The Plant Detective - Frank’s Black Lilies

Photo's by Frank Starkey

Oh there is nothing like meeting new people and sharing not only friendship, stories but plant material too.

My new friends Barbara and Frank Starkey own this wonderful old historic home when they transformed it into the Carriage House Inn, right here in King City. As a matter of fact, it is the ONLY B & B here. Seeped with history, charm and lot’s of love, Barbara and Frank have created a little piece of heaven here on earth which they share with their guests.

The home was originally built in 1892 by William C. and Birdie Janette Hamilton who was the niece of Charles H. King, founder of King City. In day’s to come much more of King City’s rich past will be explored.

Barbara and I have become email buddies and communicate all the time. I adore her wit and humor towards life and appreciate our new found friendship. In one e-mail she mentioned Frank’s Black Lilies, and wham! The plant detective side of me came out. I just had to see them for myself and I wondered how old these lilies might be. That is a question that both Barbara and Frank pondered too.

The only information Frank had about the lilies was someone identified them as Dracunculus vulgaris. Dracunculus, which in Latin means small dragon taken from the look of the spadix and spathe which appears to look like the tongue of a fire breathing dragon. Vulgaris, which is usually a name given to the most common species in a genus. Common names include, Dragon Arum, Voodoo Lily, Stink Lily or Lily Snake.

I love to find out folklore about plants, especially one’s that are curious in nature and also in name sake. It was thought that the plants were carried on boats to repeal the sea serpents that plagued our oceans many moons ago. Supposedly if you were to carry the roots or leaves it is said they will protect you against vipers and serpents. Also, if you wash your hands in a liquor made from the plant you can handle snakes with impunity!

Originally the plant was found in Greece and in the south western part of Anatolia. Recently introduced to America and can be found thriving in Oregon, California and Tennessee.

It also is native to the Balkans, aside from extending as far as Greece, Crete and the Aegean Islands it is also in the south-western parts of Anatolia.

This odd plant is pollinated by flies not honey bees so when it is ready for pollination the plant produces a smell, well to be frank, like rotten meat or a carcass to attract the flies for pollination. In a couple of days, once pollination is complete the smell stops but I still wouldn’t recommend planting it next to a front door or window. Even though the bloom is beautiful I still wouldn’t recommend it as a cut flower.

With Frank by my side we took a tour of the rest of the garden. In the back was this fascinating tree, which to me didn’t really look like a palm. Well I set out on a mission to find out what this wonderful plant specimen was. I put word out to my horticultural friends and sure enough, Dutch Vanderwort pointed me down the right garden path.

This delightful tree is actually named Dicksonia antarctica commonly named “Soft tree fern” or “Tasmanian tree fern” which originally comes from Australia and is a true fern, not a tree but grows into the form of a tree with a single trunk. Dicksonia is a genus of “tree ferns” in the order Cyatheales. There are fossil records that include stems, pinnules and spores of these beautiful plants dating back at least to the primitive Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

This commonly known evergreen tree fern is found growing throughout the forests of eastern Australia, Tasmania and some sub-Antarctica islands (hence the name Antarctica) where temperatures seldom rise above 65° F. It has also been found thriving in the lower Alpine zones in Australia too.

This temperate tree fern species of Dicksonia (in it’s native setting) is probably one of the largest, where normally they get 20 feet in height but given the ideal setting with lot’s of moisture it can reach 50 feet in height! It’s trunk can also reach a couple of feet in diameter, with it‘s fronds easily reaching a spread of 20 feet. Growth habit’s are relatively slow anywhere from one inch to three inches per year, depending on conditions, these tree ferns sometimes have a life span of 400 years or so.

This tree fern is very popular in sheltered garden environments in Britain but can be found in the US residing well in the south coast of Oregon. Given the proper environment with plenty of water it will grow from central Texas eastward in the United States as well as California’s hot Central Valley. This adaptable species can survive in these hotter regions if provided shade and a sheltered micro-climate.

In Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Monterey counties Dicksonia antarctica is slow growing, that in time will reach 15 feet in height. It is also not uncommon for the spread to reach 6 to 10 feet since this tree fern has many arching fronds that are divided into many small toothed leaflets, creating a nice full head. It’s general toughness also enables it to make for a good indoor specimen. As usual, this special plant will not be found in your local garden nurseries but most likely in a specialty, mail-order plant nursery.

As to dating these two plants? In my research I believe the Franks black lilies are probably 15 years old. As to the “Soft tree fern” based on it’s height, it could be as old as 30 years maximum but most likely, due to our climate and where the plant is, it is probably around 20 years old. It is my thoughts though, the previous owners of the home had a flair for oddity plants and they were probably planted at the same time period.

