The genus Lilium contains about 100 species of true lilies. But the common name "lily" has been attached to various trumpet shaped flowers. These include day lily, peace lily, water lily, calla lily, canna lily and lily of the valley.
A list of native Central Oregon lilies is available on the Deschutes Land Trust website. The List includes:
Spotted Fritillary-common name: spotted mountain bells
Columbia Lily-common names: tiger lily, Oregon lily
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| Sagebrush Mariposa Lily |
Queen's Cup-common name: bead lily
Cascade Lily-common name: Washington lily
Sagebrush Mariposa Lily-common name: green-banded lily
Check https://www.deschuteslandtrust.org for more information.
Many stories surround the history of the white lily some call the Easter Lily, others refer to it as the Madonna Lily. It has always reflected purity-"being white without and gold within." The stamens and pistils of the lilies on church altars were removed so they "remained virgin", in spite of Pliny's instructions for making them purple by soaking the bulbs in red wine.
We still have white "Easter" lilies and florists remove the stamens, partly, they claim, to prevent pollen making a mess and partly to make the gelded blooms last longer. Then we get to the truth. Our "Easter Lily", although white, is not the true Madonna lily but one of the Oriental lilies introduced in the nineteenth century.
Soon the potted Easter Lilies will be available at garden centers and you can enjoy them knowing a little history.
then along comes the bunnies and they feast too.
Maybe the most valuable heart to heart gift for Valentines Day could be a book titled 'Creating a Deer & Rabbit Proof Garden' by Peter Derano. The book features 159 deer/rabbit proof and deer/rabbit resistant plants with 400 full-color photos.
The Table of Contents includes chapters on Deer & Rabbit Proof/Resistant: Perennials, Grasses & Ferns, Bulbs, Tubers, Annuals, Vines, Ground Covers, Evergreen Trees & Shrubs, plus a list of Plants to Avoid.
The subject is another gardening puzzle to put together. Solving the puzzle requires sorting the wheat from the shaft. In our garden jargon that means selecting choices that are appropriate for our USDA Climate Zone 5.
Deer-repellent sprays perform either through a scent or taste deterrent. The scent activated deterrents last approximately five weeks and needs to be reapplied after each rainfall. The taste-activated sprays gradually start to lose their effectiveness after the spray becomes dissipated throughout the plant which generally takes a few weeks.
Distinguishing between deer and rabbit damage on plants is fairly simple to learn. Deer damage will show jagged or torn edges on the stems left behind.
Rabbit damage is a very neat, precise cut leaving no rough edges and is usually on a 45-degree angle.
A few suggestions from the book for new deer/rabbit resistant plantings might include the following:
Achillea-Fernleaf Yarrow is an interesting plant with both attractive and interesting flowers and foliage.
Echinops-Globe Thistle is for those who like the unconventional. The flowers are small individually but bloom in profusion as a sphere or globe shape. Excellent cut flower. Water-Wise selection. Perennial
Heuchera-Coral Bells. There have been so many hybrids offered in the marketplace these past few years. The plants are valued for the intense coloration of foliage. Grows best in shade or partial shade. Moderate water. Perennial.
A few annuals to consider for your hopefully deer/rabbit resistant garden would be marigolds, ageratum, cleome and geranium.
A news release from the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology in the College of Agricultural
Sciences at Oregon State University triggered the need-to-know button in my brain.
The news release involved studies being conducted at OSU involving the nutritional value of chia seeds, in addition to their ability to improve human health. The researchers identified chia genes associated with improving nutrition and pharmaceuticals that could be used to treat many conditions from cancer to high blood pressure.
Researchers are hopeful of possible growth in Oregon where they say the growing conditions are similar to their growing conditions in Mexico and Guatemala. Studies are undoubtedly being considered for the west side of the Cascades. However, with climate change being a consideration in many areas, who knows what could happen in Central Oregon.
"Now we are at the point where long-term food and nutrition security requires diversifying the human diet by breeding and making genetic improvements to nutrient-rich, so-called, minor crops like chia," said Sushma Naithani, an associate professor, senior research in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology.
The global demand for nutrient-rich so-called orphan crops such as chia, millets and yam has increased in recent years. In addition to their nutritional value, they are important because they can often grow on marginal land unsuitable for many traditional grain crops, which is an important asset considering climate change.
Remember back in the 1980's and the popularity of 'chia pets'? Who would have thought the seeds would have greater success years later when they became known as a 'superfood' or functional food. The terminology created more by the marketing sphere than by nutrition experts who understand that there is no magic bullet or replacement for a healthful diet that relies on a variety of nutritious foods.
