http://statebystategardening.com/al/blog_02_summary/ en coverings@bham.rr.com Copyright 2012 2012-03-28T22:39:45+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/april_plant_sale_and_garden_classes/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/april_plant_sale_and_garden_classes/   Two big things I am involved with this spring:   My co-blogger Arnie Rutkis and I are working hard on planning the second annual Native Plant Sale at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve. Ruffner Mountain is near and dear to my heart. I live nearby and I like to think my yard is an extension of the mountain. Planting native plants in my yard helps me to attract wildlife and have the feeling of being in the nature preserve all of the time. What a wonderful thing it is to walk out of my door and see birds and butterflies buzzing around my favorite plants from the mountain. On the other side of the mountain in Irondale is where Arnie is growing the plants in his back yard to be sold at the Ruffner Mountain Sale. He owns Stoneshovel, a landscape design business, and a native plant nursery.       Ruffner Mountain Native Plant Sale and Celebrate Urban Birds   Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve and Birmingham Audubon Society are getting together to Grow Native and Celebrate Urban Birds for the Ruffner Mountain Native Plant Sale on Saturday, April 14th from 9AM to 3PM.    Birds are a familiar and welcome sight to city dwellers and are like old friends. As spring blossoms and tender leaves emerge, our feathered friends accompany the seasonal transition with song and dance. Gardeners are soon to join in with a percussive clamor of gardening tools as they prep the soil for new plantings.    Come to Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve to buy beautiful native plants and to learn of their importance to birds, insects, and other wildlife. Join us for a fun filled day of art, science, bird watching, games, gardening, and celebration of urban birds. Learn how to become a citizen scientist and a backyard conservationist by creating a wildlife habitat, observing birds in your neighborhood, and sending the data to scientists at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Creating a wildlife habitat or haven for birds is simple and requires you to provide 4 things -- food, water, cover, and a place to rear their young. By planting native plants in your yard, you will accomplish 3 of the 4. Birmingham Audubon Society and local native plant experts will teach you how to provide all of the above with educational and fun activities during the second annual Ruffner Mountain Native Plant Sale. This event is free, open to the public, and will be fun for families and people of all ages. Plant material provided by Stoneshovel. Proceeds from plant sales will benefit Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve, environmental education, and the propagation of native plants for future restoration projects.   Learn how our lifestyles and everyday choices seriously impact whatever habitat birds find in the city. Whether you live close to a park, have a yard, or only a balcony, by observing how birds survive in such close proximity to humans, you'll be helping researchers learn more about how well America's urban birds are doing on a local level.     Urban birds rely on the seeds, berries, and insects native plants provide, so it only makes sense that if we plant native plants in our urban landscapes, we will have plenty of resident birds and probably a few migratory birds as well! Create a habitat garden. Even in the midst of the concrete and congestion of the city, your urban oasis will connect you to nature and reward you with a glimpse into the natural world and into the lives of birds. Their presence in our lives is truly something to celebrate!   Activities to include:   Bird Hikes: throughout the day Bird Counts: throughout the day GIFTED Children's Art Exhibit: judging to take place at the festival Water Feature Project Station: hand decorated project for kids Binocular Station: how to use them and purchasing advice Native Plant Seminar: plant experts will present a session on which plants attract native birds to your backyard Computer Station: demonstration on how to submit their data from their own backyards into the Celebrate Urban Birds web site Microscope Station: feathers and eggs Activity Table: bird color pages and crafts       Now, the other big thing:   I am teaching a twelve session garden class, GardenPlay, beginning on April 11 and ending in June. The course will be taught on Wednesday nights and in the beautiful courtyard of the ArtPlay house in Birmingham. There will be field trips to Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve and Railroad Park. ArtPlay is an education and outreach initiative of UAB's Alys Stephens Center. I can't wait to teach at this oh so cool house! To register for classes, click here.   Here is an outline of the course:   Gardens are plots of nature designed and arranged according to the needs of humankind, shaped by traditions and borrowed customs. They are symbols of world cultures, rituals and mythologies, and mark our relationship with the land over time. Gardens are extensions of our homes, restful spaces, cultivated paradises providing a sense of place and identity. Gardens nurture the mind, body and soul. They help connect us to the natural world, to our neighbors, and to ourselves.    In this GardenPlay series, we will explore the close relationship between gardens and the arts by taking a brief look at the origin of the garden, how garden philosophies have evolved, and the largely lost reverence for natural spaces. We will spend the remainder of our time learning how to get back in touch with our folkloric roots and revive the connection to art and nature. If you have a yard, a patio, the smallest of yards, or you live where there is only a balcony, there is opportunity for you to learn how to design and plant a garden, to let your garden become an expression of self, a creative outlet, a tranquil respite, a haven for wildlife, or a potager for cooking.      GardenPlay - 12 Session Course   1 – Introduction to GardenPlay + why do we garden? – a brief history + the world of garden trends + elements of style + pocket gardening + overview of project in the ArtPlay garden 2 – Herb Garden + the potager + plant an herb garden in a trough planter in the ArtPlay garden + make herb butter (to eat with bread during class), make a bouquet garni to take home 3 – Field Trip Saturday - Native Grasses + how to use native grasses in the garden + plant grasses of varying heights in a trough planter in the ArtPlay garden + field trip to Railroad Park 4 – Native Vines + how to use vines  + build a trellis with rebar, copper wire, and found objects + plant vines to be trained on trellis in ArtPlay garden 5 – Water Harvesting + slideshow + install rain barrels in the ArtPlay garden 6 – Garden Art + slideshow + install a bottle tree in the ArtPlay garden  7 – Vegetable Gardening in a Pocket Garden  + guest Kelly Smith from Bonnie Plants + plant vegetables in a trough planter in the ArtPlay garden 8 – Gardening for Nature + slideshow + install a bird feeder and a birdbath in the ArtPlay garden + plant butterfly nectar source and host plants in a trough planter in the ArtPlay garden 9 – Succulents + slideshow + plant succulents in a trough planter in the ArtPlay garden 10 - Field Trip Saturday – Native Plants + field trip to Eastern Health Center EcoScape, EcoFarm, and Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve + putting nature back into the landscape + discuss rain garden and