January 27, 2010
Is it Native?
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by Gene Griffith
Lots of gardeners want to know if a plant is "native." Within the genus "Hydrangea" there are two species that were found within the boundaries of the U.S. --H. arborescens and H. quercifolia -- so they would qualify as native if your concept of native is tied to our nation's boundary. But if you draw a tighter ring, say New England or the South, you get a slightly different answer: the arborescent species was found growing in the wild in both regions, while the oakleaf was only found in the South. It will grow in certain areas of New England (the warmer parts), but was not "found" there. (If you define native by state -- California or Nebraska -- then neither is native.) The other Hydrangea species are from various parts of the globe: Japan, China, Mexico, Chile, the Philippines, etc.
Dr. J. C. Raulston influenced my thinking on "native" plants. From his article "Notes on Development of a Philosophy for Use of Native Plants in the Landscape" from The Chronicles of the NCSU Arboretum:
"'Native' is an indefinite concept - what is really meant by 'native'? - to the site (at what historic period?), to country, to region, to state, to continent, to world? Geographic and political boundaries have no relation to native ranges or adaptability."
Dr. Michael Dirr teased an audience of gardeners and growers once with the question: Is Leyland Cypress a native of the US? He was showing a slide at the time of one of the original seedlings that occured in Welshpool, Wales in the 1880's. (It was over 100' feet tall!) Yet the intergeneric hybridization forming the plant was of Cupressus macrocarpa -- Monterey Cypress from coastal California -- and Chamaecyparis nookatensis -- Alaska cedar from coastal Alaska to Washington.
Perhaps it's best to not dwell on the "nativeness" of the plant and concentrate instead on it's adaptability and ornamental features.
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January 24, 2010
The Seuss Sayer Says
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By Porter Griffith
On a cold winter's morning,
as I froze my caboose
I was shaking my head
when something shook loose!
It tumbled out hopping
and bopping around
It wiggled and waggled
and fell to the ground.
A doctor, I thought
must be what I need,
For wiggling things
should not fall from me.
But the wiggler wiggled
and snatched up my phone
And said not to worry,
to fidget, or moan.
A medic was coming
for my head and my thorax
a doctor with green eggs,
ham, and a lorax.
Whose funnies and gigglers
would fix up my woes
cure all my wigglers
and warm up my toes.
The eggs and the ham
were bad for the tummy
But stories were told,
and the fables were funny.
With good attitude
and a clever retort
He got me to snicker,
to chuckle and snort.
Remember the planet,
the plants and the grasses,
the joy of the garden,
the lads and the lasses.
Like flowers- don't gripe!
Or make enemies,
and what you shake loose
will be good memories.
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January 21, 2010
Winter Thoughts
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by Gene Griffith
A new year arrives and as Hal Clements had well marked in his Bible Psalm 118:
"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
I struggle to understand the peace contained in that prayer, to act everyday with such rejoice. I needn't list all the troubles we can find around us for they are manifest. We act, we vote, we hope for a better day.
Our New Year's Eve came with dense fog and no desire on our part to join any hoopla.
I used to be a voracious reader but that was 20 or 30 years ago. I quit and only read newspapers or People while waiting in the dentist's office. No excuses: I just did other things. I'm happy to say I'm reading again. When I read it's always been multiple books at the same time, in piles by the bed. We were given Taylor Branch's Parting the Waters for Christmas 1991 by one of Elizabeth's brothers. I finally picked it up and have found it captivating. Keillor's collection Good Poems is just that, to be enjoyed by those who don't know a poem from an electric bill.
Winter can allow both the appreciation of the earth which the Lord hath made as well as time to read and reflect. I hope that is true of winter for you. Here's a poem "Lost" by David Wagoner:
"Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you
Are not lost. Wherever you are is called Here,
And you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
I have made this place around you.
If you leave it, you may come back again, saying Here.
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you,
You are surely lost. Stand still. The forest knows
Where you are. You must let it find you."
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January 17, 2010
Flowers Caught Soliciting
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By Porter Griffith
Yoo-hoooo! Over here, hot stuff!
By now, we all know about the birds and the bees. And thanks to Jewel Akens' 1964 pop classic, we also know about the flowers and the trees. Or at least, we thought we did. According to a BBC report , Welsh scientists have discovered that flowers "wave" at nearby insects to attract their attention.
While watching flowers swaying with the breeze at his daughter's birthday party, scientist John Warren began to wonder what purpose their long stems might serve. "I wondered why they have stalks and risked getting damaged in such an exposed habitat." Warren, a professor at Aberystwyth University, searched for any previous research into the subject, and found very little. Prior inquiries had concluded that motion was likely unimportant in attracting pollinators, because "insects are not good at detecting movement", which, according to Warren, "is clearly rubbish."
