Michigan Gardener - Spring 2023

New Plants

New annuals, perennials & shrubs

Garden to Table

Green bean salad

Plant Focus

Serviceberry

How-To Choose an edging style and material

Perennials

Bluestar (Amsonia)

Vegetable Patch

Ornamental vegetables

Classic perennial in an entirely new color. Coral-red flowers and glossy dark green foliage. Blooms early summer to early fall. Full sun or part shade. Height: 30-36". Space: 18-24".

Perennial with extra large flowers above tidy, deer resistant foliage. Full sun or part shade. Attracts butterflies. Blooms late summer to early fall. Height: 26-28".

Space: 24-26".

Mounding annual whose flowers open gold becoming more red over time. Attracts bees and butterflies. Full sun. Blooms spring to autumn. Height: 8-10". Width: 10-12".

Spigelia ‘Ragin

Native perennial with abundant flowers that attracts pollinators like hummingbirds. Long blooming from late spring to midsummer. Grows well in both sun and shade. Height: 20-24". Spread: 20-24".

Monarda ‘Upscale Red Velvet’

The first new, red Bee Balm in over a decade. Large, cherry red flowers above dark stems and foliage. Deer resistant. Full to part sun. Blooms in midsummer. Height: 32". Space: 36".

Striking bicolored flowers above upright leaves. Perfect in combos or in-ground plantings. Full sun. Blooms late spring to late summer. Height: 30-48". Spacing: 14-20".

'Pink Cascade' is a flowering shrub featuring enormous 12" arching pink flowers that appear in late summer to fall. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds flock to their honey-scented blossoms. Height: 48". Spread: 48-54".

Large flowers whose multi-colored petals emerge from a deep rose center. Outstanding in beds or containers. Prefers full to part sun and blooms summer through autumn. Great for cut flowers. Height: 18". Spread: 15".

mile

Part sun to full shade. Height: 9". Width: 18".

The first double blooming impatiens series with resistance to downy mildew. Choose from several colors. Prefers shade to partial sun.

Height: 10-16".

Spread: 10-12".

Delphinium ‘Red Lark’

Allium ‘Bubble Bath’

Calibrachoa Minifamous ‘Orange+Red Vein’

Uniquely bicolored, self-cleaning flowers on mounding plants. Performs well in heat & humidity. Use in baskets, planters or landscape. Self-cleaning. Full to part sun. Height: 10-15". Spread: 10-12".

Petunia Flower Showers ‘Mayan Sunset’

Canna Cannova ‘Golden Flame’

Buddleia ‘Pink Cascade’

A new color in the I'conia series featuring continuous bloom and a mounding habit.

Begonia I’Conia ‘Costa Del Sol’

Cajun’

Impatiens Glimmer Series

Dahlia Venti ‘Tequila Sunrise’

Garden Wisdom

Gardening gets you outside and helps keep you grounded—the reality program in which we all should be participants.

Bill N. McKnight

To Our Readers... One Print Issue This Year!

In 2023, Michigan Gardener will publish 1 print magazine in May 2023 (this issue!).

We will also publish 10 E-Newsletters, from Spring to Fall. Sign up for free on our website: MichiganGardener.com.

A big Thank You to our print and digital advertisers for making Michigan Gardener possible. Please visit these loyal advertisers and purchase their products and services. When you do, please let them know you saw their ad in Michigan Gardener. They really appreciate hearing that feedback from you.

Want to stay up to date on gardening events? Go to our website MichiganGardener.com and click on “Garden Event Calendar.” We update those listings regularly, all year-round.

If you don’t yet receive our free E-Newsletter, sign up on our website! We do not send any spam—just an E-Newsletter during the gardening season, including contests to win garden prizes. Thank you for reading and best wishes for your 2023 gardening season!

—Eric Hofley and Jonathon Hofley

30747 Greenfield Rd., Suite 1 • Southfield, MI 48076

Phone: 248-594-5563

E-mail: publisher@MichiganGardener.com

Website: www.MichiganGardener.com

Publisher/Editor Eric Hofley

Design & Production

Jonathon Hofley

Advertising

Eric Hofley

Circulation

Jonathon Hofley

Editorial Assistant Anna Doman

Contributors

Brian Allnutt

Neil/Ruth Atzinger

John Blair

Karen Bovio

Emaline Fronckowiak

Mary Gerstenberger

Julia Hofley

Rosann Kovalcik

Beverly Moss

George Papadelis

Roxanne Riggs

David L. Roberts

Jim Slezinski

Lisa Steinkopf

Stephanie Surowiec

Steve Turner

@michgardener @michigangardener

2023 Publishing schedule

Print: 1 issue: Spring/May 2023

E-Newsletter: 10 issues: Spring to Fall.

Back issues

Back issues are available to read for free on our website. Go to www.MichiganGardener.com and click on “Digital Edition.”

Copyright © 2023 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.

Photo:

Finally, a foolproof bloomer! Let’s Dance Can Do! hydrangea is an extra-hardy hybrid that blooms even if it’s cut back, damaged by cold, or dined upon by deer. Its full, lacecap flowers are very showy and cover the shrub from top to bottom, all season long.

Look

center, or learn more at

Watering tips for tomatoes

Last year, a neighbor and I grew the same tomato plants. I fertilized and watered mine regularly. My neighbor only watered hers occasionally when the weather was hot and dry, but her tomatoes tasted better. Why?

Generally speaking, tomato plants require a lot of water. That said, there is a distinct art to watering for healthy growth. Water your tomatoes only when they need it. You determine that by checking the soil around the plant. The soil should be damp around the plant to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. You can purchase a moisture meter to help you. In most climates, this will mean watering once each day, but that can change depending on the amount of rainfall and the temperature in your location.

Regularly inspect the soil surrounding the plants to make sure it is moist enough to encourage root growth. Keeping the ground damp is much easier than trying to hydrate it after it has dried out. Start with once per day and keep notes. You’ll soon discover how much water is required to maintain dampness at the appropriate depth. Science has

determined that roughly an inch of water per week, barring drought and excessive heat, is what a tomato plant needs.

Water affects the sugar and acid content development of the tomato, which is what gives us that flavor and taste. The best time to water is in the early morning, which gives the plant the rest of the day to move it to the leaves and flower/fruit development. Avoid watering in the evening at all costs and do not leave standing water around the plant or on the leaves. A soaker hose around the stems of the plants gets the water to the target area most efficiently.

Using LED lights to start seeds

I use fluorescent shop lights (cool and warm) to germinate and grow seedlings in my basement. It is inexpensive and has been successful. I now want to mainly grow early-flowering annuals. Should I switch to LED lights? B.J., West Bloomfield

For many years, fluorescent shop lights were the go-to seed starting lights for gardeners, but LEDs have quickly replaced them as the standard. LEDs are usually more expensive than fluorescent bulbs, but they are

energy-efficient and long-lasting. They also do not produce excess heat and are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They are typically available at local hardware stores and garden centers.

Plants use light in the photosynthetically active radiation spectrum, which includes wavelengths ranging from 400 (violet) to 700 (red) nanometers. Plants use more blue and blue-green light when they are seedlings, and more red light later on in their life cycles when they begin to flower and produce seeds. If you are just using grow lights to start seeds, start with LED lights that are labeled either as blue-green spectrum or balanced light spectrum. You may find that lights are labeled “for greens and seeds” or “for flowers and fruit.” Since you want your annuals

to be closer to flowering, you will want to accelerate their initial growth with the blue and blue-green light and then switch to a red light once they are past cotyledon stage and establishing structure.

Flies in the garden

I have an excessive amount of flies in my vegetable and flower garden. Any idea why? How can I treat them without killing bees or other beneficial insects? N.F., Muskegon

You need to determine what flies are in your vegetable and flower gardens. There are several good identification books on the market as well as university websites and phone apps that can help you identify and explain benefits. We’ve been cultured to see all flies

as pests and associate them with carrion and garbage. However, there are many common garden flowers, vegetables and herbs that are pollinated by flies. Some of the fruits and vegetables flies help pollinate include pears, apples, strawberries, cherries, plums, apricots, peaches, raspberries, blackberries, roses, fennel, coriander, caraway, kitchen onions, parsley, carrots, and many more.

Understand that an insecticide for flies will also harm your more recognizable pollinators like bees and wasps. Many fly species are predators, feeding on insects such as aphids and scales, thus providing biological control of pests. Others help to break down organic matter, thereby releasing nutrients back into your garden. Flies are attracted to a variety of flowering plants. As a rule of thumb, flies tend

to prefer white flowers with open structures that are easy to access. Often these flowers have scents that are not necessarily floral but resemble decomposing material. So having “lots of flies” isn’t automatically a bad thing.

Make sure your garden soil is not overly saturated, that you have well-drained loam and good air circulation, and that compost is worked into the root depth of your plants. Overly moist soil can draw tiny gnat flies that love to lay their eggs in moisture.

How to move a hardy hibiscus

When is the best time to move perennial hibiscus? How do I transplant it?

There are two schools of thought on timing. One says transplant in fall after the blossoms fade, and the other says transplant in

spring when the new shoots first emerge. Depending on your cold hardiness zone, most perennial hibiscus don’t begin to send out shoots until mid May or later. The caveat is that moving it in spring will slow it down for blooming. However, there are ways to prevent exaggerated plant shock. Those methods apply to either spring or fall.

If you choose spring, prune off the previous year’s dead growth when you see new shoots emerge. Water the plant deeply in the current location while you prepare the soil in the new sunny location with rich, loamy compost. Dig the hole the same depth but broader than its current location. Dig a trench around the plant as its root system is reminiscent of a fleshy octopus. Carefully dig out the root ball and lift it by the ball rather than by the

old stalks. Nest the root ball in the new location, watering well as you backfill the loamy, compost-rich soil around the ball and fleshy extensions. Keep it consistently moist but not saturated.

Perennial hibiscus have a softer tissue and root ball system than other perennial shrubs. Making sure it has plenty of water before and after transplanting will prevent these soft roots from drying and shocking drastically. Make sure the new hole is dug and soil amply amended before making the move with the plant. Minimizing its “out of hole” experience will help it survive and transition to its new location.

Answers provided by Beverly Moss, owner of Garden Rhythms.

Annuals

• The last frost-free day in Southeastern Michigan is roughly May 15. Don’t try to push the season too much unless you’re prepared to cover tender plants in the event of a frost.

• Planting annuals in containers is a great option because they are easily covered or moved.

• Experiment with at least one new variety of annuals this spring. There are so many to choose from in great new colors, it’s hard to go wrong with any of these new plants as long as you give them the right amount of sun or shade.

• Plant containers using the Thriller, Filler,

Spiller concept. The Thriller is the focal point; Spillers cascade over the pot edges; and Fillers complete the look. When selecting plants, consider how much sunlight the plants will receive, growth habit, texture of the plants, and the color scheme of your container garden. An odd number of plants makes the most pleasing arrangement.

Garden Decor

• Add a water source from a fountain or birdbath to your garden and you will help attract birds, butterflies and other pollinators. Add a few small stones or birdbath filler balls to the birdbath so small pollinators can stand out of the water and drink.

Evergreens

• Deadhead rhododendrons and azaleas when they’re finished blooming to ensure

better flowering next year. On large-leaf rhododendrons, pinch back new growth so that only 1 to 3 leaves remain on the new shoot. This will encourage branching later in the season and increase the number of flowers for next spring.

Bulbs: Spring-Flowering

• Fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer from the time the foliage tips emerge until the leaves start to yellow, and you will get better blooms each year.

• As spring bulbs start to emerge, take note of bare spots and gaps that you’ll want to fill with additional bulbs in September and October. Photos are a great way to capture the progression of the garden.

Houseplants

• Incorporate houseplants with annuals into

container gardens for the patio. Tall houseplants like palms, fiddle-leaf figs, or crotons make great thrillers. Or use trailing plants like ivy, pothos or lipstick plant to spill over the sides.

• When bringing houseplants outside for the summer, put plants in the shade first, and then gradually move them into more and more sun. Plants like peace lilies, Chinese evergreens and other low-light houseplants should be left in the shade all summer.

• Start a regular fertilizing program to encourage healthy plants.

Perennials

• Stake lanky-growing varieties such as yarrow, aster, foxglove, baby’s breath and peony.

• Summer- and fall-blooming perennials can still be divided in May.

• Be aware that some species are slow to emerge, like hardy plumabgo, fountain grass, blue mist shrub, butterfly weed, and hardy hibiscus.

Roses

• Water roses at the base of the plants, but not with a sprinkler; use a watering wand. The rose leaves and flowers can be damaged with repeated sprinkler use. Using sprinklers to water roses can also spread black spot.

• Start a regular fertilizer program; it will keep roses blooming all season.

Lawn

• May is an ideal time to sow grass seed. Reseed any thin areas. Water the area 1 to 2 days before seeding. Place a light layer of straw over the seed after sowing. Water

lightly 2 or 3 times per day until germination.

• Late May to early June is the time for the second fertilizer treatment, or 4 to 6 weeks after the first one.

• Weed control, grub control or both may be necessary. Frequently it’s easiest and most effective to treat with a granular grub control when you fertilize and to use a liquid weed killer to spot treat your problem areas. You do not need to overdo it.

Tropicals

• Decorate your porch or patio with flowering tropical plants like hibiscus, mandevilla, gardenia and jasmine. Hibiscus and mandevilla feature large, brilliant blooms all season. Gardenia and jasmine bloom all season, and provide a wonderful fragrance. All are great in containers.

Vegetables

• Prepare your vegetable garden like your annual garden. Add organic material and work into the top 4 to 6 inches of the soil. Also add organic fertilizer for extra nutrients. Throughout the growing season add organic material to your vegetable garden to help keep your garden healthy and produce better yields.

• After planting, apply a layer of fine mulch or even wet newspaper between the rows to make paths to walk on. Walking on mulch will help keep the soil from becoming compacted and help keep weeds down. This fine mulch and newspaper will break down over the season and can be incorporated into the soil next year.

• In mid May, start sowing snap beans at twoweek intervals, continuing through July. This will ensure an extended bean harvest.

• If you have a critter problem such as rabbits, groundhogs and skunks, there are many repellents to deter them. It is a good idea to alternate the repellents so the critters do not become accustomed to the smells.

Water Garden

• Clean and restart pumps.

• Check the health of fish in the pond and watch for parasites and diseases.

• Divide overgrown marginal plants, leaving at least 12 inches of rhizome and one bud per division.

• Three-year-old (and older) plants should receive fertilizer at this time.

Provided by the professionals at English Gardens.

Pruning trees and shrubs

How and when to prune trees and shrubs is one of the most common questions asked at garden centers.

Four basic pruning techniques

Thinning cuts remove an entire branch or limb all the way to its point of origin, either at the main stem or where it joins another branch. Thinning cuts improve air circulation or reduce crowded conditions.

Heading cuts shorten a branch or stem but don’t remove it entirely. Make heading cuts to just above a dormant bud. Cut at a slight angle and leave about 1/4 inch of the shoot above the bud, not a long stub.

Pinching can be either a heading or thinning cut. Usually, you can pinch soft growth between your thumb and forefinger. Pinching is handy to prune soft annuals and perennials, but is also good for larger plants, if you do it when the shoots are still young and soft. Any pinching done at this early stage is ideal because the plant suffers minimal harm and recovery is quick.

Shearing keeps hedge lines straight. For this cut, use scissor-like pruning “shears.” Box-

woods and yews are commonly sheared.

General pruning tips

Prune crossing branches, inward-growing branches, competing leaders, old declining wood, lateral growth on berry plants, and water sprouts (vigorous, upright shoots that develop from dormant buds on the trunk or large branches).

Use only clean tool blades. To prevent spreading disease and sap buildup, use rubbing alcohol between cuts and clean thoroughly.

Pruning guidelines by plant group

Major pruning of trees, shrubs and perennials should be done in the spring after winter dieback is evident. April is a generally a good time to prune ornamental grasses, semiwoody perennials, boxwood, holly, summerblooming clematis and other woody vines, roses, and summer-flowering trees and shrubs.

Spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs, azaleas and rhododendrons should be pruned after spring, when the plant has finished blooming, but before the Fourth of July. Pruning in the spring before blooming will remove the

flower buds that were set the previous year. It’s a good idea to mark any branches you want to prune so you can find them later in the season when the tree is full of leaves.

Prune summer-flowering shrubs, such as butterfly bush, rose of Sharon, spirea, and potentilla before the foliage emerges. Summer-flowering shrubs bloom on this year’s new growth and a spring pruning promotes more new growth and stronger stems.

Prune roses when the forsythia blooms. Cut out dead wood, as well as anything that doesn’t look healthy, or canes that cross. Canes should be pruned to green growth or to pencil thickness, whichever is closer to the ground—this will encourage large flowers. Protect plants from rose cane borer by sealing the cuts with a dab of white glue or pruning sealer. It is not necessary to prune shrub roses, except to maintain their size.

Prune trees to help keep their shape. Prune any branches that cross, or grow toward the inside of the tree. Do not make cuts flush to the trunk. Only prune to the branch collar, the slight swelling right next to the trunk. If you cut off the branch collar, you have removed the site where most of the healing growth comes from.

Oak trees should only be pruned in the winter, when they’re dormant, to help prevent the spread of the fatal oak wilt disease.

On fruit trees, sunlight is the key to a good

harvest, so prune them to allow light to reach all parts of the plant. This often means the center of the tree is removed. Late winter to early spring is the best time.

Hydrangeas

Bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) and mountain hydrangeas (H. serrata) are the ones with the pink or blue flowers, depending on the soil pH. Since their flower buds appear on last year’s stems (old wood), wait to prune until after the plants have bloomed and the flowers have faded. That said, there are some new bigleaf varieties that bloom on this year’s stems also (new wood).

Similarly, oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia) blooms on old wood from the previous season, so only prune these in summer after the flowers change from white to pink to brown.

Smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens), like ‘Annabelle,’ bloom on new growth they produce this year, so they can be pruned in late fall, winter or early spring, before the new growth starts to emerge.

Panicle hydrangeas (H. paniculata) have cone-shaped blooms and can be pruned in late fall, winter, or early spring. They bloom in the summer on new stems produced in the spring.

Provided by the professionals at English Gardens.

Umbriano

Beacon Hill Smooth

Beacon Hill Flagstone

Ornamental

True ornamental vegetables are grown for their look rather than their edibility. They can add beauty and distinction to a garden, but often lack flavor. However, it is possible to have the best of both worlds: good looks and flavor as well. Many of the vegetables we grow have unique colors, beautiful flowers, or unusual textures which make them ornamental by nature while still maintaining their flavor. Consider the variety of color in the leaf lettuces or chili peppers, the striking flowers of an artichoke or okra, the amazing texture of dinosaur kale leaves or the feathery foliage of asparagus in the summer. Let’s look at the options.

Mostly ornamental

There are several types of vegetables that have varieties bred to be specifically ornamental. You can purchase either seeds or plants of ornamentals such as lettuce, cabbage, and kale. They may have different names depending on the catalog or seed company, but they usually are listed as ornamental or described as such in the listing.

The lettuces are great for a border plant and are often a standard butterhead or leaf lettuce simply noted as ornamental for its color or texture. The flavor may be much milder or possibly far more bitter than other varieties of lettuce.

An excellent addition to the garden are the ornamental cabbage and kale varieties, especially when looking for color in the colder months at the end of the growing season. While they look lovely and are edible, these ornamental cabbages and kales do tend to be on the bitter side.

Ornamental sweet potatoes are often used in containers for their trailing vines. The leaf color choices range from lime green to deep violet. While the tubers are edible, they also tend to be small and bitter.

For color that can really pop, try the ornamental peppers. There are several varieties that produce small peppers with brilliant colors of green, yellow, orange, red, and purple— all on the same plant! There is also an ornamental pepper known as ‘Black Pearl,’ whose dark leaves and fruit can really provide some

contrast to all the greens. The ornamental peppers are edible but use caution. Those tiny peppers can be extremely hot and spicy.

Both ornamental and edible

There are a wide range of vegetables that are not necessarily bred to be “ornamental” but they can really add color or texture to either a flower or vegetable garden. Take the leaf lettuces. There are varieties that have uniquely frilly or curled leaves and colors that range from light to dark green or red, or a combination of the two colors. They make creatively colorful borders (which you are not obligated to eat but definitely can).

Mary Gerstenberger

(don’t eat the open flowers).

Another plant that produces delightful, hibiscus-like flowers is okra. Unfortunately, each flower only lasts for a day, but the plant can produce for 10 to 12 weeks and they are lovely to look at.

Some types of Swiss chard also offer unique color in their stems, ranging from bright yellows to nearly neon red. Kale plants offer a variety of green and red colors with leaf textures from almost lacy to large and leathery. The feathery foliage of asparagus can grow up to five feet high and would make a nice background in the garden.

If you are looking for pretty vegetable flowers you can consider growing Jerusalem artichoke for both its tubers and its bright yellow flowers. If you try growing an actual artichoke, you might let some of its flower buds (the part you eat) continue to develop into the beautiful thistle flowers it forms

Plants that also produce striking flowers are the runner beans. Scarlet runner is one of the most stunning, with its bright red flowers. Garlic scapes can add a unique look to the garden, as can the flowers of onions and chives. Even some of the eggplants, with their unusual white or purple fruit, add a different dimension to a planting scheme. Vegetables bred for their ornamental qualities can add beauty and distinction to your garden beds. Vegetables that are ornamental by nature can bring additional color and texture to the garden, as well as flavor to the table. What wonderful choices we have!

Mary Gerstenberger was 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.

The Complete Book of Ground Covers

by Gary Lewis

Ground covers are widely thought of as utilitarian—we turn to them when we have a problem that needs a solution. Yet these plants also offer a diverse range of options with a variety of colors, textures, and forms. They can unify a landscape, knit together plantings and hardscape, and add extra layers of beauty. As a replacement for lawns, they can reduce our use of water, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, carbon-based fuels, and transform a yard into a diverse landscape of habitat and food for native insects, birds, and other wildlife.

In The Complete Book of Ground Covers (Timber Press, 456 pages, $50), a thoroughly researched reference guide, nurseryman Gary Lewis profiles more than 4,000 ground covers that can perform these roles well. No matter what conditions you are facing—shade, dry soil, heavy clay, excess moisture—there’s a ground cover that will thrive in your garden.

The Vegetable Gardening Book

by Joe Lamp’l

The award-winning television and podcast host Joe Lamp’l is here with insider tips and insights for creating a lush, fruitful, and resilient vegetable garden. Even if you have a good grip on what it takes to grow a vegetable garden, Lamp’l delivers a wheelbarrow full of new information. In The Vegetable Gardening Book (Cool Springs Press, 256 pages, $28.99), he distills insight from years spent interviewing experienced growers for public television’s Growing a Greener World and his own podcast.

Using his own hands-on knowledge, the author presents practical and useful info on everything from starting seeds and selecting varieties to building the perfect tomato cage, encouraging pollinators, and creating biodiversity-rich soil in a 100 percent organic food garden.

Prairie Up: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design

by Benjamin Vogt

Landscaping with native plants has encouraged gardeners from the Midwest and beyond to embark on a profound scientific, ecological, and emotional partnership with nature. Benjamin Vogt shares his expertise in Prairie Up (University of Illinois Press, 162 pages, $29.95), a richly photographed guide. Aimed at gardeners and homeowners, it makes big ideas about design achievable.

Step-by-step blueprints point readers to plant communities that not only support wildlife and please the eye, but that rethink traditional planting and maintenance as well. The author provides insider information on plant sourcing, garden tools, and working with city ordinances. This book will be a valuable reference for those wanting both beautiful and functional landscapes. It is a practical guide to artfully reviving diversity and wildness in our communities.

10,000 Sun/Shade hanging baskets

to choose from

Stones, and much, much more!

Stepping

COLOR! worth the drive!

Come

PLANTS potato vines and many Proven Winners

8087

The Cruise is Back!

Detroit Garden Works presents The Garden Cruise, a tour of gardens designed, planted, and/or inspired by Deborah Silver.

The landscapes themselves are varied in style and approach, but all reflect an ownership for whom the beauty of a garden is an important part of life.

100% of ticket proceeds benefit The Greening of Detroit and its planting and educational programs. Since 2008, The Garden Cruise has raised nearly $200,000 to support this mission. Join us for this special tour that promises to be a summer highlight!

Sunday, July 23, 9am-4:30pm

Tour only: $40/person

Clink Landscaping & Nursery

9403 W. Michigan Ave., Saline, MI 48176

734-495-3779

www.clinklandscaping.com

May/June hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-4, Sun 10-3. Just what you’ve been looking for... Large inventory of trees and shrubs; plus we can special order that perfect plant you are searching for. Natural stone, boulders, and brick pavers (all in several sizes). Bagged and bulk mulches and soils. Family-owned and operated for over 40 years. You will love our friendly, professional staff!

Downtown Home & Garden

210 S. Ashley St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104

734-662-8122

www.downtownhomeandgarden.com

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5.

A century-old retailer focused on indoor and outdoor gardening supplies, outdoor veggie plant starts, annuals, perennials, and greenhouse plants. Outdoor furniture, kitchenware, sundries and hardware, K9 gear and treats, and hardy clothing for hardworking people. Drive-thru barn and on-site parking for patrons in the heart of Downtown Ann Arbor.

English Gardens Plymouth Nursery

9900 Ann Arbor Rd. W., Plymouth, MI 48170

734-453-5500

www.EnglishGardens.com

May/June hours: Please visit our website. English Gardens acquired Plymouth Nursery in 2018. The store features a full-service nursery and garden center with a fullservice landscaping company. English Gardens is family-owned and locally operates six stores in Metro Detroit featuring the best value and finest quality products and services. For more information: 800-335-GROW.

Fraleigh’s Landscape Nursery

8600 Jackson Rd., Dexter, MI 48130

734-426-5067

www.fraleighs.com

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 10-5.

Wide variety of perennials, shrubs, ornamental grasses, flowering ornamentals, native plants, shade trees, and evergreens. Expert staff to assist with your landscaping and horticultural questions. We source plants from Michigan growers whenever possible. We stock unusual items, but we really love selling plants that are reliable and functional, but never boring!

The Garden Mill

110 S. Main St., Chelsea, MI 48118

734-475-3539

www.thegardenmill.com

May/June hours: Please check website or Facebook for current hours.

An ever-changing variety of beautiful and functional products. Unique and hand-crafted artifacts for garden and home. Wrought iron and rustic garden features; eclectic wind chimes; fountains; classic garden sculptures; colorful plant containers; birdhouses, feeders, and baths; seasonal seeds, hanging baskets, and bedding plants. facebook.com/TheGardenMillChelsea.

Hidden Lake Gardens

6214 Monroe Rd. (M-50), Tipton, MI 49287 517-431-2060

www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu

Open: Tues-Sun 9-5. 755 acres. One of the finest Dwarf and Rare Conifer collections: 500+ specimens. Hosta Hillside: 800+ varieties. Enjoy a leisurely drive through the Arboretum. See lush tropicals in the Conservatory. Serene outdoor displays in the Bonsai Courtyard. Demonstration Garden shows attractive mixed plantings. New Canopy Walk open June 2023. Great hiking trails and dog-friendly, too!

HillTop Greenhouse & Farms

8996 West Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-302-4233

www.hilltopgreenhousea2.com

May hours: Mon-Sat 9-7, Sun 9-5. June hours: Please call. Just 10 minutes from Ann Arbor or Chelsea, our greenhouse is a relaxing drive from all corners. Choose from thousands of baskets, plus veggie starters, flats, specialty annuals, and lush combination planters. Each plant is grown on site, with hands-on care from start to finish. Smiles, hugs and a friendly staff, free of charge!

Lodi Farms

2880 S. Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-665-5651

www.lodifarms.com

May/June/Summer hours:

Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8-5, Wed 8-6, Sat 9-4, Sun 11-3. Visit our newly remodeled greenhouse and walk acres of beautiful trees and plants! Fantastic selection of Michigan-grown shade and ornamental trees, evergreens, shrubs, perennials, vegetables and annuals. Bulk products for pick-up or delivery. Bring your pictures and ideas; our friendly team will help find the perfect plants for your space.

Margolis Nursery

9600 Cherry Hill Rd., Ypsilanti, MI 48198 734-482-0771

www.margoliscompanies.com

May/June hours: Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat 8-3. Family owned and operated since 1926. From trees and shrubs to perennials and groundcovers to mulch and Unilock pavers. Our experienced staff will help with your plant selections. Our full-service landscaping company provides complete landscape design and installation, and has a reputation for quality and competitive prices.

The Produce Station

1629 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-663-7848

www.producestation.com

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8-9, Sun 8-8.

Proudly supplying high-quality, rare perennials and specialty annuals! Succulents, echeveria, agave, rare tropicals, sedum, and sempervivum. Unique dwarf conifers and alpine plants. Enormous selection of specialty herbs and vegetables, plus heirlooms! Vast hosta selection, including tea cup varieties. Gorgeous Vietnamese pottery! Additional location: 2105 W. Stadium Blvd. May-August: Mon-Sat 9-8, Sun 9-7.

The Rock Shoppe

6275 Gotfredson Rd., Plymouth, MI 48170 734-455-5560

www.rock-shoppe.com

12 acres showcasing hundreds of tons of rock, unique statuary, garden art, mulches, soils, and landscape materials. Vast selection of brick pavers, retaining walls, flagstone and terrace slab rock. We provide free education on the correct installation of landscaping products we sell, ensuring your project will be successful.

Saline Flowerland

7370 Michigan Ave., Saline, MI 48176 734-429-4458

www.salineflowerland.com

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-6, Sun 10-5. Saline’s Full Service Florist and Garden Center since 1977. Our beautiful plants are grown on site for best quality & bloom count. Hundreds of hanging baskets, vegetables, annuals, perennials, herbs, succulents, groundcovers, houseplants. Large selection of fairy garden items. Many 4-inch potted Proven Winners annuals. Mulch and topsoil by the bag or yard. Delivery available.

Sell

Farms & Greenhouses

7200 Willis Rd., Ypsilanti, MI 48197 734-484-3819

www.sellfarmsandgreenhouses.com

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-6. Closed Sundays. Online ordering and curbside pickup available, visit our website for details. Family-owned. Great selection of high quality Annuals, Perennials & non-GMO Vegetable plants at reasonable prices. Thousands of Hanging Baskets, Combination Planters, Geraniums & Proven Winners plants. One of the best selections of Perennials, Hydrangeas & Roses in the area.

MILAN

DEXTER

WHITMORE LAKE

YPSILANTI

PLYMOUTH

SALINE

CHELSEA

ANN ARBOR MANCHESTER TECUMSEH BRITTON

This article is just a small sampling of what is new this year from hundreds of plant introductions. Like you, we look forward to growing and learning more about these and other new annuals.

Zinnia: Zydeco series

This new zinnia series is comprised of hybrids that combine larger flowers with improved disease resistance. Compared to current zinnias, they boast 25 percent larger flowers that are fully double. These beefier blooms increase flower longevity and deliver lasting impact. Besides the improved disease resistance characteristic, there is heat and

drought tolerance as well. These new zinnias provide the best of both worlds: fully double flowers and excellent, season-long garden performance. Available in Fire, Deep Yellow, Cherry, White, and Mix (pictured).

Height: 14-20 inches. Width: 14-20 inches. Light: Full sun.

Spreading Begonia: Hula Red

Hula is a new spreading begonia series that looks equally comfortable tumbling out of hanging baskets or filling in landscape beds, where it creates a blanket of flowers. These begonias start spreading shortly after planting and begin early flowering soon thereafter.