Yet another plant mystery solved but now I am trying to date the roses that are so prominent at my home.

Color in the Landscape

Have you ever wondered why some gardens are attractive and soothing while others appear disjointed, busy and even a bit disturbing? The answer lies in one word: design.

Appealing gardens have the same elements as beautiful paintings: Good composition, balance, color and perspective are the elements of any successful work of art, on canvas or living.


If your present garden is just a flat stretch of barren land, it can be a lot easier to create a work of art, but what if you are already dealing with a mature landscape? The easiest way to enhance your existing garden (aside from ripping out the entire landscape) is to focus on the use of color.

A simple and safe way to establish (or re-establish) your garden color scheme is to start with the colors of your background.

The house, paving and fence, whether warm redwood or white painted wood, all are part of your color scheme. Even colors in the distant background affect your color design.

Views from the interior of the house also should be considered.

Colors sets the tone or mood of a landscape and is a matter of personal taste. Color is affected by its surroundings, and its character is affected when you put another color next to it. For instance, a pale green often will seem warmer and darker against a cool blue background than it would if placed next to a bright orange, where it takes on a cool, bluish tinge.

Certain colors appear to jump out while others seem to recede. Generally speaking, warm, strong colors such as bright red or vibrant orange seem to push forward while cooler, muted tones of gray, green and blue seem to set back.

If you want a quiet, restful setting, you may favor harmonious colors, especially those in the duller or neutral zones such as gray-green, gray-blue, dull violets and dusty pinks.

For an exciting, lively, warm atmosphere, you might turn to complementary colors such as yellow, orange, red and blue. The contrast of these colors placed side by side creates a bold, bright statement.

One solution to avoid costly landscape mistakes is to experiment with potted plants to help you develop a successful color scheme that works for you.

Consider that contrasts need not always be vivid. By using soft, subdued shades of complementary colors, you can still achieve a contrast with a refined ambiance.

Blue has a cool, refreshing quality and is especially welcome in warm climates because it suggests sky, sea and lakes. Blue needs the accent provided by flowers of complementary or contrasting colors such as yellow and orange.

Pinks, particularly the soft and salmon pinks, are good companions for clear blues. White adds sparkle to these combinations.

In general, reds are uncomfortable in combination with blue but a red that leans toward the yellow side can be very effective.

Gray makes most colors sing and tones down those that shout.

Gaudy reds take on a smart sophistication when supported by plants with gray foliage. Gray also brings out a hidden sparkle in quiet colors and creates harmonious transitions.

IfIf you live on the Central Coast Please call me for a free design consultation or a plant health care walk through. I can be reached at 805.712.0203

Vineyards, Venues and Vows

Mary Allegreta - Butler Owner of Joyfully Joined

Oh, in these days of the upcoming wedding season; it is only appropriate to discuss what many are faced with when taking their wedding vows. This time of celebration and union is sought by many to be held on the Central Coast of California. A dream of all dreams, a day to remember forever, at one of our fabulous vineyard venues however;there are a few things to take into consideration before booking that date. The conditions of what makes for good wine (grapes) can be a bit taxing on those who simply want to celebrate amongst it's beauty. Remember the goal is to have family and friends gather in an environment that enhances the gift of nature with elegance, and with a touch of class but without having nature take over and spoil the party.

I myself being on the Central Coast for almost seven years, have a bit of insight to the needs of the Bride and Groom to be. At the forefront, the most important person you can have is the best-of-the-best Event Planner. I personally recommend Mary Allegretta - Butler, owner of Joyfully Joined. She has been professionally trained through the Association of Certified Professional Wedding Consultants and it is her, that I give my hat off to. She has been a Wedding and Event Coordinator on the Central Coast for the past decade with an extensive background in Event Management and experience being the On-site Event Coordinator at numerous prestigious venues in the the area, such as the Inn at Morro Bay, Ventana Grill and The Carlton Hotel.


I met Mary many years ago at Villa Toscana when she headed up all special events at this five star B&B and I decided she would be the key person for me to interview when it comes to Vineyards, Venues and Vows, Part I, Tips on Selecting the Proper Venue- Mary and I discussed at length her insights coupled with my insights and agree on many when choosing an appropriate outside venue for your celebration.

We were in agreement that on the Central Coast, the typical time of year for an outdoor wedding happens in-between late March through October months. She refers to the most current years Farmers Almanac to see what conditions have been in past years history to minimize Mother Nature taking a hand in the celebration.

