GARDENERGARDENER® the Magazine of the American Horticultural Society July / August 2009

TheThe AmericanAmerican

GARDENERGARDENER® The Magazine of the American Horticultural Society July / August 2009

Breathtaking Hardy Hibiscuses Bold and Bright Summer Foliage Curbside Gardens Beautify Streets

Designing Water-Wise Gardens

contents

Volume 88, Number 4 . July / August 2009

FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

5 NOTES FROM RIVER FARM

6 MEMBERS' FORUM

8 NEWS FROM AHS AHS celebrates the 2009 Great American Gardeners Award winners and Book Award winners at River Farm, upcoming webinars in July and September, America In Bloom Symposium taking place in Hershey; Pennsylvania, Garden Writers hold regional meeting at River Farm.

14 AHS PARTNERS IN PROFILE: FURBISH COMPANY This innovative Maryland company uses plants to create sustainable structures.

38 GREEN GARAGE® Composting: making treasure from trash.

42 ONE ON ONE WITH ... Pearl Fryar, topiary artist. 14 HARDY HIBISCUSES FOR AMERICAN GARDENS 44 HOMEGROWN HARVEST BY BARBARA PERRY LAWTON Sweet success with hardy kiwis. The tropical appearance of these bold and beautiful bloomers belies their hardy temperament. 46 GAROENER'S NOTEBOOK Butterflies show preference for different zinnia cultivars, pesticides may increase risk of 20 DESIGNING WATER-THRIFTY GARDENS BY SCOTT CALHOUN Parkinson's disease, study quantifies benefits No matter where you live, reduce your garden's watering needs of shade trees planted around homes, the with Southwestern-inspired design strategies. People's Garden developed at USDA headquarters in D.C., wildfiredamages Santa 26 SIZZLING SUMMER FOLIAGE Barbara Botanic Garden. BY ALLAN M. ARMITAGE Gardener'S Notebook News Special: American Community Gardening The author's picks for annuals Association celebrates 30th anniversary. and tender perennials that flaunt

flamboyant foliage all summer 52 BOOK REVIEWS long. A Rose by Any Name, 50 High-Impact, Low-Maintenance Garden Plants, and 32 CURBSIDE GARDENS When PerennialsBloom. BY LISA ALBERT Special focus: Regional gardening books.

Tu rn the barren strip of land 56 REGIONAL HAPPENINGS between your sidewalk and the curb into a welcoming and 60 HAROINESS ANO HEAT ZONES beautiful space. ANO PRONUNCIATIONS

62 PLANT IN THE SPOTLIGHT

ON THE COVER This drought-tolerant garden in California includes yuccas, euphorbias, and a vari Japanese forest grass ety of low-growing flowering plants for splashes of color. Phorograph by Jerry Pavia (Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola).

JULY / AUGUST 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 Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Kulp, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Board of Directors Rissetto, Esq. ■ Mr. and Mrs. W. Bruce Usrey CHAIR Susie Usrey Dayton, Oregon CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Bluemel ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN Don E. Riddle, Jr. Davidsonville, Maryland Bogle ■ Mr. Arnold Steiner SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN Leslie Ariail Alexandria, Virginia SECRETARY Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. Falls Church, Virginia LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY CIRCLE Anderson Family Charitable Foundation ■ Mr. and TREASURER Arnold Steiner Birmingham, Alabama Mrs. John H. Ariail, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Carter Bales ■ Mr. Gerald T. Halpin ■ Ms. JoAnn Luecke ■ Dr. and Mrs. David E. Morrison ■ Mr. and Mrs. Klaus Zech Allan M. Armitage Athens, Georgia ■ Suzanne Bales Oyster Bay, New York ■ William E. Barrick, Ph.D. Theodore, Alabama Kurt Bluemel Baldwin, Maryland ■ Henrietta Burke Alexandria, Virginia ■ Tom Cooper Watertown, Massachusetts HAUPT CIRCLE Lynda and Nathan Bachman ■ Mrs. Susan M. Cargill ■ Mrs. Gay Estes Houston, Texas ■ Anne Garland Farrell Richmond, Virginia ■ Carole Hofley Wilson, Wyoming Judy Daniel ■ Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Farrell ■ Dr. and Mrs. John A. Floyd, Jr. Margaret Kulp Louisville, Kentucky ■ Caroline Lewis Coral Gables, Florida ■ Jack Lowry Phoenix, Maryland ■ Mrs. Richard W. Hamming ■ Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Hanselman ■ Mrs. Melissa R. Marshall Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ■ Mary Pat Matheson Atlanta, Georgia Carole S. Hofley ■ Mrs. Enid N. Warner Shirley Nicolai Ft. Washington, Maryland ■ J. Landon Reeve, IV Woodbine, Maryland

COUNCIL MEMBER’S CIRCLE Nancy J. Becker, M.D. ■ Mrs. Katherine Belk ■ PRESIDENT EMERITUS Katy Moss Warner Mrs. George P. Bissell, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. C. William Black ■ Dr. Sherran Blair ■ Mr. Richard C. and Mrs. Katherine Stark Bull ■ Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Burke, III ■ Mr. and Mrs. Michael T. Bradshaw ■ Mr. and Mrs. Carl Estes ■ Ms. Inger Fair ■ Mrs. Carolyn V. Foil ■ Ms. Marguerite Peet Foster ■ Ms. Amy Goldman ■ Ms. Ingrid A. Graham ■ Ms. Barbara Grant ■ Dr. and Mrs. William O. 2009 Advisory Council Hargrove ■ Mrs. Elizabeth Hooff ■ Mr. Philip Huey ■ Deane H. Hundley ■ Mrs. Marta Lawrence ■ Mrs. Carolyn M. Lindsay ■ Ms. Melissa Marshall ■ Mrs. Beverly Hanselman, Nashville, Tennessee – Chair Dorothy Marston ■ Mr. Charles T. Matheson ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harold Clarissa Bonde, Washington, D.C. Stu McMichael, Falls Church, Virginia McClendon, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Egon Molbak ■ Mr. and Mrs. James R. Moxley Anne Bucher, Silver Spring, Maryland Egon Molbak, Bellevue, Washington ■ Mrs. Shirley Ann Nicolai ■ Mr. David D. Parrish ■ Mr. and Mrs. Albin Walter Bull, Columbia, South Carolina Dean Norton, Mt. Vernon, Virginia MacDonough Plant ■ Dr. Julia Rappaport ■ Mr. and Mrs. J. Landon Reeve, IV Elaine Burden, Middleburg, Virginia Nancy Keen Palmer, Nashville, Tennessee ■ Jeanne Shields ■ Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Smith, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. William Patty Bush, St. Louis, Missouri Bob Patterson, Washington, D.C. M. Spencer, III ■ Mrs. P.M. Spreuer ■ Mr. Harold Stahly ■ Dr. and Mrs. Steven Skipp Calvert, Alexandria, Virginia Dr. Julia W. Rappaport, Santa Ana, California M. Still ■ Mr. Donald B. Stott ■ Mr. and Mrs. Russell Terry ■ Dr. Sarah K. Bartie Cole, Owings Mills, Maryland Deen Day Sanders, Norcross, Georgia Thomson ■ Mr. Howard McK. Tucker and Ms. Megan Evans ■ Mr. and Mrs. Jim Corfield, Geneva, Illinois Josephine Shanks, Houston, Texas Tom Underwood ■ Mr. Joe Viar ■ Ms. Angela M. Vikesland ■ Mr. and Mrs. Lucinda Crabtree, Falls Church, Virginia Barbara Shea, Owings Mills, Maryland Robert D. Volk ■ Mrs. Pauline E. Vollmer ■ Ms. Katy Moss Warner ■ Mr. and Ginny Hill Daisey, Dedham, Massachusetts Holly Shimizu, Glen Echo, Maryland Mrs. Dennis White ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harvey C. White ■ Mr. and Mrs. John Edward N. Dane, Center Harbor, New Hampshire Charles Henry Smith, Jr, Middleburg, Virginia W.White, Sr. Ben Griswold, Glyndon, Maryland Nancy Thomas, Houston, Texas Henry Jameson, Kula, Hawaii Bryan Thomlison, Haddonfield, New Jersey HONORARY PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL Ms. Louise Fruehling* ■ Mrs. Enid Haupt* Carolyn Marsh Lindsay, Ponte Vedra, Florida Pauline Vollmer, Baltimore, Maryland ■ Mrs. John A. Lutz* ■ Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Miller* Bob Malesardi, Easton, Maryland Joyce and Harvey White, Nashville, Tennessee Robert and Joanna Martin, Menlo Park, California Joannah Williams, Sebring, Florida *In memoriam Barbara McClendon, Alexandria, Virginia Sheryl Wood, Middleburg, Virginia

Education Sponsor OXO International

Corporate Members Brent and Becky’s Bulbs ■ The Care of Trees ■ Chapel Valley Landscape Company Furbish Company ■ Homestead Gardens ■ Kurt Bluemel, Inc. ■ Monrovia To access the members-only 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 EING A GOOD gardener and taking good care of the earth go hand-in- EDITORIAL INTERN hand. Gardeners typically have keen observation skills and a heightened Amanda Griesser B awareness of the rhythms of nature, as well as an appreciation, built from ex- CONTRIBUTING EDITOR perience, for the significance of each decision we make or action we take. Rita Pelczar The results of some of our actions occur relatively quickly and are very visible. CONTRIBUTING WRITER Garden tasks such as raking up leaves, deadheading a flower bed, or planting a veg- Carole Ottesen etable garden can deliver near instant gratification. The rewards of other endeav-

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD ors may take much longer to materialize, or deliver results that are less tangible. CHAIR Richard E. Bir Brevard, North Carolina For example, growing an exquisite spec- Allan M. Armitage imen bonsai is an exercise in patience Athens, Georgia that spans decades. Or, consider the im- Nina L. Bassuk plications of setting up a compost bin or Ithaca, New York replacing a water-thirsty and resource-in- Steve Bender tensive lawn with low maintenance or- Birmingham, Alabama namental grasses and perennials. Both John E. Bryan actions will deliver benefits to the garden and to the environment, but over a much San Francisco, California greater period. As gardeners, we have the good fortune to enjoy a unique mix of John L. Creech Columbus, North Carolina watchful anticipation and outright satisfaction on a daily basis. Panayoti Kelaidis The AHS is committed to encouraging gardeners to become good stewards of Denver, Colorado the earth by helping them make well-informed, responsible decisions about how Richard W. Lighty they garden. We firmly believe that American gardeners can, and should, be role Kennett Square, Pennsylvania models for citizen action, a philosophy that is ingrained in our educational pro- Elvin McDonald grams. One example of this is the Green Garage® initiative that is highlighted in West Des Moines, Iowa each issue of our magazine. To broaden the reach of this program, we created a traveling educational exhibit that has been viewed by thousands of people at flower CONTACT US The American Gardener 7931 East Boulevard Drive shows and botanical gardens nationwide. A model Green Garage, now bedecked Alexandria, VA 22308 with a green roof, is on permanent display here at our River Farm headquarters. (703) 768-5700 In this issue, be sure to read the informative Green Garage article on composters

EDITORIAL E-MAIL: [email protected] and composting. Feature articles include design advice for water-thrifty gardens, tips for beautifying curbside strips, top choices of dramatic annual foliage plants ADVERTISING & E-MAIL: [email protected] CORPORATE for summer plantings, and a profile of hardy hibiscuses. PARTNERSHIPS In the course of our outreach through events and programs, AHS Board and staff members have the chance to meet many gardeners and horticulturists from across the country who are doing great things. Earlier this year, while scouting the Portland, Ore- The American Gardener (ISSN 1087-9978) is published bimonth- ly (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, Septem- gon, region for an upcoming AHS tour, we visited the Oregon Garden in Silverton. ber/October, November/December) by the American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300, In addition to its beautiful plant displays, the garden is home to an innovative wet- (703) 768-5700. Membership in the Society includes a subscrip- lands project that filters the city’s treated wastewater and recycles it as irrigation water tion to The American Gardener. Annual dues are $35; two years, $60. International dues are $50. $10 of annual dues goes toward for the garden. If your summer travels take you to the Pacific Northwest, be sure to magazine subscription. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Vir- ginia, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send see for yourself how the Oregon Garden and the citizens of Silverton have adopted a Form 3579 to The American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, creative and collaborative approach to environmental responsibility. Alexandria, VA 22308-1300. Botanical nomenclature is based on The American Horticultural The world is truly our garden and we all have important roles to play. By being Society A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, on A Synonymized Check- informed, making good decisions, and serving as models for our children, neigh- list of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Canada and Greenland and on the Royal Horticultural Society Index of Garden Plants. Opinions bors, and communities, together we are making a difference. expressed in the articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Society. Manuscripts, artwork, and photographs sent for possible publication will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We cannot guarantee the safe return of unsolicited Happy gardening! material. Back issues are available at $8 per copy. Copyright ©2009 by the American Horticultural Society. Susie Usrey, Chair, AHS Board of Directors

Printed in the U.S.A. Tom Underwood, Executive Director

July / August 2009 5 6 later developedfromthespinygrowth. A moretypical-lookingChristmascactuspad below). Canyou tellmeifthisisnormal? tion, asseeninthephotosIattached(see usual growth thatappearstobeamuta- years. monthsagoInoticedanun- Afew (Schlumbergera I have owned aChristmascactus CHRISTMAS CACTUS“MUTATION” Editor’s response: spines andmore ribs.AChristmas cac- this typeofcactus toexhibitlonger not uncommonforjuvenile growth on lent Journal. Wagner, editoroftheCactus andSuccu- ages andyour questiontoD.Russell formed onthestemofChristmascactus. This unusual,atypicalspine-coveredgrowth the American Gardener According to Wagner, “It is spp.) formore thanfour We theim- forwarded Truckee, California Maxine Rix love as a childinNew Orleans. ing, suchaschayote, whichIlearnedto people Iwork withare notusedtoeat- inspired growing metostart plantsthe bles intheMarch/April issue. The article Toensmeier’s onperennial article vegeta- activities, soIgreatly appreciated Eric that canbedoneanywhere. quick, easy, andfungardening activities Of course, thatcantierightintomany is amajorfocusinmylessonplanning. children. Learning aboutgoodnutrition some cases,totakehomeandteachtheir tivities forthesefolkstolearn,and,in introduce fun,exciting, andhealthy ac- to activity inlieuofgoingtoprison.Itry these peopleare mandated inisacourt treats recovering addicts. The program inamentalhealthfacilitythat instructor I amaMaster Gardener andpart-time INSPIRES HORTICULTURALTHERAPIST PERENNIAL VEGETABLESARTICLE to bemicroscopic.” last are oftensomuchreduced in cactias flowers, andeven leaves form,thoughthe plant’s stems)from whichthespinesand oles (thenotchesontheedgesofthis readily seethatthesetworibshave aure- like thenormalgrowth. Also,you can the ‘mutated’ stemappearstobemore As you cansee,thenextsetofgrowth on many cacti,theyhave ribs,butjusttwo! tus’s ‘leaves’ are actuallystems,andlike mail [email protected]. call (800)777-7931ext.119ore- or e-mailaddresswiththeAHS,please membership, orupdateyourmailing new yourmembership,giveagiftof would liketobecomeamember,re- can HorticulturalSocietymembership, you havequestionsaboutyourAmeri- We lovetohearfromourmembers!If Member Services I’m ideasfor alwayslookingfornew MEMBERS C ’ Bronaugh, Missouri FORUM Rosemary NoelRosemary every other month.” every monthor peating theapplicationevery same applicationrate.Iwouldsuggestre- and applyfishemulsionasadrench atthe loosen thesoilaround thebaseoftree emulsion totreat theinfectedtree. Gently usingfish tal, your reader couldalsotry cording tothelabel’s instructions. should betreated withfishemulsionac- location planting, thesoilinnew pathogen-freenew location.Prior to seedlings, Isuggestsheplantthemina any relief. If thegardener hasotherhealthy am notsure iffishemulsionwillprovide is already wilt,I infectedwithverticillium In thecaseofthiseastern redbud, which wiltinhealthyeggplants. ed verticillium greenhouse setting,fishemulsionprevent- “In ourstudy, whichwasconductedina Ontario: Agri-Food CanadainLondon, a research scientistwithAgriculture and Here istheresponse from Pervaiz Abbasi, study andposedyour questiontothem. search teamthatconductedtheinitial be greatly appreciated! emulsion tosave myprecious tree would mation you couldgive meaboutusingfish appears ithasbecomeinfected.Anyinfor- ing thetree, it butinspiteofmyefforts, onaregularfertilizing basistoavoid stress- been extremely careful aboutwateringand es seemtohave diedover thewinter. Ihave old. This year, Inoticedthattwobranch- tree, andoneofthemisnow eightyears tion. However, Isaved seedlingsfrom that it dieabout10years laterduetothisinfec- bud tree (Cercis canadensis), wilt.Iplantedaneasternred-verticillium ticle aboutusingfishemulsiontosuppress In theMay/June issueyouar- rananews FISH EMULSIONANDVERTICILLIUM Editor’s response: PLEASE WRITEUS! Letters weprintmay beeditedforlengthandclarity. [email protected] (note LettertoEditorinsubjectline). Alexandria, VA22308.Send e-mails to American Gardener, American Although theprocess isstillexperimen- Address letterstoEditor, 7931 EastBoulevardDrive, We contactedthere- Wheaton, Illinois only tohave Diane Koza The

COURTESY OF MAXINE RIX (2) The AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY presents

elebrating the Elegance of Simplicity C at RIVER FARM in Alexandria, Virginia

Saturday, September 19, 2009 16th Annual Gala

American Horticultural Society invites you to join us for an The evening of ﬁne dining and dancing at our 16th Annual Gala, “Celebrating the Elegance of Simplicity.” This year’s event will highlight the fresh ﬂavors of locally and sustainably produced foods and wines. Chef Cathal Armstrong, of Restaurant Eve in Alexandria, Virginia, and honorary chair of the evening, has created a special menu just for the event. Chef Armstrong was recently named one of the mid-Atlantic region’s “Green Giants” by Washingtonian magazine for his dedication to using fresh ingredients and promoting sustainable 7931 East Boulevard Drive organic farming practices. Alexandria, VA 22308-1300

Available for bidding during a silent auction will be one of Armstrong’s chef ’s coats and the original oil painting by Alexandria artist Joan Cox, shown above, generously donated by HDN Studio.

Proceeds beneﬁt the stewardship of River Farm and the American Horticultural Society’s outreach and educational programs. Pictured Above Chef Cathal Armstrong, Honorary Chair Call (703) 768-5700, ext. 118 or e-mail [email protected] Graphic Design www.HDNStudio.com for more information or to reserve tickets for tables of 10.

