Michigan Gardener - November / December 2014 by Michigan Gardener

November/December 2014

MichiganGardener.com

Your guide to Great Lakes gardening

plant focus

Michigan Holly

birds

Secret hiding places for food

houseplants The iconic poinsettia

feature Please thank our advertisers in this issue

The Japanese art of flower arrangement

tree tips

Pruning your trees

•

The best time to prune your trees

is when they look like this:

5 great reasons to prune your trees over the winter Branching patterns are more visible With no leaves on the branches, problem areas like crossing branches are more easily seen. Our arborists can correct faults and help your tree to grow into the best form possible.

More growth response in spring

When a tree’s canopy is pruned over the winter, there is often increased spring growth from the remaining branches. The energy stored in the tree’s roots and branches is directed to fewer growth points, so each new shoot grows a little more.

Easier access means lower costs

The ground is frozen during the winter and can better handle heavy equipment. This allows us to place a chipper or log loader close to the pruning area and reduces cost. Reduced cost means a lower price for you.

Reduced injury to plant beds

Annual and perennial beds below trees are frozen during winter and less vulnerable to damage. Branches can be carefully dropped from trees without fear of harming flowers planted beneath them. We can prune efficiently, which results in lower costs.

Minimized disease and pest risk

Pruning during winter minimizes the risk of disease spread by pruning cuts. For example, pruning oaks during the winter can minimize the spread of deadly oak wilt disease as the beetles that carry the disease are not present during the winter.

Trees are plants too...just really big ones. They are the most valuable and hardest-to-replace assets in your landscape. Give them the professional care they deserve: Call Guardian Tree Experts.

Our unique team includes: • ISA Board Certified Master Arborist (the highest level of ISA certification; recognizes ISA Certified Arborists who have reached the pinnacle their profession)

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Pruning • Removals Cabling • Planting Fertilization Lightning Protection Root Care & Soil Management Insect & Disease Management Tree Risk Assessment

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Servicing the Greater Washtenaw County area including these zip codes: 48103, 48104, 48105, 48108, 48114, 48116, 48118, 48130, 48137, 48139, 48167, 48168, 48169, 48170, 48175, 48176, 48178, 48187, 48189

Fresh Gifts & Decorations Helleborus

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Christmas Shop • The Village of Rochester Hills Located on Main St., Near Carson’s • 248-842-8455 Award-Winning Holiday Decorating & Landscape Services: 248-874-1400

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2014 | MichiganGardener.com

The Holidays. At Telly’s, we are fully stocked for the holiday season. Let us impress you with our year-round dedication to superior selection, quality, and service.

Holiday Workshops Sensational Holiday Wreath Class Saturday, November 8, 10-11:30a This popular class at the Pontiac location fills up fast! Carolyn, the lead floral designer at Goldner Walsh, shows you how to make a wreath. Workshop materials include: 20" grapevine wreath, 1 bow or raffia, pine cones, pods & evergreen tips. Additional accents can be purchased. Please bring a pair of clippers. $38/person. Pre-paid registration required. Please call Goldner Walsh at 248-332-6430.

Holiday Indoor or Outdoor Greens Arrangement Workshop

Fresh-cut Christmas Trees (Troy & Shelby locations) 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

• 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

A smart gardener is a gardener that learns from every experience. —Deborah Silver

To-Do List........................................................6

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

Ask MG............................................................8

Weather Wrap............................................ 21

Books for the Michigan Gardener..........10

Subscription Form...................................... 21

Tree Tips.........................................................12

Thyme for Herbs............................................22

Birds: Secret hiding places for food..... 14

Gift Subscriptions..........................................23

Ikebana: The Japanese art of flower arrangement............................. 16

Houseplants: The Beautiful and Iconic Poinsettia................................ 24

Calendar..........................................................17 Where to pick up Michigan Gardener.....18 Advertiser Index......................................... 18 Classified Ads.............................................. 19

Saturday, November 15: Troy location: 10am / Pontiac location: 1pm Saturday, December 6: Troy location: 10am / Shelby Twp location: 1pm Create a beautiful indoor table decoration, a unique hand-crafted gift, or an outdoor greens arrangement. Our instructors will guide you through the process as we explore Telly's enormous selection of greens, cones, twigs, berries, ribbon, accents, and more. Bring your own container or choose one of ours. Workshop fee is $5 plus the cost of materials used. Please pre-register by calling 248-689-8735. Please bring a pair of clippers.

Holiday Décor

Garden Wisdom

• 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!

5 OFF any purchase of $50 or more

Not valid for gift certificates. One coupon per customer. May not be used in conjunction with any other coupon or offer. Expires December 24, 2014.

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

Publisher/Editor Eric Hofley Design & Production Jonathon Hofley

Editorial Assistant Anna Doman

SHELBY TOWNSHIP • 248-659-8555 4343 24 Mile • Btwn Dequindre & Shelby Rd.

PONTIAC • 248-724-2300 559 Orchard Lake Rd (at Goldner Walsh) Between Telegraph & Woodward

find us on

www.tellys.com

Photo: Eric Hofley/Michigan Gardener

Please look for the next issue of Michigan Gardener in April, 2015. We want to thank our advertisers for making this season of Michigan Gardener possible—our 19th year. Michigan Gardener, your locally owned and published gardening magazine, would not exist without them and their support. Please visit our advertisers and purchase their products and services. Let them know you saw their ad in Michigan Gardener! You will be rewarded with many more years of Michigan Gardener—our area’s best gardening resource. Have you signed up for our free E-Newsletter yet? Simply visit our website at MichiganGardener.com and enter your e-mail address. Want to find the latest garden events in our area this winter? Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on the garden event calendar. Plus, we will be adding gardening information to our website throughout the winter. Thank you and see you in the spring!

Circulation Jonathon Hofley

3301 John R • 1/4 mile north of 16 Mile Rd.

On the cover: Michigan holly is a superior landscape plant, especially during the winter. Learn more about it on page 28.

To Our Readers...

Advertising Eric Hofley

TROY • 248-689-8735

Plant Focus: Michigan Holly.....Back Cover

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

16291 W. 14 Mile Rd., Suite 5 Beverly Hills, MI 48025-3327 Phone: 248-594-5563 Fax: 248-594-5564 E-mail: publisher@MichiganGardener.com Website: www.MichiganGardener.com Publishing schedule 6 issues per year: April, May, June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec. Published the first week of the mo. Subscriptions (Please make check payable to Michigan Gardener) 1 yr, 6 iss/$14 2 yr, 12 iss/$26 3 yr, 18 iss/$36 Back issues All past issues are available. Please send your request along with a check for $3.00 per issue payable to Michigan Gardener. Canadian subscriptions 1 yr, 6 iss/$22 US 2 yr, 12 iss/$42 US Copyright © 2014 Michigan Gardener. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or used in any form without the expressed, written permission of the publisher. Neither the advertiser nor the publisher will be responsible for misinformation, typographical errors, omissions, etc. contained herein. Michigan Gardener is published by Motor City Publishing, Inc.

Holiday Open House

Thursday, November 6, 5-9pm Friday & Saturday, November 7 & 8, 9am-5pm Sunday, November 9, 12 to 4pm • Holiday and winter décor and ornament • Great natural materials for holiday and winter decorating including fresh cut twigs, a wide variety of cut greens, mosses, berries, garlands, twig trees and seed pods • Design and planting of holiday and winter containers • Holiday lighting and light sculptures • Unique gifts for gardeners • Custom-made wreaths, swags, garland, holiday topiary, ribbons and wrap • Candles and decor for the holiday table, party and home

1794 Pontiac Drive • Sylvan Lake • 248-335-8089

Facebook.com/DetroitGardenWorks

Instagram.com/DetroitGarden

Pinterest.com/DeborahSilver

Shop our website—we ship! DetroitGardenWorks.com

Michigan Gardener | November/December 2014 | MichiganGardener.com

to-do list Quality Plants for Dedicated Gardeners Perennials, annuals & herbs...our outdoor-grown plants are acclimated to Michigan’s weather for better performance in your garden M-59 (Highland Rd.)

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WOJO’S

Bulbs: Spring-Flowering • For a beautiful display of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths next spring, bulbs must be planted in the fall. You can plant right up until the ground freezes. Keep squirrels from digging up your hard work by adding a repellent when you plant.

Evergreens • This is the time of year to prune evergreen trees. Evergreens should be pruned before July 4th or after Halloween. Remove any crossing branches or inward-growing branches that make the plant look uneven. Prune old wood, and competing leaders, which are branches that extend high above the rest and challenge the main leader.

General

Greenhouse 2570 Oakwood Rd. Ortonville, MI 48462 248-627-6498

• Update your garden journal, download photos of your garden from your digital camera, and make notes for next year. Planning begins as you put the garden to bed, making notes of what worked and what didn’t. Organize yourself this fall, and you’ll be ahead in the spring. • Keep watering the garden right up until the ground freezes. This is particularly important for newly-planted trees, shrubs or perennials. Plants will continue to take up moisture throughout the winter. Make sure they have an adequate supply.

WOJO’S Garden Splendors 7360 E. Court St. Davison, MI 48423 810-658-9221

WOJO’S of Lake Orion Closed for the Season

Lawns

Davison Holiday Hours Open Daily 10-5

• Make sure to apply the last application of fall fertilizer early in the month. This is the most important time for fertilizing to give your lawn a healthy start for next spring. Cut your grass shorter than normal the last time of the season.

Ortonville Holiday Hours Open Daily 9-5

Celebrate Family at Wojo’s Our Poinsettias are grown right here in our greenhouse. Our evergreens are handmade and the freshest you’ll find anywhere! Seasonal Planters ~ Wreaths ~ Centerpieces ~ Garland Poinsettias ~ Kissing Balls Swags ~ Memorial Blankets Custom Designs Available

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Perennials • Perennials need very little care this time of year; simply finish cutting back and raking out beds of foliage and seed heads that aren’t going to remain for winter interest. • If garden beds need winter interest, consider adding some of the semi-evergreen or evergreen perennials to that area next year. Autumn fern, Stokes aster, Japanese tassel fern, coral bells, Christmas rose, and Lenten rose can all add interest until the snow covers them up. Mixing some of the miniature alpine shrubs into your perennial beds can also add evergreen color.

Roses • Roses should be going dormant, but not totally in that stage yet. Hold off on winterizing until it gets cold and stays cold. Winterizing isn’t done to keep roses warm, but to help keep the soil temperatures consistent. Winterize too soon and roses may think it’s time

to grow. Only prune out dead canes at this time of year. Leave rose canes long through the winter and cut them down in the spring. • Remove any diseased foliage from and around the plants to eliminate a source of infection next spring. Use a late season, dormant treatment of fungicide to help kill off any black spot that might otherwise overwinter on your canes. • Use rose cones as rose turtlenecks, not as rose igloos. Cones can actually keep some roses too warm and cook them in the winter sun. Tie up your roses with twine, so they’ll be narrow enough to fit into the cone. Cut off the top of the rose cone and slide it over the rose. Poke quarter-sized holes in the sides for air circulation and fill with at least 6 inches of mulch. • Use rose collars or burlap and stakes for larger roses or for rose beds. Fill with at least 6 inches of mulch so that the crown or graft of the rose is well protected against the cold.

Storing Tools & Garden Supplies • Take time to winterize your tools this fall, so they’re ready for next spring. Give them a good cleaning, sharpening and oiling. Remember the lawn mower blade as well. • Empty the soil out of planters and bring them into the garage. If that’s not possible, be sure to 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 try to prevent the soil from expanding when the water in it freezes, so the pots won’t crack.

