Be sure to explore The Winterthur Garden this week. The Japanese maple at Magnolia Bend is in full fall color. Dick Peipher, one of our fabulous garden guides, described it as “electric” on Tuesday.  Also, its fun to see the autumn bronze color of the dawn redwoods in early November. Love the way the spiraea in the Sundial Garden echo its needle color.

Thanks to our volunteers, here is a list of what is of interest in the garden this week: http://www.winterthur.org/pdfs/CurrentWinterthurGardenBloomList.pdf

One of the definitions of chestnut I have found is “a stale joke”.   Another is “something, as a story, lacking freshness or originality”.  Perhaps I should put down the dictionary before it’s too late.  The chestnut that I would like to refer to in this writing is under the definition of “a tree”.

Chinese chestnut trees (Castanea mollissima), although there are none growing in the Winterthur garden itself, are found scattered amongst the estate. One location is near the old Winterthur creamery by the dairy barns, another by the golf barn along Chandler Road as well as a couple others located on the Biederman golf course.

In late summer the fruit of the Chinese chestnut tree, which is edible to humans, begins to drop. The nuts themselves are enclosed in a spinney or prickly pod-like structure that splits open when ripe. Sometimes the nuts will drop from this casing before the pod falls. Other times the pod falls with the nuts still enclosed. If one wishes to open a pod that contains a chestnut or two, be sure to wear some thick leather gloves for the spines are very fine and also very sharp! The nut of the Chinese chestnut is very tasty when roasted but I have found that of the ones that I have personally collected, about 50% of them are either rotten or have a worm in them. I suppose that cultivated trees are probably sprayed with something to prevent these things from happening. Also, since squirrels, deer and other wildlife also enjoy the taste of these nuts there tends not to be many left for a person to find on the ground especially when, as in the case here at Winterthur, you’re only dealing with a small number of trees from which to harvest.

Our native chestnut (C. dentata), as you probably know, was decimated by the Chestnut blight in the early part of the 20^th century. An estimated three billion trees were lost due to this disease. The American chestnut was a dominate tree species in it’s time and supplied a vast number of wildlife species such as deer, turkey, bear and the extinct passenger pigeon with a food source. It was also collected for human consumption not only by Native Americans but by early colonists, settlers and immigrants. Since the American chestnut’s demise, crosses of what remains of the species have been made with the Chinese chestnut and the Japanese chestnut (C. crenata). Progress is being made to produce a tree that is not only resistant to the blight but one that has the height and habit of our native chestnut.

While I’m on the subject of chestnut trees, the common horsechestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum), which is a Native of southeast Europe, produces large fruit but unfortunately it is not suitable for human consumption.

One last comment that I would like to make of the Chinese chestnut is that if you are considering planting one on your property be aware that when in bloom, the fragrance of the flower is considered by most to be unpleasant.

So like the song goes, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…

This year is the first year, at least that I am aware of, that a pair of hawks has nested in Winterthur’s Pinetum during the decade or so that it has been under my care; the particular breed of hawk being the Cooper’s hawk. The females of the species are slightly larger than the size of a crow whereas the males are slightly smaller than one. These hawks have long, streamline bodies and are quick fliers.  They closely resemble the sharp-shinned hawk but the Cooper’s is the larger of the two species. Most references that I’ve come across have noted that the Cooper’s is far less common than the sharp-shinned as well.

This spring while I was working in the Pinetum, I noticed the pair building their nest about 40’-50’ up in one of the tall conifers. I believe that the nest was originally built by a pair of crows last season and the hawks simply added some new nesting material on top, which is commonly done. One of the reasons that I think that this may be the first time that a pair of Cooper’s has nested in the Pinetum is that they were surprisingly noisy! During their nest building phase the female would loiter close by in a tree and whenever the male would arrive from hunting, they would greet one another with some squawking. The noise was somewhat of a cross between a chicken’s cluck and a duck’s quack with perhaps a touch of seagull thrown in for good measure. I also observed the hawks gathering nesting material from within the Pinetum itself, sometimes even from the tree next to it. Interestingly, the pair did not seem to mind people walking within their nesting territory, for they were not easily startled or disturbed.

