11

Inside this

issue

Weed of the

Month

2

Extra Extra 2

Walk on the Wild

Side

3

Scoop on Poop 4

Hand Paste 5

Kudzu Bug 6

Nymphs 7

Simple Pineapple 8

Bookstore 8

Events 9

Last Word 10

for discerning weeders

July 2013

Do you buy ginger root in the supermarket in

all its dry shriveled bland glory If you are

tired of using this tasteless spice in stir fry

breads jams and other wonderful homemade

concoctions here is an alternative

Edible ginger is a spice best used fresh I donrsquot

mean fresh out of the store but fresh out of

your garden Many people grow flowering

ginger in their gardens but few think of culti-

vating edible ginger Easy to

cultivate a sufficient amount

to supply a family can be

grown in a one gallon nursery

pot with a few cupfuls of good

potting soil and a couple of

teaspoons of good slow release

fertilizer

Edible ginger Zingiber offici-

nale is a short 24-30 inch

plant The edible part is the rhizome which

forms as the plant grows New extensions of

the rhizome are bright pink or reddish and are

the growing points of the plant Although I

have grown ginger for many years I have nev-

er seen it flower Literature says that it has a

yellow cone-like flower structure but it is real-

ly not important the good part is the root

To get your ginger plant started you first must

have a root with a growing point Almost any

of the store-bought rhizomes will have several

buds which if you look at them closely will be

small whitish bumps on the sides of the rhi-

zome Each of these bumps may become a gin-

ger plant In spring or summer plant a part of

the rhizome with at least one bud in a contain-

er of good potting soil covering it about two

inches deep Water and set in the sun Keep

the soil evenly moist and within a month a

small green spear should appear which quickly

becomes an opposite leafed stalk Over the

next several months the stalks will multiply

and by cool weather the container should

have a rhizome several inches long Alterna-

tively you may plant the bud directly into the

soil in your garden among your other plants

and it will fit in perfectly with the landscape

You may begin harvesting

fresh ginger as soon as the

second stalk appears using

the pink part of the growth

Cut off the part you wish to

use and replant the rest to

keep on growing

Oriental cooking is especially

good when made with fresh

ginger Ginger chicken for

instance takes on a complete-

ly new flavor when a pink rhizome is thinly

sliced into it Peeled and sliced rhizomes may

be boiled in sugar to become candied ginger

freshly dug roots may be stored in a jar of vin-

egar and used to flavor stews and soups The

list goes on from confectionery to cookies to

breads - use your imagination

The stalks of the ginger plant will die in the

fall and the pot may be moved into a green-

house or garage for the winter Keep the pot

barely moist during the winter months not

letting it freeze An alternative is to harvest

one of the growing points and store it in a

plastic bag in the crisper unit in your refrigera-

tor over winter them replant it in spring to

begin again

Try this It is fun and flavorful

DONrsquoT FORGET

You have to log your

hours onto the VMS

system

GROWING EDIBLE GINGER IN A CONTAINER

By Lee V

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

ldquoNo occupation is so delightful

to me as the culture of the

earth and no culture compa-

rable to that of the gardenrdquo

Thomas Jefferson

Do you have a favorite garden

quote Send it in

22

WEED OF THE MONTH by Jenny G

Psilophytes (Whisk Ferns)

