Let’s Go To Agaritaville

August 3, 2014 by lheideman

By Sheryl Kleinschmidt, Master Gardener

I don’t know whether or not Jimmy Buffett ever went to Agaritaville, but if he’d ever tasted the wine, I’m sure he’d return and play his six-string for us!

The first time I can remember seeing agarita (Berberis trifoliate), was at my great uncle’s ranch down in south Texas on the Nueces River. The landscape there reminds me a lot of Somervell County except there are no hills—it’s as flat as a pancake. The caliche soil there lends itself to the proliferation of agarita just as the shallow limestone soil does here.

Uncle Louis was an old-time rancher who lived off the land as much as possible. I can remember being intrigued by some of the things he would show and tell me from time to time when I visited him. Once he showed me the agarita shrubs and told me that he and his family had always collected the little, red berries by placing an old sheet under the bushes and beating them with a stick. But, it was a game of cat and mouse to get to the berries before the birds ate them all!

His family would then either make homemade jelly or wine, which they coveted. It took a lot of those tiny berries to make enough juice for either.

Agarita grows 3’-6’ tall with a spread about the same size. Its foliage is bluish-green and resembles holly. Small yellow flowers begin to develop some time around February attracting honeybees and butterflies alike. The red fruit sets not long thereafter.

Being a Texas native, agarita requires little water. The deer do not like its prickly leaves, but they make a good habitat for nesting birds.

If you are fortunate enough to have agarita on your property (or a friend’s) you might develop a real palate for either the wine or the jelly. Below is a recipe for agarita jelly which is stored in the freezer rather than put into a water bath and canned.

AGARITA JELLY

Gather enough berries to make two quarts. Wash thoroughly, removing any debris such as leaves, stems, etc. Put berries into a large pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and steep until the berries begin to pop open. Remove from the heat. Using a potato masher, squash the juice out of the berries.

In another pot, bring 4 cups agarita juice to a boil. Add 3 cups of sugar, let it come to a boil again, then add one box of No-Sugar Needed Fruit Pectin. Boil for one minute, cool and pour into freezer containers. Keep frozen til needed.

~****~

“Wasted away in Agaritaville,

Searchin’ for my last spoonful of jel-ly….”

Dog Days of Summer

July 6, 2014 by lheideman

by Bonnah Boyd, Somervell County Master Gardener

This phrase refers to the sultry days of summer. In the Northern Hemisphere the dog days of summer are most commonly experienced in the months of July and August.

The phrase has an ancient astrological origin. The Romans noted that the brightest star, Sirius in the Big Dog constellation (Canis Major) was lined up with the sun during the hottest time of the year. This conjunction was believed to cause the peak heat of summer. The Old Farmers’ Almanac lists the traditional period as the 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11.

Many events are often planned during the “Dog Days”. These include dog contests and pictures, parties, sports tournaments at the beach, baseball games and tours, with or without your dog.

If you plan a summer vacation during this time, don’t forget the plants, both indoors and out. Below is a checklist of activities to do for your garden and plants prior to leaving.

Water: Irrigate landscape and garden thoroughly. If you have a vegetable garden, have a neighbor water, as needed. Many containerized plants need watering at least every third day to survive the heat. Group containers together in easy reach of the water hose.

Mow: Mow and trim your lawn the day before you leave. The lawn may need to be mowed a week later, so either be home then or make arrangements for weekly mowing.

Weed: Pull, spray or mulch over existing weeds in the garden and landscape.

Prune: Check roses, perennials and annual flowers to determine if they need deadheading.

Mulch: Mulching preserves water in the soil, reduces soil temperatures, reduces weed populations and gives a fresh look to the garden.

Do a pest check: Check for insects and diseases. Take action to control populations of insects pests that are present. Diseases are less prevalent in the summer, but check for fungal diseases, such as black spot and blight. Apply a fungal spray as needed.

Harvest: In the vegetable garden, harvest all ripe and nearly ripe fruit. Call a neighbor to come harvest for you, if you are going to be gone for more than a week.

