February 27, 2004 News Releases
Released 2/25/04 and 2/26/04
UTAH STATE NEWS RELEASES FOR 02-26-04
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
EXTENSION, UNPS SPONSOR NATIVE PLANT PROPAGATION WORKSHOP
Logan — Utah State University Extension sponsors a native
plant propagation workshop in Davis County. The session is Saturday,
March 13, at 9 a.m. at the Utah Botanical Center Greenhouse
in Kaysville.
The workshop is designed to help gardeners recognize and obtain
plants adapted to the Utah climate. Master Gardeners will present
the workshop for gardening enthusiasts, and Susan Meyer, Utah
Native Plant Society Education Committee chair, will supply
materials and expertise. Gardeners can start their own native
plants from seed provided by the Utah Native Plant Society.
Fourteen plant seeds will be available.
Participants in the workshop receive a handbook with details
about each plant and general requirements for growing native
plants in the landscape. Master Gardeners will share their experiences
growing the offered plants. Containers with 72 cells, filled
with an appropriate growing media, will be planted during the
workshop.
Cost for the workshop is $15 for Master Gardeners and Utah Native
Plant Society
members, and $20 for nonmembers. Space is limited and preregistration
is required. To register, contact the Utah State University
Davis County Extension Office at 28 E. State St., #200 (P.O.
Box 618), (801) 451-3204.
Feb. 26, 2004
Writer: Julene Reese, (435) 760-9302
Contact: Loralie Cox, (435) 752-6263
UTAH STATE
UNIVERSITY EXTENSION, UNPS SPONSOR NATIVE PLANT PROPAGATION
WORKSHOP
Logan — Utah State University Extension sponsors a native
plant propagation workshop in Utah County. Sessions are Saturday,
March 13, at 9 a.m. at Thanksgiving Point Gardens Visitor Center,
Lehi, and Wednesday, March 24, at 2 p.m. at 51 S. University
Ave., Room 211, Provo.
The workshop is designed to help gardeners recognize and obtain
plants adapted to the Utah climate. Master Gardeners will present
the workshop for gardening enthusiasts, and Susan Meyer, Utah
Native Plant Society Education Committee chair, will supply
materials and expertise. Gardeners can start their own native
plants from seed provided by the Utah Native Plant Society.
Fourteen plant seeds will be available.
Participants in the workshop receive a handbook with details
about each plant and general requirements for growing native
plants in the landscape. Master Gardeners will share their experiences
growing the offered plants. Containers with 72 cells, filled
with an appropriate growing media, will be planted during the
workshop.
Cost for the workshop is $15 for Master Gardeners and Utah Native
Plant Society
members, and $20 for nonmembers. Space is limited and preregistration
is required. To register, contact the Utah State University
Utah County Extension Office at Thanksgiving Gardens Horticulture
Education, 3900 Garden Way, Lehi, (801) 768-7443; or at 51 So.
University Ave., Provo, (801) 377-8084.
Feb. 26, 2004
Writer: Julene Reese, (435) 760-9302
Contact: Loralie Cox, (435) 752-6263
ASK A SPECIALIST:
SMALL BLACK ANTS HAVE BEEN INVADING MY KITCHEN. HOW DO I GET
RID OF THEM?
Ants invade the home to forage for food, to seek shelter or
both. They are often called sugar ants because they are attracted
to sweet foods. They enjoy other food and materials as well,
including greasy materials, starchy substances, wood and all
kinds of plant and animal materials. Part of the reason ants
become a nuisance in our homes is that they often like the same
kinds of food we do.
Ants often nest outside homes and come indoors at opportune
times during the year. In the spring, some species develop wings
and fly to new locations. They invade homes to forage for food
or to establish a new nest.
Termites also develop wings and swarm during the spring. They
look similar to flying ants. Examine them closely to make sure
you are seeking treatment for the correct pest. Ants are thin-waisted
and have elbowed antennae. Termites have thicker waists and
have antennae that resemble strings of tiny beads. You may need
a magnifying glass to examine antennal features.
If you find you have termites, contact a local, reputable pest
control company. If you have ants, consider these tips for control.
• Install under-door seals to prevent their entry. This
is probably the most effective method of control. Also seal
cracks and crevices to eliminate passages into the home. If
you do not seal entry points, ants will most likely find their
way into your home at some later time.
• Determine which food materials they are feeding on
in your home and store those items in airtight containers.
• Clean regularly. Ants lay down a scent or pheromone
trail for others in the colony to follow. Therefore, regular
cleaning with a disinfectant will help eliminate trail-following
and more ants. Be sure to clean the floor, along floorboards,
on counters, in cupboards and anywhere you find ants foraging
• If the above methods don’t work, consider treating
doorways, floorboards and other ant-infested areas with an insecticide
registered for indoor use. Follow product label directions.
Be cautious to keep the chemical away from food, and don't allow
children or pets to use the floor area for the period of time
recommended on the label.
