Ragweed and Goldenrod

Do you know the difference?

In late summer, we see those tall yellow spikes of yellow that show the goldenrod is in bloom.  It’s a really pretty flower.  Florists use some of the approximately 150 species in their decorations.  They are related to Asters.

Spiky goldenrod leaves grow off of the entire stem which can be up to 4’ tall.  The stalks tend to sway in the breeze.

There is also another plant in bloom at the same time.  But this plant – the ragweed – really isn’t very noticeable.  Even the “flowers” are green.

Around the same time many people start to have allergy flare-ups.  They may have been told that they’re allergic to ragweed but somehow they blame the goldenrod.

In fact, many people think that goldenrod IS ragweed.

The issue is that people aren’t familiar with both plants.

Goldenrod is a tall plant that is rarely found in gardens.  Because it is seldom cultivated, people consider it a weed.  Since most people think weeds are bad, they put goldenrod in that category.

Ragweed is also tall but looks completely different.  There are about 50 varieties and are related to the Artemisia.

The plant is more rigid than goldenrod.  It has a central stalk with multi-lobed leaves.  The plant produces tall stalks with small burr-like nodules.  These produce the pollen.

Please leave the goldenrod and pull out any ragweed plants.  Your nose will thank you.

Cleome, the “Other” Spider Plant

We always had these in the garden when I was young and we called them Spider Plants.  It’s easy to see how they earned that name with the tendrils that are part of the flower heads.

It was only much later that I learned of the green hanging house plants also called the “spider plant.’

Cleome is an annual in our area.  Most are pink or pink and white but there are also solid white, purple and combinations of these colors.

They are tall and graceful, usually growing 3-4’ although there are dwarf varieties and some plants that just get taller.   They make a great background plant in a garden.  They like full sun to part share but they don’t like wet feet so keep them in a well-drained area.  Once established, they are drought-tolerant.

The heirloom varieties have a light scent whereas developed cultivars usually have no scent and produce sterile seeds.  They attract beneficial insects.

Flowers come out in June and continue until frost kills them.  They produce long, thin seed pods that will split open as they dry.

Plant them by putting the seed on the ground since they don’t transplant well.  They are considered self-seeding annuals since they will come back year after year if you let them go to seed.

Rain Gardens: a Drainage Solution

What is a rain garden? 

The purpose of a rain garden is to collect runoff water that would otherwise cause erosion.  The plants in a rain garden are tolerant to both excess water and dry conditions.  The garden will contain the runoff until it is naturally absorbed back into the environment. 

Why create a rain garden?

• They can help with ground water issues

• They can fix drainage & make a beautiful space

Where would I plant a rain garden?

The ideal location for a rain garden is along a natural runoff path or near some impermeable coverage such as a parking area, patio, downspouts or your home – basically anywhere that there’s a lot of runoff or water accumulation. 

How should I construct a rain garden?

Place it an area where rain water is naturally channeled and that tends to accumulate sitting water. Typically the soil would contain 60% sand, 15% top soil 25% compost. Use any plants that can tolerate both wet and dry conditions. It should keep the water from running off and eroding the ground but should be built so that the water can be absorbed into the ground fairly quickly.  The objective is not to create a pond. It shouldn’t be very deep – less than a foot – so there is more ground to absorb the water. Keep it free of weeds, debris and dead leaves which will impair the water flow.

Rain Garden Plants

Here are some suggestions of what to plant in your rain garden:

• Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)

• Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

• Swamp mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)

• Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium)

• Sedges (Carex)

• Bluestar (Amsonia)

• Turtlehead (Chelone)

For more plant suggestions go to http://raingardenalliance.org/planting/plantlist

Boysenberries

According to Wikipedia, the Boysenberry was developed by Rudolph Boysen.  He didn’t have a lot of success so the growing was ultimately taken over by George Darrow and Walter Knott.  They had a lot more success and after making and selling boysenberry preserves, it ultimately led to the founding of Knott’s Berry Farm.

 You don’t seem boysenberries grown commercially because the skin of the fruit is thin and doesn’t do well during bulk harvesting, processing and shipping. There were other issues too that made it a less-than-ideal candidate for commercial production.  It’s a shame because these are wonderful if you can find them.

