Temptation Highway

Images:
(Orange) Belamcanda chinensis Iridaceane "Blackberry" Toad Lily,
(In a vase) Lycoris Squamigera "Magic Lily", (Many whites)Lilium Asiatic "White Elegance",
(Pink & Plum) Lilium Leucanthum Trumpet "Black Dragon",
(Single White) Lilium Avratum Oriental "Casa Blanca"


Just as it's a temptation to insert a picture of every lily in the garden in this article, it's a temptation to take a picture of every lily, and then the daddy of all lily temptations: want to possess every lily for the garden.









Unlike the daylily (Hemerocallis), most hold their blooms for many days.











The Toad Lily easily self seeds itself and is actually from the iris family. The flowers are tiny and unroll to form a orchid-like flower. Most common is the orange. Some new hybrids have purple and reds. They do well in shade. They don't do well cut. Althought the bloom time is short, they are in such quantity you never notice.


The pink Magic Lilies (aka Naked Ladies, Resurrection Lily, and Autumn Amaryllis) are very fragrant and bloom in July and August. The odd part of this lily is it sends up foliage in early spring and it dies back during summer. The long stems come up by themselves and 6-8 flowers form on the top of the stem. This plant will be in many old gardens long after the home is gone.


Asiatic Lilies have a sturdy appearance and come in a wide variety of colors - most bright. Some have a pattern and they vary in size. Seldom is there a fragrance but the visual show is worth the investment. They make a lively elegant look in your landscape. They will last many years although they tend to slowly die out.


The Trumpet Lily is typically very fragrant (think of the Easter Lily on steroids). Although most trumpets hang somewhat down, they look beautiful when inserted among other sturdy perennials that can support the long somewhat fragile stems. Otherwise, it is best to stake. They are usually the most expensive of the group but may slowly form colonies.


The Oriental Lilies are often very fragrant but not always. They can be huge and may form colonies. Like the Trumpet, it is wise to provide some kind of support as they can become top heavy and flop. They range in price from relatively cheap to more expensive. Some have up facing blooms and some hang down. The colors tend to be shades of pink to white although there are exceptions.


The Tiger Lily Lilium lancifolium is also an Oriental or Orienpet Speciosum Rubrum Lilum.


A new hybrid process has given us Orienpet which brings together the best qualities of the Oriental and the Trumpet.

Turk's Cap Lily

The Illinois native Lilium superbum Turk's Cap Lily is often seen in very old cemeteries. A very beautiful plant (much like the orange Tiger Lily), it blooms early to mid-summer and lasts about a month. It has no fragrance.






The fragrant lilies will scent an entire yard or when picked, an entire room. Plant beside your patio or porch for the intoxicating smells to flow over you, especially in the evening.


These lilies seldom like to have their feet stand in water (check planting instructions for each) or soggy soil.

The lily plants can range from 8 inches to over 7 foot in height.





Rabbits and deer sometimes find lilies desirable and may eat them to the ground. Typically, they will come up the next year. If you have either, put rabbit fence around them and/or keep outdoor dogs. Ground hogs and voles may eat the bulbs but this can be eliminated by planting in rabbit fence boxes (or again use dogs.)






There are many interesting stories and histories surrounding lilies - maybe another time. Today, it's my appreciation for the visual and scent of these plants.

Rain, Rain

Image: Mourning Doves Zenaida macroura (Taken 12-21-2008 after an ice storm - note the ice on the feathers and bills.)



As I sit here typing this afternoon, the Doves are cooing. They usually do this about dusk as they prepare to roost for the evening. Since it's a cloudy day, they're apparently discussing a nap. I often think it's time for a nap on a cloudy afternoon, too.

There's quite a bit of folklore or superstition surrounding the behavior of birds, insects, and the weather. It was important for Native Americans, travelers and farmers to understand and use signs from nature to know when and how to go about their business.

Many hold true today. Here's a few of my favorites concerning rain.

• Red at night, sailors' delight. Red in the morning, sailors' take warning.
• Rain before seven (p.m.), quit by eleven (a.m.).
• Lack of dew in the morning - it will rain later in the day.
• If the contrails of jets are longer and wider, it will rain.
• If you can hear the train (in the country) - it isn't going to rain.
• Before it rains, the birds find perches to sit.
• Ants will walk in a straight line (and not scatter) back to their nest if rain is imminent.
• Bees don't fly if it's going to rain soon or if the temperature is below 60 degrees.
• If there's a ring around the moon at night it will rain within the next three days.
• A sky that looks like Mackerel scales means it will always rain the next day.
• Rainbow colors around the moon is an indication there will soon be rain.
• Kill a snake and hang it in the sun to insure rain the next day.
• If the leaves on the trees are showing their undersides, there's a big storm on the way.
• If it's going to rain all day, the birds will come to the feeders in the rain. If it's going to stop, the birds will wait and come after it stops.
• If you have a water weather barometer and the water drips out the spout, head for the basement!

