Carpe diem! But drop that fruit!

One of my earliest horticultural memories is of the towering yew that stood before our front door on Polk Avenue in East Northport, NY. It seemed towering to me anyway — and definitely loud. Birds flocked there to perch, nest and chirp madly amongst its dark, thick branches and feast on the juicy red fruit. It was those marvelous berries (technically arils, just like what you see inside a pomegranate) that seemed to glow from within that really captured my imagination. I have always possessed a keen eye for potential food items and those berries looked mighty tasty. I figured if the birds enjoyed them I probably would, too.

It was around this time of year many years ago that my mom and I were walking up to our front door. The yew loomed large and the berries glowed enticingly; they had reached peak ripeness and the birds were going hog wild. Naturally I wanted a sample, but just as quickly as I thrust my greedy little paw into the shrubbery my mother shouted “NO” and covered my fist with her hand thereby squashing the one berry I'd mangaged to seize. The slimey goo that remained in my palm before its thorough washing was nothing like I'd imagined it would be.

Unbeknownst to me at that time, but clearly understood by Mom, the toxicity of the yew seed, as well as the foliage and bark, eliminates it from human, equine and bovine menus. Interestingly and importantly for successful seed dispersal, birds digest the pretty fruit and pass the completely viable seed in their droppings later.

Some four decades later I can’t be sure but I’m guessing that yew was a Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’, a cultivar bred on Long Island at the famous Hicks Nurseries, that is still a popular if overused shrub. (Who else remembers the giant witch that stood guard over the Hicks parking lot and all those pumpkins every autumn? I loved her.)

If you enjoy bird watching as much as I do, and you missed the recent wild bird presentation at the South Dakota State Fair, here are some bird-attracting fruit-bearing plants:

Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica)
Beautyberry (Callicarpa bodinieri)
Holly, all kinds (Ilex spp.)
Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)
Oregon grape holly (Mahonia aquifolium)
Yew (Taxus spp.)

I was unable to attend myself so I don’t know if Dave mentioned any of these plants but there are so many more to consider. This site is great for all sorts of birding information: http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/. Here's the direct link to a compilation of useful books on bird gardens: http://www.wild-bird-watching.com/Bird-Garden.html.

I’m not certain but The Yew Incident may predate The First Day of Kindergarten Incident, in which I decided to accept the invitation for a future play date that very day — without asking either of our mothers first. The calm with which Mrs. Adler greeted me and posed her query was impressive. She said, “Hello, little girl. What’s your name and do you know your mommy’s phone number?” I still know our old phone number: 516-757-8564. Carpe diem indeed.

I’ve got issues

Don't we all?

Here’s a sampling of issues that I and some gentle souls of my acquaintance are currently experiencing:

• Coyote conquest imperils impending harvest at LA vineyard

• Millipede menace bashes Brooklyn bliss

And, less spectacularly, I recently had to cope with a few ant trails in the master bath.

As the weather cools down and the days shorten we move inexorably into autumn and into different rhythms of life. There are harvests to complete (and protect), gardens to clean up and put to bed, new school and work routines and many of us spend more time indoors, including (with the exception of coyotes) pests.

I am the first to admit that a glass-shattering shriek escapes me when I see pests in the house, and sometimes outdoors, too. Also, that my next atavistic reaction is the flight response. Whenever possible I command someone else to dispatch the offender with no delay. Sometimes the cat obliges me — but not without making the intruder pay dearly before the coup de grâce. In this photo the Terminator is at rest. Like Chuck Norris, Sable doesn't sleep, she waits.

Rather than blast every creepy-crawly or larger four-legged pest out of existence (as tempting as that may be at times), it’s safer and healthier for all concerned to attempt to restore balance.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the most intelligent concept I know to deal with pests of all kinds, indoors and out, in a harmonious manner. Note that the key word here is “management” not annihilation. Like all worthy enterprises, implementing an IPM program requires some energy and thought.

See complete details here: http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/factsheets/ipm.htm

IPM, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency, employs a four-tiered approach:

1. Set acceptable (and reasonable) tolerance levels. Although a single millipede sighting inspires me to consider a cross-country move (I see you nodding, Susan), this is usually impractical. Best to just squash the invader and drive on with one’s day. The technical term for squashing is “mechanical control”. Noting a continual presence of uninvited guests is something else again and requires the next step in the IPM approach: monitoring.

2. Monitoring and identifying pests. Some critters are actual pests and cause real damage to plants or harm to people. Some merely offend one’s aesthetic but are otherwise harmless. It’s important to know the difference so that you may take proper action — which may turn out to be inaction (also known as “sucking it up”).

3. Prevention is worth a pound of cure. Every living thing has needs and preferences for a happy existence. (Mine are dark chocolate, prosecco and Chris Isaak, not necessarily in that order, but what a splendid combination…) In an outdoor IPM setting this translates to correct plant choices and cultural practices that keep plants healthy and therefore resistant to pests and diseases. Planting drifts of hydrangea (AKA deer candy) in your deer-infested back 40 without deer fencing is asking for a sad little forest of brown twigs. Selecting a shade lover for a sunny spot is asking for more brown twigs. Indoors, this means eliminating pest-friendly conditions by employing good housekeeping practices (keep the house neat, clean and as clutter-free as possible).

4. Control is the last element of an IPM program and the last resort. If all else fails it’s time to consider the options, always starting with those that offer the lowest risk factors, including pest predators such as ladybugs, low-toxicity, targeted sprays, etc. In some cases it may be beneficial to enlist the aid of a professional.