bioswales + plant a native tree at the RMNP 11 – Rain Gardens + install a small rain garden in the ArtPlay garden 12 – Take it Home + overview of course + elements of style + draw and share ideas to take home and implement in the garden               2012-03-28T21:39:45+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/a_lazy_winter/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/a_lazy_winter/   I am a lazy gardener, especially in the winter. I haven't clipped or cleaned up any of the dead foliage or stems. I don't mind the look either. For me, it comes pretty natural to take the easy way out and do nothing. Come to think of it, it is easy for me to take the "do nothing" approach indoors as well. During this time of year, I feel like hibernating. I have work to do, clients to meet, bills to pay, but I don't want to do any of it. I just want to curl up on the sofa (or on the floor chasing the sun around like my dog), read, watch movies, look at magazines, draw and write in my idea journal. I want to live in my imagination and become a hermit. What is wrong with being reclusive? Well, a lot is wrong with it, unless I was Emily Dickinson. If I had the writing talent to go along with the tendency for nature loving and imagination dwelling, my reclusiveness would be acceptable.        The positive and the negative aspect of working from home is the lack of structure a conventional job provides. Sometimes I work for many bosses and for more hours than I care too. Other times work is slow, allowing me to pursue my own projects. When the laziness sets in, I rationalize and say to myself that I need the rest because of how hard I worked in the previous month. I get sidelined with this thought. The garden gets neglected as well as other household chores. I am so easily distracted when I decide to get back to work.    There are three times during a workday when I am most distracted:    1) I get up in the morning to get my coffee and I look up through the skylight.    Birds! Cedar waxwings are here! Bob, come quick and bring your camera! I love how those birds look like ancient Egyptians with their kohl eyeliner.    2) Then there is my commute to the studio behind the house.    Oh, it is so warm out here on this January day. I love the look of dead plants almost as much as live ones. And look how cute that bird is landing on the grass. And funny how the grass topples over from the weight of the bird and then springs back up when the bird flies away. Aw, the Sedums are so cute in their dormant form. Do I hear a hawk?   3) I come back in the house to pay some bills and do other paperwork in my husband's home office with its wall of windows overlooking the hill we live on.    Oh, look at that woodpecker. Isn't that a cute little brown-headed nuthatch? The bluebird is eating the hackberries! I think I need to go refill the bird feeder and make some more suet.       With few flying insects around in January, birds turn to berries and seeds for their food source. The hackberry tree's limbs are alive with fruit eating cedar waxwings, Eastern bluebirds, tufted titmice, and robins, while the trunk keeps the woodpeckers and the nuthatches busy hunting insects in retreat. The ground is crawling with dark-eyed juncos, rufous-sided towhees, and brown thrashers. In the grasses and dead or dormant winter bones of the garden are seed eating sparrows, finches, and warblers. Up in the sky circling and ascending thermals are red-tailed, Cooper's, and sharp-shinned hawks. I like to imagine what it must feel like to soar high above the open winter landscape.    So, go ahead, be lazy this winter. The birds will love you for it. Well, they might not love you, but they will love your garden or what is still standing in your garden... if you are lazy.                   2012-01-19T14:44:08+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/unpaving_the_parking_lot_-_part_2/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/unpaving_the_parking_lot_-_part_2/ The story continues.  The next steps were to put those materials on the site to use.  The granite curbing inspired me to create a series of benches, some 9 feet in length around the site. Each base was a new problem to solve.   Gravel is important to this site as we wanted a permeable layer of material that would be workable yet yet pack down when we needed it to.  A base layer of  crushed limestone then a topcoat of crush and run will pack down firmly and still crunch under foot as its walked upon.  The paths all drain into the bio-swale as well so the gravel can help to filter storm water runoff.  The gravel drains well but also herbs and many other plants like the fast drainage and mineral content of the stone.  Vulcan materials up the street kindly donated our gravel. The pond is near complete and a surround of recycled brick has been installed by Martha Parson and her crew.    In the background an artistic fence created by Fonde Tyalor will act as a partial screen and backdrop for the rose garden, a border of antique and heirloom roses purchased from Petals from the past.  A floral mosaic was installed within the water feature and the sounds of water help soften the urban character of the location.   I had held off planting as long as i could as the weather was particularly hot.  Care was taken to mix soils with a rich organic compost to help sustain plantings.  This garden functions as a garden with beautiful flowering perennials herb shrubs and trees but the main purpose is to help increase awareness for visitors of a variety of topics. With that in mind distinct garden areas were created.  I already mentioned the rose garden which has many more rose companions throughout the scape.  Roses have a long history with the majority being from Asia though we have some native to the U.S.  Rosa palustris or swamp rose is planted in the bioswale.  It is tolerant of wet conditions grows to approximately 8 feet tall in a well formed vase shape and produces fragrant pink blooms in late spring through early summer.  Mayor Tuck is very fond of roses and wanted to share her interest with garden visitors.  A native medicinal herb garden greets visitors at the back entrance.  Plants like wild quinine, Parthenium integrifolium which have a history of use as a medicinal druing World war I when supplies of quinine were low also have an attractive white bloom which brings a variety of insect visitors to the garden as well.  Echinacea purperea is widely used as a general tonic and immune builder.  Purple coneflower is one of the longest lasting bloomers in the perennial border.  As you may be noticing the native medicinals also have other benefits as habitat plants for nectar loving bees, wasps and beetles not to mention the flying artworks of butterflies and moths.   The butterfly garden is across the path and i tried to focus on some differnet plants here.  Hyssop leaved boneset, eupatorium hyssopifilium is a clump forming perennial that is a great meadow plant or specimen for the back of a border.  Large flower heads made up of many smaller florets grows from 1-3 feet tall and is drought tolerant once estsablished.  Have been growing this at my nursery and was amzed at the long lasting blooms.  Asters, liatris and Asclepias tuberosa or butterfly weed fill out this area.  