GARDENERGARDENER® Thethe Magazinemagazine Ofof Thethe Aamericanmerican Horticulturalhorticultural Societysociety September / October 2009

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GARDENERGARDENER® TheThe MagazineMagazine ofof thethe AAmericanmerican HorticulturalHorticultural SocietySociety September / October 2009

Heartland Harvest

Garden Deciduous Native Hollies James van Sweden and the New American Garden Strategies for Gardening on Slopes To everything there is a season. Plants thrive in fall’s ideal growing conditions. Gentle rains and cooler soil temperatures rejuvenate summer-stressed plants, preparing them for the winter ahead. You can help, too, by making Osmocote® Smart-Release® Plant Food a regular part of your fall gardening routine. Osmocote adjusts to changing soil temperatures, so your plants always get just the right amount of nutrition. Maybe that’s why passionate gardeners have trusted Osmocote for 40 years – no matter what the season. To learn more, visit www.PlantersPlace.com.

FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

5 NOTES FROM RIVER FARM 6 MEMBERS’ FORUM 8 NEWS FROM AHS 2009 Growing Good Kids book award winners, new AHS gardening encyclopedia, AHS Garden School focuses on sustainability, webinar on water-thrifty gardening.

12 AHS PARTNERS IN PROFILE: BRENT & BECKY’S BULBS This husband-and-wife team operates a world-class bulb farm in Virginia.

14 2009 NATIONAL CHILDREN & YOUTH GARDEN SYMPOSIUM Highlights from Cleveland, Ohio.

44 ONE ON ONE WITH… page 35 Antonia Adezio: Garden preservationist.

46 HOMEGROWN HARVEST Grow garlic like a pro. 18 GARDENING ON THE SLOPE BY KAREN BUSSOLINI Discover strategies for handling steep grades from garden design- 48 GREEN GARAGE® ers across the country. Selecting the right hoe.

GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK 24 HEARTLAND HARVEST BY MARTY ROSS 50 Walnut twig beetle In Kansas City, a timely new garden demonstrates food garden- destroys western trees, the ing on a grand scale. demise of Smith & Hawken, viola is All- 30 DECIDUOUS NATIVE HOLLIES BY GIL NELSON America Selections Cool Even after shedding their leaves, these hollies shine in the fall and Season Award winner for 2010, rainwater collection winter garden. ban lifted in Colorado, West Coast flower and page 50 35 JAMES VAN SWEDEN BY JANE BERGER garden shows continue The co-creator of the revolutionary, bold, naturalistic approach under new management. to landscape design continues to inspire with his nontraditional 53 BOOK REVIEWS and environmentally friendly style. Wicked Plants, The Rose, and The Perennial Care Manual. 40 STRETCHING THE SEASON BY KRIS WETHERBEE Special focus: Horticultural history. Push the limits on both ends of the gardening season by using row covers, cold frames, and other plant protection techniques. 56 REGIONAL HAPPENINGS 60 HARDINESS AND HEAT ZONES AND PRONUNCIATIONS

62 PLANT IN THE SPOTLIGHT ON THE COVER: Horticulturist Matt Bunch looks for the day’s harvest of Armenian cucumber Katsura tree (Cercidiphyllum japonicum) TOP: COURTESY OF CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN. RIGHT: SYNGENTA (Cucumis melo) in the Heartland Harvest Garden at Powell Gardens. Photograph by John Mutrux

September / October 2009 3 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA 22308-1300 (800) 777-7931 fax (703) 768-8700 www.ahs.org Making America a Nation of Gardeners, a Land of Gardens

American Horticultural Society President’s Council

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

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

*In memoriam

Education Sponsor OXO International

Corporate Members Brent and Becky’s Bulbs ■ The Care of Trees ■ Chapel Valley Landscape Company The Espoma Company ■ Furbish Company ■ Homestead Gardens ■ Kurt Bluemel, Inc. To access the members-only Monrovia ■ MTR Landscape Architects, LLC. ■ Osmocote ■ Renee’s Garden portion of the AHS website at www.ahs.org, the username is Horticultural Partners America in Bloom Symposium & Awards Program ■ Bellingrath Gardens and Home ahs. The password is seeds. Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Garden Symposium ■ Cox Arboretum MetroPark Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival The Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Clubs of America The Homestead in the Garden Symposium ■ Inniswood Garden Society ■ Morris Arboretum Oklahoma Botanical Garden & Arboretum ■ Oklahoma Horticultural Society

4 the American Gardener The American NOTESC FROM RIVER FARM GARDENER EDITOR David J. Ellis MANAGING EDITOR AND ART DIRECTOR Mary Yee ASSOCIATE EDITOR Viveka Neveln S THE NATION’S leading gardening organization, the American Horti- EDITORIAL INTERN cultural Society has long served as a champion for the importance of plants Amanda Griesser A and gardens in our lives. The phrase “connecting people with plants” is often CONTRIBUTING EDITOR used to describe our work. We strive to promote gardening, foster the use of good Rita Pelczar gardening practices, and give gardeners across America the information and inspira- CONTRIBUTING WRITER tion they need to pursue their passion and inspire others with their achievements. Carole Ottesen On a day-to-day basis, our success comes down to people—those individuals and

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD groups across America who are making a difference on many levels. Through our CHAIR Richard E. Bir Brevard, North Carolina work with the Society, we meet many such Allan M. Armitage people. We are proud to serve this nation- Athens, Georgia al community of gardeners and salute Nina L. Bassuk you—the American gardener—for the Ithaca, New York contribution you are making to the qual- Steve Bender ity of life in our country. Birmingham, Alabama Sometimes we refer to the people John E. Bryan who inspire us as “horticultural heroes.” Each year, the AHS recognizes, through San Francisco, California its national Great American Gardeners Awards program, people and organizations Panayoti Kelaidis Denver, Colorado that are making outstanding contributions in various horticultural fields. Nomi- Richard W. Lighty nations for these awards close at the end of September, and if you have not already Kennett Square, Pennsylvania done so, we hope you will put forward an exceptional individual or an organiza- Elvin McDonald tion that is doing good work in your community—you can find a nomination West Des Moines, Iowa form on the AHS website (www.ahs.org). It is with sadness that we note the death earlier this year of two of the Society’s CONTACT US The American Gardener own horticultural heroes and award winners. Beverly White Dunn, of Birming- 7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA 22308 ham, Alabama, was a member of the Society’s Board of Directors from 1988 to 1994 (703) 768-5700 and received our Frances Jones Poetker Award in 1991 in recognition of her contributions to the field of floral design. John L. Creech, of Columbus, North Car- EDITORIAL E-MAIL: [email protected] olina, served as president of the AHS Board of Directors from 1953 to 1956 and is ADVERTISING & E-MAIL: [email protected] CORPORATE a legendary figure in American horticulture. His distinguished professional career PARTNERSHIPS included work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Plant Explo- ration and Introduction and serving as a director of the United States National Ar- boretum. John received the Society’s Liberty Hyde Bailey Award in 1989 and was a long-time editorial advisor for this magazine. As summer gives way to fall, this issue of The American Gardener offers some The American Gardener (ISSN 1087-9978) is published bimonth- ly (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, Septem- informative articles to help you make the most ber/October, November/December) by the American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300, of the season. For those in colder climates, we (703) 768-5700. Membership in the Society includes a subscrip- offer advice on extending the growing season tion to The American Gardener. Annual dues are $35; two years, $60. International dues are $50. $10 of annual dues goes toward with row covers, cold frames, and other helpful magazine subscription. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Vir- ginia, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send techniques. Those looking for fall accents in the Form 3579 to The American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, garden will appreciate a profile of deciduous na- Alexandria, VA 22308-1300. Botanical nomenclature is based on The American Horticultural tive hollies for berries and colorful foliage. If Society A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, on A Synonymized Check- steep terrain in your garden has you puzzled, list of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Canada and Greenland and on the Royal Horticultural Society Index of Garden Plants. Opinions you’ll enjoy the article on strategies for manag- expressed in the articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Society. Manuscripts, artwork, and photographs sent for ing slopes. And there’s much more! So make yourself comfortable and enjoy this possible publication will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We cannot guarantee the safe return of unsolicited issue of The American Gardener. material. Back issues are available at $8 per copy. Copyright ©2009 by the American Horticultural Society. Susie Usrey, Chair, AHS Board of Directors

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

September / October 2009 5 6 lasiocarpus identified asHibiscus moscheutos, (okay, someare old)forthisarea theyare right now and,inmyreference books our brackishNorth Carolina wetlands 2009 issue.Identical flowers are covering biscus onpage14oftheJuly/August tification ofthecrimson-eyed whitehi- I’m puzzledandintriguedby your iden- HIBISCUS NOMENCLATURE Editor’s response: on theuseofscientificnames. make anamateurlikemewanttogive up with theseplantnames?It’s enoughto is stillinbud. ca, woolly likethoseof have lance-shaped leaves thatare not lands. These plants,now blooming, same plantI’m lookingatinmywet- moscheutos American Gardener from The nia. Ialsofounda2001article one mostcommonlyfoundinCalifor- the woollysubspeciesofthisplant, siocarpus moscheutos some taxonomists have separated now lists theplantinquestionasHibiscus PLANTS database clature isalwaysinflux. The USDA Hibiscus lasiocarpos Hibiscus Have thetaxonomists been playing I didresearch onlineandfoundthat which alsogrows inthewetlands but the American Gardener as anextraepithetassignedto as inyour article. what appearstomebethe into subspecies,withssp. Havelock, North Carolina Alas, botanicalnomen- (http://plants.usda.gov) or that identifiesasH. Kosteletzkya virgini- H. moscheutos? H. Ellen Herron not H. la- H. Publishers, London, 1972. Gardeners ing Company, Chicago,Illinois, 2006. Names, ■ ■ Editor’s response: each month.Are theguidelinesavailable? order towork withnamesnoton thelist helpful tohave accesstotheguidelinesin vowel sounds,accents,etc.It wouldbe to establishsyllables,longandshort about whatsetofguidelinesisbeingused the backofeachissue,andI’m curious I alwaysenjoy thepronunciations pagein PRONUNCIATION QUESTION members through thewebsite. database andmakeitaccessibletoAHS names. Eventually we hopetorefine this several thousand pronunciations forplant and over timehave developed adatabaseof ed inthemagazine(twoare listedbelow) books tocompilethepronunciations list- Center of theLadyBird Johnson Wildflower the flowers ofbothspeciesonthewebsite lenging. There are somegoodimagesof breed readily, soidentificationischal- have overlapping native rangesandinter- Cavanilles). Andinthiscase,thetwotaxa the originalnamegiven by AntonioJose lasiocarpos e-mail [email protected]. call (800)777-7931ext.119or or e-mailaddresswiththeAHS,please membership, orupdateyourmailing new yourmembership,giveagiftof would liketobecomeamember,re- can HorticulturalSocietymembership, you havequestionsaboutyourAmeri- We lovetohearfromourmembers!If Member Services Stearns Dictionary ofPlantStearns Names Dictionary for The Pronouncing ofPlant Dictionary MEMBERS (www.wildflower.org). American Nurseryman Publish- C (“os” ratherthan“us” basedon by William T. Stearn. Cassell Grantham, Pennsylvania We useseveral reference ’ FORUM Messiah College Gary Emberger PLEASE WRITEUS! Letters weprintmay beeditedforlengthandclarity. [email protected] (note LettertoEditorinsubjectline). Alexandria, VA22308.Send e-mails to American Gardener, American and attractmanyAnna’s hummingbirds. she hasgiven meare thrivinginmygarden tion ofherSalvia was working ontheinitialandsecondedi- in Golden Gate Park—during thetimeshe tion—the CaliforniaAcademy ofSciences ofmyhomeinstitu- the botanylibrary sense ofhumor, Betsy spentmanyhoursin around theworld. plants totheattentionofgardeners Salvia in theMay/June issue.Her work with I’m pleasedyou featured Betsy Clebsch CLEBSCH ANDSALVIAS bumblebees butnotmuchelse. (see photoabove). My garden stillattracts have seenthree yellow swallowtails inJuly swallowtail. This year, to Ifeelfortunate flies andmoths.Lastyear, Ididnotseeone with yellow swallowtails andotherbutter- through 2005, theflowers were covered Joe Pye weed andzinnias.Eachsummer through myannualphotosofblooming decline since2005,whichIhave tracked garden,Maryland Ihave seenanimmense andmothpopulation?Inbutterfly my Has anyone elsenoticed adeclineinthe LEPIDOPTERAN DECLINE? A graciouswomanwithawonderful has brought thisgroup ofdazzling California AcademyCalifornia ofSciences San Francisco, California Address letterstoEditor, book. Some ofthesalvias 7931 EastBoulevardDrive, Annapolis, Maryland Eleanor McKay Frank Almeda The

LEFT: BARBARA PERRY LAWTON. RIGHT: COURTESY OF ELEANOR MCKAY Legacies assume many forms

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

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

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

Making America a Nation of Gardeners, a Land of Gardens low Sunflower Apple Pip Princess andillustrationstoengagechildren andeffectively conveyteria, includingtheabilityofstory apositive message. stories whilefosteringagreater appreciation forplants,gardening, andtheenvironment. Booksare cr judgedbasedoncertain and theNational Junior Master Gardener program, wasinstitutedin2005andrecognizes children’s booksthattellcaptivating AHS National Children &Youth Garden Symposium inCleveland, Ohio, inJuly. Thisaward program, co-sponsored by theAHS 8 THE THREEWINNERS Growing GoodKidsAward Winners www.jmgkids.us. previousview winnersoftheaward, visit Good Kids” bookaward program andto 2010. To learnmore aboutthe“Growing gust andwillbeaccepteduntilApril 23, Good Kidsbookaward openedin Au- Pam Paparone. JoAnn EarlyMacken Flip, Float, Fly—Seeds ontheMove planting techniques toGardenSchoolparticipants. John Noelle,city arboristforAlexandria,demonstrates propertree- on theeducationalmessagesofAHSGreen Garage ginia, onJune toexpand 27.Thisevent wasanopportunity Landscape,” tookplaceattheLeeCenterinAlexandria,Vir- Garage: Sustainable andEarth-Friendly Solutions forthe cusing onthisconcept,the2009AHSGarden School,“Green is promoting environmentally soundgardening practices.Fo- ONE OFTHE Sustainability Garden SchoolFocusedon News PROGRAMS •EVENTSANNOUNCEMENTS The 2009award winnersare: Nominations fornextyear’s Growing the American Gardener by by key messages important totheAHS’skey messagesimportant mission by by Frances, and Barry Jane, Ray and illustratedby of the2009“Growing Good Kids—Excellence inChildren’s Literature” Award were announcedatthe from Big Yel- The by AHS ® , an in future issuesof TheAmerican Gardener. across the country. LookforupcomingGarden Schoolofferings fellow gardeners andlearnfrom renowned from horticulturists toexchangevides attendeestheopportunity informationwith “It inspired metoincorporateorganiclawncare inmyown yard.” andtoolswere ondisplayintheexhibithall. services, Additionally, vendors and businessesthatoffergreen products, and Lowenfels; SINCE 1959, Get ReadyfortheSeedExchange share, them. now harvesting isthetime tostart sible through theirdonations. So ifyou have seedsyou’d liketo Exchange isopenexclusively to AHSmembersandismadepos- through theAHSSeedcountry Exchange Program. TheSeed uncommon plantvarieties withfellow gardeners across the peake Bay Foundation; authorandsoilhealthexpert were ity andeco-awareness ascentralthemes.Amongthespeakers featured lectures andworkshops, allofwhichtooksustainabil- niques, products, andtools. initiative gardening designedtopromote earth-friendly tech- The AHSGarden Schoolprogram debuted in2004andpro- Karen Keefer , anAHSmemberwhoattendedtheevent, says, Co-sponsored by theCityofAlexandria,Garden School Paul Tukey , authorofTheOrganic LawnCare Manual. Marcy Damon, restoration coordinator fortheChesa- Doug Tallamy, authorofBringing Nature Home; AHS membershave shared favorite, heirloom,or September /October2009 Jeff i-

COURTESY OF MARY STEPHENSON / CITY OF ALEXANDRIA Seeds submitted for the 2010 seed exchange must be post- marked by November 1, 2009. Members who contribute seeds Meadow Respite will have the opportunity to pick first from the list of available seeds compiled from all the donations. In an effort to reduce costs and paper usage, the list of seeds to choose from will be available on the AHS website in the members-only section in early Janu- ary 2010. Complete information on collecting and mailing seeds, along with a donation form, can be found between pages 8 and 9 of this issue. Or visit www.ahs.org and log in to the members- only section for more information. AHS Introduces New Encyclopedia THE SOCIETY will soon welcome a new title to its line of au- thoritative gardening reference books; The American Horticultur- al Society New Encyclopedia of Gardening Techniques (Mitchell Beazley/Octopus Books USA) will be published in No- vember. This comprehensive, illustrat- ed encyclopedia covers a broad range of practical gardening techniques and concepts that every North American gardener needs to be successful. With- in its pages, readers will find detailed The André Bluemel Meadow at River Farm has become a haven for information on how to grow plants of wildlife since its completion last summer. Here a mockingbird all kinds—from annuals, bulbs, takes a rest on a bluebird nesting box amid a sea of grasses.

VIVEKA NEVELN perennials, trees, shrubs, and vines to herbs, fruits, and veg-

September / October 2009 9 10 River Farm’s NewSodSofa and viewingtheAndréBluemelMeadowPotomacRiver. whimsy forvisitors,thesofaprovidesanideallocationsitting Woodbine, Maryland.Inadditiontoaddinganelementof Landscape Companyof member ChapelValley from AHScorporate donation ofsoilandsod thanks tothegenerous feature—a sodsofa— gained anewgarden This August,RiverFarm planning, asatributetolovedone,orpart contact: StephaniePerez,Developmentand of yourannualcharitablegivingplan,please the American Gardener Membership Manager,at(703)768-5700 Horticultural Societyaspartofyourestate If youwouldliketosupporttheAmerican i Gifts ext. [email protected]. Note the sodsofa. The sculptedsoilfoundationfor the sodsofa. The sculptedsoilfoundationfor of i relies ongrants,bequests,andothergiftstosupportitsprograms.Wewouldlikethankthe In additiontovitalsupportthroughmembershipdues,theAmericanHorticulturalSociety Mr. andMrs.CharlesHenrySmith, Jr. Dr. andMrs.DavidE.Morrison Mr. andMrs.JohnH.Ariail,Jr. Estate ofLouiseC.Fruehling Mr. andMrs.JoelGoldsmith Monrovia NurseryCompany Dr. andMrs.StevenM.Still Mr. andMrs.NormHofley following donorsforgiftsreceivedbetweenJune1,2009andJuly31,2009. ExxonMobil Foundation Mrs. LyndaA.Bachman Ms. RosalynMilbrandt Nancy J.Becker,M.D. Mrs. SuzanneF.Bales Ms. LaDawnGriffin Mr. ArnoldSteiner Ms. JoAnnLuecke Gardenburger AHS website (www.ahs.org). AHS Encyclopedia ofPerennials an award-winning garden writerwhowaseditor-in-chiefofthe AHS SmartGarden Regional Guide tributing editorto Horticultural Experiences Auction ofOne-of-a-Kind contributor tothe American Gardener; color illustrationsandphotographs. throughportrayed theuseofmore than2,000easy-to-follow growing season.Allthetechniquesandconceptsare clearly alternatives, identifyingmicroclimates, andextendingthe propagating plants,installingwaterfeatures, selectinglawn lems, whiledelvingintomore advanced conceptssuchas controlling weeds,mulching, pruning, andsolvingpestprob- a variety ofbasicgardening topicssuchascomposting, methods. etables—using organicandearth-friendly HOW WOULDYOU online auctionheldinconjunctionwiththeSociety’s annual scape designersliketheseare beingmadeavailable through an and land- counters withprominent Americanhorticulturists behind hergroundbreaking programs? Unique one-on-oneen- children’s gardening expert scenes storiesabouthisplantcollectingtrips,orsitdown with of globalplantexplorer Panayoti Kelaidis, gettingbehind-the- To learnmore aboutthebookorpurchase copies,visitthe Primary editorsforthebookwere The reference provides conciseandhelpfulinformationon Sunset Western Garden Book; The American Gardener Fiona Gilsenan, agarden bookeditorand In HonorofSarahArmstrong&JamesAlex like tostroll through theprivate garden The ElizabethCraigWeaverProctor Dr. andMrs.StevenM.Still In MemoryofMaxinePickrel Jane Taylor In MemoryofAndréBluemel Ms. ElizabethT.Harding Ms. AngelaM.Vikesland Woodstock GardenClub In HonorofArabellaDane Charitable Foundation Bloom FreshFlowers (Dorling Kindersley, 2006). book series;andGraham Rice, David J.Ellis to learntheinspiration and co-authorofthe Rita Pelczar, con- , editorofThe

TOP: JAMES GAGLIARDI. BOTTOM: TRISTAN MARDALL Gala on September 19. Among other exciting opportunities available for bidding are an afternoon at the Atlanta Botanical AHS NATIONAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS Garden with its Executive Director Mary Pat Matheson, and a personalized tour of three gardens by designers Wolfgang 2009 CALENDAR Oehme and Carol Oppenheimer. Visit www.ahs.org/auction for a full list of these exceptional experiences and more information about the auction process. The deadline to bid on the ark your calendar for these national events that are auction items is October 19, 2009. Msponsored or co-sponsored by the AHS. Visit www.ahs.org or call (703) 768-5700 for more information.

