KCG 05May13 issue by The Kansas City Gardener

The Kansas City

GARDENER A Monthly Guide to Successful Gardening

May 2013

Heuchera & Heucherellas

for the Midwest

Fool-Proof Container Ideas Gardenias Worth the Effort Renown Peony Expert Sells See inside for Garden Tours details

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May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

The Kansas City

editor’s notes

GARDENER A Monthly Guide to Successful Gardening

Goodbye white pine

Independently owned and operated since 1996 Publisher Michael Cavanaugh Editor Elizabeth Cavanaugh Editorial Assistant Lauren Cavanaugh Contributors Charles Anctil Marlin Bates Leah Berg Talis Bergmanis Erin Busenhart Cindy Gilberg Diane & Doc Gover Lenora Larson Emily Parnell Dennis Patton Becky Peck Rodney St. John Ardys Stone Diane Swan Brent Tucker Distribution Publishers Delivery Solutions, Inc.

How to Reach Us ...

P.O. Box 8725 Prairie Village, KS 66208 Phone/Fax: 913-648-4728 For advertising information contact Michael Cavanaugh at cavsgarden@kc.rr.com. Submit editorial questions to Elizabeth Cavanaugh at editorcavsgarden@kc.rr.com.

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n a cold spring morning, the crew arrived ready to work. The trailer was positioned to collect debris, the ropes and climbing gear laid out on the lawn, and the chainsaws fueled and ready to go. This was the day to say goodbye to an aging white pine. For as long as we’ve lived next door, I’ve harbored mixed emotions about that tree. Measuring well over 65 feet tall, the top 25% was a healthy green and laden with pine cones. On a mild summer day, I enjoyed watching it gently sway in the breeze. The lower portion was not so lovely, with symmetry lost long ago. The trunk was disfigured with stubs remaining from broken branches. Any weather event that included high winds, ice or heavy snow, those brittle branches would break off. There’s a row of 10-foot evergreens that create a natural border between our properties beneath the white pine. When large branches would crash into our garden, they would rip off evergreens limbs on the way down. Now we’ve got a symmetry problem.

As soon as I heard the chainsaw though, I started to have mixed emotions about removing that tree. It’s provided lots of shade for my peonies from the scorching summer sun. The needles were terrific mulch. Birds and squirrels have established a homestead in those lofty limbs. And considering the age of this tree, it’s a historical reminder of earlier days in our neighborhood. With a few bittersweet tears welling up inside, I watched her slow and deliberate dismantling. The skilled crew was cautious and caring in bringing her down, one branch at a time. Goodbye old friend, thanks for the memories. And as if right on cue, there was my husband at the window shouting “good riddance.” Ahhh, never underestimate the sensitivity of a tree man, especially one that

cringed when the weather guys called for heavy winds and blowing snow. With a noticeable change in the amount of sunlight entering the garden, he continues, “Maybe we’ll get some decent tomatoes this year.” He’s right about that. Tomatoes soon to be planted in raised beds may actually produce higher yields with a couple more hours of sun. Fingers crossed. For now though, in my quiet grief, I’ll worry about courting birds that might return to a nesting site no longer there. (How disappointing that would be!) And what will the squirrels do when trying to escape the bite of my dog? Maybe a detour sign to the big oak? {grin} I’ll see you in the garden!

In this issue May 2013 • Vol. 18 No. 5 Ask the Experts ........................ 6 Join Urban Grown Revolution .... 7 The Bird Brain ......................... 10 Paul James Celebrates NPGD .... 11 Fool-Proof Container Ideas ........ 12 Nature Lover ........................... 14 Grow Native Baptisia .............. 16 Historical Grandeur ................. 18 Rose Report ............................ 19 Gardenias worth the effort ........ 20 Heuchera/Heucherellas ............ 24

about the cover ...

Black Diamond Crapemyrtles .... 27 Midwest Water Garden .......... 28 Weed control in veg garden .... 30 Planting for Butterflies .............. 32 Foundation Makeovers ............ 34 Garden Calendar .................... 37 Upcoming Events ..................... 38 Powell Garden Events ............. 40 Hotlines ................................. 43 Weather ................................. 43 Professional’s Corner ................ 47

‘Berrie Smoothie’ is on the list of Heuchera that perform well in our zone. See others along with Heucherella starting on page 24. Photo courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries.

The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

GKCIS Celebrates 65th Anniversary

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rganized in February 1948, members of the Greater Kansas City Iris Society have been meeting monthly to discuss the joys of growing and improving iris through hybridization. As an affiliate of the American Iris Society, which was founded in 1920, advancements were being made throughout the country and, since WWII ended, people were again interested in beautifying their homes and gardens. Breakthrough advancements in tall bearded cultivars occurred in the 1950s which set the stage for the beautiful large flowers we see on the market today. While historic iris varieties are charming and are judged by a different set of standards, modern varieties have wider standards and falls and may have ruffles, lace, or flounces with patterns and color combinations unknown 65 years ago. To show off these advancements, the Greater Kansas City Iris Society will be holding its “Sapphire Jubilee” flower show, Saturday, May 11th at the Trailside Center, located at the southeast corner of 99th and Holmes. The judged show will be open to the public for viewing between the hours of 12 and 4 p.m. Non-members are invited to participate in the show. Simply call 913-406-2709 to receive a copy of the show guidelines.

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816-333-7220 Many of the GKCIS members have active roles at the regional and national level. At the local level they assist with the iris gardens at the Overland Park Botanical Garden and at Powell Gardens. This year we will have another gardening opportunity at Loose Park. We hope to show visitors the diversity in the genus as well as how iris can be used with companion plants to create an attractive display throughout the growing season. If you are interested in being an active member of GKCIS, additional information can be found at kciris.org or call the number above. We are always interested in hearing stories or seeing photos of family members who belonged to GKCIS or had a commercial iris garden in the area. Do you still grow named varieties from long ago? Help us celebrate 65 years of adding color to our gardens by attending the show Saturday, May 11th.

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Ask the Experts! questions from our readers

Dennis Patton BROWN BRANCHES IN JUNIPER Question: I have a ‘Wichita Blue’ Juniper that’s not doing well. It has brown branches that look dead. I thought you said junipers did well in the Kansas City area. Should I cut off the brown branches? Answer: Junipers are the most tolerant evergreen for the Kansas City area. They will stand up to the heat and drought and whatever other conditions are thrown its way. With that being said, no plant is indestructible. I do have

one exception to my juniper recommendation. There is one species of juniper, Juniperus scopulorum commonly referred to as Rocky Mountain Junipers that I do not recommend. The reason is this group is highly susceptible to a disease called Botryosphaeria Canker. You have probably already guessed it, but the ‘Wichita Blue’ is in this species. My professional hunch is that your plant has come down with Bot Canker. The symptoms are random branch dieback similar to what you are describing. Unfortunately there are no recommended controls for this canker disease except removing the dead wood and not planting cultivars from this family of junipers. So your solution is one of two options. One, just continue to prune at the dead wood, or two, remove the plant and replant with a healthy

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new specimen which can be another juniper but just not from the scopulorum group. One last comment and that is many of the bluecast varieties are in this species. BEST TIME TO PLANT A TREE Question: I heard that it’s best to plant new trees when they’re still dormant. If they’ve leafed out is it too late to plant? Answer: The idea that you plant a tree dormant dates back to a time when a majority of the plants sold in the nursery trade were sold bare root. A bare root plant is just that, it has been dug, soil removed and kept dormant in refrigeration and then sold. You still see a few bare root plants on the market mainly through mail order or in packages in the late winter such as roses and some perennials. These plants must be dormant when planted as once growth begins the roots are not developing and the plant usually dies. (Take home message – avoid packaged bare root roses in full leaf even on sale as they will die!) Today trees are mainly sold either as container grown or balled and burlap. Both of these methods retain a mass of soil and a healthy root system to support the tree. These plants will do just fine

when planted in full leaf since they have a functioning root system. In theory they could be planted yearround but logic tells us based on our potentially brutal summers it is best to plant earlier in the spring or maybe in the fall as the plants have time to begin establishing before stressful periods. CHEMICAL CONCERN Question: Is it true the chemical used to treat Emerald Ash Borer kills honeybees and causes colony collapse disorder? If so, I don’t want to treat my ash tree. Answer: Oh boy, how do I begin to answer this question in a magazine format with a quick down and dirty answer? The chemical you are probably referencing is Imidacloprid or Merit. This product has been on the market for a

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The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

number of years and is used to control everything from grubs in the grass, insects on field corn to fleas on your dog. It has often been linked to Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder. There have been multiple studies over the years on this topic and concern. If you search the Internet you will find a wide range of studies and opinions. The majority of the research determined this is not a cause but you will find information that contradicts these findings. So what are you to do — believe the research or question the research? Here is my take. Any pesticide should always be used as a last resort as there are so many problems with plants that cannot be solved by a magical spray. Another point is that pretty much all of the insecticides on the market cannot tell the difference from a good or bad bug. They simply kill the insects present. Chemical applications are really the only salvation for Emerald Ash Borer. Keep in mind there are other and more effective treatments for EAB than Imidacloprid. If you are concerned, consider using some of the products that are usually injected into the tree. Most importantly determine if your ash tree is worth treating. Treating is not a one and done but a life sentence. GROWTH REGULATORS Question: I saw in a garden site that growth regulators prevent bedding annuals from growing to full size. When I pull up my plants in the fall, their roots are still the same size as when I planted them in the spring. The plants don’t ever seem to really thrive. Is it because of the growth regulators? What are growth regulators and how can I find plants that haven’t been treated?

Answer: Growth regulators have been used for a number of years in the green industry for several reasons or plant responses. A lot of time they are used in bedding plant production to keep the plants more compact (slow stem elongation) or to develop better branching for a bushy plant. These are all bonuses for us as gardeners. Growth regulators usually have a short-term effect as the plant continues to grow. If used properly there should be no ill effects on the transplants once in the garden. I think your problem is a result of a plant that was held too long in the cell pack or maybe mishandled during the sales process. Plants in the small packs can quickly become root bound resulting in a stunted plant which cannot overcome the stress. Annual’s root systems are so compacted in the cell that the roots can almost act like a root bound tree in a pot. That is they develop these spiraling roots that never reach out in the soil but just grow around each other. This can lead to a stressed plant. The solution is to buy young, healthy vigorous plants in the green stage, not flowering. A flowering annual is more mature and been grown for a longer time in the small pot and more likely to have undergone stress. Also pop a plant out of the container and look at the root system and if at all possible avoid overgrown roots. Lastly, tease or gently tear apart the mass of roots prior to planting as this will encourage them to root out into the garden soil. Dennis Patton is the horticulture agent for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.

Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City present 2013 Garden Tour

“Unique Gardens of South Kansas City”

June 7th & 8th 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Rain or Shine

Tickets are $15. Children 12 & under free. Cash and checks only at the gardens. Tickets available May 10th at various outlets and online via PayPal. See website for more information. www.mggkc.org

MU: An equal opportunity/ADA institution Proceeds benefit Master Gardener community projects.

May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

MASTER GARDENERS OF GREATER KANSAS CITY 2013 PLANT SALE

here can area gardeners find over 10,000 plants for sale, all under one huge tent, just in time for Mother’s Day? At the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City annual Plant Sale! Annuals, herbs, vegetables, perennials and native plants, grown for sustainability in our area, will be available. In addition to plants grown in the greenhouse, the Master Gardeners will be sharing hundreds of their favorite perennials, native plants, and container plants. All plants are very reasonably priced. Don’t miss the raffle to win one of many items including a personalized garden design by The Greensman worth $1200; framed photography by Doug Whitney; a Brie Baker; gift certificates from Pryde’s Kitchen & Home, American Heartland Theatre, Powell Gardens, Café’ Europa, Hy-Vee, Family Tree

Nursery and Red Cedar Gardens; as well as tickets to the KC Zoo, a private tour of WWI Museum, Master Gardeners Garden Tour and much, much more! The sale will be held Saturday, May 11, in the big tent in the Bass Pro Shops parking lot at the SW corner of MO-291 and I-70 in Independence, Missouri. Sale hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until sold out—these plants go fast. The sale is sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, Sibley Orchards, and Big T Tents. Cash, checks, and credit cards will be accepted with an easy checkout. For more information, including a full list of plants for sale, go to www.mggkc.org or call the MU Extension office at 816-2525051. Also check our new blog www.mggkcblog.wordress.com for the latest information about gardening in our area. Questions may be posted.

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Join the Urban Grown Revolution! By Emily Parnell

egetable gardening is reliving its glory days. All around the country, there is a renewed focus on gardening for the simple goal of producing fresh, nutritious food. These days, folks ask important questions about what they eat. Where did it come from? Was it coated in chemicals? Is it fresh? How far did it travel to my table? Who grew the food? Is this the most nutritious food I can provide my family? This new awareness is fueling a new movement: urban farming. No, it’s not an oxymoron. Even tiny plots of land are being dedicated to satisfying the most basic human need, FOOD. Those brave enough to give it a try will find dinner in their own back yards – quite literally. Alicia Ellingsworth, Farm Manager at the Gibbs Road Farm, home base for Cultivate KC, is a veteran urban farmer. Certified

organic since 1997, the 2 acres of farmland produces vegetables, fruits and herbs for restaurants, Brookside Farmer’s Market customers and to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) members. For urban farmers like Alicia, efficient use of space is imperative to their business. But even newbie gardeners can make use of their techniques. Alicia’s tips for home gardening: Act fast. It’s important to get your seeds in the ground as early as possible. “You can’t get these days back,” she says. Just remem-

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Alicia Ellingsworth, above, encourages home gardeners to visit her and other urban farmers, and be inspired on the Tour in June. ber that a late frost could ruin those early plantings, but you can always plant more seeds! A calculated risk of planting early in the season can have a big return. Succession planning. Plan your garden so that something will always be coming into season. Examples: • Stagger your plantings. Sow one section of a lettuce bed with mixed greens, then wait 2 weeks to sow another section, then another 2 weeks for a third section. You’ll extend your harvest and have a continuous supply of greens. • Plant sweet potatoes and harvest the greens during the early summer months. (Don’t pick them clean!) Enjoy eating the greens during the second month, then leave them alone to grow so the sweet potato tubers can develop in the ground, to be harvested in the fall. Intercropping. Planting two noncompeting crops in a close space makes efficient use of small beds. For instance, tomato plants need room and must be spaced several feet apart. While they’re small, plant the area around them with quick-harvest lettuces and other greens. After you harvest the greens, the tomatoes will mature and fill the space. Try a new veggie. Have you only ever grown luscious tomatoes? Maybe it’s time to branch out. Alicia suggests bok choy. Don’t forget the favorites. Alicia’s recommendations for someone getting to get started are: 1. Carrots – If your kids think carrots are 2” long and grow in

plastic bags, you better plant some, stat! Be amazed at how a beautiful, sweet carrot can grow from a tiny black seed. Plant them in July to serve the sweetest, homegrown carrots at your Thanksgiving meal. 2. Garlic – Garlic seed heads known as scapes shoot straight up, then curl in artful little squiggles that can be snipped and sautéed for their mild flavor. Then in late June, it’s time to dig the bulbs for mature garlic. 3. Kale – Kale is one of the most nutrient-packed veggies you can grow. It prefers cooler weather, so start planting now for a continual harvest now through winter. 4. Spinach – Spinach is another crop that prefers cool weather. But with a little bit of luck, it can actually grow year-round. It can even be harvested throughout the winter! Alicia urges Kansas City to support their local farmers, but also try producing themselves. “Growing food is both powerful and humbling. It’s powerful because you’re feeding those around you, but humbling because all you’re doing is caring for a tiny seed. You can’t take too much credit for what it grows.” Can you handle even more inspiration? Visit the over 60 farms on the Cultivate KC’s Urban Grown Farms and Gardens Tour June 22 & 23, 2013. Visit www.cultivatekc. org to find out more! Emily Parnell is a freelance writer who enjoys growing edibles, lookables, ideas and her children. The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

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The Bird Brain

answers to The Secret Love Life of Birds

Doc & Diane Gover

irds have almost as many strategies as people do for getting together. One of the biggest urban legends is that a majority of birds mate for life. The most typical type of partnership is monogamy, where one male and one female mate and stay together during the nesting season for the purpose of raising one or more broods of young. Some common North American birds that are monogamous are Carolina Chickadee, Northern Flicker and Blue Jay. The pair bond may last

for only one nesting, in others it may last for an entire breeding season. At the far end of the spectrum are birds like Bald eagles, whose pair bonds endure year round, year after year. The reality is that most pair bonds in birds simply are not “til death do us part” partnerships. The true bond for most monogamous birds is not a sexual bond, it is a social bond! A socially bonded pair will stay together on a common territory and raise their nestlings together…but sexual fidelity is not part of the equation. Polygamy is when one member of a bonded pair of birds openly maintains multiple partners. When a male bird is polygamous it is called polygyny which means that one male generally forms pair bonds with numerous females. Common North American birds that

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are polygynous include the Redwinged Blackbird, House Wren, Dickcissel and Yellow Warbler. In this setting, the males don’t participate much, if at all, in rearing young. They may defend a feeding territory that the females use. In promiscuous species, each female may mate with many males and/or each male can mate with multiple females. Promiscuous birds do not form any type of pair bond and anything goes as far as who mates with whom. All of the hummingbirds of North America are promiscuous and the females almost always raise the young alone. Before a bond can be formed, birds typically perform courtship rituals to make sure they are selecting the best possible mate. Birds may lightly preen one another, sit with their bodies touching or lean on one another to show that they are not intending to harm their partner. Singing is one of the most common ways birds will attract their mate. The variety of different songs one bird can produce will help to advertise its maturity and intelligence. Singing will also broadcast the boundaries of a bird’s territory, warning off competition. Colorful plumage and elaborate displays of prominent feathers can show off the strength and good health of a bird. Hummingbirds are one of the best known bird species for their stunning display of the males’ iridescent gorget, while male Red-winged Blackbirds are known to selectively display their bright red wing patches. Sharing food is a common part of the bird courtship behavior for

many species. A male bird may bring a morsel to the female, demonstrating that he is able not only to find food, but that he can share it and is able to provide for her while she incubates eggs or tends to young. For some species the male may simply provide food for the female to eat, while in some species he will actually place a seed or insect directly in her mouth just as he might be expected to do when helping feed hungry nestlings. The dancing courtship rituals can take many forms, such as wing flaps, head dips and intricate footwork. In many species, the male alone will dance for his female while she observes his actions, while in other species both partners will interact with one another. Dance mistakes or hesitancy would likely not lead to a successful mating. Some birds seek to attract a mate by showing off their nest building skills. Constructing nests before the female arrives is a way for males to claim territory and show the suitable nesting areas they can defend. They may also decorate the nest with pebbles, moss, feathers or flowers to make it more eye-catching. The female may then choose the nest she prefers or she may still build her own after mating with her chosen male. We hope that you are able to take some time to watch for these characteristics, right in your own backyard. Doc and Diane Gover own and operate Wild Birds Unlimited of Leawood at 11711 Roe Avenue, Leawood, Kan. Contact them at 913-491-4887. The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

Celebrating National Public Gardens Day with Paul James ‘The Gardener Guy’

aul James, Gardener Guy™ and host of HGTV’s Gardening By The Yard, will visit Powell Gardens on Tuesday, May 7, as part of his national tour as the official ambassador for National Public Gardens Day. James will greet members of Powell Gardens and share a talk about edible gardening at 1 p.m. in the Heartland Harvest Garden. (For information about membership, visit www.powellgardens.org/ join or call 816-697-2600 x234). “Public gardens have always had a strong role as beautiful places to visit and de-stress, but today’s public gardens have evolved to become leaders in sustainability, conservation and education,” James said. “I am excited to once again have the opportunity to spread this important message and encourage the public to utilize the available resources at their public garden

when designing and planting their own gardens at home.” Powell Gardens is one of many gardens nationwide participating in National Public Gardens Day on Friday, May 10. FREE admission coupons to the Gardens are available from Better Homes & Gardens and a number of activities are planned to show the many ways the public can learn, be inspired or simply recharge during a visit to Powell Gardens. Bring friends and experience the best of Powell Gardens during one fantastic day: the conservatory’s whimsical “Living” Room exhibit; North America’s longest “living” wall on the Island Garden; the nation’s largest edible landscape – the Heartland Harvest Garden; the cool shade of the Rock & Waterfall Garden; the region’s largest Perennial Garden; and the inspirational Marjorie Powell Allen Chapel.

