- Author: Michele Martinez
Mistletoe, Friend or Foe? Holiday Cheer and Tree Health
The holiday custom of a kiss beneath the mistletoe comes to us from England. During the twelve days of Christmas, the English traditionally decked their halls with kissing boughs. Made of evergreens, apples and mistletoe, a kissing bough signified both goodwill, and romance. Anyone standing beneath the mistletoe surrendered a kiss. With each kiss, a mistletoe berry was picked, and when the berries were gone, kissing time was done.
With its velvety green leaves and pearly, translucent berries, mistletoe has long been a curiosity. It is the source of many traditions. Both Native American and European healers have used the plant for its medicinal properties. For the Celtic Druids, mistletoe was a symbol of protection, and peace. In Norse folklore, it is associated with the god Balder, the son of Odin and Frigg, and a favorite of his parents. As the tale goes, Frigg foresaw her son's death in a dream. To protect him, she enlisted the help of every plant and animal on earth, but she forgot about poor mistletoe. When Loki, a trickster, learned of Frigg's error, he used a small twig of mistletoe to strike down the young god. The devastated parents wished to resurrect their son. With help from the goddess of the underworld, and many tears shed in his honor, Balder, the light-bearer eventually returned. With him he brought brighter days, and the first signs of spring. Mistletoe's translucent berries were said to symbolize the tears of the gods, reminding the people of the cyclical nature of life, from loss to renewal.
We know mistletoe is a symbol of holiday cheer, but is the parasitic plant harmful to trees? Mistletoe Warriors is a
For more information on mistletoe management, visit the University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources Integrated Pest Management Program (UC-IPM) page on mistletoe management: http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7437.html
by Michele Martínez, Mountain Master Gardener
- Author: Michele Martinez
Hypertufa is an odd sounding name. It comes from the word tufa defined as a porous rock composed of calcium carbonate and formed by precipitation from water, e.g. around mineral springs. Visitors to Mono Lake have seen tufa in the shape of craggy sand castle-like formations. In Europe, soft tufa stone was traditionally used in the construction of everything from stone walls to feed troughs for livestock. Both the Etruscans and the Romans used the material, and today ancient tufa relics are a part of the charm of the English countryside.
In 1930s England, antique tufa troughs became fashionable as garden pieces, but they were pricey, and became hard to find. As the story is told, resourceful gardeners came up with a recipe for making an artificial tufa-like material. The name Hyper-tufa was adopted to mean man-made tufa. Over the years, the recipe has not changed much. Of the three components, Portland cement, peat, and perlite, each plays an important role in making a super light, yet durable container. Portland cement is strong and moldable. Perlite (kiln-puffed volcanic pumice) adds lightness. Peat, a natural sod material, adds body, and distributes moisture evenly. Because peat is a non-sustainable resource, some Hypetrtufa makers replace peat with coconut fiber. Coco husk is plentiful, and its long fibers add extra strength to the mix. When combined with the right amount of water, the ingredients form a clay-like substance that's easily molded into containers of all sizes.
The three-part photo shows Hypertufa planters made for our Lake Arrowhead garden. The 20 inch pots are small pollinator habitats that attract hummingbirds and bees. The containers are light enough to move around the property. The flowering plants spend the warm season well protected from burrowing ground squirrels and gophers that tend to devastate mountain gardens. If you decide to go with Hypertufa, remember the material is porous, so tropical plants may not do so well. Hypertufa pots make a perfect home for dry-climate natives, and desert plants, and add a touch of rustic charm to the garden.
By Michele Martinez, Lake Arrowhead, Mountain Master Gardener
- Author: Michele Martinez
With winter approaching, Southern Californians look forward to at least a few quenching rains. As we anticipate the season, rain barrels offer gardeners a convenient way to capture and save every drop of the precious resource. A well-placed fifty gallon rain barrel provides water for the garden and other outdoor uses. Two or three hours of rainfall can replenish a couple of rain barrels, so that water is ready for the next week's dry spell.
