Street Trees in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz implements fabulous planters for their down town street trees. They are basically wide, raised beds surrounded by protective railings. This enables the roots to spread to establish a good foundation, enhances soil aeration, and reduces soil compaction. Multiple trees are planted in a single planter, which is similar to nature where trees often grow in groups or groves. The planters provide an environment for mature trees, which add shade and beauty to the street.

Large street tree planter in Santa Cruz -
corner of Walnut and Pacific Avenues

These planters contrast with the small square of soil that is typically allotted to street trees. Root structures are covered with concrete, so roots are confined, walked over, and the soil is not properly aerated. In this condition, tree roots often break up the pavement causing uneven and dangerous surfaces for pedestrians.

Santa Cruz has a strong program of urban forestry, and a commitment to incorporating street trees in their landscaping to promote a sense of place and relief in the urban landscape.

Avatar

This is our last movie in our summer series where plants have a starring role in the movie. This time it is the 2009 movie, Avatar. This sci-fi movie takes place on the moon Pandora, where a corporation is interested in mining valuable resources at the expense of the indigenous humanoid population, the Na’ vi, and the natural environment. A military presence enables the corporation to proceed with mining. Marine Jake Sully infiltrates the native population, embedded in a genetically-built Na’ vi, to gather information. Conflict ensues as he falls in love with one of the Na’ vi, and sees life from the Na’ vi perspective.

Movie poster for James Cameron's, Avatar

Say what you will about the plot, 3-D, character stereotypes, and storytelling, you have to admire the botany. The plants are varied and imaginative, and seem to ring true (a University of California, Redlands botanist consulted). The mysticism may be hard for some to take, but science is finding that nature is interconnected, and that some trees do “communicate” chemically, especially where their roots have grafted together. You may not agree with the movie's characterization of nature, but at least check out the botany! Take a look: http://youtu.be/GBGDmin_38E.

Over the last month we have taken a look at a few movies where plants play a key role. We’ve seen plants control humans, attack humans, defend themselves and their world against humans, and even live in harmony with humans. Sometimes the science is a little dubious, sometimes the science is recognizable. Typically the movies tell us more about ourselves than about the botanical world – our fears, our failings, our hopes, and our imagination.

Colorful Gardens

I enjoyed strolling the streets of Santa Cruz and viewing private and public gardens. I was especially interested in flower gardens, possibly in contrast to my own garden, which is mostly trees and shrubs (and my tiny vegetable garden). I found a bright array of color palettes, and wonderful combinations of plants and hardscape. Here are some of my favorite combinations.

 Shades of purple, red, and white

 Orange flowers, grass, and blue house

 Purple and yellow flowers

 Yellow trumpets, pink flowers, and picket fence

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In all cases there are contrasts—between colors, shapes, sizes, and textures—which create visual interest. I was impressed how much a garden adds to a house or building; I saw many modest houses and apartments that stood out because of an imaginative garden. Even a small planted space enriches and enlivens the environment. A garden does not need to have a wide variety of plantings – a few key plants and flowers in season provide beauty, often lending to the neighborhood or district as a whole.

Monarchs and Milkweed

While in Santa Cruz, we visited Natural Bridges State Beach to view the sand stone arch carved by wind and wave action. Associated with the park is the Monarch Grove, now Monarch Butterfly Nature Preserve. From October to February, thousands of monarch butterflies gather in clusters in the Eucalyptus grove.

Monarch butterflies overwinter in the Eucalyptus groves 

The Visitor Center provides information about the monarch life cycle – from egg, to larvae, to pupa, to chrysalis, and then to butterfly. The butterflies originate in northern United States and Canada, and migrate to the warmer climates of California and Mexico for winter. Each monarch lives about six to eight weeks, with three or four generations living and dying, before a group migrates south. This generation lives about four to five months, spending part of the time hibernation. In the larval stage, caterpillars eat only milkweed (Asclepias spp.) and lots of it. Milkweed contains a toxin, which the larvae can ingest but is toxic to its predators.

