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Joanne K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Visitors to the South are frequently surprised to see long squiggly gray clumps dripping from trees, fences, and telephone poles and wonder what they are. Those wild-looking masses are Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides), a signature plant of the South. A native of the southern U.S., the stems of Spanish moss form curtains up to 20 feet long, creating its distinctive beard-like appearance. Spanish moss can be found from southern Virginia to eastern Texas growing along the moist coastal regions. It's also native throughout much of Mexico and Central and South America.
Birds and the wind can also carry tiny pieces of moss to new areas to produce new plants. Another means of propagation is to tear off a piece of the plant and put it on some type of support. The adult plant does not have aerial roots. Instead, it has specialized gray scales on its stems and leaves to absorb the moisture and nutrients from the environment needed to thrive. Although they are normally a gray color, these scales will turn green when it rains. High humidity is required for Spanish moss to grow. During droughts it goes dormant until the rain returns.
In the early 20th century, Spanish moss factories were common throughout Florida and Louisiana. These factories harvested, processed, and marketed Spanish moss for many uses, such as insulation, packing materials, bedding, rope, and stuffing for furniture and car seats. The development of synthetic products for these purposes ended this business in mid-century.
According to Vince Bells, retired ECU botanist, John Lawson, the Englishman who explored the Carolinas in the early 1700s, noted in his journal that the Indians used it to thatch roofs and diaper babies. Spanish moss is now used mainly for decorative purposes or craft projects. Some bat species roost in Spanish moss clumps, while birds like yellow-throated warblers build their nests inside them. Other birds, like Baltimore orioles, use the moss to build nests. Chiggers and spiders may be found in the moss so wearing gloves is advised when handling it. If grown outside in the home garden, Spanish moss doesn't require watering or fertilizing. If grown indoors, it requires bright, indirect light and humid conditions. Allow the plant to dry in between waterings and feed periodically with a half-strength liquid fertilizer. While some may see Spanish moss as a Halloween decoration, others appreciate its ethereal aura signifying that you are in the South!
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By Joanne K, Extension Master Gardener Volunteer, Pitt County Extension Office Year-round evergreens form the bones of the garden whether as trees or shrubs thanks to the wide variety in their sizes, shapes, and textures. In winter, evergreens are even more prominent providing structure, color, and visual interest in the landscape when few flowers are blooming and deciduous trees and shrubs are bare. Why are evergreens green in winter? Tough evergreen needles are coated with a waxy layer allowing them to conserve moisture so that they lose less water during dry periods. Evergreen needles are actually hollow tubes with internal pores that can resist water loss. The small surface area of the needles also reduces moisture loss.
This frost protection allows holly leaves to photosynthesize to produce food and stay green during the winter. Hollies may also curl their leaves when the temperatures drop to preserve moisture and resist drying winds. Thanks to their dense growth evergreens are also particularly valuable in winter for the survival of wildlife like birds and small animals. They provide shelter in their dense foliage from adverse weather and predators and food when other sources of nutrition are scarce. Photosynthesis releases oxygen and removes carbon dioxide from the air.
By adding evergreens to your landscape you'll enjoy year-round beauty and structure in your garden while benefiting the environment as well.
All of the evergreens pictured can be seen in the Walking Garden at the Pitt County Arboretum. All photos are by Joanne K. Joanne K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer You can't miss them! Poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are for sale in every florist shop, grocery store, green house, and big box store as Christmas approaches. Bright red, creamy white, variations in red and white, pink and white, green and white, the choice is endless. They're even sold in shades of blue or purple or covered with glitter. December 12 is National Poinsettia Day when this favorite holiday flower is celebrated. Created in 2002 by Congress, this day celebrates Paul Ecke, Jr., who commercialized the poinsettia in the U.S. It also memorializes the death in 1851 of Joel Roberts Poinsett, first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, who brought the plant to this country and for whom it is named.
