November 1 , 2012
Get the story on understory trees and plants
Lavender and ash grey , what a great duette ! But this hoverfly was n’t zoom in to admire ‘ Helen von Stein ’ lamb ’s ears ; it was going for lunch on the aster ( Aster oblongifolius ) . Thanks , Meredith O’Reilly , for cue me !
The fall - blossom aster fall in almost ever - bloom Blackfoot daisy that joins every seasonal comrade .
When we dug out grass last spring along our new hideout path bottom and laid down paper and mulch , I planned to fill the gaps this fall .
Well , the nonmigratory aster and ‘ Country Girl ’ mums jumped in to do the job for now ! I ’ll separate them when they go dormant this winter to advertize out their performance . At the far back is my latest acquisition , Manfreda x ‘ Silver Leopard ’ orManfreda maculosa‘Silver Leopard . ’ In any case , its over-embellished spots and silverish foliage will accent this bed nicely .
More on this project next calendar week and what we ’ve done about the mourning band / sess on the right side !
Bees ( and hummingbird ) also manoeuver for Pink poove sandstorm ( Calliandra eriophylla ) .
This one ’s not in my garden since it needs lots of sun and super drainage . But for those of you with that combo , Daphne makes this 3 ’ marvelous perennial herPick of the Week .
You ’ll also see Red Fairy Duster or Baja Fairy Duster ( Calliandra californica ) , evenly busy attracting pollinators all over town .
Mockingbirds and other berry - eaters are seeing cerise , too , as our aboriginal hollies satisfy their bellies .
My yaupon holly still suffer evidence of a happy family raised near my front doorway this spring . I suspect the mail carrier get honkytonk - bombed as often as we did by wakeful parents .
Since understory tree should not be overlooked in our gardens , this week Tom gather with Meredith O’Reilly , Texas Master Naturalist , NWF Habitat Steward , andTravis Auduboncommittee member .
Along with ocular charm under big shade tree , Meredith excuse how the understory is important for nesting , food , and cover for small birds and Sung fowl . One of her favorites is evergreen Goldenball leadtree .
Another on her inclination is Carolina ribwort . This one ’s growing under an Arthur Robert Ashe raetam in Liberty Hill .
Here ’s her listthat includes diverse situation , include Fragrant mimosa , Spicebush ( larval food for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly stroke ) , scarlet / red buckeye , and many more !
On Meredith ’s blog , Great Stems , tour her progress as a native plant gardener in her urban home ground .
Her stunning picture taking also takes us along on her voyages to natural configurations to come across both plant and wildlife and how they interact . Meredith ’s also available for lecture for all age , though she certainly live how to engage nestling in wildlife activities through her oeuvre with schools and Scout troop !
Since NOW is the best time to plant raw tree diagram , Daphne explainswhy you want to establish them this surrender and former winter .
It ’s also time to land in household industrial plant that you ’ve summered outside . You ’ll desire to gently spray them down with water and even drench their soil with a unaccented solution of neem or orange crude oil and water ( 1 tablespoonful to a gallon of water ) so you do n’t play in some Modern friends , too ! John Dromgoole cautions to use just VERY LITTLE to stave off harming antecedent hairs . Another steer from John : when you repot , place some old window screen in the bottom to keep insect from come in through the drainage gob .
This hebdomad on CTG , John shows howto stand off ordered series , red spider mites , and mealybug on your houseplants . you’re able to also use these tips on garden plants .
On tour , nonmigratory understory tree diagram and other aboriginal plants regulate Christine and Pete Hausmann ’s design in their garden , Lazy Acres . See their story of how they merge three ( now four ! ) contemporaries with respect for the land .
Until next week , happy planting ! Linda
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