The Joslin Garden—New Beginnings following the Golden Gate Bridge Maintenance Plan—The Week of July 4, 2021

TUESDAY

The Golden Gate Bridge

Today brought new beginnings for me and The Joslin Garden! Starting today, The Joslin Garden will be the sole City garden in my care. My part-time (32 hours per week) will be my full-time job. It will be a combination of garden maintenance, writing the weekly post and plant profiles, creating a plant database, and anything else that needs to be done.

MY ARRIVAL

At 7:00 AM I arrived at the sound of one of the resident owls. The other birds were finishing their morning choir. I was alone. No one was with me or watching me, but my work habit has always been, work like someone is watching! It’s a work ethic that has served me well, and the City recognized it. I appreciate that so much!

Still, it was kind of a funny feeling to be so alone; yet I love working alone. I had a moment when I missed my work-mates and checking in at Central Business Division. It’s a great group to work with, but The Joslin Garden is a prize for me. It takes a unique set of skills to do what I’ll be doing, and I happen to have each and every one of them. Then again, I kind of wrote the job description ;)

I am the first gardener employed since the City acquired The Joslin Garden, and I have a fancy new title, Program Coordinator. I’ll be doing what I started on January 6, 2021, but at the pace of four days a week.

Given the rate I have been generating yard waste, I’m not sure we will have enough yard waste cans or tarps to handle all we generate in a week. . As it is, I could fill a dump truck for each Friday’s pick-up, and that was only working on Thursdays! Mind you, Thursday is volunteer day, So I didn’t generate all that amount of waste on my own. Now I’m not sure what’s going to happen. Today alone, all alone, I gathered a dump truckload. Yikes! But this won’t always be the case.

As we move forward, I’m visualizing two maintenance plans—The Golden Gate Bridge Plan (GGBP) and The General Garden Maintenance Plan (GGMP. )Both plans will occur simultaneously, but not necessarily each and every visit. For the most part, volunteers will work on The Garden Gate Bridge Plan, and Nell, Alliene, and I will work on The General Garden Maintenance Plan.

THE Golden Gate Bridge MAINTENANCE PLAN (GGBP OF)

What?!?! Why the Golden Gate Bridge? What’s that got to do with garden maintenance?

Did you know the Golden Gate Bridge is continually painted? I find this interesting. Starting from one end, the painters paint across the bridge to the other end. Once finished, in about a year, the painters start over. Painting the Bridge is an ongoing task and a primary maintenance job. That is how I see The Joslin Garden as the BIG picture plan of Nature and the Conservancy areas. We will start at the street, which we have already, and work our way around the natural areas of the garden. This will likely take a year, and then we will need to start again. These tend to be BIG projects like the time we had The Samet Corporation volunteer apply mulch to our paths. We need more. Maybe they will want to return! Our friends with the Gardeners of Wake County will also be part of this plan.

I would be remiss not to mention volunteer Art. Art has been a steady worker and willing to take on these kinds of tasks. We are currently limbing up. Art and I have been working on this. As of today, though, this work will become part of the GGB plan. Art will continue with this along with other volunteers, when available. In my head, I have a list of cool projects, but I’ve not written them down yet.

Today, I continued from last week to create the new Perennial Garden. Tomorrow, I get to go plant shopping at the City’s greenhouse. Yippee!

Morning light on the hardy begonia, front view Begonia grandis

Morning light on the hardy begonia, back view Begonia grandis

I need mulch. I also need a sprayer, garlic, and crushed red pepper. Neal, my supervisor, is on vaca now, so when he returns, I need to figure how to get supplies. I’ll start with 4 cubic yards of the City’s composted leaf mulch, dumped at the top of the driveway. A Thursday morning would be best.

Resident rabbit.

Rabbits are taking over the garden, and they have a particular love for pentas, Pentas lanceolata. Did you know you can make your own rabbit and deer repellent? Start by filling a one-gallon container, such as a milk jug, with water. Crush five garlic cloves and add to the water. Add a teaspoon of crushed red peppers and 1 tablespoon of dish soap, to use as a surfactant.. This will allow the mixture to stick to the leaves. Shake the container very well and then place it outdoors in the direct sun for two days.

I was remiss to get an after shot. Nell, I promise the foliage is at least gone. Let’s see about cutting up the logs!

Ah yes, even our native trees can be weedy. What you see in the photo above is the absolute BIGGEST fallen redbud, Cercis sp. There were two grown together even. Those are the sprouts growing from where it had been trimmed time and time again. Ultimately, we want this tree removed, but need a BIG chainsaw to make short work of this. Some day!

I managed to dig up some nice porcelain vine, Ampelopsis brevipedunculata, roots. This vine is my absolute nemesis. These shoots will be removed as we find them.

WEDNESDAY

I arrived at the sound of a cicada welcoming me. The resident birds were finishing their choir. I knew it was going to be a hot one, and it was.

As I had my coffee, deciding where to start, I choose to start in the most visible garden. I deemed that the garden to the left of the home entrance.

I could name all the weeds I removed on the left, but I don’t want to relive it. View facing the driveway.

I cleared out all the weeds, on the left, but it was hard to tell in the picture, so I didn’t include it. View at entrance.

On my list for next week is to cut back and remove the garden phlox, Phlox paniculata spp. Most of these will go in the new Perennial Garden. They are serving as a ground cover now where the light is low; further down the path, the phlox is more upright where more sun shines.

After this weeding was done, I went shopping at the City’s greenhouse. I filled my CRV. #OhWhatFun!

I met with Sarah (or is it Sara; I must find out.) I think we are kindred spirts since we both have an environmental background) at City’s greenhouse to pick up plants to fill the new bed. I need more. Yep. I need more, but my SUV will only hold so much at a time. I’m making the Greenhouse happy, finding homes for plants that need a home. Once I returned, I placed the new additions where I wanted them planted. I ran out of time today to plant, but hopefully, I’ll make a dent tomorrow in planting before Tropical Depression Elsa arrives.

My new pollinator garden, yes, it is MINE! haha. This is the first garden in my sole care. Before, I was a helper to Anna, my work mate. I miss her already.

THURSDAY

I started my day at 6:00 AM as I wanted to get as much done as could before Elsa arrived. I got a good dent on planting, but there is still a lot to do. Once it started pouring, I when to my home office to write this post. Then the power went out. A power line went out a block from me. I’m not sure if a car hit the pole, or what, but the pole was laying across the street.

As the opportunist as I am, I went back to the City’s greenhouse to get more plants. I’ll drop by tomorrow once Elsa lets me. Hi Jenna and Kim! When you are starting with nothing, you can use it all! I will also begin an educational piece to publish separately on Friday.

With the power still out, I crossed my fingers that my old stand-by Herghty’s would have power. They did, so I’m here watching the rain come down, writing today and tomorrow’s posts.

Hereghty’s is near and dear to me. Not far from my house. I would spend everyday there writing my first book, Gardening With Confidence. It was a best seller!

FRIDAY

Important work going on today!

INSECTS

Tiger swallowtail, female. Common host plants for the female Tiger Swallowtail to lay her eggs include, the tulip tree, Liriodendron tulipifera, wild black cherry, Prunus serotina, and sweet bay Magnolia, Magnolia virginiana.