Shrubs & Trees • If you want to move any shrubs in the spring, prepare them for the move now. Dig a circle around the plant like you’re going to dig it out. Leave the shrub in place and give it a good dose of rooting or planting fertilizer. The shrub will spend the winter growing roots so that next year when it’s moved, it will have many more roots and will transplant much better. • 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 out 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.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2014 | Michigan Gardener

Say GOODBYE to decorating stress Say HELLO to The Garden Company Feature Task: Do some indoor gardening this winter It’s a long stretch from November to March. Gardeners miss digging in the dirt, but don’t despair. Turn your attention inside and garden indoors. Try something you haven’t done before. Make a terrarium, grow an orchid, or decorate a room with green plants. Indoor plants brighten a home, clean the air, and can help feed the gardening habit during winter. Many houseplants are very easy to grow and require minimal care. Plus, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the air we breathe. Studies show that many common indoor plants can also absorb air contaminants, thus reducing the levels of toxins in our living and working spaces. Just one to two plants per 100 square feet will start improving the quality of air around you. Some of the best include: areca palm, rhapis palm, bamboo palm, Janet Craig dracaena, English ivy, pothos, and peace lily. This is also a great time to plan your spring garden and consider starting seeds indoors. Some varieties of seed are easier to grow indoors than others. Typically, you’ll want to start those that have a longer growing season, like tomatoes and peppers. Some of the easiest to grow are: eggplants, marigolds, peppers, sunflowers and tomatoes. To determine when to plant, check the seed packet to see how many weeks before the last frost seeds should be planted. Count backwards from May 15 (usually the average frost-free date in southern Michigan). When you reach the appropriate number of weeks, write yourself a note to start those seeds 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 decorative evergreens and use those branches for decorations in your outdoor or indoor containers. 11. Don’t use pruning seal. It can inhibit healing and bark re-growth. 12. If branches are larger than 2 inches, use the three-cut method of pruning to prevent bark peeling back and injuring the tree: 1) Cut underneath the branch, about 10 inches out from the trunk. Only cut in about 1/4 of the way to prevent the bark peel back injury. 2) Cut off the rest of the branch about 15 inches out from the

that week. Forcing bulbs is a great way to enjoy flowers in your home throughout the winter. Spring-flowering bulbs, such as tulips, hyacinths and daffodils, are available now in the garden center. If you want to force some daffodils to brighten up your home during a gray Michigan winter, start now. This is a fun and easy project to do with children. You will need a six-inch clay azalea pot (which is shallower than a regular clay pot), potting soil, pea gravel, and bulbs. Daffodils, grape hyacinths, hyacinths, crocus, or paperwhites work best. Tulips can be forced into bloom, but they’re a little more difficult. Use high quality bulbs for the best results. Start by placing about one inch of gravel on the bottom of the pot. Then add enough soil so that bulbs are about one inch above the soil line. Plant about six bulbs in one sixinch pot. Water thoroughly until water drips from the drainage hole. To force the bulbs into flower, they require a cold period of about 12 to 15 weeks at temperatures between 41 and 48 degrees F. A spare refrigerator is ideal. Paperwhites don’t need the cooling period, just plant in an attractive container. After the cold storage period, the bulb’s root system should be well established. When the bulbs have one-inch sprouts, move the pot to a sunny location. Ideally, the room should be 65 degrees F. Warm room temperatures promote fast growth. Cooler temperatures slow things down and keep bulbs blooming longer. 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.

Water Garden • 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, you may have spots on the fountain that flake or break. Provided by the professionals at English Gardens.

We will decorate your halls with fresh greens, fragrant cyclamen, and lights that sparkle. Enjoy the comfort of your home and your guests this holiday season. Call us today and remove “Decorate the house” from your holiday to-do list!

Our holiday services: Outdoor containers and custom holiday designs in your winter garden. Indoor custom decorating with fresh greens, seasonal plants, and holiday decor. Call us!

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Celebrate the Holiday Season at Steinkopf’s! Select from hundreds of fresh-cut Christmas trees grown here in Michigan—7 different species! Holiday greens • Roping Wreaths (up to 5-foot!) Memorial Blankets • Firewood SPECIAL EVENT:

A Visit from Mrs. Claus Sunday, December 14, 12-4p

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20815 Farmington Rd. (1 blk N of 8 Mile) Farmington Hills / 248-474-2925 Call for holiday hours

Michigan Gardener | November/December 2014 | MichiganGardener.com

ask mg Preparing plants for winter

DeerPro

Deer HATE it...You'll LOVE it! ONE application lasts ALL winter. Call 248-588-0202 for your FREE estimate! Deer will cause millions of dollars in landscape damage this year... Damage that can be prevented!

• DeerPro is the longest-lasting deer repellent on the market. • DeerPro does NOT need to be re-applied in the snow and ice of winter, unlike other repellents that last only a few weeks. • DeerPro lasts all winter. One spray as early as October will provide protection until early spring. • DeerPro is a professional strength repellent that can only be purchased and applied by licensed professionals.

248-588-0202 www.mikestree.com Licensed & Insured

Any advice for preparing plants for another hard winter? Especially young yews planted this year. J.B., Ann Arbor The most important thing (and often overlooked) is to water shrubs and trees while the ground is still pliable. That means through November. Once the ground is frozen, plants cannot replenish lost moisture through their roots. They must not go into winter dehydrated. Stake burlap screens to protect against sunscald, snow load, and snow removal, especially for new yew and boxwood hedges. Younger trees with trunks under 4-inch caliper should be shielded with plastic perforated tubes to prevent bark splitting from winter sun. The shields also help prevent rabbits, mice and voles from chewing on the bark under the snow. If you have deer in the area, stake a multiwrap burlap circle around larger trees to deter the males from scent-marking the trunks. You can spray the burlap with repellents to further discourage them. Those scrapes cause wounds that can stunt the tree’s growth and create entries for disease and insects later. Broadleaf evergreens such as rhododendrons and azaleas benefit from application of horticultural oil. They are soft tissue evergreens, different from conifers that have tiny needles. These anti-transpirant oils prevent moisture loss through the leaves when the plants are unable to replenish water from their roots. Taking precautions now to prevent winter damage will noticeably reduce problems in spring.

How to prune bluebeard shrub If I do fall pruning on bluebeard, will I hurt it? It is overgrown, but was blooming and healthy this fall. C.K.B.

Bluebeard The blue flowers on this upright, bushy shrub bloom on the current season’s growth and begin the show in late summer. Prune bluebeard (Caryopteris) in mid to late spring, just as the buds are breaking and when severe frosts are no longer expected. Dead wood is also more obvious then.

Young plants benefit from hard pruning in the first spring after planting. In subsequent years, you can shorten all the stems by at least 3/4 of the growth made the previous year. The key is not to cut into the established framework, as they rarely produce new growth on old wood. Neglected specimens can be renovated by cutting the stems back in spring to the lowest active buds seen. If you prune drastically low, this shrub will likely not survive.

Red leaves are turning green

Why did my red Japanese maple revert back to green leaves this fall? M.M., Ada A red Japanese maple is a wonderful tree for the residential landscape because of its hospitable size and elegance. The reversion to green leaves in fall is often a signal of the natural decrease in daily sunlight as we head into winter and shorter days. Red Japanese maples need strong sun, but not heat, to keep the beautiful reds and burgundy colors we like. However, if your tree is a grafted cultivar, then you might be seeing sprouting from the rootstock through a failure point where the scion (desirable plant) is grafted to the rootstock. This is something you can easily check by finding the graft point on the trunk. Often the scion cultivar does not have hardy roots in northern climates. It is grafted to hardy Japanese maple rootstock, which tolerates frozen ground. If you do have a break in the scion graft, you need to prune off the green growth as close to the point of eruption as possible. This will need to be done repeatedly until the tree barks over that area to seal the pruning cut. It is important not to let the rootstock feed its own growth or the scion will continue to weaken and eventually die.

Transplanting Russian sage When should I transplant my Russian sage; it needs more space. D.D., Muskegon Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) is a mint family member. It is tolerant of clay soils and drought conditions. Plus, the silver-gray foliage, fragrant blue flowers, and cold hardiness of this woody perennial make it a mainstay in the sunny garden. You can transplant your sage in fall or spring, with spring being preferable, just as the stems start to show new growth. Cut the stems back to 4 to 6 inches above soil level. Insert your shovel straight down in a circle around the plant base about 6 to 8 inches away from the main stem. Russian sage roots send out rhizomes to colonize. By digging straight down around the circumference of the plant, you establish a root ball without disturbing it. Slide your shovel under the root ball and lift carefully, settling the plant into its new location at the same level

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2014 | Michigan Gardener

Oakland Community College has classes for you!

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

with the soil as its former spot. Prior to digging the plant, you can ease transplant shock by watering for a couple days before. The new location should be prepared with compost mixed into the backfill soil. The new location should have full sun and good air circulation.

Groundcovers for sun Please recommend a flowering, non-invasive groundcover for sun to part sun. P., Detroit There are many to choose from! Myrtle and pachysandra are not the only groundcovers. Candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) stays 2 to 3 inches with bright white flowers in spring that last for several weeks. Shear it after the flowers are spent and the evergreen, needlelike foliage thickens up like a carpet. Dianthus ‘Bath’s Pink’ sports gray, spiky foliage and a pretty pink spring flower. Ajuga ‘Chocolate Chip’ has lush, lobe-shaped leaves in burgundy green, weaving together a thick mat about 4 inches tall and producing a purple-blue flower stalk. All three of these are deer resistant. There is lamium ‘White Nancy’ with variegated foliage and a white spring flower. ‘Silver Carpet’ (Dymondia margaretae) has silver foliage with small, yellow, daisy-like flowers. Becoming more popular is plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides), which is tolerant of many soils and light levels. It produces a true blue flower in late summer and green foliage

Plumbago that turns to copper-burgundy in fall. ‘GroLow’ sumac (Rhus aromatica) has no relation to the poisonous kind. But its trefoil blue-green leaves fill in quickly about 12 to 24 inches above the soil, offering a yellow spring flower, fuzzy red fruit, and strong crimson fall color. Needing a bit more moisture and acid soil is the creeping dogwood, bunchberry (Cornus canadensis). The pure white dogwood blossom lays open on top of four pinwheel leaves and displays a red berry for fall, like many of its dogwood cousins.

Fungus on tomato plants

We grew a 30- by 40-foot organic garden this year. The tomato leaves started to

Become a better gardener

turn yellow and had black blotches all over them. Then the same on the cucumbers and zucchini. We watered at the base, instead of an overhead sprinkler. I am worried about next year and how to get the garden ready, or if we should move it somewhere else. We’ve never had a problem before. B.M., Romeo Your symptoms appear to be early blight leaf spot caused by the fungus Alternaria. The symptoms appear as the temperature rises, which is what tomatoes and other fleshy vegetables need to ripen. We had ample rain this growing season, which created prime fungal conditions. There were many reports across the state that vegetable crops had difficulties due to leaf spot fungus taking down the foliage and leaving ripening fruit subject to sunscald. The fungal spores can transmit within a garden to other plants such as the cucumbers and zucchini. Watering at the base is better than overhead, but a soaker hose or drip irrigation is even better since it causes no splash and limits the dispersion of spores. Sanitation is your best control. Remove all the infected plant material itself and remove anything left on the soil surface. The fungus overwinters in the leaf debris. It is best not to plant tomatoes in that same location next year as they are an indicator plant for this pesky fungus. Rotate your plantings and amend the soil with clean compost. Give the plants plenty of air circulation by considering trellises. You can actually train tomatoes to climb much like cucumbers, rather than containing them in typical cages. This gives them ample air and sunlight. You may need to apply sulfur dust lightly in spring to new leaves to protect against this fungus before fruit develops. Because three of your vegetables were compromised this year, it may be a wise precaution. Answers provided by Beverly Moss, owner of Garden Rhythms.

GARDEN RHYTHMS

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AFFORDABLE – A typical class is 3 hours per week for 15 weeks: a total of 45 hours. At roughly $200, that is less than $5 per hour!

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Web

www.oaklandcc.edu (click on “Programs” then “Landscape Horticulture”)

E-mail Tracy Moloughney, tbmoloug@oaklandcc.edu Phone 248�232�4536 (ask for Tracy Moloughney)

College Admission Deadline: Dec. 15 Final Registration: Jan. 8�9, 2015

Artist’s Market, Musicians and Authors

Featuring Huron Valley Council for the Arts

Saturday, Nov 22, 9am-5pm Sunday, Nov 23, 10am-5pm

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1-1/2 Miles S. of M-59 Across from Lakeland H.S.

Celebrate the

Season! Our expanded Christmas showroom has over 12 decorated theme trees and over 50 styles of lifelike trees. Fresh greens, handcrafted porch pots and wreaths are our specialty, available mid November. • CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA • GIRLS NIGHT OUT

NOV. 21, 6-8 pm

• PORCH POT WORKSHOPS NOV. 29, DEC. 6 & 13 1pm

• NIGHT AT THE NORTH POLE DEC. 19, 7pm

• SANTA’S HERE WEEKENDS Details on website

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How to Eradicate Invasive Plants by Terri Dunn Chace

World’s Fair Gardens by Cathy Jean Maloney As showcases for dramatic changes in garden style and new technology, world’s fairs offered leading landscape designers the chance to tempt visitors to try new garden trends in backyards across the nation. World’s Fair Gardens (University of Virginia Press, 256 pages, $39.95.) covers an illustrated exploration of the gardens and grounds of America’s 19th and early 20th century world’s fairs. The author describes the landscapes of nine of America’s great fairs from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia to the 1940 World’s Fair of Tomorrow in New York. Many of those legacies are still evident. Foreign plant introductions included English rhododendrons in Philadelphia, Mexican cacti in New Orleans, and Japanese gardens at nearly all the fairs— great feats considering the challenge of shipping live plants long distances during those times. Complete with more than 50 color and 70 black-and-white illustrations, World’s Fair Gardens will appeal to historians, gardeners, urban planners, landscape architects, preservationists, and anyone interested in the history of these extraordinary events.

