America's Evergreen Hollies

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GARDENERGARDENER® TheThe MagazineMagazine ofof thethe AAmericanmerican HorticulturalHorticultural SocietySociety November / December 2009

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Designing Gardens for Indoor Enjoyment English Ivy Reconsidered Allen Bush: American Plantsman high-bred

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FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

5 NOTES FROM RIVER FARM 6 MEMBERS’ FORUM 7 NEWS FROM AHS AHS Executive Director Tom Underwood serves as judge for community garden grant, AHS supports Boston garden contest, new members to join AHS Board of Directors, AHS webinar on gardening for wildlife concludes 2009 series.

10 APPRECIATION: JOHN L. CREECH Plant explorer extraordinaire.

12 2009 AMERICA IN BLOOM AWARD WINNERS Fourteen communities are recognized for their beautification efforts.

40 HOMEGROWN HARVEST page 24 Petite and sweet alpine strawberries.

42 ONE ON ONE WITH… John Greenlee, meadow landscaper. 14 AMERICA’S EVERGREEN HOLLIES BY GIL NELSON From leaves and bark to berries, these native evergreens offer four 44 GREEN GARAGE® seasons of landscape appeal. A miscellany of useful tools and supplies.

46 GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK 20 GARDENS FOR RECOVERY BY DOREEN G. HOWARD Graham Thomas® rose voted world’s favorite, Gardens can be therapeutic sanctuaries that heal the body and First Lady Michelle Obama receives APGA mind and comfort the soul. commendation, flower pots made from poultry feathers, new group forms to promote A “LOOK-INTO” GARDEN BY CAROLE OTTESEN changes in American lawn practices, 24 Philadelphia Flower Show is renamed. An often neglected aspect of garden design is how the landscape looks when observed from indoors. Here are tips for making a 50 HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR GARDENERS garden look spectacular from the inside out. 52 BOOK REVIEWS Our Life in Gardens, Understanding ALLEN BUSH BY BOB HILL 30 Perennials, and The American Meadow While staying out of the limelight, this plantsman has quietly left Garden. his mark on the perennial plant industry in North America. Special focus: Staff picks.

56 REGIONAL HAPPENINGS 35 ENGLISH IVY: PARAGON OR PARIAH? BY LISA ALBERT Long considered a classic garden plant, English ivy’s tendency to 58 HARDINESS AND HEAT ZONES escape gardens in many regions of North America has gardeners AND PRONUNCIATIONS rethinking its place in the landscape. 60 2009 MAGAZINE INDEX 62 PLANT IN THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE COVER: Foster holly (Ilex ✕attentuata ‘Fosteri’) is one of the most commonly cultivated Variegated potato vine

CAROLE OTTESEN native evergreen hollies. Photograph by Susan A. Roth (Solanum laxum ‘Aurea’)

November / December 2009 3 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA 22308-1300 (800) 777-7931 fax (703) 768-8700 www.ahs.org Making America a Nation of Gardeners, a Land of Gardens

American Horticultural Society President’s Council

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tom Underwood CHAMPION’S CIRCLE Board of Directors Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Rissetto ■ Mr. and Mrs. W. Bruce Usrey CHAIR Susie Usrey Dayton, Oregon CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN Don E. Riddle, Jr. Davidsonville, Maryland Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Bluemel ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Bogle SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN Leslie Ariail Alexandria, Virginia SECRETARY Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. Falls Church, Virginia LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY CIRCLE TREASURER Arnold Steiner Birmingham, Alabama Mr. and Mrs. John H. Ariail, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Kulp, Jr. ■ Mrs. Elizabeth Craig Weaver Proctor ■ Mr. Arnold Steiner ■ Mr. and Mrs. Klaus Zech

Sandra Address Chevy Chase, Maryland ■ Allan M. Armitage Athens, Georgia ■ Suzanne Bales Oyster Bay, New York HAUPT CIRCLE William E. Barrick, Ph.D. Theodore, Alabama ■ Kurt Bluemel Baldwin, Maryland ■ Amy Bolton Falls Church, Virginia Lynda and Nathan Bachman ■ Mrs. Susan M. Cargill ■ Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Henrietta Burke Alexandria, Virginia ■ Tom Cooper Watertown, Massachusetts ■ Jane Diamantis McDonald, Tennessee Farrell ■ Dr.and Mrs. John A. Floyd, Jr. ■ Mrs. Richard W. Hamming ■ Mr. Gay Estes Houston, Texas ■ Anne Garland Farrell Richmond, Virginia ■ Carole Hofley Wilson, Wyoming and Mrs. Richard W. Hanselman ■ Mrs. Carole S. Hofley ■ Dr. and Mrs. David Margaret Kulp Louisville, Kentucky ■ Caroline Lewis Coral Gables, Florida ■ Jack Lowry Phoenix, Maryland E. Morrison ■ Mr. and Mrs. J. Landon Reeve, IV ■ Mrs. Enid N. Warner Melissa R. Marshall Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ■ Mary Pat Matheson Atlanta, Georgia Shirley Nicolai Ft. Washington, Maryland ■ J. Landon Reeve, IV Woodbine, Maryland COUNCIL MEMBER’S CIRCLE Holly Shimizu Glen Echo, Maryland Mr. and Mrs. Carter Bales ■ Nancy J. Becker, M.D. ■ Mrs. Katherine Belk ■ Mrs. George P. Bissell, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. C. William Black ■ Dr. Sherran Blair PRESIDENT EMERITUS Katy Moss Warner ■ Mr. and Mrs. Michael T. Bradshaw ■ Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Burke, III ■ Ms. Judy Daniel ■ Mr. and Mrs. George Diamantis ■ Ms. Inger Fair ■ Mrs. Carolyn V. Foil ■ Ms. Marguerite Peet Foster ■ Ms. Amy Goldman ■ Mr. and Mrs. Joel 2009 Advisory Council Goldsmith ■ Ms. Barbara Grant ■ Ms. LaDawn Griffin ■ Dr. and Mrs. William O. Hargrove ■ Mrs. Elizabeth Hooff ■ Mr. Philip Huey ■ Mrs. Marta Lawrence Beverly Hanselman, Nashville, Tennessee – Chair ■ Mrs. Carolyn M. Lindsay ■ Ms. JoAnn Luecke ■ Mr. and Mrs. Bob J. MacLean Clarissa Bonde, Washington, D.C. Stu McMichael, Falls Church, Virginia ■ Ms. Melissa Marshall ■ Mrs. Dorothy Marston ■ Mr. Charles T. Matheson Anne Bucher, Silver Spring, Maryland Egon Molbak, Bellevue, Washington ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harold McClendon, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Egon Molbak ■ Mr. Walter Bull, Columbia, South Carolina Dean Norton, Mt. Vernon, Virginia and Mrs. James R. Moxley ■ Mrs. Shirley Ann Nicolai ■ Mr. David D. Parrish Elaine Burden, Middleburg, Virginia Nancy Keen Palmer, Nashville, Tennessee ■ Mr. and Mrs. Albin MacDonough Plant ■ Jeanne Shields Mr. and Mrs. Charles Patty Bush, St. Louis, Missouri Bob Patterson, Washington, D.C. H. Smith, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. William M. Spencer, III ■ Mr. Harold Stahly ■ Skipp Calvert, Alexandria, Virginia Dr. Julia W. Rappaport, Santa Ana, California Dr. and Mrs. Steven M. Still ■ Mr. Howard McK. Tucker and Ms. Megan Evans Bartie Cole, Owings Mills, Maryland Deen Day Sanders, Norcross, Georgia ■ Mr. and Mrs. Tom Underwood ■ Mr. Joe Viar ■ Ms. Angela M. Vikesland Jim Corfield, Geneva, Illinois Josephine Shanks, Houston, Texas ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Volk ■ Ms. Katy Moss Warner ■ Mr. and Mrs. Lucinda Crabtree, Falls Church, Virginia Barbara Shea, Owings Mills, Maryland Dennis White ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harvey C. White ■ Mr. and Mrs. John W.White, Ginny Hill Daisey, Dedham, Massachusetts Charles Henry Smith, Jr, Middleburg, Virginia Sr. Edward N. Dane, Center Harbor, New Hampshire Nancy Thomas, Houston, Texas Ben Griswold, Glyndon, Maryland Bryan Thomlison, Haddonfield, New Jersey HONORARY PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL Henry Jameson, Kula, Hawaii Pauline Vollmer, Baltimore, Maryland Ms. Louise Fruehling* ■ Mrs. Enid Haupt* ■ Mrs. John A. Lutz* ■ Mr. and Carolyn Marsh Lindsay, Ponte Vedra, Florida Joyce and Harvey White, Nashville, Tennessee Mrs. Bruce Miller* Bob Malesardi, Easton, Maryland Joannah Williams, Sebring, Florida Robert and Joanna Martin, Menlo Park, California Sheryl Wood, Middleburg, Virginia *In memoriam Barbara McClendon, Alexandria, Virginia

Education Sponsor OXO International

Corporate Members Brent and Becky’s Bulbs ■ The Care of Trees ■ Chapel Valley Landscape Company The Espoma Company ■ Furbish Company ■ Homestead Gardens ■ Kurt Bluemel, Inc. To access the members-only Monrovia ■ MTR Landscape Architects, LLC. ■ Osmocote ■ Renee’s Garden portion of the AHS website at www.ahs.org, the username is Horticultural Partners America in Bloom Symposium & Awards Program ■ Bellingrath Gardens and Home ahs. The password is seeds. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Garden Symposium ■ Cox Arboretum MetroPark Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival The Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Clubs of America The Homestead in the Garden Symposium ■ Inniswood Garden Society ■ Morris Arboretum Oklahoma Botanical Garden & Arboretum ■ Oklahoma Horticultural Society

4 the American Gardener The American NOTESC FROM RIVER FARM GARDENER EDITOR David J. Ellis MANAGING EDITOR AND ART DIRECTOR Mary Yee ASSOCIATE EDITOR Viveka Neveln EDITORIAL INTERN HROUGH OUR WORK with the American Horticultural Society, the two Gwyneth Evans of us are fortunate to have frequent opportunities to meet and hear from CONTRIBUTING EDITOR people all over the country who believe in the power of plants and gardens Rita Pelczar T to change lives and make our world a better place. Some people pursue their inter- CONTRIBUTING WRITER ests individually, some follow their passion through involvement with clubs or other Carole Ottesen groups, and some have turned their interest in horticulture into a career. Whether

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD the commitment is formal or informal, year-round or occasional, there are many CHAIR Richard E. Bir Brevard, North Carolina paths to take and we are constantly re- Allan M. Armitage minded of the amazing breadth, depth, Athens, Georgia and influence of horticulture in America. Nina L. Bassuk In early October, we attended the 2009 Ithaca, New York Annual Conference of the American Hor- Steve Bender ticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) in Birmingham, Alabama Pasadena, California. How impressive it John E. Bryan was to witness a gathering of people from all over the world who are dedicated to the San Francisco, California healing power of horticulture in sustaining health and wellness. It was particularly Panayoti Kelaidis Denver, Colorado gratifying to see so many of our past AHS Horticultural Therapy Award winners in Richard W. Lighty attendance at the meeting, including Gene Rothert from Illinois, Karin Fleming Kennett Square, Pennsylvania from Pennsylvania, Rebecca Haller from Colorado, and Teresia Hazen from Ore- Elvin McDonald gon. To get some insight into the programs and gardens that these and other excep- West Des Moines, Iowa tional horticultural therapists across the country are involved in, be sure to read the article on healing gardens starting on page 20. CONTACT US The American Gardener As a bonus, this year’s AHTA meeting was headquartered at the Huntington 7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA 22308 Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino—truly an Ameri- (703) 768-5700 can treasure. Visiting the gardens and being greeted by the director, Jim Folsom, provided us with a pleasurable sense of anticipation, because the Huntington is EDITORIAL E-MAIL: [email protected] one of the host sites for the AHS 2010 National Children & Youth Garden Sym- ADVERTISING & E-MAIL: [email protected] CORPORATE posium. We hope you will join us in California next July for three days of inspi- PARTNERSHIPS rational programs set against a backdrop of world-class gardens and collections. During the AHTA conference, we were encouraged to learn about the practical application of research that indicates plants have an important role to play in nurturing the body and spirit. These presentations confirmed something we have heard from AHS members. In a survey conducted last winter, the majority of AHS The American Gardener (ISSN 1087-9978) is published bimonth- ly (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, Septem- members said they garden for rest and relaxation; half said they garden for exer- ber/October, November/December) by the American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300, cise, overall health, and nutrition. (703) 768-5700. Membership in the Society includes a subscrip- So, it is with your best interests at heart that we offer up another issue of The Amer- tion to The American Gardener. Annual dues are $35; two years, $60. International dues are $50. $10 of annual dues goes toward ican Gardener full of articles that will give you reason to exercise your body and mind. magazine subscription. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Vir- ginia, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send Inside you will find tips for creating garden vistas that can be enjoyed from inside your Form 3579 to The American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, house, suggestions for using evergreen hollies for fall and winter effects, a profile of an Alexandria, VA 22308-1300. Botanical nomenclature is based on The American Horticultural influential perennial plant expert who flies beneath the radar, and a thought-provok- Society A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, on A Synonymized Check- ing look at a plant that was once a garden classic—English ivy. With so much in store, list of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Canada and Greenland and on the Royal Horticultural Society Index of Garden Plants. Opinions we know you’ll want to turn the page and start reading! expressed in the articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Society. Manuscripts, artwork, and photographs sent for Happy gardening! possible publication will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We cannot guarantee the safe return of unsolicited material. Back issues are available at $8 per copy. Susie Usrey, Chair, AHS Board of Directors Copyright ©2009 by the American Horticultural Society. Tom Underwood, Executive Director

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November / December 2009 5 6 garden thatisopentovisitors. Below isaphotoshowing ofthe apart garden thatisnotopentothepublic. ber/October issueshows asectionofthe tonia Adezio onpage44oftheSeptem- Garden publishedwiththeprofile ofAn- The photographoftheRuth Bancroft BANCROFT GARDENCLARIFICATION the American Gardener Editor’s response: ommend asource? Canyoulists avariegated rec- grapefruit. butIcanfindnoonewho in thearticle, al’ kumquat—from thesuggestedsources calamondin, pinklemon,and‘Centenni- plants— found theothervariegated citrus Ihavetioned asavariegated grapefruit. Gardener, 2009issueof uary/February I enjoyed intheJan- oncitrus your article VARIEGATED GRAPEFRUIT—ORNOT? 887-5900 orvisit plant inlimitedquantities—call(215) in Pennsylvania, whichdoessellthis wastakenatMeadowbrookarticle Farm MEMBERS C which includesaphotocap- Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. The photographinthe www.meadowbrook ’ FORUM Nauvoo, Illinois The American Durell Nelson Horticulturist PLEASE WRITEUS! Letters weprintmaybeeditedforlengthandclarity. [email protected] (noteLettertoEditorinsubjectline). Alexandria, VA22308.Sende-mailsto American Gardener, American fruits arefruits inediblybitter. atayoung age,butthe and setsfruit winged petioles.It reportedly blooms characteristics, suchasitspronounced basedoncertain likely beagrapefruit a private collection,isthoughttomost Meadowbrook plant,whichoriginatedin ed andpassedaround forcenturies. The specimens thatmayhave beenpropagat- can bedifficulttopositively identify among individualspecies. This meansit tion, andthere isoftengreat variability ofcultiva- a longandconvoluted history itively determined. familyhas The citrus hasnotbeendefin- variegated grapefruit farm.org. However, a whetheritistruly Address letterstoEditor, 7931 EastBoulevardDrive, The

MARION BRENNER / COURTESY OF THE GARDEN CONSERVANCY TOP: VIVEKA NEVELN. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF BOSTON PARKS AND RECREATION and gardeners inAmerica.Ibelieve theseprojects willhave animmenselypositive impactontheirsurrounding communities.” grantsprogram isalignedphilosophicallywiththeAmericanHorticultural Society’s “This derwood. gardens missiontosupport ciety asoneofthree judgesfortheGardenburger CommunityGrants Program. project,” saysUnderwood, “This “presented afan- one-year AHS membership. Second- andthird-place winnersalsoreceived aone-year AHSmembershipfortheirefforts. wide beautificationinitiative. First-place winnersreceived a“Golden Trowel” award from theMayor, packagesfrom HGTV, anda Mayor Menino honorsgardeners whosehandiwork helpstoshow ofhisci offtheneighborhoodsofBostonwiththiscontestaspart one-year AHSmembershipstothewinners.Atotalof35awards were presented topeoplewhoplacedinthe11possiblecategories organizations thatare enhancingBoston’s neighborhoodswiththeirgardens,” saysJutila. Thomas M.Menino Tom Underwood OVER THESUMMER, Underwood ServesasJudgeforCommunityGardenGrants ON AUGUST20, AHS SupportsBoston’s GardenContest News PROGRAMS •EVENTSANNOUNCEMENTS “I am delighted to have participated intheprocess“I amdelightedtohave ofevaluating participated andrewardinggardening projects,” thesedeserving saysUn- This year wasthe13ththatcontestheldandeighthconsecutive thecontestby year providin thattheAHSsupported AHS Director ofMember Programs andOutreach Stephanie Jutila ’s annualGarden Contestawards ceremony. “It wasanhonortocelebratetheindividuals,companies,and Gardenburger website (www.gardenburger.com/Grants.aspx). ed toreceive agrantfortheiranticipatedcommunitygardening projects; forafulllist,visitthe inally anticipated.Fourteen organizations,including thePennsylvania Horticultural Society, were select- impact oftheproposed garden project. Thewinnerswere notifiedoftheiraward inearlyAugust. for thegrantswere judgedonanumberofcriteria,includingtheinnovation, practicability, andanticipated health benefitsofgrowing andeatingfresh produce andtoencourageasenseofcommunity. Applications velop agardening project oractivitygrantsofupto$10,000.Theaimtheprogram istoemphasize the county.” Thisyear marks thelaunchofthisprogram, whichoffersnon-profit organizationslookingtode- thecreation, tosupport expansion,andimprovementtastic opportunity ofmanygardens throughout the spaces, activities,andprograms heldinandinspired by thegarden. other green spaces.Theawarded andmaintainthegardens educational grantswillhelptostart andsupport Underwood andtheotherjudgesevaluated 362qualifiedapplications,alargernumberthanwasorig- The fundedprograms willbetakingplacenotonlyingarden plotsbutalsoinorchards, farmland,and from American Horticultural Society Executive Director AHS Karas (2ndfrom right), whosegardenisshownon theleft. (2nd fromleft)and someoftheawardwinners,including Marlene Above: StephanieJutila(3rdfrom right) withMayorThomasMenino Tom Underwood November /December2009 represented theSociety atBostonMayor was chosentorepresent theSo- November /December2009 ty- g 7 . 8 and support tohelptheSocietyand support achieve itsgoalsandmission. to theSociety over thelastseveral years,” hesays. June. “We are greatly indebtedtothemforalltheycontributed Plant, gratitude toformerBoard members great thingshappenfortheAHS.”Underwood alsoexpressed e H Boardmembers. new AHS Amy Boltonisoneoffour THE AHS Board ofDirectors New MembersJoinAHS vin A.Address &Associatesinsurancebrokerage withherhus- of knowledge andexperience. grounds, Board thesenew membersbringwiththemawealth of Directors. ComingtotheSociety from diverse career back- i urnl t2 ebr,teASBoard provides guidance Currently at26members,theAHS Sandra Address planning, asatributetoloved contact: StephaniePerez,De- one, oraspartofyourannual charitable givingplan,please Manager, at(703)768-5700 velopment andMembership Society aspartofyourestate the American Gardener If youwouldliketosupport the AmericanHorticultural ext. [email protected]. Gifts of Michel Sallin , andSteven Still, whosetermsendedin Note recently welcomedmemberstoitsBoard fournew from co-owns ChevyChase,Maryland, Mar- area. sign consultantinthe is anavidgardener andlandscapede- mantis long-time AHSvolunteer. Jane Dia- of Natural Historyandhasbeena U.S. BotanicGarden. D.C., istheexecutive director atthe the Smithsonian’s National M Virginia, isaneducationspecialistat band. members aswe continuetomake ward toworkingBoard withournew Tom Underwood, is“lookingfor- The AHS’s Executive Director, i Holly Shimizu Amy Bolton Ms. HeleneDemisay Frances Chandler Mrs. MarcyE.Cathey Mrs. MaryJ.Cathey Mr. LeonardCalvert,III Mr. BillyButterfield Mrs. HenriettaBurke Ms. AmyBolton Mr. andMrs.KurtBluemel Mrs. GeorgeP.Bissell Mrs. SuzanneF.Bales Mrs. LeslieS.Ariail Rubino andMcGeehin R &Catering OXO International Communities FoundationofTexas The CareofTrees Burke &HerbertBankTrust In additiontovitalsupportthroughmembershipdues,theAmericanHorticulturalSocietyreliesongrants, from McDonald, Tennessee, Albin MacDonough “Mac” bequests, andothergiftstosupportitsprograms.Wewouldlikethankthefollowingdonorsfor from Falls Church, of Washington, Chattanooga received betweenAugust1,2009andSeptember30,2009. useum Mr. andMrs.TomUnderwood Mr. andMrs.CharlesH.Smith,Jr. Mr. andMrs.AndrewSaltonstall Mr. andMrs.DonE.Riddle Mr. andMrs.J.LandonReeve Mrs. ShirleyA.Nicolai Mrs. LisaMountcastle Lawrence J.McGuinness Mrs. MarnaMacLean Mrs. CarolynM.Lindsay Norman R.Klath Carole S.Hofley Mr. andMrs.PaulHess Edwin L.Heminger Mrs. FrancesGoodman Mrs. MargueriteP.Foster Mrs. AnneG.Farrell Mr. andMrs.GeorgeDiamantis website atwww.ahs.org. sign upforthemailinglistinmembers-onlyarea oftheAHS receive announcementsaboutfuture webinars viae-mail,please upcoming issuesof Water-Thrifty Gardens.” Scott Calhoun ly area oftheAHSwebsite). In July, garden designerandauthor (A recording ofthispresentation isavailable inthemembers-on- presented by children’s gardening Norm expert Lownds followed by “A LittleGarden Magic: ConnectingKidstoPlants,” Outside: Creating theLandscapeYou Love” inMarch. Thiswas signer andauthorJulie Moir Messervy for asampleofthediscussion,seebox onthenextpage. tohave theirquestionsanswered—ticipants hadtheopportunity Columbia, andoneCanadianprovince attended“Gardening for IN SEPTEMBER, Wildlife Webinar forMembers News writtenby Editorial Intern Gwyneth Evans. The 2010webinar speakersandtopicswillbeannouncedin Three otherwebinars were offered in2009.Landscapede- presented Beauty: “Dry Strategies forDesigning 147 participants from 37states,theDistrict147 participants of The American Gardener. Anonymous In MemoryofMaxinePickrel Champion InternationalMoving In MemoryofHelenMcBryer Mrs. CarolynMarshLindsay In HonorofArabellaDane Mrs. CarolynMarshLindsay In MemoryofMarcCathey Mr. andMrs.KlausZech Mr. JoeViar Mr. andMrs.BruceUsrey the conclusionoflecture, par- beneficial insectsandbirds. At wildlife inthegarden, suchas avariety of gies forsupporting Nature Home, glas Tallamy hour-long presentation by offered toAHSmembers.The Wildlife,” awebinar exclusively spoke about“Home If you wouldliketo , authorofBringing delved intostrate- in May. Dou-

