first published December 20, 2007

I have this theory that Smokey the Bear is to blame for our angst about buying real Christmas trees. If you think this sounds personal, you’re right. It all started back in Grade 6. I remember sitting in the gym at my elementary school in St. Albert, watching a reel-to-reel film of a stern-looking Smokey pointing directly at me and saying, “Only you can prevent wildfires.” Gulp! Well, that vision stuck in my mind just about as firmly as the film stuck and melted in that old projector. But even with the presentation cut short, Smokey succeeded in convincing me to question my dad about whether it was a good idea to cut down a tree each year for Christmas.

Now, I know that good old Smokey’s message was really about burned-down rather than cut-down trees, but I still can’t drive by a Christmas tree lot without hearing that bear’s stentorian voice in my head. Fortunately, once the fog of nostalgia clears, common sense prevails and I remember the fact that Christmas trees are farmed no differently than any other commercial crop.

The decision regarding what crop a farmer chooses to grow is based on the same sound principles common to any other business practice. That means deciding to farm cabbages or Christmas trees depends on factors such as climate suitability, cost of production, equipment required, return on investment, not to mention a little something called intuition. But regardless of whether the numbers tell you to plant cabbage or Christmas trees, both crops start their lives as seeds, grow in the ground, absorb sunlight, water and nutrients and, ultimately, are harvested and sold. The resources required to grow cabbage are not a whole lot different than those needed to produce a crop of Christmas trees, either. The only major difference between a crop of trees and a crop of cabbage is that trees take years to grow, whereas cabbage is ready the first season. Of course, there’s also the fact that you can’t eat trees…but neither could you decorate a cabbage plant…or at least not tastefully.

Then what is it that makes us squeamish about harvesting farmed Christmas trees? Well, I think it comes down to the fact that the crops we eat are less scrutinized because we all need food. However, as reasonable an argument as that is, it’s equally easy to argue that food crops leave a greater environmental footprint in the waste department. Here’s why. When it comes to cabbage, I suppose people could be thought of as ‘first-stage, living composters’ because we process food within our bodies, and then it eventually finds its way to waste treatment plants. But besides that not being an image that belongs embossed on a Christmas card, it’s also a process that requires a lot of chemical intervention to turn the waste into a product that can be re-utilized. In contrast, farmed Christmas trees are recycled easily by putting them through the chipper and using them as mulching material around tree and shrub beds. Mulch decomposes in the soil, nourishing other plants, and the cycle is complete. Heck, I’ve even heard a representative from the David Suzuki foundation endorse the use of real Christmas trees.

Of course, I haven’t done a complete environmental audit on cabbage versus Christmas trees, and there are lots of other considerations, but I think you get the picture: trees are farmed like any other crop. As I said in last week’s column, I own an artificial tree because not only is it one of many items that my wife brought along with her into our marriage, I would rather lug a pre-decorated fake up from the basement than strap a real one to the hood of my car. And as silly a deciding factor as that may seem, it’s actually as valid as any other when deciding what you support as a consumer. With that said, however, in a battle between Smokey and Suzuki, I’m still betting that Smokey would win claws down.

First Published December 13, 2007

I have a confession to make. I have forsaken a genuine, coniferous Christmas tree for a Jiffy tree. I call it the Jiffy tree because it is a fake—a fully decorated, artificial tree that spends 11 months of the year stretch wrapped in my basement. That is until sometime in early December, when I make my annual pilgrimage downstairs, hoist the tree up and onto my shoulder and haul it up to the living room. Then it’s simply a matter of cutting off its see-through straight-jacket, plugging in the lights and—viola!—instant Christmas.

