The Gateway Gardener May 2012

Gateway Gardener

May 2012

THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

Perennial Favorites!

New and Recent Picks for 2012

2012 Farmers’ Market Guide Veggies for Now...

And Later Sage Advice on Salvias FREE Courtesy of:

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Gateway Gardener THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

May 2012

Volume 8, Number 4

Publisher Joyce Bruno Editor Robert Weaver Columnists

Barbara Perry Lawton Garden Book Author and Garden Writer Connie Alwood Master Gardener Ellen Barredo Bowood Farms Diane Brueckman Rosey Acres Joyce Driemeyer Master Gardener Cindy Gilberg Landscape Design Mara Higdon Gateway Greening Glenn Kraemer G. R. Robinson Seed Co. Printing: Breese Publishing, Breese, IL The Gateway Gardener® is published monthly by Double Dig Communications, Inc. to promote enjoyable, successful gardening and livable landscapes in the St. Louis greater metropolitan area. The magazine is distributed free to the public at designated garden centers, nurseries, garden gift shops, lawn equipment rental, repair and sales establishments, and other locations supporting sound gardening, lawn and landscaping practices.

Please send letters-to-the-editor, questions, event announcements, editorial suggestions and contributions, photos, advertising inquiries and materials, and any other correspondence to: The Gateway Gardener Magazine® PO Box 220853 St. Louis, MO 63122 Phone: (314) 968-3740 Fax: (314) 968-4025

info@gatewaygardener.com www.gatewaygardener.com

The Gateway Gardener® is printed on recycled newsprint using environmentally friendly soy-based ink, and is a member of the PurePower® renewable energy resources network.

M

From the Editor

y mother passed away more than 20 years ago, but her presence lives on in my garden. Long time readers will know that my wife and I live in the house I grew up in, so some of the bones of today’s garden were put in place decades ago by my mother. That rhododendron you see behind me in this photo is one example.

Gardens, gardening theories, fashions and practices, and gardeners’ personal tastes and interests evolve over time.Our rural ancestors planted their ornamentals—if they had any—with common plants readily available to them. Daisies, coneflowers— and there was always a clump of common, easily seed-grown hollyhocks by the outhouse. When the upper crust began landscaping their estates with exotic imports from Europe, upwardly mobile observers wanted the same look for their yards. Eventually all of suburbia was neatly and uniformly shaped with trees, shrubs and perennials from Europe and Asia.

This mostly describes my mother’s ornamental landscape. It was the landscape in fashion as modern suburbia took shape, and mostly, it’s the suburban landscape of today.

slow evolution once again. I think my mother would approve.

In recent years, however, a concern has been voiced that such landscapes aren’t supportive of much, if any, wildlife. Native bugs don’t typically eat non-native plants, so there are fewer bugs. Fewer bugs result in fewer birds and other wildlife.

And with diminishing wild public spaces, our own suburban and urban private landscapes become all the more important as wildlifesustaining refuges.

My current gardening inclination is evolving toward this way of thinking, and now, whenever I add a new plant, I tend to favor a native cultivar over a foreign ornamental, and a native straight species over a native cultivar. Maybe in time, others gardeners will also adopt this practice, and our urban and suburban landscapes will begin a

On the Cover...

No, it’s not an aster, but many people do a double take when they see this plant blooming all summer.

It’s Kalimeris ‘Blue Star’, one of many new or newer perennials recommended by our panel of nursery pro experts on pages 20-21. (Photo courtesy North Creek Nurseries.)

FEATURES 10 Drama Queen Tropicals 12 Garden Tours 14 Chinese Lantern Festival 20 Perennial Favorites for 2012

It won’t be a quick change. Few of us will be willing to rip out every hosta and flowering cherry in our landscape and replace them with native grasses and trees. It’s not necessary. I’m keeping my mother’s rhododendrons, and I’ll still be adding the new, latest cultivars when they strike my fancy. But, I will probably rip out the English ivy that grows at the rhodie’s base and replace with some native groundcovers, perhaps the wild geraniums like you see at my feet.

Those geraniums by the way? They came from another part of the yard, originally planted by my mother.

She may have defined her landscape with foreign introductions, but a part of her still welcomed the plants that were there for the taking. She grew up in Farmer City, Illinois.

There were probably hollyhocks by the outhouse.

Happy Mother’s Day to my lovely wife, my wonderful daughterin-law, and to all our family and Gateway Gardener friends! And…

Good Gardening!

DEPARTMENTS 4 Perennial Groundcovers 6 Pots with Pizzaz!

8 Creative Native Containers 16 The Cornucopia Corner 18 Sage Advice on Salvias 22 Warm-Season Lawn Care 24 Tropical Succulents 26 Dig This 28 Nutrient Deficiency in Roses 30 Upcoming Events

P

Durable Perennial Groundcovers

by Barbara Perry Lawton

erennial groundcovers are not only attractive in their own right; they also can provide solutions for some of your landscaping challenges. In places where turf grasses do not thrive, such as deep shade, or if you have tired of the constant maintenance of lawns, think about substituting perennial groundcovers. They are invaluable on steep slopes where mowing is dangerous and erosion is common. Some groundcovers prove excellent ways to solve the deer problem of our suburban landscapes.

Walters Gardens, Inc.

Typically groundcovers are deep-rooted and drought tolerant, and once established will need less water to thrive. Groundcovers will soften sharp lines of patios, decks and walkways. They make wonderful edgings for ornamental flower beds and borders. They also will serve as dandy accents as edgings for shrub borders.

Well-chosen groundcovers can hide the ripening foliage of springflowering bulbs.

All in all, groundcovers are invaluable answers to many challenges that gardeners and garden designers have in common.

Deer Repellents

Creeping thyme, Thymus serpyllum, ‘Magic Carpet’

First of all, let’s take a look at groundcovers not favored by deer.

Since deer have become a major menace to suburban landscapes, practically eat the siding off your home, the following are deer this subject is often at the top of homeowners’ list of requirements proof under most circumstances. for groundcovers. Although if things get really tough, deer will Pachysandra, liriope, ajuga, vinca, lamium, catnip, sweet woodruff and creeping thyme are good choices. Note that a number of these are in the mint family. It seems that the stronger smelling herbs are good choices for covering the ground at the same time that you repel deer. An added advantages of the fragrant thyme is that it will tolerate some foot traffic, and also is drought tolerant once established.

Groundcovers for Sunny Sites

There are many choices for sunny sites. These are but a few. The sedums will thrive on poor dry soils and, in addition, are salt tolerant, a plus for area near drives and walkways that often are salt-treated for icy conditions. Sedums come in both small, springblooming types and taller, summer-to-fall blooming varieties.

Liriope (lilyturf) is a tough plant that will form a thick bed roughly eight inches tall. Ground ivy (Glechoma), though disdained by many as a bothersome weed, comes in an attractive variegated form that is great both as a groundcover and in containers. It blooms in the spring. Daylilies, which come in many sizes, are excellent choices for covering sunny hillsides.

Groundcovers for Shady Sites

Sweet woodruff, the herb of spring wines, is a lovely, springblooming groundcover for partial sun to shade. Ajuga, a springblooming groundcover with blue flowers, also is great for partial sun to shade. Barren strawberry and creeping jenny are both good prospects for that same sort of site.

Culture

In our region, the absolute best time to plant groundcovers is in the 4

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MAY 2012

Walters Gardens, Inc.

spring. Before planting, remove all weeds, grass and debris from the chosen area. Roundup is an effective herbicide that you can use seven to ten days before planting to get rid of most weeds and grasses. A soil that is somewhat organic and of decent quality is ideal— that means an area where lawns or ornamental beds have grown successfully.

Work a two-inch layer of Lamium maculatum compost or well-rotted manure into the soil before setting out the plants.

Control weeds that invade your groundcover manually or by periodically pruning the groundcover bed with a string trimmer or hand shears. Do not remove more than a third of the growth at any one time. If your groundcover is of the type that blooms, you can maximize the flowers by pruning right after they bloom.

purchase.

Barbara Perry Lawton is a writer, author, speaker and photographer.

She has served as manager of publications for Missouri Botanical Garden and as weekly garden columnist for the Post-Dispatch. The author of a number of gardening and natural history books, and contributor to many periodicals, she has earned regional and national honors for her writing and photography. Barbara is also a Master Gardener and volunteers at MBG.

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5

Pots with Pizzaz! text and photo by Steffie Littlefield

What gives a container design “pizzaz”? It’s using the unexpected in an otherwise traditional situation, it’s taking an unusual plant with strikingly unforgettable features and putting it in a stately yet traditional pot on the front porch. Or it’s taking a wonderfully sculptural container and filling it with a well-manicured

So here are a few new plant finds to use in your containers that will have your guests in awe.

Use a large “firestick” in a traditional container with purple heart trailing out underneath it. The firestick is yellow to lime green in summer and turns fire red in the fall with cool weather, while the purple heart stays a rich deep purple and blooms with a small hot pink flower.

Cordyline ‘Red Star’

Proven Winners

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like prized artistic features and had admirers stunned by the glory of horticulture by growing the unexpected on the terrace in a pot.

recently had a landscape project designer contact me to help design a dozen large containers for a commercial customer’s special event. While working through the design with the designer and the client it became clear that this location and event called for a style of design that is now in vogue. This very large white stone house in a country setting needed bright color, bold textures and large-scale tropical plant materials to make a statement.

The other designer preferred subtle colors, delicate textures and traditional plant materials.

To fill the voids in the new landscape, however, the pots needed pizzaz!

topiary. Or even taking an over-sized planter overflowing with opulent plants and placing it in a focal point location in the landscape. Is this a modern approach to decorating the landscape?

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Another fabulous tropical is cordyline ‘Red Star’! The burgundy red foliage shoots from the base of the plant straight into the air for a colorful spiky palm-like effect. Surround this with hot orange and yellow lantanas for a planting that will survive the hottest summer day. Some of the other great bold plants for sun are the fancy cannas with dark or golden striped leaves. These are not only beautiful plants but they have hot orange or yellow flowers, amazing! If gray and fuzzy makes your heart sing find the silvery artichoke cousin the cardoon plant and surround it with hot pink Wave® petunias. Please do not forget the crazy croton whose foliage bursts with so much color it is best planted solo or highlighted with the Marguerite sweet potato plant.

