Allergy Season in March? Could it be that Silver Maple Tree in my yard?

 Acer saccharinum

One of the most common trees you may encounter near water is known as Silver Maple. Readily identifiable in Summer by it’s leaf color in which the upper side is green while the underside is a ‘sliver’ or gray color. This feature makes for a beautiful site on a breezy summer day.

Clusters of small flowers will form in early Spring, February to May depending on location, and are roughly 1/8”-1/4” diameter.  Flowers are green/yellow in color.  Trees can be either gender, or have both (dioecious) and even change it’s gender over time.

Flowers are primarily wind pollinated, although some bees do visit.  But not long after pollination of female flowers seeds will begin to form.  Seeds are encapsulated within a ‘wing’ that spins as it falls to the ground.  Two wings are attached together to form a pair.

Self-seeding

Mature Silver Maples will drop thousands of seeds each Spring.  These will readily germinate if they are kept moist.  So, any flower bed with moist soil will likely have new trees each Summer.  They are easy to deal with in that they are not deeply rooted, but there could be many of them depending on conditions.  

The purpose of samara fruits, as with all fruits, is to disperse seeds. The plant reproduces by making seeds, but those seeds need to find their way into the ground so they can grow. Seed dispersal is a big part of flowering plant reproduction. Samaras do this by spinning to the ground, sometimes catching the wind and traveling farther. This is ideal for the plant because it helps it spread and cover more territory with new plants.

Silver Maple leaves are opposite (paired) along branches.  Leaves are up to 6” long by 4” wide, with deeply divided lobes with serrated margins.  Often there are secondary lobes contained within the primary.  Leaves have fairly long stems (petioles) that are 3-5” long.  In Autumn the leaves will turn a yellow color.

Seaside Goldenrod - a late summer nectar & pollen bearing tubular disk flowers

 A fellow Long Island gardener from Port Washington sent me 4 types of seeds in an envelope that she harvested off her native garden plants. The 1st of the 4 just germinated from sowings I started indoors on March 9th. - 12 days ago. Seaside Goldenrod - Solidago sempervirens

There are many different types. Perennial goldenrod is tolerant of standing water, drought, and saline soils.The flower head has tubular disk flowers in the center and ray flowers, these often strap-shaped, around the periphery. The numerous small flowers of goldenrods are filled with nectar. Those many small flowers are filled with pollen, too. This means the late summer flowers attract a wide variety of nectar-sipping, pollen-eating bees, beetles, butterflies, moths, flies, and wasps. The seaside goldenrod found along Eastern Shores of Long Island provide refueling stations for monarch butterflies during fall migration. Mine has non invasive rhizomes, but spreads many seeds. It's native to eastern America. https://www.gardenia.net/compare.../solidago_--_goldenrods

Mason Bee Cocoons brought home yesterday, Saturday, March 18 2023

 Mason bees are powerhouse pollinators, visiting many flowers in a short amount of time and carrying enormous amounts of pollen on their bodies. Studies have shown that 250 to 300 mason bees can do the equivalent work of 90,000 honey bees (Apis). Bees in the genus Osmia fashion their nests in preexisting holes and cavities – some natural, such as hollow plant stems, while other times they rely on cracks and crevices in stone and brick (masonry) walls. At least one species, Osmia bicolor, constructs its brood cells in abandoned snail shells! Mason bees mark the entrances to their nests with a scent that is unique to them.

Say hello to a Mason Bee. Mason bees in the genus Osmia are a diverse group of solitary bees known for their important role in pollination. With over 300 species worldwide Osmia bees are distributed across all continents except Antarctica. There are over 100 species of mason bees in North America! They are commonly found in a variety of habitats ranging from deserts to forests. As cavity nesters, Osmia construct their nests using natural or manufactured cavities such as hollow plant stems, insect tunnels, or drilled wood blocks. Due to their efficient pollination abilities and ease of management, these bees have become increasingly popular as an alternative to honey bees in agriculture and horticulture. Mason bees are so-called for their habit of using mud to construct their nests, and for their habit of nesting in cracks and crevices of crumbling mortar in walls.

to bee continued.

