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Experienced gardeners are well aware of this reality and have even come to enjoy the ephemeral nature of their outdoor spaces.
gardening experts
If you have a shady spot in the garden, chances are it warrants a columbine (or many!). The native species and their cultivars, among others, brighten shaded zones with intricate blooms in bold and soft shades, including those prized, tranquil blues. The flowers are also a beacon for hummingbirds and other pollinators. Enjoy versatile columbines to add to your shade collection with gardening expert Katherine Rowe.Like birds in flight as they sway in the breeze, columbine flowers delight the shady border in spring and early summer. Their scientific name (from the Latin aquila for “eagle”) reflects the resemblance of their spurred petals to an eagle’s talon. The common name columbine derives from the Latin “dove.” Their pendant blooms with spurs, petals, and stamens suspend delicately from slender stems. Their easy, effortless grace and light floral forms bring detailed ornament with a rugged perennial foundation. Columbines emerge after cold winters with fresh leaves and soon-to-follow flowers. The nodding blooms range from rich red and yellow to soft blues, purples, and pinks. Hummingbirds frequent the tubular spurs for nectar, and birds feed on the seeds in the fall. In addition to the flowers are attractive compound leaves, lobed and mounding. With species native to North America and their many varieties, columbine flowers are fit for woodlands, rock gardens, cottage gardens, and native, pollinator, and wildflower plantings. They grow beautifully in the shaded border and in pots, adding high ornament and delicate appeal. While they tolerate varying exposures, the following columbine varieties brighten the shade garden with their own undeniable style.Columbine belongs to the ranunculus family (Ranunculaceae) with buttercups, clematis, hellebore, and larkspur. They grow well in climates with cold winters and mild summers, with about 60 to 70 Aquilegia species in the northern hemisphere. Flowers have five sepals (forming the calyx), interior petals, and showy spurs. The short-lived perennials naturalize in their optimal growing conditions through underground stems and reseeding. Species columbine varieties grow easily from seed and reseed in optimal conditions (but aren’t weedy or aggressive). Direct sow in late winter or in the fall to overwinter and provide cold stratification. Columbine is a cold-climate specimen and benefits from a cold period of 30 days or more to germinate. Scatter seeds on the soil surface and cover lightly with soil. With a natural habitat along woodland edges, clearings, and riverbanks, columbine grows best in moderately moist, well-drained soils. The hearty and adaptable perennials tolerate varying conditions, but regular moisture shows the most vigorous growth and flowering. They thrive in dappled shade, though many adapt to varying exposures. Protect them from intense afternoon sun to avoid burn. The benefit of light shade also extends flowering. Columbine is semi-evergreen and retains its basal leaves unless temperatures are too cold or too hot, when plants enter dormancy until temperatures level off. Cut back worn or tired foliage in mid to late summer for a fresh flush, and leave it standing for its handsome greenery until heavy frost. As a bonus, foliage is deer and rabbit-resistant.
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A bounty of produce can be had if you start growing butternut squash! Our in-depth guide reveals everything you need for great harvests.Nothing quite signals the arrival of autumn as a steaming bowl of butternut squash soup. A type of winter squash, it grows during the spring and summer but will last well into winter on a pantry shelf. Butternut squash can be made into any number of dishes, from being roasted and added to tacos to pureed and made into pie. For any gardener or home cook growing butternut squash, patience is key. Like all squashes, butternuts are native to the Americas and have a long history there. Butternut squash is a modern variety of winter squash, as squashes have been cross-pollinating and creating new varieties for millennia! Today’s butternut squash was developed by Charles Legget of Stow, Massachusetts in 1944. Since then, even more variations have been grown from this one type, including miniature versions such as the Honeynut squash and Butterbaby. Squash plants produce incredibly nutritious fruits, and butternut squashes are full of vitamins A, B6, C & E while low in calories. The seeds, when eaten, are even thought to be useful in calming the nerves. With a wide range of uses, and a long storage time, you’ll find many gardeners and homesteaders treat this as a staple in their pantry.
