Arbutus Cuttings Plus 24

The upper picture was taken 24 days ago when these were freshly taken cuttings.  A clear plastic cover has been in place until today.  A south facing basement window has provided indirect sunlight every day that the sun has been visible.  Most of the time my cuttings have had to deal with dark and gloomy rainy days.

The lower picture was taken today after some cosmetic trimming took place.  Soft brown rot had appeared on several of the cuttings.  Where possible the rot was cut away taking some sound green leaf with the rotted area.  I decided that it was time to remove the clear plastic dome.  Lower humidity may stop the rot but a lack of new rot growth would put the leaves at risk of drying out.  My choice has been made.

A cell by cell comparison will show a few cuttings with new growth.  These may have grown roots.  Some cuttings look exactly as they did twenty-four days ago.  Actual inspection of what is going on under the soil would be helpful to me but injurious to the plant.  Some cuttings have completely rotted away.

For now these cuttings will spend the next several weeks inside their south facing basement window.  The next big decision is when and how to prepare any survivors for winter.

Note: We saw the fox at the upper edge of the garden today. I hope the whole family hangs around and catches those furry critters that are eating my bulbs!

Arbutus Moved

Conventional wisdom says to never transplant trailing arbutus, Epigaea repens, since it will die if moved. We found a location where arbutus grows in the path of a lawn mower.  Regular repeated mowing will likely kill these plants where they are.  These facts allowed me to sail in the face of conventional wisdom.  Actually, I frequently choose my own path in an uncommon direction.  A search of the lawn was made to find small plants of arbutus at generous distance from others.  Since arbutus grows from an underground network of branching roots, small isolated plants might be levered out with their root mass intact.  A complete root system seems to be the first requirement for a successful move. A five foot pry bar was used to unearth large deep clumps of ground.  We do not want the plants to know that they have been moved.

A planting site was prepared well in advance of taking the plants.  Some specific micro-bacterial activity is reported to be a requirement if arbutus is to survive.  An area under a white pine tree was prepared to receive transplants since some believe that the necessary bacteria or fungus grows on white pine roots.  Large flat stones were placed over the site to kill weeds and encourage organic decay.  We believe that the combination of organic matter, moisture and stones causes a unique and beneficial kind of compost to form that we call duff.  These stones were placed around the edge of the transplant circle to direct rainfall onto the arbutus, keep down the weeds and clearly mark the location.  We need to remember to water here for two years when the rain does not fall.

It is likely that our transplants will fail.  If that is the outcome, we will report that here.  If these plants live, we will also report that here.  For now we have a total of four different arbutus plants so it is likely that both genders of the plant are here.  Viable seed may occur here.  For now I will prepare another transplanting hole to receive the stem cuttings that I plan to take six weeks from now.  A different source of these cuttings must be found.  Perhaps I can hobble the friend's mower.

Trillium Pink and Apple Blossom White

It's hard to get pictures of the garden these days. Rain seems to be an every day thing. Amy was lucky to get this picture of apple blossoms.

It's amazing to see blossoms on all of the old apple trees . This year all the old apple trees in the woods are covered with blossoms. The weather has been warm so frost is not a concern as far as setting fruit goes, but we don't see too many pollinators with all the rain.

When a white trillium turns pink it will soon be gone. Amy was lucky to get a picture of this one. Before she finished her walk the rains came again and she came back wet enough to have to change her clothes.

Ed transplanted the trailing arbutus this afternoon. It had to be done as soon as they were moved so he planted them in their carefully prepared spot in the pouring rain.

With all the rain the garden is lush green and growing. New flowers are blooming and need their photo op. I really could use some dry time in the garden tomorrow. I know I'll get wet feet, but I like to keep the camera dry!

Watch Where You Step!

Ed and I stopped by friends to look for their patch of Fringed polygalas. The flowers were not open just yet. Their house is on the North facing side of a hill. The view is amazing! We have been looking for places where trailing arbutus grows, and wow do they have it there. Part of a huge area that was bulldozed twenty years ago when they built their house is kept mowed now. The open area on the hill below the house protects the view. Rock lies just below the surface. Arbutus, lichens, moss and tiny cut- off white pines make an interesting surface. It's hard to know where to walk. Since this area passes the "more than you can count " test, and our friends have offered, Ed will try to move a couple of small arbutus plants.

We went for a short walk on a path through the woods. Little red efts scampered away as we walked. This little guy stuck his head under a leaf. I guess if he couldn't see us he felt safe. I thought about these gorgeous little guys being on the bottom of the food chain. The multiple bug bites I had when I got home reminded me that there is no bottom on the food chain. It's a circle.

