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GARDENERGARDENER® TheThe MagazineMagazine ofof thethe AAmericanmerican HorticulturalHorticultural SocietySociety November / December 2010

Perennials for Winter

Edible for Small Spaces A New Perspective on Cleanup Outstanding

contents Volume 89, Number 6 . November / December 2010

FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

5 NOTES FROM RIVER FARM 6 MEMBERS’ FORUM 8 NEWS FROM THE AHS Boston’s garden contest grows to record size, 2011 AHS President’s Council trip planned for Houston, Gala highlights, rave reviews for Armitage webinar in October, author of article for The American receives garden-writing award, new butterfly-themed children’s garden installed at River Farm.

12 2010 AMERICA IN BLOOM AWARD WINNERS Twelve cities are recognized for their community beautification efforts.

42 ONE ON ONE WITH… David Karp: detective.

page 26 44 HOMEGROWN HARVEST The pleasures of popcorn.

EDIBLE LANDSCAPING FOR SMALL SPACES 46 GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK 14 Replacing pavement with in San BY ROSALIND CREASY Francisco, bacterium may boost cognitive With some know-how, you can grow all sorts of , , function, study finds fewer on and herbs in small spaces. earth now than before, a fungus-and-virus combination may cause honeybee colony collapse disorder, USDA funds CAREFREE BY CAROLE OTTESEN 20 program, Park sold, Rudbeckia Denver Looking for an attractive substitute for grass in a shady spot? Try Daisy™ wins grand prize in American moss; it’ll grow on you. Garden Award Contest.

50 GREEN GARAGE® OUTSTANDING CONIFERS BY RITA PELCZAR 26 A miscellany of useful garden helpers. This group of trees and is beautiful year round, but shines brightest in winter. 52 BOOK REVIEWS From Art to Landscape, for a Lifetime, The World of Trees, and Bark. 32 GARDEN CLEANUP, RECONSIDERED BY KRIS WETHERBEE What you do—and don’t do—in your garden now can help 54 GIFTS FOR THE GARDENER plants prepare for winter and preserve for wildlife. Ideas for holiday gift-giving.

56 REGIONAL HAPPENINGS 37 WINTER STALWARTS BY KAREN BUSSOLINI When designing a four-season landscape, include these tough 58 AND HEAT ZONES herbaceous perennials that continue to provide interest in the AND PRONUNCIATIONS colder months when their counterparts have gone dormant. 60 2010 MAGAZINE INDEX 62 PLANT IN THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE COVER: Red-stemmed dulcis ‘Chameleon’ is a tough herbaceous perennial that Chilean winterberry (

RANDALL C. SMITH / COURTESY OF ISELI NURSERY remains appealing throughout winter. Photograph by Karen Bussolini mucronata).

November / December 2010 3 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY “This is a book to turn to over a lifetime of garden misadventures.” Making America a Nation of , a Land of Gardens —Dominique Browning The Times

Board of Directors CHAIR Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. Falls Church, Virginia FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN Don E. Riddle, Jr. Davidsonville, Maryland SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN Mary Pat Matheson Atlanta, Georgia SECRETARY Leslie Ariail Alexandria, Virginia TREASURER J. Landon Reeve, IV Woodbine, Maryland IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Susie Usrey Dayton, Oregon EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Henrietta Burke Alexandria, Virginia

Sandra Address Chevy Chase, Maryland ■ Allan M. Armitage Athens, Georgia ■ Amy Bolton Falls Church, Virginia Jane Diamantis McDonald, ■ Gay Estes Houston, Texas ■ Carole Hofley Wilson, Wyoming Margaret Kulp Louisville, Kentucky ■ Jack Lowry Phoenix, Maryland ■ Shirley Nicolai Ft. Washington, Maryland

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tom Underwood PRESIDENT EMERITUS Katy Moss Warner

AHS New President’s Council Encyclopedia of CHAMPION’S CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Kulp, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Rissetto ■ Mr. and Mrs. W. Bruce Usrey Gardening CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. George Diamantis Techniques LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY CIRCLE Trish and Cam Gibson ■ Mr. and Mrs. Klaus Zech

HAUPT CIRCLE Mrs. Lynda A. Bachman ■ Nancy J. Becker, M.D. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Bogle ■ Mr. James R. Cargill, II ■ Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Farrell ■ Dr. and Mrs. John A. Floyd, Jr. ■ Mrs. Carole S. Hofley ■ Mr. and Mrs. J. Landon Reeve, IV

“You’ll find step-by-step COUNCIL MEMBER’S CIRCLE Mrs. Sandra L. Address ■ Mr. and Mrs. John H. Ariail, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert Baillie ■ Mr. and Mrs. Carter instructions for , watering, Bales ■ Mrs. Katherine Belk ■ Mrs. George P. Bissell, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. C. William Black ■ Dr. Sherran Blair ■ Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Bluemel propagating; information about all ■ Ms. Amy Bolton ■ Mr. and Mrs. T. Bradshaw ■ Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Burke, III ■ Ms. Judy Daniel ■ Mr. and Mrs. Carl Estes ■ categories of plants…sections on Ms. Inger Fair ■ Mrs. Carolyn V. Foil ■ Ms. Marguerite Peet Foster ■ Ms. Joyce W. Godsey ■ Ms. Amy Goldman ■ Mr. and Mrs. Joel Goldsmith ■ Mrs. Joan Goltzman ■ Ms. LaDawn Griffin ■ Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Hanselman ■ Dr. and Mrs. William O. Hargrove ■ organic techniques and recycling; Mr. Edwin L. Heminger ■ Ms. Nancy Hockstad ■ Mrs. Elizabeth Hooff ■ Mr. Philip Huey ■ Mrs. Carolyn M. Lindsay ■ Mr. and Mrs. Bob and how to treat pests and J. MacLean ■ Ms. Melissa Marshall ■ Mrs. Dorothy Marston ■ Mr. and Mrs. James R. Moxley, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. James T. Norman ■ Mrs. disease…. Consider it a plant- Shirley Ann Nicolai ■ Mr. David D. Parrish ■ Mrs. Jeanne Otis Shields ■ Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Smith, Jr. ■ Mr. Harold Stahly ■ Mr. Arnold Steiner ■ Dr. and Mrs. Steven M. Still ■ Mr. Howard McK. Tucker and Ms. Megan Evans ■ Mr. and Mrs. Tom Underwood ■ Mr. lover’s mutual fund—a little of this Joe Viar ■ Ms. Angela M. Vikesland ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Volk ■ Ms. Katy Moss Warner ■ Mr. and Mrs. Dennis White ■ Mr. and and little of that, in a dandy Mrs. Harvey C. White ■ Mr. and Mrs. John W.White, Sr. ■ Ms. Jill Yates investment.” HONORARY PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL Ms. Louise Fruehling* ■ Mrs. Enid Haupt* ■ Mrs. John A. Lutz* ■ Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Miller* —Ginny Smith *In memoriam Philadelphia Inquirer

“This is a must have for gardeners and landscape designers.” Corporate Members —Joel M. Lerner Bonnie Plants ■ The Care of Trees ■ Chapel Valley Landscape Company The Washington Post The Espoma Company ■ Furbish Company ■ Homestead Gardens ■ Kurt Bluemel, Inc. Monrovia ■ MTR Landscape Architects, LLC. ■ Osmocote

Horticultural Partners

America in Bloom Symposium & Awards Program ■ Bellingrath Gardens and Mitchell-Beazley/Octopus Books USA Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Garden Symposium ■ Cox MetroPark 480 pages Hardcover, $45 Epcot International & Garden Festival ■ Garden Centers of America The Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Clubs of America Available wherever The Homestead in the Garden Symposium ■ Inniswood Garden Society ■ Morris Arboretum books are sold Oklahoma & Arboretum

4 the American Gardener NOTES FROM RIVER FARM CONTACTS FOR C AHS PROGRAMS, MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS & DEPARTMENTS

For general information about your membership, call (800) 777-7931. Send change of address notifications to our membership department at 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA “Judge each day not by the harvest you reap but by the you plant.” 22308. If your magazine is lost or damaged in the mail, call the number above for a replace- S WE FIND ourselves in the final months of 2010 and start looking for- ment. Requests for membership information and change of address notification can also be ward to a new year, this venerable quote from Robert Louis Stevenson seems e-mailed to [email protected]. particularly appropriate. One of the wonderful things about the practice of A THE AMERICAN GARDENER To submit a letter to is that we have the opportunity to plant seeds—literally and figura- the editor of The American Gardener, write to tively—on a regular basis. The American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard Planting seeds is an act of optimism; we’re Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308, or send an e-mail to [email protected]. investing in the future—even if only in a small way. As gardeners, we sow seeds to produce DEVELOPMENT To make a gift to the American Horticultural Society, or for information about plants for our own gardens or for those of our a donation you have already made, call (800) friends or customers. Those of us who thrive 777-7931 ext. 127. on relatively quick rewards may sow annual or E-NEWSLETTER To sign up for our monthly seeds, while more patient souls may e-newsletter, visit www.ahs.org. sow seeds of trees, shrubs, and other plants INTERNSHIP PROGRAM The AHS offers intern- that will take years to mature. Tom Underwood and Harry Rissetto ships in communications, horticulture, and Looking at this from another perspective, youth programs. For information, send an e-mail to [email protected]. Information and when we share our passion for gardening with others—either directly or by exam- application forms can also be found in the ple—we are planting seeds of wonder, beauty, and knowledge and affirming that River Farm area of www.ahs.org. what we do as gardeners is making our world a better place. With this in mind, we NATIONAL CHILDREN & YOUTH GARDEN believe you will find this issue of The American Gardener full of stimulating infor- SYMPOSIUM For information about the Soci- mation and ideas that will deepen your interest in plants and gardens. ety’s annual National Children & Youth Gar- den Symposium, call (800) 777-7931 ext. When it comes to creating gardens that are bountiful as well as beautiful, au- 137 or visit the Youth Gardening section of thor and landscape designer Ros Creasy is nationally renowned. In an excerpt from www.ahs.org. her updated guide to edible landscaping, she offers useful advice for transforming RECIPROCAL ADMISSIONS PROGRAM The AHS even a small space into a garden that is visually appealing and highly productive. Reciprocal Admissions Program offers members In “Garden Cleanup, Reconsidered,” Kris Wetherbee explains why practicing free admission and other discounts to more than 250 botanical gardens and other horticultural some restraint can be a good thing when it comes to tidying up the garden in win- destinations throughout North America. A list of ter; you’ll discover that allowing seed heads and some fallen to stay in place participating gardens can be found in the Mem- not only benefits your garden, but also provides needed habitat for wildlife. bership area of www.ahs.org. For more infor- mation, call (800) 777-7931 ext. 119. And for those of you looking for ways to create interest in the , Karen Bussolini profiles some stalwart herbaceous perennials and grasses that offer RIVER FARM The AHS headquarters at River Farm is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays year- valuable form, texture, or color during the period when most others are dormant. round (except Federal holidays), and 9 a.m. to While you are browsing through the magazine, don’t miss our annual holiday 1 p.m. Saturdays from April through September. Admission is free. For information about events, gift guide on page 54. One sure bet for your favorite gardener or cook this season rentals, and directions, visit the River Farm sec- will be the AHS’s newly released book, Homegrown Harvest, which is packed with tion of www.ahs.org. practical and timely advice on growing your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Look TRAVEL STUDY PROGRAM Visit spectacular pri- for it at your local bookseller or order online through www.ahs.org. vate and public gardens around the world through the Society’s acclaimed Travel Study Program. For information about upcoming Happy gardening and best wishes for the New Year from all of us at the AHS! trips, call (800) 627-6621, send an e-mail to [email protected], or visit the Travel Harry Rissetto, Chair, AHS Board of Directors Study section of www.ahs.org. Tom Underwood, Executive Director WEBSITE: www.ahs.org The AHS website is a valuable source of information about the Soci- ety’s programs and activities, finding out about P.S. Speaking of planting seeds, be sure to look for the 2011 AHS members-only Seed gardening events in your area, and linking to oth- Exchange list, which will be posted on our website (www.ahs.org) in mid-January. er useful websites. To access the members-only One of the Society’s longest running and most popular membership programs, the section of the website, this year’s password is oak. The user name is ahs. Seed Exchange is a great way to try something new or share your favorite plants with other members.

November / December 2010 5 MEMBERSC’ FORUM

MORE COMMENTS ON DIGITAL EDITION my magazines with me to read when I and looked at your digital offering. Unfor- Thanks for all your e-mails regarding the have spare time—on vacations, waiting tunately, while interesting, it is basically digital edition of the magazine. Here’s a for appointments, etc. To me, magazines useless for those of us who want to down- sampling of the feedback we received are for hands-on reading, and I find that load the entire issue and read it at our from the September/October issue. turning the pages of high-quality paper leisure and not have to be connected to the adds to the enjoyment. Internet to read the issue. Please make the I LOVE the online edition. I share some Martha Waldemar entire version available for download. articles with a cousin and I appreciate Clackamas, Oregon Brad Johnson that I can choose whatever article(s) I McLean, Virginia want and print them out as needed rather The digital magazine is terrific. I would than trying to photocopy pages. It’s won- prefer that you go completely digital, both Editor’s note: Based on reader requests, derful. Thank you! for the environment and for search capa- we have activated a feature that allows Holly Shelton bilities. research on hearing/acoustics you to download a PDF file of each Santa Cruz, California and many of the professional journals in issue to your desktop that you can read this field are now only available in digi- using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Personally, I do not want to receive the tal versions. magazine in digital format. The American Doris Kistler Gardener seems to have more detailed in- Louisville, Kentucky PLEASE WRITE US! Address letters to Editor, The formation than some other magazines, so American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308. Send e-mails to I tend to either re-read sections of the ar- After receiving notice that a digital version [email protected] (note Letter to Editor in subject line). ticle or just sit and absorb. I like to take was available, I went to the AHS website Letters we print may be edited for length and clarity.

6 the American Gardener THE AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY TRAVEL STUDY PROGRAM 2011 TOURS

The Loire Valley and the Festival at the Domaine de Courson May 5–14, 2011 with AHS Host Jane Diamantis and Tour Escort Susie Orso of Special Tours ■ Explore the beautiful and storied Loire Valley in northwestern France in springtime. This exclusive tour will provide entrée to some of the finest privately-owned historic châteaus and gardens, including Château de Cheverny, Château de Chenonceau, and the inspirational ornamental potager at Villandry. For the grand finale, we will enjoy the international “Journées des Plantes” festival at the Domaine de Courson, south of Paris.

Gardens and Innovation: Chicagoland and Rockford August 17–21, 2011 with AHS Host Katy Moss Warner ■ Discover the horticultural abundance that the Chicago area offers during this tour of the innovative gardens that have contributed to the greening of Chicago. Among these are the Lurie Gardens in Chicago’s Millennium Park, the world-renowned Chicago Botanic Garden, and Garfield Park Conservatory. We will also visit several stunning private gardens, award-winning gardens in Rockford, Illinois, and the trial gardens at Ball Horticultural Company’s headquarters.

Castles and Gardens of Bohemia and Moravia September 26–October 6, 2011 with AHS Host Kurt Bluemel and Tour Escort Harriet Landseer of Special Tours ■ We begin this trip to the Czech Republic in the capital city of Prague, renowned for its castles and cathedrals. From there we will venture to the historic and picturesque regions of Bohemia and Moravia. Experience a wealth of gardens in styles ranging from formal Italianate, Renaissance, and Baroque to Neo-classical and modern— including several 20th-century gardens created by visionary designers.

For more information about upcoming tours in the AHS Travel Study Program, please contact our travel planner, MacNair Travel: • E-mail: [email protected] • Call: (866) 627-6621 • Visit: www.ahs.org GARDENER Botanical nomenclatureisbasedon Alexandria, VA22308-1300. Society A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Garden of Encyclopedia A–Z Society Copyright ©2010 bytheAmericanHorticultural Society. ©2010 Copyright material. Backissuesareavailableat$8percopy. stamped envelope.Wecannotguaranteethesafereturn ofunsolicited possible publicationwillbereturnedifaccompanied byaself-addressed, ily thoseoftheSociety.Manuscripts,artwork,andphotographs sentfor expressed inthearticlesarethoseofauthorsand arenotnecessar- Form 3579to ginia, andatadditionalmailingoffices.Postmaster:Pleasesend magazine subscription.PeriodicalspostagepaidatAlexandria,Vir- $60. Internationalduesare$50.$10ofannualgoestoward and onthe Gardener American The list of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Canada and Greenland and Canada States, United the of Flora Vascular the of list tion to (703) 768-5700.MembershipintheSocietyincludesasubscrip- Society, 7931EastBoulevardDrive,Alexandria,VA22308-1300, ber/October, November/December)bytheAmericanHorticultural ly (January/February,March/April,May/June,July/August,Septem- 8 h American The ADVERTISING & PARTNERSHIPS CONTACT US CORPORATE EDITORIAL The American Gardener American The the American Gardener Royal Horticultural Society Index of Garden Plants Garden of Index Society Horticultural Royal CHAIR The American Gardener American The Printed intheU.S.A. West DesMoines,Iowa Elvin McDonald Kennett Square,Pennsylvania Richard W.Lighty Denver, Colorado Panayoti Kelaidis San Francisco,California John E.Bryan Birmingham, Alabama Steve Bender Ithaca, NewYork Nina L.Bassuk Athens, Georgia Allan M.Armitage Brevard, NorthCarolina Richard E.Bir EDITORIAL ADVISORYBOARD Carole Ottesen CONTRIBUTING WRITER Rita Pelczar CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Patrick Morgan EDITORIAL INTERN Viveka Neveln ASSOCIATE EDITOR Mary Yee MANAGING EDITORANDARTDIRECTOR David J.Ellis EDITOR E-MAIL: E-MAIL: (703) 768-5700 Alexandria, VA22308 7931 EastBoulevardDrive The AmericanGardener (ISSN 1087-9978)ispublishedbimonth- . Annualduesare$35;twoyears, [email protected] [email protected] , 7931EastBoulevardDrive, The American Horticultural American The on A Synonymized Check- Synonymized A . Opinions borhoods intogardens, growing prideintheircityalongsidetheflowers andvegetables.” Member Programs andOutreach Stephanie Jutila, “passionate citizens are turningneigh- winners withaone-year membership. “Because ofthiscontest,”saysAHSDirector of thecontestbyyears, providing theAHShassupported allfirst-,second-,andthird-place from communitygardens tostorefront, porch, andvegetable gardens. For thepastnine intobebeautiful.” effort citement ofhard work payingoff andthejoy ofhavingsomethingyou’ve putsomuch who tookfirstplaceintheMedium Yard Garden category. contestfosterstheex- “This the numberofgardeners. BostonMayor ThomasM.Menino’s 14thannualGarden Con- PLANTS AREN’T SIZE RECORD TO GROWS CONTEST GARDEN BOSTON’S ONE OFTHE HOUSTON TRIPTO PRESIDENT’SCOUNCIL UPCOMING assemblage of American decorative arts dating fromassemblage ofAmerican decorative 1620to1870. arts Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens—home tocharming gardens andanextensive aswellfilled withexotic asatouroftheMuseum plantsandbutterflies, ofFine Arts’ Houston Museum ofNatural Science’s center, butterfly glassbuilding athree-story vated plantsintheregion. Participants willalsoenjoy abehind-the-scenes tourofthe dens’ 300acres ofEastTexas Piney Woods—the largestcollectionofnative andculti- attheMercer trees;ferns, , andfruit andmarveling Arboretum andBotanicGar- more than3,000 plantsrangingfrom magnoliastooaks;browsing Treesearch Farms’ to theLoneStar State from March 23to27. Gay Estes , alongwithExecutive Director Tom Underwood, willhostanexpedition trip toanexciting destinationeachyear. horticultural In 2011,AHSboard member says the neighborhood,” terest inbeautifying have peopleshow in- each firstplacewinner. cast, andHGTV, to City ofBoston,Com- and prizes from the year AHSmembership el,” alongwithaone- coveted “Golden Trow- Menino presented the Boston, where Mayor the awards ceremony in sented theSociety at Arabelle Dane al Society President American Horticultur- August 26,former nior gardeners. On test sawarecord numberofentriesthis year, forse- includinganentirely category new Part tomakeBostongreener, ofacity-widecrusade thecontestembraceseverything Highlights ofthetripinclude excursions toPeckerwood Gardens, whichexhibits “It’s to important Camille Carney special benefitsforAHSPresident’s Councilmembersisanexclusive repre- the onlythingsgrowing inthegardens ofBostonthesedays—sois , of Boston’s14thannualgardencontest. Mayor ThomasMenino(thirdfromleft)andotherawardwinners Carney (secondfromleft),recipientofaGoldenTrowel,with PresidentArabellaDane(thirdfromright)andCamille Past AHS PROGRAMS •EVENTSANNOUNCEMENTS News November /December2010 from the AHS

COURTESY OF BOSTON PARKS AND RECREATION Floral Artist at 2010 Gala

This year’s gala featured floral arrangements designed by White House florist Laura Dowling, President’s Council trip participants will enjoy a visit to Bayou Bend, whose signature style includes the former estate of a Texas art collector and philanthropist. combining with edibles such as the purple potatoes, From exclusive tours of the city’s best private gardens to above. Left: Addressing gala backstage tours of its public gems, President’s Council members attendees, Dowling recounts will discover why—in the horticultural world—Houston is like anecdotes of her first year another country. For more information, contact Sue Galvin at working for the White House.

LEFT: RICK GARDNER / COURTESY OF BAYOU BEND COLLECTION AND GARDENS. TOP RIGHT: CAROLE LANGRALL. BOTTOM RIGHT: COURTESY OF LOUISE KRAFFT. (703) 768-5700 ext. 111 or [email protected].

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 August 1 and September 30, 2010.

Mr. and Mrs. John H. Ariail, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Joel Goldsmith Mr. and Mrs. James A. Runde Asmara Foundation Cole and Carole Hedden Saunders Brothers, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Carter Bales Mr. Edwin L. Heminger Tom and Jane Underwood Mrs. George P. Bissell, Jr. Ms. Nancy Hockstad Mr. and Mrs. W. Bruce Usrey Amy Bolton and Philip Schoene The Katherine & Thomas M. Belk Mr. Joe Viar, Jr. Boone & Sons Foundation Mr. and Mrs. André Viette Bradford Portraits Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Kulp, Jr. Katy Moss Warner Mr. and Mrs. Taylor Burke, III Mr. and Mrs. Bob J. MacLean Mr. and Mrs. Peter H. Williams Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Mrs. Dorothy W. Marston The Calabash Hotel Mr. G.C. Myers In Memory of Joyce Clevenger Mr. James R. Cargill, II National Capital Area Garden Clubs, Mount Vernon Civic Association Mr. and Mrs. George Diamantis District II Edwaldan Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nicolai In Memory of Heidi Vogt Employ The Earth Mr. and Mrs. James T. Norman Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Bluemel Mr. and Mrs. Carl Estes Osmocote Ms. Inger Fair Renee’s Garden LLC In Honor of Dallas Reeve Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Farrell Mr. and Mrs. J. Landon Reeve, IV Shelley and Tommy Mulitz Dr. and Mrs. John A. Floyd, Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Rissetto, Esq.

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 charitable giving plan, please contact: Tom Underwood, Executive Director at (703) 768-5700 ext. 123 or [email protected].

