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Vol. 23, No. 12, June 27, 2008

In this issue
Landscape and nursery

Salt damage and warranty issues
Turfgrass

Summer turf musings

Scouting for weeds: black medic, birdsfoot trefoil and yellow woodsorrel

Turfgrass Field Day
Christmas trees and forestry

Christmas trees and nursery insect update

Gypsy moth spray window update
Around the home

Some cool bugs are out and about

Carpenter bees wreaking havoc in Ann Arbor

Elm flea weevils

Gypsy moth outbreak appears to be statewide

Juniper scale crawlers are emerging

A few words about the swarms of mosquitoes that are out right now

Christmas peppers
Other news

Update of Michigan driver’s license requirements

Weather news

Next issue: July 11

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Salt damage and warranty issues
Bert Cregg
Horticulture and Forestry

As we noted in an earlier CAT alert (May 2, 2008), last winter was a season of heavy snowfall and therefore, also a year of heavy de-icing salt application. In fact, in many parts of the state salt usage was so heavy that salt was in short supply or completely unavailable by the end of the winter. Along with heavy de-icing salt application comes the potential for plant damage.

Salt damage or potential salt damage can be especially vexing for landscapers that offer plant warranties. Imagine the frustration of a professional landscaper that selects quality plant material, uses proper planting techniques, waters and coaxes the plants through the summer and fall, only to see them damaged by deicing salt. The problem can be especially difficult for landscape installers that provide plant warranties. Plant warranties vary and some exclude problems associated with improper maintenance or damage caused by external agents. Depending on the warranty, salt damage may be excluded. This then raises the question, how do we determine if landscape plants were damaged or killed by salt? Most landscape problems caused by abiotic problems require some detective work and finding a “smoking gun” is more the exception that the rule. With that in mind, here are some clues that point to salt damage as a causal factor.

Damaged plants are near a road, highway, parking lot or sidewalk that is salted during the winter.

Damage decreases with distance from the source. A study of de-icing salt impacts to roadside plants in Massachusetts showed that leaf sodium concentrations dropped by 90 percent from plants adjacent to highways to 30 feet away from the road. Salt drift is also influenced by traffic speed; faster vehicle traffic increases the distance spray will travel.

Damage is greater on the side of trees facing the roadway. The most dramatic causes of de-icing salt damage are caused by acute exposure of above ground portions of plants to aerial drift. Therefore parts of the plant facing the exposure are most damaged.

Damage is greater on salt-sensitive plants. In general, evergreen plants are more sensitive to salt damage than deciduous plants since evergreen leaves are exposed to salt during the winter. Even within evergreens, however, salt sensitivity can vary widely. White pine and red pine are highly sensitive to salt whereas Austrian pine and ponderosa pine are relatively tolerant of salt exposure.

Plant tissues contain elevated levels of sodium or chloride. Healthy plants contain some sodium and chloride. In fact, chloride is an essential nutrient element for plants. However, when either sodium or chloride builds up in plants, especially in leaves, toxicity can occur. The toxicity levels in foliage vary, but foliage browning is often associated with leaf concentrations (percent dry weight) in excess of 0.5 percent for sodium and 1.0 percent for chloride.

Soil salt levels may or may not be elevated. Both sodium and chloride can be leached from soils. As winter snowmelt is followed by spring rain, deicing salts may be leached and therefore may not show up in soil samples collected in late spring when plant damage becomes apparent.

Eliminate other causes. It’s easy to assume that roadside plants that die or are damaged over winter were injured by de-icing salt. It is still important to do a good detective job and look at other causes. How is the soil pH? Soil drainage? Were there any other chemical applications on the site such as herbicides or fertilizers? Are their potential pest problems? Did you install similar plant materials elsewhere? Did they have similar problems? If not, what was different about the sites?