Reference: Doug Welch’s Texas Garden Almanac

The Beginning of Paper

July 6, 2014 by lheideman

by Katie Hunholz, Somervell County Master Gardener Intern

With the current trend of viewing documents on the internet, writing letters via email, and reading books on ipads or Kindles, paper is slowly becoming a thing of the past. However, I believe that paper will never completely disappear, due to people who prefer being able to feel the paper in their hands rather than read it on a screen (I, myself, am one of those old-fashioned readers). I wouldn’t call myself a ‘tree-hugger’, but I do value trees for all the amazing materials they provide us, and for their beauty, and the part they play in the ecosystem. However, paper wasn’t always dependent on trees; it originally came from Cyperus papyrus.

The word ‘paper’ is derived from the Egyptian word ‘papyrus’. Paper- a thin, flexible material in sheets, made from rags, wood, etc., and used for printing or writing on (Webster’s New World Dictionary)– was first made from the papyrus plant, which originates from Ethiopia and Egypt. Papyrus, also known as Nile grass, or paper reed, can reach up to 15 feet tall, growing in water depths up to 3 feet. Despite its willowy appearance, the stem of papyrus was often woven into baskets, or even boats. With both strength and flexibility, papyrus was valued as a building material and a writing medium.

The use of papyrus as a paper originated with the Egyptians, about 4000 years ago. Paper made from papyrus comes from the pith, or core, of the plant. The pith is gently peeled into strips, which are then laid out in two layers, with the second layer being laid on top of the first layer, but at a 90 degree angle. The sugary sap from the plant acts as a natural glue, combining the two layers as they dry. The front side of the paper was always the side with the horizontal strips, not the side with the vertical strips. As other nations began to desire a way to transcribe their written language, the use of papyrus quickly spread; it was especially popular with the Greeks and Romans. Even after parchment was developed (a type of paper made from animal skin), papyrus was still desirable. However, the use of papyrus slowly began to fade beginning around 800 AD.

The creation of paper, beginning with papyrus, allowed countries to advance in culture and technology. Previously people had no way of communicating except through their spoken language. It’s difficult to imagine a world with no written documents, but without papyrus that would be our world. Unfortunately, papyrus is now rarely used as a paper, or as a building material. Its lack of use has led to papyrus being an endangered plant; perhaps it is time to begin the cultivation of papyrus once again. It would be a shame to lose such a significant plant with its historical, cultural, and technological value.

Sources:

Laws, Bill. 2010. Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History. Quid Publishing. pp. 62-63.

Seid, Timothy. (2004). Papyrus. Interpeting Ancient Manuscripts.[Online]. Available: http://legacy.earlham.edu/~seidti/iam/papyrus.html.[7/14]

Timely Tips for June

June 7, 2014 by Donna Hagar

by Donna Hagar, Somervell County Master Gardener

Ahh, wasn’t all the rain we got in May just wonderful? Everything greened up and flourished. You could tell the trees, grass and shrubs were heaving a huge sigh of relief! This is a great time to want to sit back and really enjoy our lush and thriving landscapes. But what if that was it? What if the rains will be fewer and farther between? What can we do to keep our trees, plants, gardens and lawns happy?

For starters, MULCH! This is something we Master Gardeners push very hard, as it makes such a difference in retaining moisture and keeping weeds at bay. And I’m not talking a scattering or just top dressing of mulch. More like 3-4 inches thick. Just make sure the soil underneath is good and moist before you load that much on top. If you have drip irrigation or soaker hoses, place these under the mulch, as it takes quite a bit of water to get thru that thick layer of mulch. When you do water, you want to make sure you are actually watering the soil so plants can get their much needed drink.

Be sure to stay on top of weeds. We don’t want our precious plants competing with weeds for water and nutrients. That thick layer of mulch will certainly help keep weeds at bay as well. And weeds that do come up in heavily mulched beds generally have germinated in the mulch itself and will pull up very easily.

In the vegetable garden, as crops are harvested and completed bearing, be sure to keep weeds in check in areas that have been vacated. Add organic matter and keep the area mulched to be ready for fall crops that will begin going in next month.

Oh and by the way, if you have tomatoes or squash with blossom end rot on the bottom or are cracked and split toward the top, this can easily be attributed to the fluctuations in moisture.

Blossom-End Rot

Blossom-end rot (BER) is generally caused by a lack of calcium being taken up in the plant. Soil moisture fluctuations we have had lately can reduce the uptake of calcium in the plant and can lead to BER.

