GARDEN DESIGN RECIPE OF THE WEEK: CHRISTMAS TREE FOR BIRDS

Tree for birds Happy Holidays!  I don't celebrate any religious holiday, but I do love the festivities and sparkle of this season.  This year I decided to splurge on a real tree, but hate to waste my artificial tree... so, I'm going to use it to decorate the front yard.  But instead of using artificial decorations on it, I'm going to turn it into a Christmas tree for the birds!  (Squirrels and field mice will also enjoy this.)



INGREDIENTS 


1 Artificial Christmas tree in stand (you can also use a real cut or living tree)


Any combination of the following:


20 sprays of millet (available wherever pet bird food is sold)


Several clusters of hard berrries:  Holly, currant, viburnum, etc.


10 small apples (Lady apples are perfect)


1 package of dried figs (make sure they don't contain sulfites)


1 cluster of red grapes


1 bag of rice cakes


1 bag of unsalted unshelled peanuts


1 large box of raisins


Cranberry mixture  


3 bags of raw cranberries


Several pine cones


Wild bird suet cakes


Mesh socks filled with niger seed


Stocking  


Dried ears of corn


Corn


1 bundle of green and/or red raffia


1 large package of soft moss (available at craft stores)


Pre-made bird food decorations (available online or at Wild Bird stores)


Seed wreath


Optional for California and Arizona:  2 small tube style hummingbird feeders with clear nectar


DIRECTIONS


String the cranberries, raisins, peanuts and dried fruit into garlands or bundles with natural cotton twine.


Tie berries and millet sprays into bundles with raffia.


Poke hole through apples and rice cakes and string with cotton twine leaving hanger loop.


Stick clumps of moss among the branches.


Stuff pine cones with suet and place among branches.


LIGHTING:  For lighting, its ok to use outdoor tree lights if they are not plugged in during the day.  A safe alternative would be to use a low voltage spotlight to shine on the tree at night.


Replace materials as consumed!



A PLUMMET-MEASURED FACE: Garden Statuary

I always recommend adding a statue or some kind of sculpted object in a garden, for the following reasons:


BALANCE:  A well designed garden contains balance of all its elements.  Visual weight, textural contrast, layout.  And too, the balance of hard and soft, natural and manufactured.


An elegant bit of sculpture gracefully introduces the manufactured element.  It also gives the eye a place to rest amongst the multiple textures and colors of the plants. 


Statue 1    


DEPTH:  Hedges and large shrubs stand their ground staunchly.  The eye quickly dismisses them as a solid mass, a mere divider of a flat plane.  But imagine, as you walk past the tall hedge, a gleam of white marble, and suddenly the block becomes a shell, and space curves.


    Statue hidden in hedge 


SURPRISE:  My childhood memories of gardens feel magical, because they are about surprise.  A small tortoise under a bush laying eggs.  An unexpected red bridge in a Chinese garden.  As adults in a stern world, we need surprises, like a dragon in the apple orchard, to remember how the delights of magic. 


  Boscobel orchard


CONNECTION:  By housing a man made object, the garden is integrated into the overall home both symbolically and stylistically. It becomes another room in which to express your taste.


Chairs   


FOCUS :  Similarly, our interior rooms have focus:  A fireplace or television, a dining table, the kitchen counter, the bed.  Garden rooms benefit from having similar focal points.



Modular Garden fountain     


Fountain and garden design by Modular Garden UK 


PURPOSE:  Water features attract birds and provide soothing sound to block unwanted noise.  Carved stone benches provide resting spots.  Wrought iron arches guide you through the garden.  Dramatic pots hold plants in spots where they might otherwise not grow.   Waxwings 


 Photo credit to 'Ollie Girl' (Donna) at Flickr


Heart's ease arch


Last, and most important:


BEAUTY:  This needs no explanation.


Statue and sky


Beautiful angel  


Keyhole view   


Statue by Kelly O 


Photo credit to Kelly O on Flickr



Seven Virgins Temple     


Old fountain  



THANKSGIVING FEAST FOR THE BIRDS


My Thanksgiving traditions include spreading a feast for the wild birds.