Learning when & how to sow new herb seeds in mid March

 Perhaps my new seeds that just just arrived in mid March should have been sown months ago?  Well the unusual seeds just arrived from a new seed source.  Trade Winds Fruit. https://www.tradewindsfruit.com/

 Honestly the seeds were reasonable in cost and I was delighted to see the choices.  I only wanted Ashwagandha as a medicinal herb, but my eyes caught interest in unusual seeds such as:

Angelica sinensis - female ginseng

ginseng roots

flower umbrell
Seeds are fairly large. and should be sown 1/4 - 1/2 inch deep. Use sterile seed starter, and individual cell packs, indoors.  Direct sowing not recommended. Keep soil moist at 75 degrees.  Transfer to larger containers when germinated. Allow 2 weeks to harden off before placing in direct sun. Angelica is a biennial plant that grows 3-7' tall. Its large chartreuse leaves with inflated stem bases make a bold statement in the modern herb garden or flower border. The roots, leaves, seeds and young stems are the edible portions, and have a flavor similar to licorice.  
Angelica serves as an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. It also acts to boost circulation of the scalp, which means healthier hair. Angelica Root Extract is obtained by macerating the root of the plant.

Hair regrowth studies:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25004889/

Levisticum - Lovage;

Seeds are large and should be sown 1/4 - 1/2 inch deep in sterile seed starter. Sow in individual cell packs. Keep temps at 75 degrees. Transplant gently into larger containers after germination. Plant outdoors when soil has warmed. Grows to 5 feet & is very bushy. It's a perennial herb belonging to the family Apiaceae. This makes it related to other herbs and vegetables such as parsley, cilantro, dill, and fennel, as well as carrots and celery. Due to its resemblance in appearance and flavor to celery, lovage is often referred to as mountain celery. It's great in soups & stews.

Lovage             

Cymbopogo flexuosus - East Indian Lemongrass

A tropical grass that can grow up to 6 ft. tall in warm climates. Will grow as an annual here in Zone 7. Plant large seeds 1/4 - 1/2 inch deep in sterile seed starter. Start indoors. Transplant into larger pots and harden off outside. This aromatic grass has clumped, bulbous stems becoming leaf blades widely used in Thai cuisine, with a distinct lemon flavor. 

It is usually propagated by division.
Recommended planting time: plant spring in cooler areas; in tropical areas plant during the wet season.
Plant spacing: plant rhizomes at a spacing of 1 m, with .5 m between rows.

Growing from seed:  Sow seeds in spring, sowing thinly on the surface of moist compost and don't cover them. If you need to water the pot after sowing then do so from the bottom, by placing the pot in a dish of water for an hour or so. Keep the pot covered in a heated propagator to aid germination. 

Gaultheria procumbens - Wintergreen;

Must cold stratify seeds in growing containers in sealed bags inside refrigerator fr 6 - 12 weeks. 2 months to germinate. May need a second cold stratification. WOW. Wintergreen is a North American native plant. It only grows 6 inches high.

Sown in tiny cups then stored in plastic recycled container, rubber banded, and safely stored in the bottom left shelf in the back of the refrigerator until June 1rst. 

Withania somnifera - Ashwagandha;

A small bushy tomatilo relative with many medicinal qualities. Roots, leaves, fruits are used for treating stress, exhaustion, and memory and more. Simple to grow. Needs little care. Start seeds in individual cell packs. 75 degrees to germinate. Transplant to bigger pots.

Ashwagandha has minimal edible uses, however, the seeds are used to curdle plant-based milk to make vegetarian cheese. The roots and leaves can be dried and powdered, then taken as a supplement.

Medicinal uses of Ashwagandha leaves, root, and berries are plentiful. Ashwagandha acts on the nervous and reproductive systems, increasing physical and mental health as well as increasing longevity. The roots of Withania somnifera are used in traditional Indian medicine for consumption, nervous exhaustion, insomnia, and memory loss

Ashwagandha is a low growing perennial that grows up to 3 feet tall. Its leaves are long and elliptical, yellow-green.

Mentha piperita - Peppermint

Seeds need light to germinate. Sow on top of sterile seed starter, Keep moist. Spray soil when starting to dry but don't push seeds below soil level. Keep wrapped and humid. 70 -85 degree. Grow in pots as this will spread. Grows to several inches. intense flavor for tea, flavorings, beverages.

peppermint

Platycodon grandiflora - Balloon Flower.

Balloon Flowers are easy to grow, long-lived perennials. Long-lasting star-shaped flowers emerge from balloon-like buds in summer. Balloon flower plants will occasionally repeat bloom in the fall when old flowers are removed.  In colder areas, balloon flower dies back to the ground in the winter. It's often one of the later flowers to emerge in the spring, so when growing balloon flower you may want to mark the spot somehow so you don't plant over it. If you want to start from seed, remember that it won't flower the first year. In the mid to late summer, balloon plants sprout clusters of waxy white and purple flowers which smell almost like vanilla. These flowers are not particularly beautiful, however, they are attractive to butterflies.  