Artwork www.joancoxart.com Sponsorship opportunities also available. 8 Panayoti Kelaidis serves asprofessor ofEntomolo- andchairofthe Department serves “Gardening forWildlife,” onSeptember 9.Tallamy currently the webinar isopeninthemembers-only area ofthewebsite. onpage20.Registrationthis issueofthemagazine,starting for cent title,TheHot Garden to . Calhounalsocontributedanarticle gardening,written several booksondesert including hismostre- author andgarden designer basedinTucson, Arizona, whohas signing Water-Thrifty Gardens.” Calhounisanaward-winning 30, IN THENEXT and Wildlife intheGarden Webinars onWater-Thrifty Strategies ON JUNE Horticulture Celebrating theBestinAmerican American Gardeners Award winnersandBookAward winners. toRiver Farmaround thecountry tohonorthe2009Great tion forthe2010awards, visit main waywe honorPlanet Earth.” the evening by saying, “Gardening isnotjustahobby, it’s the business,andleadership.ministration, art, Kelaidis concluded as teaching,research, communications,plantexploration,ad- areasdividual whohasdedicatedalifetimetohorticultural such ver BotanicGardens inColorado. Thisaward recognizes anin- the AHS’s Hyde Liberty Bailey Award, forhiswork attheDen- Nominations willbeacceptedthrough September 30,2009. News PROGRAMS •EVENTSANNOUNCEMENTS Douglas Tallamy To seeafulllistofthe2009winnersortosubmitnomina- Scott Calhoun the American Gardener 4, theAHSwelcomed distinguishedguestsfrom AHS will discuss “Dry Beauty:will discuss“Dry Strategies forDe- members-only webinar, scheduledforJuly will present thefinalwebinar for2009, from www.ahs.org the tophonorofevening, design, education,andmore. landscape tions, conservation, plant research, communica- in categoriesrangingfrom Gardeners Awards followed, 2008. The12Great American garden bookspublishedin publishers offouroutstanding on thisevening went tothe American horticulture. ments invarious sectorsof their exceptional achieve- al awards are recognized for The recipients oftheseannu- Panayoti Kelaidis The firstawards presented and clickon“Awards.” AHS received ternet connectionisstrongly recommended forbestresults. space islimited,soearlyregistration isadvised.Ahigh-speedIn- opens August 5inthemembers-onlyarea ofthewebsite. Wildlife inOur Gardens. author ofBringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain gy &Wildlife Ecology attheUniversity ofDelaware, andisthe AMERICA INBLOOM Headed toHershey America inBloomSymposium Upcoming HomesteadEvent Gardening ExpertsAboundat 1117 foradditionalinformationandupdatesonthesymposium. Bloom’s website atwww.americainbloom.org Visitties in38statesthrough beautificationefforts. Americain 2001, theorganizationhasimproved more than170communi- providing educationalresources. Since itsestablishmentin of thecompetingcommunities. based onpopulationcategory Onpreservation. Saturday, additionalhonors willbeawarded involvement, environmental awareness, tidiness, andheritage groundcover areas, landscapedareas, urbanforestry, community and annual contestwinnersineightcategories:floraldisplays,turf care, plantrotations, andurbanlandscaping. HistoryofHershey”from “The totopicssuchassustainablelawn will holditsannualsymposiumandawards ceremony from Oc- André Viette The webinars are available toAHSmembersatnocharge,but AIB isdedicatedtoenhancingAmerica’s communitiesand Thursday evening’s festivitiesincludetheunveiling ofAIB’s bership toallattendees. AHSmem- al years, givingcomplimentary sponsoring thiseducationalevent forsever- AHS haspartnered withtheHomestead in stead resort inHot Springs, Virginia. The from August 21through 23attheHome- the Experts” symposiumwilltakeplace THE 11THANNUAL again speakatthe symposium,thisyear on culturist, author, andlecturer—will once André Viette—aVirginia-based horti- (AIB), an Registration forTallamy’s webinar al sessions for participants willrange al sessionsforparticipants the “power ofplants.”Information- of workshops andtoursfocusingon nia. Theevent willfeature anumber tober 1to3inHershey, Pennsylva- July /August2009 AHS horticultural partner,AHS horticultural “In theGarden with or call(614)487-

LEFT; CINDY DYER. RIGHT: COURTESY OF ANDRE VIETTE the topic of propagating perennials. Stephen L. Gable, a conifer expert and former TV host, will explore “Wonderful Plant a Seed, Save a Seed Conifers and New and Unusual Plants for Your Garden.” Nor- folk Botanical Garden Executive Director Donald R. Buma will discuss strategies for maintaining a beautiful landscape. C. Colston Burrell, another acclaimed author, lecturer, and garden designer, will speak on plant design for shaded gardens. In addition to lectures and demonstrations, the weekend package includes a tour of the Homestead gardens, courtesy of the su- perintendent, Forrest Lee. To register for this event or for more information on the Homestead, call (800) 838-1766 or visit www.thehomestead.com. Garden Writers Visit River Farm

ON MAY 29, River Farm hosted more than 40 members of the Garden Writers Association (GWA) for a regional meeting. As plants in your garden begin to set seed, don’t forget to GWA is made up of garden communications professionals in- save some for the 51st annual AHS Seed Exchange. Every cluding authors, editors, photographers, freelance writers, land- year, AHS members are invited to participate in this pro- scape designers, publicists, and columnists. gram and donate their favorite seeds in anticipation of next The day’s activities included a tour of the AHS gardens and year’s gardens. A catalog of all the seeds will be compiled a special lecture on “rainscaping”—strategies for capturing and and posted in the members-only area of the website, and using rainwater in your garden—by Joe Keyser. Keyser is those who donate seeds get first pick. More information will known as “The GreenMan” from his newspaper column, radio be available in the September/October issue of The Amer- program “Eco-Minutes,” and award-winning cable television ican Gardener, or go to www.ahs.org/membership/seed_ show. He also served as the environmental education specialist exchange.htm for further details.

DAVID ELLIS for the Montgomery County Department of Environmental

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July / August 2009 9 Protection in Maryland until 2006. Following Keyser’s lecture, the garden writers headed to the nearby Mount Vernon Estate AHS NATIONAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS and Gardens for additional presentations and tours. 2009 CALENDAR Annual Photo Competition Open to AHS Members ark your calendar for these national events that are Msponsored or co-sponsored by the AHS. Visit SINCE 2004, the Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Club of www.ahs.org or call (703) 768-5700 for more information. America (TGOA/MGCA) has shared a partnership with the • JULY 23–25. National Children & Youth Garden Symposium. AHS. Each year, members of both organizations are eligible to Hosted by Cleveland Botanical Garden. Cleveland, Ohio. submit garden photographs for the TGOA/MGCA Photogra- phy Competition. Winners of the 2009 contest were an- • JULY 30. “Dry Beauty: Strategies for Designing Water-Thrifty nounced at the organization’s National Convention, held in Gardens.” Webinar presented by Scott Calhoun. May in Santa Rosa, California. Several AHS members were recognized for their photos, in- • AUG. 21–23. The Homestead’s 11th Annual “In the Garden cluding Debra Kayata from Ocean City, New Jersey, who was With the Experts” Symposium. Hot Springs, Virginia. awarded 2nd Runner Up in the Best of Show category. Other • SEPT. 9. “Gardening for Wildlife.” Webinar presented AHS members who received awards were Anne Allen from by Douglas Tallamy. Brownsville, Vermont; Arabella Dane from Center Harbor, New Hampshire; and Di Decaire from Penfield, New York. • SEPT. 19. AHS Annual Gala: “Celebrating the Elegance of Their winning photos will appear in the TGOA/MGCA 2010 Simplicity.” River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia. calendar, which will soon be distributed. TGOA/MGCA will accept submissions for their 2010 Pho- • OCT. 1–3. America In Bloom Symposium and Awards tography Competition until February 13, 2010. Judges look at Ceremony. Hershey, Pennsylvania. composition, color, lighting, and dramatic effect when consid- • OCT. 23. Dr. H. Marc Cathey Day. River Farm, Alexandria, ering submissions. For information on the 2010 contest, or to Virginia. request a copy of the 2010 calendar, call (515) 278-0295 or visit www.tgoa-mgca.org. • DEC. 1–24. Holiday Trees Display. River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia. News written by Editorial Intern Amanda Griesser.

In addition to vital support through membership dues, the American Horticultural Society relies on grants, bequests, and other gifts to support its programs. We would like to thank the following donors for gifts received between April 1, 2009 and May 31, 2009.

Ball Horticultural Company In Memory of Barbara Wall Bond Gifts of Dr. Sherran Blair and Louise Vanderburgh Wall Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Bogle Mrs. Judy Daniel i Mrs. Judy Daniel

Fairfax County, Virginia In Memory of Dr. H. Marc Cathey Note Dr. and Mrs. John A. Floyd, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. John W. White, Sr. Mrs. Wanda Hamming If you would like to support the American

Homestead Gardens, Inc. In Memory of Max DeSilva and Horticultural Society as part of your estate Mrs. Elizabeth Dunn Hooff in Honor of Alexander DeSilva planning, as a tribute to a loved one, or as part Ms. Melissa Marshall Dr. and Mrs. James W. Smith of your annual charitable giving plan, please i Mr. and Mrs. Harold McClendon, Jr. contact: Stephanie Perez, Development and Mr. and Mrs. Egon Molbak In Honor of Jennifer Korjus Membership Manager, at (703) 768-5700 Monrovia Nursery Company and Michael Szymanski ext. 127 or [email protected]. Mr. and Mrs. William M. Spencer, III Ms. Stair Calhoun Mr. and Mrs. W. Bruce Usrey Mrs. Enid N. Warner In Memory of Midge Orr Mr. and Mrs. Dennis White Mrs. Kathleen S. Burney Mr. and Mrs. Harvey C. White

10 the American Gardener Call for Nominations

AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 2010 GREAT AMERICAN GARDENERS AWARDS CINDY DYER 2009 Liberty Hyde Bailey Award Panayoti Kelaidis, Denver Botanic Gardens

Liberty Hyde Bailey Award course of his or her career Given to an individual who have cultivated widespread has made significant lifetime interest in horticulture. contributions to at least 2010 three of the following Catherine H. Sweeney Award It’s an Honor… horticultural fields: teaching, AWARDS Recognizes extraordinary research, communications, and dedicated philanthropic Since 1953, the American Horticultural plant exploration, adminis- Meritorious Service Award support of the field of Society’s Great American Gardeners tration, art, business, and Recognizes a past Board horticulture. Awards Program has recognized leadership. member or friend of the American Horticultural Jane L. Taylor Award individuals and institutions that have H. Marc Cathey Award Given to an individual, made significant contibutions to Society for outstanding Recognizes outstanding service in support of the organization, or program that American horticulture. Nominations are scientific research that Society’s goals, mission, has inspired and nurtured now being accepted for 2010. has enriched the field of and activities. future horticulturists through Nominate your “horticultural hero”— horticulture. efforts in children’s and B. Y. Morrison youth gardening. a memorable professor, a favorite garden Paul Ecke Jr. book author, or the driving force behind Communication Award Commercial Award Recognizes effective and Teaching Award an incredible community project. Given to an individual or inspirational communica- Given to an individual For additional information and a company whose commit- tion—through print, radio, whose ability to share his or nomination form, visit www.ahs.org or ment to the highest television, and/or online her horticultural knowledge standards of excellence in with others has contributed call (703) 768-5700 ext. 132. media—that advances pub- the field of commercial lic interest and participation to a better public under- horticulture contributes to in horticulture. standing of the plant world Nominations must be submitted the betterment of gardening and its important influence by September 30, 2009. practices everywhere. Frances Jones Poetker Award on society. Recognizes significant Landscape Design Award contributions to floral design Urban Beautification Award Given to an individual in publications, on the Given to an individual, whose work has demon- platform, and to the public. institution, or company strated and promoted the for significant contributions value of sound horticultural Professional Award to urban horticulture practices in the field of Given to a public garden and the beautification of landscape architecture. administrator whose American cities. achievements during the

July / August 2009 11 12 parking lot. stormwater drains—inthe offinto rather thanrunning lows watertopassthrough it pavement—which al- pervious pump andsolarpanels, eled by ageothermalheat heating andcoolingsystemfu- ing methods.Theseincludea examples ofeco-friendlybuild- aboundswith lyn, Maryland, pany’s inBrook- headquarters preaches. Thissustainablebuildingcom- member program, clearlypracticeswhatit American Horticultural Society’s corporate Company, themostrecent additiontothe ate regenerative buildingsthatproduce en- buildings ontheenvironment—it istocre- more thanreduce thenegative impactof faces inurbanlocations.Thegoalistodo sur- the heat-islandeffectofimpervious of airandwaterpollutionreduction of these componentsincludethemitigation and vegetated retaining walls.Benefits of components suchaslivingroofs, biofilters, forspecialtygreen building tract services focusis“sustainable.”struction targeted projects, where thedesign/con- cient buildings.Thecompanyworks on tainability through designingmore effi- because ofhisstrong commitmenttosus- thecompanyin2003 started training, An industrialengineerby FOCUS ONSUSTAINABILITY M by Talia Goldman Furbish Company: PROFILE IN PARTNERS AHS 786-5700 ext. 127 [email protected]. contact StephaniePerezat (703) becoming anAHScorporatemember, For more informationabout In particular, thefirmprovides subcon- the American Gardener Michael Furbish bandwagon, butFurbish ly jumpingonthe“green” ANY BUSINESSES are hasti- Using PlantstoCreateSustainableStructures built environment,” addsFurbish. actively promoting horticulture inthe to the AHScommunityandlookforward our focus.We are honored of tobeapart the functionalcapacityofplants,whichis promotes not onlythebeautyofplantsbut AHS Company andtheAHSshare. “The plants isthecommonground thatFurbish then tobiofilters.”Thisrelationship with which ledtovegetated retaining walls,and Furbish. “We withlivingroofs, started ous plant-basedbuildingsystems,”says we wouldbeworking primarilywithvari- ural habitattobemaintained. ergy, improve airquality, andallow anat- than 60livingroofs inthe mid-Atlantic re- concept onthetopofabuilding. roofs thatallow foralmostanygarden in harshconditions—tointensive survive rooted, drought-resistant plantsthatcan variety ofsedums—shallow-colorful flat, from extensive roofs planted witha Living roofs canrangefrom slopingto ENVIRONMENTAL ROOFSANDWALLS walls, likethisone,thatfeaturenativeplants. Furbish Companyinstallsvegetatedretaining Furbish Companyhasinstalled more “When we started out,we we hadnoidea started “When roofs canalsobeseenattheAHS’s River Two examplesofthecompany’s green Hiltonnew Hotel inBaltimore, Maryland. 32,000-square-foot installationatopthe inSwarthmore,ry Pennsylvania, anda stallation atSwarthmore Collegedormito- gion. Theseincludea5300-square-foot in- and whatwe build,”says ference between atraditionalretaining wall in Baltimore, Maryland. Talia Goldman isafreelance writerbased and projects atwww.furbishco.com. er andread more aboutFurbish’s goals ing, andindoorairpurifiedclimb high- vegetation grown inplaceofhardscap- count ofgallonsstormwaterdiverted, counter onitswebsite. You canwatchthe in sustainabilitywithanup-to-date small. Thecompanytracksitssuccesses tion oftheenvironment inwaysbigand pany utilizes work toward theconserva- contributes torestoring theecosystem.” runoff. Andplantingwithnative species the heat-islandeffectandstormwater 40 percent lessconcrete andreduces both crete garden. wall,oneseesavertical It uses Company. “Instead oflookingatacon- sales andmarketing director ofFurbish All ofthesystemsthatFurbish Com- berry berry virgatum), folia), as summersweet (Clethra alni- gion thatattractwildlife,such native tothemid-Atlantic re- It willuseavariety ofplants retaining wallatRiver Farm. will beinstallingavegetated home garden setting. of thelivingroof conceptina the beautyandfunctionality are designedtodemonstrate dria, Virginia. Bothofthese Farm inAlexan- headquarters Later thissummer, Furbish “There isasignificantdif- “There (Myrica pensylvanica). switch grass and northern bay-and northern Jimmy Dick (Panicum ,

COURTESY OF FURBISH COMPANY THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURALHORTICULTURAL SOCIETY TRAVEL STUDY PROGRAM 2009 DOMESTIC TOURS

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY! Gardens and Art of the Historic Hudson Highlands with AHS host Katy Moss Warner Tour escorted by Stephanie Jutila October 14–18, 2009

■ Amid fiery autumn color, come discover the rich horticultural treasures of New York’s Hudson River Valley and the art that complements the landscape. Highlights of this tour include Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Springwood estate; Olana, the estate of famed Hudson River School artist Frederic Edwin Church; Lisburne Grange, an estate designed by renowned landscape architect Fletcher Steele; and Manitoga, the modernist home and woodland quarry garden of industrial designer, Russel Wright.

To register or for more information about the AHS Travel Study Program, visit www.ahs.org or call (703) 768-5700 ext. 132. Tara Wing / Courtesy of Manitoga/The Russel Wright Design Center Manitoga, Garrison, New York

PORTLAND, OREGON with hosts Susie Usrey, AHS Board Chair, and Tom Underwood, AHS Executive Director August 12–16, 2009 Highlights of this President’s Council members-only trip include vis- its to the International Rose Test Garden, the Portland Japanese Gar- den, the Classical Chinese Garden, and an excursion to Multnomah Falls Lodge. We’ll also tour Swan Island Dahlias, Monrovia nursery, Joy Creek Nursery, Cistus Nursery, and the Oregon Garden. Several members of the Portland Garden Club have agreed to open their personal gardens for us, and Susie and Bruce Usrey have invited us to their home for a very special evening on the final night of the tour. We will be staying at the Governor Hotel, a luxury hotel that combines historical ambiance with modern convenience. To register or for more information about the President’s Council and this trip, please contact Sue Galvin at (703) 768-5700 ext. 111. Modern hibiscuses arederivedfromAmericanspecies suchas(clockwisefrom left) 14 H and spreads andcanmuscleoutsmaller, older ones,alsogrow toastoundingheights 5. Some cultivars, especiallysomeofthe ors. Most are hardy toatleastUSDAZone ers ofgreat dimensionsandpowerful col- that produce breathtaking summerflow- scendants—are tough, vigorous growers Hardy Hibiscuses The tropicalappearanceoftheseboldandbeautiful bloomersbeliestheirhardytemperament. the American Gardener ARDY HIBISCUSES— American natives andtheirde- perennials thatinclude several for AmericanGardens shrubby (Malvaceae) family(see“Hibiscus Rela- 200 speciesthatbelongtothe mallow The genusHibiscus OFTODAY’S HYBRIDS ANCESTORS their growth patterns. with varieties, andanunderstandingof ful placementinthelandscape,familiarity is apotentialdrawbackthatcallsforcare- gardenless assertive ornamentals.Thistrait BY BARBARAPERRYLAWTON includes more than H. moscheutos, H. coccineus, H. moscheutos, H. tured people’s attention. dens; theirlargeflowers immediatelycap- brought intocultivation inAmericangar- have beenthefirstindigenousspecies swamp hibiscus(H.coccineus) might well rose mallow (H.lasiocarpus),andthe rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos), eral North Americannatives. Theswamp hardy hibiscusesderive primarilyfrom sev- tives,” page 17).Themoderncultivars of and H. lasiocarpus. H. the

LEFT: JESSIE M. HARRIS. TOP RIGHT: DAVID CAVAGNARO. BOTTOM RIGHT: BARBARA PERRY LAWTON Resources All-American Mallows by Donald Humphrey. The American Gardener (pp. 29–34), July/August, 2001.

Hibiscus by Jacqueline Walker. Firefly, Buffalo, New York, 2001.

Hibiscus: Hardy and Tropical Plants for the Garden by Barbara Perry Lawton. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2004. Sources Ambergate Gardens, Chaska, MN. (877) 211-9769. www.ambergategardens.com.

Dayton Nurseries, Norton, OH. (866) 500-6605 www.daytonnursery.com.

Forestfarm, Williams, OR. (541) (846) 7269. www.forestfarm.com.

Gorge Top Gardens, Coeburn, VA. (800) 673-1134. www.gorgetopgardens.com.

Nature Hills Nursery, Omaha, NE. (402) 934-8116. www.naturehills.com. ‘Lord Baltimore’, an old garden favorite, produces large, vibrant red flowers.

They were exported to England and ming of the Thomas Meehan Nursery in Hibiscus mutabilis is an enormous Europe as early as the 1700s. John Bartram Philadelphia, crossed H. coccineus with perennial—to 15 feet tall and half as wide. (1699–1777), America’s first great plant col- H. laevis and got a red-flowered hybrid Although native to China, it has been lector, listed Hibiscus moscheutos and H. that he then crossed with H. moscheutos. grown in the South for so long that it has palustris (now H. moscheutos subsp. palus- Within a few generations he had some re- acquired common names such as Dixie tris) in his 1807 Philadelphia nursery cata- markable results—satin-textured flowers rosemallow and Confederate rose. It grows logs. By 1820, William Prince of Flushing, ranging from white through pink to deep well in drier regions, too, but requires sup- Long Island, was also selling these natives. reds with leaf shapes ranging from entire plemental water. Ellen Zagory, director of He added H. militaris (now H. laevis), the to deeply lobed. First sold in 1907 as horticulture at the University of Califor- halberd-leaved rose mallow, to his sales list Meehan Mallow Marvels, these hybrids nia, Davis Arboretum, where water re- in 1822, and H. grandiflorus, the great rose are still available as H. ‘Mallow Marvels’. sources are a precious commodity, says, mallow, in 1825. Other long-time favorites are Hibiscus “Although it grows here and does well with All told, there are at least 14 different ‘Lord Baltimore’, ‘Lady Baltimore’, and irrigation and has amazingly large flowers, North American hardy hibiscus species. ‘Anne Arundel’, varieties developed by it is not a plant we promote or grow for Although some inhabit dry climates, it is Robert Darby from the 1950s through the sale.” This species has been used, however, the wetland species, at least to date, that 1970s. Lorraine Ballato, a garden writer for breeding some very popular varieties. have given rise to most modern cultivars. and photographer who grows the crimson- Sakata Seed Corporation crossed flowered ‘Lord Baltimore’ in her garden in H.moscheutos and H. mutabilis, resulting OLD FAVORITES Brookfield, Connecticut, says, “I love the in the ‘Southern Belle’ series, which was in- Many older hybrids are still popular in sheer exuberance of the plant.” Its flowers troduced in 1971. With 10- to 11-inch

JOSEPH G. STRAUCH JR. today’s gardens. In 1903, Ernest Hem- are 10 inches across with ruffled petals. blooms, the flowers are among the largest

July / August 2009 15 16 ‘Disco Belle’thrives inDennySchrock’sgarden inDesMoines,Iowa(USDAZone 5). the American Gardener ‘Rainier Red’, and‘Everest White’. huge flowers, including‘Pyrenees Pink’, varieties, three- tosix-feettallthatbear areforts several tough,drought-resistant for cross-pollination. Theresults ofhisef- cross freely, thenchosethebestseedlings no supplementalwater—helettheplants soil,nofertilizer,nign neglect—ordinary biscuses. Growing H.moscheutos Illinois begangrowingnorthern hardy hi- trical engineerWilliam L.Morrison of biscus datestothe1970s,whenretired elec- large burgundy-red flowers. ‘Fireball’ withpurplishred foliageand fled flowers thatfeature acrimsoneye, and ‘Old Yella’, withpaleyellow, slightlyruf- favored status,”saysBallato. eye anditscolored foliagecontributetoits areas. Thecontrastingcoloroftheflower “‘Kopper King’ forsmaller iswonderful streaked flowers andcopper-red foliage. cultivars is‘Kopper King’, whichhasred- tween thetwo. Amongtheirbestknown moscheutos, H.coccineus, introduced manyfineselectionsfrom Dave—of Lincoln,Nebraska, bred and Fleming brothers—Jim, Bob, and the parent H.laevisgrowing. southeastern Oklahoma where hefound River II’,isnamedaftertheBlue River in handsome, white-flowered Hibiscus in hishomegarden. His selection,the 1960s tothe1980s,bred hardy hibiscuses Glenn Dale,from Maryland, thelate USDA plantintroduction stationin pink, andred. more compactplantsinshadesofwhite, bred the‘Disco Belle’ series,whichfeatures of alltemperateperennials. Sakata also velop alongthestemsaswell asthetips. everblooming habit,with flowers thatde- and adeepmagentaeye. It alsohasan eight-inch pinkflowers withrose veining liage thatisdarker than‘Kopper King’ and remains popular. It hasfinertextured fo- applied for)wasanimmediate success and biscus biscuses. Falstad’s firstintroduction, Zeeland, Michigan, beganhybridizing hi- III andKevin Hurd ofWalters Gardens in About five years ago,Clarence H.Falstad MODERN SELECTIONS The story ofMorrison’sThe story Mammoth Hi- Other Fleming introductions include From the1970sthrough the1990s, Harold Winters, whoworked atthe ‘Summer Storm’ PPAF (plant patent and crosses be- with be- ‘Blue Hi- H.

