Author Archives: mcintyma

June 2018

Posted on by | Leave a reply

In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explode and every sunset is different.
– John Steinbeck

As the month of June ushers in summer, opportunities for Master Gardeners to guide and educate are flourishing.

 

Master Gardener Office Hotlines Hopping

The gardening public is calling, emailing and rolling into the metro-area Master Gardener offices with an intriguing assortment of questions.  “What are these white eggs on the underside leaves of my chard plant?”, “How deep do I plant a sweet pepper seedling?”, “I have rust spotting on my pear leaves, should I be worried?”, “Can you recommend a fast-growing plant to serve as a hedge?”

All inquiries bring the opportunities to practice your diagnostic skills, expand your garden knowledge and that of the visiting public.  Join the fun researching and collaborating with your fellow MGs while educating others.  You will be surprised by the wealth of information you will learn!   Sign-up on CERVIS.

 

MGs at Farmer’s Markets

Join-in amidst the seasonal bustle and bounty at a local-area Farmer’s Market by serving and educating the community at a Master Gardener market clinic table. These are fun events.  In addition to answering gardening questions, you can pick-up some fresh-from-the-field produce, dine on sublime food from market vendors, or go home with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers.

Schedule one or two shifts via CERVIS for a great summer volunteer experience.  Don’t despair if market schedules appear full.  Check back often as schedules change and openings arise throughout the summer.  Let a clinic coordinator know you if you are willing to serve as a substitute for last minute cancellations at your favorite market.

Summer Farmer’s Markets
Beaverton – Gresham – Hillsdale – King – Lake Oswego – Lents – Milwaukie
Oregon City – Sherwood – Tigard

 

Doing Good and Hands-on Learning in Demo Gardens

Marvelous things are happening at our metro-area Chapter sponsored Demonstration Gardens. Best garden practices are on display, citizen science is taking place, and fresh nutritious fruits and vegetables are being grown and donated to area food banks. Dig-in! Contact a coordinator for volunteer hours and make a significant difference teaching.

Clackamas County has the following hands-on volunteer opportunities:

Master Gardeners hosting visitors at End of the Oregon Trail Garden – Photo courtesy of Sharon Andrews
  • End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center – Check in to see how you can join the fun tending the garden and (for those interested) hosting school tours.
    Sharon Andrews 503-577-7493 sharonandrews402@gmail.com
  • Hopkins Demonstration Forest – Tend native plantscapes – in a beautiful forest setting!
    Frank Wille     503-342-6699, franklyna@comcast.net

 

 

  • Grow An Extra Row Volunteers

    ‘Grow-An-Extra-Row and Learning Garden’ Project at Clackamas Community College – Make a difference growing food for those experiencing food insecurity.
    Nancy Muir ccmgextrarow@gmail.com 503-789-6970

 

 

 

Ravishing Radish Harvest at Multnomah Demo Garden – Photo courtesy of John Jordan

 

Multnomah County Master Gardeners Community Demonstration Garden in Southeast Portland. There is lots to do and lots to learn in the established edible garden and in the newly expanded annex garden that will include edibles, herbs, and ornamentals!

Heidi Nichols at heidinichols@comcast.net  or
Nancy Fine at soul_77777@yahoo.com or mcmgdemogarden@gmail.com

 

 

 

MGs at the Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate give “Peas a Chance”!

Washington County Master Gardeners have two wonderful demonstration garden locations and they are breaking ground at their new PCC Rock Creek Education Garden on June 6th!  See details for the special PCC Rock Creek Garden Ground Breaking Ceremony on our Partner Events page.

  • Washington County Fairplex Join in the fun tending this great garden!
    Bill Klug billklug@frontier.com 503-681-0143
  • Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate – Lend a hand in this beautiful landscape.
    Sandy Japely     at sjapely@gmail.com 503-531-8482.
  • PCC Rock Creek – be part of the exciting beginnings of a fabulous community garden partnership!
    Sue Ryburn at sueryburn@comcast.net

 

 

Beautiful, historic gardens.  Consider spending time this summer in a beautiful, garden – dispensing reliable gardening information at the Pittock Mansion or guiding the public on a tour through the beautiful Washington Park International Rose Test Garden.  Sign-up for a shift via CERVIS or contact the clinic coordinator.

 

Cracked Pots Reuse Art Show

Don’t Miss Out! Special Volunteer Events.  Special volunteer events arise throughout the season so check postings on CERVIS often and MG program emails.  Then you won’t miss out on great volunteer opportunities like MG clinic tables at the Clackamas and Washington County Fairs, Cracked Pots Reuse Art Show at McMenamins Edgefield, or assisting at Metro’s Blue Lake Discovery Garden!  Yep, we aren’t fooling.  Now is a good time to go check CERVIS!

Master Gardener Advisory Meeting July 25th: You’re Invited!

10:00am – 12:00pm at the Food Innovation Center (1207 NW Naito Parkway, Suite   154, Portland).  A light lunch provided following the meeting!  Parking is free.  RSVP required.

Please join the conversation at a metro-wide Master Gardener advisory meeting to provide feedback and suggestions for the OSU Master Gardener program staff.  We value and appreciate your input as we look to the future.

RSVP to marcia.mcintyre@oregonstate.edu no later than Monday, July 16th   to confirm your participation.   Space is limited.

Goal: Gain insight and inspiration from MGs about the Master Gardener program and our public outreach service.

 

Save the Date!  Saturday, November 10th FALL RECERTIFICATION!

Andony Melathopoulos, Photo: Oregon State University

Our annual Master Gardener Fall Recertification Training is scheduled for Saturday, November 10th, 8:00am to 3:30pm, at Portland Community College – Rock Creek Campus.  This annual event is a daylong continuing education opportunity.  Earn 6 hours of continuing education/recertification credit by attending.

A great line-up of speakers is forming.  We are thrilled to announce that OSU’s Andony Melathopoulos and Heather Stoven will be part of our line-up of guest presenters.  Andony is leading “OSU Extension’s efforts to design, develop, implement and evaluate a state-wide pollinator health program” and Heather is OSU Extension’s Community and Small Farms Horticulturist for Yamhill County. Look for more updates in our July/August newsletter.

Our Fall Recertification also gives us the opportunity to congratulate the new class of Master Gardener interns as they step-up to Veteran status after completing their volunteer requirements.  We will present 2018 Interns with their OSU Extension Service Master Gardener badges and a big-shout out for successfully completing the program.  2018 Interns are welcome to attend the full day of training – which will count toward your continuing education/recertification hours for 2019.

 

Advanced Training Webinars Continue
This summer brings 3 more informative online Advanced Training Webinars from Brooke Edmunds, Oregon State Extension and the OSU Master Gardener Program.

These webinars each count for 1 hour continuing garden education/recertification credit.  A wonderful way to expand your gardening knowledge in the comfort of your own home or sitting in a lovely garden watching on the electronic device of your choice.

Can’t make the webinar date?  No worries!  A recording of each webinar is posted a few days after the live webinar.  See the link below.