If your garden is in the cool shade, bring on the elephant ears. Giant Upright, ‘Lime Zinger’, spotted ‘Mojito’, and velvety ‘Black Magic’ are truly stupendous. Look for the new varieties of New Guinea impatiens to set these off with a collar of color. Other wonderful accent plants are the yellow striped tiger ferns, the show-stopper ‘Tristar’ Services Underground Utility Installation • Water tropical foliage plant with pink, white Services • Downspout Drains • Stump Removal • Grading Excavation for Foundation and green striped leaves, yellow Drainage Issues • Trenching • Site Prep for striped ginger plants and the greatest Retaining Walls • Ponds • Bobcat Work shade plant of all, Australian tree Licensed, Bonded and Insured in the City of St. Louis & St. Louis County ferns with their prehistoric-looking fronds. Really shake up your shady garden and start with a bright yellow or turquoise blue container. Just Family-Owned & Operated since 1983 because Mother Nature likes green • Highest Customer Satisfaction Rating • doesn’t mean that we can’t have other colors in our gardens. So go ahead and add those Pots with Pizzaz! www.TheJoshuaCo.com

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Looking for an incredible edible? Give rainbow colored Swiss chard a spot on your deck and surround it with ‘Alaska Mix’ nasturtiums in yellow and orange, and include some purple sweet potato vine to take over the pot after you harvest the chard and put the flowers in your salad.

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Steffie Littlefield is a horticulturist and garden designer at Garden Heights Nursery. She has degrees from St. Louis Community College at Meramec and Southeast Missouri State and is a member of Gateway Professional Horticultural Association and past president of the Horticulture Co-op of Metropolitan St. Louis.

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7

Creative and Native Container Gardening text and photos by Cindy Gilberg

N

ative plants in containers?

Of course! The native plant palette offers a list of versatile and hardy plants adaptable to life contained. Many native plants, often referred to as wildflowers, are anything but ‘wild’ and can be used in a wide array of design styles. Several species of annuals, perennials and shrubs make great options for use in container gardens. One’s imagination is the only limit to the possibilities.

native to rocky glades.

For success, always match your plant list to the type of container and the site where the container will be placed—hot sun versus cool shade, well-draining versus no drainage, large versus small. A classic design is to place a tall, vertical accent plant in the center (or towards the back) with a combination of mounding plants around it. Along the outer edge of the container, place plants that spill over or trail.

Another, equally important design Anything that holds soil can be used as consideration is to pay close attention a planter. In addition to the vast array of to the textural quality of the foliage. pottery and containers, don’t overlook Contrast is the key. Flowers are the found objects such as logs, an old icing on the cake and appear in their boot, wheelbarrow or antique bucket. appropriate season so contrasting The most whimsical of items can add Talinum foliar texture provides interesting character to the garden. Drainage visual interplay when plants are not holes are a must for all but aquatic and calycinum in bloom. Success also depends on wetland plants. Add color with glazed plant health—a standard potting soil pottery or paint old metal objects to fit your visual needs. Old logs, especially those with lichens and with 10-20% by volume Turface (calcined clay) provides a good mosses, can be hollowed out enough to provide space for soil and general container mix. For alkaline-loving glade plants, use some shade-loving plants. Some natural stones have enough indentations limestone gravel as mulch. to accommodate a bit of soil for dry-loving plants, such as those Many of Missouri’s native wetland plants make striking specimens for use in containers that hold water (with no drainage holes). You For More Information About Native Plants: may either fill the container with soil or have open water with Missouri Department of Conservation potted plants set in. You may have to set the potted plants on top Grow!Native program: www.grownative.org of something so that the soil level is the same as the water level.

Missouri Botanical Garden Thwart mosquitoes by using Mosquito Dunk (biological control) or Native Plant Garden, Classes and Plant Finder: www.mobot.org if you have open water, add some goldfish or guppies—mosquitoes Shaw Nature Reserve are one of their favorite meals. Copper iris (Iris fulva), cardinal Whitmire Wildflower Garden, Native Plant School flower (Lobelia cardinalis), soft rush (Juncus effusus), pickerel and other special events: www.shawnature.org plant (Pontaderia cordata), and arrowhead (Sagittaria) are among Wild Ones the choices that can be planted in containerized water gardens. a non-profit organization with local chapters: www.for-wild.org If you have a large container, hardy canna (Thalia dealbata) or Hibiscus are plants to consider. Both can reach heights of 6-7 ft.

The opposite condition occurs in containers that dry out quickly (hypertufa, natural stone, shallow bowls, etc.). Full sun and welldraining soil requires plants that tolerate the often harsh environment.

Missouri’s glade plants grow in similar situations—thin, rocky soil and hot sun—offering opportunities for container gardening.

American aloe (Manfreda virginica), Missouri evening primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa), and rock pink (Talinum calycinum) are among the many plants that can be used. Purple poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) can be used to spill over the sides of the container. Palafoxia, an annual for dry soil, has slender leaves and hundreds of small pink flowers in late summer and fall.

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For shady sites there are many native ferns that make lush The Gateway Gardener™

MAY 2012

Cindy Gilberg, horticulturist and Missouri native, founded and ran the garden center at Gilberg Perennial Farms with her husband Doug for 28 years. She now focuses on garden design, consulting and teaching, and also works part-time in the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve, emphasizing the use of native plants in home landscaping. You can reach her at cindy.gilberg@gmail.com.

Hypertufa trough garden

The Whitmire Wildflower Garden is located at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO. Hours: 7 a.m. – dark. Visitor’s Center Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekends.

centerpieces for container gardens. Some other tall shade plants are skullcap (Scuttelaria incana) and spikenard (Aralia racemosa).

Alumroot (Heuchera) and wild ginger (Asarum) can provide textural contrast to ferns and finer textured plants. Cedar sedge (Carex eburnea) is an emerald green, grass-like plant that is a great choice for spilling over the edges.

Don’t overlook shrubs such as beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) that can be used as the center accent plant. Its fall berries turn amethyst in color and large textured leaves blend well with finer foliage of plants such as Palafoxia, aromatic aster (Symphiotrichum oblongifolius) and prairie dropseed (Sporobolis).Whether you use all natives or a blend of native and non-native plants, the choices for combinations are endless.

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9

Drama Queen Tropicals

By Chris Kelley

Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Black Gold Extreme’ is an under-used, taken for granted houseplant that has been reinvented as a stunning thriller for pots in shade or sun. The stiffly erect leaves are deepest green—nearly black—boldly

contrasted by a bright golden leaf edge. This is perhaps my favorite new container thriller, pairing beautifully with flowering annual ‘fillers and spillers’ and more finely textured foliage tropicals for extraordinary contrast.

A sensational tropical grass is Pennisetum glaucum ‘Jade Princess’ (Millet grass).

Sophisticated and dramatic in large containers planted solo, or grown in sunny garden beds, the lush clumps of limey-green cascading leaves are perfection with the arrival of bottlebrush, burgundy red flower spikes from mid to late summer. Surround it with colorful lantana for a season long exotic display. Rhoeo spathacea vittata (Moses in the Cradle) is a fabulously colored exotic that can be used as a summer container plant and easily overwintered as a houseplant in winter. The spiky, big and bold

striped gold, cream and green succulent leaves with purple undersides are wildly colorful and a perfect urn thriller surrounded with pink ‘wave’ petunias or verbena. The most towering thriller of all may be Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ (Abyssinian Banana). With a sophisticated and refined appearance, the sun loving Abyssinian banana is superb in large containers. The large paddle shaped leaves are deep olive green with maroon red undersides and leaf veins sitting on a massive red, single stem. Growing with lightning speed on the arrival of summer heat and humidity, this sun loving banana is a vision of vast beauty and statuesque presence.

Inedible fruit may be produced on older plants if overwintered indoors in a frost-free area, quite easy to do.

Robert Weaverr

Elephant ears always top my list of heartthumping thrillers, and fill a niche as stellar background plants in garden beds. Alocasia ‘Stingray’ provides a quirky touch, resembling the ‘wings and tail’ of an aquatic stingray. With leathery, upright, glossy green leaves it’s an ideal urn plant partnered with trailing coleus for color and Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ for added texture. Colocasia ‘Black Coral’ is a knockout. The glossy, jet black leaves are set off by bright blue leaf veins begging for a color echo of blue flowering annuals and cool, silver foliage. It thrives in full sun, oblivious to heat and humidity.

Pennisetum ‘Jade Princess’

Courtesy Ball Horticultural Co.

I

t took me a while as a young gardener to put my finger on it. Suffering from little leaf syndrome my garden more closely resembled a tossed salad. I needed contrast and I wanted—I NEEDED—over-the-top boldly foliaged plants to add structure and wow appeal. Bring on the drama queen tropicals! I joyfully went about creating container vignettes where outrageous tropical leaves anchored more finely textured plants, creating large living sculptures with dazzling contrast. I created pockets of color and contrast in my perennial beds with canna and elephant ears. The goal and result was a garden that only got better as the season progressed, rather than going steadily downhill after spring and early summer exuberance.

Sansevieria ‘Black Gold Extreme’ Chris Kelley and her husband Bill own Cottage Garden in Piasa, IL. She can be reached at (618) 7294324 or visit their website at CottGardens. com

Viola ‘Heartthrob’

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Garden Tours to Enjoy and Inspire!

T

his is the season when gardens shine in our region, and you’ll find many garden tours scheduled for May and June. Many feature the beautiful flower gardens of garden club groups and communities; but two tours in particular are uniquely themed and feature gardens for other reasons than beautiful ornamental flower beds. Touring these gardens is not only enjoyable visually, it might help inspire you to garden in a whole new way!

The 2 Annual Sustainable Backyard Tour June 24th nd

A free, self-guided tour, this unique event opens the gates to private yards and gardens throughout the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County with the goal of drawing attention to greener ways of occupying the outdoors. They may be small, but our individual pieces of earth add up to have a huge impact on the environment we all share.

