Garden of Helen Yoest – Helen’s Haven

2012 New Year’s day – Here are my “I’m Gonnas” – Sharing with you my 10 garden resolutions

January 1, 2012 By HelenYoest 2 Comments

My blogging vacay takes a break to share with you my 10 garden resolutions for 2012.

2011 held many garden surprises. It was the year of the unexpected. It wasn’t my plan to re-do my entire garden in 2011, but that is, indeed, what happened. In one year, I learned more about gardening and who I was as a gardener, than all the other years combined. It was a gardening epiphany. A strong word? Yes; but appropriate.

All of what I learned in 2011 resulted in my “I’m gonnas” for 2012. Most of what I will write about in 2012 will be about my gardening epiphanies. Here is a peak what I hope to accomplish:

1) Enhance the purpose of my garden. Helen’s Haven is a wildlife habitat. This is something I never want to forget. It’s the core of my garden’s purpose. But I also like garden art — even in the form of artistic looking plants. If it’s twisted, weeping, or stuck strangely on a standard, I will grow it in my garden. It’s not a departure from wildlife gardening since every plant, by some definition, meets a criterian providing for wildlife: food, cover, place to raise young. In broad terms, a plant may not offer food or a place to raise young, but all plants can provide some sort of cover. However, not all plants are created equal – some are better than others at providing for the wildlife’s needs. In my case, I have enough land (1/2 ace) that, with careful planning, allows me to indulge in the fun and freaky. 2012 will find me trading up some pedestrian exotics for equivalent (or better) natives. Out with the Forsythia, in with the Hamamelis virginiana. If my Forsythia had more value than yellow flowers, such as varigated foliage, or used as a seasonal clock telling me when spring is near or when I need to fertilizer my tall fescue, I would keep it. But I have iCal for that. And even though Forsythia is an excellent provider of cover and a nectar source for early spring pollinators, so is the the native Witch Hazel, but on a grander scale.

2) Less maintenance, higher impact. Given that Helen’s Haven was already low maintenance, I even surprised myself when I found the last vestige of high maintenance in my garden and converted it to year round interest and less maintenance. Out with the dedicated Perennial Border, in with the Mixed Border.

3) Photograph my garden more. As I journey through the seasons, side by side with Helen’s Haven, I want to remember the first galanthus of the season, the daffodils facing the sun, the butterfly alighting the Lantana, and the fall color setting my soul on fire. And as a note to self, tag my photos better. I’m really bad at this. Out with the random photos, in with the photos with purpose.

4) Entertain more. We all lead busy lives. Mine is not much different than yours. But at some point, having friends over to share a nosh, a cup tea, or a glass of wine, fell low on my list. I plan to change these priorities. Out with just me in the garden and in with friends over more.

5) Stop to watch the flowers grow. I actually do a very good job of this. But I think there is room for improvement. Doing more of number 4 will help this along. It is not uncommon for me to just sit and stare at the beauty that surrounds me.

6) Weep at nature’s beauty. When I finished my Mixed Border re-design, taking it from a perennial bed to a mixed border, for several days and even now, 3 months later, I want to weep at the beauty I created it. After years of searching, I found the soul of my garden. It’s no longer just a good selection of great plants, placed in a pretty pattern. This garden now has soul. I’m gonna weep if I want to, when I want too.

7) Enjoy the seasons as the come. My garden epiphany helped me realize, that there is something beautiful and wonderful in every season. I clearly remember when I lived in England and it was raining again, I thought to myself, If I didn’t go out because of the rain, I wouldn’t get out much. The same with the garden. Raleigh has beautiful winters. Half chilly, half cold, but with flowers that bloom and berries that ignite. I will just quit my whining and accept the season I’m in. Why am I so anxious for spring when I have a winter waiting to bring me beauty. Yes, I must bundle up and the days are shorter, but I will no longer let that deter me. I’m gonna enjoy the season I’m in.

EIGHT) Eat pray mulch. I’m gonna eat what I sow, pray for nature to take it’s course, and mulch for all the good mulching does.

9) Sit in the Garden House to just look and listen. The Garden House was one of the first plans I had for my garden and finally after 14 years those plans were rallied. I’m not gonna squander my good fortune.

