The Gateway Gardener October 2013

Gateway Gardener

OCTOBER 2013

THE

速

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

Perennial Fall Color

Bountiful Fall Color in the Landscape

Evaluating Your Garden How to Grow Zucchini What to Do with a Sunny Slope FREE Courtesy of:

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Gateway Gardener THE

®

Your Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

OCTOBER 2013

Volume 9, Number 8

Founded in 2005 by Joyce Bruno & Robert Weaver Publisher and Editor Robert Weaver Columnists

Barbara Perry Lawton Garden Book Author and Garden Writer Connie Alwood Master Gardener Ellen Barredo Certified Nursery Professional Diane Brueckman Rosarian Joyce Driemeyer Master Gardener Cindy Gilberg Landscape Design Mara Higdon Gateway Greening Glenn Kraemer Turf Horticulturist Steffie Littlefield Nursery Professional Printing: Breese Publishing, Breese, IL The Gateway Gardener® is published 9 times/year by Double Dig Communications, Inc. to promote enjoyable, successful gardening and livable landscapes in the St. Louis greater metropolitan area. The magazine is distributed free to the public at designated garden centers, nurseries, garden gift shops, lawn equipment rental, repair and sales establishments, and other locations supporting sound gardening, lawn and landscaping practices.

Please send letters-to-the-editor, questions, event announcements, editorial suggestions and contributions, photos, advertising inquiries and materials, and any other correspondence to: The Gateway Gardener Magazine® PO Box 220853 St. Louis, MO 63122 Phone: (314) 968-3740

info@gatewaygardener.com www.gatewaygardener.com

The Gateway Gardener® is printed on recycled newsprint using environmentally friendly soy-based ink, and is a member of the PurePower® renewable energy resources network.

O

From the Editor

ften, we take the opportunity in a midwinter issue to write about evaluating your garden’s previous season’s performance, but it’s really much easier to do so when the evidence is still visible. October, as Barbara Perry Lawton tells us in her article on page 4, is a great time to do just that. Your gardening work is mostly done for the year, save some leaf raking. And yet, the evidence of failures and successes still remain.

Turning a critical eye to my 2013 garden, I’ve made several observations. The garden phlox have become too numerous and bully-ish and need to be thinned out next spring. In the “Petite Prairie” I’ve decided to dig out the Joe-Pye weed that created the original centerpiece of the garden and replace it with something less inclined to spread its progeny throughout the kingdom. For the same reason, I may also dispatch the two large stands of cup plant that provide substantial bookends to the garden, though I do admire their structure, and

largest produced by any native U.S. plant; and as a berryproducer, it’s appropriate for the bird garden. But if it stays, it must be moved—and those thorns!

If, in your own garden evaluations, you find yourself coming up short in fall color, take a look at the perennials recommended on pg. 8. No, they they’re a frequent conversation aren’t the usual fall-flowering piece. suspects, but perennials that The new bird-friendly garden actually offer colorful fall has filled in nicely in its short 3 foliage. I have a few in my years, but some things need to garden, and can attest they do a be moved around, and I think great job of bringing the partyI’ve overdone the grasses. The in-the-treetops down to earth! miscanthus may be the first to Whatever your eyes confront, cull; I favor more the native don’t let them be too critical. panicums (switchgrass) and After all, if we were ever to their cultivated varieties. Also, perfect our landscapes, what I need to make a decision on would we do with our time? And the volunteer Aralia spinosa. to paraphrase our grass guru It showed up uninvited in a Glenn Kraemer, “Remember, patch of palm sedge. Devil’s it’s just a garden.” walkingstick, as it is known, is aptly named for the demonic Good Gardening! thorns it produces along its stems, and usually I’m averse to any plants thorny. But again, it’s a conversation piece, its compound leaves being the

On the Cover...

When people think of fall color, most think of the foliage of woody trees and shrubs.

But perennials can put on an autumn fashion show of their own, as seen in the Bergenia and Heuchera pictured here. For more perennial fall color see page 8. (photo courtesy www.perennialresource. com)

IN THIS ISSUE 4 Evaluating Your Garden 6 What to Do with a Sunny Slope 8 Bountiful Color for Fall Landscapes 10 Preparing Roses for Winter 12 JT’s Fresh Ideas 13 How to Grow Zucchini 14 St Louis Hort History 16 Gardens for Us and Them 17 Top 10 Native List—Wildlife 18 Fragrant Tropical Indoor Plants 19 Herbs for the Health of It! 20 Dig This 21 Top Dressing Your Lawn 22 Upcoming Events

Evaluating Your Garden

by Barbara Perry Lawton

these services.

If you want new ornamental beds or need to renovate existing ones, this is a great time of year to prepare beds for spring and, indeed, many of the plants are available for fall planting— give yourself a head start.

Do you need sight and sound barriers to block out street traffic or other less than attractive views? Plan to install a mix of flowering deciduous and evergreen shrubs—check the mature size of each so that the bed can play its role well.

Robert Weaver

A

s we approach the end of this year’s growing season, it’s the perfect time of year to evaluate your garden. Are you pleased with your garden? Did it measure up to your hopes and ambitions?

Take the time to wander around and ask yourself a few key questions. If you are at a loss for inspirational ideas, visit a few of your favorite gardens, including our own botanical garden, of course, and local nurseries.

These will help you design and develop a better garden for next year.

Analyze what went right as well as what went wrong. There Now is a perfect time to plan an attractive mixed border like this one for Do you live in an older usually are a number of things screening sights and sounds from your home, yard and garden. home or one of those rare that turned out wonderfully. combination of perennials work those herbs—did they mix well new homes where there Perhaps spring bulbs performed well together and provide an with the perennials and annuals? are lots of trees? Is all that shade well and are well-placed for abundance of flowers?

How about This is a good time to decide what too much for turf grasses? There next year’s display. Did a new to pitch and what to keep. are new grass mixes that would be appropriate for dappled shade Be honest. Does your property but very little will grow in the have basic hardscape problems kind of woodsy shade that many such as poor or ineffective grading of us enjoy. Shady sites are just or areas with bad drainage? Poor right for lush tapestries of hostas, th th drainage might call for a rain ferns, astilbes, lady’s mantles and Join us on October 5 & 6 for an anniversary celebration with live music, food & drinks, garden. This is an excellent time of other beautiful and durable shade sales and more to thank all our loyal year to get an expert to reconfigure perennials. customers since 1953. your property since the ground is likely to be dry and workable. Remember that gardens are For major hardscaping that calls organic entities, always growing, for some heavy grading, call in always changing. Each year the an expert designer, engineer or plants themselves will contribute bull dozer operator. Try to get qualities to your garden that will recommendations from friends surprise and delight you. Each and acquaintances who have used year at this time, try to match

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your ambitions with reality. Don’t take on so much that you become discouraged. Your garden design will never be complete--you always will have another year in which to set new goals, reach new heights of achievement and enjoyment.

Write down the pluses and minuses as well as your ambitions and plant wish lists. Having a few written notes will help as you visit your favorite nursery to begin to put plans into reality. A garden notebook can be a valuable asset as it records your plans and evaluations from year to year. Add a few strategic photos and it will be even more valuable.

As you analyze your garden and overall plan, try to develop, first of all, the overall plan that will please you. Make a few sketches and write down some descriptive remarks about your plan. With the overall plan in mind, you can then address the individual components of the garden, solving each challenge with the master plan in mind.

The important thing to remember about gardening is that you, the gardener, should enjoy both the work and the results. Remember that a garden is an ongoing work in progress. It is constantly evolving as the plants grow and also as your tastes in garden matters change and expand.

