Michigan Gardener - November / December 2013 by Michigan Gardener

November/December 2013

MichiganGardener.com

Your guide to Great Lakes gardening

plant focus

Dawn redwood

Please thank our advertisers in this issue

janetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s journal

feature

thyme for herbs

birds

Pruning evergreens

Houseplants as therapy

Homemade herbal bags

Help your resident birds through the winter

Fresh Gifts & Decorations Cyclamen

Wreath

Amaryllis

Hanging Basket

Paperwhite

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2013 | MichiganGardener.com

To-Do List..............................................................6 Thyme for Herbs................................................8 Birds.......................................................................10 Ask MG.................................................................12

Holiday Workshops HOLIDAY OUTDOOR ARRANGEMENT WORKSHOP Saturday, November 30, 10am Learn how to use our enormous selection of greens and accents to create a beautiful arrangement. Bring your own container or choose one of ours. HOLIDAY SWAG & WREATH WORKSHOP Saturday, December 7, 1pm Create your own beautiful indoor/outdoor wreath or swag using our broad selection of fresh greens and tasteful decorations. New for '13, this workshop will feature a unique, re-usable wreath/swag frame that can be saved for seasons to come. Workshop fee is $35 and includes all materials.

HOLIDAY INDOOR ARRANGEMENT WORKSHOP Saturday, December 7, 10am Welcome guests to your home with a beautiful indoor arrangement or centerpiece. Bring your own container or choose one of ours. Use our beautiful holiday accents, pinecones, boughs, bows, ribbons and more to decorate your creation. All classes are at the Troy location. Pre-registration required. REGISTER ONLINE AT TELLYS.COM OR CALL 248-689-8735. Workshop fee is $5 plus cost of materials used, unless indicated otherwise. Please bring your own pruners.

FRESH-CUT CHRISTMAS TREES Come see the finest variety of fresh-cut Christmas trees including: Fraser Fir • Nordmann Fir • Scotch Pine • White Pine Blue Spruce • Concolor Fir • Noble Fir • Grand Fir • Balsam Fir

Holiday Décor • Miles of fresh roping • 1000's of poinsettias in many sizes & colors • Dazzling “painted” poinsettias in every color of the rainbow • Custom-created wreaths and centerpieces • Memorial blankets created daily with that personal touch • Dozens of unique gift ideas for the holidays • Telly’s Gift Cards for that special gardener on your list • Christmas cactus, ﬂowering plants, paperwhites, & more!

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Plant Focus: Dawn Redwood...................... 14

Weather Wrap.................................................. 18

Places to Grow.................................................20

Calendar............................................................... 18

Houseplants.......................................................22

Subscription Form............................................ 18

Books for the Michigan Gardener................23

Classified Ads.................................................... 19

How-To: Overwinter a praying mantis....27

Bulk Subscriptions........................................... 19

Janet’s Journal.................................Back Cover

On the cover: Dawn redwood is a majestic tree displaying beauty in all seasons. Photo: Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

To Our Readers... Please look for the next issue of Michigan Gardener in April, 2014. We have published Michigan Gardener, your locally owned and published gardening magazine, for 18 years with the support of our advertisers. Please continue to purchase their products and services. And please be sure to tell them you saw their ad in Michigan Gardener! We continue to receive great feedback on the Michigan Gardener E-Newsletter, which completed its second year this season. Readers especially love our contests where they can win gardening prizes. Have you signed up yet? It’s easy and free! Simply go to MichiganGardener. com and enter your e-mail address. We don’t bombard you with e-mails and we never share your e-mail address with anyone. Do you want to know about gardening events this winter? Then go to MichiganGardener. com’s event calendar. We update it throughout the winter, so visit MichiganGardener.com to find out what’s happening in the local gardening world. Thank you and see you in the spring!

Publisher/Editor Eric Hofley Design & Production Jonathon Hofley

Editorial Assistant Anna Kowaczyk

SHELBY TWP - 248-659-8555 4343 24 Mile btwn Dequindre & Shelby Rd.

HOURS (Nov. 1-20): Mon-Sat 9-6, Sun 10-5 Thanksgiving Day: Open – Please call for hours (Starting Nov. 22): Mon-Sat 9-8, Sun 10-6

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—Abraham Lincoln

Advertiser Index................................................17

Circulation Jonathon Hofley

3301 John R–1/4 mile north of 16 Mile

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.

Where to pick up Michigan Gardener........17

Advertising Eric Hofley

TROY - 248-689-8735

Garden Wisdom

Contributors Karen Bovio Cheryl English Mary Gerstenberger Julia Hofley Rosann Kovalcik Janet Macunovich Steve Martinko Beverly Moss Steven Nikkila George Papadelis Sandie Parrott Jean/Roxanne Riggs Jim Slezinski Lisa Steinkopf Steve Turner Rick Weller

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 © 2013 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 | November/December 2013 | MichiganGardener.com

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Year-end Garden Tasks • November is the month to have the garden cleaned up, if you haven’t already. Don’t put away tools and hoses just yet; there’s still pruning and watering to do to help keep plants their healthiest. • Compost leaves to use as a great soil amendment next year. Mulch leaves into the lawn to help prevent lawn weeds next spring. Leaves also make good mulch in garden beds. • If you have a fountain, be sure to remove the pump so it doesn’t freeze. Empty the water, cover the fountain with burlap, then with a tarp. Plastic should not come in direct contact with the concrete. Moisture tends to build up at the contact points, and with a recurring freeze-thaw cycle, those spots on the fountain could flake or break.

Lawns • The fall application of fertilizer is the most important one of the year. If you haven’t already done so, use an organic mix and apply it in early November. Mow a final time before the grass goes dormant completely.

Houseplants • Continue a schedule of systemic granule applications every six weeks for plants that were brought in from the outside. Maintaining a schedule all year will do a good job of preventing hard-to-treat problems. • Always check plants before watering. There’s a lot less sunlight now than during the summer, so plants will want water less frequently than they did before. They’ll also need less fertilizer. You don’t want to promote growth right now, just keep plants healthy. Growth in low light conditions tends to be weaker and more spindly. • The furnace is on more frequently as the temperatures drop, so be careful when placing houseplants near heat vents. Frequently, the side of the pot facing the vent will dry out more quickly than the other side, leading to watering problems. • Heat vents may also contribute to a spider mite infestation, because these pests attack drought-stressed plants. The warm air from the vent can dry out the leaves on some plants a little too much. Use a vent deflector to decrease the direct contact with blowing air.

Trees & Shrubs • Prepare trees and shrubs for winter by pruning any dead wood, or rubbing and crossing branches. Basic rules for pruning your trees and shrubs: 1. Prune oaks only when there are no green leaves on the tree. 2. Prune maples and birches only when

there are green leaves on the trees. 3. Prune crossing or rubbing branches. 4. Prune branches growing back towards the trunk. 5. Never take off more than 1/3 of the plant in any one year. 6. Prune spring-blooming plants before the 4th of July. 7. Prune summer-blooming plants when they don’t have any leaves. 8. If you prune the top, it will grow wide. If you prune the side, it will grow tall. 9. Prune hedges so that they are wider at the bottom than at the top. This allows sunlight to reach all of the foliage and helps prevent the top-heavy look that can happen as the bottom foliage dies back due to lack of sunlight. 10. Wait until winter to trim your evergreens and use those branches for decorations in your outdoor or indoor containers. 11. If branches are larger than 2 inches, use the three-cut method of pruning: 1) Cut underneath the branch, about 10 inches out from the trunk. Only cut in about 1/4 of the way. This cut prevents the bark from peeling back to the trunk and injuring the tree. 2) Cut off the rest of the branch about 15 inches out from the trunk. This takes the weight off the stub, and lets you make an easier and cleaner final cut. 3) Make your final cut so that it’s just at the top of the slight swelling where the branch meets the trunk. Don’t cut flush to the trunk; this swelling (branch collar) is where you’ll get better healing growth to cover the cut. 12. Don’t use pruning sealer unless you’re pruning a rose or an oak in summer. It can inhibit healing and bark re-growth. • Stake newly planted trees and shrubs, and apply tree wrap on any that wildlife will feed on during the winter. • Mulch beds with shredded hardwood bark, fallen leaves, or pine bark. Mulch will help prevent soil freeze and thaw cycles from occurring throughout the winter. • If you plan to move any shrubs or small trees in the spring, prepare them for the move now. Dig a circle around the plant with your shovel, just like you were going to dig it out. But leave the plant in place and water thoroughly with a dose of rooting or planting fertilizer. The shrub will spend the winter growing roots into that circle. Next year when it is moved, it will have many more roots and transplant much better. • If you’re worried about plants after a heavy snow or ice storm, gently remove the snow or ice from the trees or shrubs. If the ice

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2013 | Michigan Gardener

Feature Task: Protect your garden from pests over the winter Mice, voles, deer, as well as insects can do damage to the garden during the winter. A little care when putting the garden to bed will help to prevent unwanted guests. Here is a quick list of ways to prevent damage from occurring: • Clean up leaves and debris. Insects can overwinter on plant material, so remove anything that’s dead or diseased. • Stacks of firewood are great places for mice and insects to nest during the winter. Keep firewood piles away from the house. • Use scent repellents to ward off deer and prevent winter browsing. Scare devices (either visual or auditory) may also keep deer away from the garden. • Fences around the garden will prevent unwanted visitors. A fence needs to be

doesn’t come off easily, let it naturally melt so additional harm is not caused to the plant. Prune any broken branches immediately. You wouldn’t want a broken branch to fall on someone, and plants will heal better and re-grow better with a clean cut. • Continue to water trees and shrubs un-

6 to 8 feet tall to keep deer away. For smaller animals, use chicken wire with small openings. Bury it one foot below ground. • To prevent moles and voles from tunneling underneath, surround the garden with a fence of hardware cloth and bury it at least six inches deep. • To keep mice from entering the house, seal up small holes. Use bait stations around the perimeter of the house, and don’t stack wood or lean anything against the house that could serve as a nesting area. • Tour the garden periodically during the winter to check for any signs of unwanted activity. It’s better to take care of the problem immediately than wait until spring and deal with an even bigger issue.

til the ground is frozen. Evergreens and broadleaf evergreens lose moisture to the wind all winter long, so make sure to water them when the soil is dry to the touch about an inch down. Give plants a good soaking just before the ground freezes and the snow starts to stick. Even if the soil is frozen

above, plants can access water below the freeze. Be sure to disconnect the hose from the faucet each time you water, just in case it does freeze. • Since evergreens and broadleaf evergreens lose moisture to the wind throughout the winter, apply an anti-desiccant to keep plants from drying out. Apply as late as possible, while the temperatures are still above 40 degrees. Since the product wears off in about 6 weeks, re-apply in late winter when there is a warm spell. It is especially important to use on broadleaf evergreens to help reduce the stress from Michigan’s winter winds. A burlap tent is also helpful to cut the wind. If you have plants on the south or west side of the house that need protection, consider using both methods.

