A GREENHOUSE - 12,000 LBS OF PRODUCE - Highland Lakes Master Gardener Association
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E
Working toward
12,000 LBS OF PRODUCE
at The King’s Garden
PAGE 6
HIGHLAND LAKES MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION
April 2021 • Volume 22, Issue 3
HIGHLAND LAKES MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION
6 16 10
President’s Corner
Feeling that spring itch that can only be cured with new plants!
13 14 20
G reetings, Master Gardeners...
Last month when I was writing my letter for
good. I know it’s still early for the Crape Myrtles,
but I’m getting a bit anxious and ready to see green
In This Issue
the Dig It, we had just received rain, freezing leaves! And I am eager to go do some shopping.
rain. snow and ice. Last week it again rained, but There are plants out there that I need. I’m not sure
with hail — big hail — at my house. what they are or where I will put them, but
Looks like I will need a new roof,
and I’m sure many of you also
Spring is painted in
I know I can find something new
for my flower beds! Special Features
daffodil yellows, robin egg blues,
had some damage, hopefully
nothing serious. But I am
new grass green and the brightness of
For those of you with the
same itch. be sure to go 5 New hours reporting system
hope for a better life. Regular Columns
thankful that our storm
damage is so slight, compared
by the AgriLife building
and pick up your HLMGA 5 HLMGA Scholarship
to many places that have had Toni Sorenson membership card. It can be used 2 President’s Corner 18 Gardener’s X-change
terrible flooding and tornadoes, and for a discount at Backbone Nursery 6 The King’s Garden update
there were no injuries in our communities. and, of course, when buying plants, the more 3 Upcoming meeting notice 19 Luedecke Lessons
As I was out looking over the storm damage, I went you save, the more you can buy!
4 AT Opportunities 25 Financial Report
10
In Memoriam —
to check on my tomatoes. I was expecting to see them Spring is here... finally! Get out and enjoy it, Roger Scarborough
broken and ruined. But, planted on the east side of because you know hot weather will be here soon. 4 Volunteer Opportunities 26 General Meeting Minutes
the storage building, they were standing straight and 14 The Garden update
totally unharmed! I hope your gardens came through Carolyn Stephens 4 Call for Content 27 Exec. Board Mtng. Minutes
with little or no damage, as well.
stephens4005@sbcglobal.net 13 Creature Feature
16 Serving Bowls
I am still waiting on some things to come out...
Mountain Laurels and Crape Myrtles are not looking
817-874-2138
20 For the birds
Find the latest HLMGA news online!
burnetcountyhighlandlakesmastergardener.org facebook.com/HighlandLakesMasterGardeners
a Tuesday, April 13, 2021 • 2 p.m.
April Via Zoom Only
HLMGA
The “Dig It” News is a publication of the
Watch your email or check the HLMGA website at
Highland Lakes Master Gardener Association
a
burnetcountyhighlandlakesmastergardener.org for the meeting link.
– written by gardeners, for gardeners! Please
send all content for publication to editor Gail Meeting
Braymen at gebfoto@gmail.com. Deadline is Program: Worms In Your Garden
the 28th of the month for the following month’s Presented by Brian Fraus, owner of Texas Big Worm
issue. The “Dig It” News is published every month
except February and August.
2 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 3
Approved Master Gardener Advanced Training Opportunities
APRIL 2021 Many benefits coming with new reporting system
From the MG Membership Committee
By Amy Parke make charts depicting volunteer hours, ministrators. There is a second training
Again, there are no in-person meetings or Opportunities, all virtual, that appears on the MG total project hours, and many other ar- video, which will be released shortly.
