Your Garden by Beacon Media

your garden Beacon Communications • May 2011

Big Fun! Why Heirloom Vegetables are Everywhere A Walk on the Weird Side: Wacky Plants

Image: Burpee's Coconut Ice

10 Great Tools for First-Time Homeowners

Food Matters: The 100-Mile Diet

Jeepers… Creepers! Edible… and Elegant 7 Plants Lazy Gardeners Love

your garden • 2011 •

3 • your garden • 2011

Some deeply weird and wonderful plants are propagating all over the planet. Larry Mellichamp wishes you’d pay a little more attention.

Seven surefire plants that lackadaisical gardeners will love.

Look Out... They’re Alive!

Survivors!

Green Revolution

Edible... and Elegant

The best vegetables and herbs pull double duty, gracing the garden and the dinner table.

In uncertain times, more people are finding joy in one of life's oldest miracles: with a few seeds and some soil, gardeners can change the world.

Big Fun

Gear Up! You Measure Your Project — We Will Calculate Materials Needed

10 great new lawn and garden tools for the new kids on the block: first-time homeowners.

Little Giants

Why modest mosses, sedum, thymes and creepers are working their way into more gardens. The lowdown on groundcover.

Old-School Vegetables for a New Generation

Every heirloom vegetable comes with a story. Maybe that’s why more gardeners are seeking out these time-tested survivors and championing their cause.

Each spring, gardeners’ reckless love affair with enormous plants - the gaudier the better begins anew. Why bigger and brighter is nearly always better.

The 100 Mile Diet

The desire to “eat fresh, eat local” has led a growing number of sustainable-minded folk to plant gardens and eat only foods they can find very close to home.

Pop Quiz: Garden Smarts

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5 • your garden • 2011

Look Out… They’re Alive! Some deeply weird and wonderful plants are propagating all over the planet. Larry Mellichamp wishes you’d pay a little more attention.

By Deb Acord

here are close to a half-million plant species in the world. Fewer than 100 of them made it into a new book, “Bizarre Botanicals: How to Grow String-of-Hearts, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Panda Ginger, and Other Weird and Wonderful Plants” (Timber Press, 2010). The book, by Larry Mellichamp and Paula Gross, profiles fantastic flora from whimsical ferns to flamboyant flowers; from plants that resemble animals to plants that act like animals. Call them the weird, wild and wacky of the plant world. Just don’t call them freaks, Mellichamp says. “You can compare them to a carnival, but not the freak show. These are normal, wild, self-reproducing plants. Unusual? Yes. Freaks? No.”

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

Mellichamp is a professor of botany and horticulture at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. He is also director of the university’s botanical gardens, where his coauthor is assistant director. Mellichamp has been interested in botany since the 1960s. For this book, he set out to narrate what he calls a “tour of the most bizarre and unbelievable plants in the world.” “We had a few criteria - the plants had to be

growable and obtainable, which leaves out the strange plants that are only found in jungles and can’t be grown elsewhere. We looked for plants that were really different in one way from your ordinary garden plants. They had to smell bad, be strange-looking, have unusual pollinator relationships. They had to be larger than life. They had to stand out in a crowd.” The shiny blue oil fern made the cut. So did the red-orange, aptly named pigtail plant; the white bat plant, which resembles a bat, and the love-in-a-puff plant, which has tiny whimsical seeds painted with a white heart. Mellichamp’s personal favorite is the fly-eating Venus flytrap, but he says the weirdest plant is

North American Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia) – with tubular leaves and a “mouth” that attracts winged insects. Clubmoss (Lycopodium) – with pyrotechnic spores filled with plant oils that are highly flammable and used in early-day photography.

the massive titan arum, also known as the corpse flower. “It’s the world’s tallest plant structure, so it commands attention that way. But it also smells so bad - like an elephant that has been dead for three days - that you can smell it a quarter mile away.” That smell has a purpose, Mellichamp says. “It attracts beetles and flies

Gloriosa Lily (Gloriosa superba) – with flowers that look like flaming balls of fire. Beehive Ginger (Zingiber spectabile) – a cone-shaped flower that resembles a perfect beehive.

Clockwise from top: Venus Flytrap: this carnivorous plant can appear to drool while digesting prey Bat Plant: its clusters of black fruit look like bats roosting from a cave ceiling Titan Aran: the plant’s size and hair-raising stink have drawn crowds since its discovery in 1878 Pigtail Plant: the bright curlicue spathe looks like a pig’s tail

looking for meat in which to lay their eggs. They visit the flower and pick up the pollen and carry it somewhere else.” That plant’s physiognomy is a perfect example of one of the themes of the book. Mellichamp says. “Plants are like people; they are trying to solve the same problems that we are. They have to protect themselves; make a living; find food,

Images courtesy Larry Mellichamp and Paula Gross, “Bizarre Botanicals,” (Timber Press, 2010)

CTW features

clothing and shelter, find a mate and reproduce.” In our culture, Mellichamp says, “plants are often like wallpaper, in the background - a green tree, a pretty flower. There’s nothing exciting about an oak tree, unless you think about how that tree grows and builds itself and gets huge and withstands wind and snow and lives for 100 years. We are trying to get people to think about that - to pay more attention to plants.” © CTW Features

your garden • 2011 •

Edible… and Elegant

The best vegetables and herbs pull double duty, gracing the garden and the dinner table. By Deb Acord CTW features

