April 2014
MichiganGardener.com
Your guide to Great Lakes gardening
plant focus
Pansies
Please thank our advertisers in this issue
feature
perennials
tree tips
back cover
Choosing patio materials
A cheerful spring vignette
The effects of a brutal winter
Planting spring containers
More Months. More Nutrition. Osmocote® Smart-Release® Plant Food Outdoor & Indoor. It feeds 50% longer and contains more than three times the number of nutrients as our previous formula. It’s classic Osmocote® with more! Isn’t it time you put it to work in your garden?
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where gardeners go to grow.
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
BL O SSO M S
To-Do List..............................................................8 Ask MG................................................................10
Garden Wisdom
Healthy Lawns....................................................12
Trees are your best antiques. —Alexander Smith
Vegetable Patch................................................ 14 Tree Tips.............................................................. 16 Books for the Michigan Gardener.................18
Spring Events TROY EVENTS Tips From A Professional Gardener Saturday April 5, 10am Getting The Dirt On Your Dirt Saturday April 12, 3pm Heirloom Tomatoes Thursday April 17, 6:30pm Peppers Thursday April 24, 6:30pm New Annuals For 2014 Saturday April 26, 10am
Children’s Class: Pizza Garden Saturday April 26, 12pm (Workshop Fee Is $15) Every Garden Deserves A Rose Thursday May 1, 6:30pm Dahlia Tuber Sale Saturday May 3, 9am-12pm 14th Annual Container Gardening Class & Workshop Saturday May 3, 10am Container Gardening With Herbs Saturday May 3, 1pm
SHELBY EVENTS
PONTIAC EVENTS
Tree & Shrub Day
Tree & Shrub Day
New Annuals For 2014 Saturday April 26, 12:30pm
Tips From A Professional Gardener Saturday April 12, 10am
New Perennials For 2014 Saturday April 26, 2:00pm
Miniature Gardening Class & Workshop Saturday April 26, 10am
Saturday April 12 • New Shrubs For The Perennial Bed & Landscape 10:00am • These Aren’t Your Grandparents Hydrangeas 11:30am
Container Gardening Class & Workshop Saturday May 3, 1pm
Saturday April 5 • New Shrubs For The Perennial Bed & Landscape 10:00am • These Aren’t Your Grandparents Hydrangeas 11:30am
VISIT TELLYS.COM FOR MORE EVENT INFORMATION Class fee $5 unless otherwise noted (materials not included). Registration required— Please call 248-689-8735.
Plant Focus: Pansies.......................................20
Profile: Hop on board the garden railroad..........................................32
Places to Grow................................................. 24
Where to pick up Michigan Gardener.......35
Classified Ads....................................................25
Weather Wrap..................................................35
Bulk Subscriptions...........................................25
Subscription Form............................................35
Calendar...............................................................26
Perennial Partners........................................... 38
Choosing patio materials............................. 28
Celebrate spring with container plantings..............Back Cover
Advertiser Index................................................31
On the cover: Pansies are available in an enormous range of colors and those that have been acclimated to low temperatures will withstand freezing April weather and May frosts quite effortlessly. Photo: Ball Horticultural Company
To Our Readers... After a historically cold and snowy winter, won’t this year’s spring be just that much more glorious! With spring fever at a high pitch, here comes Michigan Gardener’s 19th publishing season! “Publishing” now means so much more than when we started Michigan Gardener in 1996. Today, we have our flagship print magazine, but also our Website (MichiganGardener.com) and e-mail E-Newsletter (sign up for free on our website). Plus, if you ever miss an issue or need to look at a back issue you can’t find, go to our website and click on “E-Edition” in the upper right corner, where you will find many of our back issues to read for free. We welcome two new writers in this issue: Traven Pelletier from Bloom! Garden Center in Dexter and Deborah Silver from Detroit Garden Works in Sylvan Lake. Best wishes for a glorious spring!
Publisher/Editor Eric Hofley Design & Production Jonathon Hofley Advertising Eric Hofley
TROY • 248-689-8735
Circulation Jonathon Hofley
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SHELBY TOWNSHIP • 248-659-8555
Editorial Assistant Anna Doman
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PONTIAC • 248-724-2300 559 Orchard Lake Rd (at Goldner Walsh) Between Telegraph & Woodward
HOURS: Please call or visit tellys.com
find us on
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Contributors Karen Bovio Cheryl English Mary Gerstenberger Julia Hofley Rosann Kovalcik Janet Macunovich Steve Martinko Beverly Moss Steven Nikkila George Papadelis Sandie Parrott Traven Pelletier Jean/Roxanne Riggs Deborah Silver Jim Slezinski Lisa Steinkopf Steve Turner
16291 W. 14 Mile Rd., Suite 5 Beverly Hills, MI 48025-3327 Phone: 248-594-5563 Fax: 248-594-5564 E-mail: publisher@MichiganGardener.com Website: www.MichiganGardener.com Publishing schedule 6 issues per year: April, May, June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec. Published the first week of the mo. Subscriptions (Please make check payable to Michigan Gardener) 1 yr, 6 iss/$14 2 yr, 12 iss/$26 3 yr, 18 iss/$36 Back issues All past issues are available. Please send your request along with a check for $3.00 per issue payable to Michigan Gardener. Canadian subscriptions 1 yr, 6 iss/$22 US 2 yr, 12 iss/$42 US Copyright © 2014 Michigan Gardener. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or used in any form without the expressed, written permission of the publisher. Neither the advertiser nor the publisher will be responsible for misinformation, typographical errors, omissions, etc. contained herein. Michigan Gardener is published by Motor City Publishing, Inc.
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
to-do list Annuals • Add spots of color in the garden and entranceways by enjoying cold-tolerant annuals like pansies, primrose, cabbage and kale in containers. Be sure to select a container with drainage, use a potting soil formulated for containers, and water thoroughly after planting. Water pots when the soil is dry to the touch about an inch down.
Spring-Blooming Bulbs • The first sign of spring is blooms of crocus, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths. For gorgeous blooms year to year, fertilize when you first see green tips breaking through the ground. Continue fertilizing until the foliage dies back after blooming. If you want to move any bulbs around this spring, be sure to mark them so that you can find them after they’ve gone dormant.
Summer-Flowering Bulbs • Summer-flowering bulbs like begonias, cannas, caladiums, dahlias and elephant ears can all be started indoors in April for a head start on summer beauty. Pot them up and keep them evenly moist, but not wet. Once they’ve started sprouting, place them in bright, indi-
Feature Task: Pruning trees and shrubs There are four basic techniques used to prune plants: Thinning cuts remove an entire branch or limb all the way to its origin. Thinning cuts improve air circulation or reduce crowded conditions. Heading cuts shorten a branch or stem but don’t remove it entirely. Make the cut just above a dormant bud. Cut at a slight angle and leave about 1/4 inch of the shoot above the bud—not a long stub. Pinching can be either a heading or thinning cut. Usually, you can pinch soft growth between your thumb and forefinger. Pinching is handy to prune soft annuals and perennials, but is also good for larger plants if you do it when the shoots are still young and soft. Any pruning done at this early stage is ideal because the plant suffers minimal harm and recovery is quick. Shearing. For this cut, use scissor-like pruning shears to keep hedge lines straight and neat. Boxwood and yews are commonly sheared.
What to prune Major pruning of trees, shrubs and perennials should be done in the spring after
winter dieback is evident. April is a good time to prune semi-woody perennials, boxwood, holly, firethorn, clematis & other woody vines, roses, and summer-flowering trees and shrubs. Before you start pruning shrubs, you need to know when they bloom. Wait to prune spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs, azaleas, and rhododendrons after they’ve finished blooming, but before the 4th of July. If they’re pruned before blooming, you’ll remove their flower buds. Mark any branches you want to prune, so that you can find them later, after the tree has leafed out. Prune summer-flowering shrubs, such as butterfly bush, rose of Sharon, spirea, and potentilla before the foliage emerges. Summer-flowering shrubs bloom on this year’s new growth and a proper spring pruning promotes more new growth and stronger stems. Take off 1/4 to 1/3 or more each year to keep plants compact and encourage more blooms and stronger stems in the summer. Summer-blooming panicle hydrangeas can be pruned in spring. Wait until the plant leafs out and remove dead wood that’s visible.
Prune roses when the forsythia blooms. Cut out dead wood, crossing canes, and anything that doesn’t look healthy. Canes should be pruned to green growth or to pencil thickness, whichever is closer to the ground. This will ensure large flowers. Protect plants from rose cane borer by sealing the cuts with pruning sealer. It’s not necessary to prune shrub roses, except to maintain their size. For trees, prune any branches that cross, or grow back in towards the inside of the tree. Only prune to the branch collar, the slight swelling right next to the trunk. That is the area where most of the healing growth comes from. Prune water sprouts (straight shoots that emerge from the trunk or old branches). Different clematis need to be pruned at different times. For summer-blooming clematis, prune them back to 2 or 3 fat, healthy buds per stem. Wait to prune springblooming and repeat-blooming clematis until they are finished blooming. Other flowering vines will benefit from a good pruning to promote growth and fullness. Only take off 1/3 to 1/2 of your summer-flowering vines. Otherwise you’ll have too much green growth and too few flowers. Prune out any dead wood as it becomes apparent.
Saturday, April 12, 9am-5pm Sunday, April 13, 12-4pm Great annuals, perennials, bulbs, espaliers and topiaries for spring and beyond from a number of great local nurseries and growers. Of course, we’ll serve a little something to eat and drink! Join us in celebration of the opening of our 19th season providing advice, service, and ornament to discerning gardeners.
1794 Pontiac Drive • Sylvan Lake • 248-335-8089
20 PA14 F RT AI R Bo ICI P g Gr ie L AN ee ak T S: n Gl ho e as us g e Go ow G Ga ldne ard rd r W en e Gr n & als s ey H h o s He ton me a e He ven Ga rb ly rde J. Far Sce ns Co m nt s Ju tell lie o D ’s Ra Flo esig y W ra ns l St eig ar a n r Th Fos d’s N e W ter u rs er W ee y es d tc La ro dy ft Ga rd en s
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MichiganGardener.com | April 2014 | Michigan Gardener
rect light. An east or north window would be perfect. Then harden plants off by gradually exposing them to outdoor temperatures before planting in the ground. But don’t expose newly started bulbs to temperatures lower than 50 degrees. Keep fertilizing all season. • April is a great time to sharpen your tools, including spades and shovels, and tune equipment, such as lawn mowers, tillers, edgers, weeders, and leaf blowers.
soil and lightly rake soil over the top. Dress with a layer of straw to keep the birds away. Water thoroughly and keep the soil wet until the seed germinates. Mow when the grass is about 2 to 3 inches tall. • If you do seed this spring, do not use a preemergent lawn fertilizer. Instead, use a lawn fertilizer specifically formulated for seeded areas. • Begin your lawn care program this month, when the forsythia bushes blossom into giant yellow masses of color.
Houseplants
Perennials
• Houseplants are appreciating longer, sunnier days. Give them a little fertilizer every couple weeks, or apply a longer-lasting fertilizer at half strength. If there is a warm, non-windy day, take plants outside to clean them up. Remove dead leaves, trim straggly branches and soak thoroughly. Make sure the air temperature and water are warmer than 55 degrees if you’re giving them a shower.
• Prune back perennial ornamental grasses, but don’t be surprised if you don’t see new green growth until late May or June because of the long winter. You may see sparse growth, but grasses need warm temperatures to completely fill out. Trim grasses to about 2 to 3 inches above the ground, and be patient. • Hardy hibiscus will be another perennial that’s slow to show signs of life this spring. Cut stems of the plant down to about an inch tall. New growth comes from the ground, not last year’s stems. • An application of slow-release fertilizer in all garden beds will get plants off to a good start. • If you didn’t clean garden beds last fall, this is the month to take care of that task. Wait until the ground is dry enough before spending a lot of time on the soil. Walking
General
Lawns • With all the snow this past winter, we are going to see damage to turf. Start repairs when the soil temperature is 50 degrees and above. Repair bare spots by first raking the area and removing debris, dead grass and thatch. Add a layer of topsoil, about an inch thick. Sprinkle seed on top of the
in garden beds and across the lawn when it’s wet will create compacted soil and can damage plant roots.
Vegetables • Vegetables like full sun and well-drained soil. Many varieties will also do well in containers. • Starting vegetable seeds indoors may be a good idea. Some seeds can be planted right into the garden, including lettuce, cabbage, spinach, some beans and peas, and other cole crops.
Seeds • If you’re starting your plants from seeds, make sure they’re ready for the garden at the end of May. Count back from the day you want to plant to determine the date to start them indoors. Seeds like bottom heat to germinate, and you’ll get better results by putting your seedling trays on a special heating mat to give them a needed hand. Harden off any seedlings by getting them used to being outside gradually before you plant them into the ground.
Trees & Shrubs
they’ll probably emerge even later. Varieties like butterfly bush, rose of Sharon, caryopteris, sweetspire (Itea), and summersweet (Clethra) won’t show signs of life until May. And they’ll be slow to completely emerge when they do start leafing out. Clean up around the plants and just be patient. • Apply an organic shrub fertilizer; it will break down as the soil warms, not as the rain falls. Provided by the professionals at English Gardens.
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• With winter’s record cold temperatures, we’re bound to find plants that didn’t survive. However, some plants are naturally late to emerge in the spring. And this year,
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
ask mg
Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Submit a question”
We grow our own annuals & perennials: You are buying fresh directly from the grower—quality guaranteed!
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Auburn Oaks GARDEN CENTER
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Spring Open House Fri-Sat, Apr 25-26, 8am-6pm & Sun, Apr 27, 10am-5pm
Caring for river birch Two years ago, we had to root prune our 14-year-old river birch (nearly a third of the roots), as it was under the brick patio. Last year, we had it pruned back, again nearly a third. How should I be caring for it this year? Should I be fertilizing it? R.T., Detroit By planting a tree of this potential size too close to pedestrian areas, you are now faced with maintaining it to a set dimension. The river birch (Betula nigra) doesn’t need fertilizing unless there are nutrients lacking. A soil test would determine that. River birches prefer a slightly acidic soil (pH 5.0 to 6.5). If fertilizing is indicated, use a slow-release granular formulated for woody plant material worked down into the soil out at the drip line in early spring or late fall. The object is to keep soil temperature consistent with 2-1/2 inches of mulch over the root zone but not touching the trunk or root collar. Consistent watering is most important to any tree, especially during summer and drought periods. As a native, river birches are pretty hardy and will recover on their own provided they are not stressed with drought or high soil temperatures.