Perennials • Clean out perennial beds. Keep those perennials intact that have seed heads or evergreen or semi-evergreen foliage for winter interest. Some perennials have evergreen foliage with leaves that look good until the snow covers them, and even for a few weeks after the snow melts, including sage, germander, heuchera, hellebores, autumn fern, male fern, Christmas fern, Japanese tassel fern, many sedges, Japanese sweet flag, liriope, wintergreen, plumbago and Stokes’ aster.

Roses • Roses should be going dormant now; winterize them once the temperatures stay cold. This winterizing process helps keep the soil temperature consistent. Winterize too soon and roses may think it’s time to grow. Other parts of the country may prune their roses down now, but in Michigan, it’s better to leave the canes longer. Save hard pruning for the spring, when you can remove any winter dieback. Roses die from the top down, so save as much on top as possible.

Container Gardens • If possible, empty container gardens of soil and bring them into the garage. If that’s not possible, raise them off the ground so water flows through them easily. Cover with burlap and then plastic. Another option is to turn them upside down. The goal is to stop the pots from cracking by preventing the soil from expanding when the water in it freezes. • Use the containers this winter and fill them with evergreen branches, lights and ornaments. The soil in the container can be used as a base for securing the branches and trim. Provided by the professionals at English Gardens.

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2013 | MichiganGardener.com

Homemade herbal bags: Great for the home, great for holiday gifts Dried herbs can be very beneficial to our lives when sewn up into bags and placed in the right spots. Growing, drying, and mixing herbs from your garden is a great hobby to pursue. You just need some recipes, material, dried herbs, polyester or cotton filling, and a sewing machine or needle and thread.

chased in the pet department of most stores. They are red chips from the cedar tree and smell wonderful. Lavender. Buy and grow lavender plants that are hardy in our area. Harvest flower stalks when buds form and are just opening up. Do not harvest many of the leaves or prune heavily or the plant will not last through the Moth repellents winter. Flowers form best on the woody stems, We use roughly equal amounts of the folso do not try to keep it a cute little plant fresh lowing herbs in our repellent from the nursery. Lavenrecipes: bay leaves, cedar chips, der grows the best in wellJean & Roxanne Riggs lavender, southernwood, santodrained soil with full sun. lina, and tansy. There are new varieties Bay leaves. The bay laurel that bloom more than once tree is not hardy in Michigan during the summer. but can be grown outdoors durSouthernwood and ing our summers and taken insantolina. These are strikside under grow lights for the ing, smaller herbal shrubs winter. It is an actual tree that with finely cut leaves. can be pruned into a bush shape People enjoy the scent, but for more leaves by trimming the top off as pests donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. You can harvest the leaves and the tree grows to maturity. Since it is a tree, flowers of these plants in summer, but only it only grows once a year, but with proper cut 1/3 of the plant at a time so that it can recare and fertilizer it can get quite tall in a few cover enough to survive our winters. years. Then you can harvest and dry leaves. Tansy. Tansy is an easy-to-grow, hardy Bay leaves are also easy to buy in the grocery perennial with a tendency to spread. It has store. pretty gold flowers that dry well for winter Cedar chips. Cedar chips can be purbouquets. It is a very good insect repellent, and will keep ants out of your cupboards too. P h oto g r a p h s by J e a n a n d R ox a n n e R i g g s

Sleep pillows and buddies We use approximately equal amounts of

Moth repellent bags are waiting to be filled with a mixture of green santolina, gray santolina, cedar chips, lavender, southernwood, and bay leaves.

Herbal bags are perfect ideas for the holiday gift-giving season. hops, lavender, chamomile flowers, and rosemary in our recipes. We buy a soft toy bunny or teddy bear into which we cut a seam about four inches long, and then insert a bag of the mix and stitch the toy up. Easy! We made them for our adult friends and baby showers, and everyone asked for more. The big pillows are made with material and a pillow form, with a bag of herbs inserted before the final side is stitched. The small pillows are made in 6- or 8-inch sizes and are filled with a little stuffing and a lot of the herb mix. Hops. This is a tall, vining plant that grows best on a fence or sturdy trellis. It is a perenThis adorable bear is ready for his heart filled with a sleep pillow mixture of lavender, hops, and chamomile flowers. Sew him up and enjoy a restful sleep.

Stuff lovely lavender pillows with lavender buds and a few drops of lavender essential oil.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2013 | Michigan Gardener

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These spicy hot mats are ready to be filled with allspice, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and bay leaves. nial that dies down to the ground in the winter, and in spring and early summer grows at the rate of about one foot per day. It blooms and then makes bunches of green hops in the fall that can be harvested and dried. It has an earthy, wonderful scent that is very soothing. Lavender. Use lavender flowers and supplement them with lavender oil that is available at most craft stores and produces a stronger scent than just using flowers. Be sure to get essential oil, and not a cheap substitute. Lavender is used for sleep and headaches. Chamomile. This annual is easily grown by seeds in your herb garden, and is known for its calming properties and scent in herbal teas. Only the flowers are used. Harvest them when in full bloom. The plants produce many flowers per season. There is also a perennial chamomile that in Michigan is a rather shortlived plant. It has fewer flowers but goodscented leaves, and is frequently used in garden pathways. Rosemary. A tender perennial in Michigan that is typically overwintered indoors. Leaves of rosemary are a great way to keep guest beds smelling fresh and ready for company, and a nice way to encourage a good night’s sleep without nightmares.

square, of quilted material that you have sewn on three sides. Line the inside with two layers of flat polyester batting, put the spices between the layers, and sew up the last side. The coaster is made the same way, but is only about 3-1/2 inches square. We like to use our favorite spices including cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and ginger. Lemon verbena and bay leaves add some depth to the fragrance. We use 2 or 3 tablespoons of spices in each pad, and about one tablespoon for the coasters. None of these recipes is meant to be unchangeable. You can make them exactly the way you want them! The only project that we wouldn’t add any other herbs to is the lavender bag. Some people have used handkerchiefs as the material, and they are lovely. Other materials sometimes used are old shirts and blouses, sheets, and even tea towels. Inexpensive material can be bought for these projects that is very pretty and herbal themed. Look around at the material stores— that search is part of the fun! Jean and Roxanne Riggs operated Sunshine Farm and Garden in Oakland County, MI and now enjoy retirement up north.

Lavender bags Lavender is a natural moth repellent and its fragrance lasts a long time. It has gentle calming qualities and also a freshening effect. In addition, lavender is the herb of domestic happiness. It is wonderful in bags for drawers and linen closets, and the bags keep closed suitcases smelling nice and ready for their next use. Lavender has silica in it naturally, which makes it a perfect filling for pincushions since it keeps your pins and needles sharp! We use just lavender flowers to stuff these bags.

Hot pads and coasters We use whole spices that have been broken coarsely. Make a “pillow,” about six inches

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2013 | MichiganGardener.com

for the birds Help your resident birds over the winter Colder temperatures signal the end of the abundance of insects and hence, the need for birds to migrate to areas where food is more readily accessible. The birds that stay, our resident birds, have many adaptations that they use to stay warm over the winter. The numbers of feathers that these birds have increases in the colder months. A chickadee has about 1,000 feathers in the summer, but by winter it will have over 2,000 feathers. When fluffed to trap air, these extra feathers help to provide a layer of insulation between the air temperature and the bird’s skin. Birds also engage in a process called thermogenesis, an almost constant shivering—this muscular energy produces heat. Some birds are able to lower their Rosann metabolism and body Kovalcik temperature at night to save energy. A chickadee’s heart rate slows from 2,000 beats per minute down to 500, and body temperature goes from 108 degrees to 88 degrees during the night. How can you help birds thrive through the winter? When you are in the garden engaging in fall clean-up, think of cleaning up less. Under the fallen leaves are a number of insects and seeds that birds such as whitethroated sparrows and dark-eyed juncos will eat, kicking back and forth in the leaf litter. Leaving perennials and grasses standing for winter interest also provides food for seedeating birds such as American goldfinches and purple finches who can easily hold on to the stalks and extract the seed meats. Insects also live in the stalks of these plants and downy woodpeckers are able to chisel them out for a meal.

Rosann Kovalcik

Plastic birdbaths that have the heating element within the bowl are the easiest to use during winter: simply fill with water and plug in. roost boxes that we provide. If you choose to leave your nest boxes out for the winter, clean out the old nesting material as it may harbor insects that can be harmful to next year’s brood of baby birds. There are roosting pockets and boxes that can be purchased specifically as winter shelter for birds.

Water

A water source is an important element for birds in the winter. Heated birdbaths are helpful for overwintering birds. That said, solar-powered birdbaths are not reliable in Michigan during our cloudy winter days. The electric-powered de-icers and birdbaths offer a safe, reliable way to provide water. Manufacturers of concrete and ceramic baths warn against the use of de-icers; plastic baths are advised. Birdbaths that have the heating element within the bowl are the easiest to use: simply fill with water and plug in. These baths use a thermostat that keeps the water at a constant temperature above freezing in an energy-efficient way. Shelter As in warmer months, birdBirds use two different placbaths need cleaning and refilles to stay out of the wind and ing in the colder weather; situcold. The winter windbreak of ate your winter bath in a place evergreens is where you will that is easy for you to reach. find cardinals and goldfinches Most birds will only drink from tucked away overnight as well a birdbath instead of bathing. as during inclement weather. However, it is not unheard of Rosann Kovalcik Consider planting a few cedars for starlings and robins to bathe this autumn as a shelter for the Black-capped chickadees, in freezing temperatures. Not red- and white-breasted birds. to worry, they will dry themOther birds that overwinter nuthatches, and all of our selves off by shaking and preenhere use cavities to roost in, woodpecker species may ing. Birds’ feet are made of the their body heat filling the cavity, use a roosting box same material as our fingernails and the cold and wet remaining during winter. and therefore will not freeze to outside. Black-capped chickametal. It’s a great idea to place a dees, red- and white-breasted nuthatches, birdbath close to a tree or shrubs so that birds and all of our woodpecker species will use a can relocate to an area safe from predators tree cavity and may use the nesting boxes or while preening after their bath.