A sustainable backyard is one that converts unproductive, highmaintenance lawn and pavement into something more useful and restorative—both to the earth itself and to the people it supports.

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And in an urban environment, with its grid of sidewalks and paved streets, backyards can have a significant impact on the local watershed.

Driveways, patios, and walkways built of permeable pavers rather than poured concrete or asphalt are greener because they allow rainfall to recharge the aquifer rather than overwhelm municipal sewer systems.

The sites selected for the Backyard Tour will showcase a range of green living practices, including using recycled materials to create fences, trellises, patio furniture and garden art, and producing electricity via solar panels on a garage, sunporch or patio roof.

The tour is being organized by a network of passionate volunteers and sponsored by Home Eco and The Gateway Gardener. For more information, visit www.sustainablebackyardtour.com or search the same on Facebook.

12th Pond-O-Rama Pond and Garden Tour June 23rd and 24th These gardens are open to the public only during this annual event, one of the season’s best garden tours.

The tour includes more than 40 of the area’s premiere private water gardens, ranging from small pools to large, elaborate installations featuring multiple waterfalls, tumbling streams, exotic fish and mature aquatic plants.

Tour visitors also will have an opportunity to learn about water gardening from those who love the hobby. Society members will be on hand to talk about their gardens, and to provide technical information.

Hot Pots...

Hours: Mon - Sat 9-5 pm & Sun 10-5 pm

Organic gardening is a big part of a sustainable backyard, especially growing vegetables, fruit and nuts, but local, wild, and perennials plants are important too. For some, a healthy backyard is home to chickens, goats, rabbits, and bees. To others it means xeriscaping, rainwater harvesting, composting, and eliminating the use of petroleum in fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides and lawn equipment.

Sites throughout the St. Louis area and Metro East will be included—half on Saturday and half on Sunday. Tickets are $15 and cover both days. For information on where to buy tickets, visit www.slwgs.org.

Here are a few other upcoming tours

we’ve been informed of as of our deadline. Check them out and look for complete Seethis Cor next month’s Upcoming Events Calendar! details in Us om Fa at the e

thisth rme th Fe rs , St. rg Genevieve Garden Walk, 800-373-7007 MayF19 prin20 or m S& g Mar uson www .fe

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m fo nfar rmati meLake May 20thrgu,soSpanish Garden Tour and Plant Sale. mer on, r!! sma

rket

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visit

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com June 2nd, Lake Area Master Gardener’s Garden Walk, Lake of the Ozarks. Email Glenda_hinrichs@yahoo.com.

June 9, Secret Garden Tour, Lebanon, IL. www.gardencluboflebanon. org June 9, Monroe County Garden Tour, Columbia, IL, (618) 939-3434.

Bill & Chris Kelley

June 23rd, Franklin County Master Gardener’s Tour. Call (636) 5835141.

The Gateway Gardener™

MAY 2012

We’re Blooming for

Mother’s Day Sunday, May 13th

Perfect Garden Gifts for Mom!

Colorful Combination Containers See Our Large selection of Carefully Selected Flowering Annuals & Accent Plants for Shady or Sunny Locations.

Potted Roses

Now in bud & bloom! Choose from Hybrid teas, floribundas, shrub varieties, climbers & miniatures.

D

Buy 3 Rose Bushes Get 1 half price (Excluding Knock-outs & carpets)

Must present coupon at time of purchase. 1 coupon per customer, please. Expires May 30, 2012.

aniel’s Farm

& Greenhouses

www.danielsfarmandgreenhouse.com

352 Jungermann Rd. St. Peters, MO 63376 (636)441-5048 Hours: M-F 9-6, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5

For the best plants, go RPM-grown... from Forrest Keeling!

• Faster growth and better vigor • Earlier flowering and fruiting • Unsurpassed survivability • 100% natural process • Over 500 species: trees, shrubs, perennials • Natives are our specialty!

88 Forrest Keeling Lane • Elsberry, MO 63343 800-FKN-2401 • (573) 898-5571

www.forrestkeeling.com

Greenscape Gardens is St. Louis’ leading one-stop resource for all your gardening needs.

From the moment you enter our garden center you‘ll realize you’re in for a treat. We have made it a mission to make St. Louis County a greener community by creating successful gardeners like you!

4-TIME NATIONAL AWARD WINNING GARDEN CENTER!

2832 Barrett Station Rd. Manchester, MO 63021

(at the corner of Doughtery Ferry Rd.)

314-821-2440

www.greenscapegardens.com

Bulk Products Aromatic Cedar Mulch Cedar Oak Blend Mulch Color Enhanced Mulch & Chips Natural Oak Chips Playground Cover

What is your mulch made of?

At Missouri Mulch, we understand the importance of mulch that is free of pesticides and contaminants. Our products are made of pure oak derived from barrel making, allowing us to offer you premium mulch products that are both safe and sustainable.

Gary Hinegardner 573.216.3572 gary.hinegardner@missourimulch.com Tracy Stewart 573.645.2271 tracy.stewart@missourimulch.com Office: 573.252.2520 55 Stave Mill Rd. New Florence, MO 63363 www.missourimulch.com facebook.com/missourimulch

MAY 2012

The Gateway Gardener™

13

Chinese Lanterns Light Up The Garden in 2012

laborate, illuminated works of art from China will take center stage this summer at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis. “Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night” showcases Chinese culture, traditions and

E

symbolism through larger-thanlife, detailed scenes crafted from colorful silks and molded steel.

The striking sets, ranging in size up to three stories tall, will be lit for special evening viewing, giving visitors the opportunity to

Custom & Pre-planted Combo Pots & Moss Baskets

For Mother’s Day or Any Day! Rolling Ridge Nursery

Lawn and Garden Center 60 NORTH GORE WEBSTER GROVES, MO 63119

www.rollingridgenursery.com

(314) 962-3311

“Celebrating 52 Years of Quality & Friendly Service!”

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experience a cultural event that is rarely staged outside of Asia.

“Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night” runs for a limited 12-week engagement, May 26 through August 19, 2012, and is presented by Emerson.

Lantern festivals are deeply rooted in Chinese history and myth, dating back more than 2,000 years to ancient dynasties. Modern-day lantern festivals typically mark the culmination of the 15-day Chinese New Year celebration, when giant, ornate lanterns of complex design fill cities with light in vivid, festive displays.

The summer exhibition at the Missouri Botanical Garden highlights its “Year of China,” celebrating the Garden’s longtenured tradition of botanical research and collaboration with China through the Flora of China project, a 25-year endeavor nearing completion, and the inspiring

Grigg Nanjing Friendship Garden (the Chinese Garden).

“Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night” is among the first displays of its kind and size in the United States. A team of skilled artisans from Zigong in the western province of Sichuan, the center of the lantern-making industry in China, have spent the last two months in residence at the Missouri Botanical Garden to construct 26 elaborate, multipiece lantern scenes from scratch.

Working from reference drawings, sets begin as large outlines on the ground. Steel rods are carefully placed and welded together to fashion the framework of each figure. Structures are draped with specially treated Chinese silk, designed to withstand outdoor display for several months. Silk is secured to frame edges with a gold trim. The final creations are lit from within or adorned with an exterior piping of lights, giving

The Gateway Gardener™

MAY 2012

them a brilliant evening glow.

Each lantern design alludes to celebrated aspects of Chinese culture. A giant, luminous dragon, stretching nearly half the length of a football field, welcomes visitors at the Missouri Botanical Garden

interwoven throughout the Lantern Festival sets. Zodiac Lanterns depicts the 12 animals that make up the Chinese Zodiac—people are thought to assume the qualities of the animal that represents their birth year. Lotus Ponds features

Lantern festivals are deeply rooted in Chinese history and myth, dating back more than 2,000 years to ancient dynasties. entrance, bringing good luck in the Chinese Zodiac’s Year of the Dragon. An imposing group of 10-foot-tall Terracotta Army warriors depict the armies of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China.

The three-stories-tall showstopper Heavenly Temple mimics the beauty, magnificence and majestic presence of the Beijing Heavenly Temple, constructed in 1420 as a grand shrine where emperors would pray for a fruitful harvest.

Several lantern sets tell Chinese legends in great detail. The First Emperor’s Quest for Immortality explores the life—and fear of death—of First Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who sought a magic elixir that would offer him eternal life.

Double Seventh Festival is based on the traditional tale of the young cowherd, Niulang, and a beautiful weavergirl, Zhinü, who fell in love, married and were parted by her Goddess mother. Butterfly Love recounts the story of Zhu Yingtai and her brokenhearted lover, Liang Shanbo. After Liang’s death, Zhu threw herself into his grave; their spirits turned into a pair of beautiful butterflies and they flew away together, never to be parted.

Chinese

symbolism

MAY 2012

is

also

a huge, color-changing, spinning vase, surrounded by eight-foot-tall stems of lotus flowers, symbols of elegance, beauty, perfection, purity and aspirations to “rise towards the light.” The swirling Dragon Embracing the Pillars again shows the mythical Chinese dragon, believed to be the ruler of moving bodies of water.

“Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night” debuts at the Missouri Botanical Garden over Memorial Day weekend, Saturday, May 26 through Monday, May 28, open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. all three days (last entry at 9 p.m.). Grand Opening Weekend highlights include a Grand Parade with 70-foot-long dancing dragon, martial arts, Chinese calligraphy, authentic regional cuisine, t’ai chi and tea tasting. Special tours in the Chinese Garden focus on the symbolism of many plant species and architectural details.

Enjoy performances by the China Sichuan Le Shan Chen Long Acrobatic Troupe and marvel at the large-scale lantern sets when they are illuminated for the first time at night.

Experience the magic of the Lantern Festival on Thursday

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through Sunday evenings, May 31 through July 29, and nightly seven days a week for the exhibit’s final weeks, August 1 through 19.

