Gardener News Gardener News Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities June, 2010 SUBSCRIPTION $24.99 Vol. 8 No. 86 TAKE ONE TAKE ONE Gardener News 16 Mount Bethel Road #123 Warren, NJ 07059 FIRST-CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID LIBERTY CORNER NJ PERMIT NO. 40 (Continued on Page 16) Garden therapy conjures up many images, all positive, and none that eclipses the special project that just took place with the residents of the New Jersey Association of the Deaf-Blind, Inc.’s community home in Franklin Township, Somerset County. Les Polk, Training and Quality Assurance Coordinator for this agency, contacted the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc. last year with a request that to have a garden club come and teach them the wonderful art of gardening. GCNJ President Mary Warshauer immediately reached out to me as District IV Chair to contact Mr. Polk and see what we might be able to do. I was immediately struck by Les Polk’s caring and nurturing persona, as he wanted to involve his residents in an activity he had no personal experience with, but felt it would open up a whole new world to his charges, and provide them with the opportunity of “achieving, enabling, participating, contributing, sharing, working, dreaming, creating, interacting, connecting, hoping, flourishing, excelling, living, accomplishing, touching, Square Foot Garden Therapy Jeannie Geremia, a member of the Neshanic Garden Club, Inc. and Horticulture Chairperson for the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., front right, joins other Neshanic Garden Club members and New Jersey Association of Deaf-Blind (NJADB) residents and staff to celebrate the completion of a square foot garden. NJADB exists to provide lifetime, comprehensive services and support to people who are deaf-blind, deaf or blind, including people with developmental disabilities and communication impairments. By Jeannie Geremia Garden Club of New Jersey
Transcript
Gardener NewsGardener News Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities
June, 2010 SUBSCRIPTION $24 .99 Vol. 8 No. 86
TAKEONE
TAKEONE
Gardener News16 Mount Bethel Road #123Warren, NJ 07059
FIRST-CLASS MAILU.S. POSTAGE PAID
LIBERTY CORNER NJPERMIT NO. 40
(Continued on Page 16)
Garden therapy conjures up many images, all positive, and none that eclipses the special project that just took place with the residents of the
New Jersey Association of the Deaf-Blind, Inc.’s community home in Franklin Township, Somerset County.
Les Polk, Training and Quality Assurance Coordinator for this agency, contacted the Garden Club of New Jersey,
Inc. last year with a request that to have a garden club come and teach them the wonderful art of gardening. GCNJ President Mary Warshauer immediately reached out to me as District IV Chair to contact Mr. Polk and see what we might be able to
do. I was immediately struck by Les Polk’s caring and nurturing persona, as he wanted to involve his residents in an activity he had no personal experience with, but felt it would open up a whole new world to his charges, and provide them with
the opportunity of “achieving, enabling, participating, contributing, sharing, working, dreaming, creating, interacting, connecting, hoping, flourishing, excelling, living, accomplishing, touching,
Square Foot Garden Therapy
Jeannie Geremia, a member of the Neshanic Garden Club, Inc. and Horticulture Chairperson for the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., front right, joins other Neshanic Garden Club members and New Jersey Association of Deaf-Blind (NJADB) residents and staff to celebrate the completion of a square foot garden. NJADB exists to provide lifetime, comprehensive services and support to people who are deaf-blind, deaf or blind, including people with developmental disabilities and communication impairments.
By Jeannie GeremiaGarden Club of New Jersey
Gardener News2 June, 2010 Gardener News2 G a r d e n C e n t e r d i r e C t o r y
Gardener News2 June, 2010 Gardener News2 G a r d e n C e n t e r d i r e C t o r y
A “Scent”-sational Planting!According to the National Climatic Data Center, the combined global land and ocean
surface temperature was the warmest on record for both April and for the period from January to April 2010. Additionally, April’s average ocean surface temperature was the warmest on record for any April, and the global land surface temperature was the third-warmest on record.
The monthly analysis from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), based on records going back to 1880, is part of the suite of climate services that NOAA provides government, business and community leaders so they can make informed decisions.
In April, I had to break down and turn on the A.C. for three days. Usually I make it a practice not to fire up the cold air money machine until June 1. But there was no way I was sticking to my sheets.
Do you think Mother Nature played a trick on us? I do. As May rolled around- KABLAMMO - freeze warnings were issued by the National Weather Service early in the month. I hope everyone waited until at least May 15 (the average last frost date in New Jersey) to plant their annuals and vegetable plants.
I love garden centers and greenhouses. So, on an early Tuesday morning I decided to visit one of my daily hang-outs (I have a lot) to do some garden shopping. I was greeted by my long-time friend Rob (who I call Cuz) in the greenhouse section of his garden center and farm.
He was very excited to show me something “really cool,” as he put it. We walked a short distance through his greenhouse to a section that has lots of containers, pots and brackets. He reached up on the top shelf and said, “Have you ever seen anything like this before?” I looked at it for a minute, paused and said, “Does that fit over a mailbox?” He said yes. It was a double-sided plastic coated wire planter. I thought to myself, what a great way to have flowers at the end of the driveway! I immediately grabbed it and said, “Sold!”
What a great gift for my parents. You see, they live in deer country. After planting two 10-inch pots that I had home in my garage with white pansies, purple
hyacinths and yellow daffodils, my Easter Sunday gift was a hit on the mailbox. I heard the neighbors liked it too.
Now, what do I plant after May 15 that will perform with profuse deep-red blooms through the summer? And what will tolerate dry conditions (being on top of the mailbox above tar beach)?
Since geraniums are one of the most reliable plants grown in the home garden, I’ll give them a try. And they also require little care, as long as they get lots of sun and have well-drained soil.
Aside from a little pinching once in a while, they should be great.If you live in deer country and you want a little color at the end of your driveway, look for
one of these neat plant hangers in your local garden center. Tell them Tom from the Gardener News sent you.
By the way, I stopped by my local hardware store and purchased a wire strap to secure it from the wind and unwanted visitors.
new mailbox flower garden. I can see it filled with mums, cabbage and kale in the fall.
As always, I hope you find the information in the Gardener News informative and enjoyable.
Until next time…Keep the “garden” in the Garden State.
-Tom
Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News, as well as a member of the Garden Writers Association. He is a horticultural and community educator dedicated to providing inspiration to gardeners everywhere while illuminating the most up-to-the minute horticultural approaches.
Around The GardenBy Tom Castronovo
Gardener News
Robert BelleckWater Garden Specialist
To the left is a picture of my parents’
Gardener News4 June, 2010 Gardener News
Look Who’s Reading the Gardener News!
It’s in the newsFive-time Emmy Award winner and two-time Golden Globe Award winner, and La Cage Aux Folles’ Tony Award-nominated star Kelsey Grammer, looks over the May Gardener News with his son Jude, just before he performs the role of Georges at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre. Grammer has also received an unparalleled number of other awards as an American actor, producer, director, writer, voice artist and comedian. He is best known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane in the NBC situation comedies Cheers, Wings and Frasier. Grammer is also known for providing the voice of Sideshow Bob on the Fox animated series The Simpsons and for playing Lieutenant Commander Thomas Dodge in the submarine film Down Periscope.
Tom Castronovo/Photo
On a very quiet Sunday morning, the sun is rising in my eastern window and…what the heck is that weird noise? Hmmmm, I slowly bend my neck and, yup, cats are all snuggled in down at the foot of the bed. And there it is again.....uhhhh, I hope it isn’t what it might be and I have encountered before but I would probably here them cooing.
One time in the late-’70s, when I was living in Burlington, Vt., I felt that something about my bed was just not right and looking at my pillow case very closely, discovered that my bed was full of pigeon lice! Boom! I leapt out of bed, threw all the covers and bed sheets right out the window, jumped in the shower and then went outside, hooked the hose up and removed every trace of pigeon roost that I could.
Hmmm, again as I was lying in my warm king-size bed in Bath, Maine, I got up, went to the attic trap door that when you pull the rope in the closet
the door opens and a set of stairs unfolds. Well, I grabbed the rope and as the door opened, all heck broke loose up there. Something with nails on their paws, and I was surmising at the time, was going crazy. I climbed up the ladder, my tennis racket in one hand and my other wrapped in a thick terry cloth towel. As I popped my head into the space, a blinding-fast object jumped over the attic opening, six inches away from my nose and disappeared in the corner. I gotta tell ya, wow, my heart was racing! I surely did not want to get attacked by....who knows what!? So, I hung out on the ladder and peeked around. Ah, hah...yes, there is some type of very small scat on the
bare hard wood floor and, ah-hah again, there is a hole in the screen of the window I opened to get that fresh springtime smell in there instead of the winter must.
OK, I climb up the ladder, stand on the floor and hey, there they are scampering out of the corner, scritch...scritch, scritchity, scratchity - two small red squirrels, tails a twitching , looking at me like I am in THEIR space. Then it hit me, I do not want them to go into the house with the cats, so I’d better close the door to the attic.
I went directly into the basement, got my small hav-a-hart trap (I also have medium and large hav-a-hart traps) and a jar of peanut butter and promptly
went back upstairs and set it. OK, there ya go Mr. and Mrs. Twitchy Tail...that were going to be setting up a really nice penthouse squirrel pad if no one was home.
I then Googled this info, basically wanting to know who was sharing my domain; Red squirrels are found throughout Maine and across most of the northern hemisphere. They are generally reddish, to reddish-gray on top with white or cream on the underside, with a white circle around the eyes. Small in size (adults weigh from five to nine ounces) the red squirrel makes up for its bantam weight in numbers and energy. Red squirrels, for instance, far outnumber their cousins,
the gray squirrels. It is rare to venture into any woodland area and not be greeted by the excited “chrrrrrr” of a disturbed red squirrel. A hole in a tree may be our common idea of a red squirrel den, but the truth is they’ll make a home just about anywhere. Let them get inside your camp or attic and they’ll readily make a nest there, with a resulting devastation that has to be seen to be believed.
Well, that next day, the trap was never entered, the peanut butter was not touched, I replaced the screen and it appeared that my two roommates set up living quarters elsewhere. And, I am very happy that I discovered them before the “resulting devastation!”
Thanks for reading and see ya next month.
The Miscellaneous GardenerBy Richard W. Perkins
Freelance Writer
“Scritch...Scritch, Scritchity, Scratchity”
Editors Note: Richard Perkins is an avid horticulturist, a member of the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance and the Seacoast Writers Association. He can be reached [email protected]
Gardener News June, 2010 5
Snap ‘n Shapes™— Have a little fun with your veggies---shape cherry tomatoes and cherry peppers into bite sized hearts! Easily snap two pieces of the mold around a young tomato and the shape will form as it grows. Made in the USA by Twisted Gardens.
Simply Mud Gloves – A washable, lightweight and durable glove that allows hands to breath while working in warm weather---Made from long lasting nitrile that provides all day comfort for big or small gardening chores. Available in 4 colorful shades. Mud Gloves.
Living Wreath – Decorate your entrance area, garden fence or make a living centerpiece with this easy-to-assemble form for annuals,
succulents, herbs and ivies. 3 sizes avaliable. Kinsman Company.
Grocery Gardening — Attention all foodies and gardeners---this new book may be the best one yet! A simple manual of the essential basics of edible gardening---
great for beginners while bringing new vigor to the seasoned gardener’s experience. Written by four Twitter friends who encourage feedback from you! Includes over 135 easy to prepare recipies. Robin Ripley.
Patio Planter—Obtain the look of wood without the upkeep with high-grade
polyethyene planters. The water reservoir takes the guesswork out of watering with the sub-irrigation system---better plant growth and less mess---available in several windowbox and planter box sizes. Pictured is the 20 x 20 Fairfield style. Made in the USA by Mayne Outdoor Products.
Why try to explain miracles to your kids when you can just have them plant a garden.
~Robert Brault
It’s finally summer 2010 and hopefully everyone is enjoying their gardens while anxiously awaiting the bounty yet to come. Warm weather is here and a welcome time for those of us lucky enough to live in the Garden State. Savor the days and pleasant nights and be sure to take lasting photos of the splendor of your own little piece of earth. Til next time….Leslie
Garden ShoppingBy Leslie BarlowGarden Educator
Editor’s Note: Leslie Barlow is co-owner of Barlow Flower Farm in Sea Girt, NJ, one of the largest retail growers in NJ since 1983. She has appeared on News 12 NJ and is a guest speaker at local garden clubs. She has been gardening for many years and is always at shows hunting for useful accessories for the home garden. She can be reached at (732) 449-9189 or [email protected]
Gardener News4 June, 2010 Gardener News
Look Who’s Reading the Gardener News!
It’s in the newsFive-time Emmy Award winner and two-time Golden Globe Award winner, and La Cage Aux Folles’ Tony Award-nominated star Kelsey Grammer, looks over the May Gardener News with his son Jude, just before he performs the role of Georges at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre. Grammer has also received an unparalleled number of other awards as an American actor, producer, director, writer, voice artist and comedian. He is best known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane in the NBC situation comedies Cheers, Wings and Frasier. Grammer is also known for providing the voice of Sideshow Bob on the Fox animated series The Simpsons and for playing Lieutenant Commander Thomas Dodge in the submarine film Down Periscope.
Tom Castronovo/Photo
On a very quiet Sunday morning, the sun is rising in my eastern window and…what the heck is that weird noise? Hmmmm, I slowly bend my neck and, yup, cats are all snuggled in down at the foot of the bed. And there it is again.....uhhhh, I hope it isn’t what it might be and I have encountered before but I would probably here them cooing.
One time in the late-’70s, when I was living in Burlington, Vt., I felt that something about my bed was just not right and looking at my pillow case very closely, discovered that my bed was full of pigeon lice! Boom! I leapt out of bed, threw all the covers and bed sheets right out the window, jumped in the shower and then went outside, hooked the hose up and removed every trace of pigeon roost that I could.
Hmmm, again as I was lying in my warm king-size bed in Bath, Maine, I got up, went to the attic trap door that when you pull the rope in the closet
the door opens and a set of stairs unfolds. Well, I grabbed the rope and as the door opened, all heck broke loose up there. Something with nails on their paws, and I was surmising at the time, was going crazy. I climbed up the ladder, my tennis racket in one hand and my other wrapped in a thick terry cloth towel. As I popped my head into the space, a blinding-fast object jumped over the attic opening, six inches away from my nose and disappeared in the corner. I gotta tell ya, wow, my heart was racing! I surely did not want to get attacked by....who knows what!? So, I hung out on the ladder and peeked around. Ah, hah...yes, there is some type of very small scat on the
bare hard wood floor and, ah-hah again, there is a hole in the screen of the window I opened to get that fresh springtime smell in there instead of the winter must.