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2014 | MichiganGardener.com

Garlic mustard. Buckthorn. Thistle. They won’t go away by themselves. Invasive plants are a growing threat to home landscapes, affecting native plants, wildlife, and humans. How to Eradicate Invasive Plants (Timber Press, 336 pages, $24.95) teaches gardeners the best methods for getting rid of a variety of species using both organic and chemical methods. The author’s guide enables readers to identify 200 of the most common invasive plants. This clear, easy-to-use book shows you how to recognize these plants and offers eradication options, from simple, organic approaches to the safest and most responsible ways to use chemicals. This comprehensive guide includes all types of invasive plants, including water and bog plants, annuals, biennials, herbaceous perennials, grasses and bamboos, vines, shrubs, and trees. After eradicating harmful invasive plants, gardeners can look forward to taking back their growing space by planting the non-invasive alternatives offered by the author.

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You don’t have to be a Picasso to paint a beautiful portrait in houseplants. Plant by Numbers (Cool Springs Press, 176 pages, $21.99) gives a course in interiorscaping that will teach you to fill your home with surprising and beautiful houseplant arrangements. With 50 houseplant combinations, the author makes decorating with plants as easy as painting by numbers. The book showcases new ways to grow and display houseplants, and explains how with step-by-step instructions on creating interior container gardens, complete with photography and shopping lists. It will show you how to pair compatible plants for a lush and healthy indoor garden. The “plant-a-gram” format will show you exactly where to position each plant in your pairings. Houseplants offer all the elements that are valued and relied upon by the best decorators: a huge color palette of flowers and foliage, a variety of forms, and a wealth of sizes and textures.

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More of a great thing (and still free!) Sign up today for our FREE e-newsletter! Visit MichiganGardener.com and simply enter your e-mail address at the top of the page next to the Michigan Gardener logo. You will receive a few e-mails each year containing handy tips, events, expert Q&A and much more. Don’t miss the contest in each issue for your chance to win garden prizes. You can win FREE items like Michigan Gardener apparel, books and more!

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2014 | MichiganGardener.com

tree tips Pruning your trees Ask the right questions when selecting a tree care company to prune your trees

runing trees is something most homeowners know they should do, but unlike other home maintenance projects, most know little of what really needs to be done, or what results to expect once they hire a service. They simply trust that the tree company knows what to do and how to do it. Unfortunately, there can be vast differences in both skills and knowledge from one company to another, and sometimes even between crews in the same company.

The first sign of this will be when you get estimates. Often they will vary greatly, as each person bidding sees the job differently and bids accordingly. Knowing which one to choose can be a challenge. So let’s look at some things you can do to help take the guesswork out of hiring a service. It helps to ask the right questions before you have them bid. 1st question: Are you insured? That will help weed out the weekend warriors and line clearance guys doing side jobs. Hiring an un-

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insured company could be costly if something goes wrong; don’t get sucked in by the cheap price. 2nd question: Do you use spikes/spurs to climb? This is very important, as it shows the skill levels of their climbers as well as their regard for the health of your trees. Professional climbers will not use spikes to climb trees unless the tree is being removed or the situation is a dire emergency. Those that do will argue it does not “hurt” the tree. What they mean is that it will damage but not kill the tree. Unless, of course, their spikes are spreading disease to healthy trees, which often happens. Furthermore, do you want to look at all the scars that are going to be left after the tree heals its wounds, or the sap stains streaking down the trunk that will linger for years on some species? It costs more to hire professionals who can climb without spikes, but it can save you loads of money if you later have to remove dead trees because of spike wounds. 3rd question: What professional affiliations do you have? In Michigan there are several, including the ISA, ASM, and TCIA. They all provide training and educational opportunities, as well as certification programs so members can prove their competence. I would estimate that the majority of tree services do not have any of these affiliations. Instead, many companies will tout their experience, which is fine if they are using modern techSteve niques and practices. But if they are Turner doing things the way their father or grandfather taught them 20 to 30 years ago, methods have changed for the better. Good companies will stay educated and up to date. Last question: Do you top trees? If they say yes, then move on. The answer you are looking for: “No, that is an outdated practice that causes more harm than good.” This will help you gauge both their professionalism and ethics in one question. Often when I confront a company’s poor decisions or severity of pruning, the answer I get is, “That’s what the customer wanted.” The correct approach is to educate the customer on the proper methods and make alternative suggestions. If the customer still wants it done, refuse to do substandard work and decline the job. Reputable companies will not lower their standards to gain work.

Analyzing bids Once you have found quality companies to quote your work, the next hurdle is uniformity in the bidding process. To make sure you are comparing apples to apples, you will need to be familiar with some of the terminology

used to describe the work to be done. The more detailed the estimate, the less likely you will be surprised by the end results. An example of what you might see: Crown clean backyard 30-inch DBH S. Maple. Deadwood front yard 36-inch DBH W. Oak, all branches 1 inch and over. Elevate side yard 24-inch DBH Sycamore over house, give 8 to 10 feet roof clearance. Thin front 12-inch DBH Crabapple to allow more light to garden below. Clean up and remove all debris. This is a pretty simple, but concise description of the work to be done. On the other hand, “Prune backyard oak” is too vague. Every term I used above describes a different pruning type and will have a different end result. First, DBH stands for diameter at breast height, and indicates the size of the tree trunk. Crown clean means to remove all dead, weak and diseased limbs and branches. It accounts for most everything the tree needs except major structural issues. Deadwood entails removing just dead wood, which is often the only thing that properly-maintained, mature trees need. Be sure to specify the minimum size of the branches to be removed. Arborists can chase every dead twig, but it will cost you more. Elevate means to raise the lower branches to a specified height over a structure or off the ground. Thin can be an ambiguous term. I like to see the intended purpose stated on the bid, so everyone is clear. If it is to reduce weight or allow more light in, it should be written down. Structural pruning will either mean pruning young trees to remove future defects, or correcting a structural issue in a mature tree. The pruning can be severe but necessary at times. Either way, it will often leave a misshapen tree that will need some time to fill in, so be prepared. Stating the location, size and species of each tree helps prevent the wrong tree from being worked on. Of course, this is even more crucial if the tree is being removed. There are additional terms but these are the ones you will most often encounter and should give you a good start in finding the right tree service. Protect your assets. Don’t shop solely for price—shop for quality. Improperly pruned trees, especially topped ones, reduce the value of your home, while well-maintained trees increase it. Steve Turner, Certified Arborist, is from Arboricultural Services in Fenton, MI.

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2014 | MichiganGardener.com

Oakland County Market for the birds 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford, MI 48328 248.858.5495 • DestinationOakland.com

Secret hiding places for food Birds store food in many ways to help survive the winter months

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s temperatures cool and the change of season is upon us, birds in your garden are looking for secret hiding places. Many bird species store food as a precaution against potentially meager food supplies in the colder months. This activity is called caching, and it typically takes place in the late summer and fall months when food is abundant. If you have trees full of nature’s bounty with acorns or a birdfeeder filled with seeds, you can witness firsthand the numerous quick trips being made by your garden birds between those food sources and a secret hiding place. Bird species that frequently cache foods include jays, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and crows. These birds store hundreds of seeds a day, and each seed is placed in a different location. With some birds using hundreds of Rosann caches, a large memory Kovalcik is required to relocate the seeds. It has been proven that in some species, the chickadees and titmice in particular, the birds use a physiological response to the need for memory: their brains grow larger! The portion of the brain that is responsible for memory is called the hippocampus and it increases in size in these bird species during the autumn and winter. When spring arrives, it shrinks smaller again in response to the newly emerging insects that provide a bountiful food source. What about the non-migratory birds in your yard that do not grow a larger memory brain section? Researchers hypothesize that these birds simply find a way to relocate the stored food. By providing an easily accessible food source, you can help your birds with their caching needs. You can also have a great time watching birds locate secret hiding places and discover them throughout your yard. The location of caches will vary depending on the bird’s habitat. Popular storage areas include seeds and nuts wedged into the bark of trees or beneath house eaves or shingles. Many birds will cache food by burying it or covering it with leaves or mulch, or pushing the food into soft soil. Birds have been observed pushing seeds into flower petals in an effort to hide them. In forested areas, birds are often responsible for helping tree growth from their stored nuts and seeds. Chickadees cache more frequently during the middle of the day and will carry seeds (in the shell and out) and nuts, typically within 100 feet from feeders. Chickadees also cache insects and other invertebrate prey. Some of

A downy woodpecker precisely extracts an insect from this plant gall.

Some of chickadees’ favorite places to store food are knotholes, bark crevices, and on the underside of small branches. their favorite places to cache are knotholes, bark crevices, under shingles, in the ground, and on the underside of small branches. Nuthatches prefer to cache hulled sunflower seeds, because they are easier and faster to store. Occasionally they will cache mealworms. Nuthatches generally choose heavier seeds because they are larger and have a higher oil content. Different from chickadees, nuthatches are most active with caching early in the day and stay within about 45 feet from feeders. They store food in bark crevices on large tree trunks and on the underside of branches. Tufted titmice select sunflower and safflower seeds, and peanuts, typically caching about 130 feet from feeders. Titmice cache one seed at a time and typically choose the largest seeds available, often removing the seeds from their shell before hiding them. Insects are also looking for secret hiding places during the winter to avoid being found by predators—specifically the birds in our yards. Insect hiding locations include under leaf litter, mulch, rocks and logs, in bark

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2014 | Michigan Gardener

crevices, and behind loose tree bark, as well as in, under and around rotting logs or dead branches of trees and bushes. More hiding places are inside seed heads of flowers, inside woodpecker holes, within bird nests, and in openings in cement, mortar and bricks. Insects can also create galls, which are orb-like formations in plants. They burrow into the plant and suck the inner plant tissue, causing the surrounding tissue to swell and form a sort of bubble. They sequester themselves inside the bubble, which protects them from the elements during the winter. These galls are no match for the downy woodpeck-

ers in our yards. Their light weight allows them to cling onto stems without breaking the plant, and their strong bill taps a perfect hole for their barbed tongue to enter, extracting the insect from the gall with precision. Autumn is a great time to sit back and take a moment to look for those secret hiding places. Marvel at the wonders that happen in your own garden!

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Ikebana: The Japanese art of flower arrangement by Angie Birdsall Ikebana, which means “flowers kept alive,” is the Japanese art of arranging flowers. The development of high floral art in Japan is due to the Japanese love of nature. Foreign visitors to Tokyo are surprised their taxi driver has hung a little vase with a flower or two at the edge of his dashboard. The house that does not at all times contain some sort of floral arrangement is rare. In principle, ikebana does not aim to bring a finite piece of nature into the house, but

suggests the whole of nature by creating a link between the indoors and outdoors. Flower arrangers are likely to use different types of plants in a single arrangement, and to give prominence to leaves and flowerless branches as well as blossoms. Even when a single type of flower is used, an attempt is made to bring out its full implication as a symbol of nature. Besides flowers, any plant material may be used: branches, leaves, grasses, moss and fruit. Withered leaves, seedpods and buds are valued as highly as flowers in full bloom.

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What distinguishes ikebana is its asymmetrical form and use of empty space. A sense of harmony among the material, container and setting is crucial.

History

Angie Birdsall

Emma Wynn displays her ikebana flower arrangement, done in the moribana style.

Ikebana has been practiced for more than 600 years. It developed from a Buddhist ritual of offering flowers to the spirits of the dead. The first teachers and students were priests and nobility. However, as time passed, many different schools arose, styles changed, and ikebana came to be practiced at all levels of Japanese society. As time passed, ikebana became a major part of traditional festivals, and exhibitions were held periodically. Rules were prescribed, and materials had to be combined in specific ways. In these early forms, a tall, upright central stem had to be accompanied by two shorter stems. The three stems represented heaven, man and earth. The specific Japanese names for these differed among ikebana schools.

