MARION COUNTY GOVERNMNT

November 2013

Table of Contents:

Shorter Days Timely Gardening Tips by Kathleen Patterson, FYN Coordinator

Shorter Days

What’s Bugging You? Two weeks ago we “fell back” and changed our clocks back by one hour as daylight savings time ended. For me this means getting up and driving to work just as the sun rises and driving Versatile Herbs home after the sun has set. This makes it rather difficult for me to get out and garden except Cooking with Herbs and Spices on the weekends. Are you ready for the cold of winter, the sight of your landscape all brown and faded? If not, then read on. Crazy for

Upcoming Events Yes we do live in Florida, but not in the tropics. In South Florida the residents may enjoy

Published by Norma Samuel beautiful color all year round. Here we have to find that will give us color in the UF/IFAS Extension Marion County landscape and survive our cold winters. The easiest of these plants are the evergreens that never drop their . Look for unusual color, texture, and shape to create a colorful landscape. Two of my favorite evergreens are Mahonia bealeii and Mahonia fortuneii. They Timely Gardening Tips also produce small flowers and berries as an added bonus. Don’t forget to add a few plants by Josephine Leyte-Vidal, UF/IFAS that produce berries such as the many hollies that are native to our area. Extension Marion County Master Gardener I like to incorporate ornamental grasses that add a shimmering texture as the wind blows thru Article previously published the narrow leaves or the seed heads that range in color from ivory or tan to pink as in our November, 2011 native Muhly grass. These grasses can be as short as twelve inches or as tall as six feet so check the size and growth habit before purchasing. November ushers in a dry season in North Central Two relatively new Nandina hybrids; N. Blush Pink and N. Flirt offer shades of orange and red Florida. The dry season is and are not inclined to become invasive as is the N. domestica-Heavenly bamboo. These two the optimal time to install new additions make a beautiful border , only obtaining a twenty four inch height. turf grass because the cool Simpson’s Red Stopper offers glossy green leaves and berries that range in color from pale days require less water and yellow to dark orange. there is less competition from new weeds. Once the A few vines will also offer some color throughout the winter. Coral honeysuckle, turf is installed it needs to Carolina jessamine, and flame vine provide orange or yellow blooms that stand out in the be watered daily with 1/2 winter landscape. inch of water for the first two weeks. After the two weeks, wean the turf to 3/4 inch every 10—14 days.

The dry season also creates ideal conditions for spider mites to visit your garden. Look at your leaves for yellow spots and curling. Evergreens such as cedar or Blush Pink Nandina juniper will show browning of the needles.

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Timely Gardening Tips for Shorter Days MARION COUNTY by Kathleen Patterson, FYN Coordinator by Josephine Leyte-Vidal, UF/IFAS Extension Marion County Master (continued from Page 1)

Gardener (continued from Page 1)

Bella rouge camellia is beginning to show plenty of buds in our Florida-friendly Test for these pests by demonstration landscape in front of our office. These grow only four feet tall by four feet holding a paper under the wide and have beautiful pink blooms. The gold breeze miscanthus (zebra grass) is distressed branch and tap the beginning to plume quite nicely as well. branch sharply with a stick. Don’t ignore the drift roses that bloom profusely all year long yet are wonderful ground Look for little specks that cover roses. Another great groundcover is the new purple pixie loropetalum that only move on the paper. A grows eighteen inches tall. Miticide should take care of the problem. Read the label and follow the directions carefully.

Now is the time to plant cool weather annuals like carnation, foxglove, pansy, petunia, shasta daisy, and Drift roses snapdragon. Plant beets Last are the annuals that offer bold color in the dead of winter. Pansies, snapdragons, and broccoli, cabbage, carrots, chrysanthemums don’t mind cold temperatures and they last throughout the winter. The Chinese cabbage, collards, pansies and snapdragons in my yard are planted in November and look good until May kohlrabi, mustard, onions, when the heat finally gets the best of them. radish, and spinach.

Fall has arrived even if the leaves are not changing color and falling off the trees. Welcome to Florida where we have two seasons-winter and summer…. and if you stop by our office you can check out some of the new releases of plants that are a must have for our Central Florida Landscape!

What’s Bugging You? by Linda Krausnick, Master Gardener

Find out what local residents are calling in about.

When do I plant bulb onions in North FL, and what are the best varieties?

While onions can be grown from seed, sets, or transplants, transplants are considered the easier method over seeds and produce better bulbs than onion sets. Whatever the method used it’s important to look for short day hybrids that are well adapted to Florida’s winter growing season. Transplants can be put out any time between December and February. For suggested varieties, planting and growing tips see: http://santarosa.ifas.ufl.edu/documents/lg_onions.pdf. If you can’t find onion transplants locally try the internet.