Barbara Perry Lawton is a writer, author, speaker and photographer. She has served as manager of publications for Missouri Botanical Garden and as weekly garden columnist for the Post-Dispatch. The author of a number of gardening and natural history books, and contributor to many periodicals, she has earned regional and national honors for her writing and photography. Barbara is also a Master Gardener and volunteers at MBG.

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5

What to Do with a Sunny Slope

By Steffie Littlefield

W

hen the grade of the landscape slopes down so that pelting rains mar the soil surface with rivulets allowing it to wash away, it’s time to create a rock garden and plant a combination of evergreen and perennial plants to make it attractive at all times of the year. Hillsides and slopes can be difficult with heavy rains causing everything to slide down hill.

Plants with deeper roots will take hold and withstand the pull of gravity.

Large boulders are often used to help slow the flow of water down a slope. The rustic look of large boulders dug into the side of a slope lends itself naturally to dwarf conifers, ornamental grasses, sedum groundcovers and deeprooted hardy perennials for color.

Large rock and boulders should

be placed and partially buried to look as if they were found there.

Irregular shaped boulders work well and look fairly natural.

Next choose a selection of dwarf conifers. Conifers are a vast and diverse group of plants spanning in size from giant forest trees to tiny miniatures. Conifers also provide an exciting array of color from the darkest greens through the brightest yellows, blues and even red tones.

The flowering parts of many conifers (their young male and female cones) can add seasonal interest with their colors ranging from bright scarlet reds, pinks and purples to soft shades of green, yellow and orange. It is best to use the dwarf varieties with their slow to nominal growth rate to keep the rock garden from getting overrun.

There are junipers that creep along the ground and sparkle with golden tips. Dwarf spruce, ‘Jean’s

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Dilly’, has short fine needles and such a slow growth habit that it seems to never change. Some false cypress and arborvitae have threadlike branches that cascade down with yellow, lime or dark green coloring. There are dwarf pines that grow into ball shapes, like the dark green mugo pine, or with blue twisted needles.

These plants look great displayed on a sunny slope tucked between interesting boulders and highlighted with ornamental grasses that stay smaller, like ‘Little Bunny’ fountain grass or dwarf blue fescue. Add to this display some interesting sedums with purple or red leaves and stems or pachy sedum with its lime green leaves and yellow flowers.

When preparing to plant a rock garden amend heavy clay soils with compost and some calcined clay (Turface or Pro Choice) to improve water drainage into the soil not just over the top and down the slope. Top dress the area with medium sized rock or beach pebbles rather than mulch that will just float away down the slope.

Staggering the placement of the larger rock will break the path of the rainwater run-off to correct erosion problems.

Also remember to plant some dwarf spring bulbs for a colorful spring display. Tuck ‘Jetfire’ or ‘Tete a Tete’ narcissus bulbs, tiny specie crocus and purple/blue blooming grape hyacinths in and around the rocks in groups of three or five. This rock garden display will be attractive all year long with evergreen dwarf conifers providing structure and color in all four seasons.

Steffie Littlefield is a horticulturist and garden designer at Garden Heights Nursery. She has degrees from St. Louis Community College at Meramec and Southeast Missouri State and is a member of Gateway Professional Horticultural Association and past president of the Horticulture Co-op of Metropolitan St. Louis.

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7

Bountiful ColorBy Susan forMartinFall Landscapes

I

t’s been a long, hot summer but fall is bound to come soon. When the nights begin to cool and the daytime breezes shift to the north, you’ll start to see new life in your garden as the plants thrive under these less harsh conditions of autumn.

Pops of color will appear on the sugar maples, seed heads will burst open in the garden, and the birds will start to make plans for flying south. Though it may be the end of the growing season for farmers, fall can be one of the richest times of year in the home garden.

Many home gardeners head to garden centers in spring and early summer looking for colorful flowers to brighten up their patio pots and don’t return to shop again for fall color. To have the most well-balanced garden, it is best to shop in all seasons for plants that are in their prime at different times of the year.

If you shop this autumn, you’re likely to find classic late-blooming perennials for sale like mums, asters, stonecrop, and black-eyed Susans. Ornamental grasses are also popular in fall

charcoal black in fall. Recommended varieties: Decadence® series, Prairieblues™ series.

Perennials with green Foliage

Pennisetum ‘Desert Plains’ and many of them continue to offer seasonal interest through the winter months. Don’t overlook three other kinds of perennials that offer fall interest: those with decorative seed pods, those with evergreen foliage, and those whose foliage turns color in fall. Here are a few examples of each:

Decorative Seed Heads • Stonecrop (Sedum)—Once its flowers are spent, seed pods develop in their place and remain standing through winter, providing food and shelter for birds. Recommended variet-

ies: ‘Maestro’, ‘Pure Joy’.

Ever-

• Hen & Chicks (Sempervivum)—The symmetrical form of its evergreen rosettes capture early frosts precisely, outlining its mesmerizing patterns in bright white. Recommended varieties: ‘Rocknoll Rosette’, ‘Cobweb’, ‘Pacific Blue Ice’.

• Ornamental Grasses (Miscanthus, Pennisetum, Panicum, • Heartleaf Bergenia (Bergenia)—Shiny, broad, cabbageStipa)—At their prime in like, green leaves turn bright fall, grasses add great texture, shades of red and purple in height, and movement to the landscape. Many have showy seed heads which persist through winter. Recommended varieties: ‘Desert Plains’ Pennisetum, ‘Huron Sunrise’ Miscanthus, ‘Cheyenne Sky’ Panicum.

• False Indigo (Baptisia)— Many cultivars of this native wildflower produces large, puffy seed heads which turn

Sedum ‘Angelina’

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fall, then remain standing all winter long. Recommended varieties: ‘Winter Glow’, ‘Pink Dragonfly’.

• Lenten Roses (Hellebores)— The dark green, leathery foliage of Lenten roses remains beautifully green through fall and winter as other perennials go dormant around them. The following spring, they will be among the first plants to bloom in your garden. Recommended varieties: Winter Thrillers™ series, ‘Ivory Prince’.

Perennials with Great Fall Foliage Color • Coral Bells (Heuchera)—Coral bells come in all sorts of colors and many varieties have amplified tones in the cool temperatures of spring and fall. In some climates, they are evergreen. Recommended varieties: ‘Georgia Peach’, ‘Melting Fire’, ‘Christa’.

• Cushion Spurge (Euphorbia)—Most colorful on cool spring and fall days, this perennial takes on brilliant red, orange, and pink tones in late fall. Recommended varieties: ‘Bonfire’, ‘Ascot Rainbow’, ‘First Blush’.

• Arkansas Blue Star (Amso-

Heuchera ‘Georgia Peach’ nia hubrichtii)—This spring blooming, billowy textured perennial turns into a cloud of rich gold foliage beginning in early fall. An essential perennial for fall interest.

Next time you are shopping for perennials, consider not only what the plants look like at the time of purchase, but also how they might add interest to your fall landscape. With a little planning, perennial gardens can be a bounty of color right on through autumn.

Susan Martin is marketing communications director for Walter’s Gardens, Inc., a wholesale perennial grower in Zeeland, Michigan, with many garden center customers in the St. Louis area. photos courtesy PerennialResources.com

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Preparing Roses for Winter

by Diane Brueckman

M

y husband and I took a trip to Alaska this year and, of course, I found gardens and in those gardens I found roses. Many of the roses I found were species but also several rugosa roses.

In fact, I found the most beautiful R. rugosa Alba specimen I have seen in a long time at a private/public garden. The garden was part of a tour that featured a restaurant, glass blowing shop and a garden.

The food served in the restaurant included many of the organically grown vegetables from the garden.