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| Photo credit: Pankaj Jaiswal |
Chia seeds are small, round and can be black, brown and white, there is no difference in their nutritional value. They have little if any distinctive flavor so they don't compete with other flavors in a dish. Seeds are often added as a functional ingredient to less nutritious items like baked pastries and snacks to improve their appeal to health-conscious consumers.
Sprinkle a few teaspoons into breakfast cereal (hot or cold), salads, soups, or stews.
Stir into salad dressings, sauces, marinades, or cake/muffin/bread batter.
Use chia gel as a thickener added to smoothies, puddings, and soups (stir the gel into these foods after they are prepped or cooked). Check the internet for recipe ideas.
According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, two tablespoons of chia seeds contain about 140 calories, 4 grams of protein, 11 grams of fiber 7 grams of unsaturated fat, 18% RDA for calcium, and trace minerals including zinc and copper.
OSU past research has found:
Polyunsaturated fatty acids found in chia improve cardiovascular health and cholesterol and have anti-cancer properties.
Chia seeds' high fiber content helps stabilize blood glucose levels in type-2 diabetes patients and aid people with gastrointestinal-tract related diseases.
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| Photo: Pacific College of Health & Science |
There are a few rare cautions when eating seeds. Do not eat dry chia seeds. Dry seeds eaten and followed by a glass of water will result in the seeds expanding in the esophagus and cause a blockage.
Also, if you have any digestive issues, check with your physician.
More information: https://today.oregonstate.edu/news/new-study-eyes-nutrition-rich-chia-seed-potential-improve-human-health
Jane Colden 1724-1746 can be considered America's First Female Botanist according to a New York Botanical Garden article written for Science Talk. Colden was the daughter of the Lieutenant Governor of New York who was also a scientist and physician. Colden was trained in the Linnaean system of plant nomenclature. Linnaeus himself wrote--
"As this accomplished lady is the only one of the fair sex that I have heard of who is scientifically skillful in the Linnaean system, you, no doubt, will distinguish her merits and recommend her example to the ladies of every country."
Jumping forward to America's Progressive Era 1890-1920. The 1920's was characterized by the Women's Suffrage Movement. Although industrialization had increased, work opportunities were still limited.
Jane Bourne Haines was inspired by the horticultural training of women in England and Germany. Haines mission was to establish an institution that would be able to take their place in the male-dominated field of practical horticulture.
Haines purchased 71 acres of farmland north of Philadelphia, recruited trustees, and instructors and on February 12, 1911, opened a school with 5 students. Historic photos show students in their long black dresses climbing trees to do pruning and running through fields herding cattle.
Carrie Lippencott 1863-? One of the first women to establish a seed-selling business based in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1886. Her full color images of women and children lounging amid beautiful flowers seemed to work. She claimed to receive a quarter of a million catalog orders by 1898.
The list goes on and on and all are worthy of our praise and second thoughts.
The Jack-O-Lanterns have made their way to the compost pile. You know what to do with the leftover leftovers, make soup, of course. Now it's time to have some fun planning holiday decorations.
Wide wired ribbon is used to enhance the shape and give your tree a personality. I did learn one thing. The material I used was too stiff, and I couldn't create the draping effect that I wanted. A better choice would have been a wired ribbon that was softer, like a taffeta ribbon. I decorated the tree with favorite ornaments. You could also add some miniature lights; stores were all sold out last year.
Holiday time can be an exciting time to recast your garden in new roles. Pinecones can be dipped in wax or glue and sprinkled with glitter, then added to a basket of greens.
Think of the grey branches of our rabbitbrush with just a touch of silver glitter and arranged in a burgundy, or other rich color container, can be an eyecatcher. A bundle of small twigs wrapped together with a decorative trim can be just as attractive as a spendy bundle of cinnamon sticks.
At the end of the 2022 holiday season, friends talked about cutting the spent Amaryllis bloom, removing the bulb from the soil and storing in a paper bag in the garage or a closet.
The "what if" side of the brain kicked in. I decided to try the same process with the waxed Amaryllis bulb I had been gifted. After blooming, the waxed bulb was put in a paper bag and stored in the garage. On the first of November I brought the bulb in. Then the question was "now what"? I found the answer in a fact sheet from the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension from January 10, 2022.
The process starts with carefully removing the wax. Try to leave as much brown covering on the bulb as possible. The wax removal on the base can be a little delicate. My bulb had actually started growing roots along the base so I was extremely careful not to damage the area where I could see growth.
The magic machine knows everything. I was hoping to find a research-based educational source. What is available are blogs, some with more involved details than others.
The basic process is to soak the bulb in water for 4 to 6 hours, soak should only cover half the bulb.
Dry for approximately 2 hours.
Seems like we just put the gardens to bed and already we are thinking of Holiday decorations. Time flies.