In Rosalind Creasy’s lush gardens in Los Altos, Calif., vivid dahlias share the stage with geraniums and cherry tomatoes, tulips coexist with delicate lettuce leaves and deep purple cabbages live in harmony with plump blueberries. This fantastical-meetspractical approach to gardening has made Creasy a rock star in the world of garden landscaping. She has written 18 books, including “Edible Landscaping” and “Cooking from the Garden.” The second edition of “Edible

Landscaping (Now You Can Have Your Gorgeous Garden and Eat It Too)” was published in November and is already in its second printing. For Creasy, combining edible and decorative plants is a perfect approach to gardening. “It changes your life and puts you in and touch with the earth, and with the seasons and with other people,” she says. “I can grow beautiful roses and people will come and ask if they can pick them for their table. But when they come and pick my cherry tomatoes for a fresh salad, it’s a different kind of connection.” When Creasy first started

Image courtesy Rosalind Creasy

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A decorative garden border with lettuce and other salad greens

teaching people about edible landscaping more than two decades ago, it was considered a radical approach to gardening. “For a long time, there has been such a distinct line between the people who produce food in this country and the people who produce plants,” she says. “Growing plants was mainly about weed control and disease control. There was no thought to aesthetics. There was always an emphasis on production for food, and beauty for ornamentals.” Creasy says there was also a disconnect between people who were gardening and people who were

7 • your garden • 2011

How to create an edible landscape

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cooking. “That’s changing, too,” she says. “Now, there are so many cooks who have their own gardens. In the world of food, they’ve realized that fresh is really fresh.” In the gardens that surround her home, an ever-evolving mix of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers offer a lush landscape. “If I weren’t me, I would envy me,” Creasy says. “My house has a lot of windows that look out on the garden. I’m fed by looking at beautiful things, just like I’m fed by beautiful music.” Creasy changes her garden twice a year. Coming up: a small wheat crop; different colors of bok choy; cilantro, carrots, lettuce, onions, scallions and a vast blanket of tulips and daffodils in purples, yellows and reds. A giant Mexican sage engulfs an arbor, and strawberries welcome visitors to her front door. Andrea Bellamy is also planning her next garden project in Vancouver, B.C., about 700 miles north of Creasy’s gardens. Like Creasy, Bellamy focuses on growing edibles that are pleasing to the eye as well as the palate. She is the author of “Sugar Snaps and Strawberries: Simple Solutions for Creating Your Own Small-Space Edible Garden” and writes about gardening on her blog, www.heavypetal.ca Bellamy says her favorite vegetable plants are peas and beans, not just for their taste “but also because they create fabulous screens and make

Think about size, form, texture and color, Creasy says. “Some people design their garden on paper. Others are good at visualizing things. I can close my eyes and see what something is going to look like.” To help visualize the end result, Creasy reminds beginners to always trust the tag on a new plant. “It might be a cute little six inch plant, but it will grow into a three-foot monster by summer.” Bellamy suggests aiming for a variety of leaf shapes and plant forms - consider climbing and cascading plants along with slim or tall ones. Learn about your soil type. Soil is usually made up of sand, clay and loam. If you have clay or sand or a combination, you’ll need to add organic material, Creasy says. Play with colors. Creasy suggests choosing between subdued tones or intense shades. For a romantic look, combine pastels with silver-leaved plants. For energy, use colors opposite each other on the color wheel - purple and yellow, or red and green. For a calming effect, consider shades of the same color. Bellamy likes to use colorful varieties of edibles - bright rhubarb and peppers, purple cabbages - and suggests grouping similar plants together throughout a garden. These edible plants are especially attractive in a garden: Basil Beets Cabbage Chives

Fennel Strawberries Runner beans Sage

great use of vertical space.” She says she often experiments with plants and edible flowers, and she says she makes “a nice lavender shortbread.” Both seasoned gardeners suggest beginners start small as they experiment with their gardens. “I call herbs ‘edible plants with training wheels,’” Creasy says. “They can make quite

Rhubarb Lettuce Beets

an impact on your kitchen. Thyme, lemon thyme, sage, chives, parsley and cilantro can make all the difference in your meals.” “Herbs are easy to grow,” Bellamy says. “And because they are so pungent, most repel damaging insects while still attracting other pollinators.” © CTW Features

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10 great new lawn and garden tools for the new kids on the block: first-time homeowners. By Jim Gorzelany CTW features

Thanks to last year’s tax credits, rock-bottom mortgage rates and affordable listing prices, more first-time home buyers have joined the ranks of lawn keepers, hedge nippers and leaf eradicators. First-timers accounted for 37.2 percent of all home purchases in November 2010, according to a Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse Tracking Survey. But those entering their first year of home ownership face a seemingly infinite selection of lawn and garden-care tools available at hardware and home center stores. Fortunately we’ve sorted out some of the latest solutions to the most common outside chores, with a keen eye for those that simplify the process and are kind to the environment, but won’t bust the household budget. Here’s a quick look at a novel assortment of lawn and garden products to help both novice and veteran homeowners maintain

maximum curb appeal: A lawnmower is arguably the most essential weapon in a homeowner’s outdoor arsenal. Fortunately all but those having ranch-sized lawns can get by with a modest mower, with the latest rechargeable models giving up little in the way of power or capabilities. To that end, Black and Decker’s new SPCM1936 rechargeable mower includes variable speeds and is self-propelled to make a tough job effortless, while producing zero emissions

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your garden • 2011 •

Gear Up!