As to the time of day, the earlier in the year, the earlier the ceremony should take place. Early afternoon is best in-between the hours of 2 and 4pm. Come summer months, early evening time, around 5 or 6pm. Later Starts however, may allow you less time to celebrate at most venues if they are with-in city limits due to the city ordinance rule where all events must conclude at 10pm. If you plan your event outside of city limit's you may be able to celebrate longer but it is important to know this upfront prior to booking your venue.

First and foremost, it is important to realize that if you choose the Central Coast Wine Country for your venue, that we are inland and not on the coast so NO over-cooking of your guests should be allowed. Think, shade, shade and shade! Though the months of July and August makes for ideal grapes when the sun is high and the heat is dry, it can also greatly effect your wedding guests. No one wants to be stuck roasting, waiting in the hot sun for the groom and bride to appear, especially Grandma and Grandpa. There is the option to put up free standing umbrellas that may only shade some areas but keep in mind they also make for unsightly wedding photographs. Choose a venue that provides the relief from the sun's rays for both ceremony and reception e.g think "Pergola" to accommodate everyone.

Also a point to keep in mind, not only in Paso Robles but areas in Monterey County towards summer months the winds tend to pick up later in the day, which could lead to problems with not only the ceremony but the reception if it is held outside in a courtyard or open area.

During certain months, critter populations maybe up and will be out. When the venue is heavily in bloom be sure to know the bees are soon to follow! Often times in summer, when there is not much moisture, ants may be seen in areas where food is continuously served and there may be flies if farm animals are in the nearby area. During harvest time (October) fruit flies are seen everywhere.

Terrain is certainly an important factor when choosing a venue. Its important to consider how your guests will travel from parking their cars(or being shuttled in) to each transition of activities (ceremony to cocktail hour to dinner and dancing). Most venues have grass, which are not ideal for women in heels. Loose gravel, rocks may cause difficulty for those wheeling elderly or infants. Check to see if the venue is hilly or uneven and always find out from venue manager/owners what options you have in making it as comfortable as possible for your guests.

Another important feature is proper lighting. This can make or break an event as well, not only for looks but as well as safety. Mary recommends visiting the venue prior to booking ,during the day and then again in the evening to see what light is existing and what should be additionally brought in.

Keep in mind too that Mother Nature is always in charge and you are at her mercy when you opt for an outdoor event. Certainly consider having an indoor refuge in the case of inclement weather.Regardless if that protection be a tent,a banquet room, or even a covered overhang from a building at the venue. Providing a dry area for your guests can save your day from turning into a disaster.

Always think, Plan A, Plan B and maybe a C when it comes to taking your vows within nature.

Onions, garlic, leeks a dynamic trio in Gourmet Kitchens

Onions, leeks and garlic played an important role in Egyptian history and probably are the most cherished edible treasures in any given gourmet kitchen today.

It is believed that onions and leeks were considered sacred and artists re-created their images on the ancient Egyptian tombs and monuments. It also is reputed that garlic was supplied to all the builders of the great pyramids to keep them healthy. Ideally, late November is the best time to plant this dynamic trio (Zone 14)but if you get out there soon, you will still get an excellent crop.

The onion is one of the hardiest of vegetable-garden plants and prefers a sunny location with a fine loose soil.

Amend heavier ground with compost or manure in an area that is free of weeds. The key to growing big, beautiful onions is to encourage the onion tops to grow as rapidly as possible, which means lots of fertilizer early on. Since onions have a coarse, small root system, side-dress the plants with fertilizer as close to the plants as you can or foliar feed them.

Once bulbing begins, there is no point in fertilizing anymore because the onion's size already is determined by the size of the top.

Harvest onions when the tops have fallen over, leaving them to dry somewhere shady for a couple of weeks before braiding or storing.

Leeks are another garden favorite; they are similar to onions only far sweeter and not nearly as pungent. One of the advantages of growing your own leeks is that they are free of the irritating grit that often is trapped between the layers of commercially grown leeks.

Select a spot in the garden that has a light rich soil in which to plant your leeks. The easiest way to plant is to dig trenches and line leek seedlings up six inches apart along the bottom of each trench and then cover the roots with soil. You will gradually fill in the trenches with soil over the next several weeks as part of the growing process. When the leeks reach the thickness of pencils, carefully add more soil to the trench. Repeat in another two weeks by filling the trench flush with the level of the soil surface.

Pull more soil or aged compost up around the plant stems twice more during the growing season and wait for harvest. Take great care when adding or when hilling up the soil; avoid having dirt fall into the whorl of the leek's leaves. Garlic also needs a fertile loose soil with lots of organic matter. It is really important that the soil is loose to prevent compaction through the long growing season.