Nearby oak trees lead you into the woodland garden where mounds of earth are populated by the plants of Alabama forests, plants such as american beautyberry, Heuchera americans, native azaleas phloxes, scarlet buckeyes and one of my favorite native grasses, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum or simply, wood oats. 2011-12-07T22:05:16+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/un_paving_the_parking_lot_to_plant_some_paradise/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/un_paving_the_parking_lot_to_plant_some_paradise/   Unpaving the urban landscape is becoming more popular but also more practical helping to create calming and beautiful spaces re oxygenating the atmosphere, helping recharge stormwater these are only a few of the more important benefits urban green spaces can perform.  Below is a story of just such a project. Every story has a beginning though sometimes it is an ending from another story or history.  From post war to the modern day our counrty has been changing rapidly and with great effect on us and the plants and animals we share the planet with.  The city grows and land is used and re used many times over.  More time spent in doors has led to problems like obesity and a sloth of the imagination.  The green space within a city defines how the city thinks.  Not only of its greenspace but of the living beings that occupy it.  It may be impossible to heal all ills with a garden but the sound of running water and scent of herbs has documented calming effects.  Why create gardens in the middle of a city you might ask?  If we leave the built environment of the past for ‘greener pastures’ we are creating dead spaces in our urban environment and within the greater context of the world.  The suburbs create even more waste in terms of commuting, over extending our power grids and sewer systems. This has many ill effects and not being a sociologist or any other ologist I will stick to what I know and that is working with the earth.  Above is a picture of an old commercial space that once occupied by two businesses and now is only remnant.  It is within a historical district of a town called Tarrant.  The City of Tarrant along with Mayor Tuck and Fire Cheif Hewitt have a vision of re creating their town center.  A collection of false front buildings made of brick, stucco and even stone adorn the area.  Not far away is Five mile creek which winds through the area and is part fo Tarrants watershed.  So the bones of the idea were there.  These green corridors exist all around the Birmingham metro area and are reminders of the natures path in the mdist of our developments.   Born of the steel industry heyday in Birmingham, Tarrant still has connections to its industrial past but is also a victim of urban sprawl. Infusing some new life into the old town is what we all had in mind.  Removing the old concrete has many benefits it removes an eyesore and makes way for a new landscape, it also changes the way water will behave in this area as we will install a garden that functions and is aesthetic.  Heat is also trapped in concrete and asphalt contributing to heat island effects.  Planting what was once a parking lot with trees shrubs and perennials will help mitigate this somewhat. An excavator making quick work of the job.       Once cleared planning and installation can move forward, a water feature is marked out and materials begin arriving.  One of the main goals is to create a quiet space within the city center for relaxation and passive recreation.  Herbs and native plants will be used extensively in the planting scheme.  Below granite curbstone from a streetscaping project was delivered by City trucks.  All in all about 20 tons of material was utilized.   This repurposing of materials retains some of the efforts of the past while utilizing it in new and creative ways. A semi circular seating wall is constructed from the slabs  in the hot august sun.   Chert soil makes a good base for our landscaping as it packs well  and once coated with topsoil we can add plant materials and other layers of soil or landscaping.  The red clay soil holds moisture so as a base it does double duty conserving moisture.  Also of note are the historical buildings in the background.  Several artists live in the area. The pond and seating wall  here a bubbling fountain will be visible from the road and sidewalks inviting visitors to stop and stay a while.   This image is a contrast of materials and also time space continuums.  In art it is common practice to take one thing and another and create something entirely unique from those disparate elements, the mixing of materials and choices, accidents but also being open to the possibilities within a situation, are all part of the equation but sometimes the solution turns out to be more than was expected.   End part1 2011-11-10T02:59:01+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/fall_flower_power/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/fall_flower_power/   This fall's flower power is spectacular, and it is the good ol' Alabama native plants that are putting on the show. Purple, pink, blue, white, gold, and yellow flowers are blooming everywhere, especially on the road sides, the edges of the fields, deep into the woods, and wow, all over my garden. These beautiful plants are under-appreciated and underused by gardeners but not by the insects that seek them out. Where there are insects, there are birds. Fall is a feeding frenzy for migratory birds as they are flying over the state, dropping down for a bite to eat, building up energy and fat reserves to make the long flight down to the southern US, or across the gulf to Mexico, to Central or South America for the winter. Without enough insects, seeds, and nectar, the birds will not be able to make their destinations. Fall season plants offer the perfect combo platter for insects, birds, as well as other critters preparing for winter. Don't take for granted the wildlife uses and importance of the seemingly common roadside plants. Plant them in your gardens!                Fall wildflowers, grasses, and shrubs that are quite showy this time of year include:  false foxglove (Agalinus), wild ageratum (Conoclinium or Eupatorium), frostweed or white wingstem (Verbesina), wild Asters (Symphyotrichum), blazing star (Liatris), goldenrod  (Solidago), wild Lobelias, Silphium, boneset and thouroghwort (Eupatorium), pink Muly grass  (Muhlenbergia capillaris), Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), sumac (Rhus)     The parking lot median at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve may look a little messy, but hey, it is a nature preserve not a botanical garden. It is throughout the messy median where local birders spot many birds. The area has plenty of seeds, bugs, and cover. I would not want to take that away. Besides, I like to have at least one spot in a garden that is not in order. You can't control everything and why would you want to? Let an area be unkept to remind you that disorder is not always a bad thing. Observe what happens in that area and you will feel amazingly good about it.       When we designed and installed the gardens at Ruffner Mountain, our focus was on adding the natural functions back into the landscape and restoring the land disturbed during the building of the new Nature Center. It was a collaborative process involving expert to novice gardeners, educators and native plant enthusiasts who had an interest in improving the relationship between the building and the land. We all had the common goal to enhance the campus and turn it into an integrated environmental education garden. The idea was to add functional and educational components to the landscape by developing areas that mimic the mountain's plant communities and their conditions. Using rocks excavated during construction, we mimicked the rock formations of the mountain. Landscape designer Arnold Rutkis designed and installed creek bed systems to take care of rainwater runoff. Volunteers followed by site harvesting and planting native plants. Donated mulch and compost completed the first phase of the project. In a second phase, a rain garden was installed and planted by using the same methods.      