Michigan Gardener - November / December 2018 by Michigan Gardener

November/December 2018

MichiganGardener.com

Your guide to Great Lakes gardening

Please thank our advertisers in this issue

Plant Focus Beautyberry

Tree Tips

The flatwoods forest of Belle Isle

Thyme for Herbs

How to press flowers and leaves

Feature Task

Care for your fresh-cut Christmas tree

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The Holidays. Holiday Workshops

Michigan Gardener | November/December 2018 | MichiganGardener.com

Garden Wisdom

To-Do List........................................................6 Ask MG............................................................8 Tree Tips........................................................10

Birch Log Indoor Arrangement Workshop

Outdoor Holiday Arrangement Workshop

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Sat, November 17, 10am at Troy Sat, December 1, 10am at Troy

Sat, Nov 17, 1pm at Troy Sat, Dec 1, 1pm at Troy

In this Make & Take workshop, participants will 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.

In this Make & Take workshop, participants will create a stunning outdoor fiber pot filled with fresh greens, pinecones, and a handtied red velvet bow. Our 12" fiber pot can also be set into your own container at home. Bring gardening gloves and pruners. Workshop fee: $34 per container.

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Holiday Swag Workshop Sat, Nov 17, 11:30am at Troy / Sat, Dec 1, 11:30am at Troy In this Make & Take workshop, Judy Corniellier will help participants create a spectacular holiday swag using a variety of fresh-cut greens, pinecones, and a beautiful hand-tied bow. These are perfect for decorating doors or outdoor light fixtures. Additional accents will be available for purchase if you with to further enhance your creation. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required to hold your spot. Workshop fee: $20.

Attend 2 or all 3 workshops and Save! Visit tellys.com for more info. Pre-paid registration is now available online at tellys.com or by calling 248-689-8735. Upgrades are available the day of the Workshop, should you wish to further enhance your arrangement with our beautiful selection of accents.

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

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Thyme for Herbs.......................................20 Through the Lens......................................22 Where to pick up Michigan Gardener..........................................23 Plant Focus: Beautyberry......Back Cover On the cover: With its striking berry-like fruits, beautyberry is one of the most outstanding ornamental shrubs in the fall. Photo: Eric Hofley/Michigan Gardener

To Our Readers... The next issue of Michigan Gardener arrives in April, 2019. We want to thank to our advertisers for making this season possible—our 23rd year. Michigan Gardener, your locally owned and published gardening magazine, would not exist without their support. We encourage you to visit our advertisers and purchase their products and services. Let them know you saw their ad in Michigan Gardener! You will be rewarded with many more years of Michigan Gardener—our area’s best gardening resource. If you have not done so, sign up for our free E-Newsletter. Simply visit our website (MichiganGardener.com) and enter your e-mail address. To find local gardening events this winter, go to MichiganGardener.com and click on the garden event calendar. We update the calendar all winter, so if you have events to promote, please send them to us. Thank you, happy holidays, and we will see you in the spring!

Publisher/Editor Eric Hofley Design & Production Jonathon Hofley Advertising Eric Hofley

TROY • 248-689-8735

A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them.

Circulation Jonathon Hofley Editorial Assistant Anna Doman

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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

30747 Greenfield Rd., Suite 1 Southfield, MI 48076 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 © 2018 Michigan Gardener. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or used in any form without the expressed, written permission of the publisher. Neither the advertiser nor the publisher will be responsible for misinformation, typographical errors, omissions, etc. contained herein. Michigan Gardener is published by Motor City Publishing, Inc.

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2018 | MichiganGardener.com

Feature Task: Caring for your fresh-cut Christmas tree Bulbs: Spring-Flowering • Force bulbs into bloom: Create containers of spring-flowering bulbs to enjoy on your porch in early spring. Pot up a variety of bulbs like tulips, hyacinths and daffodils. Place in a cold, protected area, like a garage, until the beginning of March. At that time, bring the pot outside. As the weather warms, the bulbs will be forced into bloom, signaling the first signs of spring.

Container Gardens • Use your summer containers this winter and fill them with evergreen branches, lights and ornaments. The soil in the container can be used as a base for securing the branches and trim.

Fall Clean-Up • Leaves falling from trees are perfect for enriching garden beds. Rake leaves into the garden, rather than bagging them up for disposal. Mulch leaves with a lawn mower, and they’ll break down throughout the winter, adding valuable nutrients to the soil. • Add a fresh layer of mulch in the fall to beds to help regulate soil temperatures. This keeps bulbs from popping up prematurely and perennials from heaving in the ground during freeze-thaw cycles.

• Compost leaves to use as a great soil amendment next year.

Houseplants • Satisfy your green thumb by filling a sunny area of your home with low maintenance houseplants, such as philodendrons, peace lilies, pothos, giant bird of paradise, fiddle leaf figs and many others. Houseplants have the added benefit of cleaning the air and providing oxygen. • Your houseplants will be going dormant now because there is less light and indoor temperatures are cooler than summer outdoor temperatures. Dormant plants don’t need much, if any, fertilizer and need less frequent waterings. Check before watering, as too much water can quickly do harm to a favorite houseplant.

Lawns • Make sure to apply the last application of fall fertilizer early in the month. This is the most important time for fertilizing to give your lawn a healthy start for next spring. Cut your grass shorter than normal the last time of the season. • Mulch leaves, especially oak and maple leaves, into your lawn to help prevent lawn weeds next spring.

General

Plan For Next Year

• It may be cold outside, but that doesn’t mean the ground is frozen. Give your newly planted trees and shrubs a couple long last drinks of water before you put away the hoses. Even your established trees and shrubs would appreciate one last drink before the ground freezes. To help reduce winter stress on your evergreens, keep supplying water on a weekly basis as long as possible before the ground freezes. • When you are finished watering, it is a good idea to disconnect the hose from the faucet and empty any remaining water in the hose. Otherwise the water may freeze and damage it.

• It’s a good time to review what was planted where and make notes on plants to try next season.

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

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Fresh Christmas trees have the distinctive, evergreen aroma that can leave your house smelling like the holidays. Although they require care and maintenance, selecting a fresh tree is a cherished holiday activity for many families. While shopping, look for full, symmetrical trees. The needles should be flexible, but will snap when bent at a sharp angle. When caring for a fresh-cut Christmas tree, consider these tips: • Select the right stand. Make sure your stand is sturdy and will hold adequate water for your tree. As a general rule, the stand should hold one quart of water per inch of stem diameter, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. Use a stand that fits your tree. Avoid whittling the sides of the trunk down to fit a stand. The outer layers of wood are the only way the tree takes up water and should not be removed. • Make a fresh cut. Before placing your tree in a stand, make at least a one-inch, fresh cut to the trunk. This is essential; when trees are first cut, they produce a layer of sap that prevents water from hydrating the tree. • Once home, place the tree in water as soon as possible. Most species can go a couple of hours after cutting the trunk and sweet flag, liriope, wintergreen, plumbago and Stokes’ aster.

Pruning Basic rules for pruning trees and shrubs: - Prune out crossing or rubbing branches. - Prune out branches growing back towards the trunk. - Never take off more than 1/3 of the plant in any one year. - Prune spring-blooming plants before the 4th of July. - Prune summer-blooming plants when they don’t have any leaves. - Prune the top, it will grow wide. Prune the side, it will grow tall. - Prune hedges so that they are wider at the bottom than at the top. This allows sunlight to reach all of the foliage and helps prevent the top-heavy look that can happen as the bottom foliage dies back due to lack of sunlight. - In most cases, don’t use pruning sealer. It can inhibit healing and bark re-growth. - Prune oaks only when they have no green leaves. - Prune maples and birches only when they have green leaves. - Wait until winter to trim decorative evergreens and then re-use the branches for decorations in outdoor containers or indoor arrangements. - If branches are larger than 2 inches, use the three-cut method of pruning to prevent bark peeling back and injuring the tree:

still take up water. If you can’t put the tree in the stand right away, store it in a cool location. Keep the freshly cut trunk in a bucket of water. • Monitor the water level in your stand every day. Putting someone in charge of this will make sure the tree stays hydrated! Ideally, checking the water level in both the morning and evening will ensure the reservoir has not dried out. • Keep your Christmas tree away from major sources of heat, such as fireplaces, heaters, heat vents, and direct sunlight. Lowering the room temperature will slow the drying process, resulting in less water consumption each day. • Use Christmas lights that produce low heat, such as miniature lights. Do not overload electrical circuits. Always inspect light sets prior to placing them on the tree. If worn, replace with a new set. Always turn off the tree lights when leaving the house or when going to bed. • Monitor the tree for freshness. After Christmas or if the tree is very dry, remove it from the house. These tips will ensure you and your family have a safe and happy holiday season! A) Cut underneath the branch about 10 inches out from the trunk. Only cut about a quarter of the way into the branch. This partial cut prevents the bark from tearing down the trunk if the branch prematurely breaks. B) Cut off the rest of the branch about 15 inches out from the trunk. This takes the weight off the stub, and lets you make an easier and cleaner final cut. C) Make your final cut so that it’s just at the top of the slight swelling where the branch meets the trunk. Don’t cut flush to the trunk, this swelling or branch collar is where you’ll get better growth to cover the cut.

