Monday, December 9, 2013

Why do spring flowering plants sometimes bloom in the fall?

Last month I was asked by a friend why certain plants are sending out blooms in autumn, when they normally flower in the spring. Is it -- dun dun dun -- global warming?

Not necessarily. While climate change is a serious problem that does influence the development of plants, and I think we'll see more of this as temperatures continue to rise, this phenomenon can happen regardless. It's actually pretty simple. To a plant, what are the external factors that trigger flowering at a particular time? Weather, temperature, and amount of sunlight are the big influences. A plant that blossoms in March-April, for instance, is triggered by a certain amount of sunlight (not as short as a winter day, and not as long as a summer day), a certain temperature range (again, not as cold as winter, and not as hot as summer), and rainfall. In the summer months, most notably, there's a significant drop in rainfall and rise in temperature. In the fall, the rains start up again, and the plants experience those in-between temperatures and daylengths that are similar to the springtime (think of a bell curve with a peak in the summer). Sometimes there's enough similarity between the spring and autumn environmental conditions that it triggers a surprising, albeit weaker, flush of blooms.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Wishlist

I've been asked a few times about holiday gift ideas, and while there's normally nothing I really need, this year I do have a horticulture-related wishlist. There are some books and equipment I'll need to purchase in the near future as I get started on my new path, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jami's Amazon Horticulture Wishlist

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Wreath Making

One of the many cheerful highlights of fall quarter is our annual wreath-making party. We gathered base and flair material from the campus and arboretum (and even from my own neighborhood after that big windstorm knocked down some Doug-fir branches) and compiled them into wreaths for the two days before Thanksgiving. I ended up making eight, and I still have some left, if you’re interested in a very local, handmade wreath. And for you plant nerds, there’s lots of great plant ID material in these creations!




Friday, November 15, 2013

November Blues? More like November Blooms!

Mid to late autumn is a difficult time of year. The deciduous trees trees and shrubs are well on their way to nakedness, and many perennials are dying back for the winter. The days are shorter, and the drizzly rain often brings about the usual Pacific Northwest gloom. And November in particular is not known for its flowers.

But despair not! There are a few rare plants that flower during this time of year, and I think that makes them all the more special for their uniqueness. Let's take a look.

Camellia sasanqua, OSU Camellia sasanqua, OSU
The first one to come to my mind is the Camellia sasanqua, which bloomed in our arboretum almost like clockwork at the very beginning of November. The flowers are typically in the white to pink range, and some cultivars are mildly fragrant. They contrast nicely with the leathery, dark green foliage, making it a great year-round evergreen shrub.

Arbutus unedo, OSU Arbutus unedo, OSU
The strawberry tree is simply gorgeous. What is there not to love about this plant? Its cute little clusters of white, urn-shaped flowers (classic Ericaceae family) bloom October-November, it's evergreen, it's got attractive shaggy bark, and the bonus is that the fruit takes a year to ripen, meaning you're seeing large, edible, orange-red fruits at the same time as the flowers! If you want autumn interest in the garden, you've got to have a strawberry tree. We've got a few on campus, and they're such a delight!

Fatsia japonica, OSU
Fatsia japonica already makes a bold statement in the garden, with its large, leathery palmate leaves and long petioles. But it gets even better in the fall with its large terminal clusters of white flowers. Even the prominent flower stalk is white!

Osmanthus heterophyllus, OSU
The Holly-leaf Osmanthus is a dense evergreen shrub with cool leaf shape diversity. Its white little flowers come out around October-November in the plant's leaf axils. And they're fragrant!

Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn', OSU Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn', OSU
The Dawn Viburnum blooms in late fall and winter, after leaf drop. Talk about highlighting the flowers! Just when its bare branches make you think it's another run-of-the-mill deciduous shrub, you get hit with a lovely display of pinky-white color. As Michael Dirr, author of that 1,325-page Manual of Woody Landscape Plants tome I've come to love, would say: "A garden without a Viburnum is akin to life without music and art." Indeed!

Cyclamen coum, Great Plant Picks Cyclamen hederifolium, Great Plant Picks
Hardy Cyclamens are cool season perennials that pop up and say hello just when you've almost forgotten about them. This is one of Don's favorite plants, so I'll let him share the love: http://lwtchort.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/for-the-love-of-cyclamen/

These are a few plants to get you thinking. Of course there are plenty of plants that are bursting with fruit right now, and they do wonders to bring color to the landscape, but these plants are notably unique in their flower time. What autumn blooms do you enjoy seeing in the Pacific Northwest?

