First Killling Frost

It finally happened this past weekend.  Our first killing  frost arrived after a very warm and lovely Thanksgiving Day.  All of the remaining zinnias and cosmos are now gone until next summer.  They stayed with us a good long time, and I had even seen a couple of gulf frittilaries still around last week.  I covered the basil hoping to save it for a week or two more, but it succumbed to the cold temperatures even under plastic.  The sage and tarragon, which are tender perennials, made it through for now, and I was happy to be able to use them in my soup stock this week.  We have a delicious batch of turkey vegetable soup to enjoy on these cold evenings.

Our lettuce is looking great, and sure did taste good in the turkey sandwiches over the weekend.

The pineapple sage is still blooming in the planter next to the driveway.  I am surprised that it didn't freeze out.  I think all the cement block and the cement of the driveway probably absorbs the heat from the sun and then keeps the plants warmer through the night. The knockout roses are still blooming away as well, and the lavender is still blooming.  We also have some fall blooms on the dianthus along the rock garden path that have made it through. 

On Sunday afternoon Allen chopped up leaves with the mower and I have used them as mulch to cover over the lantana  I cut back that afternoon.  We still have a lot of leaves that will fall off the oak tree and I will let him mulch some onto the lawn, but I really need them out in the back garden to help reestablish the top soil that was lost from the storm. 

I cut back and pulled out what I could of the swamp sunflower stalks and started the general cleanup of the garden behind the fence at the end of the driveway.  I am thinking that I am also going to severely prune the confederate jasmine that is getting too close to the climbing roses.  The fence needs to have waterproofing put on , and that vine is just way too overgrown. I had to cut back some of it over the weekend just to be able to clean up the end of the driveway.  I always feel so mean when I severely prune plants.  I end up talking to the plants and telling them I am sorry.  I do not apologize to privet, although I should.  It is not the privet's fault that some well meaning person brought it here where it doesn't belong.  It is so horribly invasive.

I have moved some hellibores (lenten roses) to put under the oak tree next to the Christmas ferns, and will keep moving a few plants in there whenever I get a chance.  I had to move the hellibores quickly so that they wouldn't get water seal on them when Allen worked on the fence.  They were right up next to it and there would have been no way to avoid getting that toxic stuff on the plants. He has been very careful about using tarps to protect the plants and the soil.

We had a lovely rain and some thunderstorm early this morning and then it remained cloudy all day so that the rain could soak in to the soil and not evaporate right away.  It has been so very dry here for the last few weeks and rain really beats watering for the good health of the plants.  There is no more rain expected in the forecast for the next several days and it is supposed to be near 70 again over the weekend.  I hope we get into our more normal winter weather pattern soon. I should probably be careful what I wish for!

If you like to look at plant catalogs as part of your winter entertainment, and create your wish list for the spring check out the Gardens Alive! catalog.  It is filled with great organic plants and fertilizers and pest control products.  www.gardensalive.com.  I love their little lady bug logo. I still like to have catalogs I can hold in my hand and look through.  They do send them out if you don't want to just shop online.  The phone number if you want to order one that way is:  513.354.1482. Enjoy!

Happy gardening , Gma Susie

Back at Home and Camp McDowell Musin

At home, my new little succulent garden.  It contains hen and chicks, a creeping sedum, one of the little steppable succulents and now the autumn joy sedum.  Of course, most of what is visible at the present moment is rocks, but if it survives winter, I think it will look pretty next summer.

I returned from Camp McDowell Sunday, but not before going on a sensory awareness hike with Maggie Johnston as leader.  Maggie is the director of the environmental education center at Camp McDowell, and I have known her for many years.  We first met on a trail  m aintenance trip in the Bankhead Forest when I was a member of the Alabama Trail Association.  She led us up the trail in a group, and then had us wait while she went on ahead to put somelaminated cards out on the trail.  One by one we went on and followed the directions on the cards.  When we got to a  hollow, she was waiting with paper on little clipboards so that we could write or draw about our experience.  Here is what I wrote:  


11/18/2012

I am sitting on a fallen log in the sun at Camp McDowell. I just ended  a short, solitary sensory hike.  I hugged trees, enjoyed the soft brilliant green moss along the trail, felt the texture of bark, listened to the sound of the wind in the trees and danced to thank the sun.  I listened to the sound the wind made in the trees and sounds my footsteps made in the leaves on the trail.  I thought a lot about my friend, Joe, who taught me so much of what I know about the flora in Alabama.  It was a whole new world for this transplanted Northerner.  I am thankful for Maggie who spends so much of her life teaching what she knows about this beautiful treasure so that others will appreciate it and want to preserve what is here.

As the sun hits the branches over to my right I notice a spider web sparkling between some branches and then as I look again the sunlight catches many many single strings of spider web connecting branches of the shrubs.  There are many small flying insects everywhere as well.  Does the spider know are here?  Are some of them its next meal?