Roses • Secure climbing roses adequately to a permanent structure, such as a fence, house, or wall. • Remove any diseased foliage and discard it. Do not compost it or there could be a possible re-infection next year. Reduce fungus problems by using a late season application of fungicide on the plant and on the ground one foot out from the plant.

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2018 | MichiganGardener.com

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Animal-resistant groundcovers for the shade What are some shade groundcovers that are deer and rabbit resistant? Native options would be appreciated. I just bought a house that is covered in both English ivy and lily of the valley. How do I eradicate those? C., Fennville English ivy and lily of the valley are bullies in the garden and can only be removed through digging out the ropey ivy vines and the networked lily of the valley roots. Neither of these plants responds rapidly to chemical herbicide. In addition, you do not want any residual herbicide lingering in your soil if you plan to replant it with desirable deer- and rabbit-resistant plants. Once you have cleared and sifted out the vines and roots, amend the soil with composted manure, ground up leaves, and peat moss to receive your new plants. There are many natives and animal-resistant perennials available. If you prefer a monochromatic look, then the native Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens) is what you want. This groundcover flowers and grows 8 to 12 inches tall, creates a network of rhizomes below ground, and makes a lovely green carpet wherever it is planted. More commonly found is the Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), which grows more on top of the soil and roots at the various leaf nodes. You can also design a varied groundcover of critter-resistant plants. Light up the shade with ‘Jack Frost’ brunnera (perennial forgetme-not), and varieties of Japanese painted fern. There are many astilbe cultivars available, as well as hellebores (Lenten rose). Astilbes need consistent moisture; drying out is not an option with them. Hellebores bloom very early spring, beginning in February. Any of the shade-tolerant grasses such as Japanese forest grass (Hakonechloa) or sedges (Carex), especially those in yellow or variegated form, provide interest and movement. The native ginger (Asarum canadense) grows slowly and can weave amongst other perennials. ‘The Rocket’ or ‘Britt Marie Crawford’ ligularia are late season bloomers for moist shade. Other early bloomers are Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum) and lungwort (Pulmonaria), yet their leaves stay all season long. Bleeding heart (Dicentra) is another species to explore, along with ephemerals like Jackin-the-pulpit, bloodroot and mayapple.

Encouraging tulips to rebloom I planted tulips and they bloomed the first year. In the second year, there were leaves only, no blooms. Should I leave them in the ground and fertilize? Or dig up, dispose, and plant new ones? D.E., Sandusky Tulips are true perennials but getting them to rebloom means providing exactly what

they need. First, choose bulbs that are marked for “naturalizing.” Generally, species tulips and their hybridized strains do better. These are cultivated bulbs that have not been extensively cross-bred and are close to the bulbs as found in their native environment of the foothills of the Himalayas or the steppes of eastern Turkey. Among hybrids that naturalize best are all the Darwin hybrids in red, rose, orange, yellow and two-tone colors, as well as some Emperor and Triumph tulips. While the newer hybrids are very spectacular, they are far less likely to rebloom. Second, the flowers prefer well-drained sites where water does not stand in the soil. Amending with compost can help with drainage. While you can plant tulips in partial shade, they do best in areas receiving full sun for the better part of the day, while avoiding late day heat. Plant the bulbs deep—about 8 inches down, which includes the depth of any mulch on top. Bulbs planted in raised mounds will be better drained than the surrounding soil, encouraging bloom. Water after planting and fertilize in fall and spring with granular fertilizer made for bulbs. You will find the NPK fertilizer ratio to be high in phosphorus, as this is an essential ingredient to flower production. Once they bloom, deadhead and leave the foliage to feed the bulb for next year. Clip back the foliage once it is yellowed. If the untidy appearance is bothersome, plant laterblooming perennials in front and around the bulbs to cover up the foliage remains. There are also gardeners who treat tulips as an exotic annual and simply dig them up, dispose, and replant new ones each fall. Check your growing conditions and bulb types, and make the adjustments necessary.

Newly planted river birches I think something is eating the leaves off my river birch trees. I have sprayed twice but the leaves keep disappearing. L.V. The photo you sent suggests these trees are relatively recent plantings. If so, you may be seeing transplant shock, where trees respond naturally by dropping leaves in favor of stabilizing their root systems. Maintain the twofoot mulch circle and make sure the mulch is away from the bark of the tree. Mulch that touches the trunk traps moisture and rots the bark, providing a place for fungi and insects to take hold. Mulching out to the tree’s drip line prevents moisture loss and keeps soil temperature stable. 2018 was one of the hottest summers ever in Michigan and many plants, big and small, bore evidence to that fact. River birches like weather that is cool and moist. Were these trees kept watered weekly during those high temperatures? When we can’t rely on nature to provide, we have to supplement what the plants need to survive. Even with enough wa-

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2018 | Michigan Gardener

Have a question? Send it in! Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Submit a question” ter, the leaves may dry up and drop from the hot air temperatures. How were these trees planted? Were they container trees or balled and burlapped? Containerized trees are somewhat easier to install because the roots are in a good planting medium and the tree can easily be transferred to a same-depth hole. Splay out the roots away from their container shape and place the root flare at ground level, not below ground. If the trees were balled and burlapped, it is imperative to remove the burlap and any wire caging and rope from the root ball before planting. A tree establishes itself in the first two years. Its root system cannot filter through the soil if it is impeded by burlap wrapping and a cage. Examine these aspects of your birch trees, seek the appropriate remedy, and avoid further spraying. If you are still concerned that your trees are in jeopardy, then contact a certified arborist to examine them professionally to determine if there is another health issue present.

may have survived the soggy soil, but those that did not, based on their roots, will not recover. Even reliable shrubs like forsythia need rejuvenating with pruning and soil amendment once a year. If you need to replace these shrubs, consider a different cultivar such as ‘New Hampshire Gold,’ which has better flower bud hardiness, or ‘Spectabile,’ which has bigger and more flowers. You might also consider doing a mixed hedge of forsythia for early spring bloom and bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora), which is a native to North America and needs moist conditions. The bottlebrush buckeye blooms in midsummer with showy white flowers and grows to a height of 8 to 10 feet. It forms a coarse, dense, green screen in the landscape. Another contender for potential wet conditions is red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea), which grows 7 to 9 feet tall and has excellent purple foliage in the fall and appealing red stem color in winter.

Forsythia hedge in a wet area

When do you repot a hydrangea cutting after it has taken root? M., Harbor Springs It is possible to take cuttings from your favorite flavor of hydrangea and propagate your own if you follow some simple steps. First, you want to take a cutting from a main growing stem, not a side shoot, that has three pairs of leaves. Cut the stem immediately through the lower leaf node and dip the cut stem into rooting hormone powder. Place the stem about two inches into quality potting compost that has been thoroughly moistened. You do not want to root hydrangeas in water alone as these cuttings will have weak root systems and likely fail when transplant time comes. In about 10 days to two weeks, roots should form on the stem. However, you should wait 4 to 6 weeks before you repot to a larger container or transplant to outside.

I have a long-established, 16-foot long forsythia hedge (‘Lynwood Gold’) that sat next to a pool of rain water for several days during the spring and summer. In August the leaves turned brown and wilted. If the neighbor’s drainage problems are fixed, can I expect the plants to recover, blossom next spring, and be a hedge screen once again? A.K., Harsens Island Forsythia prefers full sun and well-drained, evenly moist soil. It will fail in soil that does not drain or remains soggy for long periods of time. Based on your description, I would not expect the plants to recover fully, especially since the leaves turned brown and wilted. One way to check root viability is to dig several test holes along the 16-foot length and examine the roots themselves. If they are brown or discolored and lack firmness, that plant’s root zone has probably been compromised from the standing water. Some of the plants

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2018 | MichiganGardener.com

tree tips The Belle Isle Flatwoods Forest

was recently part of a team of experts that were tasked with collecting massive amounts of data and using it to make recommendations on how to solve the hydrology problems in Belle Isle’s unique flatwoods forest. The forest is over 200 acres, covering much of the island’s east side. It is one of the last remaining fragments of the forest type that covered the east side of Detroit along the river and into the Grosse Pointes and St. Clair Shores along the shoreline. The fact that these woods are virtually flat, with little elevation change, means that water moves very differently than sloped terrains, where surface water drains much faster. Seasonal flooding is a common occurrence, so any plant species that grows there must be able to withstand wet feet for extended periods of time, or perish. Before the Isle was developed, the water would slowly move north or south into the wetlands around the woods and then to the Detroit River. Today, roads surround the woods and two more run through it. Plus, a closed road has a 10-foot berm on it, and a network of trails (some paved, some gravel or dirt) further fragment the woods. The wetlands are now the two lakes on each side of the forest. Needless to say, the water no longer drains properly and seasonal flooding has turned into nearly year-long flooding in some areas, stressing trees and other plants. This flooding has even killed large patches of old oaks and maples that can no longer tolerate the conditions. Time is not on our side, as many of these trees are at the brink of death in some flooded areas. In fact, one area that I inventoried in the fall—roughly the size of three football fields— was dead by the next spring. No mature trees remain—just saplings and underbrush. The solution, while simple in theory, is to restore the natural flow of water. However, that is complicated to execute. A lot of data is needed for the environmental engineers to do their job.