Summer turf musings
Kevin Frank
Crop and Soil Sciences

The dry conditions that persisted across much of Michigan earlier this spring and caused many lawns to look like it was already August is well in the rear view mirror now. The storms that literally thrashed the state a couple of weeks ago and brought plenty, if not too much rain to many areas have been followed by nice, mild, Michigan summer weather that has helped the turf rebound from the spring drought stress. As we near the July 4th holiday, this has typically been one of the timings of the holiday fertilizer schedule. Whether or not this fertilizer application is necessary is dependent on what you have already done this season. If the turf is actively growing and still has good color, it is probably not critical for you to apply fertilizer now. However, if the turf is really starting to slow down and the color has dimmed, a slow release fertilizer application will provide the boost to maintain a healthy lawn throughout the rest of the summer.

On the weed front, it seems that almost everything is active now and making in-roads into the turf. Some of the weeds that I’ve been observing include black medic, white clover, crabgrass, birdsfoot trefoil, and oxalis (yellow woodsorrel). In my random observations black medic appears to be particularly pesky in many lawns. Crabgrass has certainly found a home in many areas but the cool temperatures seemed to have at least slowed down its development up to now. If you’re looking to go after the crabgrass, it would be good to get after it sooner rather than later as the younger crabgrass will be easier to control. For the broadleaf bandits that may be troubling you, if they’re flowering its the second best time to control them. Of course, fall applications for broadleaf weed control are still considered the most effective.

Scouting for weeds: black medic, birdsfoot trefoil and yellow woodsorrel
Steven Gower
Diagnostic Services

The yellow-flowered, compound-leafed weeds are now in full bloom in our lawns. The culprits include black medic, birdsfoot trefoil and yellow woodsorrel. These weeds all have small yellow flowers and compound leaves. Just as with any other pest, identification of these yellow-flowered weeds is important to understanding why they are in the lawn. Is the site low in nitrogen? Is the site drought stressed? Are you mowing too low? These could be just a few reasons why black medic, birdsfoot trefoil and yellow woodsorrel are thriving in the lawn.

Understanding and addressing the cultural conditions that promote certain weeds in the landscape, will certainly provide more control than any herbicide treatment alone. Improving these cultural conditions in combination with an herbicide treatment can be very effective. Herbicides that have good activity on black medic, birdsfoot trefoil and yellow woodsorrel in the lawn include 2,4-D, dicamba, triclopyr, clopyralid or mixtures of these active ingredients.

Black medic: (Medicago lupulina L.)

Family: Fabaceae (Legume)

Life cycle: Prostrate, trailing summer annual.

Leaves: Alternate, compound – with three oval to egg-shaped leaflets – hairless to sparsely hairy, shallowly toothed along the upper half and tipped with a small point. The central leaflet is found on a definite stalk; the two lateral leaflets are nearly stalkless. A pair of stipules is present at the base of each petiole.

Stems: Prostrate, trailing to ascending stems are wiry, usually hairy, multibranched from the base and up to 2 feet long.

Flowers and fruit: Numerous, very small, yellow flowers are formed in dense, mostly globe-shaped, cloverlike clusters. Fruit are clusters of black, coiled, kidney- to bean-shaped, one-seeded pods.

Reproduction: Seeds.


Black medic flower.	Black medic leaf.	Black medic plant.

Birdsfoot trefoil: (Lotus corniculatus L.)

Family: Fabaceae (Legume)

Life cycle: Mat-forming perennial.

Leaves: Alternate, compound with five generally oval and smooth-margined leaflets. Each compound leaf has three terminal leaflets and two reduced leaflets near the stem.

Stems: Prostrate and spreading to semierect stems are herbaceous, branched from a tough crown and up to 3 feet long. Plants form mats by stolons and rhizomes.

Flowers and fruit: Bright yellow, pealike flowers, sometimes streaked with red, are found in flat-topped clusters at the ends of long stalks. Fruit are several linear, cylinder-shaped pods formed in the shape of a bird’s foot. Each capsule contains several roundish, shiny, olive to black seeds.

Reproduction: Seeds, stolons and rhizomes.


Birdsfoot trefoil flower.	Birdsfoot trefoil leaf.	Birdsfoot trefoil plant.

Yellow woodsorrel: (Oxalis stricta L.)