Looking around some more, I see a tangle of green thorny vines growing up over the oak leaf hydrangeas.  There  are a few reddish leaves left on the hydrangeas, and looking up, the evergreen hemlocks provide a soft background for the scene.  There is a puzzle of straight trunked, leaning trunked, and and windy and bending trunked deciduous trees in front.  the small new oak behind me has some brilliant red leaves left on it that look too big in relation to its tiny trunk and branches.  The gray, fallen leaves of the big leaf magnolias look like old used rags scattered across the forest floor.

Maggie tells us there are only 3 more minutes for this contemplative time.  I do not want to leave.



  

Back at home, our snow peas are getting ready to produce. (left) We may have some for Thanksgiving dinner, or at least by the weekend.















We have many more leaves left on our oak leaf hydrangeas than were left at Camp McDowell.  They are about an hour north of where we live.Oak leaf hydrangeas are beautiful all year round.  Even when the leaves are gone they have a beautiful shaggy bark, and they are one of the first plants to start leafing out in the spring.  They have large white flowers at the end of May and into June, that turn pink and then papery and can be used in flower arrangements fresh or dried. 

(left) One of our heirloom roses that flowers in the spring and then again in the fall.  In the summer it tends to get black spot, and most of the leaves fall off.  I always think it is dying and then it bounces back like this.  The buds change color as they open.  Unfortunately I have no idea what variety this is.  Maybe next time I go to Petals From The Past, I can find it again  and this time I will keep a record of what it is.       www.petalsfromthepast.com/map.htm.
Dried rose hips from roses that have not  been sprayed with poisons may be used to make a tasty tea, and they are a good source of vitamin C. They can also be used in wines and jams. The scented petals can be used in salads, pies,syrup, vinegars, sorbets and other sweets.  Just be sure use only organic plants.  Petals From the Past is a good source for heirloom roses.

If you live in the Birmingham area, make sure to go to Petals From the Past for their open house On Saturday December 1 from 9 to 5 and Sunday December 2 from 1 to 5.  I try to go every year.  They have delicious food and drinks to try and many of the garden accessories are on sale and make great gifts for gardeners.

Their next workshop is Saturday January 19 when Dr. Arlie Powell will discuss Small Fruits in the Home Vegetable Garden.  from 10:30 AM to noon. Check it out on their website.

On Saturday January 26th, 2013 the workshop is basic design principles for creating an edible self-sustainable garden. 

I have rambled on long enough.  Happy planting and Happy Thanksgiving!
Gma Susie

Camp McDowell

Well, I wasn't home for too long  before I left again for one of my favorite weekends of the year.  Most years I am blessed to be able to volunteer for a lovely group of folks who have a retreat at  Camp McDowell , an Episcopal camp and environmental center in Nauvoo, Al near Jasper.  When I have a break I get to enjoy the hiking trails and the quiet meditation spots scattered around the property.  There are over 900 acres which include forest, creek, and canyons. The camp includes conference center facilities and also a children's camp area. People of every faith and background are able to use the facilities and it is always full of activity. If you want to know more go to www.campmcdowell.com/Share.  Today I had a break in the middle of the afternoon so I took a walk in the beautiful sunshine.  I think the temps were in the 60's, so it was a perfect day for a walk.  I found a eucalyptus tree in the herb garden and took a little snippet of leaf to enjoy the smell while I walked.  I had no idea that eucalyptus trees would grow in this climate, so now I want to find one to put in my garden.  I have no idea where it will go, but oh that smell is so heavenly!

Photo taken earlier in the year .  The area in the foreground is one of the gardens I have started to redo as it has gotten over crowded.  On my to do list is to find out if the native grasses I have planted there can be divided so that I can use some in other parts of the garden. 

Before I left home on Friday, I did get to move a few plants around, and because we have not had rain since Monday and none was expected for the weekend I rushed to get all the potted things, the new plantings and the veggie garden watered.  The snow peas have blossoms on them so we will be feasting on them soon.  I like them raw in salads and also in stir fry.  We still have bok choy available, and 2 spinach plants plus lots of lettuce.  None of the tender herbs have  been frozen out yet, so I may get another batch of pesto made when I get home. One of the things I did get done was to plant the rose bush and the 2 lilies that my sister had given me while I was in Wisconsin last week.  I relocated a couple of new plantings of iris to put the lilies in and felt guilty about not letting the poor little things get used to one place before moving them to another.  I hope they do OK with yet another disruption. I also  moved some of the autumn joy sedum from the garden pictured above into the new little succulent garden I started last week.

