Gateway Gardener
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
THE
速
Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes
Orchids
4 Easy-to-Grow Picks!
10 Resolutions for Gardeners Spring Shows, Conventions & Classes Native Winter Pollinator Plants FREE Courtesy of:
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Gateway Gardener THE
®
Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016 Volume 12, Number 1
Founded in 2005 by Joyce Bruno & Robert Weaver Publisher and Editor Robert Weaver Columnists
Barbara Perry Lawton Garden Book Author and Garden Writer Connie Alwood Master Gardener Diane Brueckman Rosarian Joyce Driemeyer Master Gardener Molly Rockamann EarthDance Farms Michael McVey Irrigation and Lighting Professional Steffie Littlefield Nursery Professional Abby Elliott Nursery Professional Jennifer Schamber Nursery Professional Scott Woodbury Native Plant Specialist Printing: Breese Publishing, Breese, IL The Gateway Gardener® is published 9 times/year 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
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.
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From the Editor
s I write this in midDecember, it’s hard to think January when temperatures are saying May, and many trees and shrubs are still whispering October with their persisting fall color. Still, we’ll be in the New Year by the time eyes set upon these words, and I’m sure snow and A few years ago I was gifted chilling winds will come a small collection of orchids soon enough and stay longer from a friend who was than welcomed. moving, and I was surprised One event I always rely upon to discover how relatively easy they were to care for, for temporary relief from given their hot-house beauty winter’s grip is the annual reputation. Though most Orchid Show at Missouri aren’t much to look at out of Botanical Garden. To come bloom, the extremely long in from the cold and snow, as I’ve done many years, and and beautiful bloom period more than makes up for it. step into a tropical world of Steffie Littlefield and Debbie beautiful orchids and other Colombo provide some care plants is a poor man’s island tips on page 4, and many resort getaway! The MBG itself is a treasure not enough garden centers have a great selection of orchids this time St. Louisans appreciate, and of year, so give them a try! that is even more true of the Garden’s orchid collection, Aside from caring for those one of the largest in the orchids and other indoor world! Read more about this plants, there’s not much to year’s show on page 5, and do in the garden now, so it’s be sure to treat yourself to a a good time to bone up on visit.
On the Cover... Despite their hothouse beauty reputations, orchids are actually quite easy to grow and care for, especially the moth orchid or phalaenopsis, pictured on our cover. See page 4 for more. (Photo courtesy Missouri Botanical Garden, Amanda Attarium.)
your plant care techniques and discover what will be new this spring. Check out our annual roundup of spring gardening classes, seminars, expos and shows on page 10, and get ready to start digging. Finally, since I introduced you to Rosie in our January edition last year, I thought I’d update you on her progress. As is typical of her breed, she’s still quite the puppy at 15 months, but has largely abandoned her bad gardening habits of wanton digging and daisy munching. My firm grip on her collar attests to her joie-de-vivre, but her diminutive size for a lab has turned out to be a blessing in that regard, as her spirited runs through the garden tend to sweep her by and under plants more often than atop them. Happy New Year, and…
Good Gardening!
IN THIS ISSUE 4 Wonderful World of Orchids 5 Know the Pros! 6 Slower, Smaller, Greener Living 8 10 Resolutions for Gardeners 9 Home Security Lighting 10 Shows, Classes and Conventions 12 Winter Pollinators in the Native Garden 14 Dig This 15 Upcoming Events
The Wonderful World of Orchids
Phalaenopsis Orchids have an undeserved mystique. They are easily grown indoors by mimicking their growing conditions in the wild. Most are epiphytic and grow attached to trees. Orchids grow best in bright filtered light followed by a deep watering (afternoon thunderstorm). Higher humidity can be achieved by placing orchids together and on a pebble tray. Orchids that are root bound bloom more reliably. It’s easy to overwater orchids if they are put in too large a pot.
Dendrobium PLEASE do not water with ice cubes. Melted ice cubes will not give enough water to your orchid….and besides there are no ice cubes in the tropics. Water thoroughly until water pours out of the many holes of the orchid pots. Many successful growers fertilize every time they water but diluting the fertilizer from ½ to ¼ strength. Otherwise soak the orchids in diluted fertilizer every 3-4 weeks.
Oncidium slightly larger than the existing pot and don’t be afraid to tuck any adventitious roots (ones growing out of the soil) into the new soil.
Getting your orchid to set bud is dependent on the health of the plant, enough light and sometimes a fluctuation of 10 to 15 degrees between day and night temperatures. Some of the easiest types of orchids to grow in a home environment are Orchids that are root bound Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchids), bloom more reliably. It’s easy Dendrobium, Oncidium, and to overwater orchids is they Paphiopedilum (Lady Slipper Watering should occur when the are put in too large a pot. They Orchids). potting medium is thoroughly should be repotted every few are called dry. (This is once a week for years or when the orchid mix Phalaenopsis Moth Orchids because of my orchids in a south window has broken down. Remember with temps in the 60s-low 70s). to choose an orchid pot only their beautiful wide wing-like structure, commonly in whites,
Paphiopedilum
lavenders and pale yellows. This is easiest orchid to keep blooming all year with many blooms developing on one spike. Can be planted in either a bark or moss mix.