Family: Oxalidaceae (Woodsorrel)

Life cycle: Low-growing annual or simple perennial.

Leaves: Cotyledons are rounded to oblong. Gray-green leaves are alternate, compound and cloverlike, with three heart-shaped leaflets that attach at the pointed ends. Long-stalked leaves have smooth surfaces, but they are fringed with hair along the margins.

Stems: Low-growing, prostrate to erect stems with minimal branching at the base, up to 20 inches tall. Plants spread by long, slender rhizomes.

Flowers and fruit: Yellow flowers with five petals are found in long-stalked clusters. Fruit are ridged, hairy, cylinder-shaped capsules with pointed tips that range from 0.5 to 1 inch in length. The capsules explosively eject small seeds with a sticky coating up to several feet away. Seeds are mostly brown, ridged, oval and flattened.

Reproduction:Seeds and rhizomes.


Yellow woodsorrel flower.	Yellow woodsorrel leaf.	Yellow woodsorrel plant.

Note: Identification information for more weeds is available in the new field guide An IPM Pocket Guide for Weed Identification in Nurseries and Landscapes. To order, call 517-353-6740 or visit: hthttp://www.ipm.msu.edu/pdf/pocketGuidesLandsc07.pdf

Turfgrass Field Day
Kevin Frank
Crop and Soil Sciences

The 2008 Michigan Turfgrass Field Day at the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center is scheduled for August 20. The field day is an opportunity for turfgrass professionals to come and view the latest turfgrass research projects being conducted at MSU. The registration mailer is currently in production so stay tuned, it will be in your mailboxes soon. Registration will also be available at www.michiganturfgrass.org. Stay tuned for further updates.

Christmas trees and nursery insect update
Jill O’Donnell
Christmas Tree ICM educator

Conifer root aphids
We have had several cases of conifer root aphids on Fraser fir. What we first noticed was that the young transplants were exhibiting yellowing and stunting of growth. The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of environmental stress or nutrient problems. When we dug up the plants, we found large colonies of white root aphids on the roots. They appear to be Prociphilus sp. aphids. These species of root aphids feed on conifer roots for part of their lifecycle and then become woolly aphids that feed on ash trees and other hosts. They appear as large, white aphids on the roots. Even though the trees are showing signs of stress, it is not really known how much damage the aphids cause to their conifer host. It may be that the trees are under stress from grubs, disease damage, transplant shock, improper planting (“J” rooting), poor nutrition, water stress or off-site planting and that the aphids are a secondary stress.

Woolly aphid on spruce
This week we found woolly aphids feeding on new growth of Norway spruce in the Upper Peninsula. We think these may be balsam twig aphids. Often we have not seen much damage even with high populations, but growers who find heavy populations of aphids will want to monitor the trees. Some of the common conifer-feeding aphids produce lots of honeydew, which leads to black sooty mold. On the other hand, there are many insect predators who feed on aphids. Often aphid problems take care of themselves as the predators knock the population way down fairly rapidly. The exception is when ants are present. They will protect the aphids from the predators. With a heavy population of aphids, an insecticide may be needed for trees that will be harvested this year. Eriophyid mites on spruce
Eriophyid mites, are also known as rust mites. This group of mites is very, very small and are often difficult to see with a hand lens. They are generally colorless and are often identified by the damage they cause, a bronzing (rusting) of foliage. These minute mites can cause significant damage on Colorado, White, Black Hills and Norway spruce if populations are left unchecked. Growers should be scouting their fields now; bronzing or russeting of needles at this time is an indication of heavy numbers of mites. Traditional miticides may not control these mites, so make sure to read the label.

Eriophyid mites on spruce
Eriophyid mites, are also known as rust mites. This group of mites is very, very small and are often difficult to see with a hand lens. They are generally colorless and are often identified by the damage they cause, a bronzing (rusting) of foliage. These minute mites can cause significant damage on Colorado, White, Black Hills and Norway spruce if populations are left unchecked. Growers should be scouting their fields now; bronzing or russeting of needles at this time is an indication of heavy numbers of mites. Traditional miticides may not control these mites, so make sure to read the label.


