Creating a Hummingbird Garden

The creation of a successful hummingbird habitat in your garden is easy. Like other birds, they need food, water, and spots for nesting, roosting and perching. Hummingbird metabolism dictates a diet high in sugar. A ‘typical’ hummingbird consumes half of his weight each day in sugar requiring several feedings per hour. They obtain their sugar and many other nutrients from flower nectar.

Providing a steady succession of nectar flowers from early spring until late autumn is the key to attracting these birds. Hummingbirds are particular about their flowers. These ‘hummingbird flowers’ are often red, a color which is visible to the birds, but is indistinctive for insects competing for the nectar. They often have long tubular flowers which also discourages most bees which cannot reach down far enough to get the nectar. Red is the color that gets a hummingbirds attention, but they also sample flowers of other colors and frequent them if they are good nectar producers. Although attracted to the color red flowers they won't come back if they is a poor food source.

Hummingbirds also consume many small insects which they find in the flowers. A diversity of flowers promotes a healthy diversity of insect life that is necessary for their diet.

A complete habitat also includes trees and shrubs for shade roosting, perching and nest sites. It has been suggested that willows trees are a multipurpose plant. Their flowers are a source for both nectar and small insects while the downy filaments which aid in seed dispersal are a good nest building material for the hummingbird.

Hummingbirds get their nutritional water from nectar, but they do appreciate a bird bath. The water must be shallow, to accomplish this in a regular bird bath line the bottom of the basin with flat rocks and fill with water.

Hummingbird Flowers
Anise Hyssop
Lobelia
Penstemon
Butterflybush
Rosemary
Foxglove Columbine
Honeysuckle
Salvia
Coral Bell
Trumpet Vine
Red Hot Pokers
Bee Balm
Lambs Ear
Lupine
Obedient Plant

                                  Stop Murder in the Landscape!
With proper planting a perennial garden will provide years of enjoyment with much less care than annual plantings. When placing new plants in the border, be sure to consider mature height. In designing a perennial border we recommend selecting plants from every height class to achieve a pleasing progression of size from the front to the back area. “In his garden every man may be his own artist with-out apology or explanation,” Louise Beebe Wilder wrote in the classic book Color In My Garden. In gardening you always get a second chance every spring.

Time spent on bed preparation initially will pay off in the end. Turn the soil, remove all weeds, and add plenty of organic matter. If gardening on clay, the best solution is a raised bed. In winter, clay soil merely act as a bathtub with no drain. If planning a rock garden, add small gravel for drainage. On new plantings, it is best to incorporate a slow release fertilizer. On established plantings, feed just prior to growth in early spring.

When you have removed your Blossom Farm plant from its pot, check the roots. If they are tight and circling round, it will be necessary to score the roots lightly around the rootball and loosen up the roots gently with your hand.

After planting, keep plants well watered until they begin to root into the soil usually about 4 weeks. Be sure to water thoroughly to saturate the soil surrounding the crown. Applying 2” of composted bark to your garden will help suppress weeds and keep roots cool. Avoid putting mulch directly around the crowns. Many people will purchase plants and wonder why they die. Most perennials must have good drainage. Experiment, observe try again. Over-watering or under-watering is often the key to the problem or sticking them in a hard ground to be ignored. Before watering get down and stick your finger in the soil to check the soil moisture. If possible do not water in the evening, as doing so invites disease pathogens into your garden.

Removing spent blossoms, will prolong bloom time, and remove old foliage as plants die down in the late fall to reduce the spread of any disease pathogens.

Fall, is it safe for planting?
The soil temperatures and night-time air temperatures are much warmer than in spring, and the plants respond by really “taking off” and forming new root growth. Then in the following spring fall plants will begin growing sooner and even outperform plants just planted in spring.

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                   Creating a Butterfly Paradise

    Seldom does a sight of a butterfly go un-admired. There are several things you can do to attract butterflies to your garden: provide lots of nectar bearing flowers, food for caterpillars, sunshine, sheltering trees and shrubs and small mud puddles. Butterflies are out, but the coldest months and it is important to provide flowers from early spring until late autumn. These insects tastes with their feet, which have special receptors for sweetness, and the length of a butterfly's tongue determine the type of flower it can dine on.