Special activities include: • Prize giveaways (water bottles, shirts, etc.), while supplies last. • 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Bonsai Society of Greater Kansas City’s Spring Exhibit

• 11 a.m. Garden Chef Series demo by Chef Lisa Burgess and Culinary Arts Students from the Career & Technology Center at Fort Osage (Missouri Barn) • 12 p.m.-1 p.m. Music by Linda Bales, the UkuLady • 1:30 p.m. The Art of Bonsai: Designing and Caring for Bonsai Trees • 3 p.m. Garden Chef Series demo by Chef Amber Shea Crawley, author of “Practically Raw: Flexible Raw Recipes Anyone Can Make and Practically Raw Desserts” (Missouri Barn) Visitors also can enjoy lunch in Cafe Thyme from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and shop for treasures in Perennial Gifts. National Public Gardens Day is sponsored by Rain Bird and organized by the American Public Gardens Association.

Plants & Pumpkins Downtown Kansas City

State Line Rd.

Potted Plants Sale May 6 – 12

includes hanging baskets, tropicals, Proven Winners, fruit, vegetable and herb plants, professionally designed planters, tropicals, perennials and bedding plants.

N W

Highway 150

Highway 58 177th Ave.

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Plants & Pumpkins

Highyway 71

State Rte D

135th

Holmes Rd.

KS MO

17701 S. State Rt D (177th & Holmes Rd.) www.johnsonfarms.net

816-331-1067 Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 11am-6 pm

MORE FLOWERS FOR LESS DOLLARS • Monday 5/6 - 3% off, open til 7 pm • Tuesday 5/7 - 6% off open til 7 pm • Wednesday 5/8 - 9% off open til 7 pm • Thursday 5/19 - 12% off open til 7 pm • Friday 5/10 through Sunday 5/12 - 20% off and open late (til dark)

Growing in South KC Metro for 12 blooming years. May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

Fool-Proof Container Ideas I

t’s finally time to hit the garden centers… But wait! There are tables and tables of flowering plants, and they all look great. How can you select the plants that are going to continue a long, healthy life at your home? Well here you go! I’ve put together four exact recipes for some of my most fool-proof containers. Follow this horticultural “Paint-By-Number” and I promise you’ll have the most impressive front pots in the neighborhood. These plans are based on utilizing a 14-18” pot. If you have a smaller pot just take something out and if your pot is larger, simply add more. Always use good quality potting mix and feed monthly with a slowrelease pellet-type fertilizer.

Erin Busenhart

Erin Busenhart is seasonal color designer at Family Tree Nursery, located in Overland Park, Kan., where her containers are on display all season. You may reach her at 913-642-6503.

Is there a tricky spot that gets blasted for just a few hours in the midday sun? This container recipe can tolerate any amount of sun or shade. Perfect.

Great container for hot sun. The Sansevieria gives great funky height and stays neat looking all summer. Spectacular for front of the house.

Croton (C) ‘Big’ Begonia (B) ‘Summer Wave Blue’ Torenia (T) Purple Heart (PH) Lysimachia, Creeping Jenny (L) Creeping Wire Vine (W)

Sansevieria (S) Persian Shield (PS) Dipladenia (D) Purple Heart (PH) ‘Angelina’ Sedum (A) For a Shade Option: Swap Dragon Wing Begonia for Dipladenia and Creeping Jenny for Sedum.

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Nature Lover young farm life to adult urban gardener reaps rewards By Ardys Stone

developed my love of nature while growing up on a farm in the center of Kansas. Playing outside from sunup til sundown, I gradually became aware of the relationship between the different life forms and the constant struggle of the wild things as they battled for existence. Some of my earliest memories on the farm are those of learning about the responsibility of raising our own vegetables. Weeding and de-bugging our large garden was hard work, but eventually as the plants produced their harvest, I came to love reaping the rewards of my labor. Years later in my own home, I transferred my love of vegetable gardening to that of flowers. I also remember the early years I began to notice the abundance of birds that lived in areas around our farm. I gradually developed an interest in the relationship between

the birds and their environment, and it didn’t take me long in later years to realize that if I wanted to enjoy a large variety of birds to my urban yard, I would need to use my gardening skills to attract them by using plants to provide a balance of food and shelter. Luckily, my husband Stephen shared my love of nature and together we began to create a wildlife habitat in our own urban garden. When we moved into our new home, our yard was what Stephen liked to call a “verdant desert”; all green and no substance. Gradually, we began altering our backyard into a safe haven for birds and other wild critters. This didn’t occur overnight; it has been 15 years of an ever-changing vision that is still in progress. Before I started working at the Wild Bird Center, my husband and I would gather up our little dog and

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go on nature walks almost daily. We spent many hours walking through the surrounding woods and prairies identifying native plants and wildlife. These quiet moments were inspiring on many different levels. The hours we spent walking and learning was not only strengthening the bond between us, it was also creating a connection to the earth neither of us had felt since childhood. As we gradually learned what plants attracted birds, butterflies and caterpillars, we also observed the environments the plants were happiest in and used this knowledge to prepare our garden so we too could support native plants and

attract wildlife. Over time, we both became Master Gardeners through the Greater Kansas City Area Master Gardeners. We continued to learn much more by presenting gardening programs to likeminded gardeners. We also found that gleaning the abundant knowledge of the other Master Gardeners in combination with the research required for teaching was the easiest path to discovering where our true love for gardening would eventually lead us. As we worked in our urban garden, we quickly realized that some of the easiest plants to attract birds and butterflies are those often considered nuisance plants. If you are

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curious as to the plants that birds prefer, just walk along a fencerow sometime and see what grows there; most likely everything growing there was planted by bird droppings. Many non-invasive plants will also attract an abundance of birds and butterflies, but they may take a little longer to do so. A few of the plants we have incorporated into our yard include Eastern Red Cedars (a favorite of Cedar Waxwings), Purple Coneflowers for the butterflies and gorgeous little Goldfinches, and Red Mulberry trees that attract a wide variety of species including the Brown Thrasher, the Catbird, Cardinals, Robins, Orioles, Thrushes and the Indigo Bunting. Common Milkweed is also planted in our garden to provide nesting materials for the Orioles each spring. Other plantings we use include the Pokeberry plant, Sunflower, Missouri Gooseberry, American Beauty Berry, American Holly, Trumpet Creeper, Common

Blackberry and Common Elderberry, and several varieties of coneflower plants. As you can see, each plant variety we use is carefully selected to provide a source of food or shelter for the wildlife we attract and support in our backyard haven. To date, we have identified over 60 different species of birds in our modest urban backyard. One great joy recently was the visit of two young Pileated Woodpeckers we spotted briefly before they were chased away by the Grackles. We are also proud of the small colony of four bats that now circle our garden in search of food in the soft summer evenings. Teaching tolerance is one of the things we stressed in our classes on “gardening for the benefit of wildlife”. This is actually a misnomer, for in fact the true benefactor is the gardener who reaps the color and beauty of the wildlife that the garden attracts. It is not only the specimen that you plant that provides the beauty in your garden, it is also the secondary beauty of the creatures attracted to the plant that adds a new dimension to your enjoyment. I hope you enjoy your garden as much as I do mine. Living in an urban oasis is such a wonderful way to enjoy the nature around us each day! Ardys Stone has worked at the Wild Bird Center of Independence, Missouri for over 14 years. She is a Master Gardener Emeritus who expresses her love for wildlife through gardening.

Shawnee Garden Sampler Tour

he Garden Club of Shawnee will hold its 17th Garden Sampler tour on June 1. The tour, which will be open from 9 a.m.to 5 p.m., regardless of weather, features six unique gardens. The tour gardens are: Carole Prentice, 5407 Ballentine, Shawnee Doug and Dianne Seip, 7604 Grandview Lane, Overland Park Brenda McCord, 12224 W. 64th Street, Shawnee Chris Khan and Sharon Edwards, 5605 Roundtree, Shawnee Brendalyn Blake, 5166 Roundtree, Shawnee Gary and Carol Vierthaler, 20810 W. 100th Street, Lenexa Tour tickets ($10) are available from the following Shawnee merchants: Earl May Garden

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Grow Native! Plant Profile:

Cindy Gilberg

n a particularly warm May afternoon, a walk through the Whitmire Wildflower Garden in Gray Summit, Missouri reveals a blue as blue as the spring sky. The blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) is in full bloom amongst the blossoms of bluestars and golden Alexander. Stately and longlived, baptisias are members of the bean family (Fabaceae). Their large pea-like flowers are pollinated by bumblebees and are clustered on long wands above handsome foli-

age during spring and summer. In late summer and autumn, intriguing and ornamental black seed pods appear. Give them a shake and listen – you’ll discover why they were once used as rattles. All species are deeply rooted and, though they are herbaceous, have a shrub-like appearance with great foliar texture. Mention Baptisia and most will think of the blue flowering species. However, there are gorgeous white and bright yellow flowering ones as well. Baptisia is derived from the Greek bapto, “to dye,” hence the common name false or wild indigo. In the 1700s, some were hopeful that this plant would replace true indigo as a dye. Alas, the dye was not fast and the project a failure, but the name stuck. Wild indigo was widely used by Native Americans as a medicinal plant. The tallest of all baptisias is Baptisia alba (formerly B. leucantha), or white wild indigo, and it

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Baptisia, the Wild Indigo

Yellow Wild Indigo, Baptisia sphaerocarpa is a common species in Missouri. Strong, erect flower stems 3-4 ft. tall reach toward the sky, covered in pure white flowers. White indigo is naturally found growing in many different habitats, from wet to dry prairies and occasionally in glades and on open rocky slopes. White wild indigo may go dormant for years and surprise you in the future so don’t give up if it does not appear. Baptisia bracteata (formerly B. leucophaea) is the earliest to bloom, bearing arching stems lushly covered in creamy yellow flowers beginning in April. It is also the shortest one with a 2-foot tall, compact growth habit. In the wild, the cream indigo is commonly found growing in acidic soils in rocky and open woodlands (savannas). This translates to planting it in areas of the garden that are light shade to partial shade. The yellow wild indigo (Baptisia sphaerocarpa) is breathtaking when in bloom. Its profuse crop of rich

yellow flowers creates a bright 2–3foot tall bouquet. A cultivar that goes by the name of ‘Screamin’ Yellow’ originates from northern Arkansas and accurately describes the visual effect. Rare in Missouri, it is nonetheless one that should be used more in Missouri gardens. Baptisia australis, blue wild indigo, is no stranger to the gardening world since it has been in the nursery trade for many years. The lush, blue green foliage is reason enough to add this 3 to 4-foot tall plant to your landscape. The real reward is the bounty of cobalt blue flowers that rise above the foliage. Blue indigo is tolerant of hot, sunny and dry locations, indicated by the fact that is grows naturally on glades and in prairies. Create a natural feel and good textural contrast by combining baptisias with native grasses. Good choices are prairie dropseed (Sporobolis), sideoats grama (Bouteloua) or little bluestem (Schizachyrium). Bluestar (Amsonia) is another fine textured

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The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

Powell Gardens is for Plant Lovers: Get to the Gardens this May! Spring Plant Sale, May 4-5

Baptisia bracteata Other Missouri Native Plants for Combination Plantings

B. australis and Zizia aurea companion to plant with baptisias. Its sky-blue flowers appear at the same time in mid spring. New Jersey tea (Ceonanthus) is a 3-foot shrub and another mid-spring bloomer with wonderful rounded white flower clusters. Try planting it aside or in front of the blue or yellow indigo. What has a shorter stature for planting in the foreground? A few great options are alum root (Heuchera richardsonii), rose verbena (Verbena canadensis) and even the native prickly pear cactus (Opuntia). These combinations work together well regardless of whether you have a more conventional garden design or a much looser, naturalistic design. The following is a list of other Missouri native plants that live in similar habitats to and bloom at the same time as Baptisia. It might give you more ideas and options for planting combinations. To find plants to purchase, consult www. grownative.org, Buyer’s Guide. Cindy Gilberg is a horticulturist, landscape designer, and a professional member of Grow Native!, a program of the Missouri Prairie Foundation.

Amorpha canescens lead plant Amsonia illustris/A. ciliata bluestar Asclepias purpurascens milkweed

Hostas & Highballs

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Members-only reception & plant sale preview

May 3

Spring Exhibit by the Greater Kansas City Bonsai Society, May 11-12 Final weekend to see The ‘Living’ Room exhibit, May 12 Iris Weekend, May 11-12 Magnolia Walking Tour, May 25

Powell Gardens is located 30 miles east of Kansas City on U.S. Highway 50. Admission: $10/adults, $9/seniors, $4/children 5-12 816.697.2600 www.powellgardens.org

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Historical Grandeur By Becky Peck

ntering through the gate onto the grounds of this majestic home built in 1915 is awe inspiring. Purchased in 2006, the home and grounds underwent about two years of construction. The early years of the garden were spent saving the plant material from the construction, which included saving the existing Black Hills and Norway Spruce, other historic native trees including a Kentucky Coffee tree believed to be as old as the house. The homeowner is dedicated to saving the historical trees on the property, and she is particularly proud of her bald cypress tree— a former “Champion” tree which stands majestically overlooking the center of the lawn. The overall goal was to make the garden accessible for entertaining, while complementing the house’s design. Lighted paths and benches were added along with uplighting that enhances the garden’s beauty at night when the homeowner entertains.

Most of the plant beds were added in 2008. The one acre garden has the whole spectrum of conditions from deep shade to full sun, so a large variety of plants grow there. The challenge was to make the new material work seamlessly with the established plants while also planning for how the plants would appear at maturity. The soil was

Join us on June 2 in The Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden! On Rose Day enjoy the beautiful garden and a performance of the KC Youth Ballet at 3:00 PM. Attend the Rose Show (1:00 - 5:00 PM) and talk with Rose Society members & the Park Director about your roses. Hope to see you there - 52nd St between Wornall & Summit. For those who would like to volunteer in the rose garden, contact Loose Park at 816784-5300. Volunteer training is being conducted May 16 & May 23.

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enriched, irrigation systems augmented, and plant material added to develop the understory growth. The gardens are kept as organic as possible. Organic compost is used extensively. Annual additions yield a non-compacted surface that drains well. The chicken manure added to the beds appears to have a wonderful side effect: squirrels and rabbits stay away. The strong structure in this garden resembles an English garden. There are a large variety of conifers, including spruces, firs, and pines, as well as flowering trees like red buds, magnolias and dogwood. In addition to trees, there is also a variety of shrubs, flowers, herbs and vegetables. A large border garden buffers street noise from Ward Parkway while creating privacy. Visualize a garden of mature varieties of trees, with a flowering understory of small trees, shrubs, and perennials. Lighted paths with

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benches lead you through the garden and up-lighting warming dusk. At the center of the garden is the small meditation garden with calming water feature. Quiet abounds despite the closeness of the city and a major thoroughfare. This garden will be shown to the public during the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City 2013 Garden Tour, “Unique Gardens of South Kansas City”, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8, 9 a.m – 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and will be available May 10 at various outlets around the Kansas City area and online via PayPal—a listing of ticket outlets will be available on our website at that time. Children 12 and under are free. For further information about the seven gardens on this tour, visit www.mggkc.org under the “Garden Tour” heading. Becky Peck, is a Master Gardener of Greater Kansas City.

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The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

May Rose Report

Charles Anctil

18th Annual Union Hill Garden Tour

esidents of the historic Union Hill neighborhood would like to invite you to attend their 18th Annual Garden Tour, Sunday, June 9 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. This lovely downtown oasis is tucked away between Crown Center and Hyde Park and filled with beautiful Victorian and turn of the century homes dating from the 1870’s. Neighbors take pride in creating and maintaining a variety of breathtaking landscapes throughout our neighborhood. Begin on Grand Avenue and wind your way through the historic and modern portions of Union Hill. Come enjoy the ambiance and charm of 19th century Kansas City for an afternoon. You will see full lot gardens, vegetable gardens and container growing for those tight spaces. Gardeners and volunteers will be along the route to help navigate and answer questions. We

will also have garden-related vendors and Master Gardeners ready to answer your gardening questions. Save your ticket stub and stop by the Velvet Dog on Martini Corner at 31st and Oak, at the end of the tour route. Enjoy a free backyard BBQ with a burger, chips, and entertainment. Drink specials will be available. Free parking is available in the KCPT lots at the corner of 31st Street and Grand Avenue. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors over 60. Children under 12 are free. You will also be automatically entered into a drawing for several area garden center gift cards. Half of this year’s event proceeds will benefit the neighboring historic Union Cemetery. For more information, visit us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook. com/unionhillgardentour or email unionhillgardentour@gmail.com

y early spring, I had not accomplished much more than looking at the rose beds. The snow really made the beds slurpy! I have not yet decided on new roses for this year. I still have some in pots left over from last year. Weather permitting, my goal is to finish pruning and feeding by the third week of April. When feeding, here’s what has worked in my rose garden. It’s nothing new and easy to remember: 2 cups of Milorganite per plant worked into the soil, 1 oz. Earthright mixed with 1 oz. Mushroom Stuff to one gallon of water for each plant … that’s it. Then water deeply. Anytime you apply Earthright, you must water deeply to be effective. Downy Mildew A problem that is now found in every state across the nation is Downy Mildew. This disease can occur on many different plants in your garden including roses.

