Charlotte Council of Garden Clubs

12/04/2023

I was helping with invasive plant removal in the Upstate of South Carolina this morning when I noticed the blue fruits of this Glossy Privet (Ligustrum lucidum). This time of year, the green leaves of privets are easy to spot in deciwoodlands and, unfortunately, this one may be getting more common in my area of the Piedmont. It’s yet another invasive plant introduced from Asia. Glossy Privet was introduced as an ornamental in the late 1700’s and many people planted it in hedgerows. This evergreen bush can easily invade woodlands and shade out native flora. It often invaded stream banks, which is where I found this one growing along the Tyger River. Like many invasives, Glossy Privet often forms dense thickets and it’s hard to eradicate once established.

Just like the far more abundant Chinese Privet (L. sinense), Glossy Privet has clusters of dark blue fruits in winter. The fruits are poisonous to humans, but not to the birds and small mammals that eat them and disperse the seeds to new habitats. As the name would suggest, Glossy Privet has shiny leaves. They often have a yellow margin and the edges curl upward. Several of the leaf veins show up as faint greenish-yellow lines as well.

See the comments for tips on controlling Glossy Privet and other invasive plants in your area.

12/03/2023

11/29/2023

*Frost Flower Alert* 🥶

If your overnight low is getting down into the low 20s F tonight, tomorrow morning will be a great time to go look for frost flowers! Also called ice flowers, they aren’t real flowers, even though they do grow from a plant. Instead, frost flowers are a unique phenomenon that occurs when the air temperature is below freezing and the soil is moist, but not frozen. They only form on a few dozen plant species in the world, two of which are found in the Piedmont. Frostweed (also called White Wingstem, Verbesina virginica) and Common Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia) are both native to the eastern United States in bottomland forests, roadsides, and rights-of-way.

If you find one of these plants, keep track of its location and then head back to that spot in the early morning after the first overnight in the low 20s F. If you do, you might be rewarded with the sight of frost flowers. It’s true! Would I really send you on a wild frost flower chase? 🤷🏻‍♂️

11/28/2023

11/28/2023

Blue-gray fruits adorn Wax Myrtle or Southern Bayberry (Morella cerifera) bushes this time of year. It’s native across the South, particularly the Coastal Plain and into the lower Piedmont, but is also used in landscaping. In the wild, you’ll find it growing in maritime forests, between sand dunes, and in roadsides. The crushed leaves and fruits of female bushes emit the distinctive bayberry fragrance.

The waxy coating of the fruits has long been used to produce fragrant bayberry candles. They are quite labor intensive to produce, though, and were only accessible to the wealthy in Colonial times. The fruits are small, roughly the size of a BB. If you’ve read The Fiery Cross from the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, you might remember the reference to wax myrtle-scented candles in Colonial North Carolina.

11/17/2023

Do you have edibles hidden in your ornamental garden? Check out this harvest at the Betty Little House.

11/16/2023

The Betty Little House is looking beautiful with fall blooms everywhere.

Gorgeous location to hold holiday events. https://charlottecouncilofgardenclubs.business.site/?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=referral

11/11/2023

11/09/2023

11/09/2023

11/09/2023

The leaves of Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) produce an amazing range of colors each autumn. Native to the southeast, this tree is common in yards, bottomland forests, and fields. The range of colors shown here come from light reflection off the different pigments (and combinations of pigments) within the leaves.

The typical green of summer leaves comes from the two forms of chlorophyll, the primary pigments of photosynthesis. The other colors are produced by accessory pigments, most of which were in the leaves all summer but they were masked by the more abundant green chlorophyll. As molecules of chlorophyll are broken down and removed from the leaves in autumn, the accessory pigments become visible.

Yellow comes from xanthophyll pigments, which are a form of carotenoid pigment. They were in the leaf all summer in minor amounts, protecting the machinery of photosynthesis from excessive sunlight exposure.

Orange often comes from carotenoid pigments such as beta carotene. They aid in photosynthesis during the summer by absorbing solar energy from wavelengths of light that are not utilized by chlorophyll. This helps the tree obtain solar energy across a broader range of light energy than if only chlorophyll is present. Orange can also be produced by the combination of yellow xanthophylls and red anthocyanins (see below).

Red and purple leaves are a different story. These pigments, called anthocyanins, are only produced in autumn within leaves exposed to lots of sunlight. There’s still a lot of debate as to why leaves go to the trouble of producing anthocyanins shortly before leaves fall off the tree. It seems counterintuitive, right? I mean, why bother? Some research suggests that anthocyanins act as a natural sunscreen in the leaves. By blocking some of the incoming solar radiation, anthocyanins may help the tree efficiently extract nutrients from the leaves before they’re dropped. Other research suggests that anthocyanins help the leaves perform photosynthesis during the time period that chlorophyll is being recycled from the leaves.

Whatever the adaptive value may be for these new anthocyanin pigments, I think we can all agree that Sweetgum leaves are beautiful this time of year. So head outside, take a deep breath, and enjoy all the autumn colors while they last!