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When winter rolls around and leaves are long gone from the trees, many wildlife have difficulty finding enough food. Fortunately, many trees continue to feed birds and mammals throughout the winter. In this article, gardener Briana Yablonski shares multiple types of trees you can plant to support wildlife. American Persimmon Often found in mixed hardwood plantings, neighborhoods, and parks, the American persimmon is the native cousin of the frequently cultivated Asian persimmon. The fruits of the American species are much smaller than those produced by the Asian cultivars, but they have a similar flavor and texture. When the fruits are unripe, they have an unpleasant, astringent flavor. When they ripen, they drop from the tree and cover the ground with a layer of sugary goo. Critters of all kinds enjoy the sweet flesh in the late fall and winter. They can grow up to eighty feet, but they have a slow growth rate. You can identify the persimmons by their blocky gray bark. American Crabapple While crabapples are often the last choice when humans are choosing apples to eat, turkeys, raccoons, deer, and other critters love munching on the small, tart fruits. The apples mature in the fall, but ripe fruits often remain on the ground throughout the winter. The crabapple tree’s small size makes it an excellent choice for yards and areas with limited space. Since they grow in an attractive upright form and have beautiful springtime flowers, they fit in well with residential landscaping while also benefiting wildlife. However, you should be aware the fruits often fall from them and can make a mess if left uneaten. White Oak As ecologist and entomologist Doug Tallamy points out, oaks are crucial for supporting insects and, therefore, birds. That’s because they serve as host plants for more than 500 species of moths and butterflies during the growing season. White oaks continue to feed wildlife in the fall thanks to their calorie-rich acorns. Around 150 species of animals consume the nuts, including raccoons, nuthatches, deer, bluejays, and foxes. These critters will eat many types of acorns, but nuts from white oaks tend to be some of their favorites. Since this species is native to much of the eastern US, it’s a great choice in this region. They can grow well in various habitats as long as the soil is well-draining. Just be aware that they are slow-growing, like most oaks. Fireberry Hawthorn This hawthorn species grows in much of North America, including the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and Rocky Mountain West. The plants grow as large shrubs or small trees in open clearings, forest edges, and other environments. These are members of the rose family and produce small fruits known as haws. The haws of fireberry hawthorn are bright red when ripe and appear in clusters. The fruit typically ripens in the beginning to middle of fall and feeds wildlife including birds and small mammals. Pin Oak If you want to enjoy the benefits of oaks but want a smaller plant than a white or red oak, the pin oak is one good option. These still produce an upright shape, but they typically max out at around 70 feet tall. The plants have a unique branching pattern that many people find beautiful. They grow best in moist yet well-draining soil but can adapt to dry locations. Pin oaks are popular choices for landscape plantings due to their tolerance of transplanting and relatively quick growth rate. The trees grow about two feet per year, making them one of the fastest-growing oak species. Plus, they’re native to much of the eastern United States. Along with supporting many species of caterpillars, pin oaks also produce acorns that birds and mammals love. Animals often stockpile the nuts and continue to feed on them throughout the winter. Just be aware that pin oaks won’t produce acorns until they’re at least 15 years old. River Birch Many gardeners know the river birch for its beautiful peeling bark and slender branches covered with green leaves. It’s known as the only birch species that grows well in low-lying elevations in southern states. However, I’ve found that fewer plant lovers are aware of the tree’s ability to provide for wildlife. They provide year-round cover for wildlife, especially birds that frequent the lakes and rivers these trees often grow beside. The small seeds that appear on the tree’s female catkins also provide food for birds including grouse, sparrows, and chickadees. Songbirds and small mammals often eat the seedless male catkins in the winter. If you want to plant a river birch, note that they prefer moist soil. Although they can tolerate some heat, they typically don’t fare well in hot, dry conditions. However, the cultivar ‘Dura Heat’ was bred to better resist heat and drought. American Holly Although you may think of holly as a small to medium shrub, American holly plants can grow into large specimens. The plants have smooth, gray bark and thick, evergreen leaves with spiked tips. The trees produce red berries in the fall. Since the berries don’t fall from them once they’re ripe, they remain on the plants into the winter. Birds including cedar waxwings, American robins, and quail eat the berries. However, humans should avoid consuming the toxic fruits. American holly can grow in pretty much any type of light, but they often remain smaller when grown in full shade. Trees that receive more light will also produce more berries. The plants are native to much of the eastern central United States, so they’re natural choices for these areas. Black Cherry There are many different types of cherry trees native to the United States, and all of them provide small fruits that appeal to wildlife, ranging from songbirds to bears. The black cherry is native to much of the eastern half of the United States as well as portions of the southwest. It’s the largest native cherry, so it produces more fruit than smaller cherry species. In the spring, they produce elongated clusters of small white flowers. The flowers give way to small red fruits that turn black by late summer or early fall. They often remain around throughout the fall. Not only do black cherry trees provide fruits in the colder months, but their foliage also supports hundreds of insects that feed birds. Mammals also browse on tender twigs and stems. Scarlet Hawthorn If you want a smaller tree that produces fruits in the fall, scarlet hawthorn is one good option. They only grow up to 25 feet tall and work well in small yards and residential areas. However, be aware that the stems sport long thorns, and the springtime flowers have an unpleasant fragrance. Scarlet hawthorn is native to much of the eastern US, where it grows in numerous types of well-draining soil. They produce small fruits that ripen to deep red in the early fall. The fruits remain on the trees into the early winter and are consumed by birds. Eastern Red Cedar When you think of cedar trees, their scale-like evergreen foliage probably comes to mind. However, the plants also produce small blue structures known as juniper berries. These aren’t true berries but rather female cones. Both birds and mammals feed on the cones throughout the fall and winter. Eastern red cedar grow best in full sun, so it’s best to plant them in an open area rather than near other trees. They can tolerate a variety of soil types but don’t grow well in constantly moist soil. Smooth Sumac Although some people consider it a weedy tree, smooth sumac plays an important role in the ecosystem. It thrives in disturbed areas and poor soils where other trees and shrubs struggle, making it an important part of erosion control. Since the trees grow from suckers, they can form large colonies and survive drought, fire, and other environmental challenges. Smooth sumac grows as a small tree or large shrub with compound leaves containing large, slender leaflets. In the fall, the leaves turn bright crimson. Flower clusters appear on the tops of the trees in the summer and turn to conical clusters of red rupes in the fall. The fruit clusters remain on the plants throughout the fall and into the winter. Grouse, squirrels, chickadees, rabbis, quail, nuthatches, and other critters eat the fruits.