Cedar waxwing  



 Since I don't grow all of their native food plants, I resort to putting out extra sunflower and thistle seeds, suet with peanuts, fruit, and mealworms.


But I thought it would be appropriate, since this is a garden rather than a avian gourmet blog, to mention some plants that are food sources for birds (and many butterflies as well.)


The list focuses on my Zone 9 habitat, but many of these are good in other regions as well.  Some of the plants bear fruit which attracts the fruit eating birds, others attract insects which feed the bug eating birds.


All of these plants are suitable for a residential garden.


For berry eating birds such as Cedar Waxwings, Robins, Thrashers, Thrushes, Western Blue Birds, Mockingbirds, Towhees, Western Tanagers and Grosbeaks, try these pretty bushes:


Barberry (Berberis nevinii)


Coffeeberry (Rhamnus californica)


Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana)


Gooseberries and Currents (Ribes spp)


Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium)


Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia)


 Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia)


Wild strawberry (Fragaria spp.)






For seed eating birds like Warblers, Finches, Goldfinches, Sparrows, Doves, Towhees, Juncos, Bushtits and Quail, try these:


Buckwheat (Eriogonum)


Bunchgrasses (Nasella spp.)


California Lilac (Ceanothus spp.)


California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)


Sedges (Carex spp.)



Thistle (Silybum marianum)






This list doesn't include the zillions of wild and cultivated flowers that also feed birds, but you can find information about this at


http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyard_birds/top_ten/flowers.aspx

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!












Goldfinch on thistle 


Photo credit to Jerry DeBoer 




























DESIGN RECIPE OF THE WEEK: HERB GARDEN

CLASSIC SPRING HERB GARDEN
INGREDIENTS:
  • Enough ledge stone, keystone block, brick, or railroad ties to construct a 7 foot diameter circle or square.
  • 200 cubic feet of premium planting mix
  • six 1.5 cf bags of shredded bark
  • 1 8 lb bag of GroPower Plus
  • 1 iron or wooden tuteur
  • 2 pots of English thyme
  • 1 pots of Lemon thyme
  • 1 pots of Lime thyme
  • 1 pot chamomile
  • 2 pots of variegated culinary sage
  • 2 pots of oregano
  • 2 pots of marjoram
  • 2 pots of rosemary
  • 1 pot of lemon verbena
  • 2 pots of tarragon
  • 6 pots of sweet basil
  • 3 pots of Provence or Grosso lavender
  • 1 package of sugar snap peas


DIRECTIONS:

Choose a 10 foot square area in your garden that gets at least five hours of sun a day.

Cut straight edges to outline the area, and spread gray gravel for a flat surface inside the outline.  If possible, create a paver or gravel path leading to the area.

In the center of the gravel bed, lay the building materials in a seven foot diameter circle, two layers tall (or if you are using railroad ties, lay in square one tie tall.)  In center of large circle, build a three foot diameter circle twice as tall as the surrounding circle (or 3 foot square with ties.)  Optional:  Create pie shaped sections with additional stone or brick.

Fill circles with planting mix.  Place tuteur in center of small circle.
Toss GroPower Plus on top of soil.

Plant herbs in any combination you like (but if you are using divided style, cluster the herbs within each section.)

Plant pea seeds around the tuteur.  (You can substitute beans, cucumber, or a flowering climber.)

Mulch with the shredded bark.

Water well and let bake in spring sunshine.  Serves dozens.


Joining 

ROSES: NO REASON NOT TO GROW THEM

Gardeners seem to fall into two distinct camps when it comes to roses:  One group loves and grows them, the other loves and won't grow them. Those in the latter camp almost always cite one reason:  Roses are too much work.


Oh, say its not true -- okay, its not true!    The newer breeds are way more mildew and disease resistant, and even here on the coast, with our "May Gray" and "June Gloom", they flourish easily.


Here are a few. among the zillions of roses out there, that have proven themselves very hardy, even in overcast, cool springs.


Red Roses
  • Carefree Spirit (Shrub/Weeks) :  Blooms from spring through fall.  Mounding habit to 2.5 feet.  Totally free of powdery mildew, rust, and black spot!  Light fragrance.
  • Photo
  • Kardinal (Hybrid tea/Kordes) :  Constantly in bloom, impervious to weather, long stemmed, light fragrance.