There are so many different

weeds growing now in lawns

garden beds and along road-

sides If you look you will prob-

ably recognize Dollarweed

Florida Pusley spurge Smilax

Cudweed young Beggarticks

young Henbit Oxalis Bitter-

cress Hawksbeard Speedwell

and Creeping Charlie (often

called Creeping Ivy around

here) just to name a few

All of these weeds plus may others have been profiled before

and they can all be found in our archived weed files

In late March and April I came across a ldquoweedrdquo I had never

seen before I found it in new cypress mulch under shrubs in

shade This little green ldquoweedrdquo had no leaves and hardly any-

thing that looked like roots It reminded me of a fernhellipbut

without the usual fern characteristics Very strange

I took it to the Annex extension for ID Luckily Lynn F had

seen it before Lynn called it a ldquowhisk fernrdquo a Psilotales It was

so interesting that I wanted to share it

Psilotum Whisk Ferns A genus of very primitive vascular

plants without true roots and with the spore capsules borne in

fused triads on the upper parts of the forking stems in the ax-

ils of tiny scales There are no real leaves but the green ridged

stems act as photosynthetic organs

ldquoThe Psilotales are the least complex of all terrestrial vascular

plants This is primarily because psilophytes are the only living

vascular plants to lack both roots and leaves Psilotales

occurs in the Caribbean the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts as far

north as North Carolina and in Arizona Itrsquos found in tropical

Asia and on Pacific islands In addition to its natural distribu-

tion Psilotales is also

found as a common weed

in greenhouses and some-

times escapes cultivation in

regions with mild climate

It occasionally becomes a

nuisance but is still very

popular for its unusual

growth form The psilo-

phyte stem lacks roots it is

anchored instead by a hori-

zontally creeping stem

called a rhizome The erect

portion of the stem bears

paired enations out-

growths which look like

miniature leaves but unlike true leaves the enations have no

vascular tissue This ldquofernrdquo can be grown in a pot

For more info

httpwwwucmpberkeleyeduplantspterophyta

psilotaleshtml

EXTRA EXTRA

Thanks to Karen K John H Ed S Dmytro S Lee V for some

really good links and info

Knock-Out Rose Disease http

thedailysouthsouthernlivingcom20130421is-knockout-rose

-down-for-the-count

Bird migration map httpebirdorgcontentebirdcat=12

Planting wildflowers httpwwwnytimescom20130615

opiniongreedy-gardenershtmlemc-etalamp_r=0

Plants are good at math httpnewsyahoocomsquare-roots-

scientists-plants-good-math-040924317html

Florida Native Plant Society newsletter httpfnpsorgassets

pdfsabalminorsabalminor15_4_2013pdf

Thirst for Fresh Water Threatens Apalachicola Bay Fisheries

httpnytims13xVGlu

Huge yellow jacket nest httpwwwwflacom

story22658024local-expert-faces-dangerous-challenge-with-

huge-yellow-jacket-nest

Honey and Its Uses httpedisifasufleduaa154

General Rule for Honey to Sugar Conversion

1 cup of sugar = 34 honey Decrease liquid called for in recipe

by 14 cup For each cup of honey in baked goods add 12 tea-

spoon baking soda

22

WEED OF THE MONTH by Jenny G

Psilophytes (Whisk Ferns)

There are so many different

weeds growing now in lawns

garden beds and along road-

sides If you look you will prob-

ably recognize Dollarweed

Florida Pusley spurge Smilax

Cudweed young Beggarticks

young Henbit Oxalis Bitter-

cress Hawksbeard Speedwell

and Creeping Charlie (often

called Creeping Ivy around

here) just to name a few

All of these weeds plus may others have been profiled before

and they can all be found in our archived weed files

In late March and April I came across a ldquoweedrdquo I had never

seen before I found it in new cypress mulch under shrubs in

shade This little green ldquoweedrdquo had no leaves and hardly any-

thing that looked like roots It reminded me of a fernhellipbut

without the usual fern characteristics Very strange

I took it to the Annex extension for ID Luckily Lynn F had

seen it before Lynn called it a ldquowhisk fernrdquo a Psilotales It was

so interesting that I wanted to share it

Psilotum Whisk Ferns A genus of very primitive vascular

plants without true roots and with the spore capsules borne in

fused triads on the upper parts of the forking stems in the ax-

ils of tiny scales There are no real leaves but the green ridged

stems act as photosynthetic organs

ldquoThe Psilotales are the least complex of all terrestrial vascular

plants This is primarily because psilophytes are the only living

vascular plants to lack both roots and leaves Psilotales

occurs in the Caribbean the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts as far

