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Getting kids to put down their video games in favor of gardening is easy with some guidance. Children always have reveled in the charisma of the great outdoors. For most, their merrymaking involves some combination of running, jumping and laughing. Tending to the tomatoes rarely makes the list. “There is a real disconnect among children about where their food comes from,” says Mike Metallo, president of the National Gardening Association, South Burlington, Vt. “Urbanization has separated young people from the growing process.” And in today’s indoorcentric environment, replete with video games, Facebook and hundreds of television channels, kids are spending less time outside than ever before. Experts say that adults can lead by example,
especially when it comes to gardening. When parents, guardians, caregivers and teachers take the initiative to start gardens and get their kids involved, it’s easy to turn their attentions from Wii to weeding. Metallo says that the rise of school-gardening programs is especially important in getting kids to rediscover the magic of soil. “These programs effectively address childhood obesity by educating youth about the benefits of exercise, eating nutritious fruits and vegetables and making good personal health choices,” Metallo says. At the start of 2010, the National Wildlife Federation, Reston, Va., launched a campaign, “Be Out There Resolution to
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Page 2 Tuesday, March 23, 2010 The Southern Illinoisan
Know, Go and Grow,” to reconnect kids with nature, specifically gardening. Parents pledge to educate themselves about the benefits of gardening for kids, to take children outdoors for gardening projects and to invite other kids to join them. “We want (parents) to know and understand the importance of outdoor time,” says Kevin Coyle, the National Wildlife Federation’s vice president of education. According to Coyle, the benefits for children who are encouraged to interact with nature in an outdoor setting far exceed simply battling obesity. Other benefits include better eyesight, increased classroom preparedness and lower levels of stress and depression.
• To subscribe: Call 618-351-5000 from Carbondale, Murphysboro and DeSoto; 618997-3356, option 2 from Williamson County; or 800-228-0429, option 2, between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. • To place a display ad: Call 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 618-529-5454, option 6; from Williamson County, 618-997-3356; or toll free: 800-228-0429, option 6. • Materials provided by: Metro Creative Graphics, Content That Works
SPRING LAWN & GARDEN
Fun ways to get growing Getting a child excited about gardening takes one good project. Try one of these four innovative ideas, courtesy of Cheryl Dorschner, National Gardening Association, South Burlington, Vt.
Make and bake a compost torte Making compost is like baking dessert for your garden. Start at the bottom with fresh green plant material, then add a layer of old brown plant material such as leaves or straw. Keep layering materials and every 10 inches or so, frost it with a cup of limestone and an inch of well-aged manure. When the pile is four feet high, glaze it with a sprinkling of water. Say magic words over the top. Water and turn it every week, and it will heat up and become as rich as brownies by fall.
Race for the sky with a half-barrel (or more) of vines Your “race course” for climbing plants can be twine attached to cup
hooks on the side of the house, a twig trellis you’ve lashed together yourself or a fancy tuteur, a four-sided trellis shaped like a teepee. Mark the “course” with a marker showing inches at the bottom and after the first foot just mark feet. Choose and compare vines such as scarlet runner beans, other pole beans, small gourds, morning glories, moonflowers, love-in-apuff or other flowering vines. On your mark, get set, plant! Jump back and see who sprouts first, who takes off and who wins. Water and fertilize for good competition.
Herbal plant wash/bug spray Kids love squirt bottles, so they usually love the job of spraying plants. This concoction is safe for kids and helps to keep indoor and outdoor plant leaves clean and free of aphids and diseases. Use on smooth-leafed plants. Ingredients include the grated rind of one lemon, 1 cup wormwood or tansy, 1 cup lavender, 1 cup sage,
1 pint boiling water and 1 teaspoon nondetergent soap such as castile or Murphy’s Oil Soap. In a heat-resistant quart jar, mix lemon and herbs. Pour water over the mix. Let it steep until cooled to room temperature. Drain, reserving the liquid. In a plastic spray-pump bottle, dilute 1/8 cup of the herbal liquid to 2 cups water and add the teaspoon of soap. Teach your child how to safely apply the spray.
