CHAPTER SEVEN: THE GREAT CANOPY OF LONDON’S SKIES; GETTING OLDER IN GREENWICH & GARDEN-STROLLING AT HAMPTON COURT PALACE.
Here’s the link–
Happy Holidays, and Best Wishes- Nan
2012 – Happy Holidays
Ashland’s Pioneer Hall
Ashland Community Center
Garlands made by Ashland Garden Club
photos by Jeanne Arago
2012 November Horticultural Report: Firewise Plants
The Ashland Fire Dept is asking residents to seriously consider planting fire resistant plants around their house and property to reduce fire hazards. They are advising homeowners to remove all plants they consider fire hazards and in their place plant firewise plants.
For more information, and to schedule a free wildfire safety home assessment call: Ali True, Ashland Firewise Community Coordinator at 541-552-2231.
Junipers are especially combustible! This drought tolerant ground cover is planted around so many homes in our area the City is requesting they be cleared back 50 feet away from a any structure
Also, the Oregon State University Extension Service has a list of recommended fire-resistant plants which you can obtain from Valley View Nursery, or you can download it here: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/sorec/sites/default/files/fire-resistant_planting_wd_2011.pdf
The following is a short list of recommended firewise plants:
Ground Covers:
Kinnikinnick and Creeping Oregon Grape both look good year round and prefer sun or part sun. For shady areas, plant Japanese Pachysandra.
Perennials:
Firewise perennials plants: Yarrow (note: can spread), Cone flower, Iris, Oriental poppy , Russian sage, Lamb’s ear, and Cranesbill.
Shrubs:
Burning bush, Rockrose, Ferns, Witch Hazel, Heavenly Bamboo, False Holly, Pieris, Potentilla Fruticosa, Rosa Rugosa, Lilac, Viburnums, Sweetspire and Cotoneaster.
Regina, at Ray’s Nursery, highly recommends the following plants because they are not only fire-resistant, they are very attractive, easy to grow and deer resistant.
Cotoneaster Dammeri
Plant Type: Evergreen, groundcover, shrub
Size: 2ft tall 6ft wide
Bloom Time: Late Spring
Flowers: White
Exposure: Full sun
Attributes: Fall color & red berries, Deer resistant, Attracts Birds, drought tolerant once established. Grows fast.
USDA Zone: 5-8
Itea Virginica (Little Henry Sweetspire)
Plant Type: Deciduous Shrub
Size: 2 ft High 3ft Wide
Bloom Time: June – July
Flowers: Fragrant white sprays
Exposure: Part to full sun
Attributes: Attracts butterflies, Bright red fall foliage, Deer resistant, North America Native. Needs moist soil.
USDA Zone: 5-9
Horticultural Report by: Mary Anne Wallace
Article written by: Carlotta Lucas
Nan Quick’s Travel Diary: Chapter Six
CONTEMPLATING THE GENIUS OF PLACE, & THE PLACES OF GENIUSES– Liverpool (Gormley, McCartney, Lennon) ; The Ruins at Witley Court ; Chawton ( Jane Austen’s House).
Here’s the link:
Best- Nan
Nan Quick’s Travel Diary: Chapter Five
MAJOR RAMBLINGS ACROSS THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE–
Stowe Landscape Gardens; Hidcote Manor Garden; Severn Valley Railway.
Here’s the link
…hope you enjoy my wanderings.
Best- Nan
Garlands: 2012
November 15th 2012: This morning the garland construction and “hanging” went well with 19 members participating. Our friends, Dave and Andrew, from the Ashland Parks Dept. were very patient with us during the placement of the garlands on the outside of the Community Building and Pioneer Hall as they heard multiple instructions from the sidelines. But, we all agreed in the end and the final addition of the new red velvet bows made by Darlene Fenwick added the perfect touch. The garlands will be up until January 7th, so we decided to forgo the embellishment with red berries. The berries just don’t stay fresh looking for very long, so we decided to just used pine cones this year. We finished up around noon and the weather stayed dry and sunny, for a change. It was a good day!!! (Last year, we had to cut the greens at Pioneer Hall because the community center porch was being painted so we couldn’t hang the garlands until Friday.) No such problem this year.
Jeanne Arago
Photos by: Barbara Bauer