11/06/2023

In this article we are going to provide you with the best tips on how to make your Cactus bloom beautifully this season!

11/05/2023

An underutilized groundcover that can handle dry, hot locations is the compact and geometric woodland stonecrop (Sedum ternatum). Native to North America, its presence in New England is from garden escapes or naturalized populations. However, as climate changes and zones shift we may find more making its way north. Woodland stonecrop makes a lovely edge on a lawn, especially situated near a stone walkway, edge, or wall. —Nasami Farm Nursery Manager Alexis Doshas

Photo: Woodland stonecrop (sedum ternatum) Alexis Doshas © Native Plant Trust

11/03/2023

November Garden Task

In the Piedmont area, November is the time we enjoy the fall leaf colors. It’s also the time when we see our first frost. Here are some tasks for your garden:

✳️ November is an ideal time to plant or transplant trees, shrubs and groundcovers. Be sure to water thoroughly, then mulch the new plants with a good 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch.
✳️ Newly planted evergreens should be checked regularly during the winter to ensure they are getting enough water.
✳️ Mulch existing trees and shrubs to reduce weeds, provide insulation from freezing temperatures and conserve moisture.
✳️ It’s a good time to check trees and shrubs in your yard for “volcano” mulching - mulch piled high around the base or trunk of the plant. If found, pull back the mulch from the trunk and create a “donut” instead – little or no mulch against the base or trunk of the plant. A heavy layer of mulch around the base can lead to girdling roots as well as foster insect, disease, and rodent problems.
✳️ Take root cuttings now of woody shrubs and evergreens, like azaleas, hollies and hydrangeas.
✳️ Cut back peonies after the first frost. It’s also a good time to plant asparagus crowns and strawberry plants. Finish planting onion sets and garlic.
✳️ Cut cannas right above ground level and remove the debris to avoid over-wintering leaf rollers.
✳️ Don’t forget to remove all dead foliage and clean up vegetable and flower beds after the first killing frost. Apply new mulch or plant a cover crop, if desired.
✳️ Fescue lawns (a cool season grass) should be fertilized mid-month (about the time the grass is green but not actively growing). If you have Bermuda (a warm season grass), if the lawn is not overseeded in the winter, raise the mowing height 1⁄2 inch to protect it from winter kill.

10/28/2023

WHAT’S GOING ON AT THE WINTERFIELD SCHOOL GARDENS? BY EMG AMELIA RUSSELL

The Winterfield School and Community Gardens are a hub of activity - pollinators flitting between flowers, birds floating between feeders and houses, and students returning to class!

Carrie Marshall and Sharrone Robinson are the new lead and co-lead of the School Gardens Committee and Carrie Marshall is the point-person for the Winterfield School Garden. I met them both on a hot and sunny Labor Day in the gardens while they were watering the newly-planted strawberries in the shade of lush muscadine vines.

Each elementary grade is able to engage with the garden throughout the school year with demonstrations, plantings and harvests. Volunteers from the community, Parks and Recreation, EMGVs and parents all take turns moving the garden forward from season to season. In February, the kindergarten students plant peas and radishes. In April, students plant sweet potatoes and harvest strawberries. An October event brings the community together to harvest sweet potatoes and peanuts; parents can take home bouquets of Aztec Marigolds while the produce is left to dry at the school.

Carrie, a 2021 Georgia Master Gardener and transferee to Charlotte, was inspired to work with school gardens during Covid when the University provided volunteers with seed mats and tools to teach small numbers of school children the basics of planting. She saw the therapeutic benefits and gratification that being outside in nature and learning to grow food had on her students and she is determined to continue to inspire future gardeners.

Sharrone, a 2023 graduate of the Master Gardener program, selected a workday at Winterfield Elementary as one of her first volunteer opportunities. After watching the children light up while planting and harvesting the gardens, she will continue to work on school garden projects which are in line with her goal of fostering environmental stewardship.  

Photos courtesy of EMG Amelia Russell

10/27/2023

Purple Muhly or Pink Muhlygrass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) puts on a colorful show each October to November, just as other plants head into dormancy. Given its general appearance and common planting in parking lots and other managed landscapes, some might assume it’s another introduced ornamental, but they would be wrong! Pink Muhlygrass is native to the eastern United States where it often grows in sunny habitats with thin clay soils and rocks. In the wild, it’s more common in the Coastal Plain than in the Piedmont. The pink flowers and purplish seeds add a splash of color to the plant each autumn. Songbirds and small mammals then eat the seeds in winter. If you’re looking for a native perennial that’s low maintenance, deer resistant, and grows in challenging sunny spots such as around a mailbox, you might want to give Pink Muhlygrass a try. It’s available in many garden centers and there are a few cultivars.

10/06/2023

Plus Garden To-Do’s for October

10/05/2023

Think about your fallen leaves. These Animals are made possible by fallen leaves. Don't blow! the leaves in your planting beds. One by one we can make a difference.

