Tag Archives: The Raincatcher’s Garden

Communication in the World of Bees…” Let’s Dance!”

Posted on June 18, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

As humans, we live in an information age where advancing technology continues
to take us to new horizons. Amazingly, for as long as honeybees have been on the
planet, their highly effective way of communicating has remained the same.
Survival in the world of honeybees is dependent upon good communication. Let’s
look at how the concept of ‘moving in the right direction’ plays a major role in the
process.
An Australian zoologist named Karl van Frisch (1886-1982) measured aspects of
honeybees’ dances by artificially manipulating forage sources. He described two
types: the round dance and the waggle (or figure-eight) dance. Scout bees
returning from foraging flights immediately attract the attention of other bees
which huddle close to monitor the scout’s movements in the darkness.
A short Q & A will provide a better understanding of these astonishing dances and
how bees use them to share precise information with the hive.
Why do bees dance?
To communicate the location of food. Foraging is a highly organized operation.
When a forager bee finds a particularly good source of nectar, she returns to the
hive and directs others to the source. Specific instructions for the location are
communicated through the patterns of the dance.
How do bees learn to dance?
Bees need “tutors”. In order to learn the dances correctly, they must follow other
experienced dancers. The concept of social learning ultimately shapes honeybee signaling giving them the ability to use a complex form of spatial referential
communication.
What is learned from the dances?
In a strangely mysterious way, dancing communicates the direction, distance and
quality of a resource to nestmates by encoding celestial cues, retinal optic flow
and relative food value into motion and sound within the nest. If you thought it
was just a colony of bees buzzing around in the hive, it is scientific fact that these
curious movements (bee language) are used to manage the work of the hive.
“Busy as a bee” is truly something to be admired.
How is the waggle dance explained?
Outgoing forager bees gather in a specific part of the hive to watch returning
foragers perform the dance. The dancer walks across the comb in the pattern of a
figure eight, waggling her abdomen back and forth as she moves through the
straight portion of the pattern. The direction she faces while waggling charts an
angle in relation to the sun. Other foragers use this information to help navigate
their way to the source. The more she waggles, the better the foraging in this
area. Also, the longer the dance, the farther the distance from the hive.

A drawing of bees on a grid Description automatically generated with low confidence

What determines how much the scouter bee moves her abdomen?
The fervor with which she vibrates her abdomen during the dance, the greater
the richness of the forage source.

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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Friends of the Garden, Part II

Posted on June 5, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

June 5, 2023

14 Fascinating Facts About Ladybugs

(These are excerpts from a story by Rosemary Mosco and orginially published on mentalfloss.com and updated for 2023)

  1. Ladybugs are named after the Blessed Virgin Mary.

One of the most common European Ladybugs is the seven-spot ladybug, and its seven marks reminded people of the Virgin Mary’s seven sorrows.  Germans even call these insects Marienkäfers, or Mary’s beetles.

  1. They are not bugs!

Ladybugs are not bugs – they are beetles.  They are part of Coleonptera, the beetle order.  

  1. Some people call ladybugs birds, bishops, or cows.

In parts of England, and for reasons that are unclear, the ladybug is a bishop.  Nowadays, most people in England use the word ladybird, perhaps because these insects are able flyers. 

In several languages, the portly, spotted ladybug is affectionately known as a little cow.  French people sometimes use the term vache à Dieu, which means “cow of God”.

  1. Ladybugs come in a rainbow of colors.

You’ve probably seen red ladybugs with black spots – but members of the ladybug family come in a wide range of hues, from ashy gray to dull brown to metallic blue.  Their patterns vary, too; some have stripes, some have squiggles, and some have no pattern at all.

  1. Those colors are warning signs.

To avoid being eaten, ladybug species with bright colors are walking billboards that say, “Don’t eat me, I’ll make you sick!”  And that is because…

  1. Ladybugs defend themselves with toxic chemicals.

A lot of ladybugs produce toxins that make them distasteful to birds and other would-be predators.  These noxious substances are linked to a ladybug’s color, the brighter the ladybug, the stronger the toxins.  Don’t panic:  Ladybugs won’t harm you unless you eat many pounds of them!

