November/December 2017
MichiganGardener.com
Your guide to Great Lakes gardening
Houseplants
Growing organically
Garden Profile
A rustic garden & beautiful pond
Thyme for Herbs Cilantro/Coriander
To-Do List Feature Task Care for your Christmas cactus
Please thank our advertisers in this issue
WARMBIER FARMS Everything for your Garden, Home, and You
Christmas trees Special purchase: Beautiful Fraser Firs
4-5 ft trees: $1699 • 5-6 ft trees: $2999 We carry trees up to 8-10 feet!
Fairy Gardens & Accessories New stock just arrived—great for Christmas gifts!
Holiday Décor and So Much More! Our huge showroom is a decorators delight! A great selection of silk florals, boutique clothing & jewelry, resin statues, and seasonal decor. Speaking of seasonal, we have loads of holiday decor, fresh greens, garlands, fresh evergreen wreaths and much, much more! In the gardening season, we have a wonderful assortment of perennials, herbs & annuals. Plus roses! Over 100 varieties each year, including hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, shrubs & miniatures. If that’s not enough, wander over to our outdoor showroom! We feature over 2,000 different cement garden statues, all made here in Michigan by us! Plus, come see our mind-boggling selection of garden decor, arbors, gazing globes, furniture, and so much more.
5300 Garfield Rd. • Auburn, MI • Centrally located between Saginaw/Bay City/Midland
989-662-7002 • www.warmbierfarms.com HEADING UP NORTH? WE’RE JUST 7 MINUTES OFF OF I-75!
Gift Cards
• CEMETERY WREATHS • GRAVE BLANKETS
• We can custom decorate for you! • Swags • Cedar garlands • Poinsettias—All sizes & all colors! • Christmas centerpieces
Indoor growing supplies—stop in and check out our LOW prices!
6414 N. Merriman • Westland • 734-421-5959 Located between Ford & Warren Roads Check our website for more information: www.barsons.com Join us on Facebook for early notices on sales and events
Premium cut greens, mosses, picks, stems, berried branches and pods Broad range of cutting-edge lighting and light sculptures
All the makings of a beautiful holiday
Holiday and winter ornament, décor, ribbon and wrap Fresh-cut Christmas trees, twigs, branches, garland, wreaths & swags Festive accents for your holiday table, parties and events Seasonal plants & topiary forms Holiday and winter design services for containers and the home Great gifts for gardeners
1794 Pontiac Drive • Sylvan Lake DetroitGardenWorks.com 248-335-8089
HOLIDAY SEASON PREVIEW: Thur, Nov 9, 5-9pm H Fri & Sat, Nov 10 & 11, 9am-5pm H Sun, Nov 12, 12-4pm
Customers love our incredible selection each spring, summer and fall. Ditto for...
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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
The Holidays. 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
To-Do List........................................................6 Ask MG............................................................8 Books for the Michigan Gardener.......10
Places to Grow............................................14 Gift Subscriptions.......................................16 Calendar.........................................................16 Where to pick up Michigan Gardener.....18
Indoor Holiday Greens Arrangement Sat, Nov 18, 11:30am at Troy Sat, Dec 2, 11:30am at Troy
Workshop fee: $34 per container.
Create a stunning faux birch log arrangement using fresh greens, pinecones, and a holiday ribbon. Bring gardening gloves and pruners. Workshop fee: $34 per arrangement.
* Upgrades are available the day of the Workshop, should you wish to further enhance your arrangement with our beautiful selection of accents.
* Upgrades are available the day of the Workshop, should you wish to further enhance your arrangement with our beautiful selection of accents.
Pre-paid registration is now available online at tellys.com or by calling 248-689-8735
Fresh-cut Christmas Trees (Troy Location) 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
• 1000's of poinsettias in all sizes & colors • Custom-made wreaths and centerpieces • Memorial blankets made daily with that personal touch
—Monty Don
Advertiser Index.........................................13
Sat, Nov 18 10am at Troy Sat, Dec 2, 10am at Troy
Holiday Décor
Gardening is grown-ups going outside to play.
Thyme for Herbs........................................12
Outdoor Holiday Greens Arrangement
Enhance any outdoor space by creating a festive fiber pot filled with fresh greens, pinecones, and a hand-tied red velvet bow. Our 12" fiber pot can also be set into your own container at home. Bring gardening gloves and pruners.
Garden Wisdom
• Miles of fresh roping (garland) • 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!
3301 John R • 1/4 mile north of 16 Mile Rd.
SHELBY TOWNSHIP • 248-659-8555 4343 24 Mile • Btwn Dequindre & Shelby Rd. CLOSED FOR WINTER
www.tellys.com
On the cover: Frosty foamflower foliage in a frigid February—fairly fabulous!
Photo: Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
To Our Readers... Please look for the next issue of Michigan Gardener in April, 2018. Thank you to our advertisers, who make Michigan Gardener available FREE to our readers! For over two decades, we have published Michigan Gardener, your local gardening magazine, with their support. So please visit our advertisers and purchase their products and services. When doing so, please let them know you saw their ad in Michigan Gardener. We continue to receive great feedback about the Michigan Gardener E-Newsletter. Readers especially love our contests where they can win gardening prizes. Have you signed up yet? It’s easy and free! Just go to MichiganGardener.com and enter your e-mail address. We don’t bombard you with e-mails and we never share your e-mail address with anyone. Throughout the winter, we update our website event calendar, so visit MichiganGardener.com for the most complete and up-to-date list of gardening events. Thank you and see you in the spring!
Publisher/Editor Eric Hofley Design & Production Jonathon Hofley Advertising Eric Hofley
TROY • 248-689-8735
Weather Wrap............................................19 Classified Ads..............................................19 Subscription Form......................................19 Garden Profile: A Rustic Garden.........20 Through the Lens......................................27 Houseplants: Growing organically �����������������Back Cover
Circulation Jonathon Hofley Editorial Assistant Anna Doman
find us on
Contributors Brian Allnutt Karen Bovio Cheryl English Emaline Fronckowiak Mary Gerstenberger Julia Hofley Rosann Kovalcik Steve Martinko Beverly Moss George Papadelis Sandie Parrott Traven Pelletier Jean/Roxanne Riggs Deborah Silver Jim Slezinski Lisa Steinkopf Steve Turner Emily Wilson
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 © 2017 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.
Celebrate the Christmas Season!
Lifelike trees 2’- 12’ tall, 40 styles to choose from, 20 theme decorated trees. Fresh greens, handcrafted porchpots and wreaths are our specialty! Available mid November
• Ladies Night Out NOV. 16, 6pm-8 pm
• Christmas Extravaganza NOV. 17, 18, 19, 11am-4pm
• Porch Pot Workshops Select Tuesday & Wednesday evenings after Thanksgiving Call to register now!
• Night at the North Pole DEC. 15, 7pm $5.00
• Santa’s here Weekends Details on website
Deer HATE it...You'll LOVE it!
734-453-5500 www.plymouthnursery.net Mon -Thurs 9am-6pm Fri 9am-7pm • Sat 9-6 • Sun 10-5 Extended Holiday Hours Nov. 13
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Let Blossoms deliver your holiday gifts! Mon.-Sat. 9-6 • Sun. 11-5 Extended Hours Spring & Christmas EXCEPTIONAL SELECTION • HANDMADE ARRANGEMENTS
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ALL ORDERS ORDERS: 248.644.4411 Order online online: blossomsbirmingham.com NOW OPEN IN MIDTOWN DETROIT 4152 Third Street @ Willis Detroit, MI 48201
GROW GREEN WITH US! www.plymouthnursery.net Visit our art 8:00-8 space inside Mon.-Fri. Blossoms Midtown! Sat. 8:00-6 • Sun. 9-5 BLOSSOMING ARTISTS Featuring local artists
248-588-0202 www.mikestree.com Licensed & Insured
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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
to-do list Annuals • Clean up garden beds that were planted with summer annuals. Dispose of any diseased plants, but anything else can be added to the compost pile.
Bulbs - Spring-Flowering • Plant spring-flowering bulbs, like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, before the ground freezes. When planting, amend the soil with a bulb fertilizer by mixing it into the soil. Avoid direct contact between the fertilizer and the bulbs, because the salts in the fertilizer can dry out the bulb.
Container Gardens • If possible, empty container gardens of soil and bring them into the garage. If that’s not possible, raise them off the ground so water flows through them easily. Cover with burlap and then plastic. Another option is to turn them upside down. The goal is to stop the pots from cracking by preventing the soil from expanding when the water in it freezes.
Evergreens • This is the time of year to prune evergreen trees. Evergreens should be pruned before the Fourth of July or after Halloween. Remove any crossing branches or inwardgrowing 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 • The holidays are right around the corner. Start creating your wish list for new tools or plants and make sure Santa is aware. Garden gifts are always welcome, particularly in the middle of winter. • Use the leaves from your trees to cover
FARM COMPOST Topsoil & Mulch Bulk or bags.
Delivery available. Tuthill Farms & Composting 10505 Tuthill Rd., S. Lyon, MI 48178
734-449-8100 TuthillFarms.com
your annual and perennial beds. Also use leaves to make compost for a great soil amendment next year. • 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.
Holiday Plants • Dress up the inside of your home with flowering plants. Garden centers have a wonderful selection of plants and flowers available at this time of year. Poinsettias, azaleas, cyclamen, orchids, mums, hydrangeas and other varieties are great complements to holiday décor. They also make wonderful hostess gifts. • To keep flowering plants fresher longer, keep them away from heat sources. Be sure to check the plant every few days and water when the soil is dry to the touch. Too much water is just as harmful as not enough water.
Houseplants • Bring color indoors with flowering and tropical houseplants. Orchids feature longlasting blooms that add elegance to any room. A bromeliad or greenhouse plant will add a bit of life to combat the winter blues. • If houseplants haven’t been getting a regular feeding of systemic granules, be on guard for spider mites, white fly, scale, and aphids. When you bring plants inside, you may bring some of these pests in, but not their natural predators. Checking the undersides of your plants’ new growth each time you water is a good habit. Catch an infestation early and it’s much easier to control.
Lawn Care • Using salt to remove snow can be harmful to the lawn. Instead, use an ice melter like calcium chloride. When applying, do your best to keep it off the grass—concentrate on the middle of the walk.
Perennials • Add a new mulch layer as late as possible to help keep the ground cold and protect
Feature Task: Care for your Christmas cactus With bright, vibrant blooms, flowering cactuses make great gifts and great decorations for the home or office during the holidays. With proper care, you can enjoy your cactus during the holidays, keep it throughout the year, and encourage another set of blooms the following year. While it’s in bloom, keep it in a location that gets bright light. Cactus should be planted in a mix specially formulated for succulent plants. Keep the soil evenly moist, but do not overwater. Maintain temperatures in the low 70s during the day and no lower than 50s at night. Once temperatures warm in the spring, you can move your cactus outdoors. A gradual introduction to the outdoors is best. plants from the frost heave that occurs with Michigan’s freeze-thaw cycles. • If your garden beds need winter interest, consider adding some miniature or dwarf conifers to your garden. Their size is a good proportion to mix in with your perennials and they are a great alternative to totally blank perennial beds each winter.
Shrubs & Trees • It’s very important to keep watering broadleaf evergreens and evergreens until snow finally sticks to the ground, usually some time in December. Water may not be necessary often, but check regularly. If plants go into the winter dry, and continue to lose water to the wind all winter long, you’ll end up with a lot of unnecessary tip burn. Water deeply each time you water. The water should go at least 10 inches deep into the ground around the shrubs. • Use an anti-desiccant such as Wilt-Pruf to help protect shrubs. Spray them as late in the year as possible, when temperatures are still above 40 degrees. Repeat this process in late winter when the temperatures first climb above 40 degrees. The waxy barrier that it provides cuts down on drying, but it usually only lasts about 6 to 8 weeks. • 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 when it’s moved next year, it will have many more roots and will transplant much better.
Keep it away from direct sunlight to avoid the possibility of burning the leaves. Fertilize with a balanced formula in the spring. It will enjoy the summer outdoors. Just be sure to watch that it receives the proper amount of water. Cactus plants should be root-bound in the pot to encourage flowering, so re-potting may not be necessary. In late September or early October, bring the plant indoors. It will begin to set buds in response to cooler temperatures and the shorter day length of winter. Move the plant to an area in your home where you can enjoy its blooms as the buds get bigger. Avoid extreme temperatures or lighting changes. Continue to water, erring on the dry side.
Storing Tools & Garden Supplies • Clean all your garden tools of any remaining soil and plant material. Sharpen the blade of the lawn mower. Pruners and garden knives should be sharpened and oiled. Store them in a dry place for next year. • Any remaining pesticides should be stored on a top shelf in a heated area. Pesticides left in the garage are subject to freezing and thawing and could lose their potency. • Remember to empty your clay pots of soil and bring them into the garage. If you must keep them outside, either turn over or cover to prevent water from freezing inside the pots and potentially cracking them.
Vegetables & Herbs • Plants hung on a lot longer this year due to the warm weather. After frost hits the annual plants, remove them from the garden. Try to keep the perennial herbs from freezing as long as possible by covering with frost cloth or newspapers. You might be able to harvest some for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Wildlife • Keep birdfeeders clean and full during the winter months to attract birds to the garden throughout the season. • Provide a source of water for birds in the winter. Try a birdbath with a built-in heater or add a birdbath heater to keep the water from freezing. Provided by the professionals at English Gardens.
Make us your Destination. Van Atta’s is open all year!
Night at the Greenhouse Thurs, Nov 16, 7-9p Wine, pampering, music & shopping in a special after-hours event!
Holiday Open House Sat-Sun, Nov 18-19, 12-4p Music , Food, SALES!
Bee a better gardener! Our new series of bee and honeycomb jewelry is now available, with a share of the proceeds donated to support new hives and local bee organizations. Visit us in-store, online or call for details.
Visit Van Atta’s for homegrown poinsettias, handmade wreaths, specialty greens, gorgeous and unique holiday décor and more! Custom holiday containers and arrangements for indoors or out are our specialty. Come see us for the perfect gift, decorating inspiration, and holiday cheer! Van Atta’s has one of the largest selections of garden accents, trees, shrubs and perennials in Southeastern Michigan.
Van Atta’s Greenhouse & Flower Shop
162 South Old Woodward Ave. Birmingham MI. 248-647-4414 www.grinsteinjewelry.com
Family owned and operated since 1980
9008 Old M-78 • Haslett, MI • 517-339-1142 www.vanattas.com • Open year round
Please join us!
TO CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF THE SEASON
THE WEED LADY Gift, Home & Landscape Shop Garden Center Greenhouse Florist Design/Build/Maintenance Landscape Company V
V
Fresh Greens, Florals, Garlands, Wreaths, Interiors, Holiday Ornaments, Candles, Bath & Body, Pottery, Houseplants
2017 Holiday Open House Nov 11, 9am-4pm & Nov 12, 10am-4pm
Hors d’oeuvres, live music, seasonal decorating inspiration... Come welcome the beauty of the season!
Ladies Holiday Afternoon - Dec 2, 12-4pm
Enjoy the afternoon with a bit of pampering, Hors d’oeuvres, and special gifts during this NEW Holiday Event!
Men’s Day - Dec 23, 9am-5pm
Revitalizing refreshments, last minute shopping assistance & complimentary gift wrapping!
9225 FENTON RD • GRAND BLANC • 25 MINS FROM GREAT LAKES CROSSING • THEWEEDLADY.COM • 810-655-2723
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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
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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Hughes Rd.
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Pinckney Rd.
Our selection of beautiful well-tended perennials, hostas, and grasses can’t be beat!
4330 Golf Club Rd. Howell ~ 517-546-7742 Open Mid-April to October Please call for hours
Our complete catalog is now online! www.SpecialtyGrowers.net
WOJO’S
Greenhouse 2570 Oakwood Rd. Ortonville, MI 48462 248-627-6498 Open Daily 9-5
WOJO’S
Garden Splendors 7360 E. Court St. Davison, MI 48423 810-658-9221 Open Daily 10-5
WOJO’S
of Lake Orion Closed for the Season
Celebrate the
JOY of Christmas
Our Poinsettias are grown right here in our greenhouse. Our evergreens are handmade and the freshest you’ll find anywhere!
Seasonal Planters ~ Wreaths Garland ~ Centerpieces ~ Poinsettias Swags ~ Memorial Blankets
www.wojos.com
Transplanting a small tree When is the best time to move a small tree? It is two years old and a maple. K.D. Although fall is touted as prime time to install trees and shrubs, the unpredictable nature of Michigan seasons causes hesitation. Your two-year-old maple is storing moisture and energy into its roots to keep its systems viable during the winter when the roots cannot replenish water from frozen ground. If you can transplant while the soil is moist and before the soil freezes, then fall is a good time. Next best is in early spring before bud break. Early spring planting allows for root growth to occur before plants must undergo the rigors of a Michigan summer, followed by another opportunity for root growth in fall. Deciduous trees can be successfully planted in fall because their roots are capable of growing even when soil temperatures fall to 45 degrees F. Not so for evergreens. However, a dry fall followed by extreme cold early in the dormant season can be fatal to fall transplants. In the past, Michigan has seen an unseasonably warm fall, which could easily be followed by a sudden temperature drop. If you have more time in the fall than in spring, move the maple then. The process is the same whether it is fall or spring. Make sure to get as much undisturbed root ball out to the canopy drip line as possible. Plant in a broader hole as opposed to deeper. Plant the root flare at or slightly above the soil line. Support the trunk with stakes as it will not have established a hold in the new location. Keep it watered even when air temperatures are below 60 degrees, until the ground is chilled.
Hydrangeas have root rot I had a 15-year-old Limelight hydrangea that I lost this August to root rot according to the Michigan State University Extension Hotline. All the leaves wilted in a matter of a week. Now a second Limelight is wilting. I would like to replace both. Any ideas on preventing this from happening again? B.O., Commerce Township Root rot stems from too much water in the soil and poor drainage. The cause of root rot are funguses such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, or Fusarium. Healthy roots are firm and white. Those with rot are brown and soft. These fungi thrive in wet soil, and you can transfer them from one part of the garden to another when you transplant ailing plants. The remedies are simple. Raise the elevation of the stagnating bed by adding plenty of compost and topsoil, working them into the
existing soil base. Saturated soil has no air spaces for oxygenation or nutrient exchange with plant roots. Adding compost breaks up compacted, heavy soil, thus allowing better drainage. It also adds fresh nutrients for plant growth. You may need to shore up the mounded soil with landscape pavers in order to get sufficient depth. Evaluate the planting bed. Have there been any immediate hardscape changes causing excess water to drain into this area? New driveways, additions to your house or a neighbor’s house that would increase roof runoff, loss of nearby trees that would absorb moisture, street paving, new storm drains, rain gutters missing or clogged—all these can be underlying factors in more water than normal dumping into this bed. Understand your neighborhood. Is it built near wetlands or creeks? Where does your home sit in relation to the overall grade of the development? Are there natural springs that wind their way through the soil? Are you at the gravity low end of the grade? Once you examine both the planting bed itself and the neighborhood factors, you have a broader understanding of why your soil may be overly saturated and causing root rot to shrubs that were fine 15 years ago. You may need to place a length of field drain along the newly raised bed to help siphon excess water away and disperse it elsewhere into a lawn or lower lying area. The ultimate goal is to keep any replacement shrubs from going back into a saturated situation.
LED light for plants Can an LED light be used as a grow light for plants brought in for the winter? P.K., Northville To mimic the sun for your overwintering plants, you need to understand what light is made of. Visible light is part of the larger electromagnetic scale which includes invisible spectrums such as radio waves and x-rays. Each spectrum represents a frequency measured in nanometers (one billionth of a meter, or “nm”). Most readily available light from the sun is in the middle spectrums, which we see as green, yellow and orange, the primary frequencies the human eyes use. Most photosynthetic activity is in the blue and red frequencies. Plants focus on specific light spectrums, but different spectrums are used for different types of growth. Scientific studies have been done to measure the amount of oxygen produced under various light spectrums, thereby
MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2017 | Michigan Gardener
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Wreath Decorating Workshop Saturday, November 18, 10am
Porch Pot Workshop
Saturday, November 25, 10am
Have a question? Send it in! Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Submit a question”
Garden Center & Nursery
Cost for each Workshop: $45 incl. matls. Pre-registration required 734-663-7600 or jet@turnersannarbor.com
WINTER WONDERLAND IN THE GREENHOUSE… measuring the amount of photosynthesis activity that occurs under each light frequency. The bottom line to all the research is very specific narrow spectrums. Blue light encourages vegetative growth and is essential in the lights used for seedlings and young plants. Red light is most important for flowering and fruiting, stem growth, and chlorophyll production. Since light (not electricity) grows plants, you need to ask how much light and what kind of light a fixture emits. Horticultural LED grow lights produce only the wavelengths most utilized by plants. You may want to look for these bulbs rather than buying ones for general use. Halogen lights can also provide full-spectrum light, but like incandescent lights they put out a lot of heat and are less energy efficient.
Controlling black spot on roses I have been fighting black spot on my roses for years. I remove the infected leaves from the plants and clean up any leaves that may have fallen to the ground. Frequently I apply granular and liquid multi-purpose fungicide, insecticide, and miticide. I also try not to water the plants in the evening or get the foliage wet. A couple of the plants have lost many leaves and I can’t seem to stop the spotting. What else can I do? P.B., Shelby Township An effective approach to managing black spot is to plant resistant varieties. Hybrid teas are some of the most susceptible. Your plant material may have aged out and been passed up by newer, resistant cultivars. However, since there are many strains of the fungus, resistance can be variable. Black spot may also be reduced by a good sanitation program which includes removing infected leaves as soon as they appear during the growing season and raking and removing all fallen leaves and plant debris in the fall. Spores can winter over in the soil surface and in old mulch. Applying fresh compost to the root zones as well as clean mulch may deter re-infection. Diseased canes should be pruned back to healthy wood in spring prior to bud break. You may need to aggressively prune and thin your plantings. It is helpful to have sufficient space between plants to ensure good air circulation. Your roses may be too congested, or adjacent plants and overhead canopies have matured to reduce air movement. Avoid overhead irrigation and water early in the day rather than late afternoon. This is effective in minimizing conditions favorable
for disease development. Plant vigor should be maintained by following a program of sound cultural care. Fungicide sprays can supplement these other options for black spot control.
Mystery plant causes rash I have this plant which is growing in my yard and my neighbor’s yard. I break out in a rash when I come in contact with it. It grows up into a spreading small bush of sorts. It has the three leaves like poison ivy but it is not a climber. Is it poison oak? M.M. Based on the photograph you sent, it is not poison oak or poison ivy. It appears to be golden Alexander (Zizia aurea). This herbaceous perennial plant is up to 2-1/2 feet tall, forming occasional lateral stems, which give it a shrubby appearance. The hairless stems give rise to shiny, compound green, and hairless leaves. It is sometimes confused with wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), which is highly irritating to the skin. Wild parsnip can cause blisters that discolor the skin after healing. Although golden Alexander is touted as a desirable wildflower to have in one’s garden because of its attractiveness to many bee and wasp species, as well as several butterfly caterpillars, if you break out in a rash on contact, then it isn’t desirable in your yard. It does spread readily through self-seeding in the right conditions: full sun, and moist and loamy soil. It is not known to be irritating to skin, although you may have a unique reaction to it. There may be another plant in its vicinity, such as the wild parsnip or poison ivy, that may be the actual culprit. Answers provided by Beverly Moss, owner of Garden Rhythms.