Another observation that I made was the fact that a pair of common crows set up house keeping in another conifer not more than 50’ from the Cooper’s nest. Crows normally pester the larger hawk species but the Cooper’s are fast enough that they were the ones that kept the crows on their toes, so-to-speak. Whenever one of the crows would leave its nest, one of the hawks would be right on its tail, chasing it out of the Pinetum. I noticed that the nesting pair of crows successfully raised at least one offspring though I did find the remains of another youngster close by, presumably a nest mate. I also found the remains of an adult earlier in the spring, possibly last years offspring, which often remain with the breeding pair, acting as centurions as well as helping with feeding the young.  I don’t know if the hawks were responsible for their demise but it’s certainly feasible.

Although I would see or hear the hawks from time to time in the Pinetum, I was never quite sure how their family matters were progressing. As I mentioned before, the crows had one offspring, which had been out of the nest and flying around for a quite a while already but I had no clear indications if the hawks were successful in raising their offspring. It wasn’t until the first week in July when I saw a youngster out on the end of a branch in the nesting tree that I realized that they had raised at least one. The following week I noticed, in fact, three youngsters, all perched in one of our Blue Atlas Cedars. They all seemed to be staying within the Pinetum for the time being, even flying back to the nest on occasion. I suspect that soon they will be venturing further out for they are flying around pretty well at this point. It will be interesting to see if the mating pair returns in the years ahead to raise another family in the Pinetum!

The most striking spots are the Glade (with its fishponds) and the Meadow, now rich in early summer flowers.

May thanks to our loyal volunteers who compile this survey throughout the year.  

Winterthur’s Specialty Nursery Day
Saturday, April 30, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Greenhouse Area

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to find just the right plant for your garden! We have invited some of our favorite nurseries join us for the day. They will be on-hand from 10 to 4 selling rare, interesting, and heirloom plants in the Greenhouse area. Guests will also have the opportunity to learn about our plans for a new Horticulture Learning Center and to hear about our successful Kids Grow! children’s gardening program. Nurseries attending include:

Black Hog Horticulture
Winterthur’s own John Feliciani will be bringing a selection of rare plants propagated from Winterthur’s garden. Selections will include Mr. du Pont’s ‘Winterthur’ azalea, Corylopsis ‘Winterthur’, and other hard-to-find woody plants.

Happy Cat Farm
Winterthur’s very own farmers, Amy and Tim, will offer a selection of 48 different kinds of heirloom tomato and pepper plants. You will not find a better selection of unique tomatoes anywhere.

Pennsbury Gardens
With more than 30 years of experience growing rhododendrons and azaleas, Pennsbury will be offering unique and seldom-seen evergreen azaleas, rhododendrons, and shade garden wild flowers. (Note: Pennsbury will be selling at the Cottage/Gift Shop)

Priapi Gardens
Always popular at our fall GardenFair, Priapi Gardens, will be bringing a wide variety of plants to get your garden started this spring. The selection will include native and unusual woody plants, certified organic vegetable and herb plants, native perennials, and spring annuals.

Rare Find Nursery
Known for their great selection of azaleas and rhododendrons, Rare Find Nursery will of course be bringing an exciting selection of blooming rhododendrons and azaleas from which to choose. These will be complemented by blooming shrubs, such as lilacs and viburnums, and an assortment of early blooming perennials and unique container plants.

Entrance to Specialty Nursery Day is included with admission and free to members.

The University of Delaware Botanic Garden (UDBG) Sale
April 27-30 at University of Delaware

The Annual Benefit Plant Sale at the University of Delaware Botanic Garden is always a source of interesting woody plants. Their catalog is online at the link above and features a wonderful selection of Corylopsis this year. The sale includes patron and member preview days, but opens to the public on Friday, April 29th in the afternoon and continues on Saturday April 3oth.

The Native Plant Sale of the Delaware Nature Society
April 28-May 1 at Coverdale Farm

The Native Plant Sale is a fixture in our area – the Delaware Nature Society has used this sale both as a fundraiser and as an educational tool for decades. Like UDBG they have member preview days, but will open to the general public on April 30th and May 1st. The Nature Society will have a selection of over 300 native shrubs, trees, wildflowers, and ferns this year from which to choose and, as always, their informative staff and volunteers will share advice and suggestions for your native plant garden.

