dates to remember in december: december, 2017 · holiday plants are everywhere. poinsettia is the...
TRANSCRIPT
Dates to Remember in December:
December 3, Holly-Day Potluck (RSVP in VMS)
11:30A-2P, Sunday, Edith Welch
4102 Willow Bay Drive, Winter Garden
December 5, Deciduous Fruit as an Alternative to Citrus
6:30P-8P, Tuesday, OC
December 9 & 14 In Search of the Perfect Tomato
9A-10:30A, Saturday, OC
6P-7:30P, Thursday, JB
December 13, Lunch ‘n Learn, Amy Vu
MG Updates for 2018
12P-1:30P, Wednesday, OC
December 14, Webinar, Erin Alvarez “Plant Explorers”
12:45P-1:45P, Thursday, OC
Amy T. Vu
Urban Horticulture
UF/IFAS Extension
Orange County
December, 2017
Page 2: From My Side of the Fence
Page 3: What to Expect in December
Page 5: New & Revised Publications
Page 7: Holly-Day Potluck
Page 8: Dec Gardening Calendar
Page 9: Q & A
Page 11: Meet the Master Gardener
Page 14: FFL Demo Garden
Page 16: Nov. Sunday in the Garden
Page 17: MG Specials
Page 18: Annual Commitment Form
Page 21: Record of Vol. Service
Gardening Tips? Plant Swaps?
Gardening Give-a-ways? Plant Shows?
Send articles to Carol Jespersen
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity-Affirmative Action Employer
authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function
without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap or national origin. Orange County Extension Service is a Division of the
University of Florida, a department of the Orange County Health and Family Services Division.
Brazilian Red Cloak “Megaskepasma erythrochlamys”
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From My Side of the Fence
By Amy Vu, Urban Horticulture Extension Agent
and Master Gardener Coordinator
Happy December, Master Gardeners!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I hope you all have some
wonderful and relaxing plans for December. Just a
reminder that all 2017 VMS hours must be entered by
5PM on Friday, January 5, 2018 or you will be placed on
the inactive list until you complete your hours. This
includes both volunteer and continuing education
hours. I would REALLY hate to see some of you a few hours short, so please contact me
and I will work with you on making sure we complete those hours!
If you plan on continuing to become a UF/IFAS Orange County Master Gardener volunteer
for 2018, you will need to fill out the 2 documents attached to this newsletter:
1) Annual Commitment Form
2) Record of Volunteer Service
I will be sending a separate e-mail to remind you exactly what needs to be filled out in
order to be an active volunteer. This paperwork MUST be filled out before any
volunteer work can be done, so please return those to me and Jenna at
[email protected] as soon as you can.
To remain an Orange County Master Gardener Volunteer in good standing after
successful completion of their first year of service: 1. Complete a minimum of 50
volunteer hours during the second membership year. (or) 2. Complete a minimum
of 45 volunteer hours during the third membership year. (or) 3. Complete a
minimum of 40 volunteer hours during the fourth membership year (or)
4. Complete a minimum of 35 volunteer hours during the fifth and all succeeding
membership years. (AND) **Complete a minimum of 10 continuing education
hours/Gardening Education Units (GEUs) of acceptable horticultural training as
approved by the Orange County Master Gardener Coordinator during the
membership year.
The last day of 2018 Master Gardener Training will be December 12, 2017. Please
contact Cyndi Matzick at [email protected] to sign up for the potluck!
For December continuing education, we will have Lunch ‘n Learn on Wednesday,
December 13, 2017. I will be discussing some updates for next year.
Thank you Master Gardeners for all that you do! Have a Happy New Year.
-Amy Vu, Urban Horticulture Extension Agent and Master Gardener Coordinator
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What to Expect in December By Ed Thralls
With a sigh of relief, hurricane season is officially over. However, some strong winds
can occur and a homeowner should survey the landscape looking for broken or
weakened limbs in trees that may cause harm to individuals or property. Play it safe
and if in doubt, contact a Certified Arborist for a professional evaluation. For a current
list visit: http://www.treesaregood.org/ . The average high temperature will be 73° and
the average low temperature will be 53°. Of course there will be some extremes.
Rainfall average is 2.3 inches so supplemental irrigation may be needed for your water
demanding plants. This may not hold true with the current La Nina pattern that is
shaping up which usually means warmer and drier. Irrigation of turf should be reduced
to once every 10-14 days.