The link between Christmas and the poinsettia began in 16th-century Mexico where, as the legend goes, a poor young girl wanted to celebrate the Christ child's birth but she had no gift to give. So she picked roadside weeds for a bouquet to put in the manger where they blossomed into beautiful red flowers, which became known as flor de noche buena (Christmas Eve flower). Because of its red color and winter bloom time, Spanish friars used the plant in nativity processions starting the use of red and green to symbolize Christmas. To them the red bracts represented the blood of Christ.
What are commonly called flowers are actually bracts, modified leaves that turn color as days grow shorter and nights longer. The yellow, green, and red buds at the center of the bracts are the real flowers. North Carolina is the second top producer of poinsettias in the country after California. At NC State, the Horticultural Science Department grows nearly one thousand poinsettias each year for research on new cultivars and new methods of growing them. At J.C. Raulston Arboretum, more than 140 cultivars of poinsettias are grown and showcased at the annual National Poinsettia Trials where growers can see what's new and will best suit their customers.
When you bring home your poinsettias remember that they are not cold hardy so be sure to keep them away from drafts and where the temperature stays above 50 degrees. Put them near a sunny window but out of direct sunlight. Only water them when the soil is dry. Poinsettias are not poisonous but best to keep them away from small children and pets as the sap could cause an upset stomach.
With care, you can enjoy this symbol of holiday cheer for weeks! Joanne K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer With Thanksgiving just around the corner, visions of culinary treats dance in our heads! Not least of which are the tasty fall vegetables gracing the holiday table—mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn on the cob, squash casserole, cranberry relish, and pumpkin pie. Truth be told, many folks look forward more to savoring the side dishes than the turkey! Did you know that most of these vegetables originated in Central and South America?
As you enjoy the holiday feast with family and friends, you'll be celebrating the sharing of these delicious native foods that have nourished people for thousands of years. Happy Thanksgiving! Joanne K. and Dell H., NC State Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Love it or hate it, garlic definitely adds zest to a meal or to that pat of butter on a warm croissant! Whether minced, chopped, sautÇed, roasted, powdered, or in oil, it's been used for centuries by cultures around the world not only to enhance the flavor of their cuisines but also for its health benefits.
Two Types of Garlic Hardneck garlic has a woody stalk and cannot be braided. Each bulb has 4-12 cloves. It's grown where winters are long and growing seasons short. It produces scapes, which are woody flowering stalks with bulbils at the top. These bulbils are small, secondary bulbs that are edible or can be planted to grow more garlic.
Softneck garlic has no woody stalk and can be braided. Each bulb has 10 -40 cloves. With a long shelf life it can be stored for 6 to 9 months. It grows in areas with mild winters and long growing seasons. It doesn't have scapes.
Growing Garlic * Choose bulbs from a reputable source. Don't plant garlic from the grocery store as it may have been treated with an anti-sprouting chemical. * Planting the larger cloves will yield larger bulbs. Save the small ones for the kitchen. * Plant in well-drained soil with added organic matter such as compost (pH 6 -7). Bulbs will rot in soggy soil. * Add organic nitrogen to soil/potting mix when planting. Garlic can be grown in planters. * Plant in full sun (6 hrs/day). * Plant between Halloween and Thanksgiving before the first frost.
* Do plant near where you have planted or are going to plant tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, or carrots. Garlic's strong odor discourages the pests normally attracted to these plants. Garlic is an easy-to-grow, low maintenance plant offering a variety of culinary uses to enhance your dining pleasure while promoting good health. So let's plant some garlic!
Joanne K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Walking along a woodland trail, you may spy some shelf-like growths protruding from a tree trunk or some tiny toadstools covering a decaying tree stump. After rainy periods, white puff balls may suddenly appear in a circle in the middle of your lawn. With their unique shapes and colors, these organisms are attention grabbers providing lots of visual interest in our environment. But what are they?