The Rare Plant Auction for the Delaware Center for Horticulture
April 30, 6:30 pm, Longwood Gardens

Located in the conservatories and ballroom of Longwood Garden, the Rare Plant Auction is part theater, part social occasion, and all plant lovers! The event begins with a live auction and continues with highly competitive silent auctions for scores of rare and unusual plants. It is as fun to watch as it is to participate and you are sure to learn about some new horticultural rarities (and maybe take a few home) for your garden.

These are just the sales close by. If you are ambitious you can attend them all and if you are obsessed you can branch out and attend some of the sales taking place in nearby Philadelphia. The Wired Gardener of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society maintains a listing of regional plant sale for those who just can’t get enough.

$20; $15 Members. Free for WGLS and Garden Associates Members. To register, call 800.448.3883 or 302.888.4600.

Detail of Oak Hill Azaleas by W. Gary Smith

After the lecture, Smith will sign his new book, From Art to Landscape: Unleashing Creativity in Garden Design. (Members receive a 10% discount from the Bookstore.)

Second Saturdays Garden Walk
March 12, 1:00 pm
After experiencing Smith’s unique perspective, get out into the garden with a guided walk focusing on “Snowdrops and Other Minor Bulbs.”

Find out more here.

From our loyal bloom report volunteers:

WINTERTHUR BLOOM REPORT #1

                                                              February 7, 2011                                                      Weather: 40F, overcast 

Since December 2, cold and snow have precluded reports. Today, although there are patches and slopes of clear ground, there remains a blanket of snow 5” or more in depth; and as this is the first day of moderate temperature, little is yet in bloom.

WALK FROM VISITOR CENTER TO UNDERPASS

fb     Hamamelis mollis or vernalis (Witch-hazel—orange-brown)

AZALEA WOODS

fbb   Galanthus elwesii (Giant Snowdrop)

LOWER AZALEA WOODS (Magnolia Bend to 1750 Building)

fbb   Galanthus elwesii (Giant Snowdrop)

COPSE AT NE CORNER OF OAK HILL

b      Galanthus elwesii (Giant Snowdrop)

WEST FRONT OF MUSEUM, STORE, & CLENNY RUN

fbb   Galanthus elwesii (Giant Snowdrop)

fbb   Hamamelis mollis (Chinese Witch-hazel—yellow)

**********

fbb: Flower-bud breaking

  b: Some bloom

  fb: Full bloom

If you happen to visit Winterthur in the middle of the day on a Wednesday during the growing season you will have the opportunity to enjoy a lecture by one of our staff members on a horticultural or historic topic. Most guests are surprised to learn that these lectures require no pre-registration, carry no fee, and offer an opportunity to learn a bit more about the behind-the-scenes world of the garden.

We’ve been offering these ‘Wednesdays at Winterthur’ lectures for 5 years now and the positive response has been wonderful. As someone who loves gardening and the Winterthur garden in particular, it has been so rewarding for me to meet and talk with others about horticulture and the history of the estate.

This year, as a follow-up to a very strong season of programs, we held a luncheon during which we solicited the feedback and opinions of Wednesdays at Winterthur participants. It was a very informative lunch and I have listed their comments below. If you have any comments you would like to offer, feel free to respond to this post. Your input is welcome.

As we look forward to next year, I’d like to thank all of the staff, volunteers, and participants for making this program such a delight. These programs don’t happen by themselves – all of your efforts are what make them possible.

 Thank You! 

1. Native Plants (3 seasons)

2. Attracting specific birds, butterflies, hummingbirds

3. Loved and for repeat: ferns, barn, sheep, hike, containers, flower arranging, koi

4. Meadow walk

5. History talks

6. Repelling deer and groundhogs

7. Water management, especially the streams and ponds

8. Energy conservation. Any plans for solar?

9. Future plans and projects

10. Request a more effective loudspeaker system when the group gets large or break into smaller groups. Increase number of walks.

11. Change the time. Make it earlier, like 10:30

12. Impact of technology on Winterthur – computer analysis, solar power, STA/Nav system

13. Wildlife at Winterthur; migration of birds, deer, Fox, etc. Impact of wildlife on care and maintenance.

14. Certainly, Enchanted Woods!

15. Ferns

16. More history, inside and outside ok

17. Start season in March for March bank

18. Start walk a little earlier, around 10:30 or 11:00, especially in middle of summer

19. A tour of the library covering what is available to members and schools.

20. Common garden weeds and how to get rid of them!

21. Creatures/birds and their interactions with the plants and trees

22. More about the farming. What fields did the cattle graze?

23. Inside of Barns

24. Liked printed material

25. It would be nice to visit the same area (any given area) at least once during early season to observe the changes and the introduction of the plants with each other as the season change.