Cracks in Tomatoes

The cracking is caused when the tomatoes get too much water too fast and the skin can’t stretch enough to accommodate. These are still edible by cutting off affected areas. Keep the soil consistently moist (ah, that ever important mulch can help) and both conditions can be kept under control for future harvests.

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush

June 7, 2014 by lheideman

by Katie Hunholz, Somervell County Master Gardener

The nursery rhyme, “Here we go round the mulberry bush”, first published in 1840, can produce a little confusion since mulberries do not grow on bushes, but rather on trees. The mulberry is from the family Moraceae, and the genus Morus. There are many different species of Mulberry, but the 3 most well- known are black, red, and white. But, other than being found in 2 popular nursery rhymes (“Pop goes the weasel” being the second), what makes mulberry so important?

The primary value of the mulberry is that the white mulberry is the sole food source for silkworms. To make a single silk blouse about 8,800 pounds of leaves were required. In case you are not familiar with silkworms, let me give you a brief overview of this famous insect. Silk- which is still used today in the finest of clothing, sheets, and scarves- is best known for its incredibly smooth, soft, and silky texture. Silk is made using the cocoon of the silkworm moth, which is created by the larvae of the moth as it enters the pupal stage. Silkworms, the larval stage of the lifecycle of the silkworm moth, are not actually worms, but rather caterpillars. Silk was first used in ancient Chinese cultures, but quickly became a coveted product by the rest of the world, traveling along what is referred to as the ‘silk road’. White mulberry is now considered an exotic invasive species, since it is taking over the territory of the red mulberry. It was first brought to Europe, then to the United States, in an attempt to establish the silk industry in those places.

Not only is mulberry critical for the silk industry, but it has also been influential in the areas of food, nutrition, livestock fodder, building materials, crafts, and ecology. Here is a summary of its many other uses:

Food: The fruit of the mulberry can be eaten either cooked, or raw. Black and red mulberry have the strongest flavor, but the berries of the white mulberry can be eaten as well. Mulberries are well known for their use in wines, cordials, teas, tarts, and pies.
Nutrition: The fruit of the mulberry contains several powerful antioxidants and vitamins, including anthocyanins, resveratrol, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin A. Native Americans used red mulberry to treat dysentery, as well as using it as a laxative. Anthocyanins are being researched as a treatment for cancer, inflammation, diabetes, and the effects of aging. Resveratrol can help combat the risk of strokes. And, of course, all vitamins are necessary for our bodies to function correctly.
Livestock: The leaves of white mulberry are used not only as a food source for silkworms, but they can also be fed to livestock. It is believed that cattle fed white mulberry leaves have a higher milk yield.
Building materials: The wood of the mulberry tree is known for its flexibility and durability. These characteristics make it an ideal material for sporting goods such as hockey sticks, tennis rackets, and cricket bats. The wood is also used in fence posts, home building materials, and furniture.
Crafts: The twigs of the mulberry tree are often used to weave baskets, while the stems are used for making paper.
Ecology: For those desiring to attract wildlife, the berries are enjoyed by wild birds, game birds, and hogs. If wildlife is not desirable, mulberry trees can serve as buffers which attract the pests away from crops or fruit trees.

As has been illustrated, mulberry trees have an abundance of uses. Such an amazing plant should be known for more than its appearance in children’s nursery rhymes.

Sources:

Laws, Bill. 2012. Fifty Plants that Changed the Course of History. New York. Firefly Books, Inc. p. 130-33.

Purdue horticultural department, http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Morus_alba.html.

A News Blast!!!

May 30, 2014 by lheideman

Somervell County Master Gardeners will NOT be holding monthly CHES (Community Horticulture Education Session) programs during the summer months this year. In lieu of those programs, we would like to invite you to attend the Native Plant Society’s programs on the first Tuesday of each month.

June’s program will be “The Lazy Man’s Garden: Maximum Return/Minimum Input” by Paul Dowlearn, co-owner of Wichita Valley Landscape in Wichita Falls, TX. Paul will be speaking at Somervell County Citizen Center, 205 SW Barnard here in Glen Rose on Tuesday, June 3, at 6:30 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

Community Horticulture Education Series

May 10, 2014 by lheideman

Somervell County Master Gardeners

Community Horticulture Education Series (CHES)

Area Winemaker Speaks in Glen Rose

Monday, May 12th, 6:30 pm

209 SW Barnard St., Glen Rose

Free and Open to the Public

On Monday, May 12, Red Caboose Winery’s own Evan McKibben will speak at the Community Horticulture Education Session about wine and growing grapes in our area. Red Caboose Winery is located in Meridian and was the brain-child of Evan’s father, Gary, over a decade ago.

