Bird Reflection...Birds make me smile

Today I’ve been thinking a lot about birds.

I see them feeding outside my window. A downy woodpecker pecking on the suet cake, stopped and tilted its head my way – as if listening to me play my guitar. The pretty little finches make me smile to see their energy and free spirit. The male cardinals chase each other through the shrub border. A mockingbird bathes in our partially open garden pond. A pair of bluebirds stop for a drink on their way through. Chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice flit from feeder to pergola to shrub in their nervous way.

On a drive today we saw eagles, swans, and crows. Flocks of geese adorned the blue sky of puffy clouds. Eagles sat on Emiquon’s ice waiting for a meal. Swans ate corn left by a combine in the field. Crows jumped around along the roadside.

While drinking our morning coffee in the hot tub, I watched a blue jay fly from tree to tree. Its loud “caw” making it easy to find. Flickers hunkered down in the holes of dead pines in our woods. Woodpeckers bobbed up and down as they fly overhead.

Birds seem to be an important part of my life and home. My living room is decorated with birds of many types in figures and wall pictures. My last watercolor painting featured a cardinal on a limb.

My most recent project is to create a quilt for our bedroom that matches a beautiful hummingbird painting that we bought while vacationing in Ecuador. It features two blue hummingbirds on a nest set in a jungle tree. My new quilt is various shades of blues and white. I made two throw pillows to match, each with a bird silhouette formed of fabric squares. I'll post a picture of the final result on my RetroRhondaJ Facebook Page. 

In many ways, my outdoor gardens are created with birds in mind. Of course, we have bird feeding stations outside our living room and office windows, but there are also landscape plants and features that bring birds to our yard. My landscape provides food, shelter, water, and nesting sites for birds living her year-round and migrating through in spring and fall. Read my article on “Creating a Backyard Bird Habitat” to learn more.

This year I noticed a cardinal plucking the seeds of my lilac bush. Birds often eat crabapples, juniper berries, and other plant parts in our yard. Like humans, birds have favorite foods and those are the ones we try to feed them. Read my article on how to “Grow Your Own Bird Food” to learn the plants that common bird seed comes from.

I’ve had friends ask how we get so many birds in our yard. My friend who works for Illinois Audubon showed us tricks over the years. These include using good quality food and providing feeding stations for various types of birds. For example, some are ground feeders, while others prefer stationary platforms. Read my article on “Bird Feeding Basics” for more details.

Finally, as a retiree I spend hours (it seems) each day watching birds in our backyard or during our travels. A good pair of binoculars and a spotting scope help enhance the experience. Read my article on “BirdingEquipment…how to use binoculars” to be sure your equipment is setup for your best experience.

Wow, birds really bring me a lot of pleasure. I think I’ll get a cup of tea and go watch some more birds outside the windows. You can “watch” them with me in my RetroRhondaJ Facebook Page photo album of Backyard Birds.

Happy Birding!

Bird Feeding Basics

Originally published in Canton Daily Ledger Column on 12-4-04

Last weekend my husband Mark hung a new birdfeeder in the ash tree behind our house. I’m looking forward to the birds finding it. I have a great view of it from my kitchen window. We have another feeder at the front of the house that typically attracts many birds.

If you want to begin feeding birds, now is the best time to start your bird-feeding program according to Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Natural Resources Educator. Birds, small mammals, and other wildlife are actively seeking food sources to fatten up for migration or for winter temperatures if they are year-round residents. By having your feeders up early, there is a better opportunity for birds to find the feeder and become accustomed to using it before winter arrives in earnest.

Since enjoying birds is a major objective, you will want to locate the feeder where it can be conveniently viewed – and used. Due to differences in body size, feet and bills, birds not only prefer different seeds, but also different foraging areas. This does not mean that birds will never feed in a different area, but you will increase your chances by catering to their feeding preferences.

Birds such as juncos, sparrows, cardinals, blue jays, and mourning doves prefer to forage on the ground for seeds. Frazee notes that you will often observe these birds hopping around the lower branches of shrubs and rustling through leaf litter in search of seeds and berries. A small brush pile, open lean-to or grassy patch provides cover for ground-feeding birds while they eat.

