KCG 06Jun14

The Kansas City

GARDENER A Monthly Guide to Successful Gardening

June 2014

Growing up with annual vines

Butterfly Perceptions Pruning Questions Answered Gardening with Native Sedges Patrick’s Picks: Underused Groundcovers

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June 2014 / The Kansas City Gardener

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editor’s notes

The Kansas City

GARDENER A Monthly Guide to Successful Gardening

Independently owned and operated since 1996 Publisher Michael Cavanaugh Editor Elizabeth Cavanaugh Editorial Assistant Hannah Cavanaugh Contributors Charles Anctil Leah Berg Tom DePaepe Diane & Doc Gover Lenora Larson Patrick Muir Stephen Painter Dennis Patton Diane Swan Scott Woodbury Distribution Publishers Delivery Solutions, Inc.

How to Reach Us ...

P.O. Box 8725 Prairie Village, KS 66208 Phone: 913-648-4728 For advertising information contact Michael Cavanaugh at mike@kcgmag.com Submit editorial questions to Elizabeth Cavanaugh at elizabeth@kcgmag.com

See us on the Web: www.kcgmag.com

Don’t Miss A Single Issue!

Get a subscription for yourself or your favorite gardener.

See page 31.

4

I

Gardening rewards

n between work assignments, I’m able to walk out of my home office and into my garden. No matter what day of the week or time of day, my garden is always there for me. Such are the perks of working from home – the garden is a place to clear my head and refocus.

Needing a moment to refresh recently, I spent a few minutes in the front garden hand watering the patch of strawberries flourishing under the weeping crabapple. While standing there lost in the dream of garden fresh tastiness, I caught a glimpse of my neighbor walking up the sidewalk towards the house. He stops in front of the house, pauses for a moment, then delivers what every gardener loves to hear – “It looks good!”

Easily, I agreed. In the springtime sun, the garden looked lush and abundant that day, with plenty of vibrant color and texture. Proud gardener that I am, I bathed in the compliment, soaking it up like fuel.

This lift will likely carry me through those inevitable frustrating times in the season to come.

As a sign of gratitude, I introduced him to the strawberry patch where, when ready, his young son (my new gardening friend Sam) is encouraged to pick and eat. No permission required. There is nothing sweeter than watching children squat and search for ripe berries.

Tender are the rewards of sharing the garden.

Speaking of new garden friends, it seems I’m on a roll. I was privileged to join my dear sweet sisterfriend on a road trip to Wisconsin.

There we would meet, and spend a few relaxing days with her longtime friends. Little did I know what a delight this time together would be.

In the places I’ve stayed over the years, including beach apartments and condos, bed and breakfast lodges, fancy New England hotels, etc., not one has welcomed me like this pair. Spirited and vivacious, smart and elegant, these two had me at “Hello, would you like a glass of wine.”

Not familiar with the heart of Wisconsin, I was in for a treat. The hosts introduced me to cheese curds and the local craft beer, explored the farmers market situated around the capitol building in Madison, and we had a delicious lunch in an Irish pub.

More deserving of high praise were the delicious meals served at the hosts’ table, prepared and presented with the love of many hands.

The weekend was full of highlights for this simple girl, certainly.

What I hold dear to me now is the memory of our time in the garden.

With two acres of scenic landscape including ponds and wildlife, I was smitten with their unlimited space to grow anything.

Right away I put on my garden gloves, and said, “Give me a job!”

Weeding, raking, anything. There was soil amendment to be added to garden beds, so I got to work.

On hands and knees, I was comfortable and content.

It’s that unmistakable connection, the rise of passion for the soil that makes me feel at home ...

I’m right where I’m supposed to be. Lost in the task of cleaning debris from the bed, while tilling in amendment with my hands, I was truly happy. And in that moment, I began to cry. Overwhelmed with gratitude for this moment, I left tears in that Wisconsin garden.

Like gardeners are apt to do, she shared plants with us (a bit of this and a little of that). I couldn’t wait to plant my newly adopted in my garden. These are the things that join our gardens across the miles.

During our last shared meal, while recounting the weekend, the lady of the garden, our cherished host and my new garden friend said, “I’ll always remember you on hands and knees caressing the soil.”

Me too!

I’ll see you in the garden!

In this issue June 2014 • Vol. 19 No. 6 Ask the Experts ........................ 6 The Bird Brain ......................... 10 Powell Garden Events ............. 12 Meet the Neighbors .................. 14 Rose Report ............................ 15 Growing Up with annual vines ... 16 Pruning Questions Answered ...... 18 Patrick’s Picks: Groundcovers ...... 20

about the cover ...

Lotus ........................................ 21 GN: Sedges ........................... 22 Garden Calendar .................... 25 Upcoming Events ..................... 26 Weather ................................. 29 Butterfly Perceptions ................ 30 Subscribe ............................... 31 Professional’s Corner ................ 31

Looking for an upward growth from an annual? Try Spanish Flag.

Learn about it and other annual vines starting on page 16.

14

22 The Kansas City Gardener / June 2014

Moonlight in the Midwest Luminous Ambience and a Starlit Night Give Distinction to a Liberty, Missouri Garden

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his homeowner’s garden is an adaptation of a Midwestern approach to the more classic, European inspired landscapes with stylish features which invites one to linger, rest and embrace being outdoors. The grounds offer easy access to the garden through a street side dry creek river bed which meanders past yews, maiden grasses, sand cherry shrubs, lavender, river birch and columnar cypress trees right up to the entrance gate.

Inside there are gravel pathways ushering one past long curvilinear beds filled with a variety of sparkling white and cream flowers.

If you look closely you might spy a colony of 17 bunnies amid fox tail ferns and echeverias.

Across from the patio is a large hosta bed culminating in an old world bubbling fountain. If you pause and truly listen with your heart, you just might hear the water singing.

An undulating alley of 20 emerald green boxwoods and 28 white

begonias beckons one toward a stone jockey statue at the back of the property. A left hand turn reveals a trellis covered in white mandevilla. The path through the trellis prompts you on past arborvitae, maiden grass, Russian sage, white althea up through a clearing where the “Bird Girl” of the garden of good and evil stands.

And as the day slowly vanishes away soft shimmering, flickering lights will appear, a magical and peaceful sanctuary ... and wait there is even more ... a non-alcoholic summer beverage will be served to those who seek this twilight experience on July 11th.

Hours are 8-10 pm. Advance tickets are required. Tickets are $10.00 and may be obtained by contacting Dee West, Northland Garden Club President, at 816-4554013. Maps and directions will be provided.

Check the Garden Club website at www.northlandgardenclub.com for further information.

North Riverside Garden Stroll Wichita, Kansas

Sat., June 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

5 gardens for $5

W

e will feature gardens large and small, shaded and sunny.

Homeowners will be present to answer questions.

Proceeds support neighborhood landscape and improvement projects including our Triangle Garden at McKee and Coolidge and Community Garden at 15th and Woodland.

North Riverside Neighborhood

is just west of Wichita North High School, north of 13th Street and between the Little Arkansas and Arkansas rivers.

Tickets are available beginning June 1 at all Johnson’s Garden Centers and the day of the Stroll at the neighborhood gardens and at Jim Starkey Music Center, 1318 W. 18th.

Need more information? Call the Info Line 316-261-8129.

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Ask the Experts! questions from our readers tell me they were able to re-bloom Easter lilies.

Dennis Patton EASTER LILY Question: I was given an Easter lily. Now that it has flowered, what can I do with it? Can I plant it outside?

Answer: Easter lily is a traditional potted plant to celebrate Easter. Unfortunately the lilies used for the Easter lily is a hybrid greenhouse variety. Translated that means it does not have good vigor outdoors. The variety grown is not highly winter hardy and likes fertile well drained soils.

The best answer is probably to compost the plant after the holiday.

But for the gardener that likes to putter around in the yard go ahead and plant it outdoors. Pick a warmer soil location, such as close to the home with good rich soil. Plant outdoors and allow the foliage to die back naturally.

Mark the spot and see what happens next year. My hunch is nothing will come back, but with that being said I have had people

POWDERY MILDEW Question: I have noticed in some areas of my lawn I have a white powder growing on the leaf blades. What is this problem and how do I get rid of it?

Answer: You have identified a turf disease called powdery mildew. Powdery mildew looks like someone dusted the grass blades with flour. Bluegrass and tall fescue are both susceptible to this problem.

Powdery mildew is favored by conditions that have poor air circulation with higher humidity and temperatures in the mid-sixties.

Fungicide controls are available but not highly practical in home lawns.

Normally the disease just thins out the leaf canopy but does not kill the plant so as conditions change the lawn has a chance to recover.

CONTROL WILD VIOLETS Question: Wild violets are driving me nuts. They have taken over an area of my lawn and I cannot seem to get them under control.

Answer: Wild violets are a perennial and extremely difficult

to eradicate. My guess is the violets are taking over a shady area of the lawn. The violets thrive in the shade while the grass struggles to survive. The violets don’t kill out the lawn. The grass dies and the violets seize the opportunity to grow. Have you considered letting them become a ground cover instead of fighting?

I am sure that suggestion did not go over well so do the control.

Violets are best controlled when actively growing in the spring and fall. It will take repeated applications and persistence to wipe out the crop as they will continue to reseed in the future. The recommended product is carfentrazone.

Read and follow label instructions

and use caution when applying around desirable trees and shrubs.

DEAD NEEDLES ON BLUE SPRUCE Question: My blue spruce has a lot of dead needles this spring.

I have heard there is a common needle disease and I should be treating.

Answer: Blue spruce in general have been feeling pretty blue the last few years. Spruces are not native to our climate and are not happy during periods of drought and heat. Unfortunately we have been in a very dry pattern the last few years. As a result of the environmental stress we are seeing more needle browning. Spruce should never, ever go through any

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The Kansas City Gardener / June 2014

Extension office. We can diagnose and recommend a course of treatment. But rarely is this the problem as the main issue is heat and drought.

drought conditions no matter the age. If we do not receive a nice soaking rain, water the tree at least once every month or so to replenish the soil moisture and keep them happy.

The needle disease is called Rhizosphaera Needle Cast. It does cause needle drop usually on the lower portions of the tree where the air movement and humidity is the highest. This disease is very easy to diagnose under a microscope as the fungi fill the stoma with black spores.

If you think you have this disease get a sample to your local

WHEN TO PICK BUTTERNUT SQUASH Question: I am planting butternut squash this summer for the first time. How do I know when it is ready to pick?

Answer: Butternut is a winter squash much like the common pumpkin. They are ready for harvest when the rind or skin matures.

Maturity can be seen as the color changes and hardening of the rind.

When mature they should lose any shine and the skin should resist denting when slightly pushing into the fruit with your fingernail.

Keep in mind butternut squash like most winter types tend to grow on large vines. Growing this squash will take space in the garden, but oh, the rewards are so great.

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.