north as North Carolina and in Arizona Itrsquos found in tropical

Asia and on Pacific islands In addition to its natural distribu-

tion Psilotales is also

found as a common weed

in greenhouses and some-

times escapes cultivation in

regions with mild climate

It occasionally becomes a

nuisance but is still very

popular for its unusual

growth form The psilo-

phyte stem lacks roots it is

anchored instead by a hori-

zontally creeping stem

called a rhizome The erect

portion of the stem bears

paired enations out-

growths which look like

miniature leaves but unlike true leaves the enations have no

vascular tissue This ldquofernrdquo can be grown in a pot

For more info

httpwwwucmpberkeleyeduplantspterophyta

psilotaleshtml

EXTRA EXTRA

Thanks to Karen K John H Ed S Dmytro S Lee V for some

really good links and info

Knock-Out Rose Disease http

thedailysouthsouthernlivingcom20130421is-knockout-rose

-down-for-the-count

Bird migration map httpebirdorgcontentebirdcat=12

Planting wildflowers httpwwwnytimescom20130615

opiniongreedy-gardenershtmlemc-etalamp_r=0

Plants are good at math httpnewsyahoocomsquare-roots-

scientists-plants-good-math-040924317html

Florida Native Plant Society newsletter httpfnpsorgassets

pdfsabalminorsabalminor15_4_2013pdf

Thirst for Fresh Water Threatens Apalachicola Bay Fisheries

httpnytims13xVGlu

Huge yellow jacket nest httpwwwwflacom

story22658024local-expert-faces-dangerous-challenge-with-

huge-yellow-jacket-nest

Honey and Its Uses httpedisifasufleduaa154

General Rule for Honey to Sugar Conversion

1 cup of sugar = 34 honey Decrease liquid called for in recipe

by 14 cup For each cup of honey in baked goods add 12 tea-

spoon baking soda

33

A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE By Linda M

Julymdashsun-filled days of summer Independence Day celebrations MG

Awards Program and great wildlife activities to look forward to

Birds

Shorebird migration starts in mid-July peaking in August Look out for

nesting shorebirds and keep your vehicles and dogs from disturbing them

Swallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and tree swallows

in preparation for migrating south for the winter Swallow-tailed kitesmdash

distinctive black and white birds of prey winters in the lowlands of Brazil

and returns to Florida each spring to nest They can be seen throughout the

state between March and August Swallow-tailed Kites feed mainly on fly-

ing insects and also small vertebrates including snakes lizards and frogs

Mammals

Gray squirrels are being born Baby raccoons foxes armadillos possums

and bobcats leave dens and begin following parents Bobcats a Florida native wild cat are among the most highly specialized of

all mammalian predators The name comes from its ldquobobbedrdquo tail usually about 5 in long Sometimes called the bay lynx or

wildcat the bobcat can be recognized by its tufted triangular-shaped ears and facial tufts or ldquosideburnsrdquo It has a coat pattern of

distinct brown or black spots over the back and legs on a reddish buff or gray base color The belly is white and spotted with

black The backs of its ears are black with large white spots in the center This coloration is an effective camouflage when the

bobcat is among sun-dappled undergrowth Males weigh 20 to 30 lb and females 15 to 25 lb The bobcat can reach 23 in at the

shoulder and up to 3 ft in length

AmphibiansReptiles

Later this month young alligators and crocodiles will begin to hatch Listen for Eastern narrowmouth toads (ldquowaaardquo like a baying

sheep) after heavy rains This frog ranges in size from 78 to 1 14 inches It can be found statewide under logs and debris near

water Breeding occurs from April through October Treefrogs are laying eggs which hatch into tadpoles in about 5 days

Insects

Mosquitoes and chiggers are abundant so watch out while yoursquore camping or working in the yard Female mosquitoes feed on

blood to help their eggs develop into offspring When they bite they release saliva into the bite area Allergic reactions to the sali-

va cause the itchy bumps and swollen hives some people get after being bitten If a mosquito is carrying a virus that virus can be

transferred to humans through the mosquitorsquos saliva Mosquito-borne diseases currently of public health concern in Florida in-

clude St Louis encephalitis eastern equine encephalitis West Nile virus encephalitis and dengue