One item in particular was rose hip tea. It was very refreshing. We came back to the reality of St. Louis gardening, hot and humid and of course dry. I would move to Alaska in a heartbeat except for one thing: winter.

St. Louis winters, wimpy compared to Alaskan winters, still require preparation. Now is the time to get fall weeds under control. As you clean up your beds, get the baby chickweed and henbit out. Small weeds are easier to pull than big weeds. I know I have said this before, if you get the weeds before they go to seed you will have 20% fewer weeds next season. Clean out all fallen rose leaves and petals. Trim any dead canes out of the plants and check the bud unions to be sure they are beneath the soil surface. Roses that are on their own roots will not have a bud union. No “bump” to look for. A big advantage to growing the ownroot rose is if the canes die back and the roots live you will have your named rose and not a root stock.

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There are two schools of thought on trimming roses. One says tie all the canes together and trim in spring. I like the second, which is to trim the bushes back to about 18 inches and take out all diseased, broken and dead canes. Of course, all trimming is done after the roses stop growing and we have had a few killing frosts. I strip off all leaves and spray the bare stems with horticultural oil and insecticidal soap. This step helps prevent drying out of the canes and smothers any disease spores or insect eggs that may be overwintering on the plants.

After several days of hard frost when the soil has frozen, it is time to start covering the roses. Last month, I talked about the many different kinds of mulch. At one time, I insisted on only using double ground hardwood mulch in my beds. So much has changed in the growing of roses that I am much more flexible today. The important thing is that the bud unions be protected from the freeze/ thaw conditions we have here in St. Louis. A good 8 to 10 inches of mulch should be applied around the base of the plants. If the mulch you use is prone to compacting or blowing off, it will need to be stabilized with a ring of chicken wire, paper or even a thin cardboard would work.

Many of us have gone to more shrub roses either budded or on their own roots. These tough plants also benefit from some tender loving care. Although, some like the ‘Knock Out’ roses are winter hardy and don’t require the typical winter protection of 8 inches of mulch, a 2- to 3-inch blanket of mulch in their beds along with some organic fertilizer will give them a boost in spring. Before you apply the mulch clean out the fallen leaves and petals as well as any weeds just as you do for their more delicate cousins, the Hybrid Teas, Floribundas, etc.

The only pruning I do on my shrubs and climbers in fall is what is needed to keep them from being damaged by strong winds. I save my pruning for late winter, late February or early March.

Diane Brueckman is a retired rosarian with Missouri Botanical Garden, and currently owns Rosey Acres in Baldwin, Illinois.

You can reach her at (618) 785-3011 or Brueckman droseyacres@egyptian.net.

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11

The Cornucopia Corner October Harvest

Here are some fruits and veggies you might find in the garden or your local farmers’ market this month:

Vegetables

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It is the harvest season, after all. Maybe that’s why things seem all the more festive at your local farmers’ market in the fall. Live music, delicious, locally produced foods like fresh-baked bread, artisan cheeses, and of course fresh produce (like that seen above in the photo from Hillermann’s Farmer’s Market in Washington, MO) are just part of what visitors will find in the fall markets.

With hay-bale mazes and castles for the kids, plus mums, Indian corn, corn stalks, and pumpkins and squash as far as the eye can see, there’s simply nothing like your local farmers’ market to fall in love with fall!

Beans Beets Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Cucumbers Eggplant Garlic Greens Herbs Horseradish Kohlrabi Lettuce Okra Onions Peas Peppers Popcorn Potatoes Pumpkins Radishes Rhubarb

Spinach Squash Sweet Potatoes Tomatoes Turnips

Fruits

Apples Blueberries Canteloupe Grapes (wine) Nectarines Pears Plums Raspberries, red Watermelon

Jt’s Fresh Ideas Baking with Fresh PumPkin

Smaller is Better. Choose sugar pie pumpkins or other flavorful varieties. Small and sweet, with dark orange-colored flesh, they’re perfect for pies, soups, muffins and breads.

A medium-sized (4-lb.) sugar pumpkin should yield around 1½ cups of mashed pumpkin. This puree can be used in all your recipes calling for canned pumpkin.

Choose your Method: Here are three ways to transform an uncooked pumpkin into the puree used in baking:

Baking Method Cut the pumpkin in half and discard the stem section and stringy pulp. Save the seeds to dry and roast. In a shallow baking dish, place the two halves face down and cover with foil. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) oven for about 1½ hours for a medium-sized sugar pumpkin, or until tender. Once the baked pumpkin has cooled, scoop out the flesh and puree or mash it. For silky smooth custards or soups, press the pumpkin puree through a sieve.

Boiling Method Cut the pumpkin in half, discarding the stringy insides. Peel the pumpkin and cut it into chunks. Place in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook until the pumpkin chunks are tender. Let the chunks cool, and then puree the flesh in a food processor or mash it with a potato masher or food mill.

Microwave Method Cut the pumpkin in half, discarding the stringy insides. Microwave on high power for seven minutes per pound, turning pieces every few minutes to promote even cooking. Process as above.

You can refrigerate your fresh pumpkin puree for up to three days, or store it in the freezer up to six months, enabling you to enjoy fall pumpkins for months to come. courtesy http://allrecipes.com/howto/baking-with-fresh-pumpkin/ Please share some of your favorite recipes with us.

You can FAX your recipe to 314.968.4025 or email us at info@gatewaygardener.com.

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Tips for Growing, Buying and Cooking Fresh, Locally Sourced Food for Your Table

How to Grow Zucchini

By Mara Higdon

Z

trim stem compared to the female blossoms that are thicker. You can also harvest young zucchini with the female blossom still attached and prepare them both to be eaten. Flowers can be stuffed and pan fried, or battered and fried with salt sprinkled on top. Enjoy!

ucchini is a versatile vegetable in your kitchen.

By now, I’m sure you’ve found ways to purge your garden of those giant zucchini beasts.

But, if not, take a moment to consider growing it in your garden next year not only for the zucchini, but also for its edible flowers.

Zucchini originated in the Americas, but new varieties were cultivated in Spain once explorers brought seeds back.

Another name you may hear or see in European cookbooks is courgette, or marrow for the Middle East and Africa.

In Missouri, you can plant two to three successions of zucchini which will provide you will a longer season of zucchini, but also will provide a backup for any plants that become unproductive due to pests or diseases. Seeds are easy to germinate, so start them outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Plant the seeds about 1 inch below well-drained soil. The tender green seedlings should pop through within 4-8 days. Keep them well watered and try not to disturb the roots when weeding when the plants are small. Remember to water the soil and not the leaves as

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Zucchini is easy to grow and cultivate which probably explains why it is found in almost all continents of the world. It is a large-leafed plant with a compact habit that makes it easy to maintain and keep in check. Zucchini is best when harvested small (6-10 inches), but can still be used in a variety of baking recipes if they grow too large. Zucchini bread is at the top of that list.

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this can lead to problems with powdery mildew.

still have 50-60 days of warm weather left.

The three most common pests of zucchini or any other cucurbit are the cucumber beetle, the squash bug, and the vine borer.

The first two can be picked off when seen, but the vine borer is a little harder to detect before it kills your plant. Be sure to inspect the interior stalks for borers if your plant shows even the slightest signs of wilt or leaf browning. You can dig the borer out by cutting a small slit in the stalk (see the video at www.gatewaygardener.com/ articles-and-videos). Once the borer is out cover the stalk with soil and it may have a chance of surviving. If you come into your garden and you notice that the whole plant has completely collapsed, go ahead and pull it out and plant more seeds if you

Once the plants start producing, check them every couple of days to keep them from getting too big (unless you like them that way).