Water-Thrifty Gardening Webinar • SEPT. 19. AHS Annual Gala: “Celebrating the Elegance of Simplicity.” River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia. ON JULY 30, award-winning author and garden designer Scott Calhoun presented “Dry Beauty: Strategies for Designing • OCT. 1–3. America In Bloom Symposium and Awards Water-Thrifty Gardens,” an online seminar exclusively for AHS Ceremony. Hershey, Pennsylvania. members. A self-proclaimed desert rat, Calhoun shared his tips and tricks for creating beautiful but drought-tolerant gardens • OCT. 23. Dr. H. Marc Cathey Day. River Farm, Alexandria, with 120 members hailing from 34 states, the District of Co- Virginia. lumbia, and one Canadian province. The webinar program is a benefit of AHS membership, al- • DEC. 1–24. Holiday lowing participants to learn from horticultural experts with- Trees Display. River Farm, Alexandria, out having to leave home. Look for speakers and topics for Virginia. next year’s webinars in upcoming issues of The American Gar- dener. If you would like to receive announcements about fu- • DEC. 10. Annual ture webinars, please sign up for the mailing list in the Holiday Reception. members-only area of the AHS website. River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia. News written by Editorial Intern Amanda Griesser.

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September / October 2009 11 12 ning thebusinessalmostby themselves. Before long,theywere marriedandrun- school teacherin1978whenshemetBrent. bringing towork. Becky wasworking asa ed topurchase itandputhisgardening up- mother almostsoldthebusiness,hedecid- rector ofasummercamp, butwhenhis Becky’s Bulbs stilloperatestoday. 10-acre where farmproperty Brent and Brent Heath’s grandfatherpurchased the family-operated since1900—theyear tional bulbandflower supplierhasbeen ciety’s valued corporatemembers.Thisna- when itbecameBrent andBecky’s Bulbs. by thenameDaffodil Mart until1999, fodils exclusively. In fact,thebusinesswent working together,started theysold daf- ployees. In 1979,whentheHeaths first the past30years toincludenearly40em- The companyhasexpandedgraduallyover GROWING OPERATIONS I by AmandaGriesser Brent andBecky’s Bulbs: PROFILE IN PARTNERS AHS www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com. Brent andBecky’sBulbs, visit For more informationabout organization. price willthengotothedesignated Twenty-five percentofthepurchase by visiting zation—such astheAHS—tosupport tomers canselectanon-profitorgani- from BrentandBecky’sBulbs,cus- Before makinganonlinepurchase gram called“Bloomin’Bucks.” ly institutedanewfundraisingpro- Brent andBecky’sBulbshasrecent- Buy Bulbs,SupporttheAHS Capstack [email protected]. member program,e-mailCourtney learn moreabouttheAHScorporate In 1972,Brent wasworking asthedi- one oftheAmericanHorticultural So- Bulbs ofGloucester, Virginia, became N MARCH the American Gardener www.bloominbucks.com. 2009, Brent andBecky’s To erated through twocatalogstheymail stateintheUnitedships toevery States. offers more than1,000bulbvarieties and other bulbousplants.Thecompanynow Heaths begansellingtulipsandavariety of broader selectionofplantswasneeded,the from you?’” Becky says.Realizing thata daffodils from you, why can’t we gettulips “Customers asking,‘We started getallour Brent andBeckyHeathontheirbulbfarm. The majorityoftheirbusinessisgen- Daffodils andSoMuchMore Daffodils ontheHeathfarm Daffodils ontheHeathfarm supplies, books,andgiftitems. tomers canpurchase bulbs,gardening the Bulb Shoppe onthefarm,localcus- eries foroffices,homes,orrestaurants. At offers regular flower arrangementdeliv- that ments andhave institutedaservice online catalog. bloom inthesummer—andfrom their the fallandspring,oneforthosethat each year—one forbulbsthatbloomin EDUCATING GARDENERS ACROSSAMERICA GARDENERS EDUCATING The American Gardener. Amanda Griesser for isaneditorialintern dens 1995) andTulips forNorth American Gar- North American Gardens (Elliot &Clark, co-authored twobooks, ing methods.Brent andBecky have also Teaching Garden thatusesorganicgrow- rently designingaChesapeakeFriendly those closertohome,theHeaths are cur- gardening events. In toeducate aneffort gardens, garden shows, andcommunity andspeakingatschools, public country grounds togooduseby touringthe and Becky puttheirteachingback- When nottendingtothegardens, Brent the organization.” to seemore peoplegettinginvolved in lationship withtheAHS,and we want she says.“We’ve alwaysenjoyed ourre- after datingsomeoneforalongtime,” like datingseriouslyorgettingengaged an “official” relationship. “It’s kindof points tothesenseofstabilityhaving affords,tunity thepartnership Becky headquarters. to beautifythegardens atitsRiver Farm donated thousandsofbulbstotheAHS many years. Brent andBecky’s Bulbs has have shared aworking relationship for only recently, thetwoorganizations became acorporatememberoftheAHS Locally, theysellcut-flower arrange- In additiontothemarketing oppor- Although Brent andBecky’s Bulbs (Bright Sky Press, 2001). Daffodils for

COURTESY OF BRENT AND BECKY HEATH (2)

finding 14 Symposium tours includedtheHersheyChildren’s Garden,above,andseveralof theGreenCorpsprogram’surban farms,top. National Children&Youth GardenSymposiuminClevelandJuly. How togetyouthinvolvedwithplantsincommunitysettingswasapowerfulmessageofthe tor fortheUniversity ofIllinois Extension WeinansKate seem possible,doable,andaccessible,”says could helpturnthisvisionintoreality. experiences, andsuccessstoriesthat to 25inCleveland, Ohio, shared ideas, Youth Garden Symposium, held July 23 Society’s 2009National Children & tendees oftheAmericanHorticultural addition toimaginingthisscenario,at- ing young people’s interest inplants.In tire communityare involved innurtur- E “The Symposium mademanythings “The the American Gardener and parents, teachers,andtheen- childhasaccesstoagarden,every NVISION AWORLD , youth programs coordina- Common Ground where den alsocoordinates Green itsexemplary debuted 10years ago. Thebotanicalgar- public children’s garden inOhio whenit Children’s Garden, whichwasthefirst hosted theevent, ishometotheHershey row.” Cleveland BotanicalGarden, which Ground: Gardens For aGreener Tomor- the Symposium’s theme,“Common insight from leadersinthefield. nual Symposium togaininspirationand involved withyouth, cametothe17than- public garden administrators,andothers states includingteachers,garden designers, more from 35 than250otherparticipants inChicago.Service Weinans, alongwith Cleveland wasanidealplacetoexplore BY MELISSAHEBERT

TOP: COURTESY OF DAVID BROWN. BOTTOM: TOM UNDERWOOD neighborhood stores where the produce is inferior and overpriced to boot, Allen feels developing urban gardens is imperative to America’s economic and social revival. “In Cleveland, only two percent of the food bought here is produced in or around the city,” Allen noted during his keynote address. “Think about what bringing that up to 10 percent would do for everything from jobs to the environment.” Getting children involved in gardening, Allen pointed out, has many positive effects. Kids learn hands-on applications of math and science, develop social skills working with others in a garden setting, learn about health and nutrition, and have something to do that keeps them away from destructive behavior. EMPOWERING YOUTH Hearing about Growing Power was inspi- rational for Green Corps staff, many of whom attended Allen’s address. “Will sets the standard for the rest of us,” says Green Corps Program Director Bob Shields. “What we’re doing is on a much smaller scale, but we’re working in that direction.” Green Corps grows fruits and vegetables that are sold at farm markets and used to make a Ripe From Downtown® line of salsas and salad dressings. But the kids are the primary crop, Shields says. Growing an interest in gardening, a sense of responsi- bility, and job skills in these youth is Green Corps’ greatest mission. Attendees had a chance to see Green Corps’ work up-close—and hear some of the students’ personal experiences—during tours of the program’s five urban farms. For example, Jennifer Tran, an employee at the Esperanza Garden, Green Corps offered an alternative to working in a factory. She loves being out- doors in the garden, cultivating a diverse Green Corps student workers give tours of the program’s five urban farms to Growing Power assortment of vegetables, herbs, and founder Will Allen, above, and a group of Symposium attendees, top. flowers.

Corps urban youth program, which gives many events during the Symposium. For teenaged employees the opportunity to urban farming pioneer Will Allen, Pasadena 2010 learn about gardening and acquire prac- founder and CEO of the national non- Mark your calendar for next year’s tical job skills while transforming vacant profit Growing Power and keynote speak- National Children & Youth Garden lots into flourishing farms. er at the Symposium, getting kids Symposium, which will be held July involved in gardening is part of his mis- 22 to 24 in Pasadena, California. The CULTIVATING COMMUNITY sion of bringing about social change. call for educational sessions will open Successful programs for bringing children At a time when many city neighbor- in late September. Please visit of all ages to gardening and plants—and hoods around the country only have fast- www.ahs.org for more details.

TOP: TOM UNDERWOOD. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF RENATA BROWN / CLEVELAND BOTANICAL GARDEN sustaining that interest—were the focus of food chains, convenience stores, or

September / October 2009 15 16 working, butlearningandgrowing.” in Ithaca, New York. “They’re notjust Learning program atCornellUniversity cia Eames-Sheavly youth really beleadershere,” reflects his plantingofwatermelonsandtomatoes. Corps memberTimothy Holt each guestandleadtours.First-year Green employees lineduptoindividuallygreet gardens through events suchasplant They alsodiscussedhow tofundschool to subjectsrangingfrom mathtoart. school year andhow itcouldbeapplied herb garden thatwouldlastthrough the cator, spokeaboutcreating anindoor Wright andedu- , anHSAhorticulturist Society ofAmerica (HSA), andJaneen Morgan, executive director oftheHerb and curricula.For example, rating themintoschoolenvironments designing children’s gardens toincorpo- sessions, covering avariety oftopicsfrom sium includedmore than30educational In additiontogarden tours,theSympo- SHARING SUCCESSES when touched,oreyeballplant thes oleracea), thes ■ ■ Here areafewideas: to thegardenandkeepingthemthere. had lotsofadviceforattractingchildren lar withSymposiumattendees.Speakers tions focusingondesignwereverypopu- It’s hardlysurprisingthenthatpresenta- lic setting,designisthekeytosuccess. a gardenforchildrenathomeorinpub- When itcomestoplanningandcreating birdbath, orfish pond. children. Itcanbeabrook, fountain, ommends sensitiveplant University 4-HChildren’sGarden,rec- Lownds, curatoroftheMichiganState sight, touch,smell,ortaste. on asensorylevel,whetherit'sthrough dica), with redcenters,resembling eyeballs. TIPS FORCREATING ANENGAGINGGARDENFORCHILDREN “It wasmostexciting formetoseethe At theYellow House Garden, student Include plantsthatengagechildren Water isakeyelementthatdraws in the American Gardener with leavesthatcollapseinward which hasyellowflowers of theGarden-Based (Mimosa pu- (Mimosa showed off Katrinka (Spilan- Mar- Norm Symposium attendeessamplesalsamadefromproducegrowninGreenCorpsgardens. mation, several sessionsalsomadeuseof ents andthecommunity. gardening ofpar- clubs,andthesupport sales, assistancefrom localbusinessesand them andgetexcitedaboutthem. giving themachancetolearnabout process ofselectingandgrowingplants, ■ Along withdelivering practicalinfor- Have childrenparticipateinthe help capturechildren’s imagination. gateway attheHersheyChildren’s Garden Child-sized elementssuchas this carrot vines onthem. in ateepeeshapeandplantingflowering bean teepeemadebystakingbeanpoles ple achild-sizedbenchforreading,or ■ ■ ■ ■ or avegetablepatchthatneedstending. they canclimb,windingpathsforrunning, the garden,suchasatreehouseorfort advises givingkidssomeactivespacein chitecture atTempleUniversity-Ambler, and beneficialinsects. (and water)toattractbirds,butterflies, both kidsandadults. elements toagardenmakesit invitingto “The presenter hadusjumprightintoa “The University ExtensioninLehi. Service led by Dave Francis across, suchas“EasytoUse CampIdeas” hands-on activitiestogettheirmessages Create spacesjustforkids—forexam- Adding sculpturesandothercreative Lolly Tai,aprofessoroflandscapear- Don’t forgetwildlife.Includeplants from theUtah State —M.H.

TOP: COURTESY OF DAVID BROWN. BOTTOM: AHS STAFF GPS activity as a warm-up exer- by growing beans in the garden, cise and then we moved on to a to forge a connection with the fun-filled hour of projects and dead father she never knew. “She’s ideas based on his use of themes in a hard situation,” Brown ex- for the programs he has devel- plains. “But she goes from de- oped,” says Pam Hosimer from pressed to hopeful over the course Damascus, Maryland. “The ideas of the play.” he presented meshed perfectly That sense of hope was a fitting with many of the programs I use ending for the Symposium, as at- at summer camps and I am excit- tendees take what they’ve learned ed to incorporate them in the and apply it to their own gardens, near future.” classrooms, and neighborhoods. Literature came to life during “It’s been wonderful to learn what the Symposium’s closing event, a others are doing and how we can live performance based on the be part of a greater gardening book Seedfolks—written by New- movement,” says Dana Freeman, bery Medal-winning author Paul Fleis- Teen actors perform in Seedfolks, the story of director of the Gifford Park Community chman—which chronicles how residents how residents of an ethnically diverse Cleve- Garden in Omaha, Nebraska. “Now I am of a diverse Cleveland neighborhood are land neighborhood turn a trash-covered dreaming my youth gardening programs brought together by an urban garden. vacant lot into a vibrant community garden. bigger for summer 2010!” Teens from Cleveland’s Young Audi- Inspiring this kind of ambition and ences program took on characters from were portraying characters of a different keeping the momentum of the youth gar- the book, telling their stories of how a va- age and race. Sixteen-year-old Javae dening movement going are exactly what cant lot was transformed into a commu- Brown, an African-American, played a the Symposium is all about. nity gathering place. nine-year-old Vietnamese girl named The story offered challenging roles Kim. For Brown, the hardest part was Melissa Hebert is a freelance writer based in

TOM UNDERWOOD for the young actors, many of whom portraying Kim’s age and her attempt, Avon Lake, Ohio.

September / October 2009 17 Slope gardening onthe 18 cultivar ‘BigEars’), Arabis procurrens procurrens Arabis Above: Astreamoftheauthor’s favoritesilverplants—lamb’sears the slopeinher Connecticut garden.Right:Tucked inpocketsnearaboulder, low-growing the American Gardener ‘Glacier’, thyme, and Rumex ‘Silver Shield’, Mazus reptans Mazus Salvia Salvia BY KARENBUSSOLINI ‘Berggarten’—prevents waterfrom eroding keep soilinplace yearround. (Stachys byzantina byzantina (Stachys and A of amountain.WhenmyhusbandandI My garden inConnecticutsitsatthefoot FINDING THERIGHTPATH: MYGARDEN this article at this article for slopes,seethewebsite speciallinkedto incline. For alistofrecommended plants that mayhelpyou tacklegardening onan rience andthatofothergarden designers match. Here are ideasfrom myown expe- gardening thatflatlandcan’t opportunities of mosthomeowners. skillsbeyond theability and construction can beexpensive andrequire engineering built structures suchaswallsandterraces faces, budget,andintendeduse.Large existing structures andimpermeablesur- depends onsteepness,size, soil,climate, for awhiletofigure outwhattodo. Much sometimes ittakeslivingwiththeproblem tions aren’t alwaysimmediately obvious; ofthehomelandscape?Solu-tractive part stabilityandmakeitanat- and structural designers acrossthecountry. garden. Hereareideasfrom grades varyfromgardento Strategies forhandlingsteep Despite thechallenges,slopespresent STEEP YARD the bestwaytoprovide safeaccess problem forthegardener: Whatis www.ahs.org. poses aslippery

KAREN BUSSOLINI (2) moved there more than 20 years ago, I was armed with gardening books and eager to start making a garden. Deer trails following the contours of the forested mountain rising from the back yard showed the only places where you could walk, so I made paths there and gardens everywhere else. I was young and strong and went at it, ripping out unwanted honeysuckle, multiflora roses, poison ivy, tree stumps, and rocks—until I was left with a mat of aggressive weeds and chronic back trouble. After a couple of years and considering my husband’s question: “Why do you in- sist on making gardens on the steepest part of the slope?” it finally dawned on me that double-digging new beds as my garden books instructed and hauling compost up a mountainside that already had good soil were ridiculous activities, and that maybe the rocks—except for loose ones—should just stay where they were. I started smothering the weeds with layers of newspaper and straw and planting into the crumbly compost they became in a few months, a patch at a time. Deep-rooted plants went where soil was deep, and shallow-rooted spreading plants covered the rocks. The main deer path, which I had con- verted into a snaking grass path, divided the garden unattractively, was too angled to walk on comfortably, and required weekends spent weeding to maintain it. This time I hired someone else to rip out the grass path and replace it with a wide, irregular but level path of large random bluestone slabs interspersed with native rock. Three or four people can now comfortably walk or stand on the path, or sit on an easily carried folding chair. Edged with low, dense plantings, this meander- ing path—almost a terrace in places—is Robert Welsch used stone steps, a tiny terrace, retaining wall, and switchback gravel path to functional yet unobtrusive. enable visitors to enjoy a variety of container gardens and specimen plants in his sloping garden. Along the way, I discovered other ways to make the garden more accessible, in- moving down the mountainside has never like an eagle’s nest overlooking the river, cluding installing a couple of low dry-laid been a problem. sits on a lot that is less than an eighth of retaining walls, stone ramps for wheelbar- an acre and has a 60-foot elevation drop. row access that look like extensions of ex- GOING WITH THE FLOW The yard seems larger because he used isting ledges, and short flights of stone A designer who strongly believes in different levels to hide garden “rooms” steps—all offset from each other to prevent working with what nature gives you, and walkways. Taking a design cue from the formation of waterfalls when it rains. Robert Welsch of Westover Landscape nature, his mortared stone steps curve Because there are no long, straight, down- Design lives and works on the steep- and cascade like a brook down from hill runs and all the ground is covered by shouldered, densely populated eastern street level to a modest gravel terrace low-maintenance perennial plants and bank of the Hudson River in Tarrytown, below the house that suggests a pool of

KAREN BUSSOLINI shredded bark mulch, erosion from water New York. His house, which is perched water. Flanking the path are flowing

September / October 2009 19 20 switchbacks and short mortared stone re-switchbacks and short slope attheproperty’s edgein a seriesof across the in 15-footruns back andforth wherehind theshrubs, itbegins toslice exits thisintimatespace,disappearing be- below. Aslopinggravel pathtoone side lector’s garden seatingareas andcarved-out a cluetotheexistenceofdelightfulcol- view, dropping outofsightwithout giving outer edgegives waytoaspectacularriver filled pitsthatcatchexcess water. four-foot diameter, six-foot-deep, rubble- toward five to hand-dugdrywells—three- down thewater’s flow anddirect theexcess depressed areas intheground—now slow ings sothattheyare notvisible,swales— of hisproperty. Created underdenseplant- French wateracross draintodivert thetop mine structures anderode soil. use ofit,andthemoving watercanunder- rather thansinkingin,plantscan’t make naturally channels.”Where off waterruns working where properly water andobserve sure curbingandguttersoffthehouseare manage itfrom upstream,” hesays.“Make have toseehow watermoves through and lem onmostslopingsitesisdrainage.“You la’, whichcontinuethewatermotif. plantings ofHakonechloa macra stroll inthisWestchesterCounty,NewYork,yardbyinstallinggrass rampsandstonesteps. Robert Welsch’scompany,WestoverLandscapeDesign,turned asteepdropintoaneasy Land beyond theterrace’s shrub-lined Welsch addressed thisby buildinga According toWelsch, thebiggestprob- the American Gardener ‘Aureo- lize thesoil.At thebottomofslope, he that require littlemaintenance andstabi- such asdayliliesandornamental grasses these pathsisfilledwithtough perennials Theextra-steep spaceenclosedby shrubs. coming anaccesspathalmost hiddenby gravel rampsandrailroad tiesteps,be- of the othersideinaquick,straightrun row lower endofthelotandgoesbackup anglenearthenar- slope atacomfortable finish walkingsurfaces. ing down landscapefabricandpebblesto tomakefootingsecure,mortar andlay- adding stonelandingsandstepssetin stones, “to makethepathexplicit,” paths firstwithlogs,thenover timewith on pathstocompactthesoil.He edged For ayear, Welsch juststompedaround andwidthright. hoses togetthecurves much aspossible,usingtwo150-foot land. He followed naturalcontoursas all over theslopetogetfeelof groupings ofrocks andsucculents. the subtletexture, forms,andcolorof way present toappreciate opportunities at your feet.”Pauses atlandingsalongthe walk down safelywithoutalwayslooking needed 100—wouldseemimpossibleto cause “a ofsteps—Iwouldhave longrun taining walls.Welsch builtswitchbacksbe- The pathloopsacross thefaceof To layoutthesepaths,Welsch walked from uphill. themanypaved surfaces a bedofgravel, whichtook care ofrunoff drainagepipesin and installedperforated time toseehisfirstattemptwash out. torrential downpour, hearrived justin Driving runs. ed by tothesite ina turf wide stepsintosetsofthree stepsseparat- down thegrade.He dividedthe20-foot- landscaping atthetopandprogressed from thestreet below, soWelsch started tion equipmentcouldentertheproperty steps over Construc- a30-to35-footrun. the lawndown below wouldrequire 12 stroll garden hebuiltatbasementlevel to descentfrom theterracedformal fortable from thehouse. He calculatedthatacom- erty, atstreet level, butnowaytogetthere space foralawnatthebottomofprop- home builtatopstoneoutcrops, there was jects foraWestchester County, New York, are stillessential.In oneofWelsch’s pro- theworstrainstorms error andobserving when designingforaclient,buttrialand Stomping around forayear isn’t anoption WITHWIDESTEPS TERRACING nance bothsaferandlesstedious. down thehill,making garden mainte- lines,sohosesdon’terty have tobedragged Irrigation lineswere installedalongprop- tremendous pressure onbuiltstructures. slopes, where water-soakedsoilexerts ing walls;Welsch values theseonsteep with deceptively simplerailroad tieretain- for atoolshed,reinforcing theuphillsides dug outsmallsunkenterracesandaplace Birmingham, Alabama, by Sunseteditors.OxmoorHouse, Sunset HillsideLandscaping Press, Portland,Oregon,2008. Lauren SpringerOgden.Timber Plant-Driven Design River, NewJersey,2009. Creative Homeowner,UpperSaddle Landscaping withStone Massachusetts, 2007. Storey Publishing,NorthAdams, Covering GroundbyBarbaraEllis. Resources So Welsch rippedupthetoplanding by Scottand by PatSagui. 2007. (2nd ed.)

