KCG 06Jun12

The Kansas City

GARDENER A M o n thly Guide t o S u cc essfu l G a rdenin g

June 2012

Landscape with Perennial Herbs

Bee-Friendly Gardeners Cacti for an Outdoor Garden Clarifying Catalpas Magical Metamorphosis Read about upcoming Garden Tours: Union Hill, John Wornall House, Weston, St. Joseph and more!

Living and Loving The Water Garden Lifestyle...

Do You Have A Boring Backyard? Do You Dream of a Backyard Paradise?

If So, Here’s Why You Need To Contact Swan’s Water Gardens Today!

C

ere’s why you should have Swan’s Water Gardens build your water garden paradise in your backyard.

Located on 2 acres in southern Johnson Co. is where you’ll find Swan’s Water Gardens.

A place where we live and breathe the “Water Garden Lifestyle” everyday.

First, we’ve been building and maintaining Water Gardens for over 17 years now. Over those 17 years our pond building techniques have been honed to perfection through years of hard work and fine tuning.

It’s where we specialize in backyard living and helping others do the same by creating beautiful water gardens in their backyards.

Although our ponds appear as though anyone could duplicate them, nothing could be further from the truth.

Nowhere will you find anyone more dedicated to creating paradise in your backyard with water gardens than Swan’s Water Gardens.

In reality our ponds are built to exacting standards by experienced pond builders, under the watchful eye and direction of veteran pond builder Kevin Swan.

ome with us on an exciting journey and discover the ultimate Water Garden destination. A place where you can experience first hand what “Living In Paradise” is really like.

Learn the proven ways we use everyday in caring for and maintaining our water gardens.

Water Gardens built correctly are much less maintenance than the same amount of grass and they’re so much more exciting.

Has anyone ever invited you to sit and enjoy the grass in their backyard. Sounds exciting doesn’t it. But wait till you see their reaction when they see a water garden in your backyard! There’s just something magical about the sound of water in nature. Calm sets in and nature takes over.

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Not only will you marvel at the precision of the excavation of your pond but you’ll be amazed at how well your finished water garden actually blends into your existing landscape.

Once the excavation is complete the true artistry of the building process begins. It’s also where our secrets to building ponds that don’t leak are revealed. You can relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility your water garden provides without worry!

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ake your plans to visit Swan’s Water Gardens in 2012.

You’ll see water features you can build for as little as $295.00 for small patios or courtyards. We also have many more display gardens ranging in price from $2,500.00 up to $40,000.00 for more elaborate features built

by Swan’s Water Gardens.

We also have many exciting events scheduled for 2012 so be sure to watch for them in the upcoming issues of The Kansas City Gardener.

Remember, we carry everything you need for your Water Gardens. Pumps, liners, underlayment, filtration systems, hose, fish, aquatic plants, lilies, lotus and garden accessories.

Come shop in paradise with the pond professionals at Swan’s Water Gardens. Where we don’t just sell you products like the internet companies do, we actually show you how they work in our water gardens.

Swan’s Water Gardens 20001 S. Padbury Lane, Spring Hill, KS 66083 Mon-Fri 9am-6pm • Sat 9am-4pm www.swanswatergardens.com 913-592-2143

Lotus days June 22, 23, 24. See details listed in Upcoming Events.

The Kansas City

editor’s notes

GARDENER A Monthly Guide to Successful Gardening

It’s my favorite place to be

Independently owned and operated since 1996 Publisher Michael Cavanaugh Editor Elizabeth Cavanaugh Editorial Assistant Lauren Cavanaugh Contributors Leah Berg Betsy Betros Alan Branhagen Erin Busenhart Terry Davis Barbara Fairchild Diane & Doc Gover Kylo Heller Lenora Larson Gil Manda Dennis Patton Diane Swan Linda Tamblyn Distribution Publishers Delivery Solutions, Inc.

How to Reach Us ...

P.O. Box 8725 Prairie Village, KS 66208 Phone/Fax: 913-648-4728 For advertising information contact Michael Cavanaugh at cavsgarden@kc.rr.com.

Submit editorial questions to Elizabeth Cavanaugh at editorcavsgarden@kc.rr.com.

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See page 35.

June 2012 / The Kansas City Gardener

The lesson I have thoroughly learnt, and wish to pass on to others, is to know the enduring happiness that the love of a garden gives. ~ Gertrude Jekyll

M

ay was a productive time in the garden. The raised beds that once framed the tulip displays, were prepped for and planted with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and herbs. Those with more experience than I recommend planting tomatoes after Mother’s Day, but my enthusiasm paired with warmer than usual temperatures was all the motivation I needed to plant early.

We planted a couple varieties of lettuce (romaine and salad mix) and the colors are as beautiful as the greens are nourishing. And what a delight to sit down for lunch to a fresh salad with homegrown ingredients.