November / December 2010 9 10 website these onlinepresentations, visitthemembers-onlyarea oftheAHS Climbers forAmericanGardens” inApril. To recordings view of of ascreen andlisten tosuchgreat speakers.” times we live wonderful intobeable tositinfront marked, “What cluding suggestionsforeffective plantcombinations. andlandscapedesignadvice,in- tographs, wittyobservations, withbeautifulpho- opinionated Armitageenthralledparticipants the District ofColumbia, andCanada.Thealways-engaging nials” from 41different to211AHSmemberparticipants states, Allan Armitage FROM AMONG 2010 WRITERS ASSOCIATION MEDIAAWARDS GARDEN ON OCTOBER PERENNIALS NATIVE HIGHLIGHTS WEBINAR OCTOBER November/December 2009issueof “Gardensment forherarticle, ofRecovery,” publishedinthe Howard, whowontheGWA’s 2010Silver Award ofAchieve- communicators forrecognition. Congratulations to ation’s (GWA) annual mediaawards selects thebestgarden ver Trowel, had apow- because Ifeltthatthepeoplein thearticle On theWings ofFancy from theNationalCapitalAreaGardenClubs,DistrictII. the garden,whichwasmadepossiblewithagenerousdonation with RiverFarmHorticulturistJamesGagliardiinOctobertoinstall a fountainandbutterfly-shapedbench.Volunteersteamedup A childenjoysRiverFarm’snewbutterflygarden—completewith Armitage alsopresented and anAHSwebinar on“Vines Nancy Furth from, awebinar Plano, participant Texas, re- “I was thrilled that my article on healinggardens“I wasthrilledthat myarticle wonthe Sil- the American Gardener (www.ahs.org). gave anhour-longpresentation on“Native Peren- ,University ofGeorgia horticulture professor 7, scores ofentries, theGarden Writers Associ- The American Gardener Doreen . News writtenby Editorial Intern Patrick Morgan. ners, visitwww.gardenwriters.org. formation abouttheGWA andtoseealistofallthe2010win- says topics from homegardening trade issues,” togreen industry works year aired on a widerangeof and/orpublishedevery nicators. “It isameansofshowcasing themanyexceptional hosts, illustrators,andgraphicdesignerstoInternet commu- traditional writers,photographers,radioandtelevisionshow recognizing theachievements ofgarden communicators, from one of38winnersthisyear, selectedfrom 238entries. addictionstoextensiverange ofmaladies,from burns.It drug was sign anduseoftherapeuticgardens forpatientssufferingfrom a totell,”saysHoward, story erful explored whosearticle thede- www.ahs.org M East LansingandGrandRapids,Michigan. River Farm,Alexandria,Virginia. Manchester, Vermont. de Courson. (Note: AHSMembers-onlypreviewsaleisThursday,April14.) Williamsburg, Virginia. Lake BuenaVista,Florida. Hosted byAHSBoardMemberGayEstes. MAR. 2–MAY15. MAR. 23–27. 2011 DEC. 9. DEC. 1–23. JULY 21–23. JUNE 9. MAY 5–14. APR. 15&16. APR. 10&11. APR. 1&2. For thepast25years, theGWA awards program hasbeen Robert LaGasse, GWA executive director. For more in- sponsored orco-sponsored by theAHS.Visit ark your calendarfortheseupcomingevents thatare Annual HolidayReception. Great AmericanGardenersAwardsCeremonyandBanquet. The LoireValleyandtheFestivalofDomaine Great GardensandLandscapingSymposium. Holiday TreesDisplay. AHS TravelStudyProgram.LoireValley,France. National Children&YouthGardenSymposium. President’s CouncilTrip. or call(703)768-5700formore information. Spring PlantSale. Colonial WilliamsburgGardenSymposium. Epcot InternationalFlower&GardenFestival. CALENDAR 2010-2011 AHS EVENTSANDPROGRAMS River Farm,Alexandria,Virginia. River Farm,Alexandria,Virginia. River Farm,Alexandria,Virginia. Houston, Texas.

JAMES GAGLIARDI NEW from the American Horticultural Society

A season-by-season guide to a sustainable

Available November 2010 wherever books are sold!

HOW AND WHEN TO GROW EVERYTHING YOU WANT IN YOUR OWN KITCHEN GARDEN ALSO INCLUDES… • Advice on planning, setting up, and designing your garden ■ Handy charts that tell you when • Expert, earth-friendly techniques for successfully growing to sow seeds and harvest different and harvesting herbs, fruits, and vegetables vegetables • Suggestions on the best varieties for different regions ■ Resource list and glossary • A season-by-season guide for bringing the freshest fruits, herbs, and vegetables from garden to plate ■ More than 300 color photographs throughout

To view an excerpt from the book, visit www.ahs.org. Hardcover, $32.50 304 pages 12 by PatrickMorgan H ESSPECIAL: NEWS AHS royo Grande, saysheandhiscommuni- improve theirsmall patchofAmerica.” bilities are endlesswhencitizens uniteto to restoring historicbuildings,thepossi- hanging flowering basketsonMain Street work forimprovement,” she adds.“From AIB isthatit“gives communitiesaframe- things happen.”Andthebestthingabout thatgreattions tocommunityefforts through volunteers andgenerous dona- Bloom,” saysWarner, “becauseitis volvement ofAmericain isattheheart Grande, California.“Communityin- presented thisyear’s award toArroyo Moss Warner exemplify thespiritofcollaboration. city whoseresidents andorganizationsbest ty Involvement Award—which honorsa the eightcriteriaawards—the Communi- Since 2004,theAHS hassponsored oneof INVOLVEMENT AWARD COMMUNITY cities tovieforspecialrecognition. other, whilethecriteriaawards allow all comparable size tocompeteagainsteach allows citiesof The populationcategory intwodifferentparticipants categories. ers cantakehomeandimplement.” toshare ideasthatoth- gions ofthecountry event bringstogetherpeoplefrom allre- director. “In additiontotheawards, this sium,” saysLauraKunkle, AIB’s executive tremendous hostsforthisyear’s sympo- Louis andtheGatewayRegion were “Bursting withMidwest hospitality, St. HOSPITALITY AIB ENJOYS MIDWEST D from September 30toOctober 2. ny, whichtookplaceinSt. Louis,Missouri, the AIBSymposium andAwards Ceremo- city ofArroyo Grande, California,during (see box, opposite)waspresented tothe America inBloom (AIB)YouTube Award also scattered seedsincyberspace.Thefirst this nationwidebeautificationprogram the improvement ofurbangreen space, And thisyear, inadditiontoencouraging put theirbestflowers onceagain. forward Bob LundBob , abusinessowner inAr- The awards program recognizes AIB the American Gardener URING and communitiesacross theU.S. ninth annualcompetition,cities , AHSpresident emeritus, America inBloom’s America inBloom’s2010Award Winners Katy Citizens ofArroyoGrande,California,jointopaintandbeautifythetown’shistoricbridge. For thesecondyear straight,Fayetteville,Arkansas, wontheEnvironmentalAwareness Award. provides agreater baseofexpertise.” a teamandhelpingeachotherout,which ers—so thatnow we’re working more as torical society, thetree guild,andoth- all ourcivicgroups together—thehis- involvement. TheAIB program brings ty—and thepridethatcomesfrom that royo Grande senseofcommuni- isatrue award. “One ofthethingswe have inAr- ty were “pleased aspunch,”toreceive the demonstrates extraordinary civicleader- demonstrates extraordinary award recognizes anindividualwho ofurbanbeautification,the supporter Champion Award. Named afterabeloved nual John R.Holmes IIICommunity it off, Lund himselfreceived thesecondan- standsout.And,tocap pants, thecitytruly bouquetofAIBpartici- in thecolorful award, makingitclearthatwith- category Arroyo Grande alsowonapopulation

TOP: COURTESY OF VIVIAN KRUG. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF AMERICA IN BLOOM Population Category Award Winners AIB YOUTUBE AWARD ■ 2,000 or less Echo, Oregon ■ 15,001–25,000 Arroyo Grande, California Arroyo Grande’s award-winning video ■ 2,001– 4,000 Lewes, Delaware ■ 25,001–50,000 Westfield, New Jersey highlights the efforts of the city’s many ■ 4,001–10,000 Charles City, Iowa ■ 50,001–100,000 Bloomington, Indiana hardworking volunteers through a ■ 10,001–15,000 Tipp City, Ohio photo montage of the community’s colorful storefronts, streets, and mu- Criteria Award Winners nicipal buildings. “I think our video ■ American Horticultural Society Community Involvement Award was so successful because everybody Arroyo Grande, California in our group feels so deeply about the ■ Ball Horticultural Company Floral Displays Award Shipshewana, Indiana program,” says Arroyo Grande busi- ■ Environmental Awareness Award Fayetteville, Arkansas ness owner Bob Lund. “They put their ■ J. Frank Schmidt & Son Company Award Bloomington, Indiana hearts into it.” To view the video, click ■ Meister Media Worldwide Heritage Preservation Award Webster Groves, Missouri on the link with this article on the AHS ■ OFA – The Association of Horticulture Professionals Landscaped Areas Award website (www.ahs.org). Westfield, New Jersey —P.M. ■ Tidiness Award Rising Sun, Indiana ■ Turf & Groundcover Areas Award Addison, Texas practical benefits such as slowing storm- water runoff and reducing heat-island ship. Like a true leader, Lund is quick to year, have taken up AIB’s call to trans- effect, the planting projects AIB fosters give credit to others. “It was only through form gray cityscapes into green ones. can’t help but improve America city by the tremendous contribution of the peo- Since the beginning of the annual com- city. For more information about the AIB ple in our community that I was able to petition in 2002, more than 22 million or entering the 2011 contest, call (614) 487- receive the award,” he says. “It’s their help people from 180 cities and 38 states have 1117 or visit www.americainbloom.org. and efforts that brought us together.” participated. The same passion is reflected in the From the feel-good benefits of living Patrick Morgan is an editorial intern with other communities that, over the past around beauty and green space to the The American Gardener.

November / December 2010 13 Edible Landscaping for small spaces ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROSALIND CREASY

14 the American Gardener You don’t need a large yard to MALL SPACE” means differ- carefully. You may find that containers ent things to different people. on rolling casters are a simple solution, have an edible garden. With “SAlthough some folks may con- allowing you to move your edibles to take some know-how, you can grow sider my total edible garden space (about advantage of changing sun patterns. 2,000 square feet) large, speaking practi- If you’re concerned about your ability all sorts of vegetables, fruits, cally, I grow food in a number of small to grow fruit productively in a limited spaces. Containers hold berries, veggies, area, rest assured that you can grow and and herbs in small spaces. and herbs on a brick patio. harvest plenty. Espaliered fruit trees and Lining the front walkway are several rec- vines, such as grapes, flourish tangular beds; both plants and design when trellised against a south-facing wall. change from season to season. The area Because the leaves of these fruit trees and separating my driveway from my neigh- vines shade the wall in summer, while bor’s is a major fruit-producing spot. bare limbs let the sun’s warming rays Within the confines of these small front shine through in winter, these plants help and backyard gardens, I produce hun- to reduce air-conditioning and heating dreds of pounds of fresh vegetables and bills. Vining vegetables, including cu- fruits each year. cumbers, beans, and tomatoes, can work Maybe you want to enjoy specialty the same magic. herbs your grandmother used in her cook- ing, but you live in a condominium and This article is have just a small balcony or patio. Perhaps excerpted and you’re fascinated by the many different adapted from types of apples but have a typical suburban The Complete plot. Or you simply want to reduce your Book of Edible grocery bills by growing some of your own Landscaping by Rosalind Creasy food. You can do all this and more in small (Sierra Club garden areas by using techniques to maxi- Books, 2010, mize your space, including growing edibles 384 pages, in containers, choosing compact varieties, $39.95). Used with permission. and going vertical.

SMALL-GARDEN BASICS When a gardening book recommends Small yards present different challenges composting, people with small gardens than large ones. Sometimes you need to usually sigh and say, “Nice, but…” Yet get creative to find enough full sun for even small properties often have an out- your tomatoes. Or maybe you think you of-the-way corner or space under a tree don’t have room for a large fruit tree, or that is perfect for a small prefabricated re- space for a bin. Almost any- cycled-plastic composter. Or put one of thing is possible in small gardens; you the tumbler-type bins near the back door just need to plan carefully and sometimes and camouflage it with plants. Ellen think outside the box. Spector Platt, who gardens on the roof of One of the first challenges in a small an 18-story apartment building in New space can be sunlight—or lack thereof. York City, recommends, “Alternate lay- Small gardens, particularly city gar- ers of kitchen waste with a layer of fine dens—unless on the tallest rooftop—re- soil and a nitrogen source like garden fo- ceive less sun than larger gardens because liage and cottonseed meal, and you’re in surrounding buildings and trees cast business.” For some gardeners, a worm shadows on them. A small yard might re- bin under the kitchen sink or in the ceive full sun in the winter and be in garage is the most space-saving method. complete shade in the summer, or the And remember that high yields start opposite might be true. In planning a with good, rich soil—no matter what size garden for a courtyard, patio, or deck of the garden. Adding ample amounts of an apartment, study your sun patterns compost, manure, and other organic mat-

This 100-square-foot organic in the author’s front yard shows that an edible garden can be both beautiful and productive, with tomatoes and bold-leaved zucchini growing harmoniously with orange marigolds, blue salvia, and many other plants.

November / December 2010 15 ter to the soil provides nutrients and aera- tion, eliminating the need for synthetic fer- tilizers and that inhibit beneficial soil microbes. If you don’t have open ground, try cre- ating raised beds. Advocates of raised-bed gardening claim the beds are more pro- ductive because the soil drains well and warms up faster in spring. Another tip for getting the most out of a small growing area is to practice inter- planting. Basically, this means utilizing as much garden space as possible. In spring, consider sowing seeds for quick-maturing such as radishes, arugula, baby greens, and beets in the open space be- tween slow-maturing tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. Because these quick crops are in and out of the garden within 21 to 40 days, they don’t impinge on the main crop. In late summer, remove spent bush bean and early cucumber plants and in- This raised bed, located off the street in a parking strip, was the start of the author’s foray into tercrop with transplants of quick-growing edible landscaping. Here it is filled with sage, society garlic (Tulbaghia violacea), peppers, and heat-tolerant lettuces and frost-toler- purple basil, thyme, yellow roses, and a potted calamondin. Behind the fence, lima beans form ant kale, cilantro, mustard, and pac choi. a privacy screen. Cherry tomatoes are trained up and over the entry arbor on the right. Finally, don’t forget to use vertical space. Grow vining plants up on sup- Hybridizers and nursery growers are vines; grow small icebox watermelons and ports, espalier fruit trees against walls, aware of a large new market—people who ‘Cornell’s Bush Delicata’ winter squash on and plant window boxes. want to grow edible plants in small yards compact vines. or in containers—and have responded by EDIBLE PLANTS FOR SMALL SPACES developing many compact vegetables and GOING VERTICAL The most obvious way to maximize your dwarf fruit trees. Quite a few are even Vertical gardening is just plain practical— harvest in a small space is to select natu- more beautiful than their full-size cousins. and pretty, as well. By growing upward, rally small edibles, such as blueberry bush- Instead of six-foot-tall, gawky okra plants, plants do not take up valuable ground— es, instead of huge walnut trees. Choose look for diminutive 18-inch-high okras potential growing space—for anything super-productive varieties for the greatest with red foliage. Forget those sprawling but their and branches. Vertically yield per square foot. Or opt for a large ed- 12-foot-long watermelon or winter squash grown plants are generally healthier than ible you can control, such as most grape varieties or ‘Black Satin’ blackberry. Al- though sizeable (its canes can reach 10 feet in length), this blackberry is easy to keep to three or four canes, trained along the top of a wall or fence. Unlike many of its kin, ‘Black Satin’ doesn’t sucker readily, so there is no intimidating thicket to fight off. And it’s thornless, so it doesn’t slash you when you work in close quarters or walk nearby.

A small corner of the author’s yard features a lively and colorful mix of ornamental flow- ering plants and tomatoes, chili peppers, and cilantro. An eye-catching red bench, containers, and flowers make a dramatic statement, while a fine-textured ground- cover of thyme, Irish moss, and creeping mint create an illusion of spaciousness.

16 the American Gardener Above left: Many compact varieties of edibles are available today for small garden areas. Here, bush beans grow on a teepee so they take up less space and are easier to harvest; the non-sprawling bush-type ‘Window Box Roma’ tomato is both tidy and a prolific producer. Above right: Red-brown, deep green, and splashes of bright blue form the color scheme for the author’s brick patio garden, lush with containers of strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs, and ornamental plants. those sprawling on the ground because at any one time. Containers allow people conies, tiny patios, even the edges of car- with increased air circulation and more who have no open soil to garden on bal- ports—wherever the sun reaches. And leaves exposed to sunlight, the fruits do containers offer gardeners who have plen- not rot. (Desert gardeners, on the other ty of room convenience and versatility in hand, soon learn that vertical plants are PLANTING TIPS FOR NOVICES decorating their outdoor space—they can more prone to drying ; if they face keep some potted herbs on the kitchen south, the fruits and leaves can get sun- Get the most food from a small garden steps and move showy containers from the burned. Under these harsh conditions, by using these techniques: backyard to the front walkway. Others give vertical plantings shelter from the ■ Plant mesclun salad and stir-fry with yards that are mostly shaded can and afternoon shade.) greens mixes; they produce a lot in a move containers around on the patio to Both vines and climbers will grow up. short time. catch available rays. Containers also bring Vines have evolved ways of pulling them- ■ Choose plants such as eggplants, chili plants up close so you can readily enjoy selves off the ground by using supports— peppers, chard, and kale, which yield a the fragrance of otherwise low-growing think pea, squash, and grape tendrils or the large harvest over a long period but don’t plants like mint or sweet violets. twisting stems of Malabar spinach and take up a lot of space. As a landscape designer, I find that in- hops. Climbers such as tomatoes and roses, ■ Grow indeterminate tomato varieties, teresting containers add sparkle to an oth- on the other hand, may want to grow up, which produce more fruit over a longer erwise dull corner of a garden, no matter but physically they cannot unless secured period than determinate varieties. what its size, and nicely fill in seasonal onto a support. Although some climbers ■ Plant pole beans, peas, and vining empty spaces in a small yard. Containers make good groundcovers when given the cucumbers, which are more produc- add dimension to a flat garden. They can space, vines reach for the sky and make su- tive than bush types, as they grow ver- function as a focal point—either a large perlative wall covers, area dividers, and tically and for a longer season. container by itself or a cluster of interest- shade providers. Vines are versatile—they ■ Choose day-neutral strawberries, ing containers—and add color to a mono- soften stark architectural lines, add priva- which bear from early summer through chromatic planting. cy, and extend limited garden space. Most fall, outproducing spring-bearing types. All in all, containers are a delight to of all, they move the focal point up, adding ■ Include plants that are in and out of use in just about any landscape design. another dimension of garden interest. the garden quickly—for example, In fact, you can fill a small garden space radishes, lettuces, arugula, and green and produce lots of food in a stylish GROWING EDIBLES IN CONTAINERS onions—among your other edibles. manner using only containers. (See side- I’m addicted to growing edibles in con- —R.C. bar on page 18 for tips on successfully tainers; I have 20 or more containers going growing edibles in containers.)

November / December 2010 17 GROWING EDIBLES SUCCESSFULLY IN CONTAINERS

Over the last 25 years, my containers have run the gamut from modern metal cylinders, coir hanging baskets, and shallow square terra-cotta containers to self-watering plastic pots. Variety can be nice, of course, but if I had to choose only one style, I’d select wine barrels. I live in a cool-summer area in Cali- fornia. Most years I struggle to get real- ly sweet tomatoes and melons. The warmest part of my garden is near the driveway, but I grew tomatoes and egg- plants in the soil a few too many times and ended up with parasitic knot nematodes. After trying to deal with these pests to no avail, I decided to in- stall a brick patio over them. I designed a wall on three sides of the area to cre- ate a warmer environment for growing my heat lovers—watermelons, tomatoes, and a fig tree—in containers. I had struggled with growing edibles success- fully in small containers because of the tendency for the soil to dry out, but I had luck with larger barrels, so I put in a demonstration barrel garden to show off their potential to other gardeners. There are all sorts of barrels, not just the half wine barrels commonly sold in nurseries and home improvement stores. On the author’s blue-walled patio, a shallow terra-cotta tray is ideal for growing Bibb let- If you search online, you will find lots of tuce, while ornamental cabbages, mesclun, carrots, and cauliflower fill other containers. used barrels in all shapes and sizes— whiskey barrels, Japanese sake barrels, and large red plastic pickle barrels, to name just a few. All of these make great con- tainers for growing all sorts of edible plants. Take my advice when filling large containers with soil. After a few failed attempts using heavy potting mixes, I consulted soil and container experts, who told me to put a lot of twigs in the bottom third of the containers and add more perlite to the soil mix to im- prove drainage. Since then, I’ve had no problems with soil rotting in large containers. After a few years, I remove the soil and replace the decayed twigs with fresh ones before replanting the containers. —R.C.

SPECIALTY SMALL-SPACE GARDENS tensively, however, requires specialized ible flowers. She now harvests macadam- Even in a small yard, you can have a spe- knowledge. Fortunately, there are associ- ia nuts, many types of citrus, cherimoyas, cialty edible garden. Perhaps you’re crazy ations of fruit specialists, such as the longans, sapotes, bananas, avocados, and about Chinese or Thai food. A few large Home Society (www.home 10 varieties of guava. containers of cilantro, chilies, garlic, and orchardsociety.org) and the North Ameri- Another hobby gardener passionate stir-fry greens take up little space on a can Fruit Explorers (www.nafex.org), about fruit is Gene Yale. A member of patio or in a raised bed. If heirloom ap- whose members can help get you started. the Midwest Fruit Explorers (www.mid ples are your passion, grow a mini-or- I have relied on these organizations for fex.org), he has a most remarkable mini-or- chard. Apple trees can be easily kept to years. In fact, at a California Rare Fruit chard in his small backyard in suburban the size of most shrubs and restricted to Growers (www.crfg.org) meeting, I Chicago. Not content with a mere collec- four or five feet across. Use your creativ- learned of a member in Southern Cali- tion of trees, Yale planned and planted an ity; you can do much more with a small fornia (USDA Zone 10) who converted eye-pleasing, geometric . space than you think. her small front yard into an Eden of Each tree is in its own defined bed; grass fruit and nut trees. She took the flat, paths tie all the beds together. In this cre- Mini- While orchards bring to uninspiring area with its straight front ative design Yale grows 93 different apple mind a large area, you can grow many walk and created brick paths to either side varieties in his small backyard. Some are pounds of fruit and many different vari- before putting in her trees, which she un- modern varieties, others antiques. The eties in a small yard. Growing fruit in- derplanted with succulents, herbs, and ed- smaller trees grow three to four feet tall,

18 the American Gardener and produce about two dozen apples per mechanical pumps, water plants such as tree each year. His larger trees grow about water lilies can help provide oxygen. MAXIMIZING FRUIT YIELD six feet tall and bear about 50 apples each. Water lily pads, which are actually float- ing leaves, keep oxygen in the water and IN SMALL SPACES Water Gardens Throughout history, maintain stable water temperature. You people have grown water plants for food, need one medium to large water lily for For centuries, gardeners have devised especially in Asia, where tillable land is every nine square feet of surface area in many ways to get maximum fruit har- scarce. There are familiar edible plants your pond. vests out of a small area—including such as watercress and water chestnut; Pot up your edible water plants in growing dwarf trees, using pruning plants native to North America such as plastic containers filled with good, heavy techniques like espalier, and taking wild rice and cattail; as well as plants soil enriched with a water-plant fertiliz- advantage of other garden structures from Asia such as wasabi, lotus, and er. After planting, top off each container to grow plants vertically, such as ar- taro—all of which you can grow in a pot. with gravel or sand to keep the soil from bors for grapes. More unusual meth- ods include growing a grapevine as a small weeping tree, a time-honored Italian training technique. Fig arbors are also common in Italy. Most home gardeners prefer to have a manageable number of fruits throughout the growing season rather than a few huge harvests. Here are a few suggestions for growing fruits for spring-to-fall harvests in small spaces:

■ Grow four or more different blueberry varieties for a two-month-long harvest. ■ Share adjoining side yards with your neighbors and plant fruit trees. ■ Choose compact, self-fertile vari- eties of standard fruit trees, such as ‘Weeping Santa Rosa’ plum and ‘North Star’ sour cherry. ■ Train trees as standards or look for columnar varieties such as ‘Colon- nade’ apple.

