The Gateway Gardener April 2021 by The Gateway Gardener

Gateway Gardener

APRIL 2021

THE

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

BIG & small

Options for Every Garden

Spring 2021 Flowering Trees 2021 Eco-Product Guide Have FUN with Vegetable Varieties

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Gateway Gardener THE

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

APRIL 2021

Volume 17, Number 2

Founded in 2005 by Joyce Bruno & Robert Weaver Publisher and Editor Robert Weaver Columnists Diane Brueckman Rosey Acres Abby Lapides Sugar Creek Gardens Steffie Littlefield Edg-Clif Winery Jennifer Schamber Greenscape Gardens Scott Woodbury Shaw Nature Reserve

Printing: Breese Publishing, Breese, IL The Gateway Gardener® is published 9 times/year by Double Dig Communications, Inc. to promote enjoyable, successful gardening and livable landscapes in the St. Louis greater metropolitan area. The magazine is distributed free to the public at designated garden centers, nurseries, garden gift shops, lawn equipment rental, repair and sales establishments, and other locations supporting sound gardening, lawn and landscaping practices. Please send letters-to-the-editor, questions, event announcements, editorial suggestions and contributions, photos, advertising inquiries and materials, and any other correspondence to: The Gateway Gardener Magazine® PO Box 220853 St. Louis, MO 63122 Phone: (314) 968-3740

info@gatewaygardener.com www.gatewaygardener.com The Gateway Gardener® is printed on recycled newsprint using environmentally friendly soy-based ink, and is a member of the PurePower® renewable energy resources network.

From the Editor

’m sure I’m not alone in admitting that I have never craved spring more so than I have this year. Cooped up, locked down, squirrelled away in the house for the last year—and especially the dark, cold winter months—I found myself seeking out the earliest, smallest hints that spring might be inching its way to us. After years of living among the same landscape and plants, the order was predictable. I knew exactly where to look for each, and visited expectantly weeks in advance. First to come were the witch hazels. Then, like a ball rolling downhill, the signs started to pick up the pace. Following the witch hazels came the hellebores, then the spring bulbs—the crocus, daffodils, scilla. As I write this, late March opens the floodgates, and the harbingers come too fast and numerous to stay ahead of. Now I find myself wishing spring would tap the breaks a bit. It all goes too fast. Spring has sprung!

The grandest of the spring performers are the flowering trees. I love my natives, the flowering dogwoods, redbuds, serviceberries, sassafras and paw paw, but also have room in my heart and garden for a couple exotic crabapples and cherries. They’re older specimens, but the tree experts are always busy coming up with new colors, new sizes, new shapes and with

For the second straight year, we’ll miss the traditional outdoor celebrations enjoyed in the past, but can still apply the principles to be more responsible gardeners and residents of the Big Blue Marble. Toward that end, we offer our 2021 version of our annual Eco Garden Products Guide (page 20), with products suggested by our retail gardening friends to help us live more sustainable lives.

less messiness and better diseaseresistance. Jennifer Schamber introduces us to some of her new favorites on page 8.

Plant breeders are also forever busy developing new choices in the shrub and perennial categories. Especially useful for the 21st century, as landscapes become dearer and smaller in the suburbs or people return to city living’s tighter boundaries, are plants that are scaled down versions of older favorites. Abby Lapides explores options in this realm, providing examples of newer more diminutive versions of some classics, on page 4.

Also with an eye toward Earth Day, guest writer Lynne Greene takes a look at landscape lighting (page 22), which many homeowners employ for security and esthetic reasons. Unfortunately, it can have negative effects on both wildlife and humans. Lynne applies a thoughtful look at the subject, and offers some positive ways homeowners can enjoy the beauty and security advantages of landscape lighting, while reducing its negative impact on the environment. Happy Earth Day, happy spring, and…

Good Gardening!

April, aside from being a season of renewal in the garden, is also the month we choose to celebrate recycling, restoring, re-using and other sustainable practices in conjunction with Earth Day.

On the Cover... Ever long for a plant, but it just doesn’t fit your garden space? Well, breeders are always busy developing new versions, such as this minihydrangea ‘Firelight Tidbit’, that are small enough for almost any spot! Check them out on page 4. (photo courtesy Proven Winners)

IN THIS ISSUE 4 Big and Small 8 2021 Spring Flowering Trees 12 Spring in the Rose Garden 14 Old, Resilient Ozark Natives 16 Fun Vegetable Varieties 18 St. Louis Hort History: Quiet Village Landscaping 19 Upcoming Events 20 Eco-Products for 2021 22 Lighting for Night--and Life

BIG & small By Abby Lapides

Hydrangea ‘Firelight Tidbit’

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ust like the standard and the teacup poodle, we like some of our plants big and we like some of them small. Explore these beauties that come in contrasting sizes.

With its whopping 7” diameter flowers ‘Betsy’ Shasta daisy’s flowers are the largest of all daisies! White petals surround sunny yellow centers on plants that reach up to 2’ tall. While ‘Betsy’ stuns with its mammoth flowers and form, ‘Carpet Angel Daisy’ wows but on a smaller scale. The first-ever ground cover Shasta daisy, ‘Carpet Angel Daisy’ grows only 8” tall, but can spread almost to 2’. Adorable white pom-pom flowers top this tiny plant in summer.