How you can do ikebana Almost anyone with a little time and inclination can acquire sufficient skills to make beautiful arrangements. There are two basic styles of ikebana: “moribana” and “nageire.” Moribana (using a low, shallow container and flower holder) is a relative newcomer in the evolution of ikebana art, but its popularity has placed it alongside the older nageire (using a taller, upright container without a flower holder) as a primary style. Arrangements in either of these styles may be suspended from the ceiling or wall, or when large in scale, can be placed on the floor. Patterns of composition that are applicable to both styles include upright, slanting, spreading and cascading. An additional pattern, the horizontal pattern, is exclusive to the moribana style. For a nageire arrangement, choose three main flower stems. The first stem (“shin”) is the longest stem and should be cut so that its length equals the width plus height of the

vase or container. Cut the second stem (“soe”) so that it is about three-quarters the length of the shin stem. Cut the third stem (“hikae”) so it is three-quarters the length of the soe stem. Cut other flowers and stems, called “jushi.” They should be trimmed so they are shorter than the corresponding main stems. Use as many as you wish, but only in odd numbers. Keep flowers immersed in water until you are ready to use them. For a moribana style arrangement, fill a shallow vase halfway with water. Place a “floral frog” (a spiked or perforated device used to support flowers) in the container at a 6 o’clock position. Insert the shin stem toward the top center of the frog. Insert the soe stem toward the bottom left, and insert the hikae toward the bottom right. The three stems should appear to be on the points of an equilateral triangle. Arrange your stems by observing which angle the flowers appear most lively. A typical arrangement may lean the shin at a 15-degree angle, the soe in the same direction at a 45-degree angle and the hikae in the opposite direction as the shin at a 75-degree angle. Fill the remainder of the arrangement with jushi. These stems should try to follow the same pattern as the main stems and hide the frog. The art of ikebana is unique to the Japanese culture and remains popular today. Its natural beauty is an important part of life. It runs counter to the concept of flower arrangement as just being a collection of multicolored blooms—it puts more focus on stems and leaves. Ikebana emphasizes creative expression. The design is ultimately up to your own creativity. Angie Birdsall is a writer and gardener from Constantine, Michigan.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2014 | Michigan Gardener

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November H Holiday Premiere Event Sat, Nov 1 & Sun, Nov 2, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. www.rayhunter.com, 734-284-2500. H Christmas Open House Sun, Nov 2, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Refreshments, music, Santa arrival, local choirs & more. Portion of sales benefit Festival of Trees. www.EnglishGardens.com. Vines to Live with or Not Mon, Nov 3, 1pm, Farmington Hills. By Farmington Garden Club at Spicer House. Cheryl English speaks about various vines to enjoy & avoid. fgc1932@gmail.com. H The Year in Review Thu, Nov 6, 6:30-9pm, Farmington Hills. By Assoc of Professional Gardeners at Spicer House. $10. Open forum sharing what was learned over the past growing season. 248-375-9233. www.associationofprofessionalgardeners.org. H Holiday Open House Thu, Nov 6, 5-9pm & Fri-Sun, 9-5pm & Sun 12-4pm, Sylvan Lake. At Detroit Garden Works. Hand-picked holiday decor & unique home & garden gifts. www.detroitgardenworks.com. H Annual Ladies Night Fri, Nov 7, 6-9pm, Clinton Twp. At English Gardens. $5. Music, food, pampering & holiday decor inspiration. Benefits Forgotten Harvest. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Holiday Hocus Pocus Charity Event Fri, Nov 7, 6-9pm, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. Fun event benefiting youth programs by Downriver YMCA, Downriver Council for the Arts & Southgate Rotary Club. 734-658-8991. H Ladies Night Out Fri, Nov 7, 6-9pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. www.HeavenlyScentHerbFarm.com H Christmas Wreath Class Sat, Nov 8, 11am, all locations. At English Gardens. $5. Free 24” pre-lit wreath. We’ll provide the shopping list & guidance to create your X-mas wreath. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Wine, Women & Shopping Sat, Nov 8, 10am-6pm, Chelsea. At The Garden Mill. Garden decor & fresh holiday greens. www.thegardenmill.com. H Bow Making Sat, Nov 8, 10am, Noon, 1pm & Sun, Nov 9, 1pm & 3pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $5, plus the cost of the ribbon purchased at English Gardens. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Holiday Open House Sat, Nov 8, 9am-6pm & Sun, Nov 9, 10am-5pm, Grand Blanc. At The Weed Lady. Hors d’oeuvres, music, decor inspiration. www.TheWeedLady.com. H Docent Training Information Sessions Sat, Nov 8, 10-11:30am, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Share your enthusiasm for & knowledge of the natural world. 734-647-8528. H Holiday Wreath Class Sat, Nov 8, 10am-11:30am, Pontiac. At Telly’s/Goldner Walsh. $38/person. Includes materials. Make a wreath

For information about Public Gardens, please visit MichiganGardener.com. Click on "Resources" then "Public Gardens." to celebrate the Thanksgiving & Christmas season. Bring clippers. Register: 248-332-6530. Cultivating Your Green Thumb: Indoors Mon, Nov 10, 7pm, Royal Oak. By Ferndale Garden Club at Royal Oak Public Library. Care & cultivation of indoor plants including pests, diseases, soils, & fertilization. hamlinh@aol.com. Ferndale Garden Club Meeting Thu, Nov 13, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Ctr. Guests welcome. Blind auction. 248-541-6427. H Ladies’ Night Thu, Nov 13, 6-9pm, Grand Blanc. At The Weed Lady. Refreshments & relaxation. www.TheWeedLady.com. H Ladies’ Night Charity Event Fri, Nov 14, 5-8pm, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. Food, shopping & wine. Benefits Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital’s free mammography program. www.rayhunter.com. H Annual Ladies Night Fri, Nov 14, 6-9pm, Royal Oak. At English Gardens. $5. Music, food, pampering & holiday decor inspiration. Benefits Forgotten Harvest. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Holiday Indoor or Outdoor Greens Arrangement Workshop Sat, Nov 15, 10am, Troy & 1pm, Pontiac. At Telly’s. $5, plus cost of materials. Create indoor table decor, a handcrafted gift, or an outdoor arrangement. Bring clippers. Register: 248-689-8735. H Christmas Extravaganza Sat, Nov 15, 11-3pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. Fresh greens, porch pots & wreaths. www.PlymouthNursery.net. Nature Tales Sat, Nov 15, 10-11am, Ann Arbor. At Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. $4. Join us for this naturally unique story time for ages 1-5. www.lesliesnc.org, 734-997-1553. H Holiday Porch Pot Workshop Sat, Nov 15, 11am, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. Create a festive porch pot full of seasonal materials & trims in this make-it & take-it workshop. 734-284-2500, www.rayhunter.com. H Holiday Open House Sat, Nov 15 & Sun, Nov 16, Noon-5pm, Birmingham. At Blossoms. blossomsbirmingham.com. H Christmas Wreath Sat, Nov 15, 11am, all locations. At English Gardens. $5. Free 24” pre-lit wreath. We’ll provide the shopping list & guidance to create your X-mas wreath. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. continued on next page

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We are dedicated to promoting the business of professional gardening. Member benefits include access to best gardening practices through participation in educational programs and tours.

The Year in Review Thursday, November 6, 2014, 6:30-9pm Join us for this open forum where we share what we learned over the past growing season. This informative meeting takes place at the Spicer House in Farmington Hills. Sat, March 7, 2015: 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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Look for H Denotes Michigan Gardener advertiser

at these fine locations:

Clinton Twp H English Gardens • Michigan Koi Allen Park • MSU Extension• Ace Hardware Macomb Cty Almont H Tropical Treasures • American Tree Clio Ann Arbor H Piechnik’s Greenhse H Abbott’s Landscp Nurs Commerce Twp • Ace Barnes Hardware • Zoner’s Greenhse • Ace Barnes Hardware • Dixboro General Store Davison H Wojo’s Garden • Downtown Home & Splendors Gard Dearborn H English Gardens H HillTop Gnhse & Farms • Ace Hardware • Fairlane Gard • Larry’s Mower Shop H Lodi Farms Dearborn Hts H Matthaei H English Gardens Botanical Gard Detroit • The Produce Station • Ace Hardware H Turner’s Greenhse/ H Detroit Farm and Gard Gard Ctr • Detroit Gard Ctr • Wild Birds Unltd Dexter Auburn Hills H Bloom! Gard Ctr • Ace Hardware • Dexter Mill • Drake’s Nurs H Fraleigh’s Nurs H Haley Stone H Oakland Comm College Eastpointe • Ariel’s Enchanted H State Crushing Garden Belleville H English Gardens • Banotai Greenhse • Semrau Garden Ctr • Gardeners Choice Farmington H Pinter Flowerland • Ace Hardware H Zywicki Greenhse Farmington Hills Berkley • Ace Hardware • Garden Central • Saxton’s Flower Ctr Beverly Hills H Steinkopf Nurs • Ace Hardware • Weingartz Birmingham Fenton H Blossoms • Gerych’s • Plant Station H Heavenly Scent Herb Bloomfield Hills Farm • Coastal Outdoor Living Ferndale Space • Casual Modes Home Brighton & Gard H Beauchamp Landscp Flat Rock Supp • Masserant’s Feed • Leppek Nurs Store H Meier Flowerland H Nature’s Home & Gard Fostoria H Iron Barn Iron Work Brownstown Twp Fowlerville • Raupp Bros Landscp H Arrowhead Alpines Supp Gladwin • Ruhlig Farms & Gard H Stone Cottage Canton Gardens • Canton Floral Gardens Grand Blanc • Clink Landscp & Nurs H The Weed Lady • Crimboli Nurs • Wild Birds Unltd Grand Rapids • Meijer Gardens Chelsea • Heim Gardens & Grosse Ile Florist H Westcroft Gardens H The Garden Mill Grosse Pointe • The Potting Shed • Allemon’s Landscp Ctr Chesterfield • Meldrum & Smith • Van Thomme’s Nurs Greenhses Grosse Pointe Shores Clarkston H Edsel & Eleanor Ford • Ace Hardware House • ACE Hardware Grosse Pointe Woods • Country Oaks Landscp H Wild Birds Unltd Supp I Hadley • Lowrie’s Landscp • Le Fleur Décor • The Birdfeeder H The Pond Source Hartland • Weingartz • Deneweth’s Gard Ctr Haslett Clawson H Van Atta’s Greenhse • Ace Hardware

Highland • Ace Hardware • Colasanti’s Produce & Plants • Five Star Ace Hdwe • Fragments H One Stop Landscp Supp Holly H Rice’s Garden Ornaments Howell H Howell Farmer’s Mkt H Specialty Growers • Wilczewski Greenhses Imlay City H Earthly Arts Lake Orion • Lake Orion Lawn Ornaments H Orion Stone Depot H Wojo’s of Lake Orion Leonard H Yule Love It Lavender Farm Livonia • Ace Hardware (5 Mi/ Middlebelt) • Ace Hardware (6 Mi/ Newburgh) • Bushel Mart • George’s Livonia Gard • Superior Grwrs Supp • Valley Nurs Macomb • Ace Hardware • Altermatt’s Greenhse • Boyka’s Greenhse • Deneweth’s Gard Ctr H Elya’s Village Gard • Landscape Source • Olejnik Farms Midland • Dow Gardens Milford • Ace Hardware H The Pond Place Monroe H The Flower Market New Baltimore H Meldrum Bros Nurs New Boston H Gorham & Sons Nurs H Grass Roots Nurs • Mums the Word New Hudson H Milarch Nurs North Branch H Campbell’s Greenhses • Oldani Landscp Nurs Northville • Begonia Bros • Begonia Bros (near downtown) • Gardenviews Novi • Ace Hardware • Glenda’s Gard Ctr H Wild Birds Unltd Oak Park • Ace Hardware • Four Seasons Gard Ctr Oakland H Piechnik’s Garden Gate Ortonville • Country Oaks Landscp Supp II H Wojo’s Greenhse

