Garden Columns Winter 2024: Vol. 5, Issue 1

VOLUME 5 ISSUE 1

WINTER 2024

Inside:

Reviving the Obscure American Smoketree PAGE 6 Nurturing Your Garden Through Winter’s Wrath PAGE 14 Winter Wonderland For Birdwatchers PAGE 18

HUNTSVILLE BOTANICAL GARDEN

Open 362 days a year, Huntsville Botanical Garden is a nature oasis year-round

2023

November 17 through December 31 Walking Nights

Friday, November 17 through Sunday, November 26 (Closed Thanksgiving) Wednesday, November 29 through Sunday, December 3 Saturday, December 16 through Sunday, December 24 Dog Nights: Mondays and Tuesdays during Walking Nights

Driving Nights

Monday, December 4 - Friday, December 15 Tuesday, December 26 - Sunday, December 31

Tickets on sale at hsvbg.org/galaxy Presented by

GALAXY OF LIGHTS Huntsville Botanical Garden | 4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35805 GARDEN COLUMNS

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Board of Directors

Hello Everyone!

We are very excited to bring you Garden Columns more frequently and with the rhythm of the changing seasons. Heading into the winter months our landscapes calm and enter a season of rest. At the Garden, this daily tranquility is contrasted by the exuberant displays of Galaxy of Lights.

Immerse yourself in this holiday delight by embarking on a leisurely stroll during Walking Nights or cruise through on Driving Nights. All of this unfolds beneath the mesmerizing displays that blend cherished classics

Kathi Tew Chair Wes Kelley Vice Chair Will Pylant Treasurer

with delightful new surprises.

Carla Bossard Assistant Treasurer

This season offers a splendid opportunity for discovering the beauty of

Carol Tevepaugh Secretary

areas like the Cedar Glade and Dogwood Trail, sometimes overlooked when the rest of the Garden is at peak bloom in summer. Walking down a serene woodland path, the stark silhouette of bare oak branches stands juxtaposed against the foliage and crimson berries of holly.

January will bring Dog Days back to the Garden, to include your furry friends in the fun. Feathered February will celebrate our winged visitors, putting the birds center stage while we await spring. We also look forward to fun new visitor programs like Jazz by Candlelight in February.

Elaine Alspach Tracy Barrett David Bier Penny Billings Gary Bolton Clinton Carter Lynn Collyar Kristina Hendrix

In this issue, you’ll gain insights into safeguarding your plants against

Leta Hornbuckle DeMaioribus

severe freezes, along with strategies for dealing with freeze-related

Brenda Martin

damage. Delve into winter birding tips, the art of indoor seed starting, and

Eric Mills

an array of other engaging topics. Needless to say, there is still plenty to

Thomas Petty

see and do at the Garden and to try at home during these winter months.

Prudence Pollard

We hope you’ll discover new ways to forge a deeper connection with nature this season— both in the Garden and within your community. The tranquil beauty of winter has a unique way of beckoning us to slow down, reflect and find solace in the subtleties of the natural world.

See you at the Garden!

Sue Wagner CEO, Huntsville Botanical Garden

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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1

Lindsay Rice Ruchi Singhal Brandy Smith Julie Stephens Jennifer Wu

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Reviving the obscure American smoketree: A conservation success story

09

Inspired by the Garden

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From seed to splendor: The art and science of indoor seed starting

14

Nurturing your garden through Winter’s wrath: Preparation and recovery from hard freezes

18

Winter wonderland for birdwatchers: Explore the avian delights of Huntsville Botanical Garden

Snowdrop

Camellia

Crocus

Forsythia

Holly

Daffodil

And more!

Visit us:

4747 Bob Wallace Ave. Huntsville, AL 35805

@HuntsvilleBotanicalGarden

Tulip

hsvbg.org

Contact us:

Phone: 256-830-4447 Email: info@hsvbg.org

WHAT’S BLOOMING

What’s inside

@hsvgarden Flowering quince

GARDEN COLUMNS

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Program Calendar As many of our plant friends enter their dormant period, the Garden continues to provide exciting and educational programs through the season.