I do feel a bit guilty, mind you, depriving my children of the experience of decorating, but my wife loves not having to strip down the tree each year and store all of the delicate baubles and lights. Besides, my daughter still gets to hang one or two new ornaments on the tree each year, and—so far, at least—she hasn’t used Dad and Grinch in the same sentence. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that this year I put the tree into an attractive metre-tall, black planter that is half filled with concrete blocks. That way, Little Brother can’t reach up and pull off the irresistibly shiny decorations and we nicely thwart the dog’s desire to expand her chew toy repertoire. Aah, the Jiffy tree—easy, safe and puppy proof …Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la!

But while I’ve warmed to the idea of the no fuss, no mess, artificial, fully decorated, Christmas tree, there is one void that the Jiffy tree will never fill in me—that deep longing for good, old-fashioned alpine fragrance that takes me back to my childhood. On the farm we always had a fresh-cut white spruce, and we would no sooner have a faux tree than we would cancel Christmas. For me, the wonderful aroma was every bit as important as any perfectly adorned holiday symbol.

What is that aromatic stuff that I find myself longing for in December? Well, it’s all about family, and family in this case is what is missing with artificial trees. The family to which I refer is a group of plant-synthesized chemicals called terpenoids. I suppose one could really call the terpenoids an extended family because scientists have concluded that there are about 15,000 chemicals from a wide range of plants that are responsible for giving each plant species its characteristic scent.

The name terpenoid derives from the fact that the first compounds in the group were isolated from turpentine (an oil distilled from resins of coniferous trees). When you crush the needles of evergreens, the terpenoids are released from the damaged resin ducts and a wonderful fragrance escapes. But terpenoids also escape naturally. Warm temperatures encourage the oils to become volatile and waft out of the needles. In fact, the Smoky Mountains of the southern U.S. owe their name to the clouds of these chemicals that emanate from the pine trees during warm, calm weather. Terpenoids have many functions in plants besides fragrance, not the least of which is to serve as antifeedants (products that discourage feeding) to many insect and animal species—although the deer and porcupine I know don’t seem aware of this fact.

One practical thing to remember about terpenoids is that they’ll tell you how “fresh” a tree is. A Christmas tree that doesn’t release a lot of fragrance when its needles are crushed may mean that the tree is past its prime and dried out. A dried out tree is a fire hazard, so use the fragrant terpenoids as an indicator of the quality of the tree you want to purchase. Keep in mind that the sniff test isn’t that reliable when the tree is frozen solid.

Although I can add small amounts of alpine scent to my home by decorating with fresh wreaths and evergreen arrangements, alas, I suspect that the fragrant Christmases of my childhood won’t be recaptured. Once one switches to the Jiffy tree, it’s a hard habit to break. I do, however, think I owe it to the kids to let them experience at least one Christmas with the terpenoids. It would require a bit more work, and my decorating skills leave a lot to be desired, but who knows? Once the kids get a whiff of the real thing, I might be forced to retire the Jiffy permanently.

Hits & Misses: Indoor plant sale & growing pains
Question of the Week: How do I keep my evergreen arrangements looking fresh?
Science & Technology: Mandarin Oranges
The Path to Enjoy 2009: Unique

With Christmas yet to arrive, I know it may seem slightly heretical to talk about spring, but I can’t help myself. Just a few days ago, we received a huge shipment of gorgeous succulents destined for patio containers. There are speckled succulents, clam-shaped succulents, even flaming-red ones, but what they all have in common is that besides being good looking, they are also remarkably drought tolerant. And let’s face it, who of us would complain about having to spend less time watering?

Hits & Misses
Hit: Indoor Plant Sale

Speaking of shipments, we just received a truckload of tropical plants that will be for sale on January 2nd. At a time when the greenhouses are looking a bit sparse because of the gaps created by sold poinsettias, it’s wonderful to see so much large greenery. If you can’t travel to the tropics in January, might as well bring the tropics here!

