SUMMER 2013
go! on the WITH
MAGAZINE
Time-Saving Gardening Tips Great Garden Destinations Small-Space Gardening From Garden to Table
12 Cornhusker’s Delight
18
The Sweetest Garden
24
Salt Lake Splendor
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GARDENERS ON THE GO!
Summer CRUEL
Solutions for summer’s unique garden challenges
“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy”—or so the song goes. It’s not always true in the garden; certain challenges pop up in summer, including drought, gaps in the garden’s design, humid weather and related diseases and more. Don’t sweat it. Here are some ways to keep your sanity this summer.
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EDITOR’S NOTE Summer Thoughts
OUR FAVORITE THINGS Gardening Gear & More
SPECIAL SECTION Cruel Summer
TIME-SAVING TIPS Contain Your Enthusiasm
CONTAINER GARDENING Little Natives
COMMUNITY GARDEN At Home in the Earth
KIDS GARDEN School’s Out
SMALL SPACES
The Storybook Garden
PLANT PROFILES Favorite Daisies
KITCHEN GARDENING Peppers
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EDITORIAL edit@hortmag.com Community Leader Patty Dunning Editor Meghan Shinn CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS Patty Dunning, Meghan Shinn, Maria Woodie DESIGN & PHOTOGRAPHY Art Director Christy Cotterman Designer Bethany Rainbolt Managing Photographer Ric Deliantoni Photographer Al Parrish Associate Video Editor Philip Grosvenor ADVERTISING advertising@hortmag.com VP, Sales Dave Davel Advertising Sales Michelle Kraemer, 888-457-2873 x13245 Advertising Sales Coordinator Kathy Budsberg F+W MEDIA INC. Chairman & CEO David Nussbaum CFO James Ogle President David Blansfield SVP, Operations Phil Graham Chief Digital Officer, eMedia Chad Phelps Director, IT Jim Kuster Director of Finance Trent Miller Events Director Cory Smith Audience Development Paul Rolnick
Privacy promise: Occasionally, we make portions of our customer list available to other companies so they may contact you about products and services that may be of interest to you. If you prefer that we withhold your name, simply send a note with the magazine name to: List Manager, F+W Media Inc., 10151 Carver Road Suite 200, Blue Ash OH 45242.
Recently my husband and I were pondering whether the season in which you’re born has any bearing on your personality. The question came up because our younger daughter, who turns one this July, is such a happy, fun-loving, sunny baby— summer personified. After a quick inventory of friends and family and their birth dates, we decided there’s no truth to this idea!
a season, often the one
Summertime is always the best of what might be.
in which they were first
—Charles Bowden
Most gardens, on the other hand, do represent
planted. Mine has a few nice moments in fall, winter and spring, but it’s really a summer garden. This frustrates me much of the year, but in summer I can just enjoy its mellow rainbow of flower and leaf. I hope the view from your window is as inviting, and that the pages of this magazine help you enjoy and build upon it.
— Meghan Shinn :: E D I T O R
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Summer CRUEL
Solutions for summer’s unique garden challenges
“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy”—or so the song goes. It’s not always true in the garden; certain challenges pop up in summer, including drought, gaps in the garden’s design, humid weather and related diseases and more. Don’t sweat it. Here are some ways to keep your sanity this summer.
OUGHT R D E G N E L L CHA A lack of rainfall can seriously impede plant health, to the point of death. Follow these tips to protect your garden from dry times: 1. If you live in an area where dry weather prevails, choose plants that tolerate or even prefer dry soil, such as Russian sage (left). 2. Use soaker hoses to keep your garden irrigated. These deliver water directly to each plant, at its base. 3. Conserve water by watering plants before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. 4. Group plants with similar water needs together, to make watering easier and more efficient. 5. Mulch the garden to stop moisture from evaporating from the soil.
HREAT T E IR F E G N E CHALL If you live in an area where wildfires threaten neighborhoods, design your landscape to resist or retard fire, and be sure to create “defensible space”—that is, room for firefighters to do their job. Here’s how: 1. Keep the ground immediately adjacent to the house covered with gravel mulch or grasses cut short. 2. Plants nearest to structures should be low growing and widely spaced. 3. Plant in small groups rather than large masses. 4. Break up the landscape with fireproof hardscaping, such as stepping-stone or gravel paths, decorative boulders and stone walls. 5. Use slow-to-burn plants. Deciduous plants are generally more fire-resistant than evergreens. Plants with a high water content, such as succulents (like 'Kissho Kan' agave, right) and plants with little resin or sap are good choices. 6. Keep up with maintenance, especially the removal of dead wood and spent herbaceous growth.
UMIDITY H E G N E L L A CH Very humid air can be a problem in the garden because it creates an ideal environment for certain diseases, especially when it accompanies summer heat. Here are some ways to deal with humidity: 1. Space plants properly, placing them according to the recommendations on the plant tag or even a little wider. This will allow air to circulate between the plants, and it may stop foliar diseases from spreading from plant to plant. 2. Water early in the morning so that excess water may evaporate during the heat of the day, rather than lingering on foliage overnight. Try to water only at the base of each plant. 3. Look for varieties that have been bred to resist diseases that flourish in humidity, such as powdery or downy mildew. For example, the FLAME series of border phlox resist mildew; Coral ('Barsixtytwo') is shown at left.