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

1-3 Galaxy of Lights Walking Nights

All month: Dog Days

All month: Dog Days

4-15 Galaxy of Lights

13 Adult Education:

Feathered February

Driving Nights

9, 14 Adult Education: Fresh Wreaths: What to Grow and How to Make Them

12, 14 Nature Academy:

Dome Sweet Dome

16 Adult Education: Holiday Table Garlands

Backyard Botanicals

10 Jazzed up February: 18 Terrariums: Bringing Gardening Indoors

18, 19 Dog Nights 26-31 Galaxy of Lights Driving Nights Visit hsvbg.org/events for details and registration.

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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1

An Evening of Tapas and Wine Pairing

16-19 Great Backyard 19 Huntsville Symphony Orchestra

20 Gardening with Kids: Bird Houses

16-24 Galaxy of Lights

Walking Nights (Closed Christmas Day)

Sponsored by Wild Birds

27 Happy Houseplants

Bird Count

22 Orchid Repotting 101 24 Adult Education:

Habitat Restoration with Native Plants

25 Wedding Expo

Events

Galaxy of Lights

Dog Days

November 17 – December 31

January – February

Jazzed Up February: An Evening of Tapas and Wine Pairing

Wedding Expo

February 10

February 25

Spring Break STEM Camp March 11-15, 2024 • 9 AM to 4 PM Ages: 4-12 Member registration opens: January 5 Non-member registration opens: January 19 Registration and information at hsvbg.org/camps

GARDEN COLUMNS

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reviving the Obscure

American Smoketree A CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORY

By Matt Candeias, Ph.D., Curator of Living Collections

In the verdant landscapes of gardens and natural settings, the smoketree often remains an enigmatic presence, overshadowed by its exotic Eurasian counterpart.

However, a little-known treasure, the American smoketree (Cotinus obovatus), is making a triumphant comeback, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Huntsville Botanical Garden’s Plant Science and Conservation team. While the Eurasian smoketree (C. coggygria) and its cultivars have thrived for decades in horticultural circles, the native American smoketree has faded into relative obscurity. Yet, as we delve into its intriguing history and remarkable attributes, we discover that the American smoketree has a story worth telling and preserving.

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VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1

A

merican smoketree

handful of conditions in common:

with its inability to compete with

hasn’t always been so

thin, calcium-rich soils where

vigorous tree species than any

obscure. During the

limestone outcrops are the

particular habitat conditions.

American Civil War, it was heavily

dominant land feature, not

harvested for making a yellow

unlike what you find in the hills

dye from its sap. As European

surrounding our beautiful city.

colonization efforts expanded, its rot resistant wood was also

Its obscurity is a shame because

highly coveted for fence posts and

the American smoketree is truly

woodworking.

spectacular. Like its Eurasian cousin, American smoketree gets

Throughout 2023, Huntsville Botanical Garden (HBG) has worked diligently to raise the American smoketree from obscurity via a two-

American smoketrees in Alabama

its name from the branches that

were not spared these harvest

bear its flowers. These branches

pressures. An interesting excerpt

stick up above the leaves and are

from a 1913 publication titled

covered in tiny hairs, making

Economic Botany of Alabama

them look like clouds of yellow

Thanks to a generous grant from

reported “wagon loads” of

and purple smoke billowing

the American Public Gardens

smoketree wood were once hauled

out from its blue-green canopy.

Association and the U.S. Forest

from what is now Monte Sano

Smoketrees are also easy to grow

Service, Garden staff spent much

State Park. Though mass harvests

and can provide wonderful colors

of the growing season collecting

of American smoketree are largely

and textures for your landscape

seeds and stem cuttings from this

a thing of the past, this species

throughout the year.

mysterious and underappreciated

nevertheless remains one of

pronged propagation effort.

native tree with the aim of

the rarer trees in the eastern

conserving valuable genetic

United States.

diversity before it is lost.

