By Penny Pawl, U. C. Master Gardener of Napa County
Tis the season and possibly you are planning to decorate your home for the coming holidays. Take a stroll through your garden and look at all the beautiful plants growing there. Some of them might work well in a wreath for the holidays.
The plants mentioned below do well in wreaths, although some last without water longer than others. If you're unsure how plants will perform in a wreath, cut some and slowly dry them to see how they look after a week or two. Discard those that do not stay fresh-looking. European bay (Laurus nobilis) is a good choice, as are smoke bush (Cotinus coggygria), redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) to name a few. The red winter leaves of nandina last well in a wreath.
You can also add the red berries of toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), small pine cones or dried lavender. Craft stores and nurseries can supply other additions. Don't forget small ornaments. Online I saw an exercise “noodle,” or hoop, used as an ornament-only wreath and it was quite nice. The ornaments were wired and pushed into the noodle.
There are many different types of wreath bases. How you assemble the wreath depends on which base you choose. Some are easy while others require more time. You can either make or buy a grapevine wreath. If you make it, bake it a while at low heat to kill any bugs that might be in the grapevine. Also consider hay wreaths, assorted metal frames of different sizes or Styrofoam.
You will need a glue gun, wire, wire cutters and possibly scissors. Have equipment ready before you start to build your wreath. If your base is grapevines, hay or Styrofoam, you can poke the foliage in wherever you wish. With wire bases, you need to wire each bundle onto the wire frame. As you work around the frame, space foliage bundles at intervals that leave room for the decorative touches.
Decorate your wreath with dried fruits such as lemons, oranges and persimmons. Be sure to add ribbon. You can buy bows or make your own
I have used old wine corks to decorate a grapevine wreath. I glue the corks on with my glue gun and arrange them around the wreath. I add Champagne corks to the top if I have them and then fill in with real or artificial foliage, bows and ornaments. I also made a wreath out of succulents a couple of years ago. I bought a wire frame, fastened wire around it and stuffed it with well-soaked sphagnum moss. Then I cut off the succulents and pushed them into the moss. This wreath is a work in process. When I made it, I did not have many succulents on hand and so left space between the plants. It looks best if the succulents are close together. Eventually they will root and cover the frame.
Last but not least, save a piece of wire to make a hanger for your wreath. You can then hang it on your front door or in a window. It will last longer outside. A wreath of this type is not permanent. You will need to take it apart as the plants dry and die. Save your base so you can make a fresh one next year.
Workshop: U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County will host a workshop on “Creating Holiday Wreaths” on Sunday, December 11, from noon to 3 p.m., at the Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington Street, Yountville. Learn what plants in your garden could make good wreaths for decorating. Learn how to choose and prepare plant materials so they will look good for a long time. Learn tips and tricks for designing and making easy wreaths for the holidays or any time. Participants will create their own wreath to take home, made from locally collected plant materials. $20 for Yountville residents; $23 for non-residents. Register with Yountville Parks & Recreation or call 707-944-8712.
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County ( http://ucanr.edu/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.
By Denise Levine, U. C. Master Gardener of Napa County
Usually I peruse December seed catalogs for tried-and-true selections or interesting newcomers in the vegetable and flower sections. But after growing statice for the first time this year, I am examining the everlasting options more thoroughly. Everlastings are flowers, grasses and foliage that are easily dried for use in arrangements, wreaths, decorations and crafts.
I decided to grow Limonium sinuatum, also known as statice or sea lavender, when a friend gave me a packet of seeds. Seedlings came up in pots pretty quickly but then languished as I tried to find time and space to plant them in the garden. In late July I finally planted the almost root-bound seedlings in a bed generously amended with leaf mold and compost. Then I read that statice prefers sandy soil. And still they grew.
Within a few weeks, the plants had begun forming generous rosettes of serrated leaves. Soon the first spires of blossoms began to form. As they reached maturity and began to bloom, each plant revealed different colored blossoms. Clear yellow, papery blossoms on winged stems were the first to open, and deep purple blossoms with white eyes were next to unfurl.
As the blossoming continued, the bed filled with statice in shades of apricot, bright pink, soft lavender and bright, clean white. Before long, each plant measured a good foot across, with stems and blossoms reaching as high. Butterflies teased the colorful blossoms all summer, entertaining us but disturbing garden spiders in residence.
Limonium sinuatum is classified as a tender perennial but often grown as an annual and replaced every year. I am treating mine as a perennial this year. When I have harvested the last of the papery blossoms and hung them upside down in bunches to dry, I will dig the plants out of the crowded bed and replant them with more elbow room to stretch out and bloom again next year. They look too healthy and robust to be finished. Statice is clearly not difficult to grow.