Milkweed demonstration garden (off season)

The Visitor Center maintains a demonstration milkweed garden to provide food for the caterpillars. They also encourage gardeners to plant milkweed to attract monarchs. Milkweed was once plentiful in the United States, but has diminished due to urbanization. You can purchase milkweed seeds in the Visitor Center, or obtain them from a number of organizations or seed suppliers such as, http://www.livemonarch.com/free-milkweed-seeds.htm or http://www.butterflyencounters.com/store/products.php.

The Lord of the Rings

This week our movie is Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers from 2002, based on the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. The plant movie stars in this case, are the Ent, or giant trees, which are capable of movement and turn out to be fierce warriors. In the Tolkien tale, the Ents are ancient trees that are embodied by spirits from a bygone age, and living in the Fanghorn forest. In the story, the Ents are lead by the ancient Treebeard, and fight back against the evil Saruman, whose minions are cutting down the forest to fuel their mighty furnaces.

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers movie poster
showing Treebeard

This is another movie in which plants are able to uproot themselves and move about, in this case to right a wrong. I’m a bit skeptical of walking trees, given the complex nature of tree physiology and mechanics, but who hasn’t listened to the rustling of wind in the trees, on a certain type of day, and imagined the trees to be talking! For some fantasy fun, take a look at the walking and fighting Ents in Peter Jackson’s version of The Two Towers: http://youtu.be/UTFP9QQzEL4

Marine Influences

We’re planning an outing to Santa Cruz to visit the beach, cruise the boardwalk, and ride the Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster (built in 1924). Our son heads back to University of Anchorage soon to pursue his art degree, so a family trek to the beach is just what we need to celebrate summer and spend some time together!

 

Blanket of fog along the California coast

As usual, I reach for Sunset’s The Western Garden Book. Santa Cruz is in climate zone 17 – “Marine Effects – Southern, Northern, and Central California” and online. According to Sunset, the climate is dominated by ocean influences 98% of the time. Frost is not a factor. Cool, wet winters and cool summers with frequent fog or wind are the norm. The fog reduces the intensity of light and sunshine by providing a protective blanket. Wind and salt spray may limit some plant choices, and heat-loving plants may not receive enough heat to bloom. Normal summer temperature highs range from 60 to 75 degrees.

Climate zone 17 runs in a thin strip along the western coast, from Southern Oregon through the San Francisco Bay Area, to as far south as Santa Maria. There are regional differences in vegetation, due to latitude change, but the marine influence prevails. I’m looking forward to learning more about local plants in the Santa Cruz area, and fun gardening ideas.

Bamboo Trellis

As with the tomatoes, the pole beans and peas are getting taller. I planted in two phases this year, about four weeks apart. The plants from the first phase need support; they are clinging to each other and to the tomato cages. It is fascinating to see how pole beans enwine a support, and sugar snap peas reach out with their tendrils, then grasp and cling to whatever they encounter.

Bamboo trellis for beans and peas - a work in progress

Last year I erected a bamboo cage structure to support the pea vines, however, as the plants became heavier and laden with produce, the structure toppled and needed to be propped up. This year I decided to anchor the bamboo poles to the side of the raised bed with C-clamps for better support. I usually tie my own webbing with string, attached to the bamboo structure, but this year I purchased fabricated webbing. We’ll see how well these improvements work.

Supplies for the bamboo trellis

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

This week’s movie is the 1956 sci-fi thriller, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, based on the 1955 science fiction novel written by Jack Finney. A small town in California is invaded by seed pods from outer space. Spores from the seed pods invade humans while they are sleeping, and replace them with duplicate bodies. Friends, family, and neighbors start noticing the difference – folks look the same but act differently . They are completely without emotion. The infected people work to spread the pores to inhabit more people. The end of the story is unresolved, leaving us to speculate – do we all become emotionless plant replicates? Or do we overcome?