Decomposition occurs within the soil through the fungi's white filaments. The above ground structures contain the spores that will spread the fungi throughout the environment. Other fungi work with plant roots as mycorrhizae, which is Greek for fungus- root. They may not have a fruiting body. They attach to plant roots forming a thread-like network extending beyond the roots. This network absorbs more water and nutrients, especially phosphorus, which it supplies to the plant. In turn, the plant sends some of its sugar and carbon to the fungi in a mutual exchange.
The mycorrhizae can also extend beyond one tree to connect its roots to two or more trees helping all of the trees to survive particularly during weather extremes such as prolonged droughts. Many trees, especially oaks, pines, and other conifers, need these partners for healthy growth. Fungi can be harmless, but unless you are an expert, don't eat mushrooms in your yard or along the trail. it's tough to identify the edible from the poisonous. While some mushrooms can just cause unpleasant digestive discomfort, others can be deadly.
If you are concerned that a curious child or pet may want to sample the toadstools in your yard, cut them down and toss them in the trash to keep the spores from spreading. There are no chemicals to remove fungi from mulches and lawns. However, within a few days, these growths will disappear.
Joanne K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer While walking on the greenway around your neighborhood or in your yard, have you spotted some funky-looking natural growths and wondered what are they? Are they useful? Do they harm the plant? What causes them?
Keep your eyes peeled for these and other natural oddities while walking in your neighborhood and along woodland trails. These natural phenomena are all part of the wonders of the natural world, which make it so fascinating to learn about.
For more information: For the plants, go to the NC State Extension Plant Toolbox at plants.ces.ncsu.edu. For the mold, fungus, and galls, search by the Latin name.extension. By Vicki K., Extension Master Gardener Volunteer, Pitt County Arboretum When was the last time you heard a friend or a neighbor say, “Gosh, the cardinals and blue birds are just awful this year. The wrens and sparrows, too. They’re everywhere. I wish we could do something about it.” Never? By contrast, you probably hear this all the time: “The bugs are just awful! We need to do something about them.” Ironically, insects are the primary food source for birds, and the primary source for pollinating all plants, including the crops that feed us. In fact, without a healthy population of insects, all life on our planet – the ecosystem – would collapse. In the words of the famous Harvard University entomologist E.O. Wilson, insects are “the little things that run the world.”  Top, from left to right: Ladybug, Monarch Butterfly, Marbled Orbweaver. Bottom row, from left to right: Ant, Dragonfly, Ground Beetle Yes, insects are particularly active from August through early fall. During these months, they store up energy for breeding and laying eggs that will hatch next spring. That’s why you’re seeing more of them. But instead of viewing them as a nuisance, focus on all the good that they do:
Some provide useful products such as honey, wax, silk, and dyes. Many are beautiful and make your garden attractive. It’s estimated that for America, the work insects do is worth at least $70 billion annually. To re-set your view and learn more about insects, you can become a “citizen scientist” by participating in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census on either August 22nd or 23rd. Go to the website gsepc.org and learn how you can spend just 15 minutes observing and recording data about the insects you see in your garden or someone else’s. The website has instructions and easily downloaded data record sheets. It’s a great fun project for adults and kids to participate in together. By Joanne K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Summer is here and so are the pesky summer weeds! Where were they hiding? They seem to sprout overnight in your lawn and then grow like weeds! What to do? Identifying the weeds is the first step in controlling them. The following are some of the common ones seen in eastern NC yards with links to NC State TurfFiles for more information including how to control them.
