Solomon's Seal: King of the Shade Garden
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Connecticut Horticultural Society FIRST CLASS US POSTAGE 2433 Main Street PAID HARTFORD, CT Rocky Hill, CT 06067 PERMIT #2346 CHS Calendar at a Glance May 8 – Board of Directors meeting, Rocky Hill May 12 – Deadline for June newsletter Volume 56, Number 8 Serving Horticulturists Since 1887 May 2014 May 15 – Program meeting, Michael A. Ruggiero, “All About Containers: Solomon’s Seal: King of the Shade Garden From Design to Installation” May 31 – CHS Educational program: by Andy Brand “A Day Away in the Northeast Quiet have always been a shade gardener. the unfurling fronds of Corner,” James L. Goodwin Forest From my parent’s large garden of Christmas fern. And Conservation Education Center in rhododendron and azalea in Storrs scattered throughout Hampton; Quackin‘ Grass Nursery I to the small backyard behind my first are colonies of Polygo- in Brooklyn apartment in Chaplin to my current natum whose graceful, yard in Hamden, which is surrounded arching stems provide by towering pines, spruce and maples, cohesiveness to this shade has been my constant compan- forest tapestry. ion. I have fond memories of planting Members of the bloodroot, trillium, and ferns trying to genus Polygonatum can recreate the beautiful combinations I be found throughout witnessed during my treks through the the world from North surrounding woods. These woodland America, Central and habitats have always been some of my South America through Green-tipped white flowers dangle from the red stems of favorite haunts, allowing me to escape Europe and Asia. This Polygonatum odoratum ‘Red Legs. Photo by Andy Brand to their cool embrace and relax among diverse group of plants ranges in height name, Solomon’s seal. One belief is that Two Views on Vegetable Gardening the lush welcoming foliage. Layers of from the diminutive P. hookeri topping out it was named for the official seal of the Northeast Fruit and Vegetable Nardozzi’s Northeast covers New Eng- that she presumed too much knowledge beauty surround me—fuzzy wild ginger at a whopping two inches, to the impres- biblical King Solomon. Those with a cre- Gardening: Plant, Grow and Eat land, New York and New Jersey, while of the reader. Each month-by-month leaves emerge under flowering red tril- sive 7 foot arching stems of P. biflorum ative mind might say that the scars on the the Best Edibles for Northeast Marie Iannotti ranges from parts of chapter includes notes for what garden- lium whose whorl of leaves mingle with var. commutatum. All the species spread rhizomes, left behind by old leaf stalks, Gardens, Charlie Nardozzi eastern Canada New to Delaware! But ers should be doing in their respective slowly by rhizomes, and impressive colo- resemble a medieval seal. And there are both books stay within Zones 3 to 7. locations, and an overall theme: January is 256 pages, Cool Springs Press, 2012 nies will develop over time. These shade others who think the name refers to the seed starting, for example, while March is The Timber Press Guide To If you prefer more orderly explana- tions or are a beginning edible gardener, about building a PVC hoop house (which lovers add wonderful textural and archi- plant’s wound sealing abilities. Polygona- Vegetable Gardening in the choose Nardozzi’s book. It takes the is really just a glorified cold frame). But tectural qualities to the woodland garden. tum means “many jointed” and refers to Northeast, Marie Iannotti reader from planning and soil building the April chapter is a confusing discus- Some species have narrow leaves arranged the branched, knob-like appearance of 232 pages, Timber Press, 2013 through planting seeds, watering, fertil- sion of beneficial insects, insect sprays, in whorls along slender stems while others the rhizomes. bear leaves that are broad and long and Gardeners are growing more edibles. izing organically, identifying pests (and homemade remedies and repellants. In Handsome, Easy to Grow and A few pots of herbs, a couple of straw- organic controls), to a few resources for May, she talks about planting bare root gracefully climb elegant arching stems. Resplendent in Shade berry plants tucked in a decorative pot, canning and drying the harvest. The ency- plants--but without mentioning how or In Connecticut, flowering usually occurs In Connecticut, we have two species of or even colorful lettuces edging a garden clopedia of edibles is also more compre- even where to acquire any. Most garden in May and June. Flowers can either be Polygonatum, the hairy Solomon’s seal, P. bed are no longer outlandish ideas. And hensive, with color photos and a two- to centers don’t sell bare root plants. solitary or arranged in groups of graceful, pubescens and the smooth Solomon’s seal, with vegetables and even fruit