Michigan Gardener - June 2020

June 2020

MichiganGardener.com

Your guide to Great Lakes gardening

NEW PLANTS

New perennials for 2020

Garden Profile A country retreat

How-To

Grow and care for iris

Vegetable Patch Melons

Perennials Catmint

Please thank our advertisers in this issue

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Plants for Pollinators Our collection of perennials includes great garden performers that provide food and habitat for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Salvia Violet Profusion

Leucanthemum Daisy May

Nepeta Cats Pajamas Catmint

Monarda Pardon My Purple

Perovskia Denim N Lace

Photos courtesy of Proven Winners

Background Picture: Allium Serendipity

We’re Giving Away Half a Million Ladybugs!

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5th Annual Ladybug Giveaway Saturday, June 20, 2020 Get one bag of 150 ladybugs FREE with any purchase while supplies last.

Shop our Open Air Stores.

800-335-GROW EnglishGardens.com Connect with us:

Clinton Township 586-286-6100 Dearborn Heights 313-278-4433 Eastpointe 586-771-4200 Plymouth/Ann Arbor 734-453-5500 Royal Oak 248-280-9500 West Bloomfield 248-851-7506 Landscape Services 248-874-1400

At Telly’s, Summer is our time to bloom.

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Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

From roses to perennials to annuals and beyond, we truly are a summer gardener’s paradise. Come in for a visit and let us make your season really bloom.

Welcome to where Summer always comes up roses.

June is National Rose Month.

Telly’s has cultivated a reputation for offering the finest collection of high quality roses available anywhere. We offer a selection of roses that everyone, even the most casual gardener, can grow and enjoy.

Telly’s has added 20+ new varieties to our collection of own-root, disease-resistant, hardy roses, including the Easy Elegance Collection.

We invite you to stop in and see these beautiful new roses!

Garden Wisdom I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.

—John Muir

Ask MG............................................................6 To-Do List........................................................8 Vegetable Patch..........................................10 Books for the Michigan Gardener.......12 Perennial Perspectives: Catmint..........................................................24 Advertiser Index........................................27 Bulk Subscriptions......................................31 Calendar........................................................32 Classified Ads.............................................35 Profile: A country retreat........................36 Where to pick up Michigan Gardener......................................41

www.PerennialResource.com

Japanese painted fern ‘Crested Surf’ New Perennials for 2020 ������������������������ 16

Weather Wrap............................................41 Beverly Eleganza (Hybrid Tea) Whimsical blends of pink: petal insides are dark and outsides are lighter. Potent citrusy/old rose fragrance.

Vanessa Bell (David Austin Shrub) Pink-tinged buds; large clusters of pale yellow blooms. Green tea fragrance with hints of lemon and honey.

Subscription Form......................................41 Places to Grow...........................................42 Through the Lens......................................47 How to: Grow and care for iris ������������Back Cover

Fragrant Plum (Grandiflora)

Savannah Sunbelt (Hybrid Tea)

Fragrant, lavender blooms blush to purple. Vigorous & tall. Best form when cool. Likes a little afternoon shade.

Incredibly fragrant double blooms, from powder pink to deep salmon. Compact growth habit. A multi-award winner.

Publisher/Editor Eric Hofley Design & Production Jonathon Hofley Advertising Eric Hofley Circulation Jonathon Hofley

TROY • 248-689-8735 3301 John R • 1/4 mile north of 16 Mile Rd.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP • 248-659-8555 4343 24 Mile • Btwn Dequindre & Shelby Rd.

www.tellys.com

Editorial Assistant Anna Doman

find us on

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

On the cover: In spring, glowing pink highlights appear on the cream and purple foliage of the new ajuga called ‘Princess Nadia.’ Read more about this plant and many other new perennials Photo: Concept Plants starting on page 16.

30747 Greenfield Rd., Suite 1 Southfield, MI 48076 Phone: 248-594-5563 Fax: 248-594-5564 publisher@MichiganGardener.com E-mail: Website: www.MichiganGardener.com Publishing schedule 5 issues per year: April, May, June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct. Published the first week of the month.

Subscriptions (Please make check payable to Michigan Gardener) 1 year (5 issues) for $14 Back issues All past issues are available. Please send your request along with a check for $3.00 per issue payable to Michigan Gardener.

Copyright © 2020 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.

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June is Rose Month!

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Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

We’ve got all the colors under the rainbow!

Shrubs for privacy

Visit us today to take a walk among the roses! From David Austins, Knock Outs, Floribundas, Hybrid teas and so much more!

Eckert’s Greenhouse OPEN DAILY AT 8:30AM

Annuals • Perennials • Vegetables & more!

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What is a good choice for a privacy shrub in southwestern Michigan? How early in the spring can I plant it? R.L., Portage When seeking privacy, plant more than one plant. A trio works well as they balance each other, forming a community rather than an “orphan” look. Plant three of one species laid out in a shallow triangle so they fill in around each other aesthetically. Straight rows look artificial. You can also vary the trio with a single specimen for the center point and flank each side with another species.

For example, center a leatherleaf viburnum (Viburnum rhytidophyllum) with its soft, oval, gray-green leaves and flank it with native ninebarks (Physocarpus opulifolius) with burgundy leaves and peeling bark. Both are deciduous in zone 5. Viburnum tops out at about 10 feet and the ninebark tops out about 8 feet. They both bloom spring to early summer, have considerable winter interest, grow relatively quickly, and deer don’t find them appealing.

Another possibility is centering an evergreen such as ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae, which is an open pyramidal evergreen and less appealing to deer. They are tolerant of various soil types, but prefer good drainage. An evergreen paired with deciduous shrubs can get you more “instant” privacy than waiting for three identical shrubs to reach maturity.

Flank the evergreen with the ninebark variety Amber Jubilee which has gold-orange overtones in the leaf veins, or ‘Summer Wine,’ which features a dark burgundy color. By creating a group of compatible plants, spaced apart according to their mature width, you have something attractive to look at while achieving a privacy screen.

Eliminating crabgrass How do I get rid of crabgrass in my lawn? P.C. Much like the crab of the ocean, crabgrass (Digitaria) is tough, has many legs and is built low to the ground. It’s perfect for weaving itself into our warm weather turf grasses. Early detection and pre-emergent application is important to prevent it from growing and going to seed on those long, crab-like branches.

Crabgrass is an annual weed, emerging in summer and thriving in hot weather. With crabgrass, if you stop the seeds from germinating, you’ve stopped the plant. The bad news is that you have to use a pre-emergent at the right time to prevent germination. If the timing of your prevention is off, you’re stuck with crabgrass in your lawn for another summer. Then it requires post-emergent herbi-

cides that target only crabgrass.

You can eliminate your own population, but you can’t prevent seeds coming in from your neighbors or nearby fields. So focus on increasing your lawn’s overall health.

You only need to fertilize once or twice a year. Lawns respond best to a 4-1-2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, in quantities prescribed on the package for the amount of square feet. Work at making your turf grass thick and healthy, and it will shade out the crabgrass, making it more difficult for stray seeds to hit pay dirt and root.

How to overwinter cannas I have been unsuccessful in overwintering canna tubers; they get mushy or just don’t survive. What’s the trick? M.G., Clinton Township Canna lilies are vigorous growers, spreading and creating large clumps of fleshy rhizomes. Whether in the ground or container, their vibrant colors and reblooming ability make them desirable additions to a garden.

Keeping our favorites from year to year is also cost effective.

Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener

Canna lilies are vigorous growers, spreading and creating large clumps of fleshy rhizomes that can be dug, lifted, and stored over the winter so they may be planted again next season.

Using a fork, gently lift the shallow-rooted clumps from the soil and lay them out on trays with newspaper. Separate the rhizomes with your hands, being careful but not paranoid if some of them break. Sort and trim out any damaged rhizomes. If they have been in ground or container soil, do not wash them off. Let the soil dry naturally and brush it off later. If they have been in a pond situation, then clean that debris off. Let them dry for a couple days.

Trim the stalks to about two inches above the rhizomes with a clean knife or pruners.

MichiganGardener.com | June 2020 | Michigan Gardener

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Have a question?

Send it in!

Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Submit a question” Remember all naked rhizomes look identical.

To keep varieties identified, put a label with each group and keep them separate. Once dry, wrap them in dry newspaper or paper lunch bags, and place in open cardboard boxes. Shoeboxes are great for large numbers of multiple varieties.

The key is keeping them dry and cool while you wait to replant them. Cool, dry basements and fruit cellars that don’t freeze are ideal. Do not place near furnace vents where heat can make them sprout prematurely. Check once or twice over winter for soft or shriveled rhizomes and discard. If more than a few are rotting, then move them to a drier location.

Fertilizing Norfolk Island pine I have a Norfolk Island pine houseplant, and the recommended fertilizer is 20-2020. What is the right amount to use? R.G., Macomb The package of 20-20-20 balanced fertilizer will have application directions based on the container size of the plant. Measure the size of your container and follow the package recommendation every two weeks. During the summer, especially if placed outdoors under protection, feed with an acid fertilizer such as used on azaleas and rhododendrons.

Remember to give ample light but never direct sunlight.

When watering, allow tap water to set until it reaches room temperature. This allows the chlorine found in tap water to evaporate. If you are concerned about water chemicals in general, use distilled water.

Originally discovered on tiny Norfolk Island near Australia in the South Pacific, the plant’s natural habitat includes tropical island humidity but not a steamy jungle. It can transition to outdoors in a covered patio, or a sunroom with steady cool temperatures: around 65 degrees F in summer, and 40 to 55 degrees F in winter. Limp branches mean overheating. Keep it evenly moist but very well drained. A beloved houseplant because of its evergreen appearance, many people use it as a Christmas tree.

wood. Somewhere below ground are the remains of a dead and decaying hardwood tree where the spores have resided. Its favorite hosts are hazel, beech and oak trees, with the occasional pine.

During prolonged rainy weather, this fungus produces fruiting bodies, which turn black and jelly-like, making it quite the eyesore. Raking and removing the fruiting bodies doesn’t remove the source underground.

Typically, when you eliminate the host source and moisture, the fungus disappears.

Check to make sure there are no dead tree roots lurking below the surface of your driveway. In addition, if water tends to settle in the area where the fungus is present, consider putting in a field drain to pull the water away from the area and disperse it. Once moisture has been eliminated, applying a fungicide like borax will help ward off further fruiting body production.

Answers provided by Beverly Moss, owner of Garden Rhythms.

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Get rid of ugly fungus We have black witches’ butter fungus on our barn driveway and it is now spreading to other areas. We have raked and removed as much as possible. How do we kill this permanently? G.E., Shepherd, MI This fungus is often referred to as black witches’ butter (Exidia glandulosa) because of its butter-like consistency and greasy surface when wet, not to mention its dark color. It can occur throughout the year on dead hard-

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Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

Annuals

Herbs

• Annuals should be filling in and blooming beautifully. Be sure to fertilize them regularly to help keep them healthy and flowering well. For great blooms, use a water-soluble fertilizer every 10 days to two weeks when watering.