Miss: Growing Pains
I have some plant problems in my home. Well, let me clarify that. My plants are actually having some people and dog problems. You see, my dog has decided that Ficus and Dracaena are part of a healthy diet, and my toddler has decided that potting soil shouldn’t be restricted to pots—apparently hardwood floors also make an excellent repository. To date, the dog, plants and floors look none the worse for wear, so with a little luck, I’ll be able to chalk it all up to the “it’s a phase they’re going through” principle. Come on, luck!

Question of the Week
How do I keep my evergreen arrangements looking fresh?

Outdoor wreaths and evergreen-filled urns will almost take care of themselves this time of the year. The humid air and cold temperatures act as an extreme version of a florist’s cooler and will keep your greenery looking good for months. To extend the life of your indoor arrangement, keep evergreens away from drying heat vents and fireplaces, and give them an occasional misting of water.

Science & Technology
Mandarin Oranges
I was reading a research report in the latest issue of The Journal of the American Society for Horiticultural Science called…wait for it…“Phylogenetic Analysis of Mandarin Landraces, Wild Mandarins, and Related Species in China Using Nuclear LEAFY Second Intron and Plastid trnL-trnF Sequence.” And now for a confession that really shouldn’t surprise you: I didn’t actually read this paper. I would have, but I’d have needed a lot more coffee to wade through the complicated Mandarin genetics to have even had a hope of comprehending the complexities of this research. At the same time, I know that as I stand in my kitchen and enjoy the sweet flavour of a Mandarin orange, I’m immensely thankful that researchers are spending time investigating what makes this fruit tick. The more we know about the nuances of crops like Mandarin oranges, the greater the likelihood of them being around for many generations to come.

Trend Spotting
Tired of traditional? You’re not alone. Make a unique holiday statement in your home with one of these feather wreaths. Quite possibly the perfect gift for tickling your holiday fancy.

The Path to Enjoy 2009
Unique
Can a Storm Pond become a Botanic Garden?
We think so. Our new greenhouse in South Riel will be located beside a storm pond, so we are working with the City of St. Albert and Beaverbrook Developments to come up with a plan to turn the functional into the enjoyable. That means exploring the idea of creating a water-cleansing system that doubles as an attractive botanic garden.

Did You Know?
The world’s largest puffball weighed 6.12 kilograms.

“A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.”
–Garrison Keillor

Jim’s notebook will be taking a break over the holidays and will return on Thursday, January 10th, 2008. Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all our readers.

first published December 6, 2007

The tallest tree in Edmonton, and this is just my own rough estimate, is about 90 metres (300 feet) tall. Now, if you’re thinking that my eyeglass prescription has run out, let me explain. The tree I am referring to is nestled, quite comfortably, atop the roof of a rather tall high-rise in the downtown area. And although the tree itself is only about three metres from trunk base to tip, it’s definitely taller than any of the earth-anchored trees I’ve seen around here. OK, I plead guilty to a bad attempt at a humorous hook, but the point I’m trying to build to is this: if cities evolve the way I think they should (from an ecological perspective), rooftop trees and gardens will become as commonplace as those on the ground.

The collective term for trees or any other plants grown on the tops of buildings is green roof. Green roofs can range from a few containers of plants, all the way up to intensive designs that are almost indistinguishable from ground-level parks and gardens. And while this might sound like a stratospheric idea, its practice is quite firmly rooted in history—ancient history. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, were likely one of the first green roofs. Contrary to what its name implies, the gardens didn’t really hang (it’s one of those lost-in-translation things); they grew on the roofs of a ziggurat, which is essentially a building constructed on tiered layers (think Leggo sets). In fact, history is littered with examples of green roofs. The Vikings covered the tops of their homes with a variety of wild plants grown on a thin layer of soil, and closer to home, our early prairie pioneers used native sod as roofing material. So what is it about green roofs that keeps us coming back? Well, besides being a great way to add beauty and novelty to the sky-scape, green roofs are enviro-chique. What else would you call a structure that is alive and that reduces building heat loss and cooling requirements while capturing atmospheric carbon? And that’s only a partial list.

