Scilla bifolia 'rosea' - entire plant Scilla bifolia 'Rosea' is one of the earliest perennial bulbs that fills up the ornamental garden beds at London Town. The twin leaves gracefully protect the soft pink color buds as they emerge only a few inches above the bare ground. The delicate buds are enough to attract a verdant heart, but the rose colored flowers with their soft fragrance and the delicate form of the whole plant encompassing a woodland in drifts can easily leave a lingering impact on anyone. After all S. bifolia is a prefect naturalizer that has been around since the 17th century! Scilla bifolia 'Rosea' buds Scilla bifolia ' Rosea' with twin leaves and buds Alpine Squill belongs to the Asparagaceae family. They need full to part sun and best of all, rabbits and deer tend to leave them alone. They look best when allowed to naturalize in drifts in woodlands or massed around specimen shrubs and trees. Once established, they can spread by self seeding or offsets. Another heirloom that is a very rewarding naturalizer is Crocus flavus (yellow crocus) with deep rich buttercup yellow flowers. Crocuses in general like full sun and can tolerate some shade. Have you ever noticed Crocus flowers in the evening or on cloudy days? Crocus flowers show a behavior known as 'Ncytinasty' in which petals close in for the night and open up in sunlight. Seems like Crocuses don't care for the grey cloudy days either. Crocus flavus (Yellow Crocus) buds along with blue and yellow (black spot) Pansies Amongst the selection of hundreds of bulbs, the heirloom bulbs certainly stand out over the many modern bulb hybrids. Also, sharing with you today is a picture of one of the first daffodil enjoying the sunlight and reminding us that spring might be close! Narcissus sp. (yellow Daffodil) #rosea #scillabifolia #crocus #daffodil #bulbs #narcissus

Crocus sps. Habit of a plant, number of plant parts, texture, preferred ecosystems and many other specifics are shared characteristics within plant family members. Iridales belonging to Iridaceae family are known to be found in all types of habitats except in the sea. 3 stamens, 3 petals, 3 calyx, 3 tepals, 3 seed capsules, all in multiples of 3 is an easy characteristic to identify this family. Mostly all of the Iridaceae family flowers are similar to Lilies, but the biggest difference is that in Iridaceae, the leaves are positioned at the base of the plant. Consisting of about 70 genera and about 1800 species, this family has a wide variety of flowers, all with stunning irradiance. Crocus in the woodland gardens Turning the bare ground irradiant right now in the gardens are the stunning white and purple Crocus species. Autumn, winter, or spring is the best time to enjoy the crocus members. They are native to woodlands and meadows. The leaves are grass like with a distinct white strip in the center, and the flowers are cup shaped, all parts in multiples of 3. Most spring blooming crocus are hybrids of Crocus vernus. Crocus planted in protected spots can bloom earlier than the ones in open lawns, they enjoy full sun and good drainage. Spring crocus sps. Another Iridaceae family member that loves full sun, good drainage and can make any garden irradiant are the Iris species. To get the roots established well in zone 7-8, plant them in September - October in the previous year, but potted hybrids can be planted in spring as well for summer blooms in the same year. Irises are one perennial that can be enjoyed as a statement plant, layered cottage garden plant, or container plant in regular gardens beds or rocks gardens. Choices are ample and colors even more. The most important aspect is to make sure they get at least 6-8 hrs of full sun and a location that has a natural slope that allows good drainage. Irises sps. Interestingly, Iridaceae family members also have phytochemicals that have significant value in herbal medicine. Many Iridaceae species also have high commercial value, including ornamental cut flowers and 'saffron spice' that comes from Crocus sativus. Iridaceae members also include Crocosmia, Gladioli, Freesia and the gorgeous Belamcanda. All with stunning colors to enjoy form spring to summer. These perennials can be relied on year after year for stunning irradiance with each and every flower. #iridales #irradiant #iridaceae #crocus #iris

