s in and

Don’t forget!

Our offices will be closed on December 24th and 25th

EDITOR’S CORNER Many thanks to those of you who answered the call for articles and took the time out of your busy holiday season preparations to help make this a great edition!

2020 has been declared as the Year of Plant Health by the FAO. That’s something we deal with every day in our roles as Master Gardener Volunteers. Stay tuned for the issues in 2020 that will help you help our residents grow better and manage their horticulture issues based on science.

Remember, the only way we are able to pull together a readable and enjoyable issue every quarter is with YOU! Your ideas and your submission keep us going. You can send in your recipes, articles, reviews on products you try, pictures and anything else throughout the year.

We will hold the files in the super-secret bunker and publish them in upcoming issues! Okay, it isn’t a super-secret bunker but that sounds way better than we’ll store them on a thumb-drive and have them in the desk drawer right?

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer Publication

So from all of us at The Compost Pile editorial staff, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Plentiful Plantings 2

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BENEFICIALS BENEFIT FROM 20/20 VISION IN 2020

by Larry Williams I’ve heard 20/20 vision referenced a good bit as we approached the year 2020. So I looked up info on 20/20 vision. What I found stated, “20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity. Having 20/20 vision does not necessarily mean you have perfect vision. 20/20 vision only indicates the sharpness or clarity of vision at a distance.”

pest. Less than one percent of all insects are harmful to plants. Choose biorational pesticides such as insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils and products that contain Bacillus thuringiensis.

Here is an EDIS publication to help. (https:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN19700.pdf) Spray a heavy stream of water to control small outbreaks of aphids and mites. Place certain plants within the landscape that serve as a food source for friendly-insects. For example, the crape myrtle attracts the crape myrtle aphid.

The crape myrtle aphid is host specific and does not feed on other plants. Researchers have found that crape myrtle aphids and their sugary honeydew provide food for more than 20 species of beneficial insects. And finally, learn to tolerate a little plant damage for the benefit of helpful insects, which will improve their world and yours, too.

In playing off this idea of entering the year 2020 with 20/20 vision, I think it would be a good goal for all of us to develop better “sharpness or clarity of vision” with our knowledge, appreciation and understanding of the world of beneficials. We understand “from a distance” that beneficial insects are out there but my challenge to you for the year 2020 is to take a closer look at what they are doing. And in doing so, to learn more about them and then to share that knowledge with others.

The next time you see a ladybeetle (aka ladybug and ladybird) in your landscape, take a closer look at what it is doing. A hand lens or magnifying glass may help you get a closer look. You may observe other lady beetles in close proximity to each other. They may be busy, hurriedly moving about the plant in search of their next meal. The prey that the lady beetle is so intent on finding may be aphids. If you watch close enough, you may witness a lady beetle devouring an aphid. You may be able to capture a picture or even a video with a smart phone. These can be used in educational presentations to show a group of children or adults what you saw in your garden.

It’s well worth learning about the ladybeetle’s world, a world that includes many other beneficial insects. Young and old alike seem to recognize that there is something good about the ladybeetle. Yet, few people have taken time to learn how to recognize the ladybeetle larva, which is just a beneficial as the adult and is a prerequisite to the adult. The gardener that would not harm a ladybeetle may not have any problem squashing a ladybeetle larva. There are well-meaning gardeners that choose to spray a plant with an insecticide that is crawling with both adult ladybeetles and larvae as well as pupa and eggs only because they mistook the larvae as pests. And unfortunately, there are those folks that assume every six-legged critter is something that needs to be killed.

Take time to improve your vision in seeing and learning about the world of beneficial insects this year. Here are UF/IFAS Extension links with more info. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ topic_beneficial_insects, https:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in120

Credit: Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida

In addition to ladybeetles, here are other beneficial insects to learn about: assassin bugs, bigeyed bug, ground beetles, lacewing, hover fly, parasitic wasps, mantids, earwigs, beneficial stinkbugs and long-legged fly. There are many more.

Here are some options that can help maintain a good balance of “good bugs” and “bad bugs” in your landscape. When an insecticide is needed, spot treat individual plants or infested areas of a lawn instead of coating every plant with an insecticide. Correctly identify a pest insect as a An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer Publication

Long-legged fly

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BONSAI BITS

by Lynn Fabian

The MG Nursery is more than just potting plants. Yes, we collect many species from our friends and neighbors and separate them into nursery pots and water and fertilize them so we can share those plants with our Okaloosa County friends. Nursery work days can be hard work but also a lot of fun and learning about plants.

A new learning opportunity has come into our nursery. A group of Master Gardeners wanted to learn more about bonsai. Our nursery leader, Lee, was willing to lend his expertise with ”tree in a pot” culture. A new opportunity to learn about trees and accent plants in small pots came about.

Bonsai is an ancient form of trees in pots. The concept may go back to the Egyptians (or further). The concept of “medical care” in a pot was a way to take the ‘medicine’ with you as you traveled. Other cultures use bonsai in an area where it was/is not possible to have a large tree.

The Japanese Imperial Palace has large bonsai trees that help people find their way in the palace.

Whatever the original use, bonsai is a fascinating hobby that is available to people of all capabilities.

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS

courtesy of UF/IFAS

December may herald the beginning of winter but there are still many wildlife activities to see during this time. Annual Christmas bird count begins in

mid-December.

This is the best time for watching waterfowl on

wetlands, lakes, and prairies.

Great horned owls and barred owls are

courting.

Goldfinches flock to our feeders. Yellow-rumped warblers will make an

appearance at feeders if it is cold enough.

Bald eagles start hatching about Christmas day.

Article on the 119th CBC in Florida. Read it here: https://www.audubon.org/news/the-119th-cbcflorida#

A BIBLICAL MESSAGE FOR OUR TIMES Recently, Jesus and Satan got into a massive quarrel over the current world situation. When it threatened to turn ugly, God intervened. He ordered them to write him an essay on their positions, and to turn it in in 24 hours. Both Jesus and the Devil worked hard and long to get it done on time.

At 23 hours and 59 minutes, a total power blackout occurred in Heaven, Earth, and Hell. After a minute, the lights came back on, and God asked for the results. Jesus turned in his, neatly typed and double-spaced. Satan had nothing to submit because his computer had crashed. God accepted Jesus’ input. When the Devil asked God why Jesus won, God simply answered, “Jesus saves.”

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PROPAGATION

by Lynda Penry

Several of us have put together a program about the different methods of propagation. We envision setting a display at each of the county public libraries over the next year. We will construct a display and also exhibit various methods to encourage the public to propagate plants they have in their gardens.

We have also developed a power point presentation to educate the public the value in propagating their plants.

The pictures below show some of the methods we will cover.

Leaf cuttings Air Layering

Leaf cuttings

Stem cuttings

PRODUCT REVIEW

by Linda Timothy

My sister is gardening challenged. I have to go to visit her in Alabama one weekend in the Spring and in the Fall to help her get her gardens ready for the coming season. So I was very surprised to get a call from her in September telling me she had found a great tool to use while gardening.

