MASTER GARDENER PLANT and VENDOR FAIRE Saturday ~ April 11, 2015 8:30 Am to Noon Ag Center—Volusia County Fairgrounds 3100 E

Backyard Gardener

UF/IFAS EXTENSION, V OLUSIA COUNTY M A R C H 2 0 1 5

IN THIS Spring Vegetable Gardening and the Edible Landscape ISSUE at the UF/IFAS Extension Volusia County Edible Landscape Demonstration Joe Sewards  Spring Vegetable UF/IFAS Extension, Volusia County Garden and the Urban Horticulture Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator Edible Land- scape ...Pg 1 We’ve been busy in our new landscape here! Spring  A Cannibal Among is upon us and we are in a rush to get plants in the ground throughout the project. Vegetable gardening Us … Page 2 is on many folk’s mind and the time is now to get  Children’s Senory things started. We’ve been busy starting seeds, Garden Takes planting potatoes, building new beds, picking straw- Shape… Page 3 berries, fertilizing, spreading organic matter, tilling Compost bins using  Plaint Faire …Page 5 and watering. recycled pallets  Flatwood Plum Vs. As part of the overall landscape renovation here, the “edible landscape,” as we Chickasaw call it, has transformed from the fall/winter crops we were growing and is now Plum...Pg 6 headed into spring. We planted 4 varieties of potatoes in different media, to  Firebush Scrub...Pg 7 begin with. We have them growing (yes, they’re up) in a traditional row crop demonstration as well as in containers, perlite, raised beds  Everyone Can and and in straw bales! We want to show how to grow a variety Should be an Agri- of vegetables in a variety of ways. The goal is to show every- culturist..Pg 8 one that they can grow at least a portion of their own food  Calendar...Page 9 no matter what their growing situation is. We have various forms of hydroponics on display as well as container garden-

ing, a product called “Garden SoxxTM” and a fantastic compost bin too.

The purpose of the edible landscape is to show visitors Hydroponic tower unique and innovative ways to grow plants; particularly 16 peppers Continued on Page 2 The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A&M University Coopera- tive Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions, or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A&M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County

Spring Vegetable Garden and the Edible Landscape - Continued from Page 1 edible crops. By incorporating edibles into the landscape, everyone can add an element of sustainability to their property. Also, for folks that live in condominiums, apartments and other places where growing edible plants was otherwise challenging or even unthinkable, there are examples of how it can be done!

Other crops we will be growing in “non-traditional ways” will include carrots in containers, hydroponic peppers, tomatoes, eggplant and squash; beans in hay bales, cucumbers on trellises, pumpkins, melons, corn, and many other crops. Some corn will be in raised beds and some will be in the row crop plot.

The garden also includes two cistern systems that have a combined capacity of almost 1500 gallons. When complete, the cisterns will totally supply the edible landscape with irrigation. One of the cistern pumps will be powered by solar power! Our garden will be self-sufficient! The cisterns should be operational within Hydroponic pepper another month. in a 5 gallon bucket

There is a lot to see in the edible landscape as well as in our entire project so, feel free to come and have a look. It is a work in progress, for sure but, there is a lot to see and a lot for you to learn about how you can become more ‘Florida Friendly and sustainable in your own gardening and landscaping practices.

We are open from 8:00a.m till 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. One of two, cistern systems

A Cannibal Among Us Dodie Ulery – Volusia County Master Gardener

Lurking in the shadows of Florida’s lawns and gar- tates mucus membranes. They easily adapt to resi- dens is a monster that must be stopped. Because dential areas. These visitors can be found in most of his cannibalistic nature, he’s consuming the na- areas in Florida. There have even been reports of tive anole and green tree frog popula- sightings in Southern Georgia as well. tion in our state. This cannibal, Os- They can be found inside pipes, behind teopilus Septentrionalis, is more com- objects hung on walls or wooden monly known as a Cuban Tree frog. A fences, inside birdhouses and even bur- native of Cuba, the Bahamas and the rowed down into the soil on top of pot- Cayman Islands, this deadly predator ted plants. was introduced to South Florida in the Hydroponic pepper in 5 gal. bucket early 20th century via shipments from Research suggests they eliminate native its’ native habitat in the islands. species of tree frogs and anoles by de- vouring them and they are rapidly be- This frog can grow to more than six coming established in natural areas. inches long. Unlike the much smaller There have even been reports of black- native green species, the Cuban tree outs and damaged utilities equipment frogs are usually creamy white to light caused by these frogs when they brown. Their eyes are large and their skin is rough create short-circuits. to the touch and coated with a secretion that irri- ContinuedContinued on on Page Page 4 9

The Children’s Sensory Garden Takes Shape at the UF IFIS Extension Volusia County By Sidney Solis Master Gardener