If you have quite a few plants, male blossoms can be harvested mid-day when the flowers are open. The males have a thin and

The Gateway Gardener™

M a r a H i g d o n is the Program Director at Gateway Greening, Inc. They focus on community development through gardening throughout the St. Louis area. You can reach her at (314) 588-9600 x22 or by email at mara@ gatewaygreening.org.

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South of the Courthouse Edwardsville, IL (618) 307-6045 www.GoshenMarket.org Hours: May 12-October 20th Saturday mornings 8am-noon An open-air farmers’ market that is a great source for locally grown, fresh, naturally ripened farm products, tasty baked goods with locally grown ingredients, and wonderful art and gift ideas. Live entertainment and free demonstrations add to the festive atmosphere. A safe, wholesome place for kids and the whole family.

13

St. Louis Hort History

Frisella Nursery: A Passion for Plants For 60 Years

By Daniel Mee

Left, Frank Jr. with a circa 1955 Frisella truck; right, Frank Sr. with Frank, Jr. and Babette, circa 1950s; and Frisella Nursery, Defiance, MO, today.

A

s Frisella Nursery is celebrating their 60th anniversary, one must look back at the Nursery’s founder, Frank Frisella, to understand its roots. Born to Sicilian immigrants in 1919, Frisella possessed an entrepreneurial spirit that was passed down from the family.

His father started an Ice and Coal company that supported the St. Louis region in the early 20th century and Frisella helped out at the family’s company.

Frisella’s gardening experience began early in his life like many Sicilian-American families in those days. However, Frisella’s experience went beyond the family garden. He dropped out of school at an early age and traveled the country. Before the age of twenty he was hopping trains and working in Oregon orchards. This was his first taste of nursery life and would be the foundation of the business to come.

During World War II Frisella enlisted in the army. After the war ended Frisella remained in Europe for several months where bartering became key to getting what was needed. Being fluent in Italian and English gave Frisella a leg up. During this time he developed business acumen that would help later in life.

Some time after the war ended Frisella came back to the states

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and started working with Bell Telephone. After spending a number of years with the company Frisella became restless and needed more. He purchased 8 acres of land near Pershall Rd. and Elizabeth Ave. in Florissant, Missouri, to start raising cattle.

However, with a downturn in the cattle market, Frisella turned to his previous experiences in Oregon: he began growing again.

In 1953 Frisella founded Frisella Nursery, picking up side work trimming and spraying the grounds of local businesses. Some of his first trees were provided by the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

In the early years many people didn’t have the time of day for Frisella, but there was one man who Frisella often spoke highly of: Hugh A. Steavenson, founder of Forrest Keeling Nursery in Elsberry, Missouri. Steavenson was someone who shared the common passion for growing plant material with Frisella and cared enough to answer whatever questions Frisella had. Frisella never forgot those who helped him and wanted to pass that same passion for plants on to his customers.

By 1963 Frisella was already making a name for himself in St. Louis. He supported Florissant’s first Valley of the Flowers festival selling crabapples to encourage

homeowners to plant flowering trees. A year later Frisella moved to a 14-acre farm off of Lindbergh Blvd in Florissant, and expanded retail and landscape operations for Frisella Nursery.

During the 1960s Frisella was traveling to the west coast to source new material for the St. Louis marketplace.

Some of the old growers came to visit St. Louis during this time as well. For example, J. Frank Schmidt, Jr., whose Oregon nursery registered the Red Sunset Maple among many other trees, made at least one trip out to visit Frisella. Frisella Nursery was trialing material and providing feedback for growers at the time to see how they performed in the lower Midwest’s difficult climate.

In the early 1960s expanding the business had its difficulties, but Frisella pushed through. His determination was relentless. He worked until dark many nights ensuring plant material was trimmed and growing properly. If he wasn’t in the field at night, he was at his desk looking over trade catalogs.

As Frisella continued to build a trusted name for Frisella Nursery in St. Louis, he never lost touch of the good natured and down-to-earth personality that made it easy for customers to relate to him. In the 1970s and 80s Frisella Nursery’s

growing operations expanded to around 300 acres. Frisella continued his thirst for what was innovative in the industry. He began growing plants that few people had heard of in St. Louis at those times and loved sharing them with anyone interested. Some of his favorites were the Trident Maple, Persian Parrotia, Lacebark Pine, Tanyosho Pine and even Japanese Maple ‘Aconitifolium’ (which is borderline hardy for St. Louis).

In the 1980s and 1990s Frisella Nursery continued expanding with two of Frank’s children, Babette and Tony, overseeing the nursery’s retail and landscape operations. In 2005 Frisella Nursery purchased their current location in Defiance, Missouri. The Florissant location of over 50 years was relocated in 2006 to the Defiance property.

Frank Frisella passed away in 2007, but today, celebrating the nursery’s 60th anniversary, his children and grandchildren continue his lifelong passion. Working in his spirit, they provide customers the attention they deserve like Frisella received from Steavenson when starting out so many years ago: A passion for plants and a down-to-earth nature.

Article written by Daniel Mee, Frisella Nursery; photos courtesy Frisella Nursery.

The Gateway Gardener™ OCTOBER 2013

St. Louis Hort History

ST. Louis Master Gardeners Celebrating 30 Years of Growing Plants and People

Y

ou’ve probably noticed a lot of attractive flower beds around town in the last couple of years. Lafayette Square, Millennium Park in Creve Coeur, and Long View Farm Park are just a few of the public spaces that look terrific. These flowers have been started from seed, grown, put in the ground, and weeded by a cadre of dedicated and knowledgeable St. Louis Master Gardeners.

On your way to a Cardinals game downtown, you’ll see colorful medians ablaze with bright red and orange. Master Gardeners and other Urban Roots volunteers plant over 10,000 plants each year in the Market Street medians and in Kiener Plaza. When you admire the rose beds at the Missouri Botanical Garden, think about the volunteers who sweat over them every week. Many of these 1800 MBG volunteers are Master Gardeners.

Master Gardening isn’t only about flowers. Gateway Greening counts on Master Gardeners to support community vegetable gardens, staff hub training gardens, and assist with local school gardening programs. Since 1993, Forest Re-Leaf has counted on Master Gardeners to help propagate and distribute over 1 million trees to not-for-profit community groups.

Master Gardeners and Gateway Greening representatives take a break from their beautification work at Keiner Plaza in 2006.

Before there were Master Gardeners, there were Answer Men, active through Extension and the Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG), who answered gardening questions by telephone or mail.

Celebrating its 50th year, the Answer Man service is now called the Horticultural Answer Service.

Master Gardeners at the Answer Service continue to answer over

Robert Weaver

By Stephanie Sigala

plant and tree identification, plant propagation, plants pests and diseases, soil composition, and basic landscaping. The goals of the program have widened with community outreach in many directions. In 1991, the new MBG Kemper Center for Home Gardening began to provide a space for a Plant Doctor Service. Here Master Gardener plant detectives

Dennis Green

The St. Louis Master Gardener program, the largest in the state of Missouri, is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2013. St. Louis would be a different place without them. Over 650 active Master Gardeners shop the annual MG Greenhouse Sale at South County Gardeners contribute nearly Tech High School.

36,000 volunteer hours every year. 15,000 questions per year via examine nasty-looking specimens You are probably asking yourself phone and email from around brought in by the public to identify ‘who or what is a Master the world. The service is led by a disease and suggest a cure.