LEFT: COURTESY OF AMY BOLTON. RIGHT: COURTESY OF NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE VIVEKA NEVELN are disappearing.Thebestgarden fornative beeswillinclude ticular native plants.Without thoseplants,specialized bees tive species,butmanyspeciesofbeeshave specialized onpar- Some ofournative beescanusetheflowers ofmanynon-native herbaceousperennials? dens (specificallyfornative bees)usingnative versus non-na- What are your thoughtsoncreating pollinator-friendlygar- all non-natives are “bad” forbiodiversity, correct? Cleome gynandra, Some non-native plants,suchas participants. Hereparticipants. isasamplingofthosequestionsandhisresponses. During “Gardening forWildlife,” awebinar presented onSeptember 9,Douglas Tallamy answered several questionsfrom GARDENING FORWILDLIFE:TIPSFROMDOUGLASTALLAMY (Note: AHSMembers-onlypreview saleisThursdayApril15.) • Williamsburg, Virginia. • Lake BuenaVista,Florida. • Virginia. • Virginia. • APRIL 15–17.SpringPlantSale. APRIL 11&12.ColonialWilliamsburgGardenSymposium. MARCH 3–MAY16. DEC. 10.AnnualHolidayReception. DEC. 1–24.HolidayTreesDisplay. M 2009–2010 CALENDAR AHS NATIONALEVENTSANDPROGRAMS attract ahugenumberofinsects,sonot of caterpillarsonitsleaves. its flowers, 40species butitalsosupports andmothsat ishes bees,wasps,butterflies, Joe-pye weed, forexample,notonlynour- for leaf-eatersaswell asnectarandpollen. ductive garden isonethatprovides food of insectsthateatleaves. Themostpro- thegrowthnot support anddevelopment pollinators. But mostnon-native plantsdo good sources ofnectarandpollenforsome The flowers ofnon-native plantscanbe Epcot InternationalFlower&GardenFestival. www.ahs.org ark your calendarfor thesenationalevents thatare sponsored orco-sponsored by theAHS.Visit Casey Delphia,Montana Bozeman, Mary Meyer,Mary Chaska,Minnesota River Farm,Alexandria,Virginia. Verbena bonariensis River Farm,Alexandria, or call(703)768-5700formore information. River Farm,Alexandria, and Pasadena, California. • River Farm,Alexandria,Virginia. • Standard FlowerShow. • tree thatisbothbeautifulandproductive. grow andflourish,in10years, you willhave an18-foot plants thatwe know biodiversity. offorsupporting Watch it Plant anacorn.It willcostyou nothing.Oak trees are thebest biodiversity?porting and resources candothathasthemostinfluenceonsup- What wouldbetheonethingapersonwithlimitedtime of thesamefoodweb inbothNorth Carolina andNew York. olina seedinNew York state,even thoughbeechisamember wouldn’t wanttoplantabeechtree thatgrew from North Car- factor,within your biomewillbeanimportant however. You from thatbiome.Theprovenance oftheseedsource from ous forest biome,you probably willbesafechoosingaplant native plants.For example,ifyou live intheeasterndecidu- will dictatethesize ofthearea from whichyou canselectyour The geographicsize ofthefoodweb torestore you are trying they’ll contributetobiodiversity? How smallaregion shouldwe pickplants from toensure quentially from May through September. several typesofflower morphologies(shapes) thatbloomse- JULY 22–24.NationalChildren&YouthGardenSymposium. JUNE 10.GreatAmericanGardenersAwardsCeremony&Banquet. APRIL 15–17.NationalCapitalAreaGardenClubs,Inc.DistrictII River Farm,Alexandria,Virginia. Barbara Gerson, New York, New York Cassie Banning, Muncie, Indiana, November /December2009 9 10 by LeahChester-Davis APPRECIATION precursor toTheAmerican Gardener) The National Horticultural Magazine young manof27,pickedupacopy Columbus, North Carolina. He was89. John L.Creech died August 7,2009,in namental plants. During his33-year career authority onpropagating and breeding or- College Park andestablishedhimselfasan botany from theUniversity in ofMaryland ploration, Creech completedadoctoratein culture (USDA)Office ofForeign Plant Ex- ofAgri- After joiningtheU.S.Department HUNTINGANDBREEDING PLANT A was awarded for gallantry inaction. was awarded forgallantry theSilverof thinking,trumped Star he earned aBronze Star, which,inhisway public recognition.” onment, withouthintofself-acclaimor POWs intheirtimeofdepraved impris- ficult circumstances tomore than1,500 food,andbeautyunderthemostdif- fort, unselfish, industriouswaybrought com- oner, laterwrote thatCreech, “inhisquiet, Creech.” Clarence Ferguson, afellow pris- and earnedhimthenickname“Carrots a nearby plothelpedfeedhisfellow POWs Island, discovered anunused greenhouse. graduate from theUniversity ofRhode school, andCreech, arecent horticulture Poland. Thesitewasaformerboys’ and senttoaprisoner-of-warcampin tured by theGermans inNorth Africa as anofficerintheinfantry, hewascap- totell.In Worldlife story War II,serving lectors ofthe20thcentury. one ofthegreatest Americanplantcol- his career. He wouldgoon tobecome zine,” Creech said,setthedirection for The “tenor andseriousnessofthemaga- whathewantedtodowithhislife. knew the timehehadfinishedreading it,he and Introduction drew himin,andby U.S. Office ofForeign Plant Exploration aboutplantexplorersAn article withthe the University ofMassachusetts library. In thespringof1947,Creech, thena For hisgardening Creech efforts, The garden Creech raisedthere andon At 27,Creech already hadanamazing the American Gardener ure inAmericanhorticulture, breeder, writer, fig- andlegendary WAR HERO : , planthunter, plant John L.Creech—A GiantinPlantExploration in (a 1956 plant-hunting expeditiontoJapan. developed from seeds Creechcollectedona The ‘Whitespire’Asianwhite birchwas John CreechunwrapsabonsaispecimenattheUSDA’sGlennDale,Maryland,facilityin introduced intocultivation. Amongthe ing work were thehundreds ofplantshe vated ornamentaltrees andshrubs. and Yugoslavia tosearch forwildandculti- plorations toJapan, Russia, Nepal, Taiwan, with theUSDA,heconducted10plantex- The fruits ofhistravels andplantbreed-The fruits erophyllus Sea’, Sedum Plants namedinhonorofCreech include Morrison’, andRhododendron ‘Longwood’, themum pacificum,Euonymus fortunei sis, Cotoneaster japonica most notableare Betula platyphyllavar. tum whoaccompanied Creech onplant league ofCreech’s attheNational Arbore- Penjing Museum. the creation oftheNational Bonsai and in 1976.Thegifteventually resulted in in celebrationofAmerica’s Bicentennial a collective giftfrom theJapanese people stonesas gift of53bonsaiandsixviewing Japanese tonegotiate the horticulturists National Herb Garden. He worked with oversaw thedesignandinstallationof the D.C., apostheheldfrom 1973to1980. National Arboretum inWashington, he wasnamedthethird director oftheU.S. plant explorationoffice,and,eventually, Creech becamedirector oftheUSDA Rising swiftlythrough theUSDAranks, PROFESSIONAL A CONSUMMATE flora According to Skip March, aformercol- During histermasdirector, Creech Lagerstroemia fauriei,Osmanthus het- ‘John Creech’. ‘John Creech’ and ‘Whitespire’, ‘Gulftide’, Juniperis conferta ‘Green Cushion’, Chrysan- Rhododendron Camellia lutchuen- Abelia ‘Mrs. LBJ’. ‘Emerald ✕ grandi- 1975. ‘Ben

TOP: COURTESY OF U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF MONROVIA explorations to Japan in 1976 and 1978, He introduced American nurserymen to Creech always took a personal interest in To view the original article that in- the wonders of Japanese horticulture by employees’ lives and families. “He was a fluenced John Creech’s decision to leading them on tours to Japan. He was great inspiration and always very support- become a plant explorer, along with also instrumental in helping to establish ive,” March says. March’s wife, Marliese, other information about his life and the North Carolina Arboretum in Ashe- recalled in a 2007 interview that Creech accomplishments, click on the web ville and served as its interim part-time was “a man with much foresight and he al- special linked to this article on the director. Creech helped select George ways seemed to follow his dream. He ap- AHS website at www.ahs.org. Briggs as the arboretum’s first full-time di- preciated the people around him and rector in 1987. To Briggs, Creech was a recognized them.” “mentor, confidante, and trusted advisor.” Creech was a member of many horti- both the AHS’s highest honor, the Liber- Briggs is one of many colleagues, ac- cultural and scientific organizations. He ty Hyde Bailey Medal (in 1989) and the quaintances, and friends who hold this played an active role with the American Royal Horticultural Society’s Gold view of Creech. He was a legendary fig- Horticultural Society (AHS) for many Veitch Memorial Medal (in 1991). ure in the world of horticulture, yet he years, serving on the magazine’s editorial Among his other major awards were the remained a kind, gentle, unassuming committee, on the Board of Directors, Frank N. Meyer Memorial Medal from soul. This “giant” who made his life’s and as president from 1953 to 1956. In re- the American Genetic Association, the work in the plant-hunting profession— tirement, he signed on for a second stint Norman Jay Colman Award presented by which he called “the greatest game”— on the AHS magazine’s editorial adviso- the American Association of Nursery- will be missed, but his contributions ry board, which he served on until his men, the American Association of Botan- continue to enhance our lives and gar- death. He wrote many articles for a va- ical Gardens & Arboreta Award of Merit, dens in countless ways. riety of publications, including The and the Medal of Merit from the city of Plantsman, The American Gardener, and Kurume, Japan. Leah Chester-Davis is writing the biography American Nurseryman. of John L. Creech and would appreciate Over the course of his career, Creech RETIREMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA hearing from anyone who knew Creech and won numerous prestigious awards. He is After retiring to live in Hendersonville, was influenced by him. She can be reached at one of the few horticulturists to receive North Carolina in 1980, Creech kept busy. [email protected].

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November / December 2009 11 12 by GwynethEvans H ESSPECIAL: NEWS AHS strong supporter ofurbanbeautification strong supporter award memorializes thelateHolmes, a III CommunityChampionAward. The presentation John ofthenew R.Holmes cation atitsfinest.” ideals. It showcases communitybeautifi- that hascontinuedupholdingtheAIB Hershey wasan“early AIBparticipant Hershey “was atreat,” shesays,because community.” Thisyear’s symposiumin have forbeautifying andimproving their excitement anddedicationthatattendees Bloom Symposium becauseyou feelthe tor, sayssheenjoys “every Americain rora, Indiana. community. Thisyear’s award went toAu- improving andsolvingproblems intheir ganizations thathave proved productive in government, business,andnon-profit or- between communitymembers, forts 2004. Community Involvement Award—since sored oneofthecriteriaawards—the withAIBeachyear andhasspon- partners munities from 38stateshave participated. test’s debutin2002,more than170com- community involvement. Since thecon- forestry, environmental awareness, and teria, includingfloraldisplays,urban and scores eachbasedonanumberofcri- munities according topopulationsize Its annualcompetitioncategorizes com- beautification andcommunitybuilding. munities nationwidetopursueurban teria (seebox, right). ties rankinghighestineachoftheAIBcri- and eightawards were given tocommuni- communities,hailing the 25participating of brated theurbanbeautificationefforts in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Thisevent cele- October 1through 3attheHershey Lodge T This year’s symposiumincluded the Laura Kunkle, AIB’s executive direc- The AmericanHorticultural Society AIB’s mission is toencouragecom- the American Gardener The award honorscollaborative ef- Awards Program washeldfrom Bloom (AIB)Symposium and HE EIGHTH annual Americain lation category awards by popu- Six citiesreceived of thecountry. regionfrom every America inBloom’s2009Award Winners to in America.The inauguralaward went reflects theAIB’s missiontoplantpride remarkable communityleadershipthat AIB program, andwhodemonstrates inthe from acitythathasparticipated ary. Thisaward recognizes anindividual who passedawaysuddenlythisFebru- ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Criteria Award Winners ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Population Award Category Winners ■ ■ ■ Rick Webb Turf &GroundcoverAreasAward Tidiness AwardArroyoGrande,California Proven WinnersLandscapedAreasAward Meister MediaWorldwideHeritage J. FrankSchmidt&SonCompanyUrban Gardens Alive!EnvironmentalAwarenessAward Ball HorticulturalCompanyFloralDisplaysAward American HorticulturalSocietyCommunity 100,001 ormore 50,001–100,000 20,001–50,000 10,001–20,000 4,001–10,000 4,000 orless Michigan City,Indiana Collierville, Tennessee Preservation AwardRisingSun,Indiana Forestry AwardMilwaukee,Wisconsin Fayetteville, Arkansas Greendale, Indiana Involvement AwardAurora,Indiana River Falls,Wisconsin of Logan,Ohio, forhis Milwaukee, Wisconsin Lompoc Valley,California Collierville, Tennessee River Falls,Wisconsin Charles City,Iowa Echo, Oregon visit competition for2010,call(614) 487-1117or how toinvolve your communityinthe energetic involvement inhishometown. American Gardener. Gwyneth Evans forThe isaneditorialintern For more informationaboutAIBand www.americainbloom.org. Aurora, Indiana

COURTESY OF AMERICA IN BLOOM (2) ‘SPOUT TIME!

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Pour & Store Watering Cans 1.800.545.4411 www.oxo.com Second ofatwo-part seriesonholliesnative toNorthAmerica;deciduous hollieswerecoveredintheSeptember/October issue. 14 A monotypic, meaningthat all ofits considered by mosttaxonomists tobe are amongthemoststunningoflot. North American speciesandselections den throughout theyear. Andseveral make asubstantialstatementinthegar- deners andwildlife,evergreen hollies From leavesandbarktoberries,thesenative evergreensofferfourseasonsoflandscapeappeal. The hollyfamily(Aquifoliaceae) is Evergreen Hollies America’s Evergreen Hollies America’s the American Gardener berries thatappealtobothgar- their clustersoffallandwinter LTHOUGH BESTLOVED for Louisiana. ranging inthewildfrom Virginia to Eight oftheseare evergreen, mostly sula andwest toMinnesota andTexas. to thesoutherntipofFlorida penin- half ofthecontinentfrom New England ica, distributedthroughout theeastern 17 orsoare indigenous toNorth Amer- about 400hollyspeciesworldwide,and genus—in thiscase,Ilex. species are contained withinasingle There are colonists. Its hallmark appearanceisacom- trees tocatchtheattentionofearlyBritish this waslikelyoneofthefirst American highly valued English holly distributed. Because ofitssimilaritytothe probably the bestknown andmost widely ness Zones 5–9,AHSHeat Zones 9–5)is American holly hollies native totheUnited States, the Of thered- oryellow-fruited evergreen HOLLY AMERICAN BY GILNELSON BY GILNELSON (Ilex opaca, (I. aquifolium), USDA Hardi-

CATRIONA T. ERLER Opposite page: This mature specimen of the cultivar ‘Merry Christmas’ illustrates American holly’s attractive pyramidal shape. Above: Many other selections of American holly are available, including the popular red-fruited ‘Jersey Princess’, left, and yellow-fruited ‘Canary’, right.

bination of glossy, dark green, spiny leaves, 1946. “Everything we sell is one of my fa- mottled bark. Cultivated specimens, espe- bright red fruit, and attractive grayish bark. vorites, but ‘Dan Fenton’, ‘Jersey Princess’, cially those grown in sunny locations, are The availability of hundreds—perhaps ‘Miss Helen’, and ‘Satyr Hill’ stand out.” often more compact, with branching near- thousands—of named cultivars and selec- ‘Satyr Hill’ earned recognition as the ly to ground level. Southern trees—those tions attests to the American holly’s en- Holly Society of America (HSA) 2003 from the Carolinas southward—average during popularity. Holly of the Year. about 50 feet tall at maturity, but can be “We sell about 30 Ilex opaca cultivars Mature American hollies growing in twice this height in optimal conditions; here in Baltimore,” says Bill Kuhl of natural habitats tend to be pyramidal in northern trees are often somewhat shorter. McLean Nurseries, a well-known Mary- shape with an open crown. The lower Female trees produce conspicuous land garden center that has specialized in branches usually fall off naturally, allowing clusters of bright red fruit that contrast propagating and growing hollies since a clear view of the smooth, grayish, and sharply with the dark green leaves. The

FLOWERS, FRUIT, AND POLLINATION Hollies are textbook examples of a dioecious species—one Where native hollies are relatively abundant in nearby wood- whose flowers are functionally unisexual and borne on sepa- lands or neighboring yards, additional male plants may not rate individuals. be needed for abundant fruit production. In landscapes de- The female flowers contain an obvious superior ovary, usu- void of other native hollies, however, planting one male for ally surrounded by several reduced, clearly non-functional sta- every five or six females is the suggested ratio. mens. The plump ovary is typically topped by a short, thick For maximum pollination and fruiting, it is usually best to style and a flattened, buttonlike stigma, although in some plant male and female plants of the same species. Hollies, species the style is absent and the sticky stigma sits directly however, tend to be somewhat promiscuous. Male plants of atop the ovary. one species might contribute pollen to female plants of an- Typical male flowers have prominent stamens with con- other species if flowering times overlap—especially if the spicuous pollen-filled anthers surrounding a diminutive ovary two are closely related. that in some species aborts early, leaving a tiny cavity in the The fruits of the hollies are commonly called berries, or de- center of the flower. Male plants seem to produce more flow- scribed as “berrylike.” But in botanical terms, they are more ers per cluster and are often showier in the spring than fe- accurately considered drupes. Berries are defined as fleshy male plants, but only females produce the colorful fruits for fruits with a skinlike covering (exocarp) surrounding a juicy which hollies are best known. pulp (mesocarp) that contains naked seeds. In a drupe, the Gardeners who value winter fruit should plant mostly fe- seed is protected by a hard, bony structure called an endocarp. male selections, adding a few males to ensure pollination. —G.N. LEFT: JOSEPH G. STRAUCH JR. RIGHT: SUSAN A. ROTH

November / December 2009 15 16 tions ‘Savannah’ and‘EastPalatka’ are lia) holly(I.myrtifo- although themyrtleleaf American anddahoonhollies (I.cassine), brid whoseparentage likelyincludesthe Zones 6–9,9–4)arose asanaturalhy- The originaltopelholly(Ilex HOLLYTOPEL erately largeleaves. which are femaleplantswithatleastmod- ‘Angelica’, ‘Carnival’, and‘Clarissa’, allof USDA Zone 8and northward include spot on.Thefaster-growing cultivars for this.” Asitturnsout,Kuhl’s hunchmaybe but Iknow ofnoresearch thatconfirms little fasterthanthosewithsmallerleaves, be thattheformswithlargerleaves grow a faster forthecultivar ‘Glen Ellen’. It may lantic,” Kuhl says,“perhaps somewhat a reasonable expectationinthemid-At- spur thegrowth rate. water intheheatofsummeralsotendsto Providingsive fertilization. sufficient gardeners report fastergrowth withinten- to attainitsmostattractive form.Some than shade,itmaytake20years ormore gardeners. Althoughitgrows fasterinsun lantic andNortheast. are goodmales,especiallyforthemid-At- sey Knight’, ‘David’, and‘Baltimore Buzz’ small spaces.For ‘Jer- pollinationservices, form thantypicalplantsandare suitedfor ford’ displayatighter, more columnar female, andtheyellow-fruited ‘LadyBlake- well asI.opaca ‘Oak Grove’, and‘Fallaw’, ‘Fire as Chief’, tions are available, including‘Canary’, ‘Vera’. Asmanyas50yellow-fruited selec- clude ‘Old Heavy Berry’, ‘Satyr Hill’, and best ofthered-fruited femalecultivars in- nately, itsavailability iscurrently limited. wider usesinxeric gardening. Unfortu- Florida panhandleandmay have even asthe planted successfullyasfarnorth the centralFlorida peninsulabut hasbeen naturally onlyonsandyinlanddunesof hollygrows attractive. Scrub particularly long—and strongly rolled leafmarginsare leaves—usually lessthanthree inches cially suitedforxeric sites.Thesmaller bier variety ofAmericanhollythatisespe- Zones 8–9,11–9)isa smaller, oftenshrub- The scrub holly(I.opaca The scrub “Ten to12inchesofgrowth peryear is Ilex opaca Selections like‘Slim Jane’, ared-fruited is alsoasuspected parent. The selec- the American Gardener is notatree forimpatient forma xanthocarpa. var. ✕ attenuata, arenicola, Florida State University inTallahassee, scattered throughout thecampusof Hugeportant. ‘EastPalataka’ holliesare Palatka’ usefulwhere consistencyisim- positive response make‘East topruning mity inshapeandsize coupledwith a make excellent specimentrees. Unifor- foliage andsymmetricalcrowns, they and 15feetwide.With theirdark green onplantsthatgrowfruit 30to45feettall Palatka, Florida. It produces abundant the 1920sfrom atree growing nearEast H.Harold hollyexpert Humeendary in in formandfoliage. and 9.Bothare similar toAmericanholly ican holly, inUSDAZones particularly 8 good fast-growing substitutes forAmer- An attractivescreeningandhedgeplant,‘Foster#2’isacultivaroftopelholly. ‘East Palatka’ wasselectedby leg- hoon andAmerican hollies,inBessemer, as chanceseedlings ofcrosses oftheda- Ilex tall withasix-to10-footspread. American hollyandcanbecome 45feet from adistance.It grows fasterthan that give winter trees areddish casteven crown andabundantbright red fruits ‘Savannah’ features adense,symmetrical liage isoftenalighter, yellowish green. form thandoes‘EastPalatka’, butitsfo- It more closelyresembles found inthe1960sSavannah, Georgia. and crowded by parking lotsforyears. ty despitebeingtrampledby foottraffic where theyhave maintainedtheirbeau- The Foster hybrids(sometimes listedas ‘Savannah’ (Zones 7–9,9–4)was ✕ attenuata ‘Fosteri’, 6–9,9–4)started I. opaca in leaf

BILL JOHNSON Alabama, in the 1940s. ‘Foster #2’, proba- super here with only slight damage from bly the best female selection, is a dense the severe cold we had last winter.” conical tree with glossy, dark green leaves Sources that are often longer than wide and bear YAUPON Arborvillage, Holt, MO. conspicuous marginal teeth. This is one of Yaupon (Ilex vomitoria, Zones 7–10, 12–7) www.arborvillagellc.com. the few Ilex ✕attenuata selections that per- is the native holly most often grown in the forms well north of the southeastern southeastern United States. This is pri- Fairweather Gardens, Greenwich, NJ. coastal plains. Typical trees are 15 to 25 feet marily a plant of the coastal plains from www.fairweathergardens.com. tall, about 12 feet wide, upright and pyra- southeastern Virginia to Florida and west midal. It is excellent as a screening hedge to Texas, but it has a much wider range in Forest Farm, Williams, OR. on large properties. cultivation. Its many forms, selections, and www.forestfarm.com. Three yellow-fruited selections of Ilex cultivars are favorites of home gardeners, ✕attenuata are particularly attractive. growers, and commercial landscapers. Mail Order Natives, Lee, FL. ‘Alagold’ originated as a seedling of ‘Foster The leaves are small and medium www.mailordernatives.com. #2’, to which it is very similar in form and green with bluntly toothed margins. McLean Nurseries, Parkville, MD. (410) 882-6714.

RareFind Nursery, Jackson, NJ. www.rarefindnursery.com.

TNZ Nursery, Louisville, KY. www.tnz.us.

Woodlanders, Aiken, SC. www.woodlanders.net. Resources Florida’s Best Native Landscape Plants by Gil Nelson. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 2003.

