July – zinnias, tomatoes off the vine, dragonflies, garden gatherings. A July garden says summer. |
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A dogwood tree anchors this understory vignette.
photo by E Barth-Elias
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Consider the understory, that layer of trees residing beneath the tree canopy. We plant shade trees, but tend to neglect the space below. Understory trees provide a wildlife haven, and their often-wispy branches add ethereal beauty to the landscape. Understory does not mean understudy – these lower-level, shade-tolerant trees are often stars. The beautiful spring flowers of redbud, serviceberry, and dogwood trees, sometimes called the trifecta of the understory, are followed by berries, seed pods, and fabulous fall foliage colors.
Native understory trees are critical to wildlife support, providing both habitat and food. American holly (Ilex opada) and chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) produce red berries enjoyed by birds, squirrels, and other small animals. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) not only displays brilliant fall foliage, but hosts spicebush swallowtail, tiger, and pale swallowtail butterflies. Foxes, raccoons, squirrels, and birds watch
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the ripening fruit of the pawpaw (Asimina triloba) for the transition from astringent to buttery-sweet. Wild turkeys, mockingbirds, blue jays, and cardinals relish a meal of native fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus) fruit. American hazelnut (Corylus americana), American plum (Prunus americana), eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum)…the list of beautiful understory trees that support a host of insects and other animals is vast.
The forest understory is very important to soil and water conservation, and plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling and biodiversity. It provides thermal insulation, protecting the soil from temperature extremes and strong winds. In our home landscapes the intermingling of understory plants may seem “messy”, but their beauty as they weave together and the vital role they play in a balanced ecological system makes them part of a finished landscape. Take a walk in a thriving forest and check out the understory. Look Around!
K Edgington
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Leaf Brief - Serviceberry at your Service |
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Serviceberry provides beautiful structure, colorful fall foliage, and fruit.
photos by E Barth-Elias
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One of our favorite understory trees in Ohio, the native serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) is a memorable, four-season beauty. Spring brings white blossoms to the forest edges as its leaves begin to break. Summer begets tasty berries and fall gives us brilliant crimson, red, and orange leaf colors. A structured silhouette with roughly-textured bark makes it stand out in wintertime.
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Despite its familiarity, here are a few things you might not know:
- You may have heard that the serviceberry got its name from itinerant preachers who traveled Appalachia to bury those who died during winter when the ground was frozen. The preachers waited until the serviceberry was in bloom so the ground was thawed enough to dig. Nice story, but it is most likely bunk! The name predates colonial America (Serviceberries are found in Europe, Africa, and Asia.) and is probably a mishearing of the Shakespearean English word for red, ‘sarvis’, which is based on the Latin word ‘sorbis’. Sorbis, sarvis; sounds like service!
- Its other nickname, shadblow, comes from the connection between the tree blooming and shad spawning in coastal rivers (similar to a salmon run). Blow is an Old English word for bloom. Serviceberry is also called juneberry because the berries ripen in June (extending into July). Other catchy names include wild pear, saskatoon, sugarplum, wild plum, and my personal favorite, chuckley pear.
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Serviceberries are good for you! Some refer to them as a superfood, since they are high in vitamin C, fiber, protein, iron, and copper. They also have a 20% sugar content, which is good to know if you’re hungry or lost in the woods. Wait until they are beyond red, more of a deep purple, before picking and eat directly or serve them up in compotes, smoothies, muffins, pancakes, syrups, jellies, and pies. They can also be dried like raisins. Find some recipes HERE.
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As a native, serviceberry is an important part of our ecosystem. Its early bloom provides a significant source of nectar for emerging insects, bees, and butterflies, which promotes pollination. It supports the larvae of tiger butterflies, viceroys, admirals, and more. In all, the foliage is food for an impressive 124 species of caterpillars. Read about it HERE. To get the best berries, you’ll have to compete with orioles, thrushes, waxwings, and woodpeckers. Chipmunks, squirrels, and bears also feed on serviceberry and animals such as moose, deer, and snowshoe hare will eat the leaves and twigs.
