In terms of ornamental trees, another native California tree to learn to
appreciate and plant is the American Torrey Pine tree. As many native
California children did back in the 1950s we first studied this tree not
for the tree itself, but for its part in feeding the Kumeyaay Tribe of
Native American people. They weren’t the only ones who used the fruits
of this largely now considered ornamental tree as a primary food
source. Generations of early Mexican colonists to coastal regions of
California also used the Torrey pine nuts for food. Today, you might
find them served in upscale restaurants referred to as piñon nuts. They
are very large, hard, but entirely eatable.
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The Monterey Pine is as its name suggests native to what is known as the
Monterey Peninsula and when found is almost always along the California
coast (near and around Monterey and Santa Barbara), extending to the
Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands, and Guadalupe Island off lower
California. That doesn’t mean that it wasn’t introduced elsewhere along
the California coast.
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The story of the black walnut is almost the story of the original
pioneers that came to this country in that both were rugged and all but
gaunt in the bare days of freezing winters. Yet, the black walnut by
spring and summer is and always was an airy gracefully and symmetrical
contrast in beauty. Indeed, the black walnut tree has its own moods
throughout the four seasons, yet at the same time it never loses all
that makes it one of the all time great American trees.
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This time of the year various fruit and nut trees begin appearing in
local garden centers and nurseries, among the nut trees one of America’s
favorite trees is always there. In our grandparents day, the American
Chestnut tree would have far surpassed the Pecan tree in popularity, but
not any more since disease wiped out the Chestnut tree practically from
the American mind and memory.
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It’s
really the oil of the Neem tree that is a natural insecticide heavily
favored by home gardeners and organic gardeners, not just in the United
States, but all over the world. Neem oil is derived from the fruits and
the seeds of an evergreen tree that is native to India and other nearby
Asian countries. Its scientific name is Azadirachta indica.
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As in almost all problems the solution is partly in having the right
tools. As a result, in a quest to beat my weed enemies, I recently
compared an army of several weeding tools.
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One of the most coveted and dramatic ferns to own is the staghorn fern
(aka elkhorn fern). It also can be one of the most expensive of plants
to own, if you should need instant gratification and decide to purchase
one. Large ones are commonly sold for more than $300 each. Their
scientific name is Platycerium and there are about eighteen varieties depending upon which expert source you consult.
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Lately I favor growing mini-head lettuce. Actually most varieties of
lettuce can be “mini” head lettuces just simply by planting them closer
together and picking them early. It would surprise many gardeners to
know that mini-head lettuce varieties have distinct advantages in terms
of providing a sweeter, more tender and flavorful lettuce, and just
looks so much better visually. Other hidden advantages are:
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Talk about dramatic! The Black Lace Elderberry is a showy and easy to
grow small shrub that is not only delightful to look at in landscaping,
but makes wonderful floral designs in vases inside the home. Add the
fact that the Black Lace Elder is an edible plant (with the same
precautionary constraints of all elderberry plants in terms of the
poisonous parts) and there is nothing more that you could ask of any
plant in terms of perfection.
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On a vacation in Madrid after a few encounters with Gypsies, I had an
occasion to sip some homemade Elderberry wine with some elderly
grandparents who were entertaining us via a friend of a friend. That
afternoon, I learned from them that local Gypsies have a profound amount
of respect for the elderberry tree, which are actually bushes, at
least here in the United States.
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The poinsettia requires darkness for at least twelve hours for five days
in a row to change from being a pleasant dark green plant to the
colorful holiday plant we all know and love. Generally:
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Flower arrangements often dictate that they look right from different
angles. If the flowers are for the dining room table or a coffee table
or perhaps in front of a mirror, the view must be equally good and
pleasing from all angles. Both sides need not be identical, but should
be similar. Knowing these facts is half the story, for the technique of
“all around” (three dimensional) floral arrangements is a basic design
principle guarantees success.
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They
are all around us, so much so that we don’t always notice or appreciate
the contributions of shrubs and bushes both the environment and to the
beauty nature has to offer.
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There
are certain people who march to their own tune. I’m married to one of
them. This farm boy and world traveler has a few quirks. One of them is
that he is a confessed card-carrying plant rustler.
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Now,
more than in recent years past, getting the garden plan right the first
time is crucial — we don’t have time or money for newbie, or even
seasoned garden efforts to fail. The ability to be self-sufficient out
in the garden is a financial security concept whose time has come.
Putting in a garden to offset grocery prices or shortages is now a
priority for many Americans. Gardening is a way of growing money, or at
least knowing how to save money.
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It’s
no secret that many valuable medicines are obtained from plants and
still more are yet to be discovered. In the past the giant eucalyptus
trees of Australia yielded useful oils and gums. Quinine came from the
cinchona tree in the Andes Mountains, while powerful heart medicine.
digitalis, came from a beautiful flowering plant, often planted in the
gardens.
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The daughter of Madame Butterfly,
Akina, once invited me to visit her moonlight garden. Now at the time, I
couldn’t imagine that seeing someone’s garden in the light of the full
moon, but then I’d already experienced her mother’s “pets” and her“spa get tay”— so nothing should have surprised me. However, the drama and romance of Akina’s moonlight garden was one I’ll never forget.
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If
trees could talk they’d have a lot to say. I’m sure they’d want us all
to plant more trees, but more than that — I’m real sure they’d want us
to know how to treat those trees who are already here. Like with so many
other beings and creatures on this planet, humans haven’t been so kind
to them. As an imaginative child, I was real sure that trees talked to me. I’ve been blessed to know a good many trees, among them:
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It
would surprise many people to know that some of their favorite plants
and shrubs, the very ones around their children, pets, and livestock —
are also dangerous and poisonous. Two
examples would be the evergreen popular shrubs — the Rhododendron and
the Azalea. The leaves are toxic and even honey if made from the nectar
of the flower is toxic. It’ll produce vomiting, diarrhea, and an
uncomfortable tingling of skin, headache, weakness, and visual blurring.
In some cases these bushes can cause both coma and heart problems that
lead to death.
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Like Mary Shelly’s Victor Frankenstein
character (The Modern Prometheus), you too could create new life from
old life, in a new and improved variety of America’s second most
favorite fruit — the apple. There
is a difference between Hollywood’s version of grafting and grafting an
apple tree. You don’t have to create a monster, (unless you think that
the crab apple is one) — your apple clone could be a better tasting and
unique variety of apple (or the re-creation of an endangered apple).
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