October 2015 Turnip News

Master Gardeners

Prince William

Editors: Rebecca Arvin-Colón Maria Stewart

Inside this issue: MG President’s Message Upcoming Events and MGPW s many of you know by reading Nancy Berlin’s announce- Meetings - At a Glance 3 ment, Bill Willis has stepped down as President of Master News from the Gardeners of Prince William, Inc. (MGPW). I am a Past 4 A Education Committee - Orchids President of MGPW and agreed to step forward to fill the President slot. I have appreciated Bill’s help as I begin the task of President. I Master Gardener College Review 5 look forward to working with you as MGPW President and look Reaching Out - Library Bulletin forward to meeting more of our wonderful Master Gardeners. Boards 6 Bill worked very hard at moving our organization forward and has Living with Slugs and Snails 7-8 left the Board with many important issues to think about and work Upcoming Events and MGPW on before the important January 26th Recertification meeting (see p. 9-10 Meetings 10). At Recertification, we will approve the 2016 Budget, approve Celebrate Urban Agriculture changes to the Bylaws, vote on the MGPW slate of officers, as well Month 11 as address other items.

Community Shredding 12 We continue the work on the 501(c)(3) nonprofit application, the Bylaws, and the 2016 budget. Our board meetings are open to the Get to Know a Critter 13 general membership and you are invited and encouraged to attend PUZZLER 14 the board meetings. Our next Board of Directors meeting will be October 8th at 5:30 p.m. in the McCoy Room at Sudley North Government Building (p. 9).

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If you would like to serve on the Board of Directors for 2016-2017, please let me know which position interests you. President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Member-at-Large are up for election. All of the members stepping down from the Board would be happy to help you settle into your new position.

Our next education program will be on October 6th, an Orchid class featuring Jennifer Graham, Jean Bennett, and Susan Bruns as speakers. Thank you Jamie Nick for tapping into the resources of our MGs to bring us this exciting program (p. 4).

The Memorial Brick Dedication to honor Louise Black and Ed Rishell will be October 10th at 2:00 p.m. at the Teaching Garden. Light refreshments will be served (p. 9). The final touches are being made on the new compost area to honor Ed Rishell.

Last but not least, have you heard the exciting news? Jennifer Graham is in the new MG training class! Welcome Jennifer to the Master Gardeners of Prince William County!

September 23rd was the first day of autumn! Let’s get outdoors and enjoy our gardens and all that nature has to offer.

-Jane Wyman, President Master Gardeners of Prince William, Inc. [email protected]

Don’t forget to check in at MGPW.org http://www.mgpw.org/

2 Upcoming Events and MGPW Meetings - At a Glance October

SATURDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 3 6 7 8 Teaching Garden Orchids Celebrate Urban MGPW Board of Work Day Agriculture Month Directors Meeting SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY 10 24 31 Saturday in the Teaching Garden Community Garden, Work Day & Work Day Shredding Memorial Brick Dedication November December January

SATURDAY MONDAY TUESDAY 7 14 26 Teaching Garden Master Gardener Master Gardener Work Day Class Graduation Recertification February SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY 6 13 20 27 Sustainable Sustainable Basics of Basics of Vegetable Gardening Vegetable Gardening Gardening Gardening

March SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY SATURDAY 5 12 19 26 Sustainable Vegetable Basics of SNOW DATE: SNOW DATE: Gardening / Gardening Basics of Sustainable Pruning Class Gardening Vegetable Gardening

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News from the Education Committee Jamie Nick

Orchids is open to the public, so invite your family, neighbors, and friends!

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Master Gardener College Review by Harriet Carter (photos by Harriet Carter) t the September 9th Master Gardener College Review, a small, but very enthused group of Mas- A ter Gardeners shared their impressions about MG College programs. They were asked to describe the programs, what especially impressed them, and what they learned.

MG College attendees discussed some of the highlights such as the very informative general sessions which At MG College: Amye Foelsch, Jannell earned high praise by all. Jannell Bryant gave a very Bryant, Sherrie Bishop, Jean Meink, interesting summary of a parasitic plant course that Leslie Paulson, Paul Gibson included some fascinating information on germination through smoke.

Tree stewards were also among the group: Janene Cullen, Susan Bruns, Brenda Hallam and Harriet Carter. They attended an additional full-day program at MG College which included cours- es especially designed for tree steward education.