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UPCOMING Versatile Herbs LECTURES/EVENTS: by Pat Greenfield, Master Gardener

Educational seminars and events

When you hear the word “herb”, what comes to mind? Most people would say “cooking”. are presented by UF/IFAS

Some might say “health”, and both would be correct. But herbs have many other less Extension Agents and/or Master Gardeners. commonly known uses, and it’s not just the leaves that are used. The flowers and roots, as well as the entire plant may be used. It depends on the particular herb in question and Unless otherwise indicated, to how it will be used. pre -register, please call 352 -671-8400 or e-mail Here in Florida we have an over abundance of insects, both outside and inside our homes. [email protected] This is where the versatility of herbs can help, especially if you are trying to avoid harsh chemicals and poisons. During the summer months mosquitoes are a nuisance. Try keeping containers filled with the leaves of basil, pennyroyal, santolina, southernwood, scented geraniums (citronella), and wormwood. You can even rub the leaves on your skin to repel the little blood suckers. December Another problem insect is the ant. Leaves of pennyroyal and tansy will repel them in your home. Bay leaves deter weevils in flour, grains, rice and pasta. Leaves of feverfew, Demonstration Garden southernwood and wormwood, and the flowers or leaves of lavender and santolina will Tour repel moths. December 4, 2013 10—11 a.m. But herbs have many other uses besides insecticides. The leaves of catnip and tansy repel UF/IFAS Extension Marion County mice and rats. Horseradish root can be ground up and put in your dog’s food to dispel Master Gardeners Demonstration worms and improve their body tone. Comfry leaves cure septic sores on animals and also Gardens make excellent liquid fertilizer. Lemon balm and monarda (bee balm) attract bees, and if planted in or near your garden will help encourage pollinators. Valerian roots attract Tuesday Gardening earthworms to your garden. Series: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Herbs can also be used as companion crops in your vegetable garden. Bush, pole and lima December 10, 2013 beans like summer savory and marigolds but not fennel. Beets like dill and fennel. Brassicas 10 a.m.—Noon like chamomile, mint, rosemary, sage and thyme. Carrots like rosemary, sage, and UF/IFAS Extension Marion County wormwood but do not like anise or dill. Cucurbits like nasturtiums but not aromatic Auditorium herbs. Tomatoes like basil, marigolds, nasturtiums but not fennel.

Dyes can be made from herbs for coloring yarn, fabric and other objects, The root of salad burnet is used in tanning leather. Soapwort roots are made into shampoo for upholstery and delicate fibers. The oil from poppy seeds is used in varnish, paint, soap and lamp oil.

These are just a few uses of herbs, and hopefully, after reading this you now have a broader view of the versatile herbs and will try some in your home.

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Cooking With Herbs and Spices by Pat Greenfield, Master Gardener

It’s that time of year when the temperatures have cooled and gardening is at a minimum. Our attention turns to the coming holidays, and we are filled with memories of the aromas of savory meats and veggie casseroles cooking and the smell of spicy goodies baking. This is an ideal time to use those herbs and spices you’ve been growing in your garden all summer.

Cooking with herbs and spices not only enhances the natural taste and aroma of foods, but can add nutritional value as well. Depending on the particular herb or spice selected, all or only one part of the plant is used including root, stem, bark, leaf, flower, fruit or seed. Generally an herb comes from a green or with soft stems, while a spice is from the root, bark or seed of a woody plant.

Fresh herbs are milder in flavor and are added near the end of cooking and in larger amounts. Dried herbs are stronger in flavor and can be added at the beginning or during the last half hour of longer cooking. The ‘less is more’ rule applies to them. For example, 1 teaspoon of fresh herbs = ¼ to ½ teaspoon dried herbs.

When using fresh soft stemmed herbs like parsley, dill, basil, chives, oregano and cilantro, the

leaves do not need to be stripped from the stems, but the entire leaf and stem can be chopped or minced. A chef’s knife or kitchen shears can be used. When cooking with fresh woody-stemmed herbs like marjoram, thyme, sage and rosemary, the leaves should be stripped from the stems and then chopped.

Herbs are easy to dry or to freeze. Preserving them in these forms makes them available throughout the year even when the plants in your garden have gone dormant. Prepare the herb or spice in the same way you would if cooking fresh. They can then be put into small freezer bags and frozen or put into a dehydrator for drying.

Herbs and spices can be used in many ways such as fresh in salads; cooked in vegetable and meat dishes; used in sauces, spreads, and desserts; or steeped as a tea. They can also be used as a garnish or a cake decoration. The blossoms of edible flowers and herbs make lovely additions to dishes and baked goods.

Some of the most common culinary herbs are basil, bay, chives, cilantro, dill, fennel, ginger,

lemon grass, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, tarragon, and thyme. There are many more than space permits, but if you are new to using herbs and are interested in learning more about cooking with them, refer to a good reference book on herbs or a gourmet cookbook. Start out using smaller amounts until you become familiar with their flavors and how to use them. There is a whole world of new tastes and flavors waiting for you, so don’t be afraid to try some new ones and experiment with combinations. Bon appetite!

