Author Archives: vickstersvine

Birds of a feather

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Snowy Owl, Hardin County, OH

Were you one of the lucky few who caught a glimpse the glorious Snowy Owl in nearby Hardin County north of Bellefontaine (OH)? If not, our Viner friend Roger Garber put his new camera lens to work and has shared a wonderful shot for you. Snowy Owls, normally residents of the Arctic north, have been spotted much, much farther south of their native range. This unusual visitation is called an irruption and may be the result of inadequate food sources, primarily lemmings, that may have driven some owls this far south.

Sadly, it was reported today on the Ohio Ornithological Society’s Facebook page that our local avian media star was found dead today perhaps a victim of starvation. Take a listen to Jim McCormac, a biologist with ODNR’s Division of Wildlife, who was interviewed on  NPR’s All Things Considered by Melissa Block HERE.

The Harry Potter fan in me says, “Hedwig, we hardly knew ye….”

Pileated Woodpecker

I always enjoy feeding the birds in my backyard. Suet is a great way to attract many birds. Imagine my excitement spotting this pileated woodpecker. Thank goodness the feeder had a tail prop or else this guy would have been left hanging!

Educational Opportunities

Yes, it’s that time again! WHOOOOO HOOOOOO! The seminars, conferences and symposiums are gearing up.

Adams County Amish Bird Symposium – Saturday, March 3

This daylong celebration of birds features speakers, vendors and activities at the Wheat Ridge Amish Community Building, West Union (OH). Speakers include Harvey B. Webster, Cleveland Museum of Natural History; author Geoff Hill, Auburn University professor; Chris Gilkey, Wildlife Officer; Jim McCormac, Division of Wildlife; and Kimberly Kaufman Black Swamp Bird Observatory. Amish lunch included. Find registration information HERE.

Wildlife Diversity Conference – Wednesday, March 7

Wildlife Diversity: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Held at the huge Shriner’s Complex in Columbus, this event is awesome. Speakers are among the best in their field. Worms, Freshwater Mussel Restoration, Aquatic Invasive Species, Lake Erie Pelagic Bird Survey, Wildlife Orphans, Wetland Restoration & Small Mammal Community Structure and Beavers/Porcupines and Fishers. All in one day! Read more/register HERE.

Hosta College – Friday/Saturday, March 16 & 17

One of the most anticipated events of the spring is the American Hosta Society Great Lakes Region’s Hosta College in Piqua (OH). This year the date is Friday-Saturday, March 16 & 17. Check it all out HERE. Early class registration for Miami Valley Hosta Society members opens 12 midnight January 13. Non-member registration opens January 25 at midnight.

Winter color

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Espaliered Pyracantha

An accomplished gardener realizes that the rewards of growing continue long after the frost knocks out the annuals and perennials. If done properly, one can enjoy the natural beauty of plants all winter; indoors and out. In the drabness of winter a spot of red can really hit the spot, especially when it is right at your front door. Take a look at the wonderful welcome this espaliered firethorn (Pyracantha spp. x ‘Mohave’) offers.

Pyracantha 'Mohave'

Pyracanthas have dark, glossy usually evergreen foliage. Though they may grow to be large shrubs if unattended, you can see that fellow Viner Louise is a dedicated pruner and easily keeps her plant in line. Louise chose to plant the hybrid ‘Mohave’ because of its beautiful, brilliant orange-red berries.

Her Pyracantha has persistent foliage and bears its berries on second year growth from mid-August to midwinter. This variety is also highly resistant to scab and fireblight and tolerates dry soil conditions.

My luck with poinsettias

Here is a shot of my attempt to get some bloom action from poinsettias I’ve been growing since last December. Keeping in mind that poinsettias require a period of long nights and short days to set bloom, mine have been sequestered near an east window of a spare, not-so-warm room. It is a room that we don’t use so the only light the plants get is the natural light from the window. A hint of red is starting to be seen as is the set of the bloom. It’s a far cry from something seen in the store but I consider it a small success!

