Q. I have a lot of juniper ground cover and have a problem of them turning brown after having been in ground for 2 plus years. What can I do?
A. You need to know the source of the problem before you can remedy it. Here are a few things to consider.
First, your Juniperus species might not be getting enough water. While it's true that junipers are generally drought-tolerant, gardeners often rely too much on drought tolerance, and neglect watering when necessary. There is a point of no return. If junipers show drought stress by exhibiting dull, dry foliage, it's already too late to save them. By the way, the same is true of most conifers.
Second, your junipers might be suffering from a pest infestation. Mite and bagworm populations can easily increase to the point that they kill host plants. Miticides (also known as acaricides) might be effective. Follow label instructions. The best way I've found to control bagworms is to identify the bag-like cocoons early on, remove and destroy them. The cocoons are easy to overlook. They're covered with brown twigs and resemble small pine cones.
Third, your junipers might be afflicted with a type of canker. These diseases are caused by fungi that enter plants through wounds. Affected plants are often already under stress for other reasons. Dying branch tips and weeping wounds are notable symptoms. Fungicides are seldom effective. The best course of treatment is to remove the diseased plant portions. If the disease is advanced, remove the plants and replace them with another species not affected by canker. Fungal spores will continue to be present in the soil.
Help again? I was checking the vines this morning and there are small black worms attacking in large numbers the leaves of the scuppernongs and muscadines. I would assume this is some sort of moth or butterfly larvae, but cannot find suitable information on the internet. Any ideas would help. I hate to attempt to get rid of them with the wrong pesticides if I have to use them at all.
They might be Hyalophora cecropia , 1st instar phase. The reason they don't show the coloration and size that you might see in photos of the big, green caterpillars on the internet is due to their immature phase.
I don't think you need to bother getting rid of them. More grape leaves will appear. They won't denude your vines. There are probably enough predators to keep them in check. Some type of BT dust might benefit.
The calendar read "spring", but the weather felt like winter when I returned to Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor, Maine in late March. The low was 9 degrees Fahrenheit the day before. Some locals thought the weather was warming; others disagreed. If it was mud-season, it was only around the edges. The Penobscot River looked pretty solid to me.
Penobscot River near Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor, ME
Having visited Mt. Hope Cemetery when the lilacs were blooming, it seemed bidding in a strange way to visit when the weather is harsh and the landscape bleak. Except for the fact that Mainers know how to keep the roads cleared, it was bleak, indeed.
Gate post. Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor, ME
The gateposts looked grayer.
2nd Maine Memorial
The 2nd Maine Memorial death angel seemed more ominous.
Superintendent's Lodge. Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor, ME
I imagined the occupant(s) in the Superintendent's Lodge preferred to be left alone.
Receiving House. Mt. Hope Cemetery. Bangor, ME
The Receiving House (aka "Death House") suddenly made sense to me, for it is the repository for those who die in winter to be kept chilled until the frozen soil is soft enough for grave-diggers to plunge their shovels into the cold, cold ground.
Memorial Fort. Grand Army of the Republic. Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor, ME
I drove to
the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Fort to take a closeup picture of it in
the snow. I hadn't stepped more than a yard before I sunk to my knees in
snow. I wished I'd thought to bring the snowshoes I'd learned to use
two days before.
Stone bridge. Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor, ME
I took pictures of the "fort" from afar, and
also images of ducks, the stone bridge, and the omnipresent crow.
After filling my shoes with snow, I didn't range far. I photographed several views of the Mount.
Station House. Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor, ME
I
captured a couple of images of the Station with its intricate ironwork
where mourners - mostly women - stepped off trains to grieve or
celebrate before ceremonies commenced.
After leaving the
cemetery, I parked beside the road for pictures. Frankly, it's difficult
to enjoy a great view of the Penobscot River from the road. There are
guard rails, passing vehicles and denuded trees.
Upon returning
to my car, I gazed again at the Mount Hope Cemetery Station and
remembered that death is an occasion for grief and/or celebration. It
depends, I suppose, on the perspective and hope within.
Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor, ME
Mt. Hope Cemetery, Bangor, ME
If you, gentle reader, have visited Mt. Hope Cemetery in Bangor, ME, please let us know your experience in the comment section.
In the final analysis there is no other solution to man's progress but the day's honest work, the day's honest decision, the day's generous utterances, and the day's good deed.
--- Clare Boothe Luce.
...my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. --- Philippians 4:19.
branch of the Cooper River, in Berkeley County, South Carolina. One can not stroll the grounds or gaze across the river without a sense of its fascinating history.
