Monarchs

When I heard P. Allen Smith describe orange as a "quarrelsome"color in the garden - that it doesn't get along with other colors, I laughed.

It is true that orange doesn't mix well with the most popular hues we love in gardens: combined with pink, for example, the sight is akin to the clanging of two pot lids. Awful. In some cases, orange can be a high contrast for deep purple.

However, the only orange flower I own is milkweed (asclepias) because it is a Monarch caterpillar host plant.

I planted it next to a yellow butterfly bush to assure the butterflies would find the plant they lay their eggs on with ease. Mother nature did the rest, and every year, to my delight (as if I had something to do with the wonder of nature) I can spy the vivid yellow and black striped caterpillars munching happily away.

I cannot find, hard as I look, where they create their emerald green pupae, though. Now that will be a grand day!

Worrying about them, though, is pointless. The caterpillar is savvy. The juices from the butterfly weed makes them poisonous to birds, which avoid preying on both the caterpillar and the butterfly. That is why Painted Ladies mimic the Monarch in design - they are trying to trick the birds.

This year was an especially glorious season for butterflies, and I had beautiful black swallowtails much of the summer.

Butterflies need a complete habitat. While the butterfly bushes are wonderful, they also need early bloomers and host plants. To attract and track butterflies in Connecticut, visit the Connecticut Butterfly society, www.ctbutterfly.org.


September is the time Monarchs make their great migration to Mexico, and each year the CBS has a field day at Hayley Farm in Groton. There, children can capture various butterflies to examine them before they leave for the winter. The field trip is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, Hayley Farm, Groton. For more information, (860) 859-1326.

One sure way to attract these majestic butterflies to your yard, is the butterfly weed. Look for it in garden centers. If orange is too quarrelsome, try the pink or white variety. I wish I had.

Fall divisions and some fall favorites

I was at a garden center the other day and my neighbor, who is an equally fanatic gardener, said she wanted some of my daylillies to divide. She was also coveting my phlox, which is crowding out my garden bed - and to have someone thin them out would actually be a great favor to me!

But now isn't the time to dig up garden phlox that is a late summer bloomer. Springtime is better - especially when the weather is mild and misty. That is beautiful transplanting weather.

However, there are some spring bloomers that can be divided and put into gardens now.
Generally speaking, if it blooms in the spring, dig and divide in the fall. Likewise, fall bloomers, like mums, are best taken up in the spring (in fact, if you want mums to flourish in general, buy them in the spring). I once made the mistake of ignoring a seasoned nursery man (Wayne Paquette, Quakin' Grass Nursery, Brooklyn) and planted my favorite mum, 'Sheffield Pink' in the fall. It's tips blackened and they died.

While many mums are available now, the ones that will are the best, and good perennials, are also available in the spring - not to say I don't have two mounds of mums that have lasted ten years and were planted...in the fall. It can be done, but it is better to do it in the spring.

These plants can be divided in fall:

Iris
Foxtail lily
Moss phlox
Oriental Poppy
Peony
Pulmonaria (lungwort)


Now is the time to also plant your iris, as well as divide them. I found a fabulous Iris farm that does mail order for the most beautiful, lush iris in unusual colors. You can contact them for a free brochure.
Their address is: www.schreinersgardens.com.

Hostas, which can be considered fall flowering, or summer flowering, are perfect to divide when their crowns are emerging.


I recently posted about my vole woes. Well, if I didn't have a horrible vole problem, I would be taking photos of one of my favorite fall bloomers: Monkshood.

Ironically, it took me years to plant it because all part of the plant are considered poisonous (ha!). So I've posted the photo above.

Another glorious fall bloomer in blue is plumbago, which is a great groundcover or dotting a stone wall. The cobalt blue flowers are tiny explosive bursts, and it also turns a nice fall red.

One other fall bloomer that is a must in my garden (again being attacked by voles) is snakeroot, or bugbane. It likes shade, and is fragrant, being the last attractor of hungry butterflies and hummers.

One last thing -my neighbor, who works at the garden center, spray painted the spent heads of an astilbe bright blue. It's a tact I've only read about and was quite startling. Other dried flower heads can also get bursts of color from a spray can, such as hydrangea.

I'll check in later with some of my fall favorites to share.

Meanwhile, Happy spray painting!