OK, I climb up the ladder, stand on the floor and hey, there they are scampering out of the corner, scritch...scritch, scritchity, scratchity - two small red squirrels, tails a twitching , looking at me like I am in THEIR space. Then it hit me, I do not want them to go into the house with the cats, so I’d better close the door to the attic.
I went directly into the basement, got my small hav-a-hart trap (I also have medium and large hav-a-hart traps) and a jar of peanut butter and promptly
went back upstairs and set it. OK, there ya go Mr. and Mrs. Twitchy Tail...that were going to be setting up a really nice penthouse squirrel pad if no one was home.
I then Googled this info, basically wanting to know who was sharing my domain; Red squirrels are found throughout Maine and across most of the northern hemisphere. They are generally reddish, to reddish-gray on top with white or cream on the underside, with a white circle around the eyes. Small in size (adults weigh from five to nine ounces) the red squirrel makes up for its bantam weight in numbers and energy. Red squirrels, for instance, far outnumber their cousins,
the gray squirrels. It is rare to venture into any woodland area and not be greeted by the excited “chrrrrrr” of a disturbed red squirrel. A hole in a tree may be our common idea of a red squirrel den, but the truth is they’ll make a home just about anywhere. Let them get inside your camp or attic and they’ll readily make a nest there, with a resulting devastation that has to be seen to be believed.
Well, that next day, the trap was never entered, the peanut butter was not touched, I replaced the screen and it appeared that my two roommates set up living quarters elsewhere. And, I am very happy that I discovered them before the “resulting devastation!”
Thanks for reading and see ya next month.
The Miscellaneous GardenerBy Richard W. Perkins
Freelance Writer
“Scritch...Scritch, Scritchity, Scratchity”
Editors Note: Richard Perkins is an avid horticulturist, a member of the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance and the Seacoast Writers Association. He can be reached [email protected]
Gardener News June, 2010 5
Snap ‘n Shapes™— Have a little fun with your veggies---shape cherry tomatoes and cherry peppers into bite sized hearts! Easily snap two pieces of the mold around a young tomato and the shape will form as it grows. Made in the USA by Twisted Gardens.
Simply Mud Gloves – A washable, lightweight and durable glove that allows hands to breath while working in warm weather---Made from long lasting nitrile that provides all day comfort for big or small gardening chores. Available in 4 colorful shades. Mud Gloves.
Living Wreath – Decorate your entrance area, garden fence or make a living centerpiece with this easy-to-assemble form for annuals,
succulents, herbs and ivies. 3 sizes avaliable. Kinsman Company.
Grocery Gardening — Attention all foodies and gardeners---this new book may be the best one yet! A simple manual of the essential basics of edible gardening---
great for beginners while bringing new vigor to the seasoned gardener’s experience. Written by four Twitter friends who encourage feedback from you! Includes over 135 easy to prepare recipies. Robin Ripley.
Patio Planter—Obtain the look of wood without the upkeep with high-grade
polyethyene planters. The water reservoir takes the guesswork out of watering with the sub-irrigation system---better plant growth and less mess---available in several windowbox and planter box sizes. Pictured is the 20 x 20 Fairfield style. Made in the USA by Mayne Outdoor Products.
Why try to explain miracles to your kids when you can just have them plant a garden.
~Robert Brault
It’s finally summer 2010 and hopefully everyone is enjoying their gardens while anxiously awaiting the bounty yet to come. Warm weather is here and a welcome time for those of us lucky enough to live in the Garden State. Savor the days and pleasant nights and be sure to take lasting photos of the splendor of your own little piece of earth. Til next time….Leslie
Garden ShoppingBy Leslie BarlowGarden Educator
Editor’s Note: Leslie Barlow is co-owner of Barlow Flower Farm in Sea Girt, NJ, one of the largest retail growers in NJ since 1983. She has appeared on News 12 NJ and is a guest speaker at local garden clubs. She has been gardening for many years and is always at shows hunting for useful accessories for the home garden. She can be reached at (732) 449-9189 or [email protected]
Gardener News6 June, 2010
Van Vleck House & Gardens NewsVan Vleck’s annual “From Roses to Rock Gardens” tour will take
place on Friday and Saturday, June 11 and 12, 11am to 4pm each day. This informal, self-guided tour of 7 delightful gardens in Montclair and Upper Montclair features a variety sure to please both master gardeners and weekend warriors alike. Join us before the tour for a morning coffee reception and lecture at Van Vleck House from 9:30 to 11am, featuring a talk on COLOR! IN YOUR GARDEN given by Bruce Crawford, a Featured Columnist for the paper, Director of Rutgers Gardens and Adjunct Professor in the Landscape Architecture Department at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University. For more information, visit www.vanvleck.org, call 973-744-4752 or email [email protected]
Anonyms are words that spell a different word when reversed, hence the name “Natirar.” Spelling the word Raritan and then applying the definition, you can see how one of the premier properties in New Jersey, and soon the world, got its name.
Natirar has, for as long as I can remember, intrigued me for its history and vacancy. A property located in Peapack-Gladstone, Far Hills and Bedminster, it has its heritage dating back some 100 years and originally covered over 1,000 acres. Kate Macy and Walter Ladd began acquiring small, local farmsteads in the late 1800s. Macy, a Quaker heiress to a whaling, oil and shipping fortune, and Ladd, whose professional occupation was later listed as an insurance broker, named their property Natirar and had Guy Lowell, a Harvard architect, design a Tudor-style mansion deep within the property’s belly. The estate includes some 22 buildings, six wells, three bridges, NJ Transit right-of-way, three streams, a pond, woodlands and, of course, the 33,000-square-foot mansion. I can remember as a young adult pulling over on the side of the road and wondering who lived there and admiring the vast property with all those glorious trees.
Fast forward to present day, I suppose I have Sir Richard Branson to thank for my admittance. After Kate Macy’s death, her legacy of helping ladies in distress was carried on by her husband, and in 1983 the property was sold and the convalescent home for “deserving gentlewomen who are compelled to depend upon their own exertions for support shall be entertained without charge…” was no more. It was sold to His Majesty; King Hassan II of Morocco for a mere $7.5 million, and for the next 20 years was owned by the King, who never spent a night there. Upon his death, his son, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, inherited the property and eventually sold the 491-acre estate to the Somerset County Park Commission for $22 million. Recently, approximately 90 acres of the property has been leased to the Virgin Spa at Natirar, an entity controlled by Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin Group. Plans to develop this portion of the property include the mansion, stable/carriage barn as well as the outer buildings. An exclusive hotel, spa and restaurant complex are all in the works. It is here that Sir Richard Branson has given me my passport to the property.
A few months back Natirar opened its doors, so to speak, and the first phase of the project was underway. Ninety Acres is an extraordinary restaurant where organic, sustainable gardening is at the forefront. A collaborative effort between Sterling College, a liberal arts college specializing in Sustainable Agriculture and Conservation Ecology in Craftsbury Common, Vt., and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, NJAES, both units of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, have teamed up to help this farming model. Kudos should also be given to Robert Wojtowicz, Natirar’s founder, who was introduced to William Wootton, the President of Sterling College and Robert Goodman, Executive Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Rutgers and executive director at NJAES.
The drive up to the restaurant has you wind slowly through a cow pasture, past some magnificent old trees hugging a shallow but rocky riverbed. This all gives way to some stone cottages and a glimpse of the mansion before you get to Ninety Acres. The outside of the restaurant has very deliberate raised beds filled with fresh herbs that you will most certainly experience on the menu. Geometric forms lay inside pea gravel, complete with obelisks supporting the more aggressive culinary treats. All this is held within the confines of an elegant and stately boxwood perimeter. Smack dab in the middle of all this, just before you enter the front door, is a Ginkgo tree. Good call! Chef David Felton is determined to bring you the freshest natural ingredients. Surrounded by its own organic farm and gardens, our dinner party sat inside a private room, walled with glass overlooking the farm. Katy’s arugula, Oak Grove Brussels sprouts, Paradise Hill heirloom cranberries, Natirar’s Berkshire pigs, Griggstown pheasants and Davidson bluefoot mushrooms are just a few of the morsels you may encounter.
With thought given to preserve the area as part of the greenway, and understanding Sir Richard Branson’s thoughts when he decided to start his airline, “My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them… from the perspective of wanting to live life to the full, I felt that I had to attempt it” we can all appreciate a bit of history while sampling some extraordinary cuisine.
Natirar
Editor’s Note: Bob LaHoff is co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center and Florist in Union County, a member of the Union County Board of Agriculture, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, the American Boxwood Society, the European Boxwood Society, the Metro Hort Group, Inc., the Garden Writers Association, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers. He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.
Unique PlantsBy Bob LaHoff
Nursery Specialist
Gardener News6 June, 2010
Van Vleck House & Gardens NewsVan Vleck’s annual “From Roses to Rock Gardens” tour will take
place on Friday and Saturday, June 11 and 12, 11am to 4pm each day. This informal, self-guided tour of 7 delightful gardens in Montclair and Upper Montclair features a variety sure to please both master gardeners and weekend warriors alike. Join us before the tour for a morning coffee reception and lecture at Van Vleck House from 9:30 to 11am, featuring a talk on COLOR! IN YOUR GARDEN given by Bruce Crawford, a Featured Columnist for the paper, Director of Rutgers Gardens and Adjunct Professor in the Landscape Architecture Department at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University. For more information, visit www.vanvleck.org, call 973-744-4752 or email [email protected]
Anonyms are words that spell a different word when reversed, hence the name “Natirar.” Spelling the word Raritan and then applying the definition, you can see how one of the premier properties in New Jersey, and soon the world, got its name.
Natirar has, for as long as I can remember, intrigued me for its history and vacancy. A property located in Peapack-Gladstone, Far Hills and Bedminster, it has its heritage dating back some 100 years and originally covered over 1,000 acres. Kate Macy and Walter Ladd began acquiring small, local farmsteads in the late 1800s. Macy, a Quaker heiress to a whaling, oil and shipping fortune, and Ladd, whose professional occupation was later listed as an insurance broker, named their property Natirar and had Guy Lowell, a Harvard architect, design a Tudor-style mansion deep within the property’s belly. The estate includes some 22 buildings, six wells, three bridges, NJ Transit right-of-way, three streams, a pond, woodlands and, of course, the 33,000-square-foot mansion. I can remember as a young adult pulling over on the side of the road and wondering who lived there and admiring the vast property with all those glorious trees.
Fast forward to present day, I suppose I have Sir Richard Branson to thank for my admittance. After Kate Macy’s death, her legacy of helping ladies in distress was carried on by her husband, and in 1983 the property was sold and the convalescent home for “deserving gentlewomen who are compelled to depend upon their own exertions for support shall be entertained without charge…” was no more. It was sold to His Majesty; King Hassan II of Morocco for a mere $7.5 million, and for the next 20 years was owned by the King, who never spent a night there. Upon his death, his son, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, inherited the property and eventually sold the 491-acre estate to the Somerset County Park Commission for $22 million. Recently, approximately 90 acres of the property has been leased to the Virgin Spa at Natirar, an entity controlled by Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin Group. Plans to develop this portion of the property include the mansion, stable/carriage barn as well as the outer buildings. An exclusive hotel, spa and restaurant complex are all in the works. It is here that Sir Richard Branson has given me my passport to the property.
A few months back Natirar opened its doors, so to speak, and the first phase of the project was underway. Ninety Acres is an extraordinary restaurant where organic, sustainable gardening is at the forefront. A collaborative effort between Sterling College, a liberal arts college specializing in Sustainable Agriculture and Conservation Ecology in Craftsbury Common, Vt., and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, NJAES, both units of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, have teamed up to help this farming model. Kudos should also be given to Robert Wojtowicz, Natirar’s founder, who was introduced to William Wootton, the President of Sterling College and Robert Goodman, Executive Dean of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Rutgers and executive director at NJAES.
The drive up to the restaurant has you wind slowly through a cow pasture, past some magnificent old trees hugging a shallow but rocky riverbed. This all gives way to some stone cottages and a glimpse of the mansion before you get to Ninety Acres. The outside of the restaurant has very deliberate raised beds filled with fresh herbs that you will most certainly experience on the menu. Geometric forms lay inside pea gravel, complete with obelisks supporting the more aggressive culinary treats. All this is held within the confines of an elegant and stately boxwood perimeter. Smack dab in the middle of all this, just before you enter the front door, is a Ginkgo tree. Good call! Chef David Felton is determined to bring you the freshest natural ingredients. Surrounded by its own organic farm and gardens, our dinner party sat inside a private room, walled with glass overlooking the farm. Katy’s arugula, Oak Grove Brussels sprouts, Paradise Hill heirloom cranberries, Natirar’s Berkshire pigs, Griggstown pheasants and Davidson bluefoot mushrooms are just a few of the morsels you may encounter.
With thought given to preserve the area as part of the greenway, and understanding Sir Richard Branson’s thoughts when he decided to start his airline, “My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them… from the perspective of wanting to live life to the full, I felt that I had to attempt it” we can all appreciate a bit of history while sampling some extraordinary cuisine.
Natirar
Editor’s Note: Bob LaHoff is co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center and Florist in Union County, a member of the Union County Board of Agriculture, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, the American Boxwood Society, the European Boxwood Society, the Metro Hort Group, Inc., the Garden Writers Association, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers. He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.
Unique PlantsBy Bob LaHoff
Nursery Specialist
Gardener News June, 2010 7
As the father of three teenage children, I have found some of the recent changes of vernacular within the English language to be fascinating. “Bank,” no longer refers only to a place that holds money, but describes an event or item that can generate a lot of money. “Sweet” once described only the taste or fragrance of an item, it now refers to something “cool”’ or that looks “cool,”, to quote the ’70s vernacular of cool! I was chuckling to myself the other day when I smelled the flower of Calycanthus floridus, commonly called Sweetshrub. Here, I thought, is a plant that definitely fits all the definitions of the word “sweet”!
Calycanthus floridus is a suckering shrub that reaches eight feet’ tall and widths to eight feet or greater. The plant is native to Virginia, south to Florida and west to Mississippi. The word
Calycanthus is derived from the Greek kalyx, meaning cup, and anthus, meaning flower. Floridus is from the Latin florid for flowering. The entire name of the plant refers to the cup-shaped flower. Calycanthus is a very ancient shrub, dating back over 100 million years, and like Magnolias, the flowers consist of tepals. Tepals are a combination of true petals and the bracts or modified leaves that protect the bud during the winter. These bracts are typically diminutive and provide little ornamental appeal.