COURTESY OF DENNY SCHROCK HIBISCUS RELATIVES: A VARIED BUNCH There are a number of other notable plants in the mallow fam- Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), a staple of Southern cook- ily (Malvaceae) in addition to the hardy hibiscus. The mallows ing, is a mallow, and so is flowering maple (Abutilon spp.), de- are native to temperate and tropical regions around the world. ciduous tender shrubs and small trees. These are admired for Many are useful as ornamentals while their beautiful saucerlike flowers and others serve as valuable sources of handsome foliage. Hollyhocks (Alcea food, fiber, and even medicine. rosea) are also mallows; these old- Chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa- fashioned ornamental biennials or sinensis, Zones 10–11, 12–1) is a trop- short-lived perennials are now enjoy- ical evergreen with flowers in shades of ing a resurgence of popularity—their orange, yellow, red, and white. It can young leaves and buds are considered be grown outdoors in frost-free regions a delicacy by the Chinese. and as a house plant or summer patio Best known and most commer- plant in temperate climates. cially valuable of all the mallows is Rose of Sharon (H. syriacus, Zones cotton (Gossypium spp.), which has 5–9, 9–1), is a temperate shrub na- been used for at least 4,000 years to tive to China and India that grows to produce strong, absorbent fabric. 10 feet tall and bears abundant late- Black sheep in the mallow family are summer flowers; many beautiful vari- the pernicious weeds known as eties are available. The symmetrical, cheeses (Malva spp.) because of their five-parted saucer- or bell-shaped round cheeselike fruits. These weedy flowers as well as the prominent re- annuals or biennials commonly in- productive columns are obvious clues vade new lawns, farmyards, cultivat- to members of the mallow family. Okra has decorative flowers and edible seedpods. ed areas, and roadsides. —B.P.L.

Walters Gardens has also introduced ‘Jazzberry Jam’, hybridized by Hurd, so named because the flower color is nearly identical to the new Crayola Crayon® color. Three new varieties being launched this fall are ‘Party Favor’ with pink ruffled flowers and dissected leaves, ‘Sultry Kiss’ with magenta flowers and bronze foliage, and ‘Cranberry Crush’ with deep scarlet flowers and dark green maplelike leaves with purple overtones. “My favorite is ‘Cranberry Crush’,” Falstad says. “It is the shortest, most compact hybrid we’ve seen with the everblooming trait. The slightly cupped, deep scarlet flowers develop from nearly black buds and the foliage possesses attractive reddish purpling on the dark green leaves.” Aris Inc. (formerly Yoder Brothers), another wholesale perennial grower, has ‘Grenache’, part of the Carafe series, has dark pink flowers and a compact growth habit. expanded its extensive tropical hibiscus breeding program to include hardy hi- entiated by their size at maturity. Splash taller, averaging three feet in height. ‘Bor- biscuses, focusing on shorter, fuller plants varieties, which average two-and-a-half deaux’ and ‘Grenache’ have pink flowers with uniform growth habits. The vari- feet tall, include ‘Pinot Noir’ with red while the blooms of ‘Chablis’ are white. eties in their Vintage line come in red, flowers and ‘Pinot Grigio’, which bears Aris has also introduced the hardy hi- white, and pink, and produce abundant white flowers with a tinge of rose-pink on biscus Cordials series. All varieties in the flowers on compact plants. There are two the petal edges. Carafe varieties have a series have dissected foliage on plants

TOP: AHS ARCHIVES. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF YODER BROTHERS (NOW ARIS, INC.) distinct series, Splash and Carafe, differ- very dense growth habit and are a bit three-and-a-half feet tall and three feet

July / August 2009 17 wide. ‘Cinnamon Grappa’ features solid- red blooms; ‘Peppermint Schnapps’ has pink flowers accented with darker pink stripes and smudges; ‘Brandy Punch’ has pink flowers and bronze foliage with purple and green accents; and ‘Cherry Brandy’ has solid red flowers with strik- ing foliage similar to ‘Brandy Punch’. (For details on these and other selections, see “Hardy Hibiscus Cultivars at a Glance” linked to this article on the AHS website.) DESIGN TIPS Hibiscuses bring a lot of late-season drama into the garden, making their entrance when early summer bloomers are fading. “The perennial forms are fun—the size of

PRUNE TO CONTROL SIZE With their bold, coarse-textured foliage and significant size, placing perennial hibiscuses can be a challenge in a small garden. Many of the older varieties in particular can become gangly and grow to excessive heights and widths—six feet both ways—especially in fertile soils. Two selections from the evocatively named Pinching them back hard two to Cordials series are ‘Peppermint Schnapps’, three times will make them bushier above, and ‘Cinnamon Grappa’, left. These and shorter. relatively small hibiscus cultivars have To avoid overcrowding or having to deeply dissected foliage. cage or stake them, treat them to a heavy tip pruning, cutting off about size by the end of May.” She likes using the half of the new spring growth once it compact varieties in beds with early- reaches about one foot. Cut back blooming bulbs such as Narcissus ‘Ice Fol- again by about six inches when stems lies’ and Anemone coronaria that provide reach about two feet. Do not tip prune color before the hibiscuses emerge. after the first of June or you may delay flowering too long. —B.P.L. CULTURAL NEEDS Modern hybrids generally grow best in full sun with moist soil that has good tex- the blooms makes them so tropical look- border,” says Kirk Brown, a landscape de- ture. Since many of these floriferous ing,” says garden designer Lucy Hardiman signer in Orefield, Pennsylvania. “During beauties descend from plants that grow of Portland, Oregon, who plants them summer, they combine well with fine-tex- in wetlands, they are tolerant of wet soil, both directly in the garden and in con- tured shrubs…[and they] love to romp although, like many bottomland natives tainers, although she notes that she has ex- with ornamental grasses like Pennisetum they can handle droughty conditions perienced some losses in hard winters. and Miscanthus. They give us northern fairly well. “Hardy hibiscuses do very Compact varieties can be used to cre- gardeners a shot of tropical splendor.” well in the normally sandy soils of Cape ate a spectacular seasonal hedge. They Garden designer Kristin Yanker- Cod, Zone 6b, or in the soil I have that grow rapidly, forming a colorful mass of Hansen of Danville, California, says that is a mix of clay and sand,” says C.L. foliage and flowers that can transform a in the Tri-Valley area, where days are warm Fornari, a garden writer and radio host backyard in summer, but disappear from but nights rarely are, “We don’t get the who lives in Sandwich, Massachusetts. the landscape when cut back in winter. huge sizes that they do in the East. But they If grown in soils of decent quality, they “Hardy hibiscuses can’t be beat for the come up earlier—I start seeing growth in do not need fertilizer; in fact, they may

texture and bold color that they give to the late April and early May, and many are full- need staking if spurred to grow too vigor- TOP: DONNA KRISCHAN. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF BLOOMS BRESSINGHAM

18 the American Gardener ously. Hardy hibiscuses are not particular- USDA Zones 8 and 9, we grow Hibiscus cus breeders should be aiming for better ly fussy about soil pH, but prefer a range moscheutos primarily as an annual,” says disease and pest resistance,” says Doug of 6.5 to 7.5. They are long-day plants— Robert Bowden, director of Harry P. Leu Gilberg of Wildwood, Missouri, who has stimulated to develop flowers by the rela- Gardens in Orlando, Florida. An excep- bred and introduced several cultivars of tively short nights of summer. tion is the southern native scarlet mallow hardy hibiscuses. “I’ve grown hardy hibiscuses in Iowa, (H. coccineus), which Bowden says “is Plant breeders continue to develop Minnesota, Colorado, Missouri, and Illi- good for areas where homes are built on new varieties that have a more compact nois. I have about 30 in my yard, some moist soils.” habit, an asset for those who have small named cultivars and others I’ve started Remember that hardy hibiscuses are gardens. And the new everblooming se- from seed…[they] thrive in heat and hu- late to emerge in spring, so be patient. lections provide color over a signifi- midity and also stand up well to pro- Once the first flush of blossoms has faded cantly longer period. Even though I

Given enough space, hibiscuses such as ‘Rainier Red’ match up well with statuesque plants such as Joe pye weed and maiden grass.

longed summer droughts,” says Denny in midsummer, deadhead the old flowers. must prune and pinch it back to keep it Schrock, a garden book editor in Des This should encourage new flower buds to within reasonable bounds, ‘Blue River Moines, Iowa, (USDA Zone 5). “You’ll develop, extending the blooming season. II’ remains my personal favorite among find attractive colors and bicolors as well In the fall, after a hard freeze, the fo- the hardy hibiscuses. I hope that some as a variety of leaf forms and colors, al- liage will die back, but you don’t need to plant breeder will eventually introduce though my experience is that varieties with prune the current year’s growth until new a smaller, more compact selection that deeply hued leaves are less hardy than growth begins in the spring. If you prefer, has the beautiful pure white flowers that green forms,” says Schrock. you can prune the old growth to about keep me in love with ‘Blue River II’. Although hardy hibiscuses endure en- five to six inches above the ground. vironmental extremes once they are es- The author of Hibiscus: Hardy and Trop- tablished, most do not thrive in COMING ATTRACTIONS ical Plants for the Garden (Timber Press, subtropical climates such as in southern What’s next for this group of sensational 2004), Barbara Perry Lawton lives in Valley

DAVID CAVAGNARO Florida. “Here, in the region between summer bloomers? “Today’s hardy hibis- Park, Missouri.

July / August 2009 19 20 minimal watering. anywhere canplanandcreateabeautifullandscapethatrequires Using strategieslearnedfromtheSouthwest,gardeners W what gardeners canplantsothatthirsty association andmunicipalrestrictions on islation thatwouldeasehomeowner nities are proposing orinvestigating leg- lieu oflawns.In someregions, commu- in hold, andputtingdown turf artificial den, usinggraywaterfrom thehouse- drilling wells inorder towatertheirgar- tocope,rangingfrom ers are trying storiesonavarietynews ofwaysgarden- rationing insomeareas have generated Watermost everywhere. and shortages thrifty gardens have becomerelevant al- the Southeast—in thelastdecade,water- Spacing plantswidely reduceswateruseandenhances theplants’sculpturalqualities. Gardens Water-Thrifty designing Gardens Water-Thrifty designing the American Gardener United States—most notably many different regions ofthe ITH DROUGHT affecting you mightthinkthisisaridiculousplace cious commoditykeepsrising. water intheWest, andthepriceofthispre- or thelackthereof. We are outof running extreme heat,but thebiggerissueiswater, in whichtogarden. Part ofthisisdueto ficult andextreme area oftheUnited States Vegas, andPalm Springs—is themost dif- such asEl Paso, Tucson, Phoenix, Las in—which encompassesmajorurbanareas Few woulddisputethattheregion Iwork tractive and drought-tolerant landscapes. had tofacethechallengeofcreating at- drought-tolerant species. lawns andplantscanbereplaced with Given ourtriple-digitheatandaridity, As agarden designerin Arizona, Ihave BY SCOTTCALHOUN plants—rather thanaflat,green plane. of trees, vines, and wildlife-attracting mensions—complete withadiverse palette designers toreinvent aspaceinthree di- vas thatallows homeowners andgarden ty. Theremoval creates ofturf ablankcan- lawn alsooffersahugedesignopportuni- their grasswithdrought-tolerant plants. (up to$1.50persquare foot)toreplace developed programs that payhomeowners in theWest, includingLasVegas, have even residential gardens. Many municipalities plants isthefastroad towatersavingsin a vibrantfabricofdrought-tolerant native yard. Replacing amonoculture with ofturf ofher longer afinanciallysustainablepart wasno water bill,decidedthatherturf clients, whenfacedwitha$300-a-month result ofrisingwaterbills.One ofmy removalThe popularityofturf the ispartly step onyour grassistomow it,remove it. My admonitionis:iftheonlytimeyou many clientshave requested removal. turf one hasrequested alawn.Conversely, clients inArizona. Of thosepeople,only more than100residential gardens for During thelastfive years, I’ve designed KILL YOURLAWN drip emittersonly wet a small circumfer- flooding orsprinkling alargearea. Because makes itpossibletogrow plantswithout water exactlytoaplant’s root zone and Drip of technologypinpointsthedelivery wateredturfgrass by sprinklersystems. at least75percent whencompared with via dripirrigationcanreduce wateruseby landscapes, awater-wisegarden irrigated unfortunately, commonplace.In home cient methodsofgarden irrigationare still, Even regions, indesert relatively ineffi- PRACTICES ADOPT EFFICIENTIRRIGATION signing water-thriftygardens. share someofmyfavorite strategiesforde- lar—droughts. In thefollowing pagesI’ll are now experiencingperiodic—orregu- can easilybeappliedtowetter regions that the country, theapproaches that work here though I’m of working inthedriestpart water thantraditionallandscapes.Al- gardens thatlookgoodandusealotless paradigmhastwomaintenets:createnew gardening paradigmpresents itself. This through perspicaciouseyes, awholenew to attemptagarden. But whenviewed Removing aswathofwater-sucking

SCOTT CALHOUN ence of soil near the root zones of tolerance: cacti and other succu- desirable plants, they also don’t en- lents. As I discuss further in the courage weed seeds to germinate sidebar on page 23, rain gardens can elsewhere in the garden. be created by contouring the land For more water-needy plants, it’s to form depressions that will collect easy to create different zones based on rainwater. water requirements. Modern drip ir- Another effective method is the rigation systems can be programmed use of tanks, or cisterns, that collect to deliver water more frequently in rainwater from your roof during wet one zone of the garden than in others, spells and store it for use during dry to take into account these variable times. The technology to connect planting zones. rainwater collection cisterns to drip irrigation systems is already at hand and ADAPT TO RAINFALL I suspect that in the near future, rain- The concept of rain gardens is be- water storage tanks will be as com- coming popular in many areas, but mon as downspouts—especially in in different regions they can have drought-prone regions. slightly different functions. In regions with high annual rainfall lev- EMBRACE MINIMALISM els, rain gardens function primarily In my region, gardens save water not to slow down and contain runoff only because they use water-thrifty from roofs and hardscapes, reducing plants, but also because those plants the flow into storm sewers and water are spaced further apart than in a bodies. In drier regions of the country, In this California garden, water-thrifty plants traditional garden design. It may take they also serve to channel water into gar- such as Mexican daisy and New Zealand some getting used to, but sparse land- den areas that can be maintained without flax flank a decorative dry steam bed. scapes have their own beauty that grows regular irrigation. on you over time. Although the phrase “desert rain gar- gardens are probably the only truly “sus- Minimalist gardens are characterized by den” might seem like an oxymoron, tainable” gardens that extremely dry re- stillness and equilibrium between planted with careful planning such a garden can gions like the Southwest will support. A and unplanted spaces. In minimalist desert be built. By design, the rain garden is desert rain garden will be composed of garden design, the placement of each plant the most water-efficient type of garden the very toughest and most drought-tol- and rock is important. Minimalist desert you can install. Long term (because of erant native plants and will use a high gardens often rely on long-lived succulent salt build-up and water scarcity), rain percentage of the superstars of drought plants for structure; for this reason, they can be more satisfying and enduring than gardens that employ a higher percentage of shorter-lived herbaceous plants. Chinese and Japanese gardens have long embraced the idea of negative space between plants and this concept can be used even in regions where water is not as scarce as it is in the desert. When working in a minimalist theme, make sure to carefully consider the top dressing you use—whether it is gravel, river rock, or shredded bark—since more of it will be visible than in intensively planted beds and borders. Although sculptural succulents fit well in a minimalist planting, perennials and woody plants can work as well. In Duchess County, New York, designer Duncan Brine uses perennials and grasses in a manner that accentuates each plant. At the back of the border, the plantings are In dry regions, cisterns like this one, cloaked in yellow morning glory vine or yuca vine more dense, but as the plantings encroach

TOP: JERRY PAVIA. BOTTOM: SCOTT CALHOUN (Merremia aurea), provide a way to capture and store rainwater for later use. on a gravel walkway, they are set apart in

July / August 2009 21 22 North America.Lest you think thatthis of in varieties part thatthrive inevery using adiverse paletteofsucculents. tips forplanningandplanting gardens gardeners withinspirationandpractical den inPhoenix, Arizona, alsoprovide BotanicalGar-dens suchastheDesert Walnut Grove, California.Public gar- Texas, andtheRuth Bancroft Garden in Peckerwood Garden inHempstead, for how tousetheseplants,including deners have created incredible showcases arid gardens. Creative designersandgar- they formthesculpturalbackboneof mere accentplants intheSouthwest; thesamelandscapepurpose. will serve there isusuallyawater-wisesubstitutethat thirstyexotic plant, that fornearlyevery water-guzzling plants. can’t designawater-thriftygarden with it isoftenignored, itbearsrepeating: You It almostgoeswithoutsaying,butbecause RULE! SUCCULENTS land Zen feeltoit. ofNewing bed.Thebedhasasort Eng- a spacethatisneitherpathwaynorplant- 2004. ing, NorthAdams,Massachusetts, Charles W.G.Smith.StoreyPublish- The Weather-ResilientGarden California, 2004. Municipal UtilityDistrict,Oakland, gion, Climates oftheSanFranciscoBayRe- Plants andLandscapesforSummer-Dry Buffalo, NewYork,2005. Jennifer Bennett.FireflyBooks, and ThriveinToughConditions Dryland Gardening:PlantsthatSurvive (original edition1978). press, Sagaponack,NewYork.1996 The DryGardenbyBethChatto.Saga- Oregon, 2007. Lee Baldwin.TimberPress,Portland, Designing withSucculents Resources Plants suchasagaves andyuccascome Cacti andsucculentsare more than the American Gardener Nora Harlow,editor.EastBay The good news is The goodnews by Debra by by and regionalnatives replacedlawninthisSouthwest garden. irrigation onthis rockyslopeinKarenBussolini’s Connecticutgarden.Above: Succulents Top: AmixtureofAmericannatives andMediterraneanplantsthrivewithoutsupplemental

TOP: KAREN BUSSOLINI. BOTTOM: SCOTT CALHOUN mania for spiny plants is limited to the Southwest, take a look at the variety of agaves that nursery owner Tony Avent is CONSIDER A RAIN GARDEN growing at Plant Delights Nursery in Like the first syncopated raindrops falling on a tin roof, a new kind of gardening is North Carolina; visit Chanticleer garden drumming up interest across the United States. This movement—sometimes re- in Pennsylvania and admire the wonder- ferred to as “rain gardening”—aims to create gardens that will absorb runoff from ful and strange beaked yuccas in its dis- roofs and hardscaping and thrive on rainwater alone. The idea is based on the phi- play gardens; or stroll by Thomas Hobbs’ losophy that gardens should live within a sustainable water budget. This is general- smaller scale “jewel box” garden in Van- ly defined as the amount of rain that falls on your lot over the course of a year. couver, British Columbia. It is clear that these plants are im- MUNICIPAL APPLICATIONS mensely appealing to gardeners—no mat- Driven by the need to find alternatives to traditional (and expensive) stormwater man- ter where they live—who love strong agement systems, municipalities have provided much of the initial momentum in pro- forms. In addition to their alluring forms, moting the idea of rain gardens. For this reason, many of these water-efficient gar- agaves and many other similarly rosette- dens appeared first in commercial projects. In Portland, Oregon, the New Seasons shaped plants are morphologically de- Seven Corners Market is designed to direct rainwater runoff from the roof and paved signed to harvest rainfall and direct it to areas toward concave garden beds planted with horsetail reed and other plants that their roots. In this way, each plant is like a withstand both drought and deluge. small water-harvesting sculpture. Closer to my home base, in Tucson, our city council has recently approved a measure that will require all new commercial landscapes to supply half of their outdoor BORROW THE VIEW watering needs through Seeing that so many garden settings are rainwater collection. This graced with dramatic mountain, sky, for- progressive movement est, or ocean views, the Japanese design means rain gardening is principle of Shakei, or “borrowed land- probably coming to the scape,” can often be well employed in planting beds around the drought-tolerant gardens. parking lot of a new gas Framing and fronting a picturesque station or grocery store in view of mountains or wild plantings is an your neighborhood. inexpensive way to add plants and extra dimension to your garden. Panayoti Ke- HOME RAIN GARDENS laidis, senior curator and director of out- In a home landscape, reach for Denver Botanic Gardens, says rain gardening can begin that this practice, which he terms “vista with a shovel. By digging and vignette,” is a hallmark of western depressions in your gar- gardens. In other parts of the country, the den to retain rainwater view you borrow might be more about that runs off of hard sur- enclosure than horizons. But whether faces such as roofs and you frame a distant grove of oak trees or driveways, you can cre- a neighbor’s vibrant hedge of shrub roses, ate beautiful concave it is still a way to incorporate plants that garden areas and fill you don’t have to water (or prune) into them with free-draining your garden. soil mixes. The trick to design- TARGET YOUR SHADE ing these bowl-shaped A gravel basin collects precious rainwater and steers it to In my region, cities like Las Vegas and spaces is to include a sedges, rushes, and other plants on its perimeter. Phoenix have become “heat islands” in range of plants suited to which increased paving and develop- the different moisture zones. Some plants will only tolerate the slightly drier mar- ment cause the mean temperature to ginal edges of a rain garden, while others that like wet feet will thrive despite oc- rise by as much as 10 degrees compared casional submersion at the bottom of the basin. As a starting point, consider the with surrounding areas. The urban heat small sampling of American natives (linked to this article on the AHS website) island effect can be found in all North that are appropriate for rain gardens in many areas of the country. Supplement or American cities, which means, more replace these with plants native to your region; in many municipalities, water com- than ever, that we need trees to cast panies, departments of environmental resources, or similar agencies offer guide- shade and serve as passive solar coolers lines and plant lists for creating rain gardens. —S.C. to help reduce temperatures in our

SAXON HOLT homes and gardens.

