October 2014

Planters Punchlines

Men’s Garden Club of Wethersfield

October 2014

Next Meeting - Monday October 27th  @ 7:00 p.m.

Our speaker is Tedd Somes, volunteer coordinator for the Chrysalis Center – a non-profit with units at both the Rocky Hill and Newington VA facilities.  He will speak about the organization’s plans to create a ˜food forest” that will include berry bushes, nut and fruit trees and other raised bed gardens at their new facility at 815 Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford – and how we and other gardeners can be of help.

Mark Your Calendar:

Saturday November 22: Put the Weston Rose Garden to Bed. 

Monday December 1st: Holiday Party @ the Solomon Welles House.

What is Edible Forest Gardening?

Excerpted from http://www.edibleforestgardens.com

Edible forest gardening is the art and science of putting plants together in woodland-like patterns that forge mutually beneficial relationships, creating a garden ecosystem that is more than the sum of its parts. You can grow fruits, nuts, vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, other useful plants, and animals in a way that mimics natural ecosystems. You can create a beautiful, diverse, high-yield garden. If designed with care and deep understanding of ecosystem function, you can also design a garden that is largely self-maintaining.

Anyone with a patch of land can grow a forest garden. They've been created in small urban yards and large parks, on suburban lots, and in small plots of rural farms. The smallest we have seen was a 30 by 50 foot (9 by 15 m) embankment behind an urban housing project, and smaller versions are definitely possible. The largest we have seen spanned 2 acres in a rural research garden. Forest gardeners are doing their thing at 7,000 feet (2,100 m) of elevation in the Rocky Mountains, on the coastal plain of the mid-Atlantic, and in chilly New Hampshire and Vermont. Forest gardening has a long history in the tropics, where there is evidence of the practice extending over 1,500 years. While you can grow a forest garden in almost any climate, it is easiest if you do it in a region where the native vegetation is forest, especially deciduous forest.

Compostable Matter

By Jim Meehan (originally written November 2010)

I once worked for a guy who liked to speak in metaphors -- especially when he was giving bad news.

One time he was being hectored about the lack of progress we were making on a low-priority piece of work that happened to be the kvetch's pet project.

"Exactly when can I expect to see this task completed?"

"The leaves will come. And the leaves will go. And the leaves will come again." my manager responded. There was a clearly implied "and so on".

For years I thought that answer was the perfect definition of "never". I also believed the passage of time was linear. That, as Saint Augustine said, "human experience is a one-way journey from Genesis to Judgment, regardless of any recurring patterns or cycles in nature."

However not everyone believes that time marches in even increments along a straight line.

Native Americans, Australian aborigines and others conceive of time as circular -- a repetitive process that nonetheless creates infinite possibilities and unique situations and results. Stories and sentences frequently circle back on themselves, with repetition used to arrive back at the same point in time from which the speaker started. Some languages use the same word to mean both "soon" and "recent".

Leslie Marmon Silko, a Native American author, says:

“The Pueblo people and the indigenous people of the Americas see time as round, not as a long linear string. If time is round, if time is an ocean, then something that happened 500 years ago may be quite immediate and real, whereas something inconsequential that happened an hour ago could be far away.”

I had heard about this non-sequential view of time. It even seemed kind of cool in a New Agey kind of way. But I never could really understand what it could possibly mean. Then Mars and I became the owners of a house on a piece of property bordered by several deciduous trees.

We moved into our new abode in the spring, after the leaves had come. Seven months later they went from the branches to the front lawn. Then they went (with lots of effort) from the front lawn to the curb. And then they went into the bowels of our town's long-funneled, truck-mounted, leaf collection machinery (aka Mr. Snuffleupagus).

About one week and two swirling windstorms later, they came again.

And again they went -- this time into the mulching blade of my gasoline-powered lawn mower.

And again they came -- and again -- et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

Ultimately the supply of leafage dwindled down to a precious few – luckily at about the same time that my interest in de-leafing also ran out. The seemingly never-ending ritual was actually over. Then the next autumn came. And the one after that,....

But one fall season, a few years ago, I actually thought for a moment that the cycle had been broken.

