May Birth Flower: Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)

Lily of the Valley flowers newly opening

Convallaria majalis is starting to bloom away now, fittingly around my birthday, which makes sense since it is known as the birth flower for May.  Lily of the Valley represents humility, chastity, sweetness and happiness.  Did I mention all parts of the plant are poisonous?

An incredibly easy plant to grow; spreading slowly by rhizomes when it’s found a happy combination of soil and exposure–which in my garden is shady and dry.  In some parts of the country it’s considered weedy and invasive.

Freshly unfurled leaves glow in early evening sunshine

It’s propensity for dry shade makes it a good candidate for naturalizing under the dense cedar, hemlock and Doug firs that compete for soil moisture in my woodlands.  It seems that Lily of the Valley are better prepared than other herbaceous perennials to stand the competition from greedy trees when the soil texture is fine and rich with humus.  About 15 years ago I planted 10 or so pips, as the starts are called, and now the colony covers about 50 square feet, mingling with ferns and starflower (Trientalis borealis).   It’s been a modest growth, but pretty remarkable none-the-less considering they have been given absolutely no care–neither fertilizer nor water.

Sweetly scented lily of the valley–symbol of humility & sweetness

This is one of the diminutive May flowers delivered by April showers that can easily escape notice in the garden.  When they flower, I gather a fist full of the short racemes to appreciate indoors.  Their sweet fragrance is a bonus when they brighten my kitchen windowsill or bathroom sink in one of the tiny vases I have collected just for flowers whose charms loom large despite their small stature.

My friend Kathleen just showed me a variegated Lily of the Valley she finally found for sale after first seeing it in England–its a delight with its fittingly delicate stripes.  Hopefully hers will take as well as mine did and she’ll have some to share with me in a few years.  Perhaps that Convallaria can be easily shared among gardeners is how it came to represent happiness.

© Colleen Miko, 2012

GOT THE SPRING BLUES–PLANT FIX

Brunnera macrophylla 'Variegata'

Pulsatilla in a cloud of Mexican hair grass

The blues is alright in my garden.  If you like blue flowers (who doesn’t?), this is your season.  My woodland areas are in their glory right now, and many of the shade loving stars are blue flowering–Corydalis, Omphalodes, Brunnera, just to name a few.  These plants shine amongst the pastels of bleeding heart, Tiarella and hellebore.

For sunny beds, spring bulbs provide reliable blue hues, echoing the clear skies we enjoy after stormy Monday.  Muscari (grape hyacinth)  is one of the bulbs still doing it’s thing.  The Chionodoxa (glory of the snow), Pushkinia (striped squill) and Ipheion (star flower) finished up last week after a month of blooms.

perfect pair: Muscari and 'Angelina' sedum

In my mind, a spoonful of these saturated blues are the ultimate partner for bright daffodils and yellow flowering Epimedium.  Blue and yellow is my favorite garden color combination; throw in some white flowers, and that’s my idea of Eden

Blue flowers go with anything but combine particularly well with golden foliage.  In spring that means Sedum ‘Angelia’, gold leafed bleeding heart, the evergreen Carex with creamy yellow stripes and a backdrop of golden barberry fresh with new, acid-toned leaves.

Lathyrus vernus (spring vetchling)

As the muddy waters dry up, summer will bring a few blue flowers for punctuation, but the yellows, oranges and reds steal the scene.  By autumn, there will be blue again as monkshood, Lobelia, and plumbago accompany the blazing tones of deciduous shrubs and trees ready to transition to dormancy.

Ah spring garden! You have me preaching the blues.

© Colleen Miko, 2012

Poetry in your Pocket Day & Garden Poetry in my Blog

For National Poetry in your Pocket Day….

Marge Piercy is one of my favorite poets and not in the least because she’s a gardener.  Of course, she covers a wide range of topics in her verses, but when she writes of the natural world and of plants, there’s no disguising her love and connection.

THE LOVE OF LETTUCE by Marge Piercy

With a pale green curly
lust I gloat over it nestled
there on the wet earth
(oakleaf, buttercrunch, ruby, cos)
like so many nests
waiting for birds
who lay hard boiled eggs.