Which color to choose?

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One of the prettiest sights of the holiday season just might be a greenhouse growing range of poinsettias at their peak. Joel Poinsett, ambassador to Mexico in the 1820s, is generally credited with introducing the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) to the U.S. He had the foresight to bring specimens back to his South Carolina greenhouse. In Mexico, its native home, the poinsettia is a perennial shrub that can grow to ten feet! The beautiful red, white, pink and variegated bracts are not flowers at all, just colorful leaves. The true flowers of the poinsettia are located in the center of the bracts at the tip of each stem; they are those little tiny yellow blobs that can easily be overlooked.

Many say that the poinsettia is poisonous. Though the plant leaves and stems do ooze a milky, white sap when broken, the toxins which contain diterpene esters, vary by variety. An Ohio State University study reported that, if ingested, the plant may only cause some stomach discomfort. The sap may cause some skin irritation and you definitely don’t want to get it in your eyes. Ok. Call me a chicken, but I’m not going to test the validity of this report. It would be wise to keep them out of the reach of children and pets.

There are hundreds of different colored varieties on the market right now. If you frequent a quality garden center, they should even have the varieties noted by name. Say you’ve seen blue poinsettias in the stores? You can’t blame the sightings of blue poinsettias on that eggnog you’ve been drinking. Here’s the scoop on the behind-the-scene magic!

The grower will take one naturally grown white poinsettia, some commercial plant dye and spray until the desired color is reached. Blue, pink, burgundy, orange, yellow…. For purple, just spray the blue dye on a naturally grown red poinsettia. I learned something really neat: the dye can be used on other plants such as Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’.

Start with a white poinsettia...

... choose your color...

... spray with dye ...

... and, tada! A blue poinsettia.

My Landreth seed catalog is here

As I mentioned a while back, the D. Landreth Seed Company, the oldest seed company in the U.S. (since 1784!), is in financial troubles. The company is not out of the woods yet but the sale of their 2012 catalog goes a long way to preserve its future. I ordered 4 and should have ordered more. It’s WAY more than a seed catalog – it’s U.S. agriculture history in your hand. If you haven’t ordered your catalog yet, you’d better get on the ball before they sell out. Check their website out HERE.

Yipppeee! It's here!

Sales Alert!

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Some days I feel like her.

I’m feeling a bit like the highly excitable lady in the Target tv commercials when I yell: Sales Alert! But I really do have some great time-sensitive news to share.

Today only – 50% off!

If saving 50% gets you excited, then Marvin’s Organic Gardens in Lebanon has a deal for you. Today only and only on Marvin’s website: they are offering their gift certificate sale. I’ve purchased these for gifts the past couple of years. Example: Purchase $50 in gift certificates and Marvin gives you $50 more. Today only. Check it out HERE.

Tomorrow night!

Knollwood Garden Center  in Beavercreek is holding their second “Holiday Solutions” Ladies Night tomorrow night, Tuesday, November 29 from 6-8 pm. Once again they have invited an array of local businesses to join in and demonstrate their creative solutions to your holiday gift-giving and entertaining needs. But the BIG news is that you can redeem your Bonus Bucks for up to 1/2 of the purchase price.

Five days only!

Use your Knollwood Garden Center Bonus Bucks for Christmas! Five days only, starting today, Monday, November 28 through Friday, December 2 (and including Ladies Night) you can use your Bonus Bucks and save up to 1/2 on your purchases. It gets even better: you’ll be earning more Bonus Bucks for spending next June!

Confused crabs

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My crabapple is blooming. You might think that I MUST have a green thumb. However, the adverse may be more apropos. Crabapples that spit out blooms in the fall are showing that they are very stressed out. It’s almost a ‘throes of death’ type of reaction: “I-must-bloom-and-reproduce-before-I-die” type of thing. I think I have a grasp of what causes stress to me personally, but what kind of stress does a plant experience? Some thoughts that come to mind include:

– Moisture: lack of or over-abundance of water.

