Who Knew?

New USDA Plant Hardiness Map

After years of discussion and debate, the new USDA Plant Hardiness Map is ready. The previous map was developed in 1990. The new gardening zone map, broken into zones of ten and five degree termperature increments, now has thirteen zones with the newest zones 12 and 13 having low winter temperatures  of (50-60 degrees F) and (60 - 70 degrees F). For background on how the new map zones were arrived at, Tony Avent with Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh, NC, one of my favorite plant catalog nurseries in the world, was a part of it from the beginning and provides history:

On August 18, 2004, USDA formed a technical review committee of 23 people including yours truly. The group consisted of nurserymen, crop researchers, foresters, climatologists, and others. The committee had a number of meetings at the USDA headquarters in Maryland and many subsequent meetings by phone.

The details of the map making process was quite fascinating. The first few meetings were spent hashing out what we wanted in the map. Several of us had pushed for a 30-year map, which would more closely echo short term natural temperature fluctuations, and the USDA agreed. Another of my requests to create an a, b, c, and d breakdown for each numbered zone was delayed until the future.

We also wanted a map that would allow more temperature interpolations between weather stations, which would take into account things like lake and mountain effects which were missing in the previous map. The process then progressed to the USDA to gather the data and create the map with their in-house staff. A complication arose when their in-house algorithm specialist was commandeered by the Department of Defense and sent to Afghanistan to run algorithms to locate Osama bin Laden. During this time, the specialist would join us via conference call from a safe place in Afghanistan...I’m not making this up.

After two years, the map was supposedly ready as the committee members gathered in Maryland for the unveiling. We were never privy to exactly what went wrong, but the map we saw showed all of the US getting colder, which was certainly not the case. My best guess is that someone reversed all the data. After this debacle, the map trail went cold for nearly a year, during which time the USDA decided in 2007 not to complete the map in-house, but instead to outsource the project to the PRISM (Parameter-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model) Climate Group at Oregon State.

After PRISM completed their initial map, we were shown a draft map via phone conference. The rest of the year was spent going back and forth about areas which the review team felt were not zoned correctly. During this time, more data sites were added to those regions of concern, either from Canadian, Mexican, or military data. Finally in April 2008, the technical review team finished their work and the map was back in the lap of the USDA for publication. The subsequent 3 years and 9 months were spent by USDA trying to figure out what colors to make the zones and then finding a website that could host the map without crashing like their previously launched food pyramid...I’m not making this up. Whoever said that the Federal Government moves slowly was spot on...hence the reason the most recent climatic data in the map is 6 years old.

The USDA map has two versions, a static map where you can select your state and zone or the interactive map where you can input your zip code and you go right to your city and find your gardening zone.

The new map reflects the warmer temperatures from microclimates from winds, bodies of water, slope of the land, and urban heat islands but the USDA makes a valid point that this new realignment should not be used as an indication for global warming.

I agree. The previous USDA map from 1990 used data from a twelve year time period of 1974 to 1986.  The new map uses data from the years 1976 to 2005. The weather is cyclical and since 2005 I've seen even colder temperatures during the winter here locally than normal.  It will be interesting to see the next gardening zone map to see if the two-thirds degree higher temps reach one degree.

Find out more about Plant Delights Nursery:  A Delightful Day Filled With Plants

The Best Time To Plant A Tree Is Now

Myrtle Oak
Teresa Watkins copyright 2012

Florida's Arbor Day, the third Friday in January was designated as a holiday to celebrate trees. I was asked to speak at the City of Mount Dora's tree planting ceremony at the historic Simpson house.  The following is from my speech:

Trees are the oldest living organisms on earth. Trees produce many of our basic necessities in life. Trees fulfill our lives 24 hours a day with better goods, food, entertainment, sports, and communication. In the 17th century, when the first settlers came to our east coast shores, they were amazed and thankful for the bountiful forests. Over a century later, millions of acres of trees had become homes, buildings, churches, and transportation. When the pioneers ventured west, they encountered for the first time, our prairie ecosystems. There was no protection from shade or winds. There were no trees for construction or fuel. They had to build their homes out of prairie sod. Agriculture was hampered by soil erosion. It was a hard life being a pioneer on the prairies.

In 1872, J. Sterling Morton, editor of Nebraska’s first newspaper, went to the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture and proposed a holiday and contest to plant trees on April 10, The holiday was called Arbor Day. Prizes were awarded to cities, counties and people who had planted the most trees. That first Arbor Day, over one million trees were planted in Nebraska. It changed the state forever. Today Nebraska has over 1million acres of forests.

