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© 2007, Scotts-Sierra Horticultural Products Company. World rights reserved. contents Volume 86, Number 3 . May / June 2007

FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

5 NOTES FROM RIVER FARM 6 MEMBERS’ FORUM 8 NEWS FROM AHS Flower show exhibits win AHS Environmental Award, American Public Gardens Association Conference in Washington, D.C., new AHS Board members, National Children & Youth Garden Symposium in Minnesota, AHS webinar series debuts, Susannah’s Garden Essay Contest winner selected.

14 AHS PARTNERS IN PROFILE OXO International. page 34 16 AHS NEWS SPECIAL Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Youth Programs. 18 CLASSIC PERENNIALS UPDATED BY JO ANN GARDNER GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK Breeding breakthroughs and serendipitous discoveries have yielded 45 perennials better suited for conditions in today’s gardens. Recent honeybee colony dieoffs puzzle scientists, court orders more Federal oversight on transgenic crops, celebrating 24 THE CUTTING FIELDS Rachel Carson’s BY CHRISTINE FROEHLICH centennial, new website For Nellie Gardner, sharing the for connecting kids with joy of gardening and arranging nature, Senate designates Endangered Species Day cut flowers is all in a day’s work. in May, grants for horticultural research. page 45 28 GOLDEN RUDBECKIAS BY PAM BAGGETT 48 GROWING THE FUTURE This adaptable genus of North PLANET Student Career Days. American natives offers a splash 50 ONE ON ONE WITH… of golden color in late summer Roger Swain, TV personality, author, gardens. page 18 environmentalist.

COURTESY OF JERRY PAYNE, USDA-ARS, WWW,FORESTRYIMAGES.ORG 52 GREEN GARAGE® 34 EXUBERANT BY DESIGN BY MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM The scoop on shovels, spades, and forks. The ornamental border in Cincinnati’s Ault Park features a joy- ful combination of herbaceous perennials, tropicals, and annuals. 54 BOOK REVIEWS Encyclopedia of Hardy Plants, The Organic 40 LEMON-SCENTED HERBS BY KRIS WETHERBEE Lawn Care Manual, and The Encyclopedia Add a potpourri of texture, citrus fragrance, and lemon-fresh of Grasses for Livable Landscapes. taste to your garden and cuisine with these easy-to-grow plants. Special focus: Regional gardening books. 58 REGIONAL HAPPENINGS 62 HARDINESS AND HEAT ZONES ON THE COVER: A variety of sturdy, dependable, and eye-catching rudbeckias bloom in Pat and AND PRONUNCIATIONS TOP: BRIAN F. JORG; CENTER: KAREN BUSSOLINI; FAR RIGHT: RIGHT: FAR BUSSOLINI; KAREN CENTER: JORG; F. BRIAN TOP: Eileen Mangan’s wildflower garden in Colorado. Photograph by Charles Mann

May / June 2007 3 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA 22308-1300 (800) 777-7931 fax (703) 768-8700 www.ahs.org Making America a Nation of Gardeners, a Land of Gardens

American Horticultural Society President’s Council

PRESIDENT Deane H. Hundley CHAMPION'S CIRCLE Mrs. Judy Daniel ■ Ms. Frances Velay Board of Directors CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. John H. Ariail, Jr. ■ Mrs. Katherine Belk ■ CHAIRMAN Susie Usrey Dayton, Oregon Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Bluemel ■ Mrs. Susan M. Cargill ■ Helen C. Frick FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN Don E. Riddle, Jr. Davidsonville, Maryland Foundation ■ Mitchell Petersen Family Foundation, Inc. ■ Jeanne Shields ■ Mr. SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN Leslie Ariail Alexandria, Virginia Arnold Steiner ■ Mr. and Mrs. W. Bruce Usrey ■ Ms. Katy Moss Warner SECRETARY Albin MacDonough Plant Baltimore, Maryland TREASURER Arnold Steiner Birmingham, Alabama LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY CIRCLE Mr. Richard C. and Mrs. Katherine Stark Bull ■ IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Arabella S. Dane Center Harbor, New Hampshire Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Dane ■ Mrs. Elizabeth C. Dudley ■ Mrs. Marion Greene ■ Ms. Minako Henderson ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Kulp, Jr. ■ Ms. Joann Luecke ■ Mr. and Mrs. J. Landon Reeve IV ■ Mr. and Mrs. Don E. Allan M. Armitage Athens, Georgia ■ Suzanne Bales Oyster Bay, New York ■ William E. Barrick, Ph.D. Riddle, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. ■ Dr. and Mrs. George E. Theodore, Alabama ■ Katherine Belk Charlotte, North Carolina ■ Kurt Bluemel Baldwin, Maryland ■ Katherine Staehle ■ Mr. John Ulfedler Stark Bull Washington, D.C. ■ John Alex Floyd, Jr. Trussville, Alabama ■ Beverly Hanselman Nashville, Tennessee ■ Carole Hofley Wilson, Wyoming ■ Margaret Kulp Louisville, Kentucky ■ Caroline Lewis Coral HAUPT CIRCLE Nancy J. Becker, M.D. ■ Mr. and Mrs. C. William Black ■ Dr. Gables, Florida ■ Melissa R. Marshall Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ■ Carol C. Morrison Palatine, Illinois and Mrs. H. Marc Cathey ■ Mrs. Robert Duemling ■ Mrs. Richard W. Shirley Nicolai Fort Washington, Maryland ■ J. Landon Reeve IV Woodbine, Maryland ■ Harry A. Rissetto, Hamming ■ Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Hanselman ■ Mrs. Carole S. Hofley ■ Esq. Falls Church, Virginia ■ Michel Sallin Groveland, Florida ■ Jeanne Shields Greenville, Delaware ■ Gail Mr. and Mrs. Ken Mountcastle ■ Mr. and Mrs. Albin MacDonough Plant Smith Belville, North Carolina ■ Steven Still Hilliard, Ohio ■ Howard McK. Tucker Alexandria, Virginia Robert D. Volk San Marino, California ■ Daryl Williams Lake Buena Vista, Florida COUNCIL MEMBER’S CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. Carter Bales ■ Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Bigos ■ Mrs. George P. Bissell, Jr. ■ Dr. Sherran Blair ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert PRESIDENT EMERITUS Katy Moss Warner L. Bogle ■ Count and Countess Peder Bonde ■ Mr. and Mrs. Michael T. Bradshaw ■ Mr. and Mrs. Cason Callaway, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Carr 2007 Advisory Council ■ Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Demisay ■ Mr. and Mrs. John H. Fitzpatrick ■ Mrs. Beverly Hanselman, Nashville, Tennessee – Chair Walter Fletcher ■ Prudence Gilmore ■ Mr. and Mrs. Joel Goldsmith ■ Dr. and Mrs. William O. Hargrove ■ Mr. and Mrs. Allan L. Holmstrom ■ Mrs. Elizabeth Clarissa Bonde, Washington, D.C . G. Ray Miller, Brandon, Florida Hooff ■ Mr. and Mrs. Albert Huddleston ■ Mr. Philip Huey ■ Mr. Deane H. Walter Bull, Columbia, South C arolina Egon Molbak, Bellevue, Washington Hundley ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Lindsay ■ Mrs. Dorothy Marston ■ Mrs. Anne Bucher, Silver Spring, Maryland Dean Norton, Mt. Vernon, Virginia Barbara McClendon ■ Ms. Lillian McKay ■ Mrs. Paul Mellon ■ Mrs. Rosalyn Elaine Burden, Middleburg, Virginia Nancy Keen Palmer, Nashville, Tennessee Milbrandt ■ Mr. and Mrs. Egon Molbak ■ Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Moore ■ Dr. Patty Bush, St. Louis, Missouri Bob Patterson, Washington, D.C. and Mrs. David E. Morrison ■ Mrs. Kathryn A. Moss ■ Mr. and Mrs. William Skipp Calvert, Alexandria, Virginia Dr. Julia W. Rappaport, Santa Ana, California F. Nelson ■ Mrs. Shirley Ann Nicolai ■ Mr. and Mrs. James T. Norman ■ Ms. Philip Catron, Frederick, Maryland William Sadler, St. Louis, Missouri Cristin M. O’Hara ■ Mr. and Mrs. William G. Pannill ■ Dr. Julia Rappaport ■ Dr. H. Marc Cathey, Davidson, North Carolina Deen Day Sanders, Norcross, Georgia Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Shemin ■ Mr. and Mrs. Charles Henry Smith, Jr. ■ Mr. Russell Clark, Boston, Massachusetts Josephine Shanks, Houston, Texas and Mrs. William M. Spencer ■ Mrs. Juliet Sproul ■ Mr. Harold Stahly ■ Dr. Bartie Cole, Owings Mills, Maryland Barbara Shea, Owings Mills, Maryland and Mrs. Steven Still ■ Mr. and Mrs. John B. Strasenburgh ■ Mr. Howard McK. Jim Corfield, Geneva, Illinois Holly Shimizu, Glen Echo, Maryland Tucker and Ms. Megan Evans ■ Mr. Joe Viar ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Volk Edward N. Dane, Center Harbor, New Hampshire Charles Henry Smith, Jr, Middleburg, Virginia ■ Mrs. Agnes Binder Weisiger ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harvey C. White ■ Mr. and Mrs. David and Kitty Ferguson, Westwood, Massachusetts Tom Szaky, Trenton, New Jersey John W. White, Sr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Klaus Zech Ben Griswold, Glyndon, Maryland Nancy Thomas, Houston, Texas Carolyn Marsh Lindsay, Ponte Vedra, Florida Bryan Thomlison, Haddonfield, New Jersey HONORARY PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL Mrs. Enid A. Haupt ■ Mrs. John A. Lutz ■ Mickey Lynch, Dunmore, Pennsylvania Jeff Trunzo, Port Orange, Florida Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Miller Bob Malesardi, Easton, Maryland Pauline Vollmer, Baltimore, Maryland Robert and Joanna Martin, Menlo Park, California Joyce and Harvey White, Nashville, Tennessee Mrs. Malcolm Matheson, Mt. Vernon, Virginia Joannah Williams, Sebring, Florida Barbara McClendon, Alexandria, Virginia Sheryl Wood, Middleburg, Virginia

Education Sponsor OXO International

Corporate Partners Bradfield Organics ■ The Care of Trees ■ Chapel Valley Landscape Company EarthBox™ ■ Green Industry Yellow Pages ■ Homestead Gardens Kurt Bluemel, Inc. ■ Monrovia ■ NaturaLawn of America ■ Osmocote TerraCycle, Inc. ■ Your OutDoors, Inc./Perfect Garden Tool System

Horticultural Partners America in Bloom ■ Bellingrath Gardens and Home ■ Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Garden Symposium ■ Cox Arboretum & Gardens Metropark ■ Epcot International Flower & Garden The 2007 password to access the Festival ■ The Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Clubs of America ■ The Homestead Resorts members-only portion of the AHS Garden Symposium ■ Inniswood Garden Society ■ Leonard Haertter Travel Company website, www.ahs.org, is dogwood. Magic of Landscapes ■ Morris Arboretum ■ Oklahoma Botanical Garden & Arboretum Oklahoma Horticultural Society

4 the American Gardener The American NOTESC FROM RIVER FARM GARDENER

EDITOR David J. Ellis MANAGING EDITOR AND ART DIRECTOR UST WHEN most of us in the eastern United States thought spring had ar- Mary Yee rived, we found ourselves propelled back into winter again. Despite the vagaries ASSISTANT EDITOR Jof the weather, here at the AHS’s River Farm headquarters the most significant Viveka Neveln indicator of the seasonal transition is our annual spring plant sale taking place, as EDITORIAL INTERN Courtney Capstack always, in late April. As I write this, trucks filled with plants are arriving and being CONTRIBUTING EDITOR unloaded by staff members and volunteers. Rita Pelczar It has been an active and productive spring on many fronts. In recent weeks, CONTRIBUTING WRITER the AHS Board of Directors has met several times to discuss the implementation Carole Ottesen of our Master Plan for the foreseeable future. Top priorities include long-awaited improvements to our infrastructure, as well as continued development and ex- EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD pansion of our national education programs. We will also be CHAIR Richard E. Bir adding new gardens and renovating educational space here at Brevard, North Carolina River Farm. Specific details about these upgrades will be Allan M. Armitage Athens, Georgia shared with all our members and friends as the plans evolve. Nina L. Bassuk It goes without saying that we will be seeking support from Ithaca, New York the American Horticultural Society’s extended family as we Steve Bender undertake this exciting journey. Birmingham, Alabama I had intended to use this column to focus on some other John E. Bryan critical issues facing the AHS, including developing new rev- San Francisco, California enue streams and enhancing our internship program, but as KASSIE BAKER John L. Creech an alumnus of Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, I feel compelled to address Columbus, North Carolina the unfathomable tragedy that occurred there recently. Panayoti Kelaidis To show the AHS’s support at this dark moment in American history, I attended Denver, Colorado the convocation service and other activities held at the university in the wake of Richard W. Lighty Kennett Square, Pennsylvania the shootings. It was truly one of the most poignant experiences I have ever had. Elvin McDonald Virginia Tech is one of this country’s leading educational institutions and has West Des Moines, Iowa been, since its inception, committed to the advancement of horticultural educa- tion and research as well as the development of groundbreaking new technologies that have benefited the horticulture field. A number of this country’s foremost hor- CONTACT US The American Gardener 7931 East Boulevard Drive ticultural experts have come through the Virginia Tech program. Alexandria, VA 22308 The AHS has been a partner with Virginia Tech in the past and we have been (703) 768-5700 working to further strengthen and develop that relationship. In fact, one of the amazing interns currently working here at River Farm is a recent Virginia Tech ADVERTISING & E-MAIL: [email protected] CORPORATE graduate. As one of the leading organizations in American horticulture, we make PARTNERSHIPS a point of supporting, through good times and bad, those institutions that are

EDITORIAL E-MAIL: [email protected] doing critical work in the field. The work that is taking place at Virginia Tech in the area of horticulture—along with many other educational tracks—is important to the state of Virginia, the country, and the world. The American Gardener (ISSN 1087-9978) is published bimonth- ly (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, Septem- I hope you will join me in keeping the university’s faculty, students, and the ber/October, November/December) by the American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300, families of the victims in your thoughts and prayers as they recover from this (703) 768-5700. Membership in the Society includes a subscrip- tragedy. After experiencing their spirit firsthand at the convocation, I am confi- tion to The American Gardener. Annual dues are $35; two years, $60. International dues are $50. $10 of annual dues goes toward dent the university will emerge stronger and more unified than ever. magazine subscription. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Vir- ginia, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send Form 3579 to The American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300. Botanical nomenclature is based on The American Horticultural Society A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, on A Synonymized Check- list of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Canada and Greenland and on the Royal Horticultural Society Index of Garden Plants. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and are not necessar- —Deane H. Hundley, President & CEO ily those of the Society. Manuscripts, artwork, and photographs sent for possible publication will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We cannot guarantee the safe return of unsolicited material. Back issues are available at $8 per copy. Copyright ©2007 by the American Horticultural Society. Printed in the U.S.A. on recycled paper.

May / June 2007 5 6 in wildareas. Because there are manydif- identify plantsthatare considered invasive is to,whenever possible,exclude orclearly and needthecorrect information. moving invasive plantsfrom myproperty the listwrong? Iamintheprocess ofre- placement onaninvasive plantlist,oris to usefennelthrough ignoranceofits Virginia. Are you encouraginggardeners sive inanumberofstates,including tives toInvasive Plants Brooklyn BotanicGarden’s Native Alterna- use ofbronze fennelinagarden bed. The 34 intheMarch/April issueshowing the I amconcernedaboutthephotoonpage FENNEL’S INVASIVENESS Editor’s response: www.ahs.org, bers-only portionoftheAHSwebsite, The 2007passwordtoaccessthemem- Website Password the American Gardener is Landrum, SouthCarolinaLandrum, dogwood. Our magazine’s policy lists fennelasinva- Carol Meeske they are dispersed. the piquantseedsinlatesummerbefore those areas grow itbutremove orharvest we suggestgardeners larvae, butterfly in source fordiverse insectsandasahostfor Given itsredeeming qualitiesasanectar par withmanyotherinvasive species. Coast, butitisnotconsidered apeston gions ofthemid-Atlantic andonthe West Fennel isknown toself-sow re- incertain plantwecal toputacaveatcover. onevery itions of“invasive,” itisnotalwayspracti- ferent invasive plantlistsandmanydefin- Editor’s response: find asource forseeds.Canyou help? lished intheMarch/April issue,butIcan’t about classicAll-AmericaSelections pub- lyhock shown onpage 20ofthearticle I greatly admired the‘Indian Spring’ hol- HOLLYHOCK HELP Nichols Garden Nursery lowing mail-order suppliers: Spring’ can bepurchased through thefol- gon, (541)928-9280, MEMBERS C Chatham, Massachusetts www.nicholsgarden- Seeds for‘Indian ’ FORUM Nancy Stoddard , Albany, Ore- cle willhelpinthisregard. purchase cypress mulch.Ihopeyour arti- ers onanationallevel sotheywillnot ed States. The answer istoeducate garden- mulch isbeingsoldthroughout theUnit- this isanationalproblem becausecypress several counties have banneditsuse,but in Florida, where somemunicipalitiesand had somesuccessaddressing theissuehere it grows through theSoutheast. We have mulch notonlyinLouisianabutanyplace use asmulch.Cypress isbeingcutfor cypress treestainability ofharvesting for January/February issueaddressing thesus- I waspleasedtoread inthe your article CYPRESS MULCH www.humeseeds.com. Seeds, Kent, Washington, (253)435-4414, 8917, Seeds, Mansfield, Missouri, (471)924- nursery.com; ‘Indian Spring’hollyhock American Gardener, American Letters weprintmay beeditedforlengthandclarity. [email protected] (note LettertoEditorinsubjectline). Alexandria, VA22308.Send e-mails to PLEASE WRITEUS! www.RareSeeds.com; Baker Creek Heirloom Address letterstoEditor, 7931 EastBoulevardDrive, Quincy, Florida James C.Eggert Ed Hume The

DONNA AND TOM KRISCHAN

8 flower show. One exhibitisawarded per ronmental stewardship. plant material,andenvi- exhibit design,aesthetics, ed basedonfourcriteria: ronmental Award isselect- forsythias. fodils, rhododendrons, and featured roses, tulips,daf- retreat, “Serenity,” which the prize fortheiroutdoor & Associates phia Flower Show, Kepich Away!” AndatthePhiladel- Don’t Go Away—Get for theirexhibit,“Mojito: ture andtheenvironment ataflower show—was given toexhibitsat32nationalflower shows thisyear. THE AHS’S Top ExhibitsReceiveAHSAward atNationalFlowerShows gardens.org To learnmore abouttheconference, pleasevisit 500gardensfor publicgardens nationwide. inAmerica,serving of BotanicalGardens association andArboreta—is theprimary areheadquarters, offered throughout thesymposium. area, includingapre-symposium visittotheAHS’s River Farm Tours ofselectgardens inthesurrounding metropolitan D.C. ways toexpanddevelopment andsustainabilityprograms. ious publicgarden issues, from leadershipandadvocacy to shops andmore than 26educationalsessionsthatexplore var- Arboretum are alsoconference partners. dens, Hillwood Museum &Gardens, andtheU.S.National American University, Brookside Gardens, Green Spring Gar- the U.S.BotanicGarden. TheAmericanHorticultural Society, American Public Gardens Association(APGA). ing Your Garden’s Culture,” theannualconference ofthe cators willmeetinthenation’s capitalJune 26to30for“Defin- PUBLIC GARDEN Washington, D.C. Public GardensConferencein News PROGRAMS •EVENTSANNOUNCEMENTS The winneroftheEnvi- At theNorthwest Flower &Garden Show inSeattle, Washington, LeJardin Home, Garden Design &Ranch The APGA—formerlyknown astheAmericanAssociation This year’s event includesdozens ofpre-conference work- Hosts fortheconference are theSmithsonian Institution and the American Gardener or call the APGA headquarters at(302)655-7100. or calltheAPGA headquarters prestigious Environmental Award—presented todisplaysthatbestdemonstratetherelationship between horticul- took home directors, andgarden horticulturists, edu- from adnSo,aoelf,adKpc AssociatesdisplayatthePhiladelphiaFlowerShow,aboveright. Garden Show,aboveleft,andKepich& AHS EnvironmentalAwardwinners:LeJardinHome,Garden&RanchDesign’sdisplayattheNorthwestFlower AHS www.public CAROLINE LEWIS New AHSBoardMembers quartered inDallas, Texas. Smith’s previous experienceincludes former vicepresident ofKetchum, afundraising firmhead- of the2009World AssociationofFlower Arrangers. ally, Nicolai isthechair ington, D.C.Addition- Arboretum inWash- Friends oftheNational Foundation andthe the AliceFerguson board memberofboth Nicolai asa serves school teacher, Shirley in New York City. conut Grove, Florida, andwasascienceteacherforTrinity School director oftheUpper SchoolatRansomEverglades SchoolinCo- Coral Gables, Florida. has alsoworked Lewis forfouryears asthe Teaching andLearningatFairchild Tropical BotanicGarden in cently electedtotheAHSBoard ofDirectors. Gail Smith fundraisingexecutive isacertified (CFRE)and A formerelementary Caroline isthedirector Lewis ofeducationfortheCenter , Shirley Nicolai, andGail Smith were re- aoieLwsShirleyNicolai Caroline Lewis May /June2007 won theaward

TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF SALMON BAY; TOP RIGHT: COURTESY OF PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY; BOTTOM: COURTESY OF CAROLINE LEWIS AND SHIRLEY NICOLAI serving as director of development at Carlisle School in Mar- tinsville, Virginia, and as director of institutional advancement AHS Gala in September of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Mark your calendars for the AHS’s annual gala, “America’s “All these industry leaders bring unique skill sets to our AHS Garden Celebration: Music in the Garden,” the evening of team, and we look forward to working with them in the future,” September 29 at River Farm in Alexandria, Virginia. says AHS President Deane Hundley. Hosted by the Friends of River Farm and the AHS Board of Directors, the gala will feature silent and live auctions that will include many unique and otherwise unavailable AHS Gains New Corporate Partner items. This year for the first time members will have an op- THE AHS welcomes Bradfield Organics as one of its newest cor- portunity to bid online for auction items prior to the gala. porate partners. With a strong emphasis on research, Bradfield Look for further information soon. Organics produces organic fertilizers for the lawn and garden. “The AHS offers a number of great educational programs, and we thought [this partnership] would be an excellent way Youth Gardening Symposium Turns to inform the public on more sustain- able garden practices,” explains 15 in Minnesota William Sadler, vice president of mar- JOIN EDUCATORS, community leaders, and garden design- keting and business development for ers in Chaska, Minnesota, July 19 to 21 for the AHS National Bradfield Organics. “In general, people Children & Youth Garden Symposium. Hosted by the Min- make the best decisions when they have nesota Landscape Arboretum’s Public Policy Programs, this the information they need. Today there year’s 15th annual symposium, “Widening the Circle,” will is new information, and we at Bradfield highlight fresh approaches for children’s and youth programs. Organics want to help people under- Participants will enjoy lectures by Eric Jolly, president of the stand the new options and develop a Science Museum of Minnesota; Sherry Norfolk, teaching artist, sustainable program for their gardens.” storyteller, and author; and Albe Zakes, director of marketing for For more information on Bradfield Organics, visit the com- TerraCycle, Inc. Registration is now open for this highly antici- pany’s website at www.bradfieldorganics.com. pated event. For more information or to register, visit www.ahs.org.