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The Genus Thalictrum is home to many interesting and underutilized plants. The completely adorable Missouri native rue anemone, Thalictrum thalicroides grows about 6-8” tall and wide and forms into a small sweet thicket under trees. On the opposite spectrum, Giant Meadow Rue, Thalictrum rochebrunianum, can grow upwards of 6-7’ tall. In summer masses of small purple flowers top this tall plant, looking like a purple cloud. Cousin to columbine, Thalictrum’s frilly delicate leaves thrive in welldrained soils and part shade. Offering big color for shade the ruby red plumes on ‘Mighty Chocolate Cherry’ Astilbe make a bold statement. Growing almost 4’ tall, ‘Mighty Chocolate Cherry’ is one of the tallest astilbes in the world! Lacy olive green leaves form into tight clumps under the giant plumes. If you’re looking for a more petite display, ‘Pumila’ is a perfect astilbe for the front of the shade garden growing only 10” tall when in bloom. Slowly forming colonies via rhizomes the foliage on ‘Pumila’ grows into a dense weed-smothering

Giant Meadow Rue

Rue Anemone

Astilbe ‘Mighty Chocolate Cherry’

Abby Lapides is owner and a speaker at Sugar Creek Gardens Nursery. She has degrees from the University of Missouri, and is a member of the Landscape and Nursery Association of Greater St. Louis. You can reach her at (314) 965-3070.

cont’d on next page

the trailblazer REBECCA HANKINS

“ You cannot love what you cannot name” is a motto that Rebecca Hankins follows on her journey to a deeper understanding of environmental and social justice issues. In learning names of plants, and subsequently issues facing our industry, Hankins’ passion grew. How would you describe your experiential journey into the plant world? I worked for an outdoor recreation company for 16 years. Still, reading The Last Child in the Woods shook me out of my sense of complacency, and left me with a sense of urgency. Is there a project that defines or describes you? The Social Justice in Horticulture Conference last March. About nine months prior I had begun having conversations with alumni of the Horticulture Program at STLCC Meramec about the lack of diversity in horticulture, which led to us forming the Coalition for Equity and Inclusion in Horticulture. Other professionals in the industry felt the same way and were supportive. At the time, I was President of the Botanical Society on campus. With sponsorship from the Earthways Center — the Shaw Series, USGBC, and other local organizations — we hosted the well-attended conference. I’m grateful to the program for creating such a welcoming and supportive environment for such a huge undertaking. Where do you find yourself now? I’ve started a position as Partnership Coordinator at Forest ReLeaf. This position is brand new and seeks to build diverse partnerships within the region as we plant trees and enrich communities. Honestly, I feel like everything I have done the last three years has been leading to this moment. I’m so excited to see where it leads me personally, the organization and the region in terms of environmental justice. Where do you look for balance on difficult days? My backyard. Do you notice how nature never looks cluttered? Not ever? Life theme song? “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. It’s what we’re each striving for, enjoying this beautiful world.

APRIL 2021

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cont’d from previous page

diameter and its massive corrugated leaves dwarf most other plants in the garden. Beebalms are some of the most sought-after and delightful flowering perennials. Their charming firework-like flowers attract many butterflies and hummingbirds. The flaming red flowers on ‘Jacob Klein’ are a long-time favorite. But ‘Jacob Klein’ can become a little unwieldy in the garden. Not only is it tall, growing 3-4’ tall, it can sometimes bully out other plants as well. Recently smaller and much better behaved varieties have been introduced, and ‘Cherry Pops’ takes the cake. Growing only 20” tall and about the same width, this well-contained beauty fits well into any mixed garden.

A comparison of Shasta daisy ‘Betsy’ in the background, and ‘Carpet Angel Daisy’ in the foreground. mat. Named after the one of the largest animals on the planet and one of the smallest, the hostas ‘Humpback Whale’ and ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ both feature thick blue-green leaves and thrive in the shade garden. That’s about where their similarities end. ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ forms into a dense groundcover of rounded leaves with purple flowers in the summer on small scapes. Growing 8” and 12” wide ‘Blue Mouse Ears’ thrives in the front of the garden or tucked between rocks. ‘Humpback Whale,’ on the other hand, can spread up to 8’ in

A personal favorite ‘Zinfin Doll’ panicle hydrangea features plump cones that change from bright white to cherry pink. This large shrub, growing about 5-6’ tall and wide, is a perfect backdrop plant for the garden. Packing the same punches of flower power but in a teeny package is ‘Firelight Tidbit’. Growing only about 3’ tall and wide, it easily fits in the garden or a container. Panicle hydrangeas are versatile showy shrubs perfect for hedges, focal points, cutting gardens and privacy walls. When designing a garden it is always recommended to repeat colors and textures throughout. Using similar plants but with different sizes is an easy way to get the job done. Photo credits: Hydrangea ‘Firelight Tidbit’ courtesy Proven Winners; Astilbe ‘Mighty Chocolate Cherry’ courtesy De Vroomen Garden Products; Leucanthemum ‘Carpet Angel’ Daisy courtesy Growing Colors; all others by Ann Lapides.

