European Pine Sawfly

European Pine Sawfly Larvae
Neodiprion sertifer

What they are not... Although these destructive larvae appear to be caterpillars, they are not; therefore, not controlled by the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) we normally reach for when halting such damage. Neither are they true flies. The adult phase are actually a type of non-stinging wasp. Why "sawfly?" The female uses her saw-like ovipositor to slit the pine needle edges, depositing one egg at a time.
What they are... Destructive, with voracious appetites! They fed in clusters of about 30 and when disturbed, they rear up, as one. It's as if the branch were alive and is most likely meant to frighten away predators (this has startled many humans, as well - myself included). Mid-May to early June is when we see typically find them feeding on Scotch, mugho, red, jack and most species of two-needled pines. (Occasionally feed on spruce, that may be adjacent to pines.) They are pests of the eastern and southern U.S. Once native to North America, they migrated to North Asia and Eurasia, via the Bering land bridge and somewhere around 1925 made their way back to New Jersey, then onto Ontario in 1939.
As larvae hatch, they immediately begin feeding on the needle which housed the egg. When this is gone, they move to adjacent needles. This explains their feeding on mature needles of the previous season, leaving the unfurled candles, or this year's new growth, uneaten (photo, above). Birds are nor serious predators - not serious enough to offer much control - evidently that scare tactic mentioned above, works pretty well! Parasitic wasps and naturally-occurring viruses provide some control in high density populations, in the wild.

The larvae go through 4 (for males) or 5 (for females) molts, before spinning cocoons on branches or in the leaf litter and fras, beneath the pine. Adults emerge in early fall, mate and lay eggs.

Control: Horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps are effective controls when larvae are 1/8-1/4" long. Pyrethrin or a pyrethrin/rotenone spray will prove effective in controlling older larvae. Imidacloprid (as in Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub) is another control option. Spinosad and Neem Oil (K+Neem, etc.) are also effective. Pines under siege, quickly become thin and unsightly and are weakened by such attack. Control the pests now, feed the plants to increase vigor and look for the tiny hatchlings, as early as mid-April... after 2-3 years of vigilance and control (killing them before they can mature and lay eggs), you should get past the problem... just don't let your guard down - it always pays to be a vigilant gardener!


Photos: ©CBI 2008
©Deb Lambert 2008

"An Open Letter to May"

An Open Letter to May
By Deb Lambert

Fragrance my world with lily-of-the-valley,
as you proffer the sweet purple violets of spring.
You set aside days that coax windows open and lead
peonies to the brink of bloom. And I thank you for the
sweet, unexpected courting song of the catbird, wooing
his prospective mate.

Oh, we may detect a glimmer of March’s indifference
as you, in a fit of pique, withhold your innate generosity.
We are quite forgiving of such fickleness, along with your
torrential downpours, that chill us to the bone. Slicker-clad
gardeners, dandelions and daffodils are the yellow sunshine
of your gloomy days.

But, how we rejoice when you part the clouds and allow
the sun to warm our bones and the chilled, wet earth. You
unbutton the lilac buds and loosen the winter restraints of
mayflower viburnums... their perfume sends us into paroxysms
of delight.

You have been nothing short of extraordinary, as trees and
shrubs respond to your persuasion. You wheedled and
cajoled the swollen buds, until they fairly stepped on each
other’s toes, in a breathtaking succession of blooms.

We drink in your diversity... from marsh marigold, lady’s slippers
and fiddlehead ferns, to poppies, iris and bleeding hearts.

You fling yourself across our garden beds, warming the deep,
rich loam. You chase away the last vestiges of frost and squeeze
April’s lavish moisture from our soils. You buoy us up, until we
proceed with confidence, to the cultivation of tropical delights.

Ignite our enthusiasm... spur us on to produce our own food... to
revel in the ostentatiousness of summer annuals and roses.

Just as April’s showers washed away any doubt of winter’s
departure, you reaffirm the inevitability of summer, guiding
us to the fullness of June.


©Deb Lambert 2008

Tranquility

A tranquil conclusion to our Memorial Day weekend...

Photos: ©CBI 2008

©Deb Lambert 2008

Seeking Peace at Day's End

Seeking Peace at Day's End
By Deb Lambert

On the glassy calm of a May evening
Earnest fishermen ply their rods
Engaging in companionable silence
Awaiting the reward of patience
Seeking sustenance from the briny depths

A silhouetted tableau floating on a bay
Set ablaze by the western sky
From the banks of a craggy shore
The spectators are silent and reflective
Seeking peace at day's end

Photos: ©CBI 2008... special thank you to Steve Calef for these magnificent views.
©Deb Lambert 2008

Poppies and Memorial Day

Although Flanders Field poppies (Papaver rhoeas) are brilliant red, the following sequence reminded me of that traditional, somber poem... especially as we approach another Memorial Day. Please join me, in taking a moment to reflect.....