For Sweetshrub, the bracts have become modified and are indistinguishable from the petals. The flowers are typically 1 ½ inches in diameter and are burnt red in color. However, it is not the shape or color of the flower that initially beckons your senses, but the fragrance. It has an amazingly fruity fragrance, resembling a cross between that of apple and pineapple, although the intensity of the
fragrance is variable. As the day warms, the oils become more volatile, with the strongest fragrance during the afternoon and evening. Often, you will detect the fragrance long before you even see the actual plant and you are led to believe that you are in a tropical island, not a New Jersey garden.
It is thought that these volatile oils that create this fragrance first evolved within the foliage as a defensive mechanism to prevent predation. The crushed leaves of Sweetshrub are very aromatic and – true to its original intent – it is typically not eaten by deer. It is also very adaptable. In the wild it is found in flood plains and along rocky bluffs in full sun or dense woodlands. Thus, it can tolerate both sun and shade, moist soils or dry. It is nearly failsafe! The foliage is not only fragrant, but has a very attractive glossy and dark green appearance with a warm yellow fall color. During autumn, one of my favorite combinations is to
pair this with Euphorbia amygdaloides ‘Purpurea,’ the Wood Spurge. The dark purple foliage of the Euphorbia looks great against the warm yellow of the Sweetshrub.
In addition to the straight species, there are several named selections and crosses on the market that are very garden worthy. All are tolerant of the varying site conditions of the species, but add special interest in flower or foliage. Calycanthus raulstonii “Hartledge Wine” is a cross between the Asian cousin Calycanthus (formerly Sinocalycanthus) chinensis and our native species. It offers an attractive wine red, open-faced flower that blooms from May through August and reaches heights of 10 feet! Unfortunately, the flowers lack the wonderful fruity aroma. Calycanthus floridus “Michael Lindsey” has very fragrant flowers with an extended bloom period into July. The foliage of Michael Lindsey is more lance-shaped and very
attractive, with a clear yellow fall color. Lastly, the cultivar “Athens” offers fragrant yellow flowers.
Sweetshrub is another great native plant that should be in nearly every home garden. With its tropical or fruity fragrance, great foliage, nearly indestructible constitution and prehistoric lineage, it is a plant that my son would truly call “sweet.”
Editor’s Note: Bruce, foremost a lover of plants since birth, is director of the Rutgers Gardens, an adjunct professor in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, an instructor for Rutgers - NJAES Office of Continuing and Professional Education and chairperson of the Garden State Gardens group. He is a member of the Garden Writer’s Association and the New York Hortus Club. He can be reached at (732) 932-8451. For more information, please visit www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu
One Very ‘Sweet’ Shrub for the Garden
Gardener News8 June, 2010
Every June we celebrate National Rose Month. You will see the best promotions, the best displays and the most varieties of roses on display at your local floral shop. It is a perfect time to make a friend, mend a relationship, and make someone smile.
Roses are best known for sending messages of love. The traditional red rose symbolizes deep love, romance and passion. It also depicts beauty. The white rose symbolizes purity, innocence and new beginnings. Perfect for the start of a relationship! Pink roses often signify appreciation and gratitude. It can also mean sweet and gentle. Yellow roses are friendship and can also mean a new start. They are helpful in mending a squabble and a misunderstanding.
The unconventional colors such as blue, symbolizes a desire that is unattainable. Yellow roses with red tips are a move from friends to falling in love. Gold roses signify achievement, while green roses are a message of good
health. Cream-colored roses mean perfection and the best qualities. There are many more, including black – yes black – that you can find on www.whatrosesmean.com ,where they also elaborate on what mixing colors means and other fun facts.
Since most commercial roses are imported from Colombia, handling becomes very important. Up to 30 per cent of a rose’s vase life is lost in shipping, according to Super Floral Retailing magazine. When getting roses home, make sure the foliage that will be in the water in the vase is removed. Cut one inch from each stem at an angle. Place into a vase with preservation powder and enjoy! Typical roses should last five to seven days at home.
When purchasing roses, choose flowers with a tight bloom – but not too tight! You want them to open. Look for healthy green foliage and avoid limp heads and damaged petals. Of course, you may want to shop at your favorite floral shop to ensure the finest quality roses you can get and get the most helpful of tips and service anywhere.
Did you know that the rose is our National Floral Emblem? It has been since 1986. Given all their colors and meanings and the melting pot we live in, it makes a lot of sense. George Washington is credited for being the first rose breeder in the United States. One of our founding fathers! Pretty cool! According to www.rosegardening101.
com , roses are native to the U.S. and can be found in just about every area of the country.
Some say that you have to stop and smell the roses. You can’t argue with that! That is why it is so amazing that roses are sometimes used in the production of perfumes. They also can be used as a natural air freshener. Placed around the house strategically, roses can make your home fragrant – just like walking through a garden! Did you know that roses are used for food coloring in jellies, sorbets, honeys, syrups, and more? Wow! And they have vitamin C! What a versatile flower!
If you didn’t know already, it takes less energy to smile than it does to frown. If you did know,
then a friendly reminder is necessary every so often. It is not a difficult thing to do, but our lives and bills and issues can sometimes get the best of us. When you are alone in your car, standing in front of a mirror at home, or out for a walk, smile. Even better, smile when you are at work, with your family or out with friends. It is contagious!
Everyday, there are people in our lives that need a reminder of how special they are and just may need to smile. June is National Rose Month and a perfect time to make a friend. Think about rose month and find a way to celebrate. Find a way to make someone smile. Roses are the perfect smile machine.
Passionate About ProduceBy Paul Kneeland
The King of Produce
Editor’s Note: Paul Kneeland is the Vice President of Produce and Floral for Kings Super Markets. He has been in the food business for 26 years, has a degree in Business Management from Boston College and is certified in food safety with ServSafe. He can be reached at [email protected]
June is National Rose Month
Gardener News June, 2010 9
Cable or Brace?Now that we are safely out of the cold weather, it is time to get out and look at your trees.
Not just at the trunk, but way up in the canopy as well. The winter and spring storms could have caused limb or trunk damage – often times this damage can be repaired. You probably know someone with a hip or knee replacement. Well, trees can get some new hardware installed as well!
As an arborist, I often suggest that trees be cabled or braced to help support a week crotch or branch. Sometimes, if a cable or brace rod will not correct the problem, removal of the branch or entire tree may need to be considered. Remember, each species has a unique growth form and “architecture” – this should be considered before any pruning or cabling recommendations are made. A good arborist will always take this fact into consideration before making any final recommendations.
Tree support systems are used to provide supplemental support to leaders, individual branches and/or entire trees. Cables and brace systems both provide supplemental support by limiting movement within the tree. When a tree has a structural defect or condition that poses a high risk of failure, a supplemental support system can often reduce this risk. However, not all defects can be mitigated with a tree support system. It is essential that each tree be carefully examined by a qualified arborist or New Jersey Certified Tree Expert prior to the installation of any support system. The arborist needs to ensure that the system will achieve its objective of providing added support without increasing the risk of tree failure by changing the dynamics of the tree.
The most common structural defect that presents an increased potential for failure is a co-dominant stem, often referred to as a “v-crotch.” Because of the lack of direct structural connections between the co-dominant stems, they are more prone to failure than a single stem, especially if bark is trapped between the stems that make up the v-crotch. These junctions may break by pulling directly apart or by moving to the side (shearing). The second common condition with an increased risk of failure occurs with long, heavy or “over-extended” branches. These are branches that are unusually long for the tree species, horizontal or downward growing, have poor taper or have the majority of their foliage concentrated at the end of the branch. Often times, improper pruning can cause many of these defects. It is important that your tree is properly pruned. Breakage of these branches may occur at the junction with the stem, or they may split due to tension forces on the top and compression forces on the bottom of the branch. Splits occur when there is heavy loading such as from snow or ice, or during a strong wind.
With all of these conditions, pruning or removal should also be considered, but usually as a last resort. For young trees, pruning is the preferred method to eliminate co-dominant stems. The co-dominant stem may be removed entirely or subordinated (gradual reduction and elimination). Pruning may remove structural defects or reduce the load on tree parts at risks of failure. On larger and mature trees, the combination of pruning and a support system may be used to reduce the risk of failure. Removal may be the best remedy for trees with extensive decay, damaged root systems or other critical risk conditions.
Cables restrict the distance that branches can move in relation to each other. Installed across a weak crotch, they will greatly reduce the risk of failure. Installed on over-extended branches, they can be used to support the branch. Because one cable will not necessarily protect a branch from twisting or shearing off at the junction, it is sometimes necessary to install multiple cables or a combination of a cable and a brace rod.
Brace rods are steel rods inserted entirely through the tree with nuts and washers installed on both ends. They are used to reduce the risk of two or more leaders spreading farther apart or moving sideways in relation to each other. They are also used to fasten together a crotch or branch that is split apart. When bracing trees, at least one cable is usually installed for added support. In cases where it is impractical to install cables, rods can be used alone, but the strength gain will be less than when combined with a cable system.
Prior to installation of any tree support system, you should be aware of the need for periodic inspection of the support system by a qualified arborist. A qualified arborist should inspect the cable tension, condition of the cable and associated hardware, its height in the tree, and the structural integrity of the tree periodically to ensure it is still functioning properly. All support systems have a limited service life. Remember, it’s recommended that a tree support system be inspected periodically by a professional arborist.
As always, I hope you learned something…….Till next month
Editor’s Note: Robert graduated from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University with degrees in science education and forest biology. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and a New Jersey Certified Tree Expert.
Gardener News June, 2010 9
Cable or Brace?Now that we are safely out of the cold weather, it is time to get out and look at your trees.
Not just at the trunk, but way up in the canopy as well. The winter and spring storms could have caused limb or trunk damage – often times this damage can be repaired. You probably know someone with a hip or knee replacement. Well, trees can get some new hardware installed as well!
As an arborist, I often suggest that trees be cabled or braced to help support a week crotch or branch. Sometimes, if a cable or brace rod will not correct the problem, removal of the branch or entire tree may need to be considered. Remember, each species has a unique growth form and “architecture” – this should be considered before any pruning or cabling recommendations are made. A good arborist will always take this fact into consideration before making any final recommendations.
Tree support systems are used to provide supplemental support to leaders, individual branches and/or entire trees. Cables and brace systems both provide supplemental support by limiting movement within the tree. When a tree has a structural defect or condition that poses a high risk of failure, a supplemental support system can often reduce this risk. However, not all defects can be mitigated with a tree support system. It is essential that each tree be carefully examined by a qualified arborist or New Jersey Certified Tree Expert prior to the installation of any support system. The arborist needs to ensure that the system will achieve its objective of providing added support without increasing the risk of tree failure by changing the dynamics of the tree.
The most common structural defect that presents an increased potential for failure is a co-dominant stem, often referred to as a “v-crotch.” Because of the lack of direct structural connections between the co-dominant stems, they are more prone to failure than a single stem, especially if bark is trapped between the stems that make up the v-crotch. These junctions may break by pulling directly apart or by moving to the side (shearing). The second common condition with an increased risk of failure occurs with long, heavy or “over-extended” branches. These are branches that are unusually long for the tree species, horizontal or downward growing, have poor taper or have the majority of their foliage concentrated at the end of the branch. Often times, improper pruning can cause many of these defects. It is important that your tree is properly pruned. Breakage of these branches may occur at the junction with the stem, or they may split due to tension forces on the top and compression forces on the bottom of the branch. Splits occur when there is heavy loading such as from snow or ice, or during a strong wind.
With all of these conditions, pruning or removal should also be considered, but usually as a last resort. For young trees, pruning is the preferred method to eliminate co-dominant stems. The co-dominant stem may be removed entirely or subordinated (gradual reduction and elimination). Pruning may remove structural defects or reduce the load on tree parts at risks of failure. On larger and mature trees, the combination of pruning and a support system may be used to reduce the risk of failure. Removal may be the best remedy for trees with extensive decay, damaged root systems or other critical risk conditions.
Cables restrict the distance that branches can move in relation to each other. Installed across a weak crotch, they will greatly reduce the risk of failure. Installed on over-extended branches, they can be used to support the branch. Because one cable will not necessarily protect a branch from twisting or shearing off at the junction, it is sometimes necessary to install multiple cables or a combination of a cable and a brace rod.
Brace rods are steel rods inserted entirely through the tree with nuts and washers installed on both ends. They are used to reduce the risk of two or more leaders spreading farther apart or moving sideways in relation to each other. They are also used to fasten together a crotch or branch that is split apart. When bracing trees, at least one cable is usually installed for added support. In cases where it is impractical to install cables, rods can be used alone, but the strength gain will be less than when combined with a cable system.
Prior to installation of any tree support system, you should be aware of the need for periodic inspection of the support system by a qualified arborist. A qualified arborist should inspect the cable tension, condition of the cable and associated hardware, its height in the tree, and the structural integrity of the tree periodically to ensure it is still functioning properly. All support systems have a limited service life. Remember, it’s recommended that a tree support system be inspected periodically by a professional arborist.
As always, I hope you learned something…….Till next month
Editor’s Note: Robert graduated from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and Syracuse University with degrees in science education and forest biology. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and a New Jersey Certified Tree Expert.
Gardener News10 June, 2010
We All Need a DrinkNo, it’s not happy hour, but it will soon be that time of year when proper hydration
will become a major concern. It seems to me that one of the boon industries of this century is that of bottled water. Everywhere you look, folks are walking around with a widely diverse range of water bottles, all of the different shapes and sizes and even many different flavors. We are very concerned with our personal hydration. Well, our plants need proper hydration too. Maybe more so.
When we get into the hazy, hot and humid weather your landscape may need some special attention. When new plantings are forced to endure 80 to 90 degree heat without adequate natural rainfall, they may suffer. It’s important to mix in organic matter and amendments to new planting beds or backfill at all times, but this practice can be especially beneficial when the weather stresses are severe. These amendments in the form of compost, using composted soil, adding sand and even vermiculite, polymers or other water-holding capsules can increase the density and speed with which your bedding plants and even trees and shrubs will acclimate to the native soil they are planted in.
Water in general can be a problem area. Natural rainfall is seldom sufficient during the summer months. Sufficient water will need to be supplemented since there are many factors affecting the moisture content in plants. During dry, windy weather conditions, plants and particularly turf will dry more quickly. You may notice the same areas dry out first every year. These isolated dry areas can be hard compacted soils or even an overabundance of rocks or concrete foundations under the soil. These areas heat up and dry out first, which complicates the watering process.
