Christmas Trees – of a sort

When we woke early on Christmas morning we immediately lit our Christmas tree, but we also admired the majestic yellow birch out in our field. This is the most notable tree in our landscape; it still shows the damage wrought by last year’s historic December ice storm.

It would be pressing a point to say that I did any gardening over the holiday weekend, but I did devote some time, energy and nerves to prepare another type of Christmas tree . . .

I began with a genoise jelly roll. It turned out beautifully, if I do say so.

Then I dusted  the jelly roll with confectioners sugar and rolled it up with waxed paper – while it was still warm. I got that tip from Martha Stewart last week.  While it cooled I made some chocolate butter cream and prepared three meringue mushrooms. The mushrooms were made in two pieces. The cap and stems were attached with the help of a little butter cream.  Making the butter cream look like tree bark is fun.

The finishing touch with spun sugar cobwebs. Caramelizing sugar so that it can be ’spun’ isn’t hard, but you have to keep a close watch on that very hot sugar.

The Christmas log is all done!  Christmas with three trees – one in the field, one laden with lights and ornaments, and one on the table. We are still celebrating.

Books for the Gardener

Just about everyone knows that I am a reader. Therefore there is nothing (well, almost nothing) I like better as a gift than a book.  When I had regular paid employment I always prayed that the day after Christmas would be on a weekend so I could devote that day to reading my Christmas book. And I’ll confess, I often bought myself  a book – for just in case, but I never needed to worry.

Here are some reading suggestions for the reader and gardener on your list.

Right Rose Right Place: 359 Choices for Beds, Borders, Hedges and Screens, Containers, Fences, Trellises, and More by Peter Schneider  (Storey Publishing $19.95). If you’ve never grown a rose before, just browsing through this book with its glorious photographs of every kind of rose, you will decide you must have one. Or maybe ten. Not only will you be seduced by their loveliness, Peter Schneider, who has been growing roses for 30 years, will tell you how to do it easily and successfully. As the title says, all it takes is choosing the right rose for the right spot, and you are ninety percent there.

Schneider begins with a description of the versatility of the  rose family and what makes each rose family distinctive.

The main part of the book is divided by planting sites, in beds and borders, climbers, miniatures,  tree roses, etc. In each section are photographs of individual roses, with a description of their color, flower size, hardiness zone and hybridizer or family. This is a section you will ultimately want to read with a rose catalog by your side.

The final section is clear information about growing roses, from proper planting to dealing with  insect and disease problems and the odd ‘blind shoot.’

After spending an afternoon with Double Delight, Summer Dream, Souvenir de Malmaison, and Compassion you will be glad for the listing of reputable rose nurseries at the end of the book.

Bloom-Again Orchids: 50 Easy Care Orchids that Flower Again and Again and Again by judywhite (Timber Press $14.95)

An orchid plant in bloom makes a good holiday gift. It becomes a perfect gift when accompanied by this book. Actually, it would be best to refer to the book before buying an orchid in order to choose one that is most likely to live happily in the recipient’s house.

Judywhite  begins with general description of orchids and the care they need. Most orchids are epiphytes, growing on a tree in the tropics. There are terrestrial orchids that grow in the soil, but it has to be a ‘very loose, well drained soil.” Finally there are lithophytes that attach themselves to rocks.

For each orchid listed she has a 12 item check list that will detail their requirements and attributes including whether they have large flowers, sprays of multiple flowers, whether they have intense color and pattern, or fragrance.

For me, the most important things to know about any orchid I might buy is the light and temperature requirements. In general she says the orchids she has chosen can live on east, south or west windowsills..

She has established temperature ranges that she calls Warm. Which is days of 68 degrees or more, and temperatures no lower than 60 at night. The Intermediate temperature is 60 degrees during the day, and between 50 and 60 degrees at night. In my house I would need orchids that tolerate Cool temperatures of 55 degrees or higher during the day, and between 40 to 50 degrees at night.

Proper fertilization is also important. Judywhite remids us that orchids generally live in the jungle and get very little nourishment at a time. Her motto is “Water weekly weakly.”

