KCG Dec22

The Kansas City

GARDENER

Independently owned and operated since 1996

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Michael Cavanaugh

EDITOR

Elizabeth Cavanaugh

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Sean Holland

Jason Mispagel Dennis Patton

Tamra Reall

John Riley

Denise Sullivan

Scott Woodbury

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editor’s notes

Memorable traditions

As fall gently slips away, the garden is drifting towards a deep winter sleep. Decidu ous trees have shed their foliage, and the steadfast dianthus ‘Rockin’ Red’ finally has succumbed to the effects of freezing temperatures. Squirrels and chipmunks held their annual fall festival in the neighbor hood, eating their fill of pumpkin served on front porches. The bird feeders are full, the birdbath has been emptied and ‘Plan B’ for wild life water is now in place. All we need is a load of firewood deliv ered, and we’ll be ready for winter.

Next on the agenda—shop for the Christmas tree. Traditionally, this has been a family event where we all explore. Since the kids are all “up and out,” it is just the two of us on the selection team. So now, Mr. Gardener and I walk the lanes of live trees while simultaneously strolling down memory lane.

The kids would run up and down every row, in search of the perfect tree. While Fraser Fir is our favorite, we looked at every tree, from small to tall, or wide to thin, considering all the possibilities. The kids like the really tall ones, and Dad likes the really full ones. And for me, it’s the smell. I love the fragrance of a fresh cut Christmas tree.

Once we had made our purchase and thrown it in the van, we headed home with sap on our hands and

hope in our hearts. The holidays are underway. The kids were anx ious to decorate, but cautiously we reminded them of the oh-so-neces sary Christmas Tree soak (letting it sit overnight in the garage in a bucket of water and allowing ac climation). After a few short-lived complaints, we scheduled decorat ing for a future date—giving us something to look forward to.

Decorating the tree is another one of those family traditions. We start with declaring no distrac tions—no phone, no visitors, no e-mail, and no television. There’s plenty of hot chocolate and a fire in the fireplace. And what would dec orating the tree be without hearing our favorite Christmas carols, like “Joy to the World.”

Then came the familiar sound of the chainsaw trimming the tree to fit the stand—the sound of “we paid for an 8-foot tree, now it’s a 6-foot tree.” But somehow that just didn’t matter. More important was who would retrieve the boxes from the attic, who opens the boxes, and who hangs what ornaments. Well, tradition speaks volumes. Kids get the boxes, Dad plus any volunteer hangs the lights and Mom decides the rest. Don’t you love traditions?

As I unwrap each ornament from its tissue paper bed, a mem ory fills me. I am compelled to share each story with our children, in hopes that the spirit of another

family tradition will plant itself for Christmases to come. Of greater import, we were growing family ties that can’t be broken, family bonds that will withstand the test of time. And hopefully, will be passed on to future generations.

When the kids had gone to bed, I sat alone in our quiet living room admiring their work of love. The simple silent flicker in the fireplace is peaceful and serene, and I gained another chance to discover the sea son’s simple joy.

May you also enjoy simple joy ... everyday!

I’ll see you in the garden!

About the cover: Decorate your home or give as a holiday gift, Poinsettias are popular seasonal plants. Bright, indirect light, water regularly, and keep the temperature between 60-70°F—this is all that’s required for the poinsettia to be happy at home for the holidays.

2022 | kcgmag.com

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Ask the Experts

LEANING TREE COULD BE PROBLEMATIC

Question: I have a White pine probably 45 feet tall. It has been leaning for years and the tilting has progressed more rapidly over the past couple of years. I’ve had tree companies look at it. I have a cable in it that has become tight. What should I do?

Answer: Trees that start to lean should cause concerns and more than likely need to be removed. Some trees lean naturally due to our winds. But trees that continue to lean, or if the leaning increases, usually mean there are root sys tem issues. The tree is not properly anchored. A weather event could cause the tree to fall over. As for cables, rarely do they provide a guarantee to keep the tree erect. It is always best to err on the side of caution.

PROTECT EXPOSED ROOTS OF NEWLY PLANTED

Question: I planted several large container-grown ‘Green Gem’ boxwoods this spring. I planted the root balls about an inch high because of our clay soils. Over the course of the summer watering, the upper roots are now exposed. Will they be okay this winter?

Answer: You made the right move by planting slightly higher as planting too deeply can stress the plant. Here is a simple solution and one that probably should have been done already. Simply apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch up and around the plant to cover the exposed root ball. The mulch will help protect the roots from the elements, conserve moisture and still allow the roots to get the necessary oxygen from the soil to thrive. Mulch also helps to give a finished look to the garden and provides so many wonderful benefits.

PREVENT WINTER DESICCATION BY WATERING

Question: With the drought

Answer: A quick search on Google will pop up several compa nies that sell the product. They all

Answer: Hibiscus can spend the winter indoors given enough light. Expect some leaf drop as the winter drags on. As for prun ing, if possible, I would wait until

to the leaves and point downward. There are multiple varieties of each with various leaf colors. Neither is winter hardy in the Kansas City area and should be dug and stored.

say that it is wonderful and should be applied. But if you dig deeper and do an advanced search for “edu” sites you find another story. Most of the research points to the fact that these products reportedly stop or slow desiccation, but in fact they do not work. Research in some cases even points to the fact that they can be detrimental as they cover the stomata of the leaves and cause damage.

