September/October 2016
MichiganGardener.com
Your guide to Great Lakes gardening
Perennials Little bluestem
Vegetable Patch Root crops
Profile
A natural country setting
The Late Show
Fall-blooming native perennials
INSPIRING MICHIGAN GARDENERS SINCE 1996
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is a great time to plant perennials, trees and shrubs. We have a great selection to choose from!
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Fall is a great time to landscape or refresh your existing grounds.
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
TREES & SHRUBS (Trees and Shrubs at Shelby location only)
FU
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O OF C
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At Telly’s, September marks the start of the second season. While the selection of plants at many garden centers is dwindling, we are stocked with plants to keep your garden looking great until winter.
Bonsai Workshop Troy: Sat, Sept 10, 1pm Pontiac: Sat, Sept 17, 1pm Workshop fee is $35. Fall Blooming Perennials Troy: Sat, September 17, 10am Ornamental Grasses Troy: Sat, September 24, 10am NEW! Bonsai Forest Workshop Troy: Sat, Sept 24, 1pm Learn the Bonsai basics and care, then plant your own miniature forest with 5-7 young trees, special potting mix, and a planter (all provided). $100 Indoor Miniature Gardening Wkshp Troy: Sat, October 1, 10am Pontiac: Sat, October 1, 10am ($5 class fee plus cost of materials used) Succulent Container Garden Wkshp Troy: Sat, October 8, 10am Pontiac: Sat, October 8, 10am ($5 class fee plus cost of materials used) Pumpkin/Gourd Art Workshop Pontiac: Sat, October 15, 10am ($5 class fee plus cost of materials used)
Pre-registration required. Classes $5 unless otherwise indicated. VISIT TELLYS.COM FOR MORE INFO.
COLD TOLERANT PLANTS…
Ask MG............................................................8 Vegetable Patch..........................................10 Where to pick up Michigan Gardener.......................................12
—Allan Armitage
Bulk Subscriptions.......................................13
Places to Grow............................................ 16
FLASHLIGHT SALE…
Calendar......................................................... 18
Troy: September 8, 9 & 10 Pontiac: September 8 & 9 7:30-9:30pm
Subscription Form.....................................20
Come visit Telly’s for this once a year sale. Bring a flashlight and take advantage of our biggest sales event of the season. Sale prices apply only during these hours.
Classified Ads.............................................. 21
ON SALE NOW… 30-50% OFF Ceramic Pottery (sale excludes bonsai pots)
Select Roses 50% OFF Giant Telly’s-grown Mums - 5 for $30 30-50% OFF all Trees & Shrubs* *Shelby location only
LATE SEASON PERENNIALS
Weather Wrap............................................ 21 Advertiser Index......................................... 21 Garden Profile: A natural country setting........................22 Through the Lens.......................................25 Perennial Perspectives: Little Bluestem............................................ 28 On the cover: Fall is the time to plant spring-blooming bulbs. This three bulb mixture from Colorblends combines three orange tulips, each with a different look and bloom time.
All perennials now 20-50% OFF!
We offer an extensive selection of cold tolerant, fall flowering plants including pansies, calibrachoa, trailing verbena, petunias, creeping Jenny, ornamental cabbage and kale, marguerite daisies, and much more.
Publisher/Editor Eric Hofley Design & Production Jonathon Hofley Advertising Eric Hofley Circulation Jonathon Hofley
TROY • 248-689-8735 3301 John R • 1/4 mile north of 16 Mile Rd.
Editorial Assistant Anna Doman
SHELBY TOWNSHIP • 248-659-8555 4343 24 Mile • Btwn Dequindre & Shelby Rd.
PONTIAC • 248-724-2300
find us on
www.tellys.com
Don Schulte
Blue wood aster
Feature: Fall blooming native perennials..............Back Cover
Photo: www.Colorblends.com
Perennial gardening means color and interest nearly year-round. Many plants just starting to give their best show: Japanese anemone, ornamental grasses, sedums and many more!
559 Orchard Lake Rd (at Goldner Walsh) Between Telegraph & Woodward
“There are many tired gardeners, but I’ve seldom met old gardeners. I know many elderly gardeners, but the majority are young at heart. Gardening simply does not allow one to be mentally old, because too many hopes and dreams are yet to be realized. The one absolute of gardeners is faith. Regardless of how bad past gardens have been, every gardener believes that next year’s will be better.”
Books for the Michigan Gardener................................... 14
Fall Events Fall Container Gardening Workshop Troy: Sat, Sept 10, 10am ($5 class fee plus cost of materials used)
To-Do List........................................................6
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AUTUMN AUTUM N IS
It’s a long way from freezin’… Come celebrate second season!
Garden Wisdom
Contributors Brian Allnutt Karen Bovio Cheryl English Emaline Fronckowiak Mary Gerstenberger Julia Hofley Rosann Kovalcik Janet Macunovich Steve Martinko Beverly Moss George Papadelis Sandie Parrott Traven Pelletier Jean/Roxanne Riggs Deborah Silver Jim Slezinski Lisa Steinkopf Steve Turner
16291 W. 14 Mile Rd., Suite 5 Beverly Hills, MI 48025-3327 Phone: 248-594-5563 Fax: 248-594-5564 E-mail: publisher@MichiganGardener.com Website: www.MichiganGardener.com Publishing schedule 6 issues per year: April, May, June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec. Published the first week of the mo. Subscriptions (Please make check payable to Michigan Gardener) 1 yr, 6 iss/$14 2 yr, 12 iss/$26 3 yr, 18 iss/$36 Back issues All past issues are available. Please send your request along with a check for $3.00 per issue payable to Michigan Gardener. Canadian subscriptions 1 yr, 6 iss/$22 US 2 yr, 12 iss/$42 US Copyright © 2016 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 | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
to-do list Annuals • Annuals should be looking great as the hot temperatures of summer start to fall. Continue to fertilize and water, and they’ll provide color until the first frost. • When cleaning hanging baskets, cut off the flowers and stems, but keep the root-filled soil in the basket. These roots will make it easy to fill baskets with cut evergreen boughs and decorative stems for the holiday season. The roots provide an excellent anchor. Use this technique in any container that’s frost tolerant and can be left outside all winter.
Bulbs
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MATTHAEI BOTANICAL GARDENS
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Two-day sale featuring a selection of native plants grown onsite. Native plants attract pollinators and beneficial insects—making them great garden choices for our region. A local nursery will also be on hand with woody plants and trees.
Free admission. 10% Matthaei-Nichols member discount. Not a member? Join online & save. University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens 1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor 734.647.7600 mbgna.umich.edu
• Now is the time to plan for spring color and plant spring-flowering bulbs, such as tulips, hyacinths and daffodils. • When planting, remember to mix fertilizer into the soil from the bulb hole and plant bulbs in clumps for a more impressive impact than the look of planting in a single line. • Tired of chipmunks and squirrels digging your bulbs? After planting bulbs, lay chicken wire over the area, and cover with soil. The bulbs will grow through, but the critters won’t be able to get to them. • Dahlias and other summer-flowering bulbs should bloom until frost. If you want to overwinter them, you’ll need to dig them up and save them for next year. Dig up plants and cut off the top. Let the bulbs dry for three days then put them in a cardboard box or paper bag. Cover them with vermiculite or peat and try to keep them from touching. Keep them somewhere cool but not cold; a basement is good. Pull them out next March and pot them up for a head start on next year’s plants.
Fruits • This is a good time to keep track of fruiting canes on raspberry plants. Mark the ones that have fruited this year with string or tape that will last through the fall. Cut out those canes, since raspberries only fruit on one-year-old canes.
Houseplants • With outdoor temperatures cooling down, it’s time to prepare houseplants and bring them inside for the winter. Apply a granular systemic insecticide to the soil of all plants you’ll be bringing inside, as well as a foliar spray of insecticidal soap. This will help ensure your houseplants are insectfree through the winter. • Plants are used to a lot of sunlight when outdoors. Maximize the sunlight they receive inside by making sure the blinds, sheers, or curtains are open as much as possible. • Some plants may continue to drop leaves
until they become accustomed to their new home. As long as they’re getting some new growth, leaf drop is normal.
Herbs • Collect herbs and consider preserving some for the winter. Bundles of herbs, such as basil, oregano or sage, can be dried by hanging them upside down in a dry area. Once dry, strip the leaves off the stems and store in an airtight container. Herbs can also be dried in the oven. Spread a layer of leaves on a cookie sheet and place in a 200-degree oven for an hour. Allow to cool, then store in an airtight container.
Lawns • Don’t put the mower away yet: The lawn is still growing and will need trimming. Continue to apply supplemental watering if there is a dry spell. • Apply a final fertilizer treatment in mid to late October before the temperatures dip below 50 degrees F. The fall fertilizing is the most important to make sure the grass goes into winter healthy and strong.
Perennials • Maintain fertilizing, deadheading and watering to help plants go into winter as healthy as possible. It may also be time to divide any overcrowded plants so you’ll have better blooms next year. Some plants like Stella de Oro daylilies need dividing every few years or their total bloom time will decrease dramatically. • Just like annuals, the timing of clean up can vary. Cut down plants that are diseaseprone or might be suffering with powdery mildew: mums, phlox, bee balm, and asters. Don’t compost these leaves, as the disease may overwinter in the compost pile.
Pruning • Fall is a good time to prune many plants. Chip pruned branches if possible and shred leaves, then use them in your compost pile. Avoid using any diseased materials, as well as black walnut leaves, branches or nuts in your compost.
Shrubs & Trees • September is the best planting month of the year, and is a great time to plant woody ornamentals. The cooler temperatures and increased rainfall help plants establish quicker and reduce the need for supplemental watering. Many nurseries have a reasonable selection of plants still available. • When planting a tree, the first thing you want to consider is where you are going to plant it. Trees get big, an obvious fact
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2016 | Michigan Gardener
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MUMS THE WORD The best fall color display!
Feature Task: Refresh container gardens with a touch of fall Fall is such a colorful time of year. The garden progresses from summer glory to a new palette of rich reds, golds and yellows. It’s a great time to spruce up your summer planters to reflect the season. Depending on your summer color container scheme, you can add cold-tolerant plants, like pansies and violas, in the same hues to fill in bare spots. Or add a few touches of fall with mums, in shades of orange, yellow and rust. Or plant some perennial varieties, like sedum or ornamental grasses. Alternatively, it might be easier to completely replant containers with varieties that will last through a frost. There are a number of cold-tolerant plants available now, including pansies, cabbage, kale, mums, osteospermum, petunias, verbena or nemesia. Add a few mini pumpkins, Indian corn or dried wheat for a festive flair. When planting containers, follow these simple tips: 1. Select a pot with proper drainage. Excess water needs to flow through the plant rather than accumulate on the bottom. 2. Select the proper planting medium. For that many people forget, and they plant too close to the house, overhead wires, the street or driveway. • There are four main reasons why newly planted trees and shrubs fail the first year: planted too deep, too much water, not enough water, or improper fertilizer. • Plant the root ball at the same level it was growing in the pot. If you plant too deeply the ground soil will cause the bark to rot. In clay soils, leave up to 1/3 of the root ball above the ground. Roots can handle being exposed to air far better than the bark can handle being buried. • Keep watering plants whenever necessary until the ground freezes, sometimes as late as January. • Prune any dead or crossing branches on shrubs, trees and evergreens. This isn’t the time to do heavy pruning, which will encourage growth and not give that new growth time to harden off before winter sets in.
