Winter Aconite (Eranthis
hyemalis) is a spring ephemeral that appears and disappears in the later-winter
garden in a matter of days.
It is a member of the buttercup family and is native to
southern and eastern Europe. Winter Aconite is also classified as a minor bulb
in comparison to the larger and showier daffodils, tulips, and lilies in our
gardens. Even though it is quite small, it still packs a punch with its bright-yellow
flowers in the bleak winter landscape.
It prefers to grow under deciduous trees such as Oaks and
likes rich, humusy soils. It can tolerate wetter locations than most bulbs.
It is a great source of nectar for the first foraging
bees of the season. On overcast days, the flowers stay closed, then on clear
days they open up to the sun’s warming rays.
In the fall, soak the tubers overnight, then plant them
an inch deep. They will emerge several months later and every year after that.
It does naturalize and spread a bit. You can dig up and divide them to move
them around right after they finish blooming.
There is an invasive look-a-like: Lesser Celandine (Ficaria verna). However, that plant blooms later in the season and does
not have the Elizabethan collar of foliage at the base of the flower that
Winter Aconites do.
This is one tough plant. Winter Aconite doesn’t mind
being covered in ice or snow, or being zapped by freezing temperatures.
Winter Aconite: You Can Grow That!
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Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz
Video and Editing by Hojung Ryu
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In this episode, we talk with Tony Weaver and Karen Olson Weaver of Olson Weaver Lighting Designabout outdoor lighting. The plant profile is on winter aconite and I share some local native plant resources as well as some upcoming events.
Show Notes :
1:09 Meet Tony Weaver and Karen Olson Weaver!
2:15 “Was this your baby, your brainchild?” — Kathy asks about Karen’s company
5:03 “I think it’s worked out really well.” — Karen talks about what it’s like to work with her son
8:23 Tony talks about how customers find their company
11:00 “Hillwood is such a fantastic area.” — Tony discusses notable clients
12:00 “Tony is a little bit modest. He does bring so much to our business.” — Karen
15:03 “Every client is different.” — Tony talks about knowing what clients want
15:55 Kathy asks Karen about landscape lighting pet peeves
18:44 Tony’s pet peeve — formulaic lighting
20:01 Tony describes the elements of outdoor lighting
25:45 Karen talks about the popularity of bistro lighting during the pandemic — “I guess people missed the café experience.”
29:47 Karen describes the sound of water in a garden — “It’s just like the sound of crunching of gravel.”
30:21 “That’s what I call motion in lighting.” — Karen
31:03 Great trees for lighting
36:39 “Here’s what I’ve noticed…” — Karen describes how to work around street lights
42:45 “In the front yard, people don’t want drama and mystery.” — Karen
44:36 How to contact the Weavers
44:57 Karen and Tony’s website: www.olsonweaver.com
45:22 “One thing about entrepreneurs: they just love to talk business!” — Karen
46:30 Learn about the winter aconite in this week’s Plant Profile!
48:19 What’s new in the garden: first crocus popped up in the garden and many snow drops are out
48:40 Upcoming events and sources: 35th Annual Lahr Symposium, 7th annual Mountain Maryland Native Plant Festival, Native Plants for the DMV website, Nuts for Natives blog
50:58 Celebrate spring at the National Garden Bureau online book party
After listening to this, you might want to listen to these past episodes about Garden Design:
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 89: Working with a Landscape Designer
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.c...
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 38: Art in the Garden
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.c...
~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 32: Garden Tours, Private European Gardens, and Goldenrod
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.c...
Google Podcasts at this link (note that currently, this link will only work on Android devices.)
We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://anchor.fm/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.
And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite platform so other gardeners can find us too!
Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz Editing and Show Notes: Dorvall Bedford
Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) is a small tree or shrub that is native to the eastern United States and southeast Canada. It is a holly, but is not evergreen. It can grow to 8 feet wide and high.Winterberry prefers full to part sun and wet, acidic soils. It is very happy planted along the edge of a pond or lake. If they experience drought or too much shade, their berry production will decrease.To produce berries a male and female plant are both required – to ensure that happens, plant ‘Jim Dandy’, a compact male winterberry that is specifically marketed to pollinate other winterberries. Make sure it is located within 50 feet of the female (berry-producing) plants.It blooms in June and its small flowers are attractive to bees and other pollinators.Winterberry is most pleasing in the autumn landscape, when its leaves fall off to reveal branches loaded with bright red, orange, or yellow berries. These remain on the tree for the first part of winter and then the birds move in to consume them.The branches of berries are often used in holiday and floral arrangements. Plant them where they can attain their mature height and spread because pruning is not recommended as it will impact the number of flowers and the quantity of fruit that the plant sets. Newer cultivars on the market include ‘Berry Heavy’, ‘Winter Gold’, ‘Red Sprite’, ‘Sparkleberry’, and ‘Little Goblin’, a dwarf version.Winterberry: You Can Grow That!The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz Video and Editing by Hojung Ryu➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine~ Podcast: GardenDC
In this episode, we talk with horticulturist and author Vincent Simeone all about growing evergreens. The plant profile is on winterberry holly and I share some facts about the season of imbolc as well as some upcoming virtual events.
1:12 Meet Vincent Simeone and learn about growing evergreens
1:36 “Let’s talk about Little Vinnie” — Kathy
3:44 Vincent talks about how spoiled Oyster Bay is as a planting zone
4:34 “I am so envious of you, Vinnie” — Kathy says Oyster Bay sounds like heaven
5:17 Are there evergreens that you can eat?
6:06 “I wouldn’t call that a cuisine” — Vincent comments on the use of pine needles in cooking
7:24 “I love Cephalotaxus” — Vincent
7:30 What are evergreens?
8:38 Kathy and Vincent discuss confusion about evergreen tree shedding and deciduous conifers
10:12 “It is the bane of my existence” — Vincent discusses tree sap
17:39 Why gardeners can sometimes be surprised by the size of their evergreens
19:51 First steps to planting an evergreen
25:39 Vincent’s tips on watering your evergreen
27:51 Vincent talks about the witch’s broom mutation
29:50 Dwarf evergreens are still tall!
30:22 “Some things are dwarfer than others” — Vincent
31:19 Kathy brings up deer — “Are there some evergreens that are deer-proof?”
34:31 Pests that gardeners should be on the lookout for
37:11 Vincent talks about upcoming research from plant breeders on evergreens
38:12 Vincent brings up how climate change is influencing research
38:33 How to contact Vincent
39:50 Vincent’s email address: vasimeone@aol.com
40:01 Vincent talks about the topics covered in his latest book
42:18 Learn about the winterberry in this week’s Plant Profile!
44:10 Look forward to The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City by Teri Speight
45:04 What’s new in the garden: Imbolc season is here and the robins have arrived
46:07 Upcoming events: The Thoughtful Gardener live talk, National Garden Bureau book party
Google Podcasts at this link (note that currently, this link will only work on Android devices.)
We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://anchor.fm/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.
And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite platform so other gardeners can find us too!
Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz Editing and Show Notes: Dorvall Bedford