There are four colors in this series: Red (pictured), Blush, Pink, and Bicolor Red White.

Height: 6-10 inches. Width: 20-27 inches. Light: Shade to sun.

Calibrachoa: Superbells Prism Pink Lemonade

Pink Lemonade shifts its color throughout the growing season. The flowers open lemon yellow and transition to a bright pink, with both colors simultaneously present on the plant. The mounded habit is well suited for containers. Tolerant of heat, it is easy to mix with other annuals in container recipes. Calibrachoas are generally best planted in containers. If planted in the ground, the soil should be very well drained.

Height: 6-12 inches. Width: 12-24 inches. Light: Part sun to full sun.

Ball Horticultural

Syngenta Flowers

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Celosia: Flamma series

The Flamma series sports vibrant plumes of color that stay bright under strong sunlight without fading. Plants have a compact habit with numerous branches, which yield many secondary blooms. This full branching occurs low on the plant as well, giving a bushy appearance. Additional benefits include early, uniform flowering and great heat tolerance. Available in five colors and a mix: Bright Red, Golden, Orange (pictured), Red, and Rose.

Height: 16-18 inches. Width: 10-12 inches. Light: Full sun.

Impatiens: Solarscape series

The first interspecific (a hybrid of two species) impatiens series from seed. That means these plants will likely be offered at a cost-effective price point. These impatiens provide

bright color and low maintenance for sunny garden spaces. Available in five colors: Magenta Bliss (pictured), Neon Purple, White Shimmer, Orange Burst, and XL Salmon Glow.

Height: 9-11 inches. Width: 15-20 inches. Light: Part sun to sun.

Lantana: Bandolista Red Chili

Lantanas are heat lovers and can handle drought as well. Building on that, with its mounding and semi-trailing habit, this new Bandolista series has been bred especially for baskets and containers. The varieties in this series are sterile (except for Coconut), which ensures maximum flower longevity. Plus, this makes for a good addition to pollinatorfriendly gardens. Available in Red Chili (pictured), Pineapple, Coconut, and Mango.

Height: 15-18 inches. Width: 24-30 inches. Light: Full sun.

Syngenta Flowers

Sakata Ornamentals

Ball Horticultural

One Print Issue This Year!

This article is just a small sampling of what is new this year from hundreds of plant introductions. Like you, we look forward to growing and learning more about these and other new perennials.

Jacob’s Ladder: ‘Golden Feathers’

Add color to your shady gardens with the yellow variegated foliage on this Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium pulcherrimum ‘Golden Feathers’). In late spring to summer, consider the bluish-purple flowers as a bonus. Jacob’s ladders tend to be deer and rabbit resistant.

Height: 10-12 inches. Width: 12-14 inches.

Light: Shade to part shade. Zone: 5.

Astilbe: ‘Dark Side of the Moon’

‘Dark Side of the Moon’ is a color breakthrough: it’s currently the only dark-leaved astilbe with purple flowers. Deep chocolate-burgundy leaves form an attractive mound of foliage. Emerging leaves are yellow with a dark margin and become completely dark as they age. Dark stems hold raspberry buds that open with rosy purple flowers. To bloom well, ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ needs a good deal of sun—but the more sun it

gets, the more moisture it needs. It will grow in the shade also, but flowering will likely be diminished. Find the right spot for this plant, and you will be handsomely rewarded.

Height: 20-22 inches. Width: 24-28 inches.

Light: Part sun to part shade. Zone: 4.

Heuchera: ‘Red Dragon’

The wide, burgundy red leaves on ‘Red Dragon’ are heavily textured and have a coppery finish. Newly expanding leaves also show a silvery overlay. In midsummer, white flowers bloom on tall scapes. Plant in well-drained soil for the best performance.

Height: 12-14 inches. Width: 20-26 inches. Light: Part shade to part sun. Zone: 4.

Carex: ‘Feather Falls’

This hybrid sedge (Carex) exhibits vigor: strong growth and bright foliage that stays attractive all season. Narrow, glossy, and variegated leaves have dark green centers and creamy white margins that form a very long and arching habit. This cascading habit is perfect for a container or a hillside slope. In the ground, it will have a wider habit as the leaves will spread

www.PerennialResource.com

outward. ‘Feather Falls’ is a clumper rather than a spreader, but note that mature plant foliage in the ground can reach three feet wide. Grows best in rich soil with dry to average moisture.

Height: 12-18 inches. Width: 24-36 inches.

Light: Part shade. Zone: 5.

Delphinium: ‘Red Lark’

A unique color for a delphinium: coral red. The flowers are held just above the foliage at roughly 30 inches tall. This variety is produced from tissue culture and thus has excellent uniformity compared with seed strains of delphinium. Newer hybrids like this one are longer lived and stronger stemmed than some of the older, more traditional cultivars. The long stems and their blooms can be used as cut flowers or simply enjoyed in the garden.

Height: 27-33 inches. Width: 18-22 inches.

Light: Full sun to part sun. Zone: 5.

This article is just a small sampling of what is new this year from hundreds of plant introductions. Like you, we look forward to growing and learning more about these and other new shrubs and trees.

Panicle hydrangea: Puffer Fish

This new panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) has fluffy white blooms that cover the entire plant, nearly obscuring the foliage. The flowers mature to a pure white. As the

blooms age, they turn lime green and, for a bit of surprise, a fresh sprig of white flowers emerges from the tip of the panicles. Puffer Fish is essentially a larger, more puffed-up

Mountain hydrangea: Pink Dynamo

Bobo, a popular dwarf panicle hydrangea.

Height: 3-5 feet. Width: 3-5 feet. Light: Full sun to part sun. Zone: 3.

Mountain hydrangeas (Hydrangea serrata) have good flower bud hardiness, so their flowers should be reliable for us here in Michigan. Pink Dynamo has bright pink, lacecap flowers that bloom from late spring through summer. Those flowers are particularly striking against the plant’s black foliage. A great combination.

Height: 2-3 feet. Width: 2-3 feet. Light: Part shade. Zone: 5.

Ninebark: Lucky Devil

With bright yellow leaves, this ninebark shrub (Physocarpus opulifolius) can be a specimen plant or informal hedge. Its compact size makes it suitable to use along the foundation of a home. A multi-season plant, Lucky Devil displays white blooms in the spring and yellow to orange foliage in the fall. Ninebarks are very hardy, making this a reliable choice for Michigan gardeners.

Height: 3-4 feet. Width: 3-4 feet. Light: Full sun. Zone: 3.

Proven Winners Color Choice Flowering Shrubs

Bailey Nurseries

Bloomin’ Easy Plants

To advertise in Destinations, email Publisher@MichiganGardener.com or call Eric at 248-594-5563

American Tree

3903 Van Dyke, Almont, MI 48003

810-798-2525

www.americantreeinc.com

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8-8, Sun 9-5.

Family owned & operated since 1990. American Tree offers an assortment of annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, herbs, heirloom & organic vegetables, a large selection of roses, acres of evergreen & flowering trees & shrubs, plus hundreds of fruit trees. We have a complete landscape supply yard and a full service landscaping company.

Brohl’s Greenhouse

19780 25 Mile Rd., Macomb, MI 48042

586-781-6842

Find us on Facebook

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8:30-7, Sun 9-6.

Family owned and operated since 1966. Very reasonable prices for top quality plants. The Brohl family offers annuals, baskets, combo pots, tropicals, perennials, vegetable plants, and fall mums. Convenient shopping under covered greenhouses. Only at Brohl’s Greenhouse—Come check us out!

Dale’s Landscaping Supply

16720 East 13 Mile Rd., Roseville, MI 48066

586-778-1919

www.daleslandscaping.com

May/June hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-4.

Finest selection of landscaping materials: mulch, soils and more. Michigan-made pavers and retaining walls from Fendt, HighFormat, Oaks, and Unilock. Now carrying Techo-Bloc. Natural stone and boulder options: Michigan sandstone, exotic veneer stone, fieldstone boulders and flagstone. Full line of cement and masonry materials. Whether your project is big or small, come see us.

English Gardens

44850 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township, MI 48038

586-286-6100

www.EnglishGardens.com

May/June hours: Please visit our website.

Founded in 1954, English Gardens is family- and locally-owned, operating six full-service stores and a full-service landscaping company in Metro Detroit. Each full-service store has a nursery, garden center, patio shop, and seasonal Christmas center featuring the best value and finest quality products and services. For more information: 800-335-GROW.

English Gardens

22501 Kelly Rd., Eastpointe, MI 48021 586-771-4200

www.EnglishGardens.com

May/June hours: Please visit our website.

Founded in 1954, English Gardens is family- and locally-owned, operating six full-service stores and a full-service landscaping company in Metro Detroit. Each full-service store has a nursery, garden center, patio shop, and seasonal Christmas center featuring the best value and finest quality products and services. For more information: 800-335-GROW.

Hessell’s Greenhouse

14497 23 Mile Rd., Shelby Twp, MI 48315 586-247-4675

www.hessellsgreenhouse.com

May/June hours: 8-7 every day. Not your typical garden center. We specialize in annuals, perennials, unique hanging baskets, colorful planters, and vegetable plants, including many varieties of heirloom and “Around the World” vegetables. Also many unique gift and garden items. We grow our own plants on-site to offer you the best, freshest plants available.

Meldrum Brothers Nursery & Supply

29500 23 Mile Rd., New Baltimore, MI 48047 586-949-9220

www.meldrumbros.com

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8-7, Sun 10-5. Huge selection of plants, bulk and bagged materials, decorative stone, Fendt and Oaks paver bricks and wall stones, garden decor, fairy gardening supplies, Traeger grills, fountains, and statuary. Organic and traditional lawn and plant care products including fertilizers, soils, mulches. We pride ourselves on offering the best service and advice. Visit meldrumbros.com for coupons and promotions.

Rocks ‘n’ Roots

62520 Van Dyke, Washington, MI 48094 586-752-4900

www.rocksnroots.com

May/June hours: Please see website. Since 1928. One of Michigan’s largest selections of landscape hardgoods, pond supplies, and outdoor lighting. All are on display, including waterfalls, ponds, decorative stone, paver walks and retaining walls. Free do-it-yourself seminars indoors, rain or shine. Familyowned, and operated, with over 100 combined years of handson experience to help with your project, big or small.

Soulliere Garden Center

23919 Little Mack, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080 586-776-2811

www.soullieregardens.com

May/June hours: Please call.

Family-owned and operated, the one-stop shop for all your landscaping needs. Founded in 1952. Our knowledgeable, friendly staff will help you pick the perfect trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Plus, bulk landscape materials, stones, brick pavers, and gardening supplies. Fabulous selection of garden decor and patio furniture.

Telly’s Greenhouse

4343 24 Mile Rd., Shelby Twp, MI 48316 248-659-8555

www.tellys.com

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-8, Sun 10-5. We find and grow new, rare, and choice plants from the United States and around the world. You will see unique annuals, tropicals, and perennials that you are unlikely to find elsewhere. Our Shelby Township store is the newest addition to our original Troy location.

Van Thomme’s Greenhouses

32385 23 Mile Rd., Chesterfield Twp., MI 48047 586-725-3708

www.vanthommesgreenhouses.com

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8-8, Sun 9-5. Established in 1963. Huge variety of annuals, perennials, vegetables, and gorgeous hanging baskets. We carry Proven Winners. Big selection of organic vegetables, with over 65 varieties of tomatoes, many heirlooms. Lots of herbs too. Fall decor and hardy mums. Wrought iron plant stands, fertilizers, and complete gardening supplies.

Van’s Valley Greenhouse

74865 Van Dyke, Bruce Twp, MI 48065 586-752-6002

www.vansvalley.com

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8–7, Sun 8-6. Shop in an open air market! Just south of 35 Mile. Wide variety of annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetable plants, succulents, garden art, wreaths, fairy gardens and much more! One-of-a-kind hanging baskets and porch pots. Your pot or our pot: we will customize it and fill with our beautiful flowers. Can’t wait to see you!

Bigleaf hydrangea: Endless Summer Pop Star

This bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is both compact and floriferous. The pink lacecap flowers contribute a classic hydrangea look. Pop Star shows strong bud hardiness and can also rebloom, helping ensure

Weigela: Vinho Verde

This unique weigela (Weigela florida) has lime green leaves that contrast with bold, dark burgundy edges. It was discovered as a variegated sport (a branch mutation) on a seedling whose parents were golden ‘Briant Rubidor’ and burgundy ‘Naomi Campbell.’

Like all variegated plants, Vinho Verde will occasionally revert, but it reverts to all burgundy, so it will not overgrow the entire plant. Prune out those random branches to maintain the variegated display. A light showing of red-pink flowers appear in late spring, but the foliage is the reason to grow this shrub.

Height: 4-5 feet. Width: 4-5 feet.

Light: Full sun. Zone: 5.

Parrotia: Golden BellTower

Ironwoods (Parrotia persica) are choice small trees. This one is a reliably upright and columnar selection. Unlike some upright parrotias, Golden BellTower maintains its columnar form as it ages. With consistent gold and apricot fall color and its growing habit, this plant is excellent for urban or suburban yards.

a flower display each season. The smaller size allows you to use it in both the landscape or even a container. With its short stature, place this hydrangea in the front of the border or as a short hedge or edging plant.

Estimated growth rate: Moderate to large (approximately 12 inches per year). Estimated height in 25 years: 25 feet. Width: 10-12 feet. Light: Full sun to part shade. Zone: 4.

Plants Nouveau

Height: 2-3 feet. Width: 2-3 feet. Light: Part shade. Zone: 4.

Bailey Nurseries

Bluestar

The genus Amsonia, once an obscure group of perennials grown mainly by collectors and plant geeks, has recently risen in popularity among gardeners, particularly those seeking low-maintenance perennials with three-season interest. Starting with blue, star-shaped flowers in late spring, these highly textured plants provide attractive foliage on a neat, shrub-like form in summer, and culminate with golden-hued color in autumn. Gardeners across the country are becoming acquainted with them because most species and varieties are hardy to

Uniquely-colored flowers, decorative foliage, and bright fall color on these easy-care plants

zone 4, not prone to any serious diseases or insects, and are deer-resistant.

The common name “bluestar” refers to the color and form of the flower. Unlike other perennials typically described as blue, bluestar flowers are actually true blue without any tint of pink or purple. The unusual flower color has been called powder blue, icy blue, steely blue, blue-gray, and even teal blue, making them some of the most uniquely colored of all perennials. Full-grown specimens will elicit many comments from gardeners unfamiliar with them, whether

seen in spring, summer or fall.

The genus Amsonia belongs to the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) and has 20 or so species, most of which are native to North America, primarily Southern and Southwestern states. Despite their southern provenance, most species and their hybrids are hardier than would be expected. Some species originally assigned a hardiness zone of 6 have proven much hardier in cultivation, and horticultural references have updated their zone designation to at least zone 5, with many now listed as hardy to zone 4a.

Most amsonia species interbreed with one another, and this capacity has been utilized by plant breeders who have plumbed their genetic potential to create more garden-worthy cultivars.

Only a few amsonia species are used in gardens, but hybridization is yielding many excellent new cultivars.

continued on page 32

Karen Bovio

Eric Hofley/Michigan Gardener

Common or willowleaf bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana)

www.PerennialResource.com

continued from page 30

Notable Species

Common, Eastern or willowleaf bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) – Likely the first species to be grown in gardens. Resembling its willowleaf namesake, this is the only species native to the Midwestern states, often found growing along streambanks. However, it is also quite drought tolerant, making it an excellent selection for rain gardens with varying levels of soil moisture. It forms a rather large “shrub,” and although listed as growing 2 to 4 feet tall, I am aware of an especially impressive and/or well-tended specimen at Michigan State University’s Judith DeLapa Perennial Garden that sometimes grows over five feet tall. My own plant routinely reaches 3-1/2 feet. This species responds very well to cutting back by one-third (or more) after blooming in order to keep it shorter and more compact. Fall color is variable season to season, with hot, dry seasons usually producing the best yellow fall color. Although it will grow in partial shade, too much shade will inhibit the development of fall color, as will excessive moisture.

