Gardening How-To - Summer 2012 by Steven Rindner

BENEFICIAL SNAKES | NATIVE VINES | A PAINTER’S GARDEN

Bringing your garden to life

Summ 2012 Summer

HOW-TO

flower

power PG 29

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PG 41

build b uild a

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tomatoes 12 T TASTY AS STY H HEIRLOOMS EIIRLOO OMS

National Home Gardening Club Magazine | www.gardeningclub.com Cover_Final6.indd 1

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features

29 ON THE COVER

Photos: Garden, Mark Turner; Mason bee, Bill Johnson

Summer 2012 • www.gardeningclub.com

22 A Painter’s Garden Impressionist painter Leif Nilsson carved a garden out of a stony, shady hillside so he’d have inspiration for his artwork. BY DEB WILEY

36 Not Your Supermarket Tomato! These heirloom tomatoes aren’t beauty contest contenders, but wait until you taste them. Now that’s perfection! BY TERESA O’CONNOR

COVER

29 9 Perfect Pairings Increase the impact of pretty plants by giving them the right neighbors, to create combinations that complement in form, texture, and color. BY ELIZABETH NOLL

41 Build a Bee House Encourage the gentle mason bee (a hardworking pollinator) to settle in your garden with this cute shelter. You can build it with a single board in a couple of hours. BY KATHY CHILDERS AND ELIZABETH NOLL

Gardening How-To (ISSN 1087-0083) is published Jan/Feb, Mar/Apr, May/June, Summer, and Fall, by the National Home Gardening Club, 12301 Whitewater Drive, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343-9447. To become a Club member, send $18 annual dues to: National Home Gardening Club, PO Box 3401, Hopkins, MN 55343-2101. For Canadian membership, please send $36 Canadian funds (including 5 percent GST) for annual dues. $15 of each year’s dues is for an annual subscription to Gardening How-To. Periodicals postage paid at Hopkins, MN, and additional mailing offices. Direct editorial inquiries to Gardening How-To, 12301 Whitewater Drive, Hopkins, MN 55343-9447. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Gardening How-To, PO Box 3401, Hopkins, MN 55343-2101. Canadian GST registration number R131271496. Canadian Post Publication Mail Agreement No. 40063731. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Gardening How-To, Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor, Ont. N9A 6J5. E-mail: returnsIL@imex.pb.com. Copyright 2012, North American Membership Group Inc. All rights reserved. Produced in U.S.A. Volume 17, Number 4, Issue 95.

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departments garden club 10 Garden Variety

Garden Talk

Read about blazing star, Japanese barberry, the ruby-throated hummingbird, and more.

Member Letters

18 Site Specific

Best native vines for your region

Win a $500 prize package from White Flower Farm!

44 Backyard Wildlife Learn why snakes are actually beneficial in the garden.

46 Garden Gear Store fresh herbs, build a flower tower, protect Fido from skeeters, and water with solar power.

56 Up Close The wild side of gazania

Your comments about GHT

Garden Giveaway

16 Expert Advice Answers to your questions about carrot tops, ladybugs, torch lily, and more.

47 Member Garden This couple discovered the secret to creating a lush garden high in the Rockies.

48 Member Tips Members share their best lawn care tips.

49 Home Grown Your best garden photos

51 Member Tested Members report on a landscape lighting system, a home gardening kit, and more.

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DON’T CALL ‘EM WIPES.

Volume 17 • Number 4 • Issue 95

Editorial Kathy Childers, Editor

Production Erin Nielsen, Production Manager

Elizabeth Noll, Managing Editor Nancy Rose, Horticultural Consultant Karen Jackson, Administrative Assistant

Art Mark Simpson, Executive Art Director Jenny Mahoney, Art Director Donna Holzinger, Assistant Art Director Matt Sprouse, Senior Digital Art Director

National Home Gardening Club Kathy Childers, Executive Director Andrea Meester, Assistant Vice President, Member Services Ross Tanner, Manager, Product Testing Vivian Bernett, Marketing Manager Eddie Kelly, Marketing Specialist Michael Stern, Marketing Specialist Deborah Hannigan, Research Manager

Advertising National Advertising Sales Office Gardening How-To 12301 Whitewater Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55343, 800-688-7611 Steve Clow, Senior Vice President, Advertising Grayle Howlett, Group Publisher ghowlett@namginc.com

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GARDENTALK

friends! MY BLACK-EYED SUSANS are about to open, and I’m giddy with

PHOTO: TRACY WALSH

anticipation! These old acquaintances have brought a midsummer glow to my garden for the last 10 years, and now I can’t wait for their annual visit to begin. Friendships come easily to gardeners. Yet even as we embrace our tried-and-trues, we’re always looking to expand our circle (roses are my latest obsession). That’s because we know this basic truth: The door to new gardening adventures opens wide when you cultivate new friends. Like bees. While honeybees or bumblebees may seem a bit intimidating, you’ll want to put up the welcome sign for mason bees, small, hard-working orchard bees that rarely sting but are valuable pollinators. How do you do that? Build them a home! You’ll find complete plans and instructions for a simple-to-build house starting on pg. 41. All you’ll need is a board, some basic tools, and a couple of hours. You’ll also discover ideas for building friendships in “9 Perfect Pairings” (pg. 29). It’s a simple message: Double the impact of your flowers by pairing them with plants that complement them. And it’s a perfect demonstration of the strength of friendships, where the duo can be stronger than the individual. As you dig into this issue for more inspiration, don’t forget about your friends at the Club. We’d love to connect with you! Join the conversation at www.gardeningclub.com or www.facebook.com/ GardenClub.

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Kathy Childers Editor, Executive Director | editors@gardeningclub.com

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—Muriel L. Locklin, Teaticket, MA

EXPERTADVICE of fly bush fits the profile Unfortunately, butter out native e plants (which crowd many other invasiv problem ly become a bigger sive plants) and will probab aggres this d of planting in the future. Instea shrubs such flies with native shrub, attract butter meadowsweet (Clethra alnifolia), as summersweet ia sweetspire latifolia), and Virgin (Spiraea alba var. native perennials adore also flies (Itea virginica). Butter York (Liatris spicata), New such as blazing star and butterfly weed s), racensi novebo ironweed (Veronia rte, co-author of —Kathleen LaLibe (Asclepias tuberosa). ning (1997) Passport to Garde

mmm, millet

grow know if she can who wants to lla, ID I have a friend Hansen, Cocola birdseed. —Jeri own millet for

butterfly bush invasion of the seedlings of butterfly bush

eds There are hundr road. Why are side of our rural , PA growing on either k, White Haven —Walter Maulic there so many?

d from leia davidii) has escape Butterfly bush (Budd gs can be wild. Volunteer seedlin gardens into the ys in many roadsides and railwa Oregon found growing along Both a. States and Canad parts of the United sale of butterfly now control the and Washington l watch list for 2010, it’s on a federa bush, and, as of the mid-Atlantic

good blister beetles?

master gardener garden writer and

t edible ginger plan ginger in a pot? me how to grow Could you tell AZ —Judie Fleig, Valle,

, or ginger ted in edible ginger I assume you’re interes for its thick, ale), which is grown root (Zingiber officin ginger requires a d rhizomes. This two pungently flavore mature. Pick up to season g long, warm growin

region.

2012 48 MARCH/APRIL

B.COM

| GARDENINGCLU

another invader I have another response to Walter Maulick of White Haven, PA, about the invasion of the butterfly bush (Expert Advice, March/April 2012, page 48). I live in northeastern Pennsylvania, and what we have here is Japanese knotweed, which looks very much like butterfly bush when it’s in bloom in August. Knotweed reproduces not only through rhizomes, but also through seeds. It’s a real pest. It’s growing here along all the creek beds, train tracks, and country roads. I truly believe it’s what Mr. Maulick has seen in White Haven, as that town is not too far from where I live. —Carol Swanson, Wyoming, PA

Grow the taste of summer in your own backyar d

BY TERESA O’CO NNOR 20 MARCH/APRIL 2012

| GARDENINGCLU

B.COM

readers to wear gloves, long pants, boots, and long sleeves if they decide to hand-pick. The beetles’ preferred food in my yard are my cane fruits. Also, it’s very hard to distinguish blister beetles from other orange and black beetles. —Teresa Denson, Godfrey, IL

—Bill Morris, De Pere, WI

PHOTO: BILL JOHNSON

is fly bush, which Instead of butter native areas, plant a invasive in some ra alnifolia, ersweet (Cleth shrub like summ known as sweet zones 3 to 9, also ed here: Clethra Pictur pepperbush). ingbird’. alnifolia ‘Humm

her

favorite in goodproso millet is a Yes, she can. White provides many of mixes because it quality birdseed and red millet, need. Avoid golden the nutrients birds fillers. which are a sunny spot millet, you need To grow white proso thoroughly, and soil. Weed the area rained well-d with a shovel or garden inches of soil with soil. loosen the top 6 cover them with seeds and lightly fork. Sow millet they’re about 3 but not soggy until Keep seeds moist crowded seedlings. you so inches tall. Thin days, ity in about 60 Millet reaches matur e food throughout intervals to provid can plant crops at times. At regional migratory the season or during from the e the individual seeds harvest time, remov off the whole cut eders, in birdfe heads and put them the plants as leave just or them, rd, seed heads and hang —Meleah Mayna on. snack to they are for the birds

wonde erful world of waterm elons

SEED SAVERS

I read your recent article on watermelons with interest (“The Wonderful World of Watermelons,” March/April 2012, page 20). When I was in the 7th grade, I had a goodsized melon patch. For the fun of it, I placed one watermelon blossom in each of two 1-gallon jars. I put a muskmelon blossom in a 2-quart jar. The melons grew and quickly filled the jars. When the melons had grown about as much as the jar would allow, I broke open one that had a watermelon. The melon had a paper-thin rind and the seeds were in a narrow row through the middle of the melon. That melon was absolutely delicious. The next day, I broke open the jar with a muskmelon. Same tasty results!

COURTESY OF

I was reading in your latest magazine about outdoor fish ponds, and the many ways to put in some sort of shelter for the fish to hide from predators (Backyard Wildlife, May/ June 2012, page 50). My unique way to do this in my small pond was to stand a strawberry pot upside-down in it. The fish can swim into the holes and are completely protected.

