November-December 2007
A Note from the President
By Sandy Shaw
Master Gardeners, an email is out and another will be sent next week, but we want you all to be aware of our November meeting at Pioneer Park. For those of you who don’t know where it is, it is between the Llano History Museum and the Antique store, on the right immediately after crossing the bridge going north on 16. (It is directly across from Whimsey’s). The Mainstreet folks, the city of Llano, and the Llano Master Gardeners have jointly made this swell little park. We are not quite finished, but close enough to celebrate!
On our regular meeting night, November 15th at 5:30-6:30, we are planning a wine/cheese/hors d’ouevres party before our meeting at 6:30. We are confirmed with the Museum, and after our libations, we will move inside to have our bylaws and officer elections. At first we sort of kept this just us, but slowly it has expanded! I’ve invited the Mainstreet committee, the Mayor, our neighbors next door and across the street, etc. (Todd is even coming from Johnson City!). So, everyone please bring a drink of choice or a snack. We’ll have a table set up for food and one nearer back with our drinks, etc..
Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t say something nice about the park. Several of you have worked on it, and your hard hours in the hot humidity and sunshine are most appreciated. Look what happened... It is a really fine effort between these three community services. I do need to say that a “park committee,” that being Dave and Inell Franks, John Collins, Roy Petty and Julie Woodall just did duty beyond the ordinary. Can we even imagine how many rocks Dave and Inell and John toted and placed, or how many hours weeding that Roy contributed? I’m just extremely proud of our efforts and the results. The good vibes and good will spreading from this park around the city of Llano are immeasurable. Good job you all, what great work! We thank you.
See everyone Thursday evening at 5:30 in the park, and for a very important meeting following.
September-October Events
November 10, 2007 - Angel Valley Organic Farm, Open Farm Day, 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m.; Jonestown FM 1431 and Park Drive, Free admission. You can buy your organic produce, plus get a chance to tour Angel Valley Organic Farm and see how things grow.
November 15, 2007 - Regular Monthly Meeting of LMG, 5:30 p.m.; At Pioneer Park. Open to members and anyone interested in becoming a Master Gardener. A christening of the park with Mike Reagor, Sarah Franklin, Frank Rowell and Vivian Horlen-all those that representing help and financial assistance to the park. Election of officers. By-laws read, slide presentation of the projects by Norm Millen. Refreshments served.
November 30 and December 1, 2007 - Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 17th Annual Holiday Shopping Event, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., December 2, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. - Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Admission Free, contact number 512-232-0100. Shop for unique and environmentally friendly gifts at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s 17th Annual shopping event. There will be special discounts, book signings, events, and demonstrations. More than 12 local artists and artisans will have exhibits.
December 8 and 9, 2007Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Luminations, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Admission Free, Winter light festival. Take a stroll in gardens illuminated by 3,000 luminarias and ornaments and locally produced food products. A Christmas tree decorating contest, ornament making workshops, letter to Santa and a special visit by Frosty the Snowman are just some of the activities. Local bands and choirs will provide live music.
December 13, 20075:30 p.m. LMG Social/Meeting at the home of Sandy Shaw, president. Bring a dessert and/or side dish.
What Should We be Doing in The Garden?
With the approach of winter, one often thinks garden time is over, but there is still a lot to be done in the garden. There are two great websites that will help you know what to do during the first cold months of late fall and early winter . They are klru/november and
klru/december. Another useful guide is Month by Month Gardening in Texas by Dale Groom and Dan Gill. For growing bulbs in Texas, refer to Garden Bulbs for the South by Scott Ogden.
During November, water everything before a freeze but don’t over water. Also during November crowded perennials should be divided and replanted. If woody ornamentals need moving, now is the best time to do so, but prepare the new site before transplanting. This is the best time to have your landscape and garden soils tested to determine soil balance needs. Replenish winter mulch if needed. And stockpile leaves for mulch and compost. Put all grass clippings and shredded leaves in the compost bins.
