July Newsletter

I hope that most of you missed the hailstorm we had on June 22. Unfortunately, our house was in the path and after 40 minutes of continuous hail, most of the plants around the house were shredded—not to mention the house. Some took it better than others, but those that made it are not very pretty. After the storm I went out to survey the damage and tried to get the ice off the remaining plants, though it just made me want to cry. Rachel responded in a very positive tone, “We will just start over and get more pretty plants we like.” I realized she had the right attitude. We still had our health, our house (now somewhat dented), and now, the opportunity to do some different landscape ideas. We are going to bide our time and see how well things recover over the summer. We may end up being pleasantly surprised at the resiliency and maybe even beauty of our plants.

Several members ogle the cottage garden at Whitaker Farms at the beginning of the tour.

Water Garden Society of Greater KC Tour - July 12 & 13

The 2003 tour will feature 75 water gardens throughout the Kansas City Metro area. Gardens vary in theme and size, shape, and color - some with garden scale railroads that wind their way throughout the water features. Come explore wonderful gardens with ponds, fish, and plants. Your ticket purchase is good for both days of the tour and is also valid at The Kansas City Zoo and Powell Gardens.

July Program

Andrea Ray Chandler will discuss “Gardening in the Heat”. There are many plants that are hardy in our zone, yet can't take the heat of our midwestern summers. Andrea will give tips for growing some of these plants so that they thrive instead of wilt.

July 12-13 KC Metro Water Garden Tours

July 17 July Meeting “Gardening in the Heat” by Andrea Ray Chandler

July 13 Open House at Darrell Donahue’s, 2‑6pm

July 17 July OGOA Meeting – Gardening in the Heat by Andrea Ray Chandler, 7 pm

August 2 K-State Extension Annual Open House and Field Day

August 21 August OGOA Meeting – Square Foot Gardening by Mylan Ross, 7 pm

Sept. 18 September OGOA Meeting – Wine Making by Miles Raymond 7pm

September 20 MO-KAN Regional Convention Colonial Church, 71^st & Mission

Recap of June Meeting

Our June speaker was Al Karsten, a Johnson County Extension Master Gardener and his topic was "Roses". Mr. Karsten has written articles on rose care for "The Kansas City Gardener" and Internet sites.

On pruning:

On fertilizing:

On spraying:

On winter care:

2003 Annual Open House and Field Day at the K-State Horticulture and Forestry Research Extension Center

Where:
K-State Horticulture and Forestry Research-Extension Center
35125 W. 135th Street
Olathe, Kansas 66061 - (nine miles west of K-7)

Description:

Saturday, August 2, 2003 will be your only chance to visit with the K-State Research scientists and view their flower trials. You'll see two and a half acres of floriculture, ½ acre of high tunnels in which such practices as drip irrigation and sophisticated environmental monitoring are being tested. Learn what the scientists are looking for in each plant - what are the "right genetics" for the prairie climate. Also learn what not to waste your time and money on such as the dead, the dying and the ugly plants as you compare different varieties side by side.

You'll also discover a variety of medicinal herbs, hosta, blueberries, vegetables and perennials in testing trials. See turf varieties tested for their ability to withstand our cold and heat seasons.

In addition to visiting all five horticulture scientists, and viewing ten information tents, Extension Master Gardeners will answering questions about current research-based gardening practices.

Be prepared to walk, our trials cover several acres. For more information and directions, please call our office at 913-764-6300.

Plant of the Month: 2003 Perennial Plant of the Year: Leucanthemum ‘Becky’

The Perennial Plant Association is pleased to announce that the Perennial Plant of the Year 2003 is Leucanthemum 'Becky'. PPA members selected the Becky Shasta daisy on the basis of its bright white flowers, sturdy stems that resist lodging, and long season of bloom. Leucanthemum 'Becky' has proven to be a lovely and dependable perennial for herbaceous borders across the country.

Contemporary nomenclature now lists this Shasta daisy, a former member of the genus Chrysanthemum, as Leucanthemum 'Becky' Superbum Group. Shasta daisy is a member of the Asteraceae family and is a hybrid created by Luther Burbank in 1890. The name of "Shasta daisy" supposedly comes from the fact that the clean white petals of this daisy reminded Burbank of the snow on Mount Shasta in California. 'Becky' has sturdy, upright stems that grow 40 inches tall, with a similar spread. Three-inch wide, single white flowers with contrasting yellow centers appear at the end of June or early July when other Shastas are finishing. Flowering continues throughout August and often into September. 'Becky Shasta daisy grows well in hardiness zones 4 to 9.

History

To gardeners, daisies have always exuded charm and friendliness. As a child many people remember running through a field of wild daisies or picking some for their mothers or teachers. Gardeners have long valued daisies of all types as excellent pass-along plants. Leucanthemum 'Becky' is the quintessential daisy.

