KCG Apr22 by The Kansas City Gardener

The Kansas City

GARDENER April 2022 | kcgmag.com

Ornamental Shrubs new introductions for your garden

Redbud Tree | Wilding the Home Garden Garden Calendar | Rose Report | You are What You Eat

GREETINGS FROM

LOUISBURG, KS Come with us on an exciting journey and discover the ultimate water garden destination. A place where you can experience first hand what "living in paradise" could be like. Located on 8 acres in Northern Miami County you'll find a quaint village, the water garden destination of your dreams. A place where we live and breathe the "water garden lifestyle" every single day. WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Kevin and Diane Swan’s love for the unique style of water gardening began in 1994 after building their first water garden in their own backyard so they could enjoy the peace and tranquility that accompanies any water feature. After building that single feature they were hooked and “living the water garden lifestyle” became their passion. They took this new inspiration and turned it into a career. Swan’s Water Gardens came to life as they strived to share this lifestyle with the world. For 20 years Kevin and Diane built their business on Padbury Lane in Spring Hill, KS. Eventually the opportunity arose to move to the current location near Louisburg, KS after having rebuilt the previous homeowners water feature years earlier. Story goes the main store building was originally an old bank that was later brought to where it now sits. The history of the building is evident from the outside detail and continues inside with an intricate ceiling and charming accents. All the other buildings are original to the property but with each addition have created a small village making for a special destination visit. What started as a small design and installation firm 28 years ago specializing in the creation of naturalistic waterfalls, streams and

ponds quickly grew to be so much more. Now spanning several departments, Swan’s offers design and installation, pond service, hardscaping, landscape lighting and the retail village, the ultimate water garden destination. Located on 8 acres in Northern Miami County the quaint village sits. What started as one water feature and acres of surrounding grass has gr own to be so much more in just 8 short years. Now surrounded by 11 water features, strolling gardens, and even a small lavender garden, it’s a place unlike any other.

TOUR THE GARDENS

Imagine the breathtaking sights and sounds of a true water garden paradise. Glistening waterfalls catch your eye; a cadence of ripples and waves wash your troubles downstream. A school of fish, painted across a crystal clear canvas, swim about a rainbow of lilies blooming proudly above the surface. The gentle breeze over calm water brings a reflection of sunshine to life. All the senses are at peace. Most people get to experience this scene in one water feature in their own backyard but at Swan’s you can enjoy this many times over as you tour the retail village and surrounding gardens. You’ll find ponds large and small, waterfalls, flowing streams, and bubbling rock fountains. Exploring Swan’s Water Gardens leads to discovering a vast selection of aquatic plants throughout the ponds from the tropical giant Queen Victoria Water Lily that showcases stunning beauty with a hidden defense to the Lotus’ showy blooms and leaves standing proud above the water. Hardy and tropical water lilies in an array of colors dress the water’s surface while countless marginal aquatic plants with intriguing names such as Lizards Tail, Bloody Dock, Society Garlic, Mosaic and Obedient Plant adorn streams and waterfalls.

Though Swan’s specializes in water gardens, they take pride in their landscaping as well. Diane’s love and knowledge of perennial and native plants has led to a large following of plant lovers from all around the Kansas City metro to visit and enjoy the many expanding landscape gardens. The “Secret Garden” is host to many shade plants. The “Kansas Native Garden” is home to a pondless waterfall and stream, a visitor favorite. The “Strolling Garden” path lined with a birch tree tunnel leads to the dainty “Pink and White Garden” that invites you to sit and enjoy the large natural pond complete with singing bull frogs. A stroll through Swan’s many gardens will surely leave you more at peace than when you arrived.

THE RETAIL VILLAGE

In addition to the peaceful gardens, you'll find so much more at the retail village. Everything you need for your water garden can all be found in one place. Liner, underlayment and an under-gravel filtration system if you're looking to build your own feature. For those water gardeners who enjoy doing maintenance you'll find pumps, aerators and algae control products to ensure your feature always looks its best. Accent your feature with aquatic marginals, lilies, lotus, landscape annuals and perennials. Don't forget to take home a new koi or goldfish friend too!

AQUATIC PLANTS

Our retail village specializes in aquatic plants so you can add your personal touch and bring more life to your water feature. Available varieties fluctuate throughout the season but we always have a diverse selection of styles and sizes to accent your feature. This includes: hardy & tropical water lilies night blooming lilies miniature lilies hardy & tropical marginals

floating hyacinth & water lettuce oxygenators lotus

Let us help you bring life to your water feature!

A SWAN'S WATER GARDEN

With a Swan's Water Garden you can rest easy knowing your feature has been built by experienced hands who have a true passion for water gardens and the joy they bring.

leak are revealed. You can relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility your water garden provides without worry. The experienced and passionate installation crew will make what were once dreams a reality. We are the only full-service water garden company in the Kansas City Metro area with a five year, leak-free guarantee, and we stand behind it 100 percent. We truly leave a piece of ourselves behind with every project! Contact us for a project quote.

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP

Once a Swan's feature is built the relationship doesn't end there. As a full-service water garden company spanning several departments, Swan's has the resources and the man-power to assist you with all things water gardening. For those who want all the perks of a flourishing water feature, but just don't have the time, Swan's Water Gardens offers spring cleanouts as well as a twelve or eight month maintenance program for worry free water gardening. We also service ponds on an as needed basis for those who occasionally need extra assistance. Our dedicated maintenance crew works to ensure that your feature will always look its best.

Throughout the Kansas City area we have been building and maintaining water gardens for more than 28 years. Over those many years our pond building techniques have been honed to perfection through hard work and experience.

If you are more hands on we also cater to the DIY water gardener. Our pond supply store carries all the necessary materials to build and care for your water feature including pond liner, pumps, plants, product and more. The educated staff can also lend support and direction along the way.

Not only will you marvel at the precise excavation of your pond but you'll be amazed at how well your finished water garden actually blends into your existing landscape.

We don't stop there. We also offer light packages and paver patio add-ons. Let us help complete your outdoor living space so you can enjoy your water feature 365 days a year.

Once the excavation is complete the true artistry of the building process begins. It's also where our secrets to building ponds that don't

Visit our retail location to view several display features, paver patios and landscape lighting. Come see what living in paradise looks like!

EVENTS & CLASSES

The changing of the seasons brings a whole new experience to our gardens. Whether it's a ladies night, miniature garden workshop or a snowy Christmas village we love to share our little piece of paradise with you. Starting in the spring and continuing throughout the summer and fall we host many events and classes at our retail village. Some events to come this year include the annual Lotus and Lavender Days, Succulent Saturday's, Fairy Friday's, Ladies Nights, Fall Festival, Lily Blossom Festival, and the Old Time Christmas Village. Our events often include a fun workshop for all and occasionally complementary snacks. The lavender lemonade and lavender sugar cookies are a customer favorite during Lotus and Lavender Days! Follow our Facebook page to stay updated on what events are coming up this year. You won't want to miss out!

OPEN FOR SPRING

Our spring hours begin soon! Starting April 12th visit us anytime Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm or Saturday 9am-4pm. To gardeners, water gardeners, and lovers of the outdoors we invite you to experience water garden paradise like we do every single day! We can't wait to share our passion with you and we hope to see you soon!

MAKE YOUR PLANS TO VISIT SWAN'S WATER GARDENS IN 2022 AND SHOP IN PARADISE WITH THE POND PROFESSIONALS!

4385 W 247th St. Louisburg, KS 66053 Tues-Fri 9am-5pm & Sat 9am-4pm

swanswatergardens@gmail.com swanswatergardens.com 913-837-3510

editor’s notes

The Kansas City

GARDENER Independently owned and operated since 1996 EDITOR Elizabeth Cavanaugh CONTRIBUTORS Sean Holland Lenora Larson Susan Mertz Jason Mispagel Ken O’Dell Dennis Patton Tamra Reall John Riley Denise Sullivan Scott Woodbury DISTRIBUTION Publishers Delivery Solutions, Inc. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISTRIBUTE the magazine at your place of business, please contact Mike Cavanaugh at mike@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 NEED MORE MAGAZINES? mike@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 CONTACT US P.O. Box 8725 Prairie Village, KS 66208 913-648-4728 ADVERTISING Mike Cavanaugh at mike@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 EDITORIAL Elizabeth Cavanaugh elizabeth@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 HOW TO SUBSCRIBE See details on page 35. SUBSCRIPTION Elizabeth Cavanaugh elizabeth@kcgmag.com 913-648-4728 WEBSITE kcgmag.com

Timely Boxwood Pruning

he garden is showing many signs of spring’s arrival, extended daylight and warming temperatures notwithstanding. The Robins have arrived, and the Juncos have gone. The daffodils have bloomed, buds on the crabapples are about to open, and the tulip and daylily foliage has emerged. Yep, it is growing time, and before the boxwood shrubbery have a chance to push new their growth, I must get them pruned. The project: to prune the 22 oversized boxwood shrubs that line one side of the driveway, then continue to form a large circle outlining the canopy of a crabapple tree. Within the boxwood border grow a few hosta varieties demonstrating color and texture differences creating a garden of interest. There are plenty more of this evergreen shrub throughout the landscape, however this section is my focus today. Especially because it is in the front yard, and it hasn’t been done in at least two years. Tools and gloves in hand, I stand in the driveway assessing the project I’m about to start. Mr. Gardener comes up beside me and says, “You know, I think I may have it that one with the snowblower.” This little tidbit of information is an attempt to explain the gaping hole in one of the boxwood plants lining the driveway. My thought is, I’m prun-

ing here, not making magic. Even tape and glue can’t fix that. We’ll likely need a replacement. Another notable comment from Mr. Gardener was “this’ll only take an hour.” Really? I didn’t refute Mr. Gardener’s comment on how long this job might take. In my experience, every job, no matter the task, whether gardening or painting, always takes longer than anticipated. So I pressed forward (with a silent chuckle). Boxwood ‘Green Velvet’ is the variety we’ve planted. It is a dwarf shrub and is easily kept in its naturally mounded shape. As I have admitted, it has been growing untouched, yet has held its contour. In my opinion, boxwoods need pruning to keep the branching and foliage tight in appearance. That was the appeal in the beginning when we first planted them. We appreciate the role this shrub plays in our Midwest landscape. First and foremost, it must be evergreen and this shrub never disappoints. It is well-established and has tolerated the mix of varied seasonal weather fluxuations so familiar to Midwest gardeners. About four hours later, Mr. Gardener came outside, apparently to check on me and review my progress, and had this to say. “Your crew foreman says get off the job. You are taking too long and he can’t pay

anymore.” Ha, ha, ha! Such a funny man, that Mr. Gardener. It made for a nice break, because my back and legs were overworked. And yes, it did take longer than (he) expected. Mostly due to my lack of physical activity in the garden lately, so that muscle group is slow. Then there is my need for detail. Some might call it perfection. I cleanup as I go. Like when in the kitchen, I don’t save the the pots and pans for after the meal. When I look back, I prefer to see the finished work, not what I need to go back and do. All in all the task is complete. I enjoyed every minute. The growing season offers ample days in the garden. Never take any of them for granted. I’ll see you in the garden!