My sister travels all over the country speaking to groups. She was in hot, muggy, lower Louisiana and about half of her attendees were wearing neck fans. She was on a break and had already ordered one and insisted I do the same.

Just search Amazon® for Hands Free Neck Fans.

These are rechargeable Mini LED Personal Fans.

The fan has 3 speeds. The battery will last 2 hours on high, 3 hours on medium and 4 hours on slow.

You’ll find an assortment of colors.

Ed note: After seeing this nifty item at my presentation to the Destin Garden Club, and When using your fan, also use a Frogg Toggs® hearing Linda’s description, I had to get one.

Chill Neck Wrap (also on Amazon®) to turn your Mine also came with the ability to create fan into a mini air conditioner. aromatherapy. I take the absorbent pads and spritz with my favorite natural critter repellent, throw on my FroggTogg® and turn on a little piece of heaven—portable breeze!

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BOOK REVIEW

by Ed Smith

Omnivore’s Dilemma (A Natural History of Four Meals)

By Michael Pollan

The author did spend considerable time working with farmers still using the natural ways of producing food. It is amazing how the entire landscape improves and of course the food doesn’t have the pesticides or added hormones.

He also provides a better understanding of the various regulations imposed on true organic growers and the loopholes for mass producers.

In most of recorded history, the only food dilemma for a Homo Omnivore was finding enough to eat. As we became more civilized and centralized, mostly in the 20th century, that changed. Now the supply is more than adequate, however another dilemma has arisen and Michael Pollan has produced a masterful searing indictment of today’s food industry. Quantity and profit are the driving forces now. Convenience has become the priority of the average consumer.

In reviewing books, it is difficult to eliminate my own prejudice but if you read this book you may decide to improve your own health by a modification of diet. See you at the farmers’ market.

As we have come to understand, all of our bodily energy comes from only one source, the sun.

Yes, we do obtain some benefits from direct exposure such as Vitamin D and segments of the light spectrum falling directly on our retinas.

Photosynthesis by the plant world really sustains us, directly or indirectly. According to modern science all forms of life are codependent. In our efforts to provide “new and improved” food, contemporary biology pays too little attention to the important role of cooperation between the various species. By now we should know nature is still the best teacher.

Michael Pollan delves into the many aspects of farming including the production and consumption of beef, chicken, corn, fungi etc. The adage of, “if you like sausage, don’t watch while it is being made” now applies to most commercially produced food. As an example, living conditions of cattle and chickens are so crowded and unhealthy that antibiotics and pesticides are necessary to control disease. Also, hormone injections are used to promote faster growth. Most of our corn crop is grown strictly as monoculture which requires tons more fertilizer and insecticides. It is no longer a natural plant and can no longer sustain itself in the wild. That’s just for starters and all of that is before it is processed.

The Jokester We do not quit playing because we grow old; we grow old because we quit playing.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Marg Stewart and friend taking a break after working on the Extension landscape.

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Birdhouse at the Extension Annex. Free lodging to good tenants. No wasps please.

It’s too small for an alien spaceship. Then again I’ve never seen an alien spaceship.

Biggest mushroom I’ve ever seen though!

Trimming the hollies at the Annex...careful of the lines, Ed!! Thanks to Ed Smith for the loan of the ladder! 12 feet was just enough!

Hey! This is FUN! Stevie’s new bonsai.

All photos on this page courtesy of Ed and Lynn Fabian

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Alene & Lee creating a bonsai from a large Podacarpus macrophyllus Photo courtesy of the Fabians

Pine cone ginger at Ed’s backyard Photo courtesy of the Fabians

Tithonia grandiflora, Mexican sunflower. Photo courtesy of Marlin Drake

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FRAKTUR ART—WHAT’S IN A NAME? Hex: a verb meaning to cast a spell upon someone or a noun meaning the spell itself. Therefore, you can hex someone, or you can be on the receiving end of a hex. And what does this have to do with the beautiful painted images that grace many barns and other buildings in the Pennsylvania counties that were originally settled by German immigrants? Maybe nothing or maybe everything, depending on what (and whom) you believe. In the early 1950's, a Pennsylvania folk artist by the name of Johnny Ott began selling his painted images that were derived from the very large painted stars that were often seen on barns throughout Pennsylvania Dutch country, the area where many ethnic Germans had settled during the 18th century. Unlike the huge permanent images on barns, Johnny called his portable art "hex signs" and soon he found a ready market among collectors for his paintings. The term "hex" probably came from the Pennsylvania German word "hexafoo", meaning 'witch's foot.' and Johnny represented his images as being magic, with meanings ascribed to the various symbols they contained.

This debate as to whether the objects were magical continues today (more on that, below). Another earlier artist named Jacob Zook is widely credited with developing a silkscreening process so that the symbols could be printed on a variety of objects.

Hand-painted hex signs are now on barns, homes and businesses all over that region of Pennsylvania as well as on Tshirts and other textiles and objects. They can be purchased at many area gift shops. The Kutztown Folk Festival is an annual event celebrating the best in hex art. Stop in at any Berks or Lancaster county visitors' center and you can get maps of tours of authentic hex sign locations, as well as to the artists themselves who created and continue to create hex signs Where did it come from? To discover the origins of hex art, one must go back several centuries. The immigrant farming communities of the Pennsylvania Germans were very dependent on nature as well as being very religious. This led to the use of elaborate stylized symbols representing nature and the divine on important documents such as marriage and birth certificates. The images and symbols used were called fraktur, named after the Fraktur script associated with it. The term ‘Fraktur’ refers to the horizontally broken pen strokes that were used in the script: https://tinyurl.com/vkjcqgq. And here is where we go way back in history. The first use of Fraktur script was in the 16th century, when Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I had the new typeface created for use on the very massive Albrecht Durer woodcut that commemAn Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer Publication

by Karen Harper

orated the Triumphal Arch. (195 carved wood blocks were used to create it!) Fraktur typefaces for use in printing were established and used on several of Maximilian's works such as his 1513 Prayer Book. Fraktur quickly became the most popular typeface all over the German-speaking countries as well as the Germaninfluenced areas of Scandinavia and central Europe. Eventually many of those German-influenced areas in central Europe switched to another typeface called Antiqua, but the German-speaking countries and also Norway, Estonia, and Latvia, held onto their Fraktur into the early 20th century. Fraktur had a dark history during the Nazi era when it was initially used by the regime and then was later declared to be Judenlettern (Jewish letters) and was officially banned. Fraktur is in limited use today, mainly for decorative typesetting. Individual Fraktur letters are also sometimes used in mathematics for purposes I will not pretend to understand. With respect to the tradition brought to America by the 18th century German immigrants, Fraktur became the term not only for the script but also for the many images in the German folk art that came to be used on documents in the New World. Fraktur art can be found everywhere the Germans settled: Pennsylvania, of course, but also New York, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and the Carolinas.

Fraktur took three basic forms. The very earliest pieces were done entirely by hand and created by an artist or family member. The mid-period pieces also came in pre-printed forms with the script and images filled in by the artist or family.