Taking inventory of Belle Isle’s trees We divided the woods into several sections and began to inventory everything in it. I concentrated on the trees. Working in teams of two, for every live tree over 12 inches in diam-

State of Michigan

The flatwoods forest on Belle Isle is dominated by mature oaks and maples, many of which have characteristics of two species—most of them are hybrids. eter, we had to identify, measure, GPS, GIS, and evaluate for health, pests, diseases, structure and habitat. Other teams were collecting data on understory plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, gaps in the canopy, wetlands, and dead trees. Maps soon began to form that indicated important habitats, areas that are most and least affected by flooding, locations that can be saved, and sites that need to be restored. Also included were areas to be left alone, as they had morphed into ideal habitats for herps (reptiles and amphibians). Raccoons Steve and squirrels dominate the woods, Turner but predators like fox and coyote are also present, as well as at least three whitetail deer. Some beavers have also returned to the Isle in recent years. As for the trees, the forest is dominated by mature oaks and maples. Young ashes are coming back after the emerald ash borer (EAB) killed thousands of large trees that are now strewn around the forest floor like a giant game of pick up sticks. A couple of days into the project, I began to realize that many

of the oak and maple trees had characteristics of two species and very few were true species—most were hybrids. For the maples, red and silver crosses called Freeman maples are dominant, and the hybrid is doing better than either of the parent species. For the oaks, it got much more difficult. There are four different white oak species including bur, swamp, chinkapin, and white, as well as four red oak species: pin, red, black, and Shumard.

Discovery of a rare oak This is where it gets interesting: red can’t cross with white, but oaks are frequent hybridizers within each species and there are hundreds of hybrids. The one exception is pin oak, which rarely crosses with others. So when I kept finding pin oaks with larger acorns and differences in leaf and bark types, I began to research crosses and discovered a rare cross between the pin and Shumard called mutabilis (Quercus x mutabilis) that is only known to grow in three counties in southern Ohio and two in western Missouri. Digging further,

the acorns and foliage match but there are no photos of the bark or whole tree to compare them with. So, at this point, it looks like we found another rare tree on Belle Isle to go with the pumpkin ash and Shumard oak, but we won’t know for sure until further testing can be done. Overall, there are some compromised spots, but attractive areas in the woods still remain. Many very large and interesting trees are well worth the time to seek out and take a hike amongst. With all the funding that is going into environmental improvements on Belle Isle, I do believe that the road to recovery has begun and things will continue to improve in the near future. Editor’s note: To learn more about the tree inventory process, refer to the Tree Tips article “Tree Inventories: What they are and why we do them” in the June 2018 issue of Michigan Gardener. Read back issues online at www.MichiganGardener.com by clicking on “Digital Edition.” Steve Turner, Certified Arborist, is from Arboricultural Services in Fenton, MI.

Uncle Luke’s

Artist’s Market, Musicians & Authors Featuring Huron Valley Council for the Arts Friday, Nov 16, 12noon-8pm Saturday, Nov 17, 9am-5pm Sunday, Nov 18, 10am-3pm

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

Visit us for all your holiday decorating needs:

Poinsettias, Roping, Wreaths, Fresh Greens, Memorial Blankets Decorated & Undecorated

Huge selection of wild bird seed & feeding equipment

• Wildlife & Bird Feeds • Winter plant protection supplies 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

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Uncle Luke’s Feed Store 6691 Livernois, Troy • (1/4 Mile S. of South Blvd.) • 248-879-9147 Like us on Facebook • Mon-Fri 9-6:30 • Sat 8-6 • Sun 9-5

248-887-5101 1525 Bogie Lake Rd. / May White MI Gardener Nov/Dec 2018_9x.qxp_MI. Gardener 05 JJLake LG TAP www.bogielakegreenhouses.com

Visit our 2nd location in Flushing: Flushing Lawn & Garden • 810-659-6241

Open 7 days

Christmas trees 4-5 ft trees: $1699 • 5-6 ft trees: $2999 We carry trees up to 8-10 feet!

New stock just arrived—great for Christmas gifts!

Gift Cards

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 Thurs. NOV. 15, 6pm-8 pm

CEMETERY WREATHS GRAVE BLANKETS

• Christmas Extravaganza NOV. 16, 17, 18, 11am-4pm

• Porch Pot Workshops

We can custom decorate for you!

Select Tuesday & Wednesday evenings after Thanksgiving Call to register now!

Swags • Cedar garlands • Christmas centerpieces Poinsettias—All sizes & all colors!

• Night at the North Pole

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

DEC. 14, 7pm $5.00

• Santa’s here Weekends

Shop Small Business Saturday: Sat, Nov 24 10-30% OFF EVERYTHING in the store!

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

Across from Lakeland H.S.

Celebrate the Christmas Season!

Special purchase: Beautiful Fraser Firs

Fairy Gardens & Accessories

10/15/18 10:19 AM Page 1-1/2 Miles S. of M-591

Details on website

734-453-5500 www.plymouthnursery.net Mon -Thurs 9am-6pm Fri 9am-7pm • Sat 9-6 • Sun 10-5 Extended Holiday Hours Nov. 12

9900 Ann Arbor Rd W 7 Miles East of US-23 • 7 Miles West of I-275 1 1/2 Miles South of M-14 Corner of Gotfredson Rd.

Auburn Oaks

Holiday Festival

GARDEN CENTER

Saturday, Dec 1, 4-8pm

Evening of Lights

High quality plants & service for your garden success since 1964.

Roping Gift Ideas Fresh-Cut Christmas Trees Auburn Oaks Handmade Memorial Blankets Fresh-made Evergreen Wreaths

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Full Size Memorial Blankets EXPIRES 12-9-18 / WITH COUPON / NO LIMIT

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20% OFF

Pillow or 1/2 blanket

Fresh Cut Christmas Trees (Reg. Price $25 and up)

Any One Regular Priced Garden Tool

EXPIRES 12-9-18 / WITH COUPON / NO LIMIT

EXPIRES 12-9-18 / WITH COUPON

3820 West Auburn Rd (2 blocks E of Adams) • Rochester Hills • 248-852-2310 www.auburnoaksnursery.com Mon-Sat 8-5:30 Sun 10-5

Make us your Destination.

Sun, Dec 2; Sat, Dec 8; Sun, Dec 9: 5-8pm

Come see THE HARPER COLLECTION:

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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

Classified Ads NEED A HAND? Call “The little gardener that could.” 15 yrs experience at Botanical Gardens. FREE Estimates. Pat: 586-214-9852, agardenspace.com. 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. DON’T LOOK. Oops, you looked. And so will 70,000 potential customers. Advertise in Michigan Gardener. Call 248-594-5563 or e-mail publisher@MichiganGardener.com.

GARDEN SPEAKER AVAILABLE for your club or group. Well-traveled garden writer does garden presentations & travelogues. This active collector gardener can speak on many subjects. Experienced to present at Garden Ctr open houses & conferences. For presentation list, biography, fee & references, contact Julia Hofley at Julia@juliasbiglife.com. 248-4972674. Find me on Facebook. MICHIGAN GARDENER E-NEWSLETTER Sign up for our free e-newsletter! We send out a few each year, and there are contests to win prizes as well. Go to www.MichiganGardener. com and simply enter your e-mail address.

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

Van Atta’s is open all year! 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.

Night at the Greenhouse Thurs, Nov 15, 7-9p

Family owned and operated since 1980

9008 Old M-78 • Haslett, MI • 517-339-1142 www.vanattas.com • Open year round

Wine, pampering, music & shopping in a special after-hours event! $20/person or $30/pair. Proceeds go to EVE, Inc.

Holiday Open House Sat-Sun, Nov 17-18, 12-4p Music , Food, SALES!

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.