In this issue

April 2022 | kcgmag.com 6 Ask the Experts 8 Kids Ask Dr. Bug 10 Wilding the Home Garden 12 Plants on Your Plate–Lettuce 14 You Are What You Eat 16 Spring Blooms 18 Ornamental Shrubs 20 Indoor Gardening–Let Light Shine 22 Redbud Tree

24 25 26 28 30 32 34 35 35

Rose Report National Safe Dig Month Year of the SALAD GREENS Tulip Time Upcoming Garden Events Miami County Farm Tour Garden Calendar Subscribe Hotlines

About the cover: ‘Little Hottie’ panicle hydrangea is new on the gardening scene this spring. Learn more about this ornamental shrub and others beginning on page 18. Photo courtesy of Bailey Nurseries. 44

April2022 2022| |kcgmag.com kcgmag.com April

Plants don’t get to choose, but you do. Osmocote® Smart-Release® Plant Food Flower & Vegetable Feeds continuously and consistently for up to 4 full months. If you grow your own, grow with Osmocote®. © 2022, The Scotts Company, LLC. All rights reserved

The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

Ask the Experts HOW TO FIX LEANING CEDAR Question: Several years ago, I planted a small Blue Atlas Cedar. Shortly after we had a heavy snowfall, the weight of the snow bent it over. I was hoping it would straighten back up over time, but it remains leaning toward the ground. Can I straighten it by pulling it upright and tying it to a stake? Answer: Blue Atlas Cedar, Cedrus atlantica, is an interesting tree and grown for its silvery-blue foliage. Some are full of branches, while others have a Charlie Brown Christmas tree look. The tree in my yard resembles Charlie’s tree and leans to the ground. If you try to straighten it, you will need to tie it to a strong and tall stake. Be careful not to cut into the bark, allowing plenty of room for the trunk to expand. Check from time to time to prevent trunk injury. Leave the stake in place for a growing season. Then remove the ties and see if the tree remains upright. If it continues to lean, retie for another season. Keep in mind some forms of Blue Atlas Cedar can be a weeping variety. If this is the case, it might be best to stake along the support and let the limbs weep. One last thought – this tree can tolerate heat but declines with uneven moisture. Be sure to remember to water during our dry spells for best growth. GROWING ASPARAGUS FROM SEEDS VS CROWNS Question: I would like to grow asparagus, so I purchased a packet of seeds. How do I grow this vegetable from seed and be successful? Answer: Asparagus is one of our few perennial vegetable crops and a planting can last for years. Asparagus plants produce the spears from a crown of roots. Asparagus is typically planted from 1- to 2-year-old crowns in six-inchdeep trenches. Find crowns for sale at nurseries. The year following planting the crowns will produce a small harvest.

Growing asparagus from seed will take an additional year to grow the crown. Plant your seeds about an inch deep and about six inches apart. Allow them to mature and grow as much foliage as possible to develop the crown.

Answer: Sandhill plum, also known as Chickasaw plum, Prunus angustifolia, grows across much of the Midwest and prefers welldrained soils and full sun. The suckers from the roots form a thicket or spreading stand of small, shrubby

Blue Atlas Cedar

Asparagus spears

Chickasaw plum fruit

Egyptian Walking Onions

The following season, while dormant, dig the crowns and replant as recommended above. You will need to wait an additional year before harvesting. After that, it will be the third season until you can harvest a planting. While seed is an option, it does require you to wait longer. That is why most people plant crowns to speed up the process.

trees. Once planted, it will take a few years to become established. They require little care except to remove deadwood. In this part of the state, they would only need water until rooted. Expect white flowers in early spring prior to leafing out. Fruit will set and ripen in midsummer. When ripe, the fruit turns bright cherry-red and can be used for jams, jelly, and even wine. Finding plants might be difficult. Depending on which state you reside in, your best source might be the Kansas Forest Service or Missouri Department of Conservation. Small seedlings are often available through their planting programs.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT SANDHILL PLUM Question: I recently read an article where a group of Kansas students was attempting to get the Sandhill Plum declared the state fruit. Can we grow Sandhill plums in the KC area? The description of the plant sounded like it would be fun to grow to make jams and jelly.

DENNIS PATTON Horticulture Agent 6

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

EGYPTIAN WALKING ONIONS Question: A friend gave me a start of what he called walking onions. Can you tell me how to care

for this plant? Answer: Egyptian Walking Onions get their name from the cluster of small bulbils, or onion-like sets, forming at the top of the stems. As the stalks fall over, the bulbils break off to start a new plant, creating the walking effect. They are hardy in our climate and become a perennial in the vegetable garden or mixed in with the landscape. Each spring, new growth emerges, developing the green stems about finger width, more bulbils, and a white onion underground. Top and bottom growth can be used as a substitute for green onions in recipes. One word of caution – they have a much stronger onion flavor which increases with the heat of summer. Therefore, they are best used in the cool spring. CREATING A BEE-FRIENDLY LAWN IN SUPPORT OF POLLINATORS Question: I see on a social media site about planting a beefriendly lawn. What does that mean? How do you go about creating a bee-friendly lawn? Answer: There is a movement to change the mindset on what is called an acceptable lawn. The typical green monoculture of bluegrass and tall fescue provide little or no food source for bees and pollinators. Pesticides used to achieve this look are detrimental to bees. As the name implies, a beefriendly lawn allows other plant species to grow that some people call weeds. Dandelions, white clover, and other flowering plants grow along with the fescue and bluegrass, providing nectar for bees. Pesticides prevent this natural ground cover to be the “lawn.” The result is a ground cover lawn supporting our pollinators. Tolerance and expectations are changing as more people accept this view of the All-American lawn. Unfortunately, bee-friendly lawns are not embraced by all, creating friction among neighbors.

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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The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

Kids Ask Dr. Bug

about the curious things found in the garden How do I keep mosquitoes from biting me? No one wants to get bitten by a mosquito – the red welts are itchy and last for days. Mosquitoes can also cause many diseases, so this is an important question. The best way to avoid getting mosquito bites around your home is to empty out any standing water, especially after a rainstorm or when sprinklers run. These puddles, even as small as a tablespoon of water, are where eggs are laid, and mosquito larvae grow up to become adult mosquitoes. It’s also a good idea to wear long sleeves and long pants, as well as an insect repellant to keep mosquitoes away. Why do some ants have wings? Most of the ants you ever see are worker ants – the ants that do all the maintenance jobs in the nest such as gathering food, cleaning the nest, feeding and grooming the queen, taking care of the eggs and larvae, and defending the nest. Only the potential king and queen ants have wings, and only then for a short time. When an ant colony is healthy and strong, once a year, some of the baby ants can grow into full adults with wings, which means they can fly away, mate, and start a new colony. The winged ants, called alates, all leave the nest at the same time – it is quite the sight! After flying away, the alates try to find another alate from another nest and a place to start a new colony. The male ant dies soon afterward. Alate wings fall off, or, if not, they are broken off. Wings just get in the way when you live underground, or in a log! Interestingly, the worker ants are never considered adults because they are not reproductive, and they will never have wings. If you could have any kind of ant in your ant farm, what species would you choose? Ant farms typically have har-

vester or carpenter ants, and typically only workers. These ants are very active and are large, so they are easy to see. Some people will use ants they find outside. Out of the more than 12,000 species of ants, there is an incredible amount of diversity in size, colors and patterns, habitat preferences, and food preferences. There are so many species to choose from, I don’t know what I would choose. You can learn a lot from ants as they are a eusocial species. You will see cool so-

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

your clothes to remove any ticks on them. Like mosquitoes, there are many serious diseases that you can get if you get bitten by an infected tick. If you find a tick on you, see this web page for tips on how to safely remove a tick: https://www. cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick. html. Clean the bite area thoroughly and apply an antibiotic. If you get sick or develop a rash, see your doctor and let them know about the tick bite.

Winged ants like this one are called alates. cial interactions such as grooming, communication via antenna touching, and trophallaxis (fluid sharing – including food, pheromones, and gut microbes). On the other hand, instead of a particular ant species, I would rather have a termite farm – you get all the social interactions, and you will see the king and queen!

TAMRA REALL Horticulture Specialist 8

How do I keep ticks from jumping on me? Fortunately, ticks don’t jump, nor do they fall from trees. These large, 8-legged mites do not have wings, so they must crawl or hitch a ride to get to someplace new. Outdoors, ticks climb to the tip of grass, spread their forelegs, and wait for someone to walk by close enough for them to latch onto – this behavior is called questing. They can also crawl onto you from pets. Knowing this can help you avoid ticks.

Wear protective clothing, including long pants tucked into your socks, when you are outdoors, especially in areas known for tick infestations. Use a DEET-containing protectant, that helps repel ticks and treat your pets so they don’t bring ticks inside your home. Always check for ticks when you have been outdoors and wash

Do you have questions about bugs found in your garden for Dr. Bug? Send them to ReallT@ Missouri.edu or bit.ly/KidsAskDrBug. Include your name and age. To help me learn what you learn from this monthly column, would you please consider filling out this survey: bit.ly/KidsAskDrBugSurvey. Thank you!

Dr. Tamra Reall (@MUExtBugN Garden) is the horticulture specialist for MU Extension in Jackson County. For free, research-based gardening tips, call 816-833-TREE (8733), email mggkc.hotline@gmail.com, or visit www.extension2.missouri.edu.

The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

Wilding the Home Garden Photos by Scott Woodbury.

t doesn’t take long to find a yard in most neighborhoods that seems to have gone wild. Wild in the sense that it does not have the tidy trademarks of a conventional garden. No clipped bushes, no big blocks of crisp emerald lawn with neatly trimmed edges along the sidewalk. No perfectly oval Bradford pears or statuesque ornamental grasses. In the wild yard, lawns are diminished while wildflowers and grasses dominate. At times they may grow wide, flirting with the sidewalk edge. They also grow densely together, in loosely defined groupings (if any at all). A diverse array of plants bloom in spring, summer, and fall, all without mulch. Their owners keep dried seed heads and grass leaves standing through winter, and in spring, cut them back tall with considerable stubble. To the untrained eye, this landscape looks uncared for. It lacks the familiar touches to which we have become accustomed. Like most people my age (which my fifteenyear-old son says is “just old”), my sense of garden place was honed by conventional garden practices. Weed-free lawns, straight hedges, and ornamental plants resistant to pests (i.e., beetles, bugs, ants, aphids, butterflies, moths, wasps, sawflies, bees and hoppers). What I experienced in my early horticulture career led me to believe that wild gardens like these were too wild for tame suburbs. Now when I see a wild garden, I see it differently. Naturally fallen tree leaves laying in a garden bed strikes me as normal, because that’s where luna moths and wooly bear caterpillars over-winter in cocoons. When I see holes chewed in plant leaves, I hope to spot the caterpillar that chewed them, so I can see positive evidence of my attempts to wild the yard. When I take a walk and encounter a plant reaching into the sidewalk, I take notice. It slows me down and draws me in, as if the

In the wild yard, lawns are diminished while wildflowers and grasses dominate.

When I take a walk and encounter a plant reaching into the sidewalk, I take notice. plant was tapping me on the toe to say, “Hey human, slow down, enjoy the poppy mallows.” I want to meet this owner someday and say thanks. To me, these are worthy trademarks of fine gardening. These

SCOTT WOODBURY Horticulturist 10

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

practices work for wild gardens and they can work in tidy conventional gardens too. After all, humans aren’t the sole beneficiaries of a garden. We could promote more insect diversity by changing a few simple gardening practices.

The birds we enjoy in spring depend on it, as we depend on the ethereal calls of songbirds to help wash away those late-winter blues. Happy wild gardening!