The first green eyes
of the mustard, the frail
wands of carrots, the fat
thrust of the peas: all
are precious as I kneel;
in the mud weeding
and the thinnings go into the salad.

The garden with crooked
wandering rows dug
by the three of us
drunk with sunshine has
an intricate pattern emerging
like the back of a rug.
The tender seedlings

raise their pinheads
with the cap of seed stuck on.
Cruel and smiling with sharp
teeth is the love of lettuce.
you grow out of last year’s
composted dinner and you
will end in my hot mouth.

To learn more about Marge Piercy–one of our greatest American poets and novelists, visit her website: http://margepiercy.com/

And don’t forget to put a poem in your pocket, or blog.

Gardener’s Yoga–Perennial Bookworm

Gardener’s Yoga: Bend & Stretch, Dig & Grow.  Veronica D’Orazio, 2006.  Sasquatch Books, 63 pages, 6.4” x 6.8”, $12.95 (paper).

Phew!  I’ve been away from garden chores too long.  Jumping into spring clean up after huddling inside through the worst of the winter weather has me sore.   We all know that gardening puts a strain on our bodies; a productive outdoor work day can often be measured by the amount of stiffness it generates.  And especially in spring when we’re rusty from winter “dormancy”, a good warm up before we get out and garden is imperative.

This is a short book with a total of 21 simple yoga poses—7 each for before, during and after gardening work.  The author explains how each pose might stretch and warm muscles used for different activities, such as weeding, and might help us alleviate soreness and potentially prevent injury.  This book can be used by just about anyone in preparation for any kind of physical activity as the poses are not complicated.  Tim Foss’ botanically themed illustrations are a colorful and useful accompaniment.

Yoga and gardening together–what could be better?!

© Colleen Miko, 2012

The Green Man Lives On as Symbol of Spring

Green Man from the Ca' d'Zan Ringling Mansion

The Green Man originated independently in many ancient cultures.  He is believed to be a pagan symbol representing spring, re-birth and the circle of life, though he adorns many Christian churches from the 11^th to 12^th centuries.  With a leafy face, the Green Man is especially prominent as an architectural feature on gothic and gothic revival exteriors and in modern times as garden ornament.  Green Men vary in appearance depending on the society and era from which they spring.  Medieval images tend to have a ghastly, unsettling gaze. As popular as ever, modern Green Man is usually relegated to garden plaques or fountains and often has a whimsical or at least a non-threatening expression.

Green Man from Little & Lewis

Last month’s marking of the vernal equinox reminded me that even as we go about our busy lives, 2012 is in its second quarter. Amazing how time flies!  Not a bad time to stop and contemplate the Green Man and the cycle of life (if the garden breaking into bloom hasn’t already caused you to do so).  If my past is any indication of the future, the next time I stop to think about the seasons, it will be summer solstice when I cheer the long hours of sunlight that allow me to garden into the late evening.

http://www.littleandlewis.com/  For more information on Little & Lewis’ garden art.

© Colleen Miko, 2012

Perplexing Plastics–Viva Verde

From a post of mine from May 16, 2011, pasta is a clever alternative to plastic or wood coffee stir sticks

Whenever I make a purchase, I try to be conscious of what I am buying and I am sure you are no different.  I come at the decision from so many angles–financial, ecological, political, aesthetic, and so on.  Is it within my budget, where was it made, with what materials and how long do I think it will last? I have become increasingly leery of purchasing items made of any kind of plastic.  I didn’t used to be—after all, plastics have so many advantages—lighter weight, less breakable than glass, won’t rust, tarnish or rot and come in a billion colors and shapes.

Recent life experiences have shaped my thinking about plastics and most have involved the ocean.  Living on the  Gulf of Mexico in 2010 was one.  I remember the acrid odor of burning oil on the evening shore breeze during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  I already knew the statistics on just how much oil we import to produce plastics, but this disaster brought it home.  Since then I’ve been even more aware of the unsustainable nature of plastics production.

