MONDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2011 • PAGE 5
GARDENING Carey Head, Lifestyles Editor
lifestyles@poncacitynews.com
Year-End Reflections, New Year’s Dreams KCMGs Share 2011 Faves
And now.... A new year. By CAREY HEAD yard next year! I don’t know if you noticed,
As the new year approach- Lifestyles Editor but up against the fence on the east side of the
es, I have a tendency to dwell Oklahoma’s growing conditions are a chal- “new garage” driveway I just threw wildflower
on all the things I wanted, lenge for even the most experienced gardener. seeds and they worked pretty good! The soil
planned or otherwise thought Temperature extremes and strong winds are there is not very deep or fertile, but I think
just two of the threats Mother Nature keeps next year I will use my seeds more in this area!
I should have accomplished
in the passing year. For New GARDENING in her arsenal. For example, last summer’s
extreme heat caused many a vegetable garden- Vivian Tackett: My favorite plant this year
Year 2012, I decided to look is the Super Pink Bubblegum Petunia. It is an
back at projects that were by er frustration when overnight temperatures
weren’t cool enough for tomato plants to rest Oklahoma Proven from year before last. It sur-
accomplished and celebrate vived, spread like crazy and bloomed nonstop
their completion. And to be Kat and gather the energy to set blooms. Hence,
no tomatoes. during the drought and the extreme heat.
easy on myself, I have mostly Long When success is achieved, generous garden- Janet Ray: The best thing about the herb
pictures to take up this space
as I continue to get ready for ers enjoy sharing the good news. Kay County garden is that no matter how hot and dry it got,
Christmas celebrations. Master Gardeners have made sharing their the herbs did well. I have parsley and fennel
The first series of photos favorite plants an annual tradition. During for the swallow tails (larvae), who usually eat
backyard
are from Dr. Robert Floyd, of the group’s December meeting, each member it to the ground, but this year (maybe because
Edmond. Robert and I started offers a plant or two that worked particularly of the heat) I did not have the huge number of
talking gardening in June at well in their garden. Thanks to Mary Lynn caterpillars, so I kept my plants. I also do oreg-
an International BIO confer- Taylor for taking such great notes and sharing ano, which tried to take over, and had to keep
ence in Washington, D.C. He them with us. thinning it. Also planted several types of basil,
understands the science of Here are this year’s successes and lessons which did wonderfully, and chives always do
things (he is the PhD kind of shared by those in attendance: well. I put pineapple sage in there and it got
Dr.) while I pretty much stick Carol Bouldin: My favorite was the red huge, I just really like the red blooms in the
with the practical end (what rooster peri-annual grass. It grows to about fall, though I don’t cook with it.
works in my yard for me). We 12-inches tall and is good for full sun contain- Teri Pennington: My plant experience was
have had some very interest- ers. that parsley is a great filler for anywhere in
ing discussions; Looking for- the garden, and it’s still beautiful now! And
ward to more of these “talks” Dixie Kuehny: I was very happily surprised
at the outcome of my kolanchoe plant. It is sup- that I was able to successfully transplant my
next planting season. perennial lantana from my front yard to my
My friends and yours, posed to be a house plant in this territory but
I put it outside this summer and it bloomed backyard!
Shanley Wells-Rau and Jim
Rau, built this wonderful beautifully. It also grew a lot. I have brought Shirley Foxworthy: My favorite plants were
cold frame out on their “Prai- ABOVE, PLANTED THE first week of September, Dr. Robert Floyd’s it inside for the winter and hope I can keep my black big leaf sweet potato and crossandra.
