The Gateway Gardener Jan./Feb. 2013

Gateway Gardener

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

The Primrose Palette Pops!

Klip ‘n’ Keep Resource Guide Spring Shows, Conventions & Classes Know Your Seeds FREE Courtesy of:

Orchid Madagascar

2013

Show

February 2 to March 31

Presented by Leave Missouri behind, and enter a mysterious island nation with plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. Delight in the sights and sounds of tropical Madagascar while viewing the Garden’s world-renown orchid collection. The theme of this year’s show highlights the Garden’s long-standing research and conservation work in Madagascar.

Admission: $5 plus regular Garden admission, Garden members are admitted free.

4344 Shaw Blvd • St. Louis, MO 63110 • (314) 577-5100 • www.mobot.org

Start Your Garden IndoorS now!

We Have the Seeds and Supplies You Need!

Plus a Complete Line of Bird Feeders and Bird Seed Gift Certificates Available

115 E. Argonne Kirkwood, MO (314) 822 -0083 Hours: m-f 9:00-5:30 Sat 8:30-5:00 We Accept: - Personal Checks & Cash

Gateway Gardener THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

January/February 2013 Volume 9, Number 1

Publisher Joyce Bruno

Editor Robert Weaver Columnists

Barbara Perry Lawton General Gardening Connie Alwood Birding Ellen Barredo Houseplants and Tropicals Diane Brueckman Roses Joyce Driemeyer Herbs Cindy Gilberg Native Plant Gardening Mara Higdon Vegetables and Fruits Glenn Kraemer Turfgrass Steffie Littlefield Perennials & Design 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.

A

From the Editor

s I write this in midDecember, I’m keeping a close eye on my Rejnveld’s ‘Early Sensation’ daffodils. They’ve always lived up to their name by being the first to bloom in my garden each year; but “early” in most previous years had meant February. Last winter, I took this picture on Christmas Day 2011, when mild temperatures coaxed this frontrunner to unfurl.

There are still 13 days to go until Christmas n o w , Christmas Day 2011 and the flower buds are already plump and yellowing.

It’s hard to project what the gardening gods have in store for us in this and coming years.

Last spring we enjoyed one of the most beautiful springs and autumns of my experience.

Sandwiched between them, we paid with another brutal, dry summer. If I were a betting man—and really, like farmers,

aren’t all gardeners gamblers of a sort?—I’d plan (and plant) for dry and warmer conditions to prevail in the near future.

And it seems those who know more than I do about plants and landscaping are projecting the same. Many of the classes, symposia and other educational opportunities we highlight in this issue’s spring roundup (page 10) have sessions on making landscapes less waterneedy (and less needy of other inputs as well). If you want to often contains new events that do so in your garden as well, didn’t come to us in time for the print version.) check them out.

January is a good time for planning for those and other changes in the garden.

Browsing the mountain of seed catalogs, attending classes, and surfing the internet. If you haven’t done so, I encourage you to visit our two websites— GatewayGardener.com and GreenGardeningStL.com— where we continue to archive many past articles relating to these and other timely and regionally specific gardening and plant care topics. (We also update the online Upcoming Events calendar regularly, so it

My plan is to enjoy whatever winter and future seasons bring upon us, and adapt as I must my garden and gardening ways.

We may be gamblers, but it doesn’t hurt to hedge your bets with common sense, historical perspective and an ear to what we can learn from the green experts around us. I hope our magazine helps.

Good Gardening!

On the Cover...

Primrose (Primula vulgaris) like this striking ‘Blue Zebra’ can do double duty, adding much appreciated beauty as a houseplant in midwinter, then planted in the garden as a spring-blooming perennial. Read more about primroses on page 5.

(Photo courtesy Jim Monroe, Hort Couture)

FEATURES 8 Klip ‘n’ Keep Resource Guide 10 Spring Shows, Conventions & Classes

IN THIS ISSUE 4 Know Your Seeds 5 The Primrose Palette Pops!

6 The Sharing Garden 7 MBG Orchid Show 12 Peanuts 13 Dig This 14 Upcoming Events

Know Your Seeds

by Barbara Perry Lawton

B

y now the blizzard of seed catalogs has probably loaded up your desk and coffee table. There are both reliable and fickle ones. Learn from gardening friends which ones are dependable and are loaded with good information. Note that the seed catalogs displayed at the Kemper Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden are top quality. If you aren’t on the mailing of a catalog you want and you haven’t got the inward 800 number or the email address, look them up on Google. (If you don’t have access to Google, your local library can help you.)

The advantages of growing from seeds early and indoors are worth considering. The selection of varieties both old and new is much wider than you will find as potted plants in either local nurseries or mail-order resources. Growing plants from seed is a wonderful way to expand and diversify a collection. The per-plant cost is considerably less, an import factor if you plan to buy more than just a few. Always buy topquality seeds that are true to species and as free from weed seeds and disease as possible.

Further, there is great satisfaction in producing your own plants from seed to maturity. You will find that you spend an inordinate amount of time (well spent!) studying your seed flats, Made in the St. Louis Area

stand up and garden 855.USA.GROW • (855.872.4769)

watching for the first sign of tiny green sprouts, growth of the first true leaves and development into sturdy seedlings ripe to plant out. If you are reasonably successful, you can share a few plants with friends—I promise you they will be thrilled.

A good idea would be to visit your local nursery and shop for seed flats, small pots for young seedlings and growing medium. Also look there for seeds. In fact, look everywhere for seeds, from your favorite nursery to botanical gardens to catalogs. Once you have the seeds in hand, read the back of the packets carefully—seed producers want you to succeed and so have provided top information on growing different varieties. If you are new to growing your plants from seed, you might look for those that are easy to grow—check the seed packet and your local horticulturist.