The naturally occurring form var. salicifolia (which literally translates to willowleafed) produces somewhat narrower leaves. According to the Chicago Botanic Garden, it is heavier blooming with denser flower heads, making it a form worth seeking out. A form referred to simply as A. montana is listed in the literature, but its nomenclature is debated; some cite it as a distinct species and others as a shorter form of A. tabernaemontana, growing only 28 inches in height.

Shining or Ozark bluestar (Amsonia illustris) – This species has similar willowshaped foliage that is a bit shinier and thicker than common bluestar. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall, making it more manageable in smaller gardens without cutting back. Chicago Botanic Garden rates it as a species with excellent flower coverage. Fall color is yellow. The seedpods are pendant, and thus more visible, making them more of a feature than in other species where the pods are hidden within the foliage.

Threadleaf or Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii ) – This is perhaps the species that launched the bluestars toward horticultural fame, especially after it was chosen as the Perennial Plant Association’s Perennial Plant of the Year in 2011. It is grown for its amazing, fine-textured, needle-like but soft foliage, and excellent yellow to gold fall color. This species grows slowly at first, but once it hits its stride, it matures into a spectacular clump. I especially like the color of its flowers, which are light teal blue. It prefers welldrained soil and is naturally occurring in only Arkansas and Oklahoma. It has been used as a parent in developing new cultivars.

Fringed bluestar (Amsonia ciliata) –These leaves resemble threadleaf bluestar, but this foliage is margined with fine hairs and the individual leaves are a bit larger. It also prefers well-drained soil and is found in nature on sandy soils in many Southern states. Like threadleaf bluestar, it has been used in the creation of new hybrids, where it imparts narrow foliage and excellent fall color.

continued on page 34

Threadleaf or Arkansas bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii)

‘Blue Ice’

Intrinsic Perennial Gardens

‘Halfway to Arkansas’

continued from page 32

Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’ – One of the oldest and most popular of hybrids, ‘Blue Ice’ is listed here with the species because it is not a new hybrid. It has been grown since at least the early 1990s, and was originally introduced by White Flower Farm as ‘WFF Selection.’ It is very low-growing, reaching only 14 to 18 inches. One parent is likely the common bluestar (A. tabernaemontana), or perhaps the form A. montana, from which it inherits its willow-shaped leaves. The rest of its heritage is unknown.

Although ‘Blue Ice’ is well-behaved and relatively slow-growing, it does form short stolons, so the plants will spread horizontally over time. Because of this tendency, it can be used as an edging plant or short hedge. Undoubtedly its best feature is the larger-than-average blue flowers which, despite the plant’s name, are not ice-blue but a lovely shade of periwinkle. The clusters of big, navy blue buds are attractive even before they open. The flower color is substantially darker than other species and hybrids. Plus, ‘Blue Ice’ has a much longer period of bloom. In my garden, it blooms for nearly three weeks, compared to just 7 to 10 days for most other species and varieties.

New Hybrids

‘Halfway to Arkansas’ – One of the first fine-textured hybrids to be introduced, ‘Halfway to Arkansas’ is a compact grower with a very attractive form, although not necessarily short at three feet tall. A selection from A. ciliata, fall color is excellent when grown in full sun on well-drained soil and can be anywhere from yellow to gold to orange, sometimes with purplish red tints.

‘Midway to Montana’ – Despite the reference to Montana, it is not a hybrid of A. montana but rather another fine-textured cultivar likely from A. hubrichtii or A. ciliata. It blooms at its midway point of growth—a height of about 16 to 18 inches. After flowering, vegetative growth resumes, with the plant attaining its ultimate height of 24 to 36 inches.

‘Butterscotch’ – Another excellent, finetextured form and likely a hybrid of A. hubrichtii. Grown for its very colorful fall foliage: butterscotch-gold with reddish stems. Grows 24 to 36 inches tall with equal spread.

‘Storm Cloud’ – Emerges from the ground in early spring with nearly black stems somewhat resembling dark asparagus shoots.

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Emerald Coast Growers

‘Butterscotch’

‘Storm Cloud’

Intrinsic Perennial Gardens

‘Midway to Montana’

Banotai Greenhouse

6981 Rawsonville Rd., Belleville, MI 48111

734-482-2764

www.banotai.com

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8-7, Sun 8-6. Quality plants at competitive prices since 1960. Visit 8 acres of our finest-quality annuals, vegetables, herbs, perennials, hanging baskets, patio pots, tropicals, succulents, and bushes. Certified Proven Winners distributor.

The Flower Market

8930 South Custer Rd., Monroe, MI 48161 734-269-2660

www.flowermarketdundee.com

May/June hours: Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat 9-4, Sun 11-4

Michigan’s largest bonsai nursery. Tons of indoor and outdoor bonsai, pre-bonsai, nursery stock, bonsai pots, wire, tools, books, more! Plus houseplants, terrarium plants and supplies, succulents, cacti, fairy garden supplies, locally made gifts and wares. Visit our cats, koi fish, tortoises, sugar gliders, and farm animals! Independent florist too: weddings, sympathy, baby showers, anniversaries, birthdays, etc.

Grass Roots Pond & Garden 24765 Bell Rd., New Boston, MI 48164 734-753-9200

www.grassrootspondandgarden.com

Grass Roots Pond and Garden: Michigan’s place for quality pond supplies and service. See our website for hours and specials. Thank you, The Bates family.

Panetta’s Landscape Supplies

20200 Goddard, Taylor, MI 48180 313-291-3880

www.panettasupply.com

May/June hours: Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat 8-4, Sun Closed (except Mother’s Day & Memorial Day Weekend).

Wide variety of decorative rock, mulches, natural flagstone, boulders, outcroppings. Bagged cocoa mulch. Unilock, Fendt, High Format, and Oaks brick pavers and wall blocks. Try our RJ’s Garden Mix, a custom blend perfect for your garden. Stop in to pick up this season’s newest perennial and shrub varieties. Use our easy Online Ordering for deliveries!

Pinter Flowerland

6830 Rawsonville Rd., Belleville, MI 48111 734-482-2776

www.pinterflowerland.com

May/June hours: Open 7 days a week; please call for hours.

Buy direct from the grower—that means great quality and low prices. Family owned and operated since 1926. Annuals, hanging baskets, containers, perennials, garden supplies, soils, mulches, and much more. 13 acres of covered shopping—stay dry when it’s raining! Come see us at our Redford location also (313-538-7580).

Ruhlig Farms & Gardens

24508 Telegraph Rd., Brownstown Twp, MI 48134 734-782-9811

www.ruhligfarmsandgardens.com

Spring hours: Mon-Sat 9-8, Sun 10-6. Another 25,000 square-foot expansion! Explore nearly 100,000 sq ft of amazing indoor greenhouses. Enhance your garden’s beauty and uniqueness at our premier garden center and nursery. Enormous selection of annuals, perennials, patio containers, hanging baskets and potted plants. Friendly staff always available to assist. Make us your destination for Spring, Summer, Fall & Christmas.

Westcroft Gardens & Farm

21803 West River Rd., Grosse Ile, MI 48138 734-676-2444

www.westcroftgardens.com

May/June hours: Mon-Fri 8-7, Sat 9-6, Sun 10-5.

Michigan’s oldest farm still owned & operated by the same family, established 1776. Specializing in our own azalea & rhododendron hybrids that grow well in Michigan. Also trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, herbs & vegetables. Our Greenleaf Compound acidifies & improves your soil. Stroll our Heritage Gardens or rent them for your next special event.

Zywicki Greenhouse

50705 Willow Rd., Belleville, MI 48111 734-461-6197

www.zywickigreenhouse.com

May/June hours: Open 7 days a week, 8-6. Zywicki’s has served lower Michigan for over 50 years with quality annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, planters, window boxes, vegetable plants and roses. 200 varieties of vegetable and herb plants. Over 400 varieties of annuals, perennials, and hanging baskets. When it’s quality you need, it’s Zywicki’s indeed!

One Print Issue This Year!

Gardener

continued from page 34

Foliage color changes to olive green with silver veins, becoming yellow in fall. Leaves are wider than those of its parent A. tabernaemontana. Grows 24 to 30 inches tall, and up to 36 inches wide.

‘String Theory’ – Excellent vase-shaped habit and strong stems lined with narrow foliage, qualities derived from its parent A. hubrichtii. It also inherits excellent yellow to golden-orange fall color. It blooms later than ‘Storm Cloud,’ growing 18 to 22 inches tall with a 32- to 36-inch width.

‘Starstruck’ – Full, dense habit with a tidy appearance. Wide, bright green leaves. Pale blue flowers appear later than most. 20 inches tall and 32 to 38 inches wide.

‘Georgia Pancake’ – A nearly prostrate variety that was reportedly discovered wild in the sandhills of Georgia. It is not a hybrid but a naturally occurring form of A. ciliata var. filifolia. It grows only 4 to 6 inches tall, but spreads two feet wide, making it useful at the front of the border or as a groundcover if planted en masse. It has soft needle-like foliage and develops yellow fall color. Hardy in Michigan with good drainage.

More new hybrids – Also watch for more new fine-textured hybrids, including ‘Bases Loaded,’ ‘First Hit,’ ‘Short Stop,’ and ‘Seventh Inning Stretch.’

How to grow bluestars

Amsonias are very easy to grow and they tolerate a wide range of soils, depending on

their parentage. In general, those with wider foliage (willow-leaf width or greater) tolerate heavier soils and more soil moisture than those with very narrow or thread-like leaves. The more moisture-tolerant species include willowleaf bluestar (A. tabernaemontana) and shining bluestar (A. illustris) and their hybrids, but even these are drought resistant when mature.

The fine-textured species fringed bluestar (A. ciliata) and threadleaf bluestar (A. hubrichtii ) prefer very well-drained soil. Fringed bluestar grows best in sandy soils with regular moisture and sharp drainage, while threadleaf bluestar is more drought tolerant and will die out in poorly drained soil or consistently damp soil.

Sunlight is a prime consideration in growing bluestars. All the species and hybrids grow and look their best in full sun (a minimum of six hours), particularly if fall color is a quality you value. If you need a mass of foliage and are not concerned about perfect plant form, choose one of the wider-leafed forms like willowleaf bluestar or shining bluestar, which will grow quite well in partial shade, particularly morning shade with afternoon sun. If they become floppy, they can be staked, or partially cut back to develop a sturdier form.

Bluestars are unbothered by insect pests and are rarely affected by diseases. I’ve grown ‘Blue Ice’ for over 30 years, and in only one of those years did it ever have any disease issues. In that par-

‘String Theory’

‘String Theory’

‘Storm Cloud’

continued from page 36

ticular year it developed a rust disease, which did not recur in any subsequent years, leading me to believe the affliction was weather-related; rust is not common on amsonia.

Bluestars do not require additional fertilizer. Indeed, rich soil may cause floppiness and can delay or even prevent good fall color. In the Midwest, rain usually supplies sufficient moisture in all but the driest years.

Some but not all bluestars appear to be sensitive to high pH levels. Chicago Botanic Garden has noted chlorosis on fringed bluestar (A. ciliata) and dwarf bluestar (A. montana) in their evaluation test plot soil, which has a pH of 7.5. Although not specified in their report, it could be assumed that these species would perform better with a slightly lower pH where iron is more readily available. However, the lack of some other essential nutrient in their soil has not been ruled out. The cultivar ‘String Theory’ is reputedly less prone to chlorosis.

In some species, flower color may fade as temperatures rise, resulting in near-white flowers in a hot spring, especially near the end of their blooming period. However, the variety ‘Blue Ice’ remains consistently blue regardless of temperature.

The flowers of most amsonia species and hybrids are borne in loose terminal clusters. As the flowers mature and begin to drop, the plants begin a second flush of vegetative growth from the shoot tips. This flush of growth coincides with the development of their long, cylindrical seedpods. Although attractive in their own right, the narrow pods are often obscured by the newly developing foliage. This second flush of growth means that some types of bluestars are shorter at bloom time than they will be by midsummer after they have reached their full height. To accommodate for this feature and to provide the plants with the best growing conditions, allow ample space to avoid crowding.

Using bluestars in the garden

Although their flowers are lovely, they are subtle in color and only last a short while. Instead of focusing on flowers when choosing bluestars, consider your garden site to best show off the other excellent amsonia features: form, texture and fall color. Most species and cultivars are in the 2- to 3-foot height category, making them easy to work into most gardens. Shorter varieties like ‘Blue Ice’ can be used at the front of the garden or to create a border, while tall types like common bluestar can be used like an herbaceous shrub or to provide mass at the back of the border. All types are excellent additions to native gardens or wherever a naturalistic or informal style is desired.

As late-spring bloomers (usually early June in southern Michigan), bluestars will flower at the same time as peonies, bearded and Siberian irises, pinks and sweet William, cat-

mint, gas plant, biennial foxglove, lupine, and the large-bulb alliums. Bluestars make great cut flowers, so enjoy them indoors too. Their unusual color and shape will make your June bouquets memorable.

Plant bluestars with sun-loving, summerblooming perennials to provide sequential bloom in your garden from late June into the fall. Coreopsis, balloon flower, butterfly bush, butterfly weed, coneflower, gaura, anise hyssop, and Russian sage will bloom after the bluestars have finished, and thrive in the same cultural conditions. Bluestars also happily co-exist with ornamental grasses, whose plumes complement the golden yellow fall color of amsonia. Create a native garden using bluestars, milkweeds, baptisia, prairie smoke, wild bergamot, rudbeckia, and native grasses like little bluestem, prairie dropseed, and switchgrass.

Karen Bovio owned and operated Specialty Growers in Howell, MI for 39 years.

‘Bases Loaded’

‘Starstruck’

May / June / July / August / September / October

May

Waterford Garden Club Monthly Meeting

Thu, May 4, 10am-Noon, Waterford. By Waterford Garden Club at the Senior Center. www.waterfordgardenclub.org.

Growing Cut Flowers

Thu, May 4, 7-9pm, on Zoom. By Project Grow. Flowers that can be grown in Michigan, including bulbs, annuals, perennials & a few shrubs. www.projectgrowgardens.org.

Herb and Plant Sale

Fri, May 5, & Sat, May 6, 9am-3pm, Grosse Pointe Woods. By The Herb Society of America, Grosse Pointe Unit at Cook School House. www.facebook.com/HSAGPU.

Free Pine Seedlings & Wildflower Seeds

Sat, May 6, 8am-1pm, Chelsea. By Chelsea Area Garden Club at the 1st Chelsea Farmers Market of the season. www.chelseagardenclub.com.

South Lyon Plant Exchange

Sat, May 6, 9-11am, South Lyon. By Four Seasons Garden Club at Salem South Lyon Library. Rain/shine. Trade plants, bulbs or seeds. Label each. Text only: 248-767-4183.

H Dahlias: Annual Tuber Sale

Sat, May 6, 9am-Noon, Troy. By SE Michigan Dahlia Society at Telly’s Greenhouse. 700+ dahlia tubers & cuttings will be available. A variety of sizes, colors & petal forms to your garden. www.semds.org.

Annual Spring Workbee

Sat, May 6, 9am-1pm, Jackson. At Dahlem Environmental Education Center. Meet at 8:45 for spring/summer maintenance assignments & enjoy a picnic after the work is done. Find us on Facebook.

Master Gardener Rummage Sale

Sat, May 6, 9am-3pm, Lapeer. By Lapeer County Master Gardener Association at the Lapeer Farmers Market. www.lc-mga.org.

American Primrose Society Talk & Plant Sale

Sat, May 6, 10am-2pm, Ann Arbor. By American Primrose Society at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Talk by Karen Schellinger, growing/sowing demo, rare plants for sale. midwest.aps@gmail.com.

