Hi gardeners
Don’t worry about your plants, they’ll be fine. I have a
clematis blooming by my barn even though the leaves are rumpled and brown.
Other people have told me about witch hazel and a few other shrubs blooming. Bulbs
are coming up. But everything will compensate. Had this warmth happened in
February we might be in trouble, but things still have time to enter normal
dormancy.
The weather is expected to swing back to just slightly above
normal November temperatures this week. But the weather service is projecting a
warmer than normal winter through February. Don’t get too happy, because that
could mean more ice storms instead of snow, or even more snow than normal,
since warmer air holds more moisture.
Still I love checking off each day when we don’t get wintery
weather. It’s one day less of it. I love
having the doors and windows open in November and sitting outside in the sun in
shirtsleeves. It’s getting dark earlier and earlier, faster and faster, but
that just means we’ll hit winter solstice soon and we’ll be back on the upward
track.
All around me people are burning leaves. Don’t do that! It’s
such a waste of nutrients. If you can’t stand the look of leaves on the lawn
and in flower beds and have the ambition to rake them up, at least compost
them. And the leaf blower has got to be the biggest environmental mistake any
gardener could make. Using all that energy and polluting the air to blow leaves
around is just stupid.
The inside plants are thriving. I had to water a little more
this week because it’s warm. I never did get rid of my Hawaiian hibiscus and it
has some huge white blooms this week. I have a Thanksgiving cactus in bloom this
week too. All the regulars, the other hibiscus, fuchsia, streptocarpus, wax
begonias, lemon, geraniums and the diascia I brought in are blooming too.
Tomorrow is Veterans Day. My husband and brother are Viet
Nam vets, as are many of my friends. I’d like to wish them and all vets a good
day tomorrow and thank them for keeping our country free.
Of succulents and pine trees
One of the things that annoys me is when people talk about “pine”
trees when they actually mean some other species of conifer plants. Pine tree
is not the name for any tree with needles. Pines are one species of evergreen,
cone bearing trees. But there are many other species, spruce and firs for
example, and those species all have different needs, diseases and pests.
If you think calling all conifers pines annoys me, try
talking to me about the Christmas trees in your yard. It’s not a Christmas tree
unless you have lights and decorations on it. And the “Christmas” trees you buy
for the holiday come from a variety of evergreen species.
If you have evergreens or conifer plants in your landscape
at least know what plant family they belong to. I am putting an article under
this one that will help you identify the evergreen trees in your yard. When you
want to know something about a needled evergreen in your yard please use the
correct name for it.
The newest plant fad is succulents. But what people don’t
realize is that succulents is a name for a group of plant families/species that
share similar characteristics, fleshy stems and leaves that store water. Many
of those plant species do live in arid environments but some succulents
actually live in rain forests.
Succulents is not a scientific name classification and there is some disagreement as to what plant species are succulents. Cacti are succulents but not all succulents are cacti. Sedums are succulents. Christmas and Thanksgiving cacti are succulents, but their native homes are in rain forests/jungles. Then there is the term semi-succulent, which can refer to plants such as African violets.
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| Aeonium family |
Here’s a list of plant families that can be considered
succulents or that have some succulent species; Aeonium, Agave, Aloe,
Bryophyllum, Ceropegia, Crassula, Cotyledons, Euphorbia, Echeveria, Faucaria,
Gasteria, Haworthia, Hoya, Kalanchoe, Graptopetalum, Kleinia, Orostachys, Pachyphytum,
Pedilanthus, Peperomia, Sansevieria, Sedum, Sempervivum, Senico. There are
other families. I am not including cacti
and forest cacti here.
When most people buy a succulent plant, it is labeled just
that- succulent. So that is how they speak of it- as a succulent. It’s
unfortunate that nurseries don’t properly label plants but when you buy a plant
labeled succulent do the homework and find out just what species of plant you
have.
When your “succulent” isn’t looking good and you want to ask for advice or you want to know how to propagate the plant, knowing what actual species you have is very helpful. Even knowing a common name is better than just calling it a succulent. The Jade plant is Crassula argentea or sometimes Crassula arborescens, for example.
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| Crassula family |
While succulents do come from arid regions for the most part,
there are still differences in what the many species need in regard to light,
temperatures and other things. Some are cold hardy, some are not. Some are prone to certain diseases, some are
not. So no, all succulents cannot be
treated the same way.
