Friday, March 7, 2014
Quaking Grass
Briza media ( Quaking Grass )
Forms a deep green foliage clump up to 1 foot. The puffy, oat-like, flower plumes reach up to 2.5 feet in height.
Hardy zones 4 to 8
Buchloe dactyloides ( Buffalo Grass )
A low perennial lawn grass that reaches a maximum height of 6 ( rarely over 4 ) inches uncut, that is native to the Great Plains from Canada to Texas.
The foliage is gray-green from late spring through mid autumn, turning beige for the remainder of the year. It is a warm season grass.
Hardy zones 3 to 9 in full sun, it is tolerant of heat and drought ( overwatering and fertilizeing can actually cause disease and insect problems ).
Forms a deep green foliage clump up to 1 foot. The puffy, oat-like, flower plumes reach up to 2.5 feet in height.
Hardy zones 4 to 8
Buchloe dactyloides ( Buffalo Grass )
A low perennial lawn grass that reaches a maximum height of 6 ( rarely over 4 ) inches uncut, that is native to the Great Plains from Canada to Texas.
The foliage is gray-green from late spring through mid autumn, turning beige for the remainder of the year. It is a warm season grass.
Hardy zones 3 to 9 in full sun, it is tolerant of heat and drought ( overwatering and fertilizeing can actually cause disease and insect problems ).
Your Herbs are Trying to Kill You
The Dangerous and Seductive World of Phytochemicals
Among my many plant obsessions, growing and cooking with herbs and spices is one my favorite horticultural pastimes. Herbs are, after all, a bridge between two things I love: the garden and the kitchen. During this past winter, while confined to reading about gardening, my plant studies turned to ethnobotany, the study of the complex relationship of people and plants. What I read changed the way I look at those seemingly benign green lumps outside my kitchen.
“Plants are virtuosos of biochemical invention,” writes food science writer Harold McGee. The chemicals in plants are potent stuff. That boring potted oregano on your patio is actually an arsenal of phytochemicals. To chew on a raw leaf of oregano is not pleasant, and that’s mostly due to the toxicity of the chemicals in the plant. In fact, the purified essence of oregano and thyme can be bought from chemical supply companies with warning labels on them. Surprisingly, that’s exactly the plant’s goal. While animals can use their mobility to avoid predators, stationary plants resort to chemical warfare. Each plant produces thousands of strong, sometimes poisonous chemicals to ward off animals, humans, bacteria, and insects. Herbs and spices stockpile aroma chemicals in oil-storage cells connected to glands on the surface of the leaves. Though we think of herbs or spices having a single flavor, they often contain a mixture of several aromatic compounds combined. So when you smell coriander seed, for example, you smell both flowery and lemony; bay leaves mix eucalyptus, pine, and flowery aromas. The individual flavor chemicals are a fascinating study unto themselves: cineole is found in sage, basil, and nutmeg and gives these plants their characteristic freshness; the phytochemical estragole gives tarragon its anise flavor; and safrole gives both the herb hoja santa and the root of the sassafras tree (from which root beer is derived) its distinctive “candy-shop” aroma.
The great irony is that humans have come to love these very plants that mean to do us harm. We have even learned to enjoy chemicals that are designed to hurt us. Think of the pungent sulfuric compounds of onions and the allium family, or the burn of capsicums from peppers. Ginger, mustard, horseradish, wasabi--we convert these weapons into pleasure through breeding and cooking. Cooking dilutes the effect of the essential oils. We still ingest these toxins, but at lower levels because they are mixed with other foods.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Wild Grass Identification Course
If youve been reading this blog for any length of time, youll know that Im passionate about indigenous grasses, and I usually look for any opportunity to use them in the gardens I landscape.
If you have a similar fascination for this beautiful, incredibly diverse group of plants, or you want to know more about one of the most threatened plant-types on the planet, or maybe you just love the way they look as they sway in the wind, then you should definitely sign up for a course on identifying wild grasses in Southern Africa.