Upcoming Live Webinars

6/28 at 11am PST Practical Food Safety in the Garden presented by Sara Runkel

 

 

 

 

7/26 at 11am PST Meet the New Neighbors: Emerging Pest Issues in Oregon presented by Robin Rosetta

8/30 at 11am PST The Latest Research on Bees in the Garden: Results from the OSU Garden Ecology Lab presented by Dr. Gail Langellotto

For more information or to watch recordings of past webinars:
http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/ediblegardens/2018/04/24/2018-webinars-master-gardeners-updated/

 

Pear Trees: Rust, times 2

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Natter’s Notes

Pear Trees: Rust, times 2

Jean R. Natter, OSU Master Gardener

Pear trees are having a rough time of it this spring. It seems that this year supplied  the perfect conditions for rust on pears. So, let’s compare and contrast  the two important rust diseases of pears in Oregon. Recall that cedar-apple rust is not an issue in our region.

Seven different Gymnosporangium species cause rusts on members of the rose family in Oregon. For this discussion, let’s differentiate between Pacific Coast Pear Rust (G. libocedri) and Trellis Pear Rust (G. sabinae).

Most rust fungi have two different hosts: the primary host  — in this case, pear– on which growth and yield may be severely affected and a secondary host which typically displays subtle effects. With both diseases, pear trees exhibit brilliant orange spores on affected tissues, spores which readily rub off.

Numerous powdery, bright orange spores are present on leaves, twigs, blossoms, and fruites in Pacific Coast Pear Rust.
Numerous powdery, bright orange spores are present on leaves, twigs, blossoms, and fruits in Pacific Coast Pear Rust, as shown here and in Trellis Pear Rust. (Client image; Lincoln County; 2012-05)

Pacific Coast Pear Rust is a well-established disease in the northwest and, this spring, is on a spree infecting leaves, twigs, blossoms, and newly set fruit. All ages of trees are affected, from venerable specimens to newly planted saplings. Incense cedar is the alternate host.

Trellis rust, aka European Pear Rust, was found in western Oregon in 2016. It’s considered well -established in western Washington, coastal British Columbia and Contra Costa County, CA. Known infections in Oregon are in Benton, Marion, and Clackamas Counties. Junipers are the alternate hosts.

Trellis Pear Rust, also called European Pear Rust, on back surface of leaf.
Trellis Pear Rust, also called European Pear Rust, on back surface of leaf. (Client image; Multnomah County; 2017-09)

Differentiating between these two rust diseases of pear relies on careful examination of symptoms on submitted sample(s) and images. Both rusts sport bright orange, powdery spores on pears. A diagnostic symptom for the trellis variety is an “acorn-like” eruption on the backs of leaves later in the season.

Be certain to ask about potential alternate hosts nearby.  Both alternate hosts of these pear rusts ooze orange gel during wet spring weather. Off-season, affected junipers have subtle, elongated galls while incense cedars may develop  a more obvious symptom, witches’ broom(s). (http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/pests-and-problems/diseases/witches-broom.aspx)

Management choices are limited for home gardeners who fear for their fruit crop.

– Sanitation –The common advice to collect and discard affected parts is unlikely to limit rust unless alternate hosts are removed.

– Resistant varieties – Growing resistant varieties is commonly suggested for disease management for backyard trees. In pear rust, both Asian and European kinds are affected. ‘Bartlett’ is usually less affected while ‘Winter Nellis’ is severely affected. Resistant varieties aren’t listed for trellis rust.

The PNW Disease Handbook states “Eliminating either host [primary or secondary] is the only practical cultural control.” For Pacific Coast Rust the PNW says “Remove alternate hosts around the orchard.” (It also states that, spores from the gel on incense cedar can be blown 6 for 10 miles.) The advice is more specific for trellis rust: “Remove all junipers within 1000 feet.”

– No home-use chemicals are listed for either rust. So, the gardener’s next predicament is to locate a company which sprays fruit trees. Clients will need to research local companies that spray landscape trees. (I found that company websites usually offer a link to “contact us” while some list a phone number. You’ve heard it before: Let your fingers do the walking.)

Resources

Pear Trellis Rust

–  Pear, primary host – https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/pear-pyrus-spp-trellis-rust-european-pear-rust

– Juniper, secondary (alternate) host- https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/juniper-juniperus-spp-pear-trellis-rust

Pacific Coast Pear Rust

–  Pear, primary host – https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/pear-pyrus-spp-pacific-coast-pear-rust

– Incense cedar, secondary (alternate) host- https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/juniper-juniperus-spp-pear-trellis-rust

(Click the link below for PDF containing the above text and all the images.

Pear Trees: Rust, times 2 – PDF

Horticultural Updates – June 2018

Posted on by | Leave a reply

By Margaret Bayne, OSU Extension Staff-retired, OSU Master Gardener

June 2018

Photo credit: Chris Branam OSU

Grow your own strawberries to sweet perfection.  (Kym Pokorny, OSU) https://bit.ly/2stKRes

Gut microbes can help insects beat pesticides.   “Probiotic products now line store shelves, promising to improve human health by replenishing the gut microbiome, or the collection of bacteria and other microbes that live in the digestive system. Insects have a gut microbiome too, and it not only benefits their general well-being but may also help them adapt to and overcome pesticides.” (Leslie Mertz, Ph.D., Entomology Today) https://bit.ly/2GS8rvy

Moss that removes arsenic from contaminated water so it’s safe to drink discovered. “From plastic-eating bacteria to oil-devouring bacterium, it seems Mother Nature keeps surprising us with new ways to protect the environment. Now, scientists have discovered a type of moss capable of purifying water contaminated with arsenic, making it once again safe for human consumption.” (Iflscience.com) https://bit.ly/2Ifk6Bi

5 things that make you attractive to mosquitoes. “Although there is lots of anecdotal evidence from people about what influences the little critters to bite, from eating garlic to having “sweet” blood, there are some aspects that have been proven by science to genuinely increase your chances.” (Josh Davis, Iflscience) https://bit.ly/29YjSBk

A partnership between Bluebells and Fungi. (Indefense of Plants) https://bit.ly/2rCLDq1

What is it about snowdrops that earns them such a devoted following? Do you have Galanthomania too? (Andy Biefield, The Guardian) https://bit.ly/2jR7dD6

The secret of a long life–“Usually the rule in the animal kingdom is: a lot of progeny means a short life – if you are less fertile, you live longer. However, it seems that social insects – that is, insects that live in societies – can escape this fate.” (Daniel Elsner/Karen Meusemann/Judith Korb UNIVERSITY OF FREIBURG, via eurekalert.org) https://bit.ly/2rC7Tja

How do butterflies survive storms? ( C. Claiborne Ray, Nytimes.com) https://nyti.ms/2rHVzhp

Mowing down the myth of high-maintenance lawns. (Carol Reese, Gardenrant.com) https://bit.ly/2rHWFK3

Plants get a brace to precisely shed flowers and leaves. “Biologists … have just reported …how plants regulate the detachment process and protect themselves. As shedding is closely associated with a plants’ life cycle, this is a topic of substantial interest to improve crop and fruit production. (Institute for Basic Science, phys.org) https://bit.ly/2KS842u

So you think you have bark beetles.  While it is from Florida, it is a very informative video. (Jiri Hulcr, Youtube) https://bit.ly/2KgpGnA