Trees such as , plums, cherries, Gene Yale grows more than 90 varieties of apples in his small suburban Chicago backyard. apricots, and pears are fairly large and need another tree as a pollinizer in order As a bonus, most of these plants are high- washing out when the pots are sub- to set fruit. Some nurseries offer space- ly ornamental. merged. Place the containers in the water saving fruit trees with the pollinizer A small preformed plastic pond kit according to the directions that come grafted right onto the main tree. It’s im- available from a supply with the plants. Raise the containers as portant to attract pollinating insects, so house is all you need to grow a few lotus needed using flat rocks or bricks. include lots of plants with small flowers plants and a good supply of water chest- in your garden. If you have only enough nuts. As long as you have a sunny place, BIG PAYOFFS room for one large tree and want to ex- the pond can go anywhere except—be- Growing edibles in tight quarters is not tend your harvest, try planting two dwarf cause of its weight—on a deck. To make only possible, it’s an opportunity to cre- varieties—early and mid-season—in a the plastic pond a thing of beauty, sink it ate a small gem of a landscape. Even in slightly enlarged planting hole. into the ground and camouflage the very limited space you can have an aes- For additional information about fruit edges with creeping plants. thetically satisfying garden that supplies tree options, techniques for keeping A submersible pump will keep the you with many pounds of produce year trees small, and for help in selecting va- water moving to provide enough oxygen after year. rieties for your climate and space limi- for plants and any fish you may have. If tations, visit “The Home Fruit Tree you don’t have a grounded outdoor elec- Rosalind Creasy is a landscape designer, Grower” web page of Dave Wilson Nurs- trical outlet for the pump’s plug, consid- writer, photographer, and edible landscaping ery at www.davewilson.com. —R.C. er a solar-powered pump. In addition to expert. She lives in Los Altos, California.

November / December 2010 19 20 T us, sometimesfatehastointervene. ican landscaping.To break lawn’s holdon swath oflawnisstillderigueur cases, isthatagreat, sweeping green the mower parked inside. At thatpoint I theroof ofmybarn,destroyingcrushed the formofamonstersnowfall that Looking forasubstitutegrassinshadyspot? Try moss;it’llgrowonyou. For me,thisdeusexmachina the American Gardener OO MANYGARDENERS of. Thereason forthis,inmost of mossassomethingtogetrid Carefree Moss in Amer- came in think the backofmy mindthere had always sincechildhood. Insy Ihadentertained stop mowing forever andindulgeafanta- ed mewithanadult-sounding excuse to Saturday morning. cast itsdeafeningdinintothe peaceofa foul-smelling exhaustfumes,andbroad- a lotofroom, coughedupgreat cloudsof thattookup another pieceofmachinery had littleinterest inspendingmoneyon As itturnedout,thatcave-in present- aluminum sulfate over ittomakethepH had happened to mygrass(Ihadpoured first. Whenmyneighborinquired what you tellyour neighbors,atleastnot one couldalmostimaginefairies dancing. fine, verdant swathofvelvet uponwhich be amagiccarpetofmoss—animpossibly wildflowers. there Andinitsheart would filled withintoxicating scentsandprecious been asecret garden, aserene green oasis Of coursethat’s ofthing notthe sort BY CAROLEOTTESEN

CAROLE OTTESEN ones generally recommended for moss . The clumping types have their own beauty, however, offering a quilted, more three dimensional effect. GOING WITH THE FLOW While most are denizens of moist, shady woodland settings, others inhabit an immense variety of microclimates from deserts to lakeshore. Even so, they are not for everyone. In order for a moss lawn to succeed, it should be a go-with- the-flow undertaking. Conditions have to be conducive to mosses and vice versa. The best sites for moss lawns are those where mossy patches are already visible here and there in the grass—this is nature gently hinting that mosses are a better choice for the site than turfgrass. Sometimes, you can give nature a leg up. When moss gardener David Benner bought his Pennsylvania property, he found a suitable groundcover on the site: Opposite: Moss is a good alternative for turfgrass in areas that don’t receive enough sunlight, “I saw patches of moss and got enthused,” such as this woodland garden in Birmingham, Alabama. Above: Moss and ferns are natural he says. He spread sulfur dust on the grass garden partners. Here, the moss has crept up on stone troughs, evoking a feeling of antiquity. to lower the pH and encourage moss. “In six weeks, all the grass died,” he re- plummet, in order to kill it), I replied by vascular system; nutrients and water members. He pulled it out in May and by enumerating the practical aspects of a move from cell to cell by osmosis. The September a green film had spread every- moss lawn and how much easier it is to downside of this system is that cells have where he had cleared. “By the following maintain than lawn grasses. not evolved protective surfaces that block May, the green film was moss,” he says. out harmful compounds. If water carries Now, decades later, his moss lawn is on THE VIRTUES OF MOSS dissolved industrial and urban pollu- tour every May and has been featured in First of all, though you never have to mow tants, the cells may die. numerous publications. Benner’s pam- a moss lawn, it always appears freshly Mosses come in both clumping and phlet on how to start a moss lawn is avail- trimmed. All you have to do is remove spreading forms. Because they form a rel- able through his son Al’s nursery, Moss weeds and fallen leaves. It looks fabulous atively seamless carpet that inhibits weedy Acres (see “Sources,” page 24). in winter, when everything else looks interlopers, the spreading types are the When there are mosses in the vicinity ragged and gray. You won’t have to limb up of a garden, the likelihood is that moss trees to let in more sun, because most of spores will migrate to a prepared site. The the planet’s 14,500 species of moss prosper downside, in the short term, is that a pre- in moist, shady places. You’ll never have to pared site, void of vegetation, is ugly. And spread lime because most mosses thrive on it has to stay bare in order to provide a acid soil. And in spite of their preference landing pad for spores. That can take for moist sites, once established, mosses months. After I killed my grass and needn’t be irrigated. In a drought, they be- pulled out the stragglers, what had been come dormant, but revive with the first lawn was bare dirt. I admit to having . Finally, you won’t have to aerate the misgivings as, day after day, I checked in soil because plenty of mosses are content vain for a sign of life. in compacted clay. As I recall, the green tint of embryonic One reason that mosses don’t mind moss appeared within weeks of my having compacted soil is that they don’t send removed the grass, but it took two full true roots into the soil to obtain nutrients growing seasons to establish a swath green and water. Instead, fine, threadlike ap- and thick enough to be called a lawn. pendages called rhizoids simply hold It’s possible to speed up the process by them in place. In fact, mosses are so Planted in a suitable environment, moss mixing moss and buttermilk (for acidity)

CAROLE OTTESEN (2) primitive in structure that they have no quickly forms a dense, green carpet. in a blender and then spreading the slurry

November / December 2010 21 22 of nativemossesandlichens. Bainbridge, Washington,consistsof12types moss gardenattheBloedelReservein large-leaved Wisconsin. Itincludestwonativeperennials, Japanese-style gardenofDaleSievertin a collectionofsculpturalstonesintheprivate Above: Thisbedofmossservesasasettingfor leaved moss spores coulddepositthemselves in and leaves. Theideawas thatairborne plant withthreadlike, insubstantialstems na subulata), garden wasplantedwithIrish moss the soilwassmoothedout, future moss 2002). Aftervegetation wasremoved and The American Gardener, March/April, on Bainbridge Island, Washington (see in. ThiswasdoneattheBloedel Reserve that willbesacrificedlaterasthemossfills mosslawnistopluginsmallplants a new One wayto avoid thetotallybare look of ORSOD PLUGS as anadditive tocontainersoilmixes. commonlysold sorbing polymercrystals someofthewater-ab- adding totheslurry page 24),William Cullina alsosuggests Ferns, Moss &Grasses on aprepared site.In hisbook the American Gardener Thalictrum dioicum Thalictrum Podophyllum peltatum Podophyllum not amossatall,butsmall (see “Resources,” ih:Thetwo-acre . Right: and fine- Native (Sagi-

TOP: COURTESY OF DALE SIEVERT. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF BLOEDEL RESERVE and among the tiny Irish mosses and, Moss suggests great age. It is romantic. eventually, take over. Within a decade, a It is magical, transforming a typical sub- HOW TO START A variety of mosses volunteered. urban backyard into a tranquil forest MOSS GARDEN Purchasing moss sod from a nursery is clearing. Woodland elements such as yet another way to have a little green in rocks, ferns, and wildflowers augment Starting a moss garden is easy but re- place when starting a moss lawn. A num- the mood. “Plants companionable to quires patience to see the payoff. It’s a ber of reputable nurseries sell mosses and carpeting moss add body to its flatness,” good idea to start small. That way, the disseminate information about main- writes George Schenk in his classic book initial bare area is kept to a minimum. taining them (see “Sources, ”page 24). Moss Gardening, “and add to its unifor- Acquiring moss sod from the shady yards mity the piquancy of differing textures 1. Prepare the site, preferably one that of agreeable friends is also acceptable, but and colors.” already boasts patches of moss, by re- digging mosses from the wild is not. Finding suitable companions is quite moving all vegetation. Don’t rototill or Whether purchased or begged, the easy, and it’s fun to experiment and see incorporate compost, but do acidify the mosses you select should be transplant- what works. “I’m growing about 40 ever- soil to discourage grass, aiming for a pH ed to situations with conditions similar green groundcovers,” says Benner of the of 5. To achieve this, you can add alu- to those in their places of origin. Match plants that surround his moss lawn. minum sulfate, powdered milk, acidifi- shade to shade, sun to sun, moist site to Among these are creeping phlox (Phlox er for rhododendrons and azaleas, or sul- moist site. If in doubt, get several dif- subulata), foamflowers (Tiarella spp.), fur (powder or granules). 2. If, in addition to (or instead of) wait- ing for spores to arrive, you are planting moss sod, do so on a cloudy day and thoroughly wet the soil before arranging them. The mud slurry will act as a glue to hold them in place. Depending upon how large your future moss lawn will be, you can either lay out sheets of moss or cut them into six-inch squares, spaced about a foot apart. On a slope, you can secure them with stones or with small wire hoops. 3. In either case, irrigate regularly until it is evident the mosses have taken and are making progress. After that, you can irrigate or not, depending upon your in- clination and the effect you desire. 4. Keep the area weed- and grass-free before and after the moss establishes it- self. Weed of- ten—before the weeds become large—because once they do, they can take A few months after the author removed grass from the right side of the path in this part of her chunks of moss Maryland garden, patches of moss began to spread, eventually filling in several seasons later. with them when they are pulled ferent kinds of mosses. Don’t be sur- and Oconee bells (Shortia galacifolia). (shown). Because the usual garden tools prised if some die out and others Benner has also allowed an island of par- are too crude for moss, I have found a prosper. Those that succeed are the tridgeberry (Mitchella repens) to grow in fondue fork with tiny tines and a metal ones best suited to your garden. Be sure the moss as well as “lots of bluets.” shish-kabob skewer make good tools for to provide regular during the Moss functions as a nursery for plants easing out small weeds. period after planting when the moss is that don’t seem to self seed elsewhere. 5. If children, dogs, deer, or wheelbar- getting established. After years of fruitless efforts to grow rows tear up the moss, simply tamp it bluets (Houstonia spp.) in my garden, back into place. Dog urine leaves COMPANIONS FOR MOSS they appeared in my moss lawn as if by black spots but these will eventually When moss spreads enough to truly be- spontaneous generation. I now permit re-green. —C.O.

CAROLE OTTESEN (2) come a lawn, the garden gains character. them to take up as much room as they

November / December 2010 23 like, a privilege I also give to Oconee after weed after weed becomes a kind of Sources bells, but not to many other interlopers. rhythmic meditation, something both Bluestone Perennials, Madison, OH. I also find ferns in all stages from the calming and comforting. (800) 852-5243. www.bluestone tiny -shaped “seedlings” (known as My moss lawn has become the single, perennials.com. prothalli) to fully developed clumps. greatest source of pleasure my garden has Moss Acres, Honesdale, PA. (866) Seedlings of cardinal flower (Lobelia car- to offer. It is always presentable, a lumi- 438-6677. www.mossacres.com. dinalis), new color forms of alumroot nous oval of emerald, lime, peridot, and Mostly Moss, c/o Lynne Randolph, (Heuchera spp.), and tiny evergreens also Kelly greens that sets off the wood phlox, Stockbridge, GA. http://userwww. pop up here and there. I transplant most , ferns, native azaleas, hollies, service.emory.edu/~lrandol. of these so they don’t shade out the moss, and other plants around it. Nature Hills Nursery, Omaha, NE. but always allow a few to remain to pre- There is something wonderfully sub- (888) 864-7663. serve a spontaneous look. missive in the act of inviting moss into www.naturehills.com. Weeding is the main, but not end- the garden by preparing a place for it Tripple Brook Farm, Southampton, less, chore. Benner reports that, after and then waiting for it to arrive on its MA. (413) 527-4626. decades of growth in his garden, his own. It is an obeisance to nature that is www.tripplebrookfarm.com. moss has gotten so thick that weeds rare in gardening. I made an all-or- rarely take root. For the beginning moss nothing commitment and throughout Resources gardener, however, weeding is a neces- that period when the lawn-to-be was an Gathering Moss by Robin Wall sary task, best done regularly while the ugly oval of mud, I believed with all my Kimmerer. Oregon State University weeds are still small. heart—well, most of the time—in the Press, Corvallis, Oregon, 2003. moss to come. Moss Gardening, Including Lichens, THE ZEN OF MOSS That is the Zen of moss growing. I Liverworts, and Other Miniatures by Actually, I have come to enjoy this ritual did not plant the moss. The moss came George Schenk. Timber Press, of maintenance on my moss lawn. When to me. Portland, Oregon, 1997. weeding, I usually seat myself on a step- Native Ferns, Moss & Grasses by ping stone in the middle of the moss Carole Ottesen is a contributing writer for William Cullina. Houghton Mifflin, lawn. If it is the rosy hour before dinner, The American Gardener. This is an adapt- Boston, Massachusetts, 2008. I might set a glass of wine on another ed version of an article she wrote for the stepping stone. Then, picking out weed magazine in 2003.

The author’s mossy garden has become a suitable setting for a variety of plants, including dark-leaved Heuchera ‘Montrose Ruby’, bluets

(Houstonia spp.), white reptans ‘Albus’, yellow-flowered Chrysogonum virginianum, and assorted ferns. CAROLE OTTESEN

24 the American Gardener

26 Outstanding Conifers the American Gardener This groupoftreesandshrubsisbeautifulyearround,butshinesbrightestinwinter. Pinus flexilis Pinus designed byTwombly NurseryinConnecticut,itprovides adramaticbackdropforthe berriesof when young,then becomesmoreflat-toppedwith age. Thislimberpinegrowsabout 20to25feettall.Here,inalandscape ‘Vanderwolf’s Pyramid’(USDAHardiness Zones3–7,AHSHeat7–1)developsadensepyramidal habit BY RITAPELCZAR Ilex verticillata Ilex ‘Afterglow’.

SUSAN A. ROTH ROM SPRING through fall, centuates the hues of others. The scalelike Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) are conifers assume supporting roles in needles of Juniperus scopulorum ‘Gray stiff and spiky, while the tiny scales of the Fmany gardens, providing a pleasing Gleam’, for example, become a more in- Hinoki false cypress (Chamaecyparis ob- backdrop for displays of more colorful sea- tense silvery gray, while the grayish-blue fo- tusa) are arranged to form soft, flat fans. sonal flowers and fruit. But conifers are an liage of the spreading Juniperus virginiana From sharply pyramidal or tightly glo- amazingly varied group of plants; many ‘Kosteri’ takes on a purple cast. bose to gracefully weeping or low and offer year-round interest and deserve Pinus parviflora ‘Tani-mano-uki’—a spreading, forms also run the prominent placement in a garden. These dwarf Japanese white —is a particu- gamut. names such as ‘Com- plants offer so much diversity and appeal, larly colorful selection recommended by pacta’, ‘Prostrate Beauty’, and ‘Globosa’ regardless of the season, that some gar- Don Howse of Porterhowse Farms in offer clues to the form. Some of the weep- deners devote entire beds to them. To help Sandy, Oregon. It “grows as a low mound- ing selections, such as Cedrus atlantica homeowners with selection, the American ing with striking white foliage sur- ‘Glauca Pendula’, require staking in order Conifer Society (ACS) has developed a se- rounding coral-colored buds...the older, to develop a strong leader. ries of public reference gardens to display mature foliage from past years is grayish conifer specimens (see “Conifer Reference blue,” says Howse. SIZE OPTIONS Gardens,” page 30). The cones or fruit of some conifers While many suburban yards are too small Whether you are a conifer connoisseur contribute additional color. The female to include a full-sized Norway spruce or not, once the weather turns cold and cones of oriental spruce (Picea orientalis) (Picea abies) or deodar cedar, there are a fair-weather flora provides minimal dis- start out reddish purple and mature to number of varieties of these and other traction, the range of colors, textures, and brown. Those of the deodar cedar (Ce- conifers with more compact habits that fit forms of these plants becomes vividly ap- drus deodara) are three to four inches better in gardens with limited space. parent. Conifers can transform a dull win- long and soft blue-green. As they age, “Cedrus deodara used to be a very pop- ter scene into one of breathtaking beauty. they turn reddish brown. The silvery- ular plant at the turn of the last century, blue foliage of Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey and many large trees remain in the urban WAY BEYOND GREEN Owl’, a female clone of the eastern red landscape,” says Flo Chaffin, past president Most conifers bear cones—although yews cedar, is embellished with an abundance of the ACS, Southeast Region, and owner and junipers produce fleshy cones that of small, blue, fruitlike cones. of Specialty Ornamentals in Watkinsville, look more like berries—and are evergreen, Georgia. Although the species is a great that is, they retain their leaves throughout TEXTURE AND FORM choice for gardens in the Southeast, small- the year. But the range of their foliage color Conifer textures are a study in contrast. er varieties are better suited to today’s land- extends well beyond green—including While needles are the rule when it comes scapes. “Many new shrub and dwarf forms shades of gray, blue, gold, and purple— to conifer foliage, they range from the tiny are now available to fit that niche, with col- and some selections are variegated. scales of arborvitae (Thuja spp.) to the ors from deep steel blues to bright yel- While color is consistent throughout lanky, eight- to 18-inch needles of the long- lows,” says Chaffin. the year for some , winter’s cold ac- pine (Pinus palustris). Needles of the To help distinguish the little conifers from the big ones, the ACS has established four categories of conifers based on their rate of growth and size (in any direction). Miniatures grow less than one inch per year, and after 10 years are less than 12 inch- es. Dwarf conifers grow one to six inches per year and reach one to six feet after 10 years. Intermediates produce six to 12 inches of annual growth and attain a size of six to 15 feet after 10 years. Any conifer beyond that is considered large. We asked several conifer experts to rec- ommend cultivars for suburban land- scapes in different parts of the country, with a focus on small- to medium-sized plants with exceptional winter appeal. Above left: “You can’t beat cryptomerias for the Southeast. They grow equally well in sun or Some of these are shown on the following shade and are relatively drought tolerant,” says Flo Chaffin, past president of the American pages. Additional recommended selec- Conifer Society, Southeast Region. Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yellow Twig’ (Zones 6–9, 9–4) tions appear in the chart on page 29. grows five feet tall and wide, and produces fluffy, apple-green foliage. Above right: With a mature height of six feet and a three-foot spread, Thuja orientalis ‘Beverlyensis’ (Zones 6–9, Rita Pelczar is a contributing editor for The

COURTESY OF FLO CHAFFIN (2). 9–6) provides a bold, chartreuse accent in any mixed bed. American Gardener.

