2014 St. Paul Winter Carnival Orchid Show

Braving a winter blizzard thousands attended the St. Paul Winter Carnival Orchid Show. The event ‘Escape to the Tropics’ hosted at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Zoo was sponsored by the Orchid Society of Minnesota. White-out conditions did not deter growers, exhibitors, and orchid lovers from enjoying the beauty and diversity of the family Orchidaceae. Once considered rare and exotic this large exhibit displayed their continuing burgeoning popularity.

In the 70’s I collected a number of Laelia species; anceps, flava, sincorana, perrenii, tenebrosa and purpurata. Either originating from Mexico or Brazil they have been taxonomically reclassified as part of the Cattleya Alliance. I preferred to grow what are now called rupicolous laelia from Brasil, these species are rock lovers. They bloomed profusely under lights in my basement or on a windowsill.

I also drafted construction drawings (in one of my work lives I did architectural design and drafting) for a bermed cool orchid greenhouse to house a Laelia and Cymbidium collection.

The show performed magic and I daydream of recollecting rupicolous Laelia and building Wardian cases for their display. Are there any laelia lovers willing to trade for rare dwarf Siberian Iris?  
Well so much for dreams, here is some eye candy for those with cabin fever!  These species and cultivars pictured are from the Cattleya Alliance group of orchids.

Bearberry

Kinnikinnick

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Mealberry, Hog Cranberry, Sandberry

As a seventeen year old boy I spent a month canoeing and hiking the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Quetico parks, my first exposure to the Northern Boreal ecosystem. It was a profound experience and my first opportunity to view boreal groundcovers such as Bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Lowbush Blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium and Bunchberry Cornus canadensis.

Today Bearberry is one of my favorite groundcovers and plays a prominent part in my garden. I have utilized Bearberry in rock gardens and around the base of garden sculptures. One of my spring projects is to build a hypertufa sandcastle; Bearberry will play an important role. Bearberry can be placed along roadsides, driveways and sidewalks as it can tolerate winter salt.

Kinnikkinnick has all the characteristics for sustainable gardening: low maintenance, disease and insect resistance, drought and salt tolerant, deer and rabbit resistant and tolerant of wind and dry slopes. Even with all these wonderful characteristics Bearberry is relatively unknown and underutilized in my region. I recently talked about rock gardening and showed a slide of Bearberry to a group of gardeners and none could identify the plant.  Much of my area soils are a sand-plain, deposited by the glacial river Warren, this environment is ideal for Bearberry. Utilized as erosion control it binds and stabilizes sand dunes.

A low growing evergreen shrub of erect branching twigs which emerge from long flexible prostrate stems.  Intricately branching runners wind through crevices it often forms mats up to 3 feet wide and can travel 15 to 60 feet. The leaves turn burgundy red in the fall. Bearberry is sensitive to overhead watering, excessive leaf wetting turns leaf black and promotes dieback.

Fragrant, white and pink tingled bell-shaped flowers are borne in May followed later in the season by red berries. Birds love them a little mealy for humans.

Bearberry's stunning red stems are studded with small, glossy, evergreen leaves similar to another circumboreal groundcover Lingonberry, Vaccinium vitis-idaea which is a bog plant. It thrives within USDA zone 2-5, best protected by snowcover.

Bearberry is most often found growing on a hot, sunny slope or level area where the soil is well-drained, Ph range 4.5 to 7. I have found Bearberry growing on open rock outcroppings, under a canopy of Northern Red Oak, Big-tooth Aspen and pines of the northern boreal forest. Alongside an understory of shrubs; Juneberry, Hawthorn, Northern Bush Honeysuckle and Three-toothed cinquefoil Potentilla tridentate. It’s an excellent groundcover companion of Lowbush Blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium, Velvet-leaf Blueberry Vaccinium myrtillioides, Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens and Bristly sarsaparilla Aralia hispida.

I plant Bearberry about 24” apart and mulch with sawdust or turkey grit lightly to discourage weeds until they meld together. You can pinch for compact growth. Do not water or fertilize excessively.