  • Legends (Hybrid tea/Weeks) :  New!  Massive ruby red ruffled blossoms, up to eight inches across.  Vigorous deep green leathery foliage.  Moderate fragrance.  An Oprah fave!
Photo
  • Lover's Lane (Hybrid tea/Jackson & Perkins) : Deep velvety red with a light reverse.  Long stemmed and long lasting, light fragrance.
  • Olympiad (Hybrid tea/Weeks) : Long stemmed, long lasting as cut flowers, light fragrance.
  • Topsy Turvey (Floribunda/Weeks) :  Red, with white reverse, the petals twist into a pinwheel shape.  Light apple fragrance, flowers from early spring through Christmas.Photo
  • Trumpeter  (Floribunda/Weeks) : Another long bloomer, covered with bright brick red blossoms.  Compact mounding habit.  One of the most popular landscape roses here in California.
Pink and Coral Roses
Brilliant Pink Iceberg (Floribunda/Weeks) :  So easy to grow! A large floribunda that thrives both by the coast and inland.  Bright pink flowers, this rose can be cut back anytime and within weeks will be flowering again.  Light fragrance. (Also comes in a deep burgundy color.)
  • New Zealand (Hybrid tea/Weeks) :  Bright pink flowers on long stems. Luxuriant foliage. Intoxicating honeysuckle fragrance.
  • Pink Promise (Hybrid tea/Weeks) : New!  Long stemmed and intensely fragrant, up to 30 petals per delicate pink blossom.  Many nurseries are donating portions of the sale of this rose to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
  • Ruffles and Flourishes (Hybrid tea/Armstrong) : New!  Sprays of ruffled pink flowers, strong old fashioned rose fragrance.  Very vigorous.
  • Brigadoon (Hybrid tea/Weeks) :  A pretty blend of cream, light pink, and strawberry, with a mild fragrance.Photo
Yellow, Peach and Orange Roses
Artistry (Hybrid tea/Jackson & Perkins) :  A vibrant blend of coral and orange with a splash of cream on the underside.  Light fragrance.
Photo
  • Brass Band (Floribunda/Weeks):  Lovely sprays of melon, peach, and apricot flowers.  Moderate spicy fragrance

  • Photo
  • Gold Medal (Grandiflora/Weeks) : Sprays of large, deep yellow flowers touched with a bit of copper.  Rich fruity fragrance
  • Honey Perfume (Floribunda/Weeks) : Large ruffled bright apricot yellow flowers with a licorice fragrance.
  • Just Joey  (Hybrid tea/Weeks) :  Large ruffled apricot flowers with long stems and a strong, fruity perfume.
  • Photo
  • Light My Fire (Floribunda/Jackson & Perkins) New!  Flaming orange-red blossoms from spring through fall.  Ideal for borders or containers.
  • Mellow Yellow  (Hybrid tea/Weeks) :  Bright butter yellow flowers, very vigorous with tons of flowers, light fragrance.
  • Photo
  • Tuscan Sun (Floribunda/Jackson & Perkins) :  Rich peach colored blossoms are presented in sprays that are great for cutting.  Tons of flowers, sweet spicy fragrance.
White and Lavender Roses
  • White Iceberg  (Floribunda/Weeks) Like its pink and burgundy sisters, this billowing, trouble free floribunda blooms almost year round in our mild climate.
  • Photo
  • Caroline de Monaco (Hybrid tea/Star) : Pure white, very large blossoms (up to 45 petals) with a light fragrance.
  • Elle (Hybrid tea/Weeks)  This compact (up to 3 feet) rose is one of the BEST cutting roses I've found.  Exquisite shell pink and ivory flowers with an intoxicating fragrance, they held their shape longer than any of the others in the mixed bouquet.

