Fletcher scale is most commonly associated with yews and arborvitae; it's sometimes called "arborvitae soft scale." However, this native scale may also infest junipers, hemlock, cypress, and baldcypress. In fact, I most often find infestations on baldcypress in southern Ohio.

I've long admired yucca (Yucca spp., family Asparagaceae) but realize many do not share my enthusiasm for these agave cousins. Indeed, searching the web using "yucca" as the keyword yields almost as many websites offering advice on how to kill it as how to grow it.

Last fall I wrote a BYGL alert about planting and growing hardneck garlic. If hardneck garlic was planted last fall, garlic scapes should be appearing.

An Herbaceous Perennials and Annuals School ill be held at Secrest Arboretum on Thursday, June 27, featuring the stylings of Pam Bennett, OSU State Master Gardener Coordinator and Trial Gardens Guru, Matt Shultzman, the man behind Secrest's herbaceous plantings and more teachers and learned. Join us for good food, good walks and displays, and a whole lotta learnin'.

Felt-like eriophyid mite erineum patches are now very obvious on American beech (Fagus grandifolia) in southwest Ohio. I've long identified the culprit behind the patches as Acalitus fagerinea (family Eriophyidae). However, I'm now convinced there may be two species of eriophyids that produce erineum patches on American beech.

The kousa dogwood (Cornus florida) is an eye catcher. This 15 - 30 foot tall tree flowers a little later in the season compared to the native flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). The flowers, including the bracts which some people call erroneously call petals, appear above the tree's foliage. I have observed the bracts holding on for weeks. The fruit will develop as the season progresses and I have observed the squirrels having a feast as they ripen. 

If you were lucky enough to plant sugar snap peas earlier this season, you are likely enjoying the fruits of your labor. The sweet crunchy edible pods are a delicious treat for the entire family, if you can restrain yourself from eating them as fast as you are harvesting them. 

It seems like invasive species are all around us. We read about them in the paper, hear about them on the television, and see information about them on the web. This one-day workshop is designed to give you an update on what is happening in the world of invasive species and how can you help.