Apheloria tigana. Yellow and black flat backed millipede

The yellow and black flat-backed millipede, Apheloria tigana, is one of my favorite insects. I guess because, when handled, it smells like almonds. I love the smell of almonds. I guess you could say, it’s an insect with benefits! What you are really smelling is hydrogen cyanide, which, in low concentrations, smells like almond extract.

Until soon,

Helen Yoest (M.S.)

Joslin Garden Program Coordinator

Do You Deadhead? Do You Boogie?

Most gardeners understand there is a reason for deadheading, right? If I asked you, you’ll most likely say it’s because if the plant isn’t deadheaded, its energy goes towards seed set, and it will no longer continue to bloom as it should or could. And you’d be right. 

SEEDS FOR THE BIRDS

Before we get into the ways of deadheading, I want to ask you: is growing more flowers your only goal? Could there be other benefits than just flowers? Of course there are. Read on!

What if you want more flowers and seeds for the birds? This is where you learn the deadheading boogie dance. OK, I made that up, but it makes sense. If you want more blooms and birds, only deadhead half of the seed-heads. 

Did you know Goldfinch, Spinus tristis, delay nesting until there are enough seed available to feed their young is available? Goldfinches are one of the few birds that are strictly vegetarian. Personally, I find goldfinch feeding on seed just as beautiful, if not more, than the flower itself. 

GENERAL DEADHEADING

Perennials/Shrubs

Asters, Asteraceae spp.—Typically, there are so many long-lasting flowers, I tend to give this a pass. 

Bee Balm, Monarda spp.—Deadhead to the next bud. When the flowers have finished fleshing out, cut to the ground, you’ll get another flowering round of this old fashion favorite. 

There are several composite flowers where deadheading procedures are the same to produce regrowth: Black-eyed Susans, Rudbeckia spp., blanket flower, Gaillardia spp., coneflowers, Echinacea spp. When I see the next bud forming below, I deadhead to just above that new bud.

Daylilies, Hemerocallis spp.—As the name suggests, daylilies last but a day. They will fall off themselves after a day or two, but to really tidy up the plant, go ahead and pull them off after a day. I have friends who like to spend their evenings, often with a toddy in hand, cutting that day’s bloom before morning arrives. That way, the day starts fresh!

Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea—With flowers that bloom from bottom, up like Foxglove, Gladiolus, Liatris, it’s best to deadhead when only 25% of flowers remain. 

Hollyhocks, Alcea spp.—Anyone who has ever grown this great plant knows hollyhocks are known for the fungal disease rust. I found that once the flowers are spent, cut it way back, leaves and all. You will get a new flush of flowers, and the rust tends to be at bay by then. Hollyhocks are also the lost butterfly plant for the Painted Lady butterfly. 

Iris spp.—You’ll want to cut back these spent stalks not just to get fresh flowers but also to make the plant look better. 

Joe-Pye weed, Eutrochium purpureum—As for Joe-Pye weed, I don’t tend to deadhead. The flowers are fluffy, look good, and don’t tend to make more once they finish blooming. Joe-Pye weed is also the host plant for 47 caterpillars, primarily moths, producing good food for brooding birds. 

Garden Phlox, Phlox paniculata—Seed-eating birds love the seed.

Rose, Rosa spp.—If you grow roses, you know how to deadhead; if you are a new rosarian, cut spent bloom back to a five-leaflet petiole, cutting at an angle, just above a leaflet facing outward. 

Before deadheading

After

Sage, Salvia officinalis—Don’t let this one sneak up on you. Keep deadheaded, and this salvia will bloom all summer. 

Blue salvia, Salvia guaranitica—Blue Salvia will bloom all summer regardless of deadheading. In a big patch, do tend to cut half of the plants back by half. This will delay blooming and will keep a stouter plant.

Shasta Daisy—I know people who don’t deadhead Shastas until all the flowers are all spent. Then they shear for the next flush. I don’t do this and find it difficult to accept. I like to groom my plants lovingly and don’t like the harsh effects of shearing.

Tickseed—There are too many flowers to deadhead. You’ll extend the bloom, but the goldfinch loves these seeds. 

Annuals/Biennials 

Cleome, Cleome hassleriana—I love this old-fashioned spider plant until I don’t. Once they go to seed, the “arms” look gangly, and I find them to be very unattractive. As soon as I collect seeds for next year, I pull them up and compost.

Coleus, Coleus scutellarioides—Coleus are grown for the foliage. The bees like the flowers, but most of us will snip back the flowers to highlight the leaves. 

Campanulas, Campanula spp.—This baby spreads so much, no need to deadhead. They will make more.

Cosmos, Cosmos bipinnatus—These spring beauties will last a long time if deadheaded to the next node. 

Hardy Geraniums, Geranium bohemicum—This is another one I don’t tend to deadhead because there are so many long-lasting flowers. 

Larkspur, Delphinium spp.—I’m greedy where Larkspur is concerned. I let them all go to seed so I can collect the seed for next year. They will self-sow, but I like collecting them to move around and share. Once this is done, I pull and compost.

Marigolds, Tagetes spp.—For marigolds, I deadhead the first half of summer to let them flush, then stop the second half so I can collect seed. 

Petunias spp.—I do deadhead petunias, but I also have a trick where I cut back hard the week before I go on vacation. That why I have an entirely new flush when I return!

Snapdragons, Antirrhinum spp.—Deadheading will increase your floral display.

Zinnia spp.—Zinnias can be deadheaded a few times but will ultimately get gangly. Deadhead a couple of times, and when the plant starts to look ratty, cut back to the ground. Depending on the time of year, it may or may not flush back. 

Good luck, and experiment. Deadheading allows us to get more from our flowers!

The Joslin Garden—The Making of a Pollinator Garden—July 1, 2021

Let me just start by saying, July (June & August, as well) is about the worst time to make a garden bed. But I did it anyway. You might remember, last week during #pollinator week, I commandeered a space that was a hot mess. There were a few great plants there, but they couldn’t be found through all the weeds.

New beds for pollinators—before weeding

The existing plants kept included daylilies, Hemerocallis spp.; Stock’s Aster, Aster Stokesia ‘Peachie's Pick’, hybrid blue salvia, Salvia patens, Jerusalem sage, Phlomis fruticosa, and lantana, Lantana camera; not sure which one it is…yet.

Through the heat today, Nell and I finished weeding a wider area of the soon-to-be bed.

Today was planting day!

From the City greenhouse, we added, garden phlox, Phlox ‘Minnie Pearl’; goldenrod, Solidago x ‘Little Lemon’; Sedum ‘Vera Jamison’; coneflower, Echinacea ‘Cayenne Spirt’; and an aster??

Shared from The Bee Better Teaching Garden, I brought several bee balm, Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’.

Propagated from The Bee Better Teaching Garden, butterfly milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa; and ornamental onion, Allium hybrid‘Millenium’.

We’ll start with the above, and later move many of the daylilies to line the bed instead of being bunched up in primarily one area.