Plant story – 200 year old seeds spring to life. “Against all expectations, seed scientists from Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, germinated 200 year old seeds discovered in The National Archives. Some of these have now grown into healthy plants.” (Kew.org) https://bit.ly/2wxfW6p

Blue flowers! “Cool blue hues can help your garden become a calming and tranquil place. Of course, there aren’t many “true blue” flowering plants to be found, but we’ve come up with a few that could help you bring on the blue.” (Gardening Solutions, University of Florida,) https://bit.ly/2HXFOtA

Best practices for container gardening. Andrea Laine, EMGV, Durham Extension Master Gardener) https://bit.ly/2jPJOSn

Photo credit: Joan – Flickr – CC

Grow Kiwi!  “If you have a good strong trellis, are a bit of a gambler and have a love of kiwifruit, there’s no reason not to grow your own crop.” (Kym Pokorny, OSU) https://bit.ly/2J6Fwks

10 Ideas to steal from the world’s biggest botanical garden. (Clare Coulson, gardenista.com) https://bit.ly/2rDHiC4

Butterfly wings inspire light-manipulating surface for medical implants. (Vinayak Narasimhan et al, California Institute of Technology, via phs.org) https://bit.ly/2wyJocf

Scientist rediscovers insect lost for 105 years. (Sarah Nightingale, ucrtoday, University of California, Riverside) https://bit.ly/2KgqJE2

Learn how to keep cats out of your garden. (Brooke Edmunds, OSU, via Katu.com) https://bit.ly/2G9BXHV

The gelatinous looking tongues on the seeds of “Dicentra cucullaria, Dutchman’s Breeches, … are the elaiosomes. “They are rich in fatty lipids and proteins and meant for ants. Ants carry the seeds off into the ground, eat the fatty package and then leave the seed planted and ready to sprout when the time comes. This relationship is called myrmecochory. myrmeco=ant, chory=dispersal. Fun fact: Anthropochory is human dispersal of seeds, like when seeds stick to your pant leg. Many different plants, including Wild Ginger, trilliums and other Dicentra species like the more common Bleeding Heart, Dicentra formosa, have this relationship and produce elaiosomes. Ants are gardeners too.” (Humblerootsnursery, Instagram) https://bit.ly/2Kg82Ao

Genetic secrets of the rose revealed. (Helen Briggs, BBC New) https://bbc.in/2LOm7Xq

Grassland plants react unexpectedly to high levels of carbon dioxide. (University of Minnesota) https://bit.ly/2wyMey2

Watch the informative video—“Illnesses on the rise from Mosquito, Tick and Flea Bits. Disease from Mosquitoes, Tick and Flea bites have more than tripled in the US from 2004 to 2016.”(Centers for Disease Control.gov) https://bit.ly/2jPTXNC

Ants navigate with the sixth sense. “Researchers…have now made the surprising discovery that the desert ant uses the Earth’s magnetic field as orientation cue during these calibration trips. This ability had been previously unknown for desert ants.” (University of Wurzburg, via eurekalert.org) https://bit.ly/2rAXK6O

Celebrating Robber flies – big, beautiful venomous assassins! (Erica McAlister, Natural History Museum, London) https://bit.ly/2wyPbyr

A new Spider family tree tries to untangle the Evolution of Webs. “Scientists have fiercely debated the origins of the orb-style web. A new study challenges the idea that all spiders who make this web had a common ancestor.” (Veronique Greenwood, New York Times) https://trib.al/pOrql6Q

Fruit DNA in invasive Flies’ (SWD) guts could help track their dispersal. (Laura Kraft, Entomologytoday.org) https://bit.ly/2rzDd2Q

New apple disease spoils even pasteurized foods. (Krishna Ramanujan, Cornell University) https://bit.ly/2KW5vML

Learn how to make your own Codling Moth traps, from an OSU expert:  “You can make your own apple, pear and Asian pear codling moth pheromone traps. Get a 2 liter pop bottle. 3/4 inch up from the base, cut a 2×2 inch square. Add a good jam, like strawberry; mixed with water so it is sticky and place in the bottom of the pop bottle. Place the pop bottle in the upper 1/3 of the fruit tree. Check each night. They tend to be most active in the evening.” (Ross Penhalagen. OSU farm forum, Facebook)

With more than 4,000 cultivars, Hostas are emperors of the shade. (Linda Geist, University of Missouri Extension) https://bit.ly/2IaU3PR

Can Dirt Save the Earth?  “Agriculture could pull carbon out of the air and into the soil — but it would mean a whole new way of thinking about how to tend the land.” (Moises Velasquez-Manof, Nytimes.com) https://nyti.ms/2EVBFnF

A passion for purple foliage plants. (Cindy Haynes, Iowa State University Extension) https://bit.ly/2wxtzCx

A Chinese factory is using AI to breed 6 billion cockroaches each year. (Iflscience.com) https://bit.ly/2IyDQmH

It turns out that trees have a “heartbeat” too. (Iflscience.com) https://bit.ly/2FaIth9

Science and Twitter join forces to uncover a globally imperiled plant species of Heuchera. (Schuette S, Folk RA, Cantley JT, Martine CT, via Pensoft Publishers, eurekalert.org) https://bit.ly/2KW895q

Menu/recipe themed gardens.  Specialists have made it easy for you! Check out the different types of gardens, from Pizza, Salsa, Tea, French Fries and more! “Juicy, plump red tomatoes. Crisp onions. Aromatic green basil. Fresh-cut lettuce.  These sound enticing on the pages of seed catalogs, but many people may feel intimidated by the idea of their own garden and the tilling, weeding and work that comes with it.  The key ingredient to a menu/recipe garden? Plant the most-used produce and herbs from your most-used recipes.  (Insights, Ohio State University) https://bit.ly/2I9SIJ6

Photo credit: OSU EESC photo archive

THIS MYTH BUSTED! “Sometimes concepts that are spread via social media and web pages that are just too juicy to pass by such as this “Easy at Home Soil Test”: “… Soil, Plant Pest Center tested several acidic soils and several alkaline soils submitted to the center and testing was complete. They followed the directions for this test using vinegar (weak acetic acid) or baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Each soil was mixed with either vinegar or baking soda + water.

The results were as follows: 1. None of the acidic soils bubbled when baking soda + water was added; 2. Most of the neutral to alkaline soils did not bubble when vinegar was added. There were a few exceptions. Debbie pulled two soils with pH readings of over 8.1. One bubbled vigorously when vinegar was added; the other, also with an 8.1 pH did not bubble. In general, the test did not work as advertised. To be honest, if it had worked, it still would have yielded very little information. If it had worked, it would not have given the degree of alkalinity or acidity.

