Men’s Garden Club of Wethersfield
May 2013
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NEXT MEETING – PLEASE NOTE
SPECIAL DATE, TIME AND LOCATION
Monday May 13, 6:00 pm – Tony Sanders house @ 281 Garden Street,
Wethersfield
Reminisce about the plant sale. Pick
from the leftovers for your own use or as a really cheap belated Mother’s Day
present. Hot dogs, beer & soda will
be available.
Donate
some perennials from your personal collection to the Plant Sale
Plants should be split and potted ASAP to look good for the
sale. Please label all plants. Contact
Fred Odell (860.529.6064) for official pots, potting soil, and plant labels.
Plant
Sale Saturday May 11th (Rain Date May 18th)
7:00 - 8:00 Set Up Deliver homegrowns, unload plants, price
plants, set up tables
8:00 - 1:00 Sell Help customers, total up sales, answer
questions
1:00 - 2:00 Close Clean up, break down tables, pack up
leftover plants
Volunteer! Contribute your own
“homegrowns”
President Tony Sanders will make the
“go or no go” rain decision and get the word out.
Weston
Rose Garden
No chairman and as a result no plan.
John Oldham and Charlie Officer are weeding on Saturdays – BUT WE NEED
MORE WORKERS. This is the club’s ONLY COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT and we need to
get our s*** together.
The annual Men's Garden Club Picnic will be held on Tuesday, June 18th, on the grounds (and porch) of The Solomon Welles House, from 5:30 until
8:00 pm.
Compostable Matter
By Jim Meehan
(There is a pair of Broad-Winged Hawks
nesting about 75 feet up and 100 feet away from our house in an oak tree on our
property.)
Mars and I hear the hawks more
often than we see them. That’s not
unusual in our yard, especially this time of the year. Even though light travels faster, the sounds
of spring touch our ears long before the birds that are responsible for them
flash before our eyes. Over the years
we’ve grown accustomed to the ground-bound early morning “coo” of the
sun-seeking Mourning Doves; the daylong stereophonic “caws” of the attention-seeking
crows as they migrate through the area; the sex-seeking hook-up pleas of the
male Cardinal – high up and hyper – seeking the lowdown from some down-low
female of the species; the “cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily,
cheer up” from flocks of
Robins suddenly realizing that they forgot to go south for the winter; and the
perpetual, overlapping chirping of finches and sparrows. And to confuse matters more, a choir of
mockingbirds arrives on the scene annually.
How do
these tiny animals put forth such bounteous ballads. We heard the answer to this enigma on WNPR’s
“Bird Note” early the other morning. (We
tune in public radio to drown out the outdoor sunrise chatter.) They were talking specifically about the
Carolina Wren – but it applies to all the avian songsters.
”The answer lies in the songbird’s vocal
anatomy. Unlike the human voice, which comes from the larynx way up at the top
of the windpipe, a bird’s song comes from deep within its body. Birds produce
song in a structure called the syrinx, located at the bottom of the windpipe
where the bronchial tubes diverge to the lungs. The syrinx is surrounded by an
air sac, and the combination works like a resonating chamber to maintain or
amplify sound.
“Evolution
has given birds a far more elaborate sound mechanism than it’s given humans.
Where we wound up with a flute, songbirds got bagpipes.”
The first time we heard the hawks however we
both thought it was one of the squirrels.
The thin, high whistled "kee-eee." sounded more like the
frightened squeal of a quivering tree-rat caught in the soaring raptor’s
shadow, than the warning cry of their taloned predator. I myself expected a deep, bass sound –
similar to the rumbling roar of an amped up eighty-pound black Labrador
Retriever – and certainly not something
more reminiscent of the incessant yips of a petulant Chihuahua.
The next
time ever I heard their voice was when I saw the pair exchanging egg-warming
duties at their nest. Maybe it was a
different call. Perhaps it was the
physical presence and threatening look on its face– but whatever the reason,
this time the hawk-talk sounded much more Lab-like.