I wish I could give you a condensed guide to identifying
succulents as I did with the evergreens below. But there are so many families
and so many species in those families that it would probably take a book. There
are a lot of new succulents of various species coming on the market for
houseplants and even I have trouble keeping up with identifying new species.
Here’s some sites that can help you ID what succulents you
have.
https://plantsam.com/cacti-succulents/
https://thesucculenteclectic.com/identifying-types-of-succulents-pictures/
https://www.succulentguide.com/
Kalanchoe 'SnowBunny'
Identifying evergreens in the
landscape
In this article we’ll skip plants that are evergreen but have broad leaves, such as holly and euonymus and concentrate on the needle leaved, woody evergreens. And we will also leave out the few species of trees with needle like leaves that lose those leaves in the winter, such as bald cypress.
First some terminology, without being too technical. “Evergreens”
is a broad term for many species of needle leaved woody plants. Most of these are also conifers-that is they
reproduce using a cone. Yews and junipers are both woody evergreens with needle
like leaves, but they produce fleshy berry-like cones with seeds inside. (It's a cone but it looks like a berry.) These evergreens
should not be called Christmas trees unless they are actually being used for
that purpose.
Here are some general identifying characteristics of different woody evergreen plants. The main plant families are pine (Pinus), spruce (Picea), firs (Abies), Yew (Taxus), Juniper (Juniperus), and cedars (Thuja).
It is easy to identify some species within a plant family
but in other cases even experts have a hard time identifying individual species,
especially if they are not common ones. And in addition some common names
suggest a family that the tree doesn’t really belong in. So, don’t worry too much if you can’t identify
what species of fir you have, just whether you have a pine or a fir.
Pines are some of the most common evergreen woodies. Pines always have needles in bundles. A little papery sheath binds together anywhere from 2 to 5 needles. Pines have cones of various shapes; the shape as well as the number and length of the needles can help identify the species. Many cones of pines have a prickly point on the end of each scale on the cone.
The Eastern White pine has long, soft blue green needles in
clusters of 5. The cones are also long
and narrow, with a slight curve and are often covered in resin.
The red pine has 4-6-inch needles in bundles of 2 and the
cones are stubby and often connected in pairs opposite each other on the stem. The
bark of a young red pine trunk has a reddish color.
Scotch or Scots pines have needles in bundles of 2, they are
2-3 inches long, slightly twisted, blue green in summer fading to dull green or
yellow green in winter. The cones are short and point back toward the trunk. 
Scotch pine- notice the sheath bundling needles together
Austrian pines are an imported species that are sometimes
hard to distinguish from red pines. They have needles in clusters of 2,
slightly shorter than red pine needles and a duller green. The cones are about
3 inches long. The trees are a bit fuller and more shapely than red pine which
is why they are often used in landscapes.
The jack pine also has needles in bundles of 2 that are
relatively short, less than 2 inches, and spread in a V. The cones are small
and generally have a distinct curve and point toward the tip of the branch. These
are the cones that need the heat of a fire to open them. Jack pines often have odd growth habits such
as leaning or distorted branches. There
are many other species of pines.
Spruces have short needles
attached singly to the branch with a little stub that remains after the needle
falls off. That makes the branch feel
quite rough with its numerous protrusions. Spruce needles are generally 4 sided
with a blunt tip, surround the entire branch and are square looking when crosscut. When crushed spruce needles have a pungent
odor that can remind you of cat pee.
The Black spruce has short needles to 3/8-inch-long and
small cones with a purplish tint. The White Spruce has slightly longer, blue-green
needles with a waxy sheen, the cones are longer and light brown.
Blue Spruce or Colorado Blue spruce are some of the most
frequently planted ornamental evergreens. Some have a very silver blue tint,
especially when young, but the color can vary widely. The needles are long and
sharp, somewhat longer than White Spruce and the smell especially sharp also. Cones are also long.
The Norway spruce is a widely planted non-native ornamental
with dark green slightly flattened, 1 ½ inch needles and long narrow
cones. A mature tree has a graceful
weeping form. There are many other spruces, native and non-native, planted in
landscapes.
Firs have single
needles attached to the branch with little suction cup like bases. When they fall off, they leave a slight pit
on the branch, but the branch will feel smooth.
Fir needles often have one or two white lines on the back of the
flattened needle. Fir cones stand
upright on the top of a branch; the cone scales fall away and leave a “core”
protruding from the branch for a while.