July / August 2009 23 Trees can greatly ameliorate the effect of urban heat islands. In our home gardens, we can actually grow our own “air conditioning” by planting trees around our homes. Even though shade trees usually require more water to establish than smaller plants, the expenditure is worth it. Then, you might ask, “How does planting trees save water?” Because most power plants use large quantities of water to produce electricity, by reducing your need for air conditioning, you are saving both water and energy. CREATE STUNNING BEAUTY When the concept of drought-tolerant gardens started coming into vogue some three decades ago, the term “xeriscape” was coined to describe the idea. Because some of these early gardens were rather drab and unimaginative, critics called them “zeroscapes” and the concept received much negative publicity.

Left: Indian blanket, shrubby cinquefoil, and ‘Mainacht’ salvia carpet the ground in this drought-tolerant garden in central Washington. Bottom left: In the West, low- water gardens benefit from “borrowing” the view of the surrounding natural landscape.

The diversity of plants suitable for water-thrifty gardens has evolved tremendously in the intervening years, but aesthetics might still be the most ne- glected aspect of drought-tolerant garden design. Certainly our native plants and some well-adapted exotics from Mediter- ranean regions are every bit as beautiful as many of the thirsty non-natives that have become standard in our landscapes, but we need to arrange them in a way that shows off their best characteristics. To put it another way, if we are going to encourage other gardeners to tear out or reduce their lawns and standard border plantings, the replacement garden had better be dynamic, colorful, graceful, and well balanced. Just because a garden is drought-tolerant doesn’t mean that it is exempt from commonsense design principles.

Garden designer and award-winning author Scott Calhoun lives in Tucson, Arizona. His most recent book, The Hot Garden, has

just been released by Rio Nuevo Publishers. TOP: MARK TURNER. BOTTOM: SCOTT CALHOUN

24 the American Gardener sizzling Summer Foliage Plants

Acalypha ‘Tricolor’‘Tricolor’

26 the American Gardener ROWING UP in Montreal and to be reformed hippie house plants. Purpleheart (Tradescantia pallida ‘Pur- going to school in wintry Que- I believe this transformation of foliage purea’) and piggy-back plant are now avail- G bec essentially cemented the plants from Clark Kent to Superman able as outdoor plants, Rex begonias have notion for me that foliage plants only began in the early 1990s, when the first se- been transformed into trendy container meant tropical house plants. We were ries of Sun Loving coleus was introduced. items, and cast iron plants are as common awash in pothos and Swedish ivy, and for As gardeners and landscapers discovered in southern landscapes as kudzu. real excitement we could even buy some them, there was no turning back. Color has always been the defining piggy-back plants (Tolmiea spp.) or a Perhaps that alone would have been characteristic for garden plants, and it ac- dumb cane (Dieffenbachia spp.) with var- enough to propel foliage plants into the counts for the huge resurgence of inter- iegated leaves. What would we have done mainstream, but the final impetus came est in foliage. This ascendency has also without the indestructible cast iron plant with, of all things, the introduction of a been supported by the ease of nursery (Aspidistra elatior) next to the fireplace? culinary plant—the sweet potato. When production, and by the relatively low Somehow I still can’t rid myself of the ‘Blackie’ was first mentioned as a potential maintenance needs of these plants. CHOOSING FAVORITES Beat the heat in colorful fashion with these annuals and tender In my roles as a horticulture professor, trial garden coordinator, and writer, I have been perennials that offer flamboyant foliage for summer containers growing, researching, and introducing foliage plants for many years, with an eye for and borders. ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLAN M. ARMITAGE those that are heat and drought tolerant. At the University of Georgia’s Trial Gar- dens in Athens, we cannot keep up with all mental image of those last poor stems of garden plant, people scoffed, “Who could the new introductions. When asked which what we used to call wandering Jew make money selling a sweet potato?” The are my favorites, I rub my chin and con- (Tradescantia sp.) pathetically hanging introduction of chartreuse-leaved ‘Mar- stantly change my mind depending on from a salt-encrusted pot. garita’ a year later resulted in sales that were what we have been trialing recently. I recall listening, many years ago, to a nothing short of superheroic. Inevitably in articles or presentations well-known horticulturist expounding on After that, old-fashioned plants like there’s insufficient space or time to include the various types of ornamental plants burning bush, bloodleaf (Iresine spp.), and more than a handful of my favorites from used in the industry. He talked about the copperleaf (Acalypha spp.) were dusted off, different genera. But here are a few of my importance of the emerging foliage plant new cultivars were introduced, and sud- top picks. My apologies in advance for industry for interiorscapes, the movement denly these old plants became new again. leaving out any of your favorites. of cut-flower production overseas, and the significance of color in the landscape. He said that color would be the dominant theme in American landscapes, and would come from flowers. He barely mentioned leaves other than for providing texture in the landscape. When asked about foliage, he simply stated, “There is no future for foliage in the landscape; once you get past coleus, what else is there?” He was right on almost everything else, but boy did he miss the boat on the future of foliage. Of course, for many years there was not much available for mainstream gardeners other than coleus, and it was a bit of a wimp, mostly relegated to shade. That is not to say that people were not using burning bush (Kochia spp.) or calico plants (Alternanthera spp.) somewhere; selections simply were not widely available. THE FOLIAGE RENAISSANCE Times have certainly changed. Today, growers can’t keep up with the demand for Ipomoea batatas ‘Margarita’

OPPOSITE AND THIS PAGE: SUSAN A. ROTH new foliage plants, many of which turn out

July / August 2009 27 28 Calico plants young plantstoencouragebushiness. to five feet.Allthrive infullsun;pinch in mostregions theseplantscanreach three hedges. Whengrown assummerannuals, plants commonlygrown or aslargeshrubs still is‘RaggedyAnn’. ‘Bronze Pink’, butmyalltimefavorite For sheerboldcolor, itistoughtotop many plantsincontainersorthegarden. Street’, whichcombineswell withso totheclassic‘Bourbon ‘Cypress Elf’ from thewispyfoliageof‘Tricolor’ or Many selectionsare available, ranging seffiana as copperleaf(A.wilkesiana) liage formsdeveloped from speciessuch grade.Butfourth thebrightlycolored fo- braids onared-headed inthe girlIknew gling red flowers thatremind meofthe (Acalypha hispida), deners are familiarwithchenilleplant When itcomestoacalyphas,mostgar- Copperleaf plants FOLIAGEPLANTS ESTABLISHED groundcover plant,andrecently ‘Royal is stillhard edgingor tobeatasacolorful function asedgingplants.‘Red Threads’ fillers forcontainers,thenlaterfounda gardeners, calicosmadetheirdebutas Originally madepopularby Victorian In thetropics, acalyphasare woody the American Gardener have proven tobeexceptional. (Alternanthera which haslong,dan- (Acalypha and spp.) A. god- spp.) shady areas whilestillproviding handsome ly ‘Party Time’, tobehighlytolerantof but Ihave foundtheParty series,especial- however, Ioptfor‘Gail’s Choice’. season tocontrastwithbrightercolors, When Ineedconsistentlydark foliageall green foliage,isalittleeasierontheeyes. ‘Crème deMenthe’, withitswhiteand colored look,Ilike‘Brazilian Red Hot’. on thesceneaswell. For aboldmulti- dued colorandexcellent vigor, appeared Tapestry’, even shorter, withamore sub- Most calicoplantsgrow bestinfullsun, Xanthosoma Xanthosoma Xanthosoma Xanthosoma Alternanthera Alternanthera ‘Lime Zinger’ ‘Lime Zinger’ ‘Party Time’ ‘Party Time’ beled, mostof the peoplewhosellthese slight,andiftheplants weren’tvery la- logical differences between thegeneraare ear. isthatthemorpho- Thenaked truth commonly calledeithertaro orelephant Alocasia, Colocasia, plants inatleastthree different genera— sonified. Theconfusioncomesbecause plants; inothers,theyare simplicityper- In someways,thisisaconfusinggroup of Alocasia, Taros orElephantEars this continent. of part form admirablyinalmostevery They revel inheatandhumidity, butper- ously theyofteneattheirroommates. mixed containers,buttheygrow sovigor- liage. It oftheSweet ispart Caroline series. witched’, whichhas shiny, deepbronze fo- including oneofmynewerfavorites, ‘Be- more introductions inthelastfive years, ing blocks,followed by atleastadozen ‘Margarita’, and‘Tricolor’ were thebuild- for containersandmixed beds.‘Blackie’, growing, fillersandspillersideal colorful tions accomplishedwastoprovide quick earnest. Whatthesweet potatointroduc- ornamental sweet potatoesbeganin still oneofmyfavorites, thebreeding of With theadvent of‘Margarita’, whichis (Ipomoea batatas) Ornamental SweetPotatoes for groundcovers—to twotothree feet. color. Heights from sixto12inches— vary I usedtothinkcouldusethemin and Xanthosoma) and Xanthosoma—are (Colocasia,

TOP: ALAN AND LINDA DETRICK DESERVING OF MORE ATTENTION Durantas or Dewberries (Duranta spp.) When a group of plants does not have a common name, it means either it is so well known that none is necessary, or it has not been around long enough to have earned one. Although durantas have been float- ing around in American horticultural cir- cles for some time, they have only recently become reasonably easy to obtain. The parent plant for the foliage durantas is golden dewberry (Duranta erecta). A large evergreen shrub in the subtropics, it bears prolific blue flowers and produces dangling clusters of golden fruit in the fall, hence the name dewberry. The fruits are not for human consumption, but birds seem to like them. In gardens north of USDA Zone 7, the advent of winter will likely preclude for- mation of any berries, but the foliage forms such as ‘Green and Gold’, ‘Gold Edge’, and ‘Cuban Gold’ are compact—growing one to two feet tall—colorful, and easy to grow almost everywhere. They are perennial in USDA Zones 9 to 11. Two things should be noted: First, few if any flowers or fruits will develop on the foliage cultivars; second, be aware that Solenostemon ‘Religious Radish’ plants often bear small sharp spines, particularly in the center, so wear gloves when handling them. Full sun is best; fer- things would not be able to tell you the Coleus (Solenostemon spp.) tilize lightly. difference between them. The simplicity Asking a gardener to name their favorite part is that they all perform well in simi- coleus is like asking a chocoholic for their lar conditions, all essentially provide the favorite sweet. The market has exploded same fascinating foliage effect, and all are so much in the last 10 years that it is almost easy to grow. New cultivars continue to impossible to choose only one or two. appear and I am quite taken with a few of If I have trialed one, I have trialed 500, them, especially Colocasia ‘Diamond and there are very few I would not recom- Head’, Alocasia ‘Sarian’, and Xanthosoma mend to my daughters, who simply don’t ‘Lime Zinger’. have time to figure out which is which. Growing from bulbous rootstocks, The main limitation to anyone’s recom- these aroids thrive in full sun and reason- mendations is locating the cultivars, be- ably moist soil. They revel in heat, but I cause retailers seldom stock a wide have seen magnificent plantings in gardens selection. If possible, take some cuttings of as far north as Madison, Wisconsin, so your favorites in the fall (they root like… even moderate summer heat is sufficient. well, coleus) and keep them in a sunny Of the three genera, colocasias are the most window over the winter. cold tolerant, overwintering as far north as One thing that should be made clear is USDA Zone 7b. In cool regions, potted that most coleus today are adaptable to plants can be wintered over in garages or full sun as well as part shade conditions. covered porches where temperatures stay The colors will be more intense in the sun, above freezing; the bulbous roots can also but less water will be required in shadier Duranta erecta ‘Cuban Gold’ be dug up before first frost and stored in conditions. Do not fertilize heavily or sphagnum moss or perlite until spring. some of the colors may fade.

July / August 2009 29 Waffle Plants (Hemigraphis spp.) I have had a long like affair (love affair may be a little strong) with these interesting little plants, whose common name derives from the wavy indentations on the leaves. In general, waffle plants have deep green leaves and small, white flowers but the cultivar ‘Black Wizard’ has spotted purple leaves with purple undersides. I enjoy this selection, but find it a little harsh on hot summer days, which is perhaps why I so enjoy the calmer multicolored foliage of ‘Moonlight Improved’. The muted silvery green and purple leaves serve as a soothing groundcover in garden beds. Growing no more than six inches tall and spreading slowly, these plants are best viewed up close. They make ideal “fillers” for border edges, rock gardens, and containers in full sun to part shade.

Red Shield Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella) Most people equate hibiscus to plants Hemigraphis ‘Moonlight‘Moonlight Improved’Improved’ with dinner-plate sized flowers, and as beautiful as many of them are, there are a number of wonderful hibiscuses whose foliage is stunning throughout the summer. The selection ‘Panama Red’ is particularly satisfying because the lustrous red foliage never fades no matter the summer temperature. Plants can be cut back once in the spring and the subsequent branching results in full bodied plants all season. They will grow six to eight feet tall with an upright form, but will only flower in areas that do not experience frost. They are fully perennial in USDA Zones 9-11.

Variegated Tapioca (Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’) There is nothing I can say that does jus- tice to this truly spectacular plant, sometimes called variegated cassava, which offers green, white, cream, and pink hues throughout the large, palmately lobed leaves and stems. It will not flower, yet flowers are not missed at all. In its tropical habitat, it develops into a large shrub or small tree, but in most of North Amer- ica it serves as an annual, growing three to four feet tall and wide over the course Hibiscus acetosella ‘Panama‘Panama Red’Red’ of a summer. Plants are relatively drought tolerant and perform best in warm summers, but

30 the American Gardener Resources Armitage’s Garden Annuals by Allan M. Armitage. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2004.

Armitage’s Manual of Annuals, Biennials, and Half-Hardy Perennials by Allan M. Armitage. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2001.

Coleus: Rainbow Foliage by Ray Rogers. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon, 2008.

Tropicalismo! by Pam Baggett. Tim- ber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2008. Sources Manihot esculenta ‘Variegata’ Avant Gardens, North Dartmouth, MA. (503) 998-8819. www.avantgardensne.com.

Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, Gloucester, VA. (804) 693-3966. www.brentandbeckys.com.

Glasshouse Works, Stewart, OH. (740) 662-2142. www.glasshouseworks.com.

Kartuz Greenhouse, Vista, CA. (760) 941-3613. www.kartuzgreenhouse.com.

Logee’s Greenhouse, Danielson, CT. (888) 330-8038. www.logees.com.

Plant Delights Nursery, Inc., Raleigh, NC. (919) 772-4794. Cissus discolor www.plantdelights.com. since more and more of us have those, I ily, this vine has clinging tendrils that piece of dark plastic or wire mesh to our can only hope it will become easier to find. allow it to climb without support. The fence, or between two posts, and let the If you see it, buy it and enjoy it. It’s report- flowers are nondescript but the foliage is vine have at it. The vine grows so quickly edly root-hardy south of USDA Zone 9. simply wonderful. The deep green cen- it hides the wire in no time. ters of the silvery leaves contrast well to- It can be difficult to locate, so once Rex Begonia Vine (Cissus discolor) gether—and even better with the red you have it, propagate from cuttings in As much as I enjoy climbing roses and undersides. The bright red stems com- the fall and overwinter it indoors. clematis, there are many other magnificent plete the picture. vines that are way too underused. I discov- Rex begonia vine grows about 10 feet The author of more than a dozen garden ered the rex begonia vine a number of years in a single season; site in part shade in books and CD ROMs, Allan M. Armitage ago and now will not be without it. warmer areas. Grow it on a trellis, or let it is a horticulture professor at the University Like other members of the grape fam- cascade from a hanging basket. I staple a of Georgia in Athens.

July / August 2009 31 32 Curbside Gardens welcoming andbeautifulspace. Discover howtotransformthebarrenstripoflandbetweenyoursidewalkandcurb intoa In thisSeattlecurbside planting,amosaicofgroundcovers complementsthedesign oftheowner’smaingarden. O side gardening wasstillinitsinfancy, but this no-man’s land.Theconceptofcurb- the time,nordidIseepossibilities for knowledge weren’t uptothe challenge at tiny patchofland.My gardening skillsand lieved ofthe burden ofmaintainingthis face, butsecretly Iwaspleasedtobere- curb. Iputonmybest“gee, that’s toobad” lay between ourfrontandthe sidewalk three-foot-wide strip ofweedy grassthat access,effectively eliminatingthe truck the cul-de-sac’s diameterforeasierfire city’s hadincreased planningdepartment the American Gardener NE DAY thought was bad news. The thought wasbadnews. our buildergave uswhathe almost 16years ago, and street thatsurroundedac- hernewly tackling thestripoflandbetween sidewalk cause they’re almostimpossibleto irrigate.” They’re hard todosomethingwithbe- hellish, fullofdogpoopandweeds. strips” because “they were placesthatwere priately labeledthesecurbsidezones “hell Texas, andFort Collins,Colorado,appro- er andauthorwithresidences inAustin, Lauren Springer Ogden, agarden design- VISIONARY HELL STRIP make themostoftheseawkward spaces. have been discovering innovative ways to since then,gardeners across thecountry However, thatdidn’t stopherfrom ignated thesiteano-waterzone; shehand- been grown inColoradobefore. She des- on theEastCoast,manyofwhich hadn’t of professional gardening inEurope and plants shewasfamiliarwithfrom heryears es tall.For herinitialinstallation,sheused ordinances—grew nomore than18inch- with littlecare and—to meetcityheight tolerant plantsthatthrived inpoorsoil ed herfirsthellstripgarden withdrought- from five toeightfeetinwidth? that measured 220 feetlongandranged compost disregard potentialgarden space could anygardener herweight in worth quired cornerproperty. Afterall,how In August 1990,Springer Ogden plant- BY LISAALBERT

SAXON HOLT The barren hell strip, above, bordering garden designer Lauren Springer Ogden’s home in Fort Collins, Colorado, inspired her to create the lush, colorful garden, left, shown three years after the initial planting in full bloom despite receiving no supplemental water after establishment.

hyacinth (Muscari spp.), Crocus ancyrensis, and rigid spurge (Euphorbia rigida). OREGON EXPERIMENT A decade later and hundreds of miles away, Laura Crockett, a garden designer in Hillsboro, Oregon, planted her 100- foot-long by eight-foot-wide curbside garden. Because heavy clay soil can spell death for many Mediterranean-type plants that generally love the region’s wet winters and dry summers, Crockett amended with fine gravel, pumice, and compost and bermed it slightly to improve drainage even more. While still in the design phase, she parked her car and opened her doors to watered plants to get them established, but anthus, penstemons, helianthemums, and make sure she had provided “landing after that, they were on their own. others of their ilk. She replaced them with pads” for visitors. She chose low-growing The garden flourished with few losses. longer living plants, including many na- conifers, grasses, and other architectural However, as is often the case with plants tive to high elevation regions of Turkey, plants, adding in textural perennials that that grow well in poor soil, they peaked at Iran, and Iraq, such as prickly thrift (Acan- bloom and bulbs for seasonal changes to a young age. Three years after the initial tholimon spp.), Turkish speedwell (Veron- give the garden year-round presence with

LAUREN SPRINGER OGDEN (2) planting, Springer Ogden tore out the di- ica liwanensis), Iris histrioides, grape a minimum of care.