Hibiscus....and sawflys

A couple of posts ago I was bemoaning my end of summer garden. It is true I look forward to the flush of fall, the color, and the cooler temperatures.

And, if it hadn't been for a pesky little bug, I would be enjoying the tropical beauty of hibiscus right now, just when my garden needs swaths of those blowsy blooms. I always marveled at how easy it was to grow those show-stopping, exotic flowers that can grow as large as dinner plates and make others marvel.

But, like many other gardeners, I abandoned growing hibiscus because I didn't have the patience to control the hibiscus sawfly larvae.

Trust me, once sawfly find your hibiscus, they will return every year, and since they can hatch six generations in one season, if you don't attack them at the get-go, before you know it, your hibiscus leaves are stripped to a skeleton shape.

And they are hard to see - the green worms hide on the underside of leaves, and once you spot them you will also notice the sawflies buzzing about. They resemble black flies with a dash of orange on their head area - does a fly have a head?

I did wage a war on my potted hibiscus for a while, smushing the bugs by hand because I loath to use insecticides.

Such a natural approach is good if you are not squeamish and have all the time in the world. Some gardeners make the mistake of using BT for caterpillars, but these are not caterpillars.

Instead, it is recommended to use an insecticidal soap, or spinosad. Be sure to spray when it is below 85 degrees.

I found an excellent break-down on the sawfly problem by googling the bug and University of Connecticut, and a pdf popped up. Here is how to get at it: www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/.../fact.../hibiscussawfly.pdf.

There are some hibiscus, thankfully, which are being bred to be more resistant to the sawfly: H.acetosella, H. aculeateus and H. grandiflora.

I adore hibiscus, and I miss the flowers so much I might just do another round with the plant - although I admit one thing that kept me from putting out a pot this year was my excuse that they lack fragrance and do not benefit any wildlife - aside sawflies, of course. Now I'm kicking myself for being such a snob.

Meanwhile, I have to determine what type of caterpillar is attacking my petunias. And flowering tobacco.

The garden blues

Right now I admit to a bit of frustration with my garden.

The hot, dry spell has been good for a David Austin rose, Jude of the Obscure, which resents rain - causing the roses to curl up in a ball.


It is a lovely rose, with a wonderful scent, but sadly, I can't make this rose last in a vase. David Austin roses are a passion of mine - their website is www.davidaustinroses.com

But my other roses are ailing, and I'm so tired of them I am ignoring them. They appear to be stricken with mites - the whole row of them - and the blooms brown, the stems blacken, and they are an ugly sight. I never had time to baby them with the Bayer fertilizer/bug repellent combo.

Next year, is what I think when I cast my eye around many eyesores right now. By the way, now is the time to stop fertilizing roses.

To add to my woes, a vole has discovered my magical woodland oasis under my oak tree. It has now chomped through the root systems of a curved border of hosta, and is now attacking my fragrant hosta, 'Guacamole.'

I hate that little vole, and as soon as I have time, it will meet its demise.

One critter repellent I can vouch for in terms of deer is Plantskyyd (www.plantskydd.com). Be forewarned it comes out bright red, it is ox blood, bound to horticultural oil. And it stinks. Not only will it keep deer away, it will also keep you away!

My plan this weekend is to dig up my prized fragrant hosta - truly, 'Guacamole' smells like jasmine - and pot it up until I can rid myself of the vole.

The trouble is, I have pity for even the worst pests, and I would prefer to chase the vole away than pour something like poison in the hole, so I will be searching for a solution that saves my plant and salves my conscience.

I do look forward to cooler weather to weed in (the weeds are getting the best of me, for now) and the gorgeous fall bloomers.

Somehow, these dog day of summers is hard on the garden - so many of my favorites have gone by - this is the time you wish you had planted 100 dahlias!

Magnolia in the Summer!

I love magnolias. And I have waited about five years to purchase the special one - one that will bloom not in early spring, but later in the season.

I was first attracted to a friend's magnolia, 'Edith Bogue' because I happened to catch one of its large, white blossoms that intermittently bloom throughout the summer. Not only was it huge, it had a wonderful lemon fragrance and shiny, dark green leaves that reminded me of hollies - only larger, and not serrated.

'Edith Bogue' is one of the southern magnolias that bloom a bit later than the ones we usually see in early spring, the saucer type with bright pink blooms. I do like those magnolias, too, but I find they bloom so early, you can't enjoy them as much.