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Iconic Trees of Spring:Top Picks for 2021

fter a long, chilly winter, there’s nothing that gets gardeners more motivated to plant than the flowers of spring. The first bulbs grace us with their presence in March, followed by a progression of color

by Jennifer Schamber

throughout the entire month of April. A true feeling of relief seems to be felt across the country when the iconic flowering cherry trees bloom in Washington, D.C., which sometimes marks the end of winter for many of us. Even

though horticulturists prefer planting most trees in the Fall, there’s no denying the fact that gardeners love to plant flowering trees in the spring. As long as this motivation to grow a tree continues after planting, these trees can be successfully installed at this time. Just make sure watering and follow up care continues for the new tree during the entire growing season. The best time to plant a tree is truly when someone is ready to dedicate the time and energy required to not just plant it, but to nurture it during the first few seasons. The following are some top flowering tree picks for Spring 2021.

Evening Light Japanese Snowbell Styrax japonicus ‘Evening Light’

Stunning, glossy, deep purple foliage is the perfect backdrop for bell-shaped, white flowers in June. This compact beauty (15’ tall x 10’ wide) fits into

Jennifer Schamber is the General Manager of Greenscape Gardens, and plays leaderships roles in the Western Nursery & Landscape Association, GrowNative! and the Landscape & Nursery Association of Greater St. Louis. She has earned Green Profit Magazine’s Young Retailer Award, and Greenscape Gardens was named the National Winner of the 2015 “Revolutionary 100” Garden Centers by Today’s Garden Center Magazine.

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smaller garden spaces and serves as a unique alternative to Japanese Maple. It is sure to be a very unique specimen selection in a smaller garden space.

Sparkling Sprite Crabapple Malus ‘Sparkling Sprite’

a formal garden. The pink buds burst open into white blooms and later form into tiny, goldenorange fruits. The word “cute” best word to describe to this Dr. Suess-like tree.

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Pink Cascade Cherry Prunus ‘Pink Cascade’

2021 Perennial of the Year

This tight and tidy diseaseresistant selection of crabapple has a perfect lollipop form for

The graceful weeping habit of this cherry is truly stunning when it is smothered in pink flowers. It is easy to grow but cont’d on next page

Catmint ‘Cat’s Pajamas’

Perfectly shaped small mounds of lilac blue flowers bloom from base to tip. Deer and bunny resistant and loved by pollinators.

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cont’d from previous page be sure to give it some room to stretch out a bit as it has the potential to grow 12’ tall and 12’ wide. It also makes a great hiding spot for neighborhood games of hide-and-seek.

Merlot Redbud Cercis canadensis ‘Merlot’

Pansy’ Redbud, it is a striking standout in a smaller garden (18’ tall x 20’). This is a cousin to the native redbud tree.

Magenta-rose spring flowers are followed by glossy, deep purple foliage that blends into bronze purple as summer progresses. A better performer in summer heat than ‘Forest

Pink Flair Cherry Prunus sargentii ‘Pink Flair’

The compact, upright form (25’ tall x 15’ wide) on this cherry makes it perfect for smaller urban landscapes. The blooming period is a week or two later than other cherries,

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so it often escapes Spring frost damage. Orange-red fall color is consistently bright and its upright structure has a striking winter presence. When selecting a tree, always first consider planting a tree that is native to our region, such as a dogwood, redbud or serviceberry. When sited and planted properly, these trees will grow and thrive because they are from here and

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TREES WORK

health for your

Feeling tired? Spending just 20 minutes outside can give your brain an energy boost comparable to a cup of coffee.

Spending time in nature, conservation areas, woods, backyards, and urban parks may ease stress levels.

Getting away from busy schedules allows people to connect with nature and themselves in a way that brings calm and a sense of well-being.

Taking a nature walk may increase attention spans and creative problem-solving skills by as much as 50 percent.

Exposure to nature contributes to physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.

Get healthy in nature this year. Visit mdc.mo.gov/places-go or download the free MO Outdoors app for ideas on where to go near you. Download for

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Finally Spring is Here! by Diane Brueckman

‘Belinda’s Blush’

The Antique Rose Emporium

inter started out slow and mild then turned brutal in February. Like most of you, I don’t know what to expect when I open my garden later this month. There are lots of black canes sticking out above the cover on my roses. Black canes are not a good sign, but I will not give up on my roses just yet. Many of the hardiest will be fine and others that are less hardy will surprise me by sending up new basil canes. We need to be patient and give them a bit more time to get going.

This is not the year to uncover early. Roses that have died back to the bud union and are sending up those precious new canes will not recover easily from a late freeze. If you have uncovered watch the weather forecast and recover if a freeze is expected. Give the roses a couple of weeks, and if nothing happens shovel prune. You do need to watch those new shoots on budded roses to be sure they are coming from the bud union and not the root stock. You should look for own-root roses when shopping for replacements. Roses on their own roots are not guaranteed to flourish but they have

