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• As mentioned above, locate perennials or at least consider where you believe they are. Map them out and allow time for their sprouts to emerge before considering other options.
• Evaluate the space in your planting beds and allow for your perennials to have multiplied.  Once the perennials sprout, dividing and transplanting them or sharing the divisions with your family and friends are options if you find your space will most likely become overcrowded. 
• Evaluate existing and former plants' locations and needs and adjust accordingly. (For several years, my boyfriend attempted to grow an azalea in too much sun.  He babied it by amending the soil, adding additional water and placing shade cloth over it during the hottest months.  It survived until last year, but it barely bloomed and never really thrived - and who enjoys an azalea draped with shade cloth anyway?  On the bright side (no pun intended), now he has a prime spot to plant and grow a beautiful sun-loving shrub.  
• Consider creating or adding a color, texture or theme scheme to your yard this year.  Look through gardening books, magazines and/or websites to obtain new ideas. Do you want your flowers to contrast with your home or blend?  Do you want a cool, serene look with light blues and whites, or a vibrant look of reds and yellows?  Do you want bold tropicals or dainty ferns?  Do you prefer a natural look or a formal, angular one?  How about a koi pond?
• Regardless of whether you decide to create a specific color, texture, or theme to your exterior space, make sure adjacent plants have comparable needs.  In other words, don't plant maidenhair ferns intermixed with pinwheel zinnias as the former prefers shade and rich, damp soil while the other prefers sun and can tolerate poorer, drier soil.  Same theory holds true - and is even more important - when purchasing plants you intend to sow together in containers! 
• Consider adding yard art (including bird baths and feeders) and/or lighting in strategic locations of your outdoor space, perhaps in that odd spot where nothing has been successful in growing (stay tuned for my next blog post, however!)  Re lighting, solar lighting is very economical and there are more and more varieties and styles of lights available each year.  We purchased mini-stringed solar lights on Christmas clearance and last week decided to twine them around an arbor.  They are very pretty now and we expect the lighted arbor to be prettier once the trumpet vine leafs out!

                        Bare arbor alit with mini-stringed solar lights. Will be prettier once foliage grows among the lights.

Although one of my 2013 New Year's resolutions was to become more active, I had not started doing too much in the way of dedicated exercise until last weekend.  Yes, I know, I'm six weeks late as it is mid-February!

At any rate, my boyfriend, Mike, and I decided to take a Saturday morning walk in the neighborhood to kick-start our hopefully "routine" fitness routine.  It was quite gray and chilly here in North Texas, but the brisk walk was well worth it for reasons more than just the physical.  Our senses were enveloped by the serenity of the late winter landscape. 

Among the peaceful yet barren suburban yards, every so often we would see snippets of salmon-colored buds or bright golden bells.  These flowering buds were without the typical background of green leaves as they were borne on winter bare limbs.

I'm speaking of Flowering Quince and Forsythia - very early bloomers of the coming season. Crocus, Hyacinth and Jonquils are early bloomers as well, but considering Flowering Quince and Forsythia are shrubs - it is indeed a surprise to see them flowering when temperatures have been steadily cold.



Autumn Sage & Flowering Quince in Carrollton, TX   Feb 2013
(Both of these shrubs are straggly by nature and thus, are good companions.)


Forsythia in Carrollton, TX   Feb 2013

                                                          Hyacinth & Jonquils in Carrollton, TX  Feb 2013



Flowering Quince and Forsythia share many attributes in addition to their simultaneously early blooming times.  Both shrubs are hardy from Zones 5 - 8, with some of each seen stretching to Zones 4 and 9 on occasion. They are deciduous and can be planted in part shade to full sun, however, the more sun they receive the more abundant and vibrant their flowers will be.  Both may be planted in a variety of soil types, i.e. sand, clay or loam, as long as drainage isn't a problem.  However, they each will benefit from a supplement of peat or landscape mix now and then as they tend to grow stronger in nuetral to slightly acidic environments.   Flowering Quince and Forsythia are relatively fast growing and typically reach 6 feet in height at maturity but both can grow up to 10 ft in height and 8-10 ft in width if not pruned.  Speaking of pruning, these shrubs should be pruned after they bloom as the next year's buds will appear on the matured wood.  If you wait to tidy them up in late fall or winter, you will diminish the blooms of the following spring.  Blooms occur on these shrubs prior to leaves appearing.  Unfortunately, another common trait among the two is their vibrant flowers only last about two weeks - just long enough to provide us an "appetizer" for the coming warm weather!


Now, for a few differences: 

While both Flowering Quince and Forsythia are considered informal, irregular shrubs, Forsythia is the more attractive of the two after its leaves begin to appear.  It is often utilized in landscapes as a specimen plant. Quince, on the other hand, has been described as having a tangled, spindly appearance - even after having leaved out.  Except for new and improved cultivars, Flowering Quince also produces large thorns.  As such, Quince is best situated in either an out of the way location or, in contrast, as a barrier shrub.  

Forsythia produces bell shaped flowers in varying shades of one color - yellow. Flowering Quince, on the other hand, produces cup-like flowers in multiple colors - red, pink, salmon, orange or white. 

Unlike Flowering Quince, Forsythia may add color interest to your landscape in the fall months as well as in spring.  Several varieties of Forsythia produce leaves that turn deep purple to bronze in autumn, before ultimately shedding them.  

With regard to their history and uses, both Flowering Quince and Forsythia shrubs are usually found in rural areas and mature urban/suburban yards. In past times, the small fruit of Flowering Quince was used for jellies when apples or other fruit was scarce.  Forsythia's fruit is used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine to detoxify the body and treat fevers, among other things. Keep in mind today's cultivars are ever-changing and it is always recommended to consult a licensed health care provider before eating any unusual plant or taking any herbal remedy. 

