Graham County Gardening Newsletter
March 2007 Volume 11, No. 3
If You Weren’t There, You Missed a Great Event! Third Annual Gila Valley
Gardening and Landscaping Conference Ursula Schuch kicked off the
conference emphasizing that xeris caping did not mean a bare bones and gravel landscape You can have a lush landscaping with the correct plants and maintenance. She pre sented a very clear and basic method of establishing an area that anyone could enjoy.
Karen Thomson was greeted with questions on culinary herbs in her session even before it began. She passed various herbs around for actual touching and sensing.
David Kopec discussed the best choice of turfgrass to grow in the valley. Copies of his handouts are available at the Extension Office.
Humor was a mark of Carl Ol son’s talk on insects. His email is bugman. His passion is changing people’s attitudes toward insects, hoping they will someday realize that without these microfauna, the rest of the world will not exist.
Jack Kelly listed tree species and best times to plant in the valley.
Our own Randy Norton ex plained how to analyze your type of
soil and how to place the fertilizer so that it can be used by your plants when water is applied.
Rob Call described methods of irrigating vegetables and types of plastic mulches for best results. Rob has a wealth of information on vegetable production and is always willing to make presentations for the conference and for the Master Gar dening Class.
There is much more on pages 3, 4, and 5 including pictures.
MASTER GARDENERS MEETING, TUESDAY, MARCH 6 6:00 P.M., JERRY’S RESTAURANT
Workshops For The Home Gardener Saturday, March 10 10:00 a.m. Pond Cleaning and Maintenance Saturday, April 14 10:00 a.m. Herb Gardening Saturday, May 12 10:00 a.m. Composting Held at EduVenture Trail, University of Arizona, Safford Agricultural Center, 2134 Montierth Lane, Safford. More Information: Call Karen Thomson 9284282611
Inside This Issue: Plant of the Month…………..Page 2 Thank You ………………Page 4 In The March Garden…..Page 5 Insect of the Month …...Pages 2 & 3 Conf. Pictures…...Pages 3, 4, & 5 Calendar………………..Page 6
Graham County Gardening Newsletter—March, 2007______________________________________Page 2
Plant of the Month
Green Santolina Santolina virens
Temperature zones: 7 – 10 USDA, 3 – 24, 27, 29 – 35 39 Sunset Frost protections: hardy to 0
degrees F. Exposure: Full sun Origin: Southern Europe, culti
vated since 1727 Growth habits: Forms dense
mound around 18 inches high with moderate shearing after bloom, moderate growth rate Water requirements: Low wa
ter, well drained soil, plant is fire retardant Propagation: Seeds, stem cut
tings in summer, layering, divi sions in spring or autumn Fruit: Brown pod, trim back
after flowering to keep compact Leaves: Evergreen, fine tex
ture, aromatic Wildlife value: Can hang dried
bunches in closet to repel moths Plant in rock gardens, formal
herb gardens, makes good low border. Plant dislikes rich wet soil and shade.
Insect of the Month Creepy/Crawlies
With the coming of spring, there are some venomous crea tures to be on the lookout for when you start cleaning up gar dens, moving rocks and firewood.
Black Widow Spider Female is shiny black with a red orange hourglass on her under side. Males are smaller and have red and yellow bands and spots on their back. Spiderlings are yellow/orange and white. Males and young are not poisonous. Females make a very strong, messy web. She will be 1 – 3 inches on slender legs. He is smaller. Maturity is reached in
70 – 90 days from emergence. The female molts 6 – 8 times, the male, 3 6 times. Mating season is in the Spring. Four to nine egg sacs are laid throughout the sum mer with 250700 per sac. The female will live up to 3 years. The male reaches maturity, mates and usually dies in the same year.
Arizona Brown Spiders are often mistaken for the Brown Recluse Spider, which is not a normal resident of Arizona. The only Brown Recluse Spiders found here are the ones who have been brought into the state in luggage or belongings of per sons who recently come from
regions where it does occur. This hitch hiking, fortunately, does not happen frequently. However, because these spiders are so closely related and because the venom of each causes similar symptoms, they are often treated, and feared, as one in the same. The two species of brown spi
ders in Arizona closely resem bling the Brown Recluse Spider have a dark brown marking on the front portion of their body which resembles a lyre or violin. They appear twotoned, with a tan front and gray rear body region. These spiders have three pairs of eyes in a crescent shape across the top, rather than the four pairs of most other spiders. Arizona Brown Spiders are small. Including legs, their total size is only about the area of a nickel. The body region of adults is onethird inch long. Arizona Brown Spiders nor
mally nest in protected areas, such as under wood or dead cacti in the desert, their native habitat. They can be found in urban areas, but it usually is because they have been brought in from the desert on firewood or pieces of cactus skeleton acquired for landscape purposes. They build a loose web of white silk where they stay during the daylight hours. As with the black widow, Arizona Brown spiders are active at night. Once again, these spiders are
normally quite timid and only bite when trapped. Persons bitten apparently at first feel no discom fort, but as time progresses a blister forms, which may become an open ulcer. Other symptoms include fever and nausea. Per sons bitten should make every attempt to capture the spider for identification and call their local Poison Control Center immedi ately. By Rick Gibson, Cooperative
Extension Agent, Pinal County
Graham County Gardening Newsletter—March, 2007________________________________________Page 3
Scorpions Scorpions range in length of 2 – 8 inches depending on their species, live 3 – 5 years and give birth to 24 – 35 young af ter a gestation period of several months to 1 ½ years. They are found worldwide, in all eleva tions and climates. Their diets consist of insects, spiders, cen tipedes and other scorpions. Larger species will also eat small lizards, snakes and mice. Their enemies are centipedes,
tarantulas, lizards, birds, shrews, grasshopper mice and
bats. They can be found in moist areas around the home, mulch, rocks, etc. Scorpions have been found in fossils dat ing back 425450 million years ago. They are believed to have oceanic origins. Bites and stings can be seri
ous. If you know that you were bitten, try to capture the of fender, even if you have to squash it. Know your poison control number and consult your physician.