A number of Bearberry selections are available, from the east coast ‘Massachusetts’ is a medium-sized cultivar. It produces large quantities of fruit. From the coastal mountains of the northwest comes ‘Point Reyes’ more heat and drought tolerant than other forms. ‘Vancouver Jade,’ by the University of British Columbia Botanical Garden is a fast growing plant with large glossy leaves. ‘San Bruno Mountain’ produces large fruits and thick, shiny foliage with a low spreading form. ‘Emerald Carpet’ may be more shade tolerant. ‘Woods compact’ or ‘Red’ is a dwarf variety with large fruit and reddish autumn foliage. ‘Big Bear’ has large, dark green leaves and big red fruits. We appear to lack selections for continental climates, an opportunity for an entrepreneurial horticulturalist.

This is a rewarding groundcover for poor soil, tough sunny areas. I highly recommend this boreal green wonder.

Black Locust Paradox

Black Locust
Robinia pseudoacacia

A broad paradox exists around this tree; reviled by some as invasive and toxic, others clamor over its beauty and wood. Let’s examine the pros and cons surrounding Black Locust.

Black Locust, Robinia pseudoacacia is of the pea family Fabaceae. its native to the southeastern United States growing in groves through the central Appalachians and Ozarks. Scorned for its invasive behavior it has been planted for reforestation and naturalized throughout temperate North America. In my region Black Locust is expanding its range up the Mississippi valley throughout the Eastern Deciduous Forest ecosystem. In Europe, southern Africa and Asia it’s planted on boulevards for its ornamental beauty and reforested for timber where native pests are non-existent.

Black Locust is a large slender tree with narrow crown and thick, deeply furrowed gray bark. The leaves are long, pinnate with 9–19 oval leaflets, Each leaf usually has a pair of short spines at the base. At night leaflets fold up and droop.

The fragrant flowers are white with yellow-green signal. Borne in pendulous racemes, they are edible. The seed pod is a legume, producing 2–10 seeds which are shed in the Fall the empty pods can persist through the winter.

 

Black Locust prefers sandy or rocky neutral soil, most often found colonizing old fields, forest borders and openings. Black Locust does not compete well with other trees and does not tolerate shade, so it often gets crowded out of thick forests. It grows very fast, but does not live long due to diseases and insects. It rarely lives to be 100 years old in North America. Black Locust can survive drought, salt and poor soil.

 

Cons

Robinia pseudoacacia an invasive species in some areas has a habit of freely suckering from roots near the surface. This is especially aggravated by cutting. It has been known to crowd out native species.

A number of insects and diseases can severely damage Black Locust.The value of Black Locust has been practically destroyed in nearly all parts of the United States by Locust Borers which riddle the trunk and branches. Heart Rot Fungi enters through the tunnels created by borers. Attacks by Locust Leafminer occur almost yearly. Attacks by the Locust Twig Borer can also play havoc with young saplings and seedlings. Young trees grow vigorously for a number of years, until overtaken, soon becoming stunted and diseased, and rarely live long enough to attain great commercial value. They are best harvested early for posts or timbers.

The bark and leaves are toxic, when consumed by domestic animals they generally require immediate veterinary care.


Some woodworkers complain the wood is hard to work due to it density.

Pros

It’s a major honey tree the source of monofloral honey from France were it’s widely planted as a boulevard tree since it tolerates air pollution.

Black locust have nitrogen-fixing bacteria on its root system; for this reason it can grow on poor soils and is an early colonizer of disturbed areas.



The wood is extremely hard, resistant to rot and extremely durable. It is highly valued as firewood for wood-burning stoves; it burns slowly, with little visible flame or smoke when dry. Moisture in logs can be converted to steam during heating, which cannot escape through dense tissues so it can suddenly pop and sparks fly all over!
 

The wood is used for boat building, furniture, flooring, decks, landscape timbers and fence posts. Posts made from locust are good for grapevine supports in vineyards. Locust wood lasts longer than pressure treated wood, lasting 70 years in ground without painting or staining. The wood has the grain of oak, golden with a glow that shifts in sunlight. Outdoors the sun bleaches the wood gray.
 

Seeds and the young pods of the black locust can be edible when cooked. Robinia pseudoacacia flowers are eaten coated in batter and fried in oil.

Black Locust is the host plant for Silver-spotted Skippers and Clouded Sulphur butterflies.

