SPIDER LILIES. by Dawn Jordan

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1 SPIDER LILIES by Dawn Jordan They shoot up silently after the last good rain of summer; tiny earthen stems go unnoticed in the landscape until lacy red petals and bouncy stamen pop open to welcome Fall. Caleb calls these his special birthday present from God, and these beauties delight our souls with the gift of their presence every year at this time. They are our family s absolute favorite flower- Spider Lilies! Lycoris radiata, the common red spider lily (amaryllis family), is a poisonous bulbous perennial originally from China, Korea, and Nepal, and has a sordid and not so lovely history. This bulb, later introduced to Japan, was considered a symbol of death, called devil s flower or corpse flower, and Buddhists in the Far East gave honor to the dead by planting them on graves. Often these bulbs were used around rice paddies and homes to deter pests like mice and deer, and they finally made their way to the United States when Japanese ports were opened for trade in The first three documented spider lily bulbs were brought to the U.S. by Captain William Roberts, and given to his niece as a gift. These bulbs have made their way across the South, becoming a naturalized favorite from North Carolina to Texas, but typically do not fare well from Missouri northward. Planted and forgotten, these lilies are best grown in well-drained soil with full sun and/ or part shade. They flower in early autumn, with foliage appearing through the winter months and spring. As the bulbs go dormant in late spring, divide or transplant them, or just leave them alone to reproduce more clusters of delightful blooms. Regardless of its tainted, sordid history, the red spider lily is a favorite of most Southerners. We welcome its arrival, knowing that cooler weather and harvest are near. 1 Spider Lilies 2-3 Loud & Proud 3 Elections Inside the Gardener s Scoop 4-6 Rose Rosette Disease 7 Graduates 8 Plant and Bulb Sale 9 Seminar Poster 10 Calendar and Hours Gardener s Scoop October 2018 Page 1

2 LOUD & PROUD by Midge Willis This is the next year we always talk about when we have some sort of problem in our gardening adventure. We say, "Next year I'm going to do things differently". Most of the time we do change things in the new year and we do get better as the years pass. As each year brings new problems, new solutions make us get better and better as gardeners. Well that year just passed and except for the few winter vegetables some of us planted we are going to be moving a lot slower in the garden for a while. This is the time for making plans but you also need to pat yourself on the back for the great job you did this past year. Admit it, you know you were better this year than the year before. This next year, the year of 2019, we need to try and tell as many people as possible about the Master Gardener program. There are many people who do not have an inkling as to what we do. Most of them think we are just another garden club that deals with a few flowers and nothing else, then their eyes glaze over thinking we are more of the same old thing. Most of them do not realize we spend most of our time with our rear ends in the air while we pull weeds or plant annuals all around our parish. stand still long enough to listen, tell them you are a Master Gardener and watch their expression change. If they have heard of us they will think you are some sort of Garden Guru that knows everything. If they have not heard of us this is the perfect opportunity to tell them what we are all about. You can let them know for sure that we do not claim to know everything but we know the right people and at least one of those people will have answers for most of their problems. Then go on to explain what we do. They are always amazed at the work we do and some even promise to join us.one day. We need to get our names out there and in a positive manner. The name Master Gardener should be a household word, spoken of often and with lots of pride. The name Master Gardener should be recognized state wide as a group of people that are knowledgeable and willing to help others. Master Gardeners are a group of hard working people that care about our world and in particular this parish in Louisiana. Brag on us, show pictures from your smart phones of our successes, invite them to take the course. Let them know who we are and what we do; In your day to day conversations, with people that will continued on page 3 Gardener s Scoop October 2018 Page 2