A covered tray feeder raised off the ground on a fence or pole is the most common feeder you see in people’s yards. Tray feeders will accommodate most of the ground feeders plus chickadees, nuthatches, and finches. While this type of feeder will attract the widest variety of birds, the seeds are not protected from the weather and can get wet and/or moldy. Frazee cautions that squirrels and large birds, such as grackles and blue jays may also invade a tray feeder.

Finches eating niger seed

Hanging feeders may include hopper, silo and tube feeders with perches. Hung from a branch, eaves, or a clothesline, these feeders sway freely in the wind, which doesn’t bother birds such as finches, chickadees, woodpeckers, and nuthatches. However, some birds, such as sparrows, get a little “sea-sick” and prefer more stability. Frazee encourages filling large hanging feeders with sunflower seeds to attract cardinals and blue jays. Small feeders should be geared more toward finches, chickadees, nuthatches and tufted titmice. Niger seed is very attractive to goldfinches and works well in small-hole tube feeders, which avoid waste.

Woodpeckers and nuthatches are primarily insect eaters. They prefer foods high in protein and fat such as suet and peanut butter that can be dispersed in clinging feeders. Made of hardware cloth, mesh bags, pinecones, coconuts or other “structures” lacking perches, clinging feeders are excellent for dispensing peanuts to smaller birds or suet to insect-eaters.

Lastly, just like persnickety kids, birds have different food preferences. Hands down, black-oil sunflower seeds are the most popular food among a large variety of birds. Juncos and sparrows go wild for white proso millet, goldfinches can’t resist niger seed, and chickadees and titmice will delightfully indulge themselves with peanuts. In a nutshell, Frazee concludes that the key to successfully attracting wildlife to your backyard is to add variety.

Original Source: Bob Frazee, Retired University of Illinois Extension Natural Resources Management Educator

Grow Your Own Birdseed

Originally published in Canton Ledger Column on 12-16-17

Feeding and watching birds has become one of America’s favorite pastimes. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, nearly half the households in the United States provide food for wild birds. In honor of my husband’s December birthday, I’m writing about the different plant-based ingredients in birdseed.

Sunflower Harvest in  2013

The most commonly used birdseed are sunflower seeds, with black-oil sunflower seeds being the most popular. It’s small size and thin shell make it easier for small birds to eat. Striped sunflower seeds are larger with thicker shells. Sunflower (Helianthus sp.) are easy plants to grow and come in various colors and heights.

All sunflower shells contain allelopathic toxins that prevent other seeds from germinating. This is partly why the ground beneath a feeder is often bare when feeding sunflower seeds. If this is a problem, consider feeding sunflower hearts instead. The hearts are expensive but contain no shell. 

Safflower seeds look similar to sunflower seeds but have a very tough shell that only larger birds can crack. They are the seeds of the annual safflower plant (Carthamus tinctorius). This herbaceous, thistle-like plant is also grown commercially to produce vegetable oil.

To attract finches, use a tube hanging feeder filled with black nyjer seed. Although sometimes also called thistle or niger, the nyjer seed sold today is not a thistle at all. Rather, it is a daisy-like plant, known as Guizotia abyssinica. Nyjer is an annual flower with bright, yellow-orange flower heads that turn into seed pods. You can grow your own by starting the seed indoors or planting seed directly in the ground after all danger of frost is gone. Similar to sunflowers, you can harvest the seed or leave the plants for birds to feed on all winter.

Cereal grains are used alone or as filler in birdseed mixes. They include dried whole kernel corn, cracked corn, millet, and milo. Millet or milo are the little round seeds often found in mixes. Millet comes from a Pennisetum plant, while milo is a type of grain sorghum. Both are available as ornamental plants with attractive colored leaves and seeds. Purple Majesty (Pennisetum glaucum ‘Purple Majesty’) is a cultivar of pearl millet with dark purple foliage and stems, and stunning purple-brown seeds that are a favorite of many birds. Ornamental sorghums are available in earth-tone colored seed heads and grow seven to twelve feet tall.

Like picky kids, birds have different food preferences. Hands down, black-oil sunflower seeds are the most popular food among a large variety of birds. Cardinals love safflower. Juncos and sparrows go wild for white proso millet; goldfinches can’t resist nyjer seed, and chickadees and titmice will delightfully indulge themselves with peanuts. In a nutshell, the key to successfully attracting birds to your backyard is to add variety.