A major reason why the

Trying to gather accurate

American smoketree

information on a tree

hasn’t garnered much

that hasn’t received

horticultural attention

much scientific attention

has a lot to do with this

isn’t easy, but we were

rarity. It is native to only

fortunate to be granted

a few scattered locations

access to properties owned

throughout the Ozark Plateau

and operated by our friends at

in Arkansas, Missouri and

Moreover, in cultivation,

the Land Trust of North Alabama

Oklahoma, the Cumberland

American smoketree is actually

and Alabama State Parks. As

Plateau in northern Alabama,

very adaptable. It can tolerate a

mentioned, the rocky limestone

Tennessee and Georgia, and

wide range of soils, temperatures

outcrops that surround Huntsville

the Edwards Plateau in west

and light levels. The only

provide lots of suitable habitat

central Texas.

conditions this tree really doesn’t

for this tree. Indeed, American

like are deep shade and wet soils.

smoketree can be surprisingly

Why its populations are so

The adaptability of American

abundant in those hills. In some

scattered is anyone’s guess,

smoketree in cultivation stands

areas you can point a finger in

but what we do know is that,

in stark contrast to its limited

almost any direction and you are

at least in the wild, American

natural range and suggests that its

likely to find at least a handful

smoketree habitats have a

rarity in the wild has more to do

of trees.

GARDEN COLUMNS

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Such localized abundance worked well

many of our favorite houseplants.

for our propagation efforts. Armed

Using sterilized pruners, Garden staff

with pruners, seed bags and a sturdy

harvested stem and branch cuttings

GPS device, HBG Plant Science and

from a subset of the trees in each of

Conservation staff set to work scouring

the populations we surveyed. Back

the hillsides, collecting data on

at the Garden, those cuttings were

smoketree numbers, sizes and overall

treated with a special plant hormone

population health. With these data,

that encourages some of the cells in the

we were able to both assess the

stem to grow into roots. With a healthy

vitality of local American smoketree

root system, the cuttings are able to

populations and target individual trees

produce a new crop of leaves and start

from which we were able to collect

their life as independent trees.

seeds and cuttings.

Propagation by cuttings is a great way Collecting seeds from the American

to protect valuable genetic diversity,

smoketree was more challenging

even when seeds are hard to come by.

than expected. One hurdle we faced

Each cutting is essentially a clone of

was that individual smoketrees are

the tree we took them from, and in

either male or female, meaning not all

a few more years, those cuttings will

individuals are capable of producing

grow into mature trees that we can

seeds. Even when we were able to find

then use to obtain more genetically

female trees, pollination rates weren’t

diverse seeds that will allow for

high and seed was often hard to come

continued propagation. Conservation

by. Additionally, the fuzzy stems

efforts such as these ensure that even

than support the seeds become quite

if individual trees are lost in the wild,

brittle as seeds ripen, which means

their legacy can live on!

the slightest breeze can easily knock them off the tree before we could

As Huntsville Botanical Garden

collect them. Despite these challenges,

continues its conservation efforts, we

we were able to obtain seeds from

are helping the American smoketree’s

multiple populations.

story transform from one of obscurity to a tale of resilience and revival,

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Luckily for us, smoketrees can be

exemplifying the power of dedicated

propagated via cuttings, not unlike

conservation work.

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1

Inspired by the Garden FROM GARDEN TO TABLE

GARDEN CHECKLIST

December

Scalloped Potatoes with Parmesan Cream Sauce Ever since I was a kid, scalloped potatoes have been one of my favorite dishes. My mother and grandmother both consistently made them perfectly every time and at every holiday. Here is the recipe for the best scalloped potatoes I have eaten. Enjoy!

– Chef Dabney

INGREDIENTS

If you haven’t already, apply a layer of mulch on all of your planting beds, especially around your perennials.

Plant young pecan and other deciduous fruit trees and grapes.