Hollies: A Gardener’s Guide by Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Holly Society of America. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, New York, 1993. Yaupon holly selections come in a range of shapes and sizes, including the compact ‘Nana’. Hollies for Gardeners by Christopher foliage. The bright-yellow-fruited ‘Bi- Those of cultivated plants are usually less Bailes. Timber Press, Portland, enville Gold’, with its narrow form and than an inch-and-a-half long and not Oregon, 2006. dark green leaves, was introduced in 1995 more than about a half-inch wide, with by Tom Dodd, owner of Dodd & Dodd the leaves of shade-grown plants being Hollies: The Genus Ilex by Fred C. Native Plant Nursery in Semmes, Alaba- larger and darker green than plants grow- Galle. Timber Press, Portland, ma, and is suitable for warmer climates. ing in full sun. Female plants typically Oregon, 1997. ‘Longwood Gold’, introduced in the late produce abundant, conspicuous bright 1980s by Longwood Gardens in Kennett red drupes in winter. Holly Society of America, Square, Pennsylvania, is reportedly more For gardeners who enjoy plants with www.hollysocam.org. cold hardy than typical red-fruited hybrids. cultural connections, yaupon is unsur- Even with its coastal plains origin, Ilex passed. It is touted by ethnobotanists as ✕attenuata can be used well north of its the plant from which certain Native Yaupon’s popularity as a landscape southern provenance. “We’ve had some American tribes brewed a ceremonial shrub stems more from garden-worthiness highly favorable experiences with clones black drink, a caffeine-rich concoction than from its historic significance as a folk of Ilex ✕attenuata,” says Richard Larson, that also served as a purgative when con- remedy. It is tough, adaptable, drought and propagator for the Dawes Arboretum in sumed in quantity—hence the specific salt tolerant, requires little maintenance, central Ohio. “‘Sunny Foster’ holly from epithet. A similar beverage was also used and with its numerous forms, it fulfills

JERRY PAVIA the U.S. National Arboretum has done by American colonists as a tea substitute. many landscape needs. Dwarf, densely fo-

November / December 2009 17 liaged compact forms such as ‘Schillings’, ‘Nana’, and Bordeaux™ make excellent low hedges or borders and can be pruned to any size up to about three feet tall. Most of the dwarf forms are similar to one another and can be mixed in a single hedge that includes both male and female plants. Bordeaux™ is a sport of ‘Schillings’ that features burgundy-colored winter foliage. Larger upright forms include ‘Gray’s Greenleaf’, ‘Lynn Lowery’, ‘Fencerow’, ‘Will Fleming’, and the yellow-fruited ‘Yawkey’, all of which can grow 20 feet tall. The weeping forms of yaupon are ar- guably the most attractive of this species; cultivars such as ‘Pendula’ and ‘Folsom’s Weeping’ are widely available and are perfect for accenting corners or tall facades. Both are narrow and upright, grow to about 20 feet tall, and have strongly droop- ing branches that should be allowed to hang gracefully and never be pruned, ex- cept to keep the branch tips off the ground. DAHOON The dahoon holly (Ilex cassine, Zones 7–10, 12–7) is naturally distributed along the coast from southeastern North Caroli- na to Louisiana, including all of Florida. It is primarily a wetland tree, but it adapts well to the garden, even in relatively dry sites. Dahoon is faster growing than Amer- ican holly and will produce fruit in part shade or full sun. The one- to four-inch leaves are much longer than wide, medium green, somewhat glossy, and typically lack spiny lobes. Dahoon produces flowers and fruit at an early age, responds well to pruning, and bears numerous bright red drupes in winter. Mature plants in the wild can grow 35 feet tall, but garden plants rarely exceed 20 feet. The best dahoon cultivars include ‘Per- dido’ and ‘Tensaw’, introduced by Tom Dodd. ‘Perdido’ is a small, adaptable tree or large shrub with a mostly rounded crown and a profusion of red winter fruit. ‘Tensaw’ is slightly smaller, but is also a single-trunked tree or medium-sized shrub. Its densely borne leaves are shorter and rounder than other dahoon selections. Yel- low-fruited forms are sometimes market- ed as I. cassine forma aureo-bractea. Ray Head, president of the Holly Soci- ety of America, grows ‘Tensaw’ and ‘Per- dido’ in his North Carolina garden and Top: The ‘Perdido’ selection of dahoon holly shows off pearly pink and red fruits. Above:

counts them among his favorite evergreen The aptly named inkberry is widely adaptable in American gardens. GIL NELSON (2)

18 the American Gardener hollies. “These may be coastal plain plants but they do very well for me here in the Piedmont where winter temperatures can drop to zero,” says Head. “My plants produce loads of winter fruit to feed robins and waxwings. The fruit of ‘Tensaw’ is an orange color, which adds to its interest.” MYRTLELEAF HOLLY The closely related myrtleleaf holly (I. myrtifolia, Zones 7–10, 12–7) is considered by some authorities to be a variety of dahoon but is probably better treated as a distinct species. It has the smallest leaves of any of our native evergreen hollies, averaging less than an inch long and only about a quarter-inch wide, similar in length to those of yaupon, but much narrower. The margins are usually smooth, rarely with a few tiny sharp teeth. Myrtleleaf holly grows to about 15 feet in cultivation, with an open crown. Yellow-fruited forms of this species are particularly stunning. BLACK-FRUITED HOLLIES Among the native black-fruited hollies, inkberry (Ilex glabra, Zones 4–10, 10–4) is the most popular and widely available. It is primarily a wetland plant in nature, broad- ly distributed in low pinelands and along swamp margins from Nova Scotia south to Texas. But it adapts well to garden soils, as ‘Will Fleming’, an upright yaupon holly selection, forms an allée in this Austin, Texas, garden. long as they are at least moderately acidic. Mature plants can potentially grow to Like many natives, inkberry does well Washington, D.C. “This is particularly eight feet tall, but are usually much small- in the garden beyond its natural range. true when used in the mid-ground of a er. They can be pruned to a more compact Eric Garris, curator of the holly collection planting bed where the leaf shape, gloss, form, lending themselves to use in foun- at the Bernheim Arboretum and Research and berries are visible.” dation plantings or along walkways. The Forest in north-central Kentucky, grows Several make stunning specimens, ei- main stem of inkberry grows somewhat several cultivars. “Ilex glabra is not native ther with a single or multiple trunks. Some slowly, but plants can spread fairly rapidly to Kentucky but performs well here,” says selections perform as elegant street trees. by vigorous, quick-growing underground Garris. “We currently have nine cultivars Others can be massed as a screen, planted runners. Mature plants of some selections in our collection. I like ‘Compacta’ for its as an informal hedge, or pruned for a more can create a dense hedge if pruned. hardiness and rounded form and ‘Ivory formal landscape. “Hollies are a wonderful There are at least two dozen inkberry Queen’ for its great, glossy foliage and counterpoint to the seasonal variations of cultivars, distinguished mostly on the basis white berries. ‘Winter Wine’ is also a fa- perennials and grasses,” says Delplace. of form, foliage, and fruit color. Compact vorite because it is very hardy and has a While other components of the garden forms are most popular, the best of which burgundy tint during winter.” wax and wane throughout the year, ever- include ‘Compacta’, ‘Densa’, and ‘Nigra’. green hollies contribute elegant stability. Unlike other selections, ‘Nigra’ does not HOLLIES IN THE GARDEN Few native species equal them for en- lose its lower leaves with age—a typical Whether you’re seeking winter interest, livening the winter landscape. problem for standard inkberries. four-season appeal, or sources of food for ‘Leucocarpa’ (sometimes referred to as wildlife in your garden, you can’t go Gil Nelson is an author, photographer, and I. glabra forma leucocarpa) is a white-fruit- wrong with native evergreen hollies. botanist based in Georgia. His next book, ed form that has been available in nurseries “They can add wonderful year-round The Best Native Plants for Southern Gar- since at least the 1950s. ‘Ivory Queen’ and texture and depth to any landscape,” says dens: A Handbook for Gardeners, Home- ‘Alba’, both of which are probably selec- landscape architect Lisa Delplace of owners, and Professionals, is scheduled for

KAREN BUSSOLINI tions of ‘Leucocarpa’, also bear white fruit. Oehme, van Sweden and Associates in release by University Press of Florida in 2010.

November / December 2009 19 20 Gardens did. However, it’s only beeninthelast30 their patientsflourished justastheplants healing plantsincloistered gardens where into green spaces.Medieval monks grew centuries. TheGreeks incorporated them Healing gardens have beenaround for OFSUCCESS HISTORY LONG heal,” Hamilton addedemphatically. overwhelming. You know you, too,will injuries intoperspective, andthey’re notas from Rosburg, Washington. “It’s putmy and hummingbirds,” said therecent retiree stop atanypoint,sitandwatchbutterflies reveling inthebeautyofplants.“Ican garden day, every touching,smelling,and surgeries andintensepain,shewasinthe were severely burned.Yet despiteskingraft , andthird-degree burns,andherhands lower bodywascovered with first-,second- ton coast.More than20percent ofher camper atavacation siteontheWashing- vious whileHamilton wasinthefamily A propane stove hadexploded10dayspre- cy Emanuel Medical CenterinPortland. garden attheOregon Burn CenteratLega- wrapped handsinthecourtyard healing K the bodyandmindcomfortsoul. Like theirprecursorsthousandsofyearsago,healinggardensaretherapeuticsanctuariesthatheal the American Gardener ATHY HAMILTON pick a blueberry withhergauze- pick ablueberry her walkerassheslowly bentto leaned against garden attheOregonBurnCenterLegacyEmanuelMedical inPortland,above. Burn patientKathyHamilton,left,spenttimerecuperatingfrom herinjuriesinthehealing is thatthere are about 500healinggar- are,” saysSachs. “But, myeducatedguess difficult toknow exactlyhow manythere system forregistering healinggardens, it’s cleardefinitions,or is nocertification, to takeholdinthe1990s.“Because there dens beganinthelate1980sand started 21), themodernconceptofhealinggar- scapes Network (see“Resources,” page and director of the TherapeuticLand- their facilitiesandtherapies. pushed tointegratehealinggardens into years that the healthcare communityhas According toNaomi Sachs, founder for Recovery tor ofTexas A&MUniversity’s Centerfor on hospitalpatients. Ulrich, whoisdirec- the healingeffectsofgardens andnature Ulrich’s landmark 1984studythatproved healing gardens canbetracedtoDr. Roger titioners thatthecurrent popularityof and manyothers. life-threatening illnesses,hospicecare, dicts, dementiapatients,children with tients toburnsufferers, recovering ad- constituencies, rangingfrom AIDSpa- abroad rangeoftherapeutic dens serve dens across thecountry.” Healing gar- There’s generalagreement amongprac- BY DOREENG.HOWARD

COURTESY OF LEGACY EMANUEL OREGON BURN CENTER (2) Health Systems & Design, tracked the medical outcome of gall bladder surgery patients who had a bedside window view Resources of either trees or a brick wall. Patients in Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Portland, Oregon. both groups were similar in age, weight, ■ There are regularly scheduled open days at the various Legacy healing gardens and medical history. The data showed that in Oregon. For more information, visit www.legacyhealth.org. those with the view of nature, compared to those who looked out at the brick wall, had Open Spaces Sacred Places by Tom Stoner and Carolyn Rapp. Chelsea Green shorter hospital stays and suffered less post- Publishing Company, White River Junction, Vermont, 2008. surgical complications. Patients with views of trees required far fewer doses of narcotics Rosecrance Serenity Garden, Rockford, Illinois. to kill pain compared to those with views ■ The garden is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is free, of brick walls. And they were also more co- but registration is required. For more information, visit www.rosecrance.org. operative patients. Further research by Ulrich suggested Therapeutic Landscapes Network, Beacon, NY. (845) 264-2026. five primary design guidelines for any www.healinglandscapes.org. healing garden, including ones for home ■ The website includes listings of healing gardens around the country, links to backyards: related organizations, and other resources. ■ Include a variety of spaces such as rocks surrounded with groundcovers, seating areas, beds of brightly colored NEED-DRIVEN DESIGN ly impaired, straight paths are the safest. flowers, and water features. When peo- The therapeutic objectives and clientele of People with partial sight can see vivid ple are stressed, the ability to choose a each individual facility dictate the design foliage and flower colors, so plants with space that suits their needs at the mo- and plant selection for healing gardens. these attributes should be included, ment reduces the negative consequences “Based on the therapeutic needs of pa- along with textured plants that provide of that stress. tients, gardens evolve as we go back and tactile interest, and fragrant ones for ol- ■ Include quiet space for families and forth with the staff to define the therapeu- factory appeal. friends to provide support that helps tic requirements for each program,” says Hospitals that treat cardiac and other improve a patient’s outcome. Make landscape architect Brian Bainnson of critical-care patients incorporate teleme- these seating spaces conducive to con- Quatrefoil, Inc. in Portland, Oregon. try—an electronic system that monitors versation in a private setting. Bainnson designed the Oregon Burn Cen- vital signs—so that a patient can sit in the ■ Encourage movement and mild ex- ter Garden and 14 others across the coun- garden, relax, and visit with family with- ercise with easy-to-navigate paths and try. “Meeting these requirements becomes out the constant presence of medical staff. destinations such as a pond or fragrant integral to the design so that patients enjoy These serenity or meditation gardens fea- herb garden. Studies indicate that exer- the garden as a ‘garden’ and not as a piece ture plant palettes in cool colors with focal cise lessens stress and lifts moods. of equipment,” says Bainnson. points such as small ponds around which ■ Make green space dominant. Plants, For example, even though many people can sit for contemplation. trees, and shrubs should comprise two- healing gardens incorporate soothing Materials used to build gardens at psy- thirds of the garden, and hardscape (walls, curved paths, in gardens for the visual- chiatric hospitals must be able to with- patios, sidewalks, pergolas, etc.) no more stand abuse. In addition, for safety than a third. The greener the garden, the reasons, poisonous plants and those with greater its positive effect on health. thorns must be excluded. Windows look- ■ Create privacy. Situate healing gardens ing into the garden need to be shielded away from noise, heavy foot traffic, and with shrubs, vines, and tall flowers to bright lights. These negative stimuli can avoid a “fish bowl” effect in the garden negate the garden’s benefits. If intrusive that agitates some patients. elements cannot be avoided, the best re- Gardens for patients with Alzheimer’s course is to diminish them as much as disease or other dementias are designed possible with greenery or even walls. to be simple. Often they include a con- Since Ulrich’s groundbreaking study, tinuous, level loop of paths with walking research has shown that healing gardens rails. The loop avoids dead ends, which can be designed to successfully treat a va- may frustrate those with dementia. Seat- riety of physical, cognitive, psychological, ing has to be sturdy, with arm rests and and social problems (for a list of thera- backs for failing bodies and minds. In- peutic applications for healing gardens, see corporating widely grown plants like pots the web special linked to this article on the Brightly colored flowers and foliage are used of petunias and raised beds of tomatoes,

VIVEKA NEVELN AHS website, www.ahs.org). in gardens for the visually impaired. creates a familiar, soothing atmosphere.

November / December 2009 21 22 The Japanese-style RosecranceSerenityGarden,top andabove,providesarelaxing settingfortreatmentofyoungpeople withaddiction pro ferent clientele. regarded dif- very facilitiesthatare serving ing acloserlookatcoupleofhighly ing gardens are beingused,it’s tak- worth ronment ofamodernhospital.” and “distinct from themoving, busyenvi- healing gardens mustbevisuallyinviting tients whoare nearingdeath. often thelastofsensesretained by pa- are too,becausehearingis important, waterandbirdssuch asrunning singing door light.Natural soundsinthegarden, toallowportant adjustmenttobrightout- outdoor areas inhospicegardens are im- the senseofstability, andplantswithnu- and reflective qualitiesofwater;rocks for ing blocksofaJapanese garden: soothing apy needs.There are three essentialbuild- garden stylewasadaptedforspecificther- termined design,aswell ashow Japanese excellent exampleof how intendedusede- diction problems. The60-acre garden isan young peoplefrom 12 to18whohave ad- Illinois, surrounds a facilitythattreats Rosecrance Serenity Garden inRockford, FORYOUNGPEOPLE A HEALINGGARDEN To getasenseofthemanywaysheal- Bainnson emphasizes thatinallcases, Transition spacesbetween indoorand the American Gardener blems.

DOREEN G. HOWARD (2) merous textures and shades of green. Rose- how to sense energy, and get back in tune she saw when she woke up from anesthe- crance features two cascading waterfalls, a with their senses again. They do metaphor sia. She used her desire to touch the plants, pond stocked with fish, one-and-a-half exercises, too, such as exploring how the smell the flowers, and see the birds as mo- miles of winding paths, and an abundance process of pruning a tree is like cutting tivation to progress beyond the pain and of plants ranging from towering Scotch loose counterproductive people and ele- walk to the garden. pines to oakleaf hydrangeas. Eighteen acres ments in their lives, says Rice. Nicholson Landscape architect Brian Bainnson of woodland surround the facility. Areas to adds, “We teach patients how to use nature worked with Teresia Hazen, Legacy’s coor- sit and reflect are located throughout. to ground themselves, instead of getting dinator of therapy gardens, in modifying Symbolism abounds in the garden. angry, flipping out, and making bad deci- standard healing garden features to im- Each waterfall has 12 drops, represent- sions.” Before the garden was built, pa- prove accessibility for all patients. The goal ing the 12 steps of recovery. Paths are tients would run away when upset. Now, was for rehabilitative therapy to take place in the garden daily, weather permitting. Foremost was privacy for the patients and their families. Because severe burns often leave a person with permanent scars and even altered body parts, it’s imperative that there be shelter from the outside world. The healing garden was constructed in the 9,000-square-foot hospital court- yard. Away from the main paths, five private areas with seating were created for patients and their families to connect. Some of the garden beds were raised to ac- commodate wheelchairs and those unable to bend. Paths were made wider for wheelchairs, gurneys, and walkers. A play space for young burn victims was designed to stimulate their imagination. To prevent direct sunlight from causing discomfort to burned skin, shade was a re- quirement. Trees were planted everywhere and vine-covered pergolas were construct- Horticultural therapist Teresia Hazen works with patients at several Legacy Health ed for seating and places to gather. Plants facilities in Portland. Here she helps stroke patient Lee Jordan practice techniques of such as fragrant lavender and lemon-scent- gardening from a wheelchair in a garden at Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital. ed pelargoniums, fuzzy lambs ears (Stachys byzantina), and tasty strawberries and curved, because there are no straight patients go for a walk by the water or go to cherry tomatoes, were included to engage lines in life, according to Susan Rice, a place in the garden that is special to them. all the senses. Nectar- and seed-producing public relations director for the Rose- Landscape architect Hoichi Kurisu cre- plants such as coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) crance Health Network. ated the Rosecrance Serenity Garden, and honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), along The ordered, relaxing healing garden is which is one of two full-size Japanese-style with bird feeders, were included to attract designed so that adolescents who have ad- healing gardens in the United States. The wildlife. “This beautiful garden is a won- diction problems can explore life analogies, other, also designed by Kurisu, is at the derful way to work your way back into so- exercise, and participate in group therapy. Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospi- ciety,” says Hazen, who was the recipient Many of them have issues such as attention tal, in Lebanon, Oregon. of the American Horticultural Society’s deficit disorder and depression. The Japan- Horticultural Therapy award in 2007. ese garden model was used because it’s de- MOVING BEYOND PAIN AND DISFIGUREMENT Kathy Hamilton—who is now home, signed to help a person look inward and Burn gardens such as the one at Legacy tending her garden, painting watercolors, reflect. “Our patients have used drugs to Emanuel Medical Center in Portland have and walking further every day along the hide their inner feelings,” says Rice. “The a host of requirements that other healing scenic roads of her neighborhood— garden is a safe, nurturing place where gardens don’t. Many patients have life- wholeheartedly agrees with Hazen. “Life those feelings can now come to the surface. threatening and disfiguring injuries, and is good,” she says. That is when lasting recovery begins.” the road to recovery is long. The view of Christine Nicholson, supervisor of ex- the healing garden through a window next Freelance writer Doreen G. Howard lives in periential therapies, uses the garden as a to his or her bed in intensive care may be a Roscoe, Illinois. Her blog, The Edible Ex- backdrop for art, music, and meditation patient’s first experience after awakening. plorer, is linked through the Christian Sci-

COURTESY OF TERESIA HAZEN therapies. Patients learn to breathe deeply, Kathy Hamilton says it was the first thing ence Monitor website.

November / December 2009 23 A “Look-Into” Garden

An often neglected aspect of garden design is how the landscape looks when observed from primary indoor viewing areas. Contributing writer Carole Ottesen offers tips for making your garden look spectacular from the inside out.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY CAROLE OTTESEN

24 the American Gardener Opposite page: From the living room of the author’s home, a ‘Natchez’ crape myrtle dominates the view, along with hydrangeas in summer. Left: In winter, the crape myrtle shows off its bark and sculptural form against the backdrop of an evergreen. Above: Fall tints gild the foliage of bigleaf magnolia, viewed from a window.

OR MOST of us—even if we are dens. But if that long-ago gift was the 10 and spending time in a vacation cottage in the garden every day—more percent inspiration, the other 90 percent on the Canadian coast. Each fall, when I F time is spent inside looking out was thought and labor. returned to Maryland, it was to a few than the other way around. With this in The first thing I realized was that gar- weeks of a diminishing garden. And mind, I thought, why not create “look- dens look different when viewed from in- then, all too soon, winter arrived and I into” gardens—beautiful little scenes to side a house. That’s because, most often, was spending more time indoors. enjoy from indoors, especially during the we design gardens when we are actually in What I discovered was that, viewed long winter months? This idea was both them for movement through them to be from the inside, my garden was lackluster. practical and fanciful. viewed, perhaps, as we walk along a path One of the primary reasons was that most The fanciful part goes back to my child- from one focal point to another. Some- of my plants were summer bloomers, so hood, to the spring my favorite aunt pre- times gardens are designed primarily for throughout the fall and winter, there was sented me with a confection in the shape of the view from the street or driveway. In ei- not enough to please the eye. a giant, hollow Easter egg. It was decorated ther case, being conscious of how your gar- Like that proverbial tree falling in a with pink and white icing and had a hole at den looks from the interior of the house lonely forest, summer-flowering plants one end. When you peeked through the brings a new perspective to its design and go right through their life cycles whether hole, there was a tiny world inside: a house, will help increase your enjoyment of it. or not you are there to see them. And if a little garden, a wide-spreading tree with you aren’t there, you miss the entire show. gnarled roots, and rabbits poking up among THE EPIPHANY Summer is so gloriously awash in peren- the flowers. I found it enchanting. I started creating look-into gardens nials and flowering shrubs that it is The magic of that perfectly enclosed lit- around my current house in Maryland tempting to keep adding more, but it’s al- tle world from long ago has stayed with me soon after I began to escape the hot mid- ways best to exert self-discipline and aim over the years and certainly played a role in Atlantic summer months by turning the for a mix of plants that shine at different creating “look-into” scenes in my own gar- care of the garden over to my housesitter times of the year.

November / December 2009 25 In fall and winter, views from the author’s home office are enhanced by the colorful foliage and arresting form of stewartias.

This line of thinking led me to the hawthorns (Crataegus spp.) and winter- changed and, with the help of the notes bittersweet recognition that most of the berries (Ilex verticillata). Masses of winter and sketches I had made, rushed outside plants in my garden belonged to a phase aconite (Eranthis hyemalis), snowdrops to accomplish it. of my life that was now over. This (Galanthus nivalis) or tommy crocuses With each change I made, the satisfac- epiphany had a bright side: On the next (Crocus tommasinianus) can follow as tion level inside ratcheted up. To enjoy the trip to the garden center, the choices were cheerful reminders that winter is ending. garden from inside, you have to shift a clear. Any new plants had to be showy in Finding ornamentals that shine in the point, or points, of view to the inside— spring, fall, and winter when I would be off seasons turned out to be delightfully ideally to the places where you spend the there to see them. easy. Integrating them among the ones almost time. Then you’ll be able to enjoy Does it flower in summer? No, thank ready in the garden was more challenging. your garden in a different way. It’s a bit like you! Does it bloom in spring, fall, or win- watching a sporting event on television: ter? Does it have berries and/or out- NEW PERSPECTIVES ON DESIGN You’re not in the stands, but you have a standing fall color? Is it evergreen or does Looking out of my house, it also seemed much better view of the action. it have an interesting shape or bark when to me that many of the long-established Snug and warm in your favorite chair, leafless? Yes, please! plants were awkwardly placed. To remedy you can admire the coral bark maple’s “It’s a long, long time from May to De- this, all through the cold months, I would brilliant limbs while, outside, the snow cember,” goes an old song. But it always garden through the windows with my eyes, settles slowly upon them. As winter seems even longer from January to March, moving a shrub here, limbing up a tree warms into spring, you can observe a especially for gardeners. That’s when you there, expanding a bed to achieve more field of winter aconites push up through need evergreens and the bark of crape myr- graceful proportions and, sometimes when snow from, say, the window above the tles (Lagerstroemia spp.) and stewartias; the it couldn’t be helped, removing a plant. By kitchen sink. When the leaves of a buds of magnolias; and the berries of earliest spring, I knew what had to be Franklin tree (Franklinia alatamaha)

26 the American Gardener flame scarlet in the autumn sun, you can house or to the street. It’s great if they’re enjoy the conflagration from your desk. evergreens, but the trunks and branches of The place to begin planning a look-into deciduous shrubs and trees can do a good Resources garden is at a window—the bigger, the bet- job of trapping your gaze—especially if The Garden View: Designs for Beautiful ter. Then narrow the point of view to a they are dramatic. For instance, the arrest- Landscapes by Tara Dillard. Sterling chair, your desk, or the kitchen sink. Place ing bark on the trunks of crape myrtles Publishing, New York, New York, ornamentals where they form a pleasant (Lagerstroemia spp.), birches (Betula spp.), 2004. tableau that you can easily see from that paperbark maples (Acer griseum), and stew- window. This part may take some running artias is almost as good as a fence for stop- Inside Out: Relating Garden to House inside and out as you move the plants ping your eye. In the same way, the by Page Dickey. Stewart, Tabori & around to get the arrangement right. brightly colored berries on the stems of Chang, New York, New York, 2000. winterberry (Ilex verticillata) and Ameri- ENCLOSURE can beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) Outside the Not So Big House by Julie Because you are aiming for a diorama ef- rivet attention from fall onward. When Moir Messervy. Taunton Press, New- fect, generally it is best to arrange plants grouped together, their branches produce ton, Connecticut, 2009. with the lowest-growing ones closest to the a cloud studded with berries that functions window and increasingly taller shrubs and as a see-through fence. Your House, Your Garden: A Foolproof trees toward the back of the scene. Sometimes, though, the best solution Approach to Garden Design by Gordon Tall trees and shrubs in the background is the real thing. A fence is quick and easy Hayward. W.W. Norton & Co., Inc., impart a sense of enclosure and stop your and provides immediate enclosure and New York, New York, 2003. eye from wandering over to the neighbor’s privacy. It doesn’t have to completely en-

circle your garden. A few judiciously sited panels can provide the backdrop and the privacy you are looking for. WORKING WITH WHAT YOU HAVE Most gardens have established perennials, shrubs, and trees. While moving and dividing perennials is relatively easy, digging up large shrubs or trees is usually not feasible for the average homeowner. But removing them or pruning them is. It seems to go against some deep-seated American mores, but there really are times when cutting down a tree or large shrub is the right thing to do. Before you give them the axe, however, consider pruning up dense, vigorous shrubs. Sometimes just removing the lower branches opens up a vista. Pruned-up shrubs or tree trunks in the foreground force perspective. They are a wonderful means of augmenting depth of field, fram- ing the view of the garden beyond. In my garden I have successfully pruned up a tall nandina, a Florida anise (Illicium floridanum), and very large leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum). With a shapely shrub or tree in the foreground, draw the eye into the background with pleasing texture or color. A field of ornamental grasses such as fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides) or dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon ‘Kyoto’) makes a good, homogenous foil for a fore- The coral bark maple’s fiery stems are even more vivid with a coating of ice. ground silhouette.

