By Adrian Higgins Washington Post Thursday, July 17, 2008

If you garden long enough in one place, you realize that no two growing seasons ever match up.

Some years, there are subtle changes: a rare late frost that punishes those who jumped the gun or a tropical storm that brings down an old tree.

In other periods, you wonder if you are living in the same place. This year, for example, with a spring and summer that have delivered abundant rainfall when plants are programmed to grow their most. The contrast to last year's punishing drought makes it all the more extraordinary.

Last fall, I came across gardeners who were spending hundreds, even thousands of dollars keeping water running through hoses as a form of survival gardening. Now, after about 30 inches of rain so far this year, it's a jungle out there. Hoses remain coiled like snakes.

This is mostly positive news. The elusive quest for a green lawn in summer seems attainable, and a lush garden makes its owner look and feel good. There are a few downsides, however.

When the weather turned hot a month ago, virtually every fungal and bacterial disease encouraged by warm, wet conditions made an appearance.

There's fire blight on apples and pears, including the Bradford and other ornamental varieties of the callery pear. This bacterium produces dieback in stems and leaves, yielding a classic shepherd's crook at the stem end and a blackening as if the branch had been burned. Experts have come up with a clever way of pruning out the dead branches in a way that stops the disease from forming in lower branches. It's a two-step process that initially leaves a stub. See the Maryland Home and Garden Information Center Web site, http://www.hgic.umd.edu.

I'd say that black spot in roses is becoming a problem, but only in roses that still have their leaves. Weather-induced or not, in May and June there was an outbreak of rose slugs the likes of which have rarely been seen. The pest, which is the larvae of a sawfly, munches on the underside of rose leaflets until it chews right through. "More [damage] than I have ever seen in all the years I've been doing this," said David Yost, a horticulturist at Merrifield Garden Center, who runs a diagnostic plant clinic for customers. He also reports unusual numbers of bagworms and wonders if the mild winter is a factor.

But the drumbeat is more of foliage problems. This has been a banner year for leaf spot on redtip photinia as well as anthracnose disease on sycamore leaves. The black-eyed Susans in my garden are robust, but the lower leaves are heavily marked by a fungus named Septoria. I sometimes remember to spray them in May with a lime-sulfur fungicide (this prevents the disease from gaining hold), but I didn't this year. Must have been singing in the rain.

My tomato vines are just showing signs of early blight, a disease that turns the lower leaves black and yellow. Mulching the bed will help, as will removing the infected leaves and avoiding overhead watering.

As Yost points out, most of these diseases are not going kill their hosts and are part and parcel of a rainy year. However, perennials and herbs that favor free-draining soil, typically those with silver or gray leaves, will croak in wet clay soil, from root or crown rot. Heavy organic mulches increase the risk.

Another problem, if it is a problem, is the sheer amount and weight of fruit and flowers on shrubs and trees. Peach tree boughs are groaning in spite of repeated thinnings of developing fruit, said Matt Davenport, manager of Hollin Farms in Delaplane, Va. Cherry trees are similarly fruitful, the corn is "phenomenal," he said, and the hay meadows produced two to three times the normal amount in May and June. His crews are getting ready to cut a second crop of hay in late July, a resource unavailable in last year's drought.

This bounty is seen, too, in ornamental plants. Trees that might grow a foot a year have doubled their fresh growth. In my garden, I've spent the last month thinning tree and shrub canopies and cutting back some perennials that have bloomed. A bank of fig trees, big shrubs really, have filled out wonderfully at the base of a red oak tree. The climbing hydrangea is now half covering the window of my second-story bathroom. A pair of plant pots, left in April at the edge of an embankment, are now partially engulfed by a burgeoning ground cover, leadwort.

Weeds are having a ball, and anyone who has neglected to weed on a weekly basis can expect to see pokeweed approaching shrub size.

There is another price for all this abundant moisture: the explosion in mosquito populations. "They're breeding in a lot of places, going by trap counts and what my larviciders are telling me when they're running out of the woods," said Jeannine Dorothy of the Maryland Department of Agriculture. Larviciders have the unenviable job of going to wet breeding grounds to spray the mosquito larvae.