Besides, warm weather diffuses scents better - my uncle has such a magnolia like that soaring at least forty feet near his doorstep, but he lives in Maryland and can really appreciate the sweet scent it offers.

So for us northern folks, a magnolia that blooms later - then intermittently, can make sense if you are seeking the fragrance magnolias offer. I happen to also love the cool white flowers that span four to five inches.

This spring (only plant magnolias in spring) I found not 'Edith Bogue' but another delightful variety, 'Bracken's Brown Beauty' at a Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden ( see earlier post).

When I bought it, the owner, Dick Jaynes, promised it would be fragrant, but had actually never seen it bloom, as he sells them before they do so. He asked me to let him know.

I planted the small tree in a sheltered area, carefully placing it in partial sun - not too much to scorch it, but quite a bit to make it bloom, with other, larger trees around to provide windbreak.

It is thriving, and I seemed to wait about three weeks for a very plump bud to finally break open. The fragrance was indeed lemon-like, but also had a touch of what I guess is a clean, linen smell. It was very refreshing.

And I had the most curious experience when peering into the large cup - a bee, wriggling in frenzy, was rolling in the pollen! I had never seen anything like it before.

The bloom lasted a mere two days, but was well worth the wait. Now I know, come late spring, I will have a bevy of blooms.

One of the noteworthy features of 'Bracken's Brown Beauty' is the fuzzy brown underside of the leaves, which the deer find distasteful. The leaves are evergreen, but I hear that they do shed, and require a clean-up.

While I've read they do not shed as much as other Southern magnolias, I'm sure I'll find the chore well-worth the beauty of this magnificent tree.

Love Hummers?

I first fell in love with the delicate beauty of hummingbirds while in Vermont on my honeymoon. The magical birds buzzed very boldly up to feeders mounted to the windows of a dining room inn my husband and I stayed at.

But I also think I recall sitting, dazed, as a child, in my grandmother's colorful, tropical garden in Santa Barbara as they darted amongst fuschia plants. That tender link that exists between a spiritual world and early childhood will ever be remembered with those tiny birds as the enchanting element that made me feel as if I were in a magical place.

At any rate, it seemed fitting that while I was on vacation in Vermont several weeks ago I would come across a book that had just the right mix of magnificent photos of these birds as well as detailed information. It took me only an hour to read it, cover to cover.

Titled "Amazing Hummingbirds" the color photos by Stan Tekiela are simply staggering if you are fond of hummers.

One of the intriguing things about hummers is their fleeting appearances. That's what makes seeing one so momentous, even if it is the third time that day - rarely do you get a sustained, close glimpse; although I have managed some with a window mounted feeder.

Still, I could never peer into a hummer's nest, see the eggs, and the way in which the mother feeds the baby. And I've never been so close as to see a tuft of yellow pollen resting at the base of their needle-like beak.

These are the things you can see in the book - and the facts that you learn are equally amazing. Even though I had a healthy dose of respect and curiosity about the birds from the start, the more I found out the more I discovered their ingenuity and the wonder in which God has created all things, great and small.

I admire their nests, which always blend in with the limb it is constructed on - with little bits of lichen meticulously matching the tree. And the interior of the nest is made with spider webs, so that the nest, which is obviously tiny, will expand as the babies are born.

And I find it stunning that a preying mantis can lurk on the branches of flowers in wait for hummers, capturing them unawares and ultimately piercing their chest with their spiny foreleg to eat the dainty bird. Bullfrogs also capture hummers with the flick of their tongue as they sit by the edge of water.

Creating a back-yard habitat for these birds is a fun and rewarding hobby - and not that difficult to do.

Find a spot that is protected by other trees where the hummers can dart back to so they can swoop in to eat feeling secure. A birdbath where they can clean themselves; ideally with a spray is what they prefer. They are even known to buzz through sprinklers.

Hummers do like red - but that isn't the only flower they will feast on. They are particularly fond of black and blue salvia, which has very sticky nectar. They will find corals, purples and pink. Anything with long, tubular flowers they will find - but creating the right spot is just as important as flower choices. So if you don't like red and orange - don't despair, you can still find plenty to keep the hummers coming.