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walkways, and weeds growing along fences. The cordless American Gardner YardStick 24V converts from a line trimmer with a 10-inch cutting path to a precision rolling lawn edger with the turn of a handle. It provides up to 45 minutes of trimming on a charge - a wall-mounted charger is included - and sells for around $100. Working with the soil literally puts one in touch with nature, but gardening needn’t require an armload of tools thanks to the Ames Planters Pal. It’s a handy multi-purpose garden tool that incorporates a trowel for planting, a serrated edge for opening bags of mulch or soil, a sharpened straight edge for cutting sod, a twine cutter, a weeder tip, a poly tamper for tamping down stakes and fertilizer spikes and a 11-inch measurement scale that ensures accurate plant placement. Best of all it costs only $10. For many novice homeowners, knowing which plants thrive in their yards and how best to nurture their growth can be a disconcerting trial and error process that takes years to master. Fortunately, the Black and Decker PlantSmart digital

plant-care sensor leverages the latest technology to simplify the process. The reusable, water-resistant sensor measures and evaluates soil conditions and environmental information like sunlight, temperature and moisture, and uploads the data to an online account that provides personalized plant-care instruction. It retails for $50. Anything that grows outside needs water, and for most homeowners that means using a hose and sprinkler. Suncast’s line of Touch & Go hydro-powered hose reels makes quick work of hose storage by automatically rewinding it at the flip of a lever using only water pressure. A Smart Trak guide ensures that the hose winds evenly. They come in multiple-style enclosures, can accommodate 125 feet of 5/8-inch hose, and sell for around $100. For smaller watering jobs an oldfashioned watering can is a necessity, and Fiskars updates the basic centuries-old design with its Easy-Pour Watering Can. The 2.6-gallon can includes two separate handles, one inline and another perpendicular to the spout to accommodate multiple hand positions. What’s more, the second handle is hinged to allow comfortable two-handed pouring, and the spout can adjust to provide a gentle shower or a steady stream of water. It retails for $20. New from Fiskars for spring 2011: a collapsible round composting bin. The Fiskars Eco Bin Composter has mesh nylon walls and an

open bottom. It telescopes to a compact disk for storage and pops open to start the business of decomposing. With the inevitable change of seasons comes with a new outdoors challenge, what to do with falling leaves. Of course an ordinary rake can rustle up what Mother Nature leaves behind, but a good leaf blower can do the job quicker and with far less effort. The LEHR Eco Blower features a 25cc four-stroke motor that generates a strong 150 mph air velocity, yet runs on clean-burning propane fuel via a standard recyclable 16.4 oz twiston tank. The Eco Blower can also vacuum garden waste, collecting it in a shoulder bag as reusable mulch. It sells for around $250. For those living in Northern climates, the subsequent arrival of winter means clearing sidewalks and driveways of snow, and nothing’s as efficient for that task as a snow blower. A maintenance-free and environmentally friendly alternative to a conventional gasoline snow thrower is the Toro 1800 Power Curve. The plugand-go electric Power Curve weighs just 25 pounds, yet can clear up to 700 pounds of snow per minute up to a foot deep, with an 18-inch cleaning width and a 30-foot throw. Both the direction and snowthrowing angle are adjustable. It retails for $300. A sturdy cart to tote equipment and supplies, yard recyclables and the occasional tired child is an oldfashioned piece of equipment that earns its keep season after season. Gardener’s Supply Company’s version has been a bestseller for 25 years. The medium cart can carry 400 pounds and is equipped with fat pneumatic

9 • your garden • 2011

and requiring minimal maintenance. Retailing for $450, a 36-volt battery allows it to mow up to a third of an acre on a charge. As the old adage goes, the devil is in the details, and even an otherwise well-groomed lawn can look shabby with shaggy edges around

wheels and plywood panels - the one on the end slides out when its time to dump the contents (not the kid!) A special edition in red sells for $199. © CTW Features

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your garden • 2011 • 1

Little Giants Why modest mosses, sedum, thymes and creepers are working their way into more gardens. The lowdown on groundcover. By Dawn Klingensmith CTW features

n residential landscapes from Northern Virginia to Southern California, a type of groundcover is gaining in popularity while at the same time keeping a low profile.

Images courtesy www.stepables.com

Ground-softening creepers, some no taller than indoor carpeting, are gaining in popularity among gardeners who prize their beauty and toughness.

While pachysandra, hosta and ivy grow a foot tall or higher, other types of groundcovers grow no more than an inch. These low-growing plants generally are classified as

perennials and succulents. Some varieties withstand a reasonable amount of foot traffic. “Some of the most popular are the various types of thyme - woolly thyme, elfin thyme. Most have tiny little leaves that lend themselves to creeping along in little crevices,” says Ginger Jennings, perennials department

supervisor, Tagawa Gardens, Centennial, Colo. Hence, they are frequently planted between stone pavers for visual appeal. “For a flagstone patio or pathway, if you plant them in between the stones, they soften the edges and provide for a more organic look - there’s something green growing and creeping between the stones,” Jennings says. Low-growing groundcovers are also used instead of mulch or soil around trees and shrubs, and in some cases instead of lawn. As mulch replacement, “It adds an additional layer and some depth, and some texture and richness, beneath your shrubs. By definition, groundcover forms a community and grows into a solid mass, so it creates a sense of

continuity - everything looks more unified and tied together,” says Bob Hursthouse, president, Hursthouse Landscape Architects & Contractors, Bolingbrook, Ill. Perhaps its most useful characteristic is weed suppression. “When you get a really thick mat of groundcover, the weeds can’t grow through it,” says Kevin McGowen, education specialist, Midwest Groundcovers, St. Charles, Ill. The company recently expanded its line of creeping thyme from two to seven varieties due to its popularity, he adds. Other popular varieties are blue star creeper, sedums, veronicas and mosses. “Groundcovers have really come to the forefront in consumers’ eyes as problem-solving plants. A homeowner can use them