Ferndale Garden Club Coffee in the Garden

Sat, May 6, 10am, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at the Club Garden. Come enjoy coffee, treats & learn about the garden. Find us on Facebook.

Kusamono Workshop

Sat, May 6, 10am, Dundee. At The Flower Market. $25. Learn about the Japanese art of Kusamono & create your own accent planting to take home. Register: www.flowermarketdundee.com.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC GARDENS, please visit MichiganGardener.com.

Click on "Resources" then "Public Gardens."

Heirloom Vegetables Workshop

Sat, May 6, 10am, Pontiac. At Goldner Walsh. $10.  Jean Roman, Author, Podcaster & self-professed Master Gardener will discuss the value of heirloom vegetable seeds & plants. www.goldnerwalsh.com.

Afternoon Tea at Gerych’s Greenhouse

Sat, May 6, 12:30pm, Fenton. At Gerych’s Greenhouse. $55. In our Conservatory; afternoon luncheon with food, tea & entertainment. sales@gerychsevents.com.

H Bonsai Workshop

Sat, May 6, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $50. Participants will plant and create their own bonsai tree. www.tellys.com.

H Bonsai Wiring Class

Sun, May 7, 10am, Dundee. At The Flower Market. $125. Register: www.flowermarketdundee.com.

Invasives That You Won’t Be MISIN

(Michigan Invasive Species Network)

Tue, May 9, 6-7pm, Zoom. By MSU Extension on Zoom. Free. Registration required: events.anr.msu.edu.

H New Annuals & Perennials

Tue, May 9, 6:30pm, Troy. By Master Gardener Society of Oakland County at Telly’s Greenhouse. Presented by George Papadelis. www.mgsoc.org.

Edelweiss Garden Club Meeting

Wed, May 10, 9:30am, Gaylord. By Edelweiss Garden Club at Otsego Cty Library Meeting Room. New members welcome. Find us on Facebook.

Butterflies & Moths in Michigan

Wed, May 10, 12:30pm, Grand Rapids. By Kent Garden Club at Frederik Meijer Gardens. www.kentgardenclub.org.

Dexter Garden Club Meeting

Wed, May 10, 6:30pm, Dexter. By Dexter Garden Club at St. Andrew’s Church Fellowship Hall. www.dextergardenclub.org.

Tulip Festival Bus Trip

Wed, May 10, By Master Gardeners of Genesee County. From Swartz Creek to Holland. $65. www.geneseecountymg.org.

Power UP Garden Beauty & Power DOWN Garden Maintenance

Thu, May 11, 9:15am, Birmingham. By Troy Garden Club at The Community House. Presentation by Kerry Ann Mendez. Register: www.troygardenclubmi.com.

Brighton Garden Club Meeting

Thu, May 11, 10am, Brighton. By Brighton Garden Club at Brighton Community Center. www.brightonmichigangardenclub.org.

One Print Issue This Year!

In 2023, Michigan Gardener will publish one print magazine in Spring 2023 (this issue!).

We will also publish 10 E-Newsletters, from Spring to Fall. To sign up for the E-Newsletter, visit our website: www.MichiganGardener.com

Butterfly Association Meeting

RHYTHMS

Shelby Garden Club Meeting

Thu, May 11, 1pm, Shelby Twp. By Shelby Garden Club at Burgess-Shadbush Nature Ctr. Speaker: Brenda Dziedzic, monarch crusader.

Supporting & Protecting Pollinators Webinar

Thu, May 11, 6-7pm, online. By The Muskegon Conservation District. $10. Presenter: Anna Heck. Registration required: www.muskegoncd.org.

Attracting Birds to Your Garden

Thu, May 11, 6:30pm, Milford. By Milford Garden Club. Presented by Carol Bredbeck. www.themilfordgardenclub.org.

Thornapple Garden Club Adopt A Corner Planting Day

Fri, May 12, Hastings. By Thornapple Garden Club. Volunteers needed to sort plants. Find us on Facebook. Huntington Woods Art & Garden Fair

Sat, May 13, 10am-4pm, Huntington Woods. By HW Art & Garden Board, HW Library & Cultural Center. Inaugural Art & Garden Fair. www.Linktr.ee/hwagf.

Native Plant Sale

Sat, May 13, 11am, Grand Blanc. By Master Gardeners Association Genesee County Michigan at 1050 Sarah St. Submit orders/payment by May 13. www.geneseecountymg.org

H Intro to Indoor Bonsai

Sat, May 13, 6pm, Dundee. At The Flower Market. $70. Register: www.flowermarketdundee.com.

Tree Plantings

Sat, May 13, Tecumseh. By ReLeaf Michigan. Working to pick the right trees & locations for your area. To request a tree planting in your area: www.releafmichigan.org.

Matthaei Spring Plant Sale

Sat, May 13, & Sun, May 14, 8am-4:30pm, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Planters & hanging baskets are designed/tended by a team of dedicated volunteers. mbgna.umich.edu.

Michigan All-State Bonsai Show

Sat, May 13, & Sun, May 14, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. See stunning bonsai on display. www.meijergardens.org.

Garden Club of Dearborn Meeting

Mon, May 15, Noon, Dearborn. By Garden Club of Dearborn at 1st Presbyterian. Desert Flowers & Cryptobiotic Soil by Ron Wiggle, Member & Utah Canyonlands Tour Guide. www.gardenclubdearborn.org.

It’s Easy Being Green in the Garden

Tue, May 16, 6:30pm, Ferndale. By Ferndale Garden Club at Ferndale Area District Library. Presented by Cheryl English. Sign up: www.fadl.org/garden.

Prairie Garden, Tree Groves & Butterfly Garden

Tue, May 16, 6:30pm, Clinton Twp. By Macomb Cty Master Gardener Assoc at Tomlinson Arboretum. Free. Register: www.macombcountymga.org.

Garden City Garden Club Meeting

Tue, May 16, 7-9pm, Garden City. By Garden City Garden Club at Maplewood Community Center. Find us on Facebook.

Ford House Native Plant Presale Ends

Tue, May 16, Begins Apr 16; Grosse Pointe Shores. At Ford Home. There is plenty to choose from, from switchgrass & little bluestem to prairie dropseed & purple coneflower. Order: www.fordhouse.org.

Meadow Brook Perennial Plant Sale

Thu, May 18, 8am-2pm, Rochester. By Meadow Brook Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. Perennial plant sale. 248-364-6210, MBGCmembers@gmail.com or visit www.meadowbrookhall.org.

A Glimpse of Japan

Thu, May 18, 11am, Southfield. By Ikebana International Detroit Chapter at Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church. $15. Exhibition of flower arrangements by members & more. www.ikebanadetroit.org.

Thu, May 18, 7pm, Westland. By SE Michigan Butterfly Association at CrossWalk Community Church. www.sembabutterfly.org.

Herbert Dow’s Garden Tours

Fri, May 19, 1–2:30pm, Midland. At Dow Gardens. Guided walking tour through the gardens. $5/adult, $3/child. Reservations required. www.dowgardens.org.

51st Annual Spring Plant Sale

Fri, May 19, 10am-5pm, & Sat, 10am-2pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Cranbrook House & Garden. Native plants, perennials, fairy garden plants, herbs, tropical plants & more. www.housegardens.cranbrook.edu.

H MSU Horticulture Gardens Spring Plant Sale

Sat, May 20, 7am-2pm, East Lansing. By MSU Horticulture Gardens at Plant & Soil Sciences Building. Hanging baskets, perennials, annuals, grasses, vegetables & more. Bring a cart. More info: hrt.msu.edu/gardens.

H Hosta Hillside Work Day

Sat, May 20, 8am-4pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Join the Michigan Hosta Society in keeping the hosta collection in beautiful condition. www.canr.msu. edu/hiddenlakegardens/.

Jackson Spring Garden Plant Sale

Sat, May 20, 8am-Noon, Jackson. By Jackson County Master Gardeners at the Fairgrounds. Tool sharpening by donation. www.michiganmastergardener.org.

Dexter Plant Sale and Green Day

Sat, May 20, 9am-2pm, Dexter. By Dexter Garden Club at Monument Park. Come early for best selection. www.dextergardenclub.org.

Waterford Garden Club Spring Plant Sale

Sat, May 20, 9am-3pm, Waterford. By Waterford Garden Club at Waterford Senior Center. Selling homegrown perennials, succulents, houseplants & herbs to support our mini-grants. www.waterfordgardenclub.org.

Troy Plant Exchange

Sat, May 20, 10am-Noon, Troy. By Troy Garden Club at the parking lot of Troy Family Aquatic Center. Free event. Please label all plants with type & bloom color. www.troygardenclubmi.com.

Project Grow Plant Sale

Sat, May 20, 10am-2pm, Ypsilanti. By Project Grow at Dawn Farm Hoop House. Hard-to-find tomato & pepper heirloom varieties plus basil & flowers. www.projectgrowgardens.org.

H Bonsai Workshop

Sat, May 20, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $50. Participants will plant and create their own bonsai tree. www.tellys.com.

Kitchen Favorites Plant Sale

Sat, May 20, & Sun, May 21, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Veggies & herbs are sown/grown by students from the U-M Campus Farm. Proceeds to Campus Farm/MBGNA. Pre-sale: www.mbgna.umich.edu.

H Bonsai Rock Planting

Sun, May 21, 10am, Dundee. At The Flower Market. $80. Register: www.flowermarketdundee.com.

Orchid Society General Meeting

Sun, May 21, 2:30pm, Birmingham. By Michigan Orchid Society at First Baptist Church Sanctuary. General meeting & program. Show table of plants in bloom. www.miorchidsociety.com.

H Basic Pruning of Trees & Shrubs

Tue, May 23, 7-8pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Fundamentals for pruning shrubs & small trees. www.canr.msu.edu/hiddenlakegardens/.

H Bonsai Workshop

Sat, May 27, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $50. Participants will plant and create their own bonsai tree. www.tellys.com.

H Intro to Indoor Bonsai

Sun, May 28, 6pm, Dundee. At The Flower Market. $70. Register: flowermarketdundee.com.

Heirloom Peony Sale

Tue, May 30, Ann Arbor. Order online & pick up at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. https://mbgna.umich.edu.

Promote your events!

Send us your information!

Website: Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Garden Event Calendar”

E-Mail: calendar@MichiganGardener.com

June

Waterford Garden Club Monthly Meeting

Thu, Jun 1, 10am-Noon, Waterford. By Waterford Garden Club at the Senior Center. www.waterfordgardenclub.org.

Grounds & Gardens Tour

Thu, Jun 1, Through Oct 31. 11am, Grosse Pointe Shores. At Ford House. Tour is about 55 minutes, held entirely outside. Dress for the weather/comfortable shoes. www.fordhouse.org.

Little Trees, Big Impact

Thu, Jun 1, At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Month-long celebration of our bonsai & penjing garden. Events include workshops, demos, family-friendly activities. www.mbgna.umich.edu.

Yardeners Native Plant Sale

Fri, Jun 2, Fri, 3-6pm, & Sat, Jun 3, 9am-Noon, St. Clair Shores. By The Yardeners at Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum grounds. Email for plant list: scsyardeners@gmail.com.

Clarkston Farm & Garden Club Plant Exchange

Sat, Jun 3, 8:30am, Clarkston. By Clarkston Farm & Garden Club at Main St. Parking Lot. www.clarkstongardenclub.org.

MSU Tollgate Spring Plant Sale

Sat, Jun 3, 9am-2pm, Novi. At MSU Tollgate Farm. A variety of hardy perennials popular to SE Michigan gardens. Rain/shine. Experienced volunteers on hand to assist. www.canr.msu.edu/events/msu-tollgate-gardenvolunteer-s-spring-plant-sale.

Native Plant Sale

Sat, Jun 3, 10am-4pm, Clarkston. By Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy at Neiman’s Parking Lot. www.blueheronheadwaters.org.

H Bonsai Workshop

Sat, Jun 3, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $50. Participants will plant and create their own bonsai tree. www.tellys.com.

Plant, Pot & Garden Art Exchange

Sat, Jun 3, Noon-2pm, Harrison Township. By Harrison Township Beautification Commission at Tucker Park. Simply load your trunk with plants & pull into a space. 586-242-3868, keehns@wowwaycom.

Plant Sale & Garden Market

Sat, Jun 3, Milford. By Milford Garden Club at Milford United Methodist Church. Hardy perennials dug from members’ own gardens. Gently used garden tools & garden art. www.TheMilfordGardenClub.org.

Iris Show

Sat, Jun 3, & Sun, Jun 4, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. A variety of tall bearded & Siberian blossoms on display. Grand Valley Iris Society members on hand.  www.meijergardens.org.

Dexter Garden Club Trip

Sun, Jun 4, 8:15am, Grosse Pointe Shores. At Ford House & Elmwood Arboretum & Cemetery. By Dexter Garden Club. Membership: www.dextergardenclub.org.

Beepalooza

Sun, Jun 4, 8:30am-4pm, Novi. By SE Michigan Butterfly Association MSU Tollgate. www.canr.msu.edu.

Clarkston Farm & Garden Club Meeting

Mon, Jun 5, 6:30pm, Clarkston. By Clarkston Farm & Garden Club at Clarkston United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. www.clarkstongardenclub.org.

Garden Club of Dearborn Annual Meeting

Tue, Jun 6, Noon, Dearborn. At Dearborn Historical Museum. Officer Installation. www.gardenclubdearborn.org.

Iris: The Rainbow Flower

Wed, Jun 7, 12:30pm, Grand Rapids. By Kent Garden Club at Frederik Meijer Gardens. kentgardenclub.org.

Ford House Explorers: Gardens

Sat, Jun 10, 11am, Grosse Pointe Shores. At Ford House. $5/child. Children ages 6-9 are invited to come plant natives in our Education Garden. www.fordhouse.org.

H Bonsai Workshop

Sat, Jun 10, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $50. Participants will plant and create their own bonsai tree. www.tellys.com.

Ann Arbor Farm & Garden Garden Walk

Sat, Jun 10, See website for details: www.annarborfarmandgarden.org.

H Fairy Fest

Sat, Jun 10, & Sun, Jun 11, Dundee. At The Flower Market. Vendors, fairy visits, kids activities & more. Follow us on Facebook.

Edelweiss Garden Club Meeting

Wed, Jun 14, 9:30am, Gaylord. By Edelweiss Garden Club at Otsego Co. Library Meeting Room. New members welcome. Find us on Facebook.

Ikebana Workshop

Wed, Jun 14, 10am, Southfield. By Ikebana International Detroit Chapter 85 at Northwestern Unitarian Universalist Church. $15. ikebana.detroit@gmail.com or www.ikebanadetroit.org.

Hydrangea lecture

Wed, Jun 14, Oakland. By Master Gardener Society of Oakland County at Piechnik’s Garden Gate. Matt Colonius presents. www.mgsoc.org.

Butterfly Association Meeting

Thu, Jun 15, 7pm, Westland. By SE Michigan Butterfly Association at CrossWalk Community Church. www.sembabutterfly.org.

Rochester Garden Walk

Thu, Jun 15, Rochester Hills. By Rochester Garden Club & Rochester Museum at Van Hoosen Farm. Native plant sale. Order form: www.RochesterGardenClub.org.

Little Trees, Big Impact: Beginner Satsuki Workshop

Sat, Jun 17, 9am-Noon, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Beginner Satsuki workshop with David Kreutz. www.mbgna.umich.edu.

H Bonsai Workshop

Sat, Jun 17, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $50. Participants will plant and create their own bonsai tree. www.tellys.com.

H Hosta Leaf Show & Hosta Sale

Sat, Jun 17, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. More info coming soon. www.canr.msu.edu/hiddenlakegardens/.

Little Trees, Big Impact: Advanced Satsuki Workshop

Sun, Jun 18, 8am-Noon, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Advanced Satsuki workshop with David Kreutz. www.mbgna.umich.edu.

Little Trees, Big Impact: Bring Your Own Tree Workshop

Sun, Jun 18, 1-5pm, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Register: www.mbgna.umich.edu.