Flowers of Galanthus sps. 'Snowdrops', 'Fair Maid of February' As early as February, there are subtle signs of spring in a much dormant woodland. A glimpse at the base of a woodland ground or the tips of branches can give out ample clues. Either the branches are prepped with the swollen leaf /flower buds or tender buds are trying to push out of the leaf litter, or in some cases, it is a full grown mature flower all surrounded by leaves, like the Galanthus sps. Galanthus sps. 'Snowdrops', 'Fair Maid of February', in full bloom Galanthus has many common names; the most common is Snowdrops. The genus origin traces back to Europe and some common names include: the English name 'Fair maids of February'; 'Candlemas bells' or 'perce-niege' ('snow piercer' in French); and 'schneeglocken' ('snowbells' in German). There is a speculation that snowdrops might have been brought to England by the pilgrims from Rome. (https://blog.metmuseum.org/cloistersgardens/2009/02/20/fair-maids-of-february/) Tender buds of 'Galanthus sps. 'Snowdrops', 'Fair Maid of February' Snowdrops do well in zones 3-9, enjoy shaded areas and moist soils. Once established, they will brighten the woodlands for years to come. The best part is that they easily form clumps and establish well, but aren't aggressive. Common names are fun, but I always recommend knowing the real Latin name of a plant. Galanthus species belong to the diverse Amaryllidaceae. This family has over 1500 species and includes Alliideae group that has the onions, chives, etc. as well as the large Amaryllidoideae group which has the Amaryllis, Daffodils, Snowdrops and Hemerocallis (Daylily). Rhodea japonica 'Sacred Lily' in winter Another beautiful plant in full glory right now is the 'Sacred Lily', Rhodea japonica. It is an excellent evergreen ground cover with rather large leaves. The deep green color of the leaves is aesthetic in itself, but the red luscious berries highlight this plant even more. Rhodeas do well in part-full shade and form about a foot long clump that is not at all attractive to the deer. They are drought tolerant to some extent, but like wet feet. Red berries of Rhodea japonica 'Sacred Lily' Interestingly, Rhodeas belong to the Asparagaceae family which also consist of: Liriope, Danae, and even Yucca! Referred to as the 'venturous harbinger of spring' and the 'unbidden guest' in the poem "To a Snowdrop," (published in 1819 by William Wordsworth) it is a beautiful reminder of how even in the harshest of winters, the delicate white snowdrops will emerge and flourish till spring arrives. A stroll through the woodland gardens at London Town will give you a glimpse of the snowdrops in full bloom and the sacred lily fruits in absolute showtime! #snowdrops #rhodeajaponica #sacredlily #galanthus

Leaves, petals, stems, bark, buds, roots are all what one expects to see when you mention any plant form. But what if there weren't any roots to begin with? How would a plant form survive? Epiphytes are a classic plant form wherein the roots, even if present, do not actually perform the normal root function of absorption of water and nutrients. They also don't need any soil. Yes, you read that correctly. They grow above ground. They literally hang on to other trees/rocks for dear life! Not parasitic or harming the host in any way, they only seek structural support. Epiphytes are a great way to introduce life indoors and they are easy to care for. Let's look at the queen of air plants 'Tillandsia xerographica'. Its grander form easily explains why it is considered the queen! The blooms sometimes can be four times the height of the plant. Air plants derive nutrients and moisture from the surrounding environment. Tillandsia xerographica is very easy to care for and can live for years, if water and sunlight needs are addressed appropriately. In drier zones with less humidity, a once a week misting is good. The other alternative for watering is gently dunking the entire plant in water for 15 minutes and then air drying upside down to allow any moisture to drip away from the crown. A wet crown can lead to a rot. When grown indoors, place it in indirect sunlight. T. xerographica can actually take more sunlight than most air plants. No soil, no issues! Epiphytes are a classic example of plants surviving in conditions that aren't the norm. Some have roots, some don't (e.g., mosses and liverworts). One more plant that caught my attention in the gardens this week and certainly seems to be beating the norm, is Jasminum nudiflorum. Jasmine and fragrance go hand in hand. Jasmine flowers are one of the most fragrant flowering species. But J. nudiflorum is beating the norm as it has zero fragrance, and also happens to be deciduous. Known for its pretty golden yellow flowers, it is an early winter bloomer (as early as January). The flowers bloom before the leaves. Without the typical intense fragrance, the flowers still set out quite the show. Around zone 7, they are sometimes the only ones blooming in a rather dormant garden. Excellent as a drought tolerant, full sun, large screening shrub, they can beautifully enhance any winter garden. Breaking the norm, the plant way! Amongst the stunning Camellias, you will be able to enjoy the winter Jasmine and Tillandsia xerographica at London Town on your next visit. #epiphytes #tillandsiaxerographica #winterjasmine #jasminumnudiflorum