GETTY IMAGES/RO BIN MACDOUG ALL; RIGHT, PHOTO

watermelon memory

PHOTOS: LEFT,

perfect fish cave

EXCHANGE

MEMBERLETTERS

I was surprised to see blister beetles listed as one of the “good guys” (Backyard Wildlife, March/April 2012, page 54). The last two summers, blister beetles have completely defoliated my clematis. I had some success last summer when I caught them early by knocking the beetles into a bowl of soapy water. —Sharon Deno, Athens, OH

The article about beetles could have serious repercussions (Backyard Wildlife, March/April 2012, page 54). The list of good guys has a very dangerous beetle known as the blister beetle in it. I have blister beetles in my yard and have large, painful blisters every year from their spittle, webs, and eggs, no matter how I try to avoid them. Gardeners should be warned that it isn’t only the beetle itself that’s hazardous, but wherever it’s been. Anywhere it leaves its spittle can cause painful blisters. At the very least, you need to warn

David Mizejewski responds: I included blister beetles on the “good guy” list because the larvae of many species of blister beetles feed on grasshopper eggs, thus reducing the population of grasshoppers, which can be a big pest in the garden. That said, adult blister beetles can be serious pests themselves, as they can cause blisters on people and even poison livestock if they’re in the animals’ feed. So they were not the best choice of beetle to include on the “good guy” list.

find your zone I’m a new member and recently received the magazine. I have to ask: You included a new U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone map (Garden Variety, March/April 2012, page 14), but it’s so small, no one can read the print to see the zone numbers. Why would you print something no one can use? —Vicki Rainbolt, Brazil, IN Editors respond: We didn’t have room to print a large version of the

6 SUMMER 2012 | GARDENINGCLUB.COM

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map, but we did include a link to a website where you can find the map in a readable size and with interactive features (www.planthardiness. ars.usda.gov.).

happy new member I’m happy with Gardening How-To magazine. I received my first issue and read it front to back. All the articles are interesting.

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wildlife in our yard We live in Florida on a quarter acre. I filled my garden with trees, shrubs, walking paths, fruit trees, water stations, and birdfeeders. There’s very little grass and lots of flowers. Any window we look out of, we see activity ongoing. Last year, on a tip from Backyard Wildlife (which I love), I put oranges cut in halves on clothes hangers and fence spikes. Among my visiting snow birds was the handsome Baltimore oriole, which came several days to pick the oranges clean. Nyer (thistle) seed brings the goldfinches, often up to a dozen. I watch them turn from green to yellow as the winter passes. Holly trees provide waxwings and many others with berries to fortify them for their long journey. Our native birds are not neglected: Black sunflower seeds and millet keep them happy. We also have flowers and breeding plants for the butterflies: passion vine, parsley, dill, fennel, and milkweed.

Sprinklers

—Ingeborg Carbone, Ocala, FL

WRITE TO US!

Send your comments about the magazine to Member Letters, Gardening How-To, 12301 Whitewater Dr., Hopkins, MN 55343. Or e-mail them to letters@ gardeningclub.com. Please include your name, address, phone number, and member number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

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garden Win a great prize!

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Enter and win! To win a terrific prize from the National Home Gardening Club, simply enter online at www.gardeningclub.com between July 1, 2012, and September 30, 2012, or send us your name, address, and phone number on a postcard. (See official rules below.) Drawing will be held October 15, 2012.

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Whether you garden in a drought-prone region or just struggle to find time to water, you need a battle plan as you approach the heat of late summer. Rule 1 Water trees first, especially those younger than five years. Trees provide shade and wildlife shelter, and they’re hard to replace. Water at the dripline and beyond, where the feeder roots are. (Water every week or two; with the hose at medium pressure, leave it on for five minutes per inch of trunk diameter.) Shrubs and perennials are second

priority, then annuals. You can let the grass go dormant; it will come back. Rule 2 Water between 4 and 9 a.m., if possible. Rule 3 Watering in a stop-start pattern reduces runoff. If you use a timer, set it to run five minutes, then shut off for 30 minutes. Repeat several times. Rule 4 Don’t prune after April or use high-nitrogen fertilizers (both stimulate growth, which uses extra water). Rule 5 Use 3 to 5 inches of mulch. —Elizabeth Noll

PHOTO: MARK TURNER

water wisdom

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blazing star The fireworks of July 4th last a few minutes, but the colorful display of blazing star (Liatris spicata) lasts day after day through the hottest weeks of the year. In midsummer, this native prairie beauty (also called button snakeroot and gayfeather) acts like a slow-motion sparklerâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;an 18-inch spike of buds bursts into shaggy rose-purple stars, forming a bright, fuzzy flare on top of a leggy stalk. Grasslike leaves cluster at the base of the stalks. This hardy perennial attracts butterflies and birds, and likes full sun and medium to moist soil. Grows 2 to 5 feet tall. Zones 4 to 9. Source: Naturally Native Nursery, Bowling Green, OH, 419-833-2020, www.naturallynative.net. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;E.N.

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GARDENVARIETY

feathered facts

ruby-throated hummingbird Everybody loves hummingbirds. Maybe it’s because we’re amazed by their tiny 3½-inch-long bodies, which weigh only 7 or 8 grams, or their forward-backward-hovering flight produced by blurred wings beating an incredible 75 times per second. Or perhaps we’re drawn to their delicate feathered beauty, including the male’s dazzling ruby-colored gorget (throat patch). Most likely, however, it’s the entire magnificent, miniscule package that captures our attention. LISTEN closely for the hum of wings. You can hear the buzz. ATTRACT hummingbirds with lots of garden flowers. Red, trumpetshaped flowers, such as fuchsia and cardinal flower, are traditional hummer favorites. But any and all flowers will do the job if they bloom long and bright enough. You just want big color! Hang a hummingbird feeder nearby. FEED hummingbirds nectar you make. Mix 1 part sugar to 4 parts water, bring to a boil for two minutes, and cool. Don’t add food coloring. Stock the feeder, and store extra nectar in the refrigerator. DID YOU KNOW that in one day a ruby-throated hummingbird will eat up to 30 percent of its body weight in nectar? The bird’s tiny heart slows from 1,200 beats per minute in the day to 50 at night, to conserve energy. Otherwise, the bird would have to eat nonstop. —Tom Carpenter

Finally, a garden that’s easy on your back: the Vegtrug Patio Planter. This raised bed allows gardeners to work at waist height, so there’s no more kneeling and bending, and the V-shaped floor of the planter maximizes space available for roots. This planter, from Gardener’s Supply (www. gardeners.com), is a winner of the 2012 Green Thumb Award, along with four other products and five new plant varieties. Each year, the Direct Gardening Association (formerly called the Mailorder Gardening Association) gives the Green Thumb Award to outstanding gardening products and plants. For more information on Green Thumb Award winners, visit www.directgardeningassociation.com. —E.N.

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GARDENVARIETY

garden spot

At the MATTHAEI BOTANICAL GARDENS of Ann Arbor, Michigan, the brightest, boldest blooms of midsummer show off their finery in a special garden created just for plants native to the Americas. The Gateway Garden of New World Plants explodes with color, from orange zinnias to purple Joe-pye weed, and white flowering tobacco to hot pink coneflowers. You’ll see a variety of native pollinators, too, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The botanical garden is run jointly with the University of Michigan’s Nichols Arboretum, a 120-acre natural area with woods, prairie, a peony garden, and more. For more information: Matthaei Botanical Gardens, Ann Arbor, MI, 734-647-7600, www.lsa.umich.edu/ mbg/see/matthaei.asp. —E.N.

PHOTOS: U-M MATTHAEI BOTANICAL GARDENS & NICHOLS ARBORETUM

matthaei botanical gardens

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japanese barberry Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is everywhere, from arboretums to nurseries to your neighbor’s yard. Yet the sad truth is that this longtime landscaping favorite—a mid-sized shrub with arching branches, red berries, nasty spines, and foliage in a variety of colors—is invasive. In woodlands, wetlands, and meadows in at least 20 states, it threatens native plants and wildlife that depend on those plants. In addition, a Connecticut study found that dense Japanese barberry thickets are associated with an increased incidence of Lyme disease. Barberry spreads by roots, seeds (which are carried for miles when birds eat the berries), and branches (which can root where they touch the ground). Don’t plant Japanese barberry or its cultivars. Instead, substitute ninebark, weigela, and elderberry cultivars that are just as colorful. Dig up small barberry plants (ones up to 3 feet tall) by hand, or mow them down before they set fruit. Cut down larger plants or use a weed wrench to get them out. In the worst cases, use a systemic herbicide containing glyphosate or triclopyr. —E.N.

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EXPERTADVICE

answers to your questions about carrot tops, creeping Charlie, and more

eating carrot tops Are carrot tops edible? —Bonnie Conklin, Mobile, AL

Carrot tops are both edible and nutritious. That said, the taste of carrot foliage is strong and rather bitter, so it’s not to everyone’s liking. Young, tender foliage has the best flavor; the next time you thin your carrots, save some of the tops for dinner. Chop a small handful of foliage (without the stems), and add it to a tossed salad or a pot of chicken soup. Or combine some carrot leaves with parsley in a batch of tabouli. Start with just a small amount and see how you like it. If you’re interested in eating other vegetable foliage, consider the leaves of peas, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, and sweet potatoes—but not the leaves of regular potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), which are toxic. Always be sure to correctly identify every plant before eating it. There are many carrot family plants (including wild parsnip and poison hemlock) that are very toxic. — Kathleen LaLiberte, garden writer and green industry consultant

ladybug, don’t fly away

A ladybug house makes a nice addition to any garden. It offers ladybugs a place to shelter in cold or wet weather and also gives them somewhere to hibernate in winter. During the gardening season, ladybugs rarely hang around the house because they’re busy munching soft-bodied plant pests, such as aphids, whiteflies, and mites. In fact, one hungry ladybug typically consumes thousands of aphids in a season. As long as your yard offers plenty of pests to eat, ladybugs are happy to stay around. When they leave, it usually means they’ve run out of food. Ladybugs are primarily carnivores, but they complement their highprotein diet with pollen and nectar. Planting dill, cilantro, and fennel can help keep your yard on the top of their list of favorite places to dine. —K.L.