Dendrobiums have tall spikes with large clusters of flowers in bright tropical colors. Prefers to be root-bound, to initiate blooms reduce fertilizer and grow in brighter location. Use bark soil mix. Oncidiums are also known as dancing ladies with the longest lasting flowers. These beauties prefer more sun and a medium to fine fir bark potting mix. Paphiopedilums are ground orchids, with botanical
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Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder: Carol Gravens
By Debbie Colombo and Steffie Littlefield
www.horstmannbrothers.com • (314) 432-0880 The Gateway Gardener™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
looking single flowers on short with a bonsai food (7-9-5). stems. Preferring shady damp photos by R. Weaver except as locations, repot regularly in a noted. fine bark medium and fertilize Debbie Colombo has been with Garden Heights Nursery since its opening in 1996, and was in garden center management for 15 years prior to that. She also worked as the horticulturist at Tower Grove Park, and has a horticulture degree from University of Missouri-Columbia. 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.
Where Wild ThingS Grow
Missouri Botanical Garden
Missouri Botanical Garden Orchid Show 2016 Feb. 6th-March 27th
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his year’s annual orchid show celebrates where and how orchids grow around the world, and how the Missouri Botanical Garden works to conserve threatened species. Throughout the duration of the show, an estimated 500 orchids will be on display at any one time. Among the cast of orchids, Cattleya, Laelia, Encyclia, Oncidium, and Paphiopedilum make routine appearances as they are in bloom. Spanning a wide range of sizes, colors, and scents, orchids are displayed as they would be found in their natural habitats, with terrestrial orchids at ground level and epiphytic orchids suspended atop tree branches. Several hundred other tropical plants and ferns help set the lush, verdant interiorscape. The Missouri Botanical Garden’s orchid collection represents one of the largest and finest in the United States, holding approximately 7000 orchid plants, representing 2575 unique taxa. 3202 are species. Orchids can be viewed in the atrium of the Beaumont Room in the Ridgway Center and in rotating Climatron® orchid displays. And, kicking off the annual display is the Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Show and Sale, February 6th-7th. Featuring “Orchids and Antiques”, orchid displays from various orchid societies and vendors from all over the Midwest. Open to the public with general Garden admission. Missouri Botanical Garden. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
The Gateway Gardener™
Know The Pros!
Green-Industry Experts You Should Meet! Each month, we are introducing readers to one of our area’s green-industry professional individuals or businesses. In this issue, we invite you to get to know... 115 E. Argonne Kirkwood, MO 63122 314-822-0083
A Little History…
Oscar Krieger and his wife Lucille started O.K. Hatchery in 1927 when they installed a 10,000-egg incubator on their property in Kirkwood near present-day Kirkwood High School. The business thrived and expanded at this location, and by 1941 the company was not only booming locally, but shipping hatching eggs as far away as Brazil and Thailand. The company moved part of its business in 1947 to the Coulter Feed Company building in downtown Kirkwood, and began to diversify away from the declining hatchery operation, repositioning itself as a “city feed store” with pet foods and items for a growing interest in wild bird feeding. In 1966, under Oscar’s son Ronald, the store changed its name to O.K. Hatchery Feed & Garden Store. In 1976, the business moved to its current location, and in 1989 their building was named an historical Kirkwood landmark. Today, the third generation of Kriegers is guiding the business toward its 90th year and beyond!
You’ve Got to See…
the amazing diversity of products. OK Hatchery has remained faithful to its origins, and remains the go-to place for backyard chicken enthusiasts and wild bird lovers, as well as gardeners. Every inch of interior space is put to good use, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for at OK Hatchery, maybe you don’t need it! Of course, this historic building itself takes visitors back in time, setting across from the Kirkwood Farmer’s Market and steps away from the historic Kirkwood Train Station.
New for 2016…
Again, in keeping loyal to its tradition, the first new thing will be the spring chicks, available for pre-order in late February and arriving in March. OK Hatchery is also doubling down on perennials this year, especially pollinator plants for monarchs and other beneficial bugs and creatures.
Looking for professional help for your garden, lawn and landscape? Search our website’s membership directory or look for the LNAGSL logo in members’ ads in The Gateway Gardener.
