Winter can be a difficult time for most gardeners. It's considered to be an off season - washing containers, checking equipment, and other random tasks. What projects could I do to add some winter interest to my garden? Start with something simple like bird feeders. Before installing your bird feeder, consider the location. Place the feeder away from high traffic areas, including cars and pedestrians; near to an area of cover like bamboo or an evergreen; and near a source of water. After getting your bird feeder to the best possible spot, it is time to pick up some feed. During the winter birds are interested in gaining some serious fat. So provide them with feed that is high in protein.
Another thing you could add to your project is a bird bath. At Compton Gardens we decided to create our own bird bath using trunks of fallen trees and a chainsaw. After scooping out the bowl, we added a mossy rock (for a landing pad), and some plants to give it a natural, living aesthetic.
After doing these few things at our garden, the result has been dramatic. I've counted 15 or more species of birds at a time in the area providing a winter garden with an abundance of color.
Over the past several days, my comrades and I have been removing Euonymus fortunei-common name is wintercreeper-which is an invasive plant species. It may look harmless, but it will easily choke out native plants and limit the biodiversity of an area very quickly. The garden staff and I devised a way of removing the plant by starting at the top of a slope and rolling it over itself similar to rolling carpet. As we were rolling the wintercreeper, many creatures would come out to greet us: worms, various insects, spiders, and a lovely little salamander.
Mr. Salamander was upset because the worms were eating all his food. I told Mr. Salamander that we would relocate the worms to another place if he would have a wrestling match with one of the worms. He agreed.
Eurycea lucifuga, which is the scientific name for Mr. Salamander, is a rare find in the wild. The common name for this species is the cave salamander. Its habitat is usually in caves where light can be found and near springs. In Arkansas, the animal is limited to the Ozarks in the northern part of the state; however, the cave salamander can be found in many central and eastern states. Even though this salamander is rare, it is not on the federal endangered species list. 
At my new place of work, Compton Gardens, there are a few champion trees standing tall and proud! If you're wondering what a champion tree is, let me explain; "Arkansas's Champion Tree program recognizes those trees, planted by nature or individuals, that are the largest of each species. Trees are compared using the American Forest "Bigness Index" (BI)" (http://www.forestry.state.ar.us). I may be wrong, but I am sure that these trees are measured by the height and girth of the trunk. So, without any further ado I would like to present the Yellowwood Champion and the Champion Chestnut!
I would also like to share some more photos of Compton Gardens. These pictures show the work that has been completed for the opening of the bike trail in Bentonville, Arkansas on July 17th.
Some people would say that I'm one of the lucky ones and I would have to agree - I did find a job after finishing my degree! Can you believe it? I am on my second week of work and I still can't believe it!
The garden which is now known as Compton Gardens was donated to the Peel House Foundation in 2002. The creator and former owner, Dr. Neil Compton is the man responsible for America's First National River - the Buffalo River.
Today, the garden offers enthusiasts a look of Arkansas' native flora - from Alum Root to Yellow Root and the list is growing! In fact, just the other day I was planting the native orchid Spiranthes cernua. And rumor has it that we're getting some other interesting plants... keep that on the down-low.
On my lunch break I decided to shoot some photos of these great Arkansas plants to share with you. I want you to have a good idea about the potential of this wonderful garden - and believe me, this place has way more potential that you think.
Let me tell you that the flowers of Eryngium yuccifolium smell of honey. Very impressive summer plant. This plant is on my recommendation list. :)
Next up, we have Vaccinium elliottii. This is one of our native blueberry bushes. If you're a fan of natives and enjoy eating blueberries, this plant is definitely for you.
Another edible is Ribes odoratum, the golden currant. This is an all around great shrub. It has nice foliage and bears edible fruit. However, it is deciduous (keep in mind if use for a screen).
Well, that's all I have for now. Soon, I will post pictures of Compton Garden's Champion Trees! Ciao.
Hello everyone! Aren't things warming up a bit in Arkansas? Well, while your baking in the hot sun, my tomatoes are staying cool in the garden. Since I don't have room for much in my tiny garden, I have planted my tomatoes a bit too close together. They may seem a bit crowded, but with the right pruning job they will be just fine. I've also planted them near a fence to help with support rather than dealing with those circular wire frames. 
Have you heard of a rice-paper plant or rice-paper tree or Tetrapanax papyrifer? It's a wonderful specimen that adds great foliage interest to the garden. At the corner of my house there was once a Lonicera maackii - needless to say, I chopped that down with a axe made from the fires in hell. (*Hint* If you paint a coat of roundup on the stump it wont come back.) After the Amur honeysuckle was removed, I installed the rice-paper plant as a replacement. Once established the plant will mostly take care of itself. It will grow into a nice mounding screen; however, it will die back to the ground in the winter in Arkansas. It might be possible that southern Arkansas might get away with having it year-round. Before you think that you want one, keep in mind that this plant loves to spread from the base. Many of my colleagues are against having the rice-paper plant in their garden, but I've always been pretty rebellious when it comes to following the crowd.
Another little accent to my garden is Polemonium pauciflorum aka. Hickley's polemonium - I like to call it skunk plant, because the foliage smells horrific, which I think is terrific! By the way, its flowers are nice too.
It's the summer! People enjoy relaxing in the shade next to a cool, clean pool with an ice cold summer drink. I believe that was my father's idea a few weeks ago as he stepped out onto the veranda and mosied on over to his large, green umbrella. It never occurred to him that he would disturb the rest of a peaceful creature. As soon as he popped open his shade providing machine... "AHHHHH! A BAT!" Then he screamed for his wife, "Chotsie, there's a bat! Help." After careful review of the pictures, I have no idea what kind of bat this is. Could it be the very rare Small-footed Bat? I just don't know.
