GARDENERGARDENER® Thethe Magazinemagazine Ofof Thethe Aamericanmerican Horticulturalhorticultural Societysociety May / June 2010
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TheThe AmericanAmerican GARDENERGARDENER® TheThe MagazineMagazine ofof thethe AAmericanmerican HorticulturalHorticultural SocietySociety May / June 2010 Space-Saving Buckeyes Ecological Landscaping Delightful, A Collector’s Garden in Kansas City Fragrant Lavender contents Volume 89, Number 3 . May / June 2010 FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 5 NOTES FROM RIVER FARM 6 MEMBERS’ FORUM 8 NEWS FROM THE AHS Prescribed meadow burn at River Farm, flower show winners of the 2010 AHS Environmental Award, nursery organization honors Dr. H. Marc Cathey. page 8 page 26 12 AHS NEWS SPECIAL Preview of the 2010 National Children & Youth Garden Symposium in California. 16 A LOVE AFFAIR WITH LAVENDER BY BARBARA PERRY LAWTON 42 ONE ON ONE WITH… Revered by ancient herbalists and cooks, lavender is a delightful David Creech: Plant conservationist. addition to modern gardens and kitchens. 44 HOMEGROWN HARVEST Grow basil for summer flavor. 22 NONSTOP GARDENS BY STEPHANIE COHEN AND JENNIFER BENNER A garden that has four-season appeal starts with a good plan and 46 GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK making disciplined choices. Survey shows interest in edible gardening still growing, best speedwells (Veronica spp.) for Midwestern gardens, genetically modified COLLECTED TREASURES BY MARTY ROSS 26 eucalyptus raises concerns, geraniums may East meets Midwest in the Kansas City garden of “the Jims,” a control Japanese beetles, food conservation couple of plant fanatics who cultivate their interest in curiosities group promotes heirloom apples. from all over the world. A challenging climate is half the fun. 52 GREEN GARAGE® Pest control in the garden. 32 SPACE-SAVING BUCKEYES BY RUSSELL STAFFORD Even if large horse chestnuts are out of scale for your garden, you 54 BOOK REVIEWS can still enjoy a number of attractive shrubs and small trees in the Succulent Container Gardens, Great Gardens genus Aesculus. of America, and A Clearing in the Woods. Special focus: Regional gardening books. 37 TAKING CUES FROM NATURE BY KAREN BUSSOLINI 56 REGIONAL HAPPENINGS Pennsylvania-based landscape designer Larry Weaner blends ecology and horticulture to create sustainable native landscapes. 60 HARDINESS AND HEAT ZONES AND PRONUNCIATIONS 62 PLANT IN THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE COVER: Lavender grows in soft, multi-colored drifts at Cedarbrook Lavender and Herb Farm Cyrilla racemiflora. LEFT: JOHN MUTRUX. RIGHT: JAMES GAGLIARDI in Sequim, Washington. Photograph by Joshua McCullough May / June 2010 3 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY “This is a book to turn to over a lifetime of garden misadventures.” Making America a Nation of Gardeners, a Land of Gardens —Dominique Browning The New York Times Board of Directors CHAIR Susie Usrey Dayton, Oregon FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN Don E. Riddle, Jr. Davidsonville, Maryland SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN Leslie Ariail Alexandria, Virginia SECRETARY Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. Falls Church, Virginia TREASURER Arnold Steiner Birmingham, Alabama Sandra Address Chevy Chase, Maryland ■ Allan M. Armitage Athens, Georgia ■ Suzanne Bales Oyster Bay, New York William E. Barrick, Ph.D. Theodore, Alabama ■ Kurt Bluemel Baldwin, Maryland ■ Amy Bolton Falls Church, Virginia Henrietta Burke Alexandria, Virginia ■ Tom Cooper Watertown, Massachusetts ■ Jane Diamantis McDonald, Tennessee Gay Estes Houston, Texas ■ Anne Garland Farrell Richmond, Virginia ■ Carole Hofley Wilson, Wyoming Margaret Kulp Louisville, Kentucky ■ Caroline Lewis Coral Gables, Florida ■ Jack Lowry Phoenix, Maryland Melissa R. Marshall Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ■ Mary Pat Matheson Atlanta, Georgia Shirley Nicolai Ft. Washington, Maryland ■ J. Landon Reeve, IV Woodbine, Maryland Holly Shimizu Glen Echo, Maryland EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tom Underwood PRESIDENT EMERITUS Katy Moss Warner President’s Council AHS New CHAIRMAN’S CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. W. Bruce Usrey LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. George Diamantis ■ Trish and Cam Gibson ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Kulp, Jr. ■ Mrs. Elizabeth Encyclopedia of Craig Weaver Proctor ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Rissetto ■ Mr. Arnold Steiner ■ Mr. and Mrs. Klaus Zech Gardening HAUPT CIRCLE Mrs. Lynda A. Bachman ■ Mrs. Susan M. Cargill ■ Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Farrell ■ Dr. and Mrs. John A. Floyd, Jr. ■ Mrs. Richard W. Hamming ■ Mrs. Carole S. Hofley ■ Dr. and Mrs. David E. Morrison ■ Mr. and Mrs. J. Landon Reeve, IV ■ Mrs. Enid N. Techniques Warner COUNCIL MEMBER’S CIRCLE Mrs. Sandra L. Address ■ Mr. and Mrs. John H. Ariail, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert Baillie ■ Mr. and Mrs. Carter Bales ■ Nancy J. Becker, M.D. ■ Mrs. Katherine Belk ■ Mrs. George P. Bissell, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. C. William Black ■ Dr. Sherran Blair ■ “You’ll find step-by-step Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Bluemel ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Bogle ■ Ms. Amy Bolton ■ Mr. and Mrs. Michael T. Bradshaw ■ Ms. Judy Daniel ■ instructions for