Summer 2004 Newsletter

Fellow Plant Lovers,   

New definition for spring: The two days between winter and summer where temperatures are below 80°. Those other days were “sprummer”.

But the plants are thriving and so are we. The retaining wall by the greenhouse is in place. Kevin’s class built a super dry stack wall near the water garden areas to demonstrate the concepts taught by Jeff McKinney of Jacob Creek Stone.

Then Joe Granada of Star Ridge Aquatics directed the successful installation of a fabulous pondless waterfall in front of the greenhouse. We hear comments daily. First, “Where’s that water going?” Then, “Oh gosh, I want one.”  It is such a treat for us to work near it each day. Check out the slide show on our web site that shows you how it’s done. The kit, with everything but the stone, is available from Star Ridge Aquatics (see web link on our site) or through us. Click on “Pondless Waterfall Slide Show” on the web site for a list of stone used.

The garden and nature photography workshop was terrific…Terry Hill has excellent suggestions and relates easily to even the photographically illiterate, like myself. I try hard to provide photos with accurate color etc., since I’m describing the plants that we grow. Terry emphasized extensively the importance of light, reminding us that photography is its’ recorded or written record. Learning to use or block the light with the limitations or features of your camera and other accessories makes all of the difference in the quality of your photograph. If you missed the class, but would like to learn more, check out the Piedmont Photography Club at www. Piedmontcommunities.us/go/ppc. Photo at right by Nannette Wilson during Terry's class showing waterfall.

And yet…we still must lay the flagstone patio, and we have any number of other projects coming up. Check the upcoming events schedule for an update.

If you haven’t visited the nursery yet this year, we hope you’ll make the time. We have improved in many areas and continue to make strides. This is in large in part due to a terrific team of folks. Take a little time to get to know them…I promise that you will benefit from time spent with them.

Rosemary Hedge at
         the Fig Tree

I recently visited Ocracoke and met Carol and Warren Ritchie, owners of The Beach House B&B and The Fig Tree Café & Deli. The deli had a fantastic rosemary hedge that weathered Hurricane Isabel, and Carol was kind enough to share a plant with me. We’ll be testing it this year to see where it falls in winter hardiness. Check the Chef’s Corner section for a terrific recipe for Rosemary Bread from Carol. Carol also noted in response to the article in the spring newsletter about spireas, that her spireas are tremendously salt tolerant, even surviving the awful hurricane. I knew when I passed through the arbor and into the yard of The Beach House that I was in the home of a gardener. What a delight my visit turned out to be! Again, look for a link  on the web site.                                                                                            Happy Gardening,

                                                                                                    Karen

By Audrey Hamilton

The orange and yellow flowers of calendula are worthy heralds of the summer season. Flowers, ranging in size from 1½ to 4 inches, open each morning to greet the sun and those gardeners fortunate enough to have them in their gardens. This 12”-18” annual blooms from early summer until the first killing frost and exhibits solitary terminal flowers that resemble a cross between a chrysanthemum and a daisy. Leaves are oblong with smooth to finely toothed edges. Calendula is a profuse reseeder.

            A native of the Canary Islands, southern and central Europe and Northern Africa, calendula was brought to the new world by European settlers and experienced great popularity in the 17^th and 18^th centuries. In England, calendula was sown with spinach and cooked in the same pot. It was also used to season stews. Petals were sometimes used in cooking as a dye to substitute for the more expensive saffron and were added to puddings and salads. They even made calendula dumplings and calendula wine! 

            In the 19^th century, the petals were used by Civil War soldiers to stop bleeding and to promote the healing of wounds. A soothing ointment for cuts, abrasions and rashes can be made by mixing petals with olive oil. 

            One ancient belief held that drinking a concoction of the petals allows one to see fairies. Those who doubt the existence of fairies  might feel that the concoction contained more than just calendula petals.            Calendula flowers retain their color when dried and add brightness to dried arrangements. What a versatile little plant it is.  

References: Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs.  Emmanus: Rodale Press, 1998.

and  The Green Guide to Herb Gardening. Harding, Deborah, C: Llewellyn Publications 2000.

Carol’s Rosemary Crusty Bread

4 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour or bread 

flour.

