The Garden Shed

Oh what a surprise I saw when I looked out my window and noticed the top of one of my arborvitae was a nice shade of brown. Upon closer inspection I realized the bagworms had gotten over on me and destroyed almost half of my 20 ft tree. It just amazes me how these things sneak up on you. I drive past this tree several times a day and never noticed a thing until half of the tree was brown. The unforunate thing is at this point there is nothing I can do about it. The worms are in safely protected in their bags. Nature does amaze me, there I have a row of 6 arborviate and the bagworms choose one and the others don't have a spot or bug on them.

Hopefully we are seeing the end of these horrible gypsy moth catepillars eating leaves and excreting from our beautiful trees. They have caused far too much damage and made their mess on many homes and patios I do see the adult brown gypsy moths flying around searching for white and black winged females . Below the females, eggs are being deposited.

The egg masses will be counted by New Jersey Department of Agriculture survey teams to determine where spraying might be done in 2008 in New Jersey. Generally egg masses can be found in several locations: in trees; around loose bark; under branches; around the foundation of your home; on bird feeders; on lawn ornaments, on wood piles.

You can do you part by removing thes masses. You can scrape them in a container of warm soapy water, or in a container you can burn. Each egg mass destroyed eliminates to 400 to 1000 catipilliars for next year's crop.

Some of factors like the natural fungus Entomophaga maimaiga, cold weather this winter. and spraying the right pesticides will also reduce this devastating pest in 2008.

Jerry Frecon
Agricultural Agent

If you love fresh juicy tasty peaches then you must come to the New Jersey Peach Festival. Beginnnig this Thursday, July 26, Jersey Fresh peaches can be seen and purchased in abundance at the official state festival at the Gloucester County 4-H Fairgrounds, on Route 77 south of Mullica Hill in southern New Jersey.

Not only can you buy and see all types of fresh peaches from over 40 local growers, there are many types of other peach products like peach pastries, cakes, peach slush, and that famous peach ice cream. Buy peach clothing and other goodies too!

There are many educational exhibits on growing and marketing peaches, a large display of peach varieties and types, and hugh display of commercial boxes judged by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture for the treasured Governor's Cup.

The New Jersey Peach Queen and Little Miss Peach are crowned on Friday evening and the Peach Bake Off with many new and tasty recipes is held on Saturday morning.

After the little Miss and Mister Peach Blossom Parade on Sunday morning the Festival shuts down at 5 p.m. To learn more about Everything Peachy go to our web site at http:/gloucester.rce.rutgers.edu/fairfest/

Jerry Frecon
Agricultural Agent