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Photos: ©CBI 2008
For the story behind this poem, visit the Arlington National Cemetery website.

For an original Memorial Day poem on my "Waltzes with Words" blog, click on "Long, Orderly Rows"
©Deb Lambert 2008

Mulch Mounds, Post-Mortums and a Soapbox

Topic: What follows, is a discussion of the all too common practice of an over-application of mulch, usually shredded bark, as well as faulty application techniques.

My Rant: This is an unashamed, full-blown rant against an on-going horticultural problem. This is NOT meant to alienate or disenfranchise fellow home gardeners or true professional gardeners (for most of whom this is widely-known, repetitive information). In fact, it is my hope that new gardeners, mistakenly subscribing to this erroneous practice, will change their modus operandi.

After pulling out my virtual soapbox, for the past twenty years (with my radio & TV programs, a newspaper column, horticultural classes, lectures, etc. at my disposal, I have taken every opportunity to "spread the word" - as have so many others), I see little, if any, improvement. In fact, this year seems worse than usual... the mounds are higher and even more widespread... homes, malls, storefronts, professional buildings, parks and even some street plantings are proudly exhibiting these gravity-defying mulch mounds some, extending 1-2' high up the trunks of trees, both young and old. So, many city and town municipalities are joining in this practice, as well, often with devastating results to the plants they seek to showcase and protect.

Benefits of Mulch: Shredded bark, bark chips, finished compost, peat and buckwheat hulls are just some of the materials with which we mulch our landscape. We mimic nature and what happens naturally in field and forest, as an accumulation of dead plants and leaf litter covers the soil, retarding the growth of some undesirable plants, and breaks down to nourish established plants and conserve moisture. Our mulch of choice provides the same advantages, for our suburban landscapes. Our final decision is based as much on practicality (wind and topography are determining factors), as well as the aesthetics a well-chosen mulch brings to our finished landscape... color and texture are key, as we choose that last component, to showcase and highlight our cherished plant collection... providing a final unifying element to the finished landscape.

Generally Accepted Premise: When mulching flower beds, 1-2" of mulch is sufficient... for trees and shrubs, a 2-3" layer will suffice (certainly not more than 4"). From the tiniest annual to the mightiest oak, there is one common rule of thumb - you never, ever want the mulch to remain in contact with the crown, stems or trunk of any plant. There should remain an area, at the base of any mulched plant, absolutely mulch-free. In fact, the base of a tree trunk should be surrounded by a circle of 3-4" of bare soil, to avoid the possibility of contact.

All plants have surface roots, requiring oxygen. When you apply a deep, heavy, wet layer of mulch, you prevent this healthy exchange. Since the the surface roots are never allowed to dry slightly, and deeper roots are constantly wet, you are likely to encounter the ill effects of over-watering, especially in heavy or poorly-drained soils. This provides the ideal playground for such disease as Phytophthora, which is an opportunistic, root-rotting pathogen.

It is a well-known fact that tree trunks, once girdled completely, can no longer conduct moisture and nutrients upward or go through all their processes, including photosynthesis, so death ensues. Rodents and deer are often responsible for such damage and once girdled, a tree succumbs fairly quickly. Not so, with the dreaded mulch mound. This is an often long, drawn-out process, especially on older trees with a dense bark layer.

Who's responsible?: In a search to determine the genesis (or the one "genius" who started all this, so we can go to the source and stop the madness!) behind the mulch mound movement, I decided to start with something as basic as word definitions... to deconstruct the theory behind the practice. Now, this is a bit tongue-in-cheek, but hits the mark, nonetheless.

From the online dictionary, definitions relevant to this particular discussion [bracketed sarcasms will lead you along through my own logic chain, as we investigate this ongoing tale of horticultural horror, perpetuated by certain "landscape professionals"] ...

mulch
noun
A material (such as decaying leaves, bark or compost) spread around or over a plant to enrich or insulate the soil ["around or over a plant" - is this where the logic train becomes derailed? Perhaps they read "over" literally!]
• an application of such material: regular mulches keep down annual weeds.
• a formless mass or pulp [what eventually happens to the the over-mulched victim] : a mulch of sodden brown stems.

verb
apply a mulch
•treat or cover with mulch [again, are they reading "cover" literally?]