Friday, April 25
Saturday, April 26
Sunday, April 27
Softened water and plants
Deer Problems Stop Deer and Rabbits from Devouring Your Garden! 11am to 2pm Questions and answers by Julia Hofley, a representative from Plantskydd animal repellent.
Tough Turf Times 10-12pm. Lawn problems? Bring questions for Turf Grass Specialist Steve Kolongowski from Rhino Seed Company.
Gardening & Your Health 11am to 1pm Rochester Family Chiropractic will be here with suggestions on gardening and your health.
Complimentary Lunch On the patio 11am-1pm
Sore Garden Muscles 12noon to 2pm Certified Massage Therapist Jill Pursell will be here giving 5-minute complimentary chair massages. Come on in and take a load off!
Is it OK to water my houseplants with softened water? What about outdoor annuals in containers? S.R., Jackson The short answer for houseplants: no. That, however, is the water that some people have, so they need to find ways to avoid damaging their houseplants. The damage results from the softening salt that replaces the naturally-occurring calcium and magnesium in the water with sodium. You can’t taste any sodium, but it is there, and it builds up in the container mix, eventually killing the plant if you do nothing. First, explore other options. Your plumbing system should have an outlet valve that allows you to draw water before it enters the softener, so you can get “hard” water there. Before using it, let that water sit in an open container overnight to allow the chlorine from a municipal water system to evaporate and for the water to come to room temperature. Another option is to use a rain barrel to collect and use rainwater. In some areas rainwater is very acidic. If yours is, add a teaspoon of ground limestone to each 6-inch diameter container of potting medium to counteract the acidity. If none of these options are viable, use the softened water and take the following steps. Always use containers with drainage holes
Complimentary Lunch On the patio 11am-1pm Landscape Design 1 to 3pm Landscape Designer Paula Smith will be here to help you with your design questions. Bring your pictures and Paula will be ready with ideas.
Gardening & Your Health 2 to 4pm Rochester Family Chiropractic will be here with suggestions on gardening and your health. Landscape Design 12noon to 2pm Landscape Designer Paula Smith will help you with design questions. Bring your pictures and Paula will be ready with ideas.
Natural Mulches 1 to 3pm A representative from SOCWA will be here to discuses Natural Mulches in the landscape.
Gleaners Food Drive
Receive a $5 OFF Coupon when you donate 3 nutritious canned or dry goods
3820 W. Auburn Rd. (2 blks E. of Adams Rd.) • Rochester Hills • 248-852-2310 Mon-Sat 8am-6pm Sun 10am-5pm • www.auburnoaksnursery.com
Have a question? Send it in!
and never let the containers sit in a pool of the softened water. Use a houseplant fertilizer that contains trace minerals, and use it “weakly, weekly.” For instance, if the label says one teaspoon of fertilizer per quart of water monthly, then use 1/4 teaspoon weekly. Divide the recommended dosage so that you use an appropriately reduced amount every time you water. Then, every time you water make sure the amount of water is enough to go entirely through and run completely out the bottom so that it is carrying away any built-up sodium. As time goes by, the soft water sodium causes the potting mix to harden as the salts accumulate. Watch for this symptom and repot as often as it happens. Usually once a year is enough, but you must wash away all of the potting mix from the roots using tepid water and start over with new mix. That routine will do as much as possible to reduce the damage to the houseplants. If any of your houseplants are in huge containers, just do what you can. I have a twowheeled dolly to lift and wheel them out to the patio to sit in the summer rain sometimes to leach out their soil. In the winter my ficus likes to be leached by taking a shower in my walk-in shower stall. That’s one way to leach away the yucky stuff from a monster pot. Put your thinking cap on, and you will find a way. As for annuals in outdoor containers, soft water may not have time to do much damage in only one summer growing season, as opposed to houseplants that are expected to grow and thrive for many years. Fertilize the same “weakly, weekly” and water thoroughly every time you water to leach out the salts from the previous watering. Then use new container mix each season and any build-up of salts should be eliminated in the process. Answer by Martha Ferguson.
Herbicide’s effect on blue spruce I had my Colorado blue spruce replaced in May 2013. It died from the Imprelis herbicide. My new spruce is also dying. How can I get the soil checked to see if there is still Imprelis in the ground? I don’t want to replace the tree if the herbicide is still present. D.A., Brownstown Depending on when Imprelis was applied to your lawn, you have about a two-year residual in the soil. It is possible your replacement Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens) is declining for another reason, such as needle cast, an airborne fungal disease that is common to blue spruce. Contact the MSU Extension Service to obtain information for a soil test kit and make a
MichiganGardener.com | April 2014 | Michigan Gardener
specific request to check for residual Imprelis when you mail it in. (To find your county’s MSU Extension Service, go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Resources,” then “Garden Help.”) A reputable certified arborist may also be able to perform the test for you for a fee. Purdue University Extension has published post-Imprelis application recommendations for tree replacement. Primarily they recommend you remove the soil in the area where the tree was, getting all that was in contact with the tree root zone. This contaminated soil can be bagged for landfill where permitted but should not be recycled for mulch or soil backfill. They also recommend applying a rate of one pound of activated charcoal per one gallon of water, saturating the sides and bottom of the new hole dug for the replacement. The charcoal, activated by the water, neutralizes any residual Imprelis in the soil. Using new compost and soil, new plants should be watered per nursery recommendations and especially during drought periods to reduce stress. A light granular fertilizer can be worked into the soil backfill at planting. Generally once a tree has established, it does not need fertilizing if receiving proper watering and mulch on the root zone.
Adding rock dust to soil Do I need rock dust in my southeastern Michigan vegetable garden? If so, what kind and where do I get it? B., Macomb County First you need a soil test. Contact the MSU Extension Service for information on obtaining one and the procedure for mailing it in. The kit has exact directions on how to take the soil sample. Mark the analysis for a vegetable garden and be sure to ask for a pH reading. The soil test analysis will tell you exactly the amendments to add to your soil. Most vegetables grow best in a slightly acidic pH (6.0 to 6.8). Create mounded rows or raised beds for good drainage. Adding aged cow manure and compost generally provides the most useable nutrients to vegetable gardens. Without a soil test, you are only speculating on what amendments are needed. Often rock dust is considered a source of minerals essential to plant growth. Greensand is mined from naturally-occurring alluvial deposits and is a great source of potassium. It is excellent in loosening clay soils and is known for its moisture-holding capacity. Azomite improves plant growth overall and contains a broad spectrum of some 70 active minerals and trace elements. Ordinary bonemeal is an excellent source of plant-available phosphorous. Once you have your soil test results, you can contact local suppliers, such as Uncle Luke’s Feed Store in Troy, who can review the analysis with you and provide the right proportion of ingredients for your vegetable garden’s square footage.
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Eliminating bishop’s weed How do I get rid of bishop’s weed in my garden? As a naive young gardener I planted flats of it. It has been the bane of my existence for years. I have attempted to dig it out, and covered it with newspaper, but it always returns. S.E., Huntington Woods Sympathies to you for learning the hard way about invasive plants such as bishop’s weed, aka goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria). Buyer beware when a plant is advertised as “grows fast.” Every gardener has a plant horror story to tell—it is a rite of passage! Smothering with newspaper is admirable and effective on shallow-rooted turf grass. Unfortunately, the mother load of goutweed rhizomes lives beneath. If removing the soil is not an option, then a contact non-selective herbicide (can contain imazapyr) may be necessary to reach exposed rhizomes and leaves. Understand that this residual ingredient in such systemic herbicides can remain active in soil up to 17 months at a reduced level. You should wait a season before planting additional material in this location. But it is an option to heavy digging labor. Digging it out with a spading fork only breaks the underground rhizomes, from which new plants grow. A persistent patch of goutweed can have a rhizome base of 18 to 20 inches. Digging should be done with a shovel, working methodically from one end of the bed to the other. Remove the soil and hot compost it or spread it in an area where a hardy groundcover is more appropriate. You must get below the lowest level of rhizomes. Add fresh clean soil and compost to this bed, and keep a trowel handy to vanquish any goutweed sprouts as soon as they appear.
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Answers provided by Beverly Moss, owner of Garden Rhythms.
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12
Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
healthy lawns Evaluating winter damage
M
y past experience of long, brutal easily relate to that issue. She then inquired winters leads me to prepare for about her burning bushes which had a lot of what is to come this spring. We’re bark chewed from the upper branches down all about to be tested as we face the impendto the base. She wondered if that too was a ing reality of this winter’s impact. result of deer feeding. I explained I can’t help but recall one particuthat rabbits had caused this feeding lar spring several years ago where damage, which made sense to her as I answered a desperate call from a I talked about how feeding typically homeowner requesting a landscape begins above the snow piles before walk-through so we could evaluate gradually moving on to the lower her property together. We met two sections during the meltdown proweeks later after the snow had finally cess. I sensed she was mentally premelted. She prefaced the situation by paring herself for replacement ideas. letting me know she had just moved Steve At this point, we were in the backto Michigan from Cincinnati the Martinko yard observing many trails throughprevious year’s autumn, and didn’t out the grass caused by voles. Voles know much about Michigan’s plants, lawns or typically chew on grass blades and stems. the typical time schedules for when and how However, they do not kill the roots, so I reasthings should be done around the yard. sured her that after a light raking and a spring As we began to walk around, it was obvifertilization, her lawn should recover quickous the deer had caused major damage to her ly. That said, she began to realize what her arbs and yews; being from Ohio she could spring days in the garden would entail. Progressing around the other side of her home we found several mole tunnels where the soil had thawed enough for them to scout out earthworms. She threw her hands up in the air and cried, “I live in a zoo! Why me?!” While my new Buckeye friend had dealt with some mole problems down south, this was starting to overwhelm her. Being the good Spartan that I am, I politely consoled her by saying, “Welcome to Michigan!” She realized how much patience Michiganders need at the start of the growing season. By the time our consultation wrapped up, she understood nothing was going to be a quick fix and that she would be making many trips to the local garden center to avail herself of the best options to move forward. After this historic winter, I expect many of us will be inspecting and confirming plant death due to extremely cold temperatures and other reasons. We all will discover what plants are the survivors within our lawns and landscapes. Expect to be visiting your local garden center and buying materials before they sell out. Prepare for reseeding and replanting as soon as the soil is ready and nighttime temperatures remain above 50 degrees. Our frozen lakes will no doubt cause many very cool nights through May. I will leave you with a couple of my favorite spring quotes: “As it rains in March so it rains in June,” and “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.” Steve Martinko is the owner of Contender’s Tree and Lawn Specialists in Oakland County, MI.
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
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When selecting your vegetables, think color
T
he garden season is at last upon us and we can start thinking about the For more information wonderful vegetables we will soon be A good source is “What Color is Your Food” planting. But wait—do you have a list of what from the North Dakota State University you intend to plant? If you do, take a look at Extension. Find it at: tinyurl.com/3zjxmz9 it. Consider the vegetables and the variety of colors represented. How many different colors of vegetables do you actually plan for the vegetable garden will bring a variety of phygarden? Usually it’s not hard to find reds and tochemicals into our diet. greens—tomatoes, peppers and beans seem As you wander through your local garto dominate our plots. But what about yellow, den center, think in terms of color. Consider orange, purple, blue, white, tan, or brown vegplanting purple green beans (purple on the etables? If you’re looking for a truly healthy vine, the pods turn green when cooked!). garden of vegetables, plan for the rainbow. Check out the varieties of tomatoes. They can Phytochemicals are chemicals produced be found in a range of colors from yellow to by plants; they may affect human health but indigo, as well as the traditional red. are not essential nutrients. Different Kohlrabi, cauliflower and eggplant phytochemicals are associated with can be found in both white and purdifferent colors in our fruits and ple varieties. Peppers make a beautivegetables. ful mix of green, orange, yellow and For instance, red indicates the red. Carrots as well as beets provide presence of lycopene (which may a fun variety of colors from white to reduce the risk of some cancers) purple. Look at choices for purple and anthocyanins (which may conpotatoes or purple cabbage as an altrol blood sugar). Orange and yelternative to the traditional colors. low indicate beta-carotene (which Mary The whites and grays of winter may reduce the risk of cancer and Gerstenberger days are behind us, so put some colheart disease, help the immune or into your life as you check out seed packet system, and benefit eyesight). Green indidisplays, review garden catalogs, or peruse cates lutein (which may help reduce the risk the garden center plants for a rainbow of of cataracts and macular degeneration) and colors to brighten your vegetable garden this indoles (which may reduce the risk of breast season. and prostate cancers). Blue and purple indicate anthocyanins (which may also protect Mary Gerstenberger is the Consumer Horagainst diabetes-related circulatory probticulture Coordinator at the Michigan State lems) and phenols (which may reduce the risk University Extension in Macomb County, MI. of Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease). For gardening information from MSU, visit White, tan or brown indicate allicin (which www.migarden.msu.edu. may help control blood pressure and cholesterol). Putting a variety of colors into the Call the toll-free Michigan State University Lawn and Garden Hotline at 888-678-3464 for answers to your gardening questions.
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Herb classes at Macomb MSU Extension (Clinton Twp): Thursday, April 10, 2014 1-2:30 pm: “Harvesting and Preserving Herbs” 3-4:30 pm: “How to Build Your Own Herb Dryer” Thursday, May 8, 2014 1-2:30 pm: “Container and Patio Strategies” 3-4:30 pm: “Make and Take Tabletop Herb Garden” All classes presented by Troy Huffaker of DTL Herbs. $7 per person per class. Please register by calling the Macomb MSU Extension office at 586-469-6440.
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Christensen’s Plant Center Tour with Eric Joy Wednesday, April 16, 6:00 – 9:00 pm 6282 Gotfredson Rd., Plymouth, 48170 Eric Joy will present Christensen’s perspective on their trees, shrubs and perennials in Michigan landscapes. Along with being the Sales Manager for Christensen’s Plant Center, Eric also serves on the MNLA executive board and on the GLTE committee. His presentation is developed specifically for the professional gardener.
Guest fee: $10. Please contact us for more information about our substantive lectures and programs, as well as membership. Web: www.associationofprofessionalgardeners.org Email: suegrubba@sbcglobal.net Phone: Sue Grubba at 248-375-9233
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Need a focal point in your landscape? Plant collector? Looking for something a little different? Then Shades of Green is the place for you! Shrubs and trees are a long-lived investment, so start with quality plants that have been well cared for. Visit Shades of Green, meet our knowledgeable staff, and see our superior quality.