The best way to help prevent winter desiccation is to make sure the plants have good soil moisture during winter. Make sure to thor oughly water all evergreens, espe cially younger, establishing plants before the onset of winter and peri odically if it is a dry winter. It is the lack of soil moisture that is most likely to cause the damage.

OVERWINTERING TROPICAL HIBISCUS

Question: I brought my beauti ful tropical hibiscus indoors before the first frost and put it in front of a bright south facing sliding glass door. It has dropped a few leaves but still looks great. It is tall. Can I cut it back now or would it be better to wait till spring?

it is moved back outdoors. Under higher light levels the plant will re spond and develop more vigorous buds. Pruning now might encour age more straggly growth during the low light of winter. The plant is tolerant of just about any prun ing style. It is best to think of the plant as a shrub and follow these concepts. Unfortunately, no mat ter when you prune it will delay blooms.

WHAT ARE ELEPHANT EARS

Question: A group of us were discussing Elephant Ears, the plant grown for its large showy leaves. One person said they were a caladium, and another said they were not. So, what are Elephant Ears?

Answer: The common name elephant ears can refer to several different plants. We often call any plant with large leaves elephant ears. This is the problem with com mon names. Botanically they are in the same family. They are in varied genuses, Alocasia and Colocasia. There are a few differences between these plants. Alocasia tends to have a shiny leaf which points upward. Colocasia usually have a dull look

Caladiums are in the same family as Alocasia and Colocasia but usu ally have more brightly colored leaves and are much smaller.

REPEATED LAWN SPOT FAIL

Question: I have a few spots in my yard where grass just won’t grow. It is in the same area every year. I have seeded several times and the grass keeps dying. Any suggestions?

Answer: Since it dies in the same spot the issue is probably more related to the soil than weath er patterns or cultural practices. Disease and insects rarely hit the same area over and over. Same goes for cultural practices. My hunch is there is something buried under the soil. I would recommend that you start digging and see what you un cover. Oftentimes there is a rock or construction debris buried a few inches below the surface that pre vent root development. Dig down a foot or so and see what you find in these areas. If my hunch is right remove the debris, work in some good quality compost, level off and replant. I realize this is work but so is replanting grass with the same poor results.

should I spray my outdoor ever greens with a wilt-proof product?

Mulch protects boxwood roots from winter weather.

Avoid pruning tropical hibiscus while indoors.

Elephant Ear varieties are not winter hardy.

DENNIS PATTON Horticulture Agent

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.

C H R I S T M A S A T

C O L O N I A L

Kids Ask Dr. Bug

about the curious things found in the garden

While there are approximately 1.5 million known insect species, it is estimated that there are over 5 million species, so scientists have a long way to go to name ALL the insects. New species are being dis covered frequently – around 18,000 species of all kinds are discovered every year, and many of those are insects!

Some of the reasons all the insects haven’t been discovered include:

• Insects are small, and some are microscopic. It can be hard to find them and even harder to study them.

• Some insect species look like each other and so it requires specialized techniques to tell them apart.

• Insects live in all kinds of hab itats all over the world, includ ing some that are very hard for humans to reach.

However, it is possible that a new species could be right in your own backyard! You can help by studying the insects around you. Maybe you will find the next new species!

Are there invertebrates other than insects?

Yes! In fact, more than 90% of animal life are invertebrates. The word “invertebrate” means an animal lacking a backbone. This in cludes arthropods (insects, spiders, centipedes, millipedes), gastropods (snails, slugs), annelids (worms), coelenterates (jellyfish, corals, sea anemones), cephalopods (octopus, squid, cuttlefish), and many other animals.

Do bugs sleep?

Insects don’t tuck themselves into a comfy spot and get “shut eye” like some other larger ani mals – they don’t even have eye

lids. However, they do sleep! Sleep can be defined as a period of time when there is disconnection from the external world, changed brain activity, and the brain requiring a moment (or two) to jolt back into consciousness. What’s more, there is something called “sleep rebound”

perature around them to be able to move and interact with the environ ment. Diapause occurs when there are environmental conditions that are harmful for development such as temperature extremes, drought, or not enough food. In this case, the insects pause their development

they hatch. Some insect mommas, and a few insect papas, care for their offspring a little longer, such as the eggplant lace bug mommas that guard their eggs after they are laid. She watches over her eggs and if an enemy approaches, she rushes toward them fanning her wings!

Long-horned bee

that comes from not getting enough sleep and then needing more sleep to recover. Insects experience all of this, although different insects have different sleep needs. To perform their best, insects must catch their Zs. If they don’t get enough sleep, it can affect their behavior. For ex ample, scientists found that if they kept honey bees awake, the bees couldn’t do the waggle dance as well as their sisters who got enough sleep.