a better chance to survive the cold, and when new shoots come up, they will be the rose you planted, not root stock. More and more roses are being sold on their own roots. There was a time when suppliers only sold budded roses. The thinking was the modern hybrid teas, grandifloras and floribundas were not vigorous enough on their own-roots. Companies like Meilland International now test all their new roses as budded and own-root. If own-root roses are strong they sell them as ownroot. One of the best from Meilland is ‘Francis Meilland’, sold own-root. You might consider replacing the winter casualties with Easy Elegance Roses by Ping Lim. These roses were bred to survive in the upper Midwest. ‘Kiss Me’ and ‘Sweet Fragrance’ from that series have proved to be less vigorous for me than some of the others in that series. Some of the best in that group are ‘Yellow Brick Road’, ‘Kashmir’, ‘My Girl’ and ‘Calypso’. All of these roses are sold as own-root roses, which gives them an advantage over budded roses. The good news is there are some beautiful new roses coming out this year, and many are reportedly not only hardy but also disease resistant. You might look for these roses: A new rose developed by Dr. Pottschmidt, a retired OB-GYN, ‘White Lies’ is truly unique. Dr.Pottschmidt who hybridized the 2008 AARS winner ‘Dream Come True’ has out done himself with ’White Lies’. This rose starts out white and turns dark red to maroon as it ages. The color is not the only attribute of this stunning bush, it is also disease resistant with great habit, shape, and vigor. The tea fragrance is slight but that is a small price to pay for a glorious bush. Another interesting new rose is ‘Belinda’s Blush’ a sport of ‘Belinda’s Dream’. Many of you are familiar with ‘Belinda’s Dream’, an EarthKindtm rose. ‘Belinda’s Dream’ is hardy to zone 5 and very clean. ‘Belinda’s Blush’ has the characteristics of the parent but is a softer creamy white with a light pink blush. It is classed as a shrub but has a hybrid tea-like bloom with a moderate fragrance. The habit is a medium sized upright, bushy plant. Tom Carruth’s genius for hybridizing is apparent in one of the latest roses from Weeks Roses. ‘Golden Opportunity’ has in its DNA ‘Autumn Sunset’ a fabulous climber. ‘Golden Opportunity’ is a vigorous climber with deep green glossy foliage on 10-12 foot canes. The large, fragrant blooms are full (35-45 petals) spiraled and formal. All this comes with very good disease resistance. Diane Brueckman is a retired rosarian with Missouri Botanical Garden, and currently owns Rosey Acres in Baldwin, Illinois. You can reach her at (618) 785-3011 or droseyacres@ egyptian.net.

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Naturally Natives Resilient Ozark Plants on the Run and Old as the Hills Text and photos by Scott Woodbury

changing climate and advancing t is said that blues musician glaciers. Robert Johnson (Tommy Johnson in the movie, O During the last two million Brother Where Art Thou) sold years, many plants and animals his soul to the devil (for musimigrated to the warmer climate cal virtuosity) at the crossroads of the Ozarks as they were pushed in Clarksdale, Mississippi. More south and west by advancing famous blues musicians origiglaciers. As the climate warmed, nated from this area (and miand glaciers retreated back north, grated there) than anywhere in most cooler-loving species the country. In much the same followed. But some species way, more species of plants ex(called glacial relics) stayed ist in the Ozark Highlands (one behind. They found refuge in the of the oldest mountain ranges bottoms of cool sinkholes, northon the planet) than anywhere in facing slopes, box canyons, the lower Mid-west. Why? Beand wetland fens. To this day, Penstemon cobaea, Echinacea pallida, and Oenothera cause the Ozarks are an ancient glacially disconnected animals macrocarpa crossroads for migrating plants. like wood frogs and four-toed They are a tapestry of plants, uprooted and on the run from ever- .salamanders still hang out in these cool and moist, shady safehavens, while the majority of their population exists far to the north and east. The same is true of plants like queen-of-the-prairie (Filapendula rubra) and Ridell’s goldenrod (Solidago ridellii), both living in wetland fens, and also harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) and white camas (Zigadenus elegans) that cling to north-facing bluffs along the Jacks Fork River. These are disconnected species (called disjunct) because they exist beyond or at the edge of their Filapendula rubra, Queen-ofnatural ranges. According to Dr. the-Prairie.

mud pies, grasshoppers, water bugs, tadpoles, frogs, mud turtles, elderberries, wild strawberries, acorns, chestnuts, trees to climb. Brooks to wade, water lilies, woodchucks, bats, bees, butterflies, various animals to pet, hayfields, pine-cones, rocks to roll, sand, snakes, huckleberries and hornets; and any child who has been deprived of these has been deprived of the best part of education. ~ LUTHER BURBANK

CONNECT NATURE

Horticulturist Scott Woodbury is the Curator of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO, where he has worked with native plant propagation, design, and education for 30 years. He also is an advisor to the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! program.

CALL OR CHECK WEBSITE FOR CURRENT HOURS. 88 Forrest Keeling Lane | Elsberry, MO 63343 | 800-FKN-2401 | forrestkeeling.com

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Tips and Resources for Growing and Landscaping with Sustainable Native Plants goldenrod (Solidago drummondii), Missouri black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia missouriensis) and yellow coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa) to name a few.

So if you are taken by the origin stories of native plants, like I am, then pick up a few Ozark native plants the next time you are at a garden center or plant sale near you. They have been around a long, long time, and chances are, they will continue to hang on, deep in the Ozark Highlands, and possibly in your back yard. Happy gardening!