• If you are able to locate an ant nesting area outside
your home, treat the nest site with insecticide and clean up
the area to prevent the ants from reestablishing.
For further information on control of ants in the home, visit
http://lancaster.unl.edu/enviro/pest/factsheets/003-97.htm
Visit http://extension.usu.edu/cooperative/aska/ to see other
Ask A Specialist columns.
Direct column topics to Julene Reese, Utah State University
Extension, Logan, UT 84322-0500, 435-760-9302; julener@ext.usu.edu
Feb. 26, 2004
Answer by: Diane Alston, Utah State University Extension Entomologist
UTAH STATE NEWS RELEASES FOR 2-25-04
VISITING INTERIOR
DESIGNER SERIES AT UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
LOGAN — Malcolm W. Duffin, an interior designer from Edinburgh,
Scotland, is the next featured speaker in the Visiting Interior
Designer Series at Utah State University. Duffin speaks Wednesday,
March 3, at 4:30 p.m. in the Eccles Science Learning Center
Auditorium. The event is free and the public is invited.
The subject is Duffin’s presentation is “Great Houses
of Scotland.” In addition to his lecture, Duffin will
be on campus for a week working with students in the university’s
Interior Design program.
Duffin is a noted figure in interior design and decoration in
Scotland. He started his career at age 16 as an apprentice to
the late James Thomson, influential designer in Great Britain.
He completed his first commission at age 17 and continued gaining
his professional qualifications through a combination of night
school classes and correspondence courses. He worked for a time
in London with several design greats before returning to Scotland
to open his own design practice.
Design commissions range from a 15th century castle in Munich,
Germany, and a royal palace near Frankfurt, to work in America,
Spain, France and England. In 1999 he became one of the youngest
members of the then IDDA, now BIDDA (British Interior Design
Association) and was nominated in 1999 as Interior Designer
of the Year. Described as one of the top 35 interior designers
in the world and published in the “Interior Elite”
who’s who in design, Duffin’s work has been regularly
featured in magazines and featured on television.
The Visiting Interior Design Series at Utah State is made possible
by a grant from the Marie Eccles Caine Foundation. For information
on the series contact Tom Peterson, head of Utah State’s
interior design program.
February 25, 2004
Contact: Tom Peterson (435) 797-1556
Writer: Patrick Williams (435) 797-1354
CAREER FAIR AT
UTAH STATE PROVIDES JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN AN UNSTEADY ECONOMY
LOGAN —Career Services at Utah State University aggressively
prepares students and career seekers with skills and provides
critical opportunities for landing jobs in an uncertain job
market.
The 15th annual Career Fair will be Wednesday, March 3, from
9 a.m. - 3p.m., on the 2nd floor of the Taggart Student Center
at Utah State. More than 140 organizations representing a host
of careers and job opportunities are scheduled to attend.
“This event is a great way for students to set themselves
apart from the competition,” said Melissa Scheaffer, assistant
director of Utah State’s Career Services. “It gives
them a one-on-one connection with employers they can’t
get by posting an electronic resume on a Web site. We try to
ensure a good cross-section of employers to attract students
from all majors.”
Free and open to Utah State students and community members,
this year’s fair will have representatives from some of
the nation’s most innovative and dynamic business and
government organizations. These organizations include American
Online, ARUP Laboratories, Boeing, Del Sol, Flying J, Hewlett
Packard, IBM, Intermountain Health Care and Wells Fargo. In
addition, the fair will feature approximately 40 local, state
and federal agencies.
“It is important for students to look beyond the obvious
to determine companies that have a need for their particular
skills,” Scheaffer said. “We encourage students
to do preliminary research of the companies attending the fair
to see where and how they can fill a need within an organization.”
Scheaffer recommends students come prepared with a list of specific,
researched companies they are interested in. She also suggests
students dress professionally, bring resumes and prepare a 30-second
pitch about themselves and their skills.
“It is a waste of time to wander aimlessly throughout
the fair,” Scheaffer said. “It’s too big so
students will probably be intimidated if they don't have some
background information and a plan of who to talk to. The key
is to make a good first-impression and then follow up with potential
organizations after the fair.”
A recent Utah State graduate in journalism and communication,
Eric Olsen, is currently State Farm’s public affairs specialist
for Utah because of a connection he made at the Career Fair.
“I handle all media and community relations for State
Farm and have a large role in legislative and regulatory issues,”
said Olsen. “Life is good and it’s all because I
made a decision to go to the Career Fair in March a few years
ago.”
For more information go to www.usu.edu/career or call Career
Services at (435) 797-7777.
February 25, 2004
Contact: Melissa Scheaffer (435) 797-1755
Writer: Danielle London (435) 797-1351
NOT SURE
WHAT TO PLANT? REFER TO THE ALL AMERICAN SELECTIONS
LOGAN — Although most vegetables and flowers advertised
in garden catalogs will grow in our area, they may not all perform
as advertised, said Jerry Goodspeed, Utah State University Extension
horticulturist. Luckily for gardeners, there is an association
that experiments with each new variety to see how well it grows.