Each orchid is photographed to give you a clear view of the differences in flower form. There are the cattelyas,  and phalaenopsis (moth orchids) which may be the most familiar, but there are many other others including those that resemble spiders, and octopuses, and those that smell like chocolate.

Books provide a lot of information and inspiration for the gardener, but other sources include horticultural societies. Membership ($35 for basic level)  in the American Horticultural Society includes 6 issues of the bi-monthly American Gardener magazine which has excellent articles about all aspects of gardening and plants, profiles of fascinating plant people, book reviews and more. Members also get discounts on books and programs, and entry fee to 240 garden shows and botanical gardens throughout the U.S. while supporting educational programs

Membership ($50 basic level)  in the Massachusetts Horticultural Society will give you a free ticket for the Boston Flower and Garden Show, back after last year’s hiatus, as well as subscriptions to Organic Gardening and Garden Design Magazines. Members also receive The Leaflet, the e-newsletter that comes by email. For a full listing of all the benefits and discounts, and a full description of the organization’s projects logon to the website.

Finally, right in our own backyard we have Nasami Nursery, a part of the New England Wildflower Society, the oldest conservation group in the country. Since we have all become so much more aware of the dangers of invasive plants and the benefits of native plants, we will find NEWFS an excellent resource. Basic membership is $50 and provides unlimited free admission to The Garden in the Woods, discounts at many nurseries including Nasami, discounts at many educational program, discounts in the gift shop, a regular e-newsletter, and access to the botanical library with more than 4,000 volumes.

The only drawback I can see to these organizations is the more you know, the more plants you will decide you need for your garden – but then Christmas will come again next year, too.

Between the Rows  December 19, 2009

Merry Christmas

“A star rose in the sky, and glory from on high
Did fill the night with splendor.
Came birds with joyful voice to carol and rejoice
With songs so sweet and tender.”
             The Carol of the Birds

Merry Christmas to all! We wish safe travelling to all those moving from here to there to celebrate with family and friends. May joy and laughter fill all your celebrations.

Gifts that Fit Like a Glove

            The dictionary defines the word gift as “Something that is bestowed voluntarily.” Sometimes, at this time of the year with Christmas garlands  around every product in the supermarket, drugstore, department store and  boutique there doesn’t seem to be much of the ‘voluntary’ available.

            And yet, sometimes a gift is not only truly voluntary, it is inspired, perfectly suited to the recipient at that particular moment, a gift that fills a secret need or desire. My first Greenfield Christmas was the first Christmas after my divorce and all the familiar traditions seemed long ago and faraway so it was not easy for my five children.

            I had a housemate, Wendy, who joined us (with her dog and eight puppies!) in September and left us just before Christmas to tend her injured mother, but not before she had given each of the children a gift. Chris received the Guiness Book of Records, something I never would have thought of, which kept all five busy for hours, but I especially remember that Wendy gave Betsy, age 9, a little flashlight to keep under her pillow because she had somehow learned that Betsy was newly afraid of the dark. This was not a gift to be shrieked over, but a gift to be kept close for its quiet comfort.

            Not every gift we give will achieve this kind of perfection, but I think gardeners are among the easiest people to delight. Any gift connected to the garden is an acknowledgement of the passion that the gardener has for her (or his) plot, and a message that the giver shares vicariously in that passion.

            I took a walk through my two favorite and local garden shops and found any number of things that would make ideal gifts for the gardener in your life, and even for yourself as you decorate for the holidays.

            I go past the Shelburne Farm and Garden Center at least once a week, and it is hard not to stop and see what is new. Pat Schmidt knows how I feel about solar power; she was quick to point out the solar powered fairy lights that come on automatically when it is dark enough. They can be strung on an outdoor wreath or other decoration. A string of 20 lights is $29.99, and a string of 48 is $34.99.

            SF&G also has energy saving LED lights: $19.99 for five huge blue and white snowflakes, and $29.99 for ten large bright icicles.  Festive lights are always an important part of holiday decorations, indoors and out.