Food Another adaptation to cold is some birds’ ability to store seeds in a crop, an enlargement of the esophagus. This food is used during the night to maintain higher metabolism, especially in finches. Keeping your feeders filled with high-fat seeds including nyjer (thistle) and sunflower will allow birds to have an edge on the colder temperatures at night. Consider using sunflower and peanuts out of the shell. It’s easier for the birds to get a quick meal without the effort to shell the seeds in order to access the nut meats. Quality suet high in fat and low in water content with nut meats as added

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ingredients provides an insect alternative to woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees. Eating is the only way birds can turn up their thermostat. An enterprising person kept track of feeder visitors and determined that a chickadee consumes 250 seeds in a day to keep alive on the coldest of winter days. Your yard can become one of the many stops that a bird has in its daily visits. Enjoy your birds this winter! Rosann Kovalcik is a Certified Birdfeeding Specialist and the owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Grosse Pointe Woods, MI (www.wbu.com/grossepointewoods).

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2013 | MichiganGardener.com

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The Year in Review Thursday, November 7, 2013, 6:30-9pm “The Year in Review” is an open forum where we share what we learned over the past growing season and discuss the gardening successes and problems that occurred. Come join fellow enthusiastic gardeners for this lively, educational evening at the Spicer House in Farmington Hills.

Sat, March 1, 2014: 16th Annual APG Conference. Please contact us for details! Please check our website for updates throughout the winter months

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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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

Keeping rosemary over the winter How do I help rosemary survive the Michigan winter without moving it to a pot indoors? Every time I have kept rosemary indoors, it ended up looking terrible. E.G., Troy, MI. The herb Rosmarinus officinalis is a perennial evergreen shrub that can reach six feet tall in its native Mediterranean home. It is hardy to zone 7, while Michigan is zones 5 and 6. To optimally survive the winter, rosemary must be brought indoors in a container. Most homes are often too dry and warm in winter to suit rosemary, which likes it moist and cool like its native rocky hillsides. But rosemary is worth taking the chance to enjoy its fragrance during winter and to use fresh in cooking. In winter, rosemary is fairly dormant. Find a cool (63 to 65 degrees F), brightly-lit spot in the house without drafts. Position the container with generous light from a south or west exposure. Low light will produce spindly growth. Repot the rosemary using a soilless mix and a well-drained clay pot bigger than the root ball. Using a soilless mix reduces the opportunity for insect and fungal disease. A terra cotta pot breathes through the clay pores, while resin and ceramic pots can retain moisture. Let the pot dry out between watering but never let it sit dry for a week. Rosemary likes good drainage, not waterlogged soil. Water when the soil is dry to the touch, about every other day. There are cultivars reported to be hardy to zone 6: ‘Arp,’ ‘Athens Blue Spires,’ and ‘Madalene Hill.’ If you have one of those, you can try keeping it outside with very well-drained soil, ample protection from drying winds, and shelter from snow. Mulching the root base heavily can help also.

Orchid leaves are shriveling My house orchids were doing great for over a year but now the lower leaves are drooping and are starting to shrivel up. Any recommendations? P.Z., Marysville, MI Most “house orchids” are the popular moth orchids (Phalaenopsis), easily obtained and more tolerant of dry house heat. They do not have bulbs but instead grow with fleshy leaves, forming from a central crown. They also produce aerial roots that will spill over the side of the pot and burrow into the bark compost. Drooping lower leaves suggest a watering problem. Although it has done well for over a year, it is time to lift the plant from the bark medium and examine the crown and condi-

Have a question? Send it in! Go to www.MichiganGardener.com and click on “Submit a question”

tion of the roots. Roots left in standing water will rot and cause the plant to decline. Shake off the majority of old bark and use sharp scissors to trim back the roots to about 4 inches. Healthy roots should be white or green and plump. Brown and mushy means too much water. Gray and shriveled means not enough. Wash the plant under tepid water. Use new bark compost and a pot size appropriate to the remaining root ball. Nest the roots in the bark. It may be necessary to support the plant with a “butterfly” clip attached to a small plant stake or a wire across the top of the pot. Water the orchid thoroughly, making sure to drain away excess. Place in filtered light. For the next two weeks, mist the leaves instead of watering the bark. This encourages new roots to break into the bark medium by increasing the outer humidity and restricting water in the pot. New leaves should appear from the center crown, even though the old leaves will not recover.

Watering Japanese maples The red leaves on my mature Japanese maple appeared to be curling around their edges this fall. Any ideas why? A.P., Troy, MI The delicate foliage of Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) is very susceptible to late season leaf scorch, more so than other tree species. Leaf scorch occurs when water is lost more quickly from the leaves than the roots can take up to replace it. September in Michigan was unusually warm and dry. There was ample sun and day temperatures in the 70s. It was great for extending summer activities but woe to our trees and shrubs. October brought more moisture and cooler temperatures, which should ease the drought stress your maple has endured. Scorched leaves typically turn brown, curl and shrivel. They will fall off in their normal cycle for autumn leaf drop. Pruning is not necessary. In the fall, it is especially important to augment natural rainfall with hose watering. Tree and shrub roots are drawing in as much moisture as they can to make it through the winter. They cannot take up any water and nutrients from frozen soil. The tree is still alive but lives only on its reserves and in a dormant, slower metabolism state. When there is no rain for 3 to 4 days as the season changes, put a slow trickle hose on the root zone of your Japanese maple for about 30 minutes. Continue adding supplemental water until there is hard frost in the soil. Providing consistent moisture in the summer and fall will substantially reduce dieback and stunted growth in spring.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2013 | Michigan Gardener

How do I get rid of crabgrass? V., Chesterfield, MI Diligence and consistent lawn maintenance will substantially reduce the annual grassy weed known as crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis). It can be managed through cultural, mechanical and chemical controls. First, know your enemy. Seeds dropped from the previous summer will sprout to make new plants. Crabgrass loves sun and hates shade. It will invade close-cropped lawns, and lawns that are thin or have bare spots. Tall, thick turf grass will severely limit crabgrass seed from germinating. Keep the lawn mowed at no less than 3-1/2 inches. Shallow, frequent watering is ideal for crabgrass, but deep watering less frequently discourages germination. Fertilize your turf grass in spring and in fall. Our preferred cool season turf uses the stored fall fertilizer to green up in spring. Fertilizing in middle to late spring before it gets too hot will keep the lawn thick and green in succeeding months. Summer fertilizing only benefits the weeds, since the turf grass is dormant. Chemical pre-emergent treatments should be timed for late April to early May when the soil temperature reaches 62 degrees. No soil thermometer? Wait until the yellow forsythia shrubs are in full bloom to apply the preemergent. Its presence in the soil prevents germination. In Michigan this is roughly between April 15 and May 1. Pre-emergents do not eliminate existing plants; those must be mechanically removed or chemically treated. There are only a few post-emergent products that are available for home application and are effective on young crabgrass plants. Only a professional lawn service has the certifications necessary to apply chemicals strong enough to handle mature crabgrass infestations.

Should I buy seeds or bulbs of dwarf lake irises? I have an area I think would be perfect for them: next to a lake in the dappled shade of Eastern white cedars. T.J., Indian River, MI Dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris) is truly exquisite. This 6-inch plant has vivid blue, showy 2-inch flowers. Discovered by renowned naturalist Thomas Nuttall in 1810 on Mackinac Island, this miniature iris is the state wildflower of Michigan and blooms from mid-May to early June. As a Great Lakes endemic, it has a very limited habitat. It grows on the northern shores of Lakes Huron and Michigan, including the shores of Wisconsin and Ontario, along Manitoulin Island and the Bruce Peninsula. Living almost exclusively on thin soil over limestone, rich gravel/bedrock, or moist sandy gravel, it is most successful under the light dappled shade of white cedar. Your plot of ground would appear to be ideal. Dwarf lake iris reproduces through rhizomes and can establish a moderate colony fairly well if left undisturbed. Because of the limited habitat and small population, Iris lacustris is on Federal and State of Michigan “threatened species” lists. Taking a sample from an indigenous population is prohibited and can carry a hefty fine. However, seed and rhizomes are available in the nursery trade, but the quantities are small for a notable price. “Threatened” does not mean unavailable or that seeds cannot be culled by permitted conservationists and cultivated into nursery stock. It can be planted in the fall much like other late spring-blooming bulbs and rhizomatous plants. Another alternative is a genetic first cousin, Iris cristata, which is slightly bigger and not a threatened species, making it more available in garden centers. Answers provided by Beverly Moss, owner of Garden Rhythms.

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2013 | MichiganGardener.com

Jim Slezinski

‘Gold Rush’ is a dawn redwood with vibrant yellow needles.

Jim Slezinski

These picturesque, mature dawn redwoods are on the east side of the Bloomfield Township Public Library.

Jim Slezinski

The needles on ‘Gold Rush’ show their best color in full sun.

Jim Slezinski

Reddish brown strands of soft bark clothe this magnificent tree.