Major Seed Types

Learning the difference between hybrids and open pollinated seeds is helpful. First of all, you will run into the term “cultivar.” This simply means “cultivated variety.” Cultivars may be known by the common name or the scientific name and, in addition, may have specific cultivar names. An example would be cornflower, Centaurea cyanoides ‘Blue Carpet.’

A cultivar may be either a hybrid or openpollinated variety.

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Open-pollinated seeds are those that result from pollination by insects, wind, selfpollination and any other natural form of pollination.

Hybrid (F-1) seeds are first generation seeds that result from crosses between two pure lines of plants. (Pure lines are those that produce

identical plants when self-pollinated.) Hybrid crosses must be made for each growing season.

The added labor and research causes hybrids to cost more. If you collect and plant seeds from hybrids, they will not come true to the parents— be sure to buy fresh hybrid seeds for each new growing season.

Heirloom seeds have become very popular in recent years. They are open-pollinated cultivars that have been selected over 50 or more years to produce plants that are similar to the parents.

There are a number of seed-saving organizations that have been promoting and breeding the heirloom, many of which have been handed down from one generation to the next.

Other Seed Terms

American organic seeds are those that meet specific USDA government requirements. They must be grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or any other artificial substances or processes. USDA specialists must regularly approve and accredit all seed businesses for them to use the term organic on their products.

Genetically Engineered and Genetically Modified Organism are terms used to describe any high-tech methods (GE) or—and this is an important difference—gene manipulation through plant breeding techniques such as have been used for hundreds of years by plant breeders (GMO).

A number of companies have signed a Safe Seed Pledge that is maintained by the Council for Responsible Genetics. These companies promise not to either sell or buy genetically engineered seeds.

The terms “treated” and “untreated” refer to the process of treating seeds with fungicides to prevent disease. These terms thus far refer to commercial crop seeds.

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 PostDispatch. 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.

The Gateway Gardener®

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

The Primrose Palette Pops!

By Ellen Barredo

I

n the world of plants, the old favorite primrose has long provided eye-popping color in late winter and early spring, but now some brand new and very beautiful plants are entering the market and taking their “pop” to a whole new level!

Primrose beauties provide a kick-start to the gardening season and can be purchased from garden centers for flowering in your home in February and March. A transition to a life outdoors is possible as some primrose can be herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennials in the Midwest and are frequently seen in large groups along Atlantic coast in the United States.

Walters Gardens, Inc.

One of the most striking new primroses is the

Primroses Outdoors

‘Blue Zebra’

Hort Couture

Primroses come from a very large family of plants with hundreds of species growing all over the globe. The plants are also well known by their botanical name Primula. The primrose I am writing about this month is Primula vulgaris (syn. Primula acaulis), also known as English primrose. It is a perennial forming a rosette of tongue-shaped leaves and flowers 2.5-3.5cm across in size, which are sometimes fragrant. I have found that the yellow-flowering primroses usually have fragrance.

soil evenly moist and as cool as possible, but avoid the afternoon sun. If you can’t keep your primrose where it is cool, be sure to keep the humidity high. This can be accomplished by placing the plant on a humidity tray and misting the leaves (not the flowers) regularly. If the leaves get dusty, rinse them off with room temperature water.

‘Blue Zebra’ from Hort Couture Plant Program.

Its blue-netted petals bring a color and sophistication to Primula acaulis that has only been available from tissue culture in the past.

Jim Monroe, co-founder of Hort Couture, says “Primrose ‘Blue Zebra’ is a special plant on many levels. Not only is it one of those plants that is so gorgeous that it is unforgettable, but it also delivers that amazing color early in the Spring when gardeners are starved for Spring.”

And it’s only available in independent garden centers!

I have also heard rumored that there are Kennedy Irish Primroses due to hit the market soon in the next year. Irish Primroses feature very black foliage, which shows off the colorful flowers.

Pacific Hybrids

Primroses Indoors

Place your blooming primrose where it receives bright light, but not direct sunlight. Keep the

Primroses planted outdoors prosper in partial to full shade. Planting them is early April is the norm. In the wild the primrose is found in the deciduous woodland. Primrose planted outdoors in Missouri and Illinois should be planted in rich, well drained, slightly acid (6.5) soil. These beauties dislike heavy, waterlogged soils. When planting primrose keep the crown just above the soil surface. Small stature ferns, mini hosta, dwarf heuchera and mini daffodil are just a few fun companions for Primrose.

This primrose is hardy in USDA Zones 4-8 provided the cultural conditions are met.

For real enthusiasts, contact the American Primrose Society at AmericanPrimroseSociety. org. Primroses and Polyanthus, by Peter Ward is also a good reference book.

Ellen Barredo is a Missouri Certified Nursery Professional with more than 30 years in professional horticulture.

She works at Bowood Farms and can be reached at (314) 4554-6868 or ebarredo77@gmail.com.

Make Your Yard and Garden Flutter with Activity!

Cole’s Birdseed, feeders and birdhouses your friends will love. Get the best for our outdoor entertainers!

NURSERY & FLORIST

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2601 E. 5th Street • Washington, MO • 636-239-6729 Open year-round. Call for current hours.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

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5

The Sharing Garden

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or many, gardening tends to be a solitary activity. We use the land as our canvas and paint with a selected plant palette—the garden is part science, part art as we attempt to order nature to fit our vision. Yet it is more fulfilling to go beyond that and share the garden with others, especially our children, family, friends and visiting wildlife. The garden is a place where we can get away from the fastpaced, technological world, slow down, relax and be present to what is around us.

