The Winter Garden

Don’t let freezing temperatures and snow keep you cooped up indoors this winter. Winter is a wonderful time to explore plants outside in the landscape. Without their camouflage of summer leaves, the starkness of trees and shrubs during the winter season is most revealing.

Look for plant silhouettes. Each plant displays a branching silhouette characteristic only to that particular species. Branching habits range from strongly upright and horizontal to weeping and cascading. The bare silhouette of a big old tree looks very magnificent against the wintry sky.

Winter is also a good time to see different colors. The evergreens each come in a specific shade of green. It is very amazing how many different greens are created in nature. Greens range from gray to blue to yellow and all shades in between.

Textures and patterns come alive in winter as well. Tree bark is of particular interest. Often tree bark is more striking during winter. Bark patterns are unique to each tree species and are often used in winter identification. The greenish, gray of an elm is quite different from a black, dark linden.

Also take a closer look at plant buds, seeds, seed capsules, and fruit. Some tree species have very unusual buds. For example, a flowering dogwood flower bud is usually at the end of stems and shaped like a flattened biscuit. In addition to buds, notice berries and fruits. Bright red berries come alive when they are no longer hidden with leaves. Even brown fruits like the Alder tree’s small winged nutlets are beautiful as they persist through the winter.

In addition to the trees and shrubs, I particularly like the look of perennials and ornamental grasses in winter. If they were not cut off, these plants have a whole new look in winter to add another dimension to the winter garden. A bird swaying on top of a dried perennial plant in winter is such an amazing sight.

On the occasional icy morning, every twig and shrub will be outlined in icy transparency. Snow and ice somehow enhance the beauty of plants. Snow and frost on evergreens seem to show their every feature. Admittedly, too much of this can be hazardous for plants, but a little sure is pretty.

Take a few minutes to really look at the plants in the landscape this winter. Take your camera. You’ll be surprised what you will find.

Vines

Originally published July 3, 1999 in Canton Daily Ledger

I enjoyed talking to many of you last Saturday at the Canton and Farmington Garden Walks. The response to the walks was overwhelming. Thank you to the garden owners for sharing their beautiful gardens with us. I know you all worked hard to prepare, and the results were just spectacular. Mostly I want to thank the two Master Gardeners who did all the preparatory work: Judy Hollaway and John Taylor.

All the gardens had something to offer and I learned something at each location. What really struck me, though, were the number of vines and their uses. When used properly, vines really catch the eye by adding a new dimension to the garden.

In Canton, I was at the Meade residence most of the day. The most common question of the day was “What is that growing on the fence?” The vine they were referring to is Porcelain Vine (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata). Kevin and Terry Meade have the variegated one called ‘Elegans’. Porcelain vine is named for its handsome fruit that is probably unrivaled by any other woody plant in vitality of color. The ¼” diameter berry changes from yellow to pale lilac and finally to bright blue; often with all colors present in the same cluster. ‘Elegans’ leaves are variegated white, green, and pinkish. This cultivar is especially nice because it is not as vigorous as the species.

Also, at the Meade residence was the unique and somewhat rare Arctic Beauty Kiwi (Actinidia kolomikta). This particular Actinidia has uniquely decorated leaves. They are pink at the tip, white in the middle, and green at the base. The White Flower Farm catalog indicates that they “offer male plants only, because they have the best coloring and note that leaf color takes a year or two to develop.”

Several locations displayed the Mandevilla (Mandevilla x amabilis) vine. This woody twiner has large showy pink flowers and blooms in profusion over long periods. The dark green, glossy leaves are also attractive.

Other vines displayed included clematis (pictured), wisteria, honeysuckle, trumpet vine, and many different groundcovers. The Martin residence in Farmington had both clematis and wisteria. Clematis is available in many flower colors from white to pink to dark wine-red to lavender to deep purple. The selection is almost endless.  This vigorous growing vine grows well on walls, trellises, fences, or any supporting structure.