10) Write more, blog less. This is not what it sounds like. Blogging is writing; but as I go into my 5th year blogging, I realize I feel I need to post something when I’m not really in the mood. I much rather write a post when the mood strikes me, not by the turn of a calendar. After all, isn’t that what blogging is all about — being able to post in real time? Besides, I’m writing a book. That has to take precedence. I’m gonna go back on blog vacay now and come back when my book is done. Then, I’m gonna write whatever I want, when ever I want. I like that!

May all your dreams come true in 2012 and remember, they may not even have been invented yet. So keep a keen eye open for dreams not even thought of yet.

Helen Yoest is a garden writer, speaker and garden coach through her business Gardening with Confidence™.

Filed Under: Gardening News Tagged With: Garden of Helen Yoest - Helen's Haven, Gardening With Confidence, Helen Yoest

A walk in the winter garden

January 21, 2011 By HelenYoest 4 Comments

Here’s a tip from a southerner who embraces winter – garden for the season – it makes the time till spring fly!

We are so fortunate to be able to garden year round in the Raleigh area. I’m sharing the story below from the current issue of Triangle Gardener magazine. This gives just a taste of what we can grow in our area with particular interest in providing cover and food for the wildlife.

Winter Wonders – plants for wildlife

Flowers, berries, evergreens and grasses will fill the winter garden with wildlife and give you reason to walk around.

One of the best parts about living in the Triangle are winters worthy of gardening. In winter, it is more about admiring the garden and the wildlife it brings, than worrying about weeds. While your winter flowering trees and shrubs are in bloom, the weeds sleep.

Designing a wildlife friendly garden by adding water, food, cover and a place to raise their young, will help entice your wildlife to stay in the garden year ‘round.

Particularly in the winter, providing plants for a wide range of food sources and cover, will keep your wildlife coming back to feed and feel safe.

FOOD

There are many sources of food for wildlife in winter, including seed, nectar, pollen, berries and nuts.

With a wide variety of cultivars to choose from, the winter flowering, evergreen shrub, Camellia japonica, provide nectar on a day warm enough to move a bee, as do Mahonia and wintersweet (Chimonanthus). So do flowering apricot trees (Prunus Mume), and perennials such as Hellebores, adding gorgeous flowers to your winter landscape.

With just a few varieties, your winter garden can be filled with blooming flowers all season long.

Many birds will be happy to find Ilex verticillata ‘Winter Red’ holly growing in your garden. It’s not uncommon to have a a flock of cedar waxwings dine on these and other species of holly berries, as well as, Eastern dogwood, junipers and fruits, such as cherries. Robins, bluebirds, and thrushes will also find protein rich winter berries the perfect meal.

Crab apple (Malus spp.) can be quite showy in the winter landscape and also provide food for many birds.

COVER

When wildlife feed, having cover near by provides protection, creating a safe haven for your wildlife.

Dense, low growing ground covers such as a creeping yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia ‘Prostrata’) provides winter shelter for many birds.

Tall protective grasses like Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’ and Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris), left uncut, add interest in the winter garden, as well as, cover for many wildlife. Native switch grass, Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’, can grow 4 foot tall with a nice blond winter color.

DOUBLE DUTY

Often times, plants will do double duty providing both food and cover. Viburnum tinus, Spring Bouquet ‘Compactum’, offers berries for birds and quick cover, when needed.

It’s worth noting, most double flowers are actually of little use to bees and other insects as many of these new cultivars are bred with the pollen bearing anthers replaced by extra petals. Others are just too ornate for the bees to get to the nectar. A good example of this is the Camellia japonica cultivar ‘Governor Mouton’. Indeed, a beautiful flower and worthy of growing in the winter wildlife garden. But while this Camellia may not have nectar readily available, the ‘Governor Mouton’ will still provided cover for the wildlife and be gorgeous to boot.

Although not all winter plants provide food for wildlife, every evergreen tree and shrub does provide cover. Choose plants that provide food and cover for your wintertime enjoyment and also enjoy the wildlife they bring.

COME ON OUT TO SEE ME!

Join Helen Yoest at the JC Raulston Arboretum for the Winter Lecture and Tour, February 13, 2011. Helen’s talk on Winter Wonders for the garden that also attract wildlife, begins at 1:00 AM followed by a winter garden tour.

The Arboretum is located at 4415 Beryl Road in Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information call the JC Raulston Arboretum at (919) 515-3132 or visit their website at: JC Raulston Arboretum

Helen Yoest is a garden writer, speaker and garden coach through her business Gardening with Confidence™.

