The Importance of Organic Practices - Jeff Lowenfels Explains

On the day Jeff Lowenfels and I spoke about his two books, the weather service had predicted 4-inches of snow and a 24-degree night. That day was last Friday, May 17 and his home town is Anchorage Alaska, USDA zone 5.

Lowenfels is a practicing natural resources (oil and gas, environmental law) lawyer who has developed a career explaining soil science to judges and juries. Lowenfels worked to develop Alaska's natural gas, as president and CEO of Yukon Pacific Corp., which sought to build a gas pipeline from the North Slope to Valdez (http://bit.ly/10KAkVZ).

Christine Moua sells organic produce
at the Muskogee Farmer's Market
Wednesdays and Saturdays

Because of his professional and personal interest in plants and soil science, Lowenfels has dug deep into his topic during a 30-year stint as a garden columnist and gardener. His respect for plants and no-till, organic, chemical-free gardening has only increased over the years.

“I used to say the last frost is over when the birch tree leaves reach the size of a squirrel’s ear and today those leaves are still closed because we are getting our latest freeze and snow on record,” Lowenfels said. “Plants know things that we have not given them credit for knowing. And more, new, science is being discovered every week.”

His 2010 book, “Teaming with Microbes: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web” taught gardeners the importance of understanding how soil and plants work together to provide plants the nutrition they need.

“How plants feed themselves is basic information for all gardeners,” Lowenfels said. “It is a book about the science behind organic gardening and how plants attract to themselves the 17-nutrients they need.”

The new publication, “Teaming with Nutrients: The Organic Gardener’s Guide to Optimizing Plant Nutrition” focuses on the cellular biology and chemistry of plant life.

“Just read it" is Lowenfels advice in the Introduction to "Teaming with Nutrients" and I second that.

Any gardener who has thought about how plants actually eat the food we presume we are providing, will want to make time to read and think about "Teaming with Nutrients."

Not to ruin the ending for you, but here's a spoiler alert: We don't provide their food. Just as they have done for millions of years, plants can and do feed themselves. However, we gardeners can interfere with their ability to feed themselves by causing problems for them. Understanding their complexities is like gaining a deeper understanding of the people we want to know - we can give them more of what they need and avoid the practices that can do them harm.

Topics include: Plant cell parts, the basic chemistry involved in plant nutrients, the botany of nutrient-usage by plant tissues/organs, the 17-essential elements (macronutrients and micronutrients), how water moves through the soil and into the plant stems and leaves, nutrient movement within plants, how to apply the science you just learned to your gardening practices, and, recommended fertilizer recipes.

As a non-science major, I found the book challenging to read. As a gardener who is fascinated by the wonder of plants, I found the challenge worth my effort. If you, like me, are not a scientist and are not up-to-date on the latest cellular biology discoveries, you will thank Lowenfels many times for the useful 5-page Glossary in the back.

Your awe of plants and the lives they lead will increase if you "just read it" and you'll never garden the same old way again.

Both books are available from Timber Press (www.timberpress.com), local book stores, and online retailers. Prices vary from $25 list to $12 discounted.

You can read Lowenfels’ garden columns online at the Anchorage Daily News http://www.adn.com/jeff-lowenfels. The word snow appears in many of his column titles.

Here's a 2006 article about Lowenfels in the Wall Street Journal.

His Soil Food Web lecture is on YouTube here.

Comfort in the Storm

We were not in the tornado path but definitely in the thunderstorms-that-rumble-all-night path.

When you are dog tired from lack of sleep and can't be outside because rain is dumping and lightening is popping and you need comfort, transplanting tiny seedlings in the garden shed can help calm the mind.

Agastache, Survivor parsley, and Asiatic lily seedlings were untangled from their starter cells and moved into individual pots.
Garden-writer booty (free trial plants) and recent native plant purchases were un-potted, roots untangled and re-potted into fresh soil to wait out the soggy soil draining.

Black skies outside while full-spectrum florescent lights blaze inside.

 

Harperella endangered in OK

The Spring 2013 issue of Biosurvey news from the Oklahoma Biological Survey announced that federally endangered Harperella is now also endangered in OK.


US Forest Service

"Harperella is an aquatic, primarily annual herb. The inflorescence is an umbel of small white flowers quite similar to other members of the carrot family. The most distinguishing character of the plant is its unusual leaf form. Leaves are reduced to a hollow, septate central stalk, or "rachis leaf"—an adaptation to a semi-aquatic habitat. Harperella blooms from May through October. Population sizes may vary dramatically from year to year in response to water levels. The Oklahoma population was found along a river in the southeastern part of the state and included two stands of approximately 500 plants."