T

Ice Cream in the Rose Garden

ake a break from your gardening chores and join the Johnson County Rose Society on Thurs., June 12, at 7 p.m., for an ice cream social and tour of the Laura Conyers Smith Rose Garden at Loose Park.

Meet at the picnic shelter at picnic shelter at 7 p.m. at the Loose Park Gardens, 5200 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, Mo., for ice cream, treats, and conversation. Following the social, John Riley, ARS Consulting Rosarian, will take us on a tour of the Laura Conyers Smith Rose Garden. Besides just enjoying the beautiful roses, this is a great opportunity to see the difference between a floribunda and a grandiflora, check out all the varieties of your favorite color

rose, and ask questions about rose care.

Members and guests are welcome to take advantage of the “Consulting Rosarians Corner” for a free individual consultation with a Consulting Rosarian about specific questions or concerns regarding all aspects of rose growing and care.

The Consulting Rosarians will also give timely tips about caring for roses “This Month in the Rose Garden”.

All JCRS meetings are free and open to the public.

Refreshments will be provided.

For information about all activities and membership, visit www.rosesocietyjoco.org, also on Facebook at www.facebook. com/JoCoRoses.

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Master Gardeners Greater Kansas City presents a

Gardeners Gathering: What Your Backyard Tree Wants You to Know

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We are carrying a LARGER selection of pond products this season, from filters to pumps and MORE fish!

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Ask about the details.

Come see our complete line of pond supplies, liner, fishes and large selection of aquatic plants.

Aquascape, Pondmaster, Microbelift, Tetra, PondGard & more Specializing in Imported Japanese Koi & Fancy Goldfishes Full line of aquatic plants; lilies, lotuses & marginals

Check our website and Facebook for more information.

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soil service now offers:

is the key to slow the effect on trees.

Homeowners can either be tree heroes or two legged pests with simple measures such as tree selection, planting, mulching or pruning young trees. Good techniques will allow the tree to thrive and perhaps one day grow up to be a Missouri Champion Tree. Poor techniques can impact the longevity and health of the tree.

With his humorous and engaging style, Chuck Conner, Missouri Department of Conservation Urban Forester, will help you understand that many factors are stressing our trees in severe ways. Chuck will share some of the insect damage and tree diseases that may result secondarily from weather related issues.

Join the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City on Thursday, June 19, 2014, 6:30 p.m. at Country Club Christian Church which is located at 6101 Ward Parkway. Free and open to the public. Door prizes.

No registration required. For further information call (816) 665-4456, or see the Master Gardeners’ website at www.mggkc.org, our new blog at mggkcblog.wordpress.com, or the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City Facebook page.

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t has been in countless hide-andgo-seek games. Your 5th grade love and you might have your initials carved somewhere on it.

It has cooled you for impromptu picnics and might have been in school dance photos. Its branches are reaching out to you to notice it. Your backyard tree wants you to know that you are vital to its longevity! Past weather events and invasive insects are causing tree health issues and in some cases mortality. Poor tree techniques by two legged pests also cause tree decline.

Stored energy reserves help trees survive stresses temporarily.

Symptoms begin showing in trees when these reserves are depleted.

Past weather events are impacting local tree health. The excessively wet weather in 2008-09, the exceptionally severe drought of 2012 and the 9th coldest winter on record in 2014 are some of the most significant events impacting our local trees.

Foreign invasive insects such as Emerald Ash Borer and an army of other tree pests marching toward Missouri will change the look of our urban forests and alter our Show Me State forests. Knowledge

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We have the lawn care products to help you win the battle against grubs and weeds!

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Isn’t it time you put it to work in your garden?

© 2014, All rights reserved.

June 2014 / The Kansas City Gardener

where gardeners go to grow.

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The Bird Brain

Happy Father’s Day! Fun Facts About Feathered Dads. deter squirrels from their eggs and young.

Proud Provider Chickadee, nuthatch and cardinal dads feed Mom while she incubates the eggs. Dad also helps feed the young once they have hatched.

he joy of birdfeeding doesn’t stop when the weather turns warm. Keep those birdfeeders filled and enjoy the show.

Following are a few characteristics to watch for:

Dad’s Favorite Diner Downy Woodpecker and American Goldfinch dads like to take the family out to eat. When the young brood fledges from the nest, Dad leads them to great food sources as well as teaches them how to use his favorite backyard bird feeders.

Father-of-the-Year Award The Father-of-the-Year Award goes to the Downy Woodpecker.

Though they share daytime nest duties with their mate, only the fathers incubate the eggs at night and they roost in the nest until their offspring fledge.

Sharp Dressed Man Ladies love a sharp-dressed man, even in the bird world. Only the most colorful, sharp-dressed House Finch and goldfinch males are preferred by their female counterparts. Carotenoids, a pigment found in foods that create red,

Doc & Diane Gover

T

Plants & Pumpkins

Mon.-Sat. 9-6 • Sun. 11-5

MORE FLOWERS FOR LESS DOLLARS

CLASSIC STATUARY Largest Selection of Beautiful Concrete Ornamental Statuary in Johnson County!

Fountains - Planters Bird Baths - Benches

He’s a Rock Star Adult male Song Sparrows love to perform. They sing about six to twenty different melodies every eight seconds and may average over 2,300 songs during an entire day. The larger their repertoire of songs, the more successful they are attracting a mate and in holding their territories.

orange and yellow to violet colors in feathers, help a potential dad communicate his reproductive fitness via vibrant and bright plumage. It also shows females that he can be a good family provider knowing where to find quality food and lots of it.

A Family Man Mourning Dove dads love to raise families. They may have up to six clutches per year, usually with two eggs per clutch. This is the most of any North American bird, most likely due to the fact that the average lifespan for an adult Mourning Dove is 1 1/2 years.

It’s Good to be King The White-breasted Nuthatch male gets a special protection detail. His mate is the “watchdog,” protecting her man from trouble, leaving him more time to concentrate on hunting for food. She rarely strays far from him and stays in constant vocal contact when more than a few yards apart.

K-I-S-S-I-N-G The male Northern Cardinal “kisses” his mate during courtship.

He feeds her seeds while courting her and it appears they are kissing.

Be sure to watch for these activities right in your own backyard.

If you have any questions please stop by the store, our Certified Birdfeeding Specialists will be glad to help you.

Tool Time Dads dig tools. Nuthatches, males and females, are one of the few species of birds known to use “tools.” The White-breasted Nuthatch has been known to use certain beetles as a tool by crushing ones that are stinky and sweeping them in and around their nest to

Doc and Diane Gover own and operate Wild Birds Unlimited of Leawood at 11711 Roe Avenue, Leawood, Kansas. Contact them at 913-491-4887.

Check out: www.johnsonfarms.net for monthly specials

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Hours: Mon. through Sat. 9am-6pm • Sun. 10am-3pm The Kansas City Gardener / June 2014

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11

... and the Gardens Go Wild!

Sculpture exhibit, culinary experiences and family adventure take center stage this June at Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden

J

une brings the opportunity to connect with art, nature and each other during Gardens Gone Wild, an animal art adventure featuring the works of Dan Ostermiller. Set in nine adventure zones representing habitats both exotic and familiar, these 26 bronze sculptures will delight all ages. An interactive adventure guide provides families an engaging way to share the experience. Exhibit is included with regular Garden admission.

Special events in June offer a closer look at the exhibit as well as culinary adventures in the Heartland Harvest Garden.

Gardens Gone Wild Opening Day: May 31 Meet Colorado artist Dan Ostermiller, 10 a.m. to noon and

1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 31.

Ostermiller’s work illustrates his deep understanding of animals gained from years of study and travel around the world. Come hear some of the adventurous tales that contributed to the spirit of the sculptures included in the Gardens Gone Wild exhibit.

Father’s Day with The Paul Mesner Puppets, June 15 Celebrate Father’s Day by taking a family adventure through the lands of Gardens Gone Wild.

End your journey in the Heartland Harvest Garden (home to Priscilla, the 5-foot hen featured in the exhibit) to watch one of Kansas City’s favorite puppeteers present “Old MacDonald’s Rhyming Ranch” at 1:30 p.m.

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Creatures of the Night, June 20 Experience the magical sounds of the wetlands (home to three Ostermiller sculptures for the summer) and meet other creatures of the night during this twilight adventure for families. See all of the bronze animal sculptures of Gardens Gone Wild, tour the Island Garden and meet a variety of nocturnal animals in an exhibit by Animal Wonders.

Your ticket also includes a stop for s’mores. Purchase tickets online at www.powellgardens.org/creatures or call 816-697-2600 x209.

BUZZ! A Celebration of Pollinators in the Garden, June 21 Karma the elephant joins wildlife photographer Felicia Flash in a StoneLion Puppets story that illustrates why pollinators and other bugs are so important in a backyard sanctuary. This 10:30 a.m. performance kicks off a day-long look at why pollinators, including honeybees, butterflies, birds, moths, bats and other creatures, are so essential to the food supply. Throughout the day, visitors can meet beekeepers, see an observation hive, try on beekeeping suits, get recipes and learn ways to support pollinators in their own gardens.

Members of the Midwestern Beekeepers Association will give informal talks at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. From 2 to 4 p.m., visitors can partake in a mead tasting with 7

C’s Winery and Meadery of Walnut Grove, Mo. 7C’s is one of a few Missouri producers of mead, an alcoholic beverage made of fermented honey and water. Sampling tickets will be available for those 21 and older (five samples for $5.).

Art in the Gardens Discovery Station: June 28-29 This discovery station will show visitors how to literally make art from the garden with plant prints and flower pounding. Using leaves in every shape and size and flowers in every color of the rainbow, experiment with shapes and colors to create a beautiful botanical masterpiece.

The station will be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

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Need a speaker for your church, civic group or garden club? The Johnson County Extension Speakers’ Bureau have the speakers you are looking for on just about any topic like environmentally safe lawn care, or perennial flower gardening.

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After a sell-out event in 2013, local favorites Amigoni Urban Winery and Green Dirt Farm reunite for a wine and cheese tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 1, in the Heartland Harvest Garden. The evening includes samples of four Amigoni wines paired with Green Dirt Farm cheeses, artisan breads and fresh bites from the Heartland Harvest Garden. Tickets are $40 or $35 for members of Powell Gardens and may be purchased at www.powellgardens.org/wine or by calling 816-697-2600 x209.

Garden Chef Series, select dates in June Visit on select dates this June to watch a chef, cookbook author or other culinary expert demonstrate a recipe featuring ingredients grown in the Heartland Harvest Garden.

This month’s schedule includes: • Sunday, June 1: John Smith, Executive Chef at Pig & Finch • Sunday, June 8: Doug Sayles, Chef/Owner at Smokin’ Fresh Streetside BBQ

Missouri Barn Dinner Series begins June 22 Taste the full experience of the Heartland Harvest Garden during the Missouri Barn Dinner series, in which guest chefs present multicourse dinners with garden-fresh ingredients and drinks in a relaxed setting.