Horticulturist Scott Woodbury is the Curator of the Whitmore Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, Missouri, where he has worked with native plant propagation, design, and education for 30 years. He also is an advisor to the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! program. Find suppliers of native plants and seeds at www.grownative.org, Resource Guide.

CASA MESA IMPORTS

Paola Plant Sale Mowing • Trimming Planting • Mulching Seeding • Aeration

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3054 Southwest Blvd, KCMO (816) 547-4779

Fertilization • Clean Up Barclay Berberian 913-208-5941 LawnsByBarclay.com

JOHNSON COUNTY TOPSOIL & LANDSCAPE MATERIALS, LLC Design/Build • LED Lighting Pond Cleaning Services • Maintenence Repair - Leak Diagnosis • Winterization

TOPSOIL • GARDEN MIXES BULK MULCH • FLAGSTONE WALLSTONE • BOULDERS RIVER GRAVEL • WATER GARDEN ROCK

913-681-2629 2 BLOCKS WEST OF US69 ON 199TH ST.

STILWELL, KS WWW.JOHNSONCOUNTYTOPSOIL.COM

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Our passion is water and providing an enjoyable outdoor oasis for our customers.

April 28-29-30, 2022 Thursday 9:00 to 6:00 Friday 9:00 to 5:00 Saturday 9:00 to 1:00 Opening at 9:00! Cash, Credit Cards & Checks

More butterfly host plants, annuals & veggies than ever! Native Plants • Pollinator Plants Annuals • Perennials • Veggies Succulents • Hanging Baskets Trees • Combo Planters • Gifts! 913 N. Pearl, Paola, KS 66071

The sale will be held in the parking lot of the Extension Offices at 913 N. Pearl (Old KC Road)

Sponsored by

Master Gardener Research and Extension

Marais des Cygnes District

April 4.375x5.874” = $520 1/4 Page

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery 573-496-3492, fax: 573-496-3003

www.mowildflowers.net mowldflrs@socket.net 9814 Pleasant Hill Rd Jefferson City MO 65109

Meet us at one of these locations in the KC area. Give us your order by Tuesday before a sale, and we will bring it to the location. Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City MO 64110. Saturday, April 16, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Deep Roots Native Plant Sale at Prairie Village Swimming Pool Parking Lot, 7711 Delmar Street, Prairie Village KS 66208. April 23, 10a.m. to 2 p.m. Shawnee Indian Mission Foundation - Native Plant Sale at 3403 W. 53rd St, Fairway KS 66205. Saturday, April 30, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Native Plant Sale by Burroughs Audubon at 6212 NW Barry Rd. KC MO 64154. Backyard Bird Center 816-746-1113. Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale at Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City MO 64110. Saturday, May 14, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Rush is on!

Don’t wait any longer to get your equipment in for a Spring tune up. Tune ups include changing the oil and filter, replace spark plug, air filter, and sharpening blades. Authorized service center for most major manufacturers. Commercial Trimmers, Backpack Blowers and zero turns!

All equipment is assembled and ready to use when you buy it. Nothing goes out of here in a box! We carry feed, pet supplies, and lawn and garden supplies!

Northland Feed 4807 N. Brighton, KCMO • www.mowerpartskc.com 816-452-8393 • Mon.-Fri. 9a-6p • Sat. 9a-4p Closed for lunch 1:00-1:30pm every day

Serving the Northland for 40 years The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

PLANTS ON YOUR PLATE Lettuce source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as potassium and folate. Lettuce that has deeper colors has higher concentration of nutrients, thus varieties like romaine and red leaf lettuce will have more nutrients than traditional iceberg lettuce. Combining lettuce varieties will increase nutritional value as well as appeal when making a salad. The best spring salad contains variety in color, flavor, and texture. Create additional interest with dressings using different flavored

oils and vinegars. Lemon or lime juice can also add tartness without excess acidity. Personalize your dressing with your favorite spices to complete your salad. Dressing should not be added to greens until just before serving to maintain the crisp texture of the greens. Lettuce can also be added to or used as a wrap for a sandwich instead of bread. This copy-cat recipe of one of my favorite restaurant appetizers is a tasty way to use lettuce in lieu of a salad.

Asian Lettuce Wraps

ettuce and salad greens of all types are among the most popular early season vegetable. As my husband and I have been planning our garden, I found myself getting more excited about early season crops than I usually do. I usually have ‘good intentions’, but this year, I’m using a different approach…with my salad greens anyway! I am using a container garden approach for my lettuce, as described in the article from the Tiger Garden shop on MU’s campus, which can be found at this link: https://bit.ly/3sRtYLc Lettuce, or Lactuca sativa, is an annual plant of the Asteraceae family. Lettuce was first cultivated in ancient Egypt as a seed oil and a medicinal herb, and several varieties are seen in ancient tomb drawings. Cultivation would continue in Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations and was praised by Hippocrates, the father of medicine, for its healing powers. Caesar Augustus is also said to have created a statue to honor the vegetable when it seemingly cured an illness when formal medications had failed. California dominates lettuce

production at around 70% of production, with Arizona producing most of the remaining lettuce needed to feed the average American adult more than 30 pounds of lettuce per year. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), more than 8000 million pounds of lettuce was grown in 2015, valued at nearly 1.9 billion dollars. The most common types of lettuce suitable for growth in the Midwest are butterhead, leaf, and romaine. Head lettuce requires a longer growing season than leaf lettuce and will turn bitter if temperatures in late spring are in the upper 70s. In addition to growing in container gardens, lettuce can also be started indoors and transplanted or sown directly into soil as soon as soil temperatures reach between 45-55 degrees. If started indoors, seedlings should be gradually adapted to cooler outdoor temperatures before planting, a process known as hardening. Because of the high water content of lettuce – around 95% – lettuce is often thought to be void of nutrition, however it is a good

DENISE SULLIVAN Nutrition Ninja 12

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

MAKES 8 APPETIZER OR 4 MEAL SERVINGS INGREDIENTS 1 tablespoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon minced garlic 1 lb. lean ground chicken 1 cup chopped water chestnuts 1 cup chopped red bell pepper ¼ cup low sodium teriyaki sauce ¼ cup water 1 tablespoon cornstarch 8 large lettuce leaves (Bibb or Romaine work well) ½ cup chopped green onion ¼ cup chopped peanuts Wash hands and work surfaces. Wash bell pepper and green onions. Heat oil in medium skillet. Add garlic and chicken. Break up chicken and stir until browned. Add bell pepper and water chestnuts, stir to combine. Add teriyaki sauce and heat until bubbly. Combine water and cornstarch. Add to chicken mixture; cook and stir until thickened. Serve chicken in lettuce leaves, top with green onions and peanuts if desired. NUTRITION INFORMATION (for 8 services) Calories: 302, Total Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: .6g, Sodium: 210mg, Carbohydrates: 6.5g, Fiber: 1g, Protein: 52g

Recipe adapted from MyPlate Kitchen, analyzed by verywellfit.com.

Denise Sullivan (@MUExtJacksonCo) is a Nutrition and Health Education Specialist for MU Extension in Jackson County. For research based nutrition and food safety information and programs, call 816-4825850 or visit https://extension.missouri.edu/counties/urban-west-region.

The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

ot just a children’s book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” is a biological truth. A caterpillar is very hungry because it does all the eating for its future life. Remember, adult butterflies have no mouth and can’t eat; they rely on the food stored in the caterpillar’s body to metamorphosize and reproduce. True, butterflies do have a tongue to sip nectar, but that’s not enough nutrition for mating and egg laying. This system cleverly avoids competition for food between the nectar-drinking adults and the leafeating caterpillars. Why Such Specialized Diets? What is the advantage of restricting a caterpillar’s diet to a particular family, genus or species of plant? Since many of the host plants contain toxic chemicals, a complex evolutionary process was required for the caterpillar to first tolerate, then metabolize and finally store the poisons in its body. To repeat this evolutionary process for many kinds of plants would be an inefficient redundancy. Obviously, the disadvantage of this specialization is that if a particular food plant is eradicated, butterflies cannot evolve fast enough to change their diet and survive as a species.

The beloved Monarch is in process of this fate in the United States where a unique subpopulation migrates but can no longer rely on a bountiful supply of Milkweeds in its breeding grounds. Ninety percent of the midwestern Milkweeds has been wiped out by agricultural practices. Simultaneously, the population of Monarchs has declined 90 percent in the past 20 years. This is not a coincidence. How Does a Butterfly Find its Host Plant? Butterflies co-evolved with specific host plants to use their molecules to trigger egg-laying and caterpillar feeding. If those molecules are absent, the gravid female will not her lay her eggs. Locating a host plant is not random. Both males and females use the olfactory receptors in their antennae to smell the host plant’s magic molecules in the air. They then follow the scent trail back to the source. When the female locates a host plant, she lands and confirms the plant’s identity with the taste receptors on her feet. When these taste receptors lock onto the plant molecule, the butterfly will lay her eggs, usually one by one. What happens if she can’t find her host plant? She will die with a

An ample supply of Tropical Milkweed, a favorite Monarch host, will be available for purchase.

LENORA LARSON Butterfly Maven 14

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

Photos by Lenora Larson.

You Are What You Eat

A common garden herb, Rue grows in full sun. It hosts the Black and the Giant Swallowtail. belly-full of unlaid eggs. And the next generation is forever lost. Where Can You Find Host Plants? It used to be almost impossible to find host plants unless the plant serendipitously had human uses like edible Carrots or medicinal Rue. Today, many native plant nurseries and nature-focused plant

If you have a shady spot, buy a native Spicebush, which hosts the arguably cutest caterpillar of all, the Spicebush Swallowtail.

sales carry host plants. The Marais des Cygnes Extension Master Gardener Plant Sale in Paola, Kansas specializes in butterfly host plants plus provides handouts and has volunteers to answer questions. The sale runs from Thursday, April 27 through Saturday, April 29. Please see the ad, article or calendar listing in this issue of The Kansas City Gardener for more information.

Want a new host plant for your Black Swallowtails? Buy Moon Carrot, a gorgeous native of Turkey.

A Marais des Cygnes Master Gardener, Lenora is a member of the Idalia Butterfly Society and Kansas Native Plant Society. She gardens in the clay soil and cruel winds of Paola, KS. She may be contacted at lenora.longlips@gmail.com.