Temperature will play a significant part in how much water is needed as well. An additional watering per week will need to be added during these periods. Most summer rain showers are fast and furious with much of the beneficial moisture running off. Compacted soils can add to this dilemma. Therefore, these showers cannot be counted on to sufficiently water the landscape. It would be a good idea to measure the amount of water your sprinklers or system apply. Use three or four flat-bottomed containers and time how long it takes to accumulate one half inch of water. Armed with this information you can then apply the proper amount of water to your turf and ornamentals.
For turf during temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees, you will need to apply one half inch of water once or twice weekly. As the temperatures increase five degrees, you will need to add one additional half-inch watering. For instance, 85-degree periods would require two or three half- inch waterings, 85 to 90 degrees three or four half-inch waterings, and so forth. This generally applies to your turf, since it is important to keep moisture levels up before the turf approaches dormancy.
However, if your property is too big to keep it all watered properly, letting your turf go dormant while concentrating on your ornamentals and bedding plants is a viable alternative. Your ornamentals will not need as frequent watering as the turf but they should be watered enough to prevent them from drooping due to inadequate moisture. This will prevent root loss and ultimately other problems from insects and disease. Plants which are in distress are willing targets of insects and disease. If your plants were planted in a medium rich in organics and other soil amendments, their root systems should be strong enough to withstand higher summer temperatures. Directed applications of water are important in established landscapes, as it is important to keep the shallow rooted plants such as rhododendron and the like from completely wilting.
If there are parts of your landscape or specific plants which dry out faster or suffer in stress periods, it may be due to restrictions in the root zone or even not enough coverage of the root zone. Checking that the root ball is sufficiently covered with soil and that there is not an overabundance of competition for water in the root zone can help alleviate these types of problems. Light mulching can be a help as well. Be sure to water adequately before applying mulch and keep it to no more than a couple of inches for optimum water-holding and cooling effect.
Your landscape or irrigation professional can assist you in setting up or making the necessary alterations to your sprinkler system, or manual watering, to achieve proper hydration in the landscape.
The LandscaperBy Evan Dickerson
NJNLA
Evan Dickerson is a senior director of the New Jersey Nursey and Landscape Association. He can be reached at (908) 753-1490. To learn more about the New Jersey Nursey and Landscape Association, please visit: www.NJNLA.org
Gardener Newsis
Now Accepting Nominationsfor its
2010Person of the Year Award.Do you know someone in the “Green Industry”
whose contributions deserve recognition?
This person must be from the landscape, nursery, garden center or gardening industries who best epitomizes concern for, involvement
in, and dedication to those pursuits. Or a person who performs exemplary outstanding service to
the green industry.
The deadline for receiving nominations for 2010 is November 1, 2010.
Gardener News annually bestows our“Person of the Year” Award in our
January edition.To download the form, please visit
www.GardenerNews.com and click on the “Person of the Year” link on the left side.
Thank you!
Gardener News June, 2010 11L a n d s c a p e r d i r e c to ry
ResidentialGroundSolutions
GradingLight Excavating
Design and installations new and older renovations Perennial rock gardens•Backhoe work
311 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough (Just off Dukes Parkway West)
WE HAVEBULK COMPOST
Gardener News10 June, 2010
We All Need a DrinkNo, it’s not happy hour, but it will soon be that time of year when proper hydration
will become a major concern. It seems to me that one of the boon industries of this century is that of bottled water. Everywhere you look, folks are walking around with a widely diverse range of water bottles, all of the different shapes and sizes and even many different flavors. We are very concerned with our personal hydration. Well, our plants need proper hydration too. Maybe more so.
When we get into the hazy, hot and humid weather your landscape may need some special attention. When new plantings are forced to endure 80 to 90 degree heat without adequate natural rainfall, they may suffer. It’s important to mix in organic matter and amendments to new planting beds or backfill at all times, but this practice can be especially beneficial when the weather stresses are severe. These amendments in the form of compost, using composted soil, adding sand and even vermiculite, polymers or other water-holding capsules can increase the density and speed with which your bedding plants and even trees and shrubs will acclimate to the native soil they are planted in.
Water in general can be a problem area. Natural rainfall is seldom sufficient during the summer months. Sufficient water will need to be supplemented since there are many factors affecting the moisture content in plants. During dry, windy weather conditions, plants and particularly turf will dry more quickly. You may notice the same areas dry out first every year. These isolated dry areas can be hard compacted soils or even an overabundance of rocks or concrete foundations under the soil. These areas heat up and dry out first, which complicates the watering process.
Temperature will play a significant part in how much water is needed as well. An additional watering per week will need to be added during these periods. Most summer rain showers are fast and furious with much of the beneficial moisture running off. Compacted soils can add to this dilemma. Therefore, these showers cannot be counted on to sufficiently water the landscape. It would be a good idea to measure the amount of water your sprinklers or system apply. Use three or four flat-bottomed containers and time how long it takes to accumulate one half inch of water. Armed with this information you can then apply the proper amount of water to your turf and ornamentals.
For turf during temperatures of 70 to 80 degrees, you will need to apply one half inch of water once or twice weekly. As the temperatures increase five degrees, you will need to add one additional half-inch watering. For instance, 85-degree periods would require two or three half- inch waterings, 85 to 90 degrees three or four half-inch waterings, and so forth. This generally applies to your turf, since it is important to keep moisture levels up before the turf approaches dormancy.
However, if your property is too big to keep it all watered properly, letting your turf go dormant while concentrating on your ornamentals and bedding plants is a viable alternative. Your ornamentals will not need as frequent watering as the turf but they should be watered enough to prevent them from drooping due to inadequate moisture. This will prevent root loss and ultimately other problems from insects and disease. Plants which are in distress are willing targets of insects and disease. If your plants were planted in a medium rich in organics and other soil amendments, their root systems should be strong enough to withstand higher summer temperatures. Directed applications of water are important in established landscapes, as it is important to keep the shallow rooted plants such as rhododendron and the like from completely wilting.
If there are parts of your landscape or specific plants which dry out faster or suffer in stress periods, it may be due to restrictions in the root zone or even not enough coverage of the root zone. Checking that the root ball is sufficiently covered with soil and that there is not an overabundance of competition for water in the root zone can help alleviate these types of problems. Light mulching can be a help as well. Be sure to water adequately before applying mulch and keep it to no more than a couple of inches for optimum water-holding and cooling effect.
Your landscape or irrigation professional can assist you in setting up or making the necessary alterations to your sprinkler system, or manual watering, to achieve proper hydration in the landscape.
The LandscaperBy Evan Dickerson
NJNLA
Evan Dickerson is a senior director of the New Jersey Nursey and Landscape Association. He can be reached at (908) 753-1490. To learn more about the New Jersey Nursey and Landscape Association, please visit: www.NJNLA.org
Gardener Newsis
Now Accepting Nominationsfor its
2010Person of the Year Award.Do you know someone in the “Green Industry”
whose contributions deserve recognition?
This person must be from the landscape, nursery, garden center or gardening industries who best epitomizes concern for, involvement
in, and dedication to those pursuits. Or a person who performs exemplary outstanding service to
the green industry.
The deadline for receiving nominations for 2010 is November 1, 2010.
Gardener News annually bestows our“Person of the Year” Award in our
January edition.To download the form, please visit
www.GardenerNews.com and click on the “Person of the Year” link on the left side.
Thank you!
Gardener News June, 2010 11L a n d s c a p e r d i r e c to ry
ResidentialGroundSolutions
GradingLight Excavating
Design and installations new and older renovations Perennial rock gardens•Backhoe work
311 Roycefield Road, Hillsborough (Just off Dukes Parkway West)
WE HAVEBULK COMPOST
Gardener News12 June, 2010 B u s i n e s s d i r e c to ry Gardener News June, 2010 13
Gardener News12 June, 2010 B u s i n e s s d i r e c to ry Gardener News June, 2010 13
Gardener News14 June, 2010
Summer, summer, summer is here. Green lawns, green gardens, school’s out, sun’s out, and best of all, the beaches are open and teeming with people.
Sit outside every chance you get and use that nice grill you picked up. Every summer I try to think up new and exciting things to do on the grill. This past week, my head has been all about Mexico, probably my favorite cuisine of all time. It has only just begun to start catching on, but as I have said before, just take notice of the inevitable rise of Mexican immigrants into our culture and you will start to see all the little “mom and pop” types of Mexican restaurants and markets. Not to mention the amount of more authentic Mexican foods in your local grocery store.
To me their cuisine relies heavily upon fresh ingredients and less upon over-processed packaged foods. Therefore it fits perfectly into this newspaper. Come on, what’s better than a garden fresh Jersey tomato in the summer picked at its peak? Not much, which makes me think salsa. You can easily plant a thriving salsa garden with jalapenos, tomatoes, cilantro, avocado and onions. Pico de gallo is a staple in Mexican cooking, whereas we would probably use ketchup. A great condiment, yes, but again a processed item. Pico de gallo is basically a Mexican-style fresh salsa. It can be put on
everything from eggs to steak, chicken to fish. It is fresh, crispy, delicious and healthy. There are several variations and they are all good.
Tacos are becoming increasingly popular and can be simple and delicious. Not Taco Bell tacos or the taco “kits” we all grew up eating, but real tacos with fresh ingredients and fresh condiments. And yes, I still love Taco Bell and Old el Paso from time to time. Who doesn’t? But you would never find such a thing in Mexico. Right now, taco trucks are becoming super trendy in cities all over the country. Some of the bigger food magazines have been writing about them over the past year or so. Big-name chefs are incorporating them into their menus, as well as starting their own taco truck businesses on the side. This is why this month’s recipe will be a nice, simple and delicious marinated steak taco with a chunky avocado salsa. Well, here we go, have fun with this and good luck.
Marinated grilled flank steak tacos with grilled scallions, avocado salsa and chipotle
Place garlic and cilantro on a cutting board and chop until very minced and paste like
-in a bowl, rub mixture along with salt and pepper, cumin and oil until thoroughly coated. Let sit covered at least a few hours or overnight
Salsa2 ripe avocados, peeled, seeded
and cut into half-inch cubes1 bunch cilantro, rinsed,
stemmed and roughly chopped
Salt and pepper to taste1 red onion, peeled, diced small
and rinsed in cold water to remove some of the harshness
Juice of 1 lime1 diced jalapeno or other hot
pepper if desired2 Jersey Fresh tomatoes, seeded
and large diced similar to avocado size
Place all ingredients into a bowl and toss lightly. St aside. do not make more than a few hours in advance to maintain crispness and freshness
Chipotle crema1 can chipotle peppers in adobo
1 small container Mexican crema (found at any Mexican grocery),
crème fraiche or sour cream Mix small amount of the
adobo sauce, not the whole peppers, into the crema or cream. Start with a small amount, taste and add to desired spiciness.
Grilled scallions1 bunch scallions, washed, tips
removed
Light olive oil or vegetable oilSalt and pepper
Toss all ingredients together with just enough oil to coat
Grill over medium heat until slightly wilted with some grill and brown spots
Tortillas1 pkg. corn or flour tortillas, the
smaller six-inch typeHeat on grill or in microwave
covered with damp towel until warmed through assembly
Grill steak over medium-high heat until slightly charred and to a medium rare to medium
temperatureSlice steak into small stripsPlace into warmed tortillas
and top with scallions, salsa and crema in that order
Mexican style crumbled queso fresca, crumbled feta or crumbled goat cheese can be added as well.
Serve with fresh lime wedges to squeeze over top.
Enjoy with a fine Mexican beer!
From the DeepBy Craig KorbExecutive Chef
Editor’s Note: Craig Korb is executive chef at The Crab’s Claw Inn, Lavallette, New Jersey. He has an Associates degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelors degree in Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. For more information visitwww.TheCrabsClaw.com or phone (732) 793-4447.
Greetings from the Jersey shore!
Gardener News14 June, 2010
Summer, summer, summer is here. Green lawns, green gardens, school’s out, sun’s out, and best of all, the beaches are open and teeming with people.
Sit outside every chance you get and use that nice grill you picked up. Every summer I try to think up new and exciting things to do on the grill. This past week, my head has been all about Mexico, probably my favorite cuisine of all time. It has only just begun to start catching on, but as I have said before, just take notice of the inevitable rise of Mexican immigrants into our culture and you will start to see all the little “mom and pop” types of Mexican restaurants and markets. Not to mention the amount of more authentic Mexican foods in your local grocery store.
To me their cuisine relies heavily upon fresh ingredients and less upon over-processed packaged foods. Therefore it fits perfectly into this newspaper. Come on, what’s better than a garden fresh Jersey tomato in the summer picked at its peak? Not much, which makes me think salsa. You can easily plant a thriving salsa garden with jalapenos, tomatoes, cilantro, avocado and onions. Pico de gallo is a staple in Mexican cooking, whereas we would probably use ketchup. A great condiment, yes, but again a processed item. Pico de gallo is basically a Mexican-style fresh salsa. It can be put on
everything from eggs to steak, chicken to fish. It is fresh, crispy, delicious and healthy. There are several variations and they are all good.
Tacos are becoming increasingly popular and can be simple and delicious. Not Taco Bell tacos or the taco “kits” we all grew up eating, but real tacos with fresh ingredients and fresh condiments. And yes, I still love Taco Bell and Old el Paso from time to time. Who doesn’t? But you would never find such a thing in Mexico. Right now, taco trucks are becoming super trendy in cities all over the country. Some of the bigger food magazines have been writing about them over the past year or so. Big-name chefs are incorporating them into their menus, as well as starting their own taco truck businesses on the side. This is why this month’s recipe will be a nice, simple and delicious marinated steak taco with a chunky avocado salsa. Well, here we go, have fun with this and good luck.
Marinated grilled flank steak tacos with grilled scallions, avocado salsa and chipotle
Place garlic and cilantro on a cutting board and chop until very minced and paste like
-in a bowl, rub mixture along with salt and pepper, cumin and oil until thoroughly coated. Let sit covered at least a few hours or overnight
Salsa2 ripe avocados, peeled, seeded
and cut into half-inch cubes1 bunch cilantro, rinsed,
stemmed and roughly chopped
Salt and pepper to taste1 red onion, peeled, diced small
and rinsed in cold water to remove some of the harshness
Juice of 1 lime1 diced jalapeno or other hot
pepper if desired2 Jersey Fresh tomatoes, seeded
and large diced similar to avocado size
Place all ingredients into a bowl and toss lightly. St aside. do not make more than a few hours in advance to maintain crispness and freshness
Chipotle crema1 can chipotle peppers in adobo
1 small container Mexican crema (found at any Mexican grocery),
crème fraiche or sour cream Mix small amount of the
adobo sauce, not the whole peppers, into the crema or cream. Start with a small amount, taste and add to desired spiciness.
