Don’t
despair, by the weekend this cloudy, cold, snowy weather will have warmed up
again. This isn’t exactly a traditional
winter so far, we have had a lot of ups and downs in the weather. I would just like more sun! But hey, the groundhog didn’t see his shadow
which means spring is supposed to come early.
I think no matter what happens with the groundhog we will have 6 more weeks
of winter- but hey – I could be wrong.
While last
winter’s mild weather was nice, I do want some apples this year and
lilacs. Scientists say that our plants
are already about 2 weeks ahead in blooming time than they were ten years ago
as our weather has gotten warmer. Spring
two or three weeks early is fine but 80 degree weather in March as we had last
year is a recipe for disaster.
I can still
see patches of green grass where the snow is thin but I noticed the plants that
looked green in the last warm spell are looking a little less perky, especially
the buddleia, which probably now has a good deal of die-back.
If you plant
onions or parsley from seed, February is a good month to start the seeds
indoors to have transplants for the garden.
The garden classes and events are
starting to be advertised. Take a look
at the list below to see if there are any you’d like to attend. If you enjoy gladioli pop over to my examiner
garden column to see the beautiful Chartreuse and Lilac glad picture that Scott
Knunst from Old House Gardens lent me.
It’s a gorgeous heritage variety.
There’s a link below under more information.
February almanac
In addition
to being the shortest month of the year February is probably the most boring
month for gardeners. I know I can’t
wait until its over- March seems like the beginning of spring to me. In February this year we have the beginning
of Lent, one of the earliest starts, with Ash Wednesday on the 14th.
You’ll want to get your paczki on Fat Tuesday the 13th. February is named after the Roman month
Februalia which was a month of atonement and purification so it seems fitting
that this year the beginning of lent is in the month.
Of course
Valentine’s Day is February 14 and Presidents day is February 18. George Washington’s real birthday is the 11th. The 12th is Abraham Lincoln’s
birthday. Chinese New Year or the lunar
new year starts February 10th. It’s Black History Month, National Heart
Association month, Chocolate Lovers month, and National Bird Feeding month.
The moon is
new on Feb. 10, in first quarter on Feb.17th and
full on Feb. 25th. This full
moon is called the Full Snow moon or Bone moon by Native Americans. Good Days to plant above ground crops are
11,12,20,21 and below ground crops should be planted on 2,3,26. By the end of the month we will have gained
an hour and about 12 minutes of daylight and by the end of the month we start
gaining a few minutes a day.
Ember Days
fall this month on the 20th, 22nd and 23rd. Ember days are one of those juxtapositions of
religious and pagan beliefs. They are
three days in each quarter- or season of the year. They are supposed to be days of fasting and
introspection but it is also said that the weather on each of the days predicts
the weather for a month following, the weather on the 20th will
predict March weather, the 22nd, Aprils weather and the 23rd,
Mays weather. (Then in May there are
three more Ember days.) So we will hope
that the weather on the Ember Days this month is mild and calm.
Ember days
are also said to be the best days for cutting down or destroying unwanted
plants or trees. So if you need to
remove a tree this winter those are your days.
New data about West Nile Virus
An extensive
review of data collected on West Nile Virus has produced some new insights into
the disease. Instances of infection and
the mortality rate climbed last year after declining for several years and
researchers wanted more information to help them predict the course of the
disease over the next few years.
After
reviewing collected data from across the US on human, horse and bird cases of
WNV as well as mosquito sampling, researchers found that WNV cases were higher
in areas where there were orchards and vineyards nearby. They also found that high numbers of robins
and English sparrows in an area were linked to higher incidences of human and horse
WNV cases. They speculate that male
mosquitoes which eat nectar, prefer
orchard and vineyard areas, and the females like to feed on robins and
sparrows, which have a lot of resistance to the virus and remain carriers
longer than other birds.
Separate
research also found that the spread of WNV from the East coast to the west
coast happened not from birds carrying the virus on migration routes as
previously assumed but from the mosquitoes themselves moving gradually across
the country. It seems that some
mosquitoes capable of transmitting WNV fly much farther from their birthplace
than previously thought.