Campanula roduntifolia, harebell. Julian Steyermark, author of The Flora of Missouri, many other plants have found a second home in the Ozarks, beyond or at the edge of their normal ranges, including tall larkspur (Delphinium exaltatum), barren strawberry (Waldsteinia virginiana), soapweed (Yucca glauca), dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata), common witch hazel (Hamamelus virginiana), beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), mountain azalea (Rhodadendron prinophyllum), rose turtlehead (Chelone obliqua), yellowwood (Cladrastis kentuckia), limber honeysuckle (Lonicera dioica), Texas greeneyes Hamemelis vernalis, Ozark witch hazel, with fly. (Berlandiera texana) and dense blazingstar (Liatris spicata). But what about the plants that originally came from the Ozark crossroads, and never left home (called endemic)? They apparently began to evolve there (and continue to evolve) one hundred million years ago. Not quite as old as the five hundred million years old hills, but pretty old never-the-less. Common garden plants endemic to the Ozarks include woodland spiderwort (Tradescantia ernestiana), Fremont’s leatherflower (Clematis fremontii), little-flower alumroot (Heuchera puberula), Ozark witch hazel (Hamamelus vernalis), Bush’s poppy mallow (Callirhoe bushii), shining bluestar (Amsonia illustris), purple beard-tongue (Penstemon cobaea), cliff gs nd e a rin r, sal athe s yea . t G hi es lan r p den ly t sur Ou Gar rs on mea ow! n ly be ty nth em safe oin mo for m ovid ut. J o are e to C miss du on’t D

Healing the Earth one yard at a time.

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Meet us at one of these locations in the St. Louis area. Give us your order by Tuesday before a sale, and we will bring it to the location. Plants purchased at events away from the nursery cost 10% more, which covers sales tax and shipping. This costs less than having them shipped UPS from the nursery. Kirkwood Farmer’s Market, 150 East Argonne Dr. Kirkwood MO 63122. Give us your order in advance, or pick from the selection at the market. April 3, 10, 17, 24, and May 1, 22, 29; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shaw Nature Reserve, 307 Pinetum Loop Rd, Gray Summit, MO 63039. Event: “Shaw Wildflower Pickup-Up www.shawnature.org. May 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. No Friday sale this year. Shopping at our Brazito (Jefferson City) location: Our retail “store” (outdoor sales area) is open for you to make selections. You can also send a pre-order and pick it up at the nursery. Please practice physical distancing if you are not vaccinated. Open 9 to 5 Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 Sunday. We can ship your order! We ship plants on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays all year. UPS usually delivers the next day in Missouri and to the middle of surrounding states. Shipping charges apply.

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The Cornucopia Corner

Tips for Growing, Buying and Cooking Fresh, Locally Sourced Food for Your Table

Adding Fun to Your Vegetable Varieties By Steffie Littlefield

ome people think of vegetable gardening as boring, because they always grow the same thing year after year. And while I have my “can’t be without” favorites to grow every year, once those are planted it’s exciting to look at the newest varieties to try new plants and reap a broader variety of edibles from the garden. This new herb is on my list to try asap because basil can never be too big or you can never have too much. The African Nunum Basil is touted to

Thornburn’s Lemon Blush

Bosque Blue Bumblebee tomatoes I have seen! Plants produce bunches of 2-inch globes, round and brilliant blue, maturing to a golden yellow with blue shoulders. This newer variety was introduced by J and L Gardens and is a cross between the famously sugary Amy’s Sugar Gem and the antioxidant-rich OSU Blue tomato.

African Nunum Basil have wonderful flavor and be the best for pesto! A gigantic and sumptuous basil that is popular in African and Asian cuisines. Not only is this basil great in salads, soups, pastas, vinegars, jellies and killer pestos, but it was clinically evaluated for its antibacterial properties and was found to possess impressive antibiotic qualities. When it comes to new vegetable varieties the tomato category always has something to add to the garden. If you’ve read my articles in the past you know I am partial to blue anything and tomatoes are not exception. Bosque Blue Bumblebee Tomato, is one of the most delectable and color-saturated

Sart Roloise Sart Roloise Tomato is simply gorgeous with the lustre and stunning color of a stained glass masterpiece. Its beauty is only outmatched by its flavor! It is a cross of the White Wonder tomato, which lends pineapple sweet notes, and the Baby Blue tomato, which explains the deep indigo blue brushstrokes on the shoulders! Coming out of Belgium, this large beefsteak type averages 10-20 ounces each, and the captivating color and sheen makes it a must have for market gardeners and chefs.

whimsy and fun of heirloom gardening, found in the tomato patch of a Pennsylvania farmer and heirloom expert James Weaver. Its fantastic flavor, small globe size and gorgeous looks make it a treasure to grow.

Spoon Tomato

Everyone loves a really good yellow tomato and the Heirloom Thornburn’s Lemon Blush Tomato is outstandingly sweet, lemon colored and blushed in lovely salmon pink. This beefsteak from antiquity was first offered in the Thornburn’s catalog in 1893. It is a large, juicy tomato with tropical fruit notes and perfect acidity balance. It is nearly coreless and the firm juicy flesh has very few seeds. A true garden oddity always catches my attention!

For the miniature vegetable lover the cute Spoon Tomato is truly a micro mini fruit, the size of a tiny pea, and said to be the world’s tiniest tomato! A delightful edible ornamental, the tiny, fire engine-red fruit is arranged beautifully along super long trusses. Small but mighty with a of bold classic red, tangy tomato flavor.

Orange Peach Chinese String Eggplant

Orange Peach Tomato is a perfect peachy color, with even a lightly fuzzy skin to match! A delicious reminder of the

Another vegetable that is getting lots of fun new types is Eggplant. The Chinese String Eggplant is so long and skinny that the Chinese named it after a piece of string! This is the most slender, tender and best-

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2021

Kamo Eggplant

nutritious and gourmet. The sturdy plants produce lovely large flowers and uniquely non ribbed, round pods in a stunning pink color.

Pippen’s Golden Honey Pepper tasting variety that is even delicious raw in salads, and this buttery, tender East China variety is great to cook whole like green beans, only these are better! Kamo eggplant is a gourmet eggplant, highly regarded by top chefs in Japan, plants are super heat and humidity tolerant. It is a traditional vegetable of Japan thanks to a creamy, dense

Japanese Jade Eggplant

I am also looking forward to growing and eating Pippin’s Golden Honey Pepper. A multicolored sweet pepper and a beloved heirloom of the Philadelphia African American community of the early 1900s. A delightfully ornamental sweet pepper that features purple flowers and fruit that transforms from dark purple to mustard yellow and finally to a vibrant orange as it ripens. These heirlooms are considered a

flesh and sweet flavor. The Japanese Jade Eggplant has apple green skin. This one has the perfect texture for grilling so slice this variety thick and throw it on the grill!

heritage variety of an African American community. With all these new varieties to grow in your garden, you will never be accused of having a boring veg. All

photos

courtesy

Baker

Creek Heirloom Seeds, rareseeds.com. All varieties shown are usually available from Baker Creek, though some may be temporarily out of stock at time of ordering. Also check your local independent garden center.

Steffie Littlefield is a St Louis area horticulturist and garden designer. She has degrees from St. Louis Community College at Meramec and Southeast Missouri State and is a member of Gateway Professional Horticultural Association, Missouri Botanical Garden Members Board and past president of the Horticulture Co-op of Metropolitan St. Louis. She is part-owner of Edg-Clif Winery, Potosi, MO. www.Edg-Clif.com.

Summit Produce Garden Center @ KirKwood Farmers’ marKet

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Okinawa Pink Okra

As a fan of colorful vegetables I am super excited about Okinawa Pink Okra. A rare and beautiful treasure from Okinawa, Japan, and the most exciting vegetable introduction of 2021! The stunning bubblegum pink pods are packed with antioxidants and phenomenal flavor, making this variety both highly

APRIL 2021

The Gateway Gardener™

CLIP ME!

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150 E. Argonne Dr. 1 block East of the Train Station 314-984-9496 www.summitproduce.com

Curbside & Delivery Available

St. Louis Hort History by Robert Weaver

Quiet Village Landscaping: 20 Years of Eco-Conscious Landscaping An early QVL logo

Owner Dennis Evans, in white shirt, with his crew in 2007. ike most landscaping companies, Quiet Village Landscaping started as a seedling of an idea and grew from there. “My mom is a landscape designer and horticulturist, so I was familiar with the landscaping industry and how it can be used to transform outdoor living spaces.” said Dennis Evans, owner of Quiet Village Landscaping.

Starting in a single neighborhood, Quiet Village subdivision in Creve Coeur, with a riding lawn mower, Dennis created Quiet Village Landscaping in 2001 when Karen Spreitler, the owner’s he was 18 years old, first as mother and early inpiration. a freelance job he could do while taking college courses. “Demand grew, so I quickly started hiring friends to mow lawns, garden, and eventually take on bigger projects like small retaining walls and patios,” said Dennis. After 8 years in business, Quiet Village grew to 15 employees. By 2010, Quiet Village won their first business award, the St. Louis Magazine A-List Award for ‘Best Landscaping Company’ in St. Louis. “That’s when I really felt like we were becoming established in our community,” Dennis said. They have since won over 15 awards for landscape design, customer service, and excellence in the green industry.

practices that work with, not against, nature and our natural outdoor environment. They are committed to environmentally friendly solutions that include rain gardens, native plants, prairie restoration, bioswales, pollinator gardens and smart WiFi irrigation systems. In 2018, this commitment to sustainable ‘Doggo’, landscaping was recognized by the National QVL mascot. Association of Landscape Professionals, when Quiet Village received the Environmental Stewardship Award. “This will be our third year participating in the Green Business Challenge organized by the Earthways Center, and we have a really exciting project in the works for that,” says Landscape Designer Angela Mayer. Quiet Village also participates in the invitation-only Green Living Festival (formerly Green Homes Festival) at Missouri Botanical Garden. “We take a lot of pride in this, because we are the only landscaping company invited to participate and interact with garden visitors for this weekend festival.” says Sally Evans, Director of Marketing. Now, Quiet Village has a team of 60 landscape architects, designers, builders, gardeners and green industry pros who care about our outdoor environment. Over the past 20 years, Quiet Village Landscaping has helped thousands of St. Louisans transform their outdoor spaces with their unique process that takes outdoor spaces from cookie-cutter to captivating. Quiet Village Landscaping will be celebrating 20 years in business this year with giveaways on social media, special surprises for clients, and a party this fall (fingers crossed!).

The QVL team in 2016.