Send good bugs on their way It’s exciting to receive a package of beneficial insects in the mail, peek into the package and release them outdoors. Lacewings are effective against aphids, mealybugs, scales and whiteflies, among others. They usually arrive in the mail as larvae and eggs. Ladybugs, one of everyone’s favorite insects, devour aphids, Colorado potato beetle eggs and other pests. Both cost about $14 for 1,000 insects and come with instructions.
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Getting a child excited about gardening takes one good project.
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The Southern Illinoisan Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Page 3
SPRING LAWN & GARDEN
Grocery gardens Plant with a purpose, and a meal, in mind.
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Page 4 Tuesday, March 23, 2010 The Southern Illinoisan
With less disposable time and money, many families find putting enough fresh vegetables and herbs on the table to be a struggle. However, the surprising solution may actually be closer to home than they expect. “I find that very few (people) realize that they can grow garlic, onions, leeks, brassicas and most of the vegetables for their table if they put just a little more time into growing,” says Roger Marshall, Jamestown, R.I., author of “How to Build Your Own Greenhouse” (Storey Publishing, 2006). Planning is the first step to growing vegetables and herbs for cooking, experts say. Make a list of the dishes you and your family enjoy that contain vegetables and herbs: noodles, rice, salads, pot pies, casseroles, stews, soups, etc. “Families who like Italian foods, for example, might grow a ‘spaghetti’ garden, with basil, tomatoes and garlic. I also see a lot of people growing hot peppers, cilantro and Yucca for Latin American dishes,” says Barbara Barker, Live Oak, Fla., author of “Container Gardening for Health: The 12 Most Important Fruits &
Vegetables for Your Organic Garden” (Prairie Oak Publishing, 2009). Then create a separate list of favorite vegetables and herbs, even if you only have a few recipes for them. Keep in mind that an abundance of new recipes appear every year. “This year, gardeners will be focused on how to find creative methods and recipes for their fruits and vegetables, as well as how to preserve the excess for future use,” says Jean Ann Van Krevelen, Portland, Ore., author of “Grocery Gardening: Planting, Preparing and Preserving Fresh Food” (Cool Springs Press, 2010). Once you’ve got a list of vegetables to grow, do your research. Tips on when to plant, best soils to use, planting in containers versus ground, fertilizers, composting and harvesting can be found at a local nursery, at online gardening sites and through a variety of gardening books. Gardener Ellen Ecker Ogden, Manchester Village, Vt., suggests starting small. “Focus on growing the foods that you truly love to eat,” says Ogden, author of “From the Cook’s Garden” (Morrow Cookbooks,
SPRING LAWN & GARDEN 2003).“For me this includes fresh basil and other herbs, lettuce and salad greens, sugar snap peas and heirloom cherry tomatoes. I avoid growing space hogs such as zucchini and corn, that are easily available elsewhere.” If home is an apartment or condo with limited space for gardening, Ogden says that there are plenty of excellent varieties that are ornamental as well as culinary and are easy to grow in pots. “Lettuce and salad greens, miniature eggplants, patio tomatoes and annual herbs such as basil, dill and cilantro are tops on my list for containers,” Ogden says. What’s the top food to grow for your table? Marshall, Barker, Van Krevelen and Ogden all recommend tomatoes. “Homegrown tomatoes add extraordinary life to summer pasta sauces with basil and olive oil,” Barker says. “There is just no comparison in flavor or texture between storebought and homegrown tomatoes. Growing a variety of sizes, colors
and flavors of tomatoes adds pizzazz to ordinary dishes.” Tomatoes find their way into Barker’s Mediterranean dishes, for which she also grows Fin de Bagnols (stringless green beans that are crisp, tender and full of flavor), carrots and greens such as chard, escarole, arugula and mesclun. “It’s wonderful to have a variety of greens available for quick stirfries and salads,” Barker says. “They are easy to grow and, because I can harvest them, I don’t have issues with spoilage.” Barker also grows her own garlic. “I like mild varieties, such as Inchelium Red. Garlic pairs well with tomatoes and basil in many pasta dishes,” she says. “As a cook and a gardener, all my recipes include fresh herbs, so I plant lots of sweet basil, along with the classic herbs used in French cooking,” Ogden says. “And I always grow about two dozen different types of lettuce, including cutting lettuce, mesclun and loose-leaf head lettuce because it is so
stunning and adds color to the garden, but also because I love to make salads at every meal.” Basil is also a favorite for Van Krevelen, who calls it, “A great partner for tomatoes, and almost any other dish. Fresh basil tastes completely different than dried. I add it to recipes at the last minute. The fragrance alone is worth it.” Van Krevelen also recommends growing peppers, both sweet and hot, which she says are “easy to grow and nutritious.” Marshall, who found his home buried under 22 inches of snow this past winter, grows produce that he can freeze as soups to keep him warm, including potatoes, leeks and herbs. But nothing is better than picking fresh food from your garden and cooking it up right away. “Fresh herbs get used for just about everything – in omelets, pizza, pie, soup, stew, breads and sauces,” Marshall says. “Being able to pick herbs fresh is priceless. I use a lot of leeks in everything – soups, pies and stews.”
