Bayscape Blog 4/1/11

It’s Spring

By Judy DeFiglio

It is spring, no really it is! The weather may not feel like it but the calendar says garden time is here. I know that all of you have kept your New Year’s Garden Resolutions (see blog 12/29/10) and are ready to get your hands dirty. Just remember never work in the garden when the soil is wet. It will compact the soil and can spread fungus and disease, so let the sun shine for a few days before you dig. Don’t worry, all that snow we had this winter did not hurt our tough native plants, soon they will be up and blooming.

If you didn’t have an opportunity to divide your plants last fall you can do it now, except for the early spring bloomers. Dividing them now would not hurt the plant but it may disrupt the bloom cycle. A good rule for most plants is: if it blooms in spring, divide in fall and if it blooms in fall, divide in spring. Now is also a good time to plant any newly purchased trees, shrubs orperennials. This will allow them to develop a healthy root system before the heat and drought of summer. If you are planting seeds, check the package for specific instructions. Some hardy annuals enjoy the cool spring soil while others need warmer temperatures to germinate.

Barnegat Bay has been in the news all winter as environmentalists and government agencies have been working on a variety of measures designed to improve the health of the bay. Fertilizer regulation is a big part of this program since fertilizer runoff is a big part of the problem. Isn’t it great that we can all be part of the solution by using native plants in our garden. Natives don’t require fertilization. So not only are they beautiful and low maintenance, but they help save our wonderful natural resource, Barnegat Bay.

Keep reading this blog in the weeks to come for news about an exciting project starting soon at Jakes Branch County Park in Beachwood. Littoral Society will be joining with many other environmental groups to incorporate several native plant gardens along the trails throughout the park and to provide educational opportunities for residents to learn how to implement these gardens in their own landscape.

Bayscape Blog 1/24/11
Think Spring
By Judy DeFiglio

The snow just keeps on coming and cabin fever is really setting in. But each day is getting a little longer and soon it will be spring. Okay, I hear you, “NOT SOON ENOUGH”! A sure cure for the winter blues is to think spring. Now is the perfect time to pick up a book or magazine and check out the latest garden info or head to the web and read a good garden blog. Just looking at the gorgeous flowers will lift your spirits.

Native plant enthusiasts really enjoy the spring. Many of our natives will be putting on a great show while the rest of the plant world is just waking up.

Here are a few favorite native perennials to brighten your springtime garden:

Bleeding heart (dicentra)- Pretty pink and white heart shaped flowers. This plant likes a little shade and moisture. It grows 4 to 6 feet tall then disappears in the heat of summer.

Blue Star ( Amsonia tabernaemontana) One of the earliest plants to flower, this 2 ½ to 3 feet tall plant has light blue flowers for three to four weeks in early spring. They like full sun and their leaves turn a pretty yellow in autumn

Columbine (Aquilegia Canadensis) 2 to 4 feet tall. These are unique shaped, two toned, red and yellow flowers with spurs. The leaves are rounded and the flower self sows but not invasively. It likes sun to part shade.

Several Phlox:

Moss pink (Phlox subulata) Only 3-6 inches tall this mat forming plant has masses of deep pink flowers in early spring. It takes full sun and likes our sandy soil. The occasional spring snows won’t bother it at all and your perennials will grow right up through this ground cover.

Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata) This 1 to 1 ½ foot plant has lots of light blue, fragrant flowers throughout the spring and is perfect in a woodland setting.
Solomon Seal (Polygonatum) Another woodland plant that has beautiful arching stems with tiny drooping white flowers in spring.

Trees and Shrubs

Sweetspire (Itea virginica) This shrub is 4-6 feet tall with arching branches that have fragrant white drooping spires of flowers in spring. Though deciduous its stems are a coppery red color that add winter interest

Redbud (Cerciscanadensis) A small tree that has dark bark and gorgeous deep pink flowers. Leaves turn yellow in fall.

Serviceberry (Amelanchier Canadensis) This small tree has white flowers in spring followed by reddish purple fruit and red fall color

You may not be able to see your garden right now under all this snow, but you just imagine how beautiful it will look in a few weeks when spring arrives and the show begins.

Bayscape Blog 12/29/10
New Year’s Resolutions for the Gardener
By Judy DeFiglio

Since my garden lays buried under a couple feet of snow it’s a little hard to think about spring planting. Even those blazing hot days we had this summer are just a fading memory. But as 2010 comes to a rapid end, we need to make some gardening resolutions for 2011. Here are some of mine.

1) I will plan my garden. I won’t buy a plant until I know where it will go.

Make those plans now. Don’t put it off. You know that when the weather breaks we all rush outside trying to escape our “cabin fever” from the long cold winter. We start to rake, dig and plant with a furious abandon. The rush is on and there is no time to plan, the garden is calling you. Do it now. Grab a mug of herbal tea (to remind you of that great herb garden you want to start), gather pen and paper or open your computer for those who prefer the hi-tech approach, and start your list.