Grilled scallions1 bunch scallions, washed, tips
removed
Light olive oil or vegetable oilSalt and pepper
Toss all ingredients together with just enough oil to coat
Grill over medium heat until slightly wilted with some grill and brown spots
Tortillas1 pkg. corn or flour tortillas, the
smaller six-inch typeHeat on grill or in microwave
covered with damp towel until warmed through assembly
Grill steak over medium-high heat until slightly charred and to a medium rare to medium
temperatureSlice steak into small stripsPlace into warmed tortillas
and top with scallions, salsa and crema in that order
Mexican style crumbled queso fresca, crumbled feta or crumbled goat cheese can be added as well.
Serve with fresh lime wedges to squeeze over top.
Enjoy with a fine Mexican beer!
From the DeepBy Craig KorbExecutive Chef
Editor’s Note: Craig Korb is executive chef at The Crab’s Claw Inn, Lavallette, New Jersey. He has an Associates degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelors degree in Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. For more information visitwww.TheCrabsClaw.com or phone (732) 793-4447.
Greetings from the Jersey shore!
Gardener News June, 2010 15
The end of the school year is always a time for reflection and remembering – especially for me. I am fortunate that I often hear from our many successful graduates – they reach out to tell us about successes, for help finding employees, or sometimes just to say hello. For at least one of our graduates this past year has been marked with a number of notable successes.
As a member of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA) Board of Directors I was incredibly proud to learn that of all the entries in our annual landscape design competition, the Grand Award winner was Cedarwood Landscaping, and owner/designer J. Scott Mortensen. Scott graduated from our LHT program in 1986 but actually established Cedarwood Landscaping in 1984.
I first met Scott when he was just a freshman in our program and at that time he was working nights at UPS, attending classes during the day and while also trying to get his business up and running. His work ethic and commitment were in evidence even back then and have not changed.
The Grand Award was for his design and installation of the landscape at the Schuler Residence and since I had the pleasure to have seen the project I can tell you that it is a remarkable design. This landscape included a pool, patio, secluded shade garden, paths, and interest all year. It came as no surprise when the Association of Landscape Designers also awarded this project their Merit Award. Cedarwood will be recognized for this award at the 2010 Association of Landscape Designers Annual meeting in Dallas, Texas later this year and I hope to be in the audience to cheer for our graduate.
As if all of this isn’t enough, Scott also recently received Certification through the Association of Landscape Designers (http://www.apld.com/). Recognition as a Certified Landscape Designer by this prestigious international association is an acknowledgement that you have met a rigorous set of standards and are among the best of landscape design professionals. When homeowners see the initials “APLD” after a designer’s name they can rest assured that the designer has passed a review process that required submitting projects (including before and after photos) for review by an international panel of experts.
Included in our program of study is the introduction to our students of the value of belonging to professional associations and Scott clearly took those lessons to heart – he and his firm are members of the APLD (both international and New Jersey
memberships), the NJNLA, the American Nursery and Landscape Association, and the NJ Farm Bureau. He is also a member of our Landscape and Horticultural Technology Advisory Committee and assists us each year with our annual design review meetings.
I share this story out of pride, certainly, but also because Cedarwood Landscaping is a great example of how to do it right. Scott told me once that he strives to treat his customers the way he’d want them to treat his mother. The best landscape professionals all have these qualities – they give back to the community, they participate in professional associations, and they really care about their customers. Cedarwood isn’t the only company owned by a Landscape Horticultural Technology graduate that has these qualities – that list is very long - but they are a great example of how to do it right. Remember
when you consider hiring a landscape professional to ask the right questions – do they have insurance, are they certified, do they belong to a professional association, and do they have any training or education in the field? Their answers may tell you all you need to know to be sure you hire a real professional.
Scott graduated from CCM with an Associate Degree in Applied Science in 1986
C e d a r w o o d Landscaping, Inc. was established in 1984 (Celebrated 25 years in 2009)
They have memberships with APLD, APLD-NJ, ANLA, NJNLA & the NJ Dept of Agriculture.
Graduate Gives a Reason to be Proud
Editor’s Note: Jan-Marie Traynor is coordinator of the Landscape and Horticultural Technology Program at the County College of Morris. Learn more at http://www.ccm.eduor phone (973) 328-5363
By Jan-Marie TraynorContributing Writer
As most people are aware, the weather plays a huge part in determining the outcome of most agricultural endeavors. Farmers across the world are in a constant struggle with Mother Nature to enhance, lessen, or modify the effects of weather on their crops. This has been going on since the advent of agriculture and will continue to be the case into the future.
When the general public thinks about weather and its effect on agriculture, the most common issue that comes to mind (at least for most people) is drought. While it is true that drought, or lack of precipitation, has been and will continue to be a serious problem for farmers almost everywhere, it is only one of many weather-related issues that growers must contend with. There are many other possible weather conditions which could cause some sort of crop damage.
Drought conditions can definitely cause reductions in yields for many growers. In certain parts of the country however, drought conditions are the norm. In these desert areas, growers know that they
will only receive a limited amount of rainfall yearly and take steps to ensure that their crops will receive adequate moisture through some sort of irrigation method. Even here in the East, many of the higher value fruits and vegetables are grown using irrigation. Because of their value, it is seen as too risky to grow these crops without the guarantee of available water.
The opposite of a drought, that is excessive rainfall, is also a large weather-related problem for agriculture. While a drought can sometimes take months or even years to come into being, too much rainfall can happen in an instant. A torrential rain right before harvest can cause a crop to be destroyed or become unsalable. Cherries are a prime example of this. For most
of the year, cherry trees are tolerant of rainfall, but as the cherries start to turn color and ripen, any rainfall will cause their skins to become weak and split open. This cracking allows disease to take root and exponentially increases the time required for harvesting, sorting and packing. In some instances, it is more cost effective for a grower to just walk away for that year and not even attempt to harvest the crop. This example is why the large majority of cherries grown in the United States are produced in the West, where they receive little to no rainfall during the harvest season.
Another weather event that sends chills down the spine of growers is a freeze/frost event. At different times of the year, crops can become
very sensitive to freezing temperatures. While many vegetable crops can be planted to avoid the risk of freeze damage, perennial crops such as tree fruits and berries are grown outside all year round and as such are prone to these types of temperature swings. Apples for example, can withstand winter temperatures to well below zero. But once the blossoms open up in the spring, they can only tolerate temperatures as low as 29 degrees Fahrenheit. All it takes is one cold night to kill the large majority of those blossoms and hence reduce or eliminate the crop for an entire year. That is the reason that many growers employ frost protection measures such as wind machines, heaters and irrigation to help moderate their orchard temperatures.
Excessive heat can also be a problem for growers. Too much heat at the wrong time of year can be just as devastating as a freeze. Many of the vegetable crops can really suffer from too much heat. Crops such as lettuce and broccoli will mature and go to seed before they reach a marketable size if the temperature becomes too hot. There are other weather events that can be devastating as well, such as hail and wind, for obvious reasons. Just remember, anytime you hear a weather report and the forecast is for some type of new record, it is generally not good news for agriculture.
The Town FarmerBy Peter Melick
Agricultural Producer
Editor’s Note: Peter is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick. He currently serves on the Tewksbury Township Committee, is a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer, a director of the New Jersey Farm Bureau, and is a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. He also has been featured on NJN, News 12 New Jersey and on the Fox Business Network. Peter can be reached at (908) 310-1703.
At Mother Nature’s Mercy
Gardener News16 June, 2010
helping, challenging, adapting, learning, educating, feeling, ability”---all goals the NJADB list on their website and all are goals that gardening embraces.
We extended an invitation for Les and his staff to attend our “Victory Garden Symposium” last September at Holly House, and they connected with the Neshanic Garden Club President, Diana Reinhardt, who subsequently offered to establish a “square foot garden” at their residential home.
The Neshanic Garden Club planned the square foot garden using the methods taught by Terry Holman, President of the Garden Club of Long Valley, and instructor for Mel Bartholomew’s “square foot garden system.” I volunteered to chair this committee and we asked the amazing Hank Raymond (he never says no), our carpenter extraordinaire and husband of Joan, a garden club member, to build us a 4-by-4 raised bed, making it wheelchair accessible. He built it out of cedar and installed a removable grid that he screwed on top so that each of the 16 square foot sections were delineated, thereby making it a “true” square foot garden.
On a perfect spring day, members of the Neshanic Garden Club were enthusiastically welcomed by the New Jersey Association of Deaf-Blind residents and staff, and we seamlessly worked the magic
that comes with gardening, by installing and planting the square foot garden, and providing the residents with garden tools, plants and a copy of the “All New Square Foot Gardening” book. We were all the beneficiaries of the physical and emotional joys that came that memorable day, and we were delighted to see the care, respect and, yes, love that the staff demonstrated to their clients. It was truly a beautiful happening, and I still see the pansy tucked behind the ear of a totally joyful resident.
The residents were immersed in this new experience and delighted in the scent, texture and colors abounding in this lovely, unique garden. The NJAB staff and residents excitedly asked when we would be coming back, so we are looking forward to a date in June to help plant summer vegetables. Meanwhile, we’re hoping to expand this project to include other N.J. Association of Deaf-Blind Inc. community homes so that more people with these isolating disabilities can benefit from the therapeutic powers that gardening engenders.
The New Jersey Association of the Deaf-Blind, Inc. was established in 1978 as a support group for families dealing with developmental disabilities. They are largely state funded, but do depend on private donations and volunteers as well. They serve 250 adults with various programs throughout the state
and have eight residential homes in several counties with four to sic residents each receiving 24/7 care. The NJADB’s overriding philosophy is valuing people over process and providing a caring and respectful environment. We look forward to many more wonderful, sharing experiences with this non-profit organization and their clients who are deaf and/or blind, and we will continue to nurture their gardening skills and progress.
Lest you think that the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc. has only recently responded to garden therapy projects, we can go back to World War II and our work at Camp Kilmer, where we provided therapeutic work in vegetable gardens for our returning troops. Our members also provided bedside bouquets and encouragement to these returning veterans.
In 1950, we began our long association with the Lyons Veteran’s Administration Hospital at Basking Ridge by providing weekly flower arrangements throughout the facility to let our veterans know they are always in our hearts and minds. GCNJ Garden Therapy Chair Terry Blake, of the Shrewsbury Garden Club, involves as many as 16 garden clubs in rotating their services at Lyons. Long-time participant Alice Jarvis, member of the Washington Valley GC and Bridgewater GC, was just bestowed, from the White
House, the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her 4,000 hours of volunteerism at Lyon’s VA Hospital.
Other GCNJ members receiving awards for their many hours of service from Lyons VA Hospital are Dot Grippo from the Piscataway GC, Amy Stadtmueller and Ellen Bogusky from Washington Valley GC. Congratulations to all of you and to all the garden clubs and garden club members throughout this great state of ours who reach out to our seniors in nursing homes, our residents with disabilities, our children in our local schools, and the Community Garden Club of Hunterdon County for their inspired work at the Edna Mahon Correctional Facility. You are an inspiration to us all, and we thank you.
Well, you won’t believe who I just saw on “Garden Smart.” It was none other than our own Tom Castronovo, promoting, as only he can, the “Gardener News” on NJN. I loved it, and enjoyed the exchange between Tom and Joe Lamp’l. I miss Joe’s column in the “Gardener News,” but a little bird told me that he is busy as can be with a new production entitled “Growing a Green World” on PBS. I hear that we may see the first episodes in June. Maybe we’ll see more of Tom on television, too, and not only in profile, but looking right at us, encouraging us to “Keep the Garden in the Garden State!”
Just want to close with some “June Happenings” around the state. First up, we have the GCNJ Annual Meeting on June 3 at the Marriott Hotel in Bridgewater. We have the honor of hosting the National Garden Club Inc.’s President, Renee Blascke and showcasing our great state to her. June 6-12 is National Garden Week, with The Women Gardeners of Ridgewood presenting a “Secret Gardens Tour” on June 6 and 7; call 201-560-9977; June 12, the Garden Club of Westfield has their “Papillion Garden Tour,” call 908-233-7572; Rocky Brook GC’s “June in Bloom” garden tour is on June 12, with tours in Cranbury and Hightstown, call 609-448-1644; and June 14 is the Seaweeders GC of Mantoloking & Bay Head Garden Tour, call 732-701-1276. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention our 2nd Annual Victory Garden Symposium to be held on Tuesday, September 21 at Holly House. We will be focusing on gardening with native plants and you can call me at 908-782-6091or e-mail me at [email protected] for more information. “Get Out There” by joining a garden club, becoming a Master Gardener or both, and VOLUNTEER!
Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is Horticultural Chairperson for the Garden Club of New Jersey. She can be reached at (908)782-6091 or by e-mailing [email protected]
Square Foot Garden Therapy(Continued from Page 1)
On Thursday, June 3rd. at 7 pm, Dolores Damiano-Szafran (a member of Rutgers Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Somerset and Hunterdon Counties) will demonstrate how to create a culinary herb garden in containers. Characteristics and uses of different herbs will be discussed. At the end of the program, the finished product will be raffled amongst the participants and the lucky winner will bring home a fragrant herbal arrangement!
On Saturday, June 5th at 2 pm, Karen Zolnay of Hawk Haven Orchids (located in Stockton, NJ) will present a program geared toward beginner orchid growers. She will also include various discussions related to information on the orchid family. This entertaining, informative, and interactive program will appeal to orchid and flower lovers of all ages and levels. Karen Zolnay has been involved in orchid growing since 1987 when she fell in love with exotic flowers while visiting Hawaii. Hawk Haven Orchids focuses on the propagation of Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Vanda, and Dendrobium Orchids.Her orchids are sold through local retail shops, garden centers, over the internet, and at local fairs and garden shows. She routinely gives workshops on various aspects of orchid culture for regional clubs and organizations. Karen is also active in several clubs and has won awards for her plants at orchid competitions. Recently, Karen has embarked on an ambitious hybridization project to create vivid blue cattleya flowers. This project is an international collaborative effort with many of the top hybridizing experts in the field.
On Wednesday, June 16 at 7 pm, join popular gardening consultant (and world traveler), Hank Snyder, as he discusses little known facts about plant origins and their arrival into the gardens of America. Enjoy a slide show of unusual plants from various countries, including: New Zealand, Java, Bali, Australia, Barbados, and the Canary Islands. Hank will also share his traveling exhibit, “Harvest Heritage”, which consists of garden memorabilia from 1880–1910 and includes the first seed catalogs available in the United States.