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The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

Spring Blooms

a review of what is happening at Powell Gardens our collection. A hundred thousand early, mid, and late season jonquils flower in the lawn behind the Visitor Center and Perennial Garden. Our bearded iris collection, curated by Dr. Norlan Henderson, begins flowering mid to late April. Award

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

and crabapple flowers. Just weeks ago, the flower buds were tight on the trees. Hopefully, we won’t have a repeat of last year’s May snow. It was good to see that our native redbuds and dogwoods can tolerate

Snowdrops

Bearded Iris

Blooming trees and bulbs

winning iris are planted in beds closest to the Fountain Garden cascades. The late Dr. Henderson’s favorites are planted in the Millstone Garden beds. Tulip mania is celebrated with colorful patterns of mid and late season tulips planted in the borders at the Fountain Garden and Island Garden. Tulips in the Fountain Garden are sprayed regularly with

SUSAN MERTZ Plantswoman 16

a deer repellent. Fortunately, the deer haven’t discovered the back pathway to the Island Garden that doesn’t involve bridges. There, the tulips are safe. Updated succulent walls with new patterns have been installed Photos by Susan Mertz.

t starts with a snowdrop. The garden is sending a signal that the days are warming. Snowdrop flowers dance in the gentle breeze of a warm winter day and bring joy to us gardeners. They also bring hope for a new gardening season. The tranquil pace of late winter gives time to sit in the garden and dream of spring gardening. What gardening mistakes of last year will be avoided? Will this be the year the perennials leap and fill the garden with flowers? I look at the snowdrop flowers on snowy days and am reminded to be resilient when facing the challenges of gardening in the Midwest. Ignoring spring cleaning indoors, the pace quickens and I’m all on board with spring cleaning the garden. The manicured areas at Powell Gardens need grooming ahead of our spring visitors. Of course, naturalized areas are left alone, and the winter homes of beneficial insects are protected. On the walk to the Marjorie Allen Powell Chapel, I keep an eye out for the colonies of trilliums and bloodroots that emerge through the carpet of leaves at the edge of the woods. Masses of winter aconite pop up along a hidden trail at the David T. Beals III Woodland and Stream Garden. Drifts of hellebores flower along the slopes leading to the streams. Balkan anemones and dwarf bearded iris bring pops of color above the wall at the Marlese Lowe Gourley Island Garden. Nearby, branches of Cornus mas trees and forsythias are filled with cheery yellow flowers. April brings a flurry of activity to Powell Gardens with little time to sit still. Painted Garden opens in mid-April and combines the arts and gardens with an eye on design. Peregrine Honig, Kansas City artist, takes over the conservatory with an installation titled Night Blooms featuring palm trees from

in a Garden Gallery greenhouse by the Menu Garden. Made possible by the Jonathan and Nancy Lee Kemper fund and Longshadow, Powell Garden debuts new stone planters to be filled with spring blossoms. Ten art-inspired containers on the Visitor Center terraces will be installed by local designers. The garden’s canopy is filled with magnolia, dogwood, redbud

late season snow. Last year, I tried to remind the Butterfly Magnolia that the snowdrops do fine in snow, and it should do the same. Sadly, it ignored me. However, drawing on snowdrop’s resiliency, we move on from spring and look to summer. It is my hope that summer brings the gardens some cloudy days to break up the heat along with regular rainfall.

With over 25 years in the horticulture industry and public gardening community, Susan is Director of Horticulture at Powell Gardens. Married, with grown children and a granddaughter, Susan and her husband love to travel and want to see the world. Or, as much of the world as is covered by their frequent flyer miles. As long as there is a garden or two included in each vacation spot, her suitcase and camera bag are packed.

find out how trees protect our water - visit treeswork.org The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

Ornamental Shrubs new introductions for your garden There are always gardeners looking to replace their roses when they succumb to rose rosette disease. One of my favorite substitutions to recommend is the Weigela. For gardeners that seek to both replace roses and plant something that is a little more compact, ‘Very Fine Wine’ Weigela boasts a beautiful, dark foliage and countless blooms while only reaching 3 feet tall and wide. This variety does exceptionally well in a mass planting

Mockorange ‘Illuminati Tower’ and needs full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun) to thrive. Nandina is one of my favorite landscape plants ever since I first saw it during “Woody Ornamentals Class” at Mizzou. They are reliable and low-maintenance, and uniquely showy. ‘Cool Glow Pomegranate’ Nandina has dark green foliage all summer which turns to brilliant red in fall. This bright red lasts all winter, making it a stunning speci-

SEAN HOLLAND Perennials Manager 18

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

men in the garden. Planting this in sun will give it the best color, but it can tolerate some light shade. At 4 feet tall and wide, any gardener should be able to find a space for ‘Cool Glow Pomegranate’ in their landscapes. Many gardeners struggle to find plants that can tolerate shady conditions and bloom well. ‘Fizzy Mizzy’ Sweetspire (Itea) is a newer variety that can thrive in both sunny and shady conditions. Proven WinPhoto courtesy of Proven Winners.

fter a long winter and numerous snow storms, spring is finally here! Gardeners across the area are coming out of their winter hibernation to clean up their yards and prepare for the coming growing season. Last month, I discussed some of the new and exciting perennials available in the market this spring, but perennials are only one part of an everevolving garden. Where perennials add blooms and color to a garden, ornamental shrubs add structure, texture, and color to landscape. This month, we explore some of the newer shrub cultivars available to plant enthusiasts this spring. Each year, it seems that more and more gardeners go to garden centers in search of compact plants. Many of the plants in this article fit this bill and are smaller or more compact than some of their “usual” counterparts. For the Hydrangea lover, ‘Little Hottie’ is a compact, panicle type that only gets about 5 feet tall and wide. It is more heattolerant than other varieties and needs very little to no pruning. Our summer heat tends to scorch some plants, but ‘Little Hottie’ can tolerate our extreme summer weather with blooms that do not burn. Another landscape favorite, Spirea, can get out of hand. Most varieties can tolerate hard pruning every spring to help maintain size, but ‘Little Spark’ offers a spark of color that others don’t. New growth emerges orange and fades to bright yellow, which it holds throughout the rest of the season. This bright foliage sets off its pink summer blooms which are sure to attract pollinators. The grower recommends shearing blooms immediately after it finishes to encourage a rebloom later in the season.

ners boasts that it is one of the most tolerant shade shrubs and that it will still bloom. Plants like this that can handle a wide variety of light exposure are great in the landscape because they offer the opportunity to add some unity to the yard by planting some in sunny or shady areas. ‘Fizzy Mizzy’ grows to a compact 3-foot mound, has beautifully fragrant blooms, and attracts pollinators to the garden.

For gardeners that need some height but don’t want to sacrifice a lot of space in the bed for a larger shrub, ‘Illuminati Tower’ Mockorange is the answer to their prayers. At only 2 feet wide, it reaches 4 feet tall and produces the same beautiful, exceptionally fragrant blooms as its parent. Mockorange is one of the most fragrant spring bloomers, so make sure and plant it where you can enjoy its heavenly scent. Some gardeners don’t need compact plants. Larger shrubs have a place in taking up space, adding structure to the yard, and creating privacy. Ninebark is a beautiful shrub with nice flowers, but its true value is in the dense, purple foliage. ‘Fireside’ reaches 5-7 feet tall and wide, so give it some room. It is perfect for creating some privacy along fence lines or around a patio. For those that need something on the tall end of the spectrum, ‘Sky High’ Juniper is perfect. It reaches 12-15 feet tall while staying relatively narrow at 3-5 feet wide, so it can be easily tucked into a landscape area that needs a focal point or some height. It can be pruned lightly to keep its narrow shape, but its inherent columnar habit usually limits the need to trim. It can handle drought conditions and requires well-drained soils in order to thrive. Plant among Viburnums, Ninebark, and other privacy-creating plants for a beautiful texture in the landscape. As gardeners visit garden centers to hunt down these varieties, remember to ask about the many other varieties available this season. Each garden center has its own collection of plants to offer and each professional has their own list of favorites that we are always happy to share with our visitors.

Sean Holland is Perennials Manager at Suburban Lawn & Garden, 135th and Wornall location, in Kansas City, Missouri. You may reach him at seanh@suburbanlg.com.

Photo courtesy of Bailey Nurseries.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.

Hydrangea ‘Little Hottie’

Above: Itea ‘Fizzy Mizzy’; Below: Juniper ‘Sky High’ Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.

Photo courtesy of Bailey Nurseries.

Nandina ‘Cool Glow Pomegranate’ Spirea ‘Little Spark’

Above: Ninebark ‘Fireside’; Below: Weigela ‘Very Fine Wine’

The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

19 Photo courtesy of Bailey Nurseries.

Photo courtesy of Bailey Nurseries.

Indoor Gardening: Let the Light Shine

or many gardeners, the introduction to artificial horticultural lighting (“grow lights” as I’ll use for slang) is one of practicality – get an early start on sprouting seeds for outdoor planting. Transplanting young plants with established roots into your garden not only avoids the risk that seeds don’t germinate properly due to spring weather conditions, but it can also improve yields at harvest. You’ve essentially extended the growing season by a few weeks (or more). And while it’s certainly possible to utilize a south-facing windowsill as the launchpad for this endeavor, there are distinct advantages to supplementing the sun’s rays with a grow light. By increasing the intensity of light reaching your seedlings, you reduce the risk of their stems becoming leggy and weak, you increase the size to which they can grow prior to moving outside and you gain flexibility as to where you place them (i.e., you’re not longer tied to that windowsill). The other grow light location that frequently comes to mind is greenhouses. Fixtures placed every dozen feet or so, equipped with glowing orange bulbs radiating heat down towards the canopy keep warm-weather plants growing even in the dead of winter. Days can be extended to prevent short day plants from flowering too soon and cloudy stretches don’t slow photosynthesis. Just as with sprouting seeds, though, this use of artificial lighting to improve production in the garden is still just a supplement. It’s not a full replacement for the sun’s powerful, life-giving rays. Enter the less commonly considered application of grow lights, year-round indoor food production. Until the past decade, growing food indoors simply wasn’t practical as it was with seed starting or supplemental greenhouse lighting. The

cost was prohibitive, the technology was inefficient, and it was frankly a bit dangerous. Grow lights become the tools of underground cannabis growers because only a crop selling for thousands of dollars per pound

$100 on an LED to grow lettuce in a 3’ x 3’ space 365 days a year for 10 years without ever changing a bulb and with a monthly addition to your electrical bill of only a few dollars. While LED lighting has re-

would justify the electrical cost. Doubtless, they acquired a stigma. Even if you were just growing tomatoes in your basement, would the DEA come smashing through your front door because they saw you leave a grow shop with lights in-toe? Because your energy usage suddenly jumped? Because your house was emitting an unusual heat signature? Fortunately, horticultural lighting technology has made giant strides over the past couple decades, to the point where it’s even helped shift attitudes. The entry and continued development of light emitting diode (LED) technology into the market is debatably the primary reason. Where the old technologies of High Pressure Sodium (HPS), Metal Halide (MH) and even fluorescent bulbs (to an extent) were hot, energy inefficient and not without some level of danger, LED technology is exactly the opposite. Today, you can spend less than

solved the practicality of growing at home, its also introduced a new challenge of abundance. The inexpensive nature of LEDs has created a competitive market of brands, all touting unique features and designs, although many are produced from identical components. Trying to sort through the daunting array of options is overwhelming, but there are a few areas to pay close attention. Outside of cost, the first question to ask is: How much usable light will reach my plants? At risk of being simultaneously too technical and too simplistic, it’s helpful to understand that light is actually electromagnetic radiation – yes, the same stuff our microwaves use to heat up food and our radios use to pick up a station. The difference is in the lengths of those radio waves. Wavelengths between 400 and 700 nanometers (nm) represent a form of light called photosynthetically active radiation, PAR for short.

JASON MISPAGEL Indoor Gardener 20

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

This is the light plants can use to perform photosynthesis. LED grow lights will almost always be accompanied by specifications indicating the quantity of PAR provided to your plant at varying distances, measured in “ppfd.” The farther away you place the light from your plant, the more dispersed the plantavailable light becomes by the time it reaches the canopy, meaning that a light providing 1,500ppfd when it’s placed 8 inches above your plant may only provide 150ppfd at 6 feet. These measurements are important in purchasing the right type of light for your application. For example, seedlings need only a small amount of light, around 100ppfd. Leafy greens do fine with a few hundred ppfd, but flowering plants like peppers and tomatoes thrive under a thousand ppfd during fruiting. As a general rule, the higher the ppfd, the more expensive the light. The other question to ask is in regards to color temperature. This is measured in Kelvin and typically ranges from 2,000K (warmer) to 8,000K (cooler). An easy way to think about Kelvin is the “warmth” of a bulb. When you’re replacing a light bulb in your house, you may want a softer, warmer bulb to create a relaxing environment. That would fall in the 2,700K-3,000K range. If you want a cooler light that provides more of a daylight environment, 4,500K-6,500K would give that feel. The temperature of light produced by LEDs is precisely controlled by the diodes used in their production and is typically indicated in their product specifications or on their packaging. Plants like lettuce and kale tend to prefer higher Kelvin values with more blues and whites. Flowering plants like peppers and tomatoes prefer lower Kelvin values, made up heavily of reds and oranges, especially when flowering and fruiting.

