Planters
Punchlines
Men’s Garden Club of Wethersfield
February 2016
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Weird and Wonderful Gardens of the
World "
@ Men’s Garden Club of Wethersfield February
Meeting
Monday February 22 @ 7:00 pm in the
Pitkin Community Center
Dr. Richard W. Benfield, Chair of the Department of
Geography at Central Connecticut State University will talk about “Weird and
Wonderful Gardens of the World”.
Compostable Matter
By Jim Meehan
The Space Between the images
In his
heavy Italian accent and mellifluous voice Phil explained how even when a
plantsman goes out into his yard without his tools – wearing his “Sunday best”,
and with nothing in mind other than enjoying the setting – he cannot help but
reach out with his bare hand and snap off that single tiny twig that totally
spoils his view – and in the process leak virescent sap onto his fingertips
staining them with the gardener’s badge of honor.
Would
anybody else even notice the offending slender little branch shoot? Probably not.
But we plant people can’t see anything but that insult to perfection –
until we notice the next one.
Gardeners
are tinkerers – never quite happy with what nature provides. We are dead certain that just one more flower
in just the right spot can actually make the world a perfect place. And then another. And another.
Say you are
visiting a public garden. Do you find
yourself grabbing your own wrist in order to hold back the pruning pincers of
your dominant hand? Do you see what is
there? Or is it what could be there if only they let you have a few hours to
fix things?
Have you
ever been caught under the cover of darkness plucking weeds from your
neighbor’s garden? Or even worse, have
you relocated any of their shrubs that run along the border of your property –
or in other places? Or secretly
introduced “something special” into one of their flowerbeds?
Even
haphazard landscape designers like me – whose idea of a strategic plan is to
see a plant that needs saving (like Teasel from Christa Swenkyj’s about-to be-sold
property), dig it up, and jam it into the first piece of available space that I
see in our own yard – are following their own (largely unknown to them) private
blueprint.
Our
daughter-in-law and son are both graphic designers – plus she is a gardener.
Together they create comic books. And he
also teaches that craft at a University of Art and Design in New Mexico.
Recently he was asked by a local newspaper to explain the difference between
stories presented in that graphic form as opposed to other media.
“Prose and
film offer continuous story construction, comics do not. The reader is a
participant when reading a comic…filling in the images that aren't shown and
designing a story uniquely theirs.”
Likewise we
gardeners see the blank spaces in the natural world – and endlessly create our own plots to fill
in those gaps. The rest of you just
don’t know all of the fun you are missing.
Story of the Great Elm (1750-1950)
By Jared B. Standish
Last
month’s speaker, Frank Kaputa of the Connecticut Notable Trees Project, talked
briefly about the “Wethersfield Elm”.
The following article, written by Jared B. Standish in 1959, is from the
archives of Wethersfield Historical Society.
According
to a memoranda book kept by James Smith, father of the present occupant of the
premises abutting, Mr. Charles H. Smith states that John Smith, an uncle who
died in 1818, aged 72, pulled it up near “Hang Dog Hill” to drive home his cows
from the public cow pasture in Stepney West District (when he was about twelve
years old).
Arriving
home it was set out in the “Common” front of their home. According to the record it should have been
planted about 1750-8.
When it was
about 10 to 15 years old, a heavy ice storm broke off the top, causing it to
branch out in six arms reaching for sunlight.
In 1884 a large limb fell during a storm, its growth was so
luxuriant. James Smith told his son
Edward (age 15) that he could have it if he would cut it up. Edward made two and a fraction more cords of
wood from it than most anyone else would.
A branch from the main limb fell in 1903 and three years ago in July,
upon a quiet Sunday morning, a prominent arm thought it had reached out too far
and with some expression lay down to an earned rest. When this limb was sawn into three one-cord
piles, the growth rings upon it were counted.
These favorably corresponded with the age recorded within the diary,
allowing fifteen to twenty years for loss of youthful rings in the ice storm
and its struggle to reach maturity. The
count figured One Hundred Forty-six, with a short balance grown so closely in
the hard fibre as to be uncountable.
It was said
that John Wesley preached a Revival service under its shade while upon a trip
through the “New England” states.
Richard
Belden was the first house owner upon the property beside the tree in 1641
(succeeding Samuel Boardman). A later
generation, Silas Belden, sold the homestead to Josiah Smith in 1742. Four generations of James Smiths preceded the
present occupant. The old Belden house
was taken down in 1864, when the present Smith Hone was built by Mary and her
sister, Martha Smith (which has at this time received alterations).