As the company grew and began offering more outdoor services, they started to focus on smarter, more sustainable landscaping 18

The Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2021

Upcoming Events Upcoming Events Meetings, Classes, Entertainment and More Updates to this information are often posted on our online events calendar at www.GatewayGardener.com, so check there for the latest details. Give us the details of your upcoming gardening, lawn or landscaping event and we’ll add it to our website and include it in our next issue. Deadline for printing in the June issue is May 1st. GARDEN PLANT SALES Now through April 9th Virtual--St. Louis Community College Plant Sale and Student Fundraiser. Orders may be placed online between March 19 and April 9. Contactless pick-ups will be scheduled on the STLCC Meramec campus from April 23 thru May 2. For plant availability and purchase visit our online store at our Facebook event. This sale is completely funded by the student club and all proceeds from the sale go back to the horticulture club (a.k.a The Meramec Botanical Society). Profits from the sale are utilized by the club for field trips, education, outreach, service, industry connection, outdoor lab improvements and campus beautification. Contact ccoyne@stlcc.edu for more information.

April 10th-11 and 17th-18th Butterfly House Pollinator Plant Sale. Don’t miss our annual pollinator plant sale! The horticulture experts at the Butterfly House will help you plan your pollinator garden. We will have a wide variety of native plants that benefit butterflies, bees, and other native pollinators. All plant sale proceeds benefit Project Pollinator, our community gardening initiative. Call (314) 577-0888 for details. Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. 15050 Faust Park, Chesterfield. April 15th-27th Shaw Wildflower Pick Up. Pre-order your Missouri native plants online from multiple vendors and pick up in one location at Shaw Nature Reserve on May 8. Proceeds support the Nature Reserve’s ongoing native plant horticulture, ecologial restoration and environmental education programs. Exclusive members only pre-sale April 14th.www.missouribotanicalgarden. org. April 24th 9am-1pm—Plant Sale-Ascension Lutheran Church. Choose from a colorful section of fresh, locally grown pre-ordered annual flowers and hanging baskets. Shop for additional annuals flowers, perennials, vegetable that will brighten your landscapes or give to Mom for Mother’s Day. Please visit ascensionstl.com/plants for complete details and to download the order form. Proceeds benefit our youth activities. Word of Life Lutheran School 6535 Eichelberger St 63109 near Francis Park in South St. Louis. May 1st 9am-noon—St.

Clair

County

Garden Club Plant Sale. Eight varieties of milkweed, houseplants, annuals, perennials, bulbs, tubers. In front of Wild Birds Unlimited store in Schnuck’s Plaza, Swansea, IL. May 7th-8th Noon-7pm Fri., 10am-6pm Sun-Florissant Plant & Flower Sale. Herbs, vegetables, ground covers, perennials, natives, annuals, houseplants, potted arrangements and more. Hosted by Gardeners of Florissant. Bangert Park Shelter #1, 275 New Florissant Rd., Florissant, MO. May 8th 8:30am-noon—Webster Groves Herb Society Sale. Culinary, ornamental, and medicinal herbs will be out on the church parking lot. There will be herb society members there masked and socially distancing to answer any questions you may have about growing and caring for your herbs. This event supports the Society s work at local herb gardens as well as providing scholarships to local horticulture students, and donating to local schools and organizations. No cash transactions. For information about our group and plant list of available plants at the sale check out www.wgherbs.org. First Congregational Church of Webster Groves, 10 W. Lockwood. Free admission and parking. 9am-noon—Mason Ridge Garden Club Plant Sale. Perennials from the gardens in the park and members own gardens will be for sale. Longview Farm Park, 13525 Clayton Road in Town & Country. Cash or checks, only. Questions? Contact claire@ chosid.us.

May 8th 8am-noon—Mississippi Valley Garden Club Plant Sale. Mostly perennials, gently used gardening items. Please social distance. Sportsmens Club, 3109 Godfrey Road, Godfrey, IL 62035. Contact: (618) 917-5853 for more information. CLASSES, LECTURES AND EVENTS April 6th-7th 6-7pm—Meet The Designers (Virtual). Free online discussion with two Minneapolis and St. Louis native garden designers. Meet the designers who designed seven native garden designs featured on Wild Ones website. See the designs and register for the event at nativegardendesigns. wildones.org. April 7th, 14th, 22nd and 28th Grow Native! Webinars and Master Classes. Virtual classes and seminars. Master classes are 50 minutes plus Q&A. Free to all Missouri Prairie Foundation dues-paying members, $15 to non members. Webinars are 30 minutes plus Q&A. Free to all. Register at moprairie.org. May 1st-31st St. Louis Birdathon. A walkathon but instead of counting miles, you count birds! Anyone can participate, from beginners to expert birders. This is a fun and educational event for all ages and runs the entire month of May. No time for birding? You can still make a difference for birds by making a pledge to support a team or an individual. For more information, please visit www. stlouisaudubon.org/stlbirdathon.

Joes Market Basket Edwardsville, IL O’Fallon, IL www.joesmarketbasket.com

BRING YOUR GARDEN TO LIFE Bayer’s Garden Center Imperial, MO St Louis, MO www.bayergardenshops.com Crabapple Cove Nursery St Louis, MO Tel.: (314) 846-4021

APRIL 2021

Garden Heights Richmond Heights, MO www.gardenheights.com

Sherwood’s Forest Nursery & Garden Center Ballwin, MO www.sherwoods-forest.com

Greenscapes Garden & Gifts Manchester, MO www.greenscapegardens.com

Passiglia’s Nursery Wildwood, MO www.passiglia.com

The Gateway Gardener™

OK Hatchery Feed & Garden Store Kirkwood, MO (314) 822-0083 Timberwinds Nursery Ellisville, MO www.timberwindsnursery.com Sugar Creek Kirkwood, MO www.sugarcreekgardens.com