Insects have other forms of rest that aren’t considered sleep. These include torpor and diapause. Torpor is like hibernation and occurs when the temperature is too cold for the insects to move. As cold-bloded organisms, insects rely on the tem

REALL Horticulture Specialist

and rest until the environment gets better for them to finish growing up.

Do momma bugs sing to their babies?

Many insects “sing” to com municate with others of their spe cies, usually to find a mate. Most insects are also solitary, meaning that after the mom carefully selects a location to lay her eggs, she flies/ crawls/hops away and does not in teract with her offspring. So, most insect mommas are not even near their eggs when they hatch. There are a few cases of insects that care for their offspring, more than lay ing eggs, or making sure that their babies have something to eat when

Another neat example is the giant water bug. The mom lays her eggs on the dad, who then takes care of the eggs until they hatch. In a honey bee hive, sisters take care of their siblings until they emerge as adults and then the daughters take care of the queen bee so she can lay more eggs. The hive hums, but no, momma insects do not sing to their babies.

Do you have questions for Dr. Bug? Send them to ReallT@Missouri. edu or https://bit.ly/KidsAskDrBug Please include your name and age. To help me learn what you learn from this column, consider filling out this survey: https://bit. ly/KidsAskDrBugSurvey.

is a horticulture specialist for MU Extension – Urban West Region. For free, research-based gardening tips, call 816-833-TREE (8733), email mggkc.hotline@gmail.com, or visit extension.missouri.edu. The University of Missouri is an equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/ pro-disabled and veteran employer.

Dr. Tamra Reall

TAMRA

(@MUExtBugNGarden)

Why haven’t we discovered all the insect species yet?

The Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Garden – a beautiful place to spend a winter day

When does the Arboretum close for the winter? It’s a question the staff hears of ten. The good news is that it doesn’t.

The Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens are open all year, and the winter offers an ex citing new experience for visitors. The four miles of trails through the woods and 180 acres of prairie provide so much to see. The leaves have dropped and suddenly a whole new world of bark, acorns, fungus and rock outcroppings are on view. The trails move through hickory, oak, cedar, hornbeam and pawpaw populations.

There are signs everywhere that animals have moved through. Most animals are not visible during the day, except some very busy squir rels, but they leave behind scat, rubbings on trees and holes dug in search of food.

Geology enthusiasts can ob serve the layers of soil and rock exposed along Wolf Creek and the multilayered bluffs, some of which have broken off their “parent” cliff. The Kansas Geological Survey web site includes information about rock formations visible at the Arboretum.

Stop in the Environmental Edu cation Center and pick up an Arbo retum Champion Tree Tour map. There are four maps (one for each trail) that feature the largest species on the property. Each trail provides one to two hours of fun, and the op portunity to see a variety of ecosys tems and the trees growing there.

Arboretum staff and volunteers are in the process of blazing a new trail, located on the west side of the property, providing approximately 1.5 additional miles to hike and ex plore. This part of the Arboretum is maintained as naturally as possible. Very little is paved and signage is kept to a minimum so that visitors are able to escape city life and be come immersed in the natural sur roundings.

Make time this winter to put on sturdy shoes, dress in layers, turn off your phone and explore!

Walk trails through the scenic woods to discover the unique characteristics of Sycamore tree bark, moss on rock outcropping, or fungus growing on a fallen tree. Learn more at opabg.org.

Perennials living on the edge

You’ve heard me say it many times—winter is for plan ning! By now, most outdoor chores are finished, or almost fin ished at least (unless you have a Pin Oak that is indefinitely holding on to its leaves). With the holiday sea son approaching, it is a perfect time to start thinking about next year’s garden.

When designing a garden, I generally consider any small- to medium-sized plant a border or edging plant. Planted in a mass along the edge of the garden, they help define the garden space, es pecially if there is no hardscape edging. Carefully selected edging plants frame the bed with a unified

as edging in a hosta bed of green. Some landscapers and gardeners use textures to give interest and contrast in a garden as well (i.e., us ing grasses against a denser plant ing in order to soften the edge).

Border plants generally can be plants, small or medium, but there is more landscape value with plants that offer season-long inter est, whether they have long bloom times or unique foliage that doesn’t fade after blooming. Plants that grow into a mound make for a tidy, well-defined edge of the garden. As you cozy up to hot cocoa and holi day music, consider some of these plants, perfect for edging and bor ders, for next year’s garden.

Boat’, ‘Ice Dance’, and ‘Evergold’ all have showy foliage that is sure to brighten up borders and path ways.

As mentioned before, Heuch era/Coral Bells make a nice con trast as an edger in partial sun. Their numerous varieties have dif ferent foliage colors, from red to purple to chartreuse, that show off against other shade-bed standbys such as hostas, ferns, and astilbe.

Depending on the other plants in your shade beds, hostas can ac tually make for a nice border as well. There are many new “mouse” types available at garden centers. ‘Blue Mouse Ears’, ‘Sun Mouse’, ‘Munchkin Fire’, and ‘School

the hot summer months, or it might get too crispy.

