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Maintaining Your New California Garden: Life-friendly Fall Pruning

  Mother Nature's Backyard in November: illustrating life-friendly fall pruning. Late fall and early winter are important prun...

Monday, December 30, 2013

Garden Crafts: Making a Grapevine Wreath


Simple wreath made from grapevines


There’s nothing like the satisfaction that comes from using garden products to make items that are useful and attractive.  In previous posts we’ve talked about pressing flowers, using plant trimmings for natural dyes and making garden potpourri (search ‘garden crafts’ on this blog).   Another easy craft is making a grapevine wreath.  Some of you may already have trimmed back your grapevines.  If not, you still have time to make a grapevine wreath this winter (at least in our mild S. California climate).

Making a grapevine wreath is easy once you get used to handing the vines.  You’ll need 20 to 30 or more lengths of grapevine.  Cut them as long as you can – about 4-8 ft. is easiest to work with.  Be sure to choose vines that are still flexible (green vines are fine).  Vines no thicker than your little finger at the broadest are best.   You can see the vines we trimmed from our native wild grape (Vitis girdiana) below.   You’ll need to use the vines on the day you cut them, before they dry out.
 
 

Choose 5 or 6 of the thickest vines to form the foundation of the wreath.  Lay the vines out straight, removing any leaves or side branches.    Gently bend the bundle of vines into a circle of the desired size.  We suggest about 12 inches across for a small wreath and 18 or 20 inches for a larger wreath.   Tie the circle with stout string to hold the shape (see picture below).   



Continue to bend the bundle into a circle, tying as needed to hold the vines in place.  You’ll remove the string once the vine dries, so don’t worry about how it looks.  Now you have the foundation for your wreath.  The foundation may not be perfectly round, but don’t worry about shape too much; the shape will improve as you add more vines.  And you can even tweak the final shape just prior to drying.
 
 
Take another vine and tuck the thicker end firmly into the foundation.  Then wrap the new vine around the foundation, making about 6-8 wraps around the circle (see photo above).   Wrap until you reach the end of the vine, then tuck the end in.   Continue wrapping with the additional vines, starting each new vine at a different place around the foundation.  Try to alternate the direction of the wraps – starting clockwise with one vine, then counter-clockwise with the next – to give an even shape.
 
 
 

When you’ve used all your vines – or when the wreath is pleasingly full – you are almost done.  Don’t worry about the odd ends that stick out.  Some will disappear in the drying process, and the rest can be clipped off when dry.   If your wreath is not completely round, you can tie it into round with a string (see above).  Hang your wreath to dry in a cool, dry place.  It will probably take about 2 weeks to dry. 
 




Once dry, you can clip loose ends if needed.  Remove the string – the wreath should hold its shape if fully dry.   You can spray your wreath with a thin coat of clear spray varnish or use it as is.  We’ll suggest some ways to use your wreath during the next year (2014).


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We welcome your comments, below.  If you have questions, please e- mail us at: mothernaturesbackyard10@gmail.com

 

 


Sunday, December 15, 2013

Designing Your New California Garden: 7. What Type of Gardener are You?




Gardening should be enjoyable.  You should want to get out in your garden.  While you may not have considered this,  the garden itself can determine whether you enjoy or dislike gardening.  Since you are designing/redesigning your garden, you have the chance to plan a garden that’s suited to your time, budget and gardening personality.  That’s what the ‘New California Garden’ is all about.
 

We all approach gardening in slightly different ways.  Certain gardening tasks may bring you great enjoyment, while others seem more like chores.    Your ‘New California Garden’ should maximize the former and minimize the latter!   But first you need to seriously consider what you like and dislike about gardening.  Our questionnaire will help you organize your thoughts.

 
Even the pace at which you install your garden is highly personal.   You may want to install your entire garden ‘right now’; alternatively, you may be more comfortable with letting your garden plan develop more slowly.  There is no one ‘right way’ – we each need to work within our own constraints and desires.   The following two Tables will help you discover elements of your style as a gardener that may influence the landscape plan you develop (http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/what-type-of-gardener-worksheet-29222124).
 