An exclusive ahs garden school THE AMAZING WORLD OF PLANTS New trends in plant selection and their influence on garden design October 4 & 5, 2007 Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood, Kentucky

oin noted plant breeders and garden Jdesigners at Yew Dell Gardens, the former estate of the late plantsman, Theodore Klein, for a behind-the-scenes exploration of the latest trends in plant breeding and selection. Learn from the pros how new plant introductions, along with time-tested classics, can be integrated into landscapes of all styles. REGISTRATION OPENS JULY 15 For more information on how you can be part of this exciting event, visit www.ahs.org or call (703) 768-5700 ext. 137.

May / June 2007 9 10 www.ahs.org M • • • • • • • • • • ton’s RiverFarm.Alexandria,Virginia. Farm. Alexandria,Virginia. quet. Allan Armitage. Springs, Virginia. Festival. Farm. Alexandria,Virginia. Plants.” YewDellGardens.Crestwood,Kentucky. Farm. Alexandria,Virginia. Farm. Alexandria,Virginia. DEC. 13. DEC. 3–21. OCT. 23. OCT. 4&5. SEPT. 29. SEPT. 27–29. SEPT. 25. AUG. 24–26. MAY 13. APRIL 5–JUNE3. Family Picnic Friends ofRiverFarm the American Gardener Rockford, Illinois. sponsored orcosponsored by theAHS.Visit ark your calendarforthesenationalevents thatare Lake BuenaVista,Florida. Mother’s DayConcert. Dr. H.MarcCatheyDay. Annual FORFHolidayReception. AHS AnnualGala. “Bulbs ThatWork”AHSOnlineSeminarhostedby or call(703)768-5700formore information. Holiday TreesDisplay. AHS GardenSchool. CALENDAR 2007 AHS NATIONALEVENTSANDPROGRAMS Homestead ResortsGardenSymposium. America inBloomSymposium&AwardsBan- Epcot InternationalFlower&Garden George Washington’sRiver George Washington’sRiver “The AmazingWorldof George Washington’sRiver George Washington’sRiver • • • • Alexandria, Virginia. Washington’s RiverFarm. mony andBanquet. Gardeners AwardsCere- dria, Virginia. ton’s RiverFarm.Alexan- Farm. ginia. er Farm.Alexandria,Vir- George Washington’sRiv- er FarmFamilyPicnic. Programs. boretum’s PublicPolicy Minnesota LandscapeAr- nesota. Hostedbythe Symposium. Children &YouthGarden JULY 19–21. JUNE 1. MAY 31. MAY 20. George Washing- George Washing- Great American Taste ofRiver Friends ofRiv- Chaska, Min- National Hot George IN EARLYMAY Recognition Board MemberReceivesNational Club ofAmerica. for thisaward,” saysAliceMathews recipientasm andherzest forlifemadeArabella theperfect has assured inthe globalleague.Her participation enthusi- Helen C.Frick andHistorical Art CenterinPittsburgh. achusetts Horticultural Society andisaboard memberofthe award forherachievements infloralarranging. MemorialThomas Cary Award. Thisaward isgiven inrecog- awarded theGarden ClubofAmerica(GCA)Katharine Arabella Dane The monthofAprilisdesignated thousands ofcolorfultulips,daffodils,andbloomingshrubs. nation’s capital.ThegardensatRiverFarmawakenwith Farm—a salutetothebeautyofspringtimeinandaroundour April FlowersatRiverFarm “Arabella’s vision hastakentheGCAtogreat heightsand ontheboardDane fortheMass- has also served oftrustees , AHSBoard member ment andhorticulture judge.She has and hasworked asaGCAflower arrange- nization’s Flower ArrangingStudy Group member, sheisthefounderoforga- GCA of theAHSBoard. Along serving New Hampshire, isimmediatepastchair arrangement education. cantly contributedtothefieldoffloral nition ofanindividualwhohassignifi- ceived the AHS’s Frances Jones Poetker flower show entries,andin1996shere- won numerous awards forherown Dane, wholives in CenterHarbor, Washington Blooms! Washington , president oftheGarden Arabella Dane at River was

TOP AND FAR LEFT: VIVEKA NEVELN; BOTTOM: COURTESY OF ARABELLA DANE First AHS Online Seminar Draws a Crowd During “Perennials That Work,” Allan Armitage answered dozens of questions from WITH 250 MEMBERS enrolled to partici- participants. Here he responds to a few of the questions he was not able to address dur- pate, the AHS launched “Perennials That ing the webinar. Work,” its first online seminar, or webinar, on March 29. Over the course of an hour, Uni- What coreopsis is most emerges will remain rela- den in the United King- versity of Georgia horticulture professor and resistant to powdery tively clean. Some of the dom where it was discov- garden author Allan Armitage shared his ex- mildew? columbine species appear ered, not because the plant periences with a handful of species and culti- Melissa Keeney less susceptible to leaf min- is low growing. vars from each of several genera of herbaceous Rolla, Missouri ers than the hybrids. perennials such as Echinacea and Epimedium. Threadleaf coreopsis (Core- Should I cut back the He also responded to questions from the audi- opsis verticillata) is the best. My Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ dead foliage from my ence connecting from 41 different states and Stay away from the com- has grown almost three hellebore now? one Canadian province. mon coreopsis (C. grandi- feet tall. Are you finding Paul Cavazzoni “Dr. Armitage was very good and made an flora) and its cultivars. ‘Walker’s Low’ not staying Reading, Massachusetts effort to discuss various zones and to include very low? I cut the previous year’s fo- perennials that were adaptable to many sites,” What do you recommend Carol Seaman liage on my hellebores back says Noreen Gaetjens, an AHS member to control leaf miners on Lincoln, Rhode Island in late winter to make the from Barrington, New Hampshire. columbines? ‘Walker’s Low’ is known to emerging flowers more vis- This event was the first in a series of three Zann Wilson grow up to three feet tall, ible and the plant more at- webinars, developed as a new benefit for AHS Valparaiso, Indiana especially when it is grown tractive. However, the members. Next up is “Annuals That Work” Cut back and discard the in fertile soil. The cultivar plant will not be damaged on May 10, followed by “Bulbs That Work” diseased foliage after flow- name is somewhat mislead- or decline if the old leaves on September 25, both of which will also be ering; the new foliage that ing; it is named after a gar- are not removed. hosted by Armitage. Visit www.ahs.org for more information.

May / June 2007 11 Garden Essay Contest Winner

THE AHS AND MIRA BOOKS are pleased to announce that Svetlana Grobman from Columbia, Missouri, is the grand prize Grand Prize Winning Essay winner of the 2006 Susannah’s Garden Essay Contest. Inspired by Svetlana Grobman, Columbia, Missouri by the release of Susannah’s Garden by Debbie Macomber last summer, the challenge was to describe, in 100 The year I was born, my father planted a lilac bush in words or less, how a garden played a role in front of my grandparents’ Moscow apartment house. bringing a family together. Every spring, my grandmother measured me against its In her winning essay on the right, Grobman fragrant whiteness. evocatively recounts how her garden—in partic- When I became an adult and my grandparents ular, her lilac bush—serves as both a reminder of passed away, I sometimes went to see that house and her grandfather’s garden in Moscow and a mark- the lilac in their memory. er of the growth of her grandson. “Gardening, to Life with its intricacies took me away from Moscow me, is a continuation of myself,” says Grobman. and my family, making the United States my new home. “It is a setting in which I can evaluate my life and Here, when my grandson was born, I too planted a think about people who are gone and alive.” lilac—in my Midwestern garden to remind me of my As the grand prize recipient, Grobman will receive an all-ex- past and, also, to watch my Alex grow. penses-paid, four-day trip to Alexandria, Virginia, where she and her husband and two friends will enjoy guided tours of the AHS headquarters at River Farm and Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens, Other winning entries include first-place winner Vicky the historic home of George Washington. “This is a great oppor- McCoy, from Middletown, Delaware, followed by Susan tunity to visit some of the places I’ve been reading and hearing Craig, from Mechanicsville, Virginia, and Yvonne White, about for years,” says Grobman. from Granite City, Illinois. To read essays by all four finalists, She will also receive a one-year AHS membership, a copy of see the online version of this issue at www.ahs.org. Susannah’s Garden autographed by Debbie Macomber, and a set of flower seeds and garden gloves. News written by Editorial Intern Courtney Capstack. COURTESY OF SVETLANA GROBMAN 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 January 1, 2007 and April 12, 2007:

Mr. & Mrs. John Ariail Joel Goldsmith MTR Landscape Architects Juliet Sproul Katherine M. Belk-Cook Marion E. Greene National Capital Area Federation George E. Staehle Marietta E. Bernot Mr. & Mrs. William O. Hargrove of Garden Clubs, Inc.- Arnold Steiner Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Bigos Elizabeth Hooff District II Mr. & Mrs. John B. Strasenburgh Sherran Blair Philip Huey Shirley A. Nicolai Terra Design Studios Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. Bogle Deane H. Hundley Caroline H. Norman Howard M. Tucker & Peder Bonde Mr. & Mrs. Robert Kulp David Payne Megan Evans Cox Arboretum & Gardens Barbara McClendon Julia W. Rappaport Mr. & Mrs. Robert D. Volk MetroPark Lillian L. McKay Harry A. Rissetto Katy Moss Warner Dorothy Fletcher The Melville Foundation Emanuel Shemin Agnes B. Weisiger Dawn Ford Egon Molbak Jeanne O. Shields Mr. & Mrs. Harvey White The Garden Club of Alexandria Kathryn A. Moss Mr. & Mrs. Charles H. Smith Yacht Haven Garden Club

Many thanks, as well, to the Commonwealth of Virginia for a grant in support of the AHS Green Garage® exhibit in Seattle, Washington.

If you would like to support the American Horticultural Society as part of your estate planning, as a tribute to a loved one, or as part of your annual commitment to charitable giving, please contact Barry P. Goodinson, AHS Director of Development, at (703) 768-5700 ext. 125 or e-mail [email protected].

12 the American Gardener

14 Faber ergonomic, easytousetoolsforthe Universal Design concept—designing each OXO product isdeveloped withthe hands. To solve thiscommondilemma, inher tools becauseofslightarthritis having difficultygrippingherkitchen wares company, noticedthathiswifewas across theentire field.” be great tomakeaproduct statement Michael Delevante says OXO Product Manager for ple oftencombineapassion expanding lineofgarden tools. and—more recently—an ever- to bathaccessories,hardware, all—range from kitchenitems Its products—more than500in market nearlytwodecadesago. introduced totheAmerican from the15kitchentoolsitfirst ly, OXO hascomealongway products onthemarket annual- Now launching atleast50new OFHANDS FORAVARIETY TOOLS I its rapidlygrowing product line. helped tocontributethehighqualityof that samefamilialatmosphere thathas the feelingofaclose-knitfamily. Anditis its employees—625 worldwide—retain by CourtneyCapstack OXO: PROFILE IN PARTNERS AHS OXO International,visit For more informationabout or visit development, [email protected] contact BarryGoodinson,director of partnership withtheAHS? Please OXO originatedin1990when “We have noticedthatpeo- T MAYHAVE tional goestogreat lengthstoensure around theworld,butOXO Interna- cooking withgardening,” Interested informingacorporate the American Gardener , thefounderofapopularhouse- www.ahs.org. High-Quality Tools andCommunity-Building , “and we feltitwould a growing reputation www.oxo.com. Sam Home andGarden Director Category focus isproduct development,” says er Garden Set. “Rightnow ourmain & Store Watering CanandtheContain- dening products includetheMini Pour says Delevante. even whenthehandsortooliswet,” dener tomaintainafirmgriponthetool, ture oneachtool“that allows thegar- alone withtheir“Signature Grips,” afea- ofconsumerneeds. broadest spectrum spective,” saysDelevante. “Another great City togainan urbangardening per- rooftop gardens throughout New York in thefield.“One daywe went tovarious often travel great distancestotesttools quality possible,OXO staffmembers To affirmtheirproducts are thehighest GOING THEDISTANCE Julie Mak on urbangardening trends.” to newproductdevelopment. as partofthecompany’shands-on and evaluateavarietyofgardeningtools A groupofOXOemployeesgatherstotest Some ofthemostrecent OXO gar- OXO’s gardening toolsalsostand , “especially products focusing approach test new products.”test new member’s to farmhouseinthecountry experience iswhenwe went toateam can dotogether.” ofwhatwe ginning toscratchthesurface green gardening tactics.We are justbe- to spread similargoals,forexample, ship andmore of afriendlycollaboration nership islesslikeatraditionalpartner- part- with AHS,”saysDelevante. “This atmosphere, and we alsogotthatfeeling today. “OXO pridesitself onitsfamily into thesuccessfulcompanythatitis quality products thatOXO hasgrown ronment and dedicationtocreating AHS’s River Farm headquarters. members, interns,andvolunteers atthe viding gardening toolsforuseby staff Garden Show. In addition,OXO ispro- play atthe2007Northwest Flower & Symposium, andthe Green Garage both OXO andtheAHSsawmatch When itcametoformingapartnership, FOREDUCATION COMMUNITY-BUILDING for Capstack isaneditorialintern Courtney It totheirfamilialenvi- isdueinpart The American Gardener. Children &Youth Garden Garden Schools,theNational programs suchastheAHS OXO co-sponsorseducational the AHSEducation Sponsor, commitment togivingback.As ways thatOXO manifestsits with theAHSisoneof the community.” it’s togive backto important Barry Goodinson AHS Director ofDevelopment in beinggoodcitizens,” says is becauseitsemployees believe withOXOested inpartnering reasons we wereprimary inter- as amove thatfits.“One ofthe A corporatepartnership . “They think . “They ® dis-

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Pour & Store Watering Cans 1.800.545.4411 www.oxo.com 16 by CourtneyCapstack The UniversityofMinnesotaLandscapeArboretum: CelebratingChildren gage children and youth ingardening.” vative programs across thestatethaten- tohighlightthemanyinno- opportunity Symposium toMinnesota isanexcellent Manager outdoors,” saysAHSEducation Pro ing peopleofallagesandtraditionsinthe ofengag- 10,000 lakeshasalonghistory posium from July landof 19to21.“The tional Children &Youth Garden Sym- Horticultural Society’s 15thannualNa- boretum anidealsettingfortheAmerican educators, andfamilies,makingthear- extensive variety ofactivities forchildren, garden intheupperMidwest. It offersan lands, thearboretum isthelargestpublic landscaped gardens, prairie,andwet- Botanical Gardens andArboreta (now the 1993 from theAmerican Associationof ing theaward forProgram Excellence in also garnered numerous awards, includ- The arboretum’s children’s programs have ventures, andatraveling “Plantmobile.” through various fieldtrips,teacher-ledad- Students explored theenvironment Landscape Arboretum lastschoolyear. in programs offered by theMinnesota More than45,000children participated ASCLASSROOM THE GARDEN T them toconnectwithnature. children’s mindsandallowing forenriching with opportunities also aninvitingclassroom filled and outdoorenthusiasts,butis researchers, plantaficionados, posium, notonlyisahaven for Youth Garden Sym- Children & the hostsiteforAHS2007 boretum inChaska,Minnesota, Containing more than1,000acres of the American Gardener 07ASNATIONAL CHILDREN&YOUTHGARDENSYMPOSIUM 2007 AHS Minnesota Landscape Ar- OF HE UNIVERSITY “Bringing the Stephanie Jutila. grams to becomemore disconnected from the the potentialis even greater forchildren tured educationincreasing over theyears, Science inMinnesota in2001. sociation ContributionstoElementary and theMinnesota ScienceTeachers As- American Public Gardens Association), “With thelevel ofclassroom-struc- “With H ESSPECIAL NEWS AHS C in theprogram’ssouthMinneapolissite. young gardenercarefullywatersazinniabed HarvestDayCelebration.Left:A Season celebrate theirhardworkwithanEndofthe Summer GardenPrograminMinneapolis Above: ParticipantsoftheUrbanOutreach tigating theins-and-outs ofpumpkins. lists,andinves- common items ongrocery plants, discovering thesource ofsome trips includedissectingtheanatomy of with “Maple Syrup Time.” Other popular into theprocess ofmakingmaplesyrup stations at“World ofWetlands,” ortap dive intoa touroffourdifferent wetland “Apple Harvest” tripthrough theorchard, Students cantastefall’s bountywiththe dren through sixthgrade. inkindergarten trips throughout theschoolyear forchil- rience outsideoftheclassroom.” on, environmental-related learningexpe- even aresponsibility, toprovide ahands- lic garden, we have anopportunity, and more now important than ever. Asapub- role ofpublicgardens ineducation is boretum’s director ofeducation.“The environment,” saysTim Kenny, thear- The arboretum offers 20different field

TOP: EBONY TURNER; BOTTOM: DAN MARSHALL, BOTH COURTESY OF MINNESOTA LANDSCAPE ARBORETUM To cater more to the personal needs of each child, the arboretum also offers four GARDEN EXPLORATIONS: GALE WOODS FARM different self-guided visits, including “Bug O’ Orienteering,” designed to give stu- Attendees of the National Children & Youth Garden Symposium will also have the oppor- dents in fifth through eighth grades the op- tunity to tour Gales Woods Farm, a 410-acre educational farm in Minnetrista, Minneso- portunity to strengthen their map-reading, ta. As part of the Three Rivers Park District established to encourage environmental stew- navigation, and team-building skills. ardship, Gale Woods Farm offers a variety of educational opportunities designed to promote Pre-school youngsters are welcome to agriculture, food production, and land stewardship. participate in “Pea Pods Preschool” every In addition to presenting farm exploratory tours and seasonal classes, Gale Woods par- other Wednesday morning at the ar- ticipates in the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, offering 50 crop shares boretum’s Marion Andrus Learning to the local public and youth Center. Seventy-one children participat- development opportunities ed in the program when it debuted in during the summer. More 2001. Since then, “Pea Pods Preschool” than 10,000 visitors experi- has grown to serve more than 3,600 chil- enced the agriculture educa- dren and parents during the 2005-2006 tion programs at Gale Woods last year, with an additional 5,000 guests enjoying the For more information about hiking trails and interpretive the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum lo- displays throughout the farm. cated in Chaska, Minnesota, visit www. Symposium participants arboretum.umn.edu or call (952) 443- will be able to take tours of 1400. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven the farm, attend lectures days a week. Admission: $7 adults (AHS and educational programs, members free), children under 15 free. and learn about the CSA Young visitors to Gale Woods Farm get a chance to learn youth farming program be- where food comes from and how to care for the land. fore relaxing with dinner in school year. Each session explores a dif- the picnic pavilion. Visit Gale Woods Farm’s website at www.galewoodsfarm.org or call ferent nature-related topic, providing (763) 694-2001 for additional information about the programs. —C.C. children with enriching experiences to share with their parents.

BUSINESS SKILLS FOR TEENAGERS panded my future, and given me more ACHIEVING SUCCESS As an outgrowth of the urban garden out- motivation and confidence,” says Eliza- Leaders of the arboretum’s children’s pro- reach program, the arboretum also offers beth Selander, a former participant and grams focus on two criteria to maintain CityFresh, a summer program designed a current program leader. success. Their programs are continually to give teenagers the opportunity to hone updated to meet Minnesota’s education their business and entrepreneurial skills in A TRAVELING CLASSROOM standards, and steps are implemented to a nature-related environment. “Our chil- If traveling away from a school is not a fea- make the most popular programs accessi- dren’s programs were originally aimed at sible option, the arboretum will bring the ble to children who may not have had the five- to 12-year-olds,” says Kenny. “We outdoors to classrooms with the Plant- opportunity to participate because of eco- found there’s an interest among young mobile, a one-hour, hands-on excursion nomic or geographic challenges. “We have teens who’ve enjoyed our programs for a in which an arboretum educator leads stu- a responsibility to keep up with the chang- few years and still want more.” dents through a variety of science investi- ing school requirements and environment Originating as a program in which gations and planting projects. so [the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum] teens grew and sold specialty vegetables Last year, more than 10,000 children can continue to provide hands-on experi- to local restaurants, CityFresh now offers in the greater Minneapolis–St. Paul area ences with plants,” says Kenny. “What we six different summer work opportuni- participated in the Plantmobile program. can do to best serve children is our bot- ties, from photography and growing cut Of those students, nearly half took part in tom line, and that constantly changes.” flowers to teacher assistantships and “Sunflower Supreme,” a class designed to For more information on the AHS communications. Thirty-six teenagers give children through second grade an in- National Children & Youth Garden are split into six work teams, led by six depth look at the diversity and environ- Symposium this July, turn to the news ar- adult leaders, many of whom once par- mental contributions of the popular ticle on page 9, or visit the AHS website ticipated in the program themselves. flower. Teachers have the opportunity to at www.ahs.org. “Being involved in programs sponsored choose between eight different projects, by the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum specifically tailored to the season and class Courtney Capstack is an editorial intern for

COURTESY OF GALE WOODS FARM has helped keep me out of trouble, ex- age group. The American Gardener.