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
tree tips A brutal winter and its effect on your trees What to look for this spring and possible actions to take
T
he winter of 2013-14 was one of the most brutal winters in history: record lows, record snowfall, and an ice storm. The big question for gardeners: how did my plants fare? To help you assess, let’s look at each weather factor one by one.
ways will experience more root damage from exposure to the low temperatures.
Cold
Snow Pros: The insulating effect snow has on soil temperature helped immensely to protect root systems against the subzero temperatures by minimizing the depth to which the soil froze. The deeper the frost goes in the soil, the more damage to tender feeder roots. There will be less of them available in the spring to provide water and nutrients to the plant. The increased soil moisture available at a greater depth will benefit plants as the spring thaw is absorbed into the soil. This will be a plus later in the season if we have drought conditions. Steve Cons: Animal damage to the base Turner of trees and shrubs will be severe this spring. The deep snow provides an ideal shelter for rabbits and mice to feast on plants’ bark, undetected by both us and predators, allowing them to cause major damage and even death if they entirely girdle the plant. In particular, watch burning bush, Japanese maples, fruit trees and bushes, and elms. Plowed areas will not receive the benefits of snow cover as described above, so trees with root systems under driveways and walk-
Pros: The best thing about the cold is that it will take its toll on overwintering insects that cause damage to trees. We are expecting significant reductions in boring insects and gypsy moth larvae. This will be good news for many oaks, as they have been under high pressure from two-lined chestnut borers in recent years. Cons: Planting zone limits will be tested. This winter might be the demise for some marginally hardy plants. Some that could experience major die back or death include Japanese maple, sweet gum, Forest Pansy redbud, and even privet hedges, especially “golden.” Nursery stock grown in the South or with southern genetics could also have cold damage. Even if they are native trees hardy to zone 4 or 5, they can still have problems if they were shipped up from the South. Trees even of the same species can have regional genetics that allow them to adapt to particular environments. Trees often affected by this are red oak, red maple, sweet gum, tulip poplars, and redbuds. Check the rootball of a sensitive species to see if it is grown in red clay. If so, consider a different plant as this is a likely indicator of
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southern-grown stock. Ask about a plant’s original origin. Keep in mind this does not apply to all species; some species like pears will be fine. Symptoms of cold damage can vary widely, from dead buds to dead twigs, branches or entire plants. In most cases it will be limited to twigs and branches. Frost cracks and cankers are another concern. Cankers are simply areas of dead tissue on the trunk or limbs and can be caused by severe cold, but can also be attributed to other factors. Frost cracks generally happen in late winter or early spring and are the result of warm days and cold nights causing the wood to expand and contract too quickly. They occur most frequently on thin-barked trees and usually on the south or west side of the tree. Wrapping or shading the lower trunk can help prevent this on susceptible trees.
Ice Pros: None. Cons: Easily one of nature’s most destructive forces against trees, ice is second only to wind. Combine them together and you have a massive destructive force that can cause a lot of damage fast. Even strong trees can succumb to the weight of ice, but there are several factors that make them more likely to fail, including species, age, size, shape, and location. Pears, elms, silver maples, and willows are most likely to simply fall apart during ice storms. Others that are more likely to just shed a few branches include white pine, poplar, and Norway maple. Birches, many fruit trees, and young trees tend to bend over, but not always break, and will often return to normal if left alone. It is important to note where the tree bent and check it in the spring for stress cracks. This becomes most important if the apex of the bend is in the first third of the height of the tree. Any defects in this area will often lead to failure as the tree
grows and increases in size. Location often affects size and shape so they are grouped together. A solitary tree in an open area is going to have a larger crown and more lateral branches to collect more ice, and is much more likely to fail than the same type of tree growing in the woods with a more vertical habit and a smaller crown. Trees grown against a building or on the edge of a woods will have uneven crowns and are more likely to fail. If you lose more than 50 percent of a tree’s crown, then removal is often the best solution. Otherwise, if the tree remains structurally sound it can be pruned to repair the damaged areas and allowed to regrow and fill back in. Cracked but not broken branches are also common and may fail later in the season after the tree leafs out. Have any ice-damaged trees looked at in the spring by an arborist experienced in tree risk assessments to determine if anything poses a risk in the near future and what can be done to alleviate it.
Salt Pros: None. However, salt is easily remedied by flushing affected areas with large amounts of water in the spring and leaching it out of plants’ root zones. In severe cases it might be easier to replace some of the soil, especially if reseeding burned areas of lawn. Cons: More salt than usual was used this past winter. Sodium is a destroyer of soil structure, reducing pore space and chemically causing the soil to become more compact as it breaks large particles down to smaller ones. The more familiar issue with salt is the “burning” effect it has on lawns and plants as it reverses the flow of water from soil to plants and begins to pull the water out of your plants. Steve Turner, Certified Arborist, is from Arboricultural Services in Fenton, MI.
Hidden Lake Gardens BOTA N IC A L G A R DEN & A R BOR ET U M
INTERNATIONAL HERB DAY CELEBRATION Sat, April 26, 10am-3pm
PLANT SALE Sat, May 10, 10am-2pm
Come celebrate how plants enhance your life. There will be cooking demonstrations, gardening tips, educational seminars, activities for kids and a wide array of plants and products for sale. Offering a wide selection of choice plants reflecting our collections. Annuals, Conifers, Hosta & companions, Native Plants and “Woodies” (Trees & Shrubs).
755 Acres of Gardens and Natural Areas Flower Gardens • Plant Conservatory • Hosta Hillside • Dwarf Conifers Picnic Area • Lake • Hiking Trails • Weddings and Tours by appointment 6214 Monroe Rd. (M-50) in Tipton • 8 Miles W. of Tecumseh
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380 Lone Pine Road Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303 248 645.3149 http://housegardens.cranbrook.edu
From Dust till Dawn Tour
April 3 & May 1, 11 am - 1 pm Step into a Downton Abbey experience as we explore the vital role of the ‘help.’ $30 each.
Blooming Anticipation - New Member Mixer
Saturday, Sunday, 10am - 4pm • Plymouth Nursery gift card give-away. 50 - $10 cards 5 WINNERS each hour from 10am to 3pm Saturday & Sunday • SUPER SAVINGS on items throughout the store • Drawings throughout the weekend for FREE garden products • Expert demonstrations & seminars See our website for schedules and topics. www.plymouthnursery.net
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
Your Outdoor Pleasures Await at
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Pond Critters: Tadpoles, Snails & Clams Pond Plants: Marginals, Lillies, Lotus & Oxygenators
34190 S. Gratiot (14-1/2 Mile) • Clinton Township 586-791-6595 www.tropicaltreasuresfish.com April hours: Mon-Fri 11a-8p Sat 9a-8p Sun 9a-5p
Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener by Joseph Tychonievich Are you dreaming of a plant that perfectly matches your tastes and the conditions in your garden? You may not find it at your local garden center—but you can create it yourself. In Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener (Timber Press, 215 pages, $19.95) you’ll follow the advice of Joseph Tychonievich as you discover the ins and outs of plant genetics—in non-technical language. Tychonievich, the nursery manager at Arrowhead Alpines in Fowlerville, Michigan, first covers the history of plant breeding and later dives into the how-tos, giving examples of popular vegetables and fruits. Readers will learn to set achievable goals by creating a breeding program tailored to their personal gardening needs. This easy-to-read guide teaches you to choose the best parent plants, how to cross-pollinate, and finally, how to collect seeds so that you can enjoy your new creations for years to come. You will be armed with the knowledge to produce a tastier tomato, a perkier pepper, or a more ravishing rose.
America’s Romance with the English Garden by Thomas J. Mickey
soil • sand • mulch • stone • gravel
State Crushing L a n d s c a p e s u p p Ly
Full line of organic products • Same day delivery service We specialize in natural wood mulches Hello gardeners! Our “wood fines” and “red pine bark” products are a gardener’s dream. Very finely shredded, you can mix them in with your existing soil to create an excellent amended soil for planting. You’ll also love our premium compost and cedar bark mulch.
2260 Auburn Rd. • Auburn Hills • 248-332-6210 www.statecrushing.com • Hours: Monday-Friday 7-5 Saturday 7-1
In the 1890s, cheap paper, faster printing, rural mail delivery, railroad shipping, and chromolithography combined to pave the way for the first modern, mass-produced catalogs. The most prominent of these, reaching American households by the thousands, were seed and nursery catalogs with beautiful pictures of middle-class homes surrounded by sprawling lawns, exotic plants, and the latest garden accessories—in other words, the quintessential English-style garden. In America’s Romance with the English Garden (Ohio University Press, 271 pages, $26.95), historian and Master Gardener Thomas J. Mickey tells the story of the seed and nursery catalogs that delivered inspirational images to front doorsteps from California to Maine and how the English garden became the look of America. Mickey profiles many of the popular plants of the era while providing a historical account of the growing American middle class eager to buy the products of the beginning modern garden industry. The book is an insightful read for history and gardening lovers alike.
Desirable Trees for the Midwest by Scott A. Zanon This book will help you select the most desirable trees for your property, no matter its size. What is a “desirable” tree? Simply put, a tree that both in its youth and maturity is worthy of the owner’s expectations. In Desirable Trees for the Midwest (Scott Zanon, 146 pages, $29.95), Scott Zanon shares 50 of the best trees tailored to specific gardening needs. This reference is useful for homeowners, gardeners, grounds professionals, arborists, golf course superintendents, and horticulturists. Featuring 250 color photos, this guide will help readers envision their dream landscape as they learn to select trees that won’t negatively impact surrounding grass, property lines, and power lines when fully mature. The author provides tree details for both evergreen and deciduous varieties. The book is a professional and concise reference guide to help Midwestern gardeners select the right trees for their space.
NEED AN EXPERT? Design
Landscaping
Lawn Care
Plant Selection
Exceptional flower selection Hand-made arrangements Wedding & special event flowers
and More!
LOCATE A CERTIFIED PRO:
PlantMichiganGreen.com
33866 Woodward at Adams, Birmingham
248.644.4411
Visit our website: blossomsbirmingham.com
Uncle Luke’s featuring
Organic
Soil amendments & Fertilizers t
t t t
Cold-hardy vegetable & flower plants available early April (weather permitting) Natural pest & disease control products WIDE variety of bagged soils & mulches Top quality tools & garden accessories
t
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Bedding plants Perennials Herbs Seed potatoes, onions, High Mowing Organic Garden Seeds, Renee’s Garden Seed, Bulk garden seed Complete outdoor bird feed & supplies
Uncle Luke’s Feed Store 6691 Livernois, Troy • (1/4 Mile S. of South Blvd.) 248-879-9147 • www.unclelukes.com Mon-Fri 9-6:30 • Sat 8-6 • Sun 9-5 Visit our 2nd location in Flushing: Flushing Lawn & Garden • 810-659-6241
When you use the original,
it shows.
Holly-tone® will provide spectacular results for all types of evergreens. Grow beautiful azaleas, eye-popping rhododendron, tasty blueberries and more. It’s simple to use and safe for children and pets. It’s no wonder that Holly-tone has been the #1 acid-loving plant food for over 65 years! Delicious
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20
Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
Ball Horticultural Company
Cool Wave Violet Wing
Ball Horticultural Company
Cool Wave Golden Yellow
Syngenta Flowers
Delta Blaze Mix
Syngenta Flowers
Delta Apple Cider Mix
Ball Horticultural Company
Matrix Morpheus
Ball Horticultural Company
Cool Wave Frost
MichiganGardener.com | April 2014 | Michigan Gardener
21
plant focus
Pansies W
hat is the most popular bedding country, pansies are planted in the fall and plant in the world? One might will continue to flower all winter. In the guess geraniums, begonias, or spring, they are removed and replaced with petunias. However, this honor has belonged heat-tolerant annuals. to pansies for over a decade. And why are In Michigan, fall-planted pansies will pansies so popular? Primarily because they often overwinter, especially when planted tolerate freezing temperatures. In fact, any in good soil with some protection from region of the world that experiences excessive moisture and salt. Falla cold season can take advantage of planted pansies can flower during the adaptability that pansies offer. any “warm” spell that might occur In Michigan’s climate, pansies during the winter. Plus, the first can be planted earlier in spring spring flowers of overwintered than nearly any other bedding pansies are typically larger—I have plant. Pansies that have been seen them up to 5 inches across! acclimated to low temperatures will You might be familiar with withstand freezing April weather some pansies being promoted as and May frosts quite effortlessly. “overwintering” types. These are George In fact, the seeds of many spring simply regular pansies that were Papadelis pansies available in garden centers selected, promoted, and marketed were sown the previous summer, under the premise that pansies will transplanted into flats or pots in fall, and then usually overwinter. Keeping all this in mind, overwintered in greenhouses that freeze or a mild winter is still the best friend of a fallstay frozen all winter long. The Michigan planted pansy. landscape can also use pansies in the fall. Companion plants When planted in September, they will easily Pansies are one of the finest companions for flower until Thanksgiving and usually beyond. spring-blooming bulbs. Your tulips, daffodils, In more mild-wintered regions of the
Ball Horticultural Company
Cool Wave Mix
hyacinths, etc. can be coordinated with the perfect color from the enormous palette of pansies. Spring-blooming perennials such as hellebores, forget-me-nots, pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris), and primroses are gorgeous when growing up through the smiling flowers of pansies. There is only one type of annual that can grow alongside pansies in the coldest days of spring (and fall): cold-acclimated ornamental cabbage and kale are durable companions to pansies grown under severe conditions. They offer rosettes of beautiful, edible foliage in shades of white, pink, red, and purple. I must stress “cold-acclimated” because many pansies and ornamental cabbage/kale are offered from growers or garden centers that may be growing these under warmer conditions. These will not tolerate severe cold. For optimum cold tolerance, your plants must be properly “hardened” through exposure to low temperatures in the production environment and the sales environment. In the fall, keep in mind that nearly all fallblooming perennials are tall; pansies are the continued on next page
Ball Horticultural Company
Matrix Sunrise
Ball Horticultural Company
Matrix Blue Frost pansy and white dianthus are a well-matched pair.
Pansies Botanical name: Viola x wittrockiana (vy-OH-lah ex wit-rockee-AH-nah) Plant type: Annual; also may overwinter and flower the next spring Plant size: 6-9 inches tall, 9-12 inches wide Habit: Bushy; some newer varieties are trailing Flower color: Enormous color range, including bicolors Flower size: 2-4 inches Bloom period: Spring, fall Light: Sun to part sun Soil: Rich, well drained Uses: Bedding plant, containers, spots of color in mixed borders, fall garden flowers Companion Spring-flowering plants: bulbs: tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and others. Spring-blooming perennials like hellebores, forget-me-nots, pasque flower, and primroses. Remarks: Cold-tolerant: plant in early spring and enjoy into early summer, or plant in fall for autumn color and spring blooms the following spring as well.