Creating a Backyard Wildlife Habitat

Originally published in Canton Daily Ledger Column on March 13, 2004

Indigo bunting and Cedar Waxwings

This week I witnessed an amazing sight. Our garden pond had 12 waxwings, 3 robins, and a mockingbird all drinking from it at the same time. We located the garden pond so that it is easily was viewed from the window above the kitchen sink and it is always giving us surprises. Since this is one of the only water sources in the area, it is frequented by a large variety of birds. My husband even saw Scarlet Tanagers last summer, which rarely make an appearance.

Did you know that birding is one of the most popular pastimes for Americans? Birding can be simple or elaborate. Most people simply watch birds in their own yard, while others plan whole vacations around a good birding location. To attract birds to your yard, follow these tips provided by Robert Frazee, Educator in Natural Resource Management in the East Peoria Extension Center.

Wildlife needs food, water, cover and space. Every wildlife species has its own preferences and requirements for each of these elements. You might not be able to provide everything on your property, but the neighborhood might.

Consider plant components for your yard. Evergreens provide shelter from the weather and predators. Spruce, cedar, pine and other conifers also provide excellent nesting cover and are important in the winter to provide privacy all year.

Grasses and legumes also provide cover, food and habitat for ground-nesting birds. Ornamental grasses, native wildflowers, clovers or unmown areas of your yard will serve well.

Woody plants that provide cover and food for birds include American cranberry viburnum, elderberry, hawthorns, crabapples, dogwood and mountain ash.

In addition to plants, consider non-living components, which can be as important as plants in providing good habitat for wildlife. In some instances, they are very easy to incorporate into your landscape. Examples include nest boxes, dead or fallen trees, brush or rock piles, dust or grit, salt, water and finally feeders.

Originally adapted from article by Bob Frazee, University of Illinois Extension Retired Natural Resources Management Educator

 

Coffee Grows on Tropical Evergreen Shrubs

Many people enjoy coffee, especially during the holidays. There are so many different types of coffee and ways to brew it. We drink coffee every morning while we enjoy nature all around us – either from the hot tub or dining room windows.

Jamaica's Blue Mountain coffee

During my travels, I’ve seen coffee growing in many different places. Coffee plantations scattered Costa Rica as we drive from San Jose through the Tilaran Mountain range. I visited a coffee farm with antique processing displays in Puerto Rico. We bicycled through Jamaica’s blue mountains and drank fresh coffee brewed over an open fire.

Coffee beans grow on the Coffea arabica plant, which is an evergreen shrubby tree. Its leaves are broad, shiny, and shaped like an arrowhead. In the wild, it grows to a height of 14 to 20 feet, but when cultivated it is usually kept pruned to about 6 to 10 feet to facilitate picking the beans and to encourage heavy bearing.

The plant has fragrant flowers that are typically pollinated by native honeybees. The flowers are small, white blossoms that cluster at the base of the leaves. These mature into a small oval berry that are about the color and size of a small cherry. Inside of the skin and pulp, two coffee beans are nestled with their flat sides together. About four thousand beans make a single pound of coffee. 

Coffee bean harvest is done by hand and only when the cherries are ripe. A worker can pick 7-12 baskets a day. Once picked, the cherries are transported to coffee mills where the cherry skin is immediately removed from the coffee cherry.

Coffee grown as houseplant

Processing involved many steps including washing, pulping, fermenting, drying, storing, and finally roasting and packaging. Beans are a pale tan color until they are roasted, which changes the beans to a beautiful shiny brown color. Roasting is done according to customer preference such as medium roast, full bodied dark roast, or espresso roast.

I really like a robust cup of coffee. The best coffee I ever had was in Ecuador, fresh brewed by my daughters-in-law’s grandmother. She roasted and ground the beans herself, and then slowly dripped a small amount of water through the grounds to form a think almost-syrup liquid. The syrup was mixed with hot water at the table to each person’s taste.

I also enjoy coffee in a French press, Italian Moka pot, Espresso machine, boiled on the stove, and auto dripped in a traditional American coffee maker. I typically drink my coffee black, but I also really like a skinny, soy latte.