For sunnier areas, Dianthus makes a wonderful semi-evergreen border plant. Every year there seem to be more new varieties that bloom better than the old standards. The Fruit Punch® series by Proven Win ners flowers with double blooms and will rebloom if spent blooms are sheared immediately after the first round of flowering. The fra grant blooms of Dianthus lend it to be a fantastic plant for sunny front walkways, welcoming guests as the sweet fragrance travels on the breeze.

For the hottest and driest loca tions, Sedum may be your answer. Upright varieties like ‘Autumn Joy’ and ‘Night Embers’ add interest all year with succulent foliage on a nice mound. The fall blooms are pollinator magnets. Don’t forget that even though sedum like it on the dry side, they still need some water in order to thrive and give the best show.

look, create movement and draw your eye from one area of the gar den to another, and move you along pathways. Selecting plants to place along the edges of these gardens is particularly important and can give the landscape a finished look.

Consider that plants may “play off” of each other as you layer them into the landscape. Utilizing dif ferent colors gives contrast to the garden, such as purple Heucheras

Dwarf grasses and grass-like plants are among the most com monly used for borders, with Liri ope being at the top of the list. ‘Hameln’ Dwarf Fountain Grass and ‘Elijah Blue’ Fescue also soften the edges of a garden and looks particularly nice when plant ed along a sunny walkway. Most grasses prefer sunnier locations, so consider using sedges (Carex) in areas of part sun to shade. ‘Banana

Mouse’ all max out at about 12 inches tall and wide, making them perfect for edging shady gardens with larger hostas or hydrangeas planted in them.

Another lesser known border plant is ‘Little Angel’ Sanguisorba. A compact grower, this plant has small variegated foliage that gets topped with unique red blooms dur ing mid to late summer. Be careful not to let this one get too dry during

When choosing which border plants to use, consider the scale of your gardens and existing plants. Also, be sure to consider the mature sizes of plants in your beds—plant ing Russian Sage in front of Liri ope may not be the best choice, as the sage, in this case, would likely cover the liriope over time. Layer borders with the taller plants in the back, and work your way down to the shortest along the edge.

Keep a look out next spring for new varieties of all the plants men tioned here, and always ask the pro fessionals at your favorite garden center about new varieties when you go to make your selections. While you are resting and recuper ating from this season’s hard work in the garden, ponder the ways you can improve your borders to get a head start on next year’s garden.

SEAN HOLLAND Perennials Manager

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.

Dianthus ‘Maraschino’

Hosta ‘Blue Mouse Ears’

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.

Kansas City Gardener

Carex ‘Ice Dance’

Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’

Above: Dianthus ‘Classic Coral’ Below: Carex ‘Banana Boat’

‘Little Angel’ Sanguisorba

‘Elijah Blue’ Fescue

Above: ‘Hameln’ Dwarf Fountain Grass Below: Heuchera ‘Paris’

Hosta ‘School Mouse’

Liriope

Sedum ‘Night Embers’

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.

Photo courtesy of Proven Winners.

Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens.

Photo courtesy of Walters Gardens.

Community Recreation Centers… for Wildlife

Do you ever think about plants that grow in out-of-the-way places, like in the creek be hind your house, or an urban wa terway? No? For the most part, me neither—they are usually out of sight and out of mind.

Many think of them as mere drainage ditches, standing ready to take on the next big rain; to some degree, they are. When I’m look ing over the backyard to the wall of trees at the edge of the creek be tween my house and the neighbors, or driving over an urban creek, looking over the bridge rail (nor mally I’m focused on the road), I see a tangle of trees, vines, cattails,

and willows. It’s difficult to see past the edge because there is such a thicket.

You might call these plants weeds (we each have different ideas about what a weed is), but in these instances, I think of them as plants with purpose. Trees along streams, especially willows, slow water, se cure creek banks, and are food host plants for a myriad of butterfly and moth species, which are fed to baby birds in the nest. Berry-producing vines like grape, Virginia creeper, and poison ivy feed adult birds who need to fatten up for winter. Cattails grow densely in standing water, pre venting erosion, filtering pollutants

and supporting an array of aquatic insect species like dragonflies. All of these plants provide public ser vice at no cost. Their seeds flew in on the wind or from a bird, or float ed from upstream. Nobody planted them, and few communities main tain them. In many areas, species like elm, boxelder, Ohio buckeye, sassafras, persimmon, sycamore, cottonwood, and oak line our urban creeks. They prevent streambank erosion, preserve a sense of place, and support an abundance of wild life diversity—in many cases, they are often the greatest source of wild life diversity left in a community.

Shady Creek in Webster

Groves, Missouri is just such a place. Yvonne Steingruby, the Web ster parks superintendent, manages Shady Creek. She, and her staff, volunteers (and hired goats!), have been working to remove invasive species from the creek’s riparian corridor. From the outside looking in, views are opening up. You can see the creek water in many plac es. The dense network of trees and vines at the edges is getting thinned out to reveal a hidden place. A lost world with migrating birds that pass through every spring and fall. According to John Hickey, a vol unteer who works in Shady Creek, removing honeysuckle and winter

SCOTT WOODBURY Horticulturist

Scott Woodbury was the horticulturist at Shaw Nature Reserve for 30 years and stepped down from that position in June 2022. He continues to work on contract for Shaw Nature Reserve to carry out native landscaping education, and has launched his own business called Cacalia: Native Garden Design and Wilding. Find suppliers of native plants, seeds, and services at the Grow Native! Resource Guide: www.moprairie.org.