As they mature, the trees produce tiny, olive-sized female cones.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2013 | Michigan Gardener

plant focus

Dawn Redwood E

arly in the 20th century, the dawn redwood tree was thought to be only a fossil, being described by a Japanese botanist in 1941. Most fossils had been found in northern China, Japan, Scandinavia, Iceland, Siberia, Canada, the United States, and the Arctic. This “extinct” redwood had grown circumglobally—even in northern regions. Then in 1944, a living tree was discovered growing in a remote Chinese village. It was a mature tree with a curious appearance since the lower branches had been removed by the local villagers for firewood. An American expedition embarked to China to collect seeds in 1947. The seeds were distributed to botanical gardens and arboretums throughout the world for trials and experimental plantings. In 1948, the Chinese named and described this living fossil tree: Metasequoia glyptostroboides. It was hailed as the greatest botanical discovery of the century. By the early 1960s, large dawn redwood trees were selling

well in garden centers. Many nurseries growing these in their years from a 4- to 5-foot starter tree. A lifespan of 600 years is fields often confused dawn redwoods with our bald cypress not uncommon in China. These redwoods are “kissin’ cousins” (Taxodium distichum), another deciduous conifer that is native to our native coastal redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) and gito the southeastern United States. The two are easily distinant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) of California which guished by their needle growth: dawn redwood has oppositecan have life spans of 2,000 and 3,500 years respectively. ly-arranged, flat, soft needles, while bald cypress has smaller, Growing conditions stiff needles arranged spirally and alternately on the twigs. Adaptable to most soils, these trees thrive in wet and Certainly the timeless beauty of Metasequoia is expressed even occasionally flooded locations. They are well-suited to in the features of its trunk. A flared, buttressed trunk near swampy areas and lake and river shorelines. Easily transground level supports upward-ascending lateral branches. planted, dawn redwoods can be an answer to eliminating a Reddish brown strands of soft bark clothe this magnificent giproblem wet area that is constantly collecting water in the ant of the tree world. Contrasting to the weighty main trunk landscape, provided there’s room for growth. The roots will are the fine-textured, 1/2-inch needles. The spring-to-summer “drink away” unwanted water. Dry, arid and sandy green deciduous needles change to a rusty-apricot soils are not welcoming for good growth. Sunny orange color in autumn. On a sunny early November Jim sites are best for healthy, well-branched trees. Too day, this is a stunning sight to behold! Young twigs Slezinski much shade produces sparse branching and thin and branches likewise are green. With age these beoverall growth. come stiff and reddish brown. Short and long twigs If growing in a lawn situation, fertilizing the lawn do drop off randomly throughout the year—a natural is adequate for good growth. Generally an organic tendency of the tree. The dawn redwood’s architecmulch for younger trees is beneficial to conserve tural winter profile is highlighted by bark color and moisture. As trees mature, little supplemental fertilsymmetrical branch arrangement on the central izing is necessary. During hot summers and drought trunk. conditions, frequent watering is also beneficial, esTiny, olive-sized female cones are produced as pecially to younger and transplanted trees. trees mature. Male cones are much more diminuPerfectly at home in northern climates, especially most of tive in dangling clusters along branch tips. Both cone types Michigan, dawn redwoods are hardy to zone 5. Sometimes are readily evident from late fall into the following spring. The slightly injured by a late spring frost, the branches pop back female cones turn brown when ripe and house many viable with renewed needle growth. This is a forgotten memory seeds. Collected seeds germinate easily and render young, 8come June. to 10-inch seedling trees in 2 years. Young trees can put out 2 to 3 feet of upright growth per season. Under ideal soil condicontinued on next page tions and on a good site, dawn redwoods can reach 30 feet in 10

Jim Slezinski

The dawn redwood’s architectural winter profile is highlighted by its straight central trunk and symmetrical branch arrangement.

Jim Slezinski

A flared, buttressed trunk is a striking characteristic of the dawn redwood tree.

Jim Slezinski

The light green needles are soft and flexible.

Michigan Gardener | November/December 2013 | MichiganGardener.com

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

Jim Slezinski

In the fall, dawn redwood needles change to a rusty orange color. When illuminated by the sun, it is a gorgeous sight.

‘White Spot’ is a smaller dawn redwood that has green and white variegated foliage.

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

‘Miss Grace’ fits into smaller gardens easily since it’s a dwarf compared to the standard dawn redwood.

continued from previous page

Dawn Redwood

Insect pests and diseases are of little concern and are next to none. Squirrels will at times tear off shreds of bark to build their sleeping nests. Deer will often eat the bark and male deer can damage the trunk by rubbing antlers during the fall rut. Various animal repellent sprays can prevent these occurrences. In bigger landscape settings, these stately and picturesque trees can be grouped to form a wonderful background for smaller trees and shrubs or gardens. One specimen tree in a wide open lawn can paint a dramatic scene as well.

Additional varieties As many seedling trees from many locations have been grown, some horticultural varieties and mutations have appeared in nurseries. One striking discovery has been the brilliantly yellow-colored needles on the variety ‘Gold Rush.’ It tends to grow upright like the species, but a bit slower. The best color shows up in full sun and remains throughout the growing season. Another exciting variety is a weeping or pendular branching form. ‘Miss Grace’ fits into smaller gardens easily since it’s a dwarf compared to the standard dawn redwood. In 10 years, this plant is only 8 feet tall and 3 feet wide. The variety ‘White Spot’ is a slower-growing tree with subtle white variegated needles on branch tips scattered throughout the tree. ‘North Light’ is a globe-shaped small tree, shrublike in nature, found in a European nursery. It is a witches’ broom (a natural deformity) from a branch of ‘White Spot’ and will need some shade to prevent needle sun scald.

Local specimens I would recommend viewing and experiencing the beauty of several mature trees at two locations. On the east side of the Bloomfield Township Public Library, a group of three dawn

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

A smaller, slow-growing plant, ‘North Light’ has creamy white foliage in spring. redwoods were planted in the lawn in 1968. You can see a handsome ‘Gold Rush’ specimen at the entrance to the Oakland County Executive Office Building in Waterford. Jim Slezinski is the Vice President and Senior Landscape Designer/Horticulturist at Goldner Walsh Garden and Home in Pontiac, MI.

Botanical name: Metasequoia glyptostroboides (met-ah-seh-KWOY-ah glip-toe-stroeBOY-deez) Plant type: Deciduous conifer tree Plant size: 70-80 feet tall, up to 25 feet wide Habit: Tall conical tree, generally one central trunk Growth rate: Fast upright growth when young: 2-3 feet per year, slower after 25 years Hardiness: Zone 5 Leaves: Deciduous flat needles arranged opposite, dark green above and light green underneath, soft and flexible; needles change to a striking rusty orange color in the fall Light: Full sun for best growth; light shade yields sparse branching Soil: Any loam that holds water; grows very well in wet soil Water: Supplemental water is helpful during hot weather and drought Uses: Specimen tree for large open areas; eliminates standing water in low areas; a grouping forms a fine-textured, tall background in the landscape Remarks: Stately tree, highly ornamental in all seasons; grows quickly, fine textured foliage; ample space required for adequate growth and scale; a true “living fossil”; some newer varieties are suited for smaller gardens

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2013 | Michigan Gardener

Look for H Denotes Michigan Gardener advertiser Allen Park • ACO Hardware Almont • American Tree Ann Arbor H Abbott’s Landscp Nurs • Ace Barnes Hardware • Dixboro General Store • Downtown Home & Gard H English Gardens H HillTop Greenhse & Farms • Larry’s Mower Shop H Lodi Farms H Matthaei Botanical Gard • The Produce Station • Turner’s Greenhse/ Gard Ctr H Wild Bird Ctr • Wild Birds Unltd Auburn Hills • ACO Hardware • Drake’s Nurs H Haley Stone H Oakland Community College H State Crushing Belleville • Banotai Greenhse • Gardeners Choice • Hollow’s Landscp Supp H Pinter Flowerland H Zywicki Greenhse Berkley • Garden Central Birmingham H Blossoms • Plant Station Bloomfield Hills • ACE Hardware • Coastal Outdoor Living Space Brighton H Beauchamp Landscp Supp H Bordine’s • Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland Brownstown Twp • Ruhlig Farms & Gard Canton • Canton Floral Gardens • Clink Landscp & Nurs • Crimboli Nurs • Keller & Stein Greenhse • Wild Birds Unltd Chelsea • Heim Gardens & Florist H The Garden Mill • The Potting Shed Chesterfield • Van Thomme’s Greenhses Clarkston • ACE Hardware • ACO Hardware H Bordine’s • Country Oaks Landscp Supp I • Lowrie’s Landscp • The Birdfeeder H The Pond Source • Weingartz Clawson • ACO Hardware

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Advertiser Index Aguafina Gardens International..............................13 Assoc. of Professional Gardeners...........................12 Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr...................................................11 Barson's Greenhouse....................................................21 Blossoms.............................................................................17 Bogie Lake Greenhouses............................................10 Bordine's....................................................................Page 3

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Detroit Garden Works....................................................5 English Gardens............................Inside Front Cover The Flower Market.........................................................21 The Garden Mill...............................................................17 Garden Rhythms..............................................................17 A Garden Space................................................................ 9 Hidden Lake Gardens....................................................21 Iron Barn Iron Work.........................................................11 Milarch Nursery................................................................ 9 Oakland Cty Market....................................................... 9

Sterling Hts • ACO Hardware • Decor Statuette H Eckert’s Greenhse • Flower Barn Nurs • Prime Landscp Supply Stockbridge • Gee Farms Sylvan Lake H AguaFina Gardens Interntl H Detroit Garden Works Taylor H Beautiful Ponds & Gard • D&L Garden Ctr H Massab Acres H Panetta’s Landscp Supp

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calendar November / December / January / February / March