Owosso H Everlastings in the Wildwood Pinckney • Ed Bock Feeds & Stuff Plymouth • Backyard Birds • Lucas Nurs H Plymouth Nurs • Plymouth Rock & Supp • Rock Shoppe • Sideways • Sparr’s Greenhse Pontiac • Goldner Walsh Gard/Home Redford H Pinter Flowerland • Seven Mi Gard Ctr Rochester • Casual Concepts • Fogler’s Greenhse H Haley Stone • Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr Rochester Hills • Ace Hardware H Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr H Shades of Green Nurs H Wild Birds Unltd Romulus H Kurtzhal’s Farms H Schoedel’s Nurs H Schwartz’s Greenhse Roseville • Dale’s Landscp Supp • World Gardenland Royal Oak • Ace Hardware • Billings Lawn Equip H English Gardens • Frentz & Sons Hdwe • La Roche • Manus Power Mowers H Wild Birds Unltd Saginaw H Abele Greenhse & Gard Ctr Salem Twp H Willow Greenhses Saline • Junga’s ACE Hardware H Nature’s Gard Ctr • Saline Flowerland Shelby Twp H Diegel Greenhses H Hessell’s Greenhses • Maeder Plant Farm • Potteryland H Telly’s Greenhse South Lyon • Ace Hardware • Hollow Oak Farm Nurs • Stone Depot Land Supp Southfield • 3 DDD’s Stand • Eagle Landscp & Supply • Lavin’s Flower Land • Main’s Landscp Supp Southgate H Ray Hunter Gard Ctr St Clair Shores • Ace Hardware • Ace Hardware (Harper/13 Mi) • Circare • Greenhouse Growers • Hall’s Nurs • Soulliere Gard Ctr

Sterling Hts • 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 Trenton • Carefree Lawn Ctr • Keck Hardware Troy H Telly’s Greenhse • The Home & Gard Shop H Uncle Luke’s Feed Store Utica • Dale’s Landscp Supp • Stone Scape • Weingartz Warren • Beste’s Lawn & Patio • Garden Center Nurs H Young’s Garden Mart Washington • Landscape Direct • Miller’s Big Red Greenhse H Rocks ‘n’ Roots • United Plant Ctr Waterford • Ace Hardware • Breen’s Landscp Supp • Jacobsen’s Flowers Waterford H Merrittscape West Bloomfield H English Gardens • Planterra • Whole Foods Westland • Ace Hardware H Barsons Greenhses • Bushel Stop • Joe Randazzo’s Nurs • Merlino’s Bushel Ctr • Panetta’s Landscape Supp • Stempien’s Landscape Supply White Lake H Bogie Lake Greenhse H Mulligan’s Gard Ctr • Sunshine Plants Whitmore Lake H Alexander’s Grnhses Williamston • Christian’s Greenhse Wixom • Angelo’s Landscp Supp H Brainer’s Greenhse Ypsilanti • Coleman’s Farm Mkt • Lucas Nurs • Margolis Nurs • Materials Unlimited • Schmidt’s Antiques

Advertiser Index Aguafina Gardens International......... 13 Assoc. of Professional Gardeners..........17 Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr.............................. 11 Barson’s Greenhouse............................... 15 Blossoms......................................................... 11 Bogie Lake Greenhouses..........................9 Detroit Garden Works...............................5 EcoChic Landscape Design...................16 English Gardens.................................Page 3 The Flower Market....................................19 The Garden Company...............................7 The Garden Mill.......................................... 15

Michigan Gardener | November/December 2014 | MichiganGardener.com

Garden Rhythms..........................................9 A Garden Space..........................................16 The Greenhouse Catalog.......................16 Guardian Tree Experts.....Inside Frt Cover Hidden Lake Gardens............................... 12 Iron Barn Iron Work.................................. 15 Matthaei Botanical Gardens.................14 Mike’s Tree Surgeons.................................8 Milarch Nursery..........................................10 Oakland Community College.................9 Oakland Cty Market.................................14 Plymouth Nursery.....................................10

Schuman Landscape Lighting.............. 15 Specialty Growers........................................6 Steinkopf Nursery........................................7 Telly’s Greenhouse......................................4 Turner’s Landscp & Gard Ctr................ 12 Uncle Luke’s Feed Store........................... 11 Van Atta’s Greenhouse........................... 13 The Weed Lady........................................... 13 Wild Birds Unlimited................................ 15 Wojo’s................................................................6

continued from previous page H Bow Making Sat, Nov 15, 10am, Noon, 1pm & Sun, Nov 16, 1pm & 3pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $5, plus the cost of the ribbon purchased. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. Herbs & Holly Boutique Sat, Nov 15, Grosse Pointe. By Herb Society of America, Grosse Pointe Unit at Grosse Pointe Woods Community Ctr. Herbal holiday decor, demos & samples. 586-7736682. H Bow Making Thu, Nov 20, 6:30pm, Ann Arbor, Dearborn Hts, W. Bloomfield. At English Gardens. $5, plus the cost of the ribbon purchased. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. Holiday Tables: Illuminate the Season Thu, Nov 20 to Sun, Nov 23, Bloomfield Hills. At Cranbrook House. $60. Enjoy a formal buffet tea & preview the magical Holiday Tables. Reservations required. 248-645-3149. H Paperwhite Bulb Garden Thu, Nov 20, 8pm, Ann Arbor, Dearborn Hts, W. Bloomfield. At English Gardens. $5, plus the cost of materials purchased. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Holiday Porch Pot Thu, Nov 20, 7pm, Ann Arbor, Dearborn Hts, W. Bloomfield. At English Gardens. $5, plus the cost of materials purchased. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. Festive Cocktail Party at Cranbrook House Fri, Nov 21, 6:30-10pm, Bloomfield Hills. At Cranbrook House. $125. Wine & spirits, strolling dinner, musical entertainment & dazzling Holiday Tables. Reservations required. 248-645-3149. 36th Annual Craft Sale Fri, Nov 21, 9am-8pm & Sat, Nov 22, 9am-5pm, Royal Oak. At First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak. Admission: can of food for the Salvation Army. 248-544-0242. General Admission Days at Cranbrook Fri, Nov 21, & Sat, Nov 22, 10am-4pm & Sun, 12pm-4pm, Bloomfield Hills. $20 or $15 in advance. Enjoy the elegance of Cranbrook House decorated with Holiday Tables. 248-645-3149. H Girls Night Out Fri, Nov 21, 6-8pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. www.PlymouthNursery.net. H Annual Twilight Christmas Walk Sat, Nov 22, 5-8pm, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. We turn down the lights as you stroll through our holiday wonderland while enjoying our harpist & refreshments. 734-284-2500. H Artist’s Market, Musicians & Authors Sat, Nov 22, 9am-5pm & Sun, Nov 23, 10am-5pm, White Lake. At Bogie Lake Greenhouse. Featuring Huron Valley Council for the Arts. www.BogieLakeGreenhouses.com. H Holiday Open House Sat, Nov 22, & Sun, Nov 23, Haslett. At Van Atta’s Greenhouse & Flower Shop. Music, food & more. www.VanAttas.com. Bonsai Pots & Display Stands Sun, Nov 23, 2pm, Troy. By 4 Seasons Bonsai at Telly’s Greenhouse. Todd Renshaw presents a demo on finding the perfect pot & stand. Winter care discussion. www.FourSeasonsBonsai.com. H Wreath Decorating Workshop Sun, Nov 23, Noon, Ann Arbor. At Turner’s Garden Center. $40. Includes materials. Register by Nov 17: 734-6637600. Highlights of the 2014 National Hosta Convention Mon, Nov 24, 7pm, Birmingham. By Metro Detroit Hosta Society at First United Methodist Church. Presented by Jan Everson. Hgold2843@comcast.net. H Holiday Shopping Nights Tue, Nov 25, Waterford. At Oakland County Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Rd. www.DesitinationOakland.com, 248-858-5495. H Porch Pot Workshop Sat, Nov 29, 1pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. www.PlymouthNursery.net. H Santa Claus Visit Sat, Nov 29, & Sun, Nov 30, 11-4pm, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. Santa will be at Ray Hunter through Dec 21. Photographer available. www.rayhunter.com.

December H Nature’s Gifts Wed, Dec 3, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Special family event at the gardens. www.hiddenlakegardens. msu.edu. H Docent Training Wed, Dec 3, 10-11:30am, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Share your enthusiasm for & knowledge of the natural world. 734-647-8528. H Holiday Shopping Nights Thu, Dec 4, Waterford. At Oakland County Market, 2350 Pontiac Lake Rd. www.DesitinationOakland.com, 248-858-5495. H Holiday Porch Pot Thu, Dec 4, 7pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $49.99. We’ll supply the materials, plus inspiration to make an outdoor accent to take home. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. Fresh Greens Market - Rochester Garden Club Thu, Dec 4 to Sat, Dec 6, Rochester. By Rochester Garden Club at St Philip Episcopal Church. Greens, arrangements & more. www.rochestergardenclub.org. Annual Greens Market - Waterford Garden Club Thu, Dec 4 & Fri, Dec 5, 9am-5pm & Sat, Dec 6, 9am3pm, Waterford. By Waterford Garden Club at Waterford Senior Ctr. Greens, wreaths, swags, roping & arrangements. www.waterfordgardenclub.org. H Evening of Lights Fri, Dec 5, 5-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Over 2000 candle-lit luminaries displayed. www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu. H Holiday Indoor or Outdoor Greens Arrangement Workshop Sat, Dec 6, 10am, Troy & 1pm, Shelby. At Telly’s. $5, plus cost of materials. Create indoor table decor, a handcrafted gift, or an outdoor arrangement. Bring clippers. Register: 248-689-8735. H Holiday Festival Sat, Dec 6, 4-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu. H Porch Pot Workshop Sat, Dec 6, 1pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. www.PlymouthNursery.net. Christmas Greens Market Clarkston Farm & Garden Club Sat, Dec 6, 9am-4pm, Clarkston. By Clarkston Farm & Garden Club at Church of the Resurrection. Wreaths, roping, greens & arrangements. www.clarkstongardenclub.org. H Evening of Lights Sun, Dec 7, 5-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Over 2000 candle-lit luminaries displayed. www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu. Ferndale Garden Club Thu, Dec 11, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Ctr. Presentation on making glass Christmas ornaments & holiday pot luck dinner. 248-5416427. H Christmas or Winter Fairy Garden Sat, Dec 13, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $39.99. Select one of two designs & we’ll supply the materials & inspiration. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Paperwhite Bulb Garden Sat, Dec 13, 2pm, Ann Arbor, Dearborn Hts, W. Bloomfield. At English Gardens. $5, plus the cost of materials purchased. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Porch Pot Workshop Sat, Dec 13, 1pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. www.PlymouthNursery.net. H Men’s Day Sat, Dec 13, 9am-6pm, Grand Blanc. At The Weed Lady. Refreshments, last-minute shopping assistance & comp. gift wrapping. www.TheWeedLady.com. H Bow Making Sat, Dec 13, Noon, Ann Arbor, Dearborn Hts, W. Bloomfield. At English Gardens. $5, plus the cost of the ribbon purchased. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com H A Visit from Mrs. Claus Sun, Dec 14, 12-4pm, Farmington Hills. At Steinkopf Nursery. Bring the kids to see Santa’s better half, plus live Reindeer, cookies & cocoa. 248-474-2925.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2014 | Michigan Gardener

Christmas Décor!

Christmas wreaths • Poinsettias • Garden gifts Fashion jewelry • We are a fun and unique place to shop year-round!

H Nature’s Gifts at Hidden Lake Gardens Sat, Dec 20, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Special family event at the gardens. www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu.

January Including Native Species in your Traditional Garden Thu, Jan 8, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Comminity Ctr. Cheryl English shares how to include native species in your traditional garden. 248-398-6283. H How to Make & Care for Terrariums Sat, Jan 10, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Step by step demonstration on making a terrarium & also tips on care. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Kid’s Workshop: Make a Terrarium Sat, Jan 10, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $29.99. Ages 3-12. We provide everything to take a terrarium home with you. Register: www.EnglishGardens. com. H A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Succulents Sat, Jan 17, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Succulents are low maintenance, versatile & perfect for containers. Learn about the many varieties. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Make It & Take It Workshop: Indoor Succulent Garden Sat, Jan 17, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. Workshop fee. We provide everything to make a succulent garden to take home. Sign up in-store or on-line: www.EnglishGardens.com. H An Intro to Unusual Houseplants Sat, Jan 24, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Ready to grow beyond ferns & philodendrons? Take a peek inside our tropical plant department. www.EnglishGardens.com.

H Annual Orchid Festival Sat, Feb 21, All locations. At English Gardens. FREE. 11am, Intro to growing orchids & re-potting demonstration. 1pm, Advanced orchid tips & re-potting demo. www.EnglishGardens.com.

Bonsai – Michigan’s largest bonsai nursery

Up North Gardening Seminar & Luncheon Sat, Feb 21, All day, Gaylord. By Alpine Master Gardener Association at Treetops Resort. $35. Janet Macunovich speaks on getting your garden ready for spring. Register: 855-261-8764.