Wild-grass expert Fritz van Oudtshoorn - the author of the Guide to Grasses of Southern Africa (an easy to use, essential field-guide to identifying grasses) runs courses throughout the country. I was talking to him this morning about the possibility of running a grass identification course here in Durban, and he was quite keen provided there were enough people to attend the course.
If you are interested in grasses, and would like to know more about how to identify them, please email me ASAP to let me know whether you would be keen. The price of the course would be R650 per person and would probably include lunch. The course would probably be around the end of January or beginning of February 2011.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Another Warming Trends Crossfire Burner Installation by Innovative Fire Light
Innovative Fire & Light, out of Brick, New Jersey, has been installing custom fire pits and outdoor lighting features for years and uses Warming Trends Crossfire Burning System for all of their installs (which we appreciate greatly).
This hearth is a 60" round fire pit table. Framed with aluminum tubing, then faced in cement board. Custom cut tile for the 10" ledge and travertine mosaic tile for the field. Topped with a mix of 8 different colors of fire glass to get the look of sea glass.
Fore more examples of custom fire pits we have built for clients, please visit our portfolio page. And when you are interested in learning more about Warming Trends and our custom fire pit kits, portable hearths, fire pit accessories and more, please visit us online or call today. 1-877-556-5255.
Bush Clover
Lespedeza
A genus of perennials and shrubs that are a member of the larger Legume family. They generally prefer full sun to partial shade and deep, fertile, well drained soil though many even grow on sand.
Plants can be cut back hard in early spring to rejuvenate or at least to cut out dead wood. In cold climates many species may die back to the ground naturally then resprout during spring acting more like a perennial.
Can be reproduced from half hardened cuttings and seed which can be sown outdoors during spring. They hate to be transplanted so it is best sown from seed on their permanent site.
* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park
Lespedeza bicolor
A fast growing, semi-climbing shrub reaching up to 10 feet, that is native to Manchuria, northern China, Korea and Japan. Some records include; first year from seed - 20 inches; 4 years - 10 feet; largest on record - 13 x 13 feet.
It can also be grown as a perennial especially in the cooler part of its range, reaching up to 6 feet in a season.
The foliage is clover-like and the leaflets up to 3 x 1.5 ( usually half ) inches in size are luxuriant bright green above and paler below.
The rosy-purple, pea-like flowers, up to 0.5 inches, are borne in loose racemes up to 5 inches in length, during mid summer.
Pharmacology: Known to produce l-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun on just about any well drained soil.
Ledpedeza buergeri
A shrub reaching up to 10 feet or rarely more that is native to Manchuria and Japan. Some records include: largest on record - 20 feet.
The small pea-like flowers up to 0.5 inches are purple and white and borne in clusters up to 14 inches in length.
Hardy zones 3 to 7
* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on June 30 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
Lespedeza capitata ( Roundhead Bush Clover )
An upright perennial, reaching up to 5 feet in height, that is native to upland prairies and open woodlands in eastern North America ( from South Dakota to Minnesota to northern Michigan to New Brunswick; south to eastern Texas to northwest Florida and South Carolina ).
The trifoliate leaves are composed of oval to oblong leaflets up to 3 inches in length. The entire plant is covered in silvery hairs.
The greenish-white flowers, up to 0.25 inches, are borne on rounded terminal clusters, lasting over a month from late summer into early autumn.
They are followed by seedheads which remain dried on the plant into winter, providing food for songbirds and quail.
Hardy zones 3 to 9 in full sun on well drained soil. It is very drought tolerant and the roots fix their own nitrogen.
Soak seed 24 hours in warm water before sowing.
* photo taken on May 16 2011 in Washington, D.C.
Lespedeza davidii ( Bigleaf Bush Clover )
A shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 10 x 9.5 feet, that is a widespread native to central and eastern China.