Precipitation September 2013

Detroit Flint Lansing

Normal Monthly 3.27 3.75 3.50

Actual Monthly 1.20 0.61 0.98

September 2012

Deviation from Normal -2.07 -3.14 -2.52

Normal

2013 Year to Date: Jan 1 - Sept 30

Detroit Flint Lansing

Normal Yr. to Date 25.70 24.31 24.59

Actual Yr. to Date 32.18 26.20 33.90

Deviation from Normal +6.48 +1.89 +9.31

Actual Monthly 2.47 2.58 2.88

Monthly 3.27 3.75 3.50

Deviation from Normal -0.80 -1.17 -0.62

2012 Year to Date: Jan 1 - Sept 30

Normal

Actual Yr. to Date 21.43 24.30 21.59

Yr. to Date 25.70 24.31 24.59

Deviation from Normal -4.27 -0.01 -3.00

Temperature September 2013

September 2012

Detroit Flint Lansing

Normal Avg. High 73.7 71.9 72.0

ACTUAL Avg. High 73.7 74.8 72.7

Deviation from Normal — +2.9 +0.7

ormal N Avg. High 73.7 71.9 72.0

ACTUAL Avg. High 74.4 73.7 73.1

Deviation from Normal +0.7 +1.8 +1.1

Detroit Flint Lansing

Normal Avg. Low 54.1 49.4 48.9

ACTUAL Avg. Low 54.5 49.5 50.6

Deviation from Normal +0.4 +0.1 +1.7

ormal N Avg. Low 54.1 49.4 48.9

ACTUAL Avg. Low 53.7 49.1 50.5

Deviation from Normal -0.4 -0.3 +1.6

Data courtesy National Weather Service

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November 2013 H Holiday Open House Sun, Nov 3, Noon-5pm, Birmingham. At Blossoms. www. blossomsbirmingham.com, 248-644-4411. H Preschool Series Wed, Nov 6, 10-11:30am, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Bring your child to learn & play. $8. 517-431-2060, conleyj9@msu.edu. Is a Community Garden in Your Future? Wed, Nov 6, 6-8:30pm, Waterford. By MSU Extension at Oakland Co. Exec. Office. $15. Learn the steps necessary to community garden. www.oakgov.com/msu/pages/ classes_activities. H The Year in Review Thu, Nov 7, 6:30-9pm, Farmington Hills. By APG at the Spicer House. $10. Open forum discussing the past growing season. www. associationofprofessionalgardeners.org. H Holiday Open House Thu, Nov 7, 5-9pm & Fri-Sun, 9-5pm, Sylvan Lake. At Detroit Garden Works. Hand-picked holiday decor & unique home & garden gifts. www.detroitgardenworks.com. H Little Princess Party Sat, Nov 9, 11am, Macomb. At Ray Wiegand’s Nursery. $10. 586-286-3655. H Holiday Open House Sat-Sun, Nov 9-10, Grand Blanc. At The Weed Lady. Hors d’oeuvres & live music. www.TheWeedLady.com, 810655-2723. Using Native Plants in Your Garden Tue, Nov 12, Farmington Hills. By North Farmington Garden Club at Farmington Hills Library. Presented by Laura Zigmanth. 248-722-4503. Ferndale Garden Club Meeting Thu, Nov 14, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Ctr. FREE. Blind Auction. 248-541-6427. Composting for Earth’s Sake Thu, Nov 14, 1pm, Shelby Twp. By Shelby Garden Club at Burgess Shadbush Nature Ctr. FREE. Presented by Lillian Dean. 586-781-6742. H Christmas Open House Sat, Nov 16, 9am-6pm & Sun, 10am-5pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. Life-like trees, wreaths, garlands, & more. www.plymouthnursery.net. H Sleigh Porch Pot Workshop Sat, Nov 16, 11am, Macomb. At Ray Wiegand’s Nursery. $75. 586-286-3655. H Girl’s Night Out Fri, Nov 22, 6-8pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. Life-like trees, wreaths, garlands, & more. www. plymouthnursery.net. H Herbal Advent Wreath Sat, Nov 23, 10am-noon, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $31.75. Create an herbal advent wreath. Bring garden clippers. www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com.

H Arts & Greens Holiday Market Sat, Nov 23, 9am-5pm & Sun, 10am-5pm, White Lake. At Bogie Lake Greenhouses. Musicians, authors, workshops & more. www.bogielakegreenhouses.com. H Fresh Porch Pot Workshop Sat, Nov 23, 10am, Macomb. At Ray Wiegand’s Nursery. $35. 586-286-3655. H Fall Table Centerpiece Workshop Sat, Nov 23, 2pm, Macomb. At Ray Wiegand’s Nursery. $25. 586-286-3655. Herbs & Holly Boutique Sat, Nov 23, 9am-2pm, Grosse Pointe Woods. By Herb Society of America at Grosse Pte. Woods Comm. Bldg. Lavender products, herbal decorations & more. 586-7736682. Bonsai Pots Sun, Nov 24, Troy. By Four Seasons Bonsai Club at Telly’s Greenhouse. Demonstration & discussion. www. fourseasonsbonsai.com, 248-689-8735. Gardens of the 2013 AHS National Convention Mon, Nov 25, 7pm, Birmingham. By Metro Detroit Hosta Society at First United Methodist Church of Birmingham. Presented by Jan Everson. hgold2843@comcast.net. Christmas & Holiday Traditions Around the World Tue, Nov 26, through Jan 5, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. More than 40 international trees, Holiday Express Train through 3 indoor gardens & more. 616-957-1580. H Christmas Open House Fri, Nov 29, Fri-Sat, 10am-5pm & Sun, 11am-5pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. Various styles of tree collections. www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com. H Holiday Outdoor Arrangement Workshop Sat, Nov 30, 10am, Troy. At Telly’s Greenhouse. $5, plus materials. Register: www.tellys.com. H Fresh Greens Birdhouse Workshop Sat, Nov 30, 10am, Macomb. At Ray Wiegand’s Nursery. $30. 586-286-3655.

December 2013 H Preschool Series Wed, Dec 4, 10-11:30am, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Bring your child to learn & play. $8. 517-431-2060, conleyj9@msu.edu. Annual Greens Market Fri, Dec 6, 9am-6pm & Sat, 9am-1pm, Rochester. By the Rochester Garden Club at St. Phillips Episcopal Church. $2. Fresh greens, gourmet items & more. www. rochestergardenclub.org.

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MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2013 | Michigan Gardener

H Evening of Lights Fri, Dec 6, 5-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Over 2000 Candle-lit luminaries displayed. www. hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu. H Twilight Walk Fri, Dec 6, 7-9pm, Macomb. At Ray Wiegand’s Nursery. 586-286-3655. H Fresh Holiday Wreath Sat, Dec 7, 10am-noon, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $48.75. Create a 14” wreath for holiday decor. Bring scissors & garden clippers. www. heavenlyscentherbfarm.com. Greens Market Sat, Dec 7, 9am-4pm, Clarkston. By Clarkston Farm & Garden Club at Church of the Resurrection. Wreaths, roping, fresh arrangements, urn bundles & more. www. clarkstongarden.org. H Holiday Festival Sat, Dec 7, 4-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu. H Holiday Indoor Arrangement Workshop Sat, Dec 7, 10am, Troy. At Telly’s Greenhouse. $5, plus materials. Register: www.tellys.com. H Holiday Swag & Wreath Workshop Sat, Dec 7, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s Greenhouse. $35. Create a beautiful indoor/outdoor wreath with fresh greens and tasteful decorations. Register: www.tellys.com. H Kids Holiday Workshop Sat, Dec 7, 10am, Macomb. At Ray Wiegand’s Nursery. $5. Santa’s Reindeer from 11am-3pm. 586-286-3655. H Evening of Lights Sun, Dec 8, 5-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Over 2000 Candle-lit luminaries displayed. www. hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu. Holiday Luncheon Tue, Dec 10, Noon, Farmington Hills. By North Farmington Garden Club at TBD local restaurant. Newcomers welcome. 248-722-4503. Ferndale Garden Club Meeting Thu, Dec 12, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Ctr. FREE. Holiday Potluck. 248541-6427. H Holiday Table Centerpiece Workshop Sat, Dec 14, 11am, Macomb. At Ray Wiegand’s Nursery. $25. 586-286-3655. Creating Wildlife Habitat Sat, Dec 28, 11am, Southfield. By Organization for Bat Conservation at Southfield Pavilion. FREE. Learn to develop habitat for wildlife in your backyard. www. batconservation.org.

January 2014 H Tips for Indoor Gardening Sat, Jan 4, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Learn to select & care for plants that will thrive indoors. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Starting Seeds Indoors Sat, Jan 11, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Learn how to grow your own transplants. www. EnglishGardens.com. H Arranging Fresh Flowers Sat, Jan 18, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Learn the art of arranging fresh flowers into a vase. www.EnglishGardens.com. It’s All About Color Symposium Sat, Jan 25, East Lansing. By Capitol Area Master Gardeners at MSU Plant & Soil Science Bld. 4 speakers. Registration opens at the end of Nov. mga.cac@gmail. com, http://mgacac.wordpress.com.

H Attracting Birds Sat, Jan 25, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Learn to make your yard more bird/animal friendly. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Kid’s Workshop: Bird Feeder Sat, Jan 25, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $5. Attract feathered friends with a bird feeder. www. EnglishGardens.com.

February 2014 H Repotting Orchids Sat, Feb 1, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. We’ll show you exactly what needs to be done to keep your plants thriving. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Orchid Festival Sat, Feb 1, Through Feb 28, all locations. At English Gardens. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Introduction to Orchids Sat, Feb 1, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Basic overview of the best varieties to grow & tips for care. www.EnglishGardens.com. H More about Orchids Sat, Feb 8, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. More about orchids including re-bloom tricks. www. EnglishGardens.com. H Repotting Orchids Sat, Feb 8, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. We’ll show you exactly what needs to be done to keep your plants thriving. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Planning a 4 Season Garden Sat, Feb 15, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Learn to create interest in your garden every season. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Fresh Flower Arranging Sat, Feb 22, 1pm, all locations except Ann Arbor & Eastpointe. At English Gardens. FREE. Learn to create interest in your garden every season. www. EnglishGardens.com.

March 2014 H Intro to Fairy & Miniature Gardens Sat, Mar 1, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Learn what’s involved to create a fairy garden. www. EnglishGardens.com. H Kid’s Workshop: Indoor Fairy Garden Sat, Mar 1, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. Fee involved. We’ll supply everything needed to make a fairy garden. Ages 3-12. www.EnglishGardens.com. H 16th Annual APG Conference Sat, Mar 1, Check APG’s website for updates or contact for details. www.associationofprofessionalgardeners. org, 248-375-9233. Michigan Herb Association Annual Herb Conference Fri-Sat, Mar 7-8, East Lansing. By Michigan Herb Association at Eppley Center, MSU. Topics on herb history, culture, design, & cooking. www.miherb.org. H Perennial Gardening 101 Sat, Mar 8, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Bring color & texture to your garden year after year. www.EnglishGardens.com. Fun with Clay Tue, Mar 11, Noon, Farmington Hills. By North Farmington Garden Club at Farmington Hills Library. Make your own vessel for holding flowers. 248-7224503. H ABC’s of Growing Herbs Sat, Mar 15, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Tips on the best varieties to grow. www. EnglishGardens.com.

H Make It & Take It: Herb Garden Sat, Mar 15, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. Fee included. Select your choice of herbs to plant in a windowsill container. www.EnglishGardens.com. H The Secrets to a Beautiful Lawn Sat, Mar 22, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Keeping your lawn healthy throughout the season. www.EnglishGardens.com. H How & When to Prune Trees & Shrubs Sat, Mar 29, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. We’ll tell you what needs to be done & when. www. EnglishGardens.com.

H Garden Party Weekend Sat-Sun, Apr 5-6, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. 2 days of informative gardening & decorating seminars. www.EnglishGardens.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. 248-722-4503. 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.

Classified Ads POISON IVY – We get rid of it! That’s all we do. Call us—we are experts at identifying and removing poison ivy from your property, from single homes to large parks. Licensed and Insured. Poison Ivy Control of Michigan. 248-842-8095. www.poisonivycontrolofmichigan.com. NEED A HAND? Call “The little gardener that could.” 15 yrs experience at Botanical Gardens. FREE Estimates. Pat: 586-214-9852, agardenspace.com. ADVERTISING SALES REP – Michigan Gardener has a part-time opportunity available. Advertising sales experience is preferred. Please forward your resume to: publisher@ MichiganGardener.com.

DON’T LOOK. Oops, you looked. And so will 70,000 potential customers. Advertise in Michigan Gardener. Call 248-594-5563 or e-mail publisher@MichiganGardener.com. MICHIGAN GARDENER E-NEWSLETTER Sign up for our free e-newsletter! We send out a few each year, and there are contests to win prizes as well. Go to www.MichiganGardener. com and simply enter your e-mail address. DO YOU ENJOY SCRAPBOOKING? Then pick up a copy of Michigan Scrapbooker magazine. It’s free! Visit MichiganScrapbooker. com for more info and to sign up for the free Michigan Scrapbooker e-newsletter. Join the conversation at facebook.com/ MichiganScrapbooker.

Michigan Gardener Classified Advertising is a cost-effective way to promote yourself and your business. Need help? Have help to give? Have a big event coming up? Have some items to sell? Let our readers know! Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Classified Advertising.”

Bulk Subscriptions • Great for clubs and retail stores outside our regular circulation routes. • Have Michigan Gardener delivered in bulk and give copies to your members and customers. • These copies are sent directly to the address you specify. • The cost is much lower than the individual subscription price. • It’s a great way to provide another benefit to your members and customers. The order form is available at MichiganGardener.com or please contact us for an order form: publisher@MichiganGardener.com • 248-594-5563

Michigan Gardener | November/December 2013 | 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

Imlay City

Flushing Lennon

Port Huron

Dryden Metamora

Altermatt Greenhses Boyka’s Greenhse Deneweth’s Garden Ctr H Elya’s Village Gardens Landscape Source Joe Randazzo’s Nurs Olejnik Farms Wade Nurs

Lakeport

Hadley Grand Blanc

Flint

Bancroft, Owosso

macomb

Emmett

Almont

H Wiegand’s Nursery 47747 Romeo Plank Rd. 48044 586-286-3655 www.wiegandsnursery.com Fenton

Oxford

Ortonville

madison heights

Addison Twp.

Orion Clarkston Hartland

White Lake Highland

Holly White Lake Waterford

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

Sterling Hts.

Southfield Oak Park Ferndale

Eastpointe

Grosse Pointes

Ypsilanti

Taylor Romulus

Saline

Tecumseh

Brownstown Twp.

Southgate Trenton Grosse Ile

Rockwood, Monroe

H Garden Mill 110 S. Main St., MI 48118 734-475-3539 www.thegardenmill.com

H Denotes MG Advertiser addison twp H Yule Love It Lavender Farm 960 Yule Rd., MI 48367 248-628-7814 www.yuleloveitlavender.com

almont

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 Turner’s Greenhse/Garn Ctr H Wild Bird Center Wild Birds Unltd

Drake’s Landscp & Nurs H Haley Stone 3600 Lapeer Rd., MI 48326 248-276-9300 www.haleystone.net

birmingham H Blossoms 33866 Woodward Ave, MI 48009 248-644-4411 www.blossomsbirmingham.com

H State Crushing

Plant Station Tiffany Florist

bancroft

brighton

Grand Oak Herb Farm

bay city H Begick Nursery & Garden Ctr 5993 Westside Saginaw Rd. 48706 989-684-4210 www.begicknursery.com

belleville

Banotai Greenhse Gardeners Choice H Pinter Flowerland H Zywicki Greenhse

H Beauchamp Landscp Supp H Bordine’s Brighton Farmer’s Mkt Cowbell Lawn/Gard Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland

Van Thomme’s Greenhses

clarkston

H Bordine’s Country Oaks Landscp I Lowrie’s Landscp H The Pond Source

cement city

Backyard Birds

H English Gardens 44850 Garfield Rd, MI 48038 586-286-6100 www.EnglishGardens.com

Hallson Gardens

H Detroit Farm and Garden 1759 21st St., MI 48216 313-655-2344 www.detroitfarmandgarden.com

dexter

H Bloom! Gard Ctr Dexter Mill

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

Michigan Koi H Tropical Treasures

Angelo’s Landscp Supp Farmer John’s Greenhse Loeffler Stone Ctr H Steinkopf Nurs

clio

fenton

H Piechnik’s Grnhse & Gdn Ctr 13172 McCumsey Rd, MI 48420 810-686-9211 www.cliogreenhouse.com

columbiaville Hilltop Barn

davison

bloomfield hills

Allemon’s Landscp Ctr

eastpointe

canton

Garden Central Westborn Flower Mkt

berkley

detroit

chesterfield

commerce twp

Canton Floral Gardens Clink Nurs Crimboli Landscp/Nurs Keller & Stein Greenhse Wild Birds Unltd

H English Gardens 22650 Ford Rd, MI 48127 313-278-4433 www.EnglishGardens.com

The Potting Shed

brownstown twp Bruce’s Pond Shop Ruhlig Farms & Gard

dearborn heights

H Fraleighs Landscape Nursery 8600 Jackson Rd., MI 48130 734-426-5067 www.fraleighs.com

clinton twp auburn hills

grosse ile

H Eastern Market

chelsea

Dearborn Dearborn Wayne Heights

New Boston Tipton

Troy

Westland

Belleville Manchester

Clinton Twp.

Backyard Birds Zoner’s Greenhse H Wojo’s Gard Splendors 7360 E. Court St., MI 48423 810-658-9221 www.wojos.com

dearborn

Fairlane Gardens Westborn Flower Mkt

Green Carpet Sod

manchester

McLennan Nurs

mason

H Wildtype Nurs

metamora

Gilling’s Nurs

New Baltimore

Detroit

Dexter

Ann Arbor

H The Weed Lady 9225 Fenton Rd., MI 48439 810-655-2723 www.theweedlady.com

Macomb

Utica

Livonia Redford

Canton

H Bordine’s

St. Clair Berkley Roseville Shores Madison Royal Oak Heights Warren

Plymouth

Cement City, Chelsea, Jackson, Stockbridge

Shelby Twp.

Auburn Hills

Sylvan Lake Commerce

Ray

Rochester

Pontiac

Milford

Washington

Oakland

grand blanc

Gerych’s Flowers/Gift H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm

H Westcroft Gardens

grosse pointe

Allemon’s Landscp Ctr Meldrum & Smith Nurs

grosse pointe woods 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 Downtown Howell @ State & Clinton St., MI 48843 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

gladwin

H Stone Cottage Gard

new baltimore

H Meldrum Bros Nurs

new boston

H Gorham & Sons Nurs H Grass Roots Nurs Mums the Word

new hudson 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 Glenda’s Gard Ctr Stone City Wild Birds Unltd H Willow Greenhouses

oak park

Four Seasons Gard Ctr

ortonville

Country Oaks Landscp II

owosso

The Hobbit Place Schmid Nurs/Gard

H Everlastings in Wildwood

lake orion

Candy Cane Xmas Trees Oxford Farm/Gard

flushing

H Arrowhead Alpines 1310 Gregory Rd., MI 48836 517-223-3581 www.arrowheadalpines.com

H The Flower Market

jackson

H Wojo’s of Lake Orion 559 S. Lapeer Rd, MI 48362 248-690-7435 www.wojos.com

fowlerville

monroe

H Earthly Arts Greenhse

imlay city

Lake Orion Lawn Orn H Orion Stone Depot

H Flushing Lawn & Garden Ctr 114 Terrace St., MI 48433 810-659-6241 www.unclelukes.com

One Stop Landscp Supp Milford Gardens H The Pond Place

H Wojo’s Greenhse 2570 Oakwood Rd., MI 48462 248-627-6498 www.wojos.com

ferndale

Casual Modes Home/Gard Green Thumb Gard Ctr

milford

lapeer

H Iron Barn Gard Ctr

lasalle

Fowler’s Gift Shop

lennon

Krupps Novelty Shop

livonia

Bushel Mart Superior Growers Supp Westborn Flower Mkt

oxford

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

ray

Van’s Valley Greenhse

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2013 | Michigan Gardener

Hidden Lake Gardens BOTA N IC A L G A R DEN & A R BOR ET U M

Evening of Lights: Friday, Dec 6 & Sunday, Dec 8, 5-8pm Holiday Festival: Saturday, Dec 7, 4–8pm H Pinter Flowerland Seven Mi Gard Ctr

rochester

Fogler’s Greenhse Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr

rochester hills H Auburn Oaks Garden Ctr 3820 West Auburn Rd. 48309 248-852-2310 www.auburnoaksnursery.com H Bordine’s H English Gardens Patio Shop H Haley Stone 3975 S. Rochester Rd., MI 48307 248-852-5511 www.haleystone.net Shades of Green Nurs 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 Wild Birds Unltd

saginaw H Abele Greenhouse & Garden Ctr 3500 Wadsworth Rd., MI 48601 989-752-5625 www.abelegreenhouse.com

saline H Nature’s Garden Ctr 6400 E. Michigan Ave. 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

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

stockbridge Gee Farms

sylvan lake 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

OVER 2000 CANDLE-LIT LUMINARIES DISPLAYED!

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

755 Acres of Gardens and Natural Areas

williamston

Flower Gardens • Plant Conservatory • Hosta Hillside Dwarf Conifers • Picnic Area • Lake Hiking Trails • Weddings and Tours by appointment

wixom

6214 Monroe Rd. (M-50) in Tipton • 8 Miles W. of Tecumseh

whitmore lake

H Alexander’s Greenhses Christian’s Greenhse Brainer’s Greenhse Angelo’s Landscp Supp Milford Tree Farm

517-431-2060 • hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu • OPEN DAILY

ypsilanti

Coleman’s Farm Mkt Lucas Nurs Margolis Nurs Materials Unlimited Sell Farms & Greenhse

Gardens to Visit

ann arbor H Matthaei Botanical Gardens/ Nichols Arboretum 1800 North Dixboro Rd., MI 48105 734-647-7600 www.mbgna.umich.edu

Christmas trees Special purchase: Beautiful Fraser Firs

Starting at $1999

dearborn

Arjay Miller Arboretum at Ford World HQ Henry Ford Estate

We can custom decorate for you!