The area was originally settled by Native American tribes, mainly Kiawah. Wanting protection from their immigrant, cannibalistic Westoe neighbors, and the
Spanish to the south, the Kiawah tribes welcomed the English.
As the English expanded their territories in North America, the Crown set up a system of Lords Proprietors to oversee them. Few Lords Proprietors, if any, ever set foot on their territories. The original Lords Proprietors of the Province of Carolina included:
Though they may have never visited, their names remain as places on maps.
Joel Gascoyne, “A new map of the country of Carolina.” Ca. 1682. American Memory, Library of Congress http://memory.loc.gov/
Proprietary Grants were often given to heirs of Lords Proprietors. The Mepkin Plantation site was part of such grants made to three of Sir John Colleton's sons: Peter, Thomas and James. Mepkin belonged to James Colleton. The plantation passed to James's son, John, then to John's son, John, Esq.
Lords Proprietors responsibilities included protecting the colonists from invasion. They didn't do a good job of it. The colonists had to defend themselves from French and Spanish troops, pirates and hostile tribes. The colonists complained and petitioned the Crown again and again to take over the administration, which it did, finally. The Crown purchased the interests of seven of the Lords Proprietors in 1729 for £22,500 - about what they had in them.
Carolina was declared a Royal Colony and assigned to Governors. Some Governors were grandsons or great-grandsons of Lords Proprietors. Sir John Colleton of Exmouth, Devon was named Governor.
No doubt the Colletons were noted for the day's honest work, the day's honest decision, the day's generous utterances, and the day's good deed. But tremendous accomplishment was also achieved by Sir James Colleton's Attorney and plantation manager, John Stuart. John gained land and wealth, and achieved much more, however he claimed that his boss, James Colleton wrongly took credit for many of his contributions.
In 1762, John Colleton, Esq. sold Mepkin, including the original 3,000 acres of the Proprietary Grant to Henry Laurens.
Henry Laurens was an import/export merchant in Charleston. His business included the slave trade. He quit the import/export business in 1776 to
become a planter and statesman.
The time was ripe. Laurens rose to positions of importance in the emerging nation. Elected to Minister to Holland by the Continental Congress in 1779, he set sail in 1780, but was captured en route by the British. Laurens was imprisoned in the Tower of London for fifteen months until being released prematurely in anticipation of a prisoner exchange to get Lord Cornwallis back. Cornwallis was returned a little later than expected.
Laurens family cemetery.
Laurens returned to Mepkin in 1784. His house had been burned. Another was built, but no remains are left. Though elected to other important positions, he declined. He was tired. Henry Laurens died in 1792. His remains were cremated and buried at Mepkin.
Henry left the plantation to his son, Henry. The latter sold Mepkin in 1916 to J.W. Johnson, Esq. Johnson left it to his daughter, Mrs. Nicholas G. Rutgers. Rutgers sold it in 1936 to Henry R. Luce and his wife, Clare Boothe Luce. The Luces enlisted noted American landscape architect Loutrel Winslow Briggs to design their gardens at Mepkin.
On January 11, 1944, Clare's nineteen-year-old daughter, Ann Clare Brokaw, a senior at Stanford University, was killed in an automobile accident. Her death devastated her mother. Seeking solace, Clare turned to Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen for counseling. Clare Boothe Luce converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1946.
In 1949, the Luces contributed a large portion of Mepkin Plantation to the Church for use by the Trappists. Twenty-nine monks moved from Gethsemani, Kentucky to found the Abbey.
St. Benedict of Nursia
Life at Mepkin Abbey is guided by the Rule of St. Benedict of Nursia. Some of his precepts include:
Idleness is the enemy of the soul.Therefore the sisters should be occupied at certain times in manual labor, and again at fixed hours in sacred reading.
...then are they truly monastics when they live by the labor of their hands,as did our Fathers and the Apostles.
The tenth degree of humility is that he be not ready and quick to laugh, for it is written, "The fool lifts up his voice in laughter" (Eccles. 21:23).
Let us do what the Prophet says: "I said, 'I will guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue. I have set a guard to my mouth.' I was mute and was humbled, and kept silence even from good things" (Ps. 38[39]:2-3). Here the Prophet shows that if the spirit of silence ought to lead us at times to refrain even from good speech, so much the more ought the punishment for sin make us avoid evil words.
Let all things be common to all,
as it is written (Acts 4:32),
and let no one say or assume that anything is his own.
Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ,
for He is going to say,
"I came as a guest, and you received Me" (Matt. 25:35). And to all let due honor be shown, especially to the domestics of the faith and to pilgrims.