Firs are the trees with the delightful smell associated with
Christmas and are often sold for Christmas trees. They are less frequent in the landscape than
pines or spruces.
The Balsam fir is probably the most common fir. It has small purplish cones. Also grown are White, Concolor, Grand, and
Frasier firs.
The Douglas fir is not a true fir but is in a species of its
own (Psuedotsuga menziesii). It
has flat, soft, single needles attached to the branch. The
needles narrow at the base and when they fall off they leave raised scar, but
are not as prominent as the bumps on a spruce.
Douglas fir cones hang downward on the underside of branches and are
unique because 3-pointed seed bracts protrude from each scale on the cone. Douglas firs grow to be the second largest of
our trees, second only to Sequoias.
The tree family Thuja is also called Cedar or Arborvitae and
they are common landscape plants.
Northern White Cedar is our most common species. However, what is confusing is that there is a
southern tree family called White Cedar (Chamaecyparis) which looks very
similar to Thuja species.
Occasionally some species and cultivars of this family are sold as
ornamentals although they aren’t very hardy in the north.
Northern White Cedar has flattened overlapping scale-like leaves. On the underside of the leaves you can find tiny, raised spots called resin glands. The trees have tiny cones in clusters near the branch tips. Arborvitae comes in a variety of shapes, from the natural tree like form to upright dense windbreak forms and rounded globes that stay small. It has a pleasant smell, reddish bark and wood that is hard and dense.
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| Arborvitae- Northern white cedar |
Junipers are known for their prickliness. Adding to the name confusion one species of
Juniper has the common name of Eastern Redcedar. It forms a tree shape and has overlapping
rows of flattened scale like needles when mature but when the plant is young
the needles are spiky and sharp.
Common juniper forms a more shrub-like sprawling form and
the needles, arranged in whorls of 3, stay sharp and prickly. The
common identifying characteristic of Junipers besides their prickly needles is
their blue, berry–like cones. These are used to flavor gin.
Yews have soft flat,
dark green needles which are paler yellowish green on the bottom. Their
identifying characteristic is that they have red berry-like cones. They are
seldom found in the wild, but are common ornamentals here. They tolerate shade and trimming. However, yews are extremely poisonous to
livestock and pets eating foliage or bark and children consuming the berries.
Use care planting them in the landscape.
There you have it, a guide to the common landscape
evergreens so you can identify what you have and have a better way to describe
them to your gardening friends or look up their care and diagnose problems.
If you are an enthusiastic pond gardener, you are probably
sad when winter comes, and your water garden has to be shut down. But with a
little imagination and work you can have a water feature indoors and continue
to grow the water plants you love.
Wouldn’t you love to see tropical water lilies, calla
lilies, water hyacinths, rushes and reeds, and numerous other water plants
indoors all winter, maybe accompanied by the tinkle of a fountain? Most water
plants you use outside in summer could be brought inside. You can over winter
goldfish and koi inside too.
You can put the water feature in among other houseplants to
make it look more natural. Many houseplants will be quite happy near a source
of humidity like the water feature. Drift wood, or art objects might be used to
disguise container edges and make it look more natural.
Size and location
You’ll want to make this inside water garden small, of
course, since water is heavy and also very destructive if something like a leak
should occur. Find a location to place your water feature where it won’t cause
massive damage if it leaks. Even small amounts of water being splashed or
dribbled constantly can ruin hardwood or carpeted floors. A place with a tile
or cement floor would be ideal.
A 3 feet square water feature is on the large side for
indoor water features. A small container or fountain 18 inches in diameter can
be soothing and can support several small plants and even a few fish. Something
that can sit on a sturdy table may be easier to care for than a floor-based
water feature. If you are going for a larger surface area, consider making it a
shallow water feature, to keep the weight and amount of water needed down.
You’ll need to fill the water garden and lugging buckets
upstairs to fill it will probably call for a small container. Locating your
water feature close to a water source is the easiest option. Also think about
how you are going to drain this water feature should you need to. You may want
a small pump that could pump water into a bucket or drain.
Also be sure your indoor water feature is safe from children
and pets. They will be attracted to it. Dogs will drink from a water feature
and may try to get into it. Cats will be attracted if fish are in the feature. Children
could fall in and drown if the water feature is large enough, and children have
drowned in 5-gallon mop buckets. This happens when they tip upside down into
the bucket and can’t right themselves.