Follow Helen on Twitter @HelenYoest and her facebook Friend’s page, Helen Yoest; or facebook Like page, Gardening With Confidence™

Helen is a field editor for Better Homes and Gardens and Country Gardens magazine and she also serves on the board of advisors for the JC Raulston Arboretum.

AND

Helen is the founder, publisher and editor of:
Tarheel Gardening – your online resource for North Carolina gardening enthusiasts.

You can follow Tarheel Gardener.com on Twitter @TarheelGardenin and on facebook at Tarheel Gardening.com.

Filed Under: Garden Wildlife, Gardening With Confidence Tagged With: Garden of Helen Yoest - Helen's Haven, gardening, Winter Gardening

Mid-Atlantic Garden Maintenance – January

January 2, 2011 By HelenYoest 9 Comments

January Maintenance Guide

GARDENING WITH CONFIDENCE™

THIS MONTH IN THE GARDEN

Mid-Atlantic Region

INTRO

January is a good time to look back on your gardening year and to plan ahead. Walk around your garden, shoot some photos, and make a wish list of your garden’s hopes and dreams.

It is always a good idea to photograph your garden each month as a photo journal of what is blooming when. But also, looking at your garden through the lens is telling. What you see and what others see are often times two different things. We all have our priorities. What you may pass by everyday and don’t notice because you got used to looking at it, will show up and be noticed in print, and by others.

It’s no different when seeing oneself in a photograph. Most of us don’t like what we see; we start picking it apart. Do you like what you see in your garden photographs? So while it is a good idea to walk around your garden to jot down ideas and list what needs to be done, it is a better idea to evaluate what you see from photographs.

We gardeners tend to plan our gardens to spring and summer showings. Make your winter garden just as rewarding by planting for winter interest – flowers, color, fruit, textures, and scent. Take a good look around. January is a good time to look back on your gardening year. Are there things you would like to change? Make a list, keep it handy, and add to it, as necessary, and check off the tasks once completed – its a good feeling.

Another thing to do at the first of the year is to conduct a soil test. Consider this your yearly reminder.

BULBS

If you will begin to see bulb foliage begin to emerge. It’s OK. The leaves are hardy and if harmed, they will grow more. Keep bulbs mulched so they aren’t lifted by heaving resulting from repeated freeze and thaw.

As the tips of your daffodils emerge, add a general 10-10-10 fertilizers or a fertilizer especially designed for bulbs, such as Holland Bulb brand.

If you didn’t fertilize your bulbs with a slow release fertilizer last fall, it is still OK to do. Apply about a teaspoon per square foot of bed after the foliage emerges.

ANNUALS

To keep your pansies happy, apply an organic fertilizer such as bone meal or root simulator fertilizer designed specifically for pansies following the label directions. Re-apply every 4 – 6 weeks.

PERENNIALS

Semi-evergreen ferns look great in the winter garden. There are some great ones to choose from including Christmas, Holly, and Autumn.

Late January and February is a good time to dig and divide liriope and mondo grass. Now is also a good time to cut back liriope before the new growth emerges. If done before new growth emerges, a lawnmower or string-tirmmer can make short work of this annual task.

When to Fertilize Your Grass.

TREES & SHRUBS

The most common Camellias grown in our area are Camellia sasanqua and Camellia japonicas. C. sasanquas bloom from September to January and tend to have a mass of small flowers (as compared to C. japonicas) blooming all at one time. C. japonicas bloom from September to March and tend to have a fewer flowers bloom at a time. Camellias like acid soil with some organic matter in semi-shady conditions. Camellia sasanquas are also tolerant of some sun.

Figs do fine in many soil types, but perform best in slightly alkaline soil. To aid in this, given our areas natural acid tendencies, add powered dolomite limestone (CaCo3) to the fig bushes.

ROSES

With black spot so prevalent in our area, rack and clean underneath the rose bushes and discard. this will help to reduce the amount of disease going into the next growing season.

Check that the crown of the rose bush is still covered. Often times, winter winds can blow mulch away.

HERBS

Lavender foliage remains a silver-green color during the winter months creating nice interest in the winter months.

VEGETABLES

Now is the time to plant English (green) peas. A common mistake is to plant too late in the season. English peas are very hardy and withstand sub-freezing temperatures.

Indoors or in a cold frame, sow seed of cool-season vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage.