10/05/2023

Strawberry Bush (Euonymus americanus) is native to woodlands across the Piedmont and most of the eastern United States. In late summer through autumn, you can find its warty, red fruits dotting the bush. When immature, the fruits resemble a strawberry, hence its common name. Once the fruit capsules split open, though, you can understand its other common name - Hearts-a-Bustin’. Although the orangish-red seeds are poisonous to humans, wild turkeys and songbirds eat them with no ill effect, dispersing Strawberry Bush to new habitats.

10/04/2023

Pokeweed, Pokeberry, Poke, Polk Salad. Whatever you call it, the dark purple fruits of Phytolacca americana are an important food source for birds across the eastern US in late summer and fall. Migratory birds such as eastern kingbirds, wood thrushes, cedar waxwings, rose-breasted grosbeaks, yellow-breasted chats, and great crested flycatchers, as well as year-round residents like mourning doves and eastern bluebirds, eat poke berries. The berries (and all other parts of the mature plant) are poisonous to humans, though, and should never be consumed. Just leave them for the birds.

10/04/2023

09/21/2023

09/18/2023

Blue Mistflower or Wild Ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum) blooms in late summer to autumn. Look for this native wildflower along streams and roadside ditches across the eastern United States. Some people plant it in their yard for its beautiful flowers and hardiness, but be forewarned, it can easily spread by runners and by seed (but maybe that’s what you want). I found it to be easy to establish in my yard.

Blue Mistflower attracts a wide range of bees and butterflies to its light purple blooms. The caterpillars of several native moths feed on the foliage as well, including the Clymene Moth (Haploa clymene). Stay tuned…

09/18/2023

We received a report that there are over 30 monarch caterpillars at the Blue Star Memorial Garden, every last leaf of the milkweed stems have been eaten off! Thank you to our volunteers maintaining this beautiful garden!

09/17/2023

09/14/2023

Who doesn't love the cheerful pop of black eyed susans? We recently recommended a new-ish cultivar, Rudbeckia x ‘American Gold Rush’ (Zones 4-9), which has a few important qualities that set it apart from its cousins. ⁠
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"One of the problems with most black-eyed Susans is that by midsummer you may notice Septoria leaf spot on the foliage. It arrives in warm, wet, humid weather. Most gardeners just remove the foliage, but the plant may start to look bare. ‘American Gold Rush’ shows very little sign of this fungus and can be considered fairly resistant to it."⁠
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– Stephanie Cohen⁠
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Learn more about what sets this cultivar apart at https://www.finegardening.com/article/a-trouble-free-black-eyed-susan

09/14/2023

The stages of heart's-a-bustin' (Euonymus americanus) ripening! This beloved native shrub is common in our area, but you don't often see wild specimens with a lot of fruits like this: deer love them so much, another name for the plant is deer candy! 🍒🍭🦌

Stop by our display gardens to get up close with these delightful seed capsules — they're pictured here by the Totten Center.

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Note: Following an incident on the UNC campus today, our display gardens were under a shelter-in-place order this afternoon. We hope to be open normal hours on Thursday but will update this post if protocols require otherwise.

09/12/2023

The approach of fall 🍁means Lib’s favorite ‘Welch’s Pink’ beautyberry, Callicarpa americana, has returned with delightful color in the garden.

This easy-care, fall-blooming shrub likes sun and should be pruned in late winter to promote new growth. The pretty berries appear on new branches 🌿

Learn more on the NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/callicarpa-americana/

Visit us any time to see this specimen and so many more perennials, shrubs and trees in our 2.25 acre garden open to the public.

We hope to see you soon! 4255 Kingswood Road, Charlotte NC 28226

09/11/2023

Your Christmas cactus may not be a Christmas cactus at all. Here's how to identify your plant, plus how to care for holiday cacti and get more blooms.

09/11/2023

09/11/2023

You know the most commonly grown herbs by name, sight and scent: rosemary, mint, oregano, thyme, parsley, basil and chives. But, can you recognize at least 10 more, lesser-known herbs that have the…

09/09/2023

The Board of Directors enjoyed a good morning at the Betty Little House. Jill Rogers presented an excellent program on mountain wildflowers. It was wonderful to see so many clubs represented! Thanks to the Executive Board members and trustees for a delightful feast!

09/09/2023

Got Plant Questions?
Plant Clinic Booth at the Union West Regional Library🌿

Stop by the Extension Master Gardener Plant Clinic Booth at the Indian Trail Library. We are there on Tuesdays, 9:30am to 11:30am, just inside the front door! Bring your questions and plant/insect samples for help with diagnosis.

08/09/2023

Wait, you're supposed to prune these things? If you’re a Rural Sprout regular, then it’s probably safe to say you know I’m a huge fan of Christmas cactuses. And by Christmas cactuses, I mean all

08/07/2023

Species Profile: Hammerhead Worm. Predator of earthworms, could potentially impact agricultural, horticultural, and natural ecosystems (Lemos et al. 2012)