The presence of vernal pools (temporary woodland ponds) has created "a tremendous early-season problem," she said. "Probably at least 60 to 70 percent more mosquitoes" than usual.

Reducing mosquito populations means policing the yard to find and remove any source of standing water, which is easier said than done. Even corrugated drainage pipes can hold, in their interior indentations, enough water for the pervasive Asian tiger mosquito to breed.

This recent import, as we all know, defies native mosquito behavior by being active in broad daylight.

The key is to eliminate the waterborne larvae before they become blood-sucking flyers, said Jorge Arias, of the Fairfax County Health Department. But if your property is overwhelmed by the adult insects, you can spray an insecticide called permethrin labeled for use against mosquitoes. This pesticide is toxic to fish and beneficial insects, so follow the label directions carefully.

Arias pointed out that mosquito problems are made worse in neighborhoods with unoccupied homes in foreclosure. "With people not living there, they don't take care of where the water is accumulating," he said.

So you can imagine my relief when a public relations person named Dustin called out of the blue to tell me about a new product that has outdoor enthusiasts "raving about the head-to-toe protection they get" from the "Don't Bite Me! Patch." This is applied like a nicotine patch, except it infuses your bloodstream with Vitamin B1and aloe, and then you give off an odor that is offensive to mosquitoes.

"I don't think it's going to protect you that much," Arias said when I told him about it. I followed the instructions to the letter and stepped into the garden at 7 p.m., prime time for mozzies. By the time I had dunked a watering can in the fish pond and delivered it to a wilting hydrangea, an Asian tiger was on my index finger probing with her needle. I went over to the veggie garden, where I was unable to offend three more hungry tigers.

Ah, well, back to lemon eucalyptus spray.

Even with the pests, this is a good year in the garden. Last year, the drought withered not just the plants but the gardener's heart. This year's lushness has given us a redeeming paradise.

Posted by John Flesher | The Associated Press July 16, 2008 15:08PM TRAVERSE CITY — Foreign species that slipped into the Great Lakes in ballast tanks of oceangoing cargo ships cost the regional economy at least $200 million a year, said a University of Notre Dame study released Wednesday.

a separate report issued by the National Research Council rejected the proposal of some activists and politicians to stem the species invasion by closing the St. Lawrence Seaway or declaring it off-limits to oceangoing freighters.

Instead, the U.S. And Canada should work together to make sure that saltwater ships exchange their ballast water -- or rinse their tanks if empty -- while still at sea, said the report by the council's Transportation Research Board.

The reports come as environmentalists are prodding the U.S. Senate to approve a bill ordering ships to install systems for killing invasive fish, mussels and other critters that can disrupt the Great Lakes ecosystem. The measure has cleared the House but supporters say its prospects will be dim unless the Senate acts before its August recess.

"Politics are holding up our ability to stop the next invader," said Jennifer Nalbone, invasive species campaign director for Great Lakes United.

Of the 185 exotic animals and plants that have established populations in the lakes, 84 have arrived since the St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959, providing a navigational link between the lakes and the Atlantic.

Fifty-seven of the newcomers likely caught a ride in ballast water scooped up in foreign ports and dumped into the lakes when ships took on cargo, the Notre Dame report said. Among them: the round goby, the spiny water flea and the Eurasian ruffe.

They also include zebra and quagga mussels, which have been especially damaging to the regional economy by clogging water intake pipes and gobbling algae at the base of the aquatic food web.

Estimates of their cost to the economy have varied widely. The Notre Dame scientists suggested a price tag of $300 million last spring. But their latest report, using a different analytical method, pegged the loss at $200 million, saying it could grow with additional research.

The total refers only to costs for the eight U.S. States on the Great Lakes. Canada also has suffered from the species invasion, said David Lodge, director of the university's Center for Aquatic Conservation.

"We wanted to apply objective scientific research to one of the most pressing questions being asked today: What are the benefits and costs of shipping in the Great Lakes region?" Lodge said. "The distributions of losses we found with invasions from shipping may be the tip of the iceberg."

