Michigan Gardener - May 2022 by Michigan Gardener

May 2022

MichiganGardener.com

Your guide to Great Lakes gardening

Feature

How to build a butterfly garden

Perennials Garden phlox

Garden to Table

Roasted pepper crostini

How-To

Control aphids in your garden

New Plants

New annuals for 2022

Vegetable Patch Unusual vegetables

Please thank our advertisers in this issue

More new plants than you’ll see ANYWHERE! Every year, Telly’s brings you an incomparable selection of the latest and greatest plant varieties. We travel from coast to coast in search of the best new plants. Just a small sampling of what’s new this year...

Tomato ‘Chocolate Stripes’

Mahogany fruit (34") with olive-green stripes. Beautiful fruit but also delicious! Bears fruit over a long period (indeterminate). Matures about 79 days after planting. Hibiscus ‘Lilac Crush’ Perennial for full or part sun. Abundant, large (7-8"), lilac flowers from July to early September on round plants. Tolerant of moist soil. Height and width: 5-5.5'.

Alstroemeria ‘Indian Summer’ Perennial for full or part sun. Produces vibrant bicolored flowers all summer thru fall on long stems. Attractive bronze foliage. 24+" tall.

Delphinium ‘Delgenius’

Perennial for full or part sun. Strong stems on compact, well-branched plants supporting large double flowers all summer. Available in several colors. 24-30” tall.

Petchoa SuperCal Premium ‘Sunset Orange’ & ‘Yellow Sun’ Annual for full sun. One of several new Petchoas (Petunia/ Calibrachoa hybrid) with striking self-cleaning flowers on very vigorous plants. Height: 14-24". Space: 14-20".

Pepper ‘Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry’ Plants with variegated foliage produce small bell peppers initially striped green & white, then maturing to chocolate and cherry red striping. Fruit ripens 70-75 days after planting. Annual for sun or shade producing a profusion of red flowers on vigorous plants with a strong horizontal habit. Low maintenance, drought tolerant.

Petunia ‘Hippy Chick Violet’ & ‘Headliner Enchanted Sky’

Craspedia ‘Golf Beauty Improved’ Annual for full sun producing interesting yellow flowers all summer. Great cut and dried flower with outstanding heat tolerance. 14-18" tall.

Dahlia ‘Grandalia Pink Ice’ Annual for full sun. One of several new dahlia cultivars producing large bicolored flowers. Excellent cut flower. Best if deadheaded & fertilized. 14-18" tall.

Annual for full or part sun. Mind-blowing flower patterns on self-cleaning plants all summer and fall. Great in pots or beds. Explore our enormous selection of exceptionally unique petunia varieties. Begonia ‘Viking Explorer Red’

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Garvinea ‘Sweet’ Series Annual for full sun. NEW gerbera daisies bred to produce flowers in the garden ALL season! Excellent cut flower. Try the Patio series too for even larger flowers all summer.

YOUR GARDEN 35 New Varieties of Proven Winners Annuals for 2022

Caladium Hot 2 Trot

Coleus Colorblaze El Brighto

Geranium Boldly Coral

Lantana Luscious Citron

Supertunia Jazzberry

Photos courtesy of Proven Winners®

Supertunia Priscilla Improved

Verbena Superbena Imperial Blue

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Garden Wisdom

NEW & CHOICE varieties Fresh shipments arrive throughout the season. Stop in to see the latest gems!

Hellebores

Fothergillas

The hum of bees is the voice of the garden.

—Elizabeth Lawrence

Ask MG............................................................6 To-Do List........................................................8 Vegetable Patch..........................................10 Books for the Michigan Gardener........12 Where to pick up Michigan Gardener...................................... 14

Walters Gardens

New Annuals for 2022 ........................... 18 Perennials: Garden phlox ........................ 28 Advertiser Index........................................ 39 Through the Lens......................................40 Calendar......................................................... 41 Redbuds

Garden to table: Roasted Pepper Crostini.........................44 Walters Gardens

Classified Ads............................................. 45

Perennial Alliums

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

‘Shockwave’

Weather Wrap........................................... 45 Profile: Borrowed landscapes between friends.........................................46 us Calycanth

Places to Grow............................................52 How to: Control aphids in your garden.............................................54 How to: Make a Butterfly Garden - Part 1..........Back cover

Bleeding Hearts

On the cover: Hellebores are a harbinger of spring in Michigan.

www.PerennialResource.com

Garden Girls ‘Glamour Girl’ Perennials: Garden phlox ��28

Photo: Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

Viburnums

Dogwo ods

Landscape Design & Installation Our family has been designing and installing landscapes for over 90 years. Call us—we can bring your landscape to life! Vegetables • Fruit Trees • Annuals • Tropicals • Indoor Plants Perennials • Trees & Shrubs • Home Décor & Garden Ornaments Knowledgeable staff • Organic gardening supplies • Delivery service Proudly serving Metropolitan Detroit since 1931

20815 Farmington Rd. (1 blk N of 8 Mile) Farmington Hills / 248-474-2925 May hours: Please call

Publisher/Editor Eric Hofley Design & Production Jonathon Hofley Advertising Eric Hofley Circulation Jonathon Hofley Editorial Assistant Anna Doman

Contributors Brian Allnutt Neil/Ruth Atzinger John Blair Karen Bovio Cheryl English Emaline Fronckowiak Mary Gerstenberger Julia Hofley Rosann Kovalcik Beverly Moss George Papadelis Roxanne Riggs David L. Roberts Jim Slezinski Lisa Steinkopf Stephanie Surowiec Steve Turner Emily Wilson

30747 Greenfield Rd., Suite 1 Southfield, MI 48076 Phone: 248-594-5563 Fax: 248-594-5564 E-mail: publisher@MichiganGardener.com Website: www.MichiganGardener.com @michigangardener

@michgardener

Publishing schedule 3 issues per year: April, May, and June. Published the first week of the month. Back issues Back issues are available to read for free on our website. Go to www.MichiganGardener.com and click on “Digital Edition.” Copyright © 2022 Michigan Gardener. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or used in any form without the expressed, written permission of the publisher. Neither the advertiser nor the publisher will be responsible for misinformation, typographical errors, omissions, etc. contained herein. Michigan Gardener is published by Motor City Publishing, Inc.

Proven Winners Proven Winners

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Pottery, Fountains, Statuary

Perennials - For sun & shade

Statuary • Fountains Wind chimes • Mobiles Memorial stones Bird baths • Bird feeders Plant stands • Garden flags Kinetic yard art Ceramic & plastic planters

Proven Winners

Garden Décor

Shrubs - Flowering & Evergreen

Piechnik’s Garden Center & Nursery 1095 N. Rochester Rd, Oakland, MI 48363 • 586-336-7200 www.piechniks.com • May hours: Mon-Sat 9-7 Sun 10-6 Also visit our Clio location: Piechnik’s Greenhouse • 810-686-9211

Trees - Shade & Ornamental

Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

Alternatives to sweet potato vine I love the foliage on sweet potato vines, but when I plant them in containers, they are so vigorous that they overwhelm the other plants. Any ideas on controlling this plant or better ways to use it in containers? K.G. Indeed, sweet potato vine (Ipomoea) can be a container thug, both in their roots and their vining habit. It’s possible to keep it in a separate pot buried in your display container to control the root tuber expansion. But if you regularly fertilize your container for continuous bloom, the ipomoea can push out from its pot and cause more problems than it’s worth. If you are looking for that chartreuse color, consider golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’). It holds up well in full sun, is easier to control since it only has surface roots, and is not susceptible to deer browse. Also consider trailing succulents. Donkey’s tail sedum is a strong grower, and two senecios (string of pearls and string of dolphins) will give a different look. These may need deer browse protection. Also shop the houseplant and tropical sections at your favorite garden center. There are many plant options with different colors, textures, and light needs available with the increased interest in indoor gardens. These can make great summer container plants as well. Try some alternative annuals too. ‘Silver Falls’ dichondra has lovely silver, penny-sized foliage on long trailing strings. It will take the heat with regular watering. There are variegated English and Swedish ivies that add texture as well as that draping effect. Another silver foliage plant is licorice plant (Helichrysum). It loves sun and good drainage and has a fuller body appearance while blending well with the other colors and plants in your container.

Planting a white pine At the end of our cul-de-sac in the Muskegon area is a 20-foot diameter circle in which I’d like to plant an eastern white pine. The spot is in the open, and the soil is sandy. Is this a good tree choice? Any special care considerations? W.S., Whitehall Eastern white pines (Pinus strobus) prefer well-drained, acidic, sandy soil. They do not do well in heavy, compacted clay. The space you describe sounds like it has full sun, giving the tree a well-rounded exposure. So, planting our state tree in that spot is a great idea. Most trees are sensitive to salt. If your road gets salted in winter, put a salt shield around it for that time. The only negative to sandy soil is that it can drain too quickly. The best way to prevent that is to amend the planting area with compost, which helps slow moisture loss, allowing nutrients to be absorbed. Make sure weeds and other invasive plant materials are

removed from the area. Whether the tree is balled and burlapped or in a container, remove the enclosure and plant the tree to a depth that keeps the root flare (which is where the trunk meets the roots) at ground level. Never plant the root flare below the surface. Spread out the roots, looking for any roots that are curled back toward the trunk; straighten or cut them out. Make the planting hole broader rather than deeper. The tree roots should have room to spread out into the surrounding soil away from the trunk. Stabilize the tree for the first year with either a three-point stake system or a single stake, depending on the trunk caliper. If a trunk is 2 to 3 inches in diameter, a threepoint stake system will provide more even tension. If the trunk is only 1 to 1-1/2 inches in diameter, a stake closer to the trunk is better. Place the single stake 2 to 3 inches from the trunk, and use a figure-eight wrap around the trunk with soft garden webbing. Tie to create a gentle tension. Keep it watered consistently—especially during the first year—to establish a healthy root system.

owners do not augment natural rainfall during drought periods. Although arborvitaes like well-drained soil, they also like moist soil. Many homeowners rely on their irrigation systems to supply that extra water, which is often insufficient. Unfortunately, homeowners are also at the mercy of the irrigation winterization schedule. Trees and shrubs need water as late as mid-November. They are storing that extra water for when they cannot replenish. The result of being starved in fall and winter is dead needles and branches the following spring. The same holds true for new plantings. Arborvitaes need regular watering when

planted. Relying on irrigation systems set for lawns, or nature’s capricious downpours, is not sufficient when the new plant is trying to establish in the ground. Another problem is winter wind burn. Again, plants going into winter without enough stored water are more susceptible to this type of desiccation. If your plants are in a windy location, consider a fabric wind shield to protect them. Although burlap is often used, it can get tattered and look unpleasant. There are professional grade green fabrics precisely made for this purpose. They hold up better and look far more natural in the landscape.

COMPOST

Causes for arborvitae decline How can I figure out what is killing my arborvitaes? A., Chesterfield Twp. There are some basic detective questions to ask yourself. Arborvitae (Thuja), especially the widely used ‘Emerald Green’ variety, are at the top of the list for deer browsing. Deer can prune them back to the trunk as far up as they can reach and create some very interesting “topiaries” for your yard. They eat the green and leave mostly brown twigs, giving the presence of a dead tree. If more than 50 percent of the tree is missing, chances are slim it will recover. A variety of arborvitae deer seem to leave alone is ‘Green Giant.’ A pest that can appear on arborvitaes is bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis). The female larvae of the moth produces spindleshaped cocoons covered with bits of brown needles, making them look very much like “pine cones,” up to two inches long. The female never leaves her “bag” and takes it with her as she eats, slowly defoliating the tree. Since arborvitaes do not produce any coneshaped fruit, examining your trees will quickly tell you if the plants have bagworms. If they do and their presence is minor, handpicking them from the trees is best. Otherwise contact an arborist who can treat them with appropriate pesticides. Desiccation is one important cause of winter damage to arborvitae. The shrubs dry out when the needles lose water faster than they can take it up. Arborvitae needles transpire moisture even in winter. When the ground is frozen, the shrubs cannot replace lost water. This lack of water can happen when home-

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Have a question? Send it in! Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Submit a question”

Growing creeping thyme I’d like to start creeping thyme groundcover in a small area (40 square feet). Is a seed mat more economical than planting plugs? Best time to plant and growing tips? J.M., Chelsea Forty square feet is a doable space for a first attempt. Thyme seed mats are very economical. Most mats are made of recycled paper, which acts as a weed suppressant while the seeds germinate and get rooted. You can purchase enough square footage and cut to fit. The mats must be kept consistently moist. They biodegrade as the plants mature.

Plugs are another option, but they get more expensive, assuming you will need a tray of 100 or so plugs. Each must be individually planted, but they already have roots and only need to get established, giving an instant effect. However, beware of methods that appear too easy and inexpensive. You can sacrifice quality. To facilitate watering and maintenance, place small stepping stones strategically in the space before planting. Thyme can take intermittent foot traffic, but not regular trampling. Hence, the stepping stones. Also add a couple small cobble rock cairns for visual interest and

for the groundcover to grow around. One of the downfalls of an all-thyme groundcover is that you will get dead patches. Too dry, too wet, and the thyme gets leggy and dies. Rather than create a monoculture with intrinsic problems, look at creating a colorful mixed groundcover garden. Intermix other accent groundcovers with the thyme such as fringed sagewort (Artemesia frigida), creeping penstemon (Penstemon caespitosus), and any of the creeping sedums. These are all drought-tolerant xeriscaping plants with low profiles. They like full sun and need little watering once established.

Making sure your space has good drainage is imperative for its overall success. Prepare your soil with a mixture of compost and fine gravel worked into the planting bed. This will help with nutrients and drainage. Avoid products with concrete dust. Set your maintenance path and accent rocks before laying out your planting diagram. Put thought and effort into the preparation of the soil, and whatever you choose to plant—seed mat or plugs—will have a far better survival rate. Answers provided by Beverly Moss, owner of Garden Rhythms.

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Feature Task: Plant annuals in the garden Whether you’d like to create a spectacular and ever-changing annual border, attract pollinators, or lighten up a shady corner, annuals are an excellent way to infuse accents and color into your landscape. Plant and color selection. Choose the right plant for the right location. A full-sun annual needs 6 to 8 hours of sun per day. There are lots of great sun options like petunias, marigolds, and angelonias. For shaded areas, begonias, impatiens, torenias, and fuchsias work well. Many annuals offer a wide range of colors for each type. Impatiens, calibrachoa, petunia, and coleus offer almost the full color palette. With so many options, you can create precisely the color display you desire. What to plant where. When planted in mass, annuals provide a brilliant show. Masses are great for entrance beds, around mailboxes or trees, and even the front border of perennial gardens or foundation plants. Consider begonias, impatiens, geraniums, portulaca, petunias, marigolds, ageratum, and other low-growing varieties. Proper spacing is the key to an effective display. Check the plant tag to determine the recommended spacing for each plant. If you want to cover the ground quicker, plant a few more than recommended, slightly closer together. This will also help keep weeds down. Annuals can also provide continuous color while perennial varieties go in and out of flower. Just a few well-placed annuals can keep a garden bed looking fabulous all season. Consider spacing when planting annuals into perennial gardens—provide ample room for your perennials to grow. Many annuals might be planted early in the season before perennials have reached their full mature size. Groups of at least 3 to 5 plants will give your garden impact, rather than planting just one. Think about the annual’s mature height when selecting its location. Lower-growing varieties like ageratum, alyssum, coleus, geranium, petunias, salvia, and vinca are suitable for borders. Plant tall varieties like sunflowers in the back of the garden. Tall, spiky flowers like gomphrena and verbena will provide unique interest as they wind through other plants. Even viny options like morning glory, sweet potato vine, and thunbergia can be incorporated into your beds if they have a support on which to climb. Pollinator-attracting varieties. To attract hummingbirds and butterflies to flit about the garden, roll out the welcome mat with alyssum, cuphea, calibrachoa, cosmos, gomphrena, lantana, petunia, salvia, sun-

flower, and zinnia. Tubular flowers attract hummingbirds, while flatter flowers with a landing area attract butterflies. Planting. Soil is the key to a great garden. Prepare your garden beds properly by tilling or spading the soil approximately six inches deep. Mix in a slow-release fertilizer and soil amendments as needed. In sandy soil, use sphagnum peat moss to help retain moisture. In clay soil, use soil conditioner to help break up the clay. To both soil types, add compost—annuals perform best with a rich and organic soil that is loose and well drained. Plant your annuals at the same level they are growing in the pot. Squeeze the sides of the container and gently wiggle the plant free. Tease the roots gently before placing it in the hole you’ve prepared. Push soil into the hole and around the plant. Gently but firmly compact the soil around the plant, leaving the base of the plant exposed. Watering and fertilizing. As the plants get established, check their water needs daily. Water when the soil is dry about 1-1/2 inches below the surface. In periods of low rainfall, supplemental watering may be necessary. A good rule of thumb is an inch of water a week, whether it’s a sprinkler system, drip irrigation or with a hose. The main reasons plants fail to thrive can be traced to improper watering and fertilizing. Use the 1-2-3 method to feed your plants throughout the season: 1. Use a starter fertilizer when planting. It will give your plants a jump-start and help increase root growth to get them established faster. 2. Also mix a time-release fertilizer into the soil when planting. This will release slowly over the next few months, making sure your plants get added nutrients when they need it. 3. Flowering plants need a higher level of phosphorous to encourage good blooms. Use a water-soluble fertilizer with a high middle number (phosphorous) every 10 to 14 days on garden beds and every 7 days on hanging baskets and containers. This is especially important if we get a lot of rain, which can wash nutrients from the soil. Weeding. Remove weeds regularly, as they compete with plants for water and nutrients. Annual beds should not be mulched; this tends to restrict their growth. Space plants close enough together to keep weeds from taking hold. If you see more soil than plants, fill it in with more plants. Plant annuals throughout your garden beds, give them a little care, and you will be rewarded with tons of blooms all season long!

Bulbs: Summer-Flowering

Herbs

• Plant gladiolus corms at 10- to 14-day intervals for continuous summer bloom. • Plant elephant ear bulbs once the danger of frost has passed. Large, softball-size bulbs produce gorgeous plants with huge heartshaped leaves up to 2 feet across and 3 feet long. It’s a great thriller in a large container or a showstopper in the garden.

• Plant annual and perennial herbs. Perennial herbs like oregano, thyme and mint can be planted any time. Wait until the danger of frost has passed to plant tender annual herbs like basil, dill and parsley. Herbs can be mixed among ornamentals, added to the vegetable garden, or planted in containers. Harvest them regularly throughout the growing season, and use them to freshen up meals. They’ll keep growing.

Fruits • Many disease problems with fruit can be prevented, but only rarely can the problems be fixed after the trees are infected. Proper timing of the sprays is very important. DO NOT spray when the trees are in bloom— that might kill the pollinators. Resume spraying after all the petals have dropped. • Mulch strawberry plants with straw to protect developing fruit.