The series opens on June 22 with Joe Shirley, Chef/Owner of Uberdine — a high-end pop-up dinner concept. Shirley’s love of cooking began at age 8 and his passion for great food has never waned. His creative touch has graced area restaurants including Grand Street Café, Kona Grill and re:Verse. Today he serves as executive chef for a prominent Kansas City bank in addition to running Uberdine and taking on catering and restaurant consulting assignments.

Purchase tickets and learn more about the rest of the series at www. powellgardens.org/dinners.

Under a Blue Moon: Garden Party and Rare Plant Auction, June 8 Join supporters of Powell Gardens for an evening under the stars and the chance to acquire rare botanical finds plus garden art and decor. The party begins at 5 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a silent auction, followed by a short live auction during dinner and dessert. All proceeds benefit educational programming for children.

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13

Meet the Neighbors (part one)

Stephen Painter

F

rom squirrels to bats, the neighborhood is filled with wildlife. From a distance, any of them are interesting to watch, and some homeowners think they’re cute. But alas, once these critters find their way into your home and landscape, it could spell trouble for you. This is part one of a two-part article, that will make you aware of your wildlife neighbors and their domestic habits.

Squirrels You’ve got to love their antics.

Climbing trees, jumping from tree branch to tree branch, like a high trapeze act, walking electrical wires, like a tight rope, it’s like there is a squirrel circus in your backyard everyday. However, there is a down side for all this free entertainment. They constantly gnaw on about anything that they can get their little incisors on. Their teeth grow constantly so they will gnaw on your deck furniture, your home siding, window sills, aluminum and steel gutters, electrical wiring, etc.

Pretty much everything is fair game.

These guys are prolific as well. They have up to two litters a year, with about 3-5 young per litter. Although in fall, the litter is usually smaller in number.

Squirrels like your house, probably about as much as you do. They love to live upstairs in the attic where it is warm and dry.

They will usually start breeding in late December and will have their first litter around late February.

Many times homeowners won’t hear the female. But when the babies start scurrying around up in the attic, their presence is known and the game is up. Rather than four feet now you have about 20 feet scurrying around above your head.

And they aren’t good housekeepers either. They will urinate and leave their droppings in your attic insulation. Worse case scenario is they will try gnawing on your electrical wiring up there.

It’s estimated that over 50% of all unknown home fires are blamed on rodents; squirrels, mice, rats.

Raccoons So if squirrels aren’t bad enough, let me introduce you to the raccoon family down the block.

Just like the squirrels, they would love to move in as well. Raccoons

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Squirrels bring a circus of antics to your backyard everyday. won’t wait for an invitation either.

They will just move in without your permission. Yep, they will break in just like their mask suggests – little bandits. They will access your roof by a close tree branch, your deck, chimney, even climb up the downspout of your gutter to gain access to the roof.

Here they will rip your wooden shingles off or your roof vents to gain access to the attic. They will also climb down your chimney and have babies on the damper. I have also had a raccoon open the ash door and have the babies in the ash pit of the fireplace. Ah, home, sweet home!

Here inside the attic the female will give birth to 4-6 babies. The female does all the raising of the young on her own. The male is gone and out of the picture. He will kill the babies if an opportunity is present.

And just like squirrels, raccoons are not good housekeepers. They will urinate and leave their droppings in your attic insulation. Their droppings are similar to that of a small dog. Also they will usually pick a designated spot to use as a latrine. And it piles up over a period of time.

Moles Well, when these guys move into your yard, you will probably be thinking of Bill Murray in Caddy Shack. One of my customers actually shot the ground with a .22 rifle in the middle of a sub-division trying to get rid of them. Luckily his wife called and had me come out before he got arrested.

Raccoons won’t wait for an invitation to move in.

Moles love the moisture where earthworms and other invertebrate live.

Moles are active year round.

They usually have about 2-4 young in the spring. They do not hibernate, they do not freeze to death.

They will dig below the frost line in the winter and continue to forage for food. The are insectivores, meaning that their diet consists of about 95% insects. Everyone likes their flower gardens and these flower gardens usually have mulch or river rock over the top of a black plastic or cloth. Well, moles love you for this. The reason for placing this material in your flower beds is to help retain the moisture and prevent weed growth. By retaining the moisture you are creating a feeding area for the moles. This ground is continuously moist here which will draw in earthworms, centipedes, millipedes, pill bugs, varies larvae of other invertebrates. It’s like a grocery store for moles.

Steve Painter owns and operates Catch-It Wildlife and Pest Control, Inc. You may reach him at 816-7693106.

The Kansas City Gardener / June 2014

Rose Report

2014 Market Farming Workshop Introduction to Small Fruit Production Powell Gardens – Education Barn, 1609 NW US Hwy 50, Kingsville, MO 64061 Saturday, June 14, 2014; 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

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ooking for a way to complement your market offerings throughout the season? Small fruit is one of the best ways to diversify and increase profitability for producers. This workshop will cover basic principles of production for a variety of small fruits including: Blueberries, Blackberries and Strawberries. It will also cover a new invasive pest – spotted wing drosophila.

9:00–9:10 Welcome/Introduction 9:10–10:30 Growing Blueberries and Blackberries Patrick Byers, Horticulture Specialist, MU Extension 10:30–10:40 Break 10:40–11:10 Hands-on Experience with Blueberries Dan Hoerz, Blueberry Grower, Smithville, MO 11:10-12:00 Spotted wing drosophila – pest of small fruits Jamie Pinero, Associate Professor IPM/Jacob Wilson, Extension IPM Associate, Lincoln University 12:00-12:30 Growing Strawberries Mark Gawron, Horticulturist, Heartland Harvest Garden, Powell Gardens 12:30-1:00 Lunch 1:00-2:00 Tour Heartland Harvest Garden Orchard This workshop is being brought to you by University of Missouri Extension, a partner of the Growing Growers program. Cost to attend this workshop is $30 and includes lunch. To register, fill out the form below and mail with payment by June 11. If you have questions, or need further information, contact Lala Kumar, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist at (816) 252-5051 or kumarl@missouri.edu.

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Spanish flag

Black-eyed susan vine

Purple hyacinth bean

Above: Moonflower

Above: Cypress vine

16

Below: Scarlet runner bean

Below: Snail vine

The Kansas City Gardener / June 2014

Growing Up

with annual vines

Leah Berg

P

art of the satisfaction and fun in growing vining edibles like scarlet runner bean must come from childhood memories of the classic Jack and the Beanstalk fairy tale.

The small “magic beans” burst into seedlings that easily zoom 6-8’ skyward in our gardens. By fall the stems seem truly strong enough to climb in search of geese laying golden eggs.

Beans also star in school lessons about the “three sisters” crops grown in groupings: beans, squash and corn.

Vining beans climb tall corn stalks for support, with roots kept moist and weed-free shaded by the large leaves of sprawling squash like pumpkins.

Adults interested in sustainable gardening methods might rediscover this trio planting strategy as they help with homework or help tend community or schoolyard gardens. (See “How to Plant the Three Sisters” on the Cornell University website, or consult www.reneesgarden.com).

If looking for edible flowers to include in salads, any of the legume family flowers add a crisp crunch as well as colorful contrast to leafy greens.

The tall namesake trellis of “The Beanstalk” demonstration garden at the Kansas City Community Gardens features a vine well worth planting annually: purple hyacinth bean. People often guess the lavender flowers as wisteria, but Lablab dolthos forms distinctive glossy grape-colored bean pods.

The common name of the delightful snail vine does NOT imply attracting snails. The shape of tightly curled immature flowers DO resemble snail shells. Another June 2014 / The Kansas City Gardener

legume, its fragrant blooms please the nose as well as the eyes.

Last year I bought a single snail vine at Arnold’s Greenhouse, grew it in a container outdoors, and managed to keep it alive indoors over winter successfully thanks to Rita Arnold’s advice!

mingbird feeders and watch for their activity nectaring on the conical flowers arranged along one side of stems. New red-orange flowers fade to yellow and white.

Hummingbird fans should consider including red tubular flowers like cypress vine (Ipomoea

Morning glory We grew this tropical vine as an annual when I worked at Longview Gardens, and. I was happy find it again. Now, do I move it outside again potted on a small trellis, or put it in the ground to grow large enough to cover an arbor?

Look for seeds or seedlings next year with the scientific name Vigna caracella, or the alternate common name: fragrant corkscrew vine.

Likewise, the popular tropical mandevilla vines may be overwintered indoors if space and patience permit. It’s worth experimenting.

Cut them back; harden them off gradually to bring indoors in fall and back outside around Mother’s Day. Do not overwater, but avoid placing where drying furnace vents will blow on the plants.

I noticed Spanish flag, or firecracker vine (Ipomoea lobata) for sale at several local garden centers in May. Try growing this near hum-

quamoclit) as well as morning glories (Ipomoea purpurea) with red to pinkish trumpets for a change from the classic blue shades.

Butterflies and other pollinator insects also find flowering vines attractive. Since morning glory flowers literally close up later in afternoon, consider planting moonflower (Ipomoea alba) as a partner since it blooms in evening but the flowers close by the following noon.

The large white moonflowers reflect evening light well, attract moths, and we enjoy the fragrance when strategically placed by seats or paths.

I grew up playing in a backyard with blue morning glories transforming ordinary chain link fences from a boundary to an echo of the summer skies and clouds I imprinted on.

Landscape design goals strive to balance aesthetic needs with

functional needs, such as privacy screening or growing edibles.

Vertical gardening strategies are not new, especially where gardening square footage is limited, but look for fresh ways to reinvent favorite climbers.

It’s fun to grow these prolific vines on old ladders, new picket fences or arbors, tall obelisks or bamboo teepees. I may let my snail vine crawl on a vintage blue bicycle parked in the back yard!

Grow gourds or other vines on arched tunnels tall enough to walk through with wire cattle panels bent and secured to posts (see examples in the Heartland Harvest Garden at Powell Gardens).

Cool a hot patio or deck with any of these vigorous sun-loving species to curtain well-placed pergolas. They create shade faster than most perennial vines that take several years to mature.

In less than half a day of direct sunlight, expect fewer flowers with leaves larger than usual. One exception that seems to tolerate partial shade/dappled light better is Thunbergia alata, so called black-eyed susan vine (not related to Rudbeckia). Flowers vary from orange to golden yellow to cream with a dark center eye.

Adults enjoy fairy tales as much as children, whether reading classics aloud to a child or discovering a “fractured fairy tale” with a modern and often satiric twist like The True Story of the Three Little Pigs or adult TV shows like Grimm or Once Upon a Time.

Find room for your own “Jack and the Beanstalk” if developing a fairy garden in the backyard. It will make the miniature garden elements seem even smaller!

Leah Berg is a landscape designer with a conservation emphasis. She also teaches at MCC-Longview. To consult privately, contact her at 816-353-7170.

17

Pruning Questions Answered

Tom DePaepe

T

he spring season has been impressive. The weigelas were dotted with small, eyecatching magenta blooms. The heady scent of lilac blossoms captured our attention as we walked by.

