Goji Berry Bush

Also called “Wolfberry,” the Goji Berry Bush produces berries with the most antioxidants of any plant. 

Lycium Barbarum is hardy to USDA zone 3 and loves well-drained soil with plenty of compost.  Don’t use too much peat moss as this bush likes alkaline soil.  Plant it in full sun and water well during the first year to get it established.

Unpruned, they can grow to 12’ with a width of 4’ with a drooping habit similar to Forsythia.  And also like Forsythia, they will start suckers anywhere the branches touch the ground.

Once established, they are easy to grow and can provide nutritious berries for you and your local wildlife.  Any creature that eats berries will love these and deer love the leaves.  Even finches will pluck new leaves from the bushes so if you have a lot of wildlife in your area, protection is a must.

The berries are delicate and bruise easily so it’s best to shake the branches so ripe berries drop into a container.  They are very tart like cranberries and will last longest if they are dried.

Young plants are often compared to tomatoes.  They look like tomatoes, they need similar fertilization and watering and they also get blossom end rot from uneven watering and soil that is too acidic.

Pruning is important, but remember that berries appear on the new growth.  Pruning also keeps this “wild child” in check.

Stay healthy!

Rodent-proof Flower Bulbs

Do you love your spring bulbs but so do the wild animals?  It’s so frustrating when you plant a garden but the plants or even the bulbs themselves become food for hungry deer, chipmunks and squirrels.

If you plan to stick with tulips and other tasty treats, then you’d better put up some fencing.  However if you’re willing to try something new, you may be in luck.

There are some spring and summer bulbs that rodents and deer don’t find palatable.  Here are a few to try:

• Snowdrops (white,) Winter Aconite (yellow) and Glory of the Snow (white, pink & blue) are some early spring bloomers that can add some color and beauty to your garden. 

• Alliums including onions and garlic.  There are quite a few ornamental varieties.  From the tiny Millenium to the giant Gigantium and especially the Schubertii (this author’s favorite!)

• Daffodils and Narcissus are left alone and provide those familiar yellow flowers.

• Wood Squill are small lily-like flowers that are usually blue.

• Fritillaria are also called Guinea Hen Flower because their checkered flowers look like the  plumage of guinea fowl.

Check these out for your new rodent-proof garden!

Fencing

According to Robert Frost 'Good fences make good neighbors.'

There is truth to that statement since setting boundaries can be a good thing and resolve or prevent all sorts of issues.

There are plenty of uses for fencing and a huge selection of types and styles.

First, let’s look at the reasons for erecting fences.  Fences keep things in or out.  They can keep out trespassers such as burglars, annoying neighbors, stray animals or wildlife that may damage your landscaping.  They can keep your kids and pets in the yard where they are safe or prevent livestock from wandering off.  They can even keep the plants themselves contained.  Fencing is used for safety such as keeping people away from a swimming pool.

All sorts of materials are used for different purposes.  Metal fencing runs from simple chicken wire to ornate wrought iron.  There are horizontal bars, vertical scrolling and patterns and also barbed wire.

Wooden fencing can be the most rustic but it can also be damaged faster by the elements than other types.  Wood fence styles run from split rail to stockade.  The type of wood affects the longevity.  Cedar will last longer than pine.  Treated wood has a longer life span but there is the issue of toxic chemicals leaching into your soil.

Plastic fencing includes PVC, vinyl and composites.  They can resist sun damage and fading better than most other types but can also be very expensive.

Finally, there are masonry fences (technically these are walls.)  These may be the sturdiest of all.

Whatever your need or aesthetic, there should be something for you to use.  Just speak with your local fencing expert for what’s best for you.

Valentine’s Day and the Rose

What better than a red rose to symbolize love to your Valentine?  However you can communicate all sorts of messages with your roses.  Each color holds a special meaning and even how you present them adds more detail.

• Red: the traditional symbol for love, romance, and say "I love you"

• Pink:  grace, sweetness and happiness

• Yellow: cheer and joy and indicate friendship

• White:  innocence and new beginnings

• Orange: enthusiasm, energy and passion

• Lavender: eager love

• Peach: appreciation

• Cream: thoughtfulness

• Green: rejuvenation

The number of roses given also has meaning

• One: devotion

• Two: a proposal

• Six: asking for returned love

• Twelve: true love

• Thirteen: a secret admirer

May all your Valentine wishes come true!