Also within the bed was this azalea, below. I needed help identifying it. I knew it was in the genus Rhododendron, thinking it was an azalea of some sort, but I was unfamiliar with it. And now know it as a Rhododendron Indicum but which one? With such tiny leaves, I would never have thought that! At this time, I’m still researching a cultivar, if there is one.

VOLUNTEER ART

In the meantime, Art continued limbing up. Next week, I’ll be sure to get pictures of our new vistas!

VOLUNTEER AILLENE

Aillene’s speciality is deadheading. A great skill to have. As I looked for a project for her to focus on, I decided the next best thing to deadheading was dead-stemming. Maybe there really isn’t such a thing, but when a large southern azalea, Rhododendron indica is accidentally sheared into a meatless meatball that is what it would take to reshape. It was a regrettable mishap, but it will grow back.

Note the beautiful azalea in the middle of the pathway.

Oops! Azalea after the mishap!

Aillene was maticulus and focused, and was able to shape the azalea to grow back into a more natural, pre-shearing state.

On a side note, starting next week, I will be taking the leadership roll of Program Coordinator of The Joslin Garden. This is such a great honor! We will continue with our weekly post, and will have additional educational pieces.

Helen Yoest

Environmental Scientist, M.S.

The Joslin Garden—Pollinator Planning—June 24, 2021

Happy Pollinator Week!

To celebrate, The Joslin Garden is creating a new pollinator bed, situated next to the veggie garden!

Since I’ve only been working the Garden since the first of the year, and then only one day a week, I’m not sure what will come up and where. I started weeding a garden bed near the veggie garden, and Nell said, “Everything can go except the daylilies, Hemerocallis spp. I didn’t even see any daylilies, there were so many weeds obstructing the view.

HELEN

Location of The Joslin Garden’s new pollinator garden .

This hot mess was made up of two primary weeds, Senna spp. and a wild inch plant, also known as the wandering Jew plant. I prefer inch plant but added the second common name for identification purposes since wondering Jew is a more commonly known common name. In either case, it’s in the genus, Tradescantia spp., and it was so thick, I was able to pull out as handfuls at a time, and I have man-size hands. I wear a large man’s glove! Same with Senna; it reseeds everywhere. I have to control it in my own garden as well.

Pollinator garden after weeding!

Stay tuned for the additions we add.

ART

Art continued with limbing up low-hanging branches. I did a little, but Art did a lot!

NELL

Let’s hear to for Nell!!! God bless her, she is still hunting down 4 O’Clocks, Mirabilis multiflora. They have invaded the garden. Nell will get them though, given she is so focused, she will eradicate this invasive. It may take a year, but as we improve the garden with more natives, and loosing invasive, we shall meet our goal.

Nell worn out from her battle with 4 O'Clocks.

INSECTS FOUND TODAY
Yes, I am a bug nut. I didn’t get pics of all that we found, but we do have two nice insect examples of what we found in the garden today.

Red Paper Wasp, Polistes Carolina, rolling a pollen ball.

Two-lined spittle bug, Prosapia bicincta,

I was hesitant to add this, but when I was weeding the new pollinator garden, I interrupted an adult-size copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix. Did you know black snakes, Pantherophis obsoletus, eat copperheads? You do now! We have a resident black snake, but it looks like he/she is not doing their job!

Until soon,

Helen Yoest

Evviromental Scientist, M.S.

The Joslin Garden—Joslin Wide Open—June 17 & 19, 2021

Progress!!! It is starting to be visible now. To those who regularly walk the gardens, we’d like to hear from you! We have been opening the street view, which we have written about. This week, Art and I limbed up some trees to let in more light. We want to plant more native pollinators plants.

When I stopped by today (Saturday) to see the progress the Gardeners of Wake County made during their monthly volunteer get-together this morning, I was so impressed! Wow, oh wow! What a fine job they do helping us with garden maintenance—even construction-type projects.

This month, the volunteers finished putting one of the arbors (they brought the materials) and set the post for the other. Chris thought he would be able to complete the project in the next couple of weeks.

New arbor built by volunteers from the Gardeners of Wake Cointy

Chris and I walked the property Thursday to see what projects the GWC could help us with. This smartweed, Polygonum sp. was one. I’m not so sure why it’s called smartweed. Knotweed is another name for it.

One of the big areas we wanted to address with the volunteers was the front side garden below.

The volunteers worked in this area to clear it ourt and transplant daylilies and ferns to other parts of the garden.

Transplanted daylilies

Transplanted ferns.

Below is the triangle in the back. Slowly Nell and I have been adding plants there. So far, we have added iris and Phlox ‘Minnie Pearl’. The GWC weeded it and also moved some peonies to this area.

Beyond what Art and I did Thursday opening up The Joslin Garden, we had a tree come down and it took a large shrub with it.

The Gardeners of Wake County move a lot of the fallen tree but didn’t have time to remove it all. I asked my husband, David, to let us volunteer to take down the rest.

And here it is…

Until soon,

Helen Yoest

Environmental Scientist. M.S.

The Joslin Garden—Sawing in a Rain Forest—June 10, 2021

The Joslin Garden is like a chameleon. There are so many moods. Last week it was all about the mountains. This week, arriving under an overcast sky, just past dawn, the air was thick. The trees were laden with raindrops, and with each breeze, those drops fell like walking a rainforest!

With coffee in hand, I began my day walking the property to see what today’s focus would be. I was alone. It felt nice. I was inspired to saw more. First, I noticed the coleus Nell planted last week. What a difference this made!

I planted the annual salvias from last week, along with six of the ten one-gallon-sized coleuses we had. This was not easy going. The four remaining pots will have to wait. At least I dug a bit to set the pots in so they didn't fall over and miss any of the rain we hope to get.

While I was digging, I realized I wanted to make a bigger impact. That was going to involve a saw. I did what I could from my limited reach, but it is still a dump truck full. (Neal, please beg my forgiveness to your crew in advance.)

Aillene was here to help me today. The vitex, (Vitex agnus-castus) caught our eye. As we looked around, we found that everyone of them were misshapen, with truncated ends, better known as ugly scars, and multiple waterspouts per limb. We started with one that was clearly visible from the street. This made since, of course, since were a digging the new view!

Chris worked in the veggie garden, mostly planting marigolds. Nell did her work before our regular Thursday volunteer time, planting coleus, elephant ears, Colocasia spp, and I also saw evidence of more four O’Clock tubers, Mirabilis spp., no doubt dug up by Nell.

Oh, and before I forget, I saw that dear again. She was coming from the park across the street where it splits East and West Lake Dr. With so much building going on in Raleigh; these poor creatures have to go somewhere.

I also picked up big sticks that came down in the heavy rain we had, as well as coppicing several street spireia. What’s coppicing? Coppicing is a traditional method of woodland management that exploits the capacity of many species of trees to put out new shoots from their stump or roots if cut down.

Spirea before coppicing to the ground.

It was a good day. Note to Nell, next week let’s talk about the vitex!

Until soon,

Helen Yoests

Environmental Scientist

The Joslin Garden—Stalking the Wild...Nandina—6-4-2021

An unknown, late-blooming azaleas along the driveway!