Movie poster for "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"

Typically, plants do not invade humans and create plant duplicates. But, there are carnivorous plants that do trap and ingest small insects or reptiles. These plants typically grow in nutrient-poor soil, and have adapted by absorbing the nitrogen and other nutrients they need from their trapped victims. Nature is full of survival strategies. This is a fun movie, which has been remade several times, and is definitely a candidate for a summer movie where plants are the movie stars.

Adventures in Lettuce

This year I’m having great results with a butterhead lettuce—Ruby & Emerald Duet—from Renee’s Garden (http://www.reneesgarden.com/seeds/packpg/veg/lettuce-rubyemerald.htm). I’m not sure if success is due to the seeds, the late rains we’ve enjoyed in the San Francisco Bay Area this year, or the perfect combination of cool days peppered with three-day “hot spells.” As the name suggests, the seed packet includes seeds for both red and green lettuces.

Butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa) after outer leaves are harvested

Harvested leaves, washed and ready to eat

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I’m already harvesting from the largest head of lettuce, which is container grown. To harvest, I carefully cut the outer leaves I need for my salad, leaving the inner core. Within several days, more leaves have grown! This is much different than the commercial method, which is to harvest the whole head. I’m looking forward to finding out how long a single head of lettuce can produce.

Transplanted lettuce sprouts in the raised bed

Transplanted lettuce sprouts in contaners

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I transplanted quite a few lettuce sprouts to containers following instructions on the packet (three heads in an eight-inch pot, or five inches apart). I also transplanted sprouts in the raised bed – interspersing them among the tomato plants. This follows the permaculture model, where you plant in laysers instead of rows. If all goes well, we should have salad for ourselves, and friends, for several months to come!

Tomato Cages

The tomato plants are getting taller - they have almost tripled in size since I planted the starters in late June (close to 7 weeks). I planted four varieties this year. Most are indeterminate, meaning they keep producing fruit until killed by frost (versus determinate, meaning they stop growing once the fruit is set); and their “days to maturity” vary, so I should have a nice long run of tomato. Varieties include Sweet 100 (65 days to maturity, and determinate), Sebastapol Heirloom (70 days), Matt’s Wild Cherry (75 days), and Brandywine Heirloom (85 days). All four plants have many small yellow flowers, which is promising.

A series of three-sided tomato cages

I typically create bamboo structures to support the tomato vines, but this year I’m trying something different. I purchased cages that consist of three wire panels. They fold into a triangular cage during the growing season, then fold flat for storage (a great idea for older San Francisco Bay Area homes that are short on storage). I chose this collapsible design, over cone shaped wire cages, which require more storage space. The triangle cages were fairly easy to assemble, although the cages kept hooking to each other until I got them all separated.

You do not need to use cages – tomatoes are vines that grow naturally along the ground. In Bend, Oregon, my sister lets her tomato vines grow horizontally (with 30 acres, there is plenty of room for that)!

In a smaller garden, there are advantages to going vertical – more vines can be planted in the same area, pests may have a more difficult time attacking your tomatoes, plants receive more light and air circulation, and it is easier to harvest.

The Day of the Triffids

This month we’re taking a look at movies plants are the stars. This time it is the 1963 sci-fi thriller, The Day of the Triffids, loosely based on a novel written by the English author, John Wyndham. A meteor shower kicks off two events – anyone observing the shower is blinded, and the small triffid plant mutates. The mutation causes triffids to suddenly grow quite large, and to be able to move. They can pull themselves out of the ground, walk about on three stubs, and attack people and animals!

Movie poster for The Day of the Triffids (1963)

Fortunately, some people scattered over England and France retained their sight because they did not view the meteor shower. They learn more about the triffids – an autopsy reveals they can come back to life, they are attracted to and will follow sound, they amass in large numbers, fire and electric fences may slow them down but not stop them. Finally these people discover the plants can be destroyed by salt water, and all is saved. Here’s the trailer – look for glimpses of the plants!