mound
noun
a rounded mass projecting above a surface [and projecting 1-2' up the tree trunk, rotting the bark and leaving entry points for insects and disease!]
•a raised mass of earth, stones or other compacted material, sometimes created artificially for purposes of defense or burial. [Ironically, "burial" seems an appropriate term, for the purpose of this discussion!]
•a small hill
•(a mound of/mounds of) a large pile or quantity of something: burying potential problems under mounds of cash [how about causing potential problems under mounds of mulch? Ironically, the vigorous over-application of mulch eventually becomes what can only be considered as a burial mound.]

verb
heap up into a rounded pile : mound the pie filling slightly in the center. [These folks have taken "heap up" to a whole new level, when it comes to mulch... almost an art form, as if there were some hideous competition to see who can mound mulch the highest up the tree trunk, defying all logic, commonsense cultural practices and laws of gravity.]

post-mortem
noun
• the hospital carried out a postmortem autopsy, postmortem examination, necropsy. [What an arborist or garden center professional will be conducting, after the unfortunate demise of an over-mulched specimen... also what I just conducted on the stumps of Kwanzan cherry trees, which expired over the course of ten years. The city park department (city shall remain nameless) just cut down the last two dead trees. Girdled, with rotted bark, armillaria root rot and borer infestation were what I found... sadly, I am unsurprised. It was about what I expected. And this mulch was only maintained at about one foot up the trunk!]

soapbox
noun
a box or crate used as a makeshift stand by a public speaker : [as adj. ] a soapbox orator.
• figurative a thing that provides an opportunity for someone to air their views publicly [What I proudly mount, on a somewhat regular basis, to air my views about the hideous, dangerous mulch mounds that surround us!]

Who knows? Perhaps the originator of mulch mounds will read this and forever change his mulching methods... well, I can dream, can't I? Anyway, feel free to join me in this rant. While you're out there, spreading mulch in your yard today, spread the word, would you?

©Deb Lambert 2008

The Addiction of May

"The Addiction of May"
An Extemporaneous Late
Day Essay
By Deb Lambert

I have no picture to share
No glorious photo of what I've been viewing
Just beyond my kitchen window
So let me describe the experience and
Attempt to explain why I am afflicted
With the addiction of May

At precisely 6:50 this evening, I was treated
To nature's symphony, as courting birds cooed
Lyrical sweet nothings and the call of wood ducks
Echoed 'round the basin of Lily Pond
As I glanced up from washing the supper dishes
I was treated to a fleeting spectacle

The sun lingered warm and golden atop the hill
Shafts of burnished gold shone brilliantly
Backlighting the newly emerged sugar maple leaves
Which fluttered in a shimmering chartreuse rumba
Their heavy veins silhouetted by the western sun
The moment of full glory was brief, but I drank it in

For the sun had another non-negotiable appointment to keep
The same one it keeps every day, whether we notice or not
Whether or not the obstructions of inclemency intervene
The sun will set and rise again tomorrow
May all our tomorrows be filled with simple joys and pleasures
And may you join me in the undeniable addiction of May.


©Deb Lambert 2008

A Mother's Hands

"A Mother's Hands"
A Mother's Day tribute to my mom
and moms, everywhere.
By Deb Lambert

It's all there, in a mother's hands...
Those caring, nurturing, industrious hands,
that bring solace and evoke memories.

The hands that toiled in the garden,
soothed a fevered brow and mended scraped knees.
The tapered fingers that played piano and violin,
also hooked and braided rugs for the parlor.
They stenciled serving trays, painted walls and
designed garden elements, which my father completed.
They sewed entire wardrobes, over the years,
for a growing schoolgirl.

The hands that scrubbed a kitchen floor belong to a
talented cook, who kept a family delightfully fed.
They plied an iron and crocheted a doily with equal alacrity.
They grew vegetables, planted bulbs and inspired
the next generation of gardeners.
These hands would knit, tat and needlepoint a myriad
useful and decorative items, throughout the years.
They polished, scrubbed, dusted and swept, as she
maintained a well-ordered household.

These are the hands, browned by the sun, at the
commencement of yet another season in the garden,
that evoke so many memories.
They held the flash cards, as I mastered multiplication
one long, hot summer and held the heavy volumes of
Charles Dickens she read aloud, all through my youth.
They rifled through the bird book, as we identified
our many bird feeder patrons.

And while every day should be Mother's Day, there's
something special about a tender spring morning, that
puts us in a reflective mood and moves us to pay
homage to our mothers and extend our appreciation.

Look at your mother's hands on this Mother's Day,
or just visualize them, and welcome the flood of
memories that may overwhelm you...
It's all there, in a mother's hands.

©Deb Lambert 2008

Mother's Day Sneak Preview...