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Items below are available for Crazy for Clerodendrums by Anne Lambrecht, Master Gardener purchase at the UF/IFAS Extension Marion When a in the garden lasts until December’s cold days, then that’s a plant County. We also have worthy of its pollen. You see them in the old Florida gardens, mostly in the background, many other items available in profusion this time of year of so many shapes and colors. I saw some once in an in our recently opened overgrown yard of a ramshackle old house while driving and said to myself “what the Shop Extension store. heck is that?” and “I think I need that.” The store is open

A little studying brought me to learn that they are Clerodendrums, a large and diverse Monday—Friday from with over 400 mostly from China, the Philippines, Japan and Africa. The 8 a.m.—5 p.m. Please name is derived from two Greek words, kleros meaning “chance or fate” come to see these and dedron, tree. Clerodendrums used to be in the Verbena family but scientists have environmentally-friendly changed it to be part of the Family making it related to some common garden products, as well as many plants such as lavender, mint, and rosemary. Many clerodendrums are great butterfly and other agricultural-related hummingbird plants and many can be found in the large garden centers as well as items. specialty nurseries or plant sales at botanical gardens. Botanical gardens Harry Leu in Orlando and Marie Selby in Sarasota have a great collection.

Clerodendrum are mainly and rarely trees grown in Zones 8-11 (we are Zone 9a). They are showy in flower, with the flowers coming in all colors with red being very common. White, blue, orange and pink mixtures are also known. A few are fragrant as well. Most require bright shade to partial sun in the garden, and some are quite drought tolerant when established. The leaves are large and heart shaped. Sometimes the underside of the leaf is a different color from the top. Because flowering occurs on the current season’s growth, pruning will encourage the production of vigorous flowering shoots. Do not be afraid to prune severely. Thin out old, overcrowded shoots and any other far-reaching growth to keep the plant in bounds. Clerodendrum likes well drained soil and partly shady to sun exposure.

Clerodendrum are easy to grow, hardy, showy, dependable and exotic and yet they get a bad rap because sometimes they can be aggressive and sucker under or “run”. Only one does appear on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council list of invasive plants: the Cashmere Bouquet.

Some of the more cool varieties are:

Pagoda Flower C. paniculatum

A very showy perennial plant with large interesting “pagoda” pyramid shaped bright orange flowers. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds love it. Because of its 6’ height, it is best planted at the rear of the garden or along a hedge. Excellent screen plant and seems to like sun or shade.

Bleeding Heart Vine C. thomsoniae also C. balfouri

This is not your northern bleeding heart. This blooms from summer to fall, bearing flatish, 5 inch clusters of up to 20 flowers. White calyxes look like little paper lanterns surrounding scarlet flowers. Also comes in pink lanterns with red flowers. (I have this one). It will get a lot of oohs and ahhs from your friends. It dies back in winter but returns in spring.

Blue Glory Bower or Blue Butterfly Bush C. ugandense

This is the prettiest of the Clerodendrums, in my opinion. The flowers look like little

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Crazy for Clerodendrums by Anne Lambrecht, Master Gardener (continued from page 5)

butterflies in two different shades of blue with long pistils that look like antennae and are

produced more or less continuously throughout the summer and fall. Grows in Zones 10 - 11. Blue butterfly bush performs best in a frost free climate, but it is root hardy in Zones 8 - 9, freezing to the ground in winter, but returning from its roots in spring. They recommend you grow this clerodendrum in partial shade but I’ve grown it in the sun.

Blue butterfly bush

Cashmere Bouquet or Mexicali Rose C. bungei

This one is a NO-NO. It is invasive and although it is a beauty with very large dark green leaves topped with mounded flower clusters of rosy pink and light pink. They will grow in Zones 7 - 11 and are deer resistant which is why some of our more northern neighbors would plant this. Don’t do it! Besides for the foliage being stinky when brushed, it is invasive. And here invasive is NOT a state of mind.

Java Glory Bower C. speciosissimum, is a with soft, downy leaves and grows 4-6 feet tall. It has beautiful, delicate flowers in orange/red and is medicinally important in China.

Turk’s Turban or Tubeflower C. indicum is native to the Malay Archipelago. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental and has become naturalized in South America, the West Indies and much of the southern U.S., where it grows in disturbed sites and especially along road shoulders.

THIS IS THE ONE I SAW AT THE RAMSHACKLE YARD. The inflorescence (flower) is huge, consisting of many tubular snow white flowers in a terminal cluster up to 2 ft long. The tubes of the flowers are about 4 in long and droop downward. The fruits are attractive dark metallic blue drupes, about a half inch in diameter. Some sources say it is an “escaped ornamental!”

The Musical Note Flower, Rotheca incisa, was formerly known as C. incisum and C. macrosiphon. It is a smaller shrub growing 3-5 feet tall. It bears white flowers that when unopened, have the shape of a musical note, then open to reveal red . The flowers are produced occasionally throughout the year. It will grow in sun or shade and is native to eastern Africa.

Starburst, C. quadriloculare, is native of New Guinea and the Philippines and has become invasive on some Pacific Islands, forming dense thickets. This spectacular flowering species is planted throughout South Florida and is noticed primarily in winter when it bursts into bloom. The top of the leaves are a dark green with a purple tint. The bottom is a glossy purple. There is a variegated cultivar that consists of light yellow, burgundy and dark green leaves.

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