Mr. Gardener can’t stop bragging about his “crop of strawberries.” Last year’s fruit was slim at best, and he was rather disappointed. Most days this season though, he waltzes into the kitchen with a handful, and says, “You better get out there and grab some for yourself.” He even shouts to the neighbor kids, “Hey, have you

ever had a strawberry fresh from the garden?” And you know, he’s right. Nothing compares to a ripe red, sundrenched strawberry that melts in your mouth with spring sweetness.

Last year’s success with Profusion series Zinnias made them our first choice for the front border garden reserved for annual color. We planted three flats and look forward to their continuous blooms that will last through the summer.

Then we found a place for more color with impatiens between the weeping crabapple and the viburnum hedge. In time they will grow together forming an impressive arrangement.

With the majority of planting done, little rain had me hand-water-

ing in the garden on Mother’s Day. My neighbor shouted, “They’ve got you working on Mother’s Day?” Without hesitation, I responded, “It’s my present to myself. It’s my favorite place to be.”

It’s so true. When I’m in the garden, it’s not work. As a matter of fact, it’s a labor of love. Sure, I might be dirty and sweaty, but it’s good for me, physically, mentally and spiritually. I plan time in the garden like others schedule massages, pedicures, and therapy sessions. It is my place to unload, to be free of stress and worries. It’s the place I can simply be!

Like Gertrude’s quote above, I wish for you to know the same.

I’ll see you in the garden!

In this issue June 2012 • Vol. 17 No. 6 Ask the Experts ....................... 4 GN Wild Quinine ................... 6 The Bird Brain ......................... 9 Bee-Friendly Gardeners ............ 10 Clarifying Catalpas ................. 14 Porchlight Moths ...................... 16 Landscape with Herbs .............. 18 John Wornall House Tour ......... 20 Water Garden Summer ............ 24 Soil Test Phosphorus ................. 25

about the cover ...

Magical Metamorphosis ........... 26 Garden Calendar .................... 28 Gardener’s Gathering .............. 29 Upcoming Events ..................... 30 Powell Garden Events .............. 30 Weather ................................. 32 Hotlines .................................. 32 Bugs Wanted Dead .................. 33 Perfect Patio Succulents ............ 34 Professional’s Corner ................ 35

Monarda Bee Balm is one of those perennial herbs with striking blooms noticeable in the landscape. Leah Berg discusses landscaping with perennials herbs starting on page 18.

9

14 3

Ask the Experts! questions from our readers

Dennis Patton CONTAINERS NEED FERTILIZER Question: I enjoy container gardening but by the end of the season the plants just tend to lose their energy. I provide plenty of water and the potting soil I use contains a slow release fertilizer.

So what is going on? Why do my plants just have no steam left?

Answer: I am pretty sure that your plants are running out of nutrients by the end of the season so additional fertilizer is in order.

The potting mixes that contain the slow release fertilizers do not last as long as they claim in the summer

heat combined with the amount of water that moves through the pot. Some claim that the staying power of the slow release fertilizer products is about half of what they claim as the nutrients are released more rapidly as the temperature of the soils heat up.

My advice is to call the fertilizer mixed in the soil as a bonus and start fertilizing regularly from the start. I would recommend that you use a water soluble or additional soil release fertilizer according to label instructions from the start.

I like to use an all purpose fertilizer such as 10-10-10 at the rate of 1 to 2 tablespoons monthly with the last application in early September. Providing this constant supply of nutrients along with the

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water should result in fabulous pots. Of course this is all based on the right plant in the right place as plant selection is very important.

HYDRANGEA PINK OR BLUE Question: I always get confused about the blue and pink flowering of the hydrangea. How does it work again?

Answer: The group of hydrangea referred to as the Bigleaf or Hydrangea macrophylla bloom pink with higher pH or alkaline soils while blue flowers are achieved with lower pH or acidic soils. Our local pH is high so most will bloom pink. The blue color is achieved by a combination of methods.

The most important is lowering the pH level through the use of sulfur. This is best accomplished before planting the hydrangea so that the sulfur can be worked into the soil for a more reliable pH change. If yours are already planted than sulfur will need to broadcast around the root zone of the plant on a yearly basis, just a 1/8 of a cup should help lower the pH. The other way to get blue flowers is by saturating the soil with aluminum. It is the aluminum in the flower that makes it blue. Aluminum

is unavailable to the plant with higher pH levels. Aluminum sulfate can be purchased at local garden centers for this task.

RENOVATE STRAWBERRY BED Question: I had a nice crop of strawberries but now the bed is just a tangled mess of plants. I understand I need to renovate the bed. What is meant by this?

