Willow Glen, California Since 1992
Gardening
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on upcoming tour 
Japanese honeysuckle flowers have a sweet aroma and equally sweet nectar. The vines can climb 15 feet high or spread over 100 square feet of ground. 
By Tony Tomeo When I was very young, I enjoyed visiting my father at his office in the "new" San Jose City Hall. At that time, there was a jungle of large tropical plants around a broad koi pond in the lobby. The wide, curving stairway ascended over this pond and was a great vantage point. There were doggie doors for the koi (fishie doors?) below the expansive front windows, leading to the outer koi pond. The koi were as big as terriers and very friendly. This particular koi pond has been gone for many years, but garden ponds are still popular among many garden enthusiasts. Whether simple or elaborate, ponds must be well-planned to achieve the desired results. Many are simple "water features," but others include aquatic plants, fish or both. Just as some garden enthusiasts enjoy participating in garden tours to view new innovations, some enjoy visiting established garden ponds. This weekend, Home Scapes Statuary Gardens and Pondsaway will be sponsoring the fourth annual Parade of Ponds, a benefit for Hospice Caring Project. This self-guided tour will feature 80 ponds in and around Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties. Each site will be open, regardless of weather, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 22 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 23. The new pond at Sunset Magazine in Menlo Park, which is normally only open to the public during the week, will also be open during this event. Tickets are $15 and may be obtained (locally) at Yamagami's Nursery at 1361 S. De Anza Blvd. in Cupertino or at Absolutely Awesome Aquarium at 63 Washington Ave. in Santa Clara. Tickets include information about a photo contest with a grand prize of $200, a second-place prize of $100 and a third-place prize of $50. More information, including other sites from which to obtain tickets, is available at the following websites: www.pondsaway.com or www.hsstatuarygardens.com, or by calling 831.462.2852 or 831.462.2260. Pondsaway, located in Santa Cruz, and Home Scapes Statuary Gardens, located in Soquel, both specialize in pond construction materials and accessories. Vine of the Week: Japanese honeysuckle Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica, is actually one of my favorite vines„not because of what it looks like, but because of what it smells like. The fragrance is potent and sweet, but not overpowering. Small clusters of pale white flowers bloom and fade to pale yellow in late spring through summer. The flowers may not seem to us to be as impressive as those of the blood-red trumpet vine discussed last week, but bees, butterflies and small birds would disagree. Bees easily collect pollen from the exposed stamens. The tubular flowers are perfectly designed for the beaks of hummingbirds and the long, tongue-like mouthparts of butterflies. Established vines occasionally produce small black berries that are enjoyed by other species of birds. Honeysuckle is actually named for the sweet nectar that can be sucked from the proximal ends of plucked flowers by children who should be enjoying koi instead of plucking and sucking flowers. The two- or three-inch long, oval, evergreen leaves are pale green and softly textured. Vigorous shoots often produce darker and deeply lobed foliage until growth slows. In partial shade, foliage will be darker green but not as dense, and flowers will not be as profuse. Honeysuckle can climb to 15 feet. It is consequently useful on a large trellis or fence, but not so appropriate among smaller species that can be overwhelmed. It is also useful as an unrefined groundcover for large areas, where it can help stabilize erosion. As a groundcover, it should be sheared severely after winter to prevent accumulation of flammable debris and to discourage habitation by rodents. Although individual plants may cover more than 100 square feet, they are usually installed closer to promote more rapid coverage. Established specimens tolerate minimal irrigation. Otherwise, with regular (but not too generous) irrigation, dense soil is not a problem. Roots simply grow closer to the surface. The cultivar "Halliana"is the most common. Other cultivars exhibit floral or foliar variations and do not grow as voraciously. Halliana Japanese honeysuckle (also called Hall's Japanese honeysuckle) is commonly available at most nurseries and garden centers. Other cultivars may not be so easy to locate. Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can be contacted at 408-358-2574 or at LGHORTICULTURE@aol.com. |
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