22
Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
Ball Horticultural Company
Cool Wave Violet Wing continued from previous page perfect accent to dress the bottoms of these. Even your fall mum display can go up another notch when underplanted with pansies. Some mixed pansy varieties such as ‘Delta Apple Cider Mix,’ ‘Delta Blaze Mix,’ and ‘Delta Pumpkin Pie Mix’ were specifically developed for fall planting.
Classic and new varieties The list of pansy varieties is enormous. Every seed company has a series or two (or three), and a series can contain over 60 varieties. So which is the best one? The Delta series is by far the most popular. The seed quality is high, the flowers are large, plants are uniform, and the selection is vast, with about 17 mixtures and 33 separate colors. They have relatively good heat tolerance and they overwinter about as well as any pansy can. The Matrix series produces slightly larger flowers and has quickly grown in
The modern pansy
The modern pansy was developed through the hybridization of Viola tricolor with other Viola species. These largeflowering hybrids that we call “pansies” are botanically referred to as Viola x wittrockiana. The name “viola” is usually reserved for the smaller-flowered, profuseblooming viola hybrids. Breeders have gone as far as combining the two to make the word “panolas.” There is a distinct advantage to smallflowering pansies or violas that is rarely taken into consideration: When largeflowered pansies are planted in a windy site, the overlapping flower petals will rub against each other repeatedly until an unsightly scratch is produced. Smaller flowers catch less air and can endure wind exposure with minimal damage. In low wind sites, this is not an issue. Use the unscratched, perfect flowers of pansies or violas as a food garnish, as they are both beautiful and edible.
popularity, especially amongst greenhouses that plant pansy crops in fall for spring sales. Each spring, these produce some of the largest pansy flowers I have ever seen. Choose from 67 varieties! In the last few years, pansy breeders have developed many trailing and spreading varieties. Most of these are rarely available, but more recently, one seems to have established its place in the garden community. The developers of Wave petunias (PanAmerican Seed) have graced their trailing pansy with the Wave name. More specifically, they have named these Cool Wave pansies. They are grown from seed, have a strong trailing habit, and have all of the cultural traits of traditional pansies. They are great in spring or fall containers when cold tolerance and a trailing habit are a requirement. Choose from ‘White,’ ‘Yellow,’ ‘Purple,’ ‘Golden Yellow,’ ‘Frost,’ ‘Violet Wing,’ and several different mixtures.
How to grow pansies Pansies will thrive in rich, well-drained soil. Sun or partial sun is best. Fertility is very important for maintaining vigor and flower power, especially since healthier plants are more likely to prosper in less than ideal weather conditions. Pansies will usually produce seeds when the flower has deteriorated. Seed production will detract from flower production, so (ideally) the spent flowers should be removed. As temperatures rise in the spring, pansies will continue to flower profusely. By June, however, the higher temperatures will cause pansies to grow softer, stretchy, and a bit weedy looking. At this time, gardeners must make a decision: Trim the pansies in half and wait until fall for them to rebloom, or remove and replace them with heat-tolerant annuals. In less formal situations, the former might be appropriate. However, pansies that are subjected to the stress of summer heat will be less vigorous and floriferous in fall. These are also the least likely pansies to overwinter. More often than not, pansies are removed and replaced in early summer. George Papadelis is the owner of Telly’s Greenhouse in Troy, MI.
Ball Horticultural Company
The Matrix series of pansies has an enormous range of colors.
Syngenta Flowers
Delta Pumpkin Pie Mix
Syngenta Flowers
Delta Premium Beaconsfield
Join us for our
Complete Lawn Sprinkler Service Installation • Repair / Residential • Commercial
Spring Open House Sat, April 26, 9am-5pm & Sun, April 27, 10am-5pm See NEW varieties for 2014! • Refreshments
www.MichiganIrrigation.com
Spring Seminar Series
Oakland: 248-969-9080 • Macomb 586-978-0430
Extreme Gardening & Everything In Between - April 5, 1pm The afternoon will be filled with ideas for gardening in full sun, deep shade, very damp soil, extremely dry soil, and everything in between. Bring questions, ideas, and examples of problem areas you have.
region’s largest supplier of
Fairy Garden Items!
Fairy Garden Class Learn about fairy
734-944-8644 6400 E. Michigan Ave Saline, MI 48176 our newest locaton! Natures’s Home & Garden 810-224-5577 106 W. Main St. Brighton, MI 48116 NaturesGardenCenter.com NaturesGC@gmail.com
lore and create a garden to take home. Reservations required (via email only please). Brighton: April 11, 4:30p: Kids ages 4+, $18 April 11, 7:00p: Adults, $25 Saline: April 13, 2:00p: Kids ages 4+, $18 April 13, 4:00p: Adults, $25 We offer a large variety of the latest products at competitive prices. Our knowledgeable staff is here to help answer any questions that come up in your gardening adventures. We also offer a wide range of services such as full landscape design, installation and maintenance.
Re-Energizes Gardens & Potting Soil Organimax is a unique combination of ingredients tested and certified by the U.S. Composting Council: • Composted leaf waste • Humic acid • Kelp • Slow-release fertilizer • A micronutrient package • A carbohydrate package • A bacteria & mycorrhiza package • An amino acid profile
Annual Container Garden Weekend - April 12, 1pm & April 13, 2pm Saturday will begin with the basics of container gardening, including container choice, plant selection & general planting ideas. Sunday will review Saturday’s principles and emphasize unique ideas in container gardening. After our discussion on both days, you will be invited to plant your creation. Bring your own container or purchase one. Classes are FREE! Plus, 20% OFF all plants and supplies used in containers during this class (no other discounts apply).
248-887-5101
1525 Bogie Lake Rd. White Lake, MI 1-1/2 Miles S. of M-59, Across from Lakeland H.S.
April Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6 Sat 9-5 Sun 11-3
www.bogielakegreenhouses.com
Long Winter?
Time for a visit to The Weed Lady for
inspiration & rejuvenation!
• Garden Center & Nursery • Full Service Landscape Design & Installation • Gift & Home Accent Boutique • Full Service Florist and Event Planning • Original Art for your Home & Garden
New & Improved Formula! Mix 1 part Organimax with 3 parts soil. Makes 25% more soil mix than the previous formula. Ask for Organimax at your local independent garden center! For more information: 248-760-9342 or chuck@assurefertilize.com
Explore The Weed Lady…where every visit is an adventure. 9225 Fenton Road • Grand Blanc 25 min. from Great Lakes Crossing
www.TheWeedLady.com
810.655.2723
24
Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
A collection of stores and gardens to shop and visit. Please call ahead for hours, as they may vary from season to season.
Columbiaville, Davison
Bay City, Clio, Gladwin, Midland, Roscommon, Saginaw
North Branch
Lapeer
Emmett Imlay City
Flushing Lennon
Port Huron
Hadley Dryden
Grand Blanc
Flint
Bancroft, Owosso
Lakeport
Metamora
H English Gardens 44850 Garfield Rd, MI 48038 586-286-6100 www.EnglishGardens.com Oxford
Ortonville
Addison Twp.
Orion
Hartland
Holly White Lake Waterford
White Lake Highland
Howell East Lansing, Fowlerville, Grand Rapids, Haslett, Lansing, Mason, Williamston
West Bloomfield
Walled Lake Wixom Brighton
Rochester Hills
New Hudson South Lyon
Whitmore Lake
Novi Northville
Bloomfield Hills Birmingham
Farmington Hills Farmington
Manchester
Canton Wayne
Sterling Hts.
Southfield Oak Park Ferndale
Taylor Romulus
Saline
Tecumseh
Want to advertise your local business in Places to Grow? 2 options: You have 2 options: 4-line listing with your: • Business name • Address • Phone • Website or E-mail
premium listing 4-line listing PLUS highlighting: • Business name • Address • Phone • Website or E-mail
please contact us for info: publisher@ MichiganGardener.com 248-594-5563
Brownstown Twp.
Southgate Trenton Grosse Ile
Rockwood, Monroe
H Denotes MG Advertiser addison twp H Yule Love It Lavender Farm 960 Yule Rd., MI 48367 248-628-7814 www.yuleloveitlavender.com
almont
enhanced listing
Dearborn Dearborn Heights
Ypsilanti
New Boston Tipton
Troy
Detroit
Belleville
American Tree
ann arbor
H Abbott’s Nurs Ace Barnes Hardware Downtown Home/Gard H English Gardens 155 N. Maple Rd, MI 48103 734-332-7900 www.EnglishGardens.com H HillTop Greenhse/Farms H Lodi Farms H The Produce Station H Turner’s Greenhse/Garn Ctr H Wild Bird Center Wild Birds Unltd
New Baltimore Clinton Twp.
Westland
Ann Arbor
clio
Macomb
Utica
Livonia Redford
Dexter
Ray
St. Clair Berkley Roseville Shores Madison Royal Oak Heights Warren
Plymouth
Cement City, Chelsea, Grass Lake, Jackson, Stockbridge
Shelby Twp.
Auburn Hills
Sylvan Lake Commerce
Michigan Koi H Tropical Treasures
Rochester
Pontiac
Milford
Washington
Oakland
Clarkston
auburn hills
Drake’s Landscp & Nurs H Haley Stone 3600 Lapeer Rd., MI 48326 248-276-9300 www.haleystone.net H State Crushing
bancroft
Grand Oak Herb Farm
bay city H Begick Nursery & Garden Ctr 5993 Westside Saginaw Rd., MI 989-684-4210 www.begicknursery.com
belleville
Banotai Greenhse Gardeners Choice H Pinter Flowerland H Zywicki Greenhse
berkley
Garden Central
bloomfield hills Backyard Birds
H Flushing Lawn & Garden Ctr 114 Terrace St., MI 48433 810-659-6241 www.unclelukes.com
fowlerville
H Arrowhead Alpines
Almont
clinton twp
Fenton
flushing
Eastpointe
Grosse Pointes
birmingham H Blossoms 33866 Woodward Ave, MI 48009 248-644-4411 www.blossomsbirmingham.com Plant Station Tiffany Florist
brighton
H Beauchamp Landscp Supp Bordine’s Brighton Farmer’s Mkt Cowbell Lawn/Gard Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland H Nature’s Home & Garden Ctr 106 W. Main St., MI 48116 810-224-5577 www.naturesgardencenter.com
brownstown twp
Bruce’s Pond Shop Raupp Brothers Gard Ctr Ruhlig Farms & Gard
canton
Canton Floral Gardens Clink Nurs Crimboli Landscp/Nurs Keller & Stein Greenhse H Wild Birds Unltd
cement city
Hallson Gardens
chelsea H Garden Mill 110 S. Main St., MI 48118 734-475-3539 www.thegardenmill.com The Potting Shed
chesterfield
Van Thomme’s Greenhses
clarkston
Bordine’s Country Oaks Landscp I Lowrie’s Landscp H The Pond Source
H Piechnik’s Grnhse & Gdn Ctr 13172 McCumsey Rd, MI 48420 810-686-9211 www.cliogreenhouse.com
columbiaville Hilltop Barn
commerce twp
Backyard Birds Zoner’s Greenhse
davison H Wojo’s Gard Splendors 7360 E. Court St., MI 48423 810-658-9221 www.wojos.com
dearborn
Fairlane Gardens
dearborn heights H English Gardens 22650 Ford Rd, MI 48127 313-278-4433 www.EnglishGardens.com
detroit
Allemon’s Landscp Ctr H Detroit Farm and Garden 1759 21st St., MI 48216 313-655-2344 www.detroitfarmandgarden.com H Eastern Market 2934 Russell St., MI 48207 313-833-9300 www.detroiteasternmarket.com
dexter
H Bloom! Gard Ctr Dexter Mill H Fraleighs Landscape Nursery 8600 Jackson Rd., MI 48130 734-426-5067 www.fraleighs.com
eastpointe
Ariel’s Enchanted Gard H English Gardens 22501 Kelly Rd, MI 48021 586-771-4200 www.EnglishGardens.com Semrau Gard Ctr
farmington
Backyard Birds
farmington hills
gladwin H Stone Cottage Gard 3740 West Willford Rd., MI 48624 989-426-2919 www.stonecottagegardens.com
grand blanc Bordine’s
H The Weed Lady 9225 Fenton Rd., MI 48439 810-655-2723 www.theweedlady.com
grass lake
Busy Lizzies H Designs by Judy Florist & Grnhse 3250 Wolf Lake Rd., MI 49240 517-522-5050 www.designsbyjudyflowers.com
grosse ile
H Westcroft Gardens
grosse pointe
Altermatt Greenhses Boyka’s Greenhse Deneweth’s Garden Ctr H Elya’s Village Gardens Landscape Source Joe Randazzo’s Nurs Olejnik Farms Wade Nurs Wiegand’s Nursery
madison heights Green Carpet Sod
manchester
McLennan Nurs
mason
Wildtype Nurs
metamora
Gilling’s Nurs
milford
H One Stop Landscp Supp Milford Gardens H The Pond Place
monroe
H The Flower Market
new baltimore
H Meldrum Bros Nurs
new boston
Allemon’s Landscp Ctr Meldrum & Smith Nurs
H Gorham & Sons Nurs H Grass Roots Nurs Mums the Word
grosse pointe woods
new hudson
H Wild Birds Unltd
hadley
Le Fleur Décor
hartland
Deneweth’s Garden Ctr
haslett
Christian’s Greenhse Van Atta’s Greenhse
highland
Colasanti’s Produce/Plant Fragments Highland Garden Ctr One Stop Landscp Supp
holly
H Rice’s Garden Ornaments
howell H Howell Farmer’s Mkt Dwntn Howell @ State & Clinton St. 517-546-3920 www.howell.org/19.html Penrose Nurs H Specialty Growers 4330 Golf Club Rd., MI 48843 517-546-7742 www.specialtygrowers.net
imlay city
H Earthly Arts Greenhse
jackson
The Hobbit Place Schmid Nurs/Gard
lake orion
Lake Orion Lawn Orn H Orion Stone Depot H Wojo’s of Lake Orion 559 S. Lapeer Rd, MI 48362 248-690-7435 www.wojos.com
Angelo’s Landscp Supp Farmer John’s Greenhse Loeffler Stone Ctr H Steinkopf Nurs
lapeer
fenton
lennon
H Iron Barn Gard Ctr
lasalle
Fowler’s Gift Shop
Gerych’s Flowers/Gift H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm
Krupps Novelty Shop
ferndale
Bushel Mart Superior Growers Supp Valley Nurs
Casual Modes Home/Gard Green Thumb Gard Ctr
macomb
livonia
H Milarch Nurs 28500 Haas Rd., MI 48165 248-437-2094 www.milarchnursery.com
north branch
H Campbell’s Greenhouses Oldani Landscp Nurs
northville
Begonia Brothers Gardenviews H Willow Greenhouses
novi
Glenda’s Gard Ctr Stone City H Wild Birds Unltd
oak park
Four Seasons Gard Ctr
oakland H Piechnik’s Garden Gate 1095 N. Rochester Rd., MI 48363 586-336-7200 www.cliogreenhouse.com
ortonville
Country Oaks Landscp II H Wojo’s Greenhse 2570 Oakwood Rd., MI 48462 248-627-6498 www.wojos.com
owosso
H Everlastings in Wildwood
oxford
Candy Cane Xmas Trees Oxford Farm/Gard
plymouth
Backyard Birds Graye’s Greenhse Lucas Nurs H Plymouth Nursery 9900 Plymouth Rd., MI 48170 734-453-5500 www.plymouthnursery.net Plymouth Rock Rock Shoppe Sparr’s Greenhse
pontiac
Goldner Walsh Gard/Home
MichiganGardener.com | April 2014 | Michigan Gardener
25
Classified Ads H Telly’s at Goldner Walsh 559 Orchard Lake Rd., MI 48341 248-724-2300 www.tellys.com
ray
Van’s Valley Greenhse
redford
H Pinter Flowerland Seven Mi Gard Ctr
rochester
Fogler’s Greenhse Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr
rochester hills H Auburn Oaks Garden Ctr 3820 W. Auburn Rd, MI 48309 248-852-2310 www.auburnoaksnursery.com Bordine’s H English Gardens Patio Shop H Haley Stone 3975 S. Rochester Rd., MI 48307 248-852-5511 www.haleystone.net H Shades of Green Nurs H Wild Birds Unltd
rockwood
Marsh Greenhouses Too
romulus
Block’s Stand/Greenhse H Kurtzhals’ Farms H Schoedel’s Nurs H Schwartz’s Greenhouse 30705 Sibley Rd., MI 48174 734-753-9269 www.schwartzgreenhouse.com
roscommon
The Greenhouse
roseville
Dale’s Landscp Supp World Gardenland
royal oak
Billings Lawn Equip H English Gardens 4901 Coolidge Hwy, MI 48073 248-280-9500 www.EnglishGardens.com
southgate
H Ray Hunter Gard Ctr
st clair shores Hall’s Nurs Soulliere Gard Ctr
sterling heights Decor Statuette
H Eckert’s Greenhouse 34075 Ryan Rd., MI 48310 586-979-2409 www.eckertsgreenhouse.com Flower Barn Nurs Greenhouse Growers Prime Landscp Supp
Coleman’s Farm Mkt Lucas Nurs Margolis Nurs Materials Unlimited Sell Farms & Greenh se
ANNUAL FLOWER CARE MANAGER D & B Landscaping, Inc. a Professional Landscape Company is currently selecting the right individual for the following position: Annual Flower Care Manager. We are looking for an enthusiastic, energetic, passionate, self-sufficient individual who would be responsible for all aspects of high quality annual flower maintenance. Responsibilities would include on select account properties the monitoring, diagnosing and caring for annual flower plantings in containers and beds. Some knowledge and prior experience with annual flowers, watering techniques and proper care for the optimum health of the plants would be beneficial. A chauffeur’s license with the ability to operate company vehicles, along with good communication and organizational skills, as well as coordinating your time, schedule and documentation with the company and customer is required. Compensation is commensurate with experience and ability. This is an excellent opportunity for the right person and a perfect part time position during the spring, summer and fall months. Work time and work schedule is flexible. Email: db-info@dblandscaping.com. In person: 13222 Merriman Road, Livonia, MI 48150.
ann arbor
NEW GARDEN TOOL Makes Planting Easy. www.GardaDibble.com.
H Barson’s Greenhse 6414 N. Merriman Rd., MI 48185 734-421-5959 www.barsons.com Bushel Stop Panetta’s Landscp Joe Randazzo’s Nurs
white lake H Bogie Lake Greenhouses 1525 Bogie Lake Rd., MI 48383 248-887-5101 www.bogielakegreenhouses.com H Mulligan’s Landscp & Gard Ctr Sunshine Plants
stockbridge
whitmore lake
Gee Farms
H Alexander’s Greenhses
sylvan lake
williamston
H AguaFina Gardens Intntl 2629 Orchard Lake Rd., MI 48320 248-738-0500 www.aguafina.com H Detroit Garden Works
taylor H Beautiful Ponds & Gardens 20379 Ecorse, MI 48180 313-383-8653 www.skippysstuff.com D&L Garden Ctr H Massab Acres H Panetta’s Landscp Supp
tecumseh
Mitchell’s Lawn/Landscp
trenton
Carefree Lawn Ctr
troy H Telly’s Greenhouse 3301 John R Rd., MI 48083 248-689-8735 www.tellys.com H Uncle Luke’s Feed Store 6691 Livernois Rd., MI 48098 248-879-9147 www.unclelukes.com
utica
Christian’s Greenhse
wixom
Brainer’s Greenhse Angelo’s Landscp Supp Milford Tree Farm
ypsilanti
Gardens to Visit
H Matthaei Botanical Gardens/ Nichols Arboretum 1800 N. Dixboro Rd., MI 48105 734-647-7600 www.mbgna.umich.edu
bloomfield hills
Arjay Miller Arboretum at Ford World HQ Henry Ford Estate
detroit
Anna S Whitcomb Conservtry
saginaw
walled lake
Seven Ponds Nature Ctr
warren
H MSU Horticultural Gardens W.J. Beal Botanical Gard
saline H Nature’s Garden Ctr 6400 E. Michigan Ave., MI 48176 734-944-8644 www.naturesgardencenter.com H Saline Flowerland
shelby twp
H Diegel Greenhses H Hessell’s Greenhse Maeder Plant Farm Potteryland H Telly’s Greenhouse 4343 24 Mile, MI 48316 248-659-8555 www.tellys.com
south lyon
Hollow Oak Farm Nurs
southfield
3 DDD’s Stand H Eagle Landscp/Supp H Lavin’s Flower Land Main’s Landscp Supp
H Beste’s Lawn/Patio Supp Garden Ctr Nurs Young’s Garden Mart
washington
Landscp Direct Miller’s Big Red Greenhse H Rocks ‘n’ Roots
waterford
dryden
east lansing
flint
Applewood
wayne
midland
westland
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
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Seed-starting Supplies • Watering Cans Tools • Trellises • Stakes • Arbors in Celebration of earth Day, a portion of our proceeds on Saturday, April 19 will benefit the Intergenerational Garden at the Chelsea Senior Center.
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Take I-96 to exit 137. Go north to Grand River Avenue. Make a right one block to State Street. Hosted by the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce 517-546-3920
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H From Dust till Dawn Tour Thu, Apr 3, Noon, Bloomfield Hills. At Cranbrook House & Gardens. $30. Step into a Downton Abbey experience as we explore the vital role of the ‘help’. 248-645-3149. H New Shrubs for the Perennial Bed & Landscape Sat, Apr 5, 10am, Pontiac. At Telly’s. $5. Come see the many new varieties & how you can use them to spice up your landscape. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. H Garden Party Weekend Sat, Apr 5, & Sun, Apr 6, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. 2 days of informative gardening & decorating seminars. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Extreme Gardening & Everything In Between Sat, Apr 5, 1pm, White Lake. At Bogie Lake Greenhouses. Ideas for gardening in full sun, deep shade & everything in between. Bring questions & ideas. www.BogieLakeGreenhouses.com. Creating a Woodland Arrangement Sat, Apr 5, 1pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. $25. Make & take home a long-lasting, distinctive arrangement using gathered, natural items. Register: 517-339-1142. H Growing & Cooking with Herbs Sat, Apr 5, 10am-1pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $28.75. Learn tips on growing a variety of herbs & incorporating them into everyday cooking. 810-629-9208. H Willow Spring Door Swag Sat, Apr 5, 1-3pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $68.75. Design a vertical 36” tall floral arrangement. Please bring glue, glue gun & scissors. 810-629-9208.
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H Hypertufa Planter Sat, Apr 5, & Sun, Apr 6, 10am-noon, North Branch. At Campbell’s. $45. Create your own planter. Dress for mess. 810-688-3587. H Landscape Make-over Series Sat, Apr 5, 10am-noon, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu. Register: 517-431-2060. H Spring Spring Garden Celebration Sat, Apr 5, 11am, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. FREE. Classes & canning presentation by Master Gardener & columnist, Paul Rodman. events@rayhunter. com. H These Aren’t Your Grandparents Hydrangeas Sat, Apr 5, 11:30am, Pontiac. At Telly’s. $5. Our experts will guide you thru selecting, planting, & maintaining these versatile garden gems. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. H Tips from a Professional Gardener Sat, Apr 5, 10am, Troy. At Telly’s. $5. Gail Morrell shares tips & tricks acquired from years of professional gardening experience. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. H Blooming Anticipation: New Member Mixer Sat, Apr 5, 9:30am-noon, Bloomfield Hills. At
Cranbrook House. FREE. Stop by to learn about how you can get involved in Cranbrook House & Gardens Auxiliary. 248-645-3149. Spring Container Planting Sun, Apr 6, Noon-2pm, Taylor. At Taylor Conservatory. Help us welcome visitors this spring with our new fresh & lively container plantings. taylorconservatory@ sbcglobal.net. Hardy Plant Society Meeting Mon, Apr 7, 7pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Hardy Plant Society at Congregational Church of Birmingham. $3. Dick Bayerl speaks on the many types of Lilies & their planting & care. 248-693-0334. Pot Painting Therapy Mon, Apr 7, 1-2pm, Farmington Hills. By Farmington Garden Club at Spicer House in Heritage Park. Bring 6-8” pot, sponge & apron. Register: fgc1932@gmail.com. Ikebana Tue, Apr 8, Farmington Hills. By North Farmington Garden Club at Farmington Hills Library. The Japanese art of flower arranging presented by Toshi Shimoura. 248-7224503. The Sensual Garden of the Night Wed, Apr 9, Noon-2:30pm, Troy. By Troy Garden Club at Big Beaver United Methodist Church. $7. Includes lunch. Plant a nighttime garden to appeal to the senses. infoandideas@aol.com. Growing Beautiful Hydrangeas Thu, Apr 10, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden at Kulick Community Ctr. Presented by Cheryl English, Advanced Master Gardener. 248-541-6427. How to Build Your Own Herb Dryer Thu, Apr 10, 3-4:30pm, Clinton Twp. At Macomb MSU Extension. $7. Presented by Troy Huffaker of DTL Herbs. Register: 586-469-6440. Harvesting & Preserving Herbs Thu, Apr 10, 1-2:30pm, Clinton Twp. At Macomb MSU Extension. $7. Presented by Troy Huffaker of DTL Herbs. Register: 586-469-6440. H Fairy Garden Class Fri, Apr 11, Ages 4+, 4:30pm & Adults, 7pm, Brighton. At Nature’s Garden Center. $18/kids, $25/adults. Learn about fairy lore & create a garden. Register: naturesGC@ gmail.com. H Fairiums: a new twist on Fairy Gardening Sat, Apr 12, 10am, Troy. At Telly’s. $5, plus materials. A terrarium class for fairies. Bring your own container or use one of ours. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735.
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MichiganGardener.com | April 2014 | Michigan Gardener
H These Aren’t Your Grandparents Hydrangeas Sat, Apr 12, 11:30am, Shelby. At Telly’s. $5. Our experts will guide you thru selecting, planting, & maintaining these versatile garden gems. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. H Pond Opening Seminar Sat, Apr 12, 1pm, Westland. At Barsons. www.barsons. com, 734-421-5959. H Flowers and Window Boxes Sat, Apr 12, 10:30am-noon, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. FREE. Steve will discuss how to incorporate cascading flowers into window boxes & more. 810-6299208. H African Violets: The Queen of Houseplants Sat, Apr 12, 11am, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. FREE. Presented by Master Gardener, Alana Paluszewski. events@rayhunter.com. H Vegetable Gardening Semiar Sat, Apr 12, 10am, Westland. At Barsons. www.barsons. com, 734-421-5959. H Tips from a Professional Gardener Sat, Apr 12, 10am, Pontiac. At Telly’s. $5. Gail Morrell shares tips & tricks acquired from years of professional gardening experience. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. H Getting the Dirt on Your Dirt Sat, Apr 12, 3pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $5. Dr. Keith Berven, will teach us the science behind improving our soils. www. tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. H Edible Landscaping for the Backyard Gardener Sat, Apr 12, 10-11:30am, North Branch. At Campbell’s. $5. Dr. Greg shares his knowledge of edible plants & their placement in your yard. 810-688-3587, www. CampbellsGreenhouses.com. H New Shrubs for the Perennial Bed & Landscape Sat, Apr 12, 10am, Shelby. At Telly’s. $5. Come see the many new varieties & how you can use them to spice up your landscape. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. Bee Biology: Checking Over-Wintered Hives Sat, Apr 12, 10am-noon, Ann Arbor. By Project Grow at Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. $10 to drop in. Part 3 of series. Learn to check over-wintered hives. Register: jeni@projectgrowgardens.org. H Ask the Pond Expert Day Sat, Apr 12, 10am-4pm, Clarkston. At The Pond Source. FREE. Experts on hand to answer your questions. We have answers for contractors. 248-922-7759. African Violet Show & Sale Sat, Apr 12, 10am-4pm, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. FREE seminar at 11:30am. African Violets, Streptocarpus & other Gesneriads. LynnAllen0413@ comcast.net. H Spring Fair Sat, Apr 12, 9am-5pm & Sun, Noon-4pm, Sylvan Lake. At Detroit Garden Works. Great plants for Spring from many vendors. www.DetroitGardenWorks.com, 248-335-8089.
Bee Knowledgeable Sat, Apr 12, 1pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. FREE. Can you responsibly treat for garden & landscape pests? Learn about insecticide & our declining bee population. 517-339-1142.