During that year I had the daily indulgent pleasure of walking on the beach on Sand Key, Florida.  It was hard to appreciate the beauty sometimes when confronted with the sheer volume of our life’s conveniences washing up on the sand.  I would fetch an abandoned grocery bag to collect trash and while I cannot say how many full bags I collected, I can tell you, the vast majority of it was plastic. 

Just part of one day's "beachcombing"

One day I laid out all the trash I collected in a two mile walk, sorted it and counted it.  83 cigarette butts & cigar tips, 4 Band-Aids, 4 tampon applicators, 43 drink straws and drink straw wrappers, 3 lighters, 2 pairs sunglasses,  21 bottle caps, 14 bottle cap sealer rings, 1 disposable razor, 16 army men…on and on.   

What I realized as I collected trash day in and day out was that there are alternatives to what I was picking up.  Roll your own cigarettes, use canvas bags, bring your own water bottle, nix the drink straws, buy leather sandals, use wooden matches, use tampons with out applicator, and avoid over-packaged merchandise of all kinds.  I try to do these things, but of course, I’m still human.

In the coming months, as a regular part of my “Viva Verde” posts, I will be featuring some of the alternatives to plastic as I try to implement these changes in my own life.  I would love to hear from you about your own alternatives to plastic.

© Colleen Miko, 2012

Contain yourself! Terrariums made with Found Objects

Hanging terrarium created by Midnight Blossom in "Portholes and Time: Gardens in a Minor Scale" by Cultivar LLC for NW Flower & Garden Show

The terrarium craze started picking up steam several years ago and is now THE THING in container gardening.  How fabulous it is to see this art form coming back with a fresh spin.  Last month’s NW Flower and Garden Show was an indicator that the trend towards displaying with vintage and found objects has merged with interior plantings to great effect.  Display after display created by nurseries and other retailers, florists and in the container gardens, showcased an inventiveness and attention to detail that delighted attendees.  Running away with all the awards were the container garden vignettes featuring repurposed vessels and heavenly terrariums.

A sweet terrarium in Ravenna Gardens' vignette

Here are some examples from the NW Flower & Garden Show that are sure to whet your appetite for both vintage shopping and building your own unique terrarium. What’s old is new again, as they say.

© Colleen Miko, 2012

A charming display of old made "new" by Cultivar LLC and Midnight Blossom

www.cultivarllc.com

www.midnightblossom.com

Midnight Blossom’s blog also features terrariums.

www.ravennagardens.com

Plant some Winter Sunshine: Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’—PLANT FIX

Winter sunlight illuminates the flowers of Jelena Witch Hazel

Have you been spotting the outrageous Witch Hazel cultivars in bloom?  The crosses between the Japanese species Hamamelis japonica and the Chinese species Hamamelis mollis are knockouts.  I noticed many of them in the vignettes at the NW Flower & Garden Show and have been tracking them as they light up people’s gardens and public parks. 

Depending on where you are in Western Washington, yours could be finishing up its bloom, or breaking into it.  By far, my favorite of these cultivars is ‘Jelena’, which has orangey gold thread like petals and a sunshiny disposition at a time when the garden is foggy gray. 

Jelena espallied on trellis at Center for Urban Horticulture in Seattle

I have always admired the Witch Hazel hybrids that are trained as an espalier on the side of buildings at UW’s Center for Urban Horticulture.  What a stunning way to show off an ultra-cool, but sometimes hard to notice shrub.  Most of the time, as in my garden, the Witch Hazels are large, wide, vase-like shrubs.  Their size must be accounted for, and as such, they often end up where they may not receive much traffic in February.

Notice how right side of shrub disappears & left side stands out against dark background?

Another reason they sometimes escape notice despite their showy, bright blooms is that the filamented petals that hug the bare branches disappear against an open sky.  The espalier training on the CUH buildings is genius as it permits the plants to shine without taking up a lot of room, the flowers show up against the building, and of course, close inspection is permitted by pedestrians.  When in their more natural shrub form, they are best placed where they can be viewed against a background of evergreens so that the flowers stand out.  This is true of most winter bloomers.