• Annuals add color to the garden throughout the season. It’s not too late to plant them, either in beds or containers.

• If some areas of annuals aren’t blooming or filling out as well as they have in past years, take a good look at how much sun the area receives. Trees may be shading the area more now or, on the other hand, an area may be far sunnier than it was before.

• Herbs are useful in a variety of culinary recipes. Some of the popular varieties include: basil for delicious pesto, as well as tomato and Italian dishes; oregano with fish, poultry, or pasta sauces; parsley in salads or as a garnish; thyme in beef or chicken; or rosemary for chicken or fish.

• If you don’t have much space for herbs and have a sunny wall, try planting them in wall planters. They don’t take up much space and make harvest easier when they’re close by.

Bulbs: Summer-Flowering • Stake tall-growing plants, such as dahlias and cannas, so they don’t fall over. Staking

Feature Task: Select long-blooming perennials for your garden border June is National Perennial Month and is a great time to celebrate one of our favorite categories of plants. Perennials come back year after year in the garden and provide seasonal interest. When selecting perennials, consider bloom time, color, height and texture. These are the keys to where they will fit in your garden.

Typically, flowering perennials have short bloom times, but there are several varieties with extended bloom times that work well as border plants for sunny areas: Catmint. Beautiful spikes of lightly scented indigo flowers rise above the foliage from late spring to midsummer. Plant in groups for maximum effect.

Coreopsis: Delicate flowers with airy foliage. Many varieties are available with flower colors in yellow, pink and red. Plant these in areas that receive good drainage.

Campanula: Beautiful masses of purple, bell-shaped flowers at the end of stems from late spring to late summer. Best planted in groups for a showy display.

Dianthus: Bright flowers above mounds of fine foliage. They are great as butterfly magnets, and deer tend to leave them alone.

Perennial Geranium: Masses of colorful flowers from late spring to midsummer.

They are excellent for group plantings. Many varieties are available with flowers in blues, purples or pinks.

Other great border plants include creeping sedum, with showy foliage and late-blooming flowers; ‘Snowcap’ shasta daisy with brilliant white flowers; and coral bells with spikes of flowers and colorful foliage that will last all season.

To keep perennials blooming even longer, shear them down a few inches after they have finished blooming. They will get a

second flush of growth and new blooms. If you want continual color from spring to fall, fill in any gaps with annuals.

Proper planting is essential. Soil preparation is the most important step when planting any growing thing. Proper drainage is also critical. Soil must retain air, as well as moisture. Add soil amendments as necessary. Amend with peat moss and topsoil when planting in sandy soil. Add soil conditioner when planting in clay soil. Plant at the same level the plant was growing in the pot. Never put any new soil on top of a root ball. Get new plants off to a good start with a starter fertilizer. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Regular maintenance is important for a beautiful garden. Most plants fail to grow or thrive due to improper water or improper fertilization. New plants need water, but don’t overwater, particularly if they’re planted in clay soil. Plants in the shade will need less water than those planted in full sun. Long and deep periods of watering are better than short and frequent watering.

This ensures water will reach the plants’ roots.

Feeding plants with the proper fertilization will help plants thrive. Organic formulas are a great option. Regular pruning and deadheading keeps plants in shape and looking their best. A layer of mulch over garden beds conserves moisture and helps keep weeds down as well.

Plants that are planted in the right area and properly maintained will be healthier and less stressed. Quickly take care of any problems that do occur. Check your garden regularly and you will discover problems when they are small and manageable, rather than large and out of control.

MichiganGardener.com | June 2020 | Michigan Gardener

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Landscaping Supply gladioli will help keep them straight, and more desirable to use as cut flowers.

General • Add a water element to your garden with a fountain or birdbath. The gentle sound of moving water provides peace and tranquility. Fountains come in many shapes and sizes to fit the style of any garden. Birdbaths are a great source of water for birds. Keep both fountains and birdbaths clean and free of debris to create a welcoming environment.

Container Gardening • Try something new by planting a tropical fruit tree (like lemon, papaya, orange, mango, dragon fruit or another exotic fruit) as a thriller or main attraction to your flower pots. Then add other annuals as spillers and fillers to make them spectacular.

Houseplants • Houseplants should be growing happily now that temperatures are warmer and days are sunnier. So fertilize regularly with a balanced formula to support strong new growth. Any plants that were moved outside for the summer should receive a regular application of systemic insecticide so you prevent them from coming back into the house with bugs in the fall.

Lawn • Regular maintenance is the key to keeping your lawn looking its best. Cut your lawn at a three-inch height, and only remove onethird of the blade at a time to reduce stress.

Keep the mower blade sharp. Use a mulching mower and let the clippings stay on the lawn for extra nutrients.

• Your lawn needs an inch of water a week to be lush and healthy. If you’re not sure how much water it gets, use a rain gauge to measure. You may be surprised.

Perennials • For continuous interest in the garden, fill your perennial garden with 25 percent spring bloomers, 50 percent summer bloomers and 25 percent fall bloomers. Consider height, texture, and color when selecting your plants. For best results, plant in mass with three to five plants in one area. Space properly and leave room for plants to grow.

• Keep perennials blooming longer by deadheading them: cut off the old, dying blooms. This is a great therapeutic activity for stressful days—snip, snip, snip!

Plant Maintenance • A layer of organic mulch on bare soil helps conserve water, reduce weeds, and keep garden beds looking fresh. Which mulch to use is a matter of personal preference and

what is appealing to you. Keep mulch away from plant stems and tree trunks. Don’t pile mulch more than 3 inches deep.

CURBSIDE PICKUP OR DELIVERY • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Roses • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for frequency and dilution rate on any fertilizer, insecticide, and fungicide. Mixing these products stronger than the manufacturer recommends is a waste of product and money. More is not better, and can do harm.

• Roses need about an inch of water a week.

Watering at the base of the plant instead of using overhead sprinklers will cut down on diseases.

Shrubs & Trees • Sharpen your pruning shears. Springblooming trees and shrubs should be pruned

by July 4 to encourage growth for next year.

• Wait to prune any summer-flowering shrubs like spirea or hydrangeas.

• Take a look at all the beautiful summerblooming shrubs available, including new varieties of old favorites: spirea with great foliage color; large-leaf hydrangeas that bloom more reliably in Michigan; or Michigan natives like ninebark with burgundy or copper foliage.

Vegetables • It’s not too late to add vegetables to beds and borders if there isn’t room in the yard for a separate vegetable garden. Peppers and tomatoes are lovely mixed in with flowers.

• The best way to work off stress is to hoe weeds in the garden. Keeping the soil cultivated and removing weeds when they’re young will produce better vegetables. Plus, there will be less competition for fertilizer and water.

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Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

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Melons

M

elons are a marvelous addition to support so they don’t damage the vine. Soft the home garden, but for the best cloth (like that from a T-shirt or old pantyresults they do require some tenhose) can be secured from the trellis around der loving care. When we talk about melons, the bottom of the fruit like a sling, and this we should clarify that watermelon (Citrulmaterial will stretch and support the growing lus lanatus) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo), weight of the fruit. more commonly referred to as cantaloupe, Melon plants like well-drained soil, but will are two different species and do not crosssuffer from extremes in moisture—really wet pollinate with each other. or really dry, as in a drought. Water deeply Watermelons have smooth outer skin about 1 to 2 inches of water per week; no need with an interior flesh that can be anywhere to water every day. Avoid overhead waterfrom light yellow to deep red, depending on ing to protect the plant from foliar diseases. the variety. They come in seeded and seedless Drip irrigation beneath black plastic is a good varieties. The type of muskmelon usually rechoice. It is recommended to gradually referred to as cantaloupe has noticeably netted duce the watering as the fruits ripen. Doing or ribbed skins and orange flesh. The type of so should help avoid the fruit splitting and muskmelons that have smooth outer skin and also improve the flavor. Remove weeds careflesh that can be white, yellow, green or orfully as melons tend to be shallow rooted. If ange, depending on variety, include you plan to add mulch, other than Honeydew, Casaba, and Crenshaw. the black plastic, wait until the soil One thing that all these melons temperatures are at least 75 degrees have in common are their growing F, as some mulches will slow the conditions. warming of the soil, and melons like Melons need plenty of warmth it warm! and direct sunlight for healthy Knowing when to harvest degrowth. Sandy loam soils high in pends on the type of melon. Canorganic matter with a pH around taloupes are ready when the fruit 6.5 are preferred. If planting from breaks easily away from the vine.

Mary seed, soil temperature needs to be Watermelons and the honeydew Gerstenberger above 65 degrees F for good germitype muskmelons do not slip from nation. In our northern climate, it is the vine when mature, so check usually best to use transplants, but be careful the tendril and leaf closest to the fruit. When not to damage roots when transplanting. Wathe tendril is brown and dry or the leaf has termelons and muskmelons do not establish turned yellow, the fruit is usually ripe. On wawell when roots are disturbed, which could termelons you can also check the spot where lead to stunting and crop delay. Seedless wathe bottom sits on the soil. If it has turned yeltermelons are best started indoors and translowish, the melon is ripe. planted, as their germination tends to be less Peruse seed catalogs for a wide range of vigorous than seeded watermelons. Also, seedvarieties of both muskmelons and waterless watermelons require a seeded watermelon melons. Check your local garden centers interplanted with them for pollination so they for seeds or transplants recommended for can set fruit. When starting melon seeds in your area. There are several good sources pots, you may want to use peat pots that can for information on growing melons. Visit the be planted directly into the soil. Seeds may MSU Extension at tinyurl.com/y9b9g9ph be planted about one inch deep in warm, dry and tinyurl.com/y8yujjvk for information soil. If planted in rows, seeds or transplants are on both growing and using melons. Check usually planted 18 to 24 inches apart. If planted the University of Minnesota Extension at in hills, place 2 or 3 plants every 36 to 48 inches tinyurl.com/ydgelbwl for more details on apart. Black plastic is often used to help warm both growing and harvesting melons. the soil and serve as a mulch.

Mary Gerstenberger was the Consumer HorMelons are vining plants and can take up ticulture Coordinator at the Michigan State quite a bit of space in the garden, so be sure to University Extension in Macomb County, MI. allow them plenty of room. One way to conFor vegetable and gardening information from serve on space is to trellis the plants. Three MSU, visit www.migarden.msu.edu. things to remember: 1) the trellis needs to be secured so that it will bear the weight of the Call the toll-free Michigan State University plant without falling over, 2) check the vine Lawn and Garden Hotline at 888-678-3464 daily and use soft ties to secure it to the trellis for answers to your gardening questions. as needed, and 3) the growing fruits will need

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Whether they are flowering shrubs or evergreen hedges, these long-lived plants fill a lot of space in our landscapes, yet they don’t capture as much attention as perennials, annuals, and even trees. The front doors and picture windows of houses worldwide are adorned by shrubs, yet selecting and maintaining shrubs remains a mystery to many. Shrubs are all-too-often inappropriately pruned into “meatball” shapes, or alternatively, left to become an overgrown tangle of branches.