Harvesting statice and other everlasting flowers for drying is simple. For the best-quality dried flowers, cut in the morning. Make sure morning dew and any moisture are completely gone. Plants should be dry before you cut. Harvesting damp plants not only increases the drying time but also increases the chance of mold or mildew developing. No one wants moldy flowers. Johnny's Selected Seeds has complete directions for air-drying cut flowers on its website (http://www.johnnyseeds.com/t-dried-flowers-instructions-slideshow.aspx).
Other colorful everlasting options include Gomphrena, or globe amaranth, which comes in purple, pink, red, white and violet; and Celosia, or cockscomb, in reds, oranges and golden colors. Other flowers can be dried, including roses, hydrangeas and, of course, strawflowers. The main criterion is to choose flowers or plants with relatively low moisture content.
Dried grasses from simple to dramatic can be used by themselves or to add interest to fresh or dried flower arrangements. Check your favorite nursery or garden center for grasses that do well here. If you enjoy starting plants from seed, consider the selection of gorgeous grasses available from Johnny's Selected Seeds. From ‘Frosted Explosion,' a silvery, feathery, ethereal plant, to ‘Purple Majesty,' a deep burgundy millet that adds shine to holiday and autumnal decor, there are grasses that dry beautifully for every occasion.
Some everlasting flowers, grasses and foliage need warm weather to germinate, but some can be planted throughout the coming cooler months. Read seed packets carefully.
Many everlastings have a long bloom time and can be cut and enjoyed as fresh flowers. Some are treasured for their seed pods or final blossoms. Nigella, also called love-in-a-mist, provides lovely blossoms all season long in white, blue or pink. Left on the stem, the blossoms mature into black- or cream-colored pods prized by floral arrangers. Lunaria, also known as silver dollar plant, moon or money plant, produces silvery or golden papery moons on a graceful stem.
Foliage often dries well. If you are drawn to everlastings and enjoy having materials to work with for wreaths, arrangements and gifts, you can find information online about dessicants for drying and glycerin for preserving leaves and some flowers. Visit nurseries for seeds and seedlings of perennials to plant now. By spring they will be well established, and you will be on your way to next year's everlastings.
Workshop: U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County will host a workshop on “Creating Holiday Wreaths” on Sunday, December 11, from noon to 3 p.m., at the Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington Street, Yountville. Learn what plants in your garden could make good wreaths for decorating. Learn how to choose and prepare plant materials so they will look good for a long time. Learn tips and tricks for designing and making easy wreaths for the holidays or any time. Participants will create their own wreath to take home, made from locally collected plant materials. $20 for Yountville residents; $23 for non-residents. Register with Yountville Parks & Recreation or call 707-944-8712.
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County ( http://ucanr.edu/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.
Some of my earliest memories are from gardens. My family had a small gardening plot in our large back yard where my mother planted carrots, greens, cucumbers and peppers and oversaw a small strawberry patch.
My mother never harvested a single carrot from that garden because I loved to pull up and eat the fresh baby carrots, dirt and all, long before they reached maturity. I confessed this to her decades later when she was celebrating the carrot harvest in her new garden bed and scratching her head over those years of failed crops. She had thought we had moles.
My great-grandmother's garden was the fantasy fairy world of any child's imagination. It included sweet-smelling jasmine; thick, woody rose bushes; hydrangeas in every color; a potting bench; an open-sided shed offering shade and respite; and a fig tree so big and prolific that it could hide a horse and feed it, too.
My imagination was fueled by more than just my great-grandmother's beautiful flowers; my great-grandfather had added his own touches. An avid naturalist, local hiker and hunter, he used the shed to display found and hunted skulls, skins and obsidian arrowheads. The entire rose garden was encircled with Wappo mortars and pestles he had collected.
In this garden, sitting next to my great-grandmother on her shaded patio swing, we would sing lady bug songs, smell the sweet air, eat fresh figs and listen to my great-grandfather spin tales about the native people of our surrounding area.
It was in this garden, two decades later, that I would plant my own first vegetable patch. By that time, my great-grandfather had been hiking in spirit for nearly ten years. His entire collection had been donated to Calistoga's Sharpsteen Museum, tripling their collection of Wappo artifacts. My great-grandmother had moved into assisted living, and I was asked to move in and care for the house and yard.
Venturing beyond my familiar memories of this yard, I discovered a surprisingly large and sunny long-ignored patch by the fence. Surely I had seen this area before, but this time I saw it with new eyes. It would be my space, a place of trial, hope and anticipation.