rie on the Hill.” They had driveway garden will soon yield radishes, turnips and greens includ- it going for many years. It is a succulent and
doesn’t take much watering and loves the heat. Beth Ford: Cilantro. You can plant cilantro
kept these wonderful win- ing collards. Below, the garden is going strong in this photo taken seeds anytime after frost in the fall or before
dow frames and built a house Thanksgiving weekend. Genny Coffman: My favorite gardening flow- May in the spring. They will sprout early in
around their snow peas. And er this year of the drought was the narrow leaf the spring and you can use the leaves for a few
I quote from Shanley, “Our sunflower that I bought at the Herb Festival weeks but the plants go to seed pretty fast. Let
garden creation was done by from Bustani’s. It provides wonderful late sea- them mature and drop their seeds. Sometimes,
Jim Rau — I served as holder son color and is a butterfly magnet!! It really when the seeds are completely dry, I’ll spread
of windows and hander of brightened up my fall landscape! them where I especially want the plants to
screws,” she said. “When we grow. Some of them will sprout in the fall and
had windows replaced at our Betty Rutz: My new vegetable to try for 2011
was Swiss Chard in the rainbow colors. It was make another crop of leaves, but it won’t be
old house, we saved the old hot enough for them to go to seed. The plants
ones (because they looked not only beautiful but also tasty when I finally
tried it. It was September before I cooked will be great for eating for several weeks after
cool). Jim wasn’t ready to frosts begin. This year, mine is still thick and
give up on the snowpeas just with it. I made a Swiss Chard and Cheese Cas-
serole from a Weight Watcher’s recipe and it green in December. Hopefully, some of the
yet, so he built the cold box seeds will sprout again in the spring, eventu-
around it. There is some was delicious. Then I just cooked a second
batch with a little bacon for seasoning and ally going to seed and everything will just
lettuce in there too enjoy- continue in this cycle. f the moisture or tem-
ing the warmth and keeping it was really good. Garden-wise it surpasses
spinach because it grows all summer and well perature causes the plants to dwindle and die
us happy.” The cold frame out, just start all over. One package of seeds
in this picture has the vent into the fall as it can withstand cool tempera-
tures. With its longer growing season and good planted early in the spring will soon multiply
open to let the air circulate into a large area of cilantro.
on a sunny day. looks, I think it will become a staple in my
Finally, my personal pat- garden. Mary Lynn Taylor: Indian Blanket, our state
on-the-back was accom- I also planted Roma tomatoes this year flower, did well in the hot summer. It will
plished when I finally identi- for the first time. They produced well and reseed itself.
fied this plant (see picture). I were welcome since tomatoes were in short
completely forgot what I had supply this year; but, I found them lacking Ronda Williams: My favorite plant this year
planted between the corn in flavor and they also had a lot of blossom was the gaura. I planted some this year, but
and compost pile and I didn’t end rot. When I checked the OSU fact sheet I had also planted some last summer so I know
figure it out until it flow- learned that blossom end rot is a big problem that it survived the super cold winter weath-
ered in mid-September. And with them and Romas are not recommended er. It was planted on our hillside rock area so
yes, the flowers were edi- for this area. So next year I will not purchase it received very little watering or extra atten-
ble. In fact, they make great Romas. tion and thrived. The deer showed no inter-
herbal tea. The plants ended est in it. It is a lovely little plant that, from a
Linda Stynes: Globe Basil - it grows in a distance, looks like butterflies hovering over
up being red hyacinths and perfect mound. I planted four plants but only
there were four that survived the ground. I grew the Ballerina Rose which is
needed one. I just trimmed them and added pink, but also a white one — that I don’t know
the heat. They are perenni- to salads and other things. They have small
als, so I am looking forward the name of. The white was particularly lovely
leaves so you don’t have to chop them. in the evening. It is a great little perennial for
to having them back again
next year and getting more FOUR MONTHS after planting, the fall garden of Dr. Robert Floyd Sarah Officer: Malabar spinach is my favor- our area.
flowers for tea. continues to yield icicle and red radishes as well as turnips. ite and I will use it as a focal point in my veg- Sandra Brown: Chaste Tree is my new plant
etable garden with a white trellis next year. the last two years. It looks like a combination
To all the gardeners: Con- Sandy Flegler: My favorite plant was the between a lilac and a crepe myrtle bush even
gratulations on making it passion flowers. I checked them daily and they though it is called a tree. It froze down to the
through another year of dirt, completely took over the arbor — up the sides ground in the winter and in the spring it came
compost, animals (wild and and across the top. Such unique and exotic up from the roots. Has purple spiked flower
domesticated); bugs, slugs flowers. clusters at the ends of the branches.
and other creepies; weeds I also continue to like the Autumn Sage
and known and unknown Nell Wilson: My best plant this year was the which grows in a mound. I cut it back to 10
plants. Dragon Wing begonias ordered from Sedan inches in the spring and that keeps it mound-
Winter only really lasts for Floral. I planted a large hanging basket in the ing its shape. Loved the heat this summer and
three months in Oklahoma shade and it was spectacular, covered with bloomed well into fall.
when you factor in those blooms all of the summer until the first frost. I
random 60 degree days. We also planted a large pot in the sun. It didn’t get
have made it through Decem- quite as big and had a few bad leaves during
ber, so, only two more to go the hottest part of the summer but recovered
(and February really doesn’t nicely.
count because we have to Ruth Ann Hightower: I planted a “Tiger-Eye
start seeds that month. Like Rudbeckia” in a blue pot with a trailing vine.
