Whispering Pines Garden Club

12/30/2024

12/29/2024

Nandina: If this plant is in your yard and you love birds, you might consider removing it.
Details below---------------

This plant is problematic, and alternatives or non-fruiting cultivars should be considered.  Please see the suggestions in the left-hand column.

12/22/2024

Happy Holidays to All!
Cheers to your winter gardens.

12/19/2024

Do you have beauty berry in your yard?
Read about how it can be used as a natural tick repellent below!

What’s your favorite use for beautyberries?
🌸 When beautyberries start producing their eye-catching, bright purple fruit, we start to get lots of questions. People want to know what it is, where can they find it, and can they eat it?

While the berries look good enough to eat, it’s best to leave them to the birds and deer. They are not toxic and were used by Native Americans for a root tea to treat fevers, stomach aches, malaria, and more, but the taste has been described as bitter and mealy.

Many folks swear by beautyberry jelly, although I cannot say I’ve tried it. A little (or a lot) of sugar can make most anything taste good—and from photos of others’ handiwork, the finished product is a beautiful, translucent shade of fuchsia.

Even more interesting to me was the revelation that researchers have been able to extract compounds from beautyberry that successfully repel pest insects such as ticks and mosquitoes.

The study began about 15 years ago, after a Mississippi botanist with the USDA Agricultural Research Service mentioned to a colleague that his grandfather taught him to rub the crushed leaves of beautyberry on his skin. The technique had been used as a home remedy to prevent mosquito bites for people (and horses) for generations. As a follow up experiment, another group of researchers found these same compounds—callicarpenal and intermedeol—successfully repelled black-legged ticks (which transmit Lyme disease) as effectively as DEET.

In the last few years, researchers out of Mississippi have worked towards creating natural insect repellents from the compound that are less harsh on human skin that many commercially available brands.

Aside from its many practical uses, Callicarpa americana is a beautiful native shrub. It has wide green leaves and the brilliant purple berries grow in clusters along its stem. They stay on through late fall and winter in some places, making a beautiful contrast to fall foliage. Beautyberry shrubs can be found in a wide variety of habitats, including sandy and wet soils, full sun, and part shade. Their adaptability makes them a great plant for tight conditions like roadsides or yard edges, but also for nearly any home landscape. The plants can grow to a height of 4-8 feet and spread 3-6 feet wide. The long-lasting berries make them a great wildlife food source later in the cool season than many berry-producing species.

For references and recipes links
http://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/escambiaco/2020/08/19/weekly-what-is-it-american-beautyberry/

Aug 2020 blog by carriestevenson

“I have some beautyberry jelly my fridge. It’s delicious and gorgeous jewel 💎 tone!

Here’s a recipe from Smithsonian Garden Website:
https://gardens.si.edu/learn/blog/mmm-berry-delicious-jelly/

And it does work as a mosquito 🦟 repellent ” Caro 🐝

12/16/2024

Support the beekeepers of Western NC!
Details below and share this post. . .

The Moore County Beekeepers of NC are dedicated to raising healthy bees, educating new beekeepers, and supporting the beekeeping community.

12/13/2024

Hey! stuff is still happening - and can happen - in your December garden.
Read more below

During this festive month, gather winter vegetation for your holiday spreads, let your plants grow and transplant woody shrubs and trees.

12/10/2024

Great news for coastal land preservation!

12/06/2024

More on the glorious venus-fly trap - a unique NC plant.

The Venus flytrap has survived numerous adversaries over the years, from encroaching development to bureaucratic delays.

12/03/2024

Did you miss our year end annual wreath making class?
Check out some photos below of wreaths in progress.
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And come on out to the next WPGC meeting on January 7 to meet people, talk gardening and find out more about our 2025 events.

11/29/2024

Greener Friday; If you are looking for a way to continue supporting those still recovering from Hurricane Helene (and Milton) consider donating to this organization

Whether there are unforeseen hardships or mental health needs, our funds and resources help those who put food on the table. No ask is too big or too small.

11/24/2024

Looking for last minute Thanksgiving decor options -
what's in your garden?

With a garden full of produce, foliage, and flowers, your Thanksgiving décor is taken care of this year. Gardening expert Madison Moulton shows you 31 ways you can turn elements of your garden into effortless and environmentally friendly home décor.

11/24/2024

Hey looking for more details about winter mulching?
check out the info. below!

In the summer, mulch helps reduce w**ds growing in your garden, but in the winter, mulch acts as insulation for the soil and plant roots (which are more sensitive to cold than stems).

Newly planted trees and shrubs may require a layer of mulch to help survive winter.

As freezing weather approaches, make a plan to mulch any susceptible plants you have after the soil cools off but before it's frozen.

For more information on winter mulching: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-326/426-326.html

Image text:
Winter Mulch 101

WHAT: Winter mulches are used primarily to protect shrubs and flowers from severe winter temperatures and frost heaving. They are laid down in late fall and serve as insulation during the winter.
WHEN: Winter mulches should be laid down in early winter, once the soil has cooled but before it has frozen.
Mulch made from organic materials:
Straw makes a good winter mulch or mulch for the vegetable garden. It is inexpensive, suppresses w**ds, conserves moisture, and insulates well. But it's not very attractive, may contain seeds, & extremely flammable.
Purchase “straw” rather than “hay,” as hay contains many w**d seeds. Mulch 6 to 8 inches deep
Bark mulches resist compaction, will not blow away, are very attractive, and are readily available. Some shredded barks, such as cypress, decompose slowly.

Pine needles are attractive, decompose slowly, resist compaction, and are easy to work with. They are often available commercially or are free if you have pine trees on your property.

Leaves that have been shredded with a composting mower are sometimes used as a summer mulch, although they decompose very quickly. Whole leaves can be used instead, but they tend to mat together and block water movement into the soil.

11/22/2024

Want to support pollinators now for spring?
Read more details about what to do below.

When you "tidy up" at the end of the season, you're destroying much-needed winter cover for bees, butterflies, birds, and tons of other wildlife.

11/22/2024

Pollinator paradises!
Hey are you planning ahead for your garden and wanting to know how to create ore pollinator spaces around your yard? Join the Best Practices Summit in March 2025.
Details below

Best Practices for Pollinators Summit Announcing! Best Practices for Pollinators Summit 2025Registration Will Open November, 2024Learn ecologically sound land practices that promote pollinators, climate resilience, clean waters and lands. Practical knowledge and innovation on pesticide reduction, ha...

11/19/2024

More on why invasive plants might not be the best choice.

11/14/2024

Pickles! Do it.