The night before, we had two inches of rain, thankfully. We've been told by those that know 2021 has been the driest spring on record, and everything around us suggested the same. We welcomed the rain. Nell and I touched base first thing in the morning to see if we should give it a try, given we were expecting more rain. Nell was right in that the rain wouldn't likely arrive before the afternoon. She was right!

A mossy view along the path…

As I arrived, the dampness lingered, branches hung low. A choir of birdsong filled the air. The feeling of a wild jungle came to mind, or at the very least, the Blue Ridge Mountains, as it often does when I walk the property. At any moment, I expected to see a black bear roaming, as there have been so many reports lately.

Nell, Chris, Aillene, and I were the crew for this fine day. We missed Art, but he'll be back from his summer friend and family visits soon.

HELEN

With saw in hand, I started my day with a journey of stalking the wild nandina, Nandina Domestica. Euell Gibbons may not have approved since nandina is not edible, but I did channel Mr. Gibbons, and I was stalking nandina to rid everyone I found!

A Nandina barrier

I think I got all but three. Nell and I decided these nandinia were intentionally planted since it appeared they were a barrier to keep someone from accidentally falling off the edge of the steps leading down to the front of the house. Eventually, we will find a better barrier, but we can live with these for now.

Stump of Ugly Agnus cut last week. Now you see it…

The ugly agnus, Elaeagnus spp. was cut flush to the ground where Nell then covered with cardboard and mulch.

…now it’s gone!

As I journey through the garden, I found where a maple, Acer spp., fell. Someone cut it enough to get off the path. I'm not sure who that was, but I'll assume it was the Gardeners of Wake County who volunteered last week.

I traded my Euell Gibbons hat for a lumberjack's attire. My attention for the remainder of that morning was on the maple. While I finished, it wore me out!

Annual placements.

At lunch, I got caffeinated and decided to go to the City's Greenhouse to see what annuals were available. With a car full of Coleus spp., marigolds, Tagetes spp., Salvias spp,, elephant ears, Colocasia spp. I went back to The Joslin Garden to placed incase Nell or Art felt like doing a little planting.

More annual placements. There are other areas, but this should give you an idea!

I just checked my steps. I clocked in at 15,989! (What's that noise? That's sound is me patting myself on my back!)

AILLENE

Aillene likes to do a devoted task. So this week, I assigned her the chore of removing the monkey grass, Liriope muscari. I call it a chore because it really was. As Aillene said, these 50-pound clumps needed a new home." And they did find one…In someone else's garden!

These clumps were not in a pattern and didn't appear to serve a purpose. One of the clumps surrounded a young dogwood, Cornus spp. tree. Once the Liriope was removed, the tree became visible and lovely. 

Aillene working the clumps!

After a lifetime of working with plants, I still find it amazing the difference it makes when changing a focal point. In this case, the monkey grass was the only plant one saw. Once removed, the negative space and the tree became center stage. This was hard work; I hope Aillene comes back! I think/know she will, but I'll plan for something easier next week. Thank you, Aillene!

CHRIS

Chris continued his focus on the veggie garden. After weeding the bed last week, he planted and added compost. Again, this was an arduous chore, but at least I'm not to blame haha. Chris took this chore upon himself! Thank you, Chris!

NELL

Nell moved around in her efforts this week. She may or may not have found the last four o'clocks, Mirabilis spp. If we see any sign of them emerging, we'll work on it!!! Thank you, Nell!

Nell tends to find her on tasks, for which I'm grateful. Everything needs to be done, but we are making progress. We got a nice note from Art, who walks the property daily as is exercise, saying, "I had a great walk through the garden late Tuesday and again yesterday. Our work is making a difference." Indeed it is; many hands make light work. Thank you, Nell!

P. S.

As we gather each week, we have built such a community with each other. While, yes, Ailene and Art are volunteers, we are also making a deep friendship. I'm honored to call them friends. <3

We would love and welcome new volunteers. If you would like to join our group, just say the word! Groups can join HERE and individuals can join HERE.

(What’s that noise? That’s me clapping and cheering for our volunteers! It’s often difficult, but always fun!)

Until soon,

Helen Yoest

Environmental Scientist

The Joslin Garden—Volunteer Work Days—5-22 & 5-27-2021

Saturday, 5-22-2021—The Gardeners of Wake County

Each month, members The Gardeners of Wake County volunteer their time to help out in The Joslin Garden. We are very fortunate they chose us as part of their civic contribution. This is a very hard-working group, and we are so appreciative.

Daylilies, Hemerocallis spp.. For a while now, Nell Joslin wanted to spread the collection of daylilies around, but our sunny locations were limited. Now that we cleared out the bear’s claw hellebores from this area, thank you volunteer Art, there were still seedlings everywhere. With bright ideas, I asked the City of Raleigh District 4 team if they could weed whack them away. Sure enough, Andy made short work of it. This coupled with opening up the street-view from the removal of non-native shrubs, the forest floor is visible from the street. Nell and I think the view is beautiful. We hope you do too!

Street-view overlooking from where the nandina blocked the view.

Another view from the street!

The volunteers weeded the Veggie Garden. Trust me when I say, it was a hot mess of weeds before this wonderful group arrived.

The old rickety trellis. Nell and I didn’t even know it was a problem, until Aillene stood near it to talk with us, and realized it moved! Out it went. Thanks again, Gardeners of Wake County. And can you believe they are building us a new one to install next month? #FeelingGrateful The volunteers also identified another that needing replacing, and took care of that one too!

The holes will be used again. In the meantime, we have them cautioned off.

Thursday, 5-27-2021—Nell, Art, & Aillene

Pentas added along the front entrance.

A large elaeagnus, Elaeagnus angustifolia, was removed from the street-side, opening up the street-view even more. Next week, my mission is to identify every elaeagnus and nandina location and cut to the ground. We will have to cover it with cardboard and mulch. I don’t even want to see them anymore.

Nell continued to dig up Four O’Clocks, Mirabilis spp. They have invaded our beds!

What a wonderful, productive week. Nell and I can’t wait until next time when were can continue with our weekly progress!

Helen Yoest

Environmental Scientist

The Joslin Garden—Not Tonight, Deer—5-27-2021

Just when you think you are deer-free, one is spotted in the garden! Even if Nell Joslin didn’t actually see it to capture a pic, I would have known a deer visited since this particular deer went after our newly blossomed roses. There was the characteristic tearing at the top of the ripped stems.

A deer visiting The Joslin Garden

Through conservation, we at The Joslin Garden spend a good bit of time caring for the wildlife within. But there is a real problem with unwelcome wildlife. For many of us, that means deer.

Certainly, there are many other pests that bother the residential gardener, such as moles, voles, rabbits, squirrels, opossums, and raccoons, but deer are some of the most common garden-wreckers in many regions.

Deer are becoming a problem even in suburbia; maybe that is better phrased “especially in suburbia.” Most of our suburban gardens were not planned to deal with deer. However, as our developments continue to take away animal habitats, deer look for food wherever they can—often in our own back yards.

Sprays are somewhat effective in defending against deer, but you have to reapply monthly and on any new growth. The best defense against deer is a good offense. Don’t plant the things deer love most—unfortunately, that includes garden favorites like roses and hostas. At first, you may think you are diluting your plant choices, and perhaps you are to a degree. But you are also giving yourself the opportunity to learn about and use plants you might not have otherwise considered.