A garden path carpeted with Irish moss Creeping speedwell snuggles at the foot of a rose bush

Low Profiles “Buying a plant because it’s pretty doesn’t work,” Hopkins says. Before considering the following aesthetic or fun characteristics, make sure a groundcover is suited to your region and yard. Visual interest: It won’t win any beauty contests, but Leptinella Platt’s Black is arresting. “This is a creepy creeper, looking rather like a bunch of millipedes. For people who want something really interesting, this is that plant,” says Starla King, co-owner, Signature Gardenscapes, Ashburn, Va. Happy habitats: Thymes and sedums will attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Step-and-sniff: The creeping thyme Doone Valley “has foliage that, when crushed, smells like pink lemonade,” McGowen says. Old softies: “Leptinella varieties feel the most scrumptious underfoot. They are like soft little ferns that creep and roam to make a very sweet carpet,” Hopkins says. Speedy spreader: Moneywort, or Creeping Jenny, “is a beautiful, bright, golden-green trailing plant, but it quickly will take over your garden floor, the path and anything near it,” King warns. Plant it at your own peril.

to keep weeds out and moisture in, reducing their need for fertilizers and weed killers,” says Frances Hopkins, founder and

Image courtesy www.stepables.com

CEO, Under a Foot Plant Company, Salem, Ore. Hopkins created a line of groundcovers called Stepables that are robust

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foot traffic. “But the truth is, no plant really likes to be stepped on,” he says. Certain types of lowgrowing groundcover suffer more than others. “Some sedums have more succulent leaves, and if you step on them you kind of crush them,” Jennings says. “It’s better to plant those off to the side.” Choose groundcover that is appropriate for your region’s climate and soil conditions, and for the amount of available sunlight. “If you plant a full-sun plant in a shady area, you will get a very thin, spindly plant,” Hopkins says. “If you

plant a shady plant in full sun, it will burn down to nothing.” If you don’t have automatic sprinklers, choose a plant that’s not particularly thirsty. “Most of us who water by hand forget a lot or get busy and don’t always get out there on really hot days,” Hopkins says. However, you shouldn’t water too frequently, either. Over watering and poor drainage are the most common groundcover killers, Hopkins says. Stepables should not be covered for any length of time under leaves or debris, she adds, or they

will turn yellow. Low-growing groundcover is not a suitable option for certain applications. Taller varieties are preferable for a large area that is difficult to maintain, such as a slope or hillside. “Planting a super-steep hillside with ivy makes a lot more sense than wooly thyme,” Hopkins says. “If there’s an area where you want to plant it once and forget about it, general ground covers like ivy, hypericum and periwinkle do their finest work.” © CTW Features

11 • your garden • 2011

Dwarf yellow wallflower with spring tulips

enough to function as a surface for walking. “Consider these to be your Berber carpeting for the outdoors,” she says. The plants are designed to withstand light, moderate or heavy foot traffic. Stepping on them “induces lateral growth and keeps plants tight to the ground,” Hopkins says. While Jennings agrees that this groundcover brand and others like it are “virtually unbothered” by foot traffic, McGowen says the plants are sensitive to trauma. Midwest Groundcovers carries the brand Jeepers Creepers, which can handle some

Every heirloom vegetable comes with a story. Maybe that’s why more gardeners are seeking out these time-tested survivors and championing their cause. By Bill Thorness CTW features

any gardeners have heard the story of the Three Sisters. It describes an old growing method practiced by Native Americans, who planted corn, beans and squash together to support one another and grow a bounty of vegetables with minimal water or external supports. The tall corn stalks support the vining bean, and together they shield the ripening squash, whose broad leaves shelter their shallow roots and maintain moisture in the soil.

Brandywine tomato. Large, juicy beefsteak variety prized for flavor. Pink, red or yellow, depending on the strain. Thin skin, mildly acidic, needs fairly long season.

Lacinato kale. Also known as Tuscan or Dinosaur kale. Spear-shaped, dark green leaves grow to 12 inches, not the ruffled fan type of other kales. Compact plants are long-season producers. Strip ribs away and chop into hearty soups and stir-fries.

So many varieties have been lost that the definition would cover nearly every old seed still in existence. A research group studied U.S. Department of Agriculture variety listings in 1903 and 1983 and charted a loss of 93 percent of vegetable and fruit varieties over that time. Today, old varieties are prized for their uniqueness, their beauty, and for the simple fact that you can save their seeds and grow the same variety next year - something that is not possible with many commercial hybrids. Living History “Our cultural heritage is really fascinating, and it adds a layer of interest for me,” says Lisa Taylor, author of the new book “Your Farm in the City” (Black Dog & Leventhal, 2010) and a garden educator at Seattle Tilth in Seattle. “Heirloom seeds connect us to our immigrant history, and connect us globally.” Gardeners across the country join hands with that thought. “I love history, and especially history of how people lived and how they ate,” says Gayle Serle, an interior designer in Glenside, Penn. Sustainability has become increasingly important to her, so growing heirlooms addresses the questions “What’s my part? What can I do?” Serle’s answer is to share the seedy wealth. “I love to be able to produce seeds to give to other people for

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What is an Heirloom? Heirloom seeds, like tried-and-true growing practices, have been passed down by gardeners for generations. Today, their popularity is growing, but heirlooms are generally not varieties grown commercially. The definition presumes it is a valuable cultivar whose loss would be mourned, due to its unique traits or value to the gene pool.