May / June 2007 17 18 updated fortoday’s garden Classic Perennials gardeners. suited totheneedsoftoday’s favorite perennialsarebetter discoveries, manyofgrandma’s throughs andserendipitous Thanks tobreedingbreak- almost beconsidered classicsthemselves. been around longenoughthattheycould Some ofthesevarieties are othershave new; colors, orimproving theformorfoliage. extending theflowering season orrangeof creasing adaptability ordiseaseresistance, added tothevalue oftheoriginal,by in- pectations. But introductions have certain ter, ofex- varieties andmanynew fallshort the old,thenIamallforit. better withoutsacrificingthecharmsof adaptability to hotandhumidcondi- Among newer pinksare those bred for constitution sotheylookgood longer? appealing? How about astrengthened What couldpossiblymakepinks more HEAT RESISTANCE C proved” versions. But isreally ifthenew cautious whenitcomestogrowing “im- As apersonwholoves olderplants,Iam troduction “improved” ofnew varieties. been challengedover theyears by thein- Shasta daisies,tomention afew, have vorites amongbellflowers, phlox, and back toColonialtimes.Andmanyoldfa- them, suchaspinks(Dianthus BY JOANNGARDNER Not allchange,however, isforthebet- the American Gardener ERTAIN PERENNIAL gardens fordecades;someof have beenpopularinAmerican spp.), go plants providing softsummer colorfortheforegroundof bedsandborders. The widelyadaptable Astilbe chinensis Astilbe ‘Pumila’ grows a compact10to12inchestall,

MICHAEL S. THOMPSON ering season, and excellent heat tolerance in the south. In the north, it has shown a remarkable ability to grow in less than ideal conditions, such as gritty, sharply drained soil. Sue Longe, perennial plant manager for Horsford Nursery in Charlotte, Ver- mont, reports that it has survived winters with little snow in a damp part of her gar- den. ‘Greystone’, descended from the clas- sic ‘Bath’s Pink’, has withstood heat and humidity at Plant Delights Nursery test gardens in Raleigh, North Carolina. Maiden pinks (D. deltoides, Zones 3–10, 10–1) make terrific flowering groundcovers. ‘Arctic Fire’, with its small white-ringed flowers, is adaptable to west- ern conditions as well as to the Northeast and blooms all summer. Like pinks, bellflowers (Campanula Dianthus ‘Feuerhexe’ blooms from late spp.) have been grown in American gar- spring to early summer; its silvery blue- dens since Colonial times. So what’s new? green foliage is evergreen. A quiet revolution in bellflower breeding is under way. Led by Terra Nova Nurs- tions, and, as a bonus, some are longer eries in Canby, Oregon, bellflower breed- blooming than usual. ers are using C. punctata as a parent A cheddar pink (D. gratianopolitanus, because it is more resistant to heat and USDA Hardiness Zones 4–8, AHS Heat humidity than taller types. Southern gar- Zones 8–1) hybrid worth considering is deners will be pleased with the results: ‘Feuerhexe’ (Firewitch), chosen by the ‘Pantaloons’ sports semi-double pur- Perennial Plant Association (PPA) as the plish-pink bells above deep green leaves; 2006 Perennial Plant of the Year. It has ‘Kent Belle’, which grows to 30 inches, everything you could want in a pink: spicy produces very showy, long, dark violet- fragrance, colorful magenta-pink flowers blue bells; ‘Bowl of Cherries’ is a com- over silver-blue mats of foliage, a long flow- pact, mounding plant with a multitude The four-foot flower spikes of Delphinium ‘Innocence’ provide a strong vertical accent for beds in early summer.

of purple-red dangling bells. All of these thrive in Zones 5–9, 8–1. Slightly hardier and definitely showier is ‘Sarastro’ (Zones 4–9, 8–1), an improve- ment over ‘Kent Belle’ for its more com- pact habit, extended bloom, and fantastic large, grape purple bells that, according to Susan Martin, director of marketing com- munications at Walters Gardens in Zee- land, Michigan, “dangle from the stem like crystals from a chandelier.” New Millennium delphiniums (Del- phinium hybrids, Zones 3–7, 8–3) have an- swered the consumer demand for longer-lived, less temperamental plants. Bred by Dowdeswell’s Delphiniums in New Zealand, they are said to have stronger stems, more heavily petaled, Sturdy 18-inch stems support the dangling purple flowers of Campanula ‘Sarastro’ from early showier flowers, and improved tolerance

TOP LEFT: KAREN BUSSOLINI; BOTTOM: DAVID CAVAGNARO; RIGHT; COURTESY OF TERRY DOWDESWELL / WWW.DELPHINIUM.CO.NZ to late summer. Removing spent flowers will extend the blooming season. for heat, humidity, and extreme cold.

May / June 2007 19 20 bloom andplantlongevity. and meticulousdeadheadingtoprolong phiniums benefitfrom wintermulching the flower’s center. He suggests thatalldel- black oregg-yolk yellow bee—themark in flowered, doublewhite,somewitha very vorite among theseis‘Innocence’, alarge- in Kensington, Connecticut,sayshisfa- nerup, owner ofSunny Border Nurseries and exceptional bloomsize. Pierre Ben- New Millennium hybridsforcolorrange was achieved by German nurseryman genus, introduced from Asiainthe 1850s, The mostsignificantbreeding withinthis loving astilbescouldbedrought tolerant? Who wouldhave thoughtthatmoisture- DROUGHT TOLERANCE MORE UPDATES TOFAVORITE PERENNIALS Plant Polemonium boreale Polemonium Oenothera maculatum Lamium Heuchera Gaillardia Echinacea Digitalis Dicentra dumosus Aster Aquilegia There’s nodisputingthebeautyof (sometimes listedas the American Gardener Aquilegia Aquilegia ‘Spice Island’ ‘Zestful’ Songbird series BesnhmHbis eprcrlfoesta h rgnlcrlbls ev loesoe 3–8,8–1 deepercoralflowersthantheoriginalbells,heavy bloomersover ‘Bressingham Hybrids’ ‘Burgundy’ Lemon Drop Sunrise Wo’ ik rdcsmse fsm-obecerpn lwr,1 o1 nhs4–8,8–1 producesmassesofsemi-doubleclearpinkflowers,12to16inches ‘Wood’s Pink’ ‘Blue Jay’ ‘Heavenly Habit’ Oci rs’haybomrwt agrfoes rae etrssac,mr 4–8,8–1 heavybloomer withlargerflowers,greaterheatresistance,more ‘Orchid Frost’ A. novi-belgii) A. ® Echinacea Description resistant tofoliardisease,six12inchestall agr hwe lefoesadgos re oig,1 nhstl 4–8,8–1 larger, showierblueflowersandglossygreenfoliage,12inchestall dusted withnutmeg,onfour-footstalks 4–9,9–1 blooms non-stopfromearlysummertofall,peachyflowers,lightly ierdfoesfo al umrt al al o3 nhstl 3–10,10–3 wine redflowersfromearlysummertofall,30inchestall o rwn ihbih elwfoes trcienro oig 5–11,11–5 turns burgundyinfall,eightto12inchestall low growingwithbrightyellowflowers,attractivenarrowfoliage a longerperiod,18to20inchestall cone onavigorous,branching30-to36-inchplant versions andifgivensteadymoisturewillbloomallsummerintothefall tall, doesnotrequirestaking,resistanttopowderymildew 3–9,9–1 tall, RoyalHorticulturalSocietyAwardofGardenMerit2003 large, early,bicoloredflowersonacompactplant,18to30inches er-hpdde oepn lwr,frybu-re oig,gos3–9,9–1 12 to18inchestall,toleratesmoresunandsummerheatthanolder heart-shaped deeprose-pinkflowers,fernyblue-greenfoliage,grows lgtyrfee easaecto elwwt eta re-od3–9,9–1 slightly reflexedpetalsarecitronyellowwithacentralgreen-gold cultivars of Astilbe astilbes. ‘Peach Blossom’ andotherclassic ‘Peach Blossom’ setthestandard for Georg Arends, whose1902introduction ‘Pumila’ (sometimeslistedasvar. can grow inheavy clay. She describes her listare the that cantakecare ofthemselves. High on ford, Connecticut,appreciates great plants works, aspecialtygarden centerinNorth- DuBrule-Clemente, owner ofNature- astilbes indrierconditions.Nancy have expanded thepossibilitiesofgrowing rived from A.chinensis shady siteswithmoisture-retentive soil. red ‘Fanal’—continue tobefavorites for ‘Bridal Veil’, clearpink‘Cattleya’, andvivid 8–1)—such asthefragrantwhite-flowered Newer introductions ofselectionsde- Sunrise A. chinensis ✕ arendsii aimmcltmOenothera ‘Orchid Frost’ maculatum Lamium (Zones 4–8,8–2) hybrids, which (Zones 3–8, pumila) ‘Purpurkruze’. been prettied ofFrench upby theefforts the late19thcentury, afterthespecies had come popularinAmericangardens until late-summer flower border, didnotbe- Zones 4–8,8–1),queenofthemid-to Native garden phlox DISEASE RESISTANCE var. she recommends include lilacA.chinensis tolerance. Other drought-tolerant astilbes sions inRed’ have goodcoloranddrought inPink’blooming. Both‘Visions and‘Vi- its bigthickmagentaspikes,vigor, andlate free groundcover. She values ‘Visions’ for Only afoot tall,itmakesagreat trouble- that grows well inbothsunandshade. as a“totally drought tolerant” workhorse taquetii ‘Superba’ andthepurple-rose Lemon Drop (Phlox paniculata, SAASZones USDA/AHS ®

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS, EXCEPT FOR FAR LEFT: JOSEPH G. STRAUCH JR. nurseryman Victor Lemoine and others. Although many older cultivars are no longer available, you will find some of them at Perennial Pleasures Nursery in East Hardwick, Vermont, where propri- etor Rachel Kane carries many garden phlox, old and new. When comparing the newer phlox to the older ones, Kane feels that flower color and length of bloom are not an issue. As for powdery mildew, al- though some varieties are more susceptible than others (whether old or new), her ad- vice is to divide plants regularly, replant in fresh enriched soil, and keep them well wa- tered. Planting phlox in moist, well- drained soil, similar to their wild habitat, also helps. ‘David’, the PPA’s 2002 plant of the year, is without question one of the best for mildew tolerance. Growing four to five feet tall, with fragrant white blossoms that Leucanthemum ‘Broadway Lights’ blooms from late spring to early summer. bloom from midsummer to frost, it has all the attributes we value in this favorite tween ‘David’ and ‘Eva Cullum’, is a vig- buds open to cream-white, although the flower, and it has proven successful all over orous medium pink. My own favorite for flower color is said to be more yellow in the country. disease resistance and flower color is cool conditions. ‘Becky’, the 2003 Peren- Other modern phlox with good dis- ‘Laura’, a striking plant to three feet with nial Plant of the Year, was discovered in ease resistance include ‘Robert Poore’, large flower heads of vivid pink-purple Georgia. It challenges ‘Alaska’ by deliver- which came from Mississippi, so it’s hu- with a central star. ing a similar, but more heat-resistant plant midity tolerant as well. It grows to five on upright stems to 40 inches with three- feet and is, Kane says, “magenta-ish” as MORE COLOR, BETTER FORM inch-wide flowers. well as vigorous. ‘Shortwood’, a cross be- The Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum ✕super- Native sneezeweeds (Helenium spp.) bum, Zones 5–8, 8–1) has a are making a big impression among gar- long history of popularity in deners who have never grown them be- American gardens. Created by fore. The newer cultivars have hot, bright Luther Burbank, it possesses colors, late bloom, and improved habit in the ideals that fueled his their favor. Like other American natives, breeding efforts: large daisy they come back to us after being bred in flowers with pristine white Europe. Using a mix of species that grow petals held on sturdy stems throughout the country in wet meadows and produced over a lengthy and prairies, new cultivars got their start period. Named for the moun- as classic perennials in the 1930s with the tain in California near where introduction from Holland of ‘Moerheim Burbank worked, the first- Beauty’ (Zones 4–8, 8–1), which set the named introductions in 1904 standard for this group of late bloomers. included ‘Alaska’, still the stan- Still considered one of the best, its rich dard by which all other culti- bronze-red daisylike flowers grow on vars are judged. three- to four-foot stems. Ironically, one of the most Older ones still grown include ‘River- recent, ‘Broadway Lights’, is ton Beauty’, late flowering with lemon- widely touted for its yellow yellow petals surrounding a purplish disk, flowers. Yellowish or cream- and ‘Riverton Gem’, which tops out at white Shastas seem like a con- three-and-a-half feet, with gold petals suf- tradiction, since Burbank fused with terra cotta. Earlier flowering strove so hard to produce a ‘The Bishop’ grows to only two feet and pure white flower. But ‘Broad- bears a profusion of buttercup yellow The fragrant blooms of Phlox paniculata way Lights’ is attractive; growing to 16 to flowers from early summer to fall (shorter ‘Shortwood’ attract hummingbirds and 20 inches, it is shorter than the standard, types are recommended for the south).

BOTTOM: MARK TURNER; TOP: COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS; butterflies throughout summer. with a neat, mounding habit. Its yellow Newer introductions, such as bright cop-

May / June 2007 21 Sources Busse Gardens, Big Lake, MN. (800) 544-3192. www.bussegardens.com. Catalog $3, free online.

Forestfarm, Williams, OR. (541) 846-6963. www.forestfarm.com. Catalog $5.

Perennial Pleasures, East Hardwick, VT. (802) 472-5104. www.perennialpleasures.net. Catalog free. Resources AHS Encyclopedia of Perennials by Graham Rice and Kurt Bluemel. DK Publish- ing, New York, New York, 2006.

Armitage’s Garden Perennials: A Color Encyclopedia by Allan Armitage. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2000.

The abundant late-summer and autumn Taylor’s Guide to Perennials by Barbara Ellis. Houghton Mifflin, Boston, Massa- flowers of Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’ chusetts, 2001. provide a bold accent to gardens. per-orange ‘Coppelia’, are self-supporting dates and their answers are an eclectic mix extended bloomer with smaller flowers even though their stems reach three feet. of types. Yellow-gold ‘Kindly Light’ (1949) that roll up neatly when spent. For Chad ‘Mardis Gras’, which grows to 40 inches, is a classic spider unsurpassed for its huge, Walters, plant inventory manager at Wal- bears yellow flowers splashed with orange- open trumpet that shows up well in the ters Gardens, his favorites include ‘Pardon red. It grows in clay soil, and begins landscape, according to Warren Leach, co- Me’ (1982), a reblooming bright cranber- blooming in late June. Considered one of proprietor of Tranquil Lake Nursery in ry red, and ‘Bela Lugosi’ (1995), a huge vel- the best for overall performance, ‘Butter- Rehoboth, Massachusetts. Connecticut vety-wine tetraploid. Personally, I love pat’ is a compact plant to three feet, with garden writer Sydney Eddison, whose pas- ‘Fairy Tale Pink’ (1980), a peach-pink ruf- strong stems and sprays of rich deep yel- sion for daylilies helped to boost their fled rebloomer. low flowers. The latest introductions from popularity, loves the deep gold, double Breeding trends follow the huge success Holland include ‘Double Trouble’, a dou- flowers of ‘Condilla’ (1977), the cream- of hardy, everblooming ‘Stella d’ Oro’ ble-flowered bright yellow to 32 inches, pink early bloomer ‘Lullaby Baby’ (1975), (1985), the most popular daylily today. It and ‘Ruby Tuesday’, a dwarf that can be and ‘Little Grapette’ (1970), an early and provides color over an entire season and is grown in a container. Twenty inches tall, especially useful for gardens in the north, it bears deep ruby-red flowers from mid- where everbloomers are not usually hardy. summer on. Expect more to come. Some dislike its brazen gold color, but it is very attractive when it is cooled down with DAYLILY UPDATES silver and gray-green foliage. One of its Among daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.), ‘Hy- most successful spinoffs is ‘Happy Returns’ perion’, an early hybrid (1924), is still (1986), bred by Darrel Apps of Woodside loved for its clean lemon-yellow trumpet, Nursery in Bridgeton, New Jersey. It is heat extended bloom, and fragrance. After tolerant and bears fragrant, clear yellow, re- World War II, daylily breeding took off blooming flowers. and there are now 40,000 registered cul- Older classic perennials will continue to tivars that often depart from the classic be grown and loved, but as the updated form with their recurved petals, narrow versions prove their value and find their and spidery or overlapping, often heavi- way into more gardens across the country, ly ruffled, in colors that range from near they may become classics, too. white with shades and mixtures of peach, pink, and purple. Flowers, eyed and with Jo Ann Gardner and her husband operate a contrasting throats, can be huge, to small farm in the Adirondacks. Her most re- eight-and-a-half inches in diameter, and Fragrant blooms of Hemerocallis ‘Lullaby Baby’ cent book is Elegant Silvers: Striking Plants dusted with gold or silver. occur over a lengthy season on sturdy, for Every Garden, with Karen Bussolini

Ask experts about their favorite up- branched 18-inch scapes. (Timber Press, 2005). TOP: SUSAN A. ROTH; BOTTOM: KAREN BUSSOLINI

22 the American Gardener high-bred

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ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRISTINE FROEHLICH

Top: Buckets of field-harvested amaranth, gomphrena, celosia, statice, and ageratum are destined for fresh bouquets and dried wreaths. Left: Nellie Gardner creates and sells the arrangements at her barnside business, “Flower Fields.”

24 the American Gardener NE DAY LAST FALL, I decided to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather with a visit to Spring- Odale Farms, where a friend of mine grows cut flowers. And not just a row or two—she grows entire fields—about two acres of them. But then, you might expect that from someone with a name like Nellie Gardner. Nellie, an accomplished horticulturist with an agronomy back- ground, operated a successful cut flower business appropriately named “Flower Fields” in Batavia, New York. Last year, she trans- planted it to Springdale Farms, a public park in Spencerport, New York. This venture has allowed her to combine her passion for growing flowers with the satisfaction of sharing her knowledge with others. A FARM WITH A MISSION The 200-acre farm dates back to 1876, when it functioned as an orchard. Some of the old stone buildings remain, still in use. Since the late 1960s, when it was purchased by Monroe Coun- ty, it has become a model for educating the public about work- ing farms. A program offered through Christian Heritage Services provides disabled adults with opportunities to help care for the animals and grounds, and to assist with group tours and visitors. (For more information on Springdale Farm, visit www.heritagechristianservices.org or call (585) 349-2080.) Nellie’s flower business works in conjunction with and en- hances the farm’s mission. Her flower fields and display gardens teach and inspire visitors, and provide therapy for the disabled who work in them. “I’ve always thought that landscaping should Top: Nellie Gardner stands in front of her shop; its have a purpose,” says Nellie. “Plants should be beautiful and proceeds help support Springdale Farms. Center: useful.” Garden tours, demonstrations, and classes are given dur- The farm is owned by Monroe County, and operates ing the seasonal events the farm celebrates. to educate the public about working farms. Bottom: Visitors to the farm are fascinated with the connection of gar- Gardner shows young visitors to the shop how to den to table. Even children are interested. Why not? Vegetables create their own bouquets.

May / June 2007 25 Resources Nellie works with program participants to harvest flowers from the Specialty Cut Flowers: The Production of Annuals, Perennials, nearly two acres of fields (top left) and load them for transporting to Bulbs, and Woody Plants for Fresh and Dried Cut Flowers by the shop (top right). Above: Nellie combines colorful flower mixes for Allan M. Armitage and Judy M. Laushman. Timber Press, sale as bunches and bouquets. Portland, Oregon, 2003. are craftily tucked into a pizza garden planted just for them. The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Flowers from Seed to This is not a hands-off public garden. Nellie finds it rewarding Bloom by Eileen Powell. Storey Publishing, North Adams, to help people experience the connection between growing Massachusetts, 2004. plants and how they are used. Before she arrived, participants in the program were limited to taking care of the animals. Now The Flower Farmer: An Organic Grower’s Guide to Raising and they help grow, harvest, and make the flower bouquets that are Selling Cut Flowers by Lynn Byczynski. Chelsea Green Pub- sold to the public and produce income for the farm. “It’s very lishing, White River Junction, Vermont, 1997. satisfying for them to be directly involved in this small business they helped to create,” she explains. Getting Started in the Field-grown Production of Cut Flowers by Holly Scoggins. Virginia Cooperative Extension Service GARDEN CONNECTIONS Publication Number 426-618, August 2002. Since her arrival, Nellie has transformed the grounds into a va- www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/envirohort/426-618/426-618.html. riety of themed display gardens. Four beds on either side of a long grass path are planted in large blocks, providing efficient access for maintenance and harvest. A walk through the chil- dren’s garden, biblical garden, and sensory garden lead you to a pergola covered in grape vines—a shady spot with comfort-

26 the American Gardener FOOLPROOF CUT FLOWERS To grow your own cut flowers, you don’t need a lot of space or even a dedicated cutting garden. Many flowers that are used for cut- ting make stunning additions to the mixed flower border. Nellie offers the following tips for growing cut flowers in your backyard:

■ Space your flowers close together, six to 10 inches apart, depending on their size. Close spacing encourages longer stems and less side branching. ■ Water plants before they look like they need it. Stressed plants do not bloom well. ■ Practice regular deadheading and cutting to ensure continual bloom.

The following are some of Nellie’s favorites: Ageratum houstonianum ‘Blue Horizon’, 11/2 feet tall, purple-blue fuzzy flower heads on sturdy stems Amaranthus ‘Opopeo’, 4 to 7 feet tall, red, upright spikes, burgundy infused leaves Antirrhinum majus (snapdragon) Rocket series, 3 to 4 feet tall, two-lipped flowers on upright racemes in a broad range of colors Celosia ‘Hi-Z’, 3 to 4 feet tall, magenta wheatlike flower spikes on reddish stems Dahlia Karma series, 21/2 to 4 feet tall, wide range of flower colors and shapes, long vase life Eustoma grandiflorum Echo series (syn. Lisianthus russellianus), 2 to 3 feet tall, large double flowers in shades of blue, rose, and white Gomphrena globosa (globe amaranth) ‘All Around Purple’, 2 feet tall, rounded, purple flowers on stiff stems Rudbeckia hirta ‘Prairie Sun’, 21/2 feet tall, yellow tipped orange rays around light green center Salvia farinacea (mealycup sage) ‘Blue Bedder’, 2 to 21/2 feet tall, slender, upright stems of long lasting blue flowers Regular cutting and deadheading Zinnia elegans ‘Benary’s Giants’, 31/2 to 4 feet tall, large double flowers in a variety promotes the continuous production of of colors new flowers all season long. able chairs to sit and enjoy the view. hangs all the materials that will be Nellie is always thinking about the used for making dried arrangements connections between the gardens and and wreaths. Nothing is wasted; any its visitors. “I thought it would be nice leftovers and broken bits are added to for the parents to be able to enjoy the the mixings for potpourris. gardens while their children played, so “People are intrigued by the fact that I created a space just for them,” she they can see my flowers growing in the says. The nearby children’s garden, fields, then used in bouquets, dried with its sand pile and digging toys, is arrangements, and wreaths that we hidden behind tall sunflowers. make,” says Nellie. Many visitors in- Her workshop, with its mingled quire about growing the same flowers smell of flowers and old wood, is in their own gardens. Nellie is always housed in one of the original barns. willing to offer her recommendations Flowers are everywhere; they stand in for the best cut flowers and pass on her buckets, hang from the rafters, and fill tried-and-tested gardening tips (see the coolers. It’s a breathtaking sight. “Foolproof Cut Flowers,” above, for Another room provides work space for One of Nellie’s dried arrangements, a basket of some of her suggestions). putting together the bouquets that are mixed everlastings, is displayed on a rustic chair. I left Springdale Farm and Nellie’s sold daily to visitors. shop inspired, my car loaded with a va- I had always considered the shapes of celosia, gomphrena, riety of her favorite flowers, with hopes of reproducing some of and amaranth stiff, their colors garish and difficult to work her magic in my own home and garden. into a design, but as I admired her multicolored arrangements, I gained a new appreciation for these flowers. Nellie told me Freelance writer, photographer, and garden designer Christine that they are exceptional, long-lasting cut flowers. Many also Froehlich lives in Sodus Point, New York. She is also the director of the dry well, as a trip to Nellie’s drying room confirmed. Here she Rochester Civic Garden Center.