            Those who require a houseplant or ten will always need a pretty pot. New England Pottery has a variety of pretty ceramic pots in pink, coral, yellow and blue in various sizes, including self watering pots so that if you go away for a week in the sun you won’t need to worry about your plants dying of drought.

            The Shelburne Farm and Garden people love the birds. They have birdfeeders of every description for every type of seed attracting every type of bird. I was particularly struck by the colorful and whimsical feeders that resembled bird houses. Of course they have 40 pound bags of seed as well ranging in price from $26. to $40. depending on the seed or seed mix.

            Gift certificates are available, as well.

            In Greenfield I frequently stop at the Greenfield Farmer’s Exchange on High Street because they have such a huge variety of items.

            My husband does not like the unlovely compost bowl by the kitchen sink and would probably like one of the 1 gallon handsome Compost Keepers. They come in a variety of styles, bamboo with a plastic insert for 39.95, bright ceramic for $26.99 or shiny stainless steel for $38.99.

            Every year I become more devoted to garden gloves. The Farmer’s Exchange has a full range of soft jersey gloves for adults and kids, the Atlas nitrile gloves that I particularly like for only $4.95, and West County leather gloves for $24.95. Different types of gloves for different types of chores. The bright colors in all types are cheerful, and make them a little less likely to be lost in the grass or weeds when you finally have to pull one off to complete some particularly delicate task.

            You can also give your gardener a head start on the growing season. Botanical Interests is a fairly new, family owned seed company. Seed packets of vegetables and flowers range between $3.49 and $3.99. The packets are so pretty they need no wrapping and would beautifully top a Christmas stocking.  I was interested to see that BI has seeds for the castor bean. This is a huge annual with large dark blue-green leaves tinged with red, and funny fuzzy beans.  I wouldn’t grow this if I had little children around because the beans are poisonous, but the plant is stunning. I would only need one or two. They are big!

            The Farmer’s Exchange also sells gift cards at a 10% discount, which means a $10 card only costs $9. I am a great believer in gift certificates and gift cards. I understand that many people in my family don’t know enough about gardens in general, or even my garden in particular to know what is needed or useful and that the gift card they choose will make it possible for me to have just what I need.

            Enjoy your shopping. There are people to be made happy, and it doesn’t necessarily take a lot of money.           

Between the Rows   December 12, 2009

Refractions and Reflections

While reading and enjoying my morning coffee I looked up to see this flame reflected in the framed map on the wall opposite me. And opposite the south windows where I have hung chandelier crystals to catch the sun sending rainbows dancing across the room, for a little while every day. As we come closer to the Solstice we are all more aware of the sun, and the diminishing hours of light and warmth. But there was the flame. Precious and persistent.

This morning the temperature was 4 degrees at 7 am. The coldest morning yet. The sun was shining through frost flowers on the windows. They will not last. 

Twenty years ago, after my mother’s death, my brothers and I had to share out all her possessions. When we went through her condo we finally got to a big storage closet and way in the back, were boxes and boxes of old Christmas ornaments. Ornaments from the 40s and our childhood.  My mother was much given to buying new tree ornaments every year, but I never gave any thought to what happened to the previous year’s collection, much less the collection from decades before. But there they were, enough sparkly, shining ornaments for us each to take several boxes and extending our personal histories as reflected in our Christmas trees.

Our current tree reflects nearly 70 years of family history, my mother’s ornaments, Henry’s mother’s bead garlands, ornaments the children – and grandchildren – made in school, ornaments from the craft shop I once owned, and small sequined stars we  bought in Beijing and hung on the osmanthus that stood in as our Chrismas tree that year. There are ornaments we made for a Gourmet Club tree (with a large decorated angel cookie for a topper) at an Artspace Festival of Trees, as well as ornaments given as gifts, often with a strong barnyard theme, chickens and pigs. Each ornament reflects the family, our interests, and our friends and community over the years and decades of our fortunate life.

Bloom Day – Everywhere

The Christmas cactus is blooming right on time! However, there isn’t much else in flower right now. The Thanksgiving cactus bloom has gone by and the abutilon has a couple of puny blossoms, but not photo worthy because there are so many different kinds of blooms to show this Bloom Day.

