KCG Dec21

The Kansas City

GARDENER December 2021 | kcgmag.com

The Cutting Garden winter décor gathered from the landscape

editor’s notes

The Kansas City

GARDENER Independently owned and operated since 1996 PUBLISHER Michael Cavanaugh EDITOR Elizabeth Cavanaugh CONTRIBUTORS Emily Halstead Sean Holland Will Kirsch Jason Mispagel Dennis Patton Tamra Reall Denise Sullivan Scott Woodbury DISTRIBUTION Publishers Delivery Solutions, Inc. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISTRIBUTE the magazine at your place of business, please contact Mike Cavanaugh at mike@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 NEED MORE MAGAZINES? mike@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 CONTACT US P.O. Box 8725 Prairie Village, KS 66208 913-648-4728 ADVERTISING Mike Cavanaugh at mike@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728

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ate autumn delivers a contrasting scene in the landscape. Numerous deciduous trees and shrubs have dropped foliage and the bones of the garden come into view. One of the last to release its foliage is ‘Bloodgood’ Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum.

This gardener cannot resist a full pause when encountering her display. The scarlet colored leaves of this understory tree are quite impressive and scream “look at me!”

While gusting winds have cleared brown crispy leaves ready for composting, the ‘Bloodgood’ spectacle gives the garden continued eyecatching color.

The juncos have appeared in the garden indicating winter’s soon arrival. Will Kirsch writes about these seasonal ushers in his article that appears on page 4. When winter comes, my birding hobby is in full swing. Making sure they have liquid water access throughout the frigid weather, I pull out the heated birdbath and mounted it on the deck rail. There, from my kitchen window, it’s fun to watch birds bathe and drink up close. Because birds need extra fat and calories now, I hang extra suet cages, offering plentiful feast for all visitors. And finally, I top off the seed feeders.

Full feeders keep the birds coming back all season long.

SUBSCRIPTION Elizabeth Cavanaugh elizabeth@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 WEBSITE kcgmag.com

I am a big proponent of utilizing nature’s bounty. While it is not possible to collect clippings of my maple to bring indoors, I have collected hydrangea blooms. Laid out in the greenhouse to dry, I plan to use these unique blooms in dried arrangements. The details are not clear as yet, however, inspiration is everywhere.

Speaking of inspiration, Sean Holland writes this month’s feature about collecting the garden’s bounty to decorate your home, starting on page 10. My garden is full of berries and evergreen branches that are used to grace table settings, as well as scattered around the house for fragrance and beauty.

Of course, the best décor of all are the beautiful faces gathered in our home this time of year. All of our children are adults now, and fortunately they live close enough to come home for the holidays. Some come for just the day, and others spend a night or two (or five). Add in grandparents, spouses, grandchildren, and significant friends, it can be quite a celebration. When all of us squeeze in at the dining room table to share a meal, you can feel the love that tethers us together.

No matter the miles or the time between visits, we are all nourished by the love, laughter and happiness of our time together.

As we approach the end of 2021, my prayer for you and your family is simple. May the love, laughter and happiness you share with family and friends is returned hundredfold.

I’ll see you in the garden!

In this issue

EDITORIAL Elizabeth Cavanaugh elizabeth@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 HOW TO SUBSCRIBE See details on page 19.

Beauty and Bounty

December 2021 | kcgmag.com 4 6 8 10

12

Snowbirds Return Kids Ask Dr. Bug Ask the Experts The Cutting Garden bring winter landscape in Indoor Gardening—Citrus

14 Knotty Dioecious Native Plants 16 Plants on Your Plate 18 Garden Calendar 19 Subscribe 19 Winter Prep Lawnmower

About the cover: Fresh spruce cuttings from the garden bring a memorable scent to any room.

See more inspiration beginning on page 10.

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December 2021 | kcgmag.com

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3

Snowbirds Return

Dark-eyed Junco slate color

Dark-eyed Junco

Oregon Junco

Pink-sided Junco

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here is no better sign of winter than the arrival of the Dark-eyed Junco, and across the mid latitudes of North America, it is regarded as the quintessential “snowbird.” From their arrival in mid-October to their departure in mid-April, Dark-eyed Juncos are among the most commonly seen birds around. They can be found eating off the ground, oftentimes at the base of feeding stations and can be seen in just about any weather condition. But perhaps the coolest thing about the Dark-eyed Junco is the wide variety of flavors they come in. In fact, the Dark-eyed Junco takes on six distinct forms in North America, half of which can regularly be spotted in Eastern Kansas.

The most common Junco form that is seen in Kansas City is the

classic “slate-colored” variety. As depicted in the name, the slatecolored Junco is primarily a gray colored bird with a white belly and a pink bill. If I had to guess, about 99 percent of Juncos in the area are slate colored. However, for the lucky observer, two other types of Juncos are regular Kansas City visitors. One is the “Oregon” Junco. The Oregon Junco’s full black “hood” helps to distinguish it from the more common slatecolored. Oregon Juncos can be seen mixed in with slate-coloreds, and the careful observer can easily pick them out. One such place to look for them is the Overland Park Arboretum, where I have found them at the Bird Watch. The other Junco variety that visits the area (which I’ve also seen at the Overland Park Arboretum), with at least some

WILL KIRSCH Birding Expert 4

December 2021 | kcgmag.com

regularity, is the Pink-sided Junco.