As you enjoy your coffee this holiday season, think about the coffee plant and how it was grown. You might also try growing a coffee plant as a houseplant.

Spirited Plants

Happy New Year! Whether you toast in the New Year with sparkling grape juice or a more spirited drink, it is interesting to think of all the plants that make up spirits.

Spirits are named by the fermented material from which they are distilled. Various grains make up whiskey, vodka, gin, and most types of schnapps. Brandy is made from fermented grape juice, and fruit brandy is made from other fruits. Rum and cane spirits come from fermented sugar cane juice or molasses. Tequila and mezcal come from the fermented pulp of the agave plant.

Whiskey is distilled from various grains. It is aged, often for extended periods of time, in wooden barrels (usually oak), which adds aroma, flavor, and an amber hue. After some time, these whiskey barrels are cut in half and sold as plant containers. Scotch and Irish whiskeys are made from barley, while North American whiskeys are typically a mix of corn, rye, wheat, barley, and other grains in different proportions.

Vodka is distilled from a mash of pale grain or vegetable matter, including potatoes, molasses, beets, and a variety of other plants. Rye and wheat are the classic grains for vodka, with most Russian vodkas being made from wheat.  In Poland, they are mostly made from a rye mash.

Juniper berries

Gin is a juniper berry-flavored grain spirit. Junipers are grown worldwide and are very common foundation plants.

Rum comes from sugarcane. While touring the Bacardi factory in the Bahamas a few years ago, I found out that Bacardi rum’s unique recipe is not only a distillation of molasses and water but also special yeast. The yeast is the secret and has been growing since 1862.

Distilling the fermented juice of agave plants in Mexico makes tequila. The agave is a spiky-leafed member of the lily family (it is not a cactus) and is related to the century plant.

Other alcoholic beverages include wine and beer. Wine comes from grapes and other fruits, while the beer is brewed from grain and hops.

For those of you who toast in the New Year with champagne, you might be drinking sparkling wine. Champagne is a region of France, and only wines that come from this region can properly be called "Champagne." Similar drinks from California and the rest of the world should be called "sparkling wines."

Have a safe and happy New Years! Please take care of yourself and each other, and don’t drink and drive!

Holly and Mistletoe Symbolize Christmas

Holly and mistletoe are symbols of the Christmas season. They are very different plants, but both quite beautiful in their own unique ways.

Juniper mistletoe in Arizona on 8-16-2020

Mistletoe is actually quite a pest in the South – including occasionally in Southern Illinois. It is a semi-parasitic plant that attaches itself to deciduous trees and “feeds” from that tree, although it also produces its own chlorophyll.  The scientific name for mistletoe is Phoradendron, which in Greek means a thief (“phor”) of a tree (“dendron”). Mistletoe indeed gets at least some nourishment from the trees on which they grow.

Mistletoe’s sticky fruits are poisonous to man, but some birds can eat them. One or two berries are sufficient to cause severe poisoning or even death in a child. Therefore, any mistletoe you buy should have fake berries. This is definitely a time when artificial is okay. I tease that the sign of a good horticulturist is to know when and how to properly use fake plants!

From the earliest times mistletoe has been one of the most magical, mysterious, and sacred plants of European folklore. It was considered a bestower of life and fertility; a protectant against poison; and an aphrodisiac. Kissing under the mistletoe is first found associated with the Greek festival of Saturnalia and later with primitive marriage rites. For those who wish to observe the correct etiquette: a man should pluck a berry when he kisses a woman under the mistletoe, and when the last berry is gone, there should be no more kissing!

Holly is overall a much prettier plant. The deep, green holly leaves are shiny and spectacular. Their unique shape is found on many Christmas items, including cookie cutters. The red berries are also quite nice.

There are many different types of holly plants, but many are not winter hardy here. The most common holly grown in northern gardens is the Meserve Hybrid Hollies (Ilex x meserveae). Holly plants are either male or female. Both must be present in the near vicinity to ensure the female flowers and thus produce fruit. Generally, we recommend planting one male plant to several female. To assure this, you must purchase your plants from a reputable source because there is no positive way to identify the different sexes until they flower.