Holiday plants are everywhere. Poinsettia is the most favorite holiday plant and was
named after the First U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, in 1828. Over
77,000 will be sold this holiday season. The plant is not poisonous but the latex “milk”
that appears at the base of broken stems may cause a skin irritation. Red is the favorite
color. To extend the life of the plant to Valentine’s Day, keep the soil moderately moist,
fertilize with a quarter-strength liquid fertilizer, and keep the plant out of drafts. To
have the plant re-bloom next year, here is a brief timeline to help you in getting a
second year of flowering from your poinsettia: in July cut the plant back to about 2/3 the
height you desire for your holiday season; on October first, begin 14 hours of
uninterrupted darkness each night, every night, and continue this until the holidays
arrive. Each night you do not provide uninterrupted darkness roughly equals a one day
delay in getting holiday color. (Hint: cover the plant completely with a cardboard box,
black trash bag, or place in a closet to exclude light). For more information, see
Solutions For Your Life:
http://solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu/hot_topics/lawn_and_garden/poinsettias.html
Amaryllis, Cyclamen, Azaleas, Kalanchoe, Christmas cactus, and Holly (“Deck the
Halls with boughs of … “) are other holiday plants to enjoy during the festive season
ahead. Cyclamen may be difficult to continue to grow after the holidays but the other
plants should do well to see future holidays with time and care.
Christmas trees that you purchase this season may not be from this region. If it is a live
tree (in a container with roots) and not grown in this region, the lack of extended cold
season may adversely affect its long term health. So, after the holiday season, place it
for curb side pick-up and let the local solid waste recycling agencies convert it to
compost at the landfill. Cut Christmas trees that you purchase should be handled with
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care. Do not let the tree dry out and become a fire hazard. Before you buy a cut tree,
make sure the needles are tightly attached to the tree. When you get your tree home,
cut a half inch slab off the bottom to expose fresh wood and stand it up on a pail of
water. Keep the pail full of water and the tree should “drink” enough water to retain its
needles. Don’t place any additives in the water such as sugar --- the plant makes food
in its leaves (needles) and does not take up sugar as food from the water in the pail (but
ants may investigate).
Carefully inspect your holiday plants for pests and good health before you buy them
and before you bring them into your home. Scale, mites, mealybugs, and more may be
present. If you see them before you buy them, make a purchase elsewhere. If you find
them when you get home, use low toxic measures to control them because they will be
in your home, around your family members and pets. A stream of water will wash
many of them off (do this outside). Insecticidal soaps and oils should take care of the
remaining pests.
The last of the warm season vegetables, planted in September, will be harvested this
month. The average first frost date will be about December 15th. You can still plant
out leafy vegetables (lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, kale, mustard,
etc.) in the garden as they will continue to grow through March. Herbs grow well in
this cool season. Select from arugula, basil, chives, dill, fennel, mint, oregano, parsley,
rosemary, sweet marjoram and thyme. Don’t hold back water to vegetables and herbs
for best results; keep the soil moderately moist.
Replant container gardens and landscape beds with cool season flowers such as
alyssum, calendula, carnation, chrysanthemums, dianthus, dusty miller, ornamental
cabbage & kale, pansy, petunia, salvia, snapdragon, sweet pea and viola should be
considered for the planting beds.
Have a plan for protecting your cold sensitive plants, especially the tropicals.
Temperatures in the 40’s can do a lot of damage if the plants have not been acclimated
or protected. Fabric covers, row covers or cardboard boxes will help. Sometimes, a
small incandescent lamp or Christmas tree light can provided enough warmth to
protect the plants. Be sure these lights do not touch the fabric you are covering your
cold sensitive plants. Otherwise the plants may already be too severely damaged to
recover in the event of even a slight frost.
Thank you for letting me be part of your 2017. Have a joyous and safe Holiday Season.
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New and Revised Publications https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/
Florida Trees Store Carbon in Forests and Wood Products
Trees store carbon as they grow and produce wood. Carbon, and carbon storage in
particular, have become important topics as policymakers, scientists, and industry
leaders consider how to address the increasing amount of CO2 in our atmosphere.
Because it changes the composition of the atmosphere, CO2 is a leading contributor to
climate change. This sheet explains how storing carbon in living trees and in long-
lasting wood products such as lumber and furniture can reduce atmospheric CO2.
