This is Mahonia aquifolium, also called Oregon holly grape.  It's not a holly, but the leaves look a lot like holly;   and it's not a true grape either; it's in the Barberry family.  It grows 2-5 feet tall, and is a nice border plant, or specimen plant.  This one is about 4 feet tall, and stands alone. It is beautiful.  

 

I've had my eye on this bush in Meeks Park for years.  It's near the bridge by the Tate Mill Wheel.  We notice it every time we walk in the park, because it is striking at every season.  Right now it has set next year's flower buds.  See the spiky buds?  They will open in early spring with clusters of bright yellow flowers, and in summer those flowers turn into bluish, black grapelike fruits.  You can't help but notice it then!!!

 

Last year the flowers opened early in March, then we had some freezing weather.  We saw that most of the flowers got frostbite, so there weren't many blue fruits on it last summer.

 

Everything I've read says the fruits are edible.  I've never tasted them, but I'll get back to you whenever I do.

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the perfect time of year to see mistletoe in the trees.  

 

Look up, and if you see clumps of green in an otherwise bare tree, it's probably mistletoe.  There's a bunch in our neighborhood. Down in the meadow across from the haybale turkey, er... the haybale.  There's also some in one of Lee's trees;  that's where I took this picture.  And lots up top.  

 

I remember hearing stories of my grandmother shooting it out of the trees with a .22!!!  Can't imagine that, but I love the story.  

 

My favorite horticultural story is that the berries are sticky, and when birds eat the berries they have to clean their beaks of the sticky residue.  They scrape off the sticky mess on the branches of the trees, thus REPLANTING the seeds!  The ultimate gardeners!!

 

When we were in Kennesaw yesterday, we saw a short tree with a ton of mistletoe.  I took up-close pix.  Let's see if I can load that picture here for you to see.  Give me a minute........

 

 

OK 30 minutes....  Anyway this is what it looks like up close.  See the white berries?  

 

When we bring it into the house we make sure there are no berries on, cause they are poisonous, and we don't want Ranger to get ahold of any.  He's smart, but....we don't want to take any chances.

 

So that's mistletoe, look up!!  Hope you see some in your travels.

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

 

 

 

It seems kinda late in the year, but the Bradford pears are just now displaying their fall color. 

 

This is one is up on Stonebriar, above Al's house.  It's so pretty right now, I thought you'd like to see it!!

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!!

 

Now that it's time to decorate for winter, what are you going to do with those beautiful pumpkins? Better do it soon, before they freeze. 

 

They are more than decorations;  they are winter squashes, (read: food.)

 

I started cooking mine.  I cut it and removed the seeds and strings, and put the big pieces with a pint of water in my turkey roasting pan.  I set the oven to 350* and let it cook for an hour.  

 

Meanwhile, I had some that didn't fit in the roasting pan, so I peeled it and put it in a pot on top of the stove, with some water.  The stovetop method took about 15 minutes and then I used a potato masher to smooth out the pumpkin.  I used 2 cups of the pumpkin, added some sugar, pecans, flour, eggs, and spices.  Now, we have pumpkin bread!!!  

 

And a roasting pan full of pumpkin that still has to be peeled, cooked down, and mashed.  AAK!!!  

 

Stovetop method is my new choice. 

 

Go to the recipe section on this website, (it's under Neighbors sharing.)  You can find my recipe for pumpkin bread there.  Other good recipes too.  You might want to add one yourself.  

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

 

 

A couple years ago a friend asked me what those yellow and red berries were.  I had to go over and look at them, and realized she was talking about Bittersweet.  I'm not sure this picture does it justice, but if you are heading up Five Forks Drive, look to the right just past Solitude and you'll see these yellow and red berries vining up in the trees.

 

Climbing Bittersweet, Celastrus scandens, is a woody, twining vine, and in the fall has beautiful berries.  The berries are red, inside a yellow capsule.  When they are mature, the yellow capsule splits, and the bright red berry can be seen.  I've seen the vines with berries for sale in florist shops and places that sell home decor.  They are often used in winter bouquets and mantle decorations. 

 

I'm not sure about stability or toxicity, so I've never used them for decorating; we have a cat.  But they are sure pretty growing in the woods.  Nature's decoration.  

 

Look for Bittersweet now, in its autumn splendor.

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

While we were walking the loop the other day, I had to keep stopping to take pix!!!  The trees were SO BEAUTIFUL.  Here are more Red Maples for your viewing pleasure.

 

You're welcome!!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

I was walking home from Nancy's the other day, and looked up to see this beautiful sight.  The Hickory trees are in full autumn color!!!  Some are yellowish green, and others are already browning into golden.  

 

We have lots of hickory trees in our yard, and they are gorgeous right now.  They are also dropping tons of nuts.  The squirrels are having a field day planting them everywhere.  I'm sure they're happy for their winter food.  I wonder how they remember where they've stashed them all!?!

 

HAPPY FALL Y'ALL!!!

 

 

 

Here we are again in Jim and Roxanne's garden.  Their Japanese Maple is gorgeous right now!!

 

I went to Gibb's Gardens with some friends last week, and the Japanese Maples were absolutely beautiful!!!  There were hundreds of them there.  All showing gorgeous fall color.  

 

Japanese Maples, Acer palmatum, are a bit temperamental here, preferring filtered shade and protection from cold winds.  But Jim and Roxanne have the perfect environment for their's.  It's worth the walk over there to see it.  Go before the upcoming frost, though, because it is going to drop its leaves. 

 

If you want to grow your own, my North Carolina Gardener's Guide says you can plant them any time from November through April.  Just dig the hole wide and plant it at the same depth it was grown at the nursery.  Water regularly, each week for the first month, and during the dry months of summer and fall.  

 

Or just go appreciate some other gardener's expertise.  I love doing that!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

Have you been on the Creekside Trail lately?

 

If you haven't, you should take a walk down there and see Al's handiwork.  He has spent hours raking, trimming, and clearing leaves so that we can all enjoy the trail.  

 

Thanks, Al, it looks better than ever!!!

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Rosemary at the church is blooming!!!  Mine at home is not!  Hmmm!!!!

 

Anyway, let's talk about Rosemary.  

 

Rosmarinus officinalis, has a reputation for strengthening memory. OK. Good reason right there for using it every day. 

 

The leaves are resinous and leathery. But it dries easily, and retains its flavor for a long time.  Plant it in full sun, and protect it from cold winds.  Give it enough room to grow;  typically it grows 3-6 feet.  

 

Once it is established you can use it in almost everything.  Our favorite use for rosemary is to crush the dried leaves into dough when making bread or pizza crusts.  We also use the dried stems as skewers for chicken and vegetables on the grill.  

 

There are various other uses for rosemary:  decorative, cosmetic, and especially aromatic.  Try growing your own, and explore the many uses of rosemary. 

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!!