presentations scheduled that would offer Advanced Website under the heading “Library of AT Resources” It’s no April fool’s: a new hours re- eas of interest. You may be interested in I will speak at the April meeting
Training credit during April from any of the local at burnetcountyhighlandlakesmastergardener.org/ porting system is here! the new ability to use your cell phone to about the new system. Keep watching
nature-oriented organizations. library-of-at-resources.html. Such a list will appear on Many of you have expressed dissatis- enter hours. You can also print out your for emails with information. Thanks for
the HLMGA website each month. Check it out! faction with the current volunteer hours hours, if you choose. your patience. Everything that is this
Also, there are no classes scheduled for April at reporting system. You could not change Your volunteer hours are valuable to complicated will have some kinks, but I
Backbone Valley Nursery, The Natural Gardener, GREEN THUMB PROGRAM your password without the adminis- you and to the Master Gardener orga- think AgriLife hit a home run with this.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center or San Antonio trator’s assistance, you had questions nization. The new system is much im- I will be available to help everyone who
Botanical Garden. APRIL 22 — “Attracting and Photographing
Wildlife” with Hank and Sissy Rominski, Master about who volunteered for what proj- proved from the old system. It is such a needs assistance. In the meantime, en-
However, Doug McCoy, Membership Committee Gardeners, 1–2 p.m. (1 hr credit), at The King’s ect, the hours for end-of-year awards benefit to enter hours from your phone. ter any hours you have earned in 2021
and MG Board of Directors, has put together a Garden, 3435 RR 1431, Kingsland. Wear a mask and had to be tabulated by hand with lots of I am hoping fewer hours will be lost as on the old system, if it is still up. If it
four-plus page list of Approved Advanced Training bring your own chair. interpretations… the system had lots you can enter your hours prior to leav- is down or if you don’t have internet
of limitations. The staff at UC Davis ing the volunteer site! access, write down any hours you have
Volunteer Service Opportunities University who developed the system More information will be coming earned on paper and keep it so you can
WASH YOUR STAY have admitted they cannot continue very soon. This was a very quick de- enter your hours later. All hours should
HANDS APRIL 2021 SAFE
supporting it due to limited man hours,
and so they are disabling it, on... you
velopment, but Mr. Jacobs has been
designing volunteer reporting systems
roll over to the new system; however,
for peace of mind, it might be a good
From the MG Membership Committee guessed it, April 1, April Fool’s Day! for Master Gardeners from all over the idea to make a paper copy or take a
However, this is no joke. The staff country for years. I have seen the first screen shot of your hours!
HLMGA members are encouraged to follow social • Horseshoe Bay Church Garden (Vicki Adcock – at Texas AgriLife had very little warn- training video he made, and I was on Amy Parke
distancing protocols to protect themselves and others txrunner55@att.net) ing this was coming. They asked for the Zoom call in which he and Jayla steveamyparke@yahoo.com
during volunteer activities. an extension, which was granted, but Fry explained the new system to ad- 254-833-2720
• The King’s Garden (Keith Atwood – keithatwood@ they still had to move fast. They quick-
Project sites are under the supervision of the Project hotmail.com) ly hired R.J. Jacob to develop and in-
Chairs. Therefore, no one should show up at a project • Oaks Nursing Home Courtyard Garden (Christy tegrate a new system. In my opinion,
site expecting to do Volunteer Service unless specific Stephens – cnt78611@yahoo.com) he did a great job. You will experience
permission has been obtained from the Project little disruption in reporting your hours
Chair. Availability of VS activity as well as schedules, • AgriLife Extension Office Building (Manena Rueffer
– nener5954@gmail.com) after you initially log in to the new sys-
etc., at each project site are up to the Project Chair tem and set up a username and a pass-
exclusively. • The Garden (Suzy Rowley – suzyrowley@gmail. word. I will no longer have to assign
• HARTH Foundation (no chair/contact at this time) com). your passwords for you. When you
Call for Content! need a new password, you will work
with the program. There will be a new
The Dig It News is written for gardeners, by gardeners... projects, people, you name it. Please include a brief address to open the system, but it has
and that means we need to hear from YOU! You can description of what is in the photo and identify any people. not been finalized yet. I will send it out
send material at any time to Gail Braymen at gebfoto@ • Gardener’s X-change - Please include your email as soon as I receive it.
gmail.com, but the deadline for the next issue (May) is address and/or phone number so folks know how to contact The page will look different, but the
April 28. You can send content as the text of an email or you. functions are the same. The menu is
in a document – whatever works best for you. Cell phone • Q&A with the HLMGA - Send gardening questions you
pictures are fine, and photos are welcomed with all types of horizontal rather than vertical, but all
have, or answer questions published in a previous issue.
submissions. of the menu items are present, along
• Diggin’ the Dirt - Share your gardening knowledge and
Here’s a list of submission categories, but please don’t with some wonderful new functions.