November / December 2010 27 28 Cedrus deodara Cedrus can alsobegrownincontainers. be easilypruned,however,ifamorespreadingplantispreferred.It habit, althoughittendstodevelopanuprightleaderasages.Itcan landscapes. Ithasblue-greenneedlesandadistinctlyhorizontal low-growing selectionsofthedeodarcedarthatfitnicelyintosmaller www.woodlanders.net. Woodlanders Nursery, (706) 310-0143. Specialty Ornamentals, www.rarefindnursery.com. Rare FindNursery, www.porterhowse.com. Porterhowse Farms, (828) 301-2184. Mountain MeadowsDwarfConiferNursery, Sources Timber Press,Portland,Oregon,2010. Timber PressPocketGuidetoConifers lyn BotanicGarden,Brooklyn,NewYork,2001. Guide Growing Conifers—BrooklynBotanicGardenAll-Region Firefly Books,Buffalo,NewYork,2002. Gardening withConifers American ConiferSociety, Resources the American Gardener by R.WilliamThomasandSusanF.Martin.Brook- ‘Prostrate Beauty’(Zones7–9,9–7)isoneofseveral Jackson, NJ.(732)833-0613. www.smallplants.com. www.specialtyornamentals.com. Sandy, OR.(503)668-5834. Aiken, SC.(803)648-7522. Watkinsville, GA. by AdrianandRichardBloom. www.conifersociety.org. by RichardL.Bitner. Weaverville, NC. ‘Miss Grace’,acultivarofthedeciduous dawnredwood glyptostroboides, glyptostroboides, silhouette. Itbecomes anarrow,smalltreewithtime,” saysMartin. Arboretum. “Ithas outstandingfallcolorandavery interestingwinter retired curatoroftheGotelliDwarf ConiferCollectionattheU.S.National Zones 5–10,12–8),isafavorite ofSusanMartin, (Metasequoia

RANDALL C. SMITH / COURTESY OF ISELI NURSERY (2) COURTESY OF DON HOWSE/ PORTERHOWSE FARMS (2) Above left:DespitethisNordmann fir’svarietyname, Above right: leader andbecomeagolden-hued broadpyramid,”hesays.After20years,aplantmaybefourfeet tallwithanequalspreadatitsbase. setanupright to DonHowse,ofPorterhowseFarms inSandy,Oregon.“Itcanbeprunedtoformaspreadingorhorizontal plant,butitwilleventually ground,” hesays. “Thebluecolorremainsthroughout theentireyear.” suggests Howse.“Itisweeping and willappearlikeabluecascadewhenstakedtofewfeetin heightandthenallowedtofallbackthe MORE CONIFEROUSWINTERBEAUTIES aeHih/pedComments Name Height/Spread Thuja plicata Thuja orientalis Thuja abies Picea virginiana J. virginiana Juniperus scopulorum Juniperus japonica C. japonica C. japonica Cryptomeria obtusa Chamaecyparis harringtonia Cephalotaxus deodara C. deodara Cedrus Picea pungens Picea ‘Devinely Blue’ ‘Gyokuryu’ ‘Globosa Nana’ ‘Little Gem’ HnokWeig 53/–0mdu-ie rewt itntypnuosbace 4–9,9–1 medium-sizedtreewithdistinctlypendulousbranches 25–30/8–10 ‘Hancock Weeping’ ‘Pygmaea’ ‘Morgan’ Fei’Bu’ 2/6 ‘Feelin’ Blue’ Gac opca 05blue-greenfoliage,compactsmalltree, 10/5 ‘Glauca Compacta’ EeasNn’ 6/4 ‘Elegans Nana’ Sky High Cipi’ 55/5srn odflaei ulsn ral yaia 4–8,8–1 stronggoldfoliageinfullsun,broadlypyramidal 25–50/25 ‘Crippsii’ ‘The Blues’(Zones2–8,8–1)is anexcellentchoiceforcarpetingthegroundorhangingover aprecipice, Potaa –/ darkgreenfoliage,newfoliageislimegreen; 2–3/4 ‘Prostrata’ ™ 1 21/– ivr leflae es ounrfr,poie 3–7,7–1 silverybluefoliage,densecolumnarform, provides 12–15/3–5 (in feet) 3/2 8/6 2–3/3–3 2–2 5/5 1 / 2 36rc re oig ihfa-opdgoesae 3–8,8–1 richgreenfoliagewithflat-toppedglobeshape, /3–6 1 Abies nordmanniana Abies / 2 23blue-greenfoliage,irregularbranchingwith /2–3 1 / 2 dense compactform strong verticalaccent irregular uprighthabit specimen tree good forcontainers dense moundedform blue-green foliagebecomesreddishinwinter, mound, goodchoiceforrockgardens low archingbranches form canbeusedasagroundcover good forrockgardens akgenflae eeosalmy reua 6–9,9–4 dark greenfoliage,developsalumpy,irregular hrrueylo oig nsme,trscpey5–8,9–6 orange inwinter;neat,compact,uprighthabit chartreuse-yellow foliageinsummer,turnscoppery eydr re oig,dneadbodyprmdl6–9,9–4 very darkgreenfoliage,denseandbroadlypyramidal legenflae reua pedn/acdn 7–9,9–7 blue-green foliage,irregularspreading/cascading blue-green foliagewithdroopingbranches, ‘Golden Spreader’(Zones4–6,6–4) tendstogrowupright,according November /December2010 USDA AHS HeatZones Hardiness, 6–9, 9–4 6–8, 8–6 6–9, 9–3 7–9, 9–7 4–9, 9–1 29 30 The OregonGarden,Silverton, West Rowe Arboretum,IndianHill,Ohio Hidden LakeGardens,Tipton,Michigan Central University ofTennessee,WestTennesseeResearchand University ofTennesseeGardens,Knoxville, State BotanicalGardenofGeorgia,Athens,Georgia State ArboretumofVirginia,Boyce,Virginia South CarolinaBotanicalGarden,Clemson, Smith-Gilbert Gardens,Kennesaw,Georgia Lockerly Arboretum,Milledgeville,Georgia Lewis GinterBotanicalGarden,Richmond,Virginia JC RaulstonArboretum,Raleigh,NorthCarolina East TennesseeStateUniversityArboretum, Atlanta BotanicalGarden,Atlanta,Georgia Southeast *Massachusetts HorticulturalSocietyatElmBank, *Scott ArboretumatSwarthmoreCollege, Wellesley CollegeBotanicGardens,Wellesley,Massachusetts Graver Arboretum,Bath,Pennsylvania Northeast reference gardens,visit For moreinformationabouttheAmericanConiferSocietyandits deners cancomparevarietiesandeasilyidentifyonesofinterest. maintained andaccuratelylabeled.Throughthesedisplays,gar- representing atleasteightgenera.Theconifersmustbeproperly the publicandmustincludeaminimumof30differentconifers strate thewaysconiferscanbeusedinhomelandscapes. introduce thepublictonewvarietiesofconifers,anddemon- lic aboutgrowingconifersintheirspecificgeographicregion,to Gardens” indifferentregionsofthecountrytoeducatepub- Conifer Societyhasestablishedaseriesof“ConiferReference ditions aresimilartoyours.Withthisinmind,theAmerican den istoseethemgrowinginalandscapesettingwherethecon- The bestwaytodecidewhichconifersyouwantaddyourgar- CONIFER REFERENCEGARDENS *Gardens currentlyindevelopment Education CenterGardens,Jackson,Tennessee Johnson City,Tennessee Wellesley, Massachusetts Swarthmore, Pennsylvania To qualifyasareferencegarden,thegardenmustbeopento the American Gardener www.conifersociety.org. —R.P. landscape.” Itcangrowupto30feettallwitha20-footspread. add aspotofgoldencolortothesometimesdrearywinter season andturngoldeninthewinter,”saysMartin.“Theyreally many ‘wintergold’pinesthataregreenthroughoutthegrowing Pinus virginiana Pinus Juniperus virginiana Juniperus cones,” saysMartin. “A femaleclone, theplantsareloadedwithbeautiful smallblue spreading shrubwithsilvery-blue foliagethattoleratesdrysoil. ‘Wate’s Golden’(Zones5–10,10–1)is“oneof ‘Grey Owl’(Zones3–9,9–1)is awide,

TOP:DOREEN WYNJA / COURTESY OF MONROVIA. BOTTOM: PETER A. HOGG / COURTESY OF MONROVIA TOP LEFT; MARK TURNER. BOTTOM LEFT: RANDALL C. SMITH / COURTESY OF ISELI NURSERY. RIGHT: SUSAN A. ROTH slow-growing andgetsbetterwithage.“Most Chanticleer gardeninWayne,Pennsylvania,whoaddsthatitis just looksexpensive,”saysBillThomas,executivedirectorof about 10feettallanddevelopsadensepyramidalhabit.“Theplant cultivars aredelightful,”Thomassays. obtusa Chamaecyparis ‘Nana Gracilis’(Zones4–8,8–1)growsto C. obtusa C. ‘Lemon Thread’falsecypress yellow coloringdevelopsbestinfullsun. it hasanuprighthabit,itsbranchesdroopgracefullydownward.Its 8–1) growsfivetosixfeettallwithaslightlygreaterspread.Although with athree-footspread. may reach18inchesatitshighest point, the contortedbranches.”A20-year-oldplant needles areshortanddenseontheendsof framework tobevisible.Therich,darkgreen plant hascharacterandallowstheinterior mugo pinearelowanddensemounds,this style.” Hesays,“Whilemanyselectionsof (Zones 3–7,7–1)tohavea“naturalbonsai Don Howseconsiders (Chamaecyparis pisifera, (Chamaecyparis November /December2010 Pinus mugo Pinus Zones 4–8, ‘Jacobsen’ 31 32 them overwinter and provideswildlifehabitat. ornamental grasses andotherperennialshelps Waiting untillateintheseason tocutback bore itwouldbetotry.” Instead, focuson Well-Tended Perennial Garden, DiSabato-Aust writesitinherbook, remove lastscrap, every andasTracy clearing outgarden debris, you needn’t While winterizingchores shouldinclude ONCUTTINGBACK CUT BACK U dinance enforcement department. dinance enforcement department. causing theneighborstocallweed or- for wildlifethroughout winterwithout turn your garden intoawelcoming place your end-of-the-season routine, you can By makingthefollowing refinements to toyieldmaximumresults.minimal effort hospitable placeforwildlife.It onlytakes proving planthealth,andcreating amore soilstructure, im- efits, suchaspreserving winterizing thegarden hasnumerous ben- thecoldestmonths. need tosurvive ural foodandsheltersources thatwildlife winter landscape,butalsolessofthenat- not onlyavisuallybleakanduninviting overzealousvirtue, cleaningcanresult in undone. Whiletidinessisgenerallya there are somethingsthatare betterleft and gatheringfallenleaves. However, cleaning upperennial andvegetable beds, up annualsandemptyingoutcontainers, dard fallto-dolistsusuallyincludepulling to prepare forthecomingmonths. Stan- your garden needsabitofpre-winter care Reconsidered Garden Cleanup, preserve habitatforwildlifethroughthecoldermonths. What youdoand,moreimportantly, do Taking amore relaxed approach to the American Gardener NLESS YOULIVE ues pretty muchyear round, region where gardening contin- in awarm in “what a The not do inyourgardennowcanhelpwinterizeplantsand BY KRISWETHERBEE

SUSAN A. ROTH Above: After this viburnum, ‘Raydon’s Favorite’ aster, and fountain grass have finished their colorful autumn show, their seeds and leaves will continue to supply wildlife with food and shelter through the colder months as well as add some interest to the winter landscape. Left: Many birds, such as this young goldfinch, relish seed heads of plants like these coneflowers, particularly when snow buries other food sources.

any diseased or damaged vegetation, but leave other plant remains in place to pro- vide protection against freezing temper- atures. It may not seem like much, but this can make a big difference, especially for tender plants. “Marginally hardy perennials, such as ‘Mönch’ aster (Aster ✕frikartii ‘Mönch’), tender ferns, or mums,” explains DiSaba- to-Aust, “benefit from leaving the old fo- liage on the plants to provide insulation for the crowns during cold weather.” She also points out that certain late spring-emerg- ing plants, such as leadwort (Ceratostigma

JUDYWHITE / GARDENPHOTOS plumbaginoides) and scarlet hibiscus (Hi-

November / December 2010 33 34 they willuselastseason’s remaining gar- provided by plantsleftstanding,and semble foaminsulation. are irregular brownish-gray massesthatre- easy toidentify, forinstance,becausethey branches; thoseofprayingmantisesare for obvious eggcasesattachedtostalksand keepaneye out the spring.Whenpruning, plete theirlifecycle andemergesafelyin so thatinsectsandotherwildlifecancom- using thecuttingsasmulchongarden beds back your plants,Brown recommends beneficial insects,”shesays.If you mustcut ing themyou are throwing awaynextyear’s the winterintheseplantstalks.By remov- “Many andotherinsectsspend butterflies seed headsstandingthrough winter. phia, alsoadvocates leavinggrassesand and ecosystemgarden designerinPhiladel- ing itstimeawakeningfrom thewinter.” else isn’t plantedinitsspacewhileit’s tak- that thesoilisn’t disturbedorsomething that “something isgrowing there, ensuring biscus coccineus) Gardens, likethis one,thatincludeamixoftrees, shrubs,perennials,andgrasses willserveagreaterdiversity ofwildlife Birds willalsoappreciate thecover Carole Brown, biologist aconservation the American Gardener are betterleftasreminders who lives ina“cold, snowy valley ofsouth- in seed-eatingbirds. maining onmanyflowering plantslure Plus theattractive seed-laden headsre- den materialstomakenestsinspring. Portland, Oregon,2006. Tracy DiSabato-Aust.TimberPress, The Well-TendedPerennialGardenby New York,2008. Damrosch. WorkmanPublishing, The GardenPrimer Portland, Oregon,2009. by DougTallamy.TimberPress, Plants SustainWildlifeinOurGardens Bringing NatureHome:HowNative New York,2009. Editors. OctopusBooks,NewYork, Pelczar, GrahamRice,Contributing David Ellis,FionaGilsenan,Rita Encyclopedia ofGardeningTechniques American HorticulturalSocietyNew Resources Ellen Sousa, agarden coachandwriter by Barbara bronzy beigeinthefall. seed headsthatturnfrom green toa (Chasmanthium latifolium) that turnblackasseedsmature. River oats duces striking,cone-shapedseedheads When itcomestoyour garden, the leaves LEAVE THELEAVES ITTO coneflower flaunt showy deep-red seedheads.Purple landscape. For example,somesedums tural interest andtexture tothewinter Many oftheseplantsalsolendarchitec- coneflowers eyed Susans (Rudbeckia buried mostothernaturalfoodsources.” adees, andsongsparrows whensnow has overwintering birds suchasjuncos,chick- right through winter. Theirseedsfeed asters, andornamentalgrassesstanding plants suchasconeflowers, agastache, scalping ofperennial beds,we leave tall that “insteadofdoingthetraditionalfall the ground untilwell intoMarch,” says ern New England where we oftendon’t see Bird-friendly seedheadsincludeblack- ( () spp.), andcosmos. spp.), sedums, are dressed in . pro-

LYNNE HARRISON that deciduous trees drop in the autumn are a windfall in more ways than one. It MORE WAYS TO SUPPORT WILDLIFE IN WINTER always astounds me to see homeowners consigning big bags of leaves to the ■ Include a diversity of vines, perennials, shrubs, and trees of different heights, dump or raking all their leaves to the which provides a complete package of food, shelter, and nesting sites. street for municipal crews to vacuum up; ■ In addition to berried shrubs and trees, include plenty of evergreens, such as ju- leaves are such a valuable resource! They niper, pine, hemlock, and rhododendron. form an insulating blanket that will keep ■ Add a few well-placed feeders and nest boxes for non-migrating birds. the soil temperature more constant, im- ■ Build a brush pile with tree and shrub trimmings in out-of-the-way areas of your prove soil structure, feed beneficial mi- yard. Top it off with a layer of evergreen branches for added protection in colder cli- croorganisms, and protect plants from mates. Birds, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians all will appreciate this the cold. So if you rake leaves off your safe haven. lawn or other areas, be sure to spread them under shrubs, tuck away a few small piles in the back corners of your yard, or add them to the compost bin— either whole or shredded. Otherwise, leave them where they fall and they will naturally break down over time. “Many butterfly larvae overwinter in these leaves, along with spiders and bene- ficial insects,” Brown explains. “Leaves also provide cover and shelter for frogs, toads, salamanders, and other wildlife.” Resident songbirds will benefit as they pick and scratch around in the leaves looking for in- sect eggs and caterpillars. I always let some leaves loiter on the outskirts of our court- yard garden for a group of chickadees that come looking for a tasty winter meal.

Plants with berries, such as Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), are a valuable food source for many garden denizens during the winter.

In some parts of the country, a leafy garden beds because they can form a mat blanket is essential for protecting dormant that will smother small or delicate plants. plants against extreme temperatures. “Here You can still use these leaves as — in northern Colorado, winter tempera- just put them through a shredder or run tures can fluctuate as much as 70 degrees over them with a lawnmower before ap- in one day, especially in February and plying them to a bed. And if you have an March,” says Pat Hayward, horticulturist area where you want to start a new bed, and executive director of Plant Select‚ an you can spread these large leaves there to award program supported by a coalition of help kill turf or weeds and make way for universities and industry groups. “With your new plot. The second is if you live in our dry climate and cold winters, leaving a region where crown rot is a problem; you leaves actually helps protect us from these may need to remove leaves altogether large temperature changes.” from perennial beds because they will re- There are a couple of exceptions to the tain too much moisture. While fallen leaves usually make an practice of allowing leaves to stay where effective mulch, large leaves such as these they fall. One is if you have large, flat MUCH ADO ABOUT MULCH from a maple may need to be cleared away leaves from trees such as maples, oaks, and If you don’t have deciduous trees in or near

LEFT: MARK TURNER. RIGHT: RICK WETHERBEE from perennials to avoid smothering them. sycamores. These should be cleared from your yard to provide leaves, you can use

November / December 2010 35 Leaving plants standing helps catch and hold blowing snow,” says Sousa. “It’s like a ther- snow, which will act as an insulating blanket mal coat for roots, slowing down plants against sudden temperature changes. Right: that might emerge from dormancy during Evergreen boughs can be used as mulch and mid-winter thaws.” are easy to clear away in the spring. Damrosch likes to use evergreen boughs as a winter mulch in her garden other organic material such as grass clip- because they “don’t lie flat on the ground, pings, bark chips, and compost to help in- but catch the snow beneath them and sulate the roots of woody plants and hold it there as a protective blanket.” She perennials. In places that experience freez- waits until the ground is frozen to put ing temperatures, hold off on mulching them down, which means that “boughs until you have had a couple of hard freezes from discarded Christmas trees, available to help reduce pests and diseases. at just about the right time in the season, The idea is not to “prevent the soil are a great resource and are easy to re- from freezing but to prevent it from alter- move in spring.” nately freezing and thawing,” explains There’s no harm in tidying up a bit and Barbara Damrosch, an organic market of the soil,” adds Damrosch. This is par- otherwise readying your garden for win- gardener in Harborside, Maine, and au- ticularly true for marginally hardy species ter, but keep in mind that sometimes thor of The Garden Primer. It’s this alter- in your region or recently planted ones doing less pays bigger dividends in the nate freezing and thawing that is most that haven’t had enough time to get a long run. And if you want to encourage detrimental to overwintering plants. strong root system established. wildlife to visit, now is the time to set out “Have you ever noticed how food be- In some regions, snow cover also helps the winter welcome mat. comes mushy if you repeatedly thaw and protect plants from weather extremes. refreeze it? Something similar can happen “We leave plants standing into winter not Kris Wetherbee is a regular contributor to to plant roots, and the freeze/thaw cycle only to supply a food source for birds, but The American Gardener. She and her hus-

can also break them and heave them out also to allow tall stems to capture the band, Rick, garden in Oakland, Oregon. TOP: JERRY PAVIA. BOTTOM: SUSAN A. ROTH

36 the American Gardener When designing a four-season landscape, find a place for some of these tough herbaceous plants that take center stage when their counterparts are off for the winter. Winter Stalwarts

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY KAREN BUSSOLINI

INTER unquestionably puts a chill on gardening at my W home in Connecticut, where temperatures drop well below freezing for weeks at a time. As the days get shorter and colder, I make a sincere effort to ap- preciate the season’s subtle palette of buffs, browns, and russets, but I still yearn for more. This is the time of year when the “bones” of a garden—shrubs, trees, and rocks—are better appreciated if knit to- gether by colorful company at ground level. In my often-losing race to clean up before snow starts falling, however, I have noticed that a surprising number of herba- ceous plants originally planted for sum- mer interest retain their color—not necessarily green—long into winter. By the time these stalwarts are looking worn out late in the season, many other ground- layer plants are ready to spring forth. Herbaceous plants with cold-season interest usually last through winter or emerge early, rarely both. “Plants most apt to be evergreen come from areas with dry winters, from the Mediter- ranean, western America, and the steppes of Asia, from places that have sun all winter,” explains Panayoti Ke- laidis, director of outreach and senior curator at the Denver Botanic Gardens in Colorado. “Many of our traditional border plants come from wet and cold places, or from the high Alps where they are covered with snow,” he says. “They have no reason to be evergreen.” Whether your region experiences mild or severe winters, lots of snow or none at all, there is a wealth of herba- ceous plants that will tie the garden to- gether and prove to be more than just Enhanced by a kiss of frost, rock cress ( procurrens) and red-stemmed Euphorbia dulcis fair-weather friends. ‘Chameleon’ are among the many perennials that retain their good looks well into winter.

November / December 2010 37 LONG-LASTING OPTIONS tions with each other, these plants make a touch of sunshine all the way to spring, I Most evergreen or semi-evergreen herba- garden pleasing to look at from indoors depend on the yellow fans of golden ceous plants won’t be ready for close-up and provide a good excuse to go outside dwarf sweet flag (Acorus gramineus portraits after enduring heavy snow, sev- for a closer look and a satisfying bit of ‘Ogon’, Zones 6–9, 9–5), ‘Golden Sword’ eral freeze-thaw cycles, and cold winds, snipping on a milder winter day. and ‘Bright Edge’ (Zones 4–11, but they still provide appeal in one way or In my garden, many silver-hued plants 12–5), and Bowles’ golden sedge (Carex another. There are spikes and mounds, persist. For example, clumps of lamb’s elata ‘Aurea’, Zones 5–9, 9–3). rounded leaves, and linear ones, soft and ears (Stachys byzantina, USDA Hardiness Purple wood spurge (Euphorbia amyg- hard textures. There are groundcovers and Zones 4–8, AHS Heat Zones 8–1) and daloides ‘Purpurea’, Zones 6–9, 9–2) is a upright plants, plants that blend and those ‘Six Hills Giant’ catmint (Nepeta quiet star most of the year for me, but in that contrast, darks and lights, and color ✕faassenii, Zones 3–8, 8–1) on the pro- winter its upright, almost architectural echoes. Nestled around rocks, hanging tected sunny slope close to my house sail mounds of blue-green foliage turn deep over walls, and making jazzy combina- past December fresh and fuzzy. For a burgundy with red stems. It can look a bit forlorn toward spring, but new growth emerges early, along with char- treuse and bright yellow flowers. Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’ (Zones 7–10, 10–1) and various Ajuga, Heuchera, Sedum, and Sempervivum cultivars con- tinue the purple/burgundy theme, con- trasting nicely with the golds and silvers. Greens round out the color palette. Rock cress (Arabis procurrens, Zones 3–7,

Certain perennials lend a variety of colors and textures to the garden in winter. Left: The purple foliage of Anthriscus sylvestris ‘Ravenswing’ and the feathery, greenish- yellow mounds of golden feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium ‘Aureum’) play well with the gilded fans of golden dwarf sweet flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’) and the green straps of grape hyacinth (Muscari sp.) in the author’s garden. Above: Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’ and lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina) add a splash of purple and silver to a New York garden designed by Ana Hajduk.

38 the American Gardener 8–1) keeps its shiny rosettes year-round and sends up clouds of white blossoms very early in spring. Digitalis lutea (Zones 3–8, 8–1), white-striped Carex ‘Ice Dance,’ mot- tled Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens, Zones 5–9, 9–3), and marbled Arum italicum (Zones 6–9, 9–3) remain evergreen. Lenten roses (Helleborus ✕hy- bridus, Zones 6–9, 9–6) stay dark glossy green until flower stalks emerge in late Feb- ruary, at which point I cut them back to let flowers take center stage. The finely cut leaves of stinking (H. foetidus, Zones 6–9, 9–6) often get winter burn, but seen from a distance, their chartreuse bracts and blooms glow against dark green foliage, however spotted. RELIABLE REGIONAL FAVORITES When I compared notes with gardeners from other regions, everybody had at least a handful of reliable options, and winter reliability ran in families. Locally adapted penstemons, ajugas, epimedi- ums, dianthus, and various ferns were noted coast to coast, north to south. Whatever the region, grasses and sedges, plants with tough, leathery foliage, hardy succulents, herbs, and silver plants ap- pear to be good winter performers. Garden blogger Kathy Purdy, who lives in “the North Pole of Broome County” in Upstate New York, says plants with fall color that keep their good looks under snow and emerge intact dur- ing thaws are key. One of her favorites is Bergenia ‘Lunar Glow’, which “looks very yellow-green in summer, but come fall when temperatures drop, it turns a glowing red. The leaves stay pretty all winter,” she notes. In the upper Midwest, “winters are so severe that anything that survives is a sur- prise, a success, a little treasure,” says Richard Hawke, plant evaluation manag- er at the Chicago Botanic Garden. He val- ues macrorrhizum (Zones 4–8, 8–1) cultivars with varied green to bur- gundy to vivid red winter stems and leaves, a persistent pungent scent, and vig- orous early revival that coincides with spring . Hawke notes that the mot- tled leaves of Ivory Prince hellebore (Helle- borus ‘Walhelivor’) emerge from snow Some perennials, such as Geranium macrorrhizum, top, and Sedum ‘Angelina’, above left, not cover unscathed and often tectorum only hold up well for much of the winter, but also quickly put on new growth to complement (Zones 5–9, 9–3) looks good throughout early bulbs. Above right: Blue Reflection® creeping speedwell and harrimaniae take winter. ice and snow in stride at High Country Gardens in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

November / December 2010 39 Sources Annie’s Annuals and Perennials, Richmond, CA. (888) 266-4370. www.anniesannuals.com. Brent and Becky’s Bulbs, Gloucester, VA. (877) 661-2852. www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com. Earthly Pursuits, Windsor Mill, MD. (410) 496-2523. www.earthlypursuits.net. High Country Gardens, Santa Fe, NM. (800) 925-9387. www.highcountrygardens.com. Joy Creek Nursery, Scappoose, OR. (503) 543-7474. www.joycreek.com. Prairie Nursery, Westfield, WI. (800) 476-9453. www.prairienursery.com. Sooner Plant Farm, Park Hill, OK. (918) 453-0771. www.soonerplantfarm.com. Resources The Garden in Winter: Plant for Beauty and Interest in the Quiet Season by Suzy Bales. Rodale Books, New York, New York, 2007. The Prairie Winterscape: Creative Gardening for the Forgotten Season by Barbara Kam and Nora Bryan. Fifth House Ltd., Markham, Ontario, 2004.

