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Garden Club Gossip & Glee

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MILLBROOK & AREA GARDEN CLUB

 "If it is true that one of the greatest pleasures of gardening lies in looking forward, then the planning of next year's beds and borders must be one of the most agreeable occupations in the gardener's calendar.  This should make October and November particularly pleasant months, for then we may begin to clear our borders, to cut down those sodden and untidy stalks, to dig up and increase our plants, and to move them to other positions where they will show up to greater effect.  People who are not gardeners always say that the bare beds of winter are uninteresting; gardeners know better, and take even a certain pleasure in the neatness of the newly dug, bare, brown earth."-   Vita Sackville-West (1892 – 1962) notable English garden designer – known for her revolutionary garden Sissinghurst

 

Call for Submissions!!!

 

The last issue of Gossip and Glee for 2020 with be on Monday December 14th . Then it will go into hibernation for the winter and will resume in March 2021. Because we will not be able to meet for our annual Christmas get-together and PowerPoint show and tell, gardeners are invited to submit their tales of ‘woe’ or ‘wow’ for the two December newsletters – the 7th and the 14th.  Your tale of agony or ecstasy, or both, can be one sentence, point form or longer. Photos are welcome, but because service providers limit the size of emails, there may be a limit. Send your tales of garden victory and/or defeat to our communications co-ordinator.

A ‘wow’ can be a garden surprise like this plant below. One of our members bought this trailing succulent plant at a garden centre in the spring for a planter and then was pleasantly surprised when this mystery plant bore these lovely vibrant unusual flowers.  This tropical plant is a mouthful -  Dorotheanthus bellidiformis 'Mezoo Trailing Red'….. the common name -  Red Livingstone Daisy or Trailing Ice Plant. Seeing how unique it is, she brought the plant indoors for the winter!  Perhaps a plant others might like to try next year!

 

Photo by author

 

 

The surprise snowfall last Tuesday is a reminder that it is time, if one has not already, to think about feeding our feathered friends that overwinter in our area including those sweet little juncos that have arrived. The  interesting information below is from a US west coast based website … the  slate coloured dark-eyed junco is the species that frequents Southern Ontario during the winter as well as across Canada.

 

 

Fun Facts About Juncos

         The Dark-eyed Junco is currently divided into six distinct populations that include the following: Oregon, Pink-sided, White-winged, Slate-colored, Gray-headed, and Red-backed Juncos. There are an additional 12 subspecies divided among these populations.

         The Dark-eyed Junco has been documented to produce hybrids with White-throated Sparrows.

         Dark-eyed Juncos are often called “Snowbirds,” possibly due to the fact that many people believe their return from their northern breeding grounds foretells the return of cold and snowy weather. Another possible source of the nickname may be the white belly plumage and slate-colored back of the junco which has been described as “leaden skies above, snow below.”

         Juncos spend the entire winter in flocks averaging in size from six to thirty or more birds.

         Dark-eyed Juncos tend to return to the same area each winter. Chances are that you have many of the same birds at your feeder this winter that you had in previous years.

         Visiting flocks of juncos will usually stay within an area of about 10 acres during their entire winter stay.

         To avoid the competition, many female juncos migrate earlier and go farther south than most of the males. In Michigan only 20% of the wintering juncos are females, whereas in Alabama 72% were found to be female.

         Male juncos tend to spend the winter farther north in order to shorten their spring migration and thus gain the advantage of arriving first at prime breeding territories.

         When migrating, female juncos move south before the males do, and adult females leave before the young females.

         Juncos migrate at night at very low altitudes and are susceptible to collisions with communication towers and other structures.

         Each winter flock of juncos has a dominance hierarchy with adult males at the top, then juvenile males, adult females and young females at the bottom. You can often observe individuals challenging the status of others with aggressive displays of lunges and tail flicking.

         While almost all Slate-colored Juncos in the Eastern portion of North America migrate, a population of juncos in the Appalachian Mountains is residential, remaining in the same area year-round.

         While the southward migration of Slate-colored Juncos is complete by early December, there is some evidence that indicates that harsh winter weather may spur some Juncos to move further south at anytime during the winter.

         Juncos have over 30 percent more feathers (by weight) in the winter than they do in summer.