Evening hours are 6 to 10 p.m. (last entry at 9 p.m.). Each evening is filled with entertainment for all ages. Watch acrobatic stage shows at the outdoor amphitheater. Toss a coin in the “wishing well” to ring one of the bells for good health, wealth or happiness. Exchange tokens at traditional artisans’ tents for spun sugar candy lightly brushed into intricate shapes or for delicately-painted Eglomise pieces made from hollowed-out eggs. Have your name written in “dragon-phoenix calligraphy,” in which letters resemble birds and flowers, or have a mask elaborately painted in a Chinese opera mask design. Marvel as an artisan pours cups of Chinese kung fu tea from a distinctively long-necked tea pot. Be enchanted as the 26 lantern scenes flood the Garden with light each evening at 8 p.m.

“Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night” admission is $22 for adults (ages 13 and up) and $10

for children (ages 3 to 12). For more information call (314) 577‑5100 (toll-free, 1‑800‑642‑8842) or visit www.mobot.org/lanternfestival.

“Lantern Festival: Art by Day, Magic by Night” is presented by Emerson, with individual lantern installations sponsored by BSI Constructors; Boeing; Drury Hotels Company; Edward Jones; Emerson; the Konzen Family; Macy’s; the Missouri Botanical Garden Corporate Council; Scottrade; the Gene and Judy Toombs Family; and UMB Bank, N.A. Education programming sponsored by the Regional Arts Council.

In keeping with the Missouri Botanical Garden’s commitment to sustainability, Ameren Missouri Pure Power will donate Missouri wind energy credits to offset the electricity required to power the exhibit for nighttime viewing.

Photo credits: Dragon photo courtesy Keith Watson.

Panda photo courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden.

Pruning, Fertilization, Planting, Spraying, Trimming & Removal

Be Good to Your Trees. CALL Today! to schedule an appointment

314-725-6159 Insured

gammatree.com Tim Gamma • B.S. Horticulture Board Certified Master Arborist

15

The Cornucopia Corner Overland Farmers’ Market

May Harvest

2500 Woodson Road Overland, MO 63114 www.OverlandFarmersMarket.com Hours: 8am-12:30pm Saturdays May-Oct. Visit us for locally grown seasonal produce, homemade bread and sweetrolls, entertainment and special events. Food available for purchase. Centrally located and accessible by public transportation. Have fun and eat well. We look forward to seeing you at the market!

2012 Farmers’ & Produce Markets Ferguson Farmers’ Market

20 S. Florissant Rd. Ferguson, MO (314) 324-4298 Knoelker@sbcglobal.net www.FergusonFarmersMarket.com and FACEBOOK Hours: May 5th-Oct. 27th, Sat. 8am-noon Open for our 10th season with fresh, local and organic produce and fruits grown within 100 miles and picked within 24 hours by the friendly farmers who grow them. Special events weekly with chef demos, food contests, kids’ art activities and fresh produce samplings. 48 tents include live music, food booths, specialty bakery goods, meats, cheeses, artisans, plants, and many farmers. GET FRESH. SHOP LOCAL.

Historic Soulard Farmers’ Market

730 Carroll Street St. Louis, MO 63104 (314) 622-4180 http://stlouis-mo.gov/soulardmarket.com Hours: Open Year Round - Wed. thru Fri. 8am to 5pm, Sat. 6am to 5pm.

Soulard Market is the oldest farmers’ market west of the Mississippi and continues to be a unique and vibrant venue for shoppers from the metropolitan area. Vendors offer fresh veggies and fruits, handmade cheeses, fresh flowers, meats, poultry, seafood, unique spices, clothing, jewelry and prepared food items. Free parking close to the Market.

16

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ven as more of us are discovering the benefits of growing our own vegetables and fruits, most don’t have the space, time or energy to provide the complete requirements of our families’ healthy diet.

That’s where our regional farmers’ and produce markets come in. Locally grown, in-season produce is good for us in a number of ways. Because it is fresher than shipped-in out-of-state produce, it retains more nutritional value and simply tastes better. And because it doesn’t have to travel far to our dinner tables, it uses up less energy in packaging and transportation. Plus you help support local farmers who in turn put their money back into the local economy.

So visit one of the participating farmers’ markets or produce markets supporting this page, and stock up! We’ll publish this

guide monthly through the growing season, adding more markets as they open for the year.

Jt’s

Here are some fruits and veggies you might find in the garden or your local farmers’ market this month: Asparagus Beets Broccoli Brussel Sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Cherries Cucumbers Gooseberries Greens Herbs Kohlrabi Leeks Lettuce Onions Peas Potatos Radishes Rhubarb Spinach Squash Tomatoes Turnips

Fresh Ideas

Lemony Asparagus & Ham 2 tbls. olive oil 4 oz. Ham chopped 1 lb. fresh asparagus 1/4 cup water

1 clove of garlic, minced salt and pepper to taste juice of 1/2 lemon zest of 1 lemon

Directions

Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in prosciutto and cook until crisp, about 3-4 minutes. Place asparagus in the skillet, and toss gently until coated with oil. Pour in water and cover with lid; cook for 1 minute. Remove lid, stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute with lid on. Remove lid and cook uncovered until the spears are still crisp but tender, about 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Squeeze lemon juice over the top and sprinkle with lemon zest.

Enjoy!

Jt-

Please share some of your favorite recipes with us.

You can FAX your recipe to 314.968.4025 or email us: info@gatewaygardener.com.

The Gateway Gardener™

MAY 2012

Tips for Growing, Buying and Cooking Fresh, Locally Sourced Food for Your Table

Now...And Later! Veggies for Eating Fresh or Storing

By Mara Higdon

I

was first introduced to gardening while canning with my grandmother in the heat of her kitchen. Boy was it hot, even with the box fan in the window! Those were the days of listening for the distinctive “pop” of the canning lids sealing tight as the jars cooled down. As the day grew late and twilight was upon us, supper was served with fresh corn, slicing tomatoes, and bread and butter pickles along with the compulsory meat and potato fare that was common in my family’s household.

Beets: For eating raw or In honor of my mother and roasted for salads, harvest your grandmother who love to eat beets when they are smaller and garden, here are my top than a peach, they typically are picks for vegetables for the sweeter and more tender. table, to be harvested and eaten fresh, and vegetables best suited for preservation, to be opened and shared later when fresh produce is not so plentiful.

For Later Whole tomatoes: any type of tomato canned whole will work – stay away from Romas as they do better in sauces or purees.

Stuckmeyer’s Farm Market and Greenhouse 249 Schneider Rd. Fenton, MO (636) 349-1225

Paste’ variety.

Hours: April-Oct. Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm, Sat. 9am-5pm, Sun. 10am-4pm

Pickles: ‘Regal’ and ‘Pickle Bush’ are two good varieties to try. The latter can be grown in containers if need be.

Visit our family-operated farm market and greenhouse. We offer a large selection of flowers and vegetable plants from early spring thru mid-summer. Fresh, homegrown vegetables are available mid-April thru October. The month of October is family “Farm Fun Days” featuring hayrides, pumpkins and Stuckmeyer-grown mums!

Pickled Beets: Use peach sized beets – any beet will do.

There are so many vegetables and fruits that you can grow to eat or to preserve for later.

Use these helpful resources to learn more about preserving your harvest – there’s more than just canning.

Ball Company Freshpreserving.com University of Missouri Extension: canning produce http://extension.missouri. edu/p/GH1454

Stuckmeyers.com

Schlafly Farmers Market Schlafly Bottleworks

7260 Southwest Avenue Maplewood, MO 63143 (314) 241-2337 farmersmarket@schlafly.com www.schlaflyfarmersmarket.com Hours: April-Oct. Wednesdays 4-7pm.

Come and buy local, farm fresh eggs, pork, lamb, beef, herbs, mushrooms, artisanal loaves, flowers, pasta, chocolate and more, straight from the source.

freezing produce http://extension.missouri. edu/p/gh1503

pickling basics Tomatoes for Sauce: canned http://extension.missouri.

Tomatoes in salad and salsa: or frozen: Roma or paste edu/p/GH1457 any red/yellow/gold pear or variety tomatoes work best. grape tomato.

Try the ‘Speckled Roman

For Now

Cherry tomatoes – try the ‘Black Cherry’ variety.

Tomatoes for slicing: Try ‘Brandywine’, ‘Mortgage Lifter’, and ‘Cherokee Purple’ heirloom varieties. For hybrids you can try the ‘Beefsteak’, ‘Porterhouse’, or “Red October’ varieties.

Cucumbers in salad: ‘Straight Eights’ is an heirloom variety, for a hybrid try ‘Salad Bush’.

MAY 2012

The Land of Goshen Community Market

Mara Higdon is the Program Director at Gateway Greening, Inc. They focus on community development through gardening throughout the St. Louis area.

You can reach her at (314) 5889600 x22 or by email at mara@ gatewaygreening.org.

The Gateway Gardener™

South of the Courthouse Edwardsville, IL (618) 307-6045 www.GoshenMarket.org Hours: May 12-October 20th Saturday mornings 8am-noon An open-air farmers’ market that is a great source for locally grown, fresh, naturally ripened farm products, tasty baked goods with locally grown ingredients, and wonderful art and gift ideas. Live entertainment and free demonstrations add to the festive atmosphere. A safe, wholesome place for kids and the whole family.

17

Sage Advice on Salvias

By Joyce Driemeyer

E

ven people who do not grow herbs have heard of sage for seasoning fowl, turkey dressing, pork and hearty bean soups. Salvia officianalis has been used for centuries even by the ancient Greeks and Romans for medicinal purposes. Originally from the Mediterranean area, especially from the Adriatic region, it is now grown world wide. We can easily grow the common sage in our own gardens. The salvias include a vast array of ornamental and beneficial plants.

Salvia (meaning “to save”) in herbal medicine has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties according to German Commission E reports on therapeutic herbal efficacy, and work is being done on helping treat early mild Alzheimer’s, because antioxidant properties.

Both S. officianalis and S. lavandufolia are being studied because of high thujone levels (a neurotoxin) for this reason.

Our purposes are mostly to address the many varieties that can be used to enhance our gardens. A number are non-hardy here, but well worth inclusion for their beauty and attraction for hummingbirds and bees. All require good drainage, and those with hairy foliage need full sun.

Salvia ‘Black and Blue’

Pineapple Sage muscatel-like flavor to wines and liqueurs.

