november garden views · 2020. 7. 8. · garden views november 2019 6 "it was really fun to...

Garden Views November 2019

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2018-2019CathyKonynAwardRecipients

WestCounty:

ThurmanHoward

CindyPeterson

DesertArea:

BarbaraKay-Levin LindaLane

Theplaqueisdisplayed intheMorenoValley UCCEOffice.

November 2019

UniversityofCaliforniaCooperativeExtension-RiversideCounty

21150BoxSpringsRoad,#202MorenoValley,CA92557-8781(951)683-6491x23181077IndioBlvd.,SuiteHIndio,CA92201(760)342-6437Website:www.ucanr.edu/sites/RiversideMGEmail:[email protected]@unanr.edu

Garden Views Riverside County Master Gardener Newsletter

November

2019

Inthisissue:

JerryL’HommedieuandGeorgiaRennereviewtherecentmilestonesofRiversideCountyMasterGardeners,pp.2and3.MasterGardenerparticipationattheSoCalFairisdiscussedbyVernonShattuckandThurmanHoward,P.4.ProgressattheMasterGardener-assistedCathedralCityBoysandGirlsClubissummarizedbyBurtBoss,P.5.JoniKiplingdescribesrecentactivitiesattheWestCountySchooloftheMonth,P.6.ActivitiesatDesertGardenCommunityDayarereviewedbyRonJemmerson,P.7.JoanKyle-BaermandisclosescontinuingsuccessintheFallDesertHomeGardeningClasses,P.8.PattiBonawitzwelcomestheWestCountyTrainingClass,P.9.SelectedqueriesfromtheDesertHelplinearepresented,P.9.RosaOlaizbringsusuptodateonUCCEMGnews,P.10.InJanet’sJottings,JanetHartintellsushowtocareforourtrees,P.11.CurrentMGBoardOfficersandProjectCoordinatorsarelistedonP.13.TheEditorsharesahighandalowinasingledayinhisDesertgarden,P.13.


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DesertMasterGardenerMilestones

Contributed by Jerry L’Hommedieu, Desert UCCEMasterGardener

DesertMasterGardenershavebeenabusybunchsince the beginning of the yearwithmanyMGsracking up impressive numbers of volunteerhoursandhittingsignificantmilestones.Weliketo celebrate these accomplishments andrecognizeMGsfortheirincredibleefforts.MGs attaining more than 100 volunteer hours,andeligiblefortheirBumblebeePin,includebothrecent graduates and seasoned veterans:Rosemarie Andrews, Peggy Bakke, MelanieBrown,TimBustad,JaneGrubbs,JudithStone,JimThompson,andChunWong.Veterans Ruben Arias, Curtis Beyer, Burt Boss,MichaelHammond,BradHardison,LindaHenry,MaryMoses,KenNiemeyer,andRalphThompsonallpassedthe250volunteerhourthresholdtobeeligibleforthecovetedTrowelPin.Three MGs, Gail Nottberg, Mike Reandeau, andMarcia Stone, rolled past the 500 hourmark toattaintheirWateringCanPinandRonJemmersonearnedhisGoldMGbadgeforpostingmorethan1,000volunteerhours!BarbaraKay-LevinandLindaLanewereselectedby theDesertMasterGardenersas recipientsofthe Cathy Konyn Award for “dedication andinspiration that Cathy projected” as aUCCEMGvolunteer. Cathy Konyn is a past Chair of theRiversideCountyMGAdvisoryBoardwhopassedawayunexpectedlyseveralyearsago.Barbara (left in photo next column) joined ourprogram in 2015 and developed the BrailleInstituteprojectinherfirstyearasacertifiedMG.TheopportunityarosewhenshemetanInstitutedirectorataFarmers’Market informationtable.Inaddition,Barbarahasbeenamajorcontributortoourannualplantsaleandserved inaleadershiprole on the Desert Advisory Board for nearly 3years, first as Chair-elect, then as Chair, andcurrently as immediate Past Chair. She holds a

gold badge and will soon surpass the 2,500volunteerhourmark.