Dormant season pruning can be done from December through February for most species of woody plants.

Avoid rock salt (sodium chloride) to melt sidewalk and driveway ice. Products made of calcium chloride or potassium chloride cause less damage to plants. For traction, sprinkle sand, kitty litter, or wood ashes sparingly.

Consider a gift membership to Huntsville Botanical Garden for the holidays. It is a dual-purpose gift, supporting the organization while providing thoughtful, lasting presents to your family and friends.

January

February

2 tbs flour 4 sprigs thyme 1½ tsp salt ½ tsp pepper 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and lightly butter a square Pyrex oven pan.

INSTRUCTIONS

Parmesan Cream Sauce Heat up a medium size pot on medium to high heat. Once the pot is warm, melt 1 tbs of butter. Then add garlic and onions.

Sauté for about 2 minutes and then add flour, stirring constantly until well blended for about 1-2 more minutes, making a roux.

Next begin whisking and slowly incorporate milk and chicken stock. Do not let your sauce come to a boil, reduce to low to medium heat.

Continue whisking and add in the parmesan cheese. Finally, add salt and pepper. Using your fingers, take the thyme off of the stems and add them to the sauce.

LAYERING

Be careful not to overwater indoor houseplants as water needs are typically lower this time of year, even indoors.

If interested in growing from seed, collect all of your seed starting materials together so you’ll be ready to go. You will need lights, heat mats, a sterile potting medium, and your preferred pot type. Purchase any seeds needed that weren’t saved from the previous season (see p.10-12 for more details).

Last chance to plant spring flowering bulbs. For example, Dutch bulbs will flower if planted now.

Plant roses. Consider old fashioned and disease tolerant cultivars.

2 lbs gold potatoes, sliced thin 1 tbs salted butter ½ cup onions, chopped fine 4 cloves garlic, chopped fine 1 cup 2% milk ½ cup chicken broth ½ cup Asiago parmesan cheese

Next, start with a layer of thinly sliced potatoes in a lightly buttered pan. Then ladle 1/3 of sauce mixture and lightly sprinkle with the sharp cheddar cheese. Repeat this step 3 times.

If needed, now is the time to prune your fruit trees, roses, berry bushes, and other woody Cover with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 30 minutes. ornamentals. You want to complete this while still dormant and before spring growth begins.

Set oven to broil for about 2-4 minutes and let the cheese get nice and browned.

Fertilize fruit trees.

Tree and shrub planting season continues.

Enjoy more of Chef Dabney’s delicious recipes at the Garden Café, Prepare beds for spring and summer annuals by open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM – 3 PM and on Sundays weeding the bed and loosening up the soil. from 11 AM – 3 PM. Place birdhouses built this winter outdoors this month. Birds will begin looking for nesting sites soon.

GARDEN COLUMNS

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to THE ART AND SCIENCE OF INDOOR SEED STARTING

By Mason Schoon, Greenhouse Propagator

S

eeds, those tiny capsules of life, hold within them a remarkable history that stretches back over 300 million years. They emerged to thrive in Earth’s

ever-changing climate, adapting and diversifying to ensure the survival of countless plant species. In this article, we delve into the fascinating world of seeds, focusing on the remarkable group known as angiosperms—plants that produce flowers. These flowering wonders not only shape the natural world but also have profound economic and ecological significance.

Plants are our unsung heroes, providing us with food, shelter, clean water, erosion control, fuel, temperature regulation, oxygen and carbon sequestration.

Understanding the art of growing them from seeds is both a necessity and a rewarding pursuit. Have you ever wondered how your neighbor managed to cultivate those vibrant purple tomatoes? Or perhaps you’ve found yourself with acorns from a beloved tree that succumbed to a storm – where do you start to grow new life from them?