pruning, watering, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Estes ■ Ms. Inger Fair ■ Mrs. Carolyn V. Foil ■ Ms. Marguerite Peet Foster ■ Ms. Amy Goldman ■ Mr. and Mrs. Joel propagating; information about all Goldsmith ■ Mrs. Joan Goltzman ■ Ms. LaDawn Griffin ■ Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Hanselman ■ Dr. and Mrs. William O. Hargrove ■ Mrs. Elizabeth Hooff ■ Mr. Philip Huey ■ Mrs. Carolyn M. Lindsay ■ Ms. JoAnn Luecke ■ Mr. and Mrs. Bob J. MacLean ■ Ms. Melissa categories of plants…sections on Marshall ■ Mrs. Dorothy Marston ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harold McClendon, Jr. ■ Ms. Rosalyn Milbrandt ■ Mr. and Mrs. Egon Molbak ■ Mr. organic techniques and recycling; and Mrs. James R. Moxley, Jr. ■ Mrs. Shirley Ann Nicolai ■ Mr. David D. Parrish ■ Mr. and Mrs. Albin MacDonough Plant ■ Mrs. Jeanne and how to treat pests and Otis Shields ■ Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Smith, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. William M. Spencer, III ■ Mr. Harold Stahly ■ Dr. and Mrs. Steven M. Still ■ Mr. Howard McK. Tucker and Ms. Megan Evans ■ Mr. and Mrs. Tom Underwood ■ Mr. Joe Viar ■ Ms. Angela M. Vikesland ■ Mr. disease…. Consider it a plant- and Mrs. Robert D. Volk ■ Ms. Katy Moss Warner ■ Mr. and Mrs. Dennis White ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harvey C. White ■ Mr. and Mrs. John lover’s mutual fund—a little of this W.White, Sr. ■ Ms. Jill Yates and little of that, in a dandy HONORARY PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL Ms. Louise Fruehling* ■ Mrs. Enid Haupt* ■ Mrs. John A. Lutz* ■ Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Miller* investment.” *In memoriam —Ginny Smith Philadelphia Inquirer “This is a must have for gardeners Education Sponsor OXO International and landscape designers.” —Joel M. Lerner Corporate Members The Washington Post Brent and Becky’s Bulbs ■ The Care of Trees ■ Chapel Valley Landscape Company ■ The Espoma Company ■ Furbish Company ■ Homestead Gardens ■ Kurt Bluemel, Inc. ■ Monrovia ■ MTR Landscape Architects, LLC. ■ Osmocote ■ Renee’s Garden Horticultural Partners America in Bloom Symposium & Awards Program ■ Bellingrath Gardens and Home ■ Mitchell-Beazley/Octopus Books USA Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Garden Symposium ■ Cox Arboretum MetroPark 480 pages Hardcover, $45 ■ Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival ■ The Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Clubs of America ■ The Homestead in the Garden Symposium ■ Inniswood Garden Society ■ Morris Arboretum Available wherever ■ Oklahoma Botanical Garden & Arboretum ■ Oklahoma Horticultural Society books are sold 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 USIE AND I 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA frequently attend AHS events and programs around the coun- 22308. If your magazine is lost or damaged in try. Whenever we have the opportunity, we like to talk with members about the mail, call the number above for a replace- their interest in horticulture and why they garden. While we get lots of dif- ment. Requests for membership information S and change of address notification can also be ferent answers, there are some common themes—people often tell stories of how e-mailed to [email protected]. they look forward to the exercise, satisfaction, and sense of renewal that working THE AMERICAN GARDENER To submit a letter to with plants and being outdoors offer. We also hear about fresh food, creativity, con- the editor of The American Gardener, write to cern for the environment, and time for personal reflection. Many people also value The American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard the chance to spend time and share ideas with like-minded people. Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308, or send an e-mail to [email protected]. Even though many of the stories relate to how gardening is an important element DEVELOPMENT To make a gift to the American Horticultural Society, or for information about of people’s day-to-day lives, it is remarkable a donation you have already made, call (800) how often we hear how gardening has had 777-7931 ext. 127. a profound—and sometimes life-chang- E-NEWSLETTER To sign up for our monthly ing—influence on an individual. These e-newsletter, visit www.ahs.org. encounters remind us how tremendously INTERNSHIP PROGRAM The AHS offers intern- rewarding it is to be part of an organization ships in communications, horticulture, and that has such a long and rich tradition of youth programs. For information, send an e-mail to [email protected]. Information and connecting people with plants in so many meaningful ways. application forms can also be found in the As an organization, we’ve accomplished a great deal, but there is much yet to do River Farm area of www.ahs.org. and many more people who have not yet discovered the joys and rewards of garden- NATIONAL CHILDREN & YOUTH GARDEN ing. Just as a garden can be started by planting a seed or a plant, an interest in gar- SYMPOSIUM For information about the Soci- dening can grow from nurturing a spark of interest or curiosity expressed by a friend ety’s annual National Children & Youth Gar- den Symposium, call (800) 777-7931 ext. or relative. The AHS takes great pride in being a catalyst in this regard, but we need 137 or visit the Youth Gardening section of your help to be truly successful. We encourage you to be a gardening advocate— www.ahs.org.