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Try these popular, time-tested heirloom vegetables in your garden this year.

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your garden • 2011 • 1

Old-School Vegetables for a New Generation

It’s an ancient practice passed down for many generations, told and retold to help future gardeners feed themselves. Such wisdom is not all that our gardening ancestors have passed down. You can try the Three Sisters with heirloom seeds, ones grown by those wise ancestors. Create a hill of soil four feet across, rising to a foot high. In the center, spaced six inches apart, plant a small handful of winter squash seeds, perhaps the Red Kuri or Table Queen Acorn variety. You will thin these starts to one or two plants. Encircle the squash with a row of vining beans; try Cherokee Trail of Tears or Old Homestead. Around the outside edge, plant a band of Black Iroquois or Golden Bantam corn, two rows deep. When your Three Sisters garden is thriving, you will not only have an abundance of food packed into a compact bed, but you will be growing a history book of stories.

Rainbow Chard. Also called Five-colored Silverbeet or Bright Lights Swiss chard. Stems come in red, pink, yellow, orange and white, with green leafy tops. From the beet family, but without a bulbous root. Winter star in mild climates. Young leaves transform a salad, mature leaves and stems sizzle in the wok.

Speckles lettuce. Beautiful variety traced back to the Amish people, with sprays of maroon dotting its ruffled green leaves. Forms loose heads of tender, buttery leaves. Resists bolting (going to seed),

Tromboncino squash. Distinctive long, curved squash with a bell end. Can be quite curled into a circle or grow straighter if on a trellis. A rampicante (climbing) variety that really grabs a trellis. Tender, mild, tan flesh, good fresh but can hold into fall for baking.

www.reneesgarden.com

them to grow and spread around.” At the end of the season, when you share the shiny black seeds that pop out of dry Trail of Tears bean pods, you can also share the story of the Cherokee nation being

forcibly marched from the Southeast to Oklahoma in the harsh winter of 1838 with little but what they could carry. Four thousand people died on their “Trail of Tears” march, but the survivors carried

Marvelous Flavors Their stories come to life when you experience the unique flavors springing from many heirloom vegetables. “Our tastes have really gotten very homogenous,” says Taylor. “Folks are saying, hey, this was popular a hundred years ago, let’s see what’s up!” In heirlooms, she finds Lemon cucumbers so sweet that her 9-year-old son will eat them straight from the garden; sturdy Lacinato kale “looks great in the landscape, looks great in the kitchen, eats well and is beautiful.” Of course, the pinnacle of heritage vegetables is the tomato, which can delight and surprise. “I’ll never forget when I first saw an heirloom tomato - some of them are so ugly!” says Serle. “You’re so trained to have things perfect.” Now she revels in

the unusual fruit, which come in a paint box of colors. “I love how different they all are, in their shapes and sizes.” Last season, she says, “the Brandywines were phenomenal, and the Striped Zebra were really incredible.” With an abundance of heirlooms available as seeds and starts at your local nursery, or online at seed companies like the non-profit Seed Savers Exchange, there is truly something for every taste. “I like to grow a new heirloom tomato every year,” says Taylor, “just to see how it grows, what the plant looks like and what the fruit tastes like.” For heirloom gardeners, every summer is a new exploration of a very old story. © CTW Features

Bill Thorness is the author of “Edible Heirlooms: Heritage Vegetables for the Maritime Garden” (Skipstone Press, 2009). See more of his work at www.edibleheirlooms.com.

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13 • your garden • 2011

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your garden • 2011 • 1

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hat is the perfect houseplant? “For many people, it’s the one that’s completely unkillable,” says Susan Littlefield, horticulture editor at the National Gardening Association, a non-profit educational group based in South Burlington, Vt. “Plants that can put up with a broad range of temperatures, are okay in pretty low light, and don’t require a lot of fertilizer are popular,” Littlefield says. “These are plants that can wilt completely and still recover.” Littlefield offers this short list for those who might want to try their

Lazy Gardener’s Pointers You’ve got a houseplant. Now what do you do? Choosing the right container is important. Follow these

luck with the perfect houseplant, and throws in an outdoor plant that will grow almost anywhere in the country. Cast iron plant (Aspidistra Elatior). Grown as ground cover in the southern U.S.; it also takes well to pots. Grows slowly and has tough, leathery leaves. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum). For pots or hanging baskets; likes bright but indirect natural light. Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata). A succulent, with long, thick, spiky leaves. Lucky bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana). Not really bamboo; said to bring good luck; virtually indestructible. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum x). Blooms

tips from the Colorado State University Extension Service: Select a container that allows for drainage. If the pot has no drainage holes, place a layer of gravel or broken pot shards in the bottom. If you have a decorative container with no drainage, place a clay or plastic container (with drainage holes) inside the decorative container, on a bed of rocks or gravel.

with fragrant white flowers throughout the year. Jade plant (Crassula ovate). A succulent that can last for decades with proper care; likes bright but indirect light and temperatures above 55 degrees. Umbrella tree (Schefflera). With large, green glossy leaves; likes indirect bright light. And for outdoors: The daylily (a group of species, hybrids and cultivars of the genus Hemerocallis). An attractive plant with fragrant flowers that attract butterflies. Grows in almost all kinds of soil acidic, clay, loamy, neutral or sandy. © CTW Features

If you choose a tall, narrow pot use a finer textured soil. If you choose a larger pot, water your plant less often. Choose your containers according to plant type, succulents in clay, and moistureloving plants such as a Boston fern in plastic. Avoid containers made of treated wood.

