The Song of the Cicadas

How much longer will we have to listen to “the song of the cicadas?” According to the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, the periodical cicadas begin to emerge when the ground temperature reaches 64°, usually in late April or early May. It takes about 3 weeks for all of them to come out. They will stay active thru June. Good news,

Cicada molting at Doctors Park in Calvert City, KY
Photo by Holly Walker

this is the 13-year species and will not appear again until 2028. The 17-year species is not prominent in our area.

While cicadas are not harmful to humans, livestock or pets, they can damage young trees and woody landscape plants. The UK Cooperative Extension Service advises against planting new orchards and landscape plants until after the periodical cicada activity as ended for the season. Young trees should be protected with netting or cheesecloth which can be removed after the activity has stopped.

More information is available on the UK CooperativeExtension website.  Publication ENTFACT-446, Periodical Cicadas in Kentucky can be picked up at the McCracken County Cooperative Extension Office, 2705 Olivet Church Road in Paducah. 

Tomato Plant Sale

Supporting our partners, Heath Middle School

Meet Peggy Martin!

From the garden of  Master Gardener, Chris Janne

The Peggy Martin Rose is very hardy and disease free, fast growing, and after established will bloom again in fall along with sporadic flower flushes through the year. Every year, spring will bring a bigger, more spectacular flower explosion than the year before, making it the showpiece of your Garden! Give it room to grow to show its full potential. It is not a once bloomer!!! From the Peggy Martin Rose web site.

Peggy Martin is an old rose that survived after being submerged for 2 weeks in 20-feet of salt water after hurricane Katrina. That is a statement of her strength. The rose has been propagated by Dr. William Welch. A portion of proceeds from the sale of the rose went to help with the rebuilding of the historical gardens in New Orleans. To read more of this fascinating story, visit the Peggy Martin Website.

There are many climbing roses hardy to our Zone 7 area. Listed below are only a few that can be found growing in local gardens.

Madame Alfred Carriere

From the garden of Master Gardener, Chris Janne

Cherokee Rose

New Dawn

Anemone,The Fairy,Old Blush, and Noisette are a few more favorites found in our area.

For information on growing and caring for old climbing roses, visit the National Gardening Association website. 

Another Chance for a Floral Design Class

If you did not get a chance to attend one of the daytime floral design classes, you have an opportunity to attend an evening workshop. McCracken County Extension Agent, Kathy Wimberley will present a program on Floral Design at the McCracken County Master Gardener Association Toolbox at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2 at the McCracken County Extension Office, 2705 Olivet Church Road in Paducah. As always, the Toolbox is a free program for the community. Due to classroom size, the workshop is limited to 35 participants. To make reservations, please call 270-554-9520.

Floral Design Workshop II

Would you like to create traditional mass designs like these?

Design and photo by Master Gardener, Anne McNeilly

Design by Jean Meredith
Photo by Master Gardener, Anne McNeilly

Or are you more interested in modern creations like these hanging designs?

Design by Sandee Walters 
     Photo by Michael Drewitz      

    

Design by Shirley Knight
Photo by Michael Drewitz

These two types of designs will be the focus of the second floral design workshop on May 11, 1:30 pm, at the UK Extension office at 2705 Olivet Chruch Road.  The free workshops are planned as preparation for the 2015 McCracken County Fair Flower Show, "SEE BLUE;" however, everyone is welcome  even if one is not planning to enter a design in the fair.  The traditional mass design class at this year's show is called, "Blue Skies;"  the hanging design class is titled, "My Blue Heaven."  The latter class will be "hands on" with the participants having the opportunity to experiment  with balance and movement within a supplied frame.  

Plant Sale

McCracken County High School agriculture students have all kinds of plants for sale at their greenhouse located at 6530 New Highway 60 West in Paducah. The greenhouse is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays and will be open Mother's Day weekend. This is an excellent opportunity to purchase healthy, vigorous plants while supporting our youth.

Irises

As May arrives, so do the beautiful blooms of the irises.

Photo from Master Gardener, Chris Janne

There are hundreds of varieties, both bearded and beardless. Once planted, very little care is required for an abundance of blooms.

When planting the rhizomes, choose a sunny, well drained location.  Amend the soil with bone meal and a good fertilizer 2-3 weeks before planting. Bury the roots but keep the rhizome near the surface. Space the irises about eighteen inches apart with the rhizome facing in the same directions. Once planted the irises rhizome will continue to grow and produce more plants. They will need to be divided about every 3 years, cutting the new growth from the old, discarding the old and replanting or sharing the new. Bearded irises should be divided in July or August. Beardless irises should be divided in early spring or fall. Once the iris bed has matured, there will be plenty to share with friends. All irises are heavy feeders and do best when fed once a year. As with all gardening, a soil test through the Extension Service will determine what nutrients are needed.

The American IrisSociety has detailed information on growing irises and also an Iris Encylopedia with photos and descriptions.

The Garden Department of the Murray Woman’s Club is sponsoring 2^nd Annual Floral and Iris Color Show, Plant Sale and Luncheon at the Clubhouse of the Murray Woman’s Club, 704 Vine Street, Murray, KY. Show registration is from 7:30 am - 9:30 am. You can view the show from 11:00 – 1:30 and enjoy a wonderful luncheon and plant sale from 11:30 – 1:00. For tickets and additional information, you may contact Linda Scott, 270-753-7944 or lscott187@gmail.com

The following are from the Dennis Dreyer Collection.