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Starting seeds from scratch might

on one of the most common

for the birds. After cleaning the

seem daunting at first but fear

methods—cold stratification.

seeds of their skin and pulp, seal

not. As we explore the intricate processes behind seed starting and unlock the secrets concealed

Many of our native perennial plants,

them in a plastic sandwich baggie with sterile sand (such as pool sand or fresh play sand), dampen

within each seed, you’ll find that

shrubs and trees

it becomes as familiar as the back

demand a period of

for at least four months. Regular

of your hand. Let’s embark on

cold stratification,

moisture checks are essential to

a journey through two essential

simulating the chill

prevent the seeds from drying

aspects of seed propagation: cold stratification and indoor seed starting.

Unlocking dormancy with cold stratification

The term “stratification” refers to the specific conditions necessary to coax a seed out of dormancy and initiate the process of

of winter, to awaken from their slumber.

This can be achieved by placing seeds in a dark, cold and damp environment, sometimes for up to six months, depending on the species.

germination. Some seeds, in

them and keep them in the fridge

out. After this waiting period, they are ready to be sown. An additional tip is to rinse them in 3% hydrogen peroxide to remove any mold or fungus that may hinder germination.

For those living in Zone 8 and higher (north Alabama is in Zone 7), another approach involves creating a “gang-pot.” Fill a large

their intricate dance with nature,

Take, for example, the dogwood

pot or tray with seed-starting

require unique triggers for

(Cornus florida) in your backyard.

media, sow all the seeds together

germination, such as wildfires

Its berries ripen in September

in the same pot at the specified

or the digestive processes of

and October, and you can harvest

depth (around ¾” deep for

animals. However, we’ll focus

a handful or two, leaving some

Cornus florida), and place the tray GARDEN COLUMNS

11

outside over the winter. When

The specifics of this process can

After three to four weeks of

spring arrives, the seeds will

vary widely among different seeds.

growth, transplant the young

naturally germinate thanks to the

plants to your garden when the

freeze-thaw cycles. Once they’re

It’s worth noting that not all

risk of frost has passed. This

large enough, gently transplant

seeds require stratification.

approach offers a head start on

them to their individual homes.

Some, like tomatoes and peppers,

your garden even during the chilly

While cold stratification may

can be sown as soon as they are

days of February.

require patience, it is a rewarding

harvested from ripe fruit. With

and accessible method.

a relatively inexpensive seed-

Cracking the dormancy code

starting kit containing a heat mat, an LED light, a tray and a

Mastering indoor seed starting Now that we’ve explored

Now, let’s dive into the

humidity dome, along with soil

the intriguing world of seed

science behind dormancy and

and seeds, you can kick-start your

propagation, from the mysteries

germination. Seeds possess a

gardening project indoors.

of cold stratification to the science

unique ability to stay dormant,

behind breaking dormancy,

preventing sprouting until the

Starting seeds indoors is a

there’s no plant you can’t

optimal conditions arise. This

straightforward process. All

cultivate with a dash of patience

allows seeds to recognize their

you need is a seed-starting kit,

and some online research. May

surroundings and time their

including a heat mat, LED light,

this article serve as your guide,

germination accurately, ensuring

tray, and humidity dome, along

inspiring you to embark on a

their survival. However, with

with soil and seeds. Follow the

rewarding journey of revitalized

proper storage, seeds can remain

instructions on the seed packet

gardening endeavors.

viable for decades.

for sowing depth and spacing.

Maintain moist, not overly wet,

When germinating seeds, the

soil, and keep the temperature

chemical barrier inhibiting

around 75-80°F for optimal

germination is broken, leached

germination. Once the seedlings

or removed, initiating cellular

grow tall enough to touch the

division and sprouting.

dome, remove it.

If you have any questions about indoor seed starting, don’t hesitate to reach out to the experts at Huntsville Botanical Garden at plantinfo@hsvbg.org

Happy planting!

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Thank you

Corporate Partners!

The Corporate Partners Program is designed to strengthen the relationship between the Huntsville Botanical Garden and the corporate community in the Greater Huntsville area. Through the annual support of corporate partners, we can provide first-class programs that allow children, families, and Garden guests to connect to plants and gain a deeper understanding of the role they play in their own environment.

