*Those Pesky Ads…: Ads for Pawlonia trees are cropping up again in those Sunday supplements. “Zooms up to 12 feet in one season! Rises up to 65 feet high! Resists temperatures to -10F!”
Buyer beware! These trees are not recommended for Wyoming despite the wonderful claims made in the ad. The trees are only rated to zone 5 or 6 – definitely not the 3 or 4 of most of Wyoming.
* Disease Watch: Sudden Oak Death Syndrome is being reported in many areas of the U.S. Dr. Gary Franc (UW Extension Plant Pathology Specialist) sent out the following information last week about the disease (our apologies for duplicates). Dr. Franc can be reached at francg@uwyo.edu.
You have been hearing a lot about sudden oak death syndrome (SODS) in the news lately. This “new” plant disease has been reported on the west coast of the US for several years, and is caused by the fungus Phytophthora ramorum. Efforts to manage this disease have concentrated on the detection and diagnosis of infected plants via intensive surveys and, once they are found, to eradicate infected plants, thereby eliminating the fungus.
About 10 days ago it was determined that one to several west coast nurseries had this disease present in some of their nursery stock (see the summary below). Unfortunately, these nurseries have a large number of clients to which they ship. Wyoming did not appear to be a primary recipient of potentially infected material from the nurseries that have been confirmed positive, thus far. However, a small number of individuals in Wyoming did receive plants via internet orders from one of the nurseries identified below. [Remember, just because material has been shipped, it does not mean that it was infected.] Trace-forward studies are now being done to determine where all nursery stock from these nurseries may have ultimately been shipped and re-shipped. The USDA PPQ and the Wyoming Department of Agriculture are actively involved in determining the scope of shipments received in Wyoming. The Extension Plant Pathology Lab on campus will be involved through diagnostic efforts of collected plant material.
We are concerned about this situation because the fungus can cause plant loss and is subject to quarantine. The fungus has a host range that includes some plants grown in Wyoming. You can view the potential host-plant lists and find out more about SOD at:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/npb/npbmemb.html#Members
http://ceris.purdue.edu/napis/names/sphdXstate.html
http://www.suddenoakdeath.org/
We will have the capability of performing the initial diagnostic steps for the fungus, should it become necessary to receive samples. To date, diagnosis involves culturing the fungus prior to performing confirmatory test(s) that may be done only at a small number of certified labs. Let me know if you need additional information. The news changes daily!-gary
* Horticulture Compressed Video Sessions for 2004: We are in the process of scheduling our six hort Q&A sessions for this summer. Unfortunately we weren’t able to get the times we wanted on all the dates requested because the state’s system is already booked up. We will be going from noon to 1 (actually 12:50) on six Wednesdays. The exact dates will be announced as soon as we have them lined up.
The first session will be devoted to an entomology update focusing on insecticides available for use now that we’ve lost some old standbys.
If you want to sign your site up for these sessions, there’s still time!
*Green Industry Container Alert: This just in from Pennsylvania.
The following release from the Pennsylvania Nursery and Landscape Association (PNLA), in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA), outlines labeling, signage, and advertising directives that take effect April 1, 2004, for ornamentals retailed to Pennsylvania consumers. Over the next 2 years, floriculture and nursery industries nationwide (US), in cooperation with National Institute for Standards and Testing (NIST), will be developing and implementing new standards that will allow consumers to better evaluate and compare ornamentals. Please see the attached PNLA Release.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lisa Nicholas
March 19, 2004 (717) 238-1673
PDA TO MOVE FORWARD WITH INSPECTION OF NURSERY CONTAINERS ON APRIL 1, 2004
HARRISBURG, PA – The Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association (PLNA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) have been working together to resolve issues regarding the sale of hanging baskets and other nursery containers that do not equal their advertised measure, whether linear (in inches) or Imperial (quart, gallon, etc.). Both PLNA and PDA realize that this matter must be settled so that businesses are able to come into compliance with Pennsylvania’s current weights and measures regulations (70 Pa. Code, Chapters 21-27).