3 you have a name tag that gives you full bragging rights. If you only bring one new student to the classroom you have accomplished something. Be proud of your Master Gardener status, tell the world about us so that when we do mention our Assoc. to someone they will say, "Yes, I have heard of the Master Gardeners and I know they are a great group of hardworking people." If you tell 100 people over the course of 1 year, multiply that times the number of people we have in this Assoc., just think of how many people will know about us the next time we mention our name. This is the time to look back over the past year at things you have achieved. To all Master Gardeners everywhere, be sure to give yourself a good pat on the back. Look at the things you have accomplished, know you are a part of something that makes a huge difference in this world. Be generous with praise for yourself and brag often. Be loud and proud. You did good! Last but not at all least; we all need to make sure we are a part of at least one or more of the many projects this Master Gardener Assoc. is involved in. It takes the whole team, each one pulling his or her weight, to make this the successful Assoc. we all want it to be. We are all expected to contribute in some way to this Assoc. We are not Master Gardeners in name only, we are Master Gardeners in actions and deeds, accomplishing things in our parish, one weed at a time, and one plant at a time, we are getting things done. Which projects are you involved in? Everybody can do something, what's your specialty? Fall Bulb and Plant Sale is Saturday, October 20th. Remember to invite your friends and post on Facebook. Election Time Well, it is that time of the year for board member elections. Elections will be held at the next general membership meeting on October 9, 2018 at 6:30. Nominations were opened at our last monthly general membership meeting and remained open through September 18th. The nominations are as follows: President Lisa Richardson Vice President Bryan Babb, incumbent and Tony Brinkmeier Secretary Dawn Jordan Treasurer Helen Hotard Historian Cindy Jolly Recorder Linda Tubb, Incumbent and Christina Hawkins There are no members-at-large offices being vacated this year. Members-at-large are three year terms that are staggered so that those seats do not all rotate off at the same time. Members in good standing are the only ones that can vote in the election and must be present at the meeting to cast your vote. So please, mark this date on your calendar and come cast your vote. Lisa Richardson, President Gardener s Scoop October 2018 Page 3

4 Rose Rosette Disease: ONE GARDENER S TALE OF WOE & RECOVERY by Rose Lee Few would argue that the rose is one of the most universally beloved of all flowers. The undisputed beauty created as each rosebud blossoms into a unique flower is a primary reason for this flower s popular appeal. However, in addition to its beauty and aromatic fragrance, the flower s hardiness is also a major contributor to its popularity. While one single rose is lovely on its own, one or more flower beds of healthy, fragrant rosebushes can serve as both the foundation and the centerpiece of a beautiful landscape through multiple seasons each year. Until recently, with proper planting, care and maintenance, rosebushes could be expected to thrive for many years in our landscapes. However, over the last year, the health and longevity of roses have been severely jeopardized by a condition identified as Rose Rosette Disease, a mitetransmitted virus which causes roses to grow strangely deformed stems, leaves and flowers (LSU AgCenter s Plant Diagnostic Center Rose Rosette Disease Fact Sheet). This disease was first brought to my attention back in June of 2017 by my best friend and fellow gardener, Mona, who resides in Mansfield, TX. When she first contacted me to share her concerns and seek my advice, regretfully, I was unable to share much useful information. Consequently, she extended her research to more reputable sources. Ultimately, she discovered that there was truly no cure for what ailed her plants and that her only recourse was to have her husband remove all the beautiful Knock Out roses from her flower beds and replant other shrubs known for their hardiness in her area. This is her tale of woe and acceptance, along with her hopes and plans for a healthy new garden bed. For over 15 years, Mona had nourished, groomed and otherwise cared for her beautiful roses. Until this past year, her reward had always been fragrant, long-stemmed, full blooms, which she frequently cut to adorn counters and tabletops inside her home. Whenever I would visit her during the growing season, I would always update my phone s screensaver with a new photo of one of her beautiful rose buds not only as a symbol of my name, but also as a fond memory of my most recent visit to her home and the warm hospitality I always receive during my visits. Now, more than ever, I am so thankful that I was able to capture her rose garden s seemingly timeless beauty before the onset of this debilitating plant disease. According to Mona, her first indication that something was awry with her roses became evident in late spring, when she observed heavy, leggy stems with long thorns and small buds on the plants. As time passed, she noticed thick, reddish stems with very long thorns and very small, drooping buds all characteristics of Witch s Broom in roses. Eventually, the plants stopped developing altogether. Finding little help from our conversation, Mona, continued her research to identify the source of her plants symptoms. Meanwhile, she happened to hear a local news segment identifying the culprit that was ravaging roses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area at that time: Rose Rosette Disease. She eventually traced the source of her plants disease to two new Knock Out rosebushes she had purchased and planted during the previous growing season, both of which had failed to thrive. Once the diagnosis became clear, Mona and her husband, Guy, regretfully, cut down the diseaseravaged plants, amended the soil with nutrients and fertilizers; then, replanted the area with crape myrtles, azaleas and gardenias. Although the extremely hot spring and summer weather conditions of 2018 did not bode well for her new plants (she and her husband frequently travel because of his job), most of the new plantings did manage to survive the extreme heat this year. Only time will tell if the recreated flower bed will survive for the long term. Fingers crossed, they will. continued on page 5 Gardener s Scoop October 2018 Page 4

