TheThe AmericanAmerican

GARDENERGARDENER® TheThe MagazineMagazine ofof thethe AAmericanmerican HorticulturalHorticultural SocietySociety July / August 2008

10 Indestructible Perennials Plants that Shine in amazing Summer Shade Hardy Cacti Thrive in Aroids a Northwest Garden Your plant’s nutritionist. (Actual size)

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PlantersPlace.com/Plus © 2008 The Scotts Company LLC. World rights reserved. contents Volume 87, Number 4 . July / August 2008

FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

5 NOTES FROM RIVER FARM 6 MEMBERS’ FORUM 7 NEWS FROM AHS AHS celebrates award winners, River Farm meadow completed, Bob Hill wins award for article in The American Gardener, upcoming AHS webinars, President’s Council visits Washington, D.C., Saturday lectures at River Farm, details about America in page 7 Bloom symposium in Ohio.

page 30 42 ONE ON ONE WITH… Roger Doiron of Kitchen Gardeners International. 14 LOVABLE LOBELIAS BY RAND B. LEE 44 NATURAL CONNECTIONS Lobelias fill the summer landscape with color. Understanding slugs is key to control.

20 BIZARRE AND BEAUTIFUL HARDY AROIDS BY GENE BUSH 46 GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK Plants in the arum family range from simply gorgeous to just EPA recalls Scotts products, potential plain weird. budget cuts threaten U.S. National Arboretum, grant funds new native plant garden in New York, study reveals that 24 TOUGH-AS-NAILS PERENNIALS BY CAROLE OTTESEN pollution impacts pollination, new Resilient perennials that can survive drought, deer, and neglect organization launched to tackle plant deserve a place in every garden. nomenclature, plants in the workplace increase job satisfaction, preservation of original Heronswood location uncertain. 30 DESERT BLOOM IN THE NORTHWEST BY PAT MUNTS 50 GREEN GARAGE® In Washington State, a garden Earth-friendly lawnmowers. featuring thousands of hardy cacti surprises many visitors. 54 BOOK REVIEWS Life in the Soil, Gardening With Children, A Child’s Garden, and Recipes from the Garden. LIGHTING UP THE SUMMER 36 Special focus: Summer reading suggestions. SHADE GARDEN BY BARBARA ELLIS 57 REGIONAL HAPPENINGS Plants with brightly colored flow- HARDINESS AND HEAT ZONES ers or foliage enliven shady gardens 60 page 24 AND PRONUNCIATIONS all summer long. 62 PLANT IN THE SPOTLIGHT American smoketree. ON THE COVER: A member of the arum family and long used as a cut flower, calla lily (Zantedeschia

TOP LEFT: MARK TURNER. RIGHT: CINDY DYER, BOTTOM: TURNER aethiopica) is now becoming popular in gardens. Photograph by Donna Krischan

July /August 2008 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. John H. Ariail, Jr. ■ Mr. Franklin Y. Hundley Board of Directors ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Kulp, Jr. ■ Ms. Melissa Marshall ■ MTR Landscape Architects, LLC ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. ■ Mr. Arnold Steiner ■ CHAIRMAN Susie Usrey Dayton, Oregon Mr. and Mrs. W. Bruce Usrey ■ Mrs. Pauline E. Vollmer FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN Don E. Riddle, Jr. Davidsonville, Maryland SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN Leslie Ariail Alexandria, Virginia CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE Mrs. Susan M. Cargill SECRETARY Albin MacDonough Plant Baltimore, Maryland TREASURER Arnold Steiner Birmingham, Alabama LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY CIRCLE Mr. Gerald T. Halpin ■ Ms. Minako Henderson ■ Deane H. Hundley ■ Ms. JoAnn Luecke ■ Mr. and Mrs. J. Landon Reeve IV ■ 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 HAUPT CIRCLE Ms. Lynda A. Bachman ■ Mr. and Mrs. Carter Bales ■ Nancy Carole Hofley Wilson, Wyoming ■ Margaret Kulp Louisville, Kentucky ■ Caroline Lewis Coral Gables, Florida J. Becker, M.D. ■ Mr. and Mrs. C. William Black ■ Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Bluemel Melissa R. Marshall Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ■ Shirley Nicolai Fort Washington, Maryland ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Bogle ■ Mr. Richard C. and Mrs. Katherine Stark Bull J. Landon Reeve IV Woodbine, Maryland ■ Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. Falls Church, Virginia ■ Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Dane ■ Ms. Judy Daniel ■ Mrs. Richard W. Michel Sallin Groveland, Florida ■ Steven Still Hilliard, Ohio Hamming ■ Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Hanselman ■ Mrs. Carole S. Hofley Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Matheson, Jr. ■ Mrs. Rosalyn Milbrandt ■ Dr. and Mrs.

■ ■ PRESIDENT EMERITUS Katy Moss Warner David E. Morrison Mr. and Mrs. James T. Norman Ms. Katy Moss Warner

COUNCIL MEMBER’S CIRCLE Mrs. Katherine Belk ■ Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Bigos 2008 Advisory Council ■ Mrs. George P. Bissell, Jr. ■ Dr. Sherran Blair ■ Count and Countess Peder Beverly Hanselman, Nashville, Tennessee – Chair Bonde ■ Mr. and Mrs. William L. Carr, III ■ Anne S. Chatham ■ Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Demisay ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert Duemling ■ Dr. and Mrs. John A. Clarissa Bonde, Washington, D.C . Barbara McClendon, Alexandria, Virginia Floyd, Jr. ■ Mrs. Carolyn V. Foil ■ Ms. Marguerite Peet Foster ■ Ms. Amy Walter Bull, Columbia, South Carolina Stu McMichael, Falls Church, Virginia Goldman ■ Mr. and Mrs. Joel Goldsmith ■ Ms. Ingrid A. Graham ■ Dr. and Anne Bucher, Silver Spring, Maryland G. Ray Miller, Brandon, Florida Mrs. William O. Hargrove ■ Mr. and Mrs. Richard F. Hohlt ■ Mr. Brian Holley Elaine Burden, Middleburg, Virginia Egon Molbak, Bellevue, Washington ■ Mr. and Mrs. Allan L. Holmstrom ■ Mrs. Elizabeth Hooff ■ Mr. Philip Huey Patty Bush, St. Louis, Missouri Dean Norton, Mt. Vernon, Virginia ■ Mrs. Deborah Kern ■ Ms. Mary A. Lambert ■ Mrs. Marta Lawrence ■ Mr. Skipp Calvert, Alexandria, Virginia Nancy Keen Palmer, Nashville, Tennessee and Mrs. Robert B. Lindsay ■ Mrs. Dorothy Marston ■ Mrs. Barbara Dr. H. Marc Cathey, Davidson, North Carolina Bob Patterson, Washington, D.C. McClendon ■ Mrs. Paul Mellon ■ Mr. and Mrs. Egon Molbak ■ Mr. and Mrs. Russell Clark, Boston, Massachusetts Dr. Julia W. Rappaport, Santa Ana, California Ken Mountcastle ■ Mrs. Shirley Ann Nicolai ■ Ms. Patricia Painter ■ Mr. and Bartie Cole, Owings Mills, Maryland Deen Day Sanders, Norcross, Georgia Mrs. Albin MacDonough Plant ■ Dr. Julia Rappaport ■ Mr. and Mrs. James A. Jim Corfield, Geneva, Illinois Josephine Shanks, Houston, Texas Runde ■ Mrs. Deen Day Sanders ■ Mrs. Josephine Shanks ■ Mr. and Mrs. Lucinda Crabtree, Falls Church, Virginia Barbara Shea, Owings Mills, Maryland Emanuel Shemin ■ Jeanne Shields ■ Mr. R. P. Simmons ■ Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ginny Hill Daisey, Dedham, Massachusetts Holly Shimizu, Glen Echo, Maryland H. Smith, Jr. ■ Mrs. P.M. Spreuer ■ Dr. and Mrs. George E. Staehle ■ Mr. Edward N. Dane, Center Harbor, New Hampshire Charles Henry Smith, Jr, Middleburg, Virginia Harold Stahly ■ Mr. Donald B. Stott ■ Mr. and Mrs. John B. Strasenburgh ■ Ben Griswold, Glyndon, Maryland Tom Szaky, Trenton, New Jersey Mr. and Mrs. Russell Terry ■ Dr. Sarah K. Thomson ■ Mr. Howard McK. Henry Jameson, Kula, Hawaii Nancy Thomas, Houston, Texas Tucker and Ms. Megan Evans ■ Mr. Joe Viar ■ Ms. Angela M. Vikesland ■ Mr. Richard W. Lighty, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania Bryan Thomlison, Haddonfield, New Jersey and Mrs. Robert D. Volk ■ Mrs. Enid N. Warner ■ Mr. and Mrs. Dennis White Carolyn Marsh Lindsay, Ponte Vedra, Florida Pauline Vollmer, Baltimore, Maryland ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harvey C. White ■ Mr. and Mrs. John W. White, Sr. Mickey Lynch, Dunmore, Pennsylvania Joyce and Harvey White, Nashville, Tennessee Bob Malesardi, Easton, Maryland Joannah Williams, Sebring, Florida HONORARY PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL Mrs. Enid Haupt ■ Mrs. John A. Lutz ■ Mr. Robert and Joanna Martin, Menlo Park, California Sheryl Wood, Middleburg, Virginia and Mrs. Bruce Miller

Education Sponsor OXO International

Corporate Partners The Care of Trees ■ Chapel Valley Landscape Company Homestead Gardens ■ Monrovia ■ Osmocote ■ TerraCycle, Inc. To access the members-only Horticultural Partners America in Bloom Symposium & Awards Program ■ Bellingrath Gardens and Home ■ Colonial portion of the AHS website at Williamsburg Foundation Garden Symposium ■ Cox Arboretum MetroPark ■ Epcot International www.ahs.org, the username is Flower & Garden Festival ■ The Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Clubs of America ■ The ahs and the password is sprout. 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 UMMER IS upon us and for many of us this means family gatherings, va- Viveka Neveln cation time, and longer days for outdoor activities. As the peak of the sum- EDITORIAL INTERN Kirsten Winters S mer growing season approaches, the excitement of spring’s arrival and the CONTRIBUTING EDITOR requisite new additions to the garden give way to the regularity of routine main- Rita Pelczar tenance and anticipation of the fruits of our labors. It is a great time of year to relax CONTRIBUTING WRITER with family and friends and enjoy the rewards of gardens and gardening. Carole Ottesen If your summer travels take you to the Washington, D.C., area, this year’s special exhibit at the United States Botanic EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Garden (USBG) titled “One Planet, CHAIR Richard E. Bir Ours! Sustainability for the 22nd Cen- Brevard, North Carolina tury” is a must-see. Staged on the Con- Allan M. Armitage Athens, Georgia servatory terrace with a backdrop of the Nina L. Bassuk U.S. Capitol, the exhibit features dozens Ithaca, New York of displays focusing on the theme of sus- Steve Bender tainable living. Our very own AHS Birmingham, Alabama Green Garage exhibit is part of the show John E. Bryan that runs through October 13. Our hats San Francisco, California are off to Executive Director Holly John L. Creech Shimizu and her staff at the USBG for Columbus, North Carolina bringing this important issue to the Na- Panayoti Kelaidis tional Mall where it will viewed by Denver, Colorado thousands of visitors from across the Susie and Tom at the U.S. Botanic Garden Richard W. Lighty Kennett Square, Pennsylvania country and around the world. Elvin McDonald Wherever your travels may take you, don’t forget your AHS membership card West Des Moines, Iowa and your 2008 AHS Member Guide listing the more than 200 gardens across Amer- ica that offer members special admission privileges or discounts. From California to Florida and from Minnesota to Texas, your AHS membership card can be your CONTACT US The American Gardener 7931 East Boulevard Drive passport to discovering the diversity and richness of horticulture in America. A Alexandria, VA 22308 copy of the list of participating gardens can also be downloaded from our AHS (703) 768-5700 website (www.ahs.org). Click on “Reciprocal Admissions Program” and start tak- ing advantage of this AHS member benefit. EDITORIAL E-MAIL: [email protected] In early June, the Society hosted its annual Great American Gardeners Awards ADVERTISING & E-MAIL: [email protected] Ceremony at River Farm. On this memorable evening, 12 outstanding individu- CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS als and organizations from across the country were recognized for their achieve- ments. Our 2008 AHS Book Awards were also presented. It was such an honor to see these award winners receive the recognition they so deserve and to hear first- The American Gardener (ISSN 1087-9978) is published bimonth- ly (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, Septem- hand how horticulture has touched their lives and inspired their work. Nomina- ber/October, November/December) by the American Horticultural tions are now open for the 2009 awards—we encourage you to nominate your own Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300, (703) 768-5700. Membership in the Society includes a subscrip- horticultural heroes for this very special honor. Look for a nomination form be- tion to The American Gardener. Annual dues are $35; two years, $60. International dues are $50. $10 of annual dues goes toward tween pages 8 and 9 of this issue. magazine subscription. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Vir- ginia, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send Speaking of this issue, you’ll find that it’s packed, as usual, with great gardening Form 3579 to The American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, information and tips, including a profile of some unusual hardy members of the Alexandria, VA 22308-1300. Botanical nomenclature is based on The American Horticultural Arum family, recommendations for exceptionally drought-tolerant perennials, and Society A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, on A Synonymized Check- a feature on an intriguing cactus collector in the Pacific Northwest. We hope that list of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Canada and Greenland and on the Royal Horticultural Society Index of Garden Plants. Opinions the AHS and The American Gardener can help you make the most of the season. expressed in the articles are those of the authors and are not necessar- ily those of the Society. Manuscripts, artwork, and photographs sent for Happy gardening! possible publication will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We cannot guarantee the safe return of unsolicited material. Back issues are available at $8 per copy. Susie Usrey, Chair, AHS Board of Directors Copyright ©2008 by the American Horticultural Society. Tom Underwood, Executive Director Printed in the U.S.A. on recycled paper.

July / August 2008 5 6 have oneon the West Coast. towhenyousium. Ilookforward next year’s symposiumandbeinspired. Minds andCommunities” toattendthis one whoisinterested in“Growing Fertile on! Thank you, AHS.Iencourageevery- hilaration ofthe2006symposiumlives gon coastaltown to follow suit. The ex- many residents ofthislittlesouthernOre- den. It hasbeenabighitandinspired vesting andsharinggreens from thegar- the beds.Since May, we have beenhar- with wheelbarrows andshovels tohelpfill soil andcompost,peopleshowed up raise theirown food. munity justhow easy itistogarden and downtown toshow residents ofthecom- spring whenIbuiltraisedbedsinour rience wasstillfresh inmymindthis thusiasm thatIgarnered from thatexpe- St. Louisin2006. The energy anden- nate enoughtoattendthesymposiumin minded metomentionthatIwasfortu- Symposium inthePhiladelphia area re- National Children & Youth Garden reference. Great job! entire mation thatIcanuseinmytalks. This withtidbitsofinfor- file awayarticles garden topicsandgenerallycopy workshops andlecture onavariety of packed fullofinformation.Iteach ever! Every waswell-written and article Your May/June 2008issuewasthebest YOUTH GARDENINGKUDOS cultivars (“Gardener’s Notebook,” page itemaboutanevaluationnews ofdaisy In theMay/June issueyou includeda LEUCANTHEMUM CONUNDRUM Editor’s response: on the West Coast. PanelAdvisory isexploringpossible sites the National Children & Youth Garden will beinCleveland, Ohio, and for2010 Good luck withthisyear’s sympo- Donations rolled inforlumberand previewing theupcoming The article the American Gardener issue willbefiledawayforfuture Next year’s symposium Port Orford, Oregon Jennifer Ewing Association’s PlantoftheYearin2003. ‘Becky’ ShastadaisywasthePerennialPlant early 1990s. tradeinthe was introduced tothenursery ‘Becky’ isacultivar ofShasta daisythat bum) my Zone 7b/8agarden.” glossy green rosettes remain evergreen in landscape designerBecky Stewart, the it wasnamedafterDecatur, Georgia, A passalongplantintheSoutheast before ‘Becky’ (commonlycalledShasta daisy). leucanthemum plant asChrysanthemum is correct: “Taxonomists now listthis daisy andI’m wonderingwhichversion passed alongtomeaboutthe‘Becky’ in 1901. The following informationwas daisy wasintroduced by Luther Burbank 46). mentionsthatthe‘Becky’The article weren’t included!Ijust wantedtoremind my disappointment, theGreat Plains states proven plantsfor different regions, but,to garden. Iloved your conceptoflisting recently triedsomevarieties inmyKansas bills intheMay/June issuebecauseIhave I wasexcited aboutcranes- toseethearticle GREAT PLAINS,TOO HARDY GERANIUMSGROWINTHE Editor’s response: daisy (now namedLeucanthemum item indicatedthattheoriginalShasta MEMBERS was introduced by Burbank in1901. C Canton, North Carolina To clarify, ournews ’ FORUM Donna Forsse ✕ super- of thecountry. Plains whenyou discuss different regions have increased innumber. I moved them,andthisyear theyseemto shade lastyear. The plantsbloomed after dug themupandmoved themtopart is thatcranesbillsdon’t likefullsunhere. I two tothree years ofgrowing twovarieties, rainfall from mid-June tomid-September. mers are hotandsultry, withlittletono winds andlittletonosnow cover; oursum- deal withfreezing coldwinterswithdrying Oklahoma. Andwe are ahardy breed! We other plantsinKansas,Nebraska, and you thatwe enjoy growing flowers and New YorkCity. ing,” whichseemstobecatchingonin about“guerillato have an article garden- issue?Also,itwouldbeinteresting every How aboutavisittopublicgarden in ARTICLE SUGGESTIONS Editor’s response: Annuals thatisnearmyhome. nyungwensis, teresting impatiens,suchasImpatiens A goodsource forsomeofthemore in- and impatiens—intheMay/June issue. my favorite plantgroups—cranesbills ontwoof I waspleasedtofindarticles SOURCE FORUNUSUALIMPATIENS visit fornia. For more informationoracatalog, Perennials islocatedinRichmond,Cali- 266-4370. PLEASE WRITEUS! Letters weprintmay beeditedforlengthandclarity. [email protected] (note LettertoEditorinsubjectline). Alexandria, VA22308.Send e-mails to American Gardener, American Please remember usintheGreat My experience,whichisonlybasedon Keep uptheinteresting work. www.anniesannuals.com is a nursery calledAnnie’sis anursery Address letterstoEditor, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 7931 EastBoulevardDrive, Aliso Viejo, California Aliso Viejo, Annie’s Annuals& Steven Sirois Robert Sedgwick, Kansas Sandra Herder Rita Hopper or call(888) The

COURTESY OF PERENNIAL PLANT ASSOCIATION News from AHS July / August 2008 PROGRAMS • EVENTS • ANNOUNCEMENTS

AHS Celebrates Award Winners Awards are being accepted until September 30. For more in- DURING A CEREMONY at the American Horticultural Soci- formation and a nomination form, turn to page 8, or contact ety’s River Farm headquarters on June 6, the AHS presented AHS Education Programs Coordinator Jessica Rozmus at the 2008 Great American Gardeners Awards and Book Awards. (703) 768-5700 ext. 137. The outstanding recipients represent the finest in the industry and traveled from all over the United States to receive their River Farm Meadow Completed INITIATED IN 2004, the André Bluemel Meadow at River Farm is now complete, after the installation of the final 20,000 plants in June. It comprises more than four acres of native grass- es and colorful wildflowers that attract an abundance of birds, insects, small mammals, and other wildlife.

Liberty Hyde Bailey Award recipient Harold Pellett with AHS Board Chair Susie Usrey during the June awards ceremony.

awards. Each recipient was recognized for their significant con- tributions to fields such as plant research, garden communica- tions, landscape design, youth gardening, and conservation. A highlight of the evening was having Jane L. Taylor on hand to present the award named in her honor, which is given Above: An early morning to those who have inspired and nurtured young people through view of the meadow innovative children’s and youth gardening programs. The 2008 planted during the first recipients, Mike Devlin and Valerie Frick, co-founders of the phase of installation, now Camden Children’s Garden in Camden, New Jersey, met Tay- coming into its own. Left: lor in 1993 at the AHS’s National Children and Youth Garden Volunteers from George Symposium. After hearing Taylor describe her experience creat- Washington’s Mount ing the children’s garden at Michigan State University, Devlin Vernon Estate & Gardens and Frick dedicated themselves to creating a safe environment assist with planting the for urban children to learn about and enjoy plants. final phase in June. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the Liber- ty Hyde Bailey Award, the Society’s highest honor, to Landscape “Creating this meadow has been a tremendous and won- Plant Development Center founder and Executive Director derful undertaking for the AHS,” says AHS Executive Direc- Harold Pellet for his significant lifetime achievements in horti- tor Tom Underwood. “It was made possible by the support of culture. These include more than 36 years of teaching and research our Board member Kurt Bluemel, who donated more than and the introduction of more than 25 new trees and shrubs. To 100,000 plant plugs from his nursery in Maryland.” learn more about the award winners and their contributions to “It’s got the best water feature already installed!” quipped horticulture, visit www.ahs.org and click on “Awards.” Bluemel while surveying the view of the Potomac River from

LEFT: CINDY DYER. RIGHT: KIRSTEN WINTERS (2) Nominations for next year’s Great American Gardeners the meadow, which is named in memory of his son.

July / August 2008 7 Call for Nominations

AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 2009 GREAT AMERICAN GARDENERS AWARDS

2008 Professional Award Holly Harmar Shimizu, Executive Director, U.S. Botanic Garden

Liberty Hyde Bailey Award Professional Award Given to an individual who Given to a public garden ad- has made significant life- ministrator whose achieve- time contributions to at 2009 ments during the course of least three of the following his or her career have culti- It’s an Honor… horticultural fields: teach- AWARDS vated widespread interest in ing, research, communica- horticulture. Since 1953, the American Horticultural tions, plant exploration, Society’s Great American Gardeners administration, art, busi- Landscape Design Award Jane L. Taylor Award Awards Program has recognized ness, and leadership. Given to an individual Given to an individual, orga- whose work has demon- nization, or program that has individuals and institutions that have Luther Burbank Award inspired and nurtured future made significant contibutions to strated and promoted the Recognizes extraordinary value of sound horticultural horticulturists through ef- American horticulture. Nominations are achievement in the field of practices in the field of forts in children’s and youth now being accepted for 2009. plant breeding. landscape architecture. gardening. Nominate your “horticultural hero”— Paul Ecke Jr. Meritorious Service Award Teaching Award a memorable professor, a favorite garden Commercial Award Given to an individual book author, or the driving force behind Recognizes a past Board Given to an individual or member or friend of the whose ability to share his or an incredible community project. company whose commit- American Horticultural So- her horticultural knowledge Use the nomination form on the ment to the highest stan- ciety for outstanding ser- with others has contributed opposite page. For additional dards of excellence in the vice in support of the to a better public under- field of commercial horti- standing of the plant world information, visit www.ahs.org or call Society’s goals, mission, culture contributes to the and activities. and its important influence (703) 768-5700 ext. 137. betterment of gardening on society. practices everywhere. B. Y. Morrison Nominations must be submitted Communication Award Urban Beautification Award by September 30, 2008. G. B. Gunlogson Award Recognizes effective and Given to an individual, in- Recognizes the innovative inspirational communica- stitution, or company for use of technology to make tion—through print, radio, significant contributions to home gardening more pro- television, and/or online urban horticulture and the ductive and successful. media—that advances pub- beautification of American lic interest and participa- cities. Horticultural Therapy Award tion in horticulture. Recognizes significant con- tributions to the field of horticultural therapy. Not only is the meadow picturesque, it has become a haven for biodiversity, observes Peggy Bowers, the former horticul- IT’S SEED-SAVING TIME! turist at River Farm who oversaw the meadow’s installation up until last year. “There certainly were challenges along the way, such as keeping ahead of the weeds,” she notes, “but the mead- ow has developed into an incredible space for people to come to enjoy and learn about nature.” Award-Winning Article in The American Gardener AS PART OF THE Garden Writers Association’s 2008 Media Awards, Bob Hill earned a Silver Award of Achievement for magazine writing for an article published in the July/August 2007 of The American Gardener. “The Legend of Hidden Hol- low” featured plantsman Harald Neubauer and his Hidden Hollow Nursery in Belvidere, Tennessee. If you have some seeds to spare, consider donating them to “Harald and his family are the best in the country at what the AHS Annual Seed Exchange this year. This program, they do; finding, grafting, and ultimately sending out into the which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2009, allows AHS world thousands of very unusual, interesting, darn-near-deli- members to share rare, uncommon, and favorite varieties for cious trees and shrubs,” says Hill, who hosts a garden radio next year’s garden. Look for more information in the Sep- show in Louisville, Kentucky, and is a regular contributor to tember/October issue of The American Gardener or go online The American Gardener. “They do it with pride and sweat in a to www.ahs.org/membership/seed_exchange.htm. remote country setting on rocky ground ringed by green moun- If you have suggestions for improving the Seed Ex- tains, barren ledges, and hidden creeks. All I wanted to do change, please contact River Farm Manager Trish Gibson when writing about them was to fit them into that sense of at [email protected] or call (703) 768-5700 ext. 112.

