Ep 35 Leaf Therapy- Essential Oaks
Sun, Jun 04, 2023 2:00PM • 21:01
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
oaks, trees, garden, native plants, leaves, nature, column, share, walk, plant, acorns, grow, landscapers, landscape, place, mohican, insects, talk, mary stone, leafless, doug tallamy
SPEAKERS
Mary Stone
Mary Stone 00:00
Hello fellow lovers of all things green. I'm Mary Stone and welcome to garden dilemmas, delights and discoveries. It's not only about gardens, it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from mother nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So let's jump in in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.
Mary Stone 00:26
Hello, fellow listeners, it's Mary stone on the screen porch, although I'm going to share much of this chat from a walk in the woods that I did on Sunday. And it was a day that was incredibly heavy for me. And I went up to camp Mohican with my mic. And so I recorded there and I'm hoping my brilliant producer Alex can weave in some of the audio I took on the road with the story that I wrote, which starts like this.
Mary Stone 00:58
Camp Mohican has been a place of respite and contemplation since I moved to Blairstown 21 years ago, contiguous with the Appalachian Trail. It's one of the reasons I moved here. walking amongst the trees always helps my heart. And yesterday, I desperately needed leaf therapy. On a whim, I brought my podcast microphone, a cute little clown nose gadget that attaches to the iPhone to share the walk with you. Though many leaves are down, I admire those remaining and reflect on the Halloween snowstorm 10 years ago, how it toppled trees still laden with leaves, causing massive power outages for days.
Mary Stone 01:36
So here's a tidbit recorded on the walk, I'd like to share: It is actually Halloween, October 31. And it's hard to imagine that 10 years ago, 10 years ago, we had a snow storm on this day. It was rather problematic in terms of tree falling and trees that didn't have their leaves yet gone came tumbling down. It's true. We were one of the few that had water because we have a small generator that powers the well pump and other things that are critical like refrigerator and I think our stovetop or microwave or something like that. Anyway, we've made do for almost nine days without power with that wonderful little machine. And many people came here to shower from the neighborhood. So it was a community of help. People were scurrying around getting gas for generators, which was long lines at the gas station, just like 911 actually-- not as significant as 911. Obviously that was significant in our history, but a crisis that brought people together.
Mary Stone 02:42
If I may share another clip from the walk in the woods: One of the things that has just been so troubling. So troubling to me, I'm sure to many of you too s what continues to break down in our country in terms of its United philosophies. It's been changing for a number of years now. But of course since the pandemic there's been escalations in so many ways, and for me personally, it's just weighing incredibly heavy.
Mary Stone 03:15
I dropped a maple leaf marred with fungus, showing endurance yet still radiant orange and gold. It stayed steady despite the soft current of catfish pond. Below our leaves sunken into the shallow depths, their colors still visible and glorious. The grand finale is a surprise given the wetness of the season, a sign that brings hope that there can be beauty, healing and growth after a trying season. So that's a moment of hope I felt as I was walking amongst the trees that this trying time that seems to be accelerating, hopefully... hopefully will turn into something beautiful, cohesive and filled with love.
Mary Stone 03:57
A canoe paddles by with a young couple enjoying their ride. I came out here for a little bit of leaf therapy. The leaves are actually quite lovely. Which was not what was promised given the wet season that we've had. But there are surprises. I snagged a photo after they (the canoers) were well beyond me honoring their privacy. A bald eagle circles above and I paused and refelct in the flight. I cannot believe it above me is a bald eagle flying. Oh my goodness. So glorious. I wonder if I get a photo of him. Miracles of nature. The reason I walk amongst the trees that's the second time I've seen the bold Eagle I think it's the same one. And it just makes me stop in honoring our country and its heritage and history and what the eagle means representing resurrection renewal and the power of transformation and spiritual growth after hopelessness and devastating loss.