November / December 2009 27 MAKING USE OF NEW REAL ESTATE Pruned-up shrubs yield space around their bases for lower- growing ornamentals. Another place to find bonus space is be- hind foundation plants where space up against the house is lost from sight when viewed from the garden. When viewed through a window, this space can become an important part of the overall scene. It is the foreground—an excellent place to view small, shy plants such as emerging woodland wildflowers or little bulbs. Be sure to intersperse these early-blooming ephemerals with plants that shine when the early flowers fade. In shady, moist spaces hostas, hakone grass (Hako- nechloa macra and cultivars), and Japanese beech fern (Thelypteris decursive-pinnata) are great at dovetailing with early bulbs, becoming full and lush, but never too tall. All are great as frames for other, more dynamic plants. To keep a look-into garden lively, include plants that offer interest in the different seasons. Above: The cheery yellow flowers of winter ROCK-STAR PLANTS hazel and ground-level color of Lenten roses There are a few plants that celebrate all of are harbingers of spring. Left: Franklin tree’s the seasons with panache. In their arsenals incandescent fall foliage is worthy of a are attributes to combat boredom at any prime viewing site. time of year. Often, because of superior size, rock-star plants tend to be trees. Ide- My garden’s biggest diva in both size ally, each look-into garden needs at least and effect is a bigleaf magnolia (Magno- one rock-star plant to bring it to life. lia macrophylla). Its enormous, wide- In my garden, one of the celebrities is spreading branches dominate the view a coralbark maple (Acer palmatum along an entire side of the house. Pic- ‘Sango-kaku’) that shows off lacy green turesque from the kitchen, dining room, leaves all summer. In fall the leaves be- and reading room, this botanical leviathan come yellow stars before dropping to re- grandly marks the seasons with foot-wide veal stems and limbs of an almost flowers in summer, three-foot banana- unbelievable coral-red hue. yellow leaves in fall, and smooth gray In the garden view from my office, a bark and big, promising buds in winter. mountain stewartia (Stewartia ovata) with (For more rock-star plants, see the box, exfoliating bark and early summer flowers on the opposite page.) becomes an exhibitionist in fall when its leaves turn a vivid orange. Its relative, the Solely by virtue of its stunning, exfoli- THE FINISHING TOUCH more reserved silky camellia (Stewartia ating, cinnamon-colored bark, a crape In all seasons, the bigleaf magnolia is a malacodendron), exquisite with white myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez’) magnet for birds. Hung with bird seed spring flowers that balance on its branch- stands alone in the foreground of the liv- and suet feeders, it draws birds to the es like so many eggs, turns yellow in fall ing room garden. The smooth, muscled window where they can be closely ob- and exhibits a wonderful wide-branching, trunks are colorful sculpture—an elegant served. After birds come to feed, they elegantly twiggy winter silhouette. foil to the changing seasons. claim territory in the garden and soon

28 the American Gardener BEST PICKS FOR YEAR-ROUND GARDEN INTEREST Here are a few of Carole Ottesen’s favorite plants for providing special effects or interest at different times of the year.

Dense Evergreen Background Plants Silky camellia (Stewartia malacodendron, Zones 7–9, 9–6) China fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata, USDA Hardiness Variegated pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia ‘Variegata’, Zones 7–9, AHS Heat Zones 9–7) Zones 4–7, 8–1) Clumping bamboos (Fargesia spp., Zones 5–9, 8–5) Hollies (Ilex spp., Zones 6–9, 9–6) Fall Stars Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica, Zones 6–8, Zones 9–4) Bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora, Zones 4–8, 9–4) Sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana, Zones 7–9, 9–1) Franklin tree (Franklinia alatamaha, Zones 5–8, 9–6), Japanese maples (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–8, 8–2) Eye-Stoppers Spicebush (Lindera benzoin, Zones 4–8, 8–1) American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana, Zones 6–9, 9–1) Toad lilies (Tricyrtis spp., Zones 5–9, 9–5) Canoe birch (Betula papyrifera, Zones 2–6, 7–1) Deciduous magnolias (Magnolia spp., Zones 4–9, 9–1) Late-Winter Stars River birch (Betula nigra ‘Heritage’, Zones 4–9, 9–1) Lenten rose (Helleborus ✕hybridis, Zones 4–8, 9–6) Winterberry (Ilex verticillata, Zones 3–9, 8–5) Red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea, Zones 3–7, 8–1) Tommy crocus (Crocus tommasinianus, Zones 3–9, 8–1) Rock Stars Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis, Zones 3–7, 9–1) Bigleaf magnolia (M. macrophylla, Zones 5–8, 9–6) Winter daphne (Daphne odora, Zones 7–9, 9–7) Coral bark maple (Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’, Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox, Zones 7–9, 9–7) Zones 6–8, 8–1) Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Natchez’, Zones 6–8, 9–6) Spring Stars Hawthorn (Crataegus viridis ‘Winter King’, Zones 4–7, 7–5) Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia, Zones 4–8, 9–5) Mountain camellia (Stewartia ovata, Zones 3–9, 8–1) Silverbells (Halesia spp., Zones 5–8, 8–4) Paperbark maple (Acer griseum, Zones 4–8, 8–1) Winter hazels (Corylopsis spp., Zones 5–8, 8–5)

nourish new generations in secret nests. There are robins, wrens, chickadees, woodpeckers, cardinals, mourning doves, blue jays, titmice, juncos, and—season- ally—finches. A blue heron shows up from time to time, stalking majestically around the property and worrying the fish in the garden pond. These lively inhabitants of the world outside the window provide the finishing touch for the garden. As birds flit from tree to shrub to grass, they involve you inti- mately in their affairs and bring movement and song into the landscape. As never before, the life of the garden penetrates deeply into the interior of the house. You may be sitting at your desk in the office reading and writing, or standing in the kitchen chopping vegetables, cooking, or washing up, but you are also very much outside in the midst of a private, self-contained, complete, and magical little universe.

Contributing writer for The American Gar- dener, Carole Ottesen splits her gardening Include plants and design features that draw wildlife, such as this blue heron, within view. time between Maryland and Nova Scotia.

November / December 2009 29 30 the perennialplantindustryinNorthAmerica. While happilystayingoutofthelimelight, plantsman AllenBushhasquietlylefthismarkon farmhouse withcollegeroommates, read- teller—hehadbeensharingthe mate story tobacco farmerElsie Lowery. farmhouseofJessaminecountry County where lifewould lead.It ledhimtothe to theUniversity ofKentucky, unsure roads. The Louisvillenative hadgoneoff I In hisLouisville, Kentucky,garden,AllenBushgrows manyoftheperennialshe hashelpedintroducetoAmerican gardeners. unsung horticulturalhero Allen Bush unsung horticulturalhero Allen Bush As Bush tellsit—andhe’s aconsum- his personal and horticultural cross- his personalandhorticultural the ageof23,AllenBush hadreached T WASTHE the American Gardener spring of1974andat 100 tomatoplantsbecause he wanted site fortomatoes.“Elsie suppliedabout mind, butatleastitseemed like agreat wasmoreportunity linearthanhe hadin long andmaybeonefootwide.” asm, offered astrip ofground alongafield. Lowery, takenwithBush’s rawenthusi- ter, andwasready toplanthisfirstgarden. ing The Jessamine County gardening op- Organic Gardening “It was,”saysBush, “about 400feet magazines allwin- ‘I’ll never beagardener’.” all dead.Man, Ithought, Iwascrushed. about 10days.Icamebackandtheywere And thenIhadtogosomeplacefor them outoneday, andwatered them. some, too,”recalls Bush. “So Ilined Over thenext35years hewouldhelpfire he wasatgrowing hisfirsttomatoes. Bush proved asineptatself-prophecy as FROM HUMBLEBEGINNINGS BY BOBHILL

MICHAEL HAYMAN nurseryowners, plant propagators, and fel- He left the University of Kentucky with low plant explorers around the world. a degree in sociology—and grew himself One of them is Dan Hinkley, author, into a plantsman. He learned the business plant explorer, and co-founder of the orig- from the shovel up; he volunteered in the inal Heronswood Nursery in Washington, AmeriCorps VISTA national service pro- who credits a visit to Bush’s North Caroli- gram in his senior year, starting a children’s na nursery as the inspiration for Herons- garden. After college, he worked on a land- wood. “For such an unassuming and scape crew at Hillenmeyer Nurseries in contemplative man, Allen has had an enor- Lexington, Kentucky. mous impact on the fabric of American Then there was that trip to Europe horticulture,” says Hinkley. “Traveling when he thought he would explore the with him has, as one would expect, been a rooms of Buckingham Palace and tour pleasure and a privilege; he exemplifies the exotic museums but instead found him- entire notion of Southern charm.” self outside in their gardens. He experi- “Allen is a good man in a way that we enced an epiphany of sorts as he sat in the do not often see these days,” says another Jardim da Estrela in Lisbon, Portugal, prolific writer and plant explorer, Richard and took in the wonder of the old park Bir. “He is generous, caring, sensitive, a and its children’s garden. good listener, good writer, and good “It’s just this little city park off the friend,” says Bir, a long-time Extension beaten path,” he says. “It had a little grot- nursery specialist at North Carolina State to, and it was enchanting in some sort of Bush named Heuchera ‘Molly Bush’, after his University. “He is interested in plants but way I can’t properly describe.” It was daughter, above. Introduced in the early also in a lot more than plants—in the there that he decided he wanted to work 1990s, the selection has ivy-shaped leaves world we are creating or leaving for our with plants professionally. that are a deep purple-bronze color. children and grandchildren.” So Bush and a buddy opened a landscape business in Louisville with “a pick- the nation’s craze for perennials with a STARTING OUT up truck and some hand tools.” The specialty nursery in North Carolina, in- Even before the tomato fiasco, Bush first night in business, a contractor troduce several new plants to the trade, wasn’t a complete plant novice. His called saying he had 10 houses that become an influence on the entire in- mother always had a garden and there needed landscaping. dustry, and join Jelitto Perennial Seeds, was that little hunk of woods down the Bush thought they had it made, but an international company that offers street where he played almost daily as a reality set in when they met the contrac- some 3,400 varieties of seeds. He would kid. He found early delight in watching tor and asked about their budget; they speak on garden panels, hunt for plants on the leaves of a buckeye tree unfold in were informed it was only one hundred several continents, and successfully culti- spring along the banks of the Kentucky dollars per house. “And then,” says Bush, vate long, broad rows of gardening friends, River near Lowery’s farm. “we didn’t get paid.”

Left: With Hans Hansen of Shady Oaks Nursery in the background, Bush and former Heronswood Nursery owner Dan Hinkley compare notes on a plant specimen during a 2003 plant-hunting trip to China. Above: On the same expedition, Bush takes a close look

TOP: COURTESY OF ALLEN BUSH. BOTTOM (2); PAM SPAULDING at a plant growing on a forest floor.

November / December 2009 31 32 in 1983thenursery’sdaylilyfield. toward perennialplants.Right:Bush,pictured Nursery cataloghelpedlaunchthetrend Above: Inthe1980s,HolbrookFarm& learned.” mouth shutandjustlistenedtohim Bush.“Buddy wasterrific.Ikeptmy probably thegreatest jobIever had,”says about plants. quickly warmedtoanyone whocared Buddy Hubbuch, atoughtaskmasterwho boss wasKentucky landscapelegend Research Forest southofLouisville.His summer attheBernheim Arboretum and the landscapebusinessandworked fora mountain climate suitedhisdreams of North Carolina, where themore benign bought 37acres oflandnearAsheville, money from agrandmother, in1980he own nursery. With some inherited The experienceinspired Bush toopenhis OFHOLBROOKFARM THE BIRTH andplantexplorerpert Will Ingwerson. by renowned thenrun nursery alpineex- at Birch Farm Nursery inWest Sussex, a his way. AfterKew, hespentthree months tographer’s fordetail,hefound memory skills, innatepassionforplants,andcar- mean, Iwaswayoutofmyleague.” any sciencesincehighschoolbiology. I andIhadn’tlots ofnaturalhistory had over myheadbecauseallthesekidshad plants, andIwasinway just changedmylife.”saysBush. “It was Botanic Gardens atKewinLondon. “It ternational traineesprogram attheRoyal even more withhisadmittancetothein- Bush’s horizons widened horticultural KEW TO FROM KENTUCKY “It wasjustthesummer, butitwas About twoyears later, Bush gave upon But hepersevered. With hiswriting the American Gardener pect aboutatwopercent response. 100,000. TheadsalesmantoldBush toex- The magazine’s circulation wasabout zine aboutplacingaone-third pagead. He contactedanationalgardening maga- business. Bush putout twocatalogsayear. of offtotheraces.” soitwaskind Plant Associationstarted, “A coupleofyears later, thePerennial sudden interest inperennials,” says Bush. western North Carolina. grandfather Holbrook, whogrew upin brook Farm &Nursery, forhisgreat- and bulbs.He namedtheventure Hol- growing andinteresting new perennials limit sign,hence thename‘SpeedLimit45’. Bush foundthisphlox growingunderaspeed Holbrook wasmostlyamail-order itturnedoutthere wasthis “Then college programs, andpublic gardens. to managelarger nurseries,community with manyofitsgardening staffgoingon influence farbeyond North Carolina— its Holbrook Farm &Nursery ashavingan sleeping onasofa?” Can you picture ChristopherLloyd Lloyd sleptonasofaatAllen’s house. speakers andgardening.” excited aboutexposingustointernational together,had twonickelstorub buthewas his own nickel,whenIdonotthinkAllen pher Lloyd tothesouthernBlue Ridge“on nar. Bir recalls that Bush brought Christo- tospeakatasemi- English horticulturist scene includedarrangingforalegendary boretum inAsheville. velopment oftheNorth Carolina Ar- Richard Bir, whohelpedplanforthede- cluding J.C.Raulston,John Creech, and He wasamongagroup ofplantsmen,inal community, Bush wasmakingfriends. Within theNorth Carolina horticultur- EXPANDING INFLUENCE my mother’s friends.” about 10.Ithinkfive ofthemwere from ed fortheorders tocomein.AndIgot piece ofcake.So Iput theadoutandwait- ofbulbs.Imean,thisisa $100,000 worth sampler. Theadcost$1,500andI’d sell says Bush, “so Iputtogetherthis$50bulb Along withDan Hinkley, Bir alsocred- “As Irecall,” saysBir, “Christopher His influenceontheregional gardening “I thought, ‘This soundspretty easy’,”“I thought,‘This

TOP(2): COURTESY OF ALLEN BUSH. BOTTOM: JERRY PAVIA “Allen started from scratch and built Holbrook into something with influence far exceeding its annual sales because it ALLEN BUSH PLANT INTRODUCTIONS was a reflection of Allen Bush,” says Bir. Here are six of Allen Bush’s favorite introductions: “Holbrook farm had a personal touch that made you feel cared about.” Bush developed Holbrook for 15 years. He also introduced many exciting new plants to the trade, including: Stokesia ‘Klaus Jelitto’, Heuchera ‘Molly Bush’, Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’, Calycanthus floridus ‘Michael Lindsey’, Phlox ‘Speed Limit 45’, Salvia koyamae, and Gladiolus ‘Boone’. He estimates that when he closed the nursery in the mid-1990s, it had an in- ventory of about 100,000 plants. But increased competition and costs made it a tough business. “We made a modest living, but it was never profitable,” says Bush. He closed the nursery in 1995— but retained the 37 acres he still loves to visit—and moved back to Louisville. Calycanthus floridus ‘Michael‘Michael Lindsey’Lindsey’ Gladiolus ‘Boone’‘Boone’ “It was really hard to come to that decision,” he says. “I shed some tears over it Calycanthus floridus ‘Michael Lindsey’. “I terest in colorful foliage on coral bells. and folded the tent.” bought this somewhere, don’t remem- According to Bush, he first introduced ber where. It was a sweetshrub, plain (or re-introduced) the plant to the Amer- EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES and simple,” says Bush. “A few years ican market in 1986. He notes, howev- Not long afterward, an old friend, Klaus later [University of Georgia horticultur- er, that the plant’s convoluted seed lin- Jelitto of Jelitto Perennial Seeds in Ger- ists] Mike Dirr and Allan Armitage came eage and naming involved various many, asked Bush to open the company’s by. Dirr saw something unique. He’d others—including Tony Hall and Brian North American branch. The offer was never seen a sweetshrub with glossy Halliwell at Kew gardens, plantsman made to order: Get an office, do some leaves and sweet-scented flowers. Talk Alan Bloom, and garden writer Fred Mc- marketing, attend conferences and con- about dumb luck.” Named for Michael Gourty—but the original seeds may ventions, maintain that strong network of Lindsey, the newborn son of Bush’s have come from American botanist and friends, increase sales, and find new plants. nursery manager, Tracy Lindsey, this explorer Edgar Wherry, who found them On his worldwide plant exploration cultivar was first sold in 1993. in Appalachia and sent them to England trips, Bush was accompanied by a diverse in the first place. mix of nurseryowners, seedsmen, horti- Gladiolus ‘Boone’. This hardy plant with culture professors, and landscape archi- apricot-colored flowers was discovered by Phlox ‘Speed Limit 45’. “I found it under tects, including Kurt Bluemel, Klaus Jeff Owen, an Extension agent in Avery a ‘Speed Limit 45’ sign down the road Jelitto, George Uebelhart, Kirk Alexander, County, North Carolina. Owen shared it from Holbrook,” says Bush. “The name Steve Still, Dave Schultz, Ozzie Johnson, with fellow plantsman and Extension hor- has been whipsawed around,” he adds. Hans Hansen, and Pierre Bennerup. This ticulturist Richard Bir, who passed it on “The taxonomists didn’t go along with group first traveled in 1987 at the invita- to Bush, who put it on the market. the numbers, and for a long time a cul- tion of Bluemel and Jelitto to tour Ger- tivar could only have two name compo- man perennial nurseries and gardens. Heuchera ‘Molly Bush’. “It’s nothing fan- nents. It’s a nice pink; nothing fancy, For more than two decades, various cy by today’s coral bell standards,” says but mildew resistant.” members of this group have searched for Bush, “but it did receive an Award of plants in nurseries, gardens, and in the Garden Merit from the Royal Horticul- Stokesia ‘Klaus Jelitto’. This cultivar was wild of the United States, Europe, South tural Society and got high marks after found as a seedling in the Holbrook gar- America, and China. “Plants are our love trials at Chicago Botanic Gardens.” It den. Bush recalls that it was recognized and living,” says Bush. is named for Bush’s daughter. one summer day in 1989 by a group of visiting Dutch growers led by Klaus KENTUCKY HOME Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’. Probably the Jelitto and Kurt Bluemel. “The cultivar As you might imagine, plants also play best known of Bush’s introductions, this was anointed on the spot,” he says. a role in Bush’s personal life. He and his cultivar helped launch widespread in- —B.H.

LEFT: COURTESY OF ALLEN BUSH. RIGHT: LYNNE HARRISON wife, Rose Cooper, have surrounded

November / December 2009 33 their Louisville home with gardens— designer Kirk Alexander, it allows some filled with an ever-expanding palette of of the alpine plants Bush loved in Eng- plants the pair has collected, or that Sources land to survive in hot, humid Louisville. Bush is testing for Jelitto. Arrowhead Alpines, Fowlerville, MI. A wide variety of cacti, yuccas, thymes, Cooper has planted the front yard with (517) 223-3581. agaves, and sempervivums are represent- shrubs such as winter hazel (Corylopsis spi- www.arrowheadalpines.com. ed—as well as a European fan palm cata), beautyberry (Callicarpa dichotoma), (Chamaerops humilis), native to the leatherwood (Dirca palustris), witchhazel Jelitto Seeds, Louisville, KY. (502) Mediterranean, which he drags inside for (Hamamelis ‘Angelly’), and sweetshrub 895-0807. www.jelitto.com. the winter. (Calycanthus floridus ‘Michael Lindsey’). Bush’s backyard garden is lovingly Woodlanders, Inc., Aiken, SC. (803) NEW PRIORITIES stuffed with fun exotica. Near the house 648-7522. www.woodlanders.net. In recent years, Bush has turned over man- is a pool, a millstone fountain, and a mir- agement of Jelitto’s North American office rored hideaway. The yard falls away, lead- to Mary Vaananen, who says of her former ing to a terrace created by an artistic A gray-flowered native Penstemon caly- boss, “he has been called an icon (which gardening friend. cosus has found its way into his garden, would make him shudder) but mostly His well-protected USDA Zone 6 gar- along with a beautiful clump of Mexican everybody calls him a wonderful guy.” den includes dwarf white Phlox ‘Minnie feather grass (Stipa tenuissima), and a vi- Now 58, Bush still seeks out new Pearl’, crinums, leafy native horsebalm olet-flowered hardy geranium (Geranium plants, travels to conferences, and looks (Collinsonia canadensis), dwarf peonies wlassovianum). forward to more plant trips. He is doing ‘Tiny Tim’ and ‘Aaron Potts’, pincushion Bush’s scree garden—with benches at more writing, sharing his distinctive voice plant (Scabiosa lachnophylla), and a yellow the bottom offering a full view up the through garden blogs and on websites such blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata ‘Amber scenic slope—is still a work in progress. as “Daily Yonder” (www.dailyyonder.com) Wheels’) that he is testing for Jelitto. Built with the help of friend and garden and “The Human Flower Project,” an in-

Above: Bush and his wife, Rose Cooper, enjoy gardening around their Louisville home. Left: The terraced back yard is home to favorite perennials and new ones being tested.

ternational newsgroup that focuses on humankind’s relationship with the floral world (www.humanflowerproject.com). He still enjoys his gardening—even at the far end of the tomato row. “I think every winter, ‘Oh my God, I can’t do it again, I’m getting too old.’ I think I’ve kind of come to the end of the frontier. And then there are a couple of nice days in spring, and I’m back in the game.”