experience by answering the question of the month. Please
feel limited – if a topic interests you, chances are it will email your answer to Suzy Buchanan at docinia@yahoo. These functions are particularly great
interest other HLMGA members! com. for report writing and for answers to
• Articles - Stories about people, projects, plants, places or • Garden Hacks - Share your best tips and tricks. questions I am frequently asked. We
anything else you think would interest readers. Those of • Recommended Reading - Send the titles of your favorite can now easily find how many volun-
you with specialized training or knowledge are especially gardening books. teers work on projects by name. Project
invited to share your expertise with the rest of us! Photos managers can instantly email persons
• Links & Apps - Share your favorite online gardening links
are a plus. (BONUS: time spent writing articles counts as indicating they have interest in volun-
and applications.
volunteer time!) teering on a project. We will be able to
• Recipes - Because who doesn’t like to enjoy the fruits –
• Photos / What’s Growing On - Share pictures of plants,
and veggies – of their labor?
4 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 5
‘ ‘ 409 pounds
harvested
so far this year
AND a sink. However, one thing is the same from last year:
we have awesomely beautiful bulbs of onions and garlic
growing. If they were bluebonnets, people would come
from miles away to see and photograph them.
Planting cabbage as a fall crop was a success. The plants
not only survived the freeze, but grew relatively bug- and
disease-free. We will be planting more of them this fall to
use our beds to the fullest.
The springtime weather in the Highland Lakes is “oh so
delicious.” We can prepare our yards during any part of the
day and not sweat. At The King’s Garden, our volunteers
arrive with light jackets, long sleeves, etc., to battle the
morning chill, but will remove them by the time they are
ready to leave. Unfortunately, that will change by the end of
May, when nature turns on the blast furnace.
Fortunately, a recent storm didn’t drop hail on the tiny,
tender tomato seedlings that we recently planted. Barring
an unfortunate act of nature, they have plenty of time to
grow huge and produce plenty of fruit for the Share The
Harvest Pantry. We also planted about 60 pounds of potatoes
but, since they hadn’t sprouted above ground, we weren’t
Keith Atwood is a giant amongst the tiny tomatoes. concerned about hail.
continued on page 9
T K s Garden
he ing ’
UPDATE
The King’s Garden is over twice the yield compared to this
time last year. We believe that we are on track to reach our
overall goal of 12,000 pounds for 2021. It is amazing what can
be done by dedicated volunteers on a very limited budget.
There have been so many changes at The King’s Garden
since last year. Some are more obvious: the changing of the
planting beds, the different look of the new irrigation system,
the increased pollinator and beautification gardens, the shed
roof to provide shade, the condition of the trees in the orchard
Onions this “purdy” are photo-worthy.
Story by Hank Rominski | Photos by Colleen “Sissy” Rominski
6 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 7
LEFT: Don Weber builds a
pedestal for the “new” old sink.
BELOW: Don makes the water
connections.
BOTTOM: The sink is fully A “see” of onions competes with wildflowers for spring beauty.
functional and ready to use.
continued from page 7
Colleen “Sissy” (my wife and co-publicist) decided to prepare and plant the
flowerbeds inside the fence. She planted larkspurs, zinnias and a mixture of
cosmos plants. Soon the larkspurs will be flowering to welcome our volunteers
and guests to The King’s Garden.
Outside the fence, the purple passion vines are prolifically putting out green
leaves and the sunflowers have sprouted. We are hoping that the view to the
west will be a fence full of purple and yellow flowers amongst the leaves.
Many thanks to Don Weber, who took on a project that I certainly didn’t want
to do. He mounted a very old, heavy,
well-worn, but very cool cast-iron sink.
With more than 11,000
This sink appears to be old enough to
square feet of vegetable
have been in the Ark. If it could speak,
garden and about 1,500
the stories it would tell. The sink was
square feet of pollinator
donated by a member of our community
space to be tended, it
and will serve us for years and years to
is easy to maintain your
come. Thank you very much, Don.
“social distance” and get
Hopefully, there is someone out
some great outdoor time.
there who will take notice of our little
Just stop by, or contact
community and decide to volunteer with
Keith Atwood (713-203-
us. One task that could use a champion
8846) or Hank Rominski
is our composting. Bins have been put
(860-575-8098) for
up, but they lack the regular turning and
information if you want
whatever is needed to make them more
to visit or volunteer at The
efficient.
King’s Garden.