In 1885, Arbor Day became a legal holiday and other states adopted the practice of planting trees on their own designated Arbor Day. In 1970, President Richard Nixon proclaimed the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day. Florida celebrated Arbor Day for the first time in 1886. Later, state foresters changed the date of Florida’s Arbor Day to the third week in January because it’s an optimum time to plant trees. Because of the great work, the city of Mount Dora has done over the years in protecting and planting trees, Mount Dora has received designation as a Tree City USA community.

The United States contain 8 percent of the world’s forests. And because of Arbor Day and an awareness of the valuable resource of trees through conservation and education, there are more trees in the United States then there were 100 years ago. We now use renewable species of trees for manufacturing.

“According to the (FAO) the Food and Agriculture Organization, forest growth has exceeded harvest since the 1940s…by 1997; the volume of forest growth was 380 percent greater that it had been in 1920.”

Trees provide us with nearly half of the materials the United States manufactures. And actually, the average American uses the equivalent of a tree about 100’ tall and 18’ in diameter. Over 5,000 products that we use on a daily basis come from trees. You can easily recognize building materials, furniture, paper products, but did you know the following products also come from trees?

Chemicals and resins from trees are used as key ingredients for paint, varnish, adhesives, asphalt, artificial vanilla flavoring, cereals, chewing gum, hair spray, mouthwash, soaps, shampoos, tires, and toothpaste.

Cellulose, found in tree cell walls, is used as a food thickener for snacks, milk shakes, ice cream, cake frosting, and pancake syrup. Cellulose is also used in items you can’t eat such as eyeglass frames, egg cartons, steering wheels, hairbrush handles, cellophane, and camera film.

Some little known facts about trees:

• One large tree can lift up to 100 gallons of water out of the ground and discharge it into the air in a day.

• Trees are in essence big batteries. They trap more of the sun's energy than any other group of organisms on earth.

• Only one tenth of the sun's energy is trapped by organisms -- trees account for 50% of all energy trapped by organism.

• If you take its weight into consideration, almost 98% of a tree is made up of six elements: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur.

• If a birdhouse is hung on a tree branch, it does not move up the tree as the tree grows.

• Different parts of the tree grow at different times of the year. A typical pattern is for most of the foliage to grow in the spring, followed by trunk growth in the summer and root grow more in the fall and winter.

• Most trees do not have a tap root.

• Tree roots do not grow very deep. Most tree roots are in the top 12 inches of soil.

• Tree roots often extend two to three times the width of the tree.

• There are over 400 billion trees on the planet or to personalize it, there are about 61 trees per person.

With the increased promotion and appreciation of trees from Arbor Day, Americans began to select their state trees. While I won’t expound on the fact that palms are not trees, our state tree is the Sabal Palm, Sabal palmetto. Our national tree is the oak tree, which Mount Dora has many magnificent examples. The century-old live oak trees that you see throughout Mount Dora are endemic to the soils surrounding the city and had to be one of the many reasons the Simpson family decided to homestead here in 1874.


Sabal palmetto
Teresa Watkins copyright 2012

 The significance of trees can be seen in our literature, songs, national parks, vacation memories, and the heart-wrenching sadness people feel when massive oak trees are ripped down by hurricane-like storms as they were here in Mount Dora in the spring of 1993 and historic ancient trees, such as the Senator are destroyed by fire last week. 


Chionanthus virginica
by Teresa Watkins copyright 2012

Planting trees is a wonderful way to celebrate humanity and the earth It’s important to teach the value of native ecosystems and the proper locations for trees to create healthier and waterwise landscapes. It’s important for Floridians to protect and plant more native species as we are doing today. The Lake and Hills Garden Club, researched the planting site, and selected a native tree that would thrive in Central Florida with low maintenance. The Chionanthus virginica, the American Fringetree is zoned for 9a, grows to be 12’ to 20’ tall and 10’ wide. It needs moist to dry soils with an acidic pH. It thrives in full sun or morning sun and afternoon shade. The Fringetree produces white flowers in early springtime. Another reason, the garden club members liked the native tree, also called Old Man's Beard, because it not only provides food but also nesting resources for wildlife.

Native plant species are important to keep ecosystems and habitats diverse and healthy. Native trees from the time they emerge as seedlings to the time they are mature provide environmental niches for many types of wildlife in various phases of their lives. Young seedlings are of greatest value to early-successional wildlife that requires thick brushy cover, such as rabbits and songbirds. Young trees do not produce a significant amount of mast (fruit) until maturity, usually around 20 years old, but young trees can seen as important places for resting and insect foraging.

