Philipstown GARDENS

October 29, 2011

For the birds, herbs, and applause for Manitoga 

By Barbara Hobens
Oct. 29, 2011

Q. What bird is half brown and another has a stripe on its cheek and chirps really loud?
A. I really am not sure, but sounds like a cowbird and the other could be a Carolina Wren. Guess it is a sign of the times, but once I search online to identify it, I’ll head to the bookshelf to read up more about the birds’ habits and food preferences. Here are the sites I suggest to head to first. This is the newest high-tech bird tracking site right now but a quick look here or see this bird guide to zero in on what you can see from your window. Sometimes, it is just the shape of the bird and just narrowing it down to be a New York State bird that will confirm it for you.

Q. What herbs are best to try to bring inside for the winter?
A. After running out in the dusk to cut freezer-bag-wide stems of thyme, oregano, and rosemary to put in the freezer, I went right back out to scoop up a small rosemary plant in the snow (yes, snow) on Thursday evening. I used to bring in a lot of herbs to huddle under every window that got some winter sun, but no longer. My favorites are such winter-hardy perennials (chives, oregano, sage, thyme) that as long as I freeze enough to use to cook with over the winter, it just doesn’t make sense to bring in and fuss with them. Organic Gardening Magazine offers this easy guide for indoor herbs.

A Local Note: As a founding member, I joined a room full of smiling faces at a meeting held at Glynwood last Saturday. There was a loud and proud round of applause at Manitoga’s Fifth Annual Woodland Landscape Council last Saturday as Manitoga’s designation as a 2012 World Monuments Watch Site was announced. This is only given to a very select group of endangered cultural-heritage sites in the world.

Email your questions to hhgardendesign@optonline.net. Barbara Hobens is a garden and landscape consultant and designer, White-tail deer and wildlife gardening specialist, and author of Garden Your City. “Like” Hudson Highlands Garden Design on Facebook for links on organic practices, how-to tips, and plants for gardens, lawns, patios, and yards. Photos courtesy of the author unless noted.

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