DESIGN L L U D E G N E CHALL Should something in your garden fail under the stresses of summer, your design may develop a gaping hole. On the other hand, all your plants may keep thriving, yet you could face a lull in action if you have a preponderance of spring or late-summer bloomers. Here are ways to correct summer design flaws: 1. Fill an unexpected hole with a piece of garden art or a pot (no need to even fill it if it’s a pretty one). 2. Keep notes of what’s blooming when, so that you can research (perhaps next winter) plants to add as bridges between scenes. 3. Include plants with striking foliage in every design, such as Heucherella 'Sweet Tea' (left). These will look interesting all summer. 4. Deadhead plants to prolong their bloom time, and include varieties that rebloom. (Keep in mind that the second flush of bloom is often understated.) Perennials such as salvia, catmint and hardy geraniums often bloom again if cut back hard after their first show. 5. Use annuals and summerblooming bulbs in addition to perennials to keep the garden in constant bloom. These can offer important support to local pollinators, too.
Cornhusker’s Delight Lauritzen Gardens has put Omaha on the horticultural map by Melissa Burdick and Mia Jenkins garden photographs courtesy of Lauritzen Gardens
The Garden in the Glen section of Lauritzen Gardens is a cool, quiet place to admire hostas and other shade plants.
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T
he first sections of lauritzen gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center, were constructed and planted in 1995, but few visitors would guess that this destination is scarcely older than 20 years, or that many of its gardens are indeed much younger than that. Nearly every year since its inception, new plants and gardens have been added to the 100-acre site, creating a diverse and dynamic landscape near downtown Omaha, Neb. And the garden continues to evolve, with a Japanese Garden currently under development, complete with a scale replica of Mt. Fuji and a Sunpu castle gate, which have already been installed. Once completed, this will be the largest Japanese garden between Chicago and Denver. It will also have an international significance; the garden’s design, by Shinichiro Abe of ZEN Associates, was a gift from Yuichi Kawai, a resident of Omaha’s sister city—Shizuoka, Japan! Whether you walk the campus of Lauritzen Gardens or enjoy it from a tram ride, this young and growing botanical garden will bring you ideas for your own garden and bolster your appreciation of plants and diverse landscapes and garden styles.
GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS Lauritzen Gardens comprises over a dozen distinct gardens showing a wide range of styles and plants. Here are a just few spots not to be missed: THE SONG-OF-THE-LARK MEADOW, named for Nebraska author Willa Cather’s short story, is an ever-changing tapestry of prairie grasses and native wildflowers like coreopsis, yarrow, corn poppy, blackeyed Susan and more. IN 2007, THE PEONY GARDEN WAS BORN. It holds 181 peonies, including 57 tree peonies, within 3,000 square feet and it is in bloom from April into June. THE VICTORIAN GARDEN includes remnants salvaged from old Omaha and Council Bluffs buildings, accentuating geometric planting beds. IN THE GARDEN IN THE GLEN, a 300-foot stream meanders through a stand of black locusts. This shade garden that stands in great contrast to Lauritzen’s mostly sunny spaces. It includes hostas bred in Omaha over the past 30 years. SIMILARLY, THE WOODLAND WATERFALL features a cascade of water and two small ponds, complete with native understory shrubs and perennials and benches where visitors can take a break.
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COMING UP AT LAURITZEN GARDENS
LAURITZEN GARDENS Omaha’s Botanical Center 100 Bancroft St Omaha NE 68108 402-346-4002 lauritzengardens.org
Nothing says summer like fresh-picked sweet corn! Lauritzen Gardens celebrates this back-yard favorite and Nebraska’s agricultural jewel during its Sweet Corn Festival, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 10 and 11. Guests can enjoy a variety of activities, cooking demonstrations, free tastings, live entertainment and plenty of delicious, locally-grown, sweet corn—all designed to generate interest and awareness of the history, biology and uses of corn and other New World foods.
Planning a visit to Lauritzen Gardens? Here are just a few other attractions in the Omaha area. Click to visit their websites. Boys Town Joslyn Castle Durham Museum Joslyn Art Museum Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge Kenefick Park
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I m a g e s t h i s p a g e : A n g e l o n i a c o u r t e s y Wa l t e r s G a rd e n s . O a k , W D N R . A m s o n i a , h o s t a , w e i g e l a c o u r t e s y P ro v e n Wi n n e r s .
FAVORITE PLANTS FOR SUMMER ANGELONIA (Angelonia angustifolia; above, top left), a summer annual, can’t be beat for maximum flower power and heat tolerance. High temperatures don’t phase it one bit, and it just keeps blooming from spring right up until the first hard frost. Look for the giant types like ‘Archangel’ for huge spikes (nearly two feet!) of flowers in pink, purple or white. Full sun. Annual. THE NATIVE PERENNIAL BLUESTAR (Amsonia hubrichtii; above, bottom right) is named for the pale flowers that spangle it in early spring, but I love its pillowy mass of soft foliage that persists throughout the summer. It loves full sun and thrives in heat, creating a bright green feathery backdrop three feet tall and wider. It turns a vivid orange for a fantastic fall display too. Full sun to part shade. USDA Zones 5–8. This majestic NATIVE BUR OAK (Quercus macrocarpa; above, center) is relatively new to me since I moved to Nebraska. But I’ve quickly come to love its towering height and uniquely gnarled branches. The king of the Midwest forests, it provides shade and habitats for hundreds of fellow woodland species. Its beauty shouldn’t be relegated to only wild places; it is a magnificent tree for landscapes with plenty of overhead clearance. Full sun. Zones 3–8. HOSTAS! I’ve always been an unabashed hosta-holic. I get a thrill from their huge leaves and fantastic performance in shade gardens. My particular favorites are the giants, like ‘Empress Wu’ (above, top right) or ‘Sum & Substance’, but a new generation of gardeners are falling in love with the minis, for their use in small landscapes or containers. Who wouldn’t want a hosta called ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ or ‘Teeny-weeny Bikini’?! Sun to shade. Zones 3–9. Once established, WEIGELA (Weigela florida) will take a beating all summer long without complaint. It bears heavy spring and fall flushes of bright magenta flowers, but a smattering of blooms will appear all summer, too. Newer cultivars like ‘Wine & Roses’ (above, bottom right) and ‘French Lace’ have dramatic purple or variegated foliage. I love this shrub’s gracefully arching branches that give it a fountain-like shape. Full sun. Zones 4–8. —Melissa Burdick, Director of Horticulture at Lauritzen Gardens
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Opposite page, top: The Visitor and Education Center. Bottom: Kenefick Park is an adjacent attraction that houses retired train engines.