Platinum

Bronze

Supporter

Huntsville Area Association of Realtors

Barrios Technologies

a.i. solutions

Blue Origin

Cadence Bank

CFD Research

Crestwood Hospital

Global Ties of Alabama

Green Mountain Research

Huntsville Utilities

Radiance Technologies

Invariant

The Grounds Guys of Huntsville

Aviagen

Mission Driven Research

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama

MTSi

Van Valkenburgh & Wilkinson Properties, Inc.

LG Electronics

RJYoung

ValleyMLS.com

Silver Ashford Advisors Shane Stromei

PeopleTec Schoel Engineering Signalink Thompson Gray Turner Construction Venturi Vulcan Materials

Memorialize your loved one while supporting the Garden through the

Butterfly Tribute Program.

The butterfly is a symbol of transformation and hope, and for the triumph of the spirit over the physical. When you purchase a Butterfly Tribute in memory of a loved one, the Garden will release a butterfly into the Purdy Butterfly House and the deceased’s family will receive a lovely butterfly watercolor print and commemorative letter.

Contact development@hsvbg.org for more information or to purchase a butterfly tribute.

GARDEN COLUMNS

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NURTURING YOUR

GARDEN THROUGH WINTER’S WRATH Preparation and recovery from hard freezes

By Kristen Bowen and Rebecca Turk

As winter casts its icy spell, our cherished gardens and landscapes are thrust into a battle against a formidable adversary: hard freezes. These plummeting temperatures threaten the vitality of our plants and flowers, often resulting in frost damage and even death. Yet, armed with care and preparation, we can shield our green companions from winter’s harshest blows. This comprehensive guide offers a holistic approach to protecting and rehabilitating your garden during and after hard freezes.

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“An ounce of prevention…”

Timing is everything: Monitor weather

Mulch for insulation: Mulching is a tried-and-

forecasts closely to anticipate freeze timings

true technique that offers multiple benefits

and durations. Planning protective measures

during heavy freezes. A layer of natural mulch,

based on extended periods of freezing

such as straw or wood chips, helps insulate the

temperatures is key.

soil and prevents temperature fluctuations that can damage plant roots. Apply a thick layer of

Know your plants’ frost resistance:

mulch around the base of your plants, but avoid

Understanding the cold tolerance of your

piling it against the plant stems to prevent rot.

plants is essential. Different species have varying levels of frost resistance. Categorize

Strategic watering: Proper hydration is

your plants into different groups based on

crucial for plant survival during freezes. Moist

their cold hardiness. When purchasing plants,

soil retains heat better than dry soil and well-

the plant label should state “Zones” or “Plant

hydrated plants are better equipped to endure

Hardiness Zones.” These zones define what cold

the cold. However, refrain from overwatering,

temperatures the plant will survive in. North

as waterlogged soil can cause root rot. Hand

Alabama is in Zone 7, so choose plants suitable

water the soil around your plants a day or two

for this zone. This will lead you to increased

before the anticipated freeze.

plant survival and it has a better return on investment for your gardening finances.

Effective plant covers: Use materials like burlap or frost cloth to create protective

Select resilient varieties: When planning

barriers that shield your plants from the cold.

your garden, opt for frost-resistant plant

Secure the covers firmly to trap heat and

varieties to enhance their ability to withstand

prevent cold air infiltration. We recommend

freezing temperatures.

a tent style, with the covering reaching the ground on both sides, to protect the plant and

Bring them inside: It might seem obvious, but don’t forget about plants in containers on

capture radiant ground heat. Be sure to uncover daily as temperatures rise above freezing.

balconies and patios, or placed around your landscape. Bring them inside before the freeze!

Prune and prepare: Prune dead or damaged branches before winter sets in to prevent susceptibility to frost damage. Do not do a heavy pruning past September in Zone 7 or the plant will push out a new flush of growth that is not hardened off—just in time to freeze. Clear debris to avoid diseasepromoting environments.

