MIRAGE-Benchmark/MIRAGE huggingface dataset:
Is this thistle native or non-native?

Question: In addition to bull and field thistle, I have a third type growing at the edge of my trail and wetland. I've tried to identify it through the MN DNR invasive species site as well as with a plant app although that just says it's a thistle. The picture is below and the description I'd provide is they are very, very large - six feet tall and a five to six foot spread. It has lots of purple flower heads like the other thistle but voluminous stalks are not covered in thorns and it also has extremely large leaves. If you can please help me identify this, that would be awesome as if it's non-native, I'd like to remove before they go to flower/seed. Thanks, Jeff 612.845.6747

responder: MaryKay, Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor Replied July 28, 2023, 4:48 PM EDT
response: Common burdock is an invasive weed that you will want to remove.  It reproduces by seeds that can linger in the soil for years.  Basal leaves are large and upper leaves are smaller.   1.  https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/common-burdock 2. https://www.ag.ndsu.edu:8000/agriculture/ag-hub/publications/identification-and-control-invasive-and-troublesome-weeds-north-dakota

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 28, 2023, 5:12 PM EDT
response: Excellent. Thank you.     Best, Jeff +1.612.845.6747 iPhone Brief       From: ask=<personal data hidden> <ask=<personal data hidden>> on behalf of Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> Sent: Friday, July 28, 2023 3:48:06 PM To: Weirens, Jeffery <<personal data hidden>> Subject: [EXT] Re: Is this thistle native or non-native? (#0113017)

responder: MaryKay, Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor Replied July 28, 2023, 5:17 PM EDT
response: You are welcome.  Good luck removing it.  Because it has a tap root, it is easy to pull if the ground is wet.  Maybe we will get more rain tonight!
What is This Plant?

Question: This plant appeared in full sun garden area.  What is it?  Weed / ???

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 29, 2023, 1:15 PM EDT
response: Thanks for the question. This seems to be common elderberry (Sambucus canadensis). A logical question is how did it end up in your garden? Elderberry typically spreads via an underground root system called rhizomes. Presumably this is the only plant in your garden. This rules out its appearance from roots of a nearby elderberry. Birds absolutely love elderberries. So my best guess is that last fall, possibly even this spring, various birds fed upon nearby elderberry bushes having berries. These bushes could have been as close as an adjacent property or even miles away. Whatever. As these berries were processed through the bird’s digestive system, seeds within these berries ended up in the bird’s feces. If a bird was performing this bodily elimination function within your garden area, one or more seeds got planted. Right now just pull up this plant, trying to get as much of its root system as possible. Don’t be surprised if more don’t continue to pop up from time to time. See the following for further information. https://www.exploringbirds.com/posts/birds-attracted-to-elderberry https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/shrub/common-elderberry https://trees.umn.edu/elderberry-sambucus-canadensis Thanks for consulting our forum.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 29, 2023, 2:23 PM EDT
response: Thank you very much!On Sat, Jul 29, 2023, 12:15 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 29, 2023, 2:29 PM EDT
response: Glad to have been of assistance.
Serviceberry Health

Question: I have a serviceberry tree that is seven yrs old.  Has always been healthy.  Just noticed some brown and withered leaves.  In dry weather, a few leaves will turn yellow and are shed from the tree.  So this is different.  Plus, there are sprigs of green Spanish moss-like growths resident on some branches - especially the unhealthy ones.  Please see the attached images.  Any comments, thoughts, treatment advice is WELCOME!!!

Thank you.

responder: Ed Olsen  Replied July 31, 2023, 9:01 AM EDT
response: the moss like structure is not a problem.  it is not parasitic.    As for the leaf browning, I'm not able to determine a cause from the pictures.  Amelanchier can get several foliar diseases such as rust and leaf spot.  That would explain general leaf drop, but not the leaf drop off a branch that looks like is going on.    I would inspect around the base of the tree to make sure that the trunk is not damaged or there is not a girdling root constricting the tree.

responder: The Question Asker Replied August 03, 2023, 4:07 PM EDT
response: I've attached three additional images.  No evidence of girdling that I can determine.  Also, one image gives context to the branch on which leaves have browned, but not dropped.  Unusual because normally in dry weather leaves will yellow, brown, and subsequently fall individually.

responder: Ed Olsen  Replied August 07, 2023, 12:19 PM EDT
response: the image ending in 1815 is the most helpful picture.  It looks like this plant was planted too deeply.  I can't see a root flare.  I see bunches of branches sticking out of the ground.  I also see multiple new branches coming out of the ground, these are suckers.  They are likely the result of the tree being planted too deeply along with the branch dying out.  At this stage, there isn't anything corrective I can recommend.  You will likely loose the branch dropping leaves and have to cut it out.  You can nurture the young branches developing as replacements.
ENGLISH BOXWOOD ISSUE