GARDEN RHYTHMS CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPES
• Renovation Specialists • Ornamental Pruning • Seasonal Containers • Maintenance & Redesign • Garden Coaching Certified Master Gardeners & Designers
248-217-6459 bevinbloom@comcast.net
Holiday Hours begin Nov 26: Mon-Sat 9-6 Sunday 11-4
y Poinsettias—Grown on-site y Fresh-Cut Trees—Michigan-grown y Porch Pots and Baskets y Wreaths, Roping & Memorial Blankets y Ornaments, Gifts & so much more! 4431 South Wagner Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-663-7600 • turnersannarbor.com
Artist’s Market, Musicians & Authors
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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
Featuring Huron Valley Council for the Arts Friday Night Grand Opening! Nov 17, 5-8pm Saturday, Nov 18, 9am-5pm Sunday, Nov 19, 10am-3pm
Visit us for all your holiday decorating needs:
Poinsettias, Roping, Wreaths, Fresh Greens, Memorial Blankets Decorated & Undecorated
248-887-5101 1525 Bogie Lake Rd. / White Lake www.bogielakegreenhouses.com Open 7 days
1-1/2 Miles S. of M-59 Across from Lakeland H.S.
Houseplants: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Growing and Caring for Indoor Plants by Lisa Eldred Steinkopf Houseplants (Cool Springs Press, 272 pages, $30) is the first published book from Michigan Gardener writer Lisa Steinkopf, The Houseplant Guru. Well-chosen and well-maintained houseplants transform a room. They add color and texture, and they even improve air quality. This engaging book helps you dive into this pleasant, no-yard-required hobby. It guides you through the many varieties of houseplants, and the care required for each. The author profiles over 150 of both popular and cutting-edge varieties. Along the way, she helps you choose plants that are suited for your space and conditions. Dive deeper with the included information on each plant’s Latin family, bloom period, mature height, and other specs. Houseplants gives you the best techniques to water, fertilize, groom, propagate and more—helping you keep your plants healthy.
Botanicum: Welcome to the Museum by Katie Scott and Kathy Willis
Light can transform your landscape.
Lighting designed to enhance • Safety • Security • Beauty Accentuate the features of your property - excellent return on investment. Extend your living space after sunset - enjoy your landscape like never before.
Teaming with Fungi: The Organic Grower’s Guide to Mycorrhizae
Trust our technical expertise, attention to detail and years of experience.
Almost every plant in a garden forms a relationship with fungi, and many plants would not exist without their fungal partners. Improved drought tolerance, resistance to disease, and increased fruiting are just a few of the ways mycorrhizal fungi can enhance plant performance. In his latest book, Teaming with Fungi (Timber Press, 172 pages, $24.95), bestselling author Jeff Lowenfels clearly explains exactly how beneficial fungi can make or break a plant’s success, and how to best optimize the advantages. Applicable to all types of cultivation—from agriculture to horticulture to ornamental gardening—Teaming with Fungi reveals the key role mycorrhizal fungi play in growing successful plants. Learn how fungi interact with plants, how to grow your own, and how best to employ them in the garden. This small but mighty guide, from the author of Teaming with Microbes and Teaming with Nutrients, translates complex science into clear language to enhance your knowledge of your garden soil.
We are landscape lighting specialists it’s our only business.
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(248) 761-9377
Explore the plant kingdom in all its glory. Botanicum (Big Picture Press, 112 pages, $35) is the latest offering from Big Picture Press’s Welcome to the Museum series and is a stunningly curated guide to plant life by Oxford Professor Kathy Willis and artist Katie Scott (illustrator of Animalium). This oversized, coffee tableworthy book gives readers the experience of a fascinating exhibition—from the pages of an easy-to-read guide. From perennials to bulbs to tropical exotica, Botanicum is a feast of botanical knowledge, complete with cross sections of how plants work. Featuring profiles of tiny algae to trees that tower more than 260 feet high, this book will delight children and adults alike. Learn how Earth came to be home to the diversity of plant life we see today.
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schuman landscape lighting .com
by Jeff Lowenfels
ON A COLD WINTER’S DAY, stop by our warm greenhouse and see our amazing selection of indoor bonsai plants!
tr pe de er ve s pe t i in s ca w va ds in an dy & l oo w
Indoor: Ficus, Fukien Tea, Bougainvillea, and many more. We have something for everyone: From $3 starter plants up to $6,000 very mature, exceptional bonsai trees • Tools • Wire • Mud Men Japanese & Chinese pots • Soil • Ongoing classes
See our Bonasi photos at www.FlowerMarketDundee.com
Environment • Ecology • Landscape Design We have SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS for you: O pe ro n un ye d! ar -
8930 South Custer Rd. (M-50) • 5 mi East of Cabela’s on M-50 Monroe, MI 48161 • 734-269-2660 • Find us on
Holiday Festival Saturday, Dec 2, 4-8pm
Evening of Lights Sun, Dec 3; Sat, Dec 9; Sun, Dec 10: 5-8pm
Come see THE HARPER COLLECTION:
A world-class collection of more than 500 dwarf & rare conifers
% 0 4 E V SA
ad is l, h ro nt t , o i re on nt ca s c n Me ee cie sig
• Rampant weeds? INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL • Eroding shoreline? BIOENGINEERING • Wet ground or basement? RAIN GARDENS • Veggies not producing? WILDFLOWERS FOR BEES! • Sick trees? Buckthorn thickets? FORESTRY • Retention pond problem? WETLANDS CONSULTING • Want wildlife? BIRD & BUTTERFLY GARDENS • Unidentified animals or plants? SPECIES ID!
NaturalCommunityServices.com John DeLisle, Principal Ecologist
248-672-7611 • naturalcommunityservices@gmail.com
OVER 2000 CANDLE-LIT LUMINARIES DISPLAYED!
Botanical Garden & Arboretum • Hosta Hillside • Plant Conservatory Flower Gardens • Picnic Area • Bonsai • Hiking Trails • Weddings & Tours by appointment 6214 Monroe Rd. (M-50) • Tipton, MI • OPEN DAILY
517-431-2060 • hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu
Travel to Ireland and see the beautiful gardens of County Wicklow, Blarney Castle Garden, and Adare—the picturesque thatched cottage village in County Limerick. May 12-21, 2018
Bulk Subscriptions • Great for clubs and retail stores outside our regular circulation routes. • Have Michigan Gardener delivered in bulk for your members or customers. • These copies are sent directly to the address you specify. • The cost per copy is much lower than the individual subscription price. • It’s a great way to provide another benefit to your members and customers.
East side of Ireland: 3 nights at Tinakilly house & gardens. Visit Mt. Usher gardens, Kilruddy house & gardens, Powerscourt house and gardens, Avoca woolen mill and the monastic vilage of Glendalough in the Wicklow mountains. West side of Ireland: 4 nights in Blarney Village. Visit Blarney Castle and gardens, Blarney woolen mill, Cork city and the English market, Cobh heritage center, Innishannon house hotel for lunch, a sightseeing boat cruise on Kenmare Bay to view seals & birds in County Kerry. The final night spent in the thatched cottage village of Adare with a final dinner at our hotel, the Dunraven Arms. $3,098 per person, airfare included (gas taxes change daily) • $399 single supplement A limited number of spots remain—call to reserve your place!
The order form is available at MichiganGardener.com or please contact us for an order form: publisher@MichiganGardener.com • 248-594-5563
WE SPECIALIZE IN SMALLER GROUPS OF 24
18 YEARS OF IRELAND TRAVEL EXPERIENCE
For more info, call your tour guide Terry Nolan at 810-305-5353 or visit www.irishrosetravel.com
12
Michigan Gardener | November/December 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
2017 Herb of the Year: Cilantro/Coriander
Jean & Roxanne Riggs
T
his is one of those very old herbs that is so confusing to Michigan gardeners. Its leaves and its seeds have different names. The leaves of the plant are called cilantro, while the seeds are called coriander. Its musky leaves and their fragrance and flavor are either loved or hated. The lemony-spicy seeds, however, are almost universally enjoyed. The leaves and the seeds do not taste or smell alike. This unique, historic herb (Coriandrum sativum) has been used throughout the centuries. Coriander was mentioned as far back as 1552 B.C. on papyrus. Ancient Greeks and Romans used it in love potions and medicinally. Moses compared the color of coriander seed to manna. Today, it can be found in everything from candies and cookies to gingerbread and apple pie, as well as stewed fruits and applesauce, and pork and beef roasts.
How to grow Cilantro is a short-lived annual. The tasty green leaves grow quickly from seed planted after the ground warms, and the danger of frost is gone. If the seeds are sown every two weeks it will provide the greens all summer. You have to be careful when you harvest and just take a few mature leaves. You cannot cut the plant back to the ground for one recipe and expect it to grow back. It most likely will not. Because of this plant’s short life here in Michigan, it will not last very long if you buy a mature plant from the nursery. Better to start with seeds and grow it yourself so you get many plants to harvest. Some of the plants should be allowed to flower and set seeds, which must be harvested as soon as they are brown and dry, for use as a condiment. The seeds can be ground up in a food grinder or crushed with a mortar and pestle to use in recipes. If you leave the seeds on the plant, the seeds will drop around the original plant and grow. The plants are very frost tender and do not like temperatures below 40 degrees. This herb grows in sun or partial shade, in the garden or in pots. There are several varieties offered in seed catalogs these days, but we have found that the old variety is the most reliable and prolific. On warm summer days, the smell of the plants will fill your garden. It 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
Cilantro leaves are only used fresh, not dried. They are so valuable in making great recipes.
These coriander seeds are brown and dry, so they are ready to harvest. They can be crushed in a mortar and pestle or a grinder.
has attractive glossy, green leaves. The flower is small with delicate umbels of white that are quite pretty. There are a couple of substitute plant varieties used in place of cilantro that are grown where the weather is too hot or too wet, mostly in the South, Central America, and southeast
Asia. Mexican coriander (Eryngium foetidum; aka culantro, thorny coriander, ngo gai) is one of the plants. Its leaves are tough, but it tastes pretty good if chopped up finely enough. It holds its flavor when dried. It is used medicinally, and in soups, curries, and rice and fish dishes. Another substitute variety is Vietnam-
ese coriander (Polygonum odoratum or Persicaria odoratum). This is also used medicinally, as well as in salads and with fowl.
Recipes Fresh cilantro leaves are readily available most times of the year in the supermarket
Black beans with cilantro
Spiced cider
Old-fashioned coriander cookies
This recipe featuring black beans has been family flavor-tested and is a favorite. • 1 large can black beans, drained and rinsed • 1/3 cup tomato juice • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon cumin • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro Cook garlic and cumin in olive oil over medium heat until you can smell it. Add beans, tomato juice, and salt. Stir until heated through. Just before serving, stir in cilantro. So good!
This recipe can be served hot or chilled. It would be good for tailgate parties, teen gettogethers, or a holiday punch. • 4 quarts apple cider • 1 cup orange juice • 1/2 cup sugar • 1 tablespoon orange peel • 1 teaspoon coriander seed • 2 teaspoons whole cloves • 2 six-inch cinnamon sticks Combine all ingredients in a large pan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1/2 hour. Strain into mugs or cups. Enjoy!
This is a classic cookie recipe, and unusual enough to be used in cookie exchanges. • 3/4 cup butter • 1/2 teaspoon shredded lemon peel • 1 teaspoon ground coriander seed • 1/3 cup powdered sugar • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 2 cups flour Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add remainder of ingredients and beat until mixed. Shape into 1-inch logs or crescents and bake at 325 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes. After cooling, sprinkle additional powdered sugar over them. Makes about 4 dozen yummy cookies.
MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2017 | Michigan Gardener
13
Milarch Nursery Q U A L I T Y P L A N T S & S E R V I C E S I N C E 19 7 2
27 ACRES of Flowering & Shade Trees, Shrubs, Evergreens, Roses, Perennials, Groundcovers, and Topiaries
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ORNAMENTAL GRASSES WONDERFUL WINTER INTEREST
TO SEE OUR INCREDIBLE SELECTION, PLEASE VISIT MILARCHNURSERY.COM AND CLICK ON “AVAILABILITY.”
Cilantro plants growing in the garden, with leaves ready to pick. Even though flowers are appearing, you can still pick the leaves and use them at this point. Every tiny, delicate flower will turn into a coriander seed. produce section or at the farmers market. Coriander seeds can be found in the dried spice section. Leaves should be washed well before use. However, cilantro leaves never taste quite as good as the ones you grow, harvest, and use fresh from your own garden. Cilantro leaves are only used fresh. Their unique flavor is lost when the leaves are dried, and they turn to flavorless mush when
frozen and then thawed, or when cooked. Fresh cilantro is used in salsa, guacamole, bean dishes, tomato dishes, tacos and wraps. We encourage you to grow this easy herb plant, and see how you like it!
28500 HAAS RD • NEW HUDSON, MI 48165 • 248-437-2094 www.milarchnursery.com • Winter Hours: Mon-Fri: 8-5 Sat-Sun: Closed
Jean and Roxanne Riggs operated Sunshine Farm and Garden in Oakland County, MI and now enjoy retirement up north.
Auburn Oaks
Advertiser Index Assoc. of Professional Gardeners......... 16 Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr.................................13 Barson’s Greenhouse.....Inside Front Cover Blossoms............................................................. 5 Bogie Lake Greenhouses...........................10 Detroit Garden Works......Inside Front Cvr English Gardens....................................Page 3 The Flower Market.........................................11 The Garden Mill..............................................17 Garden Rhythms.............................................9
A Garden Space............................................. 16 Grinstein Jewelry & Design........................ 7 Hidden Lake Gardens....................................11 Irish Rose Travel...............................................11 Master Gardener Soc. of Oakland Cty......9 Mike’s Tree Surgeons.................................... 5 Milarch Nursery..............................................13 Natural Community Services....................11 Plymouth Nursery.......................................... 5 Schuman Landscape Lighting.................10
Specialty Growers...........................................8 Telly’s Greenhouse.........................................4 Turner’s Landscp & Gard Ctr.....................9 Tuthill Farms & Composting......................6 Uncle Luke’s Feed Store..............................17 Van Atta’s Greenhouse................................ 7 Warmbier Farms......... Inside Front Cover The Weed Lady................................................ 7 Wojo’s...................................................................8
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A collection of stores and gardens to shop and visit. Please call ahead for hours, as they may vary from season to season.
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H American Tree
ann arbor H Abbott’s Nurs & Garden Ctr 2781 Scio Church Rd., MI 48103 734-665-8733 www.abbottsnursery.com 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 The Produce Station
H Turner’s Greenhse & Garden Ctr 4431 South Wagner Rd., MI 48103 734-663-7600 www.turnersannarbor.com Wild Birds Unltd
auburn H Warmbier Farms 5300 Garfield Rd., MI 48611 989-662-7002 www.warmbierfarms.com
auburn hills Drake’s Landscp & Nurs H Haley Stone 3600 Lapeer Rd., MI 48326 248-276-9300 www.haleystone.net H State Crushing
brighton
Grand Oak Herb Farm
H Beauchamp Landscp Supp Bordine’s Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland
H Begick Nursery & Garden Ctr 5993 Westside Saginaw Rd., MI 48706 989-684-4210 www.begicknursery.com
belleville Banotai Greenhse Gardeners Choice H Pinter Flowerland H Zywicki Greenhse
berkley Garden Central
H Hallson Gardens 14280 US-127, MI 49233 517-592-9450 www.perennialnursery.com
chelsea H Garden Mill 110 S. Main St., MI 48118 734-475-3539 www.thegardenmill.com
H Van Thomme’s Greenhses
bancroft bay city
cement city
chesterfield
La Salle
almont
New Baltimore
The Potting Shed
Monroe
Cement City
Want to advertise your local business in Places to Grow? 2 options:
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Rochester Macomb Rochester Shelby Twp. Highland Pontiac Hills Utica Auburn Hills Sylvan Lake Clinton Twp. Commerce Milford Troy West Sterling Hts. Bloomfield Birmingham Walled Lake St. Clair Berkley Wixom Roseville Shores Brighton Warren Royal Oak New Hudson Eastpointe South Lyon Novi Farmington Southfield Hills Oak Park Ferndale Whitmore Northville Grosse Lake Pointes Livonia Redford Hartland
Williamston
Washington
brownstown twp Bruce’s Pond Shop Raupp Brothers Gard Ctr H Ruhlig Farms & Gard
burton H Walker Farms & Greenhouse 5253 E. Atherton Rd., MI 48519 810-743-0260 www.walkersfarm.com
birmingham
canton
H Blossoms 33866 Woodward Ave, MI 48009 248-644-4411 www.blossomsbirmingham.com
Canton Floral Gardens Crimboli Nurs Wild Birds Unltd
clarkston Bordine’s Country Oaks Landscp I Lowrie’s Landscp Backyard Oasis Pond & Gard
clinton twp H English Gardens 44850 Garfield Rd, MI 48038 586-286-6100 www.EnglishGardens.com Michigan Koi H Tropical Treasures
clio H Piechnik’s Greenhouse & Garden Ctr 13172 McCumsey Rd, MI 48420 810-686-9211 www.cliogreenhouse.com
commerce twp Zoner’s Greenhse
MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2017 | Michigan Gardener
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 H Detroit Farm and Garden 1759 21st St., MI 48216 313-655-2344 www.detroitfarmandgarden.com Eastern Market
dexter H Bloom! Gard Ctr 1885 Baker Rd., MI 48130 734-426-6600 www.bloom-gardens.com Dexter Mill H Fraleighs Landscape Nursery 8600 Jackson Rd., MI 48130 734-426-5067 www.fraleighs.com Guthrie Gardens
eastpointe H English Gardens 22501 Kelly Rd, MI 48021 586-771-4200 www.EnglishGardens.com Drew’s Garden
farmington hills Angelo’s Landscp Supp Farmer John’s Greenhse Loeffler Stone Ctr H Steinkopf Nurs
fenton Gerych’s Flowers/Gift H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm 13730 White Lake Rd., MI 48430 810-629-9208 www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com
ferndale Casual Modes Home/Gard
flat rock Masserant’s Feed Store
flushing H Flushing Lawn & Garden Ctr 114 Terrace St., MI 48433 810-659-6241 www.unclelukes.com
fowlerville H Arrowhead Alpines
gladwin H Stone Cottage Gardens 3740 West Willford Rd., MI 48624 989-426-2919 www.stonecottagegardens.com
grand blanc Bordine’s H The Weed Lady 9225 Fenton Rd., MI 48439 810-655-2723 www.theweedlady.com
grass lake H Designs by Judy Florist & Greenhse 3250 Wolf Lake Rd., MI 49240 517-522-5050 www.designsbyjudyflowers.com
grosse ile H Westcroft Gardens 21803 West River Rd., MI 48138 734-676-2444 www.westcroftgardens.com
grosse pointe Allemon’s Landscp Ctr Meldrum & Smith Nurs
grosse pointe woods Wild Birds Unltd
hadley Le Fleur Décor
hartland Deneweth’s Garden Ctr
haslett Christian’s Greenhse H Van Atta’s Greenhse
highland Colasanti’s Produce/Plant Fragments Highland Garden Ctr H One Stop Landscp Supp Thornton Nurs
howell H Howell Farmer’s Mkt Downtown Howell @ State & Clinton 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 H Superior Landscape Supplies 4805 Musson Rd., MI 48855 517-548-2068 Wilczewski Greenhses
imlay city H Earthly Arts Greenhse
jackson The Hobbit Place
lake orion H 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
lansing Lansing Gardens
lapeer H The Iron Barn
lasalle
mason
rochester
sylvan lake
williamston
Gilling’s Nurs
rochester hills
H AguaFina Gardens International 2629 Orchard Lake Rd., MI 48320 248-738-0500 www.aguafina.com
Christian’s Greenhse
metamora
Fogler’s Greenhse Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr
Wildtype Nurs
milford Milford Gardens H The Pond Place
monroe The Flower Market
new baltimore
Bordine’s
H Meldrum Bros Nurs
H Haley Stone 3975 S. Rochester Rd., MI 48307 248-852-5511 www.haleystone.net
new boston H Grass Roots Nurs Mums the Word
new hudson
Wild Birds Unltd
H Milarch Nurs 28500 Haas Rd., MI 48165 248-437-2094 www.milarchnursery.com
romulus
north branch H Campbell’s Greenhouses 4077 Burnside Rd., MI 48461 810-688-3587 www.campbellsgreenhouses.com H Oldani Landscape Nurseries 2666 Tozer Rd., MI 48461 810-688-2363 www.oldanilandscapenurseries.com
northville Begonia Brothers Gardenviews H Willow Greenhouses
novi Glenda’s Gard Ctr Wild Birds Unltd
oak park Four Seasons Gard Ctr
oakland H Piechnik’s Garden Gate 1095 N. Rochester Rd., MI 48363 586-336-7200 www.cliogreenhouse.com
ortonville Country Oaks Landscp II H Wojo’s Greenhse 2570 Oakwood Rd., MI 48462 248-627-6498 www.wojos.com
owosso H Everlastings in Wildwood
oxford Candy Cane Xmas Trees Oxford Farm/Gard
Fowler’s Gift Shop
plymouth
lennon
Graye’s Greenhse Lucas Nurs
Krupps Novelty Shop
livonia Bushel Mart H George’s Livonia Gardens 31405 W. 7 Mile Rd., MI 48152 248-476-6719 Find us on Facebook Superior Growers Supp Valley Nurs
macomb Altermatt Greenhses Boyka’s Greenhse Deneweth’s Garden Ctr H Elya’s Village Gardens H Landscape Source Joe Randazzo’s Nurs Olejnik Farms Wade Nurs Wiegand’s Nursery Wild Birds Unltd
manchester McLennan Nurs
H Auburn Oaks Garden Ctr 3820 West Auburn Rd, MI 48309 248-852-2310 www.auburnoaksnursery.com
H Plymouth Nursery 9900 Ann Arbor Rd W, MI 48170 734-453-5500 www.plymouthnursery.net Plymouth Rock & Supp H Rock Shoppe on Gotfredson 6275 Gotfredson, MI 48170 734-455-5560 www.rock-shoppe.com Sparr’s Greenhse
pontiac Goldner Walsh Gard/Home
ray Heritage Oaks Van’s Valley Greenhse
redford H Pinter Flowerland Seven Mi Gard Ctr
Block’s Stand/Greenhse H Kurtzhals’ Farms H Schoedel’s Nurs Schwartz’s Greenhouse
roseville Dale’s Landscp Supp Flower Barn Nurs Sea World
royal oak Billings Lawn Equip Button’s Rent-It H English Gardens 4901 Coolidge Hwy, MI 48073 248-280-9500 www.EnglishGardens.com Wild Birds Unltd
saginaw H Abele Greenhouse & Garden Ctr 3500 Wadsworth Rd., MI 48601 989-752-5625 www.abelegreenhouse.com
saline Clink Landscp & Nurs Nature’s Garden Ctr H Saline Flowerland
shelby twp Diegel Greenhses Flower Barn Nurs H Hessell’s Greenhouse 14497 23 Mile Rd., MI 48315 586-247-4675 www.hessellsgreenhouse.com Maeder Plant Farm H Telly’s Greenhouse 4343 24 Mile, MI 48316 248-659-8555 www.tellys.com