'And into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul" ~ John Muir Conservation and preservation are crucial for all landscapes. John Muir, who is considered the archetypal preservationist, saved several national parks. Muir is almost a synonym for the woodlands, as he created the Sequoia and the Mt. Rainier national parks, amongst many others. He also started the Sierra Club and is the reason National Parks Service was established. Eagle Scout and Midshipmen group helping in restoring Spring Walk Natives, invasives, exotics, all are but plants. When a plant finds a right habitat, it will try to establish as best as it can via vegetative methods or reproductive. It will try everything it can to survive and thrive. Add minimum competition, less aggressive neighboring species, low disturbance and you could have a huge invasive problem! Bamboo, for example, belongs to the grass family. In fact, some of the giant bamboo are considered the largest growing members of the grass family. When bamboo gets planted in an area where its habit of growing vigorously via rhizomes gets in the way of other plants, then it is a nightmare of an invasive problem! In the past few days, in spite of gusty winds and low temperatures, a couple of the horticulture staff members: Dylan Bacon and Ben Lammers were able to clear out a large area taken over by bamboo. Ivy, honeysuckle and even some viburnum species are examples of species we are trying to eradicate to preserve the woodlands gardens. However, for non-profits, in addition to having staff help, volunteer help is very crucial to survive. Stewardship is critical for any type of preservation. Dylan Bacon (Landscape manager) and Ben Lammers (Horticulture Assistant) working on the Bamboo project. All cleaned up! Look at that view! We are currently filing up spots for service days and scout group projects in the horticulture department. Scout projects are individually picked between February-November and environmental service days includes a volunteer group helping out for couple of hours on a Saturday. Eagle Scout helping with invasive removal by the Davidsonville Ruritan Garden Pavilion Along with hands-on restoration work, the scouts get to experience restoring a landscape and preserving a vision. Preservation and conservation have deep roots in the Scout origin, as is in the writings of John Muir who also was the main inspiration for the formation of the Scouts’ clubs. What better way to immerse these young minds into nature, than giving them a hands-on experience in preserving woodlands? If you are interested in finding out more information about having a Scouts group join us for an individual project or come in for a service day, please read more info on environmental service days: https://www.historiclondontown.org/volunteer and connect with me for filling up scout projects or environmental service days. Sharing with you today, pictures of 2019 Scout projects (and spring blooming Camellias!) Spring blooming Camellia japonica 'White Empress' by the Azalea glade (already peeking out!) Spring blooming Camellia japonica #johnmuir #bamboo #conservation #preservation #nationalparks

Gardens and goats? Well, that doesn’t go quite together, but invasive plants are always on demand on the menu for goats! In the Pacific Northwest, it is a rather common sight to see goats as a control measure for eradication of invasive plants, mainly on steep hills covered with blackberry and multiflora rose. This practice is now getting much more attention in several different states. Here is a good read from Clemson University (https://newsstand.clemson.edu/mediarelations/war-of-wills-clemsons-goats-battle-invasive-plants): “Where we see kudzu, goats see dinner. It’s like candy to them,” Clemson Extension water resources specialist Cal Sawyer said. Clemson researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of using goats to lessen the spread of invasive plants. These non-native species include the aforementioned kudzu, along with Chinese privet, silverthorn, English ivy, nandina, liriope, Japanese stiltgrass and Japanese honeysuckle". Now that’s quite a menu, isn’t it? Utilizing goats for brush control is probably one of the best biological control methods. Of course, the goats don't entirely eradicate the invasives, but can make an otherwise impassable area, clear enough to tackle from the roots. Also, goats are natural browsers, which keeps them moving from one weed to another. Repeated defoliation of a plant can eventually stress out the plant, making it weaker. But goats will eat every shrub in sight and in order to avoid accidental browsing, they are usually kept in a fenced area during control treatments. Goats eat the most difficult and unwanted weeds such as Multiflora rose, Blackberries and even Poison Ivy! "Goats have a high