PHOTO: MARTY LANG

If I build a ladybug house, will ladybugs live in my yard or go to other yards? —Patricia Sam, Moraga, CA

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growing a torch lily Do you have any information on a plant called red hot poker ‘Flamenco’? —Jim Watson, Brumley, MO

It’s a torch lily (Kniphofia uvaria). These plants are known for their gorgeous blooms, and ‘Flamenco’ (Zones 5 to 9) is no exception. The plant’s impressive 32- to 36-inch flower spikes in shades of red, orange, and yellow appear about four weeks earlier than those of most torch lily varieties. For best results, plant ‘Flamenco’ in full sun in a spot with good drainage. Once established, it’s fairly tolerant of heat and drought, but it will do better if you water regularly during very hot weather. Because this and other torch lilies can get a little floppy looking, it’s a good idea to cut foliage back by half in early summer before bloom time. Deadheading promotes repeat blooms. ‘Flamenco’, which is deer-resistant, does well in beds and containers, and it’s also a good cut flower. —Meleah Maynard, garden writer and master gardener

halting creeping Charlie I have creeping Charlie throughout my yard. How can I get rid of it? —Mary Dabrowski, Griffith, IN

Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea), also known as creeping Jenny and ground ivy, can be a real nuisance. The plant spreads by rooting stems that creep across the soil surface and quickly cover large areas. It often occurs in areas that are too shady to grow grass well. If your lawn gets plenty of sun, try to control creeping Charlie by growing thick and healthy grass. Start by spreading topsoil or compost over any areas where the grass is thin or the soil is compacted. Drain wet areas, because the weed prefers moist ground. If your soil is acidic (below 6.5 pH), raise the pH with lime. Maintain your lawn at a height of 2½ to 3 inches. In garden areas, pull out the runners and cover any exposed soil with mulch. If you have lots of creeping Charlie in the lawn, install permanent edging to keep it out of your beds. —K.L.

transplanting Japanese maple My Japanese maple gets too much afternoon sun, and its leaves are showing signs of burn. I need to move it, but when is the best time? —Brad Volz,

PHOTO: JOSH MCCULLOUGH

Fayetteville, AR Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) is native to Japan, Korea, and China, where it often grows as an understory tree in sheltered locations. The tree is loved for its ornamental leaves and intense crimson color in autumn. Japanese maple can be somewhat challenging to grow, and leaf scorch is a commonly seen problem. Numerous

Japanese maple

conditions could be responsible for the leaf burn, including overexposure to the sun, excessive watering, poorly drained soil, or a combination of these factors. The best times to transplant are spring or fall, when the tree has time to reestablish itself during mild weather. The hot, dry days of summer will increase the stress on the tree while it goes through transplant shock. —Gordon Hanson, garden writer and master gardener

a pretty red climber What’s the red climbing flower that has “cardinal” in its name and attracts hummingbirds? —Lisa M.

Foldy, Palos Hills, IL Cardinal climber (Ipomoea sloteri) is a pretty annual vine with brilliant red flowers that attract hummingbirds as well as butterflies. It’s sometimes confused with cypress vine (Ipomoea quamoclit), but cardinal climber is a hybrid that has cypress vine as one parent and scarlet morning glory (Ipomoea coccinea) as the other. Its leaves are not as lacy as cypress vine, and its flowers are rounded rather than starlike. You can easily start cardinal climber from seed. Soak the seeds overnight or nick them with a knife before planting. Germination may take several weeks and the seedlings grow slowly at first. Once cardinal vine gets going, though, it can quickly climb to 15 feet or more, twining around whatever’s within reach. Because it’s a tropical plant, it flowers best with heat and plenty of sun. In warm climates, cardinal climber may reseed, though it hasn’t proven to be invasive like cypress vine. —K.L.

GARDENING QUESTIONS? Send questions to Expert Advice, Gardening How-To, 12301 Whitewater Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55343, or e-mail editors@ gardeningclub.com. Sorry, we’re unable to respond personally to all questions.

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SITESPECIFIC

native vines What’s growing in your region—and how to care for it.

southeast TRUMPET CREEPER VINE (Campsis radicans, Zones 4 to 9), with its clusters of orange tubular flowers that hummingbirds love, thrives in the rocky, compacted soil near my driveway where little else will grow. After its first season, this tough native needs no supplemental water or fertilizer. I grow the orange-flowered native strain, but yellow-blooming ‘Flava’ is easier to work with in floral color schemes. Gardeners are often aggravated by trumpet creeper’s runners, which sprout in unwanted places, but I’ve found that growing it pillar-style, on sturdy 4-foot posts, helps keep it in bounds. In spring, pull up unwanted sprouts. (Wear gloves, because some people have allergic reactions to the sap.) Trumpet creeper can run 20 feet or more, but I prune mine annually to no more than 5 feet tall. Never neglect winter pruning, which is required to keep trumpet creeper vines the size you prefer. You can be ruthless, because trumpet creeper blooms on new growth. Over time, welldisciplined trumpet creeper vines develop curved woody trunks that add to their off-season eye appeal. —Barbara Pleasant, Floyd, VA

• To grow an abundant crop of fall broccoli or cabbage, start seeds indoors and set out the seedlings while the weather is still hot. • Plan ahead for easy fall color by sowing dwarf marigolds in a nursery bed. Marigolds started in midsummer bloom longer and stronger than fall mums. • Top-dress reblooming roses and daylilies with a balanced organic fertilizer; then add 2 inches of mulch.

Sources Campsis radicans

Lazy S’s Farm Nursery, Barboursville, VA, www.lazyssfarm.com; Sunlight Gardens, Andersonville, TN, 800-272-7396, www.sunlightgardens.com

PHOTO: BILL JOHNSON

around the garden

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Aristolochia californica

PHOTOS: GELSEMIUM SEMPERVIRENS, JERRY PAVIA; ARISTOLOCHIA CALIFORNICA, JOSH MCCULLOUGH

Gelsemium sempervirens

southwest

pacific northwest

A RAMBLING OLD silver-gray fence in my backyard is home

TWO WESTERN NATIVE VINES, orange honeysuckle

to a tangle of Carolina jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens, Zones 6 to 10). I’m not a big fan of yellow in the garden, but this plant’s lemon-colored blooming clusters perfectly oﬀset the blues and silver-greens of my garden’s foliage, as well as the blooms of other perennials and annuals. Carolina jasmine ﬂowers in spring, but will rebloom through summer into early fall if you give it extra water and don’t deadhead it. The vine prefers amended clay or loam, but it tolerates sandy soil, as long as it gets even moisture. Carolina jasmine blossoms in part shade and can stretch to 20 feet long by the end of the growing season, so give it good support. Cut it back if it gets too leggy. You can use it as a ground cover; keep it pruned to about 3 feet tall. —Stephanie Hainsfurther, Albuquerque, NM

(Lonicera ciliosa, Zones 5 to 9) and California Dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia californica, Zones 8 to 10), make charming statements in any style of garden. Both grow best in part shade to full sun, and, once established, they need no supplemental water. Prune both as needed in fall or winter. Orange honeysuckle grows up to 18 feet long. The leaves grow in pairs along the stem, but some are fused to make it look as if the stem pierces the leaf disc. Clusters of narrowly tubular orange flowers that appear just above a leaf attract hummingbirds; birds eat the red berries that follow. California Dutchman’s pipe reaches more than 20 feet. In late winter and early spring, 1-inch flowers appear, shaped like pipes. Because the flowers don’t have an appealing fragrance, plant the vine at a respectable distance from your patio or sidewalk. —Marty Wingate, Seattle, WA

around the garden • Plant tough flowering perennials like yarrow and hummingbird mint to enliven the garden in the dog days of summer. • Deadhead spent flowers to help plants retain energy and rebloom. • Feed reblooming irises and other come-again plants.

Sources Almost Eden Plants, Merryville, LA, 337-375-2114, www.almostedenplants.com; Sooner Plant Farm, Park Hill, OK, 918-453-0771, www.soonerplantfarm.com

around the garden • Prune Japanese maples: When the tree is in leaf, it’s easier to see how cuts will affect the shape. • Put your tomatoes under a plastic covering with open sides to help prevent late blight.

Sources Honeysuckle: California Flora Nursery, Fulton, CA, 707-528-8813, www.calﬂoranursery.com; Inside Passage, Port Townsend, WA, 800-361-9657, www.insidepassageseeds.com (seeds) California Dutchman’s pipe: Bay Natives, San Francisco, CA, 415-2876755, www.baynatives.com; Las Pilitas Nursery, Santa Margarita, CA, 805-438-5992, www.laspilitas.com

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midwest/mountain

northeast

YOU AND THE HUMMINGBIRDS will enjoy trumpet hon-

WILD GRAPES are an important food source for song-

eysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens, Zones 3 to 8), a vigorous and beautiful native vine. The blue-green leaves make a nice backdrop for tubular flowers that vary from orangered to orange-yellow. The first flush of flowers appears early in the season and is followed by sporadic bloom throughout the year. Grow this twining vine over an arbor or along a fence, or allow it to crawl over boulders or across the ground as a striking ground cover. Plant in full sun for best blooms and fewer problems with powdery mildew and leaf spot. Prune new and established plantings to encourage flowering, establish a framework, and stimulate new growth at the base. Renovate overgrown plants by pruning stems back to 2 feet above the ground. Thin new growth as needed. —Melinda Myers, Milwaukee, WI

birds, bears, foxes, and other wildlife. In the Northeast, the most common is the riverbank grape (Vitis riparia, Zones 2 to 9). Because it’s vigorous, long-lived, and hardy to -50 degrees F., it’s been used as rootstock for developing many of today’s cold-hardy grape varieties. The riverbank grape needs a sunny spot with good drainage and plenty of room to ramble. It can be found growing along fence rows, roadsides, forest clearings, and abandoned ﬁelds, often climbing 40 feet or more into the canopies of trees. In late August, I search out the blueblack fruit for use in jellies and juices. Be careful about eating them raw, however: The fruit contains a mild acid that can irritate the inside of your mouth. To avoid this, either cook the grapes or refrigerate fresh juice for 24 to 48 hours before using; the tartrate settles to the bottom and can be discarded. —Kathleen LaLiberte, Richmond, VT

around the garden • Monitor plants for insect and disease problems. It’s much easier to pluck a few insects or diseaseinfested leaves than control large pest populations. • Harvest vegetables at their peak for the best flavor, nutritional value, and productivity.