Roses • Roses should continue to produce flowers until after the first hard frost, but stop cutting them back now. Letting roses form rose hips is one signal to the rose that fall is coming, so it prepares to go dormant. If you continue to prune late into the year, the new growth won’t have a chance to harden
best results, use a planting mix specifically designed for containers. Don’t use garden soil or topsoil; it’s too heavy and won’t drain properly. 3. Maintain proportion. Plants should extend at least twice the size of the container. 4. For a dramatic look, use a single type of flower variety. 5. Create harmony in the container by selecting one color throughout and using various shades and textures. 6. To add contrast and interest, combine flowering plants with foliage at a ratio of 3 to 4 flowering plants to one foliage plant. 7. Choose a variety of different flower and foliage textures that complement one another. A good rule of thumb: use a “thriller” as the focal point; a “spiller” to cascade over the pot; and “filler” plants to provide texture. 8. Water containers frequently, even daily, if necessary. Water-absorbing granules combined with the planting mix will help pots retain moisture. 9. Fertilize regularly with a water-soluble fertilizer to keep flowers blooming.
Fall Color Pots • Mums, Pansies, Kale Tailgate Accents • Perennials on Sale Holiday Fairy Accessories Closed September 4 & 5 Mon-Fri 9-5:30 Sat 9-4 • Sun 11-3
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Water
off before winter and it will be damaged. Major pruning of roses should be done in the spring, not the fall.
Vegetables • Keep harvesting. Keep vegetable plants watered and fertilized, and beds free of weeds. You’ll be surprised how long you’ll continue to get fruits and vegetables. Provided by the professionals at English Gardens.
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
Have a question? Send it in! Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Submit a question”
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My marigolds are beautiful this year. I would like to put them in big pots, bring them indoors for the winter, and replant them in the spring. Is that possible? S.S. Marigolds are considered annuals. As such, their job is to flower, set seed, and die in one season while giving our gardens a strong color punch. Some annuals we grow can be tender perennials, such as geraniums (Pelargonium). You can attempt to keep those types of plants alive indoors through the winter. However, to have new marigolds next spring, it is smarter and more efficient to purchase fresh plants or grow them from seed purchased from reputable seed companies. You can also harvest seed from your own plants. Dry it on paper towel and then place it between pieces of parchment or wax paper until spring, when the soil has warmed up and the chance for frost is past. Sow in full sun and cover lightly with about 1/4 inch of soil. They germinate easily. Fair warning: the seed may not yield true-to-type flowers if these were special hybrids. Take note of the cultivars you grew and enjoyed this year, then check with local garden centers. If they do not have the seed you are looking for, then search online seed catalogs for those particular varieties. Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Burpee, and Park Seed all offer several cultivars of marigold. You may find yours there.
Vines for a lattice fence I built a new lattice privacy fence in my backyard. What are my options for vines that will keep their leaves through the winter? B.L., Davisburg There are few options for vines that keep their leaves during winter. One is English ivy (Hedera helix), which stays green year-round. However, both it and Virginia creeper can become very invasive if not monitored throughout the year. Preventing it from spreading into adjacent lawns and gardens can be a monumental task. But it is fast-growing, if you want that trait. Some deciduous vines worth considering: Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) has leaves that may turn a striking burgundy red in fall to winter depending on the light exposure. It has no flower. Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia tomentosa) will take full sun to part shade light conditions. It does not like dry soil. There-
fore location is important to provide residual moisture. However, it has large, heart-shaped leaves and a Meerschaum pipeshaped flower in spring that attracts swallowtail butterflies. The five-leaf akebia (Akebia quinata) has great cinnamon bark and compound leaves composed of five oval leaflets. It has a fragrant small flower in spring and a twining habit that makes it excellent for fences and trellises. It grows fairly quickly and is a more unusual vine in the landscape.
Black gum tree growth habit My black gum (tupelo) tree is 15 feet tall and was planted 18 months ago. It had a single leader branch that had curled almost 90 degrees from the trunk to the top of the tree. I tied a 2-foot stake around the 1/2” leader to make it grow straight up. The leader has since grown 14 inches above the stake but is now starting to grow at a 45-degree angle. I’m worried that it will continue to grow in the wrong direction. How do I correct the problem? K.B., New Boston According to Michael Dirr’s Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, this beautiful native tree (Nyssa sylvatica) only keeps a rough pyramidal shape when young. It is densely branched and some of those branches become pendulous. He indicates that as the tree ages, the numerous spreading and often horizontal branches form an irregularly-rounded or flat-topped crown. This is not a strong central leader-growing tree, but a multi-branching tree. It may have been purchased that way, but now it is growing on site. To keep a single central leader, you will have to continue staking it and let the soft wood harden up. Or review the canopy to see if its absence will affect the overall appearance and prune it off from where it emerges from the trunk. This drastic measure could potentially change the apical growth of the tree, and is least preferred. Your tupelo is a tree whose leader growth does not follow a central straight line. It obviously seeks to drape and form a pendulous appearance as it grows and ages. Another tree that seems to send out a pendulous leader is the tricolor beech. As the height of the leader bends down, another leader appears from the apex of the tree and grows until it too bends over. This pattern is repeated and gives the tree a graceful open, but upright shape.
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2016 | Michigan Gardener
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Van Thomme’s GREENHOUSES
Overall your tree is seeking its own pattern. You may even want to try unstaking the leader and letting it relax into its own shape as per Dirr’s description. Watch for another leader to appear as the maturing branches bend. You are fighting a natural growth pattern for this tree genus and it may be you should not try to correct it.
How raspberry plants set fruit Why has my two-year-old patch of raspberries not blossomed? There is a lot of growth, but no fruit. R.B., Northville Raspberries have a somewhat complicated pattern of fruit production. However, it is also related to raspberry type, and when to prune it. In general, it takes two years for a specific cane to produce fruit. It grows vegetatively the first year, fruits the second year, then dies. Meanwhile, new vegetative canes come up from the base of the plant during the second year. These will become the fruiting canes the year after the first batch of canes dies off. If the one-year-old canes are cut off or die back during winter, your raspberries will not produce fruit because you have no two-yearold canes left in the patch. A twist on this system is that of everbearing raspberries. They grow vegetatively through the summer of their first year, and in late summer or early fall, the tips of the first year canes produce fruit. Those tips die off over the first winter, but the rest of the cane fruits the following summer, then dies completely. Raspberries need consistent water throughout the growing season and they need to be thinned of old canes to prevent disease and insect pests, and to encourage flower and fruit production. Overfertilizing with high nitrogen products can produce “a lot of growth” but no flowers. Raspberries have simple but specific pruning requirements. Raspberries are unique because their roots and crowns are perennial, while their stems or canes are biennial. Individual canes live only two years and then die. That is why it is important to know if you have a summer-bearing raspberry or an everbearing raspberry, because the pruning needs are different.
Removing invasive groundcovers Before I knew better, I planted two terribly invasive groundcovers (chameleon plant and a sedum-like creeper). They have invaded my vegetable garden and I
can’t keep up with them. They even grow through thick mulch. Is there a safe, organic method to get rid of them without harming my veggies? E., Clinton Township Because these two plants grow with rhizomes and stolons, your only real solution is to remove the mulch from the area they are in and dig them out with a spading fork or hand weeders. Using a shovel only breaks the travelling roots, which will sprout into more plants. That is the safest and most “organic” method. A true sedum is shallow-rooted and less of a problem to extract when over-exuberant. Your sedum-like plant may be proliferating with surface roots called stolons. This is still easier to remove than the chameleon plant (Houttuynia cordata), which has underground rhizomes that are happy growing under the protective shelter of mulch. Manual removal is best and it may take more than one session. It will sprout from any broken pieces. You can spray the exposed leaves with a strong solution of vinegar, salt and water once you have isolated the groundcovers from the border of your vegetable garden. You do not want that solution affecting your vegetables through osmosis. The sun and heat will work to dry them up. However, persistent and methodical manual extraction is still the most thorough and effective. You may have to repeat the process once or twice, since missed rhizomes will grow. When purchasing groundcovers in the future, beware of the labels that say “fills in quickly in one year.” Answers provided by Beverly Moss, owner of Garden Rhythms.
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PR[MIUM MUlCH - lOPWll - D[CORAHV[ HON[ - flAGHON[ - VAllHON[ - BOUlDm - �AND - GRAV[l - PAV[R�
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
vegetable patch NEW in 2016!
YOUR ONf-�lOP �HOP lO BfAUilrY YOUR HOMf fOR OVfR 30 YfAR�! www.orionstone.com 248-391-2490
Root crops
B
eets, carrots and radishes are probably the three favorite root crops of vegetable gardeners, with parsnips, turnips and rutabaga bringing up the rear. (Garlic and onions are bulb crops and not considered among the root crops.) White potatoes, often thought of as a root crop, are actually a stem adaptation, as are Jerusalem artichokes. Only the sweet potato is actually a root. Horseradish is a root that will take forever to eliminate, if you change your mind about growing it, but it will add zest to your meal if you know how to process it! There are a variety of specialty root crops as well, such as burdock, scorzonera, salsify, and root parsley. You can check your garden catalogs for availability. All of them can be great crops to grow in a garden.
Starting and growing
Orion Stone Depot I 4888 Joslyn Road, Orion, Ml 48359 Located 1/2 mile north of 1-75
Perennials 30% OFF Fall Pansies & Mums • Ornamental Kale Coming in Late September: Pumpkins, Gourds, Straw, Corn & Corn Stalks
FREE Estimates
586-214-9852 Pat
1525 Bogie Lake Rd. / White Lake Open Seven Days 1-1/2 Miles S. of M-59 • Across from Lakeland H.S.
part of the plant. Insects that damage the root itself are another story. Wireworms can be particularly damaging to root crops including potato, sweet potato, radish, carrot, rutabaga, and turnip. Information on wireworms from the Utah State University Extension can be found at tinyurl.com/jh3yq63. A good source of information and identification of other vegetable pests can be found at the Purdue website: tinyurl. com/heeanuv.
With the exception of the potatoes, sweet potatoes and Jerusalem artichoke, root crops should be grown from seed. Trying to transplant a pot-grown root vegetable will damage the root or cause forkHarvest ing (deformed roots). Planting by Root crops can be harvested seed usually helps develop a strononce they reach a usable size. Beets ger, better root. Potatoes are grown that get much larger than 3 inches from seed potato cuttings, sweet poMary can get tough and fibrous. If you tatoes are grown from slips, and JeGerstenberger keep the ground from freezing rusalem artichokes are grown from around them, carrots can be hartubers. Once the plants come up, one vested through the winter, as can parsnips, only has to watch the watering and the weeds. although harvesting parsnips should not beRegular watering is important, but never wagin until the tops freeze late in the fall. Jeruterlog the soil. Weeding should be shallow to salem artichoke can be harvested from Sepavoid damaging the developing roots. tember until the ground freezes. Potatoes are Insects harvested after the vines die. Sweet potatoes There are a variety of insects that can attack are not an easy crop to grow in Michigan due root crops. Gardeners may have a higher level to the long frost-free growing season that is of tolerance for those that damage the upper required. They would be harvested around leaf portion, since that is usually not the edible the first frost in the fall and need to be properly cured, which is also difficult due to cool fall temperatures. Turnip and rutabaga are hardy to fall frosts and most consider them to be “sweetened” by cool weather. For information on using, storing and precall serving root crops and other fruits and vege“the little gardener tables, check out the Michigan Fresh website that could” from MSU Extension at: tinyurl.com/j783qtf. 15 Years Experience at Botanical Gardens
248-887-5101
Beets that get much larger than 3 inches can get tough and fibrous.
Www.agardenspace.com
Mary Gerstenberger is the Consumer Horticulture Coordinator at the Michigan State University Extension in Macomb County, MI. For vegetable and gardening information from MSU, visit www.migarden.msu.edu. Call the toll-free Michigan State University Lawn and Garden Hotline at 888-678-3464 for answers to your gardening questions.