The order form is available at MichiganGardener.com or please contact us for an order form: publisher@MichiganGardener.com • 248-594-5563

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2018 | Michigan Gardener

162 South Old Woodward Ave. Birmingham MI. 248-647-4414 www.grinsteinjewelry.com

Essential Pruning Techniques: Trees, Shrubs, and Conifers by George E. Brown and Tony Kirkham Pruning is an important part of garden maintenance, but it is also one of the most difficult. Successful pruning requires a thorough knowledge of a plant’s growth and flowering habits. In Essential Pruning Techniques (Timber Press, 404 pages, $49.95), Tony Kirkham—the head of the arboretum and gardens at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew—shares his decades of knowledge and expertise by expanding on the groundbreaking work done by George E. Brown. A founding member of the Arboricultural Association, Brown was an assistant curator at Kew, and a recognized authority on trees and shrubs. The book features step-by-step photographs that clearly show the general principles of pruning. The profiles of nearly 400 woody plants include advice on habit, attributes, reasons for pruning, and the best time to prune. Brown and Kirkham’s work is a valuable reference for home gardeners and professionals alike.

Fall is coming and so is our new series of acorn and oak leaf jewelry! With a share of the proceeds donated to support The Greening of Detroit, what better way to welcome the season? Visit us in-store, online or call for details.

Practical Organic Gardening: The No-Nonsense Guide to Growing Naturally by Mark Highland This comprehensive guide to organic gardening practices focuses on hands-on, up-to-date information and highquality visual information. Practical Organic Gardening (Cool Springs Press, 240 pages, $30) promotes homegrown, healthy edibles and other safe plants that are nourishing and tasty for your family, pets, and beneficial wildlife. Organic gardening isn’t just for environmentalists anymore. This now popular method has actually been around for most of the last century, but interest in organic gardening has soared in recent years as gardeners have become more aware of the quality of their food. This scientifically driven book is a modern-day look at organic methods, products, and practices that will appeal to any home gardener looking to make the transition from conventional to organic.

The Essential Garden Design Workbook by Rosemary Alexander and Rachel Myers For professionals, students, and any gardener passionate about well-designed outdoor spaces, The Essential Garden Design Workbook (Timber Press, 392 pages, $34.95) has been an invaluable resource. Now, designer-educator Rosemary Alexander has teamed up with rising design star Rachel Myers for a complete update. New garden plans, as well as new photos and diagrams, offer timely insights for today’s designers. Advice on designing for sustainability and diversity has been added, along with guidance on planning for garden spaces large and small, using computer-aided design, and starting a garden design business. Detailed sections lead you through the entire process: pre-design, concept, layout, planning, planting, and maintenance. Indispensable for experienced pros and the next generation alike, this expanded classic is for anyone interested in designing beautiful, successful gardens.

Milarch Nursery Q UA LIT Y P L A N TS & S E RV I C E S I N C E 1 972

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TO SEE OUR INCREDIBLE SELECTION, PLEASE VISIT MILARCHNURSERY.COM AND CLICK ON “AVAILABILITY.”

28500 HAAS RD • NEW HUDSON, MI 48165 • 248-437-2094 www.milarchnursery.com • Winter Hours: Mon-Fri: 8-5 Sat-Sun: Closed

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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Rochester Macomb Rochester Shelby Twp. Highland Fowlerville Pontiac Hills New Utica Baltimore Auburn Hills Sylvan Lake Clinton Twp. Chesterfield Commerce Milford Howell Troy West Mason Sterling Hts. Bloomfield Bloom. Hills Birmingham Walled Lake St. Clair Berkley Wixom Roseville Shores Brighton Warren Royal Oak New Hudson Eastpointe South Lyon Novi Farmington Southfield Hills Oak Park Stockbridge Ferndale Whitmore Northville Grosse Lake Pointes Livonia Redford canton Canton Floral Gardens Plymouth Detroit Crimboli Nurs Dexter Wild Birds Unltd Chelsea Westland Canton cement city DearbornDearborn Ann Heights H Hallson Gardens Grass Lake Arbor 14280 US-127, MI 49233 Ypsilanti Jackson Taylor 517-592-9450 www.perennialnursery.com Romulus Southgate Belleville Manchester Trenton Saline chelsea Brownstown Twp. Grosse Ile H Garden Mill New Boston Flat Rock 110 S. Main St, MI 48118 Tipton Tecumseh 734-475-3539 Monroe www.thegardenmill.com Cement City Ottawa Lake La Salle The Potting Shed Hartland

Williamston

Want to advertise your local business in Places to Grow? 2 options:

Oxford

White Lake

White Lake Waterford

chesterfield almont H American Tree

ann arbor H Abbott’s Nurs & Garden Ctr 2781 Scio Church Rd, MI 48103 734-665-8733 www.abbottsnursery.com H Downtown Home/Gard H HillTop Greenhse/Farms H Lodi Farms H 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

bancroft Grand Oak Herb Farm

bay city

brighton

H Van Thomme’s Greenhses

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

H Beauchamp Landscp Supp Bordine’s Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland

clarkston Bordine’s Country Oaks Landscp Supp Lowrie’s Landscp

belleville

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Banotai Greenhse Gardeners Choice H Pinter Flowerland H Zywicki Greenhse

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

berkley

H Van’s Valley Greenhse

Garden Central

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

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

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

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

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2018 | Michigan Gardener

commerce twp H Zoner’s Greenhse 2355 E. Commerce Rd, MI 48382 248-363-6742 www.zonersgreenhouse.com

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

grosse ile H Westcroft Gardens 21803 West River Rd, MI 48138 734-676-2444 www.westcroftgardens.com

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H Alexander’s Greenhses

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Fogler’s Greenhse Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr

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Wildtype Nurs

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H AguaFina Gardens International 2629 Orchard Lake Rd, MI 48320 248-738-0500 www.aguafina.com

Christian’s Greenhse

McLennan Nurs

metamora

grosse pointe

Gilling’s Nurs

Allemon’s Landscp Ctr Meldrum & Smith Nurs

milford

grosse pointe woods

Milford Gardens H The Pond Place

Wild Birds Unltd

monroe

dearborn

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H The Flower Market

Fairlane Gardens

Le Fleur Décor

new baltimore

dearborn heights

hartland

H Meldrum Bros Nurs

Deneweth’s Garden Ctr

new boston

haslett

H Grass Roots Nurs Mums the Word

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

detroit Eastern Market

dexter Bloom! Gard Ctr H Dexter Mill Earth Art 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

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 Howell Farmer’s Mkt Penrose Nurs H Specialty Growers 4330 Golf Club Rd, MI 48843 517-546-7742 www.specialtygrowers.net

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

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

H Superior Landscape Supplies 4805 Musson Rd, MI 48855 517-548-2068 Find us on Facebook

northville

Wilczewski Greenhses

novi

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

imlay city H Earthly Arts Greenhse

Glenda’s Gard Ctr Wild Birds Unltd

jackson

oak park

The Hobbit Place

Four Seasons Gard Ctr

fenton

lake orion

oakland

Gerych’s Flowers/Gift

H Lake Orion Lawn Orn H Orion Stone Depot

Drew’s Garden

farmington hills

H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm 13730 White Lake Rd, MI 48430 810-629-9208 www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com

ferndale

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

Begonia Brothers Gardenviews H Willow Greenhouses

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

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

Casual Modes Home/Gard

lansing

flat rock

Lansing Gardens

Masserant’s Feed Store

lapeer

flushing

H The Iron Barn

ottawa lake

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

lasalle

H Beauchamp Landscape Supp

Fowler’s Gift Shop

owosso

fowlerville Green-Up Gard Ctr

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

lennon 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

H Everlastings in Wildwood

oxford Candy Cane Xmas Trees Oxford Farm/Gard

plymouth Graye’s Greenhse Lucas Nurs H Plymouth Nursery 9900 Ann Arbor Rd W, MI 48170 734-453-5500 www.plymouthnursery.net Plymouth Rock & Supp Rock Shoppe on Gotfredson Sparr’s Greenhse

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

romulus Block’s Stand/Greenhse Kurtzhals’ Farms H Schoedel’s Nurs Schwartz’s Greenhouse

roseville Dale’s Landscp Supp Flower Barn Nurs Sea World

royal oak Billings Lawn Equip H English Gardens 4901 Coolidge Hwy, MI 48073 248-280-9500 www.EnglishGardens.com Wild Birds Unltd

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

saline Clink Landscp & Nurs Nature’s Garden Ctr H Saline Flowerland

shelby twp H Diegel Greenhses 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 Mike’s Garden Stone Depot Landscp Supp

southfield 3 DDD’s Stand H Eagle Landscp/Supp Lavin’s Flower Land Main’s Landscp Supp

southgate H Ray Hunter Gard Ctr

st clair shores Greenhouse Growers H Hall’s Nurs H Soulliere Gard Ctr

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ray

H Eckert’s Greenhouse 34051 Ryan Rd, MI 48310 586-264-5678 www.eckertsgreenhouse.com

Heritage Oaks

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redford H Pinter Flowerland Seven Mi Gard Ctr