Answer: Renovation is the removal of plants to open space for the new daughter plants that will be produced this summer. Strawberries can make so many plants that if the

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bed is overcrowded they become a weed, choking out the healthy plants and weakening the entire bed. The simplest way is to remove all plants except in 10 inch strips about every 2 feet. It is hard to kill nice looking plants but you must be cruel to be kind. The desired spacing is a plant about every 6 inches as this allows for sunlight and reduced competition. Any closer and the plants reduce sunlight penetration and rob each other of nutrients.

The best time to renovate is within a few weeks of harvest. This is also a good time to fertilize the planting.

Be sure to water on a regular basis as strawberries have very shallow roots and they will set next year’s flowers in late summer. Normally a strawberry planting will last about five years, even with good care and then should be planted with plants in a new location.

PANSY LIFESPAN Question: I know pansies like the cool weather patterns but is there any way to get them to hold up during the summer? Will fertilizing more help keep their smiling faces around for a few more weeks?

Answer: The short answer to your question is no! This plant is just not designed for heat. Pansies do best when the temperatures are low to mid 80’s. Once we hit early June in a normal season the plants are winding down their show. It is also very difficult or even impossible to get a plant to make it through the summer and then flower well in the fall. My advice is plant in early March and enjoy through May.

Then remove and transition to summer heat loving flowers. They can be planted again in September for fall blooms.

Usually the fall plantings do not survive the winter, but the mild winter we just experienced lead to some of the most beautiful spring pansy displays I can ever remember.

CHINCH BUGS Question: Last year chinch bugs invaded my zoysia lawn and killed large patches. Will this pest infest the lawn again this year?

Answer: Chinch bugs are always a possibility in our climate. Their appearances are more hit and miss but last year was the worst outbreak I have witnessed in years. I would be on the lookout for them to return. They like the really hot periods of summer. Timing of insecticides as a prevention is difficult. I would recommend that you monitor your lawn closely and at the first sign if discoloration either treat or bring a sample to your local Extension office to diagnose the problem. Seeing chinch bugs is difficult as they are small and intertwined in the thatch layer. When treating be sure to read and follow label instructions for the application to help ensure the chemicals needed to control are properly applied.

Summer Learning at Powell Gardens Gourmet Yardening: Garden Edging 101 9-11:30 a.m. Friday, June 22 Beautiful, crisp, natural dirt edges are possible and practical using the technique detailed in this seminar. Attendees receive a copy of the Gourmet Yardener’s Manual complete with directions, illustrations and 11-minute instructional DVD. Hands-on training opportunity offered, weather permitting. $44/person, $37/Members. Registration required by June 18.

“For Your Heart” Fitness Walks 8:30-9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 23 Learn to maximize the benefits of walking for exercise by learning about proper posture, performing light muscle-conditioning exercises, varying your pace and stretching. Powell Garden’s outdoor environment is a unique alternative to a health club or city street, offering fresh air and a place where beautiful scenery changes weekly. $18/ person, $12/Members. Registration required by June 18.

Basketry: Spice Basket 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 23 This basket has an 8-inch diameter with a wooden base and measures nine inches tall. Complete the basket with a wooden handle and lots of color. Practice techniques of chase weaving, color overlays and cross-stitch. $54/person, $47/Members. Registration required by June 18.

To register call Linda Burton at 816-697-2600 ext. 209. Or register online and see pictures of projects at www.powellgardens.org and follow the LEARNING link.

Dennis Patton is the horticulture agent for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension. For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.

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5

Barbara Fairchild

Y

ou could call wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) prim and proper. Its stiff, upright stems and sandpapery leaves come close to saying: hands off. However, its tiny blossoms and aromatic leaves are more welcoming. The blossoms first appear in late May and persist throughout June and into July—sometimes as late as September. These blossoms may not be showy, but they are interesting. Some botanists say they look like small cauliflower heads, while others compare them

with pearls. Personally, I’d much rather be compared with pearls than cauliflower, but to each his own. Whatever descriptive term is used, the blossoms hold their color and form for a considerable length of time.

Wild quinine has a broad range that stretches from the east coast to Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas on the west and from Minnesota and New York on the north to Georgia and Texas on the south. It’s commonly found throughout Missouri, except for the northwestern corner, where it is uncommon. Look for it on prairies, glades, savannas, in openings of dry forests, at the tops of bluffs, in pastures, along railroads and on roadsides. The presence of wild quinine in a prairie indicates you’ve found a highquality prairie.

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The plant has a number of common names that include feverfew, American feverfew, eastern feverfew, eastern parthenium and Missouri snakeroot. Several of the common names indicate the historical medicinal use of the plant.

According to USDA, the Catawba tribe used it to treat burns by mashing leaves into a thick paste and applying as a poultice to the wound.

Sometimes fresh, whole leaves, which contain tannin, were used to treat burned areas. In addition to using the leaves, Native Americans boiled the roots to make a tea used to treat dysentery. Wild quinine also was part of their veterinary supplies. They burned the leaves and rubbed the ashes on the skin of horses with sore backs.