In the
early periods the “Broad Street Common” is said to have been very wet. It is quite possible that “These Elms”,
including others (of comparable proportions) four at the upper end of the Broad
Street Common (on the west side gracing the front of Reverend Elisha Williams’
“NEW WILLIAMS HOUSE”, later occupied by his son, Elisha Williams, Jr. and
Mehitable Burnham, his wife who, with his sister, Mary, built it in 1755 and
presented it to their father fourteen days before he died) and another nearly
as large as the “Great Elm”, which stood upon the opposite side of the Common
in front or near the “Boardman Tavern” (where Jared Ingersol resigned his
“Stamp Act” commission, September 19, 1765).
It was hollow and it has never been known how it caught fire and burned
out inside by 1850. All of them grew
under very favorable conditions in this particular location for this specie of
tree, completing a natural old-age limit, at this time 1750 to 1950.
In 1910 The
American Genetic Association, Journal of Heredity, Washington, D.C., conducted
a United States census of mammouth [sic] trees.
Our Village Improvement Association was requested to send a sample of
leafage, branch and soil, together with measurements of our Great Tree.
This
request was complied with, resulting in a complete record being entered at
Washington as the “Largest Elm” of its species in the United States.
A reclaimed photograph, taken about 1871, showing the tree
in vigorous youth, has been preserved in Washington and at Wethersfield, Conn.,
and was published in the “Journal of Heredity” during the year 1914.
Many
statements regarding the age of this tree (and others) have been made in error
carelessly, ranging from 100 to 400 years old.
Contest in question have frequently been brought to attention, in
reference to other trees bearing close dimensions, in Marietta, Ohio, Hampton,
Connecticut, (claiming to be 700 years old).
The “Rathbourn Tree”, Washington Elm at Wallingford, Connecticut, and
others.
Dear Sirs:
It seems
peculiarly fitting that it should devolve upon me to answer correspondence in
this matter. Still being in a position
of authority as Secretary of the Board of Park Commissioners and also President
of the Old Village Improvement Association (not yet dissolved) – to send to you
as before in 1914, a definite statement relating to the “Great Elm”, within our
jurisdiction, of which articles have been published widely.
I have caused a resurvey of our tree, which is as follows:
WETHERSFIELD ELM
OFFICIAL MEASUREMENT JANUARY 1930
Elevation
Diameter Circumference Spread
6′ 10’5″ 32-0 Diam. 165′
5′ 9’10” 36-6 Cir. 518′
4′ 9’6″ 29-6
3′ 9’9″ 30-0
2′ 10’6″ 32-0
1′ 12’6″ 38-0
Ground level 14’6″ 48-0
Area 21,382 cubic feet.
The tree is now only a memory, its life having closed this
year 1950.
New & Notable: 10 Gadgets to Tech Out Your Garden
If you want
to put your best gardening foot forward this spring, it is important to take
your first steps in the right direction. Decisions you make in early spring
have enormous impact on the health and appearance of your garden later in the
season. To help you plant smart, we've compiled a list of 10 tech gadgets that
can make your thumb a little greener. These tools use the latest technology and
science to help you analyze, monitor, and tend to your plants. Check out this
collection of smart tech, from pollen extractors to weather forecasters, that
can help make this year's garden your best ever.
1) Gardener's Handbook App for
Android Cabbage patch got you stumped?
This free Android app is like having a pro gardener at your side 24/7. Armed
with 10 chapters chock-full of DIY gardening tips, landscaping ideas, and
useful information, you will be well on your way to creating the garden of your
dreams.
2) Parrot
Flower Power Plant Monitor Want to be
completely tuned in to your plant's needs? Invest in Parrot Flower Power, a
wireless sensor that monitors your plant's moisture, temperature, light, and
fertilizer levels, and then relays this info to your smartphone or other device
via Bluetooth technology so you'll always know just what your plant needs.
Available on Amazon; $60.
3) Garden
Cam See how your flowers grow—or see
what critters may be causing them not to—with the Brinno GardenWatchCam. This
1.3 megapixel time-lapse digital camera can be set to snap photos at intervals
from 1 minute to every 24 hours. Just stick the camera in your garden and watch
your garden grow. Available on Amazon; $230.