Tiny speckles may form that are tan or even bright pink. Older spots appear as tan to purple-brown blotches on the upper leaf surface. Under moist conditions the leaves turn yellow and drop. Under drier conditions, leaf spots appear as brown burned areas. Reddish streaks or cankers can also occur on rose canes. Since these cankers can be caused by other pathogens like Botrytis and Coniothyrium, it is a good idea to have them diagnosed by a university. Downy mildew occurs anytime when temperatures are low, 60ºF-70ºF, and moisture is high (85%). Disease can appear almost overnight. If you think you had it last year, you might get a head start this year by early spraying. Rotate your sprays. Mancozeb and liquid copper fungicide by Bonide could help prevent. Start early. Charles Anctil has been an active Rosarian since 1958, Kansas City Rose Society, ARS Judge Emeritus, ARS Master Consulting Rosarian. If you need help, call him at Moffet’s Nursery, St. Joseph, Mo., 816-2331223.

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Gardenias worth the effort growing tips for long-term success almost five or more inches across! Gardenias flower in spring with a large flush of flowers and then sporadically through the rest of the growing season. Here are some of my favorites:

Brent Tucker

veryone loves the smell of fresh gardenia flowers and if you ask me, no imitation scent compares. Gardenias are so beautiful and have such a heavenly scent. Who can resist their allure? They are sold mostly as bush shapes, but some are trained to look like small trees with a bare trunk and a top of evergreen shiny leaves. Gardenia flowers are white and age to a golden yellow in double or single flower varieties. There are also varieties with white variegated leaves or a few types that have huge flowers that are

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Veitchii’ This is the common variety that most garden centers and florists carry. It is a smaller growing variety to about 3 feet in size with double flowers. This species also has a couple of variegated leaf varieties. Gardenia jasminoides ‘Radicans’ Growing to about 2 – 3 feet in size this variety can be grown as a bonsai or left untrimmed as a bush. Produces small flowers only 1 – 2 inches wide. Also has a variegated leaf variety.

‘Veitchii’

‘Radicans’

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Miami Supreme’ This is one of my favorites. This large growing variety can top 6 ft. with large leaves and large double flowers to about 5 inches in diameter. ‘Aimee Yoshioka’ is similar and both are available mostly as “trees”.

ers with petals that twists slightly giving the appearance of a propeller. Seems to be more tolerant of drought and pests. Not everyone has success with growing gardenias long term so here are some tips to help you to grow these beautiful plants. Outside during summer provide direct sun to about midday, but shade from hot afternoon sun. Proper watering is one of the most important factors

Gardenia vietnamensis Another large growing species with large leaves and single flow-

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The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

and gardenias like to be kept moist with a slight drying, but not soggy which will rot the roots. Allowing them to wilt between watering will cause leaves to yellow and fall,

challenge and here are a few ways to help keep them healthy. Always spray your plants for insects in the fall prior to bringing indoors. Place in a cool room with windows,

‘Miami Supreme’

Gardenia vietnamensis

as well as flowers and buds. Too dry can be fatal. Check them daily for moisture and remember smaller pots dry quicker than larger ones. Most plants are root bound when you first purchase them. You may want to repot them into a pot a few inches larger than the current one, which will help keep them from drying too quickly. Use a quality container mix to plant them with. Feed with a high nitrogen fertilizer for acid loving plants once a month from spring to fall. Unfortunately, insects love Gardenias just as much as we do so keep an eye out for them and treat accordingly. Check often for mealy bug, scale, mites, white flies, aphids, and thrip. Fungal diseases appear as black spots on the leaves so remove diseased leaves and treat with a fungicide. Prune to shape plants in early spring before flowers develop. I’ve found keeping gardenias through the winter indoors to be a

the basement under lights, or an attached garage with a window where low winter temps don’t dip much below 50° F for long periods. Cool temperatures and high humidity help keep them healthy indoors and here too proper moisture levels are important. Check the soil often for moisture. Water them less frequently, but not too dry or wet. I don’t recommend repotting them in winter, which may cause the plants to stay too wet. Again, keep an eye out for insects. Admittedly they are temperamental, but well worth the effort. There are many varieties of gardenia both exotic and beautiful try growing one this season the rewards are great. Brent Tucker has been growing exotic plants for 20 plus years, specializing in orchids, ferns and begonias. You may contact him at brenttucker71@gmail.com.

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816-229-1277 • www.colonialnurserykc.com May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

Planting Grass This Spring? Consider Sod Rather Than Seed

or homeowners who are planning to establish a new lawn this spring, Kansas State University horticulturist Ward Upham reminds that sodding is more likely to be successful than seeding. Establishing a new lawn with seed is best done in the fall, he said. “There are several reasons Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue – the most widely-used types of grass seed in the central U.S. – are better seeded in the fall than in the spring,” Upham said. “Some of the most serious lawn weeds, such as crabgrass and foxtail emerge in the spring. Since they are warm-season weeds, they will outcompete and often crowd out young, tender cool-season grasses during the heat of summer.” The most stressful time of year for cool-season grasses is summer, not winter, he said, adding that poorly-established lawns may die out during the summer because of heat and drought stress. “Also, a lawn often gets more use during the summer, leading to increased compaction and traffic stress,” he said.

Annual Peony Festival Come in to our store to view more than 80 varieties of Peonies on display, and more than 130 varieties of Peonies in 2 gallon pots for spring sale. You may also place your order for Fall delivery.

Fruit Trees • Berry Plants • Vegetable Plants We carry fruit & vegetable insect control. We design & grow our own Mother’s Day combo planters in an array of containers. Blooming potted plants of all kinds, and a large selection of hanging baskets.

Gift certificates also available!

ask us how to earn 10% on your purchase Visit our website: www.peonies.net

10001 E. Bannister Rd., Kansas City, MO • 816-763-4664

The metro’s Exclusive pond retailer We now carry a large selection of BOND garden and lawn tools. WholeSAle PrIcInG! check us first Come check out our unique line of garden beFore you buy at box stores! accessories including decorative benches & chimes!

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Our store carries a complete line of pond supplies, liner, fishes and large selection of aquatic plants. Aquascape, Pondmaster, Microbelift, Tetra, PondGard & more Specializing in Imported Japanese Koi & Fancy Goldfishes Full line of aquatic plants; lilies, lotuses & marginals

Check our website and Facebook for more information.

816-842-5012 • pondskc.com • 1557 Swift Ave., KCMO 21

Northland Garden Tour ‘An afternoon at Country Downs’

he Northland Garden Club (www.northlandgardenclub. com) will feature a walking tour of the pocket neighborhood of Country Downs on Sunday, June 2, 2013 from 1 to 5 in the afternoon. Entitled “An afternoon at Country Downs”, tour guests will have the opportunity to view five small and unique gardens packed with plants and interest. Begin at The Well Dressed Garden of Sam and Denise Cariddi, 5120 N. Monroe Avenue. This gar-

den features everything you need for outdoor entertaining from an inviting pool, to cabana, pool house, patio, fire pit and lovely plantings. The tour begins in the front with a screen planting of evergreens, shrubs and boxwood. Don’t miss the ‘hill’ garden filled with roses and other perennials. Move right next door to the Southern Dreamer’s garden and the home of Dee and Ernie West, 5118 N. Monroe Ave. Inspired by gardens of the south, this small space

It’s Spring! We’re So Excited, We Wet Our Plants! Are you excited that it’s spring, too? Come check out the best selection of homegrown plants in the Midwest! With over 3,000 varieties of homegrown plants, you’ll see why gardeners call us the “Candy Store for Plant Lovers”! 1430 Hwy. 58 S.E., LeRoy, KS 66857

620-964-2463 or 2423

www.arnoldsgreenhouse.com

Monday through Saturday , 9am til 7:30pm

Always closed on Sundays

Only 1-1/2 hours from Southwest Kansas City I-35 to US 75, South 23 miles to K-58, East 1-1/2 miles (Located 4-1/2 miles West of LeRoy, KS on Hwy 58)

is packed with plants, art and iron. Huge trees provide a shady spot to relax, unwind, or enjoy the view of the estate behind. The master gardener owner loves the more formal style of plantings with flowering shrubs, boxwood and perennials. A few doors down you will arrive at the very raised garden of Will and Ida Mae Willhaus. This Al Natural haven is full of native perennials, but the huge expanse of terraced wildflower area steals the show. The bee keeper gardener keeps the health of his bees in mind by providing an organic landscape and fresh flowing water from the corner waterfall. The amazing back drop of this garden is the stone barn at the top which once belonged to Tom Pendergast. A stroll down Monroe Ave. brings you to 5022 NE Sherwood Ct. and the nearly one acre Potpourri Garden of Randy and Beth Reynolds. Nothing is missing from this garden. White arches invite you in to the sprawling back yard. The Florida style courtyard opens to a yard filled with everything a gardener would want: huge

pond, stone lined beds, hidden vegetable garden, gazebo and loads of shady spots to enjoy the garden from every angle. Last on the stop is the Vintage Whimsey garden of Robert and Judy Kile, 4938 N.E. Sherwood Ct. More beautiful brick walls in this garden, too, beginning right at the driveway. A visit up the stairs will bring you to a small, tidy, very productive green house where Bob and Judy grow plants from seeds for their church and neighbors. Judy loves reusing antique items in her garden. Look for the laundry tubs turned potting table. Tickets for the tour are available at any of the homes the day of the tour, Family Tree Nursery in Liberty or Full Features Nursery in Smithville. The cost is $10.00 per ticket. For further information about the Northland Garden Tour and club membership, call Dee West, 816-455-4013 or check the website at www.northlandgardenclub.com. The mission of the club is to inspire and educate the public to gardening in Kansas City.

Cedar Hill Landscaping, Inc. Kristie Schneider 913-583-9885

Personalized Services Offered Landscape Design • Landscape Installation Paver Patios • Retaining Walls • Landscape Lighting Irrigation Installation • Landscape Maintenance The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

Healing concert, build a table, weave a basket, and more

Classes at Powell Gardens To register for any of these classes, call Linda Burton at 816697-2600 ext. 209. Or register online at www.powellgardens.org/ AdultClasses. The Healing Concert, 9-11 a.m. Saturday, May 18 Join pioneering music therapist Janalea Hoffman for a healing. Part music therapy, part concert, you will experience a presentation about how music affects your brain. $26/person, $19/Members (add $5 to receive two CEUs). Registration required by May 15.

Planting flowers or a garden? Then you need to have your underground facilities marked! Missouri law requires that any person making or beginning any excavation notify MOCS. Placing a locate request is free and easy! Call 1-800-DIG-RITE (800-344-7483) or 811. For more information, visit mo1call.com.

One free, easy call gets your utility lines marked AND helps protect you from injury and expense. Safe Digging Is No Accident: “Always Call Before You Dig in Kansas” Call 1-800-DIG-SAFE, or 811, or visit us at www.kansasonecall.com

Build a Rustic Raised-Planter Table, 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday, June 8 Build a raised (handicapped accessible) planter table to add square footage and height to your garden, perfect for patio living or an edible salad garden. $87/person, $79/Members. Registration required by May 28.

Garden Cement™ Leaf Sculpture, 1-3 p.m. Sunday, May 19 Create an exquisitely detailed garden ornament using a large leaf as the mold. Using fast-drying Garden Cement™, you will be able to take your leaf-casting home at the conclusion of class and finish that evening. $49/person, $42/Members. Registration required by May 13.

Basketry: House Basket, 10 a.m.3 p.m. Saturday, June 15 Weave a basket with colorful reeds upon a 6-inch by 6-inch wooden base. The basket is 6 inches tall, not including the sturdy handle. Give your basket a “country-home” flare with a bow of colored reed. $44/person, $37/ Members. Registration required by June 10.

Sculptured-Head Planter, 1-3 p.m. Sunday, June 2 Using a Styrofoam form for the base of your sculpture and a new patent-pending fast drying Garden Cement™, you can make a whimsical planter. User-friendly and environmentally safe, this cement can be used for exterior or interior design. $55/person, $47/Members. Registration required by May 27.

Planning, Planting and Tending the Herbal Tea Garden, 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, June 15 This class focuses on the many benefits of having a tea garden of your own; whether you enjoy herbs for their wonderful taste, or for their healing abilities, this will be a class you’ll enjoy. $37/person, $32/ Members. Registration required by June 10.

pen House and Garden Event Saturday, May 18 • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Master Gardener to speak from 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. You are invited to “Put your roots down at Cedar Lake Village.” To learn more or to RSVP, call (913) 780-9916 or visit www.cedarlakevillagekc.org. All faiths or beliefs are welcome. 13-G0515

May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

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The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

Heuchera & Heucherellas for the Midwest

here’s a revolution going on in plant-breeding! Heuchera have followed Hosta as one of the most enticing and popular new genera to grace your garden. From the small smattering of varieties a decade ago; there are several hundred varieties available today from breeders across the globe. The color range of these plants has gone from green or faded burgundy leaves to the gamut of minty green, to reds, yellows, oranges, metallic purples, to nearly black. Flowers, once nondescript and short-blooming, are now larger, better-branched, and reblooming in pinks, reds, whites, and even primrose yellow! “I live in the Midwest”, you say “. . . they won’t live here . . .” The fact is they can and do very well in the Midwest – the secret is understanding them. Dan Heims speaks internationally on Heuchera and has written a book with Grahame Ware, Heuchera and Heucherellas, published by Timber Press. Dan is president of Terra Nova Nurseries – the leading breeding company of Heuchera in the world. It is critical that an open ear is given to all gardeners from Overland Park to Orlando. Spending time on garden forums like Dave’s Garden, and receiving feedback from garden writers who are sent sampler packs gives Terra Nova’s breeders important information as to which varieties thrive in a particular area. This leads their pollen-dusted hands to combine the different Heuchera species that produce the strongest hybrids. But, back to understanding them . . . Terra Nova often hears that Heuchera seem to do better in containers than in the ground. Why? Because to understand a plant – you must see it in its native habitat. In the case of Heuchera, they are often seen on composted, perfectly drained forest floor or on rock cracks or in sandy soils. Read this as a plea for perfect drainage May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

– which pots allow. So, what about the soil? Clay abounds in the Midwest, and simply put – clay kills Heuchera. In Dan’s garden, he raised all of the planting beds and supplemented the existing soil. In the Midwest, look for sources of Perma Till® (expanded shale), fine gravel, and especially compost. Aged horse manure adds some bulk and extra nutrients. The forums showed that those in the Midwest who followed these practices had terrific success. How much sun do Heuchera need? A fair amount, actually. While H. ‘Green Spice’ thrives in deep shade, most of today’s hybrids prefer morning sun while getting protection from the hottest rays of the day. Careful siting of a plant or a shrub (to provide afternoon shade) is essential. Heucherellas – hybrids between Heuchera and shade-loving Tiarellas are best treated like Heuchera. A few, like H. ‘Yellowstone Falls’ – a trailing variety, prefers moderate shade. Heuchera do not need much fertilizer, so a teaspoon of time-released fertilizer, like Osmocote®, per plant in spring is plenty. Maintenance of this group is laughably easy. In spring, trim off the old leaves, feed, and cut back a few of the long “necks” – and they will branch and resprout in the coming weeks. Gardeners have found that if you dig the plant up, divide it, and rebury the plant deeper than before, they are rewarded with a reinvigorated plant. This section is emboldened as it is a very important maintenance step to be done every 2 to 3 years. Finally, mulching the plants with bark or chopped leaves (as occurs in nature) tends to prevent some of the frost-heaving that can tear plants apart. Pests are few, the worst being the antlered kind. The next worst is the black vine weevil that chews leaf edges in early June and has grubs that overwinter underground. These happily munch the rhizomes

of a number of plants and are whitish, about a half-inch long and have a darker head and a “c” shape. Watch for plants that look very wilted or collapsed. You can save healthy rhizomes (stems) and rebury them in a different spot after a visual inspection for the beasties. One good, organic solution for killing the grubs is to pour hot water (over 100 degrees F) over the damaged plant. Nematodes may be used in September to control the grubs. Remember to water before and after application to get these guided missiles into the ground. Selecting the best Heuchera and Heucherellas for the Midwest The task was to come up with a list of Heuchera and Heucherella

that do best with USDA Zone 5 to 6 winters and summers of moderate heat and humidity. These come with the recommendations of trial gardens, garden writers, and individuals such as you, who have taken the time to post in internet plant forums. Plant name, foliage color, and flower color will be listed. It is hoped that you can find some great plants for your garden in the KC area. Come by Terra Nova’s website at: www.terranovanurseries.com or friend us on Facebook to see the hottest new plants! Article and photos courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries, Dan Heims, www. terranovanurseries.com.

Heuchera and Heucherella that do best in USDA Zone 5 to 6 Heuchera Name

Leaf Color

‘Berry Smoothie’ (1) metallic pink ‘Blondie’ (dwf) warm brown-amber ‘Caramel’ amber ‘Crisp’ series many ‘Delta Dawn’ gold w/red overlay ‘Electric Lime’ (9) lime-green, winter red veins ‘Fire Alarm’ (11) coral-red ‘Georgia Peach’ coral-pink, silver overlay ‘Lime Rickey’ ruffled yellow-lime ‘Marmalade’ ruffled amber/orange/red ‘Midnight Rose’ (3) shiny black w/pink spots ‘Milan’ silvery pink ‘Mocha’ pale brown ‘Obsidian’ shiny black ‘Paprika’ (5) hot coral orange ‘Purple Petticoats’ dark purple, ruffled ‘Silver Scrolls’ silver ‘Southern Comfort’ warm orange-brown ‘Spellbound’ (8) metallic purple/silver ‘Sugar Plum’ metallic purple ‘Sweet Tart’(dwf)(4) lime-gold

Flower Color white w/red stems primrose yellow rebloomer cream white white white cream w/coral stems white w/coral stems white white tiny purple-green pink rebloomer cream tiny purple-green white w/coral stems tiny purple-green white white white pink and white rose-pink rebloomer

Heucherella Name Leaf Color

Flower Color

‘Alabama Sunrise’ (6) yellow and red ‘Brass Lantern’ (12) brass and red ‘Gold Zebra’ (10) cutleaf gold w/red ‘Solar Power’ (7) gold w/red stippling ‘Sunrise Falls’ (2) gold and red-trailing ‘Sweet Tea’ orange and red

white white w/dark stems white white white white

Heuchera and Heucherella with numbers are pictured opposite page.