And later, fraktur pieces were available as completely printed documents that could be colorized by the printer, an artist, or a family member. Fraktur artists were often itinerant and traveled around the countryside, creating these important documents. Most people in the Pennsylvania German settlements of the 1700's and 1800's lived on isolated farms and did not have frequent access to the itinerant artists. So, the artists would make the rounds periodically and create the birth records of all those children born since their last visit and it often happened that the ‘child’ was an adult before the birth certificate was made.

The largest category of existing fraktur art is baptismal certificates. The Lutheran or German Reformed immigrants believed infant baptism to be an important religious event and it was widely documented in fraktur. But there are many, many other categories of surviving fraktur documents and these ethnic records trace rich family histories and form a treasure trove Continued on next page 9

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HEX cont’d. for genealogists. With a Pennsylvania Dutch grandma, it certainly makes me want to get back to my Ancestry.com genealogy research to see if I can find some of those family documents!

Most fraktur drawings were created between 1740 and 1860 and were done in ink and/or watercolors. Among the fraktur art forms were writing samples, birth, baptismal and marriage certificates, house blessings, book plates, and floral and figurative scenes. Popular images were birds (such as distelfinks), hearts, and tulips, accompanied by elaborate calligraphy. And what is a distelfink, you ask? It is a stylized goldfinch… and now you can impress your friends with that bit of knowledge.

Fraktur art is highly collectible and many American art museums have examples of fraktur in their collections.

The fraktur symbols found their way into the large paintings on barns in the late 1700’s, with stars being the most commonly-used image. The tradition of painting these symbols on barns grew more prevalent as paint became less costly and more affordable to the average citizen. The original barn stars were found mostly in the Pennsylvania counties of Berks, Lancaster, Montgomery, and Bucks. Some of the earliest examples can still be seen there today. Because the hex symbols are strongly identified with the Pennsylvania German country, many people believe the Amish were responsible for their development and use. The Amish would beg to differ.

The Amish and Mennonites self-identify as “Plain Dutch” and they believe the hex signs are superstitious and/or pagan and accordingly, they reject the use of them. Rather those symbols and hex signs are used by their neighbors, the “Fancy Dutch” Pennsylvania Germans.

However, fraktur documents are not unheard of in Amish households and they sometimes represent the only decoration that is seen in their austere homes. The Amish and Mennonites are stout believers in adult vs. infant baptism so you would not likely see baptismal certificates in their homes, but you might see ornamental family records listing marriages, births, and baptisms. These are sometimes stitched, sometimes drawn and some are made by painting on glass.

They are considered to be an acceptable decorative addition to Amish homes. An example: https://tinyurl.com/sltqll4. Interestingly, many in the Fancy Dutch community value the hex signs for their beauty and their heritage, but they don’t believe the signs have magical powers or that they were ever used for that power. An artist named Milton Hill was especially opposed to Johnny Ott’s belief that the signs were magic.

Milton is credited with inventing the phrase “chust for nice” meaning that the signs are decoAn Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer Publication

rative and nothing more. Still other hex sign painters believe that the symbols are in fact Christian in origin and that they are therefore acceptable for use by Christians. Neopagans, on the other hand, continue to use hex signs as part of their own religious practices and beliefs. And they have a point, since some of the symbols such as pentagrams and octagrams can be traced back to the Teutonic paganism of the middle ages. However, this was also about the same time that Medieval Christians began using the pentagram as a symbol of the feast of the Epiphany, when the Three Magi journeyed to see the newborn Christ child. The general consensus seems to be that the medieval Christians’ tradition of symbols is what was later brought to Pennsylvania by the German Lutheran descendants of those Christians.

What DO those symbols mean?

Well, without getting too deep into the weeds, the short version is that the symbols mean pretty much whatever the artist meant (or means, if it’s a contemporary piece), and he or she may or may not be willing to tell you. In other words, art is what it means to YOU (which sounds vaguely familiar…). With that in mind, there are some interesting aspects to the symbolism of fraktur art. Sometimes, the choice of symbols was made by the person who commissioned the document and the artist had nothing to do with what was used. Some of the surviving baptismal certificates include astrological information such as the sun or moon sign at the time of the birth. Those create their own controversies in interpreting their meanings since the emphases on the various astrology signs used long ago differ from the ones in modern use. Here are a few other meanings that have been ascribed to various symbols: fourand five-pointed stars mean good luck; eightpointed stars indicate fertility or abundance; sixteen points bring prosperity; two distelfinks mean love and happiness in marriage; a bird of paradise means welcome; the rosettes and stars of a “Daddy Hex” ward off famine; oaks and acorns bring strength. But take that all with a grain of salt. Oops, that’s a superstition, isn’t it?? There would probably be many more of the elaborate baptismal certificates in existence today if it weren’t that it was not uncommon among the Pennsylvania Dutch to bury the deceased’s baptismal certificate along with the body at the time of burial. In any case, the symbols, first used long ago on those documents, are what evolved into the larger-than-life barn paintings and eventually into the ‘hex art’ that is marketed today. Magic or not, the intricate symbols commemorate the heritage of the Continued on next page 10

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HEX cont’d.

Pennsylvania German communities. Personally, I’m going with that “chust for nice” interpretation!

Here is a charming collection of photos of Pennsylvania German fractur art with other links to explore: https://tinyurl.com/t4yqu3p. Or if you can spare $1,000, you can purchase this hardback version of the best-known book on Fraktur art- The Fraktur-Writings or Illuminated Manuscripts of the Pennsylvania Germans. It is described as THE definitive work on this subject: https://tinyurl.com/wq858zl

who settled in Pennsylvania in the 18th century, with “Dutch” being a common mispronunciation of “Deutsch” (i.e. ‘German’). The immigrants were primarily German, not Dutch.

Notes: One of the conventions of the term ‘Fraktur’ is that when it refers to the script, the word is capitalized. When it refers to the art form, the word is generally not capitalized. I have tried to be consistent with that rule here, but I may have missed a few times!

I have used the terms “Pennsylvania German” and “Pennsylvania Dutch” interchangeably.

Both refer to the original German immigrants

GREEN LYNX SPIDER

by Dave Gordon

Several years ago I purchased a Bush Morning Glory, from our nursery, and planted it in our pollinator garden. The plant has survived a number of winters and has always returned the following spring. We are always rewarded with beautiful flowers throughout the spring and summer. While admiring the flowers this fall, a beautiful green spider caught my attention-Green Lynx Spider.

The Green Lynx Spider is among the major predators of insects occurring in low shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. They are an important predator of crop-damaging insects. However, their usefulness in the control of insect pests is counteracted by their willingness to prey upon beneficial insects. These spiders seize large numbers of honey bees. Several species of Diptera, including syrphid flies (pollinators) and large tachinid flies (beneficial parasites) are eaten. Their use in Florida for the control of pests of soybeans and peanuts may be feasible. They are certainly beautiful to admire and can control insects in your garden.