Uncle Luke’s We have fresh, local produce though October! Beautiful fall-blooming mums t Seasoned firewood bundles t LARGE selection of BIRD FEED & feeding equipment t Deer feed AND deer repellents t Complete pet & animal food lines: Taste of the Wild • NutriSource Canidae • Solid Gold • Iams • Wysong • Lotus • California Natural Wellness • Eukanuba • Chicken Soup • Natural Balance • Fromm t
Tropical Treasures
t
BEST SELECTION of ORGANIC fertilizers and soil amendments in Southeastern Michigan Featuring organic fertilizers & soil amendments FALL is an EXCELLENT time to fertilize your lawn, perennials, trees & shrubs
Complete line of pond supplies Integra EPDM Liners • Filters Energy Efficient Pumps • UV’s Medicines • Lighting • Food Pond Plants: Marginals & Oxygenators Pond Fish: $4 to $40/ea
Lilies: Only $15/ea
while supplies last
while supplies last
Potted Pond Plants: Only $5 ea
Halloween & Fall Decorations
while supplies last
Pumpkins • Indian corn • Gourds • Straw • Corn stalks • Mums
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
Warmbier Farms Everything for your Garden, Home, and You
34190 S. Gratiot (14-1/2 Mile) Clinton Township Year-End Clearance Sales! Big Savings! In-stock items only
586-791-6595 tropicaltreasuresfish.com Fall/Winter hours: Mon 11-8 • Tues: Closed Weds, Thurs, Fri 11-8 • Sat 9-8 • Sun 9-5
A Fall Fête & Fandango Saturday, October 8, 9am-5pm & Sunday, October 9, 12-4pm Come enjoy cider & donuts while strolling through our pumpkin patch filled with rare, heirloom and curious varieties from selected Michigan hybridizers. We also have an extensive selection of gourds, branches and mums available.
At Warmbier Farms, there’s always something NEW for you! We feature over 2,000 different cement garden statues in our outdoor showroom, 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. Available seasonally, we have a wonderful assortment of perennials, herbs & annuals. Plus roses! Over 100 varieties each year, including hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, shrubs & miniatures.
Centrally located between Saginaw/Bay City/Midland
5300 Garfield Rd. • Auburn, MI
989-662-7002 www.warmbierfarms.com
If that’s not enough, come on inside! Our huge showroom is a decorators delight! A great selection of silk florals, boutique clothing & jewelry, resin statues, and seasonal decor. Plus, one-of-a-kind wreaths and arrangements created right here by our talented designers.
HEADING UP NORTH?
We’re just 7 minutes off of I-75!
1794 Pontiac Drive • Sylvan Lake • DetroitGardenWorks.com • 248-335-8089
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
US OUT: YOUR POND HEADQUARTERS
HUGE selection of garden mums SEMINAR Winterizing your pond Sat, Sep 24, 1pm
PREMIUM KOI 6-8”
ONLY $39.99 EA • 3 FOR JUST $90
FALL BULB SEMINAR:
Everything You Need to Know! Sat, Sep 24, 10am Preregister for huge savings!
WE STOCK ALL YOUR INDOOR GROWING NEEDS!
• Still a huge selection of perennials • New expanded line of indoor growing supplies BEAUTIFUL STONE HOUSES FOR MINIATURE & FAIRY GARDENING
6414 N. Merriman • Westland, MI • Located btwn Ford & Warren
734-421-5959 • www.barsons.com Join us on Facebook for early notices on sales & events
Make us your our Destination.
Welcome Fall Event Sunday, Oct. 9 Cider, donuts, fun family activities, and SALES!
Van Atta’s has one of the largest selections of garden accents, trees, garden toys, annuals, shrubs and perennials in Southeastern Michigan. We grow an enormous variety of perennial species and cultivars. There’s a good chance we have that one plant you’ve been searching for or the garden ornament that will set your yard apart. Come on out and stroll our grounds. You’ll be amazed at what you’ll find, as well as the friendly service and expert advice you will receive.
Van Atta’s Greenhouse & Flower Shop Family owned and operated since 1980
9008 Old M-78 • Haslett, MI • 517-339-1142 www.vanattas.com • Open year round
Look for Clio H Piechnik’s Greenhse Commerce Twp Almont • Zoner’s Greenhse • American Tree Davison Ann Arbor H Wojo’s Garden • Dixboro General Splendors Store H Matthaei Botanical Dearborn Gard • Fairlane Gard H Dwntn Home & Gard • Ace Hardware • Wild Birds Unltd Dearborn Hts H The Produce Station H English Gardens • Ace Barnes Hdwe Detroit (Washtenaw Ave) H Turner’s Greenhse/ H Detroit Farm and Gard Gard Ctr • Detroit Gard Ctr H Lodi Farms Dexter H Abbott’s Landscp H Fraleigh’s Nurs Nurs H Bloom! Gard Ctr • Ace Barnes Hdwe • Dexter Mill (West Stadium) • Earth Art H English Gardens • Larry’s Mower Shop Eastpointe H HillTop H English Gardens Greenhse & Farms • Drew’s Garden Auburn Hills Farmington • Drake’s • Alexander True Landscp & Nurs Value Hardware H State Crushing Farmington Hills • Ace Hardware H Steinkopf Nurs H Oakland • Saxton’s Flower Ctr Community College • Ace Hardware H Haley Stone • Weingartz Belleville Fenton H Zywicki Greenhse • Gerych’s • Banotai Greenhse H Heavenly Scent H Pinter Flowerland Herb Farm Berkley Ferndale • Garden Central • Casual Modes Home & Gard Beverly Hills • Ace Hardware Flushing H Flushing Lawn & Birmingham Gard Ctr H Blossoms Fostoria Brighton H The Iron Barn H Meier Flowerland • Leppek Nurs Fowlerville H Beauchamp H Arrowhead Alpines Landscp Supp Gladwin Brownstown Twp H Stone Cottage H Ruhlig Farms & Gard Gardens • Raupp Bros Grand Blanc Landscp Supp H The Weed Lady Canton Grand Rapids • Wild Birds Unltd • Meijer Gardens • Canton Floral Grosse Ile Gardens H Westcroft Gardens • Crimboli Nurs • Clink Landscp & Nurs Grosse Pointe • Allemon’s Landscp Chelsea Ctr H The Garden Mill • Meldrum & Smith • The Potting Shed Nurs • Heim Gardens & Grosse Pointe Shores Florist • Edsel & Eleanor Ford Chesterfield House • Van Thomme’s Grosse Pointe Woods Greenhses H Wild Birds Unltd Clarkston Hadley • The Birdfeeder H Le Fleur Décor • Lowrie’s Landscp Haslett H The Pond Source H Van Atta’s Greenhse • Ace Hardware (Sashabaw) Highland • Weingartz • Thornton Nurs • Country Oaks • Colasanti’s Produce Landscp Supp I & Plants H One Stop Landscp Clawson Supp • Ace Hardware • Five Star Ace HardClinton Twp ware • MSU Extension• Fragments Macomb Cty • Ace Hardware H English Gardens H Tropical Treasures • Michigan Koi Allen Park • Ace Hardware
at these fine locations: Howell H Specialty Growers • Wilczewski Greenhses H Howell Farmer’s Mkt
• Lucas Nurs • Sparr’s Greenhse • Sideways • Plymouth Rock & Supp Pontiac Imlay City • Goldner Walsh H Earthly Arts Gard/Home Keego Harbor • Creative Brick Paving Ray H Heritage Oaks Lake Orion Design H Orion Stone Depot Redford H Lake Orion Lawn H Pinter Flowerland Ornaments H Wojo’s of Lake Orion • Seven Mi Gard Ctr Rochester Livonia • Casual Concepts • Valley Nurs • Fogler’s Greenhse • George’s • Sherwood Forest Livonia Gard Gard Ctr • Ace Hardware (6 Mi/Newburgh) Rochester Hills • Ace Hardware (5 H Haley Stone Mi/Middlebelt) • Wild Birds Unltd • Superior Growers • Ace Hardware Supp H Auburn Oaks Gard • Bushel Mart Ctr Macomb Romulus • Ace Hardware H Kurtzhal’s Farms • Boyka’s Greenhse H Schwartz’s Grnhse • Olejnik Farms H Schoedel’s Nurs • Altermatt’s Roseville Greenhse • Dale’s Landscp Supp H Landscape Source • Flower Barn Nurs H Elya’s Village Gard Sea World Midland Royal Oak • Dow Gardens H English Gardens H Button’s Rent It Milford • La Roche H The Pond Place • Ace Hardware • Peter’s True Value • Frentz & Sons Hardware Hardware • Ace Hardware • Billings Lawn Equip Monroe • Wild Birds Unltd H The Flower Market • Manus New Baltimore Power Mowers H Meldrum Bros Nurs Saginaw New Boston H Abele Greenhse & • Gorham & Sons Gard Ctr Nurs Salem Twp H Grass Roots Nurs H Willow Greenhses • Mums the Word Saline New Hudson • Nature’s Gard Ctr H Milarch Nurs H Saline Flowerland North Branch • Junga’s Ace Hdwe H Campbell’s Shelby Twp Greenhses H Telly’s Greenhse H Oldani Landscp H Hessell’s Greenhses Nurs • Diegel Greenhses Northville • Potteryland • Gardenviews • Maeder Plant Farm • Begonia Bros • Flower Barn Nurs Novi South Lyon • Glenda’s Gard Ctr • Stone Depot • Ace Hardware Landscp Supp • Wild Birds Unltd • Mike’s Garden • Ace Hardware Oak Park • Hollow Oak Farm • Four Seasons Gard Nurs Ctr • Ace Hardware Southfield • Eagle Landscp & Supp Oakland • Lavin’s Flower Land H Piechnik’s Garden • 3 DDD’s Stand Gate • Main’s Landscp Supp Ortonville Southgate H Wojo’s Greenhse H Ray Hunter Gard Ctr • Country Oaks Landscp Supp II St Clair Shores • Ace Hardware Owosso (Harper/13 Mi) H Everlastings in the • Circare Wildwood • Hall’s Nurs Pinckney • Soulliere Gard Ctr • Bock’s General Store • Greenhouse Growers & Gard Ctr Plymouth H Rock Shoppe H Plymouth Nurs
Sterling Hts • Decor Statuette • Prime Landscp Supp H Eckert’s Greenhse Stockbridge • Gee Farms Sylvan Lake H Detroit Garden Works H AguaFina Gardens Interntl Taylor H Beautiful Ponds & Gard • D&L Garden Ctr • Massab Acres H Panetta’s Landscp Supp Trenton • Keck Hardware • Carefree Lawn Ctr • Ace Hardware Troy H Telly’s Greenhse H Uncle Luke’s Feed Store • The Home & Gard Shop Utica • Stonescape Supp • Weingartz Warren • Greco’s Nurs H Young’s Garden Mart • Garden Center Nurs H Beste’s Lawn & Patio Washington H United Plant Ctr H Rocks ‘n’ Roots • Landscape Direct • Miller’s Big Red Greenhse Waterford • Breen’s Landscp Supp • Jacobsen’s Flowers H Merrittscape • Ace Hardware West Bloomfield • ACE Hardware • Planterra H English Gardens • Whole Foods Westland H Barsons Greenhses • Panetta’s Landscp Supp • Merlino’s Bushel Ctr • Ace Hardware • Bushel Stop • Joe Randazzo’s Nurs White Lake • Sunshine Plants H Bogie Lake Greenhse H Mulligan’s Gard Ctr Whitmore Lake H Alexander’s Greenhses Williamston H Christian’s Greenhse Wixom • Angelo’s Landscp Supp • Brainer’s Greenhse Ypsilanti • Lucas Nurs • Margolis Nurs • Materials Unlimited • Michigan Greenscape Supp • Schmidt’s Antiques H Sell Farms & Greenhse • Coleman’s Farm Mkt
Westcroft Halloween Gardens Hayrides! PLANT NURSERY
Come visit the oldest farm in Michigan still owned and operated by the same family, established 1776
Call us to reserve our gardens for your wedding, party or special event
21803 W. River Rd., Grosse Ile 734-676-2444 www.westcroftgardens.com
Sept 30 thru Oct 30 Fri & Sat: 7-11pm / Sun: 7-10pm
Join us for our family friendly hayride through 13 acres of decorated woods, then warm up by the bonfire with a drink and snack! $10 per person. Closed when raining
PRIVATE PARTIES WELCOME! PLEASE CALL FOR RESERVATIONS.
