June 13, 1997
Growing Delphiniums
Delphiniums are majestic flowering plants. Their long, colorful flower spikes are spectacular additions to the garden.
Peach Leaf Curl and Plum Pocket
Have you noticed lately that your peach leaves appear curled or puckered? Do leaves appear to be lighter than normal, flushed with red, blistered, distorted, and curled? Chances are your tree has peach leaf curl, a fungal disease caused by Taphrina deformans. Although peach leaf curl is primarily a disease of peach, nectarines are also affected. Peach leaf curl is first noticed in spring when young leaves start to emerge. The entire leaf or a portion of it may appear crinkled and curled with flushes of red or purple .
Serviceberries
Serviceberries are dual-purpose plants. They are planted as ornamentals for their masses of showy, white flowers in early spring and colorful fall foliage. They are also grown for their edible fruit. The blueberry-like fruit may be eaten fresh, baked in pies or other desserts, canned, or made into wine, jams, or preserves.
Venturia Leaf and Shoot Blight of Aspen and Poplars
Leaves and shoots of aspen and poplars may be infected by species of the fungus Venturia. Disease development is favored by wet spring conditions.
Leaf symptoms are evident in May. Irregular brown or black spots form, causing leaves to appear deformed. Infected shoots turn black, brittle, and bend over to resemble a shepherd's crook. Only young shoots and leaves are susceptible. As the season progresses and tissues mature, they become resistant.