Gardening: Kumquats Are The Gold Gem Of The Citrus Family
January 22, 2011
Extension Agents are sometimes the recipient of home grown fare. Each winter I look forward to the annual harvest of kumquats in my Master Gardener landscapes.
Kumquats (kuhm’ kwaht) have been called “the little gold gem of the citrus family”. The name kumquat comes from the Cantonese word for “golden orange”.
Kumquats have a thin, sweet peel and a zesty, somewhat tart center. It’s the only fruit in the citrus family that you can eat “skin and all.” They are rich in potassium and low in calories. One kumquat is approximately 12 calories and yields 8.3mg calcium, 37mg potassium, 7.1mg vitamin C, and 57 IU vitamin A. They contain only a trace of fat, 3.1g carbohydrate and 15.5g water per fruit.
They are believed to be native to China and were included in the genus Citrus until about 1915 when Dr. Walter T. Swingle set them apart in the genus Fortunella, in honor of the British horticulturist, Robert Fortune who introduced the kumquat to Europe in 1846.
Two varieties of kumquats are grown in Florida. The oval kumquat or Nagami (Fortunella margarita) is the most popular. The deep-orange fruit are small ovals, have 2-5 seeds, and are pleasantly flavored. The tartness of the fruit makes them great for use in cooking and for marmalades and jellies.
The Meiwa (F. crassifolia) is sometimes called “the sweet kumquat” as this variety is not as tart as the Nagami. This round kumquat has a thicker peel, sweet pulp and juice, and is nearly seedless. While they are very good to eat, it is not recommended that you use them for cooking or for marmalade as they lack the tartness of the Nagami kumquats.
This easy-to-grow evergreen tree reaches more than ten feet tall. It has few or no thorns and small, glossy leaves. The yellow-to-bright-reddish orange fruit are very showy and borne in large numbers. The fruit is considered ripe when it reaches a yellowish-orange stage, and has just shed the last tint of green. A steady harvest is available throughout the winter.
Kumquat trees grow well throughout Florida, planted in the landscape or in large containers. The trees are very cold hardy, and are highly resistant to citrus canker. The trees require about the same care as other citrus.
Whether grown in a container or in the ground, kumquats are heavy feeders and perform best with a regular fertilizing program. Be sure to water well before and after applying fertilizer to help prevent burn. If possible, buy a fertilizer formulated for citrus and one that has at least a third slow-release nitrogen. These slower-release fertilizers provide months of continuous nutrients, reducing effort and cost.
Do not allow weeds or sod to grow up near the tree trunk. They will compete with root activity.
Although pruning isn’t required, kumquats can be pruned to shape without diminishing next year’s fruiting ability. After harvest time, pick the fruit then prune the tree before new flowers appear. Remove suckers at the base of the trees anytime as they can sap the energy from fruit production.
Kumquats are an easy-to-grow plant that pays big harvest dividends in winter. After just a couple of years, they will begin bearing fruit and are a nice evergreen addition to the landscape. Try adding one or more to your landscape or garden.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Ernest Ward Students Explore Past With National History Day Projects
January 21, 2011
History came alive through the eyes of students at Ernest Ward Middle School Thursday evening as they displayed weeks of work on projects for National History Day.
The History Fair in the school’s gym capped off a project in which EWMS students were required to do research into a topic. The research was presented in exhibit form, much like the typical science fair, or as a drama or web presentation. Students complete projects either individually or in teams.
For a photo gallery of projects, click here.