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IT’S TIME… to get your garden, pond, and water features ready for 2014. Contact us to see how we can help.
2629 Orchard Lake Rd. Sylvan lake, MI 48320 248-738-0500 www.aguafina.com Starting April 22: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm M-59
Te PONTIAC le gr ap h . Rd Rd . ke La ard ch r O
WATERFORD
WEST BLOOMFIELD
Rd. Square Lake
Ave. Woodward
H Annual Container Garden Weekend Sat, Apr 12, Sat, 1pm & Sun, 2pm, White Lake. At Bogie Lake Greenhouses. FREE. Discussion & planting both days. 20% off all plants/supplies. www.BogieLakeGreenhouses.com.
H Success with Perennials Sat, Apr 12, 1-2pm, North Branch. At Campbell’s. $5. Tony Weitz discusses everything perennials, from soil prep, tools, picking plants & dividing. 810-688-3587, www. CampbellsGreenhouses.com. H Fairy Gardening Class Sun, Apr 13, Ages 4+, 2pm & Adults, 4pm, Saline. At Nature’s Garden Center. $18/kids, $25/adults. Learn about fairy lore & create a garden. Register: naturesGC@ gmail.com. H Fairy Gardening Sun, Apr 13, 1-3pm, North Branch. At Campbell’s. $5. Join us as we explore the latest & fastest growing trend of Fairy Gardening. 810-688-3587, www.CampbellsGreenhouses. com. H Natural Vegetable Gardening Sun, Apr 13, 10-11am, North Branch. At Campbell’s. $5. Learn how to use natural gardening methods to grow an outstanding vegetable garden. 810-688-3587, www. CampbellsGreenhouses.com. Native Gardening Workshop Tue, Apr 15, 6-7:15pm, Dearborn Heights. By Friends of the Rouge & the Alliance of Rouge Communities at Caroline Kennedy Library. Learn about gardening with native plants. 313-792-9621. H Christensen’s Plant Center Tour Wed, Apr 16, 6-9pm, Plymouth. By Association of Professional Gardeners at Christensen’s. $10. Presented by Eric Joy. www.AssociationOfProfessionalGardeners. org, 248-375-9233. H Heirloom Tomatoes Thu, Apr 17, 6:30pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $5. Jean Smith shares her passion for growing & cooking with heirloom tomatoes, lettuce, & more using tested organic methods. 248-689-8735. H Cocktails & Containers Fri, Apr 18, & Sat, Apr 19, 7-9pm, North Branch. At Campbell’s. $25, plus supplies. Enjoy a night out at Campbell’s with gardening friends! www.CampbellsGreenhouses.com, 810-688-3587. H Brick Paver 101 Sat, Apr 19, 10-11am or 1-2pm, North Branch. At Campbell’s. $5. Sue Curlett shows you the basics of installing your own brick paver patio or retaining wall. 810-688-3587. H Spring Faerie House Sat, Apr 19, 10am-1pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $84.75. Create a faerie haven out of bark, moss, twigs, stones & more. Bring glue, glue gun & clippers. 810-629-9208. Growing Heirloom Tomatoes & Peppers Organically Sat, Apr 19, 1-3pm, Ann Arbor. By Project Grow at Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. FREE. Grow delicious organic tomatoes & peppers. Register: jeni@projectgrowgardens. org. H State of the Huron Conference Thu, Apr 24, 7:30am-4:30pm, Ann Arbor. By The Huron River Watershed Council at Washtenaw Community College. $65. Includes breakfast & lunch. www.hrwc.org/ sohc2014. H Peppers: Selecting, Growing, & Cooking Thu, Apr 24, 6:30pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $5. Learn how to grow many of the varieties that are available while enjoying recipes & samples. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. H Spring Open House Fri, Apr 25, & Sat, Apr 26, 8am-6pm & Sun, 10am-5pm, Rochester Hills. At Auburn Oaks Garden Center. www.AuburnOaksNursery.com, 248-852-2310. H Landscape Design Fri, Apr 25, Fri, 1-3pm & Sat, noon-2pm, Rochester Hills. At Auburn Oaks. Landscape designer Paula Smith helps with your design questions. 248-852-2310.
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H 60th Annual Michigan Orchid Society Palm Sunday Show Sat, Apr 12, Sat & Sun, Madison Heights. By MI Orchid Society at United Food & Beverage Workers Union Bldg. FREE. Displays, vendors, & educational sessions. www.miorchids.com.
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Middlebelt Rd.
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
Landscape Design/Build & Maintenance Services Garden Décor • Fountains • Sculpture• Found Artifacts • Pond Supplies
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
Choosing patio materials This simple guide will help you design an enjoyable outdoor space
P
aving an outdoor space is an age-old human activity—even a superficial look into the architecture of ancient civilizations yields stone pavement in almost every case. If you are interested in creating, renovating, or just researching what your options are for an outdoor patio, you are engaging in a wonderful, rich and historic human tradition. With lots of local and national suppliers for paving materials it can also be a bit daunting to look at all the options. Here is a simple guide and approach to a patio project for your property.
The patio base
From the cheapest to most expensive: concrete, pavers, and natural stone. Concrete patios are the simplest and most affordable. Generally, they are poured on a compacted sand base 6 to 12 inches thick to help prevent heaving and cracking. There are a lot of staining and stamping options available now, but I find that they tend to look somewhat artificial unless it is just a simple texture. Stamped and stained concrete also tend to wear over time (5 to 10 years, depending on the quality of the installation). All concrete in our climate is going to heave and crack eventually, so don’t expect perfection in the long-term (10 years or more) with a poured patio. The advantages of concrete patios are cost, simplicity, and speed of installation.
A patio is built from the ground up, and just like in a garden bed, the soil matters. What you put under your patio is as important as what you pave it with. Paver and brick patios are by far If you have a heavy, compacted clay the most common patio options and soil, making sure you have a proper there are countless products and base that is drained well will help variations. The difference between mitigate heaving problems down pavers and brick are the material the road. If you have a sandy soil, and process: pavers are a concrete you might not need to worry about cast product, and brick is a natudrainage, but you will still need a Traven ral clay product. Brick tends to be strong, compacted aggregate base Pelletier slightly more expensive. The advanso that the patio doesn’t erode or tage of pavers is long-term durabilshift due to the malleability of a sandy base. ity combined with the fact that since they With that in mind, I always use 4 to 6 inches are small units, they can be relatively easily of compacted aggregate base—limestone or repaired and re-laid (as opposed to a concrete crushed concrete with “fines” in it (i.e., not patio which cracks and heaves and is difficult washed out). Plus, I add an additional 2 inches to patch, re-level, or repair). of leveling layer of either sand (for a flagstone There are now quite a few “natural stone” patio) or slag sand (for a paver patio). How style pavers. Some are better than others, but smooth and uniform your patio looks and the best ones tend to cost as much as natural how long it stays even mostly depends on stone. In my opinion their only advantage is your base, so make sure its thick enough, well that they are easier to lay than natural stone. compacted, and even. My favorite pavers are “tumbled,” which means they are run through a drum and Material choices “softened,” resulting in a texture reminiscent Now on to the fun stuff. The excitement in of a traditional cobble. a patio is choosing the material itself—how it looks, the texture, color and design. There Natural stone is my favorite material—its are three basic options, with a lot of variation. beauty is unmatched and like pavers it is eas-
Photos by Elemental Design Landscape Contracting
Brick pavers are a popular choice for patios. ier to re-lay and re-use than concrete. If you can afford the extra expense of the material and additional labor to lay natural stone properly, it is worth it. Like the cobblestone streets and plazas of pre-industrial and ancient cities, natural stone patios evoke a connection with the elements and landscape. There are a wide range of options for patterns and design.
Natural stone varieties Here in Michigan we have a variety of sandstone and limestone. Regionally, Pennsylvania and New York supply us with “bluestone,” which is a harder sandstone product. Generally, I do not recommend our local sandstone (which is a light tan, beige, or rust color) for patios because it is so soft. It weathers quite quickly (in the 5- to 10-year range) and will show significant flaking and cracking. On the positive side, it is quite affordable. Limestone is expensive and a bit more difficult to work with because it is quite hard. It generally comes in smaller pieces out of the quarry, thus requiring more work piecing and fitting it together. Bluestone is probably our most optimal product regionally and my personal favorite. It has good strength and hardness for longevity and quarries well in big pieces, making it easier and more cost effective to lay.
MichiganGardener.com | April 2014 | Michigan Gardener
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Bluestone has good strength and hardness for longevity and is available in large pieces, making it easier and more cost effective to lay. This square-cut stone yields a more formal or modern-looking patio.
Design and pattern
Square-cut natural stone or pavers will yield a more formal or modern-looking patio. Incorporating curves or natural style stone shapes can give you a more informal feeling. Often a “border” course of stone or pavers laid in a repeating pattern is used to set off or divide the space (this is often referred to as a “soldier course”). Arches or strong circular radius shapes can also create a more formal-feeling patio. Creating levels or sections of a patio is common, but more expensive, since it involves
building retaining walls to separate or raise the sections. Incorporating short bench walls and gathering spaces around firepits is currently popular and often a worthwhile addition for making the space feel cozy. My favorite projects often incorporate a “tension” of some sort between materials or in the design itself. For example, a natural stone patio with a square cut rectangular stone forming the patio’s outer border, while a natural style, jigsaw-fit interior stone creates an interesting textural contrast. Similarly, a bordered paver patio with natural stone accents and vice versa. I always recommend putting pen to paper or working with a good designer first. It is easy to get samples from suppliers and contractors, so playing with color and texture next to the house before deciding on a material is a good idea. Most of all, have fun creating the concept and playing with a number of products and designs before finalizing your choices. Done well, your patio will be something you enjoy for as long as you are in your home.
Natural stone is beautiful and there are a wide range of options for patterns and design. This seating area is a dry-laid, jigsaw-fit bluestone, with canyon stone accents.
Traven Pelletier is the owner of BLOOM! Garden Center and Elemental Design Landscape Contracting in Dexter, Michigan. Visit their website at www.bloom-gardens.com.
These matter just as much as the material and help determine the general feel and function of your space. The average back patio is around 300 square feet, which will give you enough room to cook and entertain for family and a few friends. Large families or outdoor spaces for gatherings over 8 to 10 people require more square footage. I often recommend looking at 500 to 600 square feet for an outdoor “entertainment” space.
Design elements
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
continued from page 27 H Cocktails & Containers Fri, Apr 25, 7-9pm, North Branch. At Campbell’s. $25, plus supplies. Enjoy a night out at Campbell’s with gardening friends. www.CampbellsGreenhouses.com, 810-688-3587. H Deer Problems Fri, Apr 25, 11am-2pm, Rochester Hills. At Auburn Oaks. Q&A by Julia Hofley, a representative from Plantskydd animal repellent. 248-852-2310. Using Plants for Improving Water Resources Fri, Apr 25, 9:15am, Rochester. By Meadow Brook Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. $5. Dr. Tom Fernandez discusses current techniques to remedy contaminants. 248-364-6210. H New Annuals for 2014 Sat, Apr 26, 10am, Troy & 12:30, Shelby. At Telly’s. $5. We will show you the new annuals for 2014. Register: 248-689-8735. Gardening & All That Jazz Sat, Apr 26, Waterford. By Master Gardener Society of Oakland Co. at Oakland Schools Conference Ctr. $80. Daylong educational gardening conference. www.mgsoc.org.
8600 Jackson Road
Dexter, Michigan
734.426.5067 www.fraleighs.com
www.
H Miniature Gardening Class & Workshop Sat, Apr 26, 10am, Pontiac. At Telly’s. $5, plus materials. Learn the tricks & techniques used to create the finest miniature gardens. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. H New Perennials for 2014 Sat, Apr 26, 2pm, Shelby. At Telly’s. $5. In this digital presentation, we will show you the new perennials for 2014. Register: 248-689-8735. H Nursery Class Sat, Apr 26, 10-11am, North Branch. At Campbell’s. $5. Learn to properly prune, feed, & efficiently care for everyone’s favorite shrub…the Hydrangea. www.CampbellsGreenhouses.com. H Open House Sat, Apr 26, & Sun, Apr 27, Westland. At Barsons. FREE. Presentations, fish auctions on Sun & more. www.barsons.com, 734-421-5959. H Spring Open House Sat, Apr 26, & Sun, 10am-4pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. Gift card giveaways, savings, drawings, demos & seminars. www.PlymouthNursery.net, 734-453-5500. H Children’s Workshop: Making a Pizza Garden Sat, Apr 26, Noon, Troy. At Telly’s. $15. MI Herb Society teaches how to make a pizza from the garden. Take home a plant container & enjoy samples. Register: 248-689-8735. H Early Spring Garden Gems Sat, Apr 26, 11am, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. A look at plants that peek out early in the spring garden. Presented by Master Gardener Kevin Collins. events@rayhunter.com. H Gardening & Your Health Sat, Apr 26, Sat, 2-4pm & Sun 11am-1pm, Rochester Hills. At Auburn Oaks. Rochester Family Chiropractic with suggestions on gardening & your health. 248-852-2310. H Spring Open House Sat, Apr 26, Sat, 9am-5pm & Sun, 10am-5pm, White Lake. At Bogie Lake Greenhouses. See new varieties for 2014. www.BogieLakeGreenhouses.com. H Sustainable Gardening Practices Sat, Apr 26, 1-2m, North Branch. At Campbell’s. $5. Clay Johnson discusses maintaining healthy soil, crop spacing/ rotation, crop nutrition & companion plants for insect control. 810-688-3587.
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H International Herb Day Sat, Apr 26, 10am-3pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Cooking demonstrations, plants & products for sale. Fun for adults & kids. www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu, 517-431-2060. H Tough Turf Problems Sat, Apr 26, 10am-noon, Rochester Hills. At Auburn Oaks. Lawn problems? Bring questions for Turf Grass Specialist Steve Kolongowski from Rhino Seed Company. 248-852-2310. H Natural Mulches Sun, Apr 27, 1-3pm, Rochester Hills. At Auburn Oaks. A rep from SOCWA will be here to discuss natural mulches in landscapes. 248-852-2310, www.AuburnOaksNursery. H Making Memories at Campbell’s Sun, Apr 27, 1-3:30pm, North Branch. At Campbell’s. FREE. Adults with children 12 & under enjoy a hands on craft & planting while learning Campbell’s cool garden facts! 810-688-3587. Workshop & Demo with Vance Hannah Sun, Apr 27, 2pm, Troy. By 4 Seasons Bonsai Club at Telly’s Greenhouse. Vance Hannah shares over 40 years of experience. Large pines & junipers on display. www.FourSeasonsBonsai.com. Earth Day Festival Sun, Apr 27, Noon-4pm, Ann Arbor. At Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. FREE. Displays from 40 local environmental, non-profit, & governmental orgs. www.a2earthday.org. Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden Tue, Apr 29, 7pm, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Presented by Peter Hatch, director of gardens & grounds at Monticello for more than 3 decades. RSVP: 616-975-3144.