Cultivars

Black locust is a highly variable species. Many cultural varieties have been recognized, especially in Europe. 

Common ornamental cultivars found in American nurseries are: 'Frisia', a selection with bright yellow-green leaves, ‘Purple Robe’ has lavender pink flowers, ‘Erecta’ has upright form.

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I find this paradoxical tree a source of great beauty each spring. Blooming groves accent the Mississippi River valley, a non-native amongst the eastern broadleaf forests. 

Snow expected!

Tonight expected rain will turn to snow leaving a dusting which will melt by late afternoon. Wednesday more snow will arrive, I am not ready to concede fall and hope many days of fifty degree temps will follow this wintry interruption.

In denial I opened my picture library and focused on a single spring day. I will share with my readers a glimpse of June 3rd, the opposite end of the growing season.

Iris cristata was in full bloom

The lipstick red flowers of Fringe-leaved Peony prepared to open.

Anemone canadensis bloomed in front of looming martagon lilies.

The tall thalictrum hybrid "Elin" lifted to the sky.

Spring shall come again!

Francis Lee Jaques

The sound of wings on the wind

As a student at the University of Minnesota I read and studied at the Bell Museum of Natural History, on the floor, surrounded by dioramas, many painted by Francis Lee Jaques. The museum was my contact with the natural world, surrounded by a noisy urban environment; when not invaded by riotous school children, an oasis of quietude. I was drawn here foremost by the painted backgrounds of the dioramas, by the work of F. L. Jaques, a self-taught wildlife painter who lived in Minnesota. As a child I would hunt down examples of his art in the library and try to copy his work.

 

At the Bell I saw a vision of past environments now deeply changed. I have often climbed Mississippi river bluffs and never sited a Swallow-tail Kite (Always a rare visitor). I have travelled to many wild places in Minnesota and never seen a Whooping Crane and until recently never more than a pair of Sandhill Cranes. Behind the static mounted birds and animals, preserved in dioramas, exists a natural beauty I morn as nearly lost. Multitudes of birds once common are now rarely found in any number, elk nearly vanished from our area, wolves hunted to near extinction, and now preserved to be hunted again!

 

F. L. Jaques was a prolific artist, the 60 plus dioramas are constantly on view but much of his other work appears sequestered behind ivory towers or locked in out-of-print books. Unless you own a copy of the books authored by his wife Florence Page Jaques and illustrated by F. L Jaques you cannot marvel at his black and white work which conveys the sound of the wind rustling through pines or reeds.  

 

From The Geese Fly High page 57, by Florence Page Jaques, illustrated Francis Lee Jaques

 Another type of work found at the Bell Museum is unique, a painting fronted by a painted foreground on glass.     

 

The Minnesota legislature originally funded the museum in 1872. In 2009 the Legislature voted to support a new facility, what has happened? We have funding for a new billion dollar stadium for the Minnesota Vikings instead!

 

Siberian Iris

Would you buy this plant? Help a breeder with some market research!

Please review the plants below and leave comments if these plants appeal to you.
What is the top dollar amount you are willing to spend to add one to your garden?

Listed below are various plants lined out for present and future introduction.

Plant A
 Summerchase Advent - dwarf Siberian Iris 8-10 inches tall, large white flowers.

Plant B - possible introduction. Another 8 - 10" Siberian Iris dwarf , violet, vigorous, hardy.

Plant C - Yellow dwarf Siberian Iris - for future introduction. Plant  10"-12", large flowers tall stems.

Plant D - Dwarf Siberian Iris 8" -10" with huge flowers.

Plant E Dwarf Siberian Iris 8"-10" light blue flowers.

Plant F - Tall tricolored Siberian Iris with open flowers.

Plant G- Lavender pink Siberian Iris with red black spathes.

Plant H - Dwarf Siberian Iris with reddish pink flowers and blue accents.

I need your feedback as my future efforts are in jeopardy!

Standard Dwarf Bearded Iris revisited

I love the ever growing clumps of SDBs about my yard.

 

In the front of the perennial border

Rhizomes at soil surface



Growing on a mound backed by rocks
 

In the rock garden
 

In the rock garden- blue on blue.





Time to transplant this fall

For more information:
Visit the American Iris Society or Median Iris Society website.
Check out your local iris groups plant sale!