Roses • Finish removing soil from mounded rose shrubs. Apply a summer mulch, but keep it away from the crowns. • Always prune branches so that new growth is heading toward the outside of the plant. To get good air circulation, prune the inside of the plant so that it’s very bare.

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Lawn • In late May, do a second spring fertilization. If you haven’t aerated the lawn yet, do the fertilizing after using the core aerator. This way, fertilizer will fall into the holes and reach the roots quickly. • If you are just bringing the mower out of storage, sharpen the blades and set them for a 2-1/2- to 3-inch cut.

Vegetables • Through mid May, sow leaf lettuce, head lettuce, peas, endive, parsnips, and mesclun mix. Plant afterwards: okra, sweet corn, sweet potato, and squash. Continue the periodic sowing of kohlrabi, beet, chard, and carrots. • Water the vegetable garden consistently during the growing season. Most vegetables are comprised of water, so consistent levels will increase production. Too much water

nitrogen fertilizer to reduce lush green leaf growth. Root prune the plant by driving a shovel into the ground about 18 to 24 inches from the plant’s base and forming a complete circle in this manner.

creates its own set of problems, so be careful not to drown plants.

Perennials • Replenish the mulch layer so that it is 2 to 3 inches thick. Be careful not to bury the plant crowns, and keep the mulch away from plant stems. • Give mums and asters a hard pinching or shearing in late May to promote fuller plants.

Vines • Vines are an underutilized group of plants that are extremely versatile. Plant a vine to hide an air-conditioning unit with a properly placed trellis, add privacy to a chain link fence, or add flowers to a plain green hedge. There are newer varieties of clematis, fragrant roses, and even shade-tolerant vines available. • If your wisteria is not blooming, use a low

pottery

growth will typically not grow into an area with dead branches. • Do not prune oaks from at least April through July to help prevent the spread of deadly oak wilt.

Seeds

Soil

• Generally, it’s safe to sow your seeds for warm-season crops directly into the soil after May 15. You should also be able to plant seedlings. Watch them carefully to make sure they’re getting the proper amount of water and fertilizer. If there’s a late frost, keep a floating row cover available to protect them. It also helps keep scavengers away until they are fully established.

• Create a healthy home for plants to thrive. Test and amend your soil as recommended. The ideal soil is rich and loamy, and has been amended with organic materials. For sandy soil, add compost to give it more texture and water-holding properties. To break up clay soil, add pine bark fines. Adding compost or other organic materials every year to soil helps maintain those healthy properties.

Shrubs & Trees

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• Dead twigs and branches can be pruned any time. Do it as soon as you notice. New

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Unusual vegetables

here are two types of “unusual” vegetables to consider. There’s the “I’ve never grown it before, haven’t seen it in many home gardens, and it might be fun to try,” and the “I’ve grown the normal variety of that vegetable, but here’s a variety that’s really different.” Let me give you some examples of both. First, the “I haven’t grown it before.” Celeriac is one possibility. From the same family as celery, celeriac (aka root celery or knob celery) is grown for its bulbous, celery-flavored root. It can be eaten raw or cooked, and is easier to grow than stalk celery. It is grown as an annual and needs to be started early indoors for transplant later. For more info, check out tinyurl.com/5n868pvy. A second possibility is Jerusalem artichoke. A member of the sunflower family, it is grown for its tubers. The plant can be 6 to 8 or even 10 feet tall, with lovely yellow flowers. It is easy to grow, but can be invasive, which is why I have previously hesitated to plant it. However, the tubers are highly nutritious with a slightly nutty, sort of water chestnut flavor. They can be used like potatoes and

carrots? Try ‘Oxheart,’ an heirloom that only grows 5 to 6 inches in length, but can weigh over a pound. Then there are purple carrots with eaten raw as well as cooked. For orange interiors and some that remore information, visit tinyurl. main purple all the way to the core. com/5y96a5mt. There are bright red carrots and Next, what is easier to try and vibrant yellow carrots. Some seed possibly even more fun, is the “I’ve packets sell a rainbow collection so Mary grown the normal variety, let’s try you can grow a variety of all those Gerstenberger an unusual one” of that same veggie. colors. Think how lovely a mixture It’s easier because if you’ve already of those could look on a dinner plate! grown a particular vegetable, you will probWhat about cucumbers? There are sevably have more success in growing a different eral varieties of lemon cucumbers available variety of that vegetable than you might have through different catalogs. These are small, with something you have never grown before. yellow cucumbers with a hint of citrus flavor— It’s more fun based on some of the names, colthey are good for both eating and pickling. Or ors and sizes of the varieties available. how about orange or purple cauliflower? For instance, many of us have grown green The heads do not need to be tied for blanching beans. They’re easy to grow and are, well, as most of the white cauliflowers do. green. Think how much more exciting it Related to both cauliflower and broccoli is would be to grow ‘Rattlesnake’ beans. They a unique-looking plant known as romanesco are green but have purple streaking that fades (aka Roman cauliflower or romanesco brocwhen cooked. Or maybe a yellow wax bean coli). The bright green head is spiked and spicalled ‘Dragon’s Tongue.’ An heirloom vegraled in bizarre fashion, has a slightly differetable, it is a light-yellow cream color mottled ent flavor than either cauliflower or broccoli, with purple, which also fades when cooked. and can be eaten raw or cooked. We often buy There are also several varieties of purple green them at the farmers market and my young beans that turn green when cooked. Children grandchildren refer to them as the Christmas and adults alike can enjoy the “magic” of beans tree plant because of their looks. What can be that change color! more fun than eating little Christmas trees? Not into growing beans? Then how about Kale is getting very popular, but have you

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tried dinosaur kale? Also referred to as lacinato kale or Tuscan kale, dinosaur kale has large, bumpy leaves that some say resembles dinosaur skin. How about a white eggplant, a burgundycolored lettuce, a potato that’s purple all the way through, a white pumpkin, a radish that’s white outside and red inside, or even a watermelon with yellow flesh? As you plan your garden, remember that the variety of color in our vegetables, including those unusual ones, also offers a broader nutritional value as well. Those colors provide vitamins, antioxidants, and a host of other nutrients that help our bodies stay healthy. Check your local garden centers for what they may have available, but you will probably find the widest variety in garden catalogs. Growing the unusual is fun and healthy, and makes some great conversation pieces. I plan to get a little more creative with my garden vegetables this year; I hope you do too. Mary Gerstenberger was the Consumer Horticulture Coordinator at the Michigan State University Extension in Macomb County, MI. For vegetable and gardening information from MSU, visit www.migarden.msu.edu. Call the toll-free Michigan State University Lawn and Garden Hotline at 888-678-3464 for answers to your gardening questions.

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With an N-P-K of 15-0-7, Grass Magic contains primarily organic materials with a small addition of urea to allow for a quick green-up in the spring. Unlike most lawn fertilizers, it also contains kelp, seaweed, and beneficial soil microbes to help grass plants better absorb the nutrients. Grass Magic lasts for 12 to 16 weeks, so its nutrients continue to be effective for much PHOSPHORUS-FREE longer than water soluble fertilizers, which release their nutrients in a brief spurt after water is applied. This often causes stress to the grass by forcing growth at the expense of root development and plant vigor. In addition, the insoluble nature of Grass Magic is far less susceptible to leaching and run-off than soluble fertilizers.

• • • •

Composted leaves Humic acid Kelp Slow-release natural fertilizer • Necessary Micronutrients and Amino acids • 23 species of Beneficial Microbes • 8 species of Endo & Ecto Mycorrhiza

EASY TO USE!

Mix 1 part ORGANIMAX with 3 parts soil

“MY LAWN FERTILIZER OF CHOICE IS GRASS MAGIC.” —Nancy Szerlag, Detroit News Garden Writer

Ask for Assure Transplant Success, Organimax, and Grass Magic at your local independent garden center • www.assurefertilize.com

Auburn Oaks GARDEN CENTER

High quality plants & service for your garden success since 1964

Hanging Baskets • Porch Pots Specialty Annuals Bedding Plants

Annuals

Sun/Shade A to Z 36ct. Flats

Vegetable & Herb plants

Geraniums

Many varieties & colors

Patio & Deck Pots INSTANT COLOR!

• Heirloom Varieties • Seed Potatoes • 3 Greenhouses to choose from • Livingston County’s largest selection of vegetable & herb plants!

Yard Décor Gazing Globes Stepping Stones Much, much more!

(begonias, ageratums, petunias, marigolds & more!)

Shrubs & Perennials

Wide selection of Michigan-grown plants 3820 W. Auburn Rd. (2 blks E. of Adams Rd.) • Rochester Hills • 248-852-2310 May hours: Mon-Fri 8-7, Sat 8-6, Sun 9-5 • www.auburnoaksnursery.com

Hanging Baskets

• We grow over 10,000 Sun/Shade hanging baskets

Accent Plants

• Bacopa, potato vines & many Proven Winners

Wednesdays are Senior Day ALL YEAR LONG: 15% OFF Live Plants!

Perennials Bud & Bloom Groundcovers

Full-Service Florist Custom Floral Designs

8087 Grand River • Brighton Since 1954 • Family owned & operated • Open 8am everyday

www.MeierFlowerLand.com We are Greenhouse: 810-229-9430 worth Florist: 810-220-4848 the drive!

Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Great Vegetables

Treepedia: A Brief Compendium of Arboreal Lore

Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden: A Natural Approach to Pest Control

by Lorene Edwards Forkner

by Joan Maloof

by Jessica Walliser

The Beginner’s Guide to Growing Great Vegetables (Timber Press, 224 pages, $19.95) provides the advice you need to create a thriving veggie patch. You will learn facts about soil and sun, tips on fertilizing, mulching, and watering. Regional planting charts show what to plant when, and a month-bymonth planner takes you from January through December. Profiles of popular edibles explain exactly how to plant, care for, and harvest your bounty. Monthly chores and checklists enable you to care for your crop, also aided by easy-to-grow variety recommendations. Whether your garden grows in the ground, on a balcony, or in containers on a sunny patio, this book demonstrates that you can grow beautiful, healthy, and delicious veggies and herbs right from the start.

An entertaining and factfilled collection of tree lore, Treepedia (Princeton University Press, 144 pages, $16.95) contains nearly 100 entries on topics from tree ecology and conservation to the role of trees in religion, literature, art, and movies. The author explains the difference between a cedar and a cypress, profiles legendary conservationists, and reveals where to find the most remarkable trees on the planet. She tells the story behind the venerable Bodhi Tree and describes peculiar species like baobabs and fitzroya. With enchanting illustrations, this informative book will inspire anyone who has ever enjoyed a walk in the woods. In true tree-lover fashion, it is printed on 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper. Its portable size makes it a great travel companion.

This revised and updated edition of the award-winning book Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden (Cool Springs Press, 208 pages, $27.99) offers a sciencebacked plan for bringing balance back to the garden. Filled with new research, insights, and voices, the book will help you create a healthy and diverse garden capable of supporting beneficial, pest-eating insects and eliminate the need for synthetic chemical pesticides. After a fascinating introduction to the predator and prey cycle and its importance to both wild ecosystems and home gardens, you’ll meet dozens of pest-munching beneficial insects that feast on garden pests. With a hearty population of beneficial insects present in your garden, you can control common garden pests like aphids, cabbage worms, bean beetles, leafhoppers, and hornworms—without reaching for a spray can. To encourage these good guys to stick around and do their important work, you will learn how to create a welcoming habitat and fill your garden with the best plants to support them.

Serving Metro Detroit For Over 50 Years! 16720 E 13 Mile Rd • Roseville, MI 48066

Landscaping Supply

The Region’s Most Knowledgeable Pond Department

586-778-1919 www.DalesLandscaping.com • Mon-Fri 8-6

Sat 8-4

Garden Art & Décor Sculptures • Found Artifacts Accent Boulders • Hand Carved Stone Fountains • Japanese Lanterns

Pond Supplies & Expert Service Pond & Fountain Openings Maintenance & Upgrades • Filters, pumps & liners Emergency Service • Water Plants & Koi

We welcome you to visit and stroll our gardens.

2629 Orchard Lake Rd • Sylvan Lake aguafina.com • Mon-Fri 9-5 Sat 9:30-4:30

Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

Look for Allen Park • Ace Hardware Almont H American Tree • Blake’s Almont Garden Ctr • Brohl’s Flower Garden Ann Arbor H Abbott’s Landscp Nurs • Ace Barnes Hardware (Washtenaw Ave) • Ace Barnes Hardware (West Stadium) • Dixboro General Store H Downtown Home & Gard H HillTop Greenhse & Farms H Lodi Farms • Matthaei Botanical Gard H Produce Station • Turner’s Greenhse/ Gard Ctr • Weingartz • Wild Birds Unltd Armada • Pond Guy Auburn H Warmbier Farms Auburn Hills • Ace Hardware • Haley Stone H State Crushing Bay City H Begick Nurs & Gard Ctr

at these fine locations: Belleville H Banotai Greenhse • Gardeners Choice H Pinter Flowerland H Zywicki Greenhse Berkley • Durst Lumber & Ace Hardware • Garden Central Beverly Hills • Ace Hardware Birmingham H Blossoms Bloomfield Hills H Fleurdetroit Brighton • Ace Hardware • Brighton Stone & Fireplace H Grasshopper Gardens • Great Deal Landscp Prod • Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland Brownstown Twp • Raupp Bros Landscp H Ruhlig Farms & Gard Bruce Twp H Van’s Valley Greenhse Burton H Country Oaks Landscp Supp Canton • Canton Floral Gardens • Schmidt’s Roadside • Wild Birds Unltd Chelsea • Ace Hardware H Garden Mill • Potting Shed

Chesterfield H Van Thomme’s Greenhses Clarkston • Ace Hardware (Dixie Hwy) • Ace Hardware (Sashabaw) H Country Oaks Landscp Supp • Gateway • Lowrie’s Landscp • Weingartz Clawson • Ace Hardware H Billings Lawn Equip Clinton Twp H English Gardens • Michigan Koi • MSU ExtensionMacomb Cty • Tropical Treasures Clio H Piechnik’s Greenhse Commerce Twp H Zoner’s Greenhse Davison H Wojo’s Gdn Splendors Dearborn • Ace Hardware • Fairlane Gard Dearborn Hts H English Gardens Detroit • Ace Hardware • Detroit Gard Ctr Dexter H Dexter Mill • Earth Art H Fraleigh’s Nurs

Eastpointe • DeRonne True Value Hardware • Drew’s Garden H English Gardens Farmington • Alexander True Value Hardware Farmington Hills • Ace Hardware H Steinkopf Nurs • Weingartz Fenton H Gerych’s Greenhse H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm Ferndale • Living Modes • Olive’s Bloombox Flushing H Flushing Lawn & Gard Ctr Fowlerville • Green-Up Gard Ctr Gladwin H Stone Cottage Gardens Grand Blanc H Weed Lady Grass Lake H Designs by Judy Grosse Ile • Grosse Ile Pet & Gard Ctr H Westcroft Gard & Farm

Grosse Pointe • Allemon’s Landscp Ctr • Otherworld GP Grosse Pointe Shores • Edsel & Eleanor Ford House Grosse Pointe Woods • Wild Birds Unltd Hadley • Le Fleur Décor Haslett H Van Atta’s Greenhse Highland • Ace Hardware • Colasanti’s Produce & Plants • Five Star Ace Hardware • Fragments • Rock Bottom Stone Supp • Thornton Nurs Howell • Penrose Nurs H Superior Landscp Supp • Wilczewski Greenhses Kalamazoo H Wedel’s Garden Ctr Keego Harbor • Creative Brick Paving Lake Orion • Ace Hardware • Fogler’s Greenhse H Lake Orion Lawn Ornaments H Orion Stone Depot

Livonia • Ace Hardware (5 Mi/Middlebelt) • Ace Hardware (6 Mi/Newburgh) • Bushel Mart • George’s Livonia Gard • GrowGeneration • Weingartz Macomb • Altermatt Farms H Brohl’s Greenhouse H Elya’s Village Gard • Joe Randazzo’s Nurs • Landscape Source • Olejnik Farms • Wild Birds Unltd Midland • Dow Gardens Milan • KC Runciman Milford • Ace Hardware • Peter’s True Value Hdwe • Pond Place Monroe • Flower Market New Baltimore H Meldrum Bros Nurs New Boston H Bush & Son Landscp Supp H Grass Roots Pond & Gard • Mums the Word New Hudson • Fletcher & Rickard Landscp Supp North Branch H Campbell’s Greenhses H Oldani Landscp Nurs Northville • Begonia Bros • Gardenviews at Home

Novi • Ace Hardware • Glenda’s Gard Ctr • Tollgate Education Ctr - MSU • Wild Birds Unltd Oak Park • Ace Hardware Oakland H Piechnik’s Gard Ctr Ortonville • Bedrock Express H Wojo’s Greenhse Owosso H Everlastings in the Wildwood Oxford • Ace Hardware • Dafoe’s Feed & Seed Pinckney H Bock's Big Acre Plymouth H English Gardens Plymouth Nurs • Graye’s Greenhse H Rock Shoppe • Sideways • Sparr’s Greenhse Pontiac • Goldner Walsh Gard/ Home • MSU ExtensionOakland Cty Ray • Heritage Oaks Redford H Pinter Flowerland Rochester • Allstate Home Leisure • Fogler’s Greenhse • Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr

Rochester Hills • Ace Hardware H Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr • Haley Stone • Wild Birds Unltd Romeo • Cold Frame Farm Romulus • Kurtzhal’s Farms • Rush Gard Ctr • Schwartz’s Greenhse Roseville H Dale’s Landscp Supp • Flower Barn Nurs Sea World Royal Oak • Ace Hardware H English Gardens • Frentz & Sons Hdwe • Wild Birds Unltd Saginaw H Abele Greenhse & Gard Ctr Salem Twp H Willow Greenhse Saline H Clink Landscp & Nurs • Junga’s Ace Hardware • KBK Gard Ctr H Saline Flowerland Shelby Twp • Ace Hardware • Diegel’s Greenhse H Hessell’s Greenhses • Maeder Plant Farm • Mandel Greenhouses Florist • PJ Hebert H Telly’s Greenhse South Lyon • Ace Hardware • Bader & Sons • Mike’s Garden • Stone Depot Landscp Supp

Southfield H Eagle Landscp & Supp • Lavin’s Flower Land H Main’s Landscp Supp St Clair Shores • Ace Hardware (Harper/13 Mi) • DeRonne True Value Hardware • Greenhouse Growers • Hall’s Nurs H Soulliere Gard Ctr Sterling Hts • Decor Statuette H Eckert’s Greenhse • Prime Landscp Supp Stockbridge • Gee Farms Superior Twp • Lucas Nurs Sylvan Lake H AguaFina Gardens Interntl • Detroit Garden Works Taylor • Ace Hardware • D&L Garden Ctr • Massab Acres Greenhse H Panetta’s Landscp Supp Trenton • Ace Hardware • Carefree Lawn Ctr Troy • Home & Gard Shop H Telly’s Greenhse H Uncle Luke’s Feed Store Utica • Stonescape Supp • Weingartz

Umbriano

Warren • Ace Hardware • Beste’s Lawn & Patio • Greco’s Nurs • Kutchey Family Mkt Washington • Landscape Direct • Rocks ‘n’ Roots Waterford • Ace Hardware • Breen’s Landscp Supp • Jacobsen’s Flowers H Merritt Home Design West Bloomfield • Ace Hardware H English Gardens Westland • Ace Hardware H Barsons Greenhses • Bushel Stop • Joe Randazzo’s Nurs • Merlino’s Bushel Ctr • Panetta’s Landscp Supp White Lake H Bogie Lake Greenhse H Mulligan’s Gard Ctr • Sunshine Plants Whitmore Lake H Alexander’s Greenhses Williamston • Christians Greenhse Wixom • Angelo’s Landscp Supp H Milarch Nurs Ypsilanti • Coleman’s Farm Mkt H Margolis Nurs • Materials Unlimited • Schmidt’s Antiques H Sell Farms & Greenhse • Superior Farm & Gard

Beacon Hill Smooth

Beacon Hill Flagstone

Orion Stone Depot is the One-Stop Shop for All Your Unilock Needs! 4888 Joslyn Rd • Orion, MI 48359 • www.orionstone.com • 248-391-2490

Little Quick Fire® Hydrangea paniculata: EARLY BLOOMER, MONTHS OF COLOR, COMPACT, EASY CARE, HARDY

2022

Before they reach your garden, our flowering shrubs undergo years of trials and testing for color, quantity of blooms, foliage, disease resistance and ability to thrive with ease. Only a few prove they’re worthy of the #1 plant brand.

provenwinners-shrubs.com

WHITMORE LAKE

Abbott’s Landscape Nursery 2781 Scio Church Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-665-8733 www.abbottsnursery.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-5:30, Sun 10-4. Turn-of-the-century farm—perfect setting for our unique nursery. Mike Abbott likes what gardeners like, both classic and new. Native, pollinator, rain garden, shade, ornamental plants. Specializing in Japanese maples and reliably-blooming hydrangeas. Also garden ornaments, fixtures, containers and more. Come see us—we stock plants you may be looking for and many that will surprise you.