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The Southern Illinoisan Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Page 5
SPRING LAWN & GARDEN
Contain yourself Sometimes the best vegetables come in small packages; here’s how to make the most of them. Findings from the National Gardening Association’s new survey, “The Impact of Home and Community Gardening in America,” indicate that food gardening in the United States is on the rise. Seven million more households planned to grow their own fruits, vegetables or herbs in 2009 than in 2008, constituting a 19-percent increase, according to the survey. The reasons range from increasing recognition that homegrown produce is often higher quality and therefore tastes better, to cost savings. On average, the survey reports, a wellmaintained food garden yields a $500 return, when considering a typical gardener’s investment and the market price of produce. But while expansive outdoor spaces, such as the White House lawn where Michelle Obama planted her organic plot, are ideal for growing edibles, many urban gardeners are limited to a
Page 6 Tuesday, March 23, 2010 The Southern Illinoisan
small deck, patio, rooftop or even just a sunny window inside an apartment. Not to worry. These situations are ripe for growing crops in containers. “A good container garden simply depends on the proper size pot, quality potting soil, plentiful sun and the care you give it,” says Renee Shepherd, owner of Renee’s Garden, a Felton, Calif.-based seed company that specializes in gourmet vegetables, kitchen herbs and cottage garden flowers. Follow these tips for getting started, and soon you’ll be harvesting the rewards.
What to grow Due to the potential for unwieldy height or size, certain container crops, such as corn and pumpkins, may not be worth the effort. But that said, virtually any plant that grows in the ground can also be grown in a pot. In fact, since soil in pots warms up more quickly in spring than it does in the
SPRING LAWN & GARDEN garden, you can often get a tomato or pepper off to a faster start. If you want an expert’s top picks, Shepherd’s Web site (www.reneesgarden.com) has a section dedicated specifically to seeds that are suitable for containers, including tomatoes, peppers, numerous varieties of greens (lettuces, spinach, chard, kale, mache, frisee), carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, radishes, beans, broccoli raab and herbs. “The herbs, such as basil, cilantro, chives and parsley, and greens like arugula make for the best kitchen garden and are an easy place to start,” Shepherd says. As for fruit, blueberries, strawberries and small melons often work well. And you can also grow some citrus trees, such as Meyer lemons, in large pots indoors, says Julie Chai, associate garden editor at Sunset magazine. Depending on space and access to light, you may even be able to pull off figs, avocados, pomegranates or cherries.
How to do it The first step is finding the right container. According to the gardening experts at Sunset, pots made of thick plastic or glazed terra-cotta retain moisture well, as do wooden tubs. In hot climates, choose light-colored pots and avoid small unglazed terra-cotta pots, as they dry out too quickly. Regardless, all containers must provide drainage, and you should try to use the biggest pots you have room for, Chai says. The larger the plant’s root system, the deeper and wider the container should be. But, in general, young herbs and lettuce can grow in pots at least 12 inches deep and wide; eggplant and peppers can grow in pots 14 inches deep and 16 inches wide; and larger crops like tomatoes do best in pots that are at least 18 inches deep and wide. “You can grow in pots smaller than what we recommend,” Chai
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Plants that are suitable for containers include tomatoes, peppers, numerous varieties of greens (lettuces, spinach, chard, kale, mache, frisee), carrots, cucumbers, eggplant, radishes, beans, broccoli raab and herbs.