Soon enough
the early morning complaints of starved hatchlings awakening from their
involuntary overnight fast – along with the angry responses of the sleep
deprived parents – will shatter our pre-dawn dosing.
We’ll
immediately turn on our radio and hope “Bird Note” is there to explain what it
is that is happening in our front yard hawk nest. I’ve already seen the fear-inducing visage
that goes with an irately uttered “kee-eee”.
So I am perfectly willing to let someone else peer into the raptor
roost, and describe the action to me.
Hear the call of Broad-Winged Hawks at
Gardens: time for a hosta takeover – You can grow hostas that fend off
slugs and snails if you pick the right varieties and get your tactics right
Ambra Edwards - www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/
As gardeners know, nothing is more
tasty to a gastropod than a hosta, so is it worth growing them?
Of course, says Chris Bonanni of
Purbeck Plants. While there's no such thing as a slug-proof hosta, some
varieties are resilient, particularly those with blue or thick, puckered
leaves. And Bonanni advises to treat them mean. "Don't overfeed, and keep
them on the dry side, so the growth is less lush and the leaves stouter and
thicker." Also, get your retaliation in first. Bonanni starts off with a
St Valentine's Day massacre with liquid slug killer, to limit populations of
the small, soil-dwelling slugs that do most damage.
Top 10 slug-resistant
hostas
'Sum And Substance' Champion of hostas, nearly 1m high, with
colossal, ridged and wrinkled, golden leaves. Likes morning sun. Lilac flowers.
H. sieboldiana var elegans This old favourite, with stiff,
puckered leaves, takes some beating. Lilac-tinged white flowers. 60cm.
'One Man's Treasure' For Ian Scroggy of Bali-Hai Nursery,
this is the top choice: "In all the years I've been growing it, no slug
has touched it." The glossy, dark green leaves are slightly rippled, but
what sets it apart are the exotic purple-spotted stems and purple flower stems
and seedpods. 35cm.
'Devon Green' Dark, polished leaves, a cheaper and widely
available alternative. "It's a very good plant for a beginner,"
Scroggy says. "You can just plant it and forget about it." 45cm.
'Praying Hands' White-edged dark leaves, folded into
parallel undulations. The upright posture makes the leaves harder to get at,
while their waxy texture seems unpalatable to slugs. Pale lavender flowers.
45cm.
'Sleeping Beauty' This hosta has the same steely elegance as
its parent, 'Halcyon', but the blue-grey pointed leaves are set off by a creamy
margin. Lavender flowers. 40cm.
'Stepping Out' A slow grower, but worth the wait, for few
variegated hostas offer such reliable slug-resistance. Plumply quilted leaves
are blue-green at the centre with gold margins. White flowers. 40cm. 'Toy
Soldier' Clumps of blue, heart-shaped leaves with a two-tone margin that is
more limey in deep shade and creamier in brighter conditions. Lavender flowers.
40cm.
'Dorset Blue' Elegant small clumps of neat, heart-shaped,
powdery blue leaves that cup slightly, with large white flowers. 25cm.
'Blue Mouse Ears' Diminutive (15cm), dense clumps of thick,
rounded, blue leaves, with large, almost double flowers in pale, clear lilac
held on short, strong stems. Tough as old boots.
How to grow
Hostas will grow almost anywhere,
as long they're not blasted by hot noon-day sun, but do best in dappled shade
in a moist but well-drained, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil. Leaves with lots
of white are apt to scorch, so need deeper shade, and blue hostas grow bluer in
shadier quarters.
Mulch with well-rotted manure or
compost in early spring, adding slow-release fertiliser or a handful of fish,
blood and bone. For hostas in pots, several growers warn against Miracle-Gro;
half-strength tomato feed, seaweed feeds or chicken pellets are recommended.
Best defences against slugs and snails
Slug pellets "Once they're up,
you can always snip off the odd damaged leaf," Bonanni says, "but the
key is to get them unfurled successfully – and for that you need slug pellets.
