Wintering-over Potted Native Ohio Plants

NOG - September 2013

No Hoop-house? No Problem

  Wintering over native perennial plants without a hoop-house or greenhouse is not as difficult as you might think. As a matter of fact experimenting with different techniques that help ensure their survival is fun and rewarding.
 
  Native plants typically flower their second or in the case of some stubborn ones like Jack-in-the Pulpit their third season. Introducing market customers to the benefits of gardening with native plants is self-explanatory, if I allow flowering species like: Cardinal Flower, Prairie Phlox and Butterfly Weed to do the "talking".

  I use three different methods to help our native plants ride safely through Cleveland Ohio's unpredictable winters: recycled windows, double-layered nursery pots and a compost/soil mixture.

Pumpkin Recycling

Why Bother Composting Pumpkins?

Pumpkin Recycling 2013

  For the past three years I have posted a Recycle Pumpkins sign on our front lawn, at first my neighbors were a bit puzzled. Why would she want our old pumpkins? They now have a better understanding what all the fuss is about. 

   To say that I am passionate about collecting one of  North America's native squashes is an understatement. I do however have several good reasons to do so. The first: Potassium, Phosphorous and Nitrogen. When pumpkins are no longer illuminated by lively little candles they begin to decay and wither away; that is when the "dance" begins"! Microorganisms transform our Halloween delights into useable nutrients for our soil then ultimately our plants. 

Identifying Milkweed Seedpods

Milkweed Seedpods Come in all Shapes and Sizes

Poke Milkweed - November 1, 2013

  At nodding Onion Gardens we propagate seven different milkweed species, several of which are currently not in production. At different stages of development it is easy to confuse one species from another. Identifying milkweed based on their pods shape is a simple method of learning how to recognize one family member from another.

  The only draw back to this strategy is; like flower color it requires one to wait patiently until the flower blooms or a pod forms. It is not the most efficient means of identification; never the less it is fun and entertaining.

 

Butterfly Habitat

  Monarch Butterfly Release

Hesitant at First

This is part two from blog post 9/25/2013

 There was a part of me that didn't want to let her go. She had everything she needed in my yard, 40 or more different native plant species and numerous clusters of New England Asters all in full bloom. Her choice: deep purple, rose or burgundy, tall or short, sun or slightly shady. In the spring she would have a selection of seven different milkweed species. We have water and lots of mud puddles. I am sure I could arrange to have a male visit once or twice in June.

Butterfly Gardens

Surprise Monarch Visit

 

Now Where Did it GO???

  Lawn cut check... compost turned check... small  Hugelkultur hole dug check. Bring everything to a screeching halt and spend an hour watching/chasing a Monarch butterfly of course!

  I was on a mission today, it is a family trait, when we get something in our head nothing short of an emergency slows us down. I didn't say it was a healthy trait only one passed from one generation to the next. 

   

  My last task was to check and see if the milkweed seeds were ready to be harvested. As I bent down to inspect them something landed on me; thank goodness I didn't shoo it away, as it was a Monarch Butterfly!

Hummingbird Haven

Dancing To a Hummer's Tune  by Ken & Paula Korber

Hummingbird Perched in Trumpet Vine (Campsis Radicans)

Much of our gardening efforts today revolve around the anticipated arrival of our favorite summertime visitor, the ruby-throated hummingbird. Anyone who notices one of these amazing birds in their yards can't help wanting him to stay the entire summer, and hopefully, return the following year.

Mulching for Low Maintenance Gardening

Mulching With Shredded Leaves  By Beth Reis

I love gardening! I also love walking, swimming, biking and reading a good book during the summer. For some reason though, I can't seem to find the time to do necessary chores like laundry and cleaning! Could it be due to all the time I spend outdoors and in my gardens?!

I Love Gardening!

When I was biking this morning (know, I did seem to find the time to do that!) I started thinking about some of the ways I have learned to be a low maintenance gardener. Or at least lower maintenance one. That may sound like an oxymoron, but when you have a large vegetable garden, thirteen flower beds and well over fifty flower pots, it's a good idea to find ways to reduce your garden maintenance!

Backyard Wildlife Habitat

What does a Suburban Wildlife Sanctuary Look Like?

Goldfinch in Purple Coneflowers

  Creating a wildlife habitat does not happen overnight, it takes time and patience. Starting small is a wise idea; pick a section of your: yard, park, school or business and reserve it for the "critters".

   It is fun to research which native plants will perform best in the environment that you have chosen; there are numerous websites and books to assist you with this process. 
   

 

"We have a thistle-feeder in the back for the Goldfinches. 

Guess "fresh" tastes better."

  Paula Korber

  In our previous post, Why Not A Butterfly Garden?, we mentioned that Ken and Paula Korber have been working for several years on developing a yard which is welcoming to: birds, bees, butterflies, skippers along with a host of other insects. I think you will be a bit surprised by some of their other garden guests.

Why Not Plant a Butterfly Garden?

Native Cardinal Flowers are focus of this  new garden.

 

Gardening to Attract Wildlife

Our Smorgasbord

By  Ken & Paula Korber

   One of the thing that I love most about  the Frostville Farmer's Market are the people that I meet; I enjoy hearing stories of their journey from a grassy yard to one that comes alive when planted with native: vines, trees, bushes and flowers along with annuals, vegetables, fruit trees and shade trees. The transformation is amazing!