         Juncos prefer to roost in evergreens at night but will also use tall grasses and brush piles. They return to the same roost location repeatedly and will share it with other flock mates, but they do not huddle together.

         The name junco is derived from the Latin word for the “rush” plant found in wetlands.

         Partners in Flight currently estimates the North American population of Dark-eyed Juncos at approximately 260 million, second only to the American Robin in overall population size in North America. A separate research paper estimates that the junco population could actually be as high as 630 million.

         According to Project Feeder Watch, juncos are sighted at more feeding areas across North America than any other bird. Over 80% percent of those responding report juncos at their feeders.

         A study in New Hampshire on the foraging habitats of the Slate-colored Juncos found that they spent over 65% their time on the ground, 20% in shrubs, 16% in saplings or low trees. They were never observed in the canopy of large trees.

         Juncos, along with some other members of the sparrow family, practice an interesting foraging method called “riding.”  They fly up to a seed cluster on the top of a grass stem and “ride” it to the ground where they pick off the seeds while standing on it.

         Juncos are known to burrow through snow in search of seeds that have been covered over.

         On an annual basis, a junco’s diet is made up of approximately three parts seeds to one part insects. During the nesting period, the percent of insects can increase up to 50 or 60 % of their diet.

         You may not like these weeds in your yard, but the seeds of chickweed, ragweed, knotweed, pigweed, lamb’s quarters and crabgrass are some of the main natural seed sources used by juncos.

         You can attract juncos to your yard by feeding a seed blend containing millet and hulled sunflower seeds.

         Male juncos return and reclaim the same breeding territory year after year.

         Juncos typically have two broods per year with the female building her nest on or near the ground and laying 3-5 eggs. The male does not incubate the eggs but does deliver food to the young and helps the female to defend against predators. The young leave the nest in 9-12 days.

         Studies have shown that Dark-eyed Junco’s nests are the victim of predators between 20 and 80% of the time.  Rodents such as chipmunks and deer mice are probably the major predators on the eggs of juncos.

The longevity records for juncos are: White-winged - 7.5 years; Slate-colored - 11 years, 4 months; Oregon - 9 years, 9 months; Gray-headed - 10 years, 8 months. https://sites.google.com/site/wbumadison/juncos

 

!Houseplant Spotlight!

 

Saintpaulia or African Violet 

Left: African violets can be found everywhere, here a mixed pot of standard type Saintpaulia in Millbrook Foodmart; Right: a bowl of miniature Saintpaulia in a variety of colours (photos by author)

Family: Gesneriaceae,  Genus: Saintpaulia

                    

The African Violet is the most familiar of houseplants, and a world-wide favourite mainly because of its ability to flower at almost any time of year. The variegations are almost endless - from white and pink through to magenta, blue to purple; single or double blooms; smooth, wavy or variegated leaves, miniatures and trailing varieties – there’s something to please any indoor gardener. And yet it is somewhat finickity in its requirements in order to produce all those blooms.

Originating on the forest floor in the humidity and dampness of the cloud forests in the mountains of Tanzania and Kenya, it was named in honour of Baron Saintpaul-Illaire, and his father who discovered it and introduced it to Europe in 1893.

 

Secrets of Success

 

1. Temperature: just like people, African violets thrive in a range from 65’F to 75’ F (18 – 24’ C), out of the way of cold drafts from an open door or window.

 

2. Light: bright, indirect light from a south- or east-facing window in winter; or a west facing window in summer. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves. For winter blooming some artificial light should be provided at night. If grown under fluorescent lights, they should be placed about 12 inches above the plants for 14 hours daily.

                                              

3. Watering: The soil should be kept moist but not soggy. Wait until the surface is dry before watering, or feel a leaf to see if it is limp. Always use tepid water and try to avoid splashing water on the leaves, since this can cause discoloration. Plant in a plastic pot with drainage holes to prevent root rot.

 

To water from the bottom, fill the saucer or bottom of a cachepot with water, let the plant absorb the water for about 10 minutes, then pour out the excess.

 

Some growers recommend self-watering pots or a pot with a wick that absorbs water from a neighbouring container of water. This keeps the soil constantly moist. However, the drawback to these methods is that harmful salts can build up in the soil so the plant should occasionally be watered thoroughly from the top until water drains out the bottom of the pot.

