News and events for gardeners from Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset Counties from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, and other trusted partners | |
Bells of Ireland: A St. Patrick's Day Favorite
Published: Thursday, March 10, 2022
University of Missouri Extension
Photo credit: Bells of Ireland by sarowen on flickr
COLUMBIA, Mo. – St. Patrick’s Day is a time to celebrate Irish culture and everything green, including leprechauns and shamrocks. While shamrock is a well-known symbol of good luck, another interesting plant associated with good fortune is bells of Ireland, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund.
An annual in the mint family, bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis) blooms July to September. Each tiny, white flower is surrounded by a bell-shaped, emerald green calyx, with many “bells” tightly arranged along the floral stem.
“As luck would have it, the time to start bells of Ireland seeds indoors is on St. Patrick’s Day,” said Warmund.
She suggests placing the seeds in a shallow container filled with potting medium. Barely cover the seeds, as they require light for germination. Lightly water the potting medium, seal the container, and place it in a refrigerator for two weeks. After refrigeration, seedlings will emerge when the container is placed in a well-lit location at 65-68 F.
Transplant seedlings outdoors when nighttime temperatures are consistently above 40 F, Warmund said. Alternatively, place the seeds on top of the soil when the soil temperature is 50-60 F.
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Is It Unusual To See American Robins In The Middle Of Winter?
April 1, 2009
The Cornell Lab
Photo via www.goodfreephotos.com/
As long as there is food available, American Robins may stay north in cold climates.
We do get a lot of questions from people surprised by seeing American Robins in winter. But although some American Robins do migrate, many remain in the same place year-round. Over the past 10 years, robins have been reported in January in every U.S. state, except Hawaii, (see map) and in all of the southern provinces of Canada.
As with many birds, the wintering range of American Robins is affected by weather and natural food supply, but as long as food is available, these birds are able to do well for themselves by staying up north.
One reason why they seem to disappear every winter is that their behavior changes. In winter robins form nomadic flocks, which can consist of hundreds to thousands of birds. Usually these flocks appear where there are plentiful fruits on trees and shrubs, such as crabapples, hawthorns, holly, juniper, and others.
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How to Force Branches of Spring-Flowering Trees and Shrubs
Aaron Steil Consumer Horticulture Extension Specialist
Iowa State University Extension & Outreach
Horticulture and Home Pest News
Photo by sazbean on flickr
Gardeners can brighten up the last few weeks of winter by forcing branches of flowering trees and shrubs indoors. Forsythias, pussywillows, serviceberries, crabapples, magnolias, redbuds, and many fruit trees can be coaxed into early bloom indoors, helping revive the spirits of winter-weary Iowans.
When to Force Branches
Forcing can be done as soon as the buds begin to swell in late winter. Forsythia and pussywillow can be forced as early as late February. It’s best to wait until March for more difficult-to-force ornamentals, such as crabapples, magnolias, and redbuds.
How to Collect Branches to Force into Bloom
Select branches containing larger, rounder, plump buds. Smaller, narrow, pointed buds are usually leaf buds. Flower buds are generally larger and have a more rounded shape. Make clean, slanting cuts 1 to 2 feet from the tips of branches with a sharp hand shears. Selectively remove branches that won’t harm the appearance or shape of the plant. If pruning fruit trees in late winter, gather some of the pruned material for forcing indoors. If possible, collect branches when temperatures are above 32°F. If the plant material is frozen when collected, submerge the entire branch in a tub or pail of water for a few hours.
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Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation & Forestry
Nature Note
The H-Tree in autumn and winter. Photos courtesy of Nature Note reader and friend Judy Heininger-Walsh.
A few years ago I was walking through a woodland with a friend when she mentioned a tree that, with the tree next to it, formed an H. We both took photos and pondered about how it formed. And, as sometimes happens, this curiosity and my photos were buried by more pressing concerns of daily life. Thankfully Judy did not forget the H-Tree as we dubbed it, and recently sent me the answer to the mystery of its formation. Inosculation!