Mary Stone 05:18
I'm actually bouncing back to a column I wrote called, Meaning of Memorial Day, a little hope. And there's a history of meaning of Memorial Day and some representation of Eagle as it became our national bird. So if you would like to stop in on that column, it's on the garden dilemmas website.
Mary Stone 05:37
Speaking of privacy, I felt silly asking for a note, though, my doctor graciously provided one. You see, I'm not a candidate for the COVID vaccine because of a severe anaphylactic reaction to a shot with similar ingredients. However, I continue the routine of other vaccines. But these are unprecedented times, as we all know. And apparently the likely severe risk to my health to comply is not an excuse. Being recently excluded from serving others adds to my hurting heart.
Mary Stone 06:06
So I'm, I'm actually reading an extended version of the story that is published in The Rress because I edited out some of these parts wondering if I'd have some backlash or feedback. But, you know, it's such a weird place to be when, technically, I mean, I can't take the risk, obviously, given the history of my condition and what happened with the other shot, but um, yeah, it's been a very, very interesting time to be asked the question by my volunteer roles. And being recently excluded from serving the patients and families at the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice is just hurting my heart. What can I say? Thankfully, my singing buddy Ken Roberts can continue visiting our friends and someday, I pray that I'll be invited to return to help spread a bit of joy at the sacred time for patients and their families.
Mary Stone 06:59
My walk leads to the bench where I wrote to my soulful twin. I love you brother Bill after he passed away just before Christmas Coming up on eight years ago. Fast forward a few I sent my love in the snow to my mom too.
Mary Stone 07:18
It's funny to hear some summer bugs, and then walking on the gravel and the leaves. I love the sound of gravel. actually choose it in the garden for that reason, as great garden paths although this is pretty industrial looking meant for the vehicular traffic as needed. Oh boy oh boy. I stopped to cherish a maple and blaze of yellow and catch a glimpse of my elongated shadow reminding me we don't walk alone. I thank God in humble gratitude.
Mary Stone 08:00
The swim spot comes next, where a scrub pine with a hollowed center still stands after all these years. In the wound, I first began placing heartshaped stones that pop out of nowhere doing walks at Camp Mohican. Now, a guard rail is a favorite spot. A poison ivy vine has grown around them, maybe offering protection of Bill's stones I call them. The vine is leafless now, but don't let that fool you, as it can still cause a dreadful rash. I'm giggling because I recall a column titled, I think it's titled, if it's hairy, it's best to ask Mary and that was after Curt found out the hard way. Yes, yes, indeed. Poison Ivy is still contagious, even when it's leafless, as he and a neighbor chainsaw down or chainsawed up I should say, a fallen tree that was thick with a hairy poison ivy vine. So if it's hairy, it's best to ask Mary. So back to my story.
Mary Stone 08:58
Is your dog with you? A woman's voice comes from behind. Not today. I say, down comes this lady who I recognize, but I couldn't place who she was. I mean, it was really kind of embarrassing. But you know, when that happens, what you do is you just assume you'll figure it out and just have a conversation, which is easy to do when somebody has dogs.And so we talked about her two rescues and I share what I know of Jolee. Her mix of 13 breeds in the streets of Biloxi, Mississippi, and she's 1% Golden I add. The woman's smiles. Then it came to me. She's the gal who rescued Miss Ellie and me on this side of the road one overly warm day in May. Curt was traveling for work and we didn't know yet that Ellie was sick.
Mary Stone 09:39
I'm a dog person, Christine says and opens her hatch equipped with a blanket. And she gave us a ride home-- such an angel. As I write these closing words, it occurs to me that serving others can come when you see the need doesn't have to be an organized volunteer thing that I'm being excluded from. I hope you're not being excluded from such things. But we can help people you know, reach grocery items if they're in a wheelchair or scooter. Or we can just, I don't know, buy a cup of coffee for somebody or donate some money to places or clothing that is gently used. No compliance required. Only a bit of love. Big love even better. Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary stone.com.