Some highly ornamental cultivars of S. officianalis are ‘Icterina’, with gold-edged foliage, and ‘Purpurescens’, with purple leaves. Both are low growing and splendid in the front of a border or in pots with other

scent and blue flowers in summer. Flavor is stronger than common sage. Flowers can be used to flavor tea. S. greggii, called autumn sage, blooms all summer into fall with flowers ranging from red to white depending upon variety. Hummingbirds love it and Mexicans use leaves for seasoning.

S. guarantica—‘Black and Blue’ “Salvias have been used for Important culinary sages are sage—has anise-scented foliage and common sage (S. officianalis) and centuries for medicinal purposes... deep blue/black flowers. The plant one of its cultivars, ‘Bergarten’. and include a vast array of gets tall and blooms all summer.

Both are fuzzy gray-leaved plants, Hummers love it and you will, too! ornamental and beneficial plants.” with noted flavor. S. elegans, S. leucantha—Mexican bush sage— pineapple sage, has fragrant fruithas been a real favorite of mine. It can plants. There is even a variegated form called flavored foliage and red flowers late in ‘Tricolor’ with purple-colored white-edged get tall and has grayish foliage with purple summer. There is also a form of pineapple leaves. flowers. The flowers cut and dry well, and sage with chartreuse-colored foliage, very if the plant is deadheaded it will continue to striking with its red inflorescence, which is Other showy and ornamental non-hardy sages bloom all summer. Leaves are aromatic and treated as an annual. Clary sage (S. sclarea), a grown mainly for color and fillers in the border pleasant to brush against. biennial, features flowers that can be added to are also worth including. Spanish lavender salads or tea. Leaves have been used to give sage (S. lavandulafolia) has a balsam/lavender Finally, many people are familiar, perhaps a

Get Ready to Garden!

• Vegetable Plants • Annuals & Perennials • Combination Planters • Seed Potatoes & Onion Sets

• Tropicals & Hanging Baskets • Statuary & Pottery • Fertilome® Potting Soil • Gift Certificates

Greenhouse and Vegetable Market OPEN! Don’t Forget MOTHER’S DAY! 249 Schneider Dr. (Hwys. 141 & 21) Fenton, MO 63026 (636) 349-1225 Stuckmeyers.com Weekdays 9-6 Sat. 9-5 Sun 10-4 “Behind the Pink Elephant”

18

The Gateway Gardener™

MAY 2012

little too much so, with the S. farinacea red annuals commonly used in public plantings and containers, and are possibly best reserved for those uses.

Photo Credits:

Salvia ‘Black and Blue’ courtesy Walters Gardens, Inc. All other photo courtesy Proven Winners.

Mexican Bush Sage

After 30 years as a landscape designer, Joyce is now retired. She has been a MBG volunteer since 1969 and a Master Gardener since 1985. She is also a past board member of the Herb Society of America, and is a current board member of the St. Louis Herb Society.

Explore the Natural Beauty & Culture of Unique Locations around the World

www.HiddenTreasuresBotanicalTours.com or Mary@hiddentreasuresbotanicaltours.com Contact Information: 573.881.6316

Join US for exciting tour destinations in 2013 including:

Costa Rica (January) China (April)

Sage ‘Icterina’

New Zealand (February) Philadelphia Flower Show (March) Chelsea Flower Show (May) South Africa (September)

Lewis & Clark Summer InStItute The

“Getting Kids excited About Learning” Two Three-week sessions:

June 4 – June 22 • June 25 – July 13 Grades k-2: LewIS & cLArK expLorerS Grades 3-8: AnImAtIon cooKInG boArd GAmeS movIe mAKInG creAtIve wrItInG phySIcS AvIAtIon, SpAce & enGIneerInG deSIGn computer GAmeS drAwInG & pAIntInG

GLASS mASterS expLorInG St. LouIS mISSISSIppI rIver ecoLoGy GArdenInG & pLAntInG cerAmIcS fencInG StAIned GLASS woodworKInG chemIStry

Camp will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church 9 S. Bompart • Webster Groves Pat Dugan, Director • Richard Weiman, Associate Director The Lewis & Clark Institute 1750 S. Brentwood, Suite 559

Sage ‘Tricolor’

314-918-1400 ext 25 • www.lcistl.org

MAY 2012

The Gateway Gardener™

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2/15/12 10:53:47 AM

19

Perennial Favorites!

photos courtesy Walters Gardens Inc., except where noted June is Perennial Plant Month, but this has been such a great spring we thought we’d give you a head start on planning some new additions to your perennial garden. Here are some favorite new or tried-and-true perennials from 3 area perennial pros! the heat and humidity. Blooms most of the summer. Sun.

Courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder

Trudy Effinger Effinger’s Garden Center

Hemerocallis ‘Going Bananas’- An improved ‘Happy Returns’ with lemonyellow flowers, 10-12 per scape. Blooms right up to early fall. Sun.

Dicentra ‘Valentine’ –The reddest bleeding heart out there, and a welcome burst of color in any shade garden. Tends to NOT go dormant during summer.

Also recommended: Dianthus ‘Shooting Star’ Campanula ‘Blue Waterfall’

Aquilegia or Columbine ‘Winky Series’Upright facing flowers on strong stems, bright solid colors and bi-colors. Sun or Shade.

Ann Lapides Sugar Creek Gardens

Geranium ‘Rozanne’- A hardy geranium that blooms violet- blue flowers early summer until frost, trim occasionally to Gentiana ‘True Blue’ - The truest blue shape. Sun. you can find in the garden, and it laughs at 20

Papaver ‘Summer Breeze’ Series - Nonsterile poppies, so they bloom twice as long.

And the orange and yellow colors are an unusual contrast to common red and pink annual seed poppies commonly available.

Great for containers. Sun. Also recommended: Hosta ‘Sparkler’ Hemerocallis ‘Steeple Jackie’

The Gateway Gardener™

MAY 2012

Hosta ‘Rainbow’s End’ - A dramatic, unique hosta with stunning, thick, glossy leaves and beautiful variegation. Adds a distinctively tropical touch to the shade border.

Also recommended: Calamint (Calamintha nepeta subs. nepeta) Russian Sage ‘Lacey Blue’ (Perovskia atr.

‘Lacey Blue’)

Tammy Behm Greenscape Gardens & Gifts

Planting Perennials to Keep Them Healthy, Happy and Hale!

By Kim Reiss

T

www.bluestonperennials.com

here are many benefits to planting perennials, but one of the best is they come back year after year. It’s an investment in your property – you buy once, plant once, and enjoy for years to come.

Sounds easy, right? It is, but only if you do some things first to ensure your plants’ success.

Kalimeris (Kalimeris incisa ‘Blue Star’).

Covered with blue daisy-like flowers from June-September with no dead-heading required. A beautiful, compact (12-18”) great performing plant that is under-utilized in American gardens. It is very popular in Europe.

Here are six easy steps to planting perennials that will ensure they will delight you for years to come.

Light Consider the sun/shade situation of your garden spot. There’s no quicker way to kill a plant than by putting a shade plant in boiling sun, or a sun plant in a dark corner.

Here’s a breakdown of how the sun/shade “mystery” works: Sun – At least 6 full hours of sunlight, especially in the hot afternoon.

Part sun/part shade – Part sun is 3-4 hours of sun 1pm or later; part shade is 3-4 hours of sun from 6am to noon. An easy way to remember this is that the morning sun is a more forgiving sun, so many shade plants do well in morning sun, and many sun plants do well in hot afternoon sun.

Dappled sun – This is soft sunlight that makes it through the leaves of trees. Most understory plants thrive in dappled sun.

Full shade – Less than 3 hours of sunlight a day. This does not mean NO sun – just a few hours a day.

Soil Moisture

Black-eyed Susan ‘Little Goldstar’ (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Little Goldstar’) - A new introduction, more compact (14-16”) than the classic ‘Goldstrum’. Easy-care, blooms from July-October. Sun

MAY 2012

The Gateway Gardener™

Consider whether your planting site is wet, dry, or average. Believe it or not, some plants have to have consistent moisture to survive and thrive. Same with dry plants.

So set them up for success.

Soil Amendments and Fertilizer We can’t say it enough: compost, compost, compost. Most perennials need some rich organic material around their roots when

planted to by happy in our St. Louis clay.

(Some native plants might be the exception, so do your research or check with a nursery professional.) That means leaf mold, manure, cotton burr compost, peat moss, etc. A note about peat moss: it will break up clay soil, but does not add any organic or nutritional value to the soil.

Throw in a small handful of slow-release fertilizer when planting. You can find a great organic variety or use the brand your mom used – it will give your plants a slow boost of nutrients to help them through our brutal St. Louis summers.

Care and Maintenance Water, water, water. New plants need watering to help them get established. It’s best to water for one-half hour to an hour once a week versus a little bit every day.

And of course, if we have a rainy summer, then your job is done for you.

Deadhead, or remove spent flowers. The more you remove flowers – sometimes even new flowers -- from new plants, the more energy the plant can focus on root development, which will pay off in the future. Painful, I know. I admit, I can’t always do it, but there are tough but smart gardeners out there who can, and they reap the benefits. And sometimes the rabbits help out, too.

And last, but not least, remember to take a few moments to enjoy your garden. We can spend so much time planting, weeding, watering, staking, and moving on to the next chore that we spend lots of time working and very little time enjoying. So take a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and go sit in your garden. That’s the BEST advice from this professional.

Kim Reiss works at Sugar Creek Gardens in Kirkwood, and is an assistant for the adult education program at the Missouri Botanical Garden.

21

Warm Season Lawn Care

By Glennon Kraemer

M

ay is the best month to start your warm season lawn care applications. Until the soil reaches 60 degrees consistently, you are not going to see a whole lot of activity in zoysia, Bermuda or buffalo grass lawns. Your edges will green up first. Warm season lawns are treated totally different than cool season (fescues, blues & ryes) lawns and even differently amongst themselves.