I purchased a gardening book from the local bookstore, borrowed my mother's rototiller, picked up some starts and seeds from the nearby nursery, measured, mapped, planted and drip-lined the entire area myself. I was 23.
I knew nothing about fertilizer, soil tilth or amendments, and the only garden pests I knew were snails and slugs.
By sheer dumb luck, I harvested corn, squash, cucumbers, peppers, radishes, potatoes, eggplant, onions, garlic and greens from that garden. All my friends and family were impressed and benefited from my newly discovered green thumb.
Now, in my own home with my own family, I work to instill a similar garden-loving foundation with my own children. I include them in selecting the seeds and seedlings that we plant and in preparing, planting and managing our garden.
My son, who likes to dig, helps prepare our raised beds. He also loves to help rip out the old plants and mix in the amendments. With close supervision, he's a great weeder, too.
My daughter is not a fan of getting her hands dirty but has great attention to detail. She is in charge of removing all the little rocks from the garden beds and inspecting plants for pest damage. If she finds any, we make a science experiment out of it. We talk about what we have observed, whether it indicates a “good” or “bad” bug and how to deal with it appropriately. Both of my children love to collect the bugs and water the new seeds and any containers that are not connected to the drip system.
Come summertime, you can almost always find my kids in the backyard chalking the concrete and watching for butterflies, hummingbirds, dragonflies and ladybugs. They make houses for the sow bugs, and pick and eat beans and strawberries right off the plants. They know which flowers are edible and which weeds I like to keep. They are my garden eyes and ears and a huge part of the reason we grow vegetables at home.
I am eternally grateful to my mother and great-grandmother for my gardening heritage and grateful that I get to pass that legacy along to my own children. Certainly I will feel more sadness than satisfaction the day I pluck my first mature carrot from our garden, an experience I'm hoping remains a long way off.
Workshop: U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County will host a workshop on “Creating Holiday Wreaths” on Sunday, December 11, from noon to 3 p.m., at the Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington Street, Yountville. Learn what plants in your garden could make good wreaths for decorating. Learn how to choose and prepare plant materials so they will look good for a long time. Learn tips and tricks for designing and making easy wreaths for the holidays or any time. Participants will create their own wreath to take home, made from locally collected plant materials. $20 for Yountville residents; $23 for non-residents. Register with Yountville Parks & Recreation or call 707-944-8712.
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County ( http://ucanr.edu/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.
- Author: Gayle Nelson
Many gardeners think that only large-scale farms or vineyards can benefit from cover crops. However, even home gardeners are now recognizing the wisdom of growing these fall-planted crops. Not only are cover crops easy to plant, most types can just be ignored after seeding.
One of the primary reasons to plant a cover crop is to alternate the type of vegetation grown in your soil. Crop rotation not only allows us to diversify our harvest, but it also reduces the possibility of pests or pathogens gaining a foothold.
Some cover crops, such as peas and fava beans, are even edible. These legumes are also nitrogen fixers, feeding the soil. However, they do not spread much, so inter-planting with ryegrass, buckwheat or another spreading cover crop is a good approach.
Cover crops can also serve as so-called “green manure.” Allowing them to grow over a season and then mowing or turning them into the soil can replenish nutrients. Legumes have long been used to add nitrogen to the soil after the grower harvests the edible peas or beans. As with all cover crops, roots left in the soil will decompose over time, improving soil tilth and structure.
Winter cover crops also help gardens prone to erosion by anchoring the soil during the rainy season. What's more, cover crops suppress weeds. In many cases, a dense cover crop will out-compete undesirable plants, reducing time spent on garden maintenance. Some cover crops—winter rye, for example—produce chemical substances that inhibit some weeds.
Tall grasses grown as cover crops can be mowed in spring and left to decompose in place, acting as a mulch and weed barrier. Alternatively, you can add fresh-mown cover crop residue to your home compost pile.
Clovers and buckwheat are not only attractive, but they also provide forage for bees and other pollinators. Cover crops provide a habitat for beneficial insects, helping reduce or eliminate the need for harsh pesticides later.
Some cover crops act as traps, luring damaging insects away from your prized crops. If you have herbivorous pets such as rabbits or guinea pigs, a cover crop such as alfalfa, once mowed, can be used as food or dried for bedding.
For gardeners with heavy clay soils, cover crops can reduce soil compaction and improve soil texture. As the soil becomes more porous, other benefits follow. Better water retention, improved drainage and more biological activity—think earthworms—are all possible outcomes.
A dense cover crop can also help shade the soil, a boon in hot or dry areas. Cooler soil requires less water because surface evaporation slows.
Suppressing weeds, feeding pollinators, controlling erosion and improving soil fertility are just a few reasons to plant a cover crop. However, cover crops must be managed or they can overtake a garden. Mustard can reseed and multiply, effectively adding to your weed problems.