VIVEKA NEVELN work ethic, family, and place.” PHOTO BY ANNE C. ALLEN FROM 2008 GARDENER’S CALENDAR

2009 “Gardener’s” Calendar There are 13 prize-winning colors 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 2008 9 While there is no fee for AHS members to participate in these AHS NATIONAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS webinars, space is limited so early registration is recommended. Additionally, a high-speed or broadband Internet connection is 2008 CALENDAR recommended for best results. Go to the members-only area of the AHS website (www.ahs.org) to sign up. ark your calendar for these national events that are Capital Trip in the Capitol Msponsored or cosponsored by the AHS. Visit www.ahs.org or call (703) 768-5700 for more information. THIS YEAR’S AHS President’s Council (PC) trip, held from May 27 to 30, featured the Washington, D.C., area. It was host- • JULY 8. Webinar: Designing with Color and Texture For Vision- ed by PC Committee co-chairs Katherine Stark Bull and Jeanne ary Effects by Tracy DiSabato-Aust. Shields. AHS Board member Leslie Ariail, 2nd vice chair of the AHS Board of Directors, welcomed participants with a cocktail • JULY 24–26. National Children & Youth Garden Symposium: party in her garden in Alexandria, Virginia. The itinerary in- Growing Fertile Minds and Communities. Greater Philadelphia Area. cluded behind-the-scenes tours by horticulturists and volunteers of the U.S. Botanic Garden, National Arboretum, Hillwood Es- • AUG. 22–24. The Home- tate, Museum and Gardens, Dumbarton Oaks, and George stead’s 10th Annual “In the Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens. Don Riddle, 1st Garden With the Experts” vice chair of the AHS Board, gave a tour of his Homestead Gar- Symposium. The Home- stead, Hot Springs, Virginia. dens retail garden center and his 250-acre growing division with

• SEPT. 20. AHS Annual Gala. George Washington’s River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia.

• OCT. 16. Webinar: Design and Plants for Woodland Gardens by C. Colston The Homestead Burrell.

• OCT. 23. Dr. H. Marc Cathey Day. George Washington’s River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia.

• DEC. 1–23. Holiday Trees Display. George Washington’s River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia.

• DEC. 11. Annual River Farm Holiday Reception. George Wash- ington’s River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia.

Among the gardens participants in the President’s Council trip visited Upcoming AHS Webinars was Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens in Washington, D.C.

THE AHS webinar series, sponsored by Monrovia nursery in a five-acre, state-of-the-art greenhouse in Davidsonville, Mary- Azusa, California, and OXO, provides members the opportuni- land. Participants also visited several private gardens in the ty to hear from horticultural experts over the Internet, rather than Georgetown area of Washington. having to travel. Speakers to date have included University of Participation in this annual trip is an exclusive benefit for the Georgia horticulture professor Allan Armitage, native plant ex- PC members. Depending on the membership level, other bene- pert William Cullina, and plant explorer Dan Hinkley. fits include autographed gardening books, two tickets to the AHS On July 8, garden designer Tracy DiSabato-Aust will pre- annual gala, and a private tour of the AHS’s headquarters at River sent “Designing with Color and Texture for Visionary Effects.” Farm. To learn more about the President’s Council, call Stephanie “In a well-designed border, we often notice the beauty of the Perez at (703) 768-5700 ext. 127 or e-mail [email protected]. combinations of plants more than the individual plants them- selves,” she says. DiSabato-Aust will discuss how to achieve “this sense of interplay by taking an artistic approach to color and vi- Saturday Lectures at River Farm sual texture—the patterns created by the lines and forms of THIS SUMMER, a new monthly lecture series on a wide range combined leaves, branches, and flowers.” of topics is being offered at River Farm. On July 19, visitors are Next, plantsman C. Colston Burrell will present “Design invited to learn about water conservation with environmental and Plants for Woodland Gardens” on October 16. Registra- education expert Joe Keyser, who will describe strategies such tion for this webinar will open on September 17. as rain barrel use and rain garden creation. LEFT: COURTESY OF THE HOMESTEAD, RIGHT: COURTNEY CAPSTACK

10 the American Gardener American Horticultural Society 2008 Annual Gala AMERICA’S GARDEN CELEBRATION Local Harvest, Bountiful Earth S

September 20, 2008 River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia

The 2008 American Horticultural Society Annual Gala will be a true celebration of the bounty of the earth and American gardens. Join us for an elegant evening to savor the seasonal flavors of the local harvest. Roger Swain, America’s garden champion and beloved host of “The Victory Garden,” is serving as Honorary Chair for this extraordinary event. Proceeds from the gala support the stewardship of River Farm and the Society’s educational programs. For tickets, call (703) 768-5700 ext. 114 Do you or your business have talent and resources to contribute to this year's gala? Honorary Gala Chair, For more information and to get involved, please contact SEvents Coordinator Sarah Christie Roger Swain at [email protected] or (703) 768-5700 ext. 114.SH On August 16, Richard Koogle, operations manager at Lily- AHS Part of the Green Scene pons Water Gardens, will delve into water gardening. Partici- pants can learn more about the variety of plants and creatures that inhabit a water garden, as well as the logistics behind cre- ating a healthy aquatic ecosystem. Finally, on September 27, artist Karen Coleman will discuss the history of botanical art and its current renaissance. She also will describe techniques for botanical painting, accompanied by several pieces of original art in a variety of media including graphite, colored pencil, watercolor, pastels, and pen and ink. Pre-registration is required. Tickets are $12 for AHS mem- bers or $15 for non-members. To register, call (703) 768-5700 ext. 114 or e-mail [email protected]. The Homestead’s Garden Weekend THE HOMESTEAD resort in Virginia’s Allegheny Mountains will offer its 10th annual “In the Garden With the Experts,” sympo- sium from August 22 to 24. The event will include hands-on work- The AHS’s Green Garage® display is part of the U.S. Botanic shops and instructional classes with radio personality André Garden’s “One Planet—Ours!” exhibit this summer on the Viette and the Homestead’s own horticultural expert Kyle National Mall in Washington, D.C. Visitors have been especially Richardson. Other speakers include Brent and Becky Heath, inspired by the green roof, which is planted with a variety of daffodil hybridizers and featured television guests. R. William succulents and watered by a solar-powered irrigation system. Thomas, executive director of Chanticleer in Wayne, Pennsylva- nia, will also be featured, as well as Dale Hendricks of North VIVEKA NEVELN Gifts of Note

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 and May 31, 2008.

Mr. and Mrs. John H. Ariail, Jr. Homestead Gardens, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Henry In memory of Heddy Campbell The Bachman Foundation Mr. Philip Huey Smith, Jr. Ms. Lenore Koch Ball Horticultural Company Mr. Jeffrey Huntington Terra Design Studios, LLC Ms. Lila H. Barrows IBM International Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Russell Terry In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Nancy J. Becker, M.D. Mr. Charles J. and Dr. Dancy Mr. and Mrs. W. Bruce Usrey Matheson, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Bigos Kittrell Mr. and Mrs. Harvey C. White Ms. Beverly B. Erdreich Mr. and Mrs. C. William Black Ms. JoAnn Luecke Yacht Haven Garden Club Ms. Lousie P. Ten Eych Mrs. Susan M. Cargill Mr. and Mrs. James F. Masterson Mr. and Mrs. John O. Hedden Ms. Priscilla A. Doulton MESA Design Associates, Inc. Mrs. Elizabeth Dunn Hooff Edwaldan Foundation Ms. Rosalyn Milbrandt Ms. Inger Fair Monrovia Nursery Company In honor of Ginny McEnearney In memory of Janice Pfaff Mrs. Lea Gebauer Dr. and Mrs. David E. Morrison Mr. and Mrs. Bob Rice Ms. Rachel Gardenmayer Mr. and Mrs. Joel Goldsmith OXO International Ms. Kathi S. Grant Ms. Patricia Painter In memory of Dorothy H. Wehrwein The Helen Clay Frick Foundation Drs. Julia and Irv Rappaport Ms. Mary Werny Mr. George L. Hibbard Mr. and Mrs. Charles Root Mrs. Lydia Hilliard Mrs. Jeanne Otis Shields

If you would like to support the American Horticultural Society as part of your estate planning, as a tribute to a loved one, or as part of your annual commitment to charitable giving, please contact: Sue Galvin, (703) 768-5700 ext. 111 or [email protected].

12 the American Gardener Creek Nurseries, Inc., in Landenberg, Pennsylvania. For more in- AIB, an AHS horticultural partner, is “dedicated to pro- formation on this event and to register, call (866) 354-4653 or visit moting nationwide beautification programs and personal and the Homestead’s website at www.thehomestead.com. community involvement through the use of flowers, plants, trees, and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements.” Visit the AIB website at www.americainbloom.org or call (614) Homecoming for America in Bloom 487-1117 for more information. REPRESENTATIVES OF communities from across the nation will convene at the annual America in Bloom (AIB) Symposium and Awards Program from October 2 to 4. Columbus, Ohio— Garden Photography Contest where AIB’s headquarters is located—will be the host city for this THROUGH a horticultural partnership with The Gardeners of year’s event, aptly themed “Homecoming.” America/Men’s Garden Clubs of America (TGOA/MGCA), the Keynote speakers include Bill Dawson of the Franklin Con- organization’s 2009 Photography Competition is open to AHS servatory’s “Growing to Green” community garden program members. Winning photos are eligible to appear in the that serves as a resource for community gardens, schools, and TGOA/MGCA’s 2010 calendar. neighborhood beautification programs throughout Columbus. Members of the AHS who received awards for the 2008 con- Also, Jean Schwab will expand on the Environmental Protec- test are Anne C. Allen from Brownsville, Vermont; Arabella tion Agency’s “GreenScaping” program, which offers insight S. Dane from Center Harbor, New Hampshire; Di DeCaire into planting right for the site, conserving water, reducing yard from Penfield, New York; and Debra Kayata from Ocean waste, and using pesticides wisely. City, New Jersey. Their photos will appear in the 2009 Participants will have the opportunity to tour the Franklin Park TGOA/MGCA calendar. Conservatory, Historic German Village, various community and The competition deadline is February 13, 2009. For more in- public gardens, and an array of “green” buildings, both corporate formation, visit www.tgoa-mgca.org or call (515) 278-0295. and residential, in the greater Columbus area. Additionally, AIB will present its annual awards to outstanding communities. The News written by Associate Editor Viveka Neveln and Editorial In- AHS is proud to sponsor the Community Involvement Award. tern Kirsten Winters.

THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY TRAVEL PROGRAM 2008 & 2009 Upcoming Tours Spring Garden Festivals in the Highlands of Australia with host Nicholas Staddon, Director of New Plant Introductions for Monrovia September 29 – October 15, 2008 ■ Celebrate springtime and garden festivals in Australia! We’ll begin in Sydney, then travel into the Hunter Valley, the Blue Mountains, and the southern Highlands. A stop in Canberra will include a visit to the annual Floriade Festival, the largest flower show in the southern hemisphere. Awe-Inspiring Gardens of New Zealand with host Katy Moss Warner, President Emeritus of the American Horticultural Society January 10 – 23, 2009 ■ Enjoy the fabulous gardens and scenery of New Zealand. We will explore both the North and South Islands, providing opportunities to see private gardens galore, along with penguins, fjords, snow-capped mountains, and wineries. This is a trip that will be remembered for a lifetime. For more information about the AHS Travel Program, visit www.hiddentreasuresbotanicaltours.com or call (573) 881-6316.

July / August 2008 13 Lovable Lobelias 14 the bestoftribe. fight thematterout,let’s lookatsomeof family, Lobeliaceae.Whiletheseworthies family (Campanulaceae)orinitsown genus of theplantsare poisonous ifeaten. racemes, butmayalsobesolitary. Allparts are usuallyborne interminalpaniclesor are prominently swollen.Theblossoms tle fans.In somespecies,thecalyxtubes right, whilethelower three spread intolit- upper twolobesare frequently held up- lipped, five-lobed, tubularflowers; the often stalkless(sessile)leaves andtwo- ers, alllobeliaspossesssimple,alternate, and habitat. climate and have adaptedtonearlyevery belias are foundthroughout theworld zone annuals,perennials, Lo- andshrubs. 370 speciesoftropical andtemperate lobelias have beenafetishofmine. it wasrare Ever around thoseparts. since, flower Ihadread aboutbutnever seen,as cardinal flower with electriccrayon-red blossoms.It was discovered athree-foot green pillartopped eye. Growing inthetallpondsidegrass,I whenaflashofscarletcaughtmy school, was walkingpastthepondonwayto tember morning,whenIwasabout12, red antsandmilkweed. One earlySep- summer andfall,itwasaboggymorassof as thetown skatingrinkinwinter;but can clump-former, cardinal flower’s wild Zones 8–1).AsemiaquaticNorth Ameri- USDA Hardiness Zones 2–8,AHSHeat cardinal flower, (Lobeliacardinalis, Queen ofthehardier perennial isthe sorts PERENNIAL SPECIES W Sizzling red,hotpink,coolblue,orfrostywhite—lobeliasfillthesummerlandscapewithcolor. Botanists are divided over whetherthe Valued fortheirbrightlycolored flow- The genusLobelia the American Gardener Lobelia pond nexttoouryard served Connecticut,thesmall rural HEN IWAS (Lobelia cardinalis), belongs inthebellflower contains around growing upin a wild- In adampborder,cardinalflowercombineswellwithperennial sunflower salmon-pink flowers. mentioning. stand oftheseplantsisatraffic-stopper. soms. Asyou mayimagine,awell-grown racemes ofbrilliant,two-inch,scarletblos- these clumps,terminatingin14-inch to five-foot reddish-green stalksarisefrom like leaves. In summerandearlyfall,three- bronzy-green, four-inch,toothed,lance- and stream banks.It formsclumpsof to Mexico andCentralAmerica. found from Arizona andCaliforniasouth subspecies, south toeastTexas andFlorida. Awestern range extendsfrom southeasternCanada rosea bears whiteflowers. There are somecolorformsworth The cardinal flower isalover oflake blooms pink.‘Shrimp Salad’ bears L. cardinalis Lobelia cardinalis L. cardinalis ssp. graminea, forma forma alba is belias From Seed,” oppositepage). ever dowithoutit(see“Growing Lo- quires, there isnoreason whyyou should vide itwiththemoistconditionsre- in summer, orby seed,soifyou canpro- sions takeninearlyspring,cuttings er, theycanbeeasilypropagated by divi- shade.Howev-moist soil,insunorpart their preferred site—acidic,constantly evenrather short-lived whengrown in wild rangeincludes moistwoodsand tering European-introduced syphilis. Its posed useby Native Americansforcoun- (Zones 4–8,8–1),derived from itssup- botanical moniker, belia, whichpossessestheunpleasant the bluecardinal flower orgreat bluelo- Unfortunately, cardinal flowers are Another strikingperennial lobeliais Lobelia siphilitica BY RANDB.LEE (Helianthus sp.)

CAROLE OTTESEN GROWING LOBELIAS FROM SEED In most cases, if started early enough, lobelias grown from seed will bloom in their first year. Lobelia seeds need light to germinate. Sow the seeds of annual lobelias six to eight weeks before the final frost date in your area. Sow thinly (the seed is tiny) in a flat of moist potting soil and keep them at around 60 degrees Fahrenheit in good light. Do not cover the seed. Drape the flat loosely with plastic film and keep the soil evenly moist until seedlings emerge, usually within two to three weeks. Lobelia seedlings are highly susceptible to the fungal disease commonly known as damping off. Keep the flat watered from below to avoid the disease. When seedlings are about an inch tall, transplant into peat pots or three-inch plastic pots. After the soil warms outside, transfer the young plants to their final positions in a well- drained, compost-enriched site. The seeds of perennial lobelias are treated in the same manner, except that, un- less you are sowing seeds that are absolutely freshly harvested, you must provide one to three months of cold conditioning (stratification) in order for them to germinate. To do this, sow the seeds directly onto the surface of slightly moist peat in a planting box with drainage holes and cover the box loosely with plastic film. Or take a plastic bag, mix the seed with a couple of tablespoons of vermiculite, add a teaspoon of water, mix thoroughly, then tie the bag loosely shut. Place the box or bag into the refrigerator and, after the first month, check weekly for signs of germination. Separate out emerging Hummingbirds flock to the intensely purple- seedlings and proceed as above for the annual types. —R.B.L. blue spikes of great blue lobelia.

marshes from Maine to South Dakota, known worldwide for his lobelia breed- edge of the genus is encyclopedic. Lobelia south through Missouri to eastern Kansas ing. “I am not the typical professional ‘Ruby Slippers’ (Zones 5–8, 8–5), which and Texas. Its four-foot stems are topped plant breeder,” Maness says. “I learned to Maness introduced to commerce in 1989, in August and September with clusters of do plant cloning on my own.” Although is among the finest of his hybrids. In part bright blue, inch-long blossoms. There is many of the colorful, heat- and drought- shade, it can reach about four-and-a-half also a white-flowering form, L. siphilitica tolerant cultivars he has introduced to feet in height and boasts blossoms of a forma alba. A recent selection from it is the market over the years are now very rich, unforgettable ruby red that open in ‘White Candles’, which grows 18 to 20 difficult to find in the trade, his knowl- late July. Whack back the main bloom inches tall and about 18 inches wide, pro- ducing pure white flower spikes in July and August. Semiaquatic Lobelia sessilifolia (Zones 5–8, 8–3) can thrive in up to four inches of water, though a constantly moist poolside will suit it just fine. Native to eastern Asia, it has toothed, lancelike, alternating leaves to eight inches long. The large lavender to purplish flowers are borne in late summer and early fall on stems from two to three feet tall. Bloom color tends to be more vi- brant when the plants are grown in part shade, although the plants can tolerate full sun in regions that have cool summers. L. sessilifolia reseeds readily where it is happy, but the plants must never be allowed to dry out. HYBRID LOBELIAS If anybody knows hybrid lobelias, it’s Thurman Maness. The native North Carolinian—a former New York mar-

TOP: SUSAN A. ROTH. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA NURSERIES keting pro and antiques dealer—is ‘Grape Knee-Hi’ is a compact hybrid of cardinal flower and great blue lobelia.

July / August 2008 15 16 hybrid lobeliasavailable thesedays. and long-lived uptoUSDAZone 5. agated by cuttings, itisreportedly hardy vivid deeppurples.Asterilecultivar prop- clumps andbloomsfrom July toAugust in litica, hybridof dwarf pact habit,whichitmaintainsallseason.A ‘Grape Knee-Hi’, citingthecultivar’s com- fortheTerraheart Nova introduction Tigard, Oregon, holdsaspecialplaceinhis ing andredividing them,”hesays. built up50or60plantssimplyby divid- cuttings ordivisions.“Very quicklyI ‘Sparkle deVine’ iseasytopropagate by the garden. Best ofall,adds Lighty, large, dark fuschiaflowers thatglow in ing 30inchestall,‘Sparkle deVine’ has brids he’d seenlastedonlyayear. Grow- ‘Sparkle deVine’, mostofthelobeliahy- year afteryear—says thatuntilhegrew who have triedtogetlobeliasthrive because Lighty—likesomanygardeners and extravigorous.” Thisisimportant 8–5), whichhereports is“tough, reliable, listed as‘Sparkle DeVine’, Zones 5–8, tivar, ‘Sparkle deVine’ (sometimes recommends anotherManess cul- in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, The American Gardener thusiast andeditorialadvisorto nobody’s business. hummingbirds like andbutterflies through earlyfall;theyattract rose-pink blossomsfrom summer 18-inch massesofextra-large,bright rise tothree-foot stemstoppedby shade, itsburgundyrosettes give afternoon soil infullsuntopart A lover ofrich,moist,well-drained ‘Monet Moment’ (Zones 5–8,8–5). into September. duce blossomingsideshootswell fade, and‘Ruby Slippers’ willpro- spike aftertheflowers to start ✕ gens, from Selections ofthecompactFan Series grow scarlet, deepred, orbluish-purple flowers. summer withlong-stemmed racemes of clumps ofdark green leaves, adornedin pliment Series produces 30-inch-tall speciosa There are anumberofotherdelightful Dan Heims ofTerra Nova Nurseries in Richard Lighty, alobeliaen- Another Maness introduction is the American Gardener a Mexican species.L. L. cardinalis, L.siphilitica, ‘Grape Knee-Hi’ makes22-inch-tall (Zones 5–8,8–5)containsgenes L. cardinalis and who lives ✕ speciosa and L. siphi- Lobelia Com- L. ful- for itsflowersand purple-tintedfoliage ‘Sparkle deVine’ isavigoroushybridnoted forming clumpsthatgrow three feettall. The foliageandstemsare deepburgundy, tivar sometimesclassifiedas toria’ (Zones 6–8,8–6),astunningoldcul- carmine-rose, scarlet,anddeepred. one-inch flowers comeinpink,deep green tobronze andthenarrow-petaled, 20 to24inchestall.Thefoliageisdark ‘Monet Moment’bearslargepinkflowers. Of uncertain parentageOf uncertain is‘Queen Vic- L. ✕ speciosa . merry minstrel. merry for aplantnamedafterRobin Hood’s fall blossomsare bright bloodred, fitting one footwide.Its midsummertoearly flushed green clumps three feettallby let’ (Zones 4–8,8–1)produces maroon- Flame’, are adeepvelvety red. Scar- ‘Will borne atthesametimeasthoseof‘Bee’s tall withmaroon foliage.Its flowers, (Zones 4–8,8–1)grows twotothree feet mid- tolatesummer. ‘Dark Crusader’ of large,brightcrimsonflowers appearin reddish-purple leaves. Its 18-inchracemes by-one-foot clumpsofnarrow, pointed, Flame’ (Zones 4–9,9–1)makes30-inch- er thiscolorinspades. there are several more hybridsthatdeliv- weakness forred-flowered lobelias,and outbetween waterings. drying mulch itwell tokeeptherootball from summers are hot,give itsomeshadeand Inannual inthenorth. regions where Palace’, whichwas introduced in1890,is tinue tobethemostpopular by far. are available, con- butthedark bluesorts annual border. Many otherflower colors blueforthe cool orshadedmixedtrue or forms andisanindispensable source of comes inbothcompactandspreading als. in fact,tenderperennials grown asannu- Most oftheso-calledannuallobeliasare, ANNUAL LOBELIAS As you mayhave gathered, Ihave a Of thecompactstrains, ‘Crystal Lobelia erinus forms admirablyasacontainer long-bloomingandper- very many hybrids,‘Vedrariensis’ is Though lesswinter-hardy than larly richshadeofviolet-purple. two-lipped bloomsinaparticu- racemes ofnumerous, tubular, emerge, toppedwith18-inch with red. In summer, thickstems rosettes thatare oftenflushed dark green basalleaves form about afootwide,itsfour-inch, Growing 30to48inchestallby L. cardinalis (Zones 8–9,9–8),across between belia racemes upto18incheslong. wide, borneinslightlyone-sided red, onetoone-and-a-halfinches The blossomsare ajaw-dropping Another lovely hybridis ✕ gerardii (Zones 10–11,9–1) and ‘Vedrariensis’ Lobelia L. siphilitica. ‘Bee’s Lo-

TOP: COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA NURSERIES; BOTTOM: MICHAEL S, THOMPSON still one of the best. The dark green to six inches apart, taller species 18 to 25 plants get four inches tall and bear mass- inches apart. es of dark blue flowers through much of Perennial lobelias can be propagated by Sources the season. ‘Cambridge Blue’ bears sky- division in early spring to summer. Annie’s Annuals & Perennials, Rich- blue blossoms. ‘Mrs. Clibran’ bears bril- Maness does not recommend fall division mond, CA. (888) 266-4370. liant blue flowers with white eyes on because new plants rarely have enough www.anniesannuals.com. four- to six-inch plants. ‘Rosamonde’ is roots to establish before frost. similar, with white-eyed cherry-red flow- Lobelia erinus is readily available from J.L. Hudson, Seedsman, La Honda, ers. ‘Alba’ blooms white. garden centers in the spring and early CA. www.jlhudsonseeds.com. Of the cascading types, the Pendula summer. It flowers best if fed every two Cascade Series grows six inches tall by weeks from spring to early summer with Jelitto Perennial Seeds, Louisville, KY. about a foot wide and bears flowers in a balanced liquid or time-release fertiliz- (505) 895-0807. www.jelitto.com. carmine-red, violet-blue, true blue, pink, er. From midsummer onward, however, Lazy S’S Farm and Nursery, Barbours- ville,VA. www.lazyssfarm.com. Online orders only.

Shooting Star Nursery, Georgetown, KY. (866) 405-7979, (502) 867- 7979. www.shootingstart.com.

Swallowtail Garden Seeds, Santa Rosa, CA. (707) 538-3585. www.swallowtailgardenseeds.com. Resources The AHS Encyclopedia of Perennials by Graham Rice, editor in chief, and Kurt Bluemel. DK Publishing, New York, New York, 2006.