LindaLane(above,right)started inthetrainingprogram in2016andquicklybecameapopularMaster Gardener. Having been diagnosed withearlystageAlzheimer’sdiseasewithaparticularinterest in using horticulture as a basis formemorytherapy,LindastartedaprojectatCaleoBay, amemory care facility in La Quinta, alongwithtwootherMGs.Lindawasalsowellversedin irrigation techniques and offered assistancethroughout the valley repairing or establishingirrigationsystems.HerirrigationtalksfortheMGProgramwereverywellreceived.Aftercollapsingin her garden, Linda passed away on June 13,2019. Her obituary, written by Barbara Kay-Levin, appeared in the July edition of GardenViews.Congratulations to all MGs for their volunteercontributions and a special thanks to our MGmemberswhohaveattained thesenewheights!AwardswillbepresentedattheWintersocialtobeheldinDecember.(Jerry L’Hommedieu is DesertMGmembershipcoordinator. He coordinated MG propagationactivitiesat theLivingDesert for twoyearsandassistedthelecturersintheDeserttrainingclassthepasttwoyears.)


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WestCountyMGsHonoredatFallSocial

ContributedbyGeorgiaRenne,WestCountyUCCEMasterGardener

On Sunday October 13th our Master Gardenersgathered for our annual “Welcome andRecognition Fall Social" under a spreading oaktree in the yard of Frank and Lucy Heyming. Afeature of the event was the recognition of MGaccomplishments during the last year. Our pastChair for 2018-2019, Linda Powell, wasacknowledged forherdedicatedservice. SpecialcertificatesforservicewerealsoawardedtoJonieKipling (School Gardens), Katie Hughes (GrowLab), Lou Fawely (WEL), Dave Bandtman(Newsletter and Webmaster), Susan Cline(Eblast),andPamClarke(SocialMedia).TenMGsreceivedGoldBadgesfor1,000hoursofvolunteer service: Larry Browning, Lou Fawley,Michael Fisher, Marilyn Howard, Katie Hughes,JonieKipling,NanciNelson,LauraSimpson,SandyStarkey,andJeanWagner.ThurmanHowardwasrecognized for 5,000 hours of volunteering.Additionally,7MGsreceivedtheBeePinfor100hours:Bill Judge,BritneyJudge,ChrisMcKnight,Amelda Ratcliffe, Kathy Warner, JuanitaWidlenga,andSusanWright;11MGstheTrowelPinfor250hours:DeborahAnderson,TeriBasso,Susan Bookman, Parvaneth Byrth, NedChassagne, Terry Chassagne, Darrilyn Erickson,PatKircher,MelodyKnox,EvaMayer,andGloriaO’Hair;and4MGstheWateringCanPinfor500hours: Joyce Allen, Janis Binam, Pamela Clarke,andYvonneWilczynski. BettyBalo received thePrunersPinfor750hours. TheCathyKonynAwardwaspresentedtoCindyPeterson and Thurman Howard. Cindy’sparticipationintheMGProgramwasdetailedintheOctobereditionofGardenViews.ShehasbeenaMGfor13yearsandhaspostedmorethan6,000volunteer hours in various projects. ShecontinuestoserveontheWestCountyAdvisoryBoard.

Thurman Howard is an “all-County” MasterGardener.HecompletedtheDesertMGTrainingProgramin2015androsetoaleadershippositioninWest County by volunteering in a number ofprojects., including the MG information tables.Currently,hecoordinatestheGoldMinersandisactiveontheWestCountyAdvisoryBoard.Wewould like to thank our Volunteer ServicesCoordinator Rosa Olaiz, current Chair DebbraCorbin-Euston, and Social Coordinator YvonneWilczynskiforcoordinatingthisevent.

(GeorgiaRenneisChair-ElectoftheWestCountyAdvisoryBoard.)


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MasterGardenersattheSoCalFair

Contributed by Vernon Shattuck (Trainee) andThurmanHoward,WestCountyUCCEMG

For the thirty-second consecutive year theSouthern California Fair was held at the LakePerrisFairgrounds.Alongsidetheabundantfoodvendors,rides,exhibits,andshowsatthisyear’sfair were two inspiring information boothshosted by the Riverside County MasterGardeners. The first was a tent booth thathighlighted the horticultural and ecologicalimportanceofplantsandinsectpollinators,waterefficient landscapes, irrigation with ollas, andbeneficialinsects.Thisboothwonfirstplaceandagoldribbonasbestoutdoorexhibit

Responsible horticultural practices wereconveyed to the general public through largeattractive posters, colorful exhibits, and bypassionate Master Gardeners. A favorite tentdestination for all ages was the live butterflyexhibit.