By planting rain gardens and by harvesting our rain water, we are addressing urban issues of water runoff, and teaching visitors how to be water wise. Every volunteer and visitor, regardless of their knowledge and expertise, learns something about the environment and walks away with the knowledge of what they can do to help protect it.          This fall we are maintaining the gardens by harvesting and spreading seeds from the previous year's bounty, and by weeding and mulching. The gardens in turn continues to plant the seeds of encouragement for others to develop their own landscapes in tune with the surrounding natural environment.    After working in the Ruffner Mountain gardens this year, I learned that if self-seeding plants take up residence in undesired places, I shouldn't remove them. I should just move them to another spot. Fall is a good time to think about where you would like to see these flowers in your garden next year. I never deadhead my garden's flowers during the summer. Instead, I let my plants go to seed so I may attract birds to the garden, and so that I may collect and sow the seeds to have more of the plants for the next season. It is seed moving time.    This spring I noticed a lot of volunteer wild asters in my side yard. I started to move them into more desirable places, but because I was so busy at the Ruffner Mountain gardens, I missed the opportunity to move them all. So I left them to grow. All summer long they looked weedy and unkept, but I knew if I left them where they were, they would look incredible come October when I like to sit out in the side yard. In November I will be able to harvest a bag of seeds from them to sow wherever I want. I want Asters in my front yard, in the back yard, in the rain garden, and in the meadow. I am going to need a lot of seeds. Maybe next year my garden will look better than it did this year. I know it will look good in the fall anyway.         Meanwhile, the gardens at Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve are looking incredible.               2011-10-13T09:28:27+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/the_useful_yard/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/the_useful_yard/   I have never understood lawn obsession. I can go a little further and declare -- I really hate big expansive lawns. The only places I want to see green turf grasses planted in mass are recreation parks, ball fields and golf courses. Come to think of it, I don't really like golf courses either if they are located in regions where green turf grass doesn't belong. A good example is the Southwest desert landscape, where water is scarce. I am drawing the distinction between turf grass and native grass because I love a good native midwestern grassland, a pretty oak or longleaf pine savannah of the South, or a flower/grass meadow planted anywhere.    Railroad Park in Birmingham is a great example of how to use turf grass.   The park also features native grass meadows.     I think this feeling of disdain hit me when I was 11 years old and my parents bought a house with the biggest yard I have ever seen up to that point. My father thought he had a full service lawn crew in his four children and quickly put us all to work. We each had a square to mow. Sometimes I didn't mind walking 'round and 'round like a zombie. It gave me a chance to ponder, but most of my mowing time was spent thinking about how much I hated grass. My most challenging thought was to figure out the most efficient mowing pattern to quickly finish the task so I could go jump in the lake.        As I grew up, I learned of many other reasons to hate lawns and now that I am an older and wiser 46 years of age, I think I can tell you with certainty that large residential lawns are no good. They are not useful to anybody or anything -- oh, except the landscape business (sorry, my brother).    Turf grass is a high maintenance crop. Seed it, sod it, soak it, weed it, feed it, mow it, edge it, trim it, blow it, bag it, and then repeat. While doing all of that, you hurt your ears and your lungs by running the gas machines, spew pollutants in the air, send pollutants downhill into a stream or creek, annoy your neighbors with noise, and waist valuable time that could be spent doing fun and more important things. What benefits do we gain from this practice? What is it good for? Absolutely nothing! -- say it again.   Usually, the front yard is the sunniest and most open spot on our property. Why do we devote this most valuable space to turf grass? A perception of curb appeal? Because there is an ordinance to look a particular way? To impress our neighbors? Are we still hardwired to believe a large lawn is a sign of wealth and prosperity? We could easily change our perceptions, our actions, and change our landscapes to be more useful to the overall health and ecology of the land.      I think it is great my parents had the vision early on to plant huge borders around their property. They planted native trees and shrubs to provide privacy, shade and also to create a haven for birds. Now, with large areas cut in and mulched, the grass is minimal and the yard is useful to them as well as to the wildlife it supports. I think my parents also helped start a trend with their neighbors. Most people along their street have planned their landscape in this fashion. I might add these plantings did not take place in time to get me out of mowing the lawn, and the mowing was replaced with having to water the trees but I can now appreciate the yard work. I guess it built character and turned me into the nature enthusiast I am today.       If gardening for the benefit of wildlife is not your priority, then use your yard in a way that will be beneficial to you, your health, and your well being. A mix of flowering plants, vegetables, and herbs provide nourishment for the mind, body and soul. Flowers are pleasing to the eye, herbs smell delightful and they help relieve stress. Stop and smell the roses -- and the rosemary! Vegetables feed us, help us make friends with neighbors as we share. They save us money, gas and time if we are not having to go buy them at the grocery store.   One of the neighbor's yards is a good mix of native, non native and herbs.     Kelly Smith lives in my neighborhood. As I take my daily walk by her garden, I stop, stare, and admire that she has planted an edible garden in her front yard. It has symmetry, color, texture, and it is bountiful. Kelly works as a marketing and communications producer for Bonnie Plants, a national wholesale company based right here in Alabama. She is a regular contributer to the Bonnie Plant Blog. The blog shares a good variety of garden information with the eco-friendly gardener in mind. http://blogs.bonnieplants.com/         Now, instead of mowing the lawn, watch this funny but so true video.       When you don't have grass to mow, you can sit and relax, and enjoy your garden.     