PITT CO ARBORETUM TOUR

Join a Master Gardener for this month's FREE WALKING TOUR of the Arboretum.  This month's theme is :DEER RESISTANT PLANTS.  While no plant is DEER PROOF (if hungry enough, deer will sample anything), you will learn about plants that are their least favorite to munch on. 

THURSDAY, September 1, 2016
10:00 - 11:30 AM

Meet under the shelter in front of the
AG CENTER
403 Government Circle, Greenville, NC

 

 MAP

AMARANTH - Not Your Usual Southern Garden Crop

Our Vegetable Garden Curators chose to plant something a little different this year: Amaranthus.  This plant is grown for the edible leaves and the pseudo-grains.  As you can see, it's growth has met their expectations. 
The Amaranth Institure states the nutritional value as follows:

"Amaranth proves to be one of the best suited crops to address certain health problems globally. Seeds are 13 to 15 percent protein, among the highest for any grain. Amaranth seeds are also high in fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, zinc, and vitamins A and C.
In addition, combining amaranth seeds with corn, a major component of the local diet, forms a complete protein. Leaves are edible, containing more calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin C than spinach, in addition to the high levels of folate and other nutrients present in the seeds."

Visit their website by CLICKING HERE.

For an in depth discussion of this plant, CLICK HERE.

What's eating my azaleas?

It's the azalea caterpillar.  There may be masses of them.  They may have already eaten through a lot of leaves.   Only one generation hatches a year. What is the best way to control them?  Put away your chemicals.  Put on your gloves.  Handpicking them off and destroying them is easy and efficient. Read this: AZALEA CATERPILLARS.

Photo by R. Davis

LATE SUMMER IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

Our Vegetable Garden Curators battled squash bugs and flea beetles this year.  They use organic not chemical controls, but in the end the pests won.  The plants were pulled and pumpkins have been planted in their place.  The hot banana peppers and 'Maria di Chioggia' squash(pictured) are still doing fine.

Over the summer growing season tomatoes, beans, squash, lemon cucumbers, peppers, and zucchini were harvested.  This year 65 pounds of our produce was donated to:





*Joy Soup Kitchen Food Bank
*Share the Bounty Food Kitchen (Simpson)
*First Born Community Development Center (Grimesland)
*Farmville Soup Kitchen

The Curators are busy planning a fall/winter garden with greens, lettuce, and carrots grown from seed.

Here is an article to get you started on a FALL VEGETABLE GARDEN.

Photos by D. Strathy

PLANTS FOR HOT, HUMID SUMMERS

If you missed last weeks Arboretum Tour, you missed hearing about these plants that thrive in our summer heat and humidity:

 

 

Photos by J. Kollar

 

Top l. to r.

From CPP area

1.  Cotinus coggygria (Smoketree)

2.  Jasminum nudiflorum (Winter Jasmine)

From Butterfly Garden

3.  Lantana camara 'Miss Huff'

4.  Coreposis verticillata 'Zagreb' (Threadleaf coreopsis)

5.  Ilex vomitoria 'Nana' (Dwarf Yaupon Holly)

 

Bottom l. to r.

From Perennial Garden

6.  Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)

7.  Amsonia hubrichtii (Hubricht's Bluestar)

8.  Panicum virgatum (Native Switch Grass)

From Wildflower Garden

9.  Salvia farinacea (Mealycup Sage)

10. Gaura lindheimeri

Click here for a short article on HEAT HAPPY PLANTS

BUSY MASTER GARDENERS

There are two events this week where you can go to meet some Master Gardeners, get your gardening questions answered and pick up some gardening knowledge.

THURSDAY, August 4th, Starting at 10:00 AM
WALKING TOUR OF THE ARBORETUM
403 Government Circle, Greenville

THEME:  PLANTS FOR OUR HOT, HUMID SUMMERS

Tours last about 1 1/2 hours and are held rain or shine.  Meet under the Shelter in front of the Agricultural Center.

SATURDAY,  August 6th, 7:30 AM-11:30 AM
PITT COUNTY FARMERS' MARKET
4560 County Home Road, Greenville

Look for their table under the tent.  This is the last Saturday that they will be there this year.