American Holly at Graceland in 
Memphis TN on 1-8-2016

Probably the best known of the holly trees grown in the United States is the American Holly. These are beautiful dense pyramidal evergreen trees. They are quite popular in Southern Illinois where they are more winter hardy. However, I do occasionally see a nice, big tree up here. In Champaign there are a couple very nice, old American Holly trees. Mature trees are quite large, growing 15-25 feet tall and 10 to 20 feet wide. If male and female trees are within 2 city blocks, they produce beautiful berries that last all winter.

Happy Holidays!

Gift Ideas for the Gardener

Are you searching for the “perfect” gift for a gardener in your family? Here are some ideas that might prove helpful.

Gardeners always love gift plants and flowers. Since gardeners tend to be choosy about the type of plants they grow, get them a gift certificate to their favorite nursery. Or, give them a monthly subscription to receive fruit or plants each month for the next year.

All gardeners love gardening books and magazines. Give them a gift certificate from any bookstore or online bookseller for the purchase of gardening-related books. Or, give them a gardening magazine subscription.

For gardeners who love jewelry, fun garden themed jewelry is a great gift. Pins shaped like a garden rake or shovel or flower necklaces are good ideas for women.

For the male gardener, purchase a bird feeder, chimes, or other garden accessory.

Purchase gifts that will help the gardener avoid environmental hazards. All gardeners should use sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, gloves, proper shoes, long sleeved shirts and long pants, and ear protection when needed.

All gardeners need a good pair (or two) of gardening gloves. I have three or four different types on hand to match the type of gardening I’m doing. Gloves protect hands from twigs, spikes, thorns or even the drying soil. Make sure they fit or they won’t be worn.

Along with gloves, a gardener needs a good pair of gardening shoes, boots, or clogs. Clogs are often preferred because they are easy to slip on and work well for light gardening. Other gardening tasks require good sturdy shoes or boots. 

For the indoor gardener, there are many options as well. A tabletop terrarium is a lovely way to grow and enjoy an indoor garden. Be sure to give them some little houseplants and soil to get the terrarium started.

A canvas tote filled with gardening supplies is great for the indoor or outdoor gardener. For indoor gardeners include perfectly sized tools, a plant mister, a light meter, and a good houseplant book. For the outdoor gardener include tools, pruners, string, plant tags, and gloves.

Finally, what could be better than a whole basket full of gardening treasures! A collection of garden delights might include green tea, natural snacks, and gardening essentials such as gardening gloves, hand tools, kneeling pad, and jiffy-pots for seedlings.

Happy shopping! Oh, and if you are the gardener, cut out this article and leave it in an obvious spot for your loved one to see and get the hint!

Poinsettia Care is Easy and Fun

Poinsettias line the staircase at
Graceland in Memphis, TN

The poinsettia is the traditional Christmas flower. It was introduced to the United States in 1825 by Joel Robert Poinsett, first U. S. ambassador to Mexico who obtained plants from the wilds of southern Mexico.

The colorful parts of the poinsettia are actually modified leaves called bracts. The real poinsettia flower is the small yellow “ball” in the middle of the colored bracts. The real flowers are petal-less and often fall off indoors due to low humidity and light levels. Poinsettias are available in many colors in addition to the traditional red, including pink, white, and many multi-colored varieties. Blue and purple plants are died and not true flower colors.

When purchasing a poinsettia, look for two main features: healthy foliage and tight, intact “real” flowers. Avoid plants with yellow or damaged leaves because this could indicate poor handling, old plants, or a root disease problem. Tight “real” flowers indicate the plant is in an early stage and will last a long time. Once you choose the right plant, be sure it is well wrapped when you take it outside for your trip home. Even short exposure to low temperatures can injure leaves and bracts.

Once home, unwrap the plant as soon as possible. The best location for it is near a sunny window or another well-lighted area. A window that faces south, east, or west is better than one facing north. Do not let any part of the plant touch the cold windowpane because this may injure it.

Proper watering is important. Examine the soil daily, and when the surface is dry to the touch, water the soil until it runs freely out the drainage hole in the container. Discard the water that collects in the outer foil wrap or saucer. Do not leave the plant standing in water. Overly wet soil lacks sufficient air, which results in root injury.