south lyon Hollow Oak Farm Nurs Mike’s Garden 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 Greenhouse Growers Hall’s Nurs Soulliere Gard Ctr
sterling heights Decor Statuette H Eckert’s Greenhouse 34051 Ryan Rd., MI 48310 586-264-5678 www.eckertsgreenhouse.com Prime Landscp Supp
stockbridge Gee Farms
H Detroit Garden Works 1794 Pontiac Dr., MI 48320 248-335-8089 www.detroitgardenworks.com
taylor H Beautiful Ponds & Gardens 20379 Ecorse, MI 48180 313-383-8653 www.skippysstuff.com D&L Garden Ctr 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 Stonescape Supp
walled lake H Suburban Landscp Supp
wixom Angelo’s Landscp Supp Brainer’s Greenhse Milford Tree Farm
ypsilanti Coleman’s Farm Mkt Lucas Nurs Margolis Nurs Materials Unlimited H Sell Farms & Greenhouses 7200 Willis Rd., MI 48197 866-296-3090 www.sellfarmsandgreenhouses.com
Gardens to Visit ann arbor H Matthaei Botanical Gardens/ Nichols Arboretum 1800 North Dixboro Rd., MI 48105 734-647-7600 www.mbgna.umich.edu
bloomfield hills H Cranbrook Gardens 380 Lone Pine Rd., MI 48303 248-645-3147 housegardens.cranbrook.edu
clinton twp Tomlinson Arboretum
dearborn Arjay Miller Arboretum @ Ford World HQ Henry Ford Estate
detroit
warren
Anna S Whitcomb Conservtry
H Beste’s Lawn/Patio Supp Garden Ctr Nurs Young’s Garden Mart
dryden Seven Ponds Nature Ctr
washington
H MSU Horticulture Gardens W.J. Beal Botanical Gard
Landscp Direct Miller’s Big Red Greenhse Rocks ‘n’ Roots
waterford Breen’s Landscp Supp Hoffman Nurs H Merrittscape Oakland County Market
west bloomfield H English Gardens 6370 Orchard Lake Rd., MI 48322 248-851-7506 www.EnglishGardens.com
westland H Barson’s Greenhse 6414 North Merriman Rd., MI 48185 734-421-5959 www.barsons.com Bushel Stop Joe Randazzo’s Nurs Merlino’s Bushel Ctr Panetta’s Landscp
white lake H Bogie Lake Greenhouses 1525 Bogie Lake Rd., MI 48383 248-887-5101 www.bogielakegreenhouses.com H Mulligan’s Landscp & Gard Ctr 8215 Elizabeth Lake Rd., MI 48386 248-698-4741 www.mulliganlandscaping.com Sunshine Plants
whitmore lake H Alexander’s Greenhses
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east lansing emmett H Sunny Fields Botanical Park 5444 Welch Rd., MI 48022 810-387-2765 www.visitsunnyfields.org
flint Applewood
grand rapids Frederik Meijer Gardens
grosse pointe shores Edsel & Eleanor Ford Hse
lansing Cooley Gardens
midland Dahlia Hill Dow Gardens
novi Tollgate Education Ctr
royal oak Detroit Zoo
tipton H Hidden Lake Gardens 6214 Monroe Rd. (M-50), MI 49287 517-431-2060 www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu
16
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November / December / January 2018 / February / March / April
November Nature Tykes Preschool Program Wednesdays in Nov, 9:45-11:15am, Ann Arbor. At Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. Ages 4-5 without caregiver. Kids will discover animal differences this month. www.lesliesnc.org. Toddler Nature Storytime Wednesdays in Nov, 10-11am, Ann Arbor. At Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. $5/child. Adults free. Join us for this naturally unique story time for ages 1-5. www.lesliesnc.org, 734-997-1553. Edsel Ford House Collector’s Series Thu, Nov 2, 6-8:30pm, Grosse Pointe Shores. At Edsel Ford House. $40. In this series we will examine some of the items that make up the home’s exquisite collection. www.FordHouse.org. H Christmas Open House Sun, Nov 5, 10am-5pm, all 6 locations. At English Gardens. Portion of sales donated to Festival of Trees (Children’s Hospital of MI). Kids make a birch slice ornament. 1 per child with adult helper. www.EnglishGardens.com. Ergonomics while Gardening Tue, Nov 7, 6:45pm, Livonia. By Livonia Garden Club at Livonia Senior Ctr. Dr. Mehul Vaidya, DPT will share the ergonomics of peripheral joints during gardening. Gardening with Facebook Wed, Nov 8, 6:30-8:30pm, Mt. Clemens. At Mt. Clemens Public Library. $5. Bring a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. H Wine & Design: Evergreen Porch Pot Thu, Nov 9, 6pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. $35. Bring your own beer or wine & we’ll provide everything you’ll need to create a beautiful evergreen porch pot. Register: 517-339-1142. H Holiday Season Preview Thu, Nov 9, 5-9pm; Fri & Sat, Nov 10 & 11, 9am-5pm; Sun, Nov 12, 12-4pm; Sylvan Lake. At Detroit Garden Works. All the makings of a beautiful holiday. Greens, mosses, picks, stems, berried branches, lights & much more. 248-335-8089. Blind Auction Thu, Nov 9, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Center, 1201 Livernois. Guests are welcome. 248-541-6427. H English Gardens Holiday How to Weekend Sat, Nov 11, 10am-1pm & Sun, 11am-2pm, all 6 locations. At English Gardens. Short 15-minute demonstrations to make decorating easier. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Wine, Women & Shopping Sat, Nov 11, Chelsea. At Garden Mill. Our annual event: Gifts for gardeners, holiday decor, fresh greens & much more. 734-475-3539. www.TheGardenMill.com.
H Holiday Open House Sat, Nov 11, 9am-4pm & Sun, 10am-4pm, Grand Blanc. At The Weed Lady. Come welcome the beauty of the season. 810-655-2723. www.TheWeedLady.com. Herb & Holly Boutique Sat, Nov 11, Grosse Pointe Woods. By Herb Society of America at Grosse Pointe Woods Comm Ctr. Herbal marketplace, handcrafted holiday decor & more. 586-773-6682. H Wine & Design: Thanksgiving Centerpiece Sat, Nov 11, 6pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. $35. Bring your own beer or wine & we’ll provide everything you’ll need to create a beautiful centerpiece w/candle. Register: 517-339-1142. H Forcing Bulbs for Indoor Beauty Sun, Nov 12, 2-4pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. $24. Diane Faust demos how to force bulbs & other spring flowers. Take home a planted container to force & enjoy. Registration required. www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu, 517-431-2060. Floral Design with Holiday Flair Mon, Nov 13, 12:30pm, Dearborn. By Garden Club of Dearborn at First Presbyterian Church. English Gardens’ floral designer Larry Kulpa will demo arranging, along with theme & design. 313-565-1266. Royal Oak Garden Club Mon, Nov 13, 1pm, Royal Oak. By Royal Oak Garden Club at Royal Oak Public Library. FREE. Julia Hofley presents “Drama in the Shade: My Love Affair with Ferns and Other Shady Companions.” 248-398-4996. Hosta Virus X Mon, Nov 13, 7pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Hardy Plant Society at Birmingham Congregational Church. Presented by Chris Wilson of Hallson Gardens. Guest fee: $5. For more info: julia@juliasbiglife.com or visit us on Facebook. MGSOC Meeting “Greening the Holiday” Tue, Nov 14, 6pm, Bloomfield Hills. By MGSOC at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. $5. Guests welcome. “Greening the Holiday” with Mary Gerstenberger. www.mgsoc.org. Autumn Succulent Centerpiece Tue, Nov 14, 6-8pm, East Lansing. At MSU Horticulture Gardens. $40. Create a gourd adorned with a wide range of succulents. www.hrt.msu.edu/our_gardens/ curious_gardener. H Night at the Greenhouse Thu, Nov 16, 7-9pm, Haslett. At VanAtta’s. Wine, pampering, music & shopping in this special after-hours event. www.vanattas.com. H 8th Annual Ladies Night Thu, Nov 16, 5-8pm, Royal Oak & Clinton Twp. At English Gardens. $10 advance, $15 @ door. 100% of registration fees donated to Forgotten Harvest. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com.
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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
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Website: Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Garden Event Calendar” E-Mail: calendar@MichiganGardener.com Upcoming Issues & Deadlines: Issue
April 2018 May 2018
Deadline March 15, 2018 April 15, 2018
MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2017 | Michigan Gardener
17
• Gifts for gardeners, birders & the home • Holiday décor & tree decorations • Fresh wreaths, garland, and greens • Poinsettias and Christmas Cactus Look for select discounts throughout the season!
H Ladies Night Out Thu, Nov 16, 6-8pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. www.plymouthnursery.net, 734-453-5500. Back to Eden: Landscaping with Native Plants Thu, Nov 16, 6:30p, Grosse Pointe Farms. By Grosse Pointe Garden Ctr at Grosse Pointe War Memorial. 6:30p booksigning; 7p lecture. Author Frank Porter shows how to rediscover native flora and how to propagate and grow these botanical treasures. $15. Registration: 313-499-0743, www.gpgardencenter.org. H Arts & Greens Holiday Market Fri, Nov 17, 5-8pm; Sat, 9am-5pm; & Sun, 10am-3pm; White Lake. At Bogie Lake Greenhouses. Join us for all your holiday decorating needs. 248-887-5101. H Christmas Extravaganza Fri, Nov 17, 11am-4pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. www.plymouthnursery.net, 734-453-5500. Back to Eden: Landscaping with Native Plants Design Workshop Fri, Nov 17, Grosse Pointe Farms. By Grosse Pointe Garden Ctr at Grosse Pointe War Memorial. Author Frank Porter helps each attendee design a rain garden or native plant garden. $35 includes cost of book. Registration: 313-499-0743, www.gpgardencenter.org. H Holiday Indoor Arrangement Workshop Sat, Nov 18, 11:30am, Troy. At Telly’s Greenhouse. $34/ arrangement. Brings gloves & pruners. Register: www.tellys.com. H Christmas DIY Weekend: Saturday Workshops Sat, Nov 18, All 6 locations. At English Gardens. 10am & Noon: Holiday Bow, $5, plus ribbon. 11am: Yule Log, $10. 1pm: Holiday Container Garden, $49.99. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Wreath Decorating Workshop Sat, Nov 18, 10am, Ann Arbor. At Turner’s. $45. Includes materials. Register: 734-663-7600. www.turnersannarbor.com. H Holiday Open House Sat, Nov 18, & Sun, Nov, 19, Noon-4pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. Music, food, sales. www.vanattas.com. H Holiday Outdoor Arrangement Workshop Sat, Nov 18, 10am, Troy. At Telly’s. $34/container. Bring pruners & gloves. Register: 248-689-8735. H Christmas DIY Weekend: Sunday Workshops Sun, Nov 19, All 6 locations. At English Gardens. 11am: Holiday Bow, $5, plus ribbon. Noon: Yule Log, $10. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com.
H Thanksgiving Centerpiece Workshop Sun, Nov 19, 1pm, Clinton Twp., Dearborn Heights, Royal Oak & West Bloomfield. At English Gardens. $24.99. Create this beautiful fresh floral centerpiece. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Porch Pot Workshop Sat, Nov 25, 10am, Ann Arbor. At Turner’s Garden Ctr. $45. Register: 734-663-7600. Edsel Ford House Collectors Series Thu, Nov 30, 6-8:30pm, Grosse Pointe Shores. At Edsel Ford House. $40. In this series we will examine some of the items that make up the home’s exquisite collection. www.FordHouse.org.