Early European settlers discovered the plant has a quinine-like bitterness (likely giving it the quinine name) and used it to treat fevers, coughs and sore throats. When access to the bark of the Cinchona tree (the basic ingredient for quinine used to treat malaria) was disrupted during World War I, wild quinine was substituted for a time.

Today wild quinine continues to be used by herbalists to treat a variety of ailments. The “Parthenium” is Greek for virgin and refers to the

Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation.

Grow Native! Plant Profile Wild Quinine

fact that some of the flowers are sterile. Integrifolium means entire or that the margins lack lobes or teeth. This creates an enigma for modern-day botanists, as the margins of wild quinine leaves are not smooth, but coarsely toothed.

While wild quinine may be tough on fevers and sore throats, it also is tough in a garden setting. It prefers full sun and moist to slightly dry soil, but will tolerate some shade and sandy or rocky soils. A very close relative (Parthenium hispi-

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dum) is a plant of choice for a green roof recently installed at Missouri Department of Conservation central office in Jefferson City. It was chosen because of its ability to sucker quickly and its clean foliage and long blooming period. It’s not alone on the roof, which encompasses some 26,000 square feet and is planted with 3,300 plants that include 22 species typically found in a prairie or glade setting. The ability of these plants to withstand dramatic temperature changes and wild swings in moisture makes them a good choice for a green roof and its harsh growing conditions.

The plants chosen for the green roof also will create habitat for a range of wildlife. Wild quinine, for instance, attracts bees, wasps, flies, beetles and plant bugs. These may not seem like the most exciting kinds of wildlife, but they are an essential part of the food chain.

For anyone looking for deer-proof plants, wild quinine is one to consider. Its bitter tasting, rough-textured leaves typically are ignored by livestock and other mammalian herbivores.

The hardy characteristics of wild quinine make it a good choice

• • • • • •

for gardens, as do its good form, excellent foliage and long bloom time. Its mature height is two to three feet with a spread of one to two feet. Use it in a border with other prairie plants such as blazingstars and some of the coneflowers or grasses such as little bluestem or sideoats grama. It makes a great cut flower for fresh arrangements or you can dry a bundle of it for dried flower arrangements. But be aware that it can cause a skin rash if you have sensitive skin.

And, if you’re not into flower arranging, you should know the root system of wild quinine makes it useful for erosion control. Here is another word of caution: the USDA says the plant may become invasive if not managed properly. So before using it, know your goals and how you will manage the planting.

For more information about native plants and how to use them, visit www.grownative.org. If you click on Buyers Guide, you’ll find sources of plants and seeds.

Barbara Fairchild is the communications specialist for Grow Native, a program of Missouri Department of Conservation.

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niversity of MO Extension Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City are holding a summer gardening program for youth ages 9-13. In the Garden ‘N Grow Program, youths learn not only vegetable gardening, but also “cultivate” other science, math, and language arts skills and have fun! The goals are to experience the fun of gardening, to enjoy a feeling of success, and to have the satisfaction of sharing harvested food with those in need.

Vegetables harvested from the gardens are for home use and donations to local food agencies.

The development of the whole child is emphasized as well as team building as they garden in groups. Master Gardeners use cooperative teaching skills to educate youth about seeds, transplants, garden planning and design, site preparation, soils, plant growth and development, costs of production, garden pests, plant health care, human nutrition, food value, food needs in the local community, and horticultural

career opportunities. Each Master Gardener is trained by University of Missouri Extension specialists.

The Garden ’N Grow Program will be held on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m. from June 4 through Aug. 9, 2012 at three locations in Gladstone, Platte Woods, and Downtown Kansas City at the DST garden 18Broadway. Cost is $35 per child. Enrollment fees include student workbooks, refreshments, vegetable garden supplies, and a t-shirt. For more information contact the Platte County University of Missouri Extension Center at 816-270-2141.

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Ivanhoe Demonstration Garden Helping the Urban Center Grow

By Terry Davis

T

he Ivanhoe Neighborhood in the Kansas City urban core closely fits the definition of an urban “food desert”.

Its residents have limited access to fresh produce within the area and many rely on public transportation facilities to help them reach outside sources. The area is approximately 460 square blocks, bounded by 31st Street to Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. and Prospect to Paseo. The neighborhood’s nearly 8,000 residents do not currently have a single full-service grocery store within the area. What they do have is a very active, energetic and effective Neighborhood Council, which leads the effort by residents and friends to improve their conditions.

Included in their effort to promote healthy lifestyles, the Grown In Ivanhoe Project, funded by Health

Care Foundation of GKC, encourages and provides tools for families to create residential gardens, become involved with Community Gardens and be vendors at the Ivanhoe Small Growers Farmer’s Market. In 2011, the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City were privileged to be able to help with these programs by creating a demonstration vegetable garden.

