Studiology

April

Little impaired the beauty of April. A single freeze nipped some tops, an improvement over the spring of 2020 with it's rash of frosty nights. I remember feeling overwhelmed in March, but April has allowed me to catch-up and regain my agility when it comes to small steps in the garden. The pivot and dip is something we must achieve in order to not squash things in the flower borders. 

With May arriving tomorrow, I wanted to share some photographs from April of the gardens I tend. The beauty sometimes takes my breath away.

With pink peach petals surrounding the arrival of Solomon's Seal, you can see the pinkness that is easy to miss in emerging shoots.

Granddaughter Felicity is the proud owner of a huglekultur raised bed. Built with existing logs and leaf mulch with compost she is ready to garden in 2021. She has plans for hummingbird plants, sunflowers, herbs (basil and lemon balm, which will stay in a pot), and a native honeysuckle. The bed is 10 feet long, I say it's way too small. 

And so it begins, small steps!
 

Eastern Red Columbine

A desirable wildflower is about to bloom, timed to coincide with the arrival of hummingbirds. With its dainty bells of orange, red, and yellow, small balanced spurs hold the nectar, the enticement for the high energy of a hummingbird. One of many species of columbine, this one is Aquilegia canadensis, midsized when compared to the other species of which there are over sixty. My shade garden used to be overrun with the wild columbine until I began deadheading or removing the seed pods. For many years afterwards, some returned, replenished by previous seed deposits. In time they dwindled to nothing, my efforts to alter the balance backfired. Sometimes when things seem too easy, the gardener may doubt the value of what they have.

For the gardener, naturalist, and hummingbird enthusiast, our native columbine is undoubtedly worth growing and when left to seed it can occupy a lot of real estate. I would not call that a flaw since it's not a hinderance for other perennial companions. If Aquilegia canadensis has a flaw it would be the leaf damage from leaf minor, which probably all columbine suffer from (but it doesn't slow them down). Since they prefer open shade; open to the east or west, or sunlight from an opening above, leafy companions make good neighbors by hiding the damaged leaves. Some examples might be hardy begonia or hosta. Hayscented fern, Gillenia (Bowman's root), and actea (black cohosh) if you prefer native and deer resistant plantings. 

All but one species of columbine have spurs. Hummingbirds, hawkmoths, and bumblebees are the primary pollinators. The bullseye for diversity of species is found in our south west, extending into Mexico. Receptive to each others pollen, where different species cohabitate, there can be great variability in populations. Naturally this has led to their popularity with hybridizers and resulted in seed strains of multiple colors.

Possibly the most striking of all columbines is Aquilegia longissima or longspur columbine, a native of Texas, Arizona, and northern Mexico. So long are the spurs that only a hawkmoth's proboscis or the hummingbird's tongue can reach the nectar. The act of extracting the sugar puts pollen on their head or chest thereby fertilizing the flowers. 

European columbines are differently structured, lacking hummingbirds, spurs can be tightly curled, almost invisible. These have also played into the game of hybridization which is evident when looking at short spurred selections. 

All are perennial although fleeting in the scheme of things. Expect two or three years before they extinguish. Leave seed heads to ripen to ensure future generations. If you grow multiple varieties, be ready for some surprises.  

Supah Hound

Birdie just celebrated 2 months out of dog prison, living the happy life here on the farm. For an 8 (or so) year old, she is a spry one and we walk for miles and miles each day. It's not unusual for me to hit 25,000 steps on my Fitbit, and have even hit 30,000 a couple of times. She is always on leash, a retractile, and knows the very limits of its length. Her nose guides us to a point, left to her own devices she would be gone and gone. I sent away for a DNA sample to see what she is made up of and was pretty surprised at the results;

36.1% American Foxhound

29% Beagle

19.3 % German Shorthaired Pointer

7.3 % English Springer Spaniel

8.3% super mutt which is Blood Hound and Doberman

Foxhound and beagle are pure nose junkies. German Shorthaired Pointer is more her look and we do get a 19% point occasionally. English Springer Spaniel  is a nose and sight hunter as is the pointer, so she looks up occasionally when on a scent. But bottom line, we have a nose, a super nose!

To say it's exhausting to walk her is an understatement. She has jumped rabbits numerous times and almost caught a mouse in the snow. If there are deer, be ready for the struggle, with which she will bay and bark and cry for freedom. 

There doesn't seem to be a upper limit for nose exhaustion, after mile 5 she calms down a bit. Needless to say, we are both in great shape and my "Supah Hound" is living the good life, as happy as a 15 foot retractable will allow. Next plan, a fenced in yard.

Garden DC podcast

Last week I was interviewed by Kathy Jentz, the editor and publisher of the Washington Gardener magazine and host/interviewer of her own podcast titled the Garden DC podcast. We talked a lot about me and my journey from youngster to professional horticulturist, a subject that is interesting from various people's perspectives and often similar. We also discussed perennials, especially those that I consider good citizens or place holders in the garden, the ones that give a lot but ask for little. 

photograph by Daniel Weil 

As I have mentioned many times, I am a big fan of podcasts while I work in the gardens, and hers is no exception. Some of Kathy's recent interviews include Allan Armitage, David Culp, and many other mid-Atlantic gardeners. She is our local source for information if not inspiration.  I encourage you to check out her podcast and learn more about my voyage from tropical greenhouse manager to having my own nursery and working as an estate gardener. 