Sources Gardens in the Wood of Grassy Creek, Crumpler, NC, 336-384-4838, www.gardensinthewood.com; Shooting Star Nursery, Georgetown, KY, 866-405-7979, www.shootingstarnursery.com

around the garden Plant a mid-season crop of carrots, beets, kale, and broccoli for a bounty of high-quality produce in September and October. Start the seeds under shade netting to keep the soil moist and relatively cool, which improves germination.

Sources Cold Stream Farm, Free Soil, MI, 231-464-5809, www.coldstreamfarm.net; Forestfarm, Williams, OR, 541-846-7269, www.forestfarm.com

PHOTOS: LONICERA SEMPERVIRENS, JERRY PAVIA; VITIS RIPARIA, TRACY WALSH

Vitis riparia

Lonicera sempervirens

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garden Impressionist artist Leif Nilsson created a garden to provide inspiration for his paintings. BY DEB WILEY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARYN B. DAVIS

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ore than once, painter Leif Nilsson has lost his muse to a mower. The first time was in France. One day, he’s standing in a beautiful field of wildflowers with his paints and a canvas. The next day in the field, someone starts cutting down the flowers. To his chagrin, the same thing happened in Sicily. Years later, Leif (pronounced Layf ) moved to Chester, Connecticut, a town of about 3,800 people. Its antique charm and crooked, winding streets reminded him of Europe, and in 1995 he bought a three-story, 4,000-squarefoot hotel-turned-house on a steep hillside in the center of town. Since buying the historic 1830s property, he’s devoted almost as much attention to planting as to painting. He’s carved an impressive garden from the rocky, shady hillside— one that inspires his Impressionist paintings, which he creates en plein air (in the open air, or outside), just as Claude Monet did at his famous garden in Giverny, France. Here, his source of inspiration is safe from the blade. “I’m glad

I was able to finally start my own garden instead of someone mowing it down,” he says.

rock walls and terraces With a steep hillside as his canvas, Leif knew there would be structural work as well as planting. “If there’s a hill and you want to use a hill, you have to put steps and terraces in it,” he says. Over the past 17 years, he’s built both, plus a spectacular small amphitheater created for his wedding last year to photographer Caryn B. Davis. The soft, sandy stone he used for the amphitheater was removed from the excavation for a new house five miles away. Each terrace level is two steps high and four feet deep to allow people to pass between those sitting along the edges. It’s a perfect location for arts gatherings, including readings and music. Leif plays banjo there with his band, the Side Doors. Other spaces carved from the hillside serve as small dining or sitting areas. Leif defines them with dry-laid stone walls and hardwood-chip paths.

Left: Leif Nilsson built this sunken brick patio at the back of the historic former hotel that is now his home and studio. Above: Every season brings new subjects for Leif’s Impressionist paintings.

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Top: This small building near the house serves as Leifâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studio. He tore out the parking lot in front to build a sunflower garden. Left: The sunflower garden and studio entrance inspired Leif to create this painting. Above: Each season, Leif changes the plants in his window boxes.

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garden at a glance Size of lot: ½ acre Size of garden: The entire lot Location: Chester, Connecticut Years in house: 17 (rented the studio 5 years before buying) Years gardening: 17 USDA Hardiness Zone: 6b Watering technique: As needed, hose or watering can Original soil: Poor, hard, stony soil Soil amendments: Homemade organic compost from leaves, plant clippings, and kitchen vegetable scraps; sometimes horse manure Fertilizer: Commercial liquid seaweed Many of the perennials in Leif’s gardens are gifts from friends. He planted everything in the garden, except for the ferns and some of the trees.

“I’ve built and torn apart as many walls as I still have,” he says wryly. “I’m getting more confident they’ll stay up now.” Behind the house, the ground used to be level with the doorway, but termites were burrowing into the wood siding. Leif dug down about 1½ feet to create what is now a brick-floored sunken patio with a dining table and grill.

ivy and inspiration Leif planted everything that’s currently in the garden, except for native ferns and a couple of trees. Over 17 years, it’s been a process of tinkering and adding the many passalong plants he received from friends. “It’s kind of like painting,” he says of creating gardens. “If it doesn’t look right, I just keep working on it.” Much of the property stands in dappled shade. By trial and error, Leif has found little nooks

where certain plants do well. He experiments with evergreen ground covers such as ajuga, dead nettle, pachysandra, ivy, and vinca. The ivy came from his grandmother’s garden. Leif likes how it looks and doesn’t mind the extra work its aggressive behavior demands. “I don’t have much grass, but I have to trim the ivy six times a year,” he says. Daisies, black-eyed Susans, bee balm, and asters are tucked into the lot’s sunnier pockets. In front of a small building next to the hotel, which serves as his studio, Leif ripped out a couple of parking spots to make room for a garden. He grows 8- to 9-foot-tall sunflowers behind a white picket fence. Each season he changes out the plants in the window boxes and potted urns. He considers the garden, which is open on weekend afternoons and by chance or

Mulch: Compost Average annual rainfall: 44 inches Hours spent in garden: About one hour daily; more if constructing something Sun/shade conditions: Sun in front; shade in back Favorite shade plant: Pulmonaria, for its long springtime bloom and variegated foliage Favorite sun plant: Sunflower, for its cheerful expressions and bright, sunny colors Best advice when starting to garden: “Start near the house and work out from there. Keep the view from the kitchen in mind when designing; you’ll see it every day from there. Incorporate pathways early on. If you have a bed of pachysandra or some other ground cover, you can easily plant bulbs and bleeding hearts in them to liven them up.” Website: www.nilssonstudio.com

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shady slope ground covers: how to use them Sloped and shaded ground presents opportunities as well as challenges. Leif Nilsson employs these perennial ground covers to anchor the soil and create beauty in hard-to-garden spots. But beware: Because they’re tough, they can be invasive in certain situations. Ajuga (Ajuga reptans) This creeping plant, sometimes called bugleweed, has glossy, dark green leaves and spikes of dark blue flowers in spring. It grows 4 to 9 inches tall. Foliage comes in a variety of colors, including ivory, burgundy-pink, and green (‘Burgundy Glow’); variegated green, cream, and pink (‘Dixie Chip’); dark purple (‘Black Scallop’); and more. Zones 3 to 9. Lamium (Lamium spp.) Despite its sinister common name of dead nettle, lamium can be a great choice for tough spots. Most lamium species do best with moist, well-drained soil. They grow 8 to 24 inches tall, depending on the type. Lamium maculatum cultivars such as ‘Pink Pewter’ or ‘White Nancy’ show silver variegation on green leaves. Look for lowgrowing pink or white flowers in spring. Zones 4 to 8. Pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) Pachysandra, also called Japanese spurge, is an oldie but a goodie for a reason: It’s goof-proof. On a shady, moist hillside where you want it to crowd out weeds, this 8to 12-inch plant can be a boon. The variegated version is slightly slowergrowing and adds brightness to dark areas. Zones 4 to 8.

appointment, an integral part of his art business. “I want the garden to attract people,” he says. “They come up to see it, and then they see I have paintings, and they realize it’s all one package.” Visitors who find Leif at work are often treated to a guided tour; he’ll show them around the garden and point out the spots where he painted certain pieces. En route to the top of the backyard hill, visitors pass through a rustic fence Leif fashioned from saplings. Tibetan prayer flags strung across the top add color. At the very peak of the hill, the thatched roof of a tiny split-log cabin peeks over the summer foliage of the jungle-like garden. On closer inspection, the cute structure turns

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Above: Leif built this rustic fence and gate across the path that leads through his wooded backyard. Right: The mysterious wooden structure at the top of a flower-covered hillside is a woodpile made to look like a shack.

out to be a disguised woodpile. “I wanted to make a little path to the top of the hill, and I needed a place to store wood,” Leif says. “I’d been stacking wood there, and after a couple of years I thought, Why not make the wood storage some kind of a whimsy?” It works. It’s not Giverny, but this wooded slope, with all its challenges, provides Leif with the inspiration he needs. And nobody’s going to mow it down. Deb Wiley is a garden writer in Des Moines, Iowa.

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9 perfect pairings BY ELIZABETH NOLL

PHOTO: MARK TURNER

I Increase your garden’s d ’ impact by pairing plants that complement each other in size, color, or shape. With careful choices, the grouping is more stunning than a single plant on its own.

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2 o steal a line from television’s always-excessive Frasier: “If less is more, think how much more more can be!” That delightfully extravagant thinking applies to combining plants in your garden. If one plant by itself is very pretty, position it next to another plant that contrasts with it nicely. You’ll have a dynamic duo that will stop passersby in their tracks. Blue salvia, for example, really pop when blooming next to crisp white and yellow daisies. The reds of zonal geraniums are enriched by a deep purple sweet potato vine nearby—and the dusty purple rings on the geranium foliage suddenly stand out. Of course, you can combine more than just two types of plants. Plant three or four or five different types together, and you’ll really have a showstopper. 1 Dramatic drift (page 29): ‘May Night’ salvia (Salvia x sylvestris ‘Mainacht’) and yellow pineleaf penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius ‘Mersea Yellow’) marry well because of their contrasting color and similar upright, spiky form. Because they’re both drought-tolerant, theirs should be a long and happy relationship. Get the maximum impact from a great union like this with a wide drift of plants.

PHOTOS: 2, JERRY PAVIA; 3, 4, MARK TURNER

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4 2 Flirty friends: The flouncy white flowers of nemesia (Nemesia ‘Innocence’) hug the upright leaves of this ornamental kale (Brassica oleracea) and highlight its frilly edges. The foliage is key in this charming but simple combination. 3 Nice neighbors: The mounding plants pictured here combine to form a pretty patchwork that points the way to the riot of red roses in the background. Success in pairing plants depends on being able to visualize how plants will interact. In the foreground: Salvia x sylvestris ‘Blauhügel’, Dianthus deltoides ‘Leuchtfunk’ Flashing Light, Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’, and Euphorbia ‘Blue Haze’. 4 Magical match: This thoughtful pairing relies on the interplay between the golden foliage of ‘Ogon’ spiraea (Spiraea thunbergii ‘Ogon’) and the puffy pink bloom of ‘Bremen’ astilbe (Astilbe japonica ‘Bremen’, also called false spirea) for a stunning effect.

