Why Boxwood Bronze in Winter
It used to bother me that my boxwood would change color from green to bronze in winter. Over time, I’ve come to enjoy the change somewhat. Some years, the change is very dramatic. Here’s why.
The color change of the foliage is really quite common and nothing to be alarmed about. The bronzing occurs mostly in plants that have eastern or southern exposure. Plants with this exposure will typically receive full morning or afternoon sun on bright winter days. When combined with prevailing winds and fluctuating high and low temps, rapid changes in the leaf tissue cause the leaf to change color.
Boxwood in protected environments may remain green except on top where there is more exposure. The profile image (above) provides some evidence that the bronzing occurs as a result of the environmental effects of the sun and wind. Note that the right side of the plant, which faces north and the front porch, remains green. The left side and top is completely exposed all winter and has changed color.
If you prefer your boxwood to remain evergreen, ask your local nursery what varieties hold their green color best. Otherwise, embrace the change and extra winter interest as your plants transform from green to bronzy-orange during the winter months. The green foliage returns once temps warm and stabilize.
A View on Winter
In anticipation of our first snow, I surveyed the garden to see what I would see. Camera in tow, I headed down the stairs in the blustery wind and rain. What would possess me? Not exactly sure, but this I know for sure: I am driven by a strange desire to visit my plants– no matter what time of year. I have developed a profound connection with the plants.
Most perennials have been cut back to the ground and the trees and shrubs are now in complete focus. What do I see? Decline. Decay. Deterioration. Yet in the midst of this seasonal decomposition, a bit of steadfast determination has caught my eye. Possibility. Optimism. Is this a metaphor for hope?
Tiny buds wait patiently.
Cones cling tightly.
Green is ever so green.
The seasons of one’s life are really no different than those of the garden. Some seasons transition beautifully from one to another. Others are harsh and relentless. Like a garden, one must have a little expectation of better days to come. A stoic bud ready to open when inclement seasons have passed– a garden is life, filled with patience and hope.
Despite the dreary cold day which brought rain, thunder and lighting, the sun also shown near the afternoon’s final hours. Tonight will bring snow and a whole new crystallized palette for the garden.
And I, I will wait patiently.
O Christmas Tree!
If you’re planning to purchase a live Christmas Tree to plant in your yard later, do yourself a huge favor and dig the hole now. You’ll be glad you did, especially if the weather turns and freezes the ground solid. Keep the loose soil in a garage, barn, or protected from the elements so it will remain loose and dry.
You’re welcome!
Addendum
It’s probably best to only have that potted tree indoors for 3-4 days. Much longer would have it break dormancy and begin to bud. Too many new tender buds on that little tree could lead to disaster when moved outdoors and the temperature falls below freezing.
When you’re ready to plant your tree. Gradually acclimate it to the outdoors. Again, you want to avoid shocking it! One of the biggest shocks to plants going outdoors is light intensity. The second is wind. Plants that have been indoors are not used to wind which can cause them to dry up very quickly. Last is temperature. To avoid temperature shock, introduce your plant to the outdoors a few hours a day, then gradually increasing the time outside. After a week or two, your plants should be fully acclimated to the outdoors.
Last, if you can’t plant it right away, try to place the potted tree in a protected area. Potted plants don’t do well when left above ground in freezing temps.
Autumn's Closing Door
As winter knocks on the garden door, I sieze every moment to survey the back lawn and take in the lingering autumn view. No fall is ever the same, and this year we are surprised to see several leaves still clinging on to the Chestnut Tree (upper left). Not so long ago, the heat was unbearable and droughty conditions threatened to wreak havoc. But now, the morning air is biting and often accompanied by frost crystals. The few hours of sunlight draw elongated shadows upon the terrain. The deciduous trees are but mere skeletons of their former voluminous selves. The time has come to wrap things up, and each day presents itself with all sorts of necessary tasks to be accomplished before the snow begins to fly.