Nevertheless, the positives far outweigh the negatives. Even raised beds can benefit from the organic matter that a cover crop provides. As your garden activity slows this fall, consider trying a cover crop to prepare your soil for spring.
Workshop: U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County will host a workshop on “Creating Holiday Wreaths” on Sunday, December 11, from noon to 3 p.m., at the Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington Street, Yountville. Learn what plants in your garden could make good wreaths for decorating. Learn how to choose and prepare plant materials so they will look good for a long time. Learn tips and tricks for designing and making easy wreaths for the holidays or any time. Participants will create their own wreath to take home, made from locally collected plant materials. $20 for Yountville residents; $23 for non-residents. Register with Yountville Parks & Recreation or call 707-944-8712.
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County ( http://ucanr.edu/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.
by T. Eric Nightingale, U.C. Master Gardener of Napa County
Many people in Napa Valley have a Meyer lemon or Key lime tree. While these are good fruits with many culinary uses, there is a much wider world of citrus to consider for your garden.
If you are a fan of limes, why not try a kaffir lime or finger lime? While the fruit of the kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix) is not much different from other limes, the leaves are special. Beautifully segmented and extremely fragrant, they are prized by chefs around the world.
The finger lime (Citrus australasica) is an appealing tree with small, delicate leaves. The fruit is oblong and contains many small, pearl-like droplets. Often called "citrus caviar," finger limes are a great way to add lime flavor in a unique and eye-catching way.
If you are a cook, consider a Yuzu tree (Citrus ichangensis x C. reticulata). Yuzu juice has been used in Japanese and Korean cooking for centuries but has recently also become popular in the U.S. The zest is incredibly flavorful and can invigorate a favorite recipe. The fruit produces little juice but save what you can. Bottled Yuzu juice can cost four to six dollars an ounce.
Perhaps the most exotic-looking citrus is Buddha's hand (Citrus medica var. sarcodactyli). With its finger-like pointed protrusions, the yellow fruit of this tree resembles a strange, twisted hand. It produces little juice, but the zest has a lemon-like flavor. The tree is most often grown for the novelty it adds to a landscape or garden.
To keep your favorite citrus tree company, try finding a new variety to plant. Some citrus have variegated leaves; some, like pink limes, have flesh with an unusual color. A tree with variegated leaves is a beautiful addition to any garden.
If you do decide to plant a new citrus tree, wait until spring. Citrus trees are intolerant of soggy soil and frost. Planting in early spring will give your tree some time to become established before next winter.
If you garden in containers, choose a dwarf or ultra-dwarf citrus. Dwarf citrus reach eight feet at most; ultra-dwarf types top out at about six feet. Choosing a dwarf tree will ensure that it does not easily outgrow the container. A dwarf citrus in a half wine barrel will be comfortable and happy for many years.
Planting in the ground gives you more flexibility. Visualize the full-grown tree to be sure it will have the space it needs. It can be frustrating to move an established tree when you realize you planted it too close to a structure.
Even the smallest gardens have microclimates, or variations in heat, air flow and sunlight. These variations can affect your plants, in good ways and bad. Being aware of your garden's microclimates can help you choose the optimal planting site. During winter, structures and hard surfaces will retain heat, raising the air temperature around a tree. Conversely, planting in a low spot will allow cooler air to pool around the tree, making it more susceptible to frost. For more information on citrus care, consult the Napa County Master Gardener website (below).
Workshop: U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County will host a workshop on “Creating Holiday Wreaths” on Sunday, December 11, from noon to 3 p.m., at the Yountville Community Center, 6516 Washington Street, Yountville. Learn what plants in your garden could make good wreaths for decorating. Learn how to choose and prepare plant materials so they will look good for a long time. Learn tips and tricks for designing and making easy wreaths for the holidays or any time. Participants will create their own wreath to take home, made from locally collected plant materials. $20 for Yountville residents; $23 for non-residents. Register with Yountville Parks & Recreation or call 707-944-8712.
Master Gardeners are volunteers who help the University of California reach the gardening public with home gardening information. U. C. Master Gardeners of Napa County ( http://ucanr.edu/ucmgnapa/) are available to answer gardening questions in person or by phone, Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to Noon, at the U. C. Cooperative Extension office, 1710 Soscol Avenue, Suite 4, Napa, 707-253-4143, or from outside City of Napa toll-free at 877-279-3065. Or e-mail your garden questions by following the guidelines on our web site. Click on Napa, then on Have Garden Questions? Find us on Facebook under UC Master Gardeners of Napa County.