Unfortunately, though, many people still fixate on the limiting idea that high-rise roofs are just places to keep out the rain and snow and to hold up air conditioners. That needs to change.

When we erect buildings, we need to think about the rather large footprints they leave and not overlook an opportunity to recapture green space by simply moving it skyward. The Europeans (Germans, in particular) have become world leaders in green roofs. In fact, they have legislation that ensures that a percentage of the ground-level green space lost to construction be saved by putting it on the roof. I suppose the relative scarcity of land over there inspires conservation just as surely as the relative abundance of it here means that we take it for granted.

Some will argue that green roofs aren’t practical here because of our cold winters, but keep in mind that Chicago leads North America in green roof square footage, and its climate can be darn near as cold as ours in the winter. Of course, green roofs do have their limitations in that they aren’t practical for the vast majority of our A-framed homes (keeping the plants irrigated is tough, plus rubber boots and steep slopes are not a good mix), but they do have an application for a wide number of flat-roofed commercial buildings and residential high-rises. For these structures, there are many compelling reasons for at least investigating the possibilities of constructing green roofs: a reduction in heating and cooling costs, reduction in storm water runoff, noise abatement, increased roof life (less landfill from old roofing materials), wildlife habit and aesthetics, to name a few.

It’s something worth thinking about. I know when I fly directly above a city, I can’t help but think that the gravel-coated tar roofs look like an underutilized resource. It may seem like a simple answer, but when it comes to urban greening, perhaps we just need to set our goals a little higher.

Hits & Misses: Popular plant arrangements & tight spaces
Question of the Week: Why are plants green?
Science & Technology: Potassium deficiency
The Path to Enjoy 2009: Sustainability

Sometimes nothing is a better than lip service. Case in point, being the ‘lip zone’ in a plant pot. Hilary Allan, one of our growers, and I were walking through the greenhouses the other day, and she pointed out that she always leaves a two-centimeter, soil-free zone at the top of the Easter lily pots. The reason she does this is so that customers will have just the right size water reservoir to ensure that their lilies get water and their kitchen counters and floors don’t. It may not sound like a big deal, but I think those little details make the difference between thoroughly enjoying a plant and wishing that you hadn’t bought it. I am the first to admit that I can be sloppy with the watering can at home (call it the curse of growing up in the greenhouse where water on the floor wasn’t a big deal), so I’m happy to take all the help I can get.

Hits & Misses
Hit: Popular Plant Arrangements
Indoor plant arrangements are hot items this Christmas, and I think their popularity can be attributed to their simplicity and ease of design. All you really need to create a great arrangement is an attractive pot, some quality potting soil and an assortment of small indoor plants. Add decorative rocks for top-dressing and a tiny ornament, and presto!—a terrific holiday centrepiece is born.

Miss: Tight Spaces
Heat and low light levels are a bad combination for plants. Each year, because of a lack of space, a few plants manage to find their way beneath the hot water pipes in the greenhouse. The problem with that scenario is that the heat encourages the plants to grow, but the light source doesn’t provide enough energy for them to assimilate nutrients. The inevitable result is soft, stretched and weak plants—the kind that usually topple and fold like cheap umbrellas in a wind storm.

Question of the Week
Why are plants green?
My daughter is studying light and lenses in her Grade 4 class and asked me why plants are green. The short answer that I gave her was that plants are green because they hate the colour green. Of course, that’s not exactly the truth, but I was going for drama. What I went on to explain was that while plants don’t hate green, they don’t get a big charge out of it either—literally. Plants prefer to utilize light in the red and blue spectrum and to reflect light in green spectrum. And that reflection of light accounts for why our eyes perceive most leaves as green. So the next time you are admiring the verdant leaves of your favorite shrub, remember that it is doing its best to give it away.

