Today in the spotlight: Lucky Bamboo

This week my husband gave me a Lucky Bamboo plant that he received at a business luncheon. Isn't this neat?



The Lucky Bamboo plant (Dracaena Sanderiana)is not a member of the bamboo family as you'd likely assume. It is actually a member of the Lily family.
It is a very unique and easy to care for plant. There is some debate over how they are best kept. Some people think they are best kept in soil where many others treat them as a hydroponic plant; meaning grown in water without soil. With the hydroponic method you simply put the Lucky bamboo in a water filled decorative container with pebbles or decorative stones to keep the plant upright.
The one I received (shown above) has water and pebbles in the container. I plan to grow it this way unless it proves to not flourish.

My research shows the plant to be easy to care for as long as some thought is given to the water source. It is recommended that spring water be used as tap water may have chlorine or flouride in it that can be harmful to the plant. If you do use tap water it is recommended that you set the water to be used out for 24 hours before using. The water should be changed weekly. It does best in filtered (not direct) sun light.

Interestingly, the Chinese value Lucky Bamboo in their practice of Feng Shui; the ancient science of bringing natural elements of water, fire, earth, wood and metal into balance within the environment. I do not practice Feng Shui. I simply find the plant and particularly the way this one has been arranged to be fascinating!

Today in the spotlight: Okra

Okra "Hibiscus esculentus"
The Clemson Spineless variety (in photograph) is a compact plant with dark green okra. Being spineless it is much easier to harvest than other varieties. The pods can grow up to 9" but are best if picked at 3 inches. It grows best in full sun & well drained soil. I does not tolerate cold well and the seeds should be planted about four weeks after the averarage last frost date.
It is known for being used in gumbo or often eaten fried.
Benefits: High in vitamin C, tasty, the hibiscus like flowers have ornamental value.
Below are some recipes for preparing Okra.











"Popcorn Okra" From Charlie on The Helpful Gardener Forum:

"In a cast iron pan, pour enough vegetable oil to cover 1/2 of the pan. Then let ot spread over the whole bottom. Get it hot. Pour finely chopped okra in about a half inch deep. It takes a lot of okra. DON'T BREAD IT. Add alittle salt and pepper. Fry it until it's dark brown [nearly blackened]. Put it in a tupperware bowl, put on your favorite movie and eat it like popcorn. It'll make you cry."


"Fried Okra" (various recipes online are similiar to this one)

INGREDIENTS:

* 10 pods okra, sliced in 1/4 inch pieces
* 1 egg, beaten
* 1 cup cornmeal
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a small bowl, soak okra in egg for 5 to 10 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine cornmeal, salt, and pepper.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge okra in the cornmeal mixture, coating evenly. Carefully place okra in hot oil; stir continuously. Reduce heat to medium when okra first starts to brown, and cook until golden. Drain on
paper towels.

Today in the spotlight: Black Spot Disease

"Diplocarpon rosae" Black Spot Disease



These photos, of my once beautiful white rose bush, tell the story of what prompted some research!



What you see is the result of "Diplocarpon rosae" commonly known as "Black Spot Disease".
It is a serious fungal disease common in humid climates. It starts on the leaves, spreading across, and eventually killing them. A serious case of bad spot can leave your rose bush completely bare of leaves. It is advised that whenever you see a case of black spot you promptly remove and destroy any infected leaves. (I wish I had researched this sooner!) Also, remove any leaves from the ground that have already fallen. It is important to REMOVE all affected leaves as Black Spot is spread from leaf to leaf by water. So, the next good rain will likely cause the development of more of the fungus.

The safest (non-chemical) way to prevent Black Spot is to combine 1 Tablespoon baking soda, a few drops of dishwashing liquid detergent, & 1 gallon of water. Mix thoroughly and spray both sides of the leaves once a week.

For more information on Black Spot Disease in the state of Indiana go to:
http://www.ppdl.org/dd/id/rose_black_spot.html

Today in the spotlight: Marigolds

I have always loved marigolds. They are such an easy to grow, hardy flower. They also have a long blooming time. They like full sun and bloom mid summer through autumn. Their scent is also known to repel some insects and many gardeners plant them around their tomato plants to keep insects & others pests away.
Besides that added benefit they are also edible! Add some bright color to salads by sprinking a few petals on top or use the petals to make some marigold tea.




I was delighted the first time I realized how easily I could collect the seeds from them myself and grow them the following year from what I'd collected.
To collect the seeds simply wait until the blooms have dried and shriveled up on the stem. Then, simply grasp the end of the blooms all together and give a light tug. You will likely be surprised by the amount of seeds that will pull out into your hand! It is best to collect seeds on a dry, sunny day so the flower is not moist. Simply let the seeds sit out in a sunny, dry location to air out a bit. Then, I simply store them in a labeled envelope for the next year. They can be planted the following year after all danger of frost has past. This year I started mine out in my garden. Once they had grown to a nice size I transplanted them into a large pot that sits by my front steps. They provide a cheerful welcome!

Today in the spotlight: Japanese Beetles

"Popilla japonica" The Japanese Beetle

The to the left shows the damage that has recently been done to my new Cherry Tree by Japanese Beetles. In an effort to help my little Cherry Tree I did what I thought was best; I had my husband buy one of the plastic bag traps that you hang close by that contains pheromones. Well, after the fact I decided to do some research and discovered that I did the worst thing. The pheromone scent travels great distances and lures legions more beetles to your yard and plants than you would have had. So, when you see the trap with a hundred beetles in it and you're feeling pretty good, thinking they had all been living in your yard... they hadn't. You simply invited them. Japanese beetles like groups so the more the merrier.
Once you have them the best way to organically get rid of them is to simply pick them off the plant and drop them in soapy water. If you enjoy a more hostile approach you can step on them. You will decrease the population. They like to live in clusters. If you remove all from the plant that you see, half as many are likely to return.
I also learned that Japanese Beetles start out as grubs. In order to get rid of grubs and eliminate Japanese Beetles you can use biological controls such as beneficial nematodes and Milky Spore disease. Both of these will only attack and kill grubs. This will prevent infestation for many years. Beneficial nematodes can be bought at some garden centers and online. www.arbico-organics.com, www.YardLover.com/LiveNematodes The following link is a good resource for knowing what Nematode to get and when to apply: http://www.extremelygreen.com/nematodeguide.cfmAlso note that Japanese Beetles are most drawn to strawberry plants, egglplants and rotting plants. Be sure to harvest your ripe garden fruits and vegetables promptly!