Wisteria flowers are outstanding and often fragrant. As an added bonus, the twisted woody trunks add character to the garden. Wisteria is easy to grow, but sometimes difficult to get to bloom. The reasons vary including too much nitrogen, winter injury, and the need for pruning. Too much nitrogen promotes excess vegetative growth and few flowers. Sometimes it helps to cut vigorous growth back to 3 or 4 buds since some species bloom on the current season’s growth. It is also usually advisable to use named cultivars rather than seedling-grown material.

Butterfly Gardening is Fun

Butterfly gardening is becoming very popular. Put simply, butterfly gardening is the hobby of attracting butterflies by growing flowers and plants, which lure these colorful insects to the garden. This type of gardening is very simple but does require a different gardening mindset.

There are two different types of plants you can grow for butterflies: nectar food sources and larval food sources. Nectar food sources attract the adult butterfly. Many different types of flowers will serve as a nectar source. Annual flowers include zinnias, marigolds, and lantana. Purple coneflower, monarda, coreopsis, and milkweed are good perennial plants. Shrubs and vines include butterfly bush, lilac, spirea, and native honeysuckle.

Avoid planting flowers with double or triple petals (zinnias are an exception). Blue, purple, and white are the favored flower colors to attract butterflies with red probably the least favored color. For best effect, plant flowers in large beds or clumps.

Providing larval food plants is where butterfly gardening diverts from all other types of gardening. With these plants you are feeding the caterpillars that eventually turn into adult butterflies. It is hard for many people to allow a critter to eat up their garden plants. However, each type of butterfly larvae eats a specific type of plant.

Monarch caterpillars, for example, feed only on milkweed plants, while others feed only on certain trees or herbs. If you can bring yourself to tolerate some imperfect plants in your yard, it will allow you to witness nature in action. See butterfly mating dances, watch adults lay eggs, and simply see the entire butterfly life cycle unfold in your own backyard.

Butterfly gardens should be colorful, sunny, and sheltered from strong winds. Butterflies are sun worshipers and prefer areas in full sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Provide rocks and logs for the butterflies to bask.

In addition to the variety of flower groups, your garden could include other attractants. Puddles will attract male butterflies to drink and some butterflies prefer to sip juices from rotting fruit. Finally, reduce pesticide use. Butterflies are insects and are susceptible to insecticides.

Plant your own butterfly garden this summer. Then, sit back and enjoy the show. Butterfly gardening is very rewarding.

I Love Poppies!

Although I love many flowers, the poppy is probably my favorite. I am not sure why, but I have a fascination with poppies. I collect antique Hall China in the orange poppy pattern and have my kitchen decorated in poppies.

There are many different types of poppies. One source lists 39 different species alone. Most people grow either the perennial Oriental poppy or one of the many annual-type poppies.

The Oriental poppy (Papaver orientale) is the largest and most eye-catching of the poppies. It grows 18-36 inches tall and blooms in early summer. The single flowers are orange, scarlet, pink, or white blooms with dark centers. There are many different varieties available including ‘Pizzicato’ that produces up to 20 huge flowers per plant and the dwarf scarlet one called “Dwarf Allegro’.

The foliage of Oriental poppy dies after flowering and leaves open spaces in the garden for the rest of the season. Use other plants around the poppy to conceal the dying foliage or vacant space. I’ve had good success using Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata) and hibiscus. Remember that poppies do best if left undisturbed so it can reseed itself. The Oriental poppy can be started by dividing old clumps or by sowing seed. Plants will not bloom until the 2nd year.

The annual-type poppies are usually grown as annuals here, although some are short-lived perennials. Regardless, we usually reseed or replant these each year. These poppies have a much longer bloom time than Oriental poppies. The foliage does not die back and we get flowers each year.