GARDEN COLUMNS

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Additional Heat Sources: Strategically

Combatting Cold Winds: Erecting

placed portable heaters or heat lamps can offer

windbreaks shields plants from chilling gusts,

warmth for potted plants or smaller garden

enhancing protection against frost. Place

areas. You can also use old incandescent string

barriers on the windward side of plants to

lights (LED doesn’t produce enough heat). Use

minimize cold wind exposure.

caution to avoid fire hazards.

Reviving your garden’s beauty after a freeze Sometimes, no matter how well you plan in advance, Mother Nature will send freezing conditions that affect your plants. Do not despair—all is not lost! Careful assessment and patient care can help turn freeze-affected gardens around.

Assess the damage: Evaluate the extent

Fertilize with care: Choose a balanced,

of damage post-freeze. Observe for both

slow-release fertilizer to support new growth

immediate and delayed signs of distress

without overwhelming plants. Avoid excessive

before taking any corrective action. Be patient

nitrogen.

and give your garden a chance to recover naturally before making any drastic decisions.

Mulch for recovery: Apply fresh mulch to insulate soil, maintain moisture and shield

Exercise patience: Allow your garden

roots from temperature fluctuations. A layer

time to naturally recover before significant

of natural mulch, such as straw or wood chips,

pruning. Some seemingly dead parts may still

helps insulate the soil, keeping it warmer

rejuvenate.

and preventing temperature fluctuations that can damage plant roots. Apply a thick layer

Precise pruning: Trim away affected parts

of mulch around the base of your plants,

once the threat of freeze has passed. Make

but avoid piling it against the plant stems to

clean cuts above healthy buds to encourage

prevent rot.

new growth while being cautious not to remove viable sections.

Encourage airflow: Promote air circulation by trimming obstructive branches and leaves,

Water wisely: Adequate post-freeze watering helps rehydrate soil. Strike a balance between thorough watering and preventing waterlogged soil.

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reducing the risk of disease and encouraging healthy growth.

Vigilance against pests and diseases: Post-freeze stress can make plants vulnerable to pests and diseases. Regularly inspect for signs and take prompt action to address issues.

The virtue of patience: Did we mention the importance of being patient? Recovering from a heavy freeze is a gradual process. It may take weeks or even months for your garden to fully bounce back. Be patient and give your plants the time they need to recover and thrive again.

Allow your garden the space it needs to fully rejuvenate. At minimum, wait until the end of April to remove damaged plants, but know regrowth can still happen as late as June.

While hard freezes challenge our gardens, they do not spell their demise. Through careful preparation for cold temperatures and nurturing after a freeze, we can witness the remarkable resilience of nature. With devoted care, your garden will not only endure but thrive once more, emerging from winter’s grasp as a testament to the power of preservation and regeneration.

GARDEN COLUMNS

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Winter wonderland birdwatchers for

Explore the avian delights of Huntsville Botanical Garden

By Herb Lewis, Supporter and Volunteer

As winter descends upon Huntsville Botanical Garden, an enchanting transformation takes place, making it a paradise for amateur birders and nature enthusiasts. The Garden’s safe haven, enriched with an abundance of food and shelter, draws a remarkable array of feathered friends from near and far. In the tranquil landscape of open walkways and the skeletal beauty of winter-bare trees, birds become the stars of the season, offering captivating opportunities for birdwatchers to witness their vibrant lives up close.

Discover the Lewis Birding Trail

N

estled within the Garden’s serene embrace is the Lewis Birding Trail, a meticulously designed pathway that promises a fulfilling birding experience. This trail weaves through a diverse tapestry of habitats, including picturesque lakes, verdant meadows, meandering streams and lush riparian

forests, providing a refreshing and tranquil immersion in nature’s wonders.

Three garden areas, in particular, are treasure troves of avian activity during the winter months: the Mathews Nature Trail, the Bush Azalea Trail, and the Lewis Bird Watch in Tweetsville. Here, many bird species migrate southward for the winter, finding refuge in the dense old growth forests that grace these areas.

