Which common weed is a healthy addition to any salad?

Purslane. Many of us think of purslane as an annoying weed often found in the cracks of our drive or walkways, maybe in the sandy open section of your garden but purslane is actually a very nutrious succulent herb. This new and upcoming addition to the edible landscape is a source for one of the highly sought after Omega-3 fatty acids, alpha linolenic acid as well as protein, vitamin E and vitamin C. No need to pay for fish oil when most of us can get it (purslane) for free. Purslane is a delicious addition to many recipes, add it raw to salads, stir fry it up, or put it in soups and sauces. Check out this link for recipes.
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/98promotions/april/recipes.html

Is Playing in the Soil Beneficial?

As gardeners playing in the soil is a common activity. We all know that gardening is hard work and a very active passtime or career. We get many physical benefits from gardening but did you know that the soil itself contains a bacteria that turns on a group of neurons in our brain that promotes the hormone serotonin, also known as the "happiness hormone". Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in regulating mood, metabolism, anger, aggression, sleep and appetite. So maybe we should all spend more time playing in the dirt. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Eat-Mud-to-Get-Happy-51563.shtml

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN

The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect native to Asia. This insect infects and kills North American ash species to include, green, white, black and blue ash trees. Since its discovery on the North American continent in 2002 originally in Michigan, it has now been seen in 12 states and two Canadian provinces. In May of 2009 the EAB has been discovered in the Twin Cities Metro Area, in particular, St. Paul. The adult beetle will eat the leaves of an ash tree causing little damage. It is the larvae (immature stage or the borer stage) that tunnels into the outside bark (what we see) of ash trees feeding on the inner bark. This inner bark transports nutrients and water between the leaves and the roots of the tree allowing it to live. Once the tree has been infected with the borer, the EAB disrupts the trees ability to transport water and nutrients from the canopy and the root system and vice versa.
What to look for:

• D-shaped exit holes (made by the adult) on the outer bark of branches and trunks
• The adult insect has metallic green wing covers and a coppery red or purple abdomen. They are about 3/8 to 5/8” long. Present from late May to early September but most common in June and July.

• A declining leaf canopy beginning in the top 1/3rd progressing until the tree bare
• Epicormic shoots-sprouts growing from roots or base of trunk and leaves larger than normal
• Increased woodpecker activity

What you should do if discovered:

Call the Minnesota Arrest-the-Pest Hotline (1-888-545-6684)

MAINTENANCE NOTES

• Now is the time to dead head perennial blue salvia and blue nepeta to get a repeat bloom
• Pay attention to your container gardens and cut back the more aggressive plants to open up the other plants to the light and also so you can see them
• If you haven’t done so already begin staking your prestigious fall blooming perennials, such as Eupatorium (Joe-Pye Weed), Rudbeckia ‘Herbstonne’ , and Asters. They may not be flopping now but when they bloom the flower heads can get heavy or a storm (we wish) with heavy winds and rains may cause them to topple over.

SEASONAL TIPS: COOL SUMMER AND WATERING PRACTICES

It’s the middle of July and we are having 70 degree temperatures in Minnesota. I don’t know about your state but Minnesota is experiencing a relatively cool summer but little rain. What does that mean; water, water, water. Minnesota, the western United States, and portions of the south and southeastern United States continue to be in a drought. Container gardens dry out faster than our gardens in the ground, so check your containers at least every other day particularly the ones that are in full sun. For the most effective use of water, water in ground gardens in the early or later part of the day when the sun is not as prevalent to prevent evaporation. If you do tend to water in the evening be sure to water early enough so the foliage of the plants have enough time to dry off which helps prevent disease.

Remember to give your trees and shrubs supplemental watering, and don’t forget your evergreens, they need ample amounts of water to successfully survive the winter months.

SEASONAL TIPS: WHAT'S HARVESTABLE IN YOUR GARDEN

July is the perfect month to make a fresh garden salad, your favorite blueberry pie or ratatouille for dinner. Available this month in your own garden or at your local farmers market is an array of fruits and vegetable at their peak of freshness. Such things include, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, peppers, zucchini, eggplant, lettuce and other greens, kale, broccoli, beets, kohlrabi, summer squash, radish, edible flowers, and various herbs.

NEW AND UP AND COMING PLANTS

It’s hard to think about summer annuals for 2010 while we are in the middle of enjoying our 2009 summer but as growers and as professional gardeners we get a little excited to see what is upcoming and new for next year. This is a busy time of year for nursery people and growers to travel around the country in search of that awesome new petunia, a new potato vine to add to our many in the collection, a calibrachoa that has double blooms or maybe a tree that in sterile that provides the beauty in its canopy but doesn’t drop messy fruit on your sidewalk/driveway. Across the country new plants are being trialed all the time. Where a lot of trials occur in the warmer climates, in particular, California there are trials taking place right here in the state of Minnesota. I encourage you to tour the trial gardens done by the University of Minnesota at the Horticulture Garden on the St. Paul campus, or while traveling to your cabin stop by the North Central Experiment Station in Morris or the West Central Experiment Station in Grand Rapids. Don’t forget the Minnesota Arboretum or the arboretum in your state.