It is rare for this spider to bite humans.

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER! Rob Calley 2019 ISA "True Professional of Arboriculture" Award Winner Backridge Tree Service is proud to announce that Rob Calley has been named a 2019 "True Professional of Arboriculture" by the International Society of Arboriculture. This award honors arborists for their positive impact on the industry and their communities. One of five individuals worldwide, Rob was recognized by the ISA during the International conference in August.

Watch the video here

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THOUGHTS ON THE PROGRAM Ed note: Recently, Wendy Wilber spoke to our group about the importance of reporting hours.

We asked her to write a short article with a bit about herself and to repeat for those who couldn’t attend, the importance of our hours and the Master Gardener Volunteer program in general.

I started with the University of Florida in 1989 as a medical researcher, and then 10 years later started my dream career with IFAS in 1999. I cannot believe how quickly 30 years at UF have flown by. My IFAS horticulture Extension work has been the most fulfilling career that I could have ever wished for. I truly believe in the values and the vision of UF/IFAS: which is to develop knowledge in agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge accessible to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. I know that my association with UF has certainly improved the quality of my life and no small part of that influence has come from the many amazing Master Gardener Volunteers that I have had the pleasure of working with.

Master Gardeners have a lifetime of knowledge be it horticultural or life lessons to share, I feel very lucky to get to engage with such a generous group of people. Yes, I mean all 4,700 Master Gardener Volunteers that we currently have in the state.

The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer program is one of the largest in the country. It is also one of the more active programs in the nation, because UF/IFAS supports the program.

We are active in 60 of the 67 counties. The program volunteers consistently 400,000 hours per year to the citizens of Florida. The value of a volunteer hour is $23.23, so Florida Master

by Wendy Wilber State MGV Coordinator Gardener Volunteers donate 9.2 million dollars of volunteer time to our state. As you might guess, we under report our hours; reporting hours and educational contacts is very important to your Okaloosa County program and to the state program. These numbers show our county commissioners and state representatives that we are out doing important work and reaching an impressive number of contacts with our education. Be sure to get your hours into the VMS for me and Larry Williams. Our biggest asset is you, our well educated and dedicated volunteers that are able to amply the efforts of the Extension Agent’s program. By recording your hours, we can accurately share your successes.

The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer program’s vision is to be the most trusted resource for horticulture education in Florida. In today’s world that is more challenging than it was even 10 years ago. Our training is still top notch, the program management is excellent and the volunteers are stellar, the difference is the amount of sources of communication and how people get their information. It used to be that if we were on the radio and newspaper and had classes at the Extension office, we were reaching out audience. Now with social media, you tube, and the internet our clients aren’t always finding the Master Gardener Volunteers. In the next 5 years I see the Master Gardener Volunteer program doing a better job of marketing ourselves to the public we serve and to continue to be the most trusted resource for horticulture education in Florida.

The Jokester Dogs can’t operate MRI scanners but… catscan.

2019 Plant Sale Crew Smiling and clean so you know it was early in the day!

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THE SCIENCE OF WINE Where was this when I was going to college?

Viticulture 101 Viniculture is the science of growing and production of grapes. Viticulture is the science of making wine. Viticulture covers the agricultural practices of wine topics from growing through the marketing of wine. Duties of the viticulturist are more horticultural and include monitoring and controlling pests and diseases, fertilizing, irrigation, canopy management, monitoring fruit development and characteristics, deciding when to harvest, and vine pruning during the winter months.

Oenology is the specific study of winemaking. Oenologytraining programs and research centers that include schooling, training, and education in the outdoor and indoors aspects of the science and research in wine and the making of wine. Viticulturalist and oenologist often hybrid the root stock and during fermentation use hygrometers and at larger wineries, spectrum analyzers.

Since the 1990’s, there are now world-wide college courses in viticulture. College degrees are available in California, New York, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Washington and Oregon. International courses are available in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The Viticulture Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA) offers online instruction. Science has made better wines throughout the world (i.e. Australia, New Zealand, Chili, South Africa).

Viticulture 201 The types of grapes that are planted and grown in any given area depend upon the “terroir.” (the combination of factors including soil, climate, and sunlight that gives wine grapes their distinctive character.) In the Northern Hemisphere, grapes begin to bud in late March or early April. The grapes grow, bloom and develop fruit throughout the summer. The grower's goal is to keep the leaf growth small, which allows more sun in and keeps the grape clusters small yet numerous. The growers must also watch for signs of drought, disease and pests. In late September or early October, the grapes are ready to harvest. The actual times vary with the climate, latitude and judgment of individual growers.

by John Sweda Soil - Soil influences how much water and heat are available. Grapes need a steady, but not excessive, water supply. Dark soils tend to be warmer than light soils because they are better at absorbing and holding heat. Rocky or stony soils allow water to drain better than clay soils; rocks also help absorb heat in the soil.

Topography influences the amount of sunlight available (temperature) and the drainage (water supply.)

Climate/ Microclimate - This influences temperature, sunlight and water (rainfall, fog, mist). Some grapes tend to grow best in areas where the seasonal temperature varies by about 30 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

America Viticulture Area's (ACA) for wine, is administrated by Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), the government bureau principally responsible for setting and monitoring alcohol-related taxes. The United States has just over 200 officially delimited appellations, known as American Viticultural Areas. AVA titles are granted according to the particular climatic and geographical features of the winegrowing areas they cover. Smaller AVAs can reside inside of larger AVAs. For instance, Napa Valley resides inside Northern California, which resides inside California. For an AVA title to appear on a wine's label, at least 85% of the grapes must have been grown within the boundaries of that AVA (i.e. Napa). For county- and state-level AVAs, this minimum requirement falls to 75% (i.e. Northern California or California wines).

Viticulture 301 Most American wine grape vines are hybrids.

This is done mostly to prevent disease, fungus and aid growth. The University of California in Davis maintains root stock in case there is a blight.

Merlot is grown across the globe. In the late 1990s, researchers at University of California, Davis showed that Merlot is an offspring of Cabernet Franc and is a half-sibling of Carménère, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. The identity of the second parent of Merlot wouldn't be discovered till the late 2000s when an obscure and unnamed variety, first sampled in 1996 from vines Continued on next page growing in an abandoned vineyard in Saint-

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WINE cont’d.

Suliac in Brittany, was shown by DNA analysis to be the mother of Merlot. Merlot is one of the primary grapes used in Bordeaux wine, and it is the most widely planted grape in the Bordeaux wine regions. Merlot is also one of the most popular red wine varietals in many markets.

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties.

Despite its prominence in the industry, the grape is a relatively new variety, the product of a chance crossing between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon blanc during the 17th century in southwestern France. It is grown in nearly every major wine producing country among a diverse spectrum of climates from Canada's Okanagan Valley to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley. Cabernet Sauvignon became internationally recognized through its prominence in Bordeaux wines where it is often blended with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. From France, the grape spread across Europe and to the New World where it found new homes in places like California's Santa Cruz Mountains, Napa Valley, New Zealand's Hawkes Bay, Australia's Margaret River and Coonawarra regions, and Chile's Maipo Valley and Colchagua. Its popularity is often attributed to its ease of cultivation—the grapes have thick skins and the vines are hardy and naturally low yielding, budding late to avoid frost and resistant to viticultural hazards such as rot and insects.

