Summer 2008
Quarterly Newsletter
Earthly Elements
Whenever I look at my Stoke's Aster I think fondly of my dear friend Trudy. She & I shared the same passion for blue flowers. "Anything blue will do", she'd say & I definitely agreed. Sadly, she passed away last year and although I miss her dearly, I will always have her with me here in my garden.
One of the many unique features of this awesome plant is the fact that it's one of the FEW semi-evergreen perennials. The flowers are another unusual & fascinating highlight. They're large...up to 4"inches across. The outer rows of "petals" are jagged, & look like someone took a pair of pinking shears to them. The flower color is most commonly lavender blue, but other pastel colors are available (see photos). The best part of all is that they bloom for a LONG time. To keep them re-blooming all you have to do is keep them deadheaded.
Growing Stoke's Aster
What I've learned from growing mine is that it prefers to be on the dry side. I've seen what happens with too much water in one of my client's gardens. The leaves got funky & the flowers just didn't produce. At first I questioned whether I'd identified the plant correctly. Then we moved it to a DRIER spot and voila! It got very happy! It's also best to mulch it for the winter to prevent from alternate freezing/thawing and possible heaving, (which it's very susceptible to) and will fail to flourish. When its needs are met, Stoke's Aster is a very dependable, trouble & maintenance-free perennial.
Plant Facts
Height: 12" to 24"
Spread: 18"
Habit: Wide, mounded, spreads by suckers
Foliage: Evergreen
Flowers: Up to 4" across, the most common color is lavender blue
Blooms: July-October
Hardiness: Zones 5-10
Propagate: By division or root cuttings
Cultivars: 'Alba' (white), 'Blue Danube' (midblue), 'Mary Gregory' (pale yellow), 'Purple Parasols' (deep violet), 'Silver Moon' (pure white), 'Wyoming' (midblue)
Companions: Yarrow, Daylilies, Gay Feather, Evening Primrose, & Veronica.
I had an awesome visitor last fall...my favorite bird of prey. A RED TAIL HAWK! I have to be honest & say that, most people aren't overly thrilled when I tell them of my fascination with these birds.
All I can say, with confidence, is that I'm part Cree Indian (1/8th to be exact). I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but family bloodlines are very intricate. I inherited this from my dad. He passed away when I was 15 (1980). While I didn't get to know him as an ADULT, I did inherit HIS genes of American Indian culture!
Enough about me...this story is about RED TAIL HAWKS! Check out some facts that you may or may not know about these wonderful birds!
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Digital photo enhancement by Gregory J. Dunn
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HABITAT--The Red-tailed Hawk is widely distributed in North America. Its preferred habitat is mixed forest & field, with high bluffs or trees used as perch sites. They can tolerate a wide range of conditions. Second runner up is the Peregrine Falcon. Presently, this bird is widespread in North America, partially due to the clearing of forests in the Northeast. That clearing has created hunting areas, while the preservation of woodlots has left nesting sites. Also, the planting of NEW trees allows this hawk to expand its range by creating nest sites where there hadn't been any. The construction of highways & need for utility poles along those areas also provides perfect places for perch-hunting.
FLIGHT--In flight, this hawk soars with wings flapping as little as possible to conserve needed energy. Active flight is slow & ponderous with deep wing beats. They sometimes hover on beating wings at times appear to "kite". That means they remain stationary above ground by soaring into the wind. When soaring or flapping their wings, they can travel from 20 to 40 mph. When diving, they can reach speeds as high as 120 mph. When the Red-tailed Hawk walks on the ground, its steps are slow and awkward. It only walks while feeding on carrion. While chasing insects or snakes at ground level, it hops in energetic, erratic patterns.
DIET--Red-tailed Hawks are carnivorous & very opportunistic feeders. Their diet mainly composed of small mammals, but also includes small birds and reptiles. Their prey varies based on region & seasonal availability, but usually includes cottontails, rodents, pheasants and quail. It may also prey on waterfowl, bats, shrews, voles/moles, snakes, lizards, crustaceans, insects, & when near the waters edge, carp and catfish. The Red-tailed Hawk hunts primarily from an elevated perch site. It will swoop down from a perch, seize prey, catching birds while flying, or pursuing prey on the ground from a low flight. Prey taken can range in size from beetles to White-tailed Jackrabbits, (double the weight of most Red-tails). In winter or captivity, an average Red-tail Hawk will eat about 4 to 5 ounces of fresh meat daily. I hope this helps you, & others to understand why I WILLINGLY "Romance" & encourage RAPTORS into MY garden!
I know...I know...you've heard it all before. I'm just TRYING to remind you that consuming fruits & veggies when it's hot can help you beat dehydration. Here's the breakdown...
Lettuce contains 95% water
Watermelon has 92% water
Tomatoes are 93% water!
It will also add extra fiber to your diet & with our "fast food" lifestyles, who doesn't need more of that?
This recipe comes to us from Ms. Bernice in Canton. It's simple.....simple......simple! Be ADVENTUROUS.....choose/try the Lime Jell-O version. It's great for picnics & refreshing on a hot day!
16 oz small curd cottage cheese
20 oz can crushed pineapple (drained)
12 oz container Cool Whip OR
8 oz carton whipped cream
3 oz Lime OR Raspberry Jell-O
Mix dry Jell-O into cottage cheese. Add drained pineapple. Fold in Cool Whip or whipped cream. Refrigerate 2 - 3 hours.
Would you like some lemonade to go with that salad? This will be fun...lemons & limes are a GREAT combination! Make a pitcher of memorable lemonade by enhancing it with an HERB! Maybe you weren't aware that Rosemary has a reputation for memory enhancement, (a theory that recent research has confirmed). So, remember Rosemary for an unforgettable lemonade.
1. Place a cup of washed rosemary sprigs in a pan.
2. Cover with water, bring to a boil, then cool and strain.
3. Make your favorite lemonade, but substitute the rosemary tea (to taste) as part of the liquid.
4. Serve cold, garnished with lemon twists and rosemary sprigs.
Earthenjoy FlowerScaping L.L.C. ©2008