Just a few ideas for that creative gardener -
"Mom" .....

Copper watering vessels

"Crocs" for garden and casual wear

T-shirts with clever, amusing mottoes

Felco and Wolf Garten pruners - she deserves the finest,
long-lasting garden tools, and with their red handles,
she'll never lose them in the grass.

Always a good idea...
A gift certificate allows Mom to choose her own gift

Give Mom a hand in the garden,
or at least a pair of long-wearing garden gloves

Watering in style!

Shield her from the hot summer sun.
with a colorful garden hat

When is a garden hat not a hat?
When it's a resin birdhouse!

Statuary - large and small, for indoors or out,
like this peaceful sleeping feline.

Gorgeous ceramic birdbaths and bronze sundials

Favorite plants - from flowering and shade
trees to flowering shrubs, evergreens and perennials,
Mom usually has a "wish list" -
it's a great time to work on that list!

Cheery sun faces and wind chimes to brighten
gardens and patios

McMansions for birds... the ultimate in elegant nesting
and roosting boxes for Mom's best backyard friends.

And finally, classic garden benches for resting,
planning, reading and contemplating... for Mom
and all her gardening friends to enjoy!

Make it a garden center Mother's Day -
you just never know how many
great ideas await you!

©Deb Lambert 2008
Photos: CBI/DJL 2008

A Perennial Reminder

A perennial reminder... as in something I like to share with fellow gardeners each spring, regarding perennials and biennials. While you're out shopping for annual, herb and vegetable seeds, pick up a few seed packets of your favorite perennials and biennials and save

them for summer. Sowing perennials and biennials during mid-July to late August, lets you gain a whole growing season. Be sure that you'll be around to water, lightly mulch and care for them during the heat of summer. Set aside a corner of the veggie garden or flower bed, to establish a little nursery (scatter a bit of salt marsh hay to retain moisture and obfuscate the birds) . Once they've produced several set of leaves, transplant them to their final position. From the time they produce their second set of leaves (first set of "true" leaves), feed them every 7-10 days with a water-soluble fish/seaweed blend (I like Neptune's Harvest). Just before winter, in addition to the compost or bark mulch, apply a 2-3" deep layer of salt marsh hay as a winter mulch, when the ground starts to freeze.

How do you save a season? Come spring, your young perennials and biennials will be ready to bloom. Whereas they are normally started indoors in late winter, transplanted and nurtured for an entire growing season, this summer sowing saves considerable time and effort. However, although I often share this reminder in July, by then most of the perennial and biennial seed packets have disappeared from garden centers, along with the seed racks.

For new gardeners... perennials and biennials are herbaceous plants (dying back to the ground each winter) that normally require an entire growing season to become established. The second season, they begin to bloom. Perennials are usually long-lived ( a very few, like Gaillardia, may only live for 3-5 years) and provide years of reliable color. Biennials have a life cycle of two years. After flowering during their second year, the plants die off - but not before dropping seed. Leave a biennial bed undisturbed, and you'll always have a combination of newly developing plants, mixed in with those that have begun to bloom... the next best thing to perennials.

Sweet William (Dianthis barbatus), 'Excelsior' foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), Lunaria biennis (silver dollar, honesty or money plant), Canterbury bells (Campanula medium)and hollyhocks (Alcea ficifolia) are some of the biennial seeds that are still available. Rudbeckia hirta hybrids (black-eyed Susan), blue Lupine (Lupinus perennis), shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum), bee balm (Monarda didyma), oriental poppy (Papaver orientale), painted daisy (Pyrethrum or Tanacetum coccineum), coneflower (Echinacea), columbine (Aquilegia), delphinium, and hollyhock (Alcea 'Chater's Double') are among the perennial varieties you'll find in packets.

So today, here on a cold, rainy Sunday, I'm reminding you to "think summer"... at least when it comes to perennials and biennials. It's a good day to browse the seed racks and stock up on next season's blooms. Just don't forget to plant them, come summer! Why this particular day to remind you about this worthwhile project? Maybe it has something to do with a Saturday spent consolidating the packets in about eight seed racks... stubbornly insisting on leaving all perennial and biennial seeds prominently displayed, for those gardeners with foresight.

And this concludes my "perennial reminder!"

©Deb Lambert 2008

YOUR MAY 'CORLISS CLIPS' IS READY!

The latest issue of the 'Corliss Clips' garden newsletter has just been published... 4 long pages of garden updates and reminders, to assist you with those May gardens. What a great time of year to be a gardener! Come in from the garden, relax a bit and click on 'Corliss Clips' for the latest garden "buzz." Enjoy!... Deb Lambert, Garden Author