- Author: Lee Miller, Master Gardener
Plants of the Season
Lee Miller, Master Gardener
SHRUB: Chinese fringe flower (Loropetalum chinense) is a shrub that blooms profusely with spidery pink flowers in early spring and more modest repeat blooms later. It is native to woodland regions of the Himalayas, China, and Japan, Flowers are lightly fragrant. It is a relative of witch hazel with fine textured, evergreen foliage and leaves that change color through the season from green to burgundy or purple. Leaves are oval and 1-2.5 inches long. It has a layered branching habit, and the height can be as large as 15 feet and spread can be up to 10 ft. depending on the variety. It does best with 6 hours of sun but can do with light afternoon shade in hot climates like ours. Prefers slightly acid soil but where I live it seems fine with a soil of pH 7. It is easy to grow and requires little maintenance and is good addition to an easy-care landscape. Loropetalum blooms on old wood so best to wait until flowers are finished in spring before pruning which consists mostly of trimming out dead and diseased branches or lightly shape as needed. Moderate watering is advised until it is established. It is drought tolerant once well established. Mulching is good practice. All parts of Loropetalum are non-toxic to pets and children.
/h3>Some Good News for Western Monarch Butterflies…maybe
By Susan Mora Loyko, Master Gardener
There was more than turkey to be thankful for last November at the 25th Annual Xerces Society's Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count held in Pacific Grove. After several years of the butterflies' declining numbers, the final count was about 250,000. The 2020 butterfly count marked an all-time low of less than 2,000 Monarchs.
Monarchs living west of the Rocky Mountain overwinter in California along the Mendocino Coast and are known to gather in giant clusters of Eucalyptus, Monterey Pines, and Monterey Cypresses, as far south as Baja.
While scientists, volunteers, and lovers of the Monarchs were thrilled in the increased butterfly numbers, there was also concern the rise could be a fluke. The migratory butterflies had a steady decline for the last several years with populations at more than 95% below those of the 1980s.
The decrease began in 2017, a year of unusual heat at critical times of the year with long periods of temperatures more than 90°, unfavorable to butterfly eggs according to Dr. Chip Taylor, Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, and Director of Monarch Watch. He said the recent rise in temperatures across the country have been linked with declining butterfly populations, particularly on the West Coast where temperatures have been rising 0.7 degrees per decade since 1975.
Monarchs also have many natural enemies. Predators such as spiders and fire ants kill and eat Monarch eggs and caterpillars. Some birds and wasps feed on the adult butterflies. Monarchs also suffer attacks from parasites, organisms living inside their bodies.
Data from the annual butterfly count, along with monitoring twice during the overwintering season, allows researchers to observe how Monarchs are using overwintering sites: some sites host Monarchs all winter, while others are transitional sites. It's important to note they continue to face threats and require more monitoring to better understand their risks and what conservation efforts are still needed to recover.
Why should we care about the health and future of the Monarch Butterflies and other pollinators? Their flight across the country (along with bees and other small insects) are essential to our ecosystem to pollinate flowers, fruits, and vegetables and ultimately our larger food systems.
Each spring, Monarchs leave overwintering sites and disperse across California first, and eventually migrate to all western states, searching for milkweed plants on which to lay their eggs. It is the only plant Monarch caterpillars can eat to develop into adults.
Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) are required important host plants for Monarch caterpillars in their life cycle. The loss of milkweed plants in the Monarch's spring and summer breeding areas across the country is believed to be a significant factor contributing to their reduced numbers in California/Mexico overwintering sites. Agricultural intensification, development of rural lands, mowing, and herbicides to control roadside vegetation also contribute to the milkweed loss.
Here are Xerces Society recommendations to help the Monarchs:
- Plant native milkweed in your backyard, workplace, or school. If outside of native milkweed's historic range, Xerces recommends planting fall, winter, and spring blooming nectar sources INSTEAD of milkweed.
- Plant a diversity of native flowers. Monarchs need nectar to provide energy to migrate, breed, and overwinter. Nectar plants can be planted anywhere.
- Support organic and GMO-free agriculture.
Avoid using pesticides. These may kill butterflies, caterpillars and plants used for nectar or breeding. - Get involved in community science projects.
- Author: Morris Lacey
Winter is finally here! Leaves have fallen or are in the process of leaving our deciduous plants naked. Sends shivers up my spine!
What's an avid gardener to do? There must be more to life than raking leaves. Growing winter crops help us stay active in the garden with the added benefit of providing vegetables and fruit for our friends and family. Pests are ready to take advantage of our weaknesses should we drop our guard and ignore their signs. Use these simple scientifically proven methods to control the following pests of the season. You may also learn of other pests you encounter this winter and learn how best to deal with them at your local Cooperative Extension via the volunteer Master Gardener program in the form of telephone hotline or website, listed at the bottom of the page.