Mary Stone 10:30
So thank you for visiting with me and joining me on the walk at Camp Mohican. On the way down to my truck, I had picked up a bunch of different varieties of oak leaves, and I thought I would share a column that talks about oak trees and how important they are for wildlife, one of the most important trees, so join me again, if you would, on the screen porch. Thanks so much.
Mary Stone 10:59
So the next column I'd like to share came from a plant symposium that I attended part of the New Jersey Landscape and Nursery Association. And it was themed around organic practices and native plants which encourage biodiversity so that is just perfect, piquing my interest. But more than that was a very special, what did they call them keynote speaker that I'm going to share about. I don't know, I was kind of giggly almost when I met him. But I'm telling you too much before starting the column, which starts like this.
Mary Stone 11:34
Hello fellow readers. Native plants, especially oaks are essential in maintaining the balance of nature. And it begins in our yards. I recently had the privilege of attending a plant symposium hosted by the New Jersey Landscape and Nursery Association, themed around organic practices and native plants to encourage biodiversity. Biodiversity or biological diversity pertains to all living things in a region, which is an ecosystem, including fungi, bacteria, micro organisms, insects and other animals, including humans.
Mary Stone 12:09
I have a subheading, in quotes. To have butterflies, you have to have caterpillars. That was said by Randy Eckel of Toad Shade wildflower farm, who spoke about the importance of native plants in the landscape, which is why leaving plant debris in the garden over winter is a critical part of a butterfly garden. A single nest of chickadees needs 500 caterpillars every day to feed their clutch. And hummingbirds can't live on sugar water alone. They eat aphids and small gnats. And these were some of the tidbits that Randy had mentioned in her talk. I chuckled when she added embrace models. Think of them as butterflies that like to party at night.
Mary Stone 12:50
And an associate Richard A McCoy horticultural services, shared how landscape companies can transition to sustainable practices. His goal is to fill a property with 70% native plants rather than grass, emphasizing soil biology and proper planting techniques. And he says, rather than using pesticides build ecosystems, he shared quite a bit of techniques to the group, many of which were landscapers. So this is really so powerful to see because I attend other conferences that allow landscapers to keep their certification and applying pesticides, many of which are chemically based. So this was a talk that encouraged them to use some organic practices, not to say that sometimes chemicals have to be used. And I'm not saying that all chemicals should be avoided. Well, I should say. I mean, I've definitely believe in organic practices when and if you can manage it, and that should be a first priority.
Mary Stone 13:48
And building eco systems that allow for checks and balances in nature is such a beautiful way to just follow the rhythms of nature and how it's intended to be. Quit messing with nature right. Many of us were star struck by Douglas Tallamy the keynote, and author of a go-to resource Bringing Nature Home. Native insects can't or won't eat non native plants. So populations of desired insects are declining, depriving food for the birds and other wildlife. By introducing native plants into our yards, each of us can make a difference in restoring the balance of nature.
Mary Stone 14:23
A side note, Richard McCoy, I call him Rick. As we work together, we design landscapes that again are 70% native plants rather than, you know, turf, and some folks are pretty intimidated by that at first, because certainly the installation of such a garden is intensive. Although we use landscape liner plugs which are starter plants that growers use to propagate gallon sized pots. We put them right in the ground and by so doing you can get a lot of square footage at very little cost. And you can do it, you know, in a in a way that is I've done in phases.
Mary Stone 15:01
One of the things we always get asked is how do you maintain that garden? Once it's established, literally, the only job you have is to cut it down like a foot tall, leaving all the plant debris so that again, that native species of butterflies, you know, their larvae and other insects can overwinter to keep that rhythm of nature going. And so it's really much less maintenance than mowing the lawn or doing all the things that you need to do to maintain grass.
Mary Stone 15:27
It was refreshing to see the conversation amongst the landscapers, I was in the audience, I heard some of their feedback. One of them was, "no way with my customer pay full price if I didn't remove all the leaves," because you're supposed to leave the leaves also as it helps, you know, decompose and nourish the soil. Sorry for my diversion. But I think it's important we all learn about these things.
