THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 5, 1995 TAG: 9511030057
SECTION: HOME PAGE: G2 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: GARDENING
SOURCE: ROBERT STIFFLER
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
I have a lot of problems this year with some type of stem borer in my perennial and annual flowers. It is a very small, pale cream-colored worm with a brown head. Last year it was confined to one clump of Shasta daisies, but this year this worm is in almost everything. Is there anything I can use to prevent them next year? If not, what can I do to kill them? I would like to use something as innocuous as possible, because my garden is home to many butterflies, birds and hummingbirds.
Karen S. Lane, Virginia Beach
``Sounds like an invasion of European corn borer,'' said entomologist Peter Schultz, director of the Hampton Roads Research Center. ``Once they're in, they're in,'' he said. They cause the most problems in dry summers, which we've had the last several years. They lay their eggs on foliage, even weeds, for hatching a new batch next year. They often spoil tomatoes and sweet corn. You'll need to spray early with a pyrethroid-based product if you want something organic, or use Orthene. Spray now to get rid of the ones you have.
Last spring, WHRO had a program during their pledge drive with Jerry Baker giving his organic bug and fungus controls. I was wondering if any of your readers were able to take down his methods, and if they have had any success with them. If so, would they share them? I have located Jerry Baker's book in the library, but it did not contain his organic formulas.
Lou Schroeder, Virginia Beach
I have none of Jerry Baker's books, but there are several, so you may need to search for more. The ones I had I gave away, because I thought they were gimicky. If readers have recipes and results they want to share, I'll be glad to publish a few. If you want good organic information, obtain any of the Rodale books or the Organic Gardening magazines, published by Rodale.
I read with interest the question in Home & Garden on July 9 about wildflowers in North Carolian vs. Virginia. Virginia has beautiful bulb plantings all though the state that bloom in spring. Perhaps because North Carolina gives funds to the department of transportation through their ``vanity'' license plates, this gives them more to work with, as your reader said.
As a member of the Virginia Federation of Garden Clubs Inc., I am aware that Virginia participates in the Operation Wildflower Program and has won recognition for over 10 years from the National Council of State Garden Clubs Inc. This was achieved in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Transportation. Many local clubs contribute funds and bulbs to beautify roadsides around rest stops.
Mary H. Dixon, Chesapeake
Garden clubs in Virginia and North Carolina do an excellent job in beautifying our environment. As a longtime observer of the native plant movement and a charter member of the local society, the complaint I hear most when conversation comes up about planting wildflowers on a new or major road, the answer always is ``There's no money.'' I stand by my original comment that North Carolina does a better job beautifying their highways with wildflowers. But keep up the good work. If garden clubs were not doing what they're doing, we'd probably have no flowers.
I'm writing in reference to an answer given recently concerning redwood trees. Years ago, we bought two from the Tidewater Men's Garden Club and one lived and is thriving. It is 28 feet tall in a stand of pines. Because you commented that you only knew of two in the area, I thought you'd want to know that two are alive and well on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.
Nell Hayward, Jamesville
Your letter prompts me to apologize to all those growing California redwood trees. Since that item appeared, I've had several comments from people who have live, healthy redwood trees. There are several at the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Landscaper Gordon Griffin has a healthy one in Virginia Beach and apparently there are a good many others. June Myers, who lives in the Witchduck area of Virginia Beach, reports that her mother-in-law bought three when the Men's Garden Club sold them and now has one live 40-foot tree. Although the Garden Club sold hundreds, not many lived. After planting - and losing - three at different times, I gave up. They are again being sold by some nurseries as Dawn Redwood, which is the one recommended for this area. The greatest benefit from this tree seems to be proving you can grow it. by CNB