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Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

Julia Hofley

Many Michigan gardeners visit garden centers in spring and summer looking for new plants to add to their perennial collections, beds and borders. This article is just a sampling of what is new this year from hundreds of introductions. Like you, we look forward to growing and learning more about these exciting, new perennials.

Ajuga ‘Princess Nadia’ I am all over groundcovers and learning more about them all the time. I seek out different ones to try in various situations just to evaluate them and see what I can see. Covering ground to suppress weeds, creating a colorful living mulch, making a pretty collar around a leggy conifer, turning humdrum shade beds into a tapestry of texture and richness, spilling over a stone wall—I’m game! So when I spied this new ajuga (Ajuga tenorii ‘Princess Nadia’) at a garden center last summer, I had to try it.

‘Princess Nadia’ is a new variegated form of Chocolate Chip ajuga. Gorgeous, cream-purple foliage with glowing pink edges becomes covered in royal blue flower spikes in spring, often lightly repeating in late

summer. Voluminous flowers strikingly stand out above the brightly variegated foliage that forms a tight, slow-spreading, cushion-like clump. It’s worth growing for the pretty variegated foliage alone, but those showy flowers are definitely a bonus and butterflies will abound.

By comparison, three other variegated descendants of Chocolate Chip include ‘Dixie Chip’ (less dramatic pink coloring in the new shoot tips), ‘Toffee Chip’ (without the bright pink new growth), and ‘Vanilla Chip’ (broader, more puckered, white-edged foliage). All of these spread out more than ‘Princess Nadia.’

Native to central and southern Italy and Sicily, the much more compact Ajuga tenorii has

smaller and narrower leaves on tighter growth than the more common Ajuga reptans. Graham Rice of the Transatlantic Gardener blog says, “Brilliantly colored and well behaved, this new

bugle brings vibrant hues to shady spots.”

Height: 6 inches. Width: 10 inches.

Light: Part shade. Zone: 4.

Anemone Spring Beauty ‘Pink’

Spigelia ‘Little Redhead’ I was thrilled to see this striking Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica ‘Little Redhead’) at the tradeshow last summer, after having grown the original species wildflower in our garden for years. Shade gardeners will be thrilled too—they are always on the lookout for colorful plants that will spice up their gardens under high dappled light.

Savvy garden centers in Michigan have sold the species on their native or shade benches for years. Now, ‘Little Redhead’ will be more readily available to gardeners who are looking for an easy-to-grow, native woodlander with showy flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. This is a superior selection of the species with dark red, tubular flowers with yellow interiors that dazzle. Firecracker-like, star-shaped openings are produced above an upright clump of dark green, wedge-shaped leaves from late spring to midsummer.

Sought out by wildflower enthusiasts, this underutilized, long-blooming plant grows nat-

Concept Plants (2)

urally in woodlands and along stream banks throughout the eastern U.S. in both sun and shade, requiring only good drainage to thrive.

From the Netherlands comes a brandnew, pink hybrid selection of anemone that is perfectly bubblegum pink instead of the traditional white spring flower. Its pretty pink petals fluttering in the spring wind look delicate, but Spring Beauty ‘Pink’ (Anemone sylvestris ‘Pink’) is super sturdy, standing straight and tall, welcoming early pollinators to their nectar.

This worthy addition of an unusual pink flower adds to your spring and early summer landscape with its rich green, cut-leaf foliage that would be lovely for flower arranging. This long-bloomer prefers moist, welldrained soil in a morning sun or afternoon shade setting.

Height: 24-28 inches. Width: 20-24 inches.

Light: Part shade to full sun. Zone: 5b.

Height: 10-18 inches. Width: 12-15 inches.

Light: Full sun to part shade. Zone: 4.

www.PerennialResource.com (2)

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NEW PERENNIALS continued on page 18

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Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

continued from page 16

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Eupatorium Euphoria ‘Ruby’ This new selection of Joe Pye weed (Eupatorium purpureum ‘Ruby’) is a compact version of the classic standard loved by butterflies. They will appreciate a longer blooming season that starts earlier in summer than typical Joe Pye weed varieties, while still extending bloom time well into late summer and fall.

Euphoria ‘Ruby’ is a tidy little green-leafed, pink-flowering native worthy of consider-

ation by gardeners with smaller yards who want a low maintenance perennial to attract pollinators but don’t have the room for the full-sized versions. It performs best in a moist, sunny garden location. Trim back in late fall to remove old branches and encourage healthy growing in spring.

Height: 24-32 inches. Width: 24-28 inches.

Light: Full sun. Zone: 5.

Lychnis ‘Petit Henri’ Also known as ragged robin, lychnis is a beloved wildflower that grows in the British countryside. A few years ago, Michigan Gardener featured the showy pink cultivar ‘Petite Jenny’ when it was released as a new perennial. This year, Michigan gardeners can look for a smaller relative called ‘Petit Henri’ (Lychnis flos-cuculi ‘Petit Henri’) and even consider mixing it with ‘Petite Jenny’ for a charming contrast.

Above attractive, mounded clumps of tight gray-green foliage rise loose clusters of 3/4inch, fluffy, double white flowers with dark maroon calyxes (the sepals of the flower).

These match the dark, wiry, upright-flowering stems to create added color interest. This cottage-style plant produces a fresh option for cutflower arranging, with long bloom time from late spring into autumn. In the border, butterflies and bees will flock to it.

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‘Petit Henri’ prefers moist over dry conditions, with well-drained siting. Once established, however, it has drought tolerance.

When grooming the plant, wait until blooms wither, then remove the entire flower stalk down to the base.

Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 18-24 inches.

Light: Full sun to part sun. Zone: 5.

www.PerennialResource.com

Japanese painted fern ‘Crested Surf’ As a fern collector, this new plant turned my head when I first laid eyes on it last summer. I’m always on the hunt to add a gem to the fernery collection on our hillside gardens under the oaks, but new ferns don’t come along very often.

Enter into the garden scene, this new tall, dark and handsome Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum ‘Crested Surf’). When you see it, you will realize it is appropriately named. It looks similar to a traditional Japanese painted fern, but the tips of the fronds are double-crested with extra panache. A vigorous, taller variety, it will fit perfectly in the middle of a moist, light to partial shade border, which produces the best colorization for this fern. It complements bold-leaved plants like hostas with its finely textured foliage that includes a dramatic splash of sultry color.

Hybridized by Michigan’s own Hans Han-

sen, ‘Crested Surf’ was chosen as the Farwest Trade Show’s “Best in Show” from dozens of new varieties in 2019.

Water this fern in the morning so the fronds are dry before nightfall. Instead of cutting back in the autumn, leave old fronds on the plant until new fronds emerge in spring.

This dramatic newcomer would be attractive as a thriller in a container planting on a porch or patio with high dappled light. It’s trendy now to use fresh-cut fern fronds as a monoculture in a vase by themselves, giving an indoor environment a clean, organic look. In this way, ‘Crested Surf’ would make a beautiful centerpiece.

Height: 20-22 inches. Width: 28-30 inches.

Light: Part shade to shade. Zone: 3.

NEW PERENNIALS continued on page 20

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Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

continued from page 18

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Salvia ‘Violet Profusion’

Heucherella ‘Peach Tea’ Heucherellas are a cross between trendy heucheras (coral bells) and sturdy tiarellas (foamflowers). They offer another option for shade gardeners looking to add colorful plants to their lineup.

‘Peach Tea’ has a unique spring foliage color that is guava-juice orange and yellow, morph-

ing into large, noticeably glossy, maple-shaped leaves that turn peachy-red. The creamy white flowers are presented five inches above the dramatic foliage, offering a glow of daintiness to the landscape. The overall plant shape is compact yet grows vigorously to fill its place along the garden path that will surely stop admirers.

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Disease and rust resistant, ‘Peach Tea’ and all heucherellas require more moisture than heucheras and thrive in well-drained, humus-rich soils.

Height: 12-17 inches. Width: 22 inches.

Light: Full shade to part shade. Zone: 4.

When I asked Jeremy Windemuller of Windridge Gardens what new perennials he was most excited about for 2020, one that topped his list was the salvia ‘Violet Profusion’ (Salvia nemorosa ‘Violet Profusion’). Jeremy knows perennials up close and personal as he grows and sells them professionally at the farmers market in Holland. He said it’s all about the rebloom on this stalwart performer.

Vibrant, violet blue flowers are held on rosy purple calyxes on a perfectly rounded, dense and beautiful plant.

This shorter-stature salvia fits into small city gardens or the front of a long perennial border and would be perfect for subdivision entrances. After the blooming period is ending, shear back the spent flowers right above the foliage and enjoy reblooming throughout the summer.

‘Violet Profusion’ requires little care and delivers a bountiful mass of colorful flower spires from late spring into early summer.

The aromatic, wrinkled green foliage looks good all season long, and rabbits and deer are not interested in it. But bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds will be regular guests for the flowers’ sweet nectar. Salvia is salt tolerant, so being planted along a driveway or sidewalk is okay here in the mitten state.

Height: 14-16 inches. Width: 16-20 inches.

Light: Full sun. Zone: 3.

NEW PERENNIALS continued on page 22

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.

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.

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, and vegetable plants.

Convenient shopping under covered greenhouses. Plus, fall mums and Christmas poinsettias, wreaths, roping, and holiday decor. Only at Brohl’s Greenhouse—Come check us out!

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.

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. Visit our Monarch Waystation and hosta display gardens too!

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. Family-owned garden center since 1966. Also full-service landscape installation.

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.

Van Thomme’s Greenhouses

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.

Landscape Source 17448 26 Mile Rd., Macomb, MI 48042 586-677-7480 www.landscapesource.com May/June hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-5, Sun 9-4.

A premier landscape supply company. We have the amazing new ‘Regal Petticoat’ maple. 15 acres of products including trees, shrubs, perennials, soils, stone, mulch, fire glass, fireplaces and pond kits. Our trees and shrubs are the best available. Fendt, Oaks, and Unilock premium pavers and walls. Very reasonable prices and great quality.

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. Fairy gardens, 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: 7 days a week, 8–7 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, email Publisher@MichiganGardener.com or call Eric at 248-594-5563

22

Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

continued from page 20

Hibiscus Summerific ‘Evening Rose’ This North American native plant stands out in the field of hardy hibiscus for the noticeable combination of hot pink flowers and near black foliage, making a sultry combination for borders needing an extra punch. Dinner plate-sized, puckered flowers cover the round, dense habit from top to bottom, which is a bonus for visiting bees and butterflies.

Compared to ‘Berry Awesome,’ the foliage is much more dark and the flower color is more magenta than lavender. The large, exotic flowers on this hardy perennial are similar to the tropical hibiscus that we love on our patios, but ‘Evening Rose’ will come back year after year. Although hardy hibiscus emerge later in spring, once emerged, they add an inch of new growth daily as they quickly grow to full size and start blooming in midsummer and finish in late summer.