We(eds) are What We Eat

Tue, Jun 20, 6-7pm, Zoom. By MSU Extension on Zoom. Free. Registration required: www.events.anr.msu.edu. Garden City Garden Club Meeting

Tue, Jun 20, 7-9pm, Garden City. By Garden City Garden Club at Maplewood Community Center. Find us on Facebook.

H 37th Annual Franklin Garden Walk

Wed, Jun 21, 10am-4pm & 6-9pm, Franklin. By Franklin Garden Club. $12 presale tickets @ The Franklin Boutique or 2023franklingardenwalk.eventbrite.com. Maps & tickets ($15) available on tour day at Gazebo. Artisan Market next to the Franklin Green. www.franklingardenclub. org. Info: 248-761-2062.

17th Annual Kirtland Garden Tour

Thu, Jun 22, Houghton Lake. By Kirtland Garden Club. Self-guided tour of 8-10 gardens selected in Roscommon, Prudenville & Houghton Lake. Rain/shine. Ticket sale locations: kirtlandgardenclub.org. Info: 732-684-5497.

26th Annual Milford Garden Walk

Fri, Jun 23, 4-8pm & Sat, Jun 24, 10am-4pm, Milford. By Milford Garden Club. Info: www.themilfordgardenclub.org.

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Advertiser Index

Aguafina Gardens International 12

Applewood 19 Assoc. of Professional Gardeners 40

Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr 21

Barson’s Greenhouse 33

Begick Nursery & Gard Ctr 39

Beste’s Landscp Supp & Gard Ctr 13

Billings Lawn Equipment 29

Blossoms 40

Bock’s Big Acre 33

Bogie Lake Greenhouses 25

Campbell’s Greenhouses 31

Country Oaks Landscape Supp 23

Dale’s Landscaping Supp 7

Davey Tree 9

Destinations: Ann Arbor 16

Destinations: Downriver 35

Destinations: I-96 43

Destinations: Macomb 27

Detroit Garden Works 15

Eagle Landscaping & Supp 25

Endless Summer Hydrangeas 11 English Gardens 13

Everlastings in the Wildwood 33

Fraleigh’s Landscape Nursery 6

The Garden Mill 31

Garden Rhythms 40

A Garden Space 33

Hessell’s Greenhouses 37

Hidden Lake Gardens 56

L ACASA Center 8

Lake Orion Lawn Ornaments 25

Main’s Landscape Supp 19

Margolis Nursery 19

Meier Flowerland 15

Merritt Home Design 23

Michigan Nursery/ Landscp Assoc 31

Milarch Nursery 39

Mosquito One 8

Mulligan’s Garden Ctr 41

The Original Budget Tree Service 37 Orion Stone Depot 10

Piechnik’s Gard Ctr Page 3

Plantskydd 23

Poison Ivy Control of Michigan 21

Proven Winners Color Choice 5

ReLeaf Michigan 40

Rock Shoppe 37

Schuman Landscape Lighting 17

Sell Farms & Greenhouses 21

Steinkopf Nursery 4

Stone Cottage Gardens 17 Suburban Landscape Supply 29

Telly’s Greenhouse Inside Front Cover

Turman’s Tree & Landscp 31

Uncle Luke’s Feed Store 29

Van Atta’s Greenhouse 6

Warmbier Farms 37

Westcroft Gardens 41

Zoner’s Greenhouse 14

Classified Ads

LET A PRO TEND YOUR GARDEN –

Hire an APG professional. Located throughout metro Detroit, members are expert in consultations, design, installation and maintenance. Your garden is worth the investment. Learn more at: www. associationofprofessionalgardeners.org.

POISON IVY & BUCKTHORN – We get rid of it! That’s all we do. Call us—we are experts at identifying & removing poison ivy & buckthorn from your property, from single homes to large parks. Licensed & Insured. Poison Ivy Control of Michigan. Call 844-IVY-GONE (489-4663). www.poisonivycontrolofmichigan.com.

MICHIGAN GARDENER E-NEWSLETTER –

Sign up for our free e-newsletter! We send out a few each year, and there are contests to win prizes as well. (No spam, and we do not share your e-mail.) Go to www.MichiganGardener. com and simply enter your e-mail address.

NEED A HAND? Call “The little gardener that could.” 15 yrs experience at Botanical Gardens. FREE Estimates. Pat: 586-214-9852, agardenspace.com.

1 PRINT ISSUE THIS YEAR – In 2023, Michigan Gardener will publish 1 print magazine in Spring 2023 (this issue!). We will also publish 10 E-Newsletters, from Spring to Fall. Sign up for free on our website.

PART-TIME GARDENER WANTED –Flexible schedule. Weeding, planting, staking, deadheading. Work in private garden under direction of experienced head gardener. Franklin/Bingham Farms area. Emails please to: garden4321@yahoo.com.

ZOOM GARDEN SPEAKER AVAILABLE for your club or group. Well-traveled garden writer does virtual garden presentations & travelogues. This active collector gardener can speak on many subjects. For presentation list, biography, fee & references, contact Julia Hofley at Julia@juliasbiglife.com. 248-497-2674. Find me on Facebook.

2020 Annual Summary

Total Precipitation (inches)

Average Temperature (degrees)

Factoid: 37 degrees below zero is the coldest temperature ever recorded in Lansing (February, 1868).

2021 Annual Summary

Total Precipitation (inches)

Average Temperature (degrees)

Factoid: Flint recorded its third wettest summer in 2021 with 15.84 inches of rain.

2022 Annual Summary

Factoid: 2022 was the driest year in Metro Detroit since 1971 and the 9th driest year on record since 1874.

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Grosse Pointe Garden Club Annual Garden Tour

Fri, Jun 23, & Sat, Jun 24, Grosse Pointe. By Grosse Pointe Garden Club at 7 gardens. $15/advance, $20/day of. Native plants for sale in the Garden Shoppe. www.gpgardencenter.org.

Basics of Bonsai

Sat, Jun 24, 10am-Noon, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Simple wiring techniques for beginners. Recommended ages: 7-14. Register: www.mbgna.umich.edu.

Jackson County Garden Tour

Sat, Jun 24, 10am-4pm, Jackson. By Jackson County Master Gardener Association at 7 area gardens. Rain or shine. Tickets at each site $10 cash/check. Info: marlagilpin05@gmail.com, 517-499-4442.

Tri-Cities Garden Club Annual Garden Walk

Sat, Jun 24, 10am-4pm, Spring Lake. By Tri-Cities Garden Club at various gardens in the Spring Lake area. Tickets: $12/adult, available June 10, Tri-Cities Historical Museum. www.tricitiesgardenclub.org.

H Bonsai Workshop

Sat, Jun 24, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $50. Participants will plant and create their own bonsai tree. www.tellys.com.

2023 Flowers are Forever Garden Walk

Tue, Jun 27, 11am, Plymouth. By Trailwood Garden Club. www.trailwoodgardenclub.com.

Bonsai Garden 10th Anniversary Program

Wed, Jun 28, 7-9pm, Ann Arbor. By Ann Arbor Bonsai Society at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Meet with members & learn more about Ann Arbor Bonsai Society. www.mbgna.umich.edu.

Great Lakes Garden Celebration

Fri, Jun 30, Through Nov 19, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei. Join us throughout the summer & fall seasons for native plant & pollinator-focused events. www.mbgna.umich.edu.

July

Waterford Garden Club Monthly Meeting

Thu, Jul 6, 10am-Noon, Waterford. By Waterford Garden Club at the Senior Center. www.waterfordgardenclub.org.

H LACASA Garden Tour – Charity Event

Sat, Jul 8, 9am-4pm, Livingston County. Stroll private gardens. Gardeners open their yards to share their love of fauna & flora with wandering visitors. Relax at “Petals” midway point. Browse the Blooming Raffle. Join the Scavenger Hunt. All for a good cause. www.lacasacenter.org/gardentour2023.

H Bonsai Workshops

Sat, Jul 8, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. Check website for more dates & registration. Space is limited. www.tellys.com.

Welcome to My Garden Tour

Sat, Jul 8, & Sun, Jul 9, 10am-4pm, Marshall. By Marshall Area Garden Club at area gardens. $15/day of. $10/advance at Marshall Welcome Center. Children’s treasure map tickets $2. 800-877-5163. www.marshallareagardenclub.org.

29th Annual Northville Garden Walk

Wed, Jul 12, 9am-4pm, Northville. By Country Garden Club of Northville at 6 private gardens. $12 advance tickets. $15 day of sold only in Green Space behind Northville Library. Proceeds support Northville High Scholarships, local & national horticultural organizations. 734-788-9935, www.cgcnorthville@gmail.com.

Edelweiss Garden Club Meeting

Wed, Jul 12, 9:30am, Gaylord. By Edelweiss Garden Club at Otsego Co. Library Meeting Room. New members welcome. Find us on Facebook.

48th Troy Garden Walk: Garden Stories

Wed, Jul 12, 9:30am-3pm & 5-8:30pm, Troy. By Troy Garden Club at 6 private gardens. Rain/Shine. $15/advance, $18/day of, at Troy Historic Village. Boutique & Plant Sale. www.troygardenclubmi.com, 248-535-5955.

Children’s Gardens

Wed, Jul 12, 6pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Master Gardener Society of Oakland County at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. $5. Speaker: Mary Gerstenberger. www.mgsoc.org.

St. Clair in Bloom Garden Walk

Sat, Jul 15, 10am-4pm, St. Clair. Garden walk featuring 9 gardens with 2 located along the St. Clair River & 2 at the marina. www.stclairgardenclub.com, vgkling@comcast.net

Trenton Moonglow Garden Club Garden Walk

Sat, Jul 15, 10am-4pm. By Trenton Garden Club at 7 gardens. Tickets $8/advance & $10/day of. Vendors on hand at Trenton Cultural Center. Info: 734-281-6504.

30th Annual Battle Creek Garden Tour

Sat, Jul 15, & Sun, Jul 16, Battle Creek. By Battle Creek Garden Club. Find us on Facebook for more info. Garden City Garden Club Meeting

Tue, Jul 18, 7-9pm, Garden City. By Garden City Garden Club at Maplewood Community Center. Find us on Facebook.

Clarkston Garden Walk

Wed, Jul 19, 11am, Clarkston. By Clarkston Farm & Garden Club, starting at Clarkston Independence District Library. www.clarkstongardenclub.org.

Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve Bus Trip

Wed, Jul 19, Niles. By Master Gardeners of Genesee Cty. Bus trip and 1 hour guided tour. More info: www.geneseecountymg.org.

MSU Tollgate Garden Open House

Thu, Jul 20, 6-8:30pm, Novi. At MSU Tollgate. Spend an evening in the gardens. Tours, docents, hay rides, & refreshments. www.canr.msu.edu.

Butterfly Association Meeting

Thu, Jul 20, 7pm, Westland. By SE Michigan Butterfly Association at CrossWalk Community Church. www.sembabutterfly.org.

Great Lakes, Great Plants Symposium

Thu, Jul 20, to Sat, Jul 22, Traverse City. At Historic Barns Park. Discussions with national gardening experts, such as Brie Arthur, Jack Barnwell & David Culp. www.nmnla.org/plantsymposium.

Inspirations Garden Tour

Sat, Jul 22, 9am-4pm, Harrison Township. By Harrison Township Beautification Commission at 8 gardens. Pick up maps at Tucker Senior Center. $10 presale at Township office. $15 day of. Info: 586-242-3868, keehns@wowway.com.

Lakeshore Garden Club Garden Walk

Sat, Jul 22, 10am-4pm, Lexington. By Lakeshore Garden Club at 10 homes throughout the village. Self-guided. Artist merchandise for sale. Info: 810-304-1313. Grandmont’s Garden Walk

Sat, Jul 22, 11am-4pm, Detroit. By Grandmont Community Association at Douglas Ramsay Park. $10. Fundraiser for the GCA’S scholarship fund. Info: 313-585-2499 or 313-300-3760.

Sunrise Gardening Club Garden Walk

Sat, Jul 22, Harrisville. By Sunrise Gardening Club. Tickets available for purchase after July 1 at the Craftmaker’s Cabin at the corner of U.S. 23 and M-72 in Harrisville. annpringle54@gmail.com.

H The Garden Cruise Sun, Jul 23, 9am-4:30pm, Metro Detroit, by Detroit Garden Works & The Greening of Detroit. Tour only: $40/person. Tour & cocktail reception: $55/person. 248-335-8089. www.thegardencruise.org.

H Open Gate Garden Club Garden Walk Sun, Jul 23, 10am-5pm, Fenton. By Open Gate Garden Club at 8 gardens. $10/advance. $12/day of at AJ Phillips Museum. Pre-sale locations & more info: www.opengategardenclub.com.

Bock’s Big Acre

1360 E. M-36, Pinckney, MI 48169 734-878-3092

@EdBockFeeds

Yearly hours: 7 days, 9-6

Your gardening needs under one roof: perennials, natives, annuals, vegetables, herbs, shrubs, ornamental trees, patio pots, hanging baskets, bird feeders and seed, potting soil, compost, bagged mulch, fertilizers, yard art, statuary, pottery, outdoor furniture, Weaver barns. Three learning gardens include a Monarch Waystation, Xerces Pollinator Habitat and Registered Rain Garden.

Meier Flowerland

8087 W. Grand River, Brighton, MI 48114 810-229-9430

www.meierflowerland.com

May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-7, Sun 9-6. Where you’re only limited by your imagination! We grow over 10,000 sun/shade hanging baskets. Plus annuals, geraniums, patio and deck pots for instant color, shrubs, roses, yard décor, gazing globes, stepping stones, more. Vegetables and herbs, including heirloom varieties. Wednesdays are Senior Day: 15% off live plants. Since 1954.

August

Inviting Native Plants into Your Garden Design

Tue, Aug 1, 6-7pm, Zoom. By MSU Extension on Zoom. Free. Register: events.anr.msu.edu.

Waterford Garden Club Monthly Meeting

Thu, Aug 3, 10am-Noon, Waterford. By Waterford Garden Club at the Senior Center. www.waterfordgardenclub.org.

The Yardeners of St. Clair Shores 30th Annual Garden Tour

Sat, Aug 5, 9am-3pm, St. Clair Shores. By The Yardeners of St. Clair Shores at area gardens. Registration, ticket sales & map distribution starts at 9am at SelinskyGreen Farmhouse Museum. $5/adult. Kids under 12 free. Self-guided driving tour with some walking. scsyardeners@gmail.com.

Edelweiss Garden Club Meeting

Wed, Aug 9, 9:30am, Gaylord. By Edelweiss Garden Club at Otsego Co. Library Meeting Room. New members welcome. Find us on Facebook.

Fall Finale Lecture

Wed, Aug 9, 6:30pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Master Gardener Society of Oakland Cty at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. Speaker: Julia Hofley. www.mgsoc.org.

Viva La Pollination

Fri, Aug 11, 10am-Noon, Midland. At Dow Gardens. Learn about different pollinators, explore honey variations, enjoy take-home crafts, and stop by the insect petting zoo. www.dowgardens.org.

Garden City Garden Club Meeting

Tue, Aug 15, 7-9pm, Garden City. By Garden City Garden Club at Maplewood Community Center. Find us on Facebook

Milarch Nursery

28500 Haas Rd., Wixom, MI 48393 248-437-2094

www.milarchnursery.com

May/June hours: Mon-Fri 7:30-4:30, Sat 7:30-12:30, Sun: Closed.

The finest nursery stock and perennials since 1972. We grow and maintain quality plants, along with special care in handling. 27 acres of landscape-grade shade and flowering trees, evergreens, flowering shrubs, perennials and groundcovers.

MSU Horticulture Gardens

1066 Bogue St, East Lansing, MI 48824 517-353-0443

www.canr.msu.edu/hrt/our_gardens/

Yearly hours: Open daily from sunrise to sundown 14 acres of diverse gardens—superb resource for gardeners, plant lovers and children of all ages! Get garden design ideas; learn new annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and vegetables. Or just meander the beautiful garden setting. We promote an understanding of plants and their role in our environment and daily lives.