2) I will incorporate more native plants in my garden.

Native plants are a winning addition to every landscape: gorgeous for the garden, good for the gardener because they are less work and great for the environment because they reduce the use of harmful chemicals. If you are starting a new plot, natives are the sensible way to go. They are low maintenance and require no fertilizer, and little to no additional watering. Even if you have an established garden you can find a native to include that will coordinate with your existing landscape. For ideas and information be sure to check the previous blogs.


3) I will only add plants to my garden that have several seasons of interest

A plant has to earn a spot in my garden. It must be more than just a pretty flower. Interesting leaf shape or color, berries, unusual seed pods, long blooming or reblooming flowers are some of the things to consider. Lots of natives have many of these attributes. Echinacea is a good example with pretty, long blooming flowers that can take the heat and drought as well as, interesting seed cones that attract birds to your garden.

4) I will do my best to pull weeds early and not use harmful chemicals to eradicate them.

Weeds can be a big problem in any landscape but powerful weedkillers can be an even bigger problem to the environment. Knowledge is the key. Learn to identify weeds and take care of them when they are young when they can simply be pulled to remove them. Weeding is good exercise and a really wonderful stress reducer.

5) I will mulch my garden beds

Mulch will reduce weeds, conserve water and give your landscape a finished look. It free at many County and Municipal Recycling Centers.

6) I will have a compost pile

Composting is the #1 best thing you can do to improve your garden. It is simple and easy. It does not smell. It’s another win/win situation. Fantastic for your garden and another great thing for the environment since you recycle lots of organic material that would be going to the landfill.

7) I will reduce my lawn size.

Everyone loves a nice, green lawn but it comes at a high cost. It is labor intensive and is causing problems for our environment. Barnegat Bay is suffering because so many homeowners over-fertilize their lawns and it runs off into the bay. Lawns also require a large amount of water to look good. Reducing lawn size can really make a difference. Try planting native grasses and groundcovers to replace some of your lawn. They are drought tolerant and also act as a filter to catch run off.

8) I will be a good Shore Steward

Find out more. www.littoralsociety.org

Happy New Year and Happy Gardening

Bayscape Blog 12/14/2010
Give Everyone a Priceless Gift this Year
By Judy DeFiglio

How’s that Christmas shopping going? Tired of fighting the mobs at the mall? Tired of having to wrap all the presents you bought and probably spent too much for? (Not to mention, the cost wrapping paper and the environmental impact of all that wrapping paper headed to the landfills on the day after Christmas.) Money is tight this year for many. The world has sustained many environmental nightmares recently. Maybe it’s time to rethink Christmas giving. Wait. Don’t call me Scrooge just yet. I’m all about giving at the holidays. Matter of fact, I think with a little planning, we can give a priceless gift to everyone .

The Priceless Gift List and Environmentally Friendly Tips:

· Give the gift of a beautiful garden. Take divisions, cutting or collect seeds to give to gardeners on your list. If you’ve already put your garden to bed, wrap up a picture of the plant with a promise to give it to them in the spring. It’s free but shows you care.

· Introduce your family and friends to the native plants. Purchase a native plant or gift certificate from a mail order nursery. They will ship plants at the appropriate time. Give a book on native plants.

· Plant a tree in the gift recipient’s name, or donate to an environmental organization in their name.

· Join the Littoral Society. Share this blog. Sign a shore stewards pledge and promise to garden responsibly and protect our waterways.


· If you feel it’s not a present unless it’s wrapped, get creative. Do a nature theme. Reuse your brown shopping bags to wrap gifts. Gather berries, pinecones, and sprigs of greens to decorate the boxes. Use biodegradable twine instead of ribbon. Or make it a family project, using food color, stamp designs on the brown paper. Your gifts will look beautiful and unique.

· Promise to be a more responsible gardener next year, increasing the number of native plants in your landscape and decreasing the use of fertilizers and pesticides.


· Start a compost pile.

· If the mall is still your thing, plan your shopping in advance. Make fewer trips and group your errands to save fuel and reduce emissions.

The whole world will thank you for this priceless gift of saving our environment.

Bayscape Blog 11/07/10
“Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly”
By Judy DeFiglio

The holiday season is upon us, and as I start to decorate my home I am reminded of yet another reason to “go native”. Native plants don’t only add beauty to your garden but can also be used to beautify your interior as well. Start singing “Deck the Halls” and head outside.
First stop, the American holly (ilex opaca) with stiff branches of dark green holly leaves and bright red berries. Nothing is more festive. Snip some holly to bring inside, but handle with care, the leaves are very sharp. I recommend placing the holly in a vase with water, if not it dries out quickly. Another native holly, inkberry holly (ilex glabra) has small, smooth, green leaves similar to boxwood and black berries that will add to your holiday décor.