The buds on the hibiscus are easily noticeable near our front door. The shrubs have begun another season of life – and we are so blessed to enjoy their displays.

I often get questions about when to prune trees and shrubs. The short answer is that you can prune any time of the year, especially if you are removing dead and broken limbs. Of course, there is always an exception to conventional wis-

dom – in this case the exception is spring flowering shrubs.

Shrubs that flower in the early spring usually produce their buds the preceding year. If you prune them in the fall or winter, you will remove these buds, and as a result, won’t have blooms in the spring. It is best to prune these shrubs right after blooming, which means in a few weeks, it will be prime pruning time. Summer flowering shrubs usually bloom on the current year’s growth. Pruning these shrubs in the fall or winter encourages new growth and may actually increase blooms.

Hydrangeas are a special case.

Some bloom on old wood and some bloom on new wood. The ones with big blue or pink flowers and oakleaf hydrangea both bloom on old wood. Prune these immediately after blooming. Hydrangea with white, conical flowers and “Annabelle” bloom on new wood. These should be pruned in fall or late winter.

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To find a reputable arborist in your area, visit www.treesaregood. com. There, you will find a list of arborists who have been certified through an independent organization founded to professionalize the tree care industry.

I get a lot of questions about the best time to prune. While flowering shrubs do have a few ‘rules,’ don’t stress about pruning. If you see a branch that has gone a little awry, feel free to prune it off. You aren’t going to jeopardize the health of your plants.

While you are pruning your spring bloomers, take the time to walk around your landscape. Early summer is when many of our insect friends decide to make their homes in our trees. Chewed or discolored leaves are a good indicator of an insect infestation and may need to be addressed. If you prefer, you can have a certified arborist out to check over your landscaping. He or she will be able to tell you if there are any threats to the health of your trees.

Like all industries, tree care has come a long way in the last several

Tom DePaepe is an ISA certified arborist with Ryan Lawn & Tree. He can be reached at 816-246-1707 or at tomdepaepe@ryanlawn.com.

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Patrick’s Picks: Patrick Muir

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There’s a whole world of exciting possibilities out there for you to discover!

Jake Berg, a landscape designer with Rosehill Gardens in Kansas City MO, highly recommends the high impact Fruit Punch ‘Pomegranate Kiss’ Dianthus that displays a nice growth habit with a 6 to 8” height and 8 to 10”

spread. He says “The deep velvety red double blooms have the most impact in landscapes when planted in outdoor living spaces where its details can be enjoyed. Silver-blue foliage breaks up the extensive green found in many landscapes.”

It needs well drained soils especially during the winter months, but has superior drought tolerance once established.

Bergenia cordifolia ‘Winter Glow’ has vibrant pink blooms in April, is deer resistant and comes in at a healthy 12 to 15” high with a 10 to 12” spread. Berg says “It tolerates dry shade well in mature landscapes where many other perennials fade away with time. And the large, waxy leaves turn a burgundy red to extend the seasonal interest into the winter months.”

‘Sunsparkler Dazzleberry’ Sedum has a nice compact growth habit with a 6 to 8 inch height and

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Photo courtesy of www.provenwinners.com.

Grasping for Underused Groundcovers?

Dianthus ‘Pomegranate Kiss’

Hardy Plumbago

15 to 18 inch spread. Berg says “It is less likely to thin out towards the center compared to older varieties such as ‘Rosy Glow’ and ‘Vera Jameson’. Smokey blue-gray foliage provides spring interest until large 4 to 6 inch raspberry pink blooms appear summer. It can tolerate any heat and humidity Kansas City can offer once established!”

Kevin Keilig with Heartland Nursery in Kansas City MO asks, have you ever been challenged with the unfortunate scenario of growing a groundcover in the shade under a black walnut tree? The tree produces a toxic chemical to reduce competition from certain other plants.

Galium odoratum with its distinctive whorled leaves is not impacted in this situation. Keilig says “As its name implies, it is also fragrant with both its leaves and its dainty white flowers smelling like a fresh mowed hayfield. It is extremely hardy and tough and can even take light to moderate foot traffic once established!”

One of Keilig’s favorites for full sun but that also tolerates some partial shade is the hardy plumbago

or Ceratostigma plumbaginoides.

It is a taller growing groundcover selection reaching up to about 12” tall. Keilig says “The most spectacular thing about this plant is its stunning, eye popping, deep sky blue flowers that bloom from midJuly until a hard freeze in the fall.

And by hardy, I mean very hardy” I’ve often wondered why you don’t see more of Keilig’s next choice of epimediums in local gardens when you see their stunning performance in magazines and catalogs. Keilig says “The attractive dainty foliage adds a fine texture to the garden as well as its dainty flowers.” But he went on to explain epimediums are a little challenging in the beginning but rewarding in the long run. “They like moist but well-drained soil but heavy clay is not good. Epimediums remind me of lily of the valley in that they may take over two years to get established.”

• • • • • •

Read other favorite picks by Patrick Muir on his blog at patricksgarden.com, where you can also subscribe.

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The Kansas City Gardener / June 2014

The Lotus Flower

T

he Lotus flower, Nebumbo nucifera, can be traced back to ancient times. It has been revered and featured in many stories and is steeped in tradition and symbolism starting with ancient Egypt where it was symbolized the sun and revival.

The Lotus flowers rises high above the waters out of the mud and the petals of the flower unfolds one petal at a time. It is considered the “Jewel” of the water garden.

The white Lily was considered the sacred Lotus of ancient Egypt.

There is a large assortment of Lotus available today that are direct decedents of these ancient flowers.

White lotus vary from the small (2-3 ft) such as the High Noon, to the med (3-4 ft) Tulip to the very large whites that can mature to 5-6 ft tall, some with pink tips like the Empress.

The Pink Lotus is the national flower of India and is commonly known as the sacred Lotus in today’s society especially in Asian countries. The Pink family of Lotus

High noon

Hindu

Lutea

is probably the largest group from pale pinks to deep pinkish red.

You will find varieties such as the small Ben Gibson or FenqianyeThousand Petal which resembles a peony flower with their multiply petals. The medium to large lotus such as the Carolina Queen (Pink with light centers) or Hindu with it deep pink petals or Lavender Lady (Lavender pink single petals with darker veins) are quite a sight to behold with their huge leaves and flowers.

The Yellow Lotus, Lutea, is actually a native of North America. (You can drive along the Mississippi River in Iowa mid-summer and see hundreds of yellow lotus in the shallow coves of the river). The yellow Lotus is a large Lotus that can rise 5-6 feet above the water with huge 10- to 12-inch blooms.

Almost all the parts of the Lotus are edible and the dry seed pods are used in ornamental bouquets.

The rule of thumb for caring for Lotus is they prefer large tubs and sun. Keep high in the pond in

the summer and lower in the pond for the winter. Lotus are heavy feeders and like high dosages of fertilizer.

With a little care these magnificent plants will amaze you and you will begin to understand why

they have been long revered since ancient times.

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Diane Swan

Kevin and Diane Swan own Swan’s Water Gardens, a full service water garden center. You may contact them at 913-592-2143.

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21

Gardening with Native Sedges

Gold sedge

I

f gardeners think of sedges, a particular weed may come to mind: yellow nutsedge. It isn’t a proper sedge in the genus Carex, but a flatsedge in the genus Cyperus, which mostly consists of spreading species too weedy for gardening.

Among Carex, however, several species work well in the garden.

Unlike their flatsedge cousin, these garden-worthy species delight gardeners. For real, as my seven-year old son would say.

p o t s

Cedar sedge

Take bristle sedge (Carex leptalea) for instance. It is also referred to as slender sedge or bristle-stalked sedge. It looks like a green bristle brush or a spiny sea urchin. Slow-growing and topping off at 4 inches, this one is similar to cedar sedge except that it tolerates sun and wet areas. It makes an ideal rain garden plant at the edges. In the Whitmire Wildflower Garden, where I’ve gardened for the past two decades, this one grows next

to prairie alumroot (Heuchera richardsonii), and is partially shaded by a red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) that blooms at the same time in early April. Bristle sedge is currently in production at Shaw Nature Reserve.

Next in the line of tiny sedges is cedar sedge (Carex eburnea). Its pocket-sized emerald green tufts of hair-like leaves top out at 10 inches. In some winters it can be nearly evergreen, although in normal years it turns tan. It slowly creeps to form a dense mat in dry, shady places and works nicely with other diminutive shade-lovers like wild sweet William (Phlox divaricata) and dwarf crested iris (Iris cristata). There is an interesting YouTube video of this one showing the plant in the wild.

Oak sedge (Carex albicans) is gaining popularity thanks to its ease in gardening and the pioneering work of Missouri Wildflowers Nursery. It is a shade- to part shadeloving sedge growing 8 to 10 inches on dry to moist soils. Its arching thread-like foliage surrounded by prairie pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta) is a winning combination. If you like this one, you might try the very similar James sedge (Carex jamesii), which is slightly evergreen though its leaf tips tend to go tan in summer.

A versatile Carex that would grow in most gardens is palm sedge (Carex muskingumensis). It tolerates sun or shade, dry or wet.

Beginner gardeners can’t go wrong with this one. It’s two feet tall, long-lived, and provides a finetextured tropical contrast to broadleaved plants. In sunny areas mix in a couple yellow wild indigo

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Photo by Scott Woodbury.

Bur sedge

The author’s son in Riverbank sedge Photo by Scott Woodbury.

Photo by Scott Woodbury.

Photo by Dale Blevins.

Photo by Scott Woodbury.

By Scott Woodbury

Bristle sedge (Baptisia sphaerocarpa) and orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida). In the shade, try it with sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) and the bold round leaves of wild hydrangea, (Hydrangea arborescens). It also tolerates rain gardens and tough clay. When planted in mass, palm sedge reduces garden maintenance.

It can be cut down once a year in March with a push mower set on high with no need to rake up clippings or for mulching. Two other terrific sedges for shade that are under two feet include fringed sedge (Carex crinita) and bur sedge (Carex grayii).

Native gardeners have relied heavily on prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) over the years to create a soft, grassy look. None of the other native grasses perform in the same short, permanent, well-behaved way in full sun. But some sedges do and are as good or better than prairie dropseed, especially in clay or poorly drained soils. The fox sedges come to mind first (Carex vulpinoidea) and (Carex annectans).

They look similar, if not identical, to prairie dropseed though they bloom in spring with no intense The Kansas City Gardener / June 2014

Oak sedge growing at the Whitmire Wildflower Garden in Gray Summit, MO fragrance. Let’s face it, you either love the smell of prairie dropseed in bloom or you hate it.

If you are looking for a lowmaintenance native groundcover to use instead of invasive wintercreeper, English ivy, periwinkle, or liriope, look no further. Gold sedge (Carex aureolensis) at 18 inches is a great alternative. Tolerant of sun and shade, this creeping sedge quickly fills into a solid mat, eliminating most weeds and the need to mulch.