The second booth won a blue ribbon and waslocated within the Sports Pavilion complex.Although this site was left unattended,information about the Riverside County MasterGardeningProgramandactivitieswereprovidedto fairattendees throughdetailedpostersandaconstantly running video loop. Kudos toThurman and Marilyn Howard, Jim and DebraO’Brien,JoyceAllen,andSteveLee(allshowninthephotoabove) fordonatingmany longhoursdesigning and assembling these attractiveinformationbooths.


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Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City

Children’sGarden

Contributed by Burt Boss, Desert UCCE MasterGardener

Whenmost of the country is preparing for thecoming winter months by harvesting the lasttomatoesandshuttingdownthehomegarden,wehereintheDesertAreaoftheCoachellaValleyarejustbeginningtoprepareforthecominggrowingseason.ThisistrueattheBoysandGirlsClubofCathedral City where the children’s garden (4thand5thgraders)isbeingpreppedforthecomingyear. The Garden Clubmeets everyWednesdayafternoonat2:00startinginmidtolateOctober,depending on mid-afternoon temperatures.Thereare8raisedbedsforgrowingvegetables.

Last seasonwas a great success, despite a slowstartduetotherainsandcoolerthanusualwinterweather. We planted a bed with broccoli,cauliflower,cabbage,andkale.Thesquash(greenand yellow) grewmonstrous and took over thelargestbedall to themselves.Wededicatedonebedtopeppers-jalapeno,shishito,sweetbellandpablano. In the root bed we went for radishes,carrots, beets, onions and added some headlettuce.Althoughtomatoeswerelaterthanusual,thecropwasabundant.Towardtheendweweregathering30-40poundsaweek.We keep an herb garden and always haveoregano,basil,sageandrosemary.Theseseemto

dowellthroughouttheyear.Wespotincilantroandparsley.Weevenhadaneggplantintheherbgardenandharvestedafewneartheend.(Ithassurvivedthesummerandisfloweringnow.)

The children learn about the various thingsweplan to plant and then do the actual planting.Some veggies are grown from seed in the bedswhile others are planted as seedlings. Thinningandweedingarepartoftheresponsibility.Ifyouhavethinnedcarrots,youknowhowpainstakingitcanbe.Radishesarenotasbad.Childrenaren’talwayspatientandtoomanysproutsoftengobythewayside. Aswith the legendary family roadtripandtheeternalquestion“arewethereyet”,each week the children ask “where are thetomatoes? can we eat the carrots?” Eventually,theygettheanswertheyhavebeenwaitingfor.Aseachvarietyisreadyforharvest,thechildrenlearnaboutthenutritionalvalueofthevegetableandsomeideasaboutpreparation.Thechildrenwilleatsamplesstraightfromthegarden.Seeingthebroccolifloweretseatenoutofhandandthereactions, good and bad is fun. Radishes andcarrotsarefavorites.Sometimeswewillpreparesomethingaswepick:coleslawfromcabbageandcarrots;saladfromlettuce,radish,carrot,tomatoand green pepper; and pico de gallo usingjalapeno,tomato,cilantroandonion.Here'swhatseveralofthechildrenhadtosay:"One of the best days was when we ate kalechips. We picked them, made them, and atethem!"Daniel,age12"It was interesting to learn that pomegranatesgrowontrees.Ialwaysthoughttheygrewoutofthegroundlikepineapples."Cristina.age13