  1. They lay extra eggs as a snack for their young.

Ladybug moms lay clusters of eggs on a plant, but not all of those eggs are destined to hatch.  Some of them lack embryos.  They’re a tasty gift from the mother ladybug; the newly hatched larvae will gooble them up.

  1. Ladybug larvae look like alligators.

What hatches out of those ladybug eggs is a long, spiny larva that looks a little like an alligator.  Though ladybug larvae may be intimidating, they’re not harmful to humans.  They crawl around, feeding and growing, until they’re ready to turn into something even weirder…

  1. Ladybug pupae look like aliens.

Once the larvae find a nice spot in the garden, they turn into an alien-looking pupa.  Protected by a hard covering, the ladybug then makes an incredible transformation from larva to adult, bursting out of its old skin.

  1.  Adult ladybugs fly with hidden wings.

When a ladybug takes flight, it lifts up its protective, hard covered wings, that are not suitable for flight, and slides out another pair of wings that are light weight, slender and perfect for flight.

  1. Ladybugs survive the winter as adults.

They enter a state of rest and cuddle together in groups, often in logs or under leaves.  Some even find comfort in our homes, the harlequin ladybug enjoys the warmth that is provided.

  1. They’re voracious predators – mostly.

They are a natural form of pest control.  They’re favorite foods are some of our worst plant pests:  aphids, scale bugs, and mealybugs.  A single ladybug can eat 5000 aphids across its lifetime.

  1. Humans are spreading ladybug species around the world.

People have introduced non-native ladybugs to combat agricultural pests, and in some cases they’ve hitchhiked on imported goods.  The results have not always been beneficial as they push out the native species and introduce a deadly fungal parasite.

  1. They can be bad for your wine.

After devouring the aphids on nearby crops, such as soybeans, if vineyards are nearby, the ladybugs take up residence in bunches of grapes.  When ladybugs become frightened during harvesting, they squirt out a smelly defensive liquid fluid.  The resulting wine has a particular stinky flavor that has been likened to peanuts or asparagus.

There are additional sources on the use of beneficial insects at: 

 www.aggies-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/problem-solver

Jon Maxwell, Dallas County Master Gardener

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African Blue Basil

Posted on June 3, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

June 3, 2023

African Blue Basil

If African Blue Basil could speak it might first suggest introducing you to the “parentals”. In this case, that would be a good idea. The African parent is a perennial shrub from forests of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. 

In 1983, African Blue basil was first seen by a nurseryman named Peter Borchard, owner of Companion Plants in Athens, Ohio. He noticed it growing in the path between beds of the two presumed parents, East African basil and ‘Dark Opal’. Borchard dug the hybrid out and brought it into the greenhouse hoping to save seed. No seed formed leaving Borchard with the task of growing more plants from cuttings. Shortly thereafter, African Blue Basil (Ocimum gratissimum) entered the market.


African Blue basil is now identified as a hybrid plant in the Lamiaceae family made
by crossing East African camphor basil and a varietal of purple sweet basil called
‘Dark Opal Basil’. Its strong camphor scent was inherited from the East African
basil used to breed the plant. Though some people may find the camphor odor
and taste too strong to use in the kitchen, others embrace its culinary uses.
While doing morning chores in the garden, the dark purple leaves of African basil
tempt me to experience their crisp, semi-chewy and woodsy flavor with notes of
menthol, musk and cloves. With a refreshing and earthy taste filling my mouth,it’s time to move out of the way and give the honeybees time to forage for nectar.

 

Before planting in the garden, familiarize yourself with its specific characteristics.
African Blue basil is a rare, aromatic, perennial shrub that can grow up to five feet
tall in some gardens. Plants produce abundant flowers that are pink with a dark
purple base, making it attractive to bees and beneficial wasps. African blue is one
of the few basils that is sterile, meaning it will not produce seeds. Fortunately,
this unique trait allows the plant to stay in bloom for a longer season. As with
other basils, African Blue does best in well-draining soil amended with compost.
Plants thrive in full sun and will form rounded mounds.