Plant individual cloves from a garlic bulb in 1-inch holes. Immediately after planting, apply a layer of mulch on top. In spring, the garlic will have no trouble pushing through an inch of organic material. This also is the time to side-dress the garlic with a little chicken manure, seedmeal or strong compost tea fertilizer.

Garlic likes high-nitrogen fertilizers so foliar feed the plants every 10 days to two weeks until bulbs begin to form. Once bulbing begins, fertilizing is useless and may even be harmful to getting the best quality bulbs. The time to harvest is when all the leaves have completely browned off. Gently lift the bulbs out of the soil with a spading fork and do not wash.

Drying is the essential part of curing the bulbs. Place your garlic in a shaded well-ventilated area to dry. The plants should cure in three weeks to two months, depending on the humidity and air circulation. Bon appetit!

Photo courtesy of The Label Man. All kinds of cool antique seed packets, fruit crate labels and more. Visit: www.thelabelman.com

Magical mistletoe's roots grow in the air, not in the Earth

Mistletoe is one of the most magical plants of folklore, and almost all of the written history concerns the European mistletoe, Viscum alba, which found its way into American culture.

Phoradendron, though similar, is a different genus and is commonly found in America. Both types of mistletoe grow on a wide range of deciduous trees mainly from south central Oklahoma to southwestern Texas and Mexico. They are not commonly found on oaks (except for the oak mistletoe of California P. villosum) but favor apple, sycamore, ash alder and fruit trees.

Mistletoe seeds are produced on female plants inside small white berries, which have sticky flesh and are spread by birds. The seeds germinate and then penetrate the young, thin bark on trees and form a haustorium (freely branched structure), which penetrates the cambium and eventually the wood.

The mystic plant whose roots grew in the air and not in the earth was considered sacred from earliest times by cultures from the Mediterranean to the Baltic.

Mistletoe was considered masculine and associated with the sun, the element of air and the gods Apollo, Freya, Frigga, Venus and Odin. The French claim it once was a tree, but when it was used to make Christ's cross it was cursed and denied a place on Earth, so it became a parasite.

The tradition of hanging mistletoe above doorways for lovers to kiss beneath on the winter solstice, Dec. 23rd, or on Christmas Day originated from the pagan Baldur myth or Catholic St. Baldur myth.

Baldur, the god of peace, was slain with an arrow made of mistletoe. He was sent to the Otherworld to await the day when he would return to Earth to usher in a new era. Freyja, the goddess of love and mother of Baldur, dedicated the plant to the love felt for her son. She decreed that anyone passing beneath it must receive a kiss to show tribute to the "symbol of love."

The mistletoe of the sacred oak was especially divine to the ancient Celtic druids; the plant was the focus of solstice rites. On midsummer's eve or when the moon was six days old, mistletoe was harvested from a scared oak while the community gathered around. Using a golden, crescent-shaped sickle in token of the moon goddess, the priest cut the mistletoe, which was caught in a white cloth before it touched the ground.

The conjunction with the sickle created a union between druid and mistletoe, moon and sun, earth and sky, causing a spark to be drawn down into the body.

This represents the Day of Liberation, a celebration of that extra day of the year.

Druids and many European cultures used mistletoe medicinally for convulsions, delirium, hysteria, neuralgia and heart conditions.

Anthroposophical medicine introduced Iscador, a remedy used in Germany to this day for patients suffering from cancer. It was first believed to be tumor-inhibiting, but now it is widely used to improve the patients' quality of life and to reduce tumor-induced symptoms and side-effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

In the US, mistletoe "holds interest as a potential anticancer agent because extracts derived from it have shown to kill cancer cells in vitro" but the FDA has not approved of any forms of the extract.

As this important research continues in Germany (with recent successful experiments), it certainly keeps with the belief of its magical qualities. Perhaps someday we will have peace from the horrible diseases of life.

With it's Royal Heritage, Sweet Pea is the Princess of the Garden

Blue Ripple

If the rose is the queen of flowers, the sweet pea is truly the princess of the garden. If you have visions of garden walls and patios covered by clouds of flowering sweet peas this spring, now is the last chance to get those seeds planted.

I live in Sunset Zone 14 and I'm planting sweet peas now so I'll have a burst of bloom come spring that will prompt stares from passers-by. Sweet peas can also be planted all the way into February. The later you plant the later they bloom, making for a wonderful Summertime display.

Father Cupani, a Franciscan monk, reportedly sent sweet pea (Lathyrous odoratus) seeds to Dr. Uvedale, a schoolmaster at Enfield School, Middlesex, England, in 1699. By 1860, there were nine known varieties.