Rain barrels are sold both at local nurseries and bog box stores, and come in a variety of styles. Barrels generally hold up to fifty gallons, and are easily connected to rain gutters using downspout connectors. Many commercial rain barrels come with connector kits, spigots and detachable hoses for easy watering. Rain barrels should always be lidded to prevent mosquito breeding, and drained when freezing temperatures come. SoCal WaterSmart website offers tips on how to place, and maintain rain barrels: http://socalwatersmart.com/images/PDFs/scws_rainbarrels.pdf
Many Southern California cities encourage the use of rain barrels, and some San Bernardino County water agencies offer rebates of up to $75. per rain barrel (up to two barrels per residence). SoCalWater Smart provides a link to rebate information by zip code: http://www.socalwatersmart.com/?page_id=2973
By Michele Martinez, Master Gardener, Arrowhead
- Author: Dona Jenkins
BAT HOUSES
Some people are interested in encouraging bat populations by installing artificial roosting sites or bat boxes. Bat houses aren't likely to discourage bats from roosting in nearby buildings, and there is no clear evidence that their installation will significantly reduce garden insect problems. If you chose to put up a bat house, make sure it is in an area that has minimal disturbance from people and animals. Sometimes sick bats fall out of the roost where children and household pets easily can pick them up.
Bat houses and bat-house designs are widely available commercially. Follow the guidelines below when constructing and installing a bat house:
- Use rough-sided wood on the interior of the house. Horizontally groove the interior surface for toe holds.
- Roosting chambers should be 1/2 to 1 inch wide; chambers larger than 1 inch invite wasps.
- Caulk outside seams to limit airflow.
- Use roofing felt (tar paper) or dark roof shingles on top and 6 inches down the sides to increase inside temperatures; a 90°F inside temperature is ideal.
- Install bat houses at least 10 feet above ground with an eastern or northern exposure. Bats prefer houses that get morning sun and afternoon shade.
- Protect the house from prevailing winds, if possible, and provide an unobstructed approach for flying bats.
This excerpt is from ipm.ucanr.edu.
/h4>- Author: Vicki Peyton
Cooler Temperatures are on the Way! It's Time to Plant Cool Season Vegetables!
Cooler temperatures are right around the corner, and it will soon be time to plant cool season vegetables!
Planting vegetables at the right time of the year is important to their vitality and their yield. Therefore, knowing which vegetables to plant and when to plant them is in part dependent upon your Sunset Zone and the temperature.
Cool Season Crops Defined
Cool season crops are those that grow best and produce the best quality when the average temperatures are 55 F to 75 F and are usually tolerant of slight frosts. Plants in this group include root crops such as: beets, carrots, parsnip, radish and turnips; stems such as asparagus and white potato; leafy crops such as cabbage, celery, lettuce, onion, and spinach and plants whose immature flower parts we eat, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and globe artichokes.
Vegetable Requirements
Cool season crops are no different in their requirements than warm season crops. Advance planning will help you to determine if you have the adequate space, light (6 hours each day), and using the right amount of water at the right time will help to ensure the success of your plants. Plant according to the seed package directions or the label directions if the plant is a transplant. If you are planting from seed, keep the soil evenly most during germination and the first few weeks of establishment.
Determine the quality of your soil. By squeezing soil in the palm of your hand, the “feel” test can help you to determine the soil's physical properties and behavior. If a cast will form when moist soil is squeezed in the hand and it cannot be handled without breaking, this is an indicator of loamy sand. Loam soil will form a short ribbon with moist soil. The ribbon will split readily and will break away when less than 1 inch long. A moist cast of loam soil will bear some handling. Clay loam can be formed easily with moist soil. This is moderately strong, but will break away when it is 1 to 2 inches long. Clay is a fine textured soil. A strong ribbon can be formed with moist soil. The ribbon will be more than 2 inches long. A moist cast will bear considerable handling.
All plants must have the adequate nutrients to sustain their growth and vitality. Use a high quality mulch to help retain water and deter weeds.
Here are some examples of cool season vegetable planting dates.
Vegetable |
Recommended Planting Dates |
Amount to Plant for Family of 4 |
Asparagus |
Jan-Feb |
30-40 plants |
Beets |
Feb-Apr |
10-15 |
Broccoli |
Dec-Feb |
6-10 |
Cabbage |
Feb |
10-15 |
Carrots |
Feb-Apr |
10-25 |
Cauliflower |
Jan-Feb |
10-15 |
Lettuce |
Nov-Mar |
10-15 |
Onions,bulb |
Nov-Mar |
30-40 |
Onions,green |
Oct-Nov-Dec |
30-40 |
Potatoes, white |
Feb-Mar |
50-100 |
Radish |
Sep-Apr |
4 foot row |
Spinach |
Sep-Jan |
10-20 foot row |
Turnips |
Feb |
6-10 plants |
What does your family like to eat? You can grow it! Vegetable gardening provides fresh produce, improves physical health, and can even enhance emotional well-being!