Pink sides are very subtly marked, but its pink-rufous sides are what make this bird special and give it the name.

The other three forms of Darkeyed Junco can be found in the Western U.S. Only distinguishable from slate-colored Juncos by two white wing bars, White-winged Juncos breed in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming. Grey-headed Juncos, with an all pale bill, red back, and overall grayish body are found throughout the West, often in more mountainous areas. Lastly, the Red-backed Junco, a native of the Southwest, is only distinguishable from the Gray-headed Junco by the dark part on the top of its bill.

But no matter how different any two variations of Dark-eyed Juncos may be, they all behave essentially

the same, which is why they are all considered part of the same species. They might interbreed with one another, nest on the ground, and flash their white tail feathers in flight. They all are primarily seed eaters, relying on chickweed, buckwheat, lamb’s quarters, and sorrel for the vast majority of their diet, often feeding by flying up to a seed cluster and riding it to the ground in order to pick off the seeds. To attract Juncos to your yard, you can offer a variety of foods such as millet, sunflower chips, cracked corn, and Bark Butter Bits.

Nothing is more exciting than seeing that first Junco of the season, and by this time of year you may be fortunate enough to have many hopping around your backyard. Look closely, and their unique colors and personalities may surprise you!

Will has been an avid birder for five years and has worked at the Wild Birds Unlimited in Leawood, Kansas, for three years.

His father introduced him to the hobby and ever since then he has been hooked. He enjoys sharing his extensive bird knowledge with anyone who asks and is very well informed about birding specific to our region. His favorite spots to bird in the Kansas City area are Roe Park, Shawnee Mission Park, Clinton Lake, and Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge.

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5

Kids Ask Dr. Bug

about the curious things found in the garden gerous. Only two spiders in our area are of medical importance if you’re unlucky enough to get bitten – the black widow and brown recluse. It is not common to come across these spiders, and even less common to get bitten.

Are all spiders poisonous?

No, they are not poisonous, but they are venomous. Poisonous means that there is a substance that is harmful when it is swallowed, breathed, or touched. Venomous means that a toxin is injected, such as when a spider bites or a wasp stings. I used to think that all spiders were venomous but recently learned that there are a couple of small families of spiders that do not even have venom glands. There is still another important distinction: while most spiders are venomous, almost all spider species are considered beneficial rather than dan-

Can I keep a spider for a pet?

The short answer is YES! The pet spider market is quite robust, and you might be able to find an ethically sourced spider from local enthusiasts or at your local pet store. Generally, when folks think about pet spiders, they are considering tarantulas. While not cuddly, these large, docile spiders are interesting and can be held carefully.

Please note that adopting a spider is not an impulse decision. Spiders are animals, not toys, and they can be long-lived, so they need a long-term commitment. If you are considering bringing one into your

December 2021 | kcgmag.com

ing their way inside. Most of these insects will not survive the winter in our homes, however. While warm and sheltered, our homes are typically too dry for these insects to stay alive throughout the winter.

The best way to deal with these in-

many fascinating species and they are found in many different habitats, another alternative to keeping a pet is to simply enjoy discovering and observing the spiders in their own habitat. You might consider keeping a journal of the species you come across and where you found each one.

vaders is to keep them from coming in the first place using screens and plugging any holes from the outside. If they do make it in, a vacuum is useful for flies and ladybugs.

A vacuum works for stink bugs after they die, too, or they may live up to their name.

Tarantula

TAMRA REALL Horticulture Specialist 6

home, be sure to do your homework and learn about their needs to decide if this is a good fit for you. An alternative to purchasing a spider is to find one in or near your home.

Jumping spiders are charming and plentiful. Given that there are so

Photo by Jake Heckey from Pixabay.

Why are bugs brightly colored?

Sparkly, emerald green, bold red, or yellow and black stripes – some insects really know how to make an entrance! Some are even so pretty they are used as Christmas ornaments or jewelry. While many insects go a more subtle route, such as muted browns, greys, greens, or straight-out camouflage to avoid being seen, some insects have audacious colors or patterns that draw attention to themselves. Keep in mind that insects do not perceive color the same way we do and that they don’t “choose” to dress in a bold color one day and camo the next. Insect coloration has been evolutionarily chosen for them as the coloration that best suits them for species survival. Some colors warn other animals that they are poisonous or they have a stinger so it’s wise not to eat them. Other insects have the same coloration as the poisonous insects but are only “pretending” to be dangerous as they have no toxins. Other insects have bright colors and/or patterns to attract a mate. Sometimes, what seems flashy to us can actually make the insects difficult to see for other insects, such as the clearwing butterflies or beetles with metallic sheens.