Eriophyid mite damage.	Eriophyid mites on spruce.

Bronzing of foliage.	Root aphids.

Gypsy moth spray window update
Mike Bryan
MDA

Growers should note that for Zone 4 the spray window closing date for Dimilin has been set as Saturday, June 28 and the closing date for all other compounds has been set as Friday, July 4. For Zone 5 the closing date for Dimilin has been set for Thursday, July 3. The following chart shows actual and projected open/close dates for application of the two groups of pesticides used for regulatory treatment of gypsy moth in nursery stock and Christmas trees. We are listing the projected dates as guidelines to help you plan your pest management program. Since gypsy moth development will vary by location, you will need to monitor development around your farm. Weather conditions will affect caterpillar development and may effect end date of the spray windows. Growers should watch the Landscape Alerts for additional announcements.

Zone	*Open – Dimilin (150 DD)**	Open – all other compounds (200 DD)	Close – Dimilin (700 DD)	Close – all other compounds (800 DD)
1	May 1	May 6	June 15	June 21
2	May 1	May 6	June 15	June 21
3	May 6	May 17	June 21	June 28
4	May 10	May 21	June 28	July 4
5	May 16 - Lower Peninsula counties only in Zone 5	May 27 – L.P. counties only in Zone 5	July 3	July 11 (projected)
5	June 5 - Upper Peninsula counties only in Zone 5	June 9 - U.P. counties only in Zone 5	July 3	July 11 (projected)

* DD = Degree days at base 50°F.
Note: Projections are based on 30-year historical degree day data.

Some cool bugs are out and about
Howard Russell
MSU Diagnostic Services

Apparently the week of June 22 is “Cool Bug Week” because we got some dandies in the lab. Jeanne (don’t know her last name) sent me a great photo of a Cecropia moth that she was trying to identify. The Cecropia moth is one of our most spectacular moths. The larvae feed on various broadleaf trees and shrubs. The caterpillar is equally, if not more impressive.

	For those of us who prefer the larval stages of cute bugs, here’s what a Cecropia moth caterpillar looks like. Photo credit: J. Ghent, USDA Forest Service. Courtesy of forestryimages.org.
This very nice photo of a Cecropia moth was sent to us by Jeanne.			A female whitespotted pine sawyer beetle. Photo credit: S. Gower, MSU Diagnostic Services.

I got a call from a concerned citizen saying he found Asian longhorned beetles up by Ludington last weekend, which made me think that our native Whitespotted pine sawyer, Monochamus scutellatus beetles have emerged. And sure enough, we got a very nice specimen from Norm Myers, the CED up in Oceana County.

Pine sawyers (Monochamus spp.) are the most common “I-think-I-found-an-Asian-longhorned-beetle” that are sent into the lab and for good reason, the resemblance is striking. See photos of the Asian longhorned beetle to see what I mean. The Asian longhorned beetle is a highly destructive exotic insect that has been in Chicago and New York, nobody here wants to see it in Michigan, so send me anything that even comes close to looking like an Asian longhorned beetle and I would be happy to look at it at, no charge.

The genus Monochamus is represented by several wood-boring beetle species in the eastern United States, all of which feed on various conifers. The most common species in our area are M. scutellatus and the northeastern sawyer, M. notatus. The larvae are known as "sawyers" because of the loud noise they make while feeding. Freshly cut, felled, dying or recently dead trees are preferred. Young larvae feed on the inner bark, cambium and outer sapwood, forming shallow excavations called surface galleries that they fill with coarse, fibrous borings and frass (insect excrement). As they grow older, they bore deep into the heartwood, and then turn around and bore back toward the surface, thereby forming a characteristic U-shaped tunnel. A pupal cell is formed at the outer end of the tunnel, from which the adult emerges by chewing through the remaining wood and bark. Eggs are laid in slits or niches chewed in the bark, preferably near old branch scars or in wrinkled areas on logs. Full-grown larvae are often close to two inches long.

