Garden Detective

In honor of the season, let's look toward the east and visit the gardens of Ramat Hanadiv. It's not exactly Bethlehem, but it's close enough.

Ramat Hanadiv combines natural landscapes and formal gardens on more than 1,100 acres. It was built by Baron Edmond de Rothschild (1845-1934), whose family was prominent throughout Europe and addressed the Balfour Declaration, which committed the British government to the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people. His remains and those of Baroness Adelheid de Rothschild (1853-1935) are interred at the Memorial Gardens there.

Over the past fifty years, the location has been the site of many archaeological excavations and research and educational projects. It's also a popular destination, where visitors enjoy the Rose Garden, Fragrance Garden, Tree Walk and Therapeutic Gardens in addition to public concerts at the Amphitheatre and a hiking trail that make Ramat Hanadiv one of the most popular nature spots in Israel.

Click the Rose Garden photo above or below to enter.

I'm taking a week off to de-stress and to spend with my family. Those two verbs don't ordinarily belong in the same sentence, but I'm ever the optimist :)

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy, prosperous and GREEN 2008.

I love making lists. Let me correct that: I NEED to make lists. Without them, I feel so disorganized and my life begins to spiral downward. I'm so compulsive about it that when I accomplish something that isn't on my list, I write it down just so I can cross it out.

Naturally, I have a list of things to do before I die. I created it about five years ago, and judging by the length of it (and it keeps getting longer) I'd better live a very long life. Here's a look at my progress:

See the Harlem Globetrotters
Visit Hawaii
Line dance and eat barbecue Austin, Texas
See the Grand Ole Opry
Become a Master Gardener
See David Byrne in concert
Move to a bigger house

It's not much, I know, but I'm working on it. I still have to write that novel, visit France, England and Italy (again), see the Mayan ruins, and rent a Winnebago and take Route 66 across the country, among other things.

Now here's a shameful confession: Until I read this book, I didn't consider visiting any historical gardens. Read it and your list might grow longer, too.

"1001 Gardens You Must See Before You Die" (Barron's, $34.99)
General Editor: Rae Spencer-Jones

Eye candy for anyone awed by natural beauty, this stocky volume is arranged geographically from west to east and north to south. Most of the 1,001 gardens featured include a colorful photo, a few paragraphs of description and a fact box with at-a- glance details about the designer, owner, garden style, size, location and climate.

Every imaginable style is covered, from traditional (Monet's Giverny in France, on my list, by the way) to tropical (Jim Thompson Garden in Bangkok) and from the tranquil (Japan's Daichi-ji) to the surreal (Las Pozas in the Mexican jungle.)

In addition to Old Westbury Gardens, the John P. Humes Japanese Stroll Garden in Mill Neck ("forces a change of pace - certainly no bad thing in the fast-paced world of today") and Longhouse Reserve in East Hampton ("Visitors ... quickly discover an array of planting textures and colors offset by an inspiring collection of artwork") are local treasures given succinct coverage that includes historical background and beautiful photography.

Simply flipping through these pages will have you planning ways to incorporate various styles into your own garden, and maybe even making a few vacation plans.

I know all about houseplants. But with 2 kids, 2 jobs, a husband, a house and a dog, I don't have much time to care for them, so I keep them to a minimum and focus on the outdoor landscape during the growing season. Right now, I only have 3 houseplants: A one-year-old Miracle Berry plant, which has yet to fruit and whose leaves are getting crunchy, a Poinsettia (to honor the season), and a Cleopatra Begonia -- my favorite -- which I grew from a cutting given to me by my dentist. Dr. John Gaeta of Glen Cove has been keeping many of his patients in cuttings, as they frequently ask to take a piece of his office decor home, as I did.

For those who have a greater love of houseplants than I do, British horticulturist Matin Fish demonstrates in this video the special care they require over the winter months.

Thanks to everyone who emailed with their gift wish lists. It was interesting to see where the emails came from, and how varied readers' desires were.

MaryBeth from Shrewsbury, Mass., says she really wants a compost tumbler. I have one myself, and when I remember to spin it regularly, it cranks out a fine batch in less than 60 days.

Corris, from Newsday's Cheap Thrills blog, would like an AeroGrow Kit: "For some reason this amazes me, sort of like my Chia Pet I had in high school," she writes. "I can't stop watching the infomercial. I love it!"

