Studiology

Black Gold

The garden beds are topped with their spring layer of compost. The weather has been so nice, it's wonderful to get out in the garden. Once the job of top dressing is done, I can sit back and watch spring come alive. 

Lucky for me, my husband mixes and produces the best compost around. I, the lucky recepient, get to use it on all of my gardens. Plants grow like they're on steroids, or as one customer said," like they're nuclear!" 

This is the only part of our nursery business that we kept, and after many years, my husband has the process down to an art. 

If you want some black gold for your garden, call  (703) 327-6413, and ask for Rick. 

Free Gardening Seminar

 

When: Saturday, March 3rd at 10:00AM

Where: Merrifield Garden Center (in the greenhouse)

                6895 Wellington Road

                Gainesville, Va

                phone - (703) 368-1919

This lecture will concentrate on using mass in the garden. In this case, I talk about mass as the weight or the anchor that holds things together. The bases for the theme comes from the book "Elements of Garden Design" by Joe Ecke, a brilliant designer. I will visually show you how essential mass is, especially if you garden with lots of perennials. We will see how rhythm can be incorporated into your garden, defined as the regulated succession of strong and weak elements. This lecture will help you if you feel like you can't visualize where and how to make changes that will improve your garden space.

Walking Duke

Duke the lab goes for a walk everyday. We head to the pond, where I used to own the nursery and he loves to go swimming. There are various trails, we try and go a different trail everyday. Our walk is about 3 miles roundtrip, occasionally we go twice. Lately I have altered our direction by going to the spring where the skunk cabbage live. This is the best place on the farm for skunk cabbage and it's a small spring that seeps out of a natural depression. They have been in flower for a month, at this point some are about to unfurl their leaves, which is amazing for February. It's a 70 degree day today, so  I was especially anxious to get down there and photograph. Since they live in the middle of the muck, I wear high boots and Duke (the yellow lab) always comes out looking like he has black socks. 

Our Eastern skunk cabbage is botanically known as Symplocarpus foetidus. The foetidus refers to the odor of flower and foliage. The spadix that rises in January surrounds and protects the spath, functioning like a hood or umbrella, it keeps cold and wet from the internal flowers and holds in the heat. The heat the spath emits can rise 30 degrees above outside temperatures, melting away snow and providing a warm place for visiting pollinators. Even in this day and age there is confusion as to how the pollination actually takes place. Flies and beetles are frequent visitors, but the design of the spath allows for  a wind flow, which may account for some pollination. As irregular as the spath appears, it seems to be a highly evolved design to help release odor, build heat and allow air flow (referred to as vortical airflow) . I have read that is doesn't matter what orientation the flower takes  (north, east or south), most of the plants on the farm face south-west, like they are taking advantage of the westerly winds. 

The roots of skunk cabbage are interesting too, they are referred to as contractile. As they grow, they can pull, essentially pulling the roots deeper into the muck. Apparently it's not easy to dig up skunk cabbage. Contractile roots are wrinkly and numerous plants have them. Dandelions, lilies and eucomis are just a few. 

Like the flowers (which can be so malodorous), the foliage smells bad too. Yesterday I saw 13 wild turkeys down by the skunk cabbage spring. Turkeys will feed on the plant, which is considered poisonous, bears will too. Some animals eat the seeds, which are scarce when you consider how many flowers they produce.

We head for the big pond afterwards so that Duke can take his dip and get the muck off of his feet. No matter how cold it is, if the pond isn't frozen, he's in. Today was warm, he went for several dips.

Dupont Underground

I joined a few other photographers for a fun time of shooting at the Dupont underground on Sunday. An abandonded underground rail, various attempts have been made to utilize this space and there are hopes of turning it into an art center. The plan for the morning was light painting, which we did plenty of, and I learned about light balls which are illustrated below. To make them, someone (in this case Don Rosenberger) holds lights on a string or cord and rotates as he swings. The lights can be Christmas lights (battery operated) or a flashlight on a string. As I was told, the critical part is the placement of the hand and making sure you follow the circle, keeping your hand in basically the same place. Feet can move all around the circle, in the end you don't see the person holding the lights. Mine are blown out, or too white and I should have decreased my exposure to have the shutter open for a shorter time.  I will do better next time. But I thought you might enjoy these. I love going to places like this!