Annuals and Tender Plants for North American Gardens by Wayne Winter- rowd. Random House, New York, New Annual lobelia (Lobelia erinus) is useful for adding a touch of blue to summer borders. York, 2004.

or white. Selections of the Regatta Series switch to a nitrogen-free plant food that Herbaceous Perennial Plants (3rd edi- are a bit taller, to eight inches, with a sim- is high in phosphorus. When plants get tion) by Allan M. Armitage. Stipes ilar color range, but they bloom earlier leggy, shear them back halfway. If you Publishing, Champaign, Illinois, and over a longer season. keep up your feeding schedule, L. erinus 2008. will resume blossoming again in a GROWING LOBELIAS month, and can be kept in flower much All the perennial lobelias noted previ- of the winter in mild climates. If your supposedly hardy hybrid lo- ously prefer a deep, fertile, leafy, moist Throughout the growing season, be belias don’t make it through the winter, soil in full sun or partial shade. Semi- on the lookout for slugs, which adore lo- it’s not necessarily your fault. “When aquatics and aquatics, such as L. cardi- belia foliage and flowers. Rust, smut, and you’re dealing with hybrids, sometimes nalis and L. sessilifolia, prefer an acidic leaf-spot disease can also be problems; if we get something called ‘F2 breakdown’ soil and make gorgeous additions to a you live in a humid environment, try in the second generation, in which the poolside bed, where they may be planted weekly preventive fungicide sprays or genetic components from the hybrid’s in the ground or in containers sunk into spray with a mixture of one tablespoon parents don’t work well together,” says the bank. Very young plants may be pot- baking soda per gallon of water. And Lighty. ted up in a peat-and-perlite based soil watch out for thrips, which can keep A problem frequently brought up in mix and grown on in a cool, sunny win- buds from opening. Deadhead regularly. gardening books is the tendency for some dow or greenhouse to be planted out- Plants will survive hot summers if given lobelias to become virus-infected. One doors when all danger of hard frost has good drainage, afternoon shade, mulch, possible clue is the color of the newly

COURTESY OF ANDRE KARWATH passed. Set out small annual species four and abundant water. emerging spring foliage. If the new

July / August 2008 17 MORE CHOICES FOR LOBELIA LOVERS

Name Height/Width Bloom Time Remarks Origin USA Hardiness, (inches) AHS Heat Zones PERENNIALS L. ‘Cotton Candy’ 36/24 July–Sept. white and pink blooms hybrid 5–9, 9–5 L. ‘La Fresco’ 30–36/18 Aug.–Oct. dusky plum flowers hybrid 4–9, 9–5 L. laxiflora 24/12 June–Sept. blooms red and/or yellow Arizona 9–10, 10–9 var. angustifolia L. spicata 60/18 June–Aug. small pale blue to white flowers North America 4–9, 9–4 L. splendens 36/12 late summer leaves red-flushed; scarlet California, Texas, 8–9, 9–8 (syn. L. fulgens) flowers, in 16-inch racemes Mexico L. tupa 72/36 July–Oct. brick to orange-red flowers, Chile 8–10, 10–8 in 18-inch racemes

ANNUALS L. erinus 4/6 spring to fall compact, in sky blue, dark hybrid 10–11, 9–1 Laguna Series blue, lilac or pink L. erinus 4/6 spring to fall uniform, compact, often with hybrid 10–11, 9–1 Palace Series bronze foliage, in light blue, dark blue, lilac, pink or white L. erinus 4-6/12 spring to fall trailing plants bloom very hybrid 10–11, 9–1 Riviera Series early in lilac, sky blue, or mottled blue with picotee edge L. erinus ‘Sapphire’ 6-8/6-8 spring to fall trailing plants bear bright hybrid 10–11, 9–1 blue blooms with white eyes L. inflata 36/12 summer flowers blue, purple, or pinkish- North America 4–8, 8–1 Indian tobacco lavender in 18-inch racemes L. tenuior 18–30/18 summer cobalt-blue flowers Australia 4–8, 8–1 leaves—which should be plain green— Tall, long-blooming hybrids such as come out streaked with white and pink, ‘Ruby Slippers’ or ‘Cotton Candy’ com- you may have an infected plant, which bine well with royal fern (Osmunda re- should be dug up and thrown out (don’t galis), Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum spp.), compost it). astilbes (Astilbe spp.), meadow rues (Thal- ictrum spp.), and Japanese lilybells USING LOBELIAS IN THE LANDSCAPE (Adenophora triphylla var. japonica). And Requiring moist soil, Lobelia cardinalis, one of the new purple-leaf elderberries L. siphilitica, and their hybrids are won- such as Sambucus nigra Black Lace™ derful poolside plants. As long as your would look smashing as a backdrop for a borders get sufficient water, many taller bed of Lobelia ‘Will Scarlet’. perennial selections make great compan- Lobelias also do well in large shaded ions for Japanese or Siberian iris (Iris containers. Try combining the bronze- japonica, I. sibirica), beebalms (Monarda and-scarlet L. ‘Queen Victoria’, Monar- spp.), masterwort (Astrantia spp.), and da didyma ‘Jacob Cline’, Astilbe ‘Fanal’, Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium maculatum and some maidenhair ferns (Adiantum and E. purpureum). Shorter lobelias such spp.) in a loam-and-sand-filled half-bar- as ‘White Candles’ and ‘Grape Knee-Hi’ rel. Or come up with your own combi- make fine late-blooming companions nations—given plenty of water, lobelias alongside colonies of monkeyflower are not difficult to grow, and they’re easy (Mimulus spp.), forget-me-not (Myosotis to love. palustris), catchfly (Lychnis ✕haageana), Trailing annual lobelias such as Waterfall™ geums (Geum spp.), and primroses Blue, here with yellow-and-red blanket Rand B. Lee is a writer and gardener based

(Primula spp.). flower ‘Fanfare’, are container favorites. in Santa Fe, New Mexico. ALAN AND LINDA DETRICK

18 the American Gardener

Hardy Aroids bizarre andbeautiful Hardy Aroids bizarre andbeautiful 20 C such astaro (Colocasiaesculenta) cheese plant(Monstera deliciosa). evergreen mon houseplantssuchas Chinese iar totheaverage gardener. Some are com- many ofthegeneraandspeciesare famil- exotic andstrangemembers, ber oftruly ily (Araceae),sometimescalledaroids. fam- plantsfoundinthearum wonderful dicative of theoutlandish,weird, and Eastern skunkcabbage’s spectacularflowersbloom abovelessercelandine. While thefamilydoesincludeanum- the American Gardener OMMON NAMES dragon, andvoodoo lilyare in- il’s corpseflower, arum, green (Aglaonema spp.) andSwiss such asdev- great gardenconversationstarters. weird, plantsinthearumfamilyare Ranging fromsimplygorgeoustoplain great gardenconversationstarters. weird, plantsinthearumfamilyare Ranging fromsimplygorgeoustoplain and yau- Others native tomoistwoodlandsfrom theEast- Jack-in-the-pulpit best known hardy aroid iswithoutdoubt Arisaema GARDENS HARDY AROIDS FORAMERICAN can grow asherbaceousperennials. aroids that mosttemperate-zone gardeners border plantsintemperate regions. that are now widelygrown assummer perennials suchas caladiumsandcannas in tropical regions. Still othersare tender tia In Iwillfocuson“hardy” thisarticle, (Xanthosoma) For Americangardeners, the are valuable foodcrops (Arisaema triphyllum), BY GENEBUSH BY GENEBUSH purple mottling. five- tosix-footstemthathasgreen and large, dividedleafunfurlsatthe topofa (literally, “shapeless phallus”). Theone that gave rise tothegenus’s botanicalname the spatheisathree-foot purplered spadix lined. Standing straightupinthecenterof deep red highlights, heavilytextured, and vase-shaped flower islustrous purplewith ing asinglestemtoppedby aleaf. The ing firstandthen,afterapause,produc- the habitofmanyotheraroids inbloom- member ofthegenus.Thetuberfollows probably the mostcommonlygrown USDA Z species bettersuitedtoourgardens. ber ofsmaller, hardier, andlessstinky large heatedgreenhouse, there are anum- plant), revolting stench,andneedfora and theheaviesttuberofanyflowering (it hasthelargestunbranchedinflorescence While thisspeciesisanovelty duetoitssize venturers intotheSumatran rainforest. see anevent forhardy oncereserved ad- cams, andaresulting spikeinvisitationto vision stations,streaming videofrom web- footage carriedonlocalandnationaltele- tanum) or giantcorpseflower have turnedthebloomingofatitanarum American andBritish botanicalgardens Amorphophallus piece ontheAHSwebsite (www.ahs.org). available withtheonlineversion ofthis willbe this magazine.Alinktothatarticle the November/December 2005issueof over themhere becauseIprofiled themin the genusArisaema, that develop onthecorm. easy topropagate by seedorfrom offsets turn brilliantorangetoscarlet.Jack is that forminaclusteraround thespadix name. In latesummer, thegreen fruits that gave risetoitsevocative common spathe (pulpit)androdlike spadix(Jack), tion oftheattractively striped,hooded leafandthecharacteristiccombina- part one ortwofeettall,Jack develops athree- Texas. Growing from aflattishcormto ern Seaboard west totheDakotas and strange-looking inflorescence resembles a to palmfoliageand itsoriginsinIndia. The 7–10, 10–7)issonamedforitsresemblance Indian snakepalm Amorphophallus konjac There are manyotherfinespeciesin into amediaspectacle,with ns71,ASZones 12–6)is ones 7–11,AHS In recent years several but Iamgoingtopass (Amorphophallus ti- (A. bulbifer, (syn. A. rivieri, Zones

ROB CARDILLO THE ECCENTRICITIES OF THE ARUM FAMILY When lecturing about arums, I often suggest jokingly that if taxonomists ever re- classify them they should place them within the Addams Family. The more than 100 genera in this eccentric family are characterized as primarily herbaceous perennials that develop from tuberous or rhizomatous roots. Many have milky or strong-smelling sap and some—dumbcane (Dieffenbachia spp.), for one—contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause injury if chewed or swallowed. The family is found widely in the tropics occupying a variety of habitats ranging from canopy- living epiphytes to floating aquatic plants such as the invasive water lettuce (Pis- tia stratiotes). But it’s the unique structure of the “flowers” that makes it easy to recognize aroids. What we think of as the flower is a modified leaf, or spathe, that serves to protect the actual flower structure, or inflorescence. The inflorescence, often hidden down in the protective sheath, is composed of a club-shaped structure called a spadix that holds the relatively small flowers. The flowers are fleshy and can be bisexual or unisexual, depending upon the genus. When unisexual, the numerous minute flowers are usually arranged with male above and female be- low on the spadix. The modified leaf around the inflorescence can be quite dec- orative; named cultivars and hybrids are usually chosen for their colorful or in- triguingly textured spathes. Another common trait shared by most aroids is the use of scent to attract polli- nators. This is not unusual among flowering plants, but in the case of aroids the This past March, two Amorphophallus scent—designed to attract flies, beetles, and other insects that feed on carrion konjac plants bloomed in the home of (rotting animal flesh)—is often unpleasant and, sometimes, downright putrid. But Doreen Howard, a garden writer from overall I believe the stigma associated with the smell is overstated; in most species Illinois. Howard had to keep them in her the scent lasts only a few days until the plants are pollinated. —G.B. sunroom because of the stench.

sea shell someone stuck in the sand. The by perennials that have gone dormant. them in dry peat moss under a bench for rounded open spathe is mottled brown Come late summer, when these plants go the duration of winter. and green over shell pink and of heavy sub- dormant, I bring them inside my green- stance. The interior is light pastel pink house. I remove the tubers from the con- Arums There are about two dozen Arum deepening to dark pink with a hint of red tainers, clean and dry them, then store species, but the European native Arum at the base. The spadix is pink and tan. All italicum (Zones 6–9, 9–3)—which I refer parts have a rounded appearance. to as the “backward plant” because of its The stems are heavily mottled in olive odd growing cycle—is the most familiar green over silver-green reaching about to American gardeners. The foliage starts three to four feet in height. Foliage is a sin- growing in fall and by mid-spring, the gle leaf parted into three sections, each glossy, arrowhead-shaped, deep green leaflet having heavy veins. The foliage has leaves, often marked by white or creamy curious brown “warts” at major leaf junc- variegation along the veins, are 18 inches tions. The warts are small tubers that can long and four inches broad. be transplanted to grow new plants. Emerging in spring, the large flowers At about two feet tall, A. henryi (Zones feature a pale green spathe around a yel- 7–9, 9–7), native to Taiwan, is the small- lowish spadix, but are often obscured by est member of the genus. Topped by a the tall clumps of foliage. As the blooms large divided single leaf, the stem is green are pollinated, the leaves wither away with blotches of white. The spathe is pur- with the early summer heat. Tall stalks ple and very open with ruffles around the bearing clusters of bright orange-red edges, revealing an orange spadix overlaid berries then provide a late summer show. with hints of red and brown. This species Plants spread slowly by rhizomes, even- can be propagated both by seeds and by tually creating large clumps in a sunny very prolific offsets from the mother tuber. or partly shaded site. The popular culti- I grow A. henryi in containers so I can In late summer to early fall, the berries of Arum var ‘Marmoratum’ has extensive milky

TOP: DOREEN HOWARD. BOTTOM: SUSAN A. ROTH move them around to fill open spaces left italicum turn from green to bright red. white variegation on the leaves.

July / August 2008 21 22 The largeleaves are lobed,white-flecked that formcolonies twofeetindiameter. three feet,sendingupmultipleoffsets with aheightofabouttwo-and-a-half to makes quiteastatementin the garden (Dracunculus vulgaris, conjure upahintofdevilry. Devil’s arum species, because,whenblooming,itdoes mon namesare appropriate forthis Devil’s orDragon Arum berries ripen. and bloomatthesametimeasarum arejust asthearums losingtheirfoliage, grandis withhardypair arums begonias European native disappearsunderground. and berriesmakeaquickearlyshow, this with mattegreen foliage.Aftertheblooms early springathalfthesize of called lords-and-ladies, whichemergesin maculatum foliage.com. alpines.com. International AroidSociety, Oregon, 2000. Deni Bown.TimberPress,Portland, Aroids: PlantsoftheArumFamily Resources CT. (860)974-3951. Variegated FoliageNursery, (919) 772-4794. Plant DelightsNursery, www.munchkinnursery.com. Depauw, IN.(812)633-4858. Munchkin Nursery&GardensLLC, (800) 837-2142. Glasshouse Works, (517) 223-8750. Arrowhead Alpines, Resources www.aroid.org. com. works.com. For afour-seasonshow inmygarden, I Equally reliable inmygarden isArum the American Gardener ssp. evansiana), (Zones 6–9,9–6),sometimes www.plantdelights. www.arrowhead www.glasshouse Fowlerville, MI. Stewart, OR. Zones 7–10,10–7) which emergelate, Raleigh, NC. www.variegated Eastford, A. italicum The com- (Begonia by ing afterfouror five days. but pungent,usuallycollaps- short-lived ny rotten banana.Theinflorescence is likeaskin- arches upandoutinacurve wide. Inside, theblackish-red spadix three feettallandwell over six inches purple over maroon, canreach one to mottled stalks. over dark green, atoppurple-and-brown The thickspathe,saturatedblack- umbrella. Thesubstantive stalkismottled up, almostovernight, openinglikealarge native totheHimalayas, shootsitsfoliage and, oncepollinated,quicklycollapses. brown tubularspadixstandsstraightup low-tan withred-brown spots.The red- back ononesidetoreveal aninteriorofyel- brown withametallicsheen, theypeel emerging from thesoil.Bronze-purple- ers remind meof wildlypaintedbananas weeks before thefoliageappears.Theflow- soil lineinearlytomidsummerabouttwo The bloommakesitsappearanceabove the attractionisitstropical foliage. primary is intriguingbutephemeral,sothisplant’s (Sauromatum venosum, Voodoo Lily plant goesdormantinearlysummer. limestone rock tomark thespotwhen companions, Iliketallfernsandusea good soilwithachoppedleafmulch.For inbrightopenshade ed. Plant thisarum so Icover itwithleaves iffrost isforecast- too earlyinspringandissensitive tofrost, Zone 6.Theplantusually triestoemerge Zone 7,butIhave grown itforyears in devil’s isratedashardy arum toUSDA three feettallandhasapungentodor. Dragon arum’sstrikingflowercangrowupto lilies addsatropicaltouchtoanybed.Left: Above: Theexotic-lookingfoliageofvoodoo Then, thisshade-loving plant,whichis Native totheMediterranean region, The flower ofvoodoo lily Zone 6–10,11–7)

TOP: DAVID CAVAGNARO; BOTTOM: LYNNE HARRISON and spotted dark green over light green and purple-brown. At two to three feet in height, the leaves spread gracefully out- ward with seven to 11 leaflets of deepest green. Only one stalk is produced per tuber, so group two to three tubers for a better display. Mine look at home among ferns and groundcovers such as Hakone shade grass (Hakonechloa macra).

Skunk Cabbage and Relatives If you are blessed with a spot of consistent- ly boggy soil, there are some good aroids for your garden as well. All they require is relatively deep muck that remains Skunk cabbage’s “hot” flower, above left, emerges in later winter before the lush foliage, right. moist throughout the summer. One is skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus which mimics the mud it emerges from. In is a striking white color that contrasts with foetidus, Zones 3–7, 8–2), called polecat late spring, the large, mid-green leaves the green spadix. Both will thrive in part weed in the Midwest, where I live. It’s form attractive clumps. The roots of skunk shade to full sun, in damp to wet sites. native to woodlands and streambanks cabbage are large in relation to visible parts from the southeastern United States of the plant, making it difficult to grow in Calla Lily One last aroid worth men- north to Canada and west to the base of nurseries and thus somewhat hard to find. tioning is the beautiful calla lily. Native to the upper Midwest. Well worth seeking out are two related South Africa, calla lily (Zantedeschia This is literally one hot plant, for it plants similar in appearance and site needs. aethiopica, Zones 8-10, 10-4), is a tuberous heats up the soil in late winter so it can Native to the Pacific Northwest from Alas- perennial that thrives in consistently moist, push through snow and frost to bloom. ka south to California and inland to parts rich soil in full sun. It has speckled, heart- The common name derives from its cab- of Idaho, western (or yellow) skunk cab- shaped leaves that are evergreen in milder bagelike leaves and its flower’s scent, which bage (Lysichiton americanus, Zone 5–8, regions, and attractive cup-shaped, white has been compared to the odor of an angry 7–1) has a bright yellow spathe and glossy spathes tinged green. Many hybrids with a skunk. Because of this, it is easy to locate green leaves. Its cousin, eastern (or white) crayon-box range of colors have been cre- in the wild when it is in bloom, despite its skunk cabbage (Lysichiton camtschatcensis, ated from crosses of this species and other camouflaged coloration. The thick spathe Zone 5–9, 9–1), is found across the Bering African species. is brown-red and black with tan spots, Strait in eastern Russia and Asia. Its spathe Until recently, these could only be grown in gardens in warm regions (or containers), but a cultivar named ‘Green Goddess’ has proven to be hardy to at least USDA Zone 7. Other hardy selec- tions are sure to follow. Try these in a container or a damp, sunny garden spot. Beware of the sap, which is poisonous. Calla lilies have shown the potential to naturalize in warm regions and are being monitored in coastal California. CONVERSATION PIECES As interest in hardy aroids grows, they are becoming more widely available. In my garden, I find children and non-gardeners are particularly captivated by the plants’ appearance and intriguing pollination strategy. And anything that can spark con- versation and get people interested in gar- dening is a big plus in my book.

A garden writer and lecturer, Gene Bush owns Munchkin Nursery & Gardens in De-

TOP LEFT: SUSAN A. ROTH; RIGHT: SAXON HOLT. BOTTOM: JERRY PAVIA A large clump of white calla lilies produces elegant flowers on long, slender stems. pauw, Indiana.

July / August 2008 23 Perennials Tough-as-Nails 24 last summer’s record-breaking drought maritime haven inNova Scotia.After toacool elements andescapednorth garden Maryland tothe doned mysultry for thelasttwosummersIhave aban- the waterandTLC, there willbelosses. is “plants willdie,”you’re right. Without prolonged drought? If your firstthought untendedduringa ofdeercountry heart and leave your unirrigatedgarden inthe happens ifyou goawayforthree months weather and rapaciousdeer. But what G BY CAROLEOTTESEN I experiencedthisfirsthand because the American Gardener look gooddespitehellish bit ofcoddling,anyplantcan IVEN PLENTY of wateranda in September. er, Iexpectedtheworstwhenreturned ing thatmyhouse-sitterisnotagarden- in theeasternUnited States, andrecall- shrubs andtreesshrubs made it—ifabitless butdidsowithaplomb.only survived, with flyingcolors.Arare plants not few estingly, whichcame through the ordeal plants madeitthrough and,more inter- harsh conditions,Idiscovered which ence. Aftermygarden had endured these garden, there isanupsidetothisexperi- Shocking asitistoreturn toaneglected THE UPSIDEOFNEGLECT Generally speaking,well-established deer, andneglectinherMarylandgarden. resilient perennialsthathavesurviveddrought, Garden expertCaroleOttesenprofiles10 Tired ofcoddlingtemperamentalplants? the wayit’s supposedto. Asters are acase didn’tsome ofwhat had survived look der where plantsusedtobe. my woodlandgarden andperennial bor- As aresult, Ifoundspotsofbare soilin and different plantsthantheirusualfare. plants, itstresses deer, sotheyeatmore A prolonged drought notonlystresses seemed strangelyempty—even ofweeds! of thegarden wasthat theground thirsty tropicals. age anddrought. Andforgetannualsand which are more susceptibletodeerdam- perkily than usual.Not sotheperennials, The next thing I observed wasthat The nextthingIobserved The firstthingInoticedonmytour Amsonia hubrichtii Amsonia Amsonia hubrichtii Amsonia

CAROLE OTTESEN in point. Although it’s hard to kill an aster, deer browsing can make it look like the product of a breeding experiment gone awry. That gracefully arching mass of starry flowers becomes a bunch of sticks with a few blooms jammed at the ends. Likewise, deer browsing reduced the seemingly invincible prairie dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) from a monumental clump of three-foot-long, sandpapery leaves to a giant pin-cushion of shredded stems. When I got over the initial shock, I no- ticed, here and there, a few dust-encrust- ed individuals that appeared intact. After dousing them with a hose, I found (my heart swelling with profound gratitude) a few of these plants appeared to be totally unscathed. They may not have grown Asclepias tuberosa overmuch during the summer, but neither did they lose significant biomass. The following are plants in my Mary- ta, Zones 6–10, 10-6) and common blues- flower heads for nectar, and the larvae of land garden (USDA Zone 7, AHS Zone tar (A. tabernaemontana, Zones 3–9, 9–1) monarch butterflies feast on the leaves, a 7) that came through the Summer from are not quite as drought tolerant but still short-term phenomenon that doesn’t Hell with grace and good looks. (See page worth considering. harm the plant. Selections include the 29 for a list of dependably drought-toler- Gay Butterflies series and ‘Hello Yellow’. ant plants from other regions of North Butterfly Weed This super-tough perennial has a cou- America, or visit the web special linked to (Asclepias tuberosa, Zones 4–9, 9–2) ple of quirks. It is late to emerge from the online version of this article at Butterfly weed’s other, less appealing, dormancy in spring, so forgetting its www.ahs.org for a more detailed list.) name is “pleurisy root,” because its deep- presence is easy. When trying to plant reaching root was once used to treat lung something else near butterfly weed, be PERENNIALS FOR SUN inflammation. That taproot is one reason careful to avoid digging into and damag- Arkansas Bluestar this plant easily tolerates heat and ing its hidden roots. Its other quirk is that (Amsonia hubrichtii, USDA Zones 5–9, drought. In fact, this two-foot-tall native it so dislikes transplanting; it may disap- AHS Zones 9–5) perennial seems to flourish in the sunni- pear for nearly a season after being Completely unscathed from its summer est, hottest spot in the garden where it moved. Depending on where you live, of neglect was Arkansas bluestar, which will flower in mid- to late summer. But- other milkweed species are worth con- is endowed with a milky latex sap that terflies flock to the flat, bright orange sidering, among them swamp milkweed makes it unappealing to deer. Its (A. incarnata). other fabulous quality, once well- established, is its drought toler- Japanese Roof Iris ance. (Iris tectorum, Zones 5–9, 9–3) Although the delicate ice-blue Yes, Japanese roof iris can actually spring flowers are what give this grow on a thatched roof. It can take plant its common name, the au- anything the climate throws at it tumn color of its feathery leaves is and still look like it spent the sum- the reason people grow it. The mer at a spa. Divisions I set out the stems grow long and billowy and fall before the terrible summer still put on a fine show in October provided a river of texture through when the leaves turn a stunning my garden. In fact, the river has be- pale pumpkin color. Great in both come a veritable torrent of light sun and part shade, Arkansas blue- green fans, 18 inches high by at least star is native to Arkansas and Okla- two feet across. homa. It grows into mounds of The flowers, usually white to arching foliage that reach three feet pale blue-lavender with serrated and slightly more in height and Iris tectorum ‘Alba’ crests, bloom for a fleeting week or

TOP: JERRY PAVIA, BOTTOM: COURTESY OF ITSAUL PLANTS breadth. Downy bluestar (A. cilia- two in late spring or early summer,

July / August 2008 25 26 is fountaingrass (Pennisetum alopecur- grass thatthrives indrought conditions mond color, persistthroughout winter. and, alongwithfoliagethatbecomes al- satiny, plumes—gradually turnsilver ruby ference. Thelatesummertofallflowers— tall clumpthatexpandsslowly incircum- amount ofshade. spot, toadegree commensurate withthe shade.Itto part willflopabitinshady take almostanysoilinsitesfrom fullsun and flower prolifically. Yet thisplantwill drained soilandsun,where itwillstandtall bestinwell- most grasses,itperforms fineleaves. Like ed marginsonitsvery tiful ornamentalgrasswithwhite-variegat- ‘Morning Light’ isanaptly-named,beau- Zones 5–9,9–2) (Miscanthus sinensis Eulalia orSilver Grass ers withyellow-tinged crests. frost. Theselection‘Alba’ haswhiteflow- but thedramaticfoliagelastsuntilahard In additiontoMiscanthus, ‘Morning Light’ becomesafive-foot- the American Gardener ‘Morning Light’, another Miscanthus sinensis Miscanthus Miscanthus sinensis Miscanthus onies green, bushyclumpsofherbaceous pe- Flowering whenspringissettled, thedark herbaceous ortree-form, you won’t like. ly leftbehindissprouting littleplant. anew sure tofindthatabitofroot inadvertent- one, thefollowing springyou are almost totransplant get ridofpeonies.If you try vicissitudes ofweather. In fact,it’s hard to onies, onceestablished,endure theinfinite Long-lived andunpalatabletodeer, pe- after thosewhoplantedthemhave gone. found growing onoldhomesteads long fodils, are oneof the resilient plantsoften Peonies, alongwithasparagusanddaf- Peonies ably madeallthedifference. shadedspot,whichprob- ing inapartly obvious signsofdistress. Ihave itgrow- mountains ofJapan, alsodisplayed no ola’, Zones 5–9,9–2),native tothecool Hakone grass(Hakonechloa macra in thegarden. Surprisingly, variegated oides, It’s hard tofindapeony selection,either (P. lactiflora, Zones workhorse 5–9,9–2),atrue (Paeonia ‘Morning Light’ ‘Morning Light’ spp.) Zones 3–8,8–1)grow ‘Aure- almost aswell. Purple sage(Salvia offici- hopefully, toitssix-footpotential. with excellent drainage where itwillgrow, wet feetinwinter. Mine issitedonahill hardier thanmost,butstillsusceptibleto of itsnative Mediterranean region. vigor; thedrought musthave reminded it bursting withgoodhealthandbrightgreen stillstooduprightinmy garden, mary Despite monthsofheatanddrought, rose- ance makesittheposterchildforallherbs. splendidappear- cause itsheartwarmingly than aperennial, butI’m includingitbe- Technically rather isasubshrub rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis,Zones 7–9,10–1) Rosemary peonies grow shade. bestinfullsuntopart 5–8, 8–5)reach five feettall.Bothkindsof treeshrubby peonies (P. suffruticosa, two feettallandincreasingly widewhile Several ofrosemary’s fellow herbsfared I grow thecultivar ‘Arp’, whichis Paeonia Rosmarinus officinalis Rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis Rosmarinus ‘Postillion’ Zones

TOP LEFT AND BOTTOM: MARK TURNER. TOP RIGHT: CAROLE OTTESEN nalis var. purpurea), lemon thyme (Thymus ✕citriodorus), Italian oregano (Origanum ✕majoricum), lesser calamint (Calamintha nepeta), and lavender (Lavandula spp.), were all presentable when I returned. Car- doon (Cynara cardunculus), a silvery Mediterranean plant related to artichoke, had grown berserk—sending up six-foot flower stalks all over the garden.