15 • your garden • 2011

Green Revolution In uncertain times, more people are finding joy in one of life’s oldest miracles: with a few seeds and some soil, gardeners can change the world. By Hilary Masell Oswald CTW features

Gardeners don’t often see themselves as activists, but the hottest trends among folks with green thumbs prove that our yards are becoming outlets for our ideas about the world.

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Take Care of Mother Nature Just when it seemed impossible to add “eco” to another word, garden pros coined the term “eco-scaping” to represent

Black or white foliage Contrasts are hot, hot, hot. Gardeners are flocking to black or deep purple blooms such as black daylilies, black Elephant Ears, deep purple pansies and Queen of the Night tulips. Gardeners searching for pure white blooms should look for new varieties of delphinium, hibiscus, daisies and iris.

Images courtesy www.terranovanurseries.com

ardens have become the perfect canvas for people eager to respond to an era of uncertain political and economic climates. We can’t control the cost of produce at the store; we grow our own. We can’t end droughts or eliminate air pollution; we choose water-smart plants and build green walls. a broad range of earthfriendly gardening practices that experts predict will shape home gardeners’ choices for many years. Chief among them: conserving water and

Pint-sized gardeners Thanks to national initiatives to teach children (and their parents) where their food comes from, families have an abundance of gardening resources to help kids understand the “peopleplant connection.”

Vintage garden furniture Home design’s growing fondness for vintage and retro furnishings extends to the garden, where a refurbished wrought-iron bench feels like a perfect complement to a natural landscape.

Highly manicured gardens Fussy is out. Gardeners prefer gardens that feel more natural, less overworked.

Water-guzzling plants: No surprise here. As gardeners become more water-savvy, plants that require higher-thanaverage amounts of water are often replaced with more drought-toler-

ant species. Chemical-rich fertilizers: Gardeners are searching out alternatives to chemical-laden fertilizers and pesticides in an effort to keep their gardens free of toxins.

natural habitats for wildlife, another growing trend. “Your backyard isn’t just your space,” McCoy says. “You can create a haven for butterflies, bees, birds and other animals simply by choosing plants that would naturally grow in your area.” Eat Up: Edibles The concept of “eating local” is de rigueur - and there’s nothing more local than your backyard. The Vermont-based National Gardening Association’s annual survey of consumer gardening habits shows a 21-percent boom in sales related to food gardening from 2009 to 2010, the only area where the survey found a significant increase in garden purchases, says Bruce Butterfield, the group’s research director.

Jocelyn Chilvers, landscape designer Choosing a permeable surface for hardscapes such as driveways, patios and walkways is another ecowise option that’s growing in popularity. “Instead of pouring a concrete patio, more people are using pavers or flagstone or compacted gravel so the rain water can percolate down into the soil.” Managing water is easier if gardeners choose plants native to their region. “Native plants are so low-maintenance,” says Susan McCoy, principal of Garden Media Group, a Philadelphia-based public relations firm. “Used properly, they give a lot of pleasure for little work.” What’s more, a focus on native plants often leads gardeners to create

“Vegetables are hot,” he adds. “I think you’ll see more people trying a wider variety - not just lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers - and then learning how to cook with the vegetables that they’ve grown.” Gardeners are also learning that vegetables can have as much decorative impact as flowers. The idea of designing with edible plants has taken

Images courtesy VAST Pavers

your garden • 2011 • 1

choosing native plants. “There’s a real focus on keeping the water we receive from the sky on our home sites,” says Jocelyn Chilvers, a landscape designer in Wheat Ridge, Colo. One option is to create swales or rain gardens - depressions in the soil fed from a gutter or downspout - that help water flow to areas of the garden planted with waterhungry plants. Choosing a permeable surface for hardscapes such as driveways, patios and walkways is another ecowise option that’s growing in popularity. “Instead of pouring a concrete patio, more people are using pavers or flagstone or compacted gravel so the rain water can percolate down into the soil,” Chilvers says.

hold. Instead of relegating vegetables to a separate plot of ground, people are incorporating food plants across their gardens and containers, says Amanda Campbell, director of display gardens at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. “I think people are surprised by how beautiful edibles can be,” she says. Consider combining parsley and kale with pansies if you live in warm climates in the winter, Campbell suggests. Sweet peas are excellent additions to a spring garden, and in the summer, Bright Lights swiss chard makes a colorful addition to a landscape bed.

Urban Gardening City dwellers rightly refuse to be excluded from gardening just because they don’t have traditional backyards. As the popularity of eating local and greening the

gardening as community builder,” says Chilvers. For several years, community gardens have allowed urban dwellers to enjoy fruits and vegetables from a plot of land very close to their homes. But the emphasis

Bruce Butterfield, national gardening assoc. “Vegetables are hot. I think you’ll see more people trying a wider variety – not just lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers – and then learning how to cook with the vegetables that they’ve grown. earth skyrockets, cities are seeing massive growth of community gardens and vertical gardens. “The freshest trend in urban gardening is

has gone from simply accessing fresh produce to getting to know your neighbors. “People are taking it a step further and having potlucks to share

the harvest,” she adds. If community gardens satisfy urbanites’ craving for homegrown produce, green walls satisfy their hankering for plant life. “We’re seeing people using plants as living art on their walls inside and outside,” McCoy says. Chilvers attributes vertical gardens’ popularity to a lack of space and a desire for better air quality. All said, this year’s gardening trends suggest that no matter the political or economic landscape, the backyard landscape can be a source of empowerment, health - and, of course, fresh vegetables. © CTW Features