Below is a list of plants deer are less likely to eat. I would be remiss not to say, “They will never eat these,” because if deer are hungry enough, they’ll eat anything. In general, though, if the plant has a rough texture or a bad taste, deer will avoid it. 

PERENNIAL FLOWERS:
Allium, Anemone, Astilbe, Baptista, bee balm (Monarda spp.), bellflower (Campanula spp.), bleeding heart (Dicentra spectacles), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), Coreopsis, candytuft (Iberis umbellata), daffodil (Narcissus), feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), flax (Linum usitatissimum), Geum, goldenrod (Solidago spp.), lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina), Liatris, mint ( Mentha spp.), tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), tiger lily (Lilium lancifolium), primrose (Onagraceae sp.), oregano (Oregano vulgare), Oriental poppy (Papaver oriental), ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), pinks (Dianthus caryophyllus), Pulmonary,  rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum), sage (Salvia officinalis), shasta daisy (Leucanthmum x superbum), soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), Scilla, sweet William (Dianthus barbatus), wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), Veronica, vinca (Catharanthus roseus), yarrow (achillea millefolium), and yucca. 

TREES AND SHRUBS:
American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), Austrian pine (Pinus nigra), Barberry (Berberis spp.), Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens), English hawthorn (Crataegus levitate), European white birch (Betula pendula), European beech (Fagus sylvatica), forsythias, honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), beauty bush (Kolkwitzia amaryllis), mugo pine (Pinus mugo), Norway spruce (Picea abies), white spruce (Picea glauca), red pine (Pinus resinosa), redosier dogwood (Cornus sericea), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), lilac (Syringa vulgaris), rosemary (Rosemaryinus officinalis), and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia).

ANNUAL FLOWERS:
Ageratum, basil (Ocimum basilicum), begonia (Brassica olerancea), blue salvia (Salvia guaranitica), dusty miller (Centaurea cineraia), Dahlia, four o’clock (Marbles multiflora), forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides), foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), geranium (Pelargonium x hortorum), heliotrope (Heliotropism arborescens), marigold (Calendula officinalis), morning glory (Ipomoea leptophylla), parsley (Petroselinum), Lobelia, poppy (Eschscholzia california), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), and Verbena.

Most county Extension Services have a list of regional plants that are generally less popular with visiting deer. No one can claim a plant is totally deer-resistant. Sometimes deer will take one big bite only to walk away, but the damage has often been done by then. The lists are a good place to start, though.  

I REMEMBER 20 YEARS AGO—I remember a wonderful spring day when my friend Patrick was touring my garden. We came upon the weeping snow fountain cherry. Each branch that brushed near the ground was nibbled off. At first, Patrick suggested it was the rabbits, but it was too high off the ground, at about two feet. I jokingly said, “If I didn’t know better, I would say it was the deer.” We both laughed because there was never, ever any deer in my neighborhood, or at least since the houses had been built in 1973.

A couple of days later, I was working on a story at my desk, and my son came running and yelling, “Mom, come quick! There is a deer in the back garden.” This was such a foreign sight to me that it might as well have been a kangaroo. Sure enough, there stood a deer eating the cherry. The next day we found a fawn sleeping under the cherry tree. While I don’t necessarily want my garden to become a deer feeding ground, it’s not often we have the opportunity to watch deer up close, and we considered ourselves fortunate to enjoy its presence. I also feel fortunate, she didn’t stick around!

Until soon,

Helen Yoest

Environmental Specialist

The Joslin Garden—"Outward Bound" Mulching; The Dream Team—5-20-21

Did you ever have a dream come true? Me either; well, not until today! If you remember, last week, Nell, Chris, and I started moving mulch from a HUGE mulch pile, just enough to get it off the street. Volunteer Aillene spread it for us. It took all we had to do that!

My dream state during REM sleep was while I was still awake but with paralyzed muscles. (In case you didn’t know, most of your dreaming is during REM sleep. Your brain paralyzes your muscles during this time, so you do not act out the dreams.) And since I was awake, with muscles paralyzed, I had a dream. ;)

Walking up the driveway with a wheelbarrow full of mulch, I dreamed of a dozen or so strong backs and cheerful dispositions helping us move the rest of the mulch. Voila! Meet the Samet Corporation and Xylem BA Teams.

The DREAM Team! To say we couldn’t have moved this mulch without the help of these eager workers would be an understatement, but true. All were the outdoorsy type and it was clear from the start, it would be hard labor to mulch rough terrain paths. Upfront I told them to considers it “Outward Bound” mulching. With that, I heard cheers of “alright, awesome, right on! What a wonderful group!

Our Dream Team made short work of our huge pile! The volunteer team was on-site from nine to noon, Of that time, after instructions from the City’s Volunteer Services Specialis, Olinda. Oliveira, breaks, and summation, this team worked about two and a half hours, but given we had 13 volunteers or 32.5 labor-hours, they managed to eliminate our pile.

Loading crew filling wheelbarrows while deliver dudes waiting and, no doubt, taking a deep breath!

Here is THE face of youth and strength. This young man look as fresh going up our “Outward Bound” hills as he did coming down!

Would you believe, each barrel-full of mulch was spread by smiling faces? Believe it!

We also had help from one of the City of Raleigh’s Dream Teams, Neal Wisenbaker’s District 4. Neal provided us with a souped-up gator and operator, Teddy. I hope I can work with Teddy again soon! Amazing work ethic!

District 4 Operator Teddy and Helen Yoest. Note Helen has a Barbie-foot pose, and it looks like Teddy has a thigh-muscle pose ;) It was so wonderful to work with Teddy. Honestly, given where the pile was dumped, we couldn’t have done it without these two powerful machines—Teddy and souped-up Gator. Teddy estimates the gator can hold around eight wheelbarrows full of mulch, and he made six street runs to move the mulch around to the street behind us, so those barrels full could then be moved downhill.

This last pile went to where Volunteer Aillene and I were working. Aillene was tasked with cutting down the invasive nandina, Nandina domestica.

Volunteer Aillene making nandina piles.

Volunteer Aillene’s results!!!

We then covered the stumps with heavy cardboard to smother the roots. This is a trick we learned from Nell Joslin.

Additional smothering with a load of left-over mulch. We hope to never see this stand of nandina again!

Volunteers are the backbone of any origination! If you are interested in volunteering for The Joslin Garden, please contact us! If you are interested in volunteering for the City of Raleigh, click HERE!

To see more pictures of this fine day, click HERE!

Until soon,

Helen Yoest,

Environmental Scientist

The Joslin Garden—We Huffed and We Puffed and Then Changed Our Tactics!—5-13-21

Every journey starts with the first step, or in this case a first fork full! We knew from the start it was beyond our abilities, with only three of us, Nell, Chris, and me to remove just the spillage from the street. Next week, thankfully, we’ll have 15 volunteers through the City of Raleigh Volunteer program to helps us haul and spread the rest. In the meantime, we needed to get it off the street! Not only was it a driving hazard, but the City also posted no parking signs due to a resurfacing program. Although, the timeframe was for a month-long period, the first date began on this day!

