We still have arugula in the garden.  This is our third crop this year.  It grows from seed, gives us leaves for salad, then goes to flower then seed, and we start all over.  We grow arugula from March to December.  

 

Arugula is in the same family as mustard, kale, broccoli, cabbage:  Cruciferae.  But arugula has a character all its own.  Baby arugula that you buy in the produce department of the store is the same thing, but tastes SO different!!  We let the leaves mature a bit before we pick them, and the flavor is spicy, peppery.  We add it to salad greens, soups, grilled cheese sandwiches, OK, everything.  When you cook it, it tastes milder, like spinach.

 

I'm hoping to harvest as much as I can before the weather changes to winter, like tomorrow.  It should last a couple more days in the fridge, then we just have to do without until March.  That's OK, we love it while it lasts.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

 

 

 

Not much going on outside these days, so let's look at indoor plants.  Of course, they grow outdoors somewhere, but I'm thinking of indoor plants HERE.  

 

I'll start with Sansevieria because mine is blooming right now.  They bloom erratically, so I'm thrilled with this picture.  My sister gave me this plant years ago, and it has bloomed only three times.  I just read that after it blooms, that particular section stops growing new leaves.  But new leaves will grow from the underground rhizome.  

 

Thinking like a plant, (as I sometimes do) I figured it blooms when it feels threatened, and it hurries to reproduce itself.  But then I read that they bloom erratically, so there you go...they bloom when they feel like it.

 

Sansevieria is known by several other names.  Some people call it Snake plant, or Mother in law's tongue.  Whatever you call it, it makes a great houseplant.  It likes bright light, but will tolerate low light.  It also requires very little water,  and only wants to be watered a couple times ALL winter!!  I'd call that "thriving on neglect."  I love that in a houseplant. 

 

Better still, sansevierias remove 4 out of the 5 main toxins from the air.  Great for indoors. 

 

Warning:  we need to be careful with sansevierias around children and pets, because it is POISONOUS if ingested.  Really though, I would keep ALL PLANTS out of the reach of children and pets.

 

Thanks, Linda, I love my Sansevierias.  Especially when they bloom!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

 

 

And while you're down in the meadow, be sure to look up!!!  

 

There is a ton of mistletoe in the trees.  Well, the green bunches are mistletoe, the brown ones are probably squirrel nests.  Let's talk about mistletoe, though, not squirrel nests.

 

Botanically, mistletoe is in a family by itself:  Mistletoe Family, Viscaceae.  

 

The mistletoe we are seeing is Phoradendron leucarpum (I looked it up in my Wildflower field guide.)  It is epiphytic, and grows parasitically on deciduous trees.  That means it uses the tree for support AND some of its nourishment.  Mistletoe doesn't steal all the trees' resources;  it just uses what it needs, without killing the tree.  AND it gets plenty of light when the tree drops its leaves.

 

It has sticky seeds that are POISONOUS to humans, but birds such as cedar waxwings and bluebirds love them.  The birds spread the seeds through their droppings and by scraping the seeds off their beaks, which then stick to tree branches and grow there.  It's usually found up high in trees in open places.

 

I remember hearing stories about our grandmother shooting it down with a .22!!  Is THAT how they do it?  I'm laughing!

 

I don't have a close-up picture, but we've all seen mistletoe at Christmas time.  I love spotting it high up in the trees and making kissing sounds for fun!!  That's safer than hanging it inside the house.  

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

We walked down to the mailbox the other day, and saw some of the 'Bradford' Pears still holding onto their leaves.  Some are bright red, others are bright yellow, and some are already bear nekked, ready for winter.

 

We all call them 'Bradford' Pear, but if you want the botanical name, it is Pyrus calleryana and the variety names vary.  Some are 'Bradford', some 'Cleveland Select', and some 'Whitehouse'.  

 

They are not small trees, as we know, but if you plan to buy and/or plant one, be sure to allow enough room for it to grow 45 feet tall, and 20 feet wide!  Given enough space they are truly beautiful spring, summer, and fall. If you love tree silhouette beauty, they're even great in winter.

 

Better check them out soon, leaves are falling as we speak.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

While I was in Virginia, we went to the Norfolk Botanical Garden.  This Maple forest bonsai was in the Japanese garden.

 

It lives outside all year, and by now it is showing its fall color.  So, it is scarlet, just like all the other maples!!!  I love how it really looks like a forest in miniature.  It is displayed at eye level, and is only about 2 feet tall.  Gorgeous!!

 

In Horticulture school, my favorite instructor, Pat Bridges, taught us a little about bonsai; it was his passion.  He spent time in Japan learning the art of bonsai, and shared some with us. 