Moments spent together, sitting quietly, watching nature unfold in the garden can be some of the most memorable times to share.

Right in our own yards we can take time to notice a bird gather twigs and leaves to build a nest, observe a caterpillar munching leaves or how a praying mantis tilts its head to keep a large mantid eye on us. These are the kinds of experiences that reconnect all of us with the natural world.

There are some key points to include in your garden that will ensure it is a place to interact and observe nature as well as a place to share with others. First, include Missouri native plants to enhance the habitat value of the garden. Flowers of plants such as coneflowers (Echinacea and Rudbeckia), Coreopsis, and blazing star (Liatris) attract butterflies foraging for nectar and many other insects as well as producing an abundance of seed later in the season, all of which is attractive to birds. Grasses, such as side oats grama (Bouteloa curtipendula) and prairie dropseed (Sporobolis heterolepis), also produce a large amount of

Scott Woodbury

by Cindy Gilberg

seed in fall. Many native shrubs and small trees have attractive flowers followed by fruit for both resident and migrating birds.

In addition, these plants offer much needed shelter and nesting sites while enhancing the overall design of the garden. Be sure to select plants that bloom at different times to make food available to insects and birds at different times throughout the season for maximum viewing pleasure. As winter approaches, don’t be so quick to cut down all the perennials as they are a source of both seed and shelter.

Always include paths and sitting areas throughout the landscape. This allows for movement through the landscape, for aesthetic features with four-season interest and, most importantly, provides opportunities to interact and observe what’s happening in the garden. Create intimate places to be together with seating (for 2-3 people).

Crowds and noise are sure to Cindy Gilberg is a horticulturist and scare away wildlife.

Missouri native who writes, teaches and does consulting and design work in the St. Louis area. Her work focuses on both native plant landscapes as well as other styles of landscape design. Contact cindy.gilberg@ gmail.com www.cindygilberg.com

This column is written in collaboration with Shaw Nature Reserve (Missouri Botanical Garden) in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Visit the Whitmire Wildflower Garden (at Shaw Nature Reserve), a 5-acre display garden, for ideas on native plant landscaping. Native plant conservation and the promotion of native plants in our landscapes is vital to restoring the rich

biodiversity of our region.

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For those coldest of winter days, design the garden with interest and habitat that can be seen from inside. Find the windows where you most likely would sit inside and observe the garden. Is there an aesthetic view?

Pathways, benches, trees with berries or interesting sculptural trunks are just a few of what can be added to make the winter scene more appealing. A simple water feature, such as a bubbler stone or shallow basin of water that offers fresh water for birds in winter will draw in a number of interesting birds and small mammals. Keep a good pair of binoculars and a field guide near the window for identifying birds.

Sharing can also be sharing the harvest.

There are quite a few natives that are edible, for both humans and animal visitors.

Harvesting wild plums or chokecherries for jam or plucking a fresh treat of serviceberries off the tree adds yet another dimension to the garden experience. The list is long, yet most people go for the fruit: persimmons for making bread or pudding, nannyberries, wild strawberries and pawpaws for eating fresh, gooseberries for pie. There are even flowers that are edible, such as wild violets and redbuds. If you are going to include edibles in your garden, be sure to get a good wild edibles book and always be sure of the identification of the plant before eating it!

The garden is more than a place to cultivate plants—it is a place to share, discover, wonder, to reconnect with ourselves and with nature, and a place to learn. It becomes an experience. Spring is right around the corner—consider adding this concept to your list of New Year’s resolutions.

For More Information About Native Plants: Missouri Department of Conservation Grow!Native program: www.grownative.org Missouri Botanical Garden Native Plant Garden, Classes and Plant Finder: www.mobot.org Shaw Nature Reserve Whitmire Wildflower Garden, Native Plant School and other special events: www.shawnature.org Wild Ones a non-profit organization with local chapters: www.for-wild.org

The Gateway Gardener®

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

It’s Orchid Season In St. Louis!

D

id you know the Missouri Botanical Garden has one of the largest and finest collections of orchids in the United States. The collection includes approximately 7000 plants, including 3202 species

plants. It all grew from a few specimens given to Henry Shaw in 1876. The collection grew steadily until 1918, when the largest public display of orchids ever held in St. Louis was made at the Christmas Show. The

Show was billed as an “orchid collection which excels all in the United States.”

The Garden has been a key contributor in orchid hybridization and collecting over the years. The first Paphiopedilum hybrid was developed at the MBG, and on one field collecting trip alone in 1923, G. H. Pring of the Missouri Botanical Garden returned from Panama and Colombia with 5,000 Cattleyas!

Through gifts and collecting the Garden’s collection has continued to grow in size and prominence.

I

f you want to see just a small part of the collection (a sizeable display, nonetheless, with more than 800 orchids) be sure to visit the Annual Orchid Show Feb. 2nd through March 31st at the Garden. The Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis also has their annual sale and show Feb. 2nd and 3rd. And many local garden centers feature orchids in abundance at this time of year. Maybe you can start a collection of your own!

Your Complete Gift & Garden Center

Lake St. Louis Garden Center Enjoy growing your own herbs and fresh greens this winter with the Sun Blaster NANODOME Indoor Greenhouse.

January - It’s for the Birds!

February 2nd - 2013 Children’s Horticulture Club Meets 9AM February 11th-14th - Valentine Roses For Your Sweetie - ORDER EARLY February 21st - Spring Garden Seminars Start & Go through March 28th, 2013

Great for starting seeds too!