It wouldn’t be Christmas without some evergreen boughs. Pines, spruce and even Easter red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) with its blue fruit, can be used to decorate, and your house will smell great too. Again, use care because the needles can be sharp. Also be careful with the placement of these branches since they may ooze sap which could damage surfaces.

My favorite native to use for winter decorating is the red twig dogwood (Cornus sericea). It’s not the flower display that’s the star of this dogwood, it’s the stems. They turn a spectacular red in winter. They look great against the snow and add color to the winter garden, but they also make an interesting, colorful accent inside. This dogwood likes to be pruned so feel free to cut as many branches as you want. The new growth is the reddest. An added bonus, several of my branches have rooted in the vase and I planted them back in the garden in spring. Virginia sweet spire (Itea virginica) also has reddish stems that can make a nice addition to a holiday arrangement.
The large flower heads of the oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) can be dried and added to wreaths and decorations. You can also snip the seed heads of our native grasses to bring indoors. Try Northern Sea Oats (chasmanthium latifolium)or switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) for a unique look.

This holiday season let’s celebrate the beauty of nature. Let your native plants do double duty and deck your halls with boughs of real holly instead of plastic imitations. Mother Earth is giving you a beautiful gift. Enjoy.

Bayscape Blog 11/30/10
Divide & Conquer
By Judy DeFiglio

I have been sharing with you all the great things about growing native plants, and while they are easy to care for and less work than other exotic ornamental, even natives need some occasional maintenance when grown in a garden setting. Especially if your garden is small, you may want to take steps to keep your plants from growing to large or spreading too much.

The easiest way to control any plant in your garden is do your homework before you start. Do a little research on the plants you think you want in your landscape and be sure you choose the right plant for the right space. That’s more then half the battle. Sun, shade, water, soil type all play a major role in determining how big your plant will grow. A little time spent on planning will save you lots of time digging and moving unhappy plants.

Even with the best research and design you may still find you’ve made a mistake or years have passed and the conditions have changed. Your garden spot used to be shady but the tree came down in last year’s storm or the neighbor’s new sprinkler is now drowning your drought tolerant natives. Don’t worry. Most natives can be moved with little problem. The exception is those plants like butterfly weed (Asclepias turberosa) that have a tap root. Here’s how: First, decide where you want to move the plant. Second, dig the new hole. Next, dig around the plant and gently lift it trying to keep the root ball intact. Finally, place it in the new hole at the same depth it was growing, fill in with soil and water well.

If you are happy with the placement of a plant but it has overgrown its space you can dig and divide the plant, replant one section in the same place, then plant the rest of the divisions in a new location or pass them along to friends. Most perennials can be divided spring or fall but a good rule of thumb is if it blooms in the spring divide in fall and if it blooms in the fall divide in spring. This way you will be sure not to interrupt the bloom cycle.

Another way to control your natives is to deadhead them before they go to seed. Simply snip off the spent flower so no new plants will grow. Personally, I usually leave a few flower heads go to seed because I enjoy a few surprises and few free plants.

If your garden has gotten out of control, divide, conquer and share the extras.

Bayscape Blog 11/23/10
Why Native?

By Judy DeFiglio
Living at the Jersey shore is a dream come true, but, if you are a gardener, it can be a challenge. The sandy soil and intense sun can stress for even the hardiest plants, not to mention the gardener. A good solution is to choose native plants. Natives have adapted to these harsh conditions so they are easy to grow and easy to care for.

Most natives don’t need supplemental water once established. Not only does that make less work for you, but it also makes it easier on your pocket The cost of irrigation can be expensive. Most importantly, this helps to conserve this valuable resource. Running a hose for just one hour uses 375 gallons of water.

Another plus, natives don’t need fertilizer, again, saving both time and money. Matter of fact, if you fertilize natives, the plants will get floppy, weedy and produce fewer flowers. Environmentally, using less fertilizer is essential as we try to prevent the destruction of the Barnegat Bay. Run off from the over use of fertilizer is a major problem for our waterways.

Native plants attract beneficial insects to your garden. These beneficials will take care of the harmful insects on your plants, allowing you to garden without the use of toxic pesticides, another benefit to the environment. Flowering natives also attract butterflies to your garden and provide food for the larvae stage.

Many natives have beautiful fruits, berries and seed heads. These provide food for birds and other wildlife as well as adding interest to your landscape.

Beautiful, low maintenance, economical, and good for the environment, this is a combination that is hard to resist. For list of native plants visit the Littoral Society website at http://www.littoralsociety.org/. Sign up to become a Shore Steward. For more information and ideas on native plants check out the other articles on this blog site. The cold days of winter are coming. While we wait for spring, why not sit back and plan your new garden full of native plants.