Kylee Baumle, from Haviland, Ohio: "Hi Jessica! I just read your request for what a gardener would like for Christmas and here is one thing I want: Horticulture Magazine just published a DVD-ROM with ten years of their magazine en toto. Every article, every photograph, every everything that was in their magazine from 1997-2006. And it's indexed, too! This is one great gardening magazine from among several in publication and I would love to have this compendium for my library. I just drool over the thought of having all that good gardening information as well as personal gardening anecdotes that have been contained in their pages over the last ten years on one handy disc. Another something? A Mantis tiller. But realistically, I'm more likely to actually receive the DVD. LOL.

Mindee Brockmann, a New Yorker who's spending the year living in Rome, wants a $400 Majolica pot for her balcony.

My list was published in yesterday's Newsday. For those who didn't get to see it -- and from a look at where my blog readers come from, I'd say many didn't -- here it is. Click the photo below to start the slide show.

Have you ever seen a ghost orchid? Have you even ever heard of one? Chris Little in south Florida has discovered a secret place where these rare treasures grow. He won't reveal the location of the expedition, but has created a website devoted to his precious find. Fascinating stuff.

Click the photo below to check it out.

Today we're going to talk about a subject dear to the hearts of many Long Islanders, especially those fortunate enough to live in a place like Anne Halpin, author of "Seascape Gardening," (Storey Publishing, $19.95), does.

Halpin is a Hampton Bays resident who has written a dozen gardening books, including "Homescaping: The Year-Round Flower Gardener" and "Annuals, Perennials and Bulbs."

Roger Foley, whose photos enliven the pages of the book, is a prominent garden photographer based in Arlington, Va.

What could be more beautiful than the view from a cottage overlooking the crashing waves of the ocean? How about a mass of stunning blossoms spilling over the rocky ledge between you and the Atlantic? As anyone who lives seaside knows, it isn't as easy as it looks.

A glance at the USDA plant hardiness zone map confirms that coastal areas - including those on Long Island - experience temperatures 10 degrees warmer than those inland in the same region. But strong winds, salty air and sandy soil more than counter any benefit gained from the warmer climate. Regardless, as the magnificent photography featured in this book attests, a glorious garden can be had.

Halpin lists plants with high and moderate salt tolerance and points to others that can survive flooding. Once plants are selected, the seascape gardener needs to select the ideal planting location (not on dunes, but behind them, for instance). Next, the ground should be stabilized with ground cover or grasses.

Beachfront gardening is unique and complex, but Halpin guides her fellow Long Islanders, offering planting and design advice, maintenance suggestions, solutions to the biggest challenges and profiles of more than 100 plants, trees and shrubs that are suitable for oceanfront landscapes.

Here's a particularly interesting excerpt from the book:

"When choosing plants for your seaside garden, it is essential that you have a very clear understanding of the environmental conditions they will face in your garden or in their particular spot in your garden. Seashore conditions vary significantly from one property to another. The closer you are to the beach, the greater the variation can be. At the beach, growing conditions just a thousand feet apart can be totally different from one another."

I have been re landscaping the yard beginning May 07. It has been a true challenge with the drought and water restrictions. The lot is 110x175, a 6' privacy wood fence installed and stained. I have done a slope area from fence to street. It is arranged very lovely including several Knockout Roses which are still blooming some now December 8th. I have mulched heavy and will continue with shredded leaves and pine straw. I've even released several earth worms under the mulch. Not a lot of grass, just like I want but many plants. I'm still concerned about 70+ daytime temperatures with no rainfall to talk about. Will these roses need water or will they be okay? They have been in the tilled and mulched ground about three weeks. I planted them with soil conditioner and compost under them. I'm a 64 year old woman with a farming back ground but I'm unsure about the plants and the weather problems of lack of rain. I watered in the dug hole as I sat them out. Thanks for addressing my concerns. -- Jewel, 35055

Hi, Jewel.

Though low-maintenance, Knock Out roses need regular watering just like any other plant in your garden. And if it doesn't come from rainfall, you'll need to continue supplemental irrigation until they go dormant.

You don't say where you live, but if the number you provided is a zip code, I'm guessing that's Alabama. I understand the situation in Alabama, which is experiencing the worst drought in its history. I've read that some farmers have lost not only one, but two crops this year.