Pinot noir's home is France's Burgundy region, particularly in Côte-d'Or. Pinot noir is also a primary variety used in sparkling wine production in Champagne and other wine regions.

Pinot noir is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine. The grape's tendency to produce tightly packed clusters makes it susceptible to several vinicultural hazards involving rot that require diligent canopy management. The thin-skins and low levels of taste and color compounds lends Pinot to producing mostly lightly colored, medium bodied low tannin wines that can often go with uneven and unpredictable aging. It is also planted in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, northern parts of Croatia, Czech Republic, the Republic of Georgia, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Hungary, Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, New Zealand, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States, and Uruguay. The United States has increasingly become a major Pinot noir producer, with some of the best regarded coming from the Willamette Valley in Oregon and California's Sonoma County with its Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations. Lesser known appellations can be found in Mendocino An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer Publication

County's Anderson Valley as well as the Central Coast's Santa Lucia Highlands appellation and the Santa Maria Valley & Sta. Rita Hills American Viticulture Area in Santa Barbara County.

In New Zealand, it is principally grown in Martinborough, Marlborough, Waipara and Central Otago.

Syrah and Shiraz are the exact same wine.

When Syrah arrived in Australia from its birthplace in France, Australian winemakers took to calling it Shiraz. Syrah is one of the darkest red wines on the market, darker than Cabernet Sauvignon. A great bonus to drinking Syrah is that due to the high level of tannins present in the wine, Syrah has one of the highest level of health-benefiting antioxidants. Shiraz, is a darkskinned grape variety grown throughout the world and used primarily to produce red wine.

DNA profiling in 1999 found Syrah to be the offspring of two obscure grapes from southeastern France, Dureza and Mondeuse blanche. It can be found from France to New World wine regions such as Chile, South Africa, the Hawke's Bay in New Zealand, California, Washington and in several Australian wine regions such as Barossa, Coonawarra, Hunter Valley, Margaret River and McLaren Vale. The style and flavor profile of wines made from Syrah is influenced by the climate where the grapes are grown with moderate climates (such as the northern Rhone Valley and parts of the Walla Walla AVA in Washington State) tending to produce medium to full-bodied wines. In hot climates (such as Crete, and the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale regions of Australia), Syrah is more consistently full-bodied. In many regions the acidity and tannin levels of Syrah allow the wines produced from the grape to have favorable aging potential.

Additional reading: A LIST of AVAs is available at: https:// www.ttb.gov/wine/established-avas An AVA map is available at: https:// www.ttb.gov/wine/ava-map-explorer US Geological Service Soil Map: https:// pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2017/5118/ Wine Folly, VinePair, winemag.com Special thanks to Deborah Thomas, co-owner of the Twisted Grape in Shalimar. Deborah taught a CLL wine appreciation course that I took and is a former Master Gardener Volunteer for Walton County. Section 301 of this article is mostly all her information. Stop by and visit for some good food and a lot more wine knowledge!

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UPDATED PUBLICATIONS INTERESTING LINKS: Get your education hours! Here is the link for the webinars so it’s easier to access: http:// gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/ mastergardener/volunteers/education/ webinars.html The presentations (those approved for release) from the state conference are now available online. Go to conference.ifas.ufl.edu/gardener and click on the agenda. You’ll see the PDF next to each presentation.

Tips for Delivering Effective Presentations -4-page publication provides five steps to make the task of giving a presentation easier and ensure that your presentation will be effective. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc337 Bioplastics: A better option for the environment? – 4-page fact sheet describing four types of bioplastics and explains why, even if a bioplastic item is listed as “compostable,” a reusable, washable alternative is often the better choice. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr418 Overview of Urban Aquaculture – Introductory information for people interested in engaging in commercial or hobby-scale aquaculture in urban or suburban areas. Introduces three common types of urban aquaculture systems, describes the resources and challenges unique to urban aquaculture, and includes a handy “getting started” section. http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa217 GENERAL LINKS: Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Propagation – 7-page publication explains both sexual and asexual propagation techniques, why they are used, and what type of propagation is best for which species of tropical fruit. https:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1349 Guidelines for Pomegranate Nutrient Management in Florida – 5-page article, provides guidelines for pomegranate nutrient management. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1347 Tung Oil Production in Florida – 3-page fact sheet presenting a history of tun oil production in Florida and provides the ecology and cultivation of the fast-growing trees. It outlines a plan for additional research to determine whether Tung oil could again be produced in Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr420

The UF/IFAS Strawberry Clean Plant Program – 5-page publication intended to educate both the industry and the public on the importance of the Clean Plant Program and the methods used to produce planting stock of new cultivars. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1343 An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer Publication

Bok Choy, an Asian Leafy Green Vegetable Emerging in Florida - 5-page article provides a general overview of bok choy for vegetable growers, crop consultants, certified crop advisors, Extension agents, and graduate students. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1337 PESTS AND DISEASES: Integrated Management of Bacterial Spot on Tomato in Florida – 8-page publication presents updated information about the causal pathogen and management of bacterial spot on tomato. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp353 Diseases of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) in Florida – 5-page publication describing the various diseases affecting pomegranate in Florida and providing some management recommendations. https:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp349 Target Spot of Tomato in Florida – 5-page publication reviews symptoms and epidemiology of the disease and provides current management recommendations. https:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp351 Fusarium Wilt of Watermelon – 4-page publication describing the signs, symptoms, and the disease cycle of Fusarium wilt and provides recommendations for cultural and chemical management. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp352 Elongate Hemlock Scale, an Exotic Scale Insect Pest of Christmas Trees and Other Conifers – 5-page fact sheet about this insect and what Florida can do to protect its native conifers and farmed trees. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ in1253 PESTICIDES: Rodenticides – 4-page publication addressing hazards for rodenticides currently registered in Florida. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi284 Toxicity of Common Indoor Household Insecticides Registered in Florida - 3-page document addresses the acute toxicity of common indoor household insecticide active ingredients registered in Florida and provides a table with mammalian toxicity values for each of these insecticides. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ pi282 Restricted Use Pesticides for Use in Florida – This 4-page major revision document provides a listing of pesticide active ingredients registered in Florida that are classified as restricted and the reason(s) for the restricted use classification. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi073

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LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS PARTNER FOR NATIONAL FARM-CITY WEEK FOOD DISTRIBUTION

by Jennifer Bearden It is through teamwork that truly great things are accomplished. Last week was a shining example of wonderful things that come when people in our community unite together.

