December 2020

Weeder’s Digest December 2020

In this issue:

MGCG News ...... 2 Winter Birds ...... 4 Critters ...... 7 Master Gardener News ...... 3 Winter Gardening ...... 5 Weed of the month ...... 10

The Weeder’s Digest A publication of Master Gardeners of Central Georgia December 2020 M G C G N e w s

We appreciated... Thank You! the presentation on December 14th by Proven Winners representative, This year has certainly been one for the record Jessie Keith. books! Never has so little been done by so many ... The Proven Winners Gardener’s Idea Books are That wasn’t our intent, of course. We began this late, but they have been shipped, and will eventually year with great plans for a fabulous Spring Plant arrive in the extension offices for MGCG members to Sale followed by an exciting and profitable Fall Plant pick up. These were supposed to arrive prior to Ms. Sale. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way... Keith’s presentation, but there was a small shipping Perhaps we didn’t see much action, but as both snafu. MGCG’s President and this newsletter's editor, I We will ensure that 25 copies get to each office so have appreciated our members’ willingness to vol- that they can be picked up on a first-come, first- unteer. Here are just a few examples: served basis. If you can’t pick one up, click here Greta Israel was willing to spend hours putting to- and browse, download, or print your own copy of the gether an amazing plan for a one-of-a-kind ultra- 2020 Proven Winners Gardener’s Idea Book. It has primo plant sale. lot of great ideas for next spring!

— Christine Kelly, Sandy Lee, and Carmel McIntyre

were all willing to be plant coordinators in their vari- The next Joint Meeting has not yet been sched- ous areas. uled, but look for details about time and date in the next issue of the Weeder’s Digest. Brenda Burkey, Mary Royal, Mary Stephens and Mary Walker were willing to share their decorating And speaking of the next issue... talents. (I know the results would have been spectacular!) Emily Heath, Ginny Street, and Janice Williams The Weeder’s Digest has a new Editor! were willing to paint some beautiful pots (which Thank you, Lindsay Neumann, for stepping forward they did, and which are now in-waiting for the next to fill this position! Please send all your usual terrific plant sale!) photos and all the news that’s fit to print to Lindsay Becca Gay, Allison Griffin, Dawn Nash, and Jill at [email protected]. Peavy created a gorgeous Christmas tree represent- ing Bibb County—but reflecting well on all Master Webmaster Needed! Gardeners. Despite what you might think, this is not a terribly As the Editor of this newsletter I have been im- difficult job. The website has already been con- pressed with the willingness of many folks to submit structed, and simply needs updating and general photos, articles, and ideas, and I have appreciated maintenance. The program is easy to learn and Suzanne Wolfe’s willingness to critically proof read. very user-friendly. Please Contact Greta Israel at Over the last 30 months I have received a great [email protected] if you are willing to take on many morale-boosting comments about the WD, all this job for MGCG. of which I have greatly appreciated. Though it would be a huge lie to say this year has been fun, fantastic, and fruitful (it was absolutely painful), I can say with emphatic optimism... 2021 has to be better!

Blessings to you all and wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a healthy New Year.

For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far ~L.A. Brandau more glorious than if it were made of gold MGCG President 2020, and and silver. Martin Luther Weeder’s Digest Editor

The Weeder’s Digest A publication of Master Gardeners of Central Georgia December 2020 Master Gardener news

You still have time to visit the Festival of Trees Exhibit! This unique and gorgeous “Pollinators” tree and was designed and constructed by Becca Gay, Allison Griffin, Dawn Nash, and Jill Peavy, and is now on display at the Museum of Arts and Sciences. Be sure to visit before January 15th!

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The Weeder’s Digest A publication of Master Gardeners of Central Georgia December 2020 Winter Birds

This is a good time of year to make sure your bird feeders and other backyard amenities are clean, well-stocked and deployed to help Georgia’s feath- ered creatures survive the winter. Even though Georgia’s winters tend to be mild, birds need more food on cooler days and nights to maintain high metabolic rates and body heat. When temperatures dip to near or be- low freezing, ample food is vital for tiny birds like titmice, chickadees, sparrows and finches. As many as 30 songbird species may visit backyard feeders in Georgia during winter, providing drama and making our yards more cheerful and colorful on cold, dreary days.

