Exclamation Points in the Landscape and Spotted Lanternfly

This year's harvest moon will rise on Friday, September 9th reaching its full illumination on Saturday, September 10th at 5:59 a.m.  For Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, the full moon will rise soon after sunset resulting in bright moonlight beginning early in the evening.  This bright moonlight gave the farmers an extended time to harvest their summer-grown crops.  Hence the name "Harvest Moon".  

As the season progresses, with each month, it seems as though the landscape is transformed.  The spring beauty of the iris and the fothergilla give way to the summer colors of the daylilies and the spireas.  As September nears and the hydrangeas are in their glory, the landscape is still offered an opportunity to transform with the addition of ornamental grasses.  These exclamation points in the garden begin to bloom just when you thought it was over.  Suddenly the soft white plumes of Miscanthus Gracillimus are put on display as they wave and dance in the breeze.  Dwarf Fountain Grass is another favorite unless you love the color blue in the garden.  If so, choose Beyond Blue Fescue or Elijah Blue.  

Have you heard of the spotted lanternfly?  If not, please familiarize yourself with this destructive pest.  It is a highly damaging insect that has made its way to the northeast.  The spotted lanternfly is a beautiful insect; however, we are being advised by the Department of Agriculture to kill them.  They are a great threat to many fruit crops and trees.  If they are allowed to spread, this pest has the potential to dramatically impact our country’s grape, fruit and logging industries.  If you see one, please report it to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). The spotted lanternfly does not fly long distances. Still, it attaches its egg masses, which resemble mud, on bikes, motorcycles, automobiles, etc., making them easy to transport without even knowing you are doing so.  Familiarize yourself with their egg masses here, and if found, scrape them into a zip lock bag, add hand sanitizer, seal the bag and dispose of it.  If we all work together, we may be able to control this nasty pest.  

September is a great time to begin preparing the gardens for  winter. Consider these tips:

• Continue weeding.
• Pinch off the tops of tomato plants and the new flower buds to hasten the ripening of existing fruit.
• Deadhead echinacea and heliopsis to keep them blooming. 
• Cut back summer perennials that have finished flowering, so their tattered foliage does not distract from fall blooms.  
• Consider planting spring flowering bulbs where you may like them.  
• Change out your containers and window boxes for fall mums or ornamental kale and cabbages.