DEXTER PLYMOUTH

CHELSEA

ANN ARBOR YPSILANTI

Alexander Farm Market & Greenhouses 6925 Whitmore Lake Rd., Whitmore Lake, MI 48189 734-741-1064 Find us on Facebook May/June hours: Daily 9-7. We’re that hidden gem savvy gardeners have been raving about. Homegrown annuals, vegetables, perennials, extraordinary hanging baskets and planters. Plus our exclusive $1.49 seed perennials. Distinctive variety of fruit trees, small fruits, flowering shrubs, climbing vines, herbs, succulents, and roses, including easy-care shrubs, and luxuriously scented David Austins.

Clink Landscaping & Nursery 9403 W. Michigan Ave., Saline, MI 48176 734-495-3779 www.clinklandscaping.com May/June hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4. Just what you’ve been looking for... Large inventory of trees and shrubs; plus we can special order that perfect plant you are searching for. Natural stone, boulders, and brick pavers (all in several sizes). Bagged and bulk mulches and soils. Familyowned and operated for over 40 years. You will love our friendly, professional staff!

Dexter Mill 3515 Central St., Dexter, MI 48130 734-426-4621 www.dextermill.com May/June hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-5. Proud to sell quality gardening supplies, seasonal plants (including natives!), all natural non-GMO feeds, pet supplies, rugged clothing, and our own wild bird seed. Our products are made locally or in America whenever possible. We stand behind the products we sell and the services provided by our knowledgeable staff.

Downtown Home & Garden 210 S. Ashley St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-662-8122 www.downtownhomeandgarden.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5. A century-old retailer focused on indoor and outdoor gardening supplies, outdoor veggie plant starts, annuals, perennials, and greenhouse plants. Outdoor furniture, kitchenware, sundries and hardware, K9 gear and treats, and hardy clothing for hardworking people. Drive-thru barn and on-site parking for patrons in the heart of Downtown Ann Arbor.

SALINE

MANCHESTER

MILAN TECUMSEH

BRITTON The Garden Mill

English Gardens Plymouth Nursery 9900 Ann Arbor Rd. W., Plymouth, MI 48170 734-453-5500 www.EnglishGardens.com May/June hours: Please visit our website. English Gardens acquired Plymouth Nursery in 2018. The store features a full-service nursery and garden center with a fullservice landscaping company. English Gardens is family-owned and locally operates six stores in Metro Detroit featuring the best value and finest quality products and services. For more information: 800-335-GROW.

Fraleighs Landscape Nursery 8600 Jackson Rd., Dexter, MI 48130 734-426-5067 www.fraleighs.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 10-5. Wide variety of perennials, shrubs, ornamental grasses, flowering ornamentals, native plants, shade trees, and evergreens. Expert staff to assist with your landscaping and horticultural questions. We source plants from Michigan growers whenever possible. We stock unusual items, but we really love selling plants that are reliable and functional, but never boring!

110 S. Main St., Chelsea, MI 48118 734-475-3539 www.thegardenmill.com May/June hours: Please check website or Facebook for current hours. An ever-changing variety of beautiful and functional products. Unique and hand-crafted artifacts for garden and home. Wrought iron and rustic garden features; eclectic wind chimes; fountains; classic garden sculptures; colorful plant containers; birdhouses, feeders, and baths; seasonal seeds, hanging baskets, and bedding plants. facebook.com/TheGardenMillChelsea.

Hidden Lake Gardens 6214 Monroe Rd. (M-50), Tipton, MI 49287 517-431-2060 www.canr.msu.edu/hiddenlakegardens April-October hours: Tues-Sun 9-5 (confirm hours; may change due to pandemic) 755 acres. Don’t miss one of the finest collections of Dwarf and Rare Conifers—over 500 specimens. Hosta Hillside has over 800 varieties. Enjoy a leisurely drive through the Arboretum. See lush tropicals in the Conservatory. Serene outdoor displays in the Bonsai Courtyard. The Demonstration Garden shows attractive mixed plantings. Great hiking trails and dog-friendly, too! To advertise in Destinations, call Eric at 248-594-5563 or email Publisher@MichiganGardener.com.

NURSERY &&GGARDEN ARDEN CENTER NURSERY CENTER

989-684-4210 www.begicknursery.com HillTop Greenhouse & Farms 8996 West Liberty, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-302-4233 www.hilltopgreenhousea2.com May hours: Mon-Sat 9-7, Sun 9-6. June hours: Please call. Just 10 minutes from Ann Arbor or Chelsea, our greenhouse is a relaxing drive from all corners. Choose from thousands of baskets, plus veggie starters, flats, specialty annuals, and lush combination planters. Each plant is grown on site, with hands-on care from start to finish. Smiles, hugs and a friendly staff, free of charge!

Lodi Farms 2880 S. Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-665-5651 www.lodifarms.com May/June/Summer hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8-5, Wed 8-6, Sat 10-4, Sun 11-3. Visit our newly remodeled greenhouse and walk acres of beautiful trees and plants! Fantastic selection of Michigan-grown shade and ornamental trees, evergreens, shrubs, perennials, vegetables and annuals. Bulk products for pick-up or delivery. Bring your pictures and ideas; our friendly team will help find the perfect plants for your space.

Margolis Nursery 9600 Cherry Hill Rd., Ypsilanti, MI 48198 734-482-0771 www.margoliscompanies.com May/June hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-3. Family owned and operated since 1926. From trees and shrubs to perennials and groundcovers to mulch and Unilock pavers. Our experienced staff will help with your plant selections. Our full-service landscaping company provides complete landscape design and installation, and has a reputation for quality and competitive prices.

The Produce Station 1629 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-663-7848 www.producestation.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8-9, Sun 8-8. Proudly supplying high-quality, rare perennials and specialty annuals! Succulents, echeveria, agave, rare tropicals, sedum, and sempervivum. Unique dwarf conifers and alpine plants. Enormous selection of specialty herbs and vegetables, plus heirlooms! Vast hosta selection, including tea cup varieties. Gorgeous Vietnamese pottery! Additional location: 2105 W. Stadium Blvd. May-August: Mon-Sat 9-8, Sun 9-7.

The Rock Shoppe 6275 Gotfredson Rd., Plymouth, MI 48170 734-455-5560 www.rock-shoppe.com May/June hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 9-1:45, Sun Closed. 12 acres showcasing hundreds of tons of rock, unique statuary, garden art, mulches, soils, and landscape materials. Vast selection of brick pavers, retaining walls, flagstone and terrace slab rock. We provide free education on the correct installation of landscaping products we sell, ensuring your project will be successful.

Saline Flowerland 7370 Michigan Ave., Saline, MI 48176 734-429-4458 www.salineflowerland.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-6, Sun 10-5. Saline’s Full Service Florist and Garden Center since 1977. Our beautiful plants are grown on site for best quality & bloom count. Hundreds of hanging baskets, vegetables, annuals, perennials, herbs, succulents, groundcovers, houseplants. Large selection of fairy garden items. Many 4-inch potted Proven Winners annuals. Mulch and topsoil by the bag or yard. Delivery available.

5993 West Side Saginaw Rd, Bay City Mon-Fri 9-7 Sat 9-6 Sun 11-5

Right off I-75!

Near Bay City

No Gas. No Oil. No Fumes. No Mess.

On your way “Up North,” stop in to see our 15 acres of: • Annuals • Perennials • Shrubs • Shade Trees • Water Gardening • Weber Grills • Home & Lodge Decor • Premium Patio Furniture • Garden Accessories & Gifts • Floral Department

GREENWORKS® battery-powered lawn mowers, blowers, string trimmers, and edgers deliver the power and performance of comparable gas-powered tools without the mess, noxious fumes, stamina-reducing vibration and noise associated with gas products. For more information, go to: www.GreenworksTools.com

Sell Farms & Greenhouses 7200 Willis Rd., Ypsilanti, MI 48197 734-484-3819 www.sellfarmsandgreenhouses.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-6. Online ordering and curbside pickup available, visit our website for details. Familyowned. Great selection of high quality Annuals, Perennials & non-GMO Vegetable plants at reasonable prices. Thousands of Hanging Baskets, Combination Planters, Geraniums & Proven Winners plants. One of the best selections of Perennials, Hydrangeas & Roses in the area.

Willow Greenhouse 7839 Curtis Rd., Northville, MI 48168 248-437-7219 www.willowgreenhouse.com May/June hours: Mon-Fri 9-5, Sat 9-6, Sun 10-5. Full of beauty, free of pesticides—all our plants are grown pesticide-free! Buy direct from the grower. Thousands of Annuals, Perennials, Trees, Shrubs, Vegetables, Herbs, Houseplants, Hydrangeas, Proven Winners, Wave Petunias, Heirloom Tomatoes, and much more. New: now offering full landscaping services. Like us on Facebook!

FOR A COMPLETE LINE OF GREENWORK S EQUIPMENT, PLEASE VISIT:

1241 W. 14 Mile Rd. Clawson, MI 48017 248-744-6946 www.billingslawn.com

Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

Julia Hofley

Texas Primrose:

Ladybird Lemonade & Ladybird Sunglow

Proven Winners

Ladybird Lemonade

Proven Winners

Ladybird Sunglow

Texas Primrose is an intriguing name for a new plant that kind of reminded me of a perennial known as “sundrops” (Oenethera) when I first saw it at the show last summer. This new annual plant is a North American native derived from the Southwest and demands a hot, dry and sunny location in the garden, container or hanging basket. No matter where you plant, it really needs good drainage to thrive—good news for the rock gardening crowd. Plus, it tolerates drought—also good news for gardeners who like to go up north on long weekends and come back to patio plants that are still alive and looking fine. It’s also great news for pollinators such as bees, birds and butterflies. Texas primrose (Calylophus) naturally does well in 100-degree Southwest heat, but the flower colors are more intense up here in the North with our cooler nights. Ladybird Lemonade has a soft, buttercup yellow flower that

Salvia: Bodacious ‘Hummingbird Falls’ Looking for an easy-care, natural hummingbird feeder? This new salvia is an alternative to plastic and glass nectar feeders that require frequent cleaning and refilling. It’s the world’s first salvia especially bred for hanging baskets. Make sure you put it in a large hanging basket, large container, or the front of the border to give it room to grow all summer long. This breeding breakthrough is the same type of salvia as ‘Black and Blue’ and ‘Black and Bloom’—both must-have plants for hummingbird enthusiasts. Bodacious ‘Hummingbird Falls’ differs, with its densely branched, compact form. The large, dark blue blooms have a striking black calyx on compact, fourinch flower stems with dark green foliage. The internodes are tight, helping to make the flower stems more bushy. A light trim to keep the shape you want is optional, or just let it rip! Periodically removing the oldest stems will encourage new growth. ‘Hummingbird Falls’ is tolerant of both dry and humid heat, yet benefits from

some afternoon shade. This hummingbird magnet will bloom from spring through fall, but make sure you let the plant dry out between waterings in cooler temperatures. Strategically place this salvia in a goodsized hanging basket or elevated planter on a deck, patio, porch or balcony. This opens up the opportunity for apartment dwellers, simplifying seniors, curious kids, or at-home working professionals to experience the joy of watching hummingbirds do their thing—right out their window, without having to clean and refill a feeder. I look forward to placing this exciting new plant at the back of our house on the hummingbird highway, where I can enjoy it up close from our kitchen window. Height: 1-2 feet. Width: 3-4 feet. Light: Full sun to part sun. PlantHaven International

NEW ANNUALS continued on page 20

will age to include peach and pink tones. Sunglow has a pure sunshine yellow flower. It’s nice to have color options when you’re planning a combination design. For the best performance, carefully consider grouping drought plants together. Texas primrose cannot tolerate soggy soil in containers or an over-irrigated garden bed. It is a continuous bloomer or rebloomer that may need a trim later in the summer to reshape it. Use slow-release fertilizer at planting time and later in the season if the leaf color starts to fade. Deadheading is not necessary. If you’re looking for a low maintenance, full sun plant that is really new to Michiganders and blooms well into the fall, these will be fun plants to spend the summer with in your garden. Height: 4-8 inches. Width: 12-20 inches. Light: Full sun.

Hanging Baskets!

Wide selection of Single and Mixed Annual Hanging Baskets, for both Sun and Shade!

11-inch Hanging Basket

Eckert’s Greenhouse FROM THE RARE & UNUSUAL TO THE PREFERRED AND POPULAR!

Wide selection of Annuals • Perennials • Vegetables & more!

14-inch Cone 34051 Ryan Rd Sterling Heights, MI 48310

(between 14 & 15 Mile on the west side of Ryan)

586-264-5678 www.eckertsgreenhouse.com

16-inch Weekender

5 OFF a purchase of $25 or more

Coupon must be redeemed at the time of purchase. Cannot be combined with other coupons. Valid 5-1-22 to 5-31-22

Uncle Luke’ Luke’s Vegetables & flowers: Fresh plants arrive frequently throughout spring—Come visit often!

Lighting designed to enhance safety, security, and beauty… Accentuate the features of your property—excellent return on investment. Extend your living space after sunset—enjoy your landscape like never before. Trust our technical expertise, attention to detail and years of experience.

We are landscape lighting specialists— it’s our only business.

Residential/Commercial•248-761-9377

SchumanLandscapeLighting.com

Natural pest & disease control products WIDE variety of bagged soils & mulches Cocoa mulch (great price!) Seed potatoes, Onions, Renee’s garden seed, Bulk garden seed, High Mowing organic garden seeds Dairy Doo compost & Square Foot gardening supplies Vegetable, Bedding, and Herb plants Complete outdoor bird feed & supplies

Uncle Luke’s Feed Store 248-879-9147 • 6691 Livernois, Troy (1/4 mile S. of South Blvd.) www.unclelukes.com • Mon-Fri 9-6:30 • Sat 8-6 • Sun 9-5

Flushing Lawn & Garden (Our 2nd location) 114 Terrace St., Flushing, MI • 810-659-6241

Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

South African Phlox:

continued from page 18

Safari Dawn & Safari Sky

Proven Winners (2)

Safari Dawn

Doreen Wynja for Monrovia

Sunflower:

SunBelievable Brown Eyed Girl From the breeding program of England’s Thompson and Morgan, SunBelievable Brown Eyed Girl was all the buzz at plant trade shows as well as trial and botanical gardens in both England and the U.S. Sunflowers (Helianthus) usually produce a tall stalk topped by a few large flowers; or they might be shorter with a number of smaller blooms. SunBelievable is different. This new hybrid displays a multi-branched, short and compact habit that doesn’t produce seeds, putting all of its energy into making a constant crop of flowers. No pollen here, but its nectar is still attractive to bees. Winning awards on both sides of the Atlantic, this 21st century sunflower provides color all summer long with its large, vibrant, bicolored blooms, making it attractive in both containers or in a hot, sunny border. Given appropriate water and fertilizer, one plant reportedly produces 1,000 blooms during a growing season, along with handsome foliage that deepens in color with age. Height: 24 inches. Width: 39 inches. Light: Full sun.

It’s exciting when a new plant we’ve never even heard of gets introduced to gardeners. Safari Dawn and Safari Sky are heat tolerant South African native phlox (Jamesbrittenia) that are relatives of bacopa with far greater heat and humidity tolerance. Safari Dawn is a rose pink color with a soft yellow eye that turns to a lavender pink. Safari Sky is sky blue with a white eye dotted with soft yellow. Long blooming from spring through frost, they have a soft, mounded habit that makes them a perfect filler in a container or window box, and need little deadheading. They are also good choices for landscape plantings, but take care to place them where there is good drainage. Best flowering occurs with a slow-release fertilizer at planting time, and a re-application every two months over the summer. Alternatively, use liquid fertilizer. If the plant splays open or looks a little tired later in the seaNEW ANNUALS continued on page 22

son, trim it back to one-third its size and follow with a water soluble fertilizer. Height: 6-12 inches. Width: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part sun. Safari Sky

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continued from page 20

Coleus: ‘Spitfire’

Ball Horticultural

With a diminutive form that packs a punch as a filler in combination containers, this “micro coleus” was a favorite plant in trial gardens here in Michigan and other states as well. It actually stood out for its smallness, in comparison to the other larger-sized coleus. Besides being compact, this plant is all about foliage and form, not the flowers that may come late or not at all. It is self-branching, which means it’s a full plant ablaze with colorful flair. The unique leaf shape has a vibrant, hot-pink center that mellows into splashes of rich burgundy with cool, lime green margins. The foliage holds its color in

to it like plant paparazzi in both locations, even though there were hundreds of other petunias to admire. It was a very large trial garden, yet we were compelled to keep coming back to take photos of Dekko ‘Sorbet,’ since the color changed as the sun and clouds moved through the sky that day. We weren’t alone in our admiration, as trial gardens everywhere—like Michigan State, University of Georgia, Penn State, and Dallas—had the highest ratings for it and the most flags de-

Height: 10-16 inches. Width: 14-16 inches. Light: Sun to shade.