Two years are required to complete the life cycle in the Lake States and southern Canada. Members of the genus often cause heavy losses in wind-thrown or fire-killed timber, in saw logs left too long in the woods or left too long with the bark on before milling, and in improperly handled pulpwood. Adult beetles are vectors of Pinewood nematode.

Norm also sent us an eyed click beetle or eyed elator, Alaus oculatus. This is another very handsome beetle and is our largest member of the click beetle family, Elateridae. Its common name comes from the two large eye-spots on the pronotum. The larvae, which may reach nearly two inches in length, live in moist, decayed wood, especially stumps. The larvae are predaceous on other insects. These handsome beetles are harmless.


An eyed elator beetle. Photo credit: H. Russell, MSU Diagnostic Services.	An eyed elator beetle next to a ruler. This is a good sized bug. Photo credit: H. Russell, MSU Diagnostic Services.

Carpenter bees wreaking havoc
in Ann Arbor
Howard Russell
MSU Diagnostic Services

Sandy Heng, a homeowner in Ann Arbor emailed me the best photographs of carpenter bee damage I have seen. Her email also included a plea for help for many others living in her neighborhood. The carpenter bees are literally destroying the cedar fascia and soffit boards that trim the roof line of her home. Carpenter bees will drill into any soft wood, but they really love cedar and redwood, two woods that are commonly used as fascia and soffit boards because they are rot-resistant. Sandy is in the process of replacing her fascia and soffits because cedar is not at all carpenter bee resistant.

A carpenter bee.

Carpenter bees resemble our large yellow and black bumblebees, but they differ in the amount of hair they have on the top of the abdomen. The top of the abdomen of carpenter bees is bare and , whereas the abdomen of bumblebees is covered with black and yellow hairs. Other species of carpenter bees may be black, green or somewhat purplish with various markings of whitish, yellowish, or reddish hairs, and may be considerably smaller. As Sandy discovered, carpenter bees can be serious wood destroying insects if they choose your home to build their nest galleries. The tunnel created by the boring bee is so perfectly round that it appears to have been drilled by your sharpest drill bit. Carpenter bees seem to prefer softwoods like cedar, redwood and clear pines used in window trim, screens, soffits and fascia boards, and decks. These bees do not eat wood like a termite does, but they use their borings as galleries to raise their young. Each larva is provisioned with a ball of pollen and sealed into a single cell until it completes its development the following spring. Most species of carpenter bees in Michigan have a single generation per year.

Carpenter bees can be controlled by applying a registered insecticide to the gallery opening. If only one or two gallery openings are involved, then an aerosol bee and wasp spray should be enough to kill off the bees. If large areas are affected then a persistent insecticide can be used to treat the entire area. Painting or otherwise sealing the wood is reported to discourage the bees from chewing their holes.


A close up of the developing carpenter bee larvae in Sandy’s cedar boards. Photo credit: S. Heng, Ann Arbor, Michigan.	Carpenter bee larval chambers. Photo credit: S. Heng, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

A close up of some of the carpenter bee tunneling in cedar boards removed from Sandy’s home due to carpenter bee damage. Photo credit: S. Heng, Ann Arbor, Michigan.	Carpenter bee tunnels shown in the end grain of the cedar boards. Note how perfectly round they are. Photo credit: S. Heng, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Elm flea weevils
Howard Russell
MSU Diagnostic Services

In the May 9 issue of the Landscape Alert, I reported the Dr. Jim Zablotny, the USDA/APHIS/PPQ Insect Identifier at the Detroit Metro Airport, identified a new state record for Michigan: the elm flea weevil, Orchestes alni (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Apparently, this bug has been in the state for a number of years, because I have received several reports of severe feeding injury due to this pest in the past week. Terry McLean, Consumer Horticulture Educator in Genesee County sent in some elm leaves (most likely Serbian elm) that show the damage. Her sample included several of the cute little flea weevils too. Steve Gower, our weed scientist, took some nice photos to share with you. This pest has been in the Midwest since 2003 where it has been found in Ohio and Wisconsin. The European elm leaf beetle feeds extensively on elm leaves; it loves Serbian elms.