In conclusion, as you begin to notice trees, shrubs and flowers budding out in your landscape this spring, you might consider one of these two shrubs for that odd, difficult location in your yard in which you haven't found anything to thrive.  Considering Flowering Quince and Forsythia are perennial, they are moderate growers, they can be pruned or left natural, they grow well in most soil types (except bogs) and they tolerate a wide range of sunlight conditions, one or both of these shrubs may be just what you are looking for.  Needless to say, their adaptability is one of their best shared characteristics. 

And while they may not be among the most glamorous shrubs in the landscape throughout the year, they certainly make a spectacular first impression!

Until next time,
Cindy

I love geckos.  

I love them for many reasons:

• I think they are are cute.
• They have super-hero suction feet. 
• They are kindof transparent, especially on their underside.
• They have big, beautiful eyes. 
• They are lightning fast when necessary.
• When they choose to slow down, they swing and sway as they walk.
• They usually don't bite humans - and if they ever did, they aren't poisonous and really, would it hurt? 
• In turn, when something bites them on the tail, they'll happily detach it.  
• The detached tail will wiggle for a while thereafter, distracting the predator so that the gecko can escape. 
• If it is lost, the tail will soon grow back.
• Best of all, geckos eat roaches and many other household and garden pests, serving as a natural pesticide, if you will. 

  
In the wintertime, I truly miss the geckos that usually greet me, clinging like live decorations to the brick walls of my doorway on warm nights.  As most of you know by now, I live in the southern US where the winters are relatively mild.  I would expect to see geckos out and about during the week-long warm spells we have now and then in January & February. 

Not so, and I'll tell you why -

Geckos brumate.


Brumate? 

 
Brumation is what reptiles do in the colder seasons, very similar to the hibernation activity of mammals.   

Although reptiles are cold blooded and can withstand fluctuations of temperatures very well, their bodies instinctively seek rest and added protection as the days grow shorter and the temperatures become consistently cooler.  Their metabolism also gradually slows during this period - to the point they will not eat, yet they are able to maintain a healthy weight.  

Interestingly, pet geckos that enjoy warmer household temperatures and artificial lighting may still instinctively brumate.  Their bodies may sense even the slightest decrease in indoor temperatures and send them into brumation, however their reactions may not be quite as dramatic as those of the lizards that live outdoors.  If you have, or have had, reptiles as pets, you may recognize this period as the time when your lizard becomes slightly lethargic and just doesn't eat as much as usual.  Perhaps this is the month or so that your lizard consistently leaves a few live crickets in the tank whereas he usually gobbles them all up.   

Geckos that live outdoors will seek shelter in warm crevices, hollow logs, deep leaf mounds and mud as nighttime temperatures begin to dip below 50 degrees.  Don't be surprised if you accidentally disturb a gecko or two brumating in your outdoor planters should you decide to sow a few winter or early spring flowers!  My mom innocently dug up a number of brumating bullfrogs one year that were overwintering in the terra cotta planters situated on her sunny porch.  Don't fret, though - disturbing reptiles and amphibians during brumation will not hurt or kill them, it only inconveniences them a bit.
   
Conversely, when weather conditions become extremely hot and dry, cold-blooded animals will often estivate - or seek cool, moist, shaded areas in which to rest to help them better survive the severely arid period.  Lizards that live in desert areas are often found in an estivation stage under rocks and deep inside ledges during the hottest of the summer months.

Back to the gecko in particular . . .





During my research about why I rarely, if ever, see geckos during the wintertime, I learned a few more points I'd like to share with you in conclusion:

• By far the most common gecko we see in the US has the scientific name, Hemidactylus turcicus.  It is commonly known as the Mediterranean House Gecko.  (There is another gecko species that has arrived in the US recently that originates from Asia, but it is not nearly as abundant.)
• As its name suggests, the Mediterranean House Gecko originates from southern Europe and northern Africa.  (See map below)
• It has lid-less eyes with vertical pupils and sticky toe pads, traits unlike the lizards native to the US.
• The Mediterranean House Gecko was first noted in the US in 1915 in Florida.
• It was thought to have arrived in the US as a stowaway aboard a ship and since then, has acclimated well to the populated cities of the Gulf coastal states, Caribbean and Mexico.
• The Mediterranean House Gecko is nocturnal- again, coming out at night to eat household insects and garden pests that are drawn to porch lights. 
• Female geckos typically lay only one or two eggs per clutch, but may have several clutches each summer.
• It is believed the only predator of geckos in the US is the snake (that is, not counting our overly curious dogs and cats!)   

                                           Distribution of the Mediterranean House Gecko



As I close this post, I ponder the differences in how humans, animals, birds, insects and plants adapt to the seasons.  Some of us hibernate, some of us brumate, some of us migrate and some of us transform.    I think if there is one commonality here, it is that we should respect and listen to the nature of our bodies.

If we are tired, we should seek rest.  If we have overindulged, we should seek moderation.  If we are too hot or too cold, we should seek shelter.  Lastly, if we are unhappy, we should certainly seek contentment. 

Nature is nurture, after all.

Until next time,
Cindy

What I have learned through trial and error is that if you wish to attract a wide variety of birds to your home you need to provide a variety of food options nearby.  Some of you may believe there aren't that many types of birds living in your area but I am certain we all have hidden beauties to be discovered in our cities, neighborhoods and rural areas.  I assure you once you set out a wide selection of cuisine you will be surprised to see how many diverse avians will come to breakfast!  Before I go on, please know I find nothing at all wrong with catering to our friendly sparrows and finches, but by simply adding a little something extra to your yard or routine you can entertain many other types of birds in your landscape as well. 