Younger children will want to play in the water feature,
which could harm plants and things like fish if you include them. And if they
tip it over or cause a leak a lot of damage to your home could occur. You may
want to wait to have indoor water features until children are older.
Other things you may need
Almost all water features inside with plants will need to
have grow lights suspended over them. Water plants usually need strong light to
do well. You must do this very carefully as water and electricity do not mix. Cords
should not touch water; water should not get in outlets. Lights should be
suspended so that there is no way they can fall into the water. If you ever see
a cord or bulb in the water DO NOT REACH INTO THE WATER to remove it, you could
be electrocuted. Turn off the power first.
Water splashing on a hot bulb can cause it to explode. There
are bulbs with “shields” if you think this may be a problem. Or just position
bulbs so a splash is unlikely.
Indoor water gardens can raise the humidity in the home,
which can be a good thing, since most homes are too dry in winter. But
occasionally an indoor water feature can make an area too humid, causing mold
to form and dank smells. Make sure to have a humidity meter near. Experts say a
humidity level over 50% may cause mold to form. Using fans to disperse humidity
over a larger area or a dehumidifier can correct this.
What kinds of containers can you use for inside water
features?
You could use one of those preformed plastic ponds. But
there are many things you could improvise with, including large pots (without
drainage holes of course), small stock tanks and muck buckets, (check a farm
store) and various heavy-duty plastic storage containers. Containers must have
sturdy sides, or they will bow out when filled with water.
You could build a frame and use a pond liner. This is
probably best done on a sturdy waterproof floor such as a cement basement
floor. I once built a frame using bundles of newspaper in my basement. I
covered it with a pond liner and used it to overwinter goldfish quite
successfully. You could use an existing frame, such as a raised planting box,
if you covered it with a liner.
If a frame has rough spots or gaps you are covering with a
liner, make sure you add some cushioning between the frame and liner, like a
foam pad or even layers of cardboard. This keeps the liner from being torn or
worn away.
There are many clever things you can do with objects in your home to make them into water features. They could become funny conversation pieces or beautiful, inspiring décor. Use your imagination.
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| This water feature was made from a wringer washer for a display on recycling by Master Gardeners. |
Putting fish in your water feature
Both koi and goldfish can be overwintered in your indoor
water feature but make sure they have enough space for their size. Keeping fish
inside will require an aerator and a filter. You won’t need heated water for
koi or goldfish. If you decide to add a few tropical fish the water will need a
heater.
It will require a lot more work to keep the water clean and
smells down if you add fish to your water feature. You’ll have to feed very
carefully and change the filter frequently. You may even have to change the
water from time to time. But if you have fish in an outside pond already and
are worried they might not make it through winter, bringing them inside could
be the solution.
In short you can have a water garden inside during the
winter, with a little imagination and care. Why not try something different
this winter?
If you live in the country or in a rural subdivision this is
the time of year to consider posting your land against hunting. You may be fine
with hunting but from a legal standpoint, it makes sense to post your land. If
someone is hurt on your property- or hurts someone else or damages property-
your legal rights are better protected if the land is posted against hunting
and trespassing. If you want to hunt or give someone permission to hunt on your
property you can still do so.
I’m not a lawyer and I’m not giving legal advice here. I’m
most familiar with Michigan law but most states have similar laws on posting
land and hunting regulations. While farmland and woods connected to farmland
are automatically protected by law from trespassing, many hunters don’t know
this. It’s best to post all property, even fenced property and crop land.
Legal no trespassing signs must be at least 50 square inches
and have letters at least 1 inch high. The wording can vary from simply no
trespassing to no hunting or trespassing. Be aware that is much harder to
enforce and prosecute hunting violators if the sign doesn’t say no trespassing.
There is no required color for the signs.
Your signs must be posted so that a person can see at least
one sign as he or she approaches any point of entry into the property. That
means that they will probably need to be every 15-20 feet apart on property
boundaries. If access points have gates place no trespassing signs on the
gates. If you notice blinds, camps or
other indications that people have been on your property post signs near that
location too.
Signs should show above any tall weeds or crops, but not be
above an average person’s standing eyesight. Be aware that nailing signs to
trees can damage the trees, posts are better for holding signs.
It is illegal to post signs on other people’s property
without their permission, no matter how tempted you are to add additional space
to your buffer zone. It is also illegal
to remove posted signs unless they were wrongly posted on your land. You can
legally remove blinds and camps from your property if you did not give permission
for them to be there.
-Nathaniel Hawthorne
Kim Willis
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