Syngenta Flowers

Petunia: Dekko ‘Sorbet’ There are 12 colors in the petunia Dekko series that are tough enough for planting in the landscape, yet look just as good in hanging baskets because they’re bred to hold their color through the season and bounce back after rain. Remember the rains from last summer? We saw Dekko ‘Sorbet’ at Cultivate’21, a premier U.S. plant trade show, as well as a windy west Michigan trial garden—in both flower beds and containers. We were drawn

shade or sun. The well-branched shape of ‘Spitfire’ was so consistent in the trials, admirers suggested it would make a great low hedge, outlining a garden bed or lining a path—also terrific for urban balconies, small patios, and front porches. Oh, how the Victorians would have loved to get their hands on the stunning color patterns of ‘Spitfire.’ But the legacy lives on as Millennials are digging this high-impact, low-maintenance, award-winning coleus too!

noting being “liked best” by the visitors. The beautiful flowers open with a rose color and soften to peach with a contrasting dark eye, all happening at once in ethereal mounds, creating a dreamy cloud. Dekko petunias have smaller-sized flowers but produce tons of them. Their smaller size is a plus, as they are rain resilient, whereas larger-sized petunia flowers can take a beating. Remember the pummeling rains from last summer? This petunia powerhouse is extremely

versatile and has exceptional garden performance, from small pots to combination planters as well as full-sized hanging baskets. Also appreciated by bees, it is vigorous enough to provide carpets of color from early spring through fall when planted in the landscape. Height: 8-12 inches. Width: 18-22 inches. Light: Full sun. NEW ANNUALS continued on page 24

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Petchoa:

SuperCal Premium ‘Sunset Orange’ A petchoa is a combination of 1/2 petunia and 1/2 calibrachoa, bringing terrific traits from each of these plants together into one superior plant. The breeder has created an even more improved version of the plant and dubbed the line “SuperCal Premium.” There are now 9 colors and 3 color mixes in the lineup. While looking at countless numbers of plants at the trade show and trial gardens last summer, ‘Sunset Orange’ rose to the top for many buyers looking for new plants to grow this year. In the petchoa world, SuperCal Premiums are excellent performers with larger flowers, improved habit, better mounding shape, and refined growth. New colors with strong vigor have good disease tolerance and tidy blooms that leave no sticky residue for easier han-

dling. Further, they are all-weather performers that handle cold and heat, plus withstand heavy rains and bounce right back with little damage. All these traits are admirable and worthwhile to seek out to grow in your garden. But when you see the warm, sultry combination of the new and aging color process of these flowers, you may rethink your color theme for this season. You’ll know it when you see it in garden centers—especially in a full cascading hanging basket. ‘Sunset Orange’ truly captures the essence of an unforgettable sunset and that is just a feel-good moment when you see it in person. The color scheme will endure all the way through autumn if you take one home. Even though there has been high-tech breeding work done with petchoas, they are a hybrid flower enjoyed by hummingbirds and butterflies alike.

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Zinnia: Profusion ‘Red Yellow Bicolor’

Ball Horticultural

The Profusion series of zinnias have been consistent award winners for many years both here and in Europe. This year is yet another banner one, as three new colors have won awards. That said, ‘Red Yellow Bicolor’ takes the cake, with double gold medals in both America and Europe! Breeding distinct, golden yellow petals with a unique, bold red center as a stable bicolor has never been achieved before in the Profusion series. As the season progresses, watch the brilliant bicolor blooms morph into beautiful 2-1/2-inch flowers containing shades of apricot, salmon and dusty rose. Profusion zinnias are a go-to plant for many gardeners, including professional landscapers who need plants that don’t require hand-holding throughout the summer season. They are the stalwarts at subdivision

entrances and lakefront homes, where they tolerate heat, humidity, drought and disease. These sun-loving plants naturally have a low-growing, compact habit and a floriferous nature that blooms continuously with durable, long-lived flowers above dark green foliage. Use this dynamo annual plant for the front of a perennial border as the perennials go in and out of bloom, as a handsome collar around a dahlia bed, or lining the walk up to your front door. Plant in moist, well-drained, loamy soil. Pollinator friendly for monarchs, swallowtails, hummingbirds and bees. Height: 14-18 inches. Width: 20-24 inches. Light: Full sun. NEW ANNUALS continued on page 26

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continued from page 24

Rigid Verbena:

Cake Pops Purple & Cake Pops Pink This verbena (Verbena rigida) presents clusters of delicate pink or purple-lavender flowers that grow at the ends of tall stems in the little ball shape of cake pops, surrounded at the base by thin, oblong, and serrated green foliage. It is said that the serrated foliage may help make the plant less attractive to deer, but there is only one way to find out: plant it in deer country and see what happens. Cake Pops are mounding plants that handle the heat and humidity of a Midwestern summer in stride and look good as a filler in mixed containers, hanging baskets, and mass plantings. Since this pollinator magnet does not cycle out of color and is in continuous bloom, I am considering dotting them along the front of our long perennial border while perennials go in and out of bloom to keep some color consistency going and to be a con-

stant food source to hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. The purple-lavender color may be more attractive to the hummers. Blooms continue to emerge throughout spring, summer and fall with minimal deadheading. For best performance, use slow-release fertilizer at planting time and if planted in containers, reapply every two months. Trim back by one-third if the plant starts to look tired. This North American native from the Southwest U.S. is tough, durable and drought tolerant, while providing season-long color in pink or purple and an ongoing nectar source for wildlife. Yet another great plant to experience this summer for both Michigan gardeners and their winged friends. Height: 10-18 inches. Width: 10-18 inches. Light: Full sun.

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Shade gardeners on the hunt for colorful flowering plants will appreciate this international award-winning, new non-stop begonia. Taking home prestigious awards in both the U.S. and Germany, the judges agreed that I’Conia Scentiment ‘Peachy Keen’ “is the pinnacle of modern begonias.” The breakthrough includes breeding equally for flower and foliage, as well as successfully integrating fragrance genetics into the I’Conia plants from the old-fashioned Scentiment varieties of years past. This non-stop flowering begonia has lush double flowers with a swirl of yellow, cream and peach shades, with dark green, pointed leaves. It will make a dramatic statement in the garden, a combination container, hanging baskets, window boxes, or on a patio table, where its upright habit and light peach scent can be enjoyed. For best performance, feed regularly, trim as needed to promote more branching and blossoms, and provide Julia Hofley is a plant collector, freelance garden writer, speaker, and independent sales rep (E-mail: julia@juliasbiglife.com).

an evenly moist, well-drained soil. Once established, begonias can tolerate dry spells. Height: 10-14 inches. Width: 12-14 inches. Light: Part shade to shade; tolerates morning sun.

Dummen Orange

American Tree 3903 Van Dyke, Almont, MI 48003 810-798-2525 www.americantreeinc.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8-8, Sun 9-6. Family owned & operated since 1990. American Tree offers an assortment of annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, herbs, heirloom & organic vegetables, a large selection of roses, acres of evergreen & flowering trees & shrubs, plus hundreds of fruit trees. We have a complete landscape supply yard and a full service landscaping company.

Brohl’s Greenhouse 19780 25 Mile Rd., Macomb, MI 48042 586-781-6842 Find us on Facebook May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8:30-7, Sun 9-6. Family owned and operated since 1966. Very reasonable prices for top quality plants. The Brohl family offers annuals, baskets, combo pots, tropicals, perennials, vegetable plants, and fall mums. Convenient shopping under covered greenhouses. Only at Brohl’s Greenhouse—Come check us out!

Dale’s Landscaping Supply 16720 East 13 Mile Rd., Roseville, MI 48066 586-778-1919 www.daleslandscaping.com May/June hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-4. Finest selection of landscaping materials: mulch, soils and more. Michigan-made pavers and retaining walls from Fendt, HighFormat, Oaks, and Unilock. Now carrying Techo-Bloc. Natural stone and boulder options: Michigan sandstone, exotic veneer stone, fieldstone boulders and flagstone. Full line of cement and masonry materials. Whether your project is big or small, come see us.

Elya’s Village Gardens & Greenhouses 24200 26 Mile Rd., Macomb, MI 48042 586-749-9212 or 586-405-7592 May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-7, Sun 10-3. We do more than just sell you plants—our award-winning landscape designers will help you select the right plants for your home and garden. Annuals, perennials, many hosta varieties, trees and shrubs from top-quality Michigan growers. Familyowned garden center since 1966. Also full-service landscape installation.

Eckert’s Greenhouse & Perennials 34051 Ryan Rd., Sterling Heights, MI 48310 586-264-5678 www.eckertsgreenhouse.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8:30-8, Sun 8:30-6. From rare and unusual to preferred and popular: Annuals, Geraniums, Hanging Baskets, Flower Pouches, Patio Containers, Vegetables, Perennials, Hostas, Roses (David Austin English, hybrid tea, floribunda, shrub, climbing, grandiflora, tree, groundcover, miniature, rugosa), Clematis, Vines, Alpine Plants, Groundcovers, Butterfly Plants, Native Plants, Tropicals, Succulents.

English Gardens 44850 Garfield Rd., Clinton Township, MI 48038 586-286-6100 www.EnglishGardens.com May/June hours: Please visit our website. Founded in 1954, English Gardens is family- and locally-owned, operating six full-service stores and a full-service landscaping company in Metro Detroit. Each full-service store has a nursery, garden center, patio shop, and seasonal Christmas center featuring the best value and finest quality products and services. For more information: 800-335-GROW.

English Gardens 22501 Kelly Rd., Eastpointe, MI 48021 586-771-4200 www.EnglishGardens.com May/June hours: Please visit our website. Founded in 1954, English Gardens is family- and locally-owned, operating six full-service stores and a full-service landscaping company in Metro Detroit. Each full-service store has a nursery, garden center, patio shop, and seasonal Christmas center featuring the best value and finest quality products and services. For more information: 800-335-GROW.

Hessell’s Greenhouse 14497 23 Mile Rd., Shelby Twp, MI 48315 586-247-4675 www.hessellsgreenhouse.com May/June hours: 8-7 every day. Not your typical garden center. We specialize in annuals, perennials, unique hanging baskets, colorful planters, and vegetable plants, including many varieties of heirloom and “Around the World” vegetables. Also many unique gift and garden items. We grow our own plants on-site to offer you the best, freshest plants available.

Meldrum Brothers Nursery & Supply 29500 23 Mile Rd., New Baltimore, MI 48047 586-949-9220 www.meldrumbros.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8-7, Sun 10-5. Huge selection of plants, bulk and bagged materials, decorative stone, Fendt and Oaks paver bricks and wall stones, garden decor, fairy gardening supplies, Traeger grills, fountains, and statuary. Organic and traditional lawn and plant care products including fertilizers, soils, mulches. We pride ourselves on offering the best service and advice. Visit meldrumbros.com for coupons and promotions.

Soulliere Garden Center 23919 Little Mack, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080 586-776-2811 www.soullieregardens.com Hours – May: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-5, Sun 10-4. June: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-3, Sun 10-4. Family-owned and operated, the one-stop shop for all your landscaping needs. Founded in 1952. Our knowledgeable, friendly staff will help you pick the perfect trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals. Plus, bulk landscape materials, stones, brick pavers, and gardening supplies. Fabulous selection of garden decor and patio furniture.

Telly’s Greenhouse 4343 24 Mile Rd., Shelby Twp, MI 48316 248-659-8555 www.tellys.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-8, Sun 10-5. We find and grow new, rare, and choice plants from the United States and around the world. You will see unique annuals, tropicals, and perennials that you are unlikely to find elsewhere. Our Shelby Township store is the newest addition to our original Troy location.

Van Thomme’s Greenhouses 32385 23 Mile Rd., Chesterfield Twp., MI 48047 586-725-3708 www.vanthommesgreenhouses.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8-8, Sun 9-5. Established in 1963. Huge variety of annuals, perennials, vegetables, and gorgeous hanging baskets. We carry Proven Winners. Big selection of organic vegetables, with over 65 varieties of tomatoes, many heirlooms. Lots of herbs too. Fall decor and hardy mums. Wrought iron plant stands, fertilizers, and complete gardening supplies.

Van’s Valley Greenhouse 74865 Van Dyke, Bruce Twp, MI 48065 586-752-6002 www.vansvalley.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8–7, Sun 8-6. Shop in an open air market! Just south of 35 Mile. Wide variety of annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetable plants, succulents, garden art, wreaths, fairy gardens and much more! One-of-a-kind hanging baskets and porch pots. Your pot or our pot: we will customize it and fill with our beautiful flowers. Can’t wait to see you! To advertise in Destinations, call Eric at 248-594-5563 or email Publisher@MichiganGardener.com.

Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

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Garden Girls ‘Glamour Girl’

Garden phlox W

ith their large, colorful flower heads and sweet nostalgic scent, summer-blooming garden phlox are one of the most beloved of all flowering perennials. Most gardeners know and grow them, and even non-gardeners can identify them when in bloom. Garden phlox (aka upright phlox or summer phlox) have been a staple in gardens and landscapes for over 200 years, transformed from a few North American species to the flamboyant hybrids of today. A 1916 quote from Louise Beebe Wilder describes the path of phlox as an ornamental plant: “This plant is a native, and with true American perspicacity and

enterprise has forged its way from magenta obscurity to the most prominent place in the floral world.” Most phlox called “garden phlox” are hybrids of the native Phlox paniculata. Hundreds of cultivars have been developed using this species alone. The earliest cultivars were developed in Europe, despite coming from American stock. Most of them were quite tall, late-summer blooming, and prone to powdery mildew. Over the decades, horticulturists have worked to decrease the height, create earlier- and longer-blooming hybrids, develop larger flowers in a wider range of colors, and increase mildew resistance.

Growing upright phlox in the garden Most gardeners care little about the hybrid designation of their garden phlox, although knowing this information can sometimes shed light on their culture, particularly the hybrids with mixed parentage. All of the phlox types discussed in this article prefer full sun to partial shade, with P. paniculata hybrids doing quite well in even half-day sun or filtered light. These upright phlox varieties prefer moist, well-drained soil, and although they are adapted to many geographical regions, they perform best in areas where summer nights are relatively cool. Phlox likes plenty

of moisture and may fail to thrive in hot, dry, exposed soils. Water stress makes them Karen much more susceptible Bovio to diseases like powdery mildew and septoria leaf spot. Weakened plants are targets for spider mites and leafhoppers, which can be vectors for serious (non-treatable) virus diseases. Thus, use a layer of mulch throughout the summer if planting in soils that tend to dry out. Soaker hoses, trickle irrigation, or continued on page 30

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‘Peppermint Twist’ continued from page 28

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

‘Bright Eyes’

even a hose set on low volume at the base of the plants will keep the root zone moist and the foliage dry. Phlox also loves fertilizer. To produce the largest, most vibrant flowers on sturdy plants with healthy foliage, grow them in rich soil that is well-amended with compost or organic matter, and take the extra step of providing additional fertilizer—either organic or inorganic, including granular fertilizers, liquidfeed applications, or slow-release forms.

Diseases

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‘Cloudburst’

Even under the best of conditions, most phlox varieties are prone to powdery mildew—including the ones labeled “mildew resistant.” In our hot and humid climate, the term is misleading, because some years are simply worse for mildew than others, depending on the weather. Even so, significant differences exist among cultivars regarding mildew susceptibility, and an extraordinary amount of research has been done to develop better resistance. It is an easy task to locate and choose among the many “mildewresistant” types, so start with the best. Then, begin a mildew-prevention program that includes the following: • In late spring or early summer, thin phlox plants by removing up to 1/3 of their stems

at the soil line. This will increase air circulation through the plant (with the added benefit of producing larger flower heads). • Avoid overhead irrigation when possible. • Remove any infected leaves as soon as they appear. This will reduce the number of spores dropping to the soil to re-infect plants the following year. • Keep plants healthy and robust, with good culture. • Use a preventative spray of 1 tablespoon baking soda plus 1 teaspoon light horticultural oil or insecticidal soap, per gallon of water. Apply weekly. Or use MilStop (OMRI listed), which has been proven to be both protective and curative. The active ingredient is potassium bicarbonate. Apply every two weeks. MilStop is also effective against other fungi that affect phlox, including septoria, botrytis, anthracnose, black spot, and some others.

Other pests Although insects are usually not a big problem on phlox, mites can build up during especially hot and dry seasons. Keep phlox wellwatered and mulched; weakened plants are targets for insects and mites, which perceive small differences in foliage color when plants are stressed. Neem oil and insecticidal soaps continued on page 32

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Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

continued from page 30 are organic sprays that can help prevent and reduce mite build-up. Spraying the undersides of foliage with a strong stream of water from the hose will also dislodge mites. Do this on a sunny day, allowing sufficient time for the foliage to dry before evening. Leafhoppers are small jumping insects that are known carriers of viruses. Unfortunately, there are no anti-viral sprays or virus cures for plants; the gardener must prevent them. Always clean pruning shears when moving from plant to plant (use Chlorox wipes or rubbing alcohol to kill virus particles on your shears, just in case the plant you previously worked on was infected). The use of neem oil and insecticidal soaps can help deter the leafhoppers that transmit the viruses. There are many types of virus that can affect phlox. Infection may show up as mottled foliage, mosaic patterns in the leaves, bunched-up growth at the tips of the plants, or distorted foliage. Some viruses cause

browning or yellowing of the leaves, which may be mistaken for fungal infection. Plant viruses are always spread by mechanical means—by the gardener or by insect mouthparts. Plant viruses cannot infect hosts through the air or through the soil, unless roots or leaves were first wounded with subsequent introduction of the virus to the wound via tools or an insect. There are even bigger phlox pests that the gardener may have to contend with—the four-legged kind. Deer are notoriously fond of phlox, and will browse the plants at any time during the growing season. They are especially fond of the young flower buds— it’s a heartbreaking experience to find your plants ready to bloom, then gone overnight! Rabbits also eat phlox. You can usually tell which animal has been in your garden by the type of damage done. Deer rip and tear stems because they have no incisors, whereas rabbits cleanly nip off the stems with an angled cut, much like a hand pruner would make. continued on page 34

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

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Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

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‘Fashionably Early Crystal’ continued from page 32 To control either, choose from the many animal repellents available in garden centers. Make sure your targeted animal is listed on the label, and rotate products to keep the animals off guard.

