The Smart Gardener, Being Firewise: Part II

 

This is a rewrite of an article I wrote for The Man in March, 2019. Looking back, I'm wondering if a better title might have been "The Smart Gardener." With last summer's fire season far behind us now, it's easy to forget just how awful it really was in
Central Washington. The smoke was so thick, Vince and I had to buy three Hepa filters just to breathe. We didn't take our boat out on the lake once. Eventually the smoke infiltrated all of the Pacific Northwest, so there was no place to escape. We weathered the hot summer inside. Of course, California was far worse and we all know how tragic that became. Suffice it to say, summer 2018 was no fun.

I'm thankful for the wet spring we have had thus far. As I mentioned in "Being Firewise, Part I," dry evergreen shrubs can be real fire torches, especially the popular arborvitae. Before I continue, let me say how much I love these evergreens. Well-groomed and not allowed to grow too tall, they beat back the wind and provide privacy naturally. We have a dozen or so on our property!

Sadly though, once ignited they burn extremely hot and fuel those dangerous fire brands (sparks) that travel in the wind during a raging wildfire. This is no different than burning sagebrush, which burns hot from the oil in its scale-like leaves. Furthermore, the dead growth that accumulates in the interior of arborvitae is perfect kindling.

There are approximately nine species of Arborvitae. Most of us know them as Thuga (those tall shrubs that grow 15 feet or more), Juniperus (the large low-growing shrubs), and Cedrus (these are trees). Best to keep this evergreen at a good distance from the house, should you choose to plant. Maintenance then becomes critical, especially during fire seasons.

The best rule of thumb is probably “awareness.” Know what to watch for in a fire if you have this evergreen. Don’t let your arborvitae or similar evergreens dry out. If one dies, please cut it down. This advice applies to all pines and firs. Meanwhile, clean out any dead leaves accumulated underneath the plant and power hose the interior to remove other dead residue.

Next, prevent your arborvitae from becoming too tall. Snip the new growth on top and the sides every spring. There are also ways to prune a too-tall Thuga without destroying its shape permanently. This can be done by cutting the top and tying the sides to form a cone shape on top, although it might take a couple of years to reshape.

Here’s a helpful link that explains: http://www.gardenatoz.com/what%27s-up!/big-mistake,-big-lesson/arborvitae-too-tall/#overall.

Other evergreens to avoid when planting near the house are pine, fir, larch, spruce, yew and hemlock. Shrubs include bitterbrush, sagebrush, mugo pine, and yew. Grasses include pampas grass and cheat grass. After hearing this recent advice at a Master Gardening class I admit I was pretty discouraged. In the end it helps to remember Voltaire’s famous saying, “perfect is the enemy of good.” Well, I will do just that, because we can only do so much. If nothing else, I can always plant flowers!

Happy Gardening Everyone!

Being Firewise. Protecting Your Home - And Your Neighbor's

My arborvitaes planted too close to house :(

Firewise Landscaping. Part 1. 
I recently attended a Master Gardening class in the Tri-Cities, where Desert Aire’s Garden club members (we call ourselves ‘Earth Angels’) and other gardeners received some excellent instruction on various topics. The keynote address, “Firewise Landscape,” really got my attention.

Firebrands flying in the wind during a fast-moving wildfire are the biggest fire threat here in Central Washington, we were told. Firebrands can travel fast, up to a mile in the wind, which makes all of us vulnerable in windy conditions. It's easy to imagine combustible materials on our properties catching fire easily. Some of us witnessed this firsthand last summer, as the wind pushed a wildfire perilously close to our homes. Later we saw on the news a devastating fire that destroyed an entire town and took lives in California.

So what exactly are firebrands? This was new terminology for me, but actually we've all seen these fire igniters before. Think of the sparks and hot embers that rise up in a large bonfire. These are firebrands. You know the kind of fire. Those large bonfires on the beach, or as some of us may remember, those bonfire rallies in high school just before a football game. I remember shaking the sparks from my hair over the years. I'd laugh and jump back when I got too close.