Janene outlined the mission of tree stewards and important gen- eral tree ID information. She explained that trees are important to our environment, and “every open field in Virginia is a forest At MG College: Susan Bruns, waiting to happen.” Susan talked about what keeps a tree Harriet Carter, Brenda Hallam healthy. Brenda, Susan and Harriet, coincidentally, had a tree steward assignment after returning from MG College, and shared the visit and results with the re- view attendees. Harriet gave a short overview of a course on tree risk assessment and the importance of the form that is used for this purpose.

Leslie Paulson wrapped up the Master Gardener College Review with a summary on edible plant products. Overall, Master Gardener College was a positive experience.

Jannell Bryant: “Attending MG college is a must experience for any Master Gardener.” Harriet Carter: “The whole MG college experience reaffirmed my belief in the MG program.” Susan Bruns: “It is a privilege to meet other Master Gardeners from around the MG College Review: State and learn from them. We have more in Jannell Bryant common than we thought.” Don Peschka: “This was my fourth time I attended and I did not regret it. You learn continually from others. The camaraderie among the participants makes it all worthwhile.”

The most important take-away by all: Master Gardener College is a valuable continuing education opportunity. It is a chance to share ideas with other people and to listen to dynamic speakers. MG College

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Reaching Out - Library Bulletin Boards

Vernelle Boykin leads the Master Gardener team responsible for designing, creating and updating library bulletin boards in order to reach out to the Prince William County Community. Each bulletin board is artfully arranged and jam-packed with important information.

Check out the bulletin board team’s hard work the next time you’re at the library - and encourage friends and neighbors to do the same!

Bulletin Board and informational binder at Bull Run Regional Library

Bulletin Board with timely information at Central Community Library

The MG Bulletin Board team members include: Betty Günter, Phyllis Putnam, Judy Schneider, Tim McCleerey, Brenda Hallam, Teresa Blecksmith, Kathleen Caruso, Donna Seckar.

Photos by Maria Stewart 6 Turnip News

Living with Slugs and Snails by Abbie and Vincent Panettiere n conversation with my sister-in-law, who source described slugs as, basically, “...a stomach lives in Santa Barbara, California, I on one large foot.” (http://goo.gl/oub3q6). The I happened to mention that I was considering foot on either slug or snail secretes a mucus sub- writing about slugs and snails and asked her if stance, which helps them move. When it dries, she has any problems with them. She replied the mucus substance forms a slime trail that she hadn’t had problems with slugs and she shows us that one of them has been by and helps never sees snails “…unless there's been a fair the slug or snail find a source of food again. amount of watering or rain. I was wondering Slugs have an advantage in not needing soil how long they can ‘hibernate’ in their secret with good calcium content, whereas snails need places without water. If we lose a lot due to this to help build and repair their shells. drought, t'would be a good thing. They are imports to California. I used to enjoy putting on Slugs and snails are both hermaphrodites and my rubber galoshes and go out and stomp them each of them can lay eggs. As an example, brown after a rain.” garden snails (a pest) lay, on average, 80 eggs per clutch up to six times per year. The snails This murderous reaction to snails and slugs take two years to mature. Slugs lay anywhere seems to prevail among gardeners in general. from three to 40 eggs per clutch and take three After considering the damage that the unlovely to six months to mature. slugs did to my plants, I was hoping to find out what good they do for gardeners, reasoning that Both slugs and snails need areas of moisture, all creatures must have good points. It turns out shade, and vegetation to provide cover. They are that they do have a useful role as detritivores nocturnal predators, also functioning on cloudy (decomposers). Earthworms are also detritivores or foggy days. Conditions of heat and drought or and function in a similar fashion. Their function cold cause them to seek cover. When it is too cold is to recycle leaves and other dead plant for them, they will hibernate in topsoil. During material, droppings, and moss and turn either condition, snails form a membrane that them into soil humus. resembles parchment and attach themselves to tree trunks, fences, or walls. My sister-in-law also informed me of another im- portant job that one species of native slug per- Slugs and snails are capable of doing a great forms in California. The Giant Pacific Banana deal of harm to our gardens and farms, particu- Slug, the second-largest species of terrestrial larly, it seems, the exotic species that have come slug in the world (9.8 inches long, 4.1 ounces), in from other countries accidentally or been which can move at a dizzying (for a slug) speed brought in for what seemed excellent reasons at of 6.5 inches per minute, spends its working the time. The Giant African Land Snail may hours cleaning and restoring the Pacific coastal serve as an example. The Department of coniferous rainforest belt (including the red- Agriculture and Consumer Services, in identify- woods). It is also, she informed me, the mascot of ing the snail in Miami-Dade County, stated that, the University of California, Santa Cruz. I might “the Giant African Land Snail is one of the most add, in passing, that John Travolta wore a U.C. damaging snails in the world because they con- Santa Cruz Banana Slug T‑shirt in the movie sume at least 500 different types of plants, can Pulp Fiction. cause structural damage to plaster and stucco, and can carry a parasitic nematode that can lead I found that both slugs and snails are members to meningitis in humans.” The problem with of the phylum Mollusca, class Gastropoda. One snails and slugs is world-wide. The Government