 
 

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Plant of the Month (December) : Toyon - Heteromeles arbutifolia


Young Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) in mixed hedgerow
Mother Nature's Backyard


Oh joy!  Just in time for the cold dark days of winter, the red berries of Toyon (California Christmas Berry; California Holly) are ripening in Mother Nature’s Backyard.   Our Toyons are still pretty small, but they hint of future greatness.  You may want to consider this quintessential California native for your own garden.

Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia) can be seen in the wild from SW Oregon to Baja California, Mexico.  In California, it grows most commonly in the Coastal Sage Scrub and Chaparral plant communities, but also occurs in Oak Woodlands and even on sandy beach areas away from the immediate shore.  Toyons are lowland plants (< 4000 ft. elevation) and are often seen on steep slopes and in canyons locally.   The plants are particularly noticeable in winter, when their red berries are unmistakable.   The picture below shows Toyon growing in Malaga Canyon on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.    You can also see them on the Southern Channel Islands.

Toyon (California Holly; Heteromeles arbutifolia)
in Malaga Canyon, Palos Verdes Penninsula

Toyon is a large woody shrub to medium-sized tree.  Its shape and size are strongly influenced by the amount of light a plant receives. Toyon is unusual in its light requirements: it can grow in full sun, part-shade and even quite shady areas.  In full sun, a mature Toyon becomes a large, rounded shrub 10-20 feet tall and slightly less wide (see photo below).  In shade, Toyon becomes more tree-like and can reach heights of 35 or more feet (see photo below). 

Toyon (California Holly; Heteromeles arbutifolia)
Madrona Marsh Nature Center (l); Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (r)

In sun or shade, Toyon is a lovely shrub with neat, medium to dark leaves and evergreen foliage.  Its tidy appearance, numerous flowers and showy berries  endear this native to gardeners throughout California.  The leaves are a modest size (2-4 inches long), simple, with serrated edges.   The new leaves are bright yellow-green; older leaves are darker green and slightly glossy (see below).  The leaves are stiff and fairly thick – part of Toyons’ adaptation to our dry climate.
 

Toyon (California Holly; Heteromeles arbutifolia)

Toyons are dense shrubs with many stout branches.  Their shrubby habit make them good choices for hedging.  The dense foliage also provides perches, cover and nesting sites for local breeding bird species.

Many gardeners are surprised to learn that Toyon is a member of the Rose family (Rosaceae). Its small white flowers are often appreciated en mass – and at a distance.  A closer look reveals flowers that are quite typical for the Rose family: plant parts in multiples of five, both male and female reproductive organs in the same flower, a green cup-shaped structure at the base of the flower (the hypanthium) and pale, cream-white color (see below).   To learn more about the Rose family see: http://www.slideshare.net/cvadheim/rosaceae-2013
 

Toyon (California Holly; Heteromeles arbutifolia) flowers.
Note characteristics of Rose family (Rosaceae).


Like many in this family, Toyon attracts a wide range of pollinator insects including native bees, pollinator flies, and even butterflies.   The masses of blooms in late spring or early summer are a magnet for pollinators, making Toyon a good addition to a pollinator-friendly garden.    In fact, one trick to a successful pollinator garden is to include flowering shrubs and trees like Toyon.

Toyon’s fruit also reflects its Rose family heritage.  If you look closely at the fruits (see below) you’ll note that they somewhat resemble a small apple (note: apples are also in the Rose family).    The fruit shape, red color when ripe and sweet flesh are typical of this family.  These fruit characteristics reflect a long history of beneficial interaction between plants and birds/animals.   The plants offer a sweet treat, while the birds provide a convenient method for distributing seeds.  
 
