Gardening

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WindowAlert: Protect your Songbirds

We invite birds to our garden in a variety of ways using fragrant flowers, flowing fountains and feeders.  To that end, it was disheartening when the occasional feathered friend mistook our window for the sky.  That unmistakable thud left an indelible mark on our soul.

The good news: by applying WindowAlert™ Decals, collisions are largely a thing of the past. According to their site:

WindowAlert is a window decal that may be applied to home and office windows. The decals contain a component which brilliantly reflects ultraviolet sunlight. This ultraviolet light is invisible to humans, but glows like a stoplight for birds. Birds have vision that is up to 12 times better than that of humans. WindowAlert decals help birds see windows and avoid striking the glass.

The decals are removable and re-positionable.  The static cling variety can be cleaned by rinsing in warm water as necessary.  I purchased the Decorative Leaf Decal, but they are  available in a variety of shapes.

Support your local garden center or nursery if you can.  I shopped at Los Gatos Birdwatcher in our community.  You can also buy directly from the WindowAlert site.

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Lavender Caper

"...Here's flowers for you: Hot lavender, mints, savory, and marjoram." The Winter's Tale

It’s a mystery. Two summers ago we planted a row of lavender along the front deck. Five small plants with big potential. Within a few months they would be peeking over the edge of the deck, covered in fragrant blooms.

The plants doubled in size, supporting each other as they grew out and up. They bumped up against the lawn; spilled on to the stairs. Except for one. One of the five plants was still below deck. Like the runt of the litter, I reasoned, the smaller plant needed more time.

My well-honed sense of symmetry was eschew; I wanted each of these plants to grow into one cohesive row. The plant seemed healthy. It branched, it flowered, and it grew. Every few days I would lean over the edge of the deck, lifting its branches skyward. Perhaps this lovely lavender had simply lost its way.  “Stand tall,” I encouraged; that space is yours to fill.

I sought the advice of a couple of garden experts. One suggested it was something in the soil. I asked if it was possibly a dwarf variety but they didn’t think so. Nearly two years later the plant is still small.

I’m pragmatic when it’s time to pluck annuals from the earth and I can thin seeds and pull weeds with impunity. Giving up on an established perennial, however, feels like the gardener’s equivalent of throwing in the towel. If only the plant would send me a sign by turning brown, falling over or displaying a visible blight. Then I would be ready to let it go.

June, 2010

February, 2012: One of these plants, is not like the other...

Dwarfed by the Others

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California Gold

Tall, graceful golden grasses grace the garden.  I’ve tried capturing that movement with my still camera for a year.  While poking around with my camera yet again, I decided to record 10 seconds of movement and song instead.

Here is my own little homage to our beautiful golden state.

Breezy

We inadvertently matched the walkway to one of our cats

Golden cats abound: the neighbor's cat blends in

Golden Field Stone

X Marks the Spot

Nestled below the Magnolia

Storm's Brewing

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Magic of Swing

I dreamed of a garden swing for years, but it seemed like such an extravagance. Stylish and pricey swings graced the pages of Grandin Road catalogs and the garden section of Sunset Magazine, teasing me with the seductive possibilities of life with a swing. When my youngest son was still small we would “test drive” all the display models at our local Home Depot garden center.

Then in 2009 I spotted a swing in town for under $200. Though it wasn’t a high-end model it looked sturdy and it was comfortable. The seats were cushioned and the back had built-in head rests and a canopy to fend off the sun. It was perfect! We snapped one up and my husband assembled it for me for Mother’s Day.

Had I known that swings had magical powers I would have splurged years ago! Whenever I wandered outside to sit on my swing, a kind of hypnotic trance took over. Suddenly, swinging was more important than answering email or tossing a load of laundry into the dryer. Invisible hands lulled me. I could barely move.

My boys were drawn to the swing, too. I would trek outdoors and before I knew it I had company on the swing. Back and forth we would go, swish-swish, swish-swish, swish-swish. Feuding cats set aside their differences and joined me on the magical swing, paws curled in as they settled into the deep cushions.

If I had to make a phone call, I figured I may as well do it from the swing. I pretended to read my book out there, but in short order the sun and swing led to slumber.

After three seasons under the noon day sun, my swing needs a little TLC.  I’ve got my eye on some new fabric, part revitalization, part disguise.  If the shopkeeper ever learned about the magical powers they would undoubtedly find a way to double the price.

Mother's Day Two-Fer

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Second Chances

There is no accounting for taste.  It’s one of life’s mysteries.  I’ve raised two sons in one household with identical  food choices, but only one of them  loves fruits and vegetables.  I continue to re-introduce different foods, he continues to eschew most of them.   Broccoli is not on his short list.  He says it’s too bland.