KAREN BUSSOLINI Above: Colorful but tough mounding plants spread to stabilize the slope above Lauren Springer Ogden’s former home in the Colorado foothills. Right: In the fall, the slope takes on a completely different color palette with dried grasses and small conifers.

Extra-wide 18-inch treads and slightly husband Scott, the best solution was pitched (two to four percent) turf steps— straightforward. “I like to look at what you “steep enough to shed water but not un- can do with just planting,” she says. comfortable if you have high heels and a What she did was “leave it alone and cocktail in your hand”—make the transi- slam in a bunch of little plants that grow tion with grace. Stones set in concrete edge sideways quickly.” This was easier said the grass and stone steps and hand-placed than done. The high-elevation site was ed boulders retain soil and make beds for a open to fierce sun and winds. Sticky clay variety of bulbs and perennials. soil that was sopping wet with snowmelt in spring turned into dry hardpan in sum- PLANTING FOR STABILITY mer. Seeking plants that would grow in Lauren Springer Ogden looked to plants those conditions, Ogden turned to tough to halt erosion in her former Rocky Moun- clay-tolerant Old World plants such as tain foothills garden. When the house site Cerastium candidissimum (“a great stabi- was leveled, construction equipment left a lizer, it’s bossy and it runs”), grasses, mon- 250-foot-long gash running 20 feet up the tane native perennials and shrubs, mats of adjacent hill, with bare soil just waiting to “semi-rock garden plants but bigger and wash down into the small flat yard below. easier,” and a variety of conifers, including Stabilizing such a large, steep slope with common prostrate junipers. stone walls and terraces would have taken Fall planting turned out to be a mistake, an enormous amount of time, strength, for plants weren’t established enough to and money. For Ogden, design partner withstand winter storms. Spring planting and co-author of the recent book Plant- had to be done after the soil dried out but

LAUREN SPRINGER OGDEN (2) Driven Design (Timber Press, 2008) with before summer drought. Ogden used no

September / October 2009 21 In this sloping seaside garden near Los Angeles, California, garden designer Lew Whitney used bold, bright plants for a tropical feel. Aloe striata, agaves, and California fan palms (Washingtonia filifera) rise from sweeps of ground-hugging blue-green Senecio mandraliscae and and pink-flowered Drosanthemum floribundum, with crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii) providing occasional bursts of red. soil amendments and minimal digging to he had to cut into the slope, creating a long grows fast, is bulletproof, and it blooms”— prevent further destabilization. She spaced but comfortable walk. The nearly vertical and Drosanthemum floribundum, a pink- plants closely so they would fill in fast. bottom part features a wooden ladderlike flowering ice plant with a draping habit. Wind and gravity ruled out mulch. Over- stairway built on top of the ground that head irrigation was limited to a spray twice descends to the beach. LESSONS LEARNED a month during the growing season if Eye-popping color and dramatic plant It’s definitely more difficult to garden on a needed. Spring cleanup was done while the forms in diverse, tropical-looking compo- slope, but the rewards can more than off- ground was still frozen, weeding and dead- sitions cover all that is not hardscape. The set the challenges. While each of the gar- heading in one midsummer marathon to stable sandy loam was cleared of existing deners in this article used a different avoid disturbing the slope. Designed to be sparse vegetation and covered with jute combination of strategies to address the viewed from the house, Ogden’s problem fabric to provide anchorage for new problem of a steep grade, achieving success site became a richly varied garden full of plants. For an instant effect, the slope was often depends on trial and error and adapt- tough perennials that changed with the closely planted all at once with species that ing to what nature hands you. In my own seasons and harmonized with the native tolerate winter wind, salt spray from the garden, I still hop from rock to rock like a landscape beyond. ocean, and baking sun. Low-volume spray mountain goat wearing hiking boots when heads that emitted as little water as possi- working, but now I work less and spend BOLD PLANTS FOR A SEASIDE SLOPE ble over a long time provided the plants more time just enjoying the view. A different palette of plants was in order with moisture until they were established. for a sloping oceanside garden near Los Choosing drought-resistant plants for Karen Bussolini is photographer and coau- Angeles designed by Lew Whitney of slopes, Whitney notes, is especially impor- thor, with JoAnn Gardner, of Elegant Silvers Rogers Gardens in Newport Beach, Cali- tant because “you don’t want to pour on a (Timber Press, 2005). Her most recent book fornia. To make the garden accessible, lot of water and get runoff.” For erosion project, a collaboration with author Penelope Whitney built zig-zagging mortared stone control, Whitney recommends the pros- O’Sullivan, is The Homeowner’s Complete

steps with very small retaining walls where trate rosemary ‘Irene’—it is “attractive, Tree & Shrub Handbook (Storey, 2007). JERRY PAVIA

22 the American Gardener

HE FEAST has begun at Powell Here, on the edge of the prairie but not from Pittsburgh on the overall design, and Gardens in Kansas City, Mis- far from the lights of the city, is a gigantic Alan Branhagen, the garden’s horticultur- T souri. The botanic garden’s ex- potager like you’ve never seen before. Fruit ist and a landscape architect himself, filled pansive new Heartland Harvest Garden, trees planted in spirals redefine the con- it in with plants. The timing of the open- an elegant, 12-acre landscape devoted to all cept of an orchard. Food crops flourish ing, in a year when food gardening’s re- things edible, opened in June. Powell Gar- everywhere—along winding paths, in naissance is heralded by the creation of a dens calls the sweeping, imaginatively de- strict geometric layouts, and in the cozy vegetable garden at the White House, signed space “the nation’s largest edible confines of flower pots of all sizes. could not have been more fortuitous. landscape,” and if you have ever been im- This new garden has been in the works “I wanted everything in the garden to pressed by a well-tended vegetable garden’s for some time. Eric Tschanz, the director tie in to food,” Branhagen says. “From neat rows of beans, ruffled round cab- of Powell Gardens, first started playing shade trees to annuals, it’s all edible.” His bages, or golden tassels of corn, you have with the idea of an ornamental vegetable goals were simple: “The garden was dean idea, on a very small scale, of the im- garden almost 10 years ago. The botanic signed to be beautiful, fun, educational, pact of the Heartland Harvest Garden. garden worked with landscape architects and tasty,” he says. Heartland Harvest In Kansas City, a timely new garden demonstrating vegetable gardening on a grand scale has its roots in the past and its sights set on a new generation of gardeners.

BY MARTY ROSS PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN MUTRUX

The Villandry Garden—inspired by a 16th-century French chateau garden—is a key attraction in the Heartland Harvest Garden.

24 the American Gardener The Heartland Harvest Garden is the newest and most ambitious ex- pansion at Powell Gardens, located about 30 miles east of Kansas City in Kingsville, Missouri. Powell is a par- ticipant in the American Horticultur- al Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program, so admission is free for AHS members. For more information, visit www.powellgardens.org or call (816) 697-2600.

lay your corn out in 50-foot rows to have the great pleasure of growing your own vegetables and fruits. AN APPETIZING ENTRANCE The path into the Heartland Harvest Gar- den from the Powell Gardens’ visitors’ center leads into a pretty little four-square garden meant to whet guests’ appetites for the feast in the edible landscape beyond. A wide variety of fruits—including ‘Reliance’ peach—are grown in the garden’s orchards. This small garden, enclosed on three sides by a magnificent six-foot wattle fence, PUTTING IT IN PERSPECTIVE cumbers, peppers, and more ambitious captures the sense and sensibilities of the Major food crops have been part of the crops in their own flowerbeds—and even garden: kitchen-garden crops are artfully cultural and horticultural identity of the in pots on the stairs up to the front door. arranged and grown to perfection. Bran- Midwest since the fertile tall-grass Vegetable gardening is hip and hot, and hagen designed this garden in a blue and prairies were busted in the 19th century one of the lessons of the Heartland Har- gold palette, planting plums, pawpaws, by hard-working homesteaders who cul- vest Garden is that you don’t have to live yellow sweet cherries, blueberries, calen- tivated wheat, oats, corn, barley, and in the country, dress in faded overalls, or dulas, tomatoes, lettuces, and kale. The many other crops to sustain them- annual crops will change, but the selves and a growing nation. color scheme remains the same This Midwestern agricultural her- through the seasons. itage was part of the inspiration for From their arrival, visitors are the Heartland Harvest Garden, but confronted with the great tempta- the garden takes food production be- tion to pinch the parsley and basil, or yond the comforting and profitable snag a juicy plum from a low-hang- conformity of rigorous monocultur- ing branch. To meet this overpower- al rows and elevates it into an art ing need to sample—and to help form. The garden is a flourishing il- visitors resist temptation—tasting lustration not only of the vital im- stations throughout the garden give portance of plants, but of the visitors a chance to try just-picked complexities of soils and climatic herbs, vegetables, and fruits. conditions, the role of pollinators, The path next leads through a and the all-around challenges, tri- greenhouse; Branhagen and Tschanz umphs, and enormous satisfaction of wanted visitors to experience this to growing your own food. emphasize their “seed to plate” vision The intent of the garden is to re- for the garden. The greenhouse is di- connect visitors with the origins of vided in two, one side for seed starting food and to reintroduce them to the and the other for tropical plants. Seeds idea of growing some of their own will be started here under glass year food at home. The garden has round. An astonishing variety of food opened just as gardeners everywhere are Powell horticulturist Alan Branhagen designed crops are hardy in the Midwest, but beginning to make room for tomatoes, cu- the plantings at the Heartland Harvest Garden. Tschanz and Branhagen didn’t want to ex-

September / October 2009 25 clude tropicals, so avocados, clementines, mangos, olives, sugar cane, and pistachios are among the tender plants displayed in pots on the grounds through the summer, and moved into the greenhouse in winter. DOING IT RIGHT For most crops, a greenhouse isn’t really necessary. Neither are synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. “We have taken on the goal of making a completely organic garden,” Tschanz says. “We may not have perfect apples, but we feel we can have the production we need.” Matt Bunch, horticulturist in charge of the day-to-day operation of the garden, and Barbara Fetchenhier, the garden’s expert in charge of fruit and nut crops, are both long-time, enthusiastic, and committed organic gardeners who felt strong-

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS visitors, but to emphasize the choices avail- More than 2,000 varieties of edible able: there are fruits and vegetables for Chief horticulturist Matt Bunch harvests plants grow in this vast garden. Fifty-four every taste and every garden—grapes for seeds from safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) apple varieties were planted along the juice, jam, and wine; eating apples, pie ap- in the Menu Garden. spiraling paths of the apple court. “It’s ples, cider apples. Here is the real-world everything in Stark’s catalog,” Branhagen context you miss if the only apples you’ve ly about the decision to make the says, and then some. Standard apples ever plucked were from a grocery store. Heartland Harvest Garden organic. grow on the outer ring and columnar ap- To encourage pollinators and beneficial Throughout the garden, the soil has ples stand like sentries at the center; the insects—and thus healthy growth and a been amended with compost. And, just apples are arranged in order of bloom robust harvest—every crop is planted with like home gardeners, the horticulturists and harvest, from ‘Lodi’, which ripens in companion plants. Branhagen turned to here measure organic fertilizers by the June in Kansas City, to ‘Granny Smith’, Louise Riotte’s classic Carrots Love Toma- trowelful as they plant, and supplement one of the last to be harvested. toes and Roses Love Garlic for ideas. Hys- with sea kelp and other organic amend- The garden’s vineyard is planted with 50 sop, blackberries, and persimmons grow ments during the growing season. When varieties of grapes; 45 peach cultivars plant- near the grapes. Mint and beebalm they need to use pest controls, they stick ed in another spiral beyond the apple court (Monarda sp.) grow with the pear trees. with products approved by the Organic ripen from June through September. The results are stunning. Early this Materials Review Institute (OMRI). Other tree fruits include 20 different summer, the purple heads of chives “It’s not going to be easy,” Branhagen plums, 17 Asian pears, and 18 European bobbed around the base of young trees in says, “but we’re ready.” pears. The intention is not to overwhelm the apple court. Chives improve apple

26 the American Gardener trees’ health and help prevent apple scab, with alfalfa, clover, range grasses, and according to Riotte. Generous wands of other forage crops, in crisp lines that de- purple hyssop, which help increase the lineate the sparkling star design in a way yield of grapes, bloomed in the vineyard no frontier grandmother ever imagined in June. Branhagen’s research turned up when she sat at her sewing table, cutting endless felicitous combinations that are up calico scraps to piece her quilts. both attractive and hard-working. The true star in the gigantic quilt is the fourth square, unabashedly called the INSPIRED BY VILLANDRY Villandry quilt, because it is inspired by At the heart of the garden are four three- perhaps the most famous potager of all, quarter-acre gardens designed as enor- the nine-square garden at Villandry, a mous traditional quilt squares, each 16th-century French chateau. In Powell planted with food crops and their com- Gardens’ interpretation, the four large panions. A “Missouri Star” quilt block is blocks of this quilt square are given over Top, background: A profusion of vegetables, laid out with crabapples, jujubes, paw- to heirloom vegetables, tomatoes, basil, planted in geometric beds that resemble the paws, peaches, apples, and other orchard and appropriate companion plants. It is patterns of a quilt, mature in the summer fruit. Barley, corn, cotton, peanuts, milo, formal but fun, a delightfully bold stroke sun. Above: Planted with forage crops, the wheat, and other farm crops fill in the of cultural and horticultural choreogra- patterns in the ‘Kansas Star’ garden are most pattern of an “Old Missouri” quilt block; phy that combines Renaissance ideas apparent when viewed from an elevated the “Kansas Star” quilt square is planted with Midwestern sensibilities. observation point.

September / October 2009 27 “We’re not going to say it’s bigger or better than Villandry,” Tschanz says, “but PLANTING A SEED FOR THE NEXT GENERATION it is inspired by Villandry —and we think Kids don’t need much encouragement to pump, they’re learning where food comes they would themselves be inspired by us.” race around the winding pathways in the from, experiencing something of the life new Heartland Har- cycle of plants, dis- HEARTLAND AMBASSADORS vest Garden’s apple covering the rela- Two of the strongest voices of support for court and peach spi- tionship between this new garden are those of Rosalind ral, or to sniff and healthy soil and Creasy, an author and gardener who has sample herbs at the healthy plants, and championed the aesthetic delights of veg- garden’s tasting sta- learning about water etable gardening for almost 40 years, and tions: there is much conservation. Barbara Damrosch, whose Garden Primer, to interest children During a visit to first published in 1988, has just been revised here. But Powell the Fun Foods in a new, all-organic edition. Damrosch Gardens is making a Farm, children will and her husband, Eliot Coleman, are mar- special effort to be able to plant ket gardeners and the owners of Four Sea- reach out to kids, seeds, pick pro- son Farm in Maine; Creasy is a designer, parents, teachers, duce, and taste gardener, and author of the Complete Book scouts and scout- new foods. The of Edible Landscaping, first published in masters, and home- kids’ area is de- 1982, with a revised edition to be published school students with signed for fun, but next year. Creasy and Damrosch are guest the Heartland Har- the real seeds be- gardeners at the Heartland Harvest Gar- vest Garden’s Fun ing planted here den; they each designed beautiful working Foods Farm, where are those of a new vegetable gardens to demonstrate to visi- kids will be encour- generation of gar- tors their visions of growing your own. aged to play, plant, A Powell Gardens staff member helps a deners who will Creasy, who has a vegetable garden and and learn. young visitor plant tomato seedlings. grow up with re- a chicken coop right in her front yard in While kids are spect for the envi- California, is a tireless ambassador for or- tasting bramble berries in the farm’s tut- ronment, aware of the importance of namental vegetable gardening: she claims ti-frutti maze, digging for earthworms, plants in our lives, and the delicious she has influenced neighbors, kids, and planting tomatoes, splashing in a mill- taste and nutritious value of home- even her FedEx delivery man to grow and stone fountain, or drawing water from a grown produce. —M.R. eat their own vegetables. “Our culture pushes vegetables to the side of the plate,” says Creasy. She has done her part to change that, and her colorful garden at the Heartland Harvest Garden, which visitors enter through two enormous, free-standing barn doors, shows just how much food can be grown, and beautifully, in 1,000 square feet. Damrosch’s plot at the Heartland Har- vest Garden is significantly larger—about 4,000 square feet—and is designed to grow enough produce to supply a family of four year-round. She made a few con- cessions here in a public garden—making the paths a little wider than she would in a home garden, for example—but held fast to the idea that a properly planned succession of crops will produce an ample harvest without demanding a frenzy of planting in spring and a frantic round of canning and freezing in the fall.

Rosalind Creasy’s plot demonstrates that vegetable gardens can be practical as well as ornamental without sacrificing productivity.

28 the American Gardener POWELL’S PICKS Alan Branhagen, horticulturist at Powell Gardens, describes Kansas City’s USDA Hardiness Zone 5-6 / AHS Heat Zone 7 climate as one of extremes. Summers are very hot, with daytime temperatures typically in the 90s, and not much relief at night. Winters are cold, windy, and without reliable snow cover. Wild temperature swings in spring, especially, can coax plants out of dormancy only to expose them to hard, killing frosts. The area gets about 35 inches of rain a year. The region’s clay soil is rich in minerals but a challenge to work. In short, it’s a great place to develop gardening skills, and to get to know plants of all kinds. Above: A movable greenhouse in the garden Here are some of the favorite crops of author Barbara Damrosch, left, shows of the gardeners at Powell Gardens: visitors how to extend the growing season for a variety of tender vegetables. Small fruit trees: ■ ‘Nikita’s Gift’ persimmon is a hybrid ket. But if we can do this in Maine, you with large, delicious fruit. can do it anywhere.” ■ ‘Northstar’ pie cherry produces a big harvest from a small tree. COMING TOGETHER ■ ‘Harrow Diamond’ peach is hardy The experience of growing your own food and especially tasty. and the pleasure of sharing the harvest has Berries: suddenly become big news. The Slow ■ ‘Apache’ thornless blackberry has Food organization, the thoughtful writings huge sweet berries, and supplies early of Michael Pollan in his Omnivore’s Dilem- nectar for honeybees. ma and In Defense of Food, and many other ■ ‘Chandler’ and ‘Nelson’ highbush True appreciation of the changing sea- advocates, have carried the banner of the blueberries are both tall-growing bush- sons “is our privilege as gardeners,” Dam- back-to-food movement all the way to the es with very large berries. rosch says. Real luxury is not expecting to White House, where, earlier this year, First Grapes: be able to buy strawberries in October or Lady Michelle Obama pulled on a pair of ■ ‘Cynthiana’ (‘Norton’) is an Ameri- asparagus in January, but “to have those boots and helped schoolchildren plant a can wine grape, Missouri’s state grape. things at the moment they are the most vegetable garden on the South Lawn. ■ ‘Purpurea’ grape has dark purple fo- perfect,” fresh from the garden, she says. Small truck farms, thriving farmer’s liage and fruit. To stretch the seasons ever so slightly, markets, and Community Supported Vegetables: her garden includes an 18- by 20-foot Agriculture co-ops now deliver the fresh- ■ ‘Gina Romano’ bush bean is sweet greenhouse on rails that slides back and est local produce to the doorsteps of city and crisp and resists disease well. forth over the beds to allow the gardeners dwellers, inspiring a new generation of gar- ■ ‘Ping Tung’ Asian eggplant has 15- to protect fall crops from hard frosts well deners to try their hand growing both heir- inch-long fruits that are never bitter. into the winter, and to start tender crops loom varieties and the latest hybrids, ■ ‘Jimmy Nardello’ pepper is smoky- very early in spring. Damrosch’s garden without compromising the environment. sweet, great for frying or salads. also includes smaller cold frames for win- The Heartland Harvest Garden, grow- ■ ‘Waltham’ butternut squash is an ter lettuce, carrots, and other crops, to ing where the buffalo once roamed, is All-America Selections winner; plants show gardeners a small-scale version of the putting food gardening back on the table bear up to 10 squash that keep well. techniques she and Coleman rely on for —right in the middle of the plate. ■ Heirloom tomatoes: ‘Carbon’, with winter crops in their garden in Maine. dark skin, is great for tomato sauce; “There is this mindset that vegetable Marty Ross is an award-winning journalist ‘Cherokee Purple’ is a sweet tomato gardens are for summer, like a summer ro- and garden columnist. She grows edibles in with a hint of spice. mance,” Damrosch says, “then everyone her gardens in Kansas City, Missouri, and —M.R. goes back to their jobs and the supermar- Hayes, Virginia.