This was the second year Ernest Ward has participated in the national program, with the top projects from Ernest Ward headed next to a district competition. Those winners were:
GROUP
- Samantha Sharpless and Tamara Wise — Women’s Rights
- Hannah Gibson and Morgan Ward — Poarch Creek Indians
- Jason Perritt and Tyler Houston — Atomic Bomb
- Amy Murph and Jessica McCullough — 9/11 Debate
INDIVIDUAL
- Tristan Barrett — Cuban Missile Crisis
- Ben Linam — Iran Hostages
- Logan Lee — Atomic Bomb
- Tristan Brown — Ping-Pong Diplomacy
PERFORMANCE
- Abbie Johnson, Harmoni Till and Brittney Ward — Holocaust Drama
WEB
- Kelton Wooten and Jaylen Parker — Iran Hostage Crisis
- Shania Ward and Julie Hester — Women’s Suffrage
- Danielle Suggs and Penny Banda — Lincoln-Douglas Debates
- Joshua Borrelli and Murphy Bryan — Atomic Bomb
National Junior Honor Society At Ernest Ward Middle Adds New Members, Officers
January 21, 2011
About 40 students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society Thursday night at Ernest Ward Middle School.
The NJHS is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding middle school students. More than just an honor roll, NJHS serves to honor those students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, citizenship and character.
Students must have and maintain a 3.5 GPA for honor society membership.
For a photo gallery from the induction ceremony, click here.
New seventh grade National Junior Honor Society Members at Ernest Ward are: Kaitlyn Abbott, Jadlyn Agerton, Tristan Barrett, Katelyn Born, Haley Brown, William Brown , Hunter Connell, Nathan Donald, Jacob Dunsford, Amber Freeman, Nathan Galvan, Hanna Ging, Christopher Grant, Dariane Guy, Jordan Helmken, Abbie Johnson, Tonie Johnson, Kendral Langford, Trevor Levins, Thomas Moore, Jason Ogle, Brianna Parker, Liberty Peebles, Ben Preston, Bethany Reynolds, Savanna Roux, Jamilia Smiley-Knight, Jordan Taylor, David Thorpe, Harmoni Till, Bradley Van Pelt, Brittney Ward, Haylee Weaver, and Courtney Weekley.
New eighth grade members inducted Thursday night are: Autumn Ates, Annie Bobo, Kristen Byrd, Kendal Cobb, Christian Gould, Jessica McCullough and Tristan Portwood.
New officers were also installed. They are: Tamara Wise, president; Samantha Sharpless, vice president; Danielle Suggs, secretary; Austin Cunningham, treasurer; Ben Linam, reporter; Kelton Wooten, parliamentarian; and Jaylen Parker, historian.
Other eight grade members of the National Junior Honor Society Members at Ernest Ward are: Penny Banda, Megan Bryan, Tiffani Cruce, Leann Fillingim, Hannah Gibson, Kyndall Hall, Auden Lassitter, Aaron McDonald, Madison McGhee, Amy Murph, Mallory Ryan, Chelsea Turner and Morgan Ward.
Pictured: About 40 students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society Thursday night at Ernest Ward Middle School. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Photos: Chinese Acrobats Perform At Byrneville Elementary
January 20, 2011
Students at Byrneville Elementary School recently enjoyed a performance by a group of Chinese acrobats. With plate spinning, impressive hula-hooping , basketball tricks and lots of acrobatics, the group amazed the BES audience.
Pictured above: Chinese acrobats perform a plate spinning demonstration. Pictured let: Chloe Smith from Mrs. Dunsford’s third grade class, gets quick instructions before hula-hooping with the group. Pictured below: A group of Byrneville students enjoy the show. Submitted photos by Candice Thornton for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Civil Rights In Her Words: People Were Ready To Die
January 18, 2011
People weren’t playing.
People were ready to kill.
But people were ready to die so we could so we could go where we want to go today.
So we could sit where we want to sit today.
Profound words for a young Century girl that dreamed a dream of people overcoming.
Born and raised in Century — a product of the segregated Carver High School and Pilgrim Lodge Baptist Church — there was a fire inside Mercy E. Moore.
At 17 she would ride with other youth in the back of an ambulance from Morris Funeral Home to the sit-ins at Woolworth’s Lunch Counter in Pensacola.
“They put mustard and ketchup on our heads and on our back and write notes…’N***** Stew’,” she said of the hours standing for equality at that lunch counter. “We just sat there…We were praying quietly.”