Garden writer and radio host Bob Hill is owner of Hidden Hill Nursery and Sculpture

Garden in Utica, Indiana. LEFT: MICHAEL HAYMAN. RIGHT: COURTESY OF MARY VAANANEN

34 the American Gardener MARK TURNER place inthelandscape. has gardenersrethinkingits many regionsofNorthAmerica tendency toescapegardensin garden plant,Englishivy’s Long consideredaclassic ety dedicatedto ivyuntiltheearly1970s. United States oranAmerican plantsoci- wasn’t abookonivypublishedinthe den plant.Whatissurprising thatthere tural expression andisawidelygrown gar- ivy isaniconicimageinallforms ofcul- with humankind,it’s notsurprisingthat den nearPhiladelphia. and plantexplorer, plantedivyinhisgar- America’s first great botanist,naturalist, 1727. ShortlyJohn afterwards, Bartram, of hisPennsylvania papermill,builtin native Devonshire, England, againstawall Thomas Wilcox plantedivytakenfrom his by Americansettlers. first plantsimported ivywas oneofthe “Resources,” page38) Gardener’s Guide toGrowing Ivies, (see centuries. According toPeter Q.Rose’s The miliar oftheivies,hasbeencultivated for embraced itasasymbolofeternallife. including Druidism, before Christians inmanypaganreligions,mortality ing awreath ofivy. It symbolized im- intoxication, whoisoftendepictedwear- world, andBacchus, theRoman godof Osiris, ancientEgypt’s godoftheunder- Mythologically, itisassociatedwith T Paragon English Ivy Given ivy’s longandrichassociation English ivy(Hedera helix), HROUGHOUT craftsmen recreated itsleaves. and have praisedivywhileartists time, poets the mostfa- calls Pierot. haditallmixedI foundeveryone up,” re- nurserieslisted cultivarand afew names. wasreally good, theycalledit ery didn’t have anameexcept ‘ivy’. If anurs- process. “Mosta frustrating oftheivies Stamford, Connecticut,property. It was she hadbuiltalongasmallstream onher attempt topurchase ivytosoftenawall Escaped ivydenselyblanketsthegroundandclimbstreesinthis Northwestwoodland. Both are theresult ofSuzanne Pierot’s or Pariah? Hedera, “Ivy Species andCultivars” onnextpage) the Pierot System ofClassification (see ing thembasedonappearance. Today, out, anddeveloped amethodforgroup- ered allthecultivars together, laidthem tiating oneivyfrom another. She gath- there wasstillthetrickytaskofdifferen- names forcultivars ofEnglish ivy. But that there were about50to60correct BY LISAALBERT Pierot’s research ledhertoconclude November /December2009 35 is used by many organizations and gar- DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE ington, D.C. “It releases compounds in dening books. For every admirer of English ivy, you can the soil that are not conducive to other In 1973, Pierot founded the American find someone who hates it with a passion. plants; that’s one reason why you don’t see Ivy Society (AIS). Today, she lives in Ivy is blamed for a wide range of prob- many weeds growing up through it.” Woodstock, New York, and serves as the lems, including becoming a maintenance Botanists and land managers across the president of AIS, an organization of sever- nightmare in gardens, escaping into nat- country have reported problems with es- al hundred ivy enthusiasts that serves as the ural areas, smothering native vegetation, caped ivy (see map link in “Resources,” world’s official registrar of ivy cultivars. She damaging trees, and providing breeding page 38). In the last decade, two states, wrote The Ivy Book: The Growing and Care habitat for pests such as rats and mosqui- Oregon and Washington, have gone as far of Ivy, published in 1974. Since then, the toes. Its fruits are reportedly mildly poiso- as adding English ivy to their state nox- number of ivy cultivars, predominantly nous to humans if eaten in quantity and ious weed list. Environment Canada lists English ivy, has grown from 50 to 500, its foliage can cause contact dermatitis. English ivy as a high-priority species for thanks to the tendency of many ivies to But the primary rap on ivy is that it removal from Point Pelee National Park, sport, or develop new leaf shapes or pat- spreads into natural areas and outcom- Ontario, and notes it has been reported in terns of color. Ivy is also very easy to prop- petes native vegetation. Its ability to over- the wild in British Columbia. agate from cuttings, making it an attractive whelm existing plants may be because it Pierot is dismissive of reports that ivy is money-maker for the nursery industry. has an unfair advantage. “There is some widely invasive. “It depends on where you “Ivy grows wonderfully,” says Pierot. evidence that ivy is somewhat allelopath- live,” she says. “The only spots that are re- “Some say too wonderfully.” And that’s ic,” says Scott Aker, gardens unit leader at ally a problem are Oregon and Washing- where the ivy story takes a darker turn. the U.S. National Arboretum in Wash- ton and a little spot in Virginia. The rest of the U.S. has no problem, but the people in Oregon and Washington make a lot of noise.” IVY SPECIES AND CULTIVARS Jil Swearingen, invasive species specialist with the National Park Service in Wash- ington, D.C., disagrees. “Currently, ivy is reported to be invasive and a problem for natural areas and ecosystems in 29 states and the District of Columbia,” says Swearingen. According to Aker, English ivy is “among the top five alien invader issues” at the National Arboretum, despite the fact nearly all ivy has been removed from the arboretum’s collections. BORN TO SPREAD “Ivy is fascinating,” says Sarah Reichard, an associate professor of conservation biology affiliated with the University of Washington Botanic Garden in Seattle. “It’s a vine, and vines usually start to re- produce really early, but ivy can live a decade or more before it becomes repro- Breeders have developed ivies with hundreds of different foliage shapes and variegation. ductive and it usually doesn’t start to re- produce until it’s on a vertical surface.” Between eight and 12 ivy species are recognized by taxonomists. All are woody- Once ivy starts growing vertically, it en- stemmed evergreen vines that trail or climb by way of clinging roots. English ivy ters its adult or aboreal stage, where it be- (Hedera helix) is the best known and most widely grown species. Other cultivated comes shrubby and the leaves change species include Azores ivy (H. azorica), Perisan ivy (H. colchica), Irish or Atlantic from palmately lobed to ovate. As it ivy (H. hibernica), and Japanese ivy (H. rhombea). Persian ivy is often used as a climbs higher up on a tree, exposure to groundcover in the western United States; it has the largest leaves among the var- increased sunlight triggers prolific flow- ious ivy species, growing up to 10 inches long and seven inches broad. ering and production of berrylike fruits Suzanne Pierot’s classification system divides ivies into the following cate- that birds relish. “Ivy,” says Reichard, gories: variegated (V), bird’s foot (BF), fans (F), curlies (C), heart-shaped (H), “has figured out how to get itself dis- ivy-ivies (I), miniatures (M), adult (A), and—for those that didn’t fit any of the persed very effectively.” categories—oddities (O). —L.A. Because ivy propagates easily by stem

cuttings and seed, it can spread into nat- ROB CARDILLO

36 the American Gardener TOP: JOSHUA MCCULLOUGH. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF FOREST AND KIM STARR / WWW.HEAR.ORG stantly Isawnative species returning,” forher.revelatory from removingserved ivyhasbeen acre inSeattle. property Whatshe’s ob- ivy patches,astimeallows, from herhalf- seedlings onaweekly basisandremoving that keepReichard busypullingivy refers toas“perch andpoop.” It’s birds waste andby birds doingwhatReichard ural areas through illegaldumpingofyard Above: Thebluish-blackfruitsareeatenbybirdsandotherwildlife, whospreadtheseeds. Top: Onceivystartsgrowingvertically,itsleaveschangeshape anditstartsflowering. “When I’ve“When pulled upivy, almostin- thick matsofivy carpettheforest floor, ecologists refer where toas“ivydeserts,” tion offorest.” Thisresults inwhatsome the soil,thatisinhibitingnext genera- whether it’s competition orpoisoningof tive species.There’s somemechanism, fore. Ivy doesseemtoinhibit growth ofna- cedars before popup. I’ve seenyoung western red heart Reichard says.“I’ve (Dicentra formosa) (Thuja plicata) had western bleeding that weren’t there be- that wasn’t there habitat andfoodfornative wildlife. the canopy. Ivy reduce deserts diversity of seedlings whilevinesclimbtree into trunks plantsandtreesuppressing understory plant inOregon. ofthe or offertobuysellanypart propagate, making itillegaltotransport, the stateplaceditunderquarantine, lish ivyasanoxious weed. Ayear later, gon becamethefirststatetoclassifyEng- value togrowers. In February 2001,Ore- that thecoststocontrol ivyexceeded its and others,theWeed Board concluded ing ournaturalenvironment inOregon.” ivy wasandhow prone itwastoovertak- “realized industry nursery how aggressive cording toRichards, membersofthe few impact andcontrol costs.Prior tothat,ac- timony detailingivy’s environmental sociation ofNurseries, heard Diedrich’s tes- Oregon, andmemberoftheOregon As- tural Consulting,Inc., inLakeOswego, Richards, president ofApplied Horticul- his tenure ontheState Weed Board, Don ed asanoxious weed inOregon. During the ground atForest Park. removed more than267acres ofivyfrom Since 1994,No Ivy Leaguevolunteers have the publicaboutivy’s invasive nature. ural area withincitylimits,andtoeducate est Park, thecountry’s largestforested nat- toremovegrassroots effort ivyfrom For- ment, spearheadedavolunteer-based, of Portland’s Parks &Recreation Depart- the No Ivy League,adivisionoftheCity alternatives forinvasive formsofivy. groups have worked togethertopromote scaping industry, butover timethetwo andland- andthenursery conservationists communication andcooperationbetween Initially, Reichard says,there wasalackof cific Northwest goesbackatleast20years. English ivywasaninvasive threat inthePa- According toReichard, awareness that IDENTIFYING THETHREAT ton, D.C.,tohis current home, “the ivy Atlantic. Whenhemoved from Washing- with English ivy’s invasiveness inthemid- lington, Virginia, hasfirst-handexperience move Invasive Plants (RiP)program inAr- Paul Kovenock, avolunteer withtheRe- IVY INTHEMID-ATLANTIC Based onthetestimonyofDiedrich Diedrich alsolobbied forivytobelist- In Oregon, thelateSandy Diedrich of November /December2009 37 was almost coming in my kitchen window! the plants were offered. Plants that be- It was so aggressive.” came naturalized had been sold for an av- Resources It took a few winters, but Kovenock erage of 15 to 20 years, compared to about American Ivy Society, P.O. Box 163, eradicated the ivy from his property, which seven years for non-naturalized plants; Deerfield Street, NJ 08313. abuts the 25-acre Lubber Run Park. He also the naturalization rate of plants sold for www.ivy.org. convinced his neighbors to remove ivy 30 years or more was 70 percent. from their properties. As a RiP volunteer, The Gardener’s Guide to Growing Ivies he organized ivy-weeding events at the VILIFYING THE WRONG VINE? by Peter Q. Rose. Timber Press, park, where ivy is now under control. In a new twist to the ivy story, research Portland, Oregon, 1996. Kovenock credits RiP’s successful con- from the last few years indicates the ivy trol and public educational efforts to the that escaped in so many regions may not GardenSmart Oregon, Stop the inspiration and guidance provided by be strictly English ivy. Reichard and two Invasion campaign, www.nature.org/ Diedrich and the No Ivy League and the collaborators conducted a genetic assess- wherewework/northamerica/states/ leadership of Jenn Truong, a Virginia Co- ment of invading populations of ivy in oregon/files/gardensmart_oregon_ reduced.pdf.

Garden Wise: Non-Invasive Plants for Your Garden, Washington Invasive Species Coalition, www.invasive speciescoalition.org/GardenPlants.

Invasive Plant Atlas. Two maps showing regions in which ivy has been reported growing in natural areas: the EDDMapS is still under development, awaiting reports from agencies around the country: www.invasiveplantatlas. org/subject.html?sub=3027.

The Ivy Book: The Growing and Care of Ivy by Suzanne Pierot. Macmillan Publishing, New York, 1974.

No Ivy League control methods, www.portlandonline.com/parks/ index.cfm?c=47820&a=201791. In a Virginia suburb near Washington, D.C., school children join adults from Arlington County’s Remove Invasive Plants program to help remove English ivy from one of the county’s parks. “Prevalence of Different Horticultural Taxa of Ivy (Hedera spp., Araliaceae) operative Extension agent and program areas from British Columbia to northern in Invading Populations” by Midori coordinator for Arlington County Inva- Oregon. The research, published in a Clarke, Sarah Reichard, and sive Species Control. 2006 issue of Biological Invasions, re- Clement Hamilton. Biological The group’s attempt to get English ivy vealed that Irish, or Atlantic, ivy (H. hi- Invasions, Volume 8, Number 2, listed as a noxious weed in Virginia, how- bernica) represented about 80 percent of March 2006 (pp. 149–157(9)). ever, was not successful because ivy isn’t the samples, with English ivy and sever- yet seen as a problem in rural Virginia. al cultivars representing the remainder. Remove Invasive Plants program, But there is concern that, given time, Justin Ramsey, an assistant biology pro- Arlington, Virginia. www.arlingtonva. ivy’s invasive tendencies may show up in fessor at the University of Rochester, New us/Departments/ParksRecreation/ other regions. A study published in the York, recently completed a similar study scripts/parks/ParksRecreationScripts January 2009 issue of Ecology concluded expanding the sampling into northern ParksInvasive.aspx. that many introduced plants adapt to California as well as studying ivy popula- local climates and growing conditions, tions in the mid-Atlantic region. His find- Virginia Native Plant Society, making them potentially invasive. The ings, as yet unpublished, indicate that the www.vnps.org/resources/ study, which analyzed 40 years of sales percentages of Irish and English ivies in the ALTERNATIVESENGLISHIVY.htm. data at a Florida nursery, found the prob- mid-Atlantic region were reversed: Eighty ability of plants becoming naturalized in- percent of the samples taken are English

creases greatly with the number of years ivy and 20 percent are Irish ivy. COURTESY OF ARLINGTON COUNTY INVASIVE PLANT CONTROL PROGRAM

38 the American Gardener Based on the research by Reichard and her colleagues, Washington became the second state to formally list ivy as a nox- PREVENTING AND CONTROLLING PROBLEMS WITH IVY ious weed in January 2002. English ivy, Before taking steps to remove ivy in your garden, determine what kind you have. Take Irish ivy, and four English ivy cultivars a sample to a local botanical garden or Extension office for positive identification. (‘Baltica’, ‘California’, ‘Pittsburgh’, and If it is English or Irish ivy—and you live in a region where these are listed as nox- ‘Star’) were added as Class C Noxious ious weeds or invasive—consider removing it from your garden. Weeding ivy is effec- Weeds. tive but can be time-consuming. At the U.S. National Arboretum, Scott Aker says large areas of ivy are removed using a technique he calls the “skim and roll,” in which vol- OLD HABITS DIE HARD unteers use spades to cut swaths of ivy just below the soil surface, then roll up the re- “English ivy is difficult to eradicate be- sulting strips of soil and vines and compost them. Some gardeners have successfully cause of its long history as a great plant used old carpeting or cardboard to smother ivy. Herbicides are sometimes recom- for homeowners,” says Truong. “Nurs- mended, but repeated treatment is often needed. eries only change what they sell to match If you have existing ivy that you want to retain, keep it confined to a manage- able area and prune it away from trees to prevent it from maturing and producing berries. Properly dispose of ivy cuttings by composting them. Watch your ivy for signs of reversion and invasiveness, taking more aggressive action if necessary.

SLOW GROWERS If you would like to add ivy to your garden, seek out non-invasive and slow-growing ivy cultivars. Suzanne Pierot recommends the following slow-growing, self-branching cultivars of English ivy: ‘Anita’, ‘Duck Foot’, ‘Kobold’, ‘Lady Frances’, ‘Mini-Ester’, ‘Misty’, ‘Shamrock’, and ‘Spetchley’. Be aware, how- Hedera helix ‘Anita’‘Anita’ ever, that some research indicates that Eng- lish ivy cultivars, including variegated forms generally deemed safe because they are slow- growing, can revert to their parent, English or Irish or Atlantic ivy, above, is difficult to Irish ivy, with its attendant bad behaviors. So distinguish from English ivy. if you live in an area where ivy is known to escape, consider selecting other plants. (For a changing demands of consumers. So as list of alternatives to ivy for use as shade long as there are still homeowners buy- groundcovers, view the web special linked to Hedera helix ‘Shamrock’‘Shamrock’ ing it, nurseries will keep selling it.” this article on the AHS website). The problem is compounded because not all growers identify their ivy carefully. IVY ON TREES “Often they label anything that looks like Arborist Rex Bastian, vice president of field and development with the Care of Trees ivy as English ivy,” says Pierot. “You can in Wheeling, Illinois, says he doesn’t like to see any vines, including ivy, growing on go to a big box store today and if you find trees. According to Bastian, vines can hide defects, such as decay or cavities, making ivy, it’s often misnamed.” She notes that it more difficult to accurately assess tree health and structural integrity, and potentially the average person doesn’t have the botan- camouflaging the hazards that weakened trees pose to people and property. ical knowledge to differentiate English Bastian notes that vines add weight, especially in winter when ice can form on from Irish ivy. them. English ivy can grow up to 90 feet in length, so it can eventually reach the top Ultimately it is up to gardeners to pre- of even tall trees. Vines also provide shelter for insects and rodents, which may dam- vent ivy and other potentially invasive age trees. Cloaking vines may block sunlight from reaching tree foliage, reducing the plants from becoming a problem. Swearin- intake of nutrients through photosynthesis. And although Bastian doesn’t know of gen and other experts recommend that studies to support this, he theorizes that vines could trap moisture against the bark and gardeners stay informed by checking their stems, keeping them wet longer and thereby increasing the chance of decay. state noxious weed list regularly and look- Ivy uses rootlike structures, called holdfasts, which allow it to climb flat surfaces ing for information provided by local Mas- such as trees and walls. Ivy’s rootlets can grow into tree bark fissures, making it ter Gardeners and botanical gardens. difficult to remove freshly cut vines without tearing off bark in the process. Bast- ian recommends cutting the ivy around the base of the tree, then letting the vines A contributor to the Sunset Western Gar- dry out and become brittle before pulling them off the trunk. —L.A. den Book, freelance writer Lisa Albert lives

LEFT: JERRY PAVIA. RIGHT (2): RACHEL COBB / COURTESY OF AMERICAN IVY SOCIETY in Tualatin, Oregon.

November / December 2009 39 40 by ReneeShepherd Petite andSweetAlpineStrawberries T France, where theyare calledfraises des Inof delicatethree-quarter-inch fruit. and yieldmodestsummer-longharvests rounded moundsofevergreen foliage 100 years ago. Plants develop gracefully were firstintroduced inParis more than of theimproved alpineswe grow today early asthe12thcentury. Theancestors ed intoEuropean gardens as and reportedly were transplant- wild orwoodlandstrawberries plants are cultivated strainsof ornamental edibles. them toallgardeners wholove to grow, recommend soIheartily garden andare remarkably easy plantsare well behavedry inthe apple, androse. Alpinestrawber- combination ofstrawberry, pine- brosial woodlandflavor thatisa ty, pointedberriesboastanam- berries are delicious. the plantsare asattractive asthe are aContinentaldelicacyand climate themto outdoorconditions. room todevelop.Whenseedlings arethreeinchestall,graduallyac- inches apartintoadeepercontainer orindividualpotssorootshave izer. Whentheyhaveseveralsets ofleaves,transplantthemthree weeks togerminate. container evenlymoistbutnotsoggy.Seedsmaytakethreetofour Fahrenheit untilseedlingsarereadytoplantoutdoors.Keepthe light sourceandmaintainatemperatureof60to70degrees in acontainerofmoistened,fineseed-startingmix.Providestrong In earlyspring,sowseedsoneinchapartandaneighth-inchdeep GROWING ALPINESTRAWBERRIESFROMSEED local nurseries,oryoucanstartyourownplantsindoorsfromseed. Young plantscanbepurchasedthroughmail-ordercatalogsorsome Planting Basics These comelyperennial Feed youngseedlingseverytwo weeks withhalf-strengthfertil- the American Gardener berries ofalpinestraw- fruits HE SWEETLY (Fragaria vesca) The dain- flavored makes upforitssizewithintenseflavor. than thatofcommonstrawberries,butit The fruitofalpinestrawberryissmaller cream and candied violets in crystal gob- cream andcandiedvioletsincrystal simplywithwhipped thy ofbeingserved seasonalspecialtieswor- hand-harvested bois, OERW HARVEST HOMEGROWN alpine strawberriesare carefully C berries thesame season. Plants grownfromseedstartedin earlyspringwillproducetheirfirst FRUITING PERIOD duce amound12inchesindiameter. Space plantsabouttwofeetapart. Atmaturity,mostvarietiespro- SPACING into the50degreerange. frost haspassedandoutdoornighttemperatureshavewarmed ferred. Transplantyoungplantsintothegardenafteralldanger of spot isbest,exceptinveryhotclimates,wherepartshadepre- rotted organicmatter;besurethesoiliswelldrained.Asunny Prepare aplantingsitebyincorporatinggenerousamountsofwell- PLANTING strawberry strawberry or slugsare amenaceinyour garden. the plantstokeeproots moistunlesssnails ing seasonwithabalancedfertilizer. Mulch and feedingseveral timesduringthegrow- self-propagate by sending outrunners. varieties ofalpinestrawberriesdonot Unlike thecommonlycultivated beyond consistentmoisture Alpines needlittlespecialcare drained soiliscriticaltosuccess. and—abovefertile, all—well- shade ordappledshade.Arich, they appreciate someafternoon though inhot-weather regions, “Planting Basics,” below). grow themfrom seed(see nurseries, butyou canalso able from garden centersand Young plantsare oftenavail- (with protection) through 9. in USDAHardiness Zones 5 Alpine strawberriesgrow best GROWING GUIDELINES restaurants. inmanyfine lets asdessert (Fragaria Site alpinesinfullsun, al- ✕ ananassa), most

DAVID CAVAGNARO WORLD’S #1 TOP Sources for Seeds PLANT SUPPLY Renee’s Garden Seeds, Felton, CA. (888) 880-7228. www.reneesgarden.com. PLANT #1HEALTH EXTRA LIFE Swallowtail Garden Seeds, Santa Rosa, CA. (707) 538-3585. Greatest Guarantee-Offer PROOF Ever SINCE 1940, $5,000. GUARANTEED to be www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com. Worldunchallenged, CHAMPION #1 Activator, #1 Trans/ #1 Extra #1 REVIVER, PLANTER, GROWER, WORLD’S FAIR SCIENCE-MEDAL-WINNING #1 Perfecter Sources for Plants VI TM TM ® 50 IN Papa Genos Herb Farm, Milwaukee, MI. (262) 752-4880. www.papagenos.com. ONE VITAMINS-HORMONES USED BY U.S. –– FERTILIZER GUARANTEED Departments of –– PESTICIDE –– POLLUTING BioUSABLES As Advertised in AGRICULTURE, ARMY, NON TM Better Homes & Gardens The Strawberry Store, Middletown, DE. (302) 378-3633. NAVY, AIR. Etc. TO ADD TO FERTILIZING for growing Landscape Architecture ALSO BY STATES, Horticulture CITIES, COUNTIES, DOUBLE MONEY-BACK UNIVERSITIES www.thestrawberrystore.com. RECOMMENDED TOP VALUE BY EXPERTS OF TV, RADIO, BOOKS, EXTREME Concentration MAGAZINES, Drop-A-CupTM or CONFERENCES Dozens Drop-A-GalTM OF THE WORLD’S SCIENCE & INDUSTRY Resources ONLY GOLD MEDAL WORLD’S FAIR 1940 science ADD to any fertilizingTM • 50 INSTANT BioUSABLES Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden by Lee Reich. Timber Press, Portland, NORMAL PURE COMPLEXES • From Carbon-Hydrogen-Oxygen MIRACLES natural organic crystals • Save plants from waiting while IN EACH Oregon, 2004. trying to make them • Unique. Nothing is “like” it. DROP! SEE TO BELIEVE–– HEALTHIER, FASTER plants BEAUTY and CROP yieldADDED TO 21 FERTILIZERS by 21 Growers