Lake Orion Lawn Ornaments
25% OFF ALL IN-STOCK ITEMS Plus: Large DISCOUNT area, up to 50% OFF! Sale Ends 9-30-16
Gardener’s Paradise! Over 800 different items on display
Concrete Benches • Tables • Fountains • Planters Saucers • Birdbaths • Statues • Religious Statues • Rails Animals • Ballisters • Oriental Lanterns • Pier Caps
62 W. Scripps Rd., Lake Orion • 248-693-8683 Corner of M-24 (Lapeer Rd) & Scripps Rd. - 4 mi N. of The Palace of Auburn Hills
www.lakeorionconcrete.com • Call ahead for hours
Bulk Subscriptions • Great for clubs and retail stores outside our regular circulation routes. • Have Michigan Gardener delivered in bulk and give copies to your members and customers.
Auburn Oaks GARDEN CENTER
High quality plants & service for your garden success since 1964.
Auburn Oaks Farm 21st Annual Fall Plant Sale Open to the Public Friday-Sunday, Sept 16-18, 9am-4pm 8048 Allen Rd, Fenton, MI • 810-629-7848 Come on in and check out where the plants are grown!
It’s Fall Think SPRING! Hardy Mums & Asters • Spring Bulbs (Plant Now!) Pumpkins and Corns Stalks (arriving end of Sept) Clearance of Select Plants and Garden Art 3820 West Auburn Rd (2 blocks E of Adams) • Rochester Hills • 248-852-2310 www.auburnoaksnursery.com Mon-Sat 8-6 Sun 10-5
The Art of Bonsai BONSAI SHOW
Sunday, September 18, 11am - 4pm Displays • Art Exhibit • Vendors Classes • Hidden Lake Bonsai Collection
• 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
Come see THE HARPER COLLECTION:
A world-class collection of more than 500 dwarf & rare conifers
Botanical Garden & Arboretum • Hosta Hillside • Plant Conservatory Flower Gardens Picnic Area • Lake • Hiking Trails • Weddings & Tours by appointment 6214 Monroe Rd. (M-50) • Tipton, MI • OPEN DAILY
517-431-2060 • hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu
Milarch Nursery
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
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
HUNDREDS OF HYDRANGEAS
ROSE OF SHARON
HYDRANGEA STANDARDS
FALL is for PLANTING!
How Plants Work: The Science Behind the Amazing Things Plants Do
27 ACRES of Flowering & Shade Trees, Shrubs, Evergreens, Roses, Perennials, Groundcovers & Topiaries
TO SEE OUR INCREDIBLE SELECTION, PLEASE VISIT MILARCHNURSERY.COM AND CLICK ON “AVAILABILITY.”
Inquire about our specials!
28500 HAAS RD • NEW HUDSON, MI 48165 • 248-437-2094 www.milarchnursery.com • Mon-Fri: 8-5 Sat: 8-1 Sun: Closed
S O I L • S A N D • M U LC H • S TO N E • G R AV E L
by Linda Chalker-Scott How Plants Work (Timber Press, 236 pages, $19.95) brings the stranger-than-fiction science of the plant world to vivid life. This book explains how plants tell time, how they move to follow the sun and capture food, and why they change color. Linda Chalker-Scott, from the popular blog The Garden Professors, uncovers these and other fascinating mysteries in this engaging and understandable introduction to plant physiology. By revealing the science behind what plants do every day, this book arms you with information that will change the way you garden. Readers will learn how to fertilize and prune more effectively, how to weed less than ever before, and how to determine which garden products are worth the time and money. Get down to the basic science of plants, and make better growing decisions, both for the garden you have and the garden you dream of.
The Cocktail Hour Garden: Creating Evening Landscapes for Relaxation and Entertaining by C.L. Fornari
State Crushing L A N D S C A P E S U P P LY
HELLO
GARDENERS!
• We specialize in natural wood mulches • Same day delivery service • Full line of organic products
Our “wood fines” and “red pine bark” products are a gardener’s dream. Very finely shredded, you can mix them in with your existing soil to create an excellent amended soil for planting. You’ll also love our premium compost & cedar bark mulch. Call us!
2260 Auburn Rd. • Auburn Hills • 248-332-6210 www.StateCrushing.com • Hours: Monday-Friday 7-5 Saturday 7-1
At the end of the day, what better place is there to kick back, chill out, and make the world go away, than in your own backyard garden? In The Cocktail Hour Garden (St. Lynn’s Press, 176 pages, $19.95) plant and cocktail lover C. L. Fornari shows how easy it is to create a garden atmosphere that sets the mood for private relaxation or festive occasions with friends. With witty text, mood-setting plant lists, botanical drink recipes and luscious photographs, the book reveals the simple secrets to creating an evening pleasure garden. You’ll learn what flower and foliage colors make your garden shine in low light, what fragrant herbs give you an aromatherapy treatment just by strolling by, and what edible flowers add color and zip to your cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. This personalized garden experience is what the new buzzwords “garden-tainment” and “garden-to-glass” are all about.
The Indestructible Houseplant: 200 Beautiful Plants That Everyone Can Grow by Tovah Martin Do you want to bring the beauty of a garden indoors, but lack the time or desire to care for it non-stop? The Indestructible Houseplant (Timber Press, 288 pages, $22.95) is here to help. Author Tovah Martin shows that anyone can grow healthy houseplants. It all boils down to a simple set of skills and the crucial part: picking the right plants. These tough but beautiful plants can thrive in less-than-ideal conditions, and they are readily available. You will learn how to pot, repot, water, and fertilize. She also shares some great ideas for fun, funky containers and tips on how to display your plants to perk up a room.
SEPT. 24TH 2-4PM $20
*UNIQUE PLANTS *ORGANIC SUPPLIES *WATER GARDENS *GARDEN ART & DECOR *WORKSHOPS:
EXCEPTIONAL SELECTION • HANDMADE ARRANGEMENTS BOUTIQUE WEDDING & EVENT FLOWERS
SAFDS
*Garden items
Happy Harvest
maymay vary *Garden items varyslightly slightly
Announcing our Midtown Detroit store! 4152 Third Street at Willis
FAIRY GARDEN 1885 BAKER RD. DEXTER, MI 48130 734.426.6600 LOTUSGARDENSCAPES.COM/EVENTS
1885 BAKER RD. DEXTER, MI 48130 734.426.6600 LOTUSGARDENSCAPES.COM
NEED AN EXPERT?
33866 Woodward at Adams, Birmingham
248.644.4411
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Sign up today for our FREE e-newsletter! Visit MichiganGardener.com and enter your e-mail address at the top of the page next to the Michigan Gardener logo. You will receive a few e-mails each year containing handy tips, events, expert advice and much more. Don’t miss the contest in each issue for your chance to win FREE garden prizes!
We are landscape lighting specialists it’s our only business.
Residential - Commercial
(248) 761-9377
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schuman landscape lighting .com
A collection of stores and gardens to shop and visit. Please call ahead for hours, as they may vary from season to season.
Mt. Pleasant
Gladwin
Bay City
Midland
Saginaw North Branch Clio Columbiaville
Lakeport
Lapeer
Davison
Imlay City
Flushing
Owosso St. Johns
Lennon
Burton Grand Blanc
Flint
Emmett
Hadley
Port Huron
Dryden
Metamora
Almont
Bancroft
Grand Rapids Fenton
Oxford
Ortonville Grand Ledge
Lansing
East Lansing
Clarkston
Fowlerville
Howell
Mason
Stockbridge
Oakland
White Lake
Jackson
Dexter
Grass Lake
Detroit
Canton
DearbornDearborn Wayne Heights
Ypsilanti
Taylor Belleville
Manchester
enhanced listing 4-line listing with your: • Business name • Address • Phone • Website or E-mail
premium listing 4-line listing PLUS highlighting: • Business name • Address • Phone • Website or E-mail
please contact us for info: publisher@ MichiganGardener.com 248-594-5563
New Baltimore
Westland
Ann Arbor
Tipton
Ray
Holly White Lake Waterford
Plymouth Chelsea
Washington
Rochester Macomb Rochester Shelby Twp. Highland Pontiac Hills Utica Auburn Hills Sylvan Lake Clinton Twp. Commerce Milford Bloomfield Troy West Sterling Hts. Hills Bloomfield Birmingham Walled Lake St. Clair Berkley Wixom Madison Roseville Shores Heights Brighton Warren Royal Oak New Hudson Eastpointe South Lyon Novi Farmington Southfield Hills Oak Park Farmington Ferndale Whitmore Northville Grosse Lake Pointes Livonia Redford Hartland
Williamston
Want to advertise your local business in Places to Grow? 2 options:
Addison Twp.