Jason Mispagel is the co-owner and operator of Year-Round Garden, a grower’s supply center serving both home and commercial customers since 2016. To contact Jason, call 816-216-6917 or jason@year-roundgarden.com.

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Redbud Tree

other Nature gives us a most spectacular sight the last week or so in March, on through April and into May, with one of Mother’s most fascinating trees. The Eastern Redbud tree grows native over the eastern half of Kansas, in every county in Missouri and into most of the states touching or east of the Great Plains. Eastern Redbud is cold hardy and will grow farther west if additional water is available. This Redbud tree has the scientific name Cercis canadensis. The name Cercis comes from the Greek word kerkis (weaver’s shuttle) because the seed pod of the redbud is shaped like a small weaver’s shuttle. Canadensis means of Canada as it grows naturally from parts of Canada south into Florida. Eastern Redbud grows to about 20 feet tall and spreads to about 20 feet wide. It is extensively planted as a flowering ornamental tree because of the thousands of light pink to pinkish-red flowers that last a long time in the spring. Clean bluegreen leaves of summer turn yellow in autumn. Small 3-inch long seed pods form after the flowers with each pod containing 6 or 8 small dark brown bean shaped seed. Yes, Virginia, there is a Western Redbud Cercis occidentalis (aka Cercis orbiculata) that is also called California Redbud and it grows native in four large western states. A somewhat common occurrence in the flowering of redbud is cauliflory or stem flowers. This naturally happens in a small percentage of redbuds and we see perfect flowers in small 2” to 3” clusters growing on the trunk and large branches of the redbud tree. This adds to the charm of this lovely tree. Several selections of Eastern Redbud are available. The white flowering form is very popular as it is covered with thousands of bright white flowers for much of the

Photo by Ken O’Dell.

flowering ornamental, hardy native

Eastern Redbud in bloom spring. Planted in landscapes with the pink flowering redbud the colors seem to enhance each other. A beautiful example of this is growing below the dam on Margaret’s Pond at the Overland Park Arboretum where Eastern redbud, whitebud and ‘The Rising Sun’ redbud are planted within 100 feet of each other with the wooded background adding to the natural beauty of the redbuds. We have a weeping selection of flowering redbud growing at the Overland Park Arboretum immediately west of the visitor center. This

KEN O’DELL Expert Plantsman 22

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

weeping redbud was originally discovered growing at the home of Connie Covey in New York in 1991. It is registered under the name ‘Lavender Twist Redbud’ and is also referred to as Covey’s Weeping Redbud. Another magnificent redbud variety named ‘Oklahoma’ has a more compact growth habit to 15’ and darker pinkish-red flowers with attractive shiny dark green leaves. A darker red flowering variety of redbud ‘Appalachian Red’ is growing in full sun on the south side of the main building at Linda

Hall Library. It is marked with a stake marker and easy to find. ‘Appalachian Red’ was originally found growing in Maryland and is noted for darker red pea-like flowers in the spring. Heart shaped leaves are a magnificent blue-green turning yellow in the autumn. Look closely at the fully open single flower of the redbud and you will see the form of a tiny hummingbird with its long beak attached to the redbud tree. Several people have pointed this out to me and it always brings a smile. ‘Forest Pansy’ redbud has dark

Ken O’Dell is the Kansas City Regional Leader of the Kansas Native Plant Society. He is a long-time volunteer at the Overland Park Arboretum, and a frequent visitor of Powell Gardens, Black Bob Park, Loose Park and the beautiful arboretum at Linda Hall Library. You may reach him via email at Ken@springvalleynursery.com.

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‘Forest Pansy’ Redbud leaves reddish purple leaves and pink flowers. This beauty was found growing in the mountains of middle Tennessee many years ago. ‘Forest Pansy’ is a hardy tree with pink flowers and colorful foliage. A newer selection of redbud ‘The Rising Sun’ has stunning colors to the leaves. We have one of these planted at the Overland Park Arboretum. ‘The Rising Sun’ has heart-shaped leaves that emerge a golden orange and matures into shades of orange, gold and yellow ending in lime-green. Abundant rosy pink flowers in early spring before the leaves emerge and continuing after the leaves first emerge. All of these great redbuds should be available at your favorite nursery. If not in stock ask them to bring one in for you. For the past 15 years a Chinese Redbud, Cercis chinensis, has been growing on our farm. It has several upright stems more like a multi stem shrub. While reported to grow to 50 feet in native China it should grow to only 10 feet in the Kansas

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Cauliflory is a common occurrence on the redbud. City area. Slightly larger flowers of a darker rosy purple color in the spring time. This one on our farm is from a selection that was given to Powell Gardens by Iowa State University several years ago.

Review our plant list and plan for spring planting! Follow us on Facebook! #NeedMoreFlowers www.arnoldsgreenhouse.com info@arnoldsgreenhouse.com (620) 964-2463 • 1430 Hwy 58, LeRoy, KS 66857 The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

Rose Report April in the Rose Garden center. A balanced fertilizer is one Hey John, when do I uncover that has about equal parts of nimy roses? I get this question every trogen (N), phosphorous (P) and spring, and I tell people to first potassium (K), like 10-10-10. But mail in your taxes and then go you should really do your soil test home and uncover your roses. It first. My garden tests high for P has nothing to do with and K so I do not want to add the IRS. In the early any more of these nuwinter we cover trients. Accordingly, our grafted I use ammonium roses to temper sulfate, 21-0-0. It the temperahas no P or K. ture variaIn addition tions over the to the nutrient winter. You levels, the soil do not want to test will tell you uncover them the acidity level. Veterans Honor too early when Roses like the pH to there is danger of be in the 6.0 to 6.5 range. freezing. In Kansas City, This level is optimum for good there is a 10 percent probability nutrient uptake. Because sulfur that we will get a temperature can be used to lower the pH level below 28°F after April 15th–Tax in the soil, my use of ammonium Day. Established rose growth can sulfate with a sulfur content of 22 tolerate temperatures to about percent, helps to keep my soil in 28°F. In any given year, look the right range. at the weather forecast around Tax Day and if it looks unusuHey John, “What else should I ally cold, wait a few days. If it is be doing in April?” warmer than normal, a bit earlier Spring is a busy time in the will probably be alright. rose garden. Your other jobs include: Hey John, “What kind of fertil• Planting bare-root roses. izer should I use?” • Pruning. Another common question. • Spraying for blackspot My answer is always, “I do not control. know.” The reason I don’t know Applying insect controls if is that I don’t know what kind of needed. If you had rose midge soil you have and what nutrients last season, you should begin are in your soil. Therefore, the treating the soil when you unsecond part of the answer is, “Get cover them. a soil test.” You can get a soil test For more information on any at either of the university extenof these topics, go to the Kansion services—Kansas State, sas City Rose Society webpage https://www.johnson.k-state. https://www.kansascityrosesociedu/lawn-garden/soil-testing/ ety.org/growing-roses.html. or the University of Missouri, The Ask-a-Rosarian hotline is https://extension.missouri.edu/ always available for your specific mp555. Be sure to include on rose questions at kcrosehelp@ the submittal form that you are gmail.com. One of the Kansas growing roses. In the absence of City Rose Society Consulting a test, you can use any balanced Rosarians will send an answer, fertilizer available at your garden usually by the next day.

JOHN RILEY, Consulting Rosarian An American Rose Society Consulting Rosarian and Kansas City Rose Society Secretary, John is past president of the Johnson County Rose Society and is on the American Rose Society Board of Directors. 24

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

Visit Town Gardens and Country Gardens in a Beautiful Historic Town on the Missouri River Hermann, Missouri, June 4-5

he 27th Garden Tour includes both a walking tour of gardens in downtown historic Hermann and a driving tour to country gardens. The $15 ticket price includes visits to at least four private gardens both in town and in the country, including a traditional foursquare garden. Garden Tour visits may be spread over Saturday and Sunday. Tickets will be sold online before the tour at Eventeny and during the tour at Topiaries (138 E 4th) in downtown Hermann from 10-5 on Saturday and 10-3 on Sunday. Gardens close at 5PM on Saturday and 4PM on Sunday. A map to the tour gardens will be provided starting on Saturday June 4th at Topiaries, the ticket sale site. The Hermann Garden Club’s website www.hermanngardentours.com provides up-to-date events, ticket prices, links to the online ticket sale site, contact numbers, and photographs of past tour gardens. Visit the FAQS page on the website for answers to all your questions. “Like” us on Facebook at “Hermann Garden Tours.” Go to www.visithermann.com for information about lodging. The Garden Tour is always the first full weekend in June. According to Garden Tour Chair Alice Calhoun, the gardens on the 2022 Garden Tour are unique: “We have a many new gardens among both the town and country gardens. Town Tour gardens often are either lovely cottage gardens hidden behind historic homes or river-view gardens. This year they will include two traditional four-square gardens. Country Tour estate gardens tend to be much larger than Town Tour gardens and have different elements and features.” Calhoun continues, “To get an overview of the beauty of Hermann’s gardens, visit www. hermanngardentours.com, our website. There you will see gardens that have been on previous tours. And you will be amazed.” Hermann, named “the most beautiful city in Missouri” and a Missouri DREAM city, has many wineries, over 60 bed and breakfasts inns, many antique and specialty shops, and galleries. And there are excellent eateries. Plan to spend the night and spread the tour over both days. Garden Club Co-Presidents Elise Bellefontaine and Mary Fritz urge local people to support these events since “Funds raised at the Garden Tour are used for civic beautification and scholarships for local students.” One of the newest projects is the Tree Project to which the Hermann Garden Club contributed $5000 to plant trees in Lower City Park. They continue, “If you are interested in joining the Club, please contact us through our website.” For more information, visit the Hermann Garden Tours website www.hermanngardentours.com or contact the Garden Club directly at info@HermannGardenTours.com. Many of your questions are answered on the FAQs page on the Hermann Garden Tours website. For more information about lodging, shops, and restaurants, go to www. visithermann.com.

April is National Safe Digging Month Missouri One Call System and Kansas 811 Promote National Safe Digging Month encouraging residents to always call 811 three days before digging

pring is finally here! It’s getting warm and the trees are starting to show some green, eager homeowners like you are ready to start those outdoor digging projects. Before you reach for that shovel and start digging, remember to call 811, the national “Call Before You Dig” number, to ensure that your buried utility lines are marked. More than 40 percent of homeowners who plan to dig this year will put themselves and others at risk by not calling 811 before starting. Damaging an underground line can result in injuries, expensive repair cost, legal fees and outages. Landscaping your yard, installing a culvert, building a fence or even installing a mailbox requires that you call in to have the utilities marked before beginning your work. Every digging project, no

you that they have no facilities at the dig site. The utilities will mark the facilities that they own, usually up to the meter. 3. Once all the utilities have responded, work can then safely proceed, avoiding damages. matter how large or small, necessitates a call to your Missouri or Kansas One Call center. Notifying your state One Call center will allow the utilities to mark their underground facilities permitting your excavation to safely proceed. Using your Missouri and Kansas One Call System is free of charge, and you can process your request 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It only takes a few minutes to complete the process of notifying the utilities of your intent to dig.