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6 Fine foliage: The humble boxwood (Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’) makes this trio special. The white and purple bellflowers (Campanula persicifolia ‘Alba’ and Campanula glomerata) are handsome in their own right, but are transformed by the tiny variegated leaves at their feet. 7 Partners in bloom: Planting ground clematis (Clematis recta) to twine among a clump of lilies (Lilium ‘Pretender’) is smart for two reasons: both bloom at the same time, and the clematis hides the rather forlorn foliage of the lily while enhancing the beauty of its flower.

PHOTOS: 5, 7, JERRY PAVIA; 6, MARK TURNER

5 Island in a river: Chartreuse leaves of the ground cover California lilac (Ceanothus griseus var. horizontalis ‘Diamond Heights’) surround an island of pink-purple nemesia blossoms. Foliage is practically no-fail in terms of design, since it lasts all season long.

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7 tips for twosomes Consider these questions when deciding which plants to pair: • When does it bloom? It’s stunning when two plants bloom simultaneously next to each other. Consider roses entwined with blue or purple clematis. • Does the foliage pair well? After all, blooms last just a few days to weeks. Foliage is around for much longer. Play around with contrasting foliage in terms of color (silvery, lime green, deep purple, emerald green) and leaf shape (feathery astilbe next to largeleaved hostas). • Do the plants need similar amounts of water and sun? Pair sun lovers with sun lovers and wet feet with wet feet. No bog plants with desert natives! • What would a drift look like? When you find a combination you like, don’t restrict yourself to planting just a single pair. Instead, create drifts of 6, 10, or a dozen or more plants next to equally sized drifts of another plant. The end result is a garden that wows. • How will the plants interact? Tall, stately Siberian irises stand guard over a bank of lower-growing heuchera; cranesbill geranium delicately explores a neighboring mound of euphorbia; several types of low-growing sedum or thyme planted together make an elegant carpet. —Veronica Lorson Fowler

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9 Bloom with bling: What a happy coincidence that this brilliant Portulaca cultivar and the complementary blue pimpernel (Anagallis monellii ‘Sky Lover’) bloom at the same time. Coincidence…or design?

9 PHOTOS: 8, MARK TURNER; 9, JERRY PAVIA

8 Classy mass: Remember to use the multiplier effect with a pair that works. Two or three of these coral bells (Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’) with a small clump of Siberian irises (Iris sibirica) would be pretty, but en masse the effect is much more powerful and compelling.

34 SUMMER 2012 | GARDENINGCLUB.COM

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1/18/12 10:19 AM 7/11/12 2:20 PM

Not your

supermarket

tomato! Fed up with perfect-looking tomatoes that have no flavor? Try these odd-looking heirlooms. They might not win a beauty contest, but … mmmm, they’re tasty!

Did you attain tomato perfection this year? Years of hybridizing have set the standard for how most people think a tomato should look: Perfectly round, evenly colored. Unfortunately, the flavor of these ideal orbs is often disappointing. To get better-tasting tomatoes, many gardeners have turned to heirlooms, but even then they often opt for those varieties that look like the perfectly shaped ones. Next year, forget about looks and go for taste. There are lots of heirlooms that are delicious but wouldn’t win a tomato beauty contest. The 12 unusual tomatoes on these pages wouldn’t survive a cross-country trip in a crate, and they wouldn’t get votes for having the look of a perfect tomato, but they’re quite delicious and worth seeking out. Once you taste them, you just might decide that the ideal tomato isn’t round and red at all, but mottled and misshapen, green and sausage-shaped, or tiny and white.

t ‘black elephant’ These large purplish-brown tomatoes with green shoulders are often misshapen and downright ugly. But they make up for their disagreeable appearance with a superior smoky and sweet taste. Indeterminate. 80 days.

PHOTOS: ‘BLACK ELEPHANT’, ‘VIOLET JASPER’, BAKER CREEK SEEDS; ‘GREEN ZEBRA’, JERRY PAVIA

BY TERESA O’CONNOR

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‘green zebra’

These popular green tomatoes grow to the size of tennis balls and sport yellow and dark green stripes. ‘Green Zebra’ is known for its tangy flavor and big yields. Grows well in large containers. Indeterminate. 90 days.

‘violet jasper’

This prolific plant bears tomatoes that look like they were painted by a master artist. Small, round plum tomatoes have violet-purple skin streaked with iridescent green. The striking tomatoes taste delicious and transform a simple salad into a work of art. Indeterminate. 80 days.

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‘striped roman’

This variety features long, pointed red fruit with wavy orange stripes. The meaty flesh has excellent flavor and is wellsuited for sauces and canning. Indeterminate. 85 days.

t ‘garden peach’ This unique tomato looks like a peach. The yellow skin blushes with pink and even has peach-like fuzz. Prolific plants grow lots of 3- to 4-inch round fruits to enjoy. Sweet, mild-tasting tomatoes have a long windowsill life. Indeterminate. 75 days.

‘white queen’

This is a hefty, creamy white, beefsteak-type tomato that’s a favorite among tomato collectors. The fruit is fragrant, fruity, very sweet, and crackresistant. Color ranges from ivory to very pale yellow. Indeterminate. 75 days.

t ‘green sausage’ Shaped like a small sausage, these elongated, 3- to 4-inch tomatoes are yellow with lime green stripes. The rich, sweet flavor is great for salsas and sauces. Small, prostrate plants don’t need trellising and can be grown in large hanging baskets. Determinate. 80 days.

t ‘snow white’ Don’t expect pure white tomatoes—‘Snow White’ cherry tomatoes are closer to a very pale yellow when ripe. They’re very tasty; combine with red, orange, and chocolate-colored cherry tomatoes for a colorful summer salad. Indeterminate. 75 days.

t ‘plum yellow’ Bright yellow 3-inch fruit looks like fresh lemons but tastes sweet and mild. Attractive tomatoes grow in clusters. They’re delicious right off the vine or in sauces. Indeterminate. 80 days.

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enjoy the harvest Make the most of your tomato crop with these fresh, easy-to-prepare recipes for appetizers, salad, and more.

Tomato and Cheese Melts Top 4 slices of rustic bread with slices of tomato and smoked Gouda cheese. Place on a baking sheet; broil 2 minutes or until cheese melts and browns.

‘ananas noire’ u Though the name translates as ‘Black Pineapple’, these tomatoes aren’t black, but a lovely mash of green, yellow, and red. ‘Ananas Noire’ comes from Belgium and has a tangy, sweet flavor with a touch of citrus. Not a good keeper; eat this one straight from the garden. Indeterminate. 80 days.

‘tlacolula pink’

This is a pinkish-red tomato with pleats so deep the fruit looks like a ruffled skirt. A prolific heirloom from Mexico, it has a mild, pleasant taste. Indeterminate. 80 days.

salads Black Bean and Tomato Salad Toss 1 (15-ounce) can drained and rinsed black beans with 1 large chopped tomato, sliced green onions, and chopped cilantro. Combine homemade or purchased vinaigrette dressing mixed with ground cumin to taste; toss with bean mixture. Summer Tomato Salad Arrange 4 large red leaf or Boston lettuce leaves on salad plates; top with 4 red and/or yellow heirloom tomatoes, sliced. Whisk together 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 minced garlic clove, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper; drizzle over tomatoes. Top with chopped fresh chives or basil, if desired.

sauces Fresh Tomato Sauce Combine 4 diced medium tomatoes, minced garlic, chopped pitted Kalamata olives, chopped fresh marjoram or oregano, olive oil, salt, and a pinch of crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes to draw juices from the tomatoes. Toss with 8 ounces hot spaghetti. Tomato-Ginger Compote Sauté minced garlic, chopped seeded jalapeño chile, and minced fresh ginger in a little vegetable oil until softened and fragrant. Add 2 diced, seeded, medium-large tomatoes, a dash of sugar, and salt to taste; bring to a simmer. Cook over medium heat 10 minutes or until thickened. Stir in chopped cilantro. Serve with grilled chicken or fish.

side dishes

t ‘cherokee purple’ This Cherokee Indian heirloom, which is more than 100 years old, has deep, dusky pink-purple skin and flesh. The large tomatoes have a tendency to crack at the top, but they make up for it with an appealing, old-fashioned flavor. Indeterminate. 80 days. Teresa O’Connor is a gardening writer based in Boise, Idaho. She was trained as a master gardener in California and Idaho.

Grilled Tomatoes Cut tomatoes in half crosswise; gently press out seeds. Stir together ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, and a dash of salt and pepper. Sprinkle over tomato halves; drizzle with olive oil. Grill until warmed. Tomato Gratin Lightly oil a gratin dish and sprinkle with about ½ cup fresh bread crumbs. Arrange tomato slices, slightly overlapping, over the crumbs. Toss an additional ½ cup fresh bread crumbs with about 1 teaspoon herbes de Provence; moisten with a little olive oil. Sprinkle over the tomatoes, and bake at 425˚F. for 30 minutes or until golden brown. —Cooking Club magazine

PHOTOS: ‘GARDEN PEACH’, SAXON HOLT; ‘GREEN SAUSAGE’, SEED SAVERS EXCHANGE; ‘STRIPED ROMAN’, ‘WHITE QUEEN’, ‘PLUM YELLOW’, ‘SNOW WHITE’, ‘ANANAS NOIRE’, ‘TLACOLULA PINK’, ‘CHEROKEE PURPLE’, BAKER CREEK SEEDS

appetizer

Sources Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Mansfield, MO, 417-924-8917, www.rareseeds.com; Seed Savers Exchange, Decorah, IA, 563-382-5990, www.seedsavers.org; Sweet Corn Organic Nursery, Show Low, AZ, 928-537-2676, www.sweetcornorganicnursery.com; TomatoFest, Little River, CA, www.tomatofest.com