The leaves are composed of 3 broadly-obovate leaflets, up to 5 x 3 ( rarely over 3 x 2 ) inches.
The pink flowers are borne on terminal, conical panicles, up to 4.8 inches in length, during mid-summer to early autumn.
Up to 20 flowers may occur in a panicle.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( est )
* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
Lil Buddy
More compact, reaching a maximum of only 6 x 6 feet.
The leaflets are narrow. The flowers are rosy-purple.
Lespedeza liukiuensis ( Little Volcano Bushclover )
A deciduous to semi-evergreen, upright, arching large shrub, reaching a maximum size of 9 x 12 feet, that is native to the Ryukyu Islands and Japan.
The small leaves are deep blue-green. They are generally evergreen until temperatures reach the mid 20s.
The showy, bright red-purple flowers smother the plant during early summer then again during most of autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on fertile, moist, well drained soil. Drought tolerant. Cut back hard during early spring.
Lespedeza thunbergii ( Bush Clover )
A long-lived, arching shrubby perennial or shrub, native to China and Japan, that reaches up to 7 feet or more. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 8 feet; largest on record - 13 x 13 feet.
The leaves are composed of 3 pointed leaflets up to 2 x 1 inches in size.
The blue-green leaves are late to appear in spring however persists very late in autumn.
The rose-purple flowers, up to 1 inch in length, are borne in dense, drooping panicles up to 30 inches in length, during late summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 9. It is deep rooted and tolerates hot dry sites.
Plants are typically cut to ground in early spring for better form.
Pharmacology: Likely to contain Tryptamines.
* photo taken on August 2004 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
Alba
White flowers.
Edo Shindori
Flowers are pink and white.
Gibraltar
Very vigorous, reaching up to 6 x 12 feet as a perennial, taller as a woody shrub.
It very profusely bears lavender-pink flowers.
* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photo taken in Sep 2013 in Harford Co., MD
Split Milk
* photo taken on May 5 2010 in Washington, D.C.
* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
Spring Grove
Gracefully arching in habit, reaching up to 8 x 10 feet, profusely bearing deep red-purple flowers during late summer.
White Fountain
A massive perennial, reaching up to 6 x 12 feet, profusely bearing white flowers during late summer and autumn.
RELATED PLANTS
Campylotropis macrocarpa ( False Bush Clover )
An upright, dense, deciduous shrub, reaching a maximum size of 6.5 x 5 feet, that is native to northern China and Korea. Some records include: 4 years - 5.5 feet.
The pinnate leaves are composed of 3 oval to rounded leaflets that are olive-green.
The foliage turns to golden-yellow during autumn.
The very profuse, showy, violet-pink flowers are borne on clusters up to 6 inches in length, during mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in partial shade on moist, very well drained soil. It is very easy to grow. Drought tolerant. Prune hard during early spring.
A genus of perennials and shrubs that are a member of the larger Legume family. They generally prefer full sun to partial shade and deep, fertile, well drained soil though many even grow on sand.
Plants can be cut back hard in early spring to rejuvenate or at least to cut out dead wood. In cold climates many species may die back to the ground naturally then resprout during spring acting more like a perennial.
Can be reproduced from half hardened cuttings and seed which can be sown outdoors during spring. They hate to be transplanted so it is best sown from seed on their permanent site.
* photos taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park
Lespedeza bicolor
A fast growing, semi-climbing shrub reaching up to 10 feet, that is native to Manchuria, northern China, Korea and Japan. Some records include; first year from seed - 20 inches; 4 years - 10 feet; largest on record - 13 x 13 feet.
It can also be grown as a perennial especially in the cooler part of its range, reaching up to 6 feet in a season.
The foliage is clover-like and the leaflets up to 3 x 1.5 ( usually half ) inches in size are luxuriant bright green above and paler below.
The rosy-purple, pea-like flowers, up to 0.5 inches, are borne in loose racemes up to 5 inches in length, during mid summer.
