Garden wrap-up, shrub warning/reminder & a little levity
Area vegetable gardens are at the apex of bountiful harvest now — the reward for good stewardship on the part of the gardener.
Early crops like asparagus and peas have been enjoyed already along with corn and tomatoes and the squash, melons and pumpkins are coming into tasty fruition. Carrots, cucumbers and corn are on the menu with green beans, the everlasting lettuces, radishes and green onions, and the “groaning board” is just that — laden with fresh, nourishing veggies.
At our house, after the basic harvest, Daddy — as his Mother once had — pulled out dead tendrils, hoed and cleared out the major part of the vegetable garden, leaving only the carrot/parsnip section to “stay in bed” well into the winter. He turned the chickens into the raked section, to further scratch it up for springtime re-planting, and it was so cute to watch the hens enjoying their “outing” –clucking and scratching, ”singing” contentedly and leaving valuable fertilizer in the soil along with their deep-digging prowess. Many people did this back in the 1930s and ’40s; a smart and effective practice. Later, he would dig out carrots as needed — often through the snow — into the winter.
Along with the late veggie/fruit harvest, comes the final activity of planting shrubs and small trees, which encouraged me to provide readers with a vital reminder of a very real danger. A few years back, a female moose browsing the shrubs in a friend’s yard began tossing its head about, shaking its head and ears – staggering around and then seemingly becoming angry and making hostile “charges” toward the house. After a time, with no let-up in the creature’s actions, she call the Idaho Department of Fish & Game, explained the moose’s behavior.
IDFG’s Matt Haag immediately went to her house to observe. He watched as the moose lay down briefly, and ascertained that she was pregnant, and after checking the bushes she’d been eating, established that they were Japanese Yew (Taxus custidata). He then explained that the popular shrub was toxic to all members of the deer family – as well as other browsing animals as well, and were responsible for the deaths of both deer and moose locally and elsewhere across the state, including an entire herd of 20-30 elk! He said if the moose at hand was poisoned its calf would die, too.
This is a forewarning for shrub shoppers to make sure and purchase only the native Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia) which is perfectly safe for use and it should be used in new or replacement planting of the seemingly popular but deadly imported Japanese Yew. Its soft-needled branches and bright red berries are pretty and appealing — possibly to little children who might covet those pretty but poisonous berries and their seeds — which incidentally are toxic to many other creatures.
Those with the dangerous plants in their landscape should remove them. For further information, readers should call the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at Coeur d’Alene, 208-769-1414. Nursery owners reading this should consider returning or disposing of their stock, and notify suppliers of the problem
If the Pacific Yew is not available, fortunately, other possibilities abound as substitutes. The attractiveness and practicality of our native Pachistma — variously known as Oregon box or Mountain Lover — boasts year-round bright/dark green, shiny, toothed leaves and is a sure bet for best all-around shrub. It is what I call a “sifter” plant; with tangled branches and the supple, leathery leaves, it allows winter snowfall entry to its base rather than collecting atop and crushing it.
Too, consider Mugho and other dwarf pines, and many members of the Juniper family. Native Rocky Mountain Juniper for its loose-limbed, cedar-like foliage and dusky blue berries is a standout. Hybrids, such as the Procumbens group, spread out from a mounded form with an almost moss-like foliage that is green in spring and summer but becomes tinged with purple during winter. Sticking with natives is always the best bet.
Time, now, for a return to the veggie garden and a bit of levity. Recently I found an article I’d written a few years ago with some fun information regarding our fruits, herbs and veggies. In medieval times all growing things had a meaning, and the following list may inspire you for your selections for next years’ garden.
Apple/temptation; beebalm/sympathy; betony/surprise; cabbage/profit; corn/riches; cress/stability-power; endive/frugality; fennel/praiseworthy strength; lavender/distrust; leeks/vivacity; lettuce/cold-heartedness; mints/virtue; mustard/indifference; parsley/festivity; peach/”your quality, like your charms, are unequalled”(!); pear/affection; potato/benevolence; rhubarb/advice; rosemary/remembrance; rue/disdain; sage/esteem; thyme/activity turnip/charity.
Start planning the 2001 garden! God bless, Valle.