Question: Boxwoods are about 6 years old, since spring of this year have noticed browning spots on each plant. This started on one boxwood but has now progressed to all four plants?? I am hoping to get some guidance on what I can do to save the boxwoods if possible?? Thanks

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 28, 2023, 4:18 PM EDT
response: The foliage browning and branch death is probably Volutella, a disease we see often since it takes advantage of plant damage or stress, like from winter injury. (This past winter, when we experienced multiple spells of very mild temperatures followed closely by rapid chilling, injured a variety of evergreens, even if that damage didn't manifest right away.) Ohio State recently published a good article about this association and how Volutella often shows up on damaged branches. All you can do is to prune this damage out; fortunately, Volutella doesn't kill the roots and regrowth is possible if the plant is otherwise healthy enough. (If too badly damaged, either cut all branches down to within a few inches of the ground to let them slowly regrow, or just replace the plant.)  English Boxwoods (botanical name Buxus sempervirens, including variety 'Suffruticosa' which are also called Dwarf English Boxwood) are quite susceptible to many of the typical boxwood ailments. More resistant varieties are found in the group of Asian species and hybrids (Buxus microphylla and others) plus several modern cultivars developed to have improved resistance to Boxwood Blight and Boxwood Leafminer. If it becomes necessary to replace any of these shrubs in the future, we'd recommend using a different evergreen (at least for some of them in the planting), but at the very least, some of the more resistant varieties should be chosen for better resilience now that they are gradually becoming more widely available.  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 28, 2023, 7:15 PM EDT
response: Miri,   Thanks so much for the very detailed explanation of the issue along with the possible remedies you suggested, it is greatly appreciated!Thanks again, JamesOn Fri, Jul 28, 2023 at 4:18 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 31, 2023, 8:50 AM EDT
response: You're welcome!
What are there small orange and white things?

Question: What are these small things? One on plant leaf, on on stock. Both indoors.

responder: Answered by theHome and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 28, 2023, 2:30 PM EDT
response: We are able to make out any detail from your photo and so are not sure about what you have there. Any chance you can get a better-focused photo that we could enlarge? Also, when did you first notice and where are you seeing them? Are there more? New photos can be attached directly to this reply.   Christine

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 28, 2023, 4:43 PM EDT
response: The two found are about three millimeters tall. These shots below are as good as I can get. Only two found. They are stuck on—you can touch and they bend but base stays put. One on leaf of houseplant, and one on stick that is supporting a second different house plant. They appeared/we noticed them about one week ago. Have not changed since we first noticed them.  We are curious to know what they are.  Quite cute, pretty.  ﻿Sent from my iPadOn Jul 28, 2023, at 2:30 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 28, 2023, 4:46 PM EDT
response: Although these are probably not infectious, we can check with our plant pathologist to see if he recognizes these structures and can get back to you early next week. Flower pollen structures sometimes look like this (especially on orchids, which we see a flower spike from in the background), though you'd probably have to have rubbed a flower against these two surfaces in order to dislodge the sticky pollinia and pull them off the bloom since they usually don't fall off on their own.  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 29, 2023, 12:42 AM EDT
response: That is it! Orchid pollen. We considered orchid seed, but saw we were wrong. Found the below and the lower right photos are it. Thank you!!Sent from my iPad On Jul 28, 2023, at 4:46 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 31, 2023, 8:50 AM EDT
response: You're welcome!
Pickle problem?

Question: Pickling cucumbers planted from seed are doing very well. Except for a few leaves like what I posted below. I've never had any issues with themn except powdery mildew. So what should I do about whats happening to them? Only 2-3 leaves so far, but...

responder: Alison O'Connor, PhD  Replied July 31, 2023, 11:37 AM EDT
response: Hello,  If it's just a few leaves, I would suggest you remove them and throw them in the trash. It could be a disease and stopping the potential pathogen is always in your best interest.   Since the plants are actively flowering and fruiting, if you haven't fertilized, it would be to your benefit. Use your favorite fertilizer according to the directions on the label.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 31, 2023, 4:49 PM EDT
response: Thanks!On Jul 31, 2023, at 9:37 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Worms on Dogwood bush Artic Fire

Question: How should I treat the worms that are eating the leaves on the Artic Fire? There are two worms in the attached file IMG 3776.
I just sprayed Neam Oil on the bush and the worms are still there.
Thank You
Fred 
MG Emeritus