Providing sustenance to birds is especially important in the late fall when a number of them are migrating from their summer homes to their winter homes.  It is even more important to do so throughout the barren winter months when those birds that remain in the colder climates find it difficult to locate insects, seeds and fresh berries through the ice and snow.   Mother Nature does a good job of providing for and directing our wildlife, but it certainly doesn't hurt to help her out a bit when the going gets a little tough on our feathered friends.

Providing a smorgasbord for the birds can be accomplished through several means - by planting berry producing shrubs, allowing flowers and vines go to seed and of course, placing a bird feeder or two around your yard - perhaps a customized one (more on this below.)  

If you browse the aisles at a nearby specialty shop, local home improvement store, or neighborhood superstore, you are sure to find a wide array of bird feeders from which to choose.  If you are a beginner or have recently moved, I'd suggest a nice platform bird feeder as it allows all types and sizes of birds to dine.  It will serve as your main attraction, so to speak, and later on you can add a couple of different feeders, if you wish, once the birds have recognized your home as a feeding station.  

The list below is not at all exhaustive, but I'd like to share my experience with plants and feeders and the various birds they have attracted - keeping in mind I reside in North Texas:

Plants Producing Berries (mockingbirds, starlings and cedar waxwings)

Dogwood
Bradford Pear
Nandina
Hollies
Honeysuckle
Viburnum
Indian Hawthorne



Holly Berries in December 2012


Flowers to let go to Seed (chickadees and cardinals)

Sunflower
Zinnia
Purple Coneflower

Types of Bird Feeders

Platform - large, open tray - can be hung or mounted on a post.
In my opinion this is the easiest feeder to place out to quickly attract a wide variety of birds.  Right now, in early December, my platform feeder is attracting blue jays, mourning doves, juncos, cardinals and chickadees.  The larger birds will indeed dominate the feeder, but what they push out, purposely or accidentally, will typically be eaten by smaller birds below.

Rectangular - house-style feeder with a small to medium perch all around (topmost photo.)  Seed is contained in the upper space and slowly released in the perch tray as the birds eat. 
Smaller birds enjoy this feeder, such as sparrows, chickadees, finches and juncos.  I have seen blue jays and mockingbirds at these feeders as well, but they usually are too big to perch or will perch sideways for a short time.  If you find you have attracted a lot of large grackles and other blackbirds to your original platform feeder, you may wish to place this type of feeder on the other side of your property to accommodate your smaller feathered friends.

Finch Feeder - typically a cylindrical tube with small perches and tiny feed holes.
For finches, of course!  Be sure to fill this type of feeder with nyjer seed or a finch mix as larger seed will clog it up. 

Peanut feeder - typically a hanging wire basket or tube that allows for whole peanuts to be placed inside, but has openings large enough for birds to retrieve the nuts.  
Blue jays love peanuts! 

Suet feeder - rectangular wire container that you typically hang on a limb or close to a tree trunk. 
Blue jays and especially, woodpeckers love suet.  Other birds will also eat the suet.  It provides much needed fat for their bodies in the winter months.  You can find a wide variety of suet, some containing nuts incased in the solid fat.

Apple or Fruit Feeder - usually a rod device that allows you to pierce the core of an apple, pear, etc. and clasp or hang it from a tree or hook.  At specialty shops you may find fruit feeders that are designed to hold multiple pieces.   Mockingbirds, starlings and cardinals enjoy fruit.

I want to add that you can use any of the above types of birdseed in the platform feeder since it is essentially a huge plate!  If you do not have a peanut, suet or fruit feeder, no problem!  Just place whole peanuts, a block of suet, and/or an apple in your platform.  It will serve the same purpose.   



Platform Feeder


A last piece of advice when it comes to filling your feeders:
 
Invest in fresh, quality birdseed. 


Usually a higher content of sunflower, safflower, nuts and dried fruit will dictate the quality.  Birds will not eat stale seed and you will not attract many varieties with a blend that is strictly millet or other filler seed.  Also, old seed may be slightly molded or it may contain moth larvae and believe me, from experience, it is hard to get rid of those tiny moths in your pantry once they have hatched! If you wish to attract and maintain visiting birds, it is simply best to supply them with good seed.  And, on the off chance you happen to pick up a bag containing moth larvae, be sure to keep your spare seed in an airtight container.  I now keep mine in a sealed plastic tub in the garage.  

Before I sign off, I want to again pay tribute to Mother Nature.  You see, when birds consume certain berries and seeds, they are indeed renewing our forests, shrubs and wild flowers for seasons to come.  As I've mentioned in past blog posts, some seed (such as that of the moonflower vine) has to go through a bit of damage or turmoil, such as through a fire, drought, flood or yes, even a bird's gut, to penetrate their hard coat and become viable.  So when you see your beautiful hollies and nandinas being stripped of their red berries by a voracious flock of cedar waxwings, not only should you take a minute to admire the beauty of the birds but you should also acknowledge the wonder of nature before you and how rebirth will occur from their feast! 
 
I hope you chose to plant a few bird friendly shrubs and/or invest in a bird feeder or two this winter.  As the cold sets in and our trees become bare, you will be grateful for the beautiful birds that come to visit and adorn your landscape.

Until next time,
Cindy



P.S.  Don't forget to provide water to your feathered friends as well this season.  If you are without a birdbath or yours is perpetually frozen over, an inexpensive plant saucer will do just as well as long as you bring it inside and fill it daily during freezing temps.  If you are up to it, you can find heated baths/saucers online or in one of the specialty stores.