preference for poison ivy and it is one of the first woody species to disappear when goats are introduced into an area". https://goats.extension.org/goat-vegetation-oklahoma-browse/ Here is a neat link that talks about a native Maryland forester, Brian Knox's use of goats as a biological control: “Goats are like herbicides with legs. If you’re over water, goats are certainly a green smiley face and there are no residual issues in the soil.... Most of our invasive plant species will produce a lot of seed, some early on and some years later. If you ‘nuke’ the site with herbicide, you’ll deal with seeds later on.... Goats eat the seeds along with the plants,” he said. “Their mouth shape helps them to digest and remove the seeds from the seed bank. A goat can get to places that people and machinery can’t. Where there are steep slopes, rocks, and downed woody debris, they’re unmatched.” https://www.fs.usda.gov/naspf/sites/default/files/profiles-in-conservation-brian-knox-rev_0.pdf At London Town's gardens, there are some peripheral areas of the woods where multiflora rose, blackberry and Ivy seem to have established well and maybe goats would be a good biological control to try out? After learning about many success stories about goats as a biological control method for invasive control, aren't goats on your mind now as well? Sharing with you today, some pictures of Ivy and goats (clicked at Homestead Gardens). #goats #invasives

"The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn" - Ralph Waldo Emerson New year, new beginnings, maybe small beginnings. Every beginning counts! Take an example from the forests around us. The quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn," sums it all up. A single mature Oak can drop thousands of acorns, and it takes only one acorn to grow into an enormous Oak. Well, that's if the squirrels don't find the acorn first. Lets look at the obvious "Oaks" referred to in the above quote. Oaks (Quercus sps.) are a major keystone species in an ecosystem. A keystone species is a plant which plays a crucial role in an ecosystem. Without these keystone species, that ecosystem would be drastically impacted and might even cease to exist. There are many animals, birds and over 200 insects that rely on Oaks. Sadly, the BGCI (Botanical Gardens Conservation International) reports that over 78 wild oaks are in danger of extinction. What can you do to contribute towards preserving these keystone species? Here is a great link from the University of Maryland which talks about The Great Oaks of Maryland Initiative: https://enst.umd.edu/news/oaks/trees. "The Great Oaks of Maryland Initiative seeks to provide, in the face of habitat loss, limited retail selection and other difficulties, tree choices for the public that preserve species diversity among woody plants and broaden and deepen plant-based food web interactions." Every small beginning counts. Whether your take a step to learn about the habitats around you or if you volunteer to restore a neighboring habitat. Now let’s have a look at the deeper meaning of the quote "The creation of a thousand Oaks is in one acorn." As a public garden professional, to me this quote refers to the connection between people and gardens. For public gardens, every hour contributed by a volunteer has a huge impact. At London Town, we are fortunate to have a fabulous group of volunteers who help in preserving the gardens. The volunteers in the horticulture department range from dedicated volunteers contributing hands-on in the gardens to trained University of Maryland master gardeners contributing in propagation and plant identification. We also receive environmental service day volunteers coming from local organizations, church groups and Eagle scouts. Every hour contributed by these volunteers counts and makes a huge impact in creating and sustaining the whole garden. Without the help of each volunteer hour, the gardens wouldn't thrive. (Want to become a volunteer? Learn more here!) Gardens are transient, but the impact it can leave on someone isn't. Engage, experience and enrich yourself by immersing into nature. And what better way to begin that small step than to engage and stroll through London Town’s gardens! Sharing with you today, pictures of Willow Oaks (London Town has couple of Willow Oaks that are over 180 years old!) and fragile tree Peonies. Also, leaving you with another quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Nature always wears the colors of the spirit." Seems to me that the peonies in the pictures are wearing the bright colors of our cheerful volunteers spirit! Looking forward to working with all our dedicated garden volunteers and meeting new volunteers in 2020! #willowoak #oaktree #treepeony #peony