 

First of all, the proper pronunciation is bone-sigh.  It means a tree in a tray.  It is an ancient practice of growing trees in miniature.  The roots are drastically pruned to fit the tray (the pot) and the top is pruned and trained to look like it would look if grown to full size, or in this case, a forest!

 

Mr. Bridges has been practicing the art of bonsai for over 50 years, and has several trees that are that old!  They are truly beautiful.  I'll show you a couple of his bonsai, one is a Crabapple, the other is a Japanese Black Pine.

 

 

This is the Crabapple.  See how he bleached the trunk to make it look weathered, and trained the branches to appear ancient?  It's about 18 inches including the pot.  And you know that crabapple trees grow to be 15 - 30 feet tall.  It blooms in spring and bears fruit just like all other crabapple trees.  Such a delight to see it in miniature.

 

 

Look at his Japanese Black Pine bonsai.  This tree normally grows to a height of 80-100 feet!!!  And here it is in a pot, and it is less than 12 inches tall.  This won Best in Show this year, Bonsai Club International.  I don't know how old it is, but it has quite a personality!  

 

So did my friend, Pat Bridges.  He just recently left his earthly life behind, and has gone to his heavenly home.  He will always be here with me.  He taught me Tree Identification, Horticulture, and how to think like a plant.  So every time I talk to you, he's here too.  I am so fortunate!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

I'm glad I took this picture the other day, because when we saw it yesterday, it had dropped all its leaves!!!

 

Here's a neat "Memory Lane" story. 

 

Before Ted and Nancy bought their house on Beaconhill, it was owned by Joel and Donna McKinney.  Maybe you remember Joel; he worked at the Caney Creek recycle center (the dump.)  He was our friend.  Unfortunately, we never met his wife, Donna.  They were in Florida on vacation when we moved here, and she died before they got back home.  Well, Joel planted a tiny Red Maple tree next to the little bridge he built.  And he dedicated it to her memory.  Every time I see the little Maple tree flourishing, I think of my friend, Joel.

 

Joel lives in Florida now, closer to his children and grandchildren, so we rarely see him, but we remember him fondly. 

 

It's good to plant trees; they live on long after the person who planted them is gone.  They create milestones in our lives and provide enjoyment to all who see them.  I'm sure Ted and Nancy enjoy their Maple tree as much as we do. 

 

Thanks Joel, for planting it.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

 

Have you seen the maple trees?  WOW!!!  These are at the Methodist church in Blairsville, and they are breathtaking!  Drive into the parking lot and get ready to be amazed.  Better go soon, cause they are starting to drop their leaves.

 

I am sure they are Red Maple, Acer rubrum, but they may be a special cultivar grown for nurserymen.  In our woods grow the native red maples, but these were planted here by a Landscape person, so they may be something special.  She's in my yoga class; I'll ask her next time I see her.   Anyway, they are gorgeous!!  

 

You know, there is a scientific explanation for fall color, involving anthocyanins and carotenoids,  but I like to think it happens for our viewing pleasure.  And I'm sticking with that story. 

 

If you'd like to explore the science of fall color (in great detail) go to:  Fall color explained

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

Check this out!!  It is American Bittersweet, Celastrus scandens.  It is a twining, woody vine that can grow to more than 50 feet!!  It can be seen all around our mountains, climbing over (sometimes taking over) the trees.  

 

I've been waiting to get this picture.  The yellow seeds have just started to pop open showing bright red berries!!  Pretty soon the leaves will fall off, and all you see is the vine with bright yellow and red berries:  very festive.  I've seen these vines used in the floral industry, but I don't know how to preserve them so that the berries don't fall off all over the place.  Probably not a good decoration for homes with pets or small children.

 

Be sure to notice Bittersweet on your walks or rides around the neighborhood.  It is beautiful to see out in Nature.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

Here's another picture of my nemesis, poison ivy. This time showing fall color, AND you can see the hairy roots.

 

My friend Sandy Bradley was also a Girl Scout, back in the day....and she KNOWS how to recognize Poison ivy.  She just couldn't remember this jingle about it:

 

Leaves of THREE, let it be....  or this one:

 

You can shake hands with five fingers, but not with THREE.

 

 

However you remember it, DON'T TOUCH IT!!!

Not all THREE leaved plants are poisonous, but if you're not sure, just leave them alone.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!

 

I told you!!!    We saw this Trail Tree in Meeks park on the ridge line trail.  The bend is about 7 feet off the ground.  I think that qualifies as a horse and rider tree.  How exciting to see another one. 

 

I can't wait til our next hiking adventure;  keeping my eyes open, looking for Indian Trail Trees.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!