– Disease: in this case, I’m guessing apple scab, leaf spot or fireblight. The poor tree went through the summer nearly bald.

– Improper pruning: trim crabs in late winter. Pruning in late summer may stimulate growth and a bloom spurt.

Stoddard Avenue Pumpkin Glow

The Stoddard Avenue Pumpkin Glow will take place at dusk on October 30 and 31. The hill behind the Greek Orthodox Church in the historic Grafton Hills neighborhood of Dayton will be covered with more than 500 Jack-O-lanterns. It’s Spoooktacular!

Owl Prowl

The northern saw-whet owl is Ohio’s smallest bird of prey and it’s the subject of an upcoming program at the Ohio Historical Society’s Cedar Bog Nature Preserve near Urbana. Can they be found at Cedar Bog? They haven’t been yet, but that’s what Cedar Bog hopes to do on Saturday, November 5, at 7 p.m., when it offers its first Saw-whet Owl Prowl.

The prowl will be led by expert Bob Placier, an instructor in the School of Natural Resources at Hocking College in Nelsonville and a licensed bird bander. Since 2003, he’s been part of a saw-whet monitoring project near Chillicothe which has banded more than 300 of the owls. Placier will address what’s known about saw-whets and discuss Project Owlnet, a cooperative effort to document the owl’s migration patterns, then head out on the trail where the nets are located to catch a glimpse of one.

Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for students. Ohio Historical Society or Cedar Bog Association members save $1. Advance registration is required. To register, call 800.860.0147 or e-mail cedarbog@ctcn.net.

Shopping Opportunities

2012 Calendars – Greene County Master Gardeners are offering a beautiful 2011-2012 calendar including Ohio hardiness zone chart, checklists, and helpful gardening hints. They are $13.50 and available at the county extension office at the Greene County Fairgrounds in Xenia, Wickline’s Garden Center in Xenia and TJ’s in Bellbrook. For more information email: mgvhotline@gmail.com.

All you can carry  pumpkins – Meadowview Gardens in New Carlisle is offering All-the-pumpkins-you-can-load-on-one-person for $14.99 this Saturday, October 29 – ONLY. I admit, it would be a pretty funny sight to see. More info HERE.

In a seed there is a promise

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D. Landreth Seed Company

Since 1784 – that’s a crazy 217 years – the D. Landreth Seed Company (New Freedom, PA) has been providing its customers with one of the most extensive selections of fine lawn and garden seeds in the world. The founders introduced into the United States some of the most beloved flowers and vegetables known today including the zinnia, the white potato, various tomatoes, and Bloomsdale spinach. They are the oldest seed house and the fifth oldest continuously operated business in the United States. The company is passionate in its quest for excellence in quality, service and innovation.

Today, the firm is in deep financial trouble and may have to close. If that would happen it would be a serious blow to everyone – whether they understand the impact or not. Personnel from the Smithsonian say that Landreth’s bound catalogs may be the only collection of its kind in the world – a historical journey from 1839 to present day telling the story of America’s journey in history in agriculture and horticulture.

In order to dig their way out of the financial hole the company is currently promoting the purchase of their 2012 seed catalog ($5). It is more than a seed catalog as it contains data from their library of catalogs and tons of history information about the flowers, herbs and vegetables we eat. Time is of the essence. They must raise this money QUICKLY. If you are inclined, please listen to a public radio piece that aired this week HERE to hear more on this. Then if you decide to order a catalog, place your order HERE.

D. Landreth was the ONLY seed company I could find that offered a favorite bean of mine: a European heirloom purple pole bean called “Purple Peacock”. If you are what you eat, I’d be a purple pole bean, at least while they are in season. Or an ear of sweet corn. Or a watermelon. It’s a toss-up.