Franklinia alatamaha 'Franklin tree' Saving and learning about extant, endangered and threatened species should be a resolution for every year, every season and for every gardener. One of my 2019 resolutions was to keep learning from and staying engaged with the current list of plants whose habitats are threatened and endangered. The IUCN Red list (International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List) of Threatened Species is the world's most comprehensive list to read and learn from. The IUCN for example has the following information on Franklinia alatamaha, the 'Franklin tree', "Numerous expeditions to relocate the plant have failed". https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/30408/62077322. Franklin tree is extirpated, meaning it is no longer found growing in the wild. The IUCN has added it in the EW category- Extinct in the Wild. There are of course many populations found on cultivated lands and gardens all over. "The extirpation of the Franklin tree from the native flora of the Southeastern United States was the first example of the extinction of a North American plant for which we have historic documentation". (http://www.pollyhillarboretum.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/franklinia-spongberg.pdf). Stewartia sps. "Franklinia belongs to the tea family and is closely related to Stewartia and Gordonia (loblolly bay). It is not known why this tree disappeared in the wild. Land along the Altamaha River was cleared for cotton plantations leading to one theory that a cotton pathogen found in the soil (carried downstream through erosion) was the main cause of the extinction of the colony. Other extinction theories include decline from climate change, destruction by man, single colony of plants was not genetically diverse enough to withstand pathogens or changing conditions, or a local disaster (flood or fire).Genus name honors Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), American printer, scientist, philosopher and statesman". (http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=q160&) One of the most satisfying moments of 2019 for me in the gardens, was when I saw a delicate pearl white flower growing on a newly established planting of a young Franklin tree in the spring walk. Along with the Franklin tree, we added Stewartias, Azaleas, Magnolias and many Camellias. All thanks to the Stanley Smith Historical Trust, who generously donated a grant which helped us in restoring and replenishing lost collections. It allowed us to do our part in displaying extirpated species and restoring habitats. My goal of continuing to learn about species whose habitats are getting threatened continues into 2020, with an added resolution to learn about impacts of the decline of a species on the habitat as a whole. Would you like to share your green resolution for 2020? Added with the picture of the Franklin tree flower are some highlight pictures of 2019, flower extravaganza from London Town! Hope you have a flourishing and a green new year, Happy 2020! Oriental Lilies Hybrid tea Rose Rudbeckia fulgida 'Black eye Susan' Rhododendron 'Dexter' Anemone coronaria 'Blue Poppy' Tricyrtis sp. 'Toad Lily' Calla lily Anemone hupehensis 'Pink Saucer' #endangered #extirpated #franklinia #franklintree #iucn

Guess what? Kinship exists in humans, animals, as well as in plants! Kin recognition in plants is a recent study and even though the exact mechanism is still being studied, there is ample research to prove kin recognition in plants. Not only can plants recognize their kin, but they can also communicate with their kin. Yes, plants can communicate! Let's first have a look at kin recognition in plants: Plants can recognize their kin by the help of roots exudates, chemicals emitted by their roots. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20539778). Kin recognition helps overall plant survival and success rate. " root exudates can carry specific information about the genetic relatedness, population origin and species identity of neighbours, and trigger different responses at the whole root system level" (https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/newphytologist.204.3.631.pdf?seq=1) Can plants favor their kin? The following info from: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/01/once-considered-outlandish-idea-plants-help-their-relatives-taking-root, is not only intriguing, but eye opening! "The plants do have light sensors, and in 2015, Casal’s team discovered that the strength of reflected light striking nearby leaves signaled relatedness and triggered the rearrangements. Relatives tend to sprout leaves at the same height, bouncing more light onto each other’s leaves. By shifting leaves to reduce how much they shade each other, the relatives cumulatively grow more vigorously and produce more seeds,” his team found. Kin recognition can even help forests regenerate. A method used for evaluating