 

Witch Hazels

 

Witch hazels are large shrubs that flower in fall or winter. Their name is derived from the old English word "wice" which means pliant or bendable, also the root for words wicker and weak. One of the favored sources of wood for dowsing, which is also known as divining or water witching, it's believed that wice became witch based on this usage. Hazel came from their resemblance to elms, especially Ulmus glabra, the most common elm of the British Isles. Early colonists assumed they were related (based on foliage), which they are not, but the common name stuck. Conclusively, witch hazels lack good or evil powers and are not hazels, but they are excellent shrubs.

There are 6 species, 2 native to North America, 1 specifically to Virginia. The rest are Chinese or Japanese and most winter flowering plants are hybrids, bred to enhance petal color and size of flower.  Hamamelis virginiana (our native species) flowers in November, covering itself with fragrant yellow flowers, hidden somewhat by foliage that has not completely fallen. The winter flowering witch hazels open their flowers from February to March. Yellow, orange or rusty-rose, petals are thin and long, like colorful streamers. As delightful as their flowers are, fall foliage is exceptional, usually the same color range as the flowers (yellow, red or orange). Add their incredible drought tolerance, and you have a winning shrub.

Their use by dowsers is well known. Other popular dowsing woods include willow, peach and apple. The search for water is the most common dowsing technique, but finding buried substances like gems or metals are not uncommon. In 15th century Germany, the first historical reference to dowsing was for metals. In the Vietnam War, Marines used dowsers to search for tunnels and buried weapons.

A dowser will cut a branch in a Y shape, fresh or green. The person holding the branch is detecting the "interplay of radiation" or finding the sources aura. The branch (or divining rod) will dip as it finds what the dowser is looking for.

If you're wondering, can anyone become a dowser? The answers vary from, yes, you can go to school for that, to no-way, you have to be a special individual. There are certainly naysayers, and skeptics, but when something has lasted this long, I'd like to think there's something to it. What I do know is - when it comes to planting a witch hazel, don't hesitate.

Hamamelis 'Jelena'

 

Hamamelis 'Luna'

 

Free Gardening Seminar

When: Saturday, February 18th, 10:00 AM

Where: Merrifield Community Hall, 8104 Lee Hwy, Merrifield, VA (703) 560-6222

I will be giving a lecture on the perennial garden, specifically the way perennials grow. Guaranteed to be a real eye opener when it comes to understanding how to plan, maintain and manage your perennials. Not all plants are created equal and they have an agenda. Join me at the Gallows Road location of Merrifield Garden Center to learn more. 

Back Home

My ghost house is still unfinished. I am looking forward to time in the studio and completion of this project. Here is a photograph of how it looks so far. 

The bell in hand idea came from a historical tour of New Orleans, in particular the quick burial of yellow fever victims in the 1800's, some buried alive in haste (to rid the homes and streets of disease). A string and bell came about from this observation, tied to toe or finger of the dead, just in case. The term "dead ringer" originated here, the return of a previously deceased individual who returned alive. In New Orleans more than 41,000 people died from yellow fever, as many as 5,000 in 1 day. Imagine the disposal of that many dead? It's said that not one part of any side walk wasn't piled with dead waiting burial. A walking tour of the French Quarter is highly recommended. 

The architecture is incredible, rustic doors next to ornate. Heaven for the photographer. 

Food and music are incredible, small bands set up in the middle of the street. Here is the Sweet Street Band filling the French Quarter with a folksy polka sound. Their CD is titled "Hey You Got Funny Hair". 

Food.... shrimp gumbo, beans, sausage with rice, fried okra or pickles - Yum!

The Greenwood Cemetery was one of many, all good.

I attended the Krewe Du Vieux parade with fellow workshop attendees. Insane! Even more crazy than last year. 

Things seem pretty boring after New Orleans.

Cemeteries, Bugs, Art and Music in New Orleans

All of my favorite things in the Big Easy! 

Here's a typical One Way sign in the French Quarter.

The St. Louis Cemetery is just one of many, tomorrow  Metairie!

 

The Audubon Insectarium.

I took swing dance lessons (thanks Katherine Engen) at The Spotted Cat and then watched professionals swinging the night away. The reason I'm here... Michael DeMeng! Art work pictures coming soon, including the radio turned into a ghost house.