Butterfly Association Meeting

Thu, Aug 17, 7pm, Westland. By SE Michigan Butterfly Association at CrossWalk Community Church. www.sembabutterfly.org.

H Hosta Hillside Work Day

Sun, Aug 20, 8am-4pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Join the Michigan Hosta Society in keeping the hosta collection in beautiful condition. www.canr.msu.edu/hiddenlakegardens/.

September

H Hosta Hillside Workshop

Wed, Sep 6, 6:30-7:30pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Come tour our Hosta Hillside collection and learn about hostas. www.canr.msu.edu/hiddenlakegardens.

Waterford Garden Club Monthly Meeting

Thu, Sep 7, 10am-Noon, Waterford. By Waterford Garden Club at the Senior Center. www.waterfordgardenclub.org.

70th Annual Dahlia Show & Competition

Sat, Sep 9, Noon-9pm & Sun, Sep 10, 9am-3pm, West Bloomfield. By SE Michigan Dahlia Society at Orchard Mall. Hundreds of dahlias. Members available to answer questions. www.semds.org, SEMDS65@gmail.com.

Edelweiss Garden Club Meeting

Wed, Sep 13, 9:30am, Gaylord. By Edelweiss Garden Club at Otsego Co. Library Meeting Room. New members welcome. Find us on Facebook.

Troy Garden Club Meeting: The Art of Garden Design Wed, Sep 13, 1pm, Troy. By Troy Garden Club at Big Beaver United Methodist. Presenter: Wendy Evans, Detroit Institute of Arts. www.troygardenclubmi.com.

Van Atta’s Greenhouse

9008 Old M-78, Haslett, MI 48840 517-339-1142

www.vanattas.com

May hours: Mon-Sat 9-7, Sun 10-6. June hours: Please call to confirm.

One of the largest selections of plants and garden accents in Southeastern Michigan. We grow an enormous variety of perennials. There’s a good chance we have that one plant you’ve been searching for, or the garden ornament that sets your yard apart. Come stroll our grounds—you’ll be amazed at what you find.

To advertise in Destinations, email Publisher@MichiganGardener.com or call Eric at 248-594-5563

Master Gardener Society of Oakland County Meeting

Wed, Sep 13, Bloomfield Hills. By Master Gardener Society of Oakland Cty at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. www.mgsoc.org.

Yardeners Fall Plant Exchange

Sat, Sep 16, 9-11am, St. Clair Shores. By The Yardeners of St. Clair Shores at the parking lot behind the library. Bag, tag & drag your offerings to trade or give away. scsyardeners@gmail.com.

H The Art of Bonsai

Sun, Sep 17, 10am-6pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. Presentations, demos, bazaar & more. Back for the first time since 2019. www.canr.msu.edu/hiddenlakegardens/. Garden City Garden Club Meeting

Tue, Sep 19, 7-9pm, Garden City. By Garden City Garden Club at Maplewood Community Center. Find us on Facebook.

Butterfly Association Meeting

Thu, Sep 21, 7pm, Westland. By D56 at CrossWalk Community Church. www.sembabutterfly.org.D111

October

Waterford Garden Club Monthly Meeting

Thu, Oct 5, 10am-Noon, Waterford. By Waterford Garden Club at the Senior Center. www.waterfordgardenclub.org.

Dahlias: Digging, Dividing & Storing

Sat, Oct 7, 2-4pm, Troy. By Southeastern Michigan Dahlia Society at Telly’s Greenhouse. Dr. Keith Berven & members will be demonstrating the how-to’s. www.semds.org or SEMDS65@gmail.com.

Preserving the Harvest: Which Method is Best for You?

Mon, Oct 9, 7-8pm, St Clair Shores. By The Yardeners of St. Clair Shores at the Public Library. Free & open to all. Karen Burke shares what is available for preserving our bounty. scsyardeners@gmail.com.

H The Benefits of Controlled Burns of Natural Areas

Tue, Oct 10, 7-8:30pm, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens. www.canr.msu.edu/hiddenlakegardens/.

Edelweiss Garden Club Meeting

Wed, Oct 11, 9:30am, Gaylord. By Edelweiss Garden Club at Otsego Co. Library Meeting Room. New members welcome. Find us on Facebook.

Creating Paradise: The Garden on the Corner

Wed, Oct 11, 1pm, Troy. By Troy Garden Club at Big Beaver United Methodist. Presenter: Jeremy Locke, Landscape Designer. www.troygardenclubmi.com.

Master Gardener Society of Oakland County Meeting

Wed, Oct 11, Bloomfield Hills. By Master Gardener Society of Oakland Cty at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. www.mgsoc.org.

H Wicked Plants

Sat, Oct 14, Dundee. At The Flower Market. Spooky plants, vendors, performers. www.flowermarketdundee.com.

Garden City Garden Club Meeting

Tue, Oct 17, 7-9pm, Garden City. By Garden City Garden Club at Maplewood Community Center. Find us on Facebook.

Butterfly Association Meeting

Thu, Oct 19, 7pm, Westland. By SE Michigan Butterfly Association at CrossWalk Community Church.  www.sembabutterfly.org.

Growing Herbs

Tue, Oct 31, Bloomfield Hills. By Master Gardener Society of Oakland Cty at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. Herb Society of America, Southern Michigan Unit presents. www.mgsoc.org.

Green bean salad is a perfect side dish for a summer picnic.

Green Bean Salad

At some point, you will need the perfect side dish for a summer picnic, and this green bean salad is it! Crispy, fresh green beans, crunchy sliced almonds, and sweet dried cranberries, all tossed in a delicious honey mustard vinaigrette. At the last minute, I added some crispy bacon bits, and the smoky, salty bacon finished it perfectly. Of course, if you’re trying to please the vegetarian crowd, you can easily leave that off to the side. And if you want to make this salad vegan, swap out the honey for maple syrup or agave. This salad contains no mayo in the dressing, so it works for those outdoor gatherings.

The key to this delicious salad is, of course, garden fresh green beans. You can use any combination of what may be growing in your garden: string beans, yellow beans, wax beans, or a mix. Just be sure to pay attention to the thickness of the beans when blanching them for this salad. You’ll want them to be tender-crisp, so taste-test a bean every minute or so during the cooking process to ensure they don’t get overcooked. You can do this!

Ingredients

Serves 6-8 as a side salad, or double recipe for a larger portion.

Total time: 30 mins

SALAD INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound green beans

• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

• 1/3 cup dried cranberries

• 1/3 cup chopped crispy bacon (optional)

DRESSING INGREDIENTS

• 1 tbsp stone ground mustard (such as Inglehoffer)

• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard (smooth, such as Grey Poupon)

• 1 tbsp honey mustard (such as Honeycup or Woeber’s)

• 2 tbsp honey (or substitute maple syrup or agave)

• 2 tbsp white vinegar (or any light vinegar, such as champagne or white balsamic)

• 2 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Blanch the green beans: Wash and trim your green beans as desired. I decided to leave mine whole but chop them into halves or thirds if desired. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling

boil. When it comes to a boil, heavily salt the water (about a tablespoon of salt per quart of water), and drop in the green beans. Prepare a large bowl filled with cold water and ice cubes. Cook the beans for about 3 minutes, then start tasting them. You want the beans to be tender-crisp and still have a little crunch. It may take a couple more minutes, depending on the beans. Remove them from the boiling water with a slotted spoon and place them into the ice bath. The ice bath will stop the cooking process and set a beautiful green color in the beans. After a few minutes, place them onto a towel to drain, and pat dry before tossing them with dressing.

2. Toast the almonds: Place almonds in a small, non-stick skillet (dry) over low heat. DO NOT walk away from the stove! Gently heat the nuts, shaking the pan often to stir them around. Toast for about 5 minutes or until you can smell a nutty aroma. Set aside to cool.

3. Make the dressing: Whisk all mustards and honey together in a small bowl. Add in vinegar, and then whisk in the olive oil.

4. Assemble the salad: Season the green beans with salt and pepper to taste, and toss with about half of the dressing. Add in almonds and cranberries and toss to coat. Place salad into a serving bowl and top with crispy bacon bits. Spoon over additional dressing or serve extra on the side.

Stephanie Surowiec is the recipe developer, food stylist, and photographer behind Dinner Club Diaries, a local food blog that focuses on delicious, approachable family meals and casual entertaining. You can find Stephanie’s recipes at www.dinnerclubdiaries.com, on Instagram @dinnerclubdiaries , or on Facebook at Dinner Club Diaries.

Stephanie Surowiec

The honey mustard vinaigrette dressing contains no mayo, making it great for outdoor gatherings.

Hidden garden in the woods

Tim and Dawn Condon entertain friends and family with cozy seating areas and charming vignettes throughout their gardens

Tim and Dawn Condon’s garden was once Livingston County farmland. It became a manicured lawn and garden in 2002 when their house and surrounding subdivision were built. The farm’s rocky soil left plenty of boulders and stones that were able to be repurposed in the garden. Unfortunately, that soil is also comprised of clay, and Tim said he ruined a rototiller trying to break it up. They make sure to keep mulch and the falling tree leaves on the garden beds, allowing them to decompose and gradually improve the soil, which makes digging easier.

This garden started small as

many gardens do, with no plans for building anything extensive. Yet, with the creation of a memory garden for their grandma, the gardening bug bit and...well, you know the story! It grew from there to encompass many levels and areas of their property.

The front

Lisa Steinkopf

A home’s front garden often gives you a hint about what the backyard garden will hold. This is indeed the case at the Condons. When pulling up to Tim and Dawn’s home, the splendid pergola next to the front walk is an indication of what visitors will experience in the back.

This sitting area is the first level of Tim and Dawn Condon’s back garden, before it descends into the lower levels.

The walk to Tim and Dawn Condon’s front door is lined with matching cobalt blue pots filled with colorful hibiscus standards.

Dawn is a wonderful decorator, and her garden reflects that. The pergola is a shady, cozy place to relax and welcome guests coming to the front door or greet neighbors walking by. A yellow trumpet vine covering the pergola sets the tone for the decorating accents such as throws and pillows on the chairs. Cobalt blue containers pair well with the yellow and are planted with standard hibiscus trees, delineating the seating area from the walkway leading to the welcoming front door and porch.

The back

That small space in front doesn’t prepare you for the wonderful gardens yet to come behind the house. The Condon home was constructed on a hill, so large stone steps were placed to make it easy to descend the two stories to the basement and garden level. The steps curve down to the garden with a sitting area halfway down for a place to pause, rest, and admire the setting from an elevated spot. The garden was carved out of a wooded area behind the house and because of the woods, it is a private and quiet respite from the busy world.

As you pause on the first landing, the sound of water will soothe your senses. Tim installed a pond and fireplace early on, but decided to remove them in the mid-2010s. Ultimately, however, he decided they were missed, and thus built new ones. In fact, every garden object, including statuary, antiques, pergolas, gazebos, paths, and decks have been placed or built by Tim. Their teenage children Jake and Nora help with the gardens and Jake even designed the extensive miniature garden.

Dawn is the idea person and Tim brings her ideas to life. She likes to collect art for the

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The Condons built and furnished a pergola adjacent to their front sidewalk and covered it with yellow trumpet vine. The front porch is a wonderful place to sit and relax and greet guests.

This deck fireplace is a warm addition for cool spring and fall evenings. Here, in the summer, it is decorated with houseplants and such.

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garden wherever she finds it, whether it be an estate sale or antique store and has an eye for what will look good in the landscape. If Tim comes home to a rusty piece of “something”— a chair, or a piece of statuary in the driveway—he just laughs and realizes that some time in the yard is now on the schedule. He knows Dawn has a place for every piece she brings home, and they all add charm and personality to the space.

Since this is a garden in the woods, many of the plants are shade lovers. Hostas, ferns, gooseneck loosestrife, and sweet woodruff make up a large part of the greenery. Tim and Dawn prefer to let plants meander where

they want. They have removed some that like to test the boundaries, but mostly they leave them be.

Containers of shade-loving annuals add color and interest to the mostly green palette. They also use boxwoods and hostas in containers; those stay outside all year. Limbs on the large trees have been carefully thinned to allow for more light to reach the ground. Where that happens, the Condons take advantage of the sunshine and install plants that will enjoy the higher light levels. In the full sun areas, they have planted lavender,

PHOTOGRAPHS BY LISA STEINKOPF

The upper deck is decorated like an indoor room, with curtain “walls” and shelves of houseplants.

A fountain adds a focal point as well as pleasing sound to the garden.

This woodsy vignette includes pots of flowers and a decorated table. Notice the horse head sculpture on the tree as well. The containers of boxwoods and hostas are left outside all year.

rudbeckia, echinacea, and other perennials and shrubs that attract pollinators such as butterflies and hummingbirds.

The entertaining

The Condon garden is the perfect place for family and friends to gather. With two levels of backyard decks that include numerous seating areas, a hot tub, fireplace, and television, there is never a dull moment. Always on the agenda: a stroll through the lush gardens before sitting in front of a fireplace while listening to the sound of a babbling waterfall next to the pond. They even have an outdoor Christmas party because the patio top is covered and curtains enclose the area. The fireplace and a few heaters keep the space warm.

On this shady property, one would assume the mosquitoes would practically carry people away, but during the time I was there, I never saw one. The owners spray the perim-

A path leads to a potting bench made from antique pieces. Although it is the working area of the garden, it is also a focal point with its decorative appeal.

Tim and Dawn Condon are generous hosts throughout the year. A garden isn’t complete without a fairy garden, right?

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eters to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Of course, I asked about deer damage too. The Condons report that while they have seen deer in the spring passing through, they don’t seem to get a lot of damage. The bunnies and groundhogs give them more problems than the deer, yet don’t do enough damage for them to take any extensive action. Tim says he lets them be and shares the garden. Their five dogs are probably a good deterrent to nibbling pests also.

The Condons have gatherings all year, but during the holidays, more than just friends and family are attracted to their home. Their extensive Christmas display with thousands of lights brings people from far and wide to drive by. They have trees, deer, the house and pergola, and more—all illuminated. Living on a corner lot, they have plenty of areas to decorate.

This garden is full of wonderful, cozy seat-

Website Extra

Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Website Extras” for more photos of the Condon garden.

ing areas and is made for entertaining. Tim and Dawn are generous hosts. The little vignettes throughout the property make for places to relax and enjoy the sounds and beauty of this hidden garden in the woods.

Lisa Steinkopf is The Houseplant Guru. Check out her newly updated website and blog at www.thehouseplantguru.com. Contact Lisa to speak at your next club meeting or event ( houseplantgurulisa@gmail.com or 734-7481241). Follow her on Facebook (Facebook.com/ HouseplantGuru), Twitter (@houseplantguru), and Instagram (houseplantguru).

The lower patio area is a place to relax and enjoy the hot tub.

The garden’s lower level greets visitors with a garden bed, pergola, seating area, and fireplace. Note the steps that help the dogs get up on the bed.

through the lens

Photographs from Michigan gardeners

Send Us Your Photos!

1. E-mail 2 or 3 of your best garden photos to: photos@MichiganGardener.com

We are looking for photos of your garden, both wide-angle and plant close-ups. Be sure to e-mail a high-resolution file.

2. Please include your full name and a caption describing the scene and the plants.

Datura ‘Ballerina Purple’ blooms in Mary McCullough’s garden.

This arch leads to Kathy Bruggeman’s vegetable garden. Kim Joyce’s shade garden features climbing hydrangea, hostas, and brunnera, to name a few.

Lisa Renko captured her spring-flowering bed awash in the purple glow of sunset.