As communities are being vaccinated
We are in winter hours and
and the immunity base increases, why
will be at The King’s Garden
don’t you take an outing to visit The
every Monday, Wednesday
King’s Garden. You can see some old
and Friday starting about
friends or make new ones. For sure,
9 a.m. Usually someone is
we’ll swap stories and even exchange
there until about 11-11:30.
some ideas to improve our harvests.
8 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 9
in the mix and helped with projects, ABOVE: Roger (far right) was Class Coordinator for the 2008 Certification Class.
activities and class trainings. He
BELOW: Roger (far left) was a member of the Rose Test Gardens Committee in 2005.
made presentations for Green Thumb
about olives and taught how to grow All photos courtesy Allison Bennett
grapes and make wine.
Sylvia said that Roger served on the
In Memoriam
committee for the Rose Test Garden in
Marble Falls, which was established
in 2005 for a five-year plan, and the
committee for the beautification of
the Granite Shoals City Hall project
Roger Scarborough
in 2008, which was an approved
project for the HLMGA. Roger was
Class Coordinator of the Master
Gardener class in 2008, when there
were 28 associates. Sylvia always
It is with a heavy heart we say goodbye There is a common thread to the stories hosted the new class members after
to an old friend who died recently. Roger from Master Gardeners that I gathered about they completed the MG course at
Scarborough had been a member of HLMGA Roger: he loved to share his plants and his Stonebridge, her home and gardens.
since 2000. He was designated a Highland knowledge of gardening. He was always Roger was known for his open
Lakes Master Gardener Emeritus for his learning, and was a wonderful host. Sylvia houses with a potluck, meeting and
volunteer work in the organization. Those Williams remembers that he was a delightful tour of his gardens in Granite Shoals,
who knew him well will never forget his man who loved his plants. Roger was a when MG was smaller. He always
outstanding accomplishments and unique unique individual who was always ready to entertained with his fun stories and
personality. share a story, the Yantises added. tidbits as he conducted tours of his
Roger grew up in Austin and received his Wade Hibler, former Burnet County gardens. Ray Buchanan recalls Roger
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in studio art and art education Extension Agent, said Roger was in one of the original MG took all of the MG around his garden
from the University of Texas. He liked to visit art exhibits classes. He recalls Roger always “questioned the science” on many occasions. He had some good
and also liked to read history. Roger was a career Navy — how fertilizer works, what makes leaves change color in landscape designs and some beautiful,
pilot, and he and his wife, Joanne, lived around the world in fall, why is our Hill Country soil so lousy, and many more. old oak trees, along with a number of
15 locations. His mother was an avid gardener, and Roger He loved to learn about horticultural science and then apply fruit trees in his yard. And he always
transplanted several of her plants to Granite Shoals, where it at his place. touted his grape vines, which were on
he and Joanne retired. They would have been married 65 Roger did not hesitate to take leadership roles with the a long fence alongside his property.
years in June. HLMGA. He sat as an officer with the organization. He got Roger really specialized in making
continued on page 12
10 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 11
continued from page 11
wine and loved to share it.
Several members remember that Roger
was always eager and willing to pass
down his heirloom plants to the group.
He was a very generous man. He liked to
be around people, exchange ideas about
that visited their feeders. He would call
Sue and describe the bird and she needed
to figure out what he was seeing. It proved
to not always be easy, but they loved doing
it. Several times, since they lived so close
to each other, she just went over to see what
was visiting his feeders. He so loved the
birds, as she does.
Creature FeatureBy Wizzie Brown, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist
Insects and the
gardening with them, and liked to help There was one incident that Lavona will
out. Bill Luedecke commented that Roger never forget: Roger was in the hospital with
was always excited about his gardening two broken knees sustained in a fall while
projects and more than willing to share building a deck in the back of his house.
thoughts and information he discovered. As a favor, MG members helped to spread
BIG FREEZE
Lavona Fry recalls that Roger had a dry, compost and mulch in his garden that they
funny personality. Sue Kersey attended had gotten from MUD. The ground was so
several potlucks at his home. Once, when soft, and the truck was so loaded, that the
she was there and everyone had their trays truck got stuck. MUD had to get another
of food on their laps outside in the garden, truck to pull it out. They never told Roger
she was sitting on a bench and he was about it until he was out of the hospital and With most of Texas seeing freezing temperatures in glycol allows the insect’s body tissues to supercool but
lecturing her in jest. He started backing up then showed him photos! February, I’ve been getting numerous questions on what it remain above the freezing point.