H Detroit Garden Works 1794 Pontiac Dr, MI 48320 248-335-8089 www.detroitgardenworks.com

taylor Beautiful Ponds & Gardens D&L Garden Ctr Massab Acres H Panetta’s Landscp Supp

tecumseh

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

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

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

walled lake

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H Suburban Landscp Supp

Tomlinson Arboretum

warren

dearborn

Beste’s Lawn/Patio Supp Garden Ctr Nurs Kutchey’s Farm Mkt

Arjay Miller Arboretum @ Ford World HQ Henry Ford Estate

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Anna S Whitcomb Conservtry, Belle Isle

dryden

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Breen’s Landscp Supp Hoffman Nurs

H MSU Horticulture Gardens W.J. Beal Botanical Gard

H Merritt Home Design 5940 Cooley Lake Rd., MI 48327 248-681-7955 www.merritthomedesigns.com

emmett

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

Seven Ponds Nature Ctr

H Sunny Fields Botanical Park 5444 Welch Rd, MI 48022 810-387-2765 www.visitsunnyfields.org

flint Applewood Estate

grand rapids Frederik Meijer Gardens

grosse pointe shores Edsel & Eleanor Ford Hse

lansing Cooley Gardens

midland Dahlia Hill Dow Gardens

novi Tollgate Education Ctr

rochester

white lake

Meadow Brook Hall & Gardens

H Bogie Lake Greenhouses 1525 Bogie Lake Rd, MI 48383 248-887-5101 www.bogielakegreenhouses.com

taylor

H Mulligan’s Landscp & Gard Ctr 8215 Elizabeth Lake Rd., MI 48386 248-698-4741 www.mulliganlandscaping.com Sunshine Plants

Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gard

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

Michigan Gardener | November/December 2018 | MichiganGardener.com

Celebrate the calendar / December / Holiday Season November January 2019 / February / at Steinkopf’s! March / April Select from hundreds of fresh-cut Christmas trees grown here in Michigan— 7 different species! Holiday greens • Roping Wreaths (up to 5-foot!) Memorial Blankets Firewood Proudly serving Metropolitan Detroit since 1931

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

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Gift Recipient: Name

Holiday Open House at Ray Hunter Sat, Nov 3, & Sun, Nov 4, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. The annual kick off for the holiday season. Preview our decorated Christmas Wonderland. 734-284-2500. Healthy Lawn Care Mon, Nov 5, Farmington Hills. By Farmington Garden Club at Spicer House in Heritage Park. Gary Eichen of Mike’s Tree Surgeons presents an enlightening talk on lawn care. fgc1932@gmail.com. An Update on the Great Lakes Thu, Nov 8, 1pm, Shelby Twp. By Shelby Garden Club at Shadbush Nature Ctr. Missy Kropfreiter, PE, Hydraulic Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, covers general Great Lakes information.

Cultivating Your Green Thumb: Indoors Thu, Nov 8, 6:30-8:30pm, Novi. At MSU Tollgate. Evenings in the Garden Series. $20. Lisa Steinkopf presents. www.canr.msu.edu/tollgate/events/ evenings-in-the-garden. Ferndale Garden Club Meeting & Blind Auction Thu, Nov 8, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Center. Blind Auction, with proceeds benefiting the annual scholarship fund. Guests welcome. 248-541-6427. H Detroit Garden Works Winter Preview Weekend Fri-Sat, Nov 9-10, 9am-5pm; Sun, Nov 11, Noon-4pm, Sylvan Lake. At Detroit Garden Works. Premium cut greens, sculptures, garland, plants, more. DetroitGardenWorks.com. H Wine, Women & Shopping Sat, Nov 10, Chelsea. At The Garden Mill. The annual event: Gifts for gardeners, holiday decor, fresh greens & more. 734-475-3539. www.TheGardenMill.com.

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H Ladies Night Out Fri, Nov 2, 6-9pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. Luxurious scents, sounds, sweets & shopping. www.HeavenlyScentHerbFarm.com

Taylor Conservatory: Nite at the Rhythm Club Thu, Nov 8, 5:30pm, Southgate. By Taylor Conservatory at Crystal Gardens Banquet Hall. $65/person. Enjoy the Henry Ford Community College Big Band Orchestra while raising money for the conservatory. www.taylorconservatory.org, 888-640-5454.

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Art in the Meadow Sat, Nov 10, 9am-Noon, Grosse Pointe Shores. At Edsel & Eleanor Ford House. $35. Enjoy the estate & a leisurely morning creating art with watercolor paints. Ages 16+. Suggested supply list at fordhouse.org, 313-884-4222.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC GARDENS, please visit MichiganGardener.com. Click on "Resources" then "Public Gardens."

H Holiday Open House Sat, Nov 10, 9am-4pm & Sun, Nov 11, 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 10, 10am-2pm, Grosse Pointe Woods. By Grosse Pointe Woods Herb Society of America at GPW Community Ctr. An herbal marketplace featuring handcrafted holiday decorations. Rnbonto@aol.com. Founding Fathers, Founding Gardeners Mon, Nov 12, Noon-1:30pm, Dearborn. By Dearborn Garden Club at 1st Presbyterian Church of Dearborn, 600 N Brady. FREE. Guest speaker: Virginia Froehlich. gardenclubdearborn.org. Flowering Vines To Love and To Avoid Mon, Nov 12, 7pm, Royal Oak. By Royal Oak Garden Club at Royal Oak public library. FREE & open to public. Presentation by Cheryl English. 248-398-4996 Weeds: To Know Them is to Beat Them Mon, Nov 12, 7pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Hardy Plant Society at Birmingham Congregational Church. Presented by Janet Macunovich. Guest fee: $5. For more info: julia@juliasbiglife.com or visit us on Facebook. Hanging Succulent Wall Art Tue, Nov 13, 3-5pm, East Lansing. At MSU. $40. Create a one-of-a-kind hanging piece of art using a wide range of succulents, from echeverias to sedums. http://hrt.msu.edu/cg-register. Garden Rooms Wed, Nov 14, 6:30-7:30pm, Mt. Clemens. By Macomb Cty Master Gardener Association at Mt. Clemens Library. $5. Sue Keehn presents an overview of what an outdoor garden room is. She will share creative ideas & planning tips. www.macombcountymga.com. H Ladies Night Out Thu, Nov 15, 6-8pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. Fresh greens, handcrafted porch pots & more. 734-453-550. www.plymouthnursery.net. H Night at the Greenhouse Thu, Nov 15, 7-9pm, Haslett. At VanAtta’s. $20/ person or $30/pair. Proceeds go to EVE, Inc. Wine, pampering, music & shopping in this special afterhours event. www.vanattas.com. H Christmas Extravaganza Fri, Nov 16, 11am-4pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. www.plymouthnursery.net, 734-453-5500. H Artist’s Market, Musicians & Authors Fri, Nov 16, Noon-8pm; Sat, Nov 17, 9am-5pm; Sun, Nov 18, 10am-3pm, White Lake. At Bogie Lake Greenhouse. Featuring Huron Valley Council for the Arts. www.bogielakegreenhouses.com.

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MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2018 | Michigan Gardener

Warmbier Farms Everything for your Garden, Home, and You

H Birch Log Indoor Arrangement Workshop Sat, Nov 17, 10am, Troy. At Telly’s Greenhouse. $34/arrangement. Create a faux birch log arrangement. Bring gardening gloves & pruners. Register: 248-689-8735. H Winter White Centerpiece Sat, Nov 17, 10am-Noon, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $76.75. www.heavenlyscentherbfarm. com. H Holiday Swag Workshop Sat, Nov 17, 11:30am, Troy. At Telly’s. $20. Create a holiday swag using a variety of fresh-cut greens, pinecones, and a hand-tied bow. Register: 248-689-8735. H Holiday Open House Sat, Nov 17, & Sun, Nov 18, 12noon-4pm, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. Music, food, sales. www.vanattas.com. H Floral Pumpkin Arrangement Sat, Nov 17, 1pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. $38. Decorate your Thanksgiving table with an arrangement you make yourself. Register by Nov 10. hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu. H Outdoor Holiday Arrangement Workshop Sat, Nov 17, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. Create an outdoor fiber pot filled with fresh greens, pinecones, & a handtied red velvet bow. Register: 248-689-8735. H DIY Weekend: Holiday Container Garden Sat, Nov 17, 2pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $54.99. We provide all you need to create a beautiful container garden to decorate your porch or patio. Register: www.englishgardens.com. Annual Holiday Twilight Walk Sat, Nov 17, 5-8pm, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. FREE. Stroll through the Christmas shop with just the glow of holiday lights & seasonal harp music. 734-284-2500. H DIY Weekend: Thanksgiving Centerpiece Sun, Nov 18, 2pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $39.99. All you need to create a beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece. Register: www.englishgardens.com.