2021 Eco-Garden Product Guide You can make your green thumb even greener by practicing sustainable gardening in your landscape! Here are some suggestions from area retailers for products that can help us all establish our own greener gardening habits. Happy Earth Day! Hillermann Nursery & Florist 2601 E. 5th Street, Washington, MO 63090 636-239-6729 Hillermann.com

Fox Farm Ocean Forest Soil. Fox Farm Ocean Forest Soil, our most popular potting soil, is a powerhouse blend of aged forest products, sphagnum peat moss, earthworm castings, bat guano, fish emulsion, and crab meal. Aged forest products, sandy loam, and sphagnum peat moss give Ocean Forest its light, aerated texture. Rolling Ridge Nursery 60 North Gore Ave. Webster Groves, MO 63119 RollingRidgeNursery.com

Plantskydd Repellent. 100% 20

Natural, OMRI Listed, for Organic gardening, Safe for People, Pets & Plants! Made in USA. Repels Voles, Rabbits, Deer and is Rain resistant! Garden Heights Nursery 1605 S. Big Bend Blvd. Richmond Heights, MO (314) 645-7333 GardenHeights.com

Natural Teak Terrariums and Pottery.We’re excited to offer new sustainably sourced and eco-friendly teak decor in our store! Teak is a beautifully marbled, tropical hardwood and we love the natural texture that teak accents add to any space. Stop by our store for unique teak pottery, terrariums, and décor!

Planthaven Farms 6703 Telegraph Rd. Oakville, MO (636) 272-5005 O’Fallon and Olivette, too! PlanthavenFarms.com

Pure Raw Local Honey. “A teaspoon a day will keep your allergies at bay!” Pure, raw local honey from the B&C Bees’ beehives at the Farm! Available at all our locations in various sizes. Greenscape Gardens 2832 Barrett Station Rd. Manchester, MO 63021 (314) 821-2440 GreenscapeGardens.com

greenhouse to extend the season, help protect against pests, and accelerate plant growth. Designed for ease of growth and comfortability when gardening, this is an excellent alternative to planting in the ground. A weed-free microclimate to help promote the healthiest and happiest of veggies. Sugar Creek Gardens 1011 N. Woodlawn Kirkwood, MO 63122 (314) 965-3070 SugarCreekGardens.com

2021 Native of the Year, Lance Leaf Tickseed (Coreopsis). A delightful, long lived Missouri native perennial with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers bloom early summer until fall. Naturalizes easily and tolerates dry conditions and poor soil. Perfect for pollinator, cottage and roadside gardens.

Vegepod Raised Bed. Featured on the hit TV show SharkTank. This raised bed is self-watering and functions like a miniThe Gateway Gardener™ APRIL 2021

O.K. Hatchery 109-115 Argonne Kirkwood, MO (314) 822-0083

Effinger Garden Center 720 South 11th St. Belleville, IL 62220 (618) EffingerGarden.com

Espoma Organic Fertilizers. Long-lasting natural organics break down slowly for steady, continuous feeding. Contain Bio-Tone microbes. Adds organic matter to soil. Naturally Organic Vegetable Seed. For every item you buy, Seeds low in salts so it won’t burn. of Change donates nutritious organic seed to schools Kirkwood Gardens throughout the country. 2701 Barrett Station Rd. St. Louis, MO 63021 Zicks Great Outdoors (314) 966-4840 16498 Clayton Rd. KirkwoodGardens.com Wildwood, MO (636) 458-1445 ZicksGreatOutdoors.com

MykPro Mycorrhize. Mycorrhize is a symbiotic relationship with the plants root system, extending the existing plants roots and increasing the absorption of water and nutrients creating a more vigorous plant. MykePro Mycorrhize is used with every Kirkwood Gardens plant installation and is sold to our premier landscape professionals and retail customers.

Chalily Ponds & Gardens 14430 Manchester Rd. Manchester, MO 63011 636-527-2001 Chalily.com

Timberwinds Nursery 54 Clarkson Road Ellisville, MO 63011 636-227-0095 Timberwindsnursery.com

Pulverize Organic Weed Killer. A full line of ready to use and concentrated herbicides to take on the toughest weeds with ingredients found in nature and formulas approved for organic gardening. Whether you have dandelions and clover popping up in your lawn, that nagging weed establishing itself in the cracks of your walkway or tough vines that just wont go away, there is a Pulverize weed killer that will get the job done.

Challily Beneficial Bacteria. Scientifically blended for use in water gardens, fish ponds and lakes. Contains probiotic microbes that naturally work to eliminate excess nutrients that cause poor water quality. The most concentrated supplement available in its class resulting in crystal clear and healthy pond water. Locally owned and operated brand. Made in the U.S.A.

presents

Pine Straw Mulch. At Zick’s we prefer pine straw over hardwood mulch for many areas of garden beds. The bales are easy to pick up, it stays nicely on hillsides with no washing, and holds its color better than most mulches. It also does not allow weed seeds to germinate in the mulch. Bales are approx. 28”x15”x9”.

Green Dining Week April 16-25, 2021       

Avenue Buzz’s Hawaiian Grill Clementine’s Creamery The Dam Flavor 360 1111 Mississippi Kitchen House Coffee

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Kounter Kulture Living Room PW Pizza SqWires Vin de Set Whisk The Wolf