Poinsettias prefer temperatures between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. They do not tolerate warm or cold drafts so keep them away from radiators, air registers, and fans as well as open

windows and doors. To extend the blooming time further, place your poinsettia in a cooler location at night.

Finally, please be sure to note and tell your friends that poinsettias are not poisonous. Extensive laboratory testing and university research have concluded that poinsettias are not poisonous. However, this does not imply that they are edible. Also, some people develop a dermal reaction (skin rash) if exposed to the white, milky sap of poinsettias.

To learn more about caring for poinsettias, check out my ILRiverHort YouTube video at go.illinois.edu/ILRiverHortvideos.

Just What Are Frankincense and Myrrh?

Just what are frankincense and myrrh? Certainly, they are part of many Christmas stories, but do you really know what those products are and why they were so valuable? Here is more information on both plant-based products.

Frankincense and myrrh are both resins -- dried tree sap -- that come from trees of the genus Boswellia (frankincense) and Commiphora (myrhh), which are common to Somalia and Ethiopia.

The value of these products comes partly from their use, but also from the labor-intensive way that they are harvested. To collect the tree’s sap, the tree's bark is cut, causing the sap to ooze from the cut. The sap used to create both frankincense and myrrh comes slowly and is allowed to dry on the tree for several months. The hardened sap is collected and used as frankincense and myrrh.

Frankincense is used mainly for its lovely fragrance, although historically it also had medicinal uses. Frankincense is a leafy tree that grows without soil along the rocky shores of Somalia. The young trees furnish the most valuable gum - a milky white ooze that hardens to a translucent golden hue.

Myrrh is collected from a small five- to 15-foot-tall tree about one foot in diameter called the dindin tree. The tree looks like a short flat-topped hawthorn tree with gnarly branches. The whitish-green flowers appear before the leaves in the spring. The plant looks scrubby and desolate among the rocks and sands of the desert.

True myrrh is crumbly and dark red inside. The exterior is white and powdery. The best myrrh has little odor and no oily texture. High quality myrrh demanded the best prices in the Roman Empire, but it did not ship well.

The most common use for frankincense and myrrh – past and present – is as incense. I have both in incense sticks, cones, and resins. Myrrh is also used medicinally, as an embalmer, in cosmetics, and today myrrh is found in some flavorings.

Today, you can find frankincense and myrrh for sale at stores and on the Internet. Beware that the product you purchase may actually be resin from another Middle Eastern tree and not the real stuff.

Cones are a Great Addition to Holiday Decorations

Cones are the seeds of conifer plants that keep their needles all year. All conifers have seed-bearing cones. Although many people call all cones “pinecones,” pine cones are only on pine trees. Other types include hemlock cones, spruce cones, fir cones, and cypress cones.

White pine (left), Red pine (upper right),
Blue spruce (lower right)

The most used cone is a pinecone. Mature cones on an eastern white pine are six to eight inches long by 2 inches wide. They are light brown with white tips on each cone scale. In the east, these cones sometimes grow much larger and are sold as giant eastern white pinecones.

The true giant cones typically come from Florida. Some of these mammoth beauties are up to 11 inches long and 16 inches around the base.  They come in random colors of brown, gray or red and some have green tips.

Some of the smallest – and cutest – cones come from hemlock trees. Hemlock cones are ½ inch around and come in chestnut brown to a dark brown/grayish color. Hemlock cones are beautiful, sturdy little cones that some people say look like a little rose.

For a small round pinecone, use those from the Scots pine (also called scotch pine).  These are one to two inches tall by one inch in diameter. Pinecones’ colors vary from blonde to brown with red or gray tints. Scots cones have a small pyramid prickle and a rounded bottom. Even smaller are the cones from a mugo pine that are only one inch by one inch when mature.

For a longer, cigar-shaped cone use a Spruce tree. The Norway spruce produces the largest spruce cone at three to six inches long. The Colorado blue spruce cone is two to four inches long and has a softer, lighter appearance.

If you prefer a fancy cone, try the Douglas fir cone. The Douglas fir is not a true fir but is a relative of the hemlock family. The Douglas fir cones are 2-4 inches long and are very lightweight, with delicate, papery scales that also have distinctive 3-pointed bracts resembling the tail and hind feet of a mouse.  The color of Douglas fir cones ranges from a gray brown to rust.