trees and four-page treatment, each, for vegetables, Finally, Iannotti offers only single- sometimes fragrant, bells dangling from (continued on page 4) bushes becoming more “right-sized” for some herbs, and common fruits. page treatments of vegetables and fruits the leaf axils in a wide range of colors home gardens, anyone with some sun If you are a more advanced grower, (and no photos). And there is not much including white, pink, and orange depend- can now grow delicious edibles. then the Iannotti book is fine. But as information about herbs. Occasional er- In This Issue Two recent books promise to help much as I wanted to love her month by rors and omissions notwithstanding, Ian- ing on the species. These bells are replaced gardeners in the Northeast grow the best month approach to having a “vegetable” notti’s book is fine, but I’d be concerned by attractive fruit that gradually ripen to a Speaker Program Page 3 varieties for our region. I discovered that garden (and by that she includes fruits about giving this book to a beginning stylish blue-black or a vivid, translucent red Horticultural Happenings Page 7 each author has a different interpretation and some herbs), even I, as a grower with gardener, however, lest it confuse, or or orange that contrasts with the golden of the Northeast’s boundaries. Charlie some 40 plus years of experience found even discourage them. Like a beacon in the shade, the brightly fall coloration of the foliage. Education Page 8 —Karla Dalley variegated leaves of Polygonatum odoratum There are many thoughts surround- ‘Fireworks’ attract attention. Traveling with CHS Pages 8-9 Photo by Andy Brand ing the origin of the plant’s common Page 2 May 2014 CHS Newsletter May 2014 CHS Newsletter Page 9 Letter from the President 13th Annual Nursery Crawl Dear Gardening Friends, Acer Gardens * Lunch at La Vita Gustosa * Ballek’s Garden Center My friend’s husband, a musician and not a gardener, Thursday, May 22 always says he’ll go wherever gardeners go because, as he says, “gardeners are good people…there’s just e’ll start the day at Acer Gar- shrubs and trees, you’ll find all sorts of Burger King), Cromwell. Return: 4:30 p.m. dens, operated on 18 acres in accessories-from garden statuary, fire Cromwell; 5:00 p.m. East Hartford, 5:15 something about ‘em.” My friend and I chuckle—are Deep River. Owners Bill and pits and fountains to orchid pots, obe- p.m. West Hartford. Cost: Members $72 we gardeners all nurturers of a sort, revering and W per person; Nonmembers $74 per person Sharon Harris have developed display lisks, and high quality garden tools. The based on 40-52 passengers; payment always holding nature in awe? No matter how many gardens that showcase most of the plants owners and staff are looking forward to times we’ve seen the buds form on a decades-old due with reservation. No refunds on day they sell. A special luncheon awaits us sharing their knowledge and passion for trips. Please provide a substitute. Please Connecticut tree peony, isn’t it always just as amazing as the first at La Vita Gustosa in East Haddam, gardening with us. make checks payable to CHS and mail to: Horticultural Society time? Yeah, we think so. an intimate family-owned restaurant Depart: 9:15 a.m. Emanuel Synagogue, Friendship Tours, ATTN: CHS Day Trips, 705 2433 Main Street We are also adventurous: riding the wave of the which sources many of their ingredients Mohegan Drive, West Hartford; 9:30 a.m. Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield, CT 06002. Or Rocky Hill, CT 06067 season’s cold and heat; pushing the zone by compass from local farms. Then onto Ballek’s Park & Ride Lot, 500 Main St. (next to the State call to reserve your seat (860) 243-1630 or point around every corner we cultivate; experimenting Garden Center, our final stop for the Police Union bldg.), East Hartford; 10 a.m. (800) 243-1630. (860) 529-8713 in color (Black? Yes!) and form (Shaggy? Yes!). We day. In addition to perennials, annuals, Commuter Lot, Exit 21 off of Route 91 (next to are erudite with all things plant. This is why I like hanging around with all of you! fax: (860) 563-2217 That’s also why we should ‘hang’ more often! email: [email protected] I can’t think of a more perfect way to do that is by volunteering together for CHS. website: www.cthort.org It is just as important to rotate our volunteer roles in CHS as it is to rotate where the Gardens of the Brandywine Valley tomatoes are planted in the garden! Change is good and revitalizing. Office & Library Hours Private garden of Jack Staub * Jerry Fritz’s Linden Hill * Winterthur Currently we are seeking more hands for the following committees: Publicity and * Brandywine River Museum * Meet and Greet with the Curator of Plants Tuesday & Thursday Outreach; Hospitality (monthly meeting helpers); and Membership.