2011-08-26T20:26:28+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/drought_tolerant_and_water_wise/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/drought_tolerant_and_water_wise/   We have experienced quite a bit of rain over the last couple of weeks but the dry period we had a couple of weeks prior seemed like a drought with no end. I remember wishing for all of my plants to be drought tolerant so I wouldn't have to water (the few that aren't) every day. Even the rain barrels were dry. Even though technically we are still in a drought cycle, right now the garden is almost soggy. It has been raining every afternoon. Welcome to Alabama. We get 56 inches of rainfall annually but we never really know when we are going to get it. Usually dry in the autumn, wetter in the winter and spring, we have long hot summers with sporadic afternoon showers, and sometimes with long periods of drought. Some year's droughts are worse than others. It's amazing how quickly we forget how extremely dry it can be until we are in the middle of the weather trend. During a drought, we long for rain and regret we did nothing to prepare for its effects. When we receive plentiful rains, we are thankful the garden gets a good watering but then complain when the rainfall exceeds our expectations. Too much rain can cause problems for our yards, our homes, our municipalities. We complain but do not think about harvesting and saving the water for later use. We do not remember that drought is sure to follow.        Alabama is rich with lakes, ponds, wetlands, estuaries, rivers and streams. Because of the abundant water resources and the fact we get so much rainfall, it seems we have a limitless supply of water for drinking and irrigation, and that there is no need for conserving or harvesting rainwater. As human populations grow and urban and suburban developments spread throughout the state, the need for water use grows and the limitations on available fresh clean water become evident. When land is developed and covered with concrete and asphalt, rain runoff flows across the hard surfaces picking up pollutants as it goes, transporting the contaminants into the body of water in which it flows. If large areas are covered with hard surface materials, it is difficult for water to soak in and recharge groundwater and aquifers. Instead, runoff becomes a fast moving destructive force and causes erosion problems downhill.           Clean water is needed by all living creatures. We humans should vow to be better stewards of the good Earth's clean water resources. A gardener can make an impact here. Through conservative use of water and elimination of pollutants (like lawn fertilizers), we can change a few gardening practices to help insure the protection and care of the watersheds and keep the fresh water flowing.          Watersheds by definition are areas of land divided by high points that shed water into a common drainage or outlet. Watersheds in their natural state are most effective at capturing, filtering, and diverting water. This natural multi-layered system collects, stores, processes, and transports water, energy, sediments, nutrients, and life to deliver fresh clean water to the streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, estuaries, and ultimately the sea. All of these areas are important habitats for Alabama's diverse native plant and animal populations. Ranked 5th in overall biodiversity, much of the diversity in species are living in these ecosystems.        We all live in some kind of watershed whether it is in a more natural state or made of concrete and asphalt. To do my part in helping to protect the watershed I live in, I terraced my sloping front yard a bit and dug a rain garden. I use rain barrels at downspouts around the house to minimize runoff. One downspout is left open to flow through a concrete channel along the side of the house and into the front yard, where it empties into the rain garden. A rain garden is essentially a miniature watershed. I tried my best to mimic a natural watershed by digging a curved depression and planting it with rocks of various sizes to help slow water flow. The soil that was dug out to form the depression was piled onto the sides to form the berm. I planted all native plants but a few non natives have volunteered. Planting good old Alabama native plants that are acclimated to the Alabama weather conditions will insure success. The plants were planted according to their water needs (high on the berm for dry/low in the depression for wet), making all of the plants "drought tolerant." This type of garden is a natural functioning irrigation system. I seldom have to water.       Installing a rain garden makes you an eco-friendly, water conservative, time saving, habitat creating, native plant conservationist!   Rain Garden Benefits   filter runoff pollution recharge local groundwater conserve water improve water quality protect rivers and streams remove standing water in your yard reduce mosquito breeding increase beneficial insects that eliminate pest insects reduce potential of home flooding create habitat for birds & butterflies survive drought seasons reduce garden maintenance enhance sidewalk appeal increase garden enjoyment   2011-07-13T18:44:36+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/notes_on_being_water_wise/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/notes_on_being_water_wise/   Notes on being water wise-  After the period of drought we have just experienced it is very evident that our climate is not a static thing but a changeable mercurial force that shapes the world we live in.  To assume that it is and will always be constant is to live with blinders on.  Our ability to adapt to change is our best asset and one we can tap into when thinking about how we interact with the land.  What we do has an affect.  I plant a Spicebush and Spicebush Swallowtail lay their eggs on the leaves and a cycle is created.  It can be that simple, re claiming space for species we displace.  The same is true when gardening in general.  We do not always have to install irrigation systems that will drain our aquifers we can create a garden that makes good use of the site characteristics and takes advantage of the plants innate qualities to withstand drought or sit in heavy wet soils .  Native plants whether they be local, statewide or regional are better adapted to our climate, play crucial roles in our native food chains and are therefore always a better choice than non natives.  Below I will use several projects to talk about making water wise choices for our gardens plants we can use in a variety of locations and some techniques for addressing stormwater on your land.  This is only the tip of the iceberg there will be more articles to follow.  Above is the finished rain garden at Ruffner Mountain Nature Center, stop by to see it in action or visit them online at www.ruffnermountain.org Please use this as a worksheet, if you want to assess your property you can start by drawing a simple map showing property lines and main structures.  Hopefully you can gain some insight into how I have dealt with rain gardens and create your very own water wise landscape! Naturally waterwise parts of our landscape like this bald cypress swamp illustrate several things.  Though the water is dark it is clean, there is a blanced look to the number of lily pads and bald cypress as well as other plants that live in this system and there is good biodiversity.  By choosing plants adapted to specific conditions like this we can create similar effects in our own landscapes that will help us to filter surface water and manage pollutants while creating a beautiful addition to our garden.   Identify the issues affecting your site.  Take note of the waters point(s) of entry on your property, velocity of water (generally,slow-fast)  point of exit from your property and the path(s) water takes.  Downspouts, driplines even overflow from rain barrels or A/C can be directed to your rain garden.   pictured is the Treetop visitor center at Ruffner Mt Nature Center Note the erosion occurring foreground and the lack of plantings on the slope.  