Now 72 and a retired attorney, Moore reflected on her experiences during a Martin Luther King, Jr. service in Century Monday morning.
Her story is in the video below, in her own words…
(If you do not see the video above, it is because your firewall
or filtering software is blocking YouTube videos.)
Carrigan Graduates Basic Training
January 17, 2011
Air Force Airman Christopher K. Carrigan graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Carrigan earned distinction as an honor graduate.
He is the son of Curt and Linda Carrigan of Azel Scott Lane, Jay, Fla. Carrigan graduated in 2010 from Jay High School.
Following His Calling: Dentist Helps Those In Need
January 16, 2011
Dr. T.J. Morris is engaged in the work he loves at his dental clinic in Atmore, a full-time practice made possible largely by tuition loan repayment assistance from the National Health Service Corps.
Morris (his full name is Terry Jack Morris, Jr., but he goes by T.J. to avoid confusion with his father) has treated both adults and children at the clinic since the spring of 2010. “I fell in love with the people and the community here,” said Morris. “It has been a blessing from God to be able to serve these people, do what I love, and be compensated for it.”
Morris is one of the few Medicaid providers in the tri-county area. He sees patients from neighboring counties, which is a big help to those who cannot afford to pay for dental care. Payments are charged on a sliding scale based on income, but no patient is turned away. Patients have shown their appreciation by offering him squash, fudge and homemade cakes.
“This is what God has called me to do,” he said. “I have never enjoyed working like this before.”
Atmore is located in a dental health shortage area, which is defined as an area where there are not enough dentists to serve the needs of patients in a particular geographic region.
After the death of Dr. Thomas Rice and the closure of another dental practice in Brewton, there was a definite need for dental services in Atmore and surrounding areas. Dr. Morris learned about the opening through a dentist in Mobile.
With special permission granted by the Alabama Board of Dental Examiners, Morris was able to purchase the established practice from the estate of the late Dr. Rice. He said this would not have been possible without federal financial support because he had a sizable student loan debt. Without the repayment assistance, he would not have qualified for additional loans.
For almost 40 years the National Health Service Corps has helped thousands of healthcare professionals practice in communities where they are most needed because of the financial assistance provided through student loan repayments and scholarships. Thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, an additional $300 million was allocated to assist more professionals repay student loans.
Pictured: Dr. T.J. Morris provides dental care to a young patient at his Atmore office. Courtesy photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Featured Recipe: A Twist On Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup
January 16, 2011
This weekend’s featured recipe from Janet Tharpe is “Grilled Cheese And Tomato Soup”. No popping a can and American cheese here — wholesome ingredients are used for a homemade tomato soup and a blend of cheese combine for the sandwiches.
To print today’s “Just a Pinch” recipe column, you can click the image below to load a printable pdf with a recipe card.
Stop Crape Murder: Don’t Cut Back Your Myrtles
January 15, 2011
Proper pruning is one of the most misunderstood of all gardening practices, yet it is one of the most important procedures in a landscape. A common victim of bad, improper pruning is the crape myrtle. Crape myrtles will occasionally need pruning to obtain the desired landscape effect, but many times these plants are butchered for no good reason.
According to Dan Gill, LSU AgCenter Horticulturist, an unfortunate trend in crape myrtle pruning is to lop off their tops, which results in a tree reduced to large branches ending in stubs. The lush growth that occurs at these cut sites appears vigorous but is actually structurally weak and more susceptible to fungus diseases such as powdery mildew. And when pruning is conducted improperly over several years, unsightly large, swollen knobs form at the point where pruning is done each year.
Flowers are not the only virtue of this tree. Many varieties have beautiful bark and growth habits that can be enjoyed all year if trees are not heavily pruned.
Crape murder
This unsightly, ugly pruning known as crape murder is not recommended. Once it’s done, it ruins the tree’s graceful natural shape for the rest of its life.