Mid November and we are still planting. A practice that I am more comfortable with having worked at the nursery this year. As long as the earth is tillable, I’m game for planting trees, shrubs, even a few select perennials like Peonies.
These Peonies were given to me by a customer of Sundown Gardens, the garden center and nursery where I work. She indicated they had been purchased several years ago at Sundown when it was a peony farm. That was decades ago. I found it enchanting that they had come full circle- back to Sundown and now on to a new gardener’s home. This particular plant is Paeonia lactiflora ‘Monsieur Jules Elie’.
Other areas of the garden are getting cleaned up for the winter months. Leaves are raked out, branches and brambles pruned. Every year, I cut back my Limelight Hydrangeas and take out any branches that are growing into the plant. Limelights bloom on new growth, so there is no risk of cutting off next year’s blooms. I also take time to loosen and rake the mulch which has formed a hard crust over the top. I want to be sure that any moisture from rain or melting snow penetrates the mulch instead of running off.
Terra Cotta pots have been emptied and scrubbed to remove salt buildup from fertilizer and hard water deposits. They are ready for a dip in a bleach solution (one part bleach to nine parts water) which will rid them of any lingering diseases and chemical residue that may have set in during the growing season.
While some plants are taking up residence in the garden, others will have to wait until next season. My Acer palmatum ‘Beni hime’ or ‘Beni hime’ Japanese Maple is one that shall remain homeless this winter. I simply can’t decide whether to plant him in the ground, or in a container.
I purchased the very small maple from Dannaher Landscaping & Nursery. They specialize in rare and unusual plants, especially conifers. This little Japanese maple was grafted by David Dannaher several years ago. It’s a dwarf grower whose annual growth rarely exceeds 1-2 inches per year. Because they are difficult to propagate, there aren’t many available for purchase. I just love the tiny leaves which are about the size of a penny.
And so, another Thanksgiving comes and goes. This is a time of year that is typically melancholy. But instead of feeling sadness for autumn’s closing door, I’m actually looking forward to winter’s arrival. I have worked hard to turn my gardening obsession into a full time career and more than ever, I welcome a little downtime.
Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
Yep. It’s that time again, and I got an extra early start. As many of you know, I began a stint as a garden center/nursery worker last spring. So what goes on in the off season? A lot actually.
At Sundown Gardens, we have a large Landscape division that stays very busy up until the ground freezes. Planting and hardscape continues until the soil cannot be worked anymore. The place is bustling by 6:30AM as crews warm up their trucks and load them with the day’s equipment and plants. Even the mowing crews are still working.
The Garden Center is gearing up for the holiday season too as we stock up with houseplants, ornaments and lots of giant red bows. All the containerized evergreen shrubs and small trees have been pulled next to the shop. Several will be lit and decorated with bows. They make great Holiday presents or decorations for entryways and porches, and can go directly into the ground come spring. The main greenhouse is being prepared for the first shipment of holiday greenery, including: Christmas Trees, Wreaths, Swags, and Garlands.
As for me, I’m on the Holiday decorating team. Sounds fun, right? Well, not really… unless your idea of fun is balancing on really tall ladders and extending your arms out for hours with heavy extenstion poles trying to artfully arrange strands of lights on all sorts of trees and shrubs. I’m not talking cute little trees, I’m talking really, really tall ones. We started Nov. 1st and will work furiously through the first week of Dec.
We began “cleaning” lights (removing all tags, labels, and twist ties) in Oct. Some clients prefer to use their own lights, so we clean them onsite in the back of our box van.
Here’s how it works. We start with running electrical from the power source to all the light points. We hang lights on trees, make sure it all works, then wind up and hide every cord so they are not visible. When the weather cools and the greenery is in, we will incorporate that into the scheme. You don’t want to hang it too soon or it will dry out. Greenery that is to be lit will also have lights added to it. This ranges from garlands and wreaths, to containers filled with decorative arrangements. When it’s showtime, we pull out the hidden cords, add timers, and plug in. Some clients prefer to stay dark till Dec. 1. Others like the switch flipped on Thanksgiving.