Evan calls himself a farmer, but his official title is winemaker and vineyard manager. Most of the varieties of grapes grown out at the vineyard are the old, Mediterranean varieties.

If you are interested in winemaking, or learning more about growing grapes, come join us at 6:30 p.m. at the Somervell County Citizens’ Center at 209 SW Barnard. As always, this session is free to the public.

HAVE ANTELOPE HORN? HAVE MONARCHS!

May 10, 2014 by lheideman

by Shirley D. Smith, Somervell County Master Gardener

If you attended April’s Community Horticulture Education Series presented by the Somervell County Master Gardeners, then you know that the Monarch butterfly is headed our direction.

When you travel and it begins to be lunchtime and your tummy tells you it needs food, you probably start to look for a good place to eat. Well . . . . . the Monarchs will be doing the same. They will have flown from north central Mexico and are hungry! They are also looking for a plant on which to lay their eggs. The plant they will be looking for is called Asclepias asperula or antelope horn. This plant grows right here in central Texas along with its cousins – other milkweeds. If you see a somewhat strange looking plant such as shown in the accompanying picture, then you are probably looking at antelope horn. It seems to be in abundance this year (at least it is on my property south of Glen Rose).

Antelope horn milkweed is an erect-stemmed plant growing to about 15 inches tall. Leaves are narrow, lance-shaped and about 3 inches long. The flowers are greenish with distinctive purplish horns and are present from March to October. The fruit is a wrinkled pod containing silk-tufted seeds.

Every spring, millions of Monarch butterflies migrate north from the forested uplands of central Mexico’s Sierra Madre Occidental range. Some reach as far north as Canada. However, those making the journey in 2014 will be fewer in number than ever before. To further elaborate on their plight, here is an except from USA Today dated April 27, 2014:

Monarch butterflies once were so common that some people find it hard to believe that they are declining so rapidly.

“If you tell an old-timer that, they say, ‘Well, that can’t be, because when I was a kid they were everywhere,’ “

That was the case when Taylor, who grew up in Minnesota, was a child. He would put a caterpillar in a peanut-butter jar with a leaf and watch as it became a butterfly. It was a common experiment for kids who grew up in the Midwest and had an interest in nature.

The key to the butterfly experiment was simple: The leaf had to be a milkweed leaf. That’s all the caterpillar needed to survive to adulthood. Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed and nothing else.

Researchers believe the loss of milkweed plants is a big reason for the Monarchs’ decline.

Milkweed is not a cash crop and so has been eliminated from many Midwestern farm fields to make room for more corn and soybeans. Nabhan and others believe that simply planting milkweed in the path of the migration can increase the Monarchs’ numbers.

“We have to get the message out,” she said.

Because this butterfly has recently been found to be in dangerous decline, their plight has attracted political attention. Here is another except from that same article:

During their summit meeting in Toluca, Mexico, in February, the leaders of Mexico, the United States and Canada pledged to support the Monarch. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper called it a “landmark species” and said they hope to form a task force to address the problem.

If you are over 50, then you remember how abundant the Texas horned lizard or horny toad was when you were a kid. Up on the High Plains where I grew up, they were everywhere and we took their numbers for granted. When was the last time you saw one of these little guys? Yeah, me, too – not for years! Hopefully, the Monarch will make a come back and not become threatened as is our beloved Texas Horned Lizard.

The reason for this article is to make you aware that we could possibly lose this beautiful creature as we have almost lost the horny toad. What a terrible thought! You can do your part by making sure the milkweed growing in your yard, in your pasture, in your flowerbed or wherever is not destroyed!

The Beginning of Paper

Timely Tips for June

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush

A News Blast!!!

Community Horticulture Education Series

HAVE ANTELOPE HORN? HAVE MONARCHS!

Monthly Meeting

Monthly Meeting

Monthly Meeting

Monthly Meeting

Monthly Meeting