Today though in our ongoing dryer climate, fire has never been a more serious threat, which brings me back to the speaker's topic. Being firewise. Some of the smart things we can do to protect our property and that of our neighbor's.

1) Separate plants with noncombustible material (stone, gravel, rock, etc.) where possible. 
  
This includes keeping our yards tidy and well-pruned too. Where organic mulch is desired, keep this area far from house. Six feet or more is recommended.

2) Use firewise materials when building or remodeling (roof, siding, dual-pane windows, etc.).

Wood and vinyl fences are safest when connected to a house by a metal gate/section. One of the speakers, who was a fireman, explained that fencing can catch a home on fire. Vinyl structures (e.g., pergolas) can safely be a foot or so away, because in a fire, these melt as opposed to flaming up...but still get hot.

3) Create a defensible space around your home with three landscaping zones.

Zone 1:  
In this zone plants are placed 0-5 feet from house if you have flame-resistant siding, but 5-10 feet from house if you have non-flame-resistant siding. Plants should be low-flammable varieties (e.g., ground covers, vines, sod grasses, bulbs, perennial/annual herbaceous plants).

Zone 2:  
Plants are 10-30 feet from house. Plant well-spaced broadleaf evergreens, turf/non-turf grasses, deciduous shrubs/single trees. Mature trees are pruned up 10 feet and planted 30 feet from home. Avoid evergreens in this zone.

Zone 3: 
Plants are 30-100 feet from house. Keep yard debris and fuel at a distance in this case. Create firebreaks with low-growing ground covers, deciduous shrubs, and trees (pruned up), broadleaf evergreens, and non-turf grasses.

4) Lastly, consider the impact of your landscaping on neighbors.
Arborvitaes are not firewise, I’m sorry to say. I planted some too (we all did), but these are like torches in a wildfire. Keep these moist and correctly pruned. Yes, you can prune. Next post will explain.

So, now we have a goal at least. I know I came home a bit discouraged at first, but determined to make some positive changes. Next post, I’ll talk about ways to make arborvitaes and similar evergreens less fire-prone.  

HAPPY GARDENING EVERYONE!

Remember, “Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds.” (Gordon B. Hinckley)

Peanut Butter Isn't Just For Jelly

The peanut butter sandwich has been around forever. From from what I can tell, it has long been an American tradition. And since March is National Peanut Month...

Believe it or not, peanut butter was once a delicacy in the United States, and fresh vegetables were very much a part of the sampling. In the early 1900s, peanut butter could be enjoyed at elegant New York City tearooms, where it was often served on crackers with pimentos, nasturtium, cheese, and fresh celery and watercress.

The creation of peanut butter itself dates back to 1896, when Good Housekeeping (a popular magazine at the time) suggested that women grind their peanuts into a spread and use on bread. Later that year, another magazine, Table Talk, published a recipe for the peanut butter sandwich. Few though enjoyed these sandwiches, as peanut butter was mostly a delicacy of the privileged and rich.

It wasn't until the late 1920s that peanut butter became affordable and more available to the general public. It was only a matter of time before it became a kitchen staple, helped by the fact that children loved peanut butter and jelly. During WWII, the peanut butter and jelly sandwich was even added to U.S. military rations. Peanut butter had come a long way from the tearooms of New York City.

Today peanuts can be purchased in bulk at some grocery stores and ground on site, but most of us buy our peanut butter in the jar. 

So here are some of the sandwiches I have made over the years: Peanut butter and...