 
 
Toyon (California Holly; Heteromeles arbutifolia). Insert shows
'Davis Gold' - cultivar with yellow fruit

But the story of Toyon fruits and birds has one more interesting twist.  The seeds need to be ripe before the fruits are eaten.  To insure this, plants have developed several means to insure that fruits aren’t eaten too soon.  1) The fruits change color to indicate when they are ripe (from green to orange and finally to dark red); 2) they become sweeter as they ripen; 3) unripe fruits produce cyanide and other chemicals that are toxic and/or taste bitter. 

While Native Californians ate Toyon fruits, we don’t recommend it.  Native peoples knew when the fruits were ripe and how to prepare them to remove the toxins.  So, let the birds enjoy the Toyon berries – while you enjoy the birds.   Among the fruit-eating birds attracted to Toyon are mockingbirds, cedar waxwings, robins, finches, flickers, hermit thrushes, warblers and song sparrows.  Often the ripe fruits begin to ferment before they are eaten.   So your birds may get a little ‘tipsy’ when eating Toyon fruits.  

As members of the Rose family, Toyons are susceptible to fungal (and some bacterial) diseases that affect the leaves and roots.  The best preventive measure is to plant Toyons in well-drained soils or on slopes – and not over-water, particularly in foggy, coastal areas.   Toyons become quite drought tolerant after 2-3 years in the ground.  Mature plants need only occasional water – or none at all – in summer (Water Zone 1 to 1-2; Zone 2 on slopes and further inland).  Plants at CSU Dominguez Hills (10 miles from the coast in Carson California) receive no summer water after three years and are strong and healthy.   


Toyon (California Holly; Heteromeles arbutifolia) in
Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve, Gardena California
 
If you have dense clay soil, plant Toyon on a small berm (2-3 ft tall) and water sparingly.  Toyon root systems are net-like and widespread, so they are good for erosion control and Toyon does well growing on slopes.   Toyon is happy in un-amended soils and needs no added fertilizer.
 


Toyon (California Holly; Heteromeles arbutifolia) pruned as
multi-trunk tree.  South Park, Hermosa Beach, California

Toyon is most often planted as a native ornamental shrub.  It has a nice natural shape and needs little pruning.  But another benefit of Toyon is it’s adaptability.  Toyon can be pruned as a hedge or screen (6-10+ ft) and is often included in native mixed hedges or hedgerows (we have one in our hedgerow at Mother Nature’s Backyard).  It can also be pruned up into a multi-trunk ‘tree’ (see above). Pruning is best done during dry periods in February-April or in summer after blooming (choose a cool, dry period).  Prune as needed during the growth period (spring/summer) if hedge-pruning.   Don’t take too much at any one time – and be sure to use sterile pruners.  Remember that flowers & fruit occur on older wood; take too much and you sacrifice flowers.
 


Young Toyon (California Holly; Heteromeles arbutifolia) trained as espalier,
Mother Nature's Backyard

Toyon can be trained to grow in narrow spaces.  In fact, we are training one as an espalier in the garden (see photos above).  When mature, our Toyon espalier will provide flowers and fruits – and hide our cinder-block wall – all in a narrow area about 2 ½ feet deep.    Toyon can even be grown in large containers – or as a bonsai.

Toyon is yet another example of a practical native plant.  Native Californians used a mild tea from leaves to treat stomachache and other pains.  It was also used to wash infected cuts and sores.  Natural dyers use the leaves, bark, small branches and fruits to create lovely orange and brown colors. Native Californians used the dyes to color fish weirs.   If you use Toyon as a dye, be sure to heat the dye bath out-of-doors; heating releases cyanide chemicals.   For more on natural dyes see our October 2013 posting.

Finally,  the foliage and fruits make lovely additions to winter wreaths, centerpieces and bouquets. That’s another reason to included the ‘Holly’ that made Hollywood famous (Toyon) in your garden.  We’ll discuss making a grape-vine wreath later this month (December, 2013).

 

 

We welcome your comments (below).  You can also send your questions to: mothernaturesbackyard10@gmail.com