Sport fishing has taken the biggest hit: $123.5 million in 2006, the year on which the data are based, the report said. Participation is 11 to 35 percent lower on the lakes than it would have been if fish populations hadn't fallen because of exotics.

Other damaged sectors of the economy include wildlife viewing ($47.6 million loss); raw water use by municipalities, power plants and industry ($27 million); and commercial fishing ($2.1 million).

The study results "really point to the importance of recreational values in the Great Lakes," said David Finnoff, a University of Wyoming economist who joined the project.

The National Research Council study was requested by the Great Lakes Protection Fund, a nonprofit founded by the region's governors. The mission was to halt the species invasion while also boosting global trade.

Because of that dual mandate, the research panel dismissed shutting down the St. Lawrence Seaway or excluding ocean freighters, said chairman Jerry Schubel, president and CEO of the Aquarium of the Pacific. Doing so "clearly would not be trade-enhancing" and would lead to lengthy battles in Congress and the courts, Schubel said.

But a strategy based on requiring ballast exchange and tank flushing could be implemented quickly, he said. The U.S. St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. Imposed such a requirement this year and Canada did likewise in 2006.

The two nations should adopt International Maritime Organization standards for ballast water cleanliness while developing better systems for monitoring compliance with exchange and flushing regulations, the report said.

It recommended continued research of onboard sterilization methods such as chemicals and ultraviolet irradiation but stopped short of calling for them to be mandatory, as the House bill would do. Technology hasn't advanced enough for that, Schubel said.

Stuart Theis, executive director of the U.S. Great Lakes Shipping Association, praised the council for supporting continued operation of the seaway.

"The proposal to just do away with all the jobs and all the commerce that the maritime industry brings to this part of the country would be ridiculous," Theis said.

But Jeff Skelding of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition said, "In the absence of immediate congressional action to control invasives, why would we take the option of closing the seaway off the table?"

© 2008 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved.

July 16, 2008
What: Blueberries. Michigan is a national leader in blueberry production. Mid-July is the time when they start coming in. In the nutrition world blueberries are superstars because they contain disease-fighting phytochemicals. And their fiber content makes them winners when it comes to lowering LDL cholesterol. Steve Elzinga, owner of Erie Orchards and Cider Mill in Erie, has 4 acres and three varieties of organically grown blueberries. You can pick your own or buy them picked at the orchard. "Right now with all the moisture and with the nice summer we're having, the berries are beautiful and about the size of a nickel," Elzinga says.
Cost: Blueberries cost about $2.50 per pound for U-pick. Quart containers holds about 11/2 pounds. Already picked blueberries sell for $2.50 per 1/2 pint. Erie Orchards has 10-pound boxes for $39.95.
Choosing: Blueberries don't ripen at the same time. They turn from green to purple and then to blue. Go for the biggest blue ones.
Storing: Blueberries are highly perishable but if stored properly can last several days in the refrigerator. In the freezer, they will keep at least one year. You don't need to thaw them before using. To freeze it's best to pack the berries in 1- or 2-cup portions in freezer-quality bags. Put the blueberries in a colander and rinse. Line a baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. Place the blueberries on the paper towels, cover with more paper towels and pat dry. Let the berries dry for several hours. Place the berries in individual freezer bags, squeezing all the air out, and freeze. They will keep 9-12 months.
U-pick blueberry farms:
Erie Orchards & Cider Mill in Erie, 734-848-4518.
Dexter Blueberry Farm, Dexter, 734-426-2900.
Spicer Orchards, Fenton, 810-632-7692.
Hazen's Blueberry Farm, Howell, 517-548-1841.

Susan Selasky
The Detroit Free press
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Sunday May 04, 2008, 5:21 AM -
The Grand Rapids Press
By John Hogan

April came in with a trace of snow and ended on a cold note.

In between, we enjoyed 11 days with temperatures of 70 degrees or better, helping us end April warmer than normal, a welcome change from previous months.

The warm weather has spurred many of us to assess the lawn -- or lack of it. Bare spots are likely the work of European chafer grubs, which are busy eating turf roots. Their numbers often are higher in lawns that were dry last summer and fall.