If you supply a steady succession of colorful, nectar rich host plants, the lingering butterflies may even mate in your garden. Each species lays its eggs near a certain kind of "host" plant and its caterpillars are adapted to eat only this particular plant with only a few exceptions. At hatching, a tiny hungry larva emerges and begins feeding on the host plant. As it grows it will shed it skin several times, each time replacing it with a larger one. After about three weeks it turns into a chrysalis. This is when the transformation of an adult butterfly emerges, and begins searching for food and a mate. You can't have butterflies without caterpillars, and caterpillars eat plants! Plant a little extra for them and learn to live with their munching. Caterpillars watching can be fun, especially for children.

Butterflies are cold blooded creatures, and must warm their wings in the sun before they can fly. Adding flat stones to your garden will allow them to land and bask in the sun. Male butterflies engage in a behavior called "puddling" which transfers beneficial nutrients that enhance the viability of the female's eggs. You can create an artificial puddle by burying a shallow bucket of soil then placing a few sticks or rocks on top as butterfly perches. Be sure to add water when dry. Remember also that pesticides will kill not only targeted insects but also butterflies and caterpillars. Always use the least toxic pesticide necessary to control an insect infestation and use it in the infested area only.
Since many butterfly's over winter as chrysalis it is best to cut back your perennial garden in the spring. "A tidy garden is a dead butterfly garden".

Next I assemble a small list of plants that will help attract butterflies to your garden. All are available from the BLOSSOM FARM.

               Butterfly Nectar Plants - we offer a unique collection
Inula
Joe Pye Weed
Yarrow
Butterfly weed
Centaurea
Dianthus
Helen's Flower
Liatris
Oregano
Sages
Mint
Daisies
Malva
Obedient Plant
Sea Holly
Hollyhock
Anise Hyssop
Butterfly Bush
Jupiter's Beard
Cone flower
Inula
Statice
Painted Daisy
Thyme
Sweet Pea
Hollyhock
Scabiosa
Sedum
Bluemist
Sedum
Hyssop
Rosemary
Ammonium
Aster
Coreopsis
False Sunflower
Lavender
Bee balm
Rudbeckia
Garlic Chives
Chives
Artemisia Species
Pussytoes
Loosestrife
Globe Thistle
Valerian
Veronica
Rue

CATERPILLAR FOOD

Mints
Butterfly Weed
Malva
Parsley
Hops
Sorrels Aster
Viola
Rue
Tarragon
Goldenrod
Licorice

Dill
Hops Vine
Fennel
False Indigo (Baptisia)

Herbal Tea Garden - we offer a special collection
Lavender Flowers
Borage
Lemon Verbena
Rosemary
Scented Geranium
Savory
Basil
Bee balm
Catnip
All Mints
Chamomile
Lemon Balm
Borage
Rose Hips
Catmint
Germander
Sage
Lemon Thyme
Anise Hyssop
Hibiscus TOP

A perfect cup of Tea
Pick 2 TBS. fresh herbs per cup of tea or 1 to 2 teas. of dried herb per cup of tea. Bruise herbs with a wooden spoon, pour boiling water over the bruised herbs in the teapot. Cover and let steep for about 15-20 min. If you are not drinking the tea right away strain out the herbs so the brew does not get to strong. Combine any of the above to make your own special herb brew
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Insect Chasing Garden - we offer a terrific collection

Tansy
Wormwood
Rue
Catnip
Dill
Lavender Cotton
Rosemary
Mints
Yarrow
Sweet Annie Sage
Bay
Pennyroyal
Chervil
Lavender