• Swags • Cedar garlands • Poinsettias All sizes & all colors!

bloomfield hills

H Cranbrook Gardens

•CEMETERY WREATHS •GRAVE BLANKETS

Fresh-cut herbs, wheat grass, and micro greens

• Christmas centerpieces

Indoor growing supplies—stop in and check out our LOW prices!

detroit H Uncle Luke’s Feed Store 6691 Livernois Rd., MI 48098 248-879-9147 www.unclelukes.com

Anna S Whitcomb Conservtry

utica

H MSU Horticultural Gardens W.J. Beal Botanical Gard

Dale’s Landscp Supp Stone City

walled lake

H Suburban Landscp Supp

warren

H Beste’s Lawn/Patio Supp Garden Ctr Nurs Young’s Garden Mart

washington

dryden

6414 N. Merriman • Westland • 734-421-5959

east lansing

Located between Ford & Warren Roads

Seven Ponds Nature Ctr

west bloomfield H English Gardens 6370 Orchard Lake Rd. 48322 248-851-7506 www.EnglishGardens.com

A H H

H W

grand rapids

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2013 | MichiganGardener.com

Plants are therapy

Indoor plants can improve moods, help the recuperation process, and more Okay, I’m not suggesting that plants are the cure-all to life’s ailments, but they can help with the everyday stress we all have. I have a magnet on my refrigerator that reads, “I most often find that happiness is right where I planted it.” That is so true! My favorite thing to do is groom my houseplants—repot them, clean them, and prune off any dead leaves. It’s a soothing, rewarding hobby (obsession?) for me. What can plants do for us, other than provide food, shade, oxygen, and clothing? Lisa Steinkopf Plants can improve moods, increase productivity, and relax us. Does this all sound too good to be true? Does it sound like a bunch of mumbo jumbo? Well, I’m not making this up. People go to college to get degrees in Horticultural Therapy. Michigan State University gave the first undergraduate degree in Horticulture Therapy in 1955. In the late 1950s, Alice Burlingame established horticultural therapy programs with volunteers from garden clubs and taught classes at the Pontiac State Hospital for their employees. The American Horticultural Therapy Association defines horticulture therapy as “the engagement of a client in horticultural activities facilitated by a trained therapist to achieve specific and documented treatment goals.” How many plants and flowers have you taken to people in the hospital? It’s the normal practice—but why? If you’ve ever been in the hospital, you know that when visitors arrive with plants or flowers, it brightens your day. Many hospitals now have beautiful atriums filled with plants where patients and their families can go to relax, recuperate, and meditate. When I had surgery at the University of Michigan hospital, I was wheeled down to the atrium many times. Hospitals are so white, sterile and cold. Going to a place filled with the sound of water, the green of plants, and the aroma of soil made all the difference. It made me feel at home, and many other people were there enjoying it as well. Of course, my friends filled my room with plants (not cut flowers), as they know I can’t live without a plant or two (or 500) around me. The new Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield has incorporated a beautiful P h o t o s b y L i s a St e i n k o pf

atrium into its facility. It contains over 3,000 plants and was installed as a place for people to visit and relax. The hospital has also installed a greenhouse on the grounds where they grow vegetables and herbs hydroponically for use in their restaurant and inpatient food program. Horticultural therapy is also practiced in the greenhouse with some patients. While visiting New York this spring, my daughter and I visited her friend living in Brooklyn. She had left friends and family to start a new job. She had one small plant in her apartment and we joked about her calling out to it when she walked in the door, “Honey,

I’m home!” Everyone needs another living thing to talk to, even if it is a plant. Of course, while at the New York Botanical Garden, I bought her another “friend.” When I was a young mother with a husband working 70 hours a week, I found that I needed to get out of the house and interact with other adults. I found a local garden club, of which I’ve been a member for over 20 years. Joining a garden club or plant society brings like-minded people together to discuss their hobby. I have made many new friends by becoming a member of these groups. They usually meet once a month and I look for-

These large specimens of Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) are beautiful evergreen plants. They are very popular at Christmas, but also make a wonderful houseplant all year.

Ficus trees are shade makers for the low light Chinese evergreens (Aglaonema) and ivy growing underneath. The low stone walls are a place to sit and enjoy the greenery.

The atrium at Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield was installed as a therapeutic area for patients and visitors alike. Many of the 300 inpatient rooms overlook this restful setting.

Comfortable chairs encourage people to enjoy this atrium’s scenery and peaceful atmosphere.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2013 | Michigan Gardener

The Unexpected Houseplant by Tovah Martin Renowned plant expert Tovah Martin thinks its time we dusted off houseplants, updated their image, and discovered how rewarding plants can be in our experience of home. In The Unexpected Houseplant (Timber Press, 326 pages, $22.95), she chronicles 220 plant choices for every spot in the home. Martin organizes her uncommon houseplants into seasonal choices for her reader and then gives placement, watering, feeding, grooming, pruning, and troubleshooting advice. This guide to indoor gardening is for beginners, practiced green thumbs, and anyone who wants to infuse a bit of green into their décor. The author shows readers a new side of gardening, as they learn to utilize the many plants that are often bypassed for indoor usage. Filled with artistic color photographs, the book provides interesting container inspiration to complement each plant. Easy-to-read sidebars offer a quick reference to plant information and care instructions.

Nature Wars: The Incredible Story of How Wildlife Comebacks Turned Backyards into Battlegrounds by Jim Sterba

The atrium at the University of Michigan Hospital is a serene, restful place. The Chinese evergreens and ferns are great low light plants for growing under the podocarpus trees. ward to these evenings spent talking about plants with people who are as crazy about them as I am, and sometimes even more so, if that’s possible. One of the many programs my garden club participates in is called Garden Therapy. The members go into special needs classrooms in local area schools and make a craft with the children once a month. These crafts always incorporate some form of plant material. It is a rewarding project for the members and the kids get so excited when they see the “garden ladies” coming. Plants in your home are like infants. They depend on you for all their needs, including water, fertilizer, and light. If you take care of their needs, they will reward you with healthy new growth. If they are neglected, they will be dusty, diseased, and probably infested with pests. In the garden world, there is nothing sadder than a dirty, neglected,

Though many people believe horticultural therapy is a new concept, this book by Elvin McDonald was published in 1976. He says, “...I believe that plants have enormous potential for maintaining emotional stability and actually improving the lives of human beings.” I couldn’t agree more, Elvin! sick plant. I’ve encountered many of these, mostly at restaurants and offices, and even in people’s homes. Little do they know that taking care of these plants would probably make their lives more fulfilled and happier, to say nothing about the way their plant would feel. Many studies have been done, proving that plants can reduce stress and anxiety, improve moods, heighten your sense of personal worth, and increase the feeling of pride and accomplishment. All this being said, why wouldn’t you want to try growing an indoor plant? Whether it’s at home or on your desk at the office, nurturing a plant can, in turn, nurture you!

Lisa Steinkopf, the Houseplant Guru, is from Steinkopf Nursery in Farmington Hills, MI. Contact her to speak at your next club meeting or event (houseplantgurulisa@gmail.com, 734748-1241). Read Lisa’s blog (houseplantguru.blogspot.com) and follow her on Facebook (Facebook.com/HouseplantGuru), Twitter (@houseplantguru), and Instagram (houseplantguru).

Over the past century the eastern U.S has become one of the most heavily forested and densely populated regions in world history. This environment has the feel of a forest and also has all the comforts of home for many animals that have made a comeback from near-extinction to recovery. Nature Wars (Crown Publishing, 343 pages, $26.00) covers the sequence of how we have unknowingly created the perfect shared habitat for deer, geese, coyotes, beavers, wild turkeys, and more. This well-researched ecological history report is told by a 40-year veteran foreign correspondent and national reporter for the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. This intriguing book explores the story of environmental recovery and the opportunities and challenges that it brings to all of us. Jim Sterba’s easy-to-read writing style is original and witty. You will be compelled to discuss his viewpoint with other nature lovers, gardeners, arborists, etc. Ecological history is happening all around us right now and we have unintentionally contributed to its development. —Reviewed by Julia Hofley

Powerhouse Plants: 510 Top Performers For Multi-Season Beauty by Graham Rice Leave the “slacker” plants at the nursery. Gardeners, like everyone, are too short on time and money to waste either of them on plants that only look good for a few weeks. You want hardworking, eye-catching plants that provide beauty for multiple seasons. In Powerhouse Plants (Timber Press, 282 pages, $24.95), Graham Rice features multi-seasonal perennials, annuals, groundcovers, vines, shrubs, and trees. Profiles include basic plant information, such as size, hardiness, and preferred growing conditions. The author introduces readers to plants with colorful spring flowers and summer fruits, or summer fruits and fall foliage, or summer flowers, fall foliage, and winter stems—or any combination of two or more of these desirable attributes. Color photos feature plants like flowering dogwood that boasts summer flowers as well as fall fruit and foliage, and honeysuckle that has fragrant spring flowers, summer and fall foliage, and fall fruit. With this guide in hand, you can leave the slacker plants behind and get the most from your money and landscape.

Michigan Gardener | November/December 2013 | MichiganGardener.com

Here’s a pyramidal boxwood getting its every-two years cut. Step one, cut it back overall. Janet’s Journal continued from back cover

Cutting broadleaf evergreens and yews How: 1) Cut to the desired shape, with dimensions at least one year shorter and narrower than the limit you’ve allowed. (See the sidebar “How big is an evergreen year?”) This will require cutting into hard wood, even thick wood. Don’t worry about it. A healthy evergreen pruned regularly as described here will always have plenty of green shoots within its cut-down outline. It can remain beautiful and healthy for a hundred years. 2) Cut exposed thick stubs and thin crowded branches, making each cut another year’s growth into the interior.

3) Now simply let the shrub grow. Water and fertilize regularly. 4) If you’re maintaining a very precise, crisp shape, you may have to follow-up by shearing the tips of new growth in early summer. Wait until after the spring growth spurt has ended, since cuts made during that season simply spur more branching at the tip. When: Any time except while the plant is in high gear—for about six weeks after spring budbreak. Many professionals in charge of evergreen topiaries and tightly-shaped hedges like to prune in early spring just before growth is about to resume. Then any gaps or holes from thinning cuts are most quickly grown over. My preference when aiming to keep plants

Next, cut further into the interior to shorten the thick stubs and crowded branches. smaller than their potential is to cut in late summer. This prevents overload to my already busy spring schedule and results in a cut that keeps its edge for months.

What about blooms? If flowers are important, cut right after that plant’s bloom finishes. However, if you

cut just once a year always at the same time and to the same size and shape, you can make the cut at any time without eliminating all the blooms. That’s because when you follow the steps above, there are always branches growing out from previous years’ step 2 thinning cuts that aren’t yet back in the cutting zone. Those limbs’ flower buds are untouched.