Height: 4 feet. Width: 4-1/2 to 5 feet.

Light: Part sun to full sun. Zone: 4.

www.PerennialResource.com (2)

Astilbe Music ‘Heavy Metal’ Astilbes in the Music series produce twice as many flowering eyes and secondary flowers than older standards, resulting in big, beefy flowers that are long-lasting in the shade garden. ‘Heavy Metal’ (Astilbe x arendsii ‘Heavy Metal’) presents upright, fluffy, cherry-red flowers rising up in summer like feathery plumes through other shade plants. This brings welcome color to the woodland walk or a shady glen, delighting both gardeners and butterflies.

Set yourself up to successfully grow astilbes with consistently moist, organically rich soils that don’t dry out. Top dress with mulch and

fertilize in spring. They will reward you dearly with beautiful flowers that are garden-worthy and also make terrific cut flowers for arranging. We wait to cut back dried flowers until spring as they provide winter interest by poking up through the snow.

Height: 24-30 inches. Width: 24 inches.

Light: Part shade to shade. Zone: 3.

Julia Hofley is a plant collector, freelance garden writer, speaker, and independent sales rep (E-mail: julia@juliasbiglife.com).

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C

atmint is the common name for many ornamental members of the genus Nepeta. Gardeners who haven’t grown these dependable perennials should not be nervous about the name: they don’t spread like mints, and they don’t necessarily attract cats! Although catmints are members of the same plant family as the true mints (Lamiaceae) and share the same genus as catnip (Nepeta cataria), catmints are not running thugs nor do they self-sow excessively.

The foliage of all mint family members contains volatile oils that contribute to their distinctive fragrances. Other members of this huge family include the popular herbs basil, oregano, sage, thyme, savory, and garden perennials bee balm, lavender, salvia, and agastache.

The genus Nepeta conKaren tains nepetalactone, the Bovio compound that attracts and excites cats. Catnip, a weedy species that is not ornamental, contains the greatest amount, but it is also present in lesser amounts in the gardenworthy catmints.

Sensitivity to nepetalactone varies among cats—some cats respond highly and some not at all—so it’s unlikely that you’ll end up with a yard full of cats if you grow catmints! Most catmints have a sweet herbal scent that is much more appealing to humans than it is to cats. This same scent deters deer, rabbits and other critters in the garden, while the profusion of tiny flowers attracts bees and other beneficial pollinators.

Nepeta species There are about 250 species of catmint but only a few are used as ornamentals. The lowgrowing mounded types have small graygreen triangular leaves with a pebbly texture and delightful scent. They bear clusters of small, lavender blue flowers in long inflorescences, from late spring throughout the summer. This is the type that most people associate with the names catmint or nepeta.

Cultivars within this group have been hybridized from the species N. racemosa, N. x faassenii, and N. grandiflora, and some older varieties still retain those names (i.e. Nepeta racemosa ‘Blue Wonder’). However, the parentage of newer cultivars includes many generations of hybrids, so species names have become irrelevant.

A group of taller, upright growing species have much larger green leaves which are aromatic but not particularly fragrant.

www.PerennialResource.com

‘Cat’s Meow’ They also have much larger individual florets comprising their flower clusters. A couple of good garden choices include Siberian catmint (Nepeta sibirica) and Japanese catmint (Nepeta subsessilis).

Using catmints in the garden The gray-green, small-leaved types of catmint are more commonly used in gardens than the taller green-leaved forms, which may be hard to find in garden centers. The small-leaved, mound-forming catmints per-

form many roles in the garden. Their long bloom period makes them a good staple perennial, providing months of subtle color. The light lavender blue flowers combine harmoniously with any color scheme. Try them with yarrow, hardy geranium, salvia, dianthus, gaura, and ornamental grasses. Their billowy form can be used to soften the edges of paths and walkways, and if planted closely, can provide a virtually carefree groundcover for full sun. Smaller cultivars can be used in rock gardens or formal herb gardens.

Catmints should be considered full-sun plants, although they may tolerate a few hours of shade at either end of the day. They do well in a variety of soil types, from sandy to loamy to hard clay. However, they will not withstand wet soils—winter wetness is particularly deleterious. Even though the grayleaved catmints are extremely hardy (zone 3), wet conditions, especially during dormancy, can cause them to weaken and eventually fail. continued on page 26

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Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

continued from page 24 Catmints are remarkably drought tolerant, and fertilizer is unnecessary in all but the leanest sand-based soils. Excess fertilizer or moisture can cause their stems to become floppy and ungainly. Should this happen, shearing the plants back to about six inches in height will encourage fresh new growth.

In fact, many gardeners shear their catmints back after the first flush of flowering has begun to subside, usually in July. After a week or two the plants will be completely rejuvenated; they will rebloom and look good for the rest of the season. The ability of these plants to respond very quickly to cutting back allows the gardener to keep them tidy, within bounds, and complementary to neighboring plants.

Hybrid catmints

www.PerennialResource.com

‘Cat’s Pajamas’

Many older varieties are still offered in garden centers and have good garden value.

My clump of ‘Blue Wonder’ is nearly 40 years old and continues to thrive year after year. It grows about 15 inches tall with a spread of 18 inches or so. Although it does not bloom as long as newer varieties, it has been a reliable performer, gently spilling onto the walkway and serving as an anchor at one end of the garden.

‘Six Hills Giant’ is another very long-lived cultivar with a long history of garden use. It

www.PerennialResource.com

‘Kitten Around’

forms big mounds, 24 inches tall and up to 48 inches across, making it an excellent choice for large gardens, particularly when attractive filler plants are needed to occupy space.

‘Walker’s Low’ is perhaps the most famous variety, having won the title of Perennial Plant of the Year in 2007. Despite its name, it is not especially low growing. It can grow 24 by 24 inches and was named for a meadow (a “low”) in Ireland. At the time of introduction, its claim to fame was a more upright habit, longer, showier flower spikes, and nearly sterile flowers, reducing the problem of unwanted seedlings that sometimes occurred with the species and older varieties. ‘Walker’s Low’ remained the gold standard in catmints, possibly until the introduction of ‘Cat’s Meow.’ It exhibits larger individual florets and a shorter, more dome-shaped habit (17 to 20 inches) due to better branched stems. The flower color seems brighter too, due to darker blue flower calyxes.

Other cultivars arrived quickly on the heels of ‘Walker’s Low’ and ‘Cat’s Meow,’ too numerous to list. Although ‘Cat’s Meow’ is perhaps the current standard-bearer, the newly introduced ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ presents some improvements that make it my current favorite. It is even more compact, growing just 12 to 14 inches. There are plenty of cultivars available now in that height range, but continued on page 28

www.PerennialResource.com

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

Advertiser Index Abbott’s Landscape Nursery....................7 Aguafina Gardens International............19 Alexander’s Farm Mkt/Greenhses..... 10 Assoc. of Professional Gardeners........34 Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr...............................32 Barson’s Greenhouse.................................35 Beauchamp’s/The Pond Place.................5 Blossoms..........................................................34

Bogie Lake Greenhouses............................ 8 Campbell’s Greenhouses........................... 9 Contender’s Tree/Lawn Specialists.....13 Country Oaks Landscape Supp............... 6 Dale’s Landscaping Supp........................... 9 Davey Tree........................................................17 Destinations: Ann Arbor...........................14 Destinations: Downriver...........................27 Destinations: I-96........................................33 Destinations: Macomb...............................21

Eckert’s Greenhouse.................................... 6 English Gardens...................................Page 3 Espoma..............................................................15 Fraleigh’s Landscape Nursery................32 The Garden Mill............................................34 Garden Rhythms..........................................34 A Garden Space.............................................. 9 Gordon’s Lawn Core Aeration................31 Grass Magic....................................................23 Hidden Lake Gardens.................................25

Lake Orion Lawn Ornaments.................29 Margolis Nursery..........................................17 Merritt Home Design................................... 8 Michigan Green Industry Assoc............15 Michigan Nursery/Landscp Assoc.....29 Milarch Nursery.............................................19 Mulligan’s Garden Ctr................................25 Organimax.......................................................17 The Original Budget Tree Service.........34 Orion Stone Depot....................................... 10

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Steinkopf Nursery...........................................5 Suburban Landscape Supply...................12 Telly’s Greenhouse........................................ 4 Turner’s Landscp & Gard Ctr..................29 Uncle Luke’s Feed Store............................25 Van Atta’s Greenhouse..............................31 Warmbier Farms..........................................35 The Weed Lady..............................................19 Westcroft Gardens......................................31 Zoner’s Greenhouse...................................23

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Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

Ball Horticultural

‘Walker’s Low’ continued from page 26 what really sets ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ apart is its semi-glossy, nearly round foliage and excellent bloom habit. The flowering stems arise at ground level, with flowers covering the entire length of the stem, creating a higher flowerto-foliage ratio. Bright rosy purple calyxes give an extra splash of color.

More mound-forming catmints A shorter form of ‘Walker’s Low,’ ‘Junior Walker’ grows 14 inches in height and 36 inches in width.

‘Purrsian Blue’ is compact (14 to 18 inches tall and 30 inches wide), with a very good flower display.

One of the best new dwarf varieties, ‘Kitten Around’ is only 12 inches tall with periwinkle blue flowers. This dwarf is superior to ‘Kit Kat’ and ‘Little Trudy,’ which tend to be sparse bloomers.

Other catmints Although other nepeta species and hybrids could be considered ornamentals, many have poor flower-to-foliage ratio, De Vroomen Garden Products

‘Junior Walker’

continued on page 30

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Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

www.BluestonePerennials.com

‘Six Hills Giant’

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‘Blue Wonder’ and ‘White Wonder’ continued from page 28 making them inferior choices for the garden.

However, two green-leaved species are worth discussion.

The tall Siberian catmint (N. sibirica) cultivar ‘Souvenir d’Andre Chaudron’ makes a valuable addition to the garden, by virtue of its months-long display of blue flowers in elongated, whorled spikes. Unlike the mound-shaped gray-green types, Siberian catmint has upright, three-foot, leafy stems and a spreading habit somewhat like bee balm. Its wandering ways can be forgiven for its larger, bluer flowers and its sure-fire ability to attract hummingbirds. It also makes an excellent cut flower.

The Japanese catmint (N. subsessilis) is an outlier among the catmints because it actually prefers moist soil and performs well in partial shade. Its tubular flowers are among the largest in the genus, are borne in short whorls, and may be blue or pink depending on the variety.

Height varies from 15 to 30 inches, and the habit is upright and clump forming, with bright green leaves 2 inches long and 1-1/2 inches wide. This is one catmint that will benefit from fertilizer and regular watering to assure the best floral display. There are several varieties available, including ‘Blue Dreams,’ ‘Sweet Dreams,’ ‘Cool Cat,’ and ‘Candy Cat.’ Flickr/Cultivar413

‘Cool Cat’ (Nepeta subsessilis ‘Cool Cat’)

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

See what’s NEW at Westcroft!