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says, “but the plants won’t get as big or be as productive.” Always use a highquality planting mix. Ground soil is usually too heavy. It can compact around roots and not drain properly, Chai says. It can introduce weeds and soil-borne diseases such as fusarium wilt, nematodes and verticillium wilt. “If shopping for a bagged mix, price is often an indicator of quality,” Chai says. “You can also ask the nursery staff which one they prefer.” The experts at Sunset recommend acquiring a potting soil that contains peat moss and perlite, and then blending in a complete fertilizer – either a dry organic product, such as one containing alfalfa meal, bonemeal or kelp meal, or a controlled-release type that supplies nutrients over a three-to-six month period. Consider adding water-absorbing crystals, sold at nursery centers under many different names, including HydroSource or Soilmoist, to the mix before planting to help alleviate the wet-dry cycle. As the soil dries out, these small crystals, which absorb a hundred or more times their weight in water, supply moisture to the roots. This is especially important if you are growing plants indoors. Despite the classic image of the windowsill garden, most edible plants don’t grow very well inside due to the general dryness of the air and insufficient nutrients and sunlight, Shepherd says. If you
RENEE’S GARDEN SEEDS
Young herbs and lettuce can grow in pots at least 12 inches deep and wide, while larger crops like tomatoes do best in pots that are at least 18 inches deep and wide.
happen to live on the 50th floor with no deck, you can also give your edibles another “leaf up” by starting with seedlings.
How to keep them alive Most vegetables and fruit grown outdoors need full sun, Chai says, who recommends they get at least six-to-eight hours a day. (Greens and herbs can handle a bit less.) Keep the pots in a sunny spot, or place them on a platform or in a wheelbarrow so that you can move them around, Shepherd suggests. Inside, place your pots next to a window where they can get at least six hours of light each day, or you may have to invest in a few good, adjustable grow lights from a garden center or hardware store as the plants get taller.
You should also continue to fertilize every week or two with fish emulsion or dry organic fertilizer, whether outdoor or in. “All container plants rely solely on the gardener for all their needs,” Shepherd says. Confined to a limited space, they will quickly become stressed if essential nutrients aren’t provided regularly. It is critical to keep your produce properly hydrated, whether by hand or with drip irrigation operated by an automatic controller. The soil should be evenly moist but not soggy, Chai says. “The best way to check your soil is to feel it; if the top inch of soil is dry, it’s time to water.” If plants are indoors and you’re concerned about inadequate humidity, you can also spritz the leaves with water.
SPRING LAWN & GARDEN
Waste not
Once upon a time, composting seemed like a nightmarish task. Only the most committed gardeners were willing to devote yard space to a heap of decomposing matter, braving unknown insect larvae and knockout odors. But now, thanks to smaller, no-fuss kitchen composting machines, even novice planters can produce the nutrient-rich organic material. These hightech units create odor-free, sleekly contained compost in half the time – no pitchforks or plugged noses necessary. “We are all busy, we have jobs, kids and animals,” says Carrie Donovan, a public relations manager at NatureMill, a San Franciscobased kitchen composter manufacturer. “This is a nofuss composting system. Everything is just contained and all you do is every two weeks pull it out and you’ll have fresh compost for your backyard.” Since NatureMill began producing the small, underthe-counter units just over three years ago, Donovan says they have seen sales quadruple. “It pretty much takes care of itself,” she says. “You plug it in; everything is automatic. You don’t have to go back there and get yourself all smelly.” Measuring just 20-by-20-by12 inches, the NatureMill Plus XE fits under most kitchen cabinets, and can produce up to 120 pounds of organic waste per
month. The machine takes food scraps and heats them to between 140 F and 160 F, mixes them every four hours and keeps a constant air flow going in and out of the machine. Donovan says sometimes compost will be ready in as few as 12 hours. The Indoor Kitchen Composter, sold at Waltham, Mass.-based www.greenandmore.com, is even smaller, measuring 16-by10-by-10 inches. It uses a starter blend of wheat bran, molasses and micro-organisms to break down food waste, and like the NatureMill model, typically offers compost in two weeks. “People who normally compost outdoors during the warmer months like to have options for the cooler parts of the year,” says Matthew Keiter, a merchandising manager for the company. “Additionally, people who have never composted before find that our composter offers an easy way to learn the basics.” Barbara Pleasant, co-author of “The Complete Compost Gardening Guide” (Storey Publishing, 2008), has been composting for 15 years. She began composting food waste to save herself from messes. “I realized how much cleaner the garbage could be without all that drippy stuff,” she says. “And of course, a good gardener plants nothing without a little compost.” Mature compost can suppress