TAKE-HOME ADVICE: CURVACEOUS FRUSTRACEOUS
When designing new flowerbeds, don’t shy away from gracefully curvaceous lines. I think curving bedlines are so much more attractive than angular lines in all but the most modern landscapes. But beware: Beds that are too curvy can be impossible to mow near. That little un-mowed patch in the inside of a curve has to be trimmed with a string-trimmer, or left wild and hairy. It’s so frustrating! So when you’re laying out a new bed, use a hose to temporarily delineate the edges. Adjust the hose this way and that way until you have it the way you want it. Then bring out your lawn mower and—with the blades turned off—push it along the curves to see if it’s easy or too tight. Readjust the hose until you have a bedline that looks great (and is maintenance savvy) and use spray paint to mark it. Some people prefer metal edging that creates a permanent line between the bed and lawn. I like the look of edging, but it can be expensive if you have a lot to do. It’s also difficult to keep creeping grass out of the bed, because the running grass stolons can go right over edging. That’s why I prefer a “trenched” edge, although it’s more labor intensive to create. A transplanting shovel is perfect for the job; this is a short shovel with a flat, square blade made to slice down through sod and roots. Use the shovel to make a vertical slice four to six inches deep along the marked edge. Then make an angled slice from the inside of the bed down to the bottom of the vertical slice, removing the soil and sod. This creates a tidy little trench around the bed that holds in mulch and keeps grass from intruding.—Melissa Burdick
Left: The Rose Garden peaks in late May and mid-September. Above, top to bottom: The Garden of Memories; the Victorian Garden; “Generations,” a sculpture by Daniel Whetstone.
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The Sweetest Garden A place famous for its chocolate also boasts a fine floral display by Jamie Shiffer and Sara Ensminger photographs courtesy of Hershey Gardens
H
e r s h ey, pa . — a l s o k n ow n a s chocolatetown, usa—is a community that grew around the chocolate factory started by Milton Hershey in the early 1900s. Still the headquarters of the Hershey Company, the place draws hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to enjoy chocolate-themed attractions, like the Hersheypark amusement park. Milton Hershey’s interests didn’t stop at chocolate, however. He and his wife had beautiful gardens at their home, and in 1936, at age 80, he made a request to create “a nice garden of roses” for the community to enjoy. The resultant public garden has expanded by 20 acres since then, growing to incorporate diverse plants and styles with the aim of delighting and educating guests young and old.
Right: Three giant Hershey’s Kisses mark the entrance of the Butterfly House at Hershey Gardens.
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GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS Hershey Gardens spans 23 acres overlooking the town of Hershey. It includes 11 themed gardens. Here are just a few highlights: THE CHILDREN’S GARDEN teaches kids about the wonders of nature through a series of 25 hands-on mini gardens that are accessed through a caterpillarshaped living tunnel. Nearly 400 butterflies, representing dozens of species, reside in its Butterfly House during the summer. THE HIGH POINT GARDEN draws inspiration from the gardens of Milton and Catherine (Kitty) Hershey’s home, High Point. Its old garden roses are dedicated to Kitty, who took keen interest in gardening and garden design and died at just 44. THE HISTORIC HERSHEY ROSE GARDEN includes more than 5,000 rose bushes, representing 275 varieties and a diversity of colors and forms. This is the original garden developed by Milton Hershey and it still has the same layout and many of the same varieties, in their original spots. THE ROCK GARDEN features mature boxwoods, dogwoods, dwarf conifers, hollies and perennials. THE ARBORETUM’S shaded walk brings visitors up close to trees that aren’t typically grown in Pennsylvania, including bald cypress, columnar beech and Japanese cryptomeria.
COMING UP AT HERSHEY GARDENS During the Butterfly Festival at Hershey Gardens, visitors can learn about butterflies and their fascinating life cycle, as well as participate in butterfly crafts and games. Guests can also visit the seasonal Butterfly House in the Children’s Garden to see more than 400 butterflies! The festival takes place July 13 from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
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TAKE-HOME ADVICE: SAFE ROSE SPRAY
HERSHEY GARDENS 170 Hotel Rd Hershey PA 17033 717-534-3492 hersheygardens.org
Hershey Gardens features more than 5,000 rose bushes. Here’s advice for keeping roses free of pests and diseases, from Jamie Shiffer, Grounds and Horticulture Operations Manager:
IN THE AREA Planning a visit to Hershey Gardens? Here are just a few other attractions in the Hershey area. Click to visit their websites.
All roses should be sprayed once every 7 to 10 days to control insects and fungus. We typically spray immediately following a rain, as well. In the main garden, we use a chemical spray on the roses, but in the Children’s Garden we create a non-toxic “Safe Spray.” It can also be used on other plants. Here’s the recipe: Mix one tablespoon of vinegar with one cup of water. Add one and a half tablespoons of baking soda. Add one tablespoon each of dish soap and vegetable oil (or any cooking oil). Add all this to one gallon of water. Spray on plants’ foliage.
Hersheypark Pennsylvania Dutch Country Historic Gettysburg National Civil War Museum Fort Hunter Mansion and Park ZooAmerica
Opposite page, bottom: Summer in bloom at Hershey Gardens. Top: Children find much to exclaim over here, from plants to butterflies to “chocolate” fountains. This page, bottom right: Milton Hershey’s original rose garden. Bottom left: His namesake rose, ‘M.S. Hershey’.
Hershey’s Chocolate World
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FAVORITE PLANTS FOR SUMMER What would a garden be without a ROSE, the official flower of the United State of America? Our 5,000 rose bushes bloom from June through September. In 1938, the American Rose Society honored Milton Hershey by dedicating the ‘M.S. Hershey’ rose, which can be seen at Hershey Gardens. Don’t overlook MARIGOLDS! These cheerful annuals grow from seed to bloom in just 45 days, and they help to deter beetles. Full sun. Annual. With their bold tropical foliage, ELEPHANT EARS (Colocasia spp.) can grow 3 to 5 feet high and just as wide— or larger! They also make for a great container plant. Full sun to part shade. USDA Zones 7–10. BLACK-EYED SUSANS (Rudbeckia spp.) are known for their showy yellow petals surrounding a black-brown central cone. We like the cultivar Viette’s Little Suzy (R. fulgida ‘Blovi’) for its long bloom time. Full sun. Zones 3–9.
Gardening in a Minute
For an ornamental grass that’s fairly small in size but big in presentation, try JAPANESE BLOOD GRASS (Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’). It has mostly green foliage with burgundy tips and grows to just 18 inches tall and wide. (Note: This grass has been reported as invasive in parts of the Southeast.) Full sun to part shade. Zones 5–9.
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Far left: ‘M.S. Hershey’ rose. Left: Japanese blood grass. Above, top to bottom: Marigolds; elephant ears; Viette’s Little Suzy, a long-blooming black-eyed Susan.
THE BEST-SELLING GARDEN BOOKS OF THE YEAR ARE RIGHT HERE. ALL NEW SQUARE FOOT GARDENING Here is the updated second edition of the classic bestseller by Mel Bartholemew. The beautiful new design includes new information on subjects like pest control and gardening with kids.
STRAW BALE GARDENS Here is everything you need to know to join in on the most innovative gardening method in the last generation. Minnesota author Joel Karsten pioneered gardening with straw bales and the method is simple and effective: all you need is a few bales of straw, some fertilizer, and some seeds or plants, and you can create a weedless vegetable garden anywhere—even in your driveway.
Available at bookstores and online booksellers. www.coolspringspress.com
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Salt Lake Splendor Red Butte Garden offers much to gardeners from Utah and beyond by Bryn Ramjoue photographs courtesy of Red Butte Garden
P
ut simply, the purpose of red butte garden is to foster a community that values the world of plants. Located in Salt Lake City, this botanical garden includes 18 acres of display gardens and several miles of hiking trails. Visitors are not only welcome to explore and observe the artfully designed gardens and natural areas, but they’re also offered a broad choice of educational and cultural events in which to take part.
Beds overflow with blooming perennials in a summer view from Red Butte Garden.
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Red Butte Garden dates back to 1930, when Dr. Walter P. Cottam, co-founder of The Nature Conservancy and then the chairman of the Botany Department at the University of Utah, started to use parts of the campus for plant research. His collection grew to where, in 1961, the State Legislature named the campus Utah’s State Arboretum, a distinction that came with the mandate that it grow the public’s appreciation for and knowledge of trees and plants. In the early ’80s, the university donated 150 acres at the mouth of Red Butte Canyon for the development of a broader botanical garden that would celebrate both gardening and the surrounding natural landscapes and wildlife. Red Butte Garden and Arboretum opened to the public in 1985 and has continued to develop in the years since, adding new garden areas, buildings and event spaces, largely through community donations. Today it offers gardening lessons and lectures, seasonal exhibits, an award-winning summer concert series, private functions including weddings and more.
Above left: A fun fountain splashes at the center of the Children’s Garden. Above right: The Water Pavillion’s garden showcases marginal plants, which love to have “wet feet.”
GARDEN HIGHLIGHTS Red Butte Garden includes 18 acres of display gardens, plus hiking trails through its Natural Area, which affords great views. Just a few highlights: THE CHILDREN’S GARDEN gets little ones interested in plants and gardening. It includes a Snake Fountain and the Sprout House. THE FOUR SEASONS GARDEN, located behind the Visitor Center, showcases plants to combine for a garden that looks great any time of year. THE FLORAL WALK winds between beautifully planted beds from the Visitor Center to the Rose Garden and Wedding Lawn. THE FRAGRANCE, HERB AND MEDICINAL GARDENS feature plants grown for these special purposes. THE AMPHITHEATRE is the site of Red Butte’s popular summer concert series. This year’s acts include Steely Dan, Brandi Carlile, Kenny Loggins, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Black Crowes, Neko Case and many more.
COMING UP AT RED BUTTE Red Butte Garden presents free, public evening lectures throughout the year. This summer’s lectures include “Creating a Native Pollinator Garden,” in which Katie Wagner, an assistant professor at Utah State University, will teach how creating a native pollinator garden can help ensure the production of locally grown food; “Waterwise Landscape Design for Homeowners,” where Cynthia Bee will show how to create or renovate a garden tailored to Utah’s harsh climate; and “Applied Botany: They Why’s of Gardening’s Best Practices,” with Red Butte’s Greenhouse Coordinator, Michelle Cook. Learn more about these events and others at the garden’s Education & Programs page.
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FAVORITE PLANTS FOR SUMMER A truly magnificent tree at Red Butte Garden, SEVENSONS FLOWER (Heptacodium miconioides; below, top) has something to show each season. Spring and summer bring a dense covering of oval leaves making it a great living screen. Whorls of fragrant white flower clusters begin popping open at the end of summer, followed by showy pink fruit. Its multi-trunked form and exfoliating bark are good winter interest. Full sun. USDA Zones 5–8. SWAMP HIBISCUS (Hibiscus coccineus; below, center) will stop your neighbors in their tracks. It sleeps late in spring, but 6-inch, deep red flowers cover its 6-foot frame in late summer and fall. Provide extra water while it blooms, and cut it down in the winter. Other than that, it needs no maintenance. Full sun to part shade. Zones 6–9. Fast-to-grow, clump-forming, 4-foot-tall ‘FIRETAIL’ FLEECEFLOWER (Persicaria amplexicaulis ‘Firetail’; below, bottom) is perfect for covering large areas or for naturalizing a woodland or meadow garden. Though it is a steady spreader, it is not considered invasive in any way. It blooms all summer and into fall, with red flowers that honeybees and butterflies adore. It needs moderately moist soil and should be cut down in the fall. Full to part sun. Zones 5–8.
RED BUTTE GARDEN AND ARBORETUM 300 Wakara Way Salt Lake City UT 84108 801-585-0556 redbuttegarden.org IN THE AREA Planning a visit to Red Butte? Here are just a few other attractions in the Salt Lake City area. Click to visit their websites. International Peace Gardens Gilgal Sculpture Garden Utah’s Hogle Zoo Utah Museum of Contemporary Art Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum Historic Temple Square
Above, top to bottom: Red Butte boasts an impressive spring daffodil display. Bright flowers and leafy vegetables appear in summer. A wisteria arbor overlooks the Fragrance Garden, shown here in spring.
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TAKE-HOME ADVICE: SUMMER GARDENING TIPS
Follow these simple steps recommended by the gardeners at Red Butter Garden to keep your garden healthy and looking its best: 1. MANY SPRING-FLOWERING SHRUBS CAN BE PRUNED IN EARLY SUMMER. These include lilacs, forsythia and spiraeas. They benefit the most from thinning—removing several large branches by cutting them as close the ground as possible. Generally three to four large branches each year will suffice. 2. KEEPING GARDENS AND CONTAINERS WATERED BECOMES A DAILY CHALLENGE IN SUMMER. Water early in the day or in late evening to help the water soak into the soil instead of evaporating. Do not water between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. 3. SLUGS AND SNAILS ARE A CONSTANT PROBLEM. HANDPICKING AND BEER TRAPS WORK. For another simple trap, elevate a piece of wood a few inches off the ground in a damp, shady area. Slugs and snails will congregate there. They can be easily gathered and thrown in the garbage. Use chemical baits only when other treatments fail and be careful so children, pets and other wildlife do not ingest them. Contrary to popular belief, smashing slugs and snails does not spread their eggs. 4. GRASS CLIPPINGS ARE GREEN GOLD! DON’T THROW THEM AWAY. Use a mulching mower, which chops the clippings small, and leave them on the lawn to recycle the nutrients. You can use grass clippings as mulch around vegetables, shrubs and perennials, or add them to your compost pile. 5 . M A N Y P E R E N N I A L S W I L L N OW B E F I N I S H E D BLOOMING BUT WILL REBLOOM IF THE OLD FLOWERS AND DEVELOPING SEEDS ARE REMOVED, a process called deadheading. Cut old blossoms off where the flower stem connects to the leaves. A few perennials like catmint, golden alyssum and candytuft should be sheared to about 6 inches to encourage a late summer rebloom.
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Top to bottom: Red Butte Garden reveals garden plants and natural views. Nature piques youngsters’ interests. The daffodil display.
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Contain Your Enthusiasm 5 low-effort ways to keep potted plants happy all summer by Meghan Shinn CONTAINERS OF PLANTS MAKE FABULOUS ADDITIONS TO IN-GROUND GARDENS, providing accents and focal points. They
can also make a garden in and of themselves—on balconies, patios or other landless space. Plants in pots can be a lot of work, but they don’t have to be. Just follow these easy tips.
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Be aware of water needs. Soil in pots dries out faster than the ground, sometimes needing water twice a day. Choose non-porous material (think plastic or glazed stoneware instead of terra-cotta) to slow water loss, or pick unthirsty plants like succulents.
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Cluster pots together. This makes watering and grooming quicker, and water loss will be slowed.
Make soil magic. Add slow-release fertilizer and water-absorbing crystals to the potting soil at planting time. The former eliminates the need for weekly feeding; the latter cuts down on watering by making the soil more moisture retentive.
Don’t add any plants to the pot. Yes, you read that right. Leaving a stunning pot or two empty can create a zeromaintenance splash of drama or whimsy. Give the pot center-stage placement to show its emptiness didn’t come of an oversight.
Pick the right plants. When shopping for container plants, look for flowering plants labelled “self-cleaning.” This means you don’t have to deadhead them. Try foliage plants, too, like coleus, sweet potato vine and small ornamental grasses, which keep their uniform good looks all season.
Assure productivity with your best greenhouse tool.
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CONTAINER GARDENING •
Little Natives 11 native perennials sized for pots or tight spots by Jude Groninger LOVE THE IDEA of going native, but while you’re long on motivation, you’re short on space? Fear not! Native plants are more than masses and sweeps. Hearken to the native lands’ heritage while you ramp up the creativity with these petite yet powerful choices, each rooted in the Americas. They’re all under 36 inches—and all big on potential. Bouteloua gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’ displays a mane of showy chartreuse seed heads two inches long and held horizontally. Reaches up to 36” and blooms summer into winter. Stems stand tough in snow for 6 to 8 months of interest. Full sun. USDA Zones 4–9.
Expand your horizon with the tickseed Coreopsis ‘Sienna Sunset’. Its bold burnt-sienna flowers lighten to coral as they mature on a plant that reaches just over a foot tall. Delicate foliage creates airy texture, attractive with or (rarely) without flowers. Exceptionally long, heavy blooming dramatically extends the appeal. Full sun. Zones 5–9. Dense evergreen foliage clumps of Deschampsia cespitosa ‘Pixie Fountain’ produce bright silvery white flowers in early summer. These mature to rich golden brown in early fall. A dwarf selection of tufted hair grass, it grows to just two feet. Full sun to part shade. Zones 2–7. You won’t miss the fantastic foliage on Heuchera americana ‘Marvelous Marble’. New leaves emerge purple in spring then mature to silver-mottled dark centers with green edges and distinctive dark veins. Creamy white flowers bloom on very short stems. Grows to about two feet. Beautiful with burgundy-flowering plants, it’s deer and rabbit resistant. Full sun to part shade. Zones 4–9. A charismatic and unusual dwarf rush, Juncus ensifolius has seed heads that, with a little imagination, could be a swarm of flying hedgehogs! Provides interest all summer long for moist borders; delightful at a pond’s edge. Do not let it dry out. Grows just 10 to 14 inches tall. Full sun. Zones 3–10. Don’t forget Lewisia cotyledon, Europe’s favorite window-box filler. ‘Rainbow Mix’ shines with a palette of clever striped flowers and a rough, tough nature. This evergreen native blooms spring and summer in a variety of colors. Stays 6 inches tall. Full sun to part shade. Zones 5–8. Speed ahead with Muhlenbergia capillaris ‘Fast Forward’! Flowering begins in late July or August, significantly earlier than other muhly grasses. Orbs of delicate purple flowers dance over symmetrical,
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compact mounds of fine flat foliage to 30 inches tall (with flower stalks to 4 feet). Full sun. Zones 6–10. Echinacea has a vibrant new vibe and a rainbow of new colors. The tough, 30-inch Echinacea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ blooms a mix of cheerful gold, scarlet, orange, rosy red, cream, purple and yellow coneflowers. Full sun. Zones 4–9.
Opposite page, bottom: Lewisia cotyledon ‘Rainbow Mix’. Above, left to right: Stokesia laevis ‘Divinity’; Boutelous gracilis ‘Blonde Ambition’; Muhlenbergia capoillaris ‘Fast Forward’.
Start your engines! The 36- to 40-inch-tall Panicum virgatum ‘Hot Rod’ revs into the red zone earlier than other switch grasses. Firmly upright blades emerge blue-green, reddening rapidly until the whole plant is rich, deep maroon. Full sun. Zones 4–10. An improved variegated Jacob’s ladder, Polemonium reptans ‘Touch of Class’ brightens up shady areas with crisp, bright-white leaf edges. Strong winter survival skills—and it’s a North American native! Stays a petite 12 to 18 inches. Blooms earlyto midsummer with pretty pale blue flowers. Part to full shade. Zones 3–8. Large aster flowers of Stokesia laevis ‘Divinity’ open with a coy hint of yellow in the center, then mature to long-lasting pure white. Blooms stand serenely over neat, foot-tall mounds of broad, rich green, strap-like leaves. Nearly evergreen in warmer climates. Part to full shade. Zones 5–9.
Jude Groninger is Customer Service Manager for Santa Rosa Gardens, as
FIND YOUR
OPEN YEAR-ROUND 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Off Interstate 80 at 100 Bancroft Street Omaha, NE | (402) 346-4002
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well as a Master Gardener, landscaper and horticulture instructor.
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inspiration
AT OMAHA’S URBAN OASIS
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COMMUNITY GARDEN SPOTLIGHT •
SANTA CRUZ,
California Images this page: The Homeless Garden Project produces beautiful food, flowers and friendships.
At Home in the Earth How one community garden is transforming the lives of the homeless by Maria Woodie WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, the first an-
swer is shelter, then perhaps other basics like food, clothing and health care. The Citizens Committee for the Homeless identified another crucial need after they established a shelter in Santa Cruz, Calif.: the need for a refuge from daily struggles. This idea became the Homeless Garden Project (HGP). Now more than 20 years from its inception, HGP has flourished into so much more
than a place to dream. It’s a thriving garden where people who are homeless can obtain job training, transitional employment and counseling. This is just what its clients, or trainees, themselves desired. When Lynne Basehore, the volunteer who first organized the project and became its first Director, asked people what they wanted from the garden, most answered, “We need jobs!” The HGP operates as a threeacre farm on Santa Cruz’s west side, on land that’s been on loan since 1995. In 2012, the HGP provided more than 12,000 hours of paid job training and transitional jobs. Trainees plant, tend and harvest fruits, vegetables and flowers. They prepare community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares for distribution. They cook lunch and staff the farm stand. They also attend weekly lectures that cover agriculture topics and broader skills like writing a resume, and they meet with social-work interns who help them access public services. Darrie Ganzhorn, current Executive Director, has seen train-
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ees secure housing and employment, reconnect with family, attend school, achieve and maintain sobriety, get married and accomplish many other milestones. Meanwhile, stereotypes and barriers have broken as Santa Cruz residents have come to volunteer at the farm, working and learning right alongside the trainees. And of course there’s the benefit of the farm’s fresh, organic produce. Some is sold to the public; some goes to the trainees; and some is donated to other shelters and food pantries. The HGP plans to launch an online store, they’re working toward a more permanent site and they will continue to reach out to people who are homeless. “Growing a garden is therapeutic,” says Ganzhorn. “It provides a space where people can feel safe and settle their lives. It provides a community, which supports their well-being counters the isolation so rampant with homelessness.” For more information, including how to donate funds or materials, go to homeless gardenproject.org.
KIDS GARDEN •
School’s Out Get the kids into gardening this summer by Meghan Shinn photographs courtesy of Mohonk Mountain House IS IT ANY COINCIDENCE that the school year
ends just as the gardening season is really ramping up? There’s no better time to encourage children to get outside and grow something! For inspiration, look to Mohonk Mountain House, a historic Victorian castle resort located 90 miles north of New York City with an engaging and educational Children’s Garden. Kids are invited to be themselves here; they can touch, taste and smell the plants, and it’s hoped that they get a little dirty! Mohonk’s Greenhouse Manager, Cindy Muro, says, “young visitors to the Children’s Garden are invited to ‘Please Touch.’” The garden’s plants and design appeal to their curiosity. For example, they can see how a potato grows by watching an “Eco TV” as they sit on a sod sofa. The sod sofa is structured by a wooden frame that surrounds a wire cage of soil. The sod’s roots grow through the wire mesh, into the soil, while the grass provides comfortable seating. “The Eco TV is something like an ant farm,” explains Muro. From the sod sofa, kids of all ages can see the roots of the potatoes as they look it. You may not create something as elaborate as a sod sofa, but never fear. Kids respond to the simplest encouragement in the great outdoors. So get them out into the garden this summer!
LET’S GET GROWING Cindy Muro shares the following fun tips to interest kids in gardening: 1. Give them the opportunity. Gardening is the fancy word for playing in the dirt. Children are already excited about it, so make sure you encourage it. 2. Start small, but have an open mind. It’s all a learning process. Start with a little plant to care for, and help your youngsters look up the care that their plant needs. 3. Let them get their hands dirty. Encourage them to get a little grubby; it’ll make the experience more fun! 4. Make sure it fits your lifestyle. Whether it’s a small fairy garden on the window, flower pots on the porch or a 20-by-20 vegetable patch, pick the best garden for your family.
Near right: At the Mohonk Mountain House, hotel guests or day visitors can sit on a sod sofa and watch potatoes grow in the blue Eco TV in the Children’s Garden. Far right, top and bottom: Signs encourage children to touch the plants and experience their textures and scents.
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SMALL SPACES •
The Storybook Garden A small urban yard overflows with botanical delights, thanks to its imaginative owner by Maria Woodie photographs by Al Parrish E V E R S I N C E S H E WA S A YOUNG CHILD, Christina An-
derson has loved to garden. So when she moved to a Newport, Ky., home with a roughly 20-by15-foot yard, she didn’t see simply a challenge ahead of her, but an opportunity to turn a dull space into a stunning garden. “The house was in really bad shape and the garden was completely neglected,” remembers Anderson. “The [yard] consisted of a chain-link fence and a cracked, weed-covered, concrete patio area. It was terribly sad.” With patience, time and love, Anderson created a thriving garden that extends throughout her entire yard, front and back, plus the home’s entryway. She filled her space with a vast array of bulbs, perennials and even
trees, plus vegetables. She also grows annuals, but relegates them to hanging baskets and containers. “I garden English style and cram in as much as I can,” explains Anderson. “It’s then a case of survival of the fittest. It’s a great science experiment.” In spring she enjoys bluebells, crocus, hyacinths and daffodils, plus her crabapple and redbud trees in bloom. She most looks forward to summer’s Casablanca lilies and fragrant lavender and roses. Fall favorites include toad lilies and purple smoke bush. Anderson, whose favorite childhood book was Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden, confesses to loving “oldfashioned plants and the folklore or stories that accompany
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them.” Her garden includes storybook favorites like delphiniums, hollyhocks and foxgloves. Amid all of her prospering plants sits one of Anderson’s favorite elements of her small space: a very tiny pond, which adds a sense of tranquility and serenity, and attracts songbirds and other charming wildlife. This summer Anderson will be moving to a home just down the street. She is not distraught over leaving her garden, but excited to yet again have the wonderful opportunity to take a blank canvas and transform it into a magnificent garden of her dreams. “There have been various projects over the years, but it is never really finished,” she says. “That is one of the joys of gardening.”
ANDERSON’S GARDENING TIPS Christina Anderson shares these tips for maintaining a small-space garden: 1. First and foremost, you must, if you don’t have it already, create good soil! It is the very foundation of a healthy and happy garden. 2. With little space and the desire for a bigger garden, try experimenting with the idea of idea of vertical gardening—a method of growing plants upward, using various structures such as trellises, cages and walls, for support. There are hundreds of designs you can create! 3. I suggest attending a landscaping or design class to help spark ideas of how to turn a small amount of space into a lush, thriving garden.
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Opposite page, top: Christina Anderson’s urban home has little of a “front yard,” but she managed to garden there anyway, planting a small tree and using the fence to support vines. This page, clockwise from top left: The back yard’s small garden pool; view through the front gate; clematis in bloom; view to the back yard.
PLANT PROFILES •
Favorite Daisies Here’s looking at you by Meghan Shinn RUBY STAR CONEFLOWER (Echinacea purpurea ‘Rubinstern’) stands apart from others because its petals stay flat rather than drooping down. Full sun. Zones 3–8.
Wa l t e r s G a rd e n s Sam Oth
Meghan Shinn Wa l t e r s G a rd e n s
‘FREAK!’ SHASTA DAISY (Leucanthemum xsuberbum ‘Freak!’) grows just 14 inches tall, making it great for the front of the border. Full sun. USDA Zones 5–8.
’TAHITIAN SUNSET’ TICKSEED (Coreopsis rosea ‘Tahitian Sunset’) blooms a cloud of tropical hues over threadlike stems and leaves. Full sun. Zones 8–10.
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AFRICAN DAISIES (Gazania spp.) stand up to heat and sun with great ease. Lots of varieties available, with vivid colors and markings. Full sun. Annual.
GARDENERS ON THE GO!
KITCHEN GARDENING •
Peppers
A versatile and easy-to-grow vegetable jam-packed with flavor by Maria Woodie PEPPERS, FROM THE GENUS CAPSICUM, come in a variety of
sizes, shapes and colors. These fast-growing, warm-weather veggies are also bursting with an abundance of tantalizing flavor, from sweet to excruciatingly hot. Peppers make perfect additions to many of our favorite dishes—whether chopped in a salad, blended in a hot sauce or ground and used as a spice. Peppers are relatively easy to grow. If purchasing transplants from a local nursery or garden center, choose selections with strong stems and rich green leaves that have not yet borne fruit. When transplanting your peppers, select a site exposed to full sun. You should plant them when night temperatures are warm, roughly 55–60˚F, around 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost. Peppers will prosper in most fertile and moist, well-drained soils. They should be spaced around 18 to 24 inches apart. Water them moderately and evenly throughout the season, but make sure not to waterlog the roots. You can use a starting fertilizer when transplanting and side-dress the plants with more fertilizer when they begin to fruit. Depending on the type, peppers can be ready to harvest in 60 to 150 days. Ask your local nursery or garden center for an estimated date specific for your variety. Although peppers can
be picked once the plant begins to fruit, allowing them to fully ripen brings the best flavor. Try planting two plants of each variety and allow one to fully ripen while sporadically picking peppers from the other, for a higher yield. When harvesting, do not pull the peppers off, but slice their stems with a sharp knife or cut them with garden shears.
Growing your own peppers will not only result in an abundance of scrumptious vegetables, but it can also fill your garden with bursts of radiant colors. There is nothing more rewarding then peering out into your yard and taking in all of the lush, stunning plants that have been grown by your own two hands.
Sautéed Shrimp on Black Bean Salad
SHOPPING LIST
INGREDIENTS
1 ¼ lbs. shrimp, shelled and deveined 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 small onion, chopped 1 red pepper, chopped 1 tsp. freshly grated lime peel 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice 2 tsp. olive oil, divided 1 tsp. ground cumin 2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
• SHRIMP • BLACK BEANS • ONION • RED BELL PEPPER • LIME • OLIVE OIL
DIRECTIONS
1. Season shrimp with salt and black pepper. Saute in 1 tsp. olive oil over medium heat until shrimp turn opaque (5 to 6 minutes). Transfer to small bowl and cover to keep warm.
• CUMIN • CILANTRO
2. In same skillet, add remaining 1 tsp. olive oil, onion and red pepper, saute until tender. Add cumin; cook 1 minute. Add black beans and lime peel and juice, cook until heated through (3 minutes). 3. Spoon vegetable mixture onto 4 plates. Top with shrimp and any remaining liquid from skillet. Sprinkle with cilantro.
TIP: Peppers are good sources of vitamins C and A (especially red bell peppers), plus the B-complex group of vitamins.
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THE EMPORIUM •
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I would gladly now exchange any branch of science I possess for the knowledge of A COMMON FARMER. —BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706–1790)
next issue Look for our fall issue coming out in September, with visits to more botanical gardens, tips for small spaces and containers, plants with great fall interest and much more. In the meantime, join us on social media:
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