Herb Garden
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-(photos of recent dry stack wall class)
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Spring 2003 Newsletter
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Karen's letter to Fellow Gardeners
Techniques for Spring Planting
Chef's Corner
-Seared Salmon with Artichoke Salsa
Exploring the World of Deciduous Magnolias
I heard the funniest weather forecast the other day. The clipped voice clearly announced that we should expect sleet, rain or freezing rain, snow and/or partly sunny conditions. At first, I thought that I must have let my attention wander and misunderstood the forecast when my wisecracking friend remarked, "Well, that's an all purpose, worldwide, one size fits all forecast." And yes, the weather we've been having has been sort of like that. Let's just hope that we'll settle out of this continuous flip-flop of extremes soon.
Today, the first day of spring, the bloodroot is blooming in the wildflower section, the daphnes are perfuming the coldframe space and the delicate white water hawthorn blooms are listing back and forth on the surface of the rain punched water garden.
The new tree peonies that I wrote to you about in fall are budding all over and so are the tiny sweet shrubs that promise to have yellow blooms instead of the traditional dark red (Calycanthus floridus 'Athens'). It makes my heart warm all over…even in the dreary cool rain.
I am also excited about beginning a small crop of Ceanothus delilianus 'Henri de Fosse'. Many a gardener who has visited England has returned to ask about this plant and its many relatives. It hasn't been grown here traditionally because of an intolerance to our humidity. The propagator of this little lilac-blue flowered wonder, however, assures me that the shrub in his garden is performing admirably. We'll certainly be adding one to our front border when they are large enough to plant.
For vegie growers this year, I'm encouraging you to try the Salsify plants. Each year we experiment with something new and this was one of our successes from last year. The grasslike top can be left in the ground through cold weather and harvested throughout the fall and winter, but since it takes the roots of several plants to have enough to eat, you may want to plant a few. I fried the freshly cleaned roots and lightly seasoned them with salt and pepper for a taste that was remarkably similar to a fried oyster…but with no sliminess (is this a word?). I did not grow enough to try the oyster stew recipes and other treats that I found, but you can be sure that I'll grow more of this "Mammoth Island Oyster Plant" this year.
It's such a great joy to learn about and grow new plants for the garden each year. I hope you'll join me soon to share in the excitement.
Happy Gardening,
Karen
Techniques for Spring Planting
Giving your new garden plants a good start with appropriate planting techniques can mean the difference between success and failure. The most important consideration in planting trees and shrubs is the planting depth.
Several years ago, a very good customer hired a crew of folks to help install a rather large landscape. It was late in June, and I had stressed the necessity of thorough watering. When he began to call to say that his plants weren't doing well, my first question was in regard to the adequacy of water.
Upon visiting, however, it was evident that lack of water wasn't a problem. The plants had been planted in very deep holes, with some of the lower branches actually emerging from beneath the soil. What a mess! Fortunately, after raising them up about 6", nearly all of them slowly revived.
Dig your hole the depth of the root ball's height and 2 to 3 times the width of the container. Use the same soil that comes out of the hole for planting. If the plant requires extra drainage, add soil to the area to raise it up into a "mound" of 2-4" and remember that while the plant is getting established, this mound will need to be checked in order to provide adequate moisture. Here in Mt. Airy, we sometimes add a little bit of "chicken grit" or tiny gravel from the granite quarry, to keep the particles of clay from compacting so solidly around the roots, i.e. better drainage.
If there are roots circling inside the container, be sure to loosen them and spread them out or prune them. Ask the grower if you need to take any special precautions with your plant. Never put a plant in the ground within its plastic container…unless you are planning to move this plant with you to another location very soon.
Remove any plastic or twine ties…anything that might girdle (tighten around) a limb or trunk as it grows. If the plant needs staking, remember to remove or at least check the binding ties after a season's growth.
Now that you have the plant in the ground, if you assume, "Well, I did my part"…then I recommend that you shop at a chain center that replaces plants.
ALL PLANTS NEED WATER!
Do not ask, "Is once a week enough?"