A crew of seasoned and newbie Florida Master Gar- yard, according to Florida-Friendly Landscaping deners alike applied and expanded their knowledge principals, such as examples of how to conserve wa- by planting crepe myrtle, rose bushes, shrimp plants ter and use mulches, fertilizer. The nine principles and more than 30 other species of plants in the new will be on display throughout the garden and espe- Children’s Sensory Garden Tuesday morning Feb. cially in the kids’.” 17 at the UF IFAS Extension Office Volusia County. A color wheel of raised beds with various colored annuals will run along a circle’s perimeter, featuring different plants throughout the year and the colors of the rainbow to awaken kids’ eyes’ sense of sight, Sewards said. For the nose’s sense of smell, gardeners planted and pruned 20 rose bushes, and other odors, such as society garlic’s pungent scent, will ultimately be featured too. Sound for the ears, in addition to the new pond, will be feature plants, such as ornamental grasses for kids to hear foliage that blow in the wind and rustle.

Taste for the tongue will feature edibles, such as,

The Children’s Sensory Garden is an extension of the Extension Office’s overall landscape design cre- ated by UF Professor and Landscape Architect Gail Hanson and two students, said Joe Sewards. urban horticultural agent and master gardener coordinator. The planting was the first phase of the overall plan for the Children’s Sensory Garden, which includes five circles representing each of the five senses and also the nine principles of Florida Friendly Land- scaping. The entire garden is funded by the Envi- ronmental Cultural, Historical and Outdoor Grant, nasturtiums, kids can pick and eat, Sewards said. In funded by Volusia County tax dollars that the Ex- the taste garden, kids and families will learn how to tension was awarded. make from bamboo and other materials, such as re- purposed PVC, teepees and other interesting garden “This is a one of a kind garden” Sewards said. “The art and structures that will serve to grow vining garden is primarily directed at a kid, but anybody plants, like green beans. can go through it and experience the various aspects of sensory gardening, overall the whole garden is Primary schools for many years have been coming designed as a demonstration and teaching garden to the Extension Office gardens for tours and out- where people can come and get ideas of their own door classroom experiences, said Master Gardener Continued on Page 4 3

The Children’s Sensory Garden Takes Shape … Continued from Page 4

Volunteer and Former School Teacher Evelyn kind of fun for that. Kids also get to connect with Shapiro, who works in the Children’s Program. “We insects, learn about bees and pollination things like get a lot of repeat classes coming every year. The that in the new vegetable and sensory garden.”

Indian River Elementary First Grade Teacher Heather Ranieri will be bringing her class to make its annual tour this March before the garden is complete, but she says the kids look forward to it every year. “The kids just really enjoy it every year,” Ranieri said. “They get to see the plants that are native to our area, and the tour makes it relevant to first graders for them rather than reading in a book, or video to talk about the food chain, the animals and the plants. In the butterfly garden, kids get to see the caterpillars. A lot of kids we have come from pretty low socio-economic backgrounds and don’t get to do a lot of things in the community. new sensory garden will really change the whole approach and curriculum, and we will get more school tours, especially also with the wonderful vegetable garden.” She sees how the gardens affect kids’ awareness of the food they eat and where it comes from. “It’s hard to believe that some kids think strawberries actually come from Publix and don’t realize they actually grow on a plant, so it’s

"To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves." ---Mohandas K. Gandhi

17th Annual

MASTER GARDENER PLANT AND VENDOR FAIRE Saturday ~ April 11, 2015 8:30 am to Noon Ag Center—Volusia County Fairgrounds 3100 E. New York Avenue, DeLand FREE PARKING!! FREE ADMISSION!!

Cash, checks and credit cards accepted by Master Gardeners

Bring your own wagon

Butterfly and Hummingbird Plants Herbs and Edibles × Native Plants × Perennials ×Trees Variety of Plant and Gardening Vendors

Plant Faire Preview Don’t Forget: Friday - April 10th 9:00 am to Noon

For details, call the Volusia County Extension Service: Deland (386) 822—5778

Like us on Facebook! Volusia County Horticulture 5

Flatwood Plum Vs. Chickasaw Plum Mary Wright, Master Gardener UF/IFAS Extension, Volusia County

Which is right for your yard? Blossoms Flatwoods Plum This is the time of year when many trees and shrubs The Flatwoods Plum is a Florida native. It does not put on a beautiful show with their delicate flowers. sprout seeds readily. If you plant Chickasaw Plums, They key is to know, which plant is right for my land- you will enjoy thousands of little Chickasaws sprout- scape. ing everywhere, every year. The Chickasaw is con- sidered a “weedy native”. The Chickasaw sprouts from the base of the trunk while the Flatwoods does not.

