Studiology

Hot

The days have been challenging with the blasting heat. In defense I head out early to take advantage of cooler temperatures. Sunrise is currently at 5:48 and I arrive at work at 6:30. The first rays of sun send a single ray into the lower garden by 7 AM and I love to watch it move into that space. One of the first kisses of light hit a large, antique birdbath.

As a sunken garden this space can function as a hot spot in summer and a frost pocket in winter. It's good to finish my work there and head to high ground before the temperatures rise. This year will mark my 15th year at Oak Hill and I have come to know the garden well. My first early walk is quiet so I can find where our deer culprit is, maybe eating a lily, or the buds on our ancient crinum. Today he was busted, and my banshee screams may keep him away for awhile (not likely). 

In personal news, I bought a little car. The truck I drive is great but the mileage was slipping up on me, so I decided to stop using it as much and take my spiffy car for most trips. A big savings on gas since my last fill-up on the truck was $70. compared to $30. in the car. It has been a very long time since I've driven a car, much longer since I've had a small car, so this is fun and exciting. The research involved something that could fit a bucket of tools and some flats of plants plus my new favorite 6 foot collinear hoe. A hatchback was my goal with good mileage and decent value after many miles. Luckily my son works at Adesa, the huge wholesale auto auction house and he has his hands on all sorts of cars and trucks and he was a big help in narrowing down the choice (sadly they are very strict on who can buy there, so no, that was not my source). My new ride is a VW Golf GTI, sweet as can be, with a few nice frills. 

She should have a name, but I've never named my vehicles. Suggestions are welcome.

Vines, the Good and Bad

With summer's arrival the garden bulks up. It may seem like new growth has surpassed the gardener's ability to maintain. This is especially so with vines, some good, some bad, and some even ugly.

A particularly thuggish vine seems to be taking over, seizing garden space, tree lines, anything that sits long enough. The oriental bittersweet or Celastrus orbiculatus has become abundant in recent years, a weedy vine of enormous proportions. As seedlings I find them carpeting the ground, easy to pull and simple to identify with orange roots. If left another year, it's an entirely different struggle, one met with resistance to tugging and a vigor that rivals most weeds you encounter. Spread by birds, as most vines are, the red berry clusters of fall and winter disappear quickly as the pulp is eaten and seed dispersed. In terms of damage to surrounding trees, oriental bittersweet rivals wisteria and kudzu, the ultimate bullies that steal sunlight and form a hulking framework of branches which weigh down all beneath. Their Achilles heel is the singular source of each vine, a woody stem that is best cut as close to the ground as possible, followed by frequent re-cuts. All of this before they fruit (of course), to prevent new arrivals. 

There are native options, all three prior vines are not. Even so, vines climb and often need a heavy pruning hand to conform to limited spaces. The non-Japanese, native honeysuckle or Lonicera sempervirens will grow fifteen to twenty-five feet tall. Flowering on old or new growth, they are easily tamed to form a handsome trunk and frame with time. Flowers are orange, red, or yellow and non-fragrant. One of the first to leaf out in spring and last to loose their leaves in fall, well suited to screening or training up a wall. 

Crossvine or Bignonia capreolata can reach fifty feet with orangish flowers in heavy clusters. In the same family as trumpet vine, the two are aggressive. I generally let trumpet vine or Campsis radicans flower (late June into July), and then cut the vine back severely. Best done every year and repeatedly to discourage size. Left to their own devices, the spread seems limitless. All three of these natives are favored by hummingbirds with brightly colored, tubular flowers, and high nectar.

A challenge is finding small vines, the ones used to cover adorable tuteurs or ornate trellis's. There has been a lot of breeding in clematis to do just that. Two breeders, Raymond Evison and Poulsen Roser have been working to fill the void with compact hybrids which are tagged "Evipo". My clematis 'Diamantina' is on a four foot support, which it fits perfectly; a double purple from the same breeding line. 

 

Bottom line, when it comes to planting trailing plants, it's best to do your homework. Far too many invasive vines are sold and the ensuing job of keeping them in check can rapidly disintegrate.  In most cases, that cute trellis will not hold that monster up.

Cherries!

There was a late frost which hit most of the pick-your-own farms and the cherry blossoms in our area. With numerous calls and emails I have been trying to find a farm that may have escaped the damage. Happily I was able to get in on the first weekend of availability on a limited crop, which means I was able to make Cherry Bounce this weekend. I use the original recipe which simply calls for tart cherries, some sugar, and brandy. This was a new farm for me and it's an ordeal to climb the hills to reach the cherry trees. Located in Delaplane, Virginia, the family run business is Hollin Farm. Gladly I left with 6 baskets and it only took 2 high hill hikes and 2 hours. I was advised to bring a stepping stool, which was very helpful. In the past I have tried to find Montmorency or Balaton varieties, known for their tartness and bounce perfection. Today's choice was a variety called Danube, a cross between tart and sweet, and decidedly delicious. The real trick will be the first taste, which doesn't happen until Thanksgiving (although I couldn't wait last year and christened Halloween good enough). 

Now nineteen quarts later, I am finished with my yearly cherry day and can move on to more important things. 

So How are You?

It's June and it happened so fast. I was just admiring daffodils, but the veronicastrum is already blooming! Somewhere between wear a mask or don't, time sped up. The bug bites, and tropical heat just swaggered in joined by hose dragging and trying to work in the shade. I like summer, have big plans for my summer, but it does take some getting used to. 

In random news, I just finished a small class at Green Spring and couldn't help but notice the larkspur. It has clearly flung itself hither and yon and is spectacular right now.

A winter annual that has reached its peak, next it will produce seed and dribble them around, slowly dying as the task is done. For cutting, they are glorious in arrangements, also beautiful when paired with feverfew and clary sage (Salvia sclarea), both winter annuals or biennials that are more than happy to volunteer. 

I have not driven far from home and was happy to finally see the Brood X cicada swarms. In this corner of Loudoun County there are only a few, nothing like the numbers or noise of the full impact of Brood X. Like everyone else, I couldn't help but take a few photographs of these charismatic creatures. 

I'm happy for the supplementary help in the food supply chain for birds, squirrels, turtles, etc...  Maybe, not unlike the Covid weight gain for a different reason, we have the cicada bulge, the plump of Brood X, the periodical (17 year) swagger. Oh it's awesome!