As you embark on a peaceful stroll along the well-maintained trails, you may encounter a colorful array of feathered guests. Keep an eye out for the Yellow-rumped Warblers, Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Dark-eyed Juncos, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and White-throated Sparrows, all of whom grace the Garden with their presence.

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Mathews Nature Trail: A haven for forest floor feeding

water or enjoy a leisurely bath in the clear, flowing

The Mathews Nature Trail beckons with its wide,

can be seen feasting on trees laden with berries,

winding pathways, allowing for easy observation

with Cedar Waxwings and Yellow-rumped Warblers

of ground-dwelling birds. Here, Eastern Towhees,

being the stars of the show.

Brown Thrashers, Carolina Wrens, and Hermit

waters. Along the open pathways, flocks of birds

leaves on the forest floor. Keep an ear open for their

Lewis Bird Watch: Birding in comfort

melodious songs.

On chilly and rainy days, the Lewis Bird Watch in

Thrushes can be spotted foraging amidst fallen

Tweetsville provides a cozy and relaxing setting for Near the creek along the trail, you might be treated to the sight of Northern

up-close birdwatching. Nestled behind large glass panels, this enclosed space offers a comfortable

Cardinals, Tufted

viewing experience, shielded from inclement

Titmice, and Blue

weather.

Jays as they take refreshing

Here, you can witness a diverse variety of birds

sips of

flocking to feeders and a bubbling rock water feature. American Goldfinches, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, House Finches, Northern Cardinals, Common Grackles, European Starlings and Blue Jays are frequent visitors.

GARDEN COLUMNS

19

As you gaze upon these avian visitors, you may

a two-hour morning excursion along the Birding

also spot finches, Mourning Doves, and blackbirds

Trail. Visitors can obtain a Birding Trail map,

perched on tree snags in the meadow. Occasionally,

complete with a list of all the recorded bird species,

the majestic Cooper’s Hawk or Red-tailed Hawk

on the website.

graces the scene, perching atop one of the snags.

A bountiful meadow and lakeside spectacles

Notably, the Garden has earned the classification of a birding hotspot by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Furthermore, online eBird records for the Garden

The meadow behind Tweetsville is a paradise for

officially list the 130 bird species submitted by avid

birdwatchers. A leisurely walk might reveal sights

birders who have had the privilege of exploring this

of Killdeer, Red-tailed Hawks, Eastern Bluebirds,

avian haven.

Chipping Sparrows, and various blackbirds foraging in expansive flocks amidst the meadow’s grasses.

So, grab your binoculars, bundle up in warm layers and set forth on a birding adventure like no

Strolling along the pathways along Little Smith

other at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Witness

Lake and Lake Lonnie, you might catch glimpses

the enchanting world of winter birds, listen to

of Ring-necked and Gadwall Ducks joining the

their melodies, and become a part of their serene

dabbling Mallards as they feed along the shallow

and captivating world. As you meander along

lake edges. Early morning visits may offer the awe-

the garden’s birding trail, may you discover the

inspiring sight of Great Blue Herons poised to catch

beauty and wonder of nature in its most delightful,

a fish, while Belted Kingfishers hover above the

feathered form.

lake, ever watchful for their piscine prey.

Join the birding adventure Over the past three years, the Huntsville Botanical Garden has organized birding walks that have recorded an impressive 25 to 35 bird species during

20

VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1

Download the Lewis Birding Trail map here.

glassinflight.com

Coming May 2024 Presented by

4747 Bob Wallace Ave. Huntsville, AL 35805

“Galaxy of Lights is a time-honored tradition the City wholeheartedly supports every holiday season. My family loves the Galaxy of Lights, and yours will, too, as you make memories together that last a lifetime.”

Tommy Battle

Mayor of Huntsville

it s i V

the Garden Gift Shop for great holiday sales on unique gifts!

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for Garden Members

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