Orion
Haslett
Saline New Boston
Romulus
Southgate Trenton Brownstown Twp. Grosse Ile
burton H Walker Farms & Greenhouse 5253 E. Atherton Rd., MI 48519 810-743-0260 www.walkersfarm.com
canton
Tecumseh Monroe
Cement City
La Salle
Canton Floral Gardens Clink Nurs Crimboli Nurs Wild Birds Unltd
cement city
H Denotes MG Advertiser almont 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 English Gardens 155 N. Maple Rd, MI 48103 734-332-7900 www.EnglishGardens.com H HillTop Greenhse/Farms H Lodi Farms H The Produce Station
H Turner’s Greenhse & 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
birmingham
Grand Oak Herb Farm
H Blossoms 33866 Woodward Ave, MI 48009 248-644-4411 www.blossomsbirmingham.com
bay city 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
bloomfield hills Backyard Birds
Tiffany Florist
brighton H Beauchamp Landscp Supp Bordine’s Brighton Farmer’s Mkt Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland
brownstown twp Bruce’s Pond Shop Raupp Brothers Gard Ctr H Ruhlig Farms & Gard
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 The Potting Shed
chesterfield Van Thomme’s Greenhses
clarkston Bordine’s Country Oaks Landscp I Lowrie’s Landscp H Backyard Oasis Pond & Gard
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2016 | Michigan Gardener
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 Grnhse & Garden Ctr 13172 McCumsey Rd, MI 48420 810-686-9211 www.cliogreenhouse.com
columbiaville Hilltop Barn
commerce twp Zoner’s Greenhse
davison H Wojo’s Gard Splendors 7360 E. Court St., MI 48423 810-658-9221 www.wojos.com
dearborn Fairlane Gardens
dearborn heights H English Gardens 22650 Ford Rd, MI 48127 313-278-4433 www.EnglishGardens.com
detroit 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
livonia
H Stone Cottage Gardens 3740 West Willford Rd., MI 48624 989-426-2919 www.stonecottagegardens.com
Bushel Mart George’s Livonia Gard Superior Growers Supp Valley Nurs
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
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
manchester Wildtype Nurs
grosse pointe
H The Flower Market
H Le Fleur Décor 3442 Hadley Rd., MI 48440 586-495-4076 Find us on Facebook
hartland Deneweth’s Garden Ctr
haslett H 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 Dwntn Howell @ State & Clinton St. 517-546-3920 www.howell.org/19.html Penrose Nurs H Specialty Growers 4330 Golf Club Rd., MI 48843 517-546-7742 www.specialtygrowers.net 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 Gard
lapeer H The Iron Barn
lasalle Fowler’s Gift Shop
lennon Krupps Novelty Shop
ray H Heritage Oaks Van’s Valley Greenhse H Pinter Flowerland Seven Mi Gard Ctr
Gilling’s Nurs
hadley
H Telly’s at Goldner Walsh 559 Orchard Lake Rd., MI 48341 248-724-2300 www.tellys.com
mason metamora
H Wild Birds Unltd 20381 Mack Ave., MI 48236 313-881-1410 www.grossepointewoods.wbu.com
Goldner Walsh Gard/Home
redford
H Westcroft Gardens 21803 West River Rd., MI 48138 734-676-2444 www.westcroftgardens.com
grosse pointe woods
Sparr’s Greenhse
pontiac
McLennan Nurs
grosse ile
Allemon’s Landscp Ctr Meldrum & Smith Nurs
H Rock Shoppe on Gotfredson 6275 Gotfredson, MI 48170 734-455-5560 www.rock-shoppe.com
milford Milford Gardens H The Pond Place
monroe new baltimore H Meldrum Bros Nurs
rochester Fogler’s Greenhse Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr
rochester hills H Auburn Oaks Garden Ctr 3820 West Auburn Rd, MI 48309 248-852-2310 www.auburnoaksnursery.com
new boston
Bordine’s
Gorham & Sons Nurs H Grass Roots Nurs Mums the Word
H Haley Stone 3975 S. Rochester Rd., MI 48307 248-852-5511 www.haleystone.net
new hudson H Milarch Nurs 28500 Haas Rd., MI 48165 248-437-2094 www.milarchnursery.com
Wild Birds Unltd
romulus
north branch
Block’s Stand/Greenhse H Kurtzhals’ Farms H Schoedel’s Nurs
H Campbell’s Greenhouses 4077 Burnside Rd., MI 48461 810-688-3587 www.campbellsgreenhouses.com
H Schwartz’s Greenhouse 30705 Sibley Rd., MI 48174 734-753-9269 www.schwartzgreenhouse.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
plymouth Backyard Birds Graye’s Greenhse Lucas Nurs H Plymouth Nursery 9900 Ann Arbor Rd W, MI 48170 734-453-5500 www.plymouthnursery.net Plymouth Rock & Supp
roseville Dale’s Landscp Supp Flower Barn Nurs Sea World
royal oak Billings Lawn Equip H Button’s Rent-It 1126 S. Washington Ave., MI 48067 248-542-5835 www.buttonsrentit.com 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 Nature’s Garden Ctr H Saline Flowerland
shelby twp Diegel Greenhses Flower Barn Nurs H Hessell’s Greenhse Maeder Plant Farm Potteryland H Telly’s Greenhouse 4343 24 Mile, MI 48316 248-659-8555 www.tellys.com
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 34075 Ryan Rd., MI 48310 586-979-2409 www.eckertsgreenhouse.com Prime Landscp Supp
stockbridge Gee Farms
sylvan lake H AguaFina Gardens International 2629 Orchard Lake Rd., MI 48320 248-738-0500 www.aguafina.com 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
warren H Beste’s Lawn/Patio Supp Garden Ctr Nurs H Young’s Garden Mart
washington Landscp Direct Miller’s Big Red Greenhse H Rocks ‘n’ Roots H United Plant Ctr
waterford
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 Sunshine Plants
whitmore lake H Alexander’s Greenhses
williamston H Christian’s Greenhse
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 Anna S Whitcomb Conservtry
dryden Seven Ponds Nature Ctr
east lansing H MSU Horticultural Gardens W.J. Beal Botanical Gard
emmett H Sunny Fields Botanical Park 5444 Welch Rd., MI 48022 810-387-2765 www.visitsunnyfields.org
flint Applewood
grand rapids Frederik Meijer Gardens
Breen’s Landscp Supp Hoffman Nurs H Merrittscape Oakland County Market
grosse pointe shores
west bloomfield
midland
H English Gardens 6370 Orchard Lake Rd., MI 48322 248-851-7506 www.EnglishGardens.com Planterra
south lyon
westland
Hollow Oak Farm Nurs Mike’s Garden Stone Depot Landscp Supp H Tuthill Farms
H Barson’s Greenhse 6414 North Merriman Rd., MI 48185 734-421-5959 www.barsons.com
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Edsel & Eleanor Ford Hse
lansing Cooley Gardens 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
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Fairy Garden “Make & Take” Workshop Sat, Sept 17, 11am-12pm Come in and build a beautiful garden any fairy would be thrilled to call home. Workshop fee: $25. Class size is limited, please call for reservations. Look for additional exclusive discounts for class participants.
Michigan Gardener | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
calendar September / October / November / December
3rd Annual Pumpkin Day
FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC GARDENS, please visit MichiganGardener.com. Click on "Resources" then "Public Gardens."
Join us for a pumpkin decorating party on Sat, Oct 1, 11am-2pm We’ll supply pumpkins & decorating supplies—you supply imagination and enthusiasm. The result: a charming, spooky, or hilarious jack-o-lantern to take home. Pumpkins & decorations are free. Limit 1 per person. Look for specials on Halloween gifts and décor. Visit our website & Facebook page for details on these & other workshops.
110 S. MAIN • DOWNTOWN CHELSEA • 734-475-3539 • www.thegardenmill.com
Major Sponsor
Howell’s Sunday Farmers’ Market May 1 through October 30 9am-2pm
Media Sponsor
Located in Downtown Howell at State and Clinton Streets, adjacent to the historic Livingston County Courthouse.
Over 60 booths • Weekly live entertainment In Partnership with
Take I-96 to exit 137. Go north to Grand River Avenue. Make a right one block to State Street. Hosted by the Howell Area Chamber of Commerce 517-546-3920
September H Fall Lawn Care Sat, Sep 3, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Free in-store seminar: Tips on keeping your lawn healthy through the winter & into next spring. www.EnglishGardens.com. Raising Indoor Tomatoes / Welcome Back Potluck & Meeting Tue, Sep 6, 6pm, Livonia. By Livonia Garden Club at Livonia Civic Center Senior Ctr. Presentation on raising indoor tomatoes. livoniagardenclub.org. H Flashlight Event Thu, Sep 8, & Fri, Sept 9, & Sat, Sep 10, 7:30-9:30pm, Troy. Bring a flashlight to this once a year sale. www.tellys.com. Ferndale Garden Club: “What’s New for 2017” Thu, Sep 8, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Ctr. Presentation by Eckert’s Greenhouse. Guests are welcome. 248-541-6427. Too Many Tomatoes Thu, Sep 8, 7pm, Milford. By Milford Garden Club at Milford Senior Ctr. FREE. Learn ways to use up cherry tomatoes, beefsteaks, etc. in easy, delicious recipes. www.themilfordgardenclub.org. Native Shrubs & Trees Thu, Sep 8, 6:30-8:30pm, Novi. At MSU Tollgate Conf. Ctr. $25. tollgate.msu.edu.
Need help in your garden? Hire a Professional
Our members work with Integrity, Intelligence & Pride Visit our website to find a professional gardener in your area: www.associationofprofessionalgardeners.org
New members always welcome Visit our website for program schedule
Email us at: aprogardener@gmail.com
. k o o L t ’ n o D
s. stomer u c l ia t en 00 pot ,0 0 7 l il ow d. And s e k o lo ou Oops, y
Advertise in 248-594-5563 / publisher@MichiganGardener.com
H Flashlight Event Thu, Sep 8, & Fri, Sep 9, 7:30-9:30pm, Pontiac. At Telly’s. Bring a flashlight to this once a year sale. www.tellys.com. H Make It & Take It Kids Workshop: Make a Grandparent Gift: Terra Cotta Birdbath Sat, Sep 10, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. $29.99. Adult helper must attend with child. Sign up in-store or online. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Exotic Plant Show & Sale Sat, Sep 10, 10am-4:30pm, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. FREE admission. Cactus, succulents & bromeliads on display. Lectures scheduled for both days. 248-380-7359. Central Michigan Daylily Society 20th Annual Daylily Sale Sat, Sep 10, 7am-Noon, Midland. By Central Michigan Daylily Society at Midland Farmers Market. Members bring their favorite performers & answer questions. www.daylilies.me. H Fall Container Gardening Workshop Sat, Sep 10, 10am, Troy. At Telly’s. $5 class fee, plus cost of materials. www.tellys.com, 248-689-8735.
Southeast Michigan Dahlia Society Annual Show Sat, Sep 10, Mall hours, West Bloomfield. By SE MI Dahlia Society at Orchard Mall. FREE. Hundreds of Dahlias present a beautiful exhibit. Ends 3pm Sun. judy892@wowway.com. H Cranbrook & Friends Garden Walk Sat, Sep 10, 10am-4pm, Bloomfield Hills. At Cranbrook House & Gardens & 4 private gardens. $15/person. 248-645-3149, houseandgardens@cranbrook.edu. H Bonsai Workshop Sat, Sep 10, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $35. www.tellys.com, 248-689-8735. H Do-it-yourself Landscaping Sat, Sep 10, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Free in-store seminar: Learn the proper techniques for planting to ensure gardening success. www.EnglishGardens.com. Hardy Plant Auction Mon, Sep 12, 7pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Hardy Plant Society Great Lakes Chapter at the Congregational Church of Birmingham. “Summer’s End Share-TheWealth Plant Auction”: Your chance to purchase choice plants. Guest fee: $5. julia@juliasbiglife.com or visit us on Facebook. H Cranbrook House Tour & Tea Wed, Sep 14, 1pm, Bloomfield Hills. At Cranbrook House & Gardens. $30. Enjoy a tour & tea in the elegant & enchanting setting of Cranbrook House. Reservations: 248-645-3149. H Pond & Waterfall Design Thu, Sep 15, 10am-Noon, Milford. At The Pond Place. FREE. Workshop will address the key issues associated with designing & building your own pond. Register: www.PondPlace.com. H Cornhusk Wreath Thu, Sep 15, 6pm, Meridian Twp. At VanAtta’s. $30. www.vanattas.com. Chrysanthemums & More Fri, Sep 16, Through Oct 30. Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Explore plentiful purples & pale plums in the captivating chrysanthemum. 616-957-1580. H Auburn Oaks Farm 21st Annual Fall Plant Event Fri, Sep 16, to Sun, Sep 18, 9am-4pm, Fenton. At Auburn Oaks. 810-629-7848. H Fairy Garden Make & Take Workshop Sat, Sep 17, 11am-Noon, Chelsea. At Garden Mill. $25. Build a beautiful garden any fairy would be thrilled to call home. Register: 734-475-3539.
Promote your events! Send us your information! Website: Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Garden Event Calendar” E-Mail: calendar@MichiganGardener.com Upcoming Issues & Deadlines: Issue
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MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2016 | Michigan Gardener
H Fall Blooming Perennials Sat, Sep 17, 10am, Troy. At Telly’s. www.tellys.com, 248-689-8735. H Add Fall Color to Container Gardening Sat, Sep 17, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Free in-store seminar: Freshen up your containers with new varieties of cold-tolerant annuals & perennials. www.EnglishGardens.com. Herb & Gourd Fest Sat, Sep 17, & Sun, Sep 18. Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Discover a variety of ways to use herbs & gourds. 616-957-1580, www.meijergardens.org. H Bonsai Workshop Sat, Sep 17, 1pm, Pontiac. By Telly’s at Goldner Walsh. $35. www.tellys.com. H Make It & Take It Workshop: Fall Container Garden Sat, Sep 17, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. $39.99. www.EnglishGardens.com. MSU Tollgate Farm & Garden: Free Fall Fair Sat, Sep 17, 10am-3pm, Novi. At MSU Tollgate. FREE. Children’s crafts, interactive activities, live entertainment & more. 248-347-3860 ext. 251, www.tollgate.msu.edu. Monarch Migration Festival Sun, Sep 18, 1-3pm, Ann Arbor. At Leslie Science Center. $10/person. Participants who pre-register are guaranteed to release a butterfly. 734-997-1553. Autumn Equinox Celebration Sun, Sep 18, 2-4 pm, Midland. By Dahlia Hill Society at 2809 Orchard Dr. See 3,000 dahlias in bloom. Tours of the dahlia garden & museums. Rain/shine. 989-631-0100, www.dahliahill.org. H The Art of Bonsai Show Sun, Sep 18, 11am-4pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Displays, Art Exhibits, Vendors & more. www.HiddenLakeGardens.msu.edu, 517-431-2060. Leslie Science Center September Volunteer Workday Sun, Sep 18, 9am-Noon, Ann Arbor. At Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. Help maintain & beautify our site & grounds. www.lesliesnc.org, 734-997-1553. H Cranbrook House Tour & Lunch Wed, Sep 21, 11am, Bloomfield Hills. At Cranbrook House & Gardens. $30. Enjoy a tour & tea in the elegant & enchanting setting of Cranbrook House. Reservations: 248-645-3149. Honey Bees & Beekeeping Thu, Sep 22, 6:30-8:30pm, Novi. At MSU Tollgate Conf. Ctr. $25. tollgate.msu.edu. History & Culture of Japanese Orchids Fri, Sep 23, 10am, Rochester. By The Meadow Brook Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. $5. Learn what makes Japanese orchids stand out in a crowd. 248‑364‑6210. Macomb County Smart Gardening Conference Sat, Sep 24, 9am-3:30pm, Macomb County. By Macomb County MGA. “Growing for the Future,” with a focus on pollinators. $75. Please register by Aug 31. www.macombcountymga.com. H Happy Harvest Fairy Garden Sat, Sep 24, 2-4pm, Dexter. At Bloom! Gardens. $20. lotusgardenscapes.com/events, 734-426-6600. H Ornamental Grasses Sat, Sep 24, 10am, Troy. At Telly’s. $5. www.tellys.com.
