Bermuda Grass

The Bermuda At Marshall and Andrea's House is Amazing~

It is indeed pitiful that temperatures in the low nineties are welcomed as a cool respite. This past summer has rivaled the horrendous summer of 2006 with record breaking heat, excruciating long days of sweltering as well as having no rainfall. Many of us have lost the 'watering battle' and watched as lawns, cherished flowers, expensive shrubs, and established trees expired with the overhead heat. Since temperatures have broken all former records set in the Oklahoma dust bowl, we have had a first-hand glimpse into the past that the ‘old timers’ speak of with resignation.

As we drove along the scorching roadway, mirages could be seen in distant fields, giving the impression of the savannas of Africa. The savannas are large grassy fields with few trees and many natural disturbances which include fires, flooding, and over grazing. The native grass is extremely hardy and the first to grow back quickly following natural disasters This native grass is what we refer to as Bermuda Grass, which arrived in the United States from Africa through the Bermuda Isles in 1751. It is an amazing species of grass which can live through intolerable conditions with surprising survival tactics.

Bermuda is a creeping grass which crawls along the ground both above and below. Under stressful conditions such as we are now experiencing, it has the ability to send its roots up to 59 inches deep, although most of the root mass is a mere 24 inches below the surface. It reproduces through both seeds and rhizomes and will send forth seeds every 90 days until dormant.

All along the roadway, the upper parts of the Bermuda grass has died off, however the grass has kept growing below the surface. Following a rain, almost as a miracle, it will rebound and appear green and lush until frost, once again making the countryside lovely.

The Hindus of India consider it a sacred grass for the ability to rejuvenate itself and the ancient Romans pressed juice from the stems to use as an astringent to stop bleeding. It is highly nutritional as feed for cattle and sheep and was first introduced to the Carolinas as forage in 1760.

By 1927, the ability to rejuvenate following heavy traffic or sports made it the preferred choice for golf courses. In 1930 the hardy, fine-leaved texture of Bermuda was recognized as an advantage for use in lawns, but its intolerance to shade was also noted.

With its ability to spread quickly and its natural resistance to herbicides, Bermuda grass has so adapted to the Western landscape that it is often considered a nuisance, however it has kept millions of acres of farmland from eroding. If you have a sunny spot in the lawn and want a stand of Bermuda, whisper you are planning a garden… it will cover the spot in a week!

*It was perfect for our regulation Badmitton Court!

Passion Vine~

This Friday the Northern hemisphere will celebrate the arrival of Fall and most gardeners are grateful to say goodbye to the past summer. The Equinox occurs as the Sun moves to the South and for a brief moment in time, the world is perfectly balanced between day and night. The trees are beginning to thin and the Sun has assumed a brilliance which makes the world appear polished and dazzling. Perhaps it is because school has resumed, but there seems a quietude, a calmness after the frantic rush of summer and the mornings are finally crisp!

Many gardeners are enjoying the blooms on their Passion Vines now. With over 400 species from which to choose, this genus is prized for its extraordinary large and showy flowers. The flowers are characterized by an intricate center which contains both sexes, making it unusually complete unto itself. In other words, it does not require pollination from a separate plant to reproduce.

The Passion Vine is a member of the family of Passiflorales of which herbs, shrubs, trees as well as the vines are all members. The papaya is among the most famous of the fruits, appearing on a tree which resembles a palm. A cousin of the large leafed and highly cultivated Passion Vine grows rampant in the southern states, although its leaves and flowers are much smaller. Called the Maypop, this sweet wild vine climbs over trees, fences and stone walls in wild abandon and produces lovely, fragrant little flower only the size of a small chrysanthemum.

The plant was discovered in Latin America in the 1500’s by Roman Catholic priests. They named the plant for the Passion of Jesus Christ for they believed parts of the flowers symbolized the features of Christ’s suffering and death (the Passion). The flower’s five petals and five petal-like sepals represented the 10 apostles who remained faithful to Jesus. The circle of hair-like rays raised above the petals was said to resemble the crown of thorns. A gardener once told me that the flower is named thus for its desirable qualities and outstanding beauty; he waits for one to appear with a passion!

The Passion Flowers, those intricate and breathtaking flowers, reach the size of a large tea cup… approximately six inches. The flowers can be almost any color, although the most popular are the pale pink, the deep purple and the white. They are truly exquisite!

Second Year Vine~

Fall Veggies and Four O' Clocks

Four O'Clocks and Everblooming Roses do well together for a great final show~

Although many inexperienced gardeners insist that August is the final hurrah for the garden, September is actually the beginning of an entire growing season. Mother Nature, who is all knowing, sends to the observant gardener many signs of when to plant, and this week one can see the tiny spring-like emergence of self-sown seedlings. With a slight drop in evening temperatures as well, we are given strong indications that now is the time to plant the Fall vegetable garden. If planted now, the carrots will settle in and have a head start early next spring. The spinach will pop up and survive nicely, allowing for something green through the hardest freeze. The turnips, beets, and lettuce varieties, all of which detest the heat, will do well planted in a Fall setting.