We visited daughter Betsy and her family this weekend. Her orchids are blooming. She says she regularly gets them to rebloom. She is not known for having a green thumb, but she and the orchids get along fine.

After admiring the orchid it was time to decorate the Christmas tree. This is a walk down memory lane because Betsy and the boys have stories to tell about all the ornaments they have made over the years. It is a joy to see the family blooming with health and happiness.

The weekend was full of celebrations. A surprise birthday party for Suzy (in red) on Saturday night. Fortunately someone had made sure that the martinis and olives were on hand. The evening bloomed with friendship and joy.

And in this season we celebrate the birth of Christ. The Charlemont Federated Church put on a Living Nativity. The Holy Family looks pretty happy. They must have made it to Egypt already.

But the Flight to Egypt was not easy. It began in a stable.  It might not have been quite so cold in Bethlehem as in a Charlemont snowfall, but we are reminded that in these modern days there are still many families struggling, and many children who are cold and hungry.

Happily, we could all celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, and our community with hot drinks and snacks in the warm church. Our community blooms with fellowship.

Can you believe we attended another surprise birthday party? Val (in gold), at 80, continues to serve the town as asssessor and in many other volunteer capacities. Camraderie was blooming at the Community Hall – just as planned.

We also celebrated the new snowfall by trudging out to our snowbreak to cut down a balsam for our Christmas tree. It will be blooming with ornaments. Very soon.

To enjoy more blooms across the county join our host, Carol at May Dreams Gardens.

And Christmas Begins

When rose the eastern star, the birds came from a-far,
in that full might of glory.
With one melodious voice they sweetly did rejoice
and sang the wonderous story,
sang, praising God on high, enthroned above the sky,
and his fair mother Mary.

The eagle left his lair, came winging through the air,
his message loud arising.
And to his joyous cry the sparrow made reply,
his answer sweetly voicing.
“Overcome are death and strife, this night is born new life”,
the robin sang rejoicing.
When rose the eastern star, the birds came from a-far.
                                      The Carol of the Birds

Yesterday the thermometer made it up to 60 degrees, but I went out to bring in the greens and arrange my annual 12 foot ’swag’ above the big south windows in our living room.  One year I realized I had a number of Christmas tree bird ornaments – which deserved more attention. Some birds are feathered (and I use the word loosely) bought at Michael’s craft store, some are hand carved and painted by a man in our church and some are sparkly birds with brushy tails. Some are tiny, and some are quite large/life size. I’ve hung a few sparkly pine cones ornaments as well. Aside from our tree this constitutes the major part of our holiday decoration.

And so the Christmas preparations begin. I have an extra celebration on December 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas, when instead of cookies or a shoe full of coal some lucky gardener will win Nan Ondra’s new book, The Perennial Care Manual, and 2 dozen CowPots.  You still have a chance to leave a comment, and tell me about one of your favorite books, or seed starting tip.  Entries close at midnight tomorrow.

Christmastime is Wreathtime

The Greenfield Garden Club held its wreath-making workshop last evening at Chapley’s Garden in Deerfield. Linda Tyler knew what she was doing and helped all the rest of us who didn’t.

Chapleys provided all manner of greenery from blue spruce to euonymus, rose hips, pine cones and I don’t know what all – except that a lot of different and unique wreaths were being created all around me.

Karen Helbig and I were working side by side. She was a novice, like me, but somehow her result was more impressive than mine.

Karen was a good sport and took this photo of me, trying not to laugh or look too embarrassed.

I did get some good tips for improving my second wreath which I will form on a wire coathanger.

* Make a generous ‘hand’ of greenery, the handfuls of green branches that will be wired tightly, hand by hand around the wire form – or coathanger.  The ‘hands’ don’t have to be long, but they should include several small branches.

* Different types of greenery can be used in a single ‘hand’. The differing textures can make the wreath more interesting and attractive.

* You can use the greenery right side up, or occasionally turn a branch over for a contrast in color.

* Pine cones can have a wire twisted around the base of the cone, as low as possible, and these can be wired onto the wreath for decoration.