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Many upright phlox cultivars are naturally long-blooming (midsummer to early fall), while others have a more well-defined bloom period lasting about three weeks. Some phlox varieties will rebloom if deadheaded, albeit with smaller flower clusters. Because the individual florets in phlox panicles do not all open at once, it may be a hard decision to remove the entire flower head; selective removal of spent florets is an option. If you choose to remove the entire head, cut right below the inflorescence. Deadheading also provides the additional

benefit of removing seeds before they mature and drop to the ground. Phlox seeds are quite fertile and if not removed, seedling plants that bloom “off type” can mar the floral show. However, many gardeners (including this author) have found worthy phlox plants—seedlings that simply appeared and grew up to be beautiful specimens in their own right. But due to the diverse genetic makeup of phlox hybrids, self-sown seedlings may or may not resemble the parent plant, and might be inferior in other characteristics such as mildew resistance, growth habit, color or height. Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, each gardener can choose to either allow or remove phlox seedlings when they appear. Small phlox seedlings often go unnoticed in a garden until they bloom, usually about three years after they first appear. continued on page 36

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continued from page 34 Bloom time can also be extended or altered by cutting the plants back prior to bloom. The earlier the plants are cut back, the earlier they will rebloom. Gardeners who have experienced deer browse on upright phlox can attest to this—their plants will regrow from the cut-off stems, producing a shorter, stockier plant that blooms about 3 to 4 weeks later than the cultivar’s normal bloom time. Using the same principle, the gardener can manipulate bloom time (and growth habit) by judiciously cutting back stems, either on the entire plant to delay bloom, or selectively within the clump to create a longer period of bloom. Be aware that the resulting flower panicles will be smaller, and often more numerous, than those of uncut plants. It is also possible to create extra-large flower panicles on phlox. Simply remove 1/3

to 1/2 of the stems, clipping them off at the base of the clump during late spring or early summer—late May or early June is about right in Michigan. Then fertilize, mulch and keep well-watered. The remaining stems will grow stronger and sturdier, most likely taller too, because they do not have to compete with other stems. Think of it as “fewer mouths to feed.” The flowers that develop at the tops of these super-stems will be much larger than the ones on a dense, un-thinned clump. You will also decrease the chance of powdery mildew taking hold, not only because of the better airflow through the stems, but also because these stems are simply healthier.

Recommended cultivars With so many varieties to choose from, it is hard to make recommendations, or for continued on page 38

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continued from page 36 that matter, to even choose favorites! Colors abound, including bicolors with eyes, starpatterns, or picotee edges. Summer phlox are available in heights from 15 inches to 5 feet, so it is important to read labels. Many phlox sold in garden centers have been treated or manipulated to produce short plants suitable for the nursery shelf. Confusing the height issue even more, phlox may not develop its full height and habit until its third or fourth year in the garden, and good culture plays a significant role in ultimate height as well. Newer cultivars are usually more mildewresistant than older ones, but not necessarily so—there are still some excellent older ones that can be recommended. Do some research before making your choices. An excellent study of garden phlox cultivars was done by Richard Hawke in 2011, and although many new phlox cultivars have appeared since that date, it still makes worthwhile reading. Find it on the Chicago Botanic Garden website, under Plant Evaluation Notes, issue number 35. Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

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Garden phlox choices OLDER CULTIVARS: ‘Blue Paradise’ – Color changes daily, starting near-blue in morning, ending purple in afternoon; 40” tall. ‘Bright Eyes’ – Pink with rose-red eyezone; 36”. ‘David’ – Large white panicles; one of the most mildew-resistant of older cultivars; 42”. Flame series – Dwarf series; includes 9 colors, some with eyes; relatively good mildew resistance. Recently updated to include more colors in the Flame Pro series. 16-24”. ‘Laura’ – Bright purple with starry white eyezone; 36-40”. ‘Nicky’ – Royal purple, very long blooming; 36-48”. ‘Nora Leigh’ – Green and white variegated foliage; white to pale pink flowers with dark pink eye; mildew resistant; 30-34”. ‘Peppermint Twist’ – Unique pinwheel patterned bicolor of pink and white; mildew resistant; 18”. ‘Red Riding Hood’ – Cherry red, compact, long-blooming; 22”.

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Luminary ‘Sunset Coral’

NEWER CULTIVARS: Candy Store series – Panicles with extralarge florets; 4 colors; compact habit; 18-22” tall. Feelings series – Totally unique; looks like a miniature hydrangea; the bracts are the show (not the tiny flower petals), the advantage being a longer color show, albeit in muted colors; a classic “love it” or “hate it” plant; 24-36”.

Garden Girls collection – Four cultivars; excellent rebloom; mildew resistant; 28-36”. Luminary collection – Three cultivars; extra-large glowing flower clusters; excellent rebloom; mildew resistant, 24-32”. ‘Jeana’ – Tiny, lavender-pink florets with rose eye in large panicles; highly attractive to pollinators; very mildew resistant; 48-54”. ‘Shockwave’ – Variegated foliage; green with yellow edges in spring, changing to cream in summer; lavender-pink flowers; 22”. ‘Shortwood’ – Heavy blooming, rose pink; excellent mildew resistance; 48-54”. OTHER HYBRIDS: These hybrids were developed using multiple phlox species. They begin blooming in June with potential rebloom. Excellent mildew resistance. Stoloniferous (creeping) habit. Narrow, elongated, and glossy foliage. Baby Doll series – Two colors (pink or white); cushion habit; cut back hard for rebloom; 12-15” tall. ‘Cloudburst’ – Lavender-purple with bright pink eye; wide, dome-like habit; 28” tall x 42” wide. Fashionably Early series – Early blooming with fall rebloom; 3 varieties; upright but stoloniferous; 26-30”. ‘Kung Fuchsia’ – Vivid fuchsia flowers; upright narrow habit; fine-textured foliage; 16-18”. Opening Act series – Five varieties, early blooming; stoloniferous habit; 18-26”.

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through the lens Photographs from Michigan gardeners

Tammy Joyce snapped this photo of her 30-year-old trumpet vine.

Nancy Kulish arranged this beautiful spring flower bouquet.

Send Us Your Photos! 1. E-mail 2 or 3 of your best garden photos to: photos@MichiganGardener.com. We are looking for photos of your garden, both wide-angle and plant close-ups. Be sure to e-mail a high-resolution file. 2. Please include your full name and a caption describing the scene and the plants.

This moonflower is part of what Lisa Langley hopes will someday be a moonlight garden.

Supertunias are the highlight of this container planting on Melissa Luttrell’s deck.

MichiganGardener.com | May 2022 | Michigan Gardener

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FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC GARDENS, please visit MichiganGardener.com. Click on "Resources" then "Public Gardens."

May / June

May H Organic Vegetable Gardening & Organic Landscaping Through May 21. Several dates/times available. Live Zoom classes with Q&A. www.NewEarthHomeAndGarden.com, 512-638-3401. Clarkston Garden Club Meeting Mon, May 2, Clarkston. Info: www.clarkstongardenclub.org. A-May-zing Children’s Garden Discoveries Mon, May 2, Grand Rapids. At Lena Meijer Children’s Garden. Check website for dates/times. www.meijergardens.org. Guided Bird Walk Tue, May 3, 7am, Grosse Pointe Shores. At Ford House. Dates: 5/3, 5/4, 5/5, 5/6, 5/8. Join bird experts as they explore Ford House grounds. www.fordhouse.org Basic Floral Design and Beyond Tue, May 3, 7pm, Livonia. By Livonia Garden Club at Livonia Civic Park Senior Center. All are welcome. Mary Pulick is a master flower show judge. www.livoniagardenclub.org. Introduction to Dr. Sarah Rautio Tue, May 3, East Lansing. By Capital Area Master Gardeners at Plant & Soil Sciences Building. Dr. Rautio is State Leader of the Extension Master Gardener Program. www.mgacac.wordpress.com. H 50th Annual Native Plant Sale Fri, May 6, 10am to Sat, 3pm. Online. By Cranbrook House & Garden. Shop online for Michigan native plants. www.housegardens.cranbrook.edu. Spring Stroll Fri, May 6, 5-8pm, Midland. At Dow Gardens. Enjoy the fragrance of flowering trees & spring ephemerals, plus 22,000+ bulbs of vibrant color. www.dowgardens.org. Dahlias: Annual Tuber Sale Sat, May 7, 9am-Noon, Troy. By SE Mich Dahlia Society at Telly’s Greenhouse. More than 700 dahlia tubers & cuttings available. Variety of sizes, colors & petal forms. www.semds.org. Plant Exchange Sat, May 7, 9-11am, South Lyon. By Four Seasons Garden Club at Salem South Lyon Library parking lot. Rain or shine. Trade plants, bulbs or seeds. Label each. Text only: 248-767-4183. Mason Sycamore Creek Plant Sale Sat, May 7, 10am-3pm, Mason. By Mason Sycamore Creek Garden Club at Lee Austin Park Pavillion. Geraniums, succulent plant bowls, herb plant bowls, perennials, trees & more. gardenclubofmason@gmail.com. Milford Garden Club Plant Sale Sat, May 7, 10am-Noon, Milford. By Milford Garden Club at Carl’s Family YMCA Pavilion. New: garden flea market. www.themilfordgardenclub.org. Wildflower Identification Hike Sat, May 7, 10:30am, Metamora. At Sutherland Nature Sanctuary. Led by in-house naturalist, Ian Ableson. To register, email your name to info@sixriversrlc.org, or call 248-601-2816 x 463. Self-Guided Saturdays: Dow Home Sat, May 7, 11am-1pm, Midland. At Dow Gardens. Experience the 1899 Dow home at your own pace. Docents on hand. www.dowgardens.org.

Hypertufa Workshop Sat, May 7, 12:30-2pm & 2:30-4pm, Niles. At Fernwood Botanical Garden. Info/register: www.fernwoodbotanical.org. Spring Flower Tour Sat, May 7, 3pm, Grosse Pointe Shores. At Ford House. Dates: 5/7, 5/15, 5/21, 5/28. Learn about native & nonnative plants, & experience landscape architect Jens Jensen’s original design. www.fordhouse.org. Mother’s Day Weekend Plant Sale Sat, May 7, & Sun, May 8, 10am-4:30pm, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. 734-647-7600, mbgna.umich.edu. Guided Bird Walk Sun, May 8, 7am, Grosse Pointe Shores. At Ford House. 5/8, 5/10, 5/11, 5/12, 5/13. Join bird experts as they explore Ford House grounds. www.fordhouse.org. Belle Isle Wildflower Walk Sun, May 8, 10am, Belle Isle. By Cheryl English from Black Cat Pottery on Belle Isle. $15/person. Register: www.blackcatpottery.com. Tri-Cities Garden Club Meeting Mon, May 9, 11am, Spring Lake. At Spring Lake District Library. www.tricitiesgardenclub.org. H In-Person Perennial, Herb, Fairy Garden, & Tropical Plant Sale Tue, May 10, 10am-7pm, & Wed, May 11, 10am-2pm, Bloomfield Hills. At Cranbrook House & Gardens. Perennials potted by our volunteers, tropical plants grown in our Conservatory, & herbs/fairy gardens selected by Herb Society of America. www.housegardens.cranbrook.edu. May Luncheon & Annual Meeting Tue, May 10, 11am, Rochester. By Rochester Garden Club. Membership: www.rochestergardenclub.org. New Annuals & Perennials for 2022 Tue, May 10, 6:30–8:30pm, online. By Master Gardener Soc of Oakland Cty on Zoom. Speaker: George Papadelis from Telly’s. Zoom details TBA. www.mgsoc.org. Dexter Garden Club Meeting Tue, May 10, 7pm, Dexter. By Dexter Garden Club at St Andrews. Membership: www.dextergardenclub.org. Edelweiss Garden Club Meeting Wed, May 11, 9:30am, Gaylord. By Edelweiss Garden Club at Otsego Co. Library Meeting Room. New members welcome. Find us on Facebook. Flower Ladies Bouquet-Making Wed, May 11, 10am-3pm, Ann Arbor. By Ann Arbor Farm & Garden. www.annarborfarmandgarden.org. From Herbal Plants to our Seasonal Pantry Wed, May 11, 12:30pm, Grand Rapids. By Kent Garden Club at Frederick Meijer Gardens. Presented by Joyce Kebless. www.kentgardenclub.org Pruning to Enrich the Garden Wed, May 11, 1pm, Troy. By Troy Garden Club at Big Beaver United Methodist. Presentation by Emily Fronckowiak. www.troygardenclubmi.com. Wildflower Tours Wed, May 11, 1-2:30pm, Midland. At Dow Gardens. Celebrate the wildflowers of Dow Gardens with horticulturists Chuck Martin & Trent Bowen. www.dowgardens.org Containers & Cocktails Wed, May 11, 6-9pm, Pontiac. At Goldner Walsh. $40. Create your own container. www.goldnerwalsh.com. continued on next page

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Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

continued from previous page 2022 Great Gardens Party Wed, May 11, 6pm, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Wine & dine, and silent/live auction. Tickets/ info: 616-975-3177 or jvanfleet@meijergardens.org. Recognizing & Reporting Invasive Plant Species Wed, May 11, 6:30pm, Clinton Twp. By Macomb Cty Master Gardener Association at Verkuilen Building. Presented by McKenzi Waliczek. Register online. Brighton Garden Club Meeting Thu, May 12, 10:30am-1pm, Brighton. By Brighton Michigan Garden Club at the Community Ctr, 555 Brighton St. Membership info: www.brightonmichigangardenclub.org. Ann Arbor Farm & Garden Annual Meeting Thu, May 12, 12:30 pm, Ann Arbor. At Ann Arbor City Club. www.annarborfarmandgarden.org. Attracting Wildlife with Backyard Water Features Thu, May 12, 6:30-8:30pm, Novi. By MSU Extension at Tollgate Farm. $25. Beth Clawson presents water features for gardens & wildlife. www.canr.msu.edu. Grosse Ile Garden Club Thu, May 12, 7:30pm, Grosse Ile. By Grosse Ile Garden Club. E-mail: g.i.eveninggardenclub@live.com. Rochester Garden Club Nursery Crawl Thu, May 12, By Rochester Garden Club. Join the fun of traveling to area nurseries. Carpool or travel independently. www.rochestergardenclub.org. H Bee Happy in the Garden Fri, May 13, Auburn. At Warmbier Farms. Come get ready for Spring at Warmbier Farms. warmbierfarms.com. Nursery Crawl Fri, May 13, By Rochester Garden Club. Join the fun of traveling to area nurseries. Membership: www.rochestergardenclub.org. Fair Lane Plant Sale Fri, May 13, 10am-3pm & Sat, 9am-1pm, Dearborn. By Fair Lane: Home of Clara & Henry Ford. Perennials, wildflowers, succulents, heirlooms, herbs, vegetables, water plants & more. www.HenryFordFairlane.org. H MSU Horticulture Gardens Spring Plant Sale Sat, May 14, 7am-2pm, East Lansing. By MSU Horticulture Gardens at Plant & Soil Sciences Building. www.canr.msu.edu. Farmington Hills Spring Plant & Seed Swap Sat, May 14, 8:30-10:30am, Farmington Hills. By Farmington Hills Beautification Commission at Heritage Park. Bring gloves, wagons, plants & seeds to exchange. Rain/shine. 248-871-2543. Dexter Garden Club Plant Sale Sat, May 14, 9am-2pm, Dexter. By Dexter Garden Club at Monument Park. www.dextergardenclub.org. Plant Exchange Sat, May 14, 9am-12noon, Warren. By Warren Garden Club at First United Methodist Church parking lot. Bring healthy plants & take home some new beauties. 586-215-4288. Michigan Dahlia Association Annual Plant Sale Sat, May 14, 9am-2pm, Dexter. At Dexter Mill. Handouts on growing dahlias available. Info: 734-429-5796. Troy Garden Club Perennial Plant Exchange Sat, May 14, 10am-Noon, Troy. By Troy Garden Club at Troy Family Aquatic Center. Rain/shine. Bring diseaseand pest-free perennials to trade. JAKPre24@msn.com. Spring Garden Market Sat, May 14, 10am-4pm, Niles. At Fernwood Botanical Garden. Info: www.fernwoodbotanical.org. Home Vegetable Gardening Sat, May 14, 10-11am, by MSU Tollgate. Part of 2022 Homegrown Garden Series. $12/household per session. $90 for series. Interactive virtual and hybrid series. www.canr.msu.edu. Project Grow Plant Sale Sat, May 14, 10am-2pm, Ypsilanti. By Project Grow at Dawn Farm. Advance orders accepted for a limited time. www.projectgrowgardens.org. Wildflower Tours Sat, May 14, 10:30am-12pm, Midland. At Dow Gardens. Celebrate the wildflowers of Dow Gardens with horticulturists Chuck Martin & Trent Bowen. www.dowgardens.org. Kitchen Favorites Plant Sale Sat, May 14, & Sun, May 15, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Herbs, containers & heirlooms. www.mbgna.umich.edu. Michigan All-State Bonsai Show Sat, May 14, & Sun, May 15, 9am-5pm, Grand Rapids. Frederik Meijer Gardens. Enjoy stunning bonsai trees. Classes, demos, workshops. www.meijergardens.org.

