THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605030086
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G7 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING REMINDERS
SOURCE: Robert Stiffler
LENGTH: Long : 121 lines
NATIONAL HERB WEEK begins Monday, and the official plant for the weeklong celebration is Monarda. ``Many people will recognize the flavor of Monarda, or Bee Balm as many people call it, in tea, or recognize the plant as a valuable landscape addition,'' said local herb week chairperson Jeanne Pettersen. ``Few realize its usefulness as a seasoning herb in the kitchen or as an attracter for hummingbirds and butterflies in the garden.'' Monarda is available in most garden centers. HELP FOR TROPICAL GARDENERS
If you're into tropical gardening, indoors or out, a new book you'll want is ``Tropical Gardening'' by David Bar-Zvi, chief horticuluralist at Miami's Fairchild Tropical Garden (Pantheon Books, $25 soft-cover). It's another in The American Garden Guide series, written by authorities at botanical gardens.
There are few books on tropical plants, so if you're into that kind of gardening, you'll appreciate that information is organized so all material about a plant is in the same place. Any bookstore can order it. LIMIT LACEBUG DAMAGE
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden newsletter reports that entomologists at the University of Maryland say a good strategy for limiting lacebug damage should include shade and promotion of natural enemies. Water-stressed azaleas are susceptible to lacebug damage, so be sure to use mulch to conserve water and irrigate frequently. Planting azaleas near a variety of plants provides good refuge for natural enemies. KEEP DEER AWAY
``Bobbex'' is a spray that is applied to the leaves to keep deer away from plants because of its taste and odor. It is also supposed to stimulate plant growth. For information, contact Bobbex Inc., 52 Hattertown Road, Newtown, Conn. 06470. Call (203) 426-9695. LIFE-LIKE OWL
If you believe owls will keep away pigeons, snakes and other undesirable varmints , there is a fake owl on the market now that moves. The Look-Alive owl moves on a ball-bearing track and responds to ``the faintest breeze.'' It requires no batteries. For information, write Rice Lake Products, 100 27th St. N.E., Minot, N.D. 58701. EPSOM SALTS FOR ROSES
Members of the American Rose Society in Portland, Ore., where there is one of the most beautiful rose gardens in the world, report excellent results from using 1 tablespoon of Epsom salts around each rose once a month. Cultivate lightly afterward and water well. The plants had higher growth rate, increased basal breaks, stronger stems and improved color and foliage. Epsom salts are recommended for use on magnesium deficient soils by manufacturer Dow Chemical Co. Such soils exist along the Eastern seaboard, the Southeast and the Pacific Northwest. KEEP COOL IN THE GARDEN
Hot weather has arrived and one of the best ways to garden is with Cool Clothes from Green Thumb Consultants. They sell neck wraps, caps, etc., that keep you cool while gardening. Phone 496-9050 or fax 496-9061 for a free catalog describing Cool Clothes, wrist supports and other horticultural health accessories. WILDFLOWER SYMPOSIUM
The 13th annual Spring Wildflower Symposium will be held at Wintergreen Resort on Friday, Saturday and next Sunday. More than a dozen wildflower experts will speak or conduct tours. For information, call (804) 325-8172. Registration is $75 per person. For hotel reservations, call (800) 325-2200. HORTICULTURE COURSES
The Masters in Horticulture graduate program at the Hampton Roads Research Center has announced its summer and fall course on Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The first session, May 21 through June 25, will be ``Writing for Horticultural Publications,'' to be taught by Bonnie Appleton, author of four books and more than 500 newspaper and magazine articles. The second session begins July 2 and is tentatively scheduled to be taught by meteorologist Duane Harding. A fall course begins Aug. 27 on ``Nutrition of Horticultural Crops.'' Call 363-3906. HIBISCUS SEEDS AVAILABLE
Don and Elaine Proffit will share seeds of Texas hibiscus, if you're willing to send them a stamped, addressed envelope. The seeds are from an original plant from a friend in Texas. The plant is easy to grow, likes full sun and is beautiful as a backdrop in any garden, often reaching 8 feet in height. Write to the Proffits at 4753 Thoroughgood Drive, Virginia Beach, Va. 23455. START SPRAYING ROSES
It's time to spray roses for the first time to prevent black spot. It causes leaves to turn yellow and fall off, robbing the plant of its food-manufacturing source. Plants become weak and thin and few flowers are produced.
To control black spot, Louisiana State University experts say you must spray every seven to 10 days with a fungicide. Be sure to spray the soil around your roses, because black spot can survive winter in mulch. Most gardeners use Funginex.
Early insect problems include aphids that suck plant sap and reduce vigor of the plants. To eliminate them, spray with malathion, Orthene or a soap spray. Leaf-eating insects and caterpillars can be controlled with Sevin, Orthene or an organic spray.
The university recommends you make sure your spray is systemic. That means it is taken up in the plants veins and roots to provide longer control of most rose insects. TREE IDENTIFIED
A gardener at the Flowermart at the Virginia Beach Pavilion on April 11 asked me to identify a tree, which I wasn't able to do at that time. Your tree is Manchurian cherry (Prunus Tomentosa), and Virginia Tech experts say the fruit makes good jelly. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Now's the time to apply Epsom salts and start spraying for healthy
roses.
by CNB