The link in the first line above will take you to the original article.


Garden Tour today - Tulsa Audubon Society

It was a warm and windy day for a garden tour in Tulsa. My volunteer work consisted of sitting chatting with a lovely woman, Diane Fell, chatting with garden visitors and shopping for native plants.

Diane Fell

Mary Ann King, owner of Pine Ridge Gardens was the vendor at the garden where I spent the day. She brought dozens and dozens of native plants from her Arkansas nursery for us to choose from.

Tulsa Audubon Society's annual tour is a great opportunity to visit gardens and learn from other people who love plants and nature in general.

It's hard to imagine a better way to spend a beautiful day or $5 than to traipse through gardens seeing what creative ways plants, hardscape and garden ornaments can be combined for the pleasure of everyone lucky enough to visit.

Mary Ann King

Here's a link to Pine Ridge Gardens catalog - Mary Ann is one of the most knowledgeable native plant growers in the area.

Jack in the Pulpit is Arisaema triphyllum for your shade garden

Jack in the Pulpit looks way too exotic to be cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9 but it is!

Give it dappled shade, moist, peat-moss enhanced soil and a place it can grow undisturbed.

Native to the Midwest and East regions of North America they grow to 1-3 feet tall and 1 foot wide, with 2-large, green leaves comprised of 2 leaflets each.

A member of the Araceae, Arum, plant family, my little guy is planted in the same area with other Arums though Jack is one-of-a-kind in our garden so far. From what I've read, we would have to plant several to get male/female sex-change, pollination, seedheads, etc.

Its many other names includ Indian Turnip, Indian Almond, Pepper Turnip, Marsh Pepper, Bog Onion, Priest's Pentle, Wood Pulpit, Little Pulpit, Cuckoo Flower, Starchwort, Memory Root, Devil's Ear, Dragonroot, and Brown Dragon according to Phagat's Garden.

Wildwood Web says that the cylindar that we think of as the flower is not the flower
"Jack-in the-pulpits are surely one of the oddest flowering plants in Wildwood. What most people think of as the flower is really an inflorescence, a cluster of flowers. However, the actual flowers in the cluster are hidden away inside the "flower" that we admire. Few people have actually seen the flowers. Instead we see a spongy, cylindrical structure, the "Jack," inside a leaf-like structure that is rolled into a deep cup with an overhanging roof, the "pulpit." The whole ensemble does somewhat resemble a diminutive minister in an old-fashioned high-church pulpit. Botanists call the minister a spadix, while his pulpit is the spathe. In the case of Jack-in-the-pulpits, neither of these is a flower, or part of a flower. Instead, the true flowers are tiny and located at the very base of the spadix inside the spathe."

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARTR

Wildflowers of the Southeastern US says:
"Historical Lore: Calcium oxalate crystals present in the entire plant will cause a powerful burning sensation if eaten raw. Properly drying or cooking removes this effect and the Native Americans used the root as a vegetable. There is one account stating that the Meskwaki Indians would put finely chopped root into meat they would leave for their enemies to find, principally the Sioux. The meat was flavorful and would be consumed, but, in a few hours these enemies would be in so much pain they would die! It is reported that they also used it diagnostically by dropping a seed in a cup of water and if the seed went around four times clockwise the patient would recover and if less the patient would die.  Medical Uses: Despite its possible irritating effects there are several accounts of Native Americans using a preparation of the root on sore eyes. It was also used for cold symptoms and as a tonic. Externally it has been used for various skin infections and against pain and swelling.
WarningNo part of the fresh plant should be taken internally. "

So a warning from the Veterinary Medicine Library - don't let your cattle, goats, sheep or swine graze on these poisonous but uniquely beautiful plants, berries, roots.

The red seedheads resemble that other Arum we love, Lords and Ladies.

Plants! Endlessly interesting and mysterious. What a wonderful hobby.

Wildflowers are blooming everywhere even though the earliest ones are long gone.

Evening Primrose Pink

Here's a handy site to bookmark -

Wildflowers of the United States

and the link is http://uswildflowers.com/

Don't miss browsing around the site in general, by state and/or the additional links provided.

Perenials for our zone 7 gardens from Anne Pinc

After a lifetime of growing plants for her customers, Anne Pinc knows what succeeds in our area. There will be only two more chances to buy from Pinc at the Cherry Street Farmer’s Market in Tulsa (http://www.cherrystreetfarmersmarket.com) since she stops selling at the end of May.

The Cherry St. Farmer’s Market is open Saturdays from 7 to 11 a.m. on 15^th St. near Peoria St., and it is so popular that many people plan to arrive well before the opening hour.

