July/August 2018
Feature Task
MichiganGardener.com
Encourage your hydrangeas to rebloom
Perennials
Milkweeds for your garden
New Plants
New shrubs for 2018
Profile
Exuberant cottage garden
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Your guide to Great Lakes gardening
Japanese Lanterns Fountains • Sculpture Found Artifacts
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In July, perennial gardeners are just getting started.
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
Garden Wisdom A garden, you know, is a very usual refuge of a disappointed politician. Accordingly, I have purchased a few acres about nine miles from town, have built a house, and am cultivating a garden.
At Telly’s, there is always something fresh to add color to your summer garden. Come see why we are a favorite summer destination for so many Michigan gardeners.
—Alexander Hamilton
Ask MG............................................................6 To-Do List........................................................8 Vegetable Patch..........................................10 Advertiser Index.........................................10 Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Glow’ Unique bicolored flowers July to Sept. 3-4' tall. Full Sun.
Echinacea ‘Kismet Red’ Extra compact plants with large red flowers July to Sept. 16" tall. Full or Part Sun.
Books for the Michigan Gardener...................................12 Thyme for Herbs........................................14 New Shrubs for 2018................................18 Calendar........................................................23 Where to pick up Michigan Gardener..........................................24 Classified Ads.............................................25
Hibiscus ‘Airbrush Effect’ Perennial with enormous, long-lasting flowers July to Sept. 3-4' tall. Full or Part Sun.
Buddleia ‘Pugster Blue’ Compact plants, extra large flowers late June to Sept. 2' tall & wide. Full or Part Sun.
Places to Grow...........................................26 Garden Profile: Exuberant cottage garden . ..................28 Subscription Form.....................................32 Weather Wrap...........................................32 Through the Lens......................................33
Heucherella Pumpkin Spice Bronze-red leaves; mahogany veins. Small white flowers on red stems in Spring. Part Shade.
Hosta ‘Wiggles and Squiggles’ Incredibly wavy gold leaves on compact plants. 9" tall & 24" wide. Full or Part Shade.
On the cover: The brilliant orange flowers of butterfly weed appear in July. Learn about milkweeds for the garden starting on the back cover.
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) Perennial Perspectives: Milkweeds For Your Garden ���Back Cover
Photo: www.PrairieNursery.com
Publisher/Editor Eric Hofley Baptisia ‘Pink Lemonade’ Yellow flowers fade to raspberry purple. Late Spring bloomer. 3.5-4' tall. Full or Part Sun.
Thalictrum ‘Nimbus’ Pink or white flowers. Clouds of airy blooms on compact plants. 28" tall. Full or Part Sun.
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Design & Production Jonathon Hofley Advertising Eric Hofley Circulation Jonathon Hofley Editorial Assistant Anna Doman
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www.tellys.com
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Contributors Brian Allnutt Karen Bovio Cheryl English Emaline Fronckowiak Mary Gerstenberger Julia Hofley Rosann Kovalcik Steve Martinko Beverly Moss George Papadelis Sandie Parrott Traven Pelletier Jean/Roxanne Riggs Deborah Silver Jim Slezinski Lisa Steinkopf Steve Turner Emily Wilson
30747 Greenfield Rd., Suite 1 Southfield, MI 48076 Phone: 248-594-5563 Fax: 248-594-5564 E-mail: publisher@MichiganGardener.com Website: www.MichiganGardener.com Publishing schedule 6 issues per year: April, May, June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec. Published the first week of the mo. Subscriptions (Please make check payable to Michigan Gardener) 1 yr, 6 iss/$14 2 yr, 12 iss/$26 3 yr, 18 iss/$36 Back issues All past issues are available. Please send your request along with a check for $3.00 per issue payable to Michigan Gardener. Canadian subscriptions 1 yr, 6 iss/$22 US 2 yr, 12 iss/$42 US Copyright © 2018 Michigan Gardener. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or used in any form without the expressed, written permission of the publisher. Neither the advertiser nor the publisher will be responsible for misinformation, typographical errors, omissions, etc. contained herein. Michigan Gardener is published by Motor City Publishing, Inc.
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Have a question? Send it in! Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Submit a question”
Controlling weeds without chemicals
population noticeably without using granular or chemical treatments around your edibles.
Encouraging raspberry plants to produce fruit
My raised beds for veggies and herbs are overrun with weeds. I waited too long to weed and now it’s hard to tell the weeds from the herbs. How do I prevent weeds from taking over a garden without harsh chemicals or anything that will prevent plant growth? T.K., Madison Heights There are some fairly basic methods to prevent weeds from overtaking your produce and herb beds. Weeds are like icebergs: the biggest threat lies beneath the surface. Pull only the big ones and don’t cultivate extensively, disturbing all the soil. You will bring more weed seeds to the surface to germinate. If you must weed heavily, then put mulch immediately over the area to prevent sunlight from starting the sprouting process. Use a fishtail weeding fork for the taproot weeds and a bladed hand hoe to lift out the others. Definitely use mulch over your garden about two inches thick and keep it refreshed. Weed when it is wet so that pest plants come up more easily. When the soil is dry, cutting off the weed BELOW THE SOIL SURFACE can also cause the plant’s roots to wither. If you can’t weed, then cut off the flower heads and seed pods to prevent further reseeding into your bed until you can get to it. It may not be as satisfying, but it definitely prevents more weed production. Target your desirable plants with soaker or drip line watering and avoid overhead spraying. You are going to have to do some reclamation weeding to get your garden back under control. But the above methods combined with smothering mulch should reduce the weed
Low maintenance perennials
Great selection for you to choose from for mid-summer color
We live near Petoskey, and our soil is quite alkaline and sandy. We planted Canby raspberries five years ago. The first two years they didn’t do much, the third year we got some nice berries. The fourth year we had a tremendous amount. The fifth year they didn’t look good from the beginning of spring and the yield was minimal. We trim them back every fall and we water them well. How can we resurrect these plant gems? N.M., Petoskey Rubus idaeus ‘Canby Red’ is a nearly thornless raspberry that produces large, tasty, quality berries. Strong vigorous canes support the heavy summer-produced crop. Canby Reds do need some sort of trellis or double wire support running the length of their row. This keeps the fruiting canes up where the sun can reach them and actually makes it easier to sort the fruited canes from the new growth when it is time to prune. The first two years the plants were establishing themselves. The third and fourth year was the berry production of the second year canes. The plants used a great deal of nutrients from the soil to produce all that fruit. It now needs replenishing. With sandy, alkaline soil, the plants need copious amounts of compost worked into their growing area. The rich compost not only provides nutrients but keeps the water from draining too quickly. They need shelter from excessive hot sun and mulch to keep their roots cool. Sometimes a thin cotton cover over the rows can prevent the producing canes from scorch during the worst spells. The plants need regular weekly watering at the roots, and even more frequently during hot temperatures. Working the compost into the sand and topping with mulch stabilizes moisture loss and soil temperature fluctuations. Once they have produced, you need to prune away the canes that have fruited. This leaves the new canes to develop next year’s crop. Cutting down ALL the canes can remove next year’s fruiting canes. They only bear fruit on the second-year canes. It might take a couple years, but by amending the soil, mulching, regulating your watering, watching for sun scorch and monitoring your pruning, you should be able to return your Canby Reds to being big producers of those berries that are good both fresh and frozen for later.
Knock-Out Roses:
How to move alliums
At our vacation home up north—we will not be living there full time—I would like to plant perennials that meet three criteria: deer and rabbit resistant, low maintenance, drought tolerant. Any ideas? K., Oscoda That is a tall order for any one plant to fill. But most plants that fill the pest resistance criteria also tend to be drought tolerant and low maintenance. Plants that have prickly or fuzzy texture, or unappealing scent, such as lamb’s ear, any of the ornamental grasses (like the blue fescues, feather reeds and miscanthus), and common tansy are all perennials that suit those criteria. Spring bulbs like daffodils are rarely disturbed. Fritillaria and alliums extend the bulb season into late spring and early summer. If you have shade, try any of the ferns, any of the barrenworts (Epimedium), and fringed bleeding heart. Catmint (Nepeta), hyssop, and salvia have unpleasant smells to these four-legged pests and do best in full sun with modest water and attention. Even herbaceous peonies are ignored in the salad bar and don’t require excessive water. Once bloom is past, shear them for a lovely green hedge at the back of a bed. Don’t forget infrastructure like small trees and shrubs around which the perennials can anchor their appearance. Arrowwood viburnum, some of the newer more colorful varieties of barberry, yellow potentilla, bottlebrush buckeye, and even some junipers will deter critter browse and will be content with little maintenance and only nature’s watering.
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How and when do I move established alliums? The best time to move and transplant is as soon as the bulb is done blooming and the
leaves are yellowing. You can carefully dig up your allium bulbs and transplant them to a new location. Dig deep as the more established bulbs tend to dig down into the soil. You might want to excavate around the central stem with a shovel and then hand dig to avoid damaging the bulb. Being in the onion family, you shouldn’t have any problems with critters excavating them for a snack. However, freshly dug soil seems to trigger a response to find out what tasty morsel you’ve buried. If concerned, place chicken wire over the planted bulb areas, scatter fertilizer or bonemeal over the bulbs, and then backfill over the wire and amendment. Oftentimes, planting deterrent perennials, such as catmint, hyssop, sage or salvia that have unpleasant smells to the pests, near or next to the bulbs can habituate browsers to avoid the area.
Plants won’t grow under birdfeeder What plants can I get to grow under a birdfeeder? Will grass grow there? D.W. We think of birds as these delicate, lightweight creatures that flit and float through the air. However, on the ground they are like farmyard chickens scratching for feed. Any plants, including grass, that are planted under a birdfeeder where seed often scatters, will be shredded by mid-season. Even ordinary turf grass becomes matted by the stamping and scratching power of these feathered “elephants.” Because they are conditioned to peck and scratch for seed bits and small insects, it is better to forego planting right under a feeder. Best to put a hard surface of pavers or concrete patio stones in the area immediately below that can easily be swept or vacuumed of discarded debris. They really don’t pick up after themselves! Consider planting native shrubs and perennials that produce attractive seeds, spores, and nectar in containers or areas adjacent to the feeder to encourage natural foraging. Also look for hull-less seed varieties. Include suet cakes all year long. Many are specially formulated with fruit bits and nuts. Ground feeding birds such as mourning doves will clean up all of it. Many birds, including wrens and orioles, love suet for the high fat content. It is excellent for producing strong egg shells. They can also pass on this ‘baby food’ to their hatchlings before they are ready for junior foods. Many varieties of birds love peanut hearts as well. Bird feed without shells means less mess below. You may attract many different kinds of birds by varying what you offer and have less ground mess in the long run. Answers provided by Beverly Moss, owner of Garden Rhythms.
Detroit Garden Works is proud to present the 11th annual Garden Cruise—a tour of gardens designed, planted and/or inspired by Deborah Silver. The landscapes themselves are varied in style and approach, but all reflect an ownership for whom the beauty of a garden is an important part of life. Our most serious mission as a business is to foster the idea of stewardship of the environment—a duty The Greening of Detroit embraces every day. 100 percent of ticket proceeds benefit the planting and educational programs at The Greening of Detroit. Additionally, the ERB Foundation will match all money raised up to $10,000 and our friends at Argent Tape & Label have generously pledged to underwrite our cocktail reception. Join us for this special tour that promises to be a summer highlight!
Sunday, July 15, 9am-4:30pm Tour only: $35/person Tour & Cocktail Reception: $50/person purchase in-store or over phone: Detroit Garden Works • 248-335-8089 purchase online: TheGardenCruise.org
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GROW YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE Time to enjoy your tree sanctuary The growing season has finally arrived, and it’s time to get your trees and shrubs on track with a plant health care check-up from your local certified arborists, at Davey. Maintaining proper fertilization with Arbor Green PRO®, and keeping trees and shrubs free of pests is imperative to the long term health of your landscape.
Monroe 419-464-7038
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
to-do list Annuals • Water thoroughly to promote deep root growth, and pinch off spent flowers on plants, such as geraniums, to encourage new flower development. Keep fertilizing regularly and be prepared for an extra watering every now and then as the weather turns hot.
Bulbs: Spring-Flowering • The foliage from spring-flowering bulbs can be removed as it dies back. These bulbs can also be divided and replanted now, or wait until the fall.
Bulbs: Summer-Flowering • Feed flowering plants like dahlias and other summer-flowering bulbs with a slowrelease organic fertilizer.
Evergreens • Don’t prune evergreens during the summer. Pruning promotes new growth that won’t harden off before winter sets in.
Fruits • Start harvesting blueberries, raspberries, and even some peaches. It’s best to pick fruit early in the morning. If birds are getting to the fruit before you have a chance to harvest, use a protective netting that will let light, air and water get through to the plants but keep birds away.
General • Over the course of several days, check garden spots hourly to accurately determine how many hours of sunlight the garden receives. This is the defining factor as to what plants can be grown.
Herbs • Start harvesting herbs and using them in your cooking. Clipping a few sprigs every
Feature Task: Encourage your hydrangeas to rebloom With their big beautiful blooms, hydrangeas are one of the most popular flowering shrubs. In some cases, however, those big beautiful flowers fail to bloom. There are four common reasons why hydrangeas don’t bloom: 1) Improper pruning. 2) Planting in the wrong place, or planting varieties that bloom on old wood in areas that are too exposed to severe winter weather, which typically results in few to no flowers. These should be relocated to a better site or protected through the winter. A shrub guard or burlap wrap filled with leaves to help insulate stems is another option. 3) A late spring freeze or frost ruins flower buds. The freeze may be light and even go unnoticed until you realize no blooms are forming. Or the frost may damage emerging leaves too. As a result, most of the new growth comes from the base of the plant, not the stems, and no flowers will form. 4) Deer browsing. If hydrangeas are growing in a place where deer are present, they will typically eat the flower buds and you’ll never see flowers. You might not realize that deer are a problem until the hydrangeas don’t bloom, especially if you have some that are blooming in a different location. Prevent deer browsing by applying repellents as new leaves begin emerging in the spring, and every few weeks thereafter.
Which variety is not blooming? Knowing which hydrangea variety you have will help troubleshoot the flowering problem. Panicle (H. paniculata) and smooth (H. arborescens) hydrangeas flower on new wood, the growth that happens in the current season. Flower buds on these hydrangeas form after the plant leafs out in the spring and open a few months later in summer. As a result, these plants flower reliably each year, no matter how cold the previous winter. Big leaf (H. macrophylla), mountain (H. serrata), oakleaf (H. quercifolia), and climbing (H. anomala subsp. petiolaris) hydrangeas flower on old wood—the growth that was created the previous season. Flower buds on these hydrangeas begin to form in late summer and must
few days will encourage more growth.
Houseplants • Houseplants, whether they’re inside or outside, love this season with its longer days and more humid conditions. Main-
remain undisturbed all through the fall, winter, and spring in order to flower the following summer. As a result, these plants will not flower if: • They are pruned at any time other than shortly after they are finished blooming. • They are damaged by weather. Usually, the problem occurs in the spring, when several days of warm temperatures are followed by a sudden freeze, and flower buds might be damaged. • They are browsed by deer, which will eat the flower buds. Reblooming hydrangeas are types of big leaf and mountain hydrangeas that have the unique ability to flower on both old and new wood. Even if the buds are damaged by winter weather, the plant can still flower on wood it produces that season.
Pruning tips • Avoid pruning reblooming hydrangeas and those that flower on old wood altogether. Instead, plant these hydrangeas in areas where they will not get too big for their space and won’t need pruning. • New-wood flowering hydrangeas can be pruned in the spring, just as the new growth begins to emerge. Remove up to one-third of the height each year, if desired, to encourage vigorous new growth and strong stems to support the flowers. • Hydrangeas do not require regular pruning. They will grow and flower well with nothing more than removal of spent flowers and any dead branches in the spring.
All hydrangeas have similar needs • Moist but well-drained soil. Hydrangeas will not tolerate wet feet—ever! • Some sun each day. Most people think of hydrangeas as shade plants, but they look and flower best with at least four hours of sun, ideally in the morning. Panicle hydrangeas are the most sun tolerant, and can take full sun in northern climates like Michigan. • Plenty of water, especially as they are getting established. Hydrangeas have shallow roots, so they dry out quickly. Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded bark mulch to any hydrangea planting.
tain a regular fertilizing program so they’ll put on strong healthy new growth. Outside plants will probably need water every day. The inside ones won’t need to be watered quite as frequently, but more often than they were in the winter.
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• Mow the lawn properly, never taking off more than 1/3 of the blade at a time. Remove too much at one time and the crown of grass will sunburn. These weakened plants will soon be overcome by weeds just waiting for their chance to take over.
Perennials • Make notes in your gardening journal about plants that might need to be moved or divided this fall or next spring. Regular dividing will keep many varieties healthy and blooming.
Roses • Prune faded flowers so new ones will bloom. Prune to the first set of five leaflets. Fertilize and water regularly. Watch for black spot and powdery mildew.
Shrubs & Trees • Cut back spirea and potentilla after flowers fade to promote more flowering.
Vegetables • To encourage tomatoes to ripen, prune the top third of the plant so it concentrates on ripening the fruit that’s already set, rather than producing more tomatoes. • If your tomatoes split, it’s usually a sign they are getting too much water. If tomatoes get a black spot on the bottom (blossom end rot), it’s usually a sign of calcium deficiency in the heat of summer. • Cole crops such as cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli may be mature enough now for harvest. Pull radishes, cut lettuce and spinach before they wilt in the summer heat.
Vines • Prune vines only enough to keep them neat and contained on the trellis or supports. Pruning excessively reduces flowering.
Water Garden • Water lilies are heavy feeders and need fertilizer every two weeks during August. Use a tablet-form fertilizer made for pond plants. • Test water for pH, nitrate, nitrite and ammonia levels, especially if there are fish. Provided by the professionals at English Gardens.
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
vegetable patch
Getting started with vegetable pickling
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arvest time often brings the quesbeans, Jerusalem artichoke, jicama, okra, tion, “What am I going to do with onions, peppers, yellow summer squash, and all these vegetables?” There are zucchini. Be careful if you are handling hot several options for preserving your produce: peppers as they can cause both eye and skin canning, freezing, dehydrating, and pickling. irritations—wear gloves and wash after hanPickling can be done through a fermentation dling. (brining) process or through a fresh-pack For details on pickling I suggest checking process. No matter which pickling process is out this booklet called “Pickling Vegetables”: used, the level of acidity is extremely importinyurl.com/ydhu66nk. Another wonderful tant to prevent the growth of bacteria that book that provides all types of food preservaleads to botulism. Use proven recipes and tion information and recipes comes from the never change the amount of vinegar, food or University of Georgia Extension. The title is water in the recipe! “So Easy to Preserve” and information on the A number of vegetables (and book and demonstration DVDs can fruits) may be used for pickling. be found at: https://setp.uga.edu/. Vegetables should be tender and Michigan State University Exfruits should be firm, with no blemtension offers a variety of tip sheets ishes and no evidence of mold. and information on pickling. I sugWhile the pickling process will gest typing this into your Internet kill the mold, it won’t prevent the browser: “pickling site:msu.edu” off-flavor that mold can produce. to bring up a range of articles and Check plant tags or seed catalogs information on everything from to see if a particular variety of your safety tips to processing methods. Mary chosen vegetable is more suitable If you would like a variety of inforGerstenberger for pickling. This is especially immation specifically on cucumbers, portant for cucumbers, as table and slicing try putting in the search bar: “cucumbers types do not provide the same good qualgood for pickling site:msu.edu”. ity as those recommended for pickling. For Now get out there and pick a peck for pickcucumbers, Michigan State University sugling! gests those such as ‘Bush Pickling’ or ‘CaroMary Gerstenberger was the Consumer Horlina.’ Another option is to ask the farmer at ticulture Coordinator at the Michigan State the farmers market when you are looking to University Extension in Macomb County, MI. make a purchase. They should be able to give For vegetable and gardening information from you some information on the uses of the vegMSU, visit www.migarden.msu.edu. etables they have for sale. So what vegetables can be pickled? The Call the toll-free Michigan State University range is broad and so are the recipes for asLawn and Garden Hotline at 888-678-3464 paragus, beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage (as for answers to your gardening questions. for sauerkraut), carrots, cucumbers, green
Advertiser Index Abbott’s Landscape Nursery..............................17 Aguafina Gardens International..............................Inside Front Cover Assoc. of Professional Gardeners.....................19 Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr............................................21 Barson’s Greenhouse............Inside Front Cover Beauchamp’s/The Pond Place.............................5 Blossoms.......................................................................15 Bogie Lake Greenhouses.......................................10 Civiltech.........................................................................13 Cranbrook House & Gardens...............................11 Davey Tree.....................................................................7 Detroit Garden Works..............................................7 Eckert’s Greenhouse................................................11 EcoChic Landscape Design.................................23 English Gardens................................................Page 3
Fraleigh’s Landscape Nursery............................21 The Garden Mill.........................................................19 Garden Rhythms.......................................................21 A Garden Space.........................................................21 Grinstein Jewelry & Design..................................13 Haley Stone.................................................................23 Hidden Lake Gardens...........Inside Front Cover Honda...............................................................................9 LACASA Center........................................................15 Lake Orion Lawn Ornaments...............................11 Merrittscape...............................................................13 Milarch Nursery........................................................19 The Original Budget Tree Service.....................21 Orion Stone Depot...................................................10 Piechnik’s Greenhouse...........................................15 Plymouth Nursery....................................................13
Poison Ivy Control of Michigan..........................17 ReLeaf Michigan........................................................17 Sam’s Yard Guard....................................................23 Schuman Landscape Lighting.............................21 Sell Farms & Greenhouses.....................................6 Specialty Growers....................................................12 State Crushing.............................................................11 Stone Cottage Gardens..........................................17 Telly’s Greenhouse.....................................................4 Turner’s Landscp & Gard Ctr.................................8 Tuthill Farms & Composting................................21 Uncle Luke’s Feed Store.........................................15 Van Atta’s Greenhouse..........................................19 Warmbier Farms.......................................................19 Waterscape.................................................................12 The Weed Lady........................Inside Front Cover
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HOUSE & GARDENS
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Digging Deeper: An Inside Look at Cranbrook Gardens Tuesday, July 24, 2018 10am - 1:30pm
Learn about the gardens firsthand from the volunteers who plant them.
Cranbrook & Friends Garden Walk Wednesday, August 1, 2018 10am - 3pm & 5pm - 8pm
Explore four gardens, visit the gift shop, and enjoy a gardening demonstration. Left to right: Callicarpa ‘Purple Pearls’, Deutzia ‘Yuki Cherry Blossom’, Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’
From the rare and unusual to the preferred and popular! 34051 Ryan Rd (Btwn 14 & 15 Mile), Sterling Heights, MI
Art in the Elements
Friday, September 7, 2018 Saturday, September 8, 2018 Sunday, September 9, 2018 Discover living sculpture exhibits of fresh floral and botanicals designed by AIFD.
July Hours: Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 9-6 August Hours: Mon-Fri 9-7 Sat-Sun 9-5 586-264-5678 • www.eckertsgreenhouse.com
Cranbrook House & Gardens 380 Lone Pine Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
SINCE 1982
Quality Plants for Dedicated Gardeners Perennials, annuals & herbs...our outdoor-grown plants are acclimated to Michigan’s weather for better performance in your garden
Back By Popular Demand…Daylily Dig! Saturday, July 21, 9am-5pm
Walk the field and choose your favorite daylilies! Our staff will dig and package your plants for you. You’ll find nearly every color of the rainbow, including gorgeous bicolored and eyed varieties. Potted daylilies and perennials of all types will also be available.
Glorious Shade: Dazzling Plants, Design Ideas, and Proven Techniques for Your Shady Garden
1pm FREE Presentation: Dividing Daylilies
by Jenny Rose Carey
At 1pm, gather under the tent for owner Karen Bovio’s presentation, Dividing Daylilies. Karen will discuss the how’s and why’s of dividing daylilies. She will explain and demonstrate tips and techniques so that you will have a clear understanding of how to properly divide daylilies in your own garden.
Shade is one of the most common garden situations homeowners have. With the right plant knowledge, gardeners can triumph over challenging areas and learn to embrace shade as an opportunity instead of an obstacle. Glorious Shade (Timber Press, 324 pages, $24.95) celebrates the benefits of shade and shows readers how to make the most of it. This guide demonstrates what is needed to successfully garden in the shadiest corners of a yard. Learn how to recognize different types of shade and how to choose the right plants for the space. The author also shares the techniques, design and maintenance tips that are key to growing a successful shade garden. Photographs offer design inspiration and reveal the beauty of shade-loving plants.
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Butterfly Gardening: The North American Butterfly Association Guide by Jane Hurwitz Butterfly gardening creates habitats that support butterflies, connecting us with some of the most beautiful creatures in the natural world and bringing new excitement and joy to gardening. In Butterfly Gardening (Princeton University Press, 288 pages, $29.95), accomplished butterfly gardener Jane Hurwitz shares more than 200 color photographs and maps. The author includes essential information on how to choose and grow plants that will attract a range of butterflies to your garden and help sustain all the stages of their life cycles. While predominantly recommending regionally native plants, the book includes information on non-native plants as well. It also features informative interviews with experienced butterfly gardeners from across the United States. This guide is useful whether you are a gardener who wants to see more butterflies in your garden, a butterfly enthusiast who wants to bring that passion to the garden, or someone who simply wants to make their yard friendlier to monarchs or other butterflies.
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by Joel Karsten Straw bale gardening has caught on across the world—in any climate and on any continent you can grow fresh vegetables in environments where no food has grown before. In Straw Bale Solutions (Cool Springs Press, 176 pages, $24.99) you will find over two dozen stories of straw bale gardens that inspire as much as they educate. Since he began straw bale gardening at his home in the midwestern U.S., the author has talked to thousands of gardeners and traveled to dozens of countries to spread the word. The result is this collection of fascinating illustrated stories. Readers will recognize many of the challenges any gardener faces, and learn valuable lessons from those experiences.
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734-578-8073 • www.civiltechllc.com S E RV I N G S O U T H E A S T M I C H I G A N S I N C E 19 9 8
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
Jean & Roxanne Riggs
Attract honeybees to your garden with herbs
H
oneybees in our world are quickly disappearing—a scary scenario. Bees and other pollinators—including bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds—pollinate practically every plant that produces the fruits and vegetables we eat every day. They also pollinate the hay and crops that feed our meat supply. That said, you do not need a lot of land to help honeybees. If you love growing herbs, fruit trees and perennials, you can make a difference in your own yard by growing plants that produce pollen and nectar for their food. Forty years ago, when we started growing herbs commercially, we had huge patches of creeping thymes and herbs that attracted hundreds of honeybees every day during the summer. Honeybees were thick in the clover in our lawns and we had to watch where we stepped. Many of our customers did not want to attract bees or bugs. We had to explain back then that bees were so important and were not dangerous, but important for our entire food system. Now we rarely see honeybees in our herb gardens and it is sad. Agreed, some people continued on page 16
P H OTO G R A P H S BY J E A N A N D R OX A N N E R I G G S
A close-up of the bees in the demonstration hive.
This traveling beehive is used for educating the public.
This waxy honeycomb stores the bees’ honey and eggs.
featuring
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GARDEN TOUR Saturday & Sunday July 14 & 15 • 9 am - 4 pm
Fresh, local produce arrives starting mid-July as the crops ripen—Come see what’s available!
Tour gardens throughout Livingston County
• Join the scavenger hunt • Enter the blooming raffle • Stroll the weekend away
Tomatoes • Corn • Peppers • Cherries • Peaches & much more! Our sweet corn is fresh-picked DAILY
Uncle Luke’s Feed Store 6691 Livernois • Troy– (1/4 Mile S. of South Blvd.) 248-879-9147 • www.unclelukes.com Mon-Fri 9-6:30 • Sat 8-6 • Sun 9-5
Visit our 2nd location in Flushing: Flushing Lawn & Garden • 810-659-6241
Bring us your lawn, plant & pest problems– We will help you troubleshoot
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
Calendula is an annual herb that blooms and blooms during the summer months until frost. continued from page 14 are allergic to stings and even if you aren’t allergic, stings from bees and hornets hurt like heck. But with a little diligence and awareness of your surroundings, a gardener should have nothing to fear from honeybees and other pollinators in their garden. Do not bother bees on flowers during feeding, and do not walk barefoot through the grass.
Background The honeybee is native to Europe and was introduced to the United States where it became the most important pollinator for food crops. A honeybee sticks pollen to its back legs with saliva. A worker bee’s lifespan is 6 weeks to 6 months. A queen bee lives a few years. The honeybee is a sociable species and interacts with other bees in a community setting. The colony is a super organism. Bees are assigned certain tasks within the hive according to their age and they navigate by the sun’s position in the sky. The hive produces wax and delicious honey that people love. The hive can consist of 60,000 to 100,000 bees! Why are honeybees getting so rare? Numerous reasons are suspected: fewer hedgerows on farms, fewer grazing pastures, huge fields for miles and miles planted with just one crop (corn, wheat, soybeans), stress over transporting bees to farms in trucks, the varroa mite, and neonicotinoid insecticides.
The brighter and bigger the plant, like this perennial helenium, the more bees will visit your garden.
Using herbs to attract bees
Attract bees with mint blossoms.
These beautiful blue borage flowers are sure to attract bees and pollinators.
the hive every night. Here are a few herbs you can grow that attract bees: lemon balm and mints, borage, lavender, chives, sages and salvias, thymes, fennel and dill, hyssop, lamb’s ears, anise hyssop, comfrey, summer savory, bee balm, marjoram, catnip, basil, catmint, calendula, motherwort, and chamomile. Of course, you will need to let your herbs bloom and not cut them back as harshly as you might have been doing. Do not use pes-
ticides on your herbs. Instead, if you need to get rid of aphids or scale, use a mild, soapy spray at night, or buy a safe insecticidal soap. Better yet, if you have aphids, get a package of ladybugs and do not spray at all. Let them eat the aphids and little pests in your herb garden. Follow the package directions for proper release of the ladybugs in your garden area. It is beneficial if you plant more than one plant of each herb species. A small row, a
First, it is important to note that bees need pollen the entire spring, summer and fall to survive. That means early-blooming plants such as fruit trees, shade trees, spring-blooming shrubs, violas and pansies are good for the bees. These plants give them a boost in spring when they are starting a hive. A hive can be in a hole in a tree, or in a beekeeper’s hive. A honeybee can travel up to six miles a day in search of food. Once it finds a good garden, it will find its way back from the hive every day to feed and collect pollen before returning to
clump of three or more plants, or a large pot filled with one type of herb is very appealing to bees. Herbs produce excellent honey in the hive, but did you know that fruit trees do also? Consider planting a few fruit trees even if they are the dwarf varieties. Many fruit trees need more than one tree for the bees to pollinate and the trees to produce fruit, so do some research before making your selections. Most fruit trees can be purchased inexpen-
MichiganGardener.com | July/August 2018 | Michigan Gardener
17
Stone Cottage Gardens Specializing in Hybrid Daylilies • 850 varieties of bare-root daylilies • Hundreds of potted perennials for sun & shade • Herbs, Vines, Ferns & Shrubs GOING “UP NORTH” FOR THE WEEKEND? • American-made tools Stop by to see us, and check • Garden art & supplies the Michigan Gardener calendar or our website • Morgan’s Dairy Doo compost for special events.
Art in the Garden Sat, July 21, 10a-4p
Garden Party
Sun, July 22, 1-5p
3740 Willford Rd. Gladwin, MI • 989-426-2919
StoneCottageGardens.com • Open May 9-Oct. 6 M-F 10-6 Sat 9-4 or by chance or appt.
Poison Ivy Control of Michigan An herb garden is not complete without as much lavender as you can fit in it!
Orange nasturtiums in bloom; plant all the available colors to brighten your garden and bring in the bees.
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Bees love thyme flowers. sively and they are usually at least six feet tall already. If you spray your fruit trees to get perfect fruit, check with your garden center to see what will do the least harm to the honeybees! Beekeeping around Michigan has become a great hobby for many people. At the farm market, we have met the most wonderful and thoughtful beekeepers who sell honey, wax, candles, and other products from their beehives. They have been very generous in help-
ing new beekeepers get started, giving lectures, and showing traveling beehives to the public. We learned many things by attending a free lecture by a local beekeeper. Please consider what you can do for pollinators. You are helping the world by starting in a little piece of it—your own garden. Jean and Roxanne Riggs operated Sunshine Farm and Garden in Oakland County, MI and now enjoy retirement up north.
Nursery & Garden Center 2781 Scio Church • Ann Arbor
734-665-TREE (8733) IMPROVE YOUR WORLD WITH HELP FROM OUR KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
Star Roses & Plants
Summersweet Einstein Proven Winners Color Choice
Pugster Pink
Butterfly Bush Pugster A totally new butterfly bush (Buddleia): a dwarf plant with full-sized flowers. Available in pink, blue, periwinkle, and white, the Pugster series blooms non-stop from early summer through frost. The thick,
sturdy stems offer improved hardiness and winter survival compared to other types of dwarf butterfly bush. Height: 2 feet. Width: 2-3 feet. Light: Full sun to part sun. Zone: 5.
This summersweet cultivar (Clethra alnifolia Einstein) boasts exceptionally long racemes of blooms reaching up to 12 inches long. Flowering during the summer, the blooming stems are often twisted and curled, reminiscent of Albert Einstein’s wild hairdo—thus the plant’s moniker. The flowers are sweetly fragrant, which attracts pollinators and humans alike. This shrub is native throughout the eastern United States, tolerant of a wide variety of growing conditions, and very hardy. Height: 3-4 feet. Width: 3-4 feet. Light: Full sun. Zone: 4.
Dogwood Neon Burst
Grow this new introduction (Cornus alba Neon Burst) for its bright chartreuse foliage. Reaching 4 to 5 feet tall, it has good sun and heat tolerance, retaining the yellow leaf color throughout the summer without scorching. New leaves are tinged with bronze and the stems have a rich red hue early in the season. Fall foliage becomes a rainbow of purple, red, yellow and orange. In the winter, the stems turn a glossy scarlet red. Height: 4-5 feet. Width: 4-5 feet. Light: Full sun to part shade. Zone: 2. NEW SHRUBS continued on page 20
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Over 2,000 different cement garden statues in our outdoor showroom, all made here in Michigan by us! Plus, come see our mind-boggling selection of garden decor, arbors, gazing globes, furniture, and so much more.
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
continued from page 18
Bailey Nurseries
Privet Straight Talk This deciduous privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is only 2 to 3 feet wide and tightly upright. Use it as a vertical accent in tight spaces. Cold hardy and drought tolerant, it is easy to grow in a wide range of soils and tolerates urban conditions. Plant a group to make a hedge. Height: 12 feet. Width: 2-3 feet. Light: Full sun to part shade. Zone: 4.
Van Belle Nursery
Hydrangea Lavalamp Moonrock A mid-size hydrangea, Lavalamp Moonrock produces creamy white blooms that emerge with an intense lime green center. This unique display continues until late summer. This striking specimen (Hydrangea
paniculata) provides plenty of distinctive flowers for cut arrangements. Plant this low maintenance shrub in mixed beds and shrub borders. Height: 4-6 feet. Width: 4-6 feet. Light: Full sun to part shade. Zone: 3.
Deutzia Yuki Cherry Blossom A shower of bell-like, pink flowers creates a carpet of spring color on this deutzia. It is great for mass plantings because of its neat, mounded habit and burgundy-purple fall color. This tough, adaptable plant also makes an excellent groundcover, especially on a sunny slope. Pruning is seldom needed, but it may be shaped immediately after flowering. Height: 1-2 feet. Width: 1-2 feet. Light: Full sun to part sun. Zone: 5.
Proven Winners Color Choice
NEW SHRUBS continued on page 22
GARDEN RHYTHMS
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
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Smokebush Winecraft Black
Proven Winners Color Choice
Rose Oso Easy Hot Paprika
Proven Winners Color Choice
Round leaves emerge rich purple in spring. When the summer heat arrives, the leaves turn a deep, near-black and change to an array of reds and oranges in fall. In early summer, large, soft panicles of bloom appear that become the misty “smoke” that makes smokebush (Cotinus) such a
popular plant. Winecraft Black has a naturally dwarf habit, so it is easier to site than larger varieties. For the best foliage color and flowering, plant in full sun. Height: 4-6 feet. Width: 4-6 feet. Light: Full sun. Zone: 4.
This rose flowers from early summer through frost on a versatile, low-growing plant. In addition to its vivid orange blooms, this shrub is very hardy and disease resistant. With its low-growing and spreading habit, Oso Easy Hot Paprika can be used as a colorful groundcover or mass planting. It doesn’t need any special pruning: simply cut it back by about one-half its total height in early spring. Height: 1-1/2 to 2 feet. Width: 1-1/2 to 2 feet. Light: Full sun. Zone: 3.
Hydrangea Miss Saori This striking plant (Hydrangea macrophylla Miss Saori) won the prestigious Chelsea Plant of the Year award in England. The double-petaled flowers have deep rose edges that soften to white in the center. Their long flowering period starts in June. They form a nice contrast with the dark foliage that turns burgundy in the spring and fall. The ideal location for Miss Saori is in full sun or part shade. Use it in borders or even containers; it is also excellent as a cut flower. Height: 3-4 feet. Width: 3-4 feet. Light: Full sun to part shade. Zone: 5.
Concept Plants
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Call 734-748-0565 July H Free Seminar: Success with Perennials Sat, Jul 7, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. We’ll share our favorite top-performing perennials, along with tips to care for them, so your garden will be beautiful year after year. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Nature Hike at Hidden Lake Gardens Sat, Jul 7, 10:30am, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. $5/person. Enjoy a family-friendly hike on Hidden Lake Gardens’ many rolling & wooded trails with nature enthusiast Howard Pennington. 2 hours at easy pace. Register: 517-431-2060. From Mints to Milkweeds Sun, Jul 8, 1–2:30pm, Niles. At Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve. Enjoy a presentation on the diverse species in each group followed by an afternoon walk through Fernwood’s gardens. 269-695-6491. H Preschool Series at Hidden Lake Gardens Tue, Jul 10, 10:30am-Noon, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. $9/class. Ages 3-6. Register: 517-431-2060. H The Fruits, Vegetables, & Herbs of Your Labor Tue, Jul 10, 6:30-7:30pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. $20. How to can, freeze, or dehydrate the food from your garden. Take home lots of fun new recipes to try as well. Registration required: 517-431-2060. Country Garden Club of Northville: Silver Anniversary Garden Walk Wed, Jul 11, 9am-4pm, Northville. By the Country Garden Club of Northville at 6 area gardens. Garden market, live music & more. $12.00 in advance, at Gardenviews and at www.cgcnv.org. $15 day of walk at Gardenviews & Mill Race Village gate. 734-788-9935. 44th Annual Troy Garden Walk: Invitation to the Gardens Wed, Jul 11, 9:30am-3pm & 5-8:30pm, Birmingham & Troy. By Troy Garden Club at 7 private gardens. $10 in advance; $15 day of walk. Arts & crafts boutique, plant sale & student art competition. www.TroyGardenClubMI.com, 248-540-6158. H Garden Delight Tour Afternoon Wed, Jul 11, 11am-1pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $29.75. Steve Mathews guides you through a 1 hour tour of Heavenly Scent’s gardens. www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com. H MSU Tollgate Evenings in the Garden Thu, Jul 12, 6:30pm, Novi. At MSU Tollgate Farm. $20. “Basic Sustainability: Composting & Organic Gardening. Register: www.canr.msu.edu/tollgate/events/ evenings-in-the-garden.
H Hidden Lake Gardener Meeting Field Trip to Ogden Station Daylilies Thu, Jul 12, 7pm, Blissfield. By Hidden Lake Gardens at Ogden Station Daylilies. FREE. Prepare to walk. Daylilies can be dug for you & purchased after the meeting. Register: 517-431-2060. H 20th Anniversary LACASA’s Garden Tour Weekend Sat, Jul 14, & Sun, Jul 15, 9am-4pm, Livingston County. By LACASA at area gardens. $20. Scavenger hunt, raffles & more. Celebrate our 20th Garden Tour. Proceeds benefit victims of child abuse & interpersonal violence. Advance tickets: www.lacasacenter.org. Michigan Regional Lily Society Lily Show Sat, Jul 14, 9am-2pm, Private Residence. By Michigan Regional Lily Society. You’re invited to show your prizewinning lily stems along with our members and friends. www.mrls.org, 313-492-5665. Shelby Garden Club Bi-Annual Garden Walk Sat, Jul 14, 10am-4pm, Shelby Twp. By Shelby Garden Club at private area gardens. $10. Advance tickets available: Shelby Township Library & Parks & Recreation. Tickets day of available at Heritage Garden.
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A Day in the Garden: Tour & Garden Thyme Market Sat, Jul 14, 10am-4pm, Hastings. By Thornapple Garden Club at 5 area gardens. $10. “Garden Thyme Market” 9am-5pm on the courthouse lawn. ThornappleGardenClub@yahoo.com. H Free Seminar: Hydrangeas 101 Sat, Jul 14, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. We will discuss the four main categories, including the most popular & the ones best suited for our area. We will also provide tips on how to care for them. www.EnglishGardens.com.
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21st Annual South Haven Garden Walk Fest Sat, Jul 14, 10am-4pm, South Haven. By South Haven Garden Club at Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum. $10. Tickets: www.southhavengardenclub.org/category/ events/garden-walk/. Wyandotte 23rd St. Garden Walk Sat, Jul 14, 10am-3pm, Wyandotte. At 23rd St. $5 donation to St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Pius. Come view beautiful gardens in this charming Wyandotte neighborhood. 734-281-6504.
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H Super Sprouts Kids Club: Butterfly Feeder Sat, Jul 14, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Kids will learn how to attract butterflies by making their very own butterfly feeder. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Hydrangeas 101 Sat, Jul 14, 1pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. Learn the basics of growing hydrangeas. Register: 734-453-5500. www.plymouthnursery.net. H Invasive Species Sat, Jul 14, 1-2:30pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. $8. Gerry Donaldson discusses what classifies a species as invasive. Learn what you can do to help protect our local ecosystem. hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu.
Harrison Township 2018 Inspirations Garden Tour Sat, Jul 21, 9am-4pm, Harrison Twp. By Harrison Township Beautification Comm. at 8 private gardens. $15. VIP Bus Tour Available. Harrison Twp. 586-242-3868. H Mushroom Foray Sat, Jul 21, 9am-Noon, Tipton. By the Michigan Mushroom Hunters at Hidden Lake Gardens. FREE. Join Lenny Tomaszewski in a search of chanterelles & other summer mushrooms. H Art in the Garden Sat, Jul 21, 10am-4pm, Gladwin. At Stone Cottage Gardens. Enjoy the artists displaying their art in our beautiful gardens. www.stonecottaagegardens.com, 989-426-2919.
Frederik Meijer Gardens Daylily Show Sat, Jul 14, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. See an amazing variety of daylily flowers that vary in size from less than 1 inch across to almost 10 inches. www.meijergardens.org.
Master Garden Association of St Clair County: Annual Garden Tour Sat, Jul 21, 10am-4pm, Port Huron area. By Master Gardeners of St Clair County at 8 area gardens. $15. Rain or shine. Advance Tickets $10: 810-990-4960/ 810-488-9135.
H The Garden Cruise Sun, Jul 15, 9am-4:30pm, Metro Detroit, by Detroit Garden Works & The Greening of Detroit. Tour only: $35/ person. Tour & cocktail reception: $50/person. 248-335-8089. www.thegardencruise.org.
H Free Seminar: Hydrangea Reblooming Tips Sat, Jul 21, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Our experts will share their tips on pruning & caring for hydrangeas so they’ll produce more flowers. www.EnglishGardens.com.
H Fenton Open Gate Garden Club 21st Annual Summer Garden Tour Sun, Jul 15, 10am-5pm, Fenton. By Fenton Open Gate Garden Club at beautiful & innovative gardens. $10 at A.J. Phillips Fenton Museum. Kids 12 & under free. www.opengategardenclubgardentour.com.
H Pond Construction - Hands-On Workshop Sat, Jul 21, 1-3pm, Milford. At The Pond Place. FREE. Hands on experience building an 11’ x 16’ pond w/ stream, waterfall & bog, as well as a pondless waterfall. www.pondplace.com.
Tallgrass Prairie Walk Sunday Sun, Jul 15, 2–3:30pm, Niles. At Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve. 269-695-6491, info@fernwoodbotanical.org. Garden Stations: Herbs Sun, Jul 15, 4pm, Niles. At Fernwood Botanical Garden. Hands-on experience straight from the gardens. 269-695-6491, info@fernwoodbotanical.org. 13th Annual Clarkston Garden Walk Wed, Jul 18, 11am-7pm, Clarkston. By Clarkston GC at 6 private gardens. $18. Day of tickets available at the Library. Artisan market 11am-5pm. 248-620-313, www.clarkstongardenclub.org/events.
Reclaiming our Nature Sat, Jul 21, 1-4pm, Niles. At Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve. Featuring a variety of meditation activities & exercises to guide you through your inner landscapes of well-being. 269-695-6491. Art Stations: Drawing with Charcoal Sat, Jul 21, 2-4pm Niles. At Fernwood Botanical Garden. Try your hand at an art project. 269-695-6491, info@fernwoodbotanical.org. H 3rd Annual Evening with the Butterflies Sat, Jul 21, 6-8pm, Westland. At Barsons. $10 donation goes to Monarch Watch. Music & refreshments. www.barsons.com.
H Outdoor Garden Tea Party Wed, Jul 18, 11:30am-1:30pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $31.75. The perfect way to celebrate summer. Dates: Jul 18, Jul 19, Jul 20, Jul 24, Jul 25, Jul 26. www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com.
H Pond & Waterfall Design Sat, Jul 21, Aug 18, Sep 15, Milford. At The Pond Place. FREE. Workshop will address the key issues associated with designing & building your own pond, stream or waterfall. www.pondplace.com.
Traverse City Garden Walk Thu, Jul 19, Noon-7pm, Traverse City. By The Friendly Garden Club at 5 gardens of the Western Hills. Tours & exhibits at The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park. www.thefriendlygardenclub.org.
H Garden Party: Daylilies Sun, Jul 22, 1-5pm, Gladwin. At Stone Cottage Gardens. Stroll through our gardens while enjoying the peak of daylily bloom. www.stonecottaagegardens.com, 989-426-2919.
Lavender Cut & Craft Class Thu, Jul 19, 2-5pm, Niles. At Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve. Cut fresh lavender from the fields & create a fragrant & decorative lavender wand or small wreath. 269-695-6491, info@fernwoodbotanical.org.
H Digging Deeper: An Inside Look at Cranbrook Gardens Tue, Jul 24, 10am-1:30pm, Bloomfield Hills. At Cranbrook House & Gardens. Learn about the gardens firsthand from the volunteers who plant them. 248-645-3149, housegardens.cranbrook.edu.
H Make It & Take It Workshop: Succulent Garden Thu, Jul 19, 7pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $34.99. Learn how to turn care-free succulents into a beautiful table-top garden. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com.
H Preschool Series at Hidden Lake Gardens Tue, Jul 24, 10:30am-Noon, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. $9/class. Ages 3-6. Register: 517-431-2060.
Cadillac Festival of the Arts Fri, Jul 20, & Sat, Jul 21, Cadillac. Cadillac Garden Club flower show held on the City Park grounds. Facebook: Cadillac Festival of the Arts.
Film: Five Seasons with Piet Oudolf Wed, Jul 25, 7-9pm, Niles. At Fernwood Botanical Garden. In this fllm, Piet Oudolf upends our conventional notions of nature, public space & beauty itself. 269-6956491, info@fernwoodbotanical.org.
H Daylily Dig Sat, Jul 21, 9am-5pm, Howell. At Specialty Growers. 1pm: Free talk by owner Karen Bovio on why & how to divide daylilies. www.specialtygrowers.net, 517-546-7742.
Gardens of Lawndale Thu, Jul 26, 9-6pm, Niles. By Fernwood Botanical Garden & Nature Preserve at Lawndale Gardens. Discover the gardens of Lawndale. 269-695-6491, info@fernwoodbotanical.org.
MichiganGardener.com | July/August 2018 | Michigan Gardener
Goodrich Garden Walk Sat, Jul 28, 10am-4pm, Goodrich. By Goodrich Garden Club at 5 private gardens. $10 at Brown’s Do It Center. Tour & shop salvaged garden items & local artists. Rain or shine. 248-909-1642. Farmington Garden Club Garden Tour: Garden of Ideas Sat, Jul 28, 10am-4pm, Farmington. By Farmington Garden Club at Governor Warner Mansion, 33805 Grand River. $10. 12 & under free. Rain or Shine. Perennial & statuary sale. 248-626-6322, fgc1932@ gmail.com, www.farmingtongardenclub.com. H Free Seminar: Success in the Shade Sat, Jul 28, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Got shade? A beautiful garden is still possible, and we’ve got you covered. Our experts will go over selecting, planting and maintaining flowers & plants. www.EnglishGardens.com. Metro-Detroit Pond & Garden Tour Sat, Jul 28, 10am-5pm, Northwest Detroit. By MetroDetroit Pond & Garden Club. Self guided tour. Tickets day of at Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers Road or 313-779-2912. froto123@sbcglobal.net. H Hydrangeas 101 Sat, Jul 28, 1pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. Learn the basics of growing hydrangeas. Register: 734-453-5500. www.plymouthnursery.net.
August H Cranbrook & Friends Garden Walk Wed, Aug 1, 10am-3pm & 5-8pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Cranbrook House & Gardens. Explore four gardens, visit the gift shop, & enjoy a gardening demonstration. 248-645-3149, housegardens.cranbrook.edu. H Garden Day, featuring Tracy DiSabato-Aust Sat, Aug 4, 8am-4:15pm, East Lansing. At MSU Horticulture Gardens. $76. Select 2 workshops of your choosing & enjoy 2 keynote presenters including Tracy DiSabato-Aust. Register: hrt.msu.edu/garden-day. Yardeners 25th Annual Garden Tour Sat, Aug 4, 9am-3pm, St. Clair Shores. By The Yardeners of St. Clair Shores. $5. 12 & under FREE. View some of the loveliest yards in St. Clair Shores. scsyardeners@gmail.com. H Free Seminar: The Four Season Garden Sat, Aug 4, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Experts provide tips on how to extend the season of your garden and enjoy its beauty all year round. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Preschool Series at Hidden Lake Gardens Tue, Aug 7, 10:30am-Noon, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. $9/class. Ages 3-6. Register: 517-431-2060. Art of Basket Weaving Tue, Aug 7, 6-8pm, East Lansing. By Capitol Area Master Gardeners at MSU Plant and Soil Science Building. $3. Presented by Juanita Elkins & Marlene Cosgrove. mgacac@wordpress.com. H Free Seminar: Harvesting Herbs & Vegetables Sat, Aug 11, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. When is the ideal time to harvest your herbs & vegetables? Our experts will share tips & answer all your questions. www.EnglishGardens.com. H European Hand-Tied Bouquets Sat, Aug 11, 10am-Noon, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. $23/person. Create a truly striking summer bouquet. Bring pruning shears, scissors, & a sharp knife to class. Register by Jul 30: 517-431-2060. H Super Sprouts Kids Club: Flower Print Note Cards Sat, Aug 11, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Kids will hand-make beautiful leaf print note cards. English Gardens will supply all materials needed. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Make It & Take It Workshop: Ikebana Floral Arrangement Thu, Aug 16, 7pm, Clinton Twp., Dearborn Heights, Royal Oak & West Bloomfield. $39.99. The ancient Japanese art of floral arranging that emphasizes minimalism & symmetry. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com.
8th Annual Summer Garden Tour Sat, Aug 18, Detroit. At Black Cat Pottery. Register: www.blackcatpottery.com. H Free Seminar: Hydrangeas 101 Sat, Aug 18, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. We will discuss the four main categories, including the most popular & the ones best suited for our area. We will also provide tips on how to care for them. www.EnglishGardens.com. H MSU Tollgate Evenings in the Farm Thu, Aug 23, 6:30pm, Novi. At MSU Tollgate Farm. $20. “Home Gardening Success Using Farming Techniques.” Register: www.canr.msu.edu/tollgate/events/ evenings-in-the-garden. H Michigan Koi & Pond Club: Annual Koi Show Fri, Aug 24, 3-5pm; Sat, Aug 25, 10am-4pm; Sun, Aug 26, 10am-1pm; Milford. At The Pond Place of Michigan. Koi show & vendor event. Vote for your favorite koi. 734-846-8588, www.mkpc-se.com. H Annual Summer Herb Fair Sat, Aug 25, 10am-5pm & Sun, Aug 26, 11am-4pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $2. 48 different artisans, huge plant sale & more. www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com. H Free Seminar: Hydrangea Re-Blooming Tips Sat, Aug 25, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Our experts will share their tips on pruning & caring for hydrangeas so they’ll produce more flowers. www.EnglishGardens.com. Frederik Meijer Gardens Dahlia Show Sat, Aug 25, & Sun, Aug 26, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Marvel at the variety of colors, shapes & sizes of dahlia flowers & view creative floral arrangements. www.meijergardens.org.
September Michigan Caterpillars Tue, Sep 4, 6-8pm, East Lansing. By Capital Area Master Gardeners at MSU Plant & Soil Science Building. $3. Speaker: Duke Elsner. mgacac@wordpress.com. H Art in the Elements Fri, Sep 7, to Sun, Sep 9; Bloomfield Hills. At Cranbrook House & Gardens. Discover living sculpture exhibits of fresh floral & botanicals designed by AIFD. 248-645-3149 housegardens.cranbrook.edu. H MSU Tollgate Evenings in the Garden Thu, Sep 13, 6:30pm, Novi. At MSU Tollgate Farm. $20. “Household Pests & Backyard Wildlife Management,” Register: www.canr.msu.edu/tollgate/events/ evenings-in-the-garden. 66th Annual Dahlia Show & Competition Sat, Sep 15, 12noon-9:30pm; Sun, Sep 16, 9am-3pm, West Bloomfield Twp. By SE Michigan Dahlia Society at Orchard Mall. 500 dahlias of varying size, color & form. www.semds.org, 248-689-5947. H The Art of Bonsai Sun, Sep 16, 11am-4pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Bonsai show, art inspired by bonsai exhibit, learning sessions, & the Hidden Lake Gardens Bonsai Collection. www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu. Chrysanthemums & More Fri, Sep 21, through Oct 28, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Celebrate the autumn season with an extensive display of hundreds of flowering plants. Color tours, tram rides & seasonal children’s activities. Yardeners Fall Plant Exchange Sat, Sep 22, 9-11am, St. Clair Shores. By Yardeners at parking lot behind St. Clair Shores Public Library. Bag, tag, & drag your offerings to trade or give away. No money involved. scsyardeners@gmail.com. H Pond Winterization Sat, Sep 22, & Sat, Sep 29, & Sat, Oct 13, 10-11am, Milford. At The Pond Place. FREE. How to clean-up & winterize your pond. www.pondplace.com.
October Honey Bees Tue, Oct 2, 6-8pm, East Lansing. By Capital Area Master Gardeners at MSU Plant & Soil Science Building. $3. Speaker: Mike Risk, owner of Risk Apiary. mgacac@ wordpress.com. African Violets Display & Sale Sat, Oct 6, 10am-3:30pm, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. African Violets & other Gesneriads, Terrarium & Fairy Garden Plants. 11am: propagating workshop. LynnAllen0413@comcast.net. Dahlias: Digging, Dividing & Storing Sat, Oct 6, 3-5pm, Troy. By SE Michigan Dahlia Society at Telly’s. Dr. Keith Berven & members will demo the how-to’s of digging, dividing & storing tubers for the winter. www.semds.org, 248-689-5947.
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Fall Bonsai Show Sat, Oct 6, & Sun, Oct 7, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. See a variety of bonsai on display. Watch bonsai artists at work & shop for bonsai trees as well as bonsai tools/supplies. www.meijergardens.org. H Pond Winterization Sat, Oct 13, 10-11am, Milford. At The Pond Place. FREE. How to clean-up & winterize your pond. www. pondplace.com. Herb & Gourd Fest Sat, Oct 13, & Sun, Oct 14, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Discover a variety of ways to use herbs & gourds in this fall event. Gourds available for purchase. www.meijergardens.org. Putting Your Garden to Rest Mon, Oct 22, 7pm, St. Clair Shores. By The Yardeners at St. Clair Shores Public Library. Get your spring garden off to a good start in the fall. scsyardeners@gmail.com.
Classified Ads NEED A HAND? Call “The little gardener that could.” 15 yrs experience at Botanical Gardens. FREE Estimates. Pat: 586-214-9852, agardenspace.com. DON’T LOOK. Oops, you looked. And so will 70,000 potential customers. Advertise in Michigan Gardener. Call 248-594-5563 or e-mail publisher@MichiganGardener.com. HARDY PLANT SOCIETY, GREAT LAKES CHAPTER - Events are at Congregational Church of Birmingham (1000 Cranbrook Rd., Bloomfield Hills). Guest fee: $5. For more info: julia@juliasbiglife.com or visit us on Facebook.
MICHIGAN GARDENER E-NEWSLETTER Sign up for our free e-newsletter! We send out a few each year, and there are contests to win prizes as well. Go to www.MichiganGardener. com and simply enter your e-mail address. GARDEN SPEAKER AVAILABLE for your club or group. Well-traveled garden writer does garden presentations & travelogues. This active collector gardener can speak on many subjects. Experienced to present at Garden Ctr open houses & conferences. For presentation list, biography, fee & references, contact Julia Hofley at Julia@juliasbiglife.com. 248-497-2674. Find me on Facebook.
Michigan Gardener Classified Advertising is a cost-effective way to promote yourself and your business. Need help? Have help to give? Have a big event coming up? Have some items to sell? Let our readers know! Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Classified Advertising.”
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A collection of stores and gardens to shop and visit. Please call ahead for hours, as they may vary from season to season.
Mt. Pleasant
Gladwin
Bay City
Midland
Saginaw North Branch Clio
Lapeer
Davison
Imlay City
Flushing
Owosso St. Johns
Lennon
Burton
Flint
Emmett
Hadley
Grand Blanc
Port Huron
Dryden
Metamora
Almont
Bancroft
Grand Rapids Fenton
Oxford
Ortonville
Orion
Haslett
Lansing
East Lansing Fowlerville
Mason
Stockbridge
Chelsea Grass Lake
Manchester
Tipton
White Lake
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please contact us for info: publisher@ MichiganGardener.com 248-594-5563
Ray
White Lake Waterford
110 S. Main St, MI 48118 734-475-3539 www.thegardenmill.com
Tecumseh Monroe
Cement City
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Washington
Rochester Macomb Rochester Shelby Twp. Highland Pontiac Hills New Utica Baltimore Auburn Hills Sylvan Lake Clinton Twp. Commerce Milford Howell Troy West Sterling Hts. Bloomfield Birmingham Walled Lake St. Clair Berkley Wixom Roseville Shores Brighton Warren Royal Oak New Hudson Eastpointe South Lyon Novi Farmington Southfield Hills Oak Park Ferndale Whitmore Northville Grosse Lake Pointes Livonia Redford canton Canton Floral Gardens Plymouth Detroit Crimboli Nurs Dexter Wild Birds Unltd Westland Canton cement city DearbornDearborn Ann Heights H Hallson Gardens Arbor 14280 US-127, MI 49233 Ypsilanti Taylor 517-592-9450 www.perennialnursery.com Romulus Southgate Belleville Trenton Saline chelsea Brownstown Twp. Grosse Ile H Garden Mill New Boston Hartland
Williamston
Jackson
Oakland
Clarkston
La Salle
The Potting Shed
chesterfield almont H American Tree
ann arbor H Abbott’s Nurs & Garden Ctr 2781 Scio Church Rd, MI 48103 734-665-8733 www.abbottsnursery.com H Downtown Home/Gard H HillTop Greenhse/Farms H Lodi Farms H The Produce Station H Turner’s Greenhse & Garden Ctr 4431 South Wagner Rd, MI 48103 734-663-7600 www.turnersannarbor.com Wild Birds Unltd
auburn H Warmbier Farms 5300 Garfield Rd, MI 48611 989-662-7002 www.warmbierfarms.com
auburn hills Drake’s Landscp & Nurs H Haley Stone 3600 Lapeer Rd, MI 48326 248-276-9300 www.haleystone.net H State Crushing
bancroft Grand Oak Herb Farm
bay city
brighton
H Begick Nursery & Garden Ctr 5993 Westside Saginaw Rd, MI 48706 989-684-4210 www.begicknursery.com
H Beauchamp Landscp Supp Bordine’s Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland
belleville
brownstown twp
Banotai Greenhse Gardeners Choice H Pinter Flowerland H Zywicki Greenhse
Bruce’s Pond Shop Raupp Brothers Gard Ctr H Ruhlig Farms & Gard
berkley
H Van’s Valley Greenhse
Garden Central
birmingham H Blossoms 33866 Woodward Ave, MI 48009 248-644-4411 www.blossomsbirmingham.com
bruce twp burton H Walker Farms & Greenhouse 5253 E. Atherton Rd, MI 48519 810-743-0260 www.walkersfarm.com
H Van Thomme’s Greenhses
clarkston Bordine’s Country Oaks Landscp I Lowrie’s Landscp Backyard Oasis Pond & Gard
clinton twp H English Gardens 44850 Garfield Rd, MI 48038 586-286-6100 www.EnglishGardens.com Michigan Koi Tropical Treasures
clio H Piechnik’s Greenhouse & Garden Ctr 13172 McCumsey Rd, MI 48420 810-686-9211 www.cliogreenhouse.com
MichiganGardener.com | July/August 2018 | Michigan Gardener
commerce twp H Zoner’s Greenhse 2355 E. Commerce Rd, MI 48382 248-363-6742 www.zonersgreenhouse.com
davison H Wojo’s Gard Splendors 7360 E. Court St, MI 48423 810-658-9221 www.wojos.com
grosse ile H Westcroft Gardens 21803 West River Rd, MI 48138 734-676-2444 www.westcroftgardens.com
manchester
rochester
stockbridge
whitmore lake
Gee Farms
H Alexander’s Greenhses
mason
Fogler’s Greenhse Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr
sylvan lake
williamston
Wildtype Nurs
rochester hills
H AguaFina Gardens International 2629 Orchard Lake Rd, MI 48320 248-738-0500 www.aguafina.com
Christian’s Greenhse
McLennan Nurs
metamora
grosse pointe
Gilling’s Nurs
Allemon’s Landscp Ctr Meldrum & Smith Nurs
milford
grosse pointe woods
Milford Gardens H The Pond Place
Wild Birds Unltd
monroe
dearborn
hadley
H The Flower Market
Fairlane Gardens
Le Fleur Décor
new baltimore
dearborn heights
hartland
H Meldrum Bros Nurs
Deneweth’s Garden Ctr
new boston
haslett
H Grass Roots Nurs Mums the Word
H English Gardens 22650 Ford Rd, MI 48127 313-278-4433 www.EnglishGardens.com
detroit Eastern Market
dexter Bloom! Gard Ctr H Dexter Mill Earth Art H Fraleighs Landscape Nursery 8600 Jackson Rd, MI 48130 734-426-5067 www.fraleighs.com Guthrie Gardens
eastpointe H English Gardens 22501 Kelly Rd, MI 48021 586-771-4200 www.EnglishGardens.com
Christian’s Greenhse H Van Atta’s Greenhse
highland Colasanti’s Produce/Plant Fragments Highland Garden Ctr H One Stop Landscp Supp Thornton Nurs
howell Howell Farmer’s Mkt Penrose Nurs H Specialty Growers 4330 Golf Club Rd, MI 48843 517-546-7742 www.specialtygrowers.net
new hudson H Milarch Nurs 28500 Haas Rd, MI 48165 248-437-2094 www.milarchnursery.com
north branch H Campbell’s Greenhouses 4077 Burnside Rd, MI 48461 810-688-3587 www.campbellsgreenhouses.com H Oldani Landscape Nurseries 2666 Tozer Rd, MI 48461 810-688-2363 www.oldanilandscapenurseries.com
H Superior Landscape Supplies 4805 Musson Rd, MI 48855 517-548-2068 Find us on Facebook
northville
Wilczewski Greenhses
novi
Angelo’s Landscp Supp Farmer John’s Greenhse Loeffler Stone Ctr H Steinkopf Nurs
imlay city H Earthly Arts Greenhse
Glenda’s Gard Ctr Wild Birds Unltd
jackson
oak park
The Hobbit Place
Four Seasons Gard Ctr
fenton
lake orion
oakland
Gerych’s Flowers/Gift
H Lake Orion Lawn Orn H Orion Stone Depot
Drew’s Garden
farmington hills
H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm 13730 White Lake Rd, MI 48430 810-629-9208 www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com
ferndale
H Wojo’s of Lake Orion 559 S. Lapeer Rd, MI 48362 248-690-7435 www.wojos.com
Begonia Brothers Gardenviews H Willow Greenhouses
H Piechnik’s Garden Gate 1095 N. Rochester Rd, MI 48363 586-336-7200 www.cliogreenhouse.com
ortonville Country Oaks Landscp II
Casual Modes Home/Gard
lansing
flat rock
Lansing Gardens
Masserant’s Feed Store
lapeer
flushing
H The Iron Barn
H Flushing Lawn & Garden Ctr 114 Terrace St, MI 48433 810-659-6241 www.unclelukes.com
lasalle
owosso
Fowler’s Gift Shop
H Everlastings in Wildwood
lennon
oxford
Krupps Novelty Shop
Candy Cane Xmas Trees Oxford Farm/Gard
fowlerville Green-Up Gard Ctr
gladwin H Stone Cottage Gardens 3740 West Willford Rd, MI 48624 989-426-2919 www.stonecottagegardens.com
grand blanc Bordine’s H The Weed Lady 9225 Fenton Rd, MI 48439 810-655-2723 www.theweedlady.com
grass lake H Designs by Judy Florist & Greenhse 3250 Wolf Lake Rd, MI 49240 517-522-5050 www.designsbyjudyflowers.com
livonia Bushel Mart H George’s Livonia Gardens 31405 W. 7 Mile Rd, MI 48152 248-476-6719 Find us on Facebook Superior Growers Supp Valley Nurs
macomb Altermatt Greenhses Boyka’s Greenhse Deneweth’s Garden Ctr H Elya’s Village Gardens H Landscape Source Joe Randazzo’s Nurs Olejnik Farms Wade Nurs Wiegand’s Nursery Wild Birds Unltd
H Wojo’s Greenhse 2570 Oakwood Rd, MI 48462 248-627-6498 www.wojos.com
plymouth Graye’s Greenhse Lucas Nurs H Plymouth Nursery 9900 Ann Arbor Rd W, MI 48170 734-453-5500 www.plymouthnursery.net Plymouth Rock & Supp Rock Shoppe on Gotfredson Sparr’s Greenhse
pontiac Goldner Walsh Gard/Home
ray Heritage Oaks
redford H Pinter Flowerland Seven Mi Gard Ctr
H Auburn Oaks Garden Ctr 3820 West Auburn Rd, MI 48309 248-852-2310 www.auburnoaksnursery.com Bordine’s H Haley Stone 3975 S. Rochester Rd, MI 48307 248-852-5511 www.haleystone.net Wild Birds Unltd
romulus Block’s Stand/Greenhse Kurtzhals’ Farms H Schoedel’s Nurs Schwartz’s Greenhouse
roseville Dale’s Landscp Supp Flower Barn Nurs Sea World
royal oak Billings Lawn Equip H English Gardens 4901 Coolidge Hwy, MI 48073 248-280-9500 www.EnglishGardens.com Wild Birds Unltd
saginaw H Abele Greenhouse & Garden Ctr 3500 Wadsworth Rd, MI 48601 989-752-5625 www.abelegreenhouse.com
saline Clink Landscp & Nurs Nature’s Garden Ctr H Saline Flowerland
shelby twp H Diegel Greenhses H Hessell’s Greenhouse 14497 23 Mile Rd, MI 48315 586-247-4675 www.hessellsgreenhouse.com Maeder Plant Farm H Telly’s Greenhouse 4343 24 Mile, MI 48316 248-659-8555 www.tellys.com
south lyon Hollow Oak Farm Nurs Mike’s Garden Stone Depot Landscp Supp
southfield 3 DDD’s Stand H Eagle Landscp/Supp Lavin’s Flower Land Main’s Landscp Supp
southgate H Ray Hunter Gard Ctr
st clair shores Greenhouse Growers H Hall’s Nurs H Soulliere Gard Ctr
sterling heights Decor Statuette H Eckert’s Greenhouse 34051 Ryan Rd, MI 48310 586-264-5678 www.eckertsgreenhouse.com Prime Landscp Supp
H Detroit Garden Works 1794 Pontiac Dr, MI 48320 248-335-8089 www.detroitgardenworks.com
taylor Beautiful Ponds & Gardens D&L Garden Ctr Massab Acres H Panetta’s Landscp Supp
tecumseh
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wixom Angelo’s Landscp Supp Brainer’s Greenhse Milford Tree Farm
ypsilanti Coleman’s Farm Mkt Lucas Nurs Margolis Nurs Materials Unlimited H Sell Farms & Greenhouses 7200 Willis Rd, MI 48197 866-296-3090 www.sellfarmsandgreenhouses.com
Mitchell’s Lawn/Landscp
trenton Carefree Lawn Ctr
troy H Telly’s Greenhouse 3301 John R Rd, MI 48083 248-689-8735 www.tellys.com H Uncle Luke’s Feed Store 6691 Livernois Rd, MI 48098 248-879-9147 www.unclelukes.com
utica Stonescape Supp
Gardens to Visit ann arbor H Matthaei Botanical Gardens/ Nichols Arboretum 1800 North Dixboro Rd, MI 48105 734-647-7600 www.mbgna.umich.edu
bloomfield hills H Cranbrook Gardens 380 Lone Pine Rd, MI 48303 248-645-3147 housegardens.cranbrook.edu
walled lake
clinton twp
H Suburban Landscp Supp
Tomlinson Arboretum
warren
dearborn
Beste’s Lawn/Patio Supp Garden Ctr Nurs Kutchey’s Farm Mkt
Arjay Miller Arboretum @ Ford World HQ Henry Ford Estate
washington
detroit
Landscp Direct Miller’s Big Red Greenhse Rocks ‘n’ Roots
Anna S Whitcomb Conservtry, Belle Isle
dryden
waterford
east lansing
Breen’s Landscp Supp Hoffman Nurs
H MSU Horticulture Gardens W.J. Beal Botanical Gard
H Merritt Home Design 5940 Cooley Lake Rd., MI 48327 248-681-7955 www.merritthomedesigns.com
emmett
Oakland County Market
west bloomfield H English Gardens 6370 Orchard Lake Rd, MI 48322 248-851-7506 www.EnglishGardens.com
westland H Barson’s Greenhse 6414 North Merriman Rd, MI 48185 734-421-5959 www.barsons.com Bushel Stop Joe Randazzo’s Nurs Merlino’s Bushel Ctr Panetta’s Landscp
Seven Ponds Nature Ctr
H Sunny Fields Botanical Park 5444 Welch Rd, MI 48022 810-387-2765 www.visitsunnyfields.org
flint Applewood Estate
grand rapids Frederik Meijer Gardens
grosse pointe shores Edsel & Eleanor Ford Hse
lansing Cooley Gardens
midland Dahlia Hill Dow Gardens
novi Tollgate Education Ctr
rochester
white lake
Meadow Brook Hall & Gardens
H Bogie Lake Greenhouses 1525 Bogie Lake Rd, MI 48383 248-887-5101 www.bogielakegreenhouses.com
taylor
H Mulligan’s Landscp & Gard Ctr 8215 Elizabeth Lake Rd., MI 48386 248-698-4741 www.mulliganlandscaping.com Sunshine Plants
Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gard
tipton H Hidden Lake Gardens 6214 Monroe Rd (M-50), MI 49287 517-431-2060 www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
Exuberant cottage garden The hot pink front door pops, matching the pink phlox in Kim Lord’s front garden. Planned? You bet it was!
Kim Lord uses her ingenuity to repurpose and recycle objects that add to her garden’s charm
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have used my share of fertilizer, as I am sure you have. But have you ever used llama manure? Kim Lord shoveled 50 bags of llama leftovers into her front garden bed and the result is absolute beauty. The front yard consisted of clay and the backyard sand—both were in need of some soil amending. Kim’s exuberant cottage garden obviously benefitted from the added nutrients. So the next time someone offers you a load of llama poo, don’t turn up your nose. When I pulled up to this property, I was struck by the cuteness of Kim’s garden. Her house, though not old and not small, gave me
She also grows her vegetables from seed. As her veggies are all grown in containers on her deck, instead of the traditional garden plot, she makes sure the seeds she chooses Seed starting have “container friendly” written Kim grows almost all her perenon the packet. nials and annuals from seed. I was As we wandered around Kim’s surprised to learn that even the billowy, flower-filled garden, it was Lisa perennials were started from seed. obvious which flowers were her faSteinkopf In mid- to late February, she sets up vorites. The morning glories, conetables in front of her windows and flowers, and garden phlox were sows seeds. These are later moved into the abundant and so beautiful. She also grows a garden when all chance of frost has passed. plethora of zinnias, all from seed.
the feeling of an English country cottage that had been there for decades. She has been gardening here for just 16 years.
The property and garden Part of the property’s 2-1/2 acres includes wetlands. When the kids were small, a pond was transformed into a skating rink. They strung lights over the pond, threw parties with bonfires, and invited friends and family. Now that the kids are grown, the birds and wildlife are the only ones using the pond. Kim makes sure she has plenty of birdhouses and feeders to make the birds welcome in her garden. Many flowers attract hummingbirds and seed heads are left in the fall for the text continued on page 30
Wine bottles are turned upside down and repurposed as a path edging.
Kim Lord’s front garden is full of flowers, secret places to rest, and beckoning paths.
MichiganGardener.com | July/August 2018 | Michigan Gardener
Kim Lord relaxes on her beautifully decorated back porch overlooking her salt water pool.
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
Kim’s brightly decorated deck is a mix of old and new and beckons all to sit and relax.
V Website Extra Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Website Extras” for more photos of the Lord garden. text continued from page 28 finches and other small birds. Butterflies flit about and she allows a few milkweed plants to grow to specifically attract monarchs. Kim and her daughter Allie started a fairy garden, collecting items for it wherever they traveled. Kim first started the fairy garden to coax her daughter into the garden with her and to help nurture her love for plants. Who doesn’t love fairy gardens? They are little worlds inside the larger garden and they aren’t
just for kids, but for the “kids” in all of us. When Kim added her in-ground pool, she decided to try a salt water pool, as she wasn’t keen on using chemicals. As a person working in the health care industry, she didn’t want her kids diving into water filled with artificial additives. Though she said it cost more initially, it is less expensive in the long run, as chemicals aren’t being added, only salt. The filter uses the salt and makes it into a mild saline solution. Opening your eyes underwater in this pool is no problem. The soil removed when constructing the pool was used to make berms to delineate the backyard from the front yard and to add a bit of privacy for the pool area.
Repurposing in the garden One of the many things that struck me about Kim’s garden is the ingenuity, repur-
posing, and recycling. The deck on the side of her home is covered with a large arbor and the chandelier hanging above the seating area is a repurposed fire pit cover, with solar lights wound around it and a wind chime added for soothing sound. As mentioned before, Kim grows her veggies in containers which she hand paints. The “trellises” supporting her cucumbers and green beans are brightly painted, repurposed grill grates. I love the bright colors she uses for all her painting and decorating. It all adds to the “cottage garden” feel Kim is going for. When I asked where she purchased her hand-painted candle sconces scattered throughout the garden, she told me she made them. They are instant coffee jars (her drink of choice) turned upside down and painted with flowers. They match her veggie contain-
P H OTO G R A P H S BY L I S A S T E I N KO P F
ers and unify her decorating scheme. I was lucky enough to be invited inside her home, where the cottage garden theme continued. All the painted furniture and decorating was done by Kim.
Wine bottle repurposing I also noticed she uses wine bottles for many things, including grouping them together as a table of sorts to support her herb garden growing in a metal tub. They also serve as mushroom stems in the fairy garden (hand painted with flowers, of course). To edge paths, she turns the bottles uptext continued on page 32
MichiganGardener.com | July/August 2018 | Michigan Gardener
These artistic flowers are nothing more than bowls attached to painted stakes with a pallet fence used as a backdrop. Creative!
This painted wine bottle paired with a glass bowl makes a perfect mushroom for the fairy garden.
A fire pit cover encircled with solar lights becomes a chandelier, with a soothing wind chime as an added feature.
The fire pit area is a gathering spot to make s’mores and enjoy a balmy summer evening.
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This colorful birdhouse greets guests as they approach the front door.
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
This meaningful sign is next to the bench where Kim’s husband proposed to her. Kim and her daughter Allie worked on her fairy garden together, collecting items from their travels. text continued from page 30 side down and buries the necks in the soil, leaving the bottoms sticking out to form the edge. I was impressed that all the labels were removed, because if you have ever tried to get one off a wine bottle, you know it is nearly impossible. She revealed her secret—she found a recipe on Pinterest that makes the labels literally slide off: Fill a sink with hot water, add your bottles, filling them to allow them to
sink, add 1/2 cup baking powder, 1 tablespoon dish soap, and 2 cups white vinegar. Let them soak for 20 minutes and remove. The label will slide right off. Who knew?
Comforting memories Near the fairy garden I noticed a weathered bench and next to it a touching sign: “Remembering you, my love.” She explained to me that the bench had been with her through seven moves and started out its life
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in Florida. She met her husband while in college, where they worked together in a restaurant. The bench is the one they were sitting on when he proposed, and of course, she said yes. Now, as she has lost her husband, it is the most cherished part of her garden. One that brings bittersweet memories, yet comforts her at the same time. Kim’s garden is a labor of love and growing plants from seeds is a way to bring new beginnings to the garden every spring. Watching plants grow from the humble beginnings of seeds is something everyone should try.
The results are nothing less than spectacular, considering those tiny miracles came packaged in simple paper seed packets. Lisa Steinkopf is The Houseplant Guru. Check out her newly updated website and blog at www.thehouseplantguru.com. Contact Lisa to speak at your next club meeting or event (houseplantgurulisa@gmail.com or 734-748-1241). Follow her on Facebook (Facebook.com/HouseplantGuru), Twitter (@houseplantguru), and Instagram (houseplantguru).
Precipitation May 2018
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Monthly 3.38 3.08 3.36
ACTUAL Monthly 6.35 3.02 4.97
May 2017 DEVIATION from Normal +2.97 -0.06 +1.61
2018 Year to Date: Jan 1 - May 31
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Yr. to Date 12.54 10.99 11.57
ACTUAL Yr. to Date 18.40 13.06 15.94
NORMAL Monthly 3.38 3.08 3.36
ACTUAL Monthly 4.39 2.48 2.49
DEVIATION from Normal +1.01 -0.60 -0.87
2017 Year to Date: Jan 1 - May 31
DEVIATION from Normal +5.86 +2.07 +4.37
NORMAL Yr. to Date 12.54 10.99 11.57
ACTUAL Yr. to Date 16.93 16.43 17.06
DEVIATION from Normal +4.39 +5.44 +5.49
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May 2017
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Avg. High 69.9 68.5 68.8
ACTUAL Avg. High 77.1 75.3 75.7
DEVIATION from Normal +7.2 +6.8 +6.9
ORMAL N Avg. High 69.9 68.5 68.8
ACTUAL Avg. High 68.3 67.6 68.6
DEVIATION from Normal -1.6 -0.9 -0.2
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Avg. Low 49.4 45.3 46.7
ACTUAL Avg. Low 55.2 51.6 53.7
DEVIATION from Normal +5.8 +6.3 +7.0
ORMAL N Avg. Low 49.4 45.3 46.7
ACTUAL Avg. Low 49.6 45.5 46.9
DEVIATION from Normal +0.2 +0.2 +0.2
Data courtesy National Weather Service
MichiganGardener.com | July/August 2018 | Michigan Gardener
through the lens Photographs from Michigan gardeners
Dave Hinch has been experimenting with growing high desert cacti in Michigan for the past 11 years. He says, “The plants are not protected in winter and many actually have a better survival rate when covered in a blanket of snow.” Hinch photographed this hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii) in full bloom.
Paul Dobrowolski captured this oriole in a crabapple tree.
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Send Us Your Photos! 1. E-mail 2 or 3 of your best garden photos to: photos@MichiganGardener.com. We are looking for photos of your garden, both wide-angle and plant close-ups. Be sure to e-mail a high-resolution file. 2. Please include your full name and a caption describing the scene and the plants. 3. If your photo is published, we’ll give you a free one-year subscription to Michigan Gardener.
“Our beautiful spring garden features a flowering crabapple tree, a white viburnum and blue forget-me-nots.” —Christine Thompson
“One of my favorite dahlias that I planted on the corner of our subdivision is a ‘Welcome Home’ to everyone.” —Darlene Baird
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Michigan Gardener | July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
continued from back cover
Plant characteristics Milkweeds contain a bitter, white milky sap that exudes from the stems, leaves and underground parts when cut; hence the common name. The genus name, Asclepias, is derived from the name of the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius, and there are members of the genus that have been used medicinally. An alternate common name for the orange butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is pleurisy root; early settlers used the plant to treat bronchial and pulmonary illnesses. Of more interest to gardeners is the fact that plants in the milkweed family contain toxins (more specifically, steroids called cardenolides) that protect monarchs and their larvae from predation when the milkweed is ingested. Monarchs and related butterflies of the genus Danaus have evolved mechanisms that allow them to consume the toxins and sequester them in their bodies without being harmed themselves. The toxin accumulates in all instars of the larvae, and remains in the pupa and adult, protecting all life stages of the butterfly. In addition, the bright coloration of the monarch larvae—alternating stripes of chartreuse yellow, black and white—announces to hungry birds that this caterpillar tastes bad, and may even be toxic. Birds have learned to associate this color pattern with ill effects. The fact that members of the Asclepias family are referred to as milk weeds reminds us that they are native plants, and not cultivated ornamentals derived through hybridization or introduced to this continent from Europe or Asia. Increased interest in native plant gardening dovetails perfectly with efforts to promote habitat for monarchs and with butterfly gardening in general. As a result, garden centers, specialist nurseries, and seed companies now offer and promote milkweeds in their perennial departments. However, people interested in helping monarchs are often unaware that there are many species of milkweed and that most of them serve as host plants for monarch larvae. Novice gardeners in particular may ask for “milkweed,” not realizing that the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is not always the best choice for ornamental gardens. There are over 73 species of Asclepias native to the U.S. and about 30 of them serve as monarch host plants. Of those, some are more suitable for gardens than others.
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
Swamp milkweed flowers are generally rose pink and are attractive to many pollinating insects.
Milkweed propagation Because they are naturally occurring species (not hybrids or clonally propagated cultivars), all milkweeds can be grown from seed. Seed germination varies by species and most of the hardy ones require a period of cold stratification for best results. With the exception of tropical milkweed, seed-grown plants will not bloom until the second year. Some species can also be propagated by division of the roots. Types that produce underground rhizomes can easily be grown from root or rhizome pieces. In fact, each piece severed from a plant can create a new plant, which is why attempts to eliminate milkweeds from a garden by digging are usually unsuccessful. Any pieces left remaining in the ground will produce a new plant from latent buds on the rhizome. Some species can be grown from stem tip cuttings, but cuttings must be taken during the period of active growth, and success rates are generally lower than other perennials typically propagated by cuttings. Swamp milkweed (A. incarnata) and tropical milkweed (A. curassavica) are fairly good candidates for this method. Swamp milkweed (A. incarnata) forms a fibrous, clumping root system with multiple shoots emerging from a crown, making division a viable propagation method for this species. The tap-rooted butterfly weed (A. tuberosa) does not lend itself to division due to its deep taproot and low survival rate after transplanting. It is nearly always propagated from seed.
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
Due to its aggressive nature, common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) should be used carefully in ornamental gardens.
A beautiful ornamental plant, butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) was named the 2017 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association.
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Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
Plant orange butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) where it can show off as a specimen plant in the garden. It has a deep taproot, so is best planted after careful consideration of the site because it does not transplant well. Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
Blanket flower (Gaillardia) is among the many suitable plant partners for butterfly weed and milkweeds.
Milkweed companion plants In most cases, gardeners plant milkweeds to benefit monarchs, but there is no doubt that many species of butterflies— along with bees, wasps and other insects—use milkweed flowers as a source of nectar. It only makes sense that gardeners would want to create a diverse habitat for these insects as well as monarchs. Adult butterflies of all kinds use the nectar of native wildflowers, many of which are ornamental enough to be included in perennial beds or used in specially-designed butterfly gardens. The following native plants are particularly preferred by butterflies, pollinators, and beneficial insects: tickseed (Coreopsis), coneflower (Echinacea, single-flowered types preferred), blazing star (Liatris), bee balm (Monarda), rudbeckia, asters, goldenrods (Solidago), ironweed (Vernonia), Joe Pye weed, sunflower and false sunflower (Heliopsis), and Culver’s root (Veronicastrum). Some native plant purists reject the idea of using non-native plants in butterfly gardens, but that is a matter of personal preference. My belief is that the presence of non-native plants does not harm the ecosystem as long as excessive seeding is prevented. Examples of traditional perennials that provide a source of nectar and protein-rich pollen are butterfly bush, globe thistle, lavender, phlox, sedum, and yarrow. Along with tropical milkweed, add annuals like Mexican sunflower (Tithonia), zinnias and tall verbena (Verbena bonariensis) to create season-long color in your monarch-friendly garden.
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
Adult butterflies of all kinds use the nectar of plants, many of which can be milkweed companions and are ornamental enough for perennial gardens. This bed includes peachy yarrow (Achillea), white coneflower (Echinacea), white Culver’s root (Veronicastrum), and purple tall verbena (Verbena bonariensis).
Editor’s note: Stay tuned for Part 2 (“Milkweeds for Michigan Gardens”) in the September/October 2018 issue of Michigan Gardener. Karen Bovio is the owner of Specialty Growers in Howell, MI.
| July/August 2018 | MichiganGardener.com
Jim Hudgins/USFWS
Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) is one of many milkweeds that serve as monarch host plants.
Milkweeds For Your Garden
Karen Bovio
Once considered a weedy pest to be eliminated, milkweed now stands at the center of an ongoing effort to restore monarch butterfly populations Part 1 of 2
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wenty years ago, very few gardeners would think planting milkweed in their gardens was a good idea. Even though it was widely known that milkweed is the only food source for the larvae of the monarch butterfly, milkweeds were considered too unruly for garden use, and not thought of as ornamentals. Instead, the beautiful orange milkweed relative referred to as butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) was commonly sold and promoted as a butterfly plant. Due to its strong taproot and lack of spreading underground runners, this lovely native plant is a well-behaved addition to gardens
and has been used for centuries as an ornamental. Indeed, it was named the 2017 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association. But garden use of other members of the milkweed family is relatively new.
Milkweeds for monarchs Over the past several decades, there has been an increased awareness of the serious decline in monarch populations. The Center for Biological Diversity estimated in 2016 that monarch counts had declined by 68 percent over the past 22 years, while other organizations report declines as high as 90 percent. An Internet search will quickly reveal that the effort to conserve and
fortify monarch populations is well-developed. Organizations such as Monarch Watch, the Xerces Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Wildlife Federation and others have launched programs to help monarchs. These efforts include public education programs and the planting of milkweeds and butterfly nectar plants along highways. Citizen scientists and gardeners have joined the effort with tagging and tracking programs, monarch-rearing projects, and the planting of milkweed species in private and public gardens. As a direct result of this awareness, milkweeds have emerged as a desirable garden plant. continued on page 34