Your plants will love you for bringing in the Sun with the Sun Blaster T5 Full Spectrum Lighting We carry Botanical Interest Heirloom Seeds

3230 Technology Dr Lake St. Louis (636) 561-0124 www.lakestlouisgardencenter.com

Upcoming Events

Winter Hours: Tues - Sat 10 am - 4 pm Closed Sun & Mon

11530 Gravois Road St. Louis, MO 63126

(314) 843-4700 or www.sappingtongardenshop.com OPEN 7 DAYS

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2541 Link Rd • St. Louis, MO 63114 (314)426-4838 • FAX (314)426-1382 Toll Free (800) 369-7257 MPR Supply Company has been commited to supplying the highest quality landscape related materials since its founding in 1991. MPR Supply Company carries irrigation systems and components, low voltage lighting systems, water fountains, water features and related supplies .

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

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7

2013 Klip n Keep Resource Guide Your Metro Region Green Industry Pros

GARDEN CENTERS AND NURSERIES

North

A. Waldbart & Sons Nursery 5517 N. Florissant Florissant (314) 741-3121

South Sappington Garden Shop 11530 Gravois Rd. Crestwood (314) 843-4700 SappingtonGardenShop.com

St. Louis City Bowood Farms 4605 Olive St. Central West End (314) 454-6868 BowoodFarms.com

St. Louis County Central Garden Heights Nursery 1605 S. Big Bend Richmond Heights (314) 645-7333 GardenHeights.com

OK Hatchery 115 E. Argonne Kirkwood (314) 822-0083

Rolling Ridge Nursery 60 N. Gore Webster Groves (314) 962-3311 RollingRidgeNursery.com

Sugar Creek Gardens 1011 N. Woodlawn Kirkwood (314) 965-3070 SugarCreekGardens.com

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West

Ballwin Nursery

112 Old Ballwin Rd. Ballwin (636) 394-7776 BallwinNurseryLandscape.com

Chesterfield Valley Nursery 16825 North Outer 40 Chesterfield (636) 532-9307 ChesterfieldValleyInc.com

Greenscape Gardens & Gifts 2832 Barrett Station Rd. Manchester (314) 821-2440 GreenscapeGardens.com

Frisella Nursery 550 Hwy F (636) 798-2555 Defiance FrisellaNursery.com

Lake St. Louis Garden Center

3230 Technology Dr. Lake St. Louis (636) 561-0124 LakeStLouisGardenCenter.com

Other Missouri Locations Forrest Keeling

88 Forrest Keeling Ln. Elsberry, MO (800) FKN-2401 ForrestKeeling.com

Hillermann’s Nursery & Florist 2601 E. 5th St. Washington, MO (636) 239-6729 Hillermann.com

Jaeger Greenhouses

2369 Creve Coeur Mill Rd. Maryland Heights (314) 739-1507 JaegerGreenhouses.com

St. Charles County

Daniel’s Farm & Greenhouses 352 Jungermann Rd. St Peters (636) 441-5048 DanielsFarmAndGreenhouse.com

The Gateway Gardener®

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

2013 Klip n Keep Resource Guide Your Metro Region Green Industry Pros

GARDEN CENTERS AND NURSERIES

13060 County Park Rd. Florissant, MO (314) 355-0052

Other Missouri Locations

WATER GARDEN SUPPLIES

Missouri Wildflowers

Chalily Pond & Gardens

9814 Pleasant Hill Rd. Jefferson City (573) 496-3492 MoWildFlowers.net

14430 Manchester Rd. Manchester, MO (636) 527-2001 ChalilyPond.com

Belleville

Effinger Garden Center 720 South 11th St. (618) 234-4600 EffingerGarden.com

Sandy’s Back Porch Garden Center

Worm’s Way

2004 West. Blvd.

(618) 235-2004 SandysBackPorch.com

1225 N. Warson Rd. St. Louis, MO (314) 994-3900 WormsWay.com

Collinsville

Naturescapes Nursery 1674 N. Bluff Rd. (618) 344-8841

StLouisCompost.com 39 Old Elam Ave. Valley Park, MO (636) 861-3344

Cottage Garden 6967 Route 111 (618) 729-4324 CottGardens.com

GARDEN ACCESSORIES 8038 Hwy. 30 Dittmer, MO (636) 274-1516 PatsConcrete.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

LANDSCAPING MATERIALS

St. Louis Composting

Piasa

Pat’s Concrete

HYDROPONICS AND INDOOR GARDENING

560 Terminal Rd. St. Louis, MO (314) 868-1612 11294 Schaefer Rd. Maryland Heights, MO (314) 423-9035 5841 Mine Haul Rd. Belleville, IL (618) 233-2007

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TREE CARE

Gamma Tree Experts (314) 725-6159 GammaTree.com

Trees, Forests and Landscapes (314) 821-9918 TreesForestsAndLandscapes.com

Thank you for supporting The Gateway Gardener frequent advertisers listed on this page. They make it possible to provide the magazine to you FREE each month. (Entries in red indicate year-round advertisers.)

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2013 Spring Shows, Conventions & Classes In this our 7th annual listing of spring shows, conferences and classes, you’ll find a wide array of educational and entertaining options to break the ice off your winter gardening dreams. Whether you’re a horticulture professional, master gardener or neophyte green-thumber, there’s something going on this spring that will scratch your gardening itch!