Florida pines and other fast growing trees provide little food sources but are an excellent source of winter and roosting cover, and they can provide important foraging substrate for insect-eating birds, especially migrating warblers like woodpeckers and warblers .

If we lose our native plant species, we will endanger valuable wildlife and bird populations. The creatures and habitat that awed and inspired the first settlers in the 19th century and the 20th century tourists seeing Florida for the first time could disappear.

How do trees benefit humans? One large tree can provide a day's supply of oxygen for up to four people. Trees in our landscapes reduce air conditioning and heating bills by providing shade from the sun and windbreaks from the cold winds. Shading windows and walls can lower AC costs by 25 percent. Landscapes with mature trees can increase property values by 25 percent. Seven year old boy and girls climbing and sitting in a tree canopy contemplating life or looking through the air at the rooftops has immeasurable benefits. We should all climb and sit in trees more. The world would be a better place.

I hope today that this celebration of Arbor Day will increase awareness of the beautiful native tree species we have here in Florida. I wish that everyone attending will go home and assess their yard for the proper site conditions and plant a native species that will enhance their landscape and increase the multiple benefits that trees provide Mount Dora.

As the Chinese proverb says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.”

More information on how to plant a tree.

Lake and Hills Garden Club Arbo

The Secret of Cyclamens

Fanciful cyclamens are associated with our holiday season. Blooming in winter, these beautiful red, fuschia, pink, and white, woodland bulb plants remind me of our native columbine that seems to hang upside down with their petals reaching up to the sky.

Cyclamens can seem difficult to maintain and are often treated as annuals and tossed away after they start to decline but if you understand their needs and their growth pattern, you can keep the plant for several years.

Cyclamens need bright sunlight, moist but not wet soils, and cool temperatures. Do not place near heating vents or under hot lights. Since the biggest cause of decline is rotting from excessive moisture, its important to allow the plant to dry out between waterings. So if you water the top of the plant, just make sure it doesn't stay on the crown long or keep the soil wet.  Like African violets and primroses, this African native benefits from high humidity and watering from the bottom, although the cyclamens do not get the foliage damage when their leaves get wet. 

Fertilize with a diluted solution of liquid fertilizer every two weeks while blooming.  Cyclamens like temperatures in the 70's and unless a hardy species, do not take temperatures under 50 degrees.  They do not like hot summertime weather.

After flowering, cyclamens should be placed in a cool, shaded location with good air circulation. Do not water and allow the plant to go dormant during the summertime. Keep the tubers and soil dry.  At the end of this dormant period before you start watering again, you can transplant into a larger pot or change out the soil in the existing pot. 

If you continue to water the plant during the summertime, and you do it correctly, the plant may not go into dormancy.  In September, resume watering and place in bright light.  The cyclamens should reappear for another new year holiday season.

Cyclamen Season - IFAS

Cyclamen Society

Hardy Cyclamens

Cyclamen Problems - NDSU

Free Gold For Your Garden

One of the best soil amendments you can add to your yard is mushroom compost.  A by-product of mushroom farming, mushroom compost is rich with macro and micronutrients, good bacteria, and organic soil enhancements that improve water infiltration and retention. Its great to add to sandy and clay soils.  And while this soil amendment is one of the best, its not the cheapest to add to your soil. 

But not this week! Today through Saturday from 7:00am to 3:00pm, the Monterey Mushroom Farm in Zellwood, Florida is giving away free mushroom compost.  Bring your own containers or truck beds.

Their location is 5949 Sadler Rd Zellwood, FL 32798, and their telephone number for more information is
(407) 905-4000.

Mushroom compost is derived from all organic materials such as hay, straw, horse bedding, chicken litter, cottenseed meal, cocoa shells, and gypsum.  It can used to amend soils before sod laying, adding plants to your garden beds, prevents destructive artillary fungus from establishing, decreases the need for liming soils, and reduces the need to fertilize for a year.

Mushroom Compost Organization

Mushroom compost landscape uses

Take advantage of this wonderful, free supply that Monterey Farms is providing! Remember its only through this Saturday.

Simple Resolutions and Smart Solutions for 2012

Happy New Year! I hope this season of reflection and assessment will help you garden with soul and create an environment that will help you become healthier, wealthier, and wise. My four part series of resolutions this year are simple. With the economic times, I’m looking to working smarter in my yard, invigorate myself and my landscape, and recycle what works to save dollars and time.  Here's the first of the New Year series - the three areas of my landscape I need to work on:

Resolution: Use my compost pile more often.