- Serviceberry wood is considered to be among the densest but is not used commercially because of its relatively small size. Native Americans used its wood to make arrow shafts and berry tea to aid in digestion and to treat worms in children.
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Several varieties of serviceberry can be found in Ohio, but are difficult to differentiate, and can hybridize naturally. Allegheny serviceberry, (A. laevis) is the largest, topping out at 30 feet. Amelanchier stolonifera, the running serviceberry, is only 6 feet tall but forms thickets via underground stolons. Amelanchier alnifolia berries taste the best. Many similar varieties can be found at area nurseries. Amelanchiers are members of the rose family.
- Fireblight, mites, powdery mildew, and marauding caterpillars can sometimes be a problem, but overall these beautiful trees are relatively carefree and drought-tolerant.
Whether you admire them in natural settings or plant them in your own yard, serviceberries are a joy to behold, no matter the season. Keep an eye out for the berries now before the other critters beat you to them!
J Gramlich
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Creature Feature - Ladybugs |
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A ladybug, up close and personal.
photo by Danae Wolfe
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Author’s Note: When my dear Editor finally chose a bug I love for this month’s piece I was thrilled—until I realized I had no time to write the article. Fortunately, I found a renowned entomologist (on the internet) who seemed excited about the opportunity. Please welcome Dr. A. Phid—I’ll see you next month!
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Ladybugs Schmadybugs
There are lots of ladybugs. About 5,000 species world-wide. And yes, ladybugs are quite beloved (unlike other insects, such as aphids). This is partly due to a well-funded public relations campaign waged by the Coccinellidae family (known as ladybugs, lady beetles or ladybirds), resulting in, among other things, ladybugs being named the official state insect of seven states, including Ohio. (THIS VIDEO fails to mention the dark money funding part of the story.)
And they’re not even bugs. Ladybugs are actually beetles. Belonging to the order Coleoptera of the class Insecta, beetles have hard top wings (elytra) that cover their membranous, flying wings. True bugs, the order Hemiptera of Insecta, generally have front wings that are hard at the base and membranous at the end. Additionally, bugs have a piercing/sucking mouth, whereas beetles chew and crush their food (aphids).
You’ve probably seen that cute, shiny, dome-like red ladybug with seven black spots, the most common in North America. You’ve probably repeated that pointless rhyme instructing ladybugs to fly home—trust me, so long as there are aphids to be eaten ladybugs ain’t going nowhere. And they are not always red—the duplicitous invertebrates may be yellow, orange, blue, even black. Patterns vary, too, consisting of dots, stripes, or no markings at all. Species native to Ohio include the Convergent, Spotted (or Pink), Parenthesis and Polished Lady Beetles. Non-natives include the Multicolored Asian, Seven-spotted, Fourteen-spotted, and Variegated Lady Beetles. The invasive Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle comes in many colors and patterns, but can be identified by the “W” or “M” marking behind its head. HERE is an Ohio ladybug ID guide.
Lady beetles’ bright colors tell birds, dragonflies, wasps, spiders and frogs that they do not taste good. If that doesn’t work, the bugs turn the fiction into reality by expelling a bad tasting, smelly fluid from their leg joints. If all else fails, drama queen ladybugs will play dead. THIS VIDEO reveals the true nature of those pretty, little bugs.
Ladybugs are found almost all over the world, preferring meadow, grassland and forest habitats. Active from spring to fall, thousands will congregate to diapause (insect-speak for hibernate) in rotting logs, under groundcover or rocks, or inside your house, surviving until temperatures warm and food (i.e., aphids) is available. Such large groups are called a "loveliness of ladybugs"—REALLY?
Mom lays tiny yellow eggs on the backs of leaves, near a food source which is usually—you guessed it—an aphid colony. The eggs that aren’t eaten by ladybug cannibals hatch in a few days into larvae only Mom could love, resembling baby alligators. The larvae eat any unfertilized eggs Mom laid for snacking, and, of course, aphids—up to 45 a day. After a few weeks of voracious feeding, the larvae pupate, emerging as adults in about 10 days. Watch their life cycle HERE if you can stomach pure evil.
