NOVEMBER IN THE GARDEN

This article was taken from the November 2010 issue of the Ct Federation News by Kathrine Neville

I really do enjoy November as there is so little to do in the garden;yet I have time to plan and decide what did and did not do well. Remember to make that list for the spring.

Thank you to those of us who planted Asclepias for the Monarchs. It was a wonderful summer to watch the butterflies flying all over the garden m plus the added excitement of all the other varieties of insects, birds, and butterflies enjoying the garden.I strongly advise that as you make your lists of annuals , you include Asclepias physocarpa "Balloon flower " . If you have not grown them give them room at the back of the border and you will have a wonderful plant with a long season, including the surprise seed pods.
My garden is dense with plant material;therefore ,it has little room for weeds but is much loved by all sorts of creatures all year round.  If the garden is balanced and you welcome all the creatures, they will not only eat other insects, but will provide lots of color and movement. 
A balanced garden is never overrun by one particular insect. Everyone comes to the feast--even if they end up being the meal! The very best part of today's balanced and organic garden is no pesticides or any other man made killers in the garden .
The birds will also spend time in the winter in your garden if you provide fresh water and shelter from storms . You may or may not want to put up a bird feeder with seed as it tends to draw rats, squirrels and in some places ( hopefully not Milford! ) black bear.
Plant Ilex verticillata ,winterberry;its fall color after the leaves have fallen is great.  The winterberry comes in other colors besides red and you will have wonderful color in your garden until late winter. The birds seem to wait until the ilex berries look like raisins before they eat them;apparently the berries have more sugar then--those little birds are smart! I hope you left seed heads on your perennials  and annuals as the birds will pick them clean all winter.
Mulch your broad leaf evergreens such as Rhoda's with leaves ;they are the best fertilizer for broadleaf shrubs and evergreens (conifers) .
In the shade garden, do not rake and bag leaves:they are a must for the shade garden. The dry leaves also provide a home for various worms and again, winter food for the birds. 
Its bulb planting time now. However ,I will wait until we have had some mild frost before I plant. the squirrels do not dig up the bulbs once there is frost, though I have no idea why. I have planted bulbs many a time between Christmas and New Year if we are having a mild winter. As you walk your garden on a daily basis, place a few logs among the shrubs and other plant material;then watch what happens as the season progresses-you will be providing homes for various creatures through the winter months.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving and you can start preparing your indoor plants for their trip to the CT FLOWER AND GARDEN SHOW.

Remember that forced bulbs can be entered!! Plan ahead.

 





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