Special date in July

July 22 1982 First Florida bog frog discovered in a panhandle wetland Bog Frogs have rough dark green to brown backs

black mottled undersides yellow throats and may have light spots on the lower jaw A light brown line runs along the lateral

fold and does not reach the groin area This frog is less than 2 inches long They

will call from spring to summer with a call which sounds like a chuckle mdash a series

of low-pitched single clucking calls noticeably slower at the end of the call Florida

bog frogs are uncommon in Florida and are found only in a few acidic steams in

Walton Santa Rose and Okaloosa counties in the panhandle This species is fully

protected in Florida

httpwwwwecufleduextensionwildlife5Finfo and httpsnreufledu

pubseventswildhtm

44

THE SCOOP ON POOP by Karen H

ldquoThe fairest thing in nature

a flower still has its roots in

earth and manurerdquo -DH

Lawrence British poet nov-

elist and essayist 1885-

1930

Manure Magic As a gar-

dener and a lifelong horse-

owner Im a believer in the

benefits of manure in the garden With such a handy steady

source Ive had plenty of opportunity to see the miracle of ma-

nure in action This is why I dont listen when someone tells me

that manure isnt of much use in the garden because of its rela-

tively low NPK numbers Ive always known that theres magic in

manure in the way that it puts back into the earth what the

horse (or other animal) takes from it to sustain its life The circle

is complete when we return the manure to the soil to replenish it

and ensure future life-sustaining plant growth But since were

accustomed to thinking of fertilizers in terms of the NPK num-

bers below are some of the values for various types of manure

N P K

Chicken 11 80 50

Dairy Cow 5 5 5

Horse 15 10 15

Steer 70 30 40

Rabbit 35 14 20

Sheep 15 10 18

Now those ARE fairly paltry numbers when compared to chemi-

cal fertilizers But manure offers much more than nitrogen

phosphorus and potassium Manure contains large amounts of

organic matter so it feeds and builds the soil while it nourishes

the plants The organic matter is also valuable in assisting in

moisture-retention of soils which a big plus for our very sandy

soil Soil requires continual replenishment of its organic matter

to decompose into humus which in turn makes nutrients availa-

ble to plants Chemical fertilizers offer none of those benefits

Using Manure in the Garden Think of manure as a soil amend-

ment not a mulch Dont put raw manure directly on garden

soils If raw (non-composted) manure is applied to the soil there

is a good chance of nitrogen compounds and ammonia being

released into the soil as the manure breaks down This can burn

plant roots young plants and interfere with seed germination

Its recommended that all animal manure should be aged for at

least 6 months preferably by a hot composting method where

the pile reaches at least 150 degrees F This helps to reduce the

probability of passing dangerous pathogens on to people who

handle the manure or eat food grown with manure compost It

also has the benefit of killing weed seeds which can be very prev-

alent in some manures such as horse manure Another option (if

you dont have dogs or other crit-

ters that might delight in digging

in it) is to spread fresh manure

in the fall and turn it in to the

top 6 inches of soil a month be-

fore spring planting

According to the Old Farmers

Almanac ldquoManure creates nutri-

ent-rich moisture-retaining soil

for your plants The most common sources of manure are cows

horses sheep pigs goats and poultry

Other animal waste is generally not recommended as manure or

fertilizer todayrdquo Cornell University also recommends that

Homeowners should not use any manure from dogs cats or

other meat-eating animals since there is risk of parasites or dis-

ease organisms that can be transmitted to humans

The Farmers Almanac recommends this schedule for spreading

manure For flower gardens the best type of manure to use is

cow or horse and it should be spread in early spring In a vegeta-

ble garden (including root crops) use chicken cow or horse ma-

nure and spread it in fall or spring Acid-loving plants such as

azaleas or blueberries should receive cow or horse manure and

in the lilting words of the Almanac this should be spread in

ldquoearly fall or not at allrdquo

Here are some good tips about using manure in your garden

taken from this site httptinyurlcomnsnoqs8

1 You may be able to find a free source from a local farm horse

clinic police department that uses horses zoo etc This gives

you a great free source of greens for your compost (NOTE

This has been mentioned before but is always worth repeating if

you have access to Eglin AFB you can come out to the base sta-

bles and avail yourself of all the FREE horse manure you want)