* Essential note: make sure you tie a colored string or ribbon around your finishing loop, or you will never find it again!

I’m so happy to be a member of the Greeenfield Garden Club, where I find friendship and information, and a way to provide service to the community. For more information about the club logon on to the website which includes beautiful photos from last year’s garden tour.

Mary’s Garden

The Christmas story is filled with familiar scenes and characters, a harsh innkeeper, a stable, shepherds, wise men, angels and friendly animals keeping watch over a Babe in the manger. And, of course, the parents of that Babe. It is easy for me to imagine that those parents would have been even more anxious than any new parents. What did those angelic visitations and dreams really mean?

Poor Joseph doesn’t play a big part in the telling of the Christmas story, but Mary, the Virgin Mother has inspired artists, poets and story tellers down the centuries. She has even inspired gardeners who have looked in the faces of dozens of flowers and seen her purity, her history, and her attributes reflected there.

During the Middle Ages a tradition began of growing a garden dedicated to Mary. This Mary Garden included all the flowers that myth and legend assigned to her, beginning with the violet which sprang up outside the window after the Annunciation. As the Angel flew off he saw the new little flowers and blessed them with a sweet fragrance.

In a way, all flowers belong to Mary. May is her month, not because it can be considered a diminutive of her name, but because in May the gardens and fields all burst into glorious bloom.

Still, some flowers like the lily, have been associated with Mary for centuries. Medieval artists often portrayed her with a lily, “white without, and gold within”.  The rose is also a flower dedicated to Mary.

There are other white flowers that reflect Mary’s purity: the humble snowdrop that blooms in the early spring, the white rose and the daisy. Lilies of the valley have been called Our Lady’s tears because they sprang up as Mary wept by the cross.

Some flowers reflect Mary’s life in the home. The tall verbascum with its yellow flowers has been called Mary’s candle, and foxgloves have been known as Mary’s thimbles.

Strewing herbs, tansy, thyme and spearmint, spread on the floor in medieval times to sweeten the air (and discourage insects) were also reflections of her sweetness.

Tulips are planted in Mary gardens, a symbol of her soul opening up to God’s grace. The strawberry which produces delicate white flowers and fruits at the same time is a symbol of her virgin maternity.

When the Holy Family fled to Egypt to escape Herod, they stopped along the way to rest, and to allow Mary to do some washing up of the Christ Child’s clothes. She spread them to dry on the rosemary bush growing nearby, and ever after, for this help to the new mother, it bore flowers as blue as Mary’s robe.

The pine tree also helped the Family on their flight. One night an ancient pine invited them to shelter in its trunk. In the morning, when Herod’s soldiers were passing, the pine drew its branches around the three protecting them until it was safe for them to be on their way. In token of this help, the Christ Child blessed the tree and I have been told that if you break a pine cone you will find the Child’s handprint in the center.

Mary is sometimes depicted “Clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars”, like the Woman in the Book of Revelation. Because of this passage, a Mary garden should include marigolds for the sun, lunaria or moonflowers for the moon, corn flowers for her crown and daffodils for the stars.

Legends about plants that we all have in our gardens are charming. But I think these legends must also have been tools for teaching about faith in a time when most people were not literate, when children learned the domestic arts including gardening at their mother’s knee, and when there was time for storytelling as families worked together.

Some churches have planted Mary Gardens on their grounds, and some people have included a space for a private Mary Garden in their gardens. In both cases the garden, with its carefully chosen plants, serves as reminder of the Holy Mother and her virtues and compassion, and as an aid to meditation.

Advent is a meditative season, a time to prepare for the arrival of poor Child. Perhaps, after the difficulties of the year with more to look forward to, we are all more aware of this than usual. Perhaps in our meditations we will find compassion, and hope.

December 6, 2008

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Gifts for the Gardener

My gift shopping schedule fell to pieces when ice began falling out of the sky last week. But there is still time for the last minute shopping that any of us have to do.

