Pomology Program Annual Fruit Field Day

The University of Idaho Annual Fruit Field Day will be held on Friday, September 17, 2010 from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. The registration will start at 8:30 am and program will start at 9:00 am. Several cultivars of new table grapes, peaches, nectarines, apples, quinces, Asian pears, and other alternative fruits will be presented during the tour. Participants can taste many of these fruits and visit displays of several fruit-related agri-business booths.

Highlights of this event will be:

1) Presentation and tasting of several types and cultivars of fruits at the U of I Pomology Orchard (about 3 miles north of the main office complex) and discussion on application of growth bio-regulators in fruit crops

2) Tour of the U of I comprehensive research projects on ‘Fuji’ apple irrigation and nutrition, chemical thinning, and pesticides uses

3) Tour of the new super high density apple orchard with high spindle and vertical axe canopy systems.

4) Tour of the alternative fruit crops, including quinces, Asian pears, persimmons, Jujube, Haskaps, and mulberries.

5) Tour of the national apple rootstock study and V shape planting system.

6) Tour of the table grape vineyards, new grape canopy experiment, peaches and nectarines, and discussion/ questions/answers on various cultural practices of fruit crops, including planting, growth regulators, pruning, thinning, girdling, pest control, and irrigation.

Where: Where: University of Idaho, Parma Research & Extension Center in Parma, on the lawn in front of the main office complex. Going west on Highway 20/26 in Parma, turn right at M&W grocery store, go for about 1/3 miles and turn left on U of I Lane and go north for about 1 mile.

When: Friday, September 17, 2010, Starts at 8:30 am (sharp) till 1:00 pm

Cost: Free of Charge

Who Can Participate? Open to the Public. Those interested in fruit production, including commercial growers, small farm growers, alternative fruit growers, home gardeners, Master gardeners, horticultural professionals and graduate students, extension and research faculty/staff, horticultural hobbyist, and fruit industry representatives are welcome. Four Pesticide Credits will be offered. Please Call 208-722-6701 ext 228 Or Dr. Essie Fallahi at 208-722-6701 Ext. 225 if you have questions.

Don’t be shocked gentle reader. Please don’t be. Botany is all about sex and reproduction. I’m sorry to break the news to you, but it is. Plants have a one track mind. If they mind. Or not.

So, Isabella Rosselini has created an entire series of film shorts called Garden Porno for the Sundance Channel. It is hilarious. And true. Snails, bees (Queen Bees!) and earthworms are portrayed by this fabulous actress. Check them out here, on the Sundance Channel. And fair warning, YOU watch them first and then decide if the content is suitable for younger, impressionable audiences.

Just so you don’t think I am sitting around resting on my laurels after that big pickle production. No. Today, my buddy Jeff and I spray painted the lines in the lawn for the new flagstone walkway. All the fun, none of the work. I promise to report back as we get it done.

Gardening 365 – Day 243

And tomorrow! The first day of September. YAY~!

I know some folks can’t abide the notion of orange flowers in the perennial garden, and I, too, once felt that way. I’ve since gotten past my prejudice and embrace orange with all the gusto it deserves. Here are a few of my favorite drought tolerant orange perennials.

The cheerful gaillardia, ‘Burgundy’. When given very little, and I mean LITTLE, supplemental water, this is a stalwart performer. Trust me, it does better without lots of water.

A gorgeous Indian Paintbrush

Another cheerful gaillardia, exact cultivar unknown.

And one of my all time faves and an Idaho native, orange globemallow. Think small clear, orange hollyhock. I cut mine back two or three times a season and it thrive. LOW WATER and I mean it.

Gardening 365 – Day 342

Peter Piper pshaaaaaaaw. Here’s what I did on my summer vacation:

And that’s just the “half of it.” I’ve got another 10 pounds of gorgeous fresh cucumbers that will make another batch of 16-20 pts of dills tomorrow. Then, if I am still standing, I’ll get another 10 pounds and make bread and butters.

Saw today that the peaches are coming in. Some are still not quite ripe, so in a couple days, we ought to both be ready.

Fall Flower Show and Seminars

Sponsored by Idaho Horticulture Society

and 36th Street Garden Center

“Autumn Breeze; Falling Leaves”

Designs—Horticulture—Education

September 18: Noon-5pm
September 19: 10am-4pm

Location:
36th Street Garden Center
3823 N. Garden Center Way, Boise
Corner of Hill Road and 36th Street

You are invited to view, and encouraged to enter, the flower show and do not have to be a member of a Garden Club to submit an entry. For a show schedule or information call 208.853.6575 or 208.284.1468. Additional information is online at www.idhort.com.

Seminars, Saturday, September 18:

1pm Composting, Jennie Rylee, Boise City Environmental

Education Coordinator

2pm Dividing Perennials, Jeanene Bell, Master Gardener

3pm Cooking with Herbs, Chef 36th Street Bistro

4pm Twelve Great Herbs To Grow, John Beckwith, Idaho Horticulture Society

No admission charge or entry fee for the show or seminars

One way to jerk yourself up by the bootstraps is to place a big fat optimistic order for spring blooming bulbs. Do it when the temperatures at home are, say, 104, on a dog day of August. Get a big glass of ice tea, park your butt in the chair in front of the computer, and shop with flippin’ abandon. I did and I feel better already.

Here’s the lineup. Part of the plan is to plant the Bunker Hill Peonies together for a big statement, and tuck the Sicilian Honey Lilies in with so the deep rose of the bells picks up the deep rose of the peony. We shall see. I’ve had crappy luck with the nectoscordum bulgaricum, they come up and lay right back down on the ground. Their long scrawny necks streeeeettttttcheeeed across the sidewalk or the flower bed. What’s with that? I asked the folks at Brent and Becky’s and they suggested planting them twice as deep and in more sun. Okey dokey.

Trying the blue alliums after seeing them in all their glory at Red Butte Gardens in June. Wowsers.

Then, Frances of Faire Gardens told me about Narcissus Audubon. Of course, had to have a 100 of those. And how about that delish Crocus bi-florus ‘Spring Beauty’?

I definitely needed more Perestroyka tulips. Plant them in a place where they will be backlit at sundown. You’ll thank me later.

And finally, since I am having such bang up success with lilies these days, I am going to tuck in some pink species lilies.

If I start digging holes now I might be ready when the shipment arrives.

The dew is off the rose. It’s the high heat time of August. Range fires go on around me. And thoughts turn to bulbs. Those magic little packages of promise, dressed in their dry, brown flaky tunics. Ah, yes, the promise of yet another spring.

So far on the order sheet:

Nectoscordum bulgaricum. Commonly called, in a much nice way: Sicilian Honey Lily.
Blue Alliums
Tommy Crocus, Ruby Giant
Audubon Narcissus
and more, many more, Perostrokya tulips (try planting these where they will be back lit at sunset. Please. Go ahead. You WILL thank me later.)

I’ll report back on what else falls into my electronic shopping cart.

Gardens 365 – Day 238

Sone folks will recall my fascination with the plant, erigyngium yuccafolium, or rattlesnake master. I call it the darling of the Plains. So there I was, standing at the Lurie, once again, face to face with this incredible plant:

Isn’t that cool? I planted several in my garden this year, so far, about 12-18 inches tall. GROW DAMMIT!

Gardening 365 – Day 237