Lobelia cardinalis blooms along the creek.

Photos by Scott Woodbury.

creeper plants, the wooded corridor harbors barred owls, blue herons, and the minnows they devour. He’s also seen fox, opossum, bats, and many other critters of distinction. It has nesting nuthatches and wood peckers. It has northern banded wa ter snakes and their favorite food, frogs. It also has red-shouldered hawks, whose favorite food is northern banded water snakes. It also has dragonfly larvae living in the creek that devour mosquito lar vae. How about that for public ser vice! It is an ancient remnant eco system, though holding on for dear life. As broken as it may be, it’s the community’s greatest source of wildlife diversity.

Creek corridors like these are ground zero for wildlife survival in landscapes dominated by people and hardscape. They are breeding grounds, nurseries, and the epi centers of wildlife dissemination (spread) outward into our neighbor hoods. Creek corridors are vital, but our home landscapes are important too. Wildlife spreads fluidly from creeks to parks and our backyards, looking for food, nesting ground, and cover. Without native plants and trees in our yards, wildlife has a difficult time surviving. Doug Tal lamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope, states that we need a threshold of at least 70% native vegetation in our neighborhoods for successful bird nesting. Our creek corridors (with their existing large native trees) get us closer to that magic number. We need to preserve the few creeks we have. We also need to increase na tive plant diversity in our homes, churches, and parks to get closer to 70%. We get further and fur

ther from that number every time we destroy a section of creek. We can’t improve on creek corridors by controlling them with concrete and retaining walls. We can’t improve on them by tearing out the exist ing vegetation and replacing it with new nursery plants propped up with sticks and a blanket of mulch.

Our neighborhood creeks are the lifeblood and safe place for wild life, like a community center where users gather to visit, to learn, and maintain health. In the same way, urban creeks are vital to healthy thriving animal communities. We need to treat them with great re spect and support them. Webster Groves is restoring creek corridors by removing invasive plants so that people can enjoy and appreciate them. As a result, they are support ing the greatest amount of native plants and wildlife possible.

Urban creeks need to function as wild places. Tree leaves need to fall to the ground to support overwin tering luna moth cocoons. Gravel beds need to ripple clean water, to support minnows and herons. Still pools of water need rotting leaves and algae to feed tadpoles, sala manders, and dragonfly larvae, and their predators. Dead trees need to stand, to be homes for owls and woodpeckers. And they need to fall to become food for beetles and fun gi. Willows need to thrive, to feed moth caterpillars that feed baby birds. All of this is happening now in a natural creek near you.

Let’s work harder to dedicate more time and funding to protect our creeks from bush honeysuckle (and developers). Let’s endeavor to walk gently beside (or inside) those creek corridors. After all, you can’t appreciate the sweet smell of sycamore leaves laying wet on the ground if you aren’t walking on top of them. You can’t really see a hummingbird sipping nectar from the spring flowers of Ohio buckeye on a web camera. You can’t hear the sound of chorus frogs while sitting in your living room. I’ll admit, that like Wakanda, the creek inhabitants might not appreciate us peering in from the outside, but somehow, that’s how we learn. That’s how we discover. That’s how we come to appreciate and value the things we love. We are curious explorers by nature. What better place to explore and appreciate, than the creeks that literally flow by our backyards and through the neighborhood. Happy creeking, ya’ll!

PLANTS ON YOUR PLATE Parsnips

with potatoes and mashing them together will give your mashed po tatoes a tasty surprise for your holi day table. For a sweet and savory combination, try this roasted ‘root and fruit’ combination.

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Maple Roasted Parsnips

MAKES 6 SERVINGS

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ cups parsnips, peeled and chopped

1 ½ cups sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 cup apple, chopped (Fuji or Gala are good)

1 tablespoon canola oil

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Winter squash, tubers and root vegetables are in great abundance this time of year. Another not-so-common winter root vegetable is parsnips. A member of the Apiaceae family, parsnips are a ‘cousin’ to carrots and share their long taproot characteris tic, though they tend to grow larger and thicker. The creamy white veg etable also has a central ‘core’ that can become tough as it grows to full maturity and may need to be trimmed down prior to preparation. Parsnips have a sweet, earthy fla vor that is not fully developed un til the roots have been exposed to near-freezing temperatures for 2 to 4 weeks in the fall and early winter. This cold-weather growth results in the starches changing into sugar.

Parsnips are believed to be na tive to the eastern Mediterranean region. In Roman times the parsnip was regarded to have medicinal as well as food value. While there is no evidence that the Greeks and Romans cultivated parsnips, they commonly used wild ones for food. The British colonists introduced

parsnips to North American in the 1600s. Parsnips are grown primar ily in northern states, with Michi gan, New York, Washington, and Oregon leading in production in the United States.