I don't know. I don't know about your soil, or how much rain you have had, etc. PUT YOUR HAND IN THE DIRT. CHECK THE ROOT BALL. Is it dry? Is it moist? Is it soppy wet? Water when it is getting dry…Water for a long time to saturate the root ball and the area around it. Then check to see how long it takes to dry again. This will tell you more than any nurseryman can. We can't know your situation or your weather. YOU HAVE TO BE KING OF YOUR OWN HILL!
For those of us with true control issues, gardening is God's lesson…take it to heart! If you want to be a gardener, you must pay attention. If you just want to have a garden…hire a gardener.
Herbal Spotlight: Artemesia
The artemesias have an incredible history of diversity and uses. From curing one of worms, to the key ingredient in an alcoholic drink that causes craziness, to flavoring our food (French tarragon, of course)…it has colored our history.
There are a number of them to explore and some to be wary of. The beauty of 'Silver King' artemesia when dried and incorporated into wreaths is undeniable. True, it is drought and pest resistant…in fact, it's almost round-up resistant too. It must be contained, and after a particularly long term, awful experience, I determined that we would avoid this guy.
'Powis Castle' on the other hand has proven more manageable and provides more finely cut foliage for equally beautiful wreath bases. It's silver-blue leaves were a mainstay in our herb garden for color, and as a backdrop for smaller herbs in the garden. It is particularly beautiful among the blooms of purple coneflowers.
An addition to the artemesia selections this year is
'Oriental Limelight' (Artemesia vulgaris 'Oriental Limelight') The
foliage on this beauty is attractive even as a tiny plant. White blossoms will
top brilliant gold and white variegation in summer. A mound of this lovely
artemesia will be taking its place this year in our garden. It reportedly grows
to 3', much like the earlier mentioned 'Powis Castle'. It has also been touted
as a favored plant for incorporating into patio containers to add interest and
color. Most artemesias regenerate well when cut back, so it could be easily
maintained at a smaller size for a summer on the deck.
An old favorite of mine that is used to discourage moths is the old timey Southernwood (Artemesia arbrotanum) Another super landscape plant, the fine, feathery texture of the downy gray-green foliage makes an incredible backdrop for brightly colored flowers. The foliage dries well for wreaths and baskets. Known as the lover's plant, it has been incorporated into potions and perfumes as an aphrodisiac, but is more often used as an insect repellent in linen closets.
Whatever your preferred color scheme, it seems that there is now an artemesia available to brighten the garden, perennial border or patio container. Just point and pick!
As many of you know, I'm a salmon fiend. Here is a recipe that I have served with different twists several times. I love the salsa that tops the salmon so much that I often eat the leftovers separately over a bed of fresh spinach.
Seared Salmon with Artichoke Salsa
1 6-oz. jar marinated artichokes
3 chopped Roma tomatoes
4 Tbsp. chopped green onion
1 Tbsp. capers
6-8 sliced black olives
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
2-3 minced garlic cloves
2 Tbsp. finely chopped parsley
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
Combine salsa ingredients above and set aside.
Preheat oven to 400°.
Heat large skillet over medium heat. Swirl 2 Tbsp. of olive oil in the pan and place salmon in the hot oil, skin side down. Sear until skin is crisp. (Salmon will be pinkish white 1/4" around edge.) Place in oven for about 5 minutes to finish cooking. Serve with avocado salsa spooned over top.
I like to serve this with jasmine scented rice that has been cooked with sautéed onions and chicken bouillon added to the water. I actually sauté the onions in olive oil, then add the rice and sauté it as well for several minutes before adding bouillon and water.
EXPLORING THE WORLD OF DECIDUOUS MAGNOLIAS
In the last few years, several prominent garden catalogues have offered "rare" deciduous magnolias that have attracted the public's attention to a whole new group of trees to incorporate into the garden. We began to grow several different varieties in 1998 and recently with the input of magnolia collector Pat McCracken, have added to the collection. Here are some of the beauties that we are growing…this year, we have had more than ever in bloom.