Science & Technology
Potassium Deficiency
Researchers in the department of Horticultural sciences at Texas A&M have determined that Phalaenopsis or moth orchids, as they are commonly called, do very poorly when grown in soils with low levels of potassium. The bottom line is that if you grow this type of orchid in your home, give it regular feedings with fertilizer that has a high last number on the label. A good indicator that your orchid might be a bit low in potassium is when it displays yellowy or bronze lesions on its leaves.

The Path to Enjoy 2009
Sustainability
Can art make a greenhouse more energy efficient? Well, maybe it will in our new location. We are working with a glass-blowing studio and various experts in the sustainable energy field to explore the possibility of recapturing the waste heat from the glass blowing furnaces. The heat would be used to warm the water in the greenhouse, and the vases manufactured in the studio would be sold in the Floral Design department. We think the answer is Yes!

Did You Know?
Compass plants (Silphium laciniatum) orient their leaf blades parallel to the sun.

“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once.”
–Albert Einstein

First published November 29, 2007

Earlier this month, I spent a couple of days attending the annual Green Industry Show and Conference in Edmonton—an event that highlights the latest information and technology pertaining to the world of horticulture. It’s an annual pilgrimage I always look forward to and the kind that’s always enlightening, sometimes frightening and, occasionally, rather amusing. Here’s a peek at the highlights, starting with the enlightening.

Dutch treat
From across the Atlantic, the Dutch are once again proving themselves leaders in the world of greenhouse technology. Currently, their researchers are investigating greenhouse coverings that allow light to pass through (which allows for plant growth), while trapping some of the remaining solar energy to generate electricity. Clearly, the Dutch believe the future of the greenhouse industry lies in treating greenhouses as net providers of energy that can act as giant solar panels. This technology is still a few years down the road, but the idea of greenhouses as electricity generators is nothing short of fascinating.

Scary business
I sat through a seminar called “Pests of Concern for Nursery and Greenhouse” that featured a litany of pests threatening horticulture in Canada. Two particularly worrisome culprits earning the honour of being singled out were the emerald ash borer and the Asian longhorn beetle. These two impressive and extremely destructive pests have made names for themselves by tunneling through and destroying thousands of trees in the eastern U.S. and in Canada. Of the two pests, the emerald ash borer has proven to be the more discriminating eater, restricting its palate to ash trees; whereas the Asian longhorned beetle enjoys a less restrictive diet and consumes a wide variety of hardwood trees. To date, neither has hitchhiked its way into the prairies or B.C, but one can’t help but wonder if their western trek is inevitable. It is possible, but if we’re smart and don’t move pest-infested firewood around the country, we just might escape their wrath. I must admit, however, it’s the “smart” part of the human equation that scares me.

Right after the borer and beetle session, I attended Dr. Ken Fry’s seminar, “Environmentally Sustainable Pest Management.” To make things interesting, Dr. Fry linked his microscope to a projector so we could view some insect pests and predators on the big screen. A few attendees seemed a little squeamish when the metre-long bugs began inching across the screen, but I can attest that anyone who averted their eyes definitely missed out on a great show—particularly when a gigantic foxglove aphid decided for some inexplicable reason to flip on its back, with all six of its legs flailing. Now, that might not seem like a strange thing, but had this been a horror movie, it would be equivalent to the scene where the teenager (who has, of course, just stepped out of the shower) hears a strange noise and tiptoes outside to investigate. You just know its not going to end well. Now, Dr. Fry didn’t provide a scientific explanation for why the aphid decided to stretch out, but it was certainly made quick work of by the predaceous insects that entered stage right. Pass the popcorn.

Last but not least
I think any good conference should come with at least one good laugh, and this conference delivered. The year’s source of amusement was a video demonstration of a piece of equipment called the Rodenator. For lack of a better description, the Rodenator is a two-metre-long critter cannon. Wait; it gets worse. This contraption earned its name because the business end of it shoots a gaseous mixture of propane and oxygen down gopher holes and permeates an unsuspecting rodent’s labyrinth of tunnels. The mixture is then—ignited!— and the resulting shock wave “eliminates” the pest problem within seconds. The video that I watched (with one hand clasped over my mouth), shows a helmeted employee literally blowing up varmint burrows in a manner that would make Yosemite Sam proud. Blowing up animals in your yard? What’s up with that, Doc?