Gardener’? You may know a lot MBG staff member Chip Tynan, In 2010 MG Leon Zickrick about plants, but until you are a graduate of the first MG class in spearheaded an agreement which certified by the University of February, 1983. allowed Master Gardeners Missouri Extension, you are not By the middle 1980s, many of to use the St. Louis County an official Master Gardener (MG). the continuing parameters of the Special School District’s vacant Both classroom lectures and a Master Gardener curriculum were greenhouses at South Tech High rigorous volunteer commitment in place. There is a 15-week School in return for services to are required for certification. class which includes basic botany, the school and students. The

OCTOBER 2013

The Gateway Gardener™

greenhouse program, managed by MG Karen Koehneman, is a winner for everyone involved. Master Gardeners now have a teaching lab for greenhouse management and propagation of all kinds of plants.

In 2012, volunteers grew 11,528 individual annuals, perennials, and other plants. Many were donated to 21 not-for-profit agencies.

Students in the Culinary Arts program at South Tech High School get weekly demonstrations on culinary plants like herbs or chilis grown in the greenhouses.

The annual sale of MG greenhouse plants has raised money for significant scholarships given to Horticulture students. Grants have also been given to worthy plantrelated programs in the schools or to community agencies.

There’s no such thing as a typical Master Gardener. Each volunteer brings a unique background and basket of skills. Each finds a way to make a unique impact. Here’s Gary Hartman’s story. “I worked as a psychotherapist but always spent my spare time gardening. Destiny and MG Dennis Green willed that I get into water lilies. Now I am part of a two-man team that manages all the aquatic displays at MBG. My gardening dreams have come true.”

Why do they do it? For Karen Koehneman, it’s the new things she learns in the greenhouse that makes her experience meaningful.

To create beauty, to make new friends, to contribute to St. Louis, to have fun, and to dig in the dirt: all are factors that motivate Master Gardeners. Thirty years of community service by Master Gardeners has grown both great plants and great gardeners.

A Master Gardener since 2008, Stephanie Sigala serves on the St. Louis Master Gardener Advisory Council. She enjoys leading tours at the Missouri Botanic Garden and studies landscape plants at St. Louis Community College at Meramec.

15

The Native Nook Gardens for Us and Them

By Cindy Gilberg

O

Robert Weaver

ur egocentric view of our world has historically crossed over into our gardening.

Gardening has been about cultivating plants to fit our desires and view of the world.

It’s been all about us—we have planted what we think is pretty or what we can eat. And, with pesticides and pruners in hand, we more or less Arrow wood manipulated and attempted to Viburnum dentatum control the natural world to fit our needs. Doug Tallamy, gardening has taken on a role power of individual gardeners in his book “Bringing Nature that transcends the needs of the to make a difference in our Home” writes that “…now, gardener…and it is within the world.” Tallamy is specifically for the first time in its history, referring to gardening with

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biodiversity in mind, with an intention to resolve some of the problems we may have unintentionally caused.

Most notable are the trends in landscape design and gardening with native plants in the landscape, designing gardens for wildlife habitat, the use of native plants for stormwater management, and the desire to remove invasive non-native plant species. It is possible to

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design a landscape that includes all of these concepts while being an aesthetic landscape that appeals to and fits the needs of humans. Combining those plants that contribute to habitat and feed us at the same time are a real plus for today’s edible landscaper (yet another trend in gardening). Share the harvest and don’t use pesticides that are detrimental to both us and the natural environment.

For example, oak trees are at the top of the habitat list since they provide shelter, nesting sites and an abundance of high protein food for animals in the form of insects. In addition to the shade they provide and their contribution to stormwater management, oaks yield acorns that were used by Native Americans to make a highly nutritious flour. Since the flour is difficult and time-consuming to make, oaks are not typically among our food crops. So we can focus on a couple other native plants that can feed both wildlife and us.

Wild plums (Prunus) are another native plant high on the list for providing habitat value and some have edible fruit for humans. There are several species, but be sure you have the correct species for edibility.

Wild plum (Prunus americana) provides pollen and nectar in spring with its lovely white flowers. It is rated as one of the best native fruit plums and was highlighted in the September issue as one of the Top Ten

The Gateway Gardener™ OCTOBER 2013

Dig Deeper.

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Growing to a height of 12-15 feet, Viburnum can be used as a hedge or as a solitary addition to the garden. There are about 8 species native to Missouri but the following are the easiest to find and buy at garden centers, etc. It has been reported in a few books on edible plants that the nannyberry is the most delicious of the viburnums.

Nannyberry V. lentago Edible Native Shrubs/Trees. It is a fast-growing, small (15-20 ft.) tree, its natural habitat is in woodlands and, since it suckers some, it tends to grow into thickets along woodland edges and in pastures. This attribute makes it a viable option for use as a screen or hedge.

Another group to look into for aesthetics, habitat and edibility is Viburnum. Beautiful clusters of white flowers (lots of pollen and nectar for insects!) adorn these shrubs/small trees in late spring followed by a bounty of fruit (for us and the birds!) in fall. This, combined with their thick branching habit (great for shelter and nesting), gives them a good rating for habitat value.

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Attractive 4-seasons • Durable NATIVE PLANT NAME beautyberry 1 American (Callicarpa americana) dogwood 2 Pagoda (Cornus alternifolia) dogwood 3 Flowering (Cornus florida) 4 Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) haw 5 Possum (Ilex decidua) elder 6 Scarlet (Sambucus racemosa) 7 Black haw (Viburnum prunifolium) 8 Rusty black haw (Viburnum rufidulum) 9 Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) 10 Arrow wood (Viburnum dentatum)

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Cindy Gilberg is a horticulturist and Missouri native who writes, teaches and does consulting and design work in the St. Louis area. Her work focuses on both native plant landscapes as well as other styles of landscape design. Contact cindy. gilberg@gmail.com www.cindygilberg. com This column is written in collaboration with Shaw Nature Reserve (Missouri Botanical Garden) in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation. Visit the Whitmire Wildflower Garden (at Shaw Nature Reserve), a 5-acre display garden, for ideas on native plant landscaping. Native plant conservation and the promotion of native plants in our landscapes is vital to restoring the rich biodiversity of our region.

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Fragrant Tropical Plants You Can Grow Indoors!

Text and Photos by Ellen Barredo

A

top request by customers when shopping for a houseplant is, “What can I purchase to grow in my home that is fragrant?” Of course I have to follow that with, “Tell me, do you have a sunny window in your home?” Yes, unfortunately many plants with fragrance also require a good amount of light when growing and preparing to bloom! Listed below are a few of the top requested fragrant tropical plants which can be grown indoors.

Citrus – Meyer Lemon The citrus is one of the top requested plants that bloom indoors. The Meyer Lemon actually can bloom and have fruit at the same time. Other

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foliage will exhibit a copper color which turns to green as it ages. Small white flowers can appear throughout fall, winter and spring. In China this plant’s flowers are used in combination with black tea to create a very delicate and delicious tea.

Meyer Lemon Murraya paniculata – Lakeview Jasmine One of my most favorite plants!

I have a tree form Lakeview Jasmine that is many years old now. I set its container at the bottom of the basement Gardenia steps under a grow light. Its The gardenia has a flower intoxicating fragrance fills the meaning …it is JOY. An house. Honey bees like it, too! absolutely intoxicating In tropical climates hedges of fragrance can be enjoyed by Lakeview Jasmine have been those who grow gardenias. planted near bee hives providing These beauties can be a little food and protection from winds. finicky but the extra effort The honey collected from these is worth it! Keep them well bee hive colonies will have a watered and they enjoy a tangy sweet orange taste. humid environment, however, when misting avoid wetting Osmanthus fragrans - Sweet the flowers as water causes Olive the flowers to yellow and then This is another plant that is often requested by customers brown quickly. after a winter trip to the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

Sweet Olive has glossy green leaves. Sometimes if the light is strong the tea olive’s new citrus are fragrant but are not so free with their bloom. The foliage of citrus is also fragrant when dried and crushed. I like to sprinkle the dried, crushed leaves and vacuum it up.