StLouisLandscape.org 5
The Cornucopia Corner Slower and Smaller Solutions to Greener Living By Molly Rockamann
H
ave you heard of “permaculture”? Permaculture is a term made from the two words “permanent” and “agriculture,” referring to an agricultural system designed to sustain itself. Now that’s a bit of an oxymoron, as the very premise of agriculture is humans’ manipulation of the land and resources to grow crops, especially for human consumption, so agriculture will always involve people making at least some effort. But the general idea is to create farms, gardens, and landscapes that are regenerative rather than depletive, and that are mimicking natural systems as much as possible. Many practitioners expand the idea of permaculture beyond agriculture and think of it as creating a permanent
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culture, including the design of human settlements, the way we operate businesses, our educational systems, and more. One of the ways in which permaculture is taught and understood is through the delineation of permaculture principles. These are general strategies that Bill Mollison, the “founder” of permaculture, observed happening in natural ecosystems, that he thought, if applied, could be very useful in creating more regenerative systems of agriculture and human settlements. In this column, I’ll be writing about permaculture principles and practices, using examples from our EarthDance Organic Farm School in Ferguson. One of the permaculture principles that I’m really feeling come out this time of year is to use slow and small solutions. As we move forward with new, much-needed infrastructure projects on our farm school campus, there is the constant tension of meeting deadlines and getting projects finished, while wanting to do things as ‘green’ as possible. For example, we’re building a shed that, in addition to serving as storage space for farm and garden tools, will also serve as a small outdoor classroom for tour groups and
apprentices alike. At this juncture, we are ready to put a roof on it, and we have the choice of purchasing new roofing material or uncovering a pile of corrugated metal panels from an old outbuilding on the farm where the roof has mostly fallen in. Of course, time is not on our side, needing to cover the roof before we have a major snow. We need to dig out that corrugated metal quickly (and safely)! With the shell of our greenhouse up and the need to get in there in just four weeks to start our onions from seed, we need to add sources of power and heat to ensure that our baby plants won’t freeze and are well-ventilated. This means bringing electricity to the central part of the farm for the first time. The desire to keep our practices as green as possible has led us to investigate the potential for using solar panels for our greenhouse’s power needs; still, the seeding date for onions is quickly approaching. Although the shed’s roof could be finished and the new power lines erected, we have chosen a “slower” solution to
The Gateway Gardener™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
Tips for Growing, Buying and Cooking Fresh, Locally Sourced Food for Your Table minimize our environmental impact. In addition, small, slower systems are easier to maintain and make better use of local resources. Ultimately, this solution will produce more sustainable (and ethical) outcomes, the goals at the heart of the good food movement.
farming for Ferguson youth as well. The 14-acre campus is open for tours May through October, and offers numerous volunteer and learning opportunities year-round. For more information, visit www.earthdancefarms.org.
Where in your life do you see slow and small solutions working out for the best? Ed. Note: Mara Higdon, who has thoughtfully and entertainingly instructed us on growing all kinds of produce in our home gardens, has moved out-of-state with her still-growing family. We will miss her fun and informative columns, while we wish her well in her new life! And with this issue, we welcome Molly Rockamann to the Cornucopia Corner. Molly is the Founding Director of EarthDance, a non-profit that operates an Organic Farm School on the historic Mueller Farm in Ferguson. The school offers year-round farm-
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
based education for beginning growers and eaters of all ages. Building on its national reputation for its 6-month Farm & Garden Apprenticeship program for adults, EarthDance offers employment and training opportunities in food and
The Gateway Gardener™
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10 Ne w