Florida’s forest and wood-product industries are worth billions of dollars. Clean water,
wildlife, and other benefits add to the value and importance of these forests.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr409
Florida Peaches: A Perfect Snack
The growing conditions in Florida have given Florida-grown peaches unique
characteristics that make them an ideal springtime snack. This document discusses the
characteristics, health benefits, purchase, and storage of Florida peaches.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc287
'Florida Beauty' Strawberry
‘Florida Beauty’ is a new strawberry cultivar released by the University of Florida and
commercialized in 2017. This document describes the characteristics, performance,
growth, and management of this cultivar. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1307
Citrus Tree Care for the Home Gardener in the HLB Era
Since the early 2000s, growing citrus has become much more challenging due to plant
disease pressure. HLB is the most devastating disease affecting Florida citrus, and
threatens the survival of the citrus industry. This document describes citrus growth and
care while managing the risk of an HLB infection. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp336
Bloomify Red and Bloomify Rose, Two Infertile Lantana camara Cultivars for
Production and Use in Florida
Lantana camara is a popular nursery and landscape plant in the United States; however,
it is listed as a Category 1 invasive species to Florida due to its ability to hybridize with
Florida’s native plant species Lantana depressa. In 2004, the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast
Research and Education Center initiated a research program to develop two highly
infertile L. camara cultivars, ‘Bloomify Red’ and ‘Bloomify Rose’. This document
discusses the production and characteristics of these cultivars.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep544
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Microirrigation for Home Landscapes
Microirrigation is a way to water plants using low pressure and low flowrates (usually
15 psi or less and 60 gph or less). Microirrigation systems can be easy to install above,
on, or below the soil or mulch in landscape beds and are inexpensive to purchase. This
fact sheet discusses types of microirrigation systems, benefits, design and installation,
and maintenance.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ae524
Irrigation Management of HLB-Affected Trees
Water is a limiting factor in Florida citrus production due to non-uniform rainfall
distribution and the low water-holding capacity of our sandy soils. Because periods of
low rainfall coincide with critical stages of citrus production, additional irrigation is
necessary to reduce the negative effects of water stress. This document covers recent
findings on water use of trees affected by citrus greening and the impact this would
have on irrigation management considerations. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss659
Canopy Management of Citrus Trees
Tree canopy and bearing volume are two important factors in fruit production and fruit
quality; generally, trees with larger canopy volumes produce more fruit than smaller-
canopy trees. Therefore, canopy management is an important aspect of citrus
production in Florida to avoid problems associated with overcrowding and excessively
tall trees. This document describes canopy management practices for citrus growers.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1303
New Featured Creatures
• Water Hyacinth Planthopper (suggested common name) Megamelus scutellaris
Berg (Insecta: Hemiptera: Delphacidae)
• Robust Crazy Ant (suggested common name) Nylanderia bourbonica (Forel)
(Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) New and Revised Publications
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Sunday in the Garden
Holly-Day Potluck
Edith Welch
December 3, 2017 11:30am-2:00pm
4102 Willow Bay Drive
Winter Garden There is no gate; parking is across from the house. There are no
houses across the street, just trees and bushes.
There will also be a Santa Gift Exchange (approx. $20)
Please use VMS to RSVP Please sign in on VMS under one of the following categories:
appetizer, main dish, salads-veggies, starches, desserts. There is also a line for noting if you are bringing a guest.
Bedding Plants: To add color to the winter garden, plant masses of petunia, pansy, and snapdragon. See: Gardening with Annuals in Florida
Bulbs: Amaryllis is a popular plant for the holiday season. Force it to bloom now or plant outdoors for spring blooms. See: Amaryllis
Herbs: Plant herbs that thrive in cool weather. Some to try are parsley, thyme, sage, dill, fennel, and cilantro. See: Herbs in the Florida Garden
Vegetables: Reliable cool season vegetables to plant this month include celery, cauliflower, lettuce, cabbage, and carrot. See: Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide
Central Florida Edition
What to Plant
Poinsettias: One of the most popular holiday plants is poinsettia. Enjoy it indoors now, protect it from cold until spring, and then plant in the garden for re-blooming next year. See: Poinsettias at a Glance Cold protection: Prepare now to protect tender plants should cold weather threaten. See: Cold Protection of Ornamental Plants Fungal disease: Continue monitoring for brown patch and large patch fungal diseases until May. Proper cultural practices are key in control. See: Brown Patch Houseplants: : Inspect regularly for pests on indoor plants. Keep in mind that plant specific temperature, light, and humidity are key to ensuring that indoor plants thrive. See: Managing Pests of Indoor Plantscapes
Soil Test: If plants did not perform as desired this year or new plantings are being planned, a soil test will reveal the specific nutrients that need to be applied. See: Soil Testing
Compost: Composting is environmentally friendly and produces a beneficial soil amendment or mulch. Fallen leaves provide the carbon ingredient needed for successful composting. See: Compost Tips for the Home Gardener Pests: While cooler weather generally means fewer pests, some populations actually increase at this time of year. Continue monitoring and treat as needed. See: Landscape Integrated Pest Management Insect Management in the Home Garden
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What to Do
What to Do Every Month
• Adjust irrigation based on rainfall. • Deadhead flowers to encourage new
blooms. • Monitor the garden for insects and
disease. • Plant trees, shrubs, and perennials and
water until established. • Mow lawns at recommended heights:
• St. Augustine & Bahia: 3-4” • Centipede: 1.5-2.0” • Dwarf St. Augustine: 2.5” • Zoysiagrass
Comments or suggestions? Dr. Sydney Park Brown
UF Resources For Gardeners • UF/IFAS Publications (EDIS)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ • Florida-Friendly Landscaping
http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/ • Solutions For Your Life
http://solutionsforyourlife.com • Gardening in a Minute Radio Program
http://gardeninginaminute.com • Florida Master Gardener Program
http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/mastergardener/
• Living Green http://livinggreen.ifas.ufl.edu/
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Questions & Answers
Q: This vine is killing off our hedge. The section that does not have it is doing
fine, but the area where we have the vine is thinning
out a lot, you can see all of the missing leaves in this
photo. Do you have any suggestions?
