Nature's Euphoria on Black Mountain Road

Wow! Wow! Woohoo! I'm glad we saved the best for last. This road is amazing. 

My husband Mark and I spent the month of February in Morro Bay, California in an Airbnb. We took our new Triumph Tiger motorcycle with us and enjoyed many day rides exploring and soaking up Central California's magical natural areas. On Tuesday, February 23rd, we rode the Black Mountain Road. Below is my journal entry from that day. 

Rock slides 

Turkey Flat Staging Area

We started our ride at the Turkey Flat staging area and rode up, up, up. We rode on a very narrow, paved path that skirts cliffs and mountains, peaks and valleys. Rock slides put obstacles in our path. The asphalt buckles and rolls in places.

I must say that this is the closest to nature I've felt in a long time. At the top we can see in every direction for miles and miles. Dense trees cover the ground below us - over hills and mountains that roll on and on in the distance, never seeming to end. I feel giddy, euphoric and keep smiling. The intense beauty almost brings me to tears. We truly feel on top of the world - connected to the earth and it's beauty all around us. 

Journaling in Nature

Now we are at a crossroads where a dirt road intersects the paved one. I got off to sit while Mark rides the dirt road alone. I'm sitting on a blanket in a grassy, soft area - completely enclosed in nature. Trees circle me above the shrubs and grasses. The wind whips in the cliffs behind me. Here the sun is warm on my arms and back. In front of me are two tall soft needled pines. To the left are gnarly deciduous and dead oaks, some with large bunches of mistletoe decorating their canopy. The sky is blue with wispy white clouds. Bright green grass is all around me. 

Total paradise!

Crossroads intersection

Mark at top of Black Mountain Road

Mistletoe in Oak tree

Climbing up Black Mountain Road

Amaryllis Brighten a Dreary Winter Day

The amaryllis is a symbol of determination, beauty, and love. Some also associate this flower with strength, determination, and success. I think it is all those things and more. Each morning for the past month, I’ve watched my amaryllis elongate and open its spectacular blooms. Each day the flower looks stronger and more beautiful. Each day it inspires me to also do something that brings beauty, love, and strength into our world.

Amaryllis flowers make a bold statement. Borne on a 1 ½ to 2-foot tall stalk, the trumpet-shaped, 6-inch blooms dominate their surroundings. After flowering, the plant produces attractive, bright green leaves, and with a little care will flower year after year.

Amaryllis growing kits are common this time of year. Check them before purchasing to be sure the bulbs are solid. Some will start to grow in the box, and just need light and water to continue. Follow the  instructions found on the box.

Star of Holland Amaryllis

Dad and I both got our amaryllis the same day. His ‘Star of Holland’ was supposed to reach 20-24 inches tall with two stems of eight inch flowers. However, his bulb had grown substantially in the box, and did not grow very tall before blooming. Still, it did have 3-4 eight inch blooms on 2 stalks, and they were outstanding

If you buy an amaryllis bulb without a kit, follow these procedures for potting. Since the bulbs are large and thrive in cramped quarters, allow only one-half inch of space between the bulb and side of the pot. Fill the pot with a good potting soil. Set the bulb so that half of it is above the pot rim. Add more soil to about one inch from the pot rim. Firm the soil and drench it with lukewarm water until the surplus drains through the bottom hole.      

The amaryllis needs heat to start growing so place the pot in a dark, warm, airy space until the first leaves or flower buds show. Then move the amaryllis into a sunny location and water thoroughly. Do not water again until the soil feels dry to the touch. When the flower blooms, move it out of direct sunlight so it will last longer.

My amaryllis (shown below) is a ‘Red Lion,’ with multiple, large red flowers on 20-26” stalks. As you can see in the picture, my bulb had already slightly sprouted so I put it in a north window above a floor heater. When it had fully elongated and flower buds were formed, I moved it to a south-east window – mainly because that is where I can see it best each morning over coffee.

If you want to rebloom your amaryllis each year, follow these tips to assure the plant’s health and beauty for many seasons. When the flowers fade, return the pot to bright sunlight. Allow the plant to grow several long, strap-like leaves to help rebuild the bulb. When danger of frost is past, plunge the pot in your garden where the plant will receive filtered sunlight.

In mid-September, the outer leaves will begin to yellow, an indication that the plant needs a rest. Cut all the leaves to within an inch of the neck of the bulb, bring the plant in and stop watering. Store it in a cool spot at 50 to 55 degrees F and forget it until late November or early December. At that time, bring the plant back to the light, replant if needed, begin watering, and watch it grow. When the bulb begins to show signs of growth, start the blooming cycle again.

Start an amaryllis bulb today to brighten your winter household.

Red Lion Amaryllis on 12-6-2020

Red Lion Amaryllis on 1-10-2021

Red Lion Amaryllis on 1-13-2021

Red Lion Amaryllis on 1-14-2021

Red Lion Amaryllis on 1-14-2021

A January Visit to the St. Louis Zoo

Yesterday gave us a great opportunity to visit the St. Louis Zoo. We had to go to St. Louis for another reason anyway, and since the zoo requires reservations due to COVID, we felt safe in their outside exhibits. This zoo has amazing animal exhibits, and it is free (except the $10 parking fee). I t also has some nice landscape plants and displays.