plant diseases and pests, reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers and promote higher yields of agricultural crops, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. “There’s even some evidence that tomatoes taste better,” Pleasant says. “Plants need small amounts of nutrients that are present in compost, so it’s like insurance against nutrient deficiencies.” Thanks to these smaller units, even rooftop and container gardeners can reap composting benefits. The machines, Donovan says, will compost pretty much anything. The most common items are fruit, vegetable and grain scraps – even some paper products and soft shellfish like shrimp. Although the EPA warns against composting meat or dairy, both Donovan and Keiter say their kitchen machines can break down those materials, kill off bacteria and prevent odors. “We put the worst of the worst in them to test for odors, and really, you just need to keep an even amount of green and brown items,” Donovan says. “Even err a little on the side of having a little too much brown material, because it’s going to soak up the liquid and keep the
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pH balance 100-percent correct.” Items to avoid composting include bones, hard pits (like avocados) or wine corks. For those looking to graduate to a backyard composting operation, Pleasant says just about anything goes. “It reaches this point, I call it ‘critical mass,’ where you could probably throw a shoe in and it would disappear,” she says. “By not putting your scraps down the disposal, you will save water and reduce the load put on your septic system or sewage plants,” Keiter says. According to Jean Schwab, a program analyst in the EPA’s Office of
Resource Conservation and Recovery, food waste makes up about 12 percent of everything that goes to a landfill. Combined with yard waste, it accounts for 25 percent of landfill waste. Ideally, Schwab says the EPA would like to see people composting both. For urbanites and composting novices, the kitchen composter makes positive headway toward that goal. “I think the reason most people are doing it is waste management,” Pleasant says. “And in the kitchen that’s a huge advantage; it really is. Compost should be a lowmaintenance thing.”
The Southern Illinoisan Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Page 9
SPRING LAWN & GARDEN
Destination:
your garden Connect on a new level in your backyard – martinis, conversation and yoga await. Maybe the recession is limiting people’s entertainment options. Maybe the ubiquity and fast pace of technology have families yearning to connect with the slower rhythms of nature. Whatever the reason, “People are using their outdoor space more than ever,” says Mike Hartman, garden lighting expert, Wernersville, Pa. And folks don’t necessarily see the patch of nature beyond their back doors as an escape from everyday life. In fact, judging by recent trends, the opposite seems to be true. People are creating special spaces in their yards and gardens in order to move part of their daily routines outside. Bolingbrook, Ill.-based landscape architect Bob Hursthouse calls these areas “destination gardens” and says their popularity is blooming. “Creating a space where you can take the inside out has been a big thing for us. The landscape has become an extension of the lifestyle,” Hursthouse says. That reality shapes his design philosophy. “It’s not about choosing daylily colors,” he says. Instead, he asks people how they like to spend their time. “Do you like to sit and read the newspaper for two hours? Anything you can do in the house you can do in the yard,” Hursthouse says. “Well, almost anything without getting arrested.” However, arresting people’s attention is the whole point of destination gardens – areas around the property designed for specific purposes or pastimes or simply for aesthetic appeal. A destination garden can be a statue at the edge of the yard that invites a closer look or a place where every detail promotes a particular activity. Examples from Hursthouse’s portfolio include reading gardens, conversation gardens, a martini garden and an enclosed yoga retreat area complete with a platform. “People are definitely spending more HURSTHOUSE, INC
Page 10 Tuesday, March 23, 2010 The Southern Illinoisan
