– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Old pumpkins never go to waste!

Pumpkins are winter squashes with a hard rind that protects their flesh and seeds inside from the elements until a critter is ready to eat it and spread the seeds. The elements are beginning to change, both weather wise and décor wise. The real pumpkins we’ve been using for decorations may not last much longer. If you are ready to swap out your pumpkins for evergreens, don’t throw them in the garbage! They still have value.

If your pumpkins are structurally sound and you have the means and determination, you can wash the rind, slice open the pumpkin, remove the seeds, and cook it! Roasted pumpkin can be used for savory or sweet recipes for meals. If prepared without additional ingredients, it can be Continue reading Don’t Let Your Pumpkins Go to Waste →

This guy and many of his cousins will soon be seeking refuge in your home!

Soybean harvest is in full swing in Ohio. Something that coincides with this event is the movement of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) from the fields to our human inhabited spaces. Stink bugs are a diverse group of insects that feed on a wide range of plant material. The BMSB is especially irritating to humans because when fall approaches, the seek refuge from the cooling temperatures in our homes.

This stink bug is native to China.  The six-legged, triangle-shaped bug first appeared in North America in 2001, likely after hitching a ride in boxes or packages. They do not pose a threat to human health, but they certainly Continue reading Stink Bug Season is Here!! →

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

The very versatile pumpkin!

Hello, October! It’s so good to see you!

Yes, I am one of those typical people that love the autumn season best compared to the other three. There are so many reasons why. I could go on and on, but I will spare you the full list. At the top though are enjoying a few of my favorite Ohio agricultural commodities that are in their prime. Corn and soybean harvest is starting, and they are huge economic drivers for the state, but it is time for apples and pumpkins to really shine! Ohio is a prominent producer of both. Don’t forget all the other beautiful and tasty squashes that are at perfection in October.

A few things to remember about pumpkins and other Continue reading It’s Pumpkin’s Time to Shine →

Master Gardeners have been busy!

In this issue:

• Whether to save an evergreen
• Connie’s Corner, A Message from our MG Coordinator
• Wagnalls wins award
• Lithopolis Honey Fest
• Smeck Farm Harvest Festival
• Ag Center scarecrow
• MG table at Fairfield County Fair
• Pollarding
• Insects in the home
• H+ummingbirds’ migration
• Tree Ferns
• All about Dodders
• Holly and Yerba Mate
• Wild Species Tulips
• Favorite garden tool
• Featured Book: American Home Landscapes by Denise Adams and Laura Burchfield
• The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
• Norfolk Botanical Gardens
• In/Around the Garden

Find it in PDF linked here.

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

A typical cylindrical millipede that invades homes.

The month of July often triggers a millipede migration in our part of Ohio. These small arthropods are of the order Diplopoda and are not worms, as they are commonly described by fearful homeowners that find them inside crawling on floors and walls.

The legs are the first distinguishing characteristic. Worms (and maggots) do not have legs. The second guess is often that they are a centipede, but they have shorter antenna, legs, and more segments of legs than centipedes. It really is good that the creature they find is a millipede, because they are Continue reading More Bugs In My House! →

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

If you’d like to have currants ready for future 4ths, start planning now.

We recently made a visit back to our hometown for some family business and were able to enjoy my late mother-in-law Rosie’s garden in all its summer glory. Rosie passed away this spring just before Easter. Her favorite hobby was gardening. She spent all her free time selecting, planting, and tending the specimens in her care. Seeing the plants she cared for so lovingly thriving is a sweet reminder of her, both emotionally and literally. The baby and I picked black raspberries in the warm breeze. Naomi couldn’t get enough. We smelled the roses. We were delighted and surprised to find vibrant clusters of red berries in abundance in the garden too. We had forgotten about these fruits. They were currants.

I have never grown currants myself. But after seeing them at their peak, I had to learn more. I looked up one of our OSU fruit fact sheets and discovered that currants have an interesting history.

According to Small Fruit Specialist- Dr. Gary Gao, currants and gooseberries were very popular in the 1800s. Unfortunately, in the early 1900s, Continue reading Learning About Currants →

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Galls can appear on nearly all tree species.

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Punderson State Park up in Geauga County for our annual Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) Extension Retreat. During this event, ANR Educators, Specialists, and Staff get together to learn from each other in an environment out of our normal stopping grounds. The time spent together creates unity within our team while also expanding our appreciation for the diversity of Ohio’s agricultural and natural landscapes. The first activity I participated in at ANR Retreat was a woodland diagnostic nature walk around one of the trails that begins at Punderson Manor.

We did far more talking than walking. It was a good thing we had three hours to walk the trail, because almost every step we had something new to look at and discuss. One of the most common things that caught our eyes were galls. There were galls galore along the Continue reading Galls Galore →

The Ag Center on planting day!

In this issue:

• OSU’s Pollinator Research project
• A Message from our MG Coordinator
• Rain garden classes offered
• MG project updates (Ag Center, Wagnalls, Learning Never Ends, Georgian Museum, Sherman House, Fairgrounds entrance)
• Upcoming MG Training
• New MG project at Auditor’s Office
• State-wide increase in ticks
• Developing a watering plan
• Black Knot Fungus
• Garden Destinations: Pittsburgh’s gardens, South Florida highlights using Franklin Park membership
• Featured Book: Garden-pedia by Pamela Bennett & Maria Zampini
• Did You Know? Hardpan & double digging
• Food Preservation series
• In/Around the Garden

Find it in PDF linked here.

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

The Northern house mosquito has been reported in every Ohio county and spreads many deadly and life-altering diseases. Photo: M.E. Meuti

Mosquito activity is greatest during the months of May through October in Ohio. Mosquitoes are more than just annoying flying bugs. They can be transmitters of dangerous diseases of humans and animals. Globally, the mosquito is the vector of diseases that kill 700 thousand to one million people annually. The most prevalent cause of mosquito related deaths is malaria. While malaria has been eliminated from the United States since the 1950s, there are several other diseases that the Ohio Department of Health tracks and works to suppress including eastern equine encephalitis virus, La Crosse virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, and West Nile virus. Of the 59 mosquito species that inhabit Ohio, only five transmit human diseases. Occurrences of mosquito-borne disease varies drastically year to year and regionally depending on the weather.

Rainy and warm conditions are prime for mosquito development.  Mosquitoes breed in still water. Anything that can hold water can be a mosquito breeding site if Continue reading Mosquito Prevention Season is Here →

– Christine Gelley, Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator, Noble County OSU Extension

Photo: Ag Safety S.T.A.T.

With the welcome of spring comes lush green grass in lawns across America. So, tis the season to fire up the lawn mower. For some, mowing the lawn is a necessary chore and for others, a welcomed excuse to spend time outside. For all parties it is a task that requires keen awareness and good judgement.

If you have never accidently struck a stick, rock, or toy left out on the lawn with your mower, count yourself in the minority. Even if you meticulously scout your lawn for hazards before you mow, you can’t be sure that they’ve been eliminated. An item struck by a mower blade can be flung out the shoot before you even knew you hit it, which can cause damage to your home or worse, an unsuspecting bystander. Accidents with mowers can happen in a split second and sadly, they are not a Continue reading Lawn Mower Safety →