Posts Tagged: Nandina

Heavenly Bamboo

My house is about 85 years old.  Some of the original shrubs and vines are still growing here according to later generations of the original family and old photos.  One shrub in particular, a Nandina domestica (heavenly bamboo) is especially noteworthy.

I don’t know if its large size was intentional or just tolerated, but when we moved into the house 36 years ago it was over the top of an 8-foot fence.  Even more impressive, it attained that height after fighting through layers of ivy that covered the fence to a 3-foot width on both sides.  For many years I marveled at that old shrub.  The ivy was strong and wildly aggressive but the Nandina continued to assert itself.  Just when I’d think the ivy had suppressed it, heavenly bamboo would pop through with its little white flowers.

The day came when we finally removed the deteriorating old fence and of course the ivy had to come with it.  I fretted over the fate of the remains of the Nandina and ultimately could not let it go the way of the ivy.   We (that would be my husband) carefully dug out what was left of the plant along with its ancient roots.  Neither of us had high hopes for it but I just had to give it a chance after all those years of perseverance.

My husband dug a hole in another spot feeling more like a gravedigger than a gardener.  We cut back dead canes that were an inch and a half in diameter. I trimmed and fertilized and watered and waited for good news.

Back from the dead about eighteen months later, my Nandina domestica reigns supreme!   It came back and the ivy did not.  Maybe without the plucky Heavenly Bamboo to battle, the ivy thought life was just not worth living. 

Finding the Silver Lining

I was just given some really wise advice from a dear friend: Find the silver linings. Applying that to the state of my garden in the depths of a dry, windy winter makes for a colorful crazy quilt of good things. Here goes:

• Seeing red: Right now, the eye-catching spots in my yard are red. Tucked among the greens are Nandina domestica 'Firepower', which live up to their name when the sun hits them. The other reds are the berries hanging from the toyons (Heteromeles arbutifolia), firethorn (Pyracantha angustifolia) and asparagus ferns (Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri'). The birds love the berries, too.
• Lack of leaves: The winds of December took most of the leaves, and now I have an unhindered view of a big blue sky. It’s a great contrast to the bare branches and occasional evergreen.
• Orchids: OMG, have you seen the orchids? They are everywhere, in full, beautiful bloom. A local warehouse store is selling a wide variety of Phalaenopsis orchids, beautifully potted, for $15. I succumbed to two, and they will provide us fresh blooms for the next month or two. Even the tough, big orchids I keep outside are ready to bloom. So exciting!
• Citrus: My potted ‘Moro’ blood orange is heavy with fruit, as is our tiny ‘Improved Meyer’ tree, which is in the ground. The bright yellow and orange draw my attention every time I head out back.
• Fight on: Our tree mallow (Lavatera maritime) is the little engine that could. Last spring, this billowy shrub was showing signs of a nasty rust invasion. We cut it to just 6 inches from the ground and crossed our fingers. It now stands 6 feet tall again, and is covered in lovely lilac-colored hibiscus-like blooms. Gotta love a fighter.
• Vernal hors d’oeuvres: Our warm, dry winter has caused many plants to start putting on new growth much sooner than normal. For instance, I have a crabapple in blossom now, and many of our Narcissus bulbs are nearly done blooming. We should expect many more nights with freezing temperatures, which will stunt this new growth. We also should be prepared for a long, wet spring, much like last year. So, I have to admit, I’m looking at our odd weather pattern as a vernal hors d’oeuvre, a nibble of spring. As long as we get some rain soon, it indeed will be a silver lining.

Nandina domestica ‘Firepower’ provides a welcome spot of color to a Vacaville front yard. (photos by Kathy Thomas-Rico)

A Meyer lemon tree shows off brightly colored fruit in the depths of winter.

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