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Pay mo r By Ste f re g u l a r e at te n t i o n t fie L i t t o yo u r wate r i lefie ld h o us e p ng s ch e l an ts a du le a n Wate r nd d mo n i y t o r i n s t h o s e t rop ic t o ro t a o u r e ve rg re e e c ts w n t e e k l y. C a l b e au t ie s y ke e p t h e t he p o ts s o s i n p o ts on ou atch t h t t h e h e p o rch a e p ro bl h au le d i n s ide t ra n s p s o i l mo i s t i n at a l l s ide s n e ms b e db i o f o re t h … K e e p t o a c o ld w i ra n t ( Wi l t-Pr c o ld w i n d y w f t h e sh r ub o ac k de c k… If e y s p re r t re e a nds . they a e at h e r uf or o ad . . On a re ag a i t h e r br re ge t t n w a i n g l igh s t the ar m da nd) o n P l a n yo ho t. p o t te d y u b o x wo i n Ja n u a r y i Yo u c a n us e us e i t i s g o o d c o l o rs r ve ge t a ble a ic o t ds t o k a e e p t h e is g o o d t o spr e c ub e s t o ve ge t a n d flav o rs f ro n d h e r b g a rde i r le ave a b m se e d n e ar ly o f ve g g le yo u ne e d t s f rom y a n a n t io h a r v . Wh e n p l a n n e n o ugh t o s t ie s f o r dr y i ng e s t at i ng t h e se as on a r t o rg t he tab ou t in o n a g v l e e n a e s o w i ng ge t a ble s i n o ve r a l o ng t i me . Fe we rde n b e re a ic a n d h e i r l rp er oo lis su a c o ve r c ro p t o mme r mo n t h t i me f rame . S l a n t s p l a n te d t ic a b o u t h o w ms p l a n t s w i th s t re p le n i r Wh e n sh yo u r a n d re p e at t a rt w i t h c o ld e p e ate d l y w much o f o ne t u n iq ue do i ng y h e c o ld il o c re ate g a rde n s e a s o n s e a s o n c ro p l i n s u re mo re y p e o f ne w c o u r g a rde n c le soil. s in M pl an ts mp os t a n-up s a rch, w t y p e s in the f f o r yo u t a rt o r Us e p re arm a r r l own ga l and e e nd w i t rde n b e s t a rt t h at c o re a pp l y e me rge n t s i n h ds . mp os t p i le . Re yo u. S a i n e a r l y s um yo u r flo we r b me r a n cyc le y ve yo u r e ds i n e our o w di a t i me f o n re f us r t h e f n l a te f a l l t o r l y s p r i n g a n By t h e e and u n g a rd d make p re ve n e nd of t e n i ng! a all tho M Jus t ge s e we e p o i n t o f m a r t i t do n a rch c u t b a d se e ds ck t h os k u p. If t e e ar ly h f rom m i ng yo u r c a le e dig i t u at l a rge c l um s o t h e ne w g b e at- u p l o o k nd a k i ng m p, di v id r p o re wo a r t o e a nd r o f gras s h as o w t h c a n ap i ng gras se s a r k f or nd t h a pe ar f r e plan t a h o le i Th i s s p t b e w n e s h f o re i t r ro t s i n t h e c e n te r l a a n d at t rac t e at h e r wo r n h e a l t h i ng s t a rt a n rg e e n o mo n k e i ve w h t he ce n e w e co y t urf yg en ug wi -f te r o r s se t t i ng p re ad s h f o r a b u n n t h e we at h e r ra s s . t o p rom t h c o r n g l u te r ie n d l y re g i m y t o h id t o o w id en n o te de e e i t ’s t i wa r ms e. p e r ro o o r o t h e r o rg a f o r l a w n c a App re c me t o re . Do n ts. n ic fe r i a te yo ’t t i l i ze rs u and ar , p ro p e s t re s s o ve r t o u n d e r b e au t i f u l m st r ae rat h no t pla a i o n a n d e we e d s, g o f n t i n v a a bl i sh e d t re e t u re t re e s a n or s . Do n o a h igh e s i ve v i n d take r mo w a a “do n o t t ill th e t ype P lan to e gro u n d r e c o ve rs s o i l , do n o t o h a r m” ph i l o s p e re n n p l a n t f e we r t ophy w i n be ds ve r wa ials ins rop ic a l he te close to t h at w t yo u r t r r, do n o t b u i ld n l a n d s c a p i n i l l s us t e ad . Be k i n d a n n u a l s a n d g i n s te ad ain w il to our sh o w y ee s. a ra ise b d t d b e d a u n de r p at i o s ro p ic a l p l a n t l i f e a n d g i ve e e s, b u t te rflie s e le c t a n a re nd do y o yo u c a a n e n j o s i n p o t s t h at o u r g a rde n n s, bi rd s a n d e t o at t rac t p v e y the v o b Fi n a l l y i s i t o rs e nefit t h e m w l i f e . Fo r s u e n mo t h s a n d l l i n at o rs w i t b e r o h a l l s um e a lis t ic m s u f fe r me r ! n a rch s a n d h me r e xc i te m b at s . C h o o s e n at i ve ab in umm i n p e l an ts n mo re s g h y b r id s t h o u t w h at w i l t , pla g bi rd s . e a l K e e p t h n t s ome o f t h t o fil l u dums i n t h e s t re q u i re e x t r g ro w i n yo u r o em clos p u a e t o yo s e s uc c e s s p ac e a n d m n a n d mo re n wate r i ng o r g a rde n a n d w ur s o a h by h av e s i n s te ad o f re t re e s t o c o t i ve wo o d l a n de e p l o am y s at w i l l n o t. o i ng a l a P re p l a n o d i u l l ll ou t p e re n the g t h at t nds c ap e c o n s u i ng t h e s ame a rde n . L o o k a n i a l s i n t h e s we jus t do n’t t h o s e l o ng ha ha un t l t at io n i f yo u a h a ppy p l a n t s p ic t u re s f rom de . P l a n t mo ve h e re . P l a n re h a rd t re s t um in the w t he p as y pe d an d m a k e ro ng p l ac e . t a n d b u i ld o n sh r ub s Ge y t h e ne x H a ppy t p l a n t t pro fe s s io n a o u r Ne w Ye i ng se a l ar ! s o n a s h e lp uc ce s s !
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G a rde n
e rs
The Gateway Gardener™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
Home Security Lighting by Michael McVey
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your house and landscaping in the evening.
Unique Lighting Systeems
ersonal and home security is something that has been on people’s minds quite a bit lately. There are some things you can do to help protect yourself and make your property less likely to be targeted. Always keep doors and windows locked when you are away from the house. Install a security system, with cameras, and be sure to make its presence known through signs and stickers that the property is secured. Trim or remove any large shrubs/trees up close to the house that can provide a hiding spot for potential criminals. And finally make sure that the property is sufficiently illuminated so that you and your neighbors can see if anything is going on outside your home.
new, you may not already have electric available in the desired lighting locations. Getting power to the right spots could be costly.
Installation of landscape lighting around the Security lighting can be done with a series house might be a better alternative. These of motion-sensing or motion-tracking flood lights can be placed nearly anywhere and lights around the home. These can be easily you have the added benefit of increasing the set off though by cats, dogs, rabbits, and aesthetic value of your home at night. The squirrels. You may find yourself constantly lights can serve as a deterrent for criminals looking out the window to see why the but you get to enjoy lights are on. Also, if you’re adding these the appearance of
For anyone who wants to install landscape lighting for security purposes, they should definitely go with an LED lighting system. The benefits of LED lights are fairly well known these days and the market them has grown quite large. The energy savings are substantial. Let’s assume for example that you want to place 10 lights across the front of the house. The typical incandescent bulb for a landscape light is 20 watts. So cumulatively they would all add up to 200W. If you want to leave them on all night, that can eat up a lot of energy. But the same 10 fixtures in LED would only total 20W to 40W depending on the bulbs chosen. You’ve just cut your energy usage to as low as 1/10th what it would be otherwise. That makes the decision easier to just leave them on all night while you sleep in peace knowing that it’s much less likely someone will be sneaking around your house.
Michael McVey has 11 years of experience in the Irrigation and Landscape Lighting industry. He currently works for Horstmann Brothers Landscaping in Overland, MO. You can reach him at michael. mcvey@horstmannbrothers.com or 314-432-0880.
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2016 Spring Shows, Conventions & Classes 28thAnniversary Midwestern Herb and Garden Show Times Square Mall, Mt. Vernon, IL. Feb. 12th-14th Hosted by the Herbs for Health and Fun Club and Mt. Vernon’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, this 28th Anniversary Show is the largest event of its type in the area. Featured speakers Chuck Voight, University of Illinois Extension Specialist for vegetable crops, and Jody Kabat, USDA-NRCS from Decatur, Illinois. A variety of other talented class speakers will host presentations geared for everyone from the novice to the master gardener. Plus, exhibitors display a variety of herbal and gardening items. Proceeds from the herb club’s resale booth are used for horticulture scholarships for local students. All indoors. Admission and hourly educational seminars are FREE. For details, visit www.midwesternherbandgardenshow.com or call Visitors Bureau (800) 252-5464. Free. Fri-Sat hours 10am– 9pm, and author of the book, Bringing Nature Home, a Garden Writer’s Sunday Noon – 5pm. Association Silver Medal winner. Panel discussion on How-To Preseason Gardening Expo of Native Plants, plus exhibitors featuring a variety of products Rolling Ridge Nursery and services related to improving your native landscape. For more Webster Groves, MO information, call (417) 299-1794 or email grownative@moprairie. February 13th org. 10am-3pm. Bring your gardening questions and visit with a variety of Dig In: A Gardening Seminar experts and professionals from various green-industry organizations. University of Missouri Extension Center Free to the public. Visit www.rollingridgenursery.com or call (314) St. Charles, MO 962-3311 for details and questions. February 27th Native by Design: Landscapes Beyond Beauty 9am-12:30pm. Three sessions will be held with three topics offered Lewis and Clark Community College each session. Registrants will choose a topic for each session for a LeClaire Room at the Nelson Center total of three hours of instruction. $20 (nonrefundable) for registration Edwardsville, IL received by February 19; $30 for late and at-the-door registration. Visit http://extension.missouri.edu/stcharles/digin.aspx to view the February 26th A Grow Native! / Southwestern Illinois Production. Featuring schedule of topics and details. Call 636-970-3000 to register for the keynote speaker Doug Tallamy, professor and chair of the department seminar. All major credit cards accepted. of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware,
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Listen to The McGraw Show M-F 6-10am
The Gateway Gardener™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
Gateway Green Industry Conference Gateway Convention Center Collinsville, IL March 1st-2nd Registration begins at 8am each day followed by the Keynote Session from 9-10:30am and then 3 break-out sessions each day. Keynote speakers will be Guy Sternberg, owner and manager of Starhill Forest Arboretum, and Roy Diblik, author and plantsman, Northwind Perennial Farm. Breakout sessions on a variety of topics. Early registration is $60 for 1 day or $90 for both days with discounts available for full-time students and Certified Master Gardeners. Walkin and registration after 2/19/16 is $80/$110. Note: No trade show or lunch this year. For registration information visit web.extension. illinois.edu/mms or call 618-344-4230.
