Winter
Accents the Bare Features of
Plants  As
the trees lose their leaves in fall,
many
landscapes are left looking bare in winter. Using plants with
interesting bark
adds sculpture, texture and interest to a sparse winter landscape. ark
characteristics range from bright colors to exfoliating texture to even
a
quilt-like appearance. These interesting bark characteristics are found
on both
trees and shrubs and can create a dramatic impact in winter as well as
adding a
subtle accent to the landscape the rest of the year.Trees with exfoliating or peeling bark include crape myrtle, river birch, papermulberry, shagbark hickory and paperbark maple to name a few. Crape myrtle has both exfoliating bark and bark color, ranging from tan to gray to a cinnamon-colored bark on different species. Pruning crape myrtle into a nice tree-form also adds sculpture to a dormant landscape. Paperbark maple turns a beautiful red-brown color as its bark begins to exfoliate. Paperbark maple, with its red peeling bark, might be appropriate for landscapes in the northern portion of the state. The paper mulberry has a gray-brown color that peels off like paper while the tree is young. River birch is well-known for its beautiful bark, which can be gray-brown or red. The cultivar "Heritage" has a beautiful cinnamon-colored bark. The tree adds sculpture to the landscape with its beautiful natural growth form. There also are shrubs that offer exfoliating bark. Winter honeysuckle combines a winter blooming shrub with an attractive exfoliating bark. Sweet mockorange has an attractive orange- to reddish-brown exfoliating bark that enhances any landscape. Oakleaf hydrangea has both exfoliating bark and dried blooms. Fuzzy deutzia also provides a nice accent to a winter landscape. Other trees with interesting bark include the American beech, sycamore, cucumber magnolia, Yoshino cherry and the Chinese elm. The American beech has a beautiful white-gray bark, smooth in texture and a beautiful natural form. The sycamore has white bark on the upper portions of the tree and gray-brown to reddish exfoliating bark near the base. Cucumber magnolia displays an attractive gray bark that becomes ridged as it matures. It adds nice form and subtle color to any landscape. The bark of the Chinese elm is gray with mottled tan to orange blotches. The use of plants with interesting bark and form adds character to an otherwise dull landscape in winter. The proper choice of plants can offer an exciting landscape year-round. Storing Pecans Once
pecans are
collected or
purchased, it is important to store them properly.
According to Dr. Evelyn Crayton, Assistant
Director for Family and Community
Programs for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, unshelled
pecans
resist insects, molding, and rancidity much longer than shelled nuts. But shelling before storage reduces the
weight and the storage space needed by about one-half.
Shelled nuts are also ready for use.
After cracking, remove the pecan halves from the shells with a nut picker, paring knife, toothpick or some other pointed tool. To prevent molding, nutmeat which was dampened before shelling must be dried immediately after shelling. During the drying process, keep the nuts from becoming contaminated. Use clean, shallow containers and cover the nuts with a clean, thin cloth. Select a place with no flies, ants, moths, rodents, or birds. It is now possible to store pecans in the home for year round use. They will be good raw or toasted in desserts, salads, candies, and baked goods. To keep them at their best, protect pecans from air, moisture, and high temperatures. The important thing to remember is to store the nuts before they become rancid. Pecans become rancid after several months of storage unless they are properly canned or frozen. (NOTE: Canned pecans may not be of the best quality because of the fat. Whenever fat is heated, it will become rancid if the product is not used soon.) Nuts in the shell keep their high quality longer than shelled nuts. Whole nuts become rancid less quickly than nuts in pieces. Unroasted nuts keep better than roasted ones. Pecans stored below freezing can keep for two years. Be sure kernels are dried properly before freezing. Lay the nuts out several days in a warm, dry place. Kernels should be crisp and break easily in half if dried properly. Don't store pecans in packages with apples or other fruits. Also, don't store them in rubber-like packages or in rooms that may be musty. Pecans absorb gases from the storage atmosphere which can change the flavor and the pecan's stability. For more information, contact the Tallapoosa County Extension Office at 256-825-1050. |