Hermann Garden Tours in 19th Year Hermann, Missouri, June 1st-2nd, 9am-5pm

or the 19th Annual Garden Tour, the Hermann Garden Club will feature two types of tours: the Town Tour, a walking tour of lovely small gardens hidden behind houses in the Historic District, and the Country Tour, a driving tour to magnificent country gardens in the hills around Hermann. Tickets for the two tours will be sold separately; each tour is $10. However, a Town & Country Combo ticket will be offered for $15. Discounts will be available for groups of 10 or more. Garden Tour tickets and plants will continue to be sold at the German School at the corner of 4th and Schiller from 9 until 4 on Saturday and 9 until 2 on Sunday. The special pretour Luncheon on Friday is within easy driving distance; this event requires additional by-reservationonly tickets. All the details are at www.hermanngardentours.com and

on Facebook at “Hermann Garden Club Tours 2013”. The gardens on the 2013 Tour will be exceptional and most will be new to the tour. Country Tour gardens tend to be larger than Town Tour gardens and have different elements and features. Town Tour gardens often are either lovely cottage gardens or riverview gardens. There also will be a series of “pocket” gardens on the Town Tour this year. The Country Tour will include a landscape garden with river views and beautiful estate gardens down country roads. The very popular Gardeninspired Flea Market will continue as part of the Plant Sale in 2013. A

WELCOME TO ENRIGHT GARDENS

featured item will be unique planters filled with flowers. And there will be many native Missouri wildflowers, herbs and perennial cultivars at the plant sale. The types of plants offered can be seen on the website at www.hermanngardentours. com. The everp o p u l a r Demonstration area will return in 2013 at the Deutschheim State Historic Site. There will be information about crop rotation, companion planting, and heirloom plants. Many special activities related to the Tours will be posted on a new Hermann Garden Tours Facebook page – “Hermann Garden Club Tours 2013”. On the Friday afternoon before the tour (May 31st ), The Cottage Restaurant will host a Silent Auction and Luncheon on site at noon. The Cottage is located at 1845 Highway H and is just on the edge of town. Reservations are required and can be made by calling The Cottage at (573) 4864300. Visit the “Hermann Garden Club Tours 2013” Facebook page

starting in early May to see items that will be included in the 2013 Auction; new items will be posted every week. Finally, on both tour days, there will be a special showing of photographs of Hermann gardens and landscapes taken by Jack Wendleton. The showing will be at Buy the Book just across the street from the German school. Many of the photographs of Hermann gardens shown at www.hermanngardentours.com were taken by Jack Wendleton. Visitors will have the opportunity to buy some of Jack’s photographs as well and copies of the children’s book The Magic of Many: A Springtime Faerie Tale by Garden Tour chair Alice Calhoun. Hermann, named “the most beautiful city in Missouri” and a Missouri DREAM city, has seven wineries, over 50 bed and breakfasts inns, and many antique and specialty shops, and galleries. For more information, visit the Hermann Garden Tours website. www.hermanngardentours.com. The Garden Tours also have a new Facebook page: Hermann Garden Club Tours 2013 where you can get up to date information about special tour events and auction items. You may also call the Hermann Welcome Center at (800) 932-8687 or go to www.visithermann.com.

Prescribed by lawn and garden professionals!

EnviroMax Spring

has sprung and we are blooming at these locations. 2351 N. 400 Rd. • Edgerton, KS • Hours: 9am-6pm, Mon.-Sat. • Sun. noon-4pm 2 miles west of Edgerton on Hwy 56 • to County Line, 2 miles north 1/2 west Shawnee Location • 5920 County Line Rd., KCK • 913-375-1335 Nieman and County Line Rd. • Mon.-Sat. 9am-6pm • Sun. noon-4pm KCMO Farmers Market Location, 3rd & Walnut, Saturday only Stall 50 across (west) from the Arabian

www.enrightgardens.com 26

The Original and Proven Soil Conditioner

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Nature’s Way of Balancing the Soil and Environment Ask for these products at your favorite retailer! MFG. BY: ChemCraft, Inc. 913-579-3903 Overland Park, KS • Visit our WebSite at www.chemcraft.net The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

Rose Shows Demystified E

Discover your BLACK DIAMOND in the rough

he BLACK DIAMOND™ Crapemyrtles are a new, spectacular series of true dark leaf crapemyrtles whose foliage provides a brilliant contrast with its bloom colors. Each of these plants has dark foliage to offset a canvas of pure beauty. The BLACK DIAMOND™ Crapemyrtles were bred by a USDA research scientist and feature 5 wonderful colors to include Best Red, Crimson Red, Red Hot, Blush, and Pure White. The leaves will hold their dark color year round, excluding winter, as long as the plants are placed in an area that receives direct sunlight for most of the day. The BLACK DIAMOND™ Crapemyrtle has a long bloom season emerging in late spring and will cycle in and out of bloom until

Digital Landscape Design Mulching Plant & Shrub Installation

first frost. More frequent blooming can be achieved by cutting off the old flowers which will encourage a new round of flowers to develop and emerge. The growth characteristics of The BLACK DIAMOND™ Crapemyrtles can be described as intermediate, with a height of 4-6’ and will make an excellent choice for mass plantings or as a specimen plant in your landscape. These shrub type plants are root hardy and will most likely die back to the ground each winter to regrow the following spring from the ground level up, much like a perennial. The BLACK DIAMOND™ Crapemyrtles are sun loving, heat and drought tolerant with vibrant colors against dramatic dark foliage and a MUST HAVE for your garden!

Landscaping

Digital Design • Installations • Mulching Seasonal Color • Container Planting • Grading Deck and Fence Restoration • Staining

7pm May 9

ver wonder how to enter roses in a rose show? With the Kansas City Rose show scheduled for June 1-2 at Loose Park, many of us are probably wondering if we could have some winning roses! The Johnson County Rose Society will focus on the what’s-what and the how-to’s of rose shows at it’s meeting at 7:00 pm on May 9, at the Prairie Village Community Center, 7720 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS. The guest speaker will be Dr. Glenn Hodges. Dr. Hodges is an ARS Master Consulting Rosarian, an ARS Accredited Horticulture Judge, and a Johnson County K-State Extension Master Gardener. Dr. Hodges will tell us how to “Have Fun Showing Roses”. He will explain the different classes into which the

entries are grouped, what the judges will be looking for in a bloom, spray, or arrangement, and how to prepare your roses for the show. The meeting is free and open to the public and refreshments will be provided. Members and guests can also take advantage of the “Consulting Rosarians Corner” for a free individual consultation with a Consulting Rosarian about specific questions or concerns about all aspects of rose growing and care. For more information about the meetings, programs, or other activities of the Johnson County Rose Society, or for membership details, visit their web page at www.rsoesocietyjoco.org, or visit them on Facebook at www. facebook.com/JoCoRoses.

Great Gift Ideas for Mom and Mother Nature • bird seed • bird houses bird baths • quick-clean finch feeders & seed tubes hummingbird & oriole feeders • field guides • nitrile garden gloves • garden accents gardening books • switchable night lights • nature inspired jewelry • tilley hats and more.

Ground Maintenance

Shrub/Tree Trimming • Bedding Maintenance Mowing, Seeding & Aeration Gutter Cleaning • Buried Downspouts

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Free Estimates (913) 526-0515 May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

BIRDSEED • FEEDERS • BIRDBATHS • OPTICS • GARDEN ACCENTS 27

Midwest Themed Water Gardens “A world of grass and flowers stretched around me, rising and falling in gentle undulations as if an enchanter had struck the ocean swell, and it was at rest forever.” ~ Eliza Steele

Diane Swan

e live in the Midwest, but rarely think of our yards as Midwestthemed backyards. Rolling meadows, lazy streams, and wildflowers … Midwest is a natural setting depicting peacefulness and relaxation; balance and beauty. Our zone lends itself to being able to grow a huge variety of nonnative plants. But you can bring a true Midwest feel by thinking of the prairies as you lay out your backyard. First and foremost include the element of water with a water

garden that has quiet waterfalls, long lazy stream ending with the peaceful stillness of a pond. Think in terms of peaceful and relaxing instead of rushing and dramatic. The stream (even if you can only do a short five foot stream because of the size of your yard) will invite our native birds to stop, wash up and spend a little while. It amazes me the wide variety of birds we have in this area. By providing the water, a feeding station, and nearby trees, you will be able to enjoy the bird life all year round. When planting your water garden and surrounding landscape, think in terms of lower plantings and in larger groups. By doing this your plantings will give more the feel of rolling prairies. Your larger trees will give enough variance in your yard. Use Natives in groupings as much as possible in your water garden rather than single plants. For instance, try a grouping of flag iris

Creative landscaping for your home.

www.greenleafkc.com

816.916.5171

Annual Plant Sale Saturday, May 11th 8am to 2pm

Bass Pro Shops

or until sold out

Over 10,000 plants!! Grown for sustainability in our area. Annuals, Vegetables, Herbs, Rain or Shine Come early so you won’t miss out Perennials & Natives Checks, cash & credit accepted. Reasonable Prices! SW Corner of the Intersection of MO-291 and I-70 in Independence

For more information go to www.mggkc.org or call 816-252-5051

Sponsored by:

in all one color or to create a longer blooming time use several different colors and varieties. Arrowheads, pickerels, domesticated cattails, horsetail and more natives could be used in groups of 3 to 5 of one kind or assorted plants. Forget-me-nots are a great creeper to use to soften the rocks of the pond’s edges. The soft blue flowers are a joy to behold. Sweet flag is perfect for streams and running water. It has variegated cream and green Iris-like leaves. It does not bloom but is extremely hardy in this area. The ‘Tale’ of Sweet Flag is what makes it a must. It is told that in the Pioneer Days, when travelers crossed the prairies they would watch for sweet flag in the rivers to know where they could cross, as it only grows in shallow water. When they built their homes, they would harvest sweet flag and laid it on their dirt floors and as they walked on the sweet flag it gave off a vanilla scent. Water lilies are a must for every pond as they give shading for the

water and fish. If you want to stay more true to native you may want to choose whites, yellows, and pale pinks … but a spot of color never hurt any garden. To finish off around your water garden, you could use groupings of native grasses with accents of flowers. Prairie Dropseed is a drooping, low-growing grass, when planted in groupings can give you that prairie feel. There is a wonderful assortment of flowers you can use to mix with your grasses and add color. They can help represent the wild flowers of the Midwest: Woodland Phlox, pale purple Coneflowers, yellow Yarrow, Black-eyed Susan, Autumn Joy Sedum, Daylilies, hardy Geraniums, Lenten rose and so many more. Most of these plantings are water-wise and low-maintenance. Keep in mind that you will want to do mass plantings, not singles: perennials instead of annual. Add a sitting area for viewing and unwinding after a long day at work. Walkway paths are needed for exploring the gardens. A turtle or frog statue will add a little natural-looking whimsy. The overall look you will achieve is the peacefulness and oneness of Rolling Meadows with a meandering, bubbling stream and quiet waterfalls of a Midwestthemed backyard paradise. Kevin and Diane Swan own Swan’s Water Gardens, a full service water garden center. You may contact them at 913-592-2143.

Get your mowers and equipment in for a SPRING TUNE UP before you need them. Tune ups include changing the oil and filter, replace spark plug, air filter and sharpening blades. Check out our line of equipment.

Hustler, Country Clipper Zero Turns and Toro Zero Turns, Toro Self Propell & Push Mowers, Echo, Maruyama, Redmax, Shindaiwa and Tanaka Trimmers, Blowers, Hedge Clippers and Chain Saws are all in stock now! All equipment assembled, serviced and ready to go when you buy it. Nothing goes out of here in a box! We service what we sell and more!

Stop in and check out our store.

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Northland Feed 4807 N. Brighton, KCMO

816-452-8393

Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm • Sat. 9am-4pm Serving the Northland for 29 years

The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

Gardeners Connect presents:

Gardening in Small Spaces

any of us have estate-sized garden design ideas but much smaller areas for realizing our dreams. That is the issue to be addressed in a free lecture at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, at the Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania. The program is titled “Gardening in Small Spaces” and will be presented by garden designer Lauren Mackin. Join us for refreshments starting at 6 p.m. Gardeners Connect is sponsoring the free event. Lauren has always loved both the outdoors as well as design, so a career in landscape design was an early and natural decision. She studied horticulture and landscape design at Kansas State University as well as environmental studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She has worked as a designer in her hometown of Kansas City ever since, and her projects can be

Coreopsis Broadway

found from southern Leawood up to Parkville, and from Cedar Creek over to Lee’s Summit. The majority of her work, however, has been focused in older, more established neighborhoods like Brookside, Mission Hills, Fairway and Prairie Village. Lauren enjoys working with two design styles: modular and clean-lined, and more organic and curvilinear. When given the opportunity, her designs often incorporate natural stone materials like cut bluestone or weathered flagstone, as well as reclaimed or antique brick pavers. Mass plantings with evolving seasonal interest are one of her trademarks, and whenever possible she includes boxwood hedges and at least one variety of hydrangea. Entertaining is a passion, and she always keeps this in mind when working with clients, sometimes helping them select or even design-

Gaura Rosyjane

ing outdoor furniture. Her outdoor living room designs often incorporate container plants, and if the client is willing, fire and/or water features. Lauren’s work has been featured locally in Spaces magazine

Hosta Dream Queen

and the Kansas City Star, as well as nationally in the Better Homes and Gardens Stylemaker Issue. This winter she accepted a position as creative director and lead designer for Stonebridge Outdoor, a company specializing in the design and installation of distinct outdoor living spaces and custom-designed gardens. Gardeners Connect, formerly known as the Garden Center Association of Greater Kansas City, is a nonprofit organization established in 1958 with the construction of the Garden Center at Loose Park. The Gardeners Connect board works to live up to its mission, “To educate and inspire members of our community to become more complete gardeners,” through its free speaker series, gardening classes, children’s activities, support of the Stanley R. McLane Arboretum at Loose Park and supporting its many affiliate clubs.

Coreopsis Star Cluster

Polygonatum Variegatum 2013 Perennial Plant of the Year

Check out the New Perennials at WESTLAKE GARDEN CENTER

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Weed control in the vegetable garden By Marlin Bates

eeds in the vegetable garden specifically compete with crops for space, nutrients, water, and light. Weed control is typically a reactive activity for most gardeners, but there are several cultural practices that can proactively reduce weed pressure throughout the season. Gardeners who have adopted these practices find that the number of weeds that germinate in the vegetable garden reduces significantly over time. If your garden crops suffer from weed competition or you spend too much time weeding, these cultural practices will pay long- and short-term dividends. Like so many other things in gardening, success with weed management begins early. From proper planning and planting time, to bed preparation, pre-planting practices will have an impact on weed seed germination throughout the season. The overall goal of these preventative measures is to reduce the weed seed bank in the soil. This can be done over time by not allowing

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weeds to go to seed and through soil management practices that do not expose latent weed seeds below the soil’s surface. Tilling – Convention holds that tilling a garden’s soil is a healthy means of renewing the soil’s capacity to grow better crops. In fact, frequent tilling will not only destroy soil structure, but will also set back microorganism populations, and brings weed seeds to the surface. While some tillage can be justified for new gardening areas, most established gardens do not require annual tilling. Bed Preparation – Where soil disturbances are necessary prior to planting, gardeners can reduce weed pressure in the early part of the season. By preparing the garden a few weeks ahead of planting, newly exposed weed seeds can be allowed to germinate in the absence of the crop. Prior to planting, gardeners should shallowly cultivate to disrupt the newly-emerged weeds. This method of bed preparation will

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best when soil temperatures are well above what they are when the threat of frost has passed. Diligent gardeners will give their crops an advantage by planting them later when they can establish faster. Mulch – There are many benefits to mulching beyond weed prevention – reduced soil compaction (which can reduce the need to till), soil temperature buffering, soil moisture conservation, and allowing for cleaner access to the garden. A thick application of organic mulch that is applied within and between rows is a great way to reduce weed seed germination. There are many choices when it comes to organic mulches, but it makes sense to use what you have access to. Also, consider the mulch’s cost, resistance to wind blowing, source of weed seeds, ability to reduce compaction, and time to degradation.

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reduce the number of weeds to control during the early stages of crop development. Plant Selection – While some vegetable plants compete against weeds for needed resources better than other, growing vigorous, welladapted crops is necessary to ensure that they will compete well against weeds. Larger vegetable plants that establish their canopies quickly will shade out potential weeds better than smaller crops that do not develop dense canopies. With this in mind, gardeners should consider growing large, vigorous crops in areas of the garden that tend to yield the most weeds. Planting Time – Part of ensuring that plants establish quickly is by providing them with the best growing conditions possible. Many warmseason vegetable planting dates are “after the threat of frost has passed.” Certainly that is a good recommendation for crops that are frost-tender, but it does not consider soil temperature. Many of these crops grow

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Tour to Put Focus on Garden Design Event slated June 1, 2 in Lawrence

Tough plants and a decorative birdhouse add interest to the privacy berm in Laura Lockwood’s garden.

A playful stork wades in a pond fashioned from an old bathtub in Margarete Johnson’s garden.