I’m a gardener and I love presents so I don’t think it is hard to shop for a gardener. It’s not that we are greedy, it’s just that there are always new gadgets and equipment to try. Gloves, boots and clogs wear out and need to be replaced. Aching bones need to be soothed in a bubble bath and hands smoothed with creams.

I stopped at the Shelburne Farm and Garden Center on Route 2 and saw that they are once again selling LED (light emitting diode) Christmas lights for $30. I stocked up on these last year as part of my energy saving efforts. LED lights use a fraction of the energy used by regular lights. I have white snowflake LED lights that have a slight bluish cast for the windows, and colored tree lights that almost look like gumdrops on the tree.

Because we gardeners love birds that keep our environment in balance, the SF&GC has lots of bird feeders, big ones and little ones, from $5 to $80. They have net thistle sock feeders or $4 and special oriole food for $3. I had no idea that orioles liked feeders and food similar to hummingbirds. A trip to the store is educational.

In addition there are big sacks of all kinds of seed mixes costing about $35 as well as suet cakes in various sizes, with blueberries, or peanuts, or sunflower hearts. Costs vary from $3 to $10. Suet is an important part of a bird’s winter diet.

Then I was off to the Greenfield Farmers Co-op Exchange on High Street. They also have LED Christmas lights. Everyone wants to save energy, and money, wherever they can.

When I was having so much trouble with my hip (before replacement surgery) I became aware of the benefits of tools with extendable handles. Corona makes a family of such tools with steel handles that extend from 18 to 32 inches. There is a small rake, a hoe/cultivator and a trowel, each costing about $12. Corona also makes a sturdy 24 inch bypass pruner for $30.

I like Corona tools because in addition to their good quality they have bright red handles. I don’t know about you, but I have spent any number of hours looking for tools I’ve forgotten in the grass or in the flower bed. Of course, I have a friend who had the same problem and he wrapped all his tool handles in orange fluorescent tape. Maybe a roll of bright tape could be stuffed in a stocking to brighten up favorite old tools.

Harvesting vegetables can be a dirty business. Pike’s Original Maine Garden Hod is a wood and heavy coated wire ‘basket’ that allows the gardener to give vegetables a good wash with a hose before bringing them into the kitchen. A small one (about 8 by 16 inches) is $35 and a larger one (about 10 by 20 inches) is $40.

I stopped at GreenFields Market and found a whole garden in the skin care department. Avalon Organics lavender bath and shower get or lotion are both just under $19 for 32 ounces. One With Nature Triple Milled Rose Petal Soap is made with Dead Sea salt and shea butter. One bar is $3.69. Triple milling means a bar will last a lot longer than a bar of Dial.

Wise Ways Herbals Rose Garden body powder does not contain talc, and costs $6. Favorite fragrances for these toiletries seem to be rose, rosemary, lavender, orange and lemon, scents that sooth or invigorate. Naturally I always go for the rosy fragrances.

We gardeners know how to get dirty, and scratched, but we can enjoy a fragrant cleaning up process.

Gardeners need bowls and vases. The Shelburne Artists Cooperative on Bridge Street has beautiful wooden bowls made by Deb Lively, ranging in price from $200 to $900. Filled with fruit or vegetables they’d make a creative centerpiece.

In addition there are simple or stunning blown glass vases by Tucker Litchfield, Leslie Kearsley and Keith Cerone. Prices range from $20 to $500.

You can give a gardener, or a non-gardener, a plant. A brilliant poinsettia or cyclamen will brighten the holidays for anyone, whether or not they are interested in trying to carry over til next Christmas. At Plants for Pleasure on Bridge Street in Shelburne you can buy poinsettias ranging in price from $8 to $42, peace lillies from $4 to $25, Norfolk Island pines from $6 to $45, or gorgeous little mini-vases blown by Michael Armstrong.

Not all gifts are found in a shop with a price tag. We can always give the gift of love and labor in the garden. What about a promissory note for 2 hours of weeding, or lawn mowing or any directed labor? Or the promise of a perennial division? An afternoon of steamy jelly making?

Any gift we choose is really a wish for the recipient’s happiness and well being. I wish you happy and well throughout this whole holiday season.

December 20, 2008