September / October 2009 29 30 that, botanicallyspeaking,are termed fr their branchesfestoonedwithshowy lies comeintotheirown infallandwinter, es withtheirfallingleaves, deciduoushol- deciduous plants,whosecharm diminish- our gardens andlandscapes. Unlike some lies, too,canmakedramaticstatementsin ofourattention.Deciduous hol- worthy a chord withmanyplant lovers. winter beautyofevergreen holliesstrikes cember sun.There islittledoubtthatthe and brightred glisteningintheDe- fruits spiny, dark green leaves, aconicalform, M Hollies native deciduous This isthefirst ofatwo-partseriesbyGilNelson; evergreennativehollies will befeaturedintheNovember/December issue. But evergreens are nottheonlyhollies the American Gardener ately conjure images ofshiny, gardeners andtheyimmedi- ENTION HOLLIES to most uits ily anditsorigins,seetheweb special (For abriefdescriptionoftheholly fam- plant bothmaleandfemale selections. production, gardenersmal fruit needto male andothersfemale.To ensure opti- cious, meaningthatsomeplantsare localized habitat.Allareto avery dioe- nee River holly (I.curtissii), broad range.Others,very suchasSuwa- winterberry winterberry southeastern Canada.Some, suchas lies native totheUnited States and squirrels withanutritious foodsource. well into winter, providing birds and hangson their brightlycolored jewelry Aswiththeirevergreendrupes. cousins, There are 11speciesofdeciduoushol- (Ilex verticillata), shine inthefallandwintergarden. Even aftersheddingtheirleaves,thesehollies are confined have a cle atwww.ahs.org.) linked totheonlineversion ofthisarti- and atleastsomehardy selectionsperform itreadilyertheless, adaptstogarden soils one ofthehardier deciduoushollies.Nev- than theDeep Souththe northeast andis to Louisiana.It ismuchmore commonin FloridaCanada tonorthernmost andwest floodplains, andswampywoodsfrom streams andatthe edgesofbogs,pocosins, isfoundpredominantly along winterberry Zones 9–1).Awetland species innature, USDA Hardiness Zones 3–9,AHSHeat (I.verticillata, tive holly is winterberry The mostpopularandwidelygrown na- WINTERBERRY BY GILNELSON

GIL NELSON with a mature height and width of about four feet. It also blooms slightly earlier, making the early-flowering ‘Jim Dandy’ a good pollinator. ‘Red Sprite’ is considered best for USDA Zone 8 and northward, but it performs well for me in my functionally Zone 9 garden. There’s also the yellow- fruited ‘Winter Gold’, which was selected from a single plant of Winter Red® that — through a “sport,” or mutation—produced some branches with yellow fruits. Winterberry also has been crossed with the Japanese species I. serrata to produce several large, robust hybrids, including Ilex ‘Sparkleberry’ (Zones 5–9, 9–5). At Callaway Gardens near Pine Mountain, Georgia—which has one of the best holly collections in the country—it is used to stunning effect. “We’ve had great success with ‘Sparkleberry’,” says Hank Bruno, director of horticulture at Callaway, “which fruits heavily with ‘Apollo’ as the pollinator. It dominates the winter landscape and needs some pruning to keep it in bounds.” A hybrid bred specifically as a consort for ‘Sparkleberry’, ‘Sparkleberry’ holly, opposite, livens up the ‘Apollo’ grows to 12 feet tall and winter landscape with its brilliant red fruits. wide if left unpruned. Winter Red®, above, is a popular winterberry cultivar with large red fruits that persist into POSSUMHAW late winter. ‘Winter Gold’, right, was Native to moist habitats from developed from a Winter Red® plant that the mid-Atlantic west through produced yellow fruits on a few branches. Indiana to Kansas and south to Texas and the Gulf Coast, pos- equally well in more or less dry, sunny sites. sumhaw holly (I. decidua, Zones I planted the cultivar Winter Red®—a 5–9, 9–1) is another prolifically New England favorite—in my drought- fruiting species that is widely stressed, sun-drenched garden in Georgia, grown. Like some other decidu- where it has fruited prolifically and dou- ous hollies, the leaves of pos- bled in size in only two years. sumhaw are sometimes closely As its name suggests, winterberry’s main set at the end of short, stubby attraction is its ascending branches bearing shoots, which make them appear bright red fruits that begin to color in early opposite or whorled. Pos- fall, turn bright red by mid-December, and sumhaw produces flowers and last much of the winter. The deep green fruits as a suckering shrub, but it leaves are about four inches long and two will develop into a small tree if inches wide with an attractive quilted ap- left to its own devices. In the pearance and sharply toothed margins. In duces abundant three-eighth-inch-diame- wild, mature plants may reach 30 feet tall fall, these sometimes take on a burgundy- ter, intensely red fruits that persist well into with an attractive leaning or arching form. red cast before dropping. It grows six to 10 February. ‘Southern Gentleman’ blooms at It grows best in moist, organic-rich soil in feet tall with a similar diameter. the same time as Winter Red® and is its full sun but will tolerate part shade. Although species plants of winterberry best male pollinator. ‘Warren’s Red’, an abundantly fruit- can be difficult to find, numerous cultivars Other excellent winterberry selections ing female selection with an upright are available. Winter Red® is one of the include the red-fruited ‘Red Sprite’, ‘Sun- habit, has become the favorite cultivar in best and most widely used. A large, round- set’, and ‘Bright Horizon’—all of which southern gardens. Its leaves are slightly ed shrub that may take nearly 30 years to have larger fruit than Winter Red®. ‘Red wider and darker green than those of the ® ® TOP: BILL JOHNSON. BOTTOM: SUSAN A. ROTH reach its maximum size, Winter Red pro- Sprite’ is more compact than Winter Red , species and turn yellowish before falling.

September / October 2009 31 32 Golden’, introduced by Byer’s Nursery of display. infruit rival winterberry throughout thewinter,its fruit andcan loses itsleaves earlyintheseason,retains less columnarcrown. ‘Sentry’ typically and‘Sentry’fruit foritsnarrow, more or Zone 9.‘Red Cascade’ isnotedforitslarge of USDA bestnorth forms thatperform spp.). Bothoftheseselectionsare northern in formtosomehawthorns(Crataegus erect stature, andarounded crown similar feet tallandusuallyhave asingletrunk, tas’ are daintytrees thatmature toabout15 thy cultivars. ‘CouncilFire’ and‘Pocahon- Cascade’, and‘Pocahontas’—are alsowor- cluding ‘CouncilFire’, ‘Sentry’, ‘Red femaleselectionsofI.decidua fruited can holly(I.opaca). Escort’, aswell astheevergreen Ameri- other says Head. Pollinator speciesforthisand earlier foragooddisplayofvisiblefruit,” er asmuchandtheytendtodefoliate ‘Warren’s Red’ becausetheydon’t suck- “I prefer ‘Sentry’ and‘Pocahontas’ over America, isdecidedlyinthelattercamp. Head, president oftheHolly Society of deners andthedismayofothers.Ray early winter—tothedelightofsomegar- The leaves oftenpersistintolatefalland Yellow-fruited formsinclude ‘Byers As Head suggests,several otherred- the American Gardener I. decidua cultivars include‘Red —in- cause theyare notasvisibletobirds. hang longeronthehollies,perhapsbe- low-fruited selectionsisthattheytendto uralist Bill Finch. Theadvantage ofyel- named forenvironmental writerandnat- en’, alsodiscovered inAlabamaand Huntsville, Alabama,and‘Finch’s Gold- market,” says CharlesWebb ofSuperior cause we are notaware ofaprofitable and cutting,butonlyonasmallscale,be- species ofdeciduousholliesfrom seed holly enthusiasts.“We propagate several fined topublicgardens andthoseofavid For thesespeciesare themostpart, con- lies, onlysixare available inthetrade. Of theotherninenative deciduoushol- OFTHEREST BEST have hollycollections andretailnurseriesthat specializeinhollies. The society’swebsite 29 toNovember1,2009,atVineyard HavenonMartha’sVineyard,Massachusetts. find holliesdonatedbyHSAmembers. The61stannualmeetingwillbeheldOctober field trips,plantdisplays,andgarden tours.Anannualplantauctionincludeshard-to- nual meeting,heldinthefallto ensureplentyoffruit-ladenplantscanbeseenonthe resource forbothnativeandnon-nativehollies.AmongtheHSA’s activitiesisanan- ed in1947,HSAservesastheofficialregistrationauthority for hollycultivarsanda Holly fancierswillfindlotstolearnfromtheSocietyof America (HSA).Found- HOLLY SOCIETYOFAMERICA (www.hollysocam.org) from typical possumhawby havingshort- tutes adistinctspecies.It isdistinguished variety of I. decidua; limestone. Some believe ittobea experts naturally inthin,nearlyneutralsoilsover area Florida, ofnorthern tendsto grow Zones 7–10,10–7), native onlyinasmall to-find forms. right), offersomeofthemore difficult- and Woodlanders (see“Sources,” far Trees’ retail partner, Mail Order Natives, should bemore widelyused.Superior lies have excellent garden potentialand my own experience, manyofthesehol- native plantsformanyyears. Based on Florida, thathasspecialized ingrowing Trees, nearMadison, awholesalenursery Fire’, above,usuallydoes. left, ordevelopasingletrunk,like‘Council be multistemmed,suchas‘Warren’sRed’, Selections ofpossumhawhollycaneither includes helpfullistingsofarboreta that Suwannee River holly(I.curtissii, others feelitconsti- —G.N.

LEFT: MICHAEL S. THOMPSON. RIGHT: GIL NELSON er, narrower leaves that typically do not ex- (I. montana, Zones 5–7, 7–5) is another po- ceed two inches long and five-eighth-inch tentially tree-sized holly that can reach wide. According to Ray Head, Suwannee nearly 40 feet tall. It grows naturally only Sources River holly blooms later than possumhaw, in the mountains and upper Piedmont of Arborvillage Farm Nursery, which effectively reduces the likelihood of West Virginia, Virginia, the Carolinas, and Holt, MO. (816) 264-3911. interspecies cross-pollination. northern Georgia, where it is common, www.arborvillage llc.com. Swamp or sarvis holly (I. amelanchier, but it is more difficult to find in nurseries. Zones 6–9, 10–6) is an upright shrub or The catberry (I. mucronata, Zones Fairweather Gardens, very small tree that occurs mostly in 3–6, 5–2), or mountain holly as it is Greenwich, NJ. (856) 451-6261. standing water along slow-moving sometimes called, is the newest member www.fairweather gardens.com. streams and in pocosins and wet upland of the genus Ilex. Long classified as depressions. In the wild it is now con- Nemopanthus mucronatus, it and the Forestfarm, Williams, OR. (541) fined to scattered populations in the closely related long-stalked holly (I. col- 846-7269. www.forestfarm.com. coastal plains of the Carolinas, Georgia, lina) are now considered by most taxon- and the Florida panhandle. omists to be clearly embedded within the Girard Nurseries, Geneva, OH. (440) 466-2881. www.girardnurseries.com.

Mail Order Natives, Lee, FL. (850) 973-6830. www.mailordernatives.com.

TNZ Nursery, Louisville, KY. (502) 836-6908. www.tnz.us.

Woodlanders, Aiken, SC. (803) 648- 7522. www.woodlanders.net. Resources Most of the following resources are available from the Holly Society of America (www.hollysocam.org).

Florida’s Best Native Landscape Plants Smooth winterberry produces large red fruits that are relished by many kinds of birds. by Gil Nelson. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 2003. Swamp holly is one of the few decid- true hollies. Catberry is a cold-hardy, uous hollies in the coastal plains that has northern species that occurs naturally in Hollies: A Gardener’s Guide, Brooklyn colorful fall foliage. The leaves turn pale boreal bogs, swamps, and on mountain Botanic Garden, published in coop- yellow as the season progresses, forming slopes from Ontario and Newfoundland eration with the Holly Society of an attractive contrast to the relatively south to Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana, America, 1993. large three-eighth-inch fruits. The fruit Maryland, and the mountains of West color of swamp holly is a dull red rather Virginia. The dull red, velvety fruits are Hollies for Gardeners by Christopher than the typical lustrous red of most borne on relatively long, conspicuous Bailes. Timber Press, Portland, Ore- species. Like many wetland plants, stalks. Unlike other deciduous hollies, gon, 2006. swamp holly adapts readily to the garden catberry fruits appear during summer but will likely require a modicum of rather than winter. This species is not Hollies for the Landscape in the South- moisture for maximum health. widely available, but should definitely be east by Ken Tilt, David Williams, Smooth winterberry (I. laevigata, sought out by New England gardeners. Willard Witte, and Mary Kathryn Zones 4–7, 7–4) is a mostly coastal plains Gaylor. Alabama Cooperative Exten- species growing naturally in bogs, low A HOLLY WITH POTENTIAL sion Service, Circular ANR-837. woodlands, and acidic swamps. Its foliage As the popularity of deciduous hollies in- is similar to common winterberry, but it creases, gardeners can expect more species Hollies: The Genus Ilex by Fred C. produces fewer and more scattered fruits and selections to enter the market. One Galle. Timber Press, Portland, Ore- and its leaves often fade to a beautiful pale likely candidate is the sand or Carolina gon, 1997.

COURTESY OF MICHAEL GROSS / GEORGIAN COURT UNIVERSITY yellow in autumn. Mountain winterberry holly (I. ambigua, Zones 7–10, 10–7),

September / October 2009 33 10–7), which now enjoys only limited availability but is being investigated by breed- ers. Growing to 20 feet tall, this very attractive shrub or small tree occurs naturally from North Carolina to central Florida and west to eastern Texas. Because it grows predominantly in sandy up- lands and dry forests, it has excellent potential for xeric gardening. The leaves usually have bluntly toothed margins but vary widely in size, shape, and color. The shiny red fruits are about three-eighth-inch in diameter. The inherent variability in this species makes it an excellent subject for experimenta- tion. “Our planting puts on an attractive display of bright red fruit each year and has developed nicely during a several-year The fruits of ‘Scarlett O’Hara’ winterberry steal the show in this fall border that includes Joe Pye drought,” says Charles Webb of Superi- weed (Eupatorium sp.), silver willow (Salix alba var. sericea), and elephant ear (Alocasia sp.). or Trees. “This holly is obviously well suited for planting on dry sites under The knock against I. ambigua is that it you are selecting an appropriate male shade of pines.” does not hold its fruit long enough into pollinator—and one whose bloom peri- winter to be successful. It begins coloring od will overlap that of the female selec- earlier than some other species, however, tions you are planting—Cullina suggests and the fruits are very juicy, making them checking with the nursery. Fred Galle’s an excellent food source for birds. holly book, listed on page 33, includes a helpful chart of bloom times for decidu- HOLLIES IN THE LANDSCAPE ous holly selections. With the exceptions described above, In general, deciduous hollies are most most of the American deciduous hollies attractive when they are planted in mass- will thrive in a moist but free-draining es to enhance the effect of their fall fo- site that has moderately fertile, slightly liage and winter fruits. They are often acidic, organic rich soil. All will grow best used as screens or hedges, or planted in full sun or part shade. along the edge of a woodland to provide They are well suited to gardens in much food and cover for wildlife. Underplant of the eastern United States and southeast- with spring-blooming bulbs and shade- ern Canada. West of the Rockies, winter- loving perennials. berry and possumhaw cultivars and To get maximum pleasure from their hybrids such as ‘Sparkleberry’ are also fall and winter display, plant deciduous adaptable to gardens from the Pacific hollies against a backdrop of evergreens in Northwest down into the coastal ranges of a site where they are visible from a window northern and central California (Sunset or patio. That way, you can enjoy the beau- Zones A2, A3, 1–7). ty of the fruits and the show of birds that For optimum pollination, the rule of will come to feed on them. thumb is to have at least one male plant for every 10 females. In Native Trees, Gil Nelson is an author, photographer, and Although not yet widely available in the Shrubs & Vines (Houghton Mifflin, botanist based in Georgia. His next book, trade, sand or Carolina holly has shown 2002), author William Cullina recom- The Best Native Plants for Southern Gar- potential because of its drought tolerance, mends planting males within 50 feet of dens, is scheduled for release by University

attractive foliage, and early fruit display. females for best results. To ensure that Press of Florida in 2010. TOP: SUSAN A, ROTH. BOTTOM: GIL NELSON

34 the American Gardener James van Sweden and the New American Garden

BY JANE BERGER PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROGER FOLEY

ET’S TAKE A TRIP in a time ma- chine back to Baltimore, Maryland, L in the early 1960s. As we drive slowly down the lanes of a typical suburban en- clave called Murray Hill, notice the grand street trees and colonial-style architecture with carefully manicured front yards and clipped evergreen foundation plantings. One property stands out from all the rest because it has no lawn. Instead, there is a virtual stage between the curb and front door—alive, jostling,

The co-creator of the revolutionary bold, naturalistic approach to landscape design continues to inspire with his nontraditional and environmentally friendly style. and pirouetting with a corps de ballet of un- ha). It is the residence of avid gardeners garden’s designer. As van Sweden has writ- usual plants. A clumping bamboo (Farge- Leo and Pauline Vollmer, and the birth- ten, “I’ll never forget the moment I walked sia nitida) obscures the sharp corner of the place of the New American Garden. through the back gate [of the Vollmer gar- house. A longstalk holly (Ilex pedunculosa) James van Sweden first saw the Vollmer den]…. For the first time, I saw how the screens the dining room from the front garden in 1964. Fresh from earning a de- movement of plants could integrate space walkway. Around back, a spacious blue- gree in architecture at the University of and discovered the rich possibilities of great stone terrace, shaded by a huge Chinese Michigan followed by studies in landscape contrasts in scale, color, and foliage….” fringe tree (Chionanthus retusus), overlooks architecture at the University of Delft in Fast forward to present-day Washing- a lily pool. A winding walkway takes you Holland, he had moved to Washington, ton D.C. A former bank building on 8th through seas of perennials and ornamental D.C., to work for an urban planning firm. Street SE, near Capitol Hill, serves as the grasses punctuated by towering pines and At the suggestion of a Dutch professor, he headquarters of Oehme van Sweden a rare Franklin tree (Franklinia alatama- contacted Wolfgang Oehme, the Vollmer (OVS) Landscape Architects. As you

The Leo and Pauline Vollmer garden, above right, led to a 35-year partnership between James van Sweden (left) and Wolfgang Oehme, above left.

September / October 2009 35 enter the offices, several employees are cal landscape in the tony Georgetown sec- RADICALLY DIFFERENT, WILDLY POPULAR seated at huge drafting tables. Along a tion of Washington, D.C. The garden The gardens were smash hits. The now-de- hallway on the right is a small room filled featured clumps of giant Chinese silver- funct Washington Star newspaper pub- with books where James van Sweden, one grass (Miscanthus sinensis), a Chinese lished a Sunday magazine in 1976 with an of the firm’s founders, is reminiscing witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis), and even Oehme van Sweden garden on the cover about his 35-year business partnership a weedy tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissi- and a 10-page spread inside. That same with Wolfgang Oehme. ma) that was retained to give the garden “a year, van Sweden got a call from David He recalls that in the beginning, tropical quality.” In no time, van Sweden Lilly, a member of the Federal Reserve Oehme dispensed with formal landscape had five clients of his own, so he phoned Board of Governors, asking them to re-de- plans in favor of quick pencil sketches he Oehme again to suggest they go into busi- sign the building’s grounds. “We were in used as a prelude to his instinctive, on-site, ness together. a bedroom of my house, where the office hands-on placement of plants. “Pauline Vollmer says she’d never seen such a terri- ble drawing,” he says, “and it was so much money. And she said to her husband, ‘Can we trust this guy?’” FORGING A PARTNERSHIP After their first meeting in Baltimore, several years went by before van Sweden called Oehme to ask for help in designing the small back yard of his urban town- house. A hospitable host, van Sweden gave his many friends and neighbors ample opportunity to marvel at his striking, atypi-

Two well-known examples of the Oehme van Sweden New American Garden style are the Friendship Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum, top, and the Federal Reserve Garden, right, both in Washington, D.C.