4) Bosch
Isio Trim your hedges and shrubs with
ease with the Isio shrub shear, a handheld multi-tool from Bosch. The
lightweight design incorporates a lithium-ion battery that allows almost an
hour of work on one charge—plenty of time, given the tool's efficiency and simple
operation. A reciprocating motion lets the tool keep cutting through where
others would stall. Available on Amazon; $62.
5) Garden
Plan Pro iPad Having trouble plotting
your plot? The Garden Plan Pro app acts as a visual aid in laying out your
patches before you pick up a spade. It also provides weather station data,
gives advice on the best plants for your region, and offers information on more
than 140 different species of flowers and vegetables.
6)
Infragram A DIY camera for your DIY
garden, Infragram uses infrared technology to analyze the health of your plants
and garden. Fun for kids and adults, novices or pros, this tool educates while
illuminating the secret life of your garden. Available on Amazon; 62.
7) Cordless
Pole Saw Go greener with the
rechargeable battery–powered G-Max pole saw from GreenWorks. Its cordless
design features an eight-inch bar and chain for easy branch trimming. The
lithium-ion battery retains memory after power is depleted, so you don't have
to program it twice. A collapsible shaft extends from five to eight feet to
reach a variety of trimming heights. Available on Amazon; $170.
8)
VegiBee Here's the go-to gadget for
gardening connoisseurs looking to fine-tune their craft. The VegiBee imitates
the high-frequency vibrations of a bee’s wings during pollination. The
vibrations release pollen onto a spoon, which the gardener can then use to
hand-pollinate other plants. The reward? A 30 percent increase in crop yield
and the satisfaction of giving Mother Nature a helping hand. Available on
Amazon; $29.
9) Netatmo
Weather Station This personal weather
station stands above the rest by monitoring the indoor environment as well as
the outdoor weather. Among other features, the Netatmo Weather Station measures
indoor CO2 concentration and provides the local Air Quality Index report in
real time. Netatmo links to your smartphone, keeping track of what is best for
you, your plants, and your garden. Available on Amazon; $149.
10) Garden
Owl This realistic-looking Garden
Defense Electronic Owl takes the original stationary garden decoy a big step
further by adding movement and sound. Not only does it look like a great horned
owl, but when its sensors detect that garden pests are near, it will turn its
head in that direction and hoot, scaring the critters away. Available on
Amazon; $45.
How to Tell a Rose Bush is Dead
by Patricia H. Reed
Roses rest
over the winter -- even in mild winters -- to build strength for their lush
growth in spring, summer and into fall in warm climates. During the dormant
period, roses lose their blooms and leaves. Cold temperatures cause tender
growth to darken and die back. However, don't give a rose up for dead because
canes are leafless, black and dead-looking as other roses emerge from dormancy;
take the time to thoroughly assess its condition before declaring your rose a
goner.
1. Examine
canes for swelling buds in late winter from tip to base. Buds may just look
like tiny raised reddish nubs as they emerge from the stem.
2..Look for
green or deep red stems at the base of the plant. Cold-damaged canes that are
black at the tip may still be green and living near the base. The delineation
between living and dead tissue is usually apparent, at least on young canes.
Older stems may be brownish-gray with a thin, barklike skin.
3.Scratch
at the skin of a cane with your fingernail looking for green tissue just
beneath the surface. This is the plant's cambium layer, which produces new
cells. If there is no green, the cane is dead.
4. Clean
bypass pruners with household antiseptic cleaner at full strength. The cleaner
is as effective at eliminating any lingering plant fungi or disease from the
tools as rubbing alcohol or bleach -- often recommended for the purpose -- but
is less corrosive to metal tools.
5. Put on
leather gloves.
6. Prune back all canes with dead areas back to
green wood, if any, and cut out congested canes in the center of the plant in
late winter.
7. Clean
the blades between each cut when dealing with canes you think may be diseased.
8. Check
the plant for signs of buds and new shoots in a week or two, Older rose bushes,
or the oldest canes on a rose bush, can take longer to bud than younger stems.
9. Dig
lightly at the base of a plant before removing it and check the plant's roots.
Firm, light-colored roots are healthy.
Knock Out Roses - Pros/Cons?
A forum from gardenweb.com
Ok.. So.. I am not familiar with Knock Out Roses.
What are the good Vs. Bad points?
dublinbay z6 (KS)
Good Points:
Brilliant splash of color, especially on the cherry red
ones.
