Cicadas of Utah

A shed skin from a cicada found near the U of U.

Cicadas are well known in some parts of the country, but unless they are the sexy ones that emerge in large groups after many years of hiding underground they are ignored by the public. This has caused a common misconception that Utah does not have any cicadas!

This is an odd situation because those of us that spend time in the canyons of the Wasatch Front know very well the screech of the local cicadas. Less common, much less common, is the opportunity to take a closer look at one of the natives. In all the years I have walked and hiked in this region I do not ever recall seeing a live cicada. I am sure I must have see their shed skins, I cannot for the life of me remember seeing one. Until this last summer (2022) I had never seen a live Utah cicada. Surprisingly enough, this one was not in a canyon, instead it was in a developed foothill area in Salt Lake City, not far from the U of U. 

I encourage you to open yourself up to new explorations of the common areas in your life. Whether it is your own backyard or your workplace there is something new waiting for your if you just take a few seconds to see it!

A live cicada found near the U of U.

 

I'm Back!

I have been occupied with a lot of projects in the last couple of years, and even more work since I returned to working for the man. Through all of this time I have missed doing this blog. So I am back and I hope that I can keep helping your garden become the best it can be!

Manana

Utah Apples: Red Delicious

 

Use

Flavor: Sweet.
Fruit Size: Average
Texture: Grainy, crisp only before ripening.
Storage: 1-2 months.
Best Uses: Dried, fresh and baking in a pinch.

Growing

USDA zones: 5-8
Harvest Time: Midseason.
Chill Requirement: 700 hours.
Tree Size: Average.
Self Pollinating? No
Best Pollinators: Cortland, Enterprise, Harrison, Hewe's Virginia Crab, Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Newtown Pippin, Northern Spy, Pixie Crunch.

Disease Resistance

Cedar Apple Rust: Resistant.
Fireblight: Some resistance.
Mildew: Some resistance.
Scab: Susceptible.

General

Country: USA
Year(s): 1880

History

Jesse Hiatt found this tree in Iowa and did not like the location, so he tried to remove it multiple times. He failed in his attempts, but somewhere along the way decided that the actual variety (which he called Hawkeye) was worth keeping and sent it to Stark Brothers Nursery in 1892 as part of a contest to pick a new apple to replace 'Ben Davis'. Stark Brothers really liked the apple and added it to their line and changed the name to Delicious. The name was later switched to Red Delicious one the golden variety was named in the early 1900's.

Notes

This is my least favorite apple. I have had a good one every once in a while, but over all Red Delicious does not provide a good eating experience and if I have the choice I would rather plant any number of apple varieties rather than this. That having been said, Red Delicious is a good pollinator of other apples and makes a good dried apple whose quality surprises many people. 

Permaculture and the Art of Hate

I am on one of my separations from permaculture right now. Not that I have given up on the principals or methods, but the people are burning me out. In the last year I have seen one of the most noted teachers in field freely let religious hate be posted on his personal page unchecked and another continue his battle with native plant enthusiasts and those who's environmental concerns he doesn't agree with. Another notable permi had yet another tiff on one his Facebook groups and was handling it so poorly that I asked to be removed and blocked so that I would not leave the group for a second time and then come back later only to find that he is fighting with someone again. One of the local permies is branching out and has flooded many groups with her hunting hate rhetoric and one of the notable permies in my area has been creating a bad name by tackling folks on religious issues that he does not agree with. 

Top it all off with a presidential election has been nastier than any in living memory and I am just worn out!

The things that are giving me hope are those that are focusing on leaning good gardening without worrying about the names attached to it. This is particularly true of the middle and high school students I am privileged to teach this semester. They have not shown me the accumulated pride and inflexibility that has become the standard in our current society. 

Manana!

Ecologically Rich Border Lands

Often times you hear about hedgerows providing ecological diversity when they are used to separate fields and pastures. Out here in the semiarid parts of Utah hedgerows are unheard of. Yes, we have ornamental hedges that are sheared to oblivion and managed nearly as harshly as turf grass. So what do dry-landers do to bring diversity to our farms and homesteads?

I introduce you to the ditch bank! When Utah was first settled the only way to get a crop that the settlers from the East could recognize was to irrigate with water coming down from the mountains. Over the years an impressive number of canals and ditches were built. For decades this supplied many of the crops that Utahans relied on for food and to feed their livestock.

It wasn't long before some irrigation-less dry farming took hold, but for all practical purposes the ditches were about everywhere and a wide diversity of plants grew in them and around them. This was Utah's version of a hedgerow and hedgerow diversity.

Over the years the ditches have lost influence due to urbanization and the rise of pressurized irrigation systems. This has made it vital that we provide alternate spaces planted to create habitat for the critters that bring balance to our systems.

So when you hear about hedge rows and all their glory, remember that each area has an eco system hero of its own. If you don't take the time to look for that hero, you will not be doing your landscape any favors.

Manana!