Why do insects come into our house in the winter?

It’s cold out there and some insects are looking for a warm, sheltered place to overwinter. Stink bugs, ladybugs, and flies are some of the insects frequently seen mak-

Do you have questions for Dr. Bug? Send them to ReallT@Missouri.edu or bit.ly/KidsAskDrBug. Include your name and age. To help me learn what you learn from this column, please consider filling out this survey: bit.ly/ KidsAskDrBugSurvey. Thank you!

Dr. Tamra Reall (@MUExtBugN Garden) is the horticulture specialist for MU Extension in Jackson County.

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7

Ask the Experts

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his month, let’s talk wild animals. We receive many questions about four-legged critters and their damage to the landscape. Just a warning, in many cases euthanizing is the recommendation. Whether to put the animal down or not is your personal choice. My role is to provide options for how to handle them.

TUNNELS IN THE LAWN Question: Last winter, I noticed these curving above-ground tunnels in my lawn. It looked like something had been eating the grass and running back and forth.

Do you have any idea what this might be and how to prevent it from happening again?

Answer: You have described voles or field mice, the cousins of the house mouse but have shorter ears and tails. They feed on seeds and plants. In the winter, they can damage lawns and the bark of young trees and shrubs. Voles live or nest in pockets of grass debris or in the soil. Their movements kill the grass as they feed, creating the curving trails in the lawn.

Control can be achieved with traps or poison baits. Set mouse traps in the runs using an oatmeal and peanut butter mix. It will take several traps in the area to control.

Set the trap perpendicular with the bait in the run. Be careful when setting not to potentially harm birds or the roaming neighborhood cats. Set traps under a covering of chicken wire or other safety netting. Check the traps often and rebait as needed.

Use poison baits with caution.

Choose poison bait stations where the poison is enclosed so only small rodents can gain access. There is a concern if the rodent dies from poison and is eaten by a larger animal, the poison can harm the consumer.

Preventing tunneling in the grass can be difficult. Often the tunnels develop under snow cover.

Once the snow is gone, the damage is done. You can protect the base of young trees from damage with

Voles feed on seeds and plants, and in winter, they have been known to damage lawns and the bark of young trees and shrubs.

Repellents are short-term. Consider using chicken wire formed into a cage that can protect plants from nibbling, destructive animals.

Prevention is the key in keeping deer away from trees. plastic tree wrap or chicken wire cages.

OH DEAR, THE DEER Question: I have an issue with deer rubbing against and breaking my fruit trees. Do you have any recommendations for repellents or home remedies? I am at my wit’s ends!

DENNIS PATTON Horticulture Agent 8

December 2021 | kcgmag.com

Answer: Deer are an issue in many parts of Kansas City and fending off damage is not always easy. Prevention is the key. Once the damage is done to the branches or trunk, there is no good recourse.

Let me be honest. Repellents and all home remedies do not provide adequate prevention. Repellents wear off with rainfall and time.

Home remedies are not effective or short lived. The problem is you never know when there will be a breakthrough, creating irreversible damage to the tree.

The best defense for fruit trees is a wire fence. Wire cattle panels are available at farm supply stores and can be curved around the dripline of the tree. Another option is to create fencing around the tree and secure it with 3 to 4 posts.

The recommendation is to leave fencing in place year-round. Remove the grass around the tree and spread mulch with 3 to 4 inches of wood chips. Keeping the grass down reduces mowing and is beneficial for the trees.

CHIPMUNKS Question: This summer, I noticed small squirrel-like animals in my backyard. As I watched them, I discovered they were living under my patio. What is this animal, and will it cause any damage?

Answer: It sounds like a family of chipmunks moved in. Chip-

Dennis Patton is the horticulture agent for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.

munks are small, about 5 to 6 inches long and have tan and black stripes running down their back.

They often burrow under decks to make their home and feed on seeds and berries in nature or scavenger for birdseed.

The main concern of damage is digging under structures. Control is difficult as there are few options.

Fumigating under patios is not effective, poison baits are usually not labeled for chipmunks, and repellents like mothballs are not highly effective.

Trapping might be your best option. However, this is where people get squeamish. Your options are live traps or rat traps baited with peanut butter, raisins, or sunflower seeds.

Trapping the live animal may seem more humane to catch and release, but it is not recommended. Releasing the critter creates issues for other people and maybe more stressful for the animal as it tries to find new shelter and food.

The other option is to bait and set rat traps in the feeding area. Be sure to cover with a box or cage to prevent birds and other animals from injury. You will probably not see much activity during the winter

as ground squirrels hibernate over winter, feeding on their stockpile of seeds. Expect them to become active as spring temperatures return NIBBLING RABBITS Question: The rabbits chewed the canes off my roses and a few other plants last winter. How can I protect my roses from rabbit damage?

Answer: Similar to the deer, repellents are short-term. It is difficult to stay on top of treatments over the winter. I may sound like a broken record, but exclusion or fencing is the best bet. In this case, chicken wire is recommended.