Hellebores (Helleborus spp.) Deer-resistant, shade-tolerant, evergreen, and early-blooming, hellebores (Helle- borus spp.), are as near perfection as plants can be. True to expectations, they survived the long, dry summer, but some did so with more élan than others. A few of the Lenten roses (Helleborus ✕hybridus, Zones 6–9, 9–6) in the worst sites—on a slope under a large, thirsty sycamore, for instance—had collapsed. Still alive, however, they revived after a thorough soaking. I plan to move those hellebores elsewhere and replace them with

Dryopteris erythrosora

in comparison to a specimen of Corsican spring- or early summer-blooming bulbs hellebore (H. argutifolius, Zones 6–9, such as camas lilies (Camassia spp.). 9–6), which was absolutely vigorous. Other ferns in my garden that came through the drought unscathed include PERENNIALS FOR SHADE Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), Autumn Fern Makino’s holly fern (P. makinoi), sun-tol- (Dryopteris erythrosora, Zones 5–8, 9–5) erant southern shield fern (Thelypteris kun- People tend to think of ferns as delicate in- thii), holly fern (Cyrtomium falcatum habitants of moist woodlands. While the ‘Rochfordianum’), Goldie’s wood fern “moist woodland” part of that statement is (Dryopteris goldieana), Mexican male fern Helleborus foetidus mostly true, ferns are anything but deli- (D. pseudo filix-mas), and the spectacular, cate. Among the oldest plants on earth, evergreen, thick-stemmed wood fern (D. ferns are true survivors. In forms almost crassirhizoma). However, maidenhair fern low-growing Siberian cypress (Microbiota identical to those of today, they’ve been (Adiantum pedatum) and ostrich fern decussata) to augment healthy and, appar- around for more than 300 million years. (Matteuccia pensylvanica), responded to ently, deer- and drought-tolerant speci- Once established, they make it in shade drought by going dormant. mens already growing under the sycamore. that isn’t always moist. Unlike the Lenten roses, the stinking Autumn fern, a bold, two-foot-tall, Nippon Lily or bear’s-foot hellebores (H. foetidus, evergreen plant with shiny fronds, is one of (Rohdea japonica, Zones 6–9, 9–6) Zones 6–9, 9–6), were as perky as ever, the toughest. Situated under a big yellow- Nippon or sacred lily is the outdoor gar- showing off their neat, two-foot mounds wood (Cladrastis kentukea) a ground-cov- dener’s answer to cast iron plant (As- of two-tone (dark and light green) bear- ering mass of these ferns defies drought pidistra elatior), the houseplant that’s claw-shaped leaves. This may have been and deer. The fern gets its name from the famous for thriving on neglect. Both are due to their more hospitable sites. red-orange color of the new fronds emerg- members of the lily family and even look The stinking hellebores were impressive ing in spring. It spreads slowly into big alike. Nippon lily has the thick, dark,

LEFT: CAROLE OTTESEN. RIGHT: JERRY PAVIA in their drought tolerance, but they paled clumps and works well underplanted with rigid, evergreen leaves of its relative and

July / August 2008 27 Sources Bluestone Perennials, Madison, OH. (800) 852-5243. www.bluestone perennials.com.

Digging Dog Nursery, Albion, CA. (707) 937-1130. www.digging dog.com.

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

Klehm’s Song Sparrow Farm & Nurs- ery, Avalon, WI. (800) 553-3715. www.songsparrow.com.

Plant Delights Nursery, Inc., Raleigh, NC. (919) 772-4794. www.plant delights.com.

Wayside Gardens, Hodges, SC. (800) 845-1124. www.wayside gardens.com. Acorus gramineus ‘Oborozuki’‘Oborozuki’ grows into a foot-tall sculptural clump. Likewise, several sedges (Carex spp.)— Given a few companions, it will spread all located in shade—seemed unfazed by outward to form a striking groundcover. the prolonged lack of moisture. These in- It seems to thrive on division and trans- clude palm sedge (Carex muskingumensis, planting. Zones 3–8, 8–1), a native of the eastern and Perennial references report that Nip- central United States that will grow in pon lily produces white flowers in the fall, standing water; pretty little variegated but I have grown this plant for years and Japanese sedge (Carex conica ‘Snowline’, never noticed one. Not that it matters; Zones 5–9, 9–5); and evergreen, variegat- what’s eye-catching are the fall clusters of ed Carex morrowii (Zones 5–9, 12–1). bright crimson berries that show to great effect against the dark green leaves. Nip- A LESSON LEARNED pon lily thrives with benign neglect in part Now, as the memory of that killing to full shade in a spot with good drainage. drought fades and a wetter-than-normal spring plumps plants to luxuriance, it’s Miniature Dwarf Sweet Flag easy to drop one’s guard. But I learned (Acorus gramineus var. pusillus, the hard way that a garden needs a back- Zones 6–9, 9–5) bone of tough, reliable plants that can It seems odd that a member of a genus that Rohdea japonica take pretty much anything our climate takes to waterlogged soil should have sur- can dish out. Over the next few years, I vived an ordeal by drought. But miniature green sweet flag—with a botanical name intend to add more of the plants that did dwarf sweet flag did more than that in my that’s bigger than the plant—is a mighty well, and seek out other resilient gems garden—it appeared to have actually survivor that provides fantastic texture. that will offer my garden both durability grown! On the edge of a bed in part shade, Easier to locate from nurseries is the equal- and diversity. the fans of tiny, irislike leaves had spread ly lovely, foot-tall, bright yellow selection out over a few more inches of territory. of A. gramineus called ‘Oborozuki’, anoth- Carole Ottesen is a contributing writer for Apparently, heat and deer are no er tough perennial that, though it didn’t The American Gardener. Her gardens in threats. Where there is no competition to grow much during the drought, stubborn- Maryland and Nova Scotia are thriving on

overshadow it, this two-inch-tall, plain ly stayed put in extremely dry shade. benign neglect. CAROLE OTTESEN (2)

28 the American Gardener LEFT: LYNNE HARRISON; RIGHT: KAREN BUSSOLINI Wild quinine Grass-leaved blazingstar Rattlesnake master Pale purpleconeflower Smooth blueaster( ■ ■ Nodding pinkonion formers infullsun. Zone 4),offersthislistofreliableper- field, Wisconsin(USDAZone4,AHS Neil DibollofPrairieNurseryinWest- Tickseed drought, recommendstheseplants: Zone 8)alsoweatheredaprolonged Alabama garden(USDAZone7,AHS Native plantexpertJanMidgley,whose Indian grass Swamp sunflower Blue falseindigo Black Sampson,coneflower extensive listsofplantsforeachregioncanbefoundonawebspeciallinkedtotheonlineversionthisarticle We checkedinwithexpertsfromaroundthecountryandgottheirrecommendationsfortough,drought-tolerantplants.More REGIONAL CHOICESFORTOUGHPERENNIALS *goes dormantindrought; willrevivewithwater ** selfsows Coreopsis verticillata Coreopsis Coreopsis verticillata Coreopsis MIDWEST SOUTHEAST um, vis angustifolius, pallida, folium, Zones 3–9,12–1) laeve angustifolia, graminifolia, Zones 3–9,9–1) Zones 4–9,9–1) 9–1) var. Zones 4–8,8–3) var. (Coreopsis concinnus, Zones 4–9,12–1) Zones 3–9,8–1) concinnum, (Sorghastrum nutans, (Sorghastrum (Parthenium integrifoli- (Parthenium oe –,9–1) Zones 4–9, Zones 5–9,12–2) Zones 6-9,9-4) (Baptisia australis, (Baptisia (Helianthus (Helianthus Symphyotrichum (Eryngium yucci- (Eryngium (Allium cernuum, (Allium spp., Zones4–8, Zones 5–8,9–4) ‘Moonbeam’ ‘Moonbeam’ (Echinacea syn. (Liatris (Echinacea A. lae- A. Snakeroot Prairie blazingstar Light poppymallow mends theseplantsfortheGreatPlains. (USDA Zone5,AHS6),recom- wholesale nurseryinClarkson,Nebraska Harlan HamernikofBluebirdNursery,a Bob Tanem,authorof ■ ■ Northern California, Northern Bear’s breeches AHS Zones8–4): northern California(USDAZones6–8, tough plantsthatthriveonneglectin Prairie lode Sticky skullcap Yellow coneflower Aromatic aster Ozark sundrops Stemmy fournervedaisy Prairie dropseed Compass plant Large beardtongue GREAT PLAINS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA lepis, oblongifolium 12–2) grandiflorus 9–1) carpa Zones 7–10,12–7)* Zones 4–8,8–1) ‘Smoky Hills,’Zones4–9,9–4) Zones 3–9,9–1) Zones 4–7,12–1) Zones 5–9,9–5) Zones 3–9,12–1) syn. Zones 5–8,8–3) stachya, scaposa oides Sunshine’ Zones 4–9,9–4) Aster oblongifolius, oblongifolius, Aster ‘Logan Calhoun’,Zones4–9, Zones 3–8,10–2) ‘Comanche Campfire’, (Liatris punctata, (Liatris var. Zones 3–9,9–2) (Calylophus serrulatus, (Calylophus , , syn. (Symphyotrichum (Symphyotrichum scaposa ‘War Axe’,Zones3–9, (Silphium laciniatum, (Silphium (Scutellaria resinosa (Scutellaria (Oenothera macro- (Oenothera (Acanthus mollis, (Acanthus (Sporobolus hetero- (Sporobolus ‘Dream ofBeauty’, Hymenoxys scaposa Hymenoxys (Ratibida pinnata, (Ratibida (Liatris pycno- (Liatris (Penstemon (Penstemon (Callirhoe alcae- (Callirhoe lists thefollowing ‘Prairie Perennials for Perennials (Tetraneuris Mexican oregano Gray damianita Hartweg’s sundrop subshrubs fortheSouthwest. mends thefollowingperennialsand (USDA Zone8,AHS11),recom- author wholivesinTucson,Arizona Scott Calhoun,agardendesignerand ■ Bergenia Autumn sage Firecracker penstemon Four o’clock Santa Barbaradaisy Jupiter’s beard Tetraneuris Blackfoot daisy Mexican sage Chuparosa honeysuckle,California Salvia leucantha Salvia Salvia leucantha Salvia SOUTHWEST leucanthum, eatoni, maderensis, Zones 4–9,8–5) Zones 4–10,8–1) Zones 3–6,6–1) Zones 7–9,9–4) Zones 5–9,9–5) Zones 8–11,12–4) Zones 9–11,12–1) beloperone skianus, mexicana, hartwegii, (Bergenia cordifolia, (Bergenia Zones 4–9,9–1) Zones 5–7,7–5)** (Tetraneuris acaulis, (Tetraneuris (Mirabilis jalapa, jalapa, (Mirabilis Zones 9–12,12–2) Zones 8–10,12–5) (Salvia greggii, greggii, (Salvia (Salvia leucantha, (Salvia (Justicia californica, (Justicia (Centranthus ruber, (Centranthus Zones 9–11,12–2). (Chrysactinia (Chrysactinia (Melampodium (Melampodium Zones 6–9,12–2) (Poliomintha (Poliomintha July /August 2008 (Calylophus (Erigeron karvin- (Erigeron (Penstemon (www.ahs.org). 29 ON MCKITRICK is the first to admit he didn’t set out to estab- R lish a hardy cacti collection. He and his wife, Jean, simply wanted to find more space for a houseplant collection that was overrunning their living room in Yakima, Washington. There just hap- pened to be a few cacti in the collection. Ron’s solution was to build a 16-by-24- foot greenhouse and move the house- plants into it. “The first winter the only plants that did really well were the cacti. The rest of them suffered because of the low temperatures, even though the green- house was heated,” he says. “So I got in- terested in cacti.”

That was in 1978. BY PAT MUNTS PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARK TURNER It wasn’t long before chance finds at local stores gave way to boxes of plants ordered from specialty nurseries. He built a second 18-by-32-foot greenhouse in 1981, and it was full by the end of that summer. Since a third greenhouse was Desert Bloom out of the question, he tried planting tree chollas (Cylindropuntia imbricata) outdoors on a south-facing wall where in the Northwest nothing else would survive Yakima’s summer heat. Not knowing just how hardy tree chol- In Washington State, a garden featuring thousands of hardy las were, he opted to cover them with a clear plastic tent during the winter. After cacti surprises many visitors. three years of repeatedly putting the plas- tic back up after storm damage, he decid- ran out of room there, he began remov- eral thousand individual plants and rep- ed to let the plants fend for themselves. ing some of the 200 dwarf apple trees, resenting hundreds of genera. Somewhat to his surprise, he discovered planted by the previous owner, to build they did just fine. more beds. Today, his Hillside Desert THE SETTING The rest is history. This first outdoor Botanical Gardens features 20 large To the uninitiated, Washington State bed was quickly joined by others built raised beds on a third of an acre filled may seem like an unlikely location to around the greenhouses. When McKitrick with a cactus collection numbering sev- grow cacti, but it turns out McKitrick’s

Above left: Ron and Jean McKitrick in their garden. Above right: Rosy flowers and decorative spines adorn Leding’s hedgehog cactus.

30 the American Gardener garden is in the perfect place to experi- it?” he asks rhetorically. “The more you ment with hardy cactus. The Cascade Visiting Hillside Gardens can get other people excited about it, the Mountains effectively block much of the Hillside Desert Botanical Gardens is more it does for the idea of growing rain and the mild maritime climate of the open to the public from April 1 cacti.” During the spring flowering sea- coast. As a result, Yakima gets an average through September 30 by appoint- son, the garden draws a variety of local of only six to eight inches of rain a year, ment only. For information about and regional community groups to see mostly between December and March. It tours, e-mail [email protected] the plants at peak bloom. is dry enough that native forms of prick- or visit www.hdbgi.com. As a member of the Cascade affiliate of ly pear (Opuntia spp.) and river cactus the Cactus and Succulent Society of Amer- (Pediocactus spp.) grow among the rocks, ica (CSSA), McKitrick also promotes cacti sagebrush, and bunchgrasses of the re- McKitrick has learned to rely on species by sharing his knowledge and plants across gion’s shrub-steppe environment. native to regions north of the border be- the region. In 2007, he helped establish the Yakima is located in USDA Zone 5 to tween Mexico and the United States. “It is cacti garden at the King County Master 6 and AHS Heat Zones 3 to 4. Summer rare that a plant from Mexico could toler- Gardener Demonstration Garden at the El temperatures regularly get over 100 de- ate our temperature minimums,” he says. Centro de la Raza Community Center in grees and winter temperatures average However, he has also had success with cacti Seattle’s Beacon Hill area. “His generosity into the low 20s. Sunlight is abundant and native to southern South America, espe- to us has just been incredible,” says Gene the humidity is relatively low year round. cially the Patagonia region. “The further Solyntjes, the Master Gardener who spear- McKitrick’s garden is located on the from the equator you go, the better the headed the project. This past spring, north-facing slope of Ahtanum Ridge chances that a plant will be winter-hardy McKitrick donated plants to a new garden above the Yakima Valley floor. “It’s three or in our region,” he observes. going in at the Point Defiance Zoo in four degrees warmer here than it is down Tacoma, Washington. another 150 feet (in elevation) in the bot- SHARING THE WEALTH “Ron is a real student of the cactus and tom of the valley,” he says. The extra heat McKitrick enjoys sharing his garden and succulent world—otherwise, he wouldn’t helps his cacti bloom two to three weeks his passion for cacti with others. “Why be able to do what he does.” says Peter ahead of a friend’s down in the valley. would you have a garden and then hide Gammarano, a long-time cacti collector

Cacti and succulents of all shapes, sizes, textures, and shades create a three-dimensional effect in the McKitricks’ garden

July / August 2008 31 and a fellow member of the Cascade use unusual methods for maintenance. TIPS FOR GROWING CSSA. “He knows all the tricks and is will- Weeding is the biggest issue. “I patrol ing to try things. There is a big difference the garden virtually every morning, and if HARDY CACTI between 33 degrees and 32 degrees, and anything germinated overnight, I pop it Hardy cacti withstand freezing tem- managing that successfully is what distin- out of there,” McKitrick says. “I don’t let peratures because they are able to re- guishes someone like Ron from those who anything get to the size where it’s going to move water from their fleshy stems are still trying and learning.” drop seeds.” prior to the onset of winter. The up- He uses an old butcher knife to reach right pads of prickly pears (Opuntia IT’S ALL ABOUT DRAINAGE under the spines and cut the roots of spp.) wilt flat to the ground, giving the Cacti need a very porous soil mix to keep any offending weeds. A shop vacuum water from collecting around the crown of comes in handy several times a year to the plants and rotting them. McKitrick suck up stray leaves, spent fruits, and uses a mix of weed-free native soil, coarse dead branches. The rocks serve as step- sand, and pumice to achieve the proper ping stones to the center of the beds for drainage. Because of Yakima’s proximity to maintenance. the volcanic peaks of the Cascades, pumice Moving and handling cacti calls for is readily available. long-handled tools and sturdy gloves.

Beavertail prickly pear cactus

impression they are dead. The round stems of chollas (Cylindropuntia spp.), hedgehogs (Echinocereus spp.) and river cacti (Pediocactus spp.) simply shrivel up. Keeping cacti dry in wetter cli- mates can be a challenge. In such re- gions, cacti plantings may need to be located on slopes or mounds so the ex- cess water can drain away. From ex- perience, Ron McKitrick has learned that the true hardiness of individual cactus plants is directly linked to how To avoid bodily injury, Ron McKitrick uses a shop vacuum to clean up debris among plants. much rain the plant receives during the winter. The more moisture around To contain this relatively heavy mix, he Since most cacti are shallow-rooted, a dig- the crown of the plant, the greater the built his beds out of railroad ties. Within ging fork or shovel easily lifts a plant out of chance that low temperatures will the beds, he mounds the soil mix to a the ground. Barbecue tongs are useful for prove damaging. depth of about a foot-and-a-half in the handling small plants. Very thick leather McKitrick recommends covering center, which further improves drainage. or rubber-coated gloves are essential to beds with landscape cloth and then McKitrick places a basketball-sized keep from getting spines in your hands. half an inch of gravel to help speed rock close to each plant to help shade the McKitrick waters his plants about drainage and reduce weed germination. soil and provide a water reserve for the three times during the summer, starting in Instead of the sheet plastic McKitrick plant. The rocks, which he and Jean col- late May. A 10-second drink for each plant uses, it may be necessary to erect a lect on their trips around the Northwest, is enough to keep them looking good in clear shelter, open to the air, over the also serve as a heat sink that holds heat the garden setting. Instead of fertilizing his plants. In regions that get lots of winter near the plant on cold nights and helps cacti, McKitrick relies on the nutrients rainfall, planting in pots that can be warm up the soil in the spring. available in the amended native soil. “Too moved under cover may be the only way In the wild, cactus spines protect the much fertilizer makes them grow errati- to successfully grow hardy cacti. plants from marauding animals looking cally and unnaturally,” he says. “They —P.M. for a drink or food. In the garden, the can’t be pampered, because it affects their spines mean that cactus gardeners have to winter hardiness.”

32 the American Gardener RON MCKITRICK’S FAVORITE CACTI The following plants are a few of Ron McKitrick’s favorites. USDA Hardiness Zones are estimates based on the plants not receiving any additional winter protection from moisture. Temperatures are minimums in degrees Fahrenheit the plants have been known to survive, based on the experience of Cactus and Succulent Society of America members.

Green-flowered hedgehog (Echinocereus viridiflorus, USDA Zone 6 (-10 degrees) Among the first to bloom in mid-April in McKitrick’s garden, this small, low-growing, clump-former bears chartreuse flowers that have a lemony scent.

King’s cup (Echinocereus triglochidiatus var. gonacanthus, Zone 8 (10 degrees) This upright cactus develops into large clumps over time. McKitrick’s measures five feet across and two-and-a-half feet tall after 15 years. The dark green stems are deeply lobed with clusters of tan spines on the stem ridges. It is a very free, early- season bloomer with flowers in shades of orange to red.

Leding’s hedgehog (Echinocereus ledingii, Zone 8 (15 degrees) Mohave mound cactus An open, clumping cactus with pale magenta flowers and densely clustered decorative spines. It grows to one-and-a-half feet tall.

Maihuen (Maihuenia poeppigii, Zone 8 (10 degrees) Native to the windy Patagonia region of South America, this cactus forms a ground- hugging mat of small stems that can reach four inches tall with stars of white spines. Its large, pale yellow blooms open above the stems. It will spread to a diameter of several feet in a few years, making it a great groundcover.

Mohave mound cactus (Echinocereus polyacanthus, Zone 8 (10 degrees) Native to the American Southwest, this beautiful clustering plant has pale pink flow- ers that bloom profusely. Its upright stems have a similar shape and color to King’s cup, but it grows about two feet across and slightly less tall. Maihuen

Prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp., variably hardy down to Zone 3 (–40 degrees) Members of this large group of flat-padded, upright cacti can grow between a foot and three feet tall, depending on the species. They bloom in shades of pink, yellow, white, burgundy, and orange.

River cactus (Pediocactus simpsonii, Zone 4 (–25 degrees) These baseball-sized clumping plants feature magenta flowers. Native to the Yaki- ma area, they are the earliest cacti to bloom in McKitrick’s garden.

Tree cholla (Cylindropuntia imbricata, Zone 4 (–25 degrees) This freely branching, tree-forming cholla grows to eight feet tall and several feet wide. It bears pale magenta flowers. River cactus

WINTER MANAGEMENT keep excess water off and provide some the winter before,” he says. “When I un- McKitrick prepares his plants for winter warmth. Winter moisture and humidity cover the plastic in the spring, I always find by stopping supplemental watering by levels are low enough in Yakima that mois- a few that didn’t make it or have some late September. The plants begin draw- ture build-up under the plastic is usually damage.” Observing which species make ing moisture out of their stems and pads, not a problem. The rest of the plants rely it and which ones don’t is part of the learn- wilting and shriveling up for the winter, on snow for insulation. ing curve for growing hardy cacti. which makes them less likely to suffer All this protection is no assurance that About the end of March, after the freeze damage later. the marginally hardy plants won’t be win- worst of the winter temperatures have In late October, when the first hard ter damaged. “There’s no guarantee from passed, he removes the plastic and begins freeze is forecast, he covers his marginally one year to the next that you won’t have his spring clean-up. The solar effect under hardy plants with sheets of clear plastic to damage on the same plant that got through the plastic usually guarantees a crop of

July / August 2008 33 Resources Cactus & Succulent Society of Ameri- ca, Pahrump, NV. (775) 751-1320. www.cssainc.org.

