High-tech garden help

Remember the days of leafing through the Yellow Pages in search of help? Getting a phone number, making a call...and waiting for an expert to arrive at the doorstep. As we all know, today's technologies usher a multitude of pros through our virtual doorways each and every day.

When it comes to gardening, there are new websites and apps popping up every day to aid hopeful horticulturists. One of my favorites is called Yardmap.org. Check it out. You'll learn about your area's ecoregion--the unique combination of living and nonliving factors that set your landscape apart and determine what will flourish there (mine is Eastern Broadleaf Forest). You'll also get handy info about:

--Indigenous shrubs, trees and perennials that thrive in your region
--Pollinator guide for individual regions
--Local E-bird reports
--Ways to connect with experts in each area of the country
--Local community resources, like plant arboretums and nurseries

Another really cool feature of this site is that it enables you to connect with virtual and real neighbors alike. You draw a habitat map of your own yard and--using the satellite imagery loaded into the site--you can map your actual acreage. Every time you update your map (like planting a new shrub) you are transforming your landscape and sharing this info with a network of novices and pros connected with the citizen science project. Pretty cool, right?

One question people often ask me is, "Now that the leaves are falling, how can I determine what trees are in my area?" Few of us know each and every tree by its bark and growth habit, so take a nice autumn stroll through local parks and forests this weekend--before all the leaves drop. Bring along your smart phone, preloaded with a handy app called "Leafsnap".  This app, billed as the first in a series of electronic field guides being developed by researchers from Columbia University, the University of Maryland, and the Smithsonian Institution, is free and uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from photographs of their leaves. When you see a tree you can't identify, select the app, collect one of the tree's leaves, place it on a white surface and snap a photo. The app does the rest, providing you with photos of similar leaves that you can compare yours with.

The best thing about these technological advances (in my humble opinion) is that they encourage tangible teaching moments, offering us a way to get outside and enjoy all that nature has to offer, and learn a little something in the process.

Rethinking leaf litter

     When I was a kid, I vividly recall one large oak tree in my neighbor's yard. Here's why this tree was so memorable: 1. It was tremendous. 2. Every fall its leaves changed from green to burnished bronze, making the whole thing look like it was on fire. 3. The leaves fell off--every single one of them--in a single day. Imagine the leaf piles just begging for a kid like me to jump in?
     I have such powerful memories of that one tree--of standing at the bus stop watching the first leaves begin to drop, 20 or 30 at a time--to coming home after school to watch the incredible shedding continue, and sitting outside until dark, seeing if I could identify the final few to fall.
     Of course every kid wants leaves to remain on the ground as playthings, but there are so many reasons to view fallen leaves as beneficial to our yards rather than as eyesores.
     We've got to change our mindset on this one. Instead of thinking of them as leaf litter, view them as a vital link to healthy outdoor spaces. Recall your grade-school science classes and the lessons learned there. That's when we first discovered that decomposing leaves release goodies like carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus--critical for supporting life forms such as fungus (mushrooms), beneficial bacteria, insects and invertebrates.
     Many invertebrates, in fact, lay eggs on leaf litter. Removing leaves also takes away some of next year's butterflies and moths! Additionally, leaves provide vital foraging space for small mammals, insects and birds. Some bird species declines have been linked with decrease of invertebrates on the forest floor.
     Here's a way to compromise: Rather than bagging all our fallen comrades, let some lie around trees, shrubs and perennials. They make an excellent mulch, helping retain moisture around plants, improving soil composition, and protecting them from harsh winter winds and killing temperature dips. If your plants could talk, they'd thank you. And the wider world would give you props, as well, for increasing the biodiversity of your outdoor spaces.
    As for me, I'm going to gently rake a portion of my leaves into the compost piles I have set up along the perimeter of my property--and I just might make a trip back to my hometown to see if that giant oak tree is still standing.

Autum colors

In my post just about a year ago, I explored exactly why leaves change color in fall (less sunlight diminishing photosynthesis reduces their ability to make chlorophyll, which keeps leaves green), and the reason different leaves change into different shades (due to varying pigments within their individual structures), but I didn't delve deeply into the role weather plays in the annual metamorphosis of the leaves.

The amount of precipitation accumulated throughout the entire year determines when leaves turn, and how long their color will last. Too much rain and/or snow or a late spring could push the color change back by a week--or longer, while severe drought may cause the leaves to drop early, especially on weaker or younger trees. I've noticed this around my town. We had a very dry summer in the Northeast, so the changing leaves aren't able to reach peak color before dropping off.

Another issue: temperature. For the best foliage, the fall season has to be moderately cold. If it’s too warm--like it's been here lately--the colors won’t be as bright, but will last longer. Too cold and the leaves may turn straight to brown. Frost kills.

Perhaps the most frustrating thing about autumn leaves is that we can't control what happens. Ironically, its that lack of human intervention in the process that produces the magical moments we cherish. You know the feeling of stepping out on a crisp fall morning and looking around you--marveling at the colorful patterns of gold and yellow, orange and red. Nature's kaleidoscope. Enjoy the fleeting fantasy! In a few weeks you'll be piling a plethora of brown remnants into leaf bags and hauling them to the curb.

Planting Valerian: a bold choice

     In an ongoing effort to learn more about the flora all around us, I have decided to devote the first posting of each month to a specific plant, focusing on the benefits and drawbacks of placing it in a garden. Together, we can discover the properties of plants that we previously knew little or nothing about, with the aim of expanding our horticultural horizons.

     This month's feature is Valeriana officinalis, commonly called Valerian. I've only been vaguely aware of this herb, but it has properties that intrigue me, so let's take a closer look!

     A perennial that thrives in zones 5-8, it boasts delicate heads of sweetly scented lilac, pink or white flowers that bloom from late spring right through summer. The heady aroma was so enticing to 16th-century perfume-makers that they pressed valerian flower extracts into service, scenting the wrists of fair ladies of the day. Among the most outrageous uses of that time was its application to ward off the plague.

     Native to areas of Asia and Europe, the plant has long been naturalized in North America. Its flowers, on decorative stalks that can reach 5 feet high, are frequented by many species of flies, butterflies, and moths--making this perennial a plus for butterfly gardens.

     Historically, this plant has been cultivated as a drug plant, of sorts. Preparations of valerian yield sedative properties, and it's often been prescribed for insomnia. Additionally, tea made from its root has been used to soothe muscular pains, spasms and cramps. Not being in the medical field myself,  I make no claims to the effectiveness of such uses. In fact, my research has indicated that chronic use of valerian root is linked to depression. Ironically, it's been discovered to entice cats. Pet owners can check out the labels of their catnip to see if valerian is listed among the ingredients.

     On the upside, this plant thrives in sunny and shady areas. It likes wet feet, and often pops up in the moist crevices of moss-covered rocks. On the downside, it can take over an area. In fact, it's considered an invasive species in Connecticut, and planting it is banned in that state. To keep spreading at bay, simply cut off flowers in early summer, when their fragrance is at peak. This will not only ensure gorgeous, fragrant floral bouquets and centerpieces, but keeps valerian from reseeding.

Is this plant for you? I would say yes if the following criteria apply: you have open space you need to fill in and you aren't worried about the plant becoming invasive; you're creating a butterfly garden; you enjoy cut-flowers and need an abundance of attractive, aromatic florals for centerpieces and bouquets.

When to avoid this plant: If you have a small garden space and/or little time to tend to its upkeep. Valerian is not obedient; you may get more than you bargained for if you allow seeds to spread.