July / August 2009 33 34 sidewalk inherprivategarden. that echoedtheplantingsacross curbside gardenusingplantsandtextures stop ongardentours.Shedesignedthe neighborhood andmakesherhomearegular right, isapopularadditiontoher at herhomeinHillsboro,Oregon,aboveand Laura Crockett’selaboratecurbsideplanting “As community, ahorticultural thoseof out there toseewhattheydo,” she says. signer, it’s tothrow important things showcase interesting plants.“As ade- use hercurbsidegarden asaplaceto deterred Crockett from continuingto “Same withornamentation.” that peoplewillstealplants,”shesays. issues, especiallyasaplantcollector, is cause itisapublicspace.“One ofthe knowledging thepotentialforlossbe- a gifttotheneighborhoodwhileac- property, are hergarden’s publicface. one city-owned andtheotheronher and soilpreparation. Thesetwobeds, beds received similarirrigationtreatment bothfullsun other sideofthesidewalk; eight-foot-wide stripofgarden onthe textures, plantsinan forms,andafew Thankfully, theserare theftshaven’t Crockett hercurbsidegarden views as She mirrored hercurbsidegarden’s the American Gardener shape andgrows. will determine how your garden takes choices, andphilosophyabout thespace mate, soil,culturalmethods, plant that moldedthesegardens. Your cli- land, andthephilosophies methods can bedonewiththisnarrow parcel of center hasavailable.” local do-it-yourself homeandgarden that there’s more thanjustwhatthe us withpublicspacescanteachpeople These are justtwo examplesofwhat the street. Even ifyou meettherequired visibility fortraffic enteringandexiting goalistomaintain general, theprimary height, usuallyeightfeetabove grade.In limbs usuallymustbeabove acertain 18 inchestothree feettallandstreet tree Height ordinances from forplants vary cannot dointheright-of-wayspace. nicipality tofindoutwhatyou canand stepisto call your mu- important very But before you gettooexcited, thefirst, DO YOURHOMEWORK

JANET LOUGHREY (2) CITY-SANCTIONED PLANTING PROJECTS Many communities around the country have developed programs for planting and maintaining curbside or median strip gardens. For example, Boy Scout Park in Dublin, Ohio, is a third-of-an-acre triangular garden sandwiched between various inter- secting major roads. Originally planted as a Boy Scout project in the mid-1980s, this space has undergone a revision in recent years. Plants that were diseased or long past their prime have been replaced, giving the garden a fresh, updated look. A very basic irrigation system was installed in 2003. The goal was to create a low maintenance, multi-layered, seasonally changing garden that was big, bold, and visible as people drove by. Plants were selected for their tolerance of the site’s harsh conditions, including highway pollution, road salt, snow- drifts created by snowplows, groundhog grazing, and the occasional car that jumps the curve. Hardiness was also a factor in selection, although Rhonda White, assistant horticulturist for the City of Dublin, admits that there’s one small corner where they push the zones to accommodate some plants that wouldn’t normally be planted. “I wouldn’t be a good horticulturist if I didn’t try to push the limits,” she says with a chuckle. The public has greeted these efforts with approval, often inquiring about the plants they see in the garden. Additionally, White received the Peren- nial Plant Association’s 2008 Merit Award for the park’s design. Head northwest of Dublin and you’ll encounter Roy Diblik’s boulevard plantings in Fontana, Wisconsin, and Chicago’s Kennedy Expressway median strips. These are essentially curbside gardens between lanes of traffic. Diblik, co-owner of Northwind Perennial Farm in Burlington, Wiscon- sin, draws on his 31 years of growing perennials to determine which plants are the best fits for these harsh sites, which are subject to drought, huge snow drifts, and salt spray, among other challenges. Diblik also explores ways to reduce demand on maintenance hours. One example is using a mulching mower to cut down large perennial beds at a local park, reducing many hours of pruning and mulching labor to 30 minutes of mowing. His method can be translated to residential curbside gardens planted with herbaceous material: Set the mower high and make six Boy Scout Park in Dublin, Ohio, in summer bloom passes over the garden. Diblik cautioned that not all plants will appreciate being mowed. Plants with a high growing point, such as grasses that form hummocks, may not survive so choose plants that will accept this annual treatment. At a time when money is tight, it might seem counterintuitive for municipalities to spend money on curbside gardens, but pro- ponents are quick to point out the many benefits. These plantings soak up rainwater, reducing run-off and easing demand on storm water and wastewater treatment systems. Additionally, studies have shown that boulevard plantings can reduce crime rates in the area. Lastly, curbside gardens help alleviate the urban heat-island effect, positively affecting the environment. —L.A.

height limits, circumstances may require sign look thought-out and composed Brighton West, program director for pruning or removal of plants that impede and present it to the city. To prevent mis- Friends of Trees, a non-profit organization a clear line of sight. understandings and aesthetic differences that spearheads street tree planting efforts Roy Diblik, co-owner of Northwind of opinion, it’s a good idea to talk to your in the Portland-Vancouver metro area, Perennial Nursery in Burlington, Wis- neighbors, too. strongly believes that the tree permit consin, ran into this issue recently in one Permits are generally required to build process is a good thing. The people who of the boulevard plantings he created in a permanent structure and to plant a issue the permit are trained to recognize Fontana, Wisconsin. Although he had al- street tree. Fees vary, as do the depart- power lines just like the power company ternated feather reed grass (Calamagrostis ments that issue the permits. For exam- does. While all overhead lines look the sp.) with catmint (Nepeta sp.) to provide ple, in Portland, Oregon, street tree same to the layperson, trees are only visibility, it did not allow drivers in sports permits are free from the Urban Forestry pruned away from high voltage power cars to clearly see people on bicycles. He Department. A permit to build a struc- lines where safety is a concern. Trees can replaced the feather reed grass with ture such as a planting box costs about freely grow up and through phone and lower-growing moor grass (Sesleria sp.). $360 from the Development Services cable lines, and even lower-voltage power It’s not a bad idea to check local weed Center. It determines what is appropriate lines. The inspector also considers dis- ordinances, too, particularly if you infor the space, including height and set tances to permanent structures and traffic

RHONDA J. WHITE / COURTESY OF CITY DUBLIN DIVISION PARKS & OPEN SPACES tend to use native plants. Make the de- back requirements. signs to determine where a tree can be

July / August 2009 35 Choices of plants for curbside gardens vary by region and by the creator’s whims. A mixed vegetable and ornamental plant garden, above left, designed by Kate Gossert in Oregon. A drought-tolerant curbside planting on the street outside the Delaware Center for Horticulture in Wilmington contains purpleheart, Euphorbia myrsinites, and Portulaca Yubi ‘Red’. A mixture of ornamental grasses and herbaceous perennials form a lush curbside planting in Seattle, Washington, left.

mental water, even drought-tolerant plants will look better longer into the season if they get a little bit of water. Neither Crockett nor Springer Ogden is fond of soaker hoses for curbside gardens. They wear out too quickly and they are hard to camouflage in narrow beds. Crockett installed a Netafim drip system, a commercial grade product that has never clogged planted. The City of Portland and Friends tional free service coordinates with local for her even though the emitters are of Trees, a member of the Alliance for utilities to send out a professional locator buried in the soil. They are also easy to re- Community Trees, work together to com- to mark underground lines within a few pair, as she learned, when she accidentally pile a list of trees suitable for curbside gar- days of your call. You may be able to plant sliced through the line with her shovel. dens, focusing on those that will live in over the utility line but dig carefully. Gas In lieu of an irrigation system, West tough environments and whose roots will lines are electrified for accurate location. suggests the following trick for watering not lift or break pavement. Sewer, phone, and cable lines are marked street trees during their first two to three according to a map; planned location and seasons. Drill a 1/16-inch hole in the bot- OTHER CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE DIGGING IN actual location do not always match. tom of a five-gallon bucket, set it next to If your utilities are underground, call 811 Decide if you’ll irrigate and how. While the tree, fill it up, and let it slowly seep

(www.call811.com) before you dig. This na- many plants will grow without supple- into the ground for the next few hours. TOP LEFT: MICHAEL S. THOMPSON. RIGHT: ROB CARDILLO. BOTTOM: MARK TURNER

36 the American Gardener Repeat weekly, twice a week when the ing any soil. In narrow strips, you’ll need weather is very warm. He also recom- to remove some soil before amending to mends planting annuals at the base of the prevent raising the grade and having the Resources tree. Not only does this prevent the tree soil wash away when it rains. If you can Dryland Gardening: Plants that Survive from getting damaged by lawn mowers build raised beds, curbside strips are an and Thrive in Tough Conditions by and weed whackers, a leading cause of ideal place for a rock garden. Jennifer Bennett. Firefly Books, death for newly planted trees, but when “A hell strip is already a weird space, Buffalo, New York, 2005. the flowers wilt, you know it’s time to you might as well have some fun with it,” water the tree. says Springer Ogden. In her opinion, cre- Durable Plants for the Garden, edited ating a rock garden in your hell strip “ac- by James E. Henrich. Fulcrum Pub- PLANNING YOUR CURBSIDE GARDEN tually works very well because it keeps lishing, Golden, Colorado, 2009. Next, assess the site. If your hell strip is cur- people from trampling on your plants rently planted with turf and it’s halfway and you can create pathways through the The Undaunted Garden by Lauren healthy, you probably have a decent soil hell strip. You can show off some really Springer. Fulcrum Publishing, profile. Dig a hole and check for soil depth special little jewels that would get lost in Golden, Colorado, 2000. and drainage. Decide whether you are a bigger garden.” The Welcoming Garden by Gordon Hayward. Gibbs Smith, Publisher, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2006.

it to have a seasonal peak, to relate to your garden or to the neighborhood. FINISHING TOUCHES Don’t look at these parameters as limitations. Consider them, as Crockett does, as tools to winnow down the lengthy list of possibilities for the space. Visit nursery display gardens, rock gardens at local botanic gardens, and curbside gardens in your neighborhood. Look for plants that keep their form and stay within bounds and consider plants that don’t have a lot of bells and whis- tles. You’ll appreciate their stability and longevity in hell strips; in fact, this is a great place to let them shine. Round out your curbside garden with Gravel mulch sets off an intriguing curbside planting of alliums, half-buried pots, and creative mulches, such as gravel and sea lavenders opposite Nancy Goldman’s garden in Portland, Oregon. shells—anything that you have a lot of so it won’t be missed if children pocket a few going to amend the soil or whether you In snowy regions, curbside gardens are pieces on their way to school. These will select plants that will thrive in the ex- subject to drifts—both natural and those strips also provide opportunities to existing soil. Either way, Diblik recommends created by snow plows—and potential periment with eclectic pathway designs. killing the existing turf with an herbicide contamination with de-icing com- Brick, stone, recycled concrete, found or by sheet mulching, where you kill turf pounds. Diblik relies on herbaceous objects, and pebble mosaics are just a few by smothering it with alternate layers of perennials and grasses; since they’re cut possibilities. newspaper and organic matter. Solarizing down every spring, heavy snow load “If you’ve done your homework, de- with clear plastic is also an option, but is doesn’t faze them. Any salt spray is fined your intentions, and put your com- an eyesore in a public location. The less leached out naturally with heavy spring positions together, it’s pretty amazing you disturb the soil, the fewer weed seeds rains or water applied manually with how beautiful curbside gardens can be,” you’ll uncover, making maintenance more sprinklers. Selecting plants that tolerate says Crockett. manageable. higher salt levels also helps. Crockett’s curbside garden’s generous Lastly, consider the strip’s width, how A contributor to the Sunset Western Gar- width allowed her to mix amendments in much pedestrian and street traffic your den Book, Lisa Albert is a freelance writer

LYNNE HARRISON and create a slight berm without remov- strip will get, and whether you’ll design who gardens in Tualatin, Oregon.

July / August 2009 37 38 by RitaPelczar opsig MakingTreasure fromTrash Composting: C municipal solidwastestream. It’s ano-brainertocompostthismaterialinstead. tal Protection Agency, wastefrom ourkitchensandgardens ofthe accountsfornearlyaquarter skinlike feat,you are sparingthelocallandfillagoodchunkofdebris.According totheEnvironmen- transform themintoavaluable soilamendment.Andwhileyou are accomplishingthisRumpelstilt- weeks—but more labor, given the needto other systems—usually lessthaneight Hot composting TECHNIQUES COMPOSTING Either extreme slows theprocess. outquickly.rial istoocoarse,itmaydry dense, there will be littleair. If themate- If thematerial becomestoowet and fortheseaerobic decomposers. necessary coffee grounds, andvegetable scraps. sources of nitrogen includegrassclippings, nature ofnitrogenous matter. Good dust, incontrastwiththegreener, wetter leaves, shredded newspaper,dry andsaw- material isbrown anddry, suchasstraw, ganic matteryou add:mosthighcarbon and nitrogen are suppliedinalltheor- 25:1—for maximumefficiency. Carbon ratio ofcarbonandnitrogen—about rial. Theseorganismsrequire a certain compost over eachlayer oforganicmate- layer ofgoodtopsoilorpreviously finished turn wastesintocompost,spread athin the trashorcompostedinaseparatearea. the garden—these shouldbediscarded in from adding diseasedplantsorplantparts kill diseaseorganisms,it’s besttoavoid that thecompostwillheatupsufficientlyto nuisance critters.Andunlessyou’re certain which tendtosmellbadandattractmore wastes, wastes ratherthanmeatanddairy a backyard compostpile.Stick toplant typesarecomposition, certain bestsuitedto Although allorganicmatterissubjecttode- PILE THECOMPOST WHAT GOESINTO A goodbalanceofwaterandairisalso To supplytheorganismsneededto the American Gardener OMPOSTING JUST grass clippings,coffeegrounds, bananapeels,applecores, eggshells—and,withminimal effort, requires lesstimethan makes sense.You itemsthatseeminherently withassorted worthless— start “brown” and“green” compostmaterial. temperatures. Top: Awirecageholdslayersof A thermometer,above,helpsmonitor compost RE GARAGE GREEN C ® Cold composting is cool,thecompostready. to cooldownally thingsstart andonce it monitoring your pile’s progress. Eventu- post thermometerisahandy toolfor again, requiring turning. A com- further Every daysthetemperatures few will peak on theremaining contentsofthepile. to beturnedsothatthebacteriacanwork ly engaged.At thispoint,thepileneeds mophilic (heat-loving) bacteriaare active- Fahrenheit, indicatingthatthether- perature ofabout 150to160degrees days,thecenterreachesAfter afew atem- assembled atonce,watered, andcovered. of composting,theentire pileshouldbe days.For few turn thepileevery thisstyle I practicealazier styleofcomposting. is easierbutitusually

TOP: RITA PELCZAR. BOTTOM: SHEPHERD OGDEN WHAT GOES ON IN THE COMPOST PILE

The transformation of organic garbage into a high quality soil builder requires a lot of activity, although most is micro- scopic (for more on this topic, see “Com- post Critters” in the July/August 2001 issue of this magazine, available on the AHS website). To accomplish their mission, these beneficial creatures—both micro- and macroscopic—simply require water, air, and a little time. Certain types of bacteria jump into action when the compost pile is still relatively cool, consuming and digesting the organic matter and reproducing. In the process they release heat, creating conditions that favor different types of bacteria—those that like a warmer environment. Having two compost piles—as shown here in the author’s garden—makes it easy to use finished compost from one while continuing to add new material to the other.

takes from six months to over a year to ob- Tilling under a cover crop as green ma- tain finished compost. Since it never gets nure or spreading and incorporating an- really hot, many disease organisms and imal manure are variations on sheet weed seeds survive; on the other hand, composting. beneficial organisms also survive. The two biggest advantages to this style of com- TYPES OF COMPOSTERS posting are that you can add to it continu- The type of composter you select will de- ously, and you don’t have to turn it. As long pend on factors such as the size of your as you maintain a good C:N ratio, and property, the likelihood of attracting nui- provide sufficient air and water, the com- sance animals such as raccoons, rats, and posting process continues. It is a good idea mice, and what system (hot or cold) you to occasionally poke it with an aerating plan to use. In most backyards, compost tool because over time the material settles piles should be contained for both effi- As mesophilic bacteria give way to and air flow is reduced. ciency and appearance. Composters may thermophilic bacteria, the pile contin- I have found it helps to have a second be built in place, to the exact size you ues to heat up. A hot compost pile can compost pile close by the first. That way, need, and are easily constructed of wood, reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit, a tem- when the material at the bottom of one chicken wire, brick, cinder blocks, or a perature that kills weed seeds, insects, is ready for use, you can lift the unfin- combination of materials. A bin that is at and most diseases. Actinomycetes—a ished material from the top and place it least three feet in all directions will ac- more complex form of bacteria—and on the second pile where it can continue commodate enough mass so that the de- fungi tend to take over as the decom- along the road to complete and utter de- sired heat will build up. Don’t make it so position process nears completion. It is composition. Meanwhile, you can be big that it’s difficult to turn, or that it be- the actinomycetes that are responsible using the finished product at the bottom comes too compressed. for the pleasant, earthy smell of fin- of the first pile. Alternatively, a variety of ready-made ished compost. Another method, called sheet com- composters are available. These may be Some of the players in the compost- posting, incorporates organic waste di- stationary bins or tumblers that rotate, ing process are large enough to see, or rectly into the soil, burying or tilling it in usually on a fixed axis. Many are con- nearly so. These include snails and and allowing it to decompose below structed of recycled plastic. Some sta- slugs; millipedes, centipedes, and sow- ground. While this does recycle organic tionary types have lids that limit rain and bugs; nematodes; earthworms; and cer- wastes, the decomposition is usually less exclude critters, others are open. Models tain insects, mites, and spiders. even and may lead to nitrogen deficien- such as the Deluxe Pyramid Composter —R.P.

TOP: RITA PELCZAR. RIGHT: COURTESY OF GARY BERNON, USDA APHIS / BUGWOOD.ORG cies as the organic matter breaks down. and the Earth Engine Wood Compost

July / August 2009 39 atively charged sites that attract and hold positively charged nutrients such as cal- cium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and others. By adding humus-rich compost, fewer nutrients are lost by leaching. Be- cause nutrients are released slowly, compost provides a steady source of them for plants. Depending on the variety of material that went into the compost, the types and amounts of nutrients will vary; however in addition to furnishing many of the major plant nutrients, most compost contains a well-balanced supply of micronutrients. A further benefit of humus is its ability to act as a buffer; it Pyramid composter from helps plants overcome the limitations of Gardener’s Supply alkaline or acid soils by making nutrients more readily available as they are needed. Bin have sliding doors or removable slats Of course, not everything in the com- to make accessing the finished compost post pile gets broken down at the same easier. Tumbler-type composters are rate, so you may find large chunks of or- closed systems consisting of a drum that ganic debris still remain when your com- is rotated to reduce the effort of turning Gardener’s Supply’s tumbler composter post is otherwise ready to use. This is the compost. The Tumbleweed drum where sifting through wire mesh can be sits vertically, while Sun-Mar Autoflow® Consider the placement of your com- useful. Anything that doesn’t go through post pile as you build or select your com- the sifter can be returned to the compost poster. A rectangular shape fits easily into heap for another go-round. a corner or can be placed flush with a fence or wall. If you have the choice, USING COMPOST place your compost pile on level ground Compost is most commonly used as a soil and in full sun, to help it heat up. Ideal- amendment. In addition to the physical ly, it should be handy to both the kitchen and chemical benefits noted above, it has and the garden where the raw material is a lasting effect on the life of the soil. By generated. It should be easily accessible adding more compost and less—or no— for loading, turning, and unloading. chemical fertilizer, your soil provides a welcome environment to beneficial mi- WHAT COMES OUT OF THE COMPOST PILE croorganisms, earthworms, and other Organic matter that has been digested to types of subterranean life forms that help a point where it is resistant to further de- sustain a garden over the long haul. composition is called humus, and that is the ultimate prize of composting. Humus is a stable colloidal material—a mass of tiny particles in a gel-like suspension— that benefits soil in both physical and chemical ways. Physically, humus is hands-down the Tumbleweed composter best remedy for improving soil structure. It helps bind soil particles together into composters and the Backporch Com- aggregates, facilitating aeration and post Tumbler are oriented horizontally. drainage by adding pore spaces. It also These closed systems work well for hot improves a soil’s waterholding capacity composting, but it’s best to have a pair so and the rate of moisture infiltration, that you can continue to compost wastes which provides protection from drought in one while the other is “working.” Be- and reduces erosion. cause they take up little space and the On the chemical front, humus helps compost is enclosed, these may be the store nutrients in the soil until they are Compost makes a useful potting soil amend-

best choices for small or urban gardens. needed by plants. Humus has lots of neg- ment for both indoor and outdoor containers. BOTTOM RIGHT: AMANDA GRIESSER

40 the American Gardener Because weed seeds are killed, compost derived from a hot composting system makes great mulch. In addition to its at- Resources tractive, uniform appearance and provid- The Complete Compost Gardening Guide by Barbara Pleasant and Deborah L. Mar- ing the advantages of other mulches— tin. Storey Publishing, North Adams, Massachusetts, 2008. moisture retention, weed suppression, temperature moderation—it supplies a Composting by Liz Ball. Workman Publishing, New York, New York, 1997. slow, steady release of nutrients. The same benefit can be had by applying compost as Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov. a top- or side-dressing of fertilizer. Compost is also useful as potting soil, Let it Rot! by Stu Campbell. Storey Publishing, North Adams, Massachusetts, alone or added to other ingredients. It is 1998. great for fast-growing vegetables or flowers grown in patio containers, window boxes, The Rodale Book of Composting, edited by Deborah L. Martin and Grace Gershuny. or raised beds, and it is a nutritious addi- Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 1992. tion to potting mixes used for house plants. Composting is recycling at its most el- emental. Plants grow, drop leaves, flowers, Sources and fruit, and eventually die. In a natural Clean Air Gardening, Dallas, TX. www.cleanairgardening.com. ecosystem, that spent vegetation returns to the soil where organisms break it down Gardener’s Supply, Burlington, VT. www.gardeners.com. into a form that nurtures future plants. Backyard composting simply adds a little GREENCulture, Inc., Lake Forest, CA. www.composters.com. definition to the process. Planet Natural, Inc., Bozeman, MT.www.planetnatural.com. Rita Pelczar is a contributing editor for The American Gardener.