The Trappists live by the work of their hands. Enterprises might include many things such as egg production, jam and jelly making or brewing. The monks at Mepkin Abbey grow shiitake and oyster mushrooms, operate a gift shop, sell books and art work, and provide a columbarium. Everything is reasonably priced, too, though I haven't inquired about the price of a niche in the Mepkin Columbarium. As St. Benedict ordered, The evil of avarice must have no part in establishing prices, which
should, therefore, always be a little lower than people outside the
monastery are able to set,” so that in all things God may be glorified.
While in the gift shop, I asked where we could find the Columbarium. I had heard about it before. The shopkeeper told me where to find it. He confided that "people are dying to be buried there." Keep in mind that St. Benedict didn't forbid laughter but discouraged quick laughter. I smiled in acceptance. That left me to wonder whether the shopkeeper was a Trappist monk, or just teasing me.
Except for possible lawn mowing, there is an air of silence at Mepkin. We only spoke to the gift shop attendant, and I wasn't sure he was a monk. Even at work, the monks only speak when necessary. There was no idle chatter. The silence enriched our experience.
There's no way a casual visitor would know for sure, but a friend of mine who retreated to Mepkin Abbey confirmed that, according to their Mission Statement, "all things are common to all" with the exception of a few simple, permitted items such as toothbrushes.
That brings me to the subject of hospitality. Christians worldwide have been known since their earliest history for hospitality, grace and mercy. The Trappists at Mepkin Abbey may receive you for a retreat at Mepkin Abbey if there are enough beds available. Men and women, husbands and wives are welcome, but will have to sleep apart.
If you want to become a retreatant at Mepkin Abbey, feel free to apply. Don't expect your life to be easy, full of leisure, mindless meditation, enjoying the beauty, sniffing the flowers and photographing while someone else works hard. You will, no doubt, experience the day's honest
work, the day's honest decision, the day's generous utterances, and the
day's good deed. Work hard at it. But, in the final analysis, ...my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ---Philippians 4:19.
If you're scratching your noggin and wondering whether Monck's Corner, South Carolina was named for the monks at Mepkin Abbey, it was not. The place pertains to George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, mentioned above.
Follow me now to see what grows behind the garden wall. Here are some of my photographs.
The spiritual life is first of all a life. It is not merely something to be known and studied, it is to be lived. ― Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude
If you, dear reader, have visited Mepkin Abbey, tell us about your experience in the comment section. We'd love to hear from you.
Must-have plants are among the best plants for appropriate garden
situations. When you need great garden plants for ground cover,
naturalizing, wildflower gardens, perennial borders, butterfly gardens,
hummingbird gardens, herb gardens, heritage gardens, cutting gardens,
woodland gardens, shade gardens, bulb gardens, container gardens, bog
gardens, water gardens, rain gardens or xeriscaping, look for the best
among our must-have plants.
You will fall in love with hardy primrose - Primula vulgaris 'Belarina Valentine' (PPAF). Flower color is wonderful deep red. Mature size is 8 inches to 12 inches x 8 inches to 12 inches.
Comments: 'Belarina
Valentine' (PPAF) thrives in partial shade to full shade in USDA
climate zones 4 to 9. Soil must be loamy and consistently moist with pH
ranging from 6.1 to 7.5. Space from 10 inches to 12 inches apart.
Hardy primrose is great for shade gardens, butterfly gardens and container gardens.
Have you grown hardy primrose? Let us know of your experience in the comment section.
Q. I have about 1,200 sqf area in the backyard to cover with Liriope spicata. It will replace the existing bermuda fescue turf. The goal is to produce a tidy, formal look and dense cover. I'd prefer potted plants of a sufficiently large size. I am looking at at least six vendors and you are one of them I have contacted. Please advise me on:
How many plants do I need?
When would be the best time to plant them, considering my location and zone (Norman, OK zone 6B)?
Considering the large size of the area to be covered, what would be your best, competitive price?
A. The planting distance depends on your budget and how quickly you want the plants to grow together and cover the area. They will cover more quickly if spaced closer. You must balance one against the other.
You may plant those from 2-1/2 inch pots as closely as 8 inches apart, or as distant as 12 inches apart.
You may plant those from 3-1/2 inch pots as closely as 12 inches apart, or as distant as 18 inches apart.
Plant spacing is measured from the center of one pot to the center of the next pot.
If you plant at 8 inch spacing, you will need 2.25 plants per square foot.
If you plant at 10 inch spacing, you will need 1.45 plants per square foot.