2 All animal manures are great sources of beneficial microbes to

stimulate your compost piles This increases the compost de-

composition rate

3 Animal manures really increase internal heating in hot com-

post piles

4 All composts have lots of beneficial aerobic bacteria and fungi

growing in it for soil building and plant fertilization Animal ma-

nures are naturally high in actinomycetes as well as bacteria al-

so

5 All animal manures are rich in NPK and calcium Therefore

they usually alkaline when fresh However all mature composts

have a near neutral pH after the organic matter has been broken

down by the composting process

55

POOP contrsquod

6 If sawdust is mixed in the poop you have extra potassium in

the mix Straw and hay is rich in phosphorus also

7 All animal manures break down fast

8 Many animal manures have urine (urea) mixed in also This

is extra nitrogen for the compost

Notable quotes about manure httptinyurlcomnvzsxaz

One of my favorites (not attributed to anyone in particular) ldquoA

good laugh is like manure to a farmer - it doesnt do any good

until you spread it aroundrdquo

And another by actor Lee Marvin ldquoAh stardom They put your

name on a star in the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard and

you walk down and find a pile of dog manure on it That tells

the whole story babyrdquo

Deannarsquos herb garden Courtesy of Dick H

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Kent B

Bob B

Ann F

Stevan G

Alene O

Carol S

HAND SCRUB By Shari F

Mix together any of the following to form a nice thick

paste Here are some ingredients to try

olive oil

handful of sugar

kosher salt

1 tsp dried rosemary or other herb on hand

1-2 dried orange or lemon peels grated (or zest of fresh citrus if

you dont have dried)

