The Garden Buzz

Native Bee Challenge

Look for these distinctive and colorful native bee species the next time you're out in the garden!

Long Horned Bee

 

Mason Bee

 

Eastern Bumblebees

 

 

Green Sweat Bee

 

Sweat bee

A Surprising Second Wave of Migrating Butterflies

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The sudden blast of cool air from yesterday’s storm seems to have seen off the many monarchs from my garden. They drank their fill from the tall spikes of purple liatris and anise hyssop and disappeared, now bumblebees are foraging around the leftovers.

Monarchs aren’t the only butterflies that migrate. At this moment at least fifty painted lady butterflies are fluttering about my garden as they continue on south. They are nectaring on the blooms of salvia, dahlia, purple hyacinth bean, scarlet runner bean, dill, cosmos and zinnias, mostly around the kitchen garden where the warm southern exposure creates a welcoming microclimate. At times they stop and bask on the steppingstones or wood siding of our house, sheltering from the chilly breeze.

Painted Lady butterfly on scarlet runner bean blossom

Painted lady (Vanessa cardui) butterflies don’t make the dramatic migration like that of the monarchs however they do travel great distances. They are found in all continents except Antarctica and Australia. Notably they migrate from North Africa to the UK and back by the millions. In North America it’s thought they do a sort of mini-migration in search of food sources.

There may be more to it than that. Often we think there’s nothing more to learn but migrating insects are still a mystery in many ways. Remember the monarch migration destination was only discovered in 1976! Sounds like a citizen science project in the making.

Usually the territory of hummingbirds, Painted Lady butterflies nectaring on Salvia 'Mystic Spires'

Earlier this summer when I was speaking at a conference three hours northwest of here lots of folks kept telling me about all of these “orange butterflies” that they were seeing everywhere. We quickly determined they were painted ladies that had migrated north. I assume these are subsequent generations moving south. It must be a good year for this species.

Years ago the kids and I were lucky to witness a wave of painted ladies feeding on the chive borders in my Kansas kitchen garden. My son filmed the beautiful creatures with one of those huge video cameras of the day. I wonder where that tape has gone? I just texted him to let him know what an awesome experience that was to share with him years ago. Keep on planting for pollinators, so that his children and yours will see similar sights of wonder for themselves.

Kitchen Garden Companions: Red Zinnias and Butter Beans

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It sounds like the name of a cute cafe or perhaps a quaint kitchen shop but it happens to be one of my favorite combos from the kitchen garden this season:

One of my favorite vignettes in the kitchen garden this year, a combination of cauliflower 'Vitaverde' and red 'Moulin Rouge' zinnias planted through a row of butter beans in the spot where an earlier planting of peas had finished.
Bush type beans don't usually have a lot of visual pizazz but these are taller and have little pale yellow (butter yellow) blossoms held high on their stems. I even spied a hummingbird sipping on one. Yes, that is another name for Lima beans. I am hoping the tender young homegrown ones will live up to their buttery name.
I can't say enough about those red zinnias (available from Renee's Garden Seeds), don't be afraid of red flowers, they are such a cheerful addition to this edible landscape, and so, so popular with all of the pollinators.
The blue-green foliage of the cauliflower and then the chartreuse heads are an eye-pleasing treat as well. Next up roasted cauliflower!

It's National Pollinator Week: I'm going on a rant

I hate to go negative on National Pollinator week. People who know me know that I rarely engage in social media drama or any back and forth. However I’m going to deliver a bit of a rant.

Every day is Pollinator Day for me since I’m always writing or speaking on this popular subject. It’s great to see people rally behind these vital creatures. So it irks me to no end to see folks posting and passing along misleading and erroneous information on pollinators.

Viral Voodoo

It has to do with that “vinegar-Epsom salts-dish soap” weed killing concoction. Usually when I see this viral voodoo making the rounds yet again, I roll my eyes, cringe and sigh, oh no not again. And then I scroll away.

But this time the “organic” weed killer was touted as a way to protect pollinators as an alternative to Roundup. If it weren’t for all the people making enthusiastic comments about using it or wanting to try it, the bad science behind it would be laughable. When I posted a comment and link concerning this they were deleted from the thread. That just made me sad.

I find it so discouraging that people try to tag onto the pollinator bandwagon by promoting this type of gardening advice when the biology doesn’t add up.

Here's why

Here’s why. (But first I’ll tell you I’m no fan of Roundup, or glyphosate).