Make a wire cage 18 to 24 inches high and secure it around the bush.

Keep in mind, rabbits can chew on a number of small shrub branches as well as gnaw on the bark of young trees. The wire cages are helpful during the spring and summer as rabbit damage does not happen just in winter. Rabbits love to nibble on tender new spring growth. I have some plants that are caged year-round. You can also trap live rabbits, but then you must deal with the choices of how to handle them once they are caught.

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9

The Cutting Garden winter décor gathered from the landscape

I

t’s the most wonderful time of the year, and as winter sets in and the holiday season approaches, many gardeners turn from working diligently in their yards to relaxing in a cozy home and taking a break from the labor of fall cleanup. However, just because the weather outside may be frightful and cold, adding a touch of cuttings from your own garden can bring the fruits of a gardener’s hard work all season into the home and liven up holiday decorations.

Though hobby stores all have realistic faux greenery, nothing beats the look and scent that fresh pine cuttings bring into the house.

Garden centers frequently carry large selections of cut greens and various stems used in making arrangements and holiday décor, but it never hurts to have a backup plan in case the garden centers run out, and there is no better place to look than your own landscape! With some strategic planning, gardeners can hide a “cutting garden” right in their landscape for use every winter.

Good landscapes utilize evergreens to balance out blooming, deciduous shrubs, and to give yearround interest. One of the most versatile evergreens is the Juniper.

Available in columnar and spreading varieties, every gardener could find a place for one in their yard.

‘Wichita Blue’ gives a nice blue look to the garden year-round, and adds fragrant contrasting foliage to winter arrangements. Use care not to over-trim these, as evergreens generally don’t regrow in areas where too much has been removed,

so make certain to trim from areas that benefit from shaping.

Pines and spruces, though tricky to get started during Midwest summers, are an asset to the landscape once established. It is best to plant in early fall (September-October) once temperatures are less stressful on plants. Planting in March or April is usually successful. In both cases, monitor watering well; lawn sprinklers don’t provide enough water for trees, and conifers need deep moisture with excellent drainage. Small branches may be removed to use in arrangements, or weaving into wreaths, and are sure to bring a fresh scent into the home.

Boxwoods give broadleaf contrast to the conifer-type evergreens in the landscape, and are generally easy to grow in this region. A sprig or two in arrangements are best utilized on the front porch or driveway outside, as they would bring an unpleasant scent into the house.

Holly is the quintessential holiday plant, thanks to that catchy Christmas Carol! Holly produce berries on female plants only, and a male is required to provide pollen for the female plants. Most landscapes only require one male plant.

Dense growth makes this an easy

SEAN HOLLAND Perennials Manager 10

December 2021 | kcgmag.com

plant to trim a few select branches for use on mantles, arrangements, and decking the halls.

Bracken’s Brown Beauty Magnolia add sheen and contrast to arrangements and wreaths, with leaves of shiny green on top, and cinnamon undersides. Fragrant spring blooms make it a worthy plant for the landscape. As magnolias mature, most plants can withstand losing a short branch or two to the efforts of holiday decorating.

Corkscrew Weeping Willow is a unique tree that would love to be planted in a moist area. Willows actually help dry up soggy parts of the yard. As a fast grower, willows can stand to lose a substantial amount of stem tips for use in arrangements, and regrow ten-fold the next season.

Red Twig and Yellow Twig Dogwoods are substantial, large shrubs in the landscape all season long, and are stunning during the winter months with bright red or yellow stems. They are especially showy during winter snows with their branches showing off against the pure-white ground. If gardeners are looking for a smaller variety, Proven Winners offers compact red and yellow twig dogwoods in the Arctic Fire® series. For a varie-

gated look, ‘Ivory Halo’ adds a nice touch to the garden in the summer with red stems during winter. A few stems from one of these add vertical interest and color to arrangements.

River Birch branches add a rustic look to arrangements, or bundled in a fireplace. Most river birch trees can stand a mild pruning from time to time, so when you prune, save the branches for use in holiday decorations. If there is no river birch handy, the white branches of a Quaking Aspen make for a nice substitute.

When using landscape plants to make arrangements and decorations, keep in mind that once removed from the mother plant, branches have a limited lifetime. If brought inside the house, one can expect these cuttings to last a few weeks at best. (Remember, it is important to remove dried up branches to minimize fire hazards!) When displayed in pots and urns outside, they may last well into the new year with regular watering when above freezing.

Also be mindful of how much you prune from living landscape plants. It is best to keep trimming on coniferous evergreens to a minimum, and always take from an area of the plant that is not readily visible; prime places for trimming are where they are growing into the house or other plants and never prune the top (growing point) of a pyramidal/columnar evergreen.

With strategic planning and pruning, anyone’s garden can give year round interest both in the landscape and as a source for holiday décor.