Serviceberries: Perfect small trees for Michigan

Serviceberries—the small trees and shrubs in the genus Amelanchier—have a number of names, which are associated with the North American landscapes where they are found. In New England, they have been called shadblow or shadbush because they bloom at the same time as the shad (a species of herring) swim up east coast rivers to spawn. It’s also been said that the “service” part of the name comes from the fact that in earlier eras, the spring blooms indicated that the ground had thawed enough to bury those who died over winter. And in Saskatchewan, the town of Saskatoon is believed to take its name from the Cree word for the serviceberries that were abundant in that region.

Folklore aside, serviceberries are also perfect plants for Michigan in many respects. They have beautiful flowers, edible fruit, handsome bark, and often electric fall color. The serviceberry’s gray bark stands out well against a dark backdrop and the trees often work best as multitrunk specimens. The meandering lines of the multiple stems provide a sculptural element in the garden and this comes closer to the natural habit of many varieties. In addition, their overall ease of care makes them a popular landscape plant.

This last point means that one can find serviceberries in many humdrum locations like mall parking lots or in front of retail stores, where they do a perfectly fine job of breaking up the concrete with a manageable canopy. But the edibility of their fruit is often a mystery to passersby—even those who have these trees in their yard—which is remarkable because serviceberries are one of North America’s more appealing fruits.

How to grow serviceberries

For those considering adding this tree to their garden, know that most varieties grow up to 25 feet tall with a similar spread. They will do well in sun or part shade and are remarkably tolerant of a range of conditions. Like other members of the rose family, however, they do attract some pests and diseases. Many of these can be prevented by proper watering and pruning.

In the wild, serviceberries prefer rocky areas and stream banks, but they seem to handle the clay soils of southeast Michigan just fine. Young trees, however, are very attractive to rabbits and should be protected until they are large enough to withstand a bit of nibbling. The tree’s preference for acid soil

means that a bit of elemental sulfur may be in order, as well as a good application of mulch to keep the ground moist.

Varieties

The low-growing Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia) is the favored species for food production and in some areas, it’s being used for commercial cultivation. Since they are smaller than other serviceberries, they may also work in more cramped quarters or under larger trees. However, if fruit production is the primary goal, it’s best to plant Saskatoons in full sun.

Downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) and Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis) are more frequently planted for ornamental uses, although their fruit is still very good. Downy serviceberry is a slightly smaller tree, with bright fall foliage, whereas the Allegheny grows somewhat taller and is said to have sweeter berries. Winter pruning may be necessary for all species to eliminate crossing branches, deadwood and suckers.

The delicious fruit

If growing plants for fruit, bear in mind that birds like robins, cedar waxwings and Baltimore orioles will all want their share. Frequent picking while fruit is ripening will ensure that you get some of the harvest as well. This gardener has had some luck keeping birds at bay by tying beer cans to tree branches during fruit set, although reflective tape may be a more standard solution.

But, clearly, the high number of faunal associations is one of the serviceberry’s biggest selling points and many gardeners plant them specifically to attract birds. The flowers also provide food for several native bees, while a long list of moth and butterfly caterpillars feed on the leaves.

When picking fruit, wait until it is deep purple before harvesting. I will generally just wash the fruit and then put it in the freezer to add to my oatmeal throughout the summer. More serious cooks have used it for a range of items, including jams, jellies and baked goods. Michael Dirr—the doyen of American woody plants—endorsed the fruit’s use for these purposes, saying, “I have had serviceberry pie and it ranks in the first order of desserts.”

Taken together, the serviceberry’s early flowering, summer fruit, fall foliage and beautiful bark make this tree an interesting plant in every season. Likewise, their connec-

tions to indigenous and settler folklore—along with their relationships to wildlife—make them a bridge between the past and present, as well as the cultivated and wild landscape. Considering how easy they are to care for, it’s no wonder that serviceberries are so common

across the landscape. But perhaps, it’s time they got more respect.

Brian Allnutt is a gardener, writer and speaker in Detroit. His work regularly appears in Detroit-area publications.

Brian Allnutt

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

Serviceberries are excellent small trees for naturalistic settings, woodland edges, and shrub borders.

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

Delicate white flowers appear in mid to late April.

Serviceberry leaves turn brilliant shades of red and orange in the fall, especially striking against crisp blue skies.

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

The serviceberry’s gray bark stands out well in winter. The meandering lines of the multiple stems provide a sculptural element in the garden.

H The Produce Station

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H Warmbier Farms 5300 Garfield Rd, MI 48611 989-662-7002

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

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Mark Prielipp Greenhouse & Mohr  brownstown twp

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H Ruhlig Farms & Gard 24508 Telegraph Rd, MI 48134 734-782-9811 www.ruhligfarmsandgardens.com

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H Van’s Valley Greenhouse 74865 Van Dyke Rd, MI 48065 586-752-6002 www.vansvalley.com

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Tropical Treasures

In Search of Giants

Anyone

As an arborist, getting to see, stand next to, and touch an ancient tree makes for a great day. The only thing better is the chance to climb it. Being in the presence of these giant trees is almost therapeutic. You can’t help but feel a little insignificant thinking about what this tree has endured to still exist in this day and age, and what it has witnessed in its lifetime over hundreds of years. How did this tree survive when humans have destroyed the majority of the world’s old growth forests? Only a few remnants and solitary trees remain from those ancient forests. Even today, some giants are unknown and yet to be discovered. Finding, documenting, and propagating giant trees is more important than ever. New research has shown that not only are these trees beautiful, but their DNA contains a survival roadmap over hundreds or even thousands of years that navigated different climates and environmental conditions. If they die, so does the genetic information they con-

tain. Our modern forests and woodlots will not have that important genetic guide to help them survive our rapidly changing climate.

Continuing the legacy of the giants

Fortunately, this preservation work is being done by a Michigan nonprofit called the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive (www. ancienttreearchive.org). Located in the small northern town of Copemish, they take cuttings from and propagate these natural wonders so they can be replanted in forests to ensure this important genetic information is available to help future generations of trees survive.

The group uses state and national databases to locate champion trees. Then they get permission to climb the trees and take cuttings to propagate the biggest and best of their kind to help ensure we do not lose this valuable resource. The national database is stored at American Forests (www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/champion-trees-

registry), while the state database is held by the Michigan Botanical Society (www.michiganbotanicalsociety.org/big-tree).

Finding the champions

A point scoring system consists of a tree’s height, crown width, and trunk girth measurements. Those figures are combined to calculate how many points a tree scores and determine which ones are champions. If there are two or more trees within a few points of each other, they are considered co-champions. A tree can be a county champion, a state champion, or a national champion.

As of 2021, we have five national champions in Michigan, which is far less than the 20-plus we had just a couple decades ago. Storms, fires, and insect and disease pressure have taken these trees, and helps emphasize why we must find, record, study, and propagate them.

egory for the biggest tree found by children under 15, as well as the biggest white pine (Michigan’s state tree) found in every twoyear cycle. This year, we might have found a white pine to replace the former state and national champion that was lost in a storm a few years back. It’s in the same area of the Upper Peninsula where the former champ had lived.

So if you want a fun way to help the environment and contribute to history, grab your boots and a camera and go find some giants! You don’t have to be a tree expert. You simply find a tree and then volunteers around the state will come out to identify and measure it to see if it is a potential champion or just another big tree. Either way, the thrill of being in the presence of an ancient tree is always a great way to spend the day. If you can’t get out into the woods, consider supporting one of the worthy nonprofits listed above that help find, categorize, or propagate these natural wonders.

Bonsai Courtyard

Canopy Walk

In Michigan, another non-profit (ReLeaf Michigan) runs the “Big Tree Hunt” contest to find more of these giants in our great state (www.releafmichigan.org). Its 16th biennial contest starts in the spring of 2023. You would think that by now we would have found all the big trees there are to find, but during every contest, new ones are still found. For example, in the last contest, we might have discovered a new state or possible national champion sugar maple behind an old farmhouse in Livingston County. With a trunk diameter of 6 feet 2 inches, this is a truly amazing tree that I was privileged to see and verify in the summer of 2022. For a list and pictures of all of the 2022 winners, visit (https://tinyurl.com/yukau6hf).

The Big Tree Hunt encourages all Michigan residents old and young to go out in our forests, or in some cases backyards and neighborhoods, to find and submit these trees. ReLeaf Michigan can then verify and pass the information on to the state list. ReLeaf Michigan holds a banquet at the end of each two-year cycle that gives out rewards and recognition for the biggest tree in each county and the state. Plus, there is a cat-

Steve Turner, Certified Arborist, is from Arboricultural Services in Fenton, MI.

Steve Turner

Steve Turner

With a trunk diameter of 6 feet 2 inches, this sugar maple was discovered behind an old farmhouse in Livingston County.

Roll out the green carpet for the garden

The thicker and greener the lawn, the more dramatically it will contrast with and present a garden. Cutting a natural edge requires a thick grass root system. Without a healthy root zone, a natural, hand-cut bed edge will not hold its shape for long. Practice good lawn care for a thick lawn by following proper watering, fertilizing, and cutting height guidelines. In heavily shaded areas, consider using specialized Poa supina grass or thin overhead branches to allow more light through. Consistent yearly care will yield more success than sporadic applications of work. With thick grass, the lawn is ready to be edged for a well-presented garden.

Choose an edging material

Choosing a method and material for a garden edge is a balance of cost, effectiveness as a weed and lawn barrier, susceptibility of the edging material to heaving and lifting, and attractiveness of the edge itself. Here are the merits of each method.

Natural, cut edge – This is the method of choice for an attractive edge that does not distract from the main event: the plants in the garden. Perfect for a perennial cottage or border garden. It requires a very thick lawn and root system to be effective, otherwise soil will slough off and the edge will lose shape. Therefore, this method tends to not work well in shaded areas due to shaded lawns being too thin. This method carries no material costs, but maintenance cost can be very high. Typically, these natural edges need to be cut every 2 or 3 months to maintain a sharp edge. A technique for cutting a natural edge is described at the end of this article.

Aluminum – Black-colored aluminum edging is relatively cost effective and hides nicely under the surface of the soil. Typically, lengths of aluminum edging come in 16-foot sections, limiting the number of joints through which grass can creep through. Aluminum tends to resist exposing itself after winter heave/thaw cycles, but it does sometimes need to be reset. Unless a natural edge is feasible (see below), this is the choice we use most often for applications that require affordability and a hidden edging material.

Plastic – Plastic is a common choice for an affordable edging solution. Low cost is the only merit to plastic edging. The top tube on the plastic edge is exposed, and it tends to warp in the heat and winter cold. It is also very susceptible to rising out of the ground when winter freezes arrive, requiring much maintenance to reset the edge back into the ground come spring.

Steel – Steel edging is a high-end edge solution. We use corten steel (i.e., weathering steel) or cut sheets of hot-rolled steel. The ma-

terial is available in different thicknesses and is fabricated on-site, being welded to rebar for a seamless edge. This material allows for dramatic leveling to be used around the garden in different soil retention and edge restraint applications. Corten steel edging develops a patina and is meant to be exposed and seen for aesthetic interest. Steel edging resists heaving and rising due to its sheer weight.

Stone – Properly installed stone edges should be dug in under the soil level. Stones lined up along a garden edge without proper preparation look contrived, and subjects this edge to weed and lawn invasion. Small fieldstone boulders or cobble-style stone can be used. Typically, stone-lined edges suffer from lack of maintenance. Therefore, it is best to use a combination of a stone edge plus a natural cut edge or an edging material. With the cut edge, maintain a four-inch strip of lawnless space in front of the rocks to prevent the lawn from creeping into the bed.

A cut edge provides a natural, clean outline and casts a dramatic shadow. text continued on page 59

This lawn is lovingly cared for through frequent mowing at a greater height, a fertilizing program, and proper irrigation. This provides the foundation for a clean-cut garden edge.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY NEIL ATZINGER

Aluminum is a popular choice for projects that require affordability and a hidden edging material.

Steel allows for ground leveling in sloped areas. It retains the soil and serves as an edge restraint.

Properly installed stone edges should be dug in under the soil level.

continued from page 57

How to cut a natural edge by hand

Cutting a natural edge into a lawn is a labor-intensive but rewarding garden workout. Edging machinery can be rented from local rental outlets, but this machinery tends to be unwieldy and will leave a less attractive edge than if cut by hand. Most essentially, a longlasting, deep edge requires a thick lawn root system—otherwise your cut edge will not hold up. Without a thick lawn, aluminum, steel, or stone edges should be considered for a well-defined edge.

Tools needed:

• For cutting a new edge, use a sharp, flatedged nursery spade. For maintaining an existing edge, use an edging knife/shovel or the nursery spade again.

• Wheelbarrow

• Marking spray paint that is capable of spraying upside down.

1. Begin by marking a line for a new bed edge with marking spray paint. If the edge is serpentine and curvilinear, the tendency for a novice is to create many short, interesting curves. From a distance, these short curves look like unintentional zigzags. Long, sweeping curves look more attractive. Try to minimize the number of switchbacks in the curved edge to the bare minimum. A curve that continues at the same radius over a long area leads the eye across the garden.

2. Next, cut into the grass (not the garden soil) vertically, up and down with the spade. By cutting into the lawn, you are cutting into a firm root system that will hold the edge longer. Follow along the

spray paint line.

3. Like a woodcarver who uses a chisel sideways, use the spade to cut under the lawn on the garden bed side of the line that you just cut. Slicing under the grass roots will yield an easy-to-remove mat of sod. Large areas of lawn that need to be removed can be done with a sod-cutter machine. With the sod removed, the edge is exposed. Discard the sod directly into the wheelbarrow as you are cutting to save an extra cleanup step.

4. If mulch is to be applied in the garden, mulch up to the new edge, but ensure that an air gap is left between the top of the mulch and the top of the lawn edge. This requires a deep edge of four inches or more and may require a little extra work, but the reward comes in a distinct edge that casts a dramatic shadow. Also, with the air gap, the roots of the grass are exposed, causing them to dry. This prevents the lawn from spreading into the bed and decreases future maintenance needs.

Ruth Atzinger studied horticulture at MSU and has gardened professionally since 2001, including work at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Gaylord Opryland. After studying theology and exploring the art and gardens of Italy, Neil Atzinger learned gardening as Ruth’s understudy. As Atzinger Gardens (renamed from Fourth & Walnut), the pair create and tend gardens around Ann Arbor and Plymouth. Visit AtzingerGardens. com or call 734-272-7321 for monthly maintenance or new garden design and installation.

A long, sweeping edge leads a viewer’s eye to a focal point. In this case, the tumble of ‘Walker’s Low’ catmint is juxtaposed to the carpet of green lawn, and the eye travels to the peach tones of the sycamore maple in the distance (Acer pseudoplatanus ‘Esk Sunset’).

When starting a new bed, begin by marking a line for the bed edge with marking spray paint.

When using boulders, combine them with an edging material to prevent the lawn from creeping into the bed.

How to choose an edging style and material

Agarden needs a defining edge—a point where the gardener’s work stops and the lawnmower’s work takes over. A clearly defined limit to a garden space tells the eye to appreciate the merits of the plant combinations and design features. The edge of the garden creates the scale for the design elements in the garden so that if the designer follows the golden ratio, there would be 10 feet of height to 16 feet of horizontal bedding space. Without a defined edge, these design elements are lost.

Counterintuitively, disciplining oneself by a hard, crisp garden edge gives the garden designer more freedom than if they had no edge. Think of how the judging guidelines in gymnastics give the spectator the criteria by which to appreciate a gymnast’s work. Form is everything.

A garden edge is a design element. A thick lawn with a clean, deeply cut edge is drama. Look to create a lush, sweeping carpet of green juxtaposed by a serendipitous tumble of colorful perennial plantings and shrubs. The looseness of a perennial garden gets lost without hard, defined linear elements. The most important way to do this is to make your lawn into a fortified Maginot Line against creeping turf and weeds.

A garden edge is a design element. A thick lawn with a clean edge creates drama.

Neil and Ruth Atzinger

Art consists of limitation. The most beautiful part of every picture is the frame.

— G.K. Chesterton