Fun Friday: 6 Ways Mushrooms Can Save the World

It cannot be understated: mushrooms are absolutely amazing, and vital to our survival. Mycologist Paul Stamets explains why in this TED talk:


"The time to act is now. Waiting for science and society to wake up to the importance of these ancient Old Growth fungi is perilously slow and narrow in vision. The meager attempts thus far may be too little, too late. Unless we collectively pool our resources, the mushroom genome will become increasingly threatened, and therefore, our very existence may be at stake. The loss of these keystone organisms should be an ecological call-to-arms for all concerned about our children's future and the future of this planet.

"The rainforests of the Pacific Northwest may harbor mushroom species with profound medicinal properties. At the current rates of extinctions, this last refuge of the mushroom genome should be at the top of the list of priorities for mycologists, environmentalists and government. If I can help advance this knowledge, I will have done my part to protect life on this planet. And yet, if it were not for our customer's contributions, with our limited finances, this goal could not be achieved."

Friday, October 25, 2013

Fun Friday: GMOs

I have to admit: I almost don't want to mention this topic because of how heated the debates are getting over the production, labeling, consumption, and patenting of genetically modified foods. However, the truth still remains that new technology involving the very food that we eat requires careful study and consideration. This is the second Fun Friday discussion my horticulture class has had on the subject, and I'm glad we've taken some time to talk about it. It's important that we all try to stay objective and look at the whole picture of what's happening here, and that's hard! There's a lot of misleading data, emotional arguments, and propaganda to wade through, and it's difficult to filter out the noise. Now with Initiative 522 on the ballot in Washington to label GM foods, the pressure has only increased to find the right answers.

People have valid concerns. I know it's tempting to shove everyone with hesitation or concern into the extreme anti-science and anti-GMO camp, but I don't think that's a fair characterization (and it's one that doesn't foster useful communication and education). I'd venture to say that most people are genuinely seeking answers and want to understand what this new technology is all about. In light of that, I'd like to share a video by Bill Nye that takes a pretty balanced approach to explaining the history and science of GM food. It's a little simplified (and has those classic silly Bill Nye moments), but I think it does a good job of describing what genetic modification is and who the big players are in this debate.


Friday, August 9, 2013

Fun Friday: Hydrangeas to Pique Your Interest

Members of the Hydrangaceae family are a fun addition to the Northwest garden. When you want to break up the greens and add more color to your summer palette, hydrangeas pack a good punch with their impressive clusters of flowers. ‘Nikko Blue’ is a tried-and-true cultivar that gives your garden long-lasting flushes of brilliant blue flowers. Such a profusion of color is really quite striking. The Japanese Hydrangea Vine (Schizophragma hydrangeoides) is a deciduous vine in the Hydrangaceae family with toothed, heart-shaped leaves and flat-topped, lace-cap clusters of white flowers. 'Moonlight' is a fun cultivar with silvery, blue-green foliage.

One of the downsides to most hydrangeas, however, is that we have to say goodbye to both the flowers and the foliage as the days grow shorter and colder. We plant these shrubs and vines to give us a lovely burst of color in spring and summer, but we’re left with bare wood in the cold season. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a hydrangea that kept some of its foliage come winter? Well, it just so happens that I’ve got a few evergreen varieties that might interest you. Let's take a peek at this week's Fun Friday highlights.

Blue Evergreen Hydrangea
Dichroa febrifuga

This is a half-hardy shrub is a Chinese native that grows about 4 to 6 feet tall, with the familiar dark green leaves and clusters of hydrangea-like flowers. The white buds open to bright blue flowers that are followed by striking metallic blue berries.

Hydrangea integrifolia
Evergreen Climbing Hydrangea

From Great Plant Picks: “This evergreen climbing hydrangea is an elegant and graceful clinging vine with year-round interest. The stout new growth emerges with bronzy tones that contrast nicely with the older, deep green foliage. Although this vine can be slow to reach blooming age, it is well worth the wait. In early summer, huge rounded flower buds open to an attractive lacy, white bloom reminiscent of the familiar shrubby, lacecap hydrangeas. It is a surprisingly vigorous vine and is excellent for covering unsightly retaining walls and harsh rockeries. The side branches reach out from the main trunks, creating a layered and graceful three-dimensional effect. It clings by means of aerial roots. As it becomes a large, heavy vine with age, be sure to provide strong, long-lasting support. It is striking when grown up tall evergreen trees, where it can brighten a woodland setting. One of the few vines that blooms well in shade, it also can be used on a north-facing wall or fence. This native of Taiwan and the Philippines is not common but is worth seeking out.”