Sean Holland is Perennials Manager at Suburban Lawn & Garden, 135th and Wornall location, in Kansas City, Missouri. You may reach him at seanh@suburbanlg.com.

Corkscrew Weeping Willow

River Birch

Red Twig Dogwood

Yellow Twig Dogwood

Bracken’s Brown Beauty Magnolia

Above: Juniper; Below: Holly

The Kansas City Gardener | December 2021

11

Indoor Gardening: Non-Stop Citrus

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s a plant lover living in the Midwest, it’s easy to fall into the “overwintering mindset.” October ice storms and frigid Februarys aren’t exactly conducive to year-round food production, especially tropical and subtropical fruit. Those conditions are more likely to result in plane tickets to the Caribbean where you can fulfill your daydreams of plucking fresh limes along the roadside any day of the year.

The concept of overwintering is completely normal, though. As days grow shorter and temperatures decline, the pivot from production to preservation is dictated by nature and the changing seasons. We should feel a sense that it’s time to hunker down and hibernate. It’s an inherent animal instinct for our protection and safety, helping us survive harsh winter environments.

While that thinking worked well for our ancestors, human ingenuity has since developed a new toolset, allowing us to do more than just survive the winters. Now we can thrive with heaters, insulation, lightbulbs and a myriad of other inventions that we often take for granted.

Similarly, our plants can capitalize on human technological achievements. Let’s look at how this applies to a group of the most commonly overwintered plants grown for food production, citrus trees. For anyone who is already growing citrus in the Midwest, you know that below-freezing temperatures and rapid swings in temperature can really damage your trees.

That typically relegates them to sunny windows and heated garages throughout the fall and winter, waiting to be released back to the porch, garden or yard during the warm spring and summer months.

For half the year they flourish under the sun’s intense glow, and for the other half they simply survive.

Fortunately, through advances in lighting technology, the penetrating rays of the summer sun can be reproduced within our own homes.

That’s excellent news for citrus lovers who can give their trees a

Yes, it is possible to grow citrus year round. full year of optimal growing conditions rather than taking every six months off to overwinter. Lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, kumquats, nothing is off limits!

Citrus grows best under 12 to 16 hours of strong, direct light per day.

When choosing a grow light, look for high output T5 fluorescents (ideally a 4-bulb fixture), an LED (light emitting diode) using 100 or

JASON MISPAGEL Indoor Gardener 12

December 2021 | kcgmag.com

more watts of electricity, or a CMH (ceramic metal halide). Regardless the style of light, it’s ideal to have a full spectrum of color temperature in order to more closely replicate natural sunlight. Fluorescents and

LEDs will need to be placed about a foot above the top of each plant, whereas CMH bulbs should rest 2-3 feet above the canopy.

Ideal temperatures can be slightly more difficult to maintain indoors (especially if you’re trying to keep your heating bill down).

70°F to 90°F is a comfortable range for citrus, with higher temperatures encouraging more rapid growth

and lower temperatures triggering blooming/fruit development. Placing your plant in a grow tent is a simple way to help boost temperatures by trapping the heat emitted from your grow lights. If your environment is particularly chilly, consider intentionally choosing a grow light that puts off a lot of heat such a CMH. In addition to bright light and warm temperatures, citrus plants can be particular about their soil.

They prefer a well-draining grow media with slightly acidic pH (5.5 to 6.5). Prolonged oversaturation with water should be avoided as it prevents necessary oxygen from reaching the roots. Fertilize with high levels of nitrogen (N) and low levels of phosphorous (P) and potassium (K). For example, an N-P-K ratio of 3:1:1 would work nicely. There are also citrus-specific fertilizers like FoxFarm Happy Frog Citrus & Avocado (7:3:3), formulated particularly for indoorplants, that include ingredients like beneficial fungi and micronutrients (i.e., calcium, sulfur, etc.). Be sure to follow the dosage recommendations on the product’s packaging, as feeding amounts may change from brand-to-brand.

With those few environmental controls in place, your favorite citrus varieties never have to slow down during the winter again.

When you feel it’s time to start producing fruit, simply lower the temperature towards the bottom of the acceptable range and watch the flowers start to bloom. Instead of flying to Jamaica in January to get your citrus fix, you can simply pluck fresh fruit without ever leaving the house.

Challenging as it may be, I hope you too can break free of the overwintering mindset and continue producing fresh, nutritious food indoors…even when the world outside your window has gone to sleep until spring.

Jason Mispagel is the co-owner and operator of Year-Round Garden, a grower’s supply center serving both home and commercial customers since 2016. To contact Jason, call 816-216-6917 or jason@year-roundgarden.com.

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The Kansas City Gardener | December 2021

13

Knotty Dioecious Native Plants Photo by Scott Woodbury.

R

Persimmons hood that could pollinate your female tree(s). Also, every so often a dioecious species will generate a perfect plant (perhaps a recessive gene). As you can imagine, this becomes an unrealistic guessing game, especially if you are seeking showy edible fruits for people or wildlife.