I left the camera at home so that Allen could use it, so sorry, no pictures of Camp McDowell.  I hope you do take a look at their web site, and that you check out their plans for an amazing new addition to the camp facilities that will include much more accessible space for folks with disabilities, and special needs, as well a demonstration farm.  I hope that I am able to do some of the volunteer work needed in that area.  I love it up here!

Time to take a walk back to the lodge ( the only internet access is in the office).  Another bonus of being away from the city is the incredible show of starry sky and crescent moon tonight.

Happy planting! 
Gma Susie

Back To Wisconsin

I spent this last weekend in Wisconsin visiting family again and watching my grandson play football in the high school playoffs.  His team didn't get to go on to the championship game, but it was great that they got into finals!  It was a first for the Lake Geneva Badgers. 

Saturday was very windy and threatening rain, but my sister Sandi and I went to work in her garden to get it ready for the winter.  We dumped the soil out of pots and stacked them for the winter, cleaned up the storage shed and put tools away, and sorted out little fences to hang up for the winter, put away the bird bath, etc.  We always have a lot of fun working together, and the work gets done so much more quickly when there are two of us.  We laugh a lot, too!  After we worked at her house, we went to my son's house and helped clean all the piles of leaves out of the gutters.  More laughter, because no matter where we stood to steady the ladder, we got showered with leaves!  On Sunday morning I got out and pruned back my daughter-in-law's roses so that she could put the styrofoam covers on them for the winter.
 We were glad to get all of this done, because a winter storm was on its way.  The storm hit Sunday afternoon with really strong winds and rain, and then freezing temperatures on Monday morning when I left.  They also got snow on Monday night . 

The view of Lake Como from my son's house. the lake near the house  was filled with ducks on Monday morning.

A pretty corner in my son's garden.  The statuary is now all tucked away in the garage for the winter.

The rose garden and arbor at my son's house.

 

My sister sent me home with a little fairy rose bush that she had had in a pot on the deck for the summer, and also a couple of lilies.  She never lets me leave without a plant or two to try in my garden down here.  Most of them do OK in our heat.  It is survival of the fittest in my garden.  Not too much gets coddled after it once gets established, so I hope these little guys make it. 

We had a hard frost this morning, but only on the North side of the house.  I didn't see any on the South side this morning.  It was very odd to look out the windows and see frost on the grass in the back and not in the front.  The back is a little bit downhill, so I guess  that is why it settled there.
We will most likely be raking leaves Thanksgiving weekend.  They are starting to come down.
Happy planting,
Gma Susie

Castle House and Gardens/ Santa Cruz, CA

 Castle House and Gardens in Santa Cruz, California was the venue for my niece's wedding.  It is an absolutely romantic and perfect place to get married.  They were married under the redwood trees and the guests were treated to  cocktails in the rose garden around the fountain before going to the terrace up at the house for the reception.  Castle House and gardens coordinated with the catering and they also do the flower arranging so that everything went very smoothly.
I was able to go early and take pictures of some of the garden before the guests arrived.

 There is lots of vertical interest throughout the garden. 

 More vertical interest.

There are many arches and arbors scattered about.

 To the right is the chicken house.  There is also a pig pen.

There is also a succulent garden toward the back.  I am fascinated by the patterns of the leaves.

 I love the unusual garden decorations.  I have no idea what this old tool was for.

 To the left is the entrance to the ladies room in an outbuilding in the garden.

 Back to the rose garden and fountain.

 Front view of the castle house.

Fireplace at the end of the pool terrace. The owners lit the fire when it got dark .  The dinner tables were all set out on the adjoining terrace.



I hope you enjoyed the little tour!
Happy gardening.

Gma Susie

Garden Diary/Plant Relocation

The Star Anise is at the far left  corner of the house and the empty space between the dogwood tree and the anise is where I planted the azalea baby whose parent is right behind the dogwood.

Yesterday, Saturday was an absolutely perfect day for getting chores done in the garden.  It was dry and warm,with a high of 80.  Since I won't have a full weekend at home again for a couple of weeks, I thought I should do part of "the great plant relocation " chores.  First I watered in all new plantings and the vegetable garden because it has been so dry here. We were expecting rain for today but only a 30% chance.  ( it is raining this morning and I am very grateful)

First , we marked and cut a path through the city land so that we could hit the trail to the school and walk to vote on Tuesday.  I did the marking and initial chopping, then Allen came through with the lawn mower.  Our original trail is no longer usable due to tornado debris, and the new trail is in the area that was cleared an planted with grass.

Then, Allen and I headed up to St. Clair county to check on the family home we have for sale and pay the yard man who helps us with the chores.  I collected a few stray paving rocks and landscaping stones from the back of the property. They had been tossed into the woods in a pile, leftovers from a building  project.
               