The corn or field poppy is a red flowering annual (Papaver rhoeas). Like most poppies, it does best in areas with cooler summers. In our hot summer climate, light afternoon shade is often needed for best success. If established, it is a vigorous self-seeding annual that is invasive in some areas. A good cultivar to try it ‘Angels Choir.’ It grows 18 to 24 inches tall with old-rose colors of pinks, whites, and reds.

This red poppy is represented in the American Legion Auxiliary’s Poppy Program. Their remembrance red poppy is an artificial flower that has been used since 1921 to commemorate military personnel who have died in war. According to their website, “From the battlefields of World War I, weary soldiers brought home the memory of a barren landscape transformed by wild poppies, red as the blood that had soaked the soil.” “By that miracle of nature, the spirit of their lost comrades lived on.” “The poppy became a symbol of the sacrifice of lives in war and represented the hope that none had died in vain.”

The poppy’s beautiful symbolism, bright colors, and silky feel make it one of my favorites.

Maple Trees Make Great Landscape Trees

Last weekend while playing Scrabble with my family, I tried to play the word “Acer.” I was challenged and lost. I can’t believe Acer wasn’t in our dictionary!

Acer is, of course, the scientific name for maple. Worldwide there are about 200 different types of maples. They grow as trees and sometimes shrubs and are native mainly to the northern temperate regions. The five species of maples that are native to Illinois are sugar maple, silver maple, red maple, black maple, and boxelder.

Boxelder and silver maple are not usually recommended for landscape use. Boxelder is a very weak and trashy tree. Silver maple, though fast growing and large, is also weak wooded and easily broken by wind and ice. Still, I really like both trees in their natural habitats.

Sugar and red maple are commonly used and great for most landscapes. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is one of the slowest growing trees, yet hardest wood.  It has variable fall color, but often shows the most intense orange and reds. This is a very drought tolerant tree and does well in most situations.

'October Glory' Red Maple

Red maple (Acer rubrum) is a bit smaller than the sugar maple, reaching 40-50 feet instead of 80 feet tall. This tree has intense, brilliant red fall colors.  The leaves are green during summer, with red stems.  Red maples have gray-tan bark when young.  This is such a popular tree that many cultivars are available. I have an October Glory red maple in my front yard that almost always has spectacular orange fall color. Purchase trees in fall to determine the color. By the way, the maples that have deep purple colored leaves all summer long are nonnative ‘Crimson King’ Norway maples, not red maples.

I highly recommend two smaller, non-native maples for landscape use: Amur and Paperbark maples. The smaller size of these trees better fits many small home yards. Amur maple (Acer ginnala) is a multi-stemmed tree that grows 15 feet by 15 feet in size. It makes a nice patio tree or can be used singularly. I have also seen it used nicely as a hedge. This tree has brilliant orange/red fall color.

Paperbark Maple's beautiful bark
at ICC Gardens in E. Peoria

Probably my favorite small maple is the Paperbark maple (Acer griseum). It grows as a single or multi-stem plant, reaching 20 feet by 20 feet in size. This plant has so many great features that it is hard to list them all. Most outstanding is its exfoliating cinnamon-brown bark that separates into thin, papery flakes. It has a trifoliate (3-part) leaf that is quite unique. The leaves are dark green-blue in the summer, changing to a muted to brilliant red in the fall. Paperbark maple is just a great overall landscape tree. Mine grows in my backyard where I can see it in every season.

Next time I play scrabble I’m going to use my botanical terms dictionary. 

Sugar-n-Spice and Everything Nice

Sugar and spice make everything nice, especially Christmas cookies. But, do you know where your sugar and spice come from?

The white sugar we use comes from two different plants: sugar beets or sugarcane. Worldwide, 70 percent of our sugar comes from sugarcane. Sugarcane is a tall grass that grows in tropical areas. In a tropical setting like Hawaii and Jamaica, it grows in fields and looks similar to corn.

Sugarcane growing in Costa Rica

To get sugar from sugarcane, the cane is pressed to extract the juice, then boiled, and spun to produce raw sugar and syrup (molasses). The raw sugar is then sent to a refinery where it is washed and filtered to remove remaining non-sugar ingredients and color. It is then crystallized, dried and packaged into refined (or granulated) sugar.