26. Tree IDs

27. New plant developments – you may be constrained to renew & replace plants chosen by Mr. DuPont, but when and if you can introduce newer cultivars and materials unknown, what do you bring in? What would horticulturists like to bring in (wish lists?)

28. How have populations of birds, insects and other animals changed over time? Anything you are trying to bring back?

29. Follow in the footsteps of horticultural staff to see what they do on the grounds and behind the scenes.

30. See inside some of the barns and railway station, etc.

31. Environmental benefits of some plants

32. History and general info re: iron work (gates, fences )

33. How about putting some photographs that Chris was talking about on display somewhere? (Longwood has rotation photo exhibits on display in their visitor center.)

34. Full Moon Walk

35. Woodland walk to “hidden lake”

36. Guyencourt Tour

37. Summer Houses

38. Shade Gardening

39. More container gardening

40. Interplanting vegetables in flower borders

41. Vines and climbing plants

42. Integrated pest management

43. For formal gardens: How did fountain pump water before motors were invented? How were gardens watered?

44. Urban shade gardening

45. The Making of Enchanted Woods

One of the secrets to Winterthur’s success with leaves is the use of mulch mowing. We still rake and suck up a lot of leaves – but thankfully not as many as they used to in Mr. du Pont’s day. I am re-posting some information below from last fall on this process. If you haven’t tried mulch mowing I encourage you to test it out, I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how efficient it is.

“… a mature, healthy tree can have 200,000 leaves. During 60 years of life, such a tree would grow and shed 3,600 pounds of leaves, returning about 70% of their nutrients to the soil.”
Wisconsin County Forests webpage

Think about how many millions of leaves will be gathered here at Winterthur and in the many gardens throughout the Brandywine Valley this autumn. Cleaning up leaves in fall is one of those meditative, seemingly inescapable, chores that come with caring for a garden. Here at Winterthur we still rake and blow millions of leaves, but more and more we are supplementing leaf removal with mulch mowing.

If you hate raking leaves you have a simple alternative – mulch mowing. Mulch mowing is a process that cuts up and macerates the leaves, leaving them in place in your garden to decompose over the winter and following growing season. While not promising a total escape from gathering leaves, it offers gardeners an alternative to dealing with piles of leaves.

Mulch mowing is not terribly complicated. I’ve illustrated the basic steps below with photos and captions.

Set up your mower for mulching; most mowers allow you to run them without a bag and with an insert that closes off the mower deck. This keeps the leaves and grass from being discharged and allows the mower to cut the vegetation into finer pieces.

Wear proper equipment. You should wear safety glasses, hearing protection, and boots when using this equipment. Leaves can conceal rocks, roots, and other obstacles – better to be safe than sorry.

Mow over leaves and any plants ready to be cut back. You don’t need to confine yourself to lawn areas. You can mow over plants, such as hosta, that are going to lose their leaves anyway.

Repeat mowing weekly or as needed. The photographs above were taken 5 minutes apart. You can see how the mower reduced the leaves to finely chopped pieces that will filter down to the surface of the soil. Whole leaves left in the garden tend to mat down and can smother grass, bulbs, and other perennials. The process of mulch mowing chops the leaves into finer pieces, allowing your plants to grow freely as the leaves decompose and return to the soil.

This year on Enchanted Summer Day (June 19) we are planning on celebrating one of the most magical of natural phenomena – the migration of the monarch butterfly. This year’s event will include activities for children, music, and ice cream as usual but in addition will include a giveaway of potted up specimens of a tropical milkweed. Families can take their milkweed home and add it to their gardens where it will continue to flower through the summer. But in addition to flowers, the milkweed will provide a home to larvae of the monarch butterfly. Keep your eyes peeled for the black, white, and yellow striped caterpillars that will eventually turn into orange and black monarchs.

We would love to see your photos of your milkweed in flower, caterpillars, and monarchs. You can post your images on our Flickr group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/winterthurgarden/. We will create a gallery on this web page of the best of the images.