1. Insecticides kill insects; herbicides kill vegetation, not just weeds but anything they come in contact with. Roundup is an herbicide. The person spraying determines what they believe is a weed.
2. Vinegar, Epsom salts and dish soap may be familiar products, harmless in most cases alone, but they are still chemicals.
3. This combination of products may indeed kill small weeds and knock back some bigger ones, but it will most certainly damage your soil.
4. Ironically the actual act of killing weeds is what harms pollinators!
5. This is because many common weeds such as thistle, violets, nettles, plantain, clover, and some grasses are larval hosts to butterfly caterpillars. Without these “weeds” many butterfly species can’t reproduce since those are the only plants their “babies” can eat. Read more here.
6. Leaving some weeds in wild edges, unused areas or other places will go along way in pollinator conservation. Who knew!

Monarch caterpillar on milkweed

The only truly safe, organic method for killing weeds is a hefty application of elbow grease!

Good reading

I’ll link here so you can read a thoughtful, well-researched article by my Star Tribune colleague and fellow Extension Master Gardener, http://www.startribune.com/some-organic-weed-control-remedies-aren-t-as-safe-as-they-sound/323254201/

Gardening #goals

As a lifelong gardener and University Extension Master Gardener it is my goal and wish that people have enjoyable, successful, and sustainable gardening experiences. That’s why you always find my information is research-based. Any “homemade” solution or folklore will be designated as such.

Be careful before you share

When people share gardening tips or advice they need to remember that what works in their garden may not work well in others due to the incredible variations in weather, soil, rainfall, and dozens of other differences in a huge country like the US. They also need to do their homework and check the source before spreading it on. When in doubt call your local extension or go to a website that has .edu showing that it is university-based info.

Happy gardening! And Happy Pollinator Week!

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Happy National Pollinator Week and An Announcement!

The Unexpected Smells of Autumn

Ah, the smells of autumn, dusty-musty falling leaves and chimney smoke borne on crisp, dry air. There's nothing I love more than that campfire fragrance that lingers longer on your flannel-check shirt come fall. This week I've been lucky with a chance for that smoky smell, twice. 

The first opportunity was pure serendipity, you had to be at the right place at the right time as a neighbor with a new outdoor pizza oven and lots of leftover dough was rounding up people out raking leaves. I have to confess we weren't raking but heading off on a rug-buying run which we quickly abandoned in favor of wood-fired food.

Flatbread pizza hits the fire

The same week friends with a way above-average talent for backyard design asked us over to sit by the fire, my favorite kind of invite. Seating fashioned from wood pallets covered in plaid blankets forms an inglenook for enjoying the toasty warmth. The actual fire pit is a high semi-circle of "found" rocks that radiates heat so efficiently. Flames are conducive to good conversation, we discussed the upcoming election, fat-content and flavor of various fast food burgers and owls among other things.

But all this woodsy odor isn't unexpected. Well, I'm getting to that. Go out to my small backyard (we have a mullet-style garden, it's all pollinator-party in the front and rainwater management-business in the back) and you find yourself sniffing and saying hmmm, what is that? 

Katsura, Cercidiphyllum japonicum: I love the leaves on this specimen tree. They are usually described as heart-shaped, hence the many comparisons to the equally adorable redbud tree. For me they resemble round coins, especially golden coins when they turn color in fall. As the leaves dry out they produce a burnt-sugar smell similar to cotton candy. 

 

The colorful, fragrant leaves of the Katsura

Prairie Dropseed, Sporoblulus heterolepsis: This graceful grass is a favorite of mine, a hardy native with high habitat value for wildlife. Starting in early fall pinkish-tan blooms form above the wiry blades. These blooms are called panicles and they smell just like popcorn.

Hmm, what smells like popcorn?

 

Bugbane, Actaea simplex, 'Black Negligee': Such a racy name for this cultivar, referring to its lacy dark foliage and come-hither blooms. You may previously know this plant as "cimicifuga" (pronounced semi-se-fooga), more fun to say but killjoy botanists have reclassified it. It's one of the last flowers to bloom in my garden each year. You'd expect the fragrance to be something spicy, perhaps musky. But no, it's unmistakably grape soda!

Pollinators love the scent too.

Funny that completely unplanned these plants should all end up in my garden within a few feet of each other. Altogether they celebrate the end-of-season joys of the garden. If asked to name a perfume combining all of their scents, no doubt I would call it State Fair!