WATERWISE

Plants in the winter still need water. We usually get a gracious plenty of rain in the winter and in the spring, but in times of drought, remember a winter drought can be as severe as a summer one. In fact, a plant planted in the fall that was not watered sufficiently in the winter and dies in the summer is often times blamed as a summer problem when it was more likely caused in the winter. Not that this is much consolation for the dead plant. But it does remind us that plants need water even in the winter.

Pansies have a shallow root system – make sure they get watered weekly, if not by nature, then by you.

For your Plumber…leave the hoses attached to your faucets! Your plumber will love you for it. If this is not the kind of love you seek, remove the hoses from your faucets so they don’t freeze and bust.

Stay on top of your weeding by handpicking your weeds from the grass and beds on a routine basis. Dig up wild onions and garlic as they emerge. If possible, walk my gardens daily and note what needs to be done, creating a to-do list. Then weekly, I work through the list!

GARDEN PESTS

Spray for your aphids, scale and mites with a dormant oil. This will help to reduce the number of pest. Wait until the temperature is at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer for at least 24 hours.

Look for and remove bagworm pouches hanging in junipers or other narrow-leaf plants. Fire is an effective way to destroy bagworms. If not removed, they will begin the cycle again during the next growing season.

Camellias (particularly Camellia japonica) really start to shine in January. To discourage Camellia petal blight, remember to rake spent flowers that have fallen underneath the bushes.

WILDLIFE

Recycle your Christmas tree to the garden for the birds. Fill with “ornaments” of pine cones covered with peanut butter rolled in birdseed and add some dried cranberries for color and good eats. The birds with thank you and you can reap the rewards of watching them enjoy.

Adding hollies to the landscape brightens up garden with color and food for the wildlife.

CONTAINER GARDENING

It is not too late to pot up some spring bulbs.

Helen Yoest is a garden writer, speaker and garden coach through her business Gardening with Confidence™.

Follow Helen on Twitter @HelenYoest and her facebook Friend’s page, Helen Yoest; or facebook Like page, Gardening With Confidence™

Filed Under: Garden Maintenance - Mid-Atlantic Region Tagged With: Garden of Helen Yoest - Helen's Haven, Helen Yoest, Maintenance guide, Mid Atlantic, zone 7b

New Year’s Day – Here are my “I’m Gonnas” – Sharing With You My 10 Garden Resolutions

December 31, 2009 By HelenYoest 38 Comments

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Here at Helen’s Haven, we take every chance to have new beginnings. In the world of gardening, everyday offers a new beginning; most, sadly, are not necessarily planned.

On New Year’s day, we have an opportunity to plan some resolutions and then hope for the best. As someone profound once said, “if you don’t have any goals, how do you know when you got there”, or some such talk. So I have goals for the garden…drumroll, please. Here are my I’m gonna’s:

10. I’m gonna stop waking up in the morning and going straight to the window to see if the boxwood hedge in the back connected during the night. The Best and Hardest Thing to Give Your Garden is Time

9. I’m gonna deadhead like I should.

8. I’m gonna grow more plants from seed.

7. I’m gonna sow poppy and larkspur seeds again, even though I know I will fail.

What do You Want to Know About a Plant?

December 30, 2009 By HelenYoest 28 Comments

All I wanted to know was if it was favored by bunnies…

As a garden communicator, when I write about a plant, I like to present as much information as possible,\’a0 at the same time making it readable. Also, most times, I have had a good experience with a particular plant, bringing me joy and I want to share this experience and hopefully encourage the reader to plant one in hopes they experience\’a0 similar joy. I don’t like to write about a plant I don’t have a personal experience with.

What I want to know about a plant may be different than what you want to know. The variables per reader are vast. Most gardeners will want to know about the plant’s USDA hardiness, sun requirements, soil type and the like. There are those plagued with deer who want to know if it’s deer resistance, with nearly every communicator qualifying the answer with, “But as you know, deer will eat anything if hungry enough.”

I need to know the plants water needs. I have a waterwise garden design, so I need to know if the plant of my desire will go into my oasis, transitional, or xeric zone. From there, I can decide if I have room, or if I really want it, I’ll make room by trading up. I find it frustrating when I see a plant I want and have to go to several sources to get all the info about a plant that I need.

When I’m gathering gardening info, I’ll gather even more info than I need personally, in the event I really like the plant and want to put it in a clients garden or if I want to write about it. For example, I am plagued with bunnies. I need to know if a plant is resistant to bunnies. I don’t have deer. However, I will want to know this information to file away for a client’s need or for a writing assignment.