Inosculation is a natural process that occurs when two trees abrade each other enough to rub off the bark and expose the cambium layer of both trees. In response to the wound, each tree produces scar tissue (callus tissue) to cover and protect their cambium layer. Over time the scar tissue of each meets and develops into normal wood tissue with xylem, phloem, and cambium that connects the two trees.
- Xylem transports water up from the roots.
- Phloem transports the food made in the leaves downward.
- Cambium is the growth tissue of the tree that divides in to xylem and phloem.
In this case a branch of one tree abraded the trunk of the other, or a branch from each tree abraded each other... I do not know for sure.
Learn more about Inosculation and other forms when trees grow together:
Thank you Judy! I will be on the lookout to add to my tree alphabet.
And readers, please send your photos of trees you find making amazing shapes through inosculation.
Share Nature Note with your friends, family, teachers, scouts, and anyone you think might be interested. Here is how they can sign up for a free subscription:
Read back issues online.
— From a media release from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, March 1, 2023
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Maine Department of Agriculture Conservation & Forestry
AUGUSTA, MAINE – The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, American beech (Fagus grandifolia) illustrates the potential impacts of invasive species. Impacts from invasive species threaten the tree and the wildlife that depends on it. One invasive species has long-ravaged this tree in the northeast, and two more threaten its future.
In this new US forest service podcast, you can learn more about beech bark disease and learn about beech leaf-mining weevil in this Don’t Move Firewood blog post.
We ask you to focus on beech leaf disease on this beech excursion.
Beech leaf disease was noticed in Ohio in 2012 and first documented in Maine in 2021. We want to know where else in Maine beech leaf disease is found, and you can help.
American beech is among our native tree species with marcescent leaves. Many fail to shed all their leaves in the fall. This trait can be used to survey for beech leaf disease throughout winter. To identify potential beech leaf disease, look for dark banding between the veins of beech leaves.
Please let us know if you find beech leaf disease in a new area.
— From a media release from the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, February 25, 2023.
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About Birch Syrup
The Cornell Sugar Maple Program
Photo by andyballard from Freerange stock
If you’ve never heard of birch syrup, much less tasted or used it, you’re not alone. Birch syrup is produced much like pure maple syrup through tapping trees to collect sap and then boiling the sap to concentrate and caramelize sugars. However, birch syrup is not to be confused with-or substituted for-pure maple syrup. A sampling of birch syrup quickly reveals a mix of fruity-tart and complex caramelized sugar flavors reminiscent of raspberries, tart-cherry juice, apple-butter and molasses. The syrup produced from birch trees does not have the distinct wintergreen aroma and flavor some people associate with birch beer or soda. The wintergreen oil is found within the bark of the tree and does not exist in the sap.
The infancy of the birch syrup industry in North America allows for different interpretations of birch syrup that may or may not appeal to different consumers. Individuals that have consumed birch syrup produced in the Northeastern United States most likely experienced a product that could be described as a mix of balsamic vinegar and molasses with a fruity raspberry like element.
Birch trees are a common hardwood species in northern hardwood and boreal forests. Birch trees, like maples, have an added benefit of significant sap flow which can be consumed as sap or turned into a syrup. Producers in Alaska, Canada and Europe, where there would generally be no sugar maples, turn to birch trees to make a unique and distinct sweetener.
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What IS that Weed??
Weeds can easily and quickly take over a home garden. The first thing to do is identify what the weed is so you can learn what you can do to control it in your home gardens. Join UMaine Cooperative Extension for an informative talk on identifying plants. We will discuss resources for identifying plants as well as techniques to control them in home gardens. Participants are invited to bring photos of their weeds they may have had difficulty identifying. One credit hour for pesticide applicator recertification has been applied for.