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 28, 2023, 12:01 PM EDT
response: Hello Fred,  This is the larva of a Dogwood Sawfly, a common and native insect that feeds on the foliage of a variety of dogwood species. The damage might be an eyesore but it should not seriously affect the long-term health of the shrub. If you are not able to hand-pick off the larvae, then there are a few lower-toxicity insecticides that can help manage them, assuming there are enough leaves left to spray (though sprays must be thorough and contact the larvae themselves and upper and lower leaf surfaces).  Neem oil is one type of horticultural oil, and it can work well as a topical insecticide but only if it directly contacts the insect. Older larvae, as these are, are sometimes more resilient than younger larvae and might not be as easily impacted by a single application. More than one treatment might be needed, and in that case, follow product label directions as to how long to wait between sprays. Do not spray while temperatures are above 85 degrees as this risks causing damage to the plant itself (called phytotoxicity).  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 28, 2023, 4:31 PM EDT
response: Thank you for your prompt reply!FredSent from my iPhone On Jul 28, 2023, at 12:01 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 28, 2023, 4:43 PM EDT
response: You're welcome!
Mushrooms at base of Oak tree

Question: Good morning,

We have a very large and very old oak tree in our front yard. Lat year, some mushrooms grew out around the base of the tree. My husband dug them up and kind of forgot about them. This year, the mushrooms have returned and they are HUGE!!! There are three sets of growths, averaging 24" round.

Some people and websites say these are edible. (We do not plan on eating them!) Other websites indicate they are a sign of rot in the tree. How can we decide what to do about these? I'm most concerned about the health of the tree and I also don't want a person or pet eating any part of the mushroom and then becoming ill.

Thank you for your assistance!

Sincerely,
Kathryn Provost<personal data hidden>

responder: Happy Gardening!  Replied July 31, 2023, 2:40 PM EDT
response: Hello Kathy, Thank you for reaching out to the UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline.  Wow, those mushrooms are huge! We tend to see lots of fungi during summers like this one where there is ample moisture.  Thank you for sharing that you will not eat them -- we are not able to advise on the edibility of wild plants and mushrooms and always advise that you do not consume wild plants and mushroom unless confirmed by an expert that they are safe to eat.  As you said, these mushrooms (I believe these are part of the Bondarzewia family) could be harmful to people and pets. To be safe, they should be removed. What is the tree? Is is a red oak (Quercus)? I ask because oaks are primary hosts of Bondarzewia berkeleyi.  Unfortunately, our friends at the University of Massachusetts suggest that Bondarzewia can be destructive to oaks and other hardwood trees, see: https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/fact-sheets/root-butt-rot-caused-by-bondarzewia-berkeleyi Their/my recommendation would be for you to consult a professional arborist to come take a look and see if the tree can be saved. You can find a certified arborist in your area by searching the International Society of Arboriculture's Find an Arborist site at: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist. I'm sorry this is not happier news and wish you good luck with your tree.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 31, 2023, 6:25 PM EDT
response: Thank you for your time and information. Have a great week! KathrynOn Mon, Jul 31, 2023 at 2:40 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Phlox brown

Question: Potted phlox bottom leaves turning brown past few weeks. Nothing on leaves like spots or whitish or anything. Not turning yellow to brown, just goes straight brown. Thank you

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 29, 2023, 10:21 AM EDT
response: Hi Chris,  The edges for the leaves are brown and dry.  The areas between the margins have yellow spots.  These are symptoms of leaf scorch. Leaf scorch can be caused by environmental conditions as well as bacteria.  Scorch typically occurs during the hot summer months. Leaf scorch is usually due to one of the following: Heat and sun exposure: If plants are exposed to intense sun and high temperatures, they become stressed.  Garden Phlox is a full sun to part sun plant, however they prefer some shade in hot afternoons. Check the location of your plant, does it receive intense afternoon sunlight?  If it does, consider moving the plant.  Increase watering during times of high temperatures. Poor root growth: Not likely in your case as this is due to compacted soil, poor drainage and lack of fertilizer. Bacteria:  Leaf scorch can also be caused by the bacteria Xylella fastidiosa.  This is a chronic disease that reoccurs every year, even with treatment.  Bacterial leaf scorch affects older leaves first and does not impact younger leaves, which distinguishes it from environmentally-cause leaf scorch.  Bacterial leaf scorch cannot be cured, so it is best to remove the infected plant to prevent spread to other plants.  Thank you for using Ask Extension.  Pam V. MSUE Advanced Master Gardener

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 30, 2023, 12:07 PM EDT
response: Thank you On Sat, Jul 29, 2023, 10:21 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Water in Crepe Myrtle Cavity

Question: We have a healthy looking 20+ year old crepe myrtle (pic#3) that we recently noticed a potential problem that has probably been there for a long time.  Water sits in the center cavity where the 6 trunks branch at the bottom.  For example, we got 2" of rain 3 days ago and 2" of water were still in the cavity (pic#1).  When we removed the water, there was debris which we removed and dark fibrous roots (?) in the area (pic#2)  Is this water a problem for the tree?  If yes, is there anything we can do to help the tree?
Thank you for your help!