MASTER GARDENERS AT GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING CONFERENCE
Master Gardeners: Back Row: Glen Snider, Jim Peck, Ginny Peck, Gene Fowler, Craig Wilcox, Randy Nor ton Front Row: Dorine Chancellor, Karen Thomson, Marilyn Weaver, Diane Drobka, Ralph McClellan
Graham County Gardening Newsletter—March, 2007_______________________________________Page 4
THANK YOU FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING CONFERENCE TO:
Eastern Arizona College for providing facilities free of charge. Trinity Landscaping for donating a $50 gift certificate and for vendor display. Curtis Landscaping for donating a $50 gift certificate. Kempton’s for donating a $50 gift certificate. WalMart for donating a $50 gift certificate. Central Equipment for four John Deere hats. Eastern Arizona Ag Cen ter for donating toy tractor. Basha’s for container bags. Ace Hardware for door prize.
Bureau of Land Man agement for information dis play. Forest Service for informa tion display. Marilyn Weaver for serving as Master Gardener President and for spearheading the entire con ference. Jim Thomson for taking pic tures. Diane Drobka for serving as Mistress of Ceremonies, securing door prizes. Karen Thomson for pre senting a workshop on culinary herbs, preparing informational handouts, publicity. Dorine Chancellor for bro chures, programs, name tags. Gene Fowler for serving as computer technician. Glen Snider for contacting vendors and door prizes. Ginny and Kent Peck for serving at registration and Master Gardener Table.
Linda Sparrow for stencil on container bags. Craig Wilcox for Forestry Display and for serving at registra tion and Master Gardener Table. Ralph McClellan for serving at Master Gardener Table and all around assistance. Randy Norton, Interim County Director, as a speaker, for securing all other speakers, and for being the spon sor of Master Gardeners and the conference.
University of Arizona Speakers: Dr. Ursula Schuch Jack Kelly Rob Call Carl Olson Dr. David Kopec
CONFERENCE PICTURES
Question and Answer Session: Rob Call, Ursula Schuch, Carl Olson, Karen Thomson, David Kopec, Jack Kelly, Randy Norton
Graham County Gardening Newsletter—March, 2007______________________________________Page 5
Registration Free Plants! BLM/Forest Displays
Chuck Campos, Trinity Landscape Vendor Sharing Ideas!
In Your March Garden! • Fertilize fruit trees, shrubs, and vines. Water deeply. Pine trees require very little fertilizer, if any at
all. • Fertilize roses and water deeply. • Prune frostdamaged branches as the new growth starts. • Watch for weeds and remove while they are still small. • Continue to plant carrots (through the 15 th ), beets, chard and radishes for succession planting. • Begin planting bush beans March 1st and cantaloupe, corn, summer squash, sunflowers and water
melon after March 15 th . Protect seedlings if frost is forecast. Our average date of last frost is April 9. • Tomato transplants can be set out (with protection) after March 15 th . • Plant ground covers, perennials and hardy vines. Some warm season annuals can be set out,
although they may need protection from frost.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, James A. Christenson, Director, Cooperative Extension, College of Agricul ture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona. The University of Arizona is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities. Persons with a disability may request accommodation such as sign language interpreter, by contacting U of A Graham County Cooperative Extension Of fice. Information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Cooperative Extension is implied. Any products, services, or organizations that are mentioned, shown, or indirectly implied in this publication do not imply endorsement by the University of Arizona.
Graham County Cooperative Extension: In terim County Director: Randall Norton
Phone: (928)4282611 Fax: (928)4287023 If we can be of service in providing objective in formation in agriculture, natural resources, youth, family, community resources, and related fields, please call us.
Send Comments or Questions by email to: [email protected] or call 9284282611
Please return your Newsletter Survey if you have not already done do. Thank you to those who have completed the survey.
Workshops for Home Gardeners at Safford Agricultural Center: Pond Cleaning and Maintenance Saturday, March 10—10 a.m. Herb Gardening Saturday, April 14—10 a.m. Composting Saturday, May 12—10 a.m.
MASTER GARDENER MEETING, TUESDAY, MARCH 6 6:00 P.M., JERRY’S RESTAURANT
6th Annual Master Gardener Real Gardens for Real People Tour Saturday, March 24, 2007—9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Maricopa Master Gardener Association
This is not the standard tour of professionally landscaped gardens. This tour showcases five in spiring gardens designed, planted and maintained by Master Gardeners. Plants are labeled and an extensive plant list for each garden is included in brochure. Cost is $20. Go to http://www.maricopamastergardeners.org or call (602) 4701556x1018
Graham County Cooperative Extension 2100 South Bowie Avenue
P. O. Box 127 Solomon, AZ 85551
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