May / June 2007 27 28 the United States. often drought—is agiven over muchof of seasons,highsummer, whenheat—and tends tobloomduringthemostdifficult est gifttoAmericangardeners isthatit flowers, too. But perhapsthegenus’s great- mates andsoils.Theymakesplendidcut adapting well toanastoundingrangeofcli- to theirripeningseed.They’re easytogrow, totheirblossomsandbirdstract butterflies capture thesunin theirraypetalsandat- metal canmatch.Theirgoldenblooms offersatisfactionsnoinert rudbeckias have beenarichergardener,certainly for K though ahandful ofbiennialandannual Canada. Many are herbaceous perennials, nental United States andedginginto black-eyed Susans crisscrossing theconti- American one,withroughly 25speciesof The genusRudbeckia A GoldenTouch forGardens Rudbeckias A GoldenTouch forGardens Rudbeckias the American Gardener beckias insteadofgold.He would happier manhadhecraved rud- ING MIDAS might have beena is auniquely from blackanddeepbrown togreen. mounded orcone-shaped disksthatvary The brightyellow petalssurround gently talis), thebroad raypetalsare lacking. species, western coneflower (R.occiden- type, disk-and-rayflowers, thoughinone typically produce daisy- ing rudbeckias ofasinglestate. only asmallportion while someobscure natives layclaimto eral USDAhardiness and AHSheatzones, ized ranges thatspanvast stretches andsev- garden have native rudbeckias ornatural- exist.Mostrudbeckias ofourbest-known summer gardens. splash ofgoldencolorinlate American nativesoffersa This adaptablegenusofNorth Members oftheasterfamily, sun-lov- BY PAMBAGGETT BY PAMBAGGETT soms andlow-growing moundsof deep seen itsegg-yolk yellow, black-eyed blos- now gardener almostevery inAmericahas ular perennials intheUnited States. By sturm’ isarguablyoneofthe 10mostpop- KarlFoerster,German nurseryman ‘Gold- Discovered in1937by anemployee of would beoneofitshonored members. (USDA Zones 4–9,AHSZones 9–1) ia fulgida If perennials hadahalloffame, SPECIES LONG-LIVED sparrows nibblingontheseeds. offinches,grosbeaks, and an assortment lished in1900.Gardeners mayalsofind Neltje Blanchan inNature’s Garden , pub- wrote popular Americannature author sogenerous,”away from anentertainer andbeetlescouldnotbekept terflies, riety ofwildlife.“Bees, wasps,flies,but- heat ofsummer, attractava- rudbeckias In additiontothriving inthehigh var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’ Rudbeck-

ROB CARDILLO forest green foliage. It bears a profusion of ors are closely matched, ‘Goldsturm’ and two- to three-inch blooms that open atop Did you know? orange coneflower make attractive echoes branched, two- to three-foot scapes be- Carolus Linnaeus (1707–1778), the of one another in border designs. ginning in midsummer. Swedish naturalist who established If you’re only familiar with the dark, ‘Goldsturm’ does suffer from a flaw: It the system of plant nomenclature bristly foliage of ‘Goldsturm’, prepare for shrivels in hot dry summers, and if still in use today, named the genus a shock when you see the cabbage-leaf drought comes during bloom time, flow- in honor of father and son Olaus and coneflower (R. maxima, Zones 4–8, 8–1). ering is severely curtailed. But in mois- Olof Rudbeck, who were professors It produces rosettes of waxy, blue-gray fo- ture-retentive soils, it blooms exuberantly at Sweden’s Uppsala University. liage; the individual leaves are paddle- for six to eight weeks. ‘Goldsturm’ spreads shaped and nearly a foot long. quickly, forming a weed-suppressing, (from mid-July to October), and it is a far Throughout spring, cabbage-leaf cone- three-foot-wide colony in three years. tougher plant in a drought. flower is content to remain low-growing, Standing in the shadow of ‘Goldsturm’ Although seed is often sold in catalogs, but in early summer it sends stiff, nearly is what, in my experience, is an even bet- ‘Goldsturm’ is a named cultivar and leafless five- to eight-foot stems careening ter black-eyed Susan: the orange cone- should be propagated vegetatively. Orange skyward, bursting into bloom with skirts flower (Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida, coneflower, however, is often grown from of golden petals ringing two-inch brown Zones 4–9, 9–1). This winsome creature is seed. Genetic variability can lead to dif- cones. The stems may topple in loose, more delicate than ‘Goldsturm’ in both ferences in size and vigor, though typical- overly rich soil, but on sandy soil or heavy leaf and flower. Its two-inch blossoms are ly it forms a 24- to 30-inch-tall plant. Since clay they stand straight. Though it’s native more numerous, its bloom season longer their bloom seasons overlap and their col- to moist prairies of the south central Unit-

Top: A prolific blooming habit and widespread adaptability make Rudbeckia fulgida var. sullivantii ‘Goldsturm’ one of the most popular herbaceous

CHARLES MANN perennials in American gardens. Opposite page: Rudbeckia hirta ‘Irish Spring’ with its pale green disks is commonly grown as an annual.

May / June 2007 29 30 the American Gardener ‘Gold Drop’. tall ‘Golden Glow’, andtwo-tothree-foot flowered cultivars exist:three- tofive-foot offer sufficientmoisture. Two double- ly shadedsitesare suitable,provided they find itasattractive asIdo. Sunny orlight- self tooustit,sincebirds andbutterflies places. But I’ve notbeenabletobringmy- wedging its offspringintoinconvenient flower intomygarden. It self-sows freely, may have erred inbringingcutleafcone- limegreenpetals andprotruding cones. small lemon-yellow blossomswith reflexed of widelybranchedstems,producing ning inmidsummeritbloomsatthetips cleft foliagewithpalemid-veins. Begin- five-foot, stemsanddeeply silvery-green Every summeritcatchesmyeye withits Zones 3–9,9–1)grows inlow, wet spots. zona, thecutleafconeflower Montana andsouthtoFlorida andAri- to itsinvasive potential. with ‘Herbstsonne’, reviews are mixed as ble goldenflowers onsix-footstems.As Another cultivar, ‘Goldquelle’, bearsdou- to besoinmyNorth Carolina garden. stsonne’ invasive, butI’ve never foundit staking. Some gardeners consider‘Herb- grown richsoilsit’s invery likelytoneed sonne’ needssufficientwater, andwhen leaves. To atitsbest,‘Herbst- perform seven-foot stemscloakedinglossygreen August toOctober, atopsturdy, five- to produces itsbrightfour-inchflowers from tive, raisedgreen cones.‘Herbstsonne’ low, reflexed petalssurrounding distinc- well. Theflowers are exquisite: sulfur-yel- brid involving tumn Sun), althoughthisisprobably ahy- known foritscultivar ‘Herbstsonne’ (Au- is seldomgrown ingardens. It isbest southeastern United States, butthespecies nitida, Zones 5–8,8–1)isnative tothe theless copeswell withdrought. ed States, cabbage-leafconeflower never- that canbecomeinvasive.Bottom: Glow’ isadouble-floweredheirloomvariety Rudbeckia stems of Top farleft:Growninfullsun,thetallflower staking. Left: midsummer toearlyfall. Another denizen ofmoist locations,R. While itislovely inroadside ditches,I Native tomoistplacesfrom Canadato Shining orgreen-eyed coneflower (R. Rudbeckia maxima Rudbeckia ‘Herbstsonne’ bloomsfrom Rudbeckia laciniata Rudbeckia R. laciniata rarely require parentage as (R. laciniata, ‘Golden

TOP LEFT: SUSAN A. ROTH. TOP RIGHT: JOSEPH G. STRAUCH JR. BOTTOM: ALEKSANDRA SZYWALA DESIGNING WITH BLACK-EYED SUSANS When I add a new rudbeckia to my garden, I look for partners flower heads open their tiny blooms in time with rudbeckia’s that echo and contrast both color and texture. The saturated broad golden daisies. Other sedums such as dark-leaved ‘Ma- colors of most coneflowers find their match in other exuber- trona’ and ‘Purple Emperor’ offer new possibilities, as do low- ant tones: fiery oranges and reds, burgundy, strong purples growers such as ‘Sunset Cloud’ and ‘Vera Jameson’. and blues. Contrast comes from using subtler shades, like the Over the last two decades, ‘Goldsturm’ and other cone- steely-blue foliage of grassy Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’, flowers have starred in the “New American Garden” style— or the rusts and russets found in spiky cordylines, phormi- championed by designers Wolfgang Oehme and James van ums, and carexes. Red-hot poker plants (Kniphofia spp.) and Sweden—which utilizes drought-resistant perennials and numerous daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.) offer bold colors as grasses to achieve a prairie look. But don’t let that cramp your well as contrasting flower and foliage texture. The flaming style: While rudbeckias look very natural overhung by amber waves of grain, they also shine with bold tropicals such as purple-leaved Canna ‘Wyoming’ or yel- low-striped ‘Striata’ (aka ‘Bengal Tiger’). Lan- tanas also work well with rudbeckias, adding crisp green foliage and non- stop clusters of brightly colored blooms. Rudbeckias can also be combined with woody plants in mixed borders. They shine in front of burgundy- or black- leaved shrubs such as Sambucus nigra ‘Black Rudbeckias lend themselves to informal combinations with other Lace’, Physocarpus op- summer bloomers. Above: Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ with ligularias, ulifolius ‘Summer Wine’, daylilies, maiden grass, and liatris around a manmade stream. Top or (where they aren’t in- right: A meadow planting of rudbeckias and prairie coneflowers vasive from seed) purple (Ratibida spp.). Right: Rudbeckia nitida provides a bold background barberries (Berberis for a mixed border that includes Perovskia atriplicifolia, Verbena spp.). Summer-flowering bonariensis, and Platycodon grandiflora. shrubby companions in- clude oakleaf hydrangea tubular flowers and gladioluslike foliage of crocosmias are cus- (H. quercifolia); Hy- tom-made for combining with rudbeckias, while the dark blue drangea paniculata; or purple flower spikes of veronicas and salvias make a hand- bush clover (Lespedeza some contrast to their golden daisies. Rudbeckias look lovely thunbergii); purple- with a sweep of carpeting verbenas (such as Verbena canaden- spired chaste tree (Vitex sis ‘Homestead Purple’) at their feet, or use tall, airy V. bonar- agnus-castus); and re- iensis as a scrim if you can tolerate its self-sowing. peat-blooming shrub roses. Species that bloom in late summer Soft-colored rudbeckias—such as sulfur-yellow Rudbeck- and fall combine exquisitely with the metallic violet berries of ia ‘Herbstsonne’ or R. laciniata—need a gentler touch, so native beautyberry (Callicarpa americana). rather than choosing super-saturated shades, I look for medi- Wildflower meadows make perfect homes for rudbeckias. Oth- um-toned or pastel companions. Pale blue-violet Salvia er meadow-worthy natives that bloom concurrently include: bright guaranitica ‘Argentine Skies’, buttery yellow or peachy-pink red Hibiscus coccineus; butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa); pur- daylilies, and pale purple veronicas blend beautifully with the ple-spiked blazing stars (Liatris spp.); Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium coneflowers’ delicate tones. spp.); switchgrass (Panicum virgatum); wild petunia (Ruellia hu- When ‘Goldsturm’ first became popular, almost every gar- milis); anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum); licorice plant (Agas- dener in America planted it next to Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’. It is tache rupestris); bergamot (Monarda fistulosa); and rattlesnake an excellent pairing, if widely overused; the sedum’s domed master (Eryngium yuccifolium). —P.B. LEFT AND BOTTOM RIGHT: SUSAN A. ROTH; TOP SAXON HOLT

May / June 2007 31 Sources Bluestone Perennials, Madison, OH. (800) 852-5243. www.bluestoneperennials.com. Catalog free.

Forestfarm, Williams, OR. (541) 846-7269. www.forestfarm.com. Catalog $5, free online.

Niche Gardens, Chapel Hill, NC. (919) 967-0078. www.nichegardens.com. Catalog online.

Plant Delights Nursery, Inc., Raleigh, NC. (919) 772-4794. www.plantdelights.com. Catalog online and print catalog for 10 stamps or box of chocolates.

Prairie Nursery, Westfield, WI. (800) 476-9453. www.prairienursery.com. Catalog online. Rudbeckia occidentalis is grown for its prominent and curious-looking cones. Sunlight Gardens, Andersonville, TN. (800) 272-7396. www.sunlightgardens.com. Catalog online. cut flower ‘Green Wizard’. A four- to five- foot-tall perennial native to the western United States, it produces domed, deep Resources chocolate-purple cones. Though it lacks Herbaceous Perennial Plants by Allan M. Armitage, Stipes Publishing, Cham- the colorful ray petals typical of the genus, paign, Illinois, 1997. (New edition to be published by Timber Press in 2007.) green bracts form a stiff ruff around the central cone and are prominent enough to resemble petals. Western coneflower subtomentosa (Zones 4–7, 7–1) grows west south to Texas, Louisiana, Mississip- prefers sunny to partly sunny sites and from Michigan and Wisconsin south to pi, and Georgia, rough coneflower is a plentiful moisture. It makes a long-lasting Louisiana. Known as sweet coneflower for tough prairie plant that tolerates drought. cut flower and can also be dried. its fragrant, gray-green foliage, it bears The western coneflower (R. occidental- loose cymes of lemon-yellow blossoms in is, Zones 3–9, 9–4) is enjoying a spell of SHORT-LIVED SPECIES late summer and early fall. The flowers popularity thanks to being marketed as the Brown-eyed Susan (R. triloba, Zones 3–11, have a perky look, thanks to slightly up- turned flower petals that ring reddish- brown cones. The attractive, deep green leaves are three-lobed and lightly toothed. Sweet coneflower grows three to four feet tall, though some gardeners recommend pinching the tips in spring to produce more compact plants with stronger stems. It prefers moist conditions and accepts any fertile soil. If you’re adventurous, try five- foot-tall ‘Henry Eilers’, whose flowers sport unusual quilled ray petals. Rough coneflower (R. grandiflora, Zones 5–9, 9–5) produces bright yellow blossoms with short, reflexed petals sur- rounding burnished brown cones. In spring it forms a basal rosette of showy, foot-long green leaves similar in texture to R. maxima, but as it grows upward, rough coneflower produces plentiful foliage along its three- to four-foot stems. It blooms in early summer, with one big blossom

crowning each stem. Native from the Mid- The anise-scented flowers of Rudbeckia subtomentosa are borne from summer to fall. TOP: COURTESY OF NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. BOTTOM: SAXON HOLT

32 the American Gardener CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION Given proper siting, few plants are eas- ier to grow than rudbeckias. When planting, careful consideration to each species’ moisture preferences will en- sure best performance. Even drought- tolerant species require regular water- ing until the plants are established. Perennial rudbeckias may need divid- ing every few years in the spring to keep them in vigorous bloom. Rudbeckia species are easy to grow from seed, but if you want named cul- tivars to come true you must propagate them by cuttings or divisions. Most rudbeckias germinate well from seed sown at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold- conditioning (stratification) at 40 de- grees for three months before moving to warm conditions speeds germina- tion in some species. Seeds can be Above: Although it is typically biennial in sown in pots and placed in the refrig- nature, Rudbeckia triloba often self sows. erator or garage to stratify, or if plant- Right: Rudbeckia hirta ‘Rustic Colors’ is easily ing a wildflower meadow, they can be grown from seed and produces a continuous sown directly in late fall or early spring. display of flowers all summer. If you’re purchasing potted plants, look for healthy, unspotted foliage; leaf 12–1) is a biennial or short-lived perennial spots may indicate fungal or bacterial native or naturalized over the eastern and infections. Growing rudbeckias in midwestern United States. A multi- moderately fertile, heavy, yet well- branched, three- to five-foot plant, brown- drained soil, spacing plants properly, eyed Susan bears hundreds of petite golden and watering in early morning help blooms from early summer until nearly prevent disease. —P.B. frost. In many seedlings, wine-red stems offer additional color. Brown-eyed Susan performs best with a little moisture but tol- flower, especially the tetraploid versions— ‘Toto’ are available, as are a handful of dou- erates dry conditions. Because it freely self- those forms bred with extra sets of chro- ble-flowered selections, including another sows, it’s an excellent plant to use in mosomes—collectively known as gloriosa AAS winner, 16-inch-tall ‘Cherokee Sun- wildflower meadows. daisies. A number of handsome selections set’, with flowers in a mix of yellow, bronze, Then there’s two- to three-foot tall true exist, all easy to grow from seed. The flow- and mahogany. black-eyed Susan (R. hirta, Zones 3–9, ers are considerably larger than those of 10–1), a plant so adaptable it is native or their diploid parent, often five to six inch- THE GOLDEN TOUCH naturalized over the entire continental es wide. They may be solid yellow or won- Unlike King Midas, whose golden touch United States except Nevada and Arizona. derfully painted with mahogany, rust, or nearly doomed him, we can safely turn our It flowers in open woods, meadows, and russet tones. ‘Rustic Colors’ offers a dra- gardens gold all summer simply by har- along roadsides from May to October, matic mix of multi-colored blooms on nessing the power of rudbeckias. Consid- bearing its familiar golden-petaled blos- three-foot stems. ‘Indian Summer’, an All- ering the many species and cultivars of soms. Black-eyed Susan is an annual, bi- America Selections (AAS) winner, bears Rudbeckia available, there are plenty of ennial, or short-lived perennial, its brilliant golden flowers on 30-inch plants; choices to make our gardens glitter even longevity often determined by its suscep- equally tall ‘Irish Eyes’ boasts yellow petals when all the other plants are sulking! tibility to fungal diseases in rainy or humid surrounding green cones. Slightly taller, climates. Its pubescent leaves and stems ‘Irish Spring’ produces similar yellow petals Garden writer and former nursery owner trap moisture that can lead to its decline. and green cones; it makes a great cut Pam Baggett lives in Cedar Grove, North

DAVID CAVAGNARO (2) Nevertheless, it makes a fabulous cut flower. Dwarf forms such as 10-inch-tall Carolina.

May / June 2007 33 34 C of longmixed borders 11feet wide.Out- length oftherectangular lawn, are apair fastigiate maples. tions oneithersideby identicalrows of walkway—and isseparatedfrom thesec- tangle oflawnframedby abroad tral sectionisutterlysimple—alongrec- outlines butdifferent characters.Thecen- triptych. Thethree sectionshave similar five-acre formalgarden intheshapeofa point sitsastonepavilionthatoverlooks a the cityatnearly224acres. On itshighest area, Ault Park largestpark in isthefourth less-heralded green spacecalledAult Park. gardening Iwouldrecommend avisitto Garden. But foranyone inclinedtoward and theCincinnatiZoo andBotanical Arboretum, theHauck BotanicGarden, gems suchasSpring Grove and Cemetery Outside this frame, and running the Outside thisframe,andrunning ofthedowntownLocated northeast the American Gardener INCINNATI IS system aswell ashorticultural having alargeanddiverse park fortunate in fortunate heaven forbid,alow-bid contractor. the care ofamunicipalgrounds crew or, is alaboroflove andcan’t berelegated to viduality. Theyhave style.Such agarden work ofanenthusiast.Theyhave indi- immediately theywereders, Iknew the ofthelayout. formal geometry ance oftheplantingsisincontrastto ginnings ofalabyrinth, buttheexuber- with theirwalkways,seemlikethebe- garden. Thetwopairs of borders, along of mixed borders definingthesidesof identical tothefirst;andthenanotherset side theseisanothersetofwalkways, herbaceous perennials,tropicals,andannualsjoyfullymingle. ornamental borderinwhichaneclecticcombinationof Tucked awayinCincinnati’s AultParkisanunheralded BY MICHAELCUNNINGHAM When Ifirstcameacross thesebor- Exuberant Exuberant gainly stature, andclusters of spiky with theirhuge, star-shapedleaves, un- castor beanplants(Ricinuscommunis) — lookingspines,andIfindthe have scary roses do though someoftheoldshrub really sinisteraboutthesemixed borders, son hasromantic appeal,there isnothing and clearlysinister. Whilethiscompari- witch’s garden aswild,unnaturallylush, Rapunzel anditsillustrationofthe having inmindourcopyofthefolktale tially referred toitasthe“witchy” garden, of color, texture, andform.My wifeini- out scheme,butariotofflower andleaf, This isnotidy, well-behaved bedding

TOP LEFT AND OPPOSITE BOTTOM: MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM. TOP CENTER: BRIAN F. JORG contrast, there is the kind of mixing and competition one finds in a fertile meadow, but with such vitality that I think of it as by Design an homage to the American prairie, its wild exuberance distilled and confined to four formally shaped beds. THE DESIGNER The creator of these borders is a modest but enthusiastic city employee named Brian Vorholt. By some enlightened poli- cy, his primary job is to make this garden. The first time I met Vorholt, he was sit- ting on a park bench with a clipboard on his lap, earnestly tapping a calculator. He was, he told me, trying to finish a plant order for next spring. The city has its own greenhouses, which produce plants for all the city parks. Vorholt was allotted 5,600 plants, but the order had to be turned in that day or he wouldn’t get any. Such procedures and deadlines are the essence of a bureaucracy, but they seemed incongruous to me that day, sitting on that park bench and looking at that unfettered garden. Vorholt, as I now knew, was a city employee, part of a bureaucracy, yet the

seedpods bearing the notoriously poiso- nous seeds—a little ominous. What impressed me was the sheer veg- etable mass of these borders, the profusion of stem, leaf, and flower, with some plants towering above our heads, and the density of it all implying great fertility in the soil. Tall herbaceous plants form the bor- ders’ backbones. In addition to the castor beans, there are many kinds of ornamen- tal grasses, including giant reed (Arundo donax) with its skyward plumes, an abun- dance of cannas with their bold, beautiful leaves, and various tallgrass prairie natives such as the deep-rooting silphiums and the many-flowered sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) that grow to 12 feet tall. Among, around, and in front of these Top: In Ault Park's mixed borders, Brian Vorholt selectively uses annuals such as snow-on- are hundreds of other annuals and peren- the-mountain and exotic tropicals like castor bean as punctuation to established perennials nials, all weaving together into a sort of such as variegated maiden grass and black-eyed Susans. Above: Vorholt's design includes herbaceous tapestry. In a classic herba- a colorful tapestry of annuals, perennials, grasses, and tropicals that mingle exuberantly on ceous border, the perennials are planted in both sides of central walkways. Opposite page: The border really comes into its own in late drifts and given enough room so that each summer, when the blooms of prairie natives such as silphiums and coneflowers provide a kind shows to its best advantage. Here, in pleasing contrast to the lush foliage of cannas, elephant ears, and other tropicals.

