Ideas
Hort Notes, September, 2010

by Margaret Stacey

September Winds- The month of season change. We will miss the long days, warm nights, the daily color change, the fragrances.

China: Yes, I am in Nanjing China. I actually saw blue sky one day. The forests of trees planted four years ago are more or less alive, but the trees are very short.
They actually have hoses now to water, rather than workers with barrels and soup ladles. The excellent Chinese garden landscaping is beautiful but like all else in China it is the maintenance that is lacking.
 
Back in the USA..
Divisions- Peonies, time to plant or transplant plant in shallow beds. Divide mature phlox into thirds. Divide lily of the valley.

Slow down- Back off on fertilizer or heavy pruning as part of the fall hardening off. Let shrubs, perennials, trees finish their growth cycle without interference.

Fruit trees- The heavy fruiting of apples and pear trees is due to last year’s weather. The stress of this year is unlikely to produce an abundant crop
next year,

Resume planting of trees and shrubs. No fear of freeze. Warm soil, reduced sun glare, months before dormancy make for good planting conditions

Fall arrangements- Start looking for intriguing seed pods for arrangements.

Turf-Time to improve the lawn, patches now will enhance the lawn now and in the future. 

Fall flowers to look for coreopsis, aster, hemerocallis “rosy returns”, Something different?  kalimeris- daisy like flower, mukdenia- ground cover with crimped colorful leaves, sagina- soft Irish moss.

Roses, Continue to care for them. Roses should bloom as well now as in June.
Savor the other rose month.

Vegetables- Time to plant cool weather crop seedlings. Broccoli, spinach et. al.
Time to use bumper crops in freezable sauces, casseroles etc. Look for recipies for sun dried tomatoes, dried peppers and dried herbs.

Soil enrichment: As the perennials and annuals die back, top dress or turn   mulches, composts. into the soils.
 
Nature Dad - Dan Kreisberg

Winter at Bailey Arboretum


Winter is a great time to visit the Arboretum.  Take advantage of every snowstorm, big or small.  Snow gives you the chance to see things you’d never notice in other seasons.  Even without it the woods and ponds are beautiful in the pale winter light.

Tracks:
The snow reveals the stories of the animals that live at Bailey.  Every night they move around looking for food, shelter and water.   Follow some tracks and see if you can figure out where the animal spent the night before.  Where were they going? What might they have been looking for?

Other Signs:
Keep your eyes open for piles of nuts or pinecones.  Can you find any twigs that have been snipped off?  Do you see any animal droppings?  Listen for the birds and squirrels rustling in the trees. You can see nests now that their branches are bare.  The more you pay attention, the more you will see.

Winter Trees:
You can learn a lot about trees in the winter.  It is much easier to see the distinct shape of each kind of tree and focus on its bark.  Pick a common tree and see if you can identify others like it by their bark.  Test each other by closing your eyes and asking a partner to put your hands on a tree.  Can you figure out whether it is “your” kind of tree or something different?

Ice:
Look for patterns in the ice.  Step on ice in a puddle and watch how it cracks. Slide sticks across the pond and see whose stick goes the farthest.

Activities:
Photo Scavenger Hunt:  Take a picture with a digital camera while your children or other companions have their eyes closed.  With the picture in hand, have them look for the spot where you took the picture.

Winter Animal Survival:  Have your children pick an animal that lives in Bailey Arboretum.  Have each of them mark out a “habitat” for their animal.  Hide some “food” for the animal that your children can find.  They may want to make a shelter for their animal as well.

Just taking a walk in the winter woods will take you into a wonder-filled place.  Children will find a lot to do if you just let them.