Both trees are cold hardy, drought tolerant, bird and bee attracters. Both will reach heights of 20 to 25 feet. Correct pruning techniques will lead to a stronger structure and prettier tree as it ages. The Chickasaw will require more pruning than the Flat-

The Chickasaw Plum ( Prunus angustifolia ) and the Flatwoods Plum ( Prunus umbellata ) look similar in their bark, flowers and overall appearance. There is one factor that really separates them into friendly shrub or pain in the neck tree. Seeds.

woods. Both trees will grow in a wide range of light and soil conditions.

Chickasaw plum – caution. This tree may sucker and create dense thickets.

It may be more difficult to find Flatwoods Plums to buy, but it is well worth the extra effort. Like us on Facebook… www.facebook.com/UniversityOfFloridaIfasVolusiaCounty Extension

Firebush Scrub Myrna Moore—Volusia County Master Gardener

Family: Rubiaceae Genus: Hamelia (ham-EE-lee-uh) Species: patens (pat-ens)

The Genus: Hamelia is named for the French Early people in tropical Americas used the stems botanist Honri Louis Du Hamel du Monceau. Of and leaves to treat many skin diseases as well as interest if you pronounce the name of the spe- insect stings, rashes, skin fungus, and sores. Ix- cies: patens as “pay-tenz” it changes the meaning canan, as the Mayans called the Firebush means to spreading. ”guardian of the forest”. The natives in Belize Firebush is a joy in any landscape. Once estab- used the plant to treat skin problems, wounds, lished it requires little care, becomes drought tol- burns, insect bites and much more. They boiled erant and even survives salt. This evergreen is two handfuls of leaves, stems and flowers in a fast growing and will reach 10 to 12 feet in height couple of gallons of water. The liquid was used within the plants first two for menstrual cramps in the years of life. After its first form of tea. After cooling it pruning it will grow to that was applied to the skin for height within six months. multiple topical uses. In Pa- Full sun is best for blooming, nama the Choco Indians but the plant also does well used the infusion to treat in partial shade. It tolerates fever and diarrheas, and any type of soil, even our intestinal parasites. Vene- sandy beachside The inflo- zuelan tribes used the rescence is tubular with a leaves to bring down body reddish yellow orange flower temperature. Brazilians which blooms most of the used the root as a diuretic, year in our Central Florida and to treat headaches and climate, zone 9b. The fruit is skin parasites. In Cuba it is a berry that goes from green used for headaches and to yellow, then red and fi- rheumatism. Mexican peo- nally black. ple used it to heal wounds and slow blood flow. Modern researchers have In March when the first hummingbirds arrive found that many of the above treatments are ef- they come in droves to the Firebush’s colorful fective. long lasting blooms and then stay till late fall. Butterflies love this plant for both nectar and lar- The Firebush I have had for many years thrives val food. A large variety of birds also feed on its on severe pruning to the height of 3 feet twice a fruit. The Firebush fruit is edible and the plant year. My bush grows to heights of 12 feet and has a long history of medicinal and industrial the humming birds flock here annually. I never uses. water nor feed this bush and the flowers and berries are always wonderful. At 5pm the humming- In Mexico where the Firebush has fruit most of birds are buzzing around with the butterflies the year, the fruit is eaten from the bush or made throughout the day. The work of pruning is noth- into a wine or syrup. The berry has an unusual ing to the wonder I experience each year as I taste, sweet, and then bitter. watch the life that goes on and around this bush.

Everyone Can and Should Be, An Agriculturist By Whitney Elmore, Guest Columnist Tampa Bay Times