A Standard Flower Show March 3rd-6th Builder’s Home & Garden Show America’s Center • St. Louis, MO
T
his year’s annual flower show at the St. Louis Builder’s Home and Garden Show invites participants to raise a toast and celebrate beautiful floral designs! “Cheers” 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, 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 9th at Baisch & Skinner. Sponsors encourage any interested gardeners and flower arrangers to enter regardless of past experience. The deadline for entries is February 24. For questions call:
Partners for Native Landscaping Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center Kirkwood, MO March 26th 9am-5pm. A workshop for homeowners offering information and resources on how to landscape with native plants for greener communities. Keynote speaker Dave Tylka, author, educator and lecturer, will give an Intro to Native Landscaping. Other breakout sessions on topics including Gardening for Wildlife, Rainscaping, and Native Gardening Practices. Natvie plants for sale, and vendors from various organizations on hand to answer questions about native gardening and related topics. Registration is $10 and includes lunch. Register online at www.stlouisaudupon.org/PNL.
Design Entries Jeanne Davis (314) 838-8505
Horticulture Entries Jackie Reynolds (314) 968-5004 Youth Entries Doug Wolter (314) 822-9095 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, National Garden Clubs, Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri, Jost Greenhouses, St. Louis Composting and Wiethop Greenhouses. Even if you don’t enter, be sure to stop by the Flower Show at Booth #243. And be sure to bring your children to the Children’s Garden Club booth #326. For complete rules and regulations, visit our website at: GatewayGardener.com/flowershows/rules
Entry Form for Horticulture Division
Name__________________________________________ Phone #________________________________________ Address________________________________________ City_________________State_______Zip_____________ Class#
Class Title
_______ __________________________________ _______ __________________________________ _______ __________________________________ 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__________________________________________
SUCCULENTS Brightening up our homes this New Year.
Phone #________________________________________ Address________________________________________ City_________________State_______Zip_____________ For Youth Entries: Age_______ Class#
HOME & GARDEN :: LANDSCAPING :: IRRIGATION :: MAINTENANCE
Grade______________
Class Title
_______ __________________________________ _______ __________________________________ _______ __________________________________
550 HIGHWAY F DEFIANCE, MO 636.798.2555 ::::: FRISELLANURSERY.COM
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
The Gateway Gardener™
Mail form to: Jeanne Davis • 70 Calbreath • Florissant, MO 63031 *Youth entries to: Douglas Wolter • St. Louis County Parks and Recreation • 1675 S. Mason Rd.• St. Louis, MO 63131
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Naturally Natives Winter Pollinators in the Native Garden Text and photos by Scott Woodbury
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Aromatic aster blossoms mark ate fall and winter are the end of the growing season my favorite seasons to watch pollinators. True, and the beginning of winter. The cultivar ‘Fanny’s Aster’ extends there aren’t many native plants this feeding frenzy into November blooming at this time, but the and at times, December, and ones that do are mighty popular with our little buzzing friends. In blooms beneath newly fallen snow. Great companion late October and early November aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum plants include beautyberry (Callicarpa americana) with oblongifolium) is a crawling, its complementary purple buzzing mound of bumblebees, berries that birds nibble on green metallic sweat bees, through Christmas, and common honeybees and various species Aromatic Aster of flies, hoverflies, skippers and witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana), which blooms late small butterflies. With little else blooming, asters are like thriving islands of commerce with bees October through December. exchanging pollination services in exchange for nectar and pollen. In reality, insects are busily stocking up on the last bit of available Next at bat is Ozark witchhazel, Hamamelis vernalis which begins blooming in January and February. Like its cousin, common food before what may turn out to be a long, cold winter. witchhazel, its blooms are sweetly-scented with petals that unfurl Lewis and Clark on warm winter days. It is an insect magnet drawing in many Community College Native by Design: species. Pull up a warm cushioned chair, an insect reference book LeClaire Room at the Landscapes Beyond Beauty Nelson Center and a hot cup of coffee and prepare to be blown away by a nonThe value of Native Plants in our Landscape 600 Troy Rd. stop march of beautiful insects, mostly a variety of flies and small Edwardsville, IL 62025 th solitary bees and honeybees. February 26 , 2016 Cost: $30 per person, $20 for students with 7:30am-12:00 noon valid student i.d. Hazelnut (Corylus americana) blooms next in February and A Grow Native! Featuring a Southwestern Illinois Production Keynote Presentation Learn why our landscapes need native plants.
Learn key concepts and methods for integrating native plants on your land.
Hear first-hand how speakers have planted natives, promoted pollinators and practiced sound stewardship.
Presented by the following Grow Native! Southwestern Illinois Event Committee partners:
Grow Native! is a program of the Missouri Prairie Foundation.
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by Doug Tallamy
Witchhazel
Doug Tallamy is professor and chair of the department of entomology and wildlife ecology at the University of Delaware. Chief among his research goals is to better understand the many ways insects interact with plants and how such interactions determine the diversity of animal communities. Doug won the Silver Medal from the Garden Writer’s Association for his book, Bringing Nature Home.