This week I will be working in the glasshouses at the RBGE. As one would say in the Arkansas native tongue, "Damn, shure is hot up in thur." I didn't think it was possible to break a sweat in Scotland.
Since I began my work indoors, I have come across some beautiful little orchids.
Dendrobium hellwigianum
[Photo1]
Dendrochilum filiforme
[Photo1] [Photo2] [Photo3]
Dracula bella
[Photo1] [Photo2]
Masdevallia nycterina
[Photo1] [Photo2]
Phreatia
[Photo1] [Photo2] [Photo3]
Poroglossum echidnum
[Photo1] [Photo2]
Scaphosepalum punctatum
[Photo1] [Photo2] [Photo3]
I've also been recording daily weather from the garden's weather stations. A record of temperature must be taken in the air, at ground surface and below ground. Other things that are recorded are wind speed and direction, state of ground, cloud density, visibility and hours of sunlight. To make these observations, I am required to climb the ladders to the top of the largest glasshouse. Don't worry, I promise I wont fall and be shredded by falling through panes of glass. I will post some pictures soon.
After a week of cutting down huge hedges and feeding them through a chipper, I feel a bit physically tuckered out. However, I must admit that work like this makes me feel like a real man! Arrrrrrggg!
Above: This is my very good friend Audrey III. I have named the chipper after the large singing/talking carnivorous plant in Little Shop of Horrors. When I push a large log into its gnashing teeth, I say to myself "FEED ME, SEYMOUR!"
This is only the second row of hedges that we destroyed. You might be asking yourself, "Hey John! Why the heck are you being so destructive?!" I would tell you that we are expanding the nursery at the Botanic Garden. We're adding two more quonset polyethylene grow houses. YAY! And while we're at it, doing a bit of landscaping!
I noticed a photo opportunity! This is the result.
That's all I'm going to report at the moment. I've got a few more photographs from the day I traveled to Fife. Oh, there are so many beautiful gardens in this country! I hope you all miss me terribly! Ha. Let's party when I return!
Not so much to report from this past week at the garden. I worked with the herbaceous plant team. We mostly weeded and edged the entire week. I can tell you, we sure made the garden look nice and neat. There was one day this week that was loads of fun. Monday, we grabbed some shovels, an ax, saws and our brute strength! We walked out to a bed full of shrubs and ripped them out of the ground like the rabid beasts we were! We ended the lives of 40 shrubs that day. I remember their cries. It was horrible.
Hi Yeh! Things are going better for me now. I still have a very slight cough. Other than that, I feel great! Hopefully, I will not have to worry about being sick for awhile.
This past week, I have been working with the Alpine Team! If you are interested in learning exactly what "alpine" means, just click here. While I was working with these impressive gardeners, I was introduced to a few special plants.
Meet my new friend Philadelphus madrensis. [Photo1] [Photo2] This scrappy little shrub may not look like much, but it packs a smell that you will never forget! EVER! I was just minding my own business when suddenly, SPLASH! My nose was filled with a sweet sugary scent that made my tummy say, "Hi, how ya doing?"
I would also like you to meet Leucogenes leontopodium. [Photo1] [Photo2] This little silver caught my eye and wouldn't let go. The flowers looked like they were made from cloth and the arrangement of the foliage on the stem was a bit psychedelic. The plant was collected in New Zealand. Beautiful, wouldn't you agree?
Last but not least, Scotland's own Primula scotica! [Photo1] [Photo2] This little sweetheart is very modest, only with very specific environmental conditions will it then let you view it's beautiful bloom. The scotica is an endemic species. Sadly, I may never see one flower again.
Ah... I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did. Well, at the moment I am going to take a nap. I had a long night last night (considering that I lost my key and couldn't get back to my flat). I ended up going out on the town with a few of my pals. What else could I do?
Cheers!
The gardeners at the botanics have been preparing for an event that is to take place this Friday. To prepare for such an event, everyone must participate in the lovely task of pulling weeds. I've been weeding so much that when I close my eyes I see nothing but weeds.
One of these delicious weeds is called Cymbalaria muralis. This weed spreads via underground rhizome and consumes everything in its path. If you were to divide the little white rhizome into a small portion, that would sprout and spread. This weed is such a problem that the management of the gardens have decided to eradicate the weed from a few of their beds. To accomplish this, everything much be taken out: trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials and anything else that is living. Then the soil will be fumigated. This process will take about two years per bed. WHOA!
Cymbalaria muralis. See the white rhizomes?
Just a taste of the destruction!
So far, I feel like I've been wandering around like a blubbering American idiot. Well, today things have definitely changed. I'm running around the streets without a map, making a few friends and I can even do a pretty good Scottish accent (so I'm told). Ha.
Work has been going very well. This past week I've been working with the aboriculturists. They are called "Arbor Team." They remind me of Arkansas auto mechanics... you know, "good ol' boys." The sad thing about working with them, is that I haven't gotten to do any real tree climbing. All we've done is do some tree surveying. But mostly we've been weeding the entire garden. My roommate Drew is a bit disappointed. I really couldn't give a rats ass... hell, I'm in Scotland!
It is sad that I cannot share my pictures with you just yet. The computer lab here isn't exactally digital camera friendly. But as soon as I find a machine that will allow me to upload photos, I'll post them for you all to see.
Anyway, as they say in the UK...
Cheers, mate!
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