May / June 2007 35 36 Brian Vorholtdiscoveredthattheexotic-lookingvoodoolily here growinginashadysectionoftheAultParkborder,wasquitehardyCincinnati. als from thecity’s greenhouses. In addi- he hasbuiltup intheborder withannu- can supplementthestockof perennials seeds collectedfrom myhome.”Now he lot oftheplantsIinitiallygrew were from cause Ididn’t have muchofabudget, recallsder whenIstarted,” Vorholt. “Be- experiences inhishomegarden. from itthe year before—and sometimes year’s garden incorporates whathelearned making thegarden for 10 years, andeach in acooperative venture. He hasbeen he sawhimselfandthegarden asinvolved with Vorholt forlongbefore Irealized that titude toward theprocess. Ihadnottalked is notinspecifictechniques,buthisat- how hedoesitisnotsoobvious. Thekey assistance ofaseasonallaborer. fashioned roses. In summer, hehasthe by garden inthepark dedicatedtoold- maintaining theborder aswell as anear- time persondesigning,planting,and easy,” saysVorholt. He istheonlyfull- kind ofapassionforme,solearningcame took attheUniversity ofCincinnati.“It’s program inhorticulturea certificate he experience, buthehasalsobenefitedfrom hasmainlybeenlearnedthrough pertise that unbureaucratic thing,anartist. wonder ofitwasthathemanagedtobe “There wasn’t“There awholelotinthebor- That Vorholt isevident,but isanartist Vorholt’s horticulture anddesignex- the American Gardener as anyone mightassumefrom itstropical- that itisnothardy intheCincinnatiarea, aroid native totheHimalayas. He hadread voodoo lily(Sauromatum venosum), an ishisexperiencewiththe from observation from nurserieseachyear. plants which hepurchasesnew afew city—about $1,000annually—with tion, hegetsasmallbudgetfrom the a littlecleanupin themixedbordershedesigns andmaintainsinCincinnati’sAult Park. In earlyspring,Brian Vorholtdividesperennials, weedsoutunwantedvolunteers, anddoes A goodexampleofhow Vorholt learns (Sauromatum venosum), (Sauromatum shown end ofonetheborders. garden from themanythatare possible. provising withtherest, hechoosesone the border. By eliminatingsomeandim- can visualize theeffecttheymighthave in they show leaves, andhe theirfirst true learned torecognize theseseedlingswhen there isalwaysanexcess. It perpetuallymakesmore plants,and The garden is,ineffect,itsown nursery. grow, buttheyare toovaluable towaste. in someway. Theycan’t allbeleftto ders, andVorholt hastorespond tothem seedlings comeupinthefourmixed bor- Each springinnumerablevolunteer CULTIVATING VOLUNTEERS barrenwort or soriseimpressively through acarpetof any otherperennial forshade,andadozen so ithasproved tobe.He now treats itas might infactbehardy inCincinnati,and indicated toVorholt thatthevoodoo lily thewinter,having survived sprouted. This been thrown onthecompostpileand, up someofthebulbletshadaccidentally post pile.Apparently duringthefallclean ticed voodoo liliesgrowing onthecom- bulbs over thewinterinafrost-free place. ed cannasandelephantears,storingthe tender, treated itinthesamewayhetreat- looking leaves. Vorholt, believingitwas Through experience,Vorholt has That isuntilonespring,whenheno- (Epimedium spp.) attheshady

BRIAN F. JORG (2) I don’t mean to imply that Vorholt and had opened a little bouquet of regular intervals along the walkways, where deliberates over every seedling. There glowing orange-red daisies. it serves as a unifying element. are plenty of unplanned effects as well. Vorholt’s approach allows for such for- While the artemisia is perennial, it is One that caught my eye involved the tuitous effects, within his own designs. For not long-lived, and Vorholt is dependent annual Mexican sunflower (Tithonia ro- instance, he is careful to preserve seedlings on self-sown seedlings to renew his stock. tundifolia). It usually forms a six-foot- of a tall, upright artemisia that was in the A very different case is Perilla frutescens, a tall bush, but here a single branch had garden when he took it over. With its sil- plant that because of its dusky-purple forced its way up among the white- very-gray leaves and austerely formal habit, leaves is sometimes mistaken for a tall striped blades of a variegated maiden it makes an effective accent against the gen- coleus. Although perilla is an annual, it is grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Variegatus’) eral exuberance. Vorholt likes to grow it at a dependable self-sower—sometimes to a fault. The seedlings tend to come up in tight colonies around the mother plant, and they are easy to recognize by their BRIAN VORHOLT’S DESIGN TIPS purple leaves. Unlike the formal place- ■ Garden with wildlife in mind—for example, seeking out plants native to your re- ment of the artemisia, Vorholt uses peril- gion will help create habitat for birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. la to fill in wherever he feels there might ■ Take your cue from nature—it provides useful ideas for companion plantings and be holes in the border, so they appear hap- entire plant communities. After visiting prairies, Vorholt admired the effects provid- hazardly throughout. ed by groupings of native grasses and forbs such as Indian grass (Sorghastrum nu- Vorholt orchestrates the effects of many tans), little bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), coneflowers (Echinacea spp.), such volunteers, each with its own habits milkweeds (Asclepias spp.), and blazing stars (Liatris spp.). and uses. In addition to perilla, there are ■ Create grand scale by using lots of tall plants to fill up the large space in the cen- several kinds of cosmos, a tall celosia with ter of the bed, then scale down around them with increasingly smaller plants. Vorholt says this works particularly well when the border can be viewed from a distance. ■ Position plants based on tolerance for sun or shade. Vorholt puts sun-loving se- lections on the south side of the border and more shade tolerant plants—such as coleus, begonias, and strobilanthes—on the north side or in the shade of a few trees. ■ Repeat color and texture throughout to unify the planting. Vorholt likes to group a dwarf red canna, taro (Colocasia esculenta), and snow-on-the-mountain (Eu- phorbia marginata) around the garden. ■ Allow plants that self-sow to fill in around the more established plants that are the focal point of each design.

Vorholt includes natives such as beebalm to attract butterflies and other wildlife.

purple spikes, cleome with its spidery flow- ers and, most dramatic of all with its glar- ing variegation, snow-on-the-mountain (Euphorbia marginata). Vorholt is able to avoid much weed- ing by the simple expedient of dead- heading. By keeping troublesome plants from going to seed, he goes a long way toward getting only the seedlings he wants the next spring. In other cases, the plants themselves Vorholt places large plants, such as the variegated cannas above, in the center of the border, may be desirable, but an increase in their with successively shorter plants, such as perilla and artemisia, toward the front. numbers is not. Joe-Pye weed (Eupatori-

BOTTOM : MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM; FAR RIGHT: BRIAN F. JORG um purpureum), for instance, with its tall,

May / June 2007 37 The feathery plumes and tidy foliage of spodiopogon (Spodiopogon sibiricus) provide a soft colored background and complementary texture for Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia spp.), and spider flowers (Cleome hassleriana). canelike stems that lean with the weight their own. Wild senna (Senna hebecarpa), with its wiry stems and sparse leaves, was of its large panicles of purplish-pink for instance, is a large, shrublike peren- nearly inconspicuous until the small but flowers, is valuable to the garden, but nial attractive for its locustlike leaves and vivid red flowers began to open a foot Vorholt doesn’t want more than he al- yellow pea-flowers in summer. Its most above the mound of lantana. It’s a de- ready has. This native perennial would ornamental period, however, is in the fall lightfully playful combination. spawn seedlings all over the place if it when the small, oval leaflets turn yellow As I walked around the garden with weren’t deadheaded. Such is the case with and the seedpods darken to ebony. So Vorholt, several people came up to ask many plants in the garden, particularly Vorholt waits until the leaves begin to him a question or to express appreciation. the prairie natives. fall, then quickly removes the seedpods Judging by what they said, it was not the But Vorholt does let the seeds develop before they shatter and drop their seeds. details I was so taken by that interested on certain plants even though he doesn’t them, but the overall effect, the surprising want their seedlings. For one thing, he is PLANT COMBINATIONS exuberance, the barely contained wildness, interested in attracting wildlife to the gar- I mentioned the chance combination of in short, the “witchiness.” den, knows which birds eat what seed, the Mexican sunflowers with the variegat- It is not witchcraft, however, that and is willing to do some extra weeding ed maiden grass as a pleasing touch. makes such a garden possible, but the to let the birds feed. There are many such details, planned and whole arsenal of Vorholt’s gardening skills Then, too, many of the seedheads, unplanned, throughout the borders. and experience. I have focused on his seedpods, and fruits have a beauty of Vorholt occasionally takes the liberty of management of self-sowing plants because putting together a combination that looks it seems unique to the Ault Park border, unplanned. Not all the chance combina- but this is only one of the skills required. Visiting Ault Park tions are successful, but when they are, Among the others, we must not forget the The park is open daily 6 a.m. to 10 they give you a feeling of surprise. daily grooming required in a public gar- p.m. (closes at dusk in winter). It is lo- One that works well pairs tassel flower den to keep it looking as good as possible. cated at 3600 Observatory Avenue, in (Emilia javanica) with Lantana ‘Saman- It takes a lot of work to keep a garden Cincinnati, Ohio. For more informa- tha’. Vorholt, as he was planting the lan- looking so intriguingly unruly. tion, call (513) 956-9876 or visit tana, was inspired to sprinkle among the www.aultparkac.org. plants some seed of the tassel flower. It Michael Cunningham is a freelance writer

soon grew up through the lantana but, and gardener in Cincinnati, Ohio. BRIAN F. JORG

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THE LEADER I N ORGANI C- BASED LAWNCARETM © 2005. NaturaLawn of America, Inc. All rights reserved. Each office independently owned and operated. www.nl-amer.com For permission to reproduce this piece, call 800-989-5444. 40 G Jefferson’s gardens at and grown in Thomas by theFrench,perfume by theGreeks, mixed into balm wassteepedinwine medicinal uses.Lemon and ofculinary history have awell-established and desserts. the flavor of baked goods and soups,enhance light touchtomarinades flavor ofcasseroles, lend a zle instir-fries,perk upthe tically anyfood.Theysiz- bring outthebestinprac- characteristics always their lemonyculinary ture, color, andform.And an enticingvariety oftex- enliven ourgarden with of fresh lemons, theyalso itate thearomatic essence lemon balmnotonly im- verbena, lemongrass,and aroma and flavor. provide wonderful lemon plants we cangrow that from atree, there are other even whenyou can’t pluckafresh lemon covered through experimentationthat longer areliable option.But we have dis- many years ago,sogrowing lemonsisno member best. is thehomemadelemonadethatIstillre- lemon wasalwaysenticinginitself, butit fragranceofafreshcitrus cutorgrated backyard trees The brimmingwithfruit. Lemon-Scented Herbs Lemon-scented herbs Herbs suchaslemon My husbandandImoved toOregon the American Gardener ROWING UP fresh lemons courtesyof two fornia, I had ready access to Add a potpourri of texture, citrus fragrance, and lemon-fresh taste in southernCali- to your garden and cuisine with these easy-to-grow herbs. Lemon balmand variegatedlemonbalm Lemon balmand variegatedlemonbalm tainer garden onadeckorpatio,front into mostanygarden, whetherit’s acon- Lemon-scented herbsare easily integrated MIX ANDMATCH still quiteunderappreciated. lemony herbs,theirornamentalvalue is Yet, ofusefor inspiteofthelonghistory for centuries. a presence in Asian cookery and Argentina.Andlemongrasshashad happened uponitsnative habitatinChile tention ofSpanish explorers whenthey Monticello. Lemonverbena caughttheat- BY KRISWETHERBEE and pale pink flowers, is visually striking with itswoven matsofgold-fleckedfoliage tween pavers. ‘Goldstream’ lemonthyme, the nooks in a rock wall or the cracks be- themed” containerplantings,ortofillin the rock garden, asagroundcover in “tree- low-mounding forms oflemonthymein special lemon-themedgarden. ornamental border orcanbefeatured ina backyard. Theycombineeasilyinamixed kitchen door, oravegetable garden inyour garden, anherbbedoutsideyourentry For example,you canuse spreading or gold, variegated lemon splashed with yellow- With itslightgreen leaves scented groundcover. noides) (Trachelospermum jasmi- guineus) cosmos verbena with chocolate scents by growing lemon a tantalizingensembleof annual vegetables. Create tuce, peppers,andother or even with cabbage,let- (Brachyscome iberidifolia); bena, orSwan River daisy gardennasturtiums, ver- annuals suchaszinnias, or mostanysalvia;garden as catmint(Nepeta foil forornamentalssuch asanattractive that serves a visualcontrastoftexture an ideal edging plant. lemon thymealsomakes more uprightbushyhabit, dark green leaves and groundcover. With its ing asalemon-scented and aromatically appeal- Lemon grassprovides used asavanilla- (Cosmos atrosan- and star jasmine spp.)

JERRY PAVIA balm provides an eye-catching contrast when paired with purple sage (Salvia of- ficinalis ‘Purpurascens’) or any pink-flow- ering dianthus. LEMONY LOWDOWN Lemon fragrance and flavor aren’t the only attributes that lemon verbena, lemon basil, and other lemon-scented herbs share. With the exception of lemon thyme, which prefers light, dry soil, these herbs generally grow best in fairly rich, well-drained soil that’s kept moderately moist. All these plants also benefit from periodic branch-tip pruning to encour- age more leaf production and a bushier appearance. And if you plan to use any of the herbs discussed on the following pages for cooking or therapeutic purpos- es, it is especially important to avoid using synthetic pesticides on them. To help you decide which lemon herbs to grow, here’s an introduction to seven plants I have had great success with in my garden and kitchen.

LEMON VERBENA (Aloysia triphylla, USDA Hardiness Zones 8–11, AHS Heat Zones 12–8) is a favorite among many, myself included, with the most intense, lemonlike scent and flavor. This graceful, semi-deciduous shrub or tender perenni- Lemon grass al grows three to five feet tall in cooler cli- mates, and 10 to 15 feet in frost-free regions. Attractive foliage sets off long grasslike leaves. Native to India and nat- terminal racemes of tiny pale purple to uralized widely in subtropical regions, white flowers in summer. Grow it as a this three- to five-foot tender perennial specimen plant in the herb garden, orna- offers a graceful fountainlike shape to the mental border, or kitchen garden. Lemon herb, vegetable, or ornamental garden. verbena grows well in containers—either Use it to frame path edges, mixed in the mixed with other plants or as a single border for architectural impact, or fea- specimen—or trained into a standard. tured in containers. Lemon verbena grows best in fairly Lemon grass thrives in full sun and rich, rich and moderately moist, well-drained well-drained soil with ample moisture dur- soil in full sun. The roots often survive ing the growing season. It will overwinter when air temperatures reach 20 degrees or outdoors in near frost-free regions, or can lower if heavily mulched and grown in a be grown as an annual or container plant protected area. Where winters are cold, elsewhere. Begin harvesting stems when grow the plant in a large pot and bring it they are a half-inch thick near the base. indoors for the winter. Leaves can be used fresh or dried. Add Use fresh or dried leaves in bath sa- leaf buds and chopped stems to potpour- chets, potpourri, iced drinks, and in any ri, steep in black tea as a refreshing facial recipe to add a touch of lemon flavor. tonic for oily skin, or use to make teas or to spice up lemonade. Tender leaves and LEMON GRASS (Cymbopogon citratus, slices of the basal portion of the stems are Lemon verbena Zones 9–11, 12–1) produces a dense tuft best for adding to stir-fries, curries, and

DAVID CAVAGNARO (2) of green to bluish-green, rather coarse, other Asian-inspired dishes.

May / June 2007 41 42 EO BALM LEMON scent as I brush past. scent asIbrush to grow italongapath,where itreleases its green leaves splashedinbrightyellow. Ilike golden-yellow foliage,and‘Variegata’, with cluding ‘Aurea’ and‘All Gold’ with ing variegated cultivars are available, in- pale yellow flowers insummer. strik- Afew in height,itbearsunimpressive whiteto hardy perennial growing twotothree feet container planting.Aclump-forming, front oftheborder, pathedges,ormixed tive texturalelementtoakitchengarden, leaves, whichaddanattrac- heart-shaped is grown Zones 4–9,11–1) OR. (800) 626-0866. Territorial SeedCo., online andprintcatalog. www.territorial-seed.com. 213-0076. Park SeedCo., Free onlineandprintcatalog. www.mountainvalleygrowers.com. CA. J.L. Hudson,Seedsman, Sources Valley, CA.(559) 338-2775. Mountain ValleyGrowers,Inc., online andprintcatalog. Lemon thyme Lemon thyme the American Gardener www.jlhudsonseeds.com. www.parkseed.com. Greenwood, SC.(800) (Melissa officinalis, Cottage Grove, La Honda, Catalog free. mainly forits Squaw Free Free tolerate clay soil that has been amended draining, moderately moist soil, but will kitchen orherbgarden. rock orcontainergarden, ormingledina der plant,small-spacegroundcover, ina ety ofbeneficialinsects.It isgreat asabor- to whitesummerflowers appealtoavari- with silver, gold, or cream. Lavender-pink green, sometimesmarbledorsplashed ety. Glossy leaves canbelime-todark- to 12 inches high, depending on the vari- mounding, orerect grow subshrubs four lemon-pepper seasoning.Spreading, low- scent andflavorreminiscent somewhat of us, EO THYME LEMON salads, andvegetables. tea, oraddedtomarinades,soups,fruit can bebrewed tomakeatastyhotorcold flowerylemonflavoricate, somewhat and a refreshing facialtoner. Leaves have adel- wine-making andliqueurs,orsteepedinto be addedtopotpourriandsachets,usedin can also be dried for later use. Leaves can and attractive. shearing willkeeptheplantmore compact to prevent unwantedspread. Aregular tractive tohoneybees)before theysetseed will. Remove flowers at- (whichare very den, itcanbequiteprolific andself-sow at behavedmember issomewhat inmygar- shade.Whilethismint-family sun topart Lemon thymegrows bestinafree Young, tender leaves are bestfresh, but It grows inaverage, moistsoilinfull Zones 5–9,9–1)hasastrong lemon (Thymus ✕ citriodor- ‘Mrs. Burns’, acultivar of ‘Sweet Dani’ hasarounded growth habit; of lemon-scentedcultivars are available: the planttorelease itsfragrance.Acouple tainer, oranywhere against you can brush in theherborkitchengarden, inacon- three feettall,lemon basilcanbeplanted essence oflemonandfresh basil. er, and leaves are redolent with the sents beingtransplanted,stemsare soft- delicate andpetiteinappearance,itre- basil inseveral ways:theplant ismore um, leaf production. out flower spikes astheyformtoprolong erately moist,well-drained soil.Pinch grown inasunnylocationrich,mod- warmed to 50 degrees. It thrives when all dangeroffrost haspassedandsoil more robust andbears larger leaves. EO BASIL LEMON toes, salads,orsautéed vegetables. soups, grilledchicken orfish,bakedpota- fective mosquito repellent. leaves them and on rub your skin as an ef- to repel moths from linens, fresh or crush fresh or dried. Use several flowering sprigs to keepthembushyandproductive. or cutbackplantslightlyafterflowering shadewherepart summersare hot.Shear with organicmatter. Grow itinfullsunor A frost-sensitive annualgrowing oneto Basil isbestseededrightinplaceafter Sprinkle fresh or dried leaves over Leaves andflowering tipscanbeused Lemon basil Lemon basil Zones 0–0,11–1)differs from sweet (Ocimum O. basilicum, ✕ citriodor- is

TOP: JOSEPH G. STRAUCH JR.; BOTTOM: ALEKSANDRA SZYWALA Add fresh or dried leaves to soups, stews, stir-fries, casseroles, baked goods, chicken and fish dishes. Fresh leaves add zest to iced beverages and hot teas, or can be used to make herbal vinegar or an es- pecially tasty pesto.

LEMON-SCENTED GERANIUMS (Pelargonium crispum, P. citronellum, etc., Zones 10–11, 11–1) vary in bloom color, leaf form, and growth habit. Some are sprawling or trailing plants, others are large robust specimens such as ‘Mabel Grey’, which grows to six feet in height. Regardless of size, all are deer-resistant, drought-tolerant tender perennials that provide a welcome alternative to more common annuals such as petunias and marigolds. With such a diversity of plant forms, there are a multitude of ways to use them in the garden: as a specimen Lemon-scented geranium plant or trained as a standard; as edging plants; cascading over a rock or wall; in an herb garden or annual flower bed; or Provide some shade during the heat of the cards. Float fresh leaves and flowers in fin- in hanging baskets, window boxes, or day where summers are especially hot. gerbowls, or bury a few leaves in a con- decorative pots. Pinch stems occasionally throughout the tainer of sugar to infuse it with a hint of Grow these African natives as perenni- growing season to encourage branching lemon flavor. Fresh leaves are more fra- als in frost-free regions, or as annuals and shapelier plants. grant and attractive than flavorful but can where winters are cold. Plants thrive in a Use the dried leaves and flowers of be used in teas and iced drinks, home- sunny, well-drained, slightly dry soil scented geraniums in potpourri and sa- made ice cream, herbal butters, jams, amended with plenty of organic matter. chets or in crafts, such as pressed flower cookies, and cakes.