Today, he turned a corner!  He invited a young friend to stop by to see the new garden.  Together they swept gravel from the path.  With joy and pride he trimmed small florets of broccoli to send home with his mate.   He then nibbled on one of the organic florets and pronounced: “I like it because it is bland.”   Three cheers for second chances and the power of a garden.

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After Dark

After Dark

I’ve gardened in the rain and cold until my fingers were numb.  I’ve gardened at dusk till feasting mosquitoes drove me indoors.  I’ve even gardened in the mid-day heat, keeping the tormenting sun at bay with hats and sunscreens and moveable umbrellas.  But I’ve never gardened after dark.

“Dark” is subjective of course. It’s that time of day when I reluctantly turn my garden over to the other side.  If I’m outside too late, Dark reveals opossums, meandering along the fence.  Frankly, they give me the creeps.  I once encountered one on my pathway late at night, walking straight for me.  I froze in place, but it ignored me and meandered on.

Raccoons also visit the yard, playing in the fountain and on one occasion, tapping on the cat door.   The rats don’t always wait for Dark.  They rustle around in the orange tree reminding me to pack up my tools and head on in.  Dark is just around the corner.

Spiders, a gardeners friend, have cousins that prefer to wait for Dark.  They live under the BBQ and below the eaves.  They don’t make a sound, adding to the creepiness factor, but I know they’re there.

I’ve found myself racing the setting sun, trying to pull one more weed before night falls, trying to prune one last vine.   I become a little obsessed with the work at hand and I’m reluctant to stop.  In the summer months it’s usually too hot to garden by day.  My fair skin prefers the damp mists of Avalon to the sunny climate of San Jose.  Since I live in the suburbs and not a mystical novel I’m forced to make do. So I race that setting sun while acknowledging the inevitable.  My garden is harmless by day, but like the closet of my youth, with the flip of the light switch, all bets are off.

 

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Reading the Fine Print

When my nine-year-old son discovered Fruit Cocktail trees, he could talk of nothing else. I’d never heard of them till our neighbor shared her plans to plant an edible garden. For the uninitiated, a “fruit cocktail” is a multi-grafted fruit tree; one tree, four varieties of fruit.

These trees are a boon for suburban gardeners with tiny lots. Another plus is the harvest season. The fruits mature at slightly different times extending the bounty gradually over the season.

Last spring we had beautiful fruit, but we were ill-prepared for nature’s scavengers. The squirrels and rats picked the tree clean in a day. We’re more prepared this year and will “net the tree” as soon as the flowers begin to fruit.

I photographed the beautiful blooms today, then removed the identifying tags. Reading the fine print on the back of each one made me smile.

A few gems:

“Self-fruitful in most climates.”
“Excellent pollenizer”
“…some tartness near the skin.”
“Tangy when firm-ripe, sweetest when soft-ripe.”
“Reliable, heavy-bearing tree.”

Blooming Apricot

Blenheim Apricot: Dave Wilson Nursery

July Elberta Peach Bloom

July Elberta Peach

Santa Rosa Plum Bloom

Santa Rosa Plum Bloom

Fantasia Nectarine Bloom

Fantasia Nectarine

Ah, fertility!

We purchased our Fruit Cocktail at Almaden Valley Nursery (thanks Doug!)
Wholesaler: Dave Wilson Nursery

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Garden Jewels: Dress to Impress

The well dressed garden always looks smart.  Unpretentious, she boasts the latest colors and styles.  Last season’s fuchsias look timeless tucked neatly in front of hydrangeas.  Lacy ferns appeal to her feminine side, always graceful and light.

Her classic beauty lends itself to the yellow of a rose, evoking the earthy scent of lemon wafting through the air.  Grassy skirts compliment her regal stature, with a showy crown of alyssum just for fun.

The well dressed garden knows how important it is to accessorize.  Accessories take the garden from now to wow.

She’s agreed to share some of her favorites here, gifts from cherished friends.

Even a robin would buy a home from this lovely gift-giver

A ruby-red heart from a grammatical guru

The Happily Ever After Woods

Soleada de un viejo amigo, querido

It's True

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Garden Log: February 22, 2012

Small Harvest

With temperatures in the mid-seventies this week, we’ve been spending a lot of time outdoors. The official start of spring is still four weeks away, so I know this weather won’t last. It was a great opportunity to accomplish some garden chores.