My perception of the situation was probably warped because I got an earlier than usual start on the rake-to-the-curb routine. The weather was warm, time was available, the leaves were down, and my energy was up. As a result I delivered my first shipment of foliage to the roadside a week or so before the earliest possible scheduled pickup date. Because of this, when the leaves came again (as they did two days later), I felt as if I was merely doing minimal mop-ups - even though I actually partook in four, full-blown, full-lawn cleanups before the cycle ceased and the Snuffleupagus did its thing.

The lawn was then clear for several days. But within a week there was sufficient leaf cover to warrant a walkabout with the mulching mower. Almost fourteen days later, it was again time to fire up either the calorie-burning rake or the carbon-emitting compost-creator for one more spin around my property.  Proving, once more that, “the leaves will come. And the leaves will go. And the leaves will come again.”

Up to the nineteenth century both Science and Philosophy agreed with me that time is linear.

“However, in the twentieth century, Gödel and others discovered solutions to the equations of Einstein's general theory of relativity that allowed closed loops of proper time...[which would] allow you to go forward continuously in time until you arrive back into your past. You will become your younger self in the future.” (Time Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

In other words, the passage of time could be circular.

But scientists say they’re not sure of that either.  “As far as we can tell today, our universe does not exemplify any of these solutions to Einstein's equations.” (Ibid)

Except of course for those of us with deciduous trees.

Top Fall Blooming Flowers for the Perennial Garden

Keeping Your Perennial Garden Glorious into Fall 

with Fall Plants

By Marie Iannotti (gardening.about.com)

The trick to designing your garden with perennial flowers is making sure you have something wonderful in bloom all the time. Each season has its stars and fall flowering perennials have some of the best. Fall flowers have all season to grow, so many of them are tall and stately. Fall bloomers also tend to blossom in the jewel tones of the season, deep purples, rusts, scarlet and gold. For fall bloomers to be hardy in your garden, you need to plant and establish them earlier in the season. Here are some top picks for fall blooming perennial stars.

       

1. Aster novi-belgii (Michaelmas Daisy): In shades of pink, purple, blue and white, these delicate daisy-like blossoms start popping open in late August and continue on until frost. Pinching in the early summer turns these Asters into mounds with dozens of flower buds.

       

Asters will tend to creep throughout your garden, but their airiness allows them to blend particularly well with other flowers. USDA Hardiness Zones 4 - 9

       

2. Caryopteris (Blue Mist Shrub): Caryopteris is a sub-shrub that is often grown in the perennial garden. Caryopteris slowly blossoms in August with dazzling blue flower clusters. Just try and keep the butterflies and bees away. Caryopteris is cut back in early spring, like a Buddleia, and the gray-green foliage is attractive all season. USDA Hardiness Zones 5 - 9

       

3. Chelone (Turtlehead): Nick-named for their blossoms shaped like turtles heads, Chelone is a carefree fall blooming perennial whose only real dislike is excessive dry heat. Chelone behaves itself, growing in a dense clump with attractive foliage and red, pink or white blooms. USDA Hardiness Zones 2 - 9

       

4. Chrysanthemum: There are many varieties of mums, not all particularly hardy. The plants sold in the fall as 'Hardy Mums' should have been sold to us in the spring, to be reliably hardy in the north. However we wouldn't have had the patience to plant them and wait. Mums and pumpkins are the flag bearers of fall. Try and get your potted mums in the ground ASAP. Keep them well watered and mulch once the ground freezes and you'll stand your best chance of having truly hardy mums. USDA Hardiness Zones 3 - 9

      

 5. Eupatorium (Joe Pye Weed): Joe Pye is one of those native plants we take for granted because we see it by the side of the road, but it makes a wonderful backdrop to a garden border. The newer Eupatoriums have been bred shorter and less weedy but the dense mop heads of mauve flowers still blend in beautifully in the fall garden. USDA Hardiness Zones 2 - 9

       