If used correctly – that is, very sparingly, every three or four days – they
won't harm wildlife."
The trick is to sprinkle half a
dozen pellets round each plant, or to tuck them in small containers, such as
open herb jars, under the leaves. Metaldehyde formulations still work better
than iron-based formulas, and are less harmful than often supposed: a hedgehog
would have to eat 2,000 poisoned slugs in a single night to be killed.
Nematodes There are two drawbacks
to biological controls: soil must be at least 5C for them to work, and they
don't affect snails. But they are wonderfully effective against slugs.
Copper Crawling over copper gives
molluscs an electric shock, so stand pots on copper-impregnated mats, and stick
a band of copper tape around the rims. Make sure leaves don't touch walls – a
snail could climb up – and block the pot's drainage holes with fine wire to
stop them sneaking in. Copper rings (try slugrings.co.uk) protect plants in
borders, but only until a leaf touches the soil, forming a bridge for waiting
marauders. They are, however, much more effective barriers than granules,
clinker and eggshells.
Organic garlic wash Scroggy swears
by a fortnightly homemade garlic drench, which deters slugs. Visit Bali-Haifor
the recipe.
Night patrols Go out with torch and
bucket, pick off the blighters one by one, then drown them in salt water. And
don't consider throwing snails over the fence – they'd soon be back.
Keep chickens Small,
feathery-footed bantams do little damage to the garden, and eat countless
slugs. Ducks are even better.
The Seven Stages of (Hosta) Grief
http://www.landmarques.com
My friend, George, knows hosta. Not
as a connoisseur of the species but as one who has gardened long enough to
understand this plant’s true character. That’s why he, like so many other
gardeners, has a healthy love-hate relationship with it. That dysfunctional
relationship seems to evolve for most everyone through the same distinct
stages.
Stage One: Shock. How could anyone
throw away such a beautiful, carefree plant as a hosta? You marvel at the
variegated beauty strewn akimbo atop a friend’s compost pile. You politely ask
to rescue it, trying not to let your pleading sound too desperate. Much to your
disbelief, your friend is willing – no! delighted! – to give you the clump. He
attempts to explain the hosta’s ploy to take over the world.
Stage Two: Denial. You courteously
listen to your friend, bemused by the mild look of panic in his eyes, and take
the little plant home. You plant it carefully in a shaded, well-amended hole
and backfill with extra compost and the best organic fertilizer. You water
well. Then you visit the local nursery to purchase many other lovely hosta that
beckon to you from the confines of their plastic pots.
Stage Three: Anger. The newly
planted hosta have grown… a lot. No soil is visible in their immediate
vicinity. The stone path is consumed. At least two feet of once green lawn has
been lost under their leaves along the garden edge. Your shade garden is now a
Darwinian science experiment. You cut back the hosta; it regrows. You shred it
with the lawn mower; it regrows. You gather and unleash slugs; it regrows. You
stop watering it; it still grows.
Stage Four: Bargaining. You dig out
many of the hosta and divide the others, offering the surplus to friends and
loved ones in exchange for other shade plants. Some naïve gardeners accept your
offer. You peel out of their driveway faster than they can Google “hosta.”
Stage Five: Guilt. Your friends no
longer talk to you. Your loved ones hate you. You realize now you should have
mentioned – if only in passing – what the true nature of hosta actually is. But
instead you stuck to attractive marketing terms: “easy care,” “low
maintenance,” “shade lover.”
Stage Six: Depression. You have
depleted your resources; there is no one left to give hosta to – even without a
plant exchange. But, it saddens you to throw away perfectly healthy, happy,
disease-free plants. An idea tempers your depression: You will plant all the
extra hosta on the outskirts of your property as a salad bar for deer! They
will certainly appreciate the hosta, a.k.a. “deer candy.”
Stage Seven: Acceptance and Hope.