If you want reliable information about soils, use a professional soils laboratory that’s certified by meeting industry standards”… (Extension Master Gardener, Facebook) https://bit.ly/2rzDnHu

Rip Van Winkle’ plants hide underground for up to 20 years (University of Sussex, via eurekalert.org) https://bit.ly/2KitioX

While not a local list, here are brief descriptions of many Apple, Crabapple, Pear, Plum and Cherry  varieties. (Orangepippin.com) https://bit.ly/2cPpiMr

How a common beetle (Rove Beetle) may offer deep insights into evolution. (James Gorman, nytimes.com) https://nyti.ms/2KfFUNX

What you learn when you put smelly socks in front of Mosquitoes. (Rina Shaikh-Lesko, American University-Washington, via NPR) https://bit.ly/2KdY42j

Why do your teeth feel weird after eating spinach? (Laura Geggel, livescience.com) https://bit.ly/2Iz66pm

Beyond the Honey Bee: How pesticides affect solitary, cavity-nesting Bees (Meredith Swett Walker, Entomologytoday.org) https://bit.ly/2J29JRw

Lizards, mice, bats and other vertebrates are important pollinators too. (Fabrizia Ratto et al, via Ecological Society of America & phys.org) https://bit.ly/2KeSxIN

Variegated Tulips: Beauty from a Virus (Olivia Tracy, Master Gardener, Colorado State University via jeffcogardener.blogspot.com) https://bit.ly/2wBAV8a

5 plants and animals utterly confused by climate change. “Global warming is causing spring to arrive early and autumn to come late in many places, and not all species are adapting at the same rate.” (Livia Albeck-Ripka & Brad Plumer, nytimes.com) https://nyti.ms/2rCsSDc

Need help in finding pollinator attracting plants? Use a search engine: Search by zip code and pollinator type and other characteristics. (Rutgers University, protecting bees, Rutgers University) https://bit.ly/2rAcy4Q

Listen to the sick beats of Rhubarb growing in the dark– snap, crackle, produce! (Eric Grundhauser, atlasobscura.com) https://bit.ly/2IfubOP

Let’s be rational about roots- the myth about root pruning. (Linda Chalker-Scott, WSU via gardenprofessors.com) https://bit.ly/2IuSUSz

Gnome management in the garden! (Utah State Extension, youtube) https://bit.ly/2G9E9z9

Summer flower recommendations. (Chris Rusch, OSU Master Gardener, Douglas Co. Oregon, via New Times Review) https://bit.ly/2rD5e9q

Having one eye better than the other may explain ants’ left bias. (University of Bristol via phys.org) https://bit.ly/2IxAMHD

Colorful moth wings date back to the dinosaur era-New fossils reveal the structure of the ancient insects’ light-scattering scales. (Laurel Hamers, sciencenews.org) https://bit.ly/2KRYAEi

How big spiders use nanoscale physics to fly New study reveals the complex strategies crab spiders use to soar on streamers of silk. (Nala Rogers, Insidescience.org) https://bit.ly/2Icc9g1

Online garden tour-a contemporary English garden offers a reflection of the past.  Traditional influences and materials create a garden in harmony with its history. (Anne Balogh, gardendesign.com) (Note : Master Gardeners do not endorse any commercial products. Mention of products in this article does not indicate endorsement.) https://bit.ly/2qrmn5x

 

 

May 2018

Posted on by | Leave a reply
Milwaukie Farmer’s Market

The merry month of May brings a wide variety of volunteer service and continuing education opportunities for Metro-area Master Gardeners.  Both Farmers Markets and Master Gardener hotlines are starting to buzz with lots of activity and questions from the gardening public. There are still openings for a few of the Hands-on Workshops, and many more volunteer opportunities abound with our “partner” community demonstration gardens.

Dig-in as a garden educator volunteer, it’s the season!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farmer’s Markets are sprouting up around the tri-county area.  Master Gardeners are hosting clinic tables at the following markets this month.

Beaverton  –  Gresham –  Hillsdale –  King – Lake Oswego

Milwaukie  –  Oregon City –  Sherwood – Tigard

Sign up for a shift on CERVIS or contact the clinic coordinator, Jordis, or Marcia for assistance signing up.

Multnomah Phone Clinic

Master Gardener Hotlines It’s amazing what you can learn educating others and that opportunity is there for all who volunteer at the Master Gardener phone clinics!  Research and collaborate with fellow MGs while educating the gardening public.   Sign-up on CERVIS or contact a phone coordinator.

Clackamas County, Janet Hohman, 503-655-8631 janet.hohman@oregonstate.edu
Multnomah County, Susan Marcus, 503-703-4937 susanmultphones@gmail.com
Washington County, David Butt, 503-645-5769 dandubutt@gmail.com

 

 

Keep an eye out!  Special Volunteer Events.  Special volunteer events arise throughout the season so be sure to watch for email announcements from MG program staff or postings on CERVIS to snag a slot at one of the many special volunteer opportunities.

Get Volunteering! CERVIS will get you there!

All of the OSU Sponsored volunteer activities are available for sign-up on CERVIS, our online volunteer registration system. Look for the “CERVIS volunteer event registration” link on the right side of our main website: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/metro/ .

When logging into CERVIS for the first time, enter your email and click on “Don’t Know password/ Reset password” to get a temporary password.

Please only sign up for events that you know you can attend. If you need to cancel an event, please contact the clinic coordinator for a list of other volunteers interested in a particular activity. It is your responsibility to find a backup!

Remember “Partner” activities and some “Program” activities added at the last minute are not listed on CERVIS. So be sure to keep an eye out for special email and newsletter announcements.

Students at End of the Oregon Trail Garden
Photo courtesy of Sharon Andrews

Lending a Hand and Learning at a Demonstration Garden!

Hands-on learning in any of our ‘Partner’ demonstration gardens is rewarding.  Each garden offers unique active, relevant, learning opportunities.  Contact a coordinator and dig in!

Clackamas County has the following hands-on volunteer opportunities:

  • End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center – Check in to see how you can join the fun!
    Sharon Andrews 503-577-7493 sharonandrews402@gmail.com

 

  • Hopkins Demonstration Forest – Tend native plantscapes – in a beautiful forest setting!
    Frank Wille     503-342-6699, franklyna@comcast.net

 

  • ‘Grow-An-Extra-Row and Learning Garden’ Project at Clackamas Community College –
    Help to grow food for those experiencing food insecurity.
    Nancy Muir ccmgextrarow@gmail.com 503-789-6970
Guy Weigold at Community Demonstration Garden

Multnomah County Master Gardeners Community Demonstration Garden in Southeast Portland. Join them as they expand into a new Annex garden!
Contact: Heidi Nichols at heidinichols@comcast.net  or
Nancy Fine soul_77777@yahoo.com or mcmgdemogarden@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MGs at Jenkins Estate Open House
MGs at Jenkins Estate Learning Garden Open House. Photo: Sue Ryburn

Washington County Master Gardeners have two wonderful demonstration garden locations and they are breaking ground at their new PCC Rock Creek Education Garden on June 6th!  See details for the special PCC Rock Creek Garden Ground Breaking Ceremony on our Partner Events page.

 

 

 

 

  • Washington County Fairplex Join in the fun tending this great garden!
    Bill Klug billklug@frontier.com 503-681-0143

 

  • Learning Garden at Jenkins Estate – Lend a hand in this beautiful landscape.
    Sandy Japely at sjapely@gmail.com 503-531-8482.

 

  • PCC Rock Creek – be part of the exciting beginnings of a fabulous community garden partnership!
    Sue Ryburn at sueryburn@comcast.net

Hands-on Workshops a few slots remain for our 2018 training workshops.  Use the links you were sent earlier in the year to sign-up for the workshops.  The following workshops still have openings as of the composition of this newsletter.