One might think that seeds of dioecious plants produce equal numbers of male and female seedlings. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

Our Missouri ecotype winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and American holly (Ilex opaca) produce far more male seedlings then female seedlings. Too bad for gardeners looking for berry-producing Ilex trees and shrubs to feed the birds.

The last batch of winterberry holly we sprouted at the Shaw Nature Reserve greenhouse produced 85% male plants, but it took five years for them to get big enough to confirm this. For American holly, seedlings volunteering in the Whitmire Wildflower Garden are mostly

SCOTT WOODBURY Horticulturist 14

December 2021 | kcgmag.com

American Holly, Ilex opaca engulfed in winter freeze.

Photo by Scott Woodbury.

ose flowers are perfect. Perfect in the botanical sense— meaning that a flower has both male and female parts and produces seed. Same goes for most other native plants like coneflower, turtlehead, and blazing star.

But there are many native species with imperfect flowers— meaning flowers that contain only male or only female reproductive parts. A number of native plants have imperfect flowers on the same plant, including grasses, sedges, walnuts, oaks, birch, and a number of other trees.

Dioecious plant species are those with imperfect flowers on separate plants. Dioecious plants native to the lower Midwest include goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus), wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana), willow (Salix spp.), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana), fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus), honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos), and holly (Ilex spp.).

With dioecious plants, you need at least one male and one female plant to produce fruits and seed.

For farmers, gardeners, and birds who depend on berries produced by dioecious plants, this is important. Male plants will never produce fruits or seeds—so if you plant a single persimmon seedling in your yard, it is a roll of the dice as to whether it is female and will produce fruits. Even if you plant three, they may all turn out to be either male or female.

Having three female persimmon trees doesn’t necessarily mean you will get yummy fruits either.

You still need at least one male and one female in close proximity for success.

There are exceptions, however.

There may be a male persimmon growing nearby in your neighbor-

Linda Ellis offering education on this holly, Ilex decidua. male. Also, a majority of deciduous holly (Ilex decidua) plants scattered across Shaw Nature Reserve are also male. This does not bode well for homeowners who want bright red holly berries for wreathmaking and feeding birds.

So how do consumers acquire female, berry-producing holly plants if most of the seedlings available are male? Fortunately, this species is prone to suckering, divides well, and can be grown from cuttings. At Shaw Nature

Reserve, we have been dividing female winterberry hollies to increase their numbers. We plant one male winterberry holly for every five females to get good pollination and fruit production.

For deciduous and American hollies, we plant seedlings in nursery rows, and then wait until they flower and fruit. We then select the female plants for use in landscaping (remembering to use one male seedling for every five females).

This process is time-consuming,

Horticulturist Scott Woodbury is the Curator of the Whitmore Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, Missouri, where he has worked with native plant propagation, design, and education for 28 years. He also is an advisor to the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! program. Find suppliers of native plants and seeds at www.grownative.org, Resource Guide.

Photo by Scott Woodbury.

Celebrate the Holiday Season We have a great selection of fresh Christmas decorations and flowering plants. festive poinsettias • holiday décor fresh cut trees • miles of roping unique gifts for that special gardener

Ilex verticillata and requires hand-digging large plants, a back breaking, time-consuming and expensive method.

If gardeners are to succeed with berry-producing female hollies, the easiest method available is through vegetative propagation (stem cuttings or division). How do gardeners purchase vegetatively propagated native hollies? The simple answer is that they are available as cultivars. This is the main reason why holly is grown and marketed as cultivars. The other reason is to offer plants with reduced size that fit in small gardens. Cultivars of eastern red cedar, bittersweet, honey locust, and persimmon are also produced for various reasons.

Cedar cultivars were selected for consistent berry production and smaller sizes. A selection of American bittersweet is marketed because it has perfect flowers. Male honey locust cultivars were selected to re-

duce the mess of fallen fruits. And persimmon cultivars were selected with larger, more productive fruits with fewer seeds.

With willow, fringe tree, spice bush, bittersweet, goats beard, and wild strawberry, seedlings produce about equal quantities of male and female plants, so it is more reasonable to acquire these as seedlinggrown plants. The Missouri Department of Conservation sells native tree and shrub seedlings. They come in bundles of 100, 25, or 10 and range in price from 50 cents to a dollar per seedling. That said, there is still some chance involved, so plant several seedlings (five minimum) in small groupings to be sure to get at least one male and one female. Hopefully this will remove some of the knots in the line. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, especially the best things in life.

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The Kansas City Gardener | December 2021

15

PLANTS ON YOUR PLATE Acorn Squash nese, magnesium, and potassium and both soluble and insoluble fiber. These nutrients are shown to be beneficial in eye, skin, and gut health, as well as the prevention and management of chronic diseases like hypertension, heart disease and even certain cancers.