 

4. Humidity: High humidity is essential. It is recommended that the plant be placed on a tray of pebbles that is kept moist. However, avoid letting the roots of your African violet sit in water.

 

5. Feeding: If the African Violet potting mix contains fertilizer, your plant will not require extra feeding for several months. Otherwise feed regularly with a standard balanced fertilizer or a specialized African Violet fertilizer, at half-strength.

 

A few extra tips:

 

Remove spent blooms immediately; this will encourage more buds to form.

 

Repotting: Your African Violet can stay in its 4 – 5” pot. If the lower leaves have died off, and have been removed forming a bare “neck”, remove the plant from its pot, cut away an amount from the bottom of the roots equal to the length of the bare neck. Add fresh moist African Violet potting mix diluted one half with perlite or vermiculite to the same pot and set the plant back in its original pot so that the lower leaves are level with the rim of the pot. Water sparingly for a couple of weeks until new roots can grow from the “neck”.

 

Propagating your African Violet is best done in the spring:

1. Remove a mature leaf with a clean knife or scissors.

2. Cut the leaf stem at a 45’ angle and trim it to about ½ inch from the leaf.

3. Stem end can be dipped in rooting hormone, then buried up to the leaf in a small pot filled with fresh moist potting mix diluted half with perlite or vermiculite.

4. Cover with a small clear plastic bag to help retain humidity.

5. Place in bright light but out of direct sun.

6. The leaf should root in about 1 month and produce tiny plantlets in 2 to 3 months. As these new plantlets grow they can be transferred to their own pots in 4 or 5 months.

 

References: gesneriads.info/articles/saintpaulia/early-discovery-naming,

                   The New Houseplant Expert by Dr. D.G. Hessayon

 

Obedient Plant – NOT!

On the left - close-up of the flower heads of commonly called Obedient Plant – On the right - variegated leaved more ‘obedient’ form (photo by author)

 

 

‘Obedient’ plant  (Physotegia virginiana) is often a staple at plant sales because of its ‘non-obedient’ vigorous spreading growth habit. ‘Obedient plant’ gets its name from the fact that the blooms will stay in place if they are moved to a different position. Each individual flower will, upon being pushed in any one direction, temporarily remain in the new position as if it were hinged.

It is also sometimes called “False Dragonhead” because the flowers are suggestive of the flowers of the plant dragonhead (Dracocephalum) and also because of the flowers' resemblance to snapdragons which are also commonly called ‘dragonheads’.

There are about a dozen species of ‘Dragonhead’ in North America, but only, Physostegia virginiana is indigenous to Ontario. This species is likely the only one found for sale in garden centres or nurseries. It occurs naturally over a large part of North America along river banks and wet meadows. Native wild populations, are usually light pink or whitish with purple tints and are found mainly in wetlands.  Since it will tolerate part shade and wet soils, it makes a good plant for problem areas in a garden that might be a bit boggy.

 While it likes wetter conditions, it will also thrive in average,  well-drained soils in full sun.  The square stems tend to flop if planted in rich soils, or if in too much shade or during a time of hot summer temperatures. Taller plants may need staking.   The leaves will curl and dry out in times of drought.

Obedient plant produces tubular, two-lipped, snapdragon-like, pink to pale lilac to even white flowers in upright long terminal spikes (each to 12-18” – 30 to 45 cm) atop square stems rising to 2-4’  (.6 to 1.2 m) tall.  The square stems are clad with opposite, narrow-lanceolate, sharply-toothed leaves which can turn a lovely deep red colour in the fall.  It will bloom from late August to late October.  Some, including the variegated form, were still in bloom in the Moraine garden until that surprise snowfall bent the plants to the ground.

Obedient plant belongs to the Lamiaceae (Mint Family) and thus has the notorious fast- ranging growth habit of mints. However, its root system is shallow so it is not a hard plant to control and is worthy of a place in every garden.

While the plants are noted for being aggressive spreaders in the landscape by both rhizomes and self-seeding  (it is important to cut down the seed heads!), there are newer varieties like ‘Miss Manners’ that have a more compact growth habit and are not as aggressive. The variegated varieties are also not as aggressive.