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 27, 2023, 4:43 PM EDT
response: This might not be a problem needing fixing, but you may need to consult with a certified arborist who can determine if (or how) draining the pool of water and preventing it from recurring is possible in this situation. While a persistent puddle might encourage wood decay eventually, unless it's a particularly rainy year overall, we would guess this is not a major concern aside from being a likely mosquito breeding site. Still, the experience of an arborist may be valuable in this case. They usually perform on-site assessments but for this situation they might be able to provide feedback remotely using photos. Some arborists work for tree-care companies but others consult independently.  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 30, 2023, 12:12 PM EDT
response: Thank you!On Jul 27, 2023, at 4:43 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied July 31, 2023, 8:50 AM EDT
response: You're welcome!
Sumac - leaves have nubs

Question: Hi. I purchased gro-lo sumac bushes late last year and planted in my yard. They are not near any other plants, receive about 6-8 hours of Sun, and get watered when we run our lawn sprinklers.

I noticed a couple strange leaves last year and removed. Now, all of their leaves have strange nubs; no leaf is unaffected.  Other than this, they’ve been growing great, though we did not get any flowering or berries this year.

Is this some sort of virus? Do I need to remove them? Any help is much appreciated!

responder: An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 28, 2023, 12:19 PM EDT
response: The little bumps are called galls. They are caused by insects eating the leaves, some even lay their eggs in the galls. I believe the culprit is the eriophyid mite: https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1999  You don't need to do anything, the damage is only cosmetic and will not harm the health of the tree.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 28, 2023, 1:25 PM EDT
response: Oh thank you so much! I’m down a rabbit hole reading about those now ☺️On Jul 28, 2023, at 11:19 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿
Identifying residents of this

Question: This “hive” is located on the header of an outside casing of a north door of my house.

responder: Andony Melathopoulos, Assistant Professor Pollinator Health Extension Department of Horticulture | Oregon State University 4017 Agricultural and Life Science Building | Corvallis, OR 97331-7304 cell: (541) 452-3038 Andony.Melathopoulos@oregonstate.edu oregon bee atlas | oregon bee project | twitter | facebook | instagram | podcast Replied July 27, 2023, 3:02 PM EDT
response: Hi Betty,  You were right to put hive in scare quotes. This is no hive. It is the home of a potter wasp, who lives alone and sets off in search of spiders to paralyze and bring back to their mud home. If you were to open the nest you would find a pile of paralyzed spiders that the wasp's offspring will consume. These are completely non-aggressive (I have four on my courtyard wall at home) and can be removed if in the way (but watching them go to and fro is a source of endless entertainment).   Andony

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 27, 2023, 3:55 PM EDT
response: Thank you so much!  Since it’s the door into my wood shop, I’m relieved to find it doesn’t have a taste for oak or Myrtle wood!Sent from my iPhone On Jul 27, 2023, at 12:02 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿
Treat tree for Magnolia Scael

Question: I think my magnolia has Magnolia Scale. The tree was planted 3 years ago. The scale is on almost all branches but since the tree is fairly small I think I can treat it. I've read about treatments but they vary. What do you recommend?

Thank you,
Julie

responder: Amy J. Extension Master Gardener - HC Replied July 28, 2023, 8:27 PM EDT
response: Magnolia shrubs/trees are high susceptible to scale in Minnesota. Unfortunately, once established scale can be difficult to control. Magnolia scale has one generation a season. If you see insects in the crawling stage you can spray off with a hose or use Neem oil. Once they have moved to the scale stage control becomes more difficult. There are specific chemicals found to be most effective. I have put a link below that lists the names of the different options. You could call a local tree care company and request an arborist come and assess. They will be able to give recommendations for treatment and timing.  https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/magnolia-scale/ https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/scale-insects

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 29, 2023, 10:17 AM EDT
response: Thank you. Can you recommend arborists?

responder: Amy J. Extension Master Gardener - HC Replied July 31, 2023, 9:38 PM EDT
response: As master gardeners we do not recommend products or businesses. A local tree care company should have an arborist on staff.