YOU CAN ORDER PINT, They’ll stay wherever you plant them, RECOMMENDED VARIETIES QUART, GALLON, Billions–PROVEN gradually growing into soft leafy mounds ■ ‘Alexandria’ (sometimes listed as or DRUM B A L A N C E D ORIGINAL about a foot or so in diameter and height. ‘Alexandra’): a good producer of dark red ADDED TO 18 FERTILIZERS, by 18 Growers After a few seasons, plants can be divid- fruit on mounding plants up to a foot in ed and replanted in early spring to dou- diameter. ble or triple the size of your planting. ■ ‘Baron Solemacher’: an older selection Plants bear fruit the first season after sow- that is exceptionally winter hardy. It bears NEARLY 1000 BOOKS, CONFERENCES, ing or division and continue to be pro- aromatic, red fruit on vigorous plants. RECOMMENDED BY MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, TVs, RADIOS ductive for up to four years with regular ■ ‘Mignonette’: a selection of the heir- USED BY feeding and watering. loom ‘Reine de Valée’ that grows easily FIVE U.S. DEPARTMENTS TO HELP WIN WORLD WAR II OF GOVERNMENTS, STATE UNIVERSITIES, LEADING With their neat, serrated leaves, white from seed, producing small, pointed, scar- THOUSANDS ARBORETUMS, BOTANICAL GARDENS, PARKS SYSTEMS U.S. STATES and CITIES IN MULTIPLE-DRUMS LOTS flowers, and bright red or pale yellow to let fruit its first year on compact, mound- FLOWERING PLANTS SHOW WINNERS – “everywhere” HEALTHY, TOXICS-FREE FOODS GROWERS white berries, alpine strawberries are very ed plants. UNIQUE. Far easier plant success ornamental. They are ideal edging plants ■ ‘Yellow Wonder’: very productive vari- along a garden path or flower border. ety with fragrant, pale yellow fruit. They also make handsome additions to rock gardens. ENJOYING THE HARVEST One of my favorite ways to grow alpine Pick and enjoy the fruits of alpine straw- strawberries is in containers—in window berries as soon as they turn a rich red and boxes, patio planters, or cascading from give slightly to the touch. There are also strawberry pots or hanging baskets. They white- and yellow-fruiting varieties avail- will grow well in any container that is 15 to able, but I like the jewel-tone red ones best 18 inches in diameter and at least 12 inches for both flavor and appearance. tall. Use fresh, good quality potting soil Seven or eight mature alpine straw- that has excellent drainage. berry plants will produce about a cup of 11 XMAS TREES 17 HYDROSEEDING 22 FLOWERING PLANT 12 REFORESTATION 18 LANDSCAPING COMPETITIONS 13 HYDROPONICS 19 PROPAGATION 23 INTERIORSCAPING petite berries several times a week 14 FIELD CROPS 20 ANTI-EROSION 24 CUT FLOWERS 15 BONSAI 21 ENVIRONMENTAL 25 WEATHER DAMAGE PEST AND DISEASE PREVENTION throughout the season. I often eat them 16 TISSUE CULTURE IMPROVEMENT 26 WATER GARDENS Alpine strawberry plants are relatively right off the plants in the garden, but they AT CONSCIENTIOUS PLANT DEALERS WORLDWIDE pest-free as long as the soil is consistently are also delectable and beautiful as garnish Used, tipped to, and supplied by thousands of conscientious plant-selling firms. On every continent, without salesmen. moist and well drained. Mulch around for breakfast cereal, pancakes, or waffles, plants to protect their shallow root sys- or atop individual tarts. For a wonderful, REFUSE “just as good,” false, cheaply made, unbalancing substitutes – often 991/2% water. tems from drying summer heat and to re- simple dessert, fold them inside thin NOTHING IS AT ALL “LIKE” tain soil moisture. Where slugs and snails crepes with fresh sour cream. 50 VITAMINS-HORMONES are a problem, be sure to harvest ripe V Made in U.S.A. by VITAMIN INSTITUTE I berries regularly, which also encourages Renee Shepherd is the owner of Renee’s 12610 Saticoy Street South, North Hollywood, CA 91605 more fruit production. Garden Seeds in Felton, California. Website www.superthrive.com

November / December 2009 41 42 by MaryYee John Greenlee: MeadowRevolutionary T ows, grasslandecology, andsustainable gardening. and theGetty Museum, andhetravels regularly, lecturingaboutmead- of clients,whichincludeinstitutionssuchasDisney’s AnimalKingdom times myreputation precedes me,”headmits.But he’s hadno shortage located inChino,it’s ontheWest theoldestsuchnursery Coast. produce ornamentalandnative grassesforhislandscapingwork. Now ing becameclear. In 1987, hefoundedGreenlee Nursery inPomona to ofgarden- hesawafieldoftall,wavinggrasses,andhisview Maryland, ofKurt Bluemel1984, whilevisitingtheornamentalgrassnursery in heinstalledhissharelandscape businessafterward, oflawns.Then,in it “didn’t jibewithmygrowing awareness ofnature.” Setting uphisown collegedegree.” Evenhis “betterlivingthrough chemistry then,henotes, technic University inPomona, where in1978he received, asheputsit, been advocating formore than25years: “KillYour Lawn—Plant a ongoing crusade toturnAmericaintoa meadow,ongoing crusade onegarden atatime. YeeMary caughtup withGreenlee recently todiscussthebookandhis page 53),wasreleased thisOctober. Managing Director Editor andArt book,TheAmericannew Meadow Garden tablished himasoneof America’s onthesubject.His leadingexperts His 1992bookTheEncyclopedia Grasses ofOrnamental Greenlee’s haven’t bluntviews goneunheard over theyears. “Some- the American Gardener southern CaliforniasumupthemessagethatJohn Greenlee has HREE LINESFROM nia. He studiedhorticulture atCaliforniaState Poly- up inthetidysuburbsofOrange County, Califor- blow”—is somethingheknows well havinggrown ow, itwouldmakeourplanetabetterplace.” oftheirlawnstomead- evenone wouldconvert part around Los Angelesjustfrom lawnculture. If every- Every day, 22tons aster. Most lawnmowers are more wickedthan cars. lawns,” saysGreenlee. “Lawnsare anecological gardening activityofAmericansismaintaining Meadow—Save Your number-one Planet.” “The Lawn culture—Greenlee callsit“mow and an ad for his ornamental grass nursery in an adforhisornamentalgrassnursery of pollutantsgointotheairinand N NOEWITH ONE ON ONE (Timber Press, seereview on C (Rodale) es- … dis- growing up. It wastheclosestthingto nature Ihad borhood thathadn’t beendeveloped yet. childhood wasjustafieldin the neigh- trolled wildness.The“meadow” ofmy tween nature andcultivation—a con- It’s anyplacethat’s acompromise be- For me,ameadow isn’t definedby size. der. How doyou defineameadow? space. But you say it canbejustabor- I thinkofameadow asalarge, open and textures—and thattheydoflower! that grassesalsohave avariety ofcolors cited aboutflowers, butthey don’t see horticulture. It’s easyforpeople togetex- I feellikegrassesdon’t getanyrespect in because they’re alsobeautiful! correct thingtodo—whichitis—but meadows thing backtonature. herbicides—creating oneisgivingsome- birds, awaytoreduce theuseofwaterand wall gardens. Ameadow isahabitatfor using meadows onrooftops andasvertical recently tolandscapearchitects about no longerbejustdecoration.Igave atalk such amessoftheplanetthatgardens can Concern fortheenvironment. We’ve made meadow gardens? What’s behindthegrowing interest in chemical methods. covers bothorganicandproperly used you have toknow how tokillit.My book meadow iswhere your lawncurrently is,so clean slate.Usually, thebestplacefora cess inmakingameadow witha isstarting make ameadow. One ofthekeystosuc- other bookoutthere thattellsyou how the bookbefore Icouldwriteit.There’s no many ofthemeadow gardens you seein John Greenlee: now withabookonmeadow gardens? last book.Whyare you comingout Yee:Mary But Idon’t wantpeopletoplant just It’s been17years sinceyour because it’s thepolitically I took10years toplant Sometimes to

THIS PAGE: RUTH CHIVERS / COURTESY OF TIMBER PRESS. OPPOSITE, TOP (2): AHS STAFF; BOTTOM: COURTESY OF JOHN GREENLEE Kurt Bluemel, whose Maryland nursery of ornamental grasses inspired John Greenlee’s career in making meadows, helped install this meadow at the American Horticultural Society’s headquarters in Virginia. The meadow’s mixture of grasses and other perennials provides year-round interest.

Your book offers a lot of how-to infor- ornamental and native grasses because movement are unrealistic if they think they mation, but in many cases you advise they’re being grown wholesale for land- can stop evolution or freeze the time ma- gardeners to get professional help in- scapers, so it’s best in many cases to seek the chine to before Europeans came over. The stalling a meadow. Why? help of a professional. Many people also irony is that in a lot of so-called native gar- Making meadows is one of the newest di- don’t realize how much work goes into cre- dens, there’s a lawn, which is not native! rections in gardening. It’s taken decades for ating a meadow. the nursery industry to even start catching What groundcovers do you recommend up with the growing interest in it. Most In your book, you encourage gardeners as substitutes for turfgrass that can with- home gardeners just can’t get many of the to find out about their local natural stand foot traffic and other use? ecosystems, but how do you suggest Many sedges (Carex spp.) are tough they do this, especially in urban areas? enough to use for dog runs and recre- Networking with your local botanic gar- ational areas. No matter where you live, den is one way. Another way is finding there are sedges native to your region. remnant natural landscapes in your area, Carex praegracilis (clustered field sedge) which can be tough. In California, some of and C. pansa (California dune sedge) make our best remnant ecosystems have been great natural lawns in the western states. preserved only because some endangered For gardens on the East Coast, there’s C. plant or animal lives on it. pensylvanica (Pennsylvania sedge), and for The most degraded grassland ecolo- hot and humid climates, there’s C. albo- gies are in the desert. Before urbaniza- lutescens (greenwhite sedge). tion, many of the cactus ghettos you see today had a beautiful, ephemeral cover of Do you think the traditional lawn will grasses after the spring rains. become obsolete in America? I would like to see it. I’m not saying there’s Does working with the natural ecolo- no place for turf lawns—primarily for ath- gy in your designs mean non-native letic events—but athletic fields as a gar- plants are taboo? dening paradigm doesn’t work. My view is that a meadow of non-native Clustered field sedge makes a durable plants is a whole lot better than any tradi- Mary Yee is Managing Editor and Art groundcover for gardens in the west. tional lawn. People in the native-plant Director of The American Gardener.

November / December 2009 43 44 by RitaPelczar A Season’s Worth ofFavorites enjoyable? Thefollowing are thatcontributedtomygarden’s afew successesin2009. minimized maintenancechores? Andwhatproducts madeourtimeinthegarden more productive and A tem includesabarrel cover, basestand, spouts. In addition to thebarrel, thesys- easy integrationwithyour existingdown- colors,andtheyareearthy designedfor tion ofrainbarrels, inarangeofsizes and ter CollectionSystems into thecollectionunit. water,conserve rainfrom diverting gutters rel tothree. Rainbarrels are aneasywayto my water-collectingfrom asinglerainbar- remains vivid,anditinspired meto expand year, oflastyear’s butthememory drought shock thanthosewithout. much fasterandsuffered lesstransplant toes protected withKozy Coatsgrew low temperatures andwind.My toma- vided significantprotection from both around transplantedseedlingspro- newly water forextrainsulation.Placing them tic cylindershave channelsthathold Coats plantprotectors. Thesered plas- the growing seasonlastspringwith My region enjoyed plentifulrainfallthis My on tomatoesgotagoodheadstart Kozy Coat Kozy Coat the American Gardener S THE it’s agoodtimetoreview ourgardening year. Whatgrew well andwhy?Whattoolstechniques growing seasonwindsdown inmanyareas ofthecountry, including mineinNorth Carolina, offer agoodselec- Fiskars Rainwa- Kozy Fiskars RainwaterCollectionSystem Dramm ColorStorm the sideofyour houseorgarage. flat backthatcanbeplacedflushagainst fit mostdownspouts. Some barrels have a spigot assembly, sized andtwodiverters to Air Gardening hasgonealongwayto made ofrecycled material. long, five-eighths-inch diameterhoseis ed onweeds between rows. The50-foot- little waterwaslosttoevaporation orwast- ing wateralongtherows atsoillevel. Very in myvegetable garden, efficiently deliver- Hose The A pairofwearable toolsfrom Clean helped conserve bothtimeandwater helped conserve RE GARAGE GREEN Dramm ColorStorm C ™ Soaker Hose ™ ® Soaker small branches, I reserve mypairforcut- small branches, Ireserve they are alsorecommended forpruning blades are strong andreliable. Although are andthespring-loaded comfortable handles ergonomically designedcurved serrated lower bladeforcleancuts.The garden shearsare self-sharpeningwitha Rikon Ultimate Shears that holsterwouldholdapairof den snipsisincluded. handy container. Aholsterforyour gar- pouch provides alarge,secure, and it’s from aladder;the idealforharvesting ily asyou move from planttoplant.And ing tasks.Clippingscanbecollectedeas- waist, freeing upbothhandsforgarden- canvas pouchthatcinchesaround the about inthegarden. phone withineasyreach whilemoving seeds, sunscreen, gloves, andeven acell in different sizes soit’s easytokeeptools, includes seven durableboar-hidepockets dening Apron. Its bibstyle comfortable the beautyofOrganic CottonGar- pockets alwayscomeinhandy, andthat’s improve mygardening efficiency. Extra Kuhn RikonUltimateShears Kuhn RikonUltimateShears If Iwere cuttingflowers forindoors, The Waistie Garden Apron . TheseSwiss is alarge Kuhn

BOTTOM LEFT: RITA PELCZAR ly sturdy to retain the information without being an eyesore can be a problem. This year, I tried the 10-inch Teak Plant Markers offered by Gardener’s Supply and found they suited my needs perfectly. They are sturdy and have a one-inch- wide writing area. Made of sustainably harvested teak, they are attractively un- derstated. The markers also come in a six-inch size, but I like the extra writing space on the large size. A Permanent Paint Marking Pen is available to ensure

Sources Clean Air Gardening, Dallas, TX. www.cleanairgardening.com. Leverage Cultivator Spork Fiskar’s Rainwater Harvesting Systems, Madison, WI. www.rain-barrel.com. ting fresh flowers and deadheading. Labeling plants has always been a bit Two long-handled tools from Lee Val- of a conundrum for me. I need to iden- Gardener’s Supply, Burlington, VT. ley have helped make working my clay tify those peren- www.gardeners.com. soil significantly less taxing. The Lever- nials that are age Cultivator is designed for loosening slow to emerge Gempler’s, Madison, WI. soil to a depth of about eight inches. To in the spring so www.gemplers.com. use it, step firmly on the wide center step I don’t crowd or to push its offset tines into the soil, then plant on top of Kuhn Rikon Corporation, Novato, CA. pull back on the plastic-coated T-handle them. And I www.kuhnrikon.com. to lift the soil. like to label the A hybrid of a garden spade and fork, the varieties of veg- Lee Valley Tools, Ltd., Ogdensburg, Spork is great for digging in heavy or hard- etables along NY. www.leevalley.com. ened soil. It is 42 inches long and has a stur- with the sources dy carbon steel blade equipped with sharp of the seed and Songbird Essentials, Mexico, MO. teeth that makes for easy penetration and Teak Plant Marker planting dates www.songbirdessentials.com. a T-shaped ash handle. It is a great tool for so that I can edging a bed and it makes short work of compare them as they grow. But finding digging and dividing perennials. a label that is big enough and sufficient- that all that information remains legible despite sun and rain. Volunteer plants that grow from spilled birdseed are a mixed blessing. I sometimes let sunflowers grow where they please, but too many of those and other birdseed sprouts can be a nuisance. The Seed Hoop from Songbird Essentials provides an ef- fective solution. It’s a mesh-covered hoop with hooks that attach to and suspend it beneath a bird feeder to catch the seeds that your avian visitors drop. It comes in 16-inch and 30-inch sizes. Sprinkle additional seed on the hoop and it also serves as a platform feeder.

Rita Pelczar is a contributing editor for The Seed Hoop American Gardener. She tests gardening

TOP (2): RITA PELCZAR products in her North Carolina garden.

November / December 2009 45 46 its rating system on the very successful its ratingsystem onthevery tainable landscapes. TheSSIismodeling the firstnationalratingsystem forsus- ing pilotprojects thatwillbeusedtotest sites withandwithoutbuildings,” isseek- management practicesthatcan applyto mote sustainablelanddevelopment and national coalitionthatworks to“pro- The Sustainable Sites Initiative SYSTEM RATING TEST TO PROJECTS PILOT SITESINITIATIVESEEKS SUSTAINABLE David AustinwithGrahamThomas countries, isGraham Thomas chosen by rose societymembersin41 the rose world.The2009selection, of Fame—one ofthehighesthonorsin World’s Favorite Rose intoitsRose Hall of Rose Societiesinductsanew (WFRS) Every three years, theWorld Federation THE WORLD’SFAVORITE ROSE who diedin2003. and garden writerGraham Thomas, British artist, horticulturist, legendary Zones 9–5).Therose isnamed forthe hot andhumidclimates,too(AHSHeat USDA Zones well in 5–9,andperforms reaching tofive feet.It ishardy in blooms andhasanupright,bushyhabit duces fragrant,butter-yellow, double (www.davidaustinroses.com). ‘Ausmas’) from David Austin Roses Horticultural NewsandResearch ImportanttoAmericanGardeners Introduced in1983,thisrose pro- the American Gardener ™ ® ® (SSI), a rose (Rosa in establishing a vegetable garden onthe vironmentalism.” Most notably, herrole interest ingardening andcommunityen- Lady’s “leadershipinfosteringarenewed make uptheAPGA,recognized theFirst the more than500membergardens that commendation, presented onbehalfof lic Gardens Association(APGA).The commendation from theAmericanPub- sented Michelle Obama with anofficial Phipps, director Richard Piacentini pre- and First LadyMichelle Obama to dens. In welcoming President Obama andBotanicalGar- Phipps Conservatory officially openedwithadinneratthe September inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, The G-20Summit thattookplacein COMMENDATION RECEIVESAPGA LADY FIRST www.sustainablesites.org. 15, 2010.For more information,visit plications willbeaccepteduntilFebruary landscape exceeds 2,000square feet.Ap- so longasthetotalsize ofthedesigned corridors,andsingleresidencesportation puses, parks andrecreation areas, trans- include academicandcorporatecam- ed by theU.S.Green Building Council. for green buildings,whichiscoordinat- programtal Design (LEED)certification Leadership inEnergy andEnvironmen- and BotanicalGardensinPittsburgh. Piacentini, directorofPhippsConservatory official APGAcommendationfromRichard First LadyMichelleObamareceivesan GARDENER Eligible projects forthepilotprogram C ’ NOTEBOOK S executive director oftheAPGA. spiring tousall,”saysDan Stark, tance ofenvironmental stewardship isin- and future generationsontheimpor- the value ofgardens foreducatingpresent eating habits,especiallyforchildren. food systemanddeveloping healthier such asthesustainabilityofAmerican helped bringgreater attentiontoissues White House lawnthispastspringhas them: biodegradableflower pots. waste intousefulproducts—among are findingcreative waystoturnthis the proverbial strawintogold,researchers intheUnitedtry States. Likespinning processing indus- product ofthepoultry feathers are accumulatedyearly asawaste Some fourbillion poundsofchicken POTS FLOWER FROM FEATHERSTO the featherscan beusedinpaperandfil- inBeltsville, foundthat Maryland, tory ment andByproduct Utilization Labora- (ARS)EnvironmentalService Manage- with theUSDA’s AgriculturalResearch A flowerpotmadefromchickenfeathers “Mrs. Obama’s demonstratedbeliefin In 1993,Walter Schmidt, achemist

LEFT TO RIGHT: COURTESY OF DAVID AUSTIN ROSES; COURTESY OF PETE SOUZA; COURTESY OF STEPHEN AUSMUS PEOPLE and PLACES in the NEWS Name Change for Philadelphia Flower Show The Philadelphia Flower Show, an annual horticultural celebration with an impressive 181-year-history, has a new name: the Philadelphia International Flower Show. The theme of the 2010 show, “Passport to the World,” highlights the updated name. “Our new name raises the flower show up on the world stage,” says Jane Pepper, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, which produces the flower show, “and it is an invitation to gardeners everywhere to join us in Philadelphia for this fabulous show that does so much to highlight the best of horticulture and design.” Next year’s show will run from February 28 to March 7 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. For more information and advance tickets, call (215) 988-8899 or visit www.theflowershow.com.

A New Name and a New Children’s Garden for a California Public Garden Known as Quail Botanical Gardens since 1960, the San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) in California assumed its new name this past September. The change of name is expected to raise the level of expectation for the public’s experience at the garden, clarify the garden’s identity, and appeal to a wider region of support for, and interest in, the garden. Another recent development at the garden is the opening this past June of its Hamilton Children’s Garden, reportedly the largest interactive children’s garden on the West Coast. Designed for children ages six to 12, it features a tree house and a me- andering stream where children can experiment with objects that sink or float and move boulders to alter the stream’s current. This new space complements SDBG’s pre-existing children’s garden, which is designed to appeal to toddlers. Jamie Werner, SDBG’s public relations coordinator, reports that the garden is already experiencing a 30 percent increase in visitation since the recent changes. Werner believes this is because “young families are now seeing the garden as an attraction where they can get their children outdoors and connect them with the natural world.” In addition to its children’s gardens, the SDBG boasts the nation’s largest bamboo collection and a diverse topography that allows for gardens representing many microclimates on its 35 acres. For more information, call (760) 436-3036 or visit www.sdbgarden.org.

November / December 2009 47 48 feathers are firstshredded, thenpowdered, en-feather plastics.To makethepots, biodegradable flower potswiththechick- with several manufacturers tocreate fully ties similartocommonlyusedplastics. made from thefeatherscanhave proper- years afterthat,foundthattheplastic andtwo feathers intoplasticcarparts, Washington, D.C.,integratedchicken cultural Research Institute (HRI)in Masud Huda, aresearch associateHorti- tration products. Two years later, heand Now, SchmidtandHuda are working the American Gardener ously beenconsidered awasteproduct. making lucrative useofwhathasprevi- pots offerasustainablealternative while troleum-based materials,theseflower plastic pots,whichare madefrom pe- might beuseful.Analternative toother where strength andbiodegradability made intoothermaterialsaswell—any- nitrogen intothesoilastheydecompose. over onetofive years, naturallyreleasing pots. Thepotsare designedtobreak down intopellets,andmolded converted The hopeisthattheplasticcanbe amounts ofwateroftenusedtokeepturf- from lawncare equipmentandthelarge vironment andhumanhealth.Emissions shown tohave harmfuleffectsontheen- quired tomaintainthemhave been typicallyre-one, pesticidesandfertilizers foranumberofreasons.scrutiny For arepanses ofturfgrass underincreasing practices. Manicured, monoculturalex- ing aboutaseachangeinAmerica’s lawn recently launchedinthehopesofbring- self theLawnReform Coalitionhas groupform thesedays—anew callingit- Health care isn’t theonlythingupforre- ITONTHELAWN LAYING www.lawnreform.org. about theseandotherstrategies at tirely. Find resources forlearningmore reducing lawnarea orreplacing iten- using organiclawncare practices,and ofgrassforlawns, propriate species courages includeselectingregionally ap- ever works.” “but we’re all pro-science andpro-what- form Coalition’s foundingmembers, Park, oneoftheLawnRe- Maryland, tween,” says Susan Harris ofTakoma lawn-improvers, andwhatever isinbe- eliminating them. and offeralternatives formitigatingor ate more awareness aboutthese issues concern. Thecoalition’s missionistocre- grass lookinggreen are alsocauses for Evans Editor andAssociate Viveka Neveln. News writtenby Editorial Intern Gwyneth Some strategiestheorganizationen- “Our group includeslawn-haters,

VIVEKA NEVELN

GIFTS FORC THE GARDENER

Wondering what to give your gardening friends or what to put on your list this holiday season? Here are a few suggestions that are practical and decorative.