Easy care. Exceptionally disease-resistant.
Bloom and rebloom a lot.
One of the first to bloom in the spring.
Self-cleaning--in that you don't have to deadhead (but the
bushes look neater if you do--at least some).
Good starter rose for the timid or unsure. They will feel
like an instant success.
Bad points
Individual blooms are not very interesting.
Don't think they are very fragrant, but I'm not sure about
that.
Everybody and their second cousin has one. I'm really
getting tired of seeing them everywhere (although I own 2 Double Knock Outs).
Can get rather large, a problem if you are looking for a
smaller rose. (Double Knock Out seems to be a bit smaller.)
You'll miss out on the incredibly varied and beautiful world
of roses if you stop with Knock Out.
That's about all I can think of. There really aren't many
down sides to KOs.
Kate
If you ever have a chance go to a rose show. Look at all the
roses there. From my beloved modern varities to the Heirloom roses(OGR's),
there is different beauty, form, fragrance and color in abundance. But from
commercial shopping centers to gas station landscaping, every rose is the same
basic Knock Out. It almost has replaced Stella De Oro Daylilies as the "plastic
plant" of the strip mall. I've seen KO's used judiciously in the landscape
and it adds to the overall effect, but just planted in mass?...I'm so tired of
it (along with the basic philosophy of instant gratification without effort).
Like Bookmark
May 11, 2008 at 5:21PM
rosesnpots(z8 Tidewater area VA)
Pros - What Karl said.
Cons -
Boring to look at - each one looks the same no matter what
color they are.
Around here, they all have a spindly look about them.
To me varity is the spice of life and in reality, if you
select the correct roses for your area as I do, OGRs, Austins, Beales , etc
roses are no harder to care for.
catsrose(VA 6)
They are the fast food of the rose world, pluses and
minuses.
gypsysunrise
Thank you to all who responded! I had seen them at Lowes,
and liked how they had so many blooms at once. I bought one that was on a
clearance rack, "Rosa RADrazz", and then after looking them up
online, noticed a lot of people didn't seem to care for them...so I wondered.
lol
It makes sense to me, now... Anything that is overdone can
get boring. =)
ecobug(z6a Idaho SW)
I think if you have them as part of an overall main scheme,
using them as a splash of color in with lots of other roses and flowers that
they are great...
I also think they are great for folks who want to think that
they are growing roses if those are the only roses they have... in my mind they
are no different than azaleas and that type of bush except that they bloom
longer...
Plant them and enjoy them and get some more different types
of roses to put around them... Hopefully you will love the blinding bright
color!
diane_nj 6b/7a(6b/7a)
If they get people who are rose-phobic to try roses, then I
am for them. And if they get people who try them to continue to learn more
about roses, then I am for them.
I happen to prefer Blushing Knock Out. I find Knock Out and
Pink Knock Out (and the "Double" versions of each) to be too bright.
RADrazz is the registered name for the original Knock Out. If
you want a true red, get Home Run.
Horti-Culture Corner
From Walt Disney
I don't like formal
gardens. I like wild nature.
It's just the
wilderness instinct in me, I guess.
Here Is My New favorite Plant
Meehania cordata
Meehan's Mint or Creeping Mint
Looking for
a native substitute for Ajuga or Lamium? This could be it! Long, trailing stems
run across the ground and root along the way. In late spring the green carpet
gives way to hundreds of blue flowers opening to reveal spotted throats.
Beautiful from a distance and under close scrutiny. Irresistible in a pot!
Height: 6-10 Inches, Spread: 12-15 Inches, Spacing: 12
Inches, Bloom Color: Blue Violet
If you are
looking for a novel groundcover, Meehan’s mint is the perfect choice. This
deciduous herbaceous perennial groundcover spreads nicely in part shade and
moist well-drained to average soils with foliage reaching only 1-2” tall.
Beginning in late spring, it produces attractive lavender flowers with dark
spots on upright stems 3-4” tall above the foliage. Meehan’s mint spreads
slowly, but is perfect for the early summer garden when other plants have
stopped flowering. This gem is an excellent complement planted among moss and a
good companion with a wide variety of plants including Scutellaria serrata,
Thalictrum clavatum, Aquilegia canadensis, Carex plantaginea, Phlox stolonifera
and Chrysogonum virginianum. - Mt. Cuba Center