If the lawn is pock-marked with holes, it is likely the work of critters digging for grubs. Dead patches in lawns -- especially lawns with sandy soil and areas that have a slope to them -- are likely places for grubs to be active now, Michigan State University entomologist Terry Davis says.

To determine if dead patches are the work of grubs or the neighbor's dog, dig at the edge of the bare spot and look for 5/8-inch long, c-shaped grubs.

If present, it is likely the larvae of European chafer beetles. Any you don't kill will emerge in late June and early July as light-brown beetles.

If damage is limited to a few patches here and there, rake out the dead grass -- it'll be easy without roots holding it in place -- and overseed. For heavy infestations, apply Dylox or Sevin to the affected area. Either product can be used through mid-May.

Using either product after May 15 is likely a waste of money; grubs stop feeding in late May and it takes several days for the products to work down to where the grubs are in the soil.

Milky Spore, meanwhile, is an organic grub control product that works anytime, with one application lasting 10 to 15 years.

"The spores can be applied as long as the ground isn't frozen," said John Venman, who runs Venman Landscape Services in Rockford. "I like the powder form the best as it is a one-time treatment rather than three applications for the granule product."

Grub control products containing imidacloprid or halofenozide will not control grubs in the spring, MSU's Davis said.

Wait two months before using Scotts Grub-Ex, Bayer Advanced Season Long Grub Control and Spectracide One Stop Once & Done, he recommends.

"Applied in early July and watered into the ground, these products will give 90 to 100 percent grub control," Davis said.

Seedy characters

If brown splotches of turf do not come out easily with a hard rake, it may be the victim of something other than grubs, perhaps salt injury or snow mold.

"In most cases, the snow mold has probably not killed the turf but has simply killed all of the leaf tissue," said Kevin Frank, an MSU professor of crop and soil sciences.

Rake out the damaged area to remove dead grass and to allow air and light to penetrate.

If you plan to reseed the lawn, wait a week if you've put down a grub control product.

It's not a bad idea to fertilize newly seeded areas with a starter fertilizer or one of the many organic lawn fertilizers on the market.

Just be sure the fertilizer you use is not one that inhibits seed germination -- specifically, fertilizers with a crabgrass pre-emergent. It works on crabgrass seed and lawn seed without discrimination.

"Young seedlings don't tolerate herbicides very well, and the guideline is usually to wait three 'real' mowings before applying any herbicides or, in some cases, at least 60 days," Frank advised. "By 'real' mowings, I mean you're actually cutting significant grass, not just running over the area to trim down weeds."

Frank recommends a good cover of mulch if you're not around to water seeded areas several times a day.

Hopefully at this point, it is straw -- and not snow -- that blankets the lawn.

There is no known treatment for VHS in a lake or river. Preventing the spread of VHS is the best way to protect Michigan's fish stocks from the disease.

As summer approaches and fishing season shifts into high gear, the Department of Natural Resources is reminding anglers that preventing the spread viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) will take the effort of everyone.

Although long known in Europe, VHS is a relatively new disease to the Great Lakes region that is capable of killing numerous species of fish by causing internal bleeding. First discovered in the Great Lakes in 2005, VHS has caused fish kills in northern Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River, Lake Erie, and inland in Budd Lake near Harrison.

Anglers can help prevent the spread of disease by following two simple rules: Don't move water and don't move fish.

Anglers are asked to empty their live wells and bilges when they leave a lake or river. Live wells should be disinfected with one half-cup bleach per five gallons of water before the boat is launched on another body of water.

Fish should never be moved from one body of water to another, including minnows used for bait. Please dispose of leftover minnows away from the water; do not empty your bait bucket into the lake, which is illegal. Anglers who collect their own minnows should use them only in the same waters where they were collected. Certified VHS-free minnows can be used anywhere in the state and now are widely available in bait shops. Uncertified minnows may be used in the specific VHSv Management Areas indicated on the receipt provided by the bait shop. If there is any doubt, anglers should use uncertified bait only in the VHSv Positive Management Areas.

For more information on VHS, CONTACT: Gary Whelan 517-373-1280, Todd Grischke 517-373-1280 or Ann Wilson 906-228-6561 or visit the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnrfishing.