Highland Hill Farm announces that it will no longer offer bird
feeders or bird seed for sale at it nursery sales locations.
This is in respondce to the bird flu outbreaks in Europe and
Asia. We at Highland Hill we feel that feeding birds is a
concern as this flu will spread to the Americas.
Prevention of the spread of Bird Flu is the responsibility of
everyone. It is known that bird feeders are a source of
transmission of avian flu viruses and related diseases. Many
communities have zoning laws which are meant to prevent people
from feeding pigeons and seagulls. Bird droppings, when massed
in open areas close to pedestrian walkways and windows provide
ideal pathways for pathogens to spread not only from bird to
bird, but from bird to humans. We therefore suggest that if you
want to feed birds and provide for there needs you consider
planting shrubs and trees that provide birds with sources of
food that more mimics the natural environment. Plants such as
viburnums are an excellent choice. They not only provide seeds
that are available in the late winter, but also shelter.
In Hong Kong, the government has already started to prevent the
spread of bird flu by telling citizens that wild pigeon
droppings may help spread harmful germs, and that avoiding
feeding them is the best way to minimize their congregation.
Therefore any wild bird feeders in common areas at public rental
housing estates and markets will be served a fine without any
prior warnings. Thus we recommend that bird lover stop feedind
birds from bird boxes and begin to plant shrubs that feed birds.
This will provide the birds with feed and not concentrate them
in one area. One of the best bird plants is the viburnum.
Viburnums are plant that I can’t imagine a landscpe being
without. If I had to eliminate all varieties from my gardens
except for one I would be hard pressed to decide which to keep.
All varieties of viburnums are attractive, versatile, adaptable
shrubs for any landscape. They can be used as hedges or screens
and in mixed perennial/shrub borders. They can also stand alone
as specimen plants. They usually take the form of shrubs, but
some species can become small ornamental trees. They range in
size from the Dwarf American Cranberrybush at 2 feet tall by 2
feet wide, to the Siebold at over 15 feet tall.
Viburnums are plants with year round interest. Viburnums have
white to pink flowers in the spring. They have large, attractive
and often textured leaves. Some viburnums have wonderfully
fragrant flowers that are produced in snowball shaped clusters
in April. Their flower clusters can consist of pink buds, which
develop into white flowers. Some fruits are red and turn black
with age. Leaves are glossy, dark green and turn a burgundy
color in the fall. Midsummer berries are an important food
source for birds. Viburnums have colorful red to purple leaves.
Some viburnums can become medium-size trees, especially if they
are pruned. Viburnums excel as specimen plants or as anchors in
mixed borders. You won’t find a more versatile group of shrubs
for hedges or for massing in groups, since viburnums hold their
own in every season. Some viburnums, such as Prague viburnum
‘Pragense’, are evergreen. Others, such as leatherleaf viburnum,
are semi-evergreen in colder climates, losing their leaves when
temperatures dip below 10 degrees.
We like Viburnums because of their adaptability and durability.
While they would prefer full sun and moderately watered,
well-drained rich soils, they grow very well in part shade in
alkaline, clay soils. Diseases and pests are not common for
viburnums. We have more trouble from my kids running over them
with brush hogs. They claim they were testing their durability.
Yet all the viburnums they chopped to the ground survived. In
fact, we sold these plants for a premium as they produced better
numbers of desireable stems. Their fibrous root system makes
them transplant and propagate easily. (We do have more
difficulty with the Korean Spice rooted cuttings.)
If you are shopping for a sharp hardy shrub consider one of the
many cultivars of the Viburnum family. In fact select a couple
of them. You will be rewarded with shrubs with all season
interest.
Viburnums have long been popular garden plants, celebrated for
their white, often fragrant spring flowers and their fall color.
But it’s the Asian viburnums that have so far ruled the roost.
Perhaps the most widely appreciated viburnums are the Burkwood
viburnum (Viburnum x burkwoodii), and the Korean spice viburnum
(V. carlesii), both of which fill the air with a pleasant odorin
mid-spring. Also popular is the doublefile viburnum (V. plicatum
f. tomentosum), valued for its layered habit, fall foliage, and
clusters of red fruits. Viburnum acerifolium (Maple-leafed
viburnum) Although I wouldn’t garden without any of these, I
have a special fondness for several of our very gardenworthy
native viburnums. They may not provide the enticing flower
fragrance of their Asian cousins, but I love them not only for
their rich fall foliage color but also for their fruit displays,
which attract wildlife to my garden in the fall and durring the
bleak winter months. In addition, several are useful to today’s
waterwise gardeners or for urban conditions. They require only
corrective pruning, and none commonly suffer from pests or
diseases. I would be hardpressed to say which viburnum I would
choose if I could only have one.
Viburnums are moist woodland plants. In nature they are found
along steam banks from Long Island to Florida. When you come to
our 5275 West Swamp Rd. location ask us to show some in their
native habitat that we found along our stream bank. These plants
perform well under normal landscape conditions. I especially
like the floral display in the spring and these viburnums that
bear fruit in the fall. Winterthur has great red leaves and
abundant fruit in the fall. This cultivar needs a cross
pollinator such as viburnum nudum.
Native Americans used Viburnum dentatum (arrowwood viburnum) for
arrow shafts. There stems are long and strait. This plant will
grow in places many plants struggle. So if you have had trouble
with plants in a harsh location try this cultivar. Viburnums We
raise over 10 types of Viburnums on our farms from seedlings to
5′ shrubs. If you have poor soils due to compacting from
construction, try viburnums. Being rugged and hardy, they
perform where other plants fail. American Cranberry Bush
KoreanSpice Blackhaw ArrowwoodViburnum Chicago Luster (we have
500 3-6′ that must be sold by Sept 28 2005) Dawn Summer
Snowflake Shasta Winterthur Blue Muffin Burkwood Erie Tea Judd
Korean Spice Praque Siebold
You can see Bill’s web site at http://www.seedlingsrus.com