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July / August 2009 41 42 by MaryYee Pearl Fryar: Topiary Artist H servancy project hasmeant,andhislargerplansforitsfuture.servancy Director Yee Mary talkedtoFryar abouthow thegarden developed, whatitsbecomingaGarden Con- Conservancy, culturallysignificantAmericangardens. whichseekstopreserve Managing Editor andArt Club, hisgarden hasbecomeaworld-famoustourist attraction. was Fryar thefirstAfrican-American toreceive theYard oftheMonth award given by theBishopville Iris Then Fryar setouttocreate agarden soambitiousthatitwouldmakeall ofBishopville take notice.Not only not maintaintheiryards. So in1981theFryars builtahouseonformercornfieldjustoutsidethecitylimit. stereotype becauseof a pervasive turned awayfrom thatblackfamiliesdid itswhiteneighborhoods,inpart of myfamily, butthere wasstillavoid.” Whenheand hiswifewent house-huntinginBishopville, theywere worldfortwodecades,butPearlart Fryar doesn’t claimtobeagardener andhesitatestocallhimselfanartist. me theaward. Igottheideafortopiary garden club tomakeanexception togive had todosomethingexceptional forthe lived I outsidethecitylimit,soIknew towinYard1984 totry oftheMonth. We land andprepare thesoil. property. It years tookafew toclearthe when we decided tostay, we boughtthis came toBishopville withmyjoband inNewapartments York andAtlanta. We the firstgarden I’ve ever had.We lived in about gardening andlandscaping. Thisis Pearl Fryar: experience before beginningtopiary? Yee:Mary I gotseriousaboutgardening about The Fryar garden project wasrecently by acceptedasaconservation theNew York-based Garden the American Gardener IS THREE-ACRE from Leylandcypress, and hollies,andothertrees thathasintriguedboththehorticultural andshrubs What wasyour gardening I knew absolutelynothing I knew something inmylifetimethatIwouldberespected for. Ihadagoodjobandtookcare ufacturer. “I’ve always beenago-getter,” saysthenow-retired Fryar. “Iwantedtodo worked for more than35years asamaintenanceengineerforlargealuminumcanman- buthisdeterminationtoovercomeas anunconventional artist socialobstacles. called“Adocumentary Man Named Pearl.” Fryar’s topiaries represent notonlyhisskill TVshows, articles, amuseumexhibition,andin2006 in magazineandnewspaper about 400inall—drawscores ofvisitorseachdaytohisgarden andhave beenfeatured He’s justacreative personwhoshapesplants with apower trimmer. His topiaries— A sonofNorth Carolina sharecroppers, Fryar grew upinthesegregated South and garden intinyBishopville, South Carolina, isaspectacleofabstractformscreated how Igotstarted. front yard andcutupahollybush.That’s make atopiary. One dayIwent tomy gave mea three-minute lessononhow to liage. It wasn’t forsale,sothenurseryman saw atree thatlooked liketwoballsoffo- inCamdenand when Iwent toanursery mation, visit donations areaccepted.Formore infor- South Carolina.Admissionisfree, but at 145BroadAcresRoadinBishopville, Fryar’s Topiary Garden (803) 484-5581. N NOEWITH ONE ON ONE C www.pearlfryar.com is located … or call things Ididwasn’t supposed towork. I books, soIdidn’t know someofthe didn’t know anybetter. Ididn’t read the If Icouldvisualize it,Ididbecause with plantsinthebeginning? iary, how didyou goabout working Without knowing anythingabouttop- books toseewhatotherpeopledid. inthe because Inever read abouttopiary animals andteapots.It’s kindofunique ing withthenegative spaces.I’m notinto branches. I’m intotheabstractandwork- dense foliagecomplementingthe My styleiscreating askeletonlookwith How doyou describeyour style? artistic

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEAN GROSSER Left: Pearl Fryar’s free-form topiary is set off by smooth lawn. Above: The garden includes selections of “junque art”—sculpture that Fryar makes from salvaged materials. wasn’t supposed to be able to make topi- How do you maintain your topiaries? used, but I don’t like them; they’re fussy ary with dogwood, but mine in spring The trouble with living sculpture is that and have trouble with spider mites. look like a snowball. Gardening for me is you have to keep pruning or you lose it. I not about plants. The plants are just a prune my live oaks once a month; the Now that the garden is a Garden Con- canvas for expressing my creativity. pines, twice a year. The hedges of yaupon servancy project, what’s in the future? and compacta holly and juniper, every Until the Garden Conservancy came You didn’t always consider what you are four to six weeks to keep the foliage dense. along, I felt the garden was an art that doing as art. What changed your mind? I don’t water, spray [pesticides], or fer- would only last my lifetime. I created it be- I took an art appreciation class when I tilize. If I got to use pesticides on a plant, I cause I have a passion for it, but Old Man was in college. I thought art had to be don’t need that plant. In a forest, trees don’t Time is catching up with me and I can’t do painting or sculpture. I was basically a get watered or fertilized and they grow, so everything like I used to, so I was prepared guy cutting up bushes! Then I met Jean I create the same environment in my yard. to let some of the topiaries go. Now I’ve got Grosser about 1987—she’s the art profes- I use pine mulch and I dig a trench around an apprentice—eventually we’ll have two sor at Coker College [in Hartsville, my trees to catch rainwater. or three gardeners here—and the Conser- South Carolina]—and when she told me vancy is helping set up a foundation. what I was doing was art, I thought the What tree or shrub is best for someone My hope is the foundation will fund lady had lost it! I’m thankful to her and who would like to try topiary? scholarships for the “C” students, the “av- all the other people who have helped me The number-one plant is yew. I also like erage” kids—like I was—who can fall make the garden what it is. yaupon holly. Boxwoods are commonly through the cracks of society because they aren’t gifted in academics or sports and don’t have a chance to go to college. We need to let them know they have other abilities and give them a chance to get an Associate’s Degree for a start. In the final analysis, the goal of preserving the garden is to help students find their potential.

I hear you’re going to be giving talks in San Diego, Chicago, and New York, and taping a TV segment for the BBC. You’re Bishopville’s biggest celebrity! I don’t think of myself as a celebrity. A celebrity is someone who brings attention to themselves by what they do. What I want to do is bring attention to the community and how we can all help each other be better human beings.

Mary Yee is managing editor and art director Tourists who come to Pearl Fryar’s garden are likely to get a personal tour from the artist. of The American Gardener.

July / August 2009 43 HOMEGROWNC HARVEST

Hardy Kiwis Offer Beauty and Flavor article and photographs by Lee Reich

NTRODUCED INTO this country over 100 years ago, hardy kiwi is a vine I that marries great beauty with great flavor. Yet until the 1980s, the flavor half of that marriage was largely overlooked—a testimonial to the beauty of the plant and the inconspicuousness of the fruit. The moniker “hardy kiwi” usually refers to one of two species of cold-tolerant Actinidia. (Vines that bear the fuzzy kiwifruits of our markets aren’t cold-hardy below about zero degrees Fahrenheit.) Ac- tinidia kolomikta (USDA Hardiness Zones 3–7, AHS Heat Zones 7–3), has leaves variegated silvery white and pink, its patches of green sometimes so neatly presented that they seem painted on with an artist’s brush. Its fruits ripen in August. Actinidia arguta (Zones 4–9, 9–4) has apple-green leaves on red petioles that maintain their exuberant spring freshness Fruits of hardy kiwi are smaller than the market varieties but have a sweeter flavor. into fall. The bark on older A. arguta plants is very ornamental, peeling in long, Both species bear grape-sized fruits green, edible skins and the flavor is gray strips. Compared with A. kolomikta, with the same emerald-green flesh and sweeter and more aromatic. You can eat A. arguta is much more vigorous and bears tiny black seeds as the familiar fuzzy them whole without peeling them. somewhat larger fruits, ripening from kiwis found in grocery stores, but the mid-September onwards. fruits of the hardy species have smooth, GROWING GUIDELINES Once established, hardy kiwis are heat and cold tolerant. However, young plants are susceptible to winter injury, and a late freeze can burn the leaves, which unfold early in spring. I suggest starting with sturdy plants and wrapping them in winter with corn stalks, straw, or other protection while they are young. Hardy kiwi plants (like market kiwi plants) are dioecious—that is, male and female flowers are produced on separate plants—so a nonfruiting male vine is needed nearby for female vines to bear fruit. One male plant can fertilize the flowers of up to eight females. And males are not only valued for their pollen; in the case of A. kolomikta, it is the males that display the most flamboyantly ornamental leaves. A variety named ‘Issai’, The variegated, heart-shaped leaves of Actinidia kolomikta are ornamental in their own right. possibly a hybrid of the two hardy

44 the American Gardener species, is often billed as self-pollinating; dons)—one trained in each direction it is not, or at best only mildly so. along the middle wire—fruiting arms Sources Full sun or a bit of shade is fine for can grow off at right angles to the cor- these decorative vines, with that bit of dons and drape down on the outer wires. Burnt Ridge Nursery, Onalaska, WA. shade preserving the variegation of male Fruiting shoots originate near the (360) 985-2873. A. kolomikta plants for longer. Hardy kiwi bases of one-year-old canes, so shorten- www.burntridgenursery.com. plants need well-drained soil. If drainage ing the previous year’s stems to just a few is poor, you can create wide, raised buds keeps those shoots originating near One Green World, Molalla, OR. mounds of soil on which to plant. the cordons. These fruiting units move (877) 353-4028. There are a few options for training further and further away from the cor- www.onegreenworld.com. and pruning hardy kiwis. The twining don over the years, so need to be period- stems can clamber up lattices or wires ically rejuvenated by being cut back more Tripple Brook Farm, Southampton, held just off pillars or walls, or up and drastically. Plants get congested over MA. (413) 527-4626. over pergolas. Left to their own devices, time, so late-winter pruning also entails www.tripplebrookfarm.com. the unsupported stems create a rangy sort thinning out stems growing off cordons of shrub. Where vines are grown mostly so there is about half a foot of space be- Resources Fruit Production for the Home Garden- er: Hardy Kiwi. Penn State Universi- ty, 2008. http://ssfruit.cas.psu. edu/HardyKiwi.htm.

Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden by Lee Reich. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2004.

sues. Place cylinders of chicken wire around young plants to protect them from neighborhood felines. RECOMMENDED VARIETIES Selecting varieties of hardy kiwis grown for their fruits is still a work in progress. Among A. arguta varieties, ‘Anna’—short for ‘Ananasnaja’—is a reliable producer of relatively large, tasty fruits. The varieties ‘Geneva’ and ‘Dumbarton Oaks’ also have A sturdy arbor works well for supporting hardy kiwi vines. The author, above, recommends great flavor and ripen a couple of weeks pruning out wayward or crowded branches in winter to promote good fruit production. earlier than ‘Anna’. The qualities of the few varieties of A. kolomikta that are avail- as ornamentals—as they were at many tween them. Follow-up pruning through able have yet to be evaluated. old estates—cutting back wayward summer entails removing any stems aris- branches in winter and perhaps a couple ing along or at the base of the trunk so ENJOYING THE HARVEST of times in summer suffices and provides that the vine does not shade itself or be- Hardy kiwis will ripen off the vine but on- a certain amount of fruit. Because male come a tangled mass of stems. ly if harvested when the first fruits start to plants are grown primarily for pollen soften, at which point fruits with their production, they can be cut back dra- PESTS AND DISEASES stems or whole clusters can be harvested. matically right after blossoming. Hardy kiwis are relatively pest-free, al- Soft fruits are ready for eating. Firm ones When grown for their fruit, vines are though Japanese beetles are fond of them. can be allowed to soften at room temper- generally trained to a trellis made up of Hand-pick any you see and drop them in ature or can be refrigerated for a couple of three to five parallel wires strung between a container of soapy water. months, then brought out to room tem- the tops of six-foot-high T-posts. A spac- The vines sometimes suffer the atten- perature to soften. ing of about 15 feet apart in the row al- tions of one unique pest: cats. The effect lows each vine adequate space to develop. on the animals is similar to that of catnip, Lee Reich covers growing kiwis and other With a permanent trunk up to the wires and young vines cannot tolerate the edible plants in his most recent book, Land- and two permanent lateral branches (cor- chewing and clawing that sometimes en- scaping with Fruit (Storey Publishing, 2009).

July / August 2009 45 46 size. Allcultivars were planted in mixed plants themselves are anintermediate ‘Lilliput’ hasthesmallestflowers andthe tested (‘Pinwheel’ issingle-flowered), also hadthegreatest numberofspecies.” visitors,butit largest numberofbutterfly that‘Lilliput’served “not onlyhadthe less popularcultivars. Theresearchers ob- erence were between thethree observed wheel’. No significantdifferences inpref- and ‘State Fair’, and other cultivars— olacea more thantwiceas manyvisited counted, od. Out of 2,355totalbutterflies cultivars of zinniaover aseven-week peri- visitedfourcommonlyavailable butterflies Horticulture, 2009 issueoftheJournal ofEnvironmental Variegated fritillaryon‘Pinwheel’zinnia. cultivars are equal. Kentucky have discovered thatnotall researchersterflies, attheUniversity of widely recommended forattractingbut- cultivars? Whenitcomestozinnias, preferencesany particular forvarious did you had ever wonderifbutterflies foodsources.sources However, orlarval of plantspeciesrecommended asnectar garden, you’ve probably consultedlists If you enjoy toyour attractingbutterflies CULTIVARS ABOUT BUTTERFLIES PICKY Horticultural NewsandResearch ImportanttoAmericanGardeners Of thethree double-flowered varieties The study, publishedintheMarch the American Gardener ‘Lilliput’ asdidanyofthethree compared how oftenvarious Z. violacea Z. marylandica ‘Oklahoma’ Zinnia vi- ‘Pin- enough proceeds tobuytheYucca Do allowedsupporters themtogenerate A landdonationfrom oneofthegarden’s vacantexpand ontothenewly property. Texas, in2008,Peckerwood decidedto When Yucca Do relocated toGiddings, for itsneighbor, Yucca Do Nursery. asthegrounds thatonceserved property Texas, haspurchased the20acres of Peckerwood Garden inHempstead, EXPAND EAGERTO GARDEN PECKERWOOD breeding forothertraits.” of fected duringmore thanacentury tics mighthave af- beeninadvertently questioned whether“nectar characteris- color. In summation,theresearchers such asdiseaseresistance andflower breeding thatfocusedontraits efforts while theothercultivars are products of ‘Lilliput’ isanheirloomfrom the1870s, quantity ofthenectarproduced, since might beattributabletothequalityand exhibited.Rather,terflies theysuggestit that wouldexplainthepreference but- feel there were anyobvious physicaltraits colors. Therefore, theresearchers didn’t The Mysterious Garden isoneofseveralthemed gardenareasatPeckerwood. GARDENER C ’ NOTEBOOK S 18 andNovember 7and8. gardens tothepubliconOctober 17and Open Days Program andwillopenits oftheGardenis part Conservancy’s quest togopublic.Peckerwood Garden “has given usahugejumpstart” inthe Foundation, saysthattheacquisition the Peckerwood Garden Conservation garden. ConnieStegen, administratorfor is working towards becomingapublic project oftheGarden and Conservancy offered parking spaceandotherfacilities. garden openedtothepublic,nursery featured atPeckerwood, andondaysthe Do’s catalogincludedmanyoftheplants a symbioticrelationship ofsorts—Yucca While theywere neighbors,theyshared moting heatanddrought-tolerant plants. both specialize incultivating andpro- Johnfounded by theartist Fairey, and or storagespace. and alargestructure forhousingplants space, asmallresidence, sixgreenhouses, withalargeparking area, office erwood property. spaceprovides Thenew Peck- Peckerwood Garden isapreservation Peckerwood andYucca Do were

LEFT: SARAH COLVIN / COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, BOTTOM: ZHIPENG LU / COURTESY OF PECKERWOOD GARDEN PESTICIDE SYNERGY MAY INCREASE RISK people with Parkinson’s report exposure a home. For the first time, the National In- OF PARKINSON’S DISEASE to chemicals common on farms, there are stitute of Standards and Technology Previous studies have identified links be- other factors to consider before a defini- (NIST) and the U.S. Department of Agri- tween long-term pesticide exposure and tive conclusion is made about the con- culture (USDA) have put together a report Parkinson’s disease, but a new study, pub- nection between pesticides and the that quantifiably proves shade trees can cut lished in January in Environmental Health degenerative brain disorder. costs. “The previous studies had used ei- News, is the first to look at the synergistic ther computer simulation or small-scale effects of a combination of pesticides, INVEST IN A LITTLE SHADE field experiments to measure the results,” namely maneb and paraquat. Maneb is a Numerous studies have been conducted explains David Butry, co-author of the re- fungicide commonly sprayed to protect over the years that explore the benefits of port. “We were able to measure the effect crops such as potatoes and tomatoes. planting trees in just the right spot around using a large sample of consumer billing Paraquat is a component of weed killers data, which had not been done before.” that has been designated as a restricted-use The study, which took place over the pesticide by the Environmental Protection summer of 2007 in Sacramento, Califor- Agency, meaning it can be used only by nia, measured the effects of shade trees certified pesticide applicators. planted on the south and west sides of Researchers found that study partici- 460 single-family homes. The result: pants who lived within 550 yards of a summertime electricity use was cut by field sprayed with the two pesticides in five percent, on average. Less electricity combination ran a 75 percent higher risk use leads to lower costs, but also means of developing Parkinson’s disease than a reduced carbon emissions from the pro- control group. The study also found that duction of electricity. participants who suffered long-term However, the study found that chemical exposure before the age of 60 planting trees on the north side of were five times more likely to be diag- houses actually increased electricity use nosed with Parkinson’s. Researchers con- by one-and-a-half percent. Researchers

COURTESY OF NIST cede that although a growing number of speculate that this increase came about PHOTO BY ANNE C. ALLEN FROM 2008 GARDENER’S CALENDAR 2009 “Gardener’s” Calendar There are 13 prize-winning color photos taken by TGOA/MGCA members, including AHS members who are also members of TGOA/MGCA $6.95 ($59.00 for 10) Postpaid To order: call 515-278-0295 or e-mail [email protected] The Gardeners of America/ Men’s Garden Clubs of America Box 241, Johnston, Iowa 50121-0241 (515) 278-0295 www.tgoa-mgca.org

July / August 2009 47 48 how theeffectvaries across regions ofthe “It wouldbereally interesting tolookat ed inothercitiesandduringseasons. have requested thatthestudybeconduct- this year, anumberofutilitycompanies three factors. lease atnight,oracombinationofall demand, adecrease inthehouse’s heatre- the wind,anincrease ininteriorlighting from eitheradecrease incoolingfrom 1212 MissionCanyonRoad, SantaBarbara,CA93105. or bysendingacheckto:Santa BarbaraBotanicGarden, Donations canbemadeonline byvisiting diate replacementoftools,vehicles, andsafetyequipment. “Jesusita FireRecoveryCampaign” tohelpfundtheimme- tinue togrow,we’llsurvivethis.”SBBGhasestablishedthe staff’s resilienceanddetermination,saying,“Gardenscon- ernment relations,viewstheartopeningassymbolicof Nancy Johnson,SBBG’svicepresidentofmarketing&gov- Parker, whobeganinstallationsjustdaysafterthefire. The gardenisalsowelcominganewexhibitbyartistHerb opened theRedwoodexhibittopublicatendofMay. including theMeadowandTeahouseexhibits.SBBGre- refurbish asanhistoriclandmark,wasalsodestroyed. House, acentury-oldstructurethattheparkhadhopedto Campbell Bridge,andtheDirector’sResidence.TheGane Desert exhibits,mostoftheripariancorridor,historic imated ordamaged,includingpartsoftheRedwoodand ly 60ofthegarden’s78acreswereeithercompletelydec- the SantaBarbaraBotanicGarden(SBBG)initswake.Near- May, leavinganumberofcharredexhibitsandstructuresat A wildfiretorethroughSantaBarbara,California,inearly Wildfire WreaksHavocatSantaBarbaraBotanicGarden PLACESintheNEWS PEOPLE and The meadowatSBBGwasnotaffectedbythewildfire. After thereport waspublishedearlier the American Gardener Fortunately, severalareasoftheparkwentunscathed, but aprototype applicationfortheiPhone This technologyisstillinthetestingphase of trees basedonphotographsofleaves. guide forquick,on-the-goidentification able tomakeuseofahandyelectronic field Botanists andboy scoutsalikemaysoonbe TREEIDENTIFICATION YIELDS FAST FORMOBILEDEVICES NEW TECHNOLOGY happens in wintertime,” saysButry.happens inwintertime,” U.S. andoftheworld,toseewhat www.bit.ly/UwwxS Herb Gardening Herb ing andspeakingaboutthem.Sheco-authored taught, Hillspentmostofherlifegrowingherbsandwrit- Hill diedinBrenham,Texas,attheageof95.Largelyself- On March5,well-knownherbgardeningexpertMadalene Herb ExpertMadaleneHillDies as Yoder,visit ated withgreen.”Formoreon thecompanyformerlyknown ny newsrelease,thenewmoniker “isaLatinwordassoci- operating underthenameAris, Inc.Accordingtoacompa- als, perennials,andotherspecialty floweringplants,is ture industryasaleadingproducerandmarketerofannu- select anewname. tities tocontinueoperation,thebusinesswasrequired product lineslastfall.InorderfortheremainingYoderen- the YoderBrothersbrandanditschrysanthemumaster American Gardener, American its CatherineH.SweeneyAwardin2006. nary anddedicatedeffortsinthefieldofhorticulture”with American HorticulturalSocietyrecognizedher“extraordi- Howard AwardforHorticulturalExcellencein1997.The ticle aboutherpublishedintheMarch/April2006issueof As reportedintheJanuary/February2009issueof Yoder BrothersNameChange Gardener. American The Madalene Hill As ofJuly1,2009,thecompany,knowninhorticul- To readmoreaboutHill,visit www.arishort.com. (Shearer Publishing,1987),agardening agribusiness giantSyngentaacquired base iscurrently madeuponlyoftrees digital databaseofspecimens.Thedata- shot ofaleafandlocatesitwithinlarge automatic identification. where peoplecanbringinspecimensfor institutions, suchastheSmithsonian, available ateducationalkiosksincertain A version oftheprogram maysoonbe of similaroptionsforothermobiledevices. is intheworks alongwiththedevelopment cluding thehardy‘Arp’rosemary also introducedseveralherbs,in- classic thatisstillinprinttoday.Hill lene Hill’doublemint (Rosmarinus officinalis) (Rosmarinus Round Top,Texas. Gardens attheFestival-Institutein of theSusanClaytonMcAshanHerb cilis). of Honorin1978anditsNancy ganization’s HelendeConwayMedal ciety ofAmerica,Hillreceivedtheor- The new fieldguideanalyzesThe new asnap- A pastpresidentoftheHerbSo- Most recently,shewascurator www.ahs.org (Mentha (Mentha to viewanar- and ‘Mada- Southern ✕ The gra-