And the one everyone in the Midwest has said, "If you don't like the weather, wait fifteen minutes and it will change."
Now, about that nap - cooo.

Caster Oil Plants

Image: A large Caster Oil Plant Ricinus communis. A Wikipedia picture.




Isn't this a beautiful landscape annual (in this zone)? It can be huge in height, glossy green or red tinted leaves and the leaves can be up to 18 inches long. It has a tropical look at maturity.

I have fertilized with fish emulsion (poo poo) and apparently it is the plant's nectar, helping it to grow very full.

As the name indicates, the beans produced on the plant is the source of caster oil. Although not used by today's mothers, in my day every kid got a dose on a weekly basis.
Castor seeds have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back to 4000 BC being used mostly to fuel lamps because of the slow burning oil.

Cleopatra is reputed to have used it to brighten the whites of her eyes. The Ebers Papyrus is an ancient Egyptian medical treatise believed to date from 1552 BC. Translated in 1872, it describes Castor oil as a laxative. Not sure if the bright whites of eyes and the laxative effects are tied. . .
A farm product, global Castor seed production is around 1 million tons per year. The leading producer is India. The plants or seeds are offered by most mail order nurseries for ornamental purposes.

The plant produces pretty red rose colored flowers on a stem at the top of the plant. The flower is usually a round ball that is prickly and contains several seeds. When fall approaches, the flower splits and the seeds are distributed.
The seeds are shiny black, spotted, about an inch and bean shaped. The seed coat contains ricin, a toxin, which is also present in lower concentrations throughout the plant. Although the lethal dose in adults is considered to be 4 to 8 seeds, reports of actual poisoning are relatively rare.

If you have children or pets in your yard, the easiest way to have this beautiful plant and not worry about the poison is to clip off the flower stalks as they develop. This will not stunt the plant. Dispose of the flower heads in your trash and do not compost.
If you choose to keep the seeds to plant another year, they should be stored where they are not accessible to children or pets. Do not store near food products so they will not be mistaken as a food bean.

The Beauty of Prairies

Image: Native Illinois Coneflowers Echinacea purpurea. Abundant at Munson Cemetery during mid summer to fall. The flowers are visited by long-tongued bees, bee flies, Halictine bees, butterflies, and skippers.




My neighbors, Clarence and Marie Medley, had encouraged me to visit Munson Cemetery during the annual “Wildflower Walk.” The Medleys are members of NAGS (Natural Area Guardians), which is a subcommittee of the Henry County Soil and Water Conservation District (a state agency).


I had procrastinated because seeing several acres of grass growing (granted it is prairie grass) just didn’t sound all that exciting. I was wrong – BIG WRONG!


The Cemetery is owned by Munson Township, Henry County, Illinois. In 1983, the cemetery was designated an Illinois Nature Preserve, a program administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. NAGS maintain this cemetery and I applaud their excellent work.
The IDNR program sets aside land that retains characteristics that would have been there before European contact.


Throughout the upper two-thirds of Illinois, there are at least twenty-four pioneer cemeteries like Munson where microcosms of the original prairie are preserved – only sixteen are part of the preservation program. Do you realize how small a number that is and how fortunate we are to have this in our area?


Prior to European pioneers, the Grand Prairie covered roughly 25 million acres. Today only 2,500 acres remain in Illinois. The set-aside cemetery prairies account for only about 50 acres. Munson Cemetery is but five of those acres.


These plots of land have never been cultivated or grazed. If you visit this cemetery, you will be gazing at a micro-scene of what your ancestors experienced.


What you will see is not just prairie grass; you will see plants that are extremely rare, even in many other prairie plots. The White Prairie Clover, Lead Plant, Cream Wild Indigo, Wood Lily and the Federally protected White Prairie Fringed Orchid.


Join us June 28 (Sunday) at 1:30 p.m. for their annual Wildflower Walk. There will be refreshments and a knowledgeable tour speaker. Bring walking shoes, a sun hat, and your camera. You are welcome to use your own wildflower book as reference. If you plan to use insect repellent, apply before entering the cemetery to avoid over spray on sensitive plants.


Lest we forget, this is an actual cemetery and there is a silent and strangely sobering feeling that drifts between the stones and native plants. It is a glimpse at the history of tough people who dared to move to the great prairies of the western frontier. It is the beauty that haunts the tiny flower face that has stood the tests of time for centuries.