December Annual Holiday Greens Market Sat, Dec 1, 9am-3pm, Clarkston. By Clarkston Farm & Garden Club at Calvary Lutheran. Arrangements, wreaths, roping, swags, fresh mixed greens & more. www.clarkstongardenclub.org. H Birch Log Indoor Arrangement Workshop Sat, Dec 1, 10am, Troy. At Telly’s Greenhouse. $34/arrangement. Create a faux birch log arrangement. Bring gardening gloves & pruners. Register: 248-689-8735. H Fresh Holiday Wreath Sat, Dec 1, 10am-12noon, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $49.75. www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com. H Holiday Swag Workshop Sat, Dec 1, 11:30am, Troy. At Telly’s. $20. Create a holiday swag using a variety of fresh-cut greens, pinecones, and a hand-tied bow. Register: 248-689-8735. H A Holiday Afternoon Sat, Dec 1, Noon-4pm, Grand Blanc. At The Weed Lady. Enjoy some special treats & a bit of pampering at this holiday event. 810-655-2723. www.TheWeedLady.com. Holly Berry Brunch Luncheon Sat, Dec 1, 12-1:30pm, Dearborn. By Dearborn Garden Club at The Dearborn Inn. gardenclubdearborn.org. H Outdoor Holiday Arrangement Workshop Sat, Dec 1, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. Create an outdoor fiber pot filled with fresh greens, pinecones, & a hand-tied red velvet bow. Register: 248-689-8735. H Holiday Festival Sat, Dec 1, 4-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Celebrate the holiday season with lights, luminaries, decorations, music, crafts, refreshments, & Santa. www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu.

H Evening of Lights Sun, Dec 2, 5-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Over 2000 candle-lit luminaries on display. hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu, 517-431-2060.

Tips for Maintaining Your Garden Sustainably Mon, Nov 19, 7pm, Birmingham. By Metro Detroit Hosta Society at First United Methodist Church. Laura Zigmanth, President of ecoChic Landscape, will speak on sustainable practices dealing with invasive species in an environmentally friendly manner. Hgold2843@comcast.net.

Lighted Evergreen Wreath Mon, Dec 3, 3-5pm, East Lansing. At MSU. $40. Each participant will take home one wreath with lights included. http://hrt.msu.edu/cg-register.

H Holiday Season Workshops Sat, Nov 24, Mon-Sat, 9-6pm & Sun, 11-4pm, Ann Arbor. At Turner’s. Visit the website for wreath decorating & porch pot workshops. www.turnersannarbor.com. Visit Santa at the Christmas Shop Sat, Nov 24, Weekends through Dec 23, 11am-4 pm, Southgate. At Ray Hunter Florist & Garden. Photographer will be available. 734-284-2500.

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!

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Winter Artists Market Sun, Dec 2, 10am-4pm, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

Growing Orchids in Artificial Media Sun, Nov 18, 2:30pm, Birmingham. By Michigan Orchid Society at the First Baptist Church. There will be plant sales & raffle. The public is welcome to attend.

H Christmas Open House Fri, Nov 23, & Sat, Nov 24, 10am-5pm & Sun, Nov 25, 11am-5pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. Various styles of tree collections. www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com.

Holiday Décor and So Much More!

H Fresh Boxwood & White Pine Tree Sat, Dec 8, 10am-Noon, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $49.75. www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com. H Super Sprouts Kid’s Club Event: Gingerbread-style House Sat, Dec 8, Noon, all locations. At English Gardens. $5. We’ll supply all the materials & inspiration for you to create this gingerbread-style house to take home. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Evening of Lights Sat, Dec 8, & Sun, Dec 9, 5-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Over 2000 candle-lit luminaries on display. hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu, 517-431-2060.

continued on page 18

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The area’s most comprehensive calendar of garden event listings Submit your garden event listings • Sign up for our FREE E-Newsletter Read both current and back issues online • And much more! The print edition of Michigan Gardener is still your exclusive source for new gardener profiles, how-to articles, plant features, and much more.

• 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!

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2018 | MichiganGardener.com

continued from page 17

Christmas Lunch Potluck Mon, Dec 10, Noon, Dearborn. By the Dearborn Garden Club at 1st Presbyterian Church of Dearborn, 600 N Brady. gardenclubdearborn.org. H Make it & Take It Workshop: Lantern Centerpiece Thu, Dec 13, 8pm, Clinton Twp., Dearborn Heights, Royal Oak & West Bloomfield. At English Gardens. $49.99. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com. H Night at the North Pole Fri, Dec 14, 7pm, Plymouth. At Plymouth Nursery. $5. Boys and Girls, wear your jammies & join us for an evening of holiday crafts & fun. 734-453-5500. www.plymouthnursery.net. Merry Makers Market Sat, Dec 15, 10am-5pm, Troy. At Balkan American Community Center. 100 crafters, artisans & vendors. Live music, kids activities & more. 248-809-9644, bill@quevco.com. H Men’s Day at The Weed Lady Sat, Dec 22, 9am-5pm, Grand Blanc. At The Weed Lady. Last minute shopping assistance & free wrapping. 810-655-2723, www.TheWeedLady.com.

January 2019 H Indoor Herb Gardening Sat, Jan 5, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Enjoy herbs on your windowsill throughout the winter. www.EnglishGardens.com. New Plant Introductions for 2019 Thu, Jan 10, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Center. Guests welcome. 248-541-6427. H Plan Your Spring Garden Sat, Jan 12, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Think spring. An English Gardens expert will share tips to make this your best garden yet. www.EnglishGardens.com. The Ins & Outs of Butterfly Gardening Mon, Jan 14, Noon, Dearborn. By the Dearborn Garden Club at 1st Presbyterian Church of Dearborn, 600 N Brady. gardenclubdearborn.org. H House Plants 101 Sat, Jan 19, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Our experts will help you select the right plant for your house, & give you information on how to care for them. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Make It & Take It Workshop: Macramé Planter with Plant Sat, Jan 19, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $24.99. Make your own macramé plant hanger, then select a plant to make it complete. Register: EnglishGardens.com. H Super Sprouts Kid’s Club Event: Plant a Mini Garden Sat, Jan 19, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $20. Bring your Super Sprout & plant a mini garden to take home. www.EnglishGardens.com.

Advertiser Index Assoc. of Professional Gardeners....................................................6 Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr.........................................................................12 Barson’s Greenhouse............................................................................11 Blossoms..................................................................Inside Front Cover Bogie Lake Greenhouses.....................................................................11 Davey Tree...............................................................Inside Front Cover Detroit Garden Works...........................................................................8 English Gardens............................................................................ Page 3 The Garden Mill......................................................................................18 Garden Rhythms......................................................................................9 A Garden Space......................................................................................19 Gordon’s Lawn Core Aeration...........................................................9 Grinstein Jewelry & Design...............................................................13 Hidden Lake Gardens...........................................................................12 Honda............................................................................................................5 Iron Barn Iron Work..............................................................................19 Master Gardener Soc: Oakland Cty................................................7

Milarch Nursery......................................................................................13 The Original Budget Tree Service...................................................17 Plymouth Nursery..................................................................................11 Poison Ivy Control of Michigan........................................................18 ReLeaf Michigan.....................................................................................19 Schuman Landscape Lighting........................Inside Front Cover Specialty Growers....................................................................................7 Steinkopf Nursery..................................................................................16 Telly’s Greenhouse................................................................................. 4 Turner’s Landscp & Gard Ctr..............................................................7 Tuthill Farms & Composting...............................................................9 Uncle Luke’s Feed Store.......................................................................11 Van Atta’s Greenhouse.......................................................................12 Warmbier Farms....................................................................................17 The Weed Lady.........................................................................................7 Wojo’s............................................................................................................9

The Ins & Outs of Gardening: A Winter Symposium Sat, Jan 26, 8:50am–4pm, East Lansing. By Capital Area Master Gardeners at MSU Plant & Soil Sciences Bldg., Open to all gardeners. 4 speakers, a garden marketplace & lunch. 5 hours of MG education credit. http://mgacac.wordpress.com. H Arranging Fresh-cut Flowers Sat, Jan 26, 1pm, Clinton Twp., Dearborn Heights, Royal Oak & West Bloomfield. At English Gardens. FREE. Bring the beauty of nature indoor with fresh-cut flowers. www.EnglishGardens.com.

February H Design Your Garden Sat, Feb 2, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. An expert will teach you the basics of landscape design & provide tips on how to implement the design. www.EnglishGardens.com.

H Tips for Attracting Birds Sat, Feb 9, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Ways to attract birds, & keep them coming back to your garden. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Super Sprouts Kid’s Club Event: Make a Bird Feeder Sat, Feb 9, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $5. Bring your Super Sprout & create a bird feeder to take home. www.EnglishGardens.com. Valentine Tea Mon, Feb 11, Noon, Dearborn. By the Dearborn Garden Club at 1st Presbyterian Church of Dearborn, 600 N Brady. gardenclubdearborn.org. African Violets: Growing & Propagation Thu, Feb 14, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Center. Guests are welcome. 248-541-6427. H Perennial Gardening 101 Sat, Feb 16, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. We’ll share our list of best garden performers, plus provide tips on selection & care. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Orchid Festival Sat, Feb 23, & Sun, Feb 24, all locations. At English Gardens. Free Seminars: Orchid Gardening 101 (Sat, 1pm) & Advanced Orchid Growing Tips (Sun, 1pm). www.EnglishGardens.com. H Make It & Take It Workshop: Orchid Garden Sat, Feb 23, & Sun, Feb 24, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $29.99. Create a beautiful, longlasting orchid garden in a decorative lantern. Register: EnglishGardens.com.