The saga of Leucanthemum 'Becky' starts with Jimmy and Becky Stewart of Atlanta, Georgia. Jimmy and Becky received a Shasta daisy, from their neighbor, Mary Ann Gatlin who in turn had obtained it from her mother, Ida Mae. In the 1960’s Ida Mae had spotted this daisy blooming in an Atlanta-area garden and was so taken with it that she approached the owner and offered to buy a clump. The owner gladly accepted Ida Mae's proposal and quickly filled her car trunk with Shasta daisies. Ida Mae had a successful florist/nursery business and sold 'Becky' as a garden plant and also as a cut flower. In the mid 1980’s Bill Funkhouser visited the Stewart garden and was impressed with the pass-along daisy. Unable to find a clear identity for this excellent plant, Bill chose to call it Chrysanthemum 'Becky' to honor Becky Stewart. The Stewarts’ later discovered that nurseryman Bud Heist had received the daisy from the Gatlins and was growing it under the name of 'Ida Mae'. Ryan Gainey of Atlanta had also passed along this daisy to the Goodness Grows nursery that dubbed it "Ryan's Daisy". Later Bill Funkhouser joined the Wayside Gardens staff and he included this daisy in the Wayside catalog as Leucanthemum 'Becky'.

Landscape Use

Leucanthemum 'Becky' is a wonderful choice to be grown as a specimen or en masse in the perennial border, in naturalistic landscapes, to attract butterflies, for garden bouquets, and even large containers. It can be one of the main stalwarts of the summer border. Plant with Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian sage) for a long season of bloom. Place Scabiosa columbaria 'Butterfly Blue' (pincushion flower) in front and add Veronica 'Royal Candles' for a lovely combination of white, blue and blue-lavender. For extra zing, add Crocosmia 'Lucifer' a brilliant scarlet red, summer flowering bulb.

Cultivation

An excellent cultivars of an old-fashioned favorite, Becky Shasta daisy grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. Plants are not tolerant of excessive moisture or wet soils in winter. Deadheading encourages rebloom and extends the flowering season into autumn. Stems can be cut back to the lower foliage after flowering to tidy the plant. The flower stems are strong enough to keep this daisy upright after a heavy rain and to make it an excellent cut flower. Many Shasta daisies do not grow well in the hot, humid temperatures of the South and are not hardy in cold northern winters. 'Becky' is superior to other Shasta daisies due to its robust habit and performs well in southern and northern climates.

Propagation

Leucanthemum 'Becky' can be propagated by stem cuttings, tissue culture, or division with stem cuttings the normal method. Cuttings are taken from field grown stock plants that should be replaced annually. Cuttings should be placed in a well-drained growing medium with a pH of 5.8 to 6.5. Rooting hormone is not required but treating cuttings with #8 Hormex produces a more uniform root system 2 to 3 days sooner than no treatment. Best rooting occurs with cuttings taken at 3-week intervals from June through August.

Hardiness:

Light

Soil

Uses

This Shasta daisy is valued for its long bloom season making it a good choice for both formal and informal gardens. The florist will find that 'Becky is an excellent cut flower.

Unique Qualities: Leucanthemum 'Becky' provides great garden color from July to September. It is known for its adaptability to northern and southern gardens. The sturdy stems ensure good garden presence throughout the season.

Planting Information

Plant in fall or spring. It tolerates a wide range of conditions in full sun or partial shade. Growth is best in well-drained and moist fertile soils. Deadheading encourages rebloom and extends the flowering season.

Open House at Darrell & Gen Donahue, July 13, 2-6 pm

MO-KAN Regional Secretary, Darrell Donahue has invited all the clubs to an open house from 2-6 and Darrell will present an informational program on crepe myrtles.

Fireblight

Fireblight is widespread this summer. Of course, the disease is occurring on apples, crabapples and European pears, but the curious part is that the disease appears to be more severe on certain cultivars of Asian pears and ornamental pears. While these species are susceptible to the disease, I haven't noted a lot of damage in previous years. This year, it’s different. In my own orchard, an Asian pear is getting clobbered by fireblight but adjacent, and very susceptible, Bartlett pears and Braeburn apples are basically untouched by the disease. Go figure. The fireblight epidemic was probably triggered by the buildup of inoculum during the last couple of warm winters and spring. Mild, wet weather during bloom this season was ideal for the blossom blight phase of the disease. This inoculum buildup, coupled with continued mild temperatures and frequent rains through June, and perhaps heavy insect (leafhopper) injury, fueled the shoot-blight phase of the disease. Current symptoms of fireblight include blackened, blighted shoots scattered throughout the tree crown. The shoots may have the classic Shepherd's crook where the blighted tips bend downward. There may be small amber droplets of bacteria on the stem. I have had reports that the dieback is so severe on certain callery pears that they will have to be removed.

At this point antibiotic applications are not going to be effective in controlling the disease, and I don't recommend it. It is important, however, to control insects that may become contaminated with the bacterium and/or create wounds for infection. During the summer, prune out the blighted tips. Go 10 to 12 inches below the discolored area of the branch to make the cut and disinfest pruning equipment between cuts with a 10 percent bleach solution or some other disinfecting agent. Alternatively, you can do the ugly stub method and snap the branch off below the blighted area. This helps keep a temporary record of where fireblight occurred in the tree. This may help with follow-up pruning during the winter months.

Parting Shot

A farmer was driving along the road with a load of fertilizer. A little boy playing outside saw him and called, “What’ve you got in your truck?”

“You ought to live here,” the little boy advised him. “We put sugar and cream on ours.”

Olathe Gardeners of America

Melissa’s Monologue