HERE’S HOW YOUR ONE CALL SYSTEM WORKS: 1. Three working days before you begin your work, place a locate request. In Missouri, call 1-800-DIG-RITE or in Kansas, call1-800-DIG-SAFE or 811 or go online to www.mo1call.com or www.kansasonecall.com. Our operators will map the dig site from excavator information and notify the utilities that have facilities in the area. 2. The utilities will respond by marking their facilities or notifying

There are over 20 million miles of underground facilities buried in the United States. Never dig without knowing where the underground lines are located. HOW TO PLACE YOUR FREE NOTIFICATION: In Missouri, call 1-800-DIGRITE or 811 or go online at www. mo1call.com In Kansas, call 1-800–DIGSAFE or 811 or go on-line at www. kansasonecall.com

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The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

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Year of the SALAD GREENS Overview and History Curiously, salad got its start not as a dietary staple, but as an aphrodisiac! We know this because leafy relations to modern romaine are depicted in ancient paintings as sustaining Min, the Egyptian god of fertility. Fast-forward a few thousand years and the fertility connection was still paramount in paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, including the Leda, which depicts a child holding a bouquet of lamb’s lettuce (today’s mâché) next to the goddess of fertility. By this point in the 1500s, raw, leafy vegetables covered in oily, salted dressing were well established in the Roman diet as “herba salta”, literally, “salted herbs,” or the not-so-distant cousins of tasty greens that define the healthful salads, appetizers, and mains we enjoy today. Basic Types and Variety Names The Asteraceae family is the source of some of the best-known salad greens: Lettuce is a mild-flavored leafy annual that is available in many types, textures, colors, and shapes. Chicories like endive and radicchio are perennial herbaceous plants that punctuate savory dishes with a bitter flavor profile. Dandelion greens, the mortal foe of spring lawns, are surprisingly diverse culinary additions, offering unique flavor and health benefits. 26

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

The Amaranthaceae family includes another popular green: • Spinach is a leafy annual that’s native to central and western Asia. In the U.S. and around the world it’s harvested at many stages, from baby leaf to full-size leaves. Bring on the Brassicaceae family for superior flavor and cold hardiness: • Arugula, also called “rocket”, is a spicy-flavored leafy annual with a strong following among greens lovers. • Kale is a nutrient-rich green, leafy, cruciferous vegetable. • Mustard Greens offer a zesty and colorful dimension to salad mixes. For added flavor and visual appeal, think beyond the aisle of standard greens: • Asian Greens offer a wide array of shoots, leaves, and choys that bring a unique look, flavor, and dimension to salads. • Chard, better known as Swiss Chard and recognized for health benefits, is a green leafy vegetable with large leaf stalks typically prepared separately from stems. • Herbs, from basil to cilantro to watercress to dill and more, fresh herbs can always take your salads and often entire meals to the next level. • “Tops” are the tender greens of beet and turnip.

How to Grow Salad Greens in your Garden Salad greens are all unique in terms of how they grow best, so it’s well worth following the specific planting instructions as written on the package for each variety to ensure a bountiful and continuous home harvest throughout your growing season. Most greens prefer cool weather (50 to 75°F), so consider if that’s winter, spring, or fall in your area, so you can be ready to plant. Plant all greens in full sun. Soil that’s evenly moist but not too wet yields the best greens. As a general guide, spinach, kale, and mustard greens can be sown six weeks before the last frost, followed by lettuce and chard three weeks later. You can choose to transplant seedlings or sow seeds directly into the garden. Transplants can be started earlier to get a jump on the season. Leafy greens grow well in the garden and are also ideal for containers. To prepare outdoor soil, consider mixing in 1 cup of organic fertilizer for every 10’ row, and ensure the soil is evenly moist. For containers, choose one that is large enough that it won’t easily dry out. Fill with quality potting mix and consider mixing in peat and coir. Soil should be kept moist, not soggy. Planting depth varies by variety, so be sure to read seed package instructions. Note that some seeds, like lettuce, need light to germinate, so take care not to plant too deep.

After germination, thin seedlings to desired spacing. If your goal is baby leaf, keep the spacing fairly dense. If you’d like to harvest whole heads, ensure spacing of 4”8” apart within a row. For baby leaf, you can start harvesting when leaves are 3-4” tall. Many varieties will tolerate “cut-and-come-again” harvests. Allow full-size heads 3-5 weeks after transplant to mature. Leafy greens will have different flavors at different stages of harvest. Experiment to find out which flavor works best for you! As much as possible, monitor for over-exposure to heat and water to avoid “stressed greens” that taste bitter rather than fresh. When plants bolt (or send up flower stalks), pull them up as the quality will start to diminish after this. To ensure a continuous harvest, reseed as often as every few weeks depending on the variety. With so many fabulous greens to choose from, each of which grows a little differently, it takes some worthwhile diligence to achieve your salad goals…and it’s worth it!

Article and photos courtesy of National Garden Bureau, ngb.org.

Spring Plant Sale at Overland Park Arboretum Looking to add some fresh appeal to your garden? Join us for in-person shopping at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale, April 28th through May 1st.

Spring Starts Here! • Annual flowers • Perennials • Vegetable starters • Shrubs & trees • House plants • Large selection of new pottery • Full line of fertilizers

Make us a tradition 436 W. 85th St., Kansas City, MO • office 816-444-7661 waldogreenhousekc@gmail.com facebook.com/waldogreenhousekc

Thursday April 28 – FOTA Member Pre-Sale – 3 - 7 pm Friday April 29 – 9am - 7pm Saturday April 30 – 9am - 5pm Sunday May 1 – 11am - 3pm Shop Local & Support the Arb Choose from a wide selection of over 200+ locally grown plant varieties. Find your favorite annual and perennial staples, sun and shade lovers, shrubs, grasses, and edibles. Or get your green thumb ready to try something different! We’re excited to offer many new options this year, available for the very first time. All proceeds from the sale go toward future Arboretum projects and supporting our mission. Bring Your Garden to Life “The Arboretum Spring Plant Sale is unique because of its emphasis on helping to create a sustainable world for butterflies, bees, and other wildlife,” says Pat Blanchat, plant sale chair. Our colorful collection of native and pollinator plants is sure to attract buzzworthy friends for a happier and healthier garden environment. Ask an Expert If you have any questions along the way, just chat with one of our helpful onsite gardening experts! Enjoy fresh-air shopping among the beautiful scenery of the Overland Park Arboretum and find nearby inspiration from our creative garden bed designs. Members-Only Day Friends of the Arboretum Members get exclusive access to shop a day early on April 28. Don’t forget to join or renew your membership at opabg.org to get first dibs on your favorite plants before they sell out! About the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens The Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is one of the area’s largest botanical gardens with more than 300 acres and 800 plant species. Located at 8909 West 179th Street, just ten minutes south of I-435 and Metcalf, west of 69 Highway, it is an easy drive from anywhere in the KC metro area. The Arboretum’s beautiful gardens and wooded walking trails offer year-round fun featuring the Monet Garden, Train Garden, 38 sculptures and many seasonal events. The Luminary Walk is produced by Friends of the Arboretum, which is part of the Arts & Recreation Foundation. For more information, visit https://artsandrec-op.org/arboretum/.

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Tulip Time 2022 set for April 8-24 Thousands of tulips plus two special events usher in spring

erold Binkley Tulip Time 2022 is set for April 8-24. The event features thousands of multicolored tulips and flowering bulbs in Shawnee County Parks + Recreation’s three featured gardens – Ted Ensley Gardens at Lake Shawnee, Old Prairie Town/Ward-Meade Botanical Garden and Doran Rock Garden and surrounding areas in Gage Park. The event is named for its founder, Jerold Binkley who passed away in 2019. Tulip Time began nearly 30 years ago in the home gardens of Jerold and Joan Binkley. Mr. Binkley desired to create an ongoing

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

and beautiful county-wide event with Tulip Time. Today the event draws visitors from around the nation. There are two special events in addition to regular self-guided tours through the gardens. Tulips at Twilight features larger than life lighted displays with thousands of tulips illuminated by candle light and lighted displays. The displays include 15-foot tall illuminated tulips and larger-than-life illuminated flowers, illuminated mushrooms tall enough for patrons to walk beneath them, rivers of blue lights and floating lanterns in the Asian

garden. Tulips at Twilight is set for 7-10 p.m. April 8-24. Admission is a $5 donation with children five and under free. Tulip Time Festival the Lake is set for April 23 at Ted Ensley Gardens at Lake Shawnee. The event is from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. A $5 donation for the day gains guests entry to the gardens, live musical performances, vendors and fun for the kids. Tulip Time has been attended in the past by people from 68 cities in Kansas, multiple states and visitors from the United Kingdom, India, Russia, Australia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Tulip Time is an annual destination popular with everyone from area residents to out-of-state visitors on bus tours. A $5 donation is suggested at Ted Ensley Gardens and Old Prairie Town/Ward-Meade Botanical Garden to help cover the cost of the event and enable Tulip Time to continue in future years. Guided tours for groups of 15 or more with advance reservations are available at Ted Ensley Gardens and Old Prairie Town/Ward-Meade Botanical Garden (785) 251-6800. For more information, please visit Shawnee County Parks and Recreation website, parks.snco.us.

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Upcoming Garden Events Gardening 101: Bonsai Basics Sat, Apr 2, 11a-noon; at Powell Gardens. Fee: $15 | 10% less for members. Register: https://25043p.blackbaudhosting. com/25043p/page.aspx?pid=213&tab= 2&txobjid=729f2a62-6228-4a00-9b4e4307eb2b6cbb. Join Marissa Mills, Senior Gardener, in Gardening 101: Bonsai Basics. This class is perfect for beginner bonsai enthusiasts! After a brief presentation, Mills will lead attendees on a guided tour (weather permitting) of Powell Gardens’ Conifer Garden, which features staff-cultivated Bonsai trees. Garden Club of Shawnee Club Meeting Thurs, Apr 7, 7p; at Town Hall at Shawnee Town 1929, 11600 Johnson Dr, Shawnee, KS. Johnson County Extension Master Gardener Nancy Chapman will present “Moon Gardens for Peace and Relaxation.” Snacks will be provided and door prizes awarded. Please visit our website, gardenclubofshawnee.org, and our Facebook page for information about our club. Family Frolic: Citizen Scientist Apr 9 & 10, 9a-5p; at Powell Gardens. Fee: Included with general admission | +Pack available for purchase. Register: https://25043p.blackbaudhosting. com/25043p/page.aspx?pid=213&tab= 2&txobjid=a5c8040e-0374-44d9-9ba4648a31a69ace. Join Powell Gardens for our first Family Frolic of 2022! April is Citizen Scientist month, and we want your family to make crafts, perform science activities, and explore Powell Gardens together! Selfguided experiments will be set up in the Children’s Garden and educational partners will be spread throughout the Visitor’s Center and Missouri Barn. Upgrade your visit by purchasing a +Pack for $10 here and receive a drink, cookie, and extra takehome crafts! Each Citizen Scientist will receive their own Scientist ID upon entering (while supplies last). KC Cactus and Succulent Society Club Meeting Sun, Apr 10, 1:30-3:30p; at the Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO. We welcome visitors and value your attendance. **Please note: Jun 9-12 is the Mid-States Cactus and Succulent Conference, including an 8-vendor plant and pottery sale that Friday and Saturday. Check our website: www.kccactus.com or visit us on Facebook for information on the KCCSS and the upcoming conference and plant/ pottery sale. Family Program: Herb Planting Thurs, Apr 12, 10-11a; at Powell Gardens. Fee: $15 | 10% less for members. Register: https://25043p.blackbaudhosting. com/25043p/page.aspx?pid=213&tab= 2&txobjid=3d8316db-5728-4a9b-ab549ea71cc0655d. All young garden explorers are welcome to participate in Family Program: Herb Planting. Attendees will channel their creativity and paint their own terra cotta pot. While the paint dries, Powell Gardens’ gardeners will teach a brief lesson on growing herbs in pots. Children will plant their own herb seeds to grow at

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

home! This program is recommended for ages 6 and below. Tickets to Family Program: Herb Planting includes admission to Powell Gardens’ spring festival, Painted Garden, a value of $12. Adults do not need to register. Only register children who will be making a herb pot to take home. Silver Clovers–Creating Backyards for Birds Tues, Apr 12, 6-7:30p. Free virtual event. Join the Johnson County Extension Master Naturalists to learn how to select food, feeders, houses, and plants to create habitat for birds in your yard. Registration link: On Johnson County Extension Website under classes and events or https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk= a07ej35wqi054eaa9cf&oseq=&c=&ch= Leavenworth County Master Gardeners Wed, Apr 13, 11a; at Riverfront Community Center, 123 Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Matthew Nowak, a proponent of locally sourced foods and organic farming, will give a presentation on regenerative/sustainable agriculture. The meeting is free. Visitors are welcome. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700. Shade Gardens: Tips, Tricks and Plant Selection Wed, Apr 13, 6:30p; at Basehor Community Library, 1400, 158th St, Basehor, KS 66007. Joseph O’Neill, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener, will give a presentation on shade gardens. The program will cover site selection, types of shade, landscaping design ideas, inexpensive decorative ideas, and types of plants suitable for our area. A handout will be provided. Meeting is free and open to the public. For more information contact the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700. Artful Gardens: Painted Garden Thurs, Apr 14, 7-8:30p & Thurs, Apr 28, 6-8p; at Powell Gardens. Fee: $80 | 10% less for members. Register: https://25043p. blackbaudhosting.com/25043p/page. aspx?pid=213&tab=2&txobjid=f11fa482f2b3-4902-ab96-a6a23123869c. The plants that make up botanical gardens are thoughtfully curated, just like the paintings that are hung in art museums. To explore the connection between visual art and the natural world, Powell Gardens is introducing Artful Gardens, a new hybrid series in 2022. Artful Gardens: Painted Garden is the second installment in the series. Taught by Donna Houtteman of ArtBlocksKC, attendees with first attend a virtual session (Apr 14, 7-8:30p) and explore the role of spring flowers like tulips, irises, and daffodils in national, regional, and local works of art. After learning together digitally, attendees will visit Powell Gardens for a private after-hours tour (Apr 28, 6-8 p) of spring blooms. The site visit includes beer, wine, and snacks. Registration cut off is Apr 12. Greater Kansas City Dahlia Society Meeting/Sale Mon, Mar 28 online dahlia tuber sale be-

gins with pre-orders. Tuber orders will be picked up on Fri, Apr 29 at Shannon Valley Park, 11100 Grant Dr, Overland Park, KS 66210, 1-4p. See the website www. kcdahlia.org for more information. More details about the sale and a demonstration of planting dahlias will be given at the Apr 16 club meeting from 1-3p, at Anita B Gorman Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64110 Tree Keepers Apr 19-21, 9a-1:30p; Heartland Tree Alliance is offering a 3-day in-person learning opportunity at George Owens Nature Park. Great course for anyone wanting to learn more about shade and ornamental trees. Learn about soils, biology, selection, pruning, ID, and planting. Classroom and hands-on learning taught by Chuck Conner with MDC. Must register in advance, $50 fee. https://tinyurl.com/motk2022 or call Sarah 816-561-1086. Paola Plant Sale Apr 28, 29, 30 in the parking lot at the Extension Office, 913 N Pearl (Old KC Road), Paola, KS. Thurs 9a-6p, Fri 9a-5p, and Sat 9a-1p. As part of the Master Gardeners’ mission to educate the public and help save our essential insects, the sale will feature butterfly host plants and pollinator plants, in addition to annuals, perennials, native plants, succulents, trees, herbs and veggies, all from local growers who use no harmful insecticides. Master Gardeners, including butterfly expert Lenora Larson, will be on hand to assist shoppers throughout the sale. More info at www.maraisdescygnes. ksu.edu. Follow us on Facebook at www. facebook.com/mdcemg or call the office: 913-294-4306. Annual Spring Plant Sale Apr 28-May 1. FOTA Members shop the plant sale early on Apr 28! Mark your calendars for the return of in-person shopping at the Overland Park Arboretum plant sale. Join or renew your FOTA Membership to enjoy exclusive access. Support the Arboretum and shop local! Consult with our gardening experts and choose from over 200+ varieties of plants. Visit opabg.org for hours and info. Moonlight On the Veranda Fri, Apr 29, 5-8p; at Greenwood Vintage Market, 502 W Main St, Greenwood, MO 64034 (Lower Level). $10, Advance tickets required. A garden filled, limited entry event and first dibs on all the wonderful decor, furniture, beautiful plants and more before the general public. All tickets come with a gift bag and entry into a grand prize giveaway. Ticket sales through Apr 25 unless sold out. For tickets, go to facebook. com/GreenwoodVintageMarket/events/, the link to the tickets is in the event. On the Veranda Garden Show Sat, Apr 30, 9a-4p; at Greenwood Vintage Market (Lower Level) Free Admission: A show for garden lovers. Come shop wonderful garden decor, outdoor furniture, plants and more! 816-537-7172

Northwest Missouri Master Gardeners Plant Sale Fri, Apr 29, 8a-4p and Sat, Apr 30, 8a-2p; at Buchanan County University of Missouri Extension Office, 4125 Mitchell Ave, St Joseph, MO 64507. Over 80 varieties of tomatoes, more than 50 varieties of peppers, over 20 herbs, eggplant, perennials, annuals, natives and more! Master Gardeners on hand to answer your questions. Educational literature provided free of charge. Cash or check only. Sho-Me African Violet Club – 35th Annual Show and Sale–“Galaxies of Violets” Sat, Apr 30, Open to Public 9a-3p; at Jacob L Loose Park Garden Center, West 51st St and Wornall Rd, Kansas City MO 64112. The Loose Park entrance is the West driveway immediately South of 51st St. The Garden Center side street is located just past the Pavilion (a right hand turn). Let us provide a colorful gift for upcoming celebrations–Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays! Then brighten up your own home with a variety of plants and colorful blossoms. NO ADMISSION FEE. If further information is needed, call Linda Hall at 816-550-4061. Uptown Garden Faire Sat, Apr 30, 8a-2p; at 211 W Truman Rd, Independence, MO 64050. Celebrate Arbor Day and Spring at the Garden Faire and Market with food, giveaways, and raffles. Plants, gardenalia, plantiques, garden art, and much more for sale by local vendors. For more information, 816-797-8711. Lunchtime Lecture: Tulip Mania Sat, Apr 30, 11:30a-1p; at Powell Gardens. Fee: $60 | $42 for members. Register: https://25043p.blackbaudhosting.com/ 25043p/Lunchtime-Lecture-Tulip-Mania. In this Lunchtime Lecture, learn about one of the most interesting times in botanical history. Tulip Mania refers to the time during the Dutch Golden Age when prices for the recently introduced bulb reached extraordinarily high levels. Join Education Manager, Caitlin Eckard, for a deep dive into the social history of Tulip Mania as well as the lasting effects on the Dutch economy after the bust of tulip sales. After lunch, attendees will tour (weather permitting) one of Powell Gardens’ spring flower collections. A boxed lunch and non-alcoholic drink are included with class registration. Tickets also include admission into Painted Garden, Powell Gardens’ spring festival, at a value of $12. The Language of Flowers & Flower Pressed Art Sat, Apr 30, 2-3:30p; at Powell Gardens. Fee: $50 | $33 for members. Register: https://25043p.blackbaudhosting.com/ 25043p/page.aspx?pid=213&tab=2&txo bjid=d7a66c68-fdf8-4d73-ae35-569eb2ea39e8. Have you thought about what the bouquet of flowers you’re sending really means? Historically, different flowers have been thought to represent big ideas or feelings like love, friendship, sorrow, and patience. Join Education Manager, Caitlin

Eckard, to uncover the meaning of various flowers and colors. After the presentation, attendees will make their own pressed flower artwork to take home. Tickets include general admission to Powell Gardens’ spring festival, Painted Garden, a $12 value. Olathe Garden & Civic Club’s Annual Plant Sale Tues, May 3, 4-7p and Wed, May 4, 8a12p; at 18505 W 114th St, Olathe, KS. *Credit & Electronic Payments Accepted in addition to cash/check!* Come get some great new plants for your outdoor and indoor spaces while helping us raise money; this is our annual fundraiser for all of our philanthropic and educational activities throughout the year! You may find: perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables, flowers, pollinator-friendly plants, shade plants, sun-loving plants, house plants, and even garden art! Come meet the members of Kansas’s oldest garden club; established in 1929. Plant love and knowledge will be freely shared! Plant Sale Sat, May 7, 9a-noon; at Agriculture Hall, 1 Expo Dr, Topeka, KS 66604 (at the corner of 17th and Topeka). Sponsored by Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners. Are you ready to grow? Stock up on your favorite vegetables, perennials, annuals and herbs! All plants are raised by our Shawnee County Extension Master Gardeners and are proven to produce, even in extreme weather. Pick up special items, including Mother’s Day baskets, and discover hidden gems in the Garden Shed Thrift Shop. Plants for sale include: vinca, zinnia, coleus, petunia, red salvia, milkweed, pollinator plants, native plants, peppers, herbs, tomatoes, perennials. Cash, Check or Cards Accepted. Spring Farm Day by the Kaw Valley Farm Tour and Douglas County K-State Extension Sat, May 7, 9a-5p. 9 Venues. Lavender Farm, U-Pick Strawberries, flowers, herbs, shrubs, and Goats! Free event, more info at www.kawvalleyfarmtour.org Idalia Butterfly Society Sat, May 14, 6p; at Prairie Village City Hall, 7700 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS. Pollinators don’t know that they are the love connection for plants, so the flower must first attract them with color, fragrance and/or shape. They then bribe the pollinators to return by repeatedly dispensing small doses of delectable nectar. This presentation introduces participants to the pollinators in our area, the threats that they face, and how we can help them. Lenora Larson is a Marais des Cygnes Extension Master Gardener and member of local chapters of both the Idalia Butterfly Society and Kansas Native Plant Society. Lenora is a proud ‘science geek’ with a degree in microbiology from Michigan State University. She writes about butterfly gardening for numerous publications and is a frequent presenter to gardeners throughout the Midwest.