Simply mow in March as you would liriope and walk away. Scatter in a few companion plants like seedbox (Ludwigia alternifolia) or slender mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) for contrast. Brown bog sedge (Carex buxbaumii) and riverbank sedge (Carex emoryi) are two other top-performing alternative groundcovers.

Horticulturalist Scott Woodbury is the Curator of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve, where he has worked with native plant propagation, design, and education for more than 20 years. Nurseries interested in attaining stock material of Carex are encouraged to contact the author at scott.woodbury@mobot.org.

Missouri is blessed with more than 100 species in the genus Carex, one of many genera in the Cyperaceae family. In the wild, Carex species grow in virtually every natural community of the state. The sedges discussed in the article occur in these habitats: Ced ar sedge (Carex eburnea): along bluffs and under cedars on glades Bristle sedge (C. leptalea): fens Oak sedge (C. albicans): upland forests and woodlands Jam es sedge (C. jamesii): mesic forests Pal m sedge (C. muskingumensis): mesic and wet-mesic bottomland forests Fri nged sedge (C. crinita): stream banks and acidic seeps Bur sedge (C. grayii): bottomland forests Fox sedges (C. vulpinoidea: marshes and moist soil; and C. annectans: prairie swales and bottomland prairies) Gol d sedge (C. aureolensis): variety of moist habitats Bro wn sedge (C. buxbaumii): fens, prairies, bottomland forest openings; a Missouri species of conservation concern Riv erbank sedge (C. emoryi): stream banks and wet prairies Protection of natural communities as well as use of nursery-grown Carex species in landscaping will help assure that these sedges continue to thrive in Missouri.

This article first appeared in the Missouri Prairie Journal, Vol. 33, #2, 2012.

Summer Evenings with Wine and Music Photos by John Brehm.

Photo by Scott Woodbury.

Sedges in the Wild

Wine Tastings on the Terrace The clink of glasses. Light conversation. Birdsong from the treetops. What could be better than a warm evening with good wine and friends? The popular Wine Tastings on the Terrace will once again grace the Overland Park Arboretum this summer. Each date – June 18, August 20 and September 17 – will feature a different theme. The cost is $25 for Friends of the Arboretum members with an additional $3 admission fee for non-members. To register, click on the Classes and Events button on www.opabg.org.

Music in the Gardens Each Thursday evening this summer from 6:30-7:30 p.m., the gardens will be filled with music from a variety of performers. No registration is required, so come out and enjoy the sounds of summer!

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June 2014 / The Kansas City Gardener

23

Water Gardens 2014 Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City presents 21st Annual Water Garden Tour

Saturday, June 28 • Sunday, June 29 9am - 5pm Rain or Shine Bus tours available Saturday only.

Contact Connie Halastik 816-419-3245 • www.kcwatergardens.com

Buy tickets early and plan your driving tour.

We have 43 gardens on the Tour in Greater Kansas City, nearby communities and the Kansas City Zoo. The Tour includes private gardens and those constructed by the Water Garden Society for schools and nature centers.

Tickets are $10 per person (ages 13 and under are free), which includes a tour book with maps, driving directions, and written descriptions of each garden on the Tour.

Proceeds benefit construction of educational and restorative water gardens and other educational programs in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Contributing Sponsor: House of Rocks

Tickets available NOW at the following locations:

PRIZES!

at all Hen House Markets, all Westlake Hardware stores, and all Grass Pads Bannister Garden Center, Kansas City, MO Brothers Fish and Pets, Kansas City, MO Colonial Nursery, Blue Springs, MO Creekside Market, Raymore, MO Earl May Garden Center, Shawnee, KS Family Tree Nursery, Shawnee, KS Family Tree Nursery, Overland Park, KS Family Tree Nursery, Liberty, MO Full Features Nursery, Smithville, MO Heartland Nursery, Kansas City, MO

Homestead Nursery, Leavenworth, KS House of Rocks, Kansas City, KS Kansas City Pond & Water Gardening, KCMO Planters Seed Co., Kansas City, MO Randy’s Lakeview Nursery, Lee’s Summit, MO Roberts Nursery, Blue Springs, MO Rosehill Gardens, Martin City, MO Rolling Meadows Landscape, Olathe, KS Soil Service Garden Ctr & Nursery, Kansas City, MO Suburban Lawn and Garden, Leawood, KS

Purchase tickets online: www.unionstation.org

Suburban Lawn and Garden, Kansas City, MO Suburban Lawn and Garden, Lenexa, KS Swan’s Water Gardening, Spring Hill, KS Union Station, Kansas City, MO Van Liew’s, Kansas City, MO Waldo Grain Company, Kansas City, MO Water’s Edge, Lawrence, KS Wild Bird Center, Independence, MO

Leave a response card at any tour stop, and you’ll automatically be entered in drawings.

Prizes supplied by Kansas City Zoo, Union Station and House of Rocks.

Tour Info: 816-861-3449; 816-305-5963

Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City

Purchase tickets June 28 & 29 during tour hours only at the following: 1.

2. **3. *4. *5.

6.

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Peculiar, MO … 23719 S Greenridge Rd Leawood, KS … 14701 Mission Rd Overland Park, KS … 7884 W 156th St Olathe, KS … 12501 W 151st St Olathe, KS … 17995 W 158th St Olathe, KS … 12297 S Clinton Overland Park, KS … 10140 Roe Ave Leawood, KS … 9854 Sagamore Rd Kansas City, MO … 5 E Bridlespur Dr Kansas City, MO … 9601 Raytown Rd Blue Springs, MO … 8201 Jasper Bell Rd

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No tickets available at locations in red.

24

Odessa, MO … 12471 Meadow Ln Blue Springs, MO … 1401 NW Park Rd Independence, MO … 119 S Ward St Independence, MO … 14300 E 32nd St Independence, MO … 3209 Blue Ridge Blvd Kansas City, MO … 4954 Marsh Ave Kansas City, MO … 4600 Vermont Ave Raytown, MO … 6400 Woodson Rd Raytown, MO … 7054 Northern Ave Raytown, MO … 7504 Crescent Dr Kansas City, MO … 7836 Donnelly Ave

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Kansas City, MO … 7511 Manchester Ave Kansas City, MO … 8701 E Gregory Blvd Kansas City, MO … 6700 Zoo Dr Overland Park, KS … 7715 Hardy Ave Overland Park, KS … 8523 Eby Ave Overland Park, KS … 9701 Melrose Lenexa, KS … 8028 Park Lenexa, KS … 13802 W 78th St Shawnee, KS … 13905 W 75th Ct Shawnee, KS … 7501 Hauser St Kansas City, KS … 6650 Oak Grove Rd

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** T-shirts sold at these locations.

The Kansas City Gardener / June 2014

June

garden calendar n VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

• Plant squash, cucumbers, sweet corn, green beans and other summer vegetables.

• Tomato leaf disease reduces yield, treat with a fungicide if needed.

• Conserve moisture and control weeds, mulch.

• Harvest spring vegetables until the end of the season then remove.

• Pinch herbs to keep bushy and fresh with new growth.

• Squash bugs multiply rapidly, watch for development and control.

• Keep garden evenly watered; apply 1-inch per week if there is no rain.

• Continue a regular fruit disease and insect control program.

• Fertilize strawberries regularly to promote new growth.

• Renovate June bearing strawberry beds.

• Treat peach trees for borers.

• Remove sucker growth from base of trees and along branches.

• Turn compost pile and keep moist to hasten breakdown.

n FLOWERS

• Pinch chrysanthemum tips for development of bushier plants.

• Remove (deadhead) spent flower blossoms to keep plant flowering.

• Remove flower stalks from peonies and irises.

• Fertilize roses and trim spent blossoms.

• Check plants for insects.

• Remove dead foliage from spring bulbs.

• Water and fertilize container plantings regularly to encourage growth and flowering.

• Maintain a 2 to 3-inch mulch layer to reduce moisture loss, control weeds and cool soil.

• If there is no rainfall, water about 1-inch per week.

n LAWNS

• Mow bluegrass and tall fescue 3 to 3 1/2 inches to improve drought stress.

• Avoid fertilizing tall fescue and bluegrass during summer.

• Mow zoysia to a height of 1-2 inches all season.

• Fertilize zoysia with high nitrogen fertilizer such 27-3-3, one to two more times this summer.

• Repair dead spots and bare areas in zoysia by sodding or plugging.

• Core aerate zoysia to control thatch and improve water and nutrient uptake.

• Spot treat for summer broadleaf weeds.

• Fertilize naturally by letting grass clippings fall.

• Water the turf sparingly to increase drought tolerance during the heat of summer.

• Begin grub treatments with preventive type insecticides.

• Keep mower blade sharp for a clean cut.

n TREES AND SHRUBS

• Check for bagworms and control.

• Prune: * Elongated “candles” of new growth on pines and spruce to shape and control size. * Spring flowering shrubs.

• Water newly planted trees and shrubs.

• Check for spider mite damage by shaking branch over white paper.

Mites look like small dots.

• Clip hedges to maintain shape.

• Maintain mulch ring around young trees and shrubs.

• Prune dead or damaged limbs to correct structure and maintain health.

n HOUSEPLANTS

• Water and fertilize on a regular basis to promote summer growth.

• Repot overgrown plants, shifting up to a 1-inch larger pot.

• Rotate pots to provide sunlight on all sides, which produces a balanced plant.

• Prune and shape plants.

Johnson County K-State Research and Extension recommends environmentally-friendly gardening practices. This starts by identifying and monitoring problems. Cultural practices and controls are the best approach for a healthy garden. If needed, use physical, biological or chemical controls. Always consider the least toxic approach first. Dennis Patton is the horticulture agent for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension.

For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.

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25

June 21 at Powell Gardens

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

BUZZ: A Celebration of Pollinators in the Garden

Discover simple ways you can support pollinators in your garden.

The schedule: 10:30-11 a.m. StoneLion Puppets presents “Backyard Buggin’” 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Midwestern Beekeepers Association Talks 2-4 p.m. Mead Tasting with 7C’s Winery and Meadery ($5 for five samples)

African Violets Club of Greater Kansas City Tues, Jun 10, 6pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st and Wornall, Kansas City, MO. Membership meeting. 816-784-5300 Bonsai Society of Greater Kansas City Sat, Jun 14, and Sat, Jun 28, 9am-3pm both days; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st and Wornall, Kansas City, MO. Workshops. 816-784-5300 Greater Kansas City Dahlia Society Sun, Jun 8, 1-3pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, Rose Room, 51st and Wornall, Kansas City, MO. We’ll demonstrate topping, or ‘pinching’ on dahlias, which will help create a bushier plant with the largest diameter blooms. A short business meeting will follow the demonstration. There will also be time to answer any questions you have on growing your plants. Feel free to bring anyone else along who is also interested in dahlias.

Greater Kansas City Herb Study Group Wed, Jun 11, noon; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st St and Wornall, Kansas City, MO.

Throughout the day, see examples of planting with pollinators in mind throughout the Heartland Harvest Garden and Butterfly Garden!