Registration is required for all events. Register online by going to www.somerset.lib.nj.us/warren.htm and click on Adult Programs. Find the program you are interested in, and double-click to register. Or call the Warren Township Library at 908-754-5554 ext. 64 for more information, and assistance with registration.
Garden Series at Warren Township Library
Students Invited to YESS at the EARTH Center Middlesex County students graduating 7th through 11th grades who are interested in gardening and community service, are invited to attend a summer day program at the
County’s Extension office called “YESS (Youth Enhanced Service to Society) at the EARTH Center”. The program will be held July 19 to 23 from 9 am to Noon at the EARTH Center in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, South Brunswick. After the initial training week, weekly work meetings will occur from July 26nd through August 31st.
The program focuses on environmental stewardship and will provide participants with a background in vegetable gardening practices, environmental concerns, and the importance of community service. Once trained, students will be excited to start gardens at home or within their communities. Experience gained by students may keep them interested in future community service.
Youth are then involved in weekly sessions throughout the summer (July 26 through August 31), and expected to help maintain a ‘Garden for the Hungry.’ Time spent in the garden can be used for community service hours. All produce will be donated to a local soup kitchen.
The cost of the program is $55 per person (includes t-shirt). The registration deadline is July 12th, but interested participants should register soon as spaces are filling up. For more information on the YESS program or to register, contact the Middlesex County Extension office at 732-398-5262. To learn more about Middlesex County’s Extension Service visit www.co.middlesex.nj.us/extensionservices
Gardener News16 June, 2010
helping, challenging, adapting, learning, educating, feeling, ability”---all goals the NJADB list on their website and all are goals that gardening embraces.
We extended an invitation for Les and his staff to attend our “Victory Garden Symposium” last September at Holly House, and they connected with the Neshanic Garden Club President, Diana Reinhardt, who subsequently offered to establish a “square foot garden” at their residential home.
The Neshanic Garden Club planned the square foot garden using the methods taught by Terry Holman, President of the Garden Club of Long Valley, and instructor for Mel Bartholomew’s “square foot garden system.” I volunteered to chair this committee and we asked the amazing Hank Raymond (he never says no), our carpenter extraordinaire and husband of Joan, a garden club member, to build us a 4-by-4 raised bed, making it wheelchair accessible. He built it out of cedar and installed a removable grid that he screwed on top so that each of the 16 square foot sections were delineated, thereby making it a “true” square foot garden.
On a perfect spring day, members of the Neshanic Garden Club were enthusiastically welcomed by the New Jersey Association of Deaf-Blind residents and staff, and we seamlessly worked the magic
that comes with gardening, by installing and planting the square foot garden, and providing the residents with garden tools, plants and a copy of the “All New Square Foot Gardening” book. We were all the beneficiaries of the physical and emotional joys that came that memorable day, and we were delighted to see the care, respect and, yes, love that the staff demonstrated to their clients. It was truly a beautiful happening, and I still see the pansy tucked behind the ear of a totally joyful resident.
The residents were immersed in this new experience and delighted in the scent, texture and colors abounding in this lovely, unique garden. The NJAB staff and residents excitedly asked when we would be coming back, so we are looking forward to a date in June to help plant summer vegetables. Meanwhile, we’re hoping to expand this project to include other N.J. Association of Deaf-Blind Inc. community homes so that more people with these isolating disabilities can benefit from the therapeutic powers that gardening engenders.
The New Jersey Association of the Deaf-Blind, Inc. was established in 1978 as a support group for families dealing with developmental disabilities. They are largely state funded, but do depend on private donations and volunteers as well. They serve 250 adults with various programs throughout the state
and have eight residential homes in several counties with four to sic residents each receiving 24/7 care. The NJADB’s overriding philosophy is valuing people over process and providing a caring and respectful environment. We look forward to many more wonderful, sharing experiences with this non-profit organization and their clients who are deaf and/or blind, and we will continue to nurture their gardening skills and progress.
Lest you think that the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc. has only recently responded to garden therapy projects, we can go back to World War II and our work at Camp Kilmer, where we provided therapeutic work in vegetable gardens for our returning troops. Our members also provided bedside bouquets and encouragement to these returning veterans.
In 1950, we began our long association with the Lyons Veteran’s Administration Hospital at Basking Ridge by providing weekly flower arrangements throughout the facility to let our veterans know they are always in our hearts and minds. GCNJ Garden Therapy Chair Terry Blake, of the Shrewsbury Garden Club, involves as many as 16 garden clubs in rotating their services at Lyons. Long-time participant Alice Jarvis, member of the Washington Valley GC and Bridgewater GC, was just bestowed, from the White
House, the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her 4,000 hours of volunteerism at Lyon’s VA Hospital.
Other GCNJ members receiving awards for their many hours of service from Lyons VA Hospital are Dot Grippo from the Piscataway GC, Amy Stadtmueller and Ellen Bogusky from Washington Valley GC. Congratulations to all of you and to all the garden clubs and garden club members throughout this great state of ours who reach out to our seniors in nursing homes, our residents with disabilities, our children in our local schools, and the Community Garden Club of Hunterdon County for their inspired work at the Edna Mahon Correctional Facility. You are an inspiration to us all, and we thank you.
Well, you won’t believe who I just saw on “Garden Smart.” It was none other than our own Tom Castronovo, promoting, as only he can, the “Gardener News” on NJN. I loved it, and enjoyed the exchange between Tom and Joe Lamp’l. I miss Joe’s column in the “Gardener News,” but a little bird told me that he is busy as can be with a new production entitled “Growing a Green World” on PBS. I hear that we may see the first episodes in June. Maybe we’ll see more of Tom on television, too, and not only in profile, but looking right at us, encouraging us to “Keep the Garden in the Garden State!”
Just want to close with some “June Happenings” around the state. First up, we have the GCNJ Annual Meeting on June 3 at the Marriott Hotel in Bridgewater. We have the honor of hosting the National Garden Club Inc.’s President, Renee Blascke and showcasing our great state to her. June 6-12 is National Garden Week, with The Women Gardeners of Ridgewood presenting a “Secret Gardens Tour” on June 6 and 7; call 201-560-9977; June 12, the Garden Club of Westfield has their “Papillion Garden Tour,” call 908-233-7572; Rocky Brook GC’s “June in Bloom” garden tour is on June 12, with tours in Cranbury and Hightstown, call 609-448-1644; and June 14 is the Seaweeders GC of Mantoloking & Bay Head Garden Tour, call 732-701-1276. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention our 2nd Annual Victory Garden Symposium to be held on Tuesday, September 21 at Holly House. We will be focusing on gardening with native plants and you can call me at 908-782-6091or e-mail me at [email protected] for more information. “Get Out There” by joining a garden club, becoming a Master Gardener or both, and VOLUNTEER!
Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is Horticultural Chairperson for the Garden Club of New Jersey. She can be reached at (908)782-6091 or by e-mailing [email protected]
Square Foot Garden Therapy(Continued from Page 1)
On Thursday, June 3rd. at 7 pm, Dolores Damiano-Szafran (a member of Rutgers Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Somerset and Hunterdon Counties) will demonstrate how to create a culinary herb garden in containers. Characteristics and uses of different herbs will be discussed. At the end of the program, the finished product will be raffled amongst the participants and the lucky winner will bring home a fragrant herbal arrangement!
On Saturday, June 5th at 2 pm, Karen Zolnay of Hawk Haven Orchids (located in Stockton, NJ) will present a program geared toward beginner orchid growers. She will also include various discussions related to information on the orchid family. This entertaining, informative, and interactive program will appeal to orchid and flower lovers of all ages and levels. Karen Zolnay has been involved in orchid growing since 1987 when she fell in love with exotic flowers while visiting Hawaii. Hawk Haven Orchids focuses on the propagation of Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Vanda, and Dendrobium Orchids.Her orchids are sold through local retail shops, garden centers, over the internet, and at local fairs and garden shows. She routinely gives workshops on various aspects of orchid culture for regional clubs and organizations. Karen is also active in several clubs and has won awards for her plants at orchid competitions. Recently, Karen has embarked on an ambitious hybridization project to create vivid blue cattleya flowers. This project is an international collaborative effort with many of the top hybridizing experts in the field.
On Wednesday, June 16 at 7 pm, join popular gardening consultant (and world traveler), Hank Snyder, as he discusses little known facts about plant origins and their arrival into the gardens of America. Enjoy a slide show of unusual plants from various countries, including: New Zealand, Java, Bali, Australia, Barbados, and the Canary Islands. Hank will also share his traveling exhibit, “Harvest Heritage”, which consists of garden memorabilia from 1880–1910 and includes the first seed catalogs available in the United States.
Registration is required for all events. Register online by going to www.somerset.lib.nj.us/warren.htm and click on Adult Programs. Find the program you are interested in, and double-click to register. Or call the Warren Township Library at 908-754-5554 ext. 64 for more information, and assistance with registration.
Garden Series at Warren Township Library
Students Invited to YESS at the EARTH Center Middlesex County students graduating 7th through 11th grades who are interested in gardening and community service, are invited to attend a summer day program at the
County’s Extension office called “YESS (Youth Enhanced Service to Society) at the EARTH Center”. The program will be held July 19 to 23 from 9 am to Noon at the EARTH Center in Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, South Brunswick. After the initial training week, weekly work meetings will occur from July 26nd through August 31st.
The program focuses on environmental stewardship and will provide participants with a background in vegetable gardening practices, environmental concerns, and the importance of community service. Once trained, students will be excited to start gardens at home or within their communities. Experience gained by students may keep them interested in future community service.
Youth are then involved in weekly sessions throughout the summer (July 26 through August 31), and expected to help maintain a ‘Garden for the Hungry.’ Time spent in the garden can be used for community service hours. All produce will be donated to a local soup kitchen.
The cost of the program is $55 per person (includes t-shirt). The registration deadline is July 12th, but interested participants should register soon as spaces are filling up. For more information on the YESS program or to register, contact the Middlesex County Extension office at 732-398-5262. To learn more about Middlesex County’s Extension Service visit www.co.middlesex.nj.us/extensionservices
Gardener News June, 2010 17
Gardener News18 June, 2010
Now is the time for you to get on your hands and knees and bend down to hear the bugs chomping on your lawn, like the cereal…. Snap, Crackle, Pop! Perhaps your Memorial Day picnic was ruined because you were getting bitten by ants. Yuck! Let’s look at what you can do about some lawn insect pests.
Grubs, the C-shaped larval stages of certain beetles, chew on the roots of grass plants, causing millions of dollars of damage across the USA. Grub damage is usually seen when dead patches of grass are peeled back to reveal the grubs in the top layer of soil. Understand the white grub life-cycle before beginning your control plans. After their long winter’s nap, adult beetles move up to the surface in spring with an appetite to feed on your grass roots. After feeding for a few weeks, they fly to an area driven by mating behavior. Late spring and early summer is one time to control grubs, since they are near the surface. There are various control products
on the market, particularly imidacloprid, which can give season-long control if applied at this time of year.
As grubs develop into final adult stage, mating and the laying of eggs happens from June through August. As young grubs emerge from these eggs, they burrow into the top layer of soil, where they begin feeding on your lawn’s grass roots. The best time to control grubs is when they are close to the soil surface and they are young. There are a number of insecticides on the market to kill these darn grublings. (I made up a new word!)
Usually we want to get rid of ants so they do not enter our house or bite us when we roll in the grass. Ants build nests on the ground and find food left
from your most recent picnic or spilled soda. They love sugar! Removal of trees can also bring an abundance of wood-burrowing ants to your yard. Ant hills can become large enough to smother the grass, killing it. Nests built around grass roots may destroy the grass and ants have been known to chomp on grass seed too! There are many controls available on the market to control ants.
Chinch bugs are pests that feed on the sap of grass plants. Their piercing-sucking mouth parts suck out plant juices while they inject a chemical which clogs the plants vascular system. Chinch bugs are most damaging in open, sunny areas and prefer to feed on the lower leaf sheath,
near the crown of the grass plant. Yellowish-brown areas turn rapidly brown and then into dead areas. This usually happens during warm summer months.
To identify chinch bugs, examine marginal areas of injured patches, spread the grass and look in the thatch near the soil surface. They have a distinct cross-winged pattern on their back. On warm, sunny days you should be able to see them scurrying around. Otherwise, cut out both ends of a coffee can (after removing the coffee). In an area where you suspect chinch bugs are present, soften the soil with some water and insert the can two to three inches into the soil. Fill the can with water almost to the top, wait five minutes and see the chinch bugs
rise to the surface. Lawns which have received weekly, deep watering and those lawns which are growing vigorously can tolerant a large number of chinch bugs without showing damage. Natural predators such as ground beetles keep chinch bug populations from getting out of hand. Lawns which contain endophyte-enhanced grass seed varieties provide resistance to chinch bugs. Most insect controls are labeled for chinch bugs, see timing instructions.
There are a number of other lawns insects, some that damage the lawn and those which are just nuisance pests. These include billbugs, ticks, sod webworm and more. Remember to read all label directions carefully to better insure your timing and rates of applications for the most success.
Editor’s Note: Todd Pretz is Vice President of Jonathan Green, a leading supplier of lawn and garden products in the northeast. For more information, please visit: www.jonathangreen.com
Got bugs?
Turf ‘s UpBy Todd Pretz
Professional Turf Consultant
Sunday, June 6, 20101:00 to 4:00 p.m.
The formal Italianate gardens at the official residence of the Governor in Princeton are among New Jersey’s most admired landscapes. More than one hundred years old, Drumthwacket’s magnificent terraced gardens are anchored by a quartet of beautiful southern magnolias.
June 6th is one of three Sundays a year that both the house and gardens are open to the public. Mercer County Master Gardeners will provide Drumthwacket garden tours and answer questions about your own home garden. Beekeeper Patrick Ryan will be sharing his knowledge of New Jersey’s state insect, the honeybee. Rutgers Gardens’ Director Bruce Crawford and Gardener News Executive Editor and Publisher Tom Castronovo will share their plant expertise. Renowned New Jersey landscape photographer Walter Choroszewski will be pleased to sign your purchase of his exquisite books and prints. Watercolorist Sandra Nusblatt will display New Jersey paintings and prints. Visitors will enjoy enchanting garden party music.
Delicious Jersey Fresh strawberry shortcake may be purchased at the Garden Party for $10.00. Proceeds will benefit Drumthwacket’s educational programming.