2-3 drops lavender oil or any other if you have it

grated knob of bar soap

smashed up handful of almonds or other nut on hand

1 glob of honey

As with any recipe except when baking I never get caught up on

measuring Just throw it all into a canning jar and mix If it looks

too dry add a bit more olive oil Too wet add more sugar or

salt The olive oil and honey leaves your hands so soft The sug-

ar salt and bashed up almonds scrub away grime The citrus

peel and lavender oil add such a lovely scent For anyone who

knows about Arbonne products and have tried their Awaken Sea

Salt Scrub-- this homemade concoction rivals that product

hands down and you dont need to pay a fortune for it

Keep at the ready lid off near your sink I like to stick a wonton

soup spoon in mine to make sure I get a nice thick blob of

it You will find yourself reaching for this even when your hands

arent full of dirt Myles does so I know its a winner

This recipe is from Mother Earth News by Liesl and Myles Pe-

tersen

66

THE KUDZU BUG HAS ARRIVED By Linda M

ldquoThe kudzu bug is on the move and becoming a nuisancerdquo says

Jennifer Bearden Agriculture Extension Agent for Okaloosa

County Jennifer recently posted on the lsquoSolutions For Your Lifersquo

website (httpokaloosaifasufledu) that the kudzu bug has

made its way to Okaloosa County ldquoI collected a kudzu bug and

eggs from a kudzu patch in the Dorcas community They may

have a significant impact on agriculture in our county as well as

being a nuisance to residents Kudzu bugs are a type of stink bug

and can irritate eyes and mucous membranesrdquo

The kudzu bug (bean plataspid Megacopta cribraria Fab-

ricius) also known as the lablab bug or globular stink bug is a

non-native insect originally from Asia They were first found

outside of houses and surrounding vegetation in northeast Geor-

gia in 2009 and now are reported in northern Florida Georgia

South Carolina North Carolina and southern Virginia

Typically light brown to olive green in color the adults are small

(35 - 6 mm) with a rounded oblong shape and live 23 to 77 days

Their egg mass has 26 to 274 eggs and are a pale salmon color

with dark bands The eggs have an elongated shape with a trun-

cated ring of rugged projections at one end Females also deposit

dark capsules underneath the eggs filled with endosymbionts

(bacteria) that provides the subsequent generation with enough

nutrition to survive on legume hosts such as peas beans pea-

nuts and the insectsrsquo preferred host soybean This species has

five nymphal stages Each nymphal stage takes two to 56 days to

develop They have a hairy appearance and tend to be pale or-

ange olive green or light brown

Kudzu bugs can produce several generations per year colonizing

from April to July and continue to be present until October in

cooler temperatures However they may be active all year in

warmer climates overwintering on light colored buildings and

structures leaf litter or under the bark of trees to keep warm

Mostly found on soybean and kudzu in the United States When

temperatures warm the strong-flying adults emerge from over-

wintering sites and move into kudzu or wisteria where they mate

and lay their egg masses The adults and nymphs congregate in

large numbers and feed on the leaves stems flowers and pods

of the host plants The insect taps through the veins of plants to

reach the phloem using piercing sucking mouthparts As a re-

sult injury to plants likely results from nutrient and moisture

loss rather than a direct loss of biomass from removal of plant

tissue This damage can have a significant impact for soybean

producers in our area

Kudzu bugs are a nuisance pest to homeowners primarily in the

spring and fall These insects are attracted to light colored sur-

faces predominately white and yellow Like stink bugs adults

excrete an odor as a defense mechanism when disturbed and the

chemical they secrete may stain the surface of houses buildings

or vehicles Indoors when crushed the kudzu bugrsquos unpleasant

odor and stains can also be hard to remove from furniture and

carpeting When a person is exposed to the kudzu bug an aller-

gic reaction may occur resulting in staining of the skin and skin

irritation

Make sure screening is placed over possible entry points of your

home and windows and doors are tightly sealed Check to make

sure soffit ridge and gable vents are properly screened and stuff

steel wool into openings where screening cannot be used such as

around pipe penetrations

As a general rule indoor insecticide use for control of the kudzu

bug is discouraged however a pyrethroid insecticide can be

used to directly spray bugs landing on the outside of a building

The elimination of the kudzu bug relies on the physical removal

or death of kudzu plants with a herbicide so if possible the

homeowner should try to remove any nearby kudzu in the sum-

mer

For more information on identification and control go to http

edisifasufleduIN939 and wwwkudzubugorg

(Jennifer Bearden

and the sites listed

above were the

sources of infor-

mation)

77

PSOCID NYMPHS By Lynn F

Just doing a bit of scouting in the garden tonight and found a cluster of insects run-

ning across the bonsai benches and up into the pots

Plants looked healthy but whatrsquos the critter They moved too fast for the hand lens and the camera but a piece of transparent tape