36 the American Gardener was,” says van Sweden. “Wolfgang was at the other end of the room drawing as I was at the desk. And I said, ‘Wolfgang, this is HOME SWEET HOME—VAN SWEDEN STYLE our big break. We’re going to lunch at the Federal Reserve, and you have to wear a tie.’” Oehme did wear a tie, but he also wore his Earth shoes, and Lilly later told van Sweden that when he saw the Earth shoes, he knew he had the right people. Before it was finally approved, Lilly tangled with J. Carter Brown, the director of the National Gallery of Art and chairman of the powerful Fine Arts Commis- sion, who objected to the OVS design for the Fed on the grounds that it was unlike a conventional landscape in the nation’s capital. Lilly’s response to Brown was, “That’s just the point.” The Federal Reserve garden was a radi- cal departure for tradition-minded Wash- ington. Many Fed employees were unhappy about the garden’s cost and, like Brown, skeptical about the way it would When James van Sweden gardens these days, it’s at his three-acre weekend retreat look. So after a season of growth, van Swe- on Maryland’s Eastern shore. But there’s not much gardening required. Van Sweden den and Oehme gave a lecture to explain planned the landscape as a typical OVS creation: no lawn, no pesticides, and no the design and planting concepts. Thirty need for irrigation. Instead, there is a lily pond, a swimming pool, and two different people were expected; more than 400 meadows—a “designed” meadow near the house, and a “real” meadow beyond it. showed up to applaud their new lunchtime The Chesapeake Bay’s water quality has deteriorated greatly in recent decades, Mecca and learn from the masters how mainly due to agricultural and urban they could do the same thing at home. It runoff. Recognizing this, van Swe- was the pair’s first encounter with an ador- den designed his garden to serve as a ing public entranced by their gardening filter that cleans the water before it and design concepts. runs into the bay. On the site’s old soybean field, he SPREADING THE WORD let a natural meadow of grasses and In 1990 the partners co-authored Bold Ro- flowers take hold. The “designed” mantic Gardens, The New World Land- meadow extends in arcs out from the scapes of Oehme and van Sweden. “It really house, with a wide mowed path sepa- put us on the map,” says van Sweden. The rating it from the natural meadow. Van book outlined a new philosophy of gar- Sweden planted his favorites—includ- dening, with no synthetic pesticides, little ing switch grass (Panicum virgatum) Van Sweden’s home garden by the Chesa- fertilizer, and minimal need for water or cultivars ‘Cloud Nine, ‘Northwind,’ peake Bay includes wild areas such a pond in maintenance. It included dramatic pho- ‘Shenandoah’, and ‘Squaw’; river oats the front yard, above, and more designed tographs of winter landscapes brimming (Chasmanthium latifolium); and little areas, top, closer to the house. with delicate seed heads and spiky yuccas bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), rising out of the snow, all beiges, silvers, which act as the “glue” that holds everything together. Perennials come up in differ- pale yellows, and greens. The book fea- ent places to create a tapestry effect. Now, asters, great coneflower (Rudbeckia max- tured residential gardens with beautifully ima), compass plant (Silphium laciniatum). and elecampane (Inula racemosa ‘Son- detailed hardscapes and plants that few nenspeer’) are sowing themselves randomly—and “it’s absolutely beautiful,” he says. American gardeners had previously en- Van Sweden says most residential gardens that OVS designs are “much more de- countered: sweetbay magnolia (Magnolia tailed and intricate,” both in hardscape and in planting design, than those they design virginiana), American spikenard (Aralia for commercial clients. He advises homeowners who want to try an OVS style garden racemosa), switch grass (Panicum virga- to first remove the lawn and then “take a chance” with plantings. You have to make tum), and Chinese stranvaesia (Photinia sure you have the trees in the right place, he says, but then you can experiment. “The davidiana var. undulata). great thing about gardens,” he says, “is that you can change your mind and move After Bold Romantic Gardens was pub- perennials around.” —J.B. lished, Oehme and van Sweden gained

September / October 2009 37 something akin to rock-star status in the leagues. Warren Byrd, former head of the all now partners in OVS, who share the landscape design world. Crowds of as landscape architecture program at the Uni- firm’s bent toward detailed architectur- many as 2,000 people began flocking to versity of Virginia, says that many actually al features and a comprehensive knowl- their lectures, eager to hear about the “looked down on the garden” as something edge of plants. amazing new trend that was changing not worthy of landscape architects. Byrd American gardening forever. notes that although some regarded OVS as INSPIRED DESIGN Soon, gardeners and designers across “revolutionaries,” they were probably dis- Architect William McDonough, who has the country were talking about the New missed by others. He believes the two have known and worked with scores of land- American Garden style. Van Sweden is not had a significant impact. “They extended scape architects, says one of van Sweden’s exactly sure how the term got firmly at- the reach of landscape architecture beyond great strengths is that he understands “the tached to OVS, but he credits the late either a kind of refurbished beaux arts tra- poetry of the landscape.” McDonough as- Marc Cathey—a former president of the ditionalism or a kind of stripped down serts that van Sweden and Oehme changed American Horticultural Society—who, in modernism and said there could be a new the way that people think about landscape 1980 while director of the U.S. National aesthetic that luxuriated in these plant architecture because they created a unique, Arboretum, asked van Sweden and combinations,” he says. very painterly aesthethic that’s “almost like Oehme to design gardens for the small visitor center. The back garden was called the “Friendship Garden” and the front garden the “New American Garden.” The landscapes were typically OVS, plant-centric and “green” before the term sustainable was ever in use. According to architecture critic Benjamin Forgey, “this so-called New American Garden really was something new. It was really inventing a fresh approach to planting, and it was a re-invention of the American lawn… They were way out in front of the curve in environmental practices and implications.” The two landscape architects upended thinking in the horticultural world as well. Author Rick Darke, an expert on ornamental grasses and native American plants, heard an OVS lecture in the early 1980s. When they started showing slides and talking about winter as a season, says Darke, “It knocked me out. While many of Oehme van Sweden designs have been on a sweeping scale, the firm also excels I’d never seen anything like it before.” He at more intimate spaces, such as this private garden in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C. was also stunned by the range of the native palette they used, which had “an emotion- Van Sweden himself recalls that the equivalent of Frank Gehry in architec- al power” that Darke had only experienced when the firm was expanding, graduates ture.” He says it’s a huge accomplishment before in personal encounters with natur- of Harvard’s landscape architecture pro- that there’s now a garden style that’s iden- al, regional landscapes. “Although they gram would often stop by, only to tifiable as an Oehme van Sweden garden. used woody plants,” he says, “they also quickly depart when they found out Van Sweden has always been aware of were great champions of the herbaceous that they would have to work with art and artists, but he says a three-week visit layer with big bosquey stuff, things that plants. “I’d say, ‘We actually dig and get in 1987 with Brazilian artist and landscape were almost forestlike.” into the dirt’, and they couldn’t get out designer Roberto Burle Marx “changed his of here fast enough.” life.” Van Sweden saw many of the bold, A HANDS-ON APPROACH Van Sweden eventually found some tropical gardens Burle Marx designed in As popular as they were with the public, like-minded colleagues. In the late the Rio de Janiero area—intricate paving Oehme and van Sweden were slighted in 1980s, he hired landscape architects Eric patterns for Copacabana Beach, 12-foot some ways by their own professional col- Groft, Sheila Brady, and Lisa Delplace, bouquets of ginger on the porches of Burle

38 the American Gardener The bold swaths of color in Nature Abhors a Vacuum by American artist Helen Frankenthaler, above, was the inspiration for James van Sweden’s design for the Evening Island at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Illinois, right.

Marx’s home, and centerpieces inside the study of Japanese design; and there are pri- TRANSITIONING TO THE FUTURE house fashioned from plantains. vate spaces where visitors can stop to ap- These days, van Sweden is winding down The visit inspired van Sweden to press preciate nature. “Botanic gardens are really his involvement with the firm, which is ahead with the “art” of landscape design. an interactive exhibit,” says van Sweden, now under the leadership of CEO Lisa A spirited plan for a garden in Connecti- “and you want people to spend time re- Delplace. Van Sweden and Oehme agreed cut originated from ballet, and one of his garding the spaces around them.” years ago that they would each leave the recent favorites, at the Chicago Botanic Other acclaimed OVS projects include: partnership at age 77. Oehme retired in Garden, is patterned after a Helen Francis Scott Key Park in Washington, 2007; Van Sweden, who has had health Frankenthaler painting called Nature Ab- D.C.; Nelson A. Rockefeller Park in New problems in recent years, plans to leave in hors a Vacuum. The painting, explains York City; the exterior planters on the about three years. He is busy writing his van Sweden, embodies a vision of “color, parking garages at Reagan National Air- fifth book, this one about art and garden energy, and grace” that could be a port in Washington, D.C., that drew in- design, and working on the firm’s land- metaphor for the American meadow. spiration from the hanging gardens of scape plan for a Buddhist temple in Texas. “When I first saw this painting years Delplace, Brady, and Groft are tak- ago,” writes van Sweden, “I had been ing the design lead on new projects, struck with the warm hues so like the but consult regularly with van Sweden russets and golds of our meadow-in- and Oehme. Oehme still does the ini- spired landscapes and by its energy: tial review on planting, says Delplace, the way masses of color swept across “and he always comes up with new the canvas, melting into one anoth- plant combinations and new ideas.” er where they intersected. This con- Sheila Brady adds that OVS re- trolled sensuality and passion struck mains committed to van Sweden’s in- me as identical to what I aim for in sistence on a strong architectural my own designs.” pattern in every garden and using The Chicago garden’s Great Basin plants that are suitable for the region- and Evening Island took five years to al ecology of the site. design and build, and like all OVS As he reflects on the future, van projects, it was a painstaking collaborative “Hanging gardens” soften the starkness of Sweden says the firm will be a little differ- effort among the OVS partners. Lisa parking garages at Reagan National Airport. ent, but he’s proud of the unique working Delplace spent three years researching relationship he established with Oehme. plants that would be appropriate for the Babylon; landscape architecture elements “Wolfgang and I never argued about any- sculpted shoreline edges of the Great of the National World War II Memorial; thing except plant names,” says van Swe- Basin; Sheila Brady visited the site with van and, in collaboration with partner Eric den. “It was a partnership of genius.” Sweden to discuss design options for Groft, a redesign of the Federal Reserve Evening Island. Plantings are intended to Board gardens to incorporate new securi- Jane Berger is a Washington, D.C.-based evoke natural Midwest landscapes; a ser- ty and anti-terrorism features. They’ve de- garden designer and writer. She blogs at

TOP LEFT: GIFT OF AUDREY AND DAVID MIRVISH / BOARD OF TRUSTEES, NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART. TOP RIGHT: COURTESY OF CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN TOP LEFT: GIFT OF AUDREY AND DAVID MIRVISH / BOARD TRUSTEES, NATIONAL GALLERY ART. RIGHT: COURTESY CHICAGO BOTANIC pentine bridge is based on van Sweden’s signed hundreds of private gardens as well. www.gardendesignonline.com.

September / October 2009 39 40 D And we totheearlyar- stilllookforward onourgardenjumpstart fresh produce. but we’ve retained the desire toget a or monthsonbothends. and extendourgrowing seasonby weeks shield ourcrops from weather extremes strategies andplantprotection devicesto to rely heavilyon simple seasonextending were sometimesslow toripen.We came cooled thingsdown tothepointthatcrops Northwest springandautumnnights damaging temperatures, ourchillyPacific season.Evenen theharvest withoutcrop- frost hadthe capacitytodrasticallyshort- growing calendar, anearly, unexpectedfall spring hailstorm.At theotherendof that wouldsneakuponus,orasudden given theoccasionallatespringfrostfort the season.At timesthattookabitofef- produce thefirstripetomatoormelonof unspoken challengetobethegrower to techniques. and otherplantprotection using rowcovers,coldframes, of thegardeningseasonby Push thelimitsonbothends BY KRISWETHERBEE We are nolongermarket gardeners, the American Gardener URING THEYEARS ers, there wasalwaysan band andIwere market garden- my hus- temperatures canbekeptin check by above 100degrees Fahrenheit. Excessive son-extending devicecanquickly climb coldframeorothersea- inside anairtight warmth ofupto10degrees ormore. glass lidcanofferadded nighttime cold framewithaframeddouble-pane of protection atnight.But an insulated tect aseedlingoffersonlydegree ortwo example, aplasticmilkjugusedtopro- of seasonextenderandmaterialused.For tion andheatgainvaries amongthetype ing plantgrowth. Thedegree ofprotec- from weather extremes whileencourag- the sun’s heat, thereby protecting plants most plantcover-ups are designedtotrap Whether commercial orhomemade, GROUND RULES in placetoday. ing toolsandtechniqueswe usedare still considerably, manyoftheseasonextend- though ourkitchengarden hasshrunk rival ofourfirstvine-ripenedtomato. Al- On asunnywinterday, temperatures Stretch Stretch simplest cover-up can oftenbefoundin- plants toprotect from alightfrost, the When you havevulnerable onlyafew PROTECTORS INDIVIDUAL PLANT and vegetables. transplants, andheat-sensitive flowers curb theheataround seededbeds,young with lathstripsorshadenettingwillhelp temperatures. framecovered A portable ing canbemore of achallengethanchilly ern climates,where hotweather garden- used tohelpcoolthingsdown insouth- season.Sometend theharvest canbe blooms onfall-flowering plants, andex- production, protectup fruit andprolong the soil,grow cool-weather crops, speed seeds,hardento start offplants,warmup winds;theycanalso beused and drying tect plantsfrom coldtemperatures, frost, gain throughout thenight. closed by lateafternoontoretain thatheat escape. Typically thevents shouldbe venting your setupso thatexcess heatcan Season extendersnot onlyhelppro- YourG YourG

LEFT AND ABOVE: SHEPHERD OGDEN / AHS ARCHIVES. to water-filled plastic tepees, such as Wall-O-Water and Teepee Kozy Coats. They speed germination and plant Growing Season growth and protect young seedlings from low nighttime temperatures. Each year, Montana gardener Sandra Perrin, author of Organic Gardening in Cold Climates (see “Resources,” page 43), reuses her Wall-O-Water teepees purchased more than 15 years ago to protect individual tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. “I leave each one on until the plant is taller than the Wall-O-Water,” she says. PLASTIC MULCHES In our Pacific Northwest (USDA Hardi- ness Zone 7) climate, spring-sown seeds germinate slowly in the soil and seedlings are sluggish due to chilly rains and even colder nights. So we rely on plastic mulch to warm the soil and speed germination. As soil cools down in fall, plastic mulch can also hasten ripening of summer veggies such as tomatoes and peppers. Depending on the color, plastic mulch can reflect, absorb, or transmit sunlight. But all types reduce surface evaporation and most suppress weeds. Black plastic can warm soil temperatures from five to seven degrees Fahren- heit to a depth of two inches. Clear plastic heats up soil temperatures even more—up to 14 degrees—but its trans- parency allows weeds to grow beneath the plastic. Green plastic mulch is just as effective at warming the soil as clear mulch, but without the weed growth. Brown plastic warms the soil better than black and is a more effective weed deter- rent than green plastic. For maximum solar gain and weed control, infrared-transmitting mulch (IRT) combines the best of both clear plastic and black plastic, and is especially useful on early spring crops. The hot ticket for southern climates, however, is white-on-black plastic mulch. This relatively new mulch reflects most incoming Top: Floating row covers, supported by hoops, protect late-season vegetables from chilly fall radiation, so soil stays slightly cooler but nights. Above left: Water-filled red plastic teepees insulate newly planted tomatoes. Above right: weeds are still kept in check. Plastic milk jugs with their bottoms removed protect individual seedlings from wind and cold. Regardless of the color, successful soil warming or cooling depends on how you side your own home, such as an old sheet Commercial hotcaps work well when install the plastic. Before laying the sheet- or blanket, piece of burlap, bottomless days are sunny and nights are clear. These ing, install soaker hoses or a drip irriga- cardboard box, coffee can with both ends individual plant covers act as miniature tion system in the bed. Stretch the plastic removed, or the handy plastic gallon greenhouses by trapping heat from the tightly over the soil surface to ensure

LEFT: RITA PELCZAR. RIGHT: DAVID CAVAGNARO milk jug with the bottom cut out. sun. Designs vary from wax paper cones good contact, then bury the edges so the

September / October 2009 41 42 over seededbedsand plants,ortheycan fabric covers canbelaid looselyto“float” pests. Depending ontheirweight, these from damagecausedby wind,rain,and ers protect tenderseedlingsandplants from thebirds,” saysPerrin. “And ithelpsprotect seedsandseedlings up germinationby uptotwoweeks. seededbeds.Therownewly cover speeds ing season,andare oftenusedtocover it comestoextendingher120-daygrow- plant protectors are indispensablewhen stay forMontana gardener Perrin. The heat atground level,” Starks says. frost protection andkeepingalayer of lows Inn. “It’s anabsolutemust,bothfor produce fortheirrestaurant atTheWil- land, Washington, supplies fresh organic whose three-acre garden inLummi Is- staple forRileyStarks andJudy Olsen, with frost protection down to27degrees. allow upto90percent lighttransmission plants down to24degrees, whileothers percent lighttransmissionandprotect light, water, andair. Some onlyallow 50 protection. Theyare alsopermeableto inweight, thickness,anddegreevary of polypropylene, thesefabric-typecovers Made ofspunpolyester, polyethylene, or ROWCOVERS FLOATING sharp knifetocutholesforplanting. plastic staysinplace.Use scissorsora To degrees, floatingrow varying cov- Floating row covers are alsoamain- Reemay the American Gardener ® brand polyester isagarden Above: Floatingrowcoverscanbeusedinbothspringandfalltoprotectplantsfromfrost. Left: Ablackplasticmulchhastensthegrowthofsweetpotatotransplantsbywarmingsoil. rocks orbricks. curely orholdthemdown withheavy blowing your cover, theedgesse- bury for several weeks. To keepthewindfrom is tokeeptherow cover ontheseedlings by stakesorhoops.Thekey be supported them anyheight. tive toagreenhouse, andyou canmake devices provide aninexpensive alterna- tent-ortunnellike portable somewhat rows from singletowide,thesesimple, Designed toprotect garden bedsand ANDHOOPTUNNELS CLOCHES Soil Food Web Food Soil with Microbes: A Gardener’s Guide to the to Guide Gardener’s A Microbes: with fels, warmsthe soilupallseasonlong. hot waterfaucetoutdoors,says Lowen- dener JeffLowenfels,authorof quires alittleextraeffort.Anchoragegar- short andwintersarecold,gardeningre- In Alaska,wheregrowingseasonsare ■ ■ used inothercoldregions: fers thefollowingtipsthatcanalsobe first,” Lowenfelsquips. is putintheareawheresnow melts “Every rhubarbpatchworthits compost such asasouth-facinghousewall. STRATEGIES FOREXTREME-WEATHER GARDENING Use waterasaheatsource.Putting a Take advantageofmicroclimates, (Timber Press,2006)of- Teaming cover frames:plasticsheetingorgreen- a raisedbed. metal pipeclampsattachedtothesidesof ground rebar ormetalrods, orfastento Secure theendsby slidingpipeontoin- line willgive thestructure extrastrength. pipe secured tohoopsalongthetopcenter Anaddedlengthof five to10feetapart. pipe) toformaseriesofsemi-circles spaced inch) orblackpolyethylene tubing(poly bendable PVC pipe(halforthree-quarter or metal.Simple frames canbemadewith plants atnight. the sunwillprovideaddedwarmthfor cold frames.Theheatabsorbedfrom covers andhooptunnels,inside them aroundplants,underfloatingrow lon jugsblack,fillwithwater,andplace plants fromthecold.Paintplasticgal- the day. night andbroughtbackoutsideduring hanging basketsthatcanbetakeninat ■ ■ ■ dure summerheat. light conditions,matureearlier, oren- and coldertemperatures,tolerate low mate. Somevarietiesthrivein coolsoil, Make useofportablecontainersand Choose varietiessuitedforyour cli- Use watertoprotectandinsulate A variety ofmaterialscanbeusedto Frames canbemadeofwood,plastic, —K.W.

DAVID CAVAGNARO (2) Sources Gardener’s Supply, Burlington, VT. www.gardeners.com.

Gardens Alive, Lawrenceburg, IN. www.gardensalive.com.

Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Winslow, ME. www.johnnyseeds.com.

Planet Natural, Inc., Bozeman, MT. www.planetnatural.com. Resources Building & Using Cold Frames by Supported by concrete reinforcement wire, black plastic absorbs the sun's heat and reduces Charles Siegchrist. Storey Publishing, wind damage to cold-tolerant vegetables, extending the harvest well into winter. North Adams, Massachusetts, 1997.

house plastic, a row cover, or even shade plants. “The cloches are raised as the plants Cold-Climate Gardening by Lewis Hill. cloth or bird netting. Garden clip fasteners grow, providing cover right until frost.” Storey Publishing, North Adams, work well for securing the covering to These protective tunnels keep tomatoes Massachusetts, 1987. frames made from pipe or PVC. Ideally the going until the first hard frost, and allow system should be designed so that ends can for production of ample greens for most of Extend Your Garden Season by Fred be easily opened during the day and closed the winter. “That’s about three months Stetson. Storey Publishing, North completely at night to retain heat. gain for our heat-loving plants, and two Adams, Massachusetts, 1996. Cloches are an important season exten- months for greens,” Starks adds. der for Starks and Olsen. Made of concrete Organic Gardening in Cold Climates by slab wire, wood rails, and greenhouse plas- COLD FRAMES Sandra Perrin. Mountain Press Pub- tic, Starks says the cloches are indispens- These bottomless boxes provide a favorable lishing Company, Missoula, Mon- able for growing tomatoes and peppers, greenhouse environment for extending the tana, 2002. both for early-maturing and for keeping growing season. In spring they are used to blight-producing rain and dew off the germinate seeds, grow and harden off transplants, and raise compact Ideally you should locate the box with cool-season veggies to full size the lid slanting towards a southern or weeks before otherwise possible. southeastern exposure. Reduce your heat Fall and winter uses go beyond loss in winter by covering the lid with a growing cool-weather crops well blanket on cold nights and/or lining the past a hard frost; gardeners also use inside with insulation board. Or turn up them to store root vegetables and the heat by converting your cold frame chill bulbs for forcing. into a “hot bed” by replacing some of the The base can be made of wood, soil inside the frame with about four inch- brick, cement or concrete blocks, es of fresh manure, topped with several straw bales, or a wood frame fitted inches of soil. The manure will produce with polycarbonate panels or foam heat as it decomposes. insulating board. Top the base with Thanks to these season-extending a hinged transparent lid, typically products and techniques, gardeners can framed in wood. Glass works well put vegetables, tender perennials, and but is heavy and can break. Light- other prized plants in the garden earlier in weight options include Plexiglas, spring and keep them going long past what polyethylene film, or a double layer Mother Nature would normally allow, of clear plastic sheeting. Be sure to making the extra effort well worth it. prop the lid open on sunny days, or Cold frames are ideal for starting plants from install an automatic frame opener to help Kris Wetherbee uses a variety of season ex-

TOP: SHEPHERD OGDEN / AHS ARCHIVES. BOTTOM: DAVID CAVAGNARO seed or hardening off young plants. regulate the inside temperature. tending techniques in her Oregon garden.

September / October 2009 43 44 by AmandaGriesser Antonia Adezio:LeaderinGarden Preservation was asaprofessional pianist.Adezio’s introduction topublicgardening cameinthe1980s, whensheworked W 20 years, andthefuture lessons inpreservation, ofAmericangardens. Charlotte, North Carolina, andPeckerwood Gardens inHempstead, Texas. tion projects ofspecialnote,includingtheRuth Bancroft Garden, theElizabeth Lawrence Garden in Garden ofmore hasassistedinthepreservation than90gardens Conservancy andoversees 16preserva- thinking ofways togarden withless brought inonaboat—we’re constantly water source—all thewaterhastobe and historiclandmark. Because there’s no complicated inthatit’s anationalpark Francisco provides alotofchallenges;it’s search and usephotographsasreferences. gardens, we dorigorous historicalre- nal gardener developed. With historic onthestylethatorigi- that cancarry challenge isfindingapersonorpersons the newergardens, Ithink ourbiggest help themperpetuatetheirlegacy. With like towork withlivinggardeners and time becausegardens are sodynamic.We swer; it’s somethingwe talkaboutallthe Antonia Adezio: There’s nosimplean- date itasyou seefit? the originaldesignofagarden orup- phy dictatethatyou strive tomaintain Conservancy’s preservation philoso- Amanda Griesser: For example,AlcatrazIsland inSan Editorial Intern AmandaGriesser spokewithAdezio abouttheGarden Conservancy’s work over thepast the American Gardener president oftheGarden Conservancy, hadlimitedexperienceinhorticulture. Her firstcareer, infact, HEN SHEWAS Does theGarden asked to serve astheorganization’sasked toserve Adezio, executive director 20years ago,Antonia it wouldsoonbewithoutafull-timecaretaker. ing thestunningRuth Bancroft Garden inWalnut Creek, California,andlearning ecutive director. Cabotcreated thenon-profit organizationaftervisit- preservation founder ofthefledglingGarden Conservancy, whooffered herthepositionofex- as director ofdevelopment atWave Hill inNew York. There, shemetFrank Cabot, consulting to—indire cases—emergencygarden rescue. Since itsfounding,the sured gardens. It accomplishesitsmissionby providing resources, rangingfrom Spring, New York, saves someofAmerica’s andpreserves mostdiverse andtrea- The Garden Conservancy The RuthBancroft GardeninCaliforniawasthe GardenConservancy’sflagship project. N NOEWITH ONE ON ONE C (www.gardenconservancy.org), … based inCold

COURTESY OF THE GARDEN CONSERVANCY (2) water. One way we do this is to use plants that still have the look and feel of the ones in the historic photographs but require much less water.