In 1878, Henry Eckford, a Scotsman who made his home in Wem England, and who has been called a genius of sweet pea breeding, began crossing varieties. He was honored the Victoria Medal of Honour from The Royal Horticultural Society for his efforts in developing one of the most wonderful garden plants.

Since he was the gardener to the Earl of Spencer, the varieties he bred are known as the Spencer types. At the time of his death in 1905, he had developed more than 300 varieties, many of which survive today.

Locally just a few kinds of sweet peas are available on racks, but seed catalogs have more choices. Seeds often are sold as mixtures that produce as many as eight different flower colors.

One mail-order company that specializes in Spencer type varieties is Enchanting Sweet Peas, which acquires its seed stock directly from a 100-year+ old English seed company (a fourth-generation family grower). Many of the varieties are available in an assortment of colors; for example, the Cottage Garden Collection includes five varieties of 10 seeds each, perfect for the small garden.

The varieties are: Gwendoline (rose lilac with white), Jacqueline Ann (lavender with white Flush), Noel Sutton (blue sapphire), Sylvia Mary (sunset pink), and White Supreme (white).

Individual varieties also can be acquired, or you can choose to create your own collection. One type that caught my eye is Oban Bay, which is a light silvery blue and generally produces for to five blossoms per stem. The topmost blooms are a lighter shade (almost white) calling to mind the foam of the waves of Scotland's Oban Bay.

You can accelerate germination by pre-sprouting seeds: scatter the seeds evenly over a paper towel and cover them with another towel, then roll them up like a diploma, moisten and put the roll in a plastic bag in a warm area. As soon as the tiny sprouts emerge, plant the seeds in a good loamy soil with composted manure in a sunny location.

Sweet pea seeds are poisonous, so keep them out of the reach of children.

Many of the Spencer varieties are known as climbing types (six to nine feet tall) and need vertical support.

It is easiest to set your trellis in place before planting, after you prepare the soil. Plant the seeds into the soil one inch deep, spaced about two inches apart in a four-inch-wide band along the trellis line. Keep soil moist until the seedlings emerge from the soil. When plants are four inches tall, thin them to six inches apart.

The best way to keep your plants healthy and pest-free is to regularly foliar-feed the plants with a weak manure tea or fish emulsion. This will make the foliage distasteful to aphids and stimulate plant growth; keeping them nice and green.

Remember the old rule of thumb: The more bouquets you pick (and give away), the more blooms you get (and smiles too).

Strawberry Fields Forever

Did you know that in 2010 Monterey County had 10,664 acres in commercial strawberry production? You can look at that as 10,664 football fields stacked up together. That was close to 425,000 tons! It's like 425,000 good size cows going to market. Imagine that cattle drive. That's a lot of berries, which brought in a dollar amount of $739,845,000 to the county!

You may ask why I'm talking berries on Thanksgiving Eve? Even on this rainy, overcast morning, somewhere in the fields of Salinas the land is being stripped and prepped for the next planting. Today in one field there was approximately 80 workers that covered 60 acres pulling up plastic and irrigation lines.

Each worker had a row where in the mucky mud they started at one end walking forward yanking up the plastic. The plastic would come up in three pieces, one from the middle and two from the sides. Holding tight to the plastic in their hands they would walk about twenty feet or so, stop and swirl the plastic that was behind them in a bundle. Repeat the process over and over again until they hit the end of the row. Rolling the bundle back down the row ending up with a rubber band looking object the size of my exercise ball.

Then they focused on the irrigation spaghetti lines. Essential walking the whole field yanking the two lines as they go. When they arrived at the other end of the row, they would turn around folding the tubing in ten foot sections until the got back to the other side. Folding it in half again and tying in a bow.

Just last week a major planting of the Albion (Fragaria x ananassa) root stock were planted out in Salinas Valley, which sounds more appealing than the prep work. These cloudy, cool days make for ideal planting. Let those roots settle into their new home.

Since 2006 the Albion strawberry has been the most widely planted public variety in all of California. This particular berry has an outstanding sweet, candy like flavor and their consistent large uniform conical shape( perfect for chocolate dipping) make them appealing to consumers. I can only assume from a growers stand point, their fruit color both internal and external and the fact that they preform evenly throughout the production season are just a couple of reasons for growing and sending them to market.

So as I hose of the jeans and prep them for washing I'll dream about Strawberry fields forever with a smile on my face. It's only appropriate to give thanks to all the men and women who work the fields that allow as to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Happy Thanksgiving to all.