Naturally designed for entertaining. Jill Bogard’s upscale home and surrounding gardens were designed with existing trees in mind. Jill’s careful planning and planting have resulted in gardens that transition all around the home and create unique areas for entertaining. Points of interest include use of rocks and berms, a dry creek bed, an outdoor fireplace and a stunning pond. Fun, four-season habitat. Beauty and whimsy abound in Megan and Jeffrey McGlinn’s landscape, designed to provide four seasons of interest and habitat for birds. Whether it’s the martini garden with its leopard-painted chairs situated under shagbark maples, a clematis-covered trellis over a wooden bridge, or playful water features that dot the grounds this garden will produce smiles and delight the senses. Repurposed objects add interest to a yard that features a multitude of tough, readily available plants used in interesting ways. Garden design through a photographer’s eye. Professional photographer Diane Guthrie considers angles, lighting and backgrounds as she sets the mood in her large flowering garden. Focal points include a pond and a beautiful raised vegetable garden. Leaf colors and textures add interest in this mostly shady yard designed with flowing curvededge beds. The overall mood is serene, especially as enjoyed from the large, comfortable, high deck.

eteran and novice gardeners alike will find plenty to love at this year’s Douglas County Master Gardeners’ biennial tour June 1 and 2 in Lawrence, Kan. Six private gardens, each with a unique focus, will offer a bounty of ideas for landscape design. Landscaping for pollinators. Margarete Johnson’s spectacular garden features edibles, unusual plants, planters and an array of antiques. At its heart, this garden revolves around butterflies, birds and other pollinators but this creative gardener also demonstrates how old farm equipment and inspirational flea market finds can add a whole new dimension to your landscape. Low maintenance oasis. Smack in the middle of a subdivision, Laura Lockwood’s garden provides a soothing, engaging, stunning surprise. A bold berm accented with native limestone adds height and privacy, enclosing the back yard. Hard working plants chime in with height, depth, visual rhythm and year-round interest. Lockwood selected plants that thrive on minimum attention to complement her lawn of droughttolerant Buffalograss, which requires little mowing. Edible landscape. Designed as a social space, Holly Journey and Devin Zell’s front-yard garden features fresh fruits and vegetables nestled among traditional perennial plantings. Keyhole beds provide easy access for cultivation and harvest, and a 550-gallon rain barrel irrigates the entire garden. May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

Adjacent to a nearby woods, fish, art and scores of plants fill Jill Bogard’s pond.

Jill Bogard’s home and gardens cozy up to already established trees.

Landscaping for education. Visitors may start the tour at any of these gardens, but a great place to begin would be the instructive collection of demonstration gardens at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds at 2110 Harper Street. Here you can explore gardens designed for sun, shade and water conservation. Some require little water, others soak up water run-off; there are grass gardens,

shrub, vegetable, and herb gardens. A plant sale is also planned at this site. Tickets can be purchased for $10 the day of your visit or, in advance, from local nurseries and garden centers. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Informal conversations on topics pertinent to each garden also will be part of the tour.

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Spring Planting for Butterflies

Lenora Larson

oon, the last frost-day, May 7th, will be past and we can safely set out our bedding plants. With the thrill of anticipation, we head to the garden centers with our lists or our impulses. Now is also the time to set a buffet to attract butterflies to your garden. Remember, a butterfly garden is not a separate area; integrate the butterfly flowers and necessary caterpillar foods into your current garden. If you have a sunny area and can forgo insecticides, it’s easy. “Plant it and they will come”. Certainly you can include Roses, Impatiens, hybrid Petunias and French Marigolds in your landscape, but these are sterile hybrids,

useless to butterflies. Be sure to also bring home some butterfly nectar favorites such as Catmint, Beebalm (Monardia), Lantana, Sages, Pentas, Phlox, Verbena, etc. Even hybrids of the Butterfly Bush are nectar-rich butterfly magnets. Also plant seeds of the beautiful old-fashioned Zinnias, Cosmos, Mexican Sunflowers, etc. Butterflies have excellent color vision, but are nearsighted, so plant flowers in colorful masses. Plant for the whole family With flowers, you now have a nectar bar, ready to serve the adult beverage. However, a true butterfly garden is a family friendly environment that feeds the children, the caterpillars. Imagine that you or your spouse were pregnant, and had to move. Would you move into a neighborhood that had only bars? No, bars are not where you raise your children. Likewise, male and female butterflies search for

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Caterpillar on parsley

Female on tropical milkweed

their caterpillar’s food plant. The males establish territories with the intention of impregnating every incoming female. And the pregnant ladies lay their eggs when their feet “taste” the right plant for their children.

Rue The old-fashioned herb, Rue, feeds the GIANT Swallowtail caterpillar that deters predators by looking like a huge, fresh bird dropping. The black and yellow adult reigns as the largest butterfly in North America. Black Swallowtail caterpillars also eat Rue, so this beautiful perennial is a “must-have” in your garden.

Readily Available Caterpillar Plants Many assume that caterpillar foods are wild and weedy, but most are attractive, garden-worthy plants that you can find at your local garden center. Here are some examples that will please both you and the butterflies. Milkweeds Enjoy Monarchs in your garden from May to October by planting members of the Milkweed family. Many garden centers offer orange Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa, pink Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata, and the Monarch’s favorite, Tropical Milkweed, Asclepias curassavica. You’ll need these Latin names to be sure you are getting the right plant. Parsley, Dill and Fennel Black Swallowtail caterpillars eat members of the carrot family such as Dill, Carrots, Fennel and Parsley. Grow enough of these plants to feed both of you and enjoy petting the darling “parsley worms”. Snapdragons Snapdragons and Angelonia (“Summer Snapdragons”) feed the caterpillars of the Buckeye Butterfly. Don’t kill the hungry caterpillars and you will be rewarded with the beautiful beige and orange butterflies flashing violet eyespots.

Sweet Alyssum If you plant Broccoli, Cabbage, or Cauliflower, you already know the caterpillar of the lovely Cabbage and Checkered White butterflies, the despised “cabbage worms.” Alyssum (AKA Lobularia) is also in the cabbage family and will feed the cabbage worms while delighting pollinators with its nectar-rich flowers. Trees When selecting landscape trees, many natives meet the needs of caterpillars with cherry shrubs and trees at the top of the menu for Red-spotted Purple, Tiger, Viceroy and Snout butterflies. Hackberry and Pawpaw trees also support butterflies. Avoid “pest-resistant” and sterile hybrids Include the needs of butterflies, especially the caterpillars, as you shop for spring plants and your summer garden will be full of ‘Flying Flowers’. MICO Extension Master Gardener and Kansas Native Plant Society member, Lenora Larson gardens and hosts butterflies in the cruel winds and clay soil of Paola, Kansas. Contact her at lenora. longlips@gmail.com. The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

Renown Peony Expert Sells Nursery By Talis Bergmanis

on Hollingsworth has sold his famed Maryville, Mo. peony nursery, and his growing fields will be dug up and moved to the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Although Hollingsworth is now entirely out of peony production and catalog sales, he will continue his hybridizing work and maintain a sizeable display garden. But this spring is the last time to see his 6-7 acres of peonies in spectacular bloom. Hollingsworth says the public is welcome during daylight hours seven days a week through May. All such tours are entirely self-guided, unless prior arrangements are made with Don. The Heartland Peony Society has scheduled a bus trip there May 19. (Read about the details in the article on page 39.) Hollingsworth’s interest in peonies began shortly after he was graduated from the University of Missouri’s agriculture program in 1948. He started collecting in 1957 and began hybridizing in the late 1960s. As his collection grew, he began selling plants and that eventually became a full-time job in 1991. After using various plots on other people’s properties, he finally moved all his plants to the present location in Maryville that year. His first catalog followed shortly after, in 1992. Over the years, Hollingsworth’s work in growing and hybridizing has earned him a position of respect and renown in the worldwide peony community. One of

Left to right, Garden Treasure, Bernice Carr and Garden Lace are just a few of Hollingsworth introductions. his early introductions, Garden Treasure, was an immediate sensation. Although for years its price was $125, demand typically outstripped supply. In his latest catalog, it still lists for $80. Hollingsworth’s breeding emphasis has always been on producing attractive blooms that are atop excellent landscape plants. Some peonies have weak stems and flop in the rain. Some have foliage that becomes unattractive during the growing season. Some have sparse blooms. Hollingsworth likes strong, vigorous plants with attractive foliage and blooms that cluster atop the plant, where they’re easily visible in a garden. Hollingsworth has grown and trialed thousands of varieties. Currently he has about 350 in the production fields and hundreds more that are being trialed and used for breeding. In recent years, the day-to-day work necessary in running the nursery became the responsibility of operations manager Luke Hudson. The understanding was that Hudson would eventually

become the owner. That changed when Hudson’s family in Arkansas needed him there to run the family’s nursing home business. Hollingsworth decided it was time to dial things back. He turns 85 this month and although his health remains good, his wife Lavon’s is increasingly fragile. Hollingsworth recently finalized the sale of 25,000 plants in four age groups, the Hollingsworth Peonies name, and its web site to Piet Wierstra and Ko Klaver, two

Dutch men who are both members of the board of the American Peony Society. Wierstra is co-owner of Oregon Perennial Company and past president of the Pacific Northwest Peony Society. He will be the production partner in the new venture. Klaver is co-owner of Bulb Trading Company of Hockessin, Delaware. He will be the marketing partner. The 25,000 plants will be removed from Maryville over the next two digging seasons.

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Below the Surface of Foundation Makeovers Leah Berg

ffective landscape design combines aesthetic considerations with functional and problem-solving considerations. Beautification choices combine personal preferences with certain design principles. But these preferences must be matched with insightful site evaluations for lasting success. Calls for help with makeovers of mature landscape frequently start with problems to solve. Drainage problems often top the “To Do” list. Inspect sites for areas where water flowing from gutter downspouts or sump pump

pipes should be redirected, or simply cleared of leaves. Cement walks, driveways and foundations often surround planting beds. Some shrubs near gutter downspouts die due to root zones in poorly-draining sites flooded periodically during rainy months. Don’t replant without redirecting the runoff, or odds are high the new shrub will die, too. Redirecting water improperly creates potential problems for adjacent properties. Whether gutter downspout lines are laying on the surface or buried and extended, they should direct stormwater away from both properties. This involves assessment of existing slopes and the site’s soil structure. Hydrostatic pressure on walls is significant since our temperatures fluctuate greatly and our region’s soil has a higher percentage of clay particles than silt and sand.

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Ready to replant after recent repairs force landscape renovations. Engineers usually must design retaining walls over certain heights (often 4’). Even short walls won’t remain level or straight built directly on shifting soil. Retaining walls need a properly prepared foundation base of crushed gravel and limestone powder (AB3). Behind walls, perforated drainage pipe topped with clean-washed gravel helps carry water away and reduce the pressure from saturated soil pushing on the wall. This relates to why many property owners find themselves dealing with basement foundation repairs, followed by landscape renovations. Unfortunately, compacted soil high in clay content tends to pull away from basement foundations during long dry summers. Dry soils developed deep cracks during last year’s drought, and I know several families dealing with costly wet basement repairs. At the Mclaughlin residence last October, two days of proposed work by the company hired turned

into four. The final bill was nearly double the cost estimate. And doubly frustrating, a similar crisis happened in September, 2005 after a 10” rain following a prolonged drought period. In the 2012 repair they discovered buried downspout lines from the neighbor to the north impacted the Mclaughlins. Lines were connected and redirected in a new French drain under a deeper swale to carry water to an exit point in the west-sloping back yard. A similar treatment on the south side meant removal of existing shrubs. In-ground irrigation pipes were moved, then reconnected. Grass seed topped with straw in the turf zones disturbed last October by the contractor is growing now. We began discussing ideas then for landscape renovations. Soon Bob will plant the new landscape we’ve planned. Why not replant shrubs immediately following the repairs? After the extensive work, the new soil on top needed time to

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settle. Bob watered the area periodically and compacted the 2’ wide zone closest to the foundation. This slopes away from the wall (a minimum 2% grade desired) and will not be amended, disturbed or planted. It also provides a maintenance path access for weeding and to paint the stucco exterior. Soil in the adjacent planting zone is amended with cotton burr compost. Narrow due to property line limits (just 11’ out from the south wall), root balls of new compact sun-loving shrubs will be at least 4’ out from the foundation. Shredded bark mulch will repress weeds, conserve moisture, and reduce soil temperature extremes. Landscape architects receive extensive training in stormwater management and examine the big picture including erosion, pollution and public safety. I consulted Pete Loughlin and Robert Whitman, who agree this zone may be topdressed with decorative rock or soil but advise not using organic-rich amended soil which settles more significantly. Leave 6” of foundation exposed to prevent moisture damage to siding and inspect for termites periodically. Horticulturist Dave Kriegh also had home foundation repairs this February. He teaches classes on turf management and soils in our program at MCC-Longview. Dave plans to let the disturbed soil area settle about 6 months before replanting. Fall planting also means avoiding hot summer transplant stress. Dave supervised the repair company hired, separating the topsoil

from the clay subsoil. They hand dug to the concrete footing to install drain pipe outside and a sump pump inside the basement. Groundwater (the underground saturated zone) will drain to the sump as it seeps through the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock. Perforated pipe in its gravel bed with an engineered drain mat installed right next to the foundation helps move water away from the foundation to a daylightopening exit point to prevent a “ponding” effect, reducing pressure against the wall. Dave’s excavated soil was replaced “…and watered in as a mud as it was backfilled to reduce settling and large pores in the subsoil, creating a continuous conduit for the movement of water up and down in the soil profile.” Dave notes “The natural clays that exist here in the Midwest naturally have large shrink/swell capacity due to water fluctuations. To counter this, an even level of soil moisture is highly desirable but difficult to maintain when you shut down sprinkler systems for winter months.” For more information, read “Ignoring Poor Drainage Can Be Costly Mistake” (http://www.ksre. ksu.edu/) and consult reputable experts as needed. Leah Berg is a landscape designer with a conservation emphasis. She teaches at MCC-Longview and is also the Agribusiness/Grounds and Turf Management department coordinator. To consult privately, contact her at 816-353-7170.

Garden Tour will Delight and Educate

he 7th Annual Garden Walk sponsored by Lake Area Master Gardeners will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2013, from 9-2. Tickets go on sale May 1 and may be purchased at Central Bank and First National Bank locations in the lake area. Tickets will be available the day of the tour at Willmore Lodge in Lake Ozark. Tickets are $10 rain or shine. It is a tremendous education to see what people in the area grow. At the lake, we battle rocky clay soil and an invasive deer population. Come get ideas

about plants to use in your garden and ways to deal with the “critters” in our environment. The tour features a wide variety of plantings and outdoor living areas. Lake Area Master Gardeners will be on hand to teach people not only what is possible but also how to garden responsibly. Local artists from the Ozarks Brush and Palette Organization will be painting in the gardens the day of the tour. Questions? Email Glenda at glenda_hinrichs@yahoo.com or call 573-365-5033.

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Properly Dispose Hazardous Products

ocused on environmental responsibility, gardeners are likely to recycle garden debris into the compost pile, or leave it for pickup at the curb. But what about garden products that are unused, outdated, and considered hazardous? If you’re cleaning out the garden shed or garage, and it’s time to dispose of old herbicides, fertilizers, stains and paints, what do you do with them? There are regional household hazardous waste collection facilities and are available for residents to safely dispose their household hazardous waste. A list of these locations, along with directions and hours of operation, is available on the Mid-America Regional Council web site (http://www.marc.org/Environment/SolidWaste/HHW/hhwfacilities. htm). Here’s an abbreviated list for easy reference.

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A Rare One Day Garden Tour May 18, 2013 10am-5pm Rain or Shine

* Six gorgeous private gardens, each dressed up for a party! * Gift shop with delightful items * Fairy Garden Raffle — donated by Red Cedar Gardens * One day 20% lunch discount @ selected restaurants

More information and tickets at our website www.entertaininggardens.com or call Powell Gardens 816-697-2600 ext. 209

ttend an orientation meeting on June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at MDC Discovery Center in Kansas City. Are you the kind of person that stops to listen to a bird singing in the trees? Does the movement of a caterpillar inching along a leaf catch your eye? If so, you have the curiosity and interest in nature that a Missouri Master Naturalist holds dear. A joint venture between the University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), the Missouri Master Naturalist Program is a volunteer service organization dedicated to education and the conservation of our state’s natural resources. A Master Naturalist may serve volunteer hours helping out at any of the 16 partner organizations in the Kansas City area. For example, a naturalist may help with a children’s program at MDC’s Anita Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City, or cut down invasive bush honeysuckle vegetation at George Owens Nature Park in Independence. Master Naturalist volunteers were present recently

at Eagle Days at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, sharing knowledge of these majestic birds with visitors. The opportunities are limitless. In 2012, Master Naturalists in Kansas City volunteered more than 7,000 hours toward conserving natural resources and sharing nature education. To become a Master Naturalist, after application, about three months of weekly training sessions prepare you with knowledge of Missouri ecology. Each member is required to serve 40 hours of volunteer service and attend eight hours of advanced training annually to remain certified. Monthly meetings offer inspiring educational programs and enjoyable social opportunities with others who share your passion for nature. An orientation meeting will be held June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the MDC Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave. in Kansas City. For more information or to apply, contact Stacey Davis at the Discovery Center at (816) 7597300, or Stacey.Davis@mdc. mo.gov. The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

May

garden calendar n LAWNS

• Verticut or core aerate zoysia to reduce thatch layer. • Sod or sprig bare areas of zoysia. • Fertilize zoysia with high a nitrogen product to promote green-up and summer growth. • Mow zoysia at 2 inches tall. • If watering during summer, apply slow release fertilizer to bluegrass and tall fescue. • Mow bluegrass and tall fescue at 3 inches. • Spot treat broadleaf weeds. • Withhold early summer watering until needed to promote more drought tolerant lawns. • Let grass clippings fall to return needed nutrients to the turf. • Keep mower blade sharp for a clean cut.

n FLOWERS

• Plant annual flowers for summer color. • Continue to plant and divide perennials. • Mulch perennial and annual gardens for weed control and moisture retention. • Begin pinching chrysanthemums for bushier plants. • Do not remove foliage from spring bulbs until it dies down naturally, this develops stronger blooms for next year. • Plant container gardens and hanging baskets using a good quality potting mix. • Keep a garden journal for permanent reference.

n VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

• Plant tomato, pepper and eggplant transplants in early May. • Seed sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, beans and other warm season vegetables. • Lightly cultivate soil with a hoe to control weed growth. • Mound soil around potato plants to encourage tuber formation.

• Harvest fresh asparagus until the spear size decreases. • Remove rhubarb seed stalks to encourage leaf growth. • Plant kitchen herbs for summer use in dishes or food preservation. • Harvest salad crops and enjoy. • Keep broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage well-nourished for big yields. • Treat fruit trees with needed pesticides to manage insects and disease. • Thin heavy fruit set on apples to increase fruit size and next year’s crop.

n TREES AND SHRUBS

• Plant new trees and shrubs. • Prune spring flowering shrubs after bloom to shape the plant and encourage flowers next year. • Mulch around young trees and shrubs to conserve moisture and control weed growth. • Water young ornamentals as needed. • Remove tree wraps for summer growth. • Remove tree stakes that have been in place more than one growing season. • Fertilize trees to help increase growth rates. • Caution – use line trimmers around trees and shrubs so as not to damage tender bark.

n HOUSEPLANTS

• Move plants outdoors for summer by gradually increasing the exposure to sunlight. • Fertilize plants to promote summer development. • Rotate plants to develop a well-rounded plant. • Wash dusty leaves in the shower under room temperature water. • Four to 6-inch cuttings are a great way to start new plants. • Repot plants into a 1-inch larger pot. • Check for insects.