I have a great compost bin that holds a bounty of hardworking earthworms and humus. But because my yard is already at a level elevation, I don’t usually take the time to incorporate the wonderfully organic matter into my soil as much as I should. It’s ridiculous to have this valuable resource and not use it. This year I’m going to use compost more to replace my tired soil with the nutrient rich humus. I’m going to put those good earthworms to work in my yard. 

Resolution: Spiffy up a boring corner with an easy care, low water use container garden.

It’s been six years since I designed my front landscape and it is in need of rearranging and invoking new life. I’m going to dig up my northwest corner “foundation” shrubs and move them around the yard like sofa furniture till I’m happy. Then I’m going to add a new colorful container with colorful xeric perennials, annuals, and a vine or groundcover that spills over, to the corner like a new end table with a beautiful lamp. Oh, that gives me an idea… solar lighting for an uplifting night time display.

Resolution: Create a seating area in my garden.

While I have “floors” of walking paths in my front and backyards, and “walls” of foundation plants, I haven’t decided on seating. Do I want wrought iron, cement or wood furniture? I have wrought iron rocking chairs that are ideal for the garden but do I want to take them off the patio? I also have wood that Tony could make into a swing. I sometimes see aged cement benches in yard sales and on Craig’s list. Don’t pass them up. Deciding on what type of chair I want will help me select the flooring underneath, whether it’s recycled bricks, pavers, or flagstone.

 If I do those two garden projects and incorporate my compost, I will be very satisfied at the end of the year to achieve those goals. Stay tuned for the after pictures!

What are your gardening New Year Resolutions?

Tomorrow, will be the second part for getting off to a good start in the New Year.  I'll provide some simple solutions to help you save money, make better use of what you have, and take time to enjoy living in your garden.

Are You Ready For Some Winter?

In Florida, we can always wear shorts on Christmas Day, but we must not forget that we have a winter season. In the Sunshine State, our winter arrives with a cold front either in the two weeks before Christmas or within the following two weeks after the New Year. With the La Nina weather pattern this year, Central Florida's coldest temperatures so far will occur tonight and Tuesday night. Is your landscape ready for freezing temperatures?

• Make sure your plants are hydrated before a freeze.
• Do not run sprinklers systems during freeze.
• Use frost blankets or large boxes to keep plants insulated.
• If using anything other than frost blankets, ensure that the material is not touching the plants' foliage.
• If boxes, sheets, or other material is used, it must be removed each morning and replaced before sundown.
• Don’t overwater palm trees before or after a freeze.
• If palms are damaged - use a copper fungicide as soon as possible.
• Healthier plants and palms survive winter better.

While meteorologists are predicting a mild winter, this only means that we won't be seeing many freezing nights. Make sure you have frost blankets on hand for those tender tropical plants.  If any plant damage is noticeable, try to resist the urge to prune plant vigorously until until mid-February. 

California Scientists Release Citrus Psyllid Predator

Tamarixia radiata

California scientists just released the Tamarixia radiata - a predator wasp that attacks our dreaded Asian citrus psyllid.

UC Riverside Executive Vice Chancellor Dallas Rabenstein and Mark Hoddle, the director of the Center for Invasive Species Research, released Tamarixia radiata – tiny, stingless parasitic wasps that lay eggs in ACP nymphs – in a citrus grove near the UCR Botanic Gardens. A total of 281 wasps (95 males and 186 females) were released.



Over the next several years, UCR and California Department of Agriculture Food and Agriculture (CDFA) scientists will raise thousands of Tamarixia for release throughout California. The Tamarixia larvae will eat the ACP nymphs, killing them, and emerge as adults about 12 days later. Adult female Tamarixia also eat other ACP nymphs, killing many in the process.

Read more.

Management of Asian Citrus Psyllid - IFAS

Tamarixia radiata - life cycle - Cornell

Why Are My Citrus Leaves Curling?

Ring Around the Carrot

A Swedish woman harvesting carrots in her vegetable bed, also found her jewelry.  Lena Pahlsson lost her wedding ring sixteen years ago. Despite looking high and low for it, she never found it until last week when digging in her garden.

What a lucky day for her!  I wonder how many other jewelry pieces have been lost while digging in their backyard? This is where a metal detector would have paid off!

Medieval jewelry found in Vienna garden.

Things I've found in my garden.

Interesting things found digging.

Myself personally, I've found marbles, old plastic army toys, golf balls in my yard (I think they flew off an I-4 truck and bounced into my garden.)