Here are some of the many plants to look for that she grows and recommends for area gardens –

Pinc grows several varieties of the ever-popular Clematis vine. Clematis is generally reliable in our area, climbing fences, trellises and shrubs and blooming with white, purple, red or pink single flowers. They thrive with 5-hours of daily sun, neutral soil that has plenty of compost added and weekly watering.

Shade loving Hostas range in size from miniature to quite large and have colors from deep green to bright yellow-green. They are herbaceous perennials that die back to the ground during cold months and return in late spring to decorate areas under trees. Hostas form large clumps that can grow to 6-feet across in zones 3 to 8. They flower but many gardeners remove the flowers since they are insignificant.

Pinc offers several Hosta varieties including Elvis Lives, Dancing Queen and Lemon Delight.

Hosta Elvis Lives is blue with wavy leaf edges. The clumps can grow 5-feet wide. The flowers are lavender, hummingbird attractors. Dancing Queen has unique, large yellow leaves and purple flowers. Dancing Queen grows 18-inches tall and 3-feet wide. Lemon Delight is a small, rapidly growing, variegated variety. The leaf-centers are dark green and the edges are yellow. Lemon Delight has purple flowers on 12-inch stems.

Flowering Maple, Albutilon Fairy Coral Red, is also called Chinese bell flower. It is not a maple but acquired that common name because of its maple-shaped leaves. All Albutilons are popular food plants for butterfly caterpillars. The plants like half-sun and mature at 2.5 feet tall. The gorgeous mallow-type flowers are sunset colors of orange and pink. They are cold-hardy to zone 7 so might have to be protected in an unusually cold winter.

Campanula is another plant that is commonly called Bellflower. Campanula is grown for its long-lasting, blue, cut flowers for vases. They prefer well-drained soil and full sun to part-shade.

Pinc also grows miniature Solomon’s Seal, Polygonatum humile, for shade and for fairy gardens. It forms a colony over the years, with tiny white flowers close to the ground in contrast to full-size Solomon’s Seal which grows up to 2-feet tall with the flowers hidden under the leaves. 

Amsonia Blue Ice or Blue Star thrives in full or part sun in zones 5 to 9. Amsonias bloom in May and June with pale blue flowers. In the fall their leaves turn gold and add beauty to the fall garden. It is a wildflower native that thrives on moist or dry soil, sun or part shade, and is deer proof. Bluestar grows 1.5 feet tall and wide and can be planted in masses in rock gardens or woodlands.

Lead Plant, Amorpha canescens, is another great, woody, native plant for our gardens. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall, with silver-leaves and purple flowers. Like most silver-leafed plants, Lead Plant can withstand a long drought; its roots grow as much as 15-feet into the soil. Give it full sun and average soil and it will thrive, attracting bees, moths and butterflies.

If you visit the Cherry St. Farmer’s Market this weekend, stop by Pinc’s Collector’s Garden and ask about perennial plants for your garden. Information: annepinc@cox.net.

Turquoise Tails sedum is Sedum sediforme

What a thrill to see Turquoise Tails sedum named as the first sedum in the Plant Select^® program. This hard-working plant plays a huge part in our garden!

Turquoise Tails sedum was pioneered by Kelly Grummons, and Scott and Lauren Ogden, though I have zero memory as to how it first came to live in our yard.


Used as an edging for  Hosta bed

It is an heirloom, native to the Mediterranean.  It has spiky, turquoise-blue succulent leaves and in May-June it has small yellow flowers.

The compact mounds create an accent for water-smart gardens. I use it as an edging plant for yards and yards of flower beds.

This wonderful, work-horse of a succulent is winter hardy to zone 5a (-15 to -20° F).  It survives with very little care once established, is drought tolerant as well as deer/bunny resistant.

"New Plants and Flowers" says, "The first sedum in the US Plant Select program, Turquoise Tails is featured in the latest newsletter of this cooperative initiative administered by Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University in concert with horticulturists and nurseries throughout the Rocky Mountain region and beyond. “Several years ago, Kelly Grummons and Lauren Springer Ogden approached us with the suggestion to promote this tough, old-world Sedum sediforme. After successful trials and evaluations, we’re pleased to announce this turquoise-blue succulent is now available through member nurseries and growers”, can be read in the newsletter.
Expected to become one of the more popular species."