When we got home,we unloaded stones and then  I really went to work.  I dug up a Christmas fern from the front of the house, and divided it into 3 plants, then planted it at the base of our remaining oak tree, where I plan to have a natural area with lots of native ground covers.  I may add a non-native as well.  I don't think I could have too many Hellebores (Lenten roses).  I love that they start blooming in February, and then the flowers look good for months following the bloom.

After I moved the ferns, I separated part of an azalea from it's parent plant (a part that had rooted in the soil) and then planted it where the Christmas fern had been.  We need to continue the shrubs across the front of the house, so this will look much better. Because of the tornado, we had lost a camellia from that space that our friend, Eleanor , had given us in memory of my sister, Joan. 

Following that relocation, I separated a small star anise (Illicium parviflorum) from its parent plant at the front of the house, and moved it to the side of our house where I had dug up a white bottle brush buckeye to pass on to my friend, Chris, for her new shade garden.  The buckeye is now sitting in a pot waiting to be taken to its new home, and the star anise looks happy in its new place.  Star anise has wonderfully aromatic leaves if you brush up against it , or pick them, and it is an evergreen shrub that will tolerate fairly dry soil.  It can grow  to about 12 feet, and has small white star shaped flowers.  I plan to keep propagating by layering so I can add some to the back hedge as well.  Layering means to  bring a lower branch down to the soil, cover part of it with soil, then put a rock or brick over the area to keep the branch down , and wait for it to establish a good  root system. When you want to transplant all you have to do is dig down between it and the parent plant , cut the branch from the parent and lift up your new plant.  I have done this a lot with hydrangeas and the azaleas.


The oak leaves are starting to turn color and drop, so we will soon have a nice carpet of oak leaves in the natural area.  We will go over them with the lawn mower a little bit and use them for mulch around the shrubs.  I plan to collect some bags of leaves from the neighbors when they put them out and start reestablishing our layers of leaf mulch on the hillside in the back as well. Good cheap mulch!  As much as I love the look of pine straw and pine bark mulch, it can really blow the budget and our garden expenditures for this year are already way over the top.  I will be begging, borrowing , propagating from existing plants, and scavenging for quite a while!
Happy planting,

bottle brush buckeye (blooming last spring)

Gma Susie

Santa Cruz, California, Beach Cliff Gardens

 I had a little bit of time while I was in Santa Cruz to walk along West Cliff Drive between Lighthouse Field State Beach and Natural Bridges State Beach.  The lighthouse building at left is home to a surfer museum and there were many surfers surfing in between the rocks.  How they manage not to get killed is a mystery.  The rock in the picture below that is separated from the coast is home to sea lions.  None swam close enough for me to get a good picture.

 The other end of the walk is Natural Bridges State Beach.  There were at one time 3 of these natural bridges and they were connected to the coast. This is the only one remaining, as the others have all eroded away.  The pelicans love to rest here.

Natural Bridges State Beach is also home to one of the largest monarch butterfly overwintering sites in the Western U.S.  The weekend I was there was the official welcome back to the monarchs.  The naturalists organized a welcome back festival with many educational events on Sunday afternoon.  There are thousands of monarch butterflies clustered in the groves of eucalyptus trees near the beach each winter.  You can see a few in the picture above, but I had difficulty getting close enough for good shot of the clouds of butterflies.  This was a total sensory experience.  There was a gentle breeze, the sound of the ocean waves from nearby , the delicious smell of the eucalyptus trees and the enchanting clouds of orange monarchs.  One of those experiences that I always want to continue on for a while. 

Below is one of the signs near the garden filled with different varieties of milkweed which is the host plant for the monarch caterpillars.  There were many groups of school children going through with naturalist guides who discussed the life cycle of the monarchs.

 Boardwalk going into the eucalyptus grove .

 (right) I was surprised by the cliff side gardens on my walk.  They were full of all kinds of amazing succulents, both large and small.  It is something I would have expected in Southern California, but wasn't expecting this far north.  The next few pictures are just a sampling of the gardens I enjoyed on my walk.  All of these gardens were right along the sidewalk.

(left)
This is another succulent that the locals call ice plant.  It spreads everywhere once it takes hold, and it looks like it is used for erosion control , as it was prevalent along the cliffs.  The flowers come in a variety of colors. I looked up ice plant in my garden encyclopedia, but this is not the plant it described.  I will have to do some research and look through photos until I can find the Latin name.

 The following are a few more cliff side gardens.

 I was amused by the rock sculptures in this little garden. (left)

There was a long park/greenway on the other side of the street from the ocean. It ran along a little creek in the residential area.  The fence is a plain wooden fence but decorated with nailed on driftwood.  A great recycling idea! 

Happy planting everyone!  Next up for the blog will be Castle House and Gardens just outside of Santa Cruz.  It was the wedding venue for my niece, Haddie's wedding.
Gma Susie