If you are looking for an outdoor blooming plant that can take the cold weather and come back for more, pansies are your best bet.  Pansies are quite resilient and will persist even after being buried for a couple of days in ice or snow.  In the southern US and warmer coastal areas, mid to late fall (now) is the perfect time to plant pansies.  If you live in the north where the winters are harsh and the spring nights remain crisp, pansies are best planted in the spring to early summer.  They will continue to do well until the mid-summer heat begins to wilt them.

For the purpose of this article and to tie in with the current fall season, I'll refer to planting pansies in the south and coastal areas. 

My first encounter with pansies was actually as a small child through a paint-by-number set.  I recall there were many paint colors that came with the pansy set, as opposed to the daisy and rose sets, and of course, the extra containers of paint was the main main reason, at 6 years old, I chose the pansies.  It was a good experience because I learned early on that pansies can be found in a variety of colors and that they had "faces", otherwise known as blotches. 

Indeed, pansies can be found in multiple shades and colors, from deep purples to light blues, reds to pinks, burnt oranges to pale yellows, among other hues.  Most pansies we identify with have blotches, but some do not.  Some pansies are considered "penciled", having lines radiating from their centers, while others are "clear" or blotchless. 

 Blotched or Faced Pansy

    Penciled Pansy

  Blotchless or Clear Pansy


Pansies are of the viola genus.  They are believed to have been hybridized from two other blooming plants of that particular genus - the perennial violet, or a variation thereof, and the johnny-jump-up (which looks like a tiny bi-colored penciled pansy and are often referred to as violas or violettas).  In fact, some folks believe penciled and clear pansies should be classified as violas - separate from the pansy label.    In researching the history and hybridization of the pansy, I must confess there are several schools of thought regarding what exactly classifies true pansies:  blotch and/or blotchless, flower size, and/or number of petals pointing downward vs upward.  There is also concern among some that viola can be used interchangeably as both a common name and a genus name.   Going back to the previous paragraph, most commercial nurseries, when referring to pansies, are speaking of the larger flowering types that are used predominately as annual bedding plants - whether they are blotched, penciled or clear. 

Putting genetics and nomenclature aside, pansies are very well adapted to the southern winters of the US and are a popular, if not the most popular, blooming plant in southern landscapes from October through March.  I have found pansies do best if planted in part to full sun, two or three weeks prior to the expected first hard frost - usually in early to mid October in North Texas.  Planting them a few weeks prior to the first frost (as best you can guess) allows time for the roots to establish themselves and allows the plants to be better able to withstand the oncoming cold.   As mentioned earlier, pansies will withstand brief duration ice and/or snow storms.  While they may look droopy and wilted for a day or two after the storm, most pansies will perk up quickly once the sun warms them a tad.  Overall, pansies enjoy cooler temps and moist, but not wet, soil.   If you are adorning hanging baskets with pansies this fall, be sure to give them an extra helping of mulch to aid with retaining moisture as they do not do well at all in consistently dry conditions.  By adding a scoop of blood and/or bone meal to the soil when planting pansies, you will assist in supplementing needed nitrogen and phosphorus to your soil composition respectively.  

And, speaking of blood and bone meal, these soil amendments are exactly what their names state they are - dried blood and ground bone particles -  byproducts of our meat industry.  It has been found that pansies and violets respond better to these rich, slow releasing, organic fertilizers.  And since rabbits love to munch on pansies, the addition of blood and bone meal to the soil appears to deter them.  (The flowers are edible and palatable to humans, too, by the way.)   One big caveat, however - while the blood and bone deters little rabbits, it acts like a magnet to big dogs!  So . . . if your pansies are planted in common or accessible areas, you have your choice of losing a few nibbles to rabbits or potentially having to replant your beds due to errant dogs digging them up looking for remnants to the blood and bone meal!

Outside of the four-legged pests, the only other pests you may have trouble with regarding your pansies are snails and slugs - however in the cooler seasons they aren't quite as numerous so you shouldn't lose too many petals to them.  If you find you have an issue with them, there are quite a few organic or otherwise safe solutions on the market that specifically target them. 

    
 A plot of smiling faces!

On to a more positive note - a bonus to their beautiful colors is that en masse, pansies produce a sweet, light fragrance. When there isn't much blooming outdoors, it is nice to come across a field of flowers that not only enhances our view, but our sense of smell as well! 



In conclusion, whether you are wanting to produce a warm, autumn feel by planting pansies in yellows, oranges and maroons around your fall pumpkins or a cool, crisp feel by planting a palate of blues, whites and purples among the fading grass or ornamental cabbages, you are sure to benefit from the persistence of pansies, and the rare beauty of that trait.

Until next time,
Cindy


This post is dedicated to Mike's recently departed grandmother of 100 years, Ms. Viola Weseman.  As her namesake suggests - her strength, beauty, good nature and love of family still persists . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Pumpkin

Pumpkins on a doorstep, along flowerbeds and in yard displays provide an instant fall feel to any yard or landscape come September and October.  (Even when it is 87 degrees outside as it is today in North Texas!)   I always buy two to three pumpkins around this time of year to place in a cluster near my flowerbed of golden lantana.  The combination is magic!

I mentioned to my boyfriend recently that he needed a pumpkin or two in his front yard to provide a little autumn spice to his house.  Being an avid gardener and self-proclaimed amateur landscape architect like myself, he didn't take too well to having someone else offer suggestions for HIS yard!  Don't get me wrong, he wasn't disrespectful, he just stated he had other plans for his fall decor.  I let it drop, but I continued to browse the pumpkin patches and outdoor displays at the local grocery stores - just in case the perfect pumpkin appeared!  