Pharmacology: Known to produce l-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun on just about any well drained soil.
Ledpedeza buergeri
A shrub reaching up to 10 feet or rarely more that is native to Manchuria and Japan. Some records include: largest on record - 20 feet.
The small pea-like flowers up to 0.5 inches are purple and white and borne in clusters up to 14 inches in length.
Hardy zones 3 to 7
* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on June 30 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
Lespedeza capitata ( Roundhead Bush Clover )
An upright perennial, reaching up to 5 feet in height, that is native to upland prairies and open woodlands in eastern North America ( from South Dakota to Minnesota to northern Michigan to New Brunswick; south to eastern Texas to northwest Florida and South Carolina ).
The trifoliate leaves are composed of oval to oblong leaflets up to 3 inches in length. The entire plant is covered in silvery hairs.
The greenish-white flowers, up to 0.25 inches, are borne on rounded terminal clusters, lasting over a month from late summer into early autumn.
They are followed by seedheads which remain dried on the plant into winter, providing food for songbirds and quail.
Hardy zones 3 to 9 in full sun on well drained soil. It is very drought tolerant and the roots fix their own nitrogen.
Soak seed 24 hours in warm water before sowing.
* photo taken on May 16 2011 in Washington, D.C.
Lespedeza davidii ( Bigleaf Bush Clover )
A shrubby perennial, reaching a maximum size of 10 x 9.5 feet, that is a widespread native to central and eastern China.
The leaves are composed of 3 broadly-obovate leaflets, up to 5 x 3 ( rarely over 3 x 2 ) inches.
The pink flowers are borne on terminal, conical panicles, up to 4.8 inches in length, during mid-summer to early autumn.
Up to 20 flowers may occur in a panicle.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( est )
* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
Lil Buddy
More compact, reaching a maximum of only 6 x 6 feet.
The leaflets are narrow. The flowers are rosy-purple.
Lespedeza liukiuensis ( Little Volcano Bushclover )
A deciduous to semi-evergreen, upright, arching large shrub, reaching a maximum size of 9 x 12 feet, that is native to the Ryukyu Islands and Japan.
The small leaves are deep blue-green. They are generally evergreen until temperatures reach the mid 20s.
The showy, bright red-purple flowers smother the plant during early summer then again during most of autumn.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on fertile, moist, well drained soil. Drought tolerant. Cut back hard during early spring.
Lespedeza thunbergii ( Bush Clover )
A long-lived, arching shrubby perennial or shrub, native to China and Japan, that reaches up to 7 feet or more. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 8 feet; largest on record - 13 x 13 feet.
The leaves are composed of 3 pointed leaflets up to 2 x 1 inches in size.
The blue-green leaves are late to appear in spring however persists very late in autumn.
The rose-purple flowers, up to 1 inch in length, are borne in dense, drooping panicles up to 30 inches in length, during late summer into autumn.
Hardy zones 4 to 9. It is deep rooted and tolerates hot dry sites.
Plants are typically cut to ground in early spring for better form.
Pharmacology: Likely to contain Tryptamines.
* photo taken on August 2004 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photos taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD
Alba
White flowers.
Edo Shindori
Flowers are pink and white.
Gibraltar
Very vigorous, reaching up to 6 x 12 feet as a perennial, taller as a woody shrub.
It very profusely bears lavender-pink flowers.
* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.
* photo taken in Sep 2013 in Harford Co., MD
Split Milk
* photo taken on May 5 2010 in Washington, D.C.
* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC
Spring Grove
Gracefully arching in habit, reaching up to 8 x 10 feet, profusely bearing deep red-purple flowers during late summer.
White Fountain
A massive perennial, reaching up to 6 x 12 feet, profusely bearing white flowers during late summer and autumn.