Shop safely at our updated, outdoor Garden Center!

Curbside pickup now available (call us for details) Westcroft Gardens & Farm is a plant nursery, specializing in azaleas and rhododendrons. We grow our own shrubs, perennials, annuals and wildflowers, and also offer trees, herbs and vegetable plants. To help acid-loving plants thrive in the mostly alkaline soils of the Midwest, Westcroft makes and sells its own acid soil conditioner: Greenleaf Compound.

Westcroft has a beautiful Heritage Garden that boasts many varieties of azaleas and rhododendrons, including hybrids created here at Westcroft by former owner Ernest Stanton.

The Gardens are also available for wedding and event rentals.

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Where moments blossom and memories grow (734) 676-2444 westcroftgardens.com 21803 West River Rd, Grosse Ile, MI 48138

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The order form is available at MichiganGardener.com or please contact us for an order form: publisher@MichiganGardener.com 248-594-5563

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Van Atta’s has one of the largest selections of garden accents, trees, garden toys, annuals, shrubs and perennials in Southeastern Michigan.

We grow an enormous variety of perennial species and cultivars.

There’s a good chance we have that one plant you’ve been searching for or the garden ornament that will set your yard apart. Come on out and stroll our grounds. You’ll be amazed any one item at what you’ll find, as well as the friendly Offer valid through June 30, 2020 Not to be combined w/other offers service and expert advice you will receive.

10% OFF

Van Atta’s Greenhouse & Flower Shop Family owned and operated since 1980

9008 Old M-78 • Haslett, MI • 517-339-1142 www.vanattas.com • Open year round

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• Dexter, MI hs eck ou r website for hours – www.fraleig

Auburn Oaks GARDEN CENTER

High quality plants & service for your garden success since 1964.

Auburn Oaks Farm 25th Annual Summer Plant Sale - Open to the Public -

Friday & Saturday, June 19 & 20, 9am-4pm

COME ON IN AND CHECK OUT WHERE THE PLANTS ARE GROWN! 8048 Allen Rd, Fenton, MI • 810-629-7848 Auburn Oaks is following CDC guidelines to keep everyone safe. Please wear your mask and maintain 6-ft social distancing.

3820 W. Auburn Rd. (2 blks E. of Adams Rd.) • Rochester Hills • 248-852-2310 Mon-Fri 8-7 Sat 8-6 Sun 9-5 • www.auburnoaksnursery.com

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC GARDENS, please visit MichiganGardener.com.

Click on "Resources" then "Public Gardens."

June / July / August / September / October

NOTICE: Contact event organizer to verify event is still scheduled.

June Smart Gardening from a Commercial Greenhouse Point of View Tue, Jun 9, 6:30pm, Bloomfield Hills. By Master Gardener Society of Oakland County at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. $5. chase8219@gmail.com, www.mgsoc.org. **CANCELLED** 35th Annual Franklin Garden Walk Wed, Jun 10, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** 10am4pm & 6-9pm, Franklin area. By Franklin Garden Club. $12/person in advance. $15 day of. Proceeds from ticket sales will support horticultural scholarships as well as environmental, horticultural & educational causes. Local artisan boutique on the Franklin Village Green 9am5pm. 248-403-5118, or franklingardenclub@gmail.com.

NOTICE: Contact event organizer to verify event is still scheduled. **CANCELLED** Stories in the Garden Wed, Jun 10, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** 1011:30am, East Lansing. At MSU. FREE. Teens will be reading stories to younger children—a magical time of fun & learning. www.canr.msu.edu.

Shelby Garden Club: Rain, Rain, Don’t Go Away Thu, Jun 11, 1pm, Shelby Township. By Shelby Garden Club at Shelby Township Activities Center. Join the garden club for the do’s & don’ts of rainwater upcycling. **CANCELLED** Master Gardener College Fri, Jun 12, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** East Lansing.

By MSU Extension, at Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center. Hands-on workshops, riveting lectures & the chance to learn more about a variety of topics, there’s sure to be something for everyone. 517-884-7081, braidbet@msu.edu.

Yardeners Native Plant Sale Sat, Jun 13, 9am-Noon, St Clair Shores. By Yardeners of St. Clair Shores at Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum.

Deadline for pre-order May 30. Order forms: scsyardeners@gmail.com.

H Super Sprout Kid’s Club: Ladybug Trio Sat, Jun 13, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. $5.

Bring your Super Sprout to create a Ladybug Trio. All the materials needed are supplied. www.EnglishGardens.com.

H Bonsai Workshop Sat, Jun 13, 1pm, Troy, At Telly’s. $45. Plant and create your own bonsai tree to enjoy for years to come. Instruction will include plant & pot selection, root combing, root pruning, potting, basic styling techniques, & aftercare. www.tellys.com.

Yardeners Native Plant Sale Sat, Jun 13, 9-Noon, St Clair Shores. By Yardeners of St. Clair Shores at Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum.

Deadline for pre-order 5/30. Order forms: scsyardeners@gmail.com Rose Show Sat, Jun 20, & Sun, Jun 21. Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Enjoy a variety of rose blossoms on display, all locally grown & carefully prepped. www.meijergardens.org.

H Bonsai Workshop Sat, Jun 20, 1pm, Troy, At Telly’s. $45. Plant and create your own bonsai tree to enjoy for years to come. Instruction will include plant & pot selection, root combing, root pruning, potting, basic styling techniques, & aftercare. www.tellys.com.

H 5th Annual Ladybug Giveaway Sat, Jun 20, All locations. At English Gardens.

Get 1 bag of 150 ladybugs FREE with any purchase. www.EnglishGardens.com.

Trailwood Garden Club 24th Annual Garden Walk Tue, Jun 23, 11am-7pm, Plymouth. By Trailwood Garden Club. “Flowers Are Forever.” Treasure & plant sale. www.trailwoodgardenclub.com. **CANCELLED** Digger Day Tue, Jun 23, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** 10amNoon. At MSU. $5/child. Come to the garden and explore front-end loaders, dump trucks & backhoes. http://www.canr.msu.edu.

NOTICE: Contact event organizer to verify event is still scheduled.

Crocker House Garden Walk Sat, Jun 27, 9am-4pm, Mount Clemens. By Macomb County Historical Society at Crocker House Museum. $15. Garden Walk, Breakfast Talk: Magical Monarchs. info@crockerhousemuseum.org. continued on page 34

Promote your events! Send us your information!

Website: Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Garden Event Calendar” E-Mail: calendar@MichiganGardener.com Upcoming Issues & Deadlines: Issue

July/August 2020 September/October 2020

Deadline June 15, 2020 August 15, 2020

Christians Greenhouse & Garden Center 3750 E. Grand River Rd., Williamston, MI 48895 517-521-4650 www.christiansgreenhouses.com May/June hours: Please call.

Amazing selection, amazing prices. Over 700 different varieties of annuals, grasses, perennials, roses, vegetables and herbs.

The newest cultivars and traditional favorites. Plus rock garden perennials, bird and butterfly plants, and more. Our pottery assortment will wow you, with multiple sizes and colors.

Meier Flowerland 8087 W. Grand River, Brighton, MI 48114 810-229-9430 www.meierflowerland.com May/June hours: Mon-Sat 8-8, Sun 8-6 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.

Milarch Nursery 28500 Haas Rd., New Hudson, MI 48165 248-437-2094 www.milarchnursery.com Hours – Thru Sat, June 13: Mon-Fri 8-5:30, Sat 8-3; Starting Mon, June 15: Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat 8-1.

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.

The Pond Place of Michigan 3505 W. Highland Rd., Milford, MI 48380 248-889-8400 www.pondplace.com May/June hours: Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat 9-3, Sun 10-2.

Established in 2001, The Pond Place is one of the largest retailers and wholesalers of pond supplies in Michigan. Our knowledgeable staff will help with your pond supply, koi, goldfish and water plant needs. We build ponds and seawalls too. Visit www.pondplace.com for online shopping. We now sell and deliver mulch, topsoil and select stone.

Specialty Growers 4330 Golf Club Rd., Howell MI 48843 517-546-7742 www.specialtygrowers.net May/June hours: Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-4.

Excellent selection of perennials, grasses, hostas, native plants, herb and vegetable plants, all grown here at our nursery.

Heirloom tomatoes and interesting pepper varieties. Perennials from starter 3.5” pots up to 2-gallon size. Outdoor-grown perennials, acclimated to local weather conditions, selected for Michigan gardens. Complete catalog on our website.

Knowledgeable, experienced staff.

Van Atta’s Greenhouse 9008 Old M-78, Haslett, MI 48840 517-339-1142 www.vanattas.com May hours: Daily 9-6. 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

More of a great thing (and still free!)

Sign up today for our FREE e-newsletter!

Visit MichiganGardener.com and enter your e-mail address at the top of the page next to the Michigan Gardener logo.

Don’t miss the contest in each issue for your chance to win FREE garden prizes!

34

Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

Let’s Get Gardening!

Hanging Baskets • Window Boxes • Porch Pots Annual Bedding Plants • Herbs • Vegetable Plants

Dad probably doesn’t need another tie.

To find Dad a gift he will really love,

SHOP OUR WEBSITE!

www.thegardenmill.com/shop 110 S. MAIN • DOWNTOWN CHELSEA • 734-475-3539 • www.thegardenmill.com

continued from page 32

Tri-Cities Garden Walk Sat, Jun 27, 10am-4pm, Grand Haven. Hosted by: TriCities Garden Club at Gardens in the Spring Lake area.

Ticket information & addresses of the gardens on the walk available at: www.tricitiesgardenclub.org.

Jackson County Master Gardener 2020 Garden Tour Sat, Jun 27, 10am-4pm, Jackson. By Jackson County Master Gardeners at 8 gardens & bonus learning garden. $8/advance. $10/day of. Vendors, artists, food trucks at Blackman Park. marlagilpin05@gmail.com, 517-499-4442.

H Bonsai Workshop Sat, Jun 27, 1pm, Troy, At Telly’s. $45. Plant and create your own bonsai tree to enjoy for years to come. Instruction will include plant & pot selection, root combing, root pruning, potting, basic styling techniques, & aftercare. www.tellys.com.

Need help in your garden?

Hire a Professional

Our members work with Integrity, Intelligence & Pride www.associationofprofessionalgardeners.org aprogardener@gmail.com

New members always welcome Visit our website for program schedule

GARDEN RHYTHMS CREATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR

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Maintenance & Pruning Garden Design Garden Coaching Seasonal Containers Certified Master Gardeners & Designers

248-217-6459 bevinbloom@comcast.net

33866 Woodward Ave. 48009

(248) 644-4411 blossomsbirmingham.com

• Tree & Shrub Removal/Trimming • Stump Removal & Grinding • Lot Clearings • Storm Damage

Recognize Your Garden Weeds Tue, Jun 30, 5:30-7:30, Sterling Heights. At Sterling Heights Nature Ctr. $10. Dr. Erin Hill will discuss the most common weeds & how to manage them. https://events.anr.msu.edu/gardenweeds.