WheelEasy LE Save your back—or that of a gardening friend—with this canvas wheelbarrow. Its low center of gravity and durability enables you to easily move loads of up to 150 pounds. The canvas edge lies flat on the ground for the easy loading of heavy objects or raked piles. Available for $74.99 from Allsop Home & Garden. (866) 425-5767. AHS New Encyclopedia of www.allsopgarden.com. Gardening Techniques The American Horticultural Society’s New Encyclopedia of Gardening Techniques describes organic and environmentally-friendly gardening practices for growing plants of all kinds Red Ceramic Cascade and maintaining and improving your garden. Includes more than 2,000 Solar Fountain photographs and illustrations. Available Add the soothing sound of water to for $45 through www.ahs.org. your garden with this decorative cascading fountain. Powered by a solar panel that can be placed up to 14 feet away from the fountain, you will be spared the hassle of wiring. This model is available for $119.95 from Plow & Hearth. (800) 494- 7544. www.plowhearth.com.

OXO Garden Knife Be prepared for every gardening task with this handy stainless steel knife. It features measured markings, a serrated edge, and a sheath with a belt clip. Available from OXO for $24.99. (800) 545-4411. www.oxo.com.

50 the American Gardener A Bee Lover’s Garden 2010 Calendar

Support a gardener’s love of bees by supporting the bees themselves. Each month of this calendar features an illustration by artist Jay Pfeil of a bee-friendly plant and facts about bees. Calendars are $20 each; proceeds support research on Colony Collapse Disorder, an affliction that is currently threatening the honey bee population. (828) 645-8008. www.abeeloversgarden.com.

Adventure Hat Sun protection is essential for anyone who gardens, and the adventure hat has you covered. Designed for maximum UV protection of your face and neck, this hat will also keep you cool and dry—and it packs easily for travel. Comes in two adjustable sizes, two styles, and a variety of colors from Sunday Afternoons for $38. (888) 874-2642. Salt & Pepper Shakers www.sundayafternoons.com. Sprinkle salt and pepper on your garden-fresh meals with this pair of petite watering cans. These high-quality containers will be a complimentary addition to anyone’s kitchen table. Available for $31.95 from The Cook’s Garden. (800) 457-9703. www.cooksgarden.com.

Products profiled are chosen based on qualities such as innovative design, horticultural utility, and environmental responsibility; they have not necessarily been tested by the American Horticultural Society. Listed prices are subject to change.

November / December 2009 51 BOOKC REVIEWS

Recommendations for Your Gardening Library

Our Life in Gardens Understanding Perennials Joe Eck and Wayne Winterrowd. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, William Cullina. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston, Massachusetts, New York, 2009. 332 pages. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $30. 2009. 272 pages. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $40.

GOOD WRITING leads readers on a journey and opens win- WILLIAM CULLINA’S newest book, Understanding Perenni- dows on the author’s private world. Our Life in Gardens is a jour- als, is ideal for any gardener who desires to learn about the ins ney worth taking, for the pure joy of the and outs of the growth and behavior experience. The deft prose evokes pic- of perennials from a botanical point of tures as vivid as those of illustrator Bobbi view and then see how these funda- Angell, which are scattered throughout mentals connect with the how-to of the book. It gives readers a voyeuristic horticultural practices. In Cullina’s view of the rewards of partnering in gar- words, “…when I conceived this pro- dening, and of partnering in life. Joe Eck ject, I saw it as an opportunity to both and Wayne Winterrowd have shared 30 fill a real need for what amounts to an years creating North Hill, their rural gar- owner’s manual for plants and to chal- den in southern Vermont. Fifty person- lenge myself to grow and learn, for as al, entertaining, and informative essays any teacher knows, the best way to recount their collective experience. truly understand something is to try to explain it to others.” First you’ll meet the chickens that ultimately forced the au- Drawing upon his considerable experience and passion for thors to flee the city for the coop space afforded by country liv- the subject, Cullina moves comfortably between the role of ing. Compelled by a vision of farm and garden, the narrative teacher and fellow gardener, using an accessible, conversation- begins on a raw, 23-acre site with a newly constructed house. al, and welcoming voice. The chapter titles, such as “What is a Folklore, design concepts, and sound gardening advice are Perennial,” “At the Roots,” “Flowers and Seeds,” and so on, seamlessly woven into this more-or-less sequentially told retro- belie the often delightful subheadings, which sometimes evoke spective of creating North Hill. a familiar feeling: “You Should Have Seen It Yesterday!” and Along the way, Eck and Winterrowd gibe garrulous guests, re- “Why Do the Most Expensive Plants Die the Fastest?” At other count culinary revelations, reminisce about old friends, and extol times they inspire curiosity: “Have You Been Working Out?” excellent plants. They also dole out instructional tidbits such as, and “Canvas Stretched Over Poles,” for example. “It is an absolute truth that the shorter the interval between har- Allow yourself to linger over the sumptuous, yet informa- vesting and cooking, the better the corn will taste,” tempered by tive, photographs—the majority taken by Cullina. The pic- intractable opinion: “No garden is a natural thing, of course, and tures of various root structures are especially amazing. But do people who garden as a way of getting in touch with Nature are not neglect the text. It merits careful reading, not only for the actually only getting in touch with fantasy.” Though one could in-depth yet digestible explanations, but also for the many debate the merits of such high-minded statements, none can dis- laugh-out-loud moments, which I’ll leave for you to discover. pute the fact that everything the authors relate stems from ex- (Hint: Start with the chapter on nomenclature.) tensive personal experience. Cullina does not shy away from controversial topics, such as By book’s end, the couple is left, as many of us are, wonder- “Are Garden Hybrids Bad for the Planet?” The chapter “Culti- ing about the ultimate fate of their garden. “Sooner or later, vation with an Ecological Eye” reflects his leanings toward anyone who cultivates a garden will become concerned for its studying plants in their natural habitats and ties together earli- future,” they muse. “For their very survival [gardens] depend er portions of the book. Within it, you’ll find lessons learned …on the very transitoriness of the lives of their owners, for from nature, the basics of soil, compost, and more. Coupled none of us lives forever or particularly wants to.” North Hill with chapters on design, pests and diseases, and propagation, was born of a shared passion for soil and chlorophyll, and will gardeners will have many of the tools they need to help their endure through a shared passion for words. perennials thrive. —C. Colston Burrell —Nancy Beaubaire

C. Colston Burrell is a plantsman, garden designer, and co-author of Nancy Beaubaire is director of communications for Bowman’s Hill 2007 AHS Book Award winner Hellebores: A Comprehensive Wildflower Preserve. She is a former editor of Fine Gardening, Guide (Timber Press, 2006). Country Living Gardener, and Organic Gardening magazines.

52 the American Gardener The American Meadow Garden isting conditions. “Accent on Design” discusses the use of John Greenlee. Photographs by Saxon Holt. Timber Press, Portland, grasses as groundcovers, backgrounds, fillers, pathways, and Oregon, 2009. 280 pages. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $34.95. accents, then follows with a colorful romp through what Greenlee calls “sweeteners”—bulbs, daisies, umbellifers, IF YOU’VE EVER thought of abandoning your lawn but haven’t ferns, poppies, and other non-grass plants that combine well yet, The American Meadow Garden will surely inspire you to ac- with grasses. tion. In a brilliant partnership with Even the best-designed meadow isn’t in bloom all the time. photographer Saxon Holt, John The visual appeal and livability of such landscapes owe much Greenlee has produced the most to texture and luminous qualities. Saxon Holt’s eye has always beautifully persuasive book to date on been finely attuned to these qualities, and his images through- why meadow gardens are the smart, out the book are stunningly alive with light. The majority of joyful alternative to mowed turf. examples in “A Portfolio of Meadow Gardens” are from Green- The book offers a virtual tool kit lee’s native California, with others from New Mexico, Col- for designing, installing, and main- orado, Texas, Missouri, and Wisconsin. taining meadow gardens, sedge “Grasses for Meadows” describes a wide range of grasses and lawns, and other turf-less land- grasslike plants suitable for meadows and meadow lawns. Sym- scapes. In “The Lure of the Meadow,” the first of eight chap- bols with each entry designate suitability for various purposes. ters, Greenlee describes meadows’ powerful dynamics: their “Making a Meadow” offers advice on site preparation, planting response to sky and light, time of day, and season. He presents techniques, and weed control. Although the final chapter, “Es- meadows and sedge lawns as solutions to the toxicity and en- tablishing and Maintaining a Meadow,” reflects the author’s ergy consumption of traditional lawns. “How and Where familiarity with drier regions and the need for irrigation there, Grasses Grow” begins with a brief overview of the botany and it offers universally appropriate advice on editing a meadow physiology of grasses and grasslike plants, then hits its stride landscape as it inevitably evolves. Take a long look at your lawn with portraits of North American grassland regions, packed mower, and then go buy this book. with insights on grasses’ response to climate, soil types, and the —Rick Darke influence of human activity on regional ecologies. “Meadows for a Purpose” makes the case for starting with Rick Darke is the author of The American Woodland Garden and site analysis and then fitting the design and plantings to ex- The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes.

November / December 2009 53 GARDENERC’S BOOKS

Books You Might Have Missed

HEN THE WEATHER turns colder, it’s a great op- user-friendly, garden and nature pho- portunity for staying indoors and reading up on tographer Alan L. Detrick covers the W your favorite gardening subjects. And with the hol- basics of close-up or macro photogra- iday season upon us, if you’re looking for some gift ideas for all phy, its history, digital cameras and the gardeners in your life—or maybe a treat for yourself—here other required equipment, and tech- are profiles of some recently published books sure to provide niques for taking good photos. This fresh insight into a variety of gardening topics, contributed by book abounds with Detrick’s stunning various members of The American Gardener staff. macro photos. Each one is accompanied by an explanation of the thought Liz Primeau’s captivating memoir of her life as a gardener, My process, equipment, and technique that produced it. Each photo, Natural History: The Evolution of a Gardener (Greystone then, is a short lesson in making outstanding photos, taught by a Books, 2008, $27), is infused with gar- pro. Reading this book is like walking through a garden and see- dening advice, recipes, and historical in- ing through the eyes of a master photographer. formation. From her father’s 1940s —Carole Ottesen, Contributing Writer Victory Garden that sparked her first interest in gardening, to the giardini she Did you know that your garden may be full of more than flowers toured in Italy, to her own personal gar- and foliage? There may be nymphs and dryads, gods and heroes, dens, Primeau—a Canadian author of wise centaurs and hideous monsters. In gardening books and a television person- Gods and Goddesses in the Garden (Rut- ality—discusses the different designs, gers University Press, 2008, $24.95), Peter plants, and atmospheres found in the var- Bernhardt reconnects us to the myths be- ious gardens she has encountered through- hind the botany without belaboring either out her life. She tells her story in a generally chronological Greek mythology or plant nomenclature progression of her personal experiences with gardening, in- rules. There’s something for everyone, cluding the relationships that fueled her passion for it. This from brief summaries of major myths to book will leave you hungry to jump-start or continue your own obscure facts or little-known alternate ver- gardening journey. sions, from famous heroes to near-forgot- —Gwyneth Evans, Editorial Intern ten nymphs. Along the way, Bernhardt reveals the romantic side of 18th- and 19th-century botanists, the creative side of taxono- If you pride yourself on thriftiness, you’ll find plenty of ideas mists, and, best of all, that many scientists have a sense of humor. in The Dirt Cheap Green Thumb (Storey Publishing, 2009, —Talia Goldman, Editorial Intern $10.95). An expanded version of a sim- ilarly titled Storey book published in One of my ongoing goals is to get to know the trees around 1994, this compact book contains hun- me better, so the Sibley Guide to Trees (Alfred A. Knopf, dreds of tips and tricks for pinching 2009, $39.95) by David Allen Sibley your pennies while still creating a gar- caught my eye. Organized by family, den that looks like a million bucks. As this book includes “668 native and author Rhonda Massingham Hart commonly cultivated trees found in points out, money is certainly helpful the temperate areas of North America for garden needs, but “what separates north of Mexico.” After a succinct the great gardeners from average ones is overview of each family, Sibley de- knowledge and skill.” The book is all scribes the main species in it, both about getting common sense and gardening know-how to pay with words and with his superb color bigger dividends for both novice and experienced gardeners. illustrations of distinguishing features —Viveka Neveln, Associate Editor such as leaves, flowers, fruit, twigs, bark, and growth habit. The book’s Macro Photography for Gardeners and Nature Lovers (Tim- introduction also provides helpful guidelines for honing your ber Press, 2008, $24.95) is aimed at “users of digital single-lens re- arboreal identification skills. flex (DSLR) cameras.” With an approach both thorough and —Viveka Neveln, Associate Editor

54 the American Gardener

REGIONALC HAPPENINGS

Horticultural Events from Around the Country

NORTHEAST Events sponsored by or including official RAP DEC. 4. Evergreen Centerpiece Work- CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT participation by AHS or AHS staff members shop. Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conser- NOV. 19–22. Ocean State Orchid Society are identified with the AHS symbol. vatory. Fort Wayne, Indiana. (260) 427- Show. American Orchid Society. Cranston, 6440. www.botanicalconservatory.org. Rhode Island. (401) 946-3314. Events hosted by botanical gardens and www.aos.org. RAP DEC. 5. Understanding Conifers. arboreta that participate in AHS’s Reciprocal Class. The Brenton Arboretum. RAP DEC. 5. Composting for Winter. Admissions Program are identified with the Dallas Center, Iowa. (515) 992-4211. Class. Queens Botanical Garden. RAP symbol. Current AHS members showing www.thebrentonarboretum.org. Queens, New York. (718) 539-5296. a valid membership card are eligible for free or www.queensbotanical.org. discounted admission to the garden or other RAP DEC. 5–JAN. 18. Holiday Flower Show. benefits. Special events may not be included; Como Zoo and Marjorie McNeely Conserva- RAP DEC. 5. Growing Roses Organically. contact the host site for details or visit tory. St. Paul, Minnesota. (651) 487- Class. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Brooklyn, www.ahs.org/events/reciprocal_events.htm. 8200. www.comozooconservatory.org. New York. (718) 623-7200. www.bbg.org. SOUTH CENTRAL RAP DEC. 10. Gathering of Greens. AR, KS, LA, MO, MS, OK, TX Holiday décor workshop. Heritage Museums lanta Botanical Garden. Atlanta, Georgia. & Gardens. Sandwich, Massachusetts. (404) 876-5859. www.atlantabotanical RAP NOV. 25–JAN. 3. Greenland Express. (508) 888-3300. www.heritagemuseums garden.org. Holiday flower and train show. Missouri andgardens.org. Botanical Garden. St. Louis, Missouri. RAP NOV. 21 & 22. Garden Festival. (314) 577-5100. www.mobot.org. Heathcote Botanical Gardens. MID-ATLANTIC Fort Pierce, Florida. (772) 464-4672. RAP DEC. 4–6 & 10–13. Illuminations. Botan- PA, NJ, VA, MD, DE, WV, DC www.heathcotebotanicalgardens.org. ica, The Witchita Gardens. Wichita, Kansas. RAP NOV. 21. Floral Design Workshop (316) 264-0448. www.botanica.org. Series: Thanksgiving Design. Green Spring RAP NOV. 27–DEC. 31. Holiday Lights at the Gardens. Alexandria, Virginia. Garden. Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. RAP DEC. 5. Holiday Farmers’ Market. (703) 642-5173. www.greenspring.org. Belmont, North Carolina. (704) 825-4490. Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. www.dsbg.org. Fayetteville, Arkansas. (479) 750-2620. NOV. 26–JAN. 10. Holiday Magic Garden Dis- www.bgozarks.org. play. U.S. Botanic Garden. Washington, DC. RAP DEC. 5. Holiday Greenery Sale. (202) 225-8333. www.usbg.gov. Aldridge Botanical Gardens. Hoover, RAP DEC. 8. Plants of Christmas. Alabama. (205) 862-8019. Lecture. Biedenharn Museum & Gardens. RAP NOV. 27–JAN. 3. Holiday Garden www.aldridgegardens.com. Monroe, Louisiana. (318) 387-5281. Railway. Morris Arboretum of the University www.bmuseum.org. of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. DEC. 5. Orchid Seminar. Rock City Gardens. (215) 247-5777. ext. 181. Wabasso, Florida. (772) 589-5835. SOUTHWEST www.morrisarboretum.org. www.rockcitygardens.com. AZ, NM, CO, UT

RAP NOV. 27–JAN. 11. GardenFest of Lights. DEC. 12. Holiday Centerpiece Workshop. RAP NOV. 21. Garden Cornucopia. Thanks- Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Callaway Gardens. Pine Mountain, giving centerpiece workshop. Red Butte Gar- Richmond, Virginia. (804) 262-9887. Georgia. (706) 663-5187. den and Arboretum. Salt Lake City, Utah. www.lewisginter.org. www.callawaygardens.com. (801) 585-4747. www.redbuttegarden.org.

RAP DEC. 5. Holiday Greens Sale. Adkins NOV. 23–DEC. 30. River of Lights at the Botan- NORTH CENTRAL Arboretum. Ridgely, Maryland. (410) 634- ic Garden. Rio Grande Botanic Garden. Al- IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI 2847. www.adkinsarboretum.org. buquerque, New Mexico. (505) 764-6212. RAP NOV. 21. Holiday Tidings Floral Center- www.cabq.gov/biopark/garden. DEC. 15 & 16. Holiday Centerpiece Class. piece. Class. Boerner Botanical Gardens. Brookside Gardens. Wheaton, Maryland. (301) Hales Corners, Wisconsin. (414) 525-5659. RAP DEC. 4–JAN. 3. Blossoms of Light. Den- 962-1400. www.brooksidegardens.org. www.boernerbotanicalgardens.org. ver Botanic Gardens. Denver, Colorado. (720) 865-3500. www.botanicgardens.org. RAP NOV. 27–JAN. 3. Wonderland Express. SOUTHEAST Holiday display. Chicago Botanic Garden. Looking ahead AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN Glencoe, Illinois. (847) 835-5440. AHS JAN. 15–17. Maricopa County Home & RAP NOV. 3–JAN. 3. Holiday Train Show. At- www.chicagobotanic.org. Garden Show. Arizona State Fairgrounds.

56 the American Gardener Phoenix, Arizona. (602) 485-1691 ext. 117. www.maricopacountyhomeshows.com. Gardens Light Up for the Holidays

WEST COAST CA, NV, HI

RAP NOV. 21. Succulent Wreath Workshop. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Clare- mont, California. (909) 625-8767. ext. 200. www.rsabg.org.

RAP DEC. 10–30. Garden of Lights. San Diego Botanic Garden. Encinitas, California. (706) 436-3036. ext. 206. www.sdbgarden.org.

DEC. 12. Garden Tour. Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden. Captain Cook, Hawaii. (808) 323-3318. www.bishopmuseum.org/ exhibits/greenwell/greenwell.html. Brookside Gardens DEC. 14. Fabulous Holiday Décor From Over-Looked Garden Treasures. Lecture. San Diego Horticultural Society. Del Mar AS LEAVES DROP with the temperatures at this time of year, botanic gardens Fairgrounds. Del Mar, California. (760) 295-7089. www.sdhortsoc.org. everywhere are celebrating the season with light, and lots of it. Here is a sampling of some of the displays taking place in three different cities around the country— RAP DEC. 19. Mushroom ID Workshop & you’ll find many more listed to the left and on the preceding page. Walk. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. As a final celebration of its 40th anniversary year, Brookside Gardens in Fort Bragg, California. (707) 964-4352. Wheaton, Maryland, will be decorated with more than 700,000 colorful lights in www.gardenbythesea.org. the interactive displays of seasonal images: spring and summer flowers, autumnal leaves, and snowflakes. Existing trees, shrubs, and garden structures will also be NORTHWEST embellished with glowing bulbs. The Garden of Lights display will run from No- AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY vember 27 through January 3. For more information, call (301) 962-1453 or visit RAP NOV. 26–JAN. 10. Winter Garden aGlow. www.brooksidegardens.org. Idaho Botanical Garden. Boise, Idaho. (208) 343-8649. www.idahobotanicalgarden.org. In Hot Springs, Arkansas, Garvan Garvan Woodland Gardens Woodland Gardens will be aglow RAP DEC. 4 & 5. Holiday Bazaar. Leach with its Lights on the Landscape dis- Botanical Garden. Portland, Oregon. (503) play from November 21 through De- 823-9503. www.leachgarden.org. cember 31. Every evening its woodland Looking ahead landscape will be lit up by more than RAP JAN. 9. Pruning Your Trees and Bushes. 1.7 million lights. Garvan participates Lecture. Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. in the American Horticultural Soci- Cheyenne, Wyoming. (307) 460-4768. ety’s Reciprocal Admissions Program www.botanic.org. so AHS members receive free admission with a valid membership card. JAN. 27–31. Tacoma Home & Garden Show. Tacoma Dome. Tacoma, Washington. (253) For more information, call (501) 262- 756-2121. www.otshows.com. 9300 or visit www.garvangardens.org. The Desert Botanical Garden (DBG) in CANADA Desert Botanical Phoenix, Arizona, is presenting Las Noches de Las Garden Luminarias from December 10 through 30. A DEC. 4–JAN. 3. Christmas at the Garden. Exhibit. Montreal Botanical Garden. Southwestern holiday tradition, the display fea- Montreal, Quebec. (514) 872-1400. www2. tures thousands of hand-lit luminarias and other ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en/menu.htm. festive lights throughout DBG’s gardens. For more information about the event and ticket pur- RAP DEC. 11–13. Christmas Wreath Making. Class. Glendale Gardens & Woodland. Victo- chases, call (480) 941-1225 or visit www.dbg.org. ria, British Columbia. (250) 479-6162. While DBG is a participant in the Reciprocal Ad- www.hcp.bc.ca. missions Program—so AHS members receive free admission to the garden—tickets must still be DEC. 11–JAN. 3. Festival of Lights. purchased for this event. Van Dusen Botanical Garden. Vancouver, —Gwyneth Evans, Editorial Intern British Columbia. (604) 878-9274. www.vandusengarden.org. COURTESY OF BROOKSIDE GARDENS, GARVAN WOODLAND AND DESERT BOTANICAL GARDEN

November / December 2009 57 PRONUNCIATIONSC AND PLANTING ZONES

Most of the cultivated plants described in this issue are listed here with their pronunciations, USDA Plant Hardiness Zones, and AHS Plant Heat Zones. These zones suggest a range of locations where temperatures are appropriate—both in winter and summer—for growing each plant. While the zones are a good place to start in deter- mining plant adaptability in your region, factors such as exposure, moisture, snow cover, and humidity also play an important role in plant survival. The codes tend to be conservative; plants may grow outside the ranges indicated. A USDA zone rating of 0–0 means that the plant is a true annual and completes its life cycle in a year or less. To purchase a two-by-three-foot glossy AHS Plant Heat Zone Map for $9.95, call (800) 777-7931 or visit www.ahs.org.