For more information: Contact Laurie Bowen laurie.bowen@maine.edu or Donna Coffin donna.coffin@maine.edu or 207.564.3301
March 16, 2023 10am - noon at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft
No pre-registration is required
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Red Stems in Winter
By Nancy Donovan, Ph.D., PT
Master Gardener Volunteer
With the snow that arrived this week, I was finally able to unzip the bag that holds my snowshoes and remove my cross-country ski boots and skis from storage. I always look forward to going outside right after a snowstorm because the air smells fresh and clean. As I create a new pathway through the snow on my snowshoes or skis, I take the time to identify the animal tracks that criss-cross the open area, creating a new highway of sorts. I also often take some pictures because a friend “from away” asks for pictures of the snow on the trees as she lives in a state where the trees remain free from the collection of white crystals. When I am inside my attention is grabbed when a red cardinal sits among the white puffs while it waits for a turn at the feeders.
In the previous two columns, I wrote about plants that produce red berries that stand out in the winter. Another source of red color in the winter is that of a native shrub called the Red-osier dogwood (Swida sericea, Cornus sericea). On the website Gardenia.net is the comment “…Red Osier Dogwood certainly adds a WOW! To a winter landscape.”
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Browntail Moth Awareness Month may be over, but that doesn't mean browntail winter webs are gone!
Maine Deptartment of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry
Remove browntail webs before the end of March.
If you haven't already removed browntail winter webs from your property, make plans to remove the webs before the end of March while the rash-causing caterpillars are still inside and the trees are still dormant. You can recruit help from a licensed arborist or an FAA certified commercial remote pilot with a specialized vehicle to remove webs out of your reach.
Winter web removal in April will be less effective because caterpillars will have emerged from the webs by this time. Additionally, cutting webs will be more stressful for your trees. Pruning injuries can be more damaging in early spring due to sap flow and insect and pathogen activity. The USDA Forest Service guide to pruning trees is an excellent resource for information on pruning trees and shrubs.
If web removal isn't possible due to the height or quantity of winter webs, now is the time to recruit a licensed pesticide applicator who can treat trees in early spring to kill the caterpillars.
Still need help recognizing browntail winter webs?
- Stand with the sun to your back and check out browntail's favorite host trees (oak, elm, birch, poplar, cherry, fruit and ornamentals). Look at the tips of branches for palm-sized webs wrapped tightly in white silk. The silk will reflect the sun and differentiate these current webs with older browntail webs or unfallen leaves (no silk reflection).
- If you find current browntail webs, focus treatment on trees closest to your house and in high traffic areas such as your dooryard.
Knowing where browntail winter webs are on your property and which trees have the most webs can help inform your management decisions; whether you do it yourself or recruit professional assistance.
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Canning in Winter Can Be a Blast
April Reese Sorrow and Elizabeth L. Andress, Ph.D.
National Center for Home Food Preservation
March 2004
The spring and summer months allow a wealth of fresh canning possibilities. Tomatoes, corn and green beans from gardens can keep you canning or freezing until you wear out. But by winter, you may be ready to try some different types of preserves.
Elizabeth Andress is the Director of the Center for Home Food Preservation, which is hosted by the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia. She said recipes available from the Center using juice concentrates and canned vegetables enable canners to preserve in winter.
"There are recipes perfect for people yearning to can in the winter," Andress said. "You don't always have to can with fresh fruits and vegetables. Some of those preserves also make nice holiday gifts."
Read more...
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Garden & Home Resources
Timely Extension Publications
Also, check out these videos:
- Webinars & Videos
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Garden Chats: Growing Resilience From the Ground Up- You may have missed the live Zoom presentations, but we've rounded up fact sheets for each week's discussion for your reference
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Victory Garden for ME series: videos for first time vegetable gardeners
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Growing Maine Gardeners: An initiative led by UMaine Extension’s Home Horticulture team to address the increased demand for gardening education throughout the state of Maine and to provide additional support for beginner gardeners.