We are very interested in knowing where else in Michigan this beetle occurs. If you come across a Serbian elm that is showing leaf feeding or leaf mining, look very closely for these tiny beetles on the underside of the leaves. If you find anything that comes close to the photographs shown here, please send them to:

MSU Diagnostic Services
101 Center for Integrated Plant Systems
Michigan State University
East Lansing MI 48824-1311
Tel 517-355-4536

A side view of the Elm flea weevil.

Elm flea weevil feeding injury and a cute little elm flea weevil.

Gypsy moth outbreak appears to be statewide
Howard Russell
MSU Diagnostic Services

We received samples of gypsy moth caterpillars from Hillsdale County and Ontonagon County this past week, which pretty much indicates that our current outbreak is statewide in scope. It’s strange that fifteen years ago when gypsy moths were ravaging trees across the state, I would guess that nearly everyone could recognize a gypsy moth caterpillar if they saw one. After a long lull of very low gypsy moth populations, its seems that many people have forgotten what they look like. Here are some key characters to look for when you think you might be dealing with this bug. First, the caterpillars are very hairy and older caterpillars have easily recognizable pairs of red and blue spots that run down the back of the caterpillar. Younger caterpillars do not have these spots, but they do have a couple of other characters that identify them as gypsy moths. Like other lymantriids (the family of moths that gypsy moths belong to), they have a single mid-dorsal, eversible gland on the sixth and seventh abdominal segments. They also have large setae bearing verrucae (big hairy knobs) on each side of the first thoracic segment that look like big hairy warts on each side of the head.

A gypsy moth caterpillar.


A close up photo of a gypsy moth caterpillar showing the large hairy bumps along the side of the head. Photo by H. Russell, MSU Diagnostic Services.	The mid-dorsal eversible glands on the on the 6th and 7th abdominal segments of a gypsy moth caterpillar shown slightly from the side. Photo by H. Russell, MSU Diagnostic Services.

The sample of gypsy moth caterpillars that came from Ontonagon County in the western Upper Peninsula of Michigan.	A top view of a gypsy moth caterpillar showing the mid-dorsal eversible glands on the 6th and 7th abdominal segments. Photo by H. Russell, MSU Diagnostic Services.

Juniper scale crawlers are emerging.
Howard Russell
MSU Diagnostic Services

We received a small sample of ‘Blue Star’ juniper that was loaded (possibly a lab record) with Juniper scale, Carulaspis juniperi. There were crawlers walking about all over the needles. Now is time to apply insecticide sprays aimed at the crawler stage.

Juniper scale is a very common and sometimes serious pest of Juniper in the eastern United States. Juniper scales are light gray or white in color, very small, about two mm, in diameter, and nearly circular. These insects become abundant on the needles, especially the undersides. The scales always attach themselves to needles rather than bark. Juniper scale is a pest of ornamental junipers, especially the ‘Pfitzers’ juniper. Badly infested plants show a yellowish-brown foliage discoloration and the overall appearance of the plant is similar to a plant badly in need of fertilizer or water. Portions of the dead branches may be visible. Taking a closer look at the branches may reveal the scale insects on the undersides of the needles. Plants decline over time and may be killed by severe infestations.

The scale insects overwinter as nearly full-grown individuals and mature in the spring. Under her scale covering, the female lays eggs in the spring. She dies soon after egg laying, but the scale cover remains attached to the needle, often for several years. The crawlers (immature scales) hatch from the eggs, usually in June and leave the scale cover to search for a place to feed. The crawler stage may last for as short as 24 hours and after finding a feeding site the small, straw-colored crawler attaches itself to a needle and begins to feed. Soon it develops a coat of armor (the scale covering). The immature scales continue to feed and grow during the summer, and during this growing period the skin is shed several times. The shed skins make up the hard protective cover for the scale insect. By late fall, the scales are nearly full grown and ready to overwinter. The cycle is repeated year after year.