One day last week, I was making a stop at the grocery store before heading over to my boyfriend's.  I love to use the little mini-rolling grocery carts as they are much easier for my 5 foot 1 inch, 50 year old body to maneuver.  I spied one out in the parking lot on the way into the store and grabbed it.  

As I was rolling up to the entrance of the grocery store, I saw three huge cartons filled with pumpkins just to the left of the doorway.  My cart was on auto-pilot, veering toward the orange gourds.  I was viewing them from a distance, as I knew the closer I got the more likely I'd buy one or two and I knew my boyfriend wasn't keen on having them in his yard - not yet anyway - as he hadn't laid out his plan.  

As I looked from a distance, out of the corner of my eye I saw a young man rounding up errant carts and lining them up for new customers.  He saw me peering at the pumpkins and noticed I was deep in thought.  He loudly spoke in my direction, "Do you want a pumpkin?"  I jolted from my thoughts, looked over at him and discovered he was an employee of the store with Down Syndrome.   He had the most excited expression on his face.  He asked me again, "Do you want a pumpkin?"  I told him I didn't know, that I was really just looking.  He came over and said, "Don't worry, I will find you the biggest pumpkin!" and he proceeded to move dozens of pumpkins out of the huge box.  I stood there watching as he sweated and worked to find the biggest pumpkin.  I told him several times not to bother looking further, that the one he just had in his hand was fine.  Nope, he continued to dig in the box.  At last, he came to a gargantuan pumpkin near the bottom of the box.  He worked his arms one way, then another, and then climbed into the box to get to the giant pumpkin.  Once he had a good grasp on it, he picked it up and heaved it into my basket.  He then very proudly and with a brilliant smile on his face proclaimed, "I found THE biggest pumpkin for you!"  

I thanked him with mutual tears of joy in my eyes and rolled into the store. 

Thank goodness all I truly needed to pick up was a loaf of bread and a half gallon of milk.  There literally was no room for anything more in my basket and I could barely push the cart as it was!  In fact, one little boy that encountered me in the store pointed and exclaimed, "Look mom, it's The Great Pumpkin." 

Indeed it is . . . and it sits magnificently in my boyfriend's front yard for all to see!

Until next time,
Cindy


The Great Pumpkin of 2012!

I would venture to say the vast majority of us who are so very fortunate to have the gift of sight use this sense the most when it comes to admiring nature. We see beautiful blooms, brilliant leaves, expansive grass fields, gorgeous birds, inviting springs, immense oceans, rare wildlife sightings and much, much more. When we see something quite rare, we grasp for our cameras or cell phones these days in an attempt to capture the sight forever in a still photograph or perhaps a short video. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to hold onto and view a stunning scene over and again. In fact, I grab for my cell phone often to snap pictures to post on this very blog in particular!

Today I wish to speak about another sense we humans possess and use when it comes to enjoying nature – hearing!  What brought this blog post to mind was a recent walk I took one morning while at work.  I work in a suburban area and had reason to walk over a couple of blocks or so to secure some pastries from a corner bakery for a meeting we were having that day.  It was a particularly damp and foggy October morning - not terribly cool, though.  As I walked next to a steady stream of traffic, there opened up a long break in the automobiles which allowed me to leisurely walk across the three lane street.   Before I entered the bakery, I heard slight popping noises from above.  The lack of automobiles and the heavy fog seemed to accentuate the noise.  As I looked around, I thought it had suddenly begun to rain, but it had not.  I stopped a moment and discovered the noise was the sound of the dense fog landing on the crisp, fall leaves of maple trees overhead.  It was a soothing sound, very appropriate for the changing of seasons.  This led me to ponder upon the other sounds I am hearing this time of year:

The pings and bangs of acorns – depending upon their size – as they fall from oak trees onto rooftops, cars, sidewalks and walkways;

 

The crackling of dried leaves from deciduous trees blowing in circles at entranceways to homes and buildings as the northern winds (northerners) become more frequent;

 

The howling of coyotes and outdoor hound dogs as the nights grow cooler and longer;

 

The rustlings of berry-gorging birds, such as Cedar Waxwings, as entire flocks descend upon and strip nandinas, yaupons and other hollies of their bounty;

 

The squawking of geese in V-formation, flying far overhead and south for the winter; and,

 

on very still mornings,

 

The popping open of mature seed pods, expelling their greatest achievement for our reward next season.

As I write this note, I continue to think of the common, but still beautiful, sights and smells of fall - trees set brilliantly afire with chlorophyll-deprived leaves, mature pumpkins and gourds on the vine or strategically arranged on doorsteps and, of course, the aroma of fresh-mown hay and fresh-baked cinnamon-laced cakes and pies.  Yet, I’m sure if I intently focused on the sounds of nature around me for a few additional days, I’d probably be able to collect many more tones and timbres that I subconsciously relate to the fall season. 

Until next time,
Cindy

With the incredible heat wave hitting the midwestern and southern US this summer (it is expected to be 104 degrees today in North Central Texas), I was pondering what could I possibly write about regarding gardening or landscaping when our plants are simply struggling to stay alive?  I admit, after vacationing, my veggie garden has literally bit the dust - for it did not have the luxury of a daily hand watering while I was away. Bell peppers not quite ripe when I left are now scalded and shriveled.  I may be able to salvage the pepper plants themselves and hope for a crop in the late fall.  I'm also hoping my one surviving pumpkin plant holds on.  If you are in the same boat as I, don't pull up the plants just yet.  Instead, give them a trim and pamper them with mulch and water as best you can. You may even consider erecting some shade cloth shelters if you are so determined.   I've always heard it said there are two growing seasons in Texas - spring and fall.  Unfortunately, summer is indeed about as devastating to greenery in Texas as winter is in the far northern states.  There is, however, something you may consider doing in the garden about now - now that summer is supposedly winding down and garden clearance sales are in effect:  establishing solar lighting.  