Harvesting:

I cut the larger broccoli crowns, along with the flowering plants that bolted last week, and left the smaller florets behind. With luck, we’ll have a few more servings before all plants go to seed. I soaked the cuttings in warm salt water before wrapping them in a towel to crisp in the fridge.

Pruning:

Following my friend Doug’s instructions and the notes I found on-line, I pruned our two-year old, “four-in-one” fruit tree. The soft buds are plump on all four grafts and a few have started to flower. I put some of the cuttings in a vase indoors and will recycle the rest curbside. San Jose’s excellent recycling program converts green waste into mulch!

The aforementioned fruit tree was my son’s 10 year birthday gift, so the pressure to prune it properly runs high. He refused to watch, even though I read to him how important pruning fruit trees is in the first four years to establish a strong tree. It was fun to read the origins of the phrase “nipping it in the bud.”

Four-in-one Fruit Tree Buds


Transplanting:

My husband helped me drag the water-logged roses to the front deck where we replanted them in a pot. We displaced the  plants when we installed the patio out back so I was happy to find them a home. I’m sure I’ve disappointed a few squirrels.  They dig up the planter every few days leaving dirt all over the deck.  Since they don’t stay to clean up the mess they don’t have a say in the matter. The roses will soon bloom, discouraging all that plunder.

Maintenance:

We store our emergency/earthquake kit under a potting bench in two air-tight containers. I knew it was time to update the water along with a few other items, but for all my love of gardening, I’m a bit squeamish about spiders. Mike pulled out the bins and stacked them on the table so I could empty, sort, clean and replace items as needed. I washed the blankets, pillow cases and the canvas tote and made a note to replace the water boxes and a few batteries. Otherwise it was in decent shape. As I went to replace the oil cloth cover I discovered one of the largest, hairiest garden spiders I’ve ever seen. We stood and debated its livelihood for a moment: I knew it was alive; my husband said dead. I carried the cloth to the far reaches of the garden to relocate the arachnid. As we stood staring at it, one of the cats crawled under the cloth and then jumped out the other side. The two of us jumped in unison, momentarily convinced that “Sir Harry” was out for blood.

Sir Harry

Next week: a trip to Almaden Valley Nursery to source and price some plants.

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Hummingbirds: A Route of Evenescence

Allen or Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Our garden is a hummingbird magnet.  They provide cheap entertainment at the feeders and plants year round.   They are especially fond of the Salvia leucantha (Mexican bush sage), a drought-tolerant shrub we have planted curbside and the Flowering Maple (Abutilon hybridum), planted out back.  My husband tends the feeders, ensuring they are always clean and full.

My first up-close experience with this delightful bird was during a game of hide and seek with my sister.  I was hiding behind a shrub when one flew within inches of my face.  I wanted to shout out to the world, “look!”, but I kept my cool and savored the closeness before it took off.

A few years ago a female hummer started building a nest in the crook of our wind chimes.   She flew back and forth from tree to chime before we realized what she was doing.  Within a short time she came to the same conclusion we did: what an impractical place to build a nest.  It was a special treat watching out the window as she worked, but a relief when she moved on.

Mesmerized by the Nest

Starter Nest

The feeder outside our kitchen window gets the most traffic.  Beautiful hummers like to rest in the Magnolia tree, swooping in and doing battle for a turn at the drinking fountain.  Last week one of the males started his mating ritual.  He circled the house, then flew straight up into the air, before turning directions and shooting down toward the house.  It sounded like a sharp whistle with every decent, one he repeated many times over.

Waiting for a  Turn at the Feeder

That same night we got a text from our son saying one of the hummers had crashed into the back window after dark.  My son and our sitter raced out back and found it cradled in a spiderweb with the neighbor’s cat in hot pursuit.  Quick thinking on their part and the lucky placement of the web saved the birds life. They held the stunned bird for a short time till it recovered and flew away.

According to The World of Hummingbirds, the Allen Hummingbird winters in California while the Ruby Throated Hummer prefers Mexico and Southern America.  The birds we’re spotting don’t seem to fit that pattern, but given our mild, dry winter, perhaps they didn’t fly quite so far.

If you are interested in attracting hummingbirds to your garden, this article is packed with useful information.

This site offers a large collection of hummingbird feeders.  Here is a fun do-it-yourself blog showing an easy and inexpensive way to make your own.

Paul Hood Photography produces beautiful hummingbird prints.  You can find his work on Etsy or Zazzle.

A Route of Evanescence
by Emily Dickinson

A route of evanescence
With a revolving wheel;
A resonance of emerald,
A rush of cochineal;
And every blossom on the bush
Adjusts its tumbled head,–
The mail from Tunis, probably,
An easy morning’s ride.