Zoysia

All warm season lawns like to be mowed at 1”-2” (cool season lawns like to be mowed at 3”- 4”). As with all mowing operations, be sure to use a sharp blade (sharpen after 8-10 hours of use), try to remove 1/3 of the grass blade per mowing, and rotate your mowing pattern to prevent soil compaction. Nothing prevents weeds like a good thick grass and zoysia is one of the best at chocking out weeds when healthy.

Fertilize with a high nitrogen fertilizer or an organic option, now and again in mid June. 1-2# of nitrogen per year is usually enough.

I like to suggest Ironite (granule iron) around August 15th to keep it greener into the fall.

Meet us at Kirkwood Market 150 E Argonne

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Order in advance (by Wed.), or choose from the selection at the Kirkwood Market.

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Missouri Wildflowers Nursery 573-496-3492, fax: 573-496-3003 www.mowildflowers.net mowldflrs@socket.net 9814 Pleasant Hill Rd. Jefferson City MO 65109

Establishment Zoysia can be established by seed, plugs or sod. The seed rate is 2 pounds/1000 ft. sq and works best when you apply to totally barren soil. Apply a seed “starter” and water every day for 3-4 weeks.

“Plugs” should be planted 4-6 per sq ft and should be watered everyday until you can’t pull them out of the ground. Seeding can be done May through June, but plugs and sod can used May through mid August. You want the plant to be hardened off before its first winter.

Miscellaneous Core aerate or power rake from mid May to August. It usually doesn’t need pre-emergent unless you do one of these procedures.

Apply a fertilizer & crabgrass preventer after one or both of these operations. Apply grub controls and fungicides only if needed and you can water ANY time of the day without consequences (unlike cool season lawns). Only spray weeds after reading the label!

Spraying weeds too early in the season can damage the lawn.

Bermuda

It is the most aggressive of all the lawn types. It wins all battles and can only be stopped by shade. Mow and fertilize like zoysia.

Establishment Can be seed or sod (most of us have this or zoysia without even asking for it). Use the same establishment procedures as zoysia.

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MAY 2012

Miscellaneous The biggest difference between Bermuda and zoysia is the aggressiveness. Bermuda will grow 1’-2’ “runners” or stolens’ in a growing season, but zoysia will not. Both are easy to get rid off… just buy a new house.

Buffalo

Mow like the others but only 2-3 times a year. Only fertilize maybe once all year with a simple organic or 12-12-12.

Specialists in Care & Enhancement of Estate Gardens

Offering Professional:

Establishment Seed or sod with the same windows as above.

Miscellaneous I just described the perfect lawn, right? If it sounds too good be to be true, it usually is. You can see an example of buffalo grass growing at the Kemper Center in the Botanical Garden or along the border of the raised bed north of the History Museum. It has a different texture than most grasses and is just different. Check it out before you buy.

All successful lawn programs start with basic information and a basic soil test is important. If you have persistent lawn problems and haven’t done a soil test lately, get one done as soon as possible. (drgoodearth.com is who I use). Soil tests help us make better and wiser lawn care decisions. Remember folks…it’s just grass.

Glenn Kraemer owns and operates GR Robinson Seed and Service, and can be reached by phone at 314-432-0300 or by email ag gmmseed@sbcglobal.net.

• Consultation & Design • Plant Health Care • Selective Natural Pruning • Specimen Tree & Shrub Variety Installation Dedicated to Tree Preservation Certified Arborists and Degreed Foresters on Staff

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DAVIDSAN’S JAPANESE MAPLES

Saint Louis’ first Japanese Maple Nursery Presents:

HUNDREDS OF JAPANESE MAPLE TREES !

Corner of Lindbergh Blvd. and McDonnell Blvd., Just South of I-270 in Hazelwood, MO

Every FRIDAY, Saturday and Sunday April 27 through July 1, 2012 On display and for sale - Hundreds of Varieties of rare Japanese maple trees!!

All colors, sizes, shapes and all suitable for growing in the St. Louis area.

Davidsan’s also offers rare companion trees such as dwarf ginkgo, fagus (beech), dwarf conifers, quercus (oak) and many other rare cultivars that complement your garden.

For more info call 217-303-2641 MAY 2012

The Gateway Gardener™

www.davidsansjapanesemaples.com 23

Tropical Succulents

T

he toughness, durability, and bizarre beauty of tropical succulents make them a popular plant chosen for the home or patio. Succulents are easy to grow and they have the ability to survive on very little care, which makes them great for those gardeners who travel frequently. Succulents are the ultimate low-maintenance plant indoors or out!

text and photos by Ellen Barredo

bowls, or staple cans from olive oil or tomato sauce can be amusing, charming (and inexpensive) in the right place.

Floral containers, especially urn and dish shapes, aluminum serve ware from the 50s, vintage silver, wirework containers, wood crates or barrels, and all sorts of baskets can come alive when filled with succulents.

Vertical garden systems that can be stuffed full of succulents are wildly popular. One Succulents lend themselves to item sold for this purpose is called Wooly experimentation and almost total freedom Pockets. in the matter of choosing containers, readily adapting to almost anything a gardener can Or perhaps the succulents are used very dream up! simply decorating the dinner table at a wedding …placed on an elegant dish?

Where will the container be placed? The Guests take them home. You simply placement helps in plant and container purchase Echeverias and cut the stem at the choice. Think where will it be indoors and soil level…place the top on a dish. Great outdoors. Choose your style, sophisticated Look! or fun, elegant or whimsical, and really think outside the box (or container)! If Simple Succulent Culture your chosen container doesn’t already have them, it will always be better to drill some These are plants that have adapted the ability to store water to use during periods holes for drainage. of drought.

Because of this ability, Some ideas! overwatering is the most common cause of Topiaries are a classic use for succulents plant decline. Growing your plants in tight and range from traditional shapes of cones, quarters is one way to prevent this, so do pom-poms and standard forms to hanging not plant into containers that are larger than spheres, wreaths, and animal shapes that can necessary or worry about crowding. be purchased ready-to-plant or in bare-wire form. If your form is naked it will need to The important rules for this group include: be lined with moss and filled with soil prior Allow bright, even, direct light indoors and to planting. Either way, a good soaking is outdoors and no wet feet during dormancy needed before planting. If using cuttings, – succulents need less water in the winter. they should be kept more moist than usual for a couple of weeks. Ongoing watering is Remember, these plants are delicate and care should be taken when moving and best done by soaking. transplanting to avoid breakage. It helps Gardeners with a massive supply of creativity to let these plants get fairly dry before have designed unbelievable creations in the repotting to reduce the breakage. form of tables, chairs, purses, and other fanciful objects that delight and amuse. Use fertilizer at ½ strength when you start your container – organic types will break Think Disney! down slowly which makes them a good Picture frames can be hung on the garden choice for succulents, which can easily be wall, old shoes or cowboy boots can wait overfed and burned. Organic tomato food by the back door planted with succulents. such as Espoma TomatoTone (4-7-10) is Repurposing ideas abound in the kitchen, a perfect choice and can be mixed in with vintage or not: colanders, sieves, Jello the potting medium. Containers will need molds, pudding molds, muffin tins, nut a light fertilizing after being grown in the same mix for a few years. For the more

What can you dream up?

24

The Gateway Gardener™

MAY 2012

confident gardener, if you choose a container with no drainage holes, you will have to be judicious with watering. For pots with no drainage, it will be especially important to add gravel to the bottom of the container and a layer of charcoal would be a benefit and water slowly with a turkey baster! Be cautious.

Special soil mix intended for cacti and succulents should be used to allow for maximum drainage.

I prefer to arrange my succulent collection on the south facing front porch when outdoors. This placement keeps them out of RAIN! Indoors they are under lights

Ellen Barredo

Doug English

Kim Lovelace-Young

Sheri Bohrer

Full Features Nursery & Landscape Center

Henry McCormick

Sandra Hillermann McDonald

Anne McKinstry

Bowood Farms

Forrest Keeling Nursery

Dave Brakhane

Pleasantview Landscaping

Mark Brakhane

Pleasantview Landscaping

Wrapping it up!

There is no other genus that is so much fun to play with! The visual variability, strange and complex beauty, subtle variations in form and texture, sculptural aspects, tidy shapes, Ellen Barredo may be and range of colors reached at Bowood invites the gardener Farms (314) 454-6868. to use plant material She is also co-hosting as an artist uses paint monthly on AM 550 KTRS, the Inside Out or mixed media.

Give it a try!

Show with Host John Shea, Saturdays from 12-3 p.m.

Bob Call

Longfellow’s Garden Ctr.

Jeff Coffey

Jeff Coffey’s Landscaping

Cynthia Collins Hartke Nursery

Mike Curran SummerWinds

Damon Doherty

Hillside Landscaping

Steve Dorrell

Carson’s Nursery

Janet Dueber

Longfellow’s Garden Ctr.

Susan Ehlenbeck

MO Dept. of Agriculture

Kristopher Fuller

Hillermann Nursery & Florist

Aaron Jung

Horticultural Impressions

Glenn Kristek

Wickman Garden Village

Joe Krygiel

Baxter Gardens West

Gregg Larsen

Gregg Larsen Landscaping

Roland Lenzenhuber Forest Lawn Nursery

John Logan

Logan Landscape Design

Alice Longfellow

Longfellow’s Garden Center

Eric Lovelace

Forrest Keeling Nursery

Forrest Keeling Nursery Carson’s Nursery

McKinstry Plant Sales

Rain Miljan

Hillside Landscaping

Nikki Pettit

Wickman Garden Village

Don Sherman

Hillermann Nursery & Florist

Kevin Sir

Bowood Farms

Jim Van Valkenburg Sherwood’s Forest

Donald Walls Hartke Nursery

David Wehmeyer

Hillermann Nursery & Florist

Lynn Young

Baxter Gardens West

Missouri Certified Green Industry Stars is a Missouri State certification program designed to: • Raise the standards of the state’s Green Industry’s Professional Horticulturists

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The Gateway Gardener™

• Assist the public in identifying Certified Green Industry Horticulture Professionals who have been tested on Basic Principles of Horticulture, Environmental Stewardship Ideals and Best Management Practices as they apply to the state of Missouri.

To locate and shop with a Missouri Certified Green Industry Star, consult the Membership Directory at:

www.mlna.org 25

Dig This!

Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News New Businesses Growing in St. Louis

A couple new or expanding businesses are growing the green industry in St. Louis. Davidsan’s Japanese Maples is opening a retail location in Hazelwood at 5911 Lindbergh Blvd. Open Fridays-Sundays 10am-6pm, Davidsans will be offering over 200 rare varieties of Japanese maples, plus over 100 companion tree varieties like ginkgo, conifers, beech, non-Japanese maples, oak, redbud and others.

Many are suitable for bonsai. Proprietor David Myers has operated a wholesale operation in Springfield, IL for many years, and is excited to now bring his unique tree selection to St. Louis gardeners. Gardeners also have access through the internet to his Springfield selection of more than 400 different tree varieties. Call (217) 341-5904 for more information.

Justin and Caitlin McCoy, left, have set up a new landscape design, installation and maintenance company called From the Ground Up Garden Design. A 2010 graduate of St. Louis Community College’s Horticulture program at Meramec, Justin has gained experience over the last 7 years working for garden centers and landscape maintenance companies, and has developed diverse experience over those years, especially in the areas of native gardens, rain gardens, urban gardens and other types. For more information visit FromGroundUpDesigns. com.

Butterfly House Ticket Winners

During the month of March, The Gateway Gardener gave away more than 35 tickets (3 each to 12 winners) to Facebook Friends as well as other readers who sent in postcards to qualify. The Facebook winners were: Gina Rubright (Kirkwood), Bruce Johnson (O’Fallon, MO), Allison Hunt Lehman (Webster Groves), Lisa Kuehne (St. Louis), Tina McElhattan (Waterloo, IL), Janet Carpenter (New London, MO), Erika Haveker (St. Louis), Judy Jones (O’Fallon, IL), and Lynn Stone (Catawissa, MO). Winners who sent in postcards were: Beverly Brock (Park Hills), Margrit Eagen (St. Louis) and Laura Lehman (St. Louis). Thanks to all our Facebook Fans for following The Gateway Gardener, and to ALL our readers for your great interest in the magazine and in gardening!

2011-2012 ‘Power of Plants’ Contest Winners

The Missouri Botanical Garden has announced the winners of the 2011-2012 “Power of Plants” student contest. The fourth annual contest challenged groups of two to five students in kindergarten through 12th grades to select one plant that does great things for people and tell its story through an informative and creative physical or digital

26

creation. The winners were: Early Elementary/Physical Category: Caroline Keefe, Autumn Ramey, Reece Ward, Jacob Whitworth and Holly Repp from Immaculate Conception School in Columbia, IL. Honorable Mention: Jozlin and Aria Schmidt from Living Faith Christian Academy in South St. Louis, MO. Digital Category: Jahtega Djukpen and Jahminneh Djukpen from Goshen Elementary in Glen Carbon, IL. Upper Elementary/Physical Category: Jan Kasal, Anna Larson and Irmak Karasinir from Forsyth School in Clayton, MO. Honorable Mention: Anna Adams, Kalia Kerkatis, Emily Gillan and Marie Prindville from Immaculate Conception School in Columbia, IL. Digital Category: Isabella Frasure and Noble Faris, also from Immaculate Conception School in Columbia, IL. Honorable Mention: Ireland Keen, Abby Herzing and Emiley Fritz from St. Teresa Catholic School in Belleville, IL. Middle School/Physical Category: Andrew Simily, Caleb Ley, Jamie Hayden and Ryan Eckelkamp from St. John the Baptist – Gildehaus in Villa Ridge, MO. Honorable Mention: Rebecca Smith and Grace Fletcher, also from St. John the Baptist – Gildehaus in Villa Ridge, MO. Digital Category: Daniel Berkovich and Miles Sanders from Parkway Central Middle School in Chesterfield, MO. Honorable Mention: Caroline Siemers, Caroline Moorehouse, Paige Hoffmann and Olivia Hewitt from Visitation Academy in Town and Country, MO. High School/Physical Category: Abby Froidl and Annie Muehlfarth from Notre Dame High School in South St. Louis County, MO. Honorable Mention: Alyssa Anderson, Kathleen Shaughnessy and Elle Nowogrocki from Visitation Academy in Town and Country, MO. Digital Category: Ashley Taylor, Ali Wagner and Ciara Lenzner from St. Joseph’s Academy in Frontenac, MO. Honorable Mention: Homeschoolers Olivia Madison, Jack Eddy, Beatrice Madison, Jack Madison and Max Eddy from O’Fallon and Wentzville, MO. Each student in the winning groups received $200 and their host school was awarded $500. Students in groups that received honorable mentions each received $50.

Many of the winning entries in the Power of Plants contest are on public display in the Ridgway Visitor Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden through May 22.

The Gateway Gardener™

MAY 2012

We have the answers for the ultimate landscape!

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The Gateway Gardener™

27

HEALTHY ROSES

O

NOT EVERY BLEMISH IS A DISEASE

ur roses sometimes look under the weather and the first thing that comes to mind is a disease. We ask ourselves “What can I spray to make this go away? I have fertilized, sprayed and deadheaded but the roses still look a little sad. What am I missing?”

The answer could be nutrient deficiency or toxicity. The first step is to take a soil sample and test the pH. Your soil may have all the proper nutrients but if the pH is either too high or too low the plants cannot take in the nutrients they need for good health. Ideally roses need a pH of 6.3 to 6.8, although they will do all right with a pH from 6.0 to 7.0.

The reason the pH of the soil is so important is it affects the ability of the plants to take in the nutrients.

Plants require 3 major nutrients—nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium—and several lesser nutrients, including, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, copper, zinc, boron, manganese and molybdenum. All must be present and available in the soil for the rose to flourish.

By Diane Brueckman

foliage as a lack of luster eventually turning a gray-green and the leaves may drop off without ever turning yellow. Phosphorus is necessary for good root development and flower production. Look at the phosphorus content on a bloom-booster fertilizer. It is always the highest number for example 1030-20 with the 30 being phosphorus. You might also notice a purplish color on the undersides of the leaves, do not confuse this with the healthy new foliage of some roses especially the darker cultivars.

I have not touched on all of the nutrients used by roses but you get the idea that a deficiency can cause poor plant performance as well as foliage spots and distortions, many of which can be confused with diseases. Toxicities are often caused by an imbalance in the nutrients especially the micro-nutrients.

In general, the plants need all of the above nutrients in proper proportion to be at their best. A good way to maintain the balance is Potassium deficiency is less obvious. The to use a variety of organics in the soil. The plants tend to be stunted with shorter flower exclusive use of chemical fertilizers, all of stems and somewhat deformed flower buds. which contribute to the soluble salts in the The older foliage may have browning soil, will cause problems down the road. on the tips with marginal yellowing and necrosis. Some studies have attributed Ed. Note: We searched high and low blind shoots to a potassium deficiency but for photos of symptoms of rose nutrient the results are not conclusive. A blind shoot deficiencies, and couldn’t find any readily available for print. If you’d like to see what is a cane that produces no flowers. some of these deficiencies look like, there Calcium deficiency shows as distorted young are some illustrations on the internet at: leaves and the older leaves turn a dull gray- http://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/ green and the edges may droop. Eventually roses/solving-rose-nutrient-problems/ the edges turn yellow and brown.

Nitrogen deficiency will show as yellowing of the foliage especially the older leaves.

Eventually the yellow leaves may abscise or fall off. Newer growth will appear stunted with shorter internode length.

Iron deficiency is a yellowing of the interveinal portions of the leaves with the main veins remaining dark green. Most cases of iron deficiency are caused by some interference in the availability of iron to the plant. It can be poor aeration of the soil, Phosphorus deficiency is noticed in the overwatering, root-knot nematodes or high soluble salt levels in the soil. These conditions need to be addressed to Bring Conservation Home

• Dreaming of your own wildlife sanctuary?

• Fascinated by hummingbirds, butterflies or creepy/ crawlies?

• Not sure how to get started or which native plants are best?

Call (314) 599-7390 or check out our habitat assistance and certification program at:

StLouisAudubon.org/bch 28

permanently correct the problem.

D i a n e Brueckman is a retired rosarian with Missouri Botanical Garden, and currently owns Rosey Acres in Baldwin, Illinois. You can reach her at (618) 785-3011.

JAEGER Greenhouses Extra Large, Beautiful Flowering Baskets Plus Unique Annuals, Perennials and Herbs GREAT Mother’s Day Selection Gift Certificates Available www.JaegerGreenhouses.com

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The Gateway Gardener™

MAY 2012

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Find these and other fine products at the locations listed below:

Garden Heights Nursery 1605 S Big Bend St. Louis, MO (314) 645-7333

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Passiglia's Nursery 1855 Hwy 109 Wildwood, MO (636) 458-9202

Sunset Plantland & Nursery 12852 Maurer Industrial Dr. St. Louis, MO (314) 843-7445

Valley Park Elevator & Hardware 2 Marshall Road Valley Park, MO (636) 225-7100

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The Gateway Gardener™

29

Upcoming Events Upcoming Events Meetings, Classes, Entertainment and More Updates to this information are often posted on our online events calendar at www.

GatewayGardener.com, so check there for the latest details. If you have a smartphone, scan this code to go directly to the Upcoming Events online calendar.

[Insert QR code here] Give us the details of your upcoming gardening, lawn or landscaping event and we’ll add it to our website and include it in our next issue.

Deadline for printing in the July/August issue is June 1st.

How to reach us: Mail: PO Box 220853, St. Louis, MO 63122 Fax: (314) 968-4025 Email: (314) info@ gatewaygardener.com GARDEN CLUBS AND PLANT SOCIETY MEETINGS Interested in Joining a Garden Club or Plant Society? We have meeting dates, locations and contact information on more than 50 area garden clubs on our website at www.

GatewayGardener.com. Don’t have access to the internet?

Just call us at (314) 968-3740, 30

or write us at PO Box 220853, St. Louis, MO 63122, and we’ll get the information to you. So share your joy for gardening and join a garden club or favorite plant society today!

Fun for Kids May 5th 9am—Children’s Garden Club-Annuals and Vegetables. FREE, no reservations required, everyone welcome. The Children’s Garden Club is designed to educate and bring delight in gardening to children with projects they do themselves.