Located adjacent to the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Center at 37th Street and Woodland Avenue, on a vacant 40’ x 110’ urban lot owned by the Neighborhood Council, the garden was begun with funding and labor provided by the Master Gardeners.

This garden has many purposes. First, the garden serves as a source of fresh produce to be distributed to needy residents by the Neighborhood Center. Second, it provides an example of how

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to successfully garden on a vacant urban lot. Third, it is a teaching laboratory for neighborhood people wishing to learn how to grow vegetables, under the guidance of Master Gardeners.

Lastly, after five years of development, the garden will become a community garden operated and controlled solely by the Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council. An unanticipated benefit is the growth of understanding and mutual respect between the residents and the Master Gardeners.

Despite numerous obstacles – including poor soil quality, lack of water on the site and a late start to the season – the garden was a great success, yielding over 1100 lbs of fresh produce for the Center to distribute. The garden produced tomatoes, okra, green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, herbs & spices, spinach, lettuce, eggplant, edamame, onions, peppers, broccoli, beets, collards and melons.

In addition, beds of blackberries, blueberries and raspberries were started with the intent of future production. As the second year begins, local neighbors have taken over some beds in the garden for

their own use and are helping with necessary work in the remainder of the garden. More than a dozen Master Gardeners have provided labor, expertise and teaching skills to make this garden successful.

When Ivanhoe opens their new local farmer’s market in June of this year, the demo garden will provide baseline produce for that market.

Using primarily organic methods, sustainable garden practices, and hand tools, this garden is becoming a beacon for all interested in seeing the urban core grow.

Terry Davis is a Greater Kansas City Master Gardener and Ivanhoe Demonstration Garden Project chairman.

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The Bird Brain

answers your backyard birding questions pesticides. Be sure to always offer a fresh supply of shallow water, after eating all those insects they will need to wash them down with a drink from your birdbath.

Doc & Diane Gover

T

he joy of birdfeeding doesn’t stop when the weather turns warm. Migration is coming to an end, as winter visitors have exited and summer migrants have arrived. We have had many reports of hummingbirds, orioles, buntings, wrens, tanagers, grosbeaks and more. The return of these fruit and bug eaters are always a welcome sight in the garden.

Q. What birds help control insects in my garden? I really don’t want to spray pesticides.

A. If insects are destroying your flowers and bugs are enjoying the vegetables in your garden, you might want to try Mother Nature’s solution – attract insecteating backyard birds. One bird can eat as many as 1,000 insects in a day, without any negative impact on the environment.

Many birds are insect eaters.

Some of the most popular backyard visitors are hummingbirds, swifts and swallows, bluebirds, titmouse, purple martin, downy, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers, catbirds and mockingbirds, thrashers, wrens, chickadees, orioles and more. Nurture your backyard habitat by not using

Q. I offer an assortment of seeds and nuts to my birds year round, but what should I add to the feeding stations during the spring and summer?

A. Be sure to have the hummingbird and oriole nectar feeders out and to keep the offerings fresh. By adding fruits (grape jelly, raisins, oranges, over-ripe apples, pears and grapes) you could potentially bring in robins, mockingbirds, orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks, cardinals, woodpeckers, catbirds, brown thrashers, wrens and more. Another fun food addition is Bark Butter. It is a spreadable suet that attracts seed, nut, fruit and insect eaters.

Q. I really want to continue feeding my backyard birds in the summer but the seed gets buggy. So I just stop feeding as soon as the weather turns warm. Is there a solution to the buggy seed?

A. YES! Fresh, top quality seed and seed blends are the foundations for successful backyard birdfeeding. Under cool storage and use conditions, seed will stay fresh for the birds until it is completely consumed. Along with seed being harvested are also insect eggs and moth larvae. The seed cannot be treated

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not mean the seed is unfit for use. In fact, the insects will be eagerly consumed by many of the birds at your feeders. During warm months only purchase seed that will be consumed in a three to four week period. If you have space in the refrigerator or freezer, you may store seed up to one year and no pests will be able to hatch.

with enough pesticide to kill the eggs as this would surely be harmful to your songbirds.

The eggs and larvae lie dormant until extremely warm conditions then they hatch into worms, moths and weevils. Any seed can become infested with grain moths and weevils. While this is not a preferable situation, it does

Summertime birdfeeding can be very rewarding. It is always fun to observe the feathered vacationers – right in your own backyard.

If you have any questions, just stop by the Leawood store. Our Certified Birdfeeding Specialists will be glad to help you.

Doc and Diane Gover own and operate Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop at 11711 Roe Avenue, Leawood, Kan. Contact them at 913-491-4887.

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June 2012 / The Kansas City Gardener

9

Bee-Friendly Gardeners

By Gil Manda

M

any of the true gardeners I have visited with recently have expressed a real concern over the health of the worldwide bee population and, more specifically, the strength of the Midwest’s bee health and long-term prognosis. The concern is valid, yet addressable. We read about Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and pesticides affecting bee population, predator mites, cold winters and warm winters, hot summers and wet summers; as my friend Rosanne Rosannadanna said, “You know, it’s always sumthin’.