DESIGN IDEAS FOR A LEMON-SCENTED GARDEN ■ Lay out a cartwheel design with bricks to separate the beds. Plant lemon verbena in the center, with alternating beds of lemon grass and lemon balm planted within the inner spokes. Border the outer circle with lemon basil, lemon thyme, and lemon-scented geranium. ■ Design a keyhole-shaped bed, with a path planted with alternating blocks of various lemon thymes leading to a bench. Frame the back of the bench with a raised bed of lemon balm or lemon mint and place a potted lemon verbena on each side. Build two quarter-circle raised beds on opposite sides of the path and in front of the bench and plant with lemon grass. ■ Assemble a grouping of decorative pots planted with lemon-scented herbs on the deck or patio. Or feature a containerized garden of lemon- scented herbs by your front entry. Grow lemon verbena and lemon grass in large pots; lemon balm in medium pots, several small pots of lemon basil staggered at various heights; lemon mint and lemon thyme in window boxes; and a trailing lemon-scented geranium spilling out of a hanging basket. ■ Grow lemon-scented herbs in a bed designed in any shape, and fill A tall specimen of lemon verbena takes center stage in in with sunny annual flowers such as dwarf sunflowers, zinnias, and this mixed bed that includes variegated sage, bottom. ‘Lemon Gem’ marigolds. —K.W. TOP: CATRIONA TUDOR ERLER; BOTTOM: RICK WETHERBEE RICK BOTTOM: ERLER; TUDOR CATRIONA TOP:

May / June 2007 43 LEMON MINT (Monarda citriodora, Zones 5–9, 10–2) is a hardy annual or short-lived perennial native to the Mid- Lemon Balm Almond Muffins west and southern United States. Also Makes 1 dozen known as lemon bergamot or lemon bee- balm, these aromatic plants grow 12 to 30 1 cup unbleached flour 1/3 cup plain yogurt inches tall and have lance-shaped, dis- 1 cup rolled oats 3/4 cup buttermilk tinctly lemon-scented leaves with hints 3/4 cup almond meal* (optional) 1 tablespoon slivered of mint. Whorls of showy lavender to 1/3 cup brown sugar almonds for garnish white summer flowers offer double at- 1 teaspoon baking soda traction—the blooms attract butterflies 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and hummingbirds, and the calyxes that 1/2 teaspoon salt Glaze for muffins: remain after the small flower petals fall 1 tablespoon fresh chopped lemon 2 tablespoons lemon juice are quite striking. They make a pleasing balm (or 1 teaspoon dried) 2 tablespoons honey addition to hummingbird or butterfly 1 egg 2 tablespoons apricot preserves gardens, cottage gardens, herb gardens, 1/4 cup almond oil or wildflower areas. 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

* To make almond meal, grind raw almonds in a food processor just until finely ground but before it turns into a nut butter.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix together the dry ingredi- ents from the flour to the salt. Stir in the lemon balm. In a small bowl, whisk the egg, almond oil, and almond extract until blended. Stir in the yogurt and buttermilk. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, stirring just un- til moist and combined. Spoon the batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle almond slivers evenly over the top of each muffin cup and press gently with the back of a spoon to make contact with the batter. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until a wood- en pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Meanwhile, stir the glaze ingredients together in a separate bowl. Remove the muffins from the pan and cool on a wire rack. Immediately after removing the muffins, brush the tops of each with the glaze. LemonLemon mintmint

Plant divisions in spring, or sow seeds on bare ground in fall or early spring. They Apple Fig Salad with Lemon Verbena Riesling Dressing grow best in full sun and well-drained soil Makes 4 to 6 servings with average moisture, but will also grow in light shade. While not invasive, lemon 2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh lemon verbena mint self-sows freely in ideal conditions. 1/2 cup Riesling wine Blooms of this easy-to-grow native are 1 tablespoon honey wonderful for fresh-cut flower arrange- 1/2 cinnamon stick ments, or for wreaths and other crafts 3 cups chopped apples, such as Fuji (about 2 large apples) when dried. Both leaves and flowers are 2 cups chopped mandarins (such as Satsuma) or oranges also used in potpourri. Edible parts include 8 sliced figs (fresh or dried) flower petals and lemon-flavored leaves. 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans Sprinkle flowers in salads or as a garnish for stir-fries and other dishes. Leaves are ex- In a small saucepan, combine lemon verbena, wine, honey, and cinnamon stick. cellent to flavor teas or can be used fresh or Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered for five minutes. Remove from dried in a variety of baked goods, fresh fruit heat and let cool. salads, vegetable casseroles, and other pre- Meanwhile, prepare fruit and combine in a large serving bowl. Add chopped pared foods. pecans and dressing, then gently toss to coat fruit. Serve chilled. Freelance writer Kris Wetherbee and her hus- band, Rick, grow lemony herbs in their gar-

den in Oakland, Oregon. STRAUCH BETSY

44 the American Gardener TOP: COURTESY OF JERRY PAYNE, USDA-ARS, WWW,FORESTRYIMAGES.ORG; BOTTOM: COURTESY OF CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN bees longdistances,viraldiseases,afun- accumulated stress from transporting may playarole inthedecline,including ever scientistssuspectavariety offactors sometimes literallyovernight. with beesdisappearinginlargequantities, and colonydeclineisrapid, unusual fortheseinsects— characteristic thatishighly fail toreturn tothehive—a disorder differsinthatbees like pastcolonylosses,this sion by commonpests.Un- dead insects,andslow inva- without anysignofthe sudden lackofadultbees inSpainbeen observed andPoland. the country. Similar occurrences have has sinceafflictedhives in24statesacross along theEastCoastinfall2006,CCD lapse disorder (CCD).First reported threat todealwith,known ascolonycol- hasanew eases, thehoneybeeindustry In pestsanddis- additiontoeveryday BELEAGUERED BEES left inFebruary 2007toruntheNaplesgarden fulltime. cal GardenandtheNaplesBotanical GardeninFloridasinceJune2005.He since 1994,hadjuggledthe jobofexecutivedirectorattheClevelandBotani- as theinstitution’snewexecutivedirector.Ronaynebecame CBG’schiefoperat- Cleveland BotanicalGarden’sboardofdirectorshasappointed NatalieRonayne New ExecutiveDirectorofClevelandBotanicalGarden PLACESintheNEWS PEOPLE and Natalie Ronayne Horticultural NewsandResearch ImportanttoAmericanGardeners The causeofCCDisunknown; how- CCD ischaracterized by hives witha the countrytowork,study,and play.” vironment, andmakingGreater Clevelandthebestplacein public officials,andthoseofusdedicatedtoplants,theen- a significantknowledgeofthecommunity,itsresidents, skills,” saysRuthS.Eppig,presidentofCBG’sboard,“and of Parks,RecreationandPropertiesfortheCityCleveland. utive director.Previously,shewasdirectoroftheDepartment ing officerin2005,thenayearlaterbecameitsactingexec- Brian Holley,whowastheprevious executivedirector “Natalie possessesstrongadministrativeandfinancial ColonyCollapseDisorder.html. website athttp://maarec.cas.psu.edu/ please visittheMid-Atlantic Apiculture squash, andsunflowers. asparagus, broccoli, celery, pumpkins, cados, blueberries,cranberries,cherries, sectorsofagriculture.fect oncertain annually, CCDcouldhave adramaticef- cial honeybeesestimatedtobe$15billion tems are beingcompromised. speculate theafflictedbees’ immunesys- ered deadbees,causingresearchers to inthegutsofrecov-have beenobserved High andfungi bacterialevels, viruses, gus, parasiticmites,andinsecticides. GARDENER For more informationonCCD, value ofcommer- With themonetary C crops suchasalmonds,avo- honeybee pollinationfor on to 100percentdependent Federation. Farmers are 90 the AmericanBeekeeping Browning, vicepresident of pollinate thatfood,”saysZac dent onahoneybeeto sume inourdietisdepen- “Every third bitewe con- ’ NOTEBOOK S USDA willhave tolook at theimpactof grass inOregon, Idaho, and Virginia. approximately 2,000acres ofitsbent- before grantingpermitsforScottstotest documentation showing ithaddoneso gineered crops, andthere wasno mental riskoffieldtestinggeneticallyen- stepstodeterminetheenviron- certain ulation requires thattheUSDAtake ronmental Policy Act (NEPA). Thisreg- USDA hadviolatedtheNational Envi- other plaintiffs,thejudgefoundthat ment, theCenterforFood Safety, and tional CenterforTechnology Assess- for testinggeneticallymodifiedplants. (APHIS)tion Service usestograntpermits USDA AnimalandPlant Health Inspec- into questiontheassessmentprocedure the easily withothergrasses. herbicide-resistant grassthatcancross could result from thedevelopment ofan have voiced concerns thata“superweed” ronmental groups and federalagencies Monsanto’s herbicideRoundup sists glyphosate,themajoringredient in ing bentgrass(Agrostis stolonifera) developed ageneticallyengineered creep- firm, theScottsMiracle-Gro Company major biotechnologyandagribusiness species upto13milesaway. crossed withwildplantsofthesame a 400-acre testplotinOregon andhad genetically engineered grasshadescaped sulted from thediscovery in2004thata alfalfa, rice,andsugarcane,itactuallyre- of controversies surrounding transgenic plots ofgeneticallyengineered crops. thoroughly review requests toplanttest ofAgriculturepartment (USDA)more orderedCourt thattheUnited States De- In earlyFebruary, theFederal District CROPS ON TRANSGENIC OVERSIGHT ORDERSMOREFEDERAL COURT As aresult ofthejudge’s “the ruling, In thecasebrought by theInterna- The testingofthebentgrassalsocalled In withMonsanto, partnership a comesinthewake While thisruling May /June 2007 ® that re- . Envi- 45 46 • Philadelphia’s HistoricLandscapes www.plantloverstours.com • TheHealingPowerofGardens for informationaboutourtours. Philadelphia’s the American Gardener and Horticulture landscape withitshistoryand explore gardensthatconnect Call 610-543-1024 www.plantloverstours.com Where History horticulture professionals • TheArtoftheGarden Themed tourscreatedby the Philadelphiaregion’s • ProgressiveWomen LOVER cultural attractions. Gardens Intertwine in Horticulture PLANT 2007 Tours Tour TOURS or visit TM S Rachel Carson of thelateauthorandecologistRachel May 27,2007,marks the100thbirthday CENTENNIAL CARSON RACHEL the USDAdoesn’t complywithNEPA.” ward, thesefieldtestscanbechallengedif process shouldtakelonger, andgoingfor- willmeanthatthepermitting “This torney fortheCenterFood Safety. doing,” explainsGeorge Kimbrell, staffat- ment, astheyhave hadapatternof wholesale excluding themfrom assess- all bioengineered crops insteadofjust more information. www.newtonmarascofoundation.org declare May 27RachelCarsonDay. Visit state, andlocalgovernments toofficially life. Theyare alsoworking withfederal, der,” aone-woman playaboutCarson’s soring presentations of“A Sense ofWon- celebrating Carson’s centennialby spon- “pesticide-free” day. topledgemakeMayeveryone 27a Spring. Theorganizationencourages decades andwhere shewrote Rachel Carsonlived formore thanthree Spring, home in which Maryland, cil isholdinganopenhouseattheSilver www.rachelcarsonhomestead.org. ronmental footprint” by goingto can makepledgesto“reduce theirenvi- Carson’s environmental ethic.”Anyone havior andpoliciesthatpromote Rachel permanent, measurablechangesinbe- featuring theLegacyChallenge“to make Feast” onMay 27.TheHomestead isalso Birthday Celebration&Sustainable ebration willincludethe“RachelCarson Springdale, Pennsylvania, ayear-long cel- ing placethroughout thecountry. several eventsbirth, andactivitiesare tak- commemorate thecentennialofCarson’s The Newton Marasco Foundation is On May 19,theRachelCarson Coun- At theRachelCarsonHomestead in efforts toraisepublic efforts of breast cancer, her Carson diedin1964 Silent Spring . Though with her1962book, mental movement the modernenviron- ited withlaunching Carson, widelycred- onate today. To mental issuesstillres- awareness ofenviron- Silent for launched theGreen Hour Wildlife Federation (NWF)has green ratherthanascreen, theNational In togetyoungsters totuneinto aneffort KIDSWITHNATURE CONNECTING tection process.” “Raising awareness iscriticalto thepro- Coalition State Organizer for California. Mark Rockwell, theEndangered Species second annualEndangered Species Day. olution todeclare May 18,2007,asthe groups, the Senate recently passedares- ment from numerous conservation dangered Species Day. With encourage- U.S. Senate designatedMay 11,2006En- dangered plantsand animals,lastyear the In ofthreatened, support rare, anden- ENDANGERED SPECIESDAY tions, andideas. canshareparticipants comments,ques- blog anda“CommunityCorner” where other naturaltreasures. There isalsoa nests, acorns,and der webs, bird for feathers,spi- scavenger hunt and goingona that cometovisit, tifying thebirds a feederandiden- a tree, puttingup include adopting yard activities ommended back- Some oftherec- pearing weekly. suggestions ap- activity with new and enjoy nature, dren toexplore parents andchil- vides ideasfor tion withthenaturalworld.” include “unstructured playandinterac- ence atleastonehouradaythatwould signed toencouragechildren toexperi- to joinin. son. Go tohttp://rcbookclub.blogspot.com discuss booksby andaboutRachelCar- of thecentennial.During 2007,theywill abookclubinhonor Center have started NationalService Training Conservation “Many speciesare says struggling,” On On The Friends oftheFish andWildlife www.greenhour.org, theNWFpro- soil ecology. teach childrenabout Digging forwormscan ™ program, de-

LEFT: COURTESY OF U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE; RIGHT: DAVID ELLIS TOP: COURTESY OF THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE www.stopextinction.org. dangered Species Coalitionwebsite at chusetts, alsoplantohostevents. Arnold Arboretum inBoston,Massa- Wild Flower Society inFramingham and team intheworld.TheNew England researchthe largestzoo multidisciplinary search forEndangered Species (CRES), Diego’s andRe- CenterforConservation seminars attheZoological Society ofSan species. Thesewillincludelectures and threatenedprotecting andpreserving events of toemphasize theimportance These new stampsdepictfourpollina- These new world’s foodand ornamental plants. and otheranimalsthatpollinate the recognition oftheinsects,birds, bats, isreleasing stampsin Service fournew This summer, theUnited States Postal OFAPPROVAL STAMP FORPOLLINATORS tion, visitwww.anla.org/research. jects since1963.For additionalinforma- funds toapproximately 600research pro- ed more than$4 millionofindustry Landscape Association,HRIhasaward- crops. um fornursery the useofpinechipsasacontainermedi- $15,000 foranexperimentinvestigating tute andState University wasawarded Wright from Virginia Polytechnic Insti- to theEmerald AshBorer.” Robert D. on “Molecular Biology ofAshResistance from Ohio State University fortheirwork to Pierluigi Bonello and Daniel A.Herms of North America,”anda$25,000grant of New LandscapePlants forallRegions Minnesota forhisproject, “Development Landscape Plant Development Centerin $30,000 award toHarold Pellett ofthe Committee from acollectionofmore for 2007.Chosenby theHRIExecutive research projects andfourscholarships (HRI) hasawarded $350,000tofund24 The Horticultural Research Institute RESEARCH FORHORTICULTURAL GRANTS For more information, visittheEn- Numerous organizationswillhost A divisionoftheAmericanNursery & techniques tothefield. problems andoffernew to solve industry-related based ontheirpotential projects were granted than 100applications, The grantsincludea ironweed onprairie butterfly a southerndogface saguaro flower cana); alesserlong-nosedbatand (Epilobium canum, with ahummingbird blossom trumpet (Solanum xanti); bumblebees withpurplenightshade relationship.” toensure theviabilityofthat necessary and plantssuggeststhebiodiversity logical relationship between pollinators locking designthatemphasizes the“eco- tors andfourwildflowers inaninter- pollinators willbeavailablethissummer. This setoffournewstampsfeaturing The stampsfeature twoMorrison’s P.O. BOX145,DEPT. AG07,LYNDONVILLE,05851/TEL. 802-626-3610/WWW.BAGBALM.COM VT WEST OFROCKIES: SMITHSALESSERVICE, 16372S.W. 72NDST., PORTLAND, OR97223 It’s remarkablewhatbigthings arebeingreportedaboutthestuffinsideour little greencan.Trysometoday. Yourskinshouldbesoftertomorrow. (Vernonia fasciculata). (Carnegiea gigantea); (Carnegiea a calliopehummingbird “Elsie’s beautysecret.” DAIRY ASSOCIATION CO.,INC. “Works wonders.” syn. Zauschneria and and E Written byEditor Assistant Viveka Neveln to learnhow you canparticipate. windows.ucar.edu/citizen_science/budburst the Project Budburst website at changes inournaturalenvironment. Visit scientists hopetomonitorlonger-term fects ofclimatechangeonplants. torical records totracktheef- inaneffort scientists willcompare theresults tohis- through June 15.Aftercompilingthedata, and flowering timesofanindividualplant mental plantsandthentracktheleafing from alistof54trees, andorna- shrubs, natural surrounding. Participants choose events intheir public tomonitorcertain paign thatencouragesmembersofthe globalchangeresearch.”to support designed tocompile“phenological data al Phenology Network, anorganization ject Budburst, sponsored by theNation- inPro-climate changeby participating Gardeners canhelptracktheeffectsof CHANGE A BLOOMIN’ With thecontributionofpublic, Project Budburst isanationalcam- ditorial Intern Capstack. Courtney –Denve –Glamour r r r Post May /June 2007 www. 47 48 by CourtneyCapstack Students GetCompetitiveEdgeatPLANETCareer Days friendly competition between five colleges: ET in2005—the event debutedasa Care AssociationunderthenamePLAN- which mergedwiththeProfessional Lawn Landscape ContractorsofAmerica— Originally sponsored by theAssociated held atMississippi State University in1977. resentatives attendedtheinauguralevent, rep- less than200studentsand18industry into theleadingattractionitistodaywhen No onedreamed thatSCDwouldblossom HUMBLE BEGINNINGS A ticipated events oftheyear.” PLANET’s mostsuccessful,broadly par- vice provider community. It’s oneof from students andcompaniestotheser- across-the-board appreciation, industry PresidentPLANET Jim Martin. “There’s year.every students andprofessionals SCD attractshundreds of petitions, itisnowonder individual andteamcom- career fair, andavariety of local attractions,abustling hind-the-scenes toursof professionals, be- industry presentations ledby noted of informative workshops, Offering acollection ET). Landcare Network (PLAN- sored by theProfessional reer Days (SCD),spon- inStudentparticipated Ca- schools across thecountry more than900university studentsfrom 53 petition inthegreen industry. Thisyear, tional recruiting event andstudentcom- and winaprestigious titleatthelargestna- ketball game,butforachancetonetwork spike ortoattendaMarch Madness bas- because ofamid-semesterattendance “This event isjustdynamic,”says “This the American Gardener N INFLUXOF campus March 29toApril 1,not the Michigan State University students swarmed together inthepatioconstructionevent. Students MarkMaslowandNickDanglwork tering thefield.” terrific career path andinspire thoseen- tering thework force know aboutthis Our jobis tomakesure young people en- dustry, ourprofession wouldfallback. group ofstudents enteringthegreen in- adynamicandhealthytoptier “Without saysMartin. educational opportunities,” missionsistoadvance most important valuable recruiting opportunity. sentatives theevent begantoview asa bled inthesecondyear, andmanyrepre- Mississippi State. But theattendancedou- Milwaukee Area Technical College,and Ohio State, Texas Tech, Georgia Tech, ley Landscape CompanyinMaryland, student participant. Buck, SCDcommitteechairandaformer career inthegreen industry,” saysJennifer rectly fora related totheskillsnecessary tunities, andcompetitive events thatare di- “educational sessions,networking oppor- attended thisyear’s event, whichprovided More companies than80green industry EDGE THE COMPETITIVE RWN H FUTURE THE GROWING “We firmlybelieve oneofPLANET’s As arecruiting director forChapelVal- C finding SCDavaluable placetomeet firms, somenon-profit organizationsare members.” ships withfellow industry allows metobuildmypersonalrelation- ployees andinterns,”saysBuck, “and it fessional goaloffindingqualifiedem- “SCD helpsmetoaccomplishmypro- chance forseekingpotentialemployees. Buck alsoseestheevent asavaluable programs thatwe offer,” saysAHSEd- benefit from themany resources and with thefacultyandstudents whocan force, andtoestablishagrowing dialog with studentsabouttoenter thework- tobothinteract opportunity portant for thelasttwoyears. “SCDisanim- staff membershave attendedtheevent American Horticultural Society (AHS) prospective internsandemployees. visit about PLANETandhowtogetinvolved, Louisville, Kentucky.Tolearnmore Green IndustryConferenceandExpoin ning agreenindustrybusiness,and gives personnelaninsidelookatrun- Specialty SymposiuminIndianathat Meeting June20inOntario,Canada,a events includeaSummerLeadership courses annually.Otherupcoming programs, shows,andcertification the GreenIndustry,”ithostsavarietyof Bearing theslogan“WeAreVoiceof from allaspectsofthegreenindustry. ports morethan4,000memberfirms interior plantscapers.”PLANETsup- sign/build/installation professionals,and landscape managementcontractors,de- supporting “lawncareprofessionals, (PLANET) isaninternationalassociation The ProfessionalLandcareNetwork WHAT’S PLANET? In additiontocommercial landscape www.landcarenetwork.org.

COURTESY OF ROBERT F. MCDUFFIE / VIRGINIA TECH ucation Programs Manager Stephanie dents from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg to Jutila, who attended this year’s event. SCD for 10 of the past 12 years, also finds the event a worthwhile venture for his stu- TESTING THE BEST dents. “Mingling with 800 other students This year, students competed in 24 in- from around the country has an eye-open- dividual and team contests in various ing effect. The students see that the field of categories ranging from personnel man- landscape contracting is actually pretty di- agement, exterior and interior design, verse, with a growing level of professional- and irrigation troubleshooting, to wood ism,” says McDuffie. “Companies from all construction, equipment operation, and over come to put their best foot forward in tree climbing. With the help of contest hopes of finding their next best employee.” descriptions, study guides, and identifi- A different university hosts SCD each cation lists posted on the PLANET year. Michigan State University in Lansing website, students often prepare for is scheduled to host next year’s competi- hours before their competition. tion, followed by North Metro Tech of At- “I attended for three consecutive years lanta, Georgia, in 2008, and Cal Poly and learned something new each time,” Institute of Pomona, California, in 2009. says Sonya Lepper Westervelt, a former Virginia Tech student Zachariah Hancuff pre- “SCD is a premier annual opportunity to student competitor from Virginia Tech. pares to climb a tree in an arboriculture event. see how great the industry is and to see stu- “This event gave me the opportunity to dents competing in their new career visit new places, make professional con- attribute my career to attending PLAN- choice,” says Martin. “I’m not sure there’s tacts, and compete in specialty areas, all ET.” Lavoie currently works for Valley- another event like it in any other industry.” of which positively influenced my Crest Companies in Dallas, Texas, one of For more information about the SCD, knowledge of the green industry.” many landscaping firms represented at visit www.studentcareerdays.org. Stephanie Lavoie, a four-year com- the event. petitor from Kansas State University, says Landscape architect and Associate Pro- Courtney Capstack is an editorial intern for

COURTESY OF ROBERT F. MCDUFFIE / VIRGINIA TECH “SCD events were all valuable, and I can fessor Robert McDuffie, who has led stu- The American Gardener.

herry Lake Tree CFarm is pleased to announce its corporate partnership with the American Horticultural Society and is committed to helping fulfill the AHS mission by promoting the importance of large trees in PHOTO BY JAMES TRACY FROM 2006 GARDENER’S CALENDAR the landscape. 2007 “Gardener’s” Calendar (includes photos by AHS members who are also members of TGOA/MGCA) $6.95 ($59.00 for 10) Postpaid To order: call 515-278-0295 or e-mail [email protected] The Gardeners of America/ Men’s Garden Club of America presents the 2007 National Convention Gardening Heaven in 2007 July 12–14, Rockford, IL Registration form at www.tgoa-mgca.org

May / June 2007 49 50 by DoreenHoward oe wi:TVPersonality, Author,Environmentalist Roger Swain: den affects the environment, and the message he wants every gardenerden affectstheenvironment, andthemessagehewantsevery totakeheart. Elisabeth, totalkabouttheunpredictability offilminganoutdoorgardening show, how thewaywe gar- his 1984book,Field Days: Journal ofanItinerant Biologist. H pair shortly afterwe met30yearspair shortly ago. wearing themsinceElisabeth gave mea wear themonlyforTV, butI’ve been They keepmypantsup!People thinkI How didyou comeupwiththem? You’re famousforyour red suspenders. the ground mightbeforked. ground or thefirstcarrot Ipulledoutof mightpullupintheback- UPS truck freezing coldwhile we were filming, the challenges. Whenitwasn’t rainingor urban locationpresented itsown set of talking toaTVcameraatthesametime. They’ve never triedplantingagarden and of breath—except Idon’t have asthma! my asthmabecausesometimesI’d besoout the show tellmethey couldhelpmewith demanding. I’ve haddoctorswhowatched shot inahalfdayorless,whichcouldbe Roger Swain: gardening show fortelevision? Garden. you astheformer hostof Doreen Howard: Producing anoutdoorprogram inan Doreen Howard caughtupwithSwain athisNew Hampshire farm,where helives withhis wife, the American Gardener E’S KNOWN years hostingPBS’s Garden TheVictory , butRoger Swain bestdescribeshimselfinthesubtitleof What wasitlikemakinga We did500episodes,each Many peopleknow merous essays ongardening andtheenvironment. One ofthem, as aco-hostofHGTV’s People, Places &Plants. years hasbeenthescienceeditorofHorticulture biology from Harvard studyingantbehaviorintropical rainforests andforthelast29 er: AGuide toBreaking New Ground Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s Gold Medal forhis“power toinspire others.” 1992 AHSGreat AmericanGardeners Award forHorticultural Writing, andin1996,the Horticultural Society’s 75Great AmericanGarden booksin1997.Swain received the as “the maninthered suspenders” duringhis15 forhistrademark fashionaccessory The Victory Swain Garden leftTheVictory urban lawnsto containclover; itwas in- was considered highly desirableforsub- nature. Fifty years ago,forinstance,it But gardeners canalso losetouchwith planting peasweeks before theyusedto. than usualortheyfind canbegin when theyseelilacsbuddingoutearlier gardeners global warming,forexample.Longtime their fingersonthepulseofnature. Take difference. Gardeners have alwayshad What we do inourgardens doesmakea us understandthenaturalworld? our planet.How doesgardening help everything we doasgardeners affects You’ve written extensively abouthow magazine. ended upasscienceeditorat enjoyed writingessays,whichishow I ofbotanycoursesincollege.Ialways lot form ofteenagerebellion. Later, Itooka abackyardI started vegetable garden asa gardening? When didyou becomeinterested in N NOEWITH ONE ON ONE know C the climateischanging in 2002,buthestillmaintainsanon-camerapresence Horticulture (1989), wasselectedasoneoftheAmerican The New England native earnedaPh.D. in … He hasalsowrittenfive booksandnu- magazine. and I’m year from still touringevery Feb- I beganmycareer asapublic lecturer, what’s goingoninAmericangardening? How are you keepingintouchwith chemicals—nor healthy. useoflaborand without extraordinary fect swathofgreen isneitherfeasible— thrive. We justhave torealize thataper- Lawns cantakecare ofthemselves and water lawnsandtomow themlessoften. for otherplants.It’s alsookaynotto to feedthegrassandattractspollinators in your lawn; itfixes nitrogen inthesoil it cametopass. And so—toparaphrasefrom theBible— clover couldbereclassified asaweed. the product—provided thebroadleaf for people sawamarketing opportunity clover wasconsidered adefect.But some lic inthe1940s,factthatitkilled D] wasintroduced totheAmericanpub- When thefirstbroadleaf herbicide[2,4- is itnow considered aweed? ofgrassseedmixes.cluded aspart Why I tellgardeners it’s okaytoleave clover The Practical Garden-

COURTESY OF ROGER SWAIN when we were a nation of fruit growers. In addition to our vegetables, we special- ize in small fruits from brambles to blue- berries to grapes and have several dozen kinds of tree fruits as well.