What decorations do you make with cones each holiday?

2021 Garden Calendar Available for FREE download

This year I decided to recreate the gardening calendar that I produced for many years as a horticulture educator with University of Illinois.  I offer it as a gift to my friends and family.  It includes garden tips and pictures of my garden each month. More information about plants pictured is found on my Retro Rhonda J Blog. Each month also features an Arts & Crafts Project Idea with pictures of my creations. 

During this difficult year I’ve found much joy from my garden, yoga practice, arts & crafts, and healthy living practices. In April, I launched Retro Rhonda J as a place where I can share my love of plants and gardening, as well as herbs, teas, handcrafts, healthy living, homemade foods, nature connection, and much more.

I hope you’ll join me on my Retro Rhonda J Facebook Page and Blog where we can learn together how to live a hip, healthy, happy, and beautiful life! 

You can find me at

• retrorhondaj.blogspot.com
• www.facebook.com/retrorhondaj

Download my free calendar at https://bit.ly/33fsixU

Monthly Features

Below are what's featured on each month, along with links to more information. 

Cover Feature: Grow herbs in containers as part of an edible landscape.

January Features

• African Violet
  
• Crocheted produce bags

February Features

• Witchhazel 
• Macramé planters, ceramic pots, and crocheted curtains

March Features

• Hellebore - Christmas Rose
• Photos with quotes

April 

• Yellow magnolia flowers
• A watercolor of my favorite plant - Poppies!

May

• Hops
• Fresh flower arrangement in the house pairs well with my crocheted doily.

June 

• I Love Poppies!
• Journaling in nature at Anderson Lake Fish and Wildlife Area.

July

• Midsummer vegetable gardens
• African violet pots we made in Mom's ceramics workshop.

August

• Tiger swallowtail on butterfly bush
• Friendship bracelets

September

• Porcelain vine berries
• Books I published 

October

• October Glory red maple leaves in fall 
• Watercolor painted using Let's Make Art tutorial on YouTube

November

• Thanksgiving Cactus in bloom
• Colored pencil drawing of Mandevilla

December

• Back patio in snow (The Winter Garden)
• Quilted Christmas tree skirt

Back Cover: Wearing a vest I crocheted

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.

Magnolias

In 2003 I planted two magnolias in the front of my house as part of my front foundation planting renovation. Since then, they’re blooms have provided many, many smiles.

Worldwide, there are about 80 different types of magnolias, although only 3 to 4 do well in central Illinois. Magnolias can grow as large trees or in shrub form. They are usually grown for their spectacular spring flowers. Most have showy, fragrant flowers that are white, pink, purple, green, or yellow. The flowers are followed by showy red or pink fruits displaying red, orange, or pink seeds, each of which hangs from the fruit by a thread-like strand.

The magnolias that grow best here are the Saucer, Star, and Cucumber. As with all plants, each of these has been manipulated by the nursery trade into great cultivars with specific characteristics.

The Saucer Magnolia (Magnolia x soulangiana) is one of the most popular magnolias in the landscape. It is known for its showy pinkish purple saucer-like flowers. The regular Saucer Magnolia grows 20 to 30 feet tall by 20 to 30 feet wide in a rounded to broad-rounded form. It is often low branching and multi-stemmed. There are many cultivars of this hybrid species.

One of my magnolias is a yellow form of the Cucumbertree
Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata) called 'Butterflies'. The Butterfly Magnolia has probably the deepest darkest yellow of the yellow magnolias. The 5" across deep yellow flowers are supposed to appear at a much earlier age than other yellow selections - as young as three years old rather than 6-7 years for the ‘Elizabeth’ & ‘Yellow Lantern’. However, my yellow magnolia took 7 years to bloom. The Butterfly Magnolia is only 20’ tall and is more upright in habit, compared to 50 to 80 foot rounded form of the original Cucumbertree.

My white magnolia is a Royal Star (Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star'). The Royal Star is a beautiful, white-flowered selection with four to five-inch flowers that have 25-30 strap-like tepals. This is a very common star magnolia in the trade. It grows 15-20' high in a rounded to slightly broad-rounded form.

