Happy Mother’s Day!

I awoke this morning not really sure what expect, after all the rain the evening before.  As I make my way to the window and pull the shade, I wonder what sounds do I hear outside.  In an instant the morning sun is streaming into my room and the new leaves on the trees are gently swaying in soft wind.  In the background is the faint sound of birds outside, along with footsteps coming up the stairs accompanied by the rattling of plates and silverware, and the aroma of coffee.  Yes, it’s Mother’s Day!  A day reserved for Mom’s to receive flowers, plants and for some breakfast in bed.  

This is the weekend of flowers being bought, given and planted in “Love”.  There is a book, “ The Language of Flowers” that was written by a man to his wife.   An A to Z of flower names along with what it represented from the early 1900′s.  This book came to mind after an afternoon of driving and stopping along the Mennonite  family flower stands and greenhouses chatting and admiring the wonderful flower baskets.  The “Wayside Flower Stand” is very  rural in nature, but has a nice selection of plants and hanging baskets  from annuals to perennials .   Along with fresh-cut bouquets, fresh fruit and vegetables.  You will feel as if you have stepped back to a simple time.  I even ran into people I knew, who were looking for that special flower or plant for that certain” Loved One”.  Ebenshades, which in its self is a treasure trove of gardening stuff & plants, flowers and trees.   With again more road side nurseries, plant stands to stop and see.  You know the best gift to give is one you’d buy for yourself.  So don’t feel bad if you pick-up an extra or two.

 Mother’s Day is here and came with flowers given an recieved and flowers to plant.   “Flowers the  Language of Love”, Wishing you and yours a Happy Mother’s Day!  Until later, El

“The Language of Flowers” – copyrighted by Margaret Pickston

Pollinators….Sweet Pollinators…Come Near..

Butterflies are so beautiful, when they flutter through the air, it’s almost magical.  So lets create a habitat that would invite them into your world - it is so easy!

Things to take into consideration:  A sunny location that is wind gust free for butterflies to sun.  Did you know butterflies are actually cold bloodied.  So when the temperature is 73 degrees and below - the butterfly will stop and warm up their tender wing muscles so they are able to fly.  A flat large rock works well for your butterflies to spread their wings in the sun.  A Water source can be as simple as a large round planter saucer filled with water close to their food supply.  Butterflies prefer nectar bearing plants.  Nectar is sugary rich to help ensure energy when fling.

Here are a few Plants that are well-known for attracting butterflies:

Milkweed, Butterfly bush, Sunflowers, Black-eyed Susan, Yarrow, Joe Pye Weed( there are new varieties that are shorter than the 6 ft ), Bee Balm, Zinnias, Lantana, Lilies, Coneflower, Phlox, Marigolds, Coreopsis, Asters, Verbena.  purples, pinks, red, yellow, orange and white have been proven to attract butterflies.  Milkweed is where the Monarch lays its larvae for the cycle of the butterfly to continue.  Black Swallowtail need parsley, fennel, dill to lay their larvae. 

There are even herbs that can attract and be intermingled with flowers.  A few are Dill, Oregano, Thyme, Mints, Parsnip and Parsley.

These wonderful plants can be grown in containers with success, as the invitation for butterflies to come and come they will.  Along with their other pollinating friends honey bee, bumble bee and the hummingbird moth which is a day fling moth that resembles a hummingbird – except it is smaller and wider.  They really enjoy butterfly bushes in purples.  I had so many last year.

All of the listed plants can be purchased at local nurseries as well as the “Big Box Stores”.  Feeders can be put out for hummingbirds as well as deep-throated flowers petunias, foxglove and trumpet vine just to name a few. There are still more plants that I haven’t even mentioned, below is a couple of links to futher help in your butterfly and pollinator garden.  Have fun and enjoy putting your garden together knowing you are helping promote sustainable pollinators.  Until later, El

Learn more about Pollinators:

http://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/

http://www.BerksExt@psu.edu

Pollinators are Beginning to Return…….

Two Bumble Bees buzzing in a tree.

It’s only been 36 days since the arrival of Spring, and the garden pollinators are  beginning to return a little at a time.  While out in the garden I happen to spy  bumble bees and wasps.  They were on my azaleas and in my Cherry Tree. 

  With the monarchs  butterflies not far behind, my  thoughts race to be sure there are plants for them to rest and feed upon within my garden.  Monarch butterflies use milkweed leaves for their larvae, which become the well-known “hungry caterpillar”who only eat plants in the milkweed family (Asclepius tuberosa aka butterfly weed).  Plants that are great to attract pollinators are both native and nonnative.  Your neighborhood nursery can be your oyster, just be sure to note the location you plan to plant your new prize.  “Right Place – Right Plant” four important words to say to yourself.  With all the colorful chooses, remember to consider planters, planting pots for those extra plantings that can’t find the right place within the garden bed.  It is still to cool at night to plant tender perennials or tender annuals.  In my next writing we will get into creating a pollinator garden.  Today’s warm weather made the wait for another warm day even harder. I guess it’s true “April showers bring May flowers”….  Until later, El

Ps. I think there is pollen on the one back leg…can you see it too? 

Compost..What is it?

 

Compost is the decomposition of organic material such as grass trimming, leaves, fruit, flower and vegetable remnants.   It is nature’s way of recycling, accelerated with human intervention.   Anything that lived once will decompose. 

In order to assure successful results there are four ingredients that need to be combined  :  Greens – grass trimming, fresh leaves, fruit skins, ripe fruit, veggies, green garden debris.   Greens provide the nitrogen rich material which combine with the Browns – dried leaves, woodchips, cardboard ( in small pieces), newspaper ( shredded/small pieces) and crushed egg shells that become the carbon.  Water – helps create a moist warm environment that allows micro organisms to do their job effectively.  It is at this point that the pile will begin to cook.  Air is needed for the organisms to thrive.  Aerating aka turning/stirring your compost will ensure that the needed air is there.  It also helps reduce any odor that may have occurred while helping your organic materials breakdown/decompose faster.  That means your rich compost will be garden ready sooner.  And that is a good thing! 