A close up of juniper scales. Note that the cast skins of previous molts (called sheds) are still attached to the scale. Armored scales typically have these sheds, soft scale do not. Photo credit: S. Gower, MSU Diagnostic Services.	A close up of a juniper scale crawler (light yellow with eye spots) and a shed. Photo credit: S. Gower, MSU Diagnostic Services.	A sample of blue star juniper with a very heavy infestation of juniper scales. Photo credit: S. Gower, MSU Diagnostic Services.

A few words about the swarms of mosquitoes that are out right now
Howard Russell
MSU Diagnostic Services

Oh my word!

Christmas peppers
Rebecca Finneran
MSUE horticulture educator

I’m not sure if I have ever tried to pick a peck of pickled peppers, but I’ll bet Peter Piper never even heard of an “ornamental” pepper. If he could pick some now, there would be more than a peck of cultivars to choose from!

In an effort dating back 25 years, plant breeders started making strides towards producing peppers with fruits that are just as pleasing to the eye as to the palate. Breeding and testing a new cultivar that eventually makes it to our home gardens can take as many as 15 years. In the past two or three gardening seasons, the results have started to show up in garden centers and botanic gardens around the country according to Robert Griesbach, Research Geneticist of the Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland.

Ornamental peppers really made their claim to fame at the turn of the century, long before the poinsettia became popular as an indoor holiday plant, says Griesbach. Potted, brilliantly colored “Christmas peppers” were very popular because they could take the cool, indoor home environment and yet last a long time.

Masquerade ornamental pepper.

From a gardener’s standpoint, ornamental peppers are one of the most fruitful annuals one could plant, no pun intended. With little or no dead-heading, the peppers not only last, but get better looking on the plant throughout the season. Many of the cultivars chosen for superior ornamental quality have an intensely colored bloom which is followed by heavy fruit production. The fruits are often cone or cigar shaped like the traditional chili pepper but can also be round or even lumpy, like a miniature bell pepper.

The interesting thing is that as the fruit develops it slowly ripens, magically transforming as the color deepens. For instance, the Kent / MSU Extension office had a display last summer of a dwarf pepper with variegated leaves known as “Shu”. This tiny pepper plant produced one-inch fruits that began a pale yellow then transformed to purple and eventually brilliant red. Throughout the season, the plants were continually covered with peppers at all stages of ripening. With adequate fertility and a bit of supplemental water, these plants were both ornamental and somewhat entertaining. Once established in a container or the garden, pepper plants seem to take all kinds of abuse such as scorching hot sun.

At the Chicago Botanic Gardens in the summer of 2007, a display of a deep purple pepper known as ‘Masquerade’ was complimented by the purple foliage of ornamental basil and the brilliant, and also heat tolerant blooms of Gazania. Another cultivar, ‘Chilly-Chili’ has uniform, brightly colored peppers similar in size and shape to a chili. It produces heavy loads of the showy fruits in the center of the plant and never gets too tall. This plant is excellent used as a border, (did I mention color?) in combination with other bright colored annuals or in containers. By the end of the season, most of the subtle yellow peppers will have turned a brilliant scarlet. I love the idea of not needing dead-heading.

Peppers of the Caribbean
The 2006 All American Selection (AAS) winner ‘Black Pearl’ is the latest eye-catching cultivar to be developed and released by the AAS. To receive the AAS award, a cultivar must show “superior garden performance.” I can attest to the outstanding performance of ‘Black Pearl’, which became a pirate’s treasure in our MSU Extension Grand Ideas Garden annual trial. This was the most asked about plant on display last season. With deeply colored purple foliage topped by half-inch, perfectly round, black fruits, the plants were just as beautiful in early November when we removed them as they were at planting time. As the season got hotter and hotter, some of our other annuals took a dive in performance, but the all the peppers just got better. They were so amazing that some people thought they were fake.