  • June 2 – Summer Fruit Tree Care
  • July 27 – Advanced Vegetable Gardening

A big shout out of thanks to our workshop instructors for their time and inspiration!

Jen Aron
Margaret Bayne
Jane Collier
Monica Maggio

Multnomah Co. MG Propagation Team:

Judy Battles
Gloria Bennett
Sally Campbell
June Davidek
Marilyn Frankel
Linda Goldser
Pete Jacobsen
Heidi Nichols

Washington Co. MG Propagation Team:

Helen Dorbolo
Marian Ewell
Jackie Lindquist
Sally McCulloch
Jim Kronenberg
Ardis Schroeder
Marilynn Turner

Advanced Training Webinars Updates

Photo credit: Aaron Anderson, Oregon State University

There are some great additions to the online Advanced Training Webinar series brought to you by Brooke Edmunds, Oregon State Extension and the OSU Master Gardener Program.  These webinars each count for 1 hour continuing garden education/recertification credit.  A wonderful way to expand your gardening knowledge in the comfort of your own home or sitting in a lovely garden watching on the electronic device of your choice.

Upcoming Live Webinars

5/31 at 11am PST Dealing with Darling Dastardly Deer presented by Dr. Dana Sanchez

6/28 at 11am PST Practical Food Safety in the Garden presented by Sara Runkel

7/26 at 11am PST Meet the New Neighbors: Emerging Pest Issues in Oregon presented by Robin Rosetta

8/30 at 11am PST The Latest Research on Bees in the Garden: Results from the OSU Garden Ecology Lab presented by Dr. Gail Langellotto

For more information and to view recordings of past webinars go to:
http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/ediblegardens/2018/04/24/2018-webinars-master-gardeners-updated/

POPULAR QUERIES

How do I log my volunteer hours?
To maintain an ‘active’ Master Gardener status or to complete your Master Gardener training you need to log your volunteer and education hours on a 2018 Volunteer log sheet and submit them to the MG program office by September 30, 2018.

You can download the log sheets at the Metro MG Program Volunteer Portal.  Just click the ‘Volunteer hour reporting and forms’ link.  There you can choose between a Word Doc or Excel sheet.

Does CERVIS track my hours?  Yes, CERVIS does track your volunteer hours, BUT you need to transfer those hours onto your Volunteer Log sheet and submit them along with your other volunteer hours.  To access your history log into CERVIS and go to “Report Management”, then click “View or Print Volunteer Activity History” and transfer those hours to your log sheet.

What hours do I log?

  • Interns – log your volunteer hours and the Hands-on workshops that you attended
  • Veterans – log your volunteer hours and the continuing garden education/recertification hours you attended

Then simply submit all volunteer and education hours to the MG program office by September 30, 2018.

Plant Sale Nirvana!
The Clackamas Co. and Multnomah Co. Master Gardeners provide plant sale ‘Nirvana’ for all garden enthusiasts the first weekend in May.

  • May 5th and 6th the iconic Spring Garden Fair will satisfy anyone’s plant lust! Perennials, annuals, natives, ornamentals, veggie, fruit, herbs, and more!  Clackamas County Event Center, Clackamas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • May 5th the Incredible Edibles Plant Sale a community celebration for home-grown goodness – organic veggie, fruit and herb starts will get you growing!  1624 NE Hancock Street, Portland

 

 

 

 

 

 

With a little judicious planning you can shop for plants all weekend!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Linda Brewer, © Oregon State University

Mulch – What, Why and Wherefore?

Have you ever been confused about using mulch in your garden or advising clients?  Master Gardener Chip Greening made a great presentation to the MG Study Group last month where he laid out the nitty-gritty research on mulch.  Chip is kindly sharing his presentation handout outlining what mulch is, how using mulch effects the garden and how to choose the appropriate type of mulch.  Check out his ‘Mulch – What, Why and Wherefore’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did You Hear the Exciting News?

The Clackamas County commissioners voted unanimously to approve plans for a new OSU Extension Education Center!  Woo-hoo! This new home for the Master Gardener program will support our outreach and service to the citizens of Clackamas County and beyond!  Read all about the exciting news!

New OSU Extension Education Center in Clackamas County

Update: Japanese Beetle

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Natter’s Notes 

Update: Japanese Beetle

Jean R. Natter, OSU Master Gardener

No Japanese Beetle logo
Image courtesy of the Oregon Department of Agriculture

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) has an extensive website with information about their continuing efforts to eradicate the invasive Japanese beetles (JBs) from Washington County, Oregon, which is expected to require 5 consecutive years of treatment. (Treatments began in 2017..) For a history and overview of the project, including all public updates beginning with March 2017, see ODA’s website at http://www.japanesebeetlepdx.info/.

ODA advises that adult Japanese beetles (JBs) found within the designated treatment area should be disposed of in soapy water. If JB adults are observed outside the treatment area, capture it/them and, then, promptly notify ODA by email at japanesebeetle@oda.state.or.us or phone 1-800-525-0137.

The following is the full text of the most recent Oregon Department of Agriculture update (April 16, 2018) for the ongoing eradication effort of the Japanese beetle in Washington County:

– – – –

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has begun treatment operations of residences in Washington County as part of the second year of Japanese beetle eradication. Oregon Department of Agriculture has contracted General Tree Service to perform the applications of the larvicide. General Tree Service (GTS) worked with ODA during the first year of the project, and has worked with ODA on past eradication projects for Japanese beetle in Oregon in years prior.

The treatment area in Washington County for 2018 is approximately 2000 acres containing an estimated 6500 residences. As of Friday, April 13, ODA and GTS had treated 2,049 properties for Japanese beetle. Four application crews consisting of one ODA team lead and two General Tree Service applicators and staff meet each morning at 7:30am to prepare the day’s plans. Treatment begins at around 8:15 am when the ODA team member visits each home to inform the resident of the treatment, inspects the property for hazards or areas to avoid application, and flags the property to let the crew know it’s ok to treat. Residents are notified about treatment schedules the week before.

– JB life cycle – Adult Japanese beetles are active only during a brief window during the summer months but are capable to doing considerable damage to numerous ornamentals. Credit: Lifecycle illustration by Oregon Department of Agriculture, Thomas Shahan

There have been some delays due to weather, but mostly treatment has been able to be completed as scheduled. This is due in large part to the hard work being done by the seemingly tireless application crews and crew leads who are working long days, rain or shine, to make sure treatment is correctly and done on time. Operations are expected to continue until mid-May, with some applications planned in Douglas County and at the Portland International Airport.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Support from resident in the area has been very positive. Before treatment, we’d received over 5,000 responses from residents allowing ODA and their staff to treat the properties, including 30 Home Owners Associations allowing treatment in common areas. Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreation Department and the Beaverton School District are also supporting the project and allowing treatment to parks and school fields. Applicator crews have said that residents in the area are expressing their support for the project, with many “Thank yous” and “Get those beetles!”

Containment will begin ramping up soon, with the yard debris quarantine still in effect and expanding in 2018. Residences will receive electronic notices from Oregon Department of Agriculture this week, along with other communications planned throughout the summer.

– Chris Hedstrom, Japanese Beetle Project Coordinator

(Click the link below for PDF containing the above text and all the images.)