Beneficial Insects for the Garden

John's Garden - A tribute to my dad

 

My Garden Critters

  By Beth Reis

 

     I have always loved garden critters. Whether it's worms, spiders, frogs, toads, butterflies, dragonflies or bees; I love them all! I really do enjoy each one and the fact that each serves very useful purposes in both my vegetable and flower gardens, is an added bonus. To achieve healthy plants, which also provides me with attractive gardens, I am always trying to find ways to attract these beneficial critters to our yard.

Honey Bee Swarm Removal

 

Craig  Dahlin the Honey Bee Rescuer

July 16, 2013

Craig Dahlin riding the Adirondack Railway

    Our phone conversation started with, "Have you ever seen a swarm of honey bees?" I hesitated before answering; it was my brother Craig on the line.

   We are having a unofficial, friendly "bee counting contest", Craig was winning hands down. Even with my suburban backyard full of native plants I can't compete with the diversity that Craig and his wife Moon Eagle Arndt have added to their rural Pennsylvania (USA) property.

  I begrudgingly admitted that the only swarm of bees that I have ever seen was on National Geographic.

What is an Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus?

Hopefully by next year the quarter will seem small

An Eastern United States

Native Cactus

 

   Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (opuntia humifusa) the only native Ohio cactus was a gift from my market friend Lilly. I had no idea that Ohio, even had a perennial cactus. As it turns out we certainly do!

   Eastern Prickly Pear or Devil' s Tongue as it is sometimes referred to, has a wide natural range; spreading from Colorado east, and as far north into Ontario, Canada were it is listed as endangered. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services list additional concerns in the states of: Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Vermont.

 

Which is it: Trumpet Creeper or Trumpet Honeysuckle?

Campsis radicans & Lonicera sempervirens

 

Ken & Paula Korber - Trumpet Honeysuckle

Last fall Paula and Ken Korber, friends of mine from the Frostville Farmer's Market introduced me to the native Trumpet Honeysuckle - Lonicera sempervirens. I assumed that this plant was the same as the "Trumpet Vine" that I had  been growing in my yard for years. I recently learned this was not the case.

 

 

Will a Pint Sized Hugelkultur Bed Get the Job Done?

Creating Better Soil - Experimenting with a Miniature Hugelkultur

 

Starting small with a new concept

I garden pretty much the same way that I bake; a little of this a little of that. My family knows better than to ask me for a recipe, their chances of getting something specific are slim to none. Ask any of them about the Green Pepper Pancakes experiment. It shouldn't come as a surprise that I decided to build my first hugelkultur bed in the same fashion in which I bake.

Triple Rain Barrel Collection System

   Frugal Gardening

Featured Blogger - Beth Reis

Tom & Beth Reis

Hi, I'm Beth Reis, sister-in-law to Beth. Although we live more then 500 miles apart, Beth and I share the same passion for gardening and she has graciously invited me to share on her blog some gardening tips that I have found to be successful.

 Fond Gardening Memories

 

Purchasing Organic Fertilizer

Is this Truly an Organic Product?

 

Purple Milkweed Seedlings

   
  It is important that we all have bucket lists; things like biking the entire Great Allegheny  Passage or taking a class at the community college even if you are older than the professor.

 One of the goals for my native plant business is to become an organic farm. I am not sure that even if I reach that goal I would be willing to pay the application fee. Just the same it is something I am striving towards. 

It was Resourceful Before Recycling

       Old Traditions  New Technology

Roger's Adventures - 1948

 

Don't worry about it there is plenty: plenty of gas, plenty of fresh water, plenty of time, trees, paper. We realize all too well that this is no longer the case. As consumers/citizens we are aware of the fact that our resources are not endless, there is indeed a finite supply to all that we treasure.

Although it has been too many years to recall his name or any distinguishable features, I do remember with great clarity comments my Environmental Science professor made back in 1979. "There is not enough for everyone." Meaning our natural resources, he was also implying that there was not enough for the world's population to experience the same level of existence that we were enjoying. As young college students we weren't living an especially lavish lifestyle; I felt fortunate to have food, shelter and great trails to explore.

Succession Planting

 

Planting Native Perennials - Striving For a Constant Food Supply

Wingstem

  Nourishment for Bees & Insects

Twice in one week, the topic of succession planting was brought up. The first was a phone conversation with my brother Craig; who is concentrating on providing food for his bees and other pollinators year round. This is pretty important to someone who makes the best tasting wine in the state of Pennsylvania. No pollinators.. no fruit ... no wine.


Although he does cross pollinate some of his plants (like pumpkins) with a tiny paint brush; tackling his entire acre may not be a wise use of his time. Learning to plant flowers and plants that bloom year round is certainly advantageous to the success of his hobby.

Pickerel Rush & Blue Flag Iris

Your Native Plant Suggestions - Attracting Hummingbirds

Jennifer Anderson.NRCS

I had planned on quickly responding to Dave's comment posted on on my Attracting Hummingbird blog page, as you can see my comments morphed into a blog page.

 Dave suggested two plants that I might want to consider growing that hummingbirds dine on: Iris versicolor, Blue Flag Iris and Pontederia cordata, Pickerel Rush. I wanted something worthwhile to say in my responding comment so I decided to do some research and see what these natives had to offer.