36th Annual Builders Home and Garden Show America’s Center & Edward Jones Dome St. Louis, MO—February 21st-24th The St. Louis Builders Home & Garden Show is the largest consumer home show in North America. Approximately 500 exhibitors and 1,800 booths fill more than 400,000 square feet of America’s Center and Edward Jones Dome in downtown St. Louis! The show has been in existence for more than 30 years and is the place for area consumers to see, touch, compare and buy everything they need for their homes and gardens. The Builders Home and Garden Show is actually 6 complete shows in one - Lawn and Garden, Pool and Spa, Green Products, Kitchen & Bath, Interior Design and Building Products. This year’s show features six beautiful

National Green Centre Americas Center, St. Louis, MO Jan. 6th and 7th The National Green Centre is the next generation green industry event for horticulture professionals. The event features an innovative trade show floor with learning centers, ‘peer-to-peer’ roundtable discussions, keynote addresses by Dr. Peter Raven, Dr. Mike Dirr and Coach Vince Dooley, a discussion on “Horticulture in 2063” and the new plant fashion show. Also, don’t miss the sessions on marketing held via Google Hangouts and the always entertaining, garden know-it-all, Amanda Thomsen of Kiss My Aster (who will be signing her new, hot-off-the-presses landscaping book). More display gardens guaranteed to inspire you to create an oasis of information at www.nationalgreencentre.org (convention is for your own. You can also register to win a Belgard paver package in the Belgard Landscapers Challenge. And don’t miss the return industry only; general public not admitted). of “The Amazing Living Fountain” as a statue of a young woman th slowly animates into a living fountain. Gardeners and DIYers will 25 Anniversary Midwestern Herb and Garden Show also benefit from the full schedule of presentations by local and Times Square Mall, Mt. Vernon, IL th th national celebrity speakers, featuring nationally recognized garden Feb. 8 -10 Hosted by the Herbs for Health and Fun Club and Mt. Vernon’s author and speaker Don Engebretson, “The Renegade Gardener), Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, this 25th Anniversary Show is the and Mike Nocks of White Harvest Seed Company. Visit www. largest event of its type in the area. Featured speaker Melinda Myers stlhomeshow.com for ticket prices, hours, special offers and is a nationally known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author and parking information. columnist with more than 30 years of horticulture experience and Dig In: A Gardening Seminar more than 20 published gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small University of Missouri Extension Center Space Gardening and The Illinois Lawn Guide. A variety of other St. Charles, MO talented class speakers will host presentations geared for everyone February 23rd from the novice to the master gardener. Plus, exhibitors display a variety of herbal and gardening items. Proceeds from the herb 9 to Noon. Three sessions will be held with four topics offered each club’s resale booth are used for horticulture scholarships for local session. Registrants will choose a topic for each session for a total students. All indoors. Admission and hourly educational seminars of three hours of instruction. $20 (nonrefundable) for registration are FREE. For details, visit www.midwesternherbandgardenshow. received by February 11; $25 for at-the-door registration—class com or call Visitors Bureau (800) 252-5464. Free. Fri-Sat hours availability may be limited. Visit http://extension.missouri. edu/stcharles/digin.aspx or call 636-970-3000 for details and 10am– 9pm, Sunday Noon – 5pm. registration.

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

Chicago Flower & Garden Show Navy Pier, Festival Hall, Chicago, IL March 9-17 Incorporating design, flowers, blooming plants, trees and shrubs, the Show will interpret “The Art of Gardening” through new and diverse garden vignettes, and featured gardens with floral arrangements and stylish landscape displays that emulate decades of fine art. Also new and expanded in 2013: a redesigned show floor, displays for small spaces, interactive classes and presentations led by the industry’s best professionals in the all-new area of the show called “How To Garden,” stunning floral arrangements by the American Institute of Floral Designers, and more extensive garden and lawn-care offerings in the always-popular “Marketplace.”

Look for more creative containers, raised beds, vertical gardens and great ideas for colorful and interesting ways to celebrate the palette of plants in four seasons. Let the kids get their hands dirty in the “Kid’s Activity Garden,” with fun gardening projects they can learn from and take home. To book group tours now and for information about year-round activities, events and information, please visit the website at www.chicagoflower.com.

Parkland Master Gardeners Symposium Mineral Area College, Park Hills, MO Mar. 2nd For gardeners of all levels of interest and ability. The keynote speaker is Steve Stacey, who will speak on “Gardening With a Touch of Moss.” Plus breakout sessions on other topics of gardening interest. Something for everyone. $22 includes catered lunch (Fee must be paid with registration and are non-refundable.).

For more information, contact Diane McGirl at (573) 438-5103 or Ginny Smith at (618) 340-2579.

A Standard Flower Show February 21-24 Builder’s Home & Garden Show America’s Center • St. Louis, MO Good old Golden Rule Days! This year’s annual flower show at the St. Louis Builder’s Home and Garden Show (Feb. 21st-24th at the America’s Center & Edward Jones Dome) invites participants to celebrate their alma mater or even their favorite subject.

“School Days” is the theme for this year’s edition of the annual flower show and competition, once again presented by the East Central District of the Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Inc., National Garden Clubs, Inc., and the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri.

Participants can enter in a number of categories, including a youth division (see the rules and information on The Gateway Gardener website) and show off designs celebrating a variety of themes. Children can get some tips and practice prior to the show by attending the Children’s Garden Club meeting on January 5th at Baisch & Skinner.

Sponsors encourage any interested gardeners and flower arrangers to enter regardless of past experience.

The deadline for entries is February

13. For questions call: Design Entries Nancy Senter (314) 521-6534 Horticulture Entries Jackie Reynolds (314) 968-5004 Youth Entries Betty Fresta (314) 892-4380 The Flower Show is made possible by the Home Builders Association and the Home & Garden Show. Sponsors include Sherwood’s Forest Nursery and Garden Center, which provided landscape materials to beautify the flower show area, Saint Louis County Parks, Baisch and Skinner, Spectrum Brands, National Garden Clubs, Nine Network, Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Jost Greenhouses and Wiethop Greenhouses.

Even if you don’t enter, be sure to stop by the Flower Show at Booth #133. And be sure to bring your children to the Children’s Garden Club booth #141.

For complete rules and regulations, visit our website at: GatewayGardener. com/flower-shows/rules

Entry Form for Horticulture Division

Name__________________________________________ Phone #________________________________________ Address________________________________________ City_________________State_______Zip_____________ Class#

Class Title

Weekend Gardener Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows Belleville, IL March 23rd Choose from 16 educational presentations including wildflowers, growing herbs, using old and new tomato cultivars, butterfly gardens, and common pests and diseases in the garden. Program fee is $40. 9am start. Lunch and educational materials included.

Preregistration required and will be available in mid-January. For more information, call 618-939-3434. Interested in learning more about gardening? Sponsored by the University of Illinois Extension Madison-Monroe-St. Clair Unit.

_______ __________________________________

Garden Blitz: Get to Know and Grow Your Food Missouri Botanical Garden St. Louis, MO April 6th Enjoy a day of classes, demonstrations, and exhibits featuring both nationally and locally-recognized horticulture professionals, farmers, and local chefs. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. $60 per person. Advance registration required (opens February 1); www.mobot.org/classes or (314) 577-9506.

City_________________State_______Zip_____________

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

The Gateway Gardener®

_______ __________________________________ _______ __________________________________ Mail form to: Jackie Reynolds • 452 Foreston Place Webster Groves, MO 63119

Entry Form for Design Division

(Also use this form for Youth Design Section*)

Name__________________________________________ Phone #________________________________________ Address________________________________________ For Youth Entries: Age_______ Class#

Grade______________

Class Title

_______ __________________________________ _______ __________________________________ _______ __________________________________ Mail form to: Nancy Senter • 452 8822 Heather Lane • Hazelwood, MO 63042 *Youth entries to: Betty Fresta • 4416 Meadowgreen Estates Dr. St. Louis, MO 63129

11

PEANUTS

The Home Show is the place to see, learn about and buy the latest home products and services from reputable companies that you can trust.

A

popular legume (it’s not actually a nut!), the peanut is relatively easy to grow and has ties to the famous Missourian and scientist/researcher, George Washington Carver. Peanuts were not readily used for human consumption until the late 19th century. Through his research, Carver found multiple practical uses for everyday products and food recipes all derived f r o m peanuts.

a lifestyle changing experience

SM

February 21‐24, 2013 America’s Center

Find everything you need for your home under one roof!

Kitchen & Bath • Lawn & Garden • Home Products Interior Design • Pool & Spa • Green Products See the Amazing Living Fountain Come to Life!

Renegade Gardener Don Engebretson

GeoComfort

Win a fabulous Belgard hardscape package

Jeff Wilson, HGTV host & home energy expert

Six fantastic feature gardens

11th Annual Flower Show

Win the Ultimate Backyard ($5,000 value) from

Produced by Sponsored by

For tickets & information

STLHomeShow.com Admission & Hours

Adult Discounts

Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10 am ‐ 9 pm Sunday 10 am ‐ 5 pm

Seniors Half Price Admission Thurs, February 21 ONLY Sponsored by Suburban Journals ‐ No coupon necessary

Adults $10 Children 6‐12 $4 Children 5 & Under Free

$2 Off Thurs & Fri $1 Off Sat & Sun with coupon from Schnucks

Pre‐purchase tickets online to receive $2 Off Adult Admission any show day!

12

By Mara HiGdon

Parking

Ride the FREE St. Louis Post‐ Dispatch Shuttle from the Arch/ Landing parking lots 5 minute intervals $3‐$4 parking

To grow peanuts Tennessee yourself, pick up s o m e peanuts at Red Valencia your local hardware store or garden store (NOT roasted nuts from the grocery). They should still be in their shells when you buy them. When you are ready to plant, then shell the peanuts. Peanuts need sandy, loamy soil with regular watering. Pick a sunny location and wait until the last frost has passed to plant. To prepare the soil, dig down about 8-10 inches to loosen up the soil. Plant a trio of peanuts a few inches apart. Plant each trio 10-12 inches apart from other trios.

Peanuts send out flowered runners that will wilt and then burrow down into the soil. They are then called pegs. The ends of the pegs will be where the peanuts form and grow. Be careful when weeding the area as you don’t want to disturb the pegs or the formation of the peanuts below.

Peanuts reach maturity at 100 to 130 days depending on the variety. For our zone, try a short maturity variety of peanut - Valencia. Be sure to harvest before the first frost as peanuts are very sensitive to cold. Pull out the whole plant when the plant completely wilts and turns yellow. Each plant should yield 30-60 peanuts. Peanut plants should be hung in a dry warm spot for 2 weeks. At this point you can remove the peanut shells from the plant, but let them cure for another couple of weeks. Do not wash them, ever! Once cured, peanuts can be eaten or stored in a dry, dark place.

Mara Higdon is the Program Director photo courtesy at Gateway Greening, Inc. They focus Southern Exposure on community development through Seed Exchange at gardening throughout the St. Louis SouthernExposure. area. You can reach her at (314) 588-9600 x22 or by email at mara@ com. gatewaygreening.org.

The Gateway Gardener®

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

Dig This!

Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News RainScape Rewards Rebate Program

If you live in the Deer Creek Watershed area and plan to make some landscape improvements this spring, you might be eligible for some financial assistance!