The deer also grew tired of hosta and instead have mowed down your gardens,
starting with your most expensive perennials (now sad little nubs). Meanwhile,
the hosta have grown to need dividing again. You rip out as many plants as the
afternoon sun allows, divide others, and heap the remainder onto the compost
pile. Night falls. You know there was no other solution. Yet, you also know
they will survive and grow back…soon…much too soon. But you have your house on
the market and hope to be long gone by the time the new owner enters Stage One.
Historical and Horticultural Info
Hosta are native to Japan, Korea,
and China but were growing in the United States by the mid 1800s, just in time
to provide Victorian gardens with their lush foliage. Today, our gardens enjoy
hundreds of different species and thousands of cultivars, thanks to hybridizing
and tissue culture propagation.
Hosta are generally grown for their
interesting foliage and low-maintenance requirements. Flower stalks can be cut
down at any time without damage to the plant. They are easily propagated by
dividing crowns. The best time is in spring, just as the curled hosta leaves
begin to poke through the soil. At this time, digging and dividing hosta is
easier because the foliage isn’t blocking your view of the crown. However,
hosta really can be successfully divided in any season but will require water
and a bit of attention if divided during hot weather. Unless soil is extremely
poor, hosta generally can be planted without additional soil amendments. They
do best in shade but can tolerate some sun. Specifically, the greener the
leaves the more shade they can generally tolerate; variegated varieties usually
need some sun. Once established, they are hardy and relatively
drought-tolerant. Slugs chew holes in the leaves, deer mow them to the ground,
voles eat even the roots.
Using Beer in the Garden
Suite101.com
Whether there is old, flat beer
taking up space in the fridge or perhaps a dozen half-empties after a party,
beer is a form of gold to organic gardeners. From taking care of plants to
exterminating pests, beer is a useful gardening tool.
Natural Slugs and Snails Pest Control in the Garden
Slugs and snails are attracted to
beer, and will drown themselves in it if given the chance.
Dig a few shallow holes around the
perimeter of the garden. Place shallow bowls in these freshly dug holes and
fill with beer. Slugs and snails will stop for a drink on their way to demolish
the garden, climb into the bowl of beer and never climb back out. It is best to
check these slug and snail traps every day to see if they need to be dumped and
replenished with more beer.
Mouse Pest Control
Gardeners who live in the country
or have compost piles will have field mice around. Mice present the biggest
problem when they are able to nibble their way through the walls of houses and
enter people's homes. Beer is a useful tool in controlling mice populations. A
mouse beer trap can be set up outside or inside.
Beer kills mice in much the same
way that it does away with slugs and snails. In order to drown mice in beer,
pour beer into a bucket at least one third of the way full. Leave this bucket
on the ground wherever there are signs of mice infestation. Lean a board such
as a 2 x 4 against the bucket. The mice will smell the beer, climb the board
and jump in. They can't climb back out and will drown.
Natural Fertilizer
Beer is full of sugars and
nutrients that grass and plants can absorb and use. Pouring beer on bare
patches of lawn will cause the grass to grow.
For the garden, pour beer into a
spray bottle and spray lightly on the soil. When sprayed lightly on the leaves,
beer seems to have some anti-fungal properties. Use organic beer, such as
Wolaver's brand organic beer, as organic fertilizer for an organic vegetable
garden.
Composting with Beer
Students at Edgewood College in
Madison, Wisconsin put together a study to determine whether beer was useful in
compost piles. At the completion of their carefully controlled study, they
concluded that beer is useful as a compost accelerant in the warmer months.
Therefore, pouring beer into the
compost pile helps the compost break down more quickly than compost piles
without beer. Even for teetotalers, beer is useful in the garden.
And The Best Beer for Slugs Is?
Give Your Slug A Drink – How To Get Rid Of Slugs
http://www.squidoo.com/
Give the slimy creatures a Beer to
help get rid of slugs in your garden. Yes, it really does work. There was a
study done at Colorado State University , yep a study, on the best brand of
beer that slugs like the most. Kingsbury Malt and Budweiser came out on top,
but you can use any beer.