The neutral flavor of acorn squash lends itself well for a variety of preparation methods. The unique fluted shape can be accentuated by cutting the squash crosswise in one-inch slices and removing the seeds in each slice, then lightly drizzling with vegetable oil, and seasoning with herbs before baking. They can also be cut in half

A

s you begin planning the next special menu in the holiday line-up, acorn squash is a vegetable that is worth considering as an addition on your table. While not as common as the traditional sweet potato, the similar color, flavor, and texture of acorn squash can make a great mix-in with sweet potatoes or stand on its own in a variety of preparations.

This is yet another vegetable that I didn’t learn to appreciate until I was an adult, once again demonstrating that our tastebuds are always evolving.

Acorn squash is another member of the Curcurbitaceae plant family, which are related to cucumbers, gourds, and melons. The main difference between summer and winter squash is the state of maturity at harvest. While summer squash is harvested while immature with a tender skin, winter squash is allowed to fully mature and develop a hard rind. The hard rind retains moisture and allows the squash to be stored for several months in cool, dry conditions.

Archaeologists have long considered that squash is one of the old-

est known food crops, having found evidence that squash varieties were grown by early civilizations thousands of years ago. Many of the types of squash we know as winter squash are believed to have originated in the Andes mountains, then on through Central American and Mexico and eventually to the United States. Historical documents indicate that squash was served at the first Thanksgiving dinner between Pilgrims and Native Americans at Plymouth Colony in 1621.

Though botanically classified as a fruit, acorn squash is more commonly recognized as a starchy vegetable, thus it is prepared similarly to vegetables like butternut squash and sweet potatoes. The most common variety of acorn squash has a variegated green and orange rind, but they can also be variegated green and cream, orange or even white. All varieties will reveal a golden flesh inside. When selecting squash, look for those that are free from blemishes, have hard, dull skins and are heavy for their size.

Acorn squash is a rich source of vitamins A, C, numerous B vitamins, minerals including manga-

DENISE SULLIVAN Nutrition Ninja 16

December 2021 | kcgmag.com

and baked without any seasoning, then scooping and pureeing the cooked squash to be used in baked goods like muffins. Baked pureed squash can also be frozen for later use. With their natural ‘bowl’ shape when cut in half (and the seeds removed) stuffing squash with either a sweet filling like apples or savory meat filling is a common practice.

When caramelized in the heat of the oven, the natural sweetness of the juice and honey in the recipe below makes a delicious finish to simple dish. Oh…and don’t forget that you can roast the seeds just like pumpkin seeds for a healthy snack!

Honey Orange Acorn Squash MAKES 6 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS 3 small acorn squashes 2 Tablespoons orange juice 2 Tablespoons honey 2 Tablespoons butter, melted 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Cut squash in half. Remove seeds and place halves in shallow baking pan.

3. Combine orange juice, honey and butter and mix well.

Divide the mixture (about one tablespoon each) among each squash half. Sprinkle with ginger.

4. Cover pan with aluminum foil to keep steam in and speed cooking.

5. Bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking 30 minutes more, or until squash is tender and slightly browned.

NUTRITION INFORMATION Calories: 144, Total Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 34mg, Carbohydrates: 29g, Fiber: 3g, Protein: 2g Recipe adapted from MyPlate Kitchen, analyzed by verywellfit.com

Denise Sullivan (@MUExtJacksonCo) is a Nutrition and Health Education Specialist for MU Extension in Jackson County. For research based nutrition and food safety information and programs, call 816-4825850 or visit https://extension.missouri.edu/counties/urban-west-region.

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913.361.5115 The Kansas City Gardener | December 2021

17

GARDEN CALENDAR December list of what to do in the garden.

VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

• Store unused seeds in a cool, dry location or refrigerator.

• Check vegetables in storage for spoilage.

• Mulch strawberries for winter protection.

• Wrap trunks of fruit trees with chicken wire to prevent rabbit damage.

• Clean and oil garden hand tools for winter.

• Till the soil and add organic matter.

• Store unused garden chemicals in a cool, dry and safe location.

• Update garden journal for successes and failures.

• Start planning for next spring on cold winter nights.

FLOWERS

• Mulch grafted roses by mounding soil 6 to 8 inches deep to protect the graft.

• Cut tall tea roses back to 24 inches to reduce wind whipping and plant damage.

• Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs until the ground is frozen.

• Give plants or gift certificates as holiday gifts for gardening friends.

• Empty decorative pots and containers, storing inside.

LAWN

• Remove leaves, limbs, and other debris from lawn to prevent suffocation.

• Store unused fertilizers in a dry location and out of reach of children and pets.

• Store pesticides in a cool (not freezing) dry location, out of reach of children and pets.

• Review lawn service contracts.

• Avoid extensive walking on frozen grass.

TREES AND SHRUBS

• Keep heavy snowfall from limbs, lightly shaking to avoid damage.

• Avoid shoveling snow onto trees and shrubs.

• Check and protect the trunks of young trees and shrubs from rabbit damage.

• Keep a living Christmas tree in the home for

less than one week. Then acclimate to the outdoors and plant in a desirable location.

• Prune damaged branches throughout the winter months.