RainScape Rewards is a rebate program that financially assists landowners in the Deer Creek Watershed wishing to voluntarily landscape their yards to improve stormwater management. Municipalities are required to pass a resolution in support of the goals of the Watershed Plan Summary and the RainScape Rewards rebate program in order for their landowners to be eligible to participate. So far, the Cities of Creve Coeur, Richmond Heights, Rock Hill, Warson Woods, and Webster Groves have all passed a resolution, and the Cities of Brentwood, Clayton, Des Peres, Frontenac, Ladue, Maplewood and University City have this resolution on their November agendas.

Applications and more information about this program will be available at DeerCreekAlliance.org after Jan. 7, 2013; an optional training workshop or webinar for residents and a required informational session for contractors will be available in February, and the application deadline for residents is March 1, 2013. The maximum rebate per site is 75% of documented expenses up to $2,000.

share of the harvest. Full and partial scholarships are available. To apply, or for more information, visit EarthDanceFarms.org or contact Rachel Levi, rachel@earthdancefarms.org.

City of St. Louis Offers Free Water to Community Gardens The City of St. Louis, in partnership with Gateway Greening, will offer their support of community gardening through the Water Access for Community Garden Program. This program will make free water available to community gardens in the City, potentially impacting approximately 150 community gardens. Community garden coordinators can begin applying for their free water status immediately through the Gateway Greening community garden grant process. Gardens do not need to be a current Gateway Greening Garden to apply. Water access will be awarded under one-year renewable contracts and requires that grantees provide an annual report.

For eligibility requirements and more information, visit Gateway Greening’s website at GatewayGreening.org or call (314) 588-9600.

FPO Dig This

EarthDance Farm Offers Apprenticeships

Since 2008, EarthDance, a Ferguson-based farm and nonprofit organization, has sought to carry on a sustainable farming legacy. In order to grow more food and farmers for the St. Louis regions, EarthDance operates a part-time apprenticeship in organic agriculture. Ninety-four apprentices have participated in the EarthDance Organic Farming Apprenticeship Program; graduates of the program have gone on to start their own farms, cultivate urban gardens, and spearhead youth gardening projects. EarthDance is currently accepting applications for the 2013 season. Tuition for the program is $750 for the year, and includes a weekly JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

The Gateway Gardener®

Master Gardener of the Year The Master Gardeners of St. Louis awarded their annual Master Gardener of the Year award to Dennis Green.

Dennis has been involved in a wide range of projects. He volunteers left to right, Nathan at the Missouri Botanical Brandt (MU Extension), Garden, caring for the Dennis Green, and Mark giant water lilies and Kalk (MG Advisory Board Chair). pruning in the Japanese Garden. He also volunteers at the South County Technical School greenhouse, is a regular at the Market Street median and Kiener Plaza ornamental flower beds,and is an instrumental part of the Best of Missouri Cider Press operation, an important fundraising activity for the Master Gardeners.

He also helped install a garden at the Paraquad office near the Science Center. Finally, he is a past chair of the group’s Advisory Commmittee.

Congratulations, Dennis!

13

Upcoming Events 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 March issue is February 1st.

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

How to reach us: Mail: PO Box 220853 St. Louis, MO 63122 Fax: (314) 968-4025 Email: info@gatewaygardener. com

FUN FOR KIDS Jan. 5th 9 am—Use of Dried Materials— Children’s Garden Club. Baisch & Skinner, Inc., 2721 LaSalle St., St. Louis, MO. FREE. Feb. 2nd 9am—Fun Things in the Garden- Children’s Garden Club. Sappington Garden Shop.

11530 Gravois, St. Louis County, MO. FREE.

Midwestern

Herb and Garden Show February 8-10

at Times Square Mall, Mt. Vernon Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Sun. 12-5 p.m.

Admission is Free

40+ booths of plants and gardening items plus free hourly classes daily keynote speaker Melinda Myers on Friday & Saturday

natural remedies, cooking herbs, flowers, vintage and antique garden items, books, dried flowers, gourds, orchids, pottery, baskets, trellises, plants and more

Lodging Information www.mtvernon.com 800-252-5464

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Jan. 19th 10:30-11:30am and 1:30-2:30pm— Great Green Adventures: Winter Color Walk. Search for common, and some not so common colors in the Garden. For children ages 6 to 12 with an adult. Walk-ins welcome. Meet at the Children’s Garden Ticket Fort, Missouri Botanical Garden. $3 per child.

Feb. 16th 10:30-11:30am and 1:30-2:30pm— Great Green Adventures: Art in the Garden. Join us as we search for sculptures, mosaics and other art pieces in the Garden.

For children ages 6 to 12 with an adult. Walk-ins welcome. Meet at the Children’s Garden Ticket Fort, Missouri Botanical Garden. $3 per child.

Feb. 21st-24th Children’s Garden Club at the Builder’s Home and Garden Show, America’s Center & Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis.

Booth #141.

CLASSES, LECTURES AND EVENTS Jan. 1st-31st Return of the Poinsettia. Bring your tired holiday poinsettia back to Bowood Farms, and get 10% off any houseplant in the shop! Also, bring a clean, capped gallon jug and fill it -- free -- with our organic plant food. Bowood Farms, 4605 Olive Street in the Central West End. Call (314) 454-6868 for more information or go to www. bowoodfarms.com for winter hours.

Jan. 6th & 7th National Green Centre. See pg.

10 for details.

Jan. 10th 1-4pm--Native Plant School: Control and ID of Common Invasive Plants. Bring your questions, comments, photos, drawings, and plant specimens for discussion. Session includes hands-on tours and demonstrations.

