Grow It In Maine

Flowers in November

Sat, 11/22/2014 - 10:00am

November isn’t a popular month for garden tours. Yet for people curious about happenings in the out-of-doors, there’s still plenty to explore.

Even one’s own backyard has surprises, if you know where to look.

To be on the safe side, be sure deer are not likely to visit. (Most home owners are not expecting hunters.) Wear warm garments, flaunting the gaudy orange of the autumn hunting season.

Why not begin with flowers? Many summer-blooming beauties may still give pleasure in different ways.

Answering the butterfly-and-bee crisis last spring, many gardeners planted milkweed, and its cousin, bright-topped butterfly weed. Orange, yellow and red topped the plants to attract the insects.

But now, don’t look for summer radiance. Let the seeds float away on summer breezes and then cut down the stems which are not topped with empty pods, each angled at its own position. Hang the stems in a dark, dry place before deciding how to use them. Most people won’t be able to tell that the stems came from summer-flowering butterfly weeds.

Some other plants may be identified by their odors. Mountain mint, when finished blooming, is topped by little gray fluffy buttons. Pinch one and sniff the minty scent.

Meadowsweet flowers are pink or white when in bloom. But the tiny florets shrink and dry along upright stems to the color of brown sugar. Those upright stems can add distinction to a dried arrangement.

Yes, these and many other summer blossoms may have a double life in indoor arrangements in winter. Spray them with any color you want. (Careful! Keep your paint confined to a small space) or leave them in their natural, offseason hues. Many of these may be arranged as pictures when glued on paper.

Outdoor adventures of this sort are fun, and may often lead to indoor decorative projects. As you enjoy the searches and crafts, I hope you’re sharpening your nature-noticing skills.

Summer garden tours? They’re quite different from one’s own private offseason explorations.