- jelly (jam, preserves, marmalade)
- honey
- pickles
- bananas
- potato chips
- brown sugar

Wanting to include more fresh vegetables (and fruits) in my diet, I tried the following:

- Peanut butter and sliced apples (with peelings) and sliced almonds. (really liked)
- Peanut butter and cucumbers. (liked)
- Peanut butter and left-over salad (without dressing). Hmm.... this was a bit of a stretch.
The salad had leaf lettuce, kale, yellow pepper, broccoli and carrot slaw, dried cranberries and walnuts. (just okay; too messy)

Here are more suggestions:
(note to daughter: no peas! 😏)
 
-zucchini

-green, yellow, and red pepper

-onion

-avocado
- parsley
- grated carrots
- mint
- spinach and other greens
- pineapple slices
- sliced strawberries
- blueberries
- other berries and fruits

And the tearoom list:
- pimento
- nasturtium
- cheese
- celery
- watercress

From online, others have tried:

- raisins
- bacon
- chocolate
- maple syrup
- hazelnut-chocolate spread
- marshmallows

Nuts would be good too. Or... try sprinkling ground chia seeds and flax seeds on your peanut butter for added fiber.

How about you? Do you have a favorite?

 [History Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peanut_butter_and_jelly_sandwich].

Hydroponic Gardening: A Winter Refuge for Gardeners

Gardening in the closet!

Hydroponic Gardening. Uh...that's produce grown without soil, for those who don't know. I certainly didn't at first. The good news is you can grow vegetables inside your home over the winter, which has hung on far too long in my opinion.

You'll have to forgive my obsession with winter, but with snow drifts still deeper than my boot tops and snow again the other night that left the roads icy, I'm a bit grumpy in my desire for spring. I need a convincing few days of warm sunshine but of course, it will come eventually. And Saturday I attend an all day master gardening class with three other Earth Angels. Winter doesn't stand a chance!

Meanwhile.... back to my winter gardening project. My interest in hydroponic gardening really began with a community course taken years ago on how growing food in water atop a fish aquarium. No soil, just water, grow lights, and best of all--built in fish fertilizer. It sounded perfect at the time, but without a basement or a spare room (or an aquarium) to set up this operation, the idea fell to the wayside as impractical.

Thanks to a new hydroponic kit ("Aero Garden"), a gift from my daughter at Christmas, I now have salad at my fingertips. Set up was easy. My kit came with seed pods, fertilizer, and LED grow lights. Add water, set the timer, and you are reminded when to add water and feed. Easy peasy. I’m growing lettuce, parsley, and dill, but you can grow other vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, as well as flowers.

One problem at the onset was the extremely bright light. The seedlings require 16 hours of light, which in my case destroyed the ambiance of the room at night. Easily solved... I now have vegetables doing quite well in a spare closet. 

To sum, here are the disadvantages: ‘too bright’ lighting, costly setup (although I didn't buy the kit), the need for electricity, and the occasional replacement when LED lights burn out. Some would include power consumption, which is high in large scale operations, but with only six seed pods in my unit, I haven’t noticed an increase in our bill.

Advantages are obvious: ready-to-pick salad ingredients when store-bought produce runs out, zero pesticides, disease free plants (so far), and high yield. I'm going on three months, which is about max for one seed pod. I’ll most likely keep this going over the summer too, as lettuce tends to bolt here in the heat.

Happy Gardening everyone! 

 
“I like gardening – it’s a place where I find myself 

when I need to lose myself.” (Alice Sebold)

Fairy Gardens - Playtime in the Garden

A good deal on Garden ornaments at the Dollar store!

 

Fairy gardens have become quite popular with gardeners. I know of at least one plant nursery that offers lessons, complete with miniature hobbit houses, cute mushroom trees,
and like. I keep thinking I want to do this with my daughter and granddaughter someday. But if you're like me, you may think a scheduled class is too hard to fit in time wise. No worry. You can easily do this on your own when convenient. First, pick a location and think about what you'd like to do. Indoors is easier to manage, but outdoors works too. 

For a great herb garden, fill a large shallow (depth) pot with soil and plant some moss on top (real or fake) to create a green fairyland meadow. Then gather your plants and ornaments. If "hobbitville" isn't your thing, try a more modern setting. Spend anywhere from $1 each at the Dollar store to $15 or more at sophisticated stores, and you will find the perfect collection to suit your personality. Use your imagination and have some fun. Tell a story! 