Do plants care about each other?
Altruistic
behavior is behavior which leads an individual to sacrifice its own needs for
that of another. Humans may practice
altruistic behavior out of empathy and social conditioning as well as through
deeply buried “survival of the species over the individual” instincts. Some
animals also practice altruistic behavior.
Now researchers say that plants do too.
Each seed
that forms on a plant is actually two egg cells fertilized by two different
sperm. One egg cell forms the baby plant
and the other forms the endosperm, the starchy food source for the seedling to
use as food when it sprouts, before it has developed leaves to produce its own
food. Nature has built in altruistic behavior to ensure a seedling can
grow. Endosperms are extremely important
to humans as they form the basis for most of our food supply. We eat the endosperm before the baby plant
has a chance to do so.
Now research
has discovered that plants may actually control how altruistic they want to
be. In seeds where the two egg cells
were fertilized with sperm from the same father the endosperm allows the
embryonic plant to totally consume it.
In seeds where the cells were fertilized by different fathers- (which
can happen readily with pollen from all kinds of males floating in the air or
being carried by bees to the pistils of female plants) the endosperm “choose”
not to give the embryo as much resources.
Seeds where the endosperm and embryo were fathered by the same male have
the advantage.
Researchers
used corn for the experiments because if you use corn varieties with different
colored kernels and allow the sperm to mingle before fertilization, a seed with
two fathers will have a different colored embryo from the endosperm.
Researchers
say this mirrors altruistic behavior in animals, which is more likely to occur
between closely related individuals and tends to ensure certain genetic lines
have an advantage. I don’t know why this is so fascinating to researchers
except that it may be a way to control the food qualities of an endosperm. But
it does make for some fascinating reading and speculation. Just how does a endosperm keep its embryo
brother from eating it?
Elderberries- Herb of the Year
Elderberries
are used for food, herbal remedies and as an ornamental plant. Folklore is
filled with references to elders, depending on the culture and the century they
were either the witche’s friend or her mortal enemy. There are native species
of elderberries in Europe, North America and Asia.
 |
| Wild Elderberries |
There is a
lot of confusion about the classification of elderberries. While the European elder is classified as Sambuccus nigra, North American black elderberries
are said to be a sub-species by some botanists Sambuccus nigra ( S. nigra ssp Canadensis);
and by others as a separate species Sambuccus
canadensis.
While the
leaves, flowers and berries are very similar the plants have different growth characteristics. American elders are more bush-like than
European elders and sucker readily.
European elders look more like a small tree and rarely sucker. There is a lot of variation even in North
American wild plants however, as you can see by driving around the countryside
and observing roadside elderberries.
Black
elderberries, as the two species above are informally called, are the
elderberries that we eat and make into herbal remedies. Other species of elderberry exist and some of
those have been turned into the many forms of ornamental elderberries that are
available for the garden.
Elderberries
have compound leaves with 5-7 leaflets with serrated edges. In North America native elderberries are a
multi-stemmed bush that can get to 20 feet in height. The plants leaf out very early in the
spring. In June they are covered with
flat lacy umbels of white flowers with a lemony scent and are loved by bees and
butterflies. The flowers turn into
blue-black berries, also loved by birds.
Berries, flowers,
leaves and roots are all used for herbal remedies but it is the berries that
probably get the most use. The plants
are part of traditional medicines for both Europeans and Native Americans. In
Europe berries and flowers are turned into wine, and jellies and pies are made
from the berries. It is important to know that raw elderberries are poisonous. Chemicals in them are converted to cyanide in
the human body and can make someone very ill or even cause death. Cooked well however, they are safe to eat and
delicious as well as very nutritious. Elderberry flowers are sometimes dipped
in batter and fried.