Joy Creek Nursery owner Maurice Horn brightens his drizzly, dark Oregon winters with eriogonums, hellebores, di- anthus, silver-leafed Cyclamen hederifoli- um (Zones 5–7, 9–7), and penstemons. Fine-textured evergreen grasses, such as Together with the fresh new foliage of golden creeping Jenny ( nummularia the steely-blue Idaho fescue (Festuca ida- ‘Aurea’) and canes of yellow groove bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Spectabilis’), hoensis, Zones 4–10, 10–4), and semi- grape hyacinths provide a splash of early-season color in the author’s garden. evergreen muhly grasses provide a lot of interest, too. Horn especially likes dense- A champion of xeric plants for the EARLY RISERS ly tufted pine muhly (Muhlenbergia West, David Salman of Santa Fe Green- As soon as days get noticeably longer in dubia, Zones 7–10, 10–7), which he de- houses in New Mexico, gardens at a late winter, an array of super-early plants scribes as “a mix of old and new, tawny 7,000-foot elevation. For winter interest, springs up. These welcome early-risers— and green at the same time.” he relies on evergreen groundcovers from for me, golden feverfew (Tanacetum “You can’t go wrong with any creeping dry alpine regions—such as spring- parthenium ‘Aureum’, Zones 4–9, 9–1) thyme or phlox—some stay green, some blooming Veronica pectinata (Zones 2–7, and corydalis are among the earliest—give turn purplish,” says Kelaidis from Denver 7–1) and V. oltensis (Zones 4–9, 9–4)— color and context to the first bulbs and Botanic Gardens. He also likes succulent and tough, sculptural agaves and yuccas. offer new possibilities when the stalwarts sempervivums and sedums, “especially Mat-forming hardy ice plant Delosperma are at their worst. Grape hyacinths (Mus- Sedum ‘Angelina,’ which turns electric or- ‘Lesotho Pink’ turns lightly bronze for cari spp.) not only provide a grassy texture ange and isn’t too thick, so bulbs can come the winter, while D. ashtonii ‘Blut’ in winter, they also light up the landscape up through it.” As for grasses, “the queen (Zones 6–9, 9–6) turns reddish, creating with their early blooms. Their purple to is little bluestem, which turns deep - a colorful backdrop to early bulbs that blue flowers look stunning scattered red here in winter.” grow up through its loose form. among the ruby-red spears of emerging

40 the American Gardener or poking up through a mat of contrast with and later conceal strappy MAKING THE MOST OF WINTER GARDENS golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia num- foliage. Also “old-fashioned, super- With fewer plant choices, design becomes mularia ‘Aurea’, Zones 4–8, 8–1) for some hardy, edible makes a perfect com- critical. “Winter gardening is about setting vivid early color. Ferny new astilbe leaves bination for three or four weeks with scenes,” explain Barbara Kam and Nora match the peonies’ hue while adding a daffodils,” he adds. “There’s a reddish tinge Bryan in The Prairie Winterscape: Creative contrasting texture, with lady’s mantle (Al- as rhubarb leaves come up and a wrinkling Gardening for the Forgotten Season. The au- chemilla mollis, Zones 4–7, 7–1) rounding that unfolds into the mature leaf, which is thors stress integrating winter gardens into out the combination in fresh green tones. very structural and architectural-looking.” the overall design, paying attention to rep- Steve Ruce, owner of Heliotrope Gar- “We’re very excited about anything that etition, contrast, focal points, mass, tex- den Design in Minnesota, says his latest- comes up quickly,” says Hawke of Chica- ture, shape, color, balance, and proportion blooming perennial is surprisingly the first go Botanic Garden, including bleeding as in any season. For year-round interest, up. Blooming into November, monks- heart (Dicentra spp.), lady’s mantle, and they suggest planting about one-third ever- hood ( carmichaelii, Zones 3–8, Arum italicum. He says Heuchera ‘Purple greens, one-third deciduous shrubs and 8–3) turns to mush at about 27 degrees Petticoats’, ‘Palace Purple’, ‘Obsidian’, and trees, and one-third annuals and perenni- Fahrenheit, but its leathery basal foliage especially ‘Color Dream’ may remain pre- als, especially those that keep some color forms dark green spreading clumps early. sentable if there has been snow cover, and after frost and “die well.” “It’s so luxurious to see all that foliage sur- new growth emerges quickly in spring, Horticulturist Geoff VonBurg at the In- face as soon as the soil thaws,” he says. covering the old—perfect companions for dianapolis Museum of Art suggests gar- Ruce grows thousands of daffodils, mark- masses of tiny early bulbs. deners “keep it neat and simple by limiting ing their locations with monkshood Stachys lavandulifolia (Zones 5–7, 7–5) the number of plant species and selecting clumps. Then he snuggles in long-lasting and Symphytum grandiflorum ‘Hidcote plant combinations that follow each European ginger (Asarum europaeum, Blue’ (Zones 4–7, 7–1) push up very early other.” In front of big groups of shrubs, he Zones 4–8, 8–1) and early-emerging for Salman in New Mexico. These plants likes to plant simple combinations such as mayapples (Podophyllum peltatum, Zones are “outstanding with Scilla, Narcissus, Hy- Helleborus foetidus and Epimedium versi- 3–9, 8–2), whose large, rounded umbrellas acinthoides, and other early bulbs,” he says. color var. sulphureum (Zones 5–9, 9–4) in edged beds to carry through winter. He cuts back early-blooming epimediums in late February, after which winter aconites ( hyemalis, Zones 4–9, 9–1) and native spring ephemerals such as lungworts (Pulmonaria spp.), Virginia bluebells ( virginica, Zones 3–7, 7–1), and bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis, Zones 3–9, 9–1) “get up early for us and give us some color.” I advise comparing notes with other gardeners in your area and visiting public and private gardens to find out what plants persist or pop up early where you live. You may be surprised how many survivors can be combined in your own garden. Also, observe where your warm microclimates and protective structures foster these plants, and take advantage of their shelter. With so many options for adding win- ter interest no matter where you live, it’s possible to create an engaging garden that lasts the entire year. Regardless of the sea- son, “the more you can create a garden that’s appealing, the more apt you are to be in it,” notes Kelaidis. And a stroll through the garden to marvel at the plants that take winter’s chill in stride is one of the best remedies I know for cabin fever. Andrew Durbridge planted barrenworts (Epimedium ✕rubrum) as a groundcover under an allée of ‘Heritage’ river birch (Betula nigra) in his yard, forming a Photographer and writer Karen Bussolini carpet of reddish-mahogany color that lasts throughout winter. gardens in South Kent, Connecticut.

November / December 2010 41 42 Bunyard OrchardinMorganHill,California. farmer AndyMariani,withwhomKarpco-foundedthe David Karp,right,showsoffgreengageplumsalongside by PatrickMorgan David Karp:Intrepid Fruit Detective David Karpenjoys “unraveling quality—variety, thecomplexinteractionoffactorsthatinfluencefruit how to ensure the survival of heirloom fruits, and what fruits are deserving ofmore are widespreadhow andwhatfruits deserving cultivation. ofheirloomfruits, toensure thesurvival subject forTheNew York Times writingaboutthe somed untilIstarted blos- truly claim thatmypassionforfruit nated withotherloves. But Iwouldnot cross-polli- Later myenthusiasmforfruit tree intheyard ofmybeloved Aunt Elly. in LosAngeles,by eatingapricotsfrom a David Karp: passion forfruit? Patrick Morgan W the daydriving toandvisitingwiththree the bestlightfor photography, andspend arrive atanorchard before dawn tocatch When I’m ontheroad researching I fruit typical daylike? writer—with somanytitles,what’s your You’re hunter, afruit detective, fruit fruit the American Gardener Editorial Intern Patrick Morgan caughtupwith Karptoplumbhisthoughtsonthebestandworstfruits, Angeles Times, HETHER HE’S I cametolove asachild fruit : Whatignitedyour visiting withorganicfarmersaround thecountry, orlookingforamidnightsnack, writing hisweekly column—Market Watch—about farmersmarkets fortheLos in 1992. lated varieties) istheSnow Queen white plums (whichare really several closelyre- My alongwithgreengage co-favorite fruit, favorite? vorite What’s fruit. your second vor,” thegreengage plumisyour fa- You’ve saidwithits“atom bomboffla- and J.S.Bach are favorites. ically listentoBaroque music—Corelli photos. WhenI’m Ityp- writingarticles week, buying, makingnotes,andtaking notes. Igotoseveral farmersmarkets a wards editingphotosand transcribing nizing thetripbeforehand, andafter- on theroad Iprobably spendtwoorga- recording Butday forevery interviews. or fourfarmers,scribblingnotesand N NOEWITH ONE ON ONE such asonefortheUniversity ofCaliforniaatRiverside’s Cit- he’sing aboutfruit, usuallyworking ononeofmanyprojects, Chinese Citron Germplasm Repository. Whenhe’s notwrit- cluding Yunnan Province inChina,where heco-foundedthe tive inthe past30years. Street tradertopunkrock detec- producer toself-dubbedfruit And heshouldknow aboutvariety, havinggonefrom Wall originsandtraditions.” varieties, many ofthemwithcolorful great pleasures, beautiful,sweet, inlimitlesstypesand flavorful, treatment.” Topostharvest him,“fruit atitsbestisoneoflife’s and practice,ripenessatharvest, environment, horticultural an alternative towhathecalls“corporate ‘fast fruit’.” is alsoastrong fruit-growing advocate ofsmall,artisanal farms, graph anddocumentmore trees. than1,000kindsofcitrus He Varietyrus Collection,forwhichKarpandacolleaguephoto- C Karp’s interest takehimaround theworld,in- infruits … (pineapple guava). Ifind kiwanos[a yet developed atasteforpapayaor feijoa durian [from southeastAsia].Ihave not I can’t stomachthenotoriouslystinky Are there you anyfruits avoid? in California’s San Joaquin Valley. initsseason—mid-Junefruit toearlyJuly darn goodthatit’s hard toeatanyother ripens unevenly onthetree, butittastesso Itlingering aftertaste. it cracks,itbruises, anda lost inmodernvarieties ofthatfruit, has thewildnectarinetangthatissooften ity, intense,complexflavor. andavery It balanceofsweetness andacid- has aperfect teeth, butthefleshmeltsinyour mouth.It fers apleasantsnaporresistance tothe nectarine. Its whitefleshof- dense,buttery

PHOTOGRAPHS ON THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE COURTESY OF DAVID KARP at least, cashing in on the cachet of “lo- cally grown” food.

Of all the work you’ve done promoting heirloom fruit varieties, what is the most important in ensuring their survival? The most important thing I’ve done to help preserve older varieties is to write about them, so that farmers grow them and customers buy them.

How can gardeners help protect and enjoy heirlooms and unusual fruit? Backyard growers can plant fine old va- rieties, but also very important, they can tell their congressperson to support the land grant university and farm advisor system that has served the United States so well over the past century. This sys- tem is gravely imperiled by shortsight- Karp is a frequent visitor to the Santa Monica farmers market, where vendors offer a variety of ed budget cuts. Increasingly, only large fruits, such as this colorful assortment of currants, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. farms can afford the consultants, tech- nology, and proprietary germplasm to spiny African cucumber member] colorful, long-storing varieties. 3) Stores remain competitive. gorgeous but flavorless. identify all fruit by variety, not just apples If you live near a germplasm reposito- and pears and a few other kinds, and also ry, consider volunteering, as I did and still It seems like you want to create a fruit by growing area. 4) Stores hire produce do; it’s a opportunity to learn about connoisseurship that rivals the wine buyers and managers who actually know (and devour) fruit. Join an organization, industry. What is your vision for the something about produce, rather than such as the Rare Fruit Council Interna- world’s fruit-friendly future? corporate zombies who regard fruits as tional (www.tropicalfruitnews.org) suited 1) More people know the difference be- fungible widgets. 5) More people buy to your interests and growing area. tween great, good, and mediocre fruit. 2) produce at farmers markets directly from Farmers are paid for producing fruit with real farmers—not the peddlers who have Among fruits that are native to the good eating quality, not just for large, proliferated in recent years, in California United States, which are deserving of more widespread cultivation or use? Most are berries. Hybrid blackberries such as boysenberry and marionberry are noble fruits—large, dark purple, juicy, and in- tense, with a winy tang. These are grown commercially mainly in the Northwest. The Virginia strawberry (Fragaria vir- giniana), one of the parents of the com- mon strawberry, is small and soft but exquisitely aromatic and worth further se- lection and cultivation in home gardens. The suitability for cultivation of vari- ous wild Vaccinium species, such as Eu- ropean blueberry (V. myrtillus) and Cascade bilberry (V. deliciosum), is under study in the Northwest. Other native fruits worth mentioning include beach plums (Prunus maritima), pawpaws (Asimina triloba), and American persim- mons (Diospyros virginiana).

Buddha’s Hand citron—growing here in a nursery in Zhejiang, China—is just one of many citron Patrick Morgan is an editorial intern for The varieties that Karp’s Chinese Citron Germplasm Repository safeguards for Chinese farmers. American Gardener.

November / December 2010 43 44 by KrisWetherbee Popcorn Perfection page forrecommendations) play arole in plode insideout. Specific varieties (see next starch vaporizes, causingthekernelstoex- When popcornisheated,moisture inthe a harder hullandadense,starchy filling. sweet cornprimarilyinthatitskernelshave mays) Popcorn isoneofthousandscorn(Zea GROWING GUIDELINES Like standardsweetcorn,earsofpopcornarereadytoharvest when thesilksturnbrown. I to doandcanbeafunproject forkids. have never grown popcornbefore, it’s easy preparing ittheold-fashioned way. If you more satisfaction in growing myown and consume thisdelicioustreat, butIstillfind microwave ishow mostAmericansnow lightly withsaltandbutter. corn perperson.Andwe preferred itdressed ofpop- tional annualaverage of68quarts doubt we atemore thanourshare ofthena- Store-bought popcornpoppedinthe GREW UP turns poppingcornonthestove. No lovers. Every nightafterdinnerwe took the American Gardener varieties. It differsfrom standard in afamilyofpopcorn deeply, especially whenthestalksbegin that release pollen. sels—the silkyinflorescences atthetop days untilthecornbeginsto formtas- sevenweeks, to14 orafoliarsprayevery twotofour organic sources) every manure, fishmeal, alfalfameal,orother nitrogen fer aged manure. Follow upwithahigh- bed enrichedwithplentyofcompostor grees Fahrenheit before planting. temperature has warmed toatleast60de- butbesureshort, towaituntilthesoil summers are coolorthegrowing seasonis mers, itcanbegrown successfullywhere corn grows bestinregions withhotsum- deep, well-drained soil.Whilepop- fertile, conditions assweet corn:fullsunand grown, andseasoned. harvested, ishowequally important thepopcornis popcorn quality, taste,andpoppability, but OERW HARVEST HOMEGROWN Be sure towater plantsregularly and Start popcornseedsinasmoothseed Popcorn thrives inthesamegrowing C tilizer (from composted plants to conserve moisture andpreventplants toconserve compost orcomposted manure around soaker hosesworks best.Mulch with to formtassels.Using dripirrigationor variety witha120dayvariety). weeks apart),ormaturitydate(a90day feet separation),plantingtime(sowtwo can dothisbydistance(minimum250 result intough,starchysweetcorn.You corn, avoidcross-pollination,whichcan tween plants. long rowstoincreasepollencontactbe- of fourtosixrowsratherthanindividual well-filled ears,plantpopcorninblocks about threeinchestall. seedlings tothegardenwhentheyreach in two-inchpotsandtransplantthe or thegrowingseasonisshort,startseeds Where springweatherisdampandcool GETTING STARTED Planting Basics tract sevento10daysfortransplants. the varietyandgrowingconditions.Sub- 85 to110daysfromseed,dependingon DAYS TOMATURITY about fiveinchestall. plant perholewhenseedlingsreach about 12to18inchesapart.Thinone pending onthevariety,withrowsspaced ing transplantseverysixto10inchesde- Space corntightly,sowingseedsorplac- SPACING two tothreeseedsperhole. half toone-and-a-halfinchesdeep,with three timesthedepthofseed,froma grees Fahrenheit.Sowseedsattwoto soil temperatureisconsistently60de- Sow seedsdirectlyinthegroundonce DIRECT SEEDING If yougrowbothpopcornandsweet Corn iswind-pollinated,soforfull,

RICK WETHERBEE weeds. Water less frequently once the ears husks, and bring them inside to cure in a have filled out. This will help produce Sources dry and ventilated location such as a shed or the best yields and quality of popcorn. Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Winslow, garage. Drying time can vary from one ME. (877) 564-6697. week to several months, depending on RECOMMENDED VARIETIES www.johnnyseeds.com. weather conditions. Popcorn varieties are not limited to kernels Seeds of Change, Spicer, MN. When the kernels come easily off the of yellow or white. Options also include (888) 762-7333. cob, test the popcorn by popping a few blue, pink, mahogany, and mixed. If you www.seedsofchange.com. kernels. (To pop, put kernels or an ear in have a short growing season, opt for vari- Territorial Seed Company, Cottage a folded paper bag in the microwave eties that mature in under 100 days, such as Grove, OR. (800) 626-0866. oven.) If the kernels pop, it’s time to shell ‘Tom Thumb’ (85 days), ‘Early Pink’ (85 to www.territorialseed.com. the corn. To shell, roll the kernels from 90 days), or ‘Calico’ (90 to 100 days). For the cob with your hand, pushing firmly tenderness and a distinct nutty flavor, try with your thumb. ‘Japanese Hulless’, ‘Early Pink’, or ‘Minia- To prevent pest invasions or diseases Store the shelled corn in an airtight ture Blue’. ‘Strawberry’—so named for its from occurring, remove all popcorn container in a cool, dry location. Avoid small, mahogany-colored pinecone-shaped stalks and debris from the garden after storing popcorn in a warm location or in cobs resembling strawberries—is a tender harvest. Also rotate corn-planting areas the refrigerator, which can dry out the ker- and slightly sweeter variety. on a three-year cycle. nels and render them unpoppable. You Deer and raccoons love corn. To deter may be able to revive kernels that have be- PEST AND DISEASE PREVENTION them, try fencing or repellents. come too dry, however, by adding a table- Corn earworms often find popcorn appe- spoon of water per quart of popcorn. tizing (the variety ‘Strawberry’ has shown ENJOYING THE HARVEST Shake or stir the kernels until the moisture some resistance). In some areas, corn borers Popcorn is ready to harvest when the silk is absorbed, close up the container, and try are a problem. Use Bt (Bacillus thuringien- turns brown and the kernels are hard, glossy, popping again in a few days. sis), a biological control that is toxic to cater- and well colored. Leave corn on the stalks as pillars, to help control or prevent either pest. long as possible, allowing the kernels to dry A regular contributor to The American Corn borers can also be controlled with an naturally. If the weather is damp or frost Gardener, freelance writer Kris Wetherbee organic insecticide containing pyrethrum. threatens, harvest the ears, peel back the lives in Oakland, Oregon.

November / December 2010 45 46 most notableachievement,” Martin says, of more gardens. than700sidewalk “Our square feetofpavement andtheplanting led totheremoval ofmore than30,000 plants. Since then,Plant*SF’s have efforts to plantnative andclimate-adapted inSanerty Francisco’s Mission District onherprop- ofthesidewalk up aportion Ocean and San Francisco Bay. aminants, are deposited intothePacific cont- ins, alongwithbuildingwastewater aging sewersystemoverflows, thesetox- line, andotherpollutants.Whenthecity’s pavement, gatheringheavymetals,gaso- landscaping, stormwater runoff. Without permeable create forcapturing apermeable surface connect urbaniteswithnature, butalso pavement withplantingstonotonlyre- training, promotes replacing excess city San Francisco—Martin, anarchitect by Landscape asNeighborhood Treasure in founder ofPlant*SF—or Permeable easier, thankstoJane Martin. The while inSan Francisco maybegetting song urges,wearing flowers inyour hair Like the1960sMamas andthePapas FRANCISCO GREENINSAN TO TURNING GRAY Horticultural NewsandResearch ImportanttoAmericanGardeners It allbeganin2003,whenMartin tore the American Gardener stormwater cascadesalong Jenks, fedmiceM.vaccae sharpen cognitive functions. calming serotonin, M.vaccae ety by triggering thebodytoproduce New York. Already known toeaseanxi- a biologistattheSage CollegesinTroy, Dorothy Matthews, leadresearcher and when soilentersacutintheirskin,”says counter digging inthesoil,buttheyalsoen- suggests itjustmight. uted insoil,air, andplantmatter, terium vaccae— that iswidelydistrib- studyofabacterium— new you, A butcanitmakeyou smarter? There’s nodoubtgardening isgoodfor BACTERIA BRAINY den, visitwww.PlantSF.org. your ownor aboutstarting gar- sidewalk tocreatesidewalk gardens.” ers tomore easily‘depave’ excess areas of that allows San Franciscan own- property “was gettingapermitprocess inplace “Our research,” saysMatthews, “showed mice thatdidn’t ingestthebacterium. mice inamaze, comparingthemwith neighborhood amoreenjoyableexperience. have madelivingandwalkinginthe replaced withbedsofplants,left,which Harrison Street,above,wereremovedand Large areasofconcreteonSanFrancisco’s GARDENER Matthews andhercolleague,Susan “Gardeners inhalethesebacteriawhile For more informationaboutPlant*SF M. vaccae C ’ in theirvegetables or NOTEBOOK S and ranthe Mycobac- may also fifth ofEarth’s plantspeciesfaceextinc- Kew researchers indicatesthatover one- Another studypublishedinSeptember by are about400,000known plantspecies. name. Scientistsnow estimatethatthere and intheprocess assignedmore thanone plants have beendescribedmultipletimes Botanical Garden, Kewfoundthat certain Missouri BotanicalGardens andtheRoyal entifically known plants, researchers atthe were simplygiven toomanynames. is nottoblame.It turnsouttheplants andforonce,extinction species onEarth, There are now 600,000fewerplant DIVERSITY OFTHEWORLD’SPLANT STATE and that’s gottocontributesomething.” creases serotonin anddecreases anxiety, Well,smarter? M.vaccae says Matthews. “But are gardeners to have contactwiththeseorganisms,” definitely goodtobeoutdoors—it’s good was nolongerstatisticallysignificant. though by thethird week, thedifference maze fasterthanthecontrol mice,al- from theirdiet,themicestillran Even afterthebacteriumwasremoved hibited halfoftheanxietybehaviors.” maze twiceasfastcontrol miceandex- that micewhowere fedM.vaccae made acomeback inthelast30years. Endangered Extinction isn’t offthe hook,though. While compilingalistoftheworld’s sci- “From ourstudywe cansaythatitis Echinacea tennesseensis tennesseensis Echinacea certainly in- certainly ran the has

TOP: COURTESY OF JANE MARTIN (2). BOTTOM: COURTESY OF U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE leana ssp. singuliflora and Ascension Is- land’s parsley fern (Anogramma ascension- is). The Hawaiian find marks the first sighting since 1920 and came as researchers surveyed snails along the slopes of the Ko- hala volcano. As for the Ascension Island fern, it was last seen in 1958 and officially declared extinct in 2003 before being re- discovered this year by Kew scientists. Stephen Hopper, Kew Gardens director, echoes the sentiments of many when he says, “At a time of unprecedented loss of biodiversity, this exciting discovery gives us hope that species can cling on and that re- Thought to have become extinct, both Clermonta peleana ssp. singuliflora, left, and parsley covery of species is a real possibility.” fern (Anogramma ascensionis), right, have recently been rediscovered. THE LATEST BUZZ ON CAUSE OF COLONY tion, with human-caused habitat loss gered in 1979 because it was found in only COLLAPSE DISORDER identified as the major culprit. small populations in three Tennessee coun- As many as two-fifths of America’s com- Despite this worrying global trend, ties. “These populations have stabilized to mercial honeybee colonies have suc- there are glimmers of hope. For example, the point that the species has recovered and cumbed to colony collapse disorder after more than 30 years of cooperative no longer needs the protection of the En- (CCD) since 2006. The cause of CCD conservation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife dangered Species Act,” says Cindy Dohn- has remained a mystery despite scores of Service proposed delisting the Tennessee er, the agency’s Southeast regional director. scientists studying the problem, but a purple coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) And sometimes plants thought to have team of bee researchers in Montana and as a threatened and endangered species. gone extinct turn up again, such as Army scientists in Maryland has found a

LEFT: ROB SHALLENBERGER / COURTESY OF TNC. RIGHT: AIG CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT This plant was originally listed as endan- Hawaii’s epiphytic shrub Clermontia pe- new piece of the puzzle.