It’s either one thing, or the other thing.“ Just like there are environmental challenges to our garden’s produce success, there are factors affecting bees.

The latest research shows a family of insecticides called “neonicitinoids” as a probable contributing factor. These are widely used agricultural (including horticul-

tural) pesticides with a relatively low mammalian toxicity index.

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and just can’t figure out how to get back. The good news is that it is not going to wipe out the bee population if we address the issues.

Providing a shallow water source for the bees will be an enticement for bees to visit our yards and gardens. Float a stick or piece of wood in your birdbath and freshen the water often. Choosing bee-friendly plants for the flower garden and limiting the use of herbicides make for a bee and butterfly haven. Our yards and gardens should be a “safe house” for pollinators. Possibly the most flattering measure to your efforts is to have a swarm of bees show up in a tree or shrub somewhere close. A swarm of bees is almost always a group of girls (the “working” part of a hive is all female) who found life too constrained in the old hive and have set off to find a new abode.

The queen at the core of the swarm might be the retired matron or a spunky new queen that has con-

vinced several thousand subjects to follow her. They are not aggressive at all as a swarm in that they have no hive to defend. Swarms only hang around for a short time, so if you find one, please call a beekeeper for removal or assistance.

They only want a place to live, and it should be in a beehive, not in your house’s walls.

If you have ever considered having a working hive on your property, now is a good time to start the learning curve. Lesson 1: Don’t be intimidated! I find that disease control on my fruit trees is a more daunting task! Lesson 2: Ask questions. There are plenty of websites available as well as university extension office circulars on beekeeping. Also a perceived concern is keeping bees in town.

This should not be a problem for you. Our gpopsfarm.com website has links to several popular sites for beginning beekeepers as well as plant lists for those interested in starting the commitment. The NE Kansas Beekeepers Assn. and the Midwestern Beekeepers Assn. have several programs for all levels of interest as well as mentoring programs. Lesson 3: Don’t be greedy.

Make sure the bees have plenty of honey and pollen in the hive as it is closed up for winter. Winter starvation is even a bigger threat to hive health than CCD. Lesson 4: Have fun! That’s a much better sumthin’ than work!

Gil Manda is an Apiarist at gpopsfarm.com, and Horticulturist at Soil Service Nursery.

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The Kansas City Gardener / June 2012

Union Hill Garden Tour R

esidents of the historic Union Hill neighborhood would like to invite you to attend their 17th Annual Garden Tour, Sun., June 10 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Begin on Grand Street and wind your way through the historic and modern portions of Union Hill with opportunities to purchase plants along the way. Come enjoy the ambiance and charm of 19th century Kansas City for an afternoon.

Gardeners and volunteers will be along the route to help navigate and answer questions.

Save your ticket stub and stop by the Velvet Dog on Martini Corner, at 31st and Oak, at the end of the tour route. Enjoy a free backyard bbq with a burger, chips, and entertainment. Drink specials will be available.

Free parking is available in the KCPT lots at the corner of 31st Street and Grand Avenue.

Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors over 60. Children under 12 are free.

Each year a portion of the proceeds benefit the neighboring Union Cemetery. For more information visit us on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/unionhillgardentour or email unionhillgardentour@gmail.com.

This lovely downtown oasis is tucked away between Crown Center and Hyde Park and filled with beautiful Victorian and turn of the century homes dating from the 1870’s. Neighbors take pride in creating and maintaining a variety of breathtaking landscapes throughout our neighborhood.

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Cacti for An Outdoor Garden

T

houghts of cacti often conjure up visions of baked desert soil, unrelenting sun and a bleached cow skull. But that’s not always the reality. Kansas City gardeners are discovering the pleasure of growing cacti right here in their own gardens.

All you need is a well-drained spot, ideally amended with half soil, one-quarter sand and one-quarter rough gravel. And, of course, you need the right plants.

These three reliable cacti – with astounding flowers – will add a whole new texture to your garden palette.

Neobesseya (Escobaria) missouriensis Common Names: Missouri Foxtail Cactus, Yellow Pincushion This cute little ball cactus makes an excellent addition to any rock garden, xeriscape or even in a stone trough. It naturally grows as far north as North Dakota on both des-

erts and in grasslands – especially in rocky soil.

Neobesseya misouriensis blooms prolifically with silky, yellow-pink flowers with an attractive copper streak running the length of each petal. The flowers are followed by red berries, which can last through the winter. It can form clumps but each individual plant rarely exceeds 2 or 3 inches in diameter.

While this cactus is quite reliable in our area, it will appreciate a slightly rocky soil with very good drainage. In the winter it shrivels down and enters winter hibernation. Watching it come “back to life” in the spring is really a treat.