— More than 20 types of seed may be sold as bird feed, but no one type is preferred by all birds. The best all- round is the small black-oil sunflower seed — the preferred choice of many small birds like chickadees, titmice and nuthatches, although other birds may eat it in a pinch. White proso millet also attracts many bird species. Peanuts lure blue jays, chickadees, titmice, and woodpeckers. You also should consider offering suet, a high-quality animal fat highly sought after by birds in winter. Ani- mal fat is an important source of extra calories for the birds. Suet —the hard fat around the kidneys and loins of cattle and sheep—used to be limited to cold weather because it quickly turns rancid at temperatures above 70° F. Enter the modern suet cake. Though beef fat is most common, commercially-made suet can consist of any fat trimmings from livestock, including lard (rendered pig fat). The suet in suet cakes is rendered (cooked) so it becomes less prone to melting and spoiling, and then is made into pressed cakes. The cakes come shaped to fit most suet cages, in various "flavors" so you can determine which ones birds in your area prefer, and in ingenious packages that are not messy to handle. Suet is a good addition to your usual feeing stations because it attracts several bird species that rarely visit a seed feeder. For instance, most species of woodpeckers—downy, hairy, red-bellied, even the occasional pi- leated, the largest of the North American woodpeckers—rarely visit seed feeders but are regular suet diners. Suet providers might also host creepers, kinglets, warblers, and wrens, none of which typically visit seed feeders. Some species, including chickadees, jays, nuthatches, and titmice, -- will take advantage of both kinds. Buy commercially available cakes, or make you own. Here’s a recipe I have been asked to reprint.

High Protein Suet (pictured in the feeder) Melt gently and stir together: 1 cup peanut butter 1 cup lard (do not use hydrogenated shortening!)

In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups non-medicated chick starter 2 cups quick oats 1 cup yellow cornmeal 1 cup flour Add melted lard/peanut butter mixture to the combined dry ingredients and mix well. You can press it into cakes or leave it crumbly. Store in the refrigerator. The birds love it! Source; source

The Weeder’s Digest A publication of Master Gardeners of Central Georgia December 2020 Winter Gardening (Houseplants!)

Every living thing needs periods of rest, and for houseplants winter is the time to get it. Daylight is dramati- cally reduced, the air is dry, and temperatures are cool — not the perfect growing conditions. Consider these tips to keep your houseplants in shape through the winter.

Watering Remember these words: “neglect with respect.” Simply put, most houseplants don't need as much water during the winter season. Once a week test the moisture level (if the soil is dry at a 2-inch depth the plant needs water). Water thoroughly and allow the water to drain completely. If the plant has a saucer, dump any ex- cess water after an hour or so. Obviously, there are certain plants that prefer being moist at all times. If you don't know what your plants require, do some research here.

Fertilization Houseplants, like people, need food to perform, especially when they are actively growing. Spring and summer are necessary feeding months; however during the winter, feeding is not necessary. If you do fertilize, do it sparingly. Dilute the fertilizer by 50 percent or more. Once you see the plant setting new growth (typically in late February or March) you may start feeding again.

Keeping the plants clean Winter is a great time to do some housecleaning on your plants. Removing accumulated dust and debris helps the plant breathe and look good. Also, a good cleaning will help wash away unwanted pests. A simple — bubble bath by hand is all it takes. Be sure the water is tepid and use a very diluted solution of liquid dish- washing soap and water. Place the plant in a sink and sponge off the leaves with the warm soapy water. Fin- ish by wiping the leaves once more with clean water. You can place larger plants in the shower to sponge off the leaves. Then use the showerhead to rinse the leaves! Allow the plant to drain thoroughly before returning it to its original location.

Other tips: • Most houseplants prefer daytime temperatures of 65° to 75°F, and night temperatures of 60° to 65°F. • Keep houseplants away from cold drafts, vents, and radiators. • Watch that foliage doesn't touch windows. • Many houseplants prefer a humidity level of 40 to 50 percent. Humidifiers are an option for increasing humidity in your home. Contrary to popular belief, misting houseplants does not raise humidity. • Fill a large saucer with gravel and add water to raise the humidity around the plant. (Be sure the bottom of the pot is not sitting in water.) Dracaena • Don't repot in winter. Wait until new growth appears in the spring.