Suggestions for cooking with African Blue basil offer a wide range of possibilities.
While best suited as a fresh flavoring or garnish, the leaves may also be used in
pesto’s, chimichurri sauce, salad dressing and dips or sprinkled over soups, tossed
into salads or layered over bruschetta. Also, try it mixed into pasta, spread over
sandwiches, used as a pizza topping or for elevating desserts.

Along with the leaves, African Blue basil flowers are edible and can be used as a garnish in soups, salads and grain bowls.

They can also be incorporated into
cocktails, floated on sparkling beverages or stirred into teas. African Blue basil
pairs well with parsley, cardamom, ginger ale, champagne, green beans,
tomatoes, potatoes, lentils, rice, and feta cheese. For best quality and flavor, use the leaves and flowers shortly after harvesting.

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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The Colors of Honey

Posted on May 19, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

May 19, 2021

Take a quick look at the six jars of honey shown above. What did you notice? If the first thing that caught your eye were the different colors, then a brief description of honey’s relative visual properties might provide some insightful information. And, yes, it’s true that most of us generally choose honey based on color.

Honey Colors

The U.S. Department of Agriculture classifies commercial honey (the jars you typically find in the grocery store) into 7 color categories:

*Water White (0 mm – 8 mm) (Colorless and transparent)

*Extra White (8 mm – 17 mm) (Very light-yellow tint while remaining transparent)

*White (17 mm – 34 mm) (Slightly more yellow/very light amber, also transparent)

*Extra Light Amber (34 mm – 50 mm) (Transparent with a light orange/amber hue)

*Light Amber (50 mm – 85 mm) (Deeper orange /amber hue, not fully transparent)

*Amber (85 mm – 114mm) (Deep orange color and not transparent)

*Dark Amber (114 mm – 140 mm) (Very dark and opaque, referred to as “motor oil black”)

How Honey Color is Measured 

The color of honey is typically measured using a continuous scale known as the Pfund scale of measurement. The scale consists of a glass wedge that varies in its color from lightest to darkest amber. The honey to be evaluated is poured into another wedge-shaped container and then the color is compared with the amber scale. The place where the color of the honey matches closest to the scale is then marked as the result. The final measurement is thus given in a number ranging from 0 to 140 mm (according to the scale length where the match occurs). 

What Determines Color?

The color of honey is determined by its floral source, or blossoms of the nectar, and mineral content. Honeybees forage for both nectar and pollen. Nectar is the bee’s source of energy while pollen provides protein and other nutrients. As the bee forages, pollen grains collect on its head. The bee then uses its front legs to transfer the pollen to the pollen baskets located on its hind legs. Bees mix dry pollen with nectar to compact the pollen in the pollen basket. Honey, therefore, gets its color from the pollen that a hive gathers to make it. 

Light colored honeys like citrus, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus and thyme contain high amounts of calcium. Darker honeys contain higher amounts of potassium, chlorine, sulfur, sodium, iron, manganese and magnesium. Iron is what gives buckwheat honey its deep brown color. 

Lighter-colored honeys generally have a milder flavor but with a pronounced floral aroma often accompanied by herbal, spice, vanilla, butterscotch or other enticing flavor notes. As the honey gets darker in color, the aroma and taste become more distinctive. All honey tends to deepen in color as it ages, but this change does not affect its flavor.

Finally, it is important to keep in mind that soil, climate, water, wind and sun all contribute to every honey’s sensory attributes, including color, aroma and flavor. This unpredictable mosaic of natural conditions is a gentle reminder of the ever-changing profile of varietal honey. Clover honey from this year may surprise your taste buds with a slightly different flavor profile in the future. 

(Honeybee gathering nectar from Sage blossoms)

Examples of light honey floral sources:

*Sage

*Clover

*Fireweed

*Cotton

*Acacia

*Alfalfa

*Apple Blossom

*Blackberry

*Blueberry

*Palmetto

*Tupelo

Examples of dark honey floral sources:

*Buckwheat

*Avocado

*Chestnut

*Dandelion

*Huckleberry

*Manuka 

*Tulip

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

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Have you heard? Here’s what all the buzz is about!