At the tour, take a moment to thank the folks who have made this history lesson possible. Stay on the paths cut especially to allow viewing. Never pick, trample, or disturb the wild plants. And, be prepared to be overwhelmed by the experience. You are being given a gift.


Munson Cemetery is located two miles North of Cambridge at the corner of 1300N and 1300E. From Galva, we typically take the first road off Rt. 81 going towards the Henry County Fairgrounds.

Is it Ever Too Late?

Images: My annuals (white pot just planted - green pot with large tomato plant - pepper plant in garden - blue pots and the copper boiler with both flowers and herbs planted 3 wks. ago. ) and a picture of annuals from "White Flower Farm" web site.







It reminded me that it's still not too late to plant annuals, either decorative or vegetable.

There is a "Garden Rule" that states you can't plant annuals or seeds after Memorial Day.

Maybe that is ideally, but in the reality of our gardening world, we may have had to wait to plant. As the farmers know better than us, this wet spring gave no choice but to delay preparation and planting.

Some of this information about planting annuals in June:

First, many nurseries and small retail plant stores have their annuals on sale. If they aren't offering a deal right now, I'd look other places unless it's just something you HAVE to have.

If you do buy annuals right now, most will have signs of being root bound (the container will be full of roots; many times going in circles.) If you find your new purchases root bound, with your finger, cut through each side once and pull the bottom roots until they are free of the circle. The cut roots will then make new shoots from the cuts.

Pinch off all flowers on decorative plants. Petunias that are "leggy" can take a pinch of about half the plant - making sure to leave some leaves on each stem. This will encourage them to get bushy again. Alright, I can only pinch about half the flowers because I need the instant gratification, but it's good advice to encourage the plant to use it's energy to make roots first. Do not pinch off flowers on food producing plants.

If it's tomatoes, bury the plant deeper than what it had been in the pot. Most other annuals need to be planted to the same depth as when you bought them.

Either use potting soil that contains a slow release fertilizer or add some at the time of planting. I do this even in the holes I dig in my garden for vegetable sets. It doesn't take much and it insures they will have a good start. You want them healthy right at the get go when you are planting late.

Don't be tempted to cram the entire pot full of plants. The picture of the nursery container above is an example of six (probably more) very hardy large plants in a single container. It looks lush and perfect. I guarantee this pot will have to have some serious pruning in July and it will need watering twice a day for the root mass it has acquired. Realize the pictures you see in catalogs and the full pots you see in nurseries are for those of us who either want the instant gratification or do not realize annuals that have already reached their best in May/June are going to take a lot of work come fall (or need replacement).

The tips for buying annual vegetable plants in June is to check the number of days until it will fruit. You want the shortest time. Not that you won't have vegetables before frost, you just won't have them as long on longer dates. Most seeds will not germinate in time to produce much fruit before frost.

Buying large plant sets vs. small: The tomato plant in the green pot was pretty big when it was potted. The little pepper plant and other small tomato plants in the garden (planted at the same time) may not be as big but they are the same on maturity. It seems large vegetable plants take longer to adjust to potting and the two end up being about the same on production times.

Annuals add a pop of color especially later in the fall. I was especially taken with the beautiful pink coleus that I paired with several kinds and shades of pink impatiens. The clay pots sit in full sun and have a tall annual grass, a red lettuce, snapdragons, and petunias. Also, in full sun, the copper boiler has both flowers and herbs.

Take note from the farmers of our area who are still planting - the fat lady has not sung!

Bullsnake

Images: Juvenile Bullsnake Pituophis melanoleucus basking in the sun.

This has been an interesting couple of days. Yesterday, at a couple of back and front flower gardens, I notice two little snakes scooting out of my way. Today, this larger snake was on the walk as I was headed out to take some interesting pictures. Interesting indeed!

We've had Bullsnakes in the yard ever since we moved here. 

Typically, they stay out of the way and we leave them alone. They are not venomous.

They are a native Illinois snake especially in the sand prairies, grasslands, and old fields of former prairie. Henry County is on the western side of the northern portion of the old Grand Prairie.

The Bullsnake climbs and burrows readily. It is well known for its defensive display, which includes tail vibrating (which can lead to mis identification as a Rattlesnake), loud hissing, and repeated lunging with the mouth partially open.  (Saw one moving up a large walnut tree by wedging in the groves of the bark.)

The above defensive displays were obvious when both dogs decided to investigate this intruder. Our lab lost interest after the snake lunged at his nose and the hound stayed at a safe distance and barked until the snake went under the porch.