Museum of Transportation, 3015 Barrett Station Rd. (314) 965-6885.

June 2nd 9am—Children’s Garden Club-Grilling Vegetables from the Garden and Pineapples, Too! FREE, no reservations required, everyone welcome. The Children’s Garden Club is designed to educate and bring delight in gardening to children with projects they do themselves.

Sherwood’s Forest Nursery & Garden Center, 2651 Barrett Station Rd. Also sponsored by Schnuck’s Markets.

Plant Shows, Sales and Tours May 5th 8am-1pm—Plant Sale Event!

The Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association will again offer truckloads of donated perennials from local gardens at great prices. Plus annuals/ hanging baskets, garden raffle, container gardens and bake sale. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your questions. Rain or shine at Webster Groves Masonic

Lodge, 12 E. Lockwood (next to City Hall at Elm).

8am-noon—Edwardsville Garden Club Spring Plant Sale. Perennials, herbs, groundcovers, annuals. St. Mary’s Church/School parking lot, 1802 Madison Ave., Edwardsville, IL. 8am-noon-Jardin du Lac Garden Club’s annual Perennial Plant Sale and Garden Shed. Hundreds of perennials. Lake St. Louis Community Association, 100 Cognac Ct., Lake St. Louis, MO. 63367. Rain date: May 6 from 1-4pm.

9am-3pm—Kress Farm Garden Preserve’s 14th Annual Plant Sale. Annuals, perennials, Forrest Keeling native shrubs and trees, Stark Bros. fruit trees, vegetable plants and much more. Class on “Edible Landscapes” at 10:30am. Raffle. Hand painted steppingstones and statuary for sale. Lunch available. Master Gardeners on site to answer questions. 5137 Glade Chapel Road, Hillsboro, MO. Call Jo at 636-296-9306 for more information.

street and check out the many vendors, crafters, antiques, specialty shops, great food, pony rides and more. The May Market, Lebanon, IL. www. gardencluboflebanon.org and on Facebook.

May 6th 9am-5pm—Greater St. Louis Iris Society Sale. New cultivars and old favorites are sold by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and share information about their organization. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Beaumont Room, Ridgway Visitor Center, Missouri Botanical Garden. Included with Garden admission.

StLouisIrises.com May 12th & 13th 9am-5pm—Greater St. Louis Dahlia Society Sale. New cultivars and old favorites are sold by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and share information about their organization. Missouri Botanical Garden, Beaumont Room, Ridgway Visitor Center. Entry included with Garden admission. http:// stldahliasociety.com.

9am-noon—Four Winds Garden Club Plant Sale.

Prudential Alliance Realtors at Clayton Road at Woods Mill Road. Members will sell perennials and herbs from their own gardens. These plants have been proven as optimal for surviving and thriving in this region, as they have been planted and grown by our own members. 636-227-9479.

May 12th 8am-noon—Mississippi Valley Garden Club Annual Plant Sale. A large variety of perennial plants including hostas, day lilies, sedums, irises, herbs, and bulbs. Most plants $1-5/ea.

The Sportsmen’s Club, 3109 Godfrey Road. (618) 4667718.

9am-4pm—Garden Club of Lebanon Perennial Plant Sale. Over 1,000 perennials, herbs, and vegetables. Walk down Victorian Style brick

9am-noon—Mason Ridge Garden Club Plant Sale.

Perennials from the members own gardens including unusual plants such as Bottlebrush Buckeye, Acanthus, Russian

The Gateway Gardener™

MAY 2012

Comfrey, Solomon’s seal and many others, plus a select group of annuals. Cash or check, only, arrive early for best selection. Longview Farm Park, 13525 Clayton Road at Mason in Town & Country.

314-579-9876.

9am-4pm—Spring Wildflower Sale. Native wildflowers, ferns, trees and shrubs for home landscapes brought to you by Shaw Nature Reserve and local native plant nurseries. Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit, MO, at I-44 and Hwy. 100.

(636) 451-3512. Admission Free for members, $5 nonmembers.

Plant Sale begins at 9am Sat. 11am Sun. Farmers Market, garden merchandise, specials at area shops and restaurants, birdhouse contest, and other activities. Purchase tickets at Ste Genevieve Welcome Center, 66 South Main St. 800373-7007 or email events@ visitstegen.com.

9am-5pm—Bonsai Society of Greater St. Louis Sale, Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Sale, St. Louis Horticultural Society Sale and St. Louis Hosta Society Show. New cultivars and old favorites are shown and sold by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and 9am-1:00pm—Bethel UMC share information about their Plant Sale. Great bargains on organization. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. annuals, perennials, vegetables, Orthwein Floral Display herbs, hanging baskets, Hall. Included with Garden combination planters and more. admission. www.stlbonsai.

17500 Manchester Road, org; www.ars.org; www.

Wildwood MO. 636-451-0526 stlouishosta.org. or 636-273-6960.

May 20th 8:00am-3:30pm—Floral 11am-5pm—Spanish Lake Conservancy of Forest Park Garden Tour and Plant Sale.

Plant Sale. St. Louis City Tour showcases the private and Greenhouse, 5600 Clayton community gardens of Spanish Avenue.

Lake along with a plant sale.

All proceeds benefit renovation May 19th of the historic Twillman House.

9am-5pm—Carnivorous Plant Tickets are $10 in advance Society Show and Sale. New thru May 18th at: Miller’s cultivars and old favorites Auto, 12300 Bellefontaine are shown and sold by the Road, 63138 or mail check area’s top growers, who are on made out to Spanish Lake hand to give plant care advice Community Assoc. P.O. Box 372082, Spanish Lake, MO and share information about their organization. Beaumont 63138. Tour day tickets are $15 Room, Ridgway Visitor at the Twillman House, 11840 Center at Missouri Botanical Bellefontaine Road, Spanish Garden. Included with Garden Lake, MO 63138. admission.

June 2nd May 19th-20th 9am-2pm—The Lake Area 10am-4pm Sat., 11am-4pm Master Gardeners’ 6th Sun.—The Ste. Genevieve Annual Garden Walk. Four Master Gardeners Garden private gardens and historic Walk. $7 per person or $6 for Willmore Lodge gardens at groups of five or more. No Lake of the Ozarks. Tickets are reservations required.Tour available at any Central Bank public and private gardens or First National Bank location. in historic Ste. Genevieve.

Email Glenda_hinrichs@ MAY 2012

The Gateway Gardener™

yahoo.com for info.

June 2nd-3rd 9am-5pm— 18th Annual Hermann Garden Tour and Plant Sale. Two Tours in 2012: the popular Town Tour, a walking tour of gardens in downtown Hermann, and the Country Tour, a driving tour to country gardens. Separate $10 ticket for each tour includes visits to four private gardens and the Garden Demonstration Area. Town & County Garden Tour Combo Ticket for $15.

Also Special Ticket ByReservation-Only Luncheon/ Silent Auction for $20 on June 1st and High Tea in Europeanstyle Lavender Garden for $18.50 on June 2nd. Visit the Hermann Garden Tours website at www.hermanngardentours. com for up to date events, ticket prices, and photographs.

“Like” us on Facebook at Hermann Garden Club Tours 2012. Call Hermann Welcome Center at (800) 932-8687 or go to www.visithermann.com.

June 9th 9am-3pm—Secret Garden Tour of Lebanon. Rain or Shine. $8 advance/ $10 door.

Proceeds for youth scholarship.

Lebanon Visitors Center, 221 W. St. Louis St, Lebanon IL Info at 618-537-8420, www.gardencluboflebanon.org and on Facebook.

10am-4pm—Monroe County Garden Tour. Gardens in Columbia, IL. Call (618) 9393434 for locations to purchase tickets. $10/person in advance, $12 day of event. Sponsored

by U. of I. Extension, Monroe County Master Gardeners, Columbia Women’s Club, Waterloo Area Garden Club, Kinzinger Truck Service & Landscaping Materials, and Midwest Block and Brick.

Classes, Lectures and Events

Now through October 31st 9am-5pm daily—Plastic Pot Recycling. Recycle plastic garden pots, cell packs and trays. West parking lot of the Garden’s Monsanto Center, 4500 Shaw Blvd. at Vandeventer. (314) 577-9441.

Look for Plastic Pot Recycling at several satellite collection centers throughout the metro area through Sept. 30; for a complete list of participants, visit www.mobot.org/ plasticpotrecycling.

May 1st and 3rd 6 pm May 1st, 10am May 3rd—Dazzling Containers.

Learn how to create creative combinations of plants, colors and textures. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. Call (314) 965-3070.

May 5th 10am-3pm—Salsa Garden Saturday. Learn how to create the perfect salsa garden!

Specials on tomato plants during this event, and salsa recipes will be available.

Enjoy chips and salsa to eat while picking out the perfect plants to grow in your salsa garden! Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www. hillermann.com.

May 8th 6 pm—Annuals for Explosive Color. Discover the showiest performers, along with the exceptional new hybrids.

Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood.

FREE. Call (314) 965-3070.

May 9th 6:30-8:30pm—Lawn Care and Maintenance.

Includes site/soil preparation, seed selection, fertilizing, watering, mowing, aeration, and managing weeds and disease . St. Charles County Extension Center, 260 Brown Rd., St. Peters MO. Visit 31

Get inspired this Spring to grow something BEAUTIFUL

Visit St. Louis Composting’s five area locations for the largest selection of STA-certified compost, mulch products and soil blends.

BELLEVILLE, IL

3521 Centreville Ave. 618.233.2007 Visit us online at MARYLAND www.stlcompost.com

VALLEY PARK, MO 39 Old Elam Ave. 636.861.3344

HEIGHTS, MO

(This is a drop off facility only) 11294 Schaefer Road 314.423.9035

ST. LOUIS, MO

560 Terminal Rd. 314.868.1612

FORT BELLEFONTAINE COMPOST FACILITY 13060 County Park Rd. Florissant, MO 314.355-0052

Visit us online at www.stlcompost.com

ENRICHING THE SOIL NATURALLY SINCE 1992