6. Helenium (Sneezeweed): Helenium is making a resurgence in gardens. They look like small russet-toned coneflowers, in reds, yellows and oranges. Many helenium can grow quite tall and will need to be staked or pinched. Like clematis, they like cool feet and hot heads. Helenium is also a good choice for poorly drained areas. USDA Hardiness Zones 3 - 9

      

 7. Helianthus (Perennial Sunflower): Helianthus is a good natured, jolly plant, branching and flopping on its neighbors. The brilliant gold fluffy daisy-like flowers make an instant focal point and attract butterflies and birds. Helianthus tend to be sterile and can be reproduced by division. USDA Hardiness Zones 3 - 9

       

8. Heliopsis (False Sunflower): Heliopsis is very similar to Helianthus. Heliopsis tends to begin blooming earlier in the season and stays on for 8 or more weeks. Newer varieties have been bred smaller and sturdier, for less flopping. USDA Hardiness Zones 3 - 9

      

 9. Sedum (Stonecrop): Sedum 'Autumn Joy' comes as close to perfection as any plant can. It looks good all year, requires minimal attention and attracts few problems. Its only drawback is that it is not deer resistant. 'Autumn Joy' has been joined in the garden by a growing number of fall wonders like: 'Bertram Anderson, 'Brilliant' and 'Matrona'. No fall garden is complete without sedum. USDA Hardiness Zones 3 - 9

       

10. Solidago (Goldenrod): Goldenrod is finally getting the respect it deserves, especially with introductions like 'Fireworks' and 'Golden Fleece'. Unlike the native solidagos that spread everywhere and never stood up on their own, these newer varieties are sturdy and chock full of fall blooms. USDA Hardiness Zones 3 - 9

Sometimes Invasive Species Are Good

By Brandon Keim (wired.com)

   

Invasive species are the stock villains of conservation biology, disrupting ecosystems and throwing native populations into disarray. But in certain cases, they’re actually quite beneficial, and perhaps it’s time to recognize that.

       

In California, for example, native butterflies feed on non-native plants. In Puerto Rico, alien trees help restore abandoned pastures to a condition suitable for native plants. Even the much-maligned zebra mussel helps filter toxins from lakes.

       

“We predict the proportion of non-native species that are viewed as benign or even desirable will slowly increase over time,” write ecologist Martin Schlaepfer of the State University of New York and colleagues in a paper published Feb. 22 in Conservation Biology.

       

According to Schlaepfer’s group, biologists are often biased against invasives, and decline to notice or report instances of beneficial invasions.

       

They support their unorthodox perspective by reviewing dozens of papers on plants and animals introduced, accidentally or otherwise, outside their historical ranges. A variety of underappreciated invasive roles are described: providing ecosystem services, replenishing human-damaged regions, and generally helping to sustain some semblance of natural health even as many ecosystems struggle to survive.

       

Schlaepfer and colleagues admit to a certain bias of their own. “Negative roles listed here are not exhaustive and include only those that directly oppose the listed positive roles,” they write. “Many of the non-native species listed have other negative effects on conservation objectives.”

       

Their goal, however, isn’t to do a conclusive analysis of the pros and cons of invasives, but to encourage a more open-minded consideration of benefits — and not just cost — for species often described in militarized, even xenophobic terms.

       

After all, many now-beloved native creatures were once invasives. Among them are dozens of honeybee species introduced to North America since the 16th century. Far from declaring war on bees, people now worry that these invading aliens might vanish.

“Types of Gardeners”

Posted by teejay2039 7a (teejay2039@yahoo.com)

It was too hot to garden and I was bored so I made a list of the types of gardeners I have found of the Florida Garden forum. I mean this to be a funny and not serious. I think the people who post here are the nicest and most helpful on Gardenweb. See if you can add any more to my list.

     

"Types of Gardeners on Florida Garden Forum"

     

1. The Clueless Gardener, A.K.A."The Beginner": This poster is new to everything having to do with gardening. He may have recently visited a neighbor’s fabulous garden or saw a gardening segment on the morning news. For whatever reason he suddenly has the urge to GROW! He lacks even basic knowledge of plant biology principles such as the fact plants need light and regular water to grow. His posts are usually titled "Help me I am a beginner" or some variation thereof. He would like to know everything there is to know about gardening in 5 sentences or less. The Clueless Gardener eventually either evolves into a different gardening type or quickly abandons the idea of gardening after finding out it involves work, dirt, and sweat. A subspecies of this type is the Northern Transplant.