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"Itwasreallyfuntopickourownplantsthatweplanted.Igrewareallybigbeet!"Lesly,age11"Weworked together tomakea salad fromourgarden that we all got to eat. That was cool!"Camila,age12Asthecropsweharvestbecomemoreabundant,thechildrensplitupthebountyandtakeithometo their families.Thenextweekweask themtoreport on how it was prepared. Each of theGardenClubmembersisaskedtokeepajournalandattheendofeachmeetingtheydocumenttheday’sactivitiesandtheFOODtheyate.We end the meetings when the afternoontemperaturesaretoohighforthechildrentobeworkingoutinthesun,buttheharvestcontinuesandthecropsaredistributedintheBoysandGirlsClubforalltoshare.Asthegardenwasbeingshutdownthisyear,westillhadanabundanceof tomatoes.Therewere30orsopounds,mostlyCelebrity,thatneededahome. As luck would have it, a member of theBoardofDirectorshasarestaurant.Hetookthetomatoesandasupplyoffreshbasilandthatnightadded a special to hismenu – tomato andbasilsaladmadewithfreshingredientsfromtheBoysandGirlsClubofCathedralCity.SUCCESS!(Burt Boss is MG coordinator of the children’sgarden at the Boys and Girls Club of CathedralCity.ContactBurtifyouareinterestedinassistingat the Boys and Girls Club garden. AdditionalsecuritychecksbeyondtheMG livescanwillberequired.TheBoysandGirlsClubgardenisonlyone of several children’s gardens in the DesertreceivingMGsupport.BradHardisoncoordinatesschool gardens and Laurel Ann Huirascoordinates MG activities at the Children’sDiscoveryMuseuminRanchoMirage.)

WestCountySchooloftheMonth

Contributed by Joni Kipling, West County UCCEMasterGardener

KelliHague,athirdgradeteacherattheMayRanchElementary School in Perris, is also the MasterGardener who runs the before-school gardenclub. Kelli started the club 4 years ago growingplants in the outdoor garden and produce inhydroponictowers.Lastyeartheclubgrewover300poundsoflettucethatwasusedintheschoolcafeteria. Kelli helped the district win a USDAgrant for four schools to grow food in theirgardensandtowersforuseintheircafeterias.Kelli,withtwootherteachers,alsorunsagardenprogramduringthedayforgiftedstudents.EveryFridaysheteachesgardeningtothird,fourth,andfifthgraders.OneweekinOctoberKelliworkedwith the 390 second and third grade students.Thegardenisopento1000studentsattheschool.LoisSchneiderandIareotherMGswhohelpoutteachinggoodgardeningpractices,nutrition,andhow tobegoodstewardsofEarth. In thephotobelowstudentsare creating small compostbinsfromreusedsodabottles.

(Joni Kipling is MG coordinator of the WestCountySchoolGardens.)


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DesertGardenCommunityDayatUCR-

PalmDesert

Contributed by Ron Jemmerson, Desert UCCEMasterGardener

The 14th annualDesert Garden CommunityDaywas held at the Palm Desert Campus of theUniversityofCalifornia,RiversideonSat.Oct.26from8:30a.m.-2:30p.m.TheeventwasaDesertHorticultural Society of the Coachella Valley(DHSCV) free outreach to the community incollaboration with UCR-Palm Desert andRiversideCountyUCCEMasterGardeners.TracyMerrigan, DHSCV President and Desert UCCEMaster Gardener, organized the event andprogram. Many UCR-Palm Desert Staff, DHSCVMembers,andUCCEMGswereonhandtoprovidesupport. Desert UCCE MG Joyce Haraughtycoordinatedspeakers’assistantvolunteers:DavidDean, JoeDean,CarolynDaniels,PatriciaDuran,Beth MacConnell, Patty Reed, Dick Reed, andCarol Rochlin. UCCE MGs Marie Strom andMichaelRichardsonwereamongthegreeters."Nativeplantswerethefocusofthisyear'seventbecause of such local interest in last year'swildflower season,” saidTracyMerrigan, "alongwithansweringthequestionswereceivefromthepubliconcitrus,vegetablesandsucculents.Thisyearweaddedhands-onclinicsinadditionto13lectures.Thedaywasamixoflectures,clinics,theDHSCV scholarship presentation for studentrecipients (from College of the Desert, CalPolyPomona,andCalStateChico),communitypartnerbooths,kidsactivities,andgreatfood.”Thereweremanytopicstochoosefromsuchaslocalwildflowers,summerstressonplants,nativeplants, developing an ecosystem in yourbackyard,citruscare, landscapedesign,growingvegetables with companion plants, and muchmore. UCCEMGs TracyMerrigan, Carol Hamre,and Lucy Heyming gave talks. UCCE MGspresentingclinicsincludedGailNottberg,MernellWong,JoanKyle-Baerman,LindaDelaney,RubenArias,BobAdamson,andSueAdamson.The

clinicsdrewmoreinterestthananticipatedwithstandingroomonlyinmostcases.DesertUCCEMGs including SueMills, Sara JaneLee(bothseeninthephoto,aboveright),LizDay,KenNiemeyer,andCurtisBeyerhostedan“Ask-the-MasterGardenerTable”thathad155visitors.UCCE MGs Ana Beaty and Donna Maulcoordinatedactivitiesforchildrenoutside.