For your plants to survive, water must be provided through dormancy or they're likely to suffer the same downfall as those farmers' crops. This is true regardless of what your winters are like, and is especially important during the first year, until the plants get fully established.

I admire the extra steps you've taken due to the water restrictions, but unfortunately the plants don't know anything about municipal regulations. They only know they're thirsty. I recommend watering deeply when permitted. Infrequent deep waterings are preferable to more frequent shallow waterings. The latter could be a waste of water, as it won't do much for the plant if it doesn't reach down to the root system. Water deeply when permitted and keep your fingers crossed.

If you anticipate the drought conditions will continue, you should consider xeriscaping -- the installation of plants with low-water needs. Contact your local agricultural extension office for a list of xeriscape-suitable plants. Of course, they, too, will require supplemental watering until fully established, but then their water needs will drop sharply. In general, stick to native plants, which are accustomed to the climate and should have an easier time getting established. And waiting until spring will allow newly planted plants sufficient time to get established. Plus, drought concerns might be over by then.

Concerning the mulch -- your intentions are righteous, but don't apply too heavily. A nice 2-inch layer is appropriate in spring to retain moisture and block weeds. More should be applied after the ground freezes, to protect against freeze-thaw cycles. But over-mulching could cut the plant's water supply, lead to rot and disease, curtail photosynthesis and invite rodents. Since you've already applied it, rake the mulch away from the stem for now and push it back after the ground freezes.

In general, shallow-rooted plants or those growing in poor-draining (clay) soil should not receive more than 2 inches of mulch. For plants that root more deeply or those that are growing in loamy or sandy soil, you can mulch 3 or 4 inches. Also, coarse mulches can be applied more heavily than fine-textured ones because air circulates more easily through them to the soil.

Good luck!
Jessica

I finished all my Christmas shopping, so I'm in an especially good mood today. And since I did all of my shopping online, I dedicate this blog entry to my tireless UPS and DHL men, who have delivered to my house nearly every day since Thanksgiving -- sometimes stopping by twice.

To celebrate, I'm linking to three distant blogs today instead on the usual one. Enjoy.

Check out the slide show at the bottom of the page for some breathtaking photos.

Only two flowering plants have been able to survive on Antarctica -- Earth's iciest continent. Read what Julie of the Human Flower Project has to say about them. Fascinating stuff!

Vincent A. Simeone, director of Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay, has has written a trio of books. His third, "Great Flowering Landscape Trees" (Ball Publishing, $24.95), is a real gem.

Born in Islip, Simeone, 39, has lived in Oyster Bay 14 years. His passion for trees began when he was a student at SUNY Farmingdale in 1986. "The first class I took was on trees and shrubs," he explains, "and it immediately just appealed to me."

After a short introduction, Simeone embarks on an alphabetical journey through the world of deciduous flowering trees. Each concise description presents characteristics - such as bark texture, foliage color, flowers and fruit - of notable varieties and is complemented with beautiful close-up photography by Bruce Curtis. Readers intent on adding year-round interest to their gardens are likely to find a wealth of useful information in the pages of this fabulous reference, which also offers some rare and unusual choices for the home landscape.

"I don't want my books to be coffee table books," Simeone told me. "I want to offer pertinent information for homeowners and professionals alike." Indeed, all three of his books are nuts-and-bolts, hands-on guides, chock-full of practical details -- right up my alley.

"There are a lot of mistakes people make, like putting trees in the wrong spot," he says. "Gardening requires a lot of planning to be successful. It takes hard work. The worst thing you could do is have a mishmash of plants that aren't planted properly because eventually you'll just have to move them."

Borrowing from the old adage on carpentry, Simeone sums up his philosophy this way: "Do research twice and plant once.

Amen.

We're going to stray from the prototype this week and watch a homegrown video instead of visiting You Tube. Also, you're getting this a day early because I know I'll be too busy tomorrow.

It's getting cold and nasty outside, but with a little advance planning, as you'll see, we can enjoy our gardens all winter long.

Here's a video I shot last winter with Vincent Simeone, director of Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay. It was quite a windy day, as you'll see. Go ahead and laugh at me as I get blown around by nearly hurricane force winds. I know you will. And it's O.K.-- I'm all about a little comic relief.