Once grown, these serial killers really go to town. An adult ladybug eats up to 75 aphids a day, 5,000 in a lifetime. They also eat mites, fruit flies, thrips, whiteflies and mealy bugs. This is the real reason why ladybugs are so beloved—because they are mass murderers. How sick and twisted is that???
It gets worse. These death machines are considered symbols of good luck. Finding a ladybug is supposed to foretell a good harvest in England, and a ladybug landing on a girl’s hand in Sweden means she will be married soon. The name “ladybug” comes from European farmers praying to the Virgin Mary when their crops were being eaten by “pests”. When ladybugs destroyed the “pests”, they were called “beetle of Our Lady”—which shortened to “ladybug” or “lady beetle”.
In 1999 NASA sent four ladybugs into space on the space shuttle Columbia (four years before its tragic accident) for an experiment on microgravity. The ladybugs got the glory and cool names (John, Paul, Ringo and George). Aphids were sent too—as the ladybugs' dinner. And as you'd predict, even lack of gravity didn't stop the ladybugs from devouring those anonymous and unmourned aphids.
Just remember—there are two sides to every story.
Most Sincerely,
Dr. A. Phid
C Christian
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This tussie-mussie includes pink roses for admiration, speedwell for fidelity, and agapanthus for love.
You can see where this message is going...
photo by E Barth-Elias
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I recently had the great pleasure of meeting with Master Gardener, herb expert, and artist Nancy Quinn-Simon to learn about some of the ways she enjoys crafting with herbs. Nancy and her husband, Ed, owned and operated Carlyle Farm in Massillon, Ohio for many happy and productive years. As a former schoolteacher, Nancy especially enjoyed offering a variety of classes related to growing and using herbs. Her crafts included creating fresh and fragrant wreaths for drying, pressed flowers and herbs for use in jewelry making, greeting cards, and a host of other specialty gifts. Nancy’s vast knowledge of various tools and processes used for these intricate projects is impressive.
While each of her lovely, handcrafted items is inspiring and creative, one really caught my eye and sparked my imagination. The general concept is familiar but the rich history behind this unusually symbolic craft takes it to a whole new level. It is the tussie-mussie. In case you are asking, ”the what?” You are not alone! Those were my exact words.
Tussie is an Old English word for nosegay and mussie refers to the dampened moss used for hydration. A tussie-mussie is a small bouquet, posey or nosegay that typically features carefully selected flowers, herbs, and foliage, chosen specifically for their meaning and hand-tied with short cut stems.
In medieval Europe, tussies were carried to ward off the plague and obscure the unpleasant odors associated with hygiene prior to plumbing. During the Victorian era, known as the age of flowers, men and women alike adorned their bodies, homes, and gardens with flowers. The secret language of flowers and herbs (the assignment of particular significance given to each plant) was thriving and had become the height of fashion. Tussie-mussies evolved to be coded messengers for those wishing to convey secret sentiments without words. Click HERE to view the Victorian Floral Code. The popularity of this secret language escalated, and dictionaries and reference guides were published so that sender and receiver could understand each other with some degree of accuracy.
Also evolving were the tussie-mussie holders– an art form in their own right. Most were shaped like a narrow cone or a cornucopia and beautifully crafted from silver, gold, or ivory. They could be adorned with precious stones or other elaborate decorations. Size varied according to how the tussie-mussie was intended to be worn or displayed. One of my personal favorites is a miniature (less than 2.5 inches) conical silver brooch which doubles as a display piece by extending three tiny hinged legs, tripod style, standing the vial upright.
The secret language of herbs and flowers has evolved into today's enormous floral industry with its extensive advertising budget, and that is fine. However, we can return to the personal use of this floral language and thoughtfully select a few of our own garden gems to create a tussie-mussie.
Making a tussie-mussie can be an intricate process if you choose, but can also be very simple. An early morning walk through your gardens, selecting a few blooms and ferns, barberry, parsley, or other branches to fill in, will yield the needed flowers and greens. Make sure you go with a water-filled container in hand to keep your ingredients hydrated. Arrange a small bouquet, tie it together with string or a section of stem, cut off evenly at the bottom, and put the arrangement in water. Click HERE to see a brief demonstration. THIS VIDEO goes a little more in depth.