5 Fragrant rosebushes can serve as both the foundation and the centerpiece of a beautiful landscape. Until this past year, the rosebushes in this flower bed had consistently yielded fragrant, longstemmed, full blooms, which were frequently cut to adorn inside counters and tabletops. continued on page 6 Master Gardener Officers President Lisa Richardson Vice-President Bryan Babb Secretary Virginia Lee Treasurer Helen Hotard Historian (none) Recorder Linda Tubbs Members-At-Large Ken Grant, Ken Kelley, Joyce Marlette Gardener s Scoop October 2018 Page 5

6 Though this picture was taken early in the growing season, the roses in this flower bed exemplify symptoms of Rose Rosette Disease: Witch s Broom, excessive thorn production on infected canes, and abnormally thickened new canes, as described on the LSU AgCenter s Plant Diagnostic Center Rose Rosette Disease Fact Sheet. Once the rosebushes in this garden bed were confirmed positive for Rose Rosette Disease, the infected plants were destroyed and the area was cleared in preparation for soil amendments and future planting. Gardener s Scoop October 2018 Page 6

7 2018 Master Gardener Graduates Front Row L to R: Kay Kelly, Rose Riles, Billy Riles, Johnette Mintz, Cindy Jolly, JoAnn Alley, and Kerry Heafner, NE Region Master Gardener Coordinator. Back Row L to R: Gail Hamby, Connie Carter-McNeil, Christina Hawkins, Wanda Kelley, and Tony Brinkmeier. Picture to right: Ross Slacks and Kerry Heafner. Gardener s Scoop October 2018 Page 7

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9 THE NORTHEAST LOUISIANA MASTER GARDENERS PROUDLY PRESENT featuring John Coykendall 9th Annual JANUARY GARDENING SEMINAR AND SEED SWAP January 19, :30AM-1:30PM West Monroe Convention Center Registration fee $20 (pre-registration or at the door) LARRY STEPHENSON JOHN COYKENDALL The Apple Hunters! KEYNOTE SPEAKER Heirloom Seeds and Stories from South Louisiana DR. ALLEN OWINGS Easy Seeding: Ornamentals to Greaux! The LSU AgCenter and LSU provide equal opportunities in programs and employment. Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the AgCenter will make reasonable accommodations to enable persons with disabilities to perform essential duties of their positions and to make program services available to all. For more information call the LSU AgCenter AM - 4:30PM Gardener s Scoop October 2018 Page 9

10 Upcoming Activities MG Meeting 6:30PM Fall Celebration at Black Bayou 10-2 Fall Bulb & Plant Sale 9AM-3PM Haunted Nature Trail at Black Bayou 6:30PM Boo at the Zoo! 10AM-2PM Newsletter submission deadline For lots of other events going on in our area, go to REMINDERS Volunteer Service Hours As of October 7, Volunteer Service Hours 254 Continuing Education Hours 4,039 Facebook Page Likes and 4,082 Following This time last year: 1436 Volunteer Service Hours 207 Continuing Education Hours Do not forget to record your hours! The next Master Gardener meeting is Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at the LSU AgCenter. An educational program of the LSU AgCenter The Louisiana Master Gardener Program is a service and educational activity offered by the LSU AgCenter. The program is designed to recruit and train volunteers to help meet educational needs of home gardeners while providing an enjoyable and worthwhile service experience for volunteers. Contact: LSU AgCenter 704 Cypress Street, West Monroe, LA (318) Gardener s Scoop October 2018 Page 10