September/October 2017
MichiganGardener.com
Your guide to Great Lakes gardening
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Perennials
Tall, upright sedums Garden to Table Zucchini
Birds
Keeping feeders tidy
Vegetables
Growing vertically
Garden Profile
An inspired dream garden
Auburn Oaks GARDEN CENTER
High quality plants & service for your garden success since 1964.
Auburn Oaks Farm
22nd Annual Fall Plant Sale Open to the Public Friday-Sunday, Sept 22-24, 9am-4pm 8048 Allen Rd, Fenton, MI • 810-629-7848 Come on in and check out where the plants are grown!
It’s Fall Think SPRING! Hardy Mums • Spring Bulbs (Plant Now!) Pumpkins and Corns Stalks (arriving end of Sept) Clearance of Select Plants and Garden Art
Make us your our Destination.
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Van Atta’s has one of the largest selections of garden accents, trees, garden toys, annuals, shrubs and perennials in Southeastern Michigan. We grow an enormous variety of perennial species and cultivars. There’s a good chance we have that one plant you’ve been searching for or the garden ornament that will set your yard apart. Come on out and stroll our grounds. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll find, as well as the friendly service and expert advice you will receive.
3820 West Auburn Rd (2 blocks E of Adams) • Rochester Hills • 248-852-2310 www.auburnoaksnursery.com Mon-Sat 8-6 Sun 10-5
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9008 Old M-78 • Haslett, MI • 517-339-1142 www.vanattas.com • Open year round
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
Garden Wisdom
(TREES AND SHRUBS AT SHELBY LOCATION ONLY)
—Albert Camus
AUTUMN AUTUM N R
FU
.
RADIANCE
IS
It’s a long way from freezin’… Come celebrate second season!
Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
LL
O OF C
LO
To-Do List........................................................8
At Telly’s, September marks the start of the second season. While the selection of plants at many garden centers is dwindling, we are stocked with plants to keep your garden looking great until winter.
($10 workshop fee + cost of materials used) Participants will recieve 10% OFF all regularly priced items on the day of the event.
Fall Blooming Perennials Class Troy: Sat, Sept 16, 10am Shelby: Sat, Sept 16, 1pm ($10 workshop fee)
Advertiser Index..........................................13 Books for the Michigan Gardener....... 14
Troy: September 7, 8 & 9 7:30-9:30pm
Garden to Table: Zucchini....................... 16 Calendar......................................................... 19
ON SALE NOW…
Weather Wrap............................................ 21
30-50% OFF Ceramic Pottery
Subscription Form...................................... 21
(sale excludes bonsai pots)
Garden Profile: Inspired couple build their dream garden........................ 24
Learn Bonsai basics & care, then plant your own miniature forest with 5 young trees, special potting mix, and a planter (all provided). Upgrades are available. $100
Select Roses 50% OFF 30-50% OFF all Trees & Shrubs*
Ornamental Grasses Class Troy: Sat, Sept 23, 10am Shelby: Sat, Sept 23, 1pm ($10 workshop fee) Participants will recieve 10% OFF all regularly priced items on the day of the event.
*Shelby location only
Succulent Container Garden Wkshp Troy: Sat, Sept 30, 10am Shelby: Sat, Sept 30, 1pm ($50 workshop fee)
Select perennials 20-50% OFF!
Indoor Miniature Gardening Wkshp Troy: Sat, October 7, 10am ($10 workshop fee)
Late Season Perennials
COLD TOLERANT PLANTS…
Through the Lens....................................... 18
Come visit Telly’s for this once a year sale. Bring a flashlight and take advantage of our biggest sales event of the season. Sale prices apply only during these hours.
Bonsai Forest Workshop Troy: Sat, Sept 16, 1pm
Pre-registration required. VISIT TELLYS.COM FOR MORE INFO.
Vegetable Patch...........................................12
FLASHLIGHT SALE…
Participants will recieve 10% OFF all regularly priced items on the day of the event.
Participants will recieve 10% OFF all regularly priced items on the day of the event.
Birds: Tips for a clean and pest-free feeding station.........................10 Classified Ads...............................................13
Fall Events Fall Container Gardening Workshop Troy: Sat, Sept 9, 10am Shelby: Sat, Sept 9, 1pm
Ask MG............................................................6
Perennial gardening means color and interest nearly year-round. Many plants just starting to give their best show: Japanese anemone, ornamental grasses, sedums and many more!
We offer an extensive selection of cold tolerant, fall flowering plants including pansies, calibrachoa, trailing verbena, petunias, creeping Jenny, ornamental cabbage and kale, marguerite daisies, and much more.
Where to pick up Michigan Gardener..........................................20
Places to Grow............................................22
On the cover: The sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ has excellent, year-round ornamental value. Learn about it and other tall, upright sedums in part 2 of our sedum feature, starting on the back cover.
3301 John R • 1/4 mile north of 16 Mile Rd.
SHELBY TOWNSHIP • 248-659-8555 4343 24 Mile • Btwn Dequindre & Shelby Rd.
www.tellys.com
Perennial Perspectives: Tall, upright sedums ����������������Back Cover
Photo: Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
Publisher/Editor Eric Hofley Design & Production Jonathon Hofley Advertising Eric Hofley Circulation Jonathon Hofley
TROY • 248-689-8735
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
Autumn Charm
Editorial Assistant Anna Doman
find us on
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
16291 W. 14 Mile Rd., Suite 5 Beverly Hills, MI 48025-3327 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 © 2017 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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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
Have a question? Send it in! Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Submit a question”
Climbing hydrangeas won’t bloom Climbing hydrangeas that I planted several years ago are growing and seem to be very healthy, but have never flowered. Any suggestions? C.W., Bloomfield Hills Feed the plant in late winter or early spring, just before new leaves begin to bud and then again in summer when the flowers should be blooming. Use compost or a slow-
release, low nitrogen fertilizer in the root zone. Too much nitrogen produces lots of leaves and no blooms. Since climbing hydrangea blooms on the previous year’s wood, prune it in late spring or early summer only to remove dead, diseased or damaged branches. The vines that grow along the ground should be removed from the main trunk as they will not bloom. You want the plant’s energies to feed the up-
ward vines and not waste time on groundcover stems. Don’t prune in late fall through very early spring, as you are removing the next season’s flower buds. Climbing hydrangeas are notoriously slow to produce their first flowers. It can take many seasons. Watch that a late frost in spring isn’t a potential killer of bloom buds. If frost is imminent, throw a light blanket or tarp over the plant to prevent frost settling on the branches. The right fertilizer, consistent moisture, and a proper pruning timetable can encourage your hydrangea to put on a show.
Planting lilacs in the fall
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Can lilacs be planted safely in October in Michigan? C., Chelsea The best time to plant lilacs in Michigan’s zone 5 is September and early October. October is a month of unpredictable weather. If you plant too late in October, you run the risk of the shrub not getting a chance to settle into its soil before the soil is too cold for it to take up moisture. Watering trees and shrubs in fall is critical to plant survival through winter. It is a leading cause of plant loss in Michigan landscapes. Since Michigan can have four seasons in one day, it is better to plant earlier in October rather than later.
Cucumber plant flowers
How do you tell the difference between male and female flowers on cucumber plants? B.C., Alpena A good question since both the flowers are yellow and have very similar petal and blossom configurations. However, a quick ID is to check the stem immediately at the base of the flower. The male flower only has a thin short stem and grows close to the main vine stem. The female flower has a thin mini cucumber or thickened area growing in the stem immediately behind the flower base. Cucurbits outdoors need both male and female flowers to produce fruit. So do not reduce the number of male flowers by pinching them off.
Growing zucchini and squash in a small space
How do I stake zucchini and squash in a small, 4-foot by 8-foot garden? A.D., Lansing You need to go vertical with a strong wooden or metal trellis or a ladder pyramid. You can go online searching for vertical vegetable pyramids and trellises, and find one that is easy to make for the amount of space
you want to give to these squashes. Generally, 1-inch by 2-inch lumber stock makes a quick and easy apparatus that can be left up over the winter or stored. This method gets the vines up off the ground and into sunlight needed for fruit production. It also allows better air circulation to prevent fungus and disease, and allows pollinators better access to fruit blossoms. Going vertical reduces the real estate the squash wants to take in a defined space. You can even plant other smaller crops under a pyramid configuration. Dig in your plants at the base of the trellis or pyramid and guide the runners up the supports as they grow. Keep in mind that any fruit needs to be picked while it is small and of an edible portion. Picking regularly keeps oversized fruit from potentially breaking the trellis support and encourages continued fruit production.
Encouraging bayberry shrubs to produce berries
Every spring my bayberry bushes are covered with flowers, yet never have berries. The buds just dry up. I do have male and female varieties according to the greenhouse where I purchased them. What can I do to help them bear fruit? I bought them for the birds in my yard. M.I., Northville Although bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) isn’t an overly fussy shrub, it does prefer moist, evenly drained, peaty soil. If you are seeing the buds dry up, consider amending the soil and getting regular water to the roots during the flower production time. A dioecious plant (male and female flowers on separate plants), it provides wonderful waxy-coated berries that birds particularly love for late season forage. Oddly enough, only the male flowers have any color and that is a drab yellowish green. If the flowers are not pollinated, there will be no berries. A grouping must have at least one male plant to facilitate pollination. Neither catkin is showy and it is quite difficult to determine male and female shrubs just by looking at them. Once you have amended the soil and provided consistent moisture, consider purchasing another certified male and female bayberry shrub set, planting them in the midst of the other shrubs. It’s possible the stock you purchased was misidentified and you have all male or all female plants. Answers provided by Beverly Moss, owner of Garden Rhythms.
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
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• If summer’s drought knocked out some favorites and you’re looking for fresh color, plant some of the new varieties of cold- and frost-tolerant plants. Pansies are great, but there are many others that will keep blooming until snow covers them up. • Spice up your garden with cold-tolerant annuals that will bloom late into the year. Try pansies, cabbage, kale, euphorbia, calibrachoa, osteospermum, or salvia. These are great for containers near the front door where you and visitors can enjoy them past the first hard frost.
Houseplants • Outdoor vacation is over for houseplants. For the least amount of shock, they’ll need to come back inside when the inside and outside temperatures are the most equal. Be sure to maintain an application of systemic insecticide every 6 weeks to prevent possible hitchhikers from infesting the plants. It’s best to check for problems a few days before you plan to bring them inside to give yourself time to spray, if needed. • Start decreasing the amount of fertilizer your houseplants receive. Also check underneath the pots for any sow bugs that may have accumulated during the summer months.
Evergreens
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• Consider chopping up fresh herbs and freezing them in ice cube trays with a bit of water. Pop a few cubes into a soup or stew this winter.
• If you want a beautiful spring garden filled with tulips, daffodils and other springflowering bulbs, this is the time of year to plant them. Tulips are the most popular, but they’re a favorite of both squirrels and rabbits. If you’ve lost blooms to varmints, try planting other varieties instead, such as alliums, crocus, daffodils, fritillaria, grape hyacinth, hyacinth, scilla, or snowdrops. No plant is totally safe if the critters are hungry enough, but these should last the longest. • Another advantage to planting a diverse bulb mixture is that you’ll have a very long bloom time, from snow melt until June. • Change the look of your porch or patio by planting some fall seasonal container gardens. Make them functional as well as decorative by combining edibles and ornamentals. Great cold-tolerant choices include coral bells, ornamental grass, lettuce, thyme and kale. Add a pop of color with pansies or mums.
27 ACRES of Flowering & Shade Trees, Shrubs, Evergreens, Roses, Perennials, Groundcovers & Topiaries
Herbs
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FALL is for PLANTING!
to document the garden with photos and notes. Plan any changes you want for next year right now. Plus, the photos are great to review in the middle of winter. • Fall is a great time to weed all beds and add a fresh layer of mulch. Mulch will help keep future weeds down and help insulate plants through the winter.
• This is a great time of year to plant evergreens. Soil preparation is one of the most important steps in planting. Amend the soil with plenty of organic matter like soil conditioner (finely shredded pine bark) or compost. Use a plant starter fertilizer. Even though plants will be going dormant, the roots will continue to grow until the ground freezes.
General • Document your garden. Start or continue your gardening journal. This is a great time
Lawn • Fall is the most efficient time to fertilize the lawn. Fertilizing helps plants build up food supplies with a moderate amount of top growth. Apply fall fertilizer on dry grass and water thoroughly. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions for application rates. More is not better. Be sure to sweep up any fertilizer that falls on driveways or sidewalks. You do not want to fertilize our water supply. • Keep mowing and watering. The lawn shouldn’t go into winter too long or too dry—neither is healthy.
Perennials • There are more perennials for fall color than you may know. Sedums and mums are the most popular, but for flowers, also consider anemone, aster, toadlily, and turtlehead. For foliage, coral bells, sage, euphorbia, and grasses provide great interest. There are also evergreen fern varieties for
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2017 | Michigan Gardener
9
Feature Task: Restore your lawn Lawns start to perk up in the fall after the heat of the summer has passed, but lack of rainfall this year may have left lawns needing a little repair. Fall is a great time to plant grass seed or sod. Warm soil temperatures mean faster germination, and cooler temperatures mean you won’t need to water as frequently to get your new lawn established. The cool weather encourages root growth, the first step for a healthy lawn.
Aerate, de-thatch, and overseed If the ground is compacted, aerate the lawn, which will allow grass roots to deeply penetrate the soil. Aeration also helps fertilizer and organic matter reach the roots. If you have a lot of thatch, which is grass clippings and dead plant material that have built up into the lawn, use a thatch rake or power thatcher to remove it. The grass might be a little thin, so overseed. Do this after the dead grass is removed. Put down some fresh soil and plant grass seed. Tamp down the area, apply a starter fertilizer and a layer of straw over the top to keep the seed from blowing away. Water an unexpected green in a shady place all winter long. • September is a great month to divide perennials that are crowding your beds. Perennials need to be divided to help rejuvenate them, and control their size. You may want to get together with your gardening friends and have your own perennial exchange.
Roses • Roses are slowing down, so stop fertilizing as they go dormant. Continue to water your roses throughout September. Remove spent blooms but resist any heavy pruning until next spring.
twice a day until the seed is established.
Re-seeding or planting sod If you have more weeds than grass, you might consider starting from scratch and planting seed or sod. The first step is to get the area ready for planting. Remove all the grass and weeds. An easy way to do this is by applying Roundup. Wait two weeks and remove all remaining roots and plant material. Loosen the soil or apply a one-inch layer of topsoil over the entire area. Then plant the seed or sod. To evenly distribute the seed, drag a rake over the top of the soil. Apply a starter fertilizer to the seeded area. Then apply a layer of straw mulch over the area to help keep the seed moist and prevent it from blowing away. Water the newly seeded area at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Continue to water daily until the grass seed germinates and is about one inch high. Start mowing the lawn when the grass is two inches high. Seeding in the fall will give your lawn a strong start in the spring and a root system that can withstand the summer’s heat.
Shrubs & Trees • Give spring-blooming trees and shrubs a good dose of fertilizer so they’ll produce better buds and more flowers next year. Broadleaf evergreens would benefit from a dose of soil acidifying fertilizer to keep them healthy throughout the winter.
Vines • Around Halloween, prune back vines to their support. Trumpet vine, honeysuckle,
Mums
and wisteria will all benefit from a healthy trim. Fall is a good time to prune summerand fall-blooming clematis, but not springblooming clematis; you’ll snip off next year’s flower buds.
Vegetables • Keep beds weeded and watered. Continue to check for pests and diseases and take care of any problems immediately. • Continue to harvest fruits, vegetables and herbs. Provided by the professionals at English Gardens.
Seasonal Decorations • Add seasonal decorations to your garden with pumpkins, corn stalks and hay bales. Creating a vignette on your front porch or patio can provide a welcoming change to your yard.
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
for the birds Tips for a clean and pest-free feeding station
T
he cheery song of the northern cardiflower, preferred by more birds than any othnal is no longer the first thing I hear er seed. Using sunflower as the main seed in in the morning. That song has been a blend and adding other favored seeds such replaced by the white-throated sparrows’ call as safflower and white proso millet will satnotes. Instead, I hear the sporadic “chink” isfy the needs of the local bird population as call coming from various places in the everwell as the migrants. Birds that perch while greens that border my yard. I like the thought they eat prefer the sunflower and safflower, that these fall migrant birds find whereas the ground-feeding birds refuge here as they return south, or prefer the millet that falls to the perhaps they may decide this is far ground from the feeder. enough and stay. Choosing a quality seed is the My strategy for feeding the birds most important factor in your feedchanges with the onset of fall. This ing station. Seeds that birds don’t is the time of year that I find the prefer will be tossed aside by them, non-migrant birds such as chickaending up on the ground where dees, cardinals, house finches, and they are a great food source for ronuthatches come to the feeders less dents. Check the ingredients and Rosann often as they feast on the natural make sure you do not buy a blend Kovalcik foods that are in abundance this that has wheat, red proso millet, catime of year. nary seed or oats as these seeds are not high Once those seeds and insects have been on the list of bird favorites. lessened, birds will look to supplement their Tips for tidy feeders diet with your offerings. The most favored Keeping a tidy feeding station is good for seed you can offer to them is black oil sun-
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NATIVE PLANT SALE
the birds and good for you. Utilize a tray that allows you to catch any seeds that are scattered by the doves and sparrows—we are convinced they are trying to give to their brethren below! Make sure that you provide a way to clean up the area underneath the feeders. Seeds and shells that sit for prolonged periods of time will mold and harbor germs that may affect your birds. The birds themselves will cause droppings to go into the shells and seed spillage. A hardware cloth or screen placed under the feeder will allow you to pull it away, roll up and toss the mess, and wash it off before placing it back under the feeder. If you live near a large group of house sparrows, it is definitely a challenge to keep seed off the ground. If this is your situation, consider feeding with thistle, suet or seed cakes. These forms of feeding involve very little waste going to the ground and keep your station free of debris that can cause illness in your birds or attract unwanted visitors. Store seeds in galvanized cans inside of the garage or a shed. Keeping seed in the house may cause cereal moths to hatch, the eggs having been laid in the seed shells while the sunflower was growing in the field. Temperature is what causes this to happen, so a cool outbuilding is a better choice. We recommend galvanized cans, as rodents are able to chew through plastic. Whether it’s the little teeth of mice or the larger teeth of squirrels, plastic is ineffective at keeping them out. Before you fill the feeder, make sure that it has been cleaned and sterilized. A good soak in some warm water will loosen all of the dirt that builds up in most tube feeders. The soft bristles of feeder brushes allow you to scrub without scratching the feeders. To sterilize, add one part of vinegar or chlorine-free bleach to ten parts water. Always rinse thor-
A tray beneath your feeder allows you to catch any seeds that are scattered. Clean up the tray area, since seeds and shells that sit for prolonged periods of time will mold and harbor germs that may affect your birds. oughly and then let the feeder dry completely before filling. With a wooden feeder, follow the same steps without a prolonged soak. A good alternative to wood is the recycled plastic feeders that are now being made. The plastic does not allow organic material to grow as readily as wood does. I hope that these tips help you to enjoy the influx of fall migrants as well as the continued visits of your local feathered friends. Enjoy your birds! Rosann Kovalcik is a Certified Birdfeeding Specialist and the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Grosse Pointe Woods, MI (www.wbu.com/ grossepointewoods).
Sat. & Sun., Oct. 7 & 8, 10 am-4:30 pm Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Two-day sale featuring a selection of native plants grown on-site. Native plants attract pollinators and beneficial insects—making them great garden choices for our region. Ann Arbor-based Native Plant Nursery will also be on hand with plants native to Michigan.
Free admission. 10% Matthaei-Nichols member discount. Not a member? Join online & save. University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens 1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor 734.647.7600 mbgna.umich.edu
(and still free!) Sign up today for our FREE e-newsletter! Visit MichiganGardener.com and enter your e-mail address at the top of the page next to the Michigan Gardener logo. Don’t miss the contest in each issue for your chance to win FREE garden prizes!
SEMINAR: ORGANIC GARDENING IN THE FALL Sat, Sep 30, 11am
Presented by Malibu Compost
A Fall Fête and Festival
CHECK OUR WEBSITE
Sat, October 7, 9am-5pm Sun, October 8, 12-4pm
for our “Fall Pond Closing” seminar date, plus other great events!
Come enjoy cider & donuts while strolling through our pumpkin patch filled with rare, heirloom and curious varieties. We will also have an extensive selection of gourds, branches and mums available.
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Coming in Late September: Pumpkins, Gourds, Straw, Corn & Corn Stalks
BONSAI SHOW
Sunday, September 17, 11am - 4pm Displays • Art Exhibit • Vendors Classes • Hidden Lake Bonsai Collection
FALL FOLIAGE FESTIVAL Saturday, October 21
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Uncle Luke’s We have fresh, local produce though October! Beautiful fall-blooming mums t Seasoned firewood bundles t LARGE selection of BIRD FEED & feeding equipment t Deer feed AND deer repellents t Complete pet & animal food lines: Taste of the Wild • NutriSource Canidae • Solid Gold • Iams • Wysong • Lotus • California Natural Wellness • Eukanuba • Chicken Soup • Natural Balance • Fromm t t
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
vegetable patch Using vertical space in the vegetable garden
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hen you can’t go out, go up! poles, and other tall items can be turned into Many home gardeners have limvertical supports. Tall poles creating a teepee ited space for their vegetable garframework can be great support systems and dens. Some of our favorite vegetables, such as are also fun for the kids to play in if an opencucumbers and tomatoes, can take up coning is left between a couple of the poles. siderable space when allowed to sprawl over If you need ideas for vertical gardening the ground. Other times, we just don’t have with trellis type systems, Internet search for enough room for all the different vegetables “trellis gardening,” then select “images” and we want to include in the garden. Confrontyou will see all kinds of creative ideas. Over ed with restrictions in size, how can one get the winter, try checking the garden catalogs more from the garden? The answer is vertical for trellis poles, supports and netting materigardening. als. The University of Minnesota Extension There are two ways to consider vertical has some helpful information on “Trellises gardening: 1) trellising an individual plant up and Cages to Support Garden Vegetables” at: a fence or support, and 2) layering containers tinyurl.com/y8yb9pdc. vertically on a support. Layering containers vertically There are a few important things to reVertical container gardening is a great way member in relation to both ways of vertical to raise smaller plants to a comfortable height gardening. First, be sure the support is well for maintaining and harvesting. One popular anchored to sustain the weight of the mature method is to take sections of gutter with the plant (and soil if using vertical containers). ends capped, put in some drain holes and fill Once plants have filled out with leaves and with soil. The gutters can then be attached are bearing fruit, the weight on the support to a fence, a wall, or another type of can drastically increase. To prevent similar support. These can be good everything falling over and being for growing things like lettuce, raddestroyed if a high wind or storm ishes, and the small, round Parisian comes along, be sure that the trelMarket type carrots. Two-liter plaslis, fence, or anything else bearing tic bottles can be cut and attached weight is well secured. to supports either vertically or horiSecond, locate any vertical growzontally, depending on what type of ing systems on the north side of the vegetable you plan to grow. For more garden to avoid blocking sunlight ideas on vertical gardening, Interfrom other vegetables. Mary Gerstenberger net search for “vertical gardens” or Most importantly, if you are “vertical gardening systems,” then planning on trellising a heavy vegselect “images” and you will see many ideas. etable, such as melons or pumpkins (yes, they Vertical gardening is a great way to get more can be trellised, just keep in mind their size from your garden. It is also a great way to reand weight), then you will need to help supduce the bending, kneeling and other physical port the weight of the fruit as it is growing. strains that can come with growing and harA soft flexible material, such as pantyhose, vesting your veggies. Pest management may can be used since it will stretch with the inalso be easier since plants may be closer to eye creased weight and not cut into the developlevel. For many a gardener, it is just plain fun! ing fruit. If you are using strings or ties to help keep the plant on the trellis, be sure they Mary Gerstenberger is the Consumer Horare not so tight that they will interfere with ticulture Coordinator at the Michigan State the plant’s growth. University Extension in Macomb County, MI. Trellising individual plants For vegetable and gardening information from There are a variety of ways to trellis indiMSU, visit www.migarden.msu.edu. vidual plants. Tomato cages work well to keep the plants upright, but be sure the size is adeCall the toll-free Michigan State University quate and the cages are securely imbedded in Lawn and Garden Hotline at 888-678-3464 the ground. Some tomato plants may require for answers to your gardening questions. extra staking because of height—a couple of support posts on either side of the plant with Upcoming Macomb County string wound upward between them will MSU Extension Events: help. A chain link fence can often be used as Saturday, September 9, 2017. 9am-3:30pm. support for peas, cucumbers or other vinSmart Gardening Conference: “Veggies, ing plants. If using a fence along a lot line or Soils, and Bugs, Oh My!” At the Macomb Insidewalk, plan on sharing with the neighbor termediate School District. For information, or “sidewalk harvesters.” Old ladders, clothes call 586-469-6440.
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Advertiser Index Abbott’s Landscape Nursery.....19 Aguafina Gardens Intntl............... 15 Assoc. of Prof. Gardeners..............17 Auburn Oaks Garden Center......Inside Frt Cover Barson’s Greenhouse...................... 11 Beauchamp’s/The Pond Place....5 Bloom! Garden Ctr...........................14 Blossoms...............................................19 Bogie Lake Greenhouses............... 11 Bonide...................Inside Back Cover
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
Late Bloomer: How to Garden with Comfort, Ease and Simplicity in the Second Half of Life
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by Jan Coppola Bills There are times in a gardener’s life when what we want to do and what we can do are at odds. Our knees and backs may be complaining, our energy isn’t what it was, yet our desire to get our hands in the dirt is as strong as ever. What to do? In Late Bloomer (St. Lynn’s Press, 160 pages, $18.95), Michigander Jan Coppola Bills shows us how to successfully rethink our approach to gardening as we age. As a second-half-of-life gardener, Bills helps her many friends and clients achieve easy care, low cost, eco-friendly, simple and beautiful gardens. Late Bloomer is part garden philosophy and part onthe-ground strategies and tips. This inviting and practical book is all about maintaining a joyful, healthful connection with the soil, but without the toil.
Gardening with Foliage First by Karen Chapman and Christina Salwitz What happens to your yard when it’s not in flower? Does it suddenly become a sea of green? Although seductive, flowers, by their fleeting nature, are a fickle base to provide long-lasting gardens with year-round interest. Tackle this problem with the advice in Gardening with Foliage First (Timber Press, 324 pages, $24.95). The authors offer plant combinations that start with intriguing foliage schemes, then layer in flowers, berries, bark, and other finishing touches. The result is designs that flourish in every season and climate. This simple, recipe-style approach to garden design features 127 combinations for both sunny and shady gardens that work for a variety of climates and garden challenges. Create a garden that dazzles even after the blooms fade. With the right foliage palette, your garden can shine with color and texture year-round.
Big Dreams, Small Garden by Marianne Willburn Creating a spectacular garden is challenging when you thought you’d be living somewhere else by now. How do passionate gardeners struggling with limited resources manage to put aside feelings of inadequacy and envy and begin to create an oasis in the midst of numerous obstacles? Why should they even try? In her debut book, Big Dreams, Small Garden (224 pages, Skyhorse Publishing, $17.99), the author presents a comprehensive step-by-step plan for creating an ideal garden in less-than-ideal circumstances—encouraging the discouraged to pick up their trowels, put on their gloves, and get gardening. She guides readers to make a deeper connection with the places they call home, letting go of limiting emotions, and embracing a new perspective. A handful of garden profiles, including the author’s own, will inspire readers as they find solutions for their spaces. Big Dreams, Small Garden is an informative, often lighthearted look at coming to terms with your garden and embracing your space.
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
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e are heading into fall, which means it’s time to say a bittersweet good-bye to summer. I say “bittersweet” because at this point in the season, while we hate to admit it, we might actually be getting tired of all that summer produce. In fact, if you planted zucchini this year, it’s a sure bet you’re already asking yourself, “How else can I possibly prepare zucchini?!?” Zucchini is a very easy crop to grow and the more you harvest, the more fruit it produces, so it can be one of the highest yielding plants in your garden. Luckily, zucchini lends itself well to a variety of cooking techniques. Grill it, saute it, bread and fry it, or spiralize it into nutritious noodles. Then, after all that, try my cheesy baked zucchini recipe, which reEmily invents zucchini and makes it exciting all Wilson over again. This recipe is as versatile as its star ingredient. Bake it up for breakfast with a dollop of yogurt and hot sauce and crispy prosciutto. For dinner, serve alongside grilled steak or seared salmon with a garlicky cucumber tzatziki. Or, keep it simple with my easy, end-of-summer tomato and corn salad garnish included here.
Growing tips
Step 2
• Zucchini prefers to grow in full sun planted in well-drained soil amended with compost. • You can avoid a deluge of fruit at harvest by not overplanting. One plant will produce 6 to 10 pounds of zucchini over the course of the season. Consider staggering plantings for a continuous harvest. • Plants should be spaced 2 to 4 feet apart to allow for air circulation and to discourage the spread of disease. • Keep the soil evenly moist—about 1 inch of water per week. The most important time for watering is during bud development and flowering. Drought-stressed plants are more susceptible to insect attacks. • Zucchini has both male and female flowers. Bees and insects must visit the male flower then the female flower for pollination.
Step 6 Step 9
• Cold temperatures will leaves pits on the skin of zucchini known as chilling injury. Cover seedlings and young plants if the temperature dips below 65 degrees at night. • Zucchini prefer lots of organic matter. If leaves become pale or plants seem weak, add compost or use a fertilizer high in phosphorus to promote fruit production. Don’t use a high-nitrogen fertilizer; it will diminish yield. • For the best flavor, zucchini should be picked when young. Start the harvest when fruits are 4 inches long. Zucchini grow quickly—1 to 2 inches a day—so check your plants frequently. Fruit that grows very large will be bitter and seedy. P H OTO G R A P H S BY E M I LY W I L S O N
Step 10
Step 12
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2017 | Michigan Gardener
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Cheesy Baked Zucchini Makes 6-8 servings Ingredients • 5 medium zucchini, grated • 5 tablespoons + 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1-1/2 cup walnuts, chopped • 1 cup parsley, chopped • 1 cup cilantro, chopped • 1 cup aged white cheddar, shredded • 2 tablespoons basil, roughly chopped • 8 large eggs • 3/4 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper • 1/16 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1/2 teaspoon cumin • A few drops of hot sauce such as Cholula or Frank’s • 1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour Garnish: • 1 cob of corn, kernels shaved off • 1/2 pint cherry tomatoes, halved • 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chiffonade • 1 small shallot, thinly sliced • Kosher salt • Black pepper Instructions 1. Prepare a large sheet pan by covering with a clean kitchen towel, then layering a few pieces of paper towel on top. 2. If you have a food processor you can use it to do most of your chopping. Start with the shredding attachment. Cut off the ends of each zucchini and run the remaining sections through the processor to shred. Pour onto the prepared sheet pan, cover with paper towel, and set another sheet pan on
top. Rest something heavy on top to weigh it all down, such as soup cans. This will press out excess moisture as you prep other ingredients. Wipe out the food processor bowl and set aside for later use. If you don’t have a food processor, shred the zucchini using a box grater. 3. In a separate large saute pan, sweat diced onions in 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat until translucent. Stir often to prevent sticking and browning. 4. Change the shredding attachment on the food processor to the blade attachment. Add peeled garlic cloves and pulse until finely chopped. Scrape into a small dish, then add walnuts and pulse until crumbly. Transfer to another dish and wipe out the bowl. Tear off generous handfuls of parsley and cilantro and pulse until roughly chopped. Transfer to a third dish. Lastly, change back to shredding blade and shred the cheese. 5. Since basil bruises easily, I prefer to chop it by hand. Use a knife to finely chop the basil, add to the herbs. 6. Once onions are softened and translucent, add garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, then add zucchini. Season with salt and pepper, increase heat to medium-high and cook until juices have cooked out and zucchini is very tender, about 15 minutes. Continue to stir often. 7. While the zucchini cooks, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Pour 5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil into a 12” cast iron skillet. If you don’t have a cast iron skillet you can use a 9”x13” baking dish with 3 tablespoons of olive oil. 8. Once the zucchini is cooked, transfer back to a sheet pan lined with fresh paper towel to capture any remaining moisture. Wipe
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The finished dish with a corn and tomato salsa—yum! zucchini pan clean and set over low heat. Add walnuts and toast until fragrant, about 5-7 minutes, shaking pan often to prevent burning. Once toasted, transfer back to the dish to cool. 9. Crack eggs into a large bowl and whisk together with the cumin, cayenne, salt, pepper and a few dashes of hot sauce. 10. Once zucchini is cool, sprinkle with flour and baking powder. Transfer to the egg mixture and fold in the walnuts, herbs and shredded cheese just until everything is combined. Pour into prepared cast iron skillet and bake until mixture is set and top is golden brown, about 30-40 minutes. NOTE: You can prepare the batter up to one day in advance. Wait to stir in the flour and baking powder until just before pouring into the cast iron skillet. 11. Mix the garnish ingredients together and season with salt and pepper to taste.
12. Before cutting, allow zucchini bake to cool for about 5 minutes. To serve, cut the cheesy baked zucchini into wedges and transfer to plates. Top with the corn and tomato salsa and enjoy! Emily Wilson is Chef/Owner of Guest Chef, a personal chef and catering service in Metro Detroit. Guest Chef is the marriage of Emily’s prior work experiences, including seven years catering at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and four years developing recipes for CookingPlanit.com. Tying it all together, she now plans and caters events ranging from weeknight family meals to 5-course dinner parties. Contact Emily at Emily@GuestChefDetroit.com or learn more at www.GuestChefDetroit. com and Instagram/GuestChef_Det.
Fairy Garden “Make & Take” Workshop Sat, Sept 23, 11am-12pm Come in and build a beautiful garden any fairy would be thrilled to call home. Workshop fee: $25. Class size is limited, please call for reservations. Look for additional exclusive discounts for class participants.
4th Annual Pumpkin Day
Join us for a pumpkin decorating party on Sat, Oct 14, 11am-2pm We’ll supply pumpkins & decorating supplies—you supply imagination and enthusiasm. The result: a charming, spooky, or hilarious jack-o-lantern to take home. Pumpkins & decorations are free. Limit 1 per person. Look for specials on Halloween gifts and décor. Visit our website & Facebook page for details on these & other workshops.
110 S. MAIN • DOWNTOWN CHELSEA • 734-475-3539 • www.thegardenmill.com
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
through the lens Photographs from Michigan gardeners
Ann Marie Ciccarelli captured this photo of an apostle flower or passion flower—a plant more commonly seen down south.
Send Us Your Photos! 1. E-mail us 2 or 3 of your best garden photos. Be sure to e-mail the high-resolution file. 2. Please include your full name and a caption describing the scene and the plants. We are looking for photos of your garden, both wide-angle and plant close-ups. If your photo is published, we’ll give you a free one-year subscription to Michigan Gardener. E-mail your photos to: photos@MichiganGardener.com.
“This summer, bees and butterflies have been flocking to my coneflowers. A little late spring fertilizer and new mulch made these perennials come in stronger than ever.” —Roni Leibovich
“At the end of my garden I have this petunia ‘flower bed.’ I purchased the headboard and footboard at a garage sale.” —Sherry Flinders
Barb Leskinen snapped this photo of a heron sculpture among roses, hakone grass, astilbe, daylilies, coleus and monarda.
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2017 | Michigan Gardener
calendar
19
FALL IS FOR PLANTING!
It’s an excellent time to plant perennials, trees, shrubs & evergreens
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC GARDENS, please visit MichiganGardener.com. Click on "Resources" then "Public Gardens."
September / October / November / December
We continue to restock our outstanding selection with healthy & fresh plants! Our services include: Pick-up, delivery, installation, design & consultation
September Livonia Garden Club Meeting Tue, Sep 5, 6pm, Livonia. By Livonia Garden Club at Livonia Senior Ctr. Potluck dinner & presentation: Certifying your yard as a wildlife habitat with the NWF. Landscape Design Tue, Sep 5, By Capital Area Master Gardeners. $3. Learn the basics to good landscape design. mgacac.wordpress.com. H Flashlight Event Thu, Sep 7, thru Sat, Sep 9, 7:30-9:30pm, Troy. Bring a flashlight to this once a year sale. www.tellys.com. H Art in the Elements: A Plein Air Floral Exhibition Fri, Sep 8, 6-9pm; Sat, Sep 9, 10am-4pm; Sun, Sep 10, Noon-6pm, Bloomfield Hills. At Cranbrook Gardens. Discover living sculpture exhibits of fresh floral & botanicals. 248-645-3149. Smart Gardening Conference: Growing for the Future Sat, Sep 9, 9am-3:30pm, Clinton Twp. By Macomb County MG Association at Macomb Intermediate School District. $75. Conference focuses on vegetable gardens. Register. 586-469-6440, master.gardener@macombgov.org. H Late Summer Nature Hike Sat, Sep 9, 10:30am, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. $5. This 90-minute guided hike is family friendly. Please dress for the weather including long pants & hiking shoes. 517-431-2060. 21st Annual Daylily Sale Sat, Sep 9, 7am-Noon, Midland. By Central Michigan Daylily Society at Midland Farmers Market. Numerous great daylilies for sale. timnjenhes@aol.com. Heirloom Tomatoes Sat, Sep 9, & Sun, Sep 10, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Join us for a flavorful weekend focused on heirloom tomatoes. 616-957-1580, www.meijergardens.org. H Fall Lawn Care Sat, Sep 9, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Tips on keeping your lawn healthy through the winter. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Fall Container Gardening Workshop Sat, Sep 9, 10am, Troy. 1pm, Shelby. At Telly’s. $10 class fee, plus cost of materials. www.tellys.com, 248-689-8735. H Seasonal Interest in the Garden Sat, Sep 9, 10-11:30am, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. $18/person. Learn to increase seasonal interest in your garden. Register: 517-431-2060. Monarch Migration Festival Sun, Sep 10, 1-3pm, Ann Arbor. At Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. $7. Join us as we celebrate our annual Monarch Migration Festival. Register: 734-997-1553.
Hardy Plant Society Meeting Mon, Sep 11, 7pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Hardy Plant Society at Birmingham Congregational Church. Dennis Groh presents 25 Proven All-Star Plants for Southeast Michigan. Guest fee: $5. For more info: julia@juliasbiglife. com or visit us on Facebook. Terrariums: Tiny Worlds Under Glass Mon, Sep 11, 7-8pm, Royal Oak. By Royal Oak Garden Club at Royal Oak Public Library. Lisa Steinkopf presents. 248-398-4996. Spring Bulbs in Your Landscape Tue, Sep 12, 7-8:30pm, Howell. By Livingston County MG Association at MSUE Office. $3. Ann Tice provides info on little known bulbs, tips on planting & where to place them. 810-224-0640. MSU Tollgate Summer in the Garden Thu, Sep 14, 6:30-8:30, Novi. At MSU Tollgate Farm. $20. Nick Zimmer demonstrates how to plant successful & beautiful fall containers. Register: https://events.anr.msu.edu/evenings17sum/. Well-Behaved Perennials Thu, Sep 14, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club & Eckert’s Greenhouse at Kulick Community Center, 1201 Livernois. Guests welcome. 248-541-6427. H Wine & Design: Fall Dried Wreath Thu, Sep 14, 6pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. $35. Make a beautiful dried object wreath to hang on your door or in your house. Bring wine, friends & a pair of wire cutters. Register: 517-339-1142. MSU Tollgate Farm & Gardens Fall Plant Sale Sat, Sep 16, 9am-Noon, Novi. At MSU Tollgate Farm & Gardens. Shrubs, native seedlings, daylilies & native plants. Master Gardeners on hand. 248-347-3860 ext.251, www.tollgate.msu.edu. H Free In-store Seminar: Seasonal Container Garden Ideas Sat, Sep 16, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Freshen up your containers with new varieties of cold-tolerant annuals & perennials. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Exotic Plant Show & Sale Sat, Sep 16, & Sun, Sep 17, 10am-4pm, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. FREE. Large selection of cactus, succulents, & bromeliads, including air plants, will be on display. 248-380-7359. Dahlia Show Sat, Sep 16, & Sun, Sep 17, West Bloomfield. By SEMDS at Orchard Mall. Marvel at the variety of colors, shapes & sizes of dahlia flowers. 248-475-8945. SEMDS.org. continued on page 20
Promote your events! Send us your information! Website: Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Garden Event Calendar” E-Mail: calendar@MichiganGardener.com Upcoming Issues & Deadlines: Issue
Nov/Dec 2017 April 2018
Deadline October 15, 2017 March 15, 2018
Nursery & Garden Center 2781 Scio Church • Ann Arbor
734-665-TREE (8733) IMPROVE YOUR WORLD WITH HELP FROM OUR KNOWLEDGEABLE STAFF
Major Sponsor
Media Sponsor
Howell’s Sunday Farmers’ Market May 7 through October 29 9am-2pm Located in Downtown Howell at State and Clinton Streets, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse.
Over 60 booths • Weekly live entertainment In Partnership with
Take I-96 to exit 137. Go north to Grand River Avenue. Make a right one block to State Street. Hosted by the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce 517-546-3920
Ask For It at your local garden center
FARM COMPOST Topsoil & Mulch Bulk or bags.
Delivery available. Tuthill Farms & Composting 10505 Tuthill Rd., S. Lyon, MI 48178
734-449-8100 TuthillFarms.com
20
Michigan Gardener | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
Look for Allen Park • Ace Hardware Almont H American Tree Ann Arbor H Abbott’s Landscp Nurs • Ace Barnes Hardware (Washtenaw Ave) • Ace Barnes Hardware (West Stadium) • Dixboro General Store • Downtown Home & Gard H English Gardens H HillTop Greenhse & Farms • Larry’s Mower Shop H Lodi Farms H Matthaei Botanical Gard • The Produce Station H Turner’s Greenhse/ Gard Ctr • Wild Birds Unltd Auburn Hills • Ace Hardware • Drake’s Landscp & Nurs H Haley Stone H State Crushing Belleville • Banotai Greenhse H Pinter Flowerland H Zywicki Greenhse Berkley • Garden Central Beverly Hills • Ace Hardware Birmingham H Blossoms Brighton H Beauchamp Landscp Supp • Grasshopper Gardens • Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland Brownstown Twp • Raupp Bros Landscp Supp H Ruhlig Farms & Gard Canton • Canton Floral Gardens • Crimboli Nurs • Wild Birds Unltd Chelsea • Heim Gardens & Florist H The Garden Mill • The Potting Shed Chesterfield H Van Thomme’s Greenhses Clarkston • Ace Hardware (Dixie Hwy) • Ace Hardware (Sashabaw) • Backyard Oasis • Country Oaks Landscp Supp I • Lowrie’s Landscp • The Gateway • Weingartz Clawson • Ace Hardware Clinton Twp H English Gardens • Michigan Koi • MSU ExtensionMacomb Cty H Tropical Treasures
at these fine locations: Clio H Piechnik’s Greenhse Commerce Twp • Zoner’s Greenhse Davison H Wojo’s Garden Splendors Dearborn • Ace Hardware • Fairlane Gard Dearborn Hts H English Gardens Detroit • Cheryl English H Detroit Farm & Gard • Detroit Gard Ctr Dexter H Bloom! Gard Ctr • Dexter Mill • Earth Art H Fraleigh’s Nurs Eastpointe • Drew’s Garden H English Gardens Farmington • Alexander True Value Hardware Farmington Hills • Ace Hardware • Saxton’s Flower Ctr H Steinkopf Nurs • Weingartz Fenton • Gerych’s H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm Ferndale • Casual Modes Home & Gard Flushing H Flushing Lawn & Gard Ctr Fostoria H The Iron Barn Fowlerville H Arrowhead Alpines • Green-Up Gard Ctr Gladwin H Stone Cottage Gardens Grand Blanc H The Weed Lady Grand Rapids • Meijer Gardens Grosse Ile H Westcroft Gardens Grosse Pointe • Allemon’s Landscp Ctr • Meldrum & Smith Nurs Grosse Pointe Shores • Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Grosse Pointe Woods • Wild Birds Unltd Hadley • Le Fleur Décor Haslett H Van Atta’s Greenhse Highland • Ace Hardware • Colasanti’s Produce & Plants • Five Star Ace Hardware • Fragments H One Stop Landscp Supp • Thornton Nurs Howell H Howell Farmer’s Mkt H Specialty Growers H Superior Landscp Supp • Wilczewski Greenhses
Imlay City H Earthly Arts Keego Harbor • Creative Brick Paving Lake Orion • Ace Hardware H Lake Orion Lawn Ornaments H Orion Stone Depot H Wojo’s of Lake Orion Livonia • Ace Hardware (5 Mi/Middlebelt) • Ace Hardware (6 Mi/Newburgh) • Bushel Mart H George’s Livonia Gard • Superior Growers Supp • Valley Nurs Macomb • Ace Hardware • Altermatt’s Greenhse • Boyka’s Greenhse H Elya’s Village Gard • Joe Randazzo’s H Landscape Source • Olejnik Farms • Wild Birds Unltd Midland • Dow Gardens Milford • Ace Hardware • Peter’s True Value Hardware H The Pond Place Monroe • The Flower Market New Baltimore H Meldrum Bros Nurs New Boston H Grass Roots Nurs • Mums the Word New Hudson H Milarch Nurs North Branch H Campbell’s Greenhses H Oldani Landscp Nurs Northville • Begonia Bros • Gardenviews Novi • Ace Hardware • Glenda’s Gard Ctr • Tollgate Education Ctr - MSU • Wild Birds Unltd Oak Park • Ace Hardware • Four Seasons Gard Ctr Oakland H Piechnik’s Garden Gate Ortonville H Wojo’s Greenhse Owosso H Everlastings in the Wildwood Oxford • Oxford Farm & Gard Pinckney • Bock’s General Store & Gard Ctr Plymouth • Lucas Nurs H Plymouth Nurs • Plymouth Rock & Supp H Rock Shoppe • Sideways • Sparr’s Greenhse
Pontiac • Goldner Walsh Gard/Home • MSU ExtensionOakland Cty Ray • Heritage Oaks Redford H Pinter Flowerland • Seven Mi Gard Ctr Rochester • Allstate Home Leisure • Fogler’s Greenhse • Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr Rochester Hills • Ace Hardware H Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr H Haley Stone • Wild Birds Unltd Romulus H Kurtzhal’s Farms H Schoedel’s Nurs • Schwartz’s Greenhse Roseville • Dale’s Landscp Supp • Flower Barn Nurs Sea World Royal Oak • Ace Hardware • Billings Lawn Equip • Button’s Rent It H English Gardens • Frentz & Sons Hardware • La Roche • Manus Power Mowers • Wild Birds Unltd Saginaw H Abele Greenhse & Gard Ctr Salem Twp H Willow Greenhses Saline • Clink Landscp & Nurs • Junga’s Ace Hardware • Nature’s Gard Ctr H Saline Flowerland Shelby Twp • Ace Hardware • Diegel’s Greenhse • Flower Barn Nurs H Hessell’s Greenhses • Maeder Plant Farm • Potteryland H Telly’s Greenhse South Lyon • Ace Hardware • Hollow Oak Farm Nurs • Mike’s Garden • Stone Depot Landscp Supp Southfield • 3 DDD’s Stand • Eagle Landscp & Supply • Lavin’s Flower Land • Main’s Landscp Supp Southgate H Ray Hunter Gard Ctr St Clair Shores • Ace Hardware (Harper/13 Mi) • Circare • Greenhouse Growers • Hall’s Nurs • Soulliere Gard Ctr
Sterling Hts • Ace Hardware • Decor Statuette H Eckert’s Greenhse • Prime Landscp Supp Stockbridge • Gee Farms Sylvan Lake H AguaFina Gardens Interntl H Detroit Garden Works Taylor H Beautiful Ponds & Gard • D&L Garden Ctr • Massab Acres H Panetta’s Landscp Supp Trenton • Ace Hardware • Carefree Lawn Ctr • Keck Hardware Troy • Gramma’s Gardens H Telly’s Greenhse • The Home & Gard Shop H Uncle Luke’s Feed Store Utica • Stonescape Supp • Weingartz Warren H Beste’s Lawn & Patio • Garden Center Nurs • Greco’s Nurs • Young’s Garden Mart Washington • Landscape Direct • Miller’s Big Red Greenhse • Rocks ‘n’ Roots • United Plant Ctr Waterford • Ace Hardware • Breen’s Landscp Supp • Jacobsen’s Flowers H Merrittscape West Bloomfield • ACE Hardware H English Gardens • Whole Foods Westland • Ace Hardware H Barsons Greenhses • Bushel Stop • Joe Randazzo’s Nurs • Merlino’s Bushel Ctr • Panetta’s Landscp Supp White Lake H Bogie Lake Greenhse H Mulligan’s Gard Ctr • Sunshine Plants Whitmore Lake H Alexander’s Greenhses Williamston • Christian’s Greenhse Wixom • Angelo’s Landscp Supp • Brainer’s Greenhse Ypsilanti • Coleman’s Farm Mkt • Lucas Nurs • Margolis Nurs • Materials Unlimited • Michigan Greenscape Supp • Schmidt’s Antiques H Sell Farms & Greenhse
continued from page 19 H Fall Blooming Perennials Sat, Sep 16, 10am, Troy. 1pm, Shelby. At Telly’s. $10. www.tellys.com, 248-689-8735. H Bonsai Forest Workshop Sat, Sep 16, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $100. Learn the basics & care, then plant your own miniature forest with 5 young trees. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. H Make It & Take It Workshop: Fall Container Garden Sat, Sep 16, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. $49.99. www.EnglishGardens.com. H The Art of Bonsai Sun, Sep 17, 11am-4pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Bonsai show, art inspired by bonsai exhibit, learning sessions, & the Hidden Lake Gardens Bonsai Collection. $3 fee for show. www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu. Fireside Fun: A Good Old-fashioned Campfire Circle Sun, Sep 17, 6:30pm-8pm, Ann Arbor. At Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. FREE. Bring your family, camp chairs & s’mores fixings. We’ll provide a blazing outdoor campfire & marshmallows. H Fall Lake Fish Sales Deadline Thu, Sep 21, Milford. At Pond Place. Deadline to order: Sep 21. Pick-up date: Sep 23. 248-889-8400. www.pondplace.com. Wonders & Simplicity of Garlic Thu, Sep 21, 6:30-7:30pm, Mt. Clemens. At Mt. Clemens Public Library. $5. Learn the best varieties of garlic bulbs to plant, how & when to plant/harvest. Rhododendrons & Azaleas Fri, Sep 22, 10am, Rochester. By Meadow Brook Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. $5. Dennis Groh talks about botany & differences between Rhododendrons & evergreen & deciduous Azaleas. 248‑364‑6210. H Ornamental Grasses Sat, Sep 23, 10am, Troy. 1pm, Shelby. At Telly’s. $10. www.tellys.com. H Fairy Garden Make & Take Workshop Sat, Sep 23, 11am-Noon, Chelsea. At Garden Mill. $25. Build a beautiful garden any fairy would be thrilled to call home. Register: 734-475-3539. H Pond Winterization Sat, Sep 23, 10-11am, Milford. At The Pond Place. Learn to perform a fall pond clean-out, & winterize your pond, plants & fish. www.PondPlace.com. Free Fall Plant Exchange Sat, Sep 23, 9-11am, St. Clair Shores. By Yardeners at Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum parking lot. FREE. Load up your extra (labeled) plants & divisions. scsyardeners@gmail.com. H Free Seminar: Plant Fall Bulbs for Spring Sat, Sep 23, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. We’ll give you an overview of different bulbs & tips on proper planting techniques & care. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Algae & Weed Control for Large Earthen Bottom Ponds Sun, Sep 24, Noon-1pm, Milford. At The Pond Place. FREE. Workshop will focus on the methods of controlling algae in small lakes & large ponds. Register: www.PondPlace.com. How to Garden with Comfort, Ease & Simplicity Mon, Sep 25, 7pm, Birmingham. By Metro Detroit Hosta Society at First United Methodist Church. $3. Presented by Certified Landscape Designer Jan Bills. Hgold2843@comcast.net. Master Composter Series Begins Wed, Sep 27, 6-8:30, Ann Arbor. By Project Grow at Ann Arbor Pioneer High. $59. 7-class series. Register: 734-994-2300. Class schedule: www.projectgrowgardens.org. H Organic Gardening in the Fall Sat, Sep 30, 11am, Westland. By Malibu Compost at Barsons Greenhouse. www.barsons.com.
H Westcroft Gardens Halloween Hayrides Fri, Sep 29, Through Oct 30. Fri & Sat, 7-11pm & Sun, 7-10pm, Grosse Ile. $10/person. Family friendly hayride through 13 acres of decorated woods. Bonfire & snack after. 734-676-2444. H Adopt-A-Highway Sat, Sep 30, 9:30-11:30am, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Help the Friends of Hidden Lake Gardens keep our entryway clean of trash & debris. Age 12+. Meet in the Visitors Center. H Make It & Take It Workshop: Fall Herb Garden Sat, Sep 30, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. $24.99. We provide all the materials & info for you to create your own to take home. Sign up in-store or online. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Pruning 101 Sat, Sep 30, 11am, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. FREE. Pruning is an essential gardening skill. Learn the basics with our expert Paul Rodman. 734-284-2500. H Succulent Container Workshop Sat, Sep 30, 10am, Troy. 1pm, Shelby. At Telly’s Greenhouse. $50. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. H Free In-store Seminar: Indoor Herb Gardening Sat, Sep 30, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. We’ll give you tips on growing & using herbs throughout the winter. www.EnglishGardens.com. “Plants We Love” Educational Conference Sat, Sep 30, 8am-3:30pm, Flint. By MG Association of Genesee County at Mott Comm. College Event Ctr. $70. Presenters: Janet Macunovich (hydrangeas), Ric Adams (daylilies), Dr. David Michener (peonies) & Roman Kwarcinski (roses). http://fallintospring.weebly.com. H Pond Construction Sat, Sep 30, 1-3pm, Milford. At The Pond Place. FREE. Dress for mess. Hands-on experience building an 11’ x 16’ pond with a stream, waterfall & bog. www.pondplace.com. H Pond Winterization Sat, Sep 30, 10-11am, Milford. At The Pond Place. Learn to perform a Fall pond clean-out, & winterize your pond, plants & fish. www.PondPlace.com.
October H Welcome Fall Event Sun, Oct 1, 12-4pm, Haslett. At VanAtta’s. www.vanattas.com. Floral Designs for Fall Tue, Oct 3, 6:45pm, Livonia. By Livonia Garden Club at Livonia Senior Center. Master Flower Show judge Mary Pulick will use plant material from the garden to create beautiful designs. Environmental Stewardship Program Tue, Oct 3, East Lansing. By Capital Area Master Gardeners. $3. See how the program is involving the community with removing invasive plants & replacing with natives. mgacac.wordpress.com. Nature Tykes Preschool Program Wed, Oct 4, Wed in Oct, 9:45-11:15am, Ann Arbor. At Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. Ages 4-5 without caregiver. Kids will discover animal differences this month. www.lesliesnc.org. H African Violets, Display, Sale & Seminar Sat, Oct 7, 10am-4pm, Ann Arbor. By Michigan State African Violet Society at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. FREE. Keep houseplants in bloom all year long. LynnAllen0413@comcast.net. H How to Overwinter Dahlias Sat, Oct 7, 3-5pm, Troy. By SEMDS at Telly’s. Tour of nearby garden included. www.SEMDS.org. H 2016 Native Plant Sale Sat, Oct 7, 10am-4:30pm, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Featuring a selection of plants grown onsite. mbgna.umich.edu, 734-647-7600.
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2017 | Michigan Gardener
21
Precipitation July 2017
H A Fall Fête & Festival Sat, Oct 7, 9am-5pm & Sun, Oct 8, Noon-4pm, Sylvan Lake. At Detroit Garden Works. Come stroll through our pumpkin patch. Gourds, mums & branches also. 248-335-8089. H Indoor Miniature Gardening Workshop Sat, Oct 7, 10am, Troy. At Telly’s. $10. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. H Free In-store Seminar: Fall Gardening Tips Sat, Oct 7, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Learn what needs to be done this season to add color & keep the garden healthy. www.EnglishGardens.com. The Fit Gardener Mon, Oct 9, 12:30pm, Dearborn. By Garden Club of Dearborn at First Presbyterian Church. Injury prevention through exercise & appropriate methods to lift & move objects. 313-565-1266. Hardy Plant Society Meeting Mon, Oct 9, 7pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Hardy Plant Society at Birmingham Congregational Church. Guest fee: $5. For more info: julia@juliasbiglife.com or visit us on Facebook. Fall Finale in the Garden Tue, Oct 10, 7-8:30pm, Howell. By LCMG Association at MSU Extension, 2300 E. Grand River. $5. Julia Hofley shares plants that peak in fall & how to work them in. 810-224-0640. Autumn Jewels Thu, Oct 12, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Center, 1201 Livernois. Guests are welcome. 248-541-6427. H 4th Annual Pumpkin Day Sat, Oct 14, 11am-2pm, Chelsea. At Garden Mill. We’ll supply the pumpkins, you bring imagination & enthusiasm. www.thegardenmill.com, 734-475-3539. H Free Seminar: Putting Your Garden to Bed Sat, Oct 14, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Michigan’s harsh winters can wreak havoc on your garden if you’re not prepared. Learn what needs to be done. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Pond Winterization Sat, Oct 14, 10-11am, Milford. At The Pond Place. FREE. Learn to clean & winterize your pond. www.pondplace.com. Free Seminar: What is Lurking in My Garden Mon, Oct 16, 7pm, St. Clair Shores. By Yardeners at St. Clair Shores Library. Presented by Michelle Serreyn. Learn to identify some of these sneaky invaders & what to do about them. scsyardeners@gmail.com. H Wine & Design: Pumpkin Floral Arrangement Thu, Oct 19, 6pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. $35. Creat a fun arrangement inside a pumpkin. Bring scissors. Register: 517-339-1142.
to arrange fresh-cut flowers using the season’s best offerings. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Kid’s Event: Halloween Party Sat, Oct 28, 11:30am, All Locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Come dressed in your Halloween costume & bring a pre-decorated pumpkin for judging in our annual contest. www.EnglishGardens.com.
November Ergonomics while Gardening with Dr. Mehul Vaidya, DPT Tue, Nov 7, 6:45pm, Livonia. By Livonia Garden Club at Livonia Senior Ctr. Dr. Vaidya will share the ergonomics of peripheral joints during gardening. Gardening with Facebook Wed, Nov 8, 6:30-8:30pm, Mt. Clemens. At Mt. Clemens Public Library. $5. Bring a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. H Wine & Design: Evergreen Porch Pot Thu, Nov 9, 6pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. $35. Bring your own beer or wine & we’ll provide everything you’ll need to create a beautiful evergreen porch pot. Register: 517-339-1142. Blind Auction Thu, Nov 9, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Center, 1201 Livernois. Guests are welcome. 248-541-6427.
NORMAL Monthly 3.37 3.32 2.84
Detroit Flint Lansing
ACTUAL Monthly 2.44 2.72 2.70
DEVIATION from Normal -0.93 -0.60 -0.14
2017 Year to Date: Jan 1 - July 31
NORMAL Yr. to Date 19.43 17.38 17.86
Detroit Flint Lansing
ACTUAL Yr. to Date 21.39 21.81 23.51
NORMAL Yr. to Date 19.43 17.38 17.86
ACTUAL Yr. to Date 15.60 14.65 16.85
July 2017
July 2016 DEVIATION from Normal +0.7 +0.2 +1.9
ORMAL N Avg. High 83.4 82.0 82.1
ACTUAL Avg. High 86.8 88.2 84.6
DEVIATION from Normal +3.4 +6.2 +2.5
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Avg. Low 63.6 59.1 58.4
ACTUAL Avg. Low 64.7 59.5 62.4
DEVIATION from Normal +1.1 +0.4 +4.0
ORMAL N Avg. Low 63.6 59.1 58.4
ACTUAL Avg. Low 66.7 63.9 62.4
DEVIATION from Normal +3.1 +4.8 +4.0
Data courtesy National Weather Service
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H Fall Foliage Festival Sat, Oct 21, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. 517-431-2060.
Annual Holiday Greens Market Sat, Dec 2, 9am-4pm, Clarkston. By Clarkston Farm & Garden Club at Calvary Lutheran. Arrangements, wreaths, roping, swags, fresh greens & more. www.clarkstongardenclub.org.
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8th Annual Holiday Open House Sat, Dec 2, Detroit. At Black Cat Pottery. www.blackcatpottery.com.
where did you pick up mg?
H Free Seminar: Arranging Fall Flowers Sat, Oct 28, 10am, Clinton Twp., Dearborn Heights, Royal Oak & West Bloomfield. At English Gardens. FREE. How
H Wine & Design: Create a Holiday Centerpiece Thu, Dec 14, 6pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. $35. Bring snips, possibly gloves, wine & friends. Register: 517-339-1142.
18 issues (3 years) – $36 BEST VALUE
address
H Wine & Design: Hanging Grapevine Décor Thu, Dec 7, 6pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. $35. Bring wine, friends, pruners, gloves & we’ll provide a fun night of instruction. Register: 517-339-1142.
DEVIATION from Normal -3.83 -2.73 -1.01
ACTUAL Avg. High 84.1 82.2 84.0
H Evergreen Wreath Class Sat, Dec 2, 2pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. $35. Bring pruners, gloves & any additional wreath décor. We’ll provide greens, wreath frame, wire & instruction. Register: 517-339-1142.
The Cold Truth About Winter Injury Fri, Oct 27, 10am, Rochester. By Rochester Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. Bert Cregg presents “The Cold Truth About Winter Injury”. 248-364-6210, MBGCmembers@gmail.com.
2016 Year to Date: Jan 1 - July 31
DEVIATION from Normal +1.96 +4.43 +5.65
H Holiday Decorating Ideas Sat, Oct 21, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. The holidays are just around the corner. Start planning now. Learn about this season’s hottest colors & decorating trends. www.EnglishGardens.com.
Easy Garden Design Tue, Oct 24, 7pm, Trenton. By Moonglow Garden Club of Trenton at Trenton Theater. $5. Janet Macunovich will be speaking on “Easy Garden Design”. 734-281-6504.
DEVIATION from Normal -1.80 -1.57 0.51
NORMAL Avg. High 83.4 82.0 82.1
Hardy Plant Society Mon, Nov 13, 7pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Hardy Plant Society at Birmingham Congregational Church. Guest fee: $5. For more info: julia@juliasbiglife.com or visit us on Facebook.
December
ACTUAL Monthly 1.57 1.75 3.35
Monthly 3.37 3.32 2.84
Detroit Flint Lansing
Floral Design with Holiday Flair with Larry Kulpa Mon, Nov 13, 12:30pm, Dearborn. By Garden Club of Dearborn at First Presbyterian Church. English Gardens’ floral designer will demo arranging, along with theme & design. 313-565-1266.
H Holiday Open House Sat, Nov 18, & Sun, Nov 19, Noon-4pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. Music, food, sales. www.vanattas.com.
NORMAL
Temperature
H Wine & Design: Thanksgiving Centerpiece Sat, Nov 11, 6pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. $35. Bring your own beer or wine & we’ll provide everything you’ll need to create a beautiful centerpiece w/candle. Register: 517-339-1142.
H Night at the Greenhouse Thu, Nov 16, Noon-4pm, Meridian Twp. At VanAtta’s. www.vanattas.com.
July 2016
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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.
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H American Tree
ann arbor H Abbott’s Nurs & Garden Ctr 2781 Scio Church Rd., MI 48103 734-665-8733 www.abbottsnursery.com Downtown Home/Gard H English Gardens 155 N. Maple Rd, MI 48103 734-332-7900 www.EnglishGardens.com H HillTop Greenhse/Farms H Lodi Farms 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
brighton
Grand Oak Herb Farm
H Beauchamp Landscp Supp Bordine’s Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland
H Begick Nursery & Garden Ctr 5993 Westside Saginaw Rd., MI 48706 989-684-4210 www.begicknursery.com
belleville Banotai Greenhse Gardeners Choice H Pinter Flowerland H Zywicki Greenhse
berkley Garden Central
H Hallson Gardens 14280 US-127, MI 49233 517-592-9450 www.perennialnursery.com
chelsea H Garden Mill 110 S. Main St., MI 48118 734-475-3539 www.thegardenmill.com
H Van Thomme’s Greenhses
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brownstown twp Bruce’s Pond Shop Raupp Brothers Gard Ctr H Ruhlig Farms & Gard
burton H Walker Farms & Greenhouse 5253 E. Atherton Rd., MI 48519 810-743-0260 www.walkersfarm.com
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H Blossoms 33866 Woodward Ave, MI 48009 248-644-4411 www.blossomsbirmingham.com
Canton Floral Gardens Crimboli Nurs Wild Birds Unltd
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 H Tropical Treasures
clio H Piechnik’s Greenhouse & Garden Ctr 13172 McCumsey Rd, MI 48420 810-686-9211 www.cliogreenhouse.com
commerce twp Zoner’s Greenhse
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2017 | Michigan Gardener
davison H Wojo’s Gard Splendors 7360 E. Court St., MI 48423 810-658-9221 www.wojos.com
dearborn Fairlane Gardens
dearborn heights H English Gardens 22650 Ford Rd, MI 48127 313-278-4433 www.EnglishGardens.com
detroit H Detroit Farm and Garden 1759 21st St., MI 48216 313-655-2344 www.detroitfarmandgarden.com Eastern Market
dexter H Bloom! Gard Ctr 1885 Baker Rd., MI 48130 734-426-6600 www.bloom-gardens.com Dexter Mill 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 Drew’s Garden
farmington hills Angelo’s Landscp Supp Farmer John’s Greenhse Loeffler Stone Ctr H Steinkopf Nurs
fenton Gerych’s Flowers/Gift H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm 13730 White Lake Rd., MI 48430 810-629-9208 www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com
ferndale Casual Modes Home/Gard
flat rock Masserant’s Feed Store
flushing H Flushing Lawn & Garden Ctr 114 Terrace St., MI 48433 810-659-6241 www.unclelukes.com
fowlerville H Arrowhead Alpines
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
grosse ile H Westcroft Gardens 21803 West River Rd., MI 48138 734-676-2444 www.westcroftgardens.com
grosse pointe Allemon’s Landscp Ctr Meldrum & Smith Nurs
grosse pointe woods Wild Birds Unltd
hadley Le Fleur Décor
hartland Deneweth’s Garden Ctr
haslett 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 H Howell Farmer’s Mkt Downtown Howell @ State & Clinton 517-546-3920 www.howell.org/19.html Penrose Nurs H Specialty Growers 4330 Golf Club Rd., MI 48843 517-546-7742 www.specialtygrowers.net H Superior Landscape Supplies 4805 Musson Rd., MI 48855 517-548-2068 Wilczewski Greenhses
imlay city H Earthly Arts Greenhse
jackson The Hobbit Place
lake orion H Lake Orion Lawn Orn H Orion Stone Depot H Wojo’s of Lake Orion 559 S. Lapeer Rd, MI 48362 248-690-7435 www.wojos.com
lansing Lansing Gardens
lapeer H The Iron Barn
lasalle
mason
rochester
sylvan lake
williamston
Gilling’s Nurs
rochester hills
H AguaFina Gardens International 2629 Orchard Lake Rd., MI 48320 248-738-0500 www.aguafina.com
Christian’s Greenhse
metamora
Fogler’s Greenhse Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr
Wildtype Nurs
milford Milford Gardens H The Pond Place
monroe The Flower Market
new baltimore
Bordine’s
H Meldrum Bros Nurs
H Haley Stone 3975 S. Rochester Rd., MI 48307 248-852-5511 www.haleystone.net
new boston H Grass Roots Nurs Mums the Word
new hudson
Wild Birds Unltd
H Milarch Nurs 28500 Haas Rd., MI 48165 248-437-2094 www.milarchnursery.com
romulus
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
northville Begonia Brothers Gardenviews H Willow Greenhouses
novi Glenda’s Gard Ctr Wild Birds Unltd
oak park Four Seasons Gard Ctr
oakland H Piechnik’s Garden Gate 1095 N. Rochester Rd., MI 48363 586-336-7200 www.cliogreenhouse.com
ortonville Country Oaks Landscp II H Wojo’s Greenhse 2570 Oakwood Rd., MI 48462 248-627-6498 www.wojos.com
owosso H Everlastings in Wildwood
oxford Candy Cane Xmas Trees Oxford Farm/Gard
Fowler’s Gift Shop
plymouth
lennon
Graye’s Greenhse Lucas Nurs
Krupps Novelty Shop
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
manchester McLennan Nurs
H Auburn Oaks Garden Ctr 3820 West Auburn Rd, MI 48309 248-852-2310 www.auburnoaksnursery.com
H Plymouth Nursery 9900 Ann Arbor Rd W, MI 48170 734-453-5500 www.plymouthnursery.net Plymouth Rock & Supp H Rock Shoppe on Gotfredson 6275 Gotfredson, MI 48170 734-455-5560 www.rock-shoppe.com Sparr’s Greenhse
pontiac Goldner Walsh Gard/Home
Block’s Stand/Greenhse H Kurtzhals’ Farms H Schoedel’s Nurs Schwartz’s Greenhouse
roseville Dale’s Landscp Supp Flower Barn Nurs Sea World
royal oak Billings Lawn Equip Button’s Rent-It 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 Diegel Greenhses Flower Barn Nurs H Hessell’s Greenhouse 14497 23 Mile Rd., MI 48315 586-247-4675 www.hessellsgreenhouse.com Maeder Plant Farm Potteryland 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 Eagle Landscp/Supp Lavin’s Flower Land Main’s Landscp Supp
southgate H Ray Hunter Gard Ctr
st clair shores Greenhouse Growers Hall’s Nurs Soulliere Gard Ctr
sterling heights Decor Statuette
Heritage Oaks Van’s Valley Greenhse
H Eckert’s Greenhouse 34051 Ryan Rd., MI 48310 586-264-5678 www.eckertsgreenhouse.com
redford
Prime Landscp Supp
ray
H Pinter Flowerland Seven Mi Gard Ctr
stockbridge Gee Farms
H Detroit Garden Works 1794 Pontiac Dr., MI 48320 248-335-8089 www.detroitgardenworks.com
taylor H Beautiful Ponds & Gardens 20379 Ecorse, MI 48180 313-383-8653 www.skippysstuff.com D&L Garden Ctr Massab Acres H Panetta’s Landscp Supp
tecumseh 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
walled lake H Suburban Landscp Supp
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
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
clinton twp Tomlinson Arboretum
dearborn Arjay Miller Arboretum @ Ford World HQ Henry Ford Estate
detroit
warren
Anna S Whitcomb Conservtry
H Beste’s Lawn/Patio Supp Garden Ctr Nurs Young’s Garden Mart
dryden Seven Ponds Nature Ctr
washington
H MSU Horticulture Gardens W.J. Beal Botanical Gard
Landscp Direct Miller’s Big Red Greenhse Rocks ‘n’ Roots United Plant Ctr
waterford Breen’s Landscp Supp Hoffman Nurs H Merrittscape 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
white lake H Bogie Lake Greenhouses 1525 Bogie Lake Rd., MI 48383 248-887-5101 www.bogielakegreenhouses.com H Mulligan’s Landscp & Gard Ctr 8215 Elizabeth Lake Rd., MI 48386 248-698-4741 www.mulliganlandscaping.com Sunshine Plants
whitmore lake H Alexander’s Greenhses
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east lansing emmett H Sunny Fields Botanical Park 5444 Welch Rd., MI 48022 810-387-2765 www.visitsunnyfields.org
flint Applewood
grand rapids Frederik Meijer Gardens
grosse pointe shores Edsel & Eleanor Ford Hse
lansing Cooley Gardens
midland Dahlia Hill Dow Gardens
novi Tollgate Education Ctr
royal oak Detroit Zoo
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 | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
Inspired couple build their dream garden Brenda and Jim Plutter tackled both a home and garden renovation— with beautiful results
W
hen entering Jim and Brenda Plutter’s garden in Macomb County, the fact that it is only three years old would not occur to you. Lucky for them, the way it looked when they bought the house may have scared other interested buyers away. The house, so I’m told, wasn’t much better. After two years of renovation, however, the results are nothing short of miraculous—inside and out. Brenda saw what it could be. She had a vision for both the house and garden. She has been gardening since she was young, starting with houseplants. Her mother even had a neighbor make a shelf for her bedroom window to hold more. Much of her inspiration now comes from the places in the world Lisa Steinkopf she and Jim have traveled. She takes pictures of gardens she sees and especially wished for a fountain that looked old world. Jim wasn’t as convinced of the final outcome, but trusted that Brenda could see it. There was a large, murky pond covering half of the backyard. That, combined with the overgrown trees, shrubs, and weeds covering the remainder of the property, was daunting, to say the least. So, they got to work inside and out. Every room in the house was renovated, as well as additions put on. Outside, the pond was filled in, but the pieces of slate surrounding the pond were kept and repurposed as the paths throughout the garden. The derelict picket fence surrounding the yard was removed. Brenda brought many of the plants from her previous garden. They were warehoused in the yard until the renovations were finished and they could be placed where she
P H OTO G R A P H S BY L I S A S T E I N KO P F
The entrance to the custom-built potting shed is framed with a vine-covered arch and the window box is overflowing with red impatiens. wanted them. The ‘New Dawn’ climbing rose on the trellis has been moved to four gardens. The silver lace vine in the front of the house was actually dug up and moved while growing on the trellis. Not an easy undertaking. The bridal wreath spirea is from her grandmother’s garden and has been moved to five houses since she received it. The maple trees in the back were existing and two large evergreens were planted for extra privacy. The garden beds were built around the yard and are often being changed; plants are added and removed if needed. Brenda says she isn’t afraid to move things if they aren’t where she likes them.
Garden features that were kept One of the two redeeming features that came with the garden is the large pergola with a swing inside. The lattice had to be replaced and then Brenda planted one side with wisteria, the other with trumpet vine (Campsis radicans). The trumpet vine is going to be removed, as it is too hard to control. The wis-
The arbor and swing are one of the features that was kept and refurbished when the Plutters purchased the property. Wisteria blooms cover it in the spring. The trumpet vine on the left will be removed.
The side of the carriage house and potting shed has a walk built from slate that surrounded a former pond on the property.
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2017 | Michigan Gardener
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This shelf in the potting shed is made from a recycled window shutter. Notice the basket of sunscreen and sunglasses. Always prepared!
Brenda Plutter sits on her antique cast iron tree ring seat that she has planted to look like it has a fountain in the middle.
The fountain is the focal point in the lawn, surrounded by Knock Out roses and boxwood.
teria will then be allowed to cover the entire pergola. Imagine swinging in that on a sultry afternoon with the scent of the wisteria surrounding you. The second feature is the carriage house, complete with an add-on that Brenda has turned into a potting shed. The inside is darling. This would be my idea of a “tiny house”! They ran water lines to the shed so she can have a sink to water newly potted plants and wash up after she’s done gardening. The sink is an antique gray enamel she found on one of her many antiquing excursions. The ceiling is covered with beautiful pine flooring salvaged from a remodeled bedroom in the house. The potting shed is the perfect place to showcase the many garden antiques Brenda has collected, including a number of watering cans. The antique cupboards are great places to hide garden soil, pots, and tools for the gar-
den. The carriage house is eventually going to be remodeled into a garden sitting room, but for now is a work space for Brenda to repurpose and paint pieces of furniture.