Pollinator Friendly Plants: Anise Hyssop

 I can't say enough about anise hyssop. It's a carefree perennial with so many endearing characteristics. First and foremost it is beloved by so many pollinators; bees of all sorts, butterflies and hummingbirds — the holy trinity, the trifecta! Minutes ago when I took my camera to the garden I counted at least six monarchs on this single plant! Such a great source of nectar at this crucial time before they begin their arduous migration.

How many pollinators can you see?

Agastache foeniculum , not to be confused with other hyssops, is a stately plant that reaches 4 feet tall and around 3-4 feet in width. With pretty pale purple flower spikes and dark green slightly crinkled foliage it's an attractive candidate for the back of the border, herb garden, meadow or mixed native planting. Here in my Minnesota garden it blooms starting in late August, a welcome sight when other flowers are starting to fade. Anise hyssop is rarely bothered by pests, better yet deer find it unappealing.

Besides being ornamental, it qualifies as an herb, a plant for both "use and delight". The fragrant leaves make a lovely tisane (an herbal "tea") that smells of root beer or licorice depending upon your sniffer. Some folks use the leaves in jellies, the seeds in baked goods. The individual florets could adorn a salad.

Anise hyssop is easy to grow in zones 4-8, thriving in full sun and average, well-drained soil but adapting to dry soil or part shade if necessary. It may naturalize in places where it's happy, spreading by rhizome or self-seeding. Share with neighbors and friends if it gets too big.

 

Where Have You Been, Garden Buzz?

I can explain. For those of you who wonder what's happened to the somewhat timely postings of The Garden Buzz. No, I didn't get swallowed up in a garden sinkhole. Rather, remember how I wrote that book, the one on Pollinator Friendly Gardening? Well, being my first book, I really had no idea what occurs after the intense period of writing the actual book. I had thoughts of putting my feet up, perhaps letting out a long and well-deserved sigh. But no! Turns out there's more work once it's published, only different, and equally time consuming. 

You see, then you have to sell the book. Wait, isn't that what the bookstores do? Not really. Those books don't fly off the shelves by themselves. 

This is the point when I can say things like, "My publicist...". I know, how cool is that, I have a publicist. Who ever thought that would be the case? Ha!

The publicist's job is to put. you. out. there. She pitches and woos all the media to get your name and your book on everyone's mind. Boy did she! She made sure that people from Detroit to Seattle, Mississippi to New Jersey heard about my book. The book has been featured in big time magazines like Better Homes and Gardens, and Eating Well.

And she makes sure no moss grows under your feet or laptop. In response to all of the publicity needs I've been writing stories, presenting programs, giving interviews, guesting on radio shows and podcasts, hosting garden tours and more, all with the express purpose of publicizing "the book". 

It's the part where the introvert author is forced to put on her brave face for the public, after all that word is right there in the term publicity. Don't get me wrong I like people, but usually in small doses and on my own terms. It's not meant in any way to be misconstrued, but I do have a small bit of Sheldon Cooper about me. I wrestle with the opposing advice of "fake it until you make it" vs "be authentic". But once I do get in front of people I find I love sharing my message of gardening for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. It's mostly the thought of it that frightens me.

Since then I've found it fascinating to be on the other end of the interview. It's been an education about how other forms of media work, who knew you had to be on the phone, preferably a landline, at 6:18 am or 7:33am at that very moment ready to talk sense on live radio? It's been humbling hearing words of support and encouragement while signing books.

Lots of people ask how long it took to write the book. I don't know why, do they think the longer it took the better? Or maybe more likely they are just curious. However I tell them it was the culmination of long years of gardening experience and observation, loads of photography and then a very condensed and disciplined phase of "head down" work. I wrote the book in four and a half months from early fall through late winter with time off for holidays with my family. For two months I was down south for the winter alone, and towards the end I got a little wobbly. But I made my deadline three days early. At which point I rewarded myself with a walk on the beach and a shrimp basket from Gerald's at Tybee Island.

Every book is different and every writer's process is unique. Part of my job was to take somewhat foreboding scientific material and translate it into accessible information that would educate and inspire folks to make meaningful changes in the way they garden in order to welcome and sustain these vital creatures that perform pollination so crucial to our food systems. No small task.

 So here I am saying I hope to be more present in my blog. After all it was the leaping off point that provided me so many writing opportunities. In that regards I want to thank all the readers who've stuck with me through these years and welcome all those who are just joining in. Do checkout my Facebook page under the same name for the latest advice and adventures of The Garden Buzz.

Happy gardening!