National Farm-City Week is traditionally held the week before Thanksgiving. This week celebrates the hard work that goes into supplying cities with farm products. In Okaloosa County, we celebrate this week by giving fresh farm products to needy families in our community. 2019 marks the 9th year that UF IFAS Extension in Okaloosa County has partnered with Okaloosa County Farm Bureau to organize this event. The event includes the World’s Smallest Parade across Crestview. The parade consisted of two tractors and one truck pulling trailers of produce through Crestview to the Woodlawn Baptist Church parking lot, making a pit stop at Richbourg School to pass out sweet potatoes to the students there.

ed the food distribution and supplied volunteers to help distribute food items. Volunteers from Crestview Rotary Club spent several hours bagging and loading grits, cornmeal and sweet potatoes for the event. Volunteers from USDA NRCS and Crestview Rotary also helped distribute food at the event. Feeding the Gulf Coast supplied squash and cucumbers. UF IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center donated collards and fresh ground grits and cornmeal. Sirmon Farms supplied the sweet potatoes at a discount. Publix donated breads and baked goods. And as usual, Construction Sales and Services supplied the tractors to pull over 4 tons produce across town to the Woodlawn parking lot.

I enjoy seeing our community organizations join together to do good things. I look forward to working with these great people again next year!

Many other organizations helped makes this event possible. Woodlawn Baptist Church host-

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2019 Peanut Butter Challenge

by Jennifer Bearden The Okaloosa County Extension Office, along with several partner agencies, collected 1,191 jars of peanut butter totaling 1,903.6 lbs. This peanut butter, combined with match from the Florida Peanut Producers, is distributed to Okaloosa County food pantries. The economic value of this peanut butter is $4,778.

Male fox in Bluewater Bay. Photo courtesy of Ed and Lynn Fabian

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CAMELLIAS FROM SEED

by Lee Vanderpool

There is only one way to develop a new camellia and that is through selective breeding or natural breeding which produces seeds.

Not all camellias are fertile; some do not have stamens to make pollen, pistils to produce seeds or either. Without these critical reproductive parts, no seeds can be produced, therefore, no new plants with a mixture of genes of these plants allowing new varieties of camellias to grow, is possible.

In order to get seeds from an existing camellia plant it must have a pistil. By fertilizing this Camellia seed pistil with the pollen from a different variety, the chance of a completely new flower being created is possible. Camellia breeders may collect pollen from a parent plant when that flower is in bloom, store it in refrigeration and fertilize a flower of a different plant which may bloom at a different time thus creating a cross between the two. If left to "natural" efforts (remember the birds and the bees?), this cross would never happen due to the two flowers blooming at different times. Other methods are also used but this is the primary way of creating crosses in camellias. This method is considered controlled pollination. Controlled pollination allows the breeder to know which two varieties of camellia were used to obtain the seed.

Seeds created by natural fertilization is called open pollination. In open pollination, one can never be sure what two plants cross pollinated thus creating the seed and, hence the new plant.

Once pollination has occurred, a seed pod begins to develop. The seed pods may be almost any size from marble sized to baseball sized and contain between one and fifty large black seeds.

Most seed pods begin green and turn brown at maturity. When the seed pod is ready to release its seeds, usually between August and September, it splits at the seams and releases its seeds onto the ground.

Seeds must be collected at this critical time since, once they are on the Camellia seed pod ground, they become almost invisible in ground litter and are very difficult to retrieve. Most of the seeds which are released onto the ground do not germinate or are eaten by rodents and other foragers.

Collected seeds should be put immediately into a bowl of water for 24 hours. After 24 hours soaking, those seeds which float should be discarded since they are not viable. Those seeds which sink to the bottom of the bowl may be planted immediately in a fairly deep pot, covered by about one to two inches of good soil.

Multiple seeds may be planted in the same pot.

Camellia seeds do not store for long periods so should be planted soon after being collected.

Some breeders germinate their seeds using per-

lite, sphagnum or wet paper towels before planting and some cold stratify seeds for 30 - 60 days in refrigeration before planting.

Neither of these procedures is necessary and seeds will germinate within 30 days after planting in soil.

Maintain the moisture of the soil at very damp but not Seed pod open and seeds ready to wet until the first release green shoots appear above the soil surface. At that point, watering can be reduced making sure that the plants never dry out. Initial growth is fairly rapid and the new camellias should be about one inch tall before cold weather comes and the plants quit growing until spring. New camellia seedlings should not be allowed to freeze and may be stored in a cool porch or in a greenhouse for several weeks during particularly cold weather.

With the advent of milder weather in late February or early March, the new plants may be potted in individual pots which will allow them to grow more quickly. The tap root should be trimmed to about half its length when transplanting so feeder roots will develop near soil level.

Fertilize with a balanced granular fertilizer or with a half strength liquid fertilizer after two weeks.

Camellias mature slowly and blooms should not be expected until three to seven years after planting seeds so the flower color, shape, size or form will not be known for some time. Blooming is someNewly sprouted camellia times seedlings speeded by grafting a scion of a new seedling onto a rootstock which has already bloomed. This is not always successful but may be a way to discover a completely new and unusual camellia variety.

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Many camellia hobbyists grow seedling camellias in the ground for several years and use them as rootstock for grafting named varieties.

One year old camellia seedling Volume 1, Issue 2 2019

MY BONSAI JOURNEY—PART II Don’t Forget The Trunk!

We continue to learn valuable lessons for our home landscapes in the Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer Bonsai class. We had several “aha” moments as Lee Vanderpool began to teach us the importance of sacrificial branches. I have several trees in my yard planted BMG (before Master Gardeners) that have skinny, anemic trunks. I blamed this on the usual suspects planted too deep and circling roots. I now understand that young trees need the lower limbs I removed in Year One for food to grow the diameter of the trunk.

Dr. Ed Gilman provides an excellent explanation of the importance of the temporary lower branches of a young landscape tree in the article referenced. Lee’s lesson on sacrificial branches is from the bonsai practice of growing the trunk.

Takeaways: 

by Alene Ogle of branches from a newly planted tree to maturity.



The lowest permanent branch on many shade trees should be at least 15 to 20 feet off the ground; all lower branches are eventually removed.



Lower branches should be reduced (cut back) early to prevent them from becoming too large. This will prevent large pruning wounds on the trunk. This also helps to push new growth higher up in the canopy.



Keep all branches less than half of the trunk diameter. Branches more than one-half of the diameter of the trunk lack a branch protection zone.

Credit: University of Florida, IFAS Extension Publication No. ENH 1062 Edward F. Gilman/ Amanda Bisson

Some or all branches on trees with less than a four inch caliper will eventually be removed. The picture illustrates the proper management

YARD ART

The entries are in and the judges will make their decision at our Annual Christmas Party!

Who will win?????

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In October we launched a special campaign - $40 Celebrating 40 Years of service and success for the Master Gardener Volunteer Program.

The response has been inspiring! To date MGVs have generously contributed 150 gifts totaling $12,680. These gifts grow the funds available for future award, increasing support for county projects throughout the state.

At the MGV Conference Broward County received the 2019 Master Gardener Legacy Grant. This award will expand their urban vegetable demonstration garden to incorporate two new methodologies: grow bangs and Earthbox™ systems. This wills how urban homeowners how they can grow veggies in their yards and community gardens through the incorporation of alternate growing methods such as grow bags and Earthboxes™ gardening.

