ATTENTION: Plant observers needed, especially to watch for and report specifics about Project BudBurst's 10 most wanted. Project BudBurst is a national program that enlists volunteer phenologists – watchers of the biological/seasonal rhythms of plant life – to help actual phenologists map these rhythms across the country. Doing so helps them follow effects of climate change.
With gardens producing more and more delicious looking blooms, the temptation is to cut some of these beauties to enjoy indoors. Unfortunately, too many suffer fear of flower arranging and miss opportunities to enjoy flowers during moments when they cannot get outdoors. Bringing flowers in is one of the best parts of gardening. It gives the gardener, and everyone else who passes by the mason jar of daffodils or the bouquet of peonies, the chance to wonder at the mystery – and often the scent - of each unique flower.
Sometimes the magic works, sometimes it doesn't - borrowed from Chief Daniel George in the movie Little Big Man. This could not be more a more accurate description of my experience controlling powdery mildew this year. As readers of my original post on Magic Milk know, I used a spray of 9 parts water to 1 part milk on plants with powdery mildew. It halted the powdery mildew advance on my lilacs, phlox, cucumbers, and zucchini, but spraying must continue regularly or powdery mildew takes over.
You know … the unattractive white powdery-looking spots that seem to appear from nowhere during mid- to late-summer? These fungal spots begin on lower leaves and can quickly spread to cover leaf surfaces of entire plants. Lilacs, phlox, bee balm, asters, dahlias, cucumber and summer squash are all susceptible, particularly if the plants do not have good air circulation (a problem I plant to avoid). Not liking to spray fungicides, I've tolerated powdery mildew for years. But when cleaning up paperwork this past winter, I found a note I had jotted down, likely while watching any one of gardening shows I try to take in during cold weather months. The note said: powdery mildew; 1 part milk to 9 parts water; spray 2x weekly.
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