Echinocereus Common Name: Claret Cup cactus Many varieties of Echinocereus are good candidates for Kansas City gardens. Staying well under a foot tall they are slow growing and

WELCOME TO ENRIGHT GARDENS

Photos by Judy Pigue.

By Linda Tamblyn

Escobaria missouriensis

Echinocereus reichenbachii

can form tight attractive clumps over time. Flower colors run the gamut from light celery green to vivid orange or hot pink. The body colors range from light green to almost purple.

Echinocereus triglochidiatus makes a great starter plant for those delving into hardy and xeriscape gardening. This one has incredible deep red or red-orange waxy blooms. Even when this plant is not in bloom, the spines and the fat columnar body offer a wonderful sculptural addition to the garden.

The huge-flowered Echinocereus reichenbachii sports shimmering pink blooms so large the

plant is almost hidden beneath them. Quite a beautiful sight! When these plants form clumps, with several heads that can all have flowers opening at once, it’s an amazing floral display.

Opuntia polyacantha Plains Prickly Pear cactus Prickly Pear cactus get a bad rap. Sure, they have wicked spines but they also have the most marvelous flowers, and the plants are beautiful and interesting.

Opuntia polyacantha is a miniature with pads only about 2” across and plants growing to a spread of only about a foot or

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Opuntia polyacantha ‘Crystal Tide’ less. In the spring, delicate flowers burst forth from the spiny pads like upturned princess petticoats – frilly and many layered, in a myriad of intense colors. With lots of varieties and hybrids the flower colors run the gamut, including brilliant reds and pinks, blazing oranges, sunny yellows, sumptuous peaches and salmons, and even two-toned flowers. In the winter, as the pads go into hibernation, they often turn a dark purple – lending interest to the garden even in the dead of winter.

Like the other cacti all Opuntia polyacantha asks for is good drainage and lots of sunshine. This one is not invasive, and if handled with a pair of trusty kitchen tongs, no problem at all.

Many more beautiful and attractive cacti are possibilities for our Kansas City area. Once you’ve seen the breathtaking flush of flow-

ers on a bright sunny day you’ll see why these plants are quickly gaining popularity.

If your interest has been piqued there’s an excellent little book called “Growing Winter Hardy Cacti in Cold/Wet Conditions” by John N. Spain. For a special treat come hear Panayoti Kelaides, an expert on hardy cactus and succulents speak at the Mid-States Regional Conference which will be held at The Hilton Garden Inn, in Independence MO, June 21 – 24.

Hardy plants will also be available at the sale, which is open to the public on Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23. For more information about growing hardy cactus see the Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society on Facebook.

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13

Alan Branhagen

J

une is when some of our showiest flowering trees, the catalpas, decorate historic landscapes around Kansas City and the Midwest. Though they started to bloom in late April this earliest of spring seasons, they usually begin to bloom at the end of May and into June. There are actually two American species commonly seen in area gardens and another one from China. There are also a few cultivars and hybrids occasionally grown that offer additional garden appeal.

Catalpas were popular in Victorian gardens for their spectacular bold foliage, and simply stunning, almost orchid-like white flowers with purple markings. They were grown by farmers for their rot resistant wood to use for fence posts and fisherman valued the trees because they are the only host for a hummingbird-like sphinx moth whose horned caterpillar (related to the tomato hornworm) they cherished for bait. Post World War II the trees fell out of favor and were banished into the “messy” category and rarely planted anymore. They are gaining resurgence in popularity for their gorgeous ornamental qualities and because gardening styles have become more natural and environmentally friendly.

Yes, a catalpa’s drawbacks are that it has BIG leaves that are considered messy when they drop

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Clarifying Catalpas Herald of the Summer Garden

Left: Golden foliage of ‘Aurea’Southern Catalpa Right: Flowers of Northern Catalpa in fall (sometimes changing into pretty yellow fall color). The fruit are long, bean-like pods that also drop through the winter but really are quite interesting to look at as they adorn the leafless tree.

They are also very sensitive to verticillium wilt, a pathogen that has really gone awry in parts of the Midwest.

I still can’t imagine experiencing Midwestern landscapes without this glorious tree and would hope it still is considered where appropriate. Its flowers are simply unsurpassed in beauty. It is also a tree that grows well in disturbed urban and suburban soils, forgiving of soil compaction, a trait it acquired from its original swampland habitat where soils are poorly aerated. It grows fast but is strong

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wooded so won’t topple over in ice and most wind events.

There is confusion in understanding the difference between the two wonderful American native species: Northern Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa) and Southern Catalpa (C. bignonoides). They are very similar but have some important differences in their garden use: Northern Catalpa is native to a small range centered around where the Mississippi meets the Ohio so is native to Missouri’s bootheel.

It flowers first with larger flowers with fewer flowers in a cluster.