Parsnips, bring a variety of nu trients to the table, including Vita mins C, E, and K, folic acid, potas sium, magnesium and both soluble and insoluble fiber. These nutrients support cardiovascular, immune, and digestive health, aid in wound healing, and reduces the risk of neural tube defects in developing babies in utero. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of many chronic diseases.

Before the cultivation of sugar beets and cane sugar, parsnips were commonly used as sweetener. Roasting parsnips brings out the natural sweetness of the vegetable and is a common preparation meth od. Cutting parsnips into strips (re sembling French fries) and combin ing with similarly cut carrots makes for a tasty side dish when tossed with olive oil and roasted in a 400-degree oven. Boiling parsnips

Wash hands and work surfaces with warm, soapy water. Wash parsnips, sweet potatoes, and apples with warm water.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a baking dish with cooking spray.

In a large bowl combine parsnips, sweet potato, and apple, set aside.

Combine canola oil, maple syrup, and curry powder in microwave safe bowl and warm for 15 seconds in micro wave. Mix in balsamic vinegar and stir to combine. Pour mixture over vegetable mixture and stir to combine.

Transfer mixture to baking dish and bake until tender, about 1 hour, stirring after 30 minutes.

Serve immediately, refrigerate leftovers.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Calories: 120, Total Fat: 2.5g, Saturated Fat: .2g, Sodium: 7mg, Carbohydrates: 25g, Fiber: 3.5g, Protein: 1g

Recipe adapted from Seasonal and Simple, analyzed by verywellfit.com.

Nutrition Ninja

Denise Sullivan (@MUExtJacksonCo) is a Nutrition and Health Education Specialist for MU Extension in the Urban West Region, serving Jackson and Platte Counties. For research based nutrition and food safety information and programs, call 816-482-5850 or visit https://extension2.missouri.edu/.

DENISE SULLIVAN

Rose Report

mulch rose beds, consider membership(s), and learn which roses perform well in the Midwest, and those new on the scene

Hey John,

You are if your rose beds look like the rose bed pictured at the right. The long canes are cut to a sturdy length so they should not be damaged by the wind and any ice. The roses are mulched with shred ded leaves or other organic material a foot or more deep.

December is the time to rest and to plan for your rose garden next year. It is the time to select roses to order on-line from nurseries or visit your local nurseries to see what they plan to have available next season. A starting place for on-line ordering is to go to the website helpmefind. com. Search for the rose you want and there will be a tab “buy from” listing several nurseries.

Here is a tip. There is a way to get discounts up to 15% at some of these nurseries. These discounts are available to American Rose Society (ARS) members. The ARS annual dues for an individual are only $49, so it would not take too many rose purchases to pay for your member ship. There are other ARS benefits as well, such as a great bi-monthly magazine and discounted garden admissions around the country. Go to rose.org to check it out. If you are not ready to join the American Rose Society, you may join the Kansas City Rose Society and get a 4-month free trial ARS member ship.

When you order your roses, the nursery may ask when you would like them delivered. Some will au tomatically ship to you based on your location. If not, you will want to tell them March for bare root ros es (when it becomes warm enough to work the soil) and early May for roses in containers (when the risk of a hard freeze has passed).

Rose bed ready for winter.

Hey John, “How do I know what roses to put in my garden?”

First, start with roses that have done well in the rose garden in Loose Park. Some of my favorites are shrub roses like Paloma Blanca, Quietness, and Heritage. There are some great floribundas like Julia Child, Europeana, and Day Break er. If you want a hybrid tea, my picks would be Elina, Chrysler Im perial and Golden Fairy Tale. You can see these roses and learn about them by visiting the KCRS Rose Library www.kcrsroselibrary.com.

The American Rose Society has a program called Roses in Review. Any rose grower may submit a re view indicating how well the rose performed for them, such as wheth er it is winter hardy, disease resis tant, and how fragrant.

The new roses on the market that have been reviewed by Mid west gardeners with top ratings are as follows:

Shrubs: Canadian Shield, Cra zy Love, Pinktopia, and The Mill on the Floss

Floribundas: Celestine and Dancing Pink

JOHN RILEY

Consulting Rosarian

Miniatures: Little Grey Pearl and Vernon’s Laugh.

To see the nationwide ratings for all roses in commerce, get the Handbook for Selecting Roses from ARS.

For more information on any of these topics, go to the Kansas City Rose Society webpage https://

www.kansascityrosesociety.org/ growing-roses.html.

The Ask-a-Rosarian hotline is always available for your specific rose questions at kcrosehelp@ gmail.com. One of the Kansas City Rose Society Consulting Rosarians will send an answer, usually by the next day.

John Riley is an American Rose Society Master Consulting Rosarian and is Secretary of the Kansas City Rose Society. He is a past president of the Johnson County Rose Society and is on the American Rose Society Board of Directors representing the Central District. John is a retired mechanical engineer who is an opera fan and goes to a lot of soccer games.

“Am I done with my roses for the year?”

Hey John, “What else can I be doing in December?”

‘Quietness’ is a favorite shrub rose.

Photo by John Riley.

Photo by Lauren English.

It’s challenging to articulate the emotional rush that accompanies snipping a live, flavorful herb right from a plant and incorporating it directly into your favorite recipe. There’s a feeling of self-sufficien

Indoor Gardening: Kitchen Counter Herbs

ies can thrive with minimal effort at room temperatures around 65F – 75F. These include mint, basil, thyme, oregano, chives, dill, cori ander and sage. Additionally, the nutritional requirements for these

keep in mind. First, the container you select needs proper drainage to prevent soggy, oversaturated soil and to allow oxygen to reach plant roots. Second, containers should be placed in a location that receives consistent daily sunlight or is con ducive to incorporating a small grow light. And third, pots should be at least 4 to 8 inches (1 pint to 1 gallon) in diameter, allowing ample volume for root growth.

Standard, well-draining potting soil mixes, with moderate amounts of organic matter should provide sufficient nutrition for each plant without the need to supplement. Soil blends that are too rich in clay can lead to rotting roots and blends too rich in sand can present obsta cles in retaining nutrients. If you’re planning to keep individual plants around for longer periods, rather than replacing mature plants with new ones, consider a slow-release dry fertilizer mixed into the soil. This will provide an extra boost once the nutrients your soil start ed out with have been exhausted. Overfertilizing herbs will negative ly impact their flavor, so be sure to keep proportions low or heavily di luted, in the event you elect to uti lize a liquid fertilizer.

not a portion of the plant we typi cally consume, indoor growers at tempt to prevent flowering by pro viding no more than 12 hours of direct light per day. In a practical kitchen setting, though, ensuring your plants receive the entire 12 full hours of uninterrupted darkness is nearly impossible which means you’ll likely experience blooms at some point. When they do arise, simply cut or pinch them off at their base.

When you’re ready to begin growing, plant your seeds about an eighth of an inch deep, covered in loose soil. Be sure the soil remains moist throughout the germination process and within a week or two, you should begin to see sprouts. As the plants begin to form their “true” leaves and start looking more like the herbs you’re used to seeing in the grocery store, keep an eye on the soil’s moisture level. While some drought-resistant herbs such as thyme can survive even if the soil dries completely between water ings, others such as basil will note react as favorably. A quick internet search for the watering preferences of your specific herb variety can act as a great resource.

cy, the enjoyment of fresh, unadul terated food; even a sense of one ness with nature. What’s more, the pleasure of tending to your plants, the delicate aromas filling the air of your home and the calming en ergy of a living aesthetic are reason enough to start your own indoor herb garden.

Not all herbs are particularly well-suited for the kitchen counter, but a handful of faster-growing, shorter stature, less-woody variet

plants are minimal, especially if you plan to harvest frequently and replace with new seedlings once they’ve grown too large for their containers.

Speaking of containers, there’s tremendous opportunity in this realm. Whether you’re looking to add them as a design element to your décor or you’re solely focused on functionality, the possibilities are endless. As your imagination runs wild, there are a few parameters to

All the herbs discussed in this article will technically grow with at least 6 hours of light per day in a south-facing window. How quickly they grow and how well they pro duce edible foliage is a different story. Adding an inexpensive, low wattage T5 fluorescent bulb or LED (light emitting diode) 6 to 12 inches above your plants, running up to 12 hours per day, will dramatically in crease production.

For the most part, these herbs are long-day plants, meaning they tend to bloom once they receive consistent nightly periods of unin terrupted darkness lasting less than 12 hours. Because the blooms are

Once your herbs develop a few branches, they’re ready to harvest. Cut off the amount you need and leave the rest to continue growing. Avoid removing more than a third of the plant at any given time to minimize unnecessary stress, but don’t be shy to cut back some of the new growth on a weekly basis. Even if you don’t have a use for the herbs at the time, this type of prun ing will encourage new growth.

Lastly, when your plants out grow their containers or their flavor isn’t quite what it once was, don’t be shy to till the spent soil and plant material into your outdoor gar den bed and start another batch of seeds.

JASON

Growing herbs indoors on your kitchen counter is easy and satisfying.

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.

GARDEN CALENDAR

December list of what to do in the garden.

VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

• Store unused seeds in a cool, dry location or refrigerator.

• Check vegetables and fruit in storage for spoilage.

• Mulch strawberries for winter protection.

• Clean and oil garden hand tools for winter.

• Till soil and add organic matter.

• Store unused garden chemicals in a cool, dry, and safe location protected from freezing.

• Update garden journal for success and failure.

• Start planning for next spring on cold winter nights.

• Soil test to determine fertility needs.

FLOWERS

• Mulch grafted roses by mounding soil 6 to 8 inches deep to protect the graft.

• Cut tall hybrid tea roses back to 24 inches to reduce wind whipping and plant damage.

• Shrub roses need no special winter care. Prune in early spring.

• Continue to plant spring flowering bulbs until the ground is frozen.

• Give plants or gift certificates as holiday gifts for gardening friends.

• Empty decorative pots and containers, store them inside.

