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The
Martha's Vineyard Times is a weekly publication.
April 28 - May 4, 2005 Edition
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Garden
Notes
Magnolia denudata is universally acclaimed as the queen of magnolias and has been described as follows by one of the premier magnolia suppliers, Gossler Farms, on their web site (www.gosslerfarms.com): “Under any name Magnolia denudata is the finest of all the 500 magnolias we grow. The branching becomes more horizontal as the tree matures and forms an artistic structure. The flowers aren't huge, but are [of] such a beautiful form and carriage on the tree it makes up for the smaller size. Flowers are ivory-white chalice shaped. This tree can grow in Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Seattle, or Boston. (Check out the stunners on Commonwealth Avenue.) There is a reason it has been grown for 2000 years, and is still one of the finest.” For those interested in acquiring magnolias of several different kinds, visit Island garden centers for on-the-spot viewing or purchase. To satisfy wider-ranging interests, consult the above-mentioned Gossler Farms (tel. 541-746-3922) web site or that of Forestfarm nursery (www.forestfarm.com, tel. 541-846-7269) both in Oregon. Closer to home and our climate with a good magnolia selection is Roslyn Nursery on Long Island, (www.roslynnursery.com, tel. 631-643-9347.) Timber Press publishes several specialist books on magnolias, one of which I added to my library: “Magnolias” by Jim Gardiner (Timber Press, Portland, 2000, 329 ppg.) The library at the Polly Hill Arboretum is a good place to go for any plant-related information. Check it out for magnolia literature, and while you are there take a look at the Arboretum's magnolia collection. Earth Day every day I leave the subject of magnolias here to mention a couple of other timely thoughts. Although “Earth Day,” April 22, has come and gone, we can strive to remember it year-round. “Stand up for what you stand on.” I visited the web site of the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences (www.manomet.org) to see what they were up to on Earth Day and found the following suggestions to “make every day Earth Day.” Get outside and explore: enjoy the peace and serenity of an open space in your community. Take pride in your commitment to our environment: by caring about our environment you are promoting the importance of environmentalism as a mainstream societal value. This is ultimately how we will affect true change for the Earth. Learn to identify 10 simple native species: knowing how to identify plants and animals that are native to your area is a simple way to connect with nature that will inspire you to care about our environment. Conserve water, heat, and electricity. Turn off water, lights, and heat when possible. By using less water and energy, you will also save on your utility bills. Practice organic gardening: use native plants when you landscape and consider alternatives to chemical pesticides. Teach children a healthy respect for the natural world: kids learn best by following your example. Practice responsible environmentalism that will carry over into the next generation. Shop Smart: show your support for businesses that practice environmental stewardship. Purchase products that are environmentally friendly. Drive less: help reduce our country's demand for oil and reduce green house gas emissions by walking or cycling to do errands, carpooling, or using public transportation when possible. Feeding the soil Recently I was dismayed to see wording - something along the lines of “Extra strength natural plant food” - printed on a bag of composted manure. Yes, it is important to take care of one's garden soil. Adding amendments in the form of compost, manure, or other sources of humus is a sound policy. Also, using manure is important for boosting nitrogen. But it is misleading to label composted manure (1-0-0) as “extra strength” and it is a misled gardener who desires “extra strength” plant food. It is like drinking a cup of coffee every time one needs energy rather than having a solid meal. Neither our plants nor we could remain healthy for long doing that. We use composted manure in part because it isn't extra strength and has very low numbers. Moreover, raw manure does have extra strength and can burn or distort plants it is used on. It is generally avoided or applied only in winter when it can be broken down safely by the weather before the plants come into growth. The aim should be instead to improve, feed, add to, and enrich the soil, not the plant. I recently saw an item about genetically modified pollen in the March Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener. A reader submitted a letter describing a newsflash in the December 2004 issue of Discover Magazine that says: “EPA scientists find engineered genes in wild grasses 13 miles away from a test plot of genetically modified [GM] creeping bentgrass. The study shows that pollen can carry such genes much farther than previously recognized.” I think it behooves us all to be skeptical about claims for safety or innocuousness of GM products when they come from those who stand to profit from their sale. Polls have shown that while the use of GM foods and crops has increased, consumer resistance to them remains high. |
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