In a September 2003 official notice to the landscape and nursery industry, the PDA indicated that it would begin inspections and enforcement on April 1 of this year and is proceeding with that course of action. In order to ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page with regard to what the PDA is requiring from the industry, PLNA, the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) and the Society of American Florists (SAF) have been engaged in discussions with the PDA. As a result of these discussions, PDA has issued the following guidelines with respect to enforcement of the Pennsylvania weights and measures regulations:
Initial enforcement and inspection efforts will focus on permanent plant containers, such as hanging baskets and planters. Advertising, signage and labeling of these containers must be accurate according to their inside diameter or Imperial measure.
Containers having dimensions that are molded into the container and are temporary in nature (such as containers that are typically used to transfer plant material to the consumer and then discarded after planting by the consumer) will not be subject to fines pending implementation of uniform national labeling standards in cooperation with the National Institute for Standards and Testing (NIST). The goal for development of an action plan for these standards is September 1, 2004, with a compliance deadline of April 1, 2006, to allow for depletion of existing inventories and to provide time for container manufacturers to change container molds.
Temporary container labels that are not molded into the container will not be subject to fines until April 1, 2005 (after the implementation of the labeling standards), to allow for depletion of existing inventories and the redesign and printing of acceptable labels.
Advertising and signage must accurately describe container sizes (whether permanent or temporary containers) according to either their Imperial measure or their linear inside dimension. Containers do not have to contain a label regarding container volume or size until April 1, 2006.
Use of the ANSI Z60.1 standard for nursery containers (i.e., #1, #2, etc.) will be acceptable until April 1, 2006, for referring to container sizes that fall within those standards. The ANSI Z60.1 container size must be displayed at the point of sale when used in retail settings.
The PDA’s enforcement process will be to warn and eventually fine, if a warning does not lead to compliance.
If you have any questions or concerns with regard to what you need to do in order to achieve compliance, please contact Lisa Nicholas or Gregg Robertson of PLNA at 800.898.3411 or Ken Deitzler, Chief of Weights and Measures, PDA, at 717.787.9089. For additional information, visit www.plna.com.
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The Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association (PLNA) is the leading trade association representing Pennsylvania’s $3.1 billion ornamental horticulture industry. Founded in 1904, its 750 members include production nurseries, garden centers, landscape designers, landscape maintenance firms, arborists, interiorscape firms, florists and other private sector companies in Pennsylvania’s rapidly growing green industry.
*In the Panter Back Yard and Zoo: Crocus and Iris reticulata are in bloom! It looks like we managed another winter successfully! It will hopefully snow and rain lots this spring; we definitely will need it. Forecasts are for continuing drought conditions over most of the Rocky Mountain region.
Many of our other perennials are showing signs of life (as witnessed by the sneezing attacks…ah allergy season) including the Bergenia, Veronica, Salvia, and some Penstemon, plus Tulipa, Hyacinthus, and Narcissus of course. Junipers will soon be blooming and cottonwood buds are bulging and are about ready to pop. Mark brought home some extra chives, lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria), and vinca the other day; he potted all but the Convallaria which he planted on the shady, moist west side of the house. The hostas like it over there so maybe the lily-of-the-valley will too.
The zoo has changed again. We lost the other tree frog but now have a 20-gallon fish tank in place of the frog habitat. We have red crabs (freshwater), marble angelfish, candy swordtails, green swordtails, marble mollies, cory catfish, and a plecostamus. None have gone so far as to request names, however. Hedwig the hamster seems to be happy although her wheel desperately needs some WD40; she wakes everybody up at night! Henry the Madagascar hissing cockroach also seems content so long as he’s got some sort of fruit to munch on during the wee hours. He’s pretty boring otherwise. We can’t even get him to hiss.
Our little dog Bee loves spring sunshine and is outside whenever she can manage it. The Chihuahua in her is a sun worshipper. The Boston terrier part likes to play. We’re trying to keep her from burying her rawhide snacks in the gardens but she simply insists. Maybe the soil adds a bit of texture and flavor (!).
And yes the orchids are still blooming inside!
*Upcoming Events:
-Spring Gardening Conference: Bugs, Birds, and Beyond, March 27, 2004, ARLC Building, 2011 Fairgrounds Road, Casper, Wyoming. Contact: 307-235-9400
-American Society for Horticultural Science Annual Conference, July 17-20, 2004, Austin, Texas. Contact: www.ashs.org.
-ISA-2004: Bridging Technologies for Trees of Tomorrow, August 7-11, 2004, David Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Contact: www.isa-arbor.com.