on the deck. Someone came by and told Those who knew him recall how Roger will do to the insect populations this year. Since we haven’t Freeze tolerance is another modification that some insects
him he was teetering on the edge. He said, was always learning and discovering new experienced such cold temperatures, along with ice and use to survive winter temperatures. With this method,
“I always am.” things to share with us all. He truly loved snow, for a long time, the short answer is that we just don’t freezing causes water to be forced out of living cells, and
Lavona remembers Roger’s love of spending time with us. Roger was a great know and will have to wait and see. I have a feeling that the fluid around the cells freezes. These insects also empty
knee socks. Sue once took a picture person to have as a friend and part of your the majority of insects — and other arthropods — will be their digestive tract to get rid of any food that contains water
of Roger standing in white knee socks team. He truly loved life and lived it the just fine, because they have which could freeze and
and dark shorts and talking with Ray best way he could. ways of surviving winter’s cause the digestive system
Buchanan, who had on dark knee socks I encourage members to read his cold temperatures. to burst. Freeze tolerance
and light-colored shorts. That really said obituary in The Highlander, where you Just like “snowbirds” that is easier for smaller insects
it all. She never really knew if he was teasing her or not, will learn that he was on the fencing team at UT Austin, a drive their RVs to Texas or due to the fact that they
as he did truly have a very dry sense of humor that brought naval aviator in the Vietnam conflict and, later in life, was a Florida to spend the winter, have less fluid in their
the biggest smile to his face. Such wonderful memories… graphic designer and much more. We will all miss him. there are certain groups of bodies because of their
Roger and Sue talked often about all the wonderful birds ~ By Allison Bennett insects that migrate to new small size.
areas to spend the winter Some insects may gather
where temperatures are not together to create collective
as cold. A great example heat. Honey bees do this
of this is the Monarch inside the hive during the
butterfly. winter to keep warm.
Another example that Other insects seek
can be put into “human areas of shelter in areas
relation” terms would where it is not so cold.
be insects that use An example is ladybugs
cryoprotectants (anti- that move indoors during
freeze compounds). The colder months of the year.
most commonly used These insects move into
compound that insects use homes through cracks and
LEFT: Roger (seated) joins a group of awardees for this purpose is ethylene crevices or other areas that
at the 2010 HLMGA Christmas party. Left to right glycol, which is the same are not well sealed when
are Paula Montandon, Bonnie Friesenhahn, Su- compound that is in the Some insects, such as honey bees, use their collective body heat to it gets cold. This can lead
zanne Labry, Sammye Childers, Sylvia Williams, antifreeze that humans put stay warm in the winter. them indoors to become
Jim Rossi and Linda Flemming. into vehicles. Ethylene Photo courtesy Texas A&M University nuisance pests.
ABOVE: Roger and Joanne Scarborough attend
the 2010 HLMGA Christmas party. For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Service Program Specialist, at 512-854-9600. Check out Wizzie’s blog at urban-ipm.blogspot.com.
12 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 13
Artichokes seem very happy.
The Garden
UPDATE
We are in the ground at in soon. Fortunately, all our
The Garden! A bit of a rough fruit trees made it through
start with the cold and wind the freeze and we have lots of
we recently experienced, leaves and blossoms!
but things are looking pretty Along with the veggies, the
good now. Almost all of our beautification team has been
cool-weather veggies are working hard. Both the area
up, though we do still have inside the fence and outside
spinach, garlic and onions to look very promising. Above,
harvest. you can see our artichokes,
Big thank you to all the which seem very happy.
folks who did transplants Spring is here, and with it
for us. We have everything lots of work in The Garden.
planted except for late-starters Please feel free to come visit
such as sweet potatoes, okra, any Monday, Wednesday or
Fruit trees are looking happy. Volunteer bluebonnets are blooming.
watermelon... those will go Friday starting at 8 a.m.
Story and photos by David Waldo
14 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 15
Serving Bowls
RIGHT: An old oil-changing pan has a
new life as a water bowl in Carolyn’s yard.
BELOW: A cardinal gets a drink from the
dog bowl at Carolyn’s side door.