Mid-May flowers

Turquoise Tails Blue Sedum (Sedum sediforme)
Perennial
Height: 4-6”
Width: 8-12”
Blooms: June-July (that must be in Denver because ours is already in bloom or at least budding)
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to xeric
Hardiness: USDA zones 5a-10
Culture: Sandy soil, loam, clay

Veronica is for every garden no matter which varieties appeal to you

There are 250 Veronica varieties including annuals, perennials, shrubs and sub-shrubs. Some grow in water and others grow on rocky hills but most grow in gardens with a minimum of care.

The rock garden Veronicas do well in poor, well-drained soil in full sun and border Veronicas grow best in moderately fertile sunny locations.

The primary problem gardeners have with Veronicas is that soggy soil makes them vulnerable to root rot, leaf scale and mildew.  Take care that they receive plenty of sun and are not over or under watered.

Veronica Waterperry Blue 5/13

Veronica peduncularis is a mat-forming, low-growing, group of ground covers, ideal for stepping stones and growing over the edge of rock or brick planters. A 4-inch nursery pot will spread by rhizomes into a 1-foot square area in the first year. It is one of the plants recently called “step-able” because it can take some foot traffic.

Two water-wise walkable groundcovers are 2-inch tall Veronica liwanensis, Turkish Speedwell, that makes a purple-flowering lawn and 2-inch Veronica oltensis, or Thyme-leaf Speedwell, which has tiny green leaves and hundreds of blue flowers

Some of the popular Veronica pedunclaris include: Georgia Blue also called Oxford Blue and Waterperry Blue. They have glossy, purple-tinged leaves about 1/2-inch long and periwinkle blue flowers. Waterperry is considered to be a more stable plant with better flowers. They are cold hardy in USDA zones 6 to 8 and do best in heat zones 8 to 6.

Georgia Blue grows 9-inches tall with flowers that are used for bouquets. Both varieties will naturalize into clumps.

Veronica spicata is sometimes called Spike Speedwell. These also form a mat of plants but grow one-to-two-feet tall with white, blue, pink, violet or purple flower spikes.

Veronica spicata Sunny Border Blue forms clumps of 18-inch tall plants with toothed, dark-green leaves. The spikes of mid-blue flowers last for several weeks.  They are cold hardy in zones 3 to 8 and do best in heat zones 8 to 1.

V. spicata Icicle has spikes of white flowers on a one-foot tall plant, Noah Williams has variegated leaves and white flowers, and Red Fox (Rotfuchs) is a compact plant with dark pink flowers in mid to late summer. Red Fox is grown as a cutting flower.

Royal Candles is another recommended V. spicata (Spiked Veronica) variety that has 12-inch spikes of blue flowers on 10-inch tall plants. This one is sometimes called Glory Royal Candles.

Veronica austriaca teucrium is a mat-forming variety with silver-gray-green leaves and stems on plants that can grow to 3-feet tall. The 4 to 6 inch spikes of blue flowers last for weeks over the summer. Crater Lake Blue has early summer gentian-blue flowers on a 1-foot tall plant, Kapitan grows 16-inches wide and Shirley Blue has 4-inch tall pikes of blue flowers from late spring to early summer.

Veronica prostrata or Prostrate Speedwell is another mat-forming variety but this one has branched stems with ½ inch leaves on six to 10-inch tall plants that form 16-inch wide clumps. The flower spikes are only 1 to 2 inches tall.

Prostrate Speedwell Dick's Wine is a ground cover that grows to about 10 inches tall with wine-rose flowers that cover the leaves. Heavenly Blue matures at 3-inches tall with blue flowers. Lodden Blue is 8-inches tall with blue flowers. Trehane has yellow-green leaves and blue flowers.

Veronica seeds can be started indoors in the winter or plants can be purchased in the perennials section of a garden center for spring planting. Their flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Space the plants a foot or two apart in soil that has been loosened. Top with 2-inches of mulch to prevent weeds and retain moisture. Divide every few years.

Perky-Pet Hummingbird Feeder

What else can you say about a hummingbird feeder? Within 20-minutes of hanging it, they were there eating.

Perky-Pet hummingbird feeder does not come with a hangar so I just fed some kitchen string through the hole on the top. The model in the photo is a little over $20.

I did not purchase commercial food but found an easy method online.
NECTAR RECIPE FROM ONLINE
In a pot combine 1 part sugar to 4 parts water (1 cups water + 4/2 cup sugar) and boil it for 2 minutes to get out the chlorine. Let it cool and fill.

The amount you see in the feeder is about the entire amount so it holds quite a bit. The tag on it says it holds 16 ounces.

The glass is thick and the plastic feeder stands are sturdy. It has what the company calls a built-in funnel that did make it foolproof to fill, though I used a plastic kitchen funnel to be sure I didn't pour it all over the place.

The company sent it to me to try out and review and I give it a thumbs up.