time in their backyards and creating an environment that fits their lifestyle and reflects more of what they’re doing inside,” says Michael Schmechtig, landscape architect in Mundelein, Ill. In fact, Schmechtig Landscapes has begun working with an interior designer on certain projects to coordinate exterior and interior designs. “We bring colors, textures and styles from the inside to the outside,” he says. “It’s about connecting the interior design with the landscaping” and making a seamless transition from the indoors to the outdoors, since people have come to view yards as extensions of their homes. Hartman says he’s seen “dedicated areas” for specific uses, most often for entertaining. “We’re finding in general that (interest in) outdoor entertainment is very high, but we’re moving beyond grilling to full kitchens and outdoor bars,” says Hartman, owner of Escort Lighting, a catalog and Web-based business specializing in solid copper garden fixtures. “I’ve seen outdoor exercise areas and gaming areas. I’ve seen a number of people setting aside dedicated areas for bocce ball courts.” Outdoor kitchens outfitted with refrigerators, sinks and ovens are making the charcoal grill seem like a relic. “We were doing outdoor kitchens 20 years ago,” Schmechtig says, “but today’s are much more complicated, intricate and architectural.” In spirit as well as in style, outdoor kitchens “Match what’s indoors, so there’s ample counter space with seating so everyone can be part of the experience,” he adds. “And the granite countertops might even match what’s inside.” Although elaborate amenities are out of reach for many people, especially in a recession, “There are some people saying, ‘I’m going to be staying put in my
SPRING LAWN & GARDEN dedicated to helping people connect with nature and with one another. One conversation garden Hursthouse designed consists simply of two facing benches facing in an intimate, cloistered space within the larger landscape. A reading garden designed for a family with young children has as its centerpiece a “story stone,” a large, flat boulder where they sit and thumb through picture books. “It’s a memory maker,” he says. A martini garden has a chest for storing cushions that’s high enough to double as a buffet. However, it’s a place designed for kicking back with a cocktail, not creating a gourmet meal. Hursthouse often designs destination gardens that remind clients of places they’ve vacationed. For example, a family of skiers switches out their usual patio furniture in wintertime for themed décor, including Adirondack-style chairs with skis for slats and benches made out of snowboards. “This way,” Hursthouse says, “if they can’t actually be out doing the things they love, they can at least be reminded.”
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current home. I’m not going to be flipping it or trading up, so I’m going to put in the things I want,’” Hursthouse says. In addition, the popularity of landscape design shows also help fuel the “inside out” trend. “People see what’s possible. They see all these features and options and they come to us looking for those features,” Schmechtig says. “We’re putting chandeliers in pergolas.” Life stage also influences landscape design. Young families set aside grassy spots for trampolines and swing sets. Once the children are older, the adults take over the backyard and install outdoor bars, hot tubs and fireplaces. “Fire is big,” Schmechtig says. “Fire is a gathering point. People are looking to incorporate fireplaces, fire pits, fire tables. Some people are putting in pizza ovens.” For a sports fanatic, Hursthouse designed a pergola with a fireplace and a flat-screen TV so the client could comfortably watch football outdoors in the temperamental Midwest winters. But the majority of destination gardens are low-tech by design,
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The Southern Illinoisan Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Page 11
SPRING LAWN & GARDEN
Bright ideas for
modern landscapes
Upgrade the everyday to make a big splash on the lawn-and-garden scene. Flowers have always been the prom queen of the gardening world and grass the starting quarterback. But now there are plenty of gardening essentials up for their moment in the spotlight. When you run out to replace last season’s garden hose, consider these stylish upgrades for your lawn and garden.
Gas Grills
Accessories
Go sleek and modern with a stainless steel grill that boasts three zoned burners to offer a variety of temperature options. And, as this one by Eva Solo proves, they’re not so bad to look at, either.
Fireplaces
One part grandma’s garden, one part awesome, retro garden accessories are instant hits. Here, Blomus offers a shiny update of the timeless pinwheel.
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Fire pits are all the rage, but classic, prairie-style gas fireplaces add a touch of the bucolic to any backyard. Made with a non-rusting cast aluminum body, the one by Blue Rooster Co., comes with seven ceramic logs.
Rain barrels An eco-friendly centerpiece for any garden, rain barrels have become a backyard staple.
The 65-gallon rain saver, by Algreen Products, forgoes the usual garbage-can façade in favor of a ceramic that is as durable as plastic and will not crack in high heat.