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Growing with Master Gardeners Conference Sat, Sep 24, 9am, Dearborn. By MGAWC at University Of Michigan-Dearborn. $45. All-day educational program for environmentalists & gardeners of all levels. www.mgawc.org, 313-770-6834. H Make It & Take It Kids Workshop: Indoor Bulb Garden Sat, Sep 24, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. $5. Adult helper must attend with child. Sign up instore or online. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Bonsai Forest Workshop Sat, Sep 24, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $100. Learn the basics & care, then plant your own miniature forest with 5-7 young trees. www.tellys.com. Register: 248-689-8735. H Plant Fall Bulbs for Spring Sat, Sep 24, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Free in-store seminar: Overview of different bulbs & tips on proper planting techniques & care. www.EnglishGardens.com.
Looking for professional landscape design? That’s our specialty. We will work with you or your landscaper to produce the garden and outdoor room of your dreams! Designing memorable outdoor spaces since 1998: • Landscape, Pond, & Pool Design • Patio, Walk, & Wall Design • Sustainable, Native, & Low Maintenance Garden Design • Outdoor Kitchen & 3-Season Room Design • Garden Shed, Gazebo, Pergola, Deck, and Pool House Design • Master Planning & Site Design
H Winterizing Your Pond Seminar Sat, Sep 24, 1pm, Westland. At Barsons. www.barsons.com, 734-421-5959. H Algae & Weed Control for Large Earthen Bottom Ponds Sat, Sep 24, Noon-1pm, Milford. At The Pond Place. FREE. Workshop will focus on the methods of controlling algae in small lakes & large ponds. Register: www.PondPlace.com.
DESIGN STUDIO 248-403-2030
Yardeners Fall Plant Exchange Sat, Sep 24, 9-11am, St Clair Shores. By Yardeners at St. Clair Shores Library. Bag, tag & drag your offerings to trade or give away. No money involved. scsyardeners@gmail.com. H Fall Bulb Seminar Sat, Sep 24, 10am, Westland. At Barsons. Everything you need to know about fall bulbs. www.barsons.com. Register: 734-421-5959. A Round Table Discussion: Great Gardening Tips Mon, Sep 26, 7pm, Birmingham. By Metro Detroit Hosta Society at First United Methodist Church. Silent Auction of Hosta & companion plants. Guests welcome. Hgold2843@comcast.net. H Westcroft Gardens Halloween Hayrides Fri, Sep 30, Through Oct 30. Fri & Sat, 7-11pm & Sun, 7-10pm, Grosse Ile. $10/person. Family friendly hayride through 13 acres of decorated woods. Bonfire & snack after. 734-676-2444.
October H 3rd Annual Pumpkin Day Sat, Oct 1, 11am-2pm, Chelsea. At Garden Mill. We’ll supply the pumpkins, you bring imagination & enthusiasm. www.thegardenmill.com, 734-475-3539. H 2016 Native Plant Sale Sat, Oct 1, 10am-4:30pm, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Featuring a selection of plants grown on site. mbgna.umich.edu, 734-647-7600. African Violet Display, Sale & Hands On Workshop Sat, Oct 1, 10am-4pm, Ann Arbor. By Michigan State African Violet Society at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Free “hands on” workshop at 11:30 am. lynnallen0413@comcast.net. H Indoor Miniature Gardening Workshop Sat, Oct 1, 1pm, Troy and Pontiac. At Telly’s. $5, plus cost of materials. www.tellys.com. Register: Troy: 248-689-8735, Pontiac: 248-724-2300. continued on page 20
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
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continued from page 19 H Fall Gardening Tips Sat, Oct 1, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Free in-store seminar: Learn what needs to be done this season to add color & keep the garden healthy. www. EnglishGardens.com. Fall Bonsai Show Sat, Oct 1, & Sun, Oct 2, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Displays, artist demos & more. 616-957-1580, www.meijergardens.org.
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H Make It & Take It Workshop: Kitchen Herb Garden Sat, Oct 8, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. $29.99. www.EnglishGardens.com.
H A Fall Fête & Fandango Sat, Oct 8, 9am-5pm & Sun, Oct 9, 12-4pm; Sylvan Lake. At Detroit Garden Works. Enjoy cider & donuts while strolling through pumpkin patch filled with rare, heirloom & curious varieties from selected Michigan hybridizers. 248-335-8089. H Indoor Herb Gardening Sat, Oct 8, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Free in-store seminar: Tips on growing & using herbs throughout the winter. www.EnglishGardens.com. Dahlias, End of Season Care Sat, Oct 8, 3-5pm, Troy. By SE MI Dahlia Society at Telly’s Greenhouse. Digging, dividing & storing dahlia tubers for winter. judy892@wowway.com. H Van Atta’s Welcome Fall Event Sun, Oct 9, Haslett. At Van Atta’s. Cider, donuts, fun family activities & more. www.vanattas.com, 517-339-1142. Don’t Let Your Oak Wilt Sun, Oct 9, 7pm, Milford. By Milford Garden Club at Milford Senior Ctr. FREE. Presentation by Dr. David L. Roberts. www.themilfordgardenclub.org.
address city
Livonia Garden Club Meeting Tue, Oct 4, 7pm, Livonia. By Livonia Garden Club at Livonia Civic Center Senior Center. Lisa Steinkopf presents “Winterizing Your Garden”. livoniagardenclub.org.
H Succulent Container Garden Workshop Sat, Oct 8, 10am, Troy & Pontiac. At Telly’s. $5, plus cost of materials. www.tellys.com. Register: Troy: 248689-8735, Pontiac: 248-724-2300.
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Hardy Plants Coming Down the Pike Mon, Oct 3, 7pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Hardy Plant Society Great Lakes Chapter at the Congregational Church of Birmingham. Julia Hofley presents: New hardy plant introductions from this summer’s plant conferences & symposiums. Guest fee: $5. julia@juliasbiglife.com or visit us on Facebook.
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Ferndale Garden Club Meeting: Witches of October Thu, Oct 13, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Ctr. Presentation on “Witches of October” by Ed Blondin. 248-541-6427.
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Square Foot Gardening Thu, Oct 13, 1pm, Shelby Twp. By Shelby Garden Club at Shadbush Nature Ctr. How to successfully grow vegetables in limited space. 586-873-3782.
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H Pumpkin/Gourd Art Workshop Sat, Oct 15, 10am, Pontiac. By Telly’s at Goldner Walsh. $5, plus cost of materials. Register: 248-724-2300. H Terrific Terrariums Sat, Oct 15, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Free in-store seminar: Step-by-step demonstration on making a terrarium & tips on care. www. EnglishGardens.com. Repurposing for Yard Art Mon, Oct 17, 7pm, St Clair Shores. By Yardeners at St Clair Shores Public Library. Get inspiration, hints, and ideas. scsyardeners@gmail.com. H Pumpkin & Gourd Swag Thu, Oct 20, 6pm, Meridian Twp. At VanAtta’s. $30. www.vanattas.com. H Basics of Pruning Trees & Shrubs Sat, Oct 22, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Free in-store seminar: Rejuvenate your plants by pruning plants. Tips & techniques & the proper way to prune. www.EnglishGardens.com. Spring Wildflowers from the Southwest USA Mon, Oct 24, 7pm, Birmingham. By Metro Detroit Hosta Society at First United Methodist Church. Presented by Master Gardener, Jan Everson. Guests welcome. Hgold2843@comcast.net. Fundamentals of Growing & Caring for Dahlias Fri, Oct 28, 10am, Rochester. By Meadow Brook Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. $5. Guest speaker, Dr. Keith Berven. 248‑364‑6210, www.meadowbrookhall.org. H English Gardens Kids Halloween Party Sat, Oct 29, 11am, all locations. At English Gardens. FREE. Celebrate Halloween with fun activities for your family. www.EnglishGardens.com. H Putting Your Garden to Bed Sat, Oct 29, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. Free in-store seminar: Michigan’s harsh winters can wreak havoc on your garden if you’re not prepared. See what needs to be done. www.EnglishGardens.com.
November Gardening for Monarch Butterflies Thu, Nov 10, By Shelby Garden Club at Shadbush Nature Ctr. Presented by Master Gardener Donna Madonna. 586-873-3782. Ferndale Garden Club: Blind Auction Thu, Nov 10, 7pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Kulick Community Ctr. 248-541-6427. Phenology and Garden Rhythms Mon, Nov 14, 7pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Hardy Plant Society Great Lakes Chapter at the Congregational Church of Birmingham. Speaker: Chuck Martin, Senior Horticulturist at Dow Gardens. Learn about phenology and how it can help you better observe and appreciate the natural rhythms of your garden. Guest fee: $5. julia@juliasbiglife.com or visit us on Facebook.
December
H Gardening at Great Dixter Lecture & Lunch Fri, Oct 14, 10am-1pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Cranbrook House & Gardens Auxiliary at Cranbrook House. $60. Lecture by Aaron Bertelsen. RSVP by Oct 10. 248-645-3149.
25th Anniversary Holiday Greens Market Sat, Dec 3, 9am-4pm, Clarkston. By Clarkston Farm & Garden Club at Calvary Lutheran Church, 6805 Bluegrass Drive. Arrangements, wreaths, roping, swags & more. 248-622-7956.
H Make It & Take It Workshop: Desktop Terrarium Sat, Oct 15, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. $29.99. www.EnglishGardens.com.
7th Annual Holiday Open House Sat, Dec 3, Detroit. At Black Cat Pottery. www.blackcatpottery.com.