Audience participation encouraged.

The Gateway Gardener®

Registration is required by visiting online at www.shawnature.org or calling (636) 451-3512 x0. $15 ($12 Garden members).

Jan. 12th 10am—Mini Garden Makeand-Take Workshop. Make your very own mini garden. Perfect to bring plants indoor in your home during winter without taking up much space. Workshop includes container, plants, potting material, and mini garden trinkets. $25.00.

Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, Hillermann.com.

Jan. 24th 6-8pm—Beekeeping 101. Learn all the tips and tricks to starting your very own bee colony!

Demostration and Products will be available. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, Hillermann. com.

Feb. 2nd-3rd 9am-5pm—Annual Orchid Show and Sale. Orchid displays presented

by Orchid Societies from the Midwest. Orchids will be available from various vendors. Entrance is free with garden admission. Ample free parking. Many varieties of orchids. Presented by The Orchid Society of Greater St Louis.

Missouri Botanical Garden’s Beaumont Room.

Feb. 2nd through Mar. 31st 9am-5pm— Annual Orchid Show. Features 800 blooming orchids from one of the world’s premier orchid collections. The Orchid Show is the only time of year when a vast, rotating selection of orchids from the Garden’s collection is available for public viewing. Orthwein Floral Display Hall at Missouri Botanical Garden.

Garden admission plus $5; free for Garden members.

Feb. 7th 6-8pm--Indoor Garden Party.

Learn how to use green plants to make your home beautiful everyday, and for special get togethers. Also, learn about all the great benefits you get from having plants in your home. Hillermann

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, Hillermann.com.

Feb. 8th-10th 25th Anniversary Midwestern Herb and Garden Show. See pg.

10 for details.

Feb. 14th 5-7pm—Native Plant School: Conducting Small Controlled Woodland/Prairie Burns. Bring your questions, comments, photos, drawings, and plant specimens for discussion. Session includes hands-on tours and demonstrations.

Audience participation encouraged.

Registration is required by visiting online at www.shawnature.org or calling (636) 451-3512 x0. $15 ($12 Garden members).

Feb. 16 Bird Banding. Join The Missouri River Bird Observatory at Hillermann’s and learn about and see demonstrations on bird banding. (Event was pending at time of printing, so call first for time and to confirm.) Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, Hillermann.com. th

We will have several projects here from Pinterest to help get your garden started, make your garden beautiful, and a splash of spring to your home! There will be a small fee for supplies used during this event. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, Hillermann.com.

Feb. 21st-Mar. 28th 2pm and 7pm--Gardening Seminars. Each Thursday a different topic is discussed.

Join the fun! Call for topics.

Sappington Garden Shop, 11530 Gravois Rd. (314) 843-4700 or SappingtonGardenShop.com.

Feb. 23rd Dig In: A Gardening Seminar.

See pg. 10 for details.

Feb. 26th 11am-Noon—Members’ Day: Vegetable Gardening

with Chip Tynan. Get expert advice on creating an abundant vegetable garden with the Garden’s horticulture answer service coordinator, Chip Tynan.

Reservations required. Missouri Botanical Gardens, Ridgway Center, Shoenberg Theater. Free for Garden members. For more information, email membership@ mobot.org.

Mar. 2nd Parkland Master Gardeners Symposium. See page 11 for details.

Mar. 23rd Weekend Gardener. See page 11 for details.

Be sure to visit these Gateway Gardener friends at the Home Builders’ Home & Garden Show February 21st-24th!

Children’s Garden Club Frisella Nursery

Booth # #141

#1033

Federated Garden #133 Club Flower Show

April 6th Garden Blitz. See page 11 for details.

Winter Market & Bazaar Indoors at The Center of Clayton 50 Gay Ave. Clayton, MO 63105

www.ClaytonFarmersMarket.com

Feb. 17th 10am-2:30pm—Brunch & Blooms. Featuring guest speaker Jason Delaney, the daffodil expert at Missouri Botanical Garden. Plus shop 15 vendor booths of home & gardening items, silent and live auctions, and great food and beverages. Tickets $20. Reserve tickets or tables by calling (314) 223-5911, (573) 690-1965 or email bvbooven@ktis.net or tammyb@ ktis.net. Proceeds benefit the grounds maintenance fund of Church of the Risen Savior Parish.

Valentine Hall, 197 Highway P, Rhieland/Starkenburg, IL. Visit RalentineHall.org.

(314) 913-6632

Hours: January-April 1st Saturday of Each Month 8:30am-12:30pm 2/28/13

Local Farm Fresh Products Hand-Crafted Artisan Foods Goods for Hearth & Home

Feb. 19th-20th Gateway Green Industry Conference & Trade Show.

Features two keynote speakers and 18 additional breakout sessions, plus larger commercial trade show.

Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville, IL. Feb. 21st 6-8pm—Gardening Pinterest Party. Gather all your friends for a night of fun and creativeness!

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013

The Gateway Gardener®

15

There’s no better TIME to plan for your lush spring lawn and garden than NOW! Visit St. Louis Composting’s five area locations for the largest selection of STA-certified compost, mulch products and soil blends.

VALLEY PARK, MO 39 Old Elam Ave. 636.861.3344

ST. LOUIS, MO

560 Terminal Rd. 314.868.1612

BELLEVILLE, IL

5841 Mine Haul Rd. 618.233.2007

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO

11294 Schaefer Road 314.423.9035

FORT BELLEFONTAIN COMPOST FACILITY 13060 County Park R.d 314-355-0052

www.stlcompost.com

ENRICHING THE SOIL NATURALLY SINCE 1992