Additionally, Broward County is leveraging these gardens to focus educational efforts on a “Train the Trainers” program to offer free, educational workshops to teachers so they may create viable school gardens and share agricultural concepts in their classrooms. This is so important for Florida’s second most populous county where all lands suitable for housing have been developed. Broward County MGVs are empowering residents to grow, consume and purchase locally grown produce, and create productive green spaces.

We are excited to see the impacts your investment will make year after year in our beautiful state! And to see everyone wearing those beautiful commemorative coreopsis pins! If you made a gift and didn’t receive your pin at the conference, it is on its way to you.

If you haven’t made your gift yet, there is still time to give online, or mail check (payable UF Foundation, memo MG Legacy) to UF/IFAS Advancement, PO Box 110170, Gainesville, FL 32611.

To count in the 2019 tax year, make your gift online by 11:59pm on 12/31, or make sure your mailed check is USPS postmarked by 12/31.

For more information and ways you can support Florida Master Gardeners, such as memorial gifts, stocks and securities, real estate, bequests or life insurance plans, please contact: Katherine Davies, Director of Development at 352.294.7869, kedavis@ufl.edu Copyright © 2019 UF/IFAS Extension Advancement, All rights reserved.

PO BOX 110170, Gainesville, FL 32611 | advancement@ifas.ufl.edu | 352.392.1975

Garden Coordinator Vivian Landrix giving a tour of the MG Vegetable Demonstration Garden to the new Florida Master Gardener Class at UF/ IFAS Extension in Broward County in April 2019.

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RECIPE ROUND-UP BOURBON, PECAN, AND CRANBERRY SAUCE submitted by Karen Harper Bourbon, pecans and cranberries, oh my! This might not be your grandma’s cranberry sauce (unless your grandma was a bourbon drinker), but it is pretty tasty and very simple to make.

Servings: 6 to 8 Ingredients: 1 (12-ounce) bag fresh or frozen cranberries 1 cup bourbon (or less, according to taste) 3/4 cup sugar 1 tsp. kosher salt Zest and juice of 1 orange 1/2 cup pecan pieces, toasted Directions: In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, bourbon, sugar, salt, orange juice and zest, and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cranberries have burst, and the mixture has thickened, 20 to 25 minutes. Fold in the pecans and transfer to a medium bowl. Refrigerate until cold before serving.

Notes:  I use fresh cranberries, readily available during the fall and winter months.  I don’t recommend using more than 1 cup of bourbon.  Try to beg, borrow or steal the best orange you can. I use juice and zest from my homegrown richly flavored Cara-Cara oranges which enhances the flavor of the sauce tremendously.  Definitely toast the pecans! Put them in a saucepan over medium heat, shake and stir constantly until that toasty smell develops.

Heavenly. Watch the pecans carefully though, because they burn easily.  I’m thinking this recipe could be double or tripled and canned successfully in a waterbath canner, as it is fairly acidic. I’ll seek some professional guidance before I try that, though!

Next month we’ll be featuring recipes that are your go to , never fails for potluck dinners And St. Patrick’s Day and Easter faves.

Send in your recipes before February 29th To mgstewart2008@yahoo.com An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer Publication

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ROUND-UP cont’d.

JAM CAKE submitted by Mary Grace Evors I took a jam cake to the November Master Gardener meeting and several people asked me about the recipe...so here it is. I used a glaze on it instead of caramel frosting, like my aunt suggested. Please note that for this cake you only need half of the glaze recipe. Not realizing that, I made the whole recipe and had way too much.

Also, the cake is somewhat dense and does not soak up a glaze like a carrot cake would.

This is an old family recipe, from my mother’s only sister (Aunt Clarice) who, if she were still with us would be 98 years old on February 22, 2020.

Sift and measure: 1 1/2 cups plain flour Resift adding: 1/2 tsp. soda Pinch of salt 1/2 tsp. Allspice 1/2 tsp. Nutmeg 1 tsp. Cinnamon.

Set aside.

Beat ‘til creamy: 1/2 cup butter 3/4 cup brown sugar (I use dark) Beat in 3 eggs...1 at a time Add flour mixture and 1/3 cup buttermilk alternately, beginning and ending with flour.

Add 1 1/2 cups jam (orange marmalade or blackberry are good) and 1/3 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts and more) Bake in a 9” x 9” square pan at 325 degrees for 1 hour or ‘til done.

ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH BACON, PECANS AND MAPLE SYRUP Submitted by Lynn Fabian From www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/roasted -brussels-sprouts Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

1/2 cup pecans 6 slices bacon (use the pre-chopped from Sam’s...easier) 2 pounds brussels sprouts, halved and cleaned 3 Tbs. virgin olive oil 1 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 2 1/2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar 1 Tbs. maple syrup...I like honey Put pecans on a baking sheet...and bake until lightly toasted and fragrant...about 5 minutes.

Chop and set aside.

Turn oven up to 400 degrees if you aren’t using pre-chopped bacon. Roast bacon for 12-20 minutes. Mid way through turn the bacon. Cook until crisp. Drain into another container and set aside. When cool, chop.

Turn oven up to 425 degrees.

Using the same foil lined pan as for the bacon, toss the sprouts with the bacon fat, olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast, stirring mid way using a spatula. Roast until the sprouts are tender and carnalized, about 20 minutes.

Add balsamic vinegar and maple syrup and toss evenly to coat.

Taste and adjust seasoning.

Just before serving, top with chopped pecans and bacon. Serve hot or warm.

Aunt Clarice suggested using a caramel icing.

However, I have used a glaze that is to be poured over the hot cake so it will soak in.

For the glaze: Heat 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. soda (added after the milk)

Did you know that Americans consume an estimated 22 million turkeys on Christmas and purchase an estimated 318 million pounds of ham around the holidays????

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ROUND-UP

cont’d.

CLAYTON CAFÉ CORNBREAD SALAD Submitted by Alene Ogle

half the time. Add marshmallows, toss to coat. Top sweet potato mixture with marshmallows. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until marshmallows are melted and potatoes are heated through, 2-4 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans.

Bake your cornbread Layer the following: Crumbled cornbread Can of drained pinto beans Can of drained whole kernel corn Finely chopped onion, green pepper, and chopped tomato.

Cooked and chopped bacon Cover the above with a lot of ranch dressing

Note: I have successfully doubled this recipe when serving a crowd.

Repeat with all of the above ingredients Sprinkle the top with grated cheddar cheese Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE submitted

by Karen Harper This recipe is from the cookbook that came with my first carousel microwave oven in 1981. The microwave is long gone but the recipe has remained a perennial favorite in our household.

The pineapple gives a delicious tang to this casserole. And it’s all done in the microwave!