So there you have it. That’s how I’ve been spending my days at Sundown Gardens. It’s Nov. 12th, and we are exactly half way through all the jobs. It’s a great feeling to know that we are on schedule and an even better feeling to know that it’s almost over. I am not an early riser and working out in the cold is not my favorite thing either. Still, I am grateful to have the opportunity to learn about the many facets of this business. Dust off those holiday decorations. Thanksgiving is a little over a week away, then it’s full-on Christmas time!
Garden Bloggers Bloom Day
I’ve joined an internet meme (pronounced meem) created by fellow Hoosier blogger Carol Michael. In case the term meme is new to you, it is a word that describes an idea that is spread and promoted through the internet. Most memes are spread from person to person via blogs, social networks, even email. In this case, Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is a meme that occurs on the 15th day of each month whereby participants post images of what’s in bloom in their gardens. It’s a great way to see what’s blooming all over the country, and world for that matter. Here’s what’s happening in my neck of the woods this month.
Blooms are hard to come by during the winter months, but I did find a lovely Witch Hazel in bloom. This is Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’. Known for it’s winter blooming, these multi-colored flowers are capable of producing a sweet fragrance. Flowers bloom along the stems in February to March.
Not satisfied with only one offering, I turned my attention elsewhere and found a couple of blooms on two indoor plants.
Begonia Rex. I keep several Begonias indoors during winter. I grow them for their fancy foliage, but the delicate blooms that appear each February are always a delight. A sweet touch on Valentine’s Day. Growing Begonias indoors can be challenging. If you’d like to learn more, follow this link: American Begonia Society.
Areca Palm. There is a long story about how I came to own (ahem, care for) this plant, but I won’t go into that right now. The palm flower always catches me by surprise because it is so unusual. My partner swears it reaches for him every time he walks by it. See, you can teach an old plant new tricks.
Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Be sure to visit Carol Michael’s creative blog, May Dreams Gardens.
Hellebore: The Christmas Rose
One of the great things about Hellebores is that they are among the first plants to bloom in the garden. Their winter blooming habit and myth of an angel giving a blossom to a young shepherdess who had no gift for the infant Jesus, has earned them the nickname ‘Christmas Rose.’ Interest in these late winter/early spring beauties are said to show maturity in a gardener. I don’t know about that, but it does remind me of a story. A non-gardener friend of mine was with me when I was plant shopping. On a mission to buy up all the H. ‘Ivory Prince’ that I could find, I was elated when I spotted one. I picked it up and lovingly smiled at it (you plant nerds know what I’m talking about). Then, during ‘our moment’ I heard my friend who was standing behind me say “that’s ugly!” We’re still friends, but the Hellebores don’t care for him much.
I can understand his reaction. The plant had bloomed weeks prior, and all that remained was deep dark leathery foliage with silvery-grey veining. For a non-gardener, that would be no match for all the colorful annuals we zoomed past to get to my beloved Hellebore. Helleborus ‘Ivory Prince’ is still my favorite. I love it’s upright bloom, though many species have blooms that nod to the ground. Regardless, I think they’re pretty special because they bloom just when you need a little jolt to snap you out of the winter doldrums. Bloom time is generally between December and March, and the foliage is a great compliment to summer and fall flowering plants. Another great attribute of the Hellebore is the thick hardy foliage that stays green throughout winter (Zone 6 and above). Did I mention they love shade? A partially shaded location that offers dappled shade would suit them well– think beneath a tree canopy. I use them as a companion plant in the Hosta garden. Growing tip: Cut back the old foliage in late winter to fully enjoy the emerging flower stalks.
The genus Helleborus covers a group of perennial herbaceous plants that come from Europe and Asia. During the past decade, they have gained popularity in the US. In 2005, they were named ‘Perennial Plant of the Year’ by the Perennial Plant Association. You need to shop for them during bloom time to truly appreciate their appeal. Traditional bloom form is usually star shaped with 5 sepals (petals). As commercial hybridization increases, more doubles, semi-doubles, bi-colored and picatee varieties are finding their way into the market. A picatee is a flower whose edge is a different color than the flower’s base color. Buying Tip: Don’t buy unless you see a flower or a photo of the flower so you know exactly what you’re getting.