Planters Planters add a whimsical, colorful touch to any outdoor space. This petite, 4-inch planter by Perch! is ideal for herbs, cacti or succulents.
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(618) 327-8898 When you rent from E-Z Rental, you’ll find the right tools and a knowledgeable staff to help get your projects done right and done safely.
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RENT: Roto Tillers Lawn Aerator Bobcats Trenchers Stump Grinders Power Post Hole Diggers Power Augers Power Grass Seeders Brush/Chippers Bucket Lifts Chain Saws and More!
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RAIN BARRELS For Rain Water Collection and Storage
Use for watering gardens, flower beds, trees and shrubs 50 gallon and 65 gallon rainsaver containers • Easy set up Visit us at www.plantscapenursery.com
Located off Rt. 13 • Next to Denny’s • Carbondale,
(618) 457-4127 Page 12 Tuesday, March 23, 2010 The Southern Illinoisan
NURSERY & LANDSCAPE SERVICE One mile west of Rt. 148 in Herrin on the Herrin-Colp Hwy.
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SPRING LAWN & GARDEN
Trendy stems Four fabulous flowers that hipsters will love.
It might be hard to believe, but flowers can be just as trendy as shoes and cars. If you’re planning your next garden or looking to make a killer arrangement that will up your indie cred, let this be your guide to the inner sanctum of hipness.
florist Barbara Bellamy, the owner of the uber-chic Ixia Flowers, Evanston, Ill. Bellamy adds that other flowers are available in this dark purple, including calla lilies and roses.
Eggplant tulips
The huge, leafy bloom of the old-fashioned hollyhock makes it a trendy staple in front yards or in arrangements. Don’t even think of removing the large leafy greens on the stems though – that’s a major part of the appeal. The blooms are also available in a wide range of hues, from purple to light orange.
Also called black tulips, the dark drama and subtle opulence of this flower is what gives it its hip appeal. Black flowers don’t exist, but this dark purple color is the closest you will get. “It’s a completely unexpected color in an arrangement,” says
Hollyhocks
Cymbidium orchid stems
Amaryllis
“I always love to use green cymbidium orchid stems,” Bellamy says. “They are so beautiful and striking on their own. You can even use them underwater in a vase. Plus, they last a long time.” She recommends green, but the orchids come in a variety of color gradients, like white or pink, for any arrangement or occasion. The unusual, nearly asymmetrical shape of the cymbidium bloom is an instant attention-grabber, making for a truly astounding arrangement.
Another large bloom, the amaryllis has a spectacular silhouette, with a long, narrow stem leading to the huge flower. “(Amaryllis) are striking in their size. They are really showy – you can get a lot of blooms out of one stem,” Bellamy says. They come in reds, corals or whites and are available from fall through spring.
The amaryllis has a spectacular silhouette. ISTOCKPHOTO
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www.dogwoodfireplaceandlawn.com Route 13 at Reed Station Road • Carbondale, IL • (618) 529-5888 The Southern Illinoisan Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Page 13
SPRING LAWN & GARDEN
Meet the gardener: Michael Mushak
Attitude adjustment On Michael Mushak’s Web site, there is a quote by Gertrude Jekyll that sums up his philosophy as a landscape designer: “The lesson I have thoroughly learnt and wish to pass on to others, is to know the enduring happiness that the love of a garden gives.” For the last three decades, Mushak has been doing exactly that. His firm, Tuliptree Site Design, Norwalk, Conn., has completed more than 800 projects for a variety of residential and
commercial clients. Known for creating distinctive gardens for New England’s rich and famous, Mushak’s work is featured regularly in the New York Times, Architectural Digest and Country Living. He embraces both traditional and modern design with an overarching commitment to sustainability and low maintenance. “I don’t have a favorite style,” he says. “It really depends on the client and the site. “I love minimal, Asian-
inspired gardens, but I also melt when I see a traditional English border with a riot of colors. We live in a multi-cultural society and my approach reflects that.” You’ve been a residential landscape designer for more than 30 years. How have gardens changed during that period? There’s been a big shift in attitudes. When I first got into this business, the overall look was very manicured and neatly clipped. Today, however,
many people want more naturalistic gardens with grasses and other native plants. What has stayed the same? There are plants that somehow survive all trends, such as boxwood, hydrangeas and lilacs. I call them “grandmother plants” because people have such strong emotional reactions to them. Just one whiff of a lilac makes many people think of their childhood or their grandmother or
A Connecticut residential landscape designer shares his love of trend-proof ‘grandmother plants’.