How does the Garden Conservancy de- cide what kinds of gardens are worthy of preservation or restoration? It’s a subjective process. Our portfolio of gardens represents the diversity of gardens across America. What we keep coming back to is that “you know it when you see it” feeling. Many of the criteria are aesthetic, and that’s true in any region. We’re also interested in gardens that tell the stories of the people who made them, and not necessarily people who are “famous.” One that’s exciting is Pearl Fryar’s topiary garden in South Carolina. For us it was a departure from the stereotypical idea of what gardens are. The fact that it was Alcatraz Island, above, presents a created by a person who has no typical as- number of challenges, including sociations with gardens makes for a very limited access to a water source and compelling story. (To read about the Fryar an active nesting sea bird population. garden, see the July/August 2009 issue of Left: Garden Conservancy volunteers The American Gardener.) accomplish much of the property’s planting and maintenance. In what ways have you seen gardens evolve since the Garden Conservancy which gardens are part of the pro- was established? gram. Including new gardens in The Garden Conservancy was started in a new regions each year keeps the period that was a Golden Age for Ameri- program fresh. can gardens. There was a lot of experi- mentation with plants and new ideas This year marks the Garden about gardening. A multitude of wonder- Conservancy’s 20th anniver- ful gardens were created in that time. How can the public support the Garden sary. How do you see the organization When we started out, sustainability was far Conservancy and how do you promote evolving over the next 20 years? from the top of our list of priorities, but your mission? Like non-profits everywhere, we are that has shifted dramatically. Becoming a member is important. Our having to look carefully at a wise use of membership program currently has more limited resources. The overarching goal For many years there was a general per- than 5,000 members, whose contributions is to develop a bigger umbrella that po- ception in the United States that the keep us going. Our members include pro- sitions us better as an advocate for gar- United Kingdom is home to many of fessionals in the garden and design fields dens and communicates directly with the world’s finest gardens. Do you think and serious amateur gardeners. more people. there has been a change in this view- We offer a variety of educational pro- point and that there are now American grams on both the East and West Coast Why do you feel it is so crucial for peo- gardens worthy of similar recognition? focusing on historical and contemporary ple to spend time in gardens? I think everyone still acknowledges the garden design and preservation. It adds a very satisfying dimension to life. centuries of accomplishment that are pre- Our annual Open Days Program, No matter where you live or how busy sent in historical gardens in the UK, but it’s which is our signature program, was cre- you are, there’s a way to connect to na- fair to say that the American garden has ated on the premise that wonderful pri- ture through a garden. Just viewing gar- emerged in its own right—not just as a vate gardens are being made everywhere, dens is therapeutic. That connection copycat. We have gardens in this coun- every day, and that the public should with creativity and beauty is something try—such as the spectacular drought-tol- have the opportunity to enjoy them. Be- we all need. erant landscapes in the Southwest—that cause the program depends upon volun- can only be done here. I think our inferi- teers, their willingness to open their Amanda Griesser is an editorial intern for

TOP: ELIZABETH BYERS / COURTESY OF THE GARDEN CONSERVANCY. BOTTOM: CONSERVANCY ority complex is done once and for all. garden to the public helps determine The American Gardener.

September / October 2009 45 46 by KrisWetherbee Grow GarlicLike aPro protects bulbsin winterandhelpspreventweeds duringthegrowingseason. in adry,shady, and well-ventilatedlocationfor curing.Above,right:Mulching withstraw Above, left:Freshlyharvestedgarlic canbegatheredinbundlesof10to20stemsandhung pungency thatbestsuityour palate. with thespecificbalanceofflavors and your own garlic,you canchoosevarieties any dishisunsurpassed.Andby growing late crop of beansorafallcrop oflettuce. there’s stilltimetoreplant thespacefora when thegarlicbulbsare duginsummer, or whenaddedtoanomeletstirfry. And flavored stemsare delicioussautéedalone, vested. Cut whenyoung, thesedelicately garlic flower stems—scapes—can behar- than inspring.In additiontotheirbulbs, gardening chores demandingyour attention It’s plantedinthefall,whenthere are fewer effort. flavor itcontributestoanyculinary minimal spaceitrequires tothepowerful G The flavor thatfresh garlicbringsto the American Gardener ARLIC IS kitchen garden; justcompare the cient crops you can grow ina one ofthemosteffi- and phosphorus for bulbandroot devel-and phosphorus nitrogen forleafgrowth, andpotassium Garlic needsasteadysupplyofnutrients: improving garlic’s taste. help regulate soil sulfurlevels, thereby isms andothersoilcritters.Theyalso the populationofbeneficialmicroorgan- These helplightenthesoilandincrease aged manure, compost, andleafmold. corporate lotsoforganicmatter, suchas grow garlicinraisedbeds. disease androt, whichiswhyIalways drained. Soggy soilis asure invitationfor tile, andevenly moistsoilthat’s well- garlic inasunnylocationandloose,fer- For theplumpestandtastiestbulbs,grow Garlic iseasilygrown inmostanyclimate. GROWING GUIDELINES OERW HARVEST HOMEGROWN Fertile soilisanotherflavor enhancer. One ofthe tricksofthetradeistoin- C garlic thrives on.But forfirmheadsand maintain even soilmoisture—something bulbs begintoforminearlysummer. two weeksweed inspring until mixevery or aliquidsea- liar sprayoffishfertilizer sand, andazomite. Or you canapplyafo- natural sources includekelpmeal,lava growth resumes inearlyspring. manure; thisis especiallyvitalasleaf applying aone-totwo-inchlayer ofaged You canprovide thesefavorite nutrientsby potassium, orbonemealforphosphorus.) dust theirgarliccloves withwoodash for opment. (Before planting,somegrowers and location. 180 to270daysdependingonvariety DAYS TOMATURITY rows spacedsixto12inchesapart. Plant clovesfourtosixinchesapartin SPACING four inchesdeepincold-winterclimates. es deepinmild-winterareas,andupto tip up.Settheclove’stophalftotwoinch- peeled clovesflatenddownandpointed January intheSouth),plantindividualun- October intheNorth;Novemberthrough freezes (typicallylateSeptemberthrough About fourtosixweeksbeforetheground PLANTING farmer’s market,orspecialtygrower. planting stockfromalocalgrower, the headforcooking.Youcanpurchase duce thebiggestbulbs.Saverestof outer clovesforplantinginordertopro- firmest heads,thenuseonlythelargest individual cloves.Choosethelargest, A bulb(head)ofgarlicconsistsmany GETTING STARTED Planting Basics Mulching isoneofthebestways to Trace mineralsare alsoessential.Good

LEFT: SAXON HOLT. RIGHT: JERRY PAVIA longer storage, it’s best to cease watering ■ ‘German Red’: large and vigorous, pro- once leaves begin to brown in summer, ducing hot and spicy cloves favored by Sources which is about the last two to three weeks chefs; can be grown in mild climates. before harvest. Mulching also prevents ■ ‘Northern White’: extremely winter- Filaree Farm, Okanogan, WA. (509) competing weeds from surfacing, reduces hardy; big on flavor and clove size; excel- 422-6940. www.filareefarm.com. heaving caused by fluctuating soil temper- lent for baking. atures, and protects bulbs in cold winter ■ ‘Purple Italian Easy Peel’: rich, zesty fla- Garlic Seed Foundation, Rose, NY. areas that may lack adequate snow cover. vor with sweet aftertaste; stores well. (315) 587-9787. www.garlicseed Several inches of a loose straw mulch works ■ ‘Spanish Roja’: Northwest heirloom foundation.info/index.htm. well for protecting garlic beds in winter. with spicy-rich, true garlic flavor. Softnecks grow well in a wide range Hood River Garlic, Hood River, OR. PEST AND DISEASE PREVENTION of climates and growing conditions. (541) 386-1220. www.hoodriver This pungent plant is bothered by few They thrive in warmer climates and garlic.com. pests, although onion maggots cause occa- where winters are mild. Tight skins make sional problems. Growing garlic in slightly them harder to peel, but also make them Territorial Seed Company, Cottage acidic to neutral soil (pH 6 to 7) will make good for storage. (Some varieties keep up Grove, OR. (800) 626-0866. conditions less favorable for this pest. to a year.) A few choice varieties are: www.territorialseed.com. Fungal diseases are more of a concern, ■ ‘Inchelium Red’: stores for up to nine especially when garlic is grown in heavy months; mild flavor sharpens with age. and/or soggy soil. Healthy soil is the best ■ ‘Italian Late’: strong and pungent with Resources preventative, so add lots of aged organic excellent flavor; long-storing and one of The Complete Book of Garlic: A Guide matter. And be sure to rotate your the best for braiding. for Gardeners, Growers, and Serious crops—don’t grow garlic in the same ■ ‘Chinese Pink’: fine quality cloves with Cooks by Ted Jordan Meredith. Tim- ground as other allium family members a mellow flavor; extra-early maturing va- ber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2008. for at least three years. riety can be harvested four to six weeks ahead of most other varieties. Growing Great Garlic: The Definitive RECOMMENDED VARIETIES ■ ‘Oregon Blue’: highly productive North- Guide for Organic Gardeners and Garlic is comprised of two main categories: west heirloom with a hot, spirited flavor. Small Farmers by Ron L. Engeland. hardnecks and softnecks. Most hardneck Filaree Productions, Okanogan, varieties thrive in the northeast, and north- ENJOYING THE HARVEST Washington, 1991. ern and central states where winters are Garlic is ready to harvest in summer, after cold. The cloves are also typically larger, roughly 50 percent of the leaves have more flavorful, and easier to peel than soft- turned yellow and withered. The exact ing conditions. Ultimately, the bulb necks. A few choice varieties are: timing is influenced by variety and grow- should be full, with bulging cloves and the somewhat dry outer papery wrapper intact. Carefully dig bulbs up, roots and all, leaving the stem attached. After the harvest, garlic needs to be “seasoned”—a process known as curing—for two to six weeks, depending on the weather and drying area. Any dry, well-ventilated, and shady location will do. Simply bundle garlic by their stems in groups of 10 to 20 and hang to dry; or lay bulbs flat on stacked screens, allow- ing space between bulbs. Once garlic has cured, trim the roots and cut the stem to within one inch of the bulb. Store bulbs in a cool (45 to 60 degrees F), dry, and well-ventilated area. Leave cloves intact until you are ready to use them. Properly cured, hardneck varieties can keep up to six months; softneck varieties from six to 12 months.

Garlic heads are composed of many variously-sized individual cloves. To produce large Kris Wetherbee grows garlic and other

SAXON HOLT bulbs for harvesting, select only the largest, unpeeled cloves for planting. vegetables in her garden in Oregon.

September / October 2009 47 GREEN GARAGE®

Selecting the Right Hoe article and photographs by Rita Pelczar

OES ARE among the most H useful of gardening tools: they grub out rocks and roots, cultivate and mound soil, carve drills for planting seeds, and dis patch weeds. Different types of hoes, however, are better suited to some tasks than others. Although they vary in size, shape, and heft, there are two main types based on how they are used: the draw hoe, which you pull toward you, and the thrust hoe-also called the Dutch hoe-which requires a sweeping, pushing, or push-and pull action. DRAW HOES Used for chopping down weeds, digging inch, triangular, forged steel blade that bing or weeding tool for tight spaces. For seed drills, mounding soil over stems, and digs through rocks and gravel as well as large scale weeding chores, I rely on Lee breaking up soil, draw hoes consist of a soil. It's also terrific for mounding soil Valley's sturdy Japanese draw hoe with blade that is usually set at less than a right around potatoes. its nine-inch-wide blade. angle to the handle. The blade may be The Polish hoe from Lee Valley has a broad with a flat cutting surface, narrow, ro-inch head that is two blades in one: a THRUST (DUTCH) HOES pointed, or pronged. narrow grubbing blade on one side and A thrust hoe cuts weeds at or just below the Draw hoes designed for moving soil a sharp, pointed blade on the other, and a soil surface. These hoes must be sharpened are usually larger and heftier than those short, 4o-inch handle. It's a useful grub- regularly for maximum efficiency, and they used for weeding. They are often called work best on young weeds. They are not in grubbing hoes. Two sizes are available tended for moving or breaking up soil. from Gardener's Edge: the seven-and-a Their blades come in a variety of half-inch-wide, eight-inch long, tapered shapes. The narrow, flat, rectangular edged grubbing blade easily loosens the blade of a collinear hoe makes for a light soil for planting. The blade of the narrow weight tool. The blade is mounted on the grubbing hoe, which is four-and-a-half handle so that it is parallel to the soil sur inches wide by eight-and-a-half inches face and in line with the handle. De long, is well suited to work tighter areas signed to be used with a sweeping and is particularly useful for trenching or motion, like a broom, it severs young cutting an edge around a bed. weeds at their base. For really tough jobs such as breaking All four sides of the diamond-shaped up soil for a new bed, Easy Digging offers thrust hoe blade are sharp, so whether a pointed or ridging hoe made by Bel you push or pull the tool, it cuts the weeds lotos that has a beery, two-pound, eight- it contacts. Similarly sharp, but shaped

48 THE AMERICAN GARDENER like a broad "Y," the Winged Weeder has a tempered steel spring blade. It can also Sources WORLD'S #1 TOP be used to carve seed furrows. PLANT SUPPLY The blade of a stirrup hoe forms a A.M. Leonard's Gardeners' Edge, Piqua, flat-bottomed loop that cuts weeds as it OH. www.gardenersedge.com. is pushed over the soil surface. The Eco Hoe from Clean Air Gardening is a good Clean Air Gardening, Dallas, TX. example: its blade is a single piece of one www.cleanairgardening.com. eighth-inch steel, sharpened on both edges. The blade does not penetrate the Easy Digging, Columbia, MO. soil deeply, so it can be used around shal www.easydigging.com. low-rooted plants without damaging Fisher Industries, Inc., Green Valley, AZ. www.wingedweeder.com.

Index Innovations, Inc., Grants Pass, OR. www.circlehoe.com.

Lee Valley Tools, Ltd., Ogdensburg, ,..... OP,I.� NY. www.leeval/ey.com. ADOfD TO 21 FERTJUZERS 21 Growers .. I � ,,�� Valley Oak Tool Company, Chico, CA. Billions-PROVEN www.val/eyoaktool.com. BALANCED ORIGINAL

them, and because the soil is able to pass spring blade, which comes in seven dif through the opening of the loop, there is ferent sizes, is mounted behind a single minimal soil disturbance. The Circle wheel connected to double handles. As hoe®, available with either a long or short you wheel your way down each row, the R�t�MM�� y ��$�p��E��s��6s handle, offers similar advantages, and its blade efficiently cuts weeds just below USED BY small circular blade makes for easy weed the soil surface. FIVE U.S. DEPARTMENTS TO HELP WINWORLD WAR II OF GOVERNMENTS. STATE UNIVERSITIES, LEAOING ing even in the tightest spaces. THOUSANDS ARBORETUMS, BOTANICAL GARDENS, PARKS SYSTEMS THE BLADE/HANDLE CONNECTION U.S. STATES and CITIES IN MULTlPLE·ORUMS LOTS For a very large vegetable garden, a FLOWERING PLANTS SHOW WINNERS - "everywhere" HEALTHY, TOXleS-FREE FOODS GROWERS wheel hoe such as the one offered by An important consideration when select UNIQUE. Far � plant success Valley Oak Tool Company, covers a lot ing a hoe is the sturdiness of the blade's at of ground quickly. Its tempered steel tachment to the handle. Blades with a shank that is inserted into the handle and secured by a sheath are generally weaker than hoes with a single-piece blade that wraps around the handle. Heavier blades may have an eye-hole through which the handle is threaded.

HOW 10 CHOOSE? Since no single hoe will likely meet all your needs, I suggest you select at least one for moving soil and another for weeding. If you have the opportunity, try them out be fore you buy to determine if their weight AT CONSCIENTIOUS PLANT DEALERS WORLDWIDE 01 and balance are right for you. Then pur Used, tipped to, and supplied by thousands conscientious plant·selling lirms, On every continent, without salesmen, chase the best quality hoe you can afford.A REFUSE "jusl as good," false, cheaply made, good hoe will last many years and is well unbalancing substitutes - often 99112% water. � worth the investment. NOTHING IS AT ALL "LIKE" !UPERtlJrNef/) 50 VITAMINS·HORMONES Rita Pelczar is a contributing editor forThe Made in U.S.A. by VITAMIN INSTITUTE ® American Gardener. She wields multiple 12610 Saticoy Street South. North HOllywood. CA 91605 hoes in her North Carolina garden. Website www.superlhrive.com

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 49 50 susceptible species appeartobeeastern ofEntomology.Department most “The nia, andanaffiliateoftheUC–Davis west Research Station inDavis, Califor- the USDAForest Service’s Pacific South- ecologist andforest entomologistwith Steve Seybold, achemical nation,” says fected by this insectanddiseasecombi- walnut, nuts from Asia(suchasthecommercial will beaffected,butinthefieldwal- the initialinfection. death ofthetree years withinafew after leaves, branch die-back,andeventual the bark, yellowing andwiltingofthe disease. Symptoms includedark stainson researchers are calling“thousand cankers” the hitchhikingfungus,resulting inwhat sized holesintoatree’s bark, itintroduces states. Whenthebeetlebores pin-prick- ing effectsonwalnutsinseveral western aggressive fungusthathashaddevastat- between thebeetleandan partnership entists say, discovered becauseofanewly before. But thishaschangedrecently, sci- problem onwalnuttrees (Juglans and Mexico, hasnever beenmuchofa tive toArizona, California,New Mexico, The walnuttwigbeetle,atinyinsectna- WALNUT TREES ON WESTERN NEW DISEASEWREAKSHAVOC Horticultural NewsandResearch ImportanttoAmericanGardeners “It appearsthatallspeciesofwalnut the American Gardener Juglans regia) seem tobelessaf- spp.) the Mississippi.” may colonize easternblackwalnuteastof gon, etc.,soitispossiblethatthebeetle planted inCalifornia,Colorado,Ore- eastern blackwalnutwhenithasbeen has demonstratedthatitcancolonize nut twigbeetleintheeasternU.S.,butit isnohistoricalrecord“There ofthewal- evidence oftheproblem,” saysSeybold. in theGreat Plains andcentralstatesfor western U.S.,butwe are actively looking disease appearstobeconfinedthe Utah, andWashington. “Presently the Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Oregon, been documentedinArizona, California, .” nia blackwalnut(Juglanscalifornica) 1979, andScotts Miracle-Gro purchased and outdoorfurnishings, wasfoundedin its upscaleselectionofgardening tools business. Smith &Hawken, known for ity asthereason forterminatingthe Gro Company, citedeconomicinstabil- parent organization,theScottsMiracle- alog saleswere discontinuedinJuly. The retail stores willbeclosed;onlineandcat- of thisyear, allSmith &Hawken garden revive Smith &Hawken now. By theend No amountofMiracle-Gro can fertilizer SMITH &HAWKEN VICTIMOFECONOMY black walnut trees todefoliateandeventuallydie,left. walnut twigbeetles,above,causes Thousand cankersdisease,spreadbytiny GARDENER To date,thousandcankersdiseasehas C (Juglans nigra), ’ NOTEBOOK S and Califor- flower intothesummer. warmed. If plantedinearlyspring,itwill bloom againinspringafterthesoilhas when plantedinfall,overwintering to it willflower even afterthefirstfrost climates uptoUSDAHardiness Zone 4, ern regions. In temperate northern ers throughout thewinterinmildsouth- this cultivar produces purplish-blueflow- 12 incheswide.Whenplantedinthefall, reaches sixinchestallandspreads upto Gutter ofSyngenta Flowers, theplant Named inhonorofitsbreeder, Martien 2010 CoolSeason Bedding Plant Award. cultivarhas spotlightedthisnew withits Blue Martien’. All-AmericaSelections company toliquidateitinstead. cided itwasinthebestinterests ofthe Hawken atonetime,buteventually de- Gro didhave hopesofsellingSmith & the companyatlarge.ScottsMiracle- step astherightmove forthegrowth of Scotts Miracle-Gro, hasdefendedthe dreds ofjobs,Jim Hagedorn, CEOof ness’s terminationmeansthelossofhun- the chainin2004.Althoughbusi- center forViola cornuta viola toplantthisfall,checkyour garden If you’re lookingforatop-performing SEASONS FORCOOL PLANT HOT Viola cornuta cornuta Viola Endurio ® ‘Sky BlueMartien’ Endurio ® ‘Sky

LEFT: COURTESY OF STEVE SEYBOLD; CENTER: COURTESY OF KATHY KEATLEY GARVEY / UC–DAVIS DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY; RIGHT: COURTESY OF SYNGENTA RAINWATER COLLECTION RESTRICTIONS inception of these laws, Colorado resi- LIFTED IN COLORADO dents—along with many of their neigh- After decades of living as rain-harvesting bors in surrounding states—were renegades, the people of Colorado now practically prohibited from even sticking have the freedom to utilize an element their tongue out to enjoy a few drops of many may take for granted: Water. Two re- rain. The old laws state that the rainwater cently passed state laws will allow nearly a belonged to ranchers, farmers, and water quarter-million people with private wells agencies that owned the rights to water- to legally collect and use rainwater, pro- ways where the precipitation is eventually viding they have a valid permit. Prior to the deposited. Colorado officials admit that the old law was loosely enforced, but in- fringements could result in the perpetrator being taken to court and paying damages. Contributing to the passage of the new laws was a 2007 study that indicated 97 percent of precipitation that fell in an av- erage year in Colorado’s Douglas County was not flowing into bodies of water, but A display by Daniel Owens of EnviroMagic at was evaporating or being used by plants. a recent San Francisco Flower & Garden Show

NEW OWNERSHIP FOR WESTERN for 21 years before announcing last Octo- GARDEN SHOWS ber that he was selling them to pursue To the relief of garden-show goers every- other interests. This May, the San Francis- where, the Northwest and San Francisco co Flower & Garden Show was purchased Flower & Garden Shows will continue to by a group of Bay Area businessmen. The Using a rain barrel in home gardens is no be produced, albeit under new ownership. San Francisco Show is the third-largest in longer a criminal offense in Colorado. Founder Duane Kelly produced the shows the country. The Northwest Flower & LEFT: AMANDA GRIESSER. RIGHT: COURTESY OF MICHAEL WALMSLEY

How a cemetery revived a community

Once Upon a Time... A CEMETERY STORY by Jane Baber White

“the old cemetery restored as a garden, sustained by its neighborhood, with its roses, its chapel, and its cats that mourn” —Vincent Scully

This coffee-table-style book includes 240 pages, 487 (many full-page) color photographs. $60.00 plus tax, shipping and handling Wholesale pricing available.