Winterberry

The first plant to greet us was a common winterberry (Ilex verticillata) in the parking lot. It’s bright clusters of red berries covered the small shrubs, making quite an impressive display. This plant is native to eastern North America. I’m not sure which cultivar this one was, but the native plant grows 3-12 feet tall in an upright-rounded habit. This is a holly plant, but unlike its relatives, it is a deciduous plant – dropping its leaves each fall. Like its relatives, it is a dioecious plant and needs one male plant for every 6-10 plants in order to produce berries.

Nandina at left, Bamboo at right

Another red berried shrub attracting attention was the heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica). Unfortunately, this is not a native plant and is potentially invasive. This is not a true bamboo, though there were giant cane bamboo plants (Arundinaria gigantea) planted at the zoo.

A leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum) caught my eye in the bird garden, where signage discussed how to garden to attract birds. This viburnum is an upright semi-evergreen shrub, reaching 6-10 feet tall.

Tucked under an arborvitae in the bird garden was a plant that really surprised me. I never expected to see a tropical looking plant in winter. Italiam arum (Arum italicum) is an herbaceous perennial shade plant hardy to zones 5-10. It prefers a moist soil in a shady area. The Missouri Botanical Garden website says its “leaves emerge in autumn and are evergreen in warm climates. However, in colder climates the leaves often die in winter, resprout in spring, then go dormant in summer.

On our way out of the zoo, two displays caught my eye. A container featured a blooming witchhazel surrounded by pansy plants. See my blog on witchhazels for more information on this plant.

Also at the entrance was a 24-foot tall giraffe topiary. Although not a live topiary, it was very impressive. I believe it is part of their Christmas light displays. See the zoo’s YouTube on how they construct this impressive giraffe.

Winter at the zoo was a different experience that I really enjoyed. I really liked seeing the Bactrian camel, Chinese goral, red panda, jaguar, Amur tiger, snow leopard, and grizzly bears (all pictured below). Of course, the highlight of the St Louis Zoo for me is always the penguin exhibit. I’ve been to many zoos across our nation and I think this penguin exhibit is the best. It allows visitors to get up close and personal with the penguins and puffins. This was especially true yesterday since there were so few zoo visitors. We had a private viewing inside the penguin-puffin house – just us, four types of penguins, two types of puffins, and a security guard.

Visiting the zoo during the COVID pandemic felt very safe. The masks helped keep us warm, though it did take some time to find a position where our glasses didn’t fog up so much.  We were able to take the masks off for a coffee and scone break by a duck pond.

If you’ve never visited a zoo in the winter, I highly recommend it. Although it was only 30 degrees outside, we were bundled up warmly. In many ways it was more comfortable than former visits there in the heat of summer.

Bactrian camel

Chinese goral

Jaguar

Snow leopard

Amur tiger

Red Panda

Grizzly bear

King penguins

Humboldt penguins

Unplugging with Nature at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch

For many years Mark and I have wanted to go to Loretta Lynn’s ranch. I have always loved her and her music and wanted to see her town and museum. Mark wanted to ride his motorcycle at a Loretta Lynn moto event. 2020 was to be our year, but as the April planned event neared, the Middle Tennessee Dirt Riders group had to postpone their 19^th annual spring ride due to the pandemic. Luckily, the outdoor camping and riding environment allowed safe social distancing and we were able to attend the rescheduled event in June.

So, on June 25^th we left for Tennessee. It was a long drive through the hills of Kentucky and Tennessee. We arrived in early evening, and after some confusion, decided on campsite #40 in the upper campground. A ranch worker – Chuck – came right away to help us check in and get hooked up. The upper campground is staged in a large, wooded area, so I thought this would be the quieter, cooler option. Wrong! To my astonishment the trail head for each day’s motorcycle trail ride, began just across from our camper. This was also a no-fire area, so we had to do all our cooking on the campstove, which was still good and fun.

Tour Hurricane Mills

This trip proved to be a great time to unplug and unwind. Before Mark’s riding event began, we had time to explore the ranch and Hurricane Mills town (Loretta owns the entire town). We first went through Loretta’s museum. So much stuff in there. Pictures, awards, guitars, song sheets, furniture, and so much more. More than we could see in one visit. I think what stood out for me were the Grammy awards, her first dress and guitar, and the dresses she wore on album covers. I got a little choked up being there. She has been my idol for so long!

We decided to take the guided tours since we felt safe with our masks and the small group. Derek, our guide, first took us to the Bucher Holler family home replica. Just an old shack, but it was very neat! There was a Navajo crochet afghan like I make, and lots of doilies in the museum.

Walnut tree by plantation home

Next, we got on a small tour bus and Derek drove us to the big plantation home. We were able to walk around the lower floor of the pre civil war home. It was very 1970’s. She collects lots of stuff: Avon things, salt & pepper shakers, dolls, iron pans, and more. I don’t feel so bad about all my stuff now. We each live in our own way, and that is okay. I liked her office where she wrote songs and painted.