Ann Arbor Orchid Society Meeting Sun, May 15, 2-5pm, Ann Arbor. By Ann Arbor Orchid Society at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. Free. mbgna.umich.edu. Bees, Pollination & Beekeeping Sun, May 15, 2pm, Washington. At Loren Andrus Octagon House. Beekeeper Dave Putt presents on the importance of bees for pollination. https://octagonhouse.org. Garden City Garden Club Meeting Tue, May 17, 7-9pm, Garden City. At Maplewood Community Center. Find us on Facebook. Clean Up at Children’s Garden Wed, May 18, 9:30am, Rochester. By Rochester Garden Club at Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm. Bring your tools & help prep the garden for spring. Membership: www.rochestergardenclub.org. Smart Gardening at Windmill Island Gardens Wed, May 18, 6:30-7:30pm, Holland. By MSU Extension. Smart Gardening for Pollinators. www.canr.msu.edu. Meadow Brook Garden Club Perennial Plant Sale Thu, May 19, 8am-2pm, Rochester. At Meadow Brook Hall. Large variety of Michigan-grown perennials available. 248-364-6210, MBGCmembers@gmail.com. Knee High Naturalists: Sensing Spring Thu, May 19, 10-11:30am, Troy. At Stage Nature Center. Search for signs of spring with an adult partner. Register: www.troynaturesociety.org. Ikebana: Japanese Flower Arranging Thu, May 19, 1pm, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. $20. Learn about the art of Japanese flower arranging. www.mbgna.umich.edu. Herbert Dow’s Garden Tour Thu, May 19, 1-2:30pm, Midland. At Dow Gardens. Stroll back in time. Photographs, letters & journals from the archive will shed light on how the property looked when it was the private residence of the Dow family. www.dowgardens.org. The Pillars of Ecosystem Gardening Thu, May 19, 7-9pm, online. By Project Grow on Zoom. $15. www.projectgrowgardens.org. Moth Mating Cage Workshop & Presentation Thu, May 19, 7pm, Westland. By SE Michigan Butterfly Assoc at CrossWalk Community Church. $3/guest. Presented by Brenda Dziedzic. www.sembabutterfly.org. MSU Radiology Plant Sale Fri, May 20, 10am-6pm & Sat, 9am-5pm, East Lansing. At MSU Dept of Radiology Healing Gardens. Park in Lot 100. Cash/check only. Perennials, annuals, grasses, pots, hanging baskets & more. Butterflies in Your Backyard Fri, May 20, 10am, Rochester or Zoom. By Meadow Brook Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. $5. Learn how to attract butterflies in your yard. Request link by May 19: MBGCmembers@gmail.com. Herbert Dow’s Garden Tour Fri, May 20, 5-6:30pm, Midland. At Dow Gardens. Stroll back in time. Photographs, letters & journals from the archive will shed light on how the property looked when it was the private residence of the Dow family. www.dowgardens.org. Community Plant Exchange Sat, May 21, 8-10am, Shelby Twp. By Shelby Gardeners Club at Shadbush Nature Center. 586-873-3782. Plant Sharing Sat, May 21, 9-10am, Livonia. By Livonia Garden Club at Greenmead Historical Village. www.livoniagardenclub.org. Perennial Plant Exchange Sat, May 21, 9-11am, Royal Oak. By Royal Oak Garden Club at Mahany/Meininger Senior Community Center (Marais Ave). Free. Info: 248-585-4271. Meridian Garden Club Plant Sale Sat, May 21, 9am-2pm, Meridian Twp. By Meridian Garden Club at Central Park Pavilion. Perennials, native plants & houseplants, grown by members. www.meridiangardenclub.weebly.com. Waterford Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Sat, May 21, 9am-3pm, Waterford. At Waterford Senior Center. Perennials, houseplants, herbs & succulents. www.waterfordgardenclub.org. H Bonsai Workshop Sat, May 21, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $45. Make-andtake workshop. Plant & create your own bonsai tree. Limited space. Register: www.tellys.com. Dahlia Society Garden Walk Sat, May 21, 1-4pm. By Southeastern Michigan Dahlia Society. www.semds.org. continued on next page

Milarch Nursery 28500 Haas Rd., Wixom, MI 48393 248-437-2094 www.milarchnursery.com May/June hours: For 2022, we are only open exclusively to Licensed Landscape Contractors. The finest nursery stock and perennials since 1972. We grow and maintain quality plants, along with special care in handling. 27 acres of shade and flowering trees, evergreens, flowering shrubs, perennials and groundcovers. Landscape-grade sizes are available. We offer each customer a knowledgeable salesperson to assist with plant selection.

Bock’s Big Acre 1360 E. M-36, Pinckney, MI 48169 734-878-3092 @EdBockFeeds Yearly hours: 7 days, 9-6 Your gardening needs under one roof: perennials, natives, annuals, vegetables, herbs, shrubs, ornamental trees, patio pots, hanging baskets, bird feeders and seed, potting soil, compost, bagged mulch, fertilizers, yard art, statuary, pottery, outdoor furniture, Weaver barns. Three learning gardens include a Monarch Waystation, Xerces Pollinator Habitat and Registered Rain Garden.

Grasshopper Gardens 9020 Maltby Rd., Brighton, MI 48116 810-220-4406 www.grasshoppergardensmi.com May/June hours: Mon-Fri 9-7, Sat 9-6, Sun 9-5. Full-service garden center. Wonderful plant selection: trees, shrubs, annuals, perennials, fruits, vegetables. Gardening tools, supplies; pottery, statuary, sculpture, ornaments, outdoor decor. Whether you want a relaxing backyard oasis or vibrant place to gather with friends and family, we can help make your vision a reality.

Meier Flowerland 8087 W. Grand River, Brighton, MI 48114 810-229-9430 www.meierflowerland.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-7, Sun 9-6. Where you’re only limited by your imagination! We grow over 10,000 sun/shade hanging baskets. Plus annuals, geraniums, patio and deck pots for instant color, shrubs, roses, yard décor, gazing globes, stepping stones, more. Vegetables and herbs, including heirloom varieties. Wednesdays are Senior Day: 15% off live plants. Since 1954.

Van Atta’s Greenhouse 9008 Old M-78, Haslett, MI 48840 517-339-1142 www.vanattas.com May hours: Mon-Sat 9-7, Sun 10-6. June hours: Please call to confirm. One of the largest selections of plants and garden accents in Southeastern Michigan. We grow an enormous variety of perennials. There’s a good chance we have that one plant you’ve been searching for, or the garden ornament that sets your yard apart. Come stroll our grounds—you’ll be amazed at what you find.

To advertise in Destinations, email Publisher@MichiganGardener.com or call Eric at 248-594-5563

continued from previous page Time in the Garden Sat, May 21, to June 26, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens & Nichols Arboretum. Community Art Exhibit. www.mbgna.umich.edu. May Fireside Fun Fri, May 27, 5:30-7pm, Ann Arbor. At Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. Free. Outdoor fires are held rain or shine (except thunder/lightning), dress for weather. www. lesliesnc.org. 100 Years in Bloom Peony Sale Fri, May 27, to May 30. Ann Arbor. Online orders only with pickup at Matthaei Botanical Gardens. www.mbgna.umich.edu. Peony Garden Centennial Celebrations Fri, May 27, Bloom time from late May to mid June, Ann Arbor. At Nichols Arboretum. www.mbgna.umich.edu.

June Waterford Garden Club Meeting Thu, Jun 2, 10am, Waterford. At Waterford Senior Center. www.waterfordgardenclub.org. Integrated Pest Management Thu, Jun 2, 7-9pm, online. By Project Grow on Zoom. $15. www.projectgrowgardens.org. Storytime at Dow Gardens Fri, Jun 3, June to August, 10-11am, Midland. At Dow Gardens. Every Friday, hear award-winning books in Children’s Garden. 3rd Friday is super storytime. All ages welcome. www.dowgardens.org. Mayfly at Play Fri, Jun 3, 6-8:30pm, Ann Arbor. At Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. Age 18 or older event. Hors d‘oeuvres, dessert, cocktails. Make projects to be incorporated into activity areas. www.lesliesnc.org. Clarkston Perennial Plant Exchange Sat, Jun 4, 8:30am, Clarkston. By Clarkston Farm & Garden Club at Clarkston Village Parking Lot. Rain/shine. Pot/ID your plants. ID labels available on website: www.clarkstongardenclub.org. MSU Tollgate Spring Plant Sale Sat, Jun 4, 9am-2pm, Novi. At MSU Tollgate Farm. Sun/ shade perennials available. Experienced garden volunteers will answer questions. www.canr.msu.edu.

13th Annual Spring Garden Tour Sat, Jun 4, 10am-2pm, Detroit. By Black Cat Pottery, 3903 Grayton St. Cheryl English garden; over 200 species of native plants. www.blackcatpottery.com. 100 Years in Bloom Garden Walk Sat, Jun 4, 10am-4:30pm, Ann Arbor. At Matthaei Botanical Gardens. American Peony Society’s annual cut flower show. Award-winning peony blooms and floral arrangements. americanpeonysociety.org. Self-Guided Saturdays: Dow Home Sat, Jun 4, 11am-1pm, Midland. At Dow Gardens. Experience the 1899 Dow home at your own pace. Docents on hand. www.dowgardens.org. Trunk Plant Exchange & Garden Gift Basket Sale Sat, Jun 4, 12noon-2pm, Harrison Twp. By Harrison Township Beautification Commission at William Tucker Park. Gardeners sharing plants & info. 586-242-3868. H Bonsai Workshop Sat, Jun 4, 1pm, Troy. At Telly’s. $45. Class also available 6/11, 6/18, 6/25. Make-and-take workshop. Plant & create your own bonsai tree. Limited space. Register: www.tellys.com. Peony Concert & Centennial Celebrations Sat, Jun 4, 1-3pm, Ann Arbor. At Nichols Arboretum. Celebrate peony garden centennial. mbgna.umich.edu. The Dows in Their Words Sat, Jun 4, 1:30-2:30pm, Midland. At Dow Gardens. Join us in the 1899 Pines Home; excerpts read from family letters; Dow family life at the turn of the century. www.dowgardens.org. Mayfly a Day of Play Sat, Jun 4, 4-7pm, Ann Arbor. At Leslie Science & Nature Ctr. Raising funds for new nature playscape. All ages. www.lesliesnc.org. Iris Show Sat, Jun 4, & Sun, Jun 5, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Tall bearded & Siberian iris blossoms on display. www.meijergardens.org. Octagon House Plant Sale Sun, Jun 5, 10am-3pm, Washington. At Octagon House, 57500 Van Dyke Ave. Re-potted perennials (both native & non-native) available. dputt5@yahoo.com. Clarkston Garden Club Meeting Mon, Jun 6, Clarkston. Info: www.clarkstongardenclub.org.

Clancy E. Lewis Landscape Arboretum Tour Tue, Jun 7, East Lansing. By Capital Area Master Gardeners at MSU. With Brian Gayheart, new Arboretum Manager. mgacac.wordpress.com. Edelweiss Garden Club Meeting Wed, Jun 8, 9:30am, Gaylord. By Edelweiss Garden Club at Otsego Co. Library Meeting Room. New members welcome. Find us on Facebook. Flower Ladies Bouquet-Making Wed, Jun 8, 10am-3pm, Ann Arbor. By Ann Arbor Farm & Garden. www.annarborfarmandgarden.org. H 36th Annual Franklin Garden Walk Wed, Jun 8, 10am-4pm & 6-9pm, Franklin. By Women’s National Farm & Garden Association & Franklin Garden Club. $12 presale tickets @ The Village Boutique or 2022franklingardenwalk.eventbrite.com. Maps, directions & tickets ($15) available on tour day at Gazebo. Artisan Market next to Franklin Green. www.franklingardenclub.org, Shelley Krieg: 248-761-2062. Honey, Who Shrunk the Shrubs? Wed, Jun 8, 12:30pm, Grand Rapids. By Kent Garden Club at Frederik Meijer Gardens. Presented by Natalie Carmolli. www.kentgardenclub.org. Van Hoosen Program Thu, Jun 9, 9am-4pm, Rochester Hills. By Rochester Garden Club at Van Hoosen Farm. Free. Learn about favorite annuals/perennials. All are welcome. www.rochestergardenclub.org. Grosse Ile Garden Club Thu, Jun 9, 7:30pm, Grosse Ile. By Grosse Ile Garden Club. Info: g.i.eveninggardenclub@live.com. Yardeners Native Plant Sale Fri, Jun 10, 3-6pm & Sat, Jun 11, 9am-Noon, St Clair Shores. By Yardeners of St. Clair Shores on grounds of Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum. Cash/Check only. scsyardeners@gmail.com. Home Vegetable Gardening Sat, Jun 11, 10-11am, by MSU Tollgate. Part of 2022 Homegrown Garden Series. $12/household per session. $90 for series. Interactive virtual and hybrid series. www.canr.msu.edu. Perennial & Garden Treasure Sale Sat, Jun 11, 10am-4pm, Plymouth. Details: www.TrailwoodGardenClub.com, 734-459-7146.

Native Plant Sale Sat, Jun 11, 10am-4pm, Clarkston. By Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy at 7121 Dixie (Neiman’s Family Market parking). Offering 60 native species. www.blueheronheadwaters.org. 78th Annual Iris Show Sun, Jun 12, 7am-4:30pm, Hale. By Mio Irisarians at Plainfield Township Hall. Open to public at 1:30. Entering info: mioirisarians@gmail.com. Northville Garden Walk Mon, Jun 13, 9am-4pm, Northville. By Country Garden Club of Northville at 6 private gardens. $12/advance, $15/ day of. www.cgcnv.org, 734-735-9935. Master Gardener Society of Oakland Cty Meeting Tue, Jun 14, 6:30pm, via Zoom. Info: www.mgsoc.org. Rochester Garden Walk Thu, Jun 16, 10am-5pm, Rochester Hills. By Rochester Garden Club & Rochester Museum at Van Hoosen Farm. Native plant sale, gently used garden items & more. www.RochesterGardenClub.org. Monarch Presentation Thu, Jun 16, 7pm, Westland. By SE Michigan Butterfly Association at CrossWalk Community Church. $3/guest. Presented by Brenda Dziedzic. www.sembabutterfly.org. Milford Garden Club Annual Garden Walk Fri, Jun 17, & Sat, Jun 18, Milford. By Milford Garden Club at 7 area gardens. Tickets: www.themilfordgardenclub.org. Pollineighbor Celebration Sat, Jun 18, 11am-4pm, Novi. At MSU Tollgate Farm. Educational event during International Pollinator’s Week. www.canr.msu.edu. Garden City Garden Club Meeting Tue, Jun 21, 7-9pm, Garden City. By Garden City Garden Club at Maplewood Community Center. Find us on Facebook. Grosse Pointe Garden Center 30th Annual Garden Tour Fri, Jun 24, & Sat, Jun 25, Grosse Pointe. 8 area gardens plus Enrichment Series on “Creatures of the Night.” Learning stations on bats, moths & other beneficial nocturnal dwellers. Garden shoppe & artists in the gardens. www.gpgardencenter.org, gpgardencenter@ outlook.com, 313-499-0743. Fundraiser Rummage Sale Fri, Jun 24, 10am-4pm & Sun, Jun 26, 10am-1pm, Warren. Warren Garden Club at Old Village Hall, 5961 Beebe. Fundraiser for annual scholarship. 586-215-4288.

MichiganGardener.com | May 2022 | Michigan Gardener

Classified Ads ORGANIC GARDENING - Professional horticulturist 35 years’ experience: Garden coaching, design, upcoming webinars, public speaking, staff training. Rosina Newton 512-638-3401, www.NewEarthHomeAndGarden.com.

Bell, Anaheim, Poblano, Banana, and Cubanelle peppers are all good options for this recipe.

A fresh batch of homemade pesto has many uses in the kitchen.

Roasted Pepper Crostini

rostini is the perfect appesired, feel free to add in red onion, tizer: crusty bread, cheese, eggplant, or zucchini. Then take and toppings combine to some goat cheese and whip until make the best hand-held snack, smooth and creamy. Turn all that leaving your other hand free for fragrant basil into homemade pesto a glass of rosé. Are you with me? sauce. It goes on everything from This Roasted Pepper Crostini with these crostini, to pasta, to grilled Whipped Goat Cheese and Homechicken or even slathers on bread made Pesto is great for using all and makes a fantastic Caprese Stephanie those peppers and basil growing in grilled cheese sandwich with mozSurowiec your garden this summer! zarella and tomato. Start with any peppers you have: Pre-assemble the crostini for these are a mix of Red & Orange Bell, Anayour guests as an elegant appetizer, or place heim, Poblano, Banana, and Cubanelle. I don’t all the components on a board as pictured and recommend hot peppers for this recipe. If delet everyone make their own. You can do this!

Ingredients

Serves: 6-8 as an appetizer. Total time: 45 mins Roasted Pepper Crostini • French Baguette • Whipped Goat Cheese • Pesto Sauce • Fresh Roasted Peppers • Balsamic Glaze (such as Trader Joe’s or Dellalo)

Instructions 1. Roast the peppers: Toss 1 lb. sliced peppers (about 1.5 lbs whole) with salt and pepper, 2 tbsp olive oil and 2 grated garlic cloves. Roast in the oven on a large sheet pan at 450 degrees for 15 min, toss, then roast another 15 minutes. 2. Grill the baguette: Slice baguette into about 24 slices. Brush each side with olive oil and place on medium grill, about 3 minutes per side, or bake at 350 degrees for 10 min. 3. Whip the goat cheese: In a small food

processor, combine 8 oz of room temperature plain goat cheese, 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp honey, salt and freshly ground pepper. Whip until smooth. 4. Make the pesto: In a small food processor, combine 1/4 cup of gently toasted pine nuts and 2 cloves garlic and pulse into a fine paste. Add in 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, and 2 packed cups fresh basil leaves and pulse again. With machine running, stream in 1/3 cup olive oil, adding more to reach desired consistency. Pour mixture into a bowl and add 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and a squeeze of lemon. Stir gently to combine. 5. Assemble the crostini: Place grilled bread on a tray and top each with goat cheese and a dollop of pesto sauce. Spoon a generous amount of roasted peppers onto each crostini, and finish with a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Garnish with fresh basil leaves!

Stephanie Surowiec is the recipe developer, food stylist, and photographer behind Dinner Club Diaries, a local food blog that focuses on delicious, approachable family meals and casual entertaining. You can find Stephanie’s recipes at www.dinnerclubdiaries.com, on Instagram @dinnerclubdiaries , or on Facebook at Dinner Club Diaries.

NEED TO REPLACE SOME GRASS? We provide top quality sod grass to metro Detroit homeowners like you. Hillcrest Sod Farms has been growing quality sod for over 50 years. We provide sod to Do-It-Yourselfers or we can do the entire installation for you. A half century of experience has taught us to treat our customers like family—personalized care and attention is what you can expect from Hillcrest. For a free estimate, call 734-9419595 and ask for Mike or Caryl. Or visit www. sodfarm.com to learn more. PART-TIME GARDENER WANTED. Flexible schedule. Weeding, planting, staking, deadheading. Work in private garden under direction of experienced head gardener. Franklin/Bingham Farms area. Emails please to: garden4321@yahoo.com.

NEED A HAND? Call “The little gardener that could.” 15 yrs experience at Botanical Gardens. FREE Estimates. Pat: 586-214-9852, agardenspace.com. ZOOM GARDEN SPEAKER AVAILABLE for your club or group. Well-traveled garden writer does virtual garden presentations & travelogues. This active collector gardener can speak on many subjects. For presentation list, biography, fee & references, contact Julia Hofley at Julia@juliasbiglife.com. 248-4972674. Find me on Facebook. MICHIGAN GARDENER E-NEWSLETTER Sign up for our free e-newsletter! We send out a few each year, and there are contests to win prizes as well. (No spam, and we do not share your e-mail.) Go to www.MichiganGardener. com and simply enter your e-mail address. Michigan Gardener Classified Advertising is a cost-effective way to promote yourself and your business. Need help? Have help to give? Have a big event coming up? Have items to sell? Let our readers know! Go to MichiganGardener.com >> “Advertising” >> “Classified Advertising.”