the way I am talking my way It got morning sun.
through winter in a very posi-
tive, upbeat way?) Linda Williamson: About five years ago, I
Well, the sun is shining planted a silver maple on the southwest side
(today) and it’s almost fifty. of my house, thinking it would grow fast and
I need to go plant something. give shade to the house in the summer. That it
did. What it also did was use its root system to
Think green, leafy crack the driveway and start raising portions
thoughts... Dream wonderful, of it. My husband remarked that the tree will
edible dreams... And congrat- have to go and I agreed with him.
ulate yourself on a complet-
ed project in the past year Michele Jean: Mine was the cross section of
(garden or otherwise) as you flowers and fruit in pots in the backyard – love
ring in 2012. Happy New Year this idea – really going to try to incorporate DRAGON WING begonias are a favorite of Nell
THIS COLD frame was built from windows saved after being Everyone! vegetables and fruit in my pots in the back- Wilson.
replaced at the Rau household.
Downsize, Simplify to Ease Your Garden Workload
By DEAN FOSDICK frequent pruning or mowing.”
For The Associated Press
If you’re gardening more — Mulching. “Mulch is the
but enjoying it less, maybe it’s ultimate low-tech, high-impact
time to add some labor-saving gardening tool,” said Doug
ideas to that list of New Year’s Welsh, a professor and exten-
resolutions. sion horticulturist with Texas
AgriLife Extension Service at
“There’s no such thing as ‘no
College Station. “It conserves
maintenance’ gardening. All
water, cools temperatures in
gardens require some effort,”
summer and warms them in
said Christopher Starbuck,
winter. It also keeps the weeds
an associate professor with
down.”
the University of Missouri’s
Division of Plant Sciences at — Native plants. “Choose
Columbia. “But one good way plants adapted to your envi-
to reduce the workload is con- ronment,” Welsh said. “Don’t
solidation, and you can do that try to grow Bluegrass in Texas
by going with raised beds.” or rhubarb in the South. You
More crops can be grown can always be a pioneer, but
— and grown more easily — it takes more effort to grow
when concentrated in small plants not native to your envi- PLANT MASS groups of flowers that have similar watering and fertil-
areas, he said. That simplifies ronment.” izer needs, like this mass of petunias. It will save a great deal of time
adding organic matter to the — Containers. You can and effort plus add visual impact. (AP Photo)
soil, and it also makes plants manage water and fertilizer
more accessible for watering use more easily in contain- put them where they can be Eddison, author of “Garden-
and weeding. ers, Welsh said. “The biggest reached easily with a soaker ing for a Lifetime: How to Gar-
“Start in one corner and put mistake people make with hose. Choose day lilies, iris den Wiser as You Grow Older.”
in a few raised beds per year. containers is getting them too and other perennials that (Timber Press, 2010). “If you
Just peck away at it,” Starbuck small,” he said. “Start almost require little attention. even own a scrap of woodland,
said. “You’ll find it takes a at the whiskey barrel size and you can make an extension of
lot less energy and produces then scale down to what your — Reducing lawn size. your garden by edging it with
higher yields in the end.” plants really need.” Replace it with perennial a few berried and flowering
Other low-maintenance, beds, decks, trails, sidewalks shrubs,” she said. “Naturalize
— Xeriscaping. Choosing or mulch. “Grass is one of
smart gardening suggestions drought-tolerant plants saves daffodils on the forest floor.”
include: the highest input plants that
on water and watering time, we grow,” Welsh said. “Turf — Easing Up. If all else
— Using less fertilizer. two big pluses for busy gar- means watering, mowing, fer- fails, simply relax your atti-
Recycle as many nutrients as deners. “All plants within a tilizing and pest control. Do tude about gardening, Mis-
possible by leaving grass clip- (planting) zone should have you really need 5,000 square souri’s Starbuck said. “Train-
pings on the lawn or foliage the same water requirements feet of grass?” ing yourself to enjoy a more
over plant beds. Base fertil- and be watered as a group,” chaotic look is the single most
IN THIS PHOTO provided by Kat Long, the mysterious tall green izer use on soil tests, Starbuck according to a Clemson Uni- — Naturalizing. Incorpo- important thing you can do to
plants growing underneath the window were finally identified as red said. “Over-fertilization leads versity fact sheet. Avoid rate your surroundings and let reduce the amount of time you
hyacinth. The yellow blooms behind the hyacinth are cannas. to excessive growth that needs high-maintenance plants, or plants grow wild, said Sydney spend in the garden.”