Lots of plants stood out at Hurricane Mills. They had ornamental and edible landscape plants around the museums. Outside the plantation house was a huge old walnut tree. I wonder what it has seen through the years. Did it see the civil war soldiers, former slave, and such? I loved the houses front porch with all its plants, and how they were displayed.

Creek Time

Hops Tree

We spent many hours resting along a creek that runs through the ranch. It was so peaceful there. We were mostly all alone - just the creek, a scarlet tanager, Mark, and me. The first day we sat close to a little ripple area with the sound of rushing water. Mark fished and caught a couple small bass. I studied my plant books, journaled, and soaked in the nature all around me. In addition to the scarlet tanager, I saw butterflies, a hops tree, and heard a blue jay.

Alone Time

While Mark rode his dirt bike each day, I took advantage of alone time to hike, explore, journal, play my guitar, and watercolor paint. One day I visited the Patsy Cline plane crash site – a very solemn place.

Showy Skullcap

Another day, I went to Johnsonville State Park, I learned history about the civil war camps and battles there. It is also a quiet and peaceful place. No one else was there except the park employees and me. I started at the top and did a short hike where I found wild petunia. Back to the bottom I hiked out to a point on the water and around a large hill. Kentucky Lakes is still huge there where the Tennessee River also flows. Union forces held this spot for a few years. I took pictures of lots of different plants there (see them in google photos). They included a field pansy, fringed houstonia, trumpet vine, water hemlock, moth mullein, yellow water buttercup, American germander, 
showy skullcap, and water willow.

The motorcycles were loud at camp, so on the last day I ventured back to Hurricane Mills. Here is my journal entry and drawing from there.

"Finally, I found a peaceful spot. Sitting on a swing by hurricane creek in front of Loretta Lynn’s house. A bit overcast with a lovely breeze that blows the water’s coolness over me. I hear the water flow over the dam. I hear the birds and see swallows fly all over catching bugs to feed their young in the nests all along the under bridge. I smell the algae in the water and the fresh air. I feel the stickiness of my skin from the humidity. Yet it’s cool from the breeze. What do I see that brings me joy?"

• The gray green water meanders around the bend and over the falls
• The swallows
• Buttercups and clover, willows and wisteria
• Silence and no motorcycles
• Warm sun and no rain
• Joy in this moment in time.

Overall, it was an amazing trip. Next year’s MTDR Off-road Trail Ride is April 9-11. We plan to camp by the creek, since we now know there are camping hookups there. I can’t wait to camp by the creek and explore the areas spring flowers.  

More pictures from this trip are found in my Loretta Lynn's Ranch 2020 google photo album.

Impact of Ice, Snow, and Cold on Plants

Today I sit in my warm office and listen to the ice-laden plants tinkle and crack outside with each gust of winter wind. An ice-weighted elm at the side of our woods has already crashed three large limbs to the ground. Small twigs dot the front yard beneath each tree, especially the flowering dogwood and river birch. Although the ice is pretty, as it wraps plants and structures in sparkling cocoons, excess ice is also very damaging.

The right weather conditions can cause ice to coat all parts of plants, making them very heavy and susceptible to breakage. If ice develops do not attempt to remove it. Ice must melt away naturally. Pruning may be required if breakage does occur. Trees most susceptible to ice damage include those that are topped and those with weak forks and brittle wood such as silver maple, tree-of-heaven, mulberry, and willow.

At this point, I’m hoping for snow. Snow is typically safer on plants than ice. Accumulations of snow can cause severe damage to some landscape plants. Evergreens such as yews, hemlocks, and junipers are especially susceptible to damage from snow. Although wet snow is more hazardous to plants than drier powder snow, any heavy snow can cause problems. Increased weight from snow can cause branches of trees and shrubs to break. Therefore, if you notice your plants weighted down by snow, shake them off as soon as possible with a broom or light rake. Most plants will recover after the weight is relieved, but some could experience longer lasting injury.

Cold temperature effects on plants depend largely on the plant itself. Each type of plant has a different inherent tolerance to cold temperatures. Currently our outdoor plants are dormant and resting for the winter. Dormancy allows plants to withstand low temperatures. For example, a maple tree can withstand a temperature of –30⁰F when dormant but may be severely damaged by a temperature just below freezing during the growing season. However, even dormant plants can still suffer during the winter. Extremely cold winter temperatures usually do not kill entire plants but can kill other parts such as flower buds of some marginally hardy plants including peaches and dogwood.

The good news is that heavy snows and cold temperatures will help each other to reduce overall plant damage. Heavy snows insulate the ground and therefore protect low-growing plants and roots from the cold. Roots never really go dormant and cannot tolerate low temperatures like aboveground parts can. Although the top of a boxwood shrub may be able to tolerate –10⁰F, the roots will probably be killed at 20⁰F. Snow cover is an excellent mulch and helps keep roots warm. Snow cover also reduces the likelihood of frost heaving of plants.

Unfortunately, there is little we can do to protect our landscape plants from cold temperatures. It is a wait-and-see situation. We’ll find out this spring if significant damage occurred or not. The best way to prevent winter injury is to plant winter-hardy plant material and care for it properly.

 

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