In your role as a garden communica- tor, what is the single most important thing you want to convey to your read- ers and audience? To get to the true essence of gardening, we have to get back to growing food plants; they’re the reason gardens were invented in the first place. The absence of anything ed- ible in so many American landscapes these days can only be viewed as people missing Videographer Brett Plymale films Roger Swain hosting an episode of HGTV’s People, Places out on the total gardening experience. & Plants program at Weston Nurseries in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. What’s the most rewarding part of ruary to May speaking at flower shows Could you describe your home garden? what you do? and other horticultural gatherings. I Many of my colleagues joke, “If you can’t Meeting people and putting a face on gar- enjoy lecturing, and I love a good audi- eat it, Roger won’t grow it.” Actually, we dens and food. There are plants and places, ence. I hunger for the questions I’ve grow all sorts of ornamental plants in our but they don’t make a garden. It’s not a gar- never been asked. garden, but we do raise about a quarter of den unless people are involved. When I’m not lecturing, I’m garden- our food and give away a heck of a lot. ing more than ever before to keep myself Elisabeth and I are trying to recapture Doreen Howard, former garden editor at

PAUL TUKEY / COURTESY OF PEOPLE, PLACES & PLANTS honest when I talk about it. pomology as it was before the Civil War, Woman’s Day, gardens in Roscoe, Illinois.

May / June 2007 51 52 by RitaPelczar The ScooponShovels,Spades,andForks tight spaces or for constructing trenches.tight spacesor for constructing narrow blades are usefulforworking in Shovelsis comfortable. andspadeswith blade forthejobandahandle length that tools requires therightsize andshapeofthe Obtaining maximumefficiencywiththese SIZE MATTERS back andupperbody. which putsconsiderablylessstrainonyour apply pressure withyour footasyou dig, dig inheavysoilbecauseitallows you to featureimportant tolookforifyou planto step attheshaftendofblade.Thisisan tween the handle andbladeofaspade. while there istypically littleornoanglebe- between the bladeandhandleofashovel, cuts. There isusuallyaslightangleorbend makes clean,straight,andifnecessary, deep of aspadeisflat,withsquared edgethat it canbeliftedwithoutspilling.Theblade helps containlooseorgranularmaterialso the soilmore easily. Its scoopedsurface It isthinnestatthetipsoitcanpenetrate with arounded, tapered, orpointededge. shape oftheblade.Ashovel’s isscooped handle. Themajordifference isinthe both have solidbladesattachedtoastraight Shovels andspadesare similarinthatthey OFDIFFERENCE A BLADE S tool touse. mulch, plants—willdeterminewhich sand, compost,gravel, garden litter, al withwhichyou are working—soil, and lotsofothergarden maintenancetasks. spreading soilamendments,moving mulch, edging, transplanting, bedconstruction, you willneedthemforsoilpreparation, your garden islargerthanawindow box, changesindesign.Iffor centuries,withfew and othermaterial.Theyhave beenaround Shovels andspadesoftenhave arolled The jobathandaswell asthemateri- the American Gardener HOVELS, SPADES, for digging,lifting,andmoving soil long-handled garden toolsdesigned and forks are toothed bladeoftheSuperShovelfromGardener’sSupplycutsthrough clayeyandrockysoils. grip spadefromCleanAirGardeningisusefulfordividingperennials.Aboveright:Thedeeply Above left:Rittenhouse’s40-inch-longgardenspadefeaturesaD-shapedhandle;thesmallerT- tackling. and mostefficient forthejobyou are foryou length thatismostcomfortable above. Thebottomline:Go withthe allow you toapplymore force from proved efficiency. AndD-shapedhandles lengthsresultcles, butshorter inim- leverage and easethestrainonbackmus- gests thatlongerhandlesprovide more tional Health andSafety (CCOHS)sug- and diggingdeepplantingholes. useful fortransplantingtrees andshrubs spades—sometimes calledtree spades—are moving sand,gravel, andsoil.Longbladed Broad, scoopedshovel bladesare great for The CanadianCenterforOccupa- RE GARAGE GREEN C ® steel bladeistipped withsharpteeththat from Gardener’s Supply. Its high-carbon ging—literally—with theSuper Shovel fear ofbreaking it. strength—you canleanbackwithout inches ontothehandlesection foradded jobs. Its stainlesssteelshaftextends22 grip handleissuitablefortacklingbig stainless steelgarden spade withitsD- nials. Its T-grip handleadds control. digging anddividingcloselyspacedperen- four-and-a-half-inch bladethatIlikefor inch-long perennial spadewithasturdy, You can putsometeethintoyour dig- At 40inches inlength,Rittenhouse’s Clean AirGardening hasapetite22-

LEFT: RITA PELCZAR; RIGHT: COURTESY OF GARDENER’S SUPPLY A broadfork is a tool that helps aerate WORLD’S #1 TOP soil or loosen it for planting; it can also be Sources used to loosen soil around root vegetables PLANT SUPPLY Clean Air Gardening, L.C., at harvest time. It consists of two parallel PLANT www.cleanairgardening.com. handles attached to either end of a flat #1HEALTH EXTRA LIFE crossbar that supports a row of short, Greatest Guarantee-Offer PROOF Ever 65YEARS, unchallenged, $5,000. GUARANTEED to be Gardener’s Supply, straight tines. To use a broadfork, step on World CHAMPION www.gardeners.com. the crossbar to sink the tines into the soil, #1 Activator, #1 Trans/ #1 Extra #1 REVIVER, PLANTER, GROWER, then step off and pull back on the handles WORLD’S FAIR SCIENCE-MEDAL-WINNING #1 Perfecter VI TMs Gardening with Ease, to an angle of about 45 degrees before 50 IN www.gardeningwithease.com. pulling it out and repeating the process ONE about six inches behind the first insertion. VITAMINS-HORMONES USED BY U.S. –– FERTILIZER GUARANTEED Departments of –– PESTICIDE –– POLLUTING BioUSABLES As Advertised in Rittenhouse, www.rittenhouse.ca. A pitchfork generally has a long, AGRICULTURE, ARMY, NON TM Better Homes & Gardens NAVY, AIR. Etc. TO ADD TO FERTILIZING for growing Landscape Architecture ALSO BY STATES, Horticulture CITIES, COUNTIES, DOUBLE MONEY-BACK straight handle and long, rounded tines UNIVERSITIES RECOMMENDED TOP VALUE BY EXPERTS OF TV, RADIO, BOOKS, EXTREME Concentration Union Jack Stable & Garden, with very sharp points; it is the fork of MAGAZINES, Dozens Drop-A-CupTM or CONFERENCES Drop-A-GalTM OF THE www.unionjackstable.com. choice for moving compost, straw, WORLD’S SCIENCE & INDUSTRY mulch, or weeds. ONLY GOLD MEDAL WORLD’S FAIR 1940 science ADD to any fertilizingTM The Unifork is a hybrid between a • 50 INSTANT BioUSABLES NORMAL PURE COMPLEXES • From Carbon-Hydrogen-Oxygen MIRACLES can challenge even hard, packed clay. And pitchfork and a shovel. Made in England natural organic crystals • Save plants from waiting while IN EACH trying to make them • Unique. Nothing is “like” it. DROP! its reinforced fiberglass handle is both and distributed in the United States by SEE TO BELIEVE–– HEALTHIER, FASTER plants strong and shock absorbent. Union Jack Stable & Garden, its large, BEAUTY and CROP yieldADDED TO 21 FERTILIZERS by 21 Growers YOU CAN scooped blade is constructed of light- ORDER PINT, TINE AFTER TINE QUART, weight, high-grade polypropylene. It is GALLON, Billions–PROVEN Like shovels and spades, garden forks are highly effective for shoveling mulch and or DRUM B A L A N C E D ORIGINAL ADDED TO 18 FERTILIZERS, by 18 Growers used for digging, mixing, lifting, tossing, great for turning the compost pile. and working the soil. The business end of Some forks are designed for specific a garden fork consists of uses. The Peta Easy Grip several sharply pointed Long Reach Fork is

tines that are usually made of stainless steel, NEARLY 1000 BOOKS, CONFERENCES, slightly curved to create but weighs only 1.2 RECOMMENDED BY MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS,TVs, RADIOS USED BY an angle with the handle pounds. Its ergonomic FIVE U.S. DEPARTMENTS TO HELP WIN WORLD WAR II to facilitate lifting and design makes it a good OF GOVERNMENTS, STATE UNIVERSITIES, LEADING THOUSANDS ARBORETUMS, BOTANICAL GARDENS, PARKS SYSTEMS tossing coarse material choice for those with U.S. STATES and CITIES IN MULTIPLE-DRUMS LOTS FLOWERING PLANTS SHOW WINNERS – “everywhere” such as manure, straw, or limited strength. It is HEALTHY, TOXICS-FREE FOODS GROWERS UNIQUE. Far easier plant success compost. There are several types Lightweight yet sturdy, the of forks. The border fork Unifork is a hybrid tool that has flat tines, and is pri- combines the features of a marily used for digging pitchfork and a shovel. and working the soil. It penetrates soil more easi- light enough to be used ly than a spade and caus- from a wheelchair. Gar- es less root damage. Its dening with Ease, which lighter weight accommo- carries Peta Grip prod- dates smaller gardeners. ucts, also offers an arm

Two forks can be used to divide densely grip that can be attached to this or any 11 XMAS TREES 17 HYDROSEEDING 22 FLOWERING PLANT 12 REFORESTATION 18 LANDSCAPING COMPETITIONS rooted perennials by inserting them back long-handled tool to provide greater 13 HYDROPONICS 19 PROPAGATION 23 INTERIORSCAPING 14 FIELD CROPS 20 ANTI-EROSION 24 CUT FLOWERS 15 BONSAI 21 ENVIRONMENTAL 25 WEATHER DAMAGE to back into a clump and pulling the forks leverage and stability. 16 TISSUE CULTURE IMPROVEMENT 26 WATER GARDENS apart. The digging fork is used for the So with all of the gardening tasks be- AT CONSCIENTIOUS PLANT DEALERS WORLDWIDE same purposes, but it has longer tines, so fore you this summer, be sure you have Used, tipped to, and supplied by thousands of conscientious it penetrates deeper. Either can be used the right digging-mixing-lifting-aerating- plant-selling firms. On every continent, without salesmen. for harvesting root vegetables; they are edging tools at your disposal. They will REFUSE “just as good,” false, cheaply made, unbalancing substitutes – often 991/2% water. sometimes called potato forks. The han- help you get your jobs done more effi- NOTHING IS AT ALL “LIKE” dles of both border and digging forks ciently—and with less stress. 50 VITAMINS-HORMONES often have a D-shaped or T-shaped grip V Made in U.S.A. by VITAMIN INSTITUTE I that can significantly add to their com- Rita Pelczar is contributing editor for The 12610 Saticoy Street South, North Hollywood, CA 91605 Website www.superthrive.com COURTESY OF UNION JACK STABLE fortable use and control. American Gardener.

May / June 2007 53 BOOKC REVIEWS

Recommendations for Your Gardening Library

Encyclopedia of Hardy Plants The Organic Lawn Care Manual Derek Fell. Firefly Books, Buffalo, New York, 2007. 224 pages. Pub- Paul Tukey. Storey Publishing, North Adams, Massachusetts, 2007. lisher’s price, hardcover: $29.95. 272 pages. Publisher’s price, softcover: $19.95.

SUMMER SNOWFLAKE (Leucojum aestivum) ‘Gravetye WHEN WAS the last time you sat down and consciously Giant’ grows wonderfully in my USDA Zone 4 garden, yet a thought about how your lawn—and the maintenance required friend who gardens on the border of Zones 5 and 6 can barely to keep it looking pristine—affects the planet? In The Organic keep it alive. Why? In his Encyclopedia Lawn Care Manual, Paul Tukey chal- of Hardy Plants, Derek Fell explains lenges us to ask tough questions about that cold hardiness is influenced by our lawns. Many years ago, Tukey asked every factor in the garden: wind and himself these same questions and dis- light exposure, soil type, precipitation, covered that our current conventional drainage, pH, and humidity. So when lawn maintenance practices are unsus- my winter lows reach minus 30 degrees tainable, to say the least. Fahrenheit, my Leucojum is safely Tukey provides the necessary back- buried in well-drained soil covered in a ground information and suggests good thick, insulating blanket of snow. My quality methods for achieving the same friend’s grows in clay soil, with little or no snow to protect it, results he did when he switched to organic lawn care methods. and so is apt to perish at a mere 10 degrees below zero. It does not matter if you live in Pensacola, Bangor, or Tacoma, To Fell, a hardy plant is one that “can survive severe winters, all the information you need for maintaining a healthy and especially in areas where the ground freezes,” though some of the beautiful lawn without synthetic chemicals is here. plants listed in this book are only hardy to Zone 6. The first chap- When evaluating this book, I set a number of parameters to ter covers those delightful hardy annuals that may successfully be see if it passed muster, including explaining grass anatomy, sown, or allowed to self-sow, in fall. Next come bulbs, herbs, plant nutritional requirements, soil basics, lawn installation, perennials, including some grasses, shrubs, woody vines, and trees lawn renovation, and proper maintenance practices. I also suited to growing in a garden. The book ends with a short chap- looked for information on lawn grass plant species and alter- ter on vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Each encyclopedia entry gives natives, repair methods, equipment selection, and trouble- plant habit, size, cultural needs, propagation, and a brief descrip- shooting, including how to deal with pests and diseases. Most tion, accompanied by one of the author’s fine photographs. importantly though, I checked to make sure that the book con- It is enlightening to read that trumpet vine (Campsis radi- tained information on how to improve the health of the soil. cans), which has never thrived for me, should be hardy to Zone In addition to providing all of this essential information, Tukey 3. This tells me that perhaps I’m not meeting some other cul- goes into depth on some very important points, such as proper tural need for it, and that I should stop blaming the cold for its watering practices, soil fertility, and soil improvement. I especial- demise. To my delight, Fell includes species daylilies, too sel- ly liked Tukey’s RILE (relax, identify, listen, eradicate) method for dom used in gardens anywhere. However, the book leaves out dealing with weeds and other pests. I also enjoyed the success sto- several of my favorite reliably hardy plants, including Clematis ries from other gardeners sprinkled throughout the book and viticella cultivars, Preston lilacs (Syringa ✕prestoniae), and the found the charts and graphs useful. The photographs are well dwarf arctic willow, Salix purpurea ‘Nana’. placed, truly illustrating the points Tukey is making in the text. Gardeners will always quibble about plant hardiness, believing Both Tukey and I have spent many years in professional turf- somehow that plants can be tidily classified and made to conform grass maintenance. We may use slightly different methods for to our human notions. But we cannot know, until we’ve tried accomplishing various tasks, but our goals are exactly the same. them ourselves, which plants will thrive in our gardens. This en- I highly recommend this book for your lawn’s health, your cyclopedia can save considerable frustration and money by offer- health, and the health of the planet we all share. ing us a starting point for our own experimentation. —Don Williamson —Nancy McDonald Don Williamson has 14 years of experience in golf course maintenance Freelance writer Nancy McDonald gardens with her husband and and construction and is the author of many gardening guides, including dog in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Lawns: Natural and Organic from Lone Pine Publishing (2006).

54 the American Gardener The Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes Rick Darke. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2007. 487 pages. Pub- ™ lisher’s price, hardcover: $59.95. Swim at Home

RICK DARKE’s Encyclopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes has, by virtue of the award-winning author’s splendid photo- graphs and its large format, the appearance of a coffeetable book. But it is unlikely to be relegated to the coffee table because the detailed descriptions of ornamental grasses and evocative examples of their use in the landscape offer something for gardeners of all levels of expertise and experience. The encyclopedic section of this book is an expansion of and update to Darke’s first reference on the topic, The Color Encyclopedia of Ornamental Grasses, published in 1999 by Timber Press. But the scope of this book is far greater, reflect- ing Darke’s interest in considering grasses and their use in gardens in the larger global context of ecology and sustainability. As Darke notes in the preface, the book “extends far beyond decorative de- signs and residential gardens to embrace contextual, conservation- based design of shared landscapes.” The bulk of the book (240 pages) is devoted to the encyclo- pedic section covering true grasses (Poaceae) as well as the relat- ed sedges, rushes, restios, and cattails. Detailed entries discuss each plant’s provenance, cultural needs, and uses in the landscape. For those who are befuddled by botanical nomenclature, chap- ter six, “Grass Names & Nomenclature,” will demystify it. Com- pared to Japanese vernacular names that are “specific and precise,” writes Darke, English-language vernacular names for plants such as various species of Miscanthus, are “neither common nor con- sistent.” For this reason, one should rely on “the universal preci- sion of the botanical names, which is precisely why they exist.” A chapter titled “Cultivation & Maintenance” will provide even the most novice grass gardener with the basics of choos- ing the right plant for, and from, the right place. Here Darke When exercise is a pleasure, explains the differences between the two broad categories of fitness is easy. grasses—cool-season and warm-season—and provides detailed instructions for the care and maintenance of these plants. Swim or exercise against a smooth current adjustable to For those readers who have dabbled in growing ornamental any speed in a unique pool measuring only 8' x 15'. The grasses, the best parts of this book will be chapter three, “The compact size makes the dream of pool ownership Beauty of Grasses,” and chapter four, “Design with Grasses.” practical in small spaces. The Endless Pool® is simple to The former illustrates reasons to grow these plants—for their maintain, economical to run, and easy to install inside or luminosity, their rich textures, and the sound and movement out. Think of it as a treadmill for swimmers. they bring into the garden. The latter shows examples of out- standing designs. These designs, from around the country and Already own a pool? around the world, suggest ways for gardeners in all climates to Ask about the place and mix ornamental grasses successfully with other plants in gardens and landscapes. For a FREE DVD or Video, call: —Carole Ottesen 800.233.0741, ext. 5763 A contributing writer for The American Gardener, Carole Ottesen or visit us at: is the author of several gardening books, including Ornamental Grasses: The Amber Wave. She gardens in Potomac, Maryland, and www.endlesspools.com/5763 Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

May / June 2007 55 GARDENERC’S BOOKS

Regional Gardening

AVING LIVED in disparate locales such as the Mid- not only techniques,” explains west and the Mediterranean, I know that the plants one DBG Public Relations Manager Hcan grow and the type of care needed to grow them can Holly Shrewsbury, who edited vary tremendously depending on where you live. Part of the ad- the book, “but ways of thinking venture of moving to a new region is getting to know new plants about how your own garden can and adapting to different climates and soil types. Reading good be in harmony with nature in a regional gardening books is one way I have discovered to ease the semi-arid, high-altitude environ- transition. These often become references I return to again and ment—celebrating, not fighting, again, even after I’ve become more comfortable with my new this region’s climate and growing area. For some gardening guidance tailored to your neck of the conditions.” Color photographs by Scott Dressel-Martin illus- woods, here are some recently published books that focus on var- trate almost every one of the book’s 168 pages, presenting a tan- ious regions and states in America. talizing glimpse of the region’s vibrant flora and landscapes. This year, the Globe Pequot Press is coming out with a line of Heading further west, Designing California Native Gardens Gardener’s Companion books that focus on individual states. by Glenn Keator and Alrie Middlebrook (University of Califor- For gardeners in New England, there’s nia Press, 2007, $27.50) takes a “plant community approach to one for New Hampshire, written by artful, ecological gardens.” The Henry Homeyer, and one for Massa- book’s 12 chapters deal with different chusetts by Barbara Gee. There’s also native plant communities that offer one for Colorado by Jodi Torpey. Up- the most potential for garden use, coming editions will include Michigan, ranging from redwood forests and Missouri, Montana, and Virginia. Re- mountain wildflowers to chaparral tailing for $14.95, each book covers the and wetlands. The authors provide a state’s soil conditions, plants that thrive plan (both as a color rendering and a in the climate, regionally specific plant- line drawing) to incorporate species care tips, and how to make the most of from each particular naturally occur- the growing season. They also include a ring plant community into a well-de- list of useful resources such as gardening books and organizations, signed garden. For example, the book information about local Master Gardener programs, and sources explains how to create a meadow garden with grasses, perennials, of seeds, tools, and other supplies. groundcovers, and bulbs that grow wild on California’s moun- Cool Springs Press, which focuses on regional gardening tains. Color photographs accompany many of the plant descrip- books, has a couple of new titles in its Month-By-Month™ series. tions and depict the great diversity of California’s landscapes. Its latest one is Gardening in Alabama & For those with an interest in tropicals, there’s A Tropical Mississippi by Bob Polomski, published Garden Flora by George W. Staples and Derral R. Herbst (Bish- this year. In 2006, it published Gardening op Museum Press, 2006, $59.95). This monumental reference, in Washington & Oregon by Mary Robson weighing in at approximately 900 pages, contains more than with Christina Pfeiffer. Cool Springs also 2,100 species of “plants cultivated in the has released several revised editions for Hawaiian Islands and other tropical Louisiana, Georgia, Minnesota, Wiscon- places.” Designed with both scientists sin, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. Priced at and gardeners in mind, the book in- $24.99, these user-friendly books provide cludes a section on general horticultural a monthly guide for working with various information relevant to gardening in plant categories including annuals, bulbs, roses, trees, and vege- Hawaii, such as propagation techniques tables. For each of these, the book discusses tasks such as planti- for tropical species. Additionally, the au- ng, watering, fertilizing, and dealing with pests, and gives other thors made an effort to “minimize tech- helpful hints for achieving a successful garden. nical terminology in favor of plant Rocky Mountain gardeners will enjoy Gardening With Al- descriptions and keys that use simple titude: Cultivating a New Western Style, published in 2006 English.” The book is further enhanced with hundreds of line by Denver Botanic Gardens (DBG) and written by several of drawing and more than 80 color photographs. its staff members. Using DBG as an example, “this book contains —Viveka Neveln, Assistant Editor