Photo

  • Lynn Anderson (Hybrid tea/Weeks) : Large, very long stemmed creamy white flowers edged with dark pink, dark leathery foliage.  Light fragrance.
  • Paradise Found (Hybrid tea/Star) : New!  Impervious to all disease except black spot, with large blossoms blending shades of lavender.  Lemony, licoricey fragrance.
  • Photo
  • Tips on Successful Rose Gardening:  Oh, I won't even begin to scratch the surface... I love roses and grow several, but I'm not a rosarian!  But keeping it simple, what works for me, in our mild climate, is:
  • Give them enough water and food.  I hand water mine between sprinkler cycles.  I throw down GroPower Plus every other month, and coffee grounds once every three months to attract earthworms. (But we have alkaline soil.  If your soil is already acid, you may not want to add the coffee.)
  • Give them good air circulation. Also, don't let water sit on the leaves.  Either water them in the morning so that they'll have time in the sun to dry, or use drip watering. 
  • Don't be afraid to prune whenever they look ratty. Out here, at least, I prune them in July and January, and sometimes in between if they are looking ratty.  They come back fast with fresh, healthy foliage and blooms
  • Re: insect control :  I garden organically, so I try to use the mildest forms of control.  Hard spray from the hose to wash off aphids, mild soapy water spray after that.  Ladybugs. Neem oil is an effective organic insecticide/miticide/fungicide, but its not that gentle and will kill "good" bugs as well as "bad." But I prefer it to chemicals.
The most compelling argument against toxic sprays, for me, was the sight of a hummingbird bathing in the wet leaves of a newly watered rose bush. 


Photo
                     (Photo by Nyvekk 59 on Flickr)

A BIT ABOUT ME


My friend Jitters           


I am a Master Gardener and a Certified California Nursery Professional.


I have designed over a hundred gardens.


I specialize in residential gardens.


My philosophy is that a beautiful garden should be available to anyone, no matter what their budget and no matter what size their property.


Gardening is a source of health for the gardener and the world around us, and should be enjoyed.



GORGEOUS EUONYMUS

I REALLY SCORED yesterday at the garden center.   This is a one gallon size, believe it or not!   A Monrovia plant like this, for only $11.00   Yoohooo!



Isn't it gorgeous?  Its a Gold Spot Euonymus (Euonymus japonicus 'Aureovariegatus')



I like to keep shrubs in pots like this, but this would also be a fantastic hedge. 



Gold_euonymus



IT ABSOLUTELY GLOWS IN THE SUN!



100 SQUARE FOOT ITALIAN VILLA GARDEN




INGREDIENTS


SPLASHING FOUNTAIN.


BOXWOOD TOPIARIES.

LEMON TREES.

LAVENDER and JUNIPERS and ROSES.

FLAGSTONE PATHWAY.

And it's all in a patio twelve foot square.

This little condominium patio has all of the elements of a classic Italian garden.  Well, not counting the villa that should go with it.  It took one day, and under $2,000 to create.  Here's what we used:

Fountain:  This one is concrete, by Giannini, and cost $750.  But there are a lot of wall fountains available for a lot less.

Concrete bench:  Also by Giannini, matching the fountain.  But I have one almost like it that I got at Target for $60.

Lemon trees in pots:   I used Meyer lemons, which are smaller scale.  If you can't find those in your area, a Eureka will do just fine, kept pruned.  Underplant it with sweet alyssum and thyme.

Gravel mulch:  Classic gray pea gravel from Lowes.

Flagstone path:  Its really fun, in a small garden, to create a "path to nowhere."  This one curves around the air conditioning unit (concealed behind an airy Pittosporum tenufolium 'Marjorie Channon) to the back corner of the patio walls.  Its only seven feet long, but since the terminus is hidden, it seems longer.  And a wall mirror was added to visually double the size of the garden.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE BEFORE
Topiaries:  Green Mountain boxwood and Blue Point juniper do well in pots.

Climbing Iceberg Roses:  This white rose blooms almost all year round here in southern California.  Its low maintenance, disease resistant, and has delicate canes that don't take up much room.


Dwarf lavender:    'Hazel' spanish lavender (lavandula stoechas 'Hazel') and 'Munstead' English lavender (lavandula angustfolia 'Munstead) fit into the 1.5 foot wide borders.

Creeping fig:  These photos, taken soon after planting, don't show the creeping fig that we planted to cover the concrete walls.  But eventually the garden will be enclosed with dark green walls, hiding the new construction.



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