So, curiosity piqued, he and colleague Penri James measured and tested 300 specially-grown sea campion flowers of varied height, and determined that bees and other pollinating insects prefer their flowers tall, dark, and handsome. Or at least, tall, skinny, and waving. The evidence showed that flowers on long, thin stalks waved more in the wind, and attracted significantly more visitors. However, height is only beneficial up to a point. The tallest and skinniest blossoms were simply not stable enough for pollinators to land on, and were passed over as well.
As evidenced by the popularity of dancing competitions on reality television, the right moves can attract serious attention. But it's a fine line- overenthusiastic showoffs are never well received. Indeed, "only flowers that wobble the right amount are successful in setting seeds."
Sounds like an ancient Chinese proverb. Or at least, a confusing fortune cookie.
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January 10, 2010
Dónde está mi sombrero?
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Do hats really sell plants?
by Gene Griffith
Branding is all the rage in marketing replacing the slogans of my youth: "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should"; "Busch Beer: Head for the Mountains"; "See the USA in your Chevrolet." (Not all at once, of course, smoking, drinking and driving was frowned upon then just like texting while driving is today.)
But now it's branding and today's question is why do so many gardening gurus wear hats? Are they bald (like I am)? Their dermatologist told them to? Or, is life for them a constant "bad hair day?" Is Nike making hats and I just missed it?
Consider: Allan Armitage with his large white slouch hat, or Michael Dirr with his UGA visor, HGTV's Erika Glasener with her Amish-style straw hat; Roger Swain formerly of The Victory Garden in his topper and red suspenders! Now there's style. Holmes would have made a good gardening marketer in his deerstalker if he gave a damn about plants.
Of course, those blessed with a full, fine and stylish coiffure forgo the lid -- P Allen Smith or Martha Stewart come to mind -- and still sell boatloads of plants.
Rather than brand recognition connected to a certain name, face or hat, how about choosing plants based on actual comparitive trials as are conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society in the U.K. in its assessment of plants worthy of their AGM (Award of Garden Merit). These are awarded (and rescinded!) after rigorous testing. To learn more go to http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Plant-trials-and-awards/Plant-trials/2009-trials. Meanwhile look for me in a knit red-pullover because there's snow on the ground and cold on my pate.
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January 7, 2010
Seeking Beekeepers
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We're looking for a responsible,
knowledgeable beekeeper to set-up and manage beehives on our 30 acres.
Years ago we had a man tending bees here but his life changed and he
left the hives abandoned. While we enjoy honey (especially local
honey) our interest is primarily for the pollination provided to our
flower orchard and container crops.
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January 6, 2010
Britney Spears Not Addicted to Gardening
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By Porter Griffith
Dang! What a let down. The news came earlier this week that Britney Spears, though possibly addicted to plenty of other things, is not addicted to gardening. In the Spring of 2008, gossip blog I'mNotObsessed.com reported that the 28-year-old Spears was using "flower therapy" to "bring [her] a sense of quiet and stillness" and that "whenever she returns to her California home she's straight out in the garden working". The pop star's website this week listed the report among the top Britney-centric BS stories of 2009.
Too bad, we say! While Britney Spears is not someone with whom we would actively seek to associate, her life thus far has been undeniable evidence that no press is bad press, and press is something our tender industry could certainly use. When "quiet and stillness" were listed among the effects Spears had reportedly achieved, we should have known the article was bogus; but we are only mildly sarcastic in saying that it's sad to hear she's not a plant nut like we are.
The truth is that surrounding oneself with nature and actively nurturing a living garden is indeed a path to a calmer soul, and we hope that is something that Britney and her celebrity ilk can one day find, if only for the sake of her children and those she inspires. An influential young person with millions of fans worldwide making a move toward a calmer, gardening-inspired life could be exactly the kind of good role-modeling this world needs. So to Britney: take a queue from the tabloids, pick up a hydrangea, drop the charade, and get to hoeing!
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January 6, 2010
Hydrangea.com Blog Launched!
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December 12, 2009 marked the launch of Wilkerson Mill Gardens' all-new blog! Here you'll find industry news, personal updates, wisdom on green living and green thumbs, photos, jokes and stories from our adventures at home and travels to wherever stunning landscapes can be found. We hope to make this a place of reference for all the latest on Wilkerson Mill and its great staff, hydrangeas, and the gardening world at large. Check back often for news and photos, tips, tricks, and treats- thanks for stopping by, and happy holidays from all of us at Wilkerson Mill!
"Making a call on the cell phone"
This blog is evidence of our ever-improving technology.
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