Here are a few plants I find they like - Crocosmia, Lucifer's Red, Canna Lillies, petunias, salvia, butterfly bushes, honeysuckle, bee balm, cardinal flower, phlox, coral bells. Early bloomers are important too: azaleas, columbine and flowering quince provide nectar when the summer bloomers are not out yet.

Keep your sugar water clean and they will find it - food coloring is a no-no. The formula is one part sugar to four parts water.

Hummers also enjoy a bit of protein - they will nibble on spiders and aphids. So, like anything else, insecticides and pesticides interrupt the important ecological balance that is necessary for all living things.

Some fun hummer facts:

• They can fly sideways, hover and even go upside down! Their courtship flights are elaborate, with one species flying as high as 120 feet. But once the birds mate, they separate. They are singular birds.

• For all their delicate ways, they are aggressive birds. They will starve to death within a matter of hours without eating (3-5) so they defend their feeding grounds. They chase away everything from bees to woodpeckers quite larger then themselves.

• The average hummer must consume more than its own body weight of nectar daily. They feed about 7-8 times per minute.

• Hummers have the largest heart in proportion to its body compared to other birds. Its resting heart rate is 500 beats per minute.
  

There is so much more in this book! It is a fascinating read and beautiful keepsake to boot. There are a few myths it also puts to rest: Hummers will not stop from migrating if feeders are left out. They also migrate by themselves - they do not hitch rides on other birds.

To check out the book, visit www.naturesmart.com.

Lavender Fields Forever!

Have you ever seen the fields of Provence in a haze of purple?

I never have, and wonder if I will ever get to see that sight in my lifetime.

But last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit Fort Hill Farms in Thompson, where I gazed upon 500 lavender plants in full bloom.

I will never forget the moment, which I shared with my own mother, making it extra special, of course. The aroma was almost spiritual, the fragrance sweet and spicy, somehow providing a sense of calm and clarity amidst the stifling humidity.

Bees staggered in the hot air, happily drunk on nectar.

I learned much about raising lavender plants - including the fact they do not like watering! The three keys to growing this plant truly means creating a micro-climate in your garden: stony soil (or no soil) lots of calcium provided by shells, and protective enclosures. At Fort Hill Farm, owner Kristin Orr has planted her lavender labyrinths under a stone wall that was a foundation, and inside another old foundation. Not only does the stone heat up the fragrant oils, it offers protection from the bitter winds and cold that New England dishes out.

The lavender at Fort Hill is all-organic, meaning it can be purchased for culinary uses. This Wednesday they will be opening their creamery, offering not only fresh ice-cream, but lavender jelly as well for topping - plus lavender cookies!

Visiting Fort Hill Farms is more than a tourist destination, it is a true gardener's delight, as it also contains more than 70 garden beds that myriad butterflies flit about in. Orr planted the beds to provide perennial plants right out of the ground to customers when her husband, Peter, wanted to start a nursery.

The above plants are photos taken in the "Quintessential Gardens." I'll add the lavender photo soon.

Orr, who is an energetic, outgoing, funny woman passionate about farming, could not keep the plants in a pot. It seemed to go against her spirit.

It is wonderful to see the gardens in full bloom in the beds. Not only do you see the plants you covet, but you get ideas, too.

Mine was how wonderful the white scabiosa would look weaving in and out of other plants. Both airy and white, it would provide a nice resting spot for the eye and provide expansive bursts of white to connect the other plants to each other, as well as offer bright, reflective bursts that only white can.

Gardeners can deploy white much like a painter does on the canvas. Trust me, gardening is as close to ANY artwork I'll ever be able to create.

In the fall, the farm segues into selling pumpkins, and a six-acre corn maze, always in an agricultural theme, keeps families busy and entertained while in the country! Imagine video games and game boys pushed to the sidelines, if only for a few hours!

I was fascinated to hear that Kristin Orr does not water her garden, which contains plants I consider not very xeric - such as phlox.

I admired her greatly for her work on the foundation wall that is twelve feet tall. To ward off poison ivy, she planted succulents, making a "living wall" that now possesses its own character, softened with plants that trail and offer color.

The farm will be open until Nov. 8, sun-up to sundown, but the lavender will be in bloom only until the end of July. For more information, www.forthillfarms.com

Take a trip to Thompson for a lavender excursion - while I still want to visit Provence, and the great museums of Europe, I am equally thrilled to see the labor of love one woman created "out in the middle of nowhere."