BOTTOM: Alas! An enameled pottery
bowl in Carolyn’s garden didn’t survive
February’s extreme cold.
a few years back, a friend gave me an enameled pottery
“We live to serve.” bowl to use for frogs, birds and the occasional garter snake
That is our tongue-in-cheek motto when we do our
paying a visit. But, in the aftermath of THE WINTER
dogs’ bidding, which is pretty often. This applies to nearby
STORM, I found that this bowl had cracked! Alas!
wildlife, as well. We plant, build habitat and put out food
My husband generously offered to donate a used metal
and water for creatures who reward us with visits. The
oil-changing pan from his shop as a replacement. I thought
ponds and the creek are at some distance from our house,
that might be just the bowl to use for a butterfly puddling
so we serve the water in bowls.
station. Having read in Geyata Ajilvsgi’s “Butterfly
The front yard bird bath has rocks filling one side. The
Gardening for Texas” about supplying the mineral needs
birds can still splash boisterously, and the bees and other
for butterflies, I had been considering a puddling bowl
insects can sip, perched on the rocks, without drowning.
as my next pollinator garden upgrade. Ajilvsgi outlines
A toad bowl nestles among the salvias near our back
detailed plans for constructing and filling puddling
door. Mr. Toad and his buddies soak there beginning in late
places and fruit stations. She gives food suggestions for
spring each year, and the dogs grab a sip on their way back
different species and further notes that groups of butterflies
in the house after visits to the barn.
sometimes gather to puddle together and most members of
A butterfly puddle and dish of fruit wait for thirsty and hungry butterflies. The dog water bowl near our side door suits the cardinals,
the “drinking club” are males. They especially like a little
mockingbirds and other birds just fine. The dogs are happy
beer added to the puddle. Who knew?
to share.
A bit more research led me to Walter Reeves’ easy puddle
Story and Photos by Carolyn Crouchet And so, when we enclosed a vegetable garden space
continued on page 18
16 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 17
Gardener’s Luedecke Keep
-change Lessons
your souls and
soles in your garden!
Remember the True
Master Gardener: Jesus
said, “I am the vine; my
Father is the Gardener.”
By Bill and Martelle John 15:1
Luedecke
Advertise your seeds, plants, tools or other items to
What to plant now Eating like a bird
give away or trade, or ask if other HLMGA members
have what you’re looking for. Send your listing to
Gail Braymen at gebfoto@gmail.com along with Seeds: All hot-weather herbs, such as basil, chives, milk thistle.
your email address and/or phone number so folks Plants: All hot-weather herbs and perennial herbs, such as arte- Many birds can be extremely helpful when it
can contact you. misias, basil, bergamot, catmint, catnip, chives, comfrey, scented comes to controlling unwanted guests, aka dam-
geranium, lemon grass, mints, oregano, pennyroyal, rosemary, aging insects, in our gardens.
santolina, thyme. (Have you checked out Cinnamon Basil or To invite birds to your garden, you will need
Chocolate Mint for this year?) to provide food, water and shelter. Most birds
Vegetables: beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, corn, eat differently depending on the season. For in-
cucumbers, eggplants, lettuce, melons, onions, peas, peppers, stance, some will eat seed in the winter, bugs in
spinach, summer squash, tomatoes, zucchini. the spring and summer, and berries in the sum-
Stagger your plantings so that you don’t have a harvest all at mer to fall. Circulating water, water features or
once, but over time. For instance, you have a section where you a bird bath will provide water for all. Regarding
are going to grow your peppers. Plant some this week and some shelter, trees and bushes provide protection and
next week. Although the growth rates of the plants will vary, roosting. However, housing requirements differ.
you’ve done your due diligence to stagger harvests. For example, a Purple Martin — the largest spar-
I have these two trumpet vines in containers row — will not fit in the opening of a bird house
that are ready to go away. They’ll go free, or if designed for a chickadee. Choose which friends
somebody has something they want to trade, I’ll you would like to invite and provide appropriate
consider it. accommodations.
-- Hank Rominski, 860 575 8098 What bugs do they eat?