Kansas City’s tM botaniCal garden

Learn more at powellgardens.org/pollinators

Keep your trees and shrubs healthy this summer.

We can keep your trees free of bagworms, aphids and other damaging pests.

Call our office for a free tree evaluation today to make sure your landscape plants are protected.

We can keep ants, silverfish, crickets and other pesky insects out of your home.

Call to discover how we can treat the perimeter of your house to keep uninvited guests outside.

Independence Garden Club Mon, Jun 9, 6:30pm; for a tour at the Wheelers garden, 1013 NW Woodlyne, Blue Springs. They have lots of Hostas and a unique irrigation system. Refreshments will be served and visitors are always welcome. Remember we will be at the Vail Mansion for the Strawberry Festival Jun 7 at 1500 N Liberty in Independence. We will have many kinds of plants and potted plants for sale as well. There will be many other vendors with unique items for sale and lots of Strawberries and ice cream. For more information call 816-3731169 or 816-812-3067. Visit us at our web site www.independencegardenclub.com.

Johnson County Rose Society Thurs, Jun 12, 7pm; Meet at the picnic shelter at Loose Park Gardens, 5200 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO, for ice cream, treats, and conversation. Following the social, John Riley, ARS Consulting Rosarian, will take us on a tour of the Laura Conyers Smith Rose Garden. Besides just enjoying the beautiful roses, this is a great opportunity to see the difference between a floribunda and a grandiflora, check out all the varieties of your favorite color rose, and ask questions about rose care. Members and guests are welcome to take advantage of the “Consulting Rosarians Corner” for a free individual consultation with a Consulting Rosarian about specific questions or concerns regarding all aspects of rose growing and care. The Consulting Rosarians will also give timely tips about caring for roses “This Month in the Rose Garden”. All JCRS meetings are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided. For more information about the meetings, programs, and other activities of the JCRS, or for membership details, please visit their website at www.rosesocietyjoco.org. You can also visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JoCoRoses.

Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society Sun, Jun 22, 1-4pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st and Wornall, Kansas City, MO. Membership meeting. 816-784-5300

Bug Barrier Program

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26

Club Meetings

Kaw Valley Herbs Study Group Tues, Jun 10, 6-8pm; at Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence, 1263 N 1100 Rd. We explore all aspects of an herb: growing & harvesting, historical lore, culinary virtues, medicinal merits, and aromatherapy, household, and cosmetic applications. Our gatherings are fun and educational, and jam-packed with useful information, including relevant demonstrations. SPECIAL EVENT! Herbalist Bevin Clare will be in Lawrence for the United Plant Savers Board Meeting, and she will be our FEATURED SPEAKER in June!

Everyone with an interest in herbs is welcome.

There is a $2 charge to cover costs (KVHSG is a non-profit group; no charge for students). No pets. Nursing babies and children over 10 are welcome. herbstudygroup@gmail.com Leawood Garden Club Tues, Jun 24, 10:30am; at the Leawood Presbyterian Church, 2715 W 83rd St. The meeting will include installation of new officers, the monthly shopping table and a potluck luncheon.

Open to everyone and guests are most welcome. For more information, visit our website www.leawoodgardenclub.org, send an email to leawoodgardenclub@gmail.com or call 913-6423317.

Lenexa Field and Garden Club Tues, Jun 10, 7-8pm. The Lenexa Field and Garden Club will tour a private member garden.

For more information, see our website www. lenexafieldandgardenclub.org MoKan Daylily Society Sun, Jun 15, noon; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st and Wornall, Kansas City, MO. Membership meeting. 816-784-5300 Northland Garden Club Tues, Jun 17, 7pm; at Sherwood Bible Church, 4900 N Norton, Kansas City, MO (just south and west of Penguin Park). This month’s program on the History & Overview of Roses will be presented by Debbie Painter. Check website for more information: www.northlandgardenclub.com.

Overland Park Gardeners of America Mon, Jun 9, 7pm with program at 7:30pm; at Colonial Church, 71st and Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS. Program presented by Sarah Crowder, City Forester for Overland Park. Her subject will be proper trimming and shaping of trees. Sarah is extremely knowledgeable and we will use trees on the lot of Colonial Presbyterian Church. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, please contact: Sallie Wiley 913-236-5193 ShoMe African Violets Club Fri, Jun 13, 10:30am; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st and Wornall, Kansas City, MO. Membership meeting. 816-784-5300

Events, Lectures & Classes June Insect Control, Organic & Otherwise Thurs, Jun 5, 11:30am-1pm (you’re welcome to bring your lunch); at Sunflower Meeting Room, Wyandotte County Extension Office, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City KS. Sponsored by the Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners.

Presented by Bob Baurenfiend, Kansas State University Entomologist. Before you reach for a chemical spray to kill what’s bugging your garden, come find out the best ways to control those garden pests. $5.00 fee. Registration not required.

913-299-9300 Spice Up the Herb Garden Container Sat, Jun 7, 1-3pm; at Powell Gardens. Plant a zesty 18-inch herb container to spice up your patio garden with some Powell Gardens’ favorites. Plus, take a guided tour of the herb gardens in the Heartland Harvest Garden, and learn tips and tricks for growing herbs. Tastes and samples will be included. Bring gardening gloves and wear comfortable walking shoes. $39/person, $32/members. Registration required by Jun 2. To register call Linda Burton at 816-697-2600 ext 209. Or register online at www.powellgardens. org/AdultClasses.

The Kansas City Gardener / June 2014

Wornall/Majors House Museums Garden Tour Sat, Jun 7, 9am-4pm. The Wornall/Majors House Museums, the nonprofit that oversees the historic John Wornall and Alexander Majors Houses, will open the garden gate to six of the most stunning and prestigious garden spaces in Kansas City.

Garden Tour tickets are only $25 per person if purchased by Jun 1; tickets sold from Jun 2 through the day of the event are still a bargain at $30. And the fun starts a day early, on Fri, Jun 6, from 6:30 to 10pm, for Garden Tour patrons.

Patron party tickets are only $100 ($80 for Museum members). Rain or shine, the Garden Tour takes place from 9am to 4pm on Sat, Jun 7. http://wornallhouse.org/2014-garden-tour-andpatron-party/ Gardening with your Family Sat, Jun 7, 10-11:30am; at Kansas City Community Gardens, 6917 Kensington, Kansas City, MO 64132. Bring your family to this handson workshop featuring easy gardening methods that involve every member of the family. Share the time honored life-skill of gardening with your family as we look at basic gardening tasks and provide fun ideas for engaging everyone. There is a job for your family of all ages and we have a lot to learn from each other. Free. Call Earlene Franks at 816-931-3877 or email at earlene@ kccg.org to register.

GeoArboretum Sat, Jun 7, 10-11:30am; at Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, 8909 W 179th St, Overland Park, KS. Class is limited to 12.

Bring the whole family out for a fun-filled adventure at the Arboretum! Find out why over 5 million people throughout the world hunt for containers – called geocaches – using hand-held GPS devices. Learn about geocaching and the Arboretum’s own version, GeoArboretum, with a brief classroom style presentation followed by a search for two geocaches. Ages 7 through Adult (adult presence required for ages 13 and under).

Class Fee $5.00 per participant. Arboretum admission fees apply (FOTA members free). You may enroll at www.opabg.org. No refunds.

Annual Garden Tour Sat, Jun 7, 9am-4pm; in Warrensburg, MO. Come visit our 5 beautiful Gardens! Garden Tour Tickets are $5/person. Kids under 12 are free.

Advance ticket purchases can be bought in person at the University of MO Extension Office, 135 W Market, Warrensburg, MO. Tickets may also be purchased at any of the tour locations. For more information email jocomstrgardners@yahoo.com or find us on Facebook (Master Gardeners of Johnson County, Missouri). Sponsored by Master Gardeners of Johnson County, Missouri.

20th Annual Garden Tour and Plant Sale Jun 7-8, 9am-5pm; Hermann, MO. Two Tours in 2014: the popular Town Tour, a walking tour of gardens in downtown Hermann, and a Country Tour, a driving tour to country gardens. Each tour is $10; ticket price includes visits to at least four private gardens and the Garden Demonstration Area. Town & County Garden Tour Combo ticket for $15. Garden Tours may be spread over Saturday and Sunday and, except for groups of 10 or more, do not need to be reserved ahead of time. New garden-themed Flea Market at the Plant Sale. Special Ticket By-Reservation-Only Luncheon/Silent Auction on Jun 6 and European High Tea in a lavender garden on Jun 7. Visit the Hermann Garden Tours website at www.hermanngardentours.com for up-to-date events, ticket prices, contact numbers and photographs. Visit the new FAQS page for answers to all your questions. Like us on Facebook at Hermann Garden Club Tours 2014. Call Hermann Welcome Center at (800) 932-8687 for questions about lodging/ restaurants or go to www.visithermann.com.

Union Hill Garden Tour Sun, Jun 8, 11am-4pm. The 19th Annual selfguided tour starts at 31st Street and Grand Avenue. Walk through over a dozen residential and community gardens. Free parking is available in the KCPT lots at 31st Street and Grand Avenue. Admission is $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for seniors (over age 60). Kids under 12 are free. Half of this year?s proceeds will benefit the

June 2014 / The Kansas City Gardener

neighboring historic Union Cemetery. Attendee may enjoy a discounted Flower Power Brunch & Lunch at the new Barrel 31 Restaurant & Bar at the end of the tour. This is one of Kansas City?s most unique garden tours in a historic Victorian neighborhood, just south of Crown Center. For more information, visit us on Facebook at: http:// www.facebook.com/unionhillgardentour or email unionhillgardentour@gmail.com Evening Garden Tour Fri, Jun 13. Join us on the evening of the full moon for The Moonlight and Mint Juleps garden tour of Marla Galetti, hosted by the Northland Garden Club. Visitors will get an opportunity to tour the one acre garden which was professionally lighted by Natural Accents Outdoor Lights.

Beginning at twilight, guests will be able to study the vast specimens of plants while enjoying a nonalcoholic freshly made mint julep. Automatically timed lights will lead you through the garden once darkness has descended. Additional lighting has been added by Marla to make the garden a magical place for an evening stroll. Hours are 8-10 pm. Reservations and tickets, $10 may be acquired by calling Dee West, Northland Garden Club President at 816-455-4013. Check the website at www.northlandgardenclub.com for further information.

Introduction to Small Fruit Production Sat, Jun 14, 9am-2pm at Powell Gardens, 1609 NW US HWY50, Kingsville, MO 64061.

Growing Growers Workshop will cover production of Blueberries, Blackberries and Strawberries and will also cover a new invasive pest-spotted wing drosophila. Fee $30.00 with lunch. Register by contacting Lala Kumar, MU Extension Horticulture Specialist at 816-2525051 or kumarl@missouri.edu.