       ---------------------------------------------------------                             Cut/Dried Flower Garden
* Denotes plants that dry well
* Ladies Mantel
Daisy
Bleeding Heart
Blanket Flower
* False Sunflower
* Liatris
Obedient Plant
* Nigella
* Tansy
* Golden Thistle
* Centaurea
Campanula
* Lambs Ear
Columbine
* Delphnium
* Artemisia
Helen's Flower
* Loosestrife
Red Hot Poker
* Yarrow
* Oregano
* Yarrow
* Mint
Lupine
Scabiosa
* Rudbeckia
* Sea Holly
* Astilbe
* Bee balm
* Echinops
* Coral Bell
Veronica
* Coreopsis
* Lavender
* Feverfew
Carnation
* Sage
* Statice
* Indigo
* Nigella
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Herbal Baths From The Garden
Herbal baths are a perfect antidote to combat impure air and water conditions. Smoothing, soothing and hydrating to the skin.
The basic bath: Place 1/2 cup of any combination of herbs in a non-metallic pot add water to cover. Bring to boil, simmer 10-20 minutes to extract the wonderful benefits. Strain. Pour the herbal fragrant brew into your bath water or use the brew as a last rinse in the shower. If you are bathing, soak 20 minutes. Do not have the bath water too hot will make you sweat and not allowing your skin to pick up the herbal
nutrients. Note: Allergic reaction can occur with any herbal product, as always test on a small area o the skin before bath.

Herb Plants to Gather:
Lavender-rejuvenating, fragrant
Peppermint-stimulating, cooling
Sage- astringent, Helps joints
Calendula-healing to dry skin
Chamomile-reduces swelling
Horsetail-anti-fungal
Lemon Balm-relaxing
Parsley-Soothes insect bites
Marjoram-stimulating
Rosemary-astringent
Thyme-muscle relaxer
Roses-hydrator
Chervil-revitalizing
Savory-stimulating
Hop-revitalizing
Spearmint-calming
Catnip-relaxing
Strawberry leave-cleansing
Basil-relaxing

                                       Deer Resistant Plants
Deer resistant plants are more many, but not guaranteed. Deer are highly adaptable and some may learn to feed on plants that most deer find distasteful. In any case, if food is short, you will find deer browsing on normally unpalatable plants
Amsonia
Angelica
artemisia species
Astilbe
Baby's Breath
Balloon Flower
Beebalm
Black-eyed Susan
Bleeding heart
Boltonia
Bugbane
Butterfly Weed
Butterflybush
Campanula
Catmint
Chives
Cinquefoil
Clematis
Columbine
Coneflower
Coreopsis
Delphinium
Dianthus
Dill
False Indigo
Ferns
Feverfew
Foxglove
Garlic Chives
Geraniums (species)
Goldenrod
Honeysuckle
Icelandic Poppies
Iris
Joe-Pye Weed
Labrador Violet
Lady's mantle
Lambs Ear
Lamium
Lavender
Lupine
Mint
Monarda
Mullein Oregano
Ornamental Onion
Ostrich Fern
Painted Daisy
Parsley
Pennyroyal
Peony
Queen-of-the-Prairie
Rhubarb
Rosemary
Sage
Shasta Daisy
Snapdragon
Soapwort
Spike Gayfeather
Stachys
Statice
Sweet Cicely
Tansy
Thyme
Turtlehead
Veronica
Wormwood
Yarrow species

                                       Herbs of the Bible
     In the Bible the importance of plants were mention in numerous scriptures. Vegetables such as: onions, cucumbers and beans. Fruit and nut trees such as: walnut, apricot, black mulberry and almonds. Ornamental trees such as: willow, oleander, popular, cypress, cedar, pine, tamarix, acacia and many, many more. But my interest is the study of historical uses of herbaceous plants.
I narrowed down the plants that are mostly winter hardy in our area in case you are interested starting your own bible garden. Most of the following plants are the real thing but as always there is question and much debate among scholars.
People who lived in Jesus' time were wonderful herbalists. Many herbal plants are mentioned in the bible. They used the herbs not only for food, but to flavor food and also for medicinal purposes. They did not visit the doctor around the corner or the hospital.
We know that biblical people set aside plots specifically for herbs: Kings 21:2
[And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.]
We can start with Adam and Eve. On day three of creation, we read about the earth bringing forth herbs. Genesis 1:11-12 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. Here we read that the Lord says for the earth to bring forth herbs. The garden is such that nothing needs to be planted because the Lord has already set everything in motion. On day six, God creates Adam and Eve and brings them into the garden. The Lord tells Adam that He has given him every green herb for meat. All Adam has to do is walk through the garden and pick some herbs and eat. Adam and Eve have it made in the garden, but it will not last long. In Genesis 3:1-7 we can read about the temptation and fall.
The following plants are a few found in scriptures in the bible and a few are just for fun.