A: This is cat’s claw vine. Cat’s claw vine gets its
name from the 3-pronged claw-like climbing
appendages that are used to grasp onto plants or
surfaces. Cat’s claw vine is a high-climbing woody
vine that can grow up to 50 feet in length.
Cat’s claw vine is a long lived plant that grows
relatively slowly. As the plant matures, typically in its
second year, root tubers and stolons (above ground
stems) form. The first step in preventative control of cat’s claw vine is to limit
planting and removal of existing plants within the landscape. If possible, removal
should occur before seeds are produced. Care must be exercised to prevent seed
spread and dispersal during the removal process.
Continuous cutting or mowing will provide eventual control, but this process could
take several months or years to deplete the reserves of larger plants.
Current chemical controls include cutting the vines and painting the cut ends with
Round Up (glyphosate (100% solution)) herbicide. Brush-B-Gon (Triclopyr) may
provide good control as well (100% solution as a bark treatment) or 1-2% foliar spray.
Q: Our avocado tree (right), planted about 5 years ago, bore fruit this year, looked
fine a month ago, now there is not a single green leaf on it.
We were gone for a month, and this is what we found when we returned..
Any thoughts about what might have caused this, or if there is any hope for the tree?
The one on the left is a different variety of avocado- same age, also bore fruit this
summer, a few dead looking branches, but mostly ok.
A: I am sorry to hear about your avocado problem. The tree looks like it has
succumbed to Laurel Wilt disease as the leaves have dried up and are hanging down
from the limbs. There is no cure at this time for Laurel Wilt disease.
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Laurel Wilt is an exotic disease caused by a fungus.
The disease is spread by an Ambrosia Beetle. The
beetle attacks healthy trees and provides a fungus for
their young to feed on. This fungus blocks the flow
of water in the tree so the leaves wilt. It takes about
5-6 months after the beetle feeds on the Avocado tree
and is long gone by the time the symptoms show. It
is possible that the second tree is also showing early
signs of the disease.
It would be best to cut them down and remove them
since there is no cure. You may place them curb side
so they can be taken to the dump and turned into
compost. Or you may wish to contact a certified Arborist to remove your suspect
trees. To locate a list of current certified Arborists in our area, log onto
www.treesaregood.org.
Q: What is this (see photo)? I've only seen it in our backyard garden twice: about a
month ago hanging out on our sweet potato vines and again
today on our cucumber vines.
A: This is the Spotted Oleander Moth. It may be resting on
your vegetable plants as it travels about looking for Oleander
plants. Oleander is the only host plant that this moth's young
feed on so there is no control needed for this pest in the
vegetable garden.
Q: Please let me know if you have any recommendations
for fertilizer for this tree. Thanks.
A: This is an established tree in a yard full of turf
grass. As long as you are fertilizing your lawn twice a
year, there is no need for additional fertilizer for your
oak tree.
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Meet the Master Gardener
Yvonne Engwall By Marquita D Anderson
What year did you join the MG program?
2005
What is your primary gardening interest?
Natives, Pollinators and most recently Orchids.
What is your favorite plant?
It’s actually in the Orchid family…. Jewel orchid
(Ludisia discolor).
I used to think orchids were
hard to grow, but I found
out that when I located the
spot in my yard with the
right light and keep them
hydrated, they are SUPER
easy and oh so beautiful!!!!
(Unlike other orchids it is
prized for its foliage rather
than its flower. It does produce lovely little white
flowers to give it more interest than other houseplants grown only for their foliage. It
has very dark green leaves with fine white pinstripe markings
What has been your biggest garden challenge?