For more information, call (417) 299-1794, email grownative@ moprairie.org, or visit www.grownative.org.
March with dangling yellow male catkins and tiny purple female feather-like flowers near the tips of the branches. The flowers are a curiosity worth a close look. This 5–7 foot tall shrub makes an excellent screen, is tolerant of light shade or full sun, and is a good replacement for invasive bush honeysuckle. March marks the month of willows with prairie willow (Salix The Gateway Gardener™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
Tips and Resources for Growing and Landscaping with Sustainable Native Plants humilus), Missouri willow (Salix Hazelnut eriocephala), and Carolina willow (Salix caroliniana) blooming first, and then peach-leaved willow (Salix amygdaloides) blooming later. The blooms are like minipussy willows and are quickly discovered by winter bees and flies on warm days. Prairie and Missouri willows are small shrubs topping out at 5-7 feet. Peachleaved willow is a 15-20 foot tree resembling wild cherry in bark and form. It fits into narrow spaces or would work well in large or small clusters planted 3-5 feet apart. Carolina willow is a wide tree growing 10-15 feet tall and wide or cut back yearly to form a 7-8 foot twiggy shrub. Good companion plants that also attract late winter pollinators include spring daisy (Erigeron pulchellum), p u s s y t o e s (Antennaria aarlinii), and western wallflower ( E r y s i m u m Missouri Willow capitatum).
Dig Deeper. Visit
GreenGardeningStL.com for More on Sustainable Gardening
a Grow Native! top 10 list Featured Category:
Native PlaNts for WiNter PolliNators Winter Blooming • attracts Bees, flies and Butterflies Native PlaNt Name
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) Eastern witchazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Ozark witchazel (Hamamelis vernalis) Hazelnut (Corylus americana) Carolina willow (Salix caroliniana) Missouri willow (Salix eriocephala) Prairie willow (Salix humilis) Spring daisy (Erigeron pulchellus) Pussytoes (Antennaria parlinii) Prairie pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta)
HeigHt
SUN
UNiqUe qUality
24–30"
full
15–20'
shade
10–15'
shade
6–8'
full/pt.
10–15'
full
5–7'
full/pt.
Rain gardens. Showiest flowers.
5–7'
full
Small shrubs. Tolerate dry sites.
1–2"
pt. shade
Spreading groundcover. Flowers like daisies.
1–2"
pt. shade
Bee magnet. Dioecious.
1–2"
full
Late lavender-purple flowers. Good as hedge. Fragrant yellow flowers. Taller than wide. Fragrant orange flowers. Wider than tall. Male flowers yellow. Female flowers purple-red. Shrubs wide. Good screens.
Narrow leaves silver.
Grow Native! is a native plant education and marketing program of the
For sources of these and many other native plants, as well as the services of landscape design and land care professionals, consult the Resource Guide at www.grownative.org.
Bring Conservation Home Horticulturist Scott Woodbury is the Curator of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve, where he has worked with native plant propagation, design, and education for more than 20 years. He is also an advisor to the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s GrowNative! program.
• 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:
www.stlouisaudubon.org/BCH
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
The Gateway Gardener™
13
Dig This!
Dennis Green
Master Gardeners Honored
At its annual Holiday Party in December, the St. Louis Master Gardeners recognized a number of individuals and organizations for their volunteer contributions and community service efforts. In the latter category, Grow Glendale Gorgeous, International Institute of Gary Hartman, left, with U, of St. Louis: Global Farms, North High Missouri Extension Specialist McCluer School, and Milkweed Nathan Brandt. for Monarchs (City of St. Louis) were presented with cash awards to help support their endeavors in the use of gardens and gardening to promote community beautification, health, wellbeing, education and sustainability. Several Master Gardeners were recognized for the total number of lifetime volunteer hours they have contributed individually, including more than 6,000 hours by Leon Zickrick, and over 5,000 hours by Ron Stevens. Individual Master Gardeners were also recognized for their significant service anniversaries (5, 10, 15,— and in the case of Jim Horn and Jasmine Fazzari, 20 years!). Nearly 60 members of the new Master Gardener Class of 2015 were introduced to the group. And, Gary Hartman was recognized as Master Gardener of the Year. Since joining the Master Gardeners in 2009, Gary has volunteered nearly 3500 hours, averaging about 500 hours per year! He has served on the Master Gardener Advisory Committee, and specializes in water plants, donating his expertise not only to the Missouri Botanical Garden, but also to Powell Gardens near Kansas City.