Recently
elderberries have been extensively studied as alternative medicinal plants and
a lot of data is supporting claims of medicinal value. Of course we are all aware now of the value
of anthocyanins,
those pigments in plants which have antioxidant qualities and support healthy
immune systems as well as eliminating free radicals that cause cell death. Elderberries are also sources of vitamins A
and C and a good source of calcium, iron and vitamin B6. They also contain
sterols, tannins, and essential oils.
Elderberry
plant parts have stimulatory effects on the respiratory and circulatory system,
diuretic properties and when used topically have anti-inflammatory
actions. They are used in digestive
complaints for both diarrhea and constipation.
Currently they are being sold as a remedy for the symptoms of colds and
flu. (They do not cure colds or flu,
they make you more comfortable).
Elderberry extract, teas, or lozenges are used to ease sinus congestion,
sore throat and other cold and flu symptoms and the medical community supports
this use.
Research is
ongoing to see if chemicals derived from elderberries can lower cholesterol and
inhibit tumor formation as well as help in several other medical
conditions.
If you want
to grow elderberries for the berries several cultivars have been developed that
have superior fruit production. You can
find them in many garden catalogs. ‘York’, ‘Adams’, ‘Kent’, ‘Johns’ and ‘Nova’ are some varieties. Like many fruits elderberries will produce
much better if two different varieties are planted fairly close together for
proper pollination.
Elderberries
are being developed for beautiful ornamental plants both by selection and by
crossing several species of elderberries.
When sold for ornamental use they are usually referred to as Sambuccus. The varieties ‘Black Beauty’ and ‘Black Lace’
have delicate divided leaves of a dark maroon black as well as pink flowers. They are often used as a substitute for
Japanese Maple as they are hardier and will grow
well in the sun. There is a variegated green and white leaved
Sambuccus known as ‘Pulverulenta' but it’s often just sold as ‘variegated’.
‘Madonna’ and Aureomarginata' are Sambuccus with golden variegation
of the leaves. 'Maxima'
has very large flower heads of white with rosy-purple stalks that remain after
the flowers drop. ‘Goldbeere’ has light green foliage and golden berries. Selections of Red-berried elder, Sambucus racemosa, have produced the
beautiful golden foliaged plants 'Sutherland Gold' and ‘Golden Locks’ which have red berries.
Sambucus
caerulea- blue elder- has white flowers and powder blue berries and is hardy to
zone 5. There are some dwarf varieties
on the market 'Tenuifolia' is one with fine fern-like leaves and a mounding
habit. It is important to remember that
while some ornamental Sambuccus have edible fruit (if cooked) some do not. Most varieties which have black fruit are
edible, ‘Goldbeere’ fruit is said to be edible also, but pay attention to the
description of the plant which should state whether the fruit is edible.
Elderberries
will grow in a sunny location in almost any soil, although they prefer a rich
soil with a slightly acidic pH. They will also do well in part shade or
dappled shade. While they need good
moisture, especially in the first year of establishment, elderberries do not
thrive in poorly drained areas. They
have shallow roots and you need to be careful weeding and working around them
not to destroy roots. The plants need
some selective pruning to remove the oldest wood and keep the shape and size of
the plant in bounds. They have few pests or diseases. Fertilizing with some
10-10-10 formula fertilizer each spring as they green up, about ½ pound to a
mature plant, will increase plant vigor and berry production.
Even “wild”
elderberries are attractive if you have room for a large bush and are very good
at drawing bees, butterflies and birds to your property. Elderberries are easy to start from hardwood
cuttings so you may want to take a winter walk before they break dormancy and
collect some cuttings to start your own elderberry patch.
Be altruistic
in true human fashion- give your sibling a hug today.
Kim
More
Information
How to Grow Gorgeous Gladioli
Gladioli are
another flower that modern gardeners seem to forget. Fifty years ago most
gardeners grew glads because they were excellent cut flowers and
provided color in the summer garden. Every farmers market had people selling
large bouquets of colorful glads. Gladioli are still grown in mass quantities
for the floral trade and used in professional arrangements but the average
gardener has all but forgotten the gladiolus and that’s a shame.
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