TO ORDER: Old City Cemetery 401 Taylor Street Lynchburg Virginia 24501 434-847-1465 www.gravegarden.org

September / October 2009 51 52 original format.Additionally, someem- Trade Shows, haspledgedtofollow Kelly’s Bill O’Loughlin,president ofO’Loughlin Tacoma, Washington, inJuly. Trade Shows ofPortland, Oregon, and tendees lastyear, wassoldtoO’Loughlin the country, drawingmore than50,000at- Garden Show, thesecond-largestshow in Connecticut. Her book, born inWashington,D.C.,and latersettledinStonington, passed awayonMay3,2009, attheageof91.Perenyiwas Eleanor Perenyi,alongtimegardener withaflairforwriting, Author of quarters inVirginia,andtheSanAntonioRiverWalkTexas. Garden, theAmericanHorticulturalSociety’sRiverFarmhead- Longwood GardensinPennsylvania,theNewYorkBotanical tion includetheU.S.BotanicGardeninWashington,D.C., Garden, in1998.Othersitesthathavereceivedthedistinc- from theASHSwasMonticello:ThomasJefferson’sHomeand lic gardentoreceivetheHorticultural 1996 bythenASHSpresident,DonaldMaynard.Thefirstpub- documentation ofitsextensivehorticulturalcollections.” ly inplantconservationandbiodiversity—andthe tional programs,itsexcellentresearchprograms—especial- chose MBGbecauseofits“excellentoutreachandeduca- 2009 chairoftheASHSScreeningCommittee,saysthey when selectingoneforthishonor.GeorgeFitzpatrick,the scientific, aesthetic,andenvironmentalimpactofagarden ebrating its150thanniversarythisyear. ally operatingbotanicalgardenintheUnitedStates,iscel- The MissouriBotanicalGarden(MBG),theoldestcontinu- garden toreceiveitsHorticulturalLandmarkdesignation. honored theMissouriBotanicalGardenaslatestpublic The AmericanSocietyforHorticulturalScience(ASHS)has Missouri BotanicalGardenNowaHorticulturalLandmark PLACESintheNEWS PEOPLE and Although theownership haschanged, The The ASHSscreeningcommitteeconsidersthehistorical, the American Gardener Horticultural Green Thoughts Green Landmark programwasestablishedin Green Thoughts: A Writer in the Gar- the in Writer A Thoughts: Green Dies Landmark designation from February 3to7,2010,inSeattle, horticulture andthegreen industry.” of afair, butwiththesameemphasison Show, saystheevent will“have the feeling Estey, producer fortheSan Francisco self, asaconsultant.Kay whowillserve the Northwest Show, includingKelly him- ployees willremain toensure thesuccessof The Northwest Show willtakeplace den says thatdovetailsPerenyi’sloveofgardeningwithsocial her onlybookongardening.Theisacompilationofes- high-altitude wildflowersand woodyplants. Gerald Ford,haslongbeen recognized foritsdisplaysof lished in1985andnamedfor thewifeofformerPresident botanical gardenintheUnited States.Thegarden,estab- than 8,000feetabovesea level,makingitthehighest Pennsylvania. BettyFordAlpineGardensislocatedmore ic GardeninIllinois,andtheChanticleerFoundation in Artist as Romantic Hero Romantic as Artist ceived theAwardforGardenExcellencefromAmerican added toalistofdistinguishedAmericangardensafteritre- Betty FordAlpineGardensinVail,Colorado,wasrecently Betty FordAlpineGardensReceivesGardenExcellenceAward which wasafinalistfortheNationalBookAward. (Random House),wasfirstpublishedin1981andis Perenyi’s othertitlesinclude Books andwasreprintedin2002. tural Society’s75GreatAmericanGarden chosen asoneoftheAmericanHorticul- gardeners andnon-gardenersalike.Itwas and accessibilitytoalargeaudienceof proach totypicalConnecticutgardens praised foritsrefreshinglycontraryap- Sword commentary andwit. Griesser Editor andAssociate Viveka Neveln. News writtenby Editorial Intern Amanda the events. www.gardenshow.com mation forbothshows willbeavailable at San Mateo, California.Additional infor- Show isscheduledfrom March 24to28in Washington, whiletheSan Francisco Ltl,Bon Company,1974), (Little, Brown,& (Rinehart, 1955)and Wisconsin, theChicagoBotan- are OlbrichBotanicalGardenin to educatingfuturegardeners. gional gardeningcommunityand mitment tothenationalorre- horticultural display,andacom- dening practices,anoutstanding environmentally consciousgar- standard ofcriteriaincluding lic gardenmustexemplifya considered fortheaward,apub- tablished in2003.Inordertobe June. Theaward,sponsoredby Public GardensAssociationin Horticulture Past recipientsoftheaward Green Thoughts Green magazine, wases- closer tothedatesof The Bright The Liszt: The Liszt: —A.G. was

TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. TOP RIGHT: COURTESY OF RANDOM HOUSE. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF BETTY FORD ALPINE GARDENS BOOKC REVIEWS

Recommendations for Your Gardening Library

Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln’s Mother & The Rose Other Botanical Atrocities David Austin. Garden Art Press, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom, Amy Stewart. Etchings by Briony Morrow-Cribbs; Illustrations by 2009. 352 pages. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $85. Jonathon Rosen. Algonquin Books, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 2009. 236 pages. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $18.95. THIS SUMPTUOUS BOOK is like a leisurely walk through the world of roses with David Austin, the world’s most eminent rosar- READER BEWARE: This is one scary book! Plants can be ian, at your side, speaking in fascinating detail about each exquis- dangerous to your health—and some can even kill you. ite rose you come upon. In 12 chapters, he introduces the reader In the breezy, conversational style of to more than 900 individual plants, her previous book, Flower Confidential, most given gorgeous, full-color, close- an exposé of the flower biz, Amy Stew- up photographs of the flowers. Al- art both enchants and enlightens again. though its purview is decidedly English, This time her focus is the less benign as- this coffee-table-sized book is a valuable pects of the plant world—a subject every resource on both sides of the Atlantic gardener should pay serious attention to. because most of the roses it includes are Some of the most dangerous plants available in the United States. under scrutiny here are among the most Chapters are organized by rose type, common of garden favorites. There is the including original old roses—both hardy aconite (Aconitum napellus), for example, whose beautiful once-flowering and repeat-flowering; blue, helmet-shaped flowers give it its common name, monks- hybrid teas and floribundas; small roses; English roses; shrub roses; hood. “All parts of the plant are extremely toxic…gardeners should climbers; ramblers; and species roses. Austin intimately describes wear gloves anytime they go near it,” Stewart cautions. each rose’s habit, flower color, fragrance, and other details, in- Then there is castor bean (Ricinus communis), a glorious ten- cluding how it got its name and when it was introduced. der perennial that can reach 10 feet in a single bound. Ingesting At the end of the book, Austin covers the use of roses in the only three or four of its seeds can kill you. Ricin, an extract of its garden, including photos of beautiful plant marriages (think roses bean, is believed to have done in a Bulgarian communist defector and clematis) and perennials that make useful companions for who was stabbed with a poison-tipped umbrella in 1978. roses (think soft pink roses with silvery-green lamb’s ear); using Stewart spins many a fascinating, illuminating, and frighten- cut roses in arrangements for the house; and a few pages on cul- ing yarn as she reveals dozens of “wicked species,” both common tivation, pruning, and pest and disease control. as well as exotic. It is compelling indeed to read of deadly night- Who in the world could be more qualified to write this book shade (Atropa belladonna), for example. Every part is lethally poi- than David Austin? Since he was 20 years old, this octogenarian sonous if ingested and “just rubbing up against it can raise pustules has worked as a grower and hybridizer at his nursery in Shrop- on the skin.” Meanwhile, Jimson weed (Datura stramonium) caus- shire, England. Along the way he has created some of the world’s es hallucinations as well as respiratory failure. finest rose gardens. Among his greatest achievements—one that And those innocent-seeming tropicals? All parts of the Sago has literally changed the world of roses for the betterment of us palm (Cycas revoluta), a treasured houseplant in northern climes, all—is the introduction of hybrids that he calls English roses, but contain carcinogens. Its narrow leaves beckon as tasty treats, so which much of the world knows as Austin roses. parents of young children—as well as dog owners—must beware. These exceptional plants combine the lovely forms, fra- At least the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), producer of grances, and charm of ancient, out-of-fashion, once-blooming the infamous, addictive narcotic, yields such medically valuable roses such as gallicas, albas, and centifolias with the repeat-flow- products as morphine and codeine. Fortunately, Stewart explains, ering habit, wider color range, and hardy disease resistance of its seeds, used as a popular culinary ingredient, are legal. modern roses. The result is that Austin has changed the way It is only a shame that this delightfully written, well re- gardeners around the world think of these cherished plants. searched, and truly invaluable book is missing an index. This book is the distilled essence of Austin’s deep knowledge. —Linda Yang —Jeff Cox

Linda Yang, former garden columnist for The New York Times, is Jeff Cox is a contributing editor of Horticulture magazine and the author of four books including The City Gardener’s Handbook. author of Landscape with Roses (Taunton Press, 2002).

September / October 2009 53 The Perennial Care Manual Nancy J. Ondra. Storey Publishing, North Adams, Massachusetts, BULBS GALORE 2009. 384 pages. Publisher’s price, softcover: $24.95. If you’re looking for some inspiration and guidance for which bulbs to plant this fall—or any time of year for that matter— NEW GARDENERS dazzled by flowers don’t often make the best look no further than Bulb by Anna Pa- decisions, so a guide that advises on choosing and caring for peren- vord (Mitchell Beazley, 2009, nials from the first step of garden-making fills many needs. $39.99). This weighty reference cov- In The Perennial Care Manual, Nancy Ondra takes the ers some 600 species and varieties reader by the hand and walks through the steps necessary for of bulbous plants ranging from the making a beautiful garden. In “Peren- common to the curious. The great di- nial Care Basics,” the first part of the versity of the geophyte world may be book, planning and preparation are a taxonomist’s nightmare, opines Pa- balanced with maintenance and trou- vord, “but for gardeners it is pure bleshooting various problems. Tasks joy.” This joy shines through in her such as taking cuttings, checking soil detailed descriptions of the alpha- moisture, and cutting plants back get betically arranged bulbs and the plen- full treatment, always with a positive tiful color photographs by Andrew Lawson. Each entry also approach. Even in a discussion of ear- lists the season of bloom, hardiness range, and height, wigs, Ondra’s easy-going attitude and though Pavord cautions that these should be used as gener- can-do spirit reassure the reader that a few nibbled dahlias are al guidelines since they can be skewed by any number of by no means the end of the world. factors such as weather patterns or region. For further guid- Part Two, “Plant-by-Plant Perennial Guide,” lists 125 herba- ance, a section at the end of the book contains lists of bulbs ceous perennials, their merits and shortcomings, and just what by their expected season of bloom. A final section on grow- to do with them through the year. The plants are listed alpha- ing bulbs offers tips, tricks, and other helpful things to keep betically by botanical name, and there is a handy cross-reference in mind for the most successful experience. with common names at the beginning of the section. Ondra also —Viveka Neveln, Associate Editor includes general entries on bulbs, ferns, and grasses, which briefly cover their main characteristics and growing tips along with a few A ROOM OF ONE’S OWN suggestions for species that play well with other perennials. My The word “shed” conjures images of gardening tools and only disappointment is that the book did not provide notewor- workbenches more readily than leather couches and chan- thy cultivars, other than occasionally listing one or two in the deliers, but Debra Prinzing, au- general description of the species. thor of Stylish Sheds and Elegant Tips on growing each species include propagation through Hideaways (Crown Publishing division, cutting, or seed, as well as cultural requirements. Po- Group, 2008, $30), encourages tential problems are dealt with by offering uncomplicated or- us to venture outside the box ganic solutions that begin, for example, by urging the when thinking about sheds. She gardener to start with mechanical control of insects before re-defines a shed as “a small stepping up to insecticidal soaps. structure designed and built for Ondra points out possible problems in growing particular one’s personal enjoyment.” A plants and then offers ways around the difficulty. Her advice far cry from musty storage clos- on Japanese anemones, for example, suggests growing these ets, the modern-day sheds in beautiful thugs as a groundcover around trees instead of try- this book are just as appealing ing to fit them into a mixed planting, where they would even- as the homes they sit next to, and many are nestled in col- tually muscle out their neighbors. orful, lush gardens. Prinzing’s book explores 28 sheds from Rob Cardillo’s rich photographs throughout the book show- across the country that run the gamut from modern, so- case the beauty of the flowers. They also provide clear visual de- phisticated workspaces to rustic outdoor cabins. Each shed pictions of the tasks and techniques—from digging and staking has a highly personalized style and story behind it, and to dividing and deadheading—about which Ondra writes. Prinzing addresses everything from the conception and With Ondra’s knowledge and presentation and Cardillo’s love- “must-haves” of the shed’s design to the architectural chal- ly photographs, The Perennial Care Manual should be one of lenges of making it a reality. The book captures the spaces the first books for any beginning gardener and is certainly a of artists, landscape designers, and the everyday recluse worthwhile reference for more advanced gardeners, too. with the help of William Wright’s intimate photographs. Styl- —Marty Wingate ish Sheds demonstrates that, in favor of utilitarianism, a little imagination goes a long way in creating an alluring, pri- Marty Wingate is currently working on her fourth gardening book. vate retreat closer to home. Based in Seattle, Washington, she writes about gardening and travel —Amanda Griesser, Editorial Intern at www.martywingate.com.

54 the American Gardener GARDENERC’S BOOKS

Horticultural History

N ORDER TO predict and plan for the future, it is essen- casioned by the westward migration into the water-starved Cen- tial to understand the past. When it comes to American tral Plains of these United States. John Freeman tells a story of I horticulture, there is indeed a rich past to explore. While hope and resilience as the military, early U. P. Hedrick’s A History of Horticulture in America, published settlers, and eventually land grant univer- in 1950, will always remain a classic, several recently released sity Extension agencies developed the books offer intriguing perspectives into the early days and peo- means for growing both ornamental and ple that still influence gardening today. The following titles esculent plants in lands with limited pre- cover important events in American Colonial gardening, spe- cipitation. Long overdue for credit for cific events in American horticultural history, regional chal- their horticultural contributions are lenges, the personal landscape, and the far-reaching influence Charles Bessey and Aven Nelson, eco- one plant breeder still projects decades after his death. nomic botanists responsible for the even- Few gardeners are aware of the excitement American plants tual success of cultivated plants in a engendered in England and Europe in the eighteenth century. difficult landscape. The black-and-white photographs in the book Whole estates were planted with American attest to the inhospitable conditions faced by the early inhabitants. natives as described in The Brother Gar- From Yard to Garden (The Center for American Places at deners (Knopf, 2009, $35). Andrea Wulf Columbia College Chicago, 2008, $32.50) by Christopher brings this formative period of plant his- Grampp is a fascinating account of how tory to life in her detailed research of John the present day home garden evolved Bartram and Peter Collinson and their ob- from its rude beginnings in the early session with new plants from America and 1800s. The book chronicles how Amer- around the world. Collinson, a London ican urban yards transformed from agri- merchant, required the most unique plant cultural and utilitarian spaces—areas to specimens, and Bartram, an American dump waste, throw laundry water, and farmer and botanist, sowed the seeds of the raise food—to the horticultural havens first American scientific society. This well-written history illus- we are familiar with today. One of the trates how these two men—along with a few other passionate critical points is the burgeoning subur- plantsmen of the time, including Carolus Linneaus—laid the ban growth after World War II and the rise of foundation plant- groundwork for modern botanical science. ings. The idea of landscape as conformity in the developing Fruits and Plains: The Horticultural Transformation of suburbs offers an interesting view of American culture. America (Harvard University Press, 2009, $42) by Philip J. Pauly Luther Burbank was the most revered plant breeder of his focuses on how plant science has im- time, thanks to the numerous improved varieties he introduced pacted and continues to influence daily from 1873 to 1925. While his extraordi- life in the United States. Among the nary life and work are central to The horticultural milestones explored are in- Garden of Invention (The Penguin novative Colonial practices, the rise of Press, 2009, $25.95) by Jane Smith, this landscape architecture, and the initial ef- book is also the story of “how an earli- forts to tame Florida’s unique flora. Each er generation responded to the un- chapter covers a specific issue or event precedented idea that the vegetable and the impacts these had on horticul- kingdom could be mastered, directed, tural developments. For example, Pauly and even claimed as private property.” examines 19th- and early 20th-century Not only did Burbank expand the politics and the people involved in dealing with invasive species range of plants used for food or beau- —both introduced and indigenous—many of which are still tification, but his death set in motion problems today. Especially interesting is the creation of an Amer- the development of plant patents and genetic modification re- ican Landscape ideal through the interactions of visionaries such search, important topics in the world of plants today. as Frederick Law Olmsted, Jens Jensen, and Aldo Leopold. The —Keith Crotz notes offer a wealth of references for further reading. High Plains Horticulture (University Press of Colorado, Keith Crotz is the owner of American Botanist, Booksellers 2008, $34.95) explores the tenacious plant cultivation efforts oc- (www.amerbot.com) in Chillicothe, Illinois.