Check the annual roots you pull up for nematodes (look for knots on the roots). Check plants for spider mites, scale, mealy bugs before bringing them into the house for the winter. Treat if needed. This also is the time to prune long, gangly shoots on shrubs. Remove dead and damaged wood from shrubs and trees. Cut back to almost the ground, the chrysanthemums after they finish blooming.
If you want to plant in November, check out the website with the word “November” to find a list of plants suitable for planting in this area at this time. There is a list of flower plants, flower seeds, bulbs, vegetables, herbs and fruits that should be planted in November.
There are many choices of bulbs that will naturalize for us, and in many colors: amaryllis, the hardy amaryllis, or St. Joseph’s Lily; rain lily; daffodils and narcissus; various forms of iris. You may want to try the Byzantine gladiolus. It’s a perennial spring-blooming gladiolus that really brightens the garden with its magenta color.
During December, there are fewer things to do, but still important things. Continue to water well before a freeze. Fertilize winter bloomers if you have any. This is the time to transplant bare root and container grown roses, shrubs, trees, groundcovers and vines so they get established before warm weather arrives next summer. This is a good time to prepare dormant beds for spring planting, clean out dead and spent pants, compost to enrich the organic content of the soil. If you didn’t get a soil sample in November, December isn’t too late to do so. Clean you mower and trimmer engines by running them dry of gasoline, drain and change oil. Take them to the repair shop to avoid the spring rush. Clean and oil all your gardening tools before storing for the winter. Drain and roll up garden hoses that will not be used during the winter. Continue to watch for insects on your houseplants.
By checking on the website with the word “December” you will find a list of flower plants, flowers seeds, bulbs, vegetables, and fruits you can plant.
If you have specific questions about horticulture, there are two other wonderful websites to check out, Aggie Horticulture and Aggie Extension Publications. These sites can answer specific questions you may have from picking a gardening site to when and how to plant some specific plant.
Happy gardening!
How to Grow Oaks from Acorns
The acorns are falling and the wildlife are feeding under every oak. Armed with the knowledge that oaks are slow growers, but thinking about future generations, a grower could benefit by planting acorns. Planting different acorns on one’s property could increase the variety. With Oak Wilt attacking the live oaks, other varieties should be planted now.
Some oaks that do well in central Texas besides the Live Oak are Chinkapin Oak (Quercus Muhlenbergii) and the Burr Oak (Quercus macrocarpa). These two varieties are oak wilt resistant. They are large deciduous trees with moderate rate of growth. The Chinkapin grows naturally in caliche soil or clay soils. The Burr Oak is adapted to clay soils. Two more oak wilt resistant trees are the Lacey Oak or Texas Blue Oak (Quercus glancoides), and the other is the Monterrey Oak (Quercus polymorpha). The Lacey Oak is extremely drought tolerant and native to the Hill Country. It has fall colors of orange-red when the weather is just right. The Monterrey Oak is a faster growing oak. They often shoot up before developing a spread. They are native to the western reaches of the Hill country and are drought tolerant plants. They are evergreen in the Texas winters.
Oaks reproduce from their seeds. They are not too difficult to grow—just look under an oak tree at all the babies coming up in the spring or find the new ones coming up in the garden where they have been planted by squirrels. But that is not to say they are easy to grow either. Oaks are fairly promiscuous, so the acorn you plant may end up being a cross between two different oaks. Because oaks send a tap root down as deep as five feet in the firs year of growth, it is best and fastest to grow oaks “in place.”
When selecting acorns, pick swollen or plump-looking, mature acorns from healthy trees and pick them off the ground as soon as possible. If you pick up one that has started to shoot, you should still collect it. Also check for small holes. That is an indicator of insects in the acorns and they will not grow.
Put the acorns in a plastic bag with an equal amount of leaf mold or peat mix and barely dampen. Close the bag loosely and store in the refrigerator at between 32-35 degrees. Check acorns through the winter and keep them barely damp. Acorns need 1000 hours of low temperature dormancy. Plan to plant your acorns in the late April from the 15th to 20th.