If the names ‘Tangerine Dream’, ‘Holiday Flame’ or ‘Red Misssile’ sound intriguing, you can look forward to yet another peck of ornamental peppers landing in a garden center near you in the next few years. According to Griesbach, the future for development and release of new ornamental peppers looks bright. Plant breeding to him is kind of like assembling a Mr. Potato Head doll. He looks for outstanding fruit, to combine with cool foliage and interesting habit. This next season, Griesbach says we can look forward to a ground cover pepper with black foliage. If it is anything like the ‘Black Pearl,’ I could quickly become a pirate gardener!

'Black Pearl' ornamental pepper.

Update of Michigan driver’s license requirements
Vera Bitsch
Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics

In January Michigan’s Secretary of State, Terry Land, had required applicants for Michigan driver’s licenses to prove permanent residency in the state. This step was based on an opinion by Attorney General, Michael Cox, issued in December 2007. As a result of this new requirement of permanent residency, business leaders, managers, and professionals from other countries, as well as international students, legally residing in Michigan for many years, albeit temporary, were no longer able to obtain a Michigan driver’s license. Governor Granholm had sent a letter to state lawmakers, asking them to move quickly to resolve this issue. In February, bipartisan legislation was passed to restore the ability of all legal residents (temporary and permanent) to obtain a driver’s license. February 15, this new law, Public Act 7 of 2008 (HB 4505) was signed by Governor Granholm.

Temporary visitors to Michigan do not need to apply for a Michigan driver’s license. Michigan accepts licenses from other U.S. states and many foreign countries, including Canada and Mexico. Therefore, temporary visitors to Michigan can continue to drive with their licenses and insure their vehicles, if the licenses fall into the acknowledged group. Only residents need to apply for a Michigan license. Different rules apply to commercial drivers.

According to a fact sheet issued by the Secretary of State, applicants for an original Michigan driver’s license must present documentation of (1) a valid Social Security Number or proof of ineligibility, (2) legal presence in the United States., (3) identity, and (4) Michigan residency (at least two documents). Social security information will be verified. Documents must be originals or copies certified with a raised seal or stamp. Faxed or photocopied documents will not be accepted. Details on the documentation requirements and the type of documents accepted are available at http://michigan.gov/sos (under the Driver License & State ID tab).

To read Dr. Bitsch’s complete newsletter go to her website at http://www.msu.edu/user/bitsch. Under “News” click on “Update of Michigan Driver’s License Requirements” or click on “Agricultural Labor Issues in Michigan” for a list of available newsletters. Please remember that these newsletters serve educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.

Weather news
Aaron Pollyea
Geography

Shortwave troughs will be the major effect on the state’s weather over the next few days, producing rainfall across the state. The low should enter our region by today, June 27, producing the previously mentioned possible severe weather and rainfall. Rainfall amounts could be more than an inch in northern lower Michigan by the evening of Saturday, June 28, with more limited rainfall extending across the entire state. The majority of the rainfall should persist until Sunday when it will taper off through Tuesday. The warmer temperatures we will be experiencing starting today should persist until Sunday, when cooler weather should occur across the state.

Temperatures during the next few days will be generally steady, with highs Friday generally ranging from the mid- to upper 70s north to the mid- to upper 80s south and lows from the upper 50s to low 60s north to the mid- to upper 60s south. With the shortwave troughs and general cooling occurring, temperatures begin to slide on Saturday ranging from low to upper 70s across the state and on Sunday mid 60s to upper 70s. Temperatures then remain in the 70s across the state until Wednesday when they rise into the mid- 70s in the north and low 80s in the south.

In the medium range forecast, the upper air pattern mentioned above is expected to continue for much of the remainder of June. The National Weather Service 6‑10 day outlook covering July 2 through July 6 calls for below normal temperatures in the Upper Peninsula and for precipitation totals to be at above normal levels. The outlook for the 8-14 day period (July 4 - July 10) calls for below normal temperatures in the upper peninsula and for precipitation totals to be at above normal levels. Further ahead, it is interesting to note that forecast guidance is also hinting that the very turbulent, active upper air pattern of late May and early June may return to the upper Midwest, possibly during early July.

The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
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6-27-08