Think of Veterans

Sharing Thanksgiving moments

Winter approaches

Elephant's Ears, Heartleaf (Bergenia cordifolia, Bergenia crassifolia).

Bergenias, named for the 18th Century German botanist Karl August von Bergen, have been in American and British gardens for at least two centuries. An under-appreciated species, it is a good choice for someone who doesn't know much about gardening. Hardy, reliable, easy care, rewarding results, attractive year round. Almost impossible to kill.
An attractive ground cover, spread by fibrous above-ground sideways stalks. Dark-green, glossy, slick, smooth, round/heart-shaped leaves have a cabbage-like leathery appearance. Sometimes called Pigsqueak (rub leaves for squeaky-clean sound). Most varieties have bell-shaped flowers, compact clusters atop 12-inch burgundy stems. From pale/rosy/deep pink to ruby red, magenta, dark purple. Each flower spike lasts only a few weeks, but the blooming period can be prolonged by regularly removing the spent spikes.

One of winter's most adaptable evergreen perennials. An interesting contrast to other winter plants as cooler weather sees enriching tones in leaf coloring--maroon, crimson, bronze, magenta, beet red, ruddy (red/reddish). This color sometimes lasts until April. Only on occasion do March-May blooms occur together with the winter-maroon leaves.
Siberian Bergenia varieties such as B. cordifolia (Saxifraga), B. crassifolia (Siberian Tea) and their hybrids have the greatest tendency to maroon in colder temperatures. With warm winters, they may stay green year round. B. cordifolia flowers March-May, magenta-pink, short stems. 'Winter Glut' rosy-pink. 'Abendglocken' (Evening Bells) has striking dark lilac-pink on tall stalks. B. crassifolia blooms early December or February-early March, magenta-pink. B. purpurascens (Purple Pigsqueak), mostly in the Midwest/East, produces red-purple leaves in fall/winter, deep-pink/magenta-purple/ red flowers in spring. B. emeiensis is strikingly different. Cliff-dwelling (WA state). Five-petalled white blooms, more daisy-like than the usual hanging-bells, mid-late spring. Not as cold-hardy, it is sometimes offered as a house plant or as a garden variety where summers are too hot for most Bergenias.

Bergenias tolerate drought but prefer moist soil. Suitable for light (sandy), medium (loamy), even clay (heavy) soil. Soil pH neutral, alkaline or acid. Full, semi- or no shade. Full shade produces lighter green, floppier leaves and longer necks trying to reach the sun. Semi-shade retains an attractive appearance that can become extremely green and lush if kept damp. With a little sun, the red effect heightens in bronzy red-leaf varieties. With no shade at all, it may suffer. Full sun, high summer heat and insufficient water burns leaves, plant remains shorter and rusty-looking around the edges. Nonetheless, apt to survive and continue spreading. Mulch lightly and water more in summer. Compost early winter. Nip off old foliage turned brown.

In selecting Bergenia, start with a few adult plants. Youngsters take time to get well-rooted and begin spreading. Choose root-bound in gallon-size pots. Plant in autumn or spring (after blooming) near a shrub, boulder or fence for wind protection, preferably north/northeast side of garden for afternoon shade. Or in a mixed container. After 3-4 years, it may become overcrowded and flower production may decline. Divide in spring after bloom. Deer resistant. Watch for snails, slugs, and weevils.

With our California draught seemingly continuing on into fall, our minds are not so much filled with ideas and plans of new things to plant, but more how can I help my existing garden survive or what should we simply be letting go.

However, I would like to share a garden I experienced this summer while visiting family in Michigan. Our son, daughter-in-law and family live in a beautiful neighborhood in Saginaw. The houses all reek east-coast charm and character, so missing in so many of our California neighborhoods. I want to tour every home in the surrounding blocks and love fanaticizing about just what kind of early American furniture I would embellish my old "new" home with.

But what really makes this neighborhood special is the people that live there and their interaction with each other. We were so lucky to have been able to attend a potluck at one of these homes attended by not only the whole neighborhood, but also, the Saginaw Police and Fire Departments, who, in promoting neighborhood good-will participated in a tug-of-war between the two life-saving agencies. Believe it or not, even this struggle between dozens of handsome young, virile men in uniform was not the high point of the day for me, but the garden in which we pot lucked.

On 5/8 of an acre, Dan and Linda Swaffer have developed an edible landscape garden of gigantic proportions. Back yard, front yard, side yard, all focused on growing organic food, and still having room to entertain the entire neighborhood (not to mention, feed the entire neighborhood). I found it to be the best example of what two people (not paid staff) can do for real with a lot of work and commitment. Yes, I know water is not a problem in Michigan, but we can dream, can't we.
Instead of typing a lot of overused words to describe their abundant garden. I invite you to just view the following snapshots.

photos by Cheryl Potts

A couple of years back our family was gifted a simple wooden flower press. Such a great gift for a family with little ones! One of our favorite uses of the press is drying beautifully colored fall leaves. This is a great activity for kids of a wide range of ages.

To make your own art with pressed flowers:

First, get outside and gather some leaves!

- Get everyone outside for some walking and exploring; it's like a treasure hunt!
- This is a great opportunity to discuss the seasonal changes that many trees undergo.
- Young kids can practice identifying the myriad of colors and shapes of leaves.
- Older kids might enjoy taking a plant identification book along to try and identify different types of tress based on leaf type, bark, etc.
- As you go along, it's fun to talk about what leaves everyone picks and why. This helps kids to really practice observation and description, and to practice articulating their personal tastes and appreciation for nature.
- Select leaves with a variety of shapes and colors, sizes and in varying stages of color change!

Next, press your leaves!

- You can buy a simple press at a craft store or even make your own. A tutorial for doing this can be found here: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Flower-Press
- Or just use some heavy books with sheets of paper/newsprint. The sheets of paper will help to wick moisture from the leaves and will protect the books from becoming stained. Be sure to use a good ¼' stack of paper between each layer of leaves you're pressing. Use acid-free paper if you've got it.
- Allow for plenty of time for your leaves to dry- 2-3 weeks is usually sufficient.

Get crafty! You can use your leaves in a variety of ways:

- Use them to decorate around the house: strewn on tabletops, in centerpieces, for dinner place-cards, etc.
- Paper crafts:
o Use leaves to create a diagram of the seasonal changes of tree leaves.
o Use leaves to decorate “thankfulness” greeting cards for the Thanksgiving season.
o Use leaves to decorate bookmarks.
o Use leaves in free craft time for the kiddos, and see what interesting things they come up with!
- If you'd like the leaves in your paper crafts to last a long time, you might consider using a clear-drying (acid free, if you've got it) craft glue to “seal” them on the paper.

Happy crafting!