The Cactus Family by Edward F. Anderson. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2001.

Growing Winter Hardy Cacti in Cold Wet Climate Conditions by John N. Spain (self-published, available through online vendors), 1997. Sources High Country Gardens, Santa Fe, NM. (800) 925-9387. www.highcountry gardens.com.

K & L Cactus Nursery, Ione, CA. (209) 274-0360. home.inreach.com/klcactus.

Mesa Garden, Belen, NM. (505) 864-3131.www.mesagarden.com.

PUSHING THE ENVELOPE The diverse shapes of cacti and succulents such as, clockwise from bottom, kingcup cactus, According to Jon Rebman, curator of Utah agave, crested tree cholla, and soapweed yucca create intriguing design options. botany for the San Diego Natural His- tory Museum, gardeners in many re- weeds that now need to be pulled. panion plants to add different textures gions can embrace McKitrick’s garden By early April, the cacti begin their and structure. Among the companion style. “He’s providing inspiration for bloom cycle. The river cacti (Pediocactus plants McKitrick grows to highlight his people in other cold parts of the United spp.) bloom first in pale shades of cream, cacti is soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca, States to widen their plant palette and pink, and magenta followed by the hedge- Zone 3, -40 degrees F), which develops a selection.” hogs (Echinocereus spp.) in reds, pinks, spiky clump of gray green pointed leaves McKitrick is aware his garden is in- and white. These are followed through that grow three feet tall and four or more fluencing peoples’ perception of cacti. June with a progression of different gen- feet across. It makes a nice specimen for And he continues to try to push the en- era in brilliant shades of pink, apricot, background planting. velope. “For me, the challenge is trying white, red, burgundy, and orange. The He also integrates century plant (Agave to find new species that are not regarded exact colors range widely because many neo-mexicana, which is hardy to Zone 8 as winter-hardy and getting them varieties readily cross pollinate and pro- with protection (10 degrees F). It forms an through the winter and into glorious duce offspring that have flowers in colors upright clump of thick gray-green leaves bloom the next year,” he says. As interest very different from the parent plants. “An- with black teeth on the edges. in xeric landscaping grows, he hopes other reason to grow winter-hardy cacti is McKitrick uses ground-huggers such what he has learned and shared will find that cold weather brings on far more as hens-and-chicks (Sempervivum tecto- its way into gardens of others who are blooms than constant warm tempera- rum) and white stonecrop (Sedum willing to experiment with these barbed tures,” notes McKitrick. At the end of the album) liberally to fill in spaces between beauties. season, cacti fruit replaces the flowers in cacti and add texture and color to his gar- shades of yellow, red, and purple. den. White stonecrop has a white flower Pat Munts is a freelance garden writer and in the spring and its foliage turns reddish editor based in Spokane, Washington. She CACTI COMPANIONS green in the winter. Both are hardy to writes for the Spokesman-Review in Any garden looks better with some com- Zone 3 (–40 degrees F). Spokane and Master Gardener magazine.

34 the American Gardener

36 Shade Garden lighting upthesummer In latesummer, variegatedtoadlily intermingle tolight upashadyspotattheNewYork BotanicalGarden. the American Gardener (Tricyrtis hirta (Tricyrtis ‘Variegata’) and Japanesepaintedfern grow bestinfairly rich,well-drained, acidic son togoaheadanddoit. soil testedrecently, thisgives you agoodrea- into accountaswell. If you haven’t hadyour areas intheWest), you willneedtotakepH of theSoutheast(including parts andmany live inanarea thattendstohave alkaline soil biggest impactonplantselection,andifyou levels and pH.Theformerwillhave the consider twomajorfactors:soilmoisture Before selectingplantsforyour shadysite, SITE ANALYSIS I pealing throughout thesummerseason. brighten shadyspotsandkeepthemap- faded away. Avariety ofplantswill and boringoncespringbloomershave the rest ofthegarden. the shadiestpatcheswhere theyoverlook glass oficedtea—are alwayspositionedin along withtablestosetabookorcool land’s EasternShore, chairsorbenches— canopy ofleaves. In mygarden onMary- ternoon thaninthegarden undera better placetowhileawayasummeraf- green andbecomeoverlooked. though, shadegardens typicallyfadeto nials thrive inshade.By midsummer, flowers andmanyspring-bloomingperen- drifts ofbrightcolor, earlybloomingwild- or woodlandgarden. flowers orfoliagetoyourshade plants withbrightlycolored the heatofsummerbyadding Create awelcomingretreatin Most oftheplantscovered inthisarticle Shade gardens don’t have toturndark becausethere’sThis isunfortunate, no N SPRING, hardy bulbssuchasdaffodilsproduce by inshadegardens. Not onlydo BY BARBARAELLIS flowers are easytocome

KAREN BUSSOLINI Colorful annuals such as impatiens and begonias, above left, and coleus ‘Green Giant’, above right, are great for filling in bare spots in shady beds.

to neutral soil that either stays moderately need rich, moist, well-drained soil. White- I also love variegated forms of H. ven- moist year-round or gets regular watering flowered selections stand out better in the tricosa, including ‘Aureomarginata’ and in periods of drought. A few are tolerant of shadows than blue ones. Pink-flowered ‘Variegata’. In addition to their green either soggy conditions or fairly dry shade, edging lobelias are also shade standouts. leaves marked with yellow and/or white, and I have indicated those as needed. Shade-loving annuals with colorful they produce tall, exceptionally showy foliage are another great choice. Coleus scapes of purple flowers in late summer. EASY COLOR FOR SHADE (Solenostemon scutellarioides, Zones 11–11, Other hosta standouts include char- Annuals and tender perennials lighten up 12–1) tops the list with a variety of shapes treuse-leaved ‘Zounds’ and ‘Sum and Sub- a shade garden from summer right to frost and patterns that rival most flowers. My stance’, along with white-margined for a minimum of effort and expense. friend Ray Rogers, author of Coleus: ‘Francee’, ‘Wide Brim’, and ‘Patriot’. For sites in full shade, impatiens (Im- Rainbow Foliage for Containers and Gar- ‘Paul’s Glory’ and ‘Gold Standard’ feature patiens walleriana, USDA Zones 10–11, dens (Timber Press, 2007), suggests yel- green-edged leaves with yellow to char- AHS Zones 12–1) are one of the best bets, low- or chartreuse-colored selections treuse in the center. because the flowers are held above the fo- such as ‘Dappled Apple’, ‘Copacetic Yel- liage and reflect the maximum amount of low’, and ‘Sunn’s Green and Gold’. light. White-flowered and pale pink selec- Other foliage annuals for shade include tions lighten shady spots most effectively, polka-dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya, but reds and orange-reds add a shock of Zones 10–11, 12–4) and variegated plec- color that’s otherwise hard to come by in tranthus (Plectranthus forsteri ‘Margina- shade. To give the garden maximum tex- tus’, Zones 10–11, 12–1). ture and interest, interplant impatiens in drifts among perennials such as ferns and COLOR FROM FOLIAGE hostas that have variegated leaves. Garden Of the many perennials with stunning balsam (Impatiens balsamina, Zones 0–0, foliage that can brighten shady beds and 12–1) and wax begonias (Begonia Semper- borders, variegated and chartreuse-leaved florens group, Zones 11–11, 12–1) also hostas (Hosta spp., Zones 3–8, 9–2) top bloom in full shade. my list of favorites. All grow in full shade, Provided with dappled light or morn- although leaves color up best when the ing sun, a number of other annuals flower plants are given part or dappled shade— all season. These include Madagascar peri- or, ideally, a spot with morning sun and winkle (Catharanthus roseus, Zones 9–11, afternoon shade. 12–1) and four-o’clock (Mirabilis jalapa, My favorites include giant cultivars Zones 10–11, 12–1), both of which grow in such as ‘Sagae’ (formerly H. fluctuans ‘Var- average well-drained soil. Browallia iegata’) which has blue-gray leaves edged in (Browallia speciosa, Zones 10–11, 8–1) and yellow, as well as ‘Regal Splendor’, which edging lobelia (Lobelia erinus, Zones features vase-shaped clumps of gray-green Variegated hostas such as ‘Ginkgo Craig’,

TOP LEFT: ALAN AND LINDA DETRICK; RIGHT: DAVID CAVAGNARO. BOTTOM: JERRY PAVIA 10–11, 9–1) also bloom in part shade and leaves edged with creamy white or yellow. foreground, and ‘Golden Tiara’ offer texture.

July / August 2008 37 38 um She recommends barrenworts (Epimedi- intermediate textures toadd,”saysAskey. ferns isclassic,butthere are wonderful dens. “Using chunkyhostaswithdelicate adding interest tosummershadegar- tural combinationsare essentialfor use flowers asaccent.”We agree thattex- combinations that“rely onfoliageand Linda Askey, wholives inAlabama,loves and finertexture tohostaplantings. chartreuse-and-green ‘Kabitan’ addcolor such aswhite-edged‘Ginkgo Craig’ and upright stalksinsummer. Petite hostas green leaves andshowy lavender flowers on sized, vigorous hostawithgold-edged better than‘Golden Tiara’, amedium- grow asagroundcover, althoughI’ve had 5–9, 9–2)isanother plantsomegardeners grass tures yellow-striped green leaves. too muchsun.Thecultivar ‘Variegata’ fea- drained soil.Theleaves burnifexposedto south ofUSDAZone 8inmoist,well- makes afinegroundcover forfullshade pidistra elatior sure asahouseplant: cast-iron plant can alsogrow outdoorsaplant thatItrea- capillus-veneris), southern maidenhairfern(Adiantum with agold/green variegated hosta, forminacomposition comes avertical but aclumpofgoldenedgedliriopebe- Planted enmasse,theyare ratherdull, added benefitofflowering inAugust. 8–1) andvariegated liriope,whichhasthe machia nummularia says. “Ialsolikecreeping Jenny the variegated ones,isdelightful,”she are groundcovers. “Ajuga, particularly looked plantsforlightingupdark areas and willtolerateseasonallysoggysites. sweet flagthriveand dwarf inmoistsoils right combination,drama.”Bothsedges 9–5). Theseaddlight,color, andwiththe (Acorus gramineus (Carex the different speciesandcultivars ofsedges through thetree canopyabove. Ilove all golden foliageislikeastreak ofsunlight fect ofplantsthatfeature lime-green and My friendandfellow garden writer For plantsare edgingshadybeds,few Richly colored variegated Hakone Warm-climate gardeners suchasAskey Askey maintainsthatthemostover- According toAskey, inshade“the ef- spp.) for dry shade. spp.) fordry the American Gardener (Hakonechloa macra spp.), sweet aswell flag asdwarf , Zones 7–11,12–4), and creeping Jenny.” ‘Ogon’, Zones 6–9, ‘Aurea’, Zones 4–8, ‘Aureola’, Zones which (Lysi- (As- fern mer, andit combineswell withhostas. splash ofsunshinetoshadyspots insum- green-and-yellow stripedleaves adda plant’s handsomemoundsofarching mental grassinalargepot.Either way, the better luckkeepingthisstunningorna- nicely toform a broad mound andgrow fronds flushedwithred. Plants spread whichfeatures silvery Zones 5–8,8–1), European redelder‘SutherlandGold’,above,withdelicatelyfilagreed leaves. For dramaticcolorinpartshade,fewplantssurpassvariegated Hakonegrass,top,and Another favorite isJapanese painted (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum, odoratum variegated Solomon’s seal periods.Anotherfoliagefavorite is dry brief well-drained soil,andalsosurvive tofullshade.Theythrive inrich, in part well-drained soil.Unlike many perenni- zones. Give plantsasitewith rich,moist, although fullsunisfinein northern white. It, too, prefers tofullshade, part upright leaves withleafletsedgedin Zones 3–8,9–1),whichbearsarching, var. pluriflorum pluriflorum ‘Variegatum’, (Polygonatum

TOP: CAROLE OTTESEN. BOTTOM: ALEKSANDRA SZYWALA als, this species also features handsome thrive in sun or shade, and reach one to clear yellow fall color. two feet in height. They can spread vigor- When adding color to their summer ously by rhizomes and self-sowing, so they shade garden, Karyn and Nick Bischoff of are best used in spots with poor, dry soil Stargazer Perennials in Summerville, Ore- and full shade. Two other fall-blooming, gon, prefer big and bold. A favorite is the shade-loving native asters to look for are European red elder (Sambucus racemosa blue wood aster (A. cordifolius, Zones 4–8, ‘Sutherland Gold’, Zones 3–7, 7–1), a large 8–1) and large-leaved aster (A. macrophyl- shrub with “fantastic golden foliage that lus, Zones 3–8, 8–1). brings real architecture and contrast” to the For delicate-looking, bright yellow summer garden. Plants reach 10 feet in late-summer flowers, consider wreath height and spread eight to 10 feet in aver- goldenrod (Solidago caesia, Zones 4–8, age to rich, moist soil. If they get too large, 9–1) and zig-zag goldenrod (S. flexicaulis, prune them back to the base in late winter Zones 3–9, 8–1). Both grow in sun or and new shoots will emerge in spring. shade and tolerate moist to dry soil. Wreath goldenrod is a one- to four-foot- FLOWERING PERENNIALS tall clumper with arching stems; zigzag Several native wildflowers head the list of goldenrod grows to two feet tall and useful plants for summer shade gardens. Black cohosh’s cream-colored, fragrant spreads to three feet or more. Among the showiest are the cimicifugas flower spikes offer midsummer fireworks. Karyn and Nick Bischoff also suggest or bugbanes (Cimicifuga spp., syn. Actaea goatsbeard (Aruncus dioicus, Zones 3–7, spp.), which produce stately one- to two- Zones 4–8, 8–4), native to Russia and the 7–1) for midsummer bloom. Native from foot wands of white flowers in midsum- Far East, blooms in fall. All will thrive in Siberia to North America, goatsbeard mer to fall. Of these, earliest to bloom is moist, rich soil and, for best bloom, a grows four or five feet tall and produces black cohosh (C. racemosa, Zones 3–8, partly shaded spot. white astilbelike plumes. “Aruncus looks 8–3), which produces flowers in mid- Native asters (Aster spp.) and golden- great and shines like a lantern when plant- summer atop five-foot-tall mounds of fo- rods (Solidago spp.) also contribute cheery ed behind and blooming above Ligularia liage. American bugbane (C. americana, flowers to the summer and fall garden. dentata ‘Othello’,” says Nick. Zones 3–8, 8–3), another native, bears its White wood aster (Aster divaricatus, To keep his late-season shade gardens branched flower clusters atop four-foot- Zones 4–8, 8–1) produces an abundance in New Jersey bright and colorful, Ray tall mounds of foliage from late summer of small white daisies from midsummer to Rogers depends on toad lilies (Tricyrtis to fall. Autumn snakeroot (C. simplex, mid-fall. Plants grow in nearly any soil, spp.), an often-overlooked genus of sum-

MORE BRIGHT FOLIAGE PLANTS FOR SHADE Name Height/Width Description and Culture Origin USDA, AHS (feet) Zones Carex elata ‘Aurea’ 2/2 Clumping, deciduous species with chartreuse Europe 5–8, 8–3 Bowles golden sedge leaves. Moist to wet soil. Carex morrowii ‘Variegata’ 1/1–2 Clumping, evergreen; leaves variegated with silver. Japan 5–9, 12–1 Variegated Japanese sedge Rich, moist, well-drained soil. Carex siderosticha 1/1 Rhizomatous, deciduous species. White- eastern Asia 6–9, 9–6 ‘Variegata’ striped leaves. ‘Lemon Zest’ has extra-wide yellow to yellow-green leaves. Moist soil. Hydrangea quercifolia 4–6/4–6 Bears yellow leaves that turn red in fall. southeastern 5–9, 9–5 ‘Little Honey’ White summer flowers. United States Oakleaf hydrangea Lamium maculatum 1/2–3 These cultivars have silver, green-edged leaves. Europe, 4–8, 8–1 ‘Beacon Silver’ and Dappled or part shade. northern ‘White Nancy’ dead nettle. Africa Pulmonaria spp. 1–2/2–3 Many hybrids feature green silver-spotted Europe 4–8, 8–1 Lungworts leaves. Part shade with rich, moist soil. Tradescantia ‘Sweet Kate’ 1–2/1–2 Violet-blue flowers summer to fall and hybrid origin 6–9, 9–5 Spiderwort chartreuse leaves. Light, all-day shade with average soil. DAVID CAVAGNARO

July / August 2008 39 Sources Busse Gardens, Big Lake, MN. (800) 544-3192. www.bussegardens.com.

Digging Dog Nursery, Albion, CA. (707) 937-1130. www.diggingdog.com.

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

Klehm’s Song Sparrow Farm & Nurs- ery, Avalon, WI. (800) 553-3715. www.songsparrow.com.

Pine Ridge Gardens, London, AR. (479) 293-4359. www.pineridge In late summer to early fall, add color with gardens.com. zigzag goldenrod, above, and ‘Little Carlow’ blue wood aster, growing with Clematis Wayside Gardens, Hodges, SC. viticella ‘Polish Spirit’, right. (800) 845-1124. www.wayside gardens.com. mer- to fall-blooming perennials. Hardi- est of these is T. hirta ( Zones 4–9, 9–6), which blooms in early fall. Plants bear up- Resources ward-facing, star-shaped flowers that The Complete Shade Gardener by range from white to pinkish purple with George Schenk, Timber Press, Port- reddish-purple spots. For the best effect in land, Oregon. 1984 (revised 2002). shade, look for pure white-flowered T. hirta ‘Alba’. Give plants rich, moist, well- Foliage: Astonishing Color and Texture drained soil and part to full shade. Rogers Beyond Flowers by Nancy J. Ondra, also recommends yellow wax-bells (Kiren- Storey Publishing, North Adams, geshoma palmata, Zones 5–8, 8–5), which Massachusetts, 2007. bears pale yellow bell-shaped flowers from late summer to fall. Hardy begonia (Begonia grandis ssp. ing around them and reconsider planti- ‘Praecox’ and C. viticella (Zones 4–11, evansiana, Zones 6–9, 9–5) is another late- ng them if children play in your garden. 9–1). All need light to part shade. Anoth- season stunner for shade. Plants produce er outstanding vine for part shade is Schiz- arching, two-foot-tall cymes of pink or SHRUBS AND VINES ophragma hydrangeoides ‘Moonlight’ white flowers in summer. Tiny bulbils that One of my favorite plants for lighting up (Zones 6–9, 9–6) which has creamy flow- form in the leaf axils can be collected in fall the shade is smooth hydrangea (Hy- ers and silvery foliage that will gleam and used to propagate them (sow them drangea arborescens, Zones 4–9, 9–1), es- against the trunk of a tree. like seeds) in early spring. pecially ‘Annabelle’, which bears huge So whether your garden is large or Aconites or monkshoods (Aconitum corymbs of white flowers in summer. An- small, there are countless ways you can spp.) are showy perennials that produce other hydrangea worth trying is ‘Lime- add sparkle to shade plantings all summer their erect clusters of late summer to fall light’ (Zones 3–9, 9–4), a cultivar of the long. The plants listed here are just a start- flowers in part shade. Late-blooming se- panicled hydrangea (H. paniculata). Its ing point; as you visit botanical gardens or lections include A. ✕cammarum ‘Bicolor’ large flower clusters are creamy white to the homes of friends, you are bound to (Zones 3–7, 8–3) with violet-blue and chartreuse in summer, turning pink in fall. spot new favorites and combinations that white flowers, violet-flowered A. Vines are also an option, including will work well in your shady site. carmichaelii (Zones 3–8, 8–3), and wolf’s some of the clematis (Clematis spp.) that bane (A. lycoctonum, Zones 3–8, 8–3), have late-season flowers. Look for late, Garden writer Barbara Ellis’s most recent with yellow flowers. All thrive in rich, large-flowered hybrids such as ‘Gravetye book is Covering Ground: Unexpected moist, cool soil. All parts of monkshoods Beauty’ or ‘Betty Corning’ as well as late- Ideas for Landscaping with Colorful, Low- ✕ are poisonous, so take care when work- blooming species such as C. jouiniana Maintenance Ground Covers (Storey, 2008). TOP: LYNNE HARRISON. BOTTOM: MICHAEL S. THOMPSON

40 the American Gardener

42 by MaryYee Roger Doiron:KitchenGardening foraBetterFuture I home garden inthismovement. tohelpsolve globalproblemscan participate andwayseveryone directormanaging editorandart for made itintoanyspeeches:He wouldlikethenextpresident toturntheWhiteHouse lawnintothecoun- Well, clearly, that it’s growing and expand- terest infoodgardening today? does thistellyou aboutthelevel ofin- gardeners from 100countries.What KGI hasgrown into anetwork of6,000 preparing someofone’s own food? ter waythanthrough growing and and personalawayaspossible.Whatbet- ple tomakethisconnectioninasdirect groupa new thatwouldencouragepeo- ronment, and Ifeltthere wasaneedfor connection between foodandtheenvi- group. There Isawpeoplemakingthe for 10years foraglobalenvironmental was livinginBelgium, where Iworked Roger Doiron: KGI inlate2003? Yee:Mary importance totheAmericanpeople.One issuethatRogerimportance Doiron wouldlikethemtoaddress hasn’t N THIS the American Gardener What inspired you tofound election year, thepresidential candidateshave beenbusycampaigningonmyriadissuesof The ideabeganwhenI as aproduct, butinEurope, people see food. In theU.S.,we tendtothinkoffood I thinkwe’ve losttouchwiththeculture of proaches tofoodandgardening? the European andAmericanap- What differences doyou seebetween community members. andtheir looking toconnectwiththeearth ing physicallyactive, citydwellers whoare eating, seniorswhoseeitasawayofstay- cerned aboutwhattheiryoung children are food production, parents whoare con- most environmentally responsible formof ple fresh outofcollege whoseeitasthe taking upkitchengardening—young peo- fun seeingthediversity ofpeoplewhoare thusiasts intoalargersocialmovement. It’s ing from itsoriginalcore ofgardening en- in thefoodprocess,Yee, andheisonamissiontochangethat.Mary thisfoodtothetable. fuel wasusedtotransport into halfayear’s supplyofproduce forhisfamilyoffive—and nofossil home inScarborough, Maine, ofvegetable seeds heturned$85worth a waytosave moneyandtakecare oftheplanet.He sayslastyear, athis has positive ramificationsbeyond fresher, healthiermeals—heseesitas moting homefoodgardening, believes thatbackyard foodproduction ers International (KGI), anon-profit web-based communityforpro- a 41-year-old environmental advocate andfounderofKitchenGarden- timist, Doiron remains hopeful. reader response, butnobiteyet from politicians.Aself-describedop- ed onapolitically-orientedwebsite, hasreceived muchfavorable try’s mosthigh-profile foodgarden. Thisidea,whichherecently post- The American Gardener, talkedtoDoiron aboutthe power ofthe N NOEWITH ONE ON ONE According toDoiron, notenoughAmericansactively participate Politics andgardening are rarely joinedinconversation, butDoiron, C … turned into avegetable garden. You also calls fortheWhite House lawntobe dening: The“EattheView” proposal more Americansinvolved infoodgar- You’ve offered two ideasforhelpingget therefore alwayslookingforshortcuts. butpoorintimeand money and“stuff” We’reone ofthemostimportant. richin in theU.S.,butconvenience factoris tributed tothedeclineofhomegardening of themmyself, whydoanythingelse?” most economicalfoodsby growing some ask, “If Ican have thefreshest, tastiest, and should Igarden?” Europeans, however, I cangetmyfoodinotherways,why cent generationshave askedthemselves, “If food asaprocess. Many Americansin re- There are alotofforces thathave con-

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROGER DOIRON suggest that tax breaks be given to peo- the forms of gas and oil-derived fertiliz- For more information about ple who grow their own food. What’s be- ers and pesticides—to produce 1 calorie Kitchen Gardeners International, visit hind these ideas? of food energy. www.kitchengardeners.org. As I wrote when I posted the idea of plant- Many reputable geologists feel that ing a food garden on the White House we’re fast approaching “peak oil”—that such an educational opportunity. lawn, the White House is “America’s point in time when we’ve pumped out We leave it up to our supporters to de- House” and should set an example. more oil than remains in the earth. Al- cide how they want to recognize the day. The idea of a tax break for gardeners though it’s only possible to know that The tradition in my neighborhood is to originated from my own annual income with certainty in retrospect, rising glob- organize a walking tour of three to four tax filing ritual. Since I work from home, al oil prices suggest that demand is out- gardens—including a school garden— I can claim a tax credit for the amount of stripping supply—and as oil prices rise, followed by a community potluck meal. space I use for income generation. This got food prices rise with them. me thinking: Why shouldn’t we also get a All of our oil won’t suddenly run out, What advice do you have for novice tax break for the part of our yards used for of course, but the stuff that’s cheap and gardeners who would like to begin a food generation? The government offers easy to get will, and we need to be plan- food garden? tax credits to people for putting solar pan- ning for what comes after oil is depleted. Start small, grow what you enjoy, and build on your successes. I also recommend finding a garden mentor in your commu- nity, but if that’s not possible, there are lots of good garden books for guides.