There was also runoff from the roof and the upper hillside that needed to be addressed.   I was called in to create a dry creek bed system that would channel and slow the stormwater on this slope.   Rain Garden 101 Questions to ask yourself are: 1.    Will a rain garden help with my problem?   2.     How will this affect my neighbors?    3.    Are there retrictions, code limitations in my community?   4.    What do I want to see in my yard?  Flowers? Grassy lawn? Trees?     5.    How will the structure(s) I install affect how my family uses the property?   6.    Where will the rain garden best serve my garden and the surrounding landscape?        7. What is my sun exposure where I am working?   8.    Will I have to hand water plants I choose?        9.  Do I want to attract wildlife like butterflies/moths/hummingbirds with my plant choices?   Design-   There are 2 basic forms of rain gardening an intensive form which requires more structure and drainage materials and is usually used to handle high volume of water in urban settings or areas of high sensitvity.   Pictured here is an intensive swale and berm system with gravel paths large stone, logs and a series of basins that capture the water and allow it to percolate into the surrounding landscaping, passively watering the plant materials.  This is at Turkey Creek Nature Preserve in Pinson,AL   The extensive version, which is what most people will install, is acheived by creating soil berms ( mounds) to contour and thus contain the water to slowly release it which can be made to look like residential landscaping.   In the above photo the plants used are mostly perennials and grasses with thick fibrous root systems that can help soak up moisture and retain soils.  The most basic is made with berms and lawn grasses which will do an adequate job in most cases.   This rain garden was built during development of new housing and incorporates a raised bike path. Informative sign painted by Gabriela Pomplova for one of our Eco-scape gardens.  Bio-swales and rain gardens share many characteristics.   Plant choices- For sun loving spaces I choose native grasses and perennials that can tolerate a range of conditions and are readily available.  For shadier areas and wooded swales, ferns, some sedges and other woodland species.  Trees and shrubs may be utilized as specimens or en masse depening on the size of the area you are working on.  Take note of the surrounding landscape, it does not have to be an exact match but try to focus on a few plants so that there is a relationship.  This helps build a natural bridge for the critters large and small that will make your rain garden more diverse.     Here is a short list: Sunloving perennials:                                   habitat zone Asclepias incarnata/swamp milkweed                                                     basin Asclepias tuberosa/milkweed                                                                basin Baptisia australis/Wild indigo bush                                                          upland Coreopsis pulchra                                                                                upland Coreopsis lanceolata                                                                            upland Echinacea purpurea/purple coneflower                                                    upland Eupatorium fistulosum / Joe Pye weed                                                basin/upland Eupatorium perfoliatum / Boneset                                                           basin Eupatorium coelestinum / Blue mistflower                                            basin/ upland Gaillardia / Goblin Flower                                                                        upland Helianthus  angustifolius / Swamp sunflower                                          basin/upland Hibiscus mosceutus /Swamp hibiscus                                                       basin Lobelia cardinalis/Scarlet lobelia                                                               basin Lobelia siphilitica/Blue lobelia                                                                   basin Monarda didyma/Bee balm                                                                      upland Origanum vulgare/Oregano                                                                      upland Pennstemon digitalis / Pennstemon                                                           upland Phloxes                                                                                                 upland Rudbeckia/Black eyed susan                                                                     upland Salvias                                                                                                   upland Sysrinchium angustifolium / Blue eyed grass                                             basin/upland Symphiotrichum sp./ Asters                                                                   basin/upland Vernonia gigantea/tall ironweed                                                              basin/upland Shadeloving Perennials: Heuchera villosa/americana                                                                   upland Ferns (southern wood fern, christmas fern, autumn, maiden hair, sensitive fern)                                                                                                                basin/upland Chelone glabra / White turtlehead                                                       basin/upland Pycnathemum incanum/ Mountain mint                                                   upland Phloxes                                                                                              upland Monarda fistulosa/ Bee balm                                                                  upland Asarum shuttleworthii/ Gingers                                                               upland Gelseminum sempervirens/ Carolina gessamine                                       upland/basin Zizia aurea/ Golden alexander                                                               upland/basin Climbing hydrangea                                                                            basin/upland   Trees and shrubs: Aesculus pavia / Buckeye                                                                     basin/upland Amelanchier canadensis / Serviceberry                                                    basin/upland Aronia Arbutifolia / Chokeberry                                                               basin/upland Asimina triloba / Pawpaw                                                                      basin/upland Betula nigra / River birch                                                                       basin/upland Callicarpa americana /American Beautyberry                                             basin/upland Cephalanthes occidentalis / Buttonbush                                                    basin/upland Cornus amomum / Swamp dogwood                                                         basin/upland Croton alabamensis/Alabama croton                                                             upland Fraxinus pennsylvanica / Ash                                                                   basin/upland Hammamelis virginiana / Witchhazel                                                         basin/upland Hypericum Frondosum / St Johns wort                                                           upland Itea virginica / Virginia sweetspire                                                             basin/upland Morela cerifera/wax myrtle                                                                       basin/upland