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November / December 2010 47 48 tober’s Times Montana, Missoula, toldthe author ofthestudywithUniversity of the moment,”Jerry Bromenshenk, lead “They’re co-factors,that’s allwe cansayat appearstoplayalargerole inCCD. virus nal, thecombinedeffectofafungusand how unitetokill the fungusandvirus CCD, scientists’ nextstep istodetermine the worldwideproblem of in curtailing synergy represents amajordevelopment claim, ormaterialgain.” every tradechannelwithoutaskingforrecognition,ac- Bob Luthultz.“Hehasquietlyhelpedtoimprovefacetsof prints arenot,”saysSAFAwardsCommitteeChairman “Kennicott’s influenceiseverywhere,evenifhisfinger- company’s transitiontoanemployee-ownedbusiness. budding leadersinthefloralindustryandoversawhis industry formorethan50years.Hehasmentoredmany based inChicago,Illinois,Kennicotthasservedthefloral er, distributor,andwholesalerofflowerssince1881 stabbing duringthe2008OlympicGamesinBeijing. on behalfofherhusband,whowasthevictimarandom other organizations.BarbaraBachmanacceptedthehonor ness, BachmanalsoheldleadershippositionsinSAFand ery operationsintheworld.Inadditiontohisfamilybusi- Inc., whichisamongthelargesttraditionalfloralandnurs- fame isoneofthefloralindustry’shighesthonors. tributions totheadvancementoffloriculture,hall ing individualswhohavemadesignificantandlastingcon- Fame bytheSocietyofAmericanFlorists(SAF).Recogniz- Kennicott, III,AAF,werenamedtotheFloricultureHallof In September,thelateToddBachmanandHarrison“Red” 2010 FloricultureHallofFameInductions PLACESintheNEWS PEOPLE and The lateToddBachman,left,andHarrisonKennicott,right. According toastudypublishedinOc- Recognizing thatthisfungus–virus CEO ofKennicottBrothers,aleadingimporter,grow- Bachman waspresidentofMinnesota-basedBachman’s, the American Gardener in an article published October 6. in anarticle PLoS ONE, an onlinesciencejour- New York about , diet,andnutrition dren inimpoverished schooldistricts classroom scene. soon thiswillalsodescribean outdoor Program hasanythingtodowithit, but iftheUSDA’s People’s Garden School dren maysound likeascenefrom recess, Dirty hands,fresh air, andagaggleofchil- PROGRAM GARDEN SCHOOL U.S. OFAGRICULTURE FUNDS DEPARTMENT further outbreaks.further bees and—eventually—how to prevent The pilotprogram seekstoteachchil- sonally, er community,”Windhagertoldthe rebuild therelationshipsthatGardenhaswithlarg- ture developmentplans.“There’salotofopportunityto rounding communityafteryearsofdisagreementoveritsfu- California. Currentlythelandscaperestorationdirectorfor the SantaBarbaraBotanicGarden(SBBG)inBarbara, Starting December1,SteveWindhagerwillbethenewCEOof New CEOforSantaBarbaraBotanicGarden boundaries ofwhereplantsweresupposedtobehardy. garden designer,Winterrowdwasalsoknownforpushingthe ponent oftheculturallifeSantaBarbara.” important rolethattheGardencanplayasacriticalcom- authored withEck—suchas his inspiringandgood-humoredbooks—manyofwhichheco- Joe Eck.Winterrowd’sgardenbecameworld-renownedthrough than 30yearscreatingthisseven-acregardenwithhisspouse, terrowd diedinSeptemberattheageof68.Hespentmore Readsboro, Vermont,gardenwriteranddesignerWayneWin- Best knownforNorthHill,hisextraordinaryprivategardenin Garden WriterandExpertWayneWinterrowdDies into hispersonalworld,hewrotetheencyclopedicvolume, nuals and Tender Plants for North American Gardens. American North for Plants Tender and nuals pendent Steve Windhager For moreinformationaboutSBBG,visit and in anOctober19article,“andtoreallyclarifythe Our Life in Gardens. in Life Our as wellrestorerelationswiththesur- to theweakeconomyandotherfactors, build itsshakyfinancialstandingdue 2009. SBBGisalsostrugglingtore- stroyed largesectionsofthegardenin effects oftheJesusitaFire,whichde- 18-year tenureatthegardeninJuly. CEO, EdwardSchneider,whoendedhis al challengesfromSBBG’sprevious Austin, Texas,Windhagerinheritssever- Lady BirdJohnsonWildflowerCenterin holds. Theproduce grown inthegardens eating choices forallAmericanhouse- tive, theUSDAhopestofosterhealthier gram’s expansion. further as modelsforthepro-programs willserve tion, schoolswithsuccessful gardening culture Secretary Tom Vilsack. In addi- are life-changing experiences,”saysAgri- thatgrew throughfruits your own effort, of growingvegetables and andserving what fresh foods tastelike,andthepride “Learning where foodcomesfrom and through establishing schoolgardens. The gardenisstilldealingwiththe Through thisschoolgardening initia- A Year at North Hill, Living Sea- Living Hill, North at Year A In additiontothesewindows Santa Barbara Inde- Barbara Santa www.sbbg.org. A skilled An-

LEFT: COURTESY OF SOCIETY OF AMERICAN FLORISTS (2). RIGHT: COURTESY OF SANTA BARBARA BOTANIC GARDEN LEFT: COURTESY OF PARK SEED COMPANY. RIGHT: COURTESY OF ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS Entrance oftheParkSeedCo.inGreenwood making itviable oncemore. and seed company from bankruptcy company plansonrescuing thehistoric representative ofBlackstreet, saysthe at leastthree years. Lawrence Berger, a inGreenwoodthe businessrunning for ploys more than300people. nine acres ofthemed gardens andem- olina, Park Seed’s features headquarters cy. LocatedinGreenwood, South Car- world by filing forChapter11bankrupt- tural research, shockedthehorticultural addition toseedsandconductshorticul- now sellsplantsandgarden suppliesin owner.new becameParkChase, Maryland, Seed’s Capital, aprivate equityfirminChevy 142 years later. In August, Blackstreet would besoldforcloseto$12million ably never imaginedthathiscompany Parkstarting Seed Company—heprob- bonia, Pennsylvania, in1868—therein sellingseedstoneighborsinLi- started When 15-year-old George Watt Park FIRM PRIVATE EQUITY PARK SOLDTO SEEDCOMPANY nior centers. being donatedtolocalfoodbanksandse- by as alessonincommunityservice both schoolandhome,whilealsoserving will supplementthechildren’s mealsat Blackstreet Capitalhasagreed tokeep Earlier intheyear, Park Seed, which Denver Daisy Garden Award contestis Selections’ secondannualAmerican The grandprize winnerofAll-America AWARD2010 GARDEN WINNERS AMERICAN Written by Editorial Intern Patrick Morgan. themselves. favorites afterseeingthecontestantsfor tors were invitedtocastvotes fortheir world’s topplantbreeders. Garden visi- varietynition asthebestnew from the three otherentries,allvyingforrecog- displayed Denver Daisy mer, 18publicgardens across thenation chocolate-brown centers.Over thesum- yellow blossomswithmaroon-rimmed, voters withitsfour-tosix-inchgolden- ca. Thisboldlover ofthesunattracted visit trialgardens,ning plantsorparticipating are extremely hot. Flash’ pepperstoeat,bewarned:They fancy pickingapeckofthese‘Purple If youand small,spherical,blackfruits. plant features purple-streaked leaves placed third. Thisdrought-tolerant ‘Purple Flash’ from PanAmerican Seed summer tolatefall. flowering perennial bloomsfrom early amethyst-colored blooms,thisfirst-year the contest.Teeming withthree-inch Syngenta Flowers took secondplacein Rudbeckia Echinacea For more informationaboutthewin- The 12-inch-tallornamentalpepper www.americangardenaward.org. Denver Daisy ™ Prairie Splendor from Benary ofAmeri- from Benary ™ ™ Rudbeckia alongside ™ from In Biodegradable Pots In Biodegradable Pots VeggiesHerbs And VeggiesHerbs And You Since1918. You Since1918. www.BonniePlants.com www.BonniePlants.com Gardening With Gardening With November /December2010 49 50 by RitaPelczar MiscellanyofUsefulGarden Helpers A A itors. Andsomeare geared toward makingthe gardening experiencesaferandmore comfortable. North Carolina garden. Many oftheseitemshave direct applicationinthegarden, othersbenefitgarden vis- al kitchensupply stores. Thesuper-sharp W. Atlee Burpee &Company andsever- year isSilvermark Herb Snips bruising. sized apples,ispaddedtoprevent fruit The basket,whichholdsthree medium- high intothetree’s canopy topluckfruit. a woodenpolethatallows you toreach Its vinyl-coatedwire basketisattachedto der whenthiseight-foottoolisinhand. dener’s Supply. No needtoclimbalad- Helper Fruit Picker, available from Gar- you willwanttoinvestfruit, ina just outofyour reach? If you grow tree apples (orpears,peaches,orplums)are inches tall. diameter circle thatisnine-and-a-half toformafive-and-a-half-inch- the trunk these plasticringssnaptogetheraround fective andeasytouse.Thetwohalves of Valley Farm andGarden Supply are ef- Tree andPlant Guards from bothpestsandmower damage, young trees thisyear, andtoprotect them ing spadewithitslong,narrow blade. likethetransplant- weeders; Iparticularly this seriesincludingspades,forks, and curely. Avariety oftoolsare available in apply footpressure andse- comfortably thatallowsfolded steppingsurface you to good designfeature isthebroad, forward- which helpsavoid wriststrain.Another can graspitusingdifferent handpositions, andbecausethegripiscircular,fort, you from LeeValley Tools isdesignedforcom- Ergonomic Stainless Steel Digging Tools The large,lightlycushionedgripofthe FOR THEGARDEN One ofmyfavorite discoveries this Doesn’t italwaysseemthatthe best I usedthatspadetotransplantsome the American Gardener S THEGARDENING work alittleeasierandmore pleasantthisseasonasI’ve inmy weeded, and harvested planted,pruned, from Peaceful offered by Harvest year comestoaclose,I’dyear liketoshare oftheproducts afew thathave mademy herbs, orvegetables indoorsfrom seedfor stems—a great time saver! the bladesforstrippingleaves off edged notchesbetween thehandleand cleaning. There are three small,sharp- foreasy ing herbs,andtheycomeapart blades are andminc- great forharvesting If you are flowers, planningtostart Herb Snips Silvermark Herb Snips Silvermark Harvest HelperFruitPicker Harvest HelperFruitPicker RE GARAGE GREEN C ® pose attheendofseason. place ofplastictiesandjustletitdecom- yard wastetosecuring plants. Use itin variety of garden tasksfrom bundling pleats makeitquitestrong, suitablefora paper, it’s biodegradable, but itsdense Valley. Made ofunbleachedrecycled bon, available in33-footrolls from Lee Ties—a suppleandstrong Japanese rib- tying theminbuncheswithPaper package ofEspomaorganicfertilizer. wooden plantlabels,andaone-ounce watering tray, agerminationsheet,three planting cellsandgrow pellets,abamboo pletely biodegradableandincludes25fiber Ecofriendly Seed Starting Kit next year’s garden, considerBurpee’s peckers andother largebirds tobalance tends below thefeedingcageforwood- thatex- plastic. Thetailprop isaflatsurface Feeder withTail Prop Songbird Essentials hasadurableSuet that remain inyour garden over winter. Suet isagreat source ofenergyforthe birds VISITORS FOR GARDEN Paper Ties Paper Ties If you liketohangherbs toairdry, try made ofrecycled . It iscom-

BOTTOM LEFT AND RIGHT: RITA PELCZAR has a small opening that allows birds to sip Sources while the water remains clean. The Sipper WORLD’S #1 TOP All Terrain, www.allterrainco.com. can be placed on the ground or mounted PLANT SUPPLY Boiron, www.boironusa.com. with a wall bracket. Coastal Solutions, Duncraft also offers the Rocky Moun- PLANT #1HEALTH EXTRA LIFE www.coastalsolutions.com. tain Spring Bath, which sits on the Greatest Guarantee-Offer PROOF Ever SINCE 1940, $5,000. GUARANTEED to be Coles Wild Bird Products Co., ground and looks great nestled among Worldunchallenged, CHAMPION www.coleswildbird.com. plants in a bed. It resembles natural stone, #1 Activator, #1 Trans/ #1 Extra #1 REVIVER, PLANTER, GROWER, Duncraft, Inc., www.duncraft.com. but it’s made of durable molded polyresin WORLD’S FAIR SCIENCE-MEDAL-WINNING #1 Perfecter VI TM TM Elemental Herbs, and fiberglass. Its weight and low profile ® 50 IN www.elementalherbs.com. prevent it from toppling, even on my ONE Gardener’s Supply, windy knoll. VITAMINS-HORMONES USED BY U.S. –– GUARANTEED Departments of –– –– POLLUTING BioUSABLES As Advertised in AGRICULTURE, ARMY, NON TM Better Homes & Gardens www.gardeners.com. NAVY, AIR. Etc. TO ADD TO FERTILIZING for growing ALSO BY STATES, Horticulture CITIES, COUNTIES, DOUBLE MONEY-BACK FOR THE GARDENER UNIVERSITIES Lee Valley Tools, www.leevalley.com. RECOMMENDED TOP VALUE BY EXPERTS OF TV, RADIO, BOOKS, EXTREME Concentration MAGAZINES, Drop-A-CupTM or CONFERENCES Dozens Drop-A-GalTM Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Biting bugs can be an outdoor nuisance. OF THE Supply, www.groworganic.com. Herbal Armor™ from All Terrain is a Deet- WORLD’S SCIENCE & INDUSTRY ONLY GOLD MEDAL Songbird Essentials, free repellent that provides great protection WORLD’S FAIR 1940 science ADD to any fertilizingTM • 50 INSTANT BioUSABLES www.songbirdessentials.com. NORMAL PURE COMPLEXES for two to three hours against mosquitoes, • From Carbon-Hydrogen-Oxygen MIRACLES natural organic crystals • Save plants from waiting while IN EACH trying to make them W. Atlee Burpee & Co., deer flies, and other biting insects. Its in- • Unique. Nothing is “like” it. DROP! SEE TO BELIEVE–– HEALTHIER, FASTER plants www.burpee.com. gredients include five natural essential oils, BEAUTY and CROP yieldADDED TO 21 by 21 Growers

YOU CAN and it’s available as both a lotion and a spray. ORDER PINT, QUART, If biting or stinging insects do get the GALLON, Billions–PROVEN against, using their tails. The feeder comes better of you, help is at hand: Boiron’s or DRUM B A L A N C E D ORIGINAL ADDED TO in two sizes—the smaller accommodates a Bitecare, composed of three homeo- 18 FERTILIZERS, by 18 Growers standard suet cake, the larger holds two and pathic medicines, is a soothing, water- is sized to suit even pileated woodpeckers. based gel that reduces itching, burning, You can convert existing sunflower seed and swelling. Bite Blaster® from Coastal feeders into suet feeders by using Cole’s Solutions is an unscented, topical anes- ™ ™ NEARLY 1000 BOOKS, CONFERENCES, Suet Pearls or Suet Kibbles . The Pearls thetic spray containing that is RECOMMENDED BY MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, TVs, RADIOS are sunflower meats surrounded by suet available in handy pen sprayers that fit USED BY that supply birds a high-energy meal. The easily into a pocket. FIVE U.S. DEPARTMENTS TO HELP WIN WORLD WAR II OF GOVERNMENTS, STATE UNIVERSITIES, LEADING Kibbles combine suet with peanut flour Gardening, like any physical activity, THOUSANDS , BOTANICAL GARDENS, PARKS SYSTEMS U.S. STATES and CITIES IN MULTIPLE-DRUMS LOTS and dried insects and are great for warblers, has its share of minor hazards. For blisters, FLOWERING PLANTS SHOW WINNERS – “everywhere” HEALTHY, TOXICS-FREE FOODS GROWERS woodpeckers, bluebirds, and nuthatches. scrapes, burns, and UNIQUE. Far easier plant success Both can be offered alone in your feeder or cuts, I like to dab mixed with seed. on All Good Goop™ from Ele- Solar Sipper mental Herbs. It’s an organic infu- sion of herbs and oil. The soothing, petroleum-free oint- ment is mild enough to use on chapped lips. And if sore muscles bother you after a hard day of hoeing, try Herbal Cool™, also from Elemental Herbs. Made with

11 XMAS TREES 17 HYDROSEEDING 22 compounds derived from arnica, it pro- 12 REFORESTATION 18 LANDSCAPING COMPETITIONS 13 19 PROPAGATION 23 INTERIORSCAPING vides temporary relief of muscle pain. 14 FIELD CROPS 20 ANTI-EROSION 24 CUT FLOWERS 15 BONSAI 21 ENVIRONMENTAL 25 WEATHER DAMAGE For cleaning up after working in the 16 TISSUE CULTURE IMPROVEMENT 26 WATER GARDENS garden, All Terrain’s Wonder Wash™, a AT CONSCIENTIOUS PLANT DEALERS WORLDWIDE To provide birds a drink when temper- concentrated liquid soap, is powerful on Used, tipped to, and supplied by thousands of conscientious plant-selling firms. On every continent, without salesmen. atures dip, try Duncraft’s Solar Sipper, a dirt but easy on your skin. And its re- REFUSE “just as good,” false, cheaply made, bright red insulated bowl with a black plas- freshing peppermint scent helps end a unbalancing substitutes – often 991/2% water. tic cover that absorbs and holds the sun’s day of weeding, raking, or digging on NOTHING IS AT ALL “LIKE” heat. It’s important to locate it in full sun, just the right note. 50 VITAMINS-HORMONES V where it will prevent a full bowl of water Made in U.S.A. by VITAMIN INSTITUTE I from freezing, even when temperatures dip Rita Pelczar is a contributing editor for The 12610 Saticoy Street South, North Hollywood, CA 91605 to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The cover American Gardener. Website www.superthrive.com

November / December 2010 51 BOOKC REVIEWS

Recommendations for Your Gardening Library

From Art to Landscape Gardening for a Lifetime W. Gary Smith. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2010. 300 pages. Sydney Eddison. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2010. 204 pages. Publisher’s price: hardcover, $39.95. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $19.95.

MOST GARDEN designers consider themselves artists of sorts, WE ALL HAVE faced, or will face, a time when our ability to do creating sweeping vistas, perhaps, or small portraits around a the strenuous work in our gardens diminishes. I did earlier this patio using a palette of plants. In the year after three surgeries due to broken view of landscape designer W. Gary bones. In retrospect, Sydney Eddison’s Gar- Smith, those who employ the tech- dening for a Lifetime would have provided niques of painters, sculptors, poets, me some useful perspective during that peri- and dancers end up with the most cre- od. It’s an intuitive primer on “how to gar- ative designs. den wiser as you grow older.” Essentially it’s In his new book, From Art to Land- about easing the workload without losing the scape, Smith explains how to find inspi- beauty and gratification of environments we ration in art and explores the tools that spend years creating, while “trying to hang can awaken the imagination. Smith’s ob- on to something we love,” writes Eddison. jective is to explain how to collaborate with nature in an artistic When age crept up on Eddison, the award-winning writer, gar- and meaningful way. As he says in the introduction, “The garden dener, and lecturer realized that, like the 1950s Johnny Mercer song is where landscape and art can come together most potently, where says: “Something’s gotta give.” When it became obvious her gar- people can find the deepest connections with the living world.” den was too much to handle, even with help, she knew it was time First, Smith guides the reader through various techniques to to rethink things. This poignant and practical book draws upon foster a dialog with one’s own style in order to make “personal- the wisdom she accumulated during nearly 50 years of gardening. ly meaningful gardens.” He encourages consideration of basic The book begins with a look back at Eddison’s own garden in shapes like circles, triangles, squares, and cubes and the mosa- Connecticut and how it ended up being more than she could ic patterns they might form on the forest floor; he suggests mak- manage. In subsequent chapters, she reflects on how she went ing collages and sketching from nature in order to find “a sense about solving this dilemma and the lessons learned along the way. of place.” For example, to design a children’s garden in New Finely rendered pen-and-ink illustrations by Kimberly Day Proc- York, Smith took photographs of neighborhood architectural tor enhance the author’s lyrical prose. Each chapter ends with a details to help him understand the city’s public spaces. section titled “Gleanings,” which sums up strategies and tech- Smith also illustrates how motifs from paintings, dance, and niques that reduce garden tasks. For instance, Eddison points out other artistic media can influence . An English that the good news about shady areas is that they are easier to garden border, for instance, might draw inspiration from an im- maintain because less light means fewer weeds and “there are rel- pressionistic painter; spatial relationships within a garden might atively few prima donnas among the shade-tolerant plants.” be organized as in a dance; a lush and dramatic Eddison’s advice also includes substituting shrubs for work- might be patterned after an abstract work of art. intensive perennials and accepting imperfection. Mulch goes a In the second section of the book, Smith reveals how all of these long way as camouflage, she notes. Another strategy is em- techniques come together in actual projects such as Peirce’s Woods bracing miniature landscapes and containers such as bonsai and at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania, Naples Botanical Garden trough gardens. Above all, she emphasizes making the most of in Florida, and Garden in the Woods in Massachusetts. what you have left, both in terms of “the resources you still have The book is an invaluable guide for designers of any type, at your command” and in the garden. and, as Smith puts it, “If you allow yourself the freedom to While aging gardeners will appreciate this book, it will also think like an artist, you will not only be amazed at the results appeal to those who are short on time due to career and fam- but also find yourself creating gardens—and more—beyond ily obligations. what you could have imagined.” —Doreen Howard —Jane Berger Doreen Howard is an award-winning author of four books. Her new Jane Berger is a landscape designer based in Washington, D.C. and the book, Heirloom Vegetables, Herbs, and Fruits: Savoring the Rich publisher of www.gardendesignonline.com. Flavor of the Past, will be released in March by Cool Springs Press.