Low-Maintenance Houseplants Dracaena trifasciata common names: Golden Birds Nest, Good Luck Plant, Mother-in-law's Tongue, Snake Plant A plant that produces oxygen while you snooze. The snake plant is a no-fuss tropical plant that has thin, upright leaves with irregular banding resembling reptile skin. Often positioned as a low light, or even no light, plant — snake plants actually prefer medium to bright light but can tolerate very low light levels like no other. They won’t actively thrive in super low light levels, but they’ll survive! This adaptation, along with their succulent nature, makes for an al- most indestructible houseplant. Surprised that snake plants are considered succulents? Like other succulent plants, snakes have a modified form of photosynthesis. In order to preserve water, they open their pores exclusively at night. But since photosynthesis only happens with daylight — the plant stores carbon dioxide absorbed at night for use during the day, and releases oxygen at night when its pores open. This helps it maximize efficiency in cleaning the air. In a study conducted by NASA, snake plants were found to filter out various toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene.

The Weeder’s Digest A publication of Master Gardeners of Central Georgia December 2020

Ficus benjaminia (common names Benjamin Tree, Chinese Banyan, Fig, Indian Rubber Plant, Small-leaved Rubber Plant, Weeping Fig) is an evergreen shrub or tree with drooping branches, the leaves are alternate, simple, long-tipped, and glossy. The flowers and fruits are enclosed in a fleshy sac that turns from green to orange-red to red and then purplish black. The Ficus is a very popular houseplant because of its tolerance of poor growing conditions. It performs best in bright sunny locations but will also survive in shade. It is very sensitive to light so if the plant is moved, expect it to drop leaves and produce new ones that are accustomed to the new light conditions. Water regularly to keep soil from completely drying out; it does not require misting. It is intolerant to cold and should be kept away from drafts. It has been shown to effectively remove indoor air pollutants. Aloe vera (Common names: Aloe, Aloe Vera, Barbados Aloe, Medicinal Aloe, Medicine Plant, True Aloe) Succulents are plants that are thickened, fleshy and engorged, allowing the plant to retain water in arid areas. Aloe Vera is a succulent that can be grown indoors as a house plant, or in temperate zones as an outdoor perennial. Favorable growing conditions include plenty of light, but limited direct sun. The leaves may tend to droop when placed in a low light setting. Aloe vera is grown by many for the gel in the leaves. It can be used in des- serts, yogurt, and beverages. It is also grown for medicinal purposes. Its soothing, moisturizing and cooling properties are often used to treat superficial burns and sunburn. The plants' gel treats the burn and provides some pain relief. It can also be used during outbreaks of acne, many over the counter acne medications list aloe as an ingredient. Its best-growing conditions include dry conditions and full sun, this plant needs bright light in order to flower. When placed in front of a window, rotate periodically to ensure that all sides of the plant receive adequate light. It is best planted in a cactus potting soil or typical potting soil with perlite or sand added. Allow the soil to completely dry between waterings. The pot used should also have adequate drainage provided. Water less frequently in the winter months. Periodically check to see that the plants' roots are not becoming root-bound. Repot plants when obvious that the roots are becoming too much for its existing pot. Being a bit pot bound will not affect the plants' health. Shoots can be divided from the mother plant and repotted. Epipremnum aureum (Common names: Pothos, Golden Pothos, Devil's Ivy, Devil's Vine, Ivy Arum, Mar- ble Queen, Taro Vine) A hardy houseplant that doesn’t require extra work. The pothos is a vigor- ous grower that is known for its long, trailing vines. Wonderfully versatile, the pothos can be grown both in soil and water, and is easy to propagate. Studies have show it is also efficient in removing pollutants such as formaldehyde, xylene, and benzene from indoor air. Breathe easy while you work. Zamioculcas zamiifolia (Common name: The ZZ plant) This tropical perennial plant tolerates drought and significant levels of neglect, accepting low-light conditions without much fuss. It is one of the most common house plants across the world, even if it is native to Africa. As long as you do not expose it to direct, powerful sunlight and you take minimum care of it, you should enjoy it for years.

The Weeder’s Digest A publication of Master Gardeners of Central Georgia December 2020 Critters