Common chickweed (Stellaria media) is a low-spreading perennial weed that roots at its nodes forming dense patches in the lawn. This growth habit covers the lawn slowing down turf growth. Chickweed has small white flowers with five deeply notched petals at the end of the stems. The light green leaves are opposite. https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/weeds-in-turf/common-chickweed/ Lespedeza (Kummerowia striata, syn. Lespedeza striata) is another weed that spreads, doing so through prostrate branches from its taproot. A summer annual with alternate dark green leaves composed of three leaflets, its small single flowers are pink or purple. The flowers grow from the leaf axils. https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/weeds-in-turf/common-lespedeza/
Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is a perennial weed forming thick patches through its creeping square stems, which root at the nodes. The scalloped leaves have a rough surface. Its blue to violet flowers are spring bloomers appearing in the leaf axils. It grows in sun and shade. https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/weeds-in-turf/ground-ivy/ Spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata) is a summer annual weed with a taproot from which it spreads out to form a thick mat. The stems are reddish or green as are the leaves, which are opposite. The leaves have a dark red blotch in the middle. Its inconspicuous flowers are pinkish-white. The latex sap from broken leaves is an allergen for people and toxic to pets. Hand pull the spurge with gloves and discard the seeds into the trash. https://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/weeds-in-turf/spotted-spurge/
For more information on these plants, go to:
NC State Plant Toolbox https://emgintranet.ces.ncsu.edu/ Joanne K., Pitt County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Deer and rabbits are the bane of many gardeners with these critters making a lunch of their gardens. However, there are some plants that are mostly pest-resistant. This doesn't mean that deer and rabbits will never eat them. If they are hungry enough and their favorite noshes aren't available, they may just nibble away. However, plants that are poisonous, fuzzy, prickly or have spiny foliage or a strong fragrance will deter them. Deer and rabbits will also avoid plants with tough, leathery, fine textured, or hairy features. The following are some of these plants.
Thanks to anthraquinone poison in its berries, Solomon's Seal, Polygonatum odoratum var. thunbergii 'Variegatum', is relatively pest free. A great shade plant, especially the variegated variety, this perennial has fragrant, bell-shaped flowers that may be white, green, or gold/yellow and bloom in late spring. It's drought resistant and spreads easily. The hairy stems and rough leaf feel of the Shaggy Wood Fern, Dryopteris wallichiana, deter deer and rabbits from snacking on it. As a fern it prefers moist, well-drained soil in partial to full shade. It can be deciduous or semi-evergreen and fairly drought tolerant once established. It can grow up to 4 feet tall and provides beautiful texture in woodland gardens.
Lycorine, an alkaloid, present in the flowers, leaves, roots, and stems of Spider Lilies, Lycoris, makes them inedible to pests. However, this alkaloid has worked as a mice-repellent in homes and been used to treat dementia and other diseases. Spider Lilies, sometimes called Surprise Lilies thanks to the sudden appearance of their flower stalks ahead of the leaves, is a perennial bulb flowering in late summer. They spread easily through bulb offshoots and prefer to be left undisturbed. Great in a pollinator garden, they attract bees, humming birds, and butterflies. In the leaves and sap of Hellebores, Helleborus, are glycoside and saponin, highly poisonous substances in both the living and dried plants, which can cause illness and death. Deer and rabbits won't eat them. Hellebores, a perennial herbaceous evergreen, bloom in late winter and early spring with cup-shaped flowers in white, pink, red, purple, and yellow. They flourish in dappled sunlight or partial shade and spread through self-seeding.
The fuzzy, fragrant foliage of Catmint, Nepeta, is detested by deer, but humans find the minty-flavored leaves tasty making herbal teas from the leaves and using fresh leaves as a flavoring in cooking. Its fragrance also deters certain insects, including aphids and squash bugs. The flowers attract butterflies. This herbaceous perennial needs full sun and good drainage and is drought tolerant. Thanks to its spiny leaves, Hollies, Ilex, are deer and rabbit resistant. As many as 14 species are native to North Carolina with many holly shrub and tree species and cultivars available in nurseries. Holly flowers are pollinated by bees, and the fruit provides nourishment for birds especially in winter.
Visit the NC Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox at plants.ces.ncsu.edu for more information about the above plants.
Visit the JC Raulston Arboretum Midweek Program, "(Mostly) Pest-Free Plants", 6/4/2025, for information on other pest-resistant plants at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2z8JTXLOKw. |