Do not use garden dirt since it packs and may carry diseases. Use a good quality potting soil mixed with the same amount of milled sphagnum moss. You want porous, sponge-like soil. Take an 8 ounce Styrofoam cup and punch three or four pencil sized holes in the sides next to the bottom. Fill to the top and tap to settle the soil leaving about an inch watering space. Place the acorn horizontally, barely under the surface. Water until it comes out the bottom and place cups on a southern windowsill. Never let the soil get completely dry, always prime first and water until it drains.
In about three weeks the stalk will be five to six inches and the first set of leaves will have spread. About mid-May it is time to harden the plants off. Gradually increase exposure time to outside sun and air. Set the trees outside during the day and return them to house or garage at night.
Be careful of late frosts and remember that deer, rabbits, and ground squirrels will be more than happy to eat your tender seedlings. You may need to fence them from the sides and top to protect them from these competitors. Arrange your trays in such a way the wind won't blow over your seedlings.
Around late May you can transplant to a 16 ounce cup. Check to see if roots are curling around the bottom of the 8 ounce cups. Remember to punch drain holes and use a mix of half potting soil and half leaf mold from the forest floor or leaf compost. Settle the mix by tapping again and leave one inch watering space after transplanting the seedling. Now your trees can be kept outside all the time, but be sure to check them for drying out in sun and wind. Keep them damp. You can use a mild solution of fertilizer when watering at this stage.
With the second flush of leaves your seedlings can be transplanted into a 32 ounce, tall, food container. Check the taproot and see if it is bending around the bottom of the cup before transplanting. White and healthy-looking roots are a sign of vigor. Use the same soil mix and provide drain holes. The larger container will hold moisture longer but be sure to check it regularly.
Check for aphids and wash them off or sue a paint brush to remove them. If June bugs eat the leaves, keep plants in the garage at night until July. Warm, humid, muggy days with cool nights may spawn powdery mildew. Use a commercial fungicide. If the soil becomes too dry or if you notice leaf spots or brown margins, submerge the plant completely in water until the bubbles stop. This will leach soluble salts and fertilizer from the soil, preventing the burning of root ends which can kill the plant.
You can plant your young oaks in the fall or overwinter and plant them the following spring. To overwinter, keep them in a garage, enclosed porch or basement at temperatures between 5 to 45 degrees, with 20 to 30 degrees the best. Don't let temperatures get below zero at the root. Plants need 1000 to 15000 hours between these temperatures. Even in winter, check the moisture level and keep just barely damp.
Remember to protect young trees by caging them-even the tops if you have deer browse. Water your trees in dry weather and give them a light mulch to retain moisture and keep weeds down. Remember that oaks will eventually be big trees, so don't plant them too close to buildings, sidewalks, or driveways.
There are two great websites about growing oaks from acorns. One is Wildbirds.org and the other site Phytosphere.com is full of details about growing your own oak trees from acorns. It has all the information you need about all aspects of growing acorn trees.
Using What We Grow
Do you have visions of curling up with a good gardening book in front of the fire on a cold winter afternoon? How about having some Mint Nut Bread and hot cup of coffee to enjoy with that book? Use the pecans and mint from you garden.
MINT NUT BREAD
2 ½ cups unbleached flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cooking oil
1 cup milk
½ cup thawed apple juice concentrate
1 egg
¾ cup pecan (I use a whole cup)
1 cup chopped fresh mint (or ½ cup dried)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a large mixing bowl. In a smaller bowl, blend together the egg, oil, milk and apple juice concentrate. Make a well in the dry ingredients and gently stir in the wet ingredients . Stir in the nuts and mint.
Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 50-60 minutes. Cover with foil to prevent excessive browning midway through cooking time. Cool and slice. Serve with mint honey butter if desired. This bread freezes well.
MINT HONEY BUTTER
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
4 tablespoons chopped mint
4 tablespoons mild flavored honey
Gently fold the herb leaves into the butter. Whisk in the honey until well combined. Keep tightly covered in the refrigerator for up to one week. Also good on toast and bagels.
Home - About - Links - Site Map - Weather - Contact