Nyassa sylvatica/Black gum tree                                                                   upland Oxydendreon arboreum / Sourwood                                                                upland Platanus occidentalis / Sycamore                                                                basin/upland Rhus aromatica / Fragrant sumac                                                                   upland Sambucus canadensis/ Elderberry                                                                    basin Taxodium distichum / Bald cypress                                                              basin/upland Grasses: Andropogon gerardii / Big bluestem                                                        upland Andropogon glomeratus / Bushy bluestem                                            basin/upland Carex amphibola / eastern narrowleaf sedge                                          basin/upland Carex laxiculmis / blue wood sedge                                                      basin/upland Carex Plantaginea / seersucker sedge shade                                          basin/upland Carex stricta / Tussock sedge                                                             basin/slope Chasmanthium Sessiliflorum / Wood oats                                                  upland Chasmanthium latiflolium / Upland oats                                                 basin/upland Deschampsia flexuosa / wavy hairgrass                                                    upland Eragrostis Spectabilis / Lovegrass                                                            upland Juncus effusus / Soft rush                                                                   basin/upland Panicum virgatum / Switch grass                                                              upland Schizachyrium Scoparium / Little bluestem                                                 upland Scirpus cyperinus / Wool Rush                                                                   basin       Construction basics- The elements are actually simple there is a basin to hold the water along with a containment mound or berm of soil then the entrance and exit. At Ruffner we had a parking lot with a cut in the curbing that allowed runoff to pour down the hill but with no direction the water pooled in an area that became a muddy bog.  This was meant as a pedestrian pathway so was unusable at certain times.   The solution was to cut a large basin with a bobcat or skidsteer.  The soil was then used to build up a walkway that was also the containment berm.  3 8 foot long x 9 inch draintiles were set into the path and covered with fabric and gravel creating a walkover.  We then added compost, logs, plant material and waited for rain. Use of Aggregates and other materials- Probably not the least expensive option but in most cases a very useful one is the use of stone and gravel to slow and help filter runoff.  Along a watercourse or swale the stone will help deflect water and allow it to infiltrate into the soils.  Gravel can trap some surface pollutants and act like a filter in conjunction with plant roots.  In fast moving channels use larger gravel or create a basin full of gravel while in slower moving or pooling areas fine gravel can be used.  At the exit larger stones will help limit erosion of exiting water.  I also like to utilize logs as they help channel water and with their organic nature provide habitat for macro-invertebrates and other critters like skinks, salamanders and turtles.  This can be combined with stone and compost for a natural and effective deflection system in places where there is faster flow.  Native grasses and perennials like Blue eyed grass(Sysrinchium angustifolium) work well in rain gardens. The more diverse you can make your landscape the more it will act as an oasis that helps purify water and builds a bridge between what was and is our current created environment. exiting from the rain garden water meets a combination of plants, stones, logs and compost.          Finished landscape with stone. logs, compost and many native plants some harvested from the adjacent landscape.    Below same landscape in autumn.   Compost in the form of leaf mould can be incredibly useful to cover large areas of bare soil to allow plant colonization and also soak up water that would normally runoff.  This will help retain water that would normally be running into our sewers.  1 acre of forest holds about a million gallons of water and that is quite a lot.            Closing-whether you create an entire landcape or just a small rain garden imagine it properly with natures model in mind and you will be sure to enjoy your results.       Please visit- www.stoneshovel.com for more on rain gardens and ecoscapes and a lot of other things.  I also offer native plants for sale by appointment and can send an availability list to you if interested.   Thank you   Arnold Rutkis     2011-06-13T11:05:52+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/becoming_the_ecologically_responsible_gardener/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/becoming_the_ecologically_responsible_gardener/   As human populations grow and as home and business developments spread outward from urban centers, there is subsequent harm and destruction to wildlife habitats. Destruction of habitats means wildlife populations suffer. In today's techno-savvy world, when we have so much information at our fingertips, we know there is "cause and effect" in the battle of man vs. nature. The balance of nature is out of whack. We also know "cause and effect" can work both ways. We (the gardeners) could and should learn to become ecologically responsible land stewards and help to restore the balance of nature. We should take responsibility upon ourselves to put nature back into the artificial landscape of our communities and then encourage others to do the same (I like to call this "practice and preach"). We do not have to drastically overhaul our existing gardens. We can gradually start pulling out invasive aliens; adding in more native plants; provide food, cover and water for wildlife; decrease the size of our lawns (cutting down on the use of water, harmful pesticides and fertilizers); use more natural planting schemes, all of which will help us connect to and relate to our natural surroundings. If we practice a few of these simple environmental concepts as we develop our landscapes naturally and in tune with the surrounding environment, we will contribute to healthier ecological systems and, in a bigger scheme, contribute to a far healthier habitat for future generations to inherit.       How do you connect to your natural surroundings, you ask? Well, I don't mean conform to your neighbors. Look around. Where do you live? Look past the immediate neighborhood. What is your nearest natural space? To feel a connection to that space, take a walk and observe what plants grow there, the conditions they grow in, and the wildlife the plants attract. The same situation or habitats you find in the nearby woods can be duplicated in your yard. To duplicate or mimic what you observe, you have to think of your yard as an extension of that neighboring natural space. Find a resource for the native plants and start planting your ecologically responsible natural garden. Start small and don't get too bogged down by design details just yet. Just start planting. If it is too overwhelming to start planting in the front yard, try a spot in the back.        