---Rhonda

 

 

 

Spring Ephemerals: Now You See Them...

For more current advice and adventures be sure to check out my Facebook Page, The Garden Buzz

 

 

 

Don't blink. You might miss these great little plants. You may think daffodils herald the arrival of spring but these native bloomers know just when spring is really here. Look for it and others on the list to be the first to bloom as temperatures moderate and winter leaves for sure.

Bloodroot, a native ephemeral blooming in the woods

These early blooming plants are especially important for pollinators as they emerge in spring when many other food sources are scarce.

Consider planting one or more of these charmers:

• Bloodroot
• Dutchman's Breeches
• Trillium
• Trout Lily
• Hepatica
• Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Leave a comment and tell me about the ephemerals growing in your neck of the woods! I'd love to hear about them.

 

Five Great Books For Your Best Garden Yet

There is nothing more beautiful than the garden you envision on cold winter days. It is weed-free and without an aphid in sight. The flowers are petal-soft perfect and the foliage is lush. The sun is bright while a light breeze teases the leaves. And it only rains a gentle pitter-patter at night.

Lots of gardeners are getting out their seed packets and counting the days until spring, but chances are there are still plenty of cold days for planning and dreaming. Do you have new ideas for your garden this year? Perhaps you want to create a haven for wildlife, a small space for edibles or a sanctuary for your soul; maybe you just want to get a handle on what you’re already growing. Whatever your garden goals let me suggest five books to inspire your best garden for 2016.

Pollinator Friendly Gardening

My book is here at last!

Of course I have to mention my own first! Pollinator Friendly Gardening: Gardening for Bees, Butterflies and Other Pollinators offers much to the gardener wishing to make meaningful changes, big or small, to welcome and support these vital creatures. After many years of adding and enhancing habitat value in my own gardens, I wanted to share my experiences with others in the hope of creating healthier and happier homes for both people and pollinators. The book includes design tips, pollinator life cycle and behaviors, plant lists, interviews with noted experts, gorgeous photos (my own) and more.

Learn about the needs of native bees

 

Find out how to grow a Bee Safe Yard

In depth advice on butterfly gardening

 More Books

The Cancer Survivor’s Garden Companion is a heartfelt ode to gardening’s role in recognizing and overcoming both the physical and emotional challenges of a cancer diagnosis. Jenny Peterson’s adept storytelling talent provides a reassuring voice throughout while providing practical advice on gardening solutions that address the special needs of people in various stages of healing and recovery.

Noted green lifestyle expert Shawna Coronado comes through again with her book Grow A Living Wall: Create Vertical Gardens with Purpose. Many vertical garden concepts often seen on Pinterest show more style than substance without regard to proper plant choice, light and drainage. In her book however Shawna not only talks the talk but walks the walk, having built and tested many of these vertical creations in her own backyard. Let her take you through the steps in maximizing your growing space with vertical veggie gardens and more.

Ten years ago Fran Sorin published Digging Deep: Unearthing Your Creative Roots Through Gardening. It is just as pertinent today in its revised edition. Long before the concept of mindfulness was bandied about she eloquently described the importance of remaining open to and connecting with nature in your garden. With tips and exercises she takes you through the process of finding your true garden style while finding serenity in the soil.

Finally, an oldie but goodie. For those wanting to understand the hows, whens and whys of pruning, deadheading, pinching and cutting back, there is The Well-Tended Perennial Garden by Tracy DiSabato-Aust. Tracy’s methods and techniques for tending perennial flowers will give you a new and better understanding of their possibilities in your garden. This book will make you a more confident gardener.

Wrapping Evergreens for Winter: Good Idea or Too Much Love?

An update on the burlap wrap debate. Is it the Martha effect? You've all seen how she, I mean her sherpas, undertake the arduous process of wrapping her massive collection of evergreens and boxwoods. Here in Minnesota this year I've seen more evergreens wrapped up in burlap coats than ever. I'd like to say they look cozy but so far we've had a weirdly warm winter season. Rather than feeling my nose hairs crackle in the cold I'm sweating on my morning walks, so I wonder how most evergreens are doing under those scratchy shrouds. Of course it's hard to know if it's going to be a mild winter or a polar nightmare when it's time to decide whether to wrap or not to wrap. I'm beginning to wonder if burlap for plants is becoming more of a fashion statement than plant-care technique. Tell me what you think? Good idea or bad? Are you seeing more of this procedure being used in your local landscapes?

Sculptural evergreens all wrapped up tight for winter

Here's my original post... 