Most of the sugar we eat here probably came from sugar beets. Sugar beets are a root crop resembling a large parsnip grown mostly in the temperate zones of the north. Beet sugar processing is similar to sugarcane, but it is done in one continuous process without the raw sugar stage. The sugar beets are washed, sliced, and soaked in hot water to separate the sugar-containing juice from the beet fiber. The sugar-laden juice is purified, filtered, concentrated and dried in a series of steps similar to cane sugar processing.

Most of our spices are native to the tropics, and many come from trees. If you’ve ever been on a trip to the Caribbean, you’ve probably seen the plants that produce our allspice, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.

Allspice, grown on the pimento tree (Pimenta dioica), is a dried berry native to Jamaica that tastes like a combination of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.

Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of tropical cinnamon trees (Cinnamomum zeylanicum). These are small trees that grow about 30 feet tall that are native to southwest India.

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) trees are the only tropical fruit that is the source of two different spices, obtained from different parts of the plant. Nutmeg is the seed of the tree’s fruit, and mace is the seed’s veil-like covering.

Ginger growing in greenhouse at
Biltmore in Ashville, NC

Ginger is an herbaceous perennial plant with a beautiful flower. It has a knobby, bumpy root with a peppery yet slightly sweet flavor. The tropical spice ginger (Zingiber officinale) is different from our native ginger (Asarum canadense).

The next time you eat “sugar and spice and everything nice,” think of our tropical friends that produce these crops.

Grow Your Own Hops

Gardeners have been growing hop as an ornamental vine for many years. Recently, I have seen more hop grown in backyards for home brewing. This is especially popular among younger male gardeners aged 18-34.

Hop is a herbaceous perennial vine that grows well in central Illinois. Two types of hop grow here. Our native American hop (Humulus lupulus) comes in various cultivars used to produce different flavors in beer and tea. Do not grow the Japanese hop (Humulus japonicas) because it can be quite invasive. Both have palmate leaves, but the American hop leaf has three lobes, while the Japanese hop has 5-7 lobes.

Both types are vigorous vines requiring good support. American hop vines can grow 20 to 30 feet long in one summer and then die back to the ground each fall. I have American hop growing on a picket fence in my herb garden. Because hop grows so quickly, I continually guide the vines to grow on the fence and not the surrounding plants.

Hop plants produce both male and female flowers. The female cones (also called hops) are used to make beer and tea. The hops are mature when you can see the yellow substance (lupulin glands) within the cone petal. They will also be sticky and have a hop fragrance when crushed. Harvest cones when they feel dry and papery. Dry cones can be stored in air-tight containers or in the freezer. One hops plant will yield about one to two pounds of dried cones in early- to mid-fall.

Brewing craft beers at home is a growing trend. The basic ingredients of beer are water, a starch source such as wheat or barley, a brewer’s yeast, and a flavoring such as hops. I have become a big fan of “hoppy” beer, especially those flavored with citrusy hops. In addition to beer, the female hop cone is also used to make tea. I use my hops as an ingredient in many tea blends.

Nugget and Cascade are popular hop varieties with home brewers. Nugget is considered a bitter hop that stores well, though it is late to mature. Cascade is regarded as an aroma type that matures early with a floral and spicy aroma.

As I mentioned, hop is also grown as an ornamental vine. A favorite variety for this use is ‘Aureus.’ It has maple-like leaves that are a luminous, clear shade of yellow.  

If you decide to grow hop, be careful because it can scratch you! The leaf and leaf petioles have sharp prickles that catch clothing and scrape the skin. I learned the hard way to wear a long sleeved shirt and gloves when pruning and handling this plant.

Obviously, you do not have to be an 18-34-year-old male to grow hops. Whether you grow it as an ornamental vine or to brew beverages, hop is a great addition to many gardens.