Johnson County K-State Research and Extension recommends environmentally-friendly gardening practices. This starts by identifying and monitoring problems. Cultural practices and controls are the best approach for a healthy garden. If needed, use physical, biological or chemical controls. Always consider the least toxic approach first. Dennis Patton is the horticulture agent for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.

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References Available • Free Estimate

Upcoming Garden Events places to go, things to do, people to see

www.mlna.org

To GROW A Better Garden, Shop With A STAR Ellen Barredo Bowood Farms Ted Bergman Willow Landscaping Sheri Bohrer Forrest Keeling Nursery Dave Brakhane Pleasantview Landscaping

Kristopher Fuller Full Features Nursery & Landscape Center Matt Hagemann Meyer Landscaping Staci Hentges Longfellow’s Garden Center

Mark Brakhane Pleasantview Landscaping

Sandra Hillermann McDonald Hillermann Nursery & Florist

Bob Call Longfellow’s Garden Center

Aaron Jung Horticultural Impressions

Jeff Coffey Jeff Coffey’s Landscaping

Glenn Kristek Wickman Garden Village

Cynthia Collins Hartke Nursery

Joe Krygiel Baxter Gardens West

Mike Curran Summer Winds

Gregg Larsen Gregg Larsen Landscaping

Damon Doherty Hillside Landscaping

Roland Lenzenhuber Forest Lawn Nursery

Steve Dorrell Carson’s Nursery

John Logan Logan Landscape & Design

Janet Dueber Longfellow’s Garden Center

Alice Longfellow Longfellow’s Garden Center

Susan Ehlenbeck MO Dept. of Agriculture

Eric Lovelace Forrest Keeling Nursery

Kim Lovelace-Young Forrest Keeling Nursery Henry McCormick Carson’s Nursery Anne McKinstry McKinstry Plant Sales Rain Miljan Hillside Landscaping Nikki Pettit Wickman Garden Village Don Sherman Hillermann Nursery and Florist Inc Kevin Sir Bowood Farms Arlene Trombley Summer Winds Jim Van Valkenburg Sherwood’s Forest Donald Walls Hartke Nursery David Wehmeyer Hillermann Nursery & Florist Inc Lynn Young Baxter Gardens West

Doug English

Missouri Certified Green Industry Stars is a Missouri State certification program designed to: • Raise the standards of the state’s Green Industry’s Professional Horticulturists • Assist the public in identifying Certified Green Industry Horticulture Professionals who have been tested on Basic Principles of Horticulture, Environmental Stewardship Ideals and Best Management Practices as they apply to the state of Missouri.

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

www.mlna.org 38

Club Meetings African Violets of Greater Kansas City Tues, May 14, 6-8pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Members meeting. 816-784-5300 Bonsai Society of Greater Kansas City Sat, May 18, 9:30am-3pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Workshop. 816-7845300 Gardeners Connect Tues, May 21, 6-8pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Program/Powell Gardens. 816-784-5300 Gardeners Connect Tues, May 28, 6-8pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Lecture. 816-7845300 Gardeners of America Mon, May 6, 6-8pm; at Overland Park Arboretum, 8909 West 179th Street, Overland Park, KS 66085. The Greater Kansas City Gardener’s of America Club will gather at the Overland Park Arboretum at 5:30 pm with the tour beginning promptly at 6:00 pm. and ending at 7:00 pm. We will begin by viewing and learning about theˇcontroversialˇstatue and moving to the spring gardens of the arboretum. The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is 300 acres dedicated to the preservation and restoration of 8 natural ecosystems. This beautiful park offers homeowners, landscapers and arborist anˇopportunityˇto view and evaluate a wide variety of hybrid trees and shrubs, native to this area. Guest are always welcome. Come join us and make a new gardening friend. Fee - $3.00 per person. Contact Vince at 816-313-8733 for additional information. GreaterKCGOA@gmail.com. Greater Kansas City Gardeners of America Mon, May 6, 6-8pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Members meeting. 816-784-5300 Greater Kansas City Herb Study Grp Wed, May 8, 12-2pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Social hour starts at 11 am. Mae Christenson of the Johnson County Community College will speak

on composting. Visitors are welcome. Call 913-592-3546 for reservations. Heart of America Gesneriad Society Sat, May 18, 9:30am-12pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Members meeting. 816-784-5300 Idalia Butterfly Society Sat, May 11, 6:45-8pm; at Prairie Village Community Center, 7700 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS. Potluck Dinner at 5:30pm; Beverages and table service provided. Guests are always welcome. Program: Learn to Love Spiders! (or at least appreciate them.) Hank Guarasco, PhD, Adjunct Curator of Arachnids at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, will bring live and preserved specimens for observation. He has studied the distribution of spiders in Kansas for over 30 years and will discuss their fascinating behaviors and provide insights on identification and avoidance techniques for the arachnophobic. Independence Garden Club Sat, May 4, 6:30pm; at Sermon Center, Noland and Truman Rds, 4th floor, Independence, MO. Our speaker will be Alane Kinn from the Master Gardener’s of KC; subject will be rain gardens. Visitors are welcome and refreshments are served. We will also be having our annual plant sale May 4 at Independence Farmers Market, corner of Main and Truman Rds, one block north of the Independence Square. Stop by and get something for Mothers Day or your home. Visit our website www. independencegardenclub.com or call 816-373-1169 or 816-796-4220. Johnson County Rose Society Thurs, May 9, 7pm; at Prairie Village Community Center, 7720 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS. All meetings are free and open to the general public. For more information about the meetings, programs, and other activities of the Johnson County Rose Society, or for membership details, please visit www. rosesocietyjoco.org; www.Facebook. com/JoCoRoses. Kansas City Cactus & Succulent Society Sun, May 19, 1:30-3:30pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Members meeting. 816-784-5300 Kaw Valley Herbs Study Group Tues, May 14, 7pm; at Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence, 1263 N 1100 The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

Rd, Lawrence, KS. We meet monthly to learn about herbs. We explore all aspects of an herb: growing & harvesting, historical lore, culinary virtues, medicinal merits, and aromatherapy, household, and cosmetic applications. Our gatherings are fun and educational, and jam-packed with useful information, including relevant demonstrations. Our May focus herbs are FENNEL and DILL, plus we’ll learn about HERBS FOR BUTTERFLIES and SALAD HERBS and you never know what you’ll learn during our popular “Share, Show, and Tell” segment. Everyone with an interest in herbs is welcome. There is a $2 charge to cover costs (KVHSG is a non-profit group; no charge for students). No pets. Nursing babies and children over 10 are welcome. www.facebook.com/ HerbGroup Lenexa Field and Garden Club Tues, May 14, 7-8pm; at Johnson County Extension Center, 11811 S Sunset Drive, Olathe, KS 66061. Topic: Drought resistant plants. Meetings are open to the public. Membership fee is $10 for single and $15 for a couple. www.lenexafieldandgardenclub.org. Contact 913-529-3204 or 913-4496563. Mid America Begonia Society Sat, May 18, 1-4pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Members meeting. 816-784-5300 Orchid Society of GKC Sun, May 5, 1:30-5pm; at Lenexa Senior Center, 13420 Oak St, Lenexa, KS. Neofinitia falcata and Its Hybrids, Peter T. Lin, Diamond Orchids, Southern California. Come and learn about the exotic, fragrant, miniature orchid from Japan. Public is always welcome! www.osgkc.org. www.diamondorchids.com Shawnee Garden Club Thurs, May 2, 7pm; at the Town Hall of Old Shawnee on Johnson Drive. Spring Plant Exchange and Earl May Nursery. Outdoor meeting garden address to be shared at a later date. Chris Ekeland from Earl May will show us what’s new this year and container gardening. www.shawneegarden.homestead.com ShoMe African Violets Society Fri, May 10, 10:30am-2pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Members meeting. 816-784-5300

Events, Lectures & Classes May Fresh Promises Farmers Market & Sunflowers Weds, 4:30-7pm; at The Barn at 9210 Kill Creek Road in DeSoto, KS. (exit May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

northeast corner of K-10 and Kill Creek Road). Enjoy fresh produce and pick your own sunflowers from nine varieties. Proceeds benefit De Soto Rotary’s Sunflower PolioPlus Project.

Pond and Water Features Designs • Installations • Upgrades Repairs • Maintenance

Olathe Garden & Civic Club Annual Plant Sale May 1, 8am; at 15705 W. 138th St. in Olathe. Perennials, annuals, herbs and plant related items.ˇSigns will be out.ˇFrom I35, take Santa Fe east to Brougham, south, to 138th St.ˇPublic is welcome.ˇMeeting will follow. Overland Park Arboretum Spring Plant Sale Thurs, May 2, preview sale and reception for Friends of the Arboretum members, 4-7pm. Join FOTA and receive 10% member discount. Open to the public on Fri and Sat, May 3-4, 9am-5pm. No admission fee to attend the plant sale. Enormous selection of certified organic herbs, collectors’ hostas, native woodland plants and prairie wildflowers, annuals, perennials, and much more. Lush combination planters and hanging baskets for Mother’s Day. Free herb demonstrations both days at 12:30. The arboretum is located 1/2 mile west of Hwy 69 at 179th & Antioch. 913-683-3604 18th Annual Spring Dig Plant Sale Thurs-Sat, May 2-4; at 6837 Nieman, Shawnee, KS. Location is Shawnee Presbyterian Church. To benefit CrossLines Community Outreach, Inc. Sale will be held, rain or shine. The sale is under a tent. There will be beautiful annuals, perennials, herbs, hanging baskets, patio planters and tomatoes. Stop by and pick up a lovely plant for Mother’s Day. Hours: Thursday and Friday 8am to 7pm, Saturday 8am to noon. For further information 913281-3388. Kansas City Garden Club Plant Sale May 3-4, 8am-5pm; at 400 W 119 Terr, Kansas City, MO. There will be a large selection of perennials for you to choose from. Easy to find location. Travel down Wornall Rd and turn west on 119th Terr and proceed 1&1/2blocks to # 400. Hope to see you there! Wyandotte Co EMG Annual Plant Sale May 3-4, 9am-5pm Fri, 9am-2pm Sat; in the parking lot at Wyandotte County Extension office, 1216 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. There will be a large selection of annuals, perennials, vegetable plants and edibles that have been specially selected for NE Kansas & NW Missouri growing area for purchase by the public. We are offering Master Gardener grown perennials, vegetable plants and herbs. Bring your own pots to our container planting station, let us help you select appropriate plants from (continued on page 40)

We also offer Artificial Boulders, Waterfalls and Fountains. Available in many shapes and sizes.

Wendy Hix 913.481.5416 • Tate Foster 913.406.6804 www.hixandsonaquatics.com

Last chance to see Don Hollingsworth’s fields of peonies in bloom!

ollingsworth has sold his wonderful specialty nursery, and starting this fall the peony plants will be moved to Oregon. The Heartland Peony Society is sponsoring a bus trip Saturday May 18 to see the full 6-7 acres in their last blooming season. Hollingsworth is one of the premier peony growers/hybridizers in the country. His numerous introductions include: Delaware Chief (1984) Garden Treasure (1984) Border Charm (1984) Prairie Princess (1984) Show Girl (1984) Many Happy Returns (1986) Early Glow (1992) Garden Lace (1992) My Love (1992) Prairie Charm (1992) Summer glow (1992) Sweet Melody (1992) Lavon (1993) Color Magnet (1994) Bernice Carr (1995) Age of Victoria (1996) Cherry Ruffles (1996) Command Performance (1996) Glenny Carlene (1996)

Jubilation (1996) Lorelei (1996) White Doves (1996) La Donna (1997) Fairfield (1998) Blonde Vision (2001) Flaming Star (2001) Pink Teacup (2001) Kathryn Ann (2002) Suzanna Holz (2004) Mary Elizabeth (2004) Valentine (2004) Love Affair (2005) Prairie Sunshine (2005) Stellar Charm (2005) Ring of Fire (2007) In the Mood (2008) Kathy’s Touch (2009) Sunny Day (2011) Many of these varieties should be in bloom May 18. On the return trip from Maryville, the bus tour will stop at a private garden in St. Joseph and at Comanche Acres, an iris nursery in Gower. Lunch is included in the all-day trip. Cost is $30 for HPS members and $35 for non-members. For full information and reservations, contact HPS president Mike Moore at 913-783-4554. 39

May is for Plant Lovers at Powell Gardens,

Kansas City’s botanical garden

owell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden, brims with inspiration for gardeners throughout the month of May—from the Spring Plant Sale to guided tours of its magnolia collection. Admission, unless otherwise noted, is $10/adults, $9/seniors, and $4/ children 5-12. Powell Gardens’ Spring Plant Sale 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 4-5 During the first weekend of May serious gardeners shop Powell Gardens’ only plant sale of the year for a wide range of perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables, trees, shrubs, seeds and some of Powell Gardens’ own best performers. Powell Gardens’ knowledgeable horticulture staff will be on hand throughout the sale to help with selections. Garden admission applies: $10/adults, $9/seniors and $4/ children 5-12. See powellgardens.org/plantsale for details. Garden Chef Series: Cooking Demonstration by Chef Carey Weir, Salt Catering 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5 Stop by the Missouri Barn to see what Carey Weir, chef/owner at Salt Catering in Kansas City, prepares using fresh ingredients from the Heartland Harvest Garden. Garden admission applies: $10/adults, $9/seniors and $4/children 5-12. For details about the Garden Chef Series visit powellgardens.org/chefs. National Public Gardens Day Celebration 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, May 10 Join us as we celebrate the importance of America’s public gardens with a number of special activities. Watch powellgardens.org/ NPGD for details. See page 11 about Paul James, Gardener Guy™ and host of HGTV’s Gardening by the Yard, who will come to Powell Gardens to celebrate National Public Gardens Day. Garden Chef Series: Cooking Demonstration by Chef Amber Shea Crawley, author of Practically Raw and Practically Raw Desserts 3 p.m. May 10 Amber Shea Crawley is a chef and cookbook author specializing in vegan and raw food. Her first cookbook, Practically Raw: Flexible Raw Recipes Anyone Can Make, debuted in 2012. Her second cookbook, Practically Raw Desserts, will be released this spring. Chef Amber will prepare a recipe using fresh ingredients grown in the Heartland Harvest Garden. The demo is included with Garden admission: $10/adults, $9/seniors and $4/children 5-12. Bonsai Society of Greater Kansas City’s Spring Exhibit at Powell Gardens, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. May 11-12 Learn about the living art of bonsai during the Bonsai Society of Greater Kansas City’s spring exhibit at Powell Gardens. See a variety of stunning trees and talk with growers. Each afternoon, there will be a presentation on designing and caring for bonsai trees. Society members will be available to answer questions throughout the exhibit. Garden admission applies: $10/adults, $9/seniors and $4/children 5-12. Iris Weekend at Powell Gardens 9 a.m.-6 p.m. May 11-12* Stroll through the Gardens to “Iris Hill,” where hundreds of multicolored irises await. Greater Kansas City Iris Society members will (continued on page 41)

Upcoming Garden Events places to go, things to do, people to see (continued from page 39)

our sale, and we’ll plant them up for you for just the cost of the potting soil used. The Master Gardener Program is a volunteer educational service with the mission of providing sound horticulture information to the residents of Wyandotte County. Proceeds from the sale will go towards the various gardens and programs sponsored by the Master Gardeners. Greater Kansas City Dahlia Society Tuber/Root Sale May 4-5, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 10am3pm, at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Dahlia growers will be on hand to answer questions. Questions, contact Randy Burfeind at 913-451-3488. Central Missouri Master Gardener Plant Sale Sat, May 4, 7am-noon; at Jaycee Fairgrounds, 1445 Fairgrounds Rd, Jefferson City, MO. This year in response to the Midwest drought, we will feature natives…natures drought tolerant plants. Visitors will learn the advantages of natives and the best way to use them in their landscapes. Customers will also find approximately 7500 Square feet of master gardener grown vegetables, heirloom tomatoes, herbs and new introduction perennials and annuals. While in Jefferson City, visit our demonstrations Garden with a beautiful view of the Missouri River and bicycle the historic Katy Trail. Website: extension.missouri.edu/cole/ cmmg.aspx or, find us on Facebook at Central Missouri Plant Sale. Independence Garden Club Plant Sale Sat, May 4, 7am-1pm; at the Independence Farmers market corner of Main and Truman Rd’s one block north of the Independence square. There will be many kinds of plants and flowers at bargain prices. Stop by and get something for Mothers day or for your home. For more information www.independencegardenclub.com or call 816-373-1169 or 816-796-4220. Kansas City Garden Club’s Annual Spring Luncheon Mon, May 6, 10:30am-1:30pm; at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, 4801 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO. “The Celebrated, the Overlooked and the Notorious Native Flowers and Grasses of the Kansas City Area” will be the morning program presented by Mike Haddock. After lunch, Kay Schaefer, Florissant, Mo, a Master

Floral Judge/Designer will entertain and enlighten you with “Spring Into Spring: Exhilarating, Artful Floral Designs”. Event tickets are $20 with a deadline of Apr 22nd. Make your check out to Kansas City Garden Club and mail to Kaye Vance, 4346 Lobo Court, Lee’s Summit, Mo 64064-1418. If you have questions, call Kaye at 816-373-9073. The Greater Kansas City Iris Society Iris Show Sat, May 11, 12-4 pm; at the Trailside Center, 99th & Holmes, Kansas City, MO. Specimens and arrangements will be judged and awarded ribbons and other honors as approved by the American Iris Society. The public is encouraged to bring flowers for display or for entry. All varieties for entry must be correctly named. Iris should be cut near the soil line and will be displayed in provided containers. Please contact the Iris Society for show entry times, information, and guidelines prior to the date of the show at 913-406-2709 or check our website for the latest details. kciris.org Annual Spring Hosta and Shade Plant Sale Sat, May 11, 9am-2:30pm; at Faith Lutheran church, 4805 W 67th St, Prairie Village, KS. Sponsored by Heartland Hosta & Shade Plant Society. A great collection of lovely new hostas and other shade perennials, including but not limited to, selected fern varieties; Carex siderosticha, “Banana Boat”; and Bleeding Heart, “Gold Heart”. There will be a free gift for children over age 4, who are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Public welcome. For info call Gwen. 816-228-9308 Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas Annual Plant Sale Sat, May 11, 8am-2pm, or until sold out; at Bass Pro Shops, at the corner of I-70 and MO-291 in Independence. Over 10,000 reasonably priced plants that are sustainable for our climate area, including annuals, vegetables, herbs, perennials and native plants. Come early to get the best! See our website May 1 for a complete listing of plants available: www.mggkc.org. We also have a blog to answer all your local gardening questions, plus up-todate articles about what’s going on in gardening in our area. www.mggkcblog.wordpress.com Sprouting Workshop Sat, May 11, 10am-noon; at The Gardens at Unity Village, 150 NW Colbern Rd (the historic Unity Apple The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