It is often said that just as many plants are killed by too much love as a healthy dose of benign neglect. We water them too much, prune them too far and still worry that we aren't doing enough.

When I used to see evergreens around town lovingly wrapped with care, bundled in burlap for the winter, I suffered a fraction of guilt. Like a good mother , it seemed these gardeners had made sure their conifers and boxwoods had their coats, and mittens too. I wondered, was I lax, was I lazy, should I get on board this burlap train?

Boxwood wrapped up for winter

As often is the case in gardening, these issues are not an exact science, so the answer is, "it depends".

Everything comes back around to, "Right plant for the right place".  An evergreen sited in the right location, exposure and soil, with regular watering probably won't need a winter jacket. But how many times does that happen? 

And while we're at it, those anti-dessicant sprays aren't proven to provide protection again winter drying and sunscald. 

Here's a link to an article in the Star Tribune that does a great job of explaining the pros and cons, as well as the times when wrapping evergreens for cold weather is the right thing to do. Check it out and see if your evergreens are a candidate for winter coats.

 

Hummingbird Bait: Seeing Red in the Garden

Red roses, classic. Red geraniums, iconic.

 But that’s where it ends for many gardeners. Red in the garden can be considered old-fashioned or fuddy-duddy. It’s been poo-pooed as gauche or vulgar by refined plantspeople. Sure they’ll go for wine-stained coleus or Bonfire begonias. And folks get giddy over chocolate cosmos in shades of Marsala, the bloody-brown 2015 Pantone Color of the Year.

Chocolate Cosmos is a sophisticated shade of Marsala

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yet you might say pure red is the equivalent of a horticultural stop sign. But hey–ho, hummingbirds love red flowers! Relax!

I decided to test out a few fire-engine red flowers this season. I wanted to see if they did indeed draw in the hummingbirds as advertised. The results were mixed.

Petunia 'Exserta'

 

Petunia 'Exserta', a wild petunia from Brazil

A wild petunia from Brazil, it’s said to be the only petunia naturally pollinated by hummingbirds. Exserta is unusual with its reflexed petals and a distinctive yellow corona. Images of hummingbirds snarfing nectar from the matte red flowers abound. Alas, the bees loved it but I never saw a single hummer on the abundant blooms of this one in my garden. There’s no accounting for taste, no really, different birds in different regions do exhibit certain flower preferences. (Perhaps Exserta is too spicy for Minnesota birds…just kidding.) Annie’s Annuals was my original source but it has re-seeded so much that I might question the “rare” species designation.

 

Zinnia ‘Moulin Rouge Red’

 

Swallowtail on Moulin rouge zinnias

These heirloom cutting zinnias are over my head, literally, six feet tall and bursting with blooms. Singles, doubles, spoony-shaped petals and so on; it’s a mixed bag with full-on red as the common denominator. Popular with bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. In fact I witnessed a hummingbird harassing a Monarch while it foraged on one of the blooms. There were only about 20 more flowers available but the tiny bird wanted that one. Interesting to note that a nearby patch of Zinnia ‘Benary’s Purple’ was hardly touched by any of the large number of pollinators present in my garden. (Note: I received these seeds free from Renee’s Garden Seeds to test in my garden.)

 

Salvia coccinea, Texas Sage

 

Morning light on Texas sage

Dangerously similar to grandma-style red bedding salvias, it’s saving grace is a taller stem and looser blooms. Proving quite a hit with the bees, only a few hummingbirds were intrigued, in spite of being the perfect shape and color. It has self-seeded with abandoned and now pops up all over the kitchen garden. The other day the sun was rising low in the sky and focused a single beam on the sage plant. The little flared blooms seemed to catch fire. I ran to catch it but lost the light.

 In garden design red is a color that appears to recede, sometimes sucking the life from beds or borders. It needs a deft hand to make it work. In my garden I was lucky that the red blooms played well with the orange/gray/red stripes of my patio umbrella.

 Last thoughts: Yes, hummingbirds like red flowers. But while I was experimenting with these wild scarlet specimens, the hummingbirds in my garden were going gaga over a light pink/orange hyssop, Agastache ‘Summer Breeze’ (also from Annie’s), tropical bloodroot (technically half yellow-half red), Black and Blue Salvia and a white verbena. Go figure. The takeaway: Plant lots of flowers and observe the activity in your garden and those of your neighbors to find the perfect hummingbird bait.

Hummingbird browsing on Agastache 'Summer Breeze'.

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