May H Every Garden Deserves a Rose Thu, May 1, 6:30pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $5. Learn about the different types of roses & how to integrate them in the landscape by considering their habits & cultural needs. Register: 248-689-8735. South Lyon Plant Exchange Sat, May 3, 9am-11am, South Lyon. By Four Seasons Garden Club at Whitch’s Hat Museum Pk. Area. Come swap with other gardeners. 248-437-0154. Planting Your Vegetable Garden Sat, May 3, 10am-noon, Ann Arbor. By Project Grow at Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. FREE. Tips & techniques from experienced gardeners. Register: jeni@projectgrowgardens.org. Advice to Grow With: Ask a Master Gardener Sat, May 3, Noon-4pm, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Master Gardeners will be in the Peter M. Wege Library ready to answer your gardening questions. www.meijergardens.org. H Faerie Festival Sat, May 3, Sat, 10am-5pm & Sun, 11am-5pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $1. Fun, lore, treats, workshops & plants. www.HeavenlyScentHerbFarm.com. H Container Gardening with Herbs Sat, May 3, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $5, plus materials. Design & assemble a unique combination of fragrant & useful herbs. Herbal tasting to follow workshop. www.tellys.com. 248-689-8735. H Dahlia Tuber Sale Sat, May 3, 9am-noon, Troy. By SE MI Dahlia Society at Telly’s. FREE. Choose from various flower sizes, forms & colors. Experts on hand to answer questions. www.tellys. com. H 14th Annual Container Gardening Workshop Sat, May 3, 10am, Troy & 1pm, Shelby. At Telly’s. $5. 248-689-8735. www.tellys.com. Hardy Plant Society Meeting Mon, May 5, 7pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Hardy Plant Society at Congregational Church of Birmingham. $3. Discussion on native plants grown in urban gardens. 248-693-0334.
Hydrangeas: Lots of Leaves, No Flowers Mon, May 5, 1-2pm, Farmington Hills. By Farmington Garden Club at Spicer House in Heritage Park. Joel Miller presents how to grow successful hydrangea varieties. fgc1932@gmail.com. Ferndale Garden Club Meeting Thu, May 8, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Comm. Ctr. Carol Olson presents how to build your own terrarium. 248-541-6427. Container & Patio Strategies Thu, May 8, 1-2:30pm, Clinton Twp. At Macomb MSU Extension. $7. Presented by Troy Huffaker of DTL Herbs. Register: 586-469-6440. Make & Take Tabletop Herb Garden Thu, May 8, 3-4:30pm, Clinton Twp. At Macomb MSU Extension. $7. Presented by Troy Huffaker of DTL Herbs. Register: 586-469-6440. Spring Plant Sale Sat, May 10, 8am-noon, Chelsea. By Chelsea Area GC at Chelsea Community Fairgrounds. Perennials, hostas, wildflowers, ornamental grasses & experts on hand. www.chelseagardenclub.com. Michigan All State Bonsai Show Sat, May 10, & Sun, May 11, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Peter Tea, bonsai artist & instructor headlines this year’s show. 616-957-1580, www.meijergardens.org. Heirloom Tomato & Herb Sale Sat, May 10, 9-11am, Southgate. By Master Gardeners of Western Wayne Co. at News Herald parking lot. Plant exchange & heirloom plant sale. 313-719-1181. H Plant Sale Sat, May 10, 10am-2pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Annuals, Conifers, Hosta, Native Plants & more. www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu, 517-431-2060. Spring Meeting & Plant Sale Sat, May 10, Pinckney. By NARGS at 11836 McGregor Road. Meeting & plant sale. Time TBA. www.glcnargs. com. Advice to Grow With: Ask a Master Gardener Sat, May 10, Noon-4pm, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Master Gardeners will be in the Peter M. Wege Library ready to answer your gardening questions. www.meijergardens.org. Limber Up for Gardening Tue, May 13, & Wed, May 14, Noon, North Farmington. By North Farmington Garden Club at North Farmington Library. Dr. Ronald Jettie demos limbering up for the season. 248-722-4503. H 42nd Annual Spring Plant Sale Tue, May 13, 10am-7pm, & Wed, May 14, 10am-2pm, Bloomfield Hills. At Cranbrook House & Gardens. FREE admission. Native plants, organics & much more. 248645-3149. Landscaping with Herbs for Large & Small Spaces Wed, May 14, Noon-2:30pm, Troy. By Troy Garden Club at Big Beaver United Methodist Church. $7. Use herbs as part of your landscape. Light lunch included. Register: infoandideas@aol.com. H Containers & Cocktails Thu, May 15, 5-8pm, Pontiac. At Telly’s. $22, plus materials. Free your planting spirit & learn to create & maintain gorgeous containers. Ages 21 years+. 248-6898735. Henry Ford Estate Plant Sale & Garden Market Fri, May 16, 10am-3pm & Sat, May 17, 9am-1pm, Dearborn. At Henry Ford Estate. Unique perennials, wildflowers, culinary herbs, annuals, water plants, garden art & more. 313-701-2240. Exploring Bees! Class 4 Sat, May 17, 10am-noon, Ann Arbor. By Project Grow at Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. $10. Splitting hives & preventing swarms. jeni@projectgrowgardens.org. Advice to Grow With: Ask a Master Gardener Sat, May 17, Noon-4pm, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Master Gardeners will be in the Peter M. Wege
MichiganGardener.com | April 2014 | Michigan Gardener
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Michigan’s Largest Bonsai Nursery
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Library ready to answer your gardening questions. www. meijergardens.org. Growing Potatoes & Sweet Potatoes Organically Sat, May 17, 10am-noon, Ann Arbor. By Project Grow Community Gardens at Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. FREE. Raise different varieties from seed or tuber. jeni@projectgrowgardens.org. H Customer Appreciation Weekend Sat, May 17, & Sun, May 18, North Branch. At Campbell’s. Join us for a weekend full of sales, raffles, music, hot dogs & refreshments. 810-688-3587, www.CampbellsGreenhouses.com. H Eastern Market Flower Day Sun, May 18, 7am-5pm, Detroit. At Eastern Market. One of the largest flower shows in the country. Vendors, artisans, food & more. www.DetroitEasternMarket.com. H Heirloom Vegetables Sun, May 18, Noon, Pontiac. At Telly’s. $5. Jean Smith shares her passion for growing & cooking with heirloom tomatoes, lettuce, & more using tested organic methods. 248-689-8735. H Kurt Smith Bonsai Forest Presentation Sun, May 18, 2pm, Troy. By 4 Seasons Bonsai Club at Telly’s Greenhouse. Kurt Smith demos how to create a forest. Bring your trees for expert tips. www.FourSeasonsBonsai.com. David Nash: From Kew Gardens to Meijer Gardens Fri, May 23, Through Aug 17, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. The only venue outside London to host this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. www.meijergardens. org. Iris Show Sat, May 24, Sat & Sun, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. View a lovely variety of irises, from old favorites to some of the newest hybrids. 616-957-1580, www.meijergardens.org. The Master’s Garden Sat, May 31, 9a-3pm, Bloomfield Hills. By MANRESA at Manresa Jesuit Retreat House. $35. Marketplace, speakers & more. Learn to save the Earth by starting in the backyard. www.manresa-sj.org. H Stained Glass Tree Sat, May 31, 10am-12:30pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $94.75. Create an inspirational piece of art for your garden. Bring wire cutters, gloves & needle nose pliers. 810-629-9208.
June Hardy Plant Society Meeting Mon, Jun 2, 7pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Hardy Plant Society at Congregational Church of Birmingham. $3. Meet & greet, plant exchange, tea/punch on the patio & more. 248-693-0334. Clarkston Perennial Plant Exchange Sat, Jun 7, 8:30am, Clarkston. By Clarkston Farm & Garden Club at Village Parking Lot. Bring well rooted, tagged perennials. www.clarkstongarden.org, 248-620-2984. Franklin Garden Walk Wed, Jun 11, 10am-4pm or 6-9pm, Franklin. By Franklin Garden Club at Historic Franklin. $15. Self-guided walk & artisan market. www.FranklinGardenClub.org, 248-855-1941. 10th Annual Art & Garden Festival Wed, Jun 11, 10am-3pm, Saginaw. At Andersen Enrichment Center. Over 35 art & garden vendors & more. 989-759-1362 ex 221, lrittenberry@saginaw-mi.com. H Rhubarb Leaf Fountain Sat, Jun 14, 10am-noon, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $99.75. Create a 15” leaf shaped concrete fountain. Dress for mess & pick your fountain up in a week. 810-629-9208. H Canning Jams Wed, Jun 18, 6-9pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $58.75. Learn the basics of canning & make an herbal infused strawberry jam. Take home a small jar. 810-629-9208.
23rd Annual Grosse Pointe Garden Tour Fri, Jun 20, 10am-4pm, Grosse Pointe. By Grosse Pointe Garden Ctr at 6 area gardens. $15. Master gardeners & artisans. 313-881-7511 ext. 206, gpgardenctr@ warmemorial.org. Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Garden Walk Sat, Jun 21, 10am-4pm, Northville. By The Gardeners of Northville & Novi at 7 area gardens. $10. Rain or shine. Refreshments, vendor, raffle & more. gcnorthvillenovi@ yahoo.com. Milford Garden Walk & Market Sale Sat, Jun 21, 10am-6pm, Milford. By The Milford Garden Club at 6 Milford area gardens. $12. www. themilfordgardenclub.org, 248-698-7841. H Appreciation Sunday Sun, Jun 22, 11am-4pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. Enjoy cake & tea, garden gift giveaways. 810-629-9208. H Annual Bonsai Show Sat, Jun 28, Sat & Sun, Troy. By 4 Seaons Bonsai Club at Telly’s Greenhouse. Bonsai exhibit & beginner-expert level workshops. Raffles & auctions. www.FourSeasonsBonsai. com. H Cobblestone Planter Sat, Jun 28, 10am-noon, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $58.75. Create a cobblestone planter with clay pot feet & take it home that day. Dress for mess. 810-629-9208. Clarkston Garden Walk Wed, Jul 9, Noon-8pm, Clarkston. Clarkston Farm & Garden Club at 6 area gardens. $18. Featuring art & music. www.clarkstongarden.org, 248-620-2984. South Lyon Area Garden Walk Sat, Jul 12, South Lyon. By Four Seasons Garden Club of South Lyon at 6 area gardens. $10. Walk begins at the South Lyon Library. 248-437-5523, 248-437-5405. H Toad Stools & Toad Houses Sat, Jul 12, 10am-12:30pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $87.75. Create 3 toad stool structures using fortified concrete & a rhubarb impression. Dress for mess. 810-629-9208. H Garden Delight Tours Tue, Jul 15 & Wed, Jul 16, 11am-1pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $28.75. Enjoy a 1 hour tour & buffet lunch. 810-629-9208. 16th Annual Charlevoix Garden Walk Wed, Jul 16, 10am-4pm, Charlevoix. By Charlevoix Area Garden Club at 6 Charlevoix area gardens. $15. Standard Flower Show open to the public. 231-547-2119, navar@torchlake.com. H Herbal Vinegar Wed, Jul 16, 6-7:30pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $29.75. Create a 10 oz. bottle by using cider vinegar & a blend of herbs. 810-629-9208. 32nd Annual Garden Walk Thu, Jul 17, 11am-7pm, Traverse City. By The Friendly Garden Club of Traverse City. $10. www.thefriendlygardenclub.org. Blooms ‘n Birds Flower Show Thu, Jul 17, during Library hours, Spring Lake. By Tri-Cities Garden Club, Inc at Spring Lake District Library. FREE. Horticulture exhibits, floral designs & more. www.tricitiesgardenclub.org. Garden Walk Mon, Jul 21, 10am-4pm, Ferrysburg. By Tri-Cities Garden Club, Inc. at Ferrysburg & Spring Lake gardens. www.tricitiesgardenclub.org. Bonsai Mentor Workshop Sun, Jul 27, 2pm, Troy. By 4 Seasons Bonsai Club at Telly’s Greenhouse. Bring your own bonsai event where beginners are paired with experienced members. www.FourSeasonsBonsai.com. H Outdoor Garden Parties Tue, Jul 29 to Thurs, Jul 31, 11:30am-1:30pm. Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $29.75. Enjoy an afternoon lunch/tea & create a wire button flower set in a clay pot. 810-629-9208.
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
Pink spirea bushes line the walkway to the front door of the Wolcott House. Rosenkrans trims the bushes several times a year to keep them off the path.
Rosekrans describes most of the gardens as Victorian. This vignette has Victorian touches: a lacy window curtain, cherub fountain, and cupid decorations surrounded by ivy and annuals.
Hop on board the garden railroad Welcome to Sean Rosekrans’ love of trains as well as early 1900s Fenton history
S
ean Rosekrans loves his trains. Now that he is retired from the pharmaceutical industry, on any given summer day he can be found outside working on his garden, trains, and buildings. Yet it doesn’t seem like work since he enjoys it so much. In fact, Rosekrans can’t get enough of trains. He also works part time at Huckleberry Railroad in Flint. He works on the steam locomotive and does general maintenance on railroad equipment. His train garden is Rosekrans’ passion, although he and his wife Elaine have several other gardens Sandie at the Wolcott House, their bed Parrott and breakfast in Fenton. “The train garden started from a pond tour we took one summer about ten years ago. I saw a really nice one on the tour. I have always
p h oto s by S a n d i e Pa r r ot t
been a railroad fan and thought having a railroad garden would be great. What started out as a simple oval has transformed into a quarter acre space with several areas: village, industry, people, and animals. It has grown rapidly in the last few years, but I think it has reached its maximum,” said Rosekrans. The era portrayed by the trains, village and people is approximately 1900 to the 1930s, to match the history of his house. The town area has five streets, from the city of Fenton: Leroy, Poplar, Hickory, Silver Lake, and Adelaide. Rosekrans has 11 locomotives, mostly German LGB, several specialty trains, and many “rolling stock” (train cars) that are rotated to make other trains. The main train lines depict the New York Central, Rio Grande, and Santa Fe. The trains and many buildings are lighted at night to extend the viewing of the garden.