and tracing nutrient flow and chemical signals between trees connected by underground fungi (Mycorrhiza) was used to research how Douglas firs preferentially feed their kin and warn them about insect attacks. Suzanne Simard, a professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia's Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences in Vancouver has done some outstanding research on kinship in plants, mainly Douglas fir and birches. "The research has demonstrated that these complex, symbiotic networks in our forests – [at the hub of which stand what she calls the "mother trees"] -- mimic our own neural and social networks". (https://www.ted.com/speakers/suzanne_simard). I highly recommend listening to her TED talk. It is an awe-inspiring underground world that scientist are currently researching. Isn't kinship in plants fascinating? Well, here is a plant that would bring cheer to any of your kin: Poinsettias (Euphoirbia pulcherima). The bright red, sometimes orange, white, pink (anything else is a dye, steer away!) Poinsettias are everywhere around this time of the year. If you can keep Poinsettias above 55 degrees and keep them moist but not soggy, it certainly can make a special gift for any of your kin! #poinsetta #kinship

Today, instead of the usual winter blues that one can get as the grey clouds cover and the colder crisper air crawls in, we will be looking at the ‘Winter Blues’ of the garden world that can bring cheer to any landscape. London Town's gardens has an excellent mix of conifers including, giant Metasequoias, Yews, White Pines, Bald Cypress, Hanoki Cypress, Atlas Cedar, Larix and many more. Some of the striking 'Winter Blues' are found in foliage of Atlas Cedar, Larix and Juniper sps. Also, any 'Blues' in the garden won't be complete without a mention of the blue lichens. Even though it is not a plant form, I have to mention the blue-green algae for its exquisite turquoise color that is quite striking even in a deciduous barren garden. Atlas Cedar: Cedar trees can live longer than 200 years and get up to 50-60 ft. tall. They thrive in zone 6-9. Atlas Cedars have blue foliage, but it is even more striking in winter with everything else on a shade of brown. “The Cedrus genus was formerly considered to include four species, but it has been reduced to two, C. deodara of the Himalayas and C. libani (Cedar of Lebanon) of the Mediterranean. C. atlantica, the most common species used in landscaping is now considered to be a subspecies of C. libani (i.e., C. libani ssp. atlantica)” (https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/cedrus-atlantica-glauca) Larix kaempferi: commonly called as the Japanese Larch. There are many varieties in the trade, from sturdy to weeping. In late summer, the plant has a more yellow form with needles dropping, but its true blue shines in winter. "Genus name is the classical name for larch trees. Specific epithet honors Engelbert Kaempfer (1651-1716), German botanist and plant collector who visited Japan in the late 1600s". (http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285017&) Juniper horizontals: a creeping from of Juniper, excellent as a ground cover. "Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Adapts to a wide range of soils, but prefers a dryish, sandy soil. Tolerates hot, relatively dry growing conditions. Intolerant of wet soils" (https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=249867&isprofile=0&) Blue lichens: a perfect example of mutualism, is a partnership between fungal hyphae and blue algae. The algae has the beautiful green-blue pigments that are quite striking on barks. Did you know that blue is a ‘rare’ color in nature, in both plants and animals? Amongst flowers, blue is one of the rarest colors and is seen in less than 10% of the 280,000 flowering plants. And guess what? blue is even more rare in foliage. So treasure your 'Blues' if you have some in your gardens or come and enjoy the 'Winter Blues' at London Town. I am sure any garden 'Winter Blues' will add cheer to even the most dreary, cold crispy winter days. #winterblues #conifers #atlascedar #larix #juniper #lichens