As far as I know, plants cannot pull themselves out of the ground, and walk over to attack someone. But plants do move. Heliotropic plants actually “follow” the sun across the sky over the course of the day. Some plants send out runners, which set down roots, enabling the plant to “move” into new territory. Seeds can move to a new area in various ways – blowing in the wind, clinging to fabric or fur, or being eaten and then deposited. And plants can “attack” with poison, allergy, or simply taking over the garden!

Benefits of Thinning

As mentioned in a previous post, it is very difficult to thin sprouting plants that seem so healthy. Thinning refers to the agricultural practice of removing plants or parts of plants to make room for other plants. Typically, seed packets recommend planting seeds close together, then thinning after a period of time. Since not all seeds germinate or produce a healthy plant, this strategy of over-planting increases the likelihood that some plants will sprout and develop.

These radishes were planted at the same time.
Those in the top row had room to grow, those
in the bottom were crowded together.

Once established, plants need room and resources to grow. With fewer plants, each individual plant has access to the resources it needs, such as nutrients, water, and light. Roots spread out and establish a firm foundation, and air circulates around the plant preventing molds and disease. Healthy plants yield more produce.

To thin, determine which plants to eliminate. Remove weaker, underdeveloped plants, and leave the larger, hardier ones. Pull the plant out gently from moistened soil, so you don’t disturb the roots of the remaining plants, or cut the plant at the soil line, leaving the root in the ground to compost. Another option is to transplant the plants you remove. Try thinning over time, so it doesn’t feel so drastic. In my experience, the results are almost immediate – the remaining plants leap in their growth, which encourages me to thin some more.

Vegetable Garden – Three Weeks

It has been about three weeks since I planted the first batch of veggies in the raised bed. So far, everything has grown, except for the carrots. The carrots sprouted, but disappeared; most likely eaten by some creature. The tomato plants all have yellow blossoms, and will soon require cages. The pole beans are still short enough to stand on their own, but the peas need a trellis soon for support. I’m looking for a sturdy, inexpensive solution.

Raised bed vegetable garden at three weeks

It’s also time to thin the sprouts. For some reason, this is very difficult for me to do. It seems wrong to thin plants that look so healthy. But, I’m always surprised how quickly the remaining plants respond to thinning. They seem to double and triple their size over night, as soon as there is more room. Thinning (or transplanting) really does increase yield. 

Tender lettuce, spreading out in container

Tender lettuce sprouts, growing close together in the raised bed

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I can see the difference in the lettuces I planted. On the left, the lettuce plant in the container has plenty of room, and spreads out. On the right, the lettuce plants ended up all jammed together because of our unseasonable rains. Their growth seems stunted. I plan to transplant them, to give them more room.  That should keep me busy on the Fourth of July weekend!

Summer Movies

I love summer – long days, family trips, the beach, cookouts, and summer fruit. I also like summer novels and summer blockbuster movies (typically less serious and more entertaining than usual)! This month I plan to look at movies that feature plants. Even if you don't like the movies (they are frequently sci fi or fantasty), I’m hoping you’ll enjoy seeing plants as movie stars!

First up is "This Side of Paradise," from the original Star Trek series (season 1, episode 24). The Enterprise crew lands on Omicron Ceti III to rescue anyone who has survived exposure to deadly Berthold rays. They are surprised to find the colonists alive. They soon learn that spores from a native pink flower—which gives the recipient a sense of well-being and the desire to remain on the planet—have kept them alive. The ship’s crew succumbs to the spores, throwing off their inhibitions and responsibilities. Even the logical Spock is infected; he frolics and openly admits his love for the colony’s botanist. Luckily Captain Kirk is able to figure out a solution, and rescue the colonists and his crew.

"Happiness plant" that emits mood-altering spores
(Photo from the Star Trek web site) 

The botany of the pink-flowered plant is a little mysterious, but the episode aired in 1967 during the hippie heyday. I suppose a corollary would be the cannabis plant, hallucinogenic mushrooms, or wine from fermented grapes. Here is a quick synopsis from YouTube (or you can see the full episode on the Star Trek website:  https://www.startrek.com/videos/episode-preview-this-side-of-paradise: