News

Palm weevils threaten trees
Two exotic species of giant palm weevils are presenting a potential threat to palm trees in Florida and Texas, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry (FDACS-DPI) and the National Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO).

The two exotic species of concern—the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) and the South American palm weevil (R. palmarum) can be difficult to differentiate from the palmetto weevil (R. cruentatus), which is native to Florida and the southeastern United States.

The South American palm weevil is considered to be a pest that is transient, actionable and under surveillance in the United States, according to NAPPO.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the detection of the South American palm weevil in Alamo, Texas. This detection was the result of a multi-state delimitation survey initiated in response to detections of the South American palm weevil in California in 2011.

Although the South American palm weevil is a vector of the nematode Bursaphelenchus cocophilus, which can cause red-ring disease in coconut and oil palms, the nematode was not present in the detected weevils.

Additional information on R. palmarum or B. cocophilus can be found at: www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/palmweevil/index.shtml.

News Notes

NOAA: Record warmest spring, start to the year
The United States continues to shatter previous, long-standing heat records, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report.

In the May “State of the Climate” report, NOAA found the first five months of 2012 were the warmest January-May period on record for the U.S. The year 2012 also yielded the record warmest spring (March-May) and second warmest May in records dating to 1895.

USDA funds pest, disease prevention
The USDA will support 321 projects in all 50 states, plus American Samoa and Guam, that help to prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests and diseases threatening U.S. agriculture, horticulture and the environment. The funding totals $50 million and is provided by Section 10201 of the 2008 Farm Bill.

The FY 2012 funding plan, list of selected projects and general feedback are posted at www.aphis.usda.gov/section10201.

Heronswood Gardens sold at auction
Heronswood Gardens estate and Heronswood Nursery were sold for an undisclosed amount to the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, a Native American tribe that has ancestral lands located within the 15-acre property. The property is on the Kitsap Peninsula, in Kingston, Wash. The sale resulted from a sealed-bid auction conducted by Sheldon Good & Company under the direction of the estate’s owner, W. Atlee Burpee & Company.

Heronswood is home to more than 10,000 plants, many of which were collected during expeditions to Central America, South America, China, Nepal, South Africa and other locales by Dan Hinkley, horticulturalist and builder of the estate.

Valent announces Legacy Tree Project results
Two years after launching the Legacy Tree Project to increase awareness about the emerald ash borer (EAB), Valent Professional Products has released data from insecticide trials. Safari Insecticide is effectively protecting more than 1,100 ash trees from EAB in seven participating Chicagoland communities, according to Valent.

In May 2012, an assessment of ash trees treated with Safari in the Legacy Tree Project shows a survival rate of more than 95 percent, and that treated trees are thriving. By contrast, most nearby untreated ash trees are heavily infested or have died.

Alain Meilland named Great Rosarian of the World
World-renowned rosarian Alain Meilland, head of Meilland International, was honored at the annual Great Rosarians of the World (GROW) event in June in New York City.

Founded in 1850 by gardener Joseph Rambaux, Meilland International has been managed by six generations of Meilland family rosarians. At the age of 18, Alain Meilland took the helm in 1958 upon the death of his father. Meilland International produces many varieties of roses, including ‘Peace,’ the Drift rose series and, more recently, the 2013 AARS winner, Francis Meilland.

For more: www.meilland.com.