The spectacular show of the steadfast Four O'clock is reaching a zenith about now. For many years disregarded and considered a weed, this fabulous plant is often overlooked as a source of faithful color and scent in the garden. It will grow from seed and over time create a tuberous bulb making it a perennial that grows to the size of a small shrub. If you plant several colors, they will cross pollinate and create a myriad of colors that are outstanding.

The standard yellow will cross with white and become a pastel kaleidoscope of swirling color. The deep red and fuchsia will cross creating a red petal with a fuchsia center. The white and pinks will transform into a lovely peppermint twirl. The combinations are endless.

Scented evening bloomers are nice when it finally becomes pleasant to stroll through the garden... which is after the sun has set. The Four O'clock is named for the time of day it opens and its sweet scent wafts through the garden each evening until the morning Sun puts it to sleep for the day. It is truly a remarkable joy to add to the garden.

*Message me and I'll send seeds!

Critters (Friends) We Have Loved~

Cooler Weather... and Pansies

Thank God the heat dome finally moved... we have survived! For the first time since the weather events began in May, the weekend surprised us with cool, crisp mornings which were perfect for outdoor coffee and a leisurely walk to see the state of the garden. To say it has been a stressful summer is truly an understatement... it has been devastating.

In viewing the garden it is obvious that many well established shrubs were lost. The combination of months of relentless high temperatures and the blazing sun proved too much for many of them despite Herculean efforts to water. No amount of artificial watering could overcome the cloudless overhead heat. To test to see if there is still life in a leafless apparently dead shrub, break off a small twig and look to see if there is any green within it. If there is a little green and the branch has a slight springy feel to it, the shrub has gone into survival mode and dormancy. It is saving its energy... resting and recovering until spring and time to wake again. Unfortunately the conifers and evergreens that have turned brown do not have the ability to go dormant so they will not return and must be removed and replaced.

However Oklahoman gardeners are such survivors that comfortable daytime temperatures cool evenings will provide collective amnesia and plans for fall gardening will emerge. The wild violets have sent forth tender new leaves signaling it is time to plant the earliest spring bloomers. Their relatives, the precious pansies, have begun arriving in the nurseries and if planted now will survive nicely over the winter.

Originally a common viola growing in fields and hedgerows in England they were cultivated by William Richardson, gardener to Lady Mary Elizabeth Bennett I in the early 1800’s. Despite his efforts their first noted appearance was on the estate of James, Lord Gambier. His gardener, William Thompson, began to cross various viola species with a viola tricolor in an effort to achieve a round flower of overlapping petals. In the late 1830s he found by chance a flower that no longer had narrow nectar guides of dark color on the petals but a broad dark blotch instead; from this pansy came the future ‘flowers with a face’. Released to the public in 1839 with the name "Medora," this pansy and its progeny, including "Victoria", rapidly became popular with gardeners and breeders throughout Europe.

Planting some now will give stressed gardeners a much-needed thrill and the baby pansies will have a head start next spring. With their stunning color options and delightful smiling faces, these cheerful little flowers are always welcome guests at the garden party!

I'll plant them around my Caddo Maple like I did last year~

Know Your Plants~

Plants have been source of fascination since the beginning of time. They have provided a plethora of benefits to mankind and use of them has evolved over hundreds of years. However as all gardeners know, there is a dark side to the plant kingdom and many common plants are extremely toxic causing complaints which range from indigestion, to hallucinogenic visions, and possibly even death. The science of using dangerous plants reached a zenith during Medieval times when dispatching an enemy was as simple as brewing a tea! Today, for the well being of children and pets, it is wise to know which common plants impose significant dangers.

Almost all flowering bulbs are toxic in some manner so do not ingest any of them. Many plants contain dangerous compounds which are removed by cooking. Our own Poke Weed, found in early spring, is toxic unless the leaves are prepared in a specific manner. The roots, leaves, and flowers of Taro, a wild Elephant Ear, are staple foods in some tropical countries, but they too must all be cooked before eating. Some plants have parts of them which are edible while other parts are toxic. The Rhubarb, used in flavorful jellies and pies, has poisonous leaves but the stalks are not.

The following plants are listed as fatal, making them of particular import. Bunny Rabbit flowers aside, the lovely Larkspur is so toxic that it was used during the Revolutionary War as a pesticide. Soldiers stuffed their boots with it to repel mites and ticks. Oddly, the green berries of the lovely and prolific Lantana are fatal in small doses as are those of the Wisteria, Jasmine and Mistletoe. All parts of the Azalea and Rhododendron plants are deadly as well. The popular house plant Dieffenbachia is called dumb cane for it’s affect on the mouth and throat if ingested. The instant swelling not only renders the individual dumb, but may cause air-blocking swelling.

Many toxic plants incur cult followings among ill informed youth and the exotic Moonflower is no exception. Called forth by the light of the Moon, the large trumpet shaped creamy white flowers are highly scented and bloom all night. Unfortunately the Moonflower produces seeds that possess hallucinogenic powers… the plant made national news last fall when high school students chewed seeds in class!