Also open will be Olden House, the 18th century birthplace of Drumthwacket’s original owner, and the site of Drumthwacket’s Gift Shop, stocked with unique seasonal gifts.
Reservations required at www.drumthwacket.org or 609-683-0057, x4. Space is limited. Suggested $5.00 donation to the non-profit Drumthwacket Foundation. Parking on site. Drumthwacket is located at 354 Stockton Street (Route 206), just south of Princeton. For driving directions and a complete garden history visit www.drumthwacket.org.
Garden Party Open House at Governor’s Residence in Princeton
Gardener News18 June, 2010
Now is the time for you to get on your hands and knees and bend down to hear the bugs chomping on your lawn, like the cereal…. Snap, Crackle, Pop! Perhaps your Memorial Day picnic was ruined because you were getting bitten by ants. Yuck! Let’s look at what you can do about some lawn insect pests.
Grubs, the C-shaped larval stages of certain beetles, chew on the roots of grass plants, causing millions of dollars of damage across the USA. Grub damage is usually seen when dead patches of grass are peeled back to reveal the grubs in the top layer of soil. Understand the white grub life-cycle before beginning your control plans. After their long winter’s nap, adult beetles move up to the surface in spring with an appetite to feed on your grass roots. After feeding for a few weeks, they fly to an area driven by mating behavior. Late spring and early summer is one time to control grubs, since they are near the surface. There are various control products
on the market, particularly imidacloprid, which can give season-long control if applied at this time of year.
As grubs develop into final adult stage, mating and the laying of eggs happens from June through August. As young grubs emerge from these eggs, they burrow into the top layer of soil, where they begin feeding on your lawn’s grass roots. The best time to control grubs is when they are close to the soil surface and they are young. There are a number of insecticides on the market to kill these darn grublings. (I made up a new word!)
Usually we want to get rid of ants so they do not enter our house or bite us when we roll in the grass. Ants build nests on the ground and find food left
from your most recent picnic or spilled soda. They love sugar! Removal of trees can also bring an abundance of wood-burrowing ants to your yard. Ant hills can become large enough to smother the grass, killing it. Nests built around grass roots may destroy the grass and ants have been known to chomp on grass seed too! There are many controls available on the market to control ants.
Chinch bugs are pests that feed on the sap of grass plants. Their piercing-sucking mouth parts suck out plant juices while they inject a chemical which clogs the plants vascular system. Chinch bugs are most damaging in open, sunny areas and prefer to feed on the lower leaf sheath,
near the crown of the grass plant. Yellowish-brown areas turn rapidly brown and then into dead areas. This usually happens during warm summer months.
To identify chinch bugs, examine marginal areas of injured patches, spread the grass and look in the thatch near the soil surface. They have a distinct cross-winged pattern on their back. On warm, sunny days you should be able to see them scurrying around. Otherwise, cut out both ends of a coffee can (after removing the coffee). In an area where you suspect chinch bugs are present, soften the soil with some water and insert the can two to three inches into the soil. Fill the can with water almost to the top, wait five minutes and see the chinch bugs
rise to the surface. Lawns which have received weekly, deep watering and those lawns which are growing vigorously can tolerant a large number of chinch bugs without showing damage. Natural predators such as ground beetles keep chinch bug populations from getting out of hand. Lawns which contain endophyte-enhanced grass seed varieties provide resistance to chinch bugs. Most insect controls are labeled for chinch bugs, see timing instructions.
There are a number of other lawns insects, some that damage the lawn and those which are just nuisance pests. These include billbugs, ticks, sod webworm and more. Remember to read all label directions carefully to better insure your timing and rates of applications for the most success.
Editor’s Note: Todd Pretz is Vice President of Jonathan Green, a leading supplier of lawn and garden products in the northeast. For more information, please visit: www.jonathangreen.com
Got bugs?
Turf ‘s UpBy Todd Pretz
Professional Turf Consultant
Sunday, June 6, 20101:00 to 4:00 p.m.
The formal Italianate gardens at the official residence of the Governor in Princeton are among New Jersey’s most admired landscapes. More than one hundred years old, Drumthwacket’s magnificent terraced gardens are anchored by a quartet of beautiful southern magnolias.
June 6th is one of three Sundays a year that both the house and gardens are open to the public. Mercer County Master Gardeners will provide Drumthwacket garden tours and answer questions about your own home garden. Beekeeper Patrick Ryan will be sharing his knowledge of New Jersey’s state insect, the honeybee. Rutgers Gardens’ Director Bruce Crawford and Gardener News Executive Editor and Publisher Tom Castronovo will share their plant expertise. Renowned New Jersey landscape photographer Walter Choroszewski will be pleased to sign your purchase of his exquisite books and prints. Watercolorist Sandra Nusblatt will display New Jersey paintings and prints. Visitors will enjoy enchanting garden party music.
Delicious Jersey Fresh strawberry shortcake may be purchased at the Garden Party for $10.00. Proceeds will benefit Drumthwacket’s educational programming.
Also open will be Olden House, the 18th century birthplace of Drumthwacket’s original owner, and the site of Drumthwacket’s Gift Shop, stocked with unique seasonal gifts.
Reservations required at www.drumthwacket.org or 609-683-0057, x4. Space is limited. Suggested $5.00 donation to the non-profit Drumthwacket Foundation. Parking on site. Drumthwacket is located at 354 Stockton Street (Route 206), just south of Princeton. For driving directions and a complete garden history visit www.drumthwacket.org.
Garden Party Open House at Governor’s Residence in Princeton
Gardener News June, 2010 19Zinnias blooming in the
garden is one of the best of all the annuals for full sun in the summer months. Zinnias thrive in hot summer sun and do best with at least six hours of sun per day. Zinnias are also known to be resistant to deer. However, they should be kept away from rabbits (they are most likely the culprit of damaging a zinnia garden).
Zinnias are hot-weather lovers and will sit and wait for the temperature to warm up before really starting to grow. They are very drought-tolerant. Zinnias usually come from seed, and are very sensitive to cold, humid temperatures. This is why they usually come to market well past the frost date of May 15. They also make a great cut flower that will last in a vase for at least a week if not longer. Make sure to change the water daily to prevent algae from forming in the water. Cut a quarter- inch to half-inch off the bottom of the stem to insure freshness.
In the garden, zinnias prefer well-drained, moist and fertile soil, rich with
humus. Prepare the soil in the bed where you want to grow zinnias by turning it and loosening it, mixing in peat moss and sand for drainage, and compost to add organic matter. Adding a good all-purpose fertilizer like 10-10-10, or 5-10-5 every 2 weeks into the soil encourages new growth and new blooms. Make sure to pinch back spent or over-bloomed flowers to promote new blooms. If you add compost to your soil, it may improve the quality and fertility of the soil, which will yield healthier plants and blooms. A rich, well-fertilized soil will yield bright colored, fuller flowers.
Some diseases and pests that zinnias are susceptible to, particularly in sites
with poor air circulation or too much moisture are: Powdery mildew, which attacks plants stressed by overcrowding, drought, dampness, or cool weather; Gray mold (Botrytis), leaf blight (Alternaria), and root rots (Rhizotonia and Phytophthora). In most cases, proper cultivar selection and prevention through proper cultural practices are better than attempted cures. Some of the better varieties out on the market are the Magellan series, Zahara series, Profusion series, Dreamland series, Star series, and Swizzle series.
Spacing plants according to their mature size is important to prevent overcrowding, which can lead to disease. Plants are
usually spaced six to 18 inches apart, depending on cultivar. Overcrowding zinnias can lead to problems with disease and should be avoided.
Water plants as needed, especially when they are young. Zinnias are quite drought-tolerant once established. Avoid overhead watering because wet foliage can lead to disease.
Zinnia, and species of the genus Zinnia of the family Asteraceae (aster family), are native chiefly to Mexico, though some range as far north as Colorado and as far south as Guatemala. The common zinnia of gardens (Z. elegans), also called youth-and-old-age, is known for its warm colors, ranging from white, yellow, red, pink, and purple-and
for its bold, stiff aspect. Zinnias are bright butterfly magnets that have a long history as favorite flowers of American home gardeners.
Zinnias perform well together with other hot weather annuals like Vinca, Sunflowers, Dahlias, & Geraniums. Heights of Zinnias range from eight inches all the way up to three to four feet. Flowers can be as wide as three to five inches in diameter.
So the next time you walk into your local garden center without a direction for your garden and you know that you have that full sun location, keep in mind that zinnias are one of your better options to choose from and you shouldn’t have to worry so much about feeding your local deer population.
Colorful and deer resistant
The Professional GrowerBy Tim Hionis
Greenhouse Specialist
Editor’s Note: Tim Hionis has been growing plants for over 20 years, and is co-owner of Hionis Greenhouses and Garden Center in Whitehouse Station, NJ. He can be reached by calling (908) 534-7710.
In the natural world, diversity is the perfect model for sustainable ecosystems. Diversity is a major factor in preventing pest and disease build-up because of the way in which organisms interact. When any one species becomes dominant in an area, its predators will move in to take advantage of the bounty. Eventually, they will reduce the numbers of the dominant species, restoring the balance of nature.
In the past, farmers relied on natural methods of farming because chemicals were not available to them. Now it is possible to grow crops as monocultures, because the use of pesticides has given us a way of controlling competition. This unnatural form of agriculture has created a range of unintended
problems. We can learn from these mistakes by planting a diverse range of species in our gardens, thus naturally reducing pests and diseases.
The advantages of heirloom varieties
Heirloom plants are varieties that have been handed down through decades or even centuries from farmer to farmer and gardener to gardener. For roughly 12,000 years, human civilization has been based on agriculture and horticulture. During this time, thousands of genetically unique strains of fruit and vegetables have been selected and bred by farmers and gardeners. They represent a genetic heritage that is disappearing from commercial horticulture, where large-scale factory-type production demands that plants conform to strict guidelines to fit into mechanized systems.
By contrast, heirloom varieties are a celebration
of genetic diversity whose greatest strength is the fact that there are individuals within each crop that mature a bit earlier or are more resistant to pests and diseases. Such characteristics are a tremendous advantage in the organic garden, where the produce does not have to fit into a narrow commercial window.
Fortunately, there are many gardeners who recognize the value of maintaining genetic diversity for future generations. Consequently, around the world, various non-profit organizations have been formed to store seed or to help gardeners and farmers form networks that enable them to swap seed and vegetative material of heirloom plant varieties.
The many vital roles of herbs and flowers
Introducing a wide range of herbs and flowers into your organic garden will have all sorts of benefits.
They will help attract an increased range of birds, insects, lizards, and other animals. Insects and birds will act as pollinators for your fruit and vegetables resulting in increased yields. Many of these creatures will also help to control pests. Inevitably, there will also be some negative consequences, such as birds feeding on fruit, but the diversity you create will be your insurance policy that if one food crop is decimated there will be a host of others that can replace it.
Herbs often have aromatic oils that give their foliage and flowers a characteristic perfume. Herbs such as pyrethrum and garlic can be used to create organic remedies for pest and disease problems. In addition, such plants release oils into the air and soil that surrounds them, thereby helping to repel pests from your garden naturally. I have been an
organic gardener for over 30 years and I have grown thousands of different plants, both commercially and personally. Diversification is a great insurance policy in everyone’s garden.
Editor’s Note: Editor’s Note: Milo Lou Shammas, Founder and Formulator of Dr. Earth, Inc., invented the very first pro-biotic™ fertilizer. Milo was the first inventor to incorporate his 7 Champion strains of beneficial soil microbes and fungi into his pro-biotic “for life” organic fertilizer formulas. It is with this early discovery that Milo recognized that the bioavailability of nutrients in the soil is completely dependent on the biological activity in the soil. In 1992, he took his invention to market and started the Dr. Earth brand of fertilizers, insect sprays and soils. To learn more about Milo, please visit www.drearth.com
By Milo L. Shammas
Diversity is the key to abundance
Gardener News20 June, 2010
Jersey Fresh Strawberries in Season (TRENTON) – Jersey Fresh strawberries are a sure sign that summer is here and the plump, juicy and delicious fruit is available now at some community
farmers markets, local farm markets and pick-your-own farms in the state. Harvesting of the popular spring crop began in May and should continue through early June.
Strawberries are a part of a healthy diet, providing a good source of vitamin C. Strawberries should not be washed until ready to eat because their high water content, on top of the additional water, will result in a mushy berry. Once the caps are removed, an enzyme is released that destroys the vitamin C. Be certain to remove the caps after rinsing to prevent the strawberry from becoming waterlogged and from losing vitamin C content.
Look for strawberries that are plump and firm with a bright red color and natural shine. The size of the berry is not important; the color of the berry and the fragrance are the best indicators of flavor. Caps should be fresh, green and intact. Avoid strawberries with green or white color, or those that appear mushy, shriveled or leaky. Strawberries do not ripen after harvest, so they should be immediately stored in the refrigerator and picked as close to consumption time as possible.
When purchasing, check the carton for stains, which indicate over-ripeness. Remove the strawberries from the market or store container. Store in a shallow container on a paper towel in the refrigerator for up to three days. If a shallow container is not feasible, put paper towels between the layers. Remove from the refrigerator and serve at room temperature for optimum flavor.
While delicious in baked goods, strawberries are tasty raw, especially when served with a liqueur or when dipped in chocolate. Preserve as a jam, or easily freeze by coating in a water and lemon juice mix.
To find Jersey Fresh strawberries and other Jersey Fresh products at farm markets or pick-your-own farms, visit the Jersey Fresh website at www.jerseyfresh.nj.gov.
Fresh culinary offerings It was a great day for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture on May 6, 2010. Somerset Medical Center (SMC) in Somerville is the first
hospital in the state to partner with the Jersey Fresh program to include local fresh fruits and vegetables and “Made With Jersey Fresh” products in their cafeteria, the Good Day Café, on the patients menus, in cooking classes for cancer patients and in community outreach/wellness programs. SMC serves over 1 million meals per year to the community. The Jersey Fresh program will allow SMC participants to help combat obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and other ailments associated with poor nutrition. It will also allow SMC to capitalize on the state’s greatest resources – its fresh produce. On March 16, SMC joined the Eastern Produce Council (EPC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the use of fresh fruits and vegetables – “Our Most Natural Food.” SMC was also the first hospital in the country to join the EPC, a 425-member firm from 18 states and Canada who are directly involved in the produce industry.