A–F I. glabra I. GLAB-ruh (4–10, 10–4) I. myrtifolia I. meer-tih-FO-lee-uh (7–10, 12–7) Acer griseum AY-sur GRIS-ee-um (USDA Zones 4–8, AHS Zones 8–1) I. opaca I. o-PAH-kuh (5–9, 9–5) A. palmatum A. pal-MAY-tum (5–8, 8–2) I. opaca var. arenicola I. o-PAH-kuh var. ah-ray-NIK-o-luh (8–9, 11–9) Callicarpa americana kal-lih-KAR-puh uh-mair-ih-KAN-uh (7–9, 9–6) I. verticillata I. vur-tih-sih-LAY-tuh (3–9, 8–5) C. dichotoma C. dy-KOT-o-muh (5–8, 8–5) I. vomitoria I. vom-ih-TOR-ee-uh (7–10, 12–7) Calycanthus floridus kal-ee-KAN-thus FLOR-ih-dus (5–9, 9–1) Illicium floridanum ih-LISS-ee-um flor-ih-DAN-um (7–9, 9–4) Carex albolutescens KAIR-eks al-bo-LEW-tes-enz (3–9, 9–1) C. pansa C. PAN-suh (4–8, 8–1) C. pensylvanica C. pen-sil-VAN-ih-kuh (4–8, 8–1) J–Z C. praegracilis C. pre-GRASS-ih-lis (4–8, 8–1) Lagerstroemia faurei lag-ur-STRO-me-uh FAR-ee-eye (7–9, 9–7) Chamaerops humilis kah-MEE-rops HEW-mih-lys (11–11, 12–10) L. indica L. IN-dih-kuh (6–8, 9–6) Collinsonia canadensis kol-in-SO-nee-uh kan-uh-DEN-siss (4–8, 8–1) Magnolia macrophylla mag-NOLE-yuh mak-ro-FIL-luh (5–8, 9–6) Corylopsis spicata kor-ih-LOP-siss spy-KAY-tuh (5–8, 8–5) Pennisetum alopecuroides pen-ih-SEE-tum al-o-pek-yew-ROY-deez Crocus tommasinianus CRO-kus tom-muh-sin-ee-AY-nus (3–9, 8–1) (5–9, 9–2) Dicentra formosa dy-SEN-truh for-MO-suh (4–8, 10–1) Penstemon calycosus PEN-steh-mon kal-ee-KO-suss (5–10, 10–5) Dirca palustris DEER-kuh pah-LUS-triss (4–9, 9–1) Scabiosa lachnophylla skay-bee-O-suh lak-NO-fil-luh (4–9, 9–1) Eranthis hyemalis ee-RAN-thiss hy-ih-MAL-iss (4–9, 9–1) Stachys byzantina STAY-kiss bih-zan-TY-nuh (4–8, 8–1) Franklinia alatamaha frank-LIN-ee-uh uh-lah-tuh-MAH-hah (5–8, 9–6) Stewartia malacodendron stew-AR-tee-uh mal-ak-o-DEN-dron (7–9, 9–6) S. ovata S. o-VAY-tuh (3–9, 8–1) G–I Stipa tenuissima STY-puh ten-yew-ISS-ih-muh (7–11, 12–7) Thelypteris decursive-pinnata theh-LIP-ter-iss de-KUR-sive-pin-NAY-tuh Gaillardia aristata gay-LARD-ee-uh ahr-iss-TAY-tuh (3–8, 8–1) (7–8, 8–5) Geranium wlassovianum juh-RAY-nee-um vlah-so-vee-AN-um (4–8, 8–1) Thuja plicata THEW-yuh ply-KAY-tuh (6–8, 8–6) Hakonechloa macra ha-kon-ee-KLO-uh MAK-ruh (5–9, 9–2) Viburnum rhytidophyllum vy-BER-num ry-tih-doh-FIL-um (6–8, 8–6) Hedera azorica HED-er-uh ah-ZOR-ih-kuh (5–10, 12–5) H. colchica H. KOAL-chih-kuh (6–11, 12–1) H. helix H. HE-liks (5–11, 12–1) H. hibernica H. hy-BURN-ih-kuh (6–11, 12–6) H. rhombea H. ROAM-bee-uh (6–11, 12–6) Ilex aquifolium EYE-leks ah-kwi-FO-lee-um (7–9, 9–7) I. ✕attenuata I. uh-ten-yew-AY-tuh (6–9, 9–4) I. cassine I. KASS-een (7–10, 12–7)

58 the American Gardener GARDENC MARKET

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November / December 2009 59 2009C MAGAZINE INDEX

AUTHOR Center Opens, S/O, 57. Washing- Wetherbee, Kris. Grow Garlic Like Ivy: English Ivy: Paragon or ton Park Arboretum Ready to a Pro, S/O, 46. Sensational Pariah?, N/D, 35. Albert, Lisa. Curbside Gardens, Celebrate, J/A, 57. Salsa Peppers, M/J, 42.Stretch Native Plants: Alabama Croton, J/A, 32. English Ivy: Paragon or Hebert, Melissa. Finding Common Your Growing Season, S/O, 40. M/J, 62. America’s Evergreen Pariah?, N/D, 35. Native Plants Ground in Cleveland for a Green- Tender-hearted Artichokes, Hollies, N/D, 14. Coreopsis Re- for Water Gardens, M/A, 18. er Tomorrow, M/J, 14. Finding M/A, 44. considered, M/A, 30. Deciduous Armitage, Allan M. Coreopsis Re- Common Ground, S/O, 14. Yee, Mary. One on One With… Native Hollies, S/O, 30. Fraser’s considered, M/A, 30. Sizzling Hill, Bob. Alabama Croton, M/J, Bonnie Harper-Lore, J/F, 42; Rob Sedge, J/F, 62. Hardy Hibiscus- Summer Foliage Plants, J/A, 26. 62. Allen Bush, N/D, 30. Johnson Jr., M/A, 42; Pearl Fryar, es, J/A, 14. Mining the Potential Bell, Neil. Water-Thrifty Howard, Doreen G. Gardens for J/A, 42; John Greenlee, N/D, 42. of Shade-loving Natives, M/A, Rockroses, M/J, 35. Recovery, N/D, 20. Plants and 24. Native Plants for Water Berger, Jane. James van Sweden Trends for 2009, J/F, 14. Gardens, M/A, 18. and the New American Garden, Joyce, Alice. New West Coast SUBJECT New Plants: Plants and Trends for S/O, 35. Show, J/A, 58. AHS Awards: AHS National Award 2009, J/F, 14. Bunting, Andrew. Edgeworthia Lawton, Barbara P. Hardy Hibis- Winners, M/A, 14. AHS Book Nomenclature: What’s in a Name?, chrysantha: Fragrant Flowers for cuses, J/A, 14. Award Winners, M/A, 17. J/F, 20. Early Spring, M/A, 62. Lee, Rand B. Success with Citrus, Annuals and Tender Perennials: People: Antonia Adezio, S/O, 44. Bush, Gene. Hakonechloa macra: J/F, 25. Plants and Trends for 2009, J/F, Allen Bush, N/D, 30. Betsy Lighting Up the Shady Garden, Melchoir, Caleb. Variegated Potato 14. Sizzling Summer Foliage Clebsch, M/J, 30. John L. Creech, J/A, 62. Vine (Solanum laxum ‘Aurea’), Plants, J/A, 26. N/D, 10. Pearl Fryar, J/A, 42. Bussolini, Karen. Gardening on the N/D, 62. Benches: Garden Benches, M/J, John Greenlee, N/D, 42. Bonnie Slope, S/O, 18. Nelson, Gil. America’s Evergreen 24. Harper-Lore, J/F, 42. Rob John- Calhoun, Scott. Designing Water- Hollies, N/D, 14. Deciduous Carex: See Sedges. ston Jr., M/A, 42. Panayoti Thrifty Gardens, J/A, 20. Native Hollies, S/O, 30. Children and Youth Gardening: Find- Kelaidis, M/J, 40. Charles and Cappiello, Paul. Carex for Ameri- Ottesen, Carole. First Lady of ing Common Ground, S/O, 14. Martha Oliver, M/A, 24. James can Gardens, M/J, 18. Salvias, M/J, 30. A “Look-into” Finding Common Ground in van Sweden, S/O, 35. Chester-Davis, Leah. John L. Garden, N/D, 24. Cleveland, M/J, 14. Perennials: Carex for American Creech, N/D, 10. Pelczar, Rita. Selecting the Right Cistus: See Rockroses. Gardens, M/J, 18. Coreopsis Crotz, Keith. Gardener’s Books: Pruning Tools, J/F, 48. Potting Citrus: Success with Citrus, J/F, Reconsidered, M/A, 30. Horticultural History, S/O, 55. Soil and Mixes, M/A, 50. Bat- 25. Hakonechloa macra, J/A, 62. Ellis, Barbara W. Steps to a Suc- tling Weeds, M/J, 48. Compost- Compost: Composting, J/A, 38. Mining the Potential of Shade- cessful Vegetable Garden, J/F, ing, J/A, 38. Selecting the Right Coreopsis: Coreopsis Reconsid- loving Natives, M/A, 24. 30. Hoe, S/O, 48. A Season’s Worth ered, M/A, 30. Pruning: Pruning Deciduous Evans, Gwyneth. America in of Favorites, N/D, 44. Curbside Gardens: Curbside Shrubs, J/F, 36. Selecting the Bloom’s 2009 Award Winners, Reich, Lee. Hardy Kiwis Offer Gardens, J/A, 32. Right Pruning Tools, J/F, 48. N/D, 12. Gardens Light Up for Beauty and Flavor, J/A, 44. Foliage Plants: Sizzling Summer Public Gardens (see also Regional the Holidays, N/D, 57. Gifts for Pruning Deciduous Shrubs, J/F, Foliage Plants, J/A, 27. Happenings): Heartland Harvest, the Gardener, N/D, 50. 36. Garden Design: Curbside Gardens, S/O, 24. Friel, John. What’s in a Name?, Rice, Graham. Mining the Poten- J/A, 32. Designing Water-Thrifty Rockroses: Water-Thrifty J/F, 20. tial of Shade-loving Natives, Gardens, J/A, 20. Gardening on Rockroses, M/J, 35. Goldman, Talia. Furbish Company: M/A, 24. the Slope, S/O, 18. James van Salvias: First Lady of Salvias, Using Plants to Create Sustain- Robischon, Marcel. On the Scent Sweden and the New American M/J, 30. able Structures, J/A, 12.Lewis of the Katsura Tree, S/O, 62. Garden, S/O, 35. A “Look-into” Sedges: Carex for American Ginter Celebrates 25th Anniver- Ross, Marty. Heartland Harvest, Garden, N/D, 24. Gardens, M/J, 18. sary, M/A, 56; Missouri Botani- S/O, 24. Gardening Techniques (see also Vegetables and Fruits: Alpine cal Garden’s 150th Anniversary, Shepherd, Renee. Petite and Green Garage): Pruning Decidu- Strawberries, N/D, 40. Arti- M/A, 57. One on One Sweet Alpine Strawberries, N/D, ous Shrubs, J/F, 36. Stretch chokes, M/A, 44. Hardy Kiwis, With…Panayoti Kelaidis, M/J, 40. Your Growing Season, S/O, 40. J/A, 44. Heartland Harvest, S/O, 40. Oregon Coast Gardening & Small, Virginia. Garden Benches, Halimium: See Rockroses. 24. Perennial Vegetables Beyond Landscaping Expo, M/J, 58. M/J, 24. Healing Gardens: Gardens for Asparagus, M/A, 36. Salsa Sensory Garden Opens at Toensmeier, Eric. Perennial Recovery, N/D, 20. Peppers, M/J, 42. Steps to a Coastal Maine Botanical Gar- Vegetables Beyond Asparagus, Hibiscus: Hardy Hibiscuses for Successful Vegetable Garden, J/F, dens, M/J, 57. M/A, 36. American Gardens, J/A, 14. 30. Stretch Your Growing Griesser, Amanda. Brent and Tomlinson, Keith P. Fraser’s Sedge, Hollies: America’s Evergreen Hol- Season, S/O, 40. Success with Becky’s Bulbs, S/O, 12.Denver J/F, 62. lies, N/D, 14. Deciduous Native Citrus, J/F, 25. Goes Prehistoric, J/A, 57. Learn- Usrey, Susie and Underwood, Tom. Hollies, S/O, 30. Vines: English Ivy, N/D, 35. Hardy ing Garden in Colorado, S/O, 58. Notes from River Farm, J/F, 5; Ilex: See Hollies. Kiwis, J/A, 44. Variegated Potato Naples Botanical Garden, S/O, M/A, 5; M/J, 5; J/A, 5; S/O, 5; Indoor Plants: Success with Citrus, Vine, N/D, 62. 57. One on One With…Antonia N/D, 5. J/F, 25. Water Gardens: Native Plants for Adezio, S/O, 44. Rice Science

60 the American Gardener Water Gardens, M/A, 18. fa, 10. Water-Thrifty Gardening Month, 47. New Discoveries Favorites, 54. M/J: 75 Remarkable Water-Thrifty Gardening: Designing Webinar, 11. N/D: AHS Supports About Vanishing Honeybees, 44. Fruits for Your Garden, 54. The Water-Thrifty Gardens, J/A, 20. Boston’s Garden Contest, 7. New Organic Gardening Survey, 46. Backyard Homestead, 54. Com- Water-Thrifty Rockroses, M/J, 35. Members Join AHS Board, 8. Un- Plants Inspire Solar Technology plete Book of Garlic, 54. Fresh Woody Plants: Alabama Croton, derwood Judges Community Gar- Breakthrough, 44. Predicting In- Food from Small Spaces, 54. M/J, 62. America’s Evergreen Hol- den Grants, 7. Wildlife Webinar, vasiveness, 46. Vote for America’s Home Outside, 52. Sunflowers, lies, N/D, 14. Deciduous Native 8. Favorite Plant, 45. J/A: American 52. Trees for All Seasons, 53. J/A: Hollies, S/O, 30. Hardy Hibiscus- AHS News Specials: 2009 AHS Community Gardening Association 50 High-Impact, Low-Care Garden es, J/A, 14. Pruning Deciduous National Children & Youth Gar- Turns 30, 50. Butterflies Picky Plants, 52. Durable Plants for the Shrubs, J/F, 36. Success with Cit- den Symposium, M/J, 14. AHS About Cultivars, 46. A Garden by Garden, 54. Gardening in the Pa- rus, J/F, 25. Water-Thrifty Rock- 2009 Great American Gardeners the People, for the People, 49. cific Northwest, 54. The Hot Gar- roses, M/J, 35. National Award Winners, M/A, Herb Expert Madalene Hill Dies, den, 54. Oh Garden of Fresh Pos- 14. America in Bloom’s 2009 48. Invest in a Little Shade, 47. sibilities, 54. Rain Gardening in COLUMN INDEX Award Winners, N/D, 12. New Technology Yields Fast Tree the South, 54. A Rose by Any News from AHS: J/F: 2009 Epcot AHS Partners in Profile: Brent and Identification, 48. Peckerwood Name, 52. When Perennials International Flower & Garden Becky’s Bulbs, S/O, 12. Furbish Garden Expanding, 46. Pesticide Bloom, 53. S/O: The Brother Gar- Festival, 12. 2009 National Chil- Company, J/A, 12. Synergy May Increase Risk of deners, 55. Bulb, 54. From Yard dren & Youth Garden Symposium, One on One With…: Bonnie Harper- Parkinson’s Disease, 47. Sweet to Garden, 55. Fruits and Plains, 9. AHS Board Updates, 8. AHS Lore, J/F, 42. Rob Johnson Jr., 16 for National Public Lands Day, 55. The Garden of Invention, 55. Receives Fruehling Bequest, 9. M/A, 42. Panayoti Kelaidis, M/J, 49. Veggie E-Bay, 49. Wildfire High Plains Horticulture, 55. The AHS Represented at Climate 40. Pearl Fryar, J/A, 42. Antonia Wreaks Havoc at Santa Barbara Perennial Care Manual, 54. The Change Conference, 8. America in Adezio, S/O 44. John Greenlee, Botanic Garden, 48. Yoder Broth- Rose, 53. Stylish Sheds and Ele- Bloom Contest, 12. Colonial N/D, 42. ers Name Change, 48. S/O: Betty gant Hideaways, 54. Wicked Williamsburg Garden Symposium, Homegrown Harvest: Artichokes, Ford Alpine Gardens Receives Plants, 53. N/D: The American 11. Dr. Cathey Day Lecture, 10. M/A, 44. Salsa Peppers, M/J, 42. Award, 52. Eleanor Perenyi Dies, Meadow Garden, 53. The Dirt Garden Photography Contest, 11. Hardy Kiwis, J/A, 44. Garlic, S/O, 52. Hot Plant for Cool Seasons, Cheap Green Thumb, 54. Gods Grant to Fund Future AHS Library, 46. Alpine Strawberries, N/D, 40. 50. Missouri Botanical Garden and Goddesses in the Garden, 54. 11. New Online Newsletter, 10. Gardener’s Notebook: J/F: 2009 All- Now a Horticultural Landmark, Macro Photography for Gardeners Renee’s Garden Helps Celebrate America Selections Winners, 44. 52. New Disease Wreaks Havoc and Nature Lovers, 54. My Natur- Seed Exchange’s Golden Anniver- Acorn Scarcity Causes Concern, on Western Walnut Trees, 50. al History, 54. Our Life in Gar- sary, 8. Spring Plant Sale, 10. 47. Crazy for Catmints, 47. Enid New Ownership for Western Gar- dens, 52. Sibley Guide to Trees, Upcoming Webinars, 8. M/A: AHS A. Haupt Honored by New York den Shows, 51. Rainwater Collec- 54. Understanding Perennials, Annual Report Online, 12. AHS Botanical Garden, 46. Financial tion Restrictions Lifted in Col- 52. Gala to Feature Top Chef, 12. Woes Beset Massachusetts Horti- orado, 51. Smith & Hawken Regional Happenings: J/F: Interna- AHS Joins Sustainable Sites Ini- cultural Society, 44. New Plant Victim of Economy, 50. N/D: First tional Master Gardener Confer- tiative, 8. First Annual Community Hormone Discovered, 44. Lady Receives APGA Commenda- ence, 57. Southwest Rare Plant Green, 12. Green Garden School, MOBOT’s Award-Winning Recy- tion, 46. From Feathers to Flower Conference, 57. M/A: Lewis Ginter 10. New Corporate Members, 8. cling Program, 45. Redbud Col- Pots, 46. Lawn Reform, 48. Celebrates 25th Anniversary, 56. Spring Garden Market at River lection Receives National Recog- Name Change for Philadelphia Missouri Botanical Garden’s Farm, 10. Symposium Keynote nition, 45. Slower-Growing Grass Flower Show, 47. A New Name 150th Anniversary, 57. M/J: Sen- Speaker, 9. Webinars for 2009, 8. for Southern Regions, 47. Syn- and a New Children’s Garden For sory Garden Opens at Coastal M/J: AHS Environmental Awards, genta Aquires Goldsmith Seeds a California Public Garden, 47. Maine Botanical Gardens, 57. 9. AHS Garden School on Sus- and Yoder Brother’s Brand, 46. Sustainable Sites Initiative Seeks Oregon Coast Gardening & Land- tainable Landscaping, 12. Com- M/A: Bees Have Role as Plant Pilot Projects, 46. The World’s Fa- scaping Expo, 58. J/A: Denver munity Green Highlights, 12. Bodyguards, 46. Celebrating Pub- vorite Rose, 46. Goes Prehistoric, 57. Washington Green Garage Gets Green Roof, 8. lic Gardens, 46. Construction Ac- Green Garage: Selecting the Right Park Arboretum Ready to Cele- New Signs for the André Bluemel cident at Atlanta Botanical Gar- Pruning Tools, J/F, 48. Potting brate, 57. New West Coast Show, Meadow, 8. New Youth Programs den, 47. Economy Spells Bad Soil and Mixes, M/A, 50. Bat- 58. S/O: Naples Botanical Garden, Intern, 10. Upcoming Webinars, News for Garden Magazines, 49. tling Weeds, M/J, 48. Compost- 57. Rice Science Center Opens, 10. J/A: America in Bloom Sympo- New Plant Promotion Group for ing, J/A, 38. Selecting the Right 57. Learning Garden in Colorado, sium, 8. Celebrating the Best in Mid-Atlantic Region, 46. North- Hoe, S/O, 48. A Season’s Worth 58. N/D: Gardens Light Up for the American Horticulture, 8. Garden west and San Francisco Flower of Favorites, N/D, 44. Holidays, 57. Writers Visit River Farm, 9. Gar- Shows Face Closure, 47. Raven is Book Reviews: J/F: Bleeding Hearts, Plant in the Spotlight: Fraser’s dening Experts at Homestead Scott Medal Recipient, 47. Tem- Corydalis, and Their Relatives, 55. Sedge (Cymophyllus fraseri), J/F, Event, 8. Photo Competition Open perate Trees at Risk, 46. National Calochortus, 55. Flowers and 62. Paperbush (Edgeworthia to AHS Members, 10. Plant a Arboretum Introduces New Egolf Herbs of Early America, 52. Gar- chrysantha), M/A, 62. Alabama Seed, Save a Seed, 9. Webinars Viburnum, 49. University Trial dening with Hardy Heathers, 55. Croton (Croton alabamensis), M/J, on Water-Thrifty Strategies and Gardens Test Plant Performance, Lilacs, 52. New Encyclopedia of 62. Japanese shade grass Wildlife in the Garden, 8. S/O: 48. M/J: America in Bloom Estab- Daylilies, 55. Plant-Driven Design, (Hakonechloa macra), J/A, 62. AHS Introduces New Encyclope- lishes Memorial Award, 47. Best 54. Saxifrages, 55. M/A: Between Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum dia, 9. Auction of One-of-a-Kind Bellflowers for Northern Gardens, Earth and Sky, 54. Marie Selby japonicum), S/O, 62. Variegated Horticultural Experiences, 10. 46. Edible Gardens a Capital Botanical Gardens Illustrated Dic- Potato Vine (Solanum laxum Garden School on Sustainability, Idea, 44. Fish Emulsion Sup- tionary of Orchid Genera, 55. New ‘Aurea’), N/D, 62. 8. Get Ready for Seed Exchange, presses Fungi, 46. Homegrown Encyclopedia of Orchids, 55. Vegetables for the Needy, 44. Planthropology: The Myths, Mys- Index compiled by Barbara Lockett, AHS 8. Growing Good Kids Award Win- Volunteer, and Gwyneth Evans, Editorial ners, 8. River Farm’s New Sod So- June is Perennial Gardening teries, and Miracles of My Garden Intern.

November / December 2009 61 62 by CalebMelchior that I’d liketorecommend isthevariegated potatovine ofthenotoriousnightshadefamily (Solanaceae).because itispart One ornamentalmemberofthefamily tuberosum) A in thenightshadefamily. this lovely tropical twiner, native toBrazil, until you seeitsflowers thatyou’ll place stemsare completelysmooth.It’swiry not arrowheads—have its nospines.Likewise, and-gold leaves—shaped likeelongated tal membersofthegenus,itsglossygreen- and atmostsix to eight.That’s enoughfor likely have twotothree feetofgrowth— inch pot,andtreat itwell, by autumnyou’ll to vine,sayawell-rooted cuttinginafour- If outwithasmallvariegated you pota- start GROWING REQUIREMENTS the paucityofflowers. exquisite foliage more thanmakesupfor floriferous asitsfully-green cousin,butthe climates. It isneitherasvigorous noras tainer plantforgardens infrost-prone tum’, and‘Variegata’—to beanidealcon- ‘Aurea’, ‘Aureovariegata’, ‘Aureovariega- travels under avariety ofnamesincluding large—to 20feetormore tall. hardy, itwilleventually becomequite nificant frost. In regions where itiswinter- back totheground inareas thatreceive sig- 8 (possiblyZone 7), althoughitwilldie ally regarded asroot-hardy toUSDAZone coverlet offrothy whiteblooms.It isgener- sprawls outover thewallsinaspectacular White Garden atSissinghurst, where it most frequently visitedofitshauntsisthe flowers andexuberantgrowth. Probably the Kingdom, where it’s revered foritsfragrant used asavigorous wallcover intheUnited The standard potatovine— OUT OFTHETROPICS Variegated Potato Vine Unlike someofthe“prickly” ornamen- I findthevariegated version—which the American Gardener grown somespeciesformanyyears—two staplesoftheAmericankitchengarden are potatoes MERICAN GARDENERS and eggplants S. laxum—is (S. melongena)—we stillhave barely touchedonthegenus’s potential,perhaps today have achoiceofinnumerableSolanum Variegated potatovineisagoodchoiceforgrowingincontainersandhangingbaskets. seen itthrivinginfullsun,afternoon adapts toawiderangeoflightlevels. I’ve vigor. It loves heatandhumidity mean thatvariegated potatovinelacks pilosus less vigorous mat-formerssuchas most containers,andyou canplantitwith LN NTESPOTLIGHT THE IN PLANT (888) 330-8038. Logee’s Greenhouses, 7269. Forestfarm, Sources (Solanum laxum This restrained growth habitdoesn’t without fearofsmotheringthem. www.forestfarm.com. C Williams, OR.(541)846- www.logees.com. Danielson, CT. (Solanum laxum, ‘Aurea’) Evolvulus Perryville, Missouri. Caleb Melchior isagarden writerbasedin their growth willbestunted. plants awayfrom exposure tocold,or ents andplentyofwarmth.Keep young grow fasterwithlavishhelpings ofnutri- most tropicals, variegated potatovinewill appeared healthy andfulloflife.Like shade,butall vigorous than thoseinpart ceive more sunseemedingeneralmore shade, andindirect light.Plants thatre- well worth growing.well worth won’t takeover the garden, makingitavine gold andgreen. It’s alsoeasytogrow and over cascadesof the edgesinwonderful in acontainerorhangingbasket,trailing syn. Solanum laxum S. jasminoides varieties. Althoughwe’ve ‘Aurea’ looksfabulous ‘Aurea’). (Solanum

SUSAN A. ROTH