We live on 5 acres of Pine Flatwoods in Oviedo and boy are there deer out here.
As a single visitor or in small groups of 2 or more, the deer come out of the woods,
cruise my yard and eat whatever they want….oak leaf hydrangeas, marsh hibiscus,
climbing aster and even my elderberry.
What do you like most about the MG program?
As Master Gardeners, we have the opportunity to educate adults and children on how
to understand, care for and enjoy their yards, gardens, house plants and oh so much
more!!!
What a privilege and responsibility to be the liaisons between the citizens of our county
and the UF/IFAS Extension. I take a lot of pride and comfort in knowing that I am
empowered to represent and pass on the high standards of the University of Florida
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Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and their research based information
We can make such a difference to so many people with our ability to connect with them
through education and encouragement!!!
Other than gardening, do you have any other hobbies or interests?
I gained a new title ‘Mimi’ when my first (and only) granddaughter Ava was born 2 ½
years ago. I LOVE that Ava is a natural in the garden…...she can’t wait to get on her
little gloves and go dig a hole for a new plant !!! I enjoy sewing as well as biking and
kayaking with my husband Mark, when my health permits.
What is the biggest change you have seen in the Master Gardener Program over the
years?
The way we connect to the public through the internet and social media.
When I volunteered at Lake Apopka Birdapalooza, folks that stopped by for
conversation were most excited to use my iPad as I showed them how to access the link
solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu…...they saw how easy it was to click on ‘Ask a Agent’ and
be able to send questions/pictures and get an answer back in 24-72 hours!!!
…...wow, what a pearl of wisdom to folks with busy schedules who just want a quick
answer from a source they can trust!!!
Is there anything you would like to see us do that we don’t do now?
1. Continued encouragement/training for Master Gardeners on computer and
social media use (Facebook, Twitter, blogs etc.) to get the name UF/IFAS
Extension out to folks we are already connected to in our personal/professional
lives.
2. Wearing our UF/IFAS Extension and/or Master Gardener shirts to any and all
events we attend…..even the local things on campus such as the plant clinic
shifts and Lunch & Learns. What a super easy way to get visibility/recognition,
not only at the event we attend but anywhere else we stop that day... grocery
store, drug store, gas station etc . *perhaps a scholarship fund could provide a
subsidy to any MG who is limited by the cost of the shirt.
Where did you grow up?
I am a 4th generation Native Floridian, born in Gainesville Fl. and raised in the nearby
town of Micanopy, Fl.
Where is your favorite place to be (vacation spot, maybe)?
In a garden... Anywhere on earth! My latest favorite garden (& where I want my ashes
spread...lol) is located on the South Shore of Kauai, Hawaii where I went this past
spring to celebrate my 35th Wedding anniversary.
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Allerton Garden is a paradise transformed through time by the hands of a Hawaiian
Queen, a sugar plantation magnate, and most significantly by an artist and an architect.
Allerton Garden is a landscape architecture masterpiece named one of the ’50 Places of
a Lifetime’ by National Geographic Traveler and includes towering rainforest trees
with tall curving roots, a grove of swaying golden bamboo, a cut-flower garden,
tropical fruit trees, species of palms, ki (ti), heliconias and ginger….just to name a few.
This wonderful place also has a rich history as a Hollywood film location for many
notable movies and TV shows (the towering roots of the famous Moreton Bay fig trees
featured in blockbusters like Jurassic Park and Pirates of the Caribbean).
What was life before Master Gardeners?
I was blessed to raise 3 children who are all adults now and live in Florida.
I have enjoyed volunteer work with my local church Summit, Hospice of the Comforter
and Mothers Milk Bank of Florida. I am a Registered Nurse that retired a few years ago
after working 30 years at Florida Hospital, 15 years in cardiology and the other 15 in
Parent Education, teaching Childbirth Ed to families in the Central Florida area.
Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?
At the recent MG Conference I was challenged by speaker Carol J. Michel (who wrote
the Book: Potted and Pruned: Living a Gardening Life) to learn the ‘Top 10 Secrets to
Happiness in my Garden’ …..two of which are: Grow the plants I love and Love the
plants I can grow So I am on a mission this year to have my yard/garden bring me less
stress, less work and more joy!!!
Any parting words of wisdom?
I would like to give thanks and appreciation to the wonderful gardening mentors in my
life….that have encouraged and taught me so much throughout my life!