July H The Peach Truck Sat, Jul 4, 2-3pm, Royal Oak. At English Gardens. Preorders only. www.EnglishGardens.com. **CANCELLED** Stories in the Garden Tue, Jul 7, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** 7-8:30pm, East Lansing. At MSU. FREE. Teens will be reading stories to younger children—a magical time of fun & learning. http://www.canr.msu.edu.

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www.OriginalBudgetTreeService.com & INSURED

H Garden Delight Tour Wed, Jul 15, 11am-1pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $29.99. www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com. **CANCELLED** 38th Annual Garden Walk - Interlochen Thu, Jul 16, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** Noon-7pm, Interlochen area. By Friendly Garden Club at Long Lake/ Interlochen area gardens. $10/pre-sale $12/day of. www.mynorthtickets.com. **CANCELLED** Michigan Koi & Pond Club Annual Pond Tour Sat, Jul 18, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** 10am-5pm, West Bloomfield/Commerce. By Michigan Koi & Pond Club. $10/adult, $5/under 12. Beautiful gardens with water features. Rain/shine. mkpc-se.com for more information.

Hosta Show Sat, Jul 18, 10am-5pm & Sun, Jul 19, 11am-5 pm, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. FREE. Hosta leaves will be displayed in vases, showcasing an amazing variety. West MI Hosta Society members available to answer questions.

H Outdoor Garden Tea Party Wed, Jul 22, 11:30-1:30, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $31.75. The perfect way to celebrate summer.

Dates: 7/22, 7/23, 7/24, 7/28, 7/29, 7/30. www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com. **CANCELLED** Silver Anniversary Garden Tour Sat, Jul 25, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** 9am-4pm, Houghton & Higgins Lake area, By Kirtland Garden Club.

Tickets are $10 pre-sale, $12 day of event. Self-guided tour. 832-360-0974.

August **CANCELLED** 27th Annual Garden Tour: Yardeners of St. Clair Shores Sat, Aug 1, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** 9am-3pm, St. Clair Shores. By Yardeners of St. Clair Shores. $5. Kids under 12 free. Begin at the Selinsky-Green Farmhouse Museum. Visit the vendors & see the sponsors at the garden sites. Rain/Shine. Self guided tour. scsyardeners@gmail.com.

**CANCELLED** Garden Writers Workshop Tue, Jul 7, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** Tue-Thu, 10am-Noon, East Lansing. At MSU. $30. Age 7 & up.

Young writers will learn about the wonderful world of writing in the garden. http://www.canr.msu.edu.

H Super Sprout Kid’s Club: Carnivorous Plant Terrarium Sat, Aug 8, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. $24.99. Bring your Super Sprout to create a Carnivorous Plant Terrarium. www.EnglishGardens.com.

**CANCELLED** Northville Garden Walk - 27th Annual Wed, Jul 8, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** 9am-4pm, Northville. By Country Garden Club of Northville at 7 gorgeous gardens PLUS a bonus Mini walk. $12/advance $15/day of. www.cgcnv.org, 734-451-5553.

**CANCELLED** Stories in the Garden Wed, Aug 12, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** 1011:30am, East Lansing. At MSU. FREE. Teens will be reading stories to younger children—a magical time of fun & learning. www.canr.msu.edu.

**CANCELLED** Grandmont Community Association’s Garden Tour Sat, Jul 11, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** NW Detroit.

By Grandmont Garden Club & The Grandmont Community Association. This fund helps graduating high school students that live in Grandmont. Lorena Rashid: 313-585-2499.

WE WILL TRY TO BEAT ANY INSURED QUOTE—CALL US!

800-964-7785

**CANCELLED** Genesee County Master Gardener Home Tour 2020 Sun, Jun 28, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** 10am5pm, Swartz Creek. By Master Gardener Association of Genesee County. $10/adult $2/ children under 12.

Self-guided tour. Each garden has an educational component. Master Gardeners on hand to answer questions. http://gcgardentour.weebly.com, 810-610-0545.

**CANCELLED** Troy Garden Club 46th Annual Garden Walk Wed, Jul 8, **CANCELLED (Coronavirus)** 9:30am3pm & 5pm-8:30pm, Troy. “Kaleidoscope of Gardens.”

By Troy Garden Club at 7 private gardens at 7 venues.

Rain/Shine $12/ Advance; $15/Day of. Activities at the Troy Historic Village, 9am-6pm: Midsummer Arts & Crafts Boutique, Plant Sale & Student Art Exhibit. www.TroyGardenClubMI.com, 248-540-6158.

THE Original BUDGET TREE SERVICE

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NOTICE: Contact event organizer to verify event is still scheduled.

Belleville Area Garden Walk: Gardens with a Vision Sun, Jul 12, Belleville & Van Buren Township. By Belleville Area Garden Walk Committee at 7 area gardens. Knowledgeable docents & gardeners on hand. www.bellevilleareagardenwalk.com.

H Super Sprout Kid’s Club: Stepping Stone Sat, Jul 11, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. $5. Bring your Super Sprout to create a stepping stone.

All the materials needed are supplied. www.EnglishGardens.com.

NOTICE: Contact event organizer to verify event is still scheduled.

H Family Bike Day At Hidden Lake Gardens Fri, Aug 14, Tipton. At Hidden Lake Gardens.

517-431-2060.

Crocker House Museum’s Maiden Porch Walk Sat, Aug 15, Noon-4pm, Mt Clemens. By Crocker House Museum. Come discover the history of private homes in the historical section of Mount Clemens. Homeowners will share their home’s history.

10th Annual Summer Garden Tour Sat, Aug 15, Detroit. At Black Cat Pottery. Register: www.blackcatpottery.com.

Dahlia Show Sat, Aug 29, & Sun, Aug 30; Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Marvel at the variety of colors, shapes & sizes of dahlia flowers & view creative floral arrangements. www.meijergardens.org.

MichiganGardener.com | June 2020 | Michigan Gardener

H Herbal Summer Faire Sat, Aug 29, 10am-5pm & Sun, Aug 30, 11am-4pm, Fenton. At Heavenly Scent Herb Farm. $3. www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com.

Grand Garden Show Sun, Aug 30, Mackinac Island. By Proven Winners at Grand Hotel. Three days of garden tours, expert speakers & educational content. www.grandgardenshow.com.

September Dahlias: 68th Annual Dahlia Show & Competition Fri, Sep 11, 12-9:30pm, West Bloomfield Twp. By the Southeastern Michigan Dahlia Society. At Orchard Mall.

500 dahlias of varying size, color & form. www.semds.org, 248-689-5947.

NOTICE: Contact event organizer to verify event is still scheduled.

H Super Sprout Kid’s Club: Nature Art Sat, Sep 12, 11:30, all locations. At English Gardens. $5. Bring your Super Sprout to create a Nature Art piece.

All the materials needed are supplied. www.EnglishGardens.com.

Chrysanthemums & More Fri, Sep 18, through Nov 1, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Celebrate the autumn season with an extensive display of hundreds of flowering plants. Color tours, tram rides & seasonal children’s activities.

Herb & Gourd Fest Sat, Sep 19, & Sun, Sep 20, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Discover a variety of ways to use herbs & gourds in this fall event. Gourds available for purchase. www.meijergardens.org.

Yardeners Fall Plant Exchange Sat, Sep 19, 9am-11am, St. Clair Shores Library. By Yardeners of St. Clair Shores at St. Clair Shores Library parking lot. Load up your vehicles with your extra labeled plants & divisions. scsyardeners@gmail.com.

Japanese Garden 5th Anniversary Celebration Lecture Tue, Sep 22, 6pm, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. Author Leslie Buck will embark on a garden adventure in Kyoto as seen through the daily lives of gardeners, rather than visitors.

Great Gardens Party Wed, Sep 23, 6pm, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. $100/ticket. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a sitdown dinner, live/silent auctions, a raffle & much more.

Fall Ornamentals & Putting Your Garden to Bed Fri, Sep 25, 10am, Rochester. By Meadow Brook Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. $5 donation. Kathy Miller presents. www.meadowbrookhall.org.

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.

DON’T LOOK. Oops, you looked. And so will 70,000 potential customers. Advertise in Michigan Gardener. Call 248-594-5563 or e-mail publisher@MichiganGardener.com.

WARMBIER FARMS Everything for your Garden, Home, and You

October Fall Bonsai Show Sat, Oct 3, Sat-Sun, Grand Rapids. At Frederik Meijer Gardens. See a variety of bonsai on display, from trees in early stages of training to lovely older trees. Watch bonsai artists at work.

Dahlias: Digging, Dividing & Storing Your Dahlias Mon, Oct 5, 2-4pm, Troy. By The Southeastern Michigan Dahlia Society at Telly’s Greenhouse. Dr. Keith Berven & members will show how to dig, divide & store tubers for the winter. www.semds.org, 248-689-5947.

H Super Sprout Kid’s Club: Halloween Party Sat, Oct 10, 11:30am, all locations. At English Gardens. $5. Bring your Super Sprout to a Halloween Party and create a festive mask. All the materials needed are supplied. www.EnglishGardens.com.

Garden Center

Garden Statuary

Available seasonally, we have a wonderful assortment of annuals and herbs. And roses! Over 100 varieties each year, including hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, shrubs & miniatures. Plus, outdoor-grown perennials & shrubs. Why does outdoor-grown matter? Our plants are hardy, healthy & well-rooted— ready to succeed in your garden from day one.

Over 2,000 different cement garden statues in our outdoor showroom, all made here in Michigan by us! Plus, come see our mind-boggling selection of garden decor, arbors, gazing globes, furniture, and so much more.

Composting Mon, Oct 19, 7pm, St. Clair Shores. By Yardeners of St. Clair Shores at St. Clair Shores Public Library. FREE. Presentation by Mary Gerstenberger. Learn the benefits & techniques for composting in your garden. scsyardeners@gmail.com.

5300 Garfield Rd. • Auburn, MI • Centrally located between Saginaw/Bay City/Midland

Scent of the Holidays Fri, Oct 23, 10am, Rochester. By Meadow Brook Garden Club at Meadow Brook Hall. $5 donation. Colleen K. Dodt presents. www.meadowbrookhall.org.

HEADING UP NORTH? We’re just 7 minutes off of I-75!

989-662-7002 • www.warmbierfarms.com

NOTICE: Contact event organizer to verify event is still scheduled.

H Super Sprout Kid’s Club: Autumn Luminary Sat, Nov 14, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. $5. Bring your Super Sprout to create an Autumn Luminary. All the materials needed are supplied. www.EnglishGardens.com.

10th Annual Holiday Open House Sat, Dec 5, Detroit. At Black Cat Pottery. www.blackcatpottery.com.