Ohio Gardening with Melinda Myers

I forgot to note the other speakers speakers that will be at the October 2 event at Cox Arboretum. They include: Marvin Duren (Marvin’s Organic Gardens); Christine & Tony Carpenter (Beyond The Greenhouse); Tomasz Przepiorkowski (Studebaker Nursery); Eric Sauer (Cypripedium Landscape Architecture); and Yvonne Dunphe (Five Rivers MetroParks). Event location: Cox Arboretum. Fee: $10 (includes light lunch). Registration: available online (www.metroparks.org) or call Five Rivers MetroPark (937-434-9005).

I have a question

I know it is the season for the dreaded FRUIT FLY, but how do you deal with their fall invasion? Feel free to share by posting your comments.

I spy…..

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This morning’s Tuesday Trek at Grant Park with Centerville-Washington Park District’s naturalist, Lucy, revealed many wonderful finds. There were surprises in the prairie, at the pond side and in the woods. It doesn’t get better than this.

Calico Aster (Symphytotricum lateriflorum)

Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)

Rough Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa)

Snakeweed (Ageratina altissima)

Grasshopper on Queen Anne's Lace

Black & Yellow Garden Spider (Argiope aurantia)

An orbweaver spider (probably Neoscona crucifera) at breakfast

Someone else's breakfast (on a duck nest box)

Sales Opportunities

Greene County Master Gardener sale – October 1

9 am to 1 pm at the Greene County Extension Office (100 Fairground Road, Xenia OH 45385). Features houseplants, perennials, gardening books and more. Call 937-372-9971.

Educational Opportunities

Ohio Gardening – October 2

Gardening expert, TV & radio host, author and columnist Melinda Myers will be speaking at Cox Arboretum October 2. She has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening. She hosts the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments which air on 89 TV and radio stations throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and writes the twice monthly “Gardeners’ Questions” newspaper column. Melinda hosted “The Plant Doctor” radio program for over 20 years as well as Great Lakes Gardener on PBS. Melinda has a master’s degree in horticulture, is a certified arborist and was a horticulture instructor with tenure. Her web site is www.melindamyers.com

Don’t miss Ohio Gardening, Sunday, October 2, 9 am to 4:15 pm. Registration starts at 8:30 am. Fee is $ 10 and includes light lunch. Registration is available online (www.metroparks.org ) or call 434-9005.

MetroParks Forestry Practices – October 15

1-4:30 pm, In-depth review of Five Rivers MetroParks’ best forestry practices and connections to local neighborhood trees. Mark Klunk, Conservation Manager and Wendi Van Buren, Urban Forester will introduce forestry practices and the importance of trees in your own neighborhoods. The outdoor hiking portion of the program will highlight beautiful forest types and review the forest management practices within MetroParks. Reservations required and space is limited. Call (937) 277-4178 or register online. At http://www.metroparks.org/Parks/ViewEvents.aspx?Park=Germantown . Meet at Germantown MetroPark’s Facility Maintenance Building Classroom at 6675 Conservancy Rd, Germantown Ohio 45327.

Greenest Zoo in America

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Cincinnati Zoo Solar Panels

If you haven’t visited the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden recently, you may not know about one of its newest additions. A baby tiger? A baby elephant? Nope. The big news this past April was the arrival of one of the largest public urban solar displays in the country. 6,400 photovoltaic solar collection panels covers assembled 15-18′ above the parking lot now give cover to 800 of the 1000 parking spaces. The $11 million project is designed to produce 1.56 MW (megawatts) of power; about 20% of the zoo’s annual needs or enough to power 200 homes. It is a wonderful perk to be able to park your car in the shade!

Educational Opportunities

Thursday, September 15. DIAGNOSTIC WALK ABOUT  with Pam Bennett, OSU Extension. Cox Arboretum. 6-8 pm. Last Walk About of the season. Your chance to see what has been bugging your garden, connecting theory with practical applications in the garden, and learn from one of the best. Pam talk about what is happening around the state, and walk through the grounds to talk about what is happening in the  Dayton gardens/landscapes.