Salvia Divinorum contains a property which is a potent naturally occurring hallucinogen when smoked. The leaves were used in traditional spiritual practices by the Mazatec people of Mexico however due to it’s ‘popularity’ among non-native followers, it has been banned in twelve states including Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Delaware, North Dakota, Illinois, and Ohio as well as all of Australia.

There is a simple common sense rule to follow in dealing with the Plant Kingdom: Do not graze in the woods or garden chewing or smoking what abounds unless it is something that you know and recognize... and as Fall cleanup commences, monitor small children and pets.

Some Poisonous Plants Residing in My Garden~

The Heat Dome

The Heat Dome
The phrase 'heat dome' is casually tossed about by meteorologists every day now; it has become part of our vocabulary and seems to be the word of the season. The dome is part of a summer weather pattern wherein a large high-pressure system... essentially a huge mound of stagnant hot air...arrives to park itself over at least one region of the country and the South Central region is the most popular for it. This hot air keeps out the rain and allows for a slow broil underneath it.

Until 2007, the last memorable heat dome was in the year 2001 in which we had day after day of searing temperatures over a 100 degrees. We were caught on the North Canadian Bridge in an accident that year so I will never forget it. Michael had stopped to take a dead cat off the road or we would have been the people hit by a diesel truck which had barreled down on a red Jeep, smashing it and forcing it to dangle precariously halfway over the guard rail. The truck had been reported five separate times for erratic driving for over two hundred miles before the accident, and yet continued racing towards destiny. The young couple in the Jeep were uninjured and managed to crawl out but the diesel had spilled everywhere. It took four hours for the cleanup and the bridge was loaded with cars... all heating up as the drivers of the 18 wheelers kept cool and the rest of us boiled. The temperatures was 105 that day but reached 140 on the bridge.

As we waited the boom of the adjacent gang bangers CD mirrored my heartbeat, a lady had a panic attack then one had a heart attack.. it was entirely too hot and we were trapped! After an hour and a half, I decided I had to get off the bridge... Michael could fend for himself. I got my umbrella out of the trunk and took off to walk the mile and a half off the damn bridge. At our road, I flagged down a pickup to drive me the two miles back home. I stripped in the yard and flew to the horse tank to immerse myself in the cool water. It took hours for me to finally cool down!

For the next three years whenever the temperatures got above 98.3 (body temp) I would get spacey and oddly, I didn't sweat anymore. I still don’t do over 105 degrees well. This year Oklahoma has had the dubious honor of mention on the National News as temperatures continue beating out Death Valley for the record.

As the hot conditions prevail, the National Weather Service has issued numerous heat advisories which are indicative of a ‘heat storm’ and should be taken as seriously as a tornado watch. I believe that anytime the outdoor conditions are above average human body temperature, extended exposure is extremely dangerous. If a person’s body temperature reaches over 106 degrees, they may become comatose so this kind of heat may cause higher than average fatalities, therefore basic safety rules must be followed.

Statistically in a normal year an average of 175 people will succumb to summer heat waves in the United States, but any given year can vary dramatically from the norm. For example, one of the worst periods on record was the disastrous heat wave of 1980 which claimed more than 1,200 lives. Equally devastating was the summer of 1995 during which more than 1,000 people died of heat-related causes.

To protect yourself you should:
Stay indoors (preferably in air conditioned space) as much as possible.
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
Drink plenty of water and natural juices.
Avoid alcohol and beverages with caffeine which could increase dehydration. Eat small, light meals.
Avoid strenuous activities or at least reschedule them for early morning or late evening hours.

To protect others you should:
Never leave children or pets in a closed vehicle where temperatures could soar to 190 degrees in less than 10 minutes.
Check on elderly neighbors.
Always protect small children from the sun.
Provide shade and cool water for pets.

*If one begins to feel faint or light-headed, immediately get into a cool place and possibly tepid water to quickly lower the body’s core temperature.

With the proper precautions we can beat this heat and look forward to Fall... and may my sweet Viburnum who died yesterday RIP.

A Theme Garden

Salvia

Scabiosa

One year on a whim, we had a South American themed garden and filled the kidney shaped bed on the upper level solely with flowers that had a Mexican flair and would attract butterflies. It seems flowers originating in South America have the brightest and deepest colors, the easy habit of drought survival and they all seem to shout Fiesta!

We planted Mexican heather, orange and yellow Nastursums, deep purple Petunias, scarlet red Chile Pepper Scabiosa, electric blue Salvia, scarlet and deep yellow swirl Zinnias, and anything else we could find that seemed fun. Everything was planted too closely and all with contrasting colors adjacent to each other. The result was intermingling of colors spilling out and over the bed in a riot of color by mid summer.

Everyone who saw it had a giggle… it was so over the top. Since annuals are not true garden guests, merely tourists passing through who last but one season, there are few rules in planting them. Allow the imagination to run rampant!

Old established friends I have lost...

Some of these friends were over 15 years old... photos are from spring 2010...
This year it has been over 90 everyday since May~