How can people without gardens get involved in the local food movement? Fortunately, there are more and more op- tions. I was in New York City last year for a garden celebration and was excited to hear New Yorkers tell me about their com- munity, rooftop, and balcony gardens. It’s amazing to see how much food can be pro- duced in a little space, even in containers. For people with no space at all, farmers markets and Community Supported Agri- culture farms—CSAs—offer excellent op- portunities for getting locally grown food.

One of the oft-heard criticisms of food gardens in suburbia is that they don’t look good. Are aesthetics important? Aesthetics matter a great deal. A garden, Roger Doiron recently installed this new vegetable bed in his suburban front yard. whether it’s ornamental, edible, or a mix- ture of the two, should be an inviting els on their houses and hybrid vehicles in I see organic gardens playing a huge role space. In our garden, we have an appealing their garages, so why not offer incentives in feeding a post-oil world. mix of mature trees, shrubs, flower beds, for growing our own food? and beds for edibles, including a brand There’s been great support in the gar- KGI has designated the fourth Sunday new one smack dab in the middle of our dening community for both ideas. The each August (August 24 this year) as front lawn. Since putting it in, we’ve had more people that push for these ideas, the Kitchen Garden Day. What do you nothing but praise from our neighbors, in- more politicians will need to listen. suggest people do that day? cluding from one who asked if we could Creating a culture of gardens and gar- help her do the same thing in her yard. You’ve written about home gardening deners requires that we bring people to- Suburbia is changing, and so is the as a solution to the problem of rising gether at the local level to teach one suburban aesthetic. In the future, beauty oil prices and our dependence on it. another. In the past, people learned to and utility won’t be seen as mutually ex- Could you explain the connection be- grow and cook foods primarily through clusive gardening goals, but as part of the tween oil and our food? family members, but with gardening’s same continuum. The short answer is that in our current decline over the past 50 years, that edu- highly-industrialized food system, it cational structure has been weakened. Mary Yee is managing editor and art director takes 10 calories of fossil fuel energy—in Kitchen Garden Day is meant to offer of The American Gardener.

July / August 2008 43 44 by KathrynLundJohnson Understanding SlugsisKeytoControl L in their bodies—vestiges of the shells they sported centuriesago.in theirbodies—vestiges oftheshellstheysported not have thesnails’ protective coiledshell,someslugspeciesdohave platelikeorchalkyremnants with- era, 248millionyears ago,manyhadacquired terrestrial adaptationssuch aslungs.Althoughslugsdo slime trailscontain pheromones andother traction, sometimes lubrication.”The it by thesnail’s foot—sometimes providing pending ontheamountofpressure puton “complex stuff, changing consistencyde- Atkinson describeslocomotionmucusas ing thefamiliarslimetrailin itswake. foot. Mucus helpstheslugglidealong,leav- amounts ofmucussecreted by glandsinthe bricating theslugonitswayare copious relaxation ofmuscle fibersinthefoot.Lu- ably elaborateprocess ofcontractionand Slug locomotionoccursthrough aremark- ANDREPRODUCTION LOCOMOTION ing slimetraildetection. lower tentaclesforcloseupsmell, includ- cles are usedfor distancesmellandthe indicate thattheupper, or“optic,” tenta- tips. According toAtkinson, somestudies padsatthe sensory Both setshave olfactory the lower tentaclesaccommodatetaste. tails, butcandistinguishlightfrom dark; tain simpleeyes thatcannotseecolororde- The tipsoftheupperpairtentaclescon- tissueare locatedintheslug’snervous head. and shapeofteeth.” species hasitsown characteristic number a species-specificstructure; thatis,eachslug radulais ty inEastLansing,explains,“The sor ofzoology atMichigan State Universi- shred food.James W. Atkinson, aprofes- contains upwards of27,000tinyteeth that calledaradula,which rasplike instrument mechanismisa cular foot.Thechewing faces downward ofitsmus- inthefront part odd yet aptmoniker, sincetheslug’s mouth Gastropod means“stomach-foot”—an ANATOMY SLUG Two pairsoftentaclesandabundle the American Gardener Some allgastropods 500millionyears were ago,virtually gilledmarinecreatures. By theMesozoic K NIS LIMPETS, IKE SNAILS, whelks, andconchs,slugsare gastropods—the largestclassofmollusks. The EuropeanblackslugisacommonpestinNorthAmericangardens. in crevices beneathrotting materialandin pending onthe species,andare deposited slugs gives andreceives sperm. Mating culminateswheneachofthetwo hours ofcontactpriortocopulation. species isnotavailable. occurs onlyifanotherslugofthesame slug tomatewithitself, butthisgenerally Itfemale parts. isphysicallypossiblefora maphroditic—having bothmaleand arate animals,butmostslugsare her- and femalereproductive structures onsep- other tothepresence ofpredators. onean- their wayhome,andpossiblyalert for matingpurposes,assisttheminfinding chemicals thathelpslugslocateeachother AUA CONNECTIONS NATURAL Eggs numberfrom three to50,de- The reproductive cycle begins with The majorityofgastropods have male C tum), gagates), maximus), ing thegreat graygarden slug(Limax Several non-native slugs,however, includ- wastes, anddisperseseedsspores. thesoilwiththeirrich material, fertilize and wetlands. Theyconsumedecaying food web, abidinginourforests, fields, They are membersofthesoil important Our native slugsare notgarden pests. SPECIES TROUBLESOME NON-NATIVE ater) hearts hearts mature months. toadulthood withinafew lings appearinthree toeightweeks and other moist,shadylocations.Tiny hatch- Some plants,includingviolas,bleeding are commongarden pests. and European blackslug(Arion (Dicentra milky slug(Deroceras reticula- greenhouse slug(Milax spp.), phlox, impatiens,

LYNNE HARRISON Diatomaceous earth, created from Resources the exoskeletons of ancient aquatic algae, is often suggested as an abrasive and Slug Anatomy 101, oregonstate.edu/ caustic barrier, but it is most effective in dept/nurspest/slug_anatomy.htm. dry conditions, not in the damp nooks where slugs reside. If inhaled, diatoma- Snails and Slugs: Management Guide- ceous earth is toxic to animals, including lines,www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/ humans, so it should be used with ex- PESTNOTES/pn7427.html. treme caution. USE CHEMICALS AS LAST RESORT a headlamp is helpful. Use forceps or gar- Until a few years ago, most chemical slug den gloves since the mucus is difficult to control products contained active ingre- wash off. If the mucus does get on your dients such as metaldehyde and carba- hands, rub them with a towel before mate that are toxic to a wide range of an- washing, or roll the mucus off as you imals, including people. Slugs are partial to hostas, especially those would rubber cement. Drop collected Newer products based on less-toxic ac- with green and variegated foliage. slugs into a jar of soapy water. tive ingredients such as iron phosphate, are Slugs can be trapped under newspapers now available. Tests have shown these to be coral bells (Heuchera spp.), and rhodo- or boards. Check under them periodical- just as effective as the older, more toxic dendrons, are less appealing to slugs; oth- ly and dispose of the slugs you find. Beer chemicals, so if you are unable to remedy ers—lettuce, strawberries, tuberous traps will also snare the pests. Bury a shal- your slug problem with earth- and animal- begonias, and primroses—are among low pan with the rim just above ground friendly cultural or mechanical methods, their favorites. As for hostas, Bill Symond- surface, pour in beer plus a little baker’s you may want to try one of these. son of the Cardiff School of Biosciences at yeast. Slugs, attracted by the odor of fer- “Iron phosphate is a relatively reason- the University of Wales in Cardiff, notes mentation, will climb into the liquid and able way to try to control pest slugs. It is, that colors of the popular plants are fac- drown. Empty the traps regularly. however, easily washed away, necessitat- tors in slug-resistance. “I am not alone in ing frequent re-applications,” says Atkin- observing that green, and especially, varie- son. Among the products using iron gated hostas are more appealing to slugs phosphate are Sluggo, Slug Magic, and than are the blue varieties,” he says. Escar-Go! CULTURAL DETERRENTS HELP FROM NEMATODES Since slugs require moist, shady environ- A biological approach to slug control may ments, remove debris under which slugs can one day be available to American garden- hide. When mulching, avoid using large ers. The larva of a parasitic nematode, chips and do not exceed three inches in (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita), cur- depth. Water your garden early in the day so rently available only in Europe, enters the dampness is gone by nighttime, when slugs slug and releases a bacterium. In the Unit- are on the move. Ensure adequate ventila- ed States, Parwinder Grewal, an ento- tion in the garden by spacing plants appro- mologist with Ohio State University’s priately, removing lower plant leaves, and Ohio Agricultural Research and Devel- staking tall plants. Grow lettuce and beans, opment Center, is carrying out studies to plants that slugs find very tasty, as trap crops determine if one of our native North to entice slugs away from other plants. American nematode species might al- Encourage slug predators such as A strip of copper edging in this flower bed ready be contributing to the control of ground beetles, rove beetles, firefly larvae, serves as a barrier for slugs. slug populations. snakes, turtles, frogs, salamanders, birds, However you view these creatures, and small mammals. Mulching helps build Rough-topped edging, lava rock, and they are part of the garden ecosystem. up populations of the beneficial beetles. In- copper bands will deter slugs. Of these ap- This is why using cultural methods vite birds and additional predators by cre- proaches, the copper bands are the most rather than chemical ones is more bene- ating ponds and providing protective and expensive, but possibly most effective. ficial to you as well as wildlife as you berry-rich shrubs. Place the band, no less than three inches slug it out. wide, around slug-susceptible plants, with MECHANICAL CONTROLS AND BARRIERS the top bent outward. Copper is toxic to Based in Middleville, Michigan, Kathryn Handpicking also helps control slugs. slugs; the mucus on a slug’s foot interacts Lund Johnson enjoys delving into the links

TOP LEFT: MARY YEE. RIGHT: MARK TURNER Night is a good time for a slug hunt, and with the copper, so the animal avoids it. between nature and gardens.

July / August 2008 45 46 LawnService FertilizerLawnService with.28 Halts. and Crabgrass Preventer; andScotts Turf Builder Max Plus 2Weed &Feed Weed &Feed AndFire AntKiller;Scotts Preventer; ScottsBonusSMax Southern Miracle-Gro Shake ‘n Feed Plus Weed chased anyofthefollowing products: site forconsumerswhomayhave pur- onitsweb- Scotts haspostedinstructions workers and managers.” and thenhidthoseactionsfrom co- submitted toFederal andstateregulators, invalid product registration formsto be circumvented companypolicies,caused terminated employee had“deliberately the companyrecently learnedthatanow- chairman ofScotts,Jim Hagedorn, says tered withtheEPA. In response, the consumers, itmustbetestedandregis- order foraproduct tobepurchased by the EnvironmentalProtectionAgency. One oftheScottsproductsbeingrecalledby registered. According toregulation, in indicated, incorrectly, thattheyhadbeen Gro. Thelabelson someoftheproducts bicide products soldby ScottsMiracle- or improperly labeledpesticideandher- Agency (EPA) barred several unregistered In April, theEnvironmental Protection PRODUCTS MIRACLE-GRO SCOTTS FORMISLABELED EPA RECALL Horticultural NewsandResearch ImportanttoAmericanGardeners In compliancewiththeEPA’s recall, the American Gardener many oftheplant collectionsandgarden abandonment orextreme neglect of to include“deep andmassive stafflayoffs, tum, consequencesofthecuts are likely thearbore-organization thatsupports tional Arboretum (FONA),avolunteer proximately $3million. combined operatingbudgettotalsap- cation andVisitors Unit, Services whose rectly from theGardens Unit andEdu- budget. Themoneyisslatedtocomedi- ing cutintheproposed 2009Federal D.C., facesamore than$2millionfund- National Arboretum inWashington, Public programming attheUnited States BUDGETFACES ARBORETUM NATIONAL CUTS (www.scotts.com) recall, consulttheScottswebsite the market. For more informationonthe to consumersthansimilarproducts on EPA, theseproducts posenomore risks products backtoScotts.According tothe Consumers are advisedtosendthese National BonsaiandPenjingMuseum. Budget cutsmayaffecttheArboretum’s GARDENER According to the Friends oftheNa- C or call(888)295-0671. ’ NOTEBOOK S for more information. Visit ofthearboretum.petition insupport gressional representatives and/orsignthe courages peopletocontacttheirCon- against theproposed cuts.FONAen- line petitiontoCongress thatargues as apriorityofthearboretum. ment.” Scientificresearch willcontinue showcase plantstoenhancetheenviron- cation, andgardens and thatconserve public needforscientificresearch, edu- lished in1927withamissionto“serve the of doorsthisgreen spacetothepublic. lic outreach. Whatmayresult isa closing ments require matchingfunding for pub- andendow-many cost-sharingtrusts funding maybelost,simplybecauseso oftheFederalsupport government, other public, aswell. In addition,withoutthe Penjing Museum maybeclosedtothe ry.” Part oralloftheNational Bonsaiand represent ofAmericanhisto- avitalpart grounds oftheNational Arboretum and Columns whichwere relocated tothe maintain theoriginalnationalCapitol displays, andeven, possibly, afailure to vice president ofhorticulture and living Garden andlargenative forest. Bronx publicgarden, next totheRock den willbelocatedinthecenter ofthe ganisms inanative ecosystem.Thegar- interplay between plantsandotheror- and willincrease visitorexposure tothe ofalarger250-acrepart project atNYBG tive tothe Northeast, thegarden willbe forstudyanddisplayofplantsna- tory Leon LevyFoundation. Alivinglabora- million grantawarded inMay by the acre Native Plant Garden thankstoa$15 (NYBG) willcreate athree-and-a-half- The New York Botanical Garden GARDEN PLANT FUNDNEWNATIVE TO GRANT FONA iscollectingnamesforanon- The National Arboretum wasestab- According toTodd Forrest, NYBG www.fona.org or call(202)544-8733

LEFT: COURTESY OF SCOTTS. RIGHT: COURTESY OF U.S. NATIONAL ARBORETUM travels in the wind and analyzed how pol- lutants such as ozone, hydroxyl, and ni- trate radicals in the air destroyed those molecules of scent. The scientists measured scent levels and the distances they traveled under cer- tain conditions. The scents traveling through polluted air were altered and therefore destroyed. “The scent mole- cules produced by flowers in a less pol- luted environment, such as in the 1800s, could travel for roughly 1,000 to 1,200 meters [3,300 to 4,000 feet]; but in today’s polluted environment downwind of major cities, they may travel only 200 to 300 meters [650 to 980 feet],” says Jose D. Fuentes, a professor of environmen- A conceptual drawing offers a glimpse of NYBG’s planned Native Plant Garden. tal sciences at the University of Virginia

collections, the new Native Plant Garden POLLUTION AND POLLINATION DON’T MIX is scheduled to open in May 2012. Con- A new study at the University of Vir- struction is planned to begin in early ginia, published in the March 2008 issue 2010. Shelby White, who is vice chair of of the online journal Atmospheric Envi- the NYBG board of directors and wife of ronment and funded by the National Sci- the late Leon Levy, played a key role in ence Foundation, has found that air securing funds for the native garden. For pollution can have a detrimental effect more information on NYBG, visit on the scent of flowers. The study used a www.nybg.org or call (718) 817-8700. mathematical model of how flower scent

Butterflies such as this monarch use scent RELIEF FOR to locate nectar-rich flowers. DRY PATCHES and co-author of the study. This finding could partially explain why pollinators dependent on using scent as a way to find nectar are declining. “We find that pollination, attraction of natural enemies of plant pests, aggre- gation pheromones, and mate attraction Long a staple on the farm, the are likely to be affected,” says Fuentes. “New research should investigate little green can is also at home whether air pollution deleteriously af- in the garden. For soothing fects populations of organisms that rely on scent trails.” roughed up hands, chapped and chafed skin, and cuts and PLANT CONSERVATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE In May, the Botanic Gardens Conserva- scrapes, dig for the Bag Balm®— tion International (BGCI), the world’s largest plant conservation network, pub- the time-tested solution. lished a report titled “Plants and Climate Change: Which Future?” that compiles existing research on the effects of climate DAIRY ASSOCIATION CO., INC. change on plants. While it is clear that P.O. BOX 145, DEPT. AG08, LYNDONVILLE, VT 05851/TEL. 802-626-3610/WWW.BAGBALM.COM WEST OF ROCKIES: SMITH SALES SERVICE, 16372 S. W. 72ND ST., PORTLAND, OR 97223 changing environmental conditions affect

TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF OLIN PARTNERSHIP. RIGHT: VIVEKA NEVELN plants, especially crop species, the report

July / August 2008 47 48 zation aimstocreate anearlywarning sys- change issue.From thisdata, theorgani- effort” tostudytheplantsandclimate “groundbreaking internationalscientific tions canbemosteffectively targeted.” that current andfuture managementac- will impactthemostvulnerablespeciesso needed on“how future climateconditions plants. In particular, more research is for humansandalllifethatdependson what exactlytheseimpactsmightmean dataareconcluded thatfurther neededon preserving thegroundsandextensiveplantcollection. to counterthisplan,thePNHCwascreatedwithgoal of plans tosellofftheoriginalpropertydevelopers.Inorder Heronswood nurserystocktoPennsylvania,andannounced 2006, BurpeeabruptlyfiredtheKingstonstaff,moved maintained itsoriginalindependentstatusandstaff.In purchased in2000bytheW.AtleeBurpee&Company,but Dan HinkleyandarchitectRobertJones.Thenurserywas tionally renownedshowcasegardenfoundedbyplantsman also mayhavebeenaffectedbythedifficulteconomicclimate. community support.Thegroupindicatedfundraisingefforts cited thelimitingfactorsasinsufficientfundingandwaning sion, thePacificNorthwestHorticulturalConservancy(PNHC) its attempttoacquiretheproperty.Inannouncingdeci- site inKingston,Washington,announceditwasabandoning preservation oftheoriginalHeronswoodnurseryandgarden In June,anon-profitgroupinvestigatingthepurchaseand Heronswood PreservationUncertain PLACESintheNEWS PEOPLE and The ChanterellefountainatHeronswoodinKingston,Washington As aresult, BGCIisproposing a Heronswood wasafive-acreretailnurseryandinterna- the American Gardener port isalsoavailable onthewebsite.port www.bgci.org. learn more aboutBGCI’s programs, visit breeding improved foodcrops.” oraspecies thatholdsthekeyto inal drug, medic- saving ofthenextmostimportant plant populations“that mayresult inthe onwild efforts help tofocusconservation change.” Additionally, thissystemcould suited inareas most affectedby climate plan whichspeciesare mostlikelytobe tem that“could beusedby agronomists to To follow the progress ofthisproject or A fullcopyofthe originalre- convention inMay,oneofwhichwenttoAmericanHorticul- The GardenClubofAmerica(GCA)awarded10medalsatits Garden ClubofAmerica2008Medalists contact theGCAat(212)753-8287. each year.Formoreinformationaboutthemedalwinners, Center forPlantConservation. guished servicetoconservationasexecutivedirectorofthe erary achievement;andKathrynKennedyforherdistin- protection; gardenwriterTovahMartinforoutstandinglit- E. Berryforhisoutstandingachievementsinenvironmental motion, andutilizationofperennialplants.” dustry byprovidingeducationtoenhancetheproduction,pro- visit Heronswood nurseryfulfillmentoperationstoPennsylvania.” greatest worksofart,asIhavebeensincemovingthe tain themagnificentHeronswoodGardens,oneofregion’s “personally committedtotryingfindabuyerwhowillmain- and determinationinspiteofextremelylongoddsatsuccess.” preservation ofHeronswoodfortwoyearswithundyingspirit andselflesslyonbehalfofthe PNHC, “workeddiligently Steven Still Nominations forthisprestigiousawardaredueFebruary1 Other medalwinnersincludewriterandactivistWendell For moreaboutthehistoryofHeronswoodandPNHC, “This groupofamazingwomenandmen,”Hinkleysays George Ball,ownerofBurpeeandHeronswood,saysheis www.pnhc.org. issue. TheInternational Association for was launchedlast October toaddress the dynamic process,organization soanew species, livingthingsmutateand evolve. crosses,new scientistsdiscover new Breedersof livingthingsonearth. create fying andproperly namingthevast array much haschangedintherealm ofidenti- nomenclature more than250years ago, naeus created a systemforbinomial Since theSwedish botanist Carolus Lin- WHAT’S INANAME? of the State University,andheistheauthor Kansas StateUniversityandOhio Still wasahorticultureprofessorat horticulture. Formorethan30years, Still forhisoutstandingserviceto tural SocietyBoardmemberSteve mental Plants mental also thefounderandexecutivedirec- to “improvingtheperennialplantin- tion, atradeorganizationdedicated tor ofthePerennialPlantAssocia- The naming of plants in particular isa The namingofplantsinparticular Manual of Herbaceous Orna- Herbaceous of Manual (Stipes, 1994).Heis

LEFT; COURTESY OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST HORTICULTURAL CONSERVANCY. RIGHT: COURTESY OF STEVEN STILL Cultivated Plant Taxonomy positive difference—especially for (IACPT) will foster international men—regardless of salary, position, cooperation in the science of nam- or other working conditions. ing plants by sponsoring symposia, “This study reinforces other publishing a journal, and develop- studies, which have indicated that ing databases and online resources. adding live greenery and plants ab- “With so much in flux right solutely has a positive effect on the now, and with whole naming sys- employees and overall working en- tems competing for adoption by vironment,” says MJ Gilhooley of various registrars,” says John Friel Green Plants for Green Buildings of Yoder Brothers nursery, who (GPGB), an organization that ad- often lectures on plant taxonomy, vocates for the inclusion of plants “the question is whether a new or- in the work environment. GPGB ganization can accomplish the is “dedicated to collecting this kind noble goal of bringing some semblance A recent study reinforces plants’ role in of research in order to communicate to of order to the chaos, or simply become contributing to workplace satisfaction. the decision makers for indoor work en- another layer of confusion confounding vironments that this measured effect can the non-academic’s attempts to use cur- in the February 2008 issue of the journal no longer be ignored if they are to have rently-accepted nomenclature.” HortScience. The researchers surveyed ap- more effective workers as well as efficient For those interested in more informa- proximately 450 people in the Midwest building structures,” Gilhooley adds. tion or membership in the IACPT, visit and Texas about “environmental prefer- For tips and resources for “Giving www.iacpt.net. ences, elements of job satisfaction, overall Plants a Chance” in your workplace, visit life quality, physical workplace, and de- the GPGB website at www.greenplants- PLANTS INCREASE WORKPLACE SATISFACTION mographics,” then compared the results of forgreenbuildings.org. Increasing your job satisfaction could be as those in offices with live plants or windows simple as placing a few plants around the with a view of plants to offices without. Written by Associate Editor Viveka Neveln KIRSTEN WINTERS office, according to a new study published They found that plants made a noticeably and Editorial Intern Kirsten Winters.