As I've always wanted a raised kitchen garden, it was only natural for me to go in this direction. After searching some online, I found a nice free-standing garden planter made of cedar that fit in the space perfectly between our back porch and heat pump/air conditioner. Vince offered to put it together. Since I wanted to plant herbs I made sure that the interior finish was food safe. I found an oil to rub in for waterproofing and protection of the wood, and then lined it with food-safe plastic. Holes were drilled in the bottom to drain excess water. I also waterproofed the exterior with appropriate stain and sealer.  

Snow on last year's kitchen garden.  "Waiting for spring"

 

I've already enjoyed one season. Located next to the back porch, fresh herbs have never been more convenient for those sauces and salads I sometimes make. There is even a small strawberry plant growing. Because the planter is located on the east side of the house next to the driveway, lack of shade was a problem at first. The planter heats up rather fast on hot days. Remembering the driftwood pieces Vince and I had recently collected at the river, the problem was solved by crisscrossing the wood across the planter. It gave instant shade and the perfect habitat for a fairy garden. 

Since I had filled the planter with a lot of plants, I didn't bother adding moss. My one hobbit house and tiny mushroom tree blended right in. By summer's end they were buried some, but I kept pulling them out of the "herbal jungle" and positioning things. The little girl in me enjoyed this so much. Yes, grown women like to play too :)

Interested in creating a fairy garden? Try planting one as an herb garden. It’s not only fun. You’ll have fresh spices to enjoy almost all year long. My sage and lemon thyme have both survived our cold winter. I also grew fennel, chives, Mexican tarragon, cinnamon basil, and Greek oregano. The fennel was perhaps too big for the planter (you live and learn) so I will plant in the ground next time around. 

Underneath the planter I have peppermint growing in a pot in the shade. More peppermint has sprouted from there on its own and is spreading quite well, which I don't mind at all. Spiders like shade but hate peppermint. I'm watching, but it looks like I no longer have to spray for those scary black widows under the porch. 

Imagine instead the savory aroma of herbs greeting you every time you step on the back porch. You can dry them, saute them, add to salads and sauces, and munch on fresh whenever you like. Just think how healthy you and your family will be. My neighbor tells me that fresh sage is delicious sautéed in butter. Oh, it makes my mouth water to think of all the possibilities. 

Happy Gardening Everyone!

"I am more myself in a garden than anywhere else on earth.” (Doug Green) 

Gardening in Winter: Not So Boring Plant Propagation

Plant Propagation. Not as boring as it sounds! As snow fell today and thoughts of early spring vanished, I stared at the tiny garden growing on my kitchen window sill. Winter need not be an obstacle to gardening, I thought. My African violet is finally growing after months of waiting. 

The mother plant (a gift from my mother) had nearly died. After a bit of research, I tried generating a new plant from a single leaf (stem 1-1/2 inches long) by placing it in a glass of water to form roots. The procedure is not for the impatient soul, but it works. Roots do eventually form. After the roots form, place the leaf (with roots dangling) in potting soil and keep moist. 

I started the process in September and it was several months before I saw green growth. It may be several months more before yellow flowers appear. Some gardeners place the leaf stem directly in soil, although I prefer rooting in water first. Something about seeing roots form gives me hope. 

Besides the African violet, try plant propagation with these houseplants: peperomia, episcia, hoya and sedum. Methods vary too. For instance, try a “split-vein” method with one of the leaves. Veins are cut on the underside of the leaf, which is then placed (cut side down) on top of soil to root. 

“Leaf-bud cuttings” can be taken too. In this case, each node on the stem is a possible cutting. These short stem pieces can then be planted in soil (½-1 inch deep). Try with trailing vines, for example, philodendron, clematis and grape ivy, also jade and the popular rubber plant. 

“Cane cuttings” with one or two nodes works well for Chinese evergreen, dumbcane, and similar thick-stemmed plants. 

Lastly, try “root cuttings” from woody plants. Simply cut a root section and plant. Try with lilac, sumac, rose, raspberry, and similar. 

Happy Gardening Everyone. 

“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.” (Claude Monet)