caught a few

The computer microscope picture was not the

best but it showed enough to start hunting for a

small (64th inch) wingless insect with a striped

abdomen

We have a case of psocid nymphs My guess is

they are thriving on the moist sphagnum moss

we keep on our developing azaleas

This is a stage of development I had never seen

before Usually we see the tree cattle moving up

and down the landscape trees

You never know what you will find when you go

into the garden Just keep your eyes peeled

Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs

wwwwhatsthatbugcom

Microscope image Lynn F

Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs and Adults

httpokeechobeeifasufleduNews20columnsBarklicehtm

88

SIMPLE PINEAPPLE Courtesy of Shirley H

The pineapple is a member of the

bromeliad family It is extremely

rare that bromeliads produce edible

fruit The pineapple is the only

available edible bromeliad today

It is a multiple fruit One pineapple

is actually made up of dozens of

individual flowerets that grow to-

gether to form the entire fruit Each

scale on a pineapple is evidence of a

separate flower

Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked No special

way of storing them will help ripen them further Color is rela-

tively unimportant in determining ripeness Choose your pineap-

ple by smell If it smells fresh tropical and sweet it will be a

good fruit

The more scales on the pineapple the sweeter and juicier the

taste After you cut off the top you can plant it It should grow

much like a sweet potato will

This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical it also offers

many benefits to our health Pineapple is a remarkable fruit

We find it enjoyable because of its lush sweet and exotic flavor

but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available to-

day If we take a more detailed look at it we will find that pine-

apple is valuable for easing indigestion arthritis or sinusitis

The juice has an anthelmintic effect it helps get rid of intestinal

worms Lets look at how pineapple affects other conditions

Pineapple is high in manganese a mineral that is critical to de-

velopment of strong bones and connective tissue A cup of fresh

pineapple will give you nearly 75 of the recommended daily

amount

It is particularly helpful to older adults whose bones tend to

become brittle with age

Bromelain a proteolytic en-

zyme is the key to pineapples

value Proteolytic means

breaks down protein which

is why pineapple is known to

be a digestive aid

It helps the body digest pro-

teins more efficiently Brome-

lain is also considered an ef-

fective anti-inflammatory

Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily

is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis It

also produces mild pain relief

In Germany bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication

because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling

Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold

because it is high in Vitamin C Fresh pineapple is not only high

in this vitamin but because of the Bromelain it has the ability to

reduce mucous in the throat If you have a cold with a productive

cough add pineapple to your diet

It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to

cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations

Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer

sinus problems related to allergies In and of itself pineapple has

a very low risk for allergies

Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development

This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and

others who may be at risk for blood clots

An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice

It really works Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the

morning often make a difference

Its also good for a healthier mouth The fresh juice discourages

plaque growth

IFA

S

BO

OK

ST

OR

E

Insects and Related Pests of Turfgrass in Florida SP140 by Donald E Short and

Eileen A Buss 13 pages

Learn how to identify and manage the ten most common insects and related pests

that infest Florida turfgrass This newly revised edition features color photographs

showing the pests the damage they cause and how to control them

Click on the image to go to the UFIFAS Bookstore

Price $500

99

Donrsquot forget that Julyrsquos

meeting is on the 10th of

this month It will be

starting at 1030am at the

Extension Office in

Crestview The annual

Awards Ceremony will be

held immediately follow-

ing lunch

1010

Your member site

wwwocmgamembersorg

The Foundation for the

Gator Nation

An equal opportunity institution

LAST WORD By Marg S

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away

tomatoes are growing I picture a planet

where there are vigorous vines and blem-

ish free fruit This planet also has no

mockingbirds

This year I planted Amelia and Christa

Now to be fair the little seedlings were-

nrsquot the greatest in the world but after a

while they produced gorgeous plants and

even had little fruits forming I should

have taken a picturethey were deader

than a doornail shortly after that

Lucky for me I also had several heir-

loom varieties that I was trying out Ger-

man Johnson Cherokee Purple Home-

stead and several others These vines

have not been the prettiest things on the

block but they have been productive

Then we had a bunch of rain You all

know what that meanscracks in the

tomatoes Oh well they may be ugly but

they are still edible

I go out to harvest one particularly nice

looking tomato and one whole side is

gone When I say gone I mean gone

What in blazes

Squirrel damage Unlikely as the fat

furry fiends are gorging themselves on

the blackberries Rabbits Again unlikely

as the mini Peter Rabbit in my yard is

happily trimming the sweet potato vines

(I sure wish hersquod develop a taste for

chamber bitter)