Black Aphids are a common pest during the late fall / early winter period attacking green onions, garlic, and chives, including society chives (landscape). These aphids suck the life out of the plant while they feast up and down the leaves, reproducing parthenogenically, birthing live offspring along their way. If you catch them early you can prevent damage by washing them off with a firm stream of water. In the cooler weather you may not check your crop daily and may encounter plants covered from top to bottom with black dots as pictured above – these may require at the minimum a soapy water mix or Neem Oil mixture to salvage the crop. Be sure to follow manufacturer's directions when applying Neem Oil products. Aphids may escape and hide in the innermost leaf material surrounding the stem and bulb. If you choose to transplant these affected plants, make sure to leave the aphids behind by submerging the plant in a bucket of soapy water to suffocate the little critters. Peel back as much of the damaged leaves as possible to eliminate their hiding places. For more info, visit the UC IPM Page.
Fungus pests are hiding at this time of year. One such hidden pest waiting to rear its ugliness in the coming spring is Leaf Curl, Taphrina deformans, which typically attacks nectarines and peaches. Since the leaves are all off, now is the time to apply a preventive fungicide treatment. If timed properly, a single fall/winter treatment of copper-based fungicide can prevent leaf curl and shot hole disease! A “2-fer”!
If your trees showed symptoms last spring, be sure to treat your trees now. Don't wait to see if it disappeared by itself or your pruning removed all the infested areas. It is still there and needs treatment to stop its spread. Your fruit production will improve, and your neighbors will thank you for sharing your bounty. For more information visit the UC IPM page.
Do you recognize the plant in the picture? While this “grass” mixes well with commercial sod and can become one with your lawn, it also spreads from its wind-blown seeds and germinates heartily in the winter in our flower or vegetable gardens. Vulpia microstachys is a species of grass known by the common names Small Fescue and Small Six-weeks Grass. Native to western North America, its presence in the flower garden or crowding out your vegetables can relegate it to “pest” status. To manage this pesky grass, simply pull it out by hand or uproot it with a flat or hula hoe and remove it from the area. It can go in the compost pile if you make sure the pile heats up properly to kill off the seeds, lest you plan to spread your compost on the lawn to improve thickness of said lawn in the cooler weather. If it goes to seed before you remove it, you will get another crop with the next rain or watering. Good news – it usually only lives 6 weeks.
Visit http://sjmastergardeners.ucanr.edu or call us at 209-953-6112 with your questions regarding specific issues you may encounter in the pursuit of gardening enjoyment.
- Author: Julie Hyske
If you're like me, you'll be serving up soup all winter long. These comforting soups are perfect for those long, chilly nights spent at home. Paired with a crusty loaf of bread and a salad filled with seasonal greens, dinner is done! The cheesy cauliflower soup is a quick fix and features another way to serve this all-star winter vegetable. Best part is you decide whether you prefer a smooth puree or prefer to leave it chunky country style.
Your new go-to tomato soup is loaded with golden onions and mini pasta that delivers a five-star rating. The best part is the grilled cheese croutons for a meal to remember.
Finally, the spicy black bean soup packs a punch. This vegan soup loads up on beans, veggies, and rice to fill up your crew. Garnish with sour cream, tortilla chips, avocado and cilantro; what a beautiful presentation. You decide which of these offerings becomes your new favorite bowl of comfort!
Ingredients
3 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
2 carrots julienned and cut into 1-inch strips (matchsticks)
2 shallots minced
4 cloves garlic minced
3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
4 c. low-sodium chicken broth
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. ground black pepper
¼ tsp. paprika
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
1 large head cauliflower or 2 small/medium heads, cut into florets
¾ cup heavy cream
1 cup grated cheddar or Colby Jack cheese
In a large stockpot set over medium-low heat, add the butter. Once melted, add the celery and sauté for 3 minutes. Then add the carrot, shallot and garlic. Sauté for two minutes. Add the flour. Whisk the flour until it turns golden brown, taking care not to burn. Gradually pour in the chicken broth, whisking continuously until combined. Turn heat up to medium and bring to a simmer. Add the salt, garlic powder, pepper, paprika and cayenne pepper. Add the cauliflower, allow the soup to gently boil for 15 minutes, then remove 2 cups and puree in a food processor or blender until smooth and return the mixture to the soup. If you prefer a puree, use an immersion blender directly to the pot until silky smooth. Pour in the cream and continue to gently simmer for an additional 10 minutes, then add the cheese and whisk to combine. Remove from the heat and serve.
Serves 4-6
Ingredients
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium sweet onions, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
½ cup Acini di Pepe pasta or orzo
½ cup heavy cream
In a large pot, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until golden brown. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Stir in the chicken stock, tomatoes and salt and pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, add in the tiny pasta and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the cream, return the soup to a very gentle simmer and cook for another 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Turn off heat, cover the pot, and let rest for about 10 minutes (this will allow the pasta to plump up a bit more.)