Ilex is a genus belonging to the Aquifoliaceae family with over 450 species. From being used for decorating a wreath or being used as a pioneer species or a loyal evergreen in landscaping, to even being known for consisting of cognitive enhancing properties, this genus has an extremely wide array of uses. "Holly," which is the common name for Ilex aquifolium, is also used for most species of Ilex. But not all evergreen Ilex are the same hollies, neither are all Ilex sps. evergreen. Most hollies have bright red berries, but some evergreen hollies also have yellow berries! Ilex opaca is native to south central United States, and this red berried American Holly has less shiner leaves compared to the common European Holly, I. aquifolium. One of the I. opaca varieties, 'Aurea' has canary yellow berries. You can find a healthy mature 'Aurea' in the winter walk at London Town. Many Ilex varieties are commonly found in the nursery trade. But a 'Yerba Mate tea' plant, I. paraguariensis, is a species that is still rather uncommon. This Ilex sps. has caffeine in it! It is considered to have caffeine content close to that found in green tea. Yerba Mate tea, an infusion made from the leaves of the tree Ilex paraguariensis, is a widely consumed nonalcoholic beverage in South America which is gaining rapid introduction into the world market, either as tea itself or as ingredient in formulated foods or dietary supplements". (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18034743). I. verticilatta is considered to be a pioneer species very commonly used in rain gardens. Most commonly used I. verticillata variety is female 'red sprite' and male 'Jim Dandy'. Yes, Ilex are dioecious (having the male and female reproductive organs in separate individuals), and usually for every 3-5 females, you need at least one male pollinator. Both American and European Hollies are excellent evergreen choices for any landscape that wants to have an everlasting emerald green canvas. In fact, Hollies are a loyal and sustainable choice as a screen. They can grow in sun, part shade and full shade. At London Town, you will notice the use of Hollies as an evergreen canvas in the woodland garden; many of them also planted for providing shade for new growth. But most interestingly, London Town's gardens were also used as a test site for some unique varieties of Hollies. I. opaca, I. quifolium, I. cornuta, I. koehneana, I. glabra, and many others. Here is a good link for pictures of varieties: https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/holly/. The Hollies are looking stunning at this time of the year at London Town. Their cheery red berries are a reminder of the holiday season! Many berries will be used in wreaths this weekend during the very popular, sold out wreath workshop. (More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/historic-london-town-and-gardens/wreath-workshop/533260807483547/)

How about little more of Pumpkin, but just as food for thought: 'Pepon', 'Pompon', 'Pumpion' and then finally how did it get to 'Pumpkin'? "References to pumpkins date back many centuries. The name pumpkin originated from the Greek word for "large melon" which is "pepon." "Pepon" was nasalized by the French into "pompon." The English changed "pompon" to "Pumpion." Shakespeare referred to the "pumpion" in his Merry Wives of Windsor. American colonists changed "pumpion" into "pumpkin." (https://web.extension.illinois.edu/pumpkins/history.cfm) Cucurbitaceae family is the gourd family which has the Cucurbit genus with common vegetables such as the squash, pumpkin, zucchini and gourds. Other two genus in this family that have common vegetables are: Cucumis sps. (cucumber) and Momordica (bitter melon). This year in the demonstration gardens at London Town, we grew quite a few members of the Cucubitaceae family including: Bitter melon, cucumber, squash and zucchini. These plantings were correlated to the theme for the demonstration gardens for 2019 which is The Global Garden, which represents the beautiful Still life Art Paintings by James and Raphaelle Peale. Most common species of Pumpkin, the Curcurbita genus that are sold for decorations is C. maxima and the genus sold for edible use is C. moscahata. "Archeological evidence suggests that pumpkins and winter squash are native to the Americas. Native Americans are said to have roasted long strips of pumpkin on an open fire and then consumed them. They also dried pumpkin strips and wove them into mats". (https://ipm.missouri.edu/meg/2013/…/Pumpkin-A-Brief-History/) Phytochemicals and Pumpkins: many pumpkins are regarded as an excellent source of provitamin A carotenoids (eg., beta-carotenoid) because they can provide more than 100% of the recommended daily intake. (Source: Bioactives in fruits, Wiley Blackwell). "Pumpkin seeds, generally considered agro-industrial waste, are an extraordinarily rich source of bioactive compounds with interesting nutraceutical properties. In recent years, several studies have highlighted the health properties of pumpkin seed oil against many diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. It also shows antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties". (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5867545/) Check out the following link from the Univeristy of Georgia Extension which has images of the gigantic "Orange Bulldog" which can certainly visually wrap up pumpkin overload for anyone: https://extension.uga.edu/story.html?storyid=8159 Enjoy the Cucurbits and the season! #PUMPKIN