By now, I am sure you have at least seen the very inexpensive solar landscape lights in and around both the discount and home improvement stores.   I am as fascinated with solar lighting as I am with my solar bird bath fountain.  Since solar lighting has become more popular in recent years, the availability and variety of sizes and styles has greatly increased.  You're sure to find a style, or two, that you like. You are also likely to find a solar option for just about any circumstance you may have for lighting in the landscape. 

Most solar lights recommend they (or their solar panels) are placed in an area that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight in order for them to provide adequate lighting.  The longer the exposure to sunlight, the brighter and longer the duration of light each lamp will provide. 

The small path lights found in most any store these days are quite pretty and especially functional at entrances and exits to your home and/or business.  My mom, living out in "the country", benefits from solar reflective lights marking the drainage ditches at the end of her long driveway.  They provide a guide, or landing strip, you might say, as we enter or exit her property.  They are also very valuable to those of us suffering from night blindness!  Nowadays you can purchase patio umbrellas with built-in solar lighting or, if you already have an umbrella, you can purchase a kit for your existing shade.  Solar lighting under an umbrella provides the same lovely ambience as candlelight.  -And speaking of candlelight, you can also find a variety of solar lanterns to mimic candles, again, to place around your patio as needed - or hang from a fence, pergola, or in a deciduous tree during the wintertime.  If you need lighting but are one that prefers things au naturale in the landscape, consider the solar lights/spotlights that come in the form of realistic-looking rocks and boulders.  The most recent solar lighting purchase I made was that of a color-changing angel on a stake.  After visiting the cemetery where my nephew is laid to rest, I saw a color changing light in the distance on another grave.  It provided a soothing, beacon-like ambience and I wanted my nephew's resting place to feel the same.  Since most cemeteries receive quite a bit of sun, these staked items really do well in that environment, and again, there are a number of styles and symbols to choose from. 
 

                           

 
In addition to being green and saving electricity, solar lights can be used indoors in cases of power outages occurring at night.  I have to admit, I borrowed this idea from my city's emergency operations center - but I thought it was quite brilliant. (No pun intended!)  During a thunderstorm, or perhaps a rolling brown-out or black-out, simply pull up one or two of your solar path lights and stake them in an interior potted plant or through an upside down cardboard box.  Place in the center of the room and you'll have bright light for a few hours without the danger of using candles or experiencing the inconvenience of finding that your battery-operated devices have run-down batteries.  A co-worker of mine keeps a couple of solar path lights in the potted plants on her sunny doorstep just for this reason.   

In conclusion, while there isn't much you can do in the way of gardening during 100+ degree temps, you can still enhance and transform your outdoors with the strategic placement of solar lighting.  After all, most of us simply aren't able to enjoy our gardens and patios during the dog days of summer until the sun has gone down!

Until next time -
Cindy





This blog post is dedicated to my oldest nephew, Ryan, who left this physical world three years ago, but shall live in my heart until I see him again.

Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrel at Seven Falls in Manitou Springs, Colorado  Photo by Cindy Pierce  June 2012

The above photo is by far one of my favorites of all time.  I took it a few weeks ago while vacationing in Colorado. My boyfriend and I broke away from the rest of the extended family and took my mom on a special day of local excursions in the southern area of Colorado.  Along with the famous Pike's Peak Cog Railway, we also visited Seven Falls - a beautiful canyoned area in Manitou Springs that boasts a tall, seven level waterfall.  There are several ways you can view the seven-level waterfall - from the ground, from a viewing platform a few stories high, and from the top of the canyon via a steep and lengthy, zig-zag staircase.  You can also view the falls at night when they are lighted with many colors.  

While my boyfriend and I took the quick elevator ride up to the mid-level viewing platform, my mom decided to hang out at the base.  Along the creek and pathways of the park, hung  large double hanging baskets of beautiful, healthy red, white and purple petunias.  My mom appeared to be intently admiring these flower baskets as my boyfriend and I tried to get her attention from the viewing platform for a photo op.  No luck.  

When we arrived back down at base, my mom began laughing and telling us how a ground squirrel was sprawled in the middle of one of the Petunia baskets, eating away at the flowers.  I thought it must've been a funny sight and wondered just how the Petunias stayed so abundant with the number of ground squirrels around.  As my boyfriend decided to take the trek up to the top of the falls, my mom and I sat on a park bench, watched the Native American dancers and simply took in the scenery.  We watched the rainbow trout swim in the nearby pond and the chipmunks and ground squirrels dart around and scoop up crumbs of dropped tourist food.  Suddenly, I saw a rather large ground squirrel appear in the center of one of the Petunia baskets right next to us.  Camera in hand, I snapped several photos as the critter rapidly tore off Petunia blooms one at a time and stuffed them in its mouth.  She was absolutely adorable (if you look closely at the photo, "she" appears to have nursing babies).  I'm sure the maintenance crews at Seven Falls probably don't find the squirrels quite as adorable as we did.   I'm sure they are tasked with replacing the flowers in the baskets quite often.  But, then again, perhaps the squirrels provide a natural deadheading and trimming service, enabling the plant to regenerate?  *More on this later . . .   