Our dumping site was not Chris’ ideal place to dump, but given The Joslin Garden will be hosting an Art Show and Sale this coming Sunday (all are welcome); it was decided the timing wasn’t right for dumping in the driveway.

Helen Yoest beginning the journey to wear us out today!

As our early morning went on, we got in a routine, lasting just about an hour, if that! Nell was filling the wheelbarrows, I was hauling the full barrels, one at a time, around the street-side and up the driveway hill. I left them at the top of the hill where I relayed with Chris to then take the barrels further up the path to spread on paths. Wash and Repeat. That lasted for about ten wheelbarrows full.

Through deep breaths, Chris suggested we “only fill the barrels half full".” Great idea; as it was, I had to stop three times on the driveway hill just to catch my breath. And so we went for about another hour.

In the meantime, Nell, noting our efforts deduced, rightfully so, we would never have it moved off the street…[in our lifetime]! Nell starting loading and carrying the chips to the back of the mound. Finally, we got smart, and at this point, we actually counted the number of degrees between us! If I remember correctly, we totaled seven, or what it eight? I also failed to mention I have a minor as well, but the point was well taken. Ha!

We huffed and puffed for the last time that day.

The best part of going up the driveway hill was the view of these beautiful rhododendron blooms! I did find them more beautiful going down the hill than through my huffs and puffs going up hill with a full or even half full barrels!

Instead, we agreed to switch gears. We decided to fill the barrels and take up to the nearest paths to cover. There is a slight incline, but we were able to do so with full barrels.

Fortunately, Volunteer Art was there to help out loading along with Chris. I moved the barrels to stage the mulch along the path to later be spread.

Soon after Art’s arrival, Volunteer Aillene was also there, and she then spread the mulch on the paths.

Volunteer Aillene spreading the mulch on the paths.

With just-in-time volunteers, we managed to get the pile off the street.

#MulchGoals

It was now 11 AM. Time to do something we love to do—Weed! Yes, we love to weed, and I believe, we will have a life-time of joy in The Joslin Garden. For now were are trying to get it to the point of low maintenance.

I started with my all-time nemesis—porcelain vine, Ampelopsis brevipedunculata.

Nothing is more satisfying than to find porcelain vine/berry and knowing you will soon stab the Earth to remove the tap root. I give you permission to twist the soil knife for personal gratification reasons, if you find the need. I did!

I have tried for decades to eradicate this invasive non-native from The Bee Better Teaching Garden. I’ve not had much success since there are ten acres behind me, mostly cultivated, but with enough woods along the back of my property for seeds to fall undetected from the birds droppings everywhere.

In my home garden, I do a decent search every year to see if I can fine it before it starts to vine up.

PLEASE DON’T PLANT THIS VINE! Yes, I’ve seen it for sale. One year , I traveled for a month with my children, and when I returned, half of my GIANT ‘Brown Turkey’ fig tree was covered. So much for figs that year.

Did you know porcelain vine is a GREAT wildlife plant? The birds love the berries. The bees devour the flower’s nectar and pollen. Still, #WeCanAllBeeBetter!~ Helen Yoest

What makes this vine so alluring to fearless or naive gardeners are the beautiful berries. Also, most people when they see the foliage think it’s a wild grape and lets it grow to see what it will do. When finding the gorgeous berries, they are trilled with their choice. It is not until it is to late when they realized they are doomed with this plant FOR-EVER!

Don’t say it. Don’t even think it—PLEASE— Euphorbia spp. is NOT pretty. It is an evasive weed. It lures you in with a pretty flower that has no respect for boundaries. It too has a taproot, but with recent rain, it wasn’t to difficult to get up from the cultivated bed. Our ace volunteer Aillene made short work of this.

Next up was a nice patch of creeping Charlie, Glechoma hederacea. It’s not terribly hard to remove. One more patch down, @#^@!! to go.

While were enjoying out time, Nell was removing too much of a good thing, or at least it was once thought as one—Cow Parsley, Anthriscus sylvestnis. Another common name is wild chervil, or worse, mother-die. That can’t be good! Cow Parsley, is a herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial, and blooming through Mother’s Day. What’s up with that!?!

Cow Parsley blooming in The Joslin Garden.

The Joslin Garden—Leave it to Cleavers—5-6-2021

I had the most satisfying day working in The Joslin Garden today! Leave it to cleavers for making that happen.

The entire bank along W. Lake Drive was covered with Cleavers, Gallium aparine. Given I like large edit projects, which is why I took on The Joslin Garden, I wasn’t intimated. Is it OK to be proud of a good day’s work?

Cleared cleaver. It took me a solid five hours to clear. I had a bonus, tho. Andy our Mow Supervisor and his team came to mow today. I asked Andy if it was possible to use a weed whacker on the Bear claw hellebores, Helleborus foetidus seedlings. There were thousands! They would have been way worse to remove by hand than the cleavers were.

As it happened, it was good that I was there at the same time as the mow crew. I asked Andy not to mow our clover lawn. There was a lot of bee activity here, and we wanted to wait until the clover finished blooming.

There are a couple of BIG patches of Green and Gold, Chrysogonum australe 'Eco Lacquered Spider'. The patch below is along side a path on the street side. It’s a spreader and was over growing the edging.

Green and Gold before edging.

After hand edging the Green and Gold. The rock is lovely, right?

Aillene volunteered today. We both agreed the garden is starting to shape up. A little at a time, we are working our way through the overgrown and weeds, and removing invasive.

Ground orchid, Spathoglottis plicata. Some days we get so focused, we forget to see the beauty that surrounds us!

My obsession with having proper, well-run composts bins continues. Bin 1 is now officially CLOSED. By this we mean it is in good shape to use, but nothing more can be added. Any additions, like today’s grass clippings, went into Bin 2.

Bin 1 is officially closed for any added waste. We are now using it as compost for the various garden areas.

Volunteer Aillene started removing big sticks from Bin 2. It will take a couple of weeks work to clear all the sticks, but we will have the big stuff removed. Then we can continued to add cut up herbaceous materials, grass clippings, and leaves. This is all a process, and each week, we can see our progress!

Next week, we have another set of weeds to deal with. Everyday, we are making progress!

Until soon,

Helen Yoest

Environmental Scientist, M.S.

The Joslin Garden—A Chill Day In the Garden on a Day Approaching 88ºF!—4-29-2021

It sure seems way to early to be so hot! The plants haven’t even acclimated, never mind us! Then again, I say this every year.

Chill, how? We remained cool in the dapple shade of The Joslin Garden. But also chill since it was only Nell and I in the garden. Our dedicated garden volunteers were busy. They were missed!

The Foundation had an event today from 1 to 4, so we decided to get back to the clearing out the Quadrants in the Formal Garden. Where I worked weeding a few weeks ago, unweeded itself.

I worked in Q2 and Q3. Calling them by their numbered Quadrants sounds fancy enough, but I need to look back to see how I named them. Anyhoo, Q2 and Q3 should be sufficient for now. I was pleasantly surprised to see so much Dutchman’s Pipe, Aristolochia spp. growing all around the Quadrants!