Family/unofficial Master Gardeners: my maternal grandfather, my paternal
grandmother, my mother and my Uncle Gerald, Friends/official Master Gardeners:
Ethel Ruskin, Carol Hoffman, Alicia Yeatman, Phyllis Stopford and Lois McNamara
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Florida Friendly Landscaping
Demonstration Garden By Phyllis Stopford
While strolling through our
downtown garden few people
realize that a plant of ancient
origin flourishes here. The
Coontie, Zamia floridana, is a
cycad (living fossil) that was
common in many parts of the
earth during the Jurassic Period.
Just imagine that.
It has a rich history and was used by Florida’s indigenous people and the European
settlers to extract an edible starch for baking bread. During World War I several mills
in Miami were in business and one mill was processing 18 tons of starch daily for
military purchase. Because of intensive collection for starch production and landscape
use, this plant is now included in Florida’s Commercially Exploited Plant List. It is
illegal to collect it from the wild but can be found at Native Plant Nurseries. For
information on local native plant
resources visit the Florida
Association of Native Plant
Nurseries website:
http://www.afnn.org/
And there is more to love about this
fern-like evergreen plant. It has a
tropical like appearance but can
survive a minimum winter
temperature of 15 degrees. It is a low
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maintenance plant with high drought tolerance which can be grown in deep shade or
full sun. What gardener wouldn’t be pleased to include this plant in their landscape to
use as a border, accent plant or groundcover growing up to 3ft tall?
Loved not only by people but it is a favorite plant for the birds and butterflies. The
seeds from the Coontie provide a food source for our mockingbirds and blue jays. It is
the sole host plant for the rare Atala Butterfly Larva. A few years ago our Downtown
Florida-Friendly garden was selected as a site to introduce the Atala Butterfly to this
area. While the butterfly did not choose to make its home in our garden a local
gardener was successful in raising it in her wooded landscape.
Master Gardeners volunteering this month in the garden were; Yvonne Engwall, Doree
Giles, Doreen Walker, Rodney Walls, and Kerri Ziel. We updated the plant labels,
cleaned the birdbath, brightened the entrance with colorful bromeliads and added the
Native Twin Flower ground cover. Check the Master Gardener VMS and join us for our
next scheduled garden day in January 2018.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/MG/MG34700.pdf
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FP/FP61700.pdf
Seaside Golden Rod Flowering Adagio Grass
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NOVEMBER Sunday In the Garden with Cyndi Matzick
at the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando’s Enrichment Garden
Sweet Potatoes running amuck! Groundbreaking experiments! Despite a foggy, cloudy
morning, it was NOT raining cats and dogs on Sunday, November 5th, when Cyndi
Matzick and The Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando hosted Sunday in the Garden.
Approximately 30 Master Gardeners and guests enjoyed an afternoon of networking...and
refreshments, of course, along with a presentation of recipes and information on what is
grown in the shelter garden (and why)...assisted by shelter dog Feta. Of course there was a
tour of the Pet Alliance Enrichment Garden, including information on its history and test
crops. Not your average Sunday in the Garden, but an interesting and educational
afternoon, followed by a tour of the shelter. Cyndi explained that the garden's planting this
year was delayed by 2-3 weeks due to Hurricane Irma.
However, in total, it has been up and running for nearly three years, and each year, besides
the traditional sweet potatoes, rosemary, mint, catnip, etc. they alternate and also
experiment with one or two new crops. This year the tests are parsnips for the pups and
valerian for the cats. It was a "pawsitively" delightful day!
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Master Gardener Specials
December Birthdays:
2nd Gloria Harris
11th Janine Rahaim
16th Barbara Wilson
26th John VonMutius Jr.
27th Jody Breaud
29th Susan Ledbetter
31th Sharon Hartmann
Contributors: Carol Jespersen
Marquita Anderson
Yvonne Engwall
Cyndi Matzick
Phyllis Stopford
Edith Welch
Ed Thralls
Amy Vu
Jenna Allen
Clinic Raffle Drawing: Anita Ballard is the lucky winner!
Future Articles:
Send articles to Carol at [email protected];
And cc: Amy and Jenna at [email protected] and
Happy Gardening!
pH News
The information presented in pH News
comes from a variety of sources, including
not only official University of Florida and
Orange County Government, but also
unofficial sources and individuals. Every
effort is made to present current and
accurate information. The Master Gardener
Coordinator edits all of the pages presented
here for grammar, spelling, and corrects or
deletes information in an article that is not
appropriate for a Master Gardener
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abide by University policies and local, state
and federal laws.
