Pr ofile: Lush and lovely

Lush and lovely

Shrubs and perennials such as ligularias, ferns, hostas, and native mayapples work together to create layers of color and texture in the dappled light.

The garden built by Brenda Bachman and Phil Kramer demonstrates what can be accomplished in dappled shade light

After strolling through Brenda Bachman She never had one particular must work with what you have. many parts of the garden. To allow for a small and Phil Kramer’s one-acre suburban vision, but she had ideas—many Speaking of which, along the waterfall, the elevated pond garden was built garden in Wayne County, one would gleaned from garden walks. Brenback of their lot, there is a large after some basement construction was neednever imagine that 18 years ago, this garden da started with one garden bed at cement drainage ditch the city ined. The excavated soil was used in the garden was a blank canvas other than a few trees. a time. Beginning with the area stalled for runoff. It is well hidden instead of being hauled away to a landfill.

When I asked Brenda if she had always around the patio, she then moved by plantings, so it isn’t an eyesore. When Brenda was asked which is her fabeen a gardener, surprisingly her answer further and further back in the long, The garden’s dry creek beds, which vorite plant, her answer was not one parwas no. The beauty of her garden would lead thin lot. With time and hard work, add interest to the layout, drain into ticular plant, but any and all that attract butone to believe she had been gardening all her life. The size of the garden, and the vast sea of grass may have intimidated many people. it became more like a beautiful park rather than a suburban yard. The wide grass and meandering gravel Lisa Steinkopf that ditch when it rains. The clay soil Brenda has throughout her yard has made it terflies and hummingbirds. For that reason, every sunny spot in this dappled shade garden is filled with flowers that will be tempting Most would have bought a riding lawnmower paths add to that feeling. The paths necessary to learn to garden in a to those winged beauties. She tries to always and listened to a book on tape whilst mowing wind through the yard around the trees that different way. She amends the soil with a for hours. Not Brenda! were already there; Brenda believes that you peat/soil mix and has built raised beds in text continued on page 26

Gravel paths direct visitors throughout the garden.

This dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) shows the branch structure and buttressed trunk that is typical of this species.

These large tropical plants are brought inside the balmy greenhouse to spend the winter.

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have something in bloom, and she has found that late-blooming ligularia is attractive to monarch butterflies. Brenda also loves colorful plants, be it from foliage or flowers, and her plant choices reflect that. Many houseplants spend their summer on the patio, and she has even seen a hummingbird coming to her goldfish plant (Nematanthus gregarius).

Though Brenda is the gardener, Phil is the builder. The newest addition to the garden is a beautiful brick building complete with skylights and numerous windows to allow Brenda to overwinter the many tropical plants that add beauty to the garden all summer. This greenhouse/she-shed has been Brenda’s dream for a long time. Although relatively new, it looks like it has been there for many years. They wanted it to look that way, to fit in with the feel of the garden. The structure even has a roof that looks like slate tiles at first glance, but is actually made of rubber to resemble slate.

All of her tropical plants overwinter in the greenhouse, including her lemon tree that provides lemonade for summer gardening breaks. To add much needed light during our long Michigan winters, fluorescent lights have been added on the ceiling of the greenhouse. They are helping the plants photosynthesize the 10 hours a day they are lit. Fans run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to assure disease and fungus are kept at bay.

It is a nourishing place to spend the winter days tending plants, as it is kept at a balmy 70 degrees and the added humidity makes it much more pleasant than the arid house. All the tender plants are brought inside on Labor Day weekend and taken back outside at the end of April or early May, depending on the weather. One end of the structure is a storage area to overwinter the many beautiful con

PHOTOGRAPHS BY LISA STEINKOPF

tainers Brenda collects. She and I agree: you can never have too many pots, as you never know when a new plant will come home and need a new container.

In keeping with attracting pollinators and other wildlife, Brenda uses no chemicals in her garden. The frogs, toads, dragonflies and ducks in and around the pond attest to her garden’s health. The one thing she does use liberally is deer repellent, because the deer are such a nuisance. She even wraps her magnolias with burlap for added winter protection from the hungry deer. Her deciduous azaleas get the same treatment. She has given one of the deer a name—last year, “Chomp” the deer had twin fawns.

This garden takes 40 yards of mulch to top dress the beds. It is brought to the backyard one wheelbarrow at a time. They have added six water spigots throughout the yard, so hoses do not have to be dragged quite so far. Plus, they installed sprinklers in the planting beds and electricity to run the pond pump. Even with all that work, Brenda says she doesn’t need to take a vacation—her garden is her vacation. It is a wonderful oasis in the city, and though the front yard is also beautifully landscaped, one would never guess such a large garden existed behind the Bachman/Kramer home. Who needs to go anywhere with such a gorgeous yard to enjoy?

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 734-748- 1241). Follow her on Facebook (Facebook.com/ HouseplantGuru), Twitter (@houseplantguru), and Instagram (houseplantguru). This pond is built on a berm so a waterfall could be added.

The berm that contains the pond is filled with trees and shrubs, many of which attract pollinators to the garden.