H Super Sprout Kid’s Club: Cookie Decorating Sat, Dec 12, 10am, all locations. At English Gardens. $5. Bring your Super Sprout to Cookie Decorating.

All the materials needed are supplied. Register: www.EnglishGardens.com.

Classified Ads NEED A HAND? Call “The little gardener that could.” 15 yrs experience at Botanical Gardens. FREE Estimates. Pat: 586-2149852, agardenspace.com.

35

Celebrating

40 YEARS

in business!

• New! Native Plant section • Large Selection of plants to attract hummingbirds, butterflies & all other pollinators

For great-looking plants all summer, use what we use— Jack’s Classic from J.R. Peters, Inc. Stop Blossom End Rot with Jack’s Classic Tomato FeED

NEED TECHNOLOGY HELP? Since 1986, I have helped folks just like you. Computer, smartphone, TV, tablet, WiFi network. I will analyze your needs, set-up, train & provide support. If you are frustrated by all the technology in your life, email or call Dave Barrett: coachbarrett4@gmail.com or 248770-4541.

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 some items to sell? Let our readers know!

Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Classified Advertising.”

EXPANDED WATER PLANT SELECTION! Lotus • Hardy Lilies • Carnivorous Plants • Cannas Iris • Elephant Ears • Papyrus Lobelia • Lysimachia Water Lilies • Water Hyacinth

• Huge selection of organic amendments & fertilizers • Hanging Baskets • Huge line of perennials– Lots of NEW varieties!

SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC COMPOST

Brenda’s Butterfly Habitat Opening Soon!

Brenda’s Butterfly Habitat is filled with butterflies, and host and nectar plants that are native to the area. You will see the complete life cycle of these winged beauties in all stages of their metamorphosis!

6414 N. Merriman • Westland, MI Located between Ford and Warren

734-421-5959 • www.barsons.com Check our website for more information

We would like to thank everyone for your support over the last 40 years, especially this year. Stay safe & healthy! –The Barson Family & Crew

36

Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

A country retreat

The amazing renovated barn and adjacent gardens were the wedding venue for Vivienne and William Young’s daughter.

Through the creative use of stone, Vivienne Young transformed an expansive farm into a comfortable garden sanctuary

I

f you were to drive by the country garden of Vivienne and William Young, you would barely catch a glimpse of the house and massive barn. I was lucky enough to be invited to write this story. While their garden was not part of an organized public tour, I am going to take you along with me, so you too can enjoy the splendor.

Imagine moving from England in the 1960s to work for the Ford Motor Company in Canada. Then, after 22 years, retiring from the company and starting a college education in your late 40s. After graduating from the University of Michigan with a nursing degree, Vivienne thus started her second career.

She retired a second time, from the England, and she said no. She loves oncology department at the U of M it here but does enjoy visiting Enghospital. Meanwhile, she met her land and family over there. I will husband at Brownie’s restaurant in show you some touches of England Detroit and they have made a life on in her Michigan garden. a beautiful old farm in Ypsilanti.

Because this is a large property, Vivienne has had a long career Vivienne has her helper Geraldine with two distinctly different vocacome and lend a hand twice per tions. Today, her career is making week during the growing season.

Lisa delightful gardens on their large Her other “helpers” include Prisha, Steinkopf property. They are stewards of 160 Sunny, and Charlie, her dogs, and acres, 40 of those being wooded.

Queenie, Hey Babe, and Stubby, her The cultivated garden takes up at least an acre cats. They even came along to help Vivienne and is a lovely mix of styles. What an amazshow me around. ing retirement! I asked Vivienne if she misses Vivienne and I talked about building the

garden and I asked about challenges encountered during the journey. One difficulty was the clay soil. Vivienne loves to use lavender plants and they need exceptional drainage.

To help it survive, pea gravel was added to the planting holes. Other plants receive peat and manure as amendments, depending on the plant type being installed.

To create garden beds around the property, compost was brought in and incorporated into the existing soil. Vivienne’s rule is to amend the soil as little as possible—the plants must be able to grow in the conditions you have to offer text continued on page 38

MichiganGardener.com | June 2020 | Michigan Gardener

37

At the base of the barn wall, these small “rooms” have been recreated from a photograph taken in Vivienne’s hometown in England.

A waterfall originates at the garden’s top and the accompanying stream winds its way down the hill.

Stone stairs and a bridge were built to lead to the upper entrance of the barn where wedding guests were greeted.

Previously home to turkey vultures and raccoons, this granary is being renovated into a “she-shed.”

38

Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

The Russian sage garden greeted guests as they went up the stairs to the wedding in the barn. text continued from page 36 them. That said, whatever the soil is, it needs to drain. Vivienne has lost many plants in recent years due to overly wet conditions. These drainage problems have become serious enough that she is having drain tiles installed to help take away some of the water.

The barn Refurbished for the Youngs’ daughter’s wedding, the barn caught my attention immediately. The wedding took place in the barn and I was given a tour of the amazing venue, which took over two years to renovate.

The grounds immediately surrounding the barn were beautifully landscaped, including the steps leading to the second story. They are natural stone with thyme planted on the treads to soften the stone’s look. A bed of Russian sage and its swath of purple greeted the guests at the bottom.

On the opposite side of the barn, which faces the house, there are a series of small garden rooms. Each displays a different vignette, with some even having stone arch entryways.

Vivienne told me it is a re-creation of a garden from her hometown in England. She had taken a photograph and the masons copied it as close as they could. Vivienne sourced a local text continued on page 40 P H OTO G R A P H S BY L I S A S T E I N KO P F

Another small “room,” complete with a small table and chairs for a tete-a-tete.

An antique seed sorter is now a perfect planter for succulents.

MichiganGardener.com | June 2020 | Michigan Gardener

39

An herbaceous border filled with rudbeckia, phlox, echinacea, lilies, and Joe pye weed.

This wisteria pergola structure started its life as a shed.

These huge maple syrup vats were found on the property, and transformed into reading nooks.

40

Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

text continued from page 38 stone, so it looked slightly different than the original, but I can’t imagine it any more magnificent. She has found some gifted masons!

The garden also includes an arch that resembles a Mexican ruin, just as she envisioned. I asked where she gets her ideas and she said she finds some in magazines or they just come to her. The large, ornate gated arbor was found in a dress shop. She was shopping for a dress and left with a store display. You never know where you will find ideas and accoutrements for your dream garden.

It is hard to believe the wisteria pergola was once a garden shed built at the time of the house and barn. The roof was removed, the four corners and part of the walls were encased in stone and the shed is now a strong support for the wisteria vine. Imagine it smothered in purple flowers in the spring.

Garden rooms

For this project, Vivienne told the stone masons she wanted a “Mexican ruin” feel and this arch is what they created.

This garden is cohesive, but there are smaller rooms and vignettes throughout.

The library garden has two small nooks made from large vats—previously used to boil maple sap into syrup—found in their woods in a shanty. What a great way to upcycle the vats. The seesaw garden is the meditative area planted with foliage plants without a lot of flowers. This quiet green space near the library garden is perfect for reading on a summer day with just the sound of water in the background. The waterfall garden starts on a gently sloping hill and a stream meanders down. Vivienne said she likes to work with the flow of the land as she is very in tune with the property of which they are stewards.

A small building behind the barn is currently being renovated. Previously a granary, it is going to be Vivienne’s “she-shed.” In the not too far past, it was home to raccoons and nesting turkey vultures. Now it is being transformed into a charming garden getaway.

Speaking of critters, she is lucky so far to not have any deer ravaging her garden. I’m jealous!

This enchanting garden certainly had many English touches, and I loved listening to Vivienne’s English accent. Yet hers is an American garden, with touches of gardening styles from several countries. It was a joy to tour this well-planned, personal garden.

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)

V Website Extra

Antique filing cabinets painted in stylish colors have a second life as succulent planters.

Go to MichiganGardener.com and click on “Website Extras” for more photos of the Young garden.

www.MichiganGardener.com | June 2020 | Michigan Gardener

Look for Allen Park • Ace Hardware Almont H American Tree • 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 H Matthaei Botanical Gard H Produce Station H Turner’s Greenhse/ Gard Ctr • Weingartz • Wild Birds Unltd Armada • Pond Guy Auburn H Warmbier Farms Auburn Hills • Ace Hardware H Haley Stone H State Crushing Belleville H Banotai Greenhse • Gardeners Choice H Pinter Flowerland H Zywicki Greenhse Berkley • Garden Central Beverly Hills • Ace Hardware Birmingham H Blossoms Brighton • Ace Hardware • Brighton Stone & Fireplace • Grasshopper Gdns • Leppek Nurs H Meier Flowerland Brownstown Twp • Raupp Bros Landscp Supp 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 • Billings Lawn Equip Clinton Twp H English Gardens

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at these fine locations: • Michigan Koi • MSU ExtensionMacomb Cty • Tropical Treasures Clio H Piechnik’s Greenhse Commerce Twp H Zoner’s Greenhse Davison H Wojo’s Garden Splendors Dearborn • Ace Hardware • Fairlane Gard Dearborn Hts H English Gardens Detroit • Ace Hardware • Detroit Gard Ctr Dexter • Bloom! Gard Ctr • 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 • Gerych’s H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm Ferndale • Casual Modes Home & Gard Flushing H Flushing Lawn & Gard Ctr Fostoria H The Iron Barn Fowlerville • Green-Up Gard Ctr Gladwin H Stone Cottage Gardens Grand Blanc H Weed Lady Grand Rapids • Meijer Gardens 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 H Specialty Growers H Superior Landscp

Supp • Wilczewski Greenhses Imlay City • Earthly Arts 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 • Valley Nurs • Weingartz Macomb • Altermatt’s Greenhse • Boyka’s Greenhse H Brohl’s Greenhouse H Elya’s Village Gard • Joe Randazzo’s H Landscape Source • Olejnik Farms • Wild Birds Unltd Midland • Dow Gardens Milford • Ace Hardware • Rock Bottom Landscp Supp • Peter’s True Value Hardware H Pond Place Monroe • Flower Market New Baltimore H Meldrum Bros Nurs New Boston H Grass Roots Pond & Gard • Mums the Word New Hudson • Fletcher & Rickard Landscp Supp H Milarch Nurs 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 • Four Seasons Gard Ctr Oakland H Piechnik’s Gard Ctr Ortonville H Wojo’s Greenhse Owosso H Everlastings in the Wildwood Oxford • Ace Hardware • Dafoe’s Feed & Seed Plymouth H English Gardens Plymouth Nurs • Graye’s Greenhse • Plymouth Rock & Supp • Rock Shoppe

