December 17, 2013 Kim's Weekly Garden Newsletter

December 17, 2013 - Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter

http://www.examiner.com/gardening-in-detroit/kimberley-willis

http://www.examiner.com/country-living-in-detroit/kimberley-willis

These weekly garden notes are written by Kim Willis, unless another author is noted, and the opinions expressed in these notes are her opinions and do not represent any other individual, group or organizations opinions.

Amish buggies in the snow.

Hi Gardeners

I really enjoyed the sun yesterday even though the temperature didn’t get above 20 F.   Today we are back to a dreary snowy day but at least temperatures are going to climb a bit.  The clear day yesterday had me hopeful I would be able to see the Geminid meteor shower last night but the clouds began to roll in around sundown.  The Geminids ( falling stars, meteors) have been very bright and plentiful this year – where they could be seen which wasn’t very many places.  (Well, they were still falling up there above the clouds we just couldn’t enjoy the show).

The shortest day, and longest night, the winter solstice, is this Saturday.  After that, the celestial end of the year,  we begin to climb out of the darkness again, and the new cycle of seasons begins.  I always get a spiritual lift as this day passes and the New Year begins.  Yes its winter now but the days are getting longer, the low point is behind us.   The early Christians chose this time of the year to celebrate Christ’s birth, because this time of year has been celebrated as a time of beginning and renewal since the origins of human society.

Celebrate winter solstice, and welcome back the sun by taking at least take a few moments to reflect on what has happened to you over the year and think about what changes you would like in your life in the next year, before the hubbub and earthly celebration of a modern Christmas.  A yule log or bonfire to gaze into is traditional and a fun addition to your holiday traditions. 

I have had several new subscribers to this newsletter recently, welcome.  I would like to remind everyone that there will be no newsletter next week, on the 24^th.

Two Garden books to enjoy or give as gifts

Neither of these books is full of glossy pictures but if you or someone you know enjoys reading about the history and use of plants these books are both educational and entertaining.  I read Wicked Plants, the Weed That Killed Lincolns Mother by Amy Stewart several years ago.  It’s an excellent book about the poisonous and dangerous plants that surround us and that have been used by man for thousands of years.  Read about strychnine, oleander, rosary pea, peyote, deadly nightshade, hemlock, coca, opium, death camas and some 200 toxic plants.  Tales of botanical crimes and intrigue are sprinkled through the book.  It’s written in a charming manner that will make you want to sit and read the book at one sitting.

I have just read another Amy Stewart botanical book- The Drunken Botanist, which was published this year.  This one is about all the plants that make the alcoholic beverages man has been enjoying since the beginning of time.  Without plants the liquor counter at the local store would be empty.  Stewart explores the grains, fruits, vegetables and herbs that make up common and uncommon alcoholic drinks.  And for those of you who like to experiment with alcoholic beverages she sprinkles recipes for unusual cocktails and mixed drinks through the book.

If you don’t know what absinthe is made from or what a marasca cherry (not maraschino) is then this book is a fascinating read.  Both of these books are packed full of odd and unusual things you didn’t know about plants.  Both books have been on the New York Times best seller list and are available as soft or hard cover books or ebooks. ( I read Drunken Botanist on my Kindle).  Amy Stewart is a fascinating garden writer and also writes Garden Rants- a popular garden blog.

New species of cockroach invades US

Those of you who don’t like the creepy crawlers –beware, a new species of cockroach has invaded the US and this one can live outside as well as inside.  It is an Asian species, Periplaneta japonica, which was found in a New York park and identified by entomologists at Rutgers University. 

Several specimens of the insects were found by an exterminator in the High Line Park, an elevated park on the west side of Manhattan.   The park is fairly new and was extensively planted with nursery plants.  It is thought that the roaches arrived in the soil of imported potted plants.  These roaches can live outside even in cold weather but aren’t afraid to move inside where it’s warmer also. 

Beautiful Christmas amaryllis

The new roach looks very similar to cockroaches already in place in New York but entomologists say the new roaches won’t be able to mate with the current residents because their sex organs are incompatible.  It’s still too early to tell what kind of impact the new roach will have but New Yorkers may have to get used to roaches scuttling across the garden paths- even in winter.

Camelina sativa

You may have seen this weed growing in fields or along roads and never thought much about it.  Common names include Gold of Pleasure, False Flax and Wild Mustard.  It’s not native to North America, it was introduced early in European colonization of the new world, but it grows freely throughout the cooler parts of the US.  It was grown as an oilseed crop, grain, and medicinal plant from early history to the 1950’s when crops like canola were introduced and largely replaced it.  The Romans used the oil of Camelina in their lamps.  Early people of many cultures used camelina oil for cooking and as a medicinal oil.