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November Statistics:
Volunteer Hours ......................... 451
Value ................................ $9,964.70
Soil Test ......................................... 4
Plant ID .......................................... 6
Insect ID ....................................... 41
Plant Care ..................................... 11
107 Mehrhof Hall PO Box 110675
Gainesville, FL 32611-0675
Phone: (352) 273-4521
Fax: (352) 392-1413
http://mastergardener.ifas.ufl.edu
Florida Master Gardener Annual Volunteer Agreement
Within the state of Florida, most counties maintain active Master Gardener programs. This being the case, a need
exists for the establishment of standards for all Florida Master Gardeners to represent their county in a manner
consistent with exemplary citizenship and leadership.
To become a certified Florida Master Gardener, one is required to attend the prescribed hours of instruction and pass
an examination administered by the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Service. This certification is restrictive in
nature and is valid only for one year and when the individual is participating in the Florida Master Gardener
Program. New certifications will be issued each year only to those individuals who make a commitment for
participation in the coming year. All Florida Master Gardener Volunteers must agree to be screened as outlined by
the program’s screening guidelines and as deemed appropriate by the County Master Gardener Coordinator. All
volunteers working with youth must successfully complete the online Youth Protection Training – YCS800 annually.
As a certified Florida Master Gardener, you will be eligible to attend educational programs such as the Florida
Master Gardener Continued Training Conference offered by the University of Florida, as well as local educational
programs and field trips provided by the County Master Gardener Coordinator. Master Gardeners are also provided
with the most recent information available on environmental horticulture issues and related topics by the County
Master Gardener Coordinator and State Extension Specialists.
An inactive UF/IFAS Extension Orange County Master Gardener Volunteer is one who is unable to commit to an
appropriate minimum number of hours annually (based upon longevity in the program) at present, but would like the
opportunity to possibly recertify him/herself in the future. The following policies apply:
1) An inactive UF/IFAS Extension Orange County Master Gardener Volunteer is one who has completed their
original commitment of a minimum of 75 hours of volunteer service in the first twelve months following the
completion of their training and a minimum of 10 continuing education hours/Gardening Education Units (GEUs),
but is not able to continue to volunteer the minimum 50 hours during the second year (or an appropriate minimum
hours annually based upon longevity in the program).
2) The inactive Master Gardener Volunteer must apply in writing or E-mail to the UF/IFAS Extension Orange County
Master Gardener Coordinator for recertification. If accepted, he or she must then take and pass a comprehensive
examination provided by the UF/IFAS Extension Orange County Master Gardener Coordinator.
3) The inactive Master Gardener Volunteer must attend or have attended 10 hours of acceptable horticultural training
as approved by UF/IFAS Extension Orange County Master Gardener Coordinator.
4) An inactive Master Gardener may re-certify at any time as long as the above criteria are met.
5) Inactive UF/IFAS Extension Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers are ineligible for applying for awards of
excellence, receiving mailings (including e-mail), attending monthly meetings, attending annual volunteer recognition
banquet, or registering for continuing training opportunities.
6) Inactive UF/IFAS Extension Orange County Master Gardener Volunteers will not have access to their volunteer
management system (VMS) account.
The UF/IFAS Extension Orange County Master Gardener Coordinator can make exceptions in unusual circumstances.
Master Gardeners are encouraged to participate in all components of the planned program (including record
keeping), be responsive to the reasonable requests of the County Master Gardener Coordinator in charge, and be
respectful of the need for personal safety and the safety of others. Whenever injuries do occur, they should be
reported to the County Master Gardener Coordinator or County Extension Director immediately.
Master Gardener Code of Conduct
Along with active participation, Master Gardeners are expected to uphold a professional demeanor. The University of
Florida/IFAS Extension Service functions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic
information and veteran status as protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act. All
Volunteers must follow all University of Florida rules regulations and policies, abide by the Florida Master Gardener
Program identity standards and all federal, state and local laws. The University of Florida/IFAS Extension Service
does not tolerate:
Possession or use of alcohol or drugs in the workplace;
Abuse or theft of public or personal property; Sexual harassment or misconduct;
Verbal abuse or failure to cooperate with other Master Gardeners, staff members, and/or the public; Possession or use of weapons or fireworks in the workplace;
Defamation of the organization;
Creating an implied or outright University or Extension Service endorsement of any product or place of
business; Misrepresentation of sources of information; Consistently and knowingly giving out incorrect information;
Use of state and/or county equipment without authorization.
Master Gardener Certification may become void when an individual ceases active participation in the program or
dismissal may result from violations described above. Illegal activities will be referred to law enforcement. Those
individuals not continuing in the program are prohibited from representing themselves as Florida Master Gardeners.