If you plant at 12 inch spacing, you will need 1 plant per square foot.
If you plant at 15 inch spacing, you will need .64 plant per square foot.
If you plant at 18 inch spacing, you will need .44 plant per square foot.
If you have irrigation available, plant in spring when danger of frost is past. If you do not have irrigation available, I suggest you wait until fall when natural rainfall is usually more abundant.
14 February [19]35 Villa Margherita, Charleston, S. C.
Dearest Papa Woojums,
It is a lovely Charleston but very lonesome, all your friends have been so sweet to us considering that they almost feel we didn't bring you, they don't see that we are the ones who suffer the most. Miss [Josephine] Pinckney was charming and intriguing and a little mysterious, the Dubose Heywards even more charming, so little mysterious that one felt that one had known them always and so loved them at once, and the unknown Mr. Ben Kittredge Jr. sat next [to] me at lunch at Oxford in '25 or '26 and he has a beautiful car but a marvellous garden, the famous cypress garden and we rode on boats on the swamp for hours this afternoon. This I tell you so that you may know what you are missing. --Gertrude Stein, The Letters of Gertrude Stein and Carl Van Vechten, 1913-1946
The "marvellous garden, the famous cypress garden" of Mr. Ben Kittredge, Jr., was actually owned by his parents - Benjamin R. Kittredge of New York and Elizabeth Maynard Marshall of Charleston, S.C. - when Stein visited. Cypress Gardens was created by the elder Kittredge after he purchased Dean Hall Plantation in 1909.
Dean Hall Plantation was established in the 1720s by Alexander Nesbitt of Dean, Scotland. It passed through the hands of several owners before Kittredge obtained it.The plantation had fallen into disuse. The reservoir which once held fresh water for the rice fields had become a swamp. Kittredge aimed to turn it into a duck hunting preserve. Trails were constructed around the swamp and the landscape was planted with ornamentals. He opened Cypress Gardens to the public in 1932.
Benjamin Rufus Kittredge, Jr. was the author of an unremarkable novel, Crowded Solitude, which he published in 1930. Perhaps his book, the fact that he was already known to Stein, and the famous garden included him in her itinerary.
Benjamin Junior sold the 162-acre Cypress Gardens to the City of Charleston in 1963 for $1.00. The city turned it over to Berkeley County about 30 years later.
Cypress Gardens was heavily damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, but a recent visitor would hardly know it. Time, hard work and money have healed much.
Just as Gertrude Stein, we visited Cypress Gardens in winter. Admittedly, it is not the time one would usually make a garden visit, even in the Lowcountry. Indeed, there were few other visitors, but the solitude enhanced the pleasure.
Indoor exhibits are nestled near the Visitor Center. Among the Cypress Garden attractions are the Butterfly House, Heritage Museum, Swamparium and Nature Center. A live bird exhibit, alligator display, children's and heirloom gardens are also nearby.
The Butterfly House exhibits a good number of plant species that feed butterflies or their larvae, but the Butterfly House was not alive with butterflies when we visited, at least in their winged form. We spotted one monarch and a caterpillar, but there were many chrysalides in protective boxes. The Butterfly House is also home to koi and a few birds such as the Diamond Dove, native to Australia, and the Wood Duck, native to the swamp just outside the door.
The Heritage Museum tells the fascinating story of Dean Hall Plantation. Many of the artifacts were unearthed thanks to DuPont™ , which bought part of Dean Hall for its Kevlar® fibers plant. Though it's easy to mourn the loss of the historic site, most of what we know of it would be mouldering still in the cold, cold ground if not for "progress".
Upon entering the Swamparium, one is greeted by the big, toothy grin of one of the largest alligators you've ever seen. Don't worry. It's stuffed. But it and the bronze image of a large alligator snapping turtle on the wall give some of idea of the dangers inherent in a southern swamp. For more creepiness, other live reptiles, fish and amphibians are also on display in the darkened rooms.
More of nature is on display in the Nature Center. A stuffed Red Fox and Bobcat stalk upon a shelf, and hands-on exhibits provide tactile learning for everyone.
There are about 3.7 miles of walking trails and paths at Cypress Gardens. The paths are less developed. If you wish to explore as Stein did, boats are available for guided and self-guided tours.
The garden is furnished to encourage wildlife. The bat hotel and Wood Duck nesting boxes are examples. I kept an eye out for fauna, especially Wood Ducks. If not sighting some, I kept my ears open for their distinctive calls.