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Each spring, gardeners’ reckless love affair with enormous plants – the gaudier the better – begins anew. Why bigger and brighter is nearly always better. By Laura Drotleff CTW features

“The blossoms are very large and white, only opening at night,” Eichorn says. “The fragrance is very sweet. So if you are a night owl or an early riser, you will get a kick out of these.” In Middlefield, Conn., Alice Malcom’s 15-foot high-bush cranberry, a native viburnum, fits the natural setting of her garden and is nicely shaped with large, lobed leaves. “The flowers aren’t much but the color in fall is rich-red, green gold, with large bunches of pendulous berries again reds and gold,” she says. “This is the autumn’s rhododendron.” Gardeners like to boast about plants - it’s been

going on for centuries. Whether it’s an enormous, 12-foot-tall sunflower or the beefiest tomato ever, we all enjoy swapping stories about our prize plants. In challenging economic times, we can downsize our homes, our cars, our spending and what we eat, but the one thing gardeners won’t downsize is the color in the landscape. We love giant fruits and huge flowers and they earn a place of honor and envy in our gardens year after year. Big Plant Rules Large specimen plantings are used as focal points to capture the eye and awe,

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very year, Angela Eichorn’s moonflowers (Ipomoea alba) put on such a show in her Algona, Iowa garden that she makes sure to harvest the hundreds of seeds they produce and shares them with friends the following spring.

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your garden • 2011 • 1

Big Fun

Big, Bigger… Ginormous Showing off prizewinning pumpkins, far left; Sunzilla sunflowers, 14 feet high and counting.Facing page, the plate-sized Luna Rose hibiscus blossom

drawing homeowners and visitors into the garden to discover the mysteries there, says Bill Calkins, business manager for Ball Horticultural Co. in West Chicago, Ill. But the garden’s size is an important consideration for where and what to plant. “Plants that are too large will make the garden seem smaller,” Calkins says. “The

main thing to consider is the plant’s mature size. Something you buy in a small pot could soon become a monster so be sure to consult the tag, as well as garden center staff to make sure you know how large the plant will get and in what time period.” In small landscapes, there really is such thing as too much of a good thing, Calkins adds.

“Too many large plants will overwhelm the space and the shade they create could cause challenges for other plants. Space out large specimens and use them for a reason - whether that’s height, eye candy or to create a destination in your garden.” Likewise, in a large landscape, plants can get lost, so planting en masse will increase impact of sizeable plants, says Dan Heims, the owner of Terra Nova Nurseries. As a perennial breeder and former landscaper in

Canby, Ore., Heims says using unusual large plants are the foundation for developing an interesting garden. Gardener Kate Knight of Northville, Mich., accomplished this a few years ago when she planted three large pots of 6-foottall Golden Glow, which she found at a nearby farmers’ market. “They are tough, rugged-looking and impressive at up to 8 feet tall,” says Knight. “My daughter Eleanor identified them only last summer as green-headed coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata). They’re native to Michigan, and a perfect accompaniment to sedum and other echinacea in a New American cottage garden landscape.”

The Value Of Plants Large specimen plantings act as the exclamation point of a garden landscape, maximizing space vertically, but it’s important to use a variety of different-sized material to add interest at every height, says Heims. “Your eye follows lines in the garden, sweeping up to tallest item, then sweeping down; if you have only 36inch items in your garden,

bursts of bright color with added value in cut flower arrangements. “In a smaller garden, everything has to earn its keep,” he says. “If a plant only flowers for a couple of weeks, that’s just not enough. The more attributes that can be compiled in a single plant, be it evergreen foliage, cut flowers, long-lasting color, reblooming flowers, plant hardiness, all pay the rent, to stay in the garden. If it fails, it’s out of there.” Terra Nova’s Prairie

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statement, but let’s face it, not all gardeners have the luxury of unlimited outdoor living space. Giant container plants can become the centerpiece in smaller landscapes, offering constant, reblooming color and interest. Ball Horticultural Co.’s Dragon Wing begonia is a longstanding favorite that never ceases to amaze, Calkins says. Ball’s new Gryphon Begonia features dark, silver foliage and a 360degree habit, making it

from Ball, with flowers measuring 8 inches across. “Some of the most unique and beautiful plants are dwarf, and small flowers encourage close inspection that often unveils their true beauty,” Calkins says. “In vegetable plants, new breeding is actually resulting in lowgrowing varieties that are amazingly productive, giving more value for your garden space.” © CTW Features

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19 • your garden • 2011

the eye really doesn’t have a place to go.” Heims aims to develop gardens with constant color and texture for yearround interest. Famous for Terra Nova Nurseries’ selection of Coral Bells (heuchera), Heims says these beauties provide appeal in the off-season with evergreen leaves and in the summer their tall flower spikes offer

Followers of a popular diet can forage up to 100 miles for locally grown food. Many quickly find a shortcut. By Jennifer Parrish CTW features

earchingn for a local source of fresh produce? Look no farther than your own backyard. As the local food movement has

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nonprofit. “It allows you to supplement your diet with a lot of foods that you just can’t find elsewhere, even at the farmer’s markets.” Heins’ organization, a neighborhood environmental group based in Washington State,