MGs also held a plant sale featuring native anddesert-adaptedplantsdonatedbyMGsthattookinmuchmorethanthegoalof$1,200.


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The plant sale was coordinated by Sally PoolerwithassistancefromBruceWilcox(cashier),JoanKyle-Baerman, Barbara Kay-Levin, JerryL’Hommedieu, Brenda O’Doherty, and BerniceRummonds.Outside on the sunnyday therewas a carnival-likeatmospherewithanumberofcanopiesandacouple of food vendors. The followingenvironmentally-consciousorganizationspartici-pated:FriendsoftheDesertMountains,RiversideCountyDepartmentofWasteResources,MojaveDesert Land Trust, Palm Springs High SchoolSustainableGardenClub,CANativePlantSociety,Wildlands Conservancy, Idyllwild Arts-BoardingHighSchoolandSummerProgram,CollegeoftheDesertAgricultureDepartment,Sunnylands(theAnnenbergEstate),theDesertInstituteatJoshuaTree, and Coachella Valley Water Counts (anassociationof6differentlocalwateragencies).

The various booths had giveaways, brochures,andawealthofinformationabouttheactivitiesoftheorganizations.Therewerealso funthingstoseeandlearnthatappealedtoallages.

FallDesertHomeGardeningClasses

ContributedbyJoanKyle-Baerman,DesertUCCEMasterGardener

DesertHomeGardeningClasseswereoffered tothe public in Sept. and Oct. In total, 55 peopleenrolledintwoclassesthateachmetfor2½-3½hoursonfivedaysduringatwoweekperiod.TheSept. classmet at theUCR-PalmDesert campusandtheOct.classmetattheLaQuintaWellnessCenter.RalphandJimThompsonhelpedmewithorganizing the first class and 8 other MGvolunteersparticipatedineachclass,including2speaker’sassistants.

The following topics were covered by MGinstructors: yard layout (Ken Niemeyer), soil(Jerry L’Hommedieu), vegetables and herbs(BarbaraKay-LevinandBrendaO’Doherty,Sept.class; Suzanne Adamson, Oct. class, shownabove), irrigation (Jean Renaker), butterflygarden and desert flowers (Carolyn Daniels),landscape trees and proper pruning (AngelaJohnson),citrus(RobRichard),gardentoolsandsafety(BruceWilcox,showninthephotoonthenext page), and bringing it all together into adesertlandscape(JannaCalkins).(Joan is a Past Chair of the Desert AdvisoryCommitteenowknownas“DAB”andcoordinatorof the Desert Home Gardening Classes. WestCountyMGsplanahomegardeningclassearlyin2020.)


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BruceWilcoxrespondstoastudent’squestionintheDesertHomeGardeningClass.

The2020WestCountyTrainingClass

ContributedbyPattiBonawitz,WestCountyUCCEMasterGardener

Thirty-four excited trainees attended the kick-offOrientationonSeptember5.Bythetimetheeveningclasswasover,theireyesglossedover,butbigsmilesadornedtheirfaces,astheyranoutoftheclassroomwithahostofprizes:theirHandbook,IrrigationBook,Grow-Lab plants, and pest cards. Their excitementandenthusiasmarecertainlycontagious.

Bytheendofthefirstweekmanyhadalreadystartedvolunteering at differentMG events. Look for thesenew traineesat thevariousvenues. I encourageourveteranMGstoguideandteachthemasmuchastheycanwhenattendingeventsalongsidethem.Theyaresoeagertolearn…so,pleasewelcomeourtrainees.