Here is a link to the interview:

‎GardenDC: Episode 53: Superior Perennials with Karen Rexrode on Apple Podcasts

March Color

I am happy with my daffodils which are a mix from various sources. Many have lost their name (if they ever had one), especially the ones in my own garden versus those on the grounds of the old plant farm. How they arrived here are a mystery to me, I know there was a workshop for a spring dish garden and that accounts for a few odd singles, but certainly not the hodge podge I am looking at today. Be that as it may, I am still happy with the strays, daffodils are extraordinary and mostly yellow. 

Curious about my March color palette, I cut stems of perennials and shrubs that were in flower and sorted them to photograph. To my surprise it was mostly pink and I'm not sure if that is the natural color for March (helleborus, crocus, primula?) or my bias, but it had me looking at my yellow daffodils and thinking that a few pink might be nice. 

Now pink is not a natural color for daffodils and I have seen many that I would say are pink, but tangerine might be a better descriptor. One that I prefer is Daffodil 'Petit Four', a double that was the brought to the plant farm many, many years ago by our grower who shared it as her special favorite. Since the plant farm has been closed for 16 years, it's been interesting to see which daffodils have lived through the challenges of overgrowth, complete lack of care, and time. As I have driven by the site I noticed a daffodil that had naturalized in its original spot so of course I had to stop and take a look. Shockingly it was 'Petit Four' which has spread into many clumps, which tells me that it might be seeding about, the true sign of naturalization. Some flowers are single and there were varying degrees of peach to yellow in the petals. The shocking part is that most double flowering plants are sterile, so I certainly was in awe. 

Since Daffodil 'Petit Four' was registered in 1961, it is an old pink hybrid and possibly inferior to newer pinks. No matter it has been dug and replanted in my home garden. Certainly not what I had in mind for completing my pink color palette but another nod to a warrior in the face of challenges.  Others that have grown with vigor (despite the challenges) at the old plant farm site are 'Ice Follies', 'Jetfire', 'Tete a Tete', and 'Lemon Glow'.  I can recommend these as the toughest of the tough.

Killdeer

As February left I heard the calls of the killdeer as they arrive to plot out a territory and nest. These vocal birds are technically shore birds, although they are found far inland, breeding from Alaska to Newfoundland and south. Their call is a high pitched killdee(r), the reason for their common name. Scientifically known as Charadrius vociferus, which means "Talkative Plover", there are 62 species of plovers, split by lowland and upland. The killdeer is closely related to the American woodcock and the numerous sandpipers, wonderful birds to watch as they poke for food with their thin bills and long legs.

The killdeer is particularly entertaining as they feign a broken wing whenever an intruder comes too near the nest. This instinctive act is designed to draw attention to the hurt bird, assuming you have come to hunt and this compromised bird might make the perfect meal. The act will sometimes go a step further and pretend to sit on a nest that isn't there, all to lure you away from the actual spartan nest and eggs. As ground nesters they are under constant danger, and I have always wondered how they survive. Some of their survival actually depends on their lack of nesting material, literally just a few twigs to keep the eggs from rolling, and eggs that are speckled to match surrounding rocks. 

The job of raising the young is shared by both parents and a couple may raise 2 clutches a year. Each clutch will contain 3 to 6 eggs, and like other ground nesters, the eggs will not begin to develop until they feel the warmth of the parent killdeer, subsequently hatching at the same time which takes 24 to 28 days. The eggs are sizable which is typical for precocial birds, which translates to "ripened beforehand", the young hatch with their eyes open, ready to run.  Newly hatched killdeer are equivalent to a two week old altricial baby bird, those we may be more familiar with that hatch with eyes shut and no feathers. Altricial bird eggs are smaller and the nests are in trees and shrubs to help avoid capture.

Newly hatched killdeer are capable of standing and are ready to leave the nest immediately. Although they will wobble a bit on their long legs, they are marvels in design. The average territory per killdeer is one acre and they clearly benefit from man-made habitats, raising their young in ballfields, unpaved roads, and rooftops. In the days of my nursery we had them nest in 1 gallon potted plants!

Virginia is at the verge of the killdeers winter distribution which means they can be found here year-round. Many of the winter residents will move further north as summer populations return. I usually hear the males in early February as they reclaim a territory. Beneficial as their primary diet consists of weevils, grasshoppers, beetles, ticks, mosquitos, flies, and other noxious insects. Threats of habitat loss, predation, and loss of insects to feed their young are challenges and the killdeer is in decline but currently holding its own.

I love hearing them in the fields and keep my distance so they are not forced to undertake the ritual act of pity.