I believe that every garden has at least one spot for a Hellebore. Aside from blooming when most plants are still in winter dormancy, Hellebores are easy to grow and pretty carefree plants. And that my gardener friends, is an awesome Christmas present all it’s own! Happy Holidays from Hortus|5.
Image Key
- H. x hybridus Party Dress Group
- H. x hybridus Harvington Yellow Double Spotted
- H. x hybridus Harvington Double Red
- H. x. hybridus Harvington Yellow Speckled
- H. ‘Pirouette’
- H. x ericsmithii ‘Winter Moonbeam’
- Helleborus x. sternii Blackthorn Group
- H. x hybridus ‘Emerald Queen’
- H. Double Spotted
- H. x hybridus Harvington Double Chocolate
- H. x ericsmithii ‘Winter Sunshine’
- H. x hybridus Harvington Yellow
All images ©Immediate Media Company
Caring for Poinsettias
Poinsettias are America’s best selling flowering potted plant. Would you believe that each year Americans purchase over 60 million of this popular holiday plant? My favorite color is white, but the photo above would indicate that I don’t make all the decisions in our household. Choose your battles, right?
Anyway, the color red accounts for nearly three-quarters of all sales, followed by white and pink. Lately, there are all these crazy colors available as the result of dyes and paint. Oh wait! Can I have some glitter with my obnoxious airbrushed poinsettia? What’s up people? Stick to the classics. Good taste never goes out of style.
Below is a list of best practices to prolong the life of your poinsettia, no matter what color it is.
©Meadow View Growers Inc.
Caring for Poinsettia Plants
First and foremost, protect your plants from wind or cold on the way home from the store. They are highly sensitive to cold temps and just a few minutes of exposure below 50°F can cause them to wilt. Make sure they are wrapped properly for transport.
Once you’re home, unwrap your plant carefully and place it in indirect light. Six hours of light per day is ideal. You can diffuse bright light with shades, shudders or sheer curtains.
Keep poinsettias away from warm or cold drafts which can be caused by opening doors or windows, air registers and radiators. This is perhaps the best thing you can do to prolong the life of your poinsettias.
Keep poinsettias from touching cold windows.
Ideal temperatures for poinsettias: Daytime temps of 60° to 70°F and night time temps around 50°F are ideal. High temps will shorten the plant’s life
Check the soil daily and water when dry. Water enough so the soil is moist but not soggy. If your poinsettia has a decorative foil or plastic wrapper around it, punch holes or cut out a circle in the bottom so water can drain out. Place a saucer beneath the pot to catch water. Discard excess water.
Want to save your poinsettia and have it rebloom next year? Good luck. I don’t recommend it as the process, while completely doable, requires constant care. Its like having a puppy. And, I’ve never known anyone to actually have rebloom happen. But if you really want to know how, follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS58ZkRTnqs
And there you have it. Following these simple tips will help keep your poinsettia looking lush and healthy throughout the entire holiday season.
Did You Know?
Most people think the colored parts of poinsettias are the flowers, but they are actually colored bracts. Bracts are modified leaves.
In nature, poinsettias are perennial flowering shrubs that can grow to ten feet tall.
Poinsettias are native to Mexico.
Poinsettias are not poisonous. Studies have shown that eating bracts will not kill you, but they might give you a stomach ache. Where did they find the people to be human test subjects for that study?!
Poinsettias were introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsett.
December 12th is National Poinsettia Day.
Making a Holiday Wreath
©Jonathan Klunk-Interior Design Blog
Holiday wreaths can be fabricated from all sorts of materials that you already have in your own back yard. Evergreen cuttings, pine cones, dried seedheads and flowers, herbs, vines, and more can be crafted into beautiful works of art.