Japanese Beetle Update PDF

Horticultural Updates – May 2018

Posted on by | Leave a reply

By Margaret Bayne, OSU Extension Staff-retired, OSU Master Gardener

May 2018

Residential beekeeping: Best-practice guidelines for nuisance-free beekeeping in Oregon. This publication outlines guidelines for best practices for beekeeping in residential areas. It outlines the steps residential beekeepers can take to operate their bees in nuisance-free manner. (Andony Melathopoulos, Ralph (Mike) Rodia, Jen Holt,  & Ramesh R. Sagili, OSU) https://bit.ly/2IIvkOy

Photo credit: Barb Fick

Give the garden a facelift with 6 shrubs sporting dramatic foliage. “It’s easy to grab the pretty flowers staring back at you from the nursery shelves but try straying from the usual and plant vibrant shrubs to spice up the garden.” (Amy Jo Detweiler, OSU; via Kym Pokorny, OSU) https://bit.ly/2qltUmv

Got aphids in your greenhouse? “As a biological control strategy, banker plants offer a novel non-chemical approach to managing commonly encountered pests in the greenhouse.” (Edward Ricciuti, Entomologytoday.org) https://bit.ly/2GNEjgJ

California Bumblebee decline linked to feral honeybees.  “…honeybees frequently out-compete native pollinators such as for food and nesting sites.” (Indefenseofplants.com) https://bit.ly/2HpHAEa

This mite’s method of hitchhiking is not recommended…get eaten by a slug. (Yao-Hua Law, Sciencemag.org) https://bit.ly/2GqS9tq

Plant a Geiger counter in your garden. “… Tradescantia, also known as Spiderwort…has special sensitivities: the tri-petal flowers open and close based on the weather and light levels; when it is really hot the flowers close, but on an overcast or rainy day, they seem to glow.  But the most exciting Tradescantia trick is that it will change flower colors when exposed to low levels of radiation, among other pollutants.” (Lisa Burke, Secretsciencegeek.com) https://bit.ly/2Hpa2Gm

The Gardens of Alcatraz. ”The very name conjures up visions of famous inmates like Al “Scarface” Capone and recalls well-cited facts, such as: “Nobody successfully escaped.” But for all we know about Alcatraz, few people realize that many of its prisoners were also gardeners. (Katie Nanton, nuvomagazine.com) https://bit.ly/2IK5dXJ

In defense of Wasps.  “Despite their poor public image, wasps are incredibly important for the world’s economy and ecosystems. Without them, the planet would be pest-ridden to biblical proportions, with much reduced biodiversity”. (Seirian Sumner, iflscience.com) https://bit.ly/2qmbp17

Train yourself to observe tree problems. Download this free informative publication.  “A correct diagnosis of the problem is the important first step in trying to manage an unhealthy tree. This publication contains guidelines for identifying tree problems. It will help you examine your tree systematically, collect important background information, and find expert assistance, when necessary.” (Lina Rodriguez Salamanca & Laura Jesse Iles, Plant & Insect Diagnostic Clinic, Iowa State University Extension) https://bit.ly/2IHVCjP

Move over, Beetles: The new champions of diversity are Parasitic Wasps. “Parasitoid wasps that lay eggs in other creatures may represent more species than any other group of animals.” (Nala Rogers, Insidescience.org) https://bit.ly/2Dl0dFO

Photo credit: Tiffany Woods

Stick a thermometer in the soil before planting vegetables.  “With a thermometer, no guess work is needed. Soil temperature is the best indicator of when to plant each type of vegetable, no matter what climate zone you live in.” (Jim Meyers, OSU; via Kym Pokorny, OSU) https://bit.ly/2GN5xnP

Brushing plants for height control. “Theoretically, plants release a small amount of the plant hormone ethylene when they are touched or moved (by people, the wind, etc.). With repeated and frequent plant movement, plants release enough ethylene to inhibit elongation.” (Erik Runckle, gpnmag.com) https://bit.ly/2v69kvb

 

 

Growing unusual veggies encourages kids to garden! Learn about such fun veggies as Bush Hog Cucumber and Mashed Potato Squash. (Melody Parker, wcfcourier.com) https://bit.ly/2HbCsWK

Three great how-to videos: “Apple Tree Pruning Made Easy.” (U of Minnesota Extension, youtube.com)
Part 1:  https://bit.ly/2GO5w71

Part 2:  https://bit.ly/2JxMFLk

Park 3:  https://bit.ly/2IJ6L4a

Cockroaches’ DNA reveals why they thrive in filthy places. “By identifying which genes are key to the bugs’ survival, scientists hope to find ways to better control them.” (Ian Sample, theguardian.com) https://bit.ly/2JCvzfh

Crazy plant ladies through the ages: Women Naturalists, Botanists, and Horticulturists who made history (Gardentherapy.ca blog) https://bit.ly/2Ghh4yy

One Orchid…two colors. “It’s inflorescence is made up of a dense cluster of flowers. Unlike what we are used to with most flowering plants, the flowers of the elder-flowered orchid come in two distinct color morphs – purple and yellow. They are so drastically different that one could be excused for thinking they were two different species. What’s more, the different color morphs co-occur throughout the species’ range. What could be causing this dimorphism? The answer lies in the flowers themselves.” (Indefeseofplants.com) https://bit.ly/2qoEb0b

Earwigs take origami to extremes to fold their wings: “The insects’ springy wing joints are inspiring robotics design.”(Laurel Hamers, Sciencenews.org) https://bit.ly/2IF68bN

All-star spring flowers for your garden.  The best flowering bulbs and perennials for early- to late-spring color: Hellebores, Snowdrops, Daffodils and Tulips. (Anne Balogh, Gardendesign.com) https://bit.ly/2qpf79g

Bizarre, parasitic ‘Fairy Lantern’ reappears in the rainforest after 151 Years! “A strange plant that needs no sunlight and sucks on underground fungi for nutrients has turned up in Borneo, Malaysia, 151 years after it was first documented.” (Rafi Letzter, livescience.com) https://bit.ly/2IbDI9F

Making the most out of your soil test.  What does soil pH mean for your garden? (Rebecca Finneran & Mary Wilson, Michigan State University Extension) https://bit.ly/2JAn9F7

How to divide perennials. (Richard Jauron, & Willy Klein, Iowa State Extension) https://bit.ly/2GjmNBw

Why leaves don’t leave.  “Deciduous trees typically lose all of their leaves by late autumn. But a stroll through the Arboretum reveals a scattering of deciduous trees and shrubs that still have leaves (albeit dry and brown) clinging tightly to branches. These plants are exhibiting marcescence, the trait of retaining plant parts after they are dead and dry.” (Nancy Rose, ARBlog, Harvard University) https://bit.ly/2IHWIfr

The world’s largest mining operation is run by fungi. “If you sift the mineral particles from conifer forest soil, wash them, and examine them under a microscope, you will discover a startling detail: tiny tunnels.” (Jennifer Frazer, Scientificamerican.com) https://bit.ly/2IH7OkW

Photo credit: Pam Zaklan

Practice the good neighbor policy in the garden: Try companion planting. (Pam Zaklan, OSU MG; via Kym Pokorny, OSU) https://bit.ly/2H8SWPc

