Poison hemlock and wild parsnip are two of our nastiest non-native weeds found in Ohio. Poison hemlock can kill you while wild parsnip may make you wish you were dead. Both are commonly found growing together and continuously wet conditions caused both to flourish this growing season. The size of some infestations has been remarkable. Poison hemlock produces white flowers on stalks that create a more rounded look; perhaps a bit more like an umbrella.  Wild parsnip has intense yellow flowers with the stalks producing a more flat-topped appearance.

On the BYGL conference call, I shared that I am amazed at how the foliage of the greatest landscape small tree, the breathtaking crabapple, has remained relatively clean here in NE Ohio.  I was expecting with all of the rain this year, that we would quickly see what we Crabarians affectionately term “year of the scab dog”.  This “scab dog” effect is due to the fungal pathogen (Venturia inaequalis) causing extensive apple scab lesions on susceptible crabapple tree leaves.  Given our perfect environmental conditions for this fungal disease, I expected it to quickly...

We will be exploring the old and new Secrest Arboreta at a special tree program on July 9. Join us as we look at constructed treescapes and wilder regions. Come prepared to walk!

While on our BYGL conference call, I shared the glorious status of Kousa dogwoods (Cornus kousa var. chinensis) right now in NE Ohio.  Only one word can describe them, “OUTSTANDING”!!  Then Joe Boggs from the southern reaches of the state, asked me to repeat what I said about the Kousa’s here.  I told him that they were just reaching their full glory and were unbelievable due to the cooler weather and moisture.

 

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Brood VIII (Eight) of the 17-year periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) have made their presence known in parts of northeastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, and the northern panhandle of West Virginia. As with past brood emergences, the overall geographical distribution is spotty; however, there are localized pockets with heavy cicada activity.

Magnolia scale females are "puffing-up" and dripping copious quantities of honeydew in southwest Ohio. This native scale has a strong affinity for non-native magnolias and associated hybrids. Common hosts include star magnolia, lily magnolia, and saucer magnolia. Native magnolias are more resistant perhaps because of natural defenses that developed through a shared evolutionary history with the scale.

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'.