This spring, Utah State University Extension again will offer hands-on workshops on the subject. Workshop participants will plant seeds into special containers and learn techniques to improve seedling success. With a potential 72 seedlings, gardeners can look forward to a drought-tolerant native niche within their landscapes.
Susan Meyer, a research scientist with the USDA Forestry Shrubs Lab in Provo, wrote the propagation protocol used in these workshops. Now hosted by USU Extension, workshops are still an annual event in several counties. Many participants return year after year, and most see increasing success as they learn to appreciate the keys to growing Utah native plants.
Seedlings need three things to grow best: good seed, good potting medium and careful nurturing.
While the seeds and potting media will be provided at the workshop, nurturing presents the main challenge. Common mistakes include insufficient light, watering too often and not watering enough.
New this year, USU Extension in Salt Lake County will offer "plant-sitting" for workshop participants who may not be able to take constant care of their seedlings.
For instance, if you're planning to take a trip in April but still want to start native plant seedlings, leave them with volunteer Master Gardeners who will keep them healthy until you return.
Although Utah native plants are increasingly available at garden centers and nurseries, there are still hundreds of plants as yet "undiscovered."
At this spring's workshops, seed for nine plants will be offered, including grasses (Great Basin wildrye and Indian ricegrass), shrubs (green Mormon tea and Apache plume) and perennial flowers (Palmer penstemon, showy sandwort, Rocky Mountain penstemon, gooseberryleaf globemallow and blue flax).
Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa) grows relatively fast to reach a shrub size and form within three years. White rose-type flowers bloom most of summer, and are followed by fluffy seed heads that shimmer in autumn sun. Meyer describes Apache plume as a plant for all seasons, with satiny white wood exposed in winter.
Showy sandwort (Arenaria macradenia) is classified as a "sub-shrub," meaning that the plant base grows woody but most of the plant top dies over winter. A distant cousin of baby's breath, showy sandwort holds 1/2 -inch white flowers above fine-leaved foliage, appearing delicate while in fact a tough survivor.
Palmer penstemon (Penstemon palmeri) holds flower stalks high, usually on a relatively modest plant. The delicate pink blossoms look increasingly outrageous the closer you come, with frilly anthers, the pollen-bearing parts of the stamen, lolling to the side of a gaping mouth, tongue striped to direct incoming insect pollinators. Waxy, light green to blue foliage tops deep, drought-tolerant roots.
Besides the opportunity to grow plants from seed, the workshops, set Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and March 28 and 30, from 6 to 9 p.m., and April 1, from 9 a.m. to noon, are a fun way to kick off spring. Registration is required and each workshop is limited to 15 participants. Cost is $25. Call the Salt Lake County USU Extension office for information on location and to register, 801-468-3179.
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Maggie Wolf is an assistant professor for Utah State University Extension in Salt Lake County. E-mail her at maggiew@ext.usu.edu.
BRIEFS
Termite myth: Mulch ado about nothing
Who knew a bag of mulch could contain so much hysteria?
As in, open the bag and let loose the mother of all termites to devour your precious home.
In a picture of doom and gloom working the global telegraph, an unknown writer lays out this scenario: The Gulf states are home to the highly destructive Formosan termite. All the debris from trees toppled by hurricanes Katrina and Rita is being chipped into cheap mulch. When you buy it at the mass merchandiser this spring, the mulch will be infested with said insect. ''These termites can eat a house in no time at all and we have no good control against them,'' according to a widely circulated e-mail.
Bogus. Experts say the chances of the insect arriving in mulch are highly unlikely for various reasons. And even if said bug made it this far, it could be effectively eradicated.
Still, in this Internet age, the urban legend has circled the globe faster than a Category 5 typhoon. County extension agents, pest specialists and other professionals have been deluged with e-mail from people raising the alarm.
Diane Alston and Alan Roe, Utah State University entomologists, agree this e-mail "scare" is nothing for Utahns to be concerned about.
A quarantine on Hurricane Katrina-affected areas prevents export of chipped and shredded wood. Besides that, it's doubtful the Formosan termites could survive north of 35 degrees latitude (St. George is at 37 degrees).
The scare prompted Bob Odom, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, to issue a statement saying that ''someone is using the Internet to cause hysteria about a problem that doesn't really exist.''
For more information, visit the Louisiana State University AgCenter Web site at http://www.agctr.lsu.edu/termites/.
- The Washington Post and The Salt Lake Tribune
Orchid Society's show - no fooling
Learn about the best orchids to grow in your home at the Utah Orchid Society's "Foolish for Orchids" show at Red Butte Garden & Arboretum, 300 Wakara Way at the University of Utah. The show is 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. April 1 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 2. Those who are not members of the Orchid Society are also invited to exhibit their healthy, bug-free orchids at no charge. Setup is March 31 from 3 to 7 p.m.
For more information, contact Barry Cole at 801-255-9026 or Shawn Quealy at 801-363-0817. The show is free with regular admission to the garden. For information, visit http://www.redbuttegarden.org/.
Free fruit tree pruning lesson
Learn the basics of how and why to prune home orchard fruit trees during a free class at noon Wednesday. Registration is required by calling 801-468-3179. The class will be at the Utah State University Extension Salt Lake County office, Room S-1007/8, 2001 S. State St., Salt Lake City.