Local Green Professionals Take Pollinator Pitch to Washington On Oct. 23rd, Jennifer Schamber and Tammy Behm from Greenscape Gardens in West St. Louis County attended the Inaugural Meeting of The National Pollinator Garden Network “Million Pollinator Garden Challenge”Spring 2016 Launch Meeting at the Eisenhower Executive Building in Washington, D.C. There they presented a program on behalf of AmericanHort, a national green industry trade organization, demonstrating how the horticulture industry will be preparing for what is going to be a big year for pollinators! In their presentation, they explained how Greenscape Gardens’ “Pollinator Palette” program is helping to raise awareness of the topic in 14
their community. Greenscape Gardens is serving as a case study to help further promote ideas within the industry that will help encourage gardeners to plant selections that are beneficial Tammy Behm, left, and Jennifer to pollinators Schamber. throughout the entire country. The “Pollinator Palette” program promotes using native plants that support pollinators and other beneficial insects. With any purchase, gardeners take home a free plant from the Pollinator Palette collection, which features a different plant each month appropriate to that time of season. The program also highlights a special organization each month and tells their story and mission.
Garden Club Honors Executive
The Clayton Garden Club presented its President’s C i t a t i o n Award to Bob Chapman for his vision and creation of the Plaza Garden at the entrance Bob Chapman, center, with members of of the Barrythe Clayton Garden Club in the Plaza Wehmiller Garden. Building at the corner of Brentwood and Forsyth in Clayton, Missouri. Mr. Chapman is CEO of Barry-Wehmiller and author of the book Everyone Matters, The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family. The garden, fashioned after gardens he visited in Paris, is a perennial gem in the heart of an urban area. According to the club, the garden “emits the unexpected peace, tranquility and beauty that represents his philosophy of the unique workplace.” It is open to the public with causal sitting for lunch seven days a week. The garden’s combination of natural field vegetation, art, music and sculpture, and the rotation of seasonal plantings bring together the solitude of serenity in a public work place.
The Gateway Gardener™ JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
Courtesy Jennifer Schamber
Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News
Upcoming Events Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www.hillermann. com.
CLASSES, LECTURES AND EVENTS
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. 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. How to reach us: Mail: PO Box 220853 St. Louis, MO 63122 Email: info@gatewaygardener. com
FUN FOR KIDS
Jan. 2nd 11am-2pm—First Saturday Kids. Bring the kids by anytime between the listed times for a fun and FREE activity! Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www.hillermann. com. Jan. 9th 9 am—Dried Flora—Children’s Garden Club. Baisch & Skinner, Inc., 2721 LaSalle St., St. Louis, MO. FREE. Feb. 6th 9am—Fun Things in the Garden- Children’s Garden Club. Sappington Garden Shop. 11530 Gravois, St. Louis County, MO. FREE. 11am-2pm—First Saturday Kids. Bring the kids by anytime between the listed times for a fun and FREE activity!
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016
Jan. 14th 1-4pm—Native Plant School: Woodland Restoration for Larger Landowners. Explore the challenges of bush honeysuckle in large-scale areas. Instruction will focus on the best removal practices, forest thinning, reseeding/replanting with appropriate native plants and long-term maintenance. 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). Jan. 16th 10am—Mini Garden Make-NTake Workshop. Create your own Mini Garden to take home. A container, plants and mini decor items are included in a $40.00 supply fee. Please call 636-2396729 to sign up. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www.hillermann.com. Jan. 23rd 10am—String Garden MakeN-Take Workshop. Create your own moss ball string garden to take home. $20.00 supply fee. Please call 636-239-6729 to sign up. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www.hillermann. com.
Greater St. Louis Orchid Show and Sale. New cultivars and old favorites are shown 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. Included with Garden admission. www. osogsl.org. Feb. 6th through Mar. 27th 9am-5pm—Annual Orchid Show: Where Wild Things Grow. Features 500 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. Beaumont Room at Missouri Botanical Garden. Feb. 11th 1-4pm—Native Plant School: Converting Lawn to Seeded Prairie or Savannah. learn how to create a natural-style landscape with high diversity and low maintenance. 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. 12th-14th 28th Anniversary Midwestern Herb and Garden Show. See pg. 10-11 for details. Feb. 13th 10am-3pm—Preseason Gardening Expo. See page 1011 for details. Feb. 18th-Mar. 31st 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. 26th Native by Design: Landscapes Beyond Beauty. See page XX for details. Feb. 27th Dig In: A Gardening Seminar. See pages 10-11 for details. March 1st-2nd Gateway Green Industry Conference. See pages 10-11 for details.
March 3rd-6th Cheers! A Standard Flower Show. See Page 10-11 for details.
Jan. 30th 10am—Betta Fish Bowl MakeN-Take Workshop. Create a classic betta fish and plant bowl combination to take home. $25.00 supply fee. Please call 636-2396729 to sign up. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www.hillermann.com. Feb. 6th-7th 9am-5pm—Orchid Society of
The Gateway Gardener™
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There’s no better TIME to plan for your lush spring lawn and garden than NOW! Visit St. Louis Composting’s six area locations for the largest selection of STA-certified compost, mulch products and soil blends. VALLEY PARK, MO
39 Old Elam Avenue 636.861.3344
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560 Terminal Road 314.868.1612
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