Mary Stone 15:49
So back to Doug Tallamy, Tallamy presented highlights from his newest book, The Nature of Oaks, and he says it's one of the most important species in the plant kingdom. His book features fascinating details of what goes on with these majestic trees month to month, how to choose and care for them, and he overcomes myths. So in a column titled, Native Plants, Especially Oaks are Essential. I list the myths that Doug Tallamy reviews and I'll highlight them here.
Mary Stone 16:21
Oak leaves make the best leaf litter as a subtitle. Despite the claim to the contrary. Tallamy touts oak leafs make the best leaf litter. Plants readily grow through an average level of leaves not piled, and they provide a valuable blanket for wildlife. Oaks also provide a screen in the winter as they hold on to many leaves nature's way of protecting buds.
Mary Stone 16:46
Tallamy's talk not only advocated and grew our love of the majestic oaks, but also bluejays. A single oak can make 3 million acorns in a lifetime and a single J and a single fall can bury 4500 acorns but only recovers one in four. That's how oaks move around so fast. Doug says, of course, other critters bury acorns too. We know about squirrels and they choose acorns from healthy oaks rather than those affected by oak wilt and oak decline. So Blue Jays help to encourage the population increase of healthy oaks rather than diseased ones which is so cool, right?
Mary Stone 17:26
Which brings the question of why don't oaks produce the same amount of acorns each year? If they did, those the feed off them would not have checks and balances. Lesser yields keeps populations in check. Larry Kruser of Fernbrook Farms, the host of the event, gave a tour of the 230 acre preserve farmland in his family since 1899. He points to five foot oaks grown in pots. "Just put one in for your clients and don't tell them and they'll grow into a magnificent tree." So that was one of the other myths -- that oak trees grow slowly, but actually, what it is, is, oak trees put a lot of energy into their root development before you even see much of the growth above ground. So it's a mystery really, you see a little a couple of leaves and below ground there's this big root system developing.developing. So when balled and burlap trees are dug for sale, it actually inhibits the growth of the tree because it's recovering its roots instead of putting growth into its top canopy. Which is why buying oaks grown in pots, small oaks, even he had basically one inch caliber ones, I think we're only $13 wholesale, putting a plant such as that the tree would become just as big as a balled and burlap tree in the same amount of years if I'm making sense. So in other words, let's say three years later, a balled and burlap tree that you put in at a certain height would match that one inch caliber sapling that you planted from a pot. So there you go. Protecting our environment starts at home, creating gardens and landscape practices and not only encourage nature, but nurture it. Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone.com.
Mary Stone 19:17
At the end of the column on the website, I have a link to a column I wrote about Blue Jays titled Blue Jays Bad Reputation because I used to not like Blue Jays until I now grown a greater respect for them. And I hope this story gives you a greater feeling of the magnificent oak, which is just that and his book nature of oaks became a subject at a new client I visited on Saturday. It was so fun. He was like I gotta put oaks in the yard and I told him how I met Doug Tallamy. And he goes, is that the author of a book that I just read? And it sure was and so while I haven't read the book, and I will, it's nice to see people are learning more about them.
Mary Stone 19:56
So thanks so much for coming by. I always enjoy our visits and this one was extra special walking in the woods with me. I hope you felt the same way. And if enjoyed the podcast in the column I invite you to share it with your friends that you think may enjoy it as well and subscribe to each if you haven't done so already so they have magically appear in your podcast feed or your email. It means so much that you are part of our community helping each other heal and grow and feeling the love. Big Love even better. Thanks so much.
Mary Stone 20:31
You can follow garden dilemmas on Facebook or online at Garden dilemmas.com and on Instagram at hashtag Mary Elaine stone. Garden dilemmas, delights and discoveries is produced by Alex Bartling. Thanks for coming by. I look forward to chatting again from my screen porch. And always remember to embrace the unexpected in this garden of life. Have a great day.