The total garden has grown to a quarter acre with several train tracks and a replica of Fenton in the early 1900s. Plants in the center St. Francis Garden include perennials, hydrangea, herbs, small clipped conifers, and annuals around the buildings.
MichiganGardener.com | April 2014 | Michigan Gardener
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Rosenkrans works his transformer that supplies power to each set of five tracks. He varies the speed of each train by operating five separate handles.
St. John’s is a lovely old church in Fenton. This railroad version is complete with a mausoleum, cemetery, and a wedding with a carriage. Rosenkrans made the schoolhouse. Specialty trains include a coalmine train that pulls coal cars in and out of a mine and transports coal, passenger trains that stop at the station, and a complete circus train that
Rosenkrans made the late 1800s Fenton Hotel and many other wood buildings from scraps. The workers and guests are on different levels of the hotel. Also shown are a newsstand, shoe shiner, lamplighter, delivery people, and a taxi in front.
sports animal and showman cars and plays circus music. A lumber train carries logs to and from the labor camp, and two street cars run between town and the train station with
a stop at the hotel. He has a pull cart, with two men cranking the lever to move over the tracks to inspect and repair them. There are extra cars too numerous to mention, like
named tanker cars (Shell and Hershey), a wire spool car, flat cars, and gondola cars to carry materials. The garden includes buildings, many period vehicles and people depicting what life was like around the turn of the century in the Fenton area. Many of the buildings were built by hand and are painted and repaired yearly, while others were kits or converted birdhouses. There is a logging camp, with lumber and saw mills. The downtown area looks realistic with the Fenton Hotel, drug stores, shops, restaurants, a church, houses, and a manufacturing area with a grain silo and barrel-making shop. Outside the city is a tobacco farm, horse ranch, stock yard, and a full circus. A park, library, and veteran’s memorial complete the city. Returning to full-size reality, Rosenkrans explained their home and gardens. “The house was built in 1900 by a gentleman named Crane. In 1923 a prominent mill owner in Fenton named Anson Wolcott purchased it. The house was of interest to us because it was in the middle of my territory as a pharmaceutical representative and we were looking for a house to turn into a bed and breakfast. This home was large and continued on next page
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
continued from previous page ready-made, but in rough shape. It had been unoccupied for several years before our purchase and the grounds were terrible, but had room for gardens. After finishing the inside of the house in 2001, we started to work on the gardens.” The couple has several eclectic gardens around the 1900s house. The Maiden Garden and St. Francis Garden are named after their prominent sculptures. Pets are buried with St. Francis. The Pot Garden has a series of large containers nestled in the ivy and planted with annuals each year. Several water features, Mike’s garden (named after a local friend that helped with designing and starting the gardens), and the Train Garden make up most of the rest. Unusual antiques filled with plants create little surprises in the gardens, such as an old ringer washer with moss growing in it, as well as bikes, troughs and other “containers” for flowers. When you see the Rosekrans’ charming gardens, their love and understanding of both the early 1900s and trains clearly shines through. Sandie Parrott is a freelance garden writer and blogger, living and chasing weeds in Oakland County, Michigan.
V Website Extra Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Website Extras” for: • More photos of Sean Rosenkrans’ garden
Buildings show Fenton around 1900 to 1930 and are handmade by Rosenkrans: the Fenton Hotel, residence, lumber yard, and gazebo. Buildings from kits include the barn, farmhouse, water tower, coaling station, police, fire, dentist and doctor. Converted birdhouses include the general store and fruit market. In the foreground, workers on the push cart maintain and inspect the tracks.
The bike belonged to Elaine Rosenkrans as a girl and is parked beside a mature evergreen tree. This scene is a picture of leisure: a boy fishing, an old rake propped on the tree, and a lily pond. Plants include “pom-pom” evergreens, lily of the valley, ajuga, begonias, and hostas.
This is Mike’s Garden, named after a friend that was helpful in getting the gardens started. Washtubs are used for rain collection for watering hanging planters. Plants include alyssum, hydrangea, bishop’s weed, yucca, ferns, and various mosses around the fountains.
MichiganGardener.com | April 2014 | Michigan Gardener
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February 2014
Normal Monthly 2.02 1.48 1.47
Normal Yr. to Date 3.98 3.11 3.12
Actual Monthly 2.82 1.48 1.76
2014 Year to Date: Jan 1 - Feb 28 Detroit Flint Lansing
Actual Yr. to Date 5.74 4.01 3.92
Ypsilanti • Coleman’s Farm Mkt • Lucas Nurs • Margolis Nurs • Materials Unlimited • Schmidt’s Antiques
2013 Year Total: Jan 1 - Dec 31
Normal
Deviation from Normal +1.76 +0.90 +0.80
Yr. to Date 33.47 31.37 31.53
February 2014
Actual Yr. to Date 39.90 32.63 41.46
Deviation from Normal +6.43 +1.26 +9.93
February 2013
ACTUAL Avg. High 26.9 25.6 24.7
Deviation from Normal -8.3 -7.2 -7.9
ormal N Avg. High 35.2 32.8 32.6
ACTUAL Avg. High 33.4 32.7 31.9
Deviation from Normal -1.8 -0.1 -0.7
Detroit Flint Lansing
Normal Avg. Low 21.0 16.9 15.4
ACTUAL Avg. Low 11.9 6.3 8.6
Deviation from Normal -9.1 -10.6 -6.8
ormal N Avg. Low 21.0 16.9 15.4
ACTUAL Avg. Low 21.0 16.9 17.5
Deviation from Normal 0.0 0.0 +2.1
Data courtesy National Weather Service
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Wixom • Angelo’s Landscp Supp • Brainer’s Greenhse
Deviation from Normal +0.81 +0.08 +0.31
Normal Avg. High 35.2 32.8 32.6
West Bloomfield H English Gardens • Planterra • Whole Foods
Williamston • Christian’s Greenhse
Actual Monthly 2.83 1.56 1.78
Monthly 2.02 1.48 1.47
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Waterford H Merrittscape
Whitmore Lake H Alexander’s Greenhses
Normal
Temperature
Waterford • ACO Hardware • Breen’s Landscp Supp • Jacobsen’s Flowers
White Lake H Bogie Lake Greenhse H Mulligan’s Gard Ctr • Sunshine Plants
February 2013 Deviation from Normal +0.80 0.0 +0.29
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
continued from back cover I am a big fan of container gardening in every season, but I especially value spring container gardening. The Michigan winter weather makes it easy to yearn for summer, but our spring is more or less three months long—just like our other three seasons. A Michigan spring may not be so predictable or warm, but I value that evolutionary period that characterizes our spring. As much as I long for warm gardening weather, I would not give up the spring season. When the ground is too cold or wet to work, a pot planted for spring on the front porch can bring a smile and a sense of recognition of the summer to come. Container gardening is a seasonal expression. Containers can be plantP h oto g r a ph s by D e b o r a h Silv e r ed for every season of our gardening year and allow a gardener to explore a wide range of plants. Lots of cold-tolerant plants are amiable about the changing weather conditions that mark our spring. Many growers offer cabbages and kales for spring planting. Pansies and violas are an obvious choice—they shrug off the cold better than I do. Some annuals such as petunias are remarkably tolerant. Lobelia likes cooler temperatures too. Gardeners have lots of other choices to add to their spring containers. Perennial hellebores are beautiful in pots. The flowers hold their petals even as they are setting seed. A hellebore in a pot can be transplanted into the garden once the weather warms. Columbines have luscious foliage and flowers. A two-gallon pot of forsythia can grace a spring container planting from the bud to flower to leaf stage. Cold-tolerant vegetables are great in pots. Lettuce is a favorite, as is parsley. Orach is a spring vegetable that shines. Any plant emerging from dormancy can be planted in a spring pot. Many nurseries have good-sized lavender and rosemary available for sale in the spring. They can handle chilly temperatures with ease. April 1 is generally a safe date to plant spring pots, and given a mild spring, those pots can represent beautifully through the end of June. If the weather gets hot, cold-tolerant annuals and vegetables will peter out, and the pots will need replanting sooner. If the prospect of replanting a spring pot leaves you cold, there is the hedge-your-bet option. A Little Lime hydrangea planted in a pot features the stems and new growth in the spring, lush green leaves in the summer, white flowers in late summer, and white flowers tinged with rose and green in the fall. That hydrangea can be underplanted in the spring with white annual phlox, white pansies and parsley. Like parsley, varieties of annual phlox will look good and persist long into the summer season. Both of these plants are bridge plants, meaning they can successfully span more than one season. The white violas could be replaced with white petunias, or showy oregano. The entire
You can also use perennials in your spring pots. Here, lavender scabiosa (Scabiosa ‘Butterfly Blue’) anchors bi-colored pansies, alyssum, and white phlox (Phlox ‘Intensia White’).
The pansies here take a rare back-up role to the stunning lavender blooms of primula (Primula obconica).
Pansies and alyssum, centered by lemon cypress.
These bi-colored pansies are accented beautifully by the blades of orange sedge (Carex testacea ‘Prairie Fire’). Lemon thyme fills in the front.
MichiganGardener.com | April 2014 | Michigan Gardener
A yellow-themed container warms cool spring days: pansies, alyssum, million bells (Calibrachoa), and marguerite daisy (Argyranthemum).
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Think beyond annuals: various lettuces offer great texture and color. Here, purple pansies and alyssum are contrasted by curly chartreuse lettuce.
The tall container here sports pansies for color, the herb dill for height, and culinary thyme for a filling trailer.
One species, many colors. Grape hyacinths (magical muscari mixture) in a faux bois trough.
underplanting could be replaced with ornamental cabbage or kale for the fall. The hydrangea can provide one key element to a container planting: height, volume and scale. Spring-flowering plants, whether annual, perennial, vegetable or herb, grow slowly—the weather is cold. Many spring plants are of small scale, even when fully grown. Violas are among the loveliest of spring flowers, but they need some bigger company to make a spring statement. Fresh cut pussy willow makes a beautiful centerpiece in a spring pot. Dill is a fast-growing big herb that
will provide plenty of volume and height to a spring pot. No discussion of spring container planting would be complete without a mention of the spring-flowering bulbs. Grape hyacinths, crocus, daffodils, tulips and hyacinths in pots are easy to find. These bulbs can be potted up in the fall, wintered in a cold but frost-free spot in a garage, and transplanted into a spring container. I like to plant bulbs in containers just as they emerge from the growing pot. Spring bulbs are beautiful in every stage of their development, from leaf to bloom.
A Michigan spring is a special time in the garden. No matter whether you like blue pansies and blue lobelia, or yellow pansies, grape hyacinths and lettuce, the spring is your only chance to plant and enjoy them. Summer will come soon enough. The magic that is spring is well worth celebrating in pots. Deborah Silver is the owner of Detroit Garden Works and Deborah Silver & Co. in Sylvan Lake, MI. Read her blog at www.deborahsilver.com/blog.
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Michigan Gardener | April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
perennial partners Colorful flowers and foliage work together to create a cheerful spring vignette
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hat makes a successful perennial combination? Many people would consider color first, because color attracts attention and draws the eye. In the garden, color can come from either flowers or foliage, and preferably both. Flowers will light up a perennial grouping while in bloom—perhaps a month or so—but a good perennial design allows a garden to rely on colorful foliage and textural contrast to carry the combination through the months that flowers are not present. In this garden, one can’t help but notice the bright pinkish-orange coral bells (Heuchera ‘Georgia Peach’). It is perhaps the shining star in this little garden. Its color is effectively enhanced by the use of its complementary color, the violet-blue of the lungwort and bugleweed flowers. When placed next to each other, complementary colors create the greatest conKaren trast and reinforce each other. By happy Bovio coincidence or by design, this perennial combination works especially well during the spring months when the lungwort and bugleweed are in bloom. Even when the flowers fade, there is still plenty of color, thanks to the hosta and small clump of brightly colored grass (Carex elata ‘Bowles Golden’). The absence of the violet-blue enhances the underlying monochromatic color scheme, here ranging through various shades of green to yellow and orange. Analogous colors, those close to each other on the color wheel, work well together, although more subtly than the highly contrasting complementary colors. In analogous color schemes, the eye makes an easy transition from one color to the next. Although color is almost always the first thing noticed in a perennial combination, textural contrast can be just as important. Notice the variety of leaf shapes, sizes and textures in
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
The bright pinkish-orange coral bells (Heuchera ‘Georgia Peach’) is a star in this little garden. Its leaves contrast well against the violet-blue of the lungwort (Pulmonaria) and bugleweed (Ajuga) flowers. this garden. All shapes are represented, creating a dynamic effect: round (hosta and coral bells), triangular (fern), and linear (grass and lungwort). Gardens that lack variety in leaf shapes can be static and monotonous. The various shapes in this example shake it up a bit and keep the garden interesting, especially once the spring-blooming flowers have disappeared. Pay attention to leaf size too. Another layer of texture is added by the repetition of the dominant leaf shapes on a smaller scale: small round bugleweed and small linear lungwort. These small leaves create a fine-textured background to contrast with the bold, coarse-textured hosta and heuchera. All of
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the elements of a successful combination come together in this garden vignette: effective use of color, contrast of leaf shape, and plenty of textural interest. Of course, this garden also “works” because the plants all have similar cultural requirements. No matter how well a gardener uses the design elements of color, shape and texture, a perennial combination won’t work unless all of the plants prefer the same conditions. The plants used in this combination thrive in partial or light shade and moist but well-drained soils. Karen Bovio is the owner of Specialty Growers in Howell, MI.
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| April 2014 | MichiganGardener.com
Celebrate spring with container plantings Plant choices abound to help you ring in the gardening year
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Deborah Silver
hat Michigan gardener is not thrilled that spring is finally here? The winter was particularly hard. So much snow and extreme cold made the winter feel longer and burdensome. At best, a Michigan spring is never a clearcut affair. Nature seems to take her time deciding when to finally let go of winter. That said, there are early-blooming bulbs, the star magnolia, and the witch hazels that are brave enough to face the last of winter weather. In early April, hellebores begin to bloom. Although everyone who has been cooped up all winter longs for continued on page 36 warm weather, spring is up next.
There are so many plant choices for spring containers. This group includes violas, pansies, alyssum, phlox, ornamental kale, lobelia, sedum, geranium, lettuces, and more.
This weathered crate is a supporting player to the bright yellow Persian Queen geranium (Pelargonium ‘Persian Queen’), pansies, and blue lobelia.