4-6 servings 4 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 pounds) 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/4 cup butter 1/2 tsp. salt 1 8 ounce can crushed pineapple 1 Tbsp. packed brown sugar 1 Tbsp. butter 1 tsp. water 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows 1/4 cup chopped pecans (toasted are best) 1. Wash sweet potatoes. Prick each 2 or 3 times with fork to allow steam to escape. Arrange in oven at least 1” apart. Microwave on HIGH (100%) until fork-tender 8 to 10 minutes. Cover and let stand 5 minutes.

(Note that this recipe is from an era when microwaves had less wattage than they do today. My current 1200-watt Oster microwave cooks these potatoes in 6 minutes or less.)

2. Peel and slice potatoes. Place in 2 qt casserole. Add 1/4 c. brown sugar, 1/4 c. butter, and the salt. Mash until no lumps remain.

Mix in pineapple. Microwave at HIGH (100%) 2 minutes. Stir and set aside.

3. Place 1 tbsp. brown sugar, 1 tbsp. butter, the water, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Microwave at HIGH (100%) until butter is melted, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, stirring after

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer Publication

MINCE MEAT submitted by Bill Buckellew 7 1/2 lb. pears or apples 1 lb. raisins 1 orange 1 apple or pear 1 cup white vinegar 1 lemon 3 lbs. sugar 1 tsp. salt 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon 1 Tbsp. ground cloves 1 c. grape juice 1. Grind all fruit, including raisins. Use orange and lemon zest also. Combine all ingredients and boil slowly for 2 hours.

2. Makes 4-5 quarts. One quart makes one pie.

3. Fill sterilized quart jars. Process jars in boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Use 1 inch of head space, as it swells under processing.

May be stored in refrigerator for up to two months. Do not freeze.

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LAST WORD Life’s lessons may be found in many places and come from many different sources. Lesson of the day: cats and coffee don’t always mix.

There I sat, at the computer, hard at work. Walter, King of Chaos, decided to make one of his visits to ‘snuggle.’ This means flopping directly between me and the keyboard. Face it, few can resist a warm, fluffy kitty who is actually being good for a change. King Walter even rolled onto his back for tummy rubs. During this whole procedure he stretched out his front paws and before I realized it had hooked one paw through the handle of a half-full coffee cup and then, for some reason known only to God and kitties, he rolled...towards me...his paw still firmly in the cup handle.

Do you know how much territory a half-full cup of coffee can cover? It managed to cover the desk, the cat, me, and yes, the computer. Did I mention the computer is less than six months old? Grabbing up cat and computer, I proceeded to tilt the computer hoping against hope that I could force the tide of dark liquid out of the electronic realm and onto the desk to join its sloshing brethren. Hauling cat into the kitchen (no way I was releasing a coffee covered cat into the rest of the house) and grabbing towels, wiping down cat along with part of me—the clothes had sopped up the rest.

Next was finding the ‘kitty wipes.’ These are premoistened wipes that are a must have if you have a cat such as our Walter. A must have if you’d prefer not to need stitches or a transfusion if you even think about bathing him in water.

Why go through that? I didn’t like the idea of a caffeinated Walter in the house.

Computer appeared to stop dripping and only one go round of screeching while a box popped up announcing a fatal error of some sort. Of course it decided to do that while I was otherwise occupied in another room of the house.

You know, the room where you go for some peace and, ‘ahem’ quiet?

by Marg Stewart no Walter. Finally, he was discovered behind bins that are under my large bench in the laundry room. A location that he has never utilized before and I know took some doing for him to wedge his fluffy behind in the space allotted. After everyone left and the house quieted down, he slithered his way out and barked that he was hungry. I suppose that means he wasn’t too traumatized by the whole ordeal.

So now the preparations for Christmas begin.

Most of the neighborhood has had their trees and lights up since after Memorial Day. I think I’m doing pretty good that I’ve got mine out of the attic. Granted, they’re still in the boxes but at least they are at ground level. I even bought a pole that claims (in bold letters) to enable you to install lights along your gutter and roof without ever having to leave the ground. We’ll see how THAT goes.

A new battery got installed into the lawn mower.

Gave a whole new meaning to putting a square peg into a round hole. Original battery had squared off bolts...new battery requires round bolts. HA! A bit of wrangling and Yankee ingenuity (okay—mostly hard-headed stubbornness but give me a break—it’s the holiday season) the old bolts work and the mower fired right up.

Happy Hubby has a couple of relatives who will be visiting at some point this month. Did I mention that we still aren’t sure what day they are arriving???? That means a house cleaning binge.

I have discovered over the years that the secret to getting a clean house really fast is to (a) schedule a party or (b) have house guests arriving on short notice. Works every time. Amazing the places you can discover to shove things. The key is to remember those places afterwards!

Finally finished with the blotting, screeching electronics and avoiding a caffeine crazed cat so could settle down and attempt to get some work done. I’m happy to report only a couple of ‘sticky’ keys at this point. It’s not an issue so far, after all how often do you use “q” “z” and “x”? (thankful that I don’t put sugar in my coffee) I see some tiny tools and electronic swabs in my near future. In the meantime, please forgive any coffee stains on this edition.

We all survived Thanksgiving at Chateau Stewart. The turkey got done on time and without a visit from the Crestview Fire Department. Company was plentiful and the only downside was his Majesty Wiley Walter decided to ‘disappear.’ Normally he just goes into the bedroom when there’s too much ruckus for his delicate disposition. Not this time.

When he couldn’t be located we even started a search outside (he’s a strictly indoor puss). Still An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer Publication

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Volume 1, Issue 2 2019

LAST WORD cont’d.

There are still trees to get planted in the ‘forest’ out front and the back garden needs some serious cleaning up. Christmas decorations need to go up, cards need to be written, and baking needs to be done.

A quilt needs to be completed for my parent’s 50th wedding anniversary that is 2 days after Christmas. It’s in the final stages it just means sitting down to the machine and doing the work.

secretary of one group and the president of another they sort of expect you to be there.)

Well, like grandpa used to say, “You can sleep when you’re dead.” Guess I had better get to it and start blasting the Christmas music.

From King Walter and his faithful serfs we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Add to all that, Happy Hubby has dental appointments left (he’s banned from eating Cheetos ever again..who ever heard of shattering a crown on a Cheeto????) I have multiple board meetings that I can’t get out of (when you’re the

Plentiful Plantings

Articles for 2020 issues of The Compost Pile will be due by February 24th, May 25th, August 24th, and November 23rd. Email reminders will be sent out.

Please try to send your pictures as jpeg files. Always let us know who took the picture and what it’s a picture of!

If you have topics you’d like to see covered or if you have ideas, send us an email! This publication is only as good as the participation we get from YOU!

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteer Publication

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Volume 1, Issue 2 2019

The Foundation for the Gator Nation.....

An equal opportunity institution.

Mission To assist Extension Agents in providing research-based horticultural education to Florida residents.

Vision To be the most trusted resource for horticultural education in Florida.

The Compost Pile is a quarterly publication created by the Okaloosa County Master Gardener Volunteers.

Marg Stewart—Editor Karen Harper, Debbie Sewell, Kent Beck—Co-Editors