RecentDesertHelplineQueries

The followingquerieswere submitted to theDesert Helpline and are adapted here fromposts under “Collaborative Tools” on theUCANR.edu/portalsite.Q:Whatgrassesholdupagainstdogurine?Ihaveperennialryegrassthatgets2-3hoursofsunbutisbeingburntbydogurine.Whatareyourrecommendations?A: Excessnitrogen from theurine isburningthegrass.Ryegrassmaybeamong themostsusceptible.Topreventspotting,flushtheareawith½-1gallonofwaterimmediatelyafterthedog isdone.Thisshoulddilutetheurineandpreventburning.Q:WeliveinIndio.Lastyearwasadisasterforour tomatoes.Theplants lookedhealthyandthe fruit was of normal size with favorablyfleshyareasbuttherewerehardyellowareasthroughout.Doyouhaveanyideaaboutwhathappened?A: Your tomatoes appear to have a disordercalled“internalwhitetissue.”Thisisgenerallyrelated toexcessiveheatduring the ripeningstage. The cause would seem to be the coolspring and early summer this year in theDesert, followed by suddenly highertemperatures after the fruit had formed andbegan to ripen. Here is the link to a UCANRpageabouttomatoproblemsthathasasectionon“internalwhitetissue”:http://sacmg.ucanr.edu/Vegetable_Problems_Summer/Abiotic/#whitePleasecontactusifyouhavefurtherquestions.


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NEWS!FromRosa

ContributedbyRosaOlaiz,RiversideCountyMasterGardenerVolunteerServicesCoordinator

Both the West County andDesert Master GardenerTraining Classes are nowunderway. TheWest CountyClass began Sept. 5 and theDesertClassbeganOct.30.Let’swelcomethetrainees!

Please be aware of the closure of the UCCEOfficesonthefollowingdates:

Nov.11,VeteransDayNov.28&29,ThanksivingHolidayDec.23-Jan.3,WinterHoliday

A new 40% off promo code for UCANRpublicationsisnowavailableforvolunteerswhowould like to make individual publication oreBookpurchases.ThevaliddatesareOct.28-Nov.30.Note:amaximumoftwousespercustomer.

Stepsfororderingwithcode(TIME2PLANT):

1)Visitanrcatalog.ucanr.edu

2)OrderpublicationsoranyeBookscompatiblewithyourdevice.

3)Createacustomeraccounttocheckout–DONOTcheckoutasaguestoryouwillnotbeabletoaccessyourelectronicproductafteryouhavemadepayment.

4)Enterpromocode“TIME2PLANT”atcheckoutand theUCCEMasterGardenerdiscountwillbeapplied.(Deliveryofyourelectronicbookisviaalink that is e-mailed to the e-mail addressprovided during the ordering process. Pleasemake sure the e-mail address is enteredcorrectly.)

Help for eBooks can be foundonline:http://bit.ly/2MOtfDg

** The promotion code is available for activevolunteers and trainees. The discount codeprovidedbyUCANRPublicationsisforUCMasterGardenersonly and shouldnot be shared. UCANR relies on the revenue generated bypublicationsalestoextendprogramsandservicesacrossthestate,andthediscountisathankyouforourvaluedservice.

TheMG logo clothing sale continues throughmid-November.

ThenextDABmeetingwillbeThurs.,Nov.14,10a.m.attheIndioUCCEOfficeandthenextWCABmeetingwillbeWed.,Nov.20,10a.m.attheMorenoValleyUCCEOffice.

ClarificationoftheMasterGardener

IdentificationBadgeColors

The CA State MG Program recognizes 3identification badge colors: white, gold, andplatinum.ThisisinconflictwiththeRiversideCountyMGBylawsasreportedintheOctoberissueofGardenViewswhichstaterecognitionof 4 colors:white, gold, silver, and blue. Tobring our Bylaws into State MG ProgramcompliancetheExecutiveAdvisoryBoardwillsoonbeginexecutingarevisiontotheBylaws.The default badge color is white. When MGmembers have volunteered 1,000 or morehours theywill receive a gold badge and foraccumulating 2,500 ormore hours they willreceive a platinum badge. Platinum badgeholdersarealsorecognizedatthebiennialCAStateMasterGardenerConvention.