Bluebirds: beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, lar-
continued from page 17 vae, moths
Cardinals: large insects, beetles, grasshoppers,
with fruit plate as explained in one of his blog posts leafhoppers, snails, stink bugs
and detailed in his You Tube video from University of
Georgia Extension service: “Attract Butterflies to Your Tips for better burning Chickadees: caterpillars, grubs, worms
House finches: aphids, caterpillars, cucumber
Garden with a Butterfly Puddle” at m.youtube.com/ beetles, flea beetles, leaf hoppers, leaf miners
Gentle reminder if you are burning: Before you start your personal burn,
watch?v=XN0tKUM4kTU. I liked the simplicity and Hummingbirds: aphids, mites, mosquitoes
contact your local sheriff’s department. They will ask for your name, contact
mobility and the fact that I already had most of the Nuthatches: ants, borers, caterpillars, earwigs
number and address. Although rain is an indicator, it is not the only variable
necessary stuff. Reeves suggests a shallow, 16-inch Oriole: beetles, caterpillars, flies, grasshoppers,
to consider when judging whether to burn.
clay or plastic saucer. My oil-changing pan seemed too insect larvae, moths
• Burn pile should only consist of brush, trimmings, untreated wood or paper
deep, but I already had sand and composted manure (for Photo courtesy Texas A&M University
products. Black smoke means there is something in the pile that shouldn’t be. Purple Martins: large flying insects, beetles,
added amino acids). I bought a saucer at a local home • Don’t burn close to the road, where the smoke could be a driving hazard dragonflies, flies, grasshoppers, moths, wasps
improvement store and chose a place on the end of one of to vehicles. Check the direction of the wind so you’re not smoking out your Tanagers: spiders, wasp larvae, wasps
my raised vegetable beds to assemble the puddle bowl. neighbor. Titmice: aphids, beetles, caterpillars, leafhoppers
I added a bit of salt, too, as per Ajilvsgi. I’m saving my • If your brush pile has been sitting for a moment, a mom mammal or bird Woodpeckers: aphids, beetles, caterpillars,
beer until there are more butterflies around. Why waste could be using it as a home. Double check that animals haven’t begun to use worms
good beer now? I think the puddle looks dandy and can’t your brush pile as a home before you light. Wrens: ants, beetles, caterpillars, grubs, snails
wait to see if the butterflies agree. • NO burning on RED FLAG days!!
And what happened to the oil pan? It is now half-filled
In this bird bath half-filled with rocks, a honey bee can perch safely and with rocks, and is the replacement watering bowl in the Have questions or comments?
still be able to drink. garden. The birds and bees have already found it. Contact Bill Luedecke at bill@texasland.net or Martelle Luedecke at Luedeckephotography@gmail.com.
18 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 19For the birds Looking after their feathered
A fter the freeze, we started noticing
that the Pine Siskins were acting strange.
They would not fly away when we ap-
proached, sat all fluffed out and were very
friends is just natural for lethargic. After a couple of weeks and five
or six dead birds later, Sissy searched what
this Kingsland couple could be causing this. We found that salmo-
nellosis was affecting birds. It was noted as
the cause of large number of deaths in the
West, and outbreaks have been observed
elsewhere. The bacteria spreads through
feces-contaminated food and water. There
was a recommendation to clean and remove
bird feeders for a few weeks to keep birds
from congregating at the feeders while the
disease runs its course.
continued on page 22
Story by Hank Rominski
Photos by Colleen “Sissy” Rominski
Orange-crowned WarblerOrange-crowned Warbler
continued from page 21
“We” (Sissy, that is) cleaned the feeders, birdbaths and the ground
underneath them and stopped putting out food that attracts the Pine
Siskins, which feed mostly on thistle seeds and sunflower hearts.
But, of course, we couldn’t completely stop seeing those fine
feathered friends that frequented our yard, so Sissy “asked” me to
build a platform feeder. She wanted something for the peanut butter
suet and sunflower seeds to keep some of our favorite birds fed and
happy.
continued on page 24
Mockingbird
Male Black-chinned Hummingbird Orange-crowned Warbler and Tufted Titmouse Cardinal
22 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021 23Black-chinned Hummingbirds
continued from page 22
Using some scrap cedar, and a
support pole from an old canvas
gazebo, I made a small platform
feeder for the yard and placed it
near the hummingbird feeders.
Now when we are sitting on the
back patio, we still can see both
hummers and other birds as they
feed.
The numbers of birds and
species has dramatically
dropped, but we want to do our
part to keep our bird popula-
tion healthy. Even birds need
to practice social distancing to
prevent the spread of disease.
We hope you enjoy the photos
of some of our visitors.
Yellow-rumped Warbler and Chipping Sparrow
24 The “DIG IT” News | April 2021You can also read