• Water newly planted trees and shrubs in winter to prevent dry soil conditions.

• Mulch roots of tender shrubs such as azaleas and rhododendrons.

• Prune branches of junipers, pines, hollies, and other plants for holiday decorations.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Start planning for next year by making notes and preparing orders.

• Turn compost pile to encourage winter breakdown.

• Curl up with a good gardening book.

• Stroll through the landscape, noting opportunities or issues.

• Make your Christmas list by adding gardening supplies.

• Keep houseplants out of hot and cold drafts.

MY GARDEN (Use this space to list additional tasks to accomplish in your garden.)

• • • •

Johnson County K-State Research and Extension recommends environmentally-friendly gardening practices. This starts by identifying and monitoring problems. Cultural practices and controls are the best approach for a healthy garden. If needed, use physical, biological or chemical controls. Always consider the least toxic approach first. Dennis Patton is the horticulture agent for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.

18

December 2021 | kcgmag.com

Winter Prep Your Lawnmower

POWELL GARDENS ANNOUNCES 5th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

O

Photo credit to Lawrence Journal World.

Spring lawn care starts with proper lawnmower winterization.

T

aking care of a home lawn can be time consuming but rewarding for many homeowners. Kansas State University horticulture expert Ward Upham said as mowing season ends, it is important to service mowers before storing them for winter.

“Make sure you drain the gas tank of gasoline-powered engines or use a gasoline stabilizer,” Upham said. “Untreated gasoline can become thick and gummy.”

Spark plugs should be replaced.

Before putting the new one in, place a few drops of oil inside the hole to lubricate the cylinder. Battery terminals usually corrode during the season, so they should be cleaned with a wire-bristle brush before being removed and stored for winter.

“If you remove the battery, be sure to store it in a protected location for the winter (a cool basement works best),” Upham said.

Cleaning and storing mowers properly is just one part of end ofseason-care. Upham also suggests using this time to sharpen mower blades.

“Sharpening rotary mower blades is fairly straightforward,”

said Upham, who listed the steps to guide the process: • Check for major blade damage and replace what can’t be fixed.

• Remove grass and debris with a damp cloth. Dry the blade before sharpening.

• Use a grinding wheel or handfile to remove nicks from the cutting edge. If using a grinding wheel, match the existing edge angle to the wheel. If hand-filing, file at the same angle as the existing edge.

• File edges to 1/32 inch, or about the size of a period at the end of a sentence.

• Avoid overheating of the blade, as this could warp it.

• For optimum winter storage, clean the blade with solvent or oil. Avoid using water because it will promote rust.

“Following these tips can help you better prepare your mower for winter storage and also save you some steps this coming spring,” Upham said. Sound advice for all homeowners.

EMILY HALSTEAD Horticulture Specialist

Emily Halstead is with K-State Research and Extension in Manhattan, Kansas, and can be reached at ehalstead@ksu.edu.

n November 11, Powell Gardens will kick off the holiday season with Festival of Lights (Nov. 11-Dec. 30, 4-10 p.m.), illuminated by Evergy.

This family-favorite winter festival is a breath of fresh air during a hectic holiday season. Bundle up and stroll along a lighted outdoor path featuring immersive, botanically inspired installations that celebrate the natural joy of the most festive season.

Festival goers will walk a mile-long path woven through 25-acres. (The path is ADA compliant, with shorter options available.) Miles of holiday lights highlight the natural forms of Powell Gardens’ tree collection and show off the exceptional architecture and design of the Gardens. Encounter Instagram and holiday card-worthy photo stops along the way.

A newly imagined Enchanted Tiki Bar occupies the glass domed conservatory, while a new warming station along the trail sells spiked or non-alcoholic hot chocolate and Louisburg cider. Take your drinks to go and snap a selfie in a larger-than-life snow globe or by the new Magic Tree wrapped in 3.5 miles of lights before enjoying the display

from above atop the Missouri Barn Silo. Quixotic is back with a new take on Fountain of Light, a light and sound installation in the Fountain Garden.

Venture to the Children’s Garden to create and deliver your holiday wish list to Santa (Nov. 26-Dec. 22, Friday & Saturday). Special events include live music and performances by the Kansas City Ballet (Nov. 12-14) and visits from Santa’s reindeer (Saturdays, Nov. 27Dec. 18) as well as holiday container design and wreathmaking workshops.

The Holly Jolly Rest Stop, a festive outpost at the Missouri Barn, will have fire pits where families can cozy up together on the adjacent lawn in front of a spectacular view of the Villandry Garden display. The Marketplace and Holly Jolly Rest Stop provide opportunities to purchase garden-inspired and locally made gifts, as well as a variety of Powell Gardens grown poinsettias.

This year, start a new family tradition. Festival of Lights is open Wednesday-Sunday, 4-10 p.m. Additional days (December 20-22 & 27-29) have been added to accommodate seasonal holidays. Tickets are available at www. powellgardens.org/lights.

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The Kansas City Gardener | December 2021

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