I finally caught the culprit Mr Mock-

ingbird has an affinity for tomatoes I

tried hanging red ballshersquos no dummy

Avoided the fake tomatoes and honed in

on a rapidly ripening Roma Okay next

tactic a cover That worked wellfor

about 5 minutes

I finally resorted to harvesting when I

just saw color appearing and allowing the

fruit to ripen on the window sill Indoors

was ruled out upon discovering I have a

cat who appears to be in training for the

local rugby team Irsquom not keen on the

idea of a ripe tomato being swatted

around the kitchen

That left the window ledges on the patio

This worked well and the fruit ripened

nicely Irsquove done this a few times now and

had put another batch up there One

would think that with a lot of movement

near the window ledge there would be no

problem One would think that being that

close to humans would be a deterrent

HA

Mr Mockingbird was very happy to

have a comfortable place to perch while

he enjoyed the fruits of my labor When I

shooed him I clearly detected laughter as

he flew away

Now I like animals I really do I fill the

feeders I provide water I actually have a

nice spot for them to visit And I enjoy

watching them But this is taking ad-

vantage of my hospitality

Besides I really think that Mr M has

started a gang Hersquos getting all the other

birds together and extolling the virtues of

tomato juice just as slick as a snake oil

salesman

Hersquos out there now getting all the other

birds together planning out their attack

You think Irsquom imagining things I saw the

woodpecker going after a tomato and had

the young hatchlings right there Mr M

probably convinced the woodpecker that

tomatoes make your red feathers even

brighter

So that battle continues I try and get to

the tomatoes before they do Itrsquos sadso

far the birds are winning Where is that

darned hawk when you need him

Marg SmdashEditor

Shari F Karen H and

Linda MmdashCo-Editors

1010

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LAST WORD By Marg S

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away

tomatoes are growing I picture a planet

where there are vigorous vines and blem-

ish free fruit This planet also has no

mockingbirds

This year I planted Amelia and Christa

Now to be fair the little seedlings were-

nrsquot the greatest in the world but after a

while they produced gorgeous plants and

even had little fruits forming I should

have taken a picturethey were deader

than a doornail shortly after that

Lucky for me I also had several heir-

loom varieties that I was trying out Ger-

man Johnson Cherokee Purple Home-

stead and several others These vines

have not been the prettiest things on the

block but they have been productive

Then we had a bunch of rain You all

know what that meanscracks in the

tomatoes Oh well they may be ugly but

they are still edible

I go out to harvest one particularly nice

looking tomato and one whole side is

gone When I say gone I mean gone

What in blazes

Squirrel damage Unlikely as the fat

furry fiends are gorging themselves on

the blackberries Rabbits Again unlikely

as the mini Peter Rabbit in my yard is

happily trimming the sweet potato vines

(I sure wish hersquod develop a taste for

chamber bitter)

I finally caught the culprit Mr Mock-

ingbird has an affinity for tomatoes I

tried hanging red ballshersquos no dummy

Avoided the fake tomatoes and honed in

on a rapidly ripening Roma Okay next

tactic a cover That worked wellfor

about 5 minutes

I finally resorted to harvesting when I

just saw color appearing and allowing the

fruit to ripen on the window sill Indoors

was ruled out upon discovering I have a

cat who appears to be in training for the

local rugby team Irsquom not keen on the

idea of a ripe tomato being swatted

around the kitchen

That left the window ledges on the patio

This worked well and the fruit ripened

nicely Irsquove done this a few times now and

had put another batch up there One

would think that with a lot of movement

near the window ledge there would be no

problem One would think that being that

close to humans would be a deterrent

HA

Mr Mockingbird was very happy to

have a comfortable place to perch while

he enjoyed the fruits of my labor When I

shooed him I clearly detected laughter as

he flew away

Now I like animals I really do I fill the

feeders I provide water I actually have a

nice spot for them to visit And I enjoy

watching them But this is taking ad-

vantage of my hospitality

Besides I really think that Mr M has

started a gang Hersquos getting all the other

birds together and extolling the virtues of

tomato juice just as slick as a snake oil

salesman

Hersquos out there now getting all the other

birds together planning out their attack

You think Irsquom imagining things I saw the

woodpecker going after a tomato and had

the young hatchlings right there Mr M

probably convinced the woodpecker that

tomatoes make your red feathers even

brighter

So that battle continues I try and get to

the tomatoes before they do Itrsquos sadso

far the birds are winning Where is that

darned hawk when you need him

Marg SmdashEditor

Shari F Karen H and

Linda MmdashCo-Editors