7 Turnip News of Western Australia, all of whose pest snails last resort in treating garden pests and diseases. and slugs are introduced non-natives, mentions Page 4-65 covers biological controls, cultural that, “pest snails and slugs damage plant seeds, controls, and pesticides approved for use and seedlings, underground tubers, leaves, and fruit. timing of treatment. Metaldehyde is mentioned Damage to seedlings often results in the death here, as it is on many other sites. The user is of the plant, which means major production warned that metaldehyde is very poisonous to losses.” pets, especially dogs, and you are cautioned to use metaldehyde in granule form and avoid the Methods to get rid of snails and slugs are usual- pellet form, which a dog might mistake for a ly quite similar; they are close enough in habit treat. and body plan that the disposal method for one will also work for the other, generally. Reading between the lines in all the information I found, it seems that slugs and snails will prob- Checking online, trap methods mentioning the ably always be with us and one must be pre- use of beer in a steep-sided cup buried most of pared to wage a running battle with them. In the way up to the rim in areas where slugs are our favor is that their top speed maxes out at known to appear are almost universally men- around six inches per minute. tioned. Slugs are attracted to the smell of beer and to the alcohol. They climb over the rim, fall Snail and Slug Information: http://goo.gl/76zXVk into the beer, and drown. United States Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Library Giant African Snail Deterring slugs and snails involves keeping your garden sunny and your beds free of debris and https://goo.gl/WouApr Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Limax maximus weeds. It is suggested you mow your lawn regu- larly and not use organic mulches. Using this https://goo.gl/SJ4sSY Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Keeled slug last suggestion must be weighed against the fact that mulch is useful in keeping plants’ roots https://goo.gl/7fRCIg Government of Western Australia cool, the ground moist, and supplying nutrients Department of Agriculture and Food to the plants. However, moisture and nutrients http://goo.gl/oub3q6 are useful and necessary to slugs and snails as Oregon State University Pacific Northwest Nursery IPM, Snails/Slugs well. Neither slugs nor snails can tolerate heat and are apt to dry out unless they can find safe http://goo.gl/lbPt2z Carnegie Museum of Natural History places to hibernate when it is too hot and dry for Land Snail Ecology them to survive. One wonders if the four-year http://goo.gl/DUZUH drought in California may be gradually killing University of California Santa Cruz off these pests. https://goo.gl/wv6O2E Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Banana Slug It is suggested that predators of slugs and snails, which include ground beetles, birds, http://goo.gl/5A0h9i Home Guides toads, and nematodes, be encouraged and kept Are Snails Bad for Lawn Trees & Shrubs? by Kristi Waterworth, Demand Media Google in your garden if possible. Having chickens or particularly ducks, is useful as long as you can http://goo.gl/AKSxLQ University of California Agriculture and Natural Re- keep your chickens and ducks from eating the sources, Pests in Gardens and Landscapes crops you’re trying to protect; they like seedling https://goo.gl/cYcGTc plants as well. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Detritivores

Finally, chemicals are reluctantly mentioned. https://goo.gl/Uh6PIZ Virginia Cooperative Extension Our own Virginia Cooperative Extension Pest Pest Management Guide: Home Grounds and , Management Guide (https://goo.gl/dCDtnm) 2015, pg. 4-72 mentions that chemical methods should be the 8 Turnip News

Upcoming Events and MGPW Meetings

2015 Teaching Garden Workdays Listed below are the Saturday Workdays in the Garden. Additionally, Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. - noon are regular work times as well. There will be no more Thursday evening workdays for this season. It is always nice to have a head start on spring by weeding until it’s too cold to do so. All help is greatly appreciated!

Saturday Workdays October 3rd, 10th, and 24th November 7th

MGPW, Inc. Board of Directors Meeting: Thursday, October 8th, 5:30 p.m., in the McCoy Room at Sudley North Government Building (7987 Ashton Avenue, Suite 105, Manassas)

This will be a Board Meeting only, without a program following. All members are encouraged to attend.