Hyssop (Hyssops officinalis)
A lovely, shrubby low evergreen plant with blue summer flowers. Hyssop as we know it may or may not be the hyssop mentioned by David. Was once referred to as the herb used in purification: Psalms 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. It was also used for ritual cleansing and sprinkling of blood in the tabernacle Lev. 14:4,49 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive [and] clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.
The medicinal use of Hyssop can be found in John 19:29. Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. Today we know it has mild germ killing properties. A poultice of hyssop is said to help heal wounds and bruises. Teas have been used historically to treat fever, colds, indigestion and asthma and was most likely used for this back then. In Medieval monastery gardens all contained hyssop, which was believed to ward off the evil eye.

Sweet Flag or Calamus Root (Acorus calamus)
Sweet smelling Calamus refers to the many aromatic grasses found growing in abundance in the Holy Land. Iris like leaves similar to cattails but yellow green in color and very aromatic. Once used as a strewing herb on floors in churches, as people crunched the rushes underfoot, the fragrance was released.
In the scripture the Lord delivers instructions to Moses for the proper way to make and use a holy anointing oil Exodus 30:25. “Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,”
Calamus leaves were also used in Native American Indian purification rituals and historically used to dispel worms. Roots can be eaten raw or candied to soothe indigestion, coughs, and headaches. Until the late 1960s it was found in hair and tooth powders as well as bitters, tonics and liqueurs. Roots are used as a fragrance fixative in potpourri. Many people use the plant today for scenting linens; collect the rhizome in late fall and wash off the mud, chop up and dry well on screens, then place in little cotton muslin bags among you linens. It is also used in Asia to deter ants.

Rue (Ruta chalepensis)
Shrubby evergreen with an unusual blue green fern-like foliage, grows on the hills of the Holy Land as a low straggling shrub (because of the desert like weather) with pungent smelling leaves. Jesus referred to it being tithed Luke 11:42. "But woe to you Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and every herb, and neglect justice and the love of God; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others."
An ancient symbol of sorrow, in Christian times it was nicknamed "Herb of Grace" for the grace given by God following repentance of ones sins. Brushes were made of the plant to sprinkle holy water before a Roman Catholic High Mass.
During the middle ages it was added to exorcism mixes to offer protection against evil spells and to ward off the plague. Historically, ointments were used to treat gout, rheumatism and sprains. Rue can cause photosensitivity when handle fresh with very unsightly dark pigments that take many months to go away. Ask me how I know!

Lavender (Lavendula angustiofolia)
Has been a favorite herb for centuries and my favorite as well. The historic use and recognition of lavender is almost as old the history of man. As an herb, lavender has been documented in use for over 2,500 years. In ancient times lavender was used for mummification and perfume by the Egyptians and peoples of Arabia. The Greeks and the Romans bathed in lavender scented water and it was from the Latin word "lavo" meaning "to wash" that the herb took it's name.
Lavender is often mentioned in the Bible, not by the name lavender but rather by the name used at that time, spikenard. In the gospel of Luke the writer reports: "Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment."
Another ancient Christian reference to lavender involves how it got its scent. The plant is believed to have been taken from the Garden of Eden by Adam and Eve. However, the powerful perfume came later. According to legend the clothing of baby Jesus when laid upon a bush to dry by Mother Mary bestowed the scent. This may explain why the plant is also regarded as a holy safeguard against evil. In many Christian houses a cross of lavender was hung over the door for protection

St. Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
We are all familiar with the popularity of St Johns wort used by herbalist as ‘Natures Prozac’. But historically, with the spread of Christianity the plant was associated with John the Baptist; it was said that it flowers on his birthday June 24 and bleeds red oil from its leaf glands on August 29 the day he was beheaded. But wether this is true or not I alway forget to pay attention that week. But I have actually notice red spot showing up later in the season. It is said harvesting on St Johns Birthday it is the most potent. It's ancient name, Fuga Daemonum, referred to it's power of driving away evil spirits. The night of St. John has been celebrated all over the world by peasant girls who hang the plant over their doors, and sleep with it under their pillows, to get rid of evil spells, or to foretell who their future husbands will be.

Rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis)
Has a pine-y aroma and dark green needle-like leaves, very rarely returning after our long wet springs. For centuries people thought that rosemary plants would grow no higher than 6 feet in 33 years so as not to stand taller than Christ. Another Story tells that the flowers were all originally white but changed to blue when the Virgin Mary hung her cloak on a bush while fleeing from Herod’s soldiers with the Christ child.
In medieval times it was burned to cleanse the altar. And was added to love sachets or place under the bed and above the door to protect from harm. Besides the historic uses, rosemary is best known for remembrance and friendship. At one time rosemary was in every wedding, and at funerals mourners tossed fresh sprigs into the grave as a sign that the dearly departed would not be forgotten. Even today rosemary signifies love, friendship and remembrance.

Costmary or Bible-leaf (Chrysanthemum balsamita)
This whole plant emits a soft balsamic aroma. Since colonial days, the leaves marked the pages of bible verses; however it did not serve as just an innocent bookmark. Sleepy churchgoers would sniff and nibble on the edges and they would be revived during long, boring sermons. I wonder if it could be determined which parish had the most boring clergy by the amount of Costmary grown in the area? Since it also has insect repelling properties I also believe they used as book marks to keep bugs at bay.

Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum)
Light green sprawling fluffy herb with clusters of airy yellow flowers. Mary is said to have prepared the Christ child's bed with this herb. Thereafter it was known as Our Lady’s Bedstraw, and the formerly white flower-heads turned to a golden hue. “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger... Colonials would also stuff pillows with Lady's Bedstraw to induces sleep with the honey-like vapors.

BITTER HERBS
Bitter Herbs are often mentioned in the Bible with sharp tasting bitter leaves. Considering the quality of their food, these digestive aids were probably very necessary for good intestinal bacteria and health. It is thought, by the scholars of the Bible, that many herbs were used in this manner, including dandelion, sorrel, hawkweed, sow-thistle, wild lettuce, mint, wormwood and chicory, which grow abundantly in the peninsula of Sinai, in Palestine and in Egypt.
Ex 12:8 The Israelites were commanded to eat the Paschal lamb "with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs".

Mint (Mentha species)
Mint was well known as being used for flavoring food as it still is today. Some bible experts say mint was among the "bitter herbs" mentioned. Mint was valued for its fresh aroma and sweet taste and often used to flavor meat. Also an important “strewing” herb, mint stems were hung in doorways and thrown on dirt floors to mask the effects of inadequate sanitation. Scholars disagree on which mint was actually the mint of the Bible. There were probably many mints then, as there are today. It freely crosses pollenates and produces great differences.
Luke 11:42 “But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” .

Wormwood (Artemesia absinthum)
Moth repellent and excellent dried foliage used in herbal wreaths. A very lovely, silvery shrubby perennial that can be used in a shrub border. Once used to flavor alcohol; that use is now banned. The active ingredient, can lead to serious mental disorders if taken internally; do not, under any terms, use this herb internally!
Wormwood is frequently mentioned in Scripture, always for its bitterness, sorrow and suffering. According to legend, wormwood grew up in the trail left by the serpent’s tail as it slithered out of the Garden of Eden.
Jeremiah 9:13-15 And the LORD says: Because they have forsaken my law that I set before them... but have stubbornly followed their own hearts and have gone after [other gods]... Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: I am feeding this people with wormwood, and giving them poisonous water to drink.”
Revelation 8:11
In John’s vision of the end of the world, a star fell from heaven. “The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many died from the water, because it was made bitter.”

In conclusion, all herbs are Biblical. However, we have come to think of some as more meaningful to Biblical times. The real beauty of the plants lies in the association with the inspiring stories of the Bible.
It is with a garden that the Bible begins....