56 the American Gardener

REGIONALC HAPPENINGS

Horticultural Events from Around the Country

RAP JUNE 16. A Midsummer Night’s Garden NORTHEAST Events sponsored by or including official Gala. Virginia Tech. Blacksburg, Virginia. CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT participation by AHS or AHS staff members (540) 231-5970. www.hort.vt.edu/hhg. MAY 18–NOV. 25. Botanical Wonders: The Sto- are identified with the AHS symbol. ry of the Harvard Glass Flowers. Exhibit. JUNE 16. Tree-iage: Tree Maintenance Day. Corning Museum of Glass. Corning, New Events hosted by botanical gardens and Brookside Gardens. Wheaton, Maryland. (301) York. (800) 732-6845. www.cmog.org. arboreta that participate in AHS’s Reciprocal 962-1400. www.brooksidegardens.org. Admissions Program are identified with the RAP AHS MAY 24. Cooking with Herbs: Seductive RAP symbol. Current AHS members showing a JUNE 26–30. Defining Your Garden’s Cul- Cilantro. Culinary demonstration. Wave Hill. ture. Annual conference. American Public valid membership card are eligible for free or Bronx, New York. (718) 549-3200. Gardens Association. Washington, D.C. (302) discounted admission to the garden or other www.wavehill.org. 655-7100. www.publicgardens.org. benefits. Special events may not be included; RAP JUNE 1. Rare Plant Auction. Planting contact the host site for details or visit SOUTHEAST Fields Foundation. Oyster Bay, New York. ww.ahs.org/events/reciprocal_events.htm. AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN (516) 922-8682. www.plantingfields.org. RAP MAY 23. The Confident Cutting Garden: JUNE 2. HerbFest 2007. Festival. Connecti- JULY 18. Summer Field Day. Meeting and Fearless Flowers and Divine Design. Lecture. cut Herb Association, Inc. Coventry, Con- trade show. Massachusetts Nursery & Land- Atlanta Botanical Garden. Atlanta, Georgia. necticut. www.ctherb.org. scape Association and the Massachusetts (404) 876-5859. www.atlantabotanical Flower Growers Association. Boylston, Massa- garden.org. RAP JUNE 3. Jazz and Roses. Outdoor con- chusetts. (413) 369-4731. www.mnla.com. cert. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Brooklyn, RAP MAY 31. Landscapes of Tranquility: New York. (718) 623-7200. www.bbg.org. Meditative Garden Design. Lecture. Bern- MID-ATLANTIC heim Arboretum & Research Forest. Cler- PA, NJ, VA, MD, DE, WV, DC JUNE 7. Romance of the Garden. Garden mont, Kentucky. (502) 955-8512. tour. Garden Education Center of Green- RAP MAY 1–OCT. 1. Plants of the Powhatans. www.bernheim.org. wich. Cos Cob, Connecticut. (203) 869- Exhibit. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. 9242. www.gecgreenwich.org. Richmond, Virginia. (804) 262-9887. JUNE 2 & 3. Rose Exhibition. Blue Ridge Rose www.lewisginter.org. Society. The North Carolina Arboretum. JUNE 10. Plant Sale. New England Wild Asheville, North Carolina. (828) 665-2492. Flower Society. Framingham, Massachu- RAP MAY 20. If These Trees Could Talk. www.ncarboretum.org. setts. (508) 877-7630. www.newfs.org. Walking tour. Historic Green Spring Gar- dens. Alexandria, Virginia. (703) 642-5173. RAP JUNE 5–8. Cole Burrell Garden Writing RAP JUNE 16. Summer Solstice Celebra- www.greenspring.org. Workshop. Yew Dell Gardens. Crestwood, tion. Polly Hill Arboretum. West Tisbury, Kentucky. (502) 241-4788. www.yewdell Massachusetts. (508) 693-9426. MAY 22. Unconventional Containers. gardens.org. www.pollyhillarboretum.org. Workshop. Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. RAP JUNE 9. Hydrangea Symposium. Alaba- JUNE 22–24. Newport Flower Show. The (610) 328-8025. www.scottarboretum.org. ma Hydrangea Society. Aldridge Botanical Preservation Society of Newport County. Gardens. Hoover, Alabama. (205) 682- Newport, Rhode Island. (401) 847-1000. MAY 25. Organic Lawn Care. Lecture. United 8019. www.aldridgegardens.com. www.NewportFlowerShow.org. States Botanic Garden. Washington, D.C. (202) 225-1116. www.usbg.gov. JUNE 14–17. FNGLA Annual Conference. JUNE 23. Native Plants: Herb & Flower Festi- Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Asso- val. Cornell Cooperative Extension Master RAP MAY 26–JUNE 10. Satsuki Azalea Bon- ciation, Inc. Marco Island, Florida. (407) Gardeners. Oriskany, New York. (315) 736- sai. Exhibit. United States National Arbore- 295-7994. www.fngla.org. 3394. www.cce.cornell.edu/oneida. tum. Washington, D.C. (202) 245-2726. www.usna.usda.gov. JUNE 20–23. Southeast Greenhouse Confer- Looking ahead ence and Trade Show. Greenville, South Car- JULY 7. Hidden Treasures of the Berkshires. JUNE 7–9. Native Plants in the Landscape. olina. (877) 927-2775. www.sgcts.org. Home and garden tour. Lenox Garden Club. Conference. Millersville University. Lenox, Massachusetts. (413) 298-3089. Millersville, Pennsylvania. (717) 872-3030. JUNE 30. Summer Tree Walk. Callaway Gar- www.millersvillenativeplants.org. dens. Guided walk. Pine Mountain, Georgia. JULY 14 & 15. Gardening With The R.I. Mas- (800) 225-5292. www.callawaygardens.com. ters 2007 Garden Tour. URI Master Garden- JUNE 13. Plant and Tuber Sale. National ers. Rhode Island. (401) 874-2900. Capital Dahlia Society. Bethesda, Maryland. Looking ahead www.urimga.org. www.nationalcapitaldahlia.org. JULY 3–8. Gesneriads in Cool Miami. Gesneri-

58 the American Gardener ety. St. Paul, Minnesota. (952) 432-4313. Regional Public Gardens Highlighted in U.S. www.ars.org.

Botanic Garden Exhibit Looking ahead RAP JULY 10. Transplanting Ideas to Iowa TWELVE PUBLIC GARDENS around the country will converge in Washington, from Dutch and Irish Gardens. Lecture. Des D.C., from May 26 through October 8 at the U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) in “A Sense Moines Botanical Center. Des Moines, Iowa. of Place: Public Gardens Across Amer- (515) 323-6290. www.botanicalcenter.com. ica.” This exhibit will showcase “the way public gardens contribute to com- JULY 14–17. OFA Short Course. Floriculture munities and national initiatives—for trade show. Columbus, Ohio. (614) 487- example, conservation,” says Christine 1117. www.ofa.org. Flanagan, public programs manager at the USBG. “It will hopefully give the JULY 15. Dearborn Garden Walk and Heritage public a better understanding of how Festival. North Dearborn Association. varied and vital the gardens are to the Chicago, Illinois. (312) 632-1241. www.dearborngardenwalk.com. community and larger world.” Many of the featured gardens have AHS JULY 19–21. National Children & Youth also been working with the USBG Edu- Garden Symposium. Minnesota Landscape cation Department to provide classes Arboretum. Chaska, Minnesota. (952) 443- that highlight characteristics of each spe- 1400. www.arboretum.umn.edu. cific garden display. For example, Den- ver Botanic Gardens, one of the featured SOUTH CENTRAL gardens, will exhibit nine different gar- AR, KS, LA, MO, MS, OK, TX den troughs to highlight the diverse ecosystems of Colorado. They also plan JUNE 4–7. National Oak Wilt Symposium. In- The Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon, will ternational Society of Arboriculture–Texas to offer a class on how to make your own Chapter. Austin, Texas. (512) 587-7515. garden trough. Other classes will include be one of the gardens featured at the USBG. www.isatexas.com. an informational presentation on Japan- ese gardens by the Japanese Garden Society of Oregon, and the North Carolina Botani- JUNE 7 & 8. Planting the Seeds of Hope: The cal Garden will explore three habitats of carnivorous plant bogs. Perennial Gardener. State Master Gardener “This exhibit is a nice overview of the work of public gardens relating to aesthetics, continuing education conference. Clare- conservation, and other areas,” says USBG Conservation Horticulturist Ray Mims. more, Oklahoma. (405) 744-5404. “Besides informing the general public, we hope it will raise awareness among our lead- www.hortla.okstate.edu/mgardener. ers and policy makers.” An additional exhibit featuring a broad overview of public gardens and how they JUNE 9 & 10. Muskogee Garden Club Garden Tour. Muskogee, Oklahoma. (918) 687- contribute to society and our future will be featured in the USBG National Garden. 6124. www.muskogeechamber.org. For more information, call (202) 225-8333 or visit www.usbg.gov. —Courtney Capstack, Editorial Intern RAP JUNE 10. Success with Shade Plants and Hostas. Class. Garvan Woodland Gar- dens. Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. (800) 366-4664. www.garvangardens.org. ad Society Convention. Miami, Florida. Garden. Rockford, Illinois. (815) 965-8146. www.gesneriadsociety.org. www.klehm.org. RAP JUNE 22–AUG. 19. Succulent Palladi- ums. Photography exhibit. Missouri Botani- JULY 18–21. Cullowhee Conference: Native RAP JUNE 1–NOV. 1. Art in Nature. Exhibit. cal Garden. St. Louis, Missouri. (800) 642- Plants in the Landscape. Western Carolina The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois. (630) 8842. www.mobot.org. University, Cullowhee, North Carolina. (828) 968-0074. www.mortonarb.org. 227-7397. http://nativeplants.wcu.edu. RAP JUNE 27. Plant Trials Field Day. The RAP JUNE 9. Uses and Habits of Perennials Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden. RAP JULY 19–20. Native Wildflower Seed in the Home Landscape. Seminar. Taltree Dallas, Texas. (214) 515-6500. Production Research Symposium. Harry P. Arboretum & Gardens. Valparaiso, Indiana. www.dallasarboretum.org. Leu Gardens. Orlando, Florida. (352) 392- (219) 462-0025. www.taltree.org. 5930. www.wildflowersymposium.com. SOUTHWEST RAP JUNE 10. Hardy Pears for the Midwest. AZ, NM, CO, UT Lecture. Midwest Fruit Explorers. Chicago NORTH CENTRAL Botanic Garden. Glencoe, Illinois. (847) RAP MAY 26. Plant Show and Sale. Ameri- IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI 835-5440. www.chicagobotanic.org. can Iris Society. Denver Botanic Gardens. RAP MAY 26. Plant Sale. Belle Island Denver, Colorado. (720) 865-3500. Botanical Society. Anna Scripps Whitcomb JUNE 12–15. The Super Floral Show. www.botanicgardens.org. Conservatory. Detroit, Michigan. (313) 852- Columbus, Ohio. (207) 842-5508. 4065. www.bibsociety.org. www.superfloralshow.com. MAY 26 & 27. Spring Rose Show. Albu- querque Rose Society. Albuquerque Garden RAP JUNE 1–3. Garden Fair Extravaganza. RAP JUNE 28–JULY 2. Spring National Con- Center. Albuquerque, New Mexico. Garden Fair. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic vention & Rose Show. American Rose Soci- www.albuquerquerose.com/index.html COURTESY OF THE JAPANESE GARDEN, PORTLAND, OREGON

May / June 2007 59 60 874-1557 ext.201. gy Institute.Occidental,California. (707) ing. Denver, Colorado.(720)865-3500. Summer camp.DenverBotanicGardens. Crested Butte,Colorado.(970)349-2571. 661-1316. boretum. SanFrancisco,California.(415) Francisco BotanicalGardenatStrybingAr- Garden—The PatternGarden. Flintridge, California.(818)949-4200. Festival. DescansoGardens.LaCañada 661-1316. boretum. SanFrancisco,California.(415) Francisco BotanicalGardenatStrybingAr- Tucson, Arizona(520)326-9686. Workshop. TucsonBotanicalGardens. www.isa-arbor.com/conference. JULY 28–AUG1. Looking ahead JUNE 25–29. RAP www.descansogardens.org. RAP [email protected]. ion. Kona,Hawaii.E-mail:outtayour- Hawaii GourdSociety.HaleHalewaiPavil- JUNE 15&16. www.missionsjc.com. JUNE 9&10. RAP AHS www.ashs.org. JULY 16–19. www.crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.com. JULY 9–15. Looking ahead www.botanicgardens.org. JUNE 25–29. www.tucsonbotanical.org. JUNE 23. RAP Capistrano, California.(949)234-1300. Mission SanJuanCapistrano. Arizona. (928)774-1442. Fair. ture. Honolulu,Hawaii. (888)472-8733. Show. Scottsdale, Arizona.(703)836-4606. American SocietyforHorticulturalScience. 792-4273. Mar Fairgrounds.DelMar,California.(858) Paul Ecke,Jr.Flower&GardenShow. Conference. OccidentalArtsandEcolo- The ArboretumatFlagstaff.Flagstaff, the American Gardener JUNE 8–JULY4. JUNE 18. JUNE 17. JUNE 9. JUNE 15&16. International SocietyforArboricul- Living WithUrbanWildlife. Crested ButteWildflowerFestival. ASHS AnnualConference. www.sfbotanicalgarden.org. www.gardenshow.com. www.sfbotanicalgarden.org. School GardenTeacherTrain- Junior MasterGardenersCamp. Flower Garden&FineArtShow. Gourds InParadiseFestival. Perennial PlantSale. ISA Conference&Trade The NewLow-Maintenance Father’s DayCowboyLuau. WEST COAST CA, NV,HI www.ipushow.com. Plant SaleandGarden San DiegoCountyFair www.oaec.org. www.thearb.org. Lecture. San San Del 770-3692. Botanical Garden.Anchorage,Alaska.(907) 8733. boretum. Portland, Oregon.(503)865- JUNE 9. Garden. Boise,Idaho.(208)343-8649. (503) 874-8100. Sale. Washington. (206)527-1794. Center forUrbanHorticulture.Seattle, University ofWashingtonBotanicGardens Lecture. NorthwestHorticulturalSociety. Cheyenne, Wyoming.(307)632-6678. and Workshop. RAP Looking ahead www.idahobotanicalgarden.org. RAP RAP www.northwesthort.org. JUNE 13. RAP www.botanic.org. annual InternationalPollinatorWeek.SponsoredbythePartnership FROM JUNE The World’s A-BuzzforPollinators www.pollinator.org portant tous,andhavesomeideaofhowtheycanhelpthem.” one in10peopleNorthAmericatoknowwhatpollinatorsare,whytheyareim- coordinator ofNAPPC),sayshismaingoalforInternationalPollinatorWeekis“For in MaconCounty,NorthCarolina. querque, NewMexico,anda“PollinatorDay:TheImpactoftheIndividual”festival son, Arizona,workshopsandlecturesattheRioGrandeBotanicGardeninAlbu- project oftheNorthAmericanPollinatorProtectionCampaign(NAPPC),various For alistingofeventsinyourregion,visitthePollinatorPartnershipwebsiteat Paul Growald,chairmanoftheboardandfounderCoevolutionInstitute(the The OregonGarden.Silverton,Oregon. JULY 14. JUNE 24. JUNE 23&24. JUNE 9. www.hoytarboretum.org. Seed &WeedGardenClubMeeting Making theModernGarden. www.alaskabg.org. AK, ID,MT,OR,WA,WY Spring Plant&GardenArt Bamboo Festival. Garden Tour. NORTHWEST Cheyenne BotanicGardens. www.oregongarden.org. 24 to30 Garden Fair. or call(415)362-1137. , Idaho Botanical explore theproductiveworldofpollinatorsduringfirst Hoyt Ar- Alaska the ArizonaSonoraDesertGardeninTuc- land. Othercelebrationsincludeeventsat ture BeeLaboratoryinBeltsville,Mary- the UnitedStatesDepartmentofAgricul- exhibit, andanopenhousewillbeheldat Minnesota planstounveiltheirpollinator Sherburne CountyHistoryCenterin on plant–pollinatorrelationships,the 9th InternationalPollinationSymposium D.C. IowaStateUniversitywillhostthe Pollination stampseriesinWashington, hold aFirstDayofIssueCeremonyforthe natural world. linators andtheirvitalcontributionstoour events aroundtheworldwillcelebratepol- ver, BritishColumbia.(604)878-9274. ture. VanDusenBotanicalGarden.Vancou- Ontario. (519)824-4120ext.52358. Arboretum atUniversityofGuelph.Guelph, British Columbia.(250)479-6162. Glendale Garden&Woodland.Victoria, JULY 11–15. www.hcp.bc.ca. RAP Looking ahead www.vandusengarden.org. JUNE 25. www.vandusengarden.org. JUNE 7–10. www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum. JUNE 5. RAP Ontario. (905)527-1158. tion. (780) 467-2660. American LilySociety. Edmonton,Alberta. Jubilee ConventionandShow. British Columbia.(604)878-9274. VanDusen BotanicalGarden.Vancouver, On June26,theU.S.PostalServicewill Royal BotanicalGardens.Hamilton, —Courtney Capstack,EditorialIntern JULY 7&8. JUNE 3&10. Plant Propagation. Four SeasonFoodGrowing. Vancouver SunGardenShow. 60th AnniversaryDiamond Organic IslandsFestival. CANADA www.nals.egger.us. www.nals.egger.us. Iris andPeonyCelebra- Workshop. The www.rbg.ca. North Lec- ™ , a

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May / June 2007 61 PRONUNCIATIONSC AND PLANTING ZONES

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

A–L Euphorbia marginata yew-FOR-bee-uh Rudbeckia fulgida var. fulgida Ageratum houstonianum ah-jair-AY-tum mar-jih-NAY-tuh (0–0, 12–1) rood-BEK-ee-uh FUL-jih-duh var. hews-toh-nee-AN-um (USDA 10–11, Eustoma grandiflorum yew-STO-muh FUL-jih-duh (4–9, 9–1) AHS 12–1) gran-dih-FLOR-um (8–11, 12–1) R. fulgida var. sullivantii R. FUL-jih-duh Aloysia triphylla uh-LOY-zee-uh try-FIL-luh Gomphrena globosa gom-FREE-nuh var. sul-ih-VAN-tee-eye (4–9, 9–1) (8–11, 12–8) glo-BO-suh (11–12, 12–1) R. grandiflora R. gran-dih-FLOR-uh Andropogon gerardii an-dro-PO-gon Lamium maculatum LAM-ee-um (5–9, 9–5) jeh-RAR-dee-eye (2–7, 7–1) mak-yew-LAY-tum (4–8, 8–1) R. hirta R. HUR-tuh (3–9, 10–1) ✕ Antirrhinum majus an-tihr-RYE-num Leucanthemum superbum loo-KAN-theh- R. laciniata R. luh-syn-ee-AY-tuh (3–9, 9–1) MAY-juss (7–9, 9–1) mum soo-PUR-bum (5–8, 8–1) R. maxima R. MAKS-ih-muh (4–8, 8–1) Arundo donax ah-RUN-doh DOH-naks R. nitida R. NIT-ih-duh (5–8, 8–1) M–R (6–11, 12–1) R. occidentalis R. ahk-sih-den-TAL-iss Melissa officinalis meh-LISS-uh Aster dumosus ASS-ter dew-MO-sus (3–9, 9–4) o-fiss-ih-NAL-iss (4-9, 11-1) (4–8, 8–1) R. subtomentosa R. sub-toh-men-TOH-suh Miscanthus sinensis miz-KAN-thus Astilbe ✕arendsii uh-STILL-bee (4–7, 7–1) sy-NEN-siss (6–9, 9–1) ah-RENZ-ee-eye (3–8, 8–1) R. triloba R. try-LO-buh (3–11, 12–1) Monarda citriodora muh-NAR-duh A. chinensis var. pumila A. chy-NEN-sis var. sih-tree-o-DOR-uh (5–9, 10–2) S–Z PYEW-mih-luh (4–8, 8–2) Ocimum basilicum OSS-ih-mum A. chinensis var. taquetii A. chy-NEN-sis var. Salvia farinacea SAL-vee-uh buh-SIL-ih-kum (0–0, 11–1) tah-KWET-ee-eye (4–8, 8–2) fah-rih-NAY-see-uh (8–11, 12–1) O. ✕citriodorum O. sih-tree-o-DOR-um Brachyscome iberidifolia brah-KIS-ko-mee S. officinalis S. oh-fiss-ih-NAL-iss (0–0, 11–1) eye-beer-ih-dih-FO-lee-uh (0–0, 12–1) (4–10, 10–1) Papaver orientale puh-PAH-vur Campanula punctata kam-PAN-yew-luh Sauromatum venosum saw-ro-MAY-tum or-ee-en-TAL-ee (3–8, 9–1) punk-TAY-tuh (5–9, 8–1) veh-NO-sum (7–10, 12–10) Pelargonium citronellum peh-lar-GO-nee-um Cosmos atrosanguineus KOZ-mos Senna hebecarpa SEH-nuh sih-tron-EL-um (10–11, 11–1) at-ro-san-GWIN-ee-us (7–11, 12–1) hee-bee-KAR-puh (3–9, 9–4) Pelargonium crispum P. KRIS-pum Cymbopogon citratus sim-bo-PO-gon Sorghastrum nutans sor-GASS-trum (10–11, 11–1) sih-TRAY-tuss (9–11, 12–1) NOO-tanz (4–9, 9–1) Perilla frutescens peh-RILL-uh ✕ Dianthus deltoides dy-AN-thus del-TOY-deez Thymus citriodorus TY-muss froo-TESS-enz (0–0,12–1) (3–10, 10–1) sih-tree-o-DOR-us (5–9, 9–1) Phlox paniculata FLOKS pan-ik-yew-LAH-tuh D. gratianopolitanus D. grat-see-ay-no- Tithonia rotundifolia tih-THO-nee-uh (4–8, 8–1) pol-ih-TAN-us (4–8, 8–1) ro-tund-ih-FO-lee-uh (10–11, 12–1) Polemonium boreale pahl-eh-MO-nee-um Emilia javanica ee-MEEL-yuh jah-VAH-nih- Trachelospermum jasminoides bor-ee-AL-ee (4–8, 8–1) kuh (0–0, 9–1) tray-kell-o-SPUR-mum jaz-mih-NOY-deez Ricinus communis rih-SY-nuss com-YEW-niss Eupatorium purpureum yew-puh-TOR-ee-um (8–11, 12–8) (11, 12–1) pur-PUR-ee-um (3–9, 9–1) Zinnia elegans ZIN-ee-uh EL-ih-ganz (0–0, 12–1)

62 the American Gardener