We have something for everyone: From $3 starter plants up to $6,000 very mature, exceptional bonsai trees • Tools • Wire Japanese & Chinese pots • Soil • Mud Men • Ongoing classes

H Zen Artistry Arrangement Sat, Feb 28, 2:30pm, Clinton Twp., Dearborn Hts., Royal Oak & West Bloomfield locations. At English Gardens. $29.99. We provide everything. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H DIY Fresh Flower Arranging Sat, Feb 28, 1pm, Clinton Twp., Dearborn Hts., Royal Oak & W. Bloomfield. At English Gardens. FREE. Need some advice on arranging fresh-cut flowers in a vase? www.EnglishGardens.com. Greater Lansing Orchid Society Show & Sale Sat, Feb 28, Noon-5pm & Sun, Mar 1, 11am-4pm, East Lansing. By Greater Lansing Orchid Society at Plant & Soil Sciences Bldg. Enjoy displays & sale. www.greaterlansingorchidsociety.com.

March Starting Seeds Indoors Tue, Mar 3, 1pm, Farmington Hills. By Farmington Garden Club at Spicer House. Bring Spring sooner & give your gardens a better start. 248-477-3854, fgc1932@gmail.com. H 16th Annual APG Conference Sat, Mar 7, By the Association of Professional Gardeners. Contact us for details. Sue Grubba: suegrubba@sbcglobal.net, 248-375-9233. www.AssociationofProfessionalGardeners.org.

H Fairy & Miniature Gardens Sat, Jan 31, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Learn what’s involved to create a garden designed to attract magical fairies. www.EnglishGardens.com.

H Make It & Take It Workshop: Kitchen Herb Garden Sat, Mar 7, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. Workshop fee. Enjoy fresh herbs from your windowsill. Select your choice of herbs to plant in a container. www.EnglishGardens.com.

H Make It & Take It Workshop: Fairy Garden Sat, Jan 31, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. Workshop fee. We provide everything to make a fairy garden to take home. Sign up in-store or on-line: www.EnglishGardens.com.

H ABC’s of Growing Herbs Sat, Mar 7, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Herbs are easy to grow in your garden & do wonders for enhancing your meals. Get tips on the best varieties. www.EnglishGardens.com.

It’s All About Mixing It Up: A Winter Symposium Sat, Jan 31, East Lansing. By Capital Area Master Gardeners at Plant & Soil Sciences Bldg. 4 speakers, marketplace & lunch. Register by the end of Nov: www.mgacac.wordpress.com.

Wonderful World & Folklore of Cabbage Thu, Mar 12, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Comminity Ctr. Presented by Virginia Froehlich. 248-398-6283.

February Landscape Problems Mon, Feb 2, 1pm, Farmington Hills. By Farmington Garden Club at Spicer House. Karen Auch introduces great problem-solving plants. fgc1932@gmail.com. H The Birds & The Bees Sat, Feb 7, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Learn the importance of birds & bees in our garden, what you can do to attract them to your garden. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Kid’s Workshop: Heart-Shaped Bird Feeder Sat, Feb 7, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. Fee involved. Ages 3-12. We provide everything to make a bird feeder to take home. Sign up in-store or on-line: www.EnglishGardens.com. Edible Front Yard Gardening Thu, Feb 12, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Comminity Ctr. Presented by Lucas Harrison Zdenek. 248-398-6283. H Landscape Design Workshop Sat, Feb 14, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. We provide the supplies & suggestions you need to plot an area & create a successful design. www.EnglishGardens. com. H Make It & Take It Workshop: Orchid Garden Sat, Feb 21, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. Workshop fee. We provide everything to make an orchid garden. Sign up in-store or on-line: www.EnglishGardens. com.

Michigan Herb Associates Annual Herb Conference Fri, Mar 13, & Sat, Mar 14, East Lansing. By Michigan Herb Associates at Eppley Ctr. Friday evening banquet at the Kellogg Center, with speaker Julia Hofley. Talks on critters in the garden, landscaping, cooking, heirloom herbs, herbal remedies, crafts, & the herb of the year. www.miherb.org. H Get a Green, Healthy Lawn! Sat, Mar 14, 1pm, all stores. At English Gardens. FREE. We’ll share tips on how to keep your lawn healthy throughout the season. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Kid’s Workshop: Plant a Salad Bowl Sat, Mar 21, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. Workshop fee. Ages 3-12. We provide everything to plant a salad bowl to take home. Sign up in-store or on-line: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Starting Seeds Indoors Sat, Mar 21, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Get a head start on gardening & learn how to grow your own transplants. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Garden Party Weekend Sat, Mar 28, & Sun, Mar 29, all locations. At English Gardens. Informative gardening & decorating seminars. See what’s new for the season. www.EnglishGardens.com.

Indoor: Ficus, Fukien Tea, Bougainvillea, and many more.

8930 South Custer Rd. (M-50) • 5 mi East of Cabela’s on M-50 Monroe, MI 48161 • 734-269-2660 • Find us on See our Bonasi & Water Garden photos at www.FlowerMarketDundee.com

O pe ro n un ye d! ar -

H Night at The North Pole Fri, Dec 19, 7pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. www.PlymouthNursery.net.

ON A COLD WINTER’S DAY, stop by our warm greenhouse and see our amazing selection of indoor bonsai plants!

Classified Ads NEED A HAND? Call “The little gardener that could.” 15 yrs experience at Botanical Gardens. FREE Estimates. Pat: 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. Call Toll-Free 844-IVY-GONE (489-4663). www. poisonivycontrolofmichigan.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.

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2014 | MichiganGardener.com

A collection of stores and gardens to shop and visit. Please call ahead for hours, as they may vary from season to season.

Columbiaville, Davison

Bay City, Burton, Clio, Gladwin, Midland, Saginaw

North Branch

Lapeer

Emmett Imlay City

Flushing Lennon

Port Huron

Hadley Dryden

Grand Blanc

Flint

Bancroft, Owosso

Lakeport

Metamora

Almont

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

Fenton

Oxford

Ortonville

Addison Twp.

Orion Clarkston Hartland

White Lake Highland

Holly White Lake Waterford

Howell East Lansing, Fowlerville, Grand Rapids, Haslett, Lansing, Mason, Williamston

Bloomfield Hills Birmingham

West Bloomfield

Walled Lake Wixom Brighton

Rochester Hills

New Hudson South Lyon

Whitmore Lake

Novi Northville

Troy Sterling Hts.

Southfield Oak Park Ferndale

Detroit

Canton

Dearborn Dearborn Wayne Heights

Ypsilanti

Taylor Romulus

Saline New Boston

Tipton

Clinton Twp.

Livonia Redford

Belleville Manchester

Utica

Westland

Ann Arbor

New Baltimore

St. Clair Roseville Shores Madison Royal Oak Heights Warren

Farmington Hills Farmington

Dexter

Macomb

Tecumseh

Brownstown Twp.

Southgate Trenton Grosse Ile

La Salle, Monroe

Eastpointe

Grosse Pointes

brighton

H Beauchamp Landscp Supp Bordine’s Brighton Farmer’s Mkt Cowbell Lawn/Gard Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland 8087 W. Grand River, MI 48114 810-229-9430 www.meierflowerland.com H Nature’s Home & Garden Ctr 106 W. Main St., MI 48116 810-224-5577 www.naturesgardencenter.com

brownstown twp

Bruce’s Pond Shop Raupp Brothers Gard Ctr Ruhlig Farms & Gard

burton

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H Denotes MG Advertiser

H State Crushing

addison twp

bancroft

almont

bay city

Yule Love It Lavender Farm American Tree

ann arbor

H Abbott’s Nurs Ace Barnes Hardware Downtown Home/Gard H English Gardens 155 N. Maple Rd, MI 48103 734-332-7900 www.EnglishGardens.com H HillTop Greenhse/Farms H Lodi Farms H The Produce Station H Turner’s Greenhse/Garn Ctr Wild Birds Unltd

auburn hills

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

Grand Oak Herb Farm 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

berkley

Garden Central

bloomfield hills Backyard Birds

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

H Walker Farms & Greenhouse 5253 E. Atherton Rd., MI 48519 810-743-0260 www.walkersfarm.com

canton

Canton Floral Gardens Clink Nurs Crimboli Landscp/Nurs H Wild Birds Unltd

cement city

Hallson Gardens

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

chesterfield

Van Thomme’s Greenhses

clarkston

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

lennon

flushing

livonia

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

fowlerville

H Arrowhead Alpines

gladwin

Michigan Koi H Tropical Treasures

H Stone Cottage Gardens 3740 West Willford Rd, 48624 989-426-2919 www.stonecottagegardens.com

clio

grand blanc

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

Berkley

Plymouth

Cement City, Chelsea, Grass Lake, Jackson, Stockbridge

Shelby Twp.

Auburn Hills

Sylvan Lake Commerce

Ray

Rochester

Pontiac

Milford

Washington

Oakland

flat rock

columbiaville Hilltop Barn

commerce twp

Backyard Birds Zoner’s Greenhse

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

dearborn

Fairlane Gardens

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

detroit

Allemon’s Landscp Ctr H Detroit Farm and Garden 1759 21st St., MI 48216 313-655-2344 www.detroitfarmandgarden.com H Eastern Market 2934 Russell St., MI 48207 313-833-9300 www.detroiteasternmarket.com

dexter

H Bloom! Gard Ctr Dexter Mill H Fraleighs Landscape Nursery 8600 Jackson Rd., MI 48130 734-426-5067 www.fraleighs.com

eastpointe

Ariel’s Enchanted Gard H English Gardens 22501 Kelly Rd, MI 48021 586-771-4200 www.EnglishGardens.com Semrau Gard Ctr

farmington

Backyard Birds

farmington hills

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

fenton

Bordine’s

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

grass lake Busy Lizzies

H Designs by Judy Florist & Grenhse 3250 Wolf Lake Rd., MI 49240 517-522-5050 www.designsbyjudyflowers.com

grosse ile

H Westcroft Gardens

grosse pointe

Allemon’s Landscp Ctr Meldrum & Smith Nurs

grosse pointe woods H Wild Birds Unltd

hadley

Bushel Mart George’s Livonia Gard Superior Growers Supp Valley Nurs

macomb

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

manchester

McLennan Nurs

mason

H Wildtype Nurs

metamora

Gilling’s Nurs

milford

Milford Gardens H The Pond Place

monroe

H The Flower Market

new baltimore

H Meldrum Bros Nurs

new boston

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

new hudson

Deneweth’s Garden Ctr

H Milarch Nurs 28500 Haas Rd., MI 48165 248-437-2094 www.milarchnursery.com

haslett

north branch

highland

northville

Le Fleur Décor

hartland

Christian’s Greenhse H Van Atta’s Greenhse Colasanti’s Produce/Plant Fragments Highland Garden Ctr H One Stop Landscp Supp

holly

H Rice’s Garden Ornaments

howell H Howell Farmer’s Mkt Dwntn Howell @ State & Clinton Sts. 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 Wilczewski Greenhses

H Campbell’s Greenhouses Oldani Landscp Nurs Begonia Brothers Gardenviews H Willow Greenhouses

novi

Glenda’s Gard Ctr Stone City H Wild Birds Unltd

oak park

Four Seasons Gard Ctr

oakland H Piechnik’s Garden Gate 1095 N. Rochester Rd., MI 48363 586-336-7200 www.cliogreenhouse.com

ortonville

Country Oaks Landscp II

jackson

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

lake orion

H Everlastings in Wildwood

imlay city

H Earthly Arts Greenhse The Hobbit Place Lake Orion Lawn Orn H Orion Stone Depot H Wojo’s of Lake Orion 559 S. Lapeer Rd, MI 48362 248-690-7435 www.wojos.com

Gerych’s Flowers/Gift H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm

lapeer

ferndale

la salle

Casual Modes Home/Gard Green Thumb Gard Ctr

Krupps Novelty Shop

H Iron Barn Gard Ctr Fowler’s Gift Shop

owosso oxford

Candy Cane Xmas Trees Oxford Farm/Gard

plymouth

Backyard Birds Graye’s Greenhse Lucas Nurs H Plymouth Nursery 9900 Plymouth Rd., MI 48170 734-453-5500 www.plymouthnursery.net

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2014 | Michigan Gardener

Precipitation September 2014 Plymouth Rock Rock Shoppe Sparr’s Greenhse

pontiac

Goldner Walsh Gard/Home H Telly’s at Goldner Walsh 559 Orchard Lake Rd., MI 48341 248-724-2300 www.tellys.com

ray

Van’s Valley Greenhse

redford

H Pinter Flowerland Seven Mi Gard Ctr

rochester

Fogler’s Greenhse Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr

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

rockwood

Marsh Greenhouses Too

romulus

Block’s Stand/Greenhse H Kurtzhals’ Farms H Schoedel’s Nurs H Schwartz’s Greenhouse 30705 Sibley Rd., MI 48174 734-753-9269 www.schwartzgreenhouse.com