Needless to say, the Green Industry Show delivered the goods once again, and I contentedly left the conference centre feeling a mixture of emotions—a bit of trepidation about exotic pests, a little more enlightened about horticulture, and last but not least, overwhelmed with desire to watch Caddyshack. Not a bad work week if you can get it.

Christmas is the season best suited for contortionists. I mean, just think how perfect those skills would be for all the twisting, bending and stretching that’s necessary for hanging decorations or sticking that illuminated angel on the tip of a tree that’s one bough too tall for you and your ladder. Since I’m one or two double joints shy of that skill set, I’ve developed a tool that’s saved my body from irreparable damage. It’s an extension pole (the kind used by window washers) with an adjustable wrench duct-taped to the end of it. It’s amazing how good that tool is for hanging a variety of decorations in the house. Yeah, I know… Red Green would be proud.

Hits & Misses
Hit: Reader feedback
Back in April, I posted an article I wrote about an interesting bulb called the rat poison plant (Urginea maritime or red squill) . Well, I’m happy to report that a pair of readers e-mailed to tell us they grew this novel plant and had great success with it.

July 20, 2007

Their secret? Neglect. They grew the bulb in almost pure sand in a pot outside and gave it no supplemental watering. The flower spike that developed this summer was stunning. They moved the pot indoors to their sunroom, and while they were away this fall the heating in their home failed. The resulting cool conditions forced the bulb to produce lush foliage.

December 1, 2007

Miss: Lost Time
I’ve talked to a few people who missed getting their tulips into the ground this fall and now wonder what to do with them. Well, these bulbs needn’t go to waste. Plant them in a container filled with regular potting soil, water them and keep them in a warm indoor spot for about three weeks or until they root. Once they are rooted (you can tip the pot and check), give them a cold treatment by sticking the pot in a cold garage or shed for a few months (freezing or a few degrees below is ideal). Then, come spring, place the pot in a cool, bright outdoor spot and, viola, you’ll have a nice container of flowering tulips to enjoy.

Question of the Week
How do I keep my poinsettia looking healthy?
The secret to keeping a poinsettia looking healthy isn’t really much of a secret. Simply putting it in the right environment and watering it properly is all that’s required. What it really comes down to is recognizing that you don’t need to grow the plant—you need only to maintain it. What I mean is that a holiday plant is on holiday. It has spent months working and growing to its peak of perfection, and now all it has to do is retain its beauty. It does take a bit of effort and patience on your part, but no more than it does being nice to well-meaning friends or relatives who overstay their holiday welcome.

Tips
1. Keep poinsettias away from cold drafts and heat registers.
2. Don’t fertilize.
3. Place the poinsettias near a sunny window during the day to prevent leaf drop. At night simply move them to their ‘decorator’ locations.
4. Prevent root rot by never letting poinsettias sit in saucers or catch trays filled with water.

Science & Technology
Smells like plant pests
Researchers at UBC are investigating the use of a ‘gas chromatograph’ to sniff for plant pests. Apparently, each pest causes the release of a spectrum of chemicals specific to the pest and the plant it’s attacking. With this piece of equipment, pests can be more easily detected and, hopefully, controlled.

Trend Spotting
If you’re looking for something unique, you’re not alone. Bonsai are quickly becoming a favourite indoor plant. For best results, water plants faithfully and provide them with a bright, indirect light source.

Did You Know?
The ethylene gas given off by apples can cause the leaves to fall off your holly plant if the two are stored together. Bottom line? Apples and holly aren’t great roommates.

“No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.”
–Hal Borland