Stephanotis floribunda Madagascar Jasmine This climbing vine conjures up good memories for me. One of my first jobs in St Louis was working for Malvern Greenhouses. At Malvern’s we would harvest the waxy, white tubular flowers weekly for local florists. These flowers are commonly known as wedding flowers.

The fragrance is awesome! This vine is great in the house as it prefers temperatures in the 70s. The blooms appear in summer.

Jasminum sambac – Arabian Jasmine The vine which features small, sweetly fragrant flowers is not from Arabia at all! It was so loved that it was transported to Arabia and Persia for use in their small walled gardens. Its roots are in Southeast Asia. Jasmine Sambac was and still is used in Buddhist temples. In Asia the vine also has a rich tradition as a ceremonial wedding flower and a flower used to celebrate a child’s first birthday. The flower produces oil used in the perfume industry and it is also used for tea.

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Ellen Barredo is a Missouri Certified Nursery Professional with more than 30 years in professional horticulture. She works at Bowood Farms and can be reached at (314) 454-6868 or ebarredo77@gmail.com.

The Gateway Gardener™ OCTOBER 2013

W

Herbs for the Health of It!

by Joyce Driemeyer

e have in the past covered much about raising, harvesting and cooking with herbs. Very little has been mentioned about the vast nutritional qualities of incorporating herbs in your food. Herbs possess numbers of vitamins, minerals and antioxidant benefits to your body if included in your diet. This is not about supplements or alternative medicine but about the value of incorporating herbs for seasoning in our natural foods and fruits in meal preparations.

Whether using fresh or dried herbs, both will provide benefits. In some cases, however, only fresh will work in the preparation such as basil or parsley for making pesto. Here is a list of most commonly used herbs and their nutritional qualities.

Basil. Well know and most commonly associated with tomato dishes, but great in salads and stirfry dishes. For hot dishes, add at end of cooking. High in vitamin K and a source of beta-carotene as well as Eugenol, which is anti-inflammatory.

Cilantro. Popular in Mexican and Asian dishes. High in beta-carotene and some vitamin K. Being studied for anti-inflammatory benefits.

Chives. Vitamin C, plus all the attributes of the onion family.

Dill. Contains calcium, manganese and some iron; has antibacterial properties and reported to neutralize environmental carcinogens. Great with seafood, in yogurt and as addition to cucumber and combined with basil and cilantro. Use only fresh.

Lemon Balm. Use leaves for a relaxing tea or sleep aid. Flowers loved by bees and hummers. Contains citral, tannins, vitamin C, calcium, manganese, catechins and polyphenols, which have strong anti-viral properties. Reported to have benefits to brain and memory function; persons with low thyroid condition should avoid.

Lavender. In thinking of this herb, people often do not think of cooking but rather for fragrance or for body lotions. However, it is loaded with analgesic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

The flowering tips provided a delicious addition to desserts. Lavender is known to contain falconoid, linalool, eucalyptol, limonene, coumarin and tannins. Combine with lemon balm for a relaxing tea.

Avoid excessive intake if pregnant or nursing. See cookie recipe in the SLHS cookbook, Herbal Cookery.

Mints. Contain beta-carotene, iron, manganese and vitamin C. Use fresh spearmint or peppermint in iced drinks, teas and sprinkled on

fruits and some vegetables such as carrots.

Oregano. High in vitamin K and contains manganese and iron. Its volatile oils, which contain thymol and carvacrol, have antibacterial properties. A versatile herb often combined with other herbs in salad dressings, soups and many vegetable dishes and casseroles.

Rosemary. Leaves have anti-inflammatory properties and for centuries believed to be a brain stimulant and to increase blood flow to the brain. Delicious in many ways, especially when grilling. Make a dip for bread by combining with olive oil and use in place of butter.

Sage. Another herb for brain function. Long claimed to inhibit acetyl cholinesterase by reducing plaque formation in the brain. Source of vitamin K. Use with vegetables and poultry.

Tarragon. Contains beta-carotene. Boosts appetite and encourages sleep. Makes a handy vinegar for salad dressing and flavoring other dishes. Simply infuse sprigs in a glass jar or bottle and cover with white wine vinegar. Store in pantry or closet.

Thyme. Many virtues. Contains antioxidant and antimicrobial attributes, also some vitamin K, iron and manganese as well as polyphenols (anti-inflammatory). Another versatile flavoring for vegetables, meats, seafood, soups, and sauces.

Parsley. That seemingly common but most important herb, which is sometimes cast aside as a garnish. I especially like the flat-leaved variety. Parsley is also high in vitamin K. Note how many of the herbs are! Also contains beta-carotene and Âź cup will provide 1/3 of daily vitamin C need. Use fresh, not dried.

This is just a small introduction to an important category of plants; there are many more herbs we use that you can explore on your own.

Note: Since a number of herbs contain vitamin K, if you are on a blood thinner, only extremely high dosages should prevent a problem.

Check with your doctor. I have been on a blood thinner for years and have never had a problem.

After 30 years as a landscape designer, Joyce is now retired. She has been a MBG volunteer since 1969 and a Master Gardener since 1985.

She is also a past board member of the Herb Society of America, and is a current board member of the St. Louis Herb Society.

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19

Dig This!

Gateway Gardeners and Businesses in the News Garden Clubs and Plant Societies Grow Communities

If you think garden clubs and plant societies just grow plants, here are a couple that will quickly disabuse you of that notion.

The Webster Groves Herb Society (WGHS) is holding its annual Autumn Herb Gathering October 12th at Rolling Ridge Nursery in Webster Groves. The event includes guest speakers, herbal demonstrations, and of course, plenty of herbs and herbal products for sale. The proceeds support the WGHS’s various missions, but again, if you think that’s just growing herbs, think again. Here’s just a brief resume of the programs they support. Most visibly, they do grow plants, maintaining and providing herbs for the Herb Gardens at Faust Park in Creve Coeur, Mudd’s Grove in Kirkwood, and the Hawken House in Webster Groves. They also provide money and herbs to schools at all levels, from nursery schools to colleges. They also help churches maintain gardens which often serve need clients.

For several years, WGHS has provided funds for Rock Hill Ministries to rent a bus and take children who would never get to the Missouri Botanical Garden, and also provide funds for those children to do a related project or class.

Finally, the group has a scholarship program that awards $1000 scholarships to residents of the State of Missouri enrolled in botany, plant genetics and related subjects.

This past year, they awarded six $1000 scholarships.

The motto of the Webster Groves Herb Society is “Herbs: Nature’s Universal Treasure. Each One Teach One,” which succinctly describes the organization’s goals of studying herbs and sharing their information and experience with the community.

If you would like to learn more about the group, call membership chairs Nancy Waddell at 636-464-6085 or Jane Smith 314-822-3316, or visit their website at www.wgherbs.org.

20

Another group that we’ve reported on regularly for their community activities is the Fleur de Lis Garden Society. This summer they were at it again, “Planting it Pink” at BJC Progress West Hospital in O’Fallon, MO. Society members refreshed the “Plant it Pink” planter at the hospital with a summer design, which can be seen by passersby outside the cafeteria and from Hwy 40.

To provide encouragement and a note of cheer to women dealing with breast cancer, the “Plant it Pink” project was initiated in 2009 by the National Garden Clubs, Inc. president, Renee Blaschke, of which Fleur de Lis Garden Society is a member. Club members keep the planter “in the pink” by planting new designs appropriate for each season.