Aristolochia spp.

Did you know Dutchman’s Pipe is the host butterfly plant for the Pipevine Butterfly, Battus philenor?

As Nell and I were working the the Quadrants, we talked about Dutchman’s Pipe. The name comes from the look of, wait for it, a Dutchman’s Pipe. But do you know what a Dutchman’s Pipe looks like?

Mystery solved:

Dutchman’s Pipe. I’m thinking this common name is very much outdated. Sorta like the Henry Lauder’s Walking stick as the common name for the Contorted Filbert? Do you know who Henry Lauder was?

Here is an example of those funny Dutchman’s Pipe flowers. Put THAT you your pipe and smoke it! Do people even still use pipes, let alone going Dutch? Thankfully, I’m a live-long non-smoker. (Live-long was a typo; I was ready to correct when I figured it fit the bill!) As such, I don’t keep up with smoker’s trends.

Nell shared with me, Pipevine Swallowtails come every year to lay their eggs. They frequent mine at home too. But we have not seen any yet. My friend Abby already has adults and eggs! Any day now!!

QUANDRANTS

This is a before shot of Q3. Alas, I got so focused, I forgot to get an after shot.

COMPOST PILE

Compost Bin1 before turning

Perhaps I’m a little obsessed with our Compost Bin 1. I worked it. The City crew added grass clippings to the pile, and today I worked them in. As I dug down, I’m still finding sticks. Ugh!

I’m thinking of putting up a sign so folks know what they can and CAN’T put in there, along with penalties that reads:

Only cut up herbaceous plant material—no weeds.

Grass Clippings.

Dried leaves.

PENALITIES:

Sticks—2 hours of hard weeding. BTW, we have a wildlife stick pile right next to the Bins.

Rose clippings— Immediate removal by culprit with ungloved hands.

Weeds—I will personally remove them and plant in YOUR garden.

Ok, maybe not. Nell would never let me be so cruel!

On the way home from work, I stopped at Starbucks to see if they were still supplying gardeners with coffee grounds. Did you know, coffee grounds are a EXCELLENT Nitrogen source for a compost pile? Great stuff. The nitrogen helps break down the compost pile faster.

I use to routinely visit coffee shops for the used coffee grinds. I’m wasn’t sure if these shops were still doing this, so I stopped in a Starbucks to ask. I didn’t see any bagged used grinds for the Taking, as I would see in the past, so I asked about it. I never actually got an answer. What the barrister did do was pull her daily bag of grind waste with filters. Good Stuff. I’ll incorporated in into Bin 1 next week when I’m there.

Also next week, we need to have a come-to-bejeezers meeting with huge swaths of weeds. HUGE!

The chickweed is past getting rid of, but now that it is mixed with clever, we get to both at the same time.

Cleavers, Gallium aparine

Cleavers, Galium aparine. Cleavers get around. Cleavers are annuals with creeping straggling stems which branch and grow along the ground and over other plants. They attach themselves with the small hooked hairs which grow out of the stems and leaves. The stems can reach up to three feet or longer, and are angular or square shaped. The leaves are simple, narrowly oblanceolate to linear, and borne in whorls of six to eight branches.

There seems to be no end to the Creeping Charlie. It must go!

But worst of all, and my personal nemesis? Porcelain vine, Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata. Don’t bother learning its name, just get rid of it. Some folks mistake it for a wild grape. It is not. It’s a horrible invasive week and absolute beautiful iridescent berries in the fall. The birds love these berries and spread it everywhere. It is very hard to get rid of.

Until Soon,

Helen Yoest

The Joslin Garden—Earth Day—Our First Plant Sale—Cutting our Teeth and Chattering Them Too!

What a wonderful day it was, albeit a little chilly! We had a great turnout, and learned this is something we will want to do each year. We will start potting up earlier and growing out seed. Since the suggestion donation was so low, no one left empty handed.

We learned there was a huge demand for our bread-seed poppies. We will grow them out for next year! The first arrivals grabbed these.

Same with the Mayapples. I got some for me and my friend, Abby.

Thank you Volunteer Art Ross for helping out. We couldn’t have done it without out!

Nell and Chris, what an a great team we make!

Until soon,

Helen Yoest

Horticultural Specialist

The Joslin Garden—Meet Some of Our Superstar Volunteers—4-15-21

The Joslin Garden has a major following, and a much loved Nature garden where neighbors and regulars walk freely with their leashed dog, admire the vistas, and literally smell the roses. The #JoslinGarden is a gem in the center of Raleigh.

In addition, we have steady group of volunteers to dedicate their time once a week to help out in the 4+ acre PACKED property. We would love for YOU to join us!

Today, I want honor these individuals who not only have help out, but are are all becoming friends.

A see of Green & Gold, Chrysogonum virginianum

Volunteer Art potting up plenty for the plants for our sale on Earth Day, April 22nd.

Beautiful iris

Volunteers Beth & Ailene

A sea of May Apples, Podophyllum peltatum and Trillium

Volunteer Nell Joslin watering the recent pot ups for the plant sale.

Look at the size of this trillium!

Chris, our Executive Director, was out today potting up plants, as was I. I think we are in good shape. So looking forward to Thursday April 22, 2021 EARTH DAY!

Helen Yoest, MS Environmental Scientist

Horticultural Specialist

Growing a Food Forest System in the Bee Better Teaching Garden

Apple, Malus ‘Transcendent’

Most of us are familiar with forests as an ecosystem, hosting a diversity of plants, fungi, and insects. Deep in the forest, we see layers and niches. Think Tarzan swinging on three-inch diameter vines!

Imagine your forest system producing food, with the majority of elements in that system being productive.

By understanding how nature designs forest systems so they are self-maintaining and self-replicating, we can model that system with productive species to produce food in the most sustainable way. There would be a minimum amount of input and the maximum amount of output.

LAYERS WITHIN A FOREST

All forests have layers—canopy, over-story, under-story, shrub, herbaceous, root yield, as well as ground covers and climbers. Our food forest system can have each of these and give us food.

In traditional permaculture, a food forest system, one would grow a canopy cover, particularly a legume to richly fix nitrogen in the soil as the basis, and build under from there. As the canopy served its life, the biomass that remains is left to naturally decay or be broken up into the soil. 

In the Bee Better Teaching Garden, we skipped the canopy layer so we didn’t need to wait for something to die as our food forest system matured. Instead, we built the soil by adding four-inches of composted leaves each year. Mind you, I’ve been doing this since 1998; and I would encourage you to begin doing so do so as well, if you aren’t already adding an annual mulch. The productivity of our soil is constant and fertility is constantly increasing. 