The man showing James Morgan around the vacant assisted-living duplex pointed at the baseboards: “This is what we’re dealing with.” In the empty room, the problem was obvious. Piles of dust covered the white baseboards like dark snow, collecting in drifts against the wall and spilling out four and five inches onto the floor. It was the same in the living room and the bathroom—mounds of black dust against tan laminate tile. But when Morgan leaned down for a closer look, he re- alized it wasn’t dust; it was death. The car- casses of thousands of reddish-brown ants, no more than an eighth of an inch long, heaped against the base of the wall. In Mor- gan’s sixteen years as an extension agent, he had never seen anything approaching the number of ants indicated by the mass of corpses on the floor. Morgan stepped out into a mid-August morning in Albany, Georgia, and walked around the foundation of the duplex, looking for a point of entry. He surveyed the ground for ant trails, snapping reference photos with his iPhone. The humidity from the grass, damp from the prior night’s rain, was enough to fog the lens. Soon Morgan determined that the mystery ants were getting in through the back door. Now he needed to find the source. Morgan passed a stack of brush and a woodpile, both covered with ants, and entered a shed on the edge of a wooded area, about 150 feet from the duplex. The shed was filled with old refrigerators, stoves, rusty piec- es of tin, and forgotten lumber. Morgan pulled out some of the metal and wood and quickly jumped back as thousands of the insects swarmed out. Outside the shed, Morgan again looked for a trail. Most Southerners are familiar with Argentine ants, which travel in tight lines, following a path of pheromones from one place to the other. But these ants staggered about randomly, moving in crazy, drunken zigzags across the grass. Until Morgan knew exactly what he was dealing with, he couldn’t do anything to get the ants under control. So he scooped up a vial of the dead insects and sent the tiny corpses, along with the reference photos, to the University of Georgia’s Griffin Experimental Station. And he waited. Two days later, the mailer containing Morgan’s vial of dead ants joined the stacks of insect samples on the desk of Daniel Suiter, a professor of entomology in the University of Georgia’s Department of Entomology. Morgan’s package was a priority. For years, Suiter had been watching a swarming ant species called “tawny crazy ants”—named for their reddish-brown color and erratic foraging patterns—spread across the Gulf Coast. These ants formed colonies estimated to contain between 15 and 20 billion ants per acre—so large and dense that their clusters can short out electrical boxes. Suiter knew it was only a matter of time before the tawnys hit Georgia. But even using a high-powered microscope, Suiter could not be certain that Morgan’s ants were the same as the Gulf Coast invaders. Identification this specific, down to the species, requires a lifetime of training because the differences between the 12,761 classified ant species are, well, tiny, in both size and magnitude. So Suiter, a generalist, packed the ants back into their vial and mailed them to the Mississippi Entomological Museum at Mississippi State University. There, taxonomist Joe MacGown noted that Morgan’s ants were wingless and hairy—their thick, barbed hairs growing in pairs were characteristic of the genus Nylandaria, and the smaller, finer hairs on the middle of the body cut the field to only two exotic species. The tawny, orangish-red coloration helped him narrow the species to fulva—Nylandaria fulva, an invasive ant from South America. MacGown also read Morgan’s description of the ants’ behavior. The massive colony size coupled with the ants’ rapid and fitful movement indicated that these ants were indeed tawnys. So how did an ant get to Georgia from South America? 7

The Weeder’s Digest A publication of Master Gardeners of Central Georgia December 2020

Crazy ants! Scientists believe that the tawny crazy ant quickly became a dominant part of local wildlife in South America, especially in Colombia, where it spread disastrously, causing damage to the area’s ecology and agriculture. The United States has a huge appetite for South American coffee, bananas, sugarcane, and building materi- als, and a tiny ant could easily stow away on a massive U.S.-bound freighter without being detected. The first significant populations of tawnys are believed to have landed in the U.S. around 1990. Hundreds promptly took over the second floor of a Miami hospital. They were soon spotted on the University of Miami campus “foraging on sidewalks and running up and down tree trunks,” according to a paper published in Transactions of the American Entomological Society in 2000. From there, the ants spread into the Ever- glades National Park, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Sarasota, and up and down the Florida coast. In 2002 they were discovered in an industrial complex about fourteen miles outside of Houston. The discovery was made by a pest-control professional named Tom Rasberry, and in the region, the insects took Rasberry’s name. By 2013 the Rasberry crazy ants could be found in twenty-four Texas counties. These ants spread with the ebb and flow of human traffic. Because they nest in existing structures, piles of debris, and potted plants instead of outdoor hills and tunnels, people unwittingly pack them up with the moving van. In fact, according to entomologists at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, human traffic is probably how the tawnys ended up in Mississippi. Then Louisiana. By the end of 2010, Georgia and Alabama were the only two Gulf Coast–area states unoccupied. Of course, by the time Morgan showed up at the nursing home in Albany, that had changed.