“The All American Selection is an association that tests
each year’s new varieties of flowers and vegetables throughout
the United States and Canada to determine which ones they feel
are the all-around best,” he said. “Each fall they
announce the winners for the next year. There are more than
200 All-American Selection gardens located in 22 states.”
This year, All-American status was awarded to five flowers and
three vegetables, said Goodspeed. The flowers are judged on
form, color, foliage, fragrance, length of flowering season
and resistance to diseases and insects. Vegetables are rated
according to fruit production, harvest date, flavor and yield,
plant habit and resistance to diseases and insects.
Of the five flowers, two are Celosia plumosa, more commonly
known as feathered celosia, he said.
“I like celosias with their large plumes of color standing
high above the foliage. They generally offer season-long color
with little care. ‘Fresh Look Yellow’ and ‘Fresh
Look Red’ have plumes that may get as large as 9 inches
tall by 5 inches wide,” he said. “Both plants can
be grown in full sun or in an area with a little afternoon shade.
They grow between 12 to 18 inches tall, with a similar spread.
Side shoots eventually develop, covering the plant with colorful
plumes as the season progresses.”
Many gardeners who grew hollyhocks in the past now think they
are too old-fashioned for their new gardens, said Goodspeed.
However, this year’s winner, “Queeny Purple,”
may change that opinion. This smaller hollyhock, which only
reaches a height of about 2 to 2½ feet tall, has frilly
edged, purple-colored flowers that can provide attractive blooms
most of the season.
Gypsophila, also known as baby’s breath, is a flower that
gardeners have also associated with older, informal gardens,
he noted. The new annual variety, “Gypsy Deep Pink,”
has dark, rose-colored double to semi-double flowers that form
a mound that grows about 10 inches tall and 12 inches wide.
It prefers full sun, and can be grown in hanging baskets or
other containers.
“Although the only medal I would give a petunia would
be the over-planted award, the new variety ‘Limbo Violet’
is attractive,” said Goodspeed. “It has large, violet-colored
blooms on a smaller, compact, mound-shaped plant with a height
of about 6 inches, and a spread of nearly 12 inches wide. It
is designed for smaller areas where a large splash of color
is desired.
The vegetable award winners included two melons and one squash.
“Sunshine” is a winter squash that resembles an
orange buttercup. The name comes from its bright orange-red
skin. The fruit averages about 3 ½ pounds, and ripens
about 90 days from planting. The plant is a little smaller than
many winter squash, with an average vine length of 7 feet, he
noted.
The watermelon “Sweet Beauty” is an icebox melon,
which means it is a smaller size, with an average weight of
only about 6 pounds. This dark-green, oblong melon will reach
maturity in about 100 days, said Goodspeed. The melon “Amy”
is a Canary or Mediterranean-type melon, with yellow skin and
white, sweet meat. It only requires about 90 days to mature,
and is noted for its high yield.
“If you are looking for a new flower or vegetable that
has passed rigorous testing, one of these might be worth trying,”
Goodspeed concluded.
Feb. 23, 2004
Writer: Julene Reese, 435-760-9302
Contact: Jerry L. Goodspeed, 801-392-8908
UNIVERSITY
AND COMMUNITY TEAM-UP FOR CACHE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK
LOGAN — Emergency preparedness can save lives, which
is why Utah State University President Kermit Hall and his ambassadors
are partnering with the Cache County American Red Cross to celebrate
"Red Cross Month" by organizing the first Cache County
emergency preparedness week March 22-27 at Utah State.
The week-long activities are aimed to help prepare Cache County
residents for emergencies and provide opportunities to learn
life-saving techniques. Events include a blood drive, adult
CPR certification, a mock disaster and benefit concert.
One of the week's highlights is an attempt to break the world
record for the most people certified in adult cardio pulmonary
resuscitation in one day. The record-breaking event, scheduled
for March 24, will attempt to certify 3,000 local citizens,
surpassing the current 2,192 record held by Bernando Middle
School in Los Angeles. Anyone over the age of 12 is invited
to participate.
The week's schedule of events includes: Monday, March 22, blood
drive, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Wednesday, March 24, adult CPR certification,
6-9 p.m.; Thursday, March 25, mock disaster, 9 a.m.-noon; Friday,
March 26, benefit concert, 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 27,
5 and 10K run and mile walk, 9:00 a.m. Saturday activities are
held at the Red Cross facility on 115 North 2nd East. All other
events are on the Utah State campus. For more information, contact
the Cache County American Red Cross at (435) 752-1125 or email
cache_redcross@yahoo.com.
February 23, 2004
Contact: Roxanna King, Alison Houston, Kelly Turner (435) 752-
1125 cache_redcross@yahoo.com
Writer: Maren Farnsworth (435) 797- 1351
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