November, 1999
Cooler breezes
have finally come to Austin, Texas...
Now, where
is the rain?
When winter breezes blow...
Don't forget to plan
now for plant protection from Austin's occasional freezing weather.
When winter threatens, make sure all herbs are well watered and protect
rosemary from harsh northern winds. The cold won't kill rosemary
here but it can suffer severe wind burn. Don't forget to bring in:
Pelargoniums (Scented
Geraniums) - they
may survive in the ground in a mild winter but that is the exception, not
the rule.
Topiary rosemary &
bay - hardy in the Austin area, but the topiary form makes them
more vulnerable to freeze damage
Container gardens
- Extended periods of freezing weather may kill normally hardy plants.
Victorian rosemary
(Westringia rosmariniformis) - not
hardy
Brugmansias - hardy
in protected areas in Austin, but take cuttings and bring in container
grown plants "just in case"
Hibiscus - Some
are hardy, some are not. Of herbal interest is Hibiscus
sabdariffa, it needs to be brought inside if seed pods have not
matured by the first frost. (To save seeds to plant next year)
Basil - For
holiday pesto, bring in pots of a small leaf form such as 'Spicy Globe'
when temperatures are predicted to go below 40 degrees F.
Take Cuttings - of
easily rooted tender plants such as fern leaf lavender (Lavandula multifida),
Persian shield (Strobilanthes dyeranus), patchouli and Cuban oregano.
These will root easily in a pot of moist soil or a glass of water.
First they sleep...
then they creep, then they
leap...Here's the lowdown on the vines at Horsetail Haven, a home garden
in Austin, Texas. The folk description of vine growth holds true
and the vines in their second year are creeping along. Hopefully
2000 will be a leaping year and we will have friendly screens.
Bignonia
capreolata
The crossvine cultivar 'Tangerine
Beauty' was planted in 1998 to grow along a chain link fence at the back
of the lot. Arches made of 3/8 inch rebar were added to the fence
to increase its screening ability and add interest. Strands of the
evergreen Bignonia have made their way to the arches and are slowly filling
in. This spring bloomer has had an occasional orange, trumpet shaped
bloom throughout the summer and fall.
It is planted in a shady location and hasn't received much water during
the summer drought. Surprisingly, out of four vines planted there
has only been one fatality, due to a dog digging it up. There is
also a bignonia in a large container adjacent to the sun porch. It
is growing much more quickly, perhaps due to more moisture, but only bloomed
in the spring.
Trachelospermum
jasminoides
Two of these wonderfully
fragrant Confederate jasmines are planted along with the Bignonia at the
back of the lot. Both are still at the "sleeping" stage. One
only has a single branch. The other has glossy growth that is beginning
to wind its way up the fence. It was graced with a few white, star
shaped blooms in early summer.
Clematis
armandii
Not sleeping, creeping,
or leaping...just dead and gone. Lack of water.
Akebia
quinata
Still sleeping after two
years. The plant is located in a shady area that receives little
water. The poor thing is a survivor but not a grower. Hopefully
some winter rains will send it directly to leaping and allow us the pleasure
of its chocolate scented blossoms in the new year.
Clematis
dioscoreifolia
The sweet autumn clematis
is an old friend. It can be trusted to provide green cover in the
two areas it is planted in, for two weeks in September its flowers scent
the whole yard. It is a vigorous grower and is cut to about six inches
each spring. (Note this plant has been known under a number of botanical
names including C. terniflora, C. paniculata & C. maximowicziana
... my reference is The Southern Living Garden book edited by Steve
Bender)
Solanum
jasminoides
The potato vine is slowly
creeping along the arch that greets visitors as they enter the front yard.
This vine was selected in large part because it will grow well in shade
and is evergreen. It has had its star shaped white flowers off and
on all summer and they should continue into the winter. Contrary
to what many visitors expect, the blossoms don't have any fragrance.
Morning
glory
The rebar morning glory
tower has been spectacular with 'Heavenly Blue' blossoms greeting the morning.
Now that the temperatures are cooler the blossoms are staying open well
into the afternoon. The first frost will leave a tower full of brown
leaves, but one can always dream of summer 2000 and new seeds to be sown,
maybe even of hummingbird visitors.
Use Your Herbs...
to decorate a holiday table.
First, slice the top off a miniature pumpkin, use one for each diner.
Hollow out the interior of the pumpkins, a grapefruit spoon makes this
easy. Soak oasis flower foam in water, then cut a small chunk to
fit inside each pumpkin. Cut fresh herbs and arrange in each pumpkin.
These provide fast and fun party favors. Have several small pairs
of scissors handy at dinner if guests want to snip fresh flavorings from
their personal bouquet. Contents of the bouquet might include thyme
(good on potatoes and veggies), arugula or dill for salads and spearmint
for just about anything. Some viola flowers or nasturtiums will provide
edible color.
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