March H Top 20 Spring Garden Tips Sat, Mar 2, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Our best tips to help you create & care for your best garden. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Let’s Get Growing: Seed Starting Sat, Mar 9, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. How to grow your own plants for your garden. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Super Sprouts Kid’s Club Event: Planting Project Sat, Mar 9, 2:30pm, all locations. At English Gardens. $5. Bring your Super Sprout to plant three pots of seeds & create plant markers to identify them. www.EnglishGardens.com. Monastic Gardens: Begged, Borrowed, & Stolen Mon, Mar 11, Noon, Dearborn. By the Dearborn Garden Club at 1st Presbyterian Church of Dearborn, 600 N Brady. gardenclubdearborn.org. Weeds: Useful and Edible Thu, Mar 14, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Center. Guests are welcome. 248-541-6427. 12th Annual Spring Symposium: Turning Over a New Leaf Sat, Mar 16, 8am, St Clair. By Master Gardeners of St. Clair County at St. Clair Middle School. Symposium speakers and garden-related vendors. mgoscc.org. lasharrow@gmail.com, 810-329-3722. H Trending Now: Houseplants Sat, Mar 16, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Inside information on this year’s hottest plants and the best ones for your home. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Make It & Take It Workshop: Spring Floral Arrangement with Plant Thu, Mar 21, 7pm, Clinton Twp., Dearborn Heights, Royal Oak & West Bloomfield. At English Gardens. $69.99. Create a beautiful floral arrangement to take home. Register: EnglishGardens.com. H The Grass is Greener Here Sat, Mar 23, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. What to do now & later to keep your lawn green & healthy all year. www.EnglishGardens.com.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2018 | Michigan Gardener

19 call

H Grow Your Own Veggies Sat, Mar 30, 1pm, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Tips on how to start & maintain your own vegetable garden. www.EnglishGardens.com.

April The Technique to Hybridizing Daylilies & Daylilies 101 Mon, Apr 8, Noon, Dearborn. By the Dearborn Garden Club at 1st Presbyterian Church of Dearborn, 600 N Brady. gardenclubdearborn.org.

“the little gardener that could”

Landscaping with Native Plants Thu, Apr 11, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Center. Presented by Drew Lathin. 248-541-6427.

15 Years Experience at Botanical Gardens

H Gardening & All That Jazz: Educational Gardening Conference Sat, Apr 13, Full day, Waterford Twp. By Master Gardener Society of Oakland Co. at Oakland Co. Schools Conf. Ctr. $80. Registration begins Jan 1. Speakers: Margaret Roach, Sue Gaviller & Richard Bitner. 5 hours of MG credits. www.mgsoc.org.

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Precipitation September 2018

Detroit Flint Lansing

NORMAL Monthly 3.27 3.75 3.50

ACTUAL Monthly 6.46 3.36 3.91

DEVIATION from Normal +3.19 -0.39 +0.41

2018 Year to Date: Jan 1 - Sept 30

Detroit Flint Lansing

NORMAL Yr. to Date 25.7 24.31 24.59

ACTUAL Yr. to Date 33.96 28.85 27.96

DEVIATION from Normal +8.26 +4.54 +3.37

September 2017

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

2017 Year to Date: Jan 1 - Sept 30

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

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September 2017

Detroit Flint Lansing

NORMAL Avg. High 73.7 71.9 72

ACTUAL Avg. High 77.5 74.3 75.1

DEVIATION from Normal +3.8 +2.4 +3.1

ORMAL N 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

Detroit Flint Lansing

NORMAL Avg. Low 54.1 49.4 48.9

ACTUAL Avg. Low 60.4 55.2 55.1

DEVIATION from Normal +6.3 +5.8 +6.2

ORMAL N 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

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Michigan Gardener | November/December 2018 | MichiganGardener.com

Jean & Roxanne Riggs

Pressing flowers and leaves for crafts

ressing to preserve plant leaves and flowers has been a practice and hobby for generations of botanists and families alike. We still have pressed specimens of woodland plants from my grandfatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s collection that have lasted well over 100 years. These preserved pages are now framed, and each member of his family has one or more of the collection to hang and enjoy. My mother and I have gone on to press herbs, both their flowers and leaves, as we have enjoyed these wonderful plants in our lives for many years now. It is a simple, yet highly satisfying hobby to try. Plus, the materials needed to press flowers and leaves correctly are affordable. There are many different flower presses from which to choose. A decent flower press can be purchased for roughly $20. It has a wooden top and bottom, while straps or screws press and hold the leaves and flowers very tightly. Special paper sheets absorb any moisture in the plant material. We have pressed flowers and leaves in the pages of phone books, but to get the desired results, you must stack heavy books on top to be able to press the phone book down firmly for a few weeks until dry. This method is much harder than using a good flower press.

How to press flowers Most leaves are easily pressed, but flowers need to be flat. Flowers cannot have a huge middle, as this will not lend itself to being pressed down. You can press small clusters of flowers such as oregano and thymes. The flowers should be in full bloom and as perfect as you can get. Pick flowers and leaves on a dry and sunny day, with no water or humidity on the plants. The flowers and leaves should be vibrant colorsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;some colors remain as beautiful as the day they are picked, while some colors fade a bit as they dry. Trying many kinds of herbs and perennials is the best way to learn. You can pick and choose what comes out the best for projects. Some of our favorite herb and perennial flowers to press: violas and pansies, oregano, sages and salvias, calendula, lavender, dill, coral bells, delphinium and larkspur, scented geranium, feverfew, mints, nasturtiums, 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

Pick flowers and leaves on a dry and sunny day, with no water or humidity on the plants. Special paper helps absorb any moisture in the plant material.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2018 | Michigan Gardener

rosemary, miniature roses, and thyme. Most of these flowers also have outstanding leaves to press. Pick off any large stem coming out of the flower or leaf, and lay them flat on the pressing paper. Fill up a page and carefully place a sheet of pressing paper on top, creating a â&#x20AC;&#x153;sandwich.â&#x20AC;? Tighten the press, and let the flowers and leaves dry in the press for at least two weeks. You can keep them in the press for a long time until you want to use them. Or, to free up the flower press to use again, carefully take them out and place on a paper towel in a plastic container with a tight lid. It is helpful to label the flowers and leaves with the date you picked them. Colorful fall leaves and four-leaf clovers also press well. Keep an eye out for the best and most perfect leaves you can find all summer and fall.

Pressed flower projects

These herb leaves are ready to be pressed.

A pressed and framed herbal flower picture is a rewarding, decorative project.

Flowers for pressing should be vibrant colors like these pansies. Some colors remain as beautiful as the day they are picked, while some colors fade a bit as they dry.

A great project is making a pressed flower picture. You need dry, pressed flowers and leaves, and a picture frame with a white cardboard back and a glass panel. If the cardboard is not white, or you want a distinct color, use white or color printing paper to make your background and cut to fit. Take apart the picture frame so you just have the background paper and cardboard behind the paper. Lay out the flowers and leaves in a pleasing design, trying different layouts. You can move the pressed flowers around with your fingers or tweezers. No glue is necessary, but if you want to keep the flowers and leaves completely still, or if they are moving around, a toothpick with a tiny bit of tacky glue in the middle will keep them down. If you do glue, let the page dry for a few hours before carefully placing the glass over the top and affixing the back of the frame. Use a sticky label on the back of the picture with the plant information and your name and date on it. Pressed flower bookmarks are an easy and rewarding project, and are a great gift! You need dry, pressed flowers and leaves, a roll of clear contact paper, and a piece of flat, pretty white ribbon about 12 inches long. Lay your ribbon down on the contact paper and cut two identical pieces of contact paper that are at least two inches wider than the ribbon, continued on page 23

Michigan Gardener | November/December 2018 | MichiganGardener.com

through the lens Photographs from Michigan gardeners

The backyard is Carol Todd’s favorite place to be in September.

“Sleepy peonies awakening into full bloom.” — Jennifer Michalski

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.

This container planting by Nadine Cojocar includes dwarf papyrus Prince Tut and Baby Tut, alocasia ‘Regal Shields,’ euphorbia Diamond Frost, as well as assorted coleus and sweet potato vines.