In the blog posts to come, I will share with you (preach to you) the environmental concepts listed below and how I put them into practice in my yard.   10 things you can do to become the ecologically responsible natural gardener:   - Increase the percentage of native plants in your garden - Plant water-wise plants - Do not use invasive species in your garden - Plant in a more natural "drift and flow" planting scheme - Provide food, water, cover and places to rear young for wildlife - Reduce the amount of high maintenance lawn by at least 10% and create a border to provide a wildlife corridor - Use more pervious hardscapes to increase water absorption and reduce runoff   - Use repurposed objects as garden art - Make your own compost by recycling yard and kitchen scraps - Organize plant digs to rescue and transplant plants that would be removed from the landscape by developers   Increase the percentage of native plants in your garden   I bought $260 worth of native plants at the Ruffner Mountain Native Plant Sale. My co-blogger Arnie Rutkis grew the plants and partnered with Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve (my neighboring natural space) for the sale. I wanted to concentrate more on grasses for my meadow. I also bought a few other things to go in other beds around the yard. Most of the plants are water-wise. I am going to plant them in a "drift and flow" planting scheme in my wildlife border next to my rain garden where I pulled up the invasive species and replaced them with native alternatives. Oh wait, I am getting ahead of myself - those are future blog posts.   Some of the plants I bought: Amsonia tabernaemontana - eastern blue star Eupatorium fistulosum - Joe Pye weed   Eryngium yuccifolium - rattlesnake master Bouteoua curtipendula - sideoats grama Deschampsia flexuosa - wavy hair grass Muhlenbergia filipes - gulfhairawn mulhy  Panicum virgatum - switchgrass Panicum virgatum'shenandoah' - red switchgrass Schizachyrium scoparium 'the blues' - little bluestem Sorghastrum nutans - Indian grass Cotinus obovatus - smoke tree Hypericum sp.  Lindera benzoin - spicebush Rhus aromatica - fragrant sumac            2011-05-03T13:58:48+00:00 http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/a_native_approach/ http://statebystategardening.com/state.php/al/blog_02/a_native_approach/   A Native approach. First off i'd like to give a shameless plug to our plant sale on april 9th from 10-5pm  we will be selling native plants, some dug from the local mountain.  There will information booths, guided wildflower hikes and many perennials, grasses, trees and shrubs for all conditions, so come by to see how to help bring nature into your yard.   Living in the birmingham alabama area is great.  Within 20 minutes you can be hiking on a forested trail, riding through the woods on world class single track mountain bike trails, or plunging into the cool waters of a babbling brook.  The one drawback to living near a city is that the remnants of past and present urbanization/ indsutrialization are evident.  There are some positive efforts to re green the urban areas in the forms of community parks, urban farms and retrofitting the urban landscape with a greener footprint. ruffner rain garden and trail planted with indigenous and regional native plants.             The plant communities of the surrounding landscapes are perfect companions for these efforts.  At Ruffner mt. There are multiple examples of tough adaptable native plants that can endure the harsh conditions encountered within an urban situation.  When I discussed the idea of a plant sale with the new director Robbie Fearn and my friend Michelle we all agreed that not only would this a great place to foster awaresness of native plants, but it could grow into something that will continue to bring people and plants together in mutually benficial ways.  Ruffners biodiversity within close proximity to an urban area make it unique in that it functions as the lungs of the city while being home to a wide variety of plants and animals and insects.  We wanted to utilize some of the plants that are found throughout like Hydrangea arborescens a shade tolerant decidous shrub you can find in many places on  ruffner mountain,  the following is a sampling of the plants we will offer at the sale. Rudbeckias like R. Hirta R. triloba and R. Laciniata for dry sunny spots Euonymus americanus or hearts a bustin loves shaded spots with  rich soils         Ironweed Vernonia gigantea is attractive to a wide range of pollinators and the showy purple florets are in stark contrast to the green leaves , woodland phloxes like Phlox pilosa and Phlox divaricata provide early nectar for butterflies and bloom in shade to part sun!, Callicarpa americana or beautyberry is another you'll find along the trails at Ruffner and our sale!  switchgrasses or Panicum virgatum are good filler plants, provide forage and seed for birds and go well with our native perennials   We also have wetland species like silky willow and buttonbush Cephalanthes occidentalis a honey plant, providing good nectar also water fowl and shore birds eat its seeds woolrush Scirpus cyperinus is a wetland grass with a clumping habit and brown, rust colored seeds in late summer and fall  Joe pye weed Eupatorium fistulosum or queen of the meadow is an impressive statement.  growing to about 6-8 feet tall the pink flowerheads are always buzzing with activity  not to mention a long bloom timeand juncus Juncus effusus with narrow needlike foliage and a vigorous root system make this plant one of my favorite choices in the rain garden or for erosion control in moist areas             Plants like asters are drought tolerant have a long bloom time and draw a wide variety of pollinators. We have Symphyotrichum novae anglae or new england aster, Symphyotrichum Divaricatus woodland aster and Symphyotrichum novi belgii new york aster  They go well in combination with grasses like  Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans a tall clump forming grass good as a specimen or meadow planting.  Why a sale and why now? This winter I was recovering from a broken leg sustained in July and had some doubts about getting things together for this sale not to mention getting back on my feet with work and life in general.  With support from my friends, family and wonderful wife I have slowly worked my way back and this sale event represents a great acheviement to me.  I had time to think about what I had done and the way I have been living and gardening.  The sale became a catalyst for me to heal for a reason a purpose. It has rekindled my interest in growing native plants which up until now I had only dabbled with.  Sitting alone for hours in a chair waiting for bones to mend gave me a lot of time to think about the things that  are important to me in life.  Plants and especially native plants are to me a metaphor for the modern and antiquarian worlds that sometimes coexist and most of the time clash.  They represent a past that can disappear if we are not careful but also are everchanging and adapting in the present moment.  In choosing to grow these plants I am choosing to preserve and promote the creation of diverse pockets of flora wherever they end up.  In so doing the loss habitat of habitat due to development, urban sprawl or careless stewardship of natural resources may be mitigated some and if we can inspire a few more folks to action in the growth or promotion of these plants then the effect will be exponential. please visit my website www.stoneshovel.com or find Stoneshovel on facebook.  There is also a sale page and facebook group for the sale: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=185849558125949  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_159547994099992 2011-04-06T02:47:28+00:00