North American native blooms as leaves start to turn golden in October

I have for years had the more mundane American native Witch Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana in my garden, which flowers quite discretely in autumn as its leaves turn yellow.  A plain Jane compared to the intermedia hybrids, it also lacks the fragrance of the showy crosses.  None the less, I love it for the fact that it doesn’t need to be irrigated and demands no care.  The hybrids of both the Japanese and the Chinese species, and the crosses are of similar disposition, though naturally if you intend to espalier one, be prepared for regular, careful pruning of these shrubs that are vigorous once established. 

In Western Washington, Witch Hazels appreciate full sun (best fall color) to part shade, plenty of room to thrive, and well drained, but not necessarily rich soils.   Deep watering the first two or three summers gets them established and ready to withstand summer drought thereafter.  More information on Jelena Witch Hazel and other H. x intermedia hybrids can be found at www.greatplantpicks.org

© Colleen Miko, 2012

Garden Show Inspiration from Chelsea–Perennial Bookworm

Best Garden Design: Practical Inspiration from the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show.  Chris Young, 2010.  Firefly Books, 224 pages, 9.5 x 7.8”, $35.00 (hardcover).

Has the Northwest Flower & Garden Show fired you up to start working on your landscape?  I know I’m inspired.  I came away with so many great ideas, thanks to the designers, speakers, nurseries and artists who worked their magic for us.  Are you left yearning for more of that kind of over-the-top creativity and out of the box design?  If so, you’ll enjoy this book.

Now you can take in the gardens at Chelsea without suffering the 6 days of crowds or the jetlag and sustain the garden show “high” from our fabulous Northwest show.  Since 1912, the RHS has sponsored fabulous garden theatre; this book showcases a broad diversity of recent vignettes. It’s a good read if you have done or plan to do a show garden, as the case studies address the scale and relationship of features within a display. 

The focus of the book is the real life “take away” and each case study specifically highlights features that might translate into actual landscapes which is important because the shows can sometimes have that “Don’t try this at home!” feel to them because of their groundbreaking nature.  The author is successful in examining what makes a display effective in total, but also dwells on the details. 

Since the individual elements within a whole vignette are often what ignite our imaginations, chapters full of photos of hardscape, water, lighting or art provide hundreds of novel ideas both grandiose and simple.

This read just might keep you going until next year’s Northwest Flower & Garden Show.  If not, you can always hit the largest garden show in the states: the 2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show March 4-11^th or the 2012 San Francisco Flower & Garden Show March 21-25^th which is the third largest. 

© Colleen Miko, 2012

NW Flower & Garden Show–Rain Barrels of Fun

A customized rain barrel collects roof water from a shed in Bremerton

The Northwest Flower & Garden Show opened Wednesday and I was thrilled to get out of the rain and enjoy some garden theatre at the WA State Convention Center in Seattle where inside it is already spring!  As always, the display gardens are meticulous, inventive, temporary works of art and the fragrance of flowering plants is heavenly.  I’ll feature some of the talented artists and garden trends from the show in upcoming blogs. 

I’ll be back at the show on Sunday to speak on the DIY stage at 5pm.  My presentation is Rain Barrels of Fun: Build a Rain Barrel and Save on your Water Bill.  If you’d like to learn how rain barrels make a difference to the environment and how easy they are to use and make, come on over.  I have a rain barrel and various downspout hook ups to show you, as well as a handout of resources for where to buy supplies, and the pros and cons of different barrel types and inflow and outflows.  Rain barrels are one of the easiest and least expensive Waterwise gardening techniques to employ—anyone can do it, for as little as $35.

Did you know that using a rain barrel can help reduce water pollution, prevent erosion, and recharge our groundwater?  And that plants prefer rain water to tap water?  Or that a 1200 square foot roof in Bremerton can shed 35,000 gallons of rain a year?  Come learn how to figure out how much water comes off of your roof–bet you’ll be surprised at the volume.  You could be catching some of that water for your summer garden. 

See you on Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 5pm on the DIY stage and enjoy the show.

 ©Colleen Miko 2012