Posted on May 18, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

May 18, 2023

Saturday, May 20th bee lovers from all over the globe will gather in Rome, Italy to celebrate bees and their importance. It also serves as a chance to raise awareness of the ongoing increasing threat against them from human activity.

The theme this year is “Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agricultural production”. One of the featured speakers during the Friday, May 19th pre-event is well-known Texas professional beekeeper, Erika Thompson of Texas Beeworks. She will be speaking on behalf of bees and beekeepers at the United Nations in Rome. The title of her presentation is Saving Bees and Pollinators. 

For more information and to register for the webcast, google World Bee Day 2023.

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

To celebrate World Bee Day, we will post another monthly bee article tomorrow.

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Scenes From Harvesting Red Potatoes

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

May 17, 2023

Mark Jones demonstrating how to dig under the potatoes and lift them out to minimize damage.

These potatoes were hilled up with compost but we did not add any support to keep the compost in place and they peeked out of the soil. The skin became scaly. 

Ruth Klein with a gigantic red potato

Ruth Klein and Yuliana Rivas Garcia digging up potatoes

It is fun when the potatoes pop up out of the soil.

We improvised to keep the compost from sliding off after we hilled up the potatoes. The added layers of compost increase yield and keep the potatoes from being exposed to the sun.

Cynthia Jones preparing just over 68 pounds of Red La Soda potatoes for North Dallas Shared Ministries Food Pantry.

Beverly Allen, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2018

Red La Soda and Kennebec potatoes were planted in February

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“Happy Together”

Posted on May 4, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz
‘Brilliant Pink Iceberg’ Floribunda and onion chives at Raincatcher’s in the edible landscape


Imagine me and you, I do…
I think about you day and night, it’s only right!

Just as the Turtles sang to us in 1967, some things belong together. In the plant world this loving and beneficial relationship is commonly referred to as “companion planting.” You might even have heard the popular expression…” roses love garlic.” Let’s consider several reasons why.

From the New York Botanical Garden

*Members of the onion family such as chives, ornamental alliums and edible onions are rumored to increase the perfume of roses, ward off aphids and prevent black spot. Herbs and other aromatic plants make wonderful rose companions. 

According to Birds and Booms

*Garlic protects roses from not only bad bugs, it can also help prevent fungal diseases. Aphids don’t love garlic, they hate it!

The Garlic Farm offers this advice – 

*Plant three to four cloves in a circle around each rose bush, and the sulphur present in the garlic will disperse into the soil and be taken up by the roses – making it a less palatable treat for little bugs.

Gardening Know How says – 

*Rose lovers have planted garlic, chives, garlic chives and onions in their rose beds for many years. Garlic has been known to repel many pests that bother rose bushes. Garlic chives have interesting foliage, repel some pests and their pretty little clusters of white or purple flowers look wonderful with the rose bush’s foliage. 

Seasoned gardeners offer these tips – 

Included in the list of rose companion plants are alyssum, lavender, marigolds and parsley. 

Be sure to check on the companion plant’s growth habit as to height. In many cases, you might want lower-growing companion plants. Herbs will work well planted in the rose beds but, again, check their growth habits to be sure.  

Pairing members of the allium family with your roses helps to ward off aphids with their strong scent and may prevent black spot.

So glad we knew about this dynamic relationship when planting our beautiful rose topiary a few years ago and surrounding it with garlic chives. As you can see from the photo, they seem to be saying… yes, we are indeed happy together!

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008



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Lenten Rose 

Posted on May 2, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

May 2, 2023

Lenten Rose in bloom

Lenten rose plants (Helleborus x hybridus) are not roses at all but a hellebore hybrid. It was given its name because the flower looks similar to a rose and it blooms in early spring often during Lent.  This is another plant that we will have at our annual Raincatcher’s Plant sale on Thursday, May 4th.  

It is an evergreen, slow growing perennial and the blooms on the heirloom varieties are downward facing.  The flowers are very long lived, sometimes remaining for eight to ten weeks.  