Garden focal points The focal point of the garden is the five-tier fountain surrounded by a ring of Knock Out roses and a formal hedge of boxwood. They found it at a garden center’s big sale, but there was a catch: it was the middle of January. Jim couldn’t believe he was picking up a fountain in the dead of winter. But remember, Brenda had a vision and it included a gorgeous fountain. They had electricity installed in the garden so the fountain could be placed in the middle of the lawn. I asked how they take care of the cement fountain in the winter. continued on next page
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
This small greenhouse is made from antique windows. They added legs to keep it up off the ground to prevent the wood from rotting. It is the home to an adorable fairy garden.
This antique gray enamel sink in the potting shed is perfect for watering plants and cleaning up after gardening. The box underneath holds pots and wine bottles for the Plant Nannys she uses to water her containers when she is away. continued from previous page It would be almost impossible to move it in and out every fall and spring. She told me the garden center recommended they pack each bowl with burlap, in lieu of covering with a tarp or plastic. They have done that and have had no problems with leaving it in the yard, even in our Michigan winters. Good to know! Another focal point is a large “terrarium” made of antique windows. Jim added legs to the bottom so it wouldn’t be sitting directly on the ground. This will help preserve it from rotting. Brenda added the “gingerbread” to fit in with the style of the house. It holds a fairy garden and Brenda has used cookie jars shaped like houses for the fairy homes. They are planted with green roofs.
The birdbath on the brick patio is filled with succulents, but not before Brenda drilled holes in it for drainage. The cement repurposed fountain piece in the middle is planted with fiber optic grass, which looks like tiny sprays of water. The wooden privacy fence was a bit too plain for Brenda. She had seen some beautiful espalier in California and decided she would copy it on her privacy fence. The English ivy will grow up the wires and with some training and trimming she will eventually have diamonds of ivy to cover the plain boards. She also added a window with mirrored glass to give the illusion of a window in the fence. What a great way to add dimension to the garden! A good practice Brenda is implementing in
An antique kitchen cupboard is perfect to store pots and fertilizer out of sight.
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2017 | Michigan Gardener
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The back patio is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the garden. The Japanese maple was in the yard originally and moved to this spot behind the sunroom. her garden is using Plant Nanny wine bottle stakes in her containers when she is going to be gone for a few days. These are clay spikes that hold an upside down wine bottle filled with water. The water seeps through the clay spike and into the soil, keeping the containers well hydrated. She finds that they work very well. I think my favorite part of the garden (other than the amazing potting shed) is the birdbath planted with streptocarpella (an African violet relative) and alyssum. Its focal point is a statue of a little boy riding a fish. The flowers emulate water and waves. The fish, which at one time was either a fountain piece or a spitter, has a string of blue beads coming from its mouth, like it is spouting water. Gray artemesia is planted around the base of the birdbath
The repurposed birdbath, replete with drainage holes, resembles a fountain thanks to the fiber optic grass cascading over the top.
The little boy riding a fish is planted with flowers to resemble water and waves. On the ground, the scene is surrounded with gray artemisia to add to the illusion of water, including blue glass balls for bubbles.
to look like waves and the three decorative balls are bubbles. The statue was seen at an antique market, where a widower was selling all his wife’s garden things. Brenda didn’t buy it the first time she saw it, but couldn’t get it out of her mind. She went back the next week and it was still available—it was meant to be! Brenda and Jim have not only beautifully restored their home, but have made a lovely garden to compliment the house and the time period in which it was built. It is truly a labor of love for Brenda and it shows. She looks forward to continually adding to the garden and watching it mature. 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 734-7481241). Follow her on Facebook (Facebook.com/ HouseplantGuru), Twitter (@houseplantguru), and Instagram (houseplantguru).
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
Autumn Charm continued from back cover The Canadian introduction ‘Autumn Fire’ is touted as supposedly brighter in color than ‘Autumn Joy’ (I haven’t noticed too much difference) and sturdier, with a more erect habit. Two variegated forms of these excellent mainstream sedums are Autumn Charm (aka ‘Lajos’), which is a variegated form of ‘Autumn Joy’ and the new ‘Frosted Fire,’ a variegated sport of ‘Autumn Fire.’ These variegated sedums provide great color contrast in the garden, particularly during the early part of the year when the focus of attention is on their foliage rather than flowers.
Colorful foliage Many upright sedums have ornamental foliage that serves as an all-season decorative feature. Many of the purple-foliage varieties have S. telephium parentage. The common name purple orpine, though rarely used, alludes to its chief characteristic. Early S. telephium hybrids, sometimes intensely purple in foliage and with attractive dark rose-red flowers, were prone to flopping in the garden. Many were also prone to crown and root rots when grown in less than ideally
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
‘Matrona’ in July.
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
‘Matrona’ in September.
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2017 | Michigan Gardener
www.PerennialResource.com
‘Over the Moon’
drained soils, or even in high rainfall areas like Michigan. Bringing together the genetics from S. spectabile and S. telephium yielded hybrids with better garden performance. ‘Matrona’ continues to be very popular. It has very thick gray-green foliage that matures to purple as the season progresses. The variety ‘Maestro’ is a sport of ‘Matrona’ and is considered an improvement by virtue of its darker foliage and better-colored flowers. It has an imposing presence in the garden at 28 to 30 inches tall. A couple of brand new, purple-foliage sedums to watch for are ‘Night Embers,’ which has super-dark foliage and attractive rose flowers. It has an upright, vase-shaped habit, reaching 24 to 26 inches tall, and reportedly does not flop. ‘Over the Moon’ has foliage that emerges grayish green and changes over the summer to brownish-purple. It has a unique flower color that sets it apart from many others in this group—the creamy yellow heads transition to peachy rose. It’s a somewhat shorter variety, growing about 16 inches tall. The yellow flower color is unusual in upright sedums, and gardeners are always looking for something different. Also, check out ‘Lemon-
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jade,’ whose 5- to 7-inch wide masses of citron yellow flowers cover the tops of the compact 18-inch plants. A new successful trend in upright sedums is the development of a massing habit that is midway between a groundcover and an upright specimen. Good examples can be seen in ‘Pure Joy,’ and the brand new ‘Popstar’ and ‘Superstar’ varieties. The plants grow in an upright but mounded fashion, to about 10 to 12 inches in height, and literally carpet themselves in flowers in late summer. The effect is simply stunning. Hybridization using some of the low-growing sedums (most likely S. cauticola and S. sieboldii) has imparted these cultivars with beautiful teal-colored foliage that is attractive well before the flowers appear.
How to grow sedums Gardeners certainly do not need to know the genetics of their sedums to appreciate them, and breeders often do not even list the parentage of their creations. In the brave new world of sedums, there is a stonecrop for nearly every garden use—as long as a few key cultural conditions are met. continued on next page
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
‘Maestro’ in August.
www.PerennialResource.com
‘Night Embers’
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
‘Maestro’ in September.
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
www.PerennialResource.com
‘Lemonjade’
www.PerennialResource.com
‘Popstar’
www.PerennialResource.com
‘Superstar’ has steely blue leaves with a smoky gray overlay (left). Later in the season, hot pink flowers cover this intermediate-sized groundcover (right). continued from previous page Sun—the more the better—is essential. Six to eight hours of sun per day will allow these plants to develop the best foliage color, the maximum flower potential, and compact, tidy, non-flopping growth habits. They can be grown in less than full sun, but expect to compromise on their best qualities. Well-drained soil, preferably sand-based, is best, although many of the toughest varieties like ‘Autumn Joy’ can be grown in clay soils
as long as they do not stay overly wet. Avoid adding peat moss as a soil amendment. Sedums do not need the extra moisture-retention that it provides. Plus, some soil-borne insects proliferate in peat-based soils: the larvae of fungus gnats and the dreaded black vine weevil can cause root and crown damage. Although sedums are known to be tolerant of poor, sandy soils, they do appreciate a bit of slow-release fertilizer in springtime each year. I’ve seen too many stunted, bleachedout ‘Autumn Joy’ plants struggling from ne-
glect. They’ll easily be brought to full potential with a modest fertilizer regimen. Allow good air circulation between plants to avoid problems with powdery mildew, which may look quite different on sedum than it does on perennials such as phlox and bee balm. Look for lesions that may be either depressed or raised, and adjust watering schedules to keep the foliage as dry as possible. In terms of companions, upright sedums look fantastic when paired with ornamental
grasses, asters, gaura, plumbago, chrysanthemums, and Japanese anemones. Editor’s note: Part 1 of “Sedum” (low, groundcover sedums) appeared in the July/August 2017 issue of Michigan Gardener. To read that article, go to MichiganGardener.com and click on Digital Edition, where you can find July/ August 2017 as well as other archived issues. Karen Bovio is the owner of Specialty Growers in Howell, MI.
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| September/October 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
Sedum
Part 2 of 2: Tall, upright sedums In this second article on sedums, we’ll explore the taller, upright-growing sedums. Although taller than the groundcover types discussed in the first article (July/August 2017), most of them only grow to 15 to 28 inches, which is not particularly tall by horticultural standards.
Changes in names The huge genus Sedum has recently been split up by taxonomists into several new genera, which affects many of our most popular upright-growing sedums. Hylotelephium is now the correct genus for popular cultivars like ‘Autumn Joy’ and ‘Matrona,’ while Sedum stays with most of the low-growing types. Since gardeners now use the genus name Sedum interchangeably with the common name stonecrop, I doubt that Hylotelephium will enKaren ter gardeners’ parlance Bovio any time soon. But these changes are worth noting because plant tags and catalogs are starting to list our favorite sedums under the newer genus name, so we might as well get used to it. The taller upright sedums are usually members of, or hybrids between, three species: Hylotelephium spectabile, commonly referred to as showy stonecrop, Hylotelephium telephium, called purple orpine, and Hylotelephium erythrostictum, which was formerly known by the more pleasing name Sedum alboroseum. Hybridization efforts, and the resultant recombination of the best genes from these species, have given us the amazingly diverse group of cultivars we know and grow in our gardens.
Older hybrids of merit Many sedum varieties have a long history of use and are still popular today. The showy stonecrop of my childhood (a row of them grew along a narrow concrete walkway at my family’s Chicago apartment building) gave rise
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
The broccoli-like green buds on ‘Autumn Joy’ are as attractive as its fully open, coral-pink flowers.
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
‘Autumn Fire’ to the older but still popular cultivars ‘Brilliant’ and ‘Carmen,’ which, upon some genetic improvement, gave us the brighter colored ‘Neon.’ ‘Autumn Joy’ was a fortuitous result of a cross of then Sedum spectabile and Sedum telephium. This cultivar is now deemed to be
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
‘Brilliant’ not only one of the best sedums available but one of the best perennials ever introduced. Growing about 18 to 24 inches tall, with graygreen toothed foliage, its broccoli-like green buds are as attractive as its fully open coralpink flowers. The show continues as the flow-
ers age to copper, finally becoming chocolate brown and persisting through the winter. It is a plant that has year-round ornamental value and has passed the test of time. continued on page 28