September / October 2009 55 REGIONALC HAPPENINGS

Horticultural Events from Around the Country

NORTHEAST Events sponsored by or including official & Botanical Garden. Chattanooga, CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT participation by AHS or AHS staff members Tennessee. (423) 821-9582. RAP SEPT. 19 & 20. Fall Plant/Book Sale. Lan- are identified with the AHS symbol. www.reflectionriding.org. dis Arboretum. Esperance, New York. (518) 875- 6935. www.landisarboretum.org. SEPT. 24–26. Restoring Southern Gardens & Events hosted by botanical gardens and Landscapes. Conference. Old Salem Muse- arboreta that participate in AHS’s Reciprocal SEPT. 24. Fall Evening Seminar: Winterizing um & Gardens. Winston-Salem, North Car- Your Garden. Fuller Gardens. North Hamp- Admissions Program are identified with the olina. (336) 758-5900. www.oldsalem.org. ton, New Hampshire. (603) 964-5414. RAP symbol. Current AHS members showing www.fullergardens.org. a valid membership card are eligible for free or RAP SEPT. 29. Perennial Color for Every discounted admission to the garden or other Season. Class. Aldridge Botanical Gardens. RAP SEPT. 26 & OCT. 24. Propagating Trees benefits. Special events may not be included; Hoover, Alabama. (205) 682-8019. and Shrubs from Cuttings and Seeds. Class. contact the host site for details or visit www.aldridgegardens.com. The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. www.ahs.org/events/reciprocal_events.htm. Boston, Massachusetts. (617) 524-1718. OCT. 1–3. The Landscape Show. Florida www.arboretum.harvard.edu. Nursery, Growers and Landscape Associa- Walk. Fairmount Park Horticulture Center. tion. Orlando, Florida. (800) 375-3642. RAP OCT. 3 & 4. Harvest Festival. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (215) 988-8872. www.thelandscapeshow.org. Berkshire Botanical Gardens. Stockbridge, www.fairmountpark.org/hortcenter.asp. Massachusetts. (413) 298-3926. RAP OCT. 7–10. Fall Plant Sale. Wing www.berkshirebotanical.org. OCT. 10. Tufton Fern Walk. Tufton Farm. Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary. Charlotte, Monticello, the Thomas Jefferson North Carolina. (704) 331-0664. RAP OCT. 10 & 11. Orchid Society Show. Foundation. Charlottesville, Virginia. www.winghavengardens.com. Niagara Frontier Orchid Society. Buffalo (434) 984-9822. www.monticello.org. and Erie County Botanical Gardens. Buffalo, RAP OCT. 10 & 11. Carolina Bonsai Expo. New York. (716) 827-1584. OCT. 15. In Praise of Ladies-tresses Orchids. North Carolina Arboretum. Asheville, www.buffalogardens.com. Class. Mt. Cuba Center. Greenville, North Carolina. (828) 665-2492. Delaware. (302) 239-4244. www.ncarboretum.org. RAP OCT. 24. Woodland Landscape Pro- www.mtcubacenter.org. gram. Class. Manitoga/The Russell Wright OCT. 28–31. Green Industry Conference. Design Center. Garrison, New York. (845) OCT. 16. 2009 Perennial Plant Conference. Professional Landcare Network. 424-3812. www.russellwrightcenter.org. Swarthmore College. Swarthmore, Louisville, Kentucky. (800) 395-2522. Pennsylvania. (610) 388-1000. www.greenindustryconference.org. OCT. 31. Winter Composting. Class. Cornell www.perennialplantconference.org. Cooperative Extension. Ithaca Community NORTH CENTRAL Gardens. Ithaca, New York. (607) 272- OCT. 17. 75 Years: Celebrating the IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI 2292. http://ccetompkins.org. Preserve’s History with Talks, Tours, and More. Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. RAP SEPT. 19 & 20. Fall Harvest Festival. New Hope, Pennsylvania. (215) 862-2924. Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanic Gardens. MID-ATLANTIC www.bhwp.org. Waterloo, Iowa. (319) 296-4027. PA, NJ, VA, MD, DE, WV, DC www.cedarvalleyarboretum.org. SEPT. 19 & 20. Greater Philadelphia Dahlia RAP OCT. 28 & 29. Timeless Design in Society Show. Longwood Gardens. Kennett a Sustainable World: Charles F. Gillette RAP SEPT. 20. Stonescaping Class. Square, Pennsylvania. (717) 426-1594. Forum. Symposium. Lewis Ginter Botanical Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. E-mail: [email protected]. Garden. Richmond, Virginia. (804) 262- Chaska, Minnesota. (952) 443-1400. 9887. www.lewisginter.org. www.arboretum.umn.edu. SEPT. 25–27. 74th Annual Dahlia Show. Na- tional Capital Dahlia Society. Brookside Gar- SEPT. 26 & 27. Barberton Mum Fest. City of SOUTHEAST dens. Wheaton, Maryland. (540) 882-3602. Barberton Beautification Program and Yoder AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN http://nationalcapitaldahlia.org. Brothers, Inc. Barberton, Ohio. (330) 848- RAP SEPT. 19 & 20. Aroid Show and Sale. 6653. E-mail: [email protected]. RAP SEPT. 26. Lessons Learned in the Veg- International Aroid Society. Fairchild Tropi- etable Garden. Lecture. Green Spring Gar- cal Botanic Garden. Coral Gables, Florida. RAP OCT. 1–4. Fall Bulb Mart. Des Moines dens. Alexandria, Virginia. (703) 642-5173. (305) 667-1651. www.fairchildgarden.org. Botanical Center. Des Moines, Iowa. (515) www.greenspring.org. 323-6294. www.botanicalcenter.com. RAP SEPT. 19 & 20. Fall Open House & Na- SEPT. 28. City Gardening Series: Fall Tree tive Plant Sale. Reflection Riding Arboretum RAP OCT. 2–4. The Bulb Bazaar. Chicago

56 the American Gardener Botanic Garden. Glencoe, Illinois. (847) 835-5440. www.chicagobotanic.org. Naples Botanical Garden, a Tropical Paradise

RAP OCT. 10. Putting Your Garden to Bed. THIS NOVEMBER, Naples Botanical Garden (NBG) in Naples, Florida, will re- Class. Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Gar- open in a grand way—with the debut of a 160-acre tropical paradise. NBG closed to den. Rockford, Illinois. (815) 965-8146. the general public in June 2008 to accommodate the development of five new gar- www.klehm.org. dens, three of which showcase tropical plants that flourish along RAP OCT. 18. Fall Bonsai Show. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Grand the same latitude, between 26 de- Rapids, Michigan. (888) 957-1580. grees north and south. The Brazil- www.meijergardens.org. ian, Caribbean, and Children’s Gardens will open to the public on Looking ahead: November 9, while the Asian and NOV. 7. Native Plant Communities: What to Florida Gardens will open within Plant, Where, and Why. Conference. Indiana the next two years. Ninety acres Native Plant and Wildflower Society. Indi- worth of restored natural habitats anapolis, Indiana. (317) 283-8345. and a birding tower will also open www.inpaws.org. in November. NBG plans on celebrating the SOUTH CENTRAL new additions by providing a week AR, KS, LA, MO, MS, OK, TX of activities, beginning November A treehouse in the new Children’s Garden RAP SEPT. 20. Home Landscape Design. 10 with the opening celebration Class. The Crosby Arboretum. Picayune, dinner and first preview of the gardens. November 13 is the exclusive member’s pre- Mississippi. (601) 799-2311. view of the gardens, which will be open to AHS members as a benefit of the AHS www.crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu. Reciprocal Admissions Program. The grand public opening on November 14 and 15 will feature day-long entertainment and activities for the entire family. SEPT. 23. Herbs: Medicinal, Culinary, Aro- NBG began as little more than the vision of a small group of Naples community matherapy. Class. Overland Park Arboretum members, who purchased 30 acres of land for the original garden in 1998. The gar- and Botanical Gardens. Overland Park, Kansas. (913) 895-6000. www.opkansas.org. den’s next endeavor is the construction of the Harvey Kapnick Education and Re- search Center, scheduled for its grand opening in January 2010. The center represents OCT. 3. PlantFest! Plant sale. Hilltop Arbore- the collaborative efforts of NBG and Florida Gulf Coast University, who will both tum. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (225) 767- utilize the space for lifelong learning programs, workshops, meetings, and symposia. 6916. www.lsu.edu/hilltop. “We like to call Naples the crown of southwestern Florida, and we see Naples Botan- ical Garden as another jewel in the crown,” says Amy Kessler of NBG. More informa- RAP OCT. 8–10. Orchids in October. Festi- tion on NBG and its continued growth is available at www.naplesgarden.org. val. Myriad Botanical Gardens. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (405) 297-3974. www.myriadgardens.com. Rice Science Center Opens in Chicago RAP OCT. 9–11. Fall Plant Sale and Garden- ing Festival. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower SCIENTISTS ARE concerned that many plant species face extinction in the coming Center. Austin, Texas. (512) 232-0100. decades, but due to the efforts of the Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG), the future looks www.wildflower.org. a little greener. On September 23, CBG will open a new research and educational facility, the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center. RAP OCT. 9–11. An Earth and Epicurean The 38,000-square-foot center will house a number of laboratories, a library for Experience. Plant sale. Garvan Woodland scientific journals and books, and a herbarium. Greg Mueller, vice president for sci- Gardens. Hot Springs National Park, ence and academic programs, says that the new facility will “allow us to expand and Arkansas. (800) 366-4664. enhance our activities in conservation and train the next generation of scientists.” www.garvangardens.org. Another feature of the center is a 16,000-square-foot roof garden. This garden not RAP OCT. 17 & 18. Austin African Violet only provides enjoyment for the public, but upholds the environmentally conscious Society Show & Sale. Zilker Botanical approach that the construction team adhered to throughout the center’s creation. “We Garden. Austin, Texas. (512) 477-8672. want this building to be a model for how we can build sustainably,” Mueller adds. www.zilkergarden.org. The majority of construction waste will be diverted by an erosion and sedimentation plan, and recycled materials were used in the center. These and other measures were SOUTHWEST taken to earn a gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. AZ, NM, CO, UT In celebration of the Rice Science Center’s grand opening, on September 21, author Michael Pollan will deliver a lecture relating to his book, In Defense of Food: An RAP SEPT. 26. Fall Plant Sale. Santa Fe Omnivore’s Solution. For more information about the lecture or the Rice Science Cen- Botanical Garden. Santa Fe, New Mexico. (505) 471-9103. ter, visit www.chicagobotanic.org or call (847) 835-5440. The Chicago Botanic Garden www.santafebotanicalgarden.org. is a member of the AHS Reciprocal Admissions Program, so AHS members receive free parking with a valid membership card. OCT. 5–8. Collaborative Conservation in Rapidly —Amanda Griesser, Editorial Intern Changing Landscapes. Conference. Southwest COURTESY OF NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDEN

September / October 2009 57 58 (505) 764-6200. Biological Park.Albuquerque,NewMexico. Santa Barbara,California.(805)682-4726. Gardening. Symposium: LessonsinSustainable Santa Cruz,California.(831)459-2001. Workshop. An IntroductiontoGarden-BasedLearning. (760) 753-3977. Society. BalboaPark.SanDiego,California. nia ShowandSale. SEPT. 23&24. Glendale, Arizona.(480)966-1610. Expo. Fort Collins,Colorado.(970)416-2486. Class. TheGardensonSpringCreek. 1442. Flagstaff. Flagstaff,Arizona.(928)774- Preserving YourBounty. co, California.(415)661-1316. Garden atStrybingArboretum.San Francis- dron PlantSale. 2723. Arboretum. Superior,Arizona.(520)689- RAP www.sfbotanicalgarden.org. RAP www.lifelab.org/workshops.html. OCT. 8&9. www.sbbg.org. RAP OCT. 3&4. www.descansogardens.org. RAP www.azna.org. NOV. 5. Looking ahead: www.fcgov.com/horticulture. RAP OCT. 10&11. RAP OCT. 9–25. 556-7094. Conservation Biology.Flagstaff,Arizona.(928) Biological ScienceCenter&theSocietyfor 13. Las Vegas,Nevada.(800)748-6214ext. den Centers.LasVegasConventionCenter. California AssociationofNurseriesandGar- (760) 436-3036. Botanical Gardens. Encinitas,California. Flintridge, California.(818)949-4200. Class. DescansoGardens.LaCañada www.gardenmarketexpo.com. the American Gardener University ofPhoenixStadium. OCT. 17&18. OCT. 10. OCT. 3&4. SEPT. 26. OCT. 17. OCT. 11. www.thearb.org. http://arboretum.ag.arizona.edu. Southwest Landscape&Nursery Fall PlantSale. The GrowingClassroom: San DiegoCountyBranchBego- Life LabScienceProgram. http://sbsc.wr.usgs.gov. Santa BarbaraBotanicGarden. Ikebana Show. Garden MarketExpo2009. Indoor SucculentGardens. Fall HarvestClass: Trees, Ferns&Rhododen- WEST COAST Wildflower SeedBalls. San FranciscoBotanical A PacificHorticulture CA, NV,HI www.cabq.gov/biopark. www.qbgardens.org. www.begonias.org. Fall PlantSale. The AmericanBegonia The Arboretumat Boyce Thompson Albuquerque Quail nia. (626)821-3222. tum andBotanicalGarden.Arcadia,Califor- Plants. (206) 527-1794. ton BotanicGardens.Seattle,Washington. Horticultural Society.Universityof Washing- 223-1321. Japanese Garden.Portland,Oregon.(503) RAP Looking ahead: OCT. 14. OCT. 1–4. RAP gon. (503)246-8291. Show. SEPT. 26. learn more,visitwww.westernslopegardening.org. from thetribehelpedraiseateepeethatservesasfocalpointofproject.To zones,” saysCurtisSwift,aCSUprofessorandExtensionagent.InJune,students cially withtheinterpretivesignsandselectionofplantsforeachecological jected dateofcompletionfortheentireprojectis2011. ple withdisabilities,arebeingcreatedtocomplementthelearninggarden.Thepro- culture. ALivingLaboratoryandAdaptiveGarden,designedtoaccommodatepeo- tive tribesusedindigenousplantsforfood,shelter,andinotheraspectsoftraditional itors withlessonsonhowna- pine forest—andprovidevis- woodland, andponderosa cluding desert,piñonjuniper in westernColorado—in- from severalecologicalzones garden willfeatureplants University Extension. ment, andColoradoState Bureau ofLandManage- Department oftheInterior ern UteIndianTribe,U.S. groups, includingtheNorth- the jointprojectofseveral The ethnobotanygardenis other areasofthearboretum. plants forthemeadowand topurchaseadditional used an Tribe.Membersofthepubliccanattendthiseventforafee;proceedswillbe featuring ethnobotanyworkshopsandtalksbymembersoftheNorthernUteIndi- between plantsandpeople.OnSeptember18,thegardenwillholdanopenhouse County ArboretuminGrandJunction,Colorado,highlightsthevitalrelationships People andPlantsTogether Learning Garden inColoradoBrings THE ETHNOBOTANYUTELEARNINGGARDEN, “The NorthernUteIndianTribehasbeenworkingwithusfromthestart,espe- The two-and-a-half-acre O’Loughlin TradeShows.Portland,Ore- OCT. 29. NOV. 7. Class. LosAngelesCountyArbore- What IsaGarden? Portland FallHomeandGarden Maple PruningWorkshop. www.japanesegarden.com. AK, ID,MT,OR,WA,WY Rethinking Idaho Landscapes. Easy GardeningwithNative NORTHWEST www.northwesthort.org. http://otshows.com. www.arboretum.org. Lecture. Northwest Ethnobotany UteLearningGardeninColorado. traditional teepee,whichservesasthefocalpointof In June,membersoftheNorthernUteTriberaiseda Portland Etobicoke, Ontario.(905)875-1805. Inc (Ontario).TorontoCongressCentre. Landscape OntarioandFlowersCanada www.landscapeontario.com www.flowerscanadagrowers.com. www.landscapeontario.com OCT. 20&21. www.glendalegardens.ca. RAP www.cibontario.ca. SEPT. 29–OCT.4. www.idahobotanicalgarden.org. Boise, Idaho.(208)343-8649. Symposium. IdahoBotanicalGarden. Vaughan, Ontario.(877)640-4005. Ceremonies. Parks andGroundsNationalAwards British Columbia.(250)479-6162. Glendale Gardens&Woodland.Victoria, —Amanda Griesser,EditorialIntern OCT. 17. Garden &FloralExpo. Communities inBloom. Preparing forWinter. National Symposiumon CANADA adjacent totheMesa and Class.

COURTESY OF COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

PRONUNCIATIONSC AND PLANTING ZONES

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

Allium sativum AL-ee-um sah-TY-vum (USDA Zones 2–9, I. mucronata I. moo-kro-NAY-tuh (3–6, 5–2) AHS Zones 12–1) I. opaca I. o-PAH-kuh (5–9, 9–5) Aloe striata AL-o stry-AY-tuh (10–11, 12–10) I. pedunculosa I. peh-dunk-yew-LO-suh (6–9, 9–6) Arabis procurrens AIR-uh-biss pro-KUR-renz (3–7, 8–1) I. serrata I. sair-RAY-tuh (5–7, 7–5) Aralia racemosa uh-RAY-lee-uh ras-eh-MO-suh (5–9, 9–1) I. verticillata I. vur-tih-sih-LAY-tuh (3–9, 9–1) Cerastium candidissimum sair-ASS-tee-um Inula racemosa in-YEW-luh ras-eh-MO-suh (6–9, 9–6) KAN-dih-diss-ih-mum (4–9, 9–3) Magnolia virginiana mag-NOLE-yuh vir-jin-ee-AN-uh Cercidiphyllum japonicum sur-sid-ih-FIL-lum (6–9, 9–6) jah-PON-ih-kum (4–8, 8–3) Mazus reptans MAY-zus REP-tanz (5–8, 8–5) Chasmanthium latifolium chas-MAN-thee-um Miscanthus sinensis miz-KAN-thus sih-NEN-siss lat-ih-FO-lee-um (5–9, 9–5) (6–9, 9–1) Chionanthus retusus ky-o-NAN-thus reh-TOO-suss Panicum virgatum PAN-ih-kum veer-GAY-tum (5–9, 9–1) (5–9, 9–3) Photinia davidiana var. undulata fo-TIN-ee-uh Drosanthemum floribundum dro-SAN-theh-mum flor-ih- duh-vid-ee-AN-uh var. un-dyew-LAY-tuh (6–10, 9–6) BUN-dum (7–10, 10–5) Rudbeckia maxima rood-BEK-ee-uh MAKS-ih-muh Euphorbia milii yew-FOR-bee-uh MILL-ee-eye (4–8, 8–1) (11–11, 12–1) Salix alba var. sericea SAY-liks AL-buh var. Fargesia nitida far-JEE-see-uh NIT-ih-duh (5–9, 9–5) seh-RISS-ee-uh (4–9, 9–1) Franklinia alatamaha frank-LIN-ee-uh ah-la-ta-MAH-hah Schizachyrium scoparium skits-ah-KEER-ee-um (6–9, 9–6) sko-PAR-ee-um (2–7, 7–1) Hakonechloa macra ha-kon-eh-KLO-uh MAK-ruh Senecio mandraliscae seh-NEE-see-o man-druh-LISS-ee (4–9, 10–4) (10–11, 11–8) Hamamelis mollis ham-uh-ME-liss MOL-lis (5–9, 9–5) Silphium laciniatum SIL-fee-um lah-syn-ee-AY-tum Ilex ambigua EYE-leks am-BIG-yew-uh (7–10, 10–7) (5–9, 9–5) I. amelanchier I. am-eh-LANG-kee-ur (6–9, 10–6) Stachys byzantina STAY-kiss bih-zan-TY-nuh (4–8, 8–1) I. curtissii I. kur-TISS-ee-eye (7–10, 10–7) Washingtonia filifera wash-ing-TOH-nee-uh fih-LIF-ur-uh I. decidua I. deh-SID-yew-uh (5–9, 9–1) (8–11, 12–8) I. laevigata I. lee-vih-GAY-tuh (4–7, 7–4) I. montana I. mon-TAN-uh (5–7, 7–5)

60 the American Gardener GARDENC MARKET

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GARDENING ACCESSORIES GREENHOUSE PLANT LABELS GARDENSCRIBE PLANT ORGANIZER—Keep plant GLASS AND POLYCARBONATE GREENHOUSE ENGRAVED BOTANICAL tags and photos alongside care details. Divid- KITS—polycarbonate sheets and accessories to ed sections for plant types. Includes land- build your own, polyfilm, greenhouse supplies, PLANT LABELS scape design template. Visit us online at hydroponic systems. Free catalog. 1-877-238- PLANT IDENTIFICATION FOR EVERY GARDEN FAMILY - GENUS - SPECIES - COMMON NAME www.gardenscribe.com. 8357 x 10. Visit our website www.advancegreen houses.com, freecatalogahs@advancegreen Order @ www.gardenmarkers.com houses.com. FAX: 434-975-1627 PLANT LABELS – STAKES – TREE TACKS

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September / October 2009 61 62 by MarcelRobischon On theScentofKatsuraTree M lum japonicum, Ireadilyly fallen,theyformedagoldencarpetaround thetrunk. identifieditasakatsuratree crown ofelegantlybowing branches.Thescentemanatedfrom thetree’s leaves. Recent- small,heart-shaped some searching, Idiscovered thatthesource ofthescentwasasmall,multi-stemmedtree withapagodalike open inearlyspringbefore leaves budout. cot infall.Inconspicuous green flowers emerald insummerandlightgoldtoapri- purple inspring,thenturnsdark tractive foliage emergesrosy times peelsdecoratively. Theat- hot-chocolate-colored bark some- rity. On oldertrees, themilky times spreading broadly atmatu- and ispyramidalinyouth, some- It tendstodevelop multiplestems elegant, denselybranchedshape. specimentreederful prized forits in 1865,thekatsuratree isawon- (Cercis the trees’ foliagetothat of redbuds name refers totheresemblance of ily, Cercidiphyllaceae. Thegenus is thesolememberofitsown fam- species initsgenus,andthegenus the katsuratree isoneofonlytwo tive ChinaandJapan. Curiously, tree towers upto100feetinitsna- American parks andgardens, this tall specimensthattypicallygrace In contrasttothe40- to60-feet- ASIAN ROOTS 463-2400. Wilkerson Mill, 7269. Forestfarm, Sources Introduced toNorth America the American Gardener spp.) www.forestfarm.com. www.forestfarm.com. NRDCINTO Y INTRODUCTION nicipal park inlatefall.Thescentreminded meoffreshly bakedcake,gingerbread, andcaramel.After Williams, OR.(541)846- www.hydrangea.com. Palmetto, GA.(770) USDA Hardiness Zones 4–8,AHSHeat Zones 8–3). the katsuratree withatantalizing scentdriftingintheairofamu- started fall gardenwithbothcolorandfragrance. The leavesofthekatsuratreeprovide but afternoonshade from anopencanopy to slightlyacidic. It grows bestinfullsun, moist, butfree-draining soilthatisneutral rounded branchingstructure. Globe’, grows to15feetwithadense, la’. selection, ‘Heronswood Adwarf Weeping’, ‘Amazing Grace’, and‘Pendu- sulted invarieties suchas‘Morioka LN NTESPOTLIGHT THE IN PLANT Plant katsurainasitethathasrich, Selections ofweeping formshave re- C Forest inCalifornia. Service Until recently heworked fortheUSDA Marcel Robischon isabiologistandforester. tree anditsannualsweet-smelling gift. we canbecontenttoenjoy thisdelightful Even ifwe never unravel thesemysteries, that drove thedevelopment ofsuchatrait? force of theodor?Whatisevolutionary questions. Whatisthebiologicalfunction sponsible forthescentraisesadditional aroma indilutesolution.” strawberry The identificationofthechemicalre- ment andinperiodsofdrought. Water regularly duringestablish- may bebeneficialinthesouth. odor andsuggestive offruity- teristic caramel-butterscotch also reported tohave acharac- odor…[maltol]is sweet, fruity 2004) describesas“a warm, Flavor Ingredients which ical compoundcalledmaltol, fragrance isproduced by achem- strawberries. brown sugar, cinnamon,and likened tocottoncandy, caramel, forms ofthetree andhasbeen The scentvaries between different baum—“cake tree” inG tree” inFrench—and such asarbre caramel—“caramel given thekatsuracommonnames The uniqueautumnscenthas THESCENT TRACKING Scientists have foundthatthis Fenaroli’s Handbook of (Cercidiphyl- (CRC Press, kuchen- erman.

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