Q. What plants do you recommend growing for cut flowers? I need something easy to grow, and I want to plant in spring.
A. Depending on your climate zone, try the following bulbs and perennials are recommended for cut flowers:
Anenomes - A. coronaria De Caen and St. Brigid are best.
Caladiums - While they're not grown for flowers, the long-lasting foliage works well in some arrangements.
Callas - These belong to the genus Zantedeschia. The waxy-looking, long-lasting flowers are very elegant.
Dahlias - Dahlias dominate. For inspiration, visit a nearby dahlia society show. They are usually held in September.
Gladiolus - Plant them after danger of frost is past. For a longer season, plant a few corms each week for several weeks.
Ixia - Sometimes called corn lilies, they are excellent for exhuberant country-style arrangements.
Liatris - They are available in blue shades to white, and have a feathery appearance.
Lilies - I'm referring to true lilies in the genus Lilium. There are lots of plants called "lilies", but not all are. For my money, the longer stemmed varieties are the best. The short-stemmed lilies are great for container growing.
Polianthes - The familiar tuberose lends a sumptuous fragrance to elegant arrangements.
Ranunculus - Ranunculus are exceptional in cut flower arrangements.
Many perennials are noteworthy for cutting, including the following:
Achillea - Commonly called Yarrow, the long-stemmed varieties are excellent for fresh and dried arrangements.
Convallaria or Lily-of-the-Valley - Just a few in a small vase are perfect for an intimate table setting.
Echinacea - Cone flowers are fine for fresh arrangements, but it doesn't end there. The dried seed heads sans petals are perfect for drying.
Ferns - While there are several species of ferns that will do, evergreen Polystichum acrosticoides - Christmas fern - provides the greenery you need all year long.
Iris - The best include Dutch hybrids (available in the fall as corms) and perennial Siberian iris. I wish the flowers lasted longer.
Kniphofia - These are stunning. You can use the flowers and foliage.
Q. I have a small yard that doesn't get much sunlight, and there is a lot of moss. What to do you suggest to get grass growing? I live in Columbia, MD.
A. Forget about grass. You should grow dwarf mondo grass instead. Mondo (Ophiopogon japonicus) is not true grass, but it looks like grass. Mondo performs well in full shade and in slightly moist soil. Maintenance is minimal. Mondo has few pest and disease problems, and tolerates poor soil. Dwarf mondo (O. japonicus 'Nana') leaves grow to 1-1/2 inches to 2 inches long, so mowing is unnecessary.
Q. Since the subject came up and there is a likelihood of that ugly cottony scale this time of year, could you address it too?
A. I'm assuming you are referring to cottony cushiony scale on indoor plants. If you're referring to another, please let me know, though I might suggest the same remedies.
Cottony cushiony scale can afflict many plants including edibles and ornamentals, especially citrus and pittosporum. By sucking sap from plants, they may weaken them to the point of death. At the very least, they suck vitality from plants. Ants feed on honeydew produced by cottony cushiony scale, so they try to protect the scale insects from predators.
Cottony cushiony scale is difficult to control in the adult phase because the cottony cushiony covering protects the little critters from insecticides. If they have infested deciduous plants, spray the plants during dormancy with horticultural oil. Another strategy you should use early in the season is to reduce the ant population. Ant baits or sticky materials applied to plant trunks and branches may help.
A few other insect predators are effective in controlling scale. If ants are controlled, the predators might have a chance to help you out.
Some insecticides such as Malathion can be effective in controlling this scale if applied in spring or fall when young scales are active. Some systemic insecticides might be effective, but check the label to see if the chemical is listed for cottony cushiony scale. Always follow label instructions. Never use systemic insecticides on edible and fruit-bearing plants.
The downside of using chemical pesticides is that they also kill beneficial insects, such as the predators mentioned before. Cottony cushiony scale is indeed a tough insect to control.
Q. How can I control mealybugs on my Japanese hollies?
A. First, make sure those are mealybugs on your Japanese hollies (Ilex crenata). Some species of scale insects resemble mealybugs, but they require different methods of control. If you've established that your pests are mealybugs, there is a relatively safe solution you can make at home that should work. Make a 50:50 solution of isopropyl alcohol and water in a 1.5 liter spray bottle. Add about 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap. Mix well. Spray to cover the mealybugs. The treatment may need to be repeated several times over the course of a few weeks to destroy eggs and emerging insects.
Take care, though, that the liquid dish soap not be too strong. A stronger concentration than that recommended can damage to foliage. If in doubt, try the spray on a few leaves not readily visible to see if the solution causes damage before covering the entire plant.
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