My slugs like Bud Light, it's what
we drink in our home and we like to share. Don't use stale beer, the slugs like
it just as much as we do! Wait until dusk and fill an old margarine tub top
with beer and place on top of the soil as close to the damaged plants as
possible. The next morning they should be filled with dead drunken slugs.
If you are not a beer drinker and
don't want to spend money on beer for your slimy friends. Spritz your slugs
with some coffee. Research has found caffeine to be very effective at deterring
slugs. Save your old coffee from the morning and spray them full strength
directly on the beasts in the evening. You can even place your coffee grounds
around your plants to deter the slugs.
Bring on the Butterflies
http://www.care2.com
Beer. It refreshes and relaxes, it
fuels sociability and cools the burn of spicy food. It is the most-widely
consumed alcoholic beverage in the world, and the third most common beverage
overall. It is the oldest alcoholic beverage produced–and in fact, the oldest
known code of laws (the Code of Hammurabi ca 1750 B.C.) called for the death
penalty for drinking-house proprietors found guilty of watering down their
beer. (Those Babylonians took their suds seriously.)
But aside from the numero uno use for
beer–drinking! woohoo!–it is one of the most over-looked components of many a
DIY solution to common household conundrums.
Although in my perfect world
butterflies live on nothing less magical than flower nectar, ambrosia, and an
occasional marshmallow, the truth is that many butterflies feed on rotting
fruit, tree sap, dung, carrion, urine, and other not-so-pretty, non-nectar
sources of nutrients. You can allow fruit from your fruit trees to decay on the
ground, leave your pet’s droppings where they drop, or place a bit of raw meat
or fish in a discreet part of your garden. Sweet! Or you can use beer to make
this awesome butterfly bait to get some flutter-action in your garden
INGREDIENTS
1 pound sugar
1 or 2 cans stale beer
3 mashed overripe banana
1 cup of molasses or syrup
1 cup of fruit juice
1 shot of rum
Mix all ingredients well and splash
on trees, fence posts, rocks, or stumps–or soak a sponge in the mixture and
hang from a tree-limb.
Horti-culture Corner
a hosta poem Q and A
http://www.hort.net
Doctor, Doctor, it's
all up to you!
I've fallen for
Hostas & don't know what to do.
They seem to entice
me and capture my thoughts,
With their stunning
beauty I have been caught!
Is there no antidote
for this sickness I've acquired?
It seems now Hostas
are the only thing I've desired.
I fear for when
winter comes?I shall go insane,
As there will be no
Hostas for me to obtain.
Please help me dear
doctor, I need some sort of "fix".
My collection has
risen to 900 and six.
The neighbors all
think I have flipped my lid
And hubby thinks I
should put them all up for bid.
If you don't help me
I don't know what I'll do.
I'll probably just
sit in my garden and stew.
Great you will help
me?!! Then what shall I do?
What's that you
say?.GIVE them all to you?
Dear dear child I
know just what to do.
I understand how you
can feel so blue
Just remember we're
not dealing with the flu.
I start by giving you
just a clue.
Then you'll know just
what to do.
At the end of summer,
about the time the leaves begin to fade.
The flowers may have
left some magic that's worth more than good jade.
Gather all the gold
that the flowers have made.
Get soil-less medium
or sterilized dirt
or you'll end up with
a price to be paid
Place this medium in
sterilized containers on this I must be obeyed
Now, in that gold is
shiny black pearls that must be
sorted, checked and
Okayed.
Take the pearls and
make sure that in the medium they are carefully laid.
Now you need to wait
just several weeks
and about the time
your nerves are frayed
You have hostalets,
which need tending
until spring planting
with your spade.
By the way here's my
bill.
This visit does cost
a Dorothy Benedict still.
(Dorothy Benedict is a
small, spreading hosta with heart shaped, deep green leaves and blue and yellow
streaking between the veins.)