LEFT: COURTESY OF ED SCHNEIDER / SBBG. RIGHT: COURTESY OF HILL FAMILY. native to the northeast United States. In of the garden. The garden features minia- SWEET 16 FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY order to identify a tree from another re- ture wetlands, green roofs, pollinator gar- On September 26, volunteers from across gion, a different database of tree species dens, and a 1,300-square-foot vegetable the country will celebrate the 16th annual would need to be downloaded. The pro- garden, intended to promote environ- National Public Lands Day (NPLD), a ject is being funded by the National Sci- mentally-friendly growing practices. “We program of the National Environmental ence Foundation, and the contributing are going through the steps to make this a Education Foundation (NEEF), an orga- researchers hail from Columbia Univer- certified organic garden,” says Livia Mar- nization that promotes everyday solutions sity and the Smithsonian Institution, ques, director of the People’s Garden. The to environmental problems. among other organizations. vegetable garden is complete, but Marques Last year, more than 120,000 people anticipates that the entire project will take participated and planted more than one VEGGIE E-BAY several years to finish. million trees in conjunction with the Tree If you find yourself with too many toma- Produce grown in the People’s Garden Planting Initiative 2008. This year’s event, toes or zucchini this summer, rather than is donated to a local organization, DC which will take place at an estimated 2,000 making late night Central Kitchen. Employees of the sites, will focus on water. “Water fits in drop-offs at your USDA are being encouraged to volunteer with NPLD because there are so many neighbors’ houses, in the garden, although an outside land- connections our public lands have with you might consider scape contractor will supply regular water,” says Robb Hampton, NPLD di- using Veggie Trader. maintenance. The idea for The People’s rector. Some of the service projects This recently devel- Garden was hatched by Vilsack as a way planned for the day include shoreline oped website allows to not only educate citizens on the bene- beautification, wildlife restoration, testing people to create list- fits of homegrown, organic produce, but the water quality of streams and rivers, and ings to buy, sell, and to honor the vision of President Abraham maintaining park facilities. trade homegrown Lincoln, who founded the Department For more information about this produce. of Agriculture in 1862 and referred to it year’s NLPD or to find an event site, visit The site launched in March 2009 and as “The People’s Department.” The www.publiclandsday.org. more than 5,000 people have already USDA hopes to establish similar gardens joined. The service is free of charge, and at each of its facilities throughout the News written by Editorial Intern Amanda anyone can sign up. Users need only reg- United States. Griesser and Associate Editor Viveka Neveln. ister online, post listings of the produce they are looking to sell or trade, and wait to be contacted by an interested buyer. Veggie Trader encourages community organizations to get involved, allowing RELIEF FOR them to easily find local produce and DRY PATCHES strengthen their local economy. The site has a few guidelines and tips for postings, and users should be aware of the license regulations in their area before making transactions. For more information or to start trading, visit www.veggietrader.com.

A GARDEN BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE Long a staple on the farm, the In February of this year, Agriculture Secre- tary Tom Vilsack dedicated and broke little green can is also at home ground on the People’s Garden, a modest in the garden. For soothing plot located at the United States Depart- ment of Agriculture roughed up hands, chapped (USDA) headquarters and chafed skin, and cuts and in Washington, D.C. Today, the project has scrapes, dig for the Bag Balm®— grown to twice its in- the time-tested solution. tended size, taking up the entire six-acre land area in front of the USDA building. As a DAIRY ASSOCIATION CO., INC. result of strong public interest in the pro- P.O. BOX 145, DEPT. AG09, LYNDONVILLE, VT 05851/TEL. 802-626-3610/WWW.BAGBALM.COM WEST OF ROCKIES: SMITH SALES SERVICE, 16372 S. W. 72ND ST., PORTLAND, OR 97223

TOP: AHS ARCHIVES ject, Vilsack decided to increase the scope

July / August 2009 49 GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK NEWS SPECIAL American Community Gardening Association Turns 30 BY AMANDA GRIESSER

HIS YEAR marks the 30th anniversary of the American More than 40 workshops have been scheduled over the T Community Gardening Association (ACGA). ACGA course of the three-day event, with topics ranging from main- was first conceived by the City of Chicago Department of taining a community garden to developing a garden policy for Human Services in 1979 when a surge in popularity in com- the Obama administration. Speakers from all reaches of the munity gardens—coupled with a lack of Federal funding— country will be in attendance. Tours interspersed throughout resulted in the need for a national organization. the conference provide opportunities to see some of the diverse Today, ACGA is a nonprofit organization headquartered in gardens the Columbus area has to offer, including the Chadwick Columbus, Ohio, that seeks to encourage community garden- Arboretum and Learning Gardens at Ohio State University. ing and greening across the United States and Canada. It is committed to all aspects of food and ornamental gardening, LOOKING AHEAD urban forestry, and the preservation of open space. Profession- Thirty years after its inception, ACGA faces many of the same als, supporters of community greening in urban and rural areas, problems it once did: a high national unemployment rate, ris- and volunteers make up the core of its membership. ing food costs, reduced Federal funding, and a growing need for

Kids help out at Gifford Community Park Garden in Omaha, Nebraska. ACGA holds educational workshops for community garden organizers.

Community gardens have proven useful in promoting community gardens. Still, Johnson believes that, for the most healthy eating habits, curbing heat-sink effects in urban areas, part, the focus of the organization remains the same, particu- and even reducing crime. “Starting a garden is the easy part; larly in the vital areas of information exchange and networking. keeping it going is tricky,” says ACGA treasurer Betsy Johnson. She adds that community gardens are “resilient,” having evolved ACGA “keeps gardens going” by conducting educational pro- over generations and now experiencing a noticeable upswing in grams, encouraging research, expanding its network of com- popularity. “There’s such a breadth of people who garden across munity gardeners, and developing resources in support of every spectrum,” she says. “There really is nothing else like that community gardening. One resource is the “Growing Com- to build communities and bring people together.” munities” workshop that teaches the organizational and leader- Membership in the organization is open to anyone inter- ship skills necessary to spearhead a community garden project. ested in community gardening, and Johnson urges people to support the organization’s goals on both a local and national PUTTING DOWN ROOTS level. Non-members can sign up for an e-mail listserv that From August 6 through 9, ACGA will hold its annual con- functions as a forum for people interested in starting a com- ference at the Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, munity garden. For more information on ACGA’s mission Ohio. The theme of this year’s conference is “Putting Down and programs—and to locate a community garden near Roots,” which is fitting because ACGA will soon be moving you—visit www.communitygarden.org. its headquarters to the Conservatory’s new plot, the Com- —Amanda Griesser is an editorial intern munity Garden Campus. for The American Gardener. LEFT: COURTESY OF GIFFORD PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN. RIGHT: ACGA

50 the American Gardener

BOOKC REVIEWS

Recommendations for Your Gardening Library

A Rose by Any Name 50 High-Impact, Low-Care Garden Plants Douglas Brenner and Stephen Scanniello. Algonquin Books, Chapel Hill, Tracy DiSabato-Aust. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2008. 168 North Carolina, 2009. 320 pages. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $19.95. pages. Publisher’s price, softcover: $16.95.

IN THE introduction of A Rose by Any Name: The Little-Known FOR THOSE GARDENERS who love plants but lack the time Lore and Deep-Rooted History of Rose Names, Douglas Brenner to spend hours in the garden, this is an excellent book. Both new and Stephen Scanniello caution that gardeners and those who have if you’re hoping to “learn how to picked high-maintenance perennials prune a large-flowered hybrid tea rose but want to make changes can bene- like ‘Dolly Parton’ or quell an infesta- fit from the author’s emphasis on tion of aphids on a miniature rose tough, low-maintenance plants that such as ‘Santa Claus,’” you’ll need to give them more time to enjoy their look elsewhere. Instead, this book ex- garden. Even those who are down- plores the intriguing histories of sizing to smaller gardens or to con- dozens of roses, with the authors as- tainers will benefit from these plant serting that “once you know it by recommendations. name, a rose definitely isn’t a rose isn’t a rose.” The plants are listed in alphabet- The naming of a rose often carries with it cultural, social, eco- ical order by botanical name, which may make it difficult for be- nomic, political, and emotional significance. For example, the ginners looking for a particular plant because there is no index. book opens with the story of the ‘American Beauty’ rose, intro- The author provides a brief description, notes important details duced in 1886, which became an emblem of national pride. Its such as hardiness zones and light requirements, and includes a popularity was such that in 1898 New York florists sold ‘American concise maintenance checklist that gives all the pertinent infor- Beauty’ roses for $3.75 a stem, about a dollar more than the typi- mation. Each entry comes with several color photographs, both cal daily wage of a carpenter. Thus it was also known as the “Mil- of the plant in garden settings and in close-ups. lion-Dollar Rose.” People still ask florists for these antique roses The plants in this book are a wonderful combination of the today, though blooms sold as ‘American Beauty’ nowadays are tried-and-true and the unusual that will satisfy more experienced probably imposters because these notoriously difficult-to-culti- gardeners. For example, shredded umbrella plant (Syneilesis aconi- vate roses are not grown on a large scale anymore. tifolia) and woodland peony (Paeonia obovata) are good, unusu- And as any rose breeder knows, the success of a new intro- al choices for a shade garden. For sun, rattlesnake master duction rests not only on its flowering and growth habits, disease (Eryngium yuccifolium) and Rozanne hardy geranium are two of resistance, and other objective standards, but also on the emo- my favorite easy-care perennials. For those who are unfamiliar tional chord struck by the name. One currently ubiquitous rose with a plant, there are companions listed to make colorful com- originally was going to be called ‘Razzleberry’, until it was brand- binations. However, the suggested plants are not necessarily going ed Knock Out®, a name with much more marketing power. to flower together in all parts of the country. You can dip randomly into the book’s concise chapters to dis- There are a few other minor glitches. An aster is listed by its cover these gems of information, but more likely you’ll find your- old botanical name rather than its new name, Symphyotrichum. self drawn in by the excellent writing and fascinating anecdotes Regionally invasive plants that are mentioned, such as Rosa ru- and want to read it cover to cover. Even the glossary is worth a gosa, are not flagged, and a few widely challenging-to-grow se- careful read. One interesting tidbit I picked up there was that roses lections such as delphiniums are suggested. don’t technically have thorns, which are defined as a modified Aside from these few drawbacks, the book is well written, branch composed of the same material as the plant stem. Roses has delightful photographs, and presents good, solid choices of actually have prickles. Just as a rose by any name may smell as plants. The author’s narrative style, filled with personal experi- sweet, so a thorn by any name is just as sharp! ences, makes this book an easy read. —Catriona Tudor Erler —Stephanie Cohen

Catriona Tudor Erler is the author of nine gardening books, including Stephanie Cohen, also known as the “perennial diva,” is co-author of Design Ideas for Home Landscaping (Creative Homeowner, 2007) The Perennial Gardener’s Design Primer (Storey Publishing, 2005) and and Poolscaping (Storey Publishing, 2003). Fallscaping (Storey Publishing, 2007).

52 the American Gardener When Perennials Bloom: In the book’s opening chapters, Anisko explains the seasonal An Almanac for Planning and Planting development of various perennials and their response to weather Tomasz Anisko. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2008. 510 pages. conditions (temperature, light, and rainfall). He describes the basic Publisher’s price, hardcover: $59.95. concept of “phenology,” the relationship between climate and seasonally recurring events. Phenology has its roots in the age-old THIS IS just the type of book I wish had occupied my shelf agricultural ritual of keeping a calendar of flowering, fruiting, and during numerous plant identification classes I took in my land- other growing activities of one’s crops. Apply these methods to scape horticulture program. From Acan- perennial plant performance around the globe, in different zones thus to Yucca, the pages are packed with and conditions, and you get the basis of When Perennials Bloom. season-specific bloom information and The “Encyclopedia of Perennials and Their Bloom Times” oc- brightened by Tomasz Anisko’s excellent cupies the bulk of the book. For each plant entry, Anisko provides horticultural photographs. bar-graphlike bloom continuum charts. For example, Phlox pan- In this ambitious and comprehensive iculata ‘David’ produces its first flowers the second week of June; book, Anisko describes detailed flower- it peaks during the first three weeks of August; and continues ing times for more than 450 herbaceous blooming until the first week of October. At a glance, I can com- perennials. He relies on research con- pare this cycle to other phlox cultivars, which helps me plan conducted all over the world, much of it un- tinuity of bloom in a border or bed. dertaken by cohorts as curious as the author to discover the At the back of the book, a chronologically organized graph answer to the question faced over and over again by professional sprawling over seven pages charts the bloom span of more than and home gardeners alike: When will this plant bloom? 450 different perennials, from April’s first-to-flower perennial For those whose initial reaction is “who cares?” I found in (Petasites japonicus ‘Purpureus’) to December’s last-to-flower Anisko’s writing an emotionally compelling response: “Before specimen (Chrysanthemum pacificum) and everything else in be- we had calendars and before we learned to read the stars, flow- tween. A year in flowers, indeed. ers were telling us the time of the year.” Flowers tell us volumes —Debra Prinzing about the seasons, the weather, the geography, and even our own yearnings to enjoy color and beauty in our surroundings. Debra Prinzing’s most recent book is Stylish Sheds and Elegant That’s reason enough to care. Hideaways (Clarkson Potter/Publishers, 2008).

July / August 2009 53 GARDENERC’S BOOKS

Regional Gardening Books

ENERAL GARDENING books that can apply to a versity, and green industry partners, this program focuses on wide swath of climates and include a broad plant promoting exceptional plants for the High Plains and inter- G palette have their uses, but sometimes the best re- mountain region. Anyone who gardens in this area of the source for gardening in your corner of the country is a region- country will appreciate having at their fingertips this list of ally oriented book. Such a book often gets more in-depth on tough but beautiful plants that will thrive despite low rain- the particulars of your climate, soil, and pests, in addition to fall, alkaline soils, strong winds, little winter snow cover, and focusing on plants that are known to thrive in your area. Here other challenges that often make short work of lesser plants. are some recently published examples. Each entry includes brief notes about why it makes the cut, Anyone who gardens along the Eastern Seaboard from its characteristics and landscape uses, preferred cultural con- Maine to South Carolina will appreciate Oh Garden of Fresh ditions, native range, and a list of its best features—all ac- Possibilities! (David R. Godine, 2009, companied by color photographs and illustrations. $35). This book is filled with design For gardeners in western Oregon and Washington, British ideas and plants that work well in this Columbia, and northern California, there’s Gardening in the coastal region, as author and garden Pacific Northwest (Timber Press, 2008, designer Kim Smith relates her experi- $29.95) by Carol W. Hall and Norman ences with her quarter-acre garden in E. Hall. This comprehensive volume Gloucester, Massachusetts. The first begins with a detailed discussion of the part of the book, “Creating the Frame- region’s climatic and geographic char- work,” delves into trees, shrubs, and acteristics, which serves to familiarize other elements for creating structure in gardeners with the conditions they will the garden, while the second section be facing. The next section is a month- addresses how to fill out the framework to create a harmo- by-month calendar of what to expect nious living tapestry in your garden. and do in the garden. Much of the re- While many of the concepts in Rain Gardening in the mainder of the book is dedicated to profiles of trees, shrubs, South (Eno Publishers, 2009, $19.95) have universal applica- herbaceous perennials, bulbs, and other plants the authors are tions, authors Helen Kraus and Anne partial to. In addition to being “as beautiful to look at as they Spafford wrote the book with the are beautifully adapted” to the region, most of these plants are southeastern section of the United well-behaved and not difficult to find or grow. The book’s final States from Virginia to Alabama in chapters focus on how to handle common pests and other gar- mind—hence, the regionally specific den problems such as deer, drought, and weeds. plant recommendations and soil prepa- The Hot Garden (Rio Nuevo Publishers, 2009, $40) by ration instructions. The authors define award-winning author Scott Calhoun, focuses on the “plants, a rain garden as one that is “designed to rocks, colors, and watering methods capture rainfall flowing through your that bring the grandeur and intricacy of yard (known as runoff), store that the wild Southwestern landscape into water to nurture its plants, and cleanse runoff, thus removing home gardens.” Just to be clear about the pollutants it carries with it.” Chapters cover the basics of the territory addressed in the book, Cal- designing, building, planting, and troubleshooting a rain gar- houn notes that it is where the mulch of den, supplemented with color photographs, diagrams, and choice is gravel, which “happens to lie charts throughout the book. mostly within the boundaries of the Durable Plants for the Garden three hottest American deserts: the Chi- (Fulcrum Publishing, 2009, $24.95) is huahuan, the Mojave, and the Sono- a “documentary publication featuring ran.” Calhoun’s vibrant photographs nearly steal the show, but the first seventy-four plants promoted his engaging text and willingness to share his horticultural ex- by Plant Select” since the program perience help readers get their “desert eyes” on so they can bet- began introducing plants in 1997. A ter appreciate this region’s unique beauty and learn to collaborative effort between Denver incorporate some of it in their gardens. Botanic Gardens, Colorado State Uni- Viveka Neveln, Associate Editor

54 the American Gardener

REGIONALC HAPPENINGS

Horticultural Events from Around the Country

NORTHEAST Events sponsored by or including official Home Tour. Ida Cason Callaway Foundation. CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT participation by AHS or AHS staff members Pine Mountain, Georgia. (800) 225-5292. JULY 23–25. Nantucket Garden Festival. are identified with the AHS symbol. www.callawaygardens.org. Seminars, tours, gala dinner. Nantucket Lighthouse School. Nantucket, RAP JULY 29. Plan Before You Plant. Events hosted by botanical gardens and Massachusetts. (508) 228-0427. Lecture. Atlanta Botanical Garden. www.nantucketgardenfestival.com. arboreta that participate in AHS’s Reciprocal Atlanta, Georgia. (404) 876-5859. Admissions Program are identified with the www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org. JULY 25 & 26. Garden Walk Buffalo. Self- RAP symbol. Current AHS members showing guided tour. Buffalo, New York. (716) 879- a valid membership card are eligible for free or RAP AUG. 9. Gardening with Japanese 0123. www.GardenWalk Buffalo.com. discounted admission to the garden or other Myrtles. Class. Aldridge Botanical Gardens. benefits. Special events may not be included; Hoover, Alabama. (205) 682-8019. RAP JULY 29. Creating an Authentic Gar- contact the host site for details or visit www.aldridgegardens.com. den. Lecture. Polly Hill Arboretum. West www.ahs.org/events/reciprocal_events.htm. Tisbury, Massachusetts. (508) 693-9426. RAP AUG. 20. New Plant Workshop. Yew www.pollyhillarboretum.org. Dell Gardens. Crestwood, Kentucky. (502) 241-4788. www.yewdellgardens.org. RAP AUG. 1 & 2. Flower Show. AUG. 1 & 2. Cactus Show. Brookside Gardens. Berkshire Botanical Garden. Stockbridge, Wheaton, Maryland. (301) 962-1400. RAP AUG. 21. Growing Figs at Home. Class. Massachusetts. (413) 298-3926. www.brooksidegardens.org. Boone County Arboretum. Union, Kentucky. www.berkshirebotanical.org. (859) 586-6101. www.bcarboretum.org. AUG. 7. Hardy Cacti and Succulents. Semi- RAP AUG. 12. Harvesting Herbs. nar. Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College. RAP AUG. 22. Edible Plants for the Home Lecture. Heritage Museums and Gardens. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. (610) 328- Landscape. Class. Daniel Stowe Botanical Sandwich, Massachusetts. (508) 888-3300. 8025. www.scottarboretum.org. Garden. Belmont, North Carolina. (704) www.heritagemuseumand gardens.org. 825-4490. www.dsbg.org. RAP AUG. 11 & 12. Invasive Plants Confer- AUG. 22. Creating Home Outside: Landscape ence. Morris Arboretum at the University of RAP AUG. 29. Green Gardening: National Design Workshop. Julie Moir Messervy Pennsylvania. University of Pittsburgh, Wildlife Certification. Class. Central Florida Design Studio. Saxtons River, Vermont. Johnstown Campus Conference Center. Zoo and Botanical Garden. Lake Monroe, (802) 869-1470. www.jmmds.com. Johnstown, Pennsylvania. (215) 247-5777 Florida. (407) 323-4450. ext. 125. E-mail: [email protected]. www.centralfloridazoo.org. AUG. 23. Central New York Gladiolus Show. Central New York Gladiolus Society. AUG. 15. Summer Fruit Tasting. Monticello, Looking ahead Syracuse, New York. (315) 697-3507. the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. Char- SEPT. 18 & 19. American Camellia E-mail: [email protected]. lottesville, Virginia. (434) 984-9822. Society Fall 2009 Convention. Charleston, www.monticello.org. South Carolina. (478) 967-2358. www.camellias-acs.org. MID-ATLANTIC RAP AUG. 29 & 30. Begonia Show and Sale. PA, NJ, VA, MD, DE, WV, DC Green Spring Gardens. Alexandria, Virginia. NORTH CENTRAL JULY 22. Planting Design for Homeowners. (703) 642-5173. www.greenspring.org. IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI Class. U.S. Botanic Garden. Washington, D.C. (202) 225-1116. www.usbg.gov. Looking ahead RAP JULY 19. Ohio Daylily Society RAP SEPT. 18 & 19. Fall Plant Sale. Lewis Show and Sale. Kingwood Center. RAP JULY 25. Gardening for a Lifetime. Class. Ginter Botanical Garden. Richmond, Virginia. Mansfield, Ohio. (419) 522-0211. Green Spring Gardens. Alexandria, Virginia. (804) 262-9887. www.lewisginter.org. www.kingwoodcenter.org. (703) 642-5173. www.greenspring.org. AHS JULY 23–25. National Children SOUTHEAST JULY 28–30. Penn Atlantic Nursery Trade & Youth Garden Symposium. American AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN Show (PANTS). Greater Philadelphia Expo Horticultural Society. Cleveland Botanical Center. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. RAP JULY 23. The Changing Mountain Garden. Cleveland, Ohio. (703) 768-5700. (717) 328-1673. www.pantshow.com. Environment: Edible Landscape. Presenta- www.ahs.org. tion. North Carolina Arboretum. Asheville, AUG. 1. Native Plants for Dry Shade. North Carolina. (828) 665-2492. JULY 24–26. Midwest Native Plant Confer- Class. Mt. Cuba Center. Greenville, www.ncarboretum.org. ence. Midwest Native Plant Society. Delaware. (302) 239-4244. Dayton, Ohio. (513) 941-6497. www.mtcubacenter.org. JULY 25. Plumleaf Azalea Hike and Callaway www.cincinnatibirds.com/mwnp.