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Janet’s Jottings: Taking Care of Your

Landscape Trees Today is An

InvestmentForaGreenerTomorrow

Contributed by Janet Hartin, Riverside CountyUCCEMasterGardenerProgramCoordinator

Landscape trees provideshade, reduce interiorenergy use and relatedcosts, and beautify ourcommunities. They alsohelpcleanourenvironmentby absorbing carbondioxideemittedbyvehiclesand other producers offossilfuels.Takingcareofyourtreesis

an important way to maximize these benefits.Herearesomewaysyoucanhelpensureahealthytomorrow:

• Removeanytreetiesthatarecuttingintothe trunk or branches of your trees. Iftrees must be staked due to windyconditions, make sure that the ties arelooseenoughtoallowtreestogentlyflexinthewind.Thishelpstreesdevelopthenecessary lower trunk strength andstabilitytosupportthetreeasitmatures.Overtime,youmaybeabletocompletelyremovethetiesandstakesoncethelowertrunk becomes stronger and self-supporting.

• Keepall plants andmulch several inchesawayfromtreetrunks.

• Keep tree trunks dry. They should notcome into contact with water fromsprinklersorhoses.

• Water mature trees infrequently anddeeply. Watering too often reduces the

level of oxygen in the rootzone and canleadtowaterloggedsoilspronetocrownand root rots. During fall, trees requireonlyabout15%ofthewatertheyrequiredinthesummer.

• Prune trees only as needed and avoidtoppingthem.Investintheservicesofacredentialed and knowledgeableprofessional to correctly care for yourvalued trees. Find a list of InternationalSociety of Arboriculture CertifiedArborists in your area here:https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist

• Identify and correct problems due todiseases, insects, or non-living (abiotic)disorders early. Most of the time, theseproblems are due to poor drainage orother soil/water management issuesrather than pests. Here is a lengthierarticle with additional photos I recentlywrote forParks andRecreationBusinessMagazine:https://www.parksandrecbusiness.com/articles/2019/9/whats-wrong-with-my-trees

Doyouwanttoplantanewtree? Makesureyouhaveadequate space. Largegrowingshadetrees require up to 3,000 cubic feet ofunderground space and should not be plantedunder power lines. Smaller drought resistanttrees that are better choices under theseconditionsincludesomecultivarsofacacia,paloverde,redbud,andtoyon.Foramorecompletelistoftreesthatbestfit

your individual situation consult one of the

following free searchable plant selection

databases.

• SelecTree: http://selectree.calpoly.edu.Thissearchabledatabaseismaintainedby


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theUrbanForestEcosystems Institute atCalifornia Polytechnic State University,San Luis Obispo. Users may searchmultiple criteria to select trees based onclimate zone, ultimate height and width,above and below ground spacerequirements, root damage potential,waterrequirement,flowercharacteristics,disease, insect susceptibility, and othercriteria.

• Water Use Classification of Landscape

Species:https://ucanr.edu/sites/WUCOLS/Plant_Search/

ThissearchabledatabaseismaintainedbyUCANR and classifies over 3,500woodyandherbaceouslandscapeplantsintoverylow, low, medium, and high water-usecategories based on the observations ofregional committees consisting ofknowledgeable horticulturist combinedwithresearch-baseddatawhenavailable.

• CalScape: https://calscape.org/. Thissearchabledatabase ismaintainedbytheCalifornia Native Plant Society andcontains thousands of woody andherbaceousplantslistedbycityandothercriteria such as plant type, flower colorand season,water use, ease of care, use,andnurseryavailability.

Foradditionalassistancewithyourlandscape

questions,contact:

• UCCE MG volunteers in your county:http://mg.ucanr.edu/FindUs/

• Local nurseries and garden centers:

https://plant.cdfa.ca.gov/nurserylicense/nlscanp.asp

Blackor“Blackened”Palms?

Haveyoueverseenapalmwithablackenedtrunkandvibrantgreenfronds?AboutamilenorthofInterstate-10onPalmDriveinDesertHot Springs, a mixed grove of palms anddeciduous trees caught fire two years ago.Although the trunks of the palms werecompletely charred and the fronds burnt,greenfrondsdidreappearovertime.However,the deciduous trees were permanentlydamaged.Whythedifference?Palmsareinthegrass family and have vascular bundlesthroughout the trunk that allow water andnutrient flow. Damage to the exterior of thetrunkdoesnotkilltheseplants.Liquidflowupanddowndeciduoustreesislimitedtoinsidethebarkandsapwood.Ifthebarkisdamagedaround the entire circumference of the treenutrientflowisdisruptedandthetreewilldie.Incidentally,althoughwerefertotallpalmsas“palmtrees”theyreallyarenottreesatall.