1 2/3 cups warm water

1 package dried yeast

2 teaspoons salt

3 tablespoons chopped rosemary

cornmeal for dusting bread pan

Dissolve yeast in 1 2/3 cups warm water. Place 4 cups flour, salt, and chopped rosemary in bowl of mixer. Using dough hook, mix of low speed for 15 seconds. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add yeast and water mixture to the flour mixture. Add more flour if needed. The dough should cling to the hook and cleans the side of the bowl. Knead on medium speed about 2 minutes, or until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Place in a greased bowl, turning to grease the top. Cover, let rise until double in size, about 1 hour. Punch dough down and turn onto a floured board. Knead a few times by hand. Divide dough in half. Shape each half into a round loaf. Place each loaf on an un-greased cookie sheet that has been sprinkled with cornmeal. Let double is size again. About 45 minutes. Using a sharp knife cut a couple of slashes in a cross pattern on the top.

Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

Audrey prefers this recipe from The Green Guide to Herb Gardening

Orange Calendula Drop Cookies

6-8 fresh calendula blossoms
3/4 cup butter, room temp.
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Grated rind of 2 oranges
2 TBS. orange juice, room temp
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup almond halves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Rinse and pull off petals of flowers and set aside.

In a bowl, cream butter, sugar, and orange rind until fluffy. Add orange juice and vanilla. Stir in eggs until well blended.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Blend calendula petals and dry ingredients into the creamed mixture. Drop dough by the teaspoonful onto a lightly greased cookie sheet. Press an almond half into each cookie. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Makes 3 to 4 dozen.

Caution: Diabetics should avoid internal consumption of calendula as it has been known to drop blood glucose levels.

   For a dogwood that doesn’t suffer from the traditional dogwood blues (blight and powdery mildew) check out the Kousas. Blooms occur a little later and fruit is larger and very showy. Generally the kousas are hardy in zones 5-8 and will thrive in full sun to part shade. They like well-drained acid soil.

            Kousa Dogwood            (Cornus kousa ) -            Ht.:20'- 30'  -  This perfect small tree is a strikingly handsome specimen plant and a great substitute for the regular dogwood. A profusion of small white blooms in early summer are followed by raspberry-like red fruits in fall that are enjoyed by the birds. Exfoliating bark adds winter interest.

            Weeping Kousa Dogwood            (Cornus kousa Weaver's Weeping) -            Ht.: Stake to desired height.  -  Wow, this kousa dogwood is an exceptionally heavy flowerer and has strongly weeping branches. Staking is necessary to increase height. What a showy specimen for the small garden!

            Bush's Pink Kousa Dogwood            (Cornus kousa 'Bush's Pink') - Ht.: 20'      -  This lovely pink blooming kousa has a flower color as deep as that of the 'Rubra' dogwood. Leaves are tinged an attractive red on its open, spreading canopy of foliage.

                Gold Star Kousa Dogwood                (Cornus kousa 'Gold Star') -               Ht.: 15'    -  Brilliant irregular golden markings between lush bright green edges make this kousa a standout. Very slow-growing, in our area, it may benefit from a partially shaded site. Flowers are white in late spring and new foliar growth is often chartreuse.

    I think that I have a disease. It’s called “collectivitis”.  For example, when I discovered that hostas were so diverse, I lost my mind. We now have more than 30 varieties. Then the staff said, “STOP”. No more space.

     Years ago, I collected 38 varieties of hydrangeas. The back portion of the nursery became known as “Hydrangea Heaven”.

     And once, I wanted to rename the nursery “Great Vibes” and grow every viburnum in the world! (Actually, I still love this idea…but…)

When I develop an interest, I go wild. And though I’m trying to get over this illness, well, I finally began to notice the incredible differences in daylilies.

I've never been a daylily enthusiast. Until now. I promise that I won’t fill the nursery, but I’ve been so thrilled with some of our new additions.

<‘Double Bold One’ was the first to pop open with enormous golden ruffles around a burgundy eye and cherry-red throat.

‘Paper Butterfly’ followed closely with 6” creamy peach blossoms surrounding a large violet eye and bright green throat.>

About the same time ‘Siloam Double Classic’ unfolded with so many ruffles that it looks almost like a huge salmon-pink carnation.

One customer combined the Siloam Double Classic, Paper Butterfly and Purple Japanese iris for a gorgeous grouping in her perennial bed. Wow!

    We still  appreciate the blossoms of our previous stars. Here is a little chart to tell you about their characteristics and guide you in the garden.                                                                                                                    Paper Butterfly