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 H Wild Birds Unltd

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

saline H Nature’s Garden Ctr 6400 E. Michigan Ave., MI 48176 734-944-8644 www.naturesgardencenter.com Saline Flowerland

shelby twp

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 Stone Depot Landscp Supp

southfield

3 DDD’s Stand Eagle Landscp/Supp 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

H Barson’s Greenhse 6414 N. Merriman Rd., MI 48185 734-421-5959 www.barsons.com Bushel Stop Panetta’s Landscp Joe Randazzo’s Nurs

white lake H Bogie Lake Greenhouses 1525 Bogie Lake Rd., MI 48383 248-887-5101 www.bogielakegreenhouses.com H Mulligan’s Landscp & Gard Ctr Sunshine Plants

whitmore lake

Flower Barn Nurs Greenhouse Growers Prime Landscp Supp

H Alexander’s Greenhses

stockbridge

wixom

Gee Farms

sylvan lake H AguaFina Gardens Itntl 2629 Orchard Lake Rd., MI 48320 248-738-0500 www.aguafina.com H Detroit Garden Works

taylor H Beautiful Ponds & Gardens 20379 Ecorse, MI 48180 313-383-8653 www.skippysstuff.com D&L Garden Ctr H Massab Acres H Panetta’s Landscp Supp

tecumseh

Mitchell’s Lawn/Landscp

trenton

Carefree Lawn Ctr

troy H Telly’s Greenhouse 3301 John R Rd., MI 48083 248-689-8735 www.tellys.com H Uncle Luke’s Feed Store 6691 Livernois Rd., MI 48098 248-879-9147 www.unclelukes.com

utica

Dale’s Landscp Supp Stone City

walled lake

H Suburban Landscp Supp

warren

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

washington

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

ypsilanti

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

Gardens to Visit ann arbor

Deviation from Normal +6.43 +5.93 +5.17

Normal

Actual Monthly 1.20 0.61 0.98

Monthly 3.27 3.75 3.50

Deviation from Normal -2.07 -3.14 -2.52

2013 Year to Date: Jan 1 - Sept 30

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

Temperature September 2014 Normal Avg. High 73.7 71.9 72.0 Normal Avg. Low 54.1 49.4 48.9

Detroit Flint Lansing Detroit Flint Lansing

ACTUAL Avg. High 73.3 73.7 71.6 ACTUAL Avg. Low 53.7 50.8 50.1

September 2013

Deviation from Normal -0.4 +1.8 -0.4 Deviation from Normal -0.4 +1.4 +1.2

ormal N Avg. High 73.7 71.9 72.0 Normal Avg. Low 54.1 49.4 48.9

ACTUAL Avg. High 73.7 74.8 72.7 ACTUAL Avg. Low 54.5 49.5 50.6

Deviation from Normal — +2.9 +0.7 Deviation from Normal +0.4 +0.1 +1.7

Data courtesy National Weather Service

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Actual Yr. to Date 32.13 30.24 29.76

dearborn

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H Cranbrook Gardens 380 Lone Pine Rd., MI 48303 248-645-3147 housegardens.cranbrook.edu

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Planterra

Normal Yr. to Date 25.70 24.31 24.59

September 2013

Deviation from Normal +1.44 -0.50 -0.96

bloomfield hills

waterford

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

Detroit Flint Lansing

Actual Monthly 4.71 3.25 2.54

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

flint

Artman’s Nurs

Normal Monthly 3.27 3.75 3.50

williamston

Landscp Direct Miller’s Big Red Greenhse H Rocks ‘n’ Roots Hoffman Nurs H Merrittscape H Oakland County Market 2350 Pontiac Lake Rd., MI 48328 248-858-5495 www.DestinationOakland.com

novi

royal oak Detroit Zoo

tipton H Hidden Lake Gardens 6214 Monroe Rd. (M-50), 49287 517-431-2060 www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2014 | MichiganGardener.com

How to make a garden party hat with plants and flowers

ring back the romantic Victorian era of dried herbal flowers and ribbons with a plain, wide-brimmed garden hat you can decorate easily and beautifully. Just cut and dry bunches of flowers from your garden, pick out your favorite gardening hat, artfully arrange ribbons and flowers on it, and you will have a lovely hat to wear or display. It might even inspire you to have a garden party or tea, perhaps with prizes for the best hat. You might already have in your garden many of the flowers we recommend, while some of them will be handsome newcomers for you to try. Of course, we never think of a garden as “finished” because there should always be enough room for a new variety that catches your eye at the local garden center, or even begged from a friend’s garden. These are some of our favorite, colorful blooms from the summer garden. When cutting flowers for drying, cut them on a dry day, waiting until the dew has evaporated. Remove the large leaves. Bunch the flowers into small bouquets of 5 or 10 stems, gathering the stems together with rubber bands. They shrink as the stems dry, so the flowers don’t fall out of the bunches. Hang them in a dark, airy place until they are crisp dry and ready for you to use. Any sunlight will bleach the colors to brown while drying.

Recommended flowers

Here is the group of flowers we picked to dry for our hat. 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

Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate (Persicaria orientalis): This tall, annual plant stands baskets. Beautiful, upright branches of small erect with thick-stemmed branches of huge pink flowers in the fall can be dried to great green leaves. In the summer and fall it puts success. Use the stems for fragrance in dried on quite the display of dense, hanging spikes arrangements, flavor in teas, and filler in potof pink flowers. Grown by seeds from packets pourri. Usually started by cuttings or plants in the spring, it makes a great cut flower or from the nursery. dried flower that stands out and is noticed for Money Plant (Lunaria): This plant comes its vivid color and shape. up from seed the first year and just sits there Rudbeckia: This lively, golden yellow, happily growing. The second year it puts on a daisy-like flower with a black conical cengreat show of pink flowers in the spring that ter is an annual or biennial in the garden. It turn into green seed pods. These green pods stands about 3 feet tall and blooms in August slowly turn brown in the fall and are harand September with a multitude of flowers vested from the now dead plant. Remove the on long stems. Grown in the sun in a meadow brown and dry outer coating of the pod with garden or as a tall border plant, it seeds ityour fingers to reveal a paper-like, clear inself freely and feeds the birds in the winter ner pod that is just great for all sorts of dried if the blossoms are left on the plant. Otherarrangements including bridal bouquets, wise, it is a wonderful cut potpourris and wreaths. It or dried flower that holds its derives its nickname for its color and petals for arrangegood luck with money when ments. grown or given as a gift, and Apple Mint (Mentha from its resemblance to a silsuaveolens): A perennial, ver dollar. tasty and fragrant herb that Boxwood: An evergreen loves to grow. It must be shrub that is grown mainly contained in the garden eifor its foliage and its ability ther by planting in sunken to withstand clipping and Jean & Roxanne pots or growing in whiskey pruning. This makes it an Riggs barrels or even hanging ideal candidate for hedges in

Rudbeckia: A happy plant to grow for multiple blossoms. Dries very well. herb gardens and herbal topiaries. It is best to buy an established plant from the nursery to start. It stays green when dried and kept out of the direct sunlight for a long time. A plain straw hat from the craft store is just fine to use for making your garden party hat.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2014 | Michigan Gardener

A hydrangea flower head cut for drying retains its color and petal form.

We grew this amaranth from a packet of seeds and it is a striking plant that can be used in fresh and dried arrangements.

Kiss me over the garden gate is an heirloom plant that dries perfectly and has a unique color for arrangements.

False Indigo (Baptisia): Blue, pea-like flowers emerge on upright three-foot stems with lovely green foliage during the summer months. They are followed by almost black, inflated seed pods that make a stunning addition to dried flower arrangements. This perennial dies to the ground in the winter, but soon grows right back to about three feet tall and is a great plant for any garden. Grown by seed or plants from the garden center. Hopi Red Dye Amaranth: An annual plant that is easily grown from seed packets, it stands erect with colorful leaves and stems. It then produces lots of hanging red flower heads in the summer and fall. These flower heads dry really well and lend a bright look and color to any arrangement. It can also be used fresh in vases. Simply gorgeous to grow and use! Hydrangea: An attractive perennial shrub with pretty foliage and even prettier flat, domed, or conical flower heads with big petals. The plants come in a wide range of colors and need particular soil acidity to grow and flower the desired color. The flower heads are dried when in full bloom for use in arrangements, either fresh or dried. Individual florets can be pressed with great results. The dried flower heads can be broken into smaller pieces to use in wreaths or hats, or just leave the big flower heads in one piece and place in bowls or baskets. Hidcote Lavender: Lavender is a beautiful accent flower spike, small and fragrant, a gentle wish for domestic happiness with a calming aroma. It is a perennial dwarf shrub that flowers mainly on the woody branches. When cutting, only cut the flower spikes down to the first set of leaves. Our plants get about three feet across, and usually flower freely twice a season. We find that the color and hardiness of the lavender flowers on the Hidcote lavender are superior.

Making your garden party hat To assemble your hat, pick out the ribbon that will be the hat band and lightly glue it to

Lavender is one of the most versatile herbs you can grow in your garden—so many uses!

Apple mint dries nicely and is so fragrant. the back of the hat where the crown meets the brim. Arrange the flowers that you will be using, and glue them to the hat band, leaving room for the bow. When the glue has dried and the flowers are secure, use a smaller ribbon to wind loosely around the flowers and hat band. This is also a good craft for anyone who dresses dolls or has a stuffed animal that

needs a new hat. Small decorated hats are great party favors or gifts for the wall or vanity. A plain straw hat of any size can be found at a craft store. Admire your handiwork! Jean and Roxanne Riggs operated Sunshine Farm and Garden in Oakland County, MI and now enjoy retirement up north.

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2014 | MichiganGardener.com

The beautiful and iconic poinsettia It has been said (by more than one person) that I am a little obsessed with plants. It’s true. I am especially interested in the story behind the plant. How did it get its name? From where does it originate? Does it have any unusual characteristics? Poinsettias are one of my favorite Christmas plants and the story and folklore behind them is fascinating.

ered some weeds so as not to go empty-handed. When she placed them on the altar, a miracle occurred. The weeds burst into beautiful blooms of brilliant red. So poinsettias (the offered weeds) became known as flores de noche buena, or “flowers of the Holy Night.” Poinsettia, or Euphorbia pulcherrima, was given its botanical name by the German botanist Karl L. Wilenow in 1833, afHistory ter finding one growing in a crack The poinsettia originated in in his greenhouse. Pulcherrima Mexico and it was called cuetlaxomeans “most beautiful,” so “most chitl (kweht-lah-SO-cheetl) by the beautiful euphorbia.” The name Aztecs, meaning “flower that withEuphorbia came from King Juba of ers, mortal flower that perishes Mauretania’s Greek physician Eulike all that is pure.” It was highly phorbus, who treated the king with prized by Montezuma, the last king a plant with medicinal properties. of the Aztecs. The plants couldn’t So, how did it get the common Lisa grow in his city (now Mexico City) name poinsettia? It was named afSteinkopf because of the high altitude, so he ter the first United States Ambashad them shipped in. The cuetlaxosador to Mexico (1825-1829), Joel chitl was used for curing fevers and a reddish Robert Poinsett (1779-1851). A southern planpurple dye was made from the bracts. tation owner and amateur botanist, he saw a One legend behind the poinsettia involves a beautiful flowering plant and sent cuttings to poor peasant girl named Pepita who had nothbe grown at his home in South Carolina. The ing to offer the Christ child rest, as they say, is history. Poinsett died on on Christmas Eve. So December 12, 1851 and in 2002 this was deshe gathclared National Poinsettia Day to honor him. Poinsettia is pronounced poyn-SEHT-eeuh, but is also commonly pronounced poynSEHT-uh. The colored parts of the plant are actually modified leaves, called bracts. The flowers are the small yellow globe-shaped things in the middle of the bracts. Contrary to popular belief, poinsettias are not poisonous. That myth was started in 1919 when a small child in Hawaii died after eating what they thought was a poinsettia leaf. In the 1970s, Ohio State University conducted research to discover the truth, which is that poinsettias are not poisonous. I This beautiful poinsettia is my favorite: ‘Ice Punch.’ Ecke Ranch

Ecke Ranch

There are over 120 varieties of poinsettias like this ‘Orange Spice,’ but red is still the top seller.

