HOME & GARDEN
CAROL ANN HARLOS
Are you thinking about your gardens? What you can do in winter
M
y gardens look messy right now. Dried stems are broken by wind. I sprayed shrubs with a product containing blood to discourage deer. (I am tired of feeding them my hostas so in autumn, I dug some up and gave them away.) The bird feeders are kept full. I they belong. To be honest, this seldom cloak butterfly. Of course, honeybees have a heater in a bird bath placed happens at this point in my gardening overwinter by subsisting on stored close to the house so fresh water is life. Previously, it did due to my honey and generating heat to keep the hive warm. Many fly species hibernate available for visiting birds even in bad inexperience, and I would cover and insulate the exposed roots with potting and wake up when it gets warm; I bet weather. Caring for and watching birds you’ve witnessed a fly or two in your mix. (It worked!) is a natural outcome of gardening. Project FeederWatch nudges me to You’ve probably heard that beneficial home in the dead of winter! You may keep records of visiting birds. Cornell insects overwinter in last year’s litter; the also have noticed “true bugs” in your University’s FeederWatch is a survey beloved bumblebees are an example. home in the winter; these include of birds that visit backyards or other But these are actually next year’s conifer seed bugs and the infamous localities. Participants count and queens; the rest of the bumblebees died brown marmorated seed bug. I start seeds of Lisianthus in identify and report visiting birds; this at the end of the season. January because they need a longer year, for the first time, participants can However, lots of insects and also report mammals (squirrels and deer arachnids, both “good” and “bad,” do time to grow into plants suitable for the garden at planting time in late in my yard, oh my!). The downloadable overwinter. Some overwinter as larvae. Merlin app offers ways to identify birds. The woolybear caterpillar (the larva of May. I’m including information in It’s incredible—and free! the Isabella moth) freezes and thaws the following paragraphs because I The stalks of the previous season’s out in the spring! Some grubs (larvae had questions about Lisianthus from plants provide some protection to of beetles) burrow deep into the earth. several readers (thank you!) and people Ladybird beetles overwinter as adults; who noticed them in my containers perennial roots but once in a while, I take a walk in the garden to make you may have accumulations of them during Amherst Garden Walk. I absolutely love Lisianthus in parts of your home. (I like to believe sure there’s been no root upheaval. If (scientific name Eustomia)! Why not the earth is frozen, it’s impossible to they bring luck.) Some butterflies tuck those exposed roots back where overwinter as adults, e.g. the Mourning just buy them later in the season?
Because we’re gardeners and love watching glorious flowers that we knew from seedhood. Growing from seed means more colors and varieties as well! In addition, Lisianthus are often difficult to find and expensive. I start seeds in early January. Thank goodness the seeds sold now are pelleted... as they are tiny! I don’t use heating mats or cables for these seeds or the resulting seedlings because young plants are sensitive to warmer temperatures. Instead, I start the seeds in moist vermiculite that has been spread out to fill the seed compartments of growing trays. Lisianthus seeds need light to germinate so they are not covered with vermiculite. I cover the trays with a domed top to keep moisture in. It takes several weeks for the seedlings to emerge. The little seedlings are placed within two inches of the grow lights. Since we want strong roots, the baby plants are watered from the bottom. And yes, I use tap water, which I let set overnight for two reasons: to dissipate the chlorine and to get the water to room temperature. In about two months, I will transplant seedlings into individual pots. In mid-May, they are hardened off and ready for the garden, and pots toward the end of the month. Isn’t January fun? I love hearing from you: caharlos@ verizon.net FY Carol Ann Harlos is an awardwinning retired math and science teacher, Master Gardener, beekeeper, writer, and speaker. She tends extensive gardens, including herbs, and loves learning from others and sharing her knowledge.
January 2024 | www.foreveryoungwny.com 5