They seem like great plants to try out, and I do wonder how well they would work in the Pacific Northwest. Have you had success with either of these evergreen types?

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Apartment Composting with Seattle Tilth

Boosting the signal in case anyone's interested in an apartment composting lesson with Seattle Tilth. I'll be there to check it out.

WHEN:
Monday, August 5, 2013
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

WHERE:
Braeburn Courtyard
1410 East Pine Street
Seattle,WA 98122

COST:
Free

SCH August Event: Apartment Composting with Seattle Tilth
Are you interested in turning your food waste into black gold? You might think it’s hard to compost in an apartment, but Seattle Tilth will show us how to transform our food scraps into a valuable garden commodity without the mess and fuss of a traditional compost pile.

6:30p Potluck (please bring a snack or beverage, as well as your own utensils and plates)
7:00p Apartment Composting with Seattle Tilth!

PS, if you’d like to join the planning meeting, we will be meeting for about 30 min after the event. Please feel free to stay and give us your input!

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Was hoping for a green raspberry bee...

...but it looks like I only ended up with a green bottle fly. Still, it's a gorgeous critter, and I'm amazed I was able to capture this guy on my straw flowers:



Friday, July 26, 2013

TELL CONGRESS: STOP THE PESTICIDE THAT IS KILLING BEES

Friends, I can't emphasize enough how important bees are to our crops and our survival. Please spread the word. More info about the petition after the jump.

Reps. Earl Blumenauer and John Conyers just introduced a bill which would suspend the use of bee-killing pesticides. Please join me in adding your support to the Save America's Pollinators Act: http://org.credoaction.com/petitions/tell-congress-stop-the-pesticide-that-is-killing-bees?sp_ref=5609335.4.300.e.1290.3&source=mailto_sp

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Summer Lovin'

The time for Insalata Caprese is finally upon us -- and earlier than usual! The wait for my tomato harvest is agonizing, but patience sure does pay off. Nothing beats fresh tomatoes and basil mixed with mozzarella cheese, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. I kid you not, I wait all year for this. Add to this some dolmas whose grape leaves were harvested from a pruning project, along with some homemade pesto on bread -- pure awesome.







Happy harvesting, everyone!

Friday, July 19, 2013

Plowing Ahead Into My Third Quarter

Greetings! Welcome to Homegrown Revival, your connection to my little slice of homesteading goodness. I've been meaning to write sooner, but my hot romance with school is delightfully consuming my waking hours. Indeed, I am moving right along into my third quarter of Lake Washington Institute's environmental horticulture program, and it's been quite the adventure. Don Marshall is the master horticulturalist, and it's an honor to study under his renowned tutelage. I never quite imagined how much fun going back to school would be -- it somehow feels like cheating.

Given that I'm already halfway through the year, I'll share some of the highlights:
  • Ongoing plant ID, which includes classroom study, examining live samples from the school's arboretum, and completing nursery visits.
  • Soils -- learning about the chemical, physical, and biological properties of good, fertile, sustainable soil
  • Pruning -- classroom study and several pruning field trips
  • Volunteering at the 2013 Northwest Flower and Garden Show
  • Growing three sets of crops from seed in the greenhouse: Nasturtium 'Empress of India', Alyssum 'Easter Bonnet Mix', and Bell Peppers 'Mini Red'
  • Cultivating said crops for several months and selling them at our spring plant sale. Proud to say that my nasturtium crop completely sold out!
  • Creating and drafting a landscape design for a client, then learning the bidding and estimating side of implementing that design.
  • Beginning another session of plant ID devoted to weed identification and management
  • Touring different greenhouses in the area and learning about their infrastructure
  • Just in the last week: Interning with Robin Haglund of Garden Mentors, Inc. and Kerry Sexton-Smith of Walden Garden Services as part of my career exploration course. I'm super grateful to both for giving me a taste of on-the-job work experience so I can get a feel for a few parts of the industry.
As you can see, there's lots of hands-on opportunities here, which is exactly what I was craving when I started this transition. And this begs the question: What exactly are my plans post-graduation? To be honest, I haven't narrowed it down that far. I'm continuing to explore what's out their and trying to absorb as much information as possible. I can say this for sure: I want to be outside, working with my hands, in the elements, as much as my body will allow.