56 the American Gardener AUG. 13. Wisconsin Nursery Association Summer Field Day. Outdoor trade show. Denver Goes Prehistoric Jackson, Wisconsin. (414) 529-4705. www.wislf.org. INTERESTED IN Atrip to the Mesozoic Era? Denver Botanic Gardens has created the city’s own Jurassic Park with its “Jurassic Gardens” exhibit, running now through Sep- RAP AUG. 14–16. Mid-America Bonsai tember 30. Visitors will get the chance to see not only life-sized dinosaurs and a 10-foot Show & Sale. Chicago Botanic Garden. sea scorpion (created by Guy Dar- Glencoe, Illinois. (837) 845-5440. rough of Lost World Studios), but www.chicagobotanic.org. prehistoric plants and their modern- AUG. 18–20. The Independent Garden day descendants. Cycads, ferns, ly- Center Show. Trade show. Navy Pier. copods, and horsetails represent just Chicago, Illinois. (866) 391-6220. some of the plant groups on display www.igcshow.com. that continue to flourish today. One focus of the exhibit is the RAP AUG. 22 & 23. Dahlia Show. Olbrich relationship between plants and an- Botanical Gardens. Madison, Wisconsin. imals. Herbivore dinosaurs traveled (608) 246-4550. www.olbrich.org. in large herds and consumed an as- tounding quantity of plants, there- AUG. 28 & 29. Black Hills Orchid Society Festival. American Orchid Society. Rapid by altering the evolution of certain City, South Dakota. (605) 348-7165. plant species by almost wiping them www.aos.org. out. Although Denver Botanic Gar- Encounter dinosaurs at Denver Botanic Gardens. dens is celebrating its 50th anniver- Looking ahead sary this year, “Jurassic Gardens” more closely commemorates the 200th birthday SEPT. 18–21. Annual Meeting & Expo. anniversary of British naturalist Charles Darwin, with messages pertaining to evolution American Society of Landscape Architects. incorporated throughout the exhibit. Lakeside Center at McCormick Place. Denver Botanic Gardens participates in the AHS Reciprocal Admissions Program, Chicago, Illinois. (202) 898-2444. so AHS members receive free admission. The “Jurassic Gardens” exhibit is included www.asla.org/2009meeting. in the price of admission for non-members. Call (720) 865-3500 or visit www.botanicgardens.org for more information. SOUTH CENTRAL AR, KS, LA, MO, MS, OK, TX

JULY 19–24. Perennial Plant Association Washington Park Arboretum Ready to Celebrate Symposium. St. Louis, Missouri. (614) 771-8431. www.perennialplant.org. THE WASHINGTON Park Arboretum in Seattle, partnered with the University of Washington Botanic Gardens, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the Arboretum RAP JULY 21. Reshaping and Correctional Foundation, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this summer with a number of special Pruning. Class. Garvan Woodland Gardens. events. Many of these upcoming events are family-oriented. For example, special University of Arkansas. Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. (501) 262-9300. nighttime educational tours for families, called “Park in the Dark,” are scheduled for www.garvangardens.org. July 25 and August 22. These tours allow visitors the opportunity to experience the gardens under a different light while learning about the habits of nocturnal creatures RAP JULY 25. Tomato Day. Festival. Sedg- through hands-on activities. A botanical-themed art exhibit and wine tasting event, wick County Extension Center. Wichita, “Art in the Park,” will be held on August 6. Kansas. (316) 660-0100. The Washington Park Arboretum will have cause for celebration in the coming www.sedgwick.ksu.edu. years with the opening of an ambitious exhibit, the Pacific Connections Garden. The arboretum has dedicated 14 acres to plants indigenous to Australia, New Zealand, RAP JULY 25–AUG. 2. Henry Shaw Cactus Chile, China, and Cascadia, a land region in the Pacific Northwest comprised of Ore- Society Show and Sale. Missouri Botanical gon, Washington, and British Columbia. The first phase of construction was com- Garden. St. Louis, Missouri. (314) 577- 5100. www.mobot.org. pleted in September 2008, and the grand opening of the garden is projected for 2015. For more information on upcoming events, call the Arboretum Foundation at (206) RAP AUG. 8. EARTH-KIND Environmental 325-4510 or visit www.arboretumfoundation.org. Stewardship Day. Texas Discovery Gardens. —Amanda Griesser, Editorial Intern Dallas, Texas. (214) 428-7476. www.texasdiscoverygardens.org.

AUG. 22. Plant Sale. New Orleans Botanical RAP AUG. 29. Fort Worth Orchid Society ety. The Hudson Gardens & Event Center. Garden, City Park. New Orleans, Louisiana. Sale. Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Fort Littleton, Colorado. (303) 797-8565. (504) 483-9464. www.neworleanscitypark. Worth, Texas. (817) 871-7686. www.hudsongardens.org. com/nobg.html. www.fwbg.org. AUG. 7. SHADE: Southwest Horticulture RAP AUG. 22 & 23. Texas Bamboo Society Annual Day of Education. Green industry ed- SOUTHWEST Bamboo Show and Sale. Zilker Botanical ucational seminar. Arizona Nursery Associa- AZ, NM, CO, UT Garden. Austin, Texas. (512) 477-8672. tion. Tempe, Arizona. (480) 966-1610. www.zilkergarden.org. RAP JULY 25. Iris Sale. American Iris Soci- www.azna.org. COURTESY OF DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

July / August 2009 57 58 Arizona. (602)485-1691. County HomeandGardenShow.Phoenix, ext. 201. Occidental, California.(707)874-1557 Tours. den. Arcadia,California.(626)821-3222. Angeles CountyArboretumandBotanicGar- Fullerton, California.(657)278-3407. and SucculentSociety.FullertonArboretum. culent Show&Sale. SEPT. 14. www.fullertonarboretum.org. RAP Looking ahead AUG. 22&23. AUG. 13. RAP www.sfbotanicalgarden.org. RAP www.fullertonarboretum.org. RAP www.arboretum.org. RAP RAP RAP RAP RAP AHS w ety. SanDiego,California. (760)295-7089. Lawn. Turf: AnOpportunitytoReconsider Your 476-0103. ty FordAlpineGardens.Vail,Colorado.(970) Class. HighCountryConservationCenter.Bet- (720) 865-3580. Denver BotanicGardens.Denver,Colorado. 949-4200. dens. LaCañadaFlintridge,California.(818) tainable Methods. Francisco, California.(415)661-1316. Francisco BotanicalGardenSociety.San 581-4747. versity ofUtah.SaltLakeCity,(801) ing. RedButteGardenandArboretum.Uni- 416-2486. Spring Creek.FortCollins,Colorado.(970) California. (657)278-3407. Plant sale.FullertonArboretum.Fullerton, nia. (818)567-1496. nia HorticulturalSociety.LosAngeles,Califor- Present andFuture. CountyHomeShows.com. ww.sdhortsoc.org. the American Gardener AUG. 7&8. SEPT. 12&13. AUG. 8. AUG. 1. JULY 24–26. JULY 24. AUG. 20. AUG. 10. AUG. 8. AUG. 8. Lecture. SanDiegoHorticulturalSoci- Occidental Arts&EcologyCenter. Citrus DiseasesinCalifornia:Past, Meadows, Grasslands,Prairies,and www.oaec.org. www.fcgov.com/horticulture. www.bettyfordalpinegardens.org. www.descansogardens.org. www.redbuttegarden.org. Fall PlantSaleandGarden Summer GardeningFair. Tasty Tomatoes. An HerbA-Fair. Rose GardenCareUsingSus- Ikebana Basics. Meadows ByDesign. Backyard Composting101. WEST COAST West ValleyMaricopa Summer CactusandSuc- Lecture. DescansoGar- CA, NV,HI www.botanicgardens.org. Salvia Spectacular. Lecture. SouthernCalifor- Orange CountyCactus www.socalhort.org. www.Maricopa The Gardenson Lecture, tast- Class. Los Lecture. San Looking ahead Wyoming. (307)637-6458. Cheyenne BotanicGardens.Cheyenne, 342-6401. tion ofNurseries.Portland,Oregon.(800) SEPT. 18–20. www.bellevuebotanical.org RAP RAP AUG. 18–22. www.alaskabg.org. RAP Washington. (425)451-3755. Bellevue BotanicalGarden.Bellevue, Show andSale. Anchorage, Alaska.(907)770-3692. Garden Club.AlaskaBotanicalGarden. dens canbefoundatwww.thelateshowgardens.org. Coast gardens.”Informationontickets,directions,andmoreTheLateShowGar- home decor,books,andplantsthatParerdescribesas“unjustlyneglectedinWest chants andtheshow’svendors.Onofferwillbeornamentalelements,gardenart, and freshwaystodefinegardens. compelling environmentalneeds,thoughtfulinsightsintotheissueofsustainability, tion. Numerouslecturesbytheseandothernotablespeakerswilloffersolutionsto laney, gardenexpertKenDruse,andMarkHertsgaard,acorrespondentforTheNa- Gossler, landartistTopherDe- authors SeanHoganandRoger on Brenner,nurseryownersand ing togetherphotographerMari- show’s line-upofspeakers,bring- cultural communityemergeinthe the gardencreators. and StephenGlassmanareamong Forristt, JohnGreenlee,KateFrey, and landscapearchitects.Cevan artists anddesigners,musicians, inventive—often provocative— slated tobecreatedbyarosterof and ourwayoflife.” warming, asitimpactsourgardens ing aboutdroughtandglobal to brainstorm“newwaysofthink- The LateShowGardensandoneoftheshow’sorganizers,saysdesignerswereasked takes asitsthemethechallengesofachangingenvironment.RobinParer,president Cornerstone Sonoma.Acelebrationofinnovativegardendesign,thisexcitingnewshow is settopremiereintheheartofnorthernCalifornia’swinecountryongrounds Innovation andImagination New West CoastShowFeatures Garden Design TAKING PLACE Visitors canindulgetheurgetoshopwithahostofCornerstoneSonomamer- The cognoscentiofthehorti- Some 17outdoorspacesare AUG. 22&23. AUG. 22. AUG. 1&2. Farwest Show. www.farwestshow.com. American Rhododendron Soci- AK, ID,MT,OR,WA,WY Tour oftheBotanicGardens. NORTHWEST Northwest FuchsiaSociety. Flower Show. Eastside FuchsiaSociety from September18through20,TheLateShowGardensexhibition —Alice JoyceblogsongardentravelintheSanFranciscoBayarea. . Oregon Associa- www.botanic.org. Anchorage many tobefeaturedintheshowSeptember. This garden,designedbyBethMullins,isoneof Way, Washington.(416)424-1942. ety WesternRegionalConference.Federal www.aos.org. www.aos.org. JULY 30–AUG.2. www.hcp.bc.ca. RAP www.vandusengarden.org. JULY 25&26. www.rhododendron.org. Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.(787)649-2656. Show. ver, BritishColumbia.(604)591-3262. tion. Begonia SocietyAnnualShow&Competi- British Columbia.(250)479-6162. Glendale Gardens&Woodland.Victoria, Van DusenBotanicalGarden.Vancou- AUG. 15. American OrchidSociety. INTERNATIONAL British ColumbiaFuchsia& Preserving theHarvest. Mayaguez OrchidSociety CANADA Course.

COURTEY OF BETH MULLINS hether making estate plans, considering UJ year-end giving, honoring a loved one or planting a tree, the legacies of tomorrow are created today.

Please remember the American Horticultural Society when making your estate and charitable giving plans. Together we can leave a legacy of a greener, healthier, more beautiful America.

For more information on including the AHS in your estate planning and charitable giving, or to make a gift to honor or remember a loved one, please contact Stephanie Perez at (703) 768-5700 ext. 127.

AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Making America a Nation ofGardeners, a Land ofGardens 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.

Abelmoschus esculentus ay-bel-MOS-kus es-kyew-LEN-tus Hibiscus acetosella hy-BISS-kus uh-set-o-SEL-luh (8–11, 12–1) (USDA Zones 11–11, AHS Zones 12–4) H. coccineus H. kok-SIN-ee-us (6–11, 12–6) Acalypha godseffiana ah-kuh-LEE-fuh god-sef-ee-AN-uh H. grandiflorus H. gran-dih-FLOR-us (9–11, 12–8) (11–11, 12–4) H. laevis H. LEE-vis (4–9, 9–1) A. hispida A. HISS-pih-duh (11–11, 12–6) H. lasiocarpus H. lay-zee-o-KAR-pus (6–9, 11–6) A. wilkesiana A. wil-kee-zee-AN-uh (10–11, 12–1) H. moscheutos H. mos-KEW-tos (5–10, 12–1) Actinidia arguta ak-tih-NID-ee-uh ar-GOO-tuh (4–9, 9–4) H. mutabilis H. mew-TAH-bih-liss (10–11, 12–5) A. kolomikta A. ko-lo-MIK-tuh (3–7, 7–3) H. rosa-sinensis H. RO-zuh-sih-NEN-siss (10–11, 12–1) Aesculus pavia ES-kyew-lus PAY-vee-uh (5–9, 9–5) H. syriacus H. sih-ree-AH-kus (5–9, 9–1) Alcea rosea AL-see-uh ro-ZAY-uh (2–9, 9–2) Hydrangea quercifolia hy-DRAN-juh kwer-sih-FO-lee-uh Alternanthera dentata al-tur-NAN-thur-uh den-TAY-tuh (5–9, 9–5) (11–11, 12–1) Ipomoea batatas ih-po-ME-uh buh-TAH-tus (11–11, 12–1) Andropogon scoparius an-dro-PO-gon sko-PAR-ee-us (3–9, 9–1) Iris histrioides EYE-riss hiss-tree-oh-EYE-deez (5–8, 8–4) Anemone coronaria uh-NEM-o-nee kor-o-NAIR-ee-uh I. missouriensis I. mih-zur-ee-EN-sis (3–9, 9–1) (7–9, 10–7) Manihot esculenta MAN-ih-hot es-kew-LEN-tuh (10–11, 12–7) Asclepias tuberosa as-KLEE-pee-us too-bur-O-suh (4–9, 9–2) Muhlenbergia rigens mew-len-BUR-jee-uh RIH-jenz (6–9, 9–6) Berberis thunbergii forma atropurpurea Oenothera speciosa ee-no-THEE-ruh spee-see-O-suh (5–8, 8–1) BUR-bur-iss thun-BUR-jee-eye f. at-row-pur-PUR-ee-uh Picea pungens forma glauca PY-see-uh PUN-jenz f. GLAW-kuh (5–8, 8–5) (2–8, 8–1) Callicarpa americana kal-lih-KAR-puh uh-mair-ih-KAN-uh Sabal minor SAY-bul MY-nor (10–11, 12–10) (5–9, 9–1) Sorghastrum nutans sor-GASS-trum NOO-tanz (4–9, 9–1) Cissus discolor SISS-us DIS-kul-ur (10–11, 12–3) Spiraea japonica spy-REE-uh jah-PON-ih-kuh (4–9, 9–1) Crocus ancyrensis CRO-kus an-kih-REN-sis (3–8, 8–1) Sporobolus wrightii spor-OB-o-lus RITE-ee-eye (5–9, 9–5) Duranta erecta dew-RAN-tuh eh-REK-tuh (11–11, 12–1) Tradescantia pallida trad-es-KAN-tee-uh PAL-lih-duh Eupatorium maculatum yew-puh-TOR-ee-um mak-yew-LAY-tum (10–11, 12–1) (5–11, 9–1) Veronica liwanensis ver-ON-ih-kuh lih-wuh-NEN-sis (4–9, 9–4) Euphorbia rigida yew-FOR-bee-uh RIH-jih-duh (7–11, 12–7) Zinnia marylandica ZIN-ee-uh mair-ee-LAN-dih-cuh (0–0, 12–1) Gelsemium sempervirens jel-SEE-me-um sem-pur-VY-renz Z. violacea Z. vy-o-LAY-see-uh (0–0, 12–1) (7–9, 9–1) Hakonechloa macra ha-kon-ee-KLOH-uh MAK-ruh (5–9, 9–5)

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July / August 2009 61 62 by GeneBush Hakonechloa macra: G grass exception isHakoneprimary ply inAmericanhorticulture. The near Honshu’s Mount Hakone. land ofHonshu, includinganarea titudes ontheJapanese mainis- moist rocky areas atfairlyhighal- plant’s origins.Its native habitatis genus nameoffercluestothe 10–4). Bothcommonnameand Zones 4–9,AHSHeat Zones duced toAmericangardens. selectionshave beenintro- noteworthy perennials. In thelastdecade,several beauty. It alsoblendswell withother vorites for overall andquiet performance cover withoutbeinginvasive. clump. It effective ground- makesavery outward whilemaintaining atight underground stems—thatslowly creep flowers bloominsummer. sion offlowing water. Inconspicuous in thesamedirection, givingtheimpres- its lengthandstemswillallbeoriented stem willarch nearthetopone-third of more, onalternatesides.Usually each is abladegrowing toafoot,sometimes length. At eachjointalongthestemthere grow from one-and-a-halftothree feetin stems resembling skinnybamboo. Stems Japanese shadegrass,haslong,jointed a-half tall,with graceful,gentlyarching reola’, whichgrows toaboutafoot-and- ly grown isgolden-green variegated ‘Au- Among thecultivars, themostcommon- CULTIVAR OPTIONS The speciesremains amongmyfa- Hakone grass,sometimescalled Hakone grass spreads by rhizomes— the American Gardener (Hakonechloa macra, REAT GRASSES gardens are inlimitedsup- for shade USDA Lighting UptheShadyGarden The archingleavesof foliage doesnotconsistentlygrow inthe continually have abadhairday, forthe striata’) standsoutinthatitseemsto variegata’, (sometimeslistedas‘Albo- ning downhill between largerocks. appears there isacontinuousstream run- I expectthoseclumpstomergesothatit a rocky hillsideinmygarden. Over time, stems. Ihave plantedseveral clumpson LN NTESPOTLIGHT THE IN PLANT 548-0111. Greer Gardens, www.earthlypursuits.net. MD. (410)496-2523. Earthly Pursuits,Inc., 544-3192. Busse Gardens, Sources The whitevariegated cultivar, ‘Albo- C www.greergardens.com. www.bussegardens.com. Eugene, OR.(800) Big Lake,MN.(800) Hakonechloa macra Hakonechloa Windsor Mills, ‘Aureola’ createtheimpressionofcascadingwater. specializes inperennialsspecializes forshade gardens. Gardens inDepauw, Indiana, which Gene Bush owns Munchkin Nursery & looking itsbest. tal wateringduringdroughts tokeepit tofullshade is best,withsupplemen- part regions, in fullsun,butwarmordry In cool,moistclimates,itcanbegrown habitat—wants tostayonthecoolside. but—as you mightexpectfrom itsnative ganic matter. It isawarmseasongrower, Hakone grass thrives insoilhighor- THERIGHTSITE CHOOSING hogany’ or‘Southern Comfort’. amber-colored heucheras suchas‘Ma- a dramaticdisplaycombinedwith that features chartreuse foliage.It makes with avariety offerns. and green stripes,isattractive combined vars. ‘Albovariegata’, withitssoftwhite same direction, asitdoesinotherculti- ‘All Gold’ isalow-growing knock-out

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