The Fleur de Lis Garden Society holds monthly meetings and also meets for additional programs, trips and projects. Drop-ins and new members are welcome. For more information, visit their website at www.fleurdelisgardensociety.org.

Gateway Greening Honors Super Volunteer

At it’s annual Chefs in a Garden Event, the Gateway Greening community enrichment organization presented its prestigious Whitmire Award to Jim Schulte of Horstmann Brothers Landscaping. Jim has given freely of his services Jim Schulte, left, with Gateway Greening Board in a variety of capacities Member Dennis Woldum. and projects, from hauling debris, helping construct hoop houses, helping set up and source materials for the downtown Market Street, Kiener Plaza and other plantings, and teaching clients in Gateway Greening’s job training program in hardscape construction and specialized equipment. The award is named for Blanton and the late Peg Whitmire, longtime supporters of Gateway Greening.

The Gateway Gardener™ OCTOBER 2013

Revive You Lawn & Garden Naturally

By Patrick Geraty

I

f your lawn and garden are suffering from the drought of recent weeks, fall is the perfect time to top dress your lawn and serve your garden a heaping helping of all-natural, nutrient-rich compost – Mother Nature’s cure for ailing greenery.

Seeding lawns in the fall works well because it allows for grass to establish strong roots while the weather is cool – giving it the best chance to survive future droughts and high heat.

An annual, post-summer application of organic compost promotes healthy root and soil structure, strengthening lawns and gardens for better endurance and vegetation production next year. It works by infusing soil with beneficial microbes and essential minerals, increasing soil aeration and improving drought resistance, encouraging deeprooting, helping suppress plant disease, reducing erosion, and lessening soil compaction.

Using compost will help revive lawns and gardens weakened during the summer’s intense temperatures and dry spells. Its benefits will be most noticeable by the end of the first growing season. Top dressing in the fall is the key first step to a greener and healthier lawn and garden next spring. Help your lawn and garden survive the extreme conditions predicted for future seasons. Give them a revitalizing application of compost.

Patrick Geraty is president of St. Louis Composting, the region’s Top dressing is applying compost over the surface of a lawn. For largest composting operation with locations in Missouri and best results, top dress your lawn and garden with Seal of Testing Illinois. Find out more about them at www.stlcompost.com.

Assurance (STA)-certified compost, which boosts the water retention capacity of soil by up to 30 percent. Application is quick and easy with top dressing equipment – available for rent at suppliers such as St. Louis Composting. Here’s how: 1. Core aerate the lawn, concentrating on the most heavily trafficked sections.

2. Apply a ½-inch layer of compost, using a top dressing unit or manure spreader.

3. Smooth the surface using a rake or a weighted drag mat to break down the soil plugs and backfill holes.

4. Spread grass seed, lightly rake and water, covering with the soil/compost layer to guard against winter damage.

5. Water as needed, keeping the soil moist until seeds germinate.

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Prime location with dedicated customer base. Priced to sell. Owner retiring.

Serious inquiries only, please.

Reply to: rfwj1440@gmail.com 21

Upcoming Events

Fun For Kids

Updates to this information are often posted on our online events calendar at GatewayGardener. com, so check there for the latest details. If you have a smartphone, scan this code to go directly to the Upcoming Events online calendar.

Give us the details of your upcoming gardening, lawn or landscaping event and we’ll add it to our website and include it in our next issue. Deadline for printing in January/February issue is December 1st.

How to reach us: Mail: PO Box 220853, St. Louis, MO 63122 Email: info@gatewaygardener. com

Garden Clubs and Plant Societies

Interested in Joining a Garden Club or Plant Society? We have meeting dates, locations and contact information on more than 50 area garden clubs on our website at www.GatewayGardener.com.

Don’t have access to the internet?

Just call us at (314) 968-3740, or write us at PO Box 220853, St. Louis, MO 63122, and we’ll get the information to you. So share your joy for gardening and join a garden club or favorite plant society today!

22

Oct. 5th 9am—For the Season— Children’s Garden Club.

For the Garden at Haefners.

6703 Telegraph Rd. (314) 8460078. www.forthegarden.net.

Sponsored by St. Louis County Parks and Recreation.

11am-2pm—Kids’ Activities at Hillermann’s. Come play in the garden and enjoy a FREE activity!

October: Fall Bulbs for Spring Flowers. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www. hillermann.com.

October 25th-27th 4:30-7pm—Booterflies!

Play games, create spook-tacular crafts and visit Treat Houses during this family-friendly Halloween event.

Children, wear your costumes.

Dinner is included with admission.

Pre-registration required. For costs and registration, visit www. butterflyhouse.org/booterflies.

Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, Faust Park, 15193 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield. Call (636) 530-0076 for info.

Plant Shows and Sales

Oct. 12th 9am-4pm—U. City in Bloom Bulb Sale. Bulbs that are both good quality and recommended for their sustainability. Preorders placed by Oct. 5th for bulbs to be picked up the day of the sale can be at www.ucityinbloom.org.

Sale tent located on the sidewalk on the west side of the St. Louis Bread Co. Sales support UCB’s planting of hundreds of new bulbs annually in the public flower beds in our community. Call (314) 9733541 for info.

Oct. 13th Noon-5pm—Sprig and Twig Garden Club Standard Flower Show. Florissant Senior Center at 621 St. Francois Street in Florissant, MO. The flower show theme this year is “Hurrah for

the Holidays” and is open to the public and FREE admission.

Oct. 26th & 27th 9am-5pm—Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society Bulb Sale. New cultivars and old favorites are sold by the area’s top growers, who are on hand to give plant care advice and share information about their organization. Orthwein Floral Display Hall, Missouri Botanical Garden. Included with Garden admission. http://stldaffodilclub. org.

Classes, Lectures and Events

Through October 31st 9am-5pm daily— Plastic Pot Recycling. Recycle plastic garden pots, cell packs and trays. Plastic should be separated and empty of soil with no metal hangers; no clay pots or food plastic accepted. Please separate #6 plastic cell packs and trays from #2 and #5 plastic pots into the recycling trailers. West parking lot of the Garden’s Monsanto Center, 4500 Shaw Blvd. at Vandeventer. (314) 577-9441.

Look for Plastic Pot Recycling at several satellite collection centers throughout the metro area through Sept. 30; for a complete list of participants, visit www.mobot. org/plasticpotrecycling.

Oct. 1st-31st 9-4 daily plus special after-hour events Tuesdays 4:30-7pm— October Owls and Orchids.

More than 1,000 owl butterflies will take flight during the month.

Regular admission during the day, additional admission charges apply for special evening hours.

Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, Faust Park, 15193 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield. Call (636) 530-0076 for info.

Oct. 1st and 3rd Four Seasons Fall Gardening Series. Topic is What’s Trending Now in Landscape Design.

Classes held at U of Illinois

Extension offices at 901 Illinois Ave., Waterloo (618-939-3434), and 1 Regency Plaza Dr., Ste. 200, Collinsville (618-344-4230). $10 for color handouts, $5 for b&w. Call the location you wish to attend for registration.

Oct. 3rd 7pm—Climate Change Documentary and Panel Discussion. Join a panel discussion with three distinguished climate experts, including a retired Rear Admiral, following a screening of the documentary Earth: The Operators’ Manual. Maryville University. Full details at http:// mad.ly/8102f3.

Oct. 5th 10am-2pm—Silk Painting with Rose Monzyk. Learn to paint a beautiful silk scarf with dye. You will complete a 36” square scarf. $58 for the class including supplies. $25 deposit required to reserve your space.