Royal Jelly-pH and viscosity.  “Scientists are still learning some basic information about honey bees, Apis mellifera.  In a recent paper, the pH of royal jelly was determined to be the deciding factor for keeping the substance viscous.   Honey bee larvae develop into queen bees if they are fed large quantities of a food called royal jelly.  But royal jelly does more than determine whether a larva becomes a queen. It also keeps her safely anchored to the roof of the queen cell in which she develops.” (Julia Kurtz via The Garden Professors Blog, Facebook)

Links to original blog and research paper:

https://bit.ly/2HpqPch

https://bit.ly/2qoFegD

https://bit.ly/2HNWGlX

Tree care workers need better training to handle dangers on the job. “…study calls attention to post-storm hazards posed to tree care workers and provides safety recommendations.” By Patti Verbanas, Rutgerstoday) https://bit.ly/2qjSp3m

Is sex necessary? For Dandelions, apparently not. “In the case of most dandelions (i.e., Taraxacum officinale), the embryo in the seed forms without, meiosis, thus the offspring are genetically identical to the parent.”
Note: If an herbicide is ever recommended, MGs only provide OSU recommendations. (Plant Guy, Howplantswork.com)
https://bit.ly/2IHsx8b

Stunning microscopic images of seeds. (Keirin,insteading.com) https://bit.ly/2HfzU9V

Flower garden design basics:  “…learn the aesthetic consequences of different strategies. Remember that, in most cases, there is more than one way to arrange plants, and that many of the ‘rules’ of garden design were made to be broken.” (Lee Nelson, Cornell University) https://bit.ly/2HcA7KZ

Hardy Plant Society of Oregon’s 30 favorite plants of 2018. (The Pecks, Oregonlive.com) https://bit.ly/2JCcJVs

New butterfly species discovered nearly 60 years after it was first collected. (University of Florida, Eurekalert.org) https://bit.ly/2GNIDNa

Plants, Fungi and Bacteria work together to clean polluted land.  “Microbial interactions help fast growing trees breakdown petrochemical pollutants in the soil. Highly complex interactions among roots, fungi and bacteria underlie the ability of some trees to clean polluted land…” (Technologynetworks.com, Original story from McGill University) https://bit.ly/2HccFgU

Wild plants and historic archaeology.  With the old homesteads long gone, “…what’s an archaeologist with a camera, pencil, paper, and keen observation skills to do? Read the landscape.” (Carl Feagans, Archaeology Review) https://bit.ly/2HrkQ6O

Researchers identify the cells that trigger flowering. “How do plants ‘know’ it is time to flower? A new study uncovers exactly where a key protein forms before it triggers the flowering process in plants.” (Linda B. Glaser & Krishna Ramanujan, Cornell Chronicle) https://bit.ly/2HrkT2u

These beetles use booze-soaked trees to farm their food.  “Ambrosia beetles have a surprising reason for seeking out trees full of ethanol.” (Douglas Main, National Geographic) https://bit.ly/2GTCuiE

Mullerian mimicry and why telling bumble bee species apart by color can be hard. (Briana Ezray with Andony Melathopoulos, OSU; Pollination Podcast, OSU) https://bit.ly/2qmnmTO

Plant salt tolerance: recent research in Biotechnology. (Bioscriptionblog.com) https://bit.ly/2EAoRmr

April 2018

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Spring has sprung and our metro-area Master Gardener season is on its way as we welcome a new class of Master Gardeners.

After completing their in-class training, required modules, and final exam, 140 Intern Master Gardeners are joining the ranks and will be volunteering alongside Veteran MGs to venture into the community as garden educators!

2018 Trainees Jerry, Carrie and Ellen - give the thumbs up with Veteran Jack (second from left) at the final in-class training.
2018 Trainees Jerry, Carrie and Ellen – give the thumbs up with Veteran Jack (second from left) at the final in-class training. Photo courtesy of Eddie Rosen

Congrats and Welcome, Class of 2018!

We congratulate and welcome our 2018 class of Master Gardener Interns.  We look forward to seeing you at Metro Master Gardener workshops, OSU Master Gardener clinics, and Chapter events.  You have learned so much in the past couple months – but that is just the start!

Your volunteer service offers even greater opportunities to learn in active, hands-on format.  Dig-in!  Branch-out!  Try something new and discover the wealth of knowledge you will acquire as an OSU Master Gardener educator!

 

Intern MG Volunteer opportunities

We encourage you to try an array of volunteer activities with the goal of maximizing your learning. Please volunteer at least 28 hours in OSU MG Program Activities and 28 hours in Partner Activities. You can sign up for OSU MG Program Activities in CERVIS and watch for special email and newsletter notifications. Please submit your volunteer hour log sheet by September 30, 2018.

In addition, our local Master Gardener volunteer groups (known as chapters) in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties provide monthly educational seminars on a wide range of topics. Check out a lecture of interest, meet other like-minded gardeners, enjoy!

Please note: these events are FREE of charge and open to the public. Bring your friends and family!

See our educational events calendar for details or visit the individual Chapter websites.

A message to Veteran MGs:
It’s time to brush-off your Sustainable Gardening Handbooks and sign-up for a MG Clinic or MG event!  Take the time in the next few months to welcome Intern MGs and offer your experience and knowledge.  You can find a wide-range of volunteer shifts to sign-up for on CERVIS. If you want to refresh your knowledge, remember that the online modules are available for you to take through September 30, 2018.

The “Volunteer Portal”

The portal leads metro-area Master Gardeners to valuable information. Once there you can read the monthly Metro MG newsletter; review how to maintain your active MG status, sign-up for volunteer shifts on CERVIS, check out the events calendar and more!  You can also find the links to volunteer log sheets and other forms.  Be sure to check it out!

Workshop series
Our training Workshops Series is a wonderful opportunity for enriched, applied learning with our fantastic slate of instructors.  It meets a training requirement for Interns and helps to fulfill the continuing education requirement for Veteran MGs.  We want to be sure that this opportunity is available to all interested Master Gardeners.  So we ask that you adhere to the following guidelines…

  • Master Gardener Volunteer Educator Interns (Options 1 and 3), you can enroll in up to two workshops, which are included in your tuition.  You must participate in one workshop to successfully complete your training.
  • Certificate of Home Horticulture students (Option 2), you can enroll in up to three workshops, which are included in your tuition.
  • Veteran MGs can enroll for one workshop.

IMPORTANT: If you have registered for more than your allotted number of workshops (see paragraph above) please unregister for any workshops above the allowed maximum.  This will allow those who were unable to register for any workshops to have the opportunity to sign-up..

If you are signed up for a workshop be sure to fulfill your commitment to attend.  If you are unable to attend please unregister yourself as soon as you know you can’t attend – thereby giving another MG the opportunity.

For those who have not be able to sign-up for a workshop…new workshops will be added to the schedule in the next few weeks.

Look for an email announcement once the workshops are open for enrollment.

Chip Bubl teaching his ever popular GMO Noon-time chat. Photo courtesy of Eddie Rosen

Thanks to our Inspiring Instructors!
With a fruitful and informative MG training behind us – we want to express our utmost thanks to our instructors and class coordinators.  The MG training would not have happened without your generosity!  Thanks for sharing your time, knowledge and inspiration!