Saturday, September 17, 10 am. Knollwood Garden Center.  It’s time to begin preparing your houseplants and tropicals for the move indoors. Knollwood’s Barb Kedler will show you the steps to take for a smooth, bug- and stress-free transition. Continue your gardening through the fall & winter months with indoor combo pots & fun projects.

Saturday, September 24, 10 am & 11 am. Knollwood Garden Center.  Behind The Scenes with Poinsettias, Mums, and Propagation. Head to Knollwood’s growing facility in Beavercreek for a change in seasons: learn about the process it takes to grow beautiful poinsettias, how garden mums are grown outdoors for best results, and how propagation of succulents and coleus is done (definitely try this at home!) Space is limited, reservations required. 937-426-0861. Maps will be available in the week prior to the event.

Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8-9. Knollwood Garden Center. Build your Own Scarecrow. Greene County Master Gardeners are helping with the family activity. Stop in Saturday (10-4) or Sunday (11-4) and build a funny scarecrow for the yard. Burlap head, straw, twine and a simple frame as well as a variety of clothes will be provided. Fee for supplies is $15, of which $10 goes directly to the Master Gardeners for their variety of community service projects.

Conservation Opportunities

Tuesday, September 13. Germantown – Ohio Prairie Seed Nursery 7745 Conservancy Road. 9 am-3 pm. Prairie seed harvest, plant shrub seedlings, clean up/weed nursery planting beds, open up pond/willow cut back…propagation, ID, and multitude of skill building opportunities. There will be a grill out for lunch…or bring a brown bag. Come for the morning, the afternoon, or stay all day.

Tuesday, September 20. Germantown Nature Center – 6910 Boomershine Road. 9 am – 2 pm.  A new installation Rain Garden needs some extra TLC in its early stages. Great time to learn about native plants, rain garden design, and of course…weed ID.

Sales Alerts

Grandma’s Gardens: Trees 25-40% off; perennials 30-50% off; 1-gallon mums 5/$35.

Knollwood Garden Center: Redeem your Bonus Bucks in September! Also, at least 20% off trees & shrubs; 50% off hostas; 40% off perennials; 25% off fountains.

Seibenthaler’s Garden Center: 61st Annual Tree & Nursery Sale exclusively at the Beavercreek Nursery & Garden Center on Sept 24th & 25th and Oct 1st and 2nd. Trees & shrubs will be up to 75% off.

Baker’s Acres: (25 miles NE of Columbus) Annual September sale. Sept 12–18: 30% off; Sept 19–25: 40% off; Sept 26–Oct 2: 50% off; Oct 3–9: 51% off. Includes most plants and soil products. All pottery is Buy One/Get One at Half Price (Of equal or lesser value) – excludes terra cotta pots. Tropicals, annuals and begonias are already 50% off. Sale does not include garden mums, pansies, fall combinations, fall vegetables, ornamental cabbage and kale or any other new fall crops.

And the winners are…..

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The Garden Club Federation of Dayton & Vicinity proudly presented two very successful flower shows during the Montgomery County (Dayton OH) Fair’s run August 31-September 5. The Coliseum Building was the place to be to view some of the best from the Miami Valley area’s gardeners and floral designers. As flower show chair, I share the shows’ success with my committee chairs and their many able helpers –  it could not have happened without all of you! Congratulations to all of the winners. Enjoy these photos of those winning rosette awards!

PS: Please spread the word about Vickster’s Vine and help connect gardeners and nature lovers alike. We’ll accomplish much more when we are connected.