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An Ounce of Hydrogen Peroxide is Worth a Pound of Cure (SPECIAL) - Hydrogen peroxide is trusted by every hospital and emergency room in the country for its remarkable ability to kill deadly germs like E. coli. In fact, it has attracted so much interest from doctors that over 6000 articles about it have appeared in scientific publications around the world. Research has discovered that hydrogen peroxide enables your immune system to function properly and fight infection and disease. Doctors have found it can shrink tumors and treat allergies, Alzheimer’s, asthma, clogged arteries, diabetes, digestive problems and migraine headaches. Smart consumers nationwide are also discovering there are hundreds of health cures and home remedy uses for hydrogen peroxide. A new book called The Magic of Hydrogen Peroxide is now available that tells you exactly how to use hydrogen peroxide by itself... and mixed with simple everyday kitchen items... to make liniments, rubs, lotions, soaks and tonics that treat a wide variety of ailments. It contains tested and proven health cures that do everything from relieving chronic pain to making age spots go away. You’ll be amazed to see how a little hydrogen peroxide mixed with a pinch of this or that from your cupboard can: s 2ELIEVE THE PAIN OF ARTHRITIS RHEUMATISM AND FIBROMYALGIA s 4REAT ATHLETE S FOOT s #LEAR UP ALLERGIES AND SINUS PROBLEMS s 3OOTHE SORE THROATS s &IGHT COLDS AND FLU s (ELP HEAL BOILS AND SKIN INFECTIONS s 7HITEN TEETH WITHOUT SPENDING A FORTUNE s $ESTROY HARMFUL DENTAL BACTERIA and heal gingivitis s (ELP HEAL COLD SORES AND CANKER sores s #LEAR UP FOOT AND NAIL FUNGUS s 2ELIEVE THE STING AND PAIN OF INSECT bites s 3OOTHE SORE FEET s 2ELIEVE EAR ACHES s 3OOTHE MUSCLE ACHES s %NABLE MINOR WOUNDS CUTS AND SCRAPES TO HEAL FASTER s 2EFRESH AND TONE YOUR SKIN

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s #LEAR UP ACNE RASHES AND AGE SPOTS s (ELP HEAL YEAST INFECTIONS s !ND MUCH MORE Besides killing E. coli, hydrogen peroxide also destroys botulism, salmonella and other harmful organisms. It works by making viruses and bacteria selfdestruct on the cellular level. Amazingly, for something so powerful, hydrogen peroxide is safe. That’s because after it makes germs self-destruct, hydrogen peroxide breaks down into harmless water. The Magic of Hydrogen Peroxide book is a valuable health improvement treasure that also shows you how to make tons of household cleaners that work better and more economically than expensive storebought products. It’s a safe powerful alternative to harsh chemical cleaners. Discover easy-to-make formulas that: s +ILL GERMS ON KITCHEN COUNTERS AND SURFACES s 3TERILIZE DISHES CUPS AND KITCHEN utensils s -AKE A POWERFUL SCOURING POWDER THAT WORKS WONDERS ON KITCHEN SINKS REFRIGERATORS AND OVENS s $ISINFECT AND DEODORIZE COFFEE MAKERS TEA POTS BLENDERS AND FOOD PROCESSORS s 3ANITIZE WOOD CUTTING BOARDS AND WOODEN SPOONS s #LEAN OUT AND DISINFECT CLOGGED DRAINS s -AKE HARDWOOD FLOORS TILE FLOORS grout and linoleum gleam s 'ET RID OF HARMFUL BACTERIA ON FRUITS VEGETABLES AND MEATS WITH THIS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE FOOD RINSE s %LIMINATE NASTINESS FROM TOILET BOWLS BATH TUBS SHOWERS AND SHOWER curtains s 3TERILIZE AND PURIFY TOOTHBRUSHES and dentures s #LEAN AND DISINFECT PET STAINS s 2EMOVE MOLD AND MILDEW FROM BASEMENT WALLS ROOFS AND OTHER SURFACES s $ISINFECT DIAPERS PACIFIERS AND BABY TOYS s 2EMOVE WINE INK AND BLOOD STAINS FROM CLOTHING CARPETS AND FURNITURE s "OOST LAUNDRY DETERGENT POWER AND

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7/11/12 2:20 PM

Encourage the mason bee (a gentle pollinator) to settle in your garden with this cute shelter.

build abee

house BY KATHY CHILDERS AND ELIZABETH NOLL

materials PHOTOS: BEE HOUSE, TRACY WALSH; MASON BEE, BILL JOHNSON

• One 1x10x8-foot fir or pine board, untreated • Ruler or story stick • Sharpie • Saw (jigsaw, handsaw, table saw, or other) • Cordless drill (5⁄16-inch bit) • Hammer • Galvanized finishing nails (1¼ to 1½ inches long) • Tape measure • Clamps • Picture-hanging bracket

You’ve probably heard about colony collapse disorder, which is causing the honey bee and bumble bee populations to decline. And you may be wondering if there’s anything you can do to ensure that flowers get pollinated. Luckily, many wild bee species are terrific pollinators, including one of them, called the mason bee, which can be attracted with a nesting house that can easily be made from a single board. Mason bees, which rarely sting, lay their eggs in holess and crevices already carved out by other insects, animals, or the weather. So if you give them a block of wood with holes drilled in it and a roof to shield them from rain, they may well establish a nursery right in your garden. Make the house this summer, so it’s ready to hang in very early spring, when they’re looking for places to nest. Then look for opportunities that will provide added incentive for the bees to set up housekeeping in your yard. Halt the use of pesticides, and plant wildflowers, herbs (such as lavender, basil, and borage), and bramble fruits (like raspberries and blackberries).

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bee house

roof: 12½"

base: 4½"

13½"

11½" roof

11½"

13½"

11½"

13½"

11½"

13½" body

13½"

11½"

13½" 11½"

excess base

• You can use a ruler or tape measure to mark the location of cuts on the board, but a story stick is more accurate and saves time. To make a story stick for the board, on a straight piece of scrap wood, mark 11½ inches on one edge and 13½ inches on the other edge (see photo 1). • If your cut wood pieces don’t fit together exactly, it’s fine. Mason bees don’t require perfection.

• We recommend you don’t use cedar, which has natural characteristics that repel insects, or treated lumber, glue, or paint or stain; bees are extremely sensitive to chemicals. • Hang the bee house in early spring at least 3 feet off the ground in a sunny spot in or near the garden, facing away from prevailing winds. Leave it in place until at least November.

ILLUSTRATION: MELANIE POWELL

building tips

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story stick

1 Cut off 2 inches of the 1x10 on one end to create a smooth edge. With a pencil and a story stick (or ruler), start at the clean edge and mark where to cut each piece (see illustration).

Use a Sharpie and scrap board or other straight edge to draw the cutting lines across the face of the board for the body, base, and roof of the house.

4 3 Clamp the board to a solid surface and cut along the lines using a jigsaw (you can also use a handsaw or table saw).

PHOTOS: LARRY OKREND

To assemble the body of the house, align two of the trapezoidshaped pieces and nail together in each corner. Angle the nails slightly. Place a third body piece on top of these two, and nail it to the stack. Repeat with the remaining three pieces of the body. Nail the base to the flat end of the stack.

roof

Set the body with attached base on the roof section; align the back of the roof with the back of the body and center the roof side to side. There should be an overhang of about 2 inches on the front of the house. (This protects the holes from rain.) Mark the placement, then flip over the house and nail the roof in place.

6 Starting 2½ inches below the roof and 2½ inches above the base, mark holes on the face of the house 1½ inches apart and staggered. Drill 5⁄16-inch holes 3 inches to 6 inches deep. Smooth the openings with sandpaper. Attach picturehanging hardware on the back.

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BACKYARDWILDLIFE

make space for snakes Most snakes are harmless to people and a valuable link in the food chain. BY DAVID MIZEJEWSKI

I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING: Snakes are nasty. They’ve gotten this reputation because some are venomous, and many people think they’re ugly and their slithery movements repulsive. From Greek mythology to the Bible, to countless television shows and movies, snakes are reviled. Few other creatures inspire such fear and revulsion. But it’s undeserved. If you set aside cultural stereotypes and look at snakes for what they really are, it quickly becomes apparent that such fear is completely out of proportion to any actual danger they pose. Quite the contrary, snakes are fascinating and important members of the animal world, and they play an important role in our gardens. Most snakes are not dangerous. In North America, the majority of snake species are nonvenomous and completely harmless to people. Venomous species are generally uncommon in areas frequented by people, and your chance of encountering one or being bitten—even in a garden designed to attract wildlife—is exceedingly small. To put it in perspective: In the United States, about six people each year die from venomous snakebites. That means you’re exponentially more likely to be killed by lightning, a car accident, or a dog than by a venomous snake. Snakes are both predator and prey. They play a critical role in keeping the populations of prey species under control, whether they’re feeding on rodents or

Most snakes in North America are completely harmless to humans, like the blue garter snake (above) and the Sonora mountain kingsnake (right).

There’s no such thing as a “poisonous snake.” Poison must be ingested in order to make you sick (think poisonous mushroom or berries). Animals that have the ability to inject toxins are referred to as “venomous.” Some snakes are venomous, and they use their venom to incapacitate their prey. Unless provoked, a venomous snake will not bite you. Snakes don’t view people as food and will not chase a person. Even if they did, no snake is faster than a running person. If you live in an area with venomous species, know how to identify them, be alert when in their habitat, and practice the old mantra of “live and let live.”

PHOTO: ROB CARDILLO

Poisonous vs. venomous

44 SUMMER 2012 | GARDENINGCLUB.COM

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Thanks to BetterWOMAN, I’m winning the battle for

PHOTO: CORBIS PREMIUM RF/ALAMY

Bladder Control. invertebrates. Some common garden snakes—for example, garter, brown, and ring-necked—feed on insects, worms, and the like. Some snakes eat frogs and toads and others eat birds. And some even eat other snakes. Kingsnakes, for example, earned their common name by preying on other snakes, including venomous rattlesnakes. Snakes are also an important food source for other wildlife. Red-shouldered hawks specialize in eating snakes. Barred owls, herons, roadrunners, and wild turkeys eat them too. Mammals, such as foxes, opossums, and raccoons, will all happily gobble up snakes. Even large frogs will eat snakes. When it comes to inviting snakes into the garden, keep all of this in mind. As predators, snakes help keep rodent and invertebrate pests under control, and those kingsnakes will minimize the already small chance of encountering a venomous snake in your garden. As prey, the presence of snakes will help attract a whole host of dramatic wildlife to your garden. Build a wildlife-friendly garden, and you might get lucky. If you’re a die-hard wildlife gardener, you’re already building the kind of garden a snake would find attractive. When you provide native plants and use a natural garden design, worms, invertebrates, frogs, toads and other prey species move in, and the snakes take it from there. A water garden or a birdbath placed on the ground is a good water source for snakes. Dense plantings, along with brush or rock piles, provide good shelter for them. Large, flat rocks provide places for snakes to bask in the sun, which they do to warm up their cold-blooded bodies so that they can digest food. Some snakes lay eggs and some give live birth. If you maintain a naturalistic garden, you’ll provide them with plenty of places to bear their young. David Mizejewski lives in Washington, DC, and is a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation.