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2016 | Michigan Gardener
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The Iron Barn Custom Iron Work for Home/Garden
Precipitation July 2016
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Monthly 3.37 3.32 2.84
ACTUAL Monthly 1.57 1.75 3.35
July 2015 DEVIATION from Normal -1.80 -1.57 +0.51
2016 Year to Date: Jan 1 - July 31
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Yr. to Date 19.43 17.38 17.86
ACTUAL Yr. to Date 15.60 14.65 16.85
NORMAL
Monthly 3.37 3.32 2.84
ACTUAL Monthly 1.76 2.94 2.39
DEVIATION from Normal -1.61 -0.38 -0.45
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2015 Year to Date: Jan 1 - July 31
DEVIATION from Normal -3.83 -2.73 -1.01
NORMAL Yr. to Date 19.43 17.38 17.86
ACTUAL Yr. to Date 18.82 16.52 19.51
DEVIATION from Normal -0.61 -0.86 +1.65
Temperature July 2016
July 2015
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Avg. High 83.4 82.0 82.1
ACTUAL Avg. High 86.8 88.2 84.6
DEVIATION from Normal +3.4 +6.2 +2.5
ORMAL N Avg. High 83.4 82.0 82.1
ACTUAL Avg. High 82.9 83.4 81.0
DEVIATION from Normal -0.5 +1.4 -1.1
Detroit Flint Lansing
NORMAL Avg. Low 63.6 59.1 58.4
ACTUAL Avg. Low 66.7 63.9 62.4
DEVIATION from Normal +3.1 +4.8 +4.0
ORMAL N Avg. Low 63.6 59.1 58.4
ACTUAL Avg. Low 62.9 59.8 59.4
DEVIATION from Normal -0.7 +0.7 +1.0
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HARDY PLANT SOCIETY GREAT LAKES CHAPTER - Fall 2016 Events (Mondays at 7:00pm). Sept 12: “Summer’s End ShareThe-Wealth Plant Auction.” Your chance to purchase choice plants. Oct 3: Julia Hofley: “Hardy Plants Coming Down the Pike.” New hardy plant introductions from this summer’s plant conferences & symposiums. Nov 14: Chuck Martin, Senior Horticulturist at Dow Gardens: “Phenology and Garden Rhythms.” Learn about phenology and how it can help you better observe and appreciate the natural rhythms of your garden. 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. 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.”
Advertiser Index Abbott’s Landscape Nursery....................................20 Aguafina Gardens International..................................7 ARC 360............................................................................... 19 Assoc. of Professional Gardeners............................ 18 Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr....................................................13 Barson’s Greenhouse......................................................12 Bloom! Garden Ctr............................................................15 Blossoms...............................................................................15 Bogie Lake Greenhouses..............................................10 Bonide...................................................Inside Back Cover Detroit Garden Works.....................................................11 Eckert’s Greenhouse........................................................6 English Gardens.......................................................Page 3 The Flower Market...........................................................21
The Garden Mill................................................................ 18 Garden Rhythms................................................................ 9 A Garden Space................................................................10 Haley Stone Supply...........................................................8 Heritage Oaks.................................................................... 19 Hidden Lake Gardens.....................................................13 Howell Farmer’s Market............................................... 18 Iron Barn Iron Work.........................................................21 Lake Orion Lawn Ornaments......................................13 Matthaei Botanical Gardens........................................ 6 Michigan Nursery/Landscp Assoc.........................15 Milarch Nursery............................................................... 14 Mulligan’s Garden Ctr.................................................... 19 Orion Stone Depot..........................................................10 Piechnik’s Greenhouse.................................................... 5 Plantskydd............................................................................. 9 Plymouth Nursery............................................................. 5
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The Pond Place/Beauchamp....................................... 5 Schuman Landscape Lighting.....................................15 Specialty Growers.............................................................8 State Crushing................................................................... 14 Steinkopf Nursery..........................Inside Front Cover Stone Cottage Gardens....................................................7 Telly’s Greenhouse............................................................4 Tropical Treasures.............................................................11 Turner’s Landscp & Gard Ctr.........................................7 Tuthill Farms & Composting......................................20 Uncle Luke’s Feed Store..................................................11 Van Atta’s Greenhouse..................................................12 Van Thomme’s Greenhouses...................................... 9 Warmbier Farms................................................................11 The Weed Lady...............................Inside Front Cover Westcroft Gardens..........................................................13 Wojo’s.................................................Inside Front Cover
The print edition of Michigan Gardener is still your exclusive source for gardener profiles, how-to articles, features, Plant Focus and much more.
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
A Natural Country Setting
Denise Toth especially loves ‘Black and Blue’ salvia (at far right), because they are hummingbird magnets. Starting in front, plants on the left side of the path include: ‘Hummingbird’ sweet pepper bush (Clethra), bloodleaf (Iresine), variegated Japanese iris, ‘Gnash Rambler’ coleus, and ‘Royal Purple’ smoke tree (Cotinus). On the right: ‘Sparks Will Fly’ begonia, ‘Victoria Blue’ salvia, and ‘Gartenmeister’ fuchsia.
Denise Toth’s garden is a little bit of country and quite a bit of native plants and nature
T
here are tiny clues in the front yard of Denise Toth’s home, hinting at the gardening labor of love in the backyard…and around the side…and beyond the bike path…and into the woods. Toth’s garden in Clarkston evolved as her knowledge increased. “At first, Sandie my gardening was influenced by local nurseries, books and magazines. Parrott Now that I’m more informed, I’ve changed my gardening practices,” explained Toth. This information includes memberships or participation in garden clubs, attending area garden walks, and formal educaIn the foreground, ‘Coffee tion as an Advanced Master Gardener and Michigan Certified Cups’ elephant ear (aka ‘Tea Natural Shoreline Professional. Toth still subscribes to many magazines and has expanded her expertise as she continues Cups’) and ‘Tricolor’ copperleaf (Acalypha) overwinter in the to meet a variety of home and professional gardeners. house. In the background: Sharing her plant knowledge and garden with visitors is a ‘Hot Lips’ turtlehead (Chelone) delight to Toth. She has hosted the Clarkston Garden Walk, shows off its glossy foliage Rochester Garden Club, some Sterling Heights Garden Club and will bloom in late summer, members, and Wild Ones. “I will always cherish the acquaintances that I’ve made as a result of my gardening hobby.” She common ladybells (Adenophora confusa) has spikes of purple added, “Also, with the inspiration of Wild Ones, I have transflowers, and native cardinal formed my landscape to incorporate many natives.” flower (Lobelia cardinalis) In 2001, Toth began gardening at the Clarkston property, sports bright red blooms. after marrying her husband in the fall of 2000. It may have
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2016 | Michigan Gardener
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This native spotted bee balm or spotted horsetail (Monarda punctata) likes dry, sandy conditions and blooms July through September. It attracts numerous pollinators, butterflies and beneficial insects.
Toth pauses in the midst of her garden, near the sparkle of a sunlit glass globe.
started as a small hobby, but it has grown along with her gardening knowledge. “The landscaping was short of desirable. When I entered the equation, I was determined to change this image,” she recalled. Toth described how her hobby began, “The first year, we installed walls in front, back and one side of the house. I stripped grass by the
Yes, green is a color. Toth maintains the area along her section of a bike path with ferns and other foliage plants to delight the walkers and riders. Her section also includes water drained from the street into a collection area.
P H OTO G R A P H S BY S A N D I E PA R R OT T
shed, had four huge boulders moved and incorporated a patio into this design. The next year, we added a small pond to the area. As the years progressed, so did the stripping of the grass. I planted the other side of the bike path, the split-rail fence, and the neighbor’s woods and wetlands. As my gardening friend, Denise Aldrich says, ‘I invaded the woods.’” Describing Aldrich as her “partner in crime,” Toth explained, “We make a fine pair, pushing wheelbarrows from each other’s gardens through the neighborhood. She was also a tremendous help; assisting with preparations for the garden walk.” Her husband Bob, another garden helper, shreds and collects leaves for mulch that they apply twice a year and performs other heavy tasks as well. Denise handles everything else. As she wanders the gardens daily with her cup of coffee, two quiet garden areas are Toth’s favorites. She picks and prunes along the way (pruners and ties are kept in mailboxes nearby) and she daydreams of additions or changes. One favorite area is a rustic patio that is accessed by three paths. She relaxes and views most of her gardens from this serene space. “I like to listen to the waterfall, observe Baltimore orioles and witness the hummingbird wars, as they chase each other protecting their valuable nectar.” Her other favorite area is what she calls the ridge. It is up a small hill overlooking the bike path and all her gardens on one side, with the woods and wetlands on the other. “I have a few chairs and a fire pit there, where I enjoy bonfires and marshmallow roasts with my daughcontinued on next page
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
Some of the plants that greet a visitor at the front door: oakleaf hydrangea, Joe Pye weed ‘Little Joe,’ wild senna, clematis ‘Jackmanii,’ salvia ‘Caradonna,’ agastache ‘Blue Fortune,’ potentilla ‘McKay’s White,’ and golden variegated sweet flag at the bottom of a downspout, where it enjoys the extra moisture.
A native and member of the carrot family, common cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum), not to be confused with hogweed, does well near wetlands, blooms June to July, and attracts bees, birds, beneficial insects, and butterflies. It also can be a host plant for the anise swallowtail butterfly.
Toth provides the four basic requirements for wildlife habitat: food, water, cover, and places to raise their young. She adds, “Another important component is sustainable practices.” To find out more, visit the National Wildlife Federation website (www.nwf.org). continued from previous page
Toth watches robins bathing in this waterfall from her kitchen window many mornings. The water garden plants include the hardy water lily ‘Attraction,’ water willow, canna ‘Black Knight,’ water hyacinths, and sedges.
ter, her husband, and my grandchildren.” It seems Toth started with more tame plants near the house, or what she calls her “star players” and her “wilder or rambunctious” plants are planted further out, by the split-rail fence, detention basin, and the edges of the woodland. Most of these plants are natives. Exposure to native plants and organic gardening led her to better cultural practices. She gardens organically and rarely uses pesticides, even if they are organic. She includes plants that attract beneficial insects to the garden, eliminating the need for insecticides.
Toth explained, “Some insect damage is acceptable. The role of plants is to be incorporated into the food chain. Native insects do not bother me that much because they should have some kind of predator keeping them in check.” Non-native, imported pests (and fourlegged pests) are another story. Toth complained, “Japanese beetles and viburnum leaf beetles are the bane of my existence!” All the leaves on her property are shredded and used as mulch for the winter. Not only Toth’s leaves, but also other leaves left by the curb. Toth smiled, “It is fair game to collect bags of leaves by the curb—some are even shredded. I was introduced to this concept when I volunteered at a Plant-A-Row community garden. I feel I owe a ‘thank you’ note to the neighbors who dispose of such a valuable resource for my use. The leaves are used as mulch and the bags, with leaves on top, smother the grass, so I can plant more natives.” Gardening to Denise Toth is a joy. She has learned from mistakes along the way, like trying to push the boundary of her hardiness zone or purchasing plants that only look nice in a greenhouse. She optimistically calls these “learning experiences,” and they caused her to change about 60 percent of her plants over the years. Toth summed things up, “Gardens are your artistic expression continually changing with the seasons and evolving through the years. Gardens are a legacy you are leaving behind. I hope to imprint that legacy in my grandchildren’s minds. I hope they remember how they walked the woods with me, searched for rocks, caught frogs, picked flowers, and ate yummy produce that we grew.” Sandie Parrott is a garden writer working and gardening in northern Oakland County on a hilly, sandy and shady site.
through the lens Photographs from the gardens of Michigan gardeners
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2016 | Michigan Gardener
Send us Your Photos! 1. E-mail us 1 or 2 of your best garden photos. Be sure to e-mail the full-resolution file. 2. Please include your full name and a caption describing the scene and the plants. We are looking for photos of your garden, both wide-angle and plant close-ups. If your photo is published, we’ll give you a free one-year subscription to Michigan Gardener. E-mail your photos to: photos@MichiganGardener.com.
“Chocoholic plant in my yard backlit by the evening sun.” —Bill Mertz
“I put this beauty on a pedestal every year!” —Jay Shell
“We created this garden in a space that was formerly a playground. Looking through the garden gate into the space is my favorite view each year.” —Karen Mills
“Elephant ear hosta flower bud.” —Edward Sokol
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
Bluestem goldenrod continued from back cover to get into those flowers, which, due to their resemblance to a turtle’s head, are the source of the plant’s common name.
Bottle gentian
Bottle gentian performs best where it doesn’t have competition from tall grasses or sedges.