All the magnolias listed here are hardy in central Illinois. All prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They are not always tolerant of extreme drought or wetness. The main problem all magnolias encounter here is the flower’s cold sensitivity. Flowers that look stunning during the day can become a mass of limp brown petals with just one cold evening. Still the often short-lived flowers are well worth a quick glimpse of their beauty.

Christmas Rose - A Rose by Another Name

What is a Christmas Rose? You might think of roses given at Christmas, a particular china pattern, or a perennial plant called the Christmas Rose or Lenten Rose.

The Christmas and Lenten Roses are Helleborus plants that are said to bloom at Christmas or in the winter. In actuality, they bloom in February or March in our part of the world. Still, they are a joy to see blooming during the gloomy days of winter.

Helleborus plants have dark evergreen, leathery leaves that often stay attractive throughout the winter. If there isn’t good snow cover, they can show browning on the edges during winter. However, a simple pruning out of the old leaves will give way to new healthy leaves in the spring.

These plants flower in very early spring with nodding flowers that are three to four inches wide with five separate sepals. The Lenten rose (Helleborus orientatlis) blooms in purple, pink, or cream, while the Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) flowers are white with pink shading. As the name implies, the Christmas Rose blooms earlier than the Lenten rose.

Plants grow 15 to 18 inches tall and do best in partial to full shade in very organic rich soil. Like other cold growing plants, this plant is not very tolerant of high temperatures. It does best in moist, well-drained soils.

Since these flower so early, you need to place them where you’ll see them every day. Often times early spring blooming plants will bloom without notice if they are put in an area we do not frequent at that time of the year. You might place them outside a window or along a walkway. Mine is near my outdoor hot tub that we use all winter long.

For an even bigger impact, consider planting hellebores beneath a witch hazel tree that also blooms in winter/early spring. You might also add large clumps of Snowdrop bulbs or other early blooming bulbs. Examples of March blooming perennials include Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis) and Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica).

One final note about hellebores is that they are poisonous. In fact, according to the Manual of Herbaceous Ornamental Plants, Helleborus is derived from a Greek word helein that means to injure and hora, which means food. It refers to the bitter tasting leaves and roots which are poisonous when eaten.

Witchhazels Bloom in Winter

Witchhazel is one of the few plants that technically blooms in winter. Depending on the species, it either blooms in early or late winter. Because of this, they are often missed.

Witchhazel (Hamamalis sp.) is a multi-stemmed shrub reaching 6 to 10 feet high and wide. Witchhazel is one of those plants that offer something of interest in each season. During the summer, it has medium to dark green foliage and interesting capsule fruit. Fall brings beautiful leaf colors of golden-yellow, red, or orange depending on the species. Winter is special for this plant becaus
e that is when it flowers. Yellow to red, 4-petaled flowers appear sometime from January through March and are effective for 3 to 4 weeks. To achieve this long bloom-time, the petals roll up on very cold days and avoid freeze damage.

The most commonly grown witchhazel is the Vernal Witchhazel (Hamamelis vernalis). This native shrub offers several desirable ornamental traits. The pungently fragrant flowers are the smallest of all witchhazels, with each petal only about one-half inch long. Flower colors vary from yellow and orange to red and open in January and February. This plant is very adaptable to moist or dry soils and is a great plant for naturalizing.

common witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is usually found as an understory plant in woodlands. It blooms from late fall to early winter. Unfortunately, the flowers are rarely seen because fall foliage color develops as the flowers appear.

In addition to being a beautiful plant, witchhazel also adds ecological diversity to a landscape. Its brittle seeds are a food source for critters such as squirrels. Its low, lateral branches are used by many nesting birds, including wood thrushes and flycatchers. According to research done by Dr. Doug Tallamy from the University of Delaware, this native shrub is a food source for 62 different native butterfly caterpillars.

You may know witchhazel by its by-product, which is used in sweet-smelling lotions, eye-gels, and other skin products.

I plan to add both the common and vernal witchhazel to my landscape in a place that is easily seen for fall and winter viewing. If you want additional winter interest in your garden, consider adding witchhazel. You’ll enjoy it all year long.