Lenten rose thrives in partial to full shade which makes it a good plant for adding color and texture to dark areas of the garden.  Try planting it in small groups of 3 to 5 plants (18 to 24 inches apart) or plant along walkways and edging.   As you can see from the photo, it looks great planted alongside purple oxalis and holly fern.  It is best to keep the soil moist but it can tolerate drier conditions once established.

  

Lenten Rose foliage with Holly Fern and Purple Oxalis

We hope to see you at our plant sale on Thursday, May 4 from 10 AM to 3 PM.  Raincatcher’s Garden is located at 11001 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas on the campus of Midway Hills Christian Church.  Raincatcher’s is a Dallas County Master Gardener program and all proceeds from this sale benefit master gardener programs.   

Jackie James Dallas County Master Gardener 1993 

Come shop the sale on Thursday, May 4th, 10am until 3pm.

Midway Hills Christian Church 11001 Midway Road Dallas, Texas 75229

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Feed the Bees…A Smorgasbord of Plants for Zone 8

Posted on April 29, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

Bees require both nectar and pollen sources for survival. Each source has a specific purpose, nectar for energy and pollen for protein. Let’s do our part by offering them blooming plants throughout the seasons and help to avoid a feast or famine situation for the bees. Included in this post is a partial listing of nectar and pollen sources along with photos of seasonal plants loved by honeybees. Be proactive and intentionally plant flowers that bloom at different times of the year.

Poppy feast
Bee borrowing from Borage
Rue
Bee buried in a Blackberry blossom
Close up on Coreopsis
Bees like Okra blossoms

Annuals

*Alyssum

*Basil (especially African Blue and Cinnamon)

*Cockscomb

*Fuchsia

*Larkspur

*Love-in-a-Mist

*Mexican Sunflower 

*Moss Rose

*Snapdragon

*Stock

*Sweet Pea

*Zinnia

Perennials

*Anise Hyssop

*Fall Aster

*Borage

*Clovers

*Columbine

*Chrysanthemums

*Scented Geranium

*Lambs Ear

*Lavender

*Mallows

*Scabiosa

*Shrimp Plant

*Statice

Vines

*Black-eyed Susan Vine

*Cantaloupe

*Clematis

*Cucumber

*Gourds

*Honeysuckle

*Jasmine

*Morning Glory

*Passionflower

*Pumpkin

*Squash

Shrubs

*Azalea

*Barberry

*American Beautyberry

*Boxwood

*Butterfly Bush

*Cherry Laurel

*Cotoneaster

*Crepe Myrtle

*Fire Thorn

*Flowering Quince

*Hydrangea

*Spirea

*Viburnum 

*Weigela

*Wisteria

Linda Alexander, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2008

Pictures by Starla Willis, Dallas County Master Gardener Class of 2009

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Mealy Blue Sage 

Posted on April 26, 2023 by Dallas Garden Buzz

Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea) is a low maintenance, perennial plant that is native to Texas and Mexico and is heat and drought tolerant.   It is a 2 – 3 foot sprawling plant that forms a mound as wide as the plant is tall.  Its upright growth and showy flowers make it ideal for the back of a perennial garden.   The leaves have a grayish cast which makes a good contrast to the green foliage of other plants. 

Mealy Blue Sage has numerous flowers on a terminal spike and it requires at least 6 hours of sun for optimal growth and flower production. The stunning purple-blue flower spike brightens the landscape and attracts pollinators to the garden.  Once the flowers are spent, it produces a small, papery capsule that some birds enjoy as food.   The plant will reseed itself after established and the seedlings can be easily transplanted to other areas of the garden. This plant will grow thicker and will flower better in the fall if cut back in mid-summer 

This is yet another fabulous perennial plant that we will have available at our plant sale at Raincatcher’s Garden at Midway Hill Christian Church (11001 Midway Road, Dallas Texas 75229) on Thursday May 4th from 10 AM – 3 PM.  Hope to see you there!!!  

Jackie James, Dallas County Master Gardener 1993

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