Composting is a great way to recycle yard waste and kitchen waste.  Dairy products along with meat of any kind are not to be added to the compost pile, neither are cat or dog feces.

 There are many types of composting bins.  Some are made of wood, plastic and wire.  There is also the non-enclosure passive composting.  Where the compost ingredients are place in a part of the garden left to decompose at a slow rate.  Composting is a natural way to improve your soils structure while at the same time your plants will enjoy the benefits from the macro and micro nutrients in Your compost.  If you are unsure, begin small and become secure then go bigger.  Enjoy the experience until later, El 

PS..Penn State Berks Extension @ 610-378-1327 has the plastic round bins.

  www.mybackyardplans.com/compostbins-php.  offer a variety of options..

http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G6957  how to build one..

Mulch…….Why Mulch?

Someone once said, “The greatest labor-saving garden product ever invented is Mulch”.

Here it is, early Spring and bulbs are blooming, leaves are budding and trees are beginning to flower.   Warmer weather has finally found its way to Berks’ County . With the coming of warmer days rain is sure to follow “April showers bring May flowers.  While the weather is warm, this could be a great opportunity to clean up within the garden and consider mulching. 

Some positive things to consider about using mulch.  Soil can retain a higher level of moisture, which in turn helps your plants remain hydrated during hot summer days.  Weed control is another plus.  I know from my own experiences if your garden has a bald/bare spot it is like a neon sign for weeds to come fill that space and come they will.  Weeding chores are greatly reduced when 2 to 3 inches of mulch product is used.  Mulch can also help prevent soil erosion during rain while retaining water and creating “moisture moderation”.  Before mulching, be sure to remove existing weeds and loosen your soil that will allow the water to better be absorbed by the soil.  Another plus, it looks nice - aka aesthetic reasons.  Some mulch products can break down over time to help aggregate, giving your soil better structure.  While promoting organic matter that helps create a healthier soil that will promote good root growth and that makes a healthy plant.

When applying your mulch don’t push mulch on top of plants crowns or push it up against a stem/trunk of your planting.  This is called volcano mulching,  critters have been known to burrow.  Also, avoid spreading mulch up against your home for the same reason.  Fungal disease can occur and cause the tree to become stressed and die.  

Tools needed are a wheelbarrow, bucket, and a shovel to move the mulch.  If you use bagged mulch, you’ll need a cutting hand tool to slice the bag open while the bag is laying flat beside where you are going to place it, then just flip it over.  Tools to spread would include a garden fork – aka pitch fork, flat rake, and/or the flat back of a hoe.  I know fellow gardeners, who use a long-handled hockey sticks to spread mulch in deep beds.  Tools used when applying mulch depends on the mulch product that you are using, along with the way you purchase your mulch product.  Simply, what ever makes it work for you.  Your tool of choice may be different, there really isn’t any set rules as to what tools you ”have” to use.  Let “Common Sense” guide you…

At this point I will add that some horticulturists will agree that any mulch product will work fine, just as long as no more than two – three inches are used.  Just keep in mind what you want to achieve with the type of mulch that is being used. 

I read somewhere ”one of the most important things that sustainable gardeners can do is to help create a low-maintenance garden environment”, mulching will enable you to do just that. 

Enjoy this unusual warm weather in the garden.  Until later, El

Ah Spring Break!

Oriential Garden

Ah, Spring Break is here and coming to an end….the opportunity to go to Jensen Beach, Florida for five warm sunny days was just to good to ignore.  So, here I am at the beach listening to the sound of the waves washing upon the shore, between attending great baseball games.  I can understand the draw for baseball franchises to want to have Spring Training camps here.

The flowers here are more in the tropical venue, although many varieties of plants from all over America can be found here.  While here I have visited the Heathcote Botanical Gardens.  The Heathcote Botanical Gardens, is in a quiet part of town with a variety of gardens to please the eye as well as relax the mind as you stroll the grounds.  The air is filled with soft sounds of running water as you enter the Oriental styled garden, with its walk over bridge you can gaze down into the pond where koi fish are peacefully swimming.

There is a lot to see, as the native birds fly above and local wild life scurry in the planted ferns.   The “Bonsai Exhibit” was being featured..today rain is forcasted for this afternoon and rain it did.  More to follow…..until later, El

A Day In Spring…..

Here it is a day in Spring, Mother nature has taken a turn to surprise us with cold brisk days. When gardening is not possible outdoors, indoor garden herbs can be started. Herbs are easy to grow with many varieties to choose from. Herbs can be used in cooking as well as drying for their room filling scent. Deciding on what herbs to grow may be the hardest part.
Clip herbs with clean clipping scissors, bunch 4-6 stems and tie with a piece of twine on ends(rubber bands can be used) while allowing enough twine to tie to air dry. After bunching hang up in a warm ventilated place, not in direct sunlight. Herbs can be stored in containers or used as decoration.

Now could also be a good time to put on gloves and transplant houseplants that may need a larger container.  Fertilize as well.. Just as when outside in the garden, remember to clean your hand tools after use.

 Spring is here even if the temperatures haven’t followed, Mother Nature is on her own schedule.  Daffodil are beginning to bloom just as Easter approaches.   Sometimes all we can do is go with the flow and enjoy what is happening in the here and now.  The sun is playing peek-a-boo as the wind moves through the bare branches that gently sway in the cold spring breeze.  Yes, Spring is here!  Until later, El