December Rochester Garden Club Greens Market Fri, Dec 1, 9am-6pm & Sat, Dec 2, 9am-1pm, Rochester Hills. By Rochester Garden Market at Rochester Schools Admin Bldg. $2. Proceeds fund charitable club activities. rochestergardenclub.org. H Indoor Holiday Greens Arrangement Workshop Sat, Dec 2, 11:30am, Troy. At Telly’s Greenhouse. $34/ arrangement. Brings gloves & pruners. Register: www.tellys.com. H Holiday Festival Sat, Dec 2, 4-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Celebrate the Holiday Season with lights, luminaries, decorations, music, crafts, refreshments, & Santa. www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu. 517-431-2060. H Evergreen Wreath Class Sat, Dec 2, 2pm, Haslett. At VanAtta’s. $35. Bring pruners, gloves & any additional wreath décor. We’ll provide greens, wreath frame, wire & instruction. Register: 517-339-1142. H Holiday Outdoor Arrangement Workshop Sat, Dec 2, 10am, Troy. At Telly’s Greenhouse. $34/ container. Bring pruners & gloves. Register: www.tellys.com. Annual Holiday Greens Market Sat, Dec 2, 9am-4pm, Clarkston. By Clarkston Farm & Garden Club at Calvary Lutheran Church, 6805 Bluegrass Dr. Arrangements, wreaths, roping, swags, fresh greens. www.clarkstongardenclub.org.
JOIN US for Chelsea’s 12th Annual Wine, Women, and Shopping event on Sat, Nov 11, 2017 110 S. MAIN • DOWNTOWN CHELSEA • 734-475-3539 • www.thegardenmill.com
Uncle Luke’s Fresh cut Christmas Trees Wreaths • Roping • Grave Blankets
We hand-pick our Christmas Trees so you get the BEST of the BEST: Fraser Fir • Concolor Fir • Douglas Fir • Spruce • Scotch Pine
• Wildlife & Bird Feeds • Winter plant protection supplies
Huge selection of wild bird seed & feeding equipment
Wilt Pruf, burlap, & more
• Pet & animal food Taste of the Wild • Natural Balance • Iams Wysong • Canidae • Solid Gold • Wellness Fromm • Lotus • California Natural • Nutros Eukanuba • Chicken Soup • NutriSource
BEST SELECTION of ORGANIC fertilizers and soil amendments in Southeastern Michigan Featuring
organic fertilizers & soil amendments
Uncle Luke’s Feed Store 6691 Livernois, Troy • (1/4 Mile S. of South Blvd.) • 248-879-9147 www.unclelukes.com • Mon-Fri 9-6:30 • Sat 8-6 • Sun 9-5 Visit our 2nd location in Flushing: Flushing Lawn & Garden • 810-659-6241
continued on page 18
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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
Look for Allen Park • Ace Hardware Almont H American Tree Ann Arbor H Abbott’s Landscp Nurs • Ace Barnes Hardware (Washtenaw Ave) • Ace Barnes Hardware (West Stadium) • Dixboro General Store • Downtown Home & Gard H English Gardens H HillTop Greenhse & Farms • Larry’s Mower Shop H Lodi Farms H Matthaei Botanical Gard • The Produce Station H Turner’s Greenhse/ Gard Ctr • Wild Birds Unltd Auburn Hills • Ace Hardware • Drake’s Landscp & Nurs H Haley Stone H State Crushing Belleville • Banotai Greenhse H Pinter Flowerland H Zywicki Greenhse Berkley • Garden Central Beverly Hills • Ace Hardware Birmingham H Blossoms Brighton H Beauchamp Landscp Supp • Grasshopper Gardens • Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland Brownstown Twp • Raupp Bros Landscp Supp H Ruhlig Farms & Gard Canton • Canton Floral Gardens • Crimboli Nurs • Wild Birds Unltd Chelsea • Heim Gardens & Florist H The Garden Mill • The Potting Shed Chesterfield H Van Thomme’s Greenhses Clarkston • Ace Hardware (Dixie Hwy) • Ace Hardware (Sashabaw) • Backyard Oasis • Country Oaks Landscp Supp I • Lowrie’s Landscp • The Gateway • Weingartz Clawson • Ace Hardware Clinton Twp H English Gardens • Michigan Koi • MSU ExtensionMacomb Cty H Tropical Treasures
at these fine locations: Clio H Piechnik’s Greenhse Commerce Twp • Zoner’s Greenhse Davison H Wojo’s Garden Splendors Dearborn • Ace Hardware • Fairlane Gard Dearborn Hts H English Gardens Detroit • Cheryl English H Detroit Farm & Gard • Detroit Gard Ctr Dexter H Bloom! Gard Ctr • Dexter Mill • Earth Art H Fraleigh’s Nurs Eastpointe • Drew’s Garden H English Gardens Farmington • Alexander True Value Hardware Farmington Hills • Ace Hardware • Saxton’s Flower Ctr H Steinkopf Nurs • Weingartz Fenton • Gerych’s H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm Ferndale • Casual Modes Home & Gard Flushing H Flushing Lawn & Gard Ctr Fostoria H The Iron Barn Fowlerville H Arrowhead Alpines • Green-Up Gard Ctr Gladwin H Stone Cottage Gardens Grand Blanc H The Weed Lady Grand Rapids • Meijer Gardens Grosse Ile H Westcroft Gardens Grosse Pointe • Allemon’s Landscp Ctr • Meldrum & Smith Nurs Grosse Pointe Shores • Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Grosse Pointe Woods • Wild Birds Unltd Hadley • Le Fleur Décor Haslett H Van Atta’s Greenhse Highland • Ace Hardware • Colasanti’s Produce & Plants • Five Star Ace Hardware • Fragments H One Stop Landscp Supp • Thornton Nurs Howell H Howell Farmer’s Mkt H Specialty Growers H Superior Landscp Supp • Wilczewski Greenhses
Imlay City H Earthly Arts Keego Harbor • Creative Brick Paving Lake Orion • Ace Hardware H Lake Orion Lawn Ornaments H Orion Stone Depot H Wojo’s of Lake Orion Livonia • Ace Hardware (5 Mi/Middlebelt) • Ace Hardware (6 Mi/Newburgh) • Bushel Mart H George’s Livonia Gard • Superior Growers Supp • Valley Nurs Macomb • Ace Hardware • Altermatt’s Greenhse • Boyka’s Greenhse H Elya’s Village Gard • Joe Randazzo’s H Landscape Source • Olejnik Farms • Wild Birds Unltd Midland • Dow Gardens Milford • Ace Hardware • Peter’s True Value Hardware H The Pond Place Monroe • The Flower Market New Baltimore H Meldrum Bros Nurs New Boston H Grass Roots Nurs • Mums the Word New Hudson H Milarch Nurs North Branch H Campbell’s Greenhses H Oldani Landscp Nurs Northville • Begonia Bros • Gardenviews Novi • Ace Hardware • Glenda’s Gard Ctr • Tollgate Education Ctr - MSU • Wild Birds Unltd Oak Park • Ace Hardware • Four Seasons Gard Ctr Oakland H Piechnik’s Garden Gate Ortonville H Wojo’s Greenhse Owosso H Everlastings in the Wildwood Oxford • Oxford Farm & Gard Pinckney • Bock’s General Store & Gard Ctr Plymouth • Lucas Nurs H Plymouth Nurs • Plymouth Rock & Supp H Rock Shoppe • Sideways • Sparr’s Greenhse
Pontiac • Goldner Walsh Gard/Home • MSU ExtensionOakland Cty Ray • Heritage Oaks Redford H Pinter Flowerland • Seven Mi Gard Ctr Rochester • Allstate Home Leisure • Fogler’s Greenhse • Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr Rochester Hills • Ace Hardware H Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr H Haley Stone • Wild Birds Unltd Romulus H Kurtzhal’s Farms H Schoedel’s Nurs • Schwartz’s Greenhse Roseville • Dale’s Landscp Supp • Flower Barn Nurs Sea World Royal Oak • Ace Hardware • Billings Lawn Equip • Button’s Rent It H English Gardens • Frentz & Sons Hardware • La Roche • Manus Power Mowers • Wild Birds Unltd Saginaw H Abele Greenhse & Gard Ctr Salem Twp H Willow Greenhses Saline • Clink Landscp & Nurs • Junga’s Ace Hardware • Nature’s Gard Ctr H Saline Flowerland Shelby Twp • Ace Hardware • Diegel’s Greenhse • Flower Barn Nurs H Hessell’s Greenhses • Maeder Plant Farm H Telly’s Greenhse South Lyon • Ace Hardware • Hollow Oak Farm Nurs • Mike’s Garden • Stone Depot Landscp 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 (Harper/13 Mi) • Circare • Greenhouse Growers • Hall’s Nurs • Soulliere Gard Ctr
Sterling Hts • Ace Hardware • Decor Statuette H Eckert’s Greenhse • Prime Landscp Supp Stockbridge • Gee Farms Sylvan Lake H AguaFina Gardens Interntl H Detroit Garden Works Taylor H Beautiful Ponds & Gard • D&L Garden Ctr • Massab Acres H Panetta’s Landscp Supp Trenton • Ace Hardware • Carefree Lawn Ctr • Keck Hardware Troy • Gramma’s Gardens H Telly’s Greenhse • The Home & Gard Shop H Uncle Luke’s Feed Store Utica • Stonescape Supp • Weingartz Warren H Beste’s Lawn & Patio • Garden Center Nurs • Greco’s Nurs • Young’s Garden Mart Washington • Landscape Direct • Miller’s Big Red Greenhse • Rocks ‘n’ Roots Waterford • Ace Hardware • Breen’s Landscp Supp • Jacobsen’s Flowers H Merrittscape West Bloomfield • ACE Hardware H English Gardens • Whole Foods Westland • Ace Hardware H Barsons Greenhses • Bushel Stop • Joe Randazzo’s Nurs • Merlino’s Bushel Ctr • Panetta’s Landscp Supp White Lake H Bogie Lake Greenhse H Mulligan’s Gard Ctr • Sunshine Plants Whitmore Lake H Alexander’s Greenhses Williamston • Christian’s Greenhse Wixom • Angelo’s Landscp Supp • Brainer’s Greenhse Ypsilanti • Coleman’s Farm Mkt • Lucas Nurs • Margolis Nurs • Materials Unlimited • Michigan Greenscape Supp • Schmidt’s Antiques H Sell Farms & Greenhse
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H Ladies Holiday Afternoon Sat, Dec 2, Noon-4pm, Grand Blanc. At The Weed Lady. Enjoy some special treats at this new holiday event. 810655-2723. www.TheWeedLady.com. 8th Annual Holiday Open House Sat, Dec 2, Detroit. At Black Cat Pottery. www.blackcatpottery.com. H Evening of Lights Sun, Dec 3, 5-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Over 2000 candle-lit luminaries on display. www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu, 517-431-2060. Get Lit: Lighted Winter Porch Pot Wed, Dec 6, 3-5pm, East Lansing. At MSU Horticulture Gardens. $50. Create a unique container using evergreens, twigs and lights. www.hrt.msu.edu/ our_gardens/curious_gardener. H Wine & Design: Hanging Grapevine Décor Thu, Dec 7, 6pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. $35. Bring wine, friends, pruners, gloves & we’ll provide a fun night of instruction. Register: 517-339-1142. H Kid’s Club: Gingerbread-style House Sat, Dec 9, 10am, all 6 locations. At English Gardens. $5. We’ll supply everything you need to make this festive house. Adult helper must attend with child. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Fresh Boxwood & White Pine Tree Sat, Dec 9, 10am-Noon, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $49.75. Create a 12” tall Christmas tree that will last through the holiday season. www.HeavenlyScentHerbFarm.com. H Evening of Lights Sat, Dec 9, & Sun, Dec 10, 5-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Over 2000 candle-lit luminaries on display. hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu, 517-431-2060. H Wine & Design: Create a Holiday Centerpiece Thu, Dec 14, 6pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. $35. Bring snips, possibly gloves, wine & friends. Register: 517-339-1142. H Night at the North Pole Fri, Dec 15, 7pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. $5. Boys and Girls, wear your jammies & join us for an evening of holiday crafts & fun. 734-453-550. www.plymouthnursery.net. H Men’s Day at The Weed Lady Sat, Dec 23, 9am-5pm, Grand Blanc. At The Weed Lady. Last minute shopping assistance & free wrapping. 810-655-2723, www.TheWeedLady.com.