Canning and Freezing Workshop Sat, Jun 14, 9:30am; at Gardner Community Garden, behind 555 W Main St, Gardner, KS. Open to the public. Free of charge. Registration is not required. www.gardnercommunitygarden. com Terrarium: Jungle in a Jar Sat, Jun 14, 10am-noon; at Powell Gardens.

Design your own adventure-scape in a chic terrarium. Plant and learn to care for your own 12-inch tall tropical terrarium. Materials provided include potting media, jars, plants and some decorative elements. Bring your own bobbles and trinkets if desired. Gardening gloves are recommended. $47/person, $42/members. Registration required by Jun 9. To register call Linda Burton at 816-697-2600 ext 209. Or register online at www. powellgardens.org/AdultClasses.

Insects in the Garden Mon, Jun 16, 6-7:30pm; at Independence Health Department, 515 South Liberty, Independence, MO 64050. Do you ever wonder whether the insects in your garden are helping or harming your plants? Learn about the common insects found in our area so that you can identify garden pests as well as the beneficial insects. We will also discuss how to control problem insects. Free.

Call Earlene Franks at 816-931-3877 or email at earlene@kccg.org to register.

What Your Backyard Tree Wants You to Know Thurs, Jun 19, 6:30pm; at Country Club Christian Church, 6101 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, MO. Gardeners Gathering presented by The Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City. Featured speaker Chuck Conner, Missouri Department of Conservation Urban Forester. Many landscape trees in the Kansas City area are suffering from the effects of drought and the threat of exotic tree pests. Join MDC Urban Forester Chuck Conner as he discusses ways to properly care for new and mature trees in Kansas City area landscapes. Free and open to the public. No registration required.

Door Prizes. For further information call 816665-4456.

Weston, MO Garden Tour Jun 20-21, Fri & Sat, 9am-4pm. Enjoy the gardens of Weston at the Cottage Gardeners of Weston

(continued on page 28)

Plant a Bounty of Bright Blooms & Live Summer in Style!

We have oodles of plants to complete your own outdoor oasis!

Prairie Star Flowers that bloom & flourish in the heat & humidity!

(Arnold’s is the premier grower of Prairie Star Flowers!)

Long blooming Perennials that will return year after year!

Trees and Shrubs to provide structure. Fruit Trees & Berry Bushes Easy Care Roses that bloom all summer!

All Trees, Shrubs, Berries and Roses, Buy 3, get 1 FREE* during the month of June! *Mix & Match; FREE tree, shrub, berry, or rose is of equal or lesser value.

Arnold’s Greenhouse • 1430 Hwy. 58 S.E., LeRoy, KS 66857 620-964-2463 or 2423 www.arnoldsgreenhouse.com May hrs: Mon-Sat , 9am-7:30pm. Jun-Oct hrs: Mon-Sat , 9am-5pm. Closed Sundays.

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

How Do We Know What Dad Wants?

A Little Bird Told Us! The Squirrel Buster Plus Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder Squirrels are foiled but not harmed in any way. Access to the seed is simply denied.

Lifetime Warranty.

of Leawood Proudly serving Kansas City for 26 years 11711 Roe Avenue (next to Comfort Plus Shoes) • 913-491-4887 Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 9am-5pm; Sun noon-4pm www.wbu.com/kansascity Join us and fellow birders BIRDSEED • FEEDERS • BIRDBATHS • OPTICS • GARDEN ACCENTS 27

Planters Seed Co. • Since 1927 •

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

(continued from page 27) Garden Tour. You’ll see small space, grand and walk-by gardens as you stroll around the historic district. Tickets in advance, $10. Information at http://cottagegardenersweston.com or send name, address, phone, e-mail, and check to Cottage Gardeners, PO Box 102, Weston, MO 640980102. Days of the tour, $12 at Renditions, 522 Main St, Weston, MO 64098; 816-640-2300

Large selection of wind chimes, gnomes, toads, and garden art décor.

Largest Selection of Flowers & Vegetable Seed in the Area More than 300 Varieties of Seed in Bulk Grass & Pasture Seed • Thousands of Bulbs Baskets, Terracotta and Pottery Birdhouses, Birdfeeders Best Selection of “Locally Grown” Bird Seed!

Retail • Wholesale • Lawn • Garden • Farm

513 Walnut KCMO • 816-842-3651

WELCOME TO ENRIGHT GARDENS

St. Joseph Water Garden Tour Sat and Sun, Jun 21 and 22, 1-5 pm each day.

St Joseph has many turn-of-the-century homes and many residents of St. Joseph residents have ponds. These ponds cover a wide variety of styles from traditional fishponds to decorative ponds to ponds that don’t have visible water reservoirs.

Each year the St. Joseph Area Water Garden Society has a tour of local ponds. The Society is pleased to have new pools, on the tour along with a variety of others that include formal, rustic, and natural ponds, along with a wide variety of fish and plants. You don’t want to miss this year’s tour; tickets will be available starting June 1st at Westlake Ace Hardware, Earl May Garden Center, or by calling 816-233-2026. Tickets are $7.00 for adults; please call 816-233-2026 for further information.

Building Hypertufa Garden Art Sat, Jun 21, 9am-1pm; at Hoot Owl Hill Gardens, 30750 Osawatomie Rd, Paola, KS. Come prepared to get your hands dirty as we discover the joys of sculpting with hypertufa, a mixture of Portland cement, coir and vermiculite. In this 4-hour workshop each person will create an embellished garden planter or sculpture to take home (or pick up the following day).

Several recipes for the medium will be discussed and written instructions provided for your further explorations. Wear your grubbiest workclothes and prepare to have fun! A gourmet box lunch will be provided. Please call 913-271-7451 for reservations or sign up and pay for the class at www.hootowlgardens.com Blue Springs Historical Society Garden Tour Sat, Jun 21, 9:30am-3pm. Six gardens with special events at each site. If you are interested in sponsoring an ad or attending this great event, please contact Bebe or Debbie at 816224-8979.

We are blooming

at these locations.

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

www.enrightgardens.com 28

Herbal Home Remedies Sat, Jun 21, 1-4pm; at Powell Gardens. Learn to use poultices, compresses, soups and salves for overall health. Discover ways to preserve wild and cultivated herbs for future use. Class includes a short walk to identify and harvest herbs.Hands-on demonstrations, samples and handouts included. $39/person, $35/members.

Registration required by Jun 16. To register call Linda Burton at 816-697-2600 ext. 209.

Or register online at www.powellgardens.org/ AdultClasses.

MPF Benefit: Prairies & Pollinators Thurs, Jun 26, 5:30-8pm. Prairies & Pollinators event in Kansas City to be hosted by the Platinum LEED-certified Posty Cards Greeting Card Company, 1600 Olive St, Kansas City, MO 64127. Cost per person: $75. Enjoy an hors d’oeuvres buffet and drinks and learn why native pollinators are critical to sustaining our natural world and our food supply at this special event to benefit the conservation work of the Missouri Prairie Foundation. Guest speaker: Native Bee Expert Mike Arduser. Door prizes will be given, and free prairie andˇnative landscaping information will be available. To register, you can send a check to Missouri Prairie Foundation, P.O. Box 200, Columbia, MO 65205, or pay securely online at http://www.moprairie.org/donate/#cc.

Janet-Marion City Library-Garden Tour Sat, Jun 28, 8:30am-1pm. No place like Home will be the theme for this year’s garden tour in Marion, KS. Two homes located in the city of Marion and one home located in the country will be featured on the tour. Tickets $5.00 and must be purchased at the Marion City Library, 101 Library St. Refreshments and Oz decorations will be held in the Santa Fe Room, the new addition of the Library. For more information, call the Marion City Library 620-382-2442.

Preparing Summer Crops; Planting Fall Crops Sat, Jun 28, 10am; at Gardner Community Garden, behind 555 W Main St, Gardner, KS. Open to the public. Free of charge. Registration is not required. www.gardnercommunitygarden. com Composting and Soil Health Sat, Jun 28, 9:30-10:30am; at The Gardens at Unity Village 150-B NW Colbern Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO (1/4 mile west of the Douglas/ Colbern intersection). Stan Slaughter former biology teacher and resident soil fertility expert will share composting techniques guaranteed to improve your garden! Cost: $10. (Free to Gardens members) Call 816-769-0259 and leave a message to make a reservation, check for workshop updates, etc.

Honeybee Keeping 201 Sat, Jun 28, 10am-3pm; at Powell Gardens. Learn how to install bees, use a bee smoker and how to maintain the hive. Discover the proper way to inspect a hive and how to identify and treat common diseases. Find out how to extract honey and how to store your ?liquid gold.? Come even if you missed Honeybee Keeping 101. We will take a half-hour lunch break. $24/person, $20/ members. Registration required by June 23. To register call Linda Burton at 816-697-2600 ext.

209. Or register online at www.powellgardens. org/AdultClasses.

Orchid Swap & Shop Sun, Jun 29, 1:30-4:30pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st and Wornall, Kansas City, MO. Announcing the first annual Orchid Swap & Shop Meet. Bring your plants to sell, trade, give away or show. Open to anyone who wants to sell, buy, or trade orchids, in flower or not. If you bring orchids not in flower, try to provide a photo of the bloom, and any cultural information you have.

Central attraction: an orchid display table. So bring those beautiful orchids in flower for show and tell. Should be a great photo op.

July Daylily Open House-Garden Tour Sat, Jul 5-Sun, Jul 6, 9am-1pm; at 7460 W 255th, Louisburg, KS 66053 (1/4 mile east of Metcalf on 255th). The public is invited to tour the daylily gardens at Hart?s Gardens in Louisburg, KS. Over 900 varieties of daylilies are on display. The open house will be free and the owner will be on hand to answer any questions. Information on purchasing and raising daylilies will be available.

913-837-5209 Who Ya Callin’ Dirty - Make Your Own Dirt!

Thurs, Jul 10, 7-8:30pm, at North Kansas City Public Library, 2251 Howell St, North Kansas City, MO. Some call it lasagna gardening, others no-till gardening - come learn how to create a superior growing medium in any garden. We will discuss layering, no-till, composting and more.

Attendees will leave ready to turn the sandiest or thickest clay soil into a luxurious home for food and flowers. Class is free to attend, but preregistration is required, contact 816-221-3360 to register for this class.

The Kansas City Gardener / June 2014

Yoga with the Butterflies Sat, Jul 19, 9am-Noon; at Hoot Owl Hill Gardens, 30750 Osawatomie Rd, Paola, KS. Enjoy a one hour Yoga session with butterflies swirling about you in this NABA-certified Butterfly Garden.