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RiversideCountyMasterGardenerProgram

UCCERiversideCountyDirector EtaTakeleUCCEMGProgramDirector JanetHartinVolunteerServicesCoordinator RosaOlaiz

WestCountyAdvisoryBoardMembers

Chair DebbraCorbin-EustonChairElect GeorgiaRenne PastChair LindaPowellTreasurer RecordingSecretary KarenFleisher

DesertAdvisoryBoardMembers

Chair MikeReandeauChairElect MarciaStonePastChair BarbaraKay-LevinFiscalOfficer BruceWilcox Secretary CurtisBeyer

Committee&ProjectCoordinators

CoachellaValleyPreserve MarciaStoneWestCountyCommunityGardens CindyPetersonDesertEvents AngelaJohnsonDesertFarmers’Markets RonJemmersonGoldMiners ThurmanHowardGrowLab KathyWarnerDesertHelpLine JimThompson/ RalphThompsonWestCountyHelpLine NanciNelsonIT/Website DavidBrandtmanDesertMembership JerryL’HommedieuWestCountyMentoringProgram JuanitaWienlengaDesertMentoringProgram CurtisBeyer/ KenNiemeyerMoorten’sBotanicGarden-Docent JanetSeaman -Propagation BrendaCostantinoDesertNewProjects CarolynDanielsWestCountyEquip./Inventory StevenLeeWestCountyPublicRelations SueCline/

PamClarkeDesertPublicRelations DonnaMaulWestCountySchoolGardens JonieKiplingDesertSchoolGardens BradHardisonWestCountySocialPrograms YvonneWilczynskiDesertSocialPrograms KathyMillerWestCountySpeaker’sBureau MikeHorakDesertSpeakersBureau GailNottbergTheBrailleInstitute BarbaraKay-LevinCaleoBay,AlzheimersProject MelanieBrownWestCountyTours LindaCarpenterDesertVeteransEvents CarolynDanielsWestCountyTrainingClass PattiBonowitzDesertTrainingClass LindaDelaneyUCRBotanicGardens YvonneWilczynskiWEL LindaPowellDesertWorkshops MaryMoses

TheGardenViewsNewsletterispublishedmonthly,SeptemberthroughJuly,byRiversideCountyUCCEMasterGardeners.AllcontributorsareUCCEMasterGardenersorUCCEMasterGardeners-in-Training.

MissionStatement

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ContributedbyRonJemmerson,Editor

InjustonedaylastmonthIexperiencedbothahighand lowwhile relaxing inmy desert garden.Mid-morning I sat on a bench watching a monarchbutterfly flittering about, occasionally stopping tosuckle off a blue pin-cushion flower. In lateafternoon I ventured out onto the patio to see aroadrunner who had been hanging around forseveraldayselongatehisbodyashemovedrapidlyforwardtosnatchamonarchbutterflyfromapurplelantana flower. I chased the roadrunner with awooden pole to no avail as he devoured thebutterfly,possiblythesameoneIhadseenearlierintheday.“Howdisgusting,”Ithought.Coincidentally,between these observances I watched a “Nature”program on PBS focused on the importance ofpredators inmaintaining an ecological balance. Inthatprogramcarpenterantswereshowndenudingforest hillsides in Venezuela that had been madeinto islandsbytheconstructionofadamandasaresultcausedtheeliminationoftheants’predators,anteaters.Iamstilltryingtocometogripswithanybenefits of that innocent butterfly beingdevouredbyaravenousroadrunner,althoughIsupposethatbeingoverrunwithbutterflieswouldnotbegood.Iwas pleased the other day to see two monarchbutterfliesflitteringaboutmybutterflygardensoitappears that the roadrunner is not keeping themaway. I do worry about the fate of any resultingcaterpillars,though.

november garden views · 2020. 7. 8. · garden views november 2019 6 "it was really fun to...

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