Another favorite of big native bees, bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii) also thrives in moist conditions. Full sun can bleach or bronze the foliage, but as long as the plants are kept well watered, they will survive under those conditions. The pale to deep blueviolet flowers never actually open; instead, the pleated petals expand to accommodate big pollinating bees without tearing. This is not a plant that handles transplanting well; if you must, make sure you keep it well watered for the first year after moving to minimize stress. The flowers make an uncommon splash of true blue late in the season. Last year, with our unseasonably warm fall, mine was blooming well into November and even early December.
Common witch hazel
The seedpods of common witch hazel don’t open until the flowers are about to bloom the next autumn.
Zigzag goldenrod
Spring-blooming witch hazels are among the most popular early season shrubs in the garden. Most of these plants—referred to as Hamamelis x intermedia—are crosses between two Asian species, Japanese witch hazel (H. japonica) and Chinese witch hazel (H. mollis). Our native common witch hazel (H. virginiana) is a workhorse that blooms dur-
More fall bloomers to consider Asters • Blue wood aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) • Smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) • Skyblue aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense) Goldenrods • Riddell’s goldenrod (Solidago riddellii) • Stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida) ing the last two weeks of October and sometimes into the first two weeks of November, depending on the season. Working well either as a specimen or a mass, I like siting this plant so the low, westering autumn sun can light the delicate yellow flowers from behind, turning it into golden glow in my garden.
Zigzag and bluestem goldenrod Most folks think of goldenrods as full-sun species—and most do prefer those conditions. There are, however, two native species that actually thrive in some shade: zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis) and bluestem goldenrod (S. caesia). I’m hard pressed to choose one over the other, as both have desirable attributes. Both spread moderately and have a light, almost airy feel to them, spreading
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2016 | Michigan Gardener
Skyblue aster
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Riddell’s goldenrod
Try blue wood aster (pictured) or large-leaved aster (Eurybia macrophylla) as complements for zigzag or bluestem goldenrod. via rhizomes rather than producing dense stands, making them great companion plants for a mixed garden. The stems of zigzag goldenrod noticeably change direction from one node to the next, which makes this a fun plant for a children’s garden. The stems of bluestem goldenrod are distinctly glaucous in color, a great contrast to the brilliant yellow flowers while harmonizing with the cooler colors of compatible aster species. Many gardeners, and other folks, shy away from goldenrods because they are under the mistaken impression that these plants are responsible for their hay fever symptoms. Although those symptoms occur with the onset of goldenrod bloom, goldenrod pollen
is so heavy that it simply drops to the ground. (Goldenrods, like other members of the aster family, are insect pollinated, not wind pollinated.) The true culprit is ragweed, also a native species. Ragweed pollen is light enough to be wind-borne—in fact, this plant is wind pollinated. Thus we incorrectly connect our sneezing and wheezing with eye-catching goldenrod flowers rather than ragweed’s inconspicuously small, green flowers. So, plant some goldenrod—along with your asters and other fall-blooming natives—and know you’re not aggravating anyone’s allergies and are actually helping a whole lot of pollinators while beautifully extending the gardening season in your yard.
Cheryl M. English owns Black Cat Pottery and gardens professionally in Detroit, MI. An Advanced Master Gardener and Master Composter, she speaks on numerous gardening topics and is a Wildflower Association of Michigan board member. Her typical urban lot has over 50 varieties of clematis and almost 200 native plant species. She runs a Clematis Pruning Workshop in May. She opens her garden to the public twice a year at her free Spring/Summer Garden Tours. 2016 dates: June 4 & August 20. No pre-registration is required. Contact Cheryl to speak at your next meeting or event: cenglish@blackcatpottery.com. Follow Cheryl’s blog at BlackCatPottery.com and Facebook.com/BlackCatPottery. Don Schulte is an avid gardener and enjoys interpreting Michigan wildflowers and other garden favorites through his photography. Don and Cheryl have been working together to document the clematis, other traditional garden favorites, and native plants in her garden. See more of his work at NotableGreetings.com and DonSchulte.com.
White snakeroot (Ageratina altissima; formerly Eupatorium rugosum) thrives in dry shade, lighting up the understory with its white flowers.
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
Little bluestem is a native grass with striking blue foliage. New selections (like Blue Heaven, shown here) have leaves with brighter colors, both in summer and fall.
Little Bluestem A practical native grass gets an attractive makeover
L
ittle bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) is one of the rising stars among ornamental grasses. As a native plant, it has gained popularity with gardeners and designers who promote the use of natives in our landscapes. Often, at the intersection of ecology and horticulture, we find ornamental forms of native plants that enrich the gardener’s palette. Little bluestem is no exception. Many superior varieties have been selected from native populations, and active breeding efforts are underway to expand the choices available to gardeners. Little bluestem occurs naturally in every state of the continental United States (except California, Oregon and Nevada) and is one of the major grasses of the tallgrass prairies, encompassing a vast expanse of land north from zone 3 and south to zone 10. It grows well in many climates, soil types, pH levels from acid to alkaline, and tolerates both humid and
arid conditions. In nature, little bluestem is found in dry fields and on rocky outcroppings, slopes and ledges. It is extremely drought tolerant. Despite the name, it is not always blue, and it’s not exactly little, growing anywhere from 2 to 4-1/2 feet tall. It’s only little when compared to big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), another inhabitant of the tallgrass prairies. The native species (Schizachyrium scoparium) is attractive enough for garden use, with fine-textured, gray-green to blue-gray foliage that turns glowing amber to orange in fall, remaining attractive through the winter. It is a bunchgrass with a clumping habit, and its form is narrowly upright to somewhat lax Karen and arching. The thin inflorescences appear in late Bovio summer, quite inconspicuous until fall when they
expand to reveal their silvery white seeds. The seeds are fertile and may self-sow. Natural variability and a large gene pool within the species has allowed horticulturists to choose and/or develop individual plants with more ornamental characteristics such as bluer or more silver foliage, increased red pigmentation, more upright growth habit, shorter stature, and other qualities. These “new and improved” forms are then given cultivar names and propagated vegetatively (by division rather than by seed) in order to bring them to the nursery trade and the gardening public. ‘The Blues,’ selected by nurseryman Kurt Bluemel, was the first of the named little bluestem cultivars and is still widely available. Its chief feature
MichiganGardener.com | September/October 2016 | Michigan Gardener
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www.PerennialResource.com
‘Prairie Blues’ has pinkish orange fall color.
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
‘Carousel’ has dense growth and a bowl-shaped habit that stands up well in the garden. is its beautiful shimmering silver-blue stems. However, like the straight species, it is prone to flopping over if grown in soils that are too moist or fertile. Little bluestem requires full sun and grows best in well-drained soil that is not particularly fertile. In fact, it is short-lived in rich, damp soils and suffers from crown die-out if surrounded by moisture-retentive mulch.
Newer varieties Shorter, more compact cultivars have been selected or bred to overcome the problem of floppiness in the garden. Chicagoland Grows has introduced ‘Carousel,’ developed at the Chicago Botanic Garden, with dense growth and a unique, rounded bowl-shaped habit that stands up well in the garden. The newer ‘Prairie Munchkin’ is so short that it can’t flop. These shorter forms also open up some new uses for little bluestem in the garden, such as specimen plants in rock gardens or as an informal low hedge. We now have taller varieties that resist flopping too. Breeding
www.PerennialResource.com Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
continued on page 30
‘Jazz’ is a shorter form of little bluestem that resists flopping.
In the autumn, ‘Twilight Zone’ displays shades of soft mauve and purple.
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Michigan Gardener | September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
Little bluestem varieties (listed roughly in order of their introduction) Name ‘The Blues’ ‘Blaze’ ‘Prairie Blues’ (seed strain) Blue Heaven ‘Carousel’ ‘Prairie Munchkin’ ‘Standing Ovation’ ‘Smoke Signal’ ‘Twilight Zone’ ‘Blue Paradise’
Growth habit & Height upright, loose, 3-4’ upright, compact, 3’ upright, 3-4’ upright, 4-5’ compact, bowl-like, 2.5-3’ compact, 2.5’ upright, 4’ upright, 3-4’ upright, 4-4.5’ upright, 3-3.5’
Summer foliage blue light blue-green blue-green steel blue blue, pink tints light green to blue blue, green, purple blue, red tints silver, blue, mauve silver, blue
Fall colors orange, bluish purple orange, red, purple pinkish orange burgundy, rose amber, copper, pink orange, maroon red-orange, burgundy red, purple mauve, purple wine red
www.PerennialResource.com
‘Smoke Signal’ shows off incredible fall color, as its foliage changes to dark red and purple.
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
Shorter forms of little bluestem, like ‘Prairie Munchkin’ pictured here, open up some new uses for it in the garden, like rock gardens or informal low hedges.
www.PerennialResource.com
The silver blue leaves of ‘Blue Paradise’ turn wine red as the season changes to autumn. continued from page 29 efforts and selection for stiffer stems and dense growth habit has given us cultivars like ‘Standing Ovation,’ originated by North Creek Nurseries in Pennsylvania, and Blue Heaven from the University of Minnesota. The newest introductions focus on color, particularly the development of red pigmentation early in the season. Some varieties show pink, red or purple tints as early as June. Deeper fall color is also given priority, and efforts to develop varieties with dark purple foliage are now coming to fruition. Over the past few years, Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Michigan has
Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener
‘Standing Ovation’ has upright blue stems that reach 4 feet tall. introduced ‘Smoke Signal’ and ‘Twilight Zone,’ both known for their unique coloration, particularly in the fall. ‘Blue Paradise’ is another Walters Gardens cultivar to watch. Along with a compact habit and shorter stature (3 to 3-1/2 feet), it has silvery blue foliage in summer with wine red fall color. Little bluestem is a beautiful and useful addition to the full sun garden, and a real boon to gardeners seeking low maintenance perennials. It requires no additional water, fertilizer or pH treatments, is disease and insect resistant, and is attractive in all seasons. www.PerennialResource.com
Karen Bovio is the owner of Specialty Growers in Howell, MI.
In the fall, Blue Heaven’s foliage has burgundy and rose tones.
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| September/October 2016 | MichiganGardener.com
The Late Show
Bring fall flowers to your garden with these reliable, native perennials
New England aster thrives in moist meadows and open woods in sun to part sun, eventually developing into thick clumps.
A
lthough you might think the flowering season would be winding down with the approach of fall, that’s definitely not the case where native plants are concerned. Late season pollinators—including Monarch butterflies preparing for their epic migration to their overwintering grounds—still need forage as the days grow shorter. Mother Nature accommodates them effortlessly with an array of flowers primarily in complementary yellows, blues and purples with the occasional bright white thrown P H OTO G R A P H S BY D O N S C H U LT E
in for contrast. The best known of these would surely be our wide range of asters and goldenrods.
New England aster
Easily transplanted, white turtlehead develops into easily divided clumps over time. cies thrives in moist meadows, open woods, and fields in sun to part sun, eventually developing into thick clumps. Violet to purple or rose flowers cover the plants starting in late summer and are fairly persistent. Like many of its close relatives, it can suffer from leaf blight, resulting in “bare legs” by bloom time, but good companion planting can mitigate this issue.
With their blue and purple flowers, our native asters are certainly the most recognizable of our fallblooming wildflowers. Many species thrive here in Michigan and most Cheryl M. are eminently suitable for garden English culture. Probably the best known White turtlehead would be New England aster (SymphyotriWhite turtlehead (Chelone glabra) is anchum novae-angliae; formerly Aster novaeother fall bloomer that thrives in moist condiangliae). Ranging from 2 to 6 feet tall, the spe-
tions, although it can adapt to average garden soils if drought can be avoided. Perhaps not as showy as the non-native pink turtlehead (Chelone lyonii), its beautiful creamy white flowers on upright stems make a strong counterpoint to other moisture-loving species, including obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana), cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), and great blue lobelia (L. siphilitica). White turtlehead is a host plant for the Baltimore checkerspot butterfly—this particular species is required for egg-laying. It is also a favorite for late-season foraging bumble bees: it takes a pretty big bee continued on page 26