Frequent nighttime trips to the bathroom, embarrassing leaks and the inconvenience of constantly searching for rest rooms in public – for years, I struggled with bladder control problems. After trying expensive medications with horrible side effects, ineffective exercises and undignified pads and diapers, I was ready to resign myself to a life of bladder leaks, isolation and depression. But then I tried BetterWOMAN. When I first saw the ad for BetterWOMAN, I was skeptical. So many products claim they can set you free from leaks, frequency and worry, only to deliver disappointment. When I finally tried BetterWOMAN, I found that it actually works! It changed my life. Even my friends have noticed that I’m a new person. And because it’s all natural, I can enjoy the results without the worry of dangerous side effects. Thanks to BetterWOMAN, I finally fought bladder control problems and I won!

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GARDENGEAR

summer help practical aids for plants and pets

Pack maximum flowers into minimum space with the new Flower Tower. Made of black polypropylene with an interior water channel, the planter holds up to 30 annuals in a space 6 inches wide x 33Â˝ inches tall. Flower Tower, Lee Valley Tools, $24.50, 613-596-0350, www.leevalley.com

Store fresh herbs from your garden up

to three weeks in the Herb-Savor, a compact container with a water-fillable base and snap-shut lid. No more slimy herbs in plastic bags! Herb-Savor, Prepara, $29.99, www.prepara.com

Save Fido from mosquitoes, ticks, ants, and other biters with a bandana or vest made especially for dogs. The odorless repellent in the cloth lasts through 70 washings. Assorted items, Insect Shield, 866-712-7110, www.insectshield.com

The solar-powered RainPerfect pump moves water from your rain barrel through your garden hose at high pressure without the need for electricity. Installation is easy. RainPerfect pump and solar panel, Xylem Flow Products, $139, www.rainperfectpump.com

46 SUMMER 2012 | GARDENINGCLUB.COM

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MEMBERGARDEN

riches in the Rockies A couple discovers the secret to creating a lush garden high in the mountains. BY CHARLES AVERY

Members Charles and Susan Avery transformed the dry, rocky soil of Montana into rich, fertile vegetable and flower beds.

WHAT’S YOUR GARDEN STORY? Send your 300-word essay to: Member Garden, Gardening How-To, 12301 Whitewater Dr., Hopkins, MN 55343 or e-mail membergarden@gardeningclub.com. Please include your name, address, daytime phone number, member number, and at least one clear color photograph (not photocopy) of you in your garden. We’ll pay $100 for stories we publish. Sorry, we can’t acknowledge or return submissions.

PHOTO: KATHLEEN REPKE

IN DECEMBER 1998, we moved from the fertile land of western Washington to the rugged, dry terrain 4,480 feet up in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. Spring came, the snow receded, and we discovered how the Rockies got their name: Rocks! Lots of rocks. Is there any dirt, we wondered? There must be or there wouldn’t be so much mud and dust. My wife, the inveterate gardener, said we needed to compost to create good soil. It was easy in Washington, where everything composts, even things you don’t want to, like your roof or siding. But here our trees are all evergreens, and there’s no grass. And rocks don’t compost. That fall, Susan was horrified to find the nearby small town of Superior wreathed in a smoky haze as residents burned the big, beautiful leaves dropped by the maple trees all over town. She begged them to give her the leaves instead, and soon they were bagging them and calling us to pick them up. (We’ve hauled many truckloads of leaves up the mountain, but have yet to convince people to deliver.) We piled all those leaves under our roof’s drip line, where they were invisible that winter under the snow.

Come spring, we were shocked to discover those light, crunchy leaves had been transformed into a disgusting, smelly, slimy mass that effectively resisted shredding, turning, and spreading. What was this poor nongardening husband to do? I came up with the plan: Rather than trying to move that mountain of nauseating, decaying vegetation, we gathered the ever-present rocks, built a wall around the pile, and called it a bed! Planting was easy: Dig a hole, fill it with potting soil, and drop in seeds. We hit pay dirt! (Excuse the pun.) The first crop was huge zucchini and cosmos. Today, we have rich beds all over the place that produce unbelievably well. We refined our technique a bit: Susan found that shredding the leaves while they’re still dry greatly speeds composting, and after the first year, watering and light fertilizing is required. Each year, she replenishes the beds with about 3 inches of shredded leaf mulch. (Always willing to help, I bought her an 8-hp shredder for her birthday.) People used to think Susan was eccentric, but now the competition from other gardeners for the leaves, coffee grounds from Starbucks, and even manure is fierce. Local gardeners have dubbed her the Queen of Compost. She plants crops that are envied at the county fair, and she wins a slew of awards. We eat fresh, organic produce well into fall, and the town gets cleaner air.

GARDENINGCLUB.COM 47

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MEMBERTIPS

build the lawn of your dreams Members share their care and maintenance tips.

nontoxic ant removal

compost, not fertilizer

To eliminate ant hills in your lawn, sprinkle them with baking soda. The ants will flee, and the grass will not be harmed. Repeat after rain, if needed. —Charmaine

To feed your lawn and replenish the soil, spread a thin layer of compost (less than ½ inch) over it—you should be able to see the grass through the compost. Overseed thin areas with grass seed, and water gently once or twice a day until the grass germinates. In the spring, don’t use fertilizer; this encourages overgrowth of the grass tops, which is difficult for the roots to manage.

vinegar for dandelions Get rid of dandelions with vinegar. Choose a day that’s hot and sunny with no forecast of rain for a few days. Put some vinegar in a spray bottle, and spray it on just the dandelion flowers and leaves, or paint it on with a paintbrush. Use care when applying because the vinegar can also kill the grass. I also like the old-fashioned dandelion fork digging tool from my childhood. You have to dig deep enough to get the whole taproot, however. —Karen Doll, Hellertown, PA

—Abbie Panettiere, Catharpin, VA

no grubs, no moles We had a lot of moles one summer, who were feasting on grubs in our yard, and I didn’t want to trap or kill them. Instead, I sprinkled nematodes around the entire yard to kill the grubs. Once they were gone, the moles went elsewhere. —Tammy Goebel, St. Charles, MO

fall sowing, spring cutting

moss instead of grass

Fill in bare patches with grass seed in the fall so the seed will sprout earlier in the spring. When you mow grass for the first couple of times in the spring, cut it long. It will retain moisture and be fuller. Remember to always keep lawn mower blades sharp to avoid ripping the grass. —

Moss killed most of the grass in my backyard, and it stressed me so much it was probably killing me. Then I found out that moss is an up-and-coming lawn alternative. I no longer consider moss my enemy; I love the idea of a “lawn” that needs no mowing and helps the environment! —Bonnie Valentine, Waynesboro, VA

Betty Wissmiller, Mikado, MI

FOR OUR JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 ISSUE: How do you get your gardening fix in winter? Send responses to Member Tips, Gardening How-To, 12301 Whitewater Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55343, or e-mail tips@ gardeningclub.com. Deadline is September 1, 2012. Please include your name, address, daytime phone number, and member number. Sorry, we can’t acknowledge or return submissions. Responses may be edited for length and clarity. Tips are member ideas and are not tested by Gardening How-To. Members whose tips appear in this issue will receive BugBand wristbands, repellent spray, and towelettes (www.bugband.net).

PHOTO: DREAMSTIME

Martinez, Nampa, ID

48 4 8 S SUMMER SU SUM UMM UM ME MER ER E R2 20 2012 01 12 2|G GARDENINGCLUB.COM AR A ARD RD R DE ENI EN NIIN N NGC NG GC G CLU LUB L UB U B.CO .C CO C OM

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HOMEGROWN

Members give us a peek into their gardens.

A lizard finds a lookout post on the lush leaves of an orchid cactus in the Katy, TX, garden of Life 1

Members Theresa and Darien Duran. 2

Perfect cherry tomatoes shine like jewels in the

Lacey, WA, garden of Member Mona Jain.

You can almost smell the delicious fragrance of ‘Perfume Delight’, a hybrid tea rose blooming in the Alexandria, LA, garden of Life Member 3

John Thomas.

Life Member Shelley Corona’s daughter Taylor poses with the shiny, dramatic leaves of black tree aeonium in their Manteca, CA, garden. 4

Life Member Charles Ottinger, of Cloverdale, IN, used an old patio umbrella as

a trellis for green beans. The longest bean was 35½ inches—almost 3 feet. 6 Life Member Shirley Radecki, of South Bend, IN, bought dahlias on clearance and

pampered them all season; they rewarded her with spectacular blooms. 7 Life Member Janet Penrod, of Rocky Ford, CO, found this curious opossum exploring a

pile of tree branches near her rural pasture. 7

PHOTOS COURTESY MEMBERS

PHOTO CALL! We love to see what’s growing in your garden. Send sharp, clear photographs (not photocopies) with your name, address, phone number, member number, and the names and relationship of anyone pictured to Home Grown, Gardening How-To, 12301 Whitewater Dr., Minnetonka, MN 55343, or e-mail photos to editors@gardeningclub. com. We can’t acknowledge or return submissions. Members whose photos appear in this issue will receive a ComfortGEL set of snips, a pruner, a scabbard, and a sharpener from Corona, www.coronatoolsusa.com.

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MEMBERSONLY Take a look at a few of the great benefits you enjoy as a National Home Gardening Club member!

member help CONNECT WITH THE CLUB

we’re on Facebook

If you need help with any aspect of your Club membership, please contact us.

“As a long-time life member (12+ years, I think) I’ve always loved the magazine, but this is so much more! Just wish I’d thought to check for the Club on Facebook before now!”

VISIT the Club Web site

— Jeanne Woolf Baker, Springfield, OH

www.gardeningclub.com

Come and see what members are buzzing about! Visit us at www.facebook.com/GardenClub

E-MAIL the Club memberservices@gardeningclub.com

WRITE to the Club NHGC PO Box 3401 Hopkins, MN 55343-2101

get extra dirt g E Extra Dirt is a free e-newsletter that’s ffull of the latest tips, expert advice, and gardening gear designed to make a your green thumb even greener. y Visit www.getextradirt.com to learn more. New subscribers can enter to win a $250 gift card to The Home Depot.