Saturday in the Garden: Living Soil, Saturday, October 10th, 9:00 a.m. - noon at the Teaching Garden (9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow)

Healthy soil is a web of life, retaining and cycling nutrients into the right forms at the right rates, building soil structure, suppressing disease-causing organisms, protecting plants, and decomposing toxic compounds. Learn about the necessary elements of a healthy soil web. Join the Cooks’ Garden team and learn seed saving tips. Participation is free, but registration is requested; please call the Horticultural Help Desk at 703-792-7747 or email [email protected].

Dedication of memorial bricks in honor of Master Gardener Volunteers Ed Rishell and Louise Black, Saturday, October 10th, 2:00 p.m. at the Teaching Garden (9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow)

We will have refreshments following the dedication. Join us for the memorial and to see our Teaching Garden. RSVP to the Horticultural Help Desk at 703-792-7747 or email [email protected]. If you would like to help with the refreshments, contact Leslie Paulson, [email protected].

Master Gardener Class Graduation: Monday, December 14th, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Historic Manassas Courthouse (9248 Lee Avenue, Manassas)

We’d like to make this a social event for Master Gardeners to meet the new class and socialize with other MGs. Let’s all make the new class feel welcome! RSVP to the Horticultural Help Desk at 703-792-7747 or [email protected]. MGs are asked to bring a finger food to share.

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Upcoming Events and MGPW Meetings 2016

MG Recertification: Tuesday, January 26th, 6:30 p.m. at the Edward Kelly Leadership Center (14715 Bristow Road, Manassas 20112 )

Recertification is required for all Master Gardeners. Please RSVP to the Horticultural Help Desk at 703-792-7747 or email [email protected], so that you can be notified of any changes due to inclement weather.

Sustainable Vegetable Gardening Series: Saturdays, February 6th, 13th, March 5th, SNOW DATE: Saturday, March 26th, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Chinn Library (13065 Chinn Park Dr., Woodbridge, VA 22192)

Growing our own food, using nature as a guide and incorporating sustainable practices is good for our bodies and good for the earth. Taught by the Master Gardener Cook’s Garden Team, these 3 classes cover the essential topics — planning the garden, using organic sustainable techniques to develop healthy productive gardens, and growing good garden soil. These practices are on display at our Teaching Garden and showcased in our Saturday in the Garden programs. There is no charge for these classes, but class is limited to 60, please register by contacting the Horticultural Help Desk at 703-792-7747 or email [email protected].

Basics of Gardening: Saturdays, February 20th, 27th, March 12th, SNOW DATE: Saturday, March 19th, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Powell’s Creek - McCoart Building (1 County Complex Court, Prince William, VA 22192)

Through instruction by Master Gardeners and Extension Staff, students will learn some of the science behind gardening, plant culture, and pest and disease solutions. The series will focus on research-based knowledge of plant resistance, problem avoidance and the most effective control strategies. Please call the Horticultural Help Desk at 703-792-7747 or email [email protected] for more information and cost.

Pruning Class, Saturday March 5th, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Teaching Garden (9535 Linton Hall Road, Bristow)

Taught by Rachel Habig-Myers, MS, MPS. Learn best practices for timing, and techniques for pruning trees and shrubs. This class includes classroom and hands-on information. Dress for the weather. Space is limited. This class is free, but registration is requested; please call the Horticultural Help Desk at 703-792-7747 or email [email protected].

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Get to Know a Critter: Spotted Orbweaver ( crucifera )

Did you know? ♦ Spotted orbweavers are found from New England to southern Florida, west to Minnesota, and southwest to and central Mexico.

♦ Juveniles usually begin making webs at dusk and take the webs down shortly after dawn. In the fall during the day, adult females can be found sitting head down in the hubs of their webs.

♦ Bites from spotted orbweavers are not known to harm humans.

♦ Spotted orbweavers are considered bene- ficial and consume a variety of insects.

♦ The orb part of the spotted orbweaver’s web can be nearly two feet in diameter. They typically make their webs using an eave of a building as an upper support, with Photo by Ryan Wilt, discovered in the evening on the bottom frame attached to a shrub or the his front porch. It was gone by morning but ground. returned the following evening.

See the spotted orbweaver in action, click here. Video by Jason Alexander. https://goo.gl/JQPQXI

Sources: University of Florida, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in569 Iowa State University, Dept. of Entomology, BugGuide.net, http://goo.gl/6YRHGz

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PUZZLER Do you know what this is? See next month’s Turnip News for the answer!

Last month’s answer:

Gerbera Daisy

(Gerbera jamesonii)

For more information on Gerbera Daisy see: Missouri Botanical Garden: http://goo.gl/XyYlPV Auburn University: http://goo.gl/vGfc5g

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