January 2018 Livonia Garden Club Tue, Jan 2, 7pm, Livonia. By English Gardens at Livonia Senior Ctr. Presentation: Herbs: Growing them & cooking with them. H Free Seminar: Improve Air Quality with Houseplants Sat, Jan 6, 1pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Free Seminar: Fairy & Mini Gardens Sun, Jan 7, 1pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. New 2018 Annuals & Perennials Mon, Jan 8, 12:30pm, Dearborn. By Garden Club of Dearborn at First Presbyterian Church. George Papadelis presents 2018 flowers which will hit nurseries in the spring. 313-565-1266. Tea: Steeped in History Thu, Jan 11, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Center, 1201 Livernois. Presentation by Ed Blondin. Guests are welcome. 248-541-6427. H Kid’s Workshop: Plant a Fairy Garden Sat, Jan 13, 2:30pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. $19.99. Everything you need to create a seasonal miniature garden. Adult helper must attend. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com.
H Free Seminar: Arranging Fresh Flowers Sun, Jan 14, 1pm, Clinton Twp., Dearborn Hts., Royal Oak & W. Bloomfield. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Make It & Take It Workshop: Fresh Floral Arrangement Sat, Jan 20, 2:30pm, Clinton Twp., Dearborn Hts., Royal Oak & W. Bloomfield. At English Gardens. $TBD. Create a beautiful fresh floral arrangement. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. Nature’s Getaways Fri, Jan 26, 10am, Rochester. By Meadow Brook Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. $5. Ron Rademacher shares little-known nature areas and trails. MBGCmembers@ gmail.com. H Free Seminar: Healthy Eating with Herbs Sat, Jan 27, 1pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. The Ins & Outs of Gardening: A Winter Symposium Sat, Jan 27, 8:15am–4pm, East Lansing. By Capital Area Master Gardeners at Plant & Soil Sciences Bldg, MSU. 4 speakers, marketplace & lunch. mga.cac@gmail.com.
February H Free Seminar: Succulents in the Home Sat, Feb 3, 1pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. Plants That Can Be Used to Help You Relax Tue, Feb 6, 6:45, Livonia. By Livonia Garden Club at Livonia Senior Ctr. Pam Good presents her take on “The Drunken Botanist”. The Bugs in our Yards Thu, Feb 8, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Center, 1201 Livernois. Guests are welcome. 248-541-6427. H Free Seminar: Bring on the Birds Sat, Feb 10, 1pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Kid’s Club Event Sat, Feb 10, 2:30pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Free Seminar: Orchids 101 Sat, Feb 17, 1pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Make It & Take It Workshop: Orchid Garden Sat, Feb 17, & Sun, Feb 18, 2:30pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. $TBD. Create a beautiful arrangement to take home. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Free Seminar: Orchids 201 Sun, Feb 18, 1pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. Toxic Plants & Their Friends Fri, Feb 23, 10am, Rochester. By Meadow Brook Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. $5. Peter Carrington, PhD, presents an exploration of poisonous plants. MBGCmembers@gmail.com. H Free Seminar: Landscape Design Basics Sat, Feb 24, 1pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. Greater Lansing Annual Orchid Show Sat, Feb 24, 11am-5pm, & Sun, Feb 25, 10am-4pm, East Lansing. By Greater Lansing Orchid Society at MSU. Classes, displays, art, kid-friendly activities. ioanamsonea@gmail.com.
March H Free Seminar: Top 50 Perennials Sat, Mar 3, 1pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. Flower Farm Thu, Mar 8, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Center, 1201 Livernois. Guests are welcome. 248-541-6427.
MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2017 | Michigan Gardener
Classified Ads H Kid’s Club Event Sat, Mar 10, 2:30, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Free Seminar: Starting Seeds Indoors Sat, Mar 10, 1pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. Hydrangeas 101 Mon, Mar 12, 12:30pm, Dearborn. By Garden Club of Dearborn at First Presbyterian Church. Hydrangea classifications, the most popular varieties, & tips on care. 313-565-1266. H Make It & Take It Workshop: Plant a Terrarium Thu, Mar 15, 7pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. $TBD. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Free Seminar: Herb Gardening 101 Sat, Mar 17, 1pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com. Creating Water Features Thu, Mar 23, 10am, Rochester. By Meadow Brook Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. Scott Bates, owner of Grass Roots Nursery, presents. $5. 248-364-6210, MBGCmembers@gmail.com. Michigan Orchid Society Annual Show, Sale & Seminar Sat, Mar 24, 11am-5pm & Sun, Mar 25, 11am-4pm, Madison Heights. By MI Orchid Society at 876 Horace Brown Dr. www.MiOrchidSociety.com. H Garden Party Weekend Sat, Mar 24, & Sun, Mar 25, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. www.EnglishGardens.com.
H Free Seminar: Pruning Basics Sat, Mar 31, 1pm, all 5 locations. At English Gardens. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com.
April Hands On - Flower Design Tue, Apr 3, 6:45pm, Livonia. By Livonia Garden Club at Livonia Senior Center. The Endangered Flower: American Lotus Mon, Apr 9, 12:30pm, Dearborn. By Garden Club of Dearborn at First Presbyterian Church. Learn about beauty, growing conditions, propagation, environmental benefits, & advances in medical research. 313-565-1266. Bee is for Beneficial Thu, Apr 12, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Center. Guests are welcome. 248541-6427. Phenology and Garden Rhythms Fri, Apr 27, Rochester. By Meadow Brook Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. Chuck Martin, Senior Horticulturist from Dow Gardens, presents. $5. 248-364-6210, MBGCmembers@gmail.com. H Gardening & All That Jazz: Educational Gardening Conference Sat, Apr 28, Waterford Twp. By Master Gardener Society at Oakland Schools Conference Center. Registration begins Jan 1. Speakers: Ken Druse, Vanessa Gardner Nagel, Craig LeHoullier, Kerry Ann Mendez. 5 hours of MG credits. $80. www.mgsoc.org.
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Monthly 3.27 3.75 3.50
ACTUAL Monthly 0.91 0.84 0.94
DEVIATION from Normal -2.36 -2.91 -2.56
HARDY PLANT SOCIETY, GREAT LAKES CHAPTER - Events are at Congregational Church of Birmingham (1000 Cranbrook Rd., Bloomfield Hills). Guest fee: $5. For more info: julia@juliasbiglife.com or visit us on Facebook.
2017 Year to Date: Jan 1 - Sept 30
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Yr. to Date 25.7 24.31 24.59
ACTUAL Yr. to Date 26.21 26.53 26.24
DEVIATION from Normal +0.51 +2.22 +1.65
Monthly 3.27 3.75 3.50
ACTUAL Monthly 6.28 4.41 3.35
DEVIATION from Normal +3.01 +0.66 -0.15
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2016 Year to Date: Jan 1 - Sept 30
NORMAL Yr. to Date 25.7 24.31 24.59
ACTUAL Yr. to Date 27.50 23.96 26.83
DEVIATION from Normal +1.80 -0.35 +2.24
September 2017
September 2016
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Avg. High 73.7 71.9 72
ACTUAL Avg. High 77.2 77.4 78.7
DEVIATION from Normal +3.5 +5.5 +6.7
NORMAL vg. High A 73.7 71.9 72
ACTUAL Avg. High 76.9 75.2 75.8
DEVIATION from Normal +3.2 +3.3 +3.8
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Avg. Low 54.1 49.4 48.9
ACTUAL Avg. Low 56.9 50.3 52.5
DEVIATION from Normal +2.8 +0.9 +3.6
NORMAL Avg. Low 54.1 49.4 48.9
ACTUAL Avg. Low 59.4 54.4 56.2
DEVIATION from Normal +5.3 +5.0 +7.3
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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
Perennial water lilies grace the Kendall’s pond. At center front are ornamental onions (Allium giganteum) and lavender (‘Hidcote’), which Dawn Kendall cuts back by one third every fall. She prefers low plants so the focus is on the pond.
A Rustic Garden 20 years in the making A 1200-gallon, hand-dug pond anchors Dawn and Gary Kendall’s charming rural garden Dawn Kendall was bitten by the gardening bug shortly after she and her husband Gary purchased their home in 1995. The property had no landscaping when they moved in, so they started with a few trees and shrubs. There were four large boulders in the front yard, so they built their first garden around the boulders. “Once I got started, I could not quit!” exclaimed Dawn. The Kendall’s pond and waterfalls dominate the backyard and are surrounded by gardens, structures, a travel trailer, antiques,
a fire pit, metal barn animals, and ornaments. They began with a raised deck overlooking the yard and decided to add a small pond to view from the deck. However, after installing the small pond, they went on a local pond tour. Dawn fell in love with water gardening that weekend, so they ripped out the small pond and dug a much larger one. More on that later.
The garden’s beginnings “My mother was a vegetable gardener and
planted a garden every summer. She was never really interested in flowers. My mother’s gardening, and Gary and I going on our first pond tour, is what influenced me to garden,” explained Dawn. “Also, my best friend and I would go on garden tours to see what others had created. We also visit garden centers and I ask a million questions.” “I learned to garden by trial and error. I like my garden orderly, so I can see every plant. If anything flopped over, didn’t perform, or spread all over, out it went! I now
Sandie Parrott
look for unusual perennials to add each year.” Of course, new perennials she adds should hopefully require no staking, are not too aggressive, and have a long bloom time. “A group of ladies that enjoy gardening have given me many plants, especially daylilies, from their beautiful gardens. We constantly learn from each other and trade plants too. We meet in the winter months and make garden art. In nicer weather, we visit gardens and go on plant shopping trips,” Dawn enthused.
The Kendalls bought the 1950s-style trailer, nicknamed “Little Blue House,” from a neighbor. They moved, painted, and fixed it up for a grandchildrens’ playhouse. A firepit in front is a great gathering place for family and friends.
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The “farm garden” began with a rusty rooster along with wooden chicken nesting boxes from an estate sale. The garden holds a metal donkey, pig and ram, chicken feeder, and fence signs for “Fresh Eggs” and “Farm Market.”
Garden style Kendall describes her garden as rustic, but organized. “I love to use antiques and old garden tools as décor in my garden. There is a vintage 1954 travel trailer in the garden that serves as a playhouse for our five grandchildren. My husband built a small cabin and put a sign on it: ‘Mr. McGregor’s Potting Shed.’ Next to this is ‘Peter Rabbit’s Garden,’ a nursery for new plants to be added later to the main garden. The rustic fence around the garden was given to me by a friend. I love its character. I also like to look at each individual plant, so I make sure there is space for them to grow. I’ve learned to love daylilies and have started to collect their flowers with special qualities, like ruffled edges or double blooms. My trees are getting bigger, so I’ve planted several hosta varieties due to the added shade.” Dawn continued, “I saw the trailer in a neighbor’s yard and instantly knew I wanted it in my garden to use for my grandchildren as a playhouse. I only paid $400 for it, but my husband thought I was nuts! He patiently moved it to the garden and I love it. The upholstery was in perfect shape and I had curtains made. My grandchildren love it and call it ‘The Little Blue House.’” Dawn and Gary enjoy watching the birds that visit the garden, with most of the birdhouses and feeders built by Gary. “He can build any type of birdhouse. All I do is show him a picture and Gary builds it. We have bluebirds, chickadees, finches, robins, hummingbirds, orioles, doves and starlings,” said Dawn. Dawn sits on a bench that Gary built, and is joined by metal ducks she purchased. She prefers metal or glass ornaments because they last in the hot sun, and they don’t fade or rot. Their dogs love to swim and walk in the stream.