52 the American Gardener The World of Trees Hugh Johnson. University of California Press, Berkeley, California, 2010. 400 pages. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $34.95.

Bark Cédric Pollet. Frances Lincoln, London, England, 2010. 192 pages. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $45.

JUST WHEN YOU thought your woody plant library was complete, along come two new books to prove you wrong: The World of Trees by Hugh Johnson and Bark by Cédric Pollet. Originally published in 1973, The World of Trees has been ex- tensively revised based on the author’s additional 37 years of ex- perience with trees. Johnson’s aim is to “make vivid through words and pictures the essential differences between the great groups of trees, to tell their story, and then go on to enjoy the pleasures of their subtly, elaborately, almost endlessly vary- ing designs—the species and varieties from all over the temperate world.” The book certainly does all of this, while also offering practical tips for selecting, plant- ing, and maintaining trees in the landscape. The first section of the book provides general information on how trees grow, the life cycle of trees, their classification, and mor- phological characteristics. Next comes a compendium of more than 600 taxa of trees, divided into conifers and broadleaves. Beautiful color photographs, including portraits and landscape scenes, grace every page. The last section includes a guide to choosing trees for the landscape and a chart comparing the orna- mental traits of trees throughout the seasons. The index is exten- sive, and there is also a separate index of tree species. As its subtitle, An Intimate Look at the World’s Trees, implies, Bark gets even more up close and personal with trees. After spending more than a decade taking thousands of photographs of plants all over the world, author and photograph- er Cédric Pollet showcases more than 400 of the most spectacular images comprising some 200 taxa. Each of the close-up images of bark is a work of art, offering “a great diversity of textures and an exquisite range of natural colours, as good as any rainbow.” Pollet also includes images of the trees in their natural habitat. For some trees, such as , stunning montages illustrate the amazing bark variations within a . The images are accompanied by brief passages about the species, origins, uses, habitat, and specific lo- cations of these majestic beauties. Both Pollet and Johnson clearly have an infectious passion for trees, and their books are must-haves for any tree lover. —Vincent A. Simeone

The director of Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park in Oyster Bay, New York, Vincent A. Simeone is the author of four books on woody plants.

November / December 2010 53 GIFTS FORC THE GARDENER

The season of giving is the perfect time to share the joy of gardening with everyone on your gift list. Here are some ideas that are sure to be appreciated for years to come.

Floating Rain Gauge The perfect combination of beauty and functionality, this rain gauge features a blue inner tube that floats upward as rainwater gathers in the solid copper tube. Available for $39.95 from Gardener’s Supply. (888) 833-1412. www.gardeners.com. Homegrown Harvest Hot off the press, the American Horticultural Society’s Homegrown Harvest is the perfect season-by-season guide to creating a sustainable kitchen garden. It is lavishly illustrated and suited to green thumbs of every shade. Available for $32.50 through www.ahs.org.

Momentum™ Reel Mower Save the planet without sacrificing convenience with this ergonomic mower. This precision instrument is not only easier to push than other reel mowers, but also easier to adjust and maneuver and requires no annual sharpening. Available for $249.99 from Fiskars. (866) 348-5661. www2.fiskars.com.

Rhododendron Earrings These elegant sterling silver earrings feature fine prints of rhododendron flowers displayed behind crystal cabochons. Dangling from French hooks and accented with Czech glass peridot beads, they measure 11/2 inches in length. Available for $52 from Joy Newton Designs. (860) 653-8218. www.joynewtondesigns.com.

54 the American Gardener TOP COURTESY OF LEE VALLEY TOOLS Society. Listedpricesare subjecttochange. Products profiledarechosen basedonqualitiessuchasinnovativedesign, horticulturalutility,andenvironmentalresponsibility; theyhavenotnecessarily been testedbytheAmericanHorticultural www.eeboo.com Available for$18fromeeBoo.(212)222-0823. all whilelearningthenamesofimportantplants. as youtraveltoeachvendorortradewithafriend, Gather aflower,vegetable,andmoreforyourgarden with soy-basedink—isfunfortheentirefamily. board game—madefromrecycledpaperandprinted For childrenortheyoungatheart,thiseco-friendly Gathering aGarden . www.leevalley.com. size—available for$8.40fromLeeValleyTools.(800)871-8158. $5.70, and$6,respectively.Setofthreecrowns—oneeach four-, five-,andsix-inchblossomcrownsareavailablefor$5.20, wire floralarrangerthataccommodatesstemsofallsizes.Pairs Display fresh-cutflowerslikeaprofessionalfloristwiththispliable Flexible BlossomCrown from CleanAirGardening.(888) 439-9101. protects thebamboofrommoisture.Availablefor$39.99 minimize odors.Aplasticlinermakesiteasytoemptyand sustainable bambooandincludesdualcharcoalfiltersto www.cleanairgardening.com With a3 Bamboo CompostPail 1 / 4 Garden Boots quart capacity,thiscompostpailismadefrom www.bogsfootwear.com for $92.(800)201-2070. colors andpatternsfromBogsFootwear any weather.Availableinavarietyof rubber bootskeepfeetwarmanddryin comfortable! Theselinedwaterproof Gardening withstyleneverfeltmore . November /December2010 . 55 REGIONALC HAPPENINGS

Horticultural Events from Around the Country

NORTHEAST Flower and garden shows that offer free or Des Moines, Iowa. (515) 323-6294. CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT discounted admission to AHS members or www.botanicalcenter.com. RAP NOV. 20. Tree Walk. Guided tour. present AHS awards are designated by a k Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Brooklyn, New York. symbol. For details on the specific benefits RAP DEC. 4–31. Olbrich’s Holiday Express: (718) 623-7200. www.bbg.org. Flower and Model Train Show. Olbrich offered, visit www.ahs.org/events/index.htm Botanical Gardens. Madison, Wisconsin. and click on “Flower and Home and Garden RAP DEC. 1. Redesign Your Existing Gar- (608) 246-4550. www.olbrich.org. den. Class. New York Botanical Garden. Shows.” New Canaan Nature Center. Bronx, New RAP DEC. 30. Guided Garden Stroll. York. (718) 817-8616. www.nybg.org. Events hosted by botanical gardens and Foellinger-Freimann Botanical Conservatory. arboreta that participate in AHS’s Reciprocal Fort Wayne, Indiana. (260) 427-6440. RAP DEC. 4. Holiday Bazaar at Merryspring. Admissions Program are identified with the www.botanicalconservatory.org. Plant and wreaths for sale. Merryspring RAP symbol. Current AHS members showing Nature Center. Camden, Maine. a valid membership card are eligible for free or yLooking ahead (207) 236-2239. www.merryspring.org. discounted admission to the garden or other JAN. 21–30. Cleveland Home & Garden Show. Cleveland, Ohio. (800) 600-0307. benefits. Special events may not be included; RAP DEC. 4. Introduction to Winter Tree www.homeandflower.com. Identification. Class. Arnold Arboretum. contact the host site for details or visit Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. (508) 877- www.ahs.org/events/reciprocal_events.htm. SOUTH CENTRAL 7630. www.arboretum.harvard.edu. AR, KS, LA, MO, MS, OK, TX

Looking ahead Show. Baltimore Convention Center. RAP NOV. 26–DEC. 18. Illuminations. Holiday RAP JAN. 16. Borrowed Landscapes: Baltimore, Maryland. (800) 431-0066. lights display. Botanica Wichita. Wichita, Learning from Wild Places. Class. www.mants.com. Kansas. (316) 264-0448. www.botanica.org. New England Wild Flower Society. Garden in the Woods. Framingham, RAP NOV. 27. Savoring the Herbal Harvest. SOUTHEAST Massachusetts. (508) 877-7630. Tour. San Antonio Botanical Garden. AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN www.newenglandwild.org. San Antonio, Texas. (210) 207-3250. RAP THROUGH JAN. 2. Chocolate: Seed to www.sabot.org. Sweet. Exhibition. Atlanta Botanical Garden. MID-ATLANTIC Atlanta, Georgia. (404) 876-5859. RAP DEC. 3. Growing Orchids at Home, PA, NJ, VA, MD, DE, WV, DC www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org. Part I. Lecture and demonstration. NOV. 25–JAN. 2. Season’s Greenings. Exhibit. Powell Gardens. Kingsville, Missouri. U.S. Botanic Garden. Washington, D.C. NOV. 19–JAN. 2. Orchid Fever. Exhibit. Ten- (816) 697-2600. www.powellgardens.org. (202) 225-8333. www.usbg.gov. nessee Aquarium. Chattanooga, Tennessee. (423) 265-0695. www.tnaqua.org. RAP DEC. 7. A Wonderful Winter Garden. NOV. 26–JAN. 9. Winter Flower Show. Holiday Class. Missouri Botanical Garden. St. Louis, display. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical NOV. 26–DEC. 31. Magic Christmas in Lights. Missouri. (314) 577-5140. www.mobot.org. Gardens. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (412) Bellingrath Gardens and Home. Theodore, 622-6914. www.phipps.conservatory.org. Alabama. (251) 973-2217. SOUTHWEST www.bellingrath.org. AZ, NM, CO, UT RAP NOV. 26–JAN. 10. GardenFest of Lights. Holiday display. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gar- DEC. 4. Wreath-making Workshop. NOV. 27–DEC. 30. River of Lights. den. Richmond, Virginia. (804) 262-9887. Callaway Gardens. Pine Mountain Ridge. Holiday lights display. Rio Grande Botanic www.lewisginter.org. Pine Mountain, Georgia. (706) 663-5187. Garden. Albuquerque, New Mexico. www.callawaygardens.com. (505) 764-6200. www.cabq.gov/biopark. RAP DEC. 4. Winter Wreaths. Workshop. Green Spring Gardens. Alexandria, Virginia. RAP DEC. 3–JAN. 2. Blossoms of NORTH CENTRAL (703) 642-5173. www.greenspring.org. Light–Lighting Up the City. Light display. IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI Denver Botanic Gardens at York Street. RAP DEC. 11. Conifers and the Winter RAP NOV. 27 & 28. Winding Down for Gateway, Colorado. (720) 865-3653. Garden. Garden walk. Winterthur Museum Winter. Educational program. Children’s www.botanicgardens.org. & Country Estate. Winterthur, Delaware. Garden. Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois. (800) 448-3883. www.winterthur.org. (630) 725-2103. www.mortonarb.org. Looking ahead y JAN. 14–16. Maricopa County Home & Looking ahead RAP NOV. 30. Toddler Time. Garden story Garden Show. Phoenix, Arizona. (602) 485- JAN. 5–7. The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade and music. Des Moines Botanical Center. 1691. www.maricopacountyhomeshows.com.

56 the American Gardener WEST COAST CA, NV, HI Fairchild Festival Draws Chocoholics RAP NOV. 20. Acorn Festival. Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden. Claremont, California. COMBINE A GARDEN with chocolate and what do you get? The 5th Annual In- (909) 625-8767. www.rsabg.org. ternational Chocolate Festival, taking place from January 21 to 23 at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Coral Gables, Florida. RAP NOV. 21. African Violet Lecture. South Coast Botanic Garden Foundation. Palos The Chocolate Festival includes cooking demonstrations from Miami’s premier Verdes Peninsula, California. (310) 544- chefs and lectures on a variety of chocolate-themed topics, including how to grow 1948. www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org. your own cacao tree, Theobroma cacao. Festival goers also can expect mouthwatering chocolate samples, world-class RAP DEC. 3–5. Cactus and Succulent Show and Sale. Fullerton Arboretum. chocolate vendors, and fun family activities. Fullerton, California. (657) 278-4010. “We’re most proud of the educational component,” www.fullertonarboretum.org. says Fairchild Publicist Paula Fernandez. “Learning where chocolate comes from—that it doesn’t just start out all DEC. 9. Holiday Greens & Floral. Demonstra- pretty and packaged and tasting the way it does—allows tion. Southern California Horticultural Society. Los Angeles, California. people to appreciate it more.” And appreciation seems in- (818) 567-1496. www.socalhort.org. evitable as guests tour Fairchild’s Rainforest during the Chocowalk to learn about the habitat, seasonal changes, DEC. 10 & 11. Annual South Bay Botanic Cacao beans and natural history of the cacao plant. Inspired gardeners Garden Holiday of Lights. South Bay can even purchase their own cacao tree. The festival also Botanic Garden. Chula Vista, California. (619) 421-6700 ext. 5371. features interactive demonstrations for kids that range from lectures filled with amus- www.southbaybotanicgarden.org. ing chocolate facts to lessons on how to make chocolate. AHS members showing a current membership card receive free admission to NORTHWEST the Chocolate Festival as part of the AHS Reciprocal Admissions Program. For AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY more information, visit www.fairchildgarden.org or call (305) 667-1651.

RAP NOV. 25–JAN. 9. Winter Garden aGlow. Holiday lights display. Idaho Botanical Garden. Boise, Idaho. (208) 343-8649. Rutherford Conservatory Opens www.idahobotanicalgarden.org. SPOTTING A TROPICAL FLOWER in the Pacific Northwest might sound like DEC. 5. Festive Holiday Wreath Workshop. climate change gone awry, but thanks to the Rhododendron Species Botanical Gar- Kruckeberg Botanic Garden. Shoreline, den (RSBG) in Federal Way, Washington, this is now possible without drastic changes Washington. (206) 546-1281. www.kruckeberg.org. to global weather patterns. On September 25, the garden celebrated the grand opening of its RAP DEC. 11 & 12. Gifts & Greens Galore. Rutherford Conservatory, which is devoted to Holiday sale. The Arboretum Foundation. tropical rhododendrons in the subgenus Vireya. Washington Park Arboretum. Seattle, Named after Francis C. Rutherford, a RSBG Washington. (206) 325-4510. www.arboretumfoundation.org. lifetime member, it is the first public conserva- tory built on the West Coast in recent history. Looking ahead However, it’s the plants in the conservatory that JAN. 12. Gardening Where We Live: A Pacific the garden is most excited about. “They bloom Northwest Convergence. Lecture. Northwest during times of the year when most people don’t Horticultural Society. Center for . Seattle, Washington. typically think to visit us,” says Shara Smith, as- (206) 527-1794. www.northwesthort.org. sistant director of RSBG, “giving us year-round Rhododendron stenophyllum color.” Visitors in November and December y JAN. 26–30. Tacoma Home & Garden can see several species in bloom, including orange-flowered Rhododendron stenophyl- Show. Tacoma . Tacoma, Washington. lum, among others. The conservatory also displays other species of rhododendrons, (253) 756-2121. www.otshows.com. ferns, and orchids, and features rock sculptures, a waterfall, and an outdoor terrace. First opened to the public in 1980, the RSBG is home to one of the world’s CANADA largest collections of rhododendrons and azaleas. With more than 550 species in RAP NOV. 24. Holiday Wreaths Workshop. total, the garden focuses on wild varieties, including rhododendrons that are na- Toronto Botanical Garden. Toronto, Ontario. tive only to the remote areas of Nepal and China. (416) 397-1340. www.torontobotanical garden.ca. For more information about the conservatory and the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, visit www.rhodygarden.org or call (253) 838-4646. DEC. 3–21. Milner Christmas Magic. Holiday display. Milner Gardens & Woodland. —Patrick Morgan, Editorial Intern Qualicum Beach, British Columbia. (250) 752-6153. www.milnergardens.org. TOP: COURTESY OF FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN. BOTTOM: RHODODENDRON SPECIES BOTANICAL GARDEN

November / December 2010 57 PRONUNCIATIONSC AND PLANTING ZONES

Most of the cultivated plants described in this issue are listed here with their pronunciations, USDA Plant Hardiness Zones, and AHS Plant Heat Zones. These zones suggest a range of locations where temperatures are appropriate—both in winter and sum- mer—for growing each plant. While the zones are a good place to start in determining plant adaptability in your region, factors such as exposure, moisture, snow cover, and humidity also play an important role in plant survival. The zones tend to be conservative; plants may grow outside the ranges indicated. A USDA zone rating of 0–0 means that the plant is a true annual and completes its life cycle in a year or less.

A–D E. versicolor var. sulphureum E. vur-SIK-uh-lur Phlox subulata FLOKS sub-yew-LAY-tuh var. suhl-FEW-ree-um (5–9, 9–4) (3–8, 8–10) Abies nordmanniana AY-beez nord-man-ee-AY- Eranthis hyemalis ee-RAN-thiss hy-ih-MAL-iss Phyllostachys aureosulcata fil-lo-STAY-kiss nuh (USDA Zones 4–6, AHS Heat Zones 6–4) (4–9, 9–1) aw-ree-o-sul-KAY-tuh (5–11, 12–3) Aconitum carmichaelii ak-o-NY-tum Euphorbia amygdaloides yew-FOR-bee-uh Picea abies PY-see-uh AY-beez (3–8, 8–1) car-my-KAY-lee-eye (3–8, 8–3) uh-mig-duh-LOY-deez (6–9, 9–2) P. orientalis P. aw-ree-en-TAL-iss (5–8, 8–5) Acorus gramineus AK-or-us grah-MIN-ee-us E. dulcis E. DUL-siss (4–9, 9–4) P. pungens P. PUN-jenz (2–8, 8–1) (6–9, 9–5) Festuca idahoensis fes-TEW-kuh Pinus flexilis PY-nus FLEKS-ih-lihs (3–7, 7–1) Alchemilla mollis al-kem-ILL-uh MOLL-iss eye-duh-ho-EN-siss (3–8, 8–1) P. mugo P. MYEW-go (3–7, 7–1) (4–7, 7–1) Fragaria virginiana frah-GAY-ree-uh vir-jin-ee- P. parviflora P. par-vih-FLOR-uh (6–9, 9–6) Anthriscus sylvestris an-THRIS-kus sil-VES-triss AN-uh (5–8, 8–4) P. virginiana P. vir-jin-ee-AN-uh (5–10, 10–1) (7–10, 10–1) Gaultheria mucronata gawl-THEER-ee-uh Podophyllum peltatum pah-doh-FIL-lum Arabis procurrens AIR-uh-biss pro-KUR-renz moo-kro-NAY-tuh (8–9, 9–8) pel-TAY-tum (3–9, 8–2) (3–7, 8–1) G. procumbens G. pro-KUM-benz (3–8, 8–1) Prunus maritima PROO-nus muh-RIT-ih-muh Arum italicum AIR-um ih-TAL-ih-kum (6–9, 9–3) G. shallon G. SHAL-lon (6–8, 8–6) (3–6, 6–1) Asarum europaeum uh-SAR-um yew-ro-PEE-um Geranium macrorrhizum juh-RAY-nee-um (4–8, 8–1) mak-ro-RHY-zum (4–8, 8–1) S-Z Asimina triloba uh-SIH-mih-nuh try-LO-buh Helleborus foetidus hel-eh-BOR-us FEE-tih-dus (4–8, 9–5) Sanguinaria canadensis san-gwi-NAIR-ee-uh (6–9, 9–6) Aster ✕frikartii ASS-ter frih-KAR-tee-eye kan-uh-DEN-siss (3–9, 9–1) H. ✕hybridus H. HY-bri-dus (6–9, 9–6) (5–8, 8–1) Shortia galacifolia SHOR-tee-uh Hibiscus coccineus hy-BISS-kus kok-SIN-ee-us Betula nigra BET-yew-luh NY-gruh (4–9, 9–1) guh-lah-sih-FO-lee-uh (6–9, 9–6) (6–11, 12–6) Carex elata CAIR-eks eh-LAY-tuh (5–9, 9–3) Stachys byzantina STAY-kiss bih-zan-TY-nuh Ilex verticillata EYE-leks vur-tih-sih-LAY-tuh Cedrus atlantica SEED-rus at-LAN-tih-kuh (4–8, 8–1) (5–8, 8–5) (6–9, 9–6) S. lavandulifolia S. lah-van-dyew-lih-FO-lee-uh Iris tectorum EYE-riss tek-TOR-um (5–9, 9–3) C. deodara C. dee-o-DAH-ruh (7–9, 9–7) (5–7, 7–5) Juniperus scopulorum joo-NIP-er-iss Ceratostigma plumbaginoides sur-at-o-STIG-muh Symphytum grandiflorum sim-FY-tum skop-yew-LOR-um (3–7, 7–1) plum-baj-ih-NOY-deez (5–9, 9–4) gran-dih-FLOR-um (4–7, 7–1) J. virginiana J. vir-jin-ee-AN-uh (3–9, 9–1) Chamaecyparis obtusa kam-ee-SIP-uh-riss Tanacetum parthenium tan-uh-SEE-tum Lobelia cardinalis lo-BEEL-yuh kar-dih-NAL-iss ahb-TOO-suh (4–8, 8–1) par-THEE-nee-um (4–9, 9–1) (2–8, 8–1) C. pisifera C. pih-SIF-ur-uh (4–8, 8–1) Theobroma cacao thee-o-BRO-muh kuh-KAY-o Lysimachia nummularia liss-ih-MAHK-ee-uh Chasmanthium latifolium chas-MAN-thee-um (minimum 60º F, 12–11) noom-yew-LAIR-ee-uh (4–8, 8–1) lat-ih-FO-lee-um (5–9, 9–5) Thuja orientalis THEW-yuh aw-ree-en-TAL-iss Chrysogonum virginianum krih-SOG-on-um (6–9, 9–6) M–R vur-jin-ee-AN-um (5–9, 9–2) Tulbaghia violacea tull-BAG-ee-uh Cryptomeria japonica krip-toh-MAIR-ee-uh MAY-zus REP-tanz (4–8, 8–1) vy-o-LAY-see-uh (7–10, 10–7) jah-PON-ih-kuh (6–9, 9–4) Mertensia virginica mur-TEN-see-uh Vaccinium deliciosum vak-SIN-ee-um Cyclamen hederifolium SY-kluh-men vir-JIN-ih-kuh (3–7, 7–1) deh-lih-see-O-sum (4–8, 8–4) hed-er-ih-FO-lee-um (5–7, 9–7) Metasequoia glyptostroboides met-uh-suh- V. myrtillus V. meer-TIL-us (5–7, 7–5) Delosperma ashtonii del-o-SPER-muh KWOY-uh glip-toh-stro-BOY-deez (5–10, 10–1) Veronica oltensis ver-ON-ih-kuh ol-TEN-sis ash-TONE-ee-eye (6–9, 9–6) Mitchella repens mih-CHEL-luh REP-enz (4–9, 9–4) Digitalis lutea dih-jih-TAL-iss LEW-tee-uh (3–9, 9–1) V. pectinata V. pek-tih-NAY-tuh (2–7, 7–1) (3–8, 8–1) Muhlenbergia dubia mew-len-BUR-jee-uh Yucca harrimaniae YUK-uh har-ih-MAN-ee-ee Diospyros virginiana dy-OS-pih-ros DEW-be-uh (7–10, 10–7) (5–9, 9–5) ✕ vir-jin-ee-AN-uh (4–9, 9–1) Nepeta faassenii NEP-eh-tuh fah-SEN-ee-eye Zea mays ZEE-a MAYS (0–0, 12–1) (3–8, 8–1) E–L Pachysandra procumbens pak-ih-SAN-druh pro-KUM-benz (5–9, 9–3) Echinacea purpurea ek-ih-NAY-see-uh Parthenocissus quinquefolia par-then-o-SISS-us pur-PUR-ee-uh (3–9, 9–1) kwin-kweh-FO-lee-uh (4–9, 9–5) E. tennesseensis E. ten-uh-see-EN-sis (3–9, 9–1) Penstemon digitalis PEN-steh-mon Epimedium ✕rubrum ep-ih-ME-dee-um dih-jih-TAL-iss (3–8, 8–1) ROO-brum (4–8, 8–1)