RELATED PLANTS
Campylotropis macrocarpa ( False Bush Clover )
An upright, dense, deciduous shrub, reaching a maximum size of 6.5 x 5 feet, that is native to northern China and Korea. Some records include: 4 years - 5.5 feet.
The pinnate leaves are composed of 3 oval to rounded leaflets that are olive-green.
The foliage turns to golden-yellow during autumn.
The very profuse, showy, violet-pink flowers are borne on clusters up to 6 inches in length, during mid to late summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in partial shade on moist, very well drained soil. It is very easy to grow. Drought tolerant. Prune hard during early spring.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Congratulations San Diego on Saving the Fire Pits!
On May 3rd, I posted a blog on how San Diego was seeking to save their beach fire pits from losing city funding to preserve and maintain them due to an shrinking city budget. Well, its official now, the city has come to an agreement with several local tourism and non-profit groups to maintain the fire pits.
The cost to preserve and maintain these beach fire pits is around $150,000 per year, and the agreement reached, leaves the city responsible for only $30,000 of the cost with the remainder being picked up by the tourism and non-profit groups.
Thats the good news, the bad news is that no long term agreement has been reached, stated Councilman Kevin Faulconer, but that a deal was in the works for a long term agreement to fund the maintenance so this issue wont be on the table each year.
So keep your fingers crossed on that.
But congratulations San Diego on overcoming this first hurdle, were rooting for you!
For all of your fire pit needs come check us out.
The cost to preserve and maintain these beach fire pits is around $150,000 per year, and the agreement reached, leaves the city responsible for only $30,000 of the cost with the remainder being picked up by the tourism and non-profit groups.
Thats the good news, the bad news is that no long term agreement has been reached, stated Councilman Kevin Faulconer, but that a deal was in the works for a long term agreement to fund the maintenance so this issue wont be on the table each year.
So keep your fingers crossed on that.
But congratulations San Diego on overcoming this first hurdle, were rooting for you!
For all of your fire pit needs come check us out.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Save Money While Consuming Half the Gas
Some of you may think this is a post regarding the high gas prices at the pump. It is not. It is a post regarding how you can cut your natural gas or propane consumption in half by utilizing a Warming Trends Crossfire Burner System vs. a traditional fire ring for your outdoor fire pit.
Our Burner System’s regulator was developed with a precise air to gas mixture ratio which produces a taller, brighter flame while using only half the fuel of conventional fire rings. This cutting edge technology has allowed our product to out perform all others on the market.
Warming Trends patented technology is unique only to our system which allows you the benefit of offering you gas savings rewards. THINK GREEN! Stop using those old fashion fire rings and move into the future.
Below, owner, Ray Stone talks about the effectiveness of the Crossfire Burner and you can see first hand the difference you get out of the flame compared to a conventional fire ring:
Not only will you be saving money by burning half the gas, our burners stand up to the elements compared to traditional fire rings as well. Head welder and fire pit manufacturer, James Dimasi shows us the difference between our custom burning systems and fire rings:
So when you are ready to invest in saving money (get it? its a play on words) and move into the future, please contact us online, or call today! 1-877-556-5255.
Humboldt Botanical Gardens Lost Coast Brewery Native Plant Garden
The Lost Coast Brewery Native Plant Garden at the Humboldt Botanical Gardens has decided to take a neutral stance on the non-native, non-invasive, darling of its garden, the Common Foxglove Digitalis purpurea. The tower-like assembly of intricate purple and pink flowers are a striking compliment to the native species in the garden.
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| Red Alder Allee Alnus rubra |
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| Western Spicebush Grove Occidentalis |
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| Wood Strawberry Fragaria californica |
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| Naturally Fed Formal Water Feature |
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| A Wonderful Place for a Party |
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| Garden Donor Pavers |
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| Central Axis Terminates Above on Site of Future Visitors Center |
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| Western Azalea Rhododendron occidentale |
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| Wild Lilac Ceanothus |
Visit Humboldt Botanical Gardens
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