Delightful Exhaustion

Work has begun, the pruning, mulching, weeding, and a bit of preening started today. It seems overwhelming on day one, and will still feel that way a week into spring. My personal gardens remain untouched, as I wait for temperatures to rise and dormant insects to become active. In the work gardens it's about enormous pruning tasks, climbing ladders, cleaning helleborus foliage, and smiling as bud tips emerge. The physical work is exhausting but satisfying. I'm so grateful for seasons with winters long enough to yearn for a return to work and cold enough to force most weeds to go dormant, out of sight and out of mind. With temperatures climbing this week, the gardener is beside himself. Peepers will be singing soon and the spring bulb show will continue. I'm a happy girl! 

Enjoy these photographs of the snowdrops and winter aconite in my own garden. They have spread into lovely drifts.

 

Small Stuff

With time on my hands, one would think that the artist might be working on something really big. And there is something really big, but it will be a part of the October show, so I have spent the other hours making small stuff. Another online class was offered by Michael deMeng on sardine can assemblage which I watched and collected tiny sardine cans. The challenge is working in such a small framework (so to speak), akin to creating light bulb or "Hot Wheels" art. But I will admit to frustration, I have beheaded and usurped most of my small items and have not felt like going anywhere, particularly the thrift store for more (there's been a lot of ice and snow). So I try this and that and read a book when it seems too overwhelming. I have finished 3 books and that's all good, winter is a good time for reading. 

Despite my stalling to finish, I did manage to complete 2 sardine cans, which took way more time than it should. They are funky and funny art which I posted on Instagram and for those that chose to heart them, you really don't have to. Even if I heart what you post, which I tend to do with my artistic and gardening friends. So here is "Emergent" and "Ice Dancing".

There is another smallish piece I finished and it represents my love of green for 2021. Her name is "The Lady of Green".

She represents my recent work with mulberry paper, which I find fascinating. There is potential for incorporating the paper with the process of assemblage art and you can believe that there will be more of this experimentation.

 

 

Blandy Experimental Farm

There is still isolation in our everyday lives despite the fact that we are a year into the pandemic. People are looking for ways to be outdoors, descending on parks, arboretums, and public gardens. One local wellspring for anyone that wants to hike and enjoy nature is the State Arboretum of Virginia or Blandy Experimental Farm. Located on Route 50, 10 miles east of Winchester, 60 miles west of Washington D.C., it's a trip worth taking. 

Wide trails meander through 172 acres, the core of a property that is over 700 acres large. Tree collections, a native plant trail, and the large ginkgo groove may be the most popular stops, but the meadow walk and conifer trial are ideal for winter excursions. 

The University of Virginia owns the arboretum and houses students that use the property for research on bird migration, wildlife, and wetland studies. Many of the signs along the trail explain various experiments that are carried out by seasonal students. 

While I still had my nursery and for a few years after, I was involved with design of some beds and gave lectures in their amazing library. On a recent trip it was good to see the new greenhouse and laboratory. My walk of 2 hours felt like a personal escape since I crossed paths with only 2 people.

The plant collections are spread out, with 13 different groupings, some by plant family such as olive, pea, and rose. My favorite tree collection are the beeches which are a good hike from the main parking lot but next to the drive loop. Parking is available along the loop and it's worth a walk (short or long) to admire the smooth barked, massive trunks of the beech tree collection. 

What a lot of people don't realize is that Blandy is home to 29 state champion trees and I strongly urge you to research them before you visit, they are worth consideration given that they are on one property. Pamphlets will guide the visitor through various sections, the conifer trail is another good winter destination. I used to send customers there to better understand how large something might grow or appear in different seasons. 

Various programs are held, some virtually, others are nature related walks on the property. Of 10 scheduled on-site walks, ranging from "Birding for Beginners" to a "Full Moon Walk", 5 are already sold out.  Not to be discouraged there are also self-guided tours which involve an app. and designated tour stops which let you listen to information clips of that location. Many of the trees also have QR codes that can be scanned to learn more about the cultural history and ecology of that species.

 Between the choices of walking for hours on end, driving the loop, or bringing a horse to ride (yes, that is an option), the State Arboretum of Virginia is the ideal escape, particularly for the naturalist and gardener. 

Down a Rabbit Hole

In my attempts to try and create petticoats for Alice (of Wonderland) I fell own a rabbit hole of my own. It's funny how something so innocent can become something entirely different. My October show this year is "Down the Rabbit Hole" and I've been working on it since January. A large piece will involve Alice falling where I needed her to have resplendent petticoats as well as a white rabbit that would not be made of clay. If the piece was created with clay, it would be heavy and very expensive. The alternative is paper mache and alternative paper techniques.  So off I went and took an online class, and I have a whole new appreciation of what can be done with paper. My first project turned out well and I am working on characters of various sizes using both clay and paper. 

This rabbit has become a March Hare. The colors I chose are those of spring, yellow and blue. In fact his fancy wrist ruffles remind me of double daffodils. 

I also finished a piece titled "I am the Walrus", which led to some research on the lyrics. Written by John Lennon, it's  kind of a mash up of lyrics from other songs but was inspired by Lewis Carroll's (author of "Alice in Wonderland") poem "The Walrus and the Carpenter". I find it interesting that one author has influenced so many artists.