58 the American Gardener GARDENC MARKET

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November / December 2010 59 2010C MAGAZINE INDEX

AUTHORS Lawton, Barbara Perry. A Love Stafford, Russell. Space-Saving Nonstop Garden, M/J, 22. Invit- Affair with Lavender, M/J, 16. Buckeyes, M/J, 32. ing Nature into Your Garden, Baggett, Pam. Garden Showstop- Basil Offers a World of Flavor, Sternberg, Guy. All-American S/O, 36. Plants on the Rocks, pers, J/A, 16. M/J, 44. Oaks, J/F, 20. Appreciation: J/F, 34. Rainscaping, J/A, 37. Brine, Duncan. Inviting Nature Monheim, Eva. Cyrilla racemiflora: Jim Wilson, S/O, 50. Taking Cues from Nature, M/J, into Your Garden, S/O, 36. A Southern Native Adapted to Usrey, Susie and Underwood, Tom. 37. What is Wild?...and Why it Bunting, Andrew. Fall-Blooming Northern Climes, M/J, 62. Notes from River Farm, J/F, 5; Matters, J/F, 24. Shrubs, S/O, 30. Morgan, Patrick. America in M/A, 5; M/J, 5. Fruits: see under Vegetables and Bussolini, Karen. Creating a Mov- Bloom’s 2010 Award Winners, Wetherbee, Kris. Broccoli, M/A, Fruits ing Experience, J/A, 32. Plants N/D, 12. Fairchild Festival 44. Dynamic for Shade, Garden Coaches: Cultivators of on the Rocks, J/F, 34. Taking Draws Chocoholics, N/D, 57. M/A, 18. High-Rising Edibles, Confidence, J/A, 22. Cues from Nature, M/J, 37. Rutherford Conservatory Opens, J/F, 30. Rainscaping, J/A, 37. Gardening Tools and Techniques Winter Stalwarts, N/D, 37. N/D, 57. David Karp: Intrepid Summer Squash Secrets, J/A, (see also Green Garage under Calhoun, Scott. A Silver Lining for Fruit Detective, N/D, 42. 44. Garden Cleanup, Reconsid- Column Index): Rainscaping, J/A, Hot Climates: Violet Silverleaf, Neveln, Viveka. Amy P. Goldman: ered, N/D, 32. Popcorn Perfec- 37. High-Rising Edibles, J/F. J/A, 62. Heirloom Fruit and Vegetable tion, N/D, 44. 30. Garden Cleanup, Reconsid- Cohen, Stephanie and Jennifer Advocate, J/F, 44. Rissetto Wiley, Deb. Cultivators of Confi- ered, N/D, 32. Benner. Easy Design Strategies Named New AHS Board Chair, dence, J/A, 22. Helianthus: see Sunflowers. for a Nonstop Garden, M/J, 22. J/A, 15. Yee, Mary. 2010 Garden Fore- Herbs: Basil Offers a World of Creasy, Rosalind. Edible Land- Norton, Dean. ‘Justin Brouwers’ cast, J/F, 14. Buddy Lee: En- Flavor, M/J, 44. A Love Affair scaping for Small Spaces, N/D, Boxwood, J/F, 62. core Azalea Breeder, S/O, 42. with Lavender, M/J, 16. 14. O’Sullivan, Penelope. Covering David Creech: Saving Southern Insects: Making Space for Garden Darke, Rick. What is Wild?...and Ground with Conifers, M/A, 30. Natives, M/J, 42. Teresia Hazen: Spiders, J/F, 39. Why it Matters, J/F, 24. Ottesen, Carole. Carefree Moss, Helping Patients Recover Lavandula: see Lavenders. Evans, Gwyneth. Tour Participants N/D, 20. Prophet of the Prairie, through Gardening, J/A, 42. Lavenders: A Love Affair with Enjoy Hudson Valley’s Autumn S/O, 24. Lavender, M/J, 16. Glory, J/F, 12. Endangered Pelczar, Rita. Green Garage: Start- Moss: Carefree Moss, N/D, 20. Plant Exhibit in Chicago, J/F, SUBJECT ing Seeds Indoors, J/F, 50; Gar- Native Plants: Agaves for Small 57. Golden Anniversary for den Gloves, M/A, 50; Tech- Aesculus: see Buckeyes. Gardens, M/A, 36. All-American Cheekwood, J/F, 57. Steven niques for Controlling Garden AHS Awards: 2010 AHS Book Oaks, J/F, 20. Baptisias, M/A, Still: Mentoring a Love for Pests, M/J, 52; Improving Water Award Winners, M/A, 17; 2010 24. Cyrilla racemiflora, M/J, 62. Perennials, M/A, 42. Efficiency in the Garden, J/A, Great American Gardeners Na- David Creech: Saving Southern Flogel, Krystal. Brooklyn Botanic 51; Safe Storage and Disposal tional Award Winners, M/A, 14; Natives, M/J, 42. Mountain Garden Celebrates Centennial, of Garden Pesticides, S/O, 52; A National Achievements Recog- Fringe Vine, M/A, 62. Prophet of M/J, 57. Children and Nature: Miscellany of Useful Garden nized at AHS Awards Ceremony, the Prairie, S/O, 24. Plants on Restoring the Connection, M/J, Helpers, N/D, 50. Outstanding J/A, 9. the Rocks, J/F, 34. Sensational 12. Celebrating 20 Years of Conifers, N/D, 26. Sensational Agaves: Agaves for Small Sunflowers, J/A, 28. Violet Sil- Green Prints, M/J, 50. Cylburn Sunflowers, J/A, 28. Gardens, M/A, 36. verleaf, J/A, 62. What is Arboretum Announces Grand Pleasant, Barbara. Shiitake Annuals and Tender Perennials: Wild?...and Why it Matters, J/F, Opening of the New Vollmer Mushrooms, J/F, 42. Garden Forecast, 2010, J/F, 14. 25. Center, M/A, 57. Lilytopia at Reich, Lee. The Pleasure of Garden Showstoppers, J/A, 16. New Plants: Garden Forecast, Longwood Gardens, M/A, 57. Persimmons, S/O, 44. Sensational Sunflowers, J/A, 28. 2010, J/F, 14. National Public Gardens Day, Rissetto, Harry and Underwood, Tom. Baptisias: American Beauties: Oaks: All-American Oaks, J/F, 20. M/A, 58. Pomona to Host 2010 Notes from River Farm, J/A, 5; Baptisias, M/A, 24. People: David Creech, M/J, 42. Festival of Fruit, M/J, 59. S/O, 5; N/D, 5. Buckeyes: Space-Saving Buck- Cultivators of Confidence, J/A, Gilsenan, Fiona. Gaultheria’s Berry Ross, Marty. Collected Treasures, eyes, M/J, 32. 22. Neil Diboll, S/O, 24. Amy P. Appeal, N/D, 62. M/J, 26. Children and Youth Gardening: Chil- Goldman, J/F, 44. Teresia Hawke, Richard. American Beau- Soeder, Meredith. Arizona High- dren and Nature: Restoring the Hazen, J/A, 42. David Karp, ties: Baptisias, M/A, 24. Sizing lands Garden Conference Ad- Connection, M/J, 12. 2010 N/D, 42. Buddy Lee, S/O, 42. up Stonecrops, S/O, 18. dresses Sustainability, J/A, 59. Growing Good Kids Book Award Jim Murrain and Jim Waddick, Hill, Bob. Season-Spanning Energizing the Learning Environ- Winners, S/O, 9. Energizing the M/J, 26. Harry A. Rissetto, J/A, Beauty: Acer triflorum, S/O, 62. ment, S/O, 14. New Visitor Cen- Learning Environment, S/O, 14. 15. Steven Still, M/A, 42. Larry Irish, Mary. Agaves for Small ter Opens at Bayou Bend Gar- Conifers: Covering Ground with Weaner, M/J, 37. Jim Wilson, Gardens, M/A, 36. dens, S/O, 57. Food and Garden Conifers, M/A, 30. Outstanding S/O, 50. Johnson, Kathryn Lund. Making Festival Debuts in Cleveland, Conifers, N/D, 26. Perennials: 2010 Garden Fore- Space for Garden Spiders, J/F, J/A, 58. Planting Fields Arbore- Design: Creating a Moving Experi- cast, M/A, 16. American Beau- 39. tum Reopens Historic Italian ence, J/A, 32. Edible Landscap- ties: Baptisias, M/A, 24. Dynam- Joyce, Alice. Mountain Fringe Garden, S/O, 57. ing for Small Spaces, N/D, 14. ic Duets for Shade, M/A, 18. Vine, M/A, 62. Easy Design Strategies for a Sensational Sunflowers, J/A, 28.

60 the American Gardener Sizing up Stonecrops, S/O, 18. Edible Heirlooms, 55. Great Gar- search Center Turns 100, 46. Fest, 9. Homestead Resort’s “In Winter Stalwarts, N/D, 37. dens of America, 54. Regional N/D: 2010 American Garden the Garden” Symposium, 9. Liv- Quercus: see Oaks. Gardening Books, 56. Succulent Award Winners, 49. Brainy Bac- ing Retaining Wall at River Farm, Rainscaping: Rainscaping, J/A, 37. Container Gardens, 54. J/A: teria, 46. Latest Buzz on Cause 13. National Achievements Rec- Sedums: Sizing up Stonecrops, Chlorophyll in His Veins, 54. Cli- of Colony Collapse Disorder, 47. ognized at AHS Awards Ceremo- S/O, 18. mate Conscious Gardener, 55. Ed- Park Seed Company Sold, 49. ny, 9. Online Auction, 8. Volun- Shade: Dynamic Duets for Shade, ible Gardening, 56. Garden Bou- State of the World’s Plant Diver- teers from AOL, 10. 2010. S/O: M/A, 18. quets and Beyond, 55. Hybrid, sity, 46. Turning Gray to Green 2010 Growing Good Kids Book Small Gardens: Agaves for Small 55. Urban and Suburban Mead- in San Francisco, 46. USDA Award Winners, 9. AHS Publish- Gardens, M/A, 36. Edible Land- ows, 54. S/O: Armitage’s Vines Funds School Garden Program, es New Seasonal Guide to Grow- scaping for Small Spaces, N/D, and Climbers, 55. How to Grow a 48. ing Edibles, 8. Armitage Webinar 14. Space-Saving Buckeyes, School Garden, 56. Japanese Green Garage: Garden Gloves, on Native Perennials, 10, Gar- M/J, 32. Maples, 55. Kew Plant Glossary, M/A, 50. Improving Water Effi- den Center of America and AHS Sunflowers: Sensational Sunflow- 56. N/D: Bark, 53. Gardening for ciency in the Garden, J/A, 51. Forge Partnership, 8. Leadership ers, J/A, 28. a Lifetime, 52. From Art to Land- Safe Storage and Disposal of Scholarship Awarded to AHS Vegetables and Fruits: Garden Fore- scape, 52. World of Trees, 53. Garden Pesticides, S/O, 52. Staff Member, 9. New Library at cast, 2010, J/F, 14. Broccoli, Gardener’s Notebook: J/F: Award- Starting Seeds Indoors, J/F, 50. River Farm, 11. Online Auction M/A, 44. Edible Landscaping for Winning Plants for 2010, 46. Techniques for Controlling Gar- Opens September 25, 10. N/D: Small Spaces, N/D, 14. High- Bird Seed Mixes May Contain In- den Pests, M/J, 52. A Miscellany Boston’s Garden Contest, 8. Gar- Rising Edibles, J/F. 30. Persim- vasive Weeds, 46. Gardens of Useful Garden Helpers, N/D, den Writers Association Media mons, S/O, 44. Popcorn, N/D, Alive! Acquires Thompson & 50. Awards, 10. October Webinar 44. Shiitake Mushrooms, J/F, Morgan U.S., 48. Green Thumb Homegrown Harvest: Basil Offers a Highlights, 10. Upcoming Presi- 42. Summer Squash Secrets, Challenge, 48. New Database for World of Flavor, M/J, 44. Getting dent’s Council Trip, 8. J/A, 44. Vegetable Gardens Culturally Significant Land- the Best out of Broccoli, M/A, One on One With: David Creech, Sprout on College Campuses, scapes, 47. New England Wild 44. The Pleasure of Persim- M/J, 42. Amy P. Goldman, J/F, S/O, 49. Flower Society to Create Online mons, S/O, 44. Popcorn Perfec- 44. Teresia Hazen, J/A, 42. Vines: Mountain Fringe Vine, M/A, Plant Database, 46. New Plant tion, N/D, 44. Shiitake Mush- David Karp, N/D, 42. Buddy Lee, 62. Disease Research Site at Do- rooms, J/F, 42. Summer Squash S/O, 42. Steven Still, M/A, 42. Woody Plants: 2010 Garden Fore- minican University of California, Secrets, J/A, 44. Plant in the Spotlight: Cyrilla cast, M/A, 19. All-American 49. Smithsonian’s Historic Gar- Natural Connections: Making Space racemiflora, M/J, 62. Gaultheria Oaks, M/A, 21. Boxwood: ‘Justin den Images Go Online, 47. M/A: for Garden Spiders, J/F, 39. mucronata, N/D, 62. ‘Justin Brouwers’, J/F, 62. Covering 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, News from AHS: J/F: America in Brouwers’ Boxwood, J/F, 62. Ground with Conifers, M/A, 30. 46. Berry Botanic Garden to Bloom Competition 2010, 9. An- Mountain Fringe Vine (Adlumia Cyrilla racemiflora: A Southern Close, 49. Bumble Bee Popula- nual Garden Photography Con- fungosa), M/A, 62. Acer triflorum, Native Adapted to Northern tions Declining, 47. Coneflower test, 9. Colonial Williamsburg S/O, 62. Violet Silverleaf Climes, M/J, 62. Fall-Blooming Evaluation Results, 46. Great Garden Symposium in April, 9. (Leucophyllum candidum), J/A, Shrubs, S/O, 30. Gaultheria’s Plants® and As- Epcot International Flower and 62. Berry Appeal, N/D, 62. Out- sociation Names 2010 Plants of Garden Festival 2010, 10. Reci- Regional Happenings: J/F: Cheek- standing Conifers, N/D, 26. The the Year, 48. M/J: Chicago procal Admissions Program Cele- wood: Golden Anniversary, 57. Pleasure of Persimmons, S/O, Botanic Garden Evaluates brates 20th Anniversary, 7. Seed Endangered Plant Exhibit in 44. Season Spanning Beauty: Speedwells, 46. Edible Garden- Exchange Catalog (2010) Avail- Chicago, 57. M/A: Cylburn Ar- Acer triflorum, S/O, 62. Space- ing Trend Still Growing, 46. Ge- able Online, 8. Travel Study Pro- boretum Announces Grand Saving Buckeyes, M/J, 32. netically Modified Eucalyptus gram 2010, 8. M/A: AHS to Par- Opening of the New Vollmer Trees Raise Concern, 47. Gera- ticipate in May Garden Fest, 10. Center, 57. Lilytopia at Long- COLUMN INDEX niums May Be the Key to Con- Armitage to Host AHS Webinar wood Gardens, 57. M/J: Brooklyn AHS News Specials: AHS 2010 trolling Japanese Beetles, 48. on Vines, 8. Colonial Williams- Botanic Garden Celebrates Cen- Great American Gardeners Na- More 2010 Plant Award Win- burg Garden Symposium , 12. tennial, 57. California Rare Fruit tional Award Winners, M/A, 14. ners, 48. Year of the Heirloom Grant Funds AHS Youth Pro- Growers: Pomona to Host 2010 America in Bloom’s 2010 Award Apple, 49. J/A: Assessment of grams Internship 12. Historic Festival of Fruit, 59. J/A: Arizona Winners, N/D, 12. Children and North American Collections Un- Garden Week in Virginia,12. Highlands Garden Conference Nature: Restoring the Connec- derway, 48. Federal Court President’s Council Trip to Flori- Addresses Sustainability, 59. tion, M/J, 12. Rissetto Named Shelves Pesticide, 46. Mon- da, 10. Shop for Plants and Sup- Food and Garden Festival Debuts New AHS Board Chair, J/A, 15. tana’s First Important Plant port the AHS, 8. Spring Garden in Cleveland, 58. RIPE Cleve- Tour Participants Enjoy Hudson Area, 46. Organic Food Gardens Market, 8. Youth Garden Sympo- land Food and Garden Festival, Valley’s Autumn Glory, J/F, 12. at Corporate Headquarters, 48. sium Goes West, 9. M/J: ANLA 58. S/O: New Visitor Center Book Reviews: J/F: Best Hardy People’s Gardens on the Rise, Honors H. Marc Cathey, 11. Opens at Bayou Bend Gardens, Shrubs, 53. Explorer’s Garden, 46. Pilot Sustainability Ranking Flower Show Exhibits Honored 59. Planting Fields Arboretum 52. Hidcote, 53. Manual of System Launches, 47. Smart- with AHS Environmental Award, Reopens Historic Italian Garden, Woody Landscape Plants, 52. phone Apps for the Modern Gar- 10. Gala in September, 10. Pre- 57. N/D: Fairchild Festival Draws Problem-Solving Plants, 54. M/A: dener, 49. S/O: Clover’s Lucky scribed Burn Rejuvenates River Chocoholics, 57. Rutherford Encyclopedia of Herbs, 53. Home- Gene Discovered, 48. Genetic Farm Meadow, 8. J/A: AHS and Conservatory Opens, 57. grown Vegetables, Fruits, and Testing Resolves Geranium American Daffodil Society Col- Herbs, 52. Pruning Book, 54. Name Issue, 46. New Garden laborate on Digital Reference, 8. Index compiled by Katherine Hoffman, Vegetable Gardener’s Bible, 52. Speaker’s Bureau, 48. Save AHS Winners in Garden Club AHS Volunteer, and Patrick Morgan, What’s Wrong with My Plant?, 52. Plants with Your Mouse, 46. Photo Competition, 14. America Editorial Intern. M/J: A Clearing in the Woods, 54. World’s Largest Agricultural Re- in Bloom Symposium, 9. Garden

November / December 2010 61 62 by FionaGilsenan Gaultheria’s BerryAppeal mucronata?” garden thatwouldlookgoodinwinter, don’t suggestion.“Why hehadtheperfect you try A or asaninformalhedge. reason, it’s besttoplantthemingroups dense andangulargrowth habit. For this about fourfeetandcanhave asomewhat isespeciallystriking. fruit The combinationofpaleflowers androsy plant well into thenextseason’s flowering. berries are plump andwillremain onthe rosé, pinot noir, andburgundy.) The magenta, andmulberry. (Or, ifyou prefer, white, paleanddark pink,lilac,crimson, coloredbunches ofmarble-sized fruit white urnsgive waytogenerous pious springtimeclustersoftiny plant isitslong-lastingberries.Co- the outstandingfeature ofthis tain aglossysheenyear round— heathlike, withpricklytips,andre- fairly unremarkable—the leaves are considering. worth to ChileandArgentina,iswell 10, thistoughlittleshrub, native in USDAHardiness Zones 7to if you’re planningawintergarden winterberry (G. shallon) its cousins,Northwest native salal up ontop10listsasfrequently as cronata) mucronata Chilean winterberry, female plantsis enhanced whenmaleselec- on cious—either male orfemale—fruiting available. Because mosttypesare dioe- introduced, butonlyahandfulare readily Some 20to30namedselectionshave been SELECTIONS WORTHY Most varieties grow nolargerthan While thefoliageandformare Also known aspricklyheathor the American Gardener NY PLANT THATNY PLANT when Iaskedagardening friendwhatImightplantinasemi-shadedspotmyVancouver Island is notaplantthatshows (syn. (G. procumbens). or theEastCoast he said.“You know, theonewithBeaujolais berries.” Pernettya mu- Gaultheria But can bedescribedusingviticulturaladjectives islikelytocatchmyattention.So Gaultheria mucronata Gaultheria berries thatbrightenwintergardens. drop for includeSnowdrop Seedling’. looking Other selectionsworth a hermaphrodite variety suchas‘Bell’s mens intheground orincontainers,choose monly soldasapollinator. For singlespeci- male white-berriedselectionthatiscom- tions are planted nearby. ‘Thymifolia’ isa LN NTESPOTLIGHT THE IN PLANT www.onegreenworld.com. (877) 353-4028. One GreenWorld, 548-0111. Greer Gardens, Sources ™ . When trying tolocatesources for . Whentrying C www.greergardens.com. www.greergardens.com. Eugene, OR.(800) Molalla, OR. offers loadsofcolorful ™ and Pink Snow- Vancouver, British Columbia. Sunset Western Garden Book, Fiona Gilsenan, acontributingeditorforthe glass ofBeaujolais instead. safe, you canskiptheberriesandenjoy a color—and suffered noilleffects.But tobe salad—mostlyforthe added themtofruit plantsman Dan Hinkley saysthathehas Pacificible, ifnotflavorful. Northwest lists ofpoisonousplants,theberriesare ed- spring toreplant elsewhere orgive away. can alsodiguptheserooted suckersin are aninchortwo below You thesurface. through which the underground runners, allotted space.Iuseasharpshovel tochop ing maybeneededtokeepplantsintheir clumps over time,sojudiciousroot prun- Although canform large Chilean winterberry original genusname, and references stilllistitunderits plants, beaware thatsomenurseries ing ofsnowdrops (Galanthus winter vignettewithanunderplant- camellias, andheathers.Or create a suchasrhododendrons, shrubs conifers andwithotheracid-loving woodland arrangement,pairitwith drained, acidicsoil.In acasual growsberry bestinmoist,well- family (), Chileanwinter- As withothermembersoftheheath ANDMAINTENANCE PLANTING the baseofstem. long shoots,simplycutthemat At anytime,iftheplantsendsout to tidyuptheshrub’s appearance. mer tocutbackstragglingstems Wait untilspringorearlysum- G. mucronata Pernettya. Gaultheria shows upon lives in spp.).

MICHAEL S. THOMPSON