some other person in their lives. I like to use these plants for just that reason. It makes the garden a more emotional place. Is there anything people often ask for that you try to discourage? Acres of lawn. I have a lot of clients who are former city dwellers and they usually start out wanting to tame every square inch of their property. They see a natural woodland and ask if I can clean it up a little
bit. This usually means cutting most of the trees down and planting grass. I do my best to talk them out of this for both practical and aesthetic reasons. Lawns are very high maintenance. Also, my goal is to get people to appreciate natural landscapes. With a new garden, how much plant material do you figure will have to be replaced within a year? Not that much – certainly less than 10
Spring has sprung and it’s time to start those landscaping projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter. • • • • •
Landscape Design and Development Retaining Walls • Patios • Walkways Lighting • Water Features Sprinkler Systems • Plantings Plant & Bed Maintenance
Get started now! Call us at (618) 549-6165 View Our Design/Installation Portfolio at:
www.greenridgelandscaping.com
Page 14 Tuesday, March 23, 2010 The Southern Illinoisan
SPRING LAWN & GARDEN
Bringing Design and Beauty to Concrete
percent. There’s an old saying in the landscape business that you never put a $20 plant in a $5 hole. A lot depends on soil preparation and planting techniques. It’s like painting a house. If you do the right preparation, you will have a successful outcome. How difficult is something like a rose garden? My least favorite gardens are those devoted to a single plant or flower type. A rose garden in winter can be a pretty sad sight. That said, you can generally get pretty good results with some of the newer varieties – like Knock-Out – that are bred to be hardy and pest-resistant. My own feeling, though, is that roses look best in mixed borders surrounded by a variety of shrubs, annuals and perennials. What is your own garden like? I live in an old Victorian house in the city with a half-acre yard. I’ve turned part of it into a trial garden where I grow new and different plants to see how they work in landscape settings. But I also have a big wildflower meadow that – since we’re on the Eastern
Decorative Concrete Restoration Concrete Repair Interior/Exterior Basement Repair & Restoration Call for Appt. to see our Showcase Portfolio. Free Estimates. MICHAEL MUSHAK
Known for creating distinctive gardens for New England’s rich and famous, Michael Mushak’s work is featured regularly in The New York Times, Architectural Digest and Country Living.
flyway – is always full of interesting birds.
placed my first seed order when I was four years old.
Did you grow up in a house full of gardeners? Not really. My grandparents had a victory garden and that was about it. Still, I think I was a born gardener. I
What did you buy? My parents had a Burpee seed catalog and I asked them to order marigolds, zinnias and sunflowers. That was the beginning. And I still order all three today.
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SEE MODELS ON DISPLAY AT THESE FINE DEALERS IN A TOWN NEAR YOU! • Amish Crafted Furniture - Energy, IL • (618) 942-2910 • Bo’s Sales Center - Centralia, IL • (618) 780-5703 • Burkdell Mulch - Carbondale, IL • (618) 549-2211 • Country Mall - Worden, IL • (618) 633-2702 • Cowell’s Nursery - Red Bud, IL • (618) 282-8225 • Downtown Auto Sales - Harrisburg, IL • (618) 252-7717 • East Side Furniture - Salem, IL • (618) 548-2420
Page 16 Tuesday, March 23, 2010 The Southern Illinoisan
• Macks Auto Sales - Marion, IL • (618) 993-1818 • Master’s Touch • Pinckneyville, IL • (618) 528-5400 • Quality Times - Mt. Vernon, IL • (618) 244-0399 • Skelcher’s Concrete Products • Carbondale, IL • (618) 457-2930 • Showcase Furnishings - Mt. Vernon, IL • (618) 244-3333 • T N T Enterprises • Greenville, IL • (618) 664-4868 • Wright Do-It-Center • Murphysboro, IL • (618) 687-1702