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Do you want to grow the largest tree in the world? If your landscape has 30-60 square feet of open space and lots of summer moisture, you can plant your own Giant Sequoia to reach up to 150 feet in your lifetime! In this guide, garden expert Logan Hailey explains how to grow this gigantic living fossil. If you want to grow the largest tree in the world, you can plant your own Giant Sequoia in USDA zones 6 through 8. These breathtaking giants are native to California, and their species has lived on Earth for millions of years. Only about 75 wild groves remain scattered along the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in central California, where they once dominated the landscape until logging and more severe wildfires killed huge stands. Still, these are some of the most fire-resistant and climate-resilient trees on the planet. Amazingly, these living fossils can grow up to 150 feet in just 50 years! They are cold and heat-tolerant, growing around the U.S. and the world as ornamentals and timber resources. You don’t need to live in California to grow a redwood, but you do need to ensure the proper spacing and conditions for this rapid-growing conifer to thrive. Let’s dig into everything you need to know about growing your own gigantic redwood! When dinosaurs roamed the Earth about 70 to 180 million years ago, gigantic conifers ruled North America and Europe. Often called the redwoods, most Sequoia relatives have gone extinct, but two primary species remain: Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). Another smaller relative, the Dawn Redwood, is widely cultivated and grows wild inChina. While Coast Redwoods are the tallest trees in the world, Giant Sequoias are the largest by volume. The largest known specimen is nicknamed “The General Sherman Tree,” and grows in Sequoia National Park near Mount Whitney in Central California. This tree is over 270 feet tall and 30 feet in diameter. Scientists estimate that it is about 3,800 years old! Though you may not see its tremendous heights in your lifetime, planting a Giant Sequoia tree sapling in your landscape could yield 30-60 or more feet of growth in a few decades and up to 150 feet in 50 years. The Giant Sequoia tree—also known as giant redwood, Sierra redwood, or Sequoiadendron giganteum—is one of three remaining redwood species in the world. This coniferous tree grows 200-300 feet tall and about 10 to 20 feet in diameter, withstanding centuries of wildfires and climate changes. Native to the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Central California, Giant Sequoias are the largest trees by volume and are now cultivated in many parts of the world as ornamental and timber species. The last remaining native wild groves are the western slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. This species is specifically adapted to mild climates with humid winters and dry mild summers at elevations between 4,000 and 8,500 feet. However, there is evidence that ancestors of the Giant Sequoias were once widespread across the Northern Hemisphere. They are now cultivated around the world, including parts of the Pacific Northwest, Southern United States, South America, Europe, and Japan. Nursery-grown saplings are the quickest and easiest way to establish a Giant Sequoia, but you can also grow this tree from seeds or cuttings. The seeds can be collected from mature redwoods (70+ years old) in the fall, but they have very low germination rates. Cuttings are best taken from younger trees under 10 years old, so your decision between seed or cutting may depend on whether or not properly-aged trees grow in your area. These nuances also explain why purchasing from a reputable nursery is ideal. The Jonsteen Company’s SequoiaTrees.com offers live tree seedlings for shipment. If you wish to grow an ornamental cultivar like ‘French Beauty’ or ‘Albospica,’ you may need to find a specialized landscaping nursery.
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"This is a really good salmon recipe from Woman's World magazine. Full of all wonderful Mediterranean ingredients."
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All you need is 5 ingredients and 10 min prep work for the BEST and EASIEST mashed potatoes ever! A must for the holidays!
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"This is a great way to use leftover cooked turkey or chicken. It's also an easy one dish casserole that everyone in the family enjoys. The recipe started life as a Cooking Light recipe in a recent issue. I made modifications to suit our taste."
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Mac and cheese at it’s finest! So creamy, so rich + so amazing yet it’s so much healthier than traditional mac and cheese!
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