Oyama Magnolia (Magnolia sieboldii ) - The nodding, fragrant white flowers on this Japanese Magnolia are pure white with maroon centers. Blooms begin in late spring and last up to 6 weeks on this superb mounding small tree. At 10'-15', it is excellent for woodland and naturalized plantings.
Umbrella Magnolia (Magnolia tripetla ) - Creamy-white blooms in late spring reach 6-10" across on this tropical-looking native. Elongated, 4" cone-shaped rosy-red fruits mature in fall. Long leaves cluster at the ends of branches to create an interesting "umbrella" effect.
Yellow Fever Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata x denudata 'Yellow Fever') - Showy yellow buds open to creamy yellow blossoms with a pinkish tinge bleeding from the center. Upright form of this small tree can be used as a specimen or naturalized woodland feature.
Forrest's Pink' Magnolia (Magnolia denudata x soulangiana 'Forrests Pink') - Deep pink to lavender blossoms in early spring are reported to be more frost tolerant than the more common parent plants of this magnolia hybrid. Blooms are 6-7" across with the heady sweet fragrance of our Southern Magnolias. This one is great for use as a small specimen ornamental in the landscape. It grows to 15' - 25'.
Yellow Mountain Magnolia (Magnolia cylindrica ) - This rare deciduous magnolia from China has elegant, fragrant white-to-pink blooms that are shaped somewhat like a lily. Late March or April blooms are followed by a cylindrical, purple fruit. Rare in cultivation. It will grow 15' - 25'.
The following list includes some of the super new deciduous magnolias that Pat selected for us to grow here in Mt. Airy. As you will see, several are unusual shades of yellow..
Magnolia x ‘Sunburst’ – Deep canary-yellow flowers with narrow petals open into 5" upright, lily-shaped blossoms. Flowers open when they just begins to emerge. In bloom the tree appears to be covered with candle flames. Heavily textured and quilted leaves mature to 6" wide and 8" long and sport wavy margins. 'Sunburst' is a fairly fast grower with an upright habit and mature height of about 30’.
Magnolia x ‘Stellar Acclaim’ – Fragrant flowers of this super selection are starlike…similar to the more familiar 'Royal Star' magnolia, but are pale yellow with a rose flushed base. They open up very flat along the branches and are usually 6-8" wide. Foliage is very dark green and matures to 5" wide and 8" long. This small tree has a spreading habit and reaches approximately 20’ in height. Pat notes that this is his favorite among the yellow-flowering magnolias.
Magnolia x ‘Tranquility’ – The pale golden flowers of 'Tranquility' have a slight rose blush at base. They open flat (about 7"- 8" across) and and have wide petals. Wavy leaves that cup upward mature to 6" wide and 6" long. This small rounded tree grows to about 15’.
Magnolia x ‘Golden Endeavor’ – Cup-shaped 3"- 4" flowers are medium yellow with a green flushed base. They are produced in tremendous numbers. Nice foliage matures to 7" wide and 7" long. Mature height is 20’+ on this rounded form of magnolia.
Magnolia x ‘Solar Flair’ – This larger, upright grower reaches 30'+ and sports deep yellow flower with a pale rose flush at the base. Narrow petals open into an upright, narrow flower approx. 5" tall. Blooms appear before the heavily textured and quilted foliage. Leaves have very wavy margins and mature to be 6" wide and 8" long.
Magnolia x 'Jane Platt' - This showy star magnolia offers a multitude of light pink blossoms on bare branches in spring. It is a precocious bloomer, as the 3' plants that we are growing recently demonstrated…they were covered by blossoms until March 30 when, of course, we had a crazy snowfall. This rounded shrub-like tree will reach 15' and is best pruned to several main trunks (like a crape myrtle).
Magnolia x 'Star Wars'- Taller (20'+) and more upright than 'Jane Platt' above, Star Wars has a pale pink bloom with defined petals. The buds are densely pubescent. The tree has excellent branch structure and makes a beautiful anchor for a bed incorporated in a larger lawn.