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Free Distance Nutrition Education Classes through UMaine Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program is free to income eligible adults with children or your adults and if you are eligible for programs such as SNAP, WIC, or Head Start.
- Other
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Maine Farm Products and Pick-Up Directory: The directory provides information on available local farm products and alternative pick-up options developed by farmers statewide to accommodate the recommended social distancing in light of COVID-19.
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Learn at Home: Educational Resources to Use During School Closures: From science to financial literacy, whether for toddlers or teenagers, we encourage you to take advantage of these activity books, guides, and other resources to help children remain engaged in educational experiences throughout their school closure.
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Learn at Home with 4-H Friday Fun! Each Friday, watch for a new hands-on activity that you can try out with simple materials you have at home. Watch a short video clip to see how it’s done or download our 4-H Learn from Home activity sheets. Each activity outlines materials needed, easy-to-follow instructions, reflection questions for discussion and activity extensions.
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Social Media: Many of our staff are stepping up efforts to communicate to audiences via social media.
Traditional Services Being Offered in New Ways
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Identifying insect pests: Charley Armstrong, will identify pest samples via images. See instructions for submitting an insect specimen.
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Identifying plant diseases: Dr. Alicyn Smart will identify plant disease samples via images. See instructions for submitting a sample.
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Tick testing: Ticks are being tested on a limited basis. See instructions for submitting a tick sample.
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Publication orders: We are still processing orders from our publication catalog, including pesticide application training materials.
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Soil testing: The Analytical Lab and Maine Soil Testing Service remains open and is taking samples with a priority on commercial samples. If you need to drop off a sample, you can place it in the box outside of Deering Hall; do NOT enter the building.
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General gardening questions: Contact your county office. Emails are preferred. If it’s necessary to leave a voicemail, please leave your email address (if available) or a mailing address in addition to your phone number.
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Extension Programs in other states:
If you find a great program when you're poking around online, let me know so I can share with your fellow gardeners: donna.coffin@maine.edu
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Garden Organizations and Allies
Click the links to learn more, find a chapter near you, and get involved.
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Master Gardener Volunteers
Reminder for MGV
to report their time and activities in the on the Master Gardener Volunteer Reporting Volunteer Hours website.
Did you forget the password? Contact laurie.bowen@maine.edu
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Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied. | |
Mission
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is the major educational outreach program of the University of Maine with offices statewide. UMaine Extension provides Maine people with research-based educational programs to help them live fuller, more productive lives.
Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.
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The goal of the Central Maine Gardening Newsletter is to connect gardeners with resources and events that encourage and inform.
Quick Links
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Local Weather Anytime
Most outdoor activities are driven by the weather. Our local National Weather Service in Caribou has meteorologists on staff 24 hours a day. They are willing to talk with you about predictions for your town. Give them a call at 492-0180. Or check out their online detailed maps at http://www.weather.gov/car/.
Need Pesticide Credits?
Interested in Volunteering with UMaine Extension?
Nearly 8,000 volunteers devoted more than 150,000 hours to their communities last year through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension! Look around our
Photos: Edwin Remsberg, Donna Coffin, or Laurie Bowen unless other listed.
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Professor
donna.coffin@maine.edu
Kate Garland, Extension Horticulturist
katherine.garland@maine.edu
Laurie Bowen, Food Systems Program Assistant
laurie.bowen@maine.edu
The goal of the Central Maine Gardening Newsletter is to connect gardeners with resources and events that encourage and inform.
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 Boudreau Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).
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Piscataquis County Office | |
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Open Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
307 Maine Ave Bangor, ME 04401 207.942.7396 or 800.287.1485
Piscataquis County Office - website
Open Monday, Thursday, Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
165 East Main St Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 207.564.3301 or 800.287.1491
7 County Drive Skowhegan, Maine 04976-4209
Tel: 207.474.9622 or 1.800.287.1495 (in Maine)
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