Although I have no desire to accidentally get too close or be surprised, they are not a threat to humans, dogs or cats. It has a huge appetite for small rodents and that makes them a friend to anyone living near farmland.

Birds of prey are their likely predators, but many adults are killed by people and vehicles. It is not on the Illinois threatened or endangered lists. For those who like to live a little more on the edge of the pet world, they are considered good pets although check the current laws about collecting, owning and otherwise possessing snakes.

To entice a habitation of Bullsnakes to your grounds: (1) Excavate small seasonal ponds that may dry up in late summer or fish-free permanent ponds in or near woods or fallow fields (fish eat amphibians and reptiles). (2) Allow emergent and shoreline vegetation to develop naturally.

Logs, rocks and brush piles along the shores will provide shelter and basking sites.

If you desire more information, consider the "Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Illinois" written by Christopher A. Phillips, Ronald A. Brandon, and Edward O. Moll. It was written in conjunction with the Illinois Natural History Survey through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Black Flies

Weigela Bush "Red Prince"

I think I've identified the miserable biting bug that is plaguing gardeners. It is the Black Fly Simuliidae. Also known as the buffalo gnat, turkey gnat or white socks.

Like mosquitoes, a relative, the female black flies gain nourishment by feeding on the blood of other animals. The male eats mainly nectar.

Water plays a huge role in the breeding process which may explain why we have so many this year. The water must be moving for the immature stages to develop. Since many of our ditches, streams and lakes are normally still water, the population has expanded with the amount of rain run-off this spring.

When conditions are good, the Black Fly occur in enormous numbers - no kidding!! Each female lays from 200-800 eggs. The flies live from two to three weeks (up to 85 days). There will be large populations starting in April as long as the high water causes water to flow (sometimes into July).

They do not like polluted water and the increase in non polluted water across Illinois has increased their numbers. Should we blame Al Gore for this problem?

Adult females feed on the blood of humans, cattle, horses, sheep, goats, poultry, other livestock and wild mammals and birds. Each black fly species may prefer one type of host over another. They have hurt the tourism economy at recreational sites, but even worse, have been known to cause weight loss and kill domesticated agricultural livestock especially poultry.

Black flies are daytime biters, preferring low wind conditions. They are not restricted to shaded or humid sites and usually do not go indoors (unless carried in on your hair).

They are attracted to hosts from a distance by smell, heat, and by sight. The female flies will swarm around and crawl on the host preferring the head, hair, and ears as well as any skin that is exposed.

The bites can itch and persist for several days. The fly bites by cutting into the skin and feeding on the pool of blood that forms in the hole they make. Anticoagulants injected into the feeding site can cause mild to severe allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Some people are very attractive to black flies and others appear to repel them.

Control of black flies is difficult because of the number of potential breeding sites. Some states have funded control programs (although Illinois doesn't list any). In Africa, the black fly has been known to spread river blindness and other serious diseases in the Central and South America.

Long sleeve shirts, long pants, fine screen netting over the head help prevent feeding. Repellents containing "DEET" formulations are not very effective and may even attract more flies. It is said more protection may be given by herbal-based treatments with an active ingredient of geraniol. Permethrin products designed specifically to repel ticks also work as a treatment when applied to clothes not skin.

The bottom line recommendation is avoid exposure - which would mean staying indoors. Not a good option for farmers, the construction trades, gardeners, and children. Another herbal suggestion is to eat a diet high in thiamine (Vitamin B) as it gives off a repulsive odor that only insects can smell. Thiamine is found in whole-grain cereals, bread, red meat, egg yolks, green leafy vegetables, legumes, sweet corn, brown rice, berries, and yeast. Do NOT hold me responsible (good or bad) for the repercussions of a high Thiamine diet!! I'd post a picture but most are copyrighted and the only ones I've actually examined have been squished when I hit them. They look like a tiny black fly with a hump behind the head.
If you have severe allergic reactions to bites, seek immediate medical treatment. Even if not highly allergic, it is important that you do not scratch the site and cause infection.

For those of us who have normal and pesky reactions - treatments are similar to other bug bites: wash the site with soap and water. One of the following may work for you: apply an ice cube wrapped in cloth, a soda/water paste, a paste of salt and water, or a paste of meat tenderizer and water. You may treat itching at the site of the bite with an over the counter antihistamine such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in cream or pill form. Calamine lotion also may help relieve the itching.

I will attest that putting on a treatment for existing bites only attracts more flies if you go outside again with that treatment on your skin. Apparently it is a sign seen only be insects that says: Good food, unlimited quantities, proven triple A rating, dining at your convenience, immediate seating, no waiting, credit cards accepted and Come one - Come all!