Neighborhood Newsletter WINTER 2020
Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.
3120 Barley Mill Road | Hockessin, DE 19707 302.239.4244 | mtcubacenter.org Hockessin, DE Permit No.XXXX
NATIVE PLANTS
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of the Season
UPCOMING EVENTS AT MT. CUBA CENTER
NEIGHBOR FAVORITE BOOKS Curl up with a book this winter. Here are recommendations from your neighbors in the Growing Together program. Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)
6–8' tall shrub| FilteredShade, Full-Sun, Partial-Shade Average, Dry, Moist, Wet
December 18 Natural Holiday Arrangement*
January 17 Herbal Remedy Series: Winter Mood Lift
January 13 Hummingbirds in Your Garden*
January 20 Hummingbirds in Your Garden
January 14 Owl Howl
January 23 & 30 Garden Design Weekend Workshop
Janaury 14– February 4 Botany for Gardeners January 16 Forests and Flowers*
January 24 & 31 Garden Design Weekend Workshop January 28 Owl Howl *Online class
Native plants can beautify landscapes yearround. Here are some high-quality selections with great winter appeal.
The bright red berries of Ilex verticillata lend a festive touch to the winter garden. This easy to grow, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub has an upright, oval habit and will reach a height of 6–8'. It produces prolific amounts of dark red fruit that persist well into January. You can pick up a copy at your local bookstore Hockessin Bookshelf (hockessinbookshelf.com).
Silver and Gold Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea ‘Silver and Gold’)
8' tall shrub | Filtered-Shade, Full-Sun, Partial-Shade Average, Moist Soil
A medium sized shrub is grown for its beautifully variegated leaves and bright yellow stems during the winter months. Periodic pruning of the oldest stems is recommended to maintain the bright winter coloring that is most pronounced on younger stems. Mt. Cuba Center staff favorite
Sharkbark Hickory (Carya ovata)
60–80' tall tree | FilteredShade, Full-Sun, Partial-Shade, Shade | Average, Dry, Moist Soil
Shagbark hickory has a commanding presence in the landscape with it size, clean summer foliage, brilliant yellow autumn color, and “shaggy” exfoliating bark. Maturing at 60–80' tall with an upright, irregular and coarse branching habit, shagbark hickory is adaptable to dry, rocky, and clay soils as well as seasonally moist soils.
Galax (Galax urceolata) 3–6" tall groundcover | Shade Average, Dry Soil
Galax is spectacular evergreen groundcover that is worthy of much greater landscape use. In spring flower spikes with tiny white flowers rise above the 9–12" tall clusters of glossy dark green leaves. The galax leaves often turn burgundy in winter. Galax grows best in cool, moist, well-drained acidic soil. It is slow to propagate and establish, but can eventually form a dense carpet in the woodland garden.
3120 Barley Mill Road | Hockessin, DE | 302.239.4244 | mtcubacenter.org
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS One of five retention ponds to be naturalized and beautified.
Forest edge of invasive bamboo to be managed in an ecologically sound way.
Stonewold Neighborhood Forms Landscaping Committee to Naturalize Common Areas By Linda Saad, Stonewold Landscaping Committee Chair
W
hile volunteering with Nancy Flanagan at Mt. Cuba Center in October to help plant natives, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Nate Shampine, Mt. Cuba Center’s natural lands manager. He asked me where I was from and we talked a little about the history of Mt. Cuba Center’s involvement in my community. He shared how Mt. Cuba Center is keen to work with all neighboring subdivisions to help guide them through landscaping decisions. I gave a lot of thought to his suggestions and thoughts and wondered:
WHY WOULDN’T A C O M M U N I T Y TA K E A D VA N TA G E O F S U C H A RESOURCE?
About a week later Stonewold HOA released its annual Our first meeting was held as a walk. We wandered around budget before an annual meeting and they set aside our subdivision, brainstorming ideas and finding areas extra funds to beautify and improve the common areas of need. There were a lot of questions that arose along in the coming year. I immediately reached out to the the way ranging from bylaw restrictions, pond health, HOA President to offer my help on the the role of the current landscaping and landscaping committee (and be sure of run-off pond management companies, IT IS Mt. Cuba Center’s involvement). Imagine getting rid of invasive bamboo, and THRILLING my surprise to hear that there was no how to get input from the community. TO ENGAGE landscaping committee and I was invited We have collected these ideas and are to start one! I reached out to a few preparing a PowerPoint to create visual NEIGHBORS people I knew in the neighborhood that documentation of specific areas or IN SUCH A were interested in native planting and problems and that will help us develop naturalization, two of whom are signed a plan and prioritize our course. P R O J E C T, up with our Growing Together group, Deb BUILD NEW Barineau and Mike Abel. The committee The committee is eager is to have Mt. FRIENDSHIPS formed itself by word of mouth and we are Cuba Center guide us in making the blessed with a diverse group of people from best decisions for our neighborhood AND LEARN a variety of backgrounds. It is thrilling to so that the plants and trees selected FROM EACH engage neighbors in such a project, build aren’t only beautiful but self-sustaining new friendships and learn from each other. and native to our area. OTHER.
Have more to add? One of twelve common area garden beds to be replanted with native plants.
We are excited to work with you toward making healthy and beautiful communities. Feel free to reach out with any questions comments or feedback anytime at ajg54@psu.edu or 302.203.9612.