Ephemeral

May 2015

Pickaway to Garden

Ephemeral

By Paul Hang

 

The spring wildflowers are called, by naturalists, the spring ephemerals. The dictionary defines ephemeral as “lasting for only a short period of time.” Much in nature is ephemeral. Did you see the bloodroot in bloom this year? If not, you are too late. Even those who looked for it knew that each of its blooms lasts for only one day, as do a number of flowers, they too are ephemeral. Did you notice the service berry in bloom? No? You’re too late. Their blossoms are ephemeral. The month of May vies with October as most people’s favorite month. October is gone, ephemeral. May won’t last long either. It too is ephemeral. Migrating warblers are here, for now. Many trees and shrubs are in bloom, for now. For a unique flower, check out the Pawpaw blooms at Mary Virginia Crites Hanna Park. It makes me want to stop and stare, take in all that is going on. Notice, pay attention, commit to memory. We are lulled into a sense of the commonplace because we realize many of these ephemerals will return next year, if we are here to experience them. We are ephemeral.

 

One thing we hope is not ephemeral is the earth, more specifically the ground, dirt, soil. Now that it has warmed up we can give it a hug. Why hug the ground? Well, consider what it does. Not only does the ground support our weight, keeping us from sinking to the center of the earth, it sustains us. As I have in the past, I propose a new holiday, Ground Hug Day. We already have Earth Day which promotes conservation and the environment. We have tree huggers why not ground huggers? This would be a day to celebrate the ground, from a speck to a clod. Better yet we would celebrate soil, that part of the earth’s skin which can produce life. If it weren’t for soil we wouldn’t have most plants and without plants we wouldn’t have food, oxygen, fuel, shelter, clothing, transportation, medicine, furniture or even Popsicle sticks. In short, we wouldn’t be.

 

On Ground Hug Day we would be encouraged to get out and look at, feel and smell the soil. It would be a day to dig up some soil samples and send them off to be analyzed so we would know what amendments to add to improve it. All the dignitaries could gather with those golden shovels they use for ground breaking ceremonies and dig up a patch of dirt, toss it up in the air to the cheers of bystanders. Little children would be encouraged to make mud pies. Little boys would be excused from bathing. You could wear the dirt under your fingernails with pride. Farmers would get a paid day off. Schools would close so the children could join the parades.

 

A parade of plows, cultivators, and excavating equipment would be held. Groups of gardeners with shovels and trowels could march. Ranks of rototillers decked out with crepe paper and plastic mulch would compete to see who had the prettiest machine. Dirt lovers would crowd the curbs to see all the excitement. Groups of people could organize around their favorite soil constituents, sand, clay, silt or humus.

 

On May 16th, 9am to 1pm the OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, Pickaway County, will hold our annual Plant Sale at the library parking lot on N. Court St. It is a good opportunity to purchase some varieties of plants not always available commercially. It is also a good time and will get you in the mood to start planting if you haven't already been so motivated. Also our Helpline can be reached by calling 474-7534. A local master gardener will get back to you.

 

June 10^th the OSU Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, Pickaway County, will hold its third annual Founders Day Celebration. It’s free and the public is invited. The topic is “Lawns and Lawn Alternatives.” The speaker will be Cheryl Harner. Her blog “The Weedpickers Journal” is at www.cherylharner.blogspot.com. Cheryl is a frequent public speaker, has lead the Greater Mohican Audubon Society, Richland County Master Gardeners and the Ohio Ornithological Society. She is also the co-founder of Flora Quest, a botanical eco-tourism adventure. The program begins at 7pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, Noecker Hall on E. Mound St. Circleville.

 

Things to do in the garden:

 

If you haven't already, this month you can direct-seed corn, beans, potatoes, melons, cucumbers and squash. Those last three are usually planted in "hills" in groups of three or four plants. Place cheesecloth or row cover cloth over them until they are lifted up by the growing vines. With any luck you will have prevented the cucumber beetles from invading the plants.

 

You can set out tomato, pepper and eggplant plants. There is still a chance of frost but as we go through the month the chances become less and less. Be prepared to cover those tender plants if frost threatens. Don't be tempted to overfertilize tomatoes, extra nitrogen will delay ripening and produce more vine than fruit. Remember tomatoes can be planted deep in trenches with the top few branches of leaves above ground. Roots will form along the buried stem. If you stake your tomatoes put the stakes in before you plant to avoid damaging those new tender roots.

 

Harden off the houseplants you plan to put outside for the summer. A period of transitioning to the new environment will help assure their health and vigor.

 

You can divide and move perennials. As the soil warms (50 degrees) you can plant summer-flowering bulbs such as caladiums, cannas, dahlias, and gladioluses. Some start them earlier indoors to get a head start.

 

You can begin spraying roses for black spot following the directions on the product.

 

Cut the seed pods off your lilacs, but do not prune the stems. If your lilacs are getting overgrown and leggy, cut the stems at the ground. Do this to a third of the stems this year, a third next year and the final third the year after that. This way you will rejuvenate the bushes.

 

Thin apples, peaches and other tree fruit (not cherries) to a fruit every six inches. Remember "June drop." It is a time when fruit trees rid themselves of excess fruit which the tree cannot support. This is a natural process.

 

Mulch your beds after the soil has warmed. When you set out those tender plants protect against cutworms that can wreak havoc on new transplants. Use collars of aluminum foil, plastic, cardboard or other material to encircle the stem. The collars should extend into the soil an inch and above an inch or two. These are cultural practices and there are pesticides that can help control these pests (Google "cutworms extension"), however collars will protect your plants immediately.

 

This is a busy time for pollinators. When you spot a bug identify it before reaching for the spray. Fully 97% of the bugs in our gardens are beneficial. Singular bugs are almost always beneficial. Crowds are often pests. Know your enemy!

 

Now is a good time to get rid of invasive and harmful plants. Poison hemlock is very poisonous and a biennial. In its first year it is a rosette with basal leaves that are bluish green, deeply cut parsley-like leaflets that have sharp points. Second year plants have hairless stems bright green to bluish green with obvious purple blotches. Mowing and tilling are partial controls. Post