1st show - Special Class Best of Show: Marilyn Fies

1st Show - Artistic Best of Show: Marilyn Fies

1st Show - Artistic Judge's Award of Distinction: Joni Duncan

1st Show- Best of Show (Roses): John Adams

1st Show - Best of Show (Cut Specimens): Dale Rodgers

1st Show - Best of Show (Container Grown Plants): Vicki Ferguson

1st Show - Best of Show (Cacti & Succulents): John Adams

1st Show - Judge's Award of Distinction: Dale Rodgers

1st Show - Green Thumb Award: Jim Warner

1st Show - Indoor Grower's Award: Caralynn Appenzeller

1st Show - Jr. Horticulture Best of Show: Hannah Hansford

1st Show - Junior Green Thumb Award: Rebekah Hansford

1st Show - Junior Artistic Best of Show: Michelle Keck

2nd Show - Artistic Best of Show: Louise Bennett

2nd Show - Artistic Judge's Award of Distinction: Joni Duncan

2nd Show - Best of Show (Roses): John Adams

2nd Show - Best of Show (Cut Specimens): Jan Vomacka

2nd Show - Best of Show (Container Grown Plants): Nancy Denlinger

2nd Show - Best of Show (Cacti & Succulents): Gary Shaffer

2nd Show: Horticulture Judge's Award of Distinction: Vicki Ferguson

2nd Show - Green Thumb Award: Ben McCallester

2nd Show - Indoor Growers Award: Babs Sabick

2nd Show - Junior Horticulture Best of Show: Grace Hansford

2nd Show - Junior Green Thumb Award: Michelle Keck

2nd Show - Junior Artistic Best of Show: Cecelia Dalrymple

There’s something happening here….

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Suffering Austrian Pines on Clyo Road

Taken from the famous Buffalo Springfield 1966 song “For What It’s Worth” the lyrics in my blog title are so appropriate. Something BIG is happening to mature Austrian pine (Pinus nigra) trees all over the Centerville-Washington Township area. Have you noticed these large long-needled conifers dying in your community?

According to the ODNR’s Division of Forestry the Austrian pine is the pine most susceptible to Diplodia Tip Blight, a fungus that commonly attacks mature trees that have been stressed. And these trees have seen stress! This menace will slowly kill the tree over several years and wreak havoc in mass plantings as it spreads to surrounding trees. If it was present last year, I must have been oblivious. THIS year….. it is everywhere. Just drive down Clyo Road around Alex-Bell. Or check out I-675 between the Centerville and Wilmington Pike exits. I what I see from my car is any indication, we’re on track to soon lose thousands of pine trees.

Diplodia tip blight

Even though the Austrian pines are fast growing they are not long-lived trees and are often mixed in with spruces and deciduous trees in new plantings. When the Austrians die off, the spruce and deciduous trees are still there.

Regional Urban Forester Wendi Van Buren notes, “A telltale way to determine of a tree is infected with Diplodia tip blight is to look for the signs of the pathogen, which consist of tiny black, fungal fruiting bodies (pycnidia) that are formed on the surface of the infected needles and cones.” Read more about it  HERE on this OSU extension fact sheet.

Educational Opportunities

Knollwood Garden Center

I attended the perennial seminar at Knollwood today and came home with 4 new perennials!! Don’t miss out on Knollwood’s next seminar, Saturday, September 3 at 10am and again at 11am at St. Luke’s Catholic Church for: “Learn to Plant Like the Pros”. Learn as John Scott narrates as the landscape crew installs a job from start to finish. Space is limited and reservations are required. Call 937-426-0861.

Siebenthaler’s Garden Center

“Clip and Cook With Herbs”  Learn how to harvest and dry a myriad of herbs or make a culinary wreath at the Thursday, September 8 seminar (Centerville garden center location) at 10 am or 6 pm. Event will repeat at the Beavercreek garden center at 1 pm on Saturday, September 10.

Dahlias on Parade

The Greater Columbus Dahlia Society will hold their 46th annual dahlia show September 3 & 4 at the Marysville Family YMCA and Ohio National Guard Armory Facility in Marysville (1050 Charles Lane, Marysville OH 43040). This is a free event.