 The original plants were said to be a cross between European raspberry, European blackberry, American dewberry, and loganberry.  Logan berries are a hybrid between a raspberry and a blackberry.  This plant has a very long pedigree.

 As with other berries, they are very healthy with a high dose of antioxidants as well as a delicious flavor.

 This is a plant worth growing if you can protect it from the deer and other animals that love to browse on the foliage.

Blackberries

Blackberries, like raspberries are a member of the rose family.  It has a similar growth habit where it will sprout roots wherever a branch touches the ground.

They are often confused with black raspberries but once you know the difference, it’s quite simple to tell them apart.  When you pick a raspberry, it comes off of the “torus” and you have a hollow fruit.  The torus is the white bump on the end of the stem where the berry grows.  When you pick a blackberry, the torus comes with it and you have a solid fruit.

The plants also do not technically have thorns like raspberries.  However they are covered with “prickles” which can be just as annoying when you’re trying to get to those delicious berries.

 Besides being a tasty fruit, parts of the plant have been used for medicinal purposes and to make tea.

 As the berries develop they turn red and when ripe, turn to the dark color we are familiar with. 

 Plants are loved by pollinators as well as many insects and deer. 

 The fruit is very healthy.  If you can protect the plants, you’ll have a wonderful treat.

Lavender

What an amazing smell!

 Lavender is not only gorgeous but the smell lasts a very long time, even after the flowers have been dried.  Because of the strong smell, deer will avoid it – always a plus here in NJ.

 It looks wonderful in your garden, makes a nice sachet, keeps bugs out of your drawers and helps you relax and sleep better. 

 Have you ever seen photos of the lavender fields in Provence, France?

 This hearty plant comes in more than 450 varieties and does best in well-drained slightly alkaline soil with mediocre nutrition and full sun.  Some protection from the afternoon sun is a bonus.  It’s a great plant for pollinators too.  It is drought-tolerant so once it’s established, don’t water it too much.

 If you’d like to see large plantings of lavender near our area, be sure to visit Orchard View Lavender Farm in Port Murray, NJ.  It’s free to walk around and take photos.  They say that their English varieties will typically start to bloom in June and the French don't bloom until July.  They have a lovely little shop too.

 Even though it’s woody, it will dangle over a wall if planted on the edge.  My ‘Munstead’ lavender has been doing just that for over 20 years.

 You’ll love this plant.

Raspberries

There is nothing like eating berries fresh from the bush.  They are sweet and tart – it will make your mouth water just thinking about it.  Home-grown berries taste so much better than store-bought.

 Raspberries are easy to grow.  In fact, they can take over a large area if they’re not contained.  When a branch touches the ground, it will grow roots.  They may also grow underground runners.

 Raspberries are healthy too.  They are very high in antioxidants.

 There are a few types.  We normally only see the red raspberries in the store but there are also black and purple raspberries. The purple variety is a hybrid cross of the red and black raspberries.   It’s likely that the dark varieties are less popular because they tend to have more seeds.  Red raspberries sometimes have a mutation that causes the berries to be a golden-yellow.  Raspberries are a relative of the rose.

 Aside from dealing with the thorns, another problem is protecting the berries from wildlife before you get to enjoy them.  They are loved by everything from bears to chipmunks and birds.  The plants need to be protected with some sort of netting to protect them from birds in the air and burrowing animals.

 They are a versatile food ingredient and make wonderful desserts and jams and as an addition to salads and main courses as well as just being a great snack.

The Crape Myrtle Tree

Have you ever seen a Crape Myrtle?  This is a gorgeous tree / shrub often used in landscaping due to it’s beautiful flowers, nice shape and smaller size. 

There a many varieties for the perfect selection.

 Flowers run from white to pink to red and plum.  The foliage is lovely in the fall and the bark sheds, displaying a mottled look for winter interest.  Fall foliage can be yellow, orange or red depending on the variety.  Summer foliage can be green to plum and black.

 The shrub version can be as short as 2’ at maturity while some tree versions can grow up to 30’.

 They love the sun so be sure to  plant it where it will get at least six hours per day or it will have sparse blooms.  It takes well to pruning.  Shape it in the winter after it’s gone dormant.

 They are deer-resistant and non-invasive.  Do your research and pick the one that suits you and your yard and you’ll have a beautiful plant for years to come.