Train Garden Tour Sat, Jun 4, 10a-4p and Sun, Jun 5, Noon4p. Adults and kids are invited to tour the unique train gardens at homes in the greater Kansas City area. They are like a miniature world with model trains running through garden landscaping, with small houses and buildings, trees, plants, water features, bridges and tunnels. Hosted by the MO-KAN Garden Railroaders, the admission cost for this self-guided tour to all gardens is $10 per car. Fifty percent of proceeds go to Harvesters Food Network. For tickets and tour guide, go to www.mokangardenrailroaders.org. Kansas City Rose Show Jun 4; at Loose Park Garden Center. Free and open to all rose gardeners with assistance provided for first-time exhibitors. Classes for live blooms and rose photographs. Entries accepted 8a to Noon. Visit https://www.kansascityrosesociety.org for the show handbook with class list and show rules. Also find links to tips on how to grow and show prize-winning roses. Kansas City Rose Day Jun 5, 1-5 p; at Laura Conyers Smith Rose Garden in Loose Park. View the results of the rose show with hundreds of blueribbon winners and gleaming trophies. Enjoy family activities, live entertainment, and an afternoon of beauty in this worldrenowned rose garden. Free. Visit https:// www.kansascityrosesociety.org for further information. 27th Annual Town and Country Garden Tour, Hermann, MO Jun 4-5. The Garden Tour includes both a walking tour of gardens in downtown Historic Hermann and a driving tour to gardens in the hills around Hermann. The $15 ticket price includes visits to at least four private gardens; these gardens are both in town and in the country and include a traditional four-square garden. Tickets will be sold online before the tour at Eventeny and at Topiaries (138 E. 4th) in downtown Hermann during the tour from 10-5 Sat and 10-3 Sun. A map to the gardens will be provided starting on Sat Jun 4 at the Topiaries ticket sale site. The Hermann Garden Club’s website www.hermanngardentours. com provides all details. Garden Symposium Sat, Sep 17, 8:30a-4p; at the Riverfront Community Center in Leavenworth, KS. Leavenworth Co Master Gardeners will host a Garden Symposium “ Live Life in Full Bloom” There will be 3 speakers; Kelly Norris, Crystal Miles and Jonah Nelson. Tickets are $45 and will go on sale June 1st. A box lunch is included. For more information contact Mikey Stafford at 913-426-3794.

APRIL 28 - MAY 1 Support the Arboretum and shop local! Consult with our gardening experts and choose from over 200+ varieties of plants. Visit opabg.org for hours and info.

Promote plant sales, club meetings, classes, and other gardening events for FREE! Send details to: elizabeth@kcgmag.com. Deadline for publishing in the May issue is April 5.

The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

Miami County Farm Tour May 7-8

iami County farms will welcome visitors from across the region May 7-8 for a fun look at rural life in Eastern Kansas. The event offers an inside look at farm life with interactive educational opportunities set within the region’s natural beauty. The tour is free and consists of 14 farm stops, including three new locations.

Watch for directional signs the day of the tour and visit as many of the tour stops as you like. Parking areas will be designated at each stop. While parking is available at each site, please be aware that weather and terrain may create some physical challenges. Although this event is child friendly, each site is a working farm. Visitors are asked to encourage to respect for the farm’s operations, plants and animals. Please leave pets at home. For more information about the farm tour or to receive a map of the sites please call 913-294- 4045. The tour’s web site, www.MiCoFarmTour.com, features a map of the sites and information about their location.

• Better Equine Ranch: This family-run operation is passionate about agriculture and livestock. Visitors will get an educational look at their forage, horses, cattle, goats, chickens, turkeys and stock dogs. • Grace Heritage Dairy: The Nubian Dairy goats that live at Grace Heritage provide raw milk that is sold and turned into handmade goat cheese. Visitors can meet and play with the goats while learning about the care needed to keep them happy and healthy. • Hill-Arius Acres: The family behind Hill-Arius Acres is dedicated to creating high quality milk products along with growing a variety of other products. Visitors will enjoy their time on the farm while getting an informational look into dairy goats, chickens, microgreens and combed honey. The farm tour offers families an opportunity to spend time outdoors enjoying the more rural aspects of Miami County. Each site offers educational activities. Animals range from alpacas to Hereford cattle and bison. Most stops offer picnic and rest area amenities. Those on the lookout for the perfect photo should keep an eye out for selfie stations. Each stop is committed to following local health protocols. As a result, a farm may be unexpectedly closed for the weekend. Each farm will have cleaning and safety supplies on hand. 32

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

The list of 2022 stops includes: Better Equine Ranch Five Mile Farms Grace Heritage Dairy Hill-Arius Acres Returning to the tour this year is a digital scavenger hunt. Registration is free. Participants should look for the QR Code at each location or find it on the tour website, www.MiCoFarmTour.com. As visitors explore the farms, they will be asked to solve a clue leading them to identify something special at each location. By snapping a picture and uploading it to the app, families can enter for door prizes at each site. Weather plays a big role in the weekend, so visitors are encouraged to watch the forecast. Warmer weather may limit the activity level of some animals, so visitors may

want to schedule those stops earlier in their day. Bees and other flying insects are important to nature’s cycle. Many of the farms intentionally feature plants that encourage pollination. Visitors with allergies are encouraged to be prepared. Several stops will have products for sale that may require refrigeration, so participants are encouraged to bring a cooler. Products include cheese, pecans, fresh vegetables, honey, wine and several types of meat. This self-guided tour celebrates the county’s diversity and highlights local farm products found on the back roads of Miami County.

Isinglass Estate Winery Little Farm on the Hill Madd House Hill Miami Purebred Herefords Prothe’s Pecans Silver Lining Herefords Stonehaven Bison Ranch LLC Timber View Farm Alpacas Whispering Elm Farm Wildwood Outdoor Education Center

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2022 Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners

Plant Sale Friday, April 29th 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Saturday, April 30th 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Vegetable Plants – tomatoes, peppers, herbs and more Perennial and Native Flowers grown by our Extension Master Gardeners for this sale. We will have a catalogue of plants available for sale posted on our website during the 2 weeks before the sale: www.wyandotte.k-state.edu At the time this ad is placed, we do not know if customers will be able to shop in-person, or if we will have a virtual sale with the online catalogue and ordering as we’ve done the past 2 years. Please check our website frequently for the most recent information.

Wyandotte County K-State Research & Extension Office 1216 N 79th Street Kansas City KS 66112 913-299-9300 https://www.wyandotte.k-state.edu Find us on Facebook: Wyandotte County Master Gardeners

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Kansas State University is committed to making its services, activities, and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision or hearing disability, contact Lynn Loughary, Horticulture Extension Agent, 913-299-9300, ext. 104.

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816-483-0908 | missouriorganic.com The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

GARDEN CALENDAR April list of what to do in the garden.

LAWN

• Be kind to the environment by spot treating spring broadleaf weeds. • Apply crabgrass control by Tax Day for best results. • Avoid fertilizing bluegrass and tall fescue in April for improved summer health. • Delay fertilizing zoysia until mid to late May. • Repair mowers before the season begins. • Sharpen mower blade if needed. • Mow based on spring growth, 3” is recommended for bluegrass and tall fescue. • Don’t bag it! Let lawn clippings fall, returning valuable nutrients. • Be water-wise. Restrict watering now for increased summer resistance.

VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

• Plant carrots, onions, beets, and other salad crops. • Thin seedlings to recommended spacing, promoting good growth. • Plant asparagus and rhubarb. • Harvest asparagus until spear size decreases, about six to eight weeks. • Harvest rhubarb leaves by pulling. Remove seed stalks from rhubarb. • Plant strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. • Remove winter mulch from strawberry bed. • Prune raspberry and blackberry plantings. • Prune fruit trees if needed.

• Spray fruit trees regularly for insect and disease-free fruit. • Save the honeybees! Avoid spraying pesticides when trees and plants are flowering. • Cultivate the soil to control weed growth by dragging the hoe just below the surface. • Hasten the compost pile by turning and keeping moist. • Fertilize soil and add organic matter before planting for proper growth.

TREES AND SHRUBS

• Prune spring-flowering shrubs after bloom to stimulate new growth. • Prune deciduous trees now for quick sealing. • Check pine trees for needle diseases and control. • Remove dead or dying trees promptly to control insects and disease. • Never top a tree as part of a pruning program. • Plant new trees and shrubs, but do not plant too deep. • Mulch around the base of young trees and shrubs to conserve moisture and control weeds. • Water newly planted trees and shrubs regularly. • Fertilize young trees to promote growth.

FLOWERS

• Remove winter mulch from the perennial garden.

• Cut back last year’s growth from perennials after a week or so of 50-degree temps, helping to protect any overwintering pollinators. • Remove mulch layers from roses. • Prune roses. • Plant new rose bushes. • Fertilize roses to promote healthy growth and excellent flowers. • Remove seedpods from spring-flowering bulbs. • Leave green foliage on bulbs to encourage flowering next year. • Plant annuals from transplants or seed. • Divide any overgrown perennials. • Improve garden soil by adding organic matter such as compost. • Make notes of areas for planting bulbs in the fall. • Clean up ground covers by raking or mowing over the tops at the highest setting.

HOUSEPLANTS

• Remove winter dust from leaves with a damp cloth or by placing in the shower. • Repot older houseplants into a one-inch larger pot with fresh soil. • Start fertilizing for spring and summer growth. • Fertilize amaryllis and keep in high light to encourage new leaves. • Take cuttings of plants. • Do not move plants outdoors until evening temperatures remain above 55 degrees.

MY GARDEN (Use this space to list additional tasks to accomplish in your garden.) • • • •

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. 34

April 2022 | kcgmag.com

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Hotlines for Gardeners Extension Master Gardeners are ready to answer your gardening questions.

CASS COUNTY

816-380-8494; Wed, 9am-noon

DOUGLAS COUNTY

785-843-7058; dgcogardenhotline@gmail.com; Mon, Wed, Fri, 1-4pm

GREATER KANSAS CITY MISSOURI AREA

816-833-8733 (TREE); Mon-Fri, 9am-noon; mggkc.hotline@gmail.com

JOHNSON COUNTY, KS

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

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E-mail: Where did you pick up The Kansas City Gardener?

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WYANDOTTE COUNTY

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

QUESTIONS ABOUT ROSES?

Ask a Rosarian; kcrosehelp@gmail.com; www.kansascityrosesociety.org

d the W ate Butterflies and Bee s Love These rlilies Spooky Plants

July

2015

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Name:

JOHNSON COUNTY, MO

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

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The Kansas City Gardener | April 2022

Let the Good Things Bloom Eastern Redbud Tree

Monarch Mariposa Project Suburban is proud to partner with Monarch Mariposa Project! When you purchase any Monarch Mariposa (Butterfly) Plants, Suburban will donate 50% of the proceeds to conserve the much needed Oyamel trees in Mexico. To shop Butterfly friendly host plants or donate to Monarch Mariposa go to (suburbanlg.com/promotions for more information.)

The Right Start...

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The Promise of Spring:

Take some Good and Growing Things home to Bloom in your garden, and watch the Promise of Spring unfold. New trees and shrubs are arriving daily from our own local farms - and some are on sale! Enjoy a visit to one of our nurseries or shop online at suburbanlg.com

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KCG Apr22

Articles inside

National Safe Dig Month

Upcoming Garden Events

Tulip Time

Rose Report

Indoor Gardening–Let Light Shine

Plants on Your Plate–Lettuce

Ornamental Shrubs

Ask the Experts

You Are What You Eat

Kids Ask Dr. Bug

Wilding the Home Garden

Spring Blooms