      

 2. The Landscaper: Wants his yard to be perfectly balanced in form, color, and theme. Is willing to use whatever pesticides and fertilizers necessary maintain his perfect yard. Has a broad array of gas powered lawn equipment to tend his lovely St. Augustine lawn.

       

3. The Zone Challenger: The Zone Challenger refuses to accept the fact he lives in Florida. He has no interest in growing plants that thrive naturally in Florida. He mail-orders hostas, lilacs, peonies, cashew trees, and coconut palms from far away places. He may, in addition, design the garden to look like and English cottage garden, a Japanese rock garden, or a garden at a Tuscan Villa.

       

4. The Martha Stewart: Her yard looks like it is straight out of Desperate Housewives. Her garden has the same look of perfection as the landscaper, but has just enough extra creativity to make it unique and uncopyable. Plants are always in bloom and never show disease or insect damage. She replaces plants at night under cover of darkness similar to the way it is done at Disney World.

      

 5. The Yard Farmer: While not a professional farmer per se, he grows enough crops to feed a family of four for a year. His bounty includes a nutritional and culinary balance of many herbs, fruits, and vegetables year round. He may or may not have livestock.

      

 6. The Collector: This poster makes it a point to grow one of everything. Due to space limitations he rarely grows more than one of each plant. His garden lacks a coherent design or theme, but could serve very well as a college level plant biology classroom. The Seed Exchange is his favorite Gardenweb forum. He is always searching for something new to add to his grow list.

      

 7. The Specialist: He only focuses on growing one type of plant. He may plant a couple of shrubs to keep the neighbors happy but his real passion is his favorite plant. He knows the entire history of the development of said plant back to the Stone Age. He knows every named cultivar and all the current developments in breeding. He can identify every conceivable pest or disease the plant might face. Frequently the object of his affection is roses, tomatoes, peppers, or orchids.

       

8. The Ecologist: Knows every theory of organic gardening. Has three kinds of compost piles because he believes the beneficial merits of each method of composting are unique. Has several rain barrels linked together in a solar powered pump system with micro emitters. Raises ladybugs and lacewing insects. Thinks the term organic pesticides is an oxymoron. Fertilizes with excrement and urine from various sources. Knows the names of every single bird, turtle, and snake in his yard.

      

 9. The Forum Police- They are the keepers of the forum rules. They remind posters when they should be posting in an alternate forum and advise when photos have exceeded size guidelines. They post links to earlier discussions on topics.

       

10. The Pretty Picture Poster-They post a picture of their garden at least once a day. Frequently these photos also include cats, dogs, and kids. My favorite poster type:)

       

11. Mr. "I want it all!"- Observes the other types of posters and sees the merits of each. Attempts to emulate all of them. His mixed results. Drives himself crazy trying to reconcile the principles of The Ecologist and The Landscaper. This is me.

Keep the vegetables coming this fall

News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Plant more vegetables! Now is the perfect time to plant cool season crops for fall harvest. Like a rain dance to the gardening gods, it's like planting hope.

       

Continuous planting of vegetable seed needs careful planning. You have to think ahead. Several beds should have freed up some space after the harvest of the spring crops like broccoli, garlic and onions, as well as the first summer plantings of squash, beans and corn.

       

Clean those beds out and get them ready for the fall crops. September is a great time to plant a short season salad mix like lettuce, spinach and mustard greens.

      

 These crops don't like it too hot. Although it seems hot now, in a few weeks things will be much different. Cool nights and warm days will quickly push out a leafy mix of tasty greens.

       

Plant leaf lettuce so harvests can be picked several times. Head lettuce varieties may not grow fast enough to fully develop. Some of my favorite varieties are Red Sails, Deer's Tongue and Salad Bowl but there are hundreds of varieties out there.