Barn, 1/4 mile west of the intersection of Lee’s Summit Rd and Colbern Rd). No space for a garden? With a little know-how, you can grow your own greens even in the winter! Jerry King will facilitate our workshop on growing nutritious sprouts in trays, jars or natural fiber bags. Attendees will be treated to a tasty sprout salad. Come pick your favorite sprout and get started! $10. (Free to Gardens of Unity Village members). Call 816-769-0259 and leave a message/make a reservation. Herb and Plant Sale Sat, May 11, 9am-1pm; at Wyatt Park Christian Church, 27th and Mitchell, St Joseph, MO. Herbs, perennials, plants of every kind available for sale. Come early for best selection, by St Joseph Herb Gardeners Club. Miami County Farm Tour May 11-12. With one new stop featured this year, the Miami County Farm Tour will mark its 10th year of celebrating farm life. All of the stops will be open to visitors Saturday, May 11 from 9am to 4pm and Sunday, May 12 from 10am to 4pm. A new addition at several sites will be the use of QR codes. Paola High School students have been working with the five sites to create the codes and provide a more in depth look at the farm’s operations. More details next month and at www. MICOFarmTour.com. Liberty Town and Country Garden Club Plant Sale Fri, May 17, 8am-10m; at Rotary Plaza, corner of Gallatin and Franklin Streets, 1 block west of the Liberty Square. The Liberty Town and Country Garden Club is sponsoring a Plant Share for area residents. Garden club members will share plants from their personal gardens with the community. Area gardeners are also encouraged to bring their own divided perennials, shrubs or annuals to share. No early birds please. The plant share is an annual community service provided by the Town and Country Garden Club which has been in existence in Liberty since 1947. Designing with Roses in Modern Gardens Fri, May 17, 10:30am; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64112. The Kansas City Rose Society is proud to sponsor a special presentation by Reed Dillon, a renowned award-winning Landscape Architect/Designer. Limited space: RSVP to Arlyn Silvey 816-505-4494 or asilvey@kc.rr.com. No Charge Miami County Garden Tour Fri, May 17 and Sat, May 18, 9am5pm both days. Hosted by Miami Co Extension Master Gardeners. Tickets $10 on tour days. Advance ticket sales May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

start Apr 1, for $8, from all First Option Bank locations, Price Chopper in Paola and Spring Hill, Miami Co Extension office and online at www.miami.ksu. edu. 913-294-4306 The Westport Garden Club – Entertaining Gardens Sat, May 18, 10am-5pm, rain or shine; visit six gorgeous private gardens in Mission Hills, Sunset Hill, Prairie Village and Fairway to benefit Powell Gardens’ Heartland Harvest Garden. A gift shop will offer many delightful items. Red Cedar Gardens has donated one of its fabulous fairy gardens for a raffle. Plan to enjoy lunch with a 20% discount at area restaurants. Tickets are $40 in advance or $45 at the door. A $65 Patron ticket entitles the holder to visit the gardens an hour early. See www.entertaininggardens.com for further information and tickets or call Linda Burton at Powell Gardens, 816697-2600, ext 209 for tickets. Northland Garden Club - Tea in the Garden Sat, May 18, 3-5pm; in a very unique garden in the Northland - near Parkville. An elegant tea menu to include delicious sandwiches, desserts, scones and several special teas. Limited seating, tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance, no later than May 1. Just for fun, hats may be worn, but certainly are not required! Tickets may be purchased by contacting: galettiwildlifestudio@yahoo.com. Rain date scheduled for Sun, May 19, 3-5pm. Garden Show & Plant Sale Sat, May 18, 10am-2pm; at Cedar Lake Village, 15325 S Lone Elm Rd, Olathe, KS. You’re invited to “Put your roots down at Cedar Lake Village”, an open house and garden show event! A Master Gardener will be speaking from 10:30 to 11:30am. Vendors from around the Olathe area will be here selling plants and flowers. Check back closer to the date for more details on the speaker and topic! Please RSVP to info@cedarlakevillagekc.org or call Abby at 913-780-9916. Master Gardeners of the Ozarks Garden Tour Sat, May 18, 8:30am-4 pm; at Five Oaks Farms, Forsyth, MO. ?The Master Gardeners of the Ozarks? invite you to another spectacular garden tour that will not only offer a fun day with friends but a learning experience in a setting that is unique. Please join us for a day of gardening demonstrations, lunch, and a guided tour of the estate. You will meander along the rock paths to explore the rose garden, perennial beds, shade garden, vegetable garden, and the greenhouse. Demonstrations to include: Rose Gardening, Perennial Flowers, Shade Gardening, Workings of a Greenhouse, (continued on page 42)

Powell Gardens (continued) be at the hill to answer questions from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Garden admission applies: $10/adults, $9/seniors and $4/ children 5-12. *Mid-May is usually peak bloom time for irises, but it does vary—check powellgardens.org for updates or call 816-6972600 before you head out. Mother’s Day Performance & Brunch at Powell Gardens 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 12 Powell Gardens celebrates Mother’s Day with a reservation-only brunch in Café Thyme and a live outdoor concert by Brookside Brass on the lawn from 1 to 3 p.m. To make brunch reservations for 11 a.m. or 1 p.m., call 816-697-2600 x209. Brunch prices include admission to the Gardens: * Non-members: $30/adults and $14/children 5-12 (free for kids 4 and under) * Members: $25/adults and $12/children 5-12 (free for kids 4 and under) Visitors also may bring picnics to be enjoyed in the performance area only. See details at powellgardens.org/mothersday. Garden admission applies: $10/adults, $9/seniors and $4/children 5-12. Armed Forces Day — Free Admission for Active and Retired U.S. Military, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. May 18 Active and retired U.S. military members who present their military ID at the gate will receive free admission on Armed Forces Day. Thank you for your service. Garden Chef Series Demo, 2 p.m. May 19 Jamie Milks, owner of Everyday Organic Cookery, and Pete Dulin, author/editor of “Last Bite: 100 Simple Recipes from Kansas City’s Best Chefs and Cooks” join forces to demonstrate spring garden cooking ideas. Garden admission applies: $10/adults, $9/seniors and $4/children 5-12. Magnolia Walk at Powell Gardens 1-3 p.m. May 25 Join Alan Branhagen, Director of Horticulture, for a guided tour of Powell Gardens’ magnificent magnolia trees. The Gardens’ magnolia collection has been certified by the American Public Gardens Association’s North American Plant Collections Consortium. RSVP to 816-697-2600 x209. Garden admission applies: $10/adults, $9/ seniors, $4/children ages 5-12, free/members. Garden Chef Series Demo by Cody Hogan, Chef de Cuisine at Lidia’s 2 p.m. May 26 Cody Hogan is a fantastic chef and avid gardener. Chef Cody will prepare a tasty dish featuring fresh ingredients from the Heartland Harvest Garden with a limited number of samples available. Garden admission applies: $10/adults, $9/seniors and $4/children 5-12. Nature Connects Preview Party with Sean Kenney at Powell Gardens, 6-9 p.m. May 31 Be among the first to see Nature Connects at Powell Gardens and meet Sean Kenney, the New York artist who created the 27 largerthan-life sculptures using nearly 500,000 LEGO® bricks! For nearly a decade, Sean Kenney has been using LEGO® toys as a medium for contemporary sculpture. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BBC news, ELLE and Good Morning America, and he has created pieces for television shows, celebrities, tourist attractions, and fortune 500 companies around the world. See powellgardens.org/exhibits for details and to make reservations for this ticketed event. 41

Upcoming Garden Events

Urban Grown activities begin June 15

places to go, things to do, people to see

Tour: Saturday & Sunday, June 22 & 23, 2013 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets: www.cultivatekc.org

We’re growing. Explore a record number of 60 sites this year! That’s 60 local growers, all with unique sites, crops and farming techniques that they can’t wait to share with you. A perfect fit. Gardening isn’t one size fits all, and there’s certainly something for everyone. Market farms. Community gardens. School gardens. Charitable gardens. Home gardens. Kids’ gardens. What inspires you? Cultivate the Change. The 2013 Urban Grow Farms & Gardens Tour challenges you to Cultivate the Change! Learn ways you can help create healthy change in our community’s food system.

(continued from page 41)

You’ll learn how as you… • Experience the farms and gardens on tour • Learn through workshops, speakers, films, and other educational opportunities • Enjoy farm-fresh bounty at cooking demonstrations and participating restaurant sponsors • Celebrate the grassroots change taking place right here in our own community! • Hear keynote speaker, Mark Bittman address local agriculture A week of celebration. It’s more than a tour. Food, handson learning experiences, films, music, community pride…it’s a party for the senses and the soul!

LOSE YOUR FAVORITE ISSUE? Th e Ka ns as Ci ty The Kansas City Th e Ka nsa s Ci ty

NER GAR D ENER GAR D EGARDENER Marc A M ogn th l y Gu idhe 2012 to S u c c e ssfu l Ga rd e n i n g November 2012 enin ssful Garde ning to Succ essfu l Gard A Mont hly Guide to Succe A Mon thly Guid e

Beautiful Bright and uals for 2012 New Ann

May 2012

Attracting Flying Flowers

Not So Minor Bulbs Heirloom Annuals

Miniature Hosta n trees Dogwoods are fine garde Memory Gardens ons retati Interp Test Soil

Hangin’ Out For Winter Care for Your Newly Seeded Lawn Falling ... Into Winter Ponds The Bird Brain answers your questions

The Grand Magnolia

A Landscape With Flavor Year of the Geranium 2012 All-America Selections

NOw AVAILAbLE ONLINE www.issuu.com/thekansascitygardener • instant access to advertisers’ websites • Print out your favorite Page for the fridge • revisit inforMative articLes • review uPcoMing events 42

Creating Beautiful Container Gardens, Vegetable Gardening. Price $22.00 includes, the day with lunch. Must Preregister, attendance is limited. Register online: www.mgozarks.com or call 417-357-6812. All proceeds benefit the scholarship fund for Horticultural stu dents at The College of the Ozarks. Master Gardeners of Johnson County Missouri Plant Sale Sat, May 18, 9am-3pm; at Culp Building behind the Historical Courthouse on Main St, Warrensburg. In addition to quality plants at highly reasonable prices and variety of garden decor; the Mid-Missouri Artists Inc, will be on site providing visitors with the opportunity to take home some of their priceless treasures. Contact Art Kammerlohr 660-441-1550 for additional information. Native Wildflower Sale Sat, May 19, 9am-5pm; in the CVS parking lot at the corner of 75th St and Wornall, Kansas City. MO. Missouri Native Plant Society will sell extra eastern US Native plants from their own gardens, including lots of shade plants. Prices are right and often negotiable. Proceeds benefit a grant program for study of native plants. Contact: Sue Hollis, ferngro@att.net, 816-561-9419 Annual Herb Days in May Festival May 25-26, 10am-5pm, at Evening Shade Farms Soap House, 12790 SE Hwy TT, Osceola, MO. 7 Miles East off Hwy 13 on TT Hwy, 417-2826985. The festival includes: Artisan Handcrafted Natural & Organic Body products, heirloom flower and vegetable plants and herbs, trees and shrubs, pottery and woodworking demonstrations, custom jewelry, metal garden art, blacksmith art, hypertufa planters, photo and fiber art. Greek food and Doc’s Root beer, and much, much more. Evening Shade Farm’s famous Lemon Verbena Cake (order whole cakes ahead of time). FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! Free Admission. 417-282-6985 Gardeners Connect presents “Gardening in Small Spaces” Thurs, May 30, 6-8 pm; at the Loose Park Garden Center, 51st and Wornall. A treat is in store with a free 6:30pm program. Garden designer Lauren Mackin will share her insight into designing and enjoying our garden spaces.

June

Kansas City Rose Society Rose Show - ‘Rhapsody of Roses’ Sat, Jun 1, 4-5pm; at the Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64112. Entries will be accepted between 9:30am and 12:30pm on Saturday. Viewing from 4-5pm. Jun 2, Rose Day Celebration will be held in the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden. Rose Show will be open to the public from 1 to 5pm in the Rose Room & Foyer. Rose Day Celebration will be in the Rose Garden at 3pm. The Kansas City Youth Ballet will perform. No Charge. For more information: www.kansascityrosesociety.org 19th Annual Garden Tour and Plant Sale Jun 1-2, 9am-5pm; Hermann, Missouri. Two Tours in 2013: the popular Town Tour, a walking tour of gardens in downtown Hermann, and Country Tour, a driving tour to country gardens. Separate ticket for each tour with $10 ticket for each tour including visits to private gardens and the Garden Demonstration Area. Town & County Garden Tour Combo Ticket for $15. Special Ticket By-Reservation-Only Luncheon/Silent Auction on May 31st. Visit the Hermann Garden Tours website at www.hermanngardentours.com for up to date events, ticket prices, and photographs. ‘Like’ us on Facebook at Hermann Garden Club Tours 2013. Call Hermann Welcome Center at 800932-8687 or go to www.visithermann. com. Douglas County Master Gardeners Garden Tour Sat and Sun, Jun 1-2, 9am-4pm Sat and 11am-4pm Sun, Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St, Lawrence, KS. Start at the collection of demonstration gardens at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, where you also will find a plant and crafts sale. Six private gardens, each with a unique focus, will offer a bounty of ideas for landscaping design. $10 per person; children 12 and under free. Northland Garden Club Annual Garden Tour Sun, Jun 2. This year’s tour is “An Afternoon at Country Downs” and will be a walking tour of the neighborhood at Vivion and North Monroe. There will be five gardens and featured artists. $10 per person. For further information contact Dee West, 816455-4013 or check the website at www. Northlandgardenclub.com The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

Deciduous Trees and Shrubs Jun 3-Jul 24, M/W evenings, 5:458:30pm; at Metropolitan Community College-Longview campus. This 3 credit hour class may be taken by anyone interested in identifying and studying ornamental trees and shrubs common to the Kansas City area. Expect to do moderate walking on 5 local field trips. Home gardeners and volunteers for programs such as Master Gardeners may take it on an audit basis (ungraded) but class fees still apply. Those over age 65 residing in district may be eligible for waived tuition. This may be taken by students enrolled in other colleges needing an interesting elective. This class is required for students in the Agribusiness/Grounds and Turf Management program. For information, please e-mail Pam.Hensley@ mcckc.edu (note in subject line “AGBS class inquiry”) or call instructor Leah Berg (816) 353-7170.ˇ

Mansion, Heritage Center, Leavenworth Extension Office. Or send a request to: Leavenworthmastergardeners@yahoo. com

Hotlines for Gardeners

Water Garden Tour Jun 22 and 23. Save the date. Sponsored by Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City.

Extension Master Gardeners are ready to answer your gardening questions.

Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City 2013 Garden Tour Jun 7 and 8, 9am-4:30pm. Rain or shine. “Unique Gardens of South Kansas City” showcases six diverse private gardens and one beautiful community garden in the areas south of the Plaza including Crestwood, Brookside, and Waldo. Rain or shine. Tickets on sale May 10 for $15 at various ticket outlets and online via PayPal. Children 12 and under free. See the website www.mggkc.org for ticket outlets and full descriptions plus photos of the gardens.

Sunflower Artfest 2013 Jul 12-14, Fri 6-9pm, Sat 10am to 8pm; Sun noon-5pm; at The Barn at 9210 Kill Creek Road in De Soto, KS. (exit northeast corner of K-10 and Kill Creek Road). 7th Annual De Soto Fine Arts Show organized by the De Soto Arts Council, held along with the De Soto Rotary’s Sunflower PolioPlus Project. Three days of Fine Arts Festivities, Food and Live Entertainment, and Children’s activities. Enjoy the Artist Booths and Sunflower Art Exhibit among the many rows of Sunflowers that are available for you to pick and purchase (Sunflower proceeds to Rotary PolioPlus Project). For additional information: www.desotoartsks. org

18th Annual Union Hill Garden Tour Sun, Jun 9, 11am-4pm. The self-guided tour starts at 31st Street and Grand Avenue. Walk through over a dozen residential and community gardens. Free parking is available in the KCPT lots at 31st St and Grand Ave. Admission is $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for seniors (over age 60). Kids under 12 are free. Half of this year’s event proceeds will benefit the neighboring historic Union Cemetery. The tour will also feature garden-related merchandise for sale and Master Gardeners ready to answer your gardening questions. Admission includes a raffle for area Garden Center gift cards and a free backyard BBQ lunch at the Velvet Dog: Burgers, chips, drink specials, and entertainment. This is one of Kansas City’s most unique garden tours in a historic Victorian neighborhood, just south of Crown Center. For more information, visit us on Facebook at: http://www. facebook.com/unionhillgardentour or email unionhillgardentour@gmail.com Leavenworth Master Gardeners Garden Tour Sat, Jun 15, 10am-5pm; Leavenworth, KS. Tickets may be purchased at the following locations: Homestead Nursery, Flower Garden Nursery, Carroll May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

St Joseph Water Garden Society Annual Water Garden/Pond Tour Sat and Sun, Jun 29-30, 1-5pm. Tickets are $7 for adults, kids are free under 12 with adults. Ticket books are available at Earl May, Moffets Nursery, Mann’s Nursery, Thompson’s Nursery, Westlake Hardware. Approximately 12-15 ponds will be on the tour. For information on memberships or meeting dates, call 816-233-4312.

July

Fiesta Flower Show Sat, Jul 13, 1-3pm; at Belvoir Winery, 1325 Odd Fellows Rd, Liberty, MO. Hosted by Northland Garden Club. Admission is free and open to all. For additional details, please contact Marti at martiryncarz@msn.com.