July / August 2008 49 50 by RitaPelczar Environmentally-Friendly Mowers h etnmwr bv,adtheBrillRazorcutreel mower,right,cutgrasswithout The Neutonmower, above,and S and considerableeffort—were employed elsewhere. grazing animalshelpedwithlargeareas; scythes,sickles,grassshears— icured lawnhasoccupiedagreat dealoftimeandenergy. Initially, tools available inline. tokeepyour turf technologies have enhancedthearsenalof Since designs,materials,and then,new cut thenapofcarpettoaneven length. lawn mower wasbasedonatool usedto England, in 1830.Thedesignforthisfirst Edwin Beard Budding ofGloucestershire, ing lawnswasinvented andpatentedby 8,500 square feetin2006.Anothertrend re- dropped from 10,000square feetin1990to that theaverage lotsizehome foranew tion ofHome Builders (NAHB)reports lawns are shrinking.TheNational Associa- has grown significantlyinthepast 25years, Although theaverage sizehouse ofanew THE INCREDIBLESHRINKINGLAWN A toolspecificallyengineered formow- the American Gardener became fashionableinFrance andEngland, maintainingaman- INCE THE middle ofthe18thcentury, when formallawnsfirst in thisarticle. sponses—excerpts ofsomeare included experiences. We received re- quiteafew readers whohave usedthemtoshare their gasoline powered mowers, we askedour alternatives fortoday’s smallerlawns. expanses ofturf, there good are somevery still bethemostpracticalchoiceforlarge little more thana seriesofpaths. gazebos—which oftenreduce thelawnto landscaping features—decks, patios,pools, by NAHBistheinclusionofmoreported ding’s 1830sdesign, althoughlighter, Today’s reel mowers are basedonBud- REEL MOWERS To betterassessthemerits ofnon- While gasoline-powered mowers may RE GARAGE GREEN C ® gasoline. width, weighs justunder20pounds,and Sunlawn LMM-40 formyfescue.The es, whichisabitshort justable, butonlywithin0.7and1.8inch- Brill isitslimitedmowing height:itisad- eight years. My onlycomplaintwiththe edly needsharpeningonlyafterfive to 15 inches.Thenon-contactbladesreport- welded steelbladesandamowing widthof pounds, itiseasytomaneuver. It hasfive level ground and, weighing only17 its the Mercedes ofreel mowers. Ihave used and noenginenoise. emissions, nogasolinetostore—or spill— home useare manual.Thatmeansno pulled behindatractor, mostsoldfor oftenusereelpartments mowers thatare can provide anextremely cleancut. er—to cutgrassbladeslikescissors.This bladeatthebaseofmow- stationary cylinder andpassover the“bedknife”—a el, three toseven bladesrotate around a and easiertouse.Depending onthemod- neering have madethemmore efficient stronger materialsandimproved engi- Razorcut superblyon 38;itperforms Brill manufactures whatsomeconsider Although golfcoursesandhighwayde- has a16-inchcutting

TOP : TRISH GIBSON. BOTTOM: RITA PELCZAR can be adjusted to mow between 0.4 and WORLD’S #1 TOP and 2.2 inches. Two larger models, Scotts SMALL ENGINE EMISSIONS Classic and Lee Valley 20-inch, weigh 30 The good news about gasoline-powered PLANT SUPPLY and 34 pounds respectively; both have 20- lawn mowers is that they produce signifi- PLANT inch mowing widths and a three-inch cantly less exhaust emissions than they #1HEALTH EXTRA LIFE maximum mowing height. did 15 years ago, a trend that should con- Greatest Guarantee-Offer PROOF Ever 65YEARS, unchallenged, $5,000. GUARANTEED to be Lee Cassin of Aspen, Colorado, loves tinue with the adoption of increasingly World CHAMPION his Scotts reel mower, which he has used tough emissions standards for small en- #1 Activator, #1 Trans/ #1 Extra #1 REVIVER, PLANTER, GROWER, for more than 10 years. “I’m not con- gines. The bad news is that in 2007, the WORLD’S FAIR SCIENCE-MEDAL-WINNING #1 Perfecter VI TMs tributing to global warming or causing air Environmental Protection Agency esti- 50 IN pollution, and I’m keeping myself in mated that hour for hour, an average walk ONE shape.” he says. “It’s also nice that it’s not behind gasoline-powered mower still pro- VITAMINS-HORMONES USED BY U.S. –– FERTILIZER GUARANTEED Departments of –– PESTICIDE –– POLLUTING BioUSABLES As Advertised in loud like gasoline-powered mowers.” duces as much emissions as 11 cars; AGRICULTURE, ARMY, NON TM Better Homes & Gardens NAVY, AIR. Etc. TO ADD TO FERTILIZING for growing Landscape Architecture ALSO BY STATES, Horticulture CITIES, COUNTIES, DOUBLE MONEY-BACK “A push mower provides great exer- hourly emissions from a riding mower UNIVERSITIES RECOMMENDED TOP VALUE BY EXPERTS OF TV, RADIO, BOOKS, EXTREME Concentration cise,” says Shelley Cohen of Washington, jump to as much as 34 cars. The evapo- MAGAZINES, Dozens Drop-A-CupTM or CONFERENCES Drop-A-GalTM OF THE D.C. She concedes that it “requires some ration and spillage of gasoline during fu- WORLD’S eling is another significant source of air SCIENCE & INDUSTRY effort, especially with turning, so it is not ONLY GOLD MEDAL WORLD’S FAIR 1940 science and ground pollution attributed to the use ADD to any fertilizingTM for someone who appreciates the ease of • 50 INSTANT BioUSABLES NORMAL PURE COMPLEXES • From Carbon-Hydrogen-Oxygen MIRACLES a conventional mower. It also takes more of gasoline-powered mowers. natural organic crystals • Save plants from waiting while IN EACH trying to make them • Unique. Nothing is “like” it. DROP! time to get the full lawn mowed.” SEE TO BELIEVE–– HEALTHIER, FASTER plants BEAUTY and CROP yieldADDED TO 21 FERTILIZERS by 21 Growers

YOU CAN grass is high, you’d be wise to borrow a ORDER PINT, QUART, neighbor’s electric mower for the first cut. GALLON, Billions–PROVEN After that, mow frequently, before grass or DRUM B A L A N C E D ORIGINAL ADDED TO 18 FERTILIZERS, by 18 Growers length exceeds four inches (for more mow- ing tips, see the web special linked to this article at www.ahs.org). Bob Potts of Alexandria, Virginia, of-

fers a word of caution regarding reel NEARLY 1000 BOOKS, CONFERENCES, mowers. “If you have a normal lawn, not RECOMMENDED BY MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS,TVs, RADIOS USED BY a perfect lawn, with some weeds, and un- FIVE U.S. DEPARTMENTS TO HELP WIN WORLD WAR II even surfaces, the push mowers do not do OF GOVERNMENTS, STATE UNIVERSITIES, LEADING THOUSANDS ARBORETUMS, BOTANICAL GARDENS, PARKS SYSTEMS a very good job. Instead of cutting U.S. STATES and CITIES IN MULTIPLE-DRUMS LOTS FLOWERING PLANTS SHOW WINNERS – “everywhere” Sunlawn reel mower through weeds, the mower just pushes HEALTHY, TOXICS-FREE FOODS GROWERS UNIQUE. Far easier plant success them down.” The bottom line: if you Brill also makes a battery-powered reel have a relatively small, level lawn, you ap- mower called the Accumower 380, and preciate outdoor exercise, and can mow Sunlawn has a similar model, the EM-2; often, a reel mower is worth considering. both are a bit pricier than manual reel mowers. David Temple, founder of People ROTARY MOWERS Powered Machines, a company located in The blade of a rotary mower spins horizon- Ipswich, Massachusetts, that specializes in tally to the ground at high speeds, cutting reel and electric mowers, says that Brill’s the grass as it passes over. Most rotary mow- manual Razorcut or battery-powered Ac- ers are gasoline-powered, but electric mow- cumower are both “fine for lawns of 8,000 ers, both corded and battery-powered, are

square feet, but if you want to use the Accu gaining popularity. Electric rotary mowers 11 XMAS TREES 17 HYDROSEEDING 22 FLOWERING PLANT 12 REFORESTATION 18 LANDSCAPING COMPETITIONS for cutting this size lawn, you would want are relatively lightweight, quiet, require no 13 HYDROPONICS 19 PROPAGATION 23 INTERIORSCAPING 14 FIELD CROPS 20 ANTI-EROSION 24 CUT FLOWERS 15 BONSAI 21 ENVIRONMENTAL 25 WEATHER DAMAGE a second battery.” gasoline, oil, or spark plugs, are easy to start, 16 TISSUE CULTURE IMPROVEMENT 26 WATER GARDENS Most reel mowers do not do a very and produce almost no emissions. Some AT CONSCIENTIOUS PLANT DEALERS WORLDWIDE good job on zoysia, Bermuda, or evergreen come with a grass-catching attachment, Used, tipped to, and supplied by thousands of conscientious St. Augustine grass. However Sunlawn’s some are equipped with mulching blades plant-selling firms. On every continent, without salesmen. LMM-40 Push Reel Mower and EM-2 that cut the grass into small pieces. REFUSE “just as good,” false, cheaply made, unbalancing substitutes – often 991/2% water. are recommended by the manufacturer for The downside of the plug-in electric NOTHING IS AT ALL “LIKE” all North American lawn types. Also, reel mowers is that you must always be con- 50 VITAMINS-HORMONES mowers are difficult to use when the grass scious of the cord’s whereabouts—if you V Made in U.S.A. by VITAMIN INSTITUTE I gets too tall. Temple suggests that if you are aren’t careful, you can run over it and 12610 Saticoy Street South, North Hollywood, CA 91605 Website www.superthrive.com COURTESY OF SUNLAWN transitioning to a reel mower and your sever your power connection.

July / August 2008 51 Battery-powered mowers are not limit- ed by access to a power outlet. But they are somewhat heavier and more expensive Sources than plug-in electric mowers, and they American Lawn Mower Co. (800) 633- Gardener’s Supply. (888) 833-1412. only run as long as the battery holds its 1501. www.reelin.com. www.gardeners.com. charge. The length of time the batteries re- main charged—the run time—for most Black & Decker. (800) 544-6986. Lee Valley Garden Tools. (613) 596- cordless electric mowers ranges from 45 www.blackanddecker.com. 0350. www.leevalley.com. minutes to a little over an hour. And that varies depending on the length and thick- Clean Air Gardening. (214) 370- Neuton Cordless Electric Mower. (800) ness of your grass, whether or not it is wet, 0530. www.cleanairgardening.com. 687-6575. www.myneuton.com. and the roughness of your terrain. Some mowers have removable batteries, so a Environmental Elements, LLC. (888) People Powered Machines. spare, charged battery can be inserted if 326-6693. www.ecomowers.com. www.peoplepoweredmachines.com. you need more time to finish the job. The batteries need to be replaced Freepower Systems. (303) 651- Sunlawn. (970) 493-5284. every few years. Since mowers use sealed, 3184. www.freepowersys.com. www.sunlawn.com. lead acid batteries, be sure to return old batteries to the retailer—some home im- provement stores offer battery recy- Black & Decker’s CMM1200 is a charge. “We have used a Neuton mower cling—or your local recycling center for powerful cordless mulching mower that for several years now,” says Frances Mah- proper disposal. is recommended for flat lawns up to one- ncke of Washington, D.C. “It mows our Consumer Reports lawn and garden third acre in size. It has a 19-inch mow- small city lawn quite effectively in one product reviewer Peter Sawchuck prefers ing width and its mowing height is charge.” This year Neuton has added a the electric mowers—either corded or adjustable between 1.5 and 3.5 inches. It larger model, the CE 6.2; it has a 19-inch cordless—to the manual reel mowers, and comes with both a mulching plate and a mowing width, and the battery should be advocates using them for smaller urban rear grass catcher. It has a folding handle sufficient to mow up to a third acre. To lawns. “They give a nicer cut,” he says, and can be stored in an upright position extend running time, the battery can be “and you can keep the grass at the height replaced with a fresh one. you want.” Sawchuck considers Black & Freepower Systems, a company locat- Decker electric mowers the best of the ed in Longmont, Colorado, that manu- lot—both their corded and cordless mod- factures solar-powered lawn-and-garden els—although American Lawn Mower’s equipment, offers a solar-powered lawn Earthwise models and Sears Craftsman mower called the Sun Whisperer. It has models are not too far behind. a 19-inch mowing width and its photo When Lorrie Siftar and her husband voltaic panels can either be attached to lived in an urban area about 10 years ago, the mower or placed on your garage roof they bought a Black & Decker corded so you can recharge the mower indoors. electric mower. “It was about the same Although it costs more than most electric price as the very cheapest gas mower,” re- mowers, its power is free! calls Siftar, now in Bethlehem, Pennsyl- vania. “It always started, had absolutely WEIGHING YOUR OPTIONS no maintenance requirements, my hus- The manual and electric mowers available band could carry it down the cellar steps today make a lot of sense for small- to medi- to store it, it never leaked any fluids, and um-sized, relatively flat lawns. Reel mowers we did not have to buy or store gas. His The Black & Decker CMM1200 cordless perform best on flat lawns with few weeds; only complaint was having to keep the electric mower also mulches. battery-powered and corded mowers are less cord out of his way while mowing.” particular. All of these require frequent use Bob Kelly of Trenton, Michigan, re- minimizing necessary storage space; its when grass is actively growing. cently purchased a second Black & Deck- battery is not removable. If your lawn seems to fit the profile and er electric mower when his first one—“a The Neuton mower from Country you enjoy outdoor exercise, consider one fine machine with many years of ser- Home Products is another popular bat- of these quiet and clean machines that will vice”—needed replacement. “I like not tery-powered model. The Neuton CE keep your lawn in shape and your carbon having to worry about the maintenance, 5.2 has a cutting width of 14 inches, a footprint small. gas, and the like. Cleaning is easy, set up maximum mowing height of three inch- likewise, plug it in and go,” says Kelly. “It es, and is recommended for mowing Rita Pelczar is a contributing editor for The

is a clean and quiet system.” lawns up to a quarter acre with a single American Gardener. COURTESY OF BLACK & DECKER

52 the American Gardener Rare finds… found here.

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Recommendations for Your Gardening Library

Life in the Soil: A Guide for Naturalists and Gardeners Gardening With Children James B. Nardi. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois, 2007. Monika Hannemann, Patricia Hulse, Brian Johnson, Barbara Kurland, 293 pages. Publisher’s price, softcover: $25. and Tracey Patterson. Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn, New York, 2007. 120 pages. Publisher’s price, softcover: $9.95. BIRDERS HAVE LOTS of identification books, so do lovers of butterflies, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, but where is the A Child’s Garden: 60 Ideas to Make Any Garden Come Alive guide to help gardeners identify what is for Children in their soil? Finally, we have one, thanks Molly Dannenmaier. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2008. 176 to James Nardi, a biologist at the Uni- pages. Publisher’s price, softcover: $19.95. versity of Illinois. Every gardener will surely find Life in the Soil a much need- YOUNG PEOPLE ARE becoming increasingly disconnected ed and very valuable reference. from nature, which has been linked to numerous detrimental The book’s obligatory first section on ramifications such as obesity and de- soil itself is a bit dry and contains infor- pression. Yet many people are finding mation that is absolutely necessary but a way to remedy this by exposing kids covered in other books. Don’t become to meaningful garden experiences. discouraged, however, because it’s mere- Two noteworthy, affordable books ly a lead-in to Part Two—the bulk of the that provide useful, fun ideas for in- book—on “Members of the Soil Community.” Here the mi- volving children in gardening and na- crobial and animal kingdoms, from fungi and insects to toads ture are Gardening with Children and and gophers, are represented and fascinatingly described. A Child’s Garden. For each group of organisms, Nardi includes a fact box that I was pleasantly surprised when I lists the scientific classification, size, common names used to opened the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s All-Region Guide, Gar- refer to the group, their place in the soil food web, and their im- dening with Children. What a sweet book! Set up with five pri- pact on gardening. If the book consisted of these boxes alone, mary chapters, it addresses nature’s cycles in terms children can I think it would still be worth owning. grasp and explores basic ecological concepts through more than However, Nardi is also a skilled scientific illustrator. Almost 40 hands-on activities. The step-wise instructions are clear and the every page has a detailed drawing, with size reference, of the colorful illustrations are inviting and inspiring. The activities range soil-dweller he is describing. Gardeners will surely recognize an- from science experiments to keeping a nature journal, as well as imals they have seen before while working the beds or turning food and art projects. The over-arching aim is to guide children the compost pile but just were not able to identify. Some of to be earth stewards, and to appreciate the garden setting. Nardi’s drawings also depict the organism in its habitat along Perhaps most importantly, this book seems ideally suited for with those it eats or those that eat it. Several pages of color pho- an often neglected audience: caregivers and parents. It doesn’t tographs and drawings in the center of the book help to further smack of the dense curriculum, and is very approachable for the illustrate the informative text. caregiver who wants some structure, and yet doesn’t require a de- A final section runs through a few of the main “soil abuses” tailed “materials needed, time required, learning standards ad- such as erosion, excessive fertilizer use, and invasive exotic dressed” sort of guide. I especially appreciated the thoughtful species, and explains how to avoid or mitigate them. The book sections at the end that provide guidance for adult caregivers in- wraps up with a brief appendix on how to collect and observe terested in maximizing the experience of taking children outside. life in the soil for those who would like to take a closer look. This would be a wonderful addition to any child care center, Life in the Soil is chock full of interesting natural history and home, or after-school setting for primary- and elementary- fascinating—even stunning—facts about the individual critters school-aged children. a gardener may encounter in and on the soil. It is a great read Molly Dannenmaier’s A Child’s Garden, first published in and will be a reference this gardener turns to often. 1998, has now been released in a new paperback format. Like —Jeff Lowenfels Gardening with Children, this book aims to motivate parents and caregivers who are concerned about children’s lack of con- Jeff Lowenfels is the author of Teaming With Microbes (Timber nection to the outdoors, and it offers 60 ideas for weaving areas Press, 2007). He gardens and hosts a radio show in Anchorage, Alaska. geared for children into existing landscapes. Dannenmaier fo-

54 the American Gardener cuses on unstructured play, which is too often overlooked by educators determined to teach children about nature. As she points out in the preface, this book Garden-Fresh Cooking “looks at what children really do when Rosalind Creasy’s Recipes from the Garden (Tuttle Publishing, they step outside, unlike what we 2008, $34.95) is not just another pretty-face cookbook. This adults think or wish they might do.” one has depth. Spend five minutes The introduction provides a de- with it and your cooking energies will tailed historical context for children’s be revitalized. Spend a half-hour and gardens, and then rapidly moves into you’ll be dreaming of a far more exten- exploring practical, and often whimsi- sive vegetable garden for next year. cal, gateways back to nature. Ideas re- Innovative, easy-to-make recipes set volve around things that naturally this book apart. Consider bell pepper attract children to the outdoors, such as water, creatures, dirt, ribbon cheesecake—a savory cheese- and make-believe. If you’re looking for detailed, step-by-step cake with a corn tortilla crust and a instructions, you won’t find them here; A Child’s Garden is long pepper-, cumin- and coriander-flavored on inspiration and beautiful photography, short on very de- cheese filling. This dish is unusual, but uses familiar ingredi- tailed instruction. ents. Likewise, golden gazpacho gets its uncommon sunny col- Both of these books will provide the parent, caregiver, and or from yellow tomatoes and peppers. Other refreshing recipes anyone interested in engaging children in nature through the include flower confetti salad, pork stew with purslane, carrot garden with all they need to enliven the backyard, existing gar- pie, and lemongrass tea. den, or intimate public setting. Photos throughout are big, beautiful, and serve as how-to —Marcia Eames-Sheavly plans for the structure and presentation of the colorful dish- es. Creasy’s cooking instructions are clear and include warn- Marcia Eames-Sheavly is the children and youth program leader for ings born of experience to help the reader avoid pitfalls. This the Cornell Garden-Based Learning Program in Ithaca, New York. is a cookbook to be trusted and used again and again. She was the 2005 recipient of the American Horticultural Society’s Jane —Carole Ottesen, Contributing Writer L. Taylor Award.

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July / August 2008 55 GARDENERC’S BOOKS

Summer Reading

NCE YOU’VE had your fill of weeding and watering, and Plains: The Horticultural Trans- summer’s long days offer a great opportunity for a re- formation of America (Harvard Uni- Olaxing read in the garden. If you’re anything like me, versity Press, 2008, $39.95). Author enjoying a book outside until late in the evening is as good as Philip J. Pauley, late professor of history it gets. I find this setting especially fitting for absorbing works at Rutgers University, meticulously of natural history and plant-lore, of which I am particularly chronicles the shaping of the American fond. Varying in complexity and length, the following recent- landscape during the last 250 years. He ly published books offer a healthy dose of both of these topics addresses topics such as tree planting, in- and may inspire pilgrimages into the forest, a local history mu- vasive species, plant breeding, backyard seum, or even around the world! gardening, and the start of botanic gar- American Chestnut: The Life, Death, and Rebirth of a dens in America. Perhaps a little denser Perfect Tree (University of California Press, 2007, $27.50) by than the average summer reading selection, nonetheless this book Susan Freinkel opens like a novel. is imbued with Pauley’s infectious passion for his topic, which “Early McAlexander looks through the will draw you in and may leave you wondering about the conse- window of his granddaughter’s car onto quences of your own gardening practices as well as the future of a wide open hill fringed by a line of our ever-changing American landscape. white pines,” the first chapter begins, Gardens: A Literary Companion (Greystone Books, 2008, welcoming readers into a tale of the $22.95), an anthology with 28 authors ranging from poet Stanley American chestnut’s history. The an- Kunitz to garden designer Gertrude Jekyll, tagonist is the fungal blight that has includes voices spanning centuries and nearly driven this species to extinction continents. In the introduction, editor over the last century. The book includes Merilyn Simmons points out that the term both the voices of tree lovers and the vo- anthology “derives from two Greek words: cabulary of plant breeders, entwining heartfelt nostalgia with anthos (flowers) and logy (to speak of).” So details about the determined scientific quest to renew this it is particularly fitting that this collection tree’s population. Freinkel’s assertion that “Appalachia also literally has to do with flowers. In ad- mourned the loss of the chestnut because it was, for moun- dition to this subject, the authors write tain dwellers, a true and trusted member of their communi- about their connection to plants: in the ty” resonates with the book’s main message: hope for wild, in the garden, or, as in Jamaica Kincaid’s “Monet’s Gardens,” humankind might just lie in efforts to save a native tree. in their own imaginations. This book lends itself well to being Those partial to biographies may enjoy Strange Blooms: sampled at random or read from cover to cover. The Curious Lives and Adventures of the John Tradescants Another anthology to consider is The Gardener’s Bedside (Atlantic Books, 2008, $35) by Jennifer Reader (Voyageur Press, 2008, $27.95). Editor Kari Cornell Potter, about the Tradescants family— brings together familiar contempo- father and son—and their plant explor- rary voices on plants, gardening, and ing and collecting expeditions as well as natural history such as Anna Pavord, their lives in general. The story of the Diane Ackerman, Dan Hinkley, two Tradescants acts as a vehicle for ex- Tovah Martin, and Ann Lovejoy. This ploring culture and progress in England prose celebrates the backyard garden and other countries during the 17th cen- and might even inspire a little dig- tury. “This is a book for people who like ging, especially after excerpts such as to get their hands dirty,” writes Potter, Lee May’s that starts, “In this year’s “in which dung is measured by the hat- first blushes, promise springs eternal. ful, silkworms nestle between women’s breasts, only palm trees This is the year I keep a vow to my fa- have sex in the vegetable kingdom, and dead dogs are shredded ther and myself; I’ll be growing veg- for fertilizer.” So readers beware: this biography contains mar- etables again.” This collection is inspiring, funny, and at times vels, monsters, and muck! lofty: a good primer to the entertaining range of voices that For an edifying look at the historical importance of horticul- are contributing to modern garden writing. ture and its influence on the American landscape, there’s Fruits —Kirsten Winters, Editorial Intern