       

Lettuce comes in many different shapes and sizes. Some grow loose heads that have large, broad leaves while others have deep lobes called oak leaf types. They also range in color from deep, ruby red to a mix of red and green to all green. Grow many types for an interesting salad or unique garnish.

      

 Another simple and hardy fall favorite is spinach. It's extremely cold tolerant and is the easiest cold tolerant crop to over-winter. Spinach comes with smooth or savoyed (puckered) leaves that offer a more textured look but are harder to clean the dirt off.

       

Other members of the goosefoot family are beets and Swiss chard. It's probably too late to grow beet roots but you can use the leaves for salads and cooking. Surprisingly, beets and Swiss chard are not hardy to very cold temperatures and are nearly impossible to over-winter.

      

 Root crops are not out of the question though. Two members of the cabbage family, radish and turnip, grow roots very quickly in autumn. It only takes about a month until radish harvest and just a bit longer for small, white turnips. Both are very cold hardy and will live throughout the fall.

       

Another mainstay in the fall garden for me is a wide variety of plants collectively called greens. Some of the more common ones are tat soi, arugula, mizuna, cress and mache.

       

These greens are grown for salad or cooking. They add a unique twist to salad mixes because of their deep green color and variety of shape, not to mention the taste. Some are mild and some are spicy hot.

       

Read the seed descriptions carefully so you know what you're getting. Some can be extremely hot and spicy.

      

 Growing vegetables in colder weather requires some extra inputs. The fertilizer or compost that you added during the summer is probably spent. The good thing about compost or manure is that it acts like a slow release fertilizer.

      

 There are some nutrients available right away and some that are released later when the soil microbes continue to break down the remaining organic matter. But in the fall garden the soil is cold and the microbes stop working. You need to add completely finished compost so most of the nutrients are readily available.

       

As autumn progresses some fall crops may need protection from the cold weather. Floating row cover is a spun-bonded plastic fabric that is used for season extension, frost protection and insect control.

       

The lighter covers, measured in ounces per square yard, are good for early spring crops, like brassicas, that don't need much cold protection and are at the mercy of flea beetle attack. The light cover will add 2 to 4 degrees of night temperature while allowing 85 percent of the light through.

      

 The mid-weight covers only have 70 percent light transmission but give a frost protection of 4 to 8 degrees. The heavy weight cover will reduce light transmission to 40 percent and is strictly used for frost protection. Plants won't thrive under such low light.

The heavier fabrics also last much longer, resisting tears. These fabrics are light enough to rest on the plants without any support though I use wire hoops that hold the cover one to two feet off the crop to create a mini greenhouse.

       

All the crops mentioned above can be over-wintered. The next step in cold protection is a cold frame. This is a great way to extend your season even longer or over-winter crops for early spring harvest.

       

A cold frame is a wooden box made of a two-by-twelve on the back and sides and a two-by-eight on the front. This gives the top a slight angle to it. Place the frame in a sunny location. Cover with window frames. I got mine from the dump.

      

 If you have tall trees, consider the location carefully. What is a sunny location in September might not be in December when the sun is much lower in the sky. Last year I placed my frame in a location that got seven hours of sun in September. By Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year, the sun was so low in the sky the same location was completely blocked from any sun.

       

As a comparison, last year I planted scallions, lettuce, spinach and some different brassicas (Asian mustard greens) like tat soi, bok choi, arugula and mizuna in the cold frame and under row cover, leaving it for the winter. Only the spinach survived under row cover. In the cold frame, all the crops survived.

       

So, for the vegetable gardens 'second season' the time to start is now.

Horti-Culture Corner

The Oak and the Rose

by Shel Silverstein

An oak tree and a rosebush grew,

Young and green together,

Talking the talk of growing things-

Wind and water and weather.

And while the rosebush sweetly bloomed

The oak tree grew so high

That now it spoke of newer things-

Eagles, mountain peaks and sky.

I guess you think you’re pretty great,

The rose was heard to cry,

Screaming as loud as it possibly could

To the treetop in the sky.

And now you have no time for flower talk,

Now that you’ve grown so tall.

It’s not so much that I’ve grown, said the tree,

It’s just that you’ve stayed so small.