Such prohibited representations constitute a breach of the terms of the UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener
Volunteer Agreement.
The training and experience gained by participation in the Florida Master Gardener program are valuable and may
rightly be listed and featured as qualifications when seeking employment. Once employed, and while serving as a paid
employee, or if self-employed, Master Gardeners shall not display credentials or give the appearance of being a
Florida Master Gardener at the place of business.
Experienced Florida Master Gardeners may be invited to speak before various community groups. Master
Gardeners are prohibited from accepting payment, monetary or other for speaking appearances.
The title “Florida Master Gardener” is to be used only and exclusively in the University of Florida/IFAS Extension
Service Master Gardener Program in which trained and certified Florida Master Gardeners answer gardening
questions and educate local residents. Master Gardeners are expected to use the title only when doing unpaid
volunteer educational work on the behalf of the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Service. Florida Master
Gardeners shall not use the Florida Master Gardener title in any advertisements or activities not related to University
of Florida/IFAS Master Gardener activities. The Florida Master Gardener program represents a University of Florida
Extension Service public education program; Master Gardeners are prohibited from endorsing commercial products or
implying UF/IFAS endorses any product or place of business.
In making recommendations, which include the use of chemicals (i.e., insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides), Florida
Master Gardeners MUST FOLLOW PUBLISHED University of Florida/IFAS Extension recommendations. Cultural
problems that are not specially covered by University of Florida/IFAS Cooperative Extension Service
recommendations may be handled by suggesting treatments, which an experienced Master Gardener considers
appropriate. If you are making a recommendation based on personal experience, state clearly that you are speaking for
yourself and not the UF/IFAS Extension Service. Questions concerning any commercial horticultural enterprise (i.e.,
vegetable production, fruit crops production, landscape maintenance of golf course, recreational park, school grounds
or commercial nursery production) are to be referred to the Commercial Horticulture Extension Agent.
I have read and fully understand the above agreement regarding my services as a Florida Master Gardener Volunteer
and agree to abide by the terms of this agreement, including the Master Gardener Code of Conduct, UF rules and
regulations, and all federal, state and local laws. I further agree to perform at least 75 hours of service in my first year
and complete a minimum of 10 continuing education hours.
In order to remain an Orange County Master Gardener Volunteer in good standing I acknowledge to:
Complete a minimum of 50 volunteer hours during the second membership year.
Complete a minimum of 45 volunteer hours during the third membership year.
Complete a minimum of 40 volunteer hours during the fourth membership year.
Complete a minimum of 35 volunteer hours during the fifth and all succeeding membership
years.
And complete a minimum of 10 continuing education hours/Gardening Education Units (GEUs) of acceptable
horticultural training as approved by the UF/IFAS Extension Orange County Master Gardener Coordinator during the
calendar year shown in the first sentence of this “Letter of Commitment”. I will consider earning at least five (5) GEU
hours by attending the Monthly Master Gardener Lunch ‘N’ Learn meetings.
I enter into this agreement knowingly and voluntarily.
_______________________________ ______________
Agent Date
________________________________ ______________
Signature of Applicant Date
Revised 8-2017
Record of Volunteer Service
Section 1—VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
Name:
Date of Birth: Phone #: Attach proof of age if volunteer is under the age of 18
Home Address: Street City State Zip
Mailing Address (if different than above): Street City State Zip
Have you ever pleaded “nolo contendere” (no contest) to or been convicted or found guilty (even if adjudication withheld) of a first degree misdemeanor or a felony? o Yes* o No *If yes, please list the date: Offense and disposition (please explain fully):
As a volunteer, I agree to abide by all applicable rules and regulations of the University of Florida and guidelines of this unit and to fulfill the volunteer responsibililties to the best of my ability. I understand that I will receive no monetary benefits in return for the volunteer service I provide and that the university may terminate this agreement at any time without prior notice. Volunteer’s Signature: Date: As the parent/guardian of , I grant my permission for him/her to participate as an unpaid volunteer for the University of Florida. I further acknowledge that I have completed the Authorization for Treatment form on his/her behalf. Parent/guardian: Print name Signature Date
Section 2—TO BE COMPLETED BY THE SUPERVISOR
Department where volunteer will work:
Supervisor responsible for volunteer’s work: Name and title Supervisor’s phone #:
Please describe the work the volunteer is expected to perform: Volunteer’s qualifications to perform this work: Volunteer work will begin and end Volunteer’s references:
Name Relationship to volunteer Phone #
Name Relationship to volunteer Phone # Supervisor’s Signature: Date: This form should be maintained by the department in which the volunteer
will work. HRS-RVS1 03/07