Upcoming Classes and Events

Pollinators

Thursday, January 7, 11:00 a.m. – noon. Master Gardener and Cobb Extension staff member Amy Whitney will present the who, what, when, where, and why of supporting local pollinators, at the Senior Wellness Center, 1150 Powder Springs St SW, Marietta, GA 30064.

Thyme to Read Book Club

Friday, January 8, 10:15 – 11:30 a.m. This month’s book is 1491: New Revelations of the Americas before Columbus by Charles C. Mann.  At the Training Room of the Cobb County Water Lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.).

Create a Rain Garden!

Friday, January 8, noon – 1:00 p.m. Mike Kahle, Master Gardener and member of the Cobb Watershed Stewardship Program staff, will present information about how a rain garden helps clean and control run-off, along with how to design and construct a rain garden of your own. Part of the Lunch & Learn series of Cobb Master Gardeners.  At the Training Room of the Cobb County Water Lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.).

Landscape Changes and Homeowner Associations

Tuesday, January 12, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Master Gardener Pam Bohlander offers alternatives to standard landscaping plants that will keep homeowners and HOAs happy. Part of the Gardeners Night Out series of Cobb Master Gardeners.  At East Cobb Regional Library, 4880 Lower Roswell Road, Marietta, 30068.

Cobb Community Gardens

Wednesday, January 27, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Quarterly meeting of Cobb community garden managers,  members, and supporters, at the Training Room of the Cobb County Water Lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.).

Suburban Home Vegetable Garden

Tuesday, February 9, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Master Gardener Vickie Baroni will tell how to grow your own vegetables and herbs. Part of the Gardeners Night Out series of Cobb Master Gardeners.   At West Cobb Regional Library, 1750 Dennis Kemp Lane NW, Kennesaw, 30152.

Thyme to Read Book Club

Friday, February 12, 10:15 – 11:30 a.m. This month’s book is The Scent of Scandal: Greed, Betrayal, and the World’s Most Beautiful Orchid, by Craig Pittman. At the Training Room of the Cobb County Water Lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.).

Compost and Soil Amendments

Friday, February 12, noon – 1:00 p.m. Master Gardener Eddie Rhoades will explain how to turn poor soil into soil that is plant-friendly. Part of the Lunch & Learn series of Cobb Master Gardeners.  At the Training Room of the Cobb County Water Lab, 662 South Cobb Drive (at the intersection with Atlanta Rd.).

Seed Starting Workshop

Tuesday, February 23, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Master Gardener and Cobb Extension staff member Amy Whitney will provide the information you need and hands-on practice for starting seeds of some vegetables and annual flowers indoors. In the second floor classroom at UGA Extension/Cobb County, 678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, GA, 30060.

North Georgia Gardening Symposium

Thursday, February 25, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For homeowners, Master Gardeners, and landscape professionals. Re-certification credits available: 3 hours for category 24, 1 hour for Private pesticide applicators, 5 CEUs for ISA Arborist (A) and Municipal (M). Chattahoochee Technical College, North Metro Campus, Building D, Room 400, 5198 Ross Rd., Acworth, GA, 30102. Program cost of $35 includes lunch and breaks. Register at 770-528-4550, or online through Chatt Tech.

For additional information about any of the above programs, call our office at 770-528-4070.

Baldfaced Hornets: Nest Like a Paper Tornado

Baldfaced hornets are becoming more obvious in yards and parks as their nests and colonies have grown over the summer. Actually a form of yellow jacket wasp, these hornets build nests above ground, usually attached to branches in trees and shrubs.

Baldfaced hornet nest, empty of hornets and no longer attached to the tree.

If one of these colonies is in your yard, you are not alone! UGA's "Stinging and Biting Pests" tells that these colonial insects actually have a broad distribution, having been found in 46 states.

The hornets are fairly large, mostly black, and have, as described in the UGA publication, "white or light yellowish markings on the face, thorax and part of the abdomen."

In the section about controlling these insects, the publication explains, "Most social bees, wasps and hornets are beneficial and should not be controlled unless their nest and activities are close to humans and create a hazard."

Clemson's publication about Baldfaced Hornets points out that these insects act defensively to protect their nests: "Most social wasps vigorously defend their nests from perceived threats. Baldfaced hornets are known for their defensive behavior. People are often stung when they accidentally stumble upon a hidden nest or when the nest is located in areas adjacent to homes or places where there is human activity."

The hornets do have significant redeeming value. Clemson's publication opens with this positive note: "In nature, baldfaced hornets are extremely valuable because they kill many pests including flies, caterpillars, and spiders."

If removing a colony of baldfaced hornets is deemed necessary, it is recommended that a pest-control company be hired, since the task is fairly hazardous. However, all the hornets except new queens will die in winter, at which time a nest that has been left alone may be removed and disposed of safely.

Pollinator Week: Carpenter Bees

Pollinators - Carpenter and honey bees - on Anise Hyssop.

reprinted with permission from I've Got Company!

Here in Cobb County, any home with wood parts exposed to the outside world will at some point have those wood parts riddled with holes by carpenter bees. It's part of what carpenter bees do, and, as a result, it can be hard to think of those big, shiny, native bees as anything but pests.

They do, though, have some redeeming qualities. One of those is that they are pollinators of some flowers.

The U.S. Forest Service article Carpenter Bees, by Steve Buchman,  notes that some of our garden vegetable crops are effectively pollinated by carpenter bees:

"In our vegetable and flower gardens, carpenter bees are generalists and may be found foraging on a number of different species. They, like bumblebees are early morning foragers. Carpenter bees land on flower blossoms they become living tuning forks. Using their powerful thoracic muscles carpenter bees sonicate the dry pollen grains out of the flower’s anthers. This type of pollen gathering is called “buzz pollination.” Carpenter bees are excellent pollinators of eggplant, tomato and other vegetables and flowers."

Cornell University notes in its publication Wild Pollinators of Eastern Apple Orchards that carpenter bees also are effective pollinators for apples.

According to UGA's publication "Pollination: Other Pollinating Bees,"

"[Carpenter bees] are effective pollinators of passionfruit. In Georgia, they visit blackberry, canola, corn, pepper, and pole bean, but their value on these crops is uncertain. Carpenter bees are notorious for "robbing" flowers by cutting slits in the side of the flower to reach nectar without even touching the pollinating parts."

Even though they might not be primary pollinators for many plants, carpenter bees' role in pollination of passion flower, which is a host plant to several beautiful butterflies, might be enough to bring them a little sympathy from homeowners. However, the damage caused by carpenter bees in making their nesting holes can be extensive.

In order to have our pollinators and undamaged homes, too, it can be helpful to follow prevention guidelines such as those in Alabama Cooperative Extension's publication "Carpenter Bees, Biology and Management," and consider setting out wood nesting blocks for use by the bees.

Celebrating all Next Week: National (and Georgia!) Pollinator Week

Bumble bee, a native pollinator, heading for home. 

                               PHOTO/Amy W.

reprinted with permission from Squatters!

Next week, June 17-23, is National Pollinator Week, and it has also been declared by Governor Nathan Deal as Pollinator Week in the state of Georgia. In celebration, the publications rack in the lobby of Cobb County Cooperative Extension's office(678 South Cobb Drive, Marietta, 30060) will be packed with information about pollinators.

The publications, which will include printed activities for children, will be free to anyone who stops by. Please feel welcome to come over and learn about our native pollinators and honeybees!