Precipitation March 2022

Detroit Flint Lansing

NORMAL Monthly 2.43 1.97 2.13

ACTUAL Monthly 2.18 2.47 2.99

March 2021 DEVIATION from Normal -0.25 +0.50 +0.86

2022 Year to Date: Jan 1 - March 31

Detroit Flint Lansing

NORMAL Yr. to Date 6.74 5.64 5.90

ACTUAL Yr. to Date 5.31 5.45 7.35

NORMAL Monthly 2.43 1.97 2.13

ACTUAL Monthly 2.13 1.83 1.61

DEVIATION from Normal -0.30 -0.14 -0.52

2021 Year to Date: Jan 1 - March 31

DEVIATION from Normal -1.43 -0.19 +1.45

NORMAL Yr. to Date 6.74 5.64 5.90

ACTUAL Yr. to Date 4.63 4.60 4.29

DEVIATION from Normal -2.11 -1.04 -1.61

Temperature March 2022

March 2021

Detroit Flint Lansing

NORMAL Avg. High 45.9 43.3 44.4

ACTUAL Avg. High 48.4 45.4 46.8

DEVIATION from Normal +2.5 +2.1 +2.4

NORMAL Avg. High 45.9 43.3 44.4

ACTUAL Avg. High 54.7 54.7 53.0

DEVIATION from Normal +8.8 +11.4 +8.6

Detroit Flint Lansing

NORMAL Avg. Low 28.6 25.1 26.0

ACTUAL Avg. Low 30.1 26.7 28.1

DEVIATION from Normal +1.5 +1.6 +2.1

NORMAL Avg. Low 28.6 25.1 26.0

ACTUAL Avg. Low 31.2 30.9 29.5

DEVIATION from Normal +2.6 +5.8 +3.5

Data courtesy National Weather Service

Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

Borrowed landscapes between friends The Greanyas and Bylers have blurred their neighboring property line and melded two fabulous gardens into one superb, larger landscape

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

At the Greanya and Byler properties, two superb gardens blend seamlessly into one another.

ven with the addresses to direct me, I knew without checking that I had arrived at the right gardens in Jackson. The street views into the neighboring gardens of Libby and Michael Greanya and Pat and Rick Byler are amazing, with hostas being a prominent plant. Even a casual passerby would know passionate gardeners are in residence at both homes. The fun part of these gardens is that the neighbors have “borrowed” each other’s landscapes. The line between them is blurred—when asked where the property line is, the Greanyas and Bylers say, “It is there somewhere.” The actual boundary isn’t a concern at all. In fact, Libby says, “The best thing

Over the years they have met many hosta hybridizers and it was fascinating to learn that more than one is based in the Jackson here in area. One such hybridizer, Dr. Gil Jones, has a hosta named for him as well as the hostas he has created, including ‘Shazaam’ and ‘Warwick Comet.’ The funny thing is, he was also Libby’s obstetrician. In 1983 he told her he wouldn’t deliver her baby unless she took home a hosta and planted it. So, at eight months pregnant, she did just that. That hosta not only started her, and Michael, on the Lisa road to being hosta collectors, but to Steinkopf being parents as well (even though

about our garden is the neighbor’s garden.”

The Greanya garden When Libby and Michael moved 1991 to build a house on the lake, they had been growing hostas since 1983 and wanted to bring them along. So, during the transition, a friend allowed them to “store” their hostas in her veggie garden. They were mixed in with the corn and squash to allow them to get a bit of shade. This was a generous act on their friend’s part, as they had 40 to 50 hostas to squirrel away while they built their house.

I suspect Dr. Jones would have delivered the baby even without the hosta planting!). At that time, there were only about 100 registered hostas, compared to the thousands today. As you can imagine, it would be easy to become a collector with so many to choose from. The Greanyas aren’t solely hosta collectors though. They are also members of the North American Rock Garden Society (known as NARGS) and the American Conifer Society. Conifers naturally go well with rock garden plantings as many of the tiny conifers fit right in with the diminutive rock garden plants. After becoming enamored with dwarf conifers, Michael and Libby took a grafting class at Arrowhead Alpines in Fowlerville,

MichiganGardener.com | May 2022 | Michigan Gardener

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

This faux bois sitting bench is both decorative and functional.

and still have a few of them in the garden. One conifer they are especially proud of is a Korean fir (Abies koreana ‘Silberlocke’) that is over 25 feet tall and has been in their yard for over 30 years. They also are honored to care for a 57-year-old weeping Canadian hemlock and a 91-year-old Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana.’ Michael quips that you only get those old trees through death, divorce, or bankruptcy. Their trees came from a bankrupt Oregon nursery. Thankfully, the Greanyas are giving them a good life in their 3/4acre garden. It may surprise you to know, as it did me, that when gardens are included on the garden tour during the National Hosta Convention, they are chosen three years in advance, thus giving the owners plenty of time to get them in tip-top shape. In that vein, I learned an interesting tidbit about hostas while touring these superb gardens. Do you know how there is always debris in the area where the stem meets the hosta leaf? It bothers me and I’m always washing the debris out when I water my garden. I had no idea it had a

name—the hosta’s “navel.” When guests are coming to see the garden, each one of those navels are cleaned with a paint brush or some other tool the day of the walk. Dirty hosta navels are not acceptable on a garden tour where people are coming specifically to see the hostas! In 1996, the Greanyas were asked to be on the 1999 walk and had over 500 visitors, some hailing from as far away as Australia, the Netherlands, and Great Britain. When their neighbor Pat found out they were on the tour, she decided it was time to start working on her garden. Both the Greanyas and the Bylers were on the walk in 2009. The Greayna’s garden is also featured in the book called The Book of Little Hostas, by Kathy and Michael Shadrack. To accommodate their tiny hostas and other dwarf and miniature rock plants, Libby and Michael had 22 pallets of British Columbia tufa rock delivered, sharing some of them with other rock garden society members. In the curve of the driveway, the sunny rock garden is prominent, with over 300 diminutive plants tucked into the tufa. In the shaded rock garden, there are mini hostas and other shadeloving companion plants. Because the Greanyas are on a lake, they found the property had a high water table, so most of the beds are raised to help with drainage. Pat and Rick’s yard, though a bit swampy in the back, is higher than Libby and Michael’s, so their planting beds are at ground level with no problems. The question I had to ask: how do they keep the deer out of their gardens? Hostas are considered a gourmet meal to them, and continued on next page

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

A great example of a shared view—this golden conifer (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop’) sits next to the Greanya back deck, while the red Japanese maple (Acer palmatum ‘Crimson Queen’) nearby is in the Byler’s backyard.

Lisa Steinkopf

Obtained in Detroit, this crucible was used for smelting aluminum.

Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

continued from previous page the gardens are in a wooded neighborhood. The Greanyas have installed an electric fence that is only turned on during the nighttime hours. The Greanyas spend 6 to 8 hours per day working in the garden, so the deer steer clear when they are present. When the lake freezes in the winter, the deer have been known to walk across and find some tasty things to nibble on, but fortunately, that doesn’t happen often.

The Byler garden In 1999, when the Bylers learned that hundreds of people were touring the garden next door, they decided it was time to improve the look of their yard. When they started tackling the weeds and poison ivy in the area where they wanted a garden, it was quite swampy. They discovered the water and weeds were hiding old tires, steel drums, and shingles that had previously been dumped there. They cleaned it up and decided to work with the swampy environment they had, so they created a bog garden. Years later, after a back injury, Pat had to make the decision to downsize the garden. One thing she did was take out the bog garden and plant two trees known to soak up water in wet areas. She planted a swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) and a dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), both of which are thriving. By planting these trees, the Bylers now have a green lawn surrounded by beds of hostas and other shade lovers, as well as some sun-loving plants where there is more light available. Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

continued on page 50

The Greanya garden holds a wide array of plants, from perennials and rock garden gems to shrubs, trees, and conifers.

Lisa Steinkopf Lisa Steinkopf

Libby Greanya shows why the hosta ‘Snake Eyes’ is so named.

Just a few inches across, this coral bell (Heuchera) for the shade rock garden reveals its truly miniature nature.

MichiganGardener.com | May 2022 | Michigan Gardener

Lisa Steinkopf

Left: Michael and Libby Greanya. Right: Pat and Rick Byler.

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

Primula ‘Drag Queen’ at the Bylers.

Lisa Steinkopf Lisa Steinkopf

Looking into the Byler garden with a tricolor beech providing a pop of color in the background.

This architectural artifact came from the 1800s post office in Jackson, Michigan.

Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

Lisa Steinkopf

In the foreground at the Bylers, the swamp white oak at left and dawn redwood at right help absorb excess water. In the background are borrowed views from the Greanya garden.

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener Lisa Steinkopf

Chinese ground orchid (Bletilla striata) is the easiest hardy terrestrial orchid to grow in Michigan.

Shooting star (Primula meadia, syn. Dodecatheon meadia) enjoys shade and moist, well-drained soil at the Bylers.

MichiganGardener.com | May 2022 | Michigan Gardener

Website Extra Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Website Extras” for more photos of the Greanya/Byler garden.

continued from page 48

Lisa Steinkopf

While fresh spring perennials emerge, the Bylers can also enjoy the lake view from their breakfast room.

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

Springtime is glorious in the Byler garden beds—primulas, hellebores, and spring ephemerals put on quite a show.

In the spring, along with numerous hostas, Pat’s lush garden includes tree peonies, primulas, hepaticas, and ephemerals such as trillium, bleeding hearts, Virginia bluebells, and gentians. In the summer, the stars of the show include Siberian iris, astilbe, bletilla (a terrestrial orchid), lilies, Japanese painted ferns, and many more. Along with removing the bog garden, she also downsized other planting beds and uses many dwarf and miniature plants. Based on the big beds and variety of plants, you would never know that a downsizing had occurred! Since it is difficult to garden for long stretches of time, Pat paces herself and works in the garden about an hour a day except in the spring when there is more to do. As we continued our stroll around the Byler’s home, we came to a striking architectural artifact that came from an 1800s post office in Jackson. Along with other parts of the building, it had been dumped in a field. After that land was purchased by a friend, Pat saw the carved pillar base and knew it had to be in her garden. Rick was skeptical, but after it was carefully moved and installed, he saw why she loved it. The faces on each side of this former building accoutrement are captivating. They watch over the Byler garden and add winter interest as well. Next up is a small garden right outside the breakfast room that overlooks the lake and has a gorgeous view from indoors. The planting beds continue around the entire house, blending in with their neighbors along the way. The Byler and Greanya properties are technically two separate gardens, but they are perceived and enjoyed as one. I was impressed by the lovely landscapes, but the way these neighbors garden together with no visible property line is truly inspiring. Think how much better our gardens would be if we could share them with our neighbors, forgetting about lines and fences. In this case, they blur the edges and borrow the views from the lake and each other to create large spaces with beautiful vistas. Lisa Steinkopf is The Houseplant Guru. Check out her newly updated website and blog at www.thehouseplantguru.com. Contact Lisa to speak at your next club meeting or event (houseplantgurulisa@gmail.com or 734-7481241). Follow her on Facebook (Facebook.com/ HouseplantGuru), Twitter (@houseplantguru), and Instagram (houseplantguru).

A collection of stores and gardens to shop and visit. Please call ahead for hours, as they may vary from season to season.

Mt. Pleasant

Gladwin

Bay City

Midland

Auburn

Saginaw North Branch Clio

Lapeer

Davison

Imlay City

Flushing

Owosso

Lennon

Burton

Port Huron

Dryden

Grand Blanc

Flint

Emmett

Hadley Almont

Bancroft

Grand Rapids

Bruce Twp. Fenton

Oxford

Ortonville

Lansing

East Lansing

Oakland

Clarkston Hartland

Williamston

White Lake

Howell

Mason

Pinckney

Stockbridge

Whitmore Lake

Rochester

White Lake Waterford

Pontiac

Northville

Grosse Pointes

Livonia Redford Plymouth

Dexter

Chelsea

Jackson

Ann Arbor

Grass Lake

Superior Twp

Detroit Westland

Canton

Taylor Belleville

Saline New Boston Tecumseh

Britton

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H American Tree 3903 Van Dyke Rd, MI 48003 810-798-2525 www.americantreeinc.com Brohl’s Flower Gard ann arbor H Abbott’s Nurs & Garden Ctr 2781 Scio Church Rd, MI 48103 734-665-8733 www.abbottsnursery.com H Downtown Home/Gard 210 S Ashley St, MI 48104 734-662-8122 www.downtownhomeandgarden.com H HillTop Greenhse/Farms

H Lodi Farms 2880 S Wagner Rd, MI 48103 734-665-5651 www.lodifwarms.com H The Produce Station Turner’s Greenhse & Garden Ctr Wild Birds Unltd armada Pond Guy auburn H Warmbier Farms 5300 Garfield Rd, MI 48611 989-662-7002 www.warmbierfarms.com auburn hills Haley Stone H State Crushing bancroft Grand Oak Herb Farm

bay city H Begick Nursery & Garden Ctr 5993 Westside Saginaw Rd, MI 48706 989-684-4210 www.begicknursery.com belleville H Banotai Greenhse Gardeners Choice H Pinter Flowerland H Zywicki Greenhse berkley Garden Central birmingham H Blossoms blissfield Ogden Station Daylilies

brownstown twp Bruce’s Pond Shop Raupp Brothers Gard Ctr H Ruhlig Farms & Gard 24508 Telegraph Rd, MI 48134 734-782-9811 www.ruhligfarmsandgardens.com bruce twp

La Salle

almont

Ray

Macomb Rochester Hills Shelby Twp. New Utica Baltimore Auburn Hills Sylvan Lake Clinton Twp. Chesterfield Commerce Milford Troy West Sterling Hts. Bloomfield Bloom. Hills Birmingham Walled Lake St. Clair Berkley Wixom Roseville Shores Brighton Warren Royal Oak New Hudson Eastpointe South Lyon Novi Farmington Southfield Hills Highland

Fowlerville

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bloomfield hills H Fleurdetroit 1507 Old S. Telegraph Rd, MI 48302 248-953-3840 www.fleurdetroit.com brighton Bordine’s Brighton Stone H Grasshopper Gardens Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland 8087 W. Grand River, MI 48114 810-229-9430 www.meierflowerland.com britton H Mark Prielipp Greenhouse & Mohr 7722 Britton Hwy, MI 49229 517-451-0022 www.mpgreenhouse.com

H Van’s Valley Greenhouse 74865 Van Dyke Rd, MI 48065 586-752-6002 www.vansvalley.com burton H Country Oaks Landscp Supp H Walker Farms & Greenhouse 5253 E. Atherton Rd, MI 48519 810-743-0260 www.walkersfarm.com canton Canton Floral Gardens Schmidt’s Roadside Wild Birds Unltd chelsea H Garden Mill 110 S. Main St, MI 48118 734-475-3539 www.thegardenmill.com The Potting Shed

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chesterfield H Van Thomme’s Greenhses clarkston Bordine’s H Country Oaks Landscp Supp Lowrie’s Landscp clinton twp H English Gardens 44850 Garfield Rd, MI 48038 586-286-6100 www.englishgardens.com Michigan Koi Tropical Treasures clio H Piechnik’s Greenhouse 13172 McCumsey Rd, MI 48420 810-686-9211 www.piechniks.com columbus Haack’s Farm Greenhses commerce twp H Zoner’s Greenhouse 2355 E. Commerce Rd, MI 48382 248-363-6742 www.zonersgreenhouse.com davison H Wojo’s Gard Splendors 7360 E. Court St, MI 48423 810-658-9221 www.wojos.com dearborn Fairlane Gardens dearborn heights H English Gardens 22650 Ford Rd, MI 48127 313-278-4433 www.englishgardens.com dexter H Dexter Mill Earth Art H Fraleighs Landscape Nursery 8600 Jackson Rd, MI 48130 734-426-5067 www.fraleighs.com eastpointe Drew’s Garden H English Gardens 22501 Kelly Rd, MI 48021 586-771-4200 www.englishgardens.com farmington hills Angelo’s Landscp Supp Farmer John’s Greenhse H Steinkopf Nursery 20815 Farmington Rd., MI 48336 248-474-2925 www.steinkopfnursery.com fenton Carlson’s Greenhse H Gerych’s Greenhouse & Flowers 713 W Silver Lake Rd., MI 48430 810-629-5995 www.gerychsdesign.com H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm 13730 White Lake Rd, MI 48430 810-629-9208 www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com ferndale Olive’s Bloombox flat rock Masserant’s Feed/Grain flushing H Flushing Lawn & Garden Ctr 114 Terrace St, MI 48433 810-659-6241 www.unclelukes.com gladwin H Stone Cottage Gardens

grand blanc Bordine’s Sunrise Greenhouse H The Weed Lady 9225 Fenton Rd, MI 48439 810-655-2723 www.theweedlady.com grass lake H Designs by Judy Florist & Greenhse 3250 Wolf Lake Rd, MI 49240 517-522-5050 www.designsbyjudyflowers.com grosse ile H Westcroft Gardens & Farm 21803 West River Rd, MI 48138 734-676-2444 www.westcroftgardens.com grosse pointe Allemon’s Landscp Ctr Otherworld GP grosse pointe woods Wild Birds Unltd hadley Le Fleur Décor hartland Deneweth’s Garden Ctr haslett Christian’s Greenhse H Van Atta’s Greenhse 9008 Old M-78, MI 48840 517-339-1142 www.vanattas.com highland Colasanti’s Produce/Plant Fragments Highland Garden Ctr Rock Bottom Landscp Supp Thornton Nurs howell Penrose Nurs H Superior Landscape Supplies 4805 Musson Rd, MI 48855 517-548-2068 Find us on Facebook Wilczewski Greenhses imlay city Earthly Arts Greenhse Schutz’s Tree Farm Super & Sons Nurs jackson Hobbit Greenhouses kalamazoo H River Street Flowerland 1300 River St, MI 49048 269-342-9207 www.riverstreetflowerland.com H Wedel’s Nursery, Florist & Gdn Ctr 5020 Texas Dr, MI 49009 269-345-1195 www.wedels.com lake orion Fogler’s Greenhse H Lake Orion Lawn Orn H Orion Stone Depot 4888 Joslyn Rd, MI 48359 248-391-2490 www.orionstone.com lansing Lansing Gardens lapeer The Iron Barn lasalle Fowler’s Gift Shop lennon Stone Case Inc. livonia Bushel Mart George’s Livonia Gardens

macomb Altermatt Farms H Brohl’s Greenhse Deneweth’s Garden Ctr H Elya’s Village Gardens Landscape Source Joe Randazzo’s Nurs Olejnik Farms Wiegand’s Nursery Wild Birds Unltd manchester McLennan Nurs mason Wildtype Nurs milford Milford Gardens The Pond Place monroe The Flower Market new baltimore H Meldrum Bros Nurs new boston H Bush & Son Landscape Supplies H Grass Roots Pond & Garden 24765 Bell Rd, MI 48164 734-753-9200 www.grassrootspondandgarden.com new hudson Fletcher & Rickard Landscp Supp north branch H Campbell’s Greenhouses 4077 Burnside Rd, MI 48461 810-688-3587 www.campbellsgreenhouses.com H Oldani Landscape Nurseries 2666 Tozer Rd, MI 48461 810-688-2363 www.oldanilandscapenurseries.com northville Begonia Brothers Gardenviews at Home H Willow Greenhouse 7839 Curtis Rd, MI 48168 248-437-7219 www.willowgreenhouse.com novi Glenda’s Gard Ctr Wild Birds Unltd oakland twp H Piechnik’s Garden Ctr 1095 N. Rochester Rd, MI 48363 586-336-7200 www.piechniks.com ortonville Bedrock Express H Wojo’s Greenhse 2570 Oakwood Rd, MI 48462 248-627-6498 www.wojos.com owosso H Everlastings in Wildwood Crooked Tree Nurs Sunburst Gardens oxford Dafoe’s Feed & Seed pinckney H Bock’s Big Acre plymouth H English Gardens Plymouth Nurs 9900 Ann Arbor Rd W, MI 48170 734-453-5500 www.englishgardens.com Graye’s Greenhse Plymouth Rock & Supp H Rock Shoppe 6275 Gotfredson, MI 48170 734-455-5560 www.rock-shoppe.com Sparr’s Greenhse