• Sideways • Sparr’s Greenhse Pontiac • Goldner Walsh Gard/Home • MSU ExtensionOakland Cty Ray • Heritage Oaks Redford H Pinter Flowerland • Seven Mi Gard Ctr Rochester • Allstate Home Leisure • Fogler’s Greenhse • Sherwood Forest Gard Ctr Rochester Hills • Ace Hardware H Auburn Oaks Gard Ctr H 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 Hardware • Manus Power Mowers • Wild Birds Unltd Saginaw • Abele Greenhse & Gard Ctr Salem Twp H Willow Greenhse Saline H Clink Landscp & Nurs • Junga’s Ace Hardware • KBK Gard Ctr • Saline Flowerland Shelby Twp • Ace Hardware • Diegel’s Greenhse H Hessell’s Greenhses • Maeder Plant Farm • PJ Hebert H Telly’s Greenhse South Lyon • Ace Hardware • Bader & Sons • Mike’s Garden • Stone Depot Landscp Supp Southfield • 3 DDD’s Stand • Eagle Landscp & Supp • Lavin’s Flower Land • Main’s Landscp Supp St Clair Shores • Ace Hardware (Harper/13 Mi) • Cultivation Station • DeRonne True Value Hardware • Greenhouse Growers • Hall’s Nurs • Soulliere Gard Ctr Sterling Heights • Sterling Hts Nature 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 H Detroit Garden Works Taylor • Ace Hardware • D&L Garden Ctr • Massab Acres Greenhse H Panetta’s Landscp Supp Trenton • Ace Hardware • Carefree Lawn Ctr • Keck Hardware Troy • Home & Gard Shop H Telly’s Greenhse H Uncle Luke’s Feed Store Utica • Stonescape Supp • Weingartz Warren • Ace Hardware • Beste’s Lawn & Patio • Greco’s Nurs • Kutchey Family Mkt Washington • Big Red Orchard • Landscape Direct • Rocks ‘n’ Roots

Precipitation April 2020

NORMAL Monthly 2.90 2.89 3.03

Detroit Flint Lansing

ACTUAL Monthly 2.21 1.70 2.52

DEVIATION from Normal -0.69 -1.19 -0.51

2020 Year to Date: Jan 1 - April 30

NORMAL Yr. to Date 9.16 7.91 8.21

Detroit Flint Lansing

ACTUAL Yr. to Date 11.35 8.40 10.73

Wixom • Angelo’s Landscp Supp Ypsilanti • Coleman’s Farm Mkt H Margolis Nurs • Materials Unlimited • Michigan Greenscape Supp • Schmidt’s Antiques H Sell Farms & Greenhse

DEVIATION from Normal +2.92 +0.91 +0.47

2019 Year TOTAL: Jan 1 - April 30

DEVIATION from Normal +2.19 +0.49 +2.52

NORMAL Yr. to Date 9.16 7.91 8.21

ACTUAL Yr. to Date 12.36 10.44 9.90

DEVIATION from Normal +3.20 +2.53 +1.69

April 2020

April 2019

NORMAL Avg. High 59.1 57.3 57.8

ACTUAL Avg. High 55.5 56.4 53.8

DEVIATION from Normal -3.6 -0.9 -4.0

ORMAL N Avg. High 59.1 57.3 57.8

ACTUAL Avg. High 57.8 55.5 56.7

DEVIATION from Normal -1.3 -1.8 -1.1

Detroit Flint Lansing

NORMAL Avg. Low 39.4 35.5 37.0

ACTUAL Avg. Low 36.6 34.8 34.0

DEVIATION from Normal -2.8 -0.7 -3.0

ORMAL N Avg. Low 39.4 35.5 37.0

ACTUAL Avg. Low 40.1 36.8 37.6

DEVIATION from Normal +0.7 +1.3 +0.6

Data courtesy National Weather Service

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MichiganGardener.com | June 2020 | Michigan Gardener

clio H Piechnik’s Greenhouse 13172 McCumsey Rd, MI 48420 810-686-9211 www.cliogreenhouse.com

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H Zoner’s Greenhse 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

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dearborn heights H English Gardens 22650 Ford Rd, MI 48127 313-278-4433 www.englishgardens.com

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dexter Bloom! Gard Ctr Dexter Mill 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 Nurs

fenton Gerych’s Flowers/Gift H Heavenly Scent Herb Farm 13730 White Lake Rd, MI 48430 810-629-9208 www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com

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flushing H Flushing Lawn & Garden Ctr 114 Terrace St, MI 48433 810-659-6241 www.unclelukes.com

Wild Birds Unltd

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howell Penrose Nurs H Specialty Growers 4330 Golf Club Rd, MI 48843 517-546-7742 www.specialtygrowers.net H Superior Landscape Supplies 4805 Musson Rd, MI 48855 517-548-2068 Find us on Facebook Wilczewski Greenhses

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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

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H Lake Orion Lawn Orn H Orion Stone Depot 4888 Joslyn Rd., MI 48359 248-391-2490 www.orionstone.com

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43

ypsilanti Coleman’s Farm Mkt H Margolis Nurs Materials Unlimited Sell Farms & Greenhouses 7200 Willis Rd, MI 48197 866-296-3090 www.sellfarmsandgreenhouses.com

Gardens to Visit ann arbor H Matthaei Botanical Gardens/ Nichols Arboretum

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H Merritt Home Design 5940 Cooley Lake Rd., MI 48327 248-681-7955 www.merritthomedesigns.com

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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

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tipton H Hidden Lake Gardens 6214 Monroe Rd (M-50), MI 49287 517-431-2060 www.hiddenlakegardens.msu.edu

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Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

continued from back cover

How to divide and transplant iris for a profusion of blooms Serious iris gardeners should make time every August or September to lift, divide, and transplant some of their bearded irises. To limit annual work, have a rotation that allows all plants to be divided every 3 or 4 years. Most irises are able to recover and bloom the following spring, but they may take longer. Follow these techniques and success should follow.

1 The rhizomes of iris spread laterally, creating a thick mat that can choke itself out. Irises that have been left for years will even grow in layers on top of each other. Dividing clumps such as this one may be your easiest way to guarantee more blooms next spring.

2 Lift large clumps with a nursery spade or garden fork. Clumps will sometimes come apart with some wiggling, but don’t worry about breaking apart connected rhizomes—you will be cleaning your cuts in the next step.

4 3 Using a serrated soil knife or other sharp knife, cut and remove the oldest, central rhizomes—these have had their day and will not rebloom. Leaving them will only contribute to crowding. Iris rhizomes fork in a “Y” shape. Retain the ends of the Y; they should be showing fresh, green stems.

Also discard any rhizomes that are soft and spongy, riddled with holes, or that have large, hollow cavities. Leaving these will cause rot to spread. Most likely, these rhizomes were home to hungry iris borer larvae.

MichiganGardener.com | June 2020 | Michigan Gardener

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6

5

Avoid this common mistake: do not bury iris rhizomes when planting. Build a moat that will allow the roots that run from the rhizome to be planted in soil, but leave the rhizome itself exposed at soil level. First, dig a shallow hole that will be wide enough to fit the roots. Then, make a mound within the hole with a height that matches the surrounding soil.

It’s best to make major home improvements while your home is empty. Likewise, now is the time to amend the soil in your iris bed.

Irises need excellent drainage. Generously add horticultural stone grit (chicken grit will work), vermiculite, or even pea gravel to the soil and mix it in. Make sure the ratio of soil to grit is enough to make good soil contact with the roots running from your iris rhizomes. Do not use peat moss, which tends to hold water once wet.

8

7 Cut the iris foliage back to 4 to 6 inches, leaving enough green for photosynthesis, but limiting the wind’s chance to uproot the plant.

Place the rhizome on the pinnacle of your little mound, and tuck the roots down into your moat.

Cover roots with soil, but leave at least half of the rhizome exposed. Bearded iris rhizomes will bloom profusely if allowed to be baked by the sun. To aid in this, face all of your transplanted rhizomes toward the sun. Water and firm the soil, then wait expectantly for spring! continued on next page

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Michigan Gardener | June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

continued from previous page

An iris borer larva after having engorged itself on your precious iris. It’s time for action.

Carefully discard soggy, hollowed-out iris rhizomes like this one. Once one pest has intruded, the plant is weakened and avenues are open for other pathogens.

These iris borer pupae will emerge as moths in late summer.

How to deal with an infestation of iris borers

pate in the soil and emerge as moths in late summer, only to return to lay eggs in the fall.

While transplanting, clean and inspect for iris borer—bearded iris’s greatest enemy. Iris borers are very common and can devastate a beautiful patch of irises during their larval feeding frenzy as they mature to adult moths. An iris borer infestation can be identified in May or June by long brown streaks running down the length of iris foliage. In July or August they can be confirmed by visual identification of the larvae or pupae itself (see photos).

The brown streaks are a sign of an early stage in the borer’s life cycle. After hatching from eggs on leaf litter in spring, young larvae bore into the foliage, eating their way down to the fleshy rhizomes. There, they continue to devour the rhizomes’ insides, turning them into mush. In summer, they pu-

If you have noticed iris borer damage in your garden, consider transplanting bearded irises at least every two years so that you can regularly comb through your plants and discard damaged rhizomes. Also, you can even find and squash iris borer larvae and pupae underfoot. Only replant firm, healthy new growth rhizomes.

Upon fall cleanup, create a sterile, clean environment around your irises. Cut down iris foliage to the ground and rake up all garden debris and leaves. You will likely be raking away iris borer eggs with your debris, so discard it at an off-site composting facility or burn it.

Pesticides are available and require precise timing. A non-

Action steps

chemical, biological control option is predatory nematodes (microscopic worms). These can be purchased at specialty garden stores and are applied to the garden in fall or spring, depending on the variety.

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.

www.MichiganGardener.com | June 2020 | Michigan Gardener

through the lens Photographs from Michigan gardeners

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.

3. If your photo is published, we’ll give you a free one-year subscription to Michigan Gardener.

“A black swallowtail with damaged wings on a Mexican sunflower. She has lived a long life and probably been chased by a few birds.” —Wendy Leach

Ann Britton snapped this early summer photo of her peace garden.

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“Clematis: A bumper crop of blooms this year.” —Mary Conti

Carly Kish captured this beautiful view with the “mighty” Mackinac Bridge in the background.

| June 2020 | MichiganGardener.com

Grow and care for iris A

t a new client’s garden that we had just added to our care, heirloom bearded irises, once gifted from a friend, had not bloomed for years. Immediate measures were needed, and gutsy decisions by client and gardener were required to make the necessary, labor-intensive intervention on these precious plants. The soil was compacted, the irises were overcrowded and buried, and a fungus and iris borer infestation had taken hold.

After any heavy-handed gardening technique is applied Neil and Ruth to plants, months of anxious waiting follows. In this case, Atzinger the results came the following May. Our work reviving these heirloom irises had paid off. Glowing pink, striated purple and white, cream- and golden-flaked coffee colors emerged from these iris stalks in the greatest profusion seen in years.

Although bearded iris (Iris germanica hybrids) is typically treated as a plant-and-forget perennial, it will benefit greatly from regular, tender loving care. Sanitation, dividing, transplanting, and proper location are key. We use two techniques to revive struggling patches of bearded iris: dividing and pest management. continued on page 44

continued on page 44

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