What does it mean to shop locally for food? Some and supporting it. There are so many ways we can people think it means to shop for goods grown guide this critical process that we collectively call within the United States, some think within their agriculture. It's simple to help yourself and sup- state, while others think it means to shop for port agriculture: Start a garden and growing and items produced only within their own county. preparing your own food. You can learn about commercial food production and about best farm- Wendell Berry, American novelist, poet, environ- ing and gardening practices, attending the various mental activist, cultural critic and farmer, explains seminars held at extension offices, visit farmer's "shopping locally" as "(buying) food that is pro- markets. You can join or start a food policy council duced closest to your home," because "the locally to guide land-use ordinances in your area. Volun- produced food supply is the easiest for local con- teer at food pantries. Take a culinary class. Encour- sumers to know about and to influence." This 1990 age your children to join 4-H. Shop at local mar- quote is a powerful statement. It means that when kets, and choose "Fresh from Florida" brands. we buy local, we're commanding a great force and we're becoming active consumers in the process. No matter how you do it, the most important step An active consumer influences not only agriculture to becoming a responsible consumer is to have a but also the economy. relationship with your food. Let's respect the plants and the animals. Let's respect the men and By shopping locally, we can talk to our local farm- women growing, processing and delivering our ers and gardeners about where our food comes food for us to enjoy and live long, healthy lives. from and how it is produced, and we can take an Let's respect the sounds, smells and sights of the active role in the agriculture around us. In essence, agriculture that surround us and take responsibil- we become agriculturists without ever turning the ity for the role we play within it because of the soil or tending to the animals. To make it fresher, choices we make when shopping. safer and more secure, it's got to become our agriculture, and it's time we were all active in it. When we smell the cows, let it empower instead of repel. When we hear the cannons in the blue- National Geographic this year defined agriculture berry fields, let us be reminded that those farmers as "the art and science of cultivating the soil, are protecting our food with that noise by shooing growing crops and raising livestock. It includes the away the birds. When we get stuck behind a slow preparation of plant and animal products for peo- tractor or semi full of produce, let us be proud of ple to use and their distribution to markets." that crop and not annoyed by the delay. Based on this definition, we all play a significant role in agriculture, whether we choose to or not, We don't have to be rich, and we don't need to be because we're consumers. the most popular or the loudest to have influence Consumers are the whole purpose for this art and — we just need to think and buy food locally. Agri- science. As active consumers, it is our responsibil- culture is the fabric of our bodies, our homes, our ity to eat responsibly by learning about where our schools, our economy, our nation and our world. food comes from, how it's produced and how it Let's all be agriculturalists. gets to us before we eat it because we influence Whitney Elmore is the University of Florida/ the food and it influences us. Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Pasco

It's time to take individual responsibility for our County extension director and urban horticulture agriculture by learning more about it, protecting it agent. Contact her at [email protected].

Calendar of Public Events March & April

Topic Date/Time Location Ormond Beach Plant Clinic 3/2/15—10 am to 12 n Ormond Beach Library Water Wise Garden Fair 3/7/15—10 to 4 pm 200 Canal Street, New Smyrna Port Orange Library Plant Clinic 3/10/15—2 to 4 pm Port Orange Library Basic Rose Care 3/12/15—1 to 2:30 pm DeBary Hall—Howard Jeffries Operating /Maintaining Your Irrigation System (`1.5 CEUs) 3/14/15—10 to 11:30 am DeBary Hall—Howard Jeffries Plant Clinic 3/17/15—1 to 3 pm New Smyrna Beach LIbrary Sugar Mill Garden Workday /Q&A 3/18/15—9 to 11 am Sugar Mill Garden ,Port Orange Citrus Care (1.5 CEUs) 3/26/15—21 to 2:30 pm DeBary Hall—Howard Jeffries Wildflower Festival 3/28/15—8 am to 3 pm Downtown DeLand Ormond Beach Plant Clinic 4/6/15—10 am to 12 n Ormond Beach Library Gardem Tools. Selection, Care, Use (1.5 CEU) 4/9/15—1 to 2:30 pm DeBary Hall—Howard Jeffries Master Gardener Plant Faire 4/11/15—8:30 to 12 n Ag Center Port Orange MG Q&A Clinic 3/14/15—10 to 12 pm Port Orange Library Port Orange Library Plant Clinic 3/14/15—2 to 4 pm Port Orange Library Sugar Mill Garden Workday /Q&A 4/15/15—9 to 11 am Sugar Mill Garden ,Port Orange Basic Lawn Care (1.5 CEU) 4/18/15—10 to 11:30 am DeBary Hall—Howard Jeffries MG Plant Clinic 4/21/15—1 to 3 pm New Smyrna Beach Library Native Plants 4/25/15—1 to 2:30 pm DeBary Hall—Howard Jeffries For more details Master Gardeners should check the VMS calendar. The general public may contact the Volusia County Agricultural Center. Volusia County Agricultural Center 3100 E. New York Ave. (S.R. 44), Deland, FL 32724 At the Volusia County Fair Grounds West Volusia… 386-822-5778 Daytona Beach… 386-257-6012 New Smyrna Beach… 386-423-3368

A morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books. Walt Whitman

A Cannibal Among Us Continued from Page 2 There are, at present, no repellents avail- bag and place the bag inside the freezer. able to stop the mayhem. We, as garden- After twenty–four hours you can ers and caretakers of the wild places in toss the carcass into the garbage. Florida, must take the initiative. When This is a very humane way of dealing with you find one of these innocent looking these predators. If there is any green in creatures, protect your hands with gloves their color, it may be a native species. or a plastic bag. They can leap up to six Check for the color – creamy white to feet. After you finally catch it, deposit the light brown. frog into a plastic bag, like a food storage Happy Hunting!