  • Jen Aron
  • Margaret Bayne
  • Chip Bubl
  • Jane Collier
  • Jen Gorski
  • Claudia Groth
  • Monica Maggio
  • Jean Natter
Oregon City training Class Coordinators led by Cindy Manselle

Class coordinators, Thank you!
Our immense thanks to the 3 Master Gardener training class coordinators and their stellar crew of assistants.  Our MG training classes happen thanks to the dedication, warm hospitality, organization, and trouble-shooting chops of Trina Studebaker (Beaverton), Cindy Manselle (Oregon City), and Beven Peters (Portland) and their steadfast team of Veteran volunteers.  We are grateful to them all!

We also would like to give an extra shout-out to Trina Studebaker for her years of service coordinating at the Beaverton training class.  Trina has been organizing, guiding and brightening MG training in Beaverton for the past 7 years and is now stepping aside to pursue other Master Gardener adventures.

Trina, thank you for your many years of dedication and service.

We look forward to seeing you at other MG activities!

A Big Shout Out to the Chapters!
We would like to extend a big shout out of thanks to the Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington County Chapters for their financial support of the Metro MG training classes.  The facility, hospitality and parking fees would prohibit training happening in such great venues.  Thank you for your constant, generous, dedicated support of the OSU Metro Master Gardener training program.  Your contributions make a such positive and vital difference to the Master Gardener program!

MGs at the Milwaukie Farmers’ Market

Master Gardeners Make an Impact!

The Clackamas Co. Extension Service’s annual community report is hot off the press.  Take a look inside to see the valuable impact Master Gardeners make to the county, plus learn about the amazing community service being provided via 4-H Youth Development, Family and Community Health, Forestry and Natural Resources, and Agriculture.

 

It’s Plant Sale Season!  Don’t Miss Out!

All 3 of our supporting Chapters are rolling out fantastic fundraising plant sales.  Mark your calendars and save the dates.  With a bit of judicious planning you can volunteer and shop-till-you-drop at all 3!  These are extremely fun events to attend and most especially fun to serve as a volunteer.  Don’t miss out!

Washington County MGs Plant Sale – April 28th
http://washingtoncountymastergardeners.org/plant-sale/

Clackamas County MGs Spring Garden Fair – May 5th and 6th
Volunteer opportunities, see…
https://springgardenfair.org/volunteers/
For Spring Garden Fair details, see…
https://springgardenfair.org/

Multnomah MGs Incredible Edibles Sale – May 5
To volunteer email multmastergardeners@gmail.com
Event details http://www.multnomahmastergardeners.org/edibles

Great Gardening Tips for the Edible Gardening Season

Fertilize your currant, raspberry and blueberry shrubs!  Slug patrol!  Get your veggie garden started!

Carpenter Ants

Posted on by | Leave a reply

Natter’s Notes:
Carpenter Ants

Jean R. Natter, OSU Master Gardener

Fig 1: Relative size of carpenter ants: Top row: Winged queen (L) and winged male (R); 3 sizes of workers in bottom row: minor (L); media (center); and major (R). (http://faculty.spokanefalls.edu/LHansen/SummaryCarpenterArtBiology.htm)

Carpenter ants, sometimes referred to as “termites of the northwest,” can be important structural pests which typically nest in moisture-damaged wood. In our region, swarms of flying reproductives (males and females) often leave the nest during January. After mating, the surviving queens will shed their wings and search for a new nest site.

Once a thriving colony is established, it has 10,000 to 50,000 or more individuals. The main nest is in dead wood, perhaps a tree, stump, or landscape timbers.

But that’s only part of the story.

The pupae and some workers are in a secondary nest, one that’s in a relatively warm, dry structure such as a house, garage, or shed. When a colony is about 6 to 10 years old, it produces its first winged swarmers (reproductive males and females). The females, at 16- to 18-mm (about 5/8-inch), are larger than the males, the latter a scant 1/2-inch long.

It doesn’t matter which Camponotus species is in an infestation. In western Oregon, C. modoc (black with red legs) is more common than C. vicinus (black with red thorax and legs). A mature colony has 3 sizes of workers: minors (the smallest); media; and majors. They may invade households, just as nuisance ants will, but are unaffected by over-the-counter ant bait.

Fig 2: Characteristics of carpenter ant workers are elbowed antennae; evenly rounded thoracic profile; and a large node on the narrow connection between thorax and abdomen. (https://bugguide.net/node/view/779340)

All ants have elbowed antennae, and a petiole (a slender connection between thorax and abdomen) with a noticeable node (a bump).  Carpenter ant workers are recognized by their particularly large node and an evenly convex thoracic profile. The additional musculature for the swarmers’ wings creates a beefier profile changing the thoracic outline to somewhat flattened and table-like. After females drop their wings, close examination of the lateral thorax with a hand lens will reveal small indentations – the places where the wings were attached.

Key points

  • Secondary nests in structures begin in moisture-damaged wood.
  • Buildings near a wooded area are more liable to attack than others.
  • Carpenter ants don’t eat wood; instead, they excavate wood for housing.
  • Carpenter ants feed on honeydew and captured insects.
  • If winged ants emerge indoors from underneath the baseboard, the nest is probably in the wall; if via a ceiling light fixture, in the space above, in either the attic or ceiling void.

More often than not, clients don’t know if they are infested or where the main nest is.  These activities can provide answers:

  • Look for piles of fresh sawdust in the attic and crawl space.
  • To determine where the ants are entering the structure, look for 2-way trails outdoors. The best time is from 10 PM to 2 AM during April through October. Inspect along the foundation and other architectural lines, in the crawl space, and where utilities (pipes and wiring) enter the structure.
  • If a trail is found, follow it to the main nest which, to limit structural re-infestations, must be treated by a pest control company.
Fig 3: Queen carpenter ants shed their wings after mating. Additional muscles for the wings change the thoracic profile to somewhat table-like. (https://bugguide.net/node/view/837730/bgimag

Thwart the likelihood of a carpenter ant infestation with several ongoing practices:

  • Create an airy clear zone around structures by trimming, or removing, any plant material within 12 to 18 inches.
  • Maintain mulch at least 8 inches below the siding.
  • Ensure roofing is intact.
  • Inspect the perimeter of the structure periodically, to check for a 2-way trail which warns of an infestation.

Management practices for an infestation

  • Hire a pest control company to treat the structure and, whenever possible, the main nest.
  • Correct the moisture problem and replace damaged wood
  • Over-the-counter ant baits available in the northwest are ineffective against carpenter ants.

Resources

– PNW Insect Management Handbook, the section titled Structural and Health Pests.

– “Identification and Habits of Key Ant Pests of Washington” (EB0671) has identification details for common ants.

“Carpenter Ants: Their Biology and Control” (EB0818; WSU)

– “The Technician’s Handbook” (Richard Kramer; PCT Handbooks) is a handy source of brief summaries about key pests. Each entry includes the pest’s description, a clear line drawing, life cycles, foods, habitats, and cultural management.  Still more details about ants are in “Structure-infesting Ants” (Stoy Hedges; PCT Handbooks). These professional handbooks offer insights as to the services pest control companies may offer. For one thing, pest control companies have effective ant baits not otherwise available to the public.

(Click the link below for PDF containing the above text and all the images.)

Carpenter Ants PDF