CALL Member Services 800-324-8454 Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central time

Please include your member number when you write, e-mail, or call the Club.

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Call 1-866-238-1426 Visit www.gardeningclubauto.com Contact your local Nationwide agent

Nationwide may make a ﬁnancial contribution to this organization in return for the opportunity to market products and services to its members or customers. *Savings compared to stand-alone price of each policy, based on national customer data from November 2010. Products Underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies. Nationwide Lloyds and Nationwide Property & Casualty Companies (in TX). Home Office: Columbus, OH 43215. Subject to underwriting guidelines, review, and approval. Products and discounts not available to all persons in all states. Nationwide, Nationwide Insurance and the Nationwide framemark are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. ©2011 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. All Rights Reserved. AFO-0248AO (01/12)

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MEMBERTESTED 390 National Home Gardening Club members tested products valued at $28,667 for this issue. ROSS TANNER, PRODUCT TEST EDITOR

LED lighting system i-lighting, LLC, 888-305-4232, www.i-lightingonline.com MEMBER RATING: 9.1

BEST FEATURE: QUALITY

Add beauty and security with the i-lighting LED Landscape Lighting System (25 percent discount for National Home Gardening Club members). Brighten outdoor areas with this maintenance-free lighting system, which offers two landscape lights, two path lights, an uplight, masonry lights, and a photo eye that automatically turns the lights on at dusk and off at dawn. A simple wiring harness makes installation easy, and all the wiring and connections are sealed and waterproof. The LED bulbs have a lifetime warranty. TONY RAMIREZ, CONCORD, CA “I’ve installed many landscape lighting systems, and this one is by far the easiest. It’s totally foolproof. My friends commented that my backyard lighting looks like a page out of a resort magazine.” BARBARA GREGORY, COLUMBIA, SC “The i-lighting LED Landscape Lighting System makes the front of our home extraordinary. The lights were very easy to install and work like a charm!”

home gardening kit Plant Wizard Products, LLC, 855-799-1400, www.rapidgrower.com MEMBER RATING: 7.5

BEST FEATURE: CONVENIENCE

The Easy Home Gardening Kit ($89.95) includes four fabric Rapid Grower containers. The fabric construction encourages root growth, which accelerates plant growth. The containers are reusable and hold 1 cubic foot of soil. The kit also includes a black groundcloth and a unique irrigation system that saturates the roots with the correct amount of water. “The Easy Home Gardening Kit kept my plants moist, and the timer meant I didn’t have to worry about missing a watering.” KATHRYN EVERLING, BUELTON, CA “The tomato plants we planted in the kit are growing better and look more healthy than the same type of tomato plants in regular containers.” SHERRI SABINO, MELBOURNE, FL

This seal is awarded to the products on these pages, which our testers recommend to fellow Club members.

See the Deals & Discounts section of www.gardeningclub.com for special offers from these companies.

ABOUT THE TESTING PROCESS These products were tested and recommended by fellow National Home Gardening Club members. The Member Rating is based on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 being the highest. To become a product tester, you must complete a Product Test Profile form, available at www.gardeningclub.com or by calling Member Services at 800-324-8454. GARDENINGCLUB.COM 51

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hose powering system Briggs & Stratton, 800-743-4115, www.amplificleaning.com MEMBER RATING: 8.5

BEST FEATURE: APPEARANCE

The Amplifi Hose Powering System ($199) transforms your garden hose with an electric motor and pump that delivers three times more pressure. The nozzle has five settings: Two gentle, for watering plants and flowers; two power, for washing picnic tables or patio furniture; and one power jet, for cleaning gutters, awnings, and second-story windows. Add detergent to the spray with the push of a button. A storage container houses the hose, sprayer, pump, and motor. GAIL BYSTER, MEDINA, OH “The Amplifi Hose Powering System is very durable. It reduced the time of washing vehicles by 50 percent, and I found it great for washing the deck.” JEANNETTE FISHER, ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL “I love that it can go from a light spray in the vegetable garden to a good firm stream to clean the patio, furniture, and gutters.”

battery-powered weed prevention Preen, 800-233-1067, www.preen.com MEMBER RATING: 8.3

BEST FEATURE: EASY TO APPLY GRANULES

The Preen Garden Weed Preventer with battery-powered spreader cap ($19.99) makes it easy to apply Preen’s pre-emergent granules. A fan inside the spreader cap is powered by two AAA batteries. When the top is flipped open and tilted toward the ground, gravity feeds the Preen granules into the fan and then evenly distributes them. By simply adjusting the angle of the bottle, it changes the flow rate of the granules. The Preen granules stop weed seeds from forming roots and will keep your flower and vegetable gardens free of weeds up to three months. “The battery-powered spreader cap cut the time it takes to spread the granules by 75 percent, and the granules were more evenly spread.” EDWARD RIZZO, BRONX, NY “It was the easiest and quickest way I’ve ever applied a weed product, plus the container is reusable.” LINDA BOCCHETTO, WESTFIELD, IN

indoor/outdoor clock Luster Leaf Products, Inc., 800-327-4635, www.lusterleaf.com MEMBER RATING: 8.9

BEST FEATURE: APPEARANCE

The Luster Leaf Mollington Clock ($59.99) is an indoor/outdoor clock that also gives accurate information regarding temperature and humidity. The eye-catching copper-finish metal frame surrounds a crisp white dial with black numerals. A glass lens protects the face. BEVERLY GUNTER, ELMER, LA “The Luster Leaf Mollington Clock is made from quality material. The back of the clock is sealed so the dampness of the outdoors can’t get inside.” MARY OBERLE, BARBOURSVILLE, LA “The overall appearance of the clock is attractive, plus it’s easy to read at a distance. I particularly enjoy knowing the relative humidity and temperature.” 52 SUMMER 2012 | GARDENINGCLUB.COM

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tests in progress The durable PATRIOT 4HP WOOD CHIPPER & LEAF ($939) will help you make mulch from yard debris. Features include two 12-inch wheels for easy transportation, the ability to shred leaves and cut branches up to 2½ inches in diameter, and a side discharge. Minimal assembly required. Patriot Products, Inc., 800-798-2447, www.patriot-products-inc.com.

SHREDDER

THERMACELL MOSQUITO REPELLENT LANTERN ($22.99)

repels mosquitoes, black flies, and other flying insects. This attractive, silent, odor-free, and DEETfree lantern has three LED lights and a repellent mat that creates a bug-free zone. It’s perfect for use in gardens and backyards, and during picnics, barbeques, outdoor parties, and camping. ThermaCELL, 866-753-3837, www.thermacell.com.

CORONA’S COMFORTGEL FLORAL SNIP

($14.99) is perfect for trimming, shaping, deadheading, and creating floral arrangements. The ergonomic handles provide exceptional fit for both right- and lefthanded users, and the ComfortGEL maximizes comfort and control. Other features include fully heattreated blades (which maintain sharpness), an integrated wire cutter, and a thorn stripper for stems up to 3/8-inch in diameter. Corona Clipper Inc., 800-847-7863, www.coronatoolsusa.com.

The EZ LEAF HAULER ($34.99) is a modified tarp, with reinforced tent-constructed sides and pockets, which hauls five times more debris than a wheelbarrow. Other features include six built-in handles for easy transport and robust stakes to secure the tarp to the ground on windy days. EZ Lawn & Garden, 339-499-7460, Protect your trees, shrubs, vegetable gardens, www.ezlawnandgarden.com. and flowers from deer and rabbit damage with h the all-natural SCOOT DEER & RABBIT REPELLENT ENT ($15.99/32 ounces). Garlic formula dries odorless. orless. Effective even after heavy rainfall. Scoot Products, ducts, 800-460-7378, www.scootproducts.com.

($2.95 for 25 seeds) produce plants that thrive in hot weather and grow 3 to 6 feet tall, with dark green, velvety pods. Okra is a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron, calcium, and fiber. Seedgro, 877-810-4176, www.seedgro.com.

PENTAGON OKRA SEEDS

GARDENINGCLUB.COM 53

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roar!

Gazania is a petite annual that loves a dry, sandy patch in full sun, where it can prowl across the yard with deep green foliage and tiger-striped petals. It’s from tropical Africa, so it thrives on summer heat. Because it’s only about 8 inches tall, it makes a terrific ground cover. Tiger Mix gazania includes yellow, white, and pink striped flowers. Zones 8 to 10 (usually grown as annual). —Elizabeth Noll and Max Metzger

PHOTO: TRACY WALSH

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Own Gov’t-Issued Gold Coins DUE TO STRICT LIMITED AVAILABILITY, TELEPHONE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS ACCORDING TO THE TIME AND DATE OF THE ORDER.

EACH

PRICES MAY BE MORE OR LESS BASED ON CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS. CALL NOW.

ED S TAT

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If you’ve been waiting to move your hard-earned money into precious metals, the time is now to consider transferring T your U.S. dollars into United GOLD C States Government Gold. The Gold market is on the move, up nearly 450% over the past 10 years - outpacing the DOW, NASDAQ and S&P 500. Call immediately to order your United States Gold Coins direct from our Main Vault Facility, “at-cost”, for the amazing price of only $174.00 per coin. Special arrangements can be made for Gold purchases over $50,000. Order your Gold today! IT

1 – Gov’t-Issued Gold Coin

174.00

( PLUS INSURANCE, SHIPPING & HANDLING $31.00 )

5 – Gov’t-Issued Gold Coins

870.00

( PLUS INSURANCE, SHIPPING & HANDLING $31.00 )

10 – Gov’t-Issued Gold Coins $ 1,740.00 ( PLUS INSURANCE, SHIPPING & HANDLING $36.00 ) THE MARKETS FOR COINS ARE UNREGULATED. PRICES CAN RISE OR FALL AND CARRY SOME RISKS. THE COMPANY IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND THE U.S. MINT. PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE COIN OR THE MARKET CANNOT PREDICT FUTURE PERFORMANCE. SPECIAL AT-COST OFFER IS STRICTLY LIMITED TO ONLY ONE LIFETIME PURCHASE OF 10 AT-COST COINS (REGARDLESS OF PRICE PAID) PER HOUSEHOLD, PLUS SHIPPING AND INSURANCE.

CALL TOLL-FREE (7 Days A Week)

1-855-410-4554 -!34%2#!2$ s 6)3! s !-%8 s $)3#/6%2 s #(%#+

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