The magazines (me included) are currently writing about the 2009 Perennial Plant of the Year,Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’ ornamental grass. A timely endeavor. I like it. It looks good in the photos and I want it. But with having made too many plant purchase mistakes to mention, and finding that zonal denial only benefits the nursery or garden center, I’m getting to where I need to be gaining more knowledge and killing less. If a plant is listed as a bunnies favorite, I’ll stay clear of it. No use building a buffet line for those marauding, munching, members of the cute critter club.

Here is what I want to know about a plant.\’a0 The list started out organized and ended up random as I continued to think of things I wanted to know:

Hardiness range My garden, Helen’s Haven, is in Zone 7b. I have to really, really like it if it’s at the end of it’s zone. Preferable, I like to have another zone wrapped around it. I no longer buy zone 8 plants; those days will be here soon enough if you listen to the global warming conversations, but for now, I’m sticking to my zone.

Water requirement I will accept most conditions, dry, moist or wet. I don’t have all the waterwise zones covered, but I do have most of them including, sunny oasis, sunny transition, sunny xeric, shady transitional, shady xeric and a tiny bit of shady oasis. I need a plant’s watering need so I know where to plant it.

Christmas Tree Afterlife Will Delight Wildlife

December 23, 2009 By HelenYoest 23 Comments

After Christmas, when your tree has served a charming tradition, your tree can have an afterlife as protection for the wildlife.

HANGING TWEET TREATS

Here, at Helen’s Haven, we put our tree in the Mixed Border to go form hanging glitzy ornaments inside to tweet treats outside.

: Making Tweet Treats: Gather the kids, birdseed, cranberries, bagels, peanut butter and string. Spend a couple hours creating treats for your birds

How to Decorate a Container for the Holidays

December 15, 2009 By HelenYoest 7 Comments

Painted magnolia in a hose potGATHER MATERIALS:ContainerChicken wireClippersTapeMagnoliaPaintGlovesGreenery

How-to Decorate a Birdbath for the Holidays

December 14, 2009 By HelenYoest 12 Comments

When it comes to decorating a birthbath for the Holidays, the best way is with water. Natural, fresh, unfrozen water is the best thing you can add to your birdbath. Fresh water for the wildlife is fashionable in any season.


Lucky for us at Helen’s Haven, we have 9 birdbaths, so turning one into a fabulous decoration for 3 weeks or so is fun, festive, and easy to do. We also find comfort in knowing our wildlife will not go without.


A little of this and a little of that is all it takes to make a big impression…just using snips from the garden. If you don’t have the materials used here, regional substitutions are not only OK, it’s preferred!


Oh yes, as always, the clippings from the bottom of the Christmas tree come in handy as filler.




[Read more...]

Filed Under: Garden How-tos Tagged With: Christmas decorations, Garden of Helen Yoest - Helen's Haven, Gardening With Confidence

How to Create a Boxwood Topiary for Your Holiday Decorations

December 11, 2009 By HelenYoest 6 Comments

Now is the perfect time to prune boxwood making good use of these snips to create a beautiful holiday decoration. \’a0Creating a boxwood topiary is easy to do and long-lasting.

Gather materials:\

A topiary form purchased from a craft store.

Cranberries purchased from the grocery store.

4 inch snips of boxwood from a bush in your garden (or a friends’.) \’a0It always seems to take more than you need. \’a0Snip generously. \’a0Any left over can be discarded into a wildlife brush pile.

An ice pick is helpful tool to “pre-drill” holes for the boxwood topiary.

Terracotta pot.

Topiary form

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Filling in the form with boxwood

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"Pre-drill" holes with an ice pick helps allow box to enter form easily

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Almost complete

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Because of the generous size, the box ball makes, \’a0the base become out of scale. \’a0As such, slipping this base into a larger pot balances the design.\
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Finished!

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Box dries nicely so nothing is needed to keep your topiary looking good.\
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Top with cranberries and voila!\
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Enjoy.\

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Helen Yoest is a garden writer and coach through her business Gardening with Confidence\’99\
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Follow Helen on Twitter @HelenYoest and her facebook friend\’92s page, Helen Yoest or Gardening With Confidence\’99 Face Book Fan Page.\
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Helen also serves on the board of advisors for the JC Raulston Arboretum