— Tawny crazy ants have no natural predators in North America. Fortunately for Atlanta and most of North Georgia, our winters are probably too cold for this tropical ant. But in cities like Albany, the farthest north that tawnys have been sighted in such great numbers, there’s nothing in nature to hold them in check. Their multi -queened colonies enable them to reproduce rapidly, spreading over the landscape and crowding out native ants and other insects from food resources. Scientists now believe crazy ants use venom to kill fire ants, a South American species that invaded the South in the 1930s. Because tawny crazy ants do not build their own nests but rather exploit preexisting cavities and debris- filled areas, undisturbed spaces are a haven, vulnerable only to insecticides—most of which have little effect on the tiny interlopers. Standard professional pesticides will keep the ants at bay for a month or two at most, but they don’t kill the colony. According to Rasberry, exterminators in Texas had to apply for a special ex- emption from the EPA to use fipronil, because at the time it was the only insecticide that could stop the tawnys. (It’s still the most effective.) As with most insects, cleaning up trash and loose debris is the first line of defense against the tawnys. So Morgan asked the owners of the nursing home to pick up the brush piles and to look into removing the stack of wood behind the duplex. He also suggested filling the cracks in the concrete foundations and installing door sweeps to make sure the ants stayed out of living areas. Unfortunately, cleaning up isn’t enough. To keep these ants under control, it’s not just the yard that must be treated, but the surrounding area as well. Without chemicals, that would mean clear-cutting the forest. In- stead, the nursing-home owners sprayed insecticides around the foundations, moved the woodpile, and crossed their fingers. “It’s been over a month,” Morgan says. “They haven’t asked me to come back.” Source

Three species of Crazy Ants, and how to identify them: • Tawny (Rasberry) Crazy Ant (Nylanderia fulva) • Caribbean Crazy Ant (formerly called Nylanderia pubens) • Black Crazy Ant (Longhorn Crazy Ant) (Paratrechina longicornis) You can identify a Crazy Ant by its erratic and "crazy" movement when disturbed. These ants seem to run around aimlessly. Another distinguishing feature is that their legs and antennae are longer in proportion to their bodies, compared to other types of ants. Crazy Ants are invasive ants. In some cases, even Fire Ants are easier to treat since their mounds can be determined and treated. Crazy Ants do not burrow or form mounds. To make it even more difficult to control, the Black Crazy Ant or "Longhorn Crazy Ant" clone the queen and her mates, for faster reproduction. They have a bad reputation of damaging electrical and computer equipment. They have had negative impact on industrial sites and have caused problems around residential homes.

The Weeder’s Digest A publication of Master Gardeners of Central Georgia December 2020

C r a z y A n t s

The Rasberry/Tawny crazy ant is related to the Caribbean crazy ant, a serious invasive pest in Florida. They can be easily transported; common in shipping containers and other commerce. They may be found indoors, where they can survive all year in the northern states. Tom Rasberry writes in his blog that the Rasberry Crazy Ant can reach billions per acre. He states that they eat other insects or compete for food, re- sulting in a disappearance of insect populations, having a negative impact on ecological systems. They also can be seen throughout the south, some Midwest states, as well California, Arizona and Hawaii. The legs of the Raspberry crazy ant are long in proportion to their body. Rasberry/Tawny Crazy Ants have a protective Rasberry/Tawny Crazy Ant1/8 inch long, shield to protect them from fire ants. The longhorn crazy ant, also known as "black crazy ant", is a species of small, dark-colored insect in the family Formicidae. These ants are commonly called "crazy ants" because instead of following straight lines, they dash around erratically. Longhorn crazy ants are brown/black with a bluish tint. They may be found sporadically over the entire US, but is very common in Florida and along the Gulf Coast, including Texas,

— Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia. The Caribbean Crazy Ant is the same size as the Rasberry/Tawny, but is covered in reddish-brown hairs, and is commonly found in Florida, the Gulf States, and Texas. Nests: Crazy Ants (queens, eggs, larvae, and pupae) can be found in or under a diverse number of objects. Each colony may contain millions of ants, as multiple queens lay hundreds of eggs. Inside buildings, Crazy ants can nest in small cracks, crevices and voids, particularly moist areas. Once inside a building, they wander searching for food. Outside, they can typically be found in damp soil, under rocks, stumps, timbers, compost, garbage and potted plants. These ants can adapt to dry conditions. Their nests may be far away from their foraging areas, as they will travel quite a dis- tance to forage for food. Diet: Crazy ants prefer to eat protein, animal matter, grease, Black Crazy Ant and other insects—living or dead. They also like to binge on sweet things. They are attracted to honey from beehives, rip- ened fruits, honeydew (the excretions from aphids and other insects), and any sweet part of a plant. You might find a trail of them to your sugar bowl or foraging inside your kitchen cabinets. They are predators, for- agers and scavengers. Crazy Ants may want only protein during the summer months, but that may vary from colony to colony. Crazy ants can bite if they feel threatened, but their bites are harmless. They don’t have stingers, but can inject formic acid into the bite wound. This is much more dangerous for insect invaders than it is for humans. The most harmful effect of the crazy ants is that due to their invasive nature they can displace other ant species and negatively affect honeybee and bird populations. Therefore, they are not harmless and should not be ignored! Crazy ant infestations are not phased by typical repellents and insecticides, so applying them around your home won’t really help. You’ll probably need to contact a pest control professional if your problem is out of hand. A pest management professional has the education, equipment and skills necessary to effectively ad- dress a crazy ant problem. Finding and treating the ant colony can be challenging, especially if the main colony is hidden somewhere outside in the lawn. Don’t let Crazy Ants get the upper hand on your property!

The Weeder’s Digest A publication of Master Gardeners of Central Georgia December 2020 Weed of the Month

The name "chickweed" most notably describes Common Chickweed (Stellaria media), although there are several other chickweeds, all in the genus Stellaria. Mouse-ear chickweed is a winter perennial. The leaves are opposite, oblong and covered with hair. The flowers of Mouse-ear chickweed are white and contain five notched petals at the tip. This weed is found throughout United States, and germi- nates in Georgia in December and January. This perennial weed spreads by seed, but can root at the nodes. A pre-emergent will help control new seeds from germinating, but a post- emergent will be necessary to remove the existing weed from a lawn. Common Chickweed is a cool Mouse ear chickweed weather plant native to Europe that has widely naturalized in the United States and throughout the world. It’s often found in lawns and other areas of sun to partial shade in moist soil. In a temperate climate like our southern Appalachians, chickweed normally appears during the cooler temperatures of fall and dies back in the late spring or early summer heat, but it’s typically considered an early spring plant. It thrives between 53° and 68°F. The stringy but succulent stems of chickweed can grow up to a foot and a half or so and produce tiny white flowers throughout the growing season. Its pointed oval-shaped leaves grow in pairs opposite each other, fairly far apart on the stem. Leaves can be any- where from 1/4 to 1 1/4 inch long. Chickweed flowers are 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter and consist of five double-lobed white petals supported by a whorl of five green sepals. The flowers somewhat resemble carnation flowers--chickweed is actually a member of the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae. Common chickweed 10

The Weeder’s Digest A publication of Master Gardeners of Central Georgia December 2020

Master Gardeners of Central Georgia Our Mission is to provide horticulture-related information and training to our communities through the University of Georgia Extension. MGCG is a nonprofit, exclusively volunteer, service-oriented educational organization operating within the bounds of 26 USC § 501(c) (3). We support the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension in five areas: Environ- mental Stewardship, Home Food Production, Gardening with Youth, understanding the Value of Landscapes, and Health Benefits of Gardening. 2020 Contact Information

President L.A. Brandau [email protected] Vice President Ann Amis [email protected] Past President Eleanor Sikes [email protected] Secretary Teddie Berry [email protected] Treasurer Dawn Nash [email protected] Ways and Means Committee [email protected] Education Emily Heath [email protected] Grants Kelly Cordeira [email protected] Membership Angie Livingston [email protected] Programs Suzanne Wolfe [email protected] Correspondence Jimmy Rogers [email protected] South Chapter Karen Guyotte [email protected] Co-Chairs Ida Herb [email protected] Treasurer Walt Williams North Chapter [email protected] Co-Chairs Wayne and Carmel McIntyre [email protected]

Webmaster Greta Israel [email protected]

Newsletter Editor [email protected] Karol Kelly (Bibb) [email protected] Extension Advisors Charlotte Meeks (Houston) [email protected]

The Weeder’s Digest is a publication of Master Gardeners of Central Georgia (MGCG). It is published for the Master Gardeners of Bibb, Crawford, Dodge, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, and Twiggs counties and all other interested readers. It is edited by a Master Gardener Exten- sion Volunteer, who is solely responsible for any error. This publication is for the benefit of all members of the MGCG, and all submissions are welcomed; the deadline is always the last day of the month. Find out more about what Master Gardeners of Central Georgia are doing at: MGCG.org; and on Facebook at Master Gardeners of Central Georgia.