Sugar Shack Button Bush

If you want a plant that is interesting during the entire season, then take a look at this bush.

This is a low-growing, rounded shrub grows 3-4’ tall and wide and supports our native pollinators. 

It starts in the spring with glossy red foliage that turns dark green as it matures.  By early summer, the sweet-scented pincushion flowers emerge.  The flowers will attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

By late summer, the flowers have developed into bright red fruit which is a food for birds and other animals. The fruit remains on the bush throughout the winter.

The leaves are also used as food by the Titan Sphinx Moth.

As the season wears on into autumn, the leaves turn to burgundy before they drop off.

But even without leaves, the rounded form with some twisted branches are interesting to see.

The Sugar Shack Button Bush will do well in swampy areas or in areas that have regular moisture.  It does not like a lot of shade and it cannot dry out.

If you need to prune it, remember that the buds for next year set on new growth so it should be pruned early in the season so you don’t cut off next year’s flowers.

Plants Associated with the Lunar New Year

The Year of the Rat began on January 25th in 2020.  This is called the Lunar or Chinese New Year.

The rat represents wealth, surplus and fertility.

This is truly a festive time, often celebrated with fireworks and dragons.  Flowers and plants used in your festivities should represent all good things in life.

One favorite is the Lucky Bamboo.  Bamboo represents health, happiness and strength.  When it is shaped in a circle, it represents the figure “8” which is very lucky in many Oriental cultures and it represents wealth and prosperity.

Here are some other plants and what they represent:

• Peony:  Prosperity, peace, femininity and charisma

• Narcissus:  Wealth, prosperity, luck and fortune as well as a lovely scent.

• Water Lily:  Rebirth, luck, peace, enlightenment and a lovely scent.

• Peach Blossom:  Romance, growth, long life

• Azalea:  Harmony and balance in life

• Orchid:  Fertility, wealth, beauty and luck

Happy New Year to all!

Plants for Dry Shady Areas

If you have areas of your yard that are consistently dry and shady, you probably have a hard time making that area look nice.

It will take some work to establish plants but once you do, there are some that will be worth the effort.  Nothing can become established without initial care.  That usually means watering throughout the first season and sometimes into a second season if the plant was installed later on in the previous year.

Take a look at some of the flowering shrubs.  My favorite is the Kerria or Japanese Rose.  It grows like forsythia with a mounding shape but the flowers look like small yellow roses.  The Hop Tree’s flowers are not so noticeable except for the scent.  Most hops have a smell that seems to make people relax.  In winter, the leaves may be gone but the dried hops remain and look especially nice covered in snow.  Other shrubs include the Yew and the Bottlebrush Buckeye.

For low-lying plants and ground covers, St John’s Wort and Bishop’s Hat cover the ground and produce pretty yellow flowers.  Brunnera has several varieties with solid green or variegated foliage.  It produces small blue flowers that look like Forget-Me-Nots.  Hellebores is also dry-shade tolerant.  This is an unusual looking plant with flowers ranging from green to all colors.

For spring blooms, try Lily of the Valley.  The flowers are very fragrant and will cheer you up while waiting for warmer weather.

There are several options, but you will have to work to get them established.  It will definitely be worth it.

Gas Plant

The gas plant (Dictamnus albus) earned its name from a volatile supposedly given off by the plant that supposedly can be burned to provide light.  Another nickname is “burning bush” due to its allegedly flammable stems and leaves.

Don’t confuse it with the other burning bush (euonymus) used as a hedge with its bright red autumn foliage.

When the leaves are bruised, they have a strong lemon scent that repels deer and rabbits, however bees and butterflies love it.

It is hardy to zone 3 so it would do well here in NJ. 

This woody plant grows up to 4’ tall and has lovely flower spikes appearing in early to mid-summer.  The foliage is a glossy green and the seed pods are often used in flower arrangements.  It’s drought-tolerant and not fussy about growing conditions but it does like sun.

Flowers are usually white but can be pink, red or purple.

If you can find this rare beauty, it would be a worthwhile addition to your garden.