Laura Gaunt photographed this monarch butterfly despite seeing fewer and fewer in her garden.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2018 | Michigan Gardener

Look for

Above and below: Pressed flower bookmarks are easy to make and useful, great gifts. You need pressed flowers, clear contact paper, and a ribbon.

continued from page 21 including top and bottom. Peel the contact paper off the backing on one piece, lay the ribbon down the middle of that sticky piece, and add pressed flowers and leaves. Then carefully peel and place the top sheet of contact paper over the pressed flowers and ribbon, pressing it down to remove any air bubbles. You can trim your bookmark with scissors to even up any edges. Take a paper punch and make a hole in the top of the bookmark about two inches down through the contact paper. Thread a thin piece of pretty ribbon through that hole and make a small knot to hold it in place close to the bookmark, leaving enough ribbon to stick out of a book to hold your place. Contact paper can also be used to make

pressed flower Christmas ornaments for the tree. Cut in any shape or size, fill with pressed flowers and leaves, punch a hole, and hang with a ribbon. Pressed flower stationery or place cards for the dinner table can be easily made by gluing pressed flowers or leaves onto surfaces with tiny amounts of tacky glue on the flowers or leaves. This glue dries clear and quickly. Try pressing herbs from your garden to make lasting pictures and gifts for yourself, friends and family. The more projects you make, the better they get! Keep growing and pressing more beautiful and vibrant herb and perennial varieties each year. Jean and Roxanne Riggs operated Sunshine Farm and Garden in Oakland County, MI and now enjoy retirement up north.

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Beautyberry Botanical name: Plant type: Plant size: Habit: Hardiness: Flowers: Fruit: Leaves: Light: Soil: Water: Growth rate: Uses:

Remarks:

Callicarpa (kal-ih–KAR-pah) Deciduous shrub 4 to 6 feet tall and wide Upright, with arching branches Zone 5/6 (some winter dieback with temperatures below zero) Tubular, pink to white, in July; form on new wood; not showy Berry-like drupes; heavy clusters of lilac to purple, or white; extremely showy in September and October Green, attractive, 3-5 inches long and 1-2 inches wide; occasionally yellow fall color Sun to partial shade Most soils with good drainage Preferably moist; drought tolerant after established Fast annual growth Ornamental landscape shrubs in early to mid autumn, specimen or in groups. Combine with fall-blooming and colored-foliage perennials. Plant in foreground of dense conifers. Stunning display of fall berries. Prune back severely in late fall to early spring for the best fall show. The flowers and fruits form on new wood each year.

continued from back cover with the simultaneous purple fruits. Shrubs forms are generally rounded in habit. These can range in size from 4 to 6 feet in both height and width. Branching of Japanese beautyberry (C. japonica) is upright and graceful, in contrast to the Chinese beautyberry (C. dichotoma), which is more compact with shorter nodes on its branches.

Growing conditions Full sun to semi-shady sites are best for good growth, flowering and fruiting. With more sun, more berries will appear. Not particular about soil types, callicarpas will grow well as long as good drainage is provided. Another favorable trait is their drought tolerance after being established for several years. Since beautyberry is marginally hardy in zone 5, it can be treated as a semi-woody shrub similar to butterfly bush (Buddleia), or it can be a cut-to-the-ground, hardy perennial. Severely pruning it back to about 12 or 18 inches off the ground (or even to within a few inches off the ground) in late fall or early spring is recommended for rejuvenating annually. This will lead to successful flowering, berries, and uniform growth. The flowers and fruits reliably form on new wood each year. Several plant experts suggest planting more than one beautyberry, as cross-pollination renders a heavier berry set on the branches. Beautyberry is relatively disease and pest free. Propagation is easy from semi-hardwood and softwood cuttings, which root readily. Growing from seed just requires removing the fleshy coating on a ripe fruit. Then dry and stratify the seeds if starting indoors.

P H OTO G R A P H S BY E R I C H O F L E Y/ M I C H I G A N G A R D E N E R

The berries The berries are relished by birds and are a source of food for raccoons, opossums, and small rodents, making them a popular wildlife planting for backyards. Chicken farmers in Florida feed the berries to their flocks as treats in the diet. Believed to be high in antioxidants, the palatable berries have little flavor, but a pleasant perfumy aroma. In the South, where beautyberry shrubs are widespread, health enthusiasts use these fruits in jellies and have even crafted beautyberry wine. And although the flowers have much to be desired ornamentally, they are also great nectar attractants for butterflies. Historically, the foliage has been used as a natural mosquito repellent by rubbing the leaves on open areas and clothing while in the wilds.

Beautyberry shrub is aptly named—when you see it in the fall garden, the berries will dazzle you.

Varieties Special purple berry varieties of Japanese beautyberry (C. japonica) include ‘Angustata’ with narrow leaves and the larger shrub ‘Luxurians’ with larger, showy berry clusters. Another gem is ‘Snow Storm’ with fabulous variegated leaves and pink flowers. Its foliage is heat tolerant and performs best in moist soils. C. bodinieri ‘Profusion’ produces quantities of violet-purple berries on young plants. ‘Early Amethyst’ is a garden-worthy, compact selection of the Chinese beautyberry text continued on page 26

Beautyberry flowers are not particularly showy. No matter, the fall show carries the day.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2018 | Michigan Gardener

Left and right: Besides the classic purple-berried varieties, there are several white-berried selections as well, which can be equally striking.

Starting in late summer, the green berries begin to attain their fall color.

Michigan Gardener | November/December 2018 | MichiganGardener.com

‘Welch’s Pink’ American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) sports bright pink berries. text continued from page 24 (C. dichotoma) with pink flowers and smaller bright lavender berries. Its berries are set and show color in late August, earlier than most other varieties. ‘Issai’ has a mounded branch formation with violet-blue berries. Recently two hybrid callicarpas have surfaced from plant breeders: ‘Purple Pearls’ and ‘Pearl Glam.’ Both shrubs are upright growers with purple-black foliage during the growing season, highlighting the violet-purple berries. The former has pink flowers while the latter has white ones. Height and width is 4 to 5 feet. While all of the mentioned beautyberry species and varieties boast their significantly lovely purple berries, some varieties stray to pristine white ones. American beautyberry varieties ‘Lactea’ and ‘Russell Montgomery’ produce attractive white fruits. White berries decorate the branches of

‘Albifructus’ (C. dichotoma) and especially so on the newer cultivar ‘Duet,’ which is additionally dressed in mottled white, variegated foliage. Early on, the leaves may be entirely white, later changing with a bit more green coloration, but keeping the variegated look throughout the growing season. ‘Leucocarpa’ (C. japonica) has an excellent dramatic show with abundant, heavy, whiteberried branches, especially so after the leaves have been shed. Beautyberry shrubs fit into theme gardens like butterfly, cottage, and Japanese. They have multiple landscape uses such as focal or accent plants, a background to shorter shrubs and perennials, small groups on the south side of evergreen shrubs and conifers, and wonderful decorative elements in an outdoor living area. Jim Slezinski is the Vice President and Senior Landscape Designer/Horticulturist at Goldner Walsh Garden and Home in Pontiac, MI.

‘Snow Storm’ has fabulous variegated leaves.

MichiganGardener.com | November/December 2018 | Michigan Gardener

Above: ‘Early Amethyst’ is a compact Chinese beautyberry (C. dichotoma) with bright lavender berries. Below: Its berries are set and show color in late August, earlier than most other varieties.

A newer hybrid callicarpa called ‘Purple Pearls’ has purple-black foliage during the growing season, highlighted with violet-purple berries in the fall.

The white and green variegated leaves of ‘Duet’ are showy throughout the season.

Proven Winners

| November/December 2018 | MichiganGardener.com

plant focus

Beautyberry

Beautyberry shrubs generally grow 4 to 6 feet wide and tall, with an upright habit. The arching branches are covered with berries in the fall, creating a graceful, swirling effect.

ne could not find a better descriptive name for this handsome group of deciduous shrubs: their beauty is in their berries! Beautyberry hails as one of the most outstanding fruiting (berry-like producing) woody ornamental for the mid fall. There are several species suitable for Michigan gardens, notably American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), native to our southeastern states. Three other Asian species also are garden candidates: C. japonica, C.

dichotoma, and C. bodinieri. All these species exhibit magnificently bright and shiny purplelavender and some say lilac-violet berries (fruits) in September into October. Others describe the berries as metallic. No matter the description, the berries are showstoppers and terrific eye candy in the landscape. After the less-than-showy, in-

Jim Slezinski

conspicuous white-to-pinkish tubular flowers bloom in midsummer, the immature green berries appear. Then they transform by September into the purple-colored berries that show their faces on the rough, scruffy twigs. These amazing 1/8to 1/4-inch fruits form 1- to 2-inch bunched and clustered groups, all wrapped around the branches at the leaf axils. With numerous

heavy clusters, the branches bend and arch, cascading and presenting an autumnal, picture postcard view. Leaves are 1 to 3 inches long, elliptical and edged with tiny rounded teeth. Having an ordinary green color during the summer, the fall sometimes brings a pleasing yellow foliage display. If we are so fortunate, the result is an absolutely stunning landscape pairing, continued on page 24