Send deposit to: Rose Monzyk, 245 Ladera Lane, Washington, MO 63090. Bring a snack if you’d like, and a clip hanger to hang your creation on to go home. Bring your own design or choose from one available. For more information contact Rose J Monzyk, Phone: 636-239-5423, Email: rosemonzyk@charter.net.

Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www.hillermann. com.

10am-5pm—Garden Heights Art Walk. 30+ local artists, food, entertainment, Edg-Clif wines and local craft beer. Visit www. gardenheights.com for details.

Garden Heights Nursery, 1605 S. Big Bend, Richmond Heights.

10am-5pm—Topiary Lecture and Demonstration. Topiary artist Pearl Fryar will discuss the methods of creating beautiful topiary in the morning, and will shape 2 junipers in the afternoon.

Laumeier Sculpture Park at the Museum Lawn. FREE and open to the public.

The Gateway Gardener™ OCTOBER 2013

Defiance, MO. 636-798-2555.

FrisellaNursery.com.

10am—Exquisite Fall and Winter Containers for Entrance Ways and Patios. Outstanding plant combinations to enliven your containers and window boxes with fall color and texture. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. Call (314) 965-3070.

Oct. 8th 7-8:30pm—The Benefits of Trees to You and Your Community.

2012 Tap Root Speaker Series.

Bill Spradley of Trees, Forests, and Landscapes will discuss the many ways trees benefit people. CEU credits available for professionals, others interested are invited as well. Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave. Call (636) 970-3000 to preregister Thursday prior to event date. $10.

10am—Caladium Walk and Tour. Enjoy the beautiful beds of Caladiums in a wide assortment of new, improved varieties from Lake Placid, Florida, “The Caladium Capital of the World.”

Come and see what your garden could look like next year! FREE. Ann’s Gardens and Greenhouses, 5130 Mexico Road, St. Peters, Missouri. (636) 244-5533, www.

AnnsGandG.com.

Oct. 10th 1-4pm—Native Plant School: Low-Maintenance Ground Cover Gardening. $15 ($12 Garden/SNR members).

Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve. For reservations or more information, call (636) 451-3512 or visit www. shawnature.org.

Oct. 5th-6th 9am-3pm—Experience the Harvest at Edg-Clif Farms & Vineyard. Potosi, MO. Visit www.edg-clif.com for details.

Oct. 12th 9am-2pm—Autumn Herb Gathering. Webster Groves Herb Society members have been creating wonderful herbal products throughout the summer to sell. Great ideas for Holiday gifts, plus garden books, and herbal how-to demos presented throughout the day. Guest speakers an appearance by Brian DeSmet’s “Truck Farm” and a demonstration by Slow Food St. Louis. Rolling Ridge Nursery, 60 N. Gore, Webster Groves. See www.wgherbs.org for more.

Oct. 5th & 6th 9 am-5 pm—Annual Best of Missouri Market. Over 120 Missouri food producers and crafters offer fresh produce, baked goods, fresh and dried flowers, herbs, handcrafted items, baskets, wooden toys, custom jewelry and more. Live music and a Kids Corner with cow milking, pumpkin decorating and barnyard animals. Outdoors under tents, rain or shine. $12 adults (13-64), $5 children (3-12), $5 members.

Buy tickets in advance online at www.mobot.org. No trams.

BRING THIS AD TO OUR

Best of Missouri Market

BOOTH Oct. 4-6 FOR 20%

Noon-2pm—Vino Van Gogh Painting Event. Paint, Drink and be Merry. Vino Van Gogh provides all art supplies: canvas, brush, paint & an apron to wear.

The art instructor leads the class through a 2-3 hour session following a featured painting.

Cost: $38.00. Refreshments available. Bring your own wine.

Seating may be limited. Sign up at www.vinogogh.com/ or call 866390-9917. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, 636-239-6729, www. hillermann.com.

10am—Fairy Gardening, Mini Landscaping for Containers and Gardens. Learn the art of creating miniature landscapes with doll-sized shrubs, perennials, annuals and more. Sugar Creek

OFF!

stand up and garden

www.guttergardens.com

OCTOBER 2013

OUTDOOR MODELS

Evening events hours: 4:30 to 7 p.m.

On Tuesdays in October $6 – general admission; $3 – Garden members

In Faust Park 15193 Olive Blvd.

Chesterfield, MO 63017 (636) 530-0076 www.butterflyhouse.org

Water tight for potted herbs and houseplants

KITS FOR CATS ($10)

The Gateway Gardener™

October 23rd 7 p m — T e r r a r i u m Workshop. Informational class on the making and upkeep of terrariums, plus wine and fun on the agenda. $50 includes a standard glass jar, and all the fixin’s for a beautiful, 100% original living sculpture. You are welcome to bring your own glass to design in..Nice glass apothecary jars will also be for sale if you would like to upgrade. Flowers & Weeds, 2118 Cherokee, St. Louis. Email flowersandweedsstl@gmail.com.

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; closed Mondays.

Included with Butterfly House admission.

Drainage holes provided.

Hang from a deck, balcony, trellis, fence, as window boxes

Water tight w/ materials to grow 3 crops of Cat Grass

October 19th 11am-3pm—Vendor Day at Worm’s Way. Learn about hydroponics and hydroponic growing media from Nathan Ferverda of Growstone. Product savings and more. Worm’s Way, 1225 N. Warson Rd., St. Louis, 63132. Call 314-994-3900 for information.

During October the Butterfly House expands its collection of Owl Butterflies to more than 1,000!!!

Get a close look at these creatures as they rest during the day or stay up late during a special event on Tuesday evenings from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and watch them fly through our twilight forest. Special guests will also make an appearance during Tuesday evening events. A backdrop of vividly blooming orchids offers you and your family amazing photo opportunities.

INDOOR MODELS

855.USA.GROW • (855.872.4769)

Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. Call (314) 9653070.

OctOber 1–31

10am-4pm—Great River Road Chestnut Roast. Taste fresh roasted chestnuts and other delicious foods of the fall harvest.

Arts and crafts, fun activities for the kids, fresh food, local

Frisella Anniversary Celebration. Live music, food & drinks, sales and more to thank all our loyal customers.

Frisella Nursery, 5501 Hwy F., Made in the St. Louis Area

vendors, demonstrations and entertainment. Live performances of Celtic and bluegrass music with Kansas City’s Sarah Hook.

Forrest Keeling Nursery, 88 Forrest Keeling Ln., Elsberry, MO. (573) 898-5571.

a division of the

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For the GREENEST lawn on the block Top Dress with STA-Certified Compost this fall to reduce water consumption and increase nutrients in your soil Visit St. Louis Composting’s five area locations for the largest selection of STA-certified compost, mulch products and soil blends BELLEVILLE, IL

VALLEY PARK, MO

5841 Mine Haul Rd. 618.233.2007

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO (This is a drop off facility only) 11294 Schaefer Road 314.423.9035

39 Old Elam Ave. 636.861.3344

FORT BELLEFONTAINE COMPOST FACILITY

13060 County Park Rd. Florissant, MO 314.355.0052

Visit us online at www.stlcompost.com

Step-by-Step Guide to Top Dressing:

- Core aerate the lawn, concentrating on the most heavily trafficked sections.

- Apply a ½ inch layer of Field and Turf compost, using the Ecolawn Top Dresser - Smooth the surface using a rake or weighted drag mat to break down soil plugs and backfill holes - Spread grass seed, lightly rake, and water – making sure all seeds are covered with soil/compost layer to guard against winter damage - Water as needed, keeping the soil moist until seeds germinate

ST. LOUIS, MO

560 Terminal Row 314.868.1612