Lisa Steinkopf

This painted and glittered poinsettia is one of the newest fads. There is a color for every decor. They are actually white poinsettias painted many different colors. have many teeth marks in mine from my cat. He’s doing just fine, even though my plant looks a little battle-scarred.

Poinsettias today How popular are poinsettias? They are the number one flowering pot plant sold in America, surpassing the chrysanthemum and orchid. Over $250 million worth of poinsettias are sold each year in our country. The Ecke family of Encinitas, California is responsible for over two-thirds of all the poinsettias sold worldwide. A third generation business, they

Lisa Steinkopf

Poinsettias are used to decorate all kinds of things, including antique postcards. have been growing and hybridizing poinsettias for over 100 years. Wild poinsettias grow over 10 feet tall, so they have been hybridized to be compact. Growth regulators are also used to control their size. Today, there are over 120 varieties of poinsettias. The Ecke Ranch has brought us such

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2014 | Michigan Gardener

Lisa Steinkopf

Poinsettias are a popular theme at Christmas time; this candleholder is a beautiful example.

Lisa Steinkopf

A close-up of ‘Luv U Pink’ shows its unusual bract pattern.

Lisa Steinkopf

This lovely cart with poinsettias and a Norfolk Island pine welcomes visitors as they enter the Belle Isle Conservatory.

How to bring a poinsettia back into bloom

Lisa Steinkopf

A tree made out of poinsettias is a popular holiday decoration.

Lisa Steinkopf

This doily was made for me by my mother.

Ecke Ranch

‘Luv U Pink’ is one of the newest poinsettias on the market. poinsettias as ‘Monet,’ ‘Jingle Bells,’ ‘Winter Rose,’ ‘Ice Punch’ (my favorite), and the most popular hybrid, ‘Freedom Red,’ just to name a few. All these poinsettias are grown from cuttings, not seed, and are planted at the end of June through the beginning of August to be ready for mid-November to Christmas sales. To cover this six-week span of time,

there are early, mid, and late season varieties of poinsettias.

Selecting and growing How do you choose a healthy, long-lasting poinsettia? Look for dark green leaves, with no yellowing or withering. Check the yellow flowers and make sure they are still tightly

budded with no pollen protruding from them. The colored bracts will last longer if they are just beginning to flower, instead of being well along in their flowering cycle. One of the most important factors in buying a poinsettia is getting it home safely. It should be in a paper sleeve, placed in a warm car, and taken directly home. Poinsettias do not like to be in temperatures below 50 degrees. When you get it home, un-sleeve it immediately, placing it in a bright place away from any heat vents. Water it well, making sure it is not sitting in water in its pot cover. Drain any water left in the cover after 30 minutes. Keep it evenly moist during its flowering period.

It is possible to bring a poinsettia back into bloom next year, but most plants are tossed after Christmas. I you want to try, why not? What do you have to lose? Even without the colorful bracts, it is an attractive green plant. After most of the bracts have fallen and the plant looks a little tired, cut it back to 6 inches and keep it watered and fertilized. Cut it back at least twice during the summer to keep it compact. That is the simple part. Now for the tricky part. Poinsettias are short-day plants. They need 10 hours of light and 14 hours of complete darkness in the fall to flower. This routine needs to begin in late September to early October. Flowering may occur naturally if left in a room that is never used after darkness falls. Turning on a light, or even a street lamp, will delay its bloom because the darkness has been interrupted. If this darkness routine is strictly followed, the plant should bloom close to Christmas time. Of course, it probably won’t look like it did the year before, but it would be exciting to get it to bloom on your own. I hope the next time you see a poinsettia, you look at it differently, remembering a little of the history of this charming, iconic Christmas plant.

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, 734-748-1241). Read Lisa’s blog (houseplantguru. blogspot.com) and follow her on Facebook (Facebook.com/HouseplantGuru), Twitter (@houseplantguru), and Instagram (houseplantguru).

Michigan Gardener | November/December 2014 | MichiganGardener.com

Plant Focus continued from back cover Over the years, many a nurseryman, gardener and plant scientist has dabbled in hybridizing and selecting outstanding winterberry cultivars. Selections have been made for large fruit set, large fruit size, shrub size, and fruit color. Besides red, the most common fruit color, yellow and orange to scarlet exist. Red is by far the showiest. One dedicated nurseryman in particular, Robert (Bob) Simpson, introduced some of the most noteworthy winterberry cultivars to date, beginning his selections in the 1950s. Simpson’s Nursery in Indiana, located in corn-growing farmland, was ideal for growing hollies. His shrub introductions to the nursery industry came in the 1970s and 80s and are now readily available to gardeners and landscapers. To date, Simpson’s is family operated and continuing propagation of other shrubs and trees for the nursery trade after Bob’s passing. Some of the female shrubs Simpson’s Nursery gave to our landscapes include: ‘Afterglow,’ ‘Bonfire,’ ‘Sunset,’ ‘Stoplight,’ and ‘Winter Red.’ ‘Afterglow’ boasts large, orange-red fruits with glossy leaves on a many-stemmed, medium-height bush. Masses of smaller red fruits cover the thin branches of ‘Bonfire,’ which grows to 15 feet. ‘Sunset’ produces large, reddish-orange fruits, heavily set on a vigorously spreading 9-foot shrub. In late summer, glossy, dark red fruits appear on ‘Stoplight’ for a nice show on its 8-to-10-foot height. The crown jewel of Simpson’s hollies is ‘Winter Red,’ with superior landscape appeal during all seasons. The rich green summer foliage on the natural 8-to-10-foot branching framework keeps well into the fall. Next, the red color develops on an extraordinary abundance of intensely brilliant fruits, even when a young shrub. These red fruits retain their color well into late winter after other holly cultivars have turned black. The fruits on cut ‘Winter Red’ branches will dry and “selfglue” to the branches for excellent indoor bouquets for deco-

Michigan Holly

Branches of ‘Maryland Beauty’ are grown for commercial cutting.

‘Red Sprite’ is a compact variety, only growing 3 to 5 feet tall and wide.

Botanical name: Ilex verticillata (EYE-leks vur-ti-si-LAY-tah) Plant type: Deciduous shrub Plant size: Generally 6 to 10 feet tall, 4 to 8 feet wide Habit: Dense, upright to oval or rounded shape, naturally well-branched clumps that sucker at the base Growth rate: Slow to medium when young; once established, up to 6 to 8 inches per year Hardiness: Zone 3 Light: Full to half day sun for best growth and berry production; sparse growth in shade Soil: Acidic loam to sand with good organic content of leaf or pine needle compost or aged shredded bark amendments; grows well in wet to saturated soil Water: Supplemental water during hot, dry weather conditions, especially for newly-planted shrubs Leaves: Deciduous; elliptical-oval in shape with long petioles; smooth, dark green and flat; little to no fall color; turn brown or black after frost Flowers: Dioecious (female and male on separate plants); not showy, tiny, white, numerous clustered on male pollinator; fewer on females, which produce the fruits (i.e., “berries”) Fruit: Highly ornamental, round, 1/4-inch, berry-like; red color appears in mid-tolate September; persists after leaf fall into winter Uses: Ideal medium to tall shrub for winter color in the landscape; bright fruits attract birds; cut stems are wonderful for winter/holiday decorating; can grow in water or at water’s edge of lakes, ponds, streams and rain gardens Remarks: Outstanding and underused shrub with show-stopping cultivars available; every landscape should have at least one

The Michigan holly cultivar ‘Afterglow’ has orange-red berries.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2014 | Michigan Gardener

A coating of ice intensifies the brilliant fruit of ‘Winter Red.’

This ‘Winter Red’ Michigan holly caresses golden larch needles (Pseudolarix amabilis) in the fall.

‘Red Sprite’ fruit is larger than typical Michigan holly fruits.

Michigan holly fruits, clockwise from the top: ‘Red Sprite,’ ‘Winter Red,’ ‘Maryland Beauty,’ ‘Afterglow.’

The blue sky contrasts ‘Winter Red’ berries.

rating. Freshly-cut branches are festive and ideal for winter holiday festooning as well. ‘Maryland Beauty,’ developed in that state, is commercially grown for cut fruited branches and grows well in zone 5. Of the many other winterberry cultivars and hybrids, a compact, dome-shaped form makes the list of the truly outstanding. ‘Red Sprite’ grows 3 to 5 feet tall and wide with very large, bright red fruits and smaller, lustrous dark oval leaves. Introduced by Hampden Nurseries in Massachusetts, it grows very well in Michigan and is highly recommended. To complement all the above female cultivars, a male cultivar is essential for adequate pollination (and thus berries). Basically two are available and perform well. ‘Jim Dandy’ flowers earlier and is compact with foliage similar to ‘Red Sprite.’ It also pollinates ‘Afterglow,’ ‘Bonfire,’ ‘Stoplight,’ and ‘Maryland Beauty.’ A later-flowering pollinator, ‘Southern Gentleman’ is ideally suited for ‘Winter Red.’ One male is adequate for several females. Groupings of Michigan hollies in a natural border or as a background for dwarf conifers make a great winter scene in the landscape. Another effective visual design tip is to place Michigan hollies in front of taller conifers so the red berries stand out against the green. Lighter-colored stone walls, residential siding or fencing also make great backgrounds for the brightly-colored fruits. With the many cultivars available, there is a Michigan holly suitable for beautifying every garden and landscape. Jim Slezinski is the Vice President and Senior Landscape Designer/ Horticulturist at Goldner Walsh Garden and Home in Pontiac, MI.

| November/December 2014 | MichiganGardener.com

plant focus

Michigan Holly W

hile walking or boating along a natural lake shoreline or swamp in many parts of Michigan during late fall, your eyes may catch masses of red clusters dressing the shrubbery. You’ve probably just witnessed one of Mother Nature’s remarkable ornamental landscape features: Michigan holly (Ilex verticillata), also known as winterberry or black alder. A true holly and native to our state, it’s deciduous and without foliage during the winter, and boasts brilliant red “berry-like” fruits. During the growing season, this medium shrub blends in with others with its generally long, oval, dark green leaves. There’s no special color or flowers at the beginning of summer. This ilex is like most other hollies: dioecious (female and male flowers are on separate plants). The tiny, insignificant, white flowers Jim are produced in May and June on both Slezinski sexes. The flowers appear on new wood. The male flowers are numerous on the branches and produce pollen for the female flowers. Bees and ants move the pollen around while flowers are blooming. Females produce the berry-like fruits—the highly ornamental feature of this shrub. The blooming time of the flowers on female and male plants should coincide for the pollination to set the fruits. Specific Michigan holly male cultivars act efficiently for specific female plants. The outcome on the female holly branches is multiples of 1/4inch round, berry-like, red fruits. From mid to late summer all fruits are green. In mid to late September the coloring appears: green becomes red. By early October most fruits are red, still hugged by the foliage. At that time the foliage may turn a drab yellow-green before dropping. If an early frost happens during the fall, the leaves will turn black before they drop. The brilliant, bright red fruits will begin their solo show in late October through early November and continue into January and February.

How to grow Michigan holly Michigan holly can highlight your winter landscape scene, easily grown and at home in wet soils that are slightly acidic with plenty of sphagnum peat moss and humus. Even garden soils that are not soggy can provide nice growth given a good water-holding capacity and mulch with pine needles, leaf compost or shredded hardwood bark. Ideal berry production occurs in all-day to half-day sun. As with all ilex species, Michigan holly should be fertilized in late winter to early spring with nitrogen and trace elements. According to the Holly Society of America, the nitrogen content should be organic or slow-release. There are many commercially availP h oto g r a phs by J i m S l e z i n s k i

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

Michigan holly is a superior landscape plant. During mid-fall, the leaves and fruits coexist before the leaves drop off in late fall. ‘Winter Red,’ shown here, is an excellent variety that grows to a natural shape 8 to 10 feet tall and wide. able fertilizers specially formulated for holly. Heavy berry set and deep green foliage are benefits seen with proper fertilizing. Winterberry fruits are relished by many birds as winter food. Unfortunately the roving deer have also discovered these landscape shrubs and browse on the fruits and foliage. Repellents are necessary if these four-legged creatures are around. There are no insect pests of consequence. Iron chlorosis (green-veined, yellowish leaves) is sometimes an issue, but can be easily corrected with iron chelates or by acidifying the soil. All Michigan hollies are amenable to pruning and regrow new branches with good fertilizing.

Cultivars The size of winterberry shrubs will depend on the cultivar, ranging from 3 to 10 feet in height. Branching habit can be open and loose to compact, also based on the cultivar. continued on page 26

Michigan holly fruits are relished by many birds as winter food.