Witnessing how rapid this one little squirrel devoured multiple blooms, it reminded me of how quickly a newly planted bed of Petunias can disappear from our yards at home. From my research, it appears that white tail deer, rabbits, and all types of rodents (including squirrels) enjoy the taste of Petunias. The vibrantly colored blooms are like neon signs beckoning these mammals to come over and partake of them. In addition to animals, insects seem to very much enjoy Petunias as well, especially worms and most especially, the tobacco hornworm.

Petunias are of of the Solanaceae family, commonly known as the nightshade family. The nightshade family is a large family of flowering plants; their flowers being tubular or semi-tubular, with some flower varieties having fused petals. If you look closely at a Petunia's bloom, you will see the margins of its fused petals.

The nightshade family consists of both very popular edible plants and in contrast, very toxic plants - some fatally toxic, such as belladonna. Among the important agricultural plants of the nightshade family are tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and potatoes. I find it quite ironic that some of the most common vegetables we eat, perhaps on a daily basis (think tomatoes on hamburgers, in salsa, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, etc.) are found in the same classification as deadly belladonna!  However, speaking of the toxicity of nightshades, some of the plants in this family are toxic in high doses but are helpful and/or useful in smaller doses. For example, extracts of some of the plants of this family are used to curb the nausea of motion sickness and in chemotherapy patients. Also, the capsaicin extract of peppers is used in pepper spray - a personal safety device that sprays and temporarily stuns people and other mammals.

Another interesting plant of the nightshade family is nicotiana or tobacco. I suppose the effect nicotine has on the body can certainly be described as drug-like or addictive when we consider the many different effects the varied nightshade plants have on the body.

It has been determined it is the alkaloid compounds of nightshades that give the plant its helpful and/or harmful attributes. Although there is no consensus among researchers, it is thought best for people suffering from nerve, muscle and/or joint conditions to limit or avoid food of the nightshade family due to the inflammatory effects alkaloids may have on these body functions. It is good to note here also, that if you have heard the old wives' tale to avoid eating green potatoes, you may wish to take heed. While it is the cholorphyll in the potato that actually makes it green, the color also corresponds with a higher presence of alkaloids. Same with green tomatoes.

If you have a form of arthritis, as do I, but absolutely love one or more of the nightshade veggies, it is good to note that cooking them reduces the amount of alkaloids by about 40 - 50%. So, cooked tomatoes are less "toxic" than those just out of the garden. I admit I still eat tomatoes in both manners, but I just don't overdo it either way. As you know, there are very good compounds found in tomatoes too - such as Vitamin C and the antioxidant lycopene.

Well, back to Petunias and what eats them. You may be able to guess that Petunias fall into a benign branch of the nightshade family that is safe for mammals to eat versus one of the highly poisonous or deadly branches. While Petunias do possess alkaloids like the rest of the nightshades, it does not possess the highly toxic form.  And because the vibrant, sweet-tasting blooms of Petunias are borne without thorns or thistles, critters find them irresistible and easy to eat.  In addition to mammals devouring your Petunias, as I mentioned earlier, some worms are especially attracted to nightshades as well. The tobacco hornworm (a very large, bright green worm) that you can guess - loves the nightshade plant, tobacco - really isn't all that discerning when tobacco isn't around. This worm will attack any nightshade plant, including your tomato, pepper and potato plants.  Of course, it likes Petunias as well!



Tobacco Hornworm courtesy of http://coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Pests/tomato.htm


An interesting side note is Morning Glory and Moonflower Vine were once considered a part of the nightshade family in the past, but their family has been changed, of late, to Convolvulaceae. If you go one classification step up, however, they remain in the same Order as nightshades and have some of the same flower and alkaloid characteristics. The reason I bring this up is because their flowers are very similar to Petunias in shape and size and you'll see the tobacco hornworm likes feasting on the leaves of these vines as well. In addition, if you have both Moonflowers and Petunias in your landscape, the large, hummingbird-sized parent moths of these worms (Sphinx Moths) will visit both flowers equally!

In closing, just what can you do to keep your Petunias full and healthy, or at least alive, this season?  With regard to mammals like the cute little critter in the photo at the top of my blog post, ironically, the use of another nightshade plant may be the best solution!  Spraying diluted hot pepper juice or sprinkling hot pepper flakes around your ornamentals and vegetables may help dissuade these critters' palates.  I would administer the pepper spray in the late evening hours so the sun does not intensify the solution, however.  About the tobacco hornworm?  The pepper juice spray might help, but then again sometimes the hornworm actually eats green peppers so simply removing the gargantuan worms by hand (ugh) may be the best way to control them.  While I don't like to handle insects by hand, I still find them fascinating and would never purposely kill them (yellow jackets are an exception, btw!).  Personally, I love the mature moths that the hornworms develop into and simply find the larvae don't do that much damage to my ornamentals and therefore I do not do anything to specifically deter them from my yard. I often see their droppings but resign myself to knowing I'll have more moths to admire in late summer/early fall.  (Yes, these worms are big enough to have droppings to see and in fact, this is one way to locate them on your plants.  For as big as they are - they are incredibly hard to see as they excellently blend with the greenery.)   If you have kiddos or are a curious adult, click http://www.birds-n-garden.com/white-lined_sphinx_hummingbird_moths.html  to see how to raise the tobacco hornworms you pick off your plants and transform them into gorgeous, iridescent, hummingbird-sized Sphinx Moths. 

*Keep in mind, if your efforts to reduce damage to your Petunias by animals or insects are less than successful, do not fret if you still have roots and stems intact.  Oftentimes, with a little pampering, you may be able to bring forth a stronger plant as Petunias are known to bounce back more fully when trimmed and deadheaded. 