LAWNS

• Remove leaves, limbs, and other debris from lawn to prevent suffocation.

• Store unused fertilizers in a dry location and out of reach of children and pets.

• Store pesticides in a cool (not freezing) dry location, out of reach of children and pets.

• Review lawn service contracts.

• Water fall planted grass as needed.

• Avoid extensive walking on frozen grass.

TREES AND SHRUBS

• Keep heavy snowfall from limbs, lightly shaking to avoid damage.

• Avoid shoveling snow onto trees and shrubs.

• Check and protect the trunks of young trees and shrubs for rabbit damage.

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

• • •

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• Living Christmas trees should be in the home less than one week, and then acclimate to the outdoors and plant in a desirable location.

• Prune damaged branches throughout the winter months.

• Water newly planted trees and shrubs in winter to prevent dry soil conditions.

• Mulch roots of tender shrubs such as azaleas and rhododendrons.

• Prune branches of junipers, pines, hollies, and other plants for holiday decorations.

MISCELLANEOUS

• Start planning for next year by making notes and preparing orders.

• Turn compost pile to encourage winter breakdown.

• Make your Christmas list adding gardening supplies.

• Keep houseplants out of hot and cold drafts.

• Winter is a great time to soil test.

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.

Upcoming Garden Events

Festival of Lights

Nov 10 - Dec 30; Wednesday-Sun, 4-10p; at Powell Gardens. During Evergy Festival of Lights at Pow ell Gardens, more than 20 miles of lights turn Kansas City’s botanical garden into a winter wonderland. Enjoy a breath of fresh air during a hectic holiday season! Bundle up with family and friends while you stroll a lighted outdoor path, pausing for plenty of Instagram and holiday-card worthy photo moments along the way. Encoun ter immersive botanic installations that show off the exceptional ar chitecture and landscape elements of the Gardens and accentuating the natural joy of the most fes tive season. This year, featured new media artist, Kevin Heckart, transforms two sites with interac tive light displays and a new fes tival feature, the Light Labyrinth, promises an adventure for all ages! Registration can be found at powellgardens.org/calendar. Fes tival of Lights tickets will be available at powellgardens.org/ lights soon!

KC Cactus and Succulent Society

Sun, Dec 11, noon-3:30p; at the Trailside Center, 9901 Holmes Rd, Kansas City, MO. Club meet ing. In addition to our monthly meeting, will be our annual holi day party. Please join us as we enjoy games and giveaways. We welcome visitors and value your attendance!

African Violet Club of Greater Kansas City

Fri, Dec 16, 11a-1p; at Jacob L Loose Park Garden Center, 51st & Wornall, Kansas City, MO 64112. Visitors Welcome.

Raytown Garden Club

The club is taking a Winter Break this December and in January 2023. Meetings will resume on the first Tuesday of the month from February thru November at Connection Point Church in Ray town, MO and Guests are always welcome. Mark your calendar for February 7. For more information please check out our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ RaytownGardenClub

Paola Spring Symposium

“Garden Design with Maintenance in Mind” will be presented by the Marais des Cygnes Extension Master Gardeners on February 25, 2023, 9a to 3:30p at the Light house Church, 1402 East 303rd Street, Paola, KS 66071. The $45 tickets will be sold online by cred it card only, beginning January 1, 2023. Don’t delay, as we always sell out early! Presentations in clude Stacie Campbell discussing how to match your garden’s de sign and your maintenance abili ties; Are weeds your nemesis? Le nora Larson shares how to win the weed wars. Brad Guhr from Dyke Arboretum debunks the myth of native plants requiring little or no maintenance and Kevin Nelson considers maintenance strategies for the aging gardener. Watch for the web link for ticket purchase on January 1, 2023.

Promote plant sales, club meetings, classes, and other gardening events for FREE!

Send details to: elizabeth@kcgmag.com.

Deadline for publishing in the January issue is December 5.

The Overland Park Arboretum by Candlelight at the 23rd Annual Luminary Walk

The tradition continues at the 23rd Annual Luminary Walk, presented by Westlake Ace Hardware, Sarin Energy Solutions, and FNBO. The popular kick-off for the holiday season is a festive family walk through the lights at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens.

During the four weekends following Thanksgiving, take a stroll along the lit pathways to explore the magical Gnome and Fairy Houses, serene winter woods by candlelight, and the colorful Children’s Garden. Enjoy musical performances in four different locations and visit with Santa in his Woodland Depot. Trees, buildings, and bridges are all part of the show, with thousands of lights aglow.

The Luminary Walk has been expanded to Thursdays and a fourth week end this year. The dates are: November 25 & 26 December 2 & 3 December 8, 9 & 10 December 15, 16 & 17

The Arboretum will be transformed into a wonderland of candles and lights from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m., with final entry allowed at 9:00 p.m.

Admission for the Luminary Walk is $15; children five and under are free. Tickets are date and time specific, and must be purchased online in ad vance at https://artsandrec-op.org/arboretum/luminary-walk/. For the safety and comfort of all, tickets will be limited and sold for specific half-hour entry slots. Parking is free.

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