Often gardeners think they are supposed to prune their crape myrtles that way, and nothing could be farther from the truth. Many think that crape myrtles need to be cut way back to bloom well. This is not accurate. The flower clusters may be larger on lopped trees, but the added weight on the ends of long branches causes them to bend over awkwardly, especially after it rains. And since the tree is smaller, it actually produces fewer flower clusters.
Many people say they need to cut a crape myrtle back because of its size. If the height of the crape myrtle is not causing a problem with a nearby structure or power lines, there is little reason to reduce the tree’s height. To cut a crape myrtle back for the vague reason of “it just seems too large” ignores the fact that these plants are trees. They are supposed to be large.
To prune a crape myrtle properly, first decide if it needs to be pruned. As with any pruning project, you must have a specific, valid purpose in mind before you begin. In other words, if you can’t come up with a good reason to prune your tree – leave it alone. If you do see something that calls for pruning, study the tree carefully and determine what needs to be pruned to accomplish the specific purpose identified.
There are a few valid reasons for pruning a crape myrtle. One reason is to eliminate crossed and rubbing branches because rubbing branches can lead to open wounds.
Over time, branches that are too low on the trunk will need to be pruned to raise the canopy. We often need to remove weak, thin branches from the inner part of the tree to produce a cleaner-looking tree. Selected branches may need to be pruned back to a side branch or the trunk to create a shapelier tree. Of course, you need to prune to keep suckers removed from the base of the trunk.
Generally, avoid cutting back or shortening branches much larger than your finger, although cutting larger branches back to a side branch or to the trunk when needed is fine.
Visitors to our area often marvel over our crape myrtles. During summer, their colorful flowers, attractive bark and beautiful shape make them among our most valuable landscape plants. Please appreciate this – and stop the unfortunate trend of hacking them back.
Theresa Friday is the Residential Horticulture Extension Agent for Santa Rosa County.
Pictured top: Crape myrtle trees do not need pruning for new growth. Pictured below: These Crape myrtles were ruined with unnecessary topping. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com.
Local Art Students Honored During Mask Exhibit
January 14, 2011
Several North Escambia students were month those honored during the fourth annual mask exhibit by Escambia county School students.
The exhibit is January 11-21 at the Artel Gallery, 223 Palafox Place in the first floor of the old Escambia County Courthouse.
Northview students Kiani Okahashi, Charles Rolin and Katelyn Garrison where awarded first through third places, while Tate student Mercedez Rocheblav’s ceramic piece “Dragon” was named Best of Show.
The names of North Escambia area winners and participants are listed below, along with their award, title of their piece, medium and school.
High School
- Mercedez Rocheblave, Best of Show, “Dragon”, Ceramics, Tate
- Kiani Okahashi, First Place HS, “L’homme Ridicule”, Mixed, Northview
- Charles Rolin, Second Place HS, Itcho Tastanagi (Deer Warrior), Mixed, Northview
- Katelyn Garrison, Third Place HS, “Octavius”, Mixed, Northview
- Hailey Garrison, “Foreign Body”, Mixed, Northview
- Elizabeth Wright, “Recycle, Reuse, Renew”, Mixed, Northview
- Katelyn Varhalla, Steel Magnolia, Ceramics, Tate
- Shane Sahli, “Big Al”, Ceramics, Tate
- Saber Gipson, “Tribal Love”, Ceramics, Tate
Elementary:
- Lauren Mills, “The Crazed Mask”, Paper and yarn, Jim Allen
- Alexanderia Harrison, Honorable Mention, “Coco Crazy”, Paper and yarn, Jim Allen
- Brooklyn Jensen, “The Crazy Mask”, Paper and yarn, Jim Allen
- Corey Ryland, “The Crazy Mask”, Paper and yarn, Jim Allen
- Paige Owen, “The Mystery Mask, Paper and yarn, Jim Allen
Pictured top: Katelyn Garrison and her mask. For other students and their masks, scroll down this page.
Kiani Okahashi (above).
Hailey Garrison (above).
Elizabeth Wright (above).
Charles Rolin (above).
Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.