Don’t worry about holes. Most are invisible once you step back and the outer and inner foliage blends. Gaps also fill quickly when growth resumes. Moments after the cut (left) and ten weeks later (right).

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2013 | Michigan Gardener

For needled evergreens I do all cutting with hand pruners, loppers and a small folding saw. I grasp each overextended limb and cut it back by at least two years, shortening to a side branch. Then I thin out crowded branches and cut back thick stubs, each to a side branch. I can reduce these two limbs (left) far enough that the remaining side branches can grow for 1, 2 or 3 years. Keep in mind these are not the only limbs on the shrub. Cutting regularly in this manner means there is always an outer edge of graceful limbs just reaching my cut line, branches that have been growing out from the interior since it was their turn to be cut back.

to cut back one year

to cut back two years

How big is an evergreen year? Do yourself and your plants a favor. Cut them harder, less often rather than repeatedly shearing the new tips. To cut a plant just once a year or even once every two years, cut it back equal to its normal growth for that time. For instance, a standard yew can be expected to grow about one foot each year. Cut that yew to 12 inches shorter and narrower than the space you’re allowing it and you can hang up your pruning gear for a year.

Average growth rates for common evergreens • Arborvitae/White cedar, upright: 8-12” • Falsecypress, various species, dwarf to standard: 2-12” • Hemlock, standard tree form: 12-18” • Dwarf hemlock: 2-12” • Holly: 6-12” • Junipers (spreading and upright): 12” • Virginia juniper/Red cedar: 12-18” • Rug junipers: 12” • Austrian pine: 12-18” • Mugo pine: 8-12” • Dwarf mugo pine: 2-8”

Cutting needled evergreens: Juniper, arborvitae, etc. How: 1) Cut every branch that’s too tall or wide, clipping each at a point that leaves a side branch positioned to grow for at least a year before it again oversteps its bounds. (See the sidebar “How big is an evergreen year?”) 2) Make thinning cuts: Shorten thick and crowded limbs. Reach in and make each cut just above a side branch that can grow gracefully out from the interior for a year or more. When: Any time. However, if you like to use hedge shears for the first cut, prune only in early

• White pine: +24” • Dwarf white pine: 3-8” • Spruce, standard blue or Norway: 12-18” • Bird’s nest spruce: 2-4” • Dwarf blue spruce: 2-12” • Yew, standard landscape varieties such as Densiformis, Wardii and Hicksii: 6-12” However, any given plant may vary from its species’ average because growth is influenced by environment and plant variety. More sun and more fertile soil usually leads to greater than average annual growth, while even in the best situation a dwarf form may grow only a quarter or half as much as others in its species. So learn to read your plants’ growth. Look at the twigs. The current year’s twigs are often different in color than older growth because bark does not form until the second year. If the plant was sheared in the previous year, its newer twigs reveal how much it grew after the last shearing. To estimate its annual growth potential, multiply the new growth you see by the number of times it was sheared.

summer. Then, subsequent growth will not be wild because the spring growth spurt is past. At the same time, the current season’s growth is still soft and thus able to form new buds on cut ends. If a needled evergreen is shorn later when all its branches are woody, every stub will eventually lose its needles, die and become unsightly brown clutter. I use hedge shears on needled evergreens only when absolutely necessary, such as to shape a topiary arborvitae or clip a sculpted juniper. I shear in early summer and follow up with thinning cuts. continued on next page

I’m pleased with the effect if my pruning is invisible. I reduced this juniper (above) by two years over the course of 30 minutes. Note the plant was out over the lawn when I started cutting. When I’ve finished there is bare soil visible all along the edge (below).

Michigan Gardener | November/December 2013 | MichiganGardener.com

These mugo pines were sheared repeatedly for many years. The shrubs’ interiors are full of wood with too little foliage. Branches are beginning to die. I pruned to remove all dead wood and thin the outer shell.

All of the plants’ foliage is concentrated at the annual cutting line (here represented by the wooden rod). Only a few weak needled limbs (arrow) remain in the interior.

V Website Extra Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Website Extras” for: • More photos of evergreen pruning

continued from previous page

Why shearing alone is not the best course Repeated shearing without thinning cuts is never a good thing, but it’s particularly bad for needled evergreens. As the sheared ends branch, that makes the plant’s outer edge more dense and its interior so shady that potential growing points die. The plant is left with only a thin skin of foliage. It becomes wood-heavy, with so little greenery it cannot produce enough fuel to keep all the branches alive. Limbs die. The resulting holes can be filled only by spindly twigs at the extremities because there are no back-up growing points in the interior.

The objective was to let light reach the remaining interior needles.

After a year, the plant is growing well and the interior branches are beefing up. Now I’ll begin to cut it normally to keep it from becoming bigger and even to gradually reduce it.

Do away with the splay If your arborvitaes have the potential to be too large for your garden, follow the directions here (See “Cutting needled evergreens”) to net an annual harvest of long limbs clothed in soft, fragrant evergreen. Use them as decorations or compost them, either way the plant will be better off. Even if your arbs aren’t too tall they probably have another issue pruning can address. If your arborvitaes were over two feet tall when you bought them, they probably had been tip pruned by the grower to promote density. This may serve the purpose of making the plant more attractive to buyers but it also leads to unsightly splay. Pruning can correct that. Janet Macunovich is a professional gardener and author of the books “Designing Your Gardens and Landscape” and “Caring for Perennials.” Read more from Janet on her website www.gardenatoz.com.

Standard growers’ pinching creates multiple main trunks (left) on an arborvitae. As these competing trunks grow, they all lose their interior foliage to each other’s shade. The only growth each trunk can maintain is on out-facing branches. When snow or ice accumulate on the plant, all the weight is on one side and the trunk must bend. Even when winter’s burden lifts, the weight of the foliage keeps these limbs splayed. Don’t accept the chore of tying up such shrubs to steady the trunks. Cut back the extra trunks while the one you leave still has needled branches on all sides. I cut two ‘Sunkist’ arbs in April to eliminate their multiple leaders (middle). The gaps filled quickly—here they are in August of that year (right).

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2013 | Michigan Gardener

how-to Overwinter a praying mantis Gardeners should enjoy nature and everything in it. As an example, consider that great insect predator, the praying mantis (photo 1). A praying mantis will eat anything it can grab with its spiked forelegs (photo 2). They are fun to watch and one way to do to that is to bring one inside for the early winter. If you want to try it, here’s how: Steve Nikkila You can construct a mantis cage (Sarah Moore shows hers in photo 3) or use an old aquarium as a terrarium to house the mantis. You might even allow the mantis to range freely on indoor plants in the house or greenhouse. In any housing, a mantis needs some fresh water and a hiding place, such as a leafy twig. A praying mantis hunts its food and will need live insects as prey. If you keep it contained, be aware that a mantis can stay very still and may be difficult to see, then move quickly, or fly to an open door. Its prey will try to escape too, so be careful and quick.

In the garden, mantises die when frigid weather arrives. Yet a praying mantis can live into November by hanging out on southfacing windows or brick to stay warm, and into the new year if it comes indoors. Watch for them. They are fairly easy to catch. Use an index card to herd the insect into a cup, then cap the cup with the card and carry it to its new accommodations. A mantis may be able to find enough food in a greenhouse, but in the average home it is different. You can buy crickets from a pet supply store, then drop a cricket into the cage or into a plant near a free-range mantis. You might even hand-feed the mantis (photo 4). One or two crickets a day should be sufficient. Spritz foliage now and then to make fresh water droplets available to the mantis. If you have a female mantis she may lay an egg mass somewhere, like this one on a rosemary plant (photo 5). When you notice an egg mass, remove it and place it outside so it will not “hatch” until a spring warm-up. Indoors, it will hatch early, and you will have a horde of young mantises to corral (photo 6). They’re tough little guys that move quite fast. If you have other indoor predators around they may also find your mantis interesting (photo 7). Although rare, a mantis may bite but the bite is not poisonous. Text and photos by Steven Nikkila, who is from Perennial Favorites in Waterford, MI (E-mail: hortphoto@gmail.com).

| November/December 2013 | MichiganGardener.com

janet's journal

Deep cuts make great evergreens Janet Macunovich

P h oto g r ap h s by S te v e n Ni k k i l a

These tips will help you prune your evergreen shrubs and trees with confidence People have decked the halls since antiquity, for good reason. There is no better remedy for dark, stale winter quarters than the scent of cedar, velvety texture of falsecypress, and luminosity of pine. Now is the time a gardener can step into the spotlight, bearing armloads of evergreens for wreaths, swags, mantle dressing and centerpieces. Yes, you can prune evergreens now. Such cuttings will earn you favor as gift decorations. Equally important, procuring them can do a world of good for your evergreen shrubs and trees. Just follow this recipe for harvesting greenery that’s also a guide to simple, beautiful pruning for evergreens.

Variegated wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei ‘Emerald ‘n Gold’)

Janet’s Journal continued on page 24

Oriental arborvitae (Platycladus/ Thuja orientalis)

Beech twigs

Upright juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Keteleeri’)

In terms of pruning, there are two kinds of evergreens: those that can generate new shoots from leafless wood, and those that cannot normally regenerate from bare wood. The first group is represented here by two of its members: Evergreen euonymus and yew. Also in this group are most broadleaf evergreens including boxwood, rhododendron, azalea, Pieris, mountain laurel, holly (Ilex) and grapeholly (Mahonia). If one of these has a bare stub after pruning, there’s a very good chance that new shoots will develop from that stub.

Hicks yew (Taxus x media ‘Hicksii’)

Alaska cedar (Chamaecyparis/ Xanthocyparis nootkatensis)

Dwarf white pine (Pinus strobus ‘Nana’)

This wreath is the result of ten minutes in the garden and 30 minutes at the kitchen table. The materials involved are nothing but the branches removed every year in normal pruning to keep evergreens small... and healthy. If your pruning routine doesn’t generate branches equal in size to those in the adjacent photos of my wreath-in-progress, chances are good that your shrubs are declining in health. That means their appearance is slipping. What’s worse, it also means that you are doing more work than necessary.

The second group of evergreens, represented here by dwarf white pine, includes pretty much all needled evergreens: Spruce, pine, juniper, fir, falsecypress, arborvitae, hemlock, cedar, etc. in all forms from standard to dwarf and weeping. If pruning leaves leafless stubs on one of these, that wood will not leaf out. It will simply die. So clip any evergreen you want for holiday decorations, but when pruning one in this non-regenerative group, don’t leave any stubs. Instead, make every cut to just above a side branch that does have needles/leaves.