Let small trees, shrubs serve double duty for food, beauty

With Arbor Day and Earth Day foremost in everyone’s minds (except the EPA), today’s column will present some ideas for small trees and shrubs to enhance our surroundings, but more importantly to draw, shelter and provide nurture for the world’s dwindling bird, bee and beneficial insect populations that are Mother Nature’s protectors of life as we know it.

While many organizations — Arbor Day, Audubon, Nature Conservancy and others equally dedicated — are fighting to save our precious environmental assets, their voices go unheard by those in power; so it behooves us, the gardeners and our ilk, to plant, grow, care for and beautify our landscapes — without the fatal fingerprints of Bayer’s Neonics, Monsanto’s Roundup and “Weed and Feed” products that kill everything except the grass — from wild violets to earthworms beneath.

If your planting endeavors go only as far as a front porch potager or a couple of rosebushes to an elaborate veggie or ornamental landscape — you can help better the situation by simply by-passing the “poison” shelves and counters at the places that sell them. Never one to keep my mouth shut (I could tell a hysterically funny story from my first marriage that is apropos here — but better not) I always speak up at those sites and explain the situation about the facts of what Neonics-treated plants do — actually kill the bees, butterflies and other pollinators and once in a while, someone even listens.

If you’re planning to enhance your property with some trees this year, consult with an expert. Bob Wilson of the local Tree Committee comes to mind. He can be reached at Cedar Mt. Perennials (208-683-2387). When purchasing, check out trees and shrubs for their source, buying only at reputable area nurseries and greenhouses and plant them for your own and our wildlife’s benefit. Fruit-bearers are always a great choice, and while Natives are always best, cultivars follow closely. Here’s a little info to get you started.

For edible fruit, consider any of the ornamental, dwarf-size flowering Crabapple (Malus), Cherry (Prunus), or Plum (Prunus), the three hardiest choices for wintertime survival here. Each is available in many different cultivars, with individual growth habits — such as weeping, size and different color blossoms, some fragrant. Though the fruits are generally much smaller than standard trees, they can still be used for jellies, etc., if not reserved just for the grateful birds.

Whether native or cultivar, the trustworthy Mountain Ash (Sorbus) will soon show off clusters of pretty white florets, which will in the fall turn into the bright red- to red-orange berries, according to the chosen cultivar. The berries last through much of the winter, beckoning the snowbirds, primarily flocks of Waxwings and Grosbeaks that pass through in the cold season. Too, their leaves turn gold in the fall for extra attractiveness in the snowy landscape.

Sandpoint neighborhoods boast many super-hardy, dependable and beautiful Hawthorn (Crataegus) trees. They will soon be blooming — whether in its large standard size or smaller, more delicate ornamental state. It’s glorious red blossom “ bouquets” brighten block after block around Sandpoint (including at my house). It’s such a pretty, rather uniform, tree with dark green, shiny oak-like leaves.

One particular not-so-hardy small tree that many people opt for in our area is the Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum). Yes, they are beautiful ans MAY grow for you — but why chance it when you can “Grow Native” and opt for our own Rocky Mountain Maple (Acer glabrum)? They too, grow as a small to large tree and as a shrubby plant. This is often due to storm damage, and I have discovered that when a small maple tree is broken, new shoots come up from the roots to form the shrubby growth. The Vine Maple (Acer circinatum) is another possibility, and maintains a more stable smallness of size and delicacy of branches. Naturally, all of the Acer family will provide beautiful autumn color with their leaves changing to yellow, gold and red.

Another pretty native is our Quaking Aspen (Populus tremuloides), with its small size, fluttering heart shaped leaves, and for-sure hardiness, it is a winner. Just don’t plant it over water lines or septic systems.

Needled trees are another possibility: You can opt for Weeping Norway Spruce (Picea), Mugho Pine (Pinus mugo) and a host of other dwarf pines, spruces, hemlocks and firs. Any good nursery can provide what you’re looking for, and ensure that it is hardy here. Rocky Mountain Juniper, with its bonus of rugged dusty-blue “berries”, is a great possibility as well, and when mature is a choice nesting place for a variety of songbirds.

Native shrubs are legion from water-lovers like Alder (Alnus) and Bog Birch (Betula nana), through the (shortened) gamut of alphabetically-sorted Native Plant Society list as follows: Buffalo berry, Cascara, Ceanothus (Shiny-leaved or Red-stem), Chokecherry, Cranberry, Dogwood (Red or Yellow Osier), American plum (Prunus), Ninebark (Physocarpus, Ocean Spray (Holodiscus), Oregon Grape (Mahonia –Tall or creeping; Roses (Baldhip, Nootka, Pearhip, Prickly); Serviceberry (Amelanchier), Spirea (Birch-leaved or Douglas Pink); Sumac (Rhus). Many area nurseries carry these and more selections. Whatever you choose, you’ll be enhancing your property and the well-being of our endangered bird population.

Valle Novak writes the Country Chef and Weekend Gardener columns for the Daily Bee. She can be reached at bcdailybee@bonnercountydailybee.com or by phone at 208-265-4688.