April Showers 29, Sunshine and Flowers 1

I know that March has the reputation for coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb. I have to say this year April has been a bear. Finally on the very last day, we got an entire day of sunshine. The flowers were as relieved as I was. Today was the grand opening for these spring beauties. Last fall Ed moved them from the back woods into the shade garden so I can access them more easily. It was a thrill to see them come up and flower!

A very favorite thing is gazing up through a tree's lovely white blossoms to admire the blue sky. Magnolia trees are nice for this, but a flowering serviceberry, also know locally as shadbush, works just fine. These white flowered trees dot the woods in this area and are usually the first flowering trees to be seen in the spring.

My grape hyacinths that have been closed up tight are now open , just waiting for welcome visitors. Mr. hummingbird take note!

I saved the very best for last. Our newly rediscovered trailing arbutus flowers are open . The fragrance of this plant wafting in the breeze brings back pleasant memories from my childhood. Even the aroma of cow manure from the fields next door mixing in, can't dampen my enthusiasm. I managed to get down to the ground to inhale its fragrance. There's nothing quite like it!

I Didn't Lose My Breeches After All

Last year when we first planted our little Dutchman's Breeches , it was adorable. I knew this plant goes dormant so I was not surprised when it disappeared. I was concerned , however when there had been some digging activity where it was planted. All I could do was wait and hope that the plant would return this spring. I was so delighted that the plant came back so beautifully.




It was not until now that Ed confessed that last fall he mistakenly dug up the little bulbs that look like pieces of corn. He replanted them and never said a word. He was far more relieved than I was when the plant returned so vigorously . There is even a tiny little baby plant several inches away from the original plant. It's amazing that these delicate looking wildflowers are so incredibly tough. They withstand the worst of weather. Sometimes if they are happy in their new surroundings the manage to increase their numbers.It's a real delight to see this plant doing so well. We don't always get it right. Our trailing arbutus plant that looked so fantastic last fall is looking decidedly dead so far.

The Natural Look

This is the chosen spot for the new trailing arbutus plant. Now that Ed has mulched the plant with leaves and pine needles, it looks like it might have been growing there for years. Of course the plastic tag would indicate otherwise. It is our hope that the plant will settle in and thrive in this natural looking setting.

We Went Wild !

We took a trip yesterday and went just slightly astray stopping at the Catskill Native Nursery in Kerhonkson, New York. We went there on purpose of course with a short list of plants we were looking for: wood lily, wintergreen, yellow clintonia , white trillium and yellow violet. They didn't have the wood lily. There are many yellow violets. The chosen one was not available but another was. The rest of the plants on our list were there. Yes,we did buy some other plants that Becky just couldn't resist: shooting star (pink and white), Dutchman's breeches, round leaf hepatica and a primrose. There was one more thing that I was not expecting to find.




Trailing arbutus is one of my favorite wildflowers. We have some growing here, but it is along a deer path on the side of a steep hill that we now find treacherous. It's a plant whose fragrance will make you drop to the ground to get a better whiff. This was a unexpected and thrilling find. We will do our best to provide perfect conditions for it and our other new "wild" plants in a place where we can enjoy them.

When buying native wildflowers there are concerns about the source of the plants. I hope these plants were raised in nurseries and not wild collected. The plants are so well taken care of and beautiful . I have to think that the owner of this nursery is conscientious. I like to shop on Ebay too but I don't like the idea of buying "hot stuff!"

Trailing Arbutus

Trailing arbutus with three flowers ( Yes, one is hiding)


I still remember the first time we found the trailing arbutus that grows here. It was before we lived here, before the house, before the trailer. This was our place to get away then. We came here, and walked the deer paths to explore our 30 acres in the country.

It was probably May. We were walking a path along the side of a hill. An aroma from my childhood wafted by. I knew it was trailing arbutus. When I found it, I immediately fell to the ground to stick my nose into those tiny flowers. I scared Ed half to death because he thought I fell. (I’ve been known to do that.)

Every year we look for it. Our conditions are not ideal for the plant so we don’t have much of it growing here. It’s always a thrill to find it, and I still drop to the ground to stick my nose in the tiny flowers. I go down more slowly, and take longer to get up, but the thrill is still the same.

The plants are usually found on north or east facing hillsides under deciduous trees, where the leaves blow off during the winter. Depending on where you live, it might not be too late to look for it. It remains for me, a plant with a drop-to- the-ground enchanting fragrance.