As a new member of the board of directors for The Historic Ambassador House & Heritage Gardens, I found this how-to video timely as we get ready to host our annual wreath and holiday crafting event. Armed with a glue gun and some good imagination, you can create a simple mixed pine cone wreath that will welcome friends and family to your home for years to come. Enjoy the video.
Historic Amabassador House Holiday Events:
Friends of Heritage Gardens Craft Event | Dec. 1, 2011 7PM - 9PM (sorry, no more reservations available)
Victorian Family Holiday Event | December 3, 2011 2PM - 4PM
For more information about these events, visit the Ambassador House & Heritage Gardens website. www.ambassadorhouse.org
Wreaths of Wonderland Express video from The Chicago Botanic Garden.
Houseplants Crying Out in Winter
Did you know that most foliage plants known as house plants are native to tropical areas? Now look outside your window. Would you describe that as “tropical”? That might explain why they are looking so crappy this time of year. If they could talk, they might cry out the following: “It’s really dry in here. Hey, what happened to all the sunshine? I’m cold. I’m hot. Is my owner ever gonna take a break from feeding their pie hole to feed me instead? No one is paying attention to me. I’m stressing out!” Remind you of anyone you know?
As humans, we can take ourselves out of a bad environment to make ourselves happy. Plants are simply at the mercy of the their environment. Below is a list of tips that I recommend for making your plants healthy and happy no matter what time of year. And now for a little good news– the days are getting longer and that should make everyone very happy.
Tips for Houseplants
• Know what light requirements your plant needs and place in appropriate locations throughout your home:
East exposure will give you intense light in the AM hours and diffused light in the PM hours.
West exposure will give you diffused light in the AM hours and intense light in the PM hours.
South exposure provides direct light ALL day.
North exposure provides low light ALL day.
• Plants don’t like sudden changes, so be sure to acclimate them gradually if you move them to a new location.
• Ideal temperature for indoor plants can vary, but for many 68° daytime and 58° evening is ideal. Night temperatures should decrease about 10° from normal day temperatures.
• Use of a pebble tray or grouping plants together can help increase humidity levels.
• Be sure your containers have drainage holes and never let your plants sit in water. This can damage and rot the roots.
• Softened water is NOT recommended for watering your plants because of high sodium levels.
• Really cold water is not good for your plants. Room temperature or tepid water is the best.
• If you have fertilized plants through the summer months, little or no fertilizer is necessary during the winter.
• New to fertilizing? Visit your local garden center and ask them to recommend a product for your plants. Always READ THE LABEL and follow directions for all product applications.
Winter Rest
Every now and then, my friend Drew takes a break from his commercial photography business to work on personal projects. Lately, he’s been documenting the fall and winter terrain.
The images from his “Winter Rest” series resonate with many different meanings. The atmospheric conditions are so delicately caught that you can almost hear the silence of the day. Drew and I have collaborated on many projects over the years, but I never tire of seeing what is captured during his solitary expeditions.
drewendicott.com | all images copyright drew endicott
Overnight Sensation
Another beautiful snow at Sutherland. Here are a few images from the back yard and creek bank. It’s shaping up to be a white Christmas!
It’s official...
I can see no beds or borders! That means I can shift my focus to the great indoors for a while. Thank goodness I have a good little winter elf that handles the shoveling, salting, and snow blowing.
The season’s first snows are always exciting at Sutherland. This shot of the house and front yard was especially nice because the sun was shining.
I admire the neighbor’s crabapple tree from the front porch all year-long. Soon, the fruit on the branches will be all gone. That’s my cue to get the bird feeders filled and hung.
The rail on the balcony is always a good visual indicator of how much snow has fallen.
I love how visible the creek is when there is no foliage on the trees. Although unseen in this photo, there are several sets of tracks from all the wildlife scurrying about.
The main Hosta garden was designed to not be seen until you lowered all the stairs from the upper level. It’s usually hidden from view behind all the branches of the maple tree in the foreground. I added about 20 new plants this fall. Can’t wait to see how they do.