When you think about color in the landscape, don’t overlook trees, such as this glowing tricolor beech.

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In 2000, the Chicago Botanic Garden ran an evaluation project on goldenrod species and cultivars. Although the study is now 20 years old, it still makes good reading. And since the Chicago climate and native flora are very similar to those of southeastern Michigan, it is easy to extrapolate what was learned in this study to Michigan conditions. Although many species and varieties have good flowering habit, some are prone to stem lodging, shriveling of leaves on the lower part of stems, or developing powdery mildew or rust disease. Only goldenrods that rated at least 3 out of a possible 4 stars are listed below.

Preferred species

Grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia) – Medium to dry soil; rounded flowers; disease resistant; 4 feet tall.

Ohio goldenrod (Solidago ohioensis; Oligoneuron ohioense) – Prefers moist soil; profuse blooming; mildew resistant; 2 to 4 feet.

Riddell’s goldenrod(Oligoneuron riddellii; Solidago riddellii) – Medium to wet soil; tolerates alkaline soil; 3 feet.

Stiff goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum; Solidago rigida) – Large, flat flower clusters; many fertile seeds, 4 feet.

Wreath goldenrod (Solidago caesia) – Thin flower spikes; tolerant of partial shade; disease resistant; 28 inches.

Recommended varieties

‘Baby Sun’ – Broad, triangular-shaped flower heads; clump forming but will spread a bit; 27 inches.

‘Dansolitlem’ (Little Lemon) – Lemon yellow, astilbe-like flower panicles; dwarf; 14 to 18 inches.

‘Goldenmosa’ – Only 2 out of 4 stars in the Chicago study due to moderate powdery mildew issues, but received RHS Award of Garden Merit in U.K. Abundant, fluffy conical flower panicles; 30 inches.

‘Goldkind’ (Golden Baby) – Upright triangular plumes; heavy-blooming; 28 inches.

Variegated zigzag goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis ‘Variegata’) – Gold-mottled leaves in early summer; sulfur yellow spikes; tolerates partial shade; 3 to 4 feet.

‘Fireworks’ (Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’) – Narrow arching sprays; medium growth rate; upright habit to 4-1/2 feet.

‘Golden Fleece’ (Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’) – Compact; slow-spreading; arching flower spikes; 22 inches.

Goldenrod in the garden

Goldenrod reliably adds cheerful late-season color to the garden. Although it lacks diversity of color, goldenrod compensates with intensity of color. Its brilliant beaming gold contrasts especially well with purple and blue asters, which bloom at the same time. Other late summer companions include Japanese anemone, turtlehead, rudbeckia, lobelia, blazing star (Liatris), mountain fleece (Persicaria ‘Firetail’), ironweed, sedum ‘Autumn Joy,’ and ornamental grasses. In native plantings, goldenrod provides a source of late-season nectar,

‘Goldkind’ (Golden Baby)

Eric Hofley/ Michigan Gardener

‘Golden Fleece’ (Solidago sphacelata ‘Golden Fleece’)

North Creek Nurseries

Riddell’s goldenrod

Dan Mullen / Flickr

pollen and seeds, as a follow-up to natives like milkweed, Joe pye weed, bee balm, cup plant, rattlesnake master, and Culver’s root.

Although many insects utilize the nectar and pollen, goldenrod has few insect pests. Occasionally, the same red aphids that appear on false sunflower (Heliopsis) will appear on goldenrod. For the most part they are harmless, but if present in annoying amounts, simply spray off with a stream of water or use insecticidal soap.

Powdery mildew is the most common disease, and in some years can become disfiguring. Fortunately, it usually appears in late summer while the plants are in bloom; attention will be riveted toward the brilliant flowers rather than the mediocre-looking foliage. As with other plants prone to foliar diseases, make sure the plants receive adequate sunlight and moisture, and above all, sufficient airflow around the plants. Goldenrod should be divided every three years to keep the plants from becoming too dense.

A common complaint with taller-growing goldenrods is browning and dropping of the lower leaves on the stems. A simple remedy, often employed with tall asters, is to plant a mid-height perennial in front of the goldenrod, blocking the bare “legs” from view at bloom time.

Goldenrods are often hard to find in garden centers. They are reluctant to offer these plants for three reasons: 1) customers still have lingering concerns about allergy issues and aggressive growth habits; 2) customers are

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less likely to shop in late summer, so nurseries don’t carry many late-blooming perennials; and 3) goldenrod does not make an attractive, blooming, potted specimen for the nursery shelf. Simply put, garden centers find goldenrod difficult to sell. It is often easier to find goldenrod species and hybrids through online vendors. Among the best sources are nurseries specializing in native plants, but even purveyors of traditional perennials are sure to list some of the most popular varieties. However, you may have to order goldenrods out of season, in springtime, as small potted plants. You will be rewarded as you watch them grow through the summer and erupt into glorious bloom as summer turns to fall.

Karen Bovio is the owner of Specialty Growers in Howell, MI.

North Creek Nurseries

Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org / CC BY Ohio goldenrod