pontiac Goldner Walsh Gard/Home ray Heritage Oaks redford H Pinter Flowerland richmond Jusko’s Greenhse rochester Fogler’s Greenhse Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr rochester hills H Auburn Oaks Garden Ctr 3820 West Auburn Rd, MI 48309 248-852-2310 www.auburnoaksnursery.com Bordine’s Haley Stone Wild Birds Unltd romulus Block’s Stand/Greenhse Kurtzhals’ Farms Rush Gard Ctr Schwartz’s Greenhouse roseville H Dale’s Landscaping Supply 16720 E 13 Mile Rd, MI 48066 586-778-1919 www.daleslandscaping.com Flower Barn Nurs Sea World royal oak H English Gardens 4901 Coolidge Hwy, MI 48073 248-280-9500 www.englishgardens.com Wild Birds Unltd saginaw H Abele Greenhouse & Garden Ctr 3500 Wadsworth Rd, MI 48601 989-752-5625 www.abelegreenhouse.com saline H Clink Landscaping & Nursery 9403 W. Michigan Ave, MI 48176 734-495-3779 www.clinklandscaping.com KBK Gard Ctr H Saline Flowerland shelby twp Diegel’s Greenhse H Hessell’s Greenhouse Maeder Plant Farm H Telly’s Greenhouse 4343 24 Mile, MI 48316 248-659-8555 www.tellys.com south lyon Mike’s Garden Stone Depot Landscp Supp southfield H Eagle Landscp/Supp 20779 Lahser Rd., MI 48034 248-356-4342 https://eaglelandscapesupply.com Lavin’s Flower Land H Main’s Landscp Supp st clair shores Greenhouse Growers Hall’s Nurs H Soulliere Gard Ctr sterling heights Decor Statuette H Eckert’s Greenhouse 34051 Ryan Rd, MI 48310 586-264-5678 www.eckertsgreenhouse.com Prime Landscp Supp

stockbridge Gee Farms superior twp Lucas Nurs sylvan lake H AguaFina Gardens International 2629 Orchard Lake Rd, MI 48320 248-738-0500 www.aguafina.com Detroit Garden Works taylor D&L Garden Ctr Massab Acres Greenhse H Panetta’s Landscp Supp tecumseh Mitchell’s Lawn/Landscp trenton Carefree Lawn Ctr troy H Telly’s Greenhouse 3301 John R Rd, MI 48083 248-689-8735 www.tellys.com H Uncle Luke’s Feed Store 6691 Livernois Rd, MI 48098 248-879-9147 www.unclelukes.com utica Stonescape Supp walled lake H Suburban Landscp Supp warren Beste’s Lawn/Patio Supp Kutchey Family Mkt washington Landscp Direct Rocks ‘n’ Roots waterford Breen’s Landscp Supp H Merritt Home Design 5940 Cooley Lake Rd., MI 48327 248-681-7955 www.merritthomedesigns.com west bloomfield H English Gardens 6370 Orchard Lake Rd, MI 48322 248-851-7506 www.englishgardens.com westland H Barson’s Greenhse 6414 North Merriman Rd, MI 48185 734-421-5959 www.barsons.com Bushel Stop Joe Randazzo’s Nurs Merlino’s Bushel Ctr Panetta’s Landscp white lake H Bogie Lake Greenhouses 1525 Bogie Lake Rd, MI 48383 248-887-5101 www.bogielakegreenhouses.com H Mulligan’s Landscp & Gard Ctr 8215 Elizabeth Lake Rd, MI 48386 248-698-4741 www.mulliganlandscaping.com Sunshine Plants whitmore lake H Alexander Farm Mkt & Greenhouses 6925 Whitmore Lake Rd, MI 48189 734-741-1064 Find us on Facebook williamston Christians Greenhse wixom Angelo’s Landscp Supp H Milarch Nurs Milford Tree Farm

ypsilanti Coleman’s Farm Mkt H Margolis Nurs 9600 Cherry Hill Rd, MI 48198 734-482-0771 www.margoliscompanies.com Materials Unlimited Mich Greenscape Supp H Sell Farms & Greenhouses 7200 Willis Rd, MI 48197 734-484-3819 www.sellfarmsandgreenhouses.com Superior Farm & Gard

Gardens to Visit ann arbor Matthaei Botanical Gardens/Nichols Arboretum battle creek Leila Arboretum blissfield Ogden Station Daylilies AHS Display Garden bloomfield hills H Cranbrook Gardens 380 Lone Pine Rd, MI 48303 248-645-3147 housegardens.cranbrook.edu clinton twp Tomlinson Arboretum dearborn Arjay Miller Arboretum @ Ford World HQ Henry Ford Estate detroit Anna S Whitcomb Conservtry, Belle Isle Lafayette Greens dryden Seven Ponds Nature Ctr east lansing H MSU Horticulture Gardens W.J. Beal Botanical Gard emmett H Sunny Fields Botanical Park 5444 Welch Rd, MI 48022 810-387-2765 www.visitsunnyfields.org flint Applewood Estate grand rapids Frederik Meijer Gardens grosse pointe shores Edsel & Eleanor Ford Hse lansing Cooley Gardens lapeer The Display Garden on Suncrest midland Dahlia Hill Dow Gardens novi Tollgate Education Ctr rochester Meadow Brook Hall & Gardens taylor Taylor Conservatory & Botanical Gard tipton

Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

How to control aphids in your garden

Green aphids cover these rose buds. Aphids can range in color from green, to yellow, and red or brown. Notice the castings from molting aphids.

A measured approach: When to let them go, and when to intervene

he mystery and magic of gardening— the unexpected flourishing or sudden death of plants—fosters a mythological outlook. Plant health often seems directed by mischievous fairies or generous nymphs. In Greek mythology, meliae nymphs dropped honeydew from ash trees and nursed Zeus at his birth. To mortal gardeners, these meliae are less beneficent, weakening plants and leaving black sooty residue over ornamental trees. Today, we know these meliae as aphids.

What is an aphid? Aphids are a sucking insect—a category of insect that includes mealybugs, whiteflies, and scale. Such insects have long, snout-like mouthparts that pierce and insert into the phloem cells of plants. The phloem is the vessel by which the plant transports photosynthesis products (rich in sugars) up to the shoots and down to the roots of a plant. This portion of the plant is oozing with sap during the late spring growing season. Watch for the first signs of aphids during this period.

Honeydew smorgasbord The ingested sap contained in the phloem is under relatively high pressure. The aphid’s small body cannot possibly absorb the firehose of sugary syrup. This is where the magic begins. The extra sap is secreted as a sticky, high-energy substance called honeydew. Fresh honeydew is collected by many types of bees, and honey produced from honeydew (instead of flower nectar) is a dark-flavored delicacy. Most interestingly, ants will form a symbiosis with aphids, rounding them up like cattle and will even transport them to new plants to milk aphids of their honeydew and provide the colony with long-term sustenance.

Why control aphids? But perversion always accompanies mythological nymphs when their merrymaking is not put under control. In spring and early summer, aphids can overwhelm a garden in a matter of days. Aphids reach sexual maturity in as little as six days, can reproduce asexually, and sometimes produce live offspring Neil and Ruth (instead of eggs). Up to 20 Atzinger generations are produced

annually. An innocent magnolia will be overwhelmed by a raucous party of aphids, scale, and ants who leave spilt honeydew covering the leaves and ground. For weeks on end, honeydew covers the tree and plants below, and no one volunteers to clean up. Two issues accompany uncontrolled aphids and the honeydew coating they produce—sooty mold and plant viruses. The moist, sticky film of honeydew, combined with warmer weather, is the perfect host for fungus. Sooty mold, while not fatal to plants, can cause an unsightly black layer of fungus to cover leaves and bark. A heavy infection of sooty mold can block sunlight to leaves, weakening the plant and making it more susceptible to other pathogens. These pathogens include viruses that aphids bring after feasting on infected plants nearby.

How to control aphids and sooty mold An integrated pest management solution first requires knowledge of the pest being controlled and knowledge of how the pest attacks gardens. Heavy-handed approaches can have inverse effects on desirable plants

P H OTO G R A P H S BY N E I L A N D R U T H AT Z I N G E R

and beneficial insects. Two facts will guide our approach with aphids: 1) a small population of aphids in the garden is acceptable, even beneficial, and 2) viruses transmitted by aphids are mostly non-persistent on the aphid. This means that the aphid does not have the virus. Instead, the virus is only present on the mandibles or sucking mouth parts in the short term; similar to how a pathogen might spread on a pair of hand clippers. With these facts, use the following ascending list, which starts with the least aggressive tactics, to control an aphid infestation. Use a combination of methods that are the least aggressive but give effective results. Carefully follow label instructions before applying chemicals, or hire a licensed applicator. Discourage ants. Use cultural controls to prevent ants from nurturing aphids and fending off beneficial predatory insects. Trim branches off the ground and use a breathable sticky barrier around the trunks of trees. Encourage or introduce beneficial insects. Many aphid predators can be purchased in adult or larval form. Ladybugs, green lacewings, gall midges and others can

MichiganGardener.com | May 2022 | Michigan Gardener

Magnolia scale joins forces with aphids to produce honeydew. Sooty mold is starting to form on the droppings.

Neil Atzinger of Atzinger Gardens sprays horticultural oil on aphid-infested roses.

Sooty mold and dead scale cling to the bark of this dormant magnolia the winter after an infection.

be encouraged by adding water and pollen sources typically found in pollinator plant lists. The goal is to have a healthy balance of plant-eating insects and predators. Blast with water. Daily blasts of water can dislodge most aphids, decreasing their spread and giving more time for viruses on aphid mouthparts to lose viability. Also, predators will be given a chance to grow in population before aphid numbers become overwhelming. Use less nitrogen fertilizer. Since aphids have an easier time finding sap in supple, new growth, consider decreasing or eliminating the use of nitrogen on plants that are typically affected. Nitrogen encourages green growth in plants. Spray horticultural oil. Applications of oil over soft-bodied insects such as aphids will suffocate the insect. Care should be taken not to spray plants during hot, summer heat. Apply systemic insecticide. These are chemicals taken in by the plant. When eaten, they kill the insect. Treating ornamental plants with systemic insecticides redirects pests elsewhere and, if used properly, have a minimal impact on insects that do not eat the plant. Consideration should be made for a subsequent reduction of beneficial insects in the garden since there will be fewer aphids

and other prey. Also, while typically safer for pollinators than broad insecticidal sprays, systemic insecticides have been shown to be present in pollen and nectar—food sources for bees and other insects. Spray with contact insecticide. These are highly effective at reducing or eliminating aphid populations. Note, however, that spraying insecticides on a large aphid population can agitate aphids, causing them to spread further afield and infect more plants. Avoid spraying when beneficial insects are present. Ruth Atzinger studied horticulture at MSU and has gardened professionally since 2001, including work at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Gaylord Opryland. After studying theology and exploring the art and gardens of Italy, Neil Atzinger learned gardening as Ruth’s understudy. As Atzinger Gardens (renamed from Fourth & Walnut), the pair create and tend gardens around Ann Arbor and Plymouth. Visit AtzingerGardens.com or call 734-272-7321 for monthly maintenance or new garden design and installation.

Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | www.MichiganGardener.com

continued from back cover

Why make a butterfly garden? As land development occurs, it reduces the habitat needed for our butterflies and pollinators to live and thrive. And sadly, the remaining undeveloped land is quickly filling with invasive, non-native plants that are not suitable as a food source for the butterflies, reducing useable habitat even further. Thankfully, if we use the special native plants our butterflies need, even a small yard can make a big difference. You will be amazed to see the wonderful creatures that will come to visit the habitat you have created (Photos 2 & 3). Imagine the sight of glorious butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators sailing around your garden, enjoying the garden buffet you have laid out for them!

How to get started The first step is to select a site that gets at least 5 to 6 hours of sunlight per day, because most of the plants we will be using require a minimum of that much sun to thrive. Also, butterflies are cold-blooded creatures—they need warm air and sunlight to warm up. Having your garden in a sunny location allows the butterflies that spend the night to warm up and begin feeding sooner.

2 A monarch butterfly soars above a grouping of nectar-rich Mexican sunflowers (Tithonia).

3 One of the author’s gardens, buzzing with pollinators and lovely butterflies, gliding from flower to flower. Not only wonderful for them, but joyful for viewers to experience too!

www.MichiganGardener.com | May 2022 | Michigan Gardener

4 You don’t have to make a large garden to enjoy having butterflies. Even containers on your deck or patio, filled with the kind of plants they need, will bring in those pollinators. P H OTO G R A P H S BY J O H N B L A I R

Butterfly garden size Butterfly gardens can be as large or small as your property and enthusiasm permit. Although my garden is several thousand square feet, you can have an effective small garden too. Even patio containers filled with the proper host and nectar plants can yield a good deal of butterfly activity (Photo 4). If you just want to start off small, cut out a fourfoot circle of sod in a sunny area of your yard. I have no doubt that you will be surprised and pleased when you see the butterflies that visit!

Prepare your site

5 This was the site the author cleared for his first butterfly garden. Many gnarly shrubs and vines were removed before construction could begin. However, this step can be much simpler if you decide to just remove some of your lawn area to convert to pollinator habitat.

The first step is to clear your site of existing vegetation (Photo 5). Depending on your situation, this might be as simple as removing the top layer of sod or as involved as clearing brush and shrubs. Next, turn over the exposed soil in your new garden area, by either hand spading or tilling, and then rake the area smooth to remove any remaining roots continued on next page

Michigan Gardener | May 2022 | www.MichiganGardener.com

continued from previous page or branches that may resprout (Photos 6 & 7). If you are making a large garden, you might consider covering the area in a heavy-duty landscape fabric to help control weeds, as hand pulling may be impractical. This technique has worked very well for me in all of my gardens (Photo 8). Alternately, feel free to use open soil with mulch. Now is a good time to decide if you need a fence. I have found that my top two garden nemeses are groundhogs and rabbits. Poultry type fencing has worked well to keep them out, so I added this helpful deterrent.

The garden and path design It was at this stage of my first design that I looked at the large open expanse of the newly prepared garden and realized that I hadn’t clearly planned out where the paths and beds were going to go. I put in a call to my go-to person for garden help: my sister LindaJo, also an avid gardener and artist. She told me she would be over the next day, but I needed to drag my old watering hoses out to the garden. I curiously awaited her arrival the next day, wondering what she had in mind. She explained that we could use the hoses to physically lay out different ideas for the paths and beds. After a few hours of moving the hoses around, and walking the trial paths, we final-

6 The next step in the process is to turn over the earth. In this case, a friend came over with his tiller to help. Take care to remove loose root pieces that can regrow and draw away nutrients from your garden plants.

7 At this stage, rake the area smooth, removing any remaining sticks or debris. Use your rake to level the soil to prevent low areas that can get soggy.

www.MichiganGardener.com | May 2022 | Michigan Gardener

ly had the winning design. We then sprayed marking chalk along all the hoses. Once dry, I removed the hoses and we now had a perfect template of where all the paths and beds would go (Photo 9). With this visual aid as a basis, I could now better confirm my garden planting strategy.

Soil amendment and planting

8 This garden was so large, it was going to be impractical to weed. So as an experiment, the author used a heavy-duty landscape fabric to cover the garden area and used a razor knife to plant through it. In the ensuing nine years, he has found no downsides to this technique, as weeds still do not grow through and the unencumbered garden plants flourish. With a 14- by 14-inch “X” cut for each plant, the perennials have ample room to expand. That said, decide for yourself the choice that works best for you. Open soil, covered with a thick layer of mulch can also be a good alternative, especially for smaller gardens.

When I am ready to plant, I remove about two gallons of soil from the planting hole and then mix it with a good quality compost. If landscape fabric was used, I make a 14- by 14inch “X” cut to plant through. This mixture is then placed back into the planting hole, ready to accept its new occupant. Be sure to have compost ready for the upcoming planting phase. With this advance preparation of your physical site, your garden will be ready when it’s time to plant. In a short time after planting, blooms will begin to appear, and magical butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators will arrive, eager to partake of the habitat you have created for them! (Photo 10) In the next article, we will focus on selecting the plants you need for a successful butterfly garden. Editor’s note: Stay tuned for Part 2 in the June 2022 issue of Michigan Gardener, which will focus on the specific requirements and plants that butterflies need to thrive.

10 With my first butterfly garden, it didn’t occur to me that I would also attract hummingbirds— here, with native cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis). They are my constant companions in the gardens and always a thing of wonder every time I see one!

9 Using old garden hoses to lay out ideas for your paths and beds works great. Once you have the design you like best, use spray marking chalk to outline and then pull away the hoses. You now have a handy template for your path and bed locations.

John Blair has been making butterfly gardens and presenting talks in Southeast Michigan on how to make them since 2013. John supports the good work that the Monarch Watch organization has been doing towards conservation of the monarch butterfly, whose numbers have fallen precipitously in the last two decades. To find out how you too can help the monarch, please visit Monarch Watch at www.monarchwatch.org.

| May 2022 | MichiganGardener.com

How to make a butterfly garden

1 You can make a beautiful and successful habitat for butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators—this two-part article will show you how.

Part 1 of 2

rom my earliest childhood memories, I remember helping both my parents, who were avid gardeners, in their expansive vegetable and flower gardens. From pushing kernels of corn into the earth with my small finger in my dad’s vegetable patch to hand sowing and patting down the seed rows

of zinnias in my mother’s Monet-like flower beds, it seems I was always outdoors working in our gardens. Besides the family gardens, our home was also surrounded by both woods and fields, teeming with life. I was especially fond of butterflies and spent much of my youth learning about them. Then came a busy adult life that only allowed limited time for my garden interest

each year. After retirement, I felt quite lost without my busy career and I wondered how I was going to spend this newfound time. One evening, I decided to attend a talk on making a butterfly garden by local butterfly expert Brenda Dziedzic, which immediately sparked my interest. Halfway through Brenda’s talk, I was already sketching out my new butterfly garden! This combination of my

John Blair two youthful interests, gardening and butterflies, came back to me all these years later in a brand new and wonderful way. It has led me on a joyful path to making five large butterfly gardens (Photo 1), giving talks to nature groups, hosting tours of my gardens, and now, writing this very article. continued on page 56