The class will be led by Brenda Wrischnik who has over 30 years experience as a certified instructor and personal trainer. Afterwards, local butterfly expert and Master Gardener Lenora Larson will conduct a tour through the gardens to identify butterflies, their caterpillars and the critical plants. Mixed-level Hatha flow- Beginners welcome! Wear comfortable, layered clothing, hat, sunscreen, and bring a large towel. Yoga mats available on request. Enjoy this country setting which includes a gourmet lunch prepared from the garden at’s bounty. Please call 913-271-7451 for information or sign up and pay for the class at www.hootowlgardens.com Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme Sat, Jul 19, 10-11am; at Powell Gardens. Fresh herbs are easy to grow in even the smallest of yards or patios. But growing them is only half the fun, it?s time to add them to your food! You will learn how easy it is to cultivate fresh herbs and add them to your meals quickly and easily. Herbinfused tea, roast beef sandwiches w/several different herb spread choices, Sage Crisps, and Lemon-Thyme cookies will be served. Several other easy recipes will be included and methods for cultivating these plants will be discussed during the class. $34/per person or $27/members.

Contact Powell Gardens at 816-697-2600 to register for this class.

Moonlight and Mint Juleps Tour Jul 11. The second night garden tour of the summer sponsored by the Northland Garden Club is at the Liberty home of David and Sharon Cleveland.

Tour begins at 8pm and ends at 10. Advanced tickets required and may be punclrchased by calling Dee West, 816-455-4013. They are $10 each and will include the dusk tour, evening tour and a cool refreshing summer drink. Check the Garden Club web site at www.northlandgardenclub.com for further information.

Homemade Sauerkraut and the Benefits of Probiotics Sat, Jul 26, 9:30-10:30am; at The Gardens at Unity Village, 150-B NW Colbern Rd, Lee?s Summit, MO (1/4 mile west of the Douglas/ Colbern intersection). Chef Michael Willet (of the Unity Inn) will provide a new twist on our popular sauerkraut workshop with an emphasis on the benefits of probiotics. Students will learn how to make their own kraut and go home with a jar, ready to ferment! Cost: $15. ($5 to Gardens

members) Call 816-769-0259 and leave a message to make a reservation, check for workshop updates, etc.

A Gardener’s Destination Over 200 varieties of bulk seed, packaged seed from Renee’s Garden and Baker Creek • Fertilome fertilizers and LadyBug Organics • Beautiful spring flowering trees and shrubs • Wind chimes, pottery, urns, statuary, lanterns, wrought iron décor • Birdhouses and feeders

Aug, Sep, Oct Moonlight and Mint Juleps Tour Aug 8. The third and final night garden tour of the summer sponsored by the Northland Garden Club is at the Platte County home of Kim and Jesse Johnson. Tour begins at 8pm and ends at 10pm.

Advanced tickets required and may be purchased by calling Dee West, 816-455-4013. They are $10 each and will include the dusk tour, evening tour and a cool refreshing summer drink. Check the Garden Club web site at www.northlandgardenclub.com for further information.

Turning Fresh Fruits and Veggies into Delicious Homemade Ice Cream Sat, Aug 23, 9:30-10:30am; at The Gardens at Unity Village 150-B NW Colbern Rd, Lee?s Summit, MO (1/4 mile west of the Douglas/ Colbern intersection). Brooke Hood introduces a unique workshop on how to turn those fresh fruits (and VEGGIES) into delicious homemade ice cream. Samples and Recipes provided. Cost: $10 (Free to Gardens members) Call 816-769-0259 and leave a message to make a reservation, check for workshop updates, etc.

Apple Butter Festival Fri, Sep 19, 5-7pm Peeling Party/Sat Sep 20, 7am-3pm (stirring and canning); at The Gardens at Unity Village 150-B NW Colbern Rd, Lee?s Summit, MO (1/4 mile west of the Douglas/ Colbern intersection). We’re firing up the copper kettles on the west lawn again! Friday evening’s Apple Peeling Party is followed by an early morning start over camp-fires to turn apples, organic cinnamon and sugar into some of the best apple butter you’ve ever tasted! We do it all – from peeling apples, to cooking to canning. Come join the fun! Cost: Free. Call 816-769-0259 and leave a message to make a reservation, check for workshop updates, etc.

Lake Lotawana Homes Tour Sat, Oct 4, 10am-5pm; We hold Homes Tours every two years and typically have six houses on tour, different from previous years. Boats rides are available for Homes Tour from 10am4pm and depart from the Marina Grog and Gallery. Box lunches are available from 10am2pm. Tickets $15. Ticket information contact: Rita Goppert 816-578-4344. General information contact: Natalie Byard 816-730-9007.

100’s of Elegant roses to choose from 400 varieties of perennials ready for your garden Watch for our Perennial of the Month on Facebook.

112 E. Green St. • Clinton, MO 64735 660-885-3441 • Mon.-Fri. 8-6, Sat. 8-4

The Hort NetWORK Summer Educational Seminar New or Underused Plants for Landscapes and Gardens Tuesday, June 24, 6 to 8 p.m.

Suburban Lawn & Garden, 135th & Wornall This event is open to all Industry Professionals only.

FREE for Hort NetWORK members, $10 non-member/guests Food and beverage provided.

For more information, go to www.hortnetwork.org or email support@hortnetwork.org

June Weather Repor t

Promote your group’s gardening events, workshops, and classes!

Send information to:

Avg high temp 84° Avg low temp 66° Highest recorded temp 107° Lowest recorded temp 44° Nbr of above 70° days 29

Avg nbr of clear days 10 Avg nbr of cloudy days 10

Rain and Snow Avg snowfall 0 Avg rainfall 4.8” Avg nbr of rainy days 10 Source: WeatherReports.com

From the Almanac Moon Phases

Plant Above Ground Crops: 1, 2, 8-11, 27-29

First Quarter: June 5

E-Mail: elizabeth@kcgmag.com

Last Quarter: June 19

Full Moon: June 12

New Moon: June 27 Source: Harris’ Farmer’s Almanac

June 2014 / The Kansas City Gardener

Avg temp 75°

Clear or Cloudy

The Kansas City Gardener P.O. Box 8725, Prairie Village, KS 66208

Deadline for July issue is June 5.

Highs and Lows

Plant Root Crops: 14, 15, 18, 19

Control Plant Pests: 20-22, 25, 26

Transplant: 8-11

Plant Flowers: 1, 2, 27-29

29

Lenora Larson Perception is Reality Humans assume that the way we see the world is the truth. But reality depends on how the world is sensed and interpreted. Other organisms have very different senses from humans and experience the world quite differently. An unbiased mind might even conclude that the butterfly’s perceived world is more correct and that their sensory organs are superior to human abilities. Consider that butterflies, unlike humans: • Have 360° vision with compound eyes that see by simultaneously, continuously processing up to 34,000 visual images • See the ultraviolet spectrum and polarized light

• Smell with their antennae, taste with their feet and hear with their wings • Tell time with circadian clocks in both their brain and antennae • Use the sun as a compass and navigate by the earth’s magnetic field • Have memory about plant location and length of time before flowers re-fill their nectaries • Make discerning choices about flowers and mates Are you impressed with the abilities of a relatively small insect with a brain smaller than the head of a pin? They have many senses that humans lack; conversely, the only human sense that they lack is a sense of humor!

Photos by Lenora Larson.

Butterfly Perceptions

The Hackberry Emperor keeps his straw-like tongue neatly coiled when not in use for sipping nectar and/or the liquid from tree sap, rotten fruit or feces. The mustache-like labial palps can open the tongue lengthwise for cleaning if it clogs during drinking.

This female Pipevine Swallowtail is tasting the Tropical Milkweed’s flowers with her feet while she sips its nectar. Butterflies also use the chemical receptors on their feet to “taste” whether a leaf is the correct host before laying eggs.

MICO Extension Master Gardener and Kansas Native Plant Society member, Lenora Larson gardens and hosts butterflies in the cruel winds and clay soil of Paola, Kansas. Contact her at lenora. longlips@gmail.com.

Garden Tour through Historic Weston

Friday & Saturday, June 20-21, 2014 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Tickets $10 each (after June 19, tickets are $12).

Send name and address with payment to: Cottage Gardeners, PO Box 102, Weston, MO 64098. www.westoncottagegardeners.com

Each Gray Hairstreak antenna has over 16,000 olfactory sensors for “smelling” host plants and pheromones. Butterfly antennae also function as a long-distance navigational tool (like a GPS) since they contain a circadian clock, use the sun as a compass, and sense the earth’s magnetic field.

After June 10, tickets can be purchased at: Renditions, 522 Main, Weston, MO, ph. 816-640-2300.

W

alk to all five gardens in the historic part of Weston, and past many more lovely front yards. See what you can do with small space gardens and gardens unifying neighboring homes. Proceeds will be used to beautify the Weston area, including tree plantings along new sidewalks that are making Weston a walkable town.

This Cabbage White has beautiful teal blue compound eyes containing over 10,000 individual eyes that allow it to see 360 degrees without turning its head. It also can see ultraviolet and polarized light, but is very near-sighted, which is why flowers should be planted in blocks of color so butterflies can see them from a distance.

30

The Kansas City Gardener / June 2014

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June 2014 / The Kansas City Gardener

Lyndsi Oestmann, plants have been part of her life since childhoood Name: Lyndsi Oestmann Company: Loma Vista Nursery Description: Loma Vista Nursery operates several locations in the Kansas City Metro and surrounding areas. We grow over 2 million plants each year at our container production nursery in Ottawa, KS and plant several thousand trees annually in our fields located in Douglas County, KS. As Vice President, I am in charge of deciding what to grow and how many. I also oversee the day-to-day operations of our nurseries in Olathe, KS and Kansas City, MO, as well as manage the regional sales efforts. Loma Vista ships product by the truck load to surrounding areas such as Denver Metro, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wichita, St. Louis and beyond.

Length of service: Growing up in this business you could say I have 32 years in the industry. Since grade school, I rode the bus to the nursery once school was out and worked all different jobs from tree planting and pruning to accounting. In 2004, I started full-time with Loma Vista at the Olathe location, training to take over the site from my uncle so he and my dad could open the new container production nursery in Ottawa, KS. No two days are alike: I am heavily involved in daily operations of our wholesale and retail sites. During the busy time I could be helping customers tag trees, training new employees, or helping our staff with anything they need. I focus on forecasting our sales and crops during the winter and summer months, consisting of many hours pouring over sales data behind a computer. I also visit other production nurseries, trial gardens and customers to find out what plants are performing well and what plants Loma Vista should be growing.

Favorite tree/plant: Just one, this is an impossible question!

I love Pragense Viburnum because of its versatility and toughness.

Have you seen the specimens at Kauffman Memorial Gardens?

What every gardener should know: No plant is fool proof and nothing is “no maintenance”. Plants, like all living things, need care to thrive.

Other interests: I love to read and started a book club with my girlfriends that has been going eight years strong. We meet monthly and it is definitely my escape. I would not trade that time for anything. I also love working on the landscape at my house. We recently installed a Belgard fireplace and patio and I planted my first vegetable garden this spring.

Little known secret: Loma Vista does not install plants. We leave that to our professional landscape contractor customers.

Contact information: Loma Vista Nursery; Ottawa, Olathe, Kansas City; 913-897-7010; Lyndsi@lomavistanursery.com; www.lomavistanursery.com 31

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The Kansas City Gardener / June 2014