Standing from left to right are: Keith McCaffrey, Operations Manager, Food and Nutrition Services, Somerset Medical Center; New Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Al Murray; George Jonkoski, Director, Food and Nutrition Services, Somerset Medical Center and Glenn McCreesh, Senior Vice President of Operations, Somerset Medical Center. From left to right in front are: Peter Pascale, Executive Chef, Somerset Medical Center; Paul Kneeland, Vice President, Eastern Produce Council and Vice President of Produce and Floral, Kings Supermarkets; Dean Holmquist, President, Eastern Produce Council and Director of Produce and Floral, Foodtown.
Tom Castronovo/Photo
Gardener News June, 2010 21
Landmark Pesticide Legislation in NY(ALBANY, NY) – Senator Brian X. Foley and
Assemblyman Steve Englebright hailed the signing of the Childs Save Playing Fields Act by Governor Patterson on Tuesday, May 18.
This law protects children and the environment by banning the use of harmful pesticides on school fields and playgrounds, as well as daycare centers.
Pesticides are used in many communities to maintain lawns and playing fields. These substances have been shown to cause harm to both the environment and the children who utilize the fields, including contaminating groundwater, and causing nervous, reproductive and immune system disorders. A recent study published by the journal of Pediatrics also links exposure to pesticides to the development of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Although research regarding the link between pesticides and childhood disease and disorder continues, the result is clear: pesticides are dangerous and need to be limited around the most vulnerable members of our community.
The law amends various provisions in the law to allow the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of Health to develop guidance on pesticide alternatives and to limit the use of pesticides on school grounds and daycare centers. The law includes provisions to allow for the emergency application of pesticides in rare and exceptional cases. However, with alternative lawn products on the market that are both safer and more cost-effective for consumers it is believed that these instances will be few and far between.
SHRIMP ON THE BARBIEHello, June. Hello summer barbecue. Are you as excited as I am to be able to finally enjoy outdoor
dining again? Of course we’ve been enjoying that privilege for several weeks now, as spring has made way for summer. But there just seems to be something about June and barbecue that defines summer dining.
I tried to determine the origin of the term barbecue. I found many theories, ranging from the West Indian term “barbacoa” (a method of slow cooking meat over hot coals) to the French “barbe a queue” (“From Head to Tail”), to “barabicu”, a term used by Indians in Florida and parts of the Caribbean meaning “sacred fire pit”.
Since I couldn’t positively identify the source, I decided instead to focus on the meal itself. And with a nod to our friends Down Under, I thought a recipe for grilled shrimp might provide an alternative to steaks and burgers. I hope you will enjoy this summer menu for shrimp on the barbie.
2 – Tablespoon Dry, White Wine1 – Lemon – Juiced to make 2-Tablespoons
2 – Large Garlic Cloves – Finely Minced or Passed through a Garlic Press16 – Large or Jumbo Raw Shrimp - Cleaned and Deveined
Salt and Pepper to TasteMETHOD:
1. Prepare the marinade. Combine the melted butter, white wine, lemon juice and garlic. 2. Rinse the shrimp briefly in cold water and pat them dry. Add the shrimp to the marinade and turn to
coat on all sides. Set aside for 15 minutes, turning 2 or 3 times.3. Preheat the grill to medium high. If using wooden skewers, soak them in a flat pan with cold water.4. Allowing 4 shrimp per serving, place the shrimp on the skewers. Use 2 skewers for each portion to
allow more stability and they won’t spin when you flip them. Grill 3-4 minutes per side, or until the shrimp are evenly pink.
PICNIC POTATO PACKETS Serves 4
INGREDIENTS:4 – Medium Baking Potatoes
2 – Tablespoons Olive Oil or Canola Oil1 – Medium Spanish Onion
Salt and PepperMETHOD:
1. Preheat the grill to high or medium-high.2. Tear 4 sheets of foil – large enough to wrap one potato each - and set aside.3. Peel the onion and dice it or cut it into thin slices. 4. Wash and dry the potatoes. Cut them into even sized chunks. 5. Toss the potatoes and onions with the oil.6. Divide the potato-onion mixture evenly on the foil sheets. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Wrap
the foil to close each packet.7. Place the potato packets on a grill so they will cook over indirect heat. Grill until they are soft – 30-40
minutes.FRESH COLESLAW WITH APPLES & JICAMA
Serves 6-8INGREDIENTS:
½ - Teaspoon EACH: Salt; Onion Powder; Dry Mustard¼ - Teaspoon Pepper¾ - Cup Mayonnaise
¼ - Cup EACH: Sour Cream, Heavy Cream AND Sugar1 - Tablespoon Honey
1½ - Tablespoons White Vinegar2 - Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
8 - Cups Shredded Napa Cabbage (1 Medium Head)1 - Cup Grated Granny Smith Apple – No need to peel first
1 - Cup Peeled and Grated Jicama ½ - Cup Peeled and Grated Carrots
METHOD:1. Make the dressing. Combine the salt, onion powder, dry mustard and pepper in a medium bowl with
the mayonnaise, sour cream and heavy cream. Whisk in the sugar, honey, vinegar and lemon juice. 2. Cut the cabbage in half length-wise. Lay flat side on cutting board and use a chef’s knife to cut the
cabbage into very thin slices.3. Peel the apples, jicama and carrots. Shred each, using a hand-held shredder or the grating blade of a
food processor. (Grate the apples last, so they don’t turn brown.)4. Combine the cabbage, jicama, carrots and apple in a large bowl.5. Pour ¾ of the dressing on the shredded vegetables. Fold gently with a spatula or wooden spoon. Add
more dressing if necessary, to thoroughly coat the coleslaw mixture. Do not over dress the coleslaw, or it will become soggy as it sets. Chill until ready to serve.
Preparing Your HarvestBy Cherry Huntoon
Kings Cooking Studio
Editor’s Note: Cherry Huntoon is director of the Kings Cooking Studio. For more information or to receive a brochure about the cooking classes at Kings call: (973) 258-4009
Class VIII of the New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Development Program (NJALDP) is thrilled to announce its “Taste of Summer: A Celebration of Jersey Fresh” fundraiser event being held on Saturday, July 10, 2010. The rain-or-shine event is scheduled to run from 1p.m. to 5p.m. and is taking place at Viking Village Inc. in Barnegat Light.
“Taste of Summer: A Celebration of Jersey Fresh” is just that – a celebration of some of the finest foods and beverages produced right here in the Garden State. As if you needed another excuse to visit the Jersey Shore in July, the event will feature a full menu prepared with food products grown on New Jersey’s farm fields and caught off of our coast. Additionally, we’ll also feature wine and beer from New Jersey’s very own Bellview Winery and Flying Fish Brewing Company. There will also be live music, a silent auction, dock tours, prizes and more!
Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance at a cost of $25/adult or $10/children aged 12 and under. Day of event tickets will cost $30/adult and $15/children aged 12 and under. Alcohol is not included with the purchase of a ticket.
To purchase tickets, go to www.BrownBagTickets.com and search “Taste of Summer”.
Viking Village is located at 1801 Bayview Ave., Barnegat Light, NJ 08006.
New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Development Program plans
“Taste of Summer: A Celebrationof Jersey Fresh”
Mark your calendars! If you are thinking of certifying organic, transitioning to organic, or are already a certified organic farmer, developing an Organic System Plan (OSP) is a necessity! OSP’s are a description of farming practices and procedures to be performed, including frequency, that addresses management practices, monitoring procedures, recordkeeping, and is basically your “organic action plan”.
Organic Systems Plans are the topic of the next Northeast Organic Farming Assoc. of New Jersey (NOFA-NJ) Twilight Meeting which will be held on Thursday, June 10, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at DanLynn Organic Farms, 145 Perkintown Road, Pedricktown, NJ 08067.
Twilight Meeting fee for NOFA-NJ Member-$10, Non-Member-$15. Call: 908-371-1111 to register, or mail a check to: NOFA-NJ, 334 River Road, Hillsborough, 08844. For more information go to: www.nofanj.org
NOFA-NJ News
Gardener News22 June, 2010
G a r d e n e r N e w sThe Premier Gardening Monthly Newspaper
June Columnists Tom Castronovo Craig Korb Todd Pretz Tim Hionis Evan Dickerson Bob LaHoff Cherry Huntoon Richard Perkins Paul Kneeland Peter Melick Leslie Barlow Robert Andreucci
Contributing Writers Bruce Crawford Jan Marie Traynor Jeannie Geremia Milo L. Shammas
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TIP OF THE MONTH• Do you have a graduation party coming up? Garden centers, nurseries and greenhouses should be well stocked with good-size annuals and perennials that are in full bloom. Take a look around your yard and see if some areas could benefit from instant color. The first step in preparing for your visit is to analyze your garden, how much room you have for plants, and just where. This will help you and the assisting sales personnel pick the right plants for the right places. Photographs of your garden will help. Note if the garden is in sun or shade, and how many hours of sun each area might receive. What direction do the beds face? How much wind will the beds be exposed to?
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EPA Helps Americans Get Ready for Summer with
Insect Repellents(WASHINGTON) – The arrival of warmer
weather signals the return of biting insects. Recognizing that, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates pesticides, has updated its insect repellent Web page. By reading and following label directions, the use of repellents can reduce or eliminate the discomfort of insect bites. Ticks can transmit serious diseases such as lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other serious diseases. Repellents also curtail the spread of such mosquito-borne diseases as St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile virus.
The Web page serves as a one-stop-shop for information on registered repellents. It provides up-to-date listings of mosquito and tick repellents as well as tips for choosing the right product to meet your needs. One of the key features of the revamped Web page is easy access to information about protection time. It will help people choose the right product for the length of time they will be outdoors.
For best results, use only insect repellents registered by EPA. When used according to instructions on the label, registered products have been shown to be effective.
More information on insect repellent:www.epa.gov/repellentfinder
Save the CamdenChildren’s GardenAt a time when New Jersey is in
an economic crisis, the state’s Aid Cut Imperils the Camden Children’s Garden. We need your support more than ever as the fate of the Garden and our noble programs is wavering. The cut in funding will impede the resources that allow 1000s of Camden residents to help themselves through growing their own healthy food, nutrition education, environmental literacy, job training, sustainable living, gainful employment, and community development.
The Camden Children’s Garden (CCG) is a 4.5-acre oasis among the city’s urban terrain and serves as the headquarters of all the Camden City Garden Club (CCGC) programs. For 26 years, CCGC’s Community Gardening Program has allowed Camden residents to transform over 70 trash-strewn, vacant, city-owned lots where community members now grow their own fresh produce, giving residents throughout Camden the much-needed access to healthy and inexpensive food.
For more info, visit www.camdenchildrensgarden.org/fundraiser.html, or call Tracy Tomchik at856-365-8733.
Gardener News22 June, 2010
G a r d e n e r N e w sThe Premier Gardening Monthly Newspaper
June Columnists Tom Castronovo Craig Korb Todd Pretz Tim Hionis Evan Dickerson Bob LaHoff Cherry Huntoon Richard Perkins Paul Kneeland Peter Melick Leslie Barlow Robert Andreucci
Contributing Writers Bruce Crawford Jan Marie Traynor Jeannie Geremia Milo L. Shammas
Gardener News is published monthly by
Gardener News, Inc.16 Mount Bethel Road #123
Warren, NJ 07059Subscription Information
Subscription: One year by mail $24.99
The Gardener News invites correspondences on gardening subjects of interest. Gardener News, Inc, and its Publisher reserve the right to accept, refuse, or discontinue any editorial or copy, and shall not be liable to anyone for printing errors, misinformation or omissions in editorial or copy. The information contained in articles herein represents the opinions of the authors and, although believed to be accurate and complete, is not represented or warranted by Gardener News, Inc. to be accurate or complete.All advertising is subject to the Gardener News advertisement rates, and must be PAID IN FULL at time of submission. Publisher reserves the right at its absolute discretion, and at any time, to cancel any advertising order or reject any advertising copy whether or not the same has already been acknowledged and/or previously published. In the event of errors or omissions of any advertisement(s), the newspapers liability shall not exceed a refund of amounts paid for the advertisement.NOTE: All editorial, advertising layouts and designs and portions of the same that are produced and published by Gardener News, Inc., are the sole property of Gardener News, Inc. and may not be reproduced in any form unless written authorization is obtained from the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to: Gardener News, 16 Mount Bethel Rd - #123, Warren, NJ 07059.(c) 2010 Gardener News, Inc.
TIP OF THE MONTH• Do you have a graduation party coming up? Garden centers, nurseries and greenhouses should be well stocked with good-size annuals and perennials that are in full bloom. Take a look around your yard and see if some areas could benefit from instant color. The first step in preparing for your visit is to analyze your garden, how much room you have for plants, and just where. This will help you and the assisting sales personnel pick the right plants for the right places. Photographs of your garden will help. Note if the garden is in sun or shade, and how many hours of sun each area might receive. What direction do the beds face? How much wind will the beds be exposed to?
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EPA Helps Americans Get Ready for Summer with
Insect Repellents(WASHINGTON) – The arrival of warmer
weather signals the return of biting insects. Recognizing that, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which regulates pesticides, has updated its insect repellent Web page. By reading and following label directions, the use of repellents can reduce or eliminate the discomfort of insect bites. Ticks can transmit serious diseases such as lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other serious diseases. Repellents also curtail the spread of such mosquito-borne diseases as St. Louis encephalitis and West Nile virus.
The Web page serves as a one-stop-shop for information on registered repellents. It provides up-to-date listings of mosquito and tick repellents as well as tips for choosing the right product to meet your needs. One of the key features of the revamped Web page is easy access to information about protection time. It will help people choose the right product for the length of time they will be outdoors.
For best results, use only insect repellents registered by EPA. When used according to instructions on the label, registered products have been shown to be effective.
More information on insect repellent:www.epa.gov/repellentfinder
Save the CamdenChildren’s GardenAt a time when New Jersey is in
an economic crisis, the state’s Aid Cut Imperils the Camden Children’s Garden. We need your support more than ever as the fate of the Garden and our noble programs is wavering. The cut in funding will impede the resources that allow 1000s of Camden residents to help themselves through growing their own healthy food, nutrition education, environmental literacy, job training, sustainable living, gainful employment, and community development.
The Camden Children’s Garden (CCG) is a 4.5-acre oasis among the city’s urban terrain and serves as the headquarters of all the Camden City Garden Club (CCGC) programs. For 26 years, CCGC’s Community Gardening Program has allowed Camden residents to transform over 70 trash-strewn, vacant, city-owned lots where community members now grow their own fresh produce, giving residents throughout Camden the much-needed access to healthy and inexpensive food.
For more info, visit www.camdenchildrensgarden.org/fundraiser.html, or call Tracy Tomchik at856-365-8733.