56 the American Gardener COURTESY OF BLITHEWOLD New York.(516)922-9200. Planting FieldsArboretum.OysterBay, Boothbay, Maine.(207)633-4333. Coastal MaineBotanicalGardens. (207) 276-0745. Garden Day. fields.org. Festival. RAP RAP JULY 26. www.mainegardens.org. RAP 877-7630. Woods. Framingham,Massachusetts.(508) Plants—They’re Back. JULY 12–OCT.31. www.nybg.org. RAP Brooklyn, NewYork.(718)817-8700. Exhibition. NewYorkBotanicalGarden. ignated itasapublic gardenandfundeditwithan endowment.By jorie VanWickleLyon,whohad inheritedthehistoricestate,des- collections, whichareopenfor visitors. serve andrestorethepresenthouse andits With that,acampaignisunderway tocon- and thefamily’sfirstsummerin thehouse. Arboretum willfocusontheeventsof1908 tion atBlithewoldMansion,Gardensand still intact.Thisyear’scentennialcelebra- house waserected,andthegardenswere with wetsackingcloth.By1908,anew plantings nearthehousebycoveringthem De Wolfmanagedtosavethegarden sion inBristol,RhodeIsland,burntdown. 1896. Just10yearslater,theoriginalman- York Parks,tohelpmanifestthisplanin tendent andlandscapearchitectofNew his wife,BessiePardeeVanWickle,hiredJohnDeWolf,superin- original ownersofBlithewoldmansion,AugustusVanWickleand WITH THEVISIONOF Blithewold CelebratesCentennial Blithewold wasnotalwaysopento thepublic.In1970s,Mar- AUG. 9. JULY 27. JULY 23. THROUGH NOV.2. Garden ClubofMountDesertOpen Massachusetts HorticulturalSoci- www.newenglandWILD.org. www.newenglandWILD.org. CT, MA,ME,NH,NY,RI,VT Mount DesertIsland,Maine. Massachusetts Marketplace Daylily SocietyFlowerShow. Persian Gardens. NORTHEAST Pollinators, Predators,and www.gcmdgardenday.com. Horticultural EventsfromAroundtheCountry Exhibit. Gardeninthe Moore inAmerica. www.planting creating ahorticulturalsanctuary,the Lecture. (617) 933-4900. ety atElmBank.Wellesley,Massachusetts. www.jmmds.com. AUG. 23. www.plantations.cornell.edu. RAP tons River,Vermont.(802)869-1470. design workshop.VermontAcademy.Sax- Ithaca, NewYork.(607)255-2400. Landscape. The mansionatBlithewoldis100 yearsold. contact thehostsitefordetailsorvisit benefits. Specialeventsmaynotbeincluded; discounted admissiontothegardenorother valid membershipcardareeligibleforfreeor Admissions Programareidentifiedwiththe arboreta thatparticipateinAHS’sReciprocal Events hostedbybotanicalgardensand www.ahs.org/events/reciprocal_events.htm. RAP are identifiedwiththe participation byAHSorstaffmembers Events sponsoredbyorincludingofficial EINLHAPPENINGS REGIONAL AUG. 11–15. symbol. CurrentAHSmembersshowinga Creating HomeOutside. Class. CornellPlantations. C www.masshort.org. Painting theGarden AHS mation, call(401)247-4220or gotowww.blithewold.org. free admissionandadiscount initsgiftshop.Formoreinfor- ty membersbandedtogethertosaveBlithewold,raisingthe ty toclose.Attheeleventhhour,agroupofconcernedcommuni- 1998, however,yearsofdeficitoperationsnearlyforcedtheproper- symbol. Landscape rm lteodofr H members gram, BlithewoldoffersAHS ipant intheReciprocalAdmissions Pro- Century Gala”onAugust16.As apartic- Blithewold willholdits“Celebrationofa its regularworkshopsandactivities, dens; anda10-acrelawn.Inadditionto 50,000 daffodilseachspring;displaygar- collection ofexoticandnativetrees; year-round forplantlovers,includinga arboretum offerahorticulturalresource 32,000 visitorsayear.Thegardensand tourist attractionsinthestate,garnering necessary fundstopreserveit. 771-8431. Hotel. Philadelphia,Pennsylvania.(614) and TradeShow. nia. (610)388-1000ext.507. Scott Arboretum.Swarthmore,Pennsylva- Pennsylvania. (215)247-5777. display. MorrisArboretum.Philadelphia, Wonders oftheWorld. JULY 18. www.morrisarboretum.org. RAP RAP Looking ahead www.hort.vt.edu/hhg. RAP JULY 20–26. www.woodyplantconference.org. York. (518)589-3903. Mountain TopArboretum.Tannersville,New Blacksburg, Virginia.(540)231-5970. Teacher training.HahnHorticultureGarden. Today, Blithewoldisoneofthelargest SEPT. 14. JULY 30. THROUGH OCT.13. Woody PlantConference. —Kirsten Winters, EditorialIntern PA, NJ,VA,MD,DE,WV,DC Perennial PlantSymposium www.perennialplant.org. www.perennialplant.org. MID-ATLANTIC Garden intheClassroom. Hudson RiverRambleTour. Sheraton CityCenter July /August 2008 Garden railway www.mtarbor.org. Architectural 57 58 D.C. (202)245-2726. hibit. (202) 225-1116. Botanic Garden.Washington,D.C. www.monticello.org. www.monticello.org. SEPT. 15&16. Looking ahead RAP www.wetland.org. AUG. 20–21. JULY 30. lottesville, Virginia.(434)997-6140. Jefferson CenterforHistoricPlants.Char- JULY 21–24. Michaels, Maryland.(410)745-9620. Course. WetlandLearningCampus.St. DEDICATED TO Milestones inMinnesota arboretum, whichparticipates in theReciprocalAdmissionsProgram. 1400 orvisitwww.arboretum.umn.edu. “Treeology” exhibitisanimportant partofthecelebrationarboretum’s“roots.” a discoverylabwillprovidetips ontree-planting.SupportedbyBaileyNurseries,the versity willbeavailablearoundthearboretumgrounds.Andfor thepracticaltree-lover, will wowgardenviewers.Audioandposteddescriptionsoftrees cultivatedbytheuni- half-mile trailintheexhibit’s“Art’n’TreesTrail.”Also,livingfurniture madefromwillow ogy,” runsthissummeruntilOctober12.Publicartinstallations willlineaone-and-a- and interpretivesignage,aswellexpertstaff.” 1 after24yearsasdirectorofthearboretum.“Thisincludesvideo imaging,handouts, and informationalservicewhentheycomehere,”saysPeterOlin, whoretiredonJuly tors receivefriendly,helpful, and facilityrentalspace.“Visi- peutic horticulturalclassroom, well-stocked library,athera- owners, trailsforallseasons,a es displaygardensforhome- Landscape Arboretumcompris- sary thisyear,theMinnesota hardy treesandshrubs. growing seasons,aswellcold northern temperaturesand 100 fruitcultivarsadaptedto the developmentofmorethan breeding. Thishasresultedin originally focusingonfruit cultural ScienceattheUniversityofMinnesota. stones thisyear.LocatedinChanhassen,botharepartoftheDepartmentHorti- and itspartner,theHorticulturalResearchCenter(HRC),celebrateindividualmile- the American Gardener U.S. NationalArboretum.Washington, For moreinformationaboutthe arboretumandresearchcenter,call(952)443- In additiontoregularprogrammingandevents,thisyear’sseasonal exhibit,“Treeol- Celebrating its50thanniver- A centuryofresearchhasbeenconductedattheHRCsinceitsinceptionin1908, AUG. 23–31. Plants fortheGarden. American SocietyforHorticul- Grasses, SedgesandRushes. AL, FL,GA,KY,NC,SC,TN Biennial Symposium. SOUTHEAST Baltimore BonsaiClubEx- www.usbg.gov. www.usbg.gov. www.usna.usda.gov. education andresearch,theMinnesotaLandscapeArboretum Tour. U.S. Thomas Professional Services,partoftheTreeologyexhibition. “Tree-Fi-Fo-Fum” byDanSjordalandWestwood AHS membersreceivefreeadmission tothe Carolina. (828)227-7211. Carolina University.Cullowhee,North Native PlantsintheLandscape. tion. Atlanta,Georgia.(770)953-4411. scape Tradeshow. 225-5292. Gardens. PineMountain,Georgia.(800) SEPT. 13&14. Looking ahead www.sna.org. AUG. 7–9. JULY 26. nativeplantconference.wcu.edu. JULY 23–26. 4606. Plaza Hotel.Orlando,Florida.(703)836- tural ScienceAnnualConference. na. (828)665-2492. Carolina Arboretum.Asheville,NorthCaroli- www.ashs.org. —Kirsten Winters, EditorialIntern Plumleaf AzaleaHike. Green IndustryNurseryandLand- Cullowhee Conferenceon www.callawaygardens.org. Dahlia SocietyShow.North Southern NurseryAssocia- www.ncarboretum.org. Callaway Western Rosen florist.com. Madison, Wisconsin.(608)246-4550. Butterflies. 262-9300. Springs NationalPark,Arkansas. (501) Garvan WoodlandGardens.Workshop. Hot Arbor, Michigan.(734)647-7600. Gardens andNicholsArboretum.Ann ciety ShowandSale. Glencoe, Illinois.(847)835-5440. Summer Festival. (888) 957-1580. Sculpture Park.GrandRapids,Michigan. Art exhibit.FrederikMeijerGardens& Symposium. Madison, Wisconsin.(614)771-8431. pi. (662)325-3585. sippi StateUniversity.Starkville,Mississip- Lansing, Michigan.(517)355-5191. Class. Michigan4-HChildren’sGarden.East St. Paul,Minnesota.(651)487-8272. Festival. Preserve. Niles,Michigan.(269)695-6491. shop. www.4hgarden.msu.edu. RAP www.gardensfoxcities.org. RAP www.fernwoodbotanical.org. RAP www.olbrich.org. RAP RAP pltn Wisconsin.(920)993-1900. Appleton, and lecture.GardensoftheFoxCities. RAP RAP JULY 21–25. www.hillsdale.edu. RAP Looking ahead www.perennialplant.org. AUG. 22&23. www.lsa.umich.edu. AUG. 17. www.comozooconservatory.org. RAP www.chicagobotanic.org. RAP Hillsdale, Michigan.(517)437-7341. shop. SlaytonArboretum.HillsdaleCollege. Fernwood BotanicalGarden&Nature AUG. 30–DEC.7. AUG. 15. AUG. 13. AUG. 2. JULY 16–AUG.10. THROUGH AUG.31. JULY 24. SEPT. 10. AUG. 17. AUG. 16&17. IA, IL,IN,MI,MN,ND,NE,OH,SD,WI Southeast MichiganBromeliadSo- Como ParkZooandConservatory. AR, KS,LA,MO,MS,OK,TX Olbrich BotanicalGardens. Floral DesignWorkshop. www.garvangardens.org. NORTH CENTRAL SOUTH CENTRAL Perennial PlantAssociation. Central RegionPerennial Mosaic SteppingStoneWork- Summer InterestandHerbs. A YearinHerbs. An EveningintheGarden. Japanese LanternLighting Edible Landscapes. Chicago BotanicGarden. www.meijergardens.org. Malott JapaneseGreen Terrific Treehouse Matthaei Botanical www.theuniversity Olbrich’s Blooming Degas inBronze. Walk Work- Missis-

COURTESY OF MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM Exhibit. San Antonio Botanical Garden. San Antonio, Texas. (210) 207-3250. Portland a Fall Destination for Garden Industry www.sabot.org. THIS AUGUST and September, Portland, Oregon, will roll out the red carpet when Looking ahead it hosts three top-notch green industry events: The Farwest Show produced by the RAP SEPT. 13. Tulsa Area Iris and Daylily Oregon Association of Nurseries, the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers Societies Shows and Sales. Tulsa Garden (ASCFG) National Conference and Trade Show, and the Garden Writers Associa- Center. Tulsa, Oklahoma. (918) 746-5125. www.tulsagardencenter.com. tion’s annual symposium. The Farwest Show will take place from August 21 to 23 at the Oregon Convention Center, with companion seminars starting a day earlier. The highlight of the show will SOUTHWEST be bus tours to 26 local growers, emphasizing Oregon’s prodigious contribution to the AZ, NM, CO, UT nursery industry: the state produces more nursery stock than any other, and 75 percent RAP JULY 24. Best of Must Haves. Lecture. of the trees grown there are shipped out of the state. The Farwest Show gathers profes- Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. Vail, Colorado. sionals with expertise in a wide range of horticultural topics to speak or participate in (970) 476-0103. www.bettyfordalpine panel discussions. The seminars cover topics such as plant breeding, company develop- gardens.org. ment and marketing, technology, pest management, and energy-efficient greenhouses. Visit www.farwestshow.com or call (503) 682-5099 for more information. JULY 24. In Search of Dragonflies. Field trip. Tucson Botanical Gardens. Tucson, Arizona. From September 8 to 11, the Portland Crowne Plaza will host the ASCFG National (520) 326-9686. www.tucsonbotanical.org. Conference and Trade Show, which will feature a design competition; a grower’s school, where experts can impart their experience to attendees; and seminars on var- AUG. 1–3. Home and Garden Show. Univer- ious aspects of the high-end flower industry. Also included are tours of several local sity of Phoenix Stadium. Phoenix, Arizona. growers, showcasing state-of-the-art facilities and new plants introduced in the (602) 485-1691 ext. 107. www.Maricopa Willamette Valley. The grand finale, a dinner cruise on a sternwheeler, will give par- CountyHomeShows.com. ticipants the opportunity to explore the sights, smells, and sounds of Portland and the Columbia Gorge. Visit www.ascfg.org or call (440) 774-2887 for more information. RAP AUG. 16. Beauty’s Only Skin Deep: Finally, from September 19 to 22, the Garden Writers Association (GWA) James Rose’s Modern Landscape Aesthetic. holds its annual symposium at the Doubletree Lloyd Center. The GWA sympo- Lecture. Denver Botanic Gardens. Denver, Colorado. (720) 865-3500. www.botanic sium includes a trade show on September 19 and 20 at which horticultural com- gardens.org. panies and organizations exhibit plants, products, and services. The symposium OA features a combination of educational programs, garden tours, and special events, including an entertaining “Plant Nerd Night,” workshops on many formats of writ- WEST COAST ing, and insights into the science of gardening. Attendees can choose from three CA, NV, HI concurrent program tracks: Horticulture & Gardening, Technology & Profession- RAP JULY 21 & 28. Create a Garden Path. al Development, or Writing Skills Development. Members of GWA include news- Lecture. Descanso Gardens. La Cañada paper columnists, Extension service communicators, and photographers. For more Flintridge, California. (818) 949-7980. information, visit www.gardenwriters.org or call (703) 257-0213. www.descansogardens.org. —John Fiege, Editorial Intern RAP JULY 25–27. Giant Summer Cactus and Succulent Sale and Orange County Cac- tus and Succulent Society Show. Fullerton NORTHWEST CANADA Arboretum. Fullerton, California. (714) AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY 278-3407. www.arboretum.fullerton.edu. JULY 28–31. Turf Producers International Sum- THROUGH AUG. 1. Outdoor Adventure Sum- mer Convention and Field Day. Calgary, Alber- AUG. 11. Growing and Harvesting Winter mer Camp. Mount Pisgah Arboretum. Lane ta. (847) 649-555. www.TurfGrassSod.org. Crops. Lecture. San Diego Horticultural County, Oregon. (541) 747-1504. Society. Del Mar Fairgrounds. San Diego, www.efn.org/~mtpisgah. JULY 31–AUG. 4. Third International Heather California. (760) 295-7089. Conference. Victoria, British Colimbia. www.sdhortsoc.org. RAP JULY 26. Bamboo Festival. Hoyt Ar- (250) 746-1994. www.northamerican boretum. Portland, Oregon. (503) 865- heathersoc.org. AUG. 22. Early Childhood Education in the 8733. www.hoytarboretum.org. Garden. Educator workshop. Life Lab Gar- RAP AUG. 11–15. Landscape Watercolour den Classroom at UCSC Center for Agroe- RAP JULY 28. Latin for Gardeners. Class. Workshop. Royal Botanical Gardens. Hamil- cology and Sustainable Food Systems. Idaho Botanical Garden. (208) 343-8649. ton, Ontario. (905) 557-1158. www.rbg.ca. Santa Cruz, California. (831) 459-5476. www.idahobotanicalgarden.org. www.lifelab.org. Looking ahead RAP AUG. 13. Anchorage Garden Club’s SEPT. 4–JAN. 10. Master the Skills of Looking ahead Flower Show. Alaska Botanical Garden. Sustainable Gardening. Course. Glendale SEPT. 6 & 7. Southern California Plumeria Anchorage, Alaska. (928) 566-0539. Gardens & Woodland. Victoria, British Co- Society’s Annual Show and Plant Sale. www.alaskabg.org. lumbia. (250) 479-6162. www.hcp.bc.ca. Balboa Park, Casa del Prado. San Diego, California. (619) 461-5942. RAP AUG. 16 & 17. Eastside Fuchsia SEPT. 13. Plant Sale. University of Guelph. www.socalplumeriasociety.com. Society Show and Plant Sale. Bellevue Guelph, Ontario. (519) 824-4120 ext. Botanical Garden. Bellevue, Washington. 52113. uogeulph.ca/arboretum. (425) 452-2750. www.bellevuebotanical.org.

July / August 2008 59 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 determining plant adaptabil- ity in your region, factors such as exposure, moisture, snow cover, and hu- midity also play an important role in plant survival. The codes tend to be con- servative; plants may grow outside the ranges indicated. A USDA zone rating of 0–0 means that the plant is a true annual and completes its life cycle in a year or less. To purchase a two-by-three-foot glossy AHS Plant Heat Zone Map for $9.95, call (800) 777-7931 or visit www.ahs.org.

A–B Begonia grandis ssp. evansiana H. ✕hybridus H. HY-brih-dus Miscanthus sinensis miz-KAN-thus beh-GOWN-yuh GRAN-dis ssp. (6–9, 9–6) sy-NEN-siss (5–9, 9–1) Acorus gramineus var. pusillus eh-van-see-AN-uh (6–9, 9–5) Hosta fluctuans HAHS-tuh Monarda didyma muh-NAR-duh AK-or-us grah-MIN-ee-us var. fluk-TEW-anz (3–8, 9–2) DID-ih-muh (4–10, 10–1) pyew-SIL-us (USDA Zones 6–9, C–H H. ventricosa H. ven-trih-KO-suh Monstera deliciosa mon-STEH-ruh AHS Zones 9–5) (3–8, 9–2) deh-lih-see-O-suh (11–11, 12–10) Adenophora triphylla ah-deh-NOF- Carex conica KAIR-eks KON-ih-kuh Hydrangea arborescens Osmunda regalis ahz-MUN-duh or-uh try-FIL-luh (4–7, 8–3) (5–9, 9–5) hy-DRAN-juh ar-bo-RES-enz ree-GAL-iss (2–10, 9–1) Adiantum capillus-veneris ad-dee- C. muskingumensis C. mus-king- (4–9, 9–1) Paeonia lactiflora pee-O-nee-uh AN-tum kah-PIL-us-VEN-er-iss yew-MEN-sis (3–8, 8–1) H. paniculata H. pan-ik-yew-LAY- lak-tih-FLOR-uh (3–8, 8–1) (7–10, 11–7) Cimicifuga americana sih-mih-SIF- tuh (3–9, 9–4) P. suffruticosa P. suh-frew-tih-KO- A. pedatum A. peh-DAY-tum yew-guh uh-mair-ih-KAN-uh suh (5–8, 8–5) (3–8, 8–1) (3–8, 8–3) I–L Polystichum acrostichoides Amorphophallus bulbifer uh-mor-fo- C. racemosa C. ras-eh-MO-suh pah-LIS-tih-kum uh-kros-tih-CHOY- PHAL-lus BUL-bih-fer (7–10, 10–7) (3–8, 8–3) Impatiens balsamina im-PAY-shenz deez (3–8, 8–1) A. henryi A. HEN-ree-eye (7–9, 9–7) C. simplex C. sim-pleks (4–8, 8–4) ball-suh-MEEN-uh (0–0, 12–1) P. makinoi P. MAK-ih-noy (3–8, 8–1) A. konjac A. KON-jak (7–11, 12–6) Colocasia esculenta kol-o-KAY-see-uh I. walleriana I. wal-ler-ee-AN-uh Rohdea japonica RO-dee-uh jah-PON- Amsonia ciliata am-SO-nee-uh es-kyew-LEN-tuh (10–11, 12–4) (10–11, 12–1) ih-kuh (6–9, 9–6) sil-ee-AH-tah (6–10, 10–6) Cotinus coggygria ko-TY-nus Iris tectorum EYE-riss tek-TOR-um A. hubrichtii A. hew-brik-TEE-eye ko-JEE-gree-uh (5–9, 9–3) (5–9, 9–3) S–Z (5–9, 9–5) C. obovatus C. o-bo-VAY-tus Kirengeshoma palmata kee-reng- A. tabernaemontana A. tab-ur-nee- (4–8, 9–3) geh-SHO-muh pal-MAY-tuh Sambucus nigra sam-BOO-kus mon-TAN-uh (3–9, 9–1) Cynara cardunculus SIN-uh-ruh (5–8, 8–5) NY-gruh (4–7, 7–1) Arisaema triphyllum air-ih-SEE-muh kar-DUN-kyew-lus (7–10, 9–1) Lobelia cardinalis lo-BEEL-yuh S. racemosa S. ras-eh-MO-suh try-FIL-lum (4–9, 9–1) Cyrtomium falcatum sur-TOH-mee- kar-dih-NAL-iss (2–8, 8–1) (3–7, 7–1) Arum italicum AIR-um ih-TAL-ih- um fal-KAY-tum (6–11, 12–10) L. erinus L. AIR-ih-nus (10–11, 9–1) Sauromatum venosum saw-ro-MAY- kum (6–9, 9–3) Dracunculus vulgaris druh-kun- L. fulgens L. FUL-jenz (8–9, 9–8) tum veh-NO-sum (6–10, 11–7) ✕ A. maculatum A. mak-yew-LAY-tum KYEW-lus vul-GAIR-iss (7–10, 10–7) L. gerardii L. jeh-RAR-dee-eye Silphium terebinthinaceum (6–9, 9–6) Dryopteris crassirhizoma dry-OP-ter- (8–9, 9–8) SIL-fee-um tair-eh-bin-thih-NAY- Aruncus dioicus uh-RUN-kus iss krah-sih-RHY-zo-mah (6–9, 9–6) L. sessilifolia L. ses-sih-lih-FO-lee- see-um (3–9, 9–1) die-o-EE-kus (3–7, 7–1) D. erythrosora D. air-ih-THRO-sor- uh (5–8, 8–3) Solidago caesia sol-ih-DAY-go Asclepias incarnata as-KLEE-pee-us uh (5–8, 9–5) L. siphilitica L. sih-fih-LIH-tih-kuh SEEZ-ee-uh (4–8, 8–1) in-kar-NAY-tuh (3–9, 9–2) D. goldieana D. gol-dee-AH-nah (4–8, 8–1) S. flexicaulis S. flex-ih-KAW-liss ✕ A. tuberosa A. too-bur-O-suh (6–8, 8–5) L. speciosa L. spee-see-O-suh (3–9, 9–1) (4–9, 9–2) D. pseudofilix-mas D. soo-doh- (5–8, 8–5) Symplocarpus foetidus sym-plo-KAR- Aspidistra elatior as-pih-DIS-truh FIL-iks-mahs (4–8, 8–1) Lysichiton americanus ly-sih-KITE- pus FEE-tih-dus (3–7, 8–2) ee-LAY-tee-or (7–11, 12–4) Eupatorium maculatum yew-puh- on uh-mair-ih-KAN-us (5–8, 7–1) Thelypteris kunthii theh-LIP-ter-iss Aster cordifolius ASS-tur kor-dih- TOR-ee-um mak-yew-LAY-tum L. camtschatcensis L. kam-shat- KUHN-thee-eye (6–9, 10–5) FO-lee-us (4–8, 8–1) (5–11, 9–1) CHEN-sis (5–9, 9–1) Tricyrtis hirta try-SUR-tiss HUR-tuh A. divaricatus A. dih-vair-ih-KAY-tus E. purpureum E. pur-PUR-ee-um (4–9, 9–6) M–R (4–8, 8–1) (3–9, 9–1) Yucca glauca YUK-uh GLAW-kuh A. macrophyllus A. mak-ro-FIL-lus Hakonechloa macra ha-kon-ee- Matteuccia pensylvanica (3–9, 10–1) (3–8, 8–1). KLOH-uh MAK-ruh (5–9, 9–2) muh-TEW-key-uh pen-sil-VAN-ih- Zantedeschia aethiopica Athyrium niponicum var. pictum Helleborus argutifolius hel-eh-BOR- kuh (2–8, 8–1) zan-teh-DES-kee-uh ee-thee-O-pih- uh-THIH-ree-um nih-PON-ih-kum us ar-GEW-tih-FO-lee-us (6–9, 9–6) Mirabilis jalapa mih-RAB-ih-liss kuh (8–10, 10–4) var. PIK-tum (5–8, 8–1) H. foetidus H. FEE-tih-dus (6–9, 9–6) jah-LAP-ah (10–11, 12–1)

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July / August 2008 61 62 by EvaMonheim JewelforUrbanGardens: A T American smoketree orchittamwood is, maleandfemale flowers are found on ideal forsmallergardens. feet inbothheightandwidth, makingit 80 feettallbutgenerallygrows to2030 lems. Americansmoketree maygrow to and hasminimalinsectdisease prob- heat, andcold.It grows bestinpoorsoils Cotinus obovatus trees suitablefor urbanlandscapes,and multiple trunks. some cases,willform but,in squat trunk, tends todevelop ashort, limestone-based soils.It sides andravineswith feet onsteeprocky hill- altitude of700to2,000 is generallyfoundatan extinction. In thewild, it almost ledtothetree’s federate troop uniforms,overharvesting sap were usedtocreate thedye forCon- the yellow-orange andresinous heartwood range before theCivilWar, butbecause American smoketree hadaneven greater and west totheEdwards Plateau ofTexas, smoketree isnotconsidered poisonous. buttheAmerican skin irritanturushiol, as poisonivyandoakcontainthe Othercashews. plantsinthefamilysuch desirable foodcrops suchasmangosand ily (Anacardiaceae), whichincludesmany caught myeye. two-inch-long, rose-colored petiolesalso plants inthesurrounding landscape.Its appearance incontrasttothefiner-leaved inches inlength,whichcreated atropical large, oval leaves, approximately fourtosix American smoketree isdioecious—that As anarborist,Iamalwayslookingfor Native from Tennessee toAlabama, Continus obovatus I wasinitiallydrawntothetree by its the American Gardener across atree intheuniversity’s arboretum thatIhadheard aboutbutnever seeninthelandscape: HREE YEARSAGO, adapts well todrought, is inthesumacfam- while teachingawoodyplantsclassatTemple University inPhiladelphia, Icame in fallonfemaletrees. The seeds,manyofwhichare sterile,ripen semble smokehovering abouttheplant. tous structures inmassedabundance re- spring andremain intofall.Thefilamen- known aspanicles,whichappearinlate plumelikeflowerthe feathery clusters trees. Thesmoketree getsitsnamefrom from yellow-apricot tored dependingon for itsamazing fallcolor, whichvaries LN NTESPOTLIGHT THE IN PLANT (Cotinus obovatus, Cotinus obovatus C American Smoketree is particularly prized is particularly showier thanfemale bloom, maletrees are separate trees. In fall color,above. foliage providesvivid late spring,left.Its of pinkishflowersin produces airyclusters American smoketree USDA Zones 4to8, AHSZones 9to3). and Horticulture atTemple University. ofLandscape Architecturethe Department arborist,EvaA certified Monheim teachesin teristics inallfourseasons. where you canenjoy charac- itswonderful totheground. Locate thisplant pruned smoketree willregenerate ifstemsare brittle woodmightsufferstormdamage, or asanespalier. Thoughitscharacteristic tree inalargecontainer, smallgarden plot, ens. ConsiderplantingAmericansmoke- just before season’s thenew growth hard- with softwoodcuttingstakeninthespring, consistent red fall color. tivar isC.obovatus tivar of cross between Cotinusobovatus that more peopleshouldconsider. It isa ‘Grace’ isahighlydesirablelandscapetree are available. According toColibraro, Pennsylvania, saysseveral goodcultivars eries andLandscape,Inc., inHorsham, but Michael Colibraro ofColibraro Nurs- tions, andfallnighttimetemperatures. genetic variation, environmental condi- nursery.com. 833-1965. Rare FindNursery, 7269. Forestfarm, Sources (866) 405-7979. Shooting StarNursery, Propagation ofthistree isbestdone The speciesishard tofindinthetrade, C. coggygria. www.forestfarm.com. Williams, OR.(541)846- www.rarefindnursery.com. ‘Red Leaf’, bred forits ‘Red Leaf’, Jackson, NJ.(732) www.shootingstar Another notablecul- Georgetown, KY. and acul-

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