DOUGLAS COUNTY

785-843-7058; dgemg@sunflower.com; Mon-Fri, 1-4pm

GREATER KANSAS CITY MISSOURI AREA

816-833-8733 (TREE); Mon-Fri, 9am to 3pm

JOHNSON COUNTY, KS

913-715-7050; Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm; garden.help@jocogov.org

JOHNSON COUNTY, MO

660-747-3193; Wed, 9am-noon

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY

913-364-5700; Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm

MIAMI COUNTY

913-294-4306; Mon-Fri, 9am-noon

PLATTE COUNTY

816-270-2141; Wed, 1-4pm

WYANDOTTE COUNTY

913-299-9300; Mon, Wed, Fri, 9am-noon and 1-4pm

May

Weather Repor t

Highs and Lows Avg temp 66° Avg high temp 75° Avg low temp 55° Highest recorded temp 102° Lowest recorded temp 26° Nbr of above 70° days 23

Clear or Cloudy Avg nbr of clear days 8 Avg nbr of cloudy days 14

Promote your gardening events here! Send information to: The Kansas City Gardener P.O. Box 8725, Prairie Village, KS 66208 Fax: (913) 648-4728 E-Mail: editorcavsgarden@kc.rr.com The deadline for the June issue is May 5.

Rain and Snow Avg snowfall 0” Avg rainfall 4.5” Avg nbr of rainy days 11 Source: WeatherReports.com

From the Almanac Moon Phases Last Quarter: May 2 New Moon: May 9 First Quarter: May 17 Full Moon: May 24 Last Quarter: May 31 Source: Harris’ Farmer’s Almanac

Plant Above Ground Crops: 9, 10, 14, 15, 21-24

Plant Root Crops: 1, 24, 27, 28

Control Plant Pests: 2, 3, 7, 8, 31

Transplant: 21-24

Plant Flowers: 9, 10. 10, 15

The Hort NetWORK FOR THE TRADE PROFESSIONAL

The Hort NetWORK is a 501c3 non-profit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, offering networking and educational opportunities for the green industry professional in the Kansas City area. Founded in 2004, our

organization is composed of professionals in all aspects of the green industry with 145 individual members and 25 corporate sponsorships. Membership is open to any individual, company, allied business or organization in the Kansas City green industry.

Hort NetWORK Board of Directors Niel C. Henriksen – President (2012-2013) Green Spectrum Marketing, LLC 9209 W. 145th Place • Overland Park, KS 66221 913.406.4770 • neil@greenspectrummarketing.com Bill Malouche – Treasurer (2007-2014) National Nursery Products – Kansas City 4502 W. 63rd Terrace • Prairie Village, KS 66208 913.362.0503 • billm@nnpkc.com Mary Werth – Vice President, Educational Programs and Events (2012-2014) Suburban Lawn & Garden, Inc 136th & Wyandotte • Kansas City, MO 64148 913.893.6725 • summerfield@kcnet.com Jeff Svilarich – Vice President, Educational Programs and Events (2012-2014) Red Oak Landscaping, LLC 20978 Floyd St. • Bucyrus, KS 66012 913.533.2217 • fourseasons@redoaklandscaping.com Jason Eaton – Vice President, Membership Development (2012-2014) Curby’s Lawn and Garden 14835 S. Gardner Rd. • Gardner, KS 66030 913.764.6159 • jason.e@curbyslawn.com David Bartlett – Vice President, Membership Development (2012-2014) Bartlett Hauber Landscaping, Inc PO Box 480133 • Kansas City, MO 64148 816.943.8118 • bartlett.hauber@gmail.com Susan Mertz – Non-voting Communications & Marketing Administrator Loma Vista Nursery 12905 W. 143rd St. • Olathe, KS 66062 913.897.7010 • susan@lomavistanursery.com 44

The purpose of the Hort NetWORK is to offer a unified platform for the exchange of ideas, sharing and discussing common challenges, and promoting relationships within a diverse community of green industry professionals in the Kansas City area. The Hort NetWORK strives to educate our members and to promote quality and professionalism in the green industry. Typically we have 4 educational seminars per year, as well as several networking socials. The Hort NetWORK also promotes events from other green industry associations and organizations in the area. If you are a green industry professional and would like to learn more about The Hort NetWORK, please email us at support@hortnetwork.org or visit our website at www.HortNetWORK.org. To learn more about upcoming programs, join us on Linked In.

FOR THE CONSUMER

The Hort NetWORK is a nonprofit organization offering networking and educational opportunities for green industry professionals in the Kansas City area. Founded in 2004, The Hort NetWORK strives to educate our members on the latest industry trends and to promote quality and professionalism in the green industry. Through our unified platform, Hort NetWORK members can exchange ideas, share and discuss common challenges, and build relationships with other

green industry professionals. This helps you, the consumer get the best quality products and services our industry has to offer for your residential or commercial property. Our professional green industry members consist of retail garden centers, landscape designers, landscape installation and construction services, landscape and turf management services, irrigation and outdoor lighting services, marketing specialists, and suppliers of horticultural and hardscape products. Through our networking and relationship building, Hort NetWORK members can confidently refer to the consumer our other professional members that provide a service or product their company may not offer. Our membership also consists of other organizations including local parks & recreation, botanical gardens and The Kansas City Gardener to provide public, horticultural education. A membership directory is listed on the next page. Feel free to contact any member organization for more information on products and services offered. The Hort NetWORK membership directory is now available online at the group’s website at www.HortNetWORK.org. Homeowners will find this guide useful for sourcing green industry professionals. If you would like to contact The Hort NetWORK about further information, please send an email to support@hortnetwork.org.

The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

re you a home gardener with a project in mind, and need the advice of a green industry professional? Or, are you a trade professional looking for like-minded peers with whom you can network? Then consider the Hort NetWORK. The Hort NetWORK is a non-profit organization offering networking and educational opportunities for green industry professionals in the Kansas City area. In addition, it’s a resource for homeowners looking for professionals. Listed here are the current members. If you’d like to know more about any of these members, feel free to give them a call. Detailed information about member businesses and the Hort NetWORK is available on our Website at HortNetWORK.org. Service ALL-N-1 Landscape www.all-n-1landscape.com 913.814.9200 American Lawn & Landscape 816.415.3540 Audrie Seeley & Co. www.audrieseeleylandscape.com 816.361.0011

Embassy Landscape Group www.embassylandscape.com 816.436.4194

Lawrence Landscape www.lawrencelandscape.com 785.766.1111

Essential Extras, Inc. www.essentialextrasinc.com 816.923.5865

Metamorphosis Landscape Design, LLC www.changemyyard.com 816.309.9383

From the Summer’s Garden www.fromthesummersgarden.blogspot.com 913.579.5395

Nancy’s Mighty Mouse Land & Stone ’Scaping 913.515.5543

Gloria’s Gardening 913.381.3147

Nick’s Greenleaf Gardens www.nicksgreenleafgardens.com 816.322.1614

Grass Pad www.grasspad.com 913.681.8948

NiteLites of Kansas City Outdoor Lighting www.nitelites.com 913.871.1299

Green Spectrum Marketing, LLC www.greenspectrummarketing.com 913.406.4770

Pat Friesen & Company, LLC www.patfriesen.com 913.341.1211

Greenleaf Garden Services www.greenleafkc.com 816.916.5171

Red Cedar Gardens www.redcedargardens.com 913.897.2286

CMG Landscapes & Gardens architetto.com/cmg/cmg-index.html 718.237.1261

H H lawn and landscape 913.221.3668

Container Creations www.containercreationsplus.com 913.302.7646

Heinen Landscape & Irrigation www.heinenlandscape.com 913.432.5011

Red Oak Landscaping, LLC www.redoaklandscaping.com 913.533.2217

Creative Contours Lawn and Landscape LLC www.creativecontoursllc.com 816.863.2928

Hermes Landscaping www.hermeslandscaping.com 913.888.2400

Creative Outdoor Spaces www.creativespaces-kc.com 913.432.1577

Hix and Son Aquatics www.hixandsonaquatics.com 913.481.5416

Suburban Lawn and Garden Inc. www.suburbanlg.com 816.942.2921

Curby’s Lawn and Garden www.curbyslawn.com 913.764.6159

It’s My Nature www.itsmynature.biz 913.269.6941

Water’s Edge www.watersedge.com 785.841.6777

Dirt Clods Landscaping, LLC www.dirtclodslandscaping.com 785.856.0026

Karen Lyman Fine Gardening www.facebook.com/pages/Karen-Lyman-Artist Gardener/137252092968393 913.648.2787

White Gardenia Landscapes www.whitegardenialandscapes.com 913.526.0740

Bartlett Hauber Landscaping 816.943.8118 Bird’s Botanicals www.birdsbotanicals.com 816.252.4478 Bonnie Barrett Johnson Gardens 913.338.0104 Botanical Shots www.botanicalshots.com

Don Archer Garden Design www.facebook.com/pages/Don-Archer-Garden-Design/109537055821752 816.537.8861 Down to Earth Gardening 816.616.2325 Dr. Grow 913.486.5024

May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

Landscape Solutions www.linkedin.com/pub/laura-heinz/56/928/5a8 913.341.2291 Landworks, Inc. www.landworks-inc.com 913.422.9300

Richard Clayton Barrett, ASLA www.richardclaytonbarrett.com 913.362.1200 StoneRidge Outdoor 913.963.3723

Educational City of Shawnee Parks & Recreation www.cityofshawnee.org 913.742.6445

Kauffman Memorial Garden www.powellgardens.org/pages/visiting/the-gardens/thekauffman-memorial-garden 816.932.1200 National Green Centre www.nationalgreencenter.org 888.233.1876 Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens www.opkansas.org/things-to-see-and-do/arboretumand-botanical-gardens 913.685.3604

Powell Gardens www.powellgardens.org 816.697.2600 The Kansas City Gardener www.facebook.com/thekansascitygardener 913.648.4728

Distributor/Wholesale Ameret LLC 913.888.5248 Applied Ecological Services, Inc. www.appliedeco.com 785.594.2245 Bailey Nurseries www.baileynurseries.com 303.523.4542 Emerald Prairie Nursery / White Wind Farms www.whitewindfarms.com 913.980.5700 House of Rocks, Inc. www.thehouseofrocks.com 913.432.5990 Loma Vista Nursery www.lomavistanursery.com 913.897.7010 National Nursery Products – KC www.bohnsfarm.com 913.362.0503 Oregon Pride Nursery / Van Hoef Sales www.oregonpridenurseries.com 612.282.3495

Gardeners Connect/Garden Center Association www.gardenersconnect.org 913.302.4234

Horticulture degrees lead to exciting, varied careers By Rodney St. John

igh school graduations are just around the corner. Many students are thinking about their future careers and where they might go to college, if they haven’t already decided. I assume if you are reading this, you enjoy and appreciate the benefits of gardening and spending time outside creating beauty (or at least doing your part to coax it from the Earth.) As you congratulate the recent graduates in your life, consider if he or she, too, is the type of person who likes working outdoors; someone who can’t imagine sitting at a desk all day every day. When I was graduating high school, my counselor never mentioned ‘outdoor’ career opportunities in Horticulture or Forestry. I was told because I was good at math and science, I should be an engineer. I want to inform high school students and those who

may be looking for a career change about some of the careers and college degrees that are available for those of you who want to create beautiful parks, home and public landscapes for others to enjoy. Degrees in Horticulture and Forestry are diverse and result in a wide variety of career opportunities. Specialized degrees in Horticulture can lead to many careers including, but not limited to: local vegetable farmer, greenhouse production of flowers and/or vegetables, golf course superintendent, Viticulturist (wine maker), professional sports field manager, landscape designer, horticultural therapist, tree and shrub nursery production manager, florist, sales consultant, grounds manager at zoos and amusement parks, owner of a mowing and landscaping firm, hunting and wild game preserve manager; the list goes on

and on. Earning a degree in forestry can lead to a career as a national park service forester, city forester, landscaper, tree pruner, consulting arborist and many others. If any of these careers interest you, check out the degree programs at our local Midwestern colleges and universities: Kansas State University Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resource Management Department, Johnson County Community College

Horticulture Department, University of Missouri, Horticulture in the Dept of Agriculture, Oklahoma State University, University of Arkansas, University of Nebraska, Iowa State University and many other community colleges. Careers in horticulture or forestry are very diverse, very exciting and definitely lucrative. If you’d like more information about careers in Horticulture or Forestry, feel free to contact me; my contact information is included below. I’d love to help you learn about career possibilities in Horticulture and Forestry. Rodney St. John is an agronomist at Ryan Lawn & Tree. He can be reached at 913-381-1505 or rodneystjohn@ryanlawn.com.

Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City presents

Water Gardens 2013 20th Annual Water Garden Tour Saturday, June 22 • Sunday, June 23 9am - 5pm Rain or Shine Bus tours available. Contact Connie Halastik • 816-419-3245 • Clh1217@yahoo.com

Buy early to plan your personal driving tour of 50 plus gardens in Greater Kansas City and nearby communities. There are a variety of private gardens and Water Garden Society constructed educational water gardens for schools and nature centers. Tickets are $10 per person (ages 14 and older). A tour book with maps, driving directions, and host written descriptions of the gardens are included. Proceeds benefit construction of educational and restorative water gardens and other educational programs in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Tickets available June 2 at these locations. KANSAS

Kansas City, House of Rocks Lawrence, Water’s Edge Leavenworth, Homestead Nursery Leawood, Suburban Lawn and Garden Lenexa, Suburban Lawn and Garden Overland Park, Family Tree Nursery Shawnee, Earl May Garden Center Shawnee, Family Tree Nursery

MISSOURI

Belton, Prairie & Wetland Center Blue Springs, Colonial Nursery Blue Springs, Roberts Nursery Independence, Wild Bird Center Lee’s Summit, Randy’s Lakeview Nursery Liberty, Family Tree Nursery Kansas City, Bannister Garden Center Kansas City, Brothers Fish

Kansas City, City Pets & Ponds Kansas City, Heartland Nursery Kansas City, Kansas City Pond & Water Gardening Kansas City, Planters Seed Co. Kansas City, River City Water Gardening Kansas City, Soil Service Garden Ctr & Nursery Kansas City, Suburban Lawn and Garden Kansas City, Union Station

Kansas City, Van Liew’s Kansas City, Waldo Grain Company Martin City, Rosehill Gardens N. Kansas City, Cripple Creek Rock Raymore, Creekside Market Smithville, Full Features Nursery Spring Hill, Swan’s Water Gardening St. Joseph, Earl May Garden Center

Tickets also available at all Hen House Markets, all Westlake Hardware stores and all Grass Pads. 46

The Kansas City Gardener / May 2013

GREEN INDUSTRY NEWS GRADUATE HORTICULTURE PROGRAM AT K-STATE OLATHE PREPARES TO LAUNCH WITH HIRE OF FIRST FACULTY POSITION

Dan Richardson, Kansas State University Olathe CEO, has announced that Eleni Pliakoni has been selected as Assistant Professor of Urban Food Production and Post-Harvest Handling in the Department of Horticulture, Forestry & Recreation Resources for the K-State Olathe campus. This is the first faculty position to be announced for the graduatelevel Horticulture program on the new campus. Pliakoni comes to K-State Olathe from the University of Florida, where she has been a post-doctoral research assistant in the Department of Horticultural Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Her research has included organizing and leading different projects such as conducting fresh fruit and vegetable shelf life extension research; determining the best controlled atmosphere conditions for different commodities (broccoli, lettuce and tomato), as well as modified atmosphere packaging film requirements for each crop. “We are very fortunate and pleased to have Dr. Pliakoni join our team at K-State Olathe,” said Richardson. “Her international skills and experience in teaching and research bring excitement to the launch of our Horticulture program on the campus.” The Master of Science in Horticulture with an emphasis in urban food systems has begun accepting applications for admission, with the program beginning at the K-State Olathe campus in the fall semester. For more information about the program, contact program coordinator Matt Maciel at 913-307-7349 or email maciel@k-state.edu. More information is also available on the K-State Olathe website at www. olathe.k-state.edu.

Don’t Miss a Single Issue! The Ka nsa s City

GARDENER A Monthly Guide to Successful Gardening

For convenient mail delivery, complete the form below and send with your check for $20.00. You will receive a one-year subscription to The Kansas City Gardener. Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Phone: E-mail: Where did you pick up The Kansas City Gardener? Please enclose your check payable to The Kansas City Gardener and mail with this form to: P.O. Box 8725, Prairie Village, KS 66208 The Kansas City Gardener is published monthly Jan. through Dec.

May 2013 / The Kansas City Gardener

Professional’s Corner

Come to Creekside Market and meet our manager Lisa Wilkins. Company: Creekside Market, Raymore, MO Owner: Myron Schluter of Louisburg Nursery, Louisburg, KS Manager: Lisa Wilkins Established: 2008 What’s the nature of your business: We are a seasonal retail outlet offering a wide variety of all things gardening including annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, vegetables, bulk vegetable seed, water plants, mulch, soil amendments, chemicals and décor. What do you enjoy the most: I like the variety. I really look forward to visiting with our customers, the physical aspect of tending to the nursery and the challenge of the various administrative tasks. What do customers say about Creekside Market: We have the best hanging baskets around, a huge variety of annuals, and a great place to get a unique gift for your favorite gardener. Name your favorite local garden: I especially enjoy Kauffman Gardens. It is small, intimate, forever changing and easy to enjoy in a minimal amount of time. Little known secret: Before opening Creekside Market in March we begin planting at our Louisburg location. We actually start our flowers from tiny cuttings and seeds. We see them through the entire process of becoming the beautiful merchandise we sell in our store. What is your favorite time at the nursery: Mother’s Day week/weekend when the store is filled with people from greenhouse to greenhouse! What every gardener should know: Gardening is subjective and a matter of trial and error. Be creative ... go ahead, give it a try. What prior experience qualified you for this job: This is my fifth season at Creekside Market, my second year as manager. Prior to this, I worked with my husband in his lawn and irrigation business. Like this position I was fortunate to learn the business by working in the field as well as behind the desk. What do you strive for in order to set your nursery apart from others: Of course my biggest emphasis is on great customer service and quality plants and merchandise. My staff and I take great pride in knowing the folks can brag to their neighbors “I got that at Creekside Market!” Store hours: We are open March 15th through October 31st from 9a to 6p Mon. – Sat. and 10:00a to 3:00p on Sun. Contact: Creekside Market, 800 E. Walnut Street (J & 58 Hwys), Raymore, MO 64083; 816-322-7333; www.creekside-market.com 47

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(913) 649-8700