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your garden • 2011 • 2

The 100-Mile Diet – More or Less

sponsored a month-long experiment during which she and 80 other members vowed to follow a version of the “100 Mile Diet.” Inspired by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon’s “Plenty: Eating Locally on the 100-Mile Diet,” the group restricted its dietary choices to food grown within a 100 mile radius of their Seattle hometown. With some exceptions, that meant no spices, no bananas, no beans, no bread, no coffee and most difficult for Heins, no orange juice or olive oil. Searching for substitutes and variety in her diet, she turned to her garden. There she grew herbs to add seasoning and personal favorites such as Asian

greens and tomatillos. Heins and her cohorts are what are known as locavores, a term coined in San Francisco in 2005 when a group of food

enthusiasts sponsored the first month-long Eat Local Challenge. Since then, similar challenges have been undertaken across North America, with

Going Local • Does your land get sufficient sunlight? Don’t expect to grow tomatoes in the shade. • Plant the foods you eat and use frequently in your cooking. “If you use a ton of oregano, plant oregano,” says author Meredith. • Plant to supplement what’s readily available in local grocers and farmer’s markets. Herbs are a good choice, since freshharvested from the garden will nearly always be of higher quality. • Enlist friends to try a local diet in a group. Share recipes, sources for local foods - and the bumper crop of zucchini.

“We are so used to getting anything, anytime that our diets get repetitive. But, when your diet consists of local, seasonal foods, it is never boring. I get so excited every spring when the first strawberries appear and the first tomatoes ripen in my garden. Every month brings something new.” Both Meredith and Heins see locavorism as a growing trend. As part of her work as Gardening Program Coordinator for the New York Botanical Garden, Meredith has noted increased interest among gardening students over the last two years in growing foods to supplement a local diet. Although the total number of locavores in the U.S. is difficult to determine, in the Bay Area alone, locavore.com lists more than one thousand members. And counting. Food industry analyst Phil Lempert predicted 2011 to be the breakthrough year for the 100-mile diet, when it would finally become widely adopted throughout the country. Meredith agrees; she sees the popularity of a local diet soaring as a result of a confluence of societal factors, including increased concern over the state of the environment,

the popularity of celebrity chefs who tout the freshness that local food offers, and the bad economy. Growing your own food is a way to save money during the lean times. According to the Urban Agricultural Committee of the Community Food Security Coalition in Portland, as many as one quarter of U.S. households grow produce in their gardens to supplement their diets. Community gardens are also increasing in number reports the American Community Garden Association. With garden space so readily accessible, going locavore is easier than ever. So, you may be wondering, “with my busy schedule or lack of culinary skills” is locavorism right for me? Plenty authors MacKinnon and Smith advocate giving the diet a try on a small scale, maybe a day, week or month, and allowing yourself the flexibility to make exceptions for the foods that you simply can’t live without. And, plan ahead to reap the delicious bounty of fresh food that your garden has to offer. © CTW Features

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21 • your garden • 2011

individuals and groups vowing to restrict their choices to foods sourced within a 100-, 150- or 250-mile radius. The motivation for these dietary restrictions is not just the consumption of higher quality fare, though locavores swear by the improved taste and nutrition that local food offers. Consuming only locally grown food is also a way to inject money into the local economy, support small farmers over large-scale agribusinesses and reduce the pollution associated with shipping foods from such far flung places as Chile and Asia. It also provides food for thought. According to Leda Meredith, author of “The Locavore’s Handbook,” the agricultural industry is one of the top three consumers of fossil fuels in the nation. The average piece of produce travels 1500 miles before it reaches your plate, Meredith says, so eating local foods can cut your carbon footprint and make a positive impact on the environment. So, what’s the hardest part of following such a strict diet? For Meredith, who spent a year on the 250-mile diet and still follows it “80 percent of the time,” it’s the cold winters when “all the fresh fruits go away.” But rather than focusing on these restrictions, she views her diet as an opportunity for culinary adventure. It has led her to discover new favorites, such as parsley root, and provided impetus to try new flavor combinations such as a winter salad made from cabbage, apples and scallions.

your garden • 2011 • 2

Pop Quiz: Garden Smarts question

How many different types of plants exist on earth? A. 300,000 B. 3 million C. 30 million

question

A rain garden is: A. A collection of plants that thrive in rainy, damp conditions B. A stone or plastic pool to collect rain water C. A depression planted with native plants, designed to absorb rain runoff

question

Which of the following should not be composted: A. Sawdust B. Peatmoss C. Straw D. Dryer lint E. Hair

question

Which of these plants is a succulent? A. Crocus B. Strawberries C. Sedum

question

Organic seed must be grown on land that has had no contact with prohibited substances for: A. 2 years B. 3 years C. 4 years D. 5 years

question

What is an organic seed? A. All seeds are organic by definition B. Seeds harvested from plants that are grown organically, without synthetic fertilizer and pesticides. C. Seeds grown naturally on plants in fields, rather than in greenhouses

What’s the best way to mulch a new tree or shrub? A. Apply no more than two inches of mulch in a two-foot circle around the plant, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk B. Pile the mulch deep, up to twelve inches, and bring it right up to the trunk

question

A biennial plant is: A. A plant with a two-year life cycle that grows roots, stems and leaves in year one and blooms in year two B. A plant that dates back 200 years, to the adoption of the Declaration of Independence C. A plant stem that divides into two parts as it grows

question

“Deadheading” refers to: A. Reviving the 1970sera garden favorites of the Grateful Dead B. Pinching off dead blossoms on a plant so it will bloom more profusely C. A process for eliminating invasive weeds

question

10 The United Nations declared 2011 as International Year of: A. Forests B. Oceans

Answers:

1-A 2-C 3-They are all compostable 4-C 5-B 6-B 7-A 8-A 9-B 10-A

23 • your garden • 2011

your garden â&#x20AC;˘ 2011 â&#x20AC;˘ 2

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