Taking into consideration:

- overindulging in edible nightshades may aggravate illness, but eliminating them entirely will cause you to miss out on vitmains and antioxidants;
 
- overindulgence of some compounds of nightshades may kill you, while small quantities may indeed heal you; and,

- aggresively ridding every pest from your nightshades may burn them (pepper juice) or cause leggy overgrowth, allowing a few pests to "trim" the plants may actually promote regeneration;

I'd like to end this post today by saying I believe we can view the contrasting properties of the fascinating plants of the nightshade family as a perfect justification of the age-old adage, Moderation in All Things . . .


Until next time,
Cindy
http://natureisnurture.net

Capulin Volcano


I recently returned from a vacation whereby ten members of my extended family traveled in three separate vehicles from the North Texas area to the Colorado Springs area.  Fortunately for us, we managed to get in a full four days of sightseeing before the terrible fires encroached upon the town of Manitou Springs. We hope this beautiful town and surrounding area recovers soon. 

Colorado is a favorite vacation spot for many flat land Texans as evidenced by the large amount of Lone Star State license plates you'll see along the route from Texas through New Mexico and into southern Colorado.  Most Texans, among them, my nieces and nephews, will tell you there isn't much to see or do on a road trip between Dallas and Raton, save the spectacular Palo Duro Canyon located just south of Amarillo.  I'll reserve sharing that experience for another post.  Today, I'd like to tell you a little about a nice surprise we came upon in northwestern New Mexico -   

Capulin Volcano National Monument.

Capulin Volcano, a classic cinder cone dormant volcano, is located in the midst of the Raton-Clayton volcanic field.  There are several other recognizable volcanoes in the area, as well as some that you don't realize are small volcanic domes until you take a second or third glance.  Capulin Volcano, as you can see by the pic I snapped above, is quite perfect in shape.  The volcano is visible for at least 20 miles prior to arriving at its base. 

I would describe the terrain along the Raton-Clayton path as a rocky, moderately high desert type.  As we drove through mostly flat country dotted with sporadic peaks and domes, we saw an abundance of mule deer and antelope.  Various types of blooming cacti decorated the otherwise sparse landscapes in yellows and pinks. 




Besides the magnificence of viewing it from the base, driving to its peak, and hiking around its rim, I found it fascinating that multitudes of ladybugs live on the mountain.  We had stopped at the information center enroute to the top of the volcano and received a pamphlet and a map of the site.  While there, a park attendant told us we happened to be visiting during the active ladybug season. (She also told us four types of hummingbirds routinely visit the site as well.)  I was a tad intrigued and made a mental note to look for ladybugs at the peak - thinking I might see a few here and there and if I was lucky, one might land on me.  

Boy, did I ever underestimate what "ladybug season" meant!  As we hiked the paved pathway along the rim of the volcano, my boyfriend and I admired the many labeled shrubs and wildflowers. There is actually a sumac-related shrub in the area that has the common name "skunkbush".  If you brush past it or crush a leaf with your shoe it will emit the faint aroma of a skunk.  Another interesting fact about this shrub is it is not completely destroyed in forest fires - above ground it is certainly burned, but below ground it will survive and re-emerge good as new the following season.    What caught my eye in particular was the bright orange-red berries among the skunkbush's leaves (see below). 


Skunkbush (Rhus trilobata)

So, as we walked along the rim of the volcano I seemed to notice quite a few skunkbushes along the way - except they weren't all skunkbushes after all.  They were, instead, shrubs that were inundated with orangish-red ladybugs!  Thousands and thousands of them!  Below is a picture I took on June 16, 2012 of ladybugs at the base of a shrub on the rim of Capulin Volcano. Comparing the photos, I am sure you can see why I did not notice the ones in the seond photo were ladybugs at first glance.


.
 Ladybugs at the base of a shrub on Capulin Volcano



Ladybugs scattered on the rim of Capulin Volcano.

Having never seen so many ladybugs in one place, I knew I would want to learn more about the attraction of the bugs to that particular area.  Was it the region?  The elevation?  The lack of predators?  The vegetation?  The rocks?  Perhaps the fact Capulin is a volcano is of significance? 
 
This is what I've learned:  Scientists (Entomologists) simply do not know the specific attraction of Capulin Volcano to the ladybugs.  But they do know the particular type of ladybug that resides there is called the Convergent Lady Beetle (Hippodamia convergens) and is one that migrates.  The beetles arrive on the volcano via wind currents throughout the summer season and stay to overwinter there.  In very early spring (February) the ladybugs catch southernly winds to warmer areas rife with aphid infestations, where they gorge, mate and lay eggs.  When the larvae become adults, they hitch a wind current back with their parents to Capulin Volcano to prepare for hibernation and to continue the cycle.  Some scientists believe the rocks of Capulin Volcano serve as landmarks or landing beacons for the beetles as they are carried in the wind.  Capulin is not the only peak that hosts the Convergent Lady Beetle over winter.  Some beetles miss their landing at Capulin and are carried further northwest to settle among a few other isolated, mid-level peaks located in southern Colorado. 

One day I hope we uncover the mystery of the ladybug attraction to Capulin Volcano.  It truly fascinates me.   Until then, it should interest those of us that purchase or attempt to keep beneficial ladybugs in our gardens as natural predators, to know they will eventually leave our summer gardens to gather at their winter mountain resorts.  Considering the dedication to their annual roundtrip journeys, I indeed have a much greater appreciation for the precious time ladybugs do chose to visit in my yard.

Until next time,
Cindy

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