Serves 6
Grilled Cheese Croutons
Place the cheese between the bread and butter the outsides. Put the bread, butter-side down, on preheated pan. Grill until golden, flip and grill the other side. Let cool slightly, then cut into cubes with a serrated knife and float in the soup.
Ingredients
SOUP
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 red onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 jalapeno, ribs and seeds remove, minced
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. chiles in adobo
1 tbsp. cumin
½ tsp. garlic powder
3 (15 oz.) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15 oz.) can corn, drained
1 (15 oz.) can fire roasted diced tomatoes
3 cup V8 (or other brand vegetable juice)
32 oz. vegetable broth
1 cup uncooked rice
1 tbsp. sugar
Juice of 1 lime
Kosher salt
Fresh cracked pepper
GARNISH
Tortilla chips
Sliced avocado
Sour cream
Fresh chopped cilantro
Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, green pepper, and a large pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently for 4-5 minutes. Add jalapeno and garlic to the pot and cook for another minute, stirring frequently. Add chiles in adobo, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, black beans, corn, tomatoes, vegetable juice, vegetable broth and rice. Stir everything together and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes or until the rice is cooked through. Be sure to stir every couple minutes to avoid sticking. Stir in sugar along with juice of 1 lime. Season to taste with salt and pepper and garnish as you like.
Serves 8
/h4>- Author: Cheryl Carmichael
While researching the horticultural term “Fasciation” for our winter blog, Master Gardener Cheryl Carmichael came across the following article on the same subject posted to the Wisconsin Master Gardener website by Susan Mahr, University of Wisconsin – Madison in March 2011. Rather than re-write the article, we are reposting it here for our San Joaquin readers.
Every once in a while, the normal growth pattern of a plant goes awry, producing an interesting “mistake” that can be attractive and ornamental, or ugly, bizarre, or humorous. This physiological disorder, called fasciation, can occur in almost any plant part, but is most noticeable in the stems or in fluorescence. In a normal plant, growth in the apical meristem occurs at a single point, producing essentially cylindrical growth. Fasciation causes an elongation of the apical meristem so that flattened, ribbon-like growth is produced instead. This abnormal activity in the growing tip often produces very flattened stems with a fan-like enlargement on the end, leading to another descriptive term for this condition of “crested.” It may appear like several stems have been fused so that the stem looks like a wide, ribbed ribbon (fasciation comes from the Latin word fascia which means “a band” and refers to anything which resembles a wide band in shape); stems may be bent or coiled in abnormal directions; numerous growing points may develop to produce a witches'-broom effect; flowers and leaves may appear at odd angles to the stems and the leaves growing from distorted stems are usually smaller and more numerous than normal; or flower heads may be elongated, deformed, or misshapen with more flowers than normal. There is also a much rarer type, ring fasciation, with a ring-shaped growing point, which produces a hollow shoot.
Although this condition is not common, it has been recorded in hundreds of different plant species, including ferns,
woody plants, herbaceous annuals and perennials, and fruits and vegetables. Most coniferous and broad-leaved trees and shrubs can bear fasciated branches, but some are far more susceptible than others to malformations. It is most common in the plant families Cactaceae, Compositae, Leguminosae, Onagraceae and Rosaceae, and among species that have indeterminate growth.
Certain fasciated plants are prized for their unusual appearance,
particularly the undulating folds of growth on cactus plants, where the growth may eventually become convoluted, somewhat like a brain. In some cases, the changes are so dramatic that the resulting cactus plant loses almost all resemblance to the original species. Fasciated specimens of cactus and other succulents with their unusual forms – which can often be perpetuated by vegetative propagation – are highly sought by collectors. Some plants seem to develop this condition more readily than others, suggesting a genetic tendency. Many of the ones perpetuated by vegetative propagation become cultivars with descriptive names such as ‘Monstrosa,' ‘Cristata' or ‘Tortulosa.'
Japanese fantail willow (Salix sachalinensis ‘Sekka') is a clone with fasciated stems propagated from cuttings. The “cockscomb” cultivars of celosia (Celosia argentea var. cristata) are grown especially for their dependably fasciated flower heads, a trait that is passed on in the seeds. And some dwarf conifers with abnormally dense stems or odd branching patterns are fasciated plants.
identified two genes in Arabadopsis (the lab rat of plant research) that
cause fasciation when mutated. Some plants may inherit the trait, while in others the condition is not stable and affected plants may revert to normal growth from a fascinated growing point. While fasciation affects the plant's appearance, it has little effect on the health of the plant and affected plants have the same cultural requirements as normal plants.
I have seen several instances of fasciation in dandelion in my yard, as well as in Hosta, Sempervivum, and ‘Romanesco' broccoli. Keep an eye out in your own yard for the unexpected surprise of these random, fascinating oddities!
Additional Information:
Fasciation: Fascinating distortions of the plant world – Colorado State University Extension
Fasciation – in an old (1903) volume of The Ohio Naturalist