Our garden planting focus is based on six layers— understory, shrubs, herbaceous/annuals, root yield, ground laver, and climbers, with edibles grown in each of these layers:

UNDER-STORY

The understory in the Bee Better Teaching Garden is made up mostly of fruit trees, including:

Apple, Malus domestica ‘Honeycrisp’ 

Kousa dogwood, Cornus kousa 

Peach, Prunus persica ‘Redhaven’

Pear Asian, Pyrus pyrifolia

Pear Asian, Pyrus pyrifolia

Pear, Bartlette pear, Pyrus communis x P. pyrifolia ‘Kiefer’

Persimmon,  Diospyros kaki  ‘Fuyu’ 

Plum, Prunus salicina ‘Santa Rosa’ 

Paw Paw

Paw Paws, Asimina triloba

Sassafras, Sassafras albidum

Quince, Cydonia oblonga ‘Pineapple’

SHRUB

Beautyberry, Callicarpa amaericana

Camellia tea plant, Camellia sinensis var. sinensis

Goji, Lycium barbarum 

Goumi, Elaeagnus multiflora

Bayleaves, Laurus nobilis

HERBACEOUS/ANNUALS 

The herbaceous plants change out during the seasons, with kale and lettuce in late winter/early spring, and basil and tomatoes in the heat of the summer. I also self sow sesame and buckwheat, and have done other edibles as well. 

Garlic yield

ROOT YEILD

The produce in the root yield also changes out during the seasons. Onions, carrots, garlic, and even peonies! But, no, I grow peonies for the flowers, although the petals can be used for a nice tea, but yes, the roots are edible!

GROUND LAYER

Peanuts, Arachis hypogaea, which are technically a root yield, as well, plus rosemary, Salvia rosmarinus and strawberries, Fragaria × ananassa ‘Ozark Beauty’ 

CLIMBER

Malabar spinach, Basella alba

Muscadine grape, Vitis rotundifolia

Elsewhere on our 1/2 acre, we have: 

Apricot, Prunus armeniaca ‘Garden Annie’

Apple, Malus pumila ‘North Sentinel’

Banana, Musa spp.—use leaves for steaming food

Blackberries, Rubus fruticosus ‘Apache’ and ‘Arapaho’

Blueberries, Vaccinium ashei ‘Premier’, ‘Climax’, & ‘Powder Blue’ 

Cherry, Prunus avium ‘Stella’ 

Chives, Allium schoenoprasum

Chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa 

Chokecherry, Prunus virginiana

Figs, Ficus carica, ‘LSU Purple’, ‘Brown Turkey’, and ‘Celeste’

Guava, Psidium cattleianum ‘Strawberry’

Plum ‘Corinthian’, Prunus persica hybrid ‘Corinthian’

Kiwi ‘Issai’, Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’

Loquat, Eriobotrya japonica—Every year there are interesting flowers, loved by bees, but no fruit. We can grow kumquat in our area, with evergreen leaves and fall to winter flowers. However, fruiting will not occur if temperatures drop to 25ºF or below. 

Passion vines, Passiflora incarnata and the tropical P. edulis

Raspberries ‘Southland’, Rubus idaeus ‘Southland’

Serviceberry, Amelanchier × grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’

Of course, we also have eggs.

The Joslin Garden—A Potting Up Party—April 8, 2021

Everyone loves a party, right? I know I do, but I had to miss today’s party. Still recovering, and on light duty from last week’s fall. I still managed to be helpful by working on the plant sale spreadsheet so Chris, our Director, can make labels, and of course, writing this weekly post!

Volunteer Ailene potting up Ostrich Ferns, Matteuccia struthiopteris This is one of my favorite plants. Did you know ostrich fern fiddleheads are edible? Yummy sautéed in a little butter.

Volunteer Art potting up acorus, Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'

Acorus waiting for a new home!

See below what we’ve potted up so far. There is more to come. Be sure to check back next week for more additions.

.

The Lady Banks Rose opening! Rosa banksiae

Azaleas starting to POP!

I missed working with my buddies in the garden today! This was the first Thursday I missed. So sad. Nell sent me these pictures, but where is Nell?

Nell Joslin, Board Chair, naturally camera shy, so I took this off the Foundation’s website

The Joslin Garden—All Hands on Deck with One on the Concrete—April 1, 2021—April Fool's Day

Ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris. We will have several of these for sale at our plant sale, April 22nd. Stay tuned. At home, I’m totally going for this look. I have a puny patch at home. I want my patch to look like this! Don’t worry, you will have first pick. I’ll only buy what is left. But this is my goal. Frankly, this should be everyone’s goal. Mass plantings ROCK!

Today may be April Fool’s Day, but we didn’t fool around, albeit we worked at a slower pace, or at least I did.. It was all hands on deck! As we get closer to opening the garden for groups, and for our plant sale, we were focusing on the entrance area and the Formal Garden. So what did we do? Mulched! I’m crazy about mulch. We weeded and mulched the Formal Garden and the Entrance Beds, both sides.

It was ALL due to our dedicated volunteers. I wasn’t able to help much, but I did what I could. Why? While working Tuesday in Moore Square, I tripped and face-planted on the concrete. Ouch!

Unsuspecting volunteers arrived only to find, we (I) had a steely focus. It scares my husband when I get like this! haha My focus didn’t scare them away, tho. (David, honey, come take a lesson!) We needed to be all hands on deck to weed beds and lay compost, which we are using as mulch.

Volunteer Ailene potting-up orange form ginger lilies, Hedychium aurantiacum between spreading compost

Ailene’s handy work before potting up! Be sure to come early. Times will be announced soon!

Volunteer Nell weeding The Formal Bed, quadrant 2.

Chris, our Executive Director, helping out again. We agreed the edge of the driveway would benefit from a weed barrier. You see, even with a manufactured weed barrier down, we still had tons of weeds. We hope blocking sunlight with mulch will stop or slow germination.

Next week, I promise to get pictures of our volunteers upright!

Before we could do this, Bin 1 needed clearing out. There were still to many stick slowing things down as we stuck a fork in the compost to retrieve. Since I’m on light duty since the accident, I thought I could best help by removing sticks from the compost pile. This made it easier for the volunteers, particular Art who took charge of the retrieval, to access. I was remiss in getting a picture of Volunteer Art hard at work. But I did have some lovely conversations with him.

Volunteering in The Joslin Garden is a great way to some meet very interesting people! Wont you join us?

Then Nell and I decided it would be a good use of my time to do an educational component. Read on.

Do you know the importance of mulch?

SOIL NUTRITION

It shouldn’t be a surprise to know organic mulch nourishes your soil.  As mulch breaks down overtime, it will also need to be replenished, typically annually.  Your plants benefit from the healthy soil, and you benefit from a healthy landscape.

WEED SUPPRESSION

Two to three inches of organic mulch suppresses weed growth by blocking sunlight which geminates weed seeds. Not always, but better than no mulch, weeds are not strong enough to push through the mulch layer. 

WATER RETENTION

A good layer of mulch helps retain water retention, keep plants moist for longer between watering. During the heat of the summer, this becomes very important.

TEMPERATURE REGULATION

Mulch regulates soil temperature, keeping soil cool in the summer and warmer in the winter, preventing the ground from heaving.  

PROTECTION FROM EROSION

Mulch acts as the first line of defense against the elements that threaten to wear away your precious soil.

TYPES OF MULCH

The range of organic mulch varies from shredded tree bark and trees, to composted leaf mulch, which is my preference. Compost is also very useful, and is what we currently have on hand. 

I truly believe in the power of mulch!

Until Soon,

Helen Yoest

Horticultural Specialists

Environmental Scientist, M.S.