Sow Balloon Flower seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before last frost, and transplant outside. This flower seed requires sunlight to germinate, so do not cover the flower seed with soil. Just lightly pat them into the soil so good contact is made and water lightly.

The roots of balloon flowers are widely used as edible root vegetables, and they are referred to as doraji (Korean). Balloon flowers are also believed to have medicinal properties and are used in China and Korea for various medical conditions.

                                 Monarch butterfly and the balloon flower. 

to be continued in future posts. 

Companion planting with potatoes

 Companion Planting with Potatoes

Let's think Companion Planting then grow Potatoes & Horse radish root this year. That’s what I’m doing. Horseradish has long leaves & pretty white flowers. When growing horseradish, keep the roots contained as it's invasive. Horseradish is advisable as a companion plant for every garden as it cleans certain soil contaminants. Plant around the perimeters of potatoes not intermixed or it will change taste of potatoes,

& it will increase disease resistance in potatoes & protect against potato bugs.

Potato bug (Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

Other companion plants for potatoes include beans, corn, eggplant, cabbage, peas, & parsnips. Basil near potatoes deter potato beetles.

Marigold Tagetes spp deter nematodes. Nasturiums repel potato bugs, aphids,

Aphid 

white fly, Mexican bean beetles

Mexican Bean Beetle (Epilachna varivestis)

& squash bugs.

Squash bug with eggs

In turn, potatoes are a good companion crop for beans, because they repel Mexican bean beetles. Potatoes are good for cabbage & peas by helping with growth.

But don't plant the following near potatoes: turnips, pumpkins, cucumbers, rutabagas, sunflowers, tomatoes, squash and raspberry.

Back to the horseradish.

Horseradish plant 

You can create a simple horse radish tea as a preventative anti-fungal spray. The horse radish spray has proven effective against against brown rot in apples & cherries.

Process horseradish roots in a food processor till a coarse paste.

Dilute 1 part paste with 4 parts water. Steep for 24 hours. Strain off the liquid, discard pulp, mix liquid with 1 qt. water & 1/2 cup white vinegar & put into spray bottle. An effective bug spray for plants.

Companion planting requires a great deal of study & placement strategies.

Can you imagine how pretty a potato patch will look with colorful Nasturiums,

Nasturtiums

Basil

Marigold 

Marigolds, and Basil guarding them all summer with their powerful properties? I love learning about companion planting. It really works, but you have to do a lot of homework to plant the correct compatible plants next to each other.

Selecting New Perennial for Organic Gardens

 When adding a new perennial to your gardens, do your research. do you know all aspects of what the plant will provide & achieve? There's much publicizing from native plant activists. They're up there with militant vegans. They'll shame you into getting rid of your lawns, and threaten to draw & quarter your limbs if you grow non-native flowers saying they disrupt the ecosystem. Don't listen to other people. Take everything into consideration. Because you might know more info, understand that there are over 4000 native bees, and that the Europeans first brought them to the colonies. There's nothing wrong with growing non natives to attract these transplanted naturalized native bees. There are invasive plants that do take over reducing biodiversity, competing with native & non native organisms for limited resources, and altering habitats. This can result in huge economic impacts and fundamental disruptions. We all know too well about phragmites, English Ivy, Asiatic bittersweet, kudzu, etc.

On March 1, 2023, I ordered many seeds from a catalogue called Tradewinds.  The seeds were reasonable in price.  One of the seed varieties appealed to me in many ways. 

Balloon Flower - Platycodon grandiflorus, a perennial, is not a native blue flower, yet its hardy, disease-resistant nature and vibrant perennial blossoms, does well in most climates, from zones 3 through 9. It flowers best in full sun, but will also thrive in morning sun and afternoon shade (and may actually do better there in warmer areas). New plants need regular water while getting established, but then are pretty drought-tolerant. Yes I want drought loving low growing blue flowers. Birds, bees, and butterflies love them. They start flowering in mid to late summer, and will continue throughout the season with regular dead-heading. That’s pretty much all the maintenance they’ll need, though. P. grandiflorus may be propagated from seed, by stem cuttings, or from nursery starts in the spring.

The edible roots have long been pickled and preserved, and used in herbal remedies and dietary supplements, to provide anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and digestive benefits. For thousands of years this perennial herb has been used to treat hypotension, lipid reduction, atherosclerosis, inflammation, relieving cough and phlegm, promoting cholic acid secretion, and as an antioxidant. Companions that play well with P. grandiflorus include bee balm, black-eyed Susan, blazing star, daylily, and lily turf. Perfect for my butterfly and rain garden.