Table of contents for November/December 2023 in Garden Gate

Common redpoll Acanthis flammea Appearance These small songbirds have colorful patterned brown and white feathers with distinguished red markings: The males, above, have red crowns and chests, while the females and juveniles develop only red crowns. Black markings surround stout, pointy yellow beaks, and redpolls’ short tails have a small fork at the end. Songs are a combination of sharp chirps, trills and whistles. Habitat These social birds breed in Northern Canada and Alaska in summer. In late fall they migrate in large groups to the northern United States and occasionally dip into the Midwest and East Coast when food is scarce. Small seeds, especially those of willow (Salix spp.), birch (Betula spp.) and alder (Alnus spp.) trees, and insects make up their diet. In winter, they’re commonly spotted feeding…

Have you ever bought a plant just because the flower had an interesting pattern or unusual markings? When I see a flower with bicolored petals, I am simply drawn to it. Many insects agree: Veins, stripes, picotees (a flower that is one color but the edges are another) and bicolored throats often point the way to a nectar payoff. COMPLEMENTARY PAIRINGS To really show off a beautifully patterned flower, pair it with other plants that are more subdued. Mixing multiple flowers with bold color patterns may create a look that is busier than you’d like. For instance, use foliage plants in shades of green to surround a container with a showy bloomer so the flower is the star. In a mixed container or garden border, use a patterned flower alongside…

Q When should I stop watering my garden in fall? Betty Swenson, OR A The old garden saying “The last tool you should put away for winter is your garden hose” is true. While soil doesn’t dry out as quickly as it does in summer, plants may still need watering in fall and winter. If the soil isn’t frozen and feels dry, go ahead and water, whether it’s October or January. But let the soil tell you when it’s time to water: Too much contributes to crown or root rot, especially in winter when many plants are dormant. Be sure to disconnect and empty the hose after each use when a freeze is in the forecast so it doesn’t burst. Q My mangave bloomed last year and doesn’t look great…

Shade gardens are often the perfect spots for seating areas or getaways. Under the shelter of a mature tree or a structure, the temperatures are usually a bit cooler and it’s easier to get the sense of privacy or seclusion that helps when you’re creating a calming retreat. And shade gardens often require less maintenance: Out of direct sun, the soil holds moisture longer and weeds don’t sprout so readily. Apply a couple inches of organic mulch each year and your work load will be even lighter. Now let’s take a look at some plants that can help you upgrade your shade borders or create an area where you can kick back and relax. Find more colorful shade combos. GGMagExtra.com Make Foliage the Star It’s true that there aren’t as…

Oriental poppy Papaver orientale Oriental poppies bloom for about two weeks in late spring to early summer with eye-catching, papery blossoms bridging the gap between spring bulbs and summer perennials. If you have deer problems, the bristly foliage contains a substance in its sap that deer usually avoid. WHERE IT WORKS BEST Tuck Oriental poppies in a border near slower-growing perennials that will fill in and cover the poppy’s fading foliage in summer. Contrast orange or red Oriental poppies with companion plants such as blue-purple Siberian iris (Iris sibirica) or spike speedwell (Veronica hybrids) for a vivid late-spring combo. HOW TO GROW IT Hardy in USDA zones 2 to 7, they prefer full sun or part shade and dry soil, especially during the summer when they are dormant. After they…

Bristly greenbrier Smilax hispida What it looks like Ever been pulling weeds and accidentally grabbed a stem with lots of small thorns? You’ve probably come across bristly greenbrier, a native deciduous vine. Lower stems are covered with thorns while upper parts have small bristles. The oval to heart-shaped glossy green leaves are 4 to 5 inches wide with three to seven parallel veins. Dark green tendrils at the leaf base help stems climb. Bristly greenbrier can grow up to 40 feet tall or ramble over the ground, forming a dense thicket. Small pale yellow flowers appear in late spring to early summer, followed by small blue to black berries, which are a popular food for all kinds of wildlife. Where to find it In the wild, bristly greenbrier prefers…

Political support Edwin Flick, IA Hold onto political signs after the campaign season ends. The metal frame came in handy for Edwin when he planted these red banana trees (Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’) in containers. He removed the sign from the frame and bent back the sharp metal ends to prevent them from puncturing the leaves. Then he sunk the legs into the potting mix at the base of the banana. This was just enough support to keep the top-heavy plants with large leaves from whipping in the wind and flopping over until they could form sturdy root systems. Rose cane protection Lucille Sessions, MS In winter, Lucille noticed that raccoons and opossums often made a trail directly through her perennial beds, trampling down any remaining foliage. So now,…

SHARED WISDOM A garden or nature journal is a great way to slow down, reconnect with the natural world and get to know your garden better. Carrie Carlson is an artist and teacher who brings her journal with her wherever she goes. When she sees something interesting, whether it’s in her yard or on one of her favorite walks, she makes a quick sketch or takes a few notes. Whether you’re interested in starting a journal to keep better records of your garden or would like another outlet for your creativity, Carrie has some tips that can help. ASK QUESTIONS AND RECORD WHAT YOU SEE Keeping a journal is about really paying attention to the world around you and using images, words or even numbers to record what you see.…

Once your borders are packed with flowery perennials, how do you squeeze in even more color? Tuck in a few trellises, add an arbor or fill a wall with colorful clematis blooms. These amazing vines come in a huge range of colors, shapes and sizes, but the showiest are the large-flowered hybrids. There are hundreds of cultivars in this eye-catching group, which is divided into early-flowering types that bloom on old wood (growth from the previous season) and late-flowering types that bloom on new wood (the current season’s growth). And many of them rebloom, so by choosing a mix of varieties, you can have clematis blooming from late spring to early fall. A CLEMATIS FOR EVERY GARDEN This group ranges in size from dwarf types, such as 1- to 2-foot-tall…

When Philip Zhao and Tingshu Hu moved to their suburban home in northern Massachusetts nearly 20 years ago, it took them 2 hours to mow the 1-acre lawn. This wasn’t how they wanted to spend their time outdoors. So they set a goal of reducing their lawn by half, which they hoped would cut down on water usage and lawn treatments. Now they tend a couple of large vegetable plots, countless flower and shrub borders, three ponds, two greenhouses and even a flock of chickens. Tingshu, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Philip, a computer engineer, have planned and executed every project themselves. Along the way, they’ve experimented with new plants, faced challenges and built some pretty innovative garden structures. All of these factors led us to select…

FROM THE TEST GARDEN When you hang a feeder, it’s like having friends over for dinner. You want to offer the best food and a welcoming, comfortable atmosphere (and clean dishes!). Of course birds love the berries, seeds and insects that already live in your garden, but you may want to add a few feeders to supplement when natural food sources are scarce. Before you hang a pretty feeder in any old spot, to keep the birds in your yard well fed and safe, make sure you’re avoiding these common mistakes. 1 OFFERING THE INCORRECT FOOD Different birds prefer different seed, and using the wrong kind can discourage certain species from stopping by. Here are some common types of bird food and which birds are most likely to eat them:…

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