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Dawn tells the story, “Friends found the bike in their garage five years ago and asked if we would like it. I jumped at the chance. Since then we added a bicycle windmill and an antique tricycle. Our decorating style is very rustic. We try to incorporate antiques into the garden whenever we can.”
This attention-getting pink crabapple tree is covered in spring blooms. Dawn trims it after blooming to keep it within bounds, retain its shape, and remove vertical branches.
The memory and love garden has names painted on the fence, including family, friends and loved ones that have passed away. Angels hover over the mostly hosta and daylily garden. Hosta favorites are ‘Sum and Substance,’ ‘Sagae,’ ‘Liberty,’ ‘Allegan Fog,’ ‘Stained Glass,’ and ‘Praying Hands.’ The garden also has about 25 miniature hostas, including ‘Mouse Ears,’ ‘Pandora’s Box,’ ‘Munchkin Fire,’ ‘Mini Skirt,’ ‘Peanut,’ ‘Alakazaam,’ and ‘Tot Tot.’ P H OTO S BY S A N D I E PA R R OT T
Her favorite feature: The pond The Kendall’s large pond installation was a one-day digging marathon. After only one week with a small pond, they went on a pond tour and decided their pond was too small. They removed the liner and sold it to a neighbor. With the help of their son and her brother-in-law, they spent a long day handdigging the 1,200-gallon pond, complete with a stream and two waterfalls, and removing
and adding back plants. “We dug out the pond all in one day and I was replacing my plants at midnight by the light of a flashlight. I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired in my entire life! I could hardly move the next day,” remembered Dawn. They also planted a Twisty Baby dwarf black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Lace Lady’) on the edge of the pond. This tree fascinates everyone that visits their garden. “Our one mistake was not making it deeper to keep the fish safe. We had goldfish and koi, but a blue heron kept getting them, so
Dawn finds photos of birdhouses in magazines and on Pinterest and Gary builds them for her. They love to sit on the back deck and watch the birds, frogs, and other critters enjoy their yard.
Gary built the potting shed 15 years ago. Dawn turned it into “McGregor’s Potting Shed” after inspiration from a garden tour. Next to it is “Peter Rabbit’s Garden” with Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter’s names painted on the fence. She eventually found a Peter Rabbit statue too. Vegetables have given way to flowers: mostly dahlias, zinnias, iris, lilies, and a peony. Annually, her grandsons plant dinosaur gardens and her granddaughter plants a fairy garden.
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Gary built this garage in order to store outdoor furniture and toys. The garden next to the garage has peonies, black-eyed Susan, Asiatic lilies, and daylilies—all selected because they don’t require a lot of water, as the garden is in the back of the yard. we stopped putting in the fish. We have a few water lilies, lots of frogs, and last year a turtle. Our little Chorkie (a cross between a Chihuahua and a Yorkshire Terrier) loves to swim in the pond when she gets hot,” Dawn described. The pond is her favorite feature in the garden. “We love to sit on the raised deck and listen to the water and watch the birds and frogs. The garden is planned around the pond.” The Kendalls enjoy the people that visit their garden, either on the Mid-Michigan Pond and Water Garden Club tours (2001 and 2006) or the Genesee County Master Gardeners tour (2004 and 2016) or any visitors. “The tours are always fun because you get to view your garden from someone else’s perspective. It is heartwarming to hear how much others enjoy our garden,” smiled Dawn. “I think the most important thing I want to convey is that you can have the garden of your dreams, whether it is rustic or formal, and it is possible to do it all yourself or with some help. It doesn’t have to be perfect and it is always in a state of transformation.” Sandie Parrott is a garden writer working and gardening in northern Oakland County on a hilly, sandy and shady site. Dawn says, “We love weeping trees and have seven. This one is a weeping blue spruce. I love the tree; it has beautiful pink cones. I bought the little girl figure because she reminded me of our daughter. Every year I spray it with metallic paint to keep her looking new. Plants include daylilies, sedum, hosta, wooly thyme, and mother of thyme.”
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After buying a potting medium (left), you should add 1/3 vermiculite (second from left) and 1/3 perlite (third from left) to improve drainage. The final mix is at the far right.
When checking your plant to ascertain if it needs water, stick your finger in the medium up to your first or second knuckle. If it is dry, it may need water. much water. If that is the option you choose, I recommend you add 1 part perlite and 1 part vermiculite to 1 part of the potting medium you buy. If you haven’t used organic medium in your plants and do not want to repot them, adding worm castings to the top layer in your containers will help. They can also be mixed in with your new soils in the future. Houseplants receive nutrients from the castings, and they are beneficial to the soil as well.
Watering
Growing organically makes your houseplants healthier and the colors of their flowers even more vibrant, as seen in this African violet.
Make sure your plant is properly watered at all times. A plant that is too dry or too wet causes stress to the plant, thus allowing pests and diseases to get a foothold. When watering your plants, add water until it runs out the bottom of the pot, even when watering cacti and succulents. Then, do not water again until the soil is dry to your first or second knuckle when you stick your finger in the soil. Clean up any yellowing or dead leaves. Rotting plant material can also contribute to houseplant decline.
Fertilizing Keep your plant’s container clean, as fertilizer salt build-up on the pot can cause plant burn if the plant touches or rests on the rim. This usually only occurs when using a synthetic fertilizer. I have used 20-20-20 fertilizer in the past, but have decided to switch to fish emulsion. It is organic and though it does have an aroma, the smell is minimal. Organic fertilizer feeds the potting medium and roots, as well as the plant. Many people believe that because organic fertilizer nutrient numbers are so small compared to 20-20-20 that it can’t possibly work as well. Not true. Synthetic fertilizers are very fast acting and much of the fertilizer cannot be used by the plant—the excess is washed out when watered. Organic fertilizers are slower acting but longer lasting. How will you know if a fertilizer is organic P H OTO G R A P H S BY L I S A S T E I N KO P F
MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2017 | Michigan Gardener
The crust on this pot is a result of salt build-up from using synthetic fertilizer.
This crown of thorns (Euphorbia milii ‘Pink Cadillac’) is looking good. if it doesn’t say organic on it? Most likely a fertilizer is organic if the 3 nutrient numbers (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) add up to less than 15; usually less than 10. The most common fertilizers you will see are fish emulsion, kelp, and fish and kelp together.
Treating for insects So you’ve brought home a healthy plant, you’ve cared for it, pampered it, and yet, you discover you have insects. Now what do you do? First, you need to identify your pest so you can treat it effectively. Mealy bugs, aphids, scale, fungus gnats, whiteflies, or spider mites are the pests that you will most likely encounter. There are a few things you can use to eradicate these pests. Sometimes just a hard stream of water can help, especially with aphids. Rubbing alcohol works well on mealy bugs. Putting the alcohol on a cotton swab and touching them will penetrate their waxy coating and dry them out.
Insecticidal soap is made to coat the pest and suffocate it. I recently learned from a respected entomologist that a homemade soap concoction is not an appropriate insecticide. Using dish soap or any product not labeled for use on houseplants is taking a chance that it could hurt or cause the death of your plant. Using a commercial insecticidal soap is the best way to go. All seasons horticultural oil does essentially the same thing, suffocating the insect. When I need to treat a pest, the product I use is neem oil. It is derived from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) from India. It is a fungicide, miticide, and insecticide all in one. It treats powdery mildew very well also, as I have witnessed on my African violets. Always read the label of any product you use and try it on a small part of the plant before spraying the entire thing, to make sure it isn’t harmful in any way. continued on next page
Worm castings add organic nutrients to the potting medium when mixed in or used as a top dressing. The fish emulsion has an odor, but is a natural organic fertilizer that slowly releases nutrients to the plant.
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The foliage of this ficus is vibrant and healthy. continued from previous page
Healthier houseplants Choosing the right houseplant for your home and growing conditions, buying a healthy plant, and taking consistent care of it go a long way in keeping your plants healthy and pest free. Using organic fertilizer also feeds the potting medium and roots of your plant. If you encounter pests and diseases, there are quality organic products that can take care of these pests. Try growing your indoor plants organically and see if you notice an improvement in their health and vigor. Lisa Steinkopf is The Houseplant Guru. Check out her new book (see “Books� in this issue), as well as her website and blog at www.thehouseplantguru.com. Contact Lisa to speak at your next club meeting or event (houseplantgurulisa@gmail.com or 734-748-1241). Follow her on Facebook (Facebook.com/HouseplantGuru), Twitter (@houseplantguru), and Instagram (houseplantguru).
Rose Rx contains neem oil and is a great fungicide, miticide, and insecticide.
A cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol and touched to a mealybug (shown) or scale will desiccate the covering of the insects and they dry out. Mealybugs are usually found in the area where the leaves meet the stem.
MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2017 | Michigan Gardener
through the lens Photographs from Michigan gardeners
“Jes Mo plays hide and seek in my garden. Here he is pretending to be a ‘one of a kind’ garden beet.” — Kathy Van Peteghem
Roger Pappas captured this beautiful scene overlooking a lake.
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Send Us Your Photos! 1. E-mail 2 or 3 of your best garden photos to: photos@MichiganGardener.com. We are looking for photos of your garden, both wide-angle and plant close-ups. Be sure to e-mail a high-resolution file. 2. Please include your full name and a caption describing the scene and the plants. 3. If your photo is published, we’ll give you a free one-year subscription to Michigan Gardener.
Winnie Chrzanowski photographed this close-up of an early spring tulip from her garden.
Carol Fulner enjoyed the contrasting foliage in this container.
| November/December 2017 | MichiganGardener.com
Organic gardening: Bring it indoors
Healthy roots are firm and may be white, off-white, yellow or even red. If they are black, mushy, or smell, they might be rotting.
T
he organic gardening trend is going strong. When talking about organic gardening one usually thinks of veggies, but it can also apply to growing houseplants. Why use organic methods when growing houseplants? Organically grown plants are stronger and better able to fight off pests and diseases. Using organic methods in our homes is also healthier for us and our families.
Choosing and placing First, let’s consider where our houseplants come from: almost perfect growing conditions. They are fed, pampered, pruned, and grown to perfection. Then they are packaged in boxes or sleeves, put in a truck, and shipped to your local store. There, they are unpacked,
displayed, and taken care of until sen a plant that fits the spot you you purchase them. All that said, want to put it in. I’m not talking always inspect the plant you are about size here, but the growing buying very carefully for any inenvironment. Placing a plant in an sects, signs of disease, or stress. environment that is unacceptable Choosing a healthy plant is the is just going to result in an unhappy best way to ward off any problems plant and you an unhappy owner. that could occur in the future. You will be fighting an uphill battle When you bring your plant home, trying to keep it healthy. A sunLisa quarantining it from the plants you loving plant in a shady spot or a Steinkopf already have is a must. Keep it in a shade-loving plant in a sunny spot room away from your other plants will only be stressed out trying to for 4 to 6 weeks. Your other houseplants will live in conditions that are not conducive to its thank you. If, after that time, your plant has well-being. A stressed-out plant is an insect no problems, you can safely integrate it with and disease magnet. your other plants. So, choose your plant wisely because a hapAt the same time, make sure you have chopy, healthy plant is much more likely to ward
When plants arrive at your local garden center, they are protected in paper plant sleeves. When they leave the garden center to go to your home, they should also be in sleeves if it is cold or overly windy. off problems and insects.
Potting soil Transplanting your plants into an organic potting medium when you get home is a smart practice. Potting media are often filled with many types of synthetic additives. Synthetic fertilizers, wetting agents, and moisture-retaining gels are often added to potting soils. Peat moss is hard to rewet after it dries out, so a wetting agent is added to solve that problem. There are organic wetting agents made with extracts of yucca plants. I think that most commercial potting media are too heavy, meaning they retain too continued on page 24