Camelina is a rangy looking plant about 2 feet high. The leaves are arrow shaped and clasp,( surround) the stout stems.  Both stems and leaves are lightly hairy.   Camelina puts out clusters of tiny golden flowers with 4 petals at the top of the plants in late spring- early summer.  The flowers turn into fat rounded pods with orange brown seeds inside.    Camelina is a Brassica, a relative of broccoli and mustard and an annual, cool season plant.

Camelina began to be studied as a bio-fuel a few years ago and some camelina is being grown for this purpose in the US and Europe.  But when scientists began to search for a new source of Omega 3 fatty acids, preferably a plant based source, they struck gold in Gold of Pleasure.  Camelina oil is about 45% Omega 3 fatty acids, it also has high levels of tocopherols, which makes it very stable and resistant to oxidation and rancidity.  It has a high level of Vitamin E.  Camelina oil also has a pleasant nutty flavor which makes it easy to use in cooking and nutritional supplements and doesn’t cause fishy burbs like fish sources of Omega 3 fatty acids often do.  The oil and seeds are high in protein too.

A recent research study showed that adding camelina oil to the diets of those with high cholesterol lowered their “bad” cholesterol levels.  Camelina oil and the waste from pressed seeds used for bio-fuel are being fed to chickens and goats to raise the Omega 3 levels in eggs and milk, making them healthier to consume.  Trials are on-going with adding camelina to the diet of hogs, hoping to change the nature of pork fat, making it healthier and higher in Omega 3 fatty acids.  A whole range of “health” food manufacturers are exploring the use of camelina oil in their products.

The production of camelina seed is an exciting new crop for farmers in colder regions where short growing times limit some other oilseed crops.  Camelina also grows on marginally poor soil and doesn’t require lots of fertilizer, water or pesticides.  And the seed can be harvested with conventional farm machinery.   The seeds are either cold pressed (edible oils) or treated with chemical solvents to extract the oil.  

A gardener or farmer could grow a small crop of Camelina and harvest and extract oil in the same manner as flax seed.  However commercial seed is still hard to find and there are few named cultivars available, although that will probably soon change. You can buy Camelina seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds- www.rareseeds.com

Camelina  plants are alleopathic- meaning that they limit the growth of other plants near them so they would need to be in their own bed/field and not intermingled with other plants.  They are a good cover crop, or a crop grown in rotation plans and may eliminate some weeds.

   

Camelina oil and even seeds are showing up in some health food stores. The oil is excellent as a base for ointments and creams as it softens and heals rough skin.  Cooking with camelina oil adds a mild flavor as well as many nutritional benefits but the oil is still expensive.

This years all American plant selections

These are plants that have been trialed by the All American Plant Selections organization and found to be outstanding growers over a wide range of the country.

Petunia ‘African Sunset’ F1 is a prolific blooming mounder-spreader petunia of bright, clear orange shades, very different from most petunia colors.

Pepper ‘Mama Mia Giallo’ F1 is a sweet yellow Italian type pepper with long narrow fruits.  It is easy to peel and disease resistant.  Plants are compact and it’s an early producer.

Tomato ‘Chef’s Choice Orange’ F1 is a bright orange mid-size tomato developed from the heritage variety ‘Amana Orange’.  It is highly disease resistant and widely adaptable across the US.  Chef’s Choice Orange has a good tomato flavor and it keeps its color during cooking. 

Tomato ‘Fantastico’ F1 is a cherry tomato of the determinate variety.  It is a stocky plant loaded with long clusters of red cherry tomatoes.  It works well in patio containers or hanging baskets as well as in the garden.  Fantastico is very disease resistant including good tolerance to late blight.

Two new shrubs of note

Proven Winners has two new shrubs that caught my eye.  One is a barberry- Sunjoy® Tangelo- that has tangerine orange color leaves with lighter gold edges that stay colorful all season.  It is certified wheat rust resistant and a strong grower. It’s hardy to zone 4 and 3-4 feet in height.

Tiny Wine™ Ninebark is another addition to landscape ninebarks of more manageable size but it still gets to about 4 feet in height.  It does have smaller, dainty wine purple leaves that stay colorful all season.  In spring the stems are loaded with tiny white flowers that are set off well by the purple foliage.

Proven Winners is a wholesale distributor, look for these shrubs in your local garden stores and in nursery catalogs.

Find a low cost fresh Christmas tree

Did you know you can cut your Christmas tree from the Huron-Manistee National forest for only $5?  Find out more information on my Examiner article.

 http://www.examiner.com/article/find-a-low-cost-fresh-christmas-tree-at-a-national-forest

I hope that all of you have a great holiday season and that you and your family are safe, warm, happy, healthy and full of good food.   I hope that in the New Year you grow in wisdom, love and compassion and that you find peace in your heart and soul.  

Kim

Garden as though you will live forever. William Kent

Star of Bethlehem