Thanks to Nancy for introducing us to this sweet herb craft. A small expenditure of care and time to personalize such a gift with selections from our own garden is simply unrivaled.
E Barth-Elias
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This garden owner combined beautiful hand-crafted bird houses with his version of a garden trellis.
photo by Rachel Barth
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We often wish our gardens were larger, with space for more fruits and vegetables. If you are a member of a community garden, where individual plots are often 4 feet by 8 feet, the need for more space can be acute. While little can be done to make the growing area larger, other than expanding space on the ground or taking on another garden bed, there’s nothing stopping you from growing up. Vertical gardening offers a whole new dimension to growing food.
Whether for flowers or vegetables, trellises have long been an important tool in gardening. They are often found supporting climbing roses, honeysuckle, clematis and other flowering plants. They are also put to good use supporting vegetables such as peas and beans, cucumbers and even some squash and melons. And let us not forget tomatoes.
Perhaps the word trellis is too limiting. The principle is to use something sturdy to support plants as they grow to keep them off the ground. A variety of materials are effective for growing crops vertically.
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Tomato cages, while probably the best-known tomato supports, are often the least effective. Shaped like an inverted cone, the top is several rounds of heavy wire attached to vertical lengths of wire. The ends of that wire are shoved into the ground with the tomato plant in the center. The problem is that vining, indeterminate tomatoes outgrow the cages and the tops flop, leaving the tomatoes on the ground or the vine breaking under the weight of the fruit.
There are variations on the tomato cage. A taller square wire cage offers greater stability, more room for the plant to grow and folds away for storage. Another isn’t a cage at all but a sturdy metal spiral about 6 feet tall that supports the growing tomato stem as it winds up the spiral.
There are more support options for crops like cucumbers, peas, beans, and melons. Materials such as chicken wire, plastic netting, hemp or sisal grids supported between upright wooden stakes are easy and quick to build. Concrete reinforcing mesh, while awkward to work with, can hold almost any kind of crop. The key is finding uprights strong enough to hold them. Large melons and pumpkins aren’t candidates for vertical gardening. Their weight would pull them off the vine before they ripen.
Another form of trellis uses rows of bamboo stakes placed about a foot apart at the outside edges of the row leaning toward each other. A long pole rests and is tied to the place where the two supports meet, forming a teepee. The advantage of this arrangement is that the leaves get full sun while the fruit or vegetable hangs free inside. Even more growing room is added by providing a shaded area under the frame for growing crops such as lettuce, arugula or spinach, which bolt if left to grow in hot summer sun. (Use the link below for an illustration of this support style.)
It’s important to set whatever supports you use before planting. That enables you to place the plants where they will get the most support and also to avoid damaging young roots by shoving a stake or other support into the soil after the plant is in the ground.
Vertical gardening adds room without adding area, a great way to go if your garden space is limited. When looking for more garden space, look up.
S Vradenburg
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July Checklist
- Deadhead roses and other perennials, and fertilize to encourage reblooming.
- Stake delphiniums, dahlias, hollyhocks.
- Trim back the growth of spruce trees and shape them, if desired.
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Be vigilant with pests in the vegetable garden and treat them accordingly. INSECT MANAGEMENT IN THE HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN: University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Prune mums to promote a bushier plant and earlier bloom.
- Japanese beetles are out in force. Hand-pick them or repel them with neem oil or mint-based sprays.
- Start seeds of broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and ornamental cabbage for late-summer plantings and fall harvest.
- Water, water, water during dry spells, less often but deeply.
J Gramlich
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More learning opportunities:
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The ladybug wears no disguises. She is just what she advertises—a speckled spectacle of spring, a fashion statement on the wing, a miniature orange kite, a tiny dot-to-dot delight.
J. Patrick Lewis
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The Root of It staff: Karen Edgington (Editor), Emma Barth-Elias (Photo Editor), Carolyn Christian, Jennifer Gramlich, Sarah Vradenburg, and Geoff Kennedy (Technical Advisor)
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