Originating from this region that once had the largest trees in the Eastern United States, Northern Catalpa becomes a HUGE shade tree easily reaching 80 feet tall locally.

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Young Northern Catalpa Southern Catalpa is native across the Deep South along various river systems but is just as hardy – both grow beautifully at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum!

Southern Catalpa has nearly identical but smaller flowers in larger pyramidal clusters containing more flowers and also begins to bloom when the Northern Catalpa quits flowering. You can plant both for an extended catalpa floral season.

Southern Catalpa also is usually a much smaller statured tree more in the 30 to 50 foot size range.

The third Catalpa is the Chinese Catalpa (C. ovata) with yellowish flowers and is even smaller: ranging from 20 to 30 feet tall. Its flowers are not nearly as showy. Powell Gardens has 3 Chinese Catalpas near its greenhouse complex and they are my showcase for why I can’t give EXACT heights of trees when gardeners want to know a plant’s size. One is twice as big as the other two and they all came from the same source and are growing in the same soil!

Cultivars of Catalpas offer some more garden pizazz. If you are into golden foliage then the Golden Southern Catalpa (C. bignonoides ‘Aurea’) fits the bill for a spectacular medium sized tree to lighten up the spring landscape – it fades to green by late summer. Look for it past the Fountain Garden at Powell Gardens. There’s also the once popular Dwarf Catalpa (C. bignonoides ‘Nana’) that doesn’t flower and grows into a big mushroom head of tropical-looking leaves.

It used to grace garden entrances at the turn of the 20th Century and can still be seen in historic landscapes though Powell Gardens accidentally got one of these which is always a curiosity to the visitor and a fun identification challenge to visiting plantsmen. There is also a purple-leaved catalpa (Catalpa x erubescens ‘Purpurea’) which is a hybrid between the Chinese and Southern Catalpas and it does have purple tinged foliage in spring and flowers that are nice but less showy than the American species. It also fades to green by late summer and can be seen near the Powell Gardens Visitor Center.

So don’t be shy to plant any of the unique and curious catalpas if it suits you and your gardening style.

You will be rewarded with flowers that initiate summer and bring a bit of the tropics to the Midwest. They also are oblivious to the vagaries of our weather (heat, dry, wet AND cold) and take no fertilizers, or extra watering once established.

Enjoy these spectacular trees and I’ll bet they’re not as messy as we are!

Wichita, Kansas Saturday, June 16, 10am to 4pm 5 gardens for $5

We will feature gardens large and small, shaded and sunny. Homeowners will be present to answer questions. Proceeds support neighborhood landscape and improvement projects including our Triangle Garden at McKee and Coolidge.

North Riverside Neighborhood is just west of Wichita North High School, north of 13th Street and between the Little Arkansas and Arkansas rivers. Tickets are available beginning June 1 at all Johnson’s Garden Centers and at neighborhood gardens the day of the Stroll. Information Line 316-261-8129.

Let us design your personal outdoor living haven in your own backyard.

Outdoor Living & Landscaping

Alan Branhagen is Director of Horticulture at Powell Gardens, Kansas City’s botanical garden.

See his blog at www.powellgardens.blogspot.com.

Annuals • Perennials • Vegetable Starts Herbs • Seed • Trees • Shrubs Roses Statuary • Mulch • Compost www.creekside-market.com 800 E. Walnut (Hwy 58), Raymore, MO 64083

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A Sampling of Porchlight Moths

By Betsy Betros

I

t seems many folks just think of moths as mostly critters that are boring little creatures that are not very interesting and are mostly pests.

In North America, north of Mexico, there are over 11,000 species of moths and only about 700 species of butterflies!

While you are swatting away at moths at your porch light this summer, maybe turn your “oh, yuck” moment into one of wonder and try taking a closer look at these amazing creatures. Moths can be found with all shapes, styles, patterns, and colors. Check out the brand new: Peterson Field Guide to Moths by David Beadle & Seabrooke Leckie.

Three different species of white moths. These are all in the tiger moth family.

Left: I call this one the Jimmy Durante moth. Its name is Palthis.

Porch lights also attract predators of moths like this jumping spider, Phidippus audax, the Bold Jumper; or the huge Caterpillar Hunter beetle shown here devouring a moth.

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They are in a group called plume moths. Their hindwings are feathery, but are often covered by their forewings.

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Soil Test Interpretations: Phosphorus Kylo Heller

W

e have talked about several soil test parameters over the past several months.

This time we will talk about my favorite soils subject, phosphorus. Phosphorus (P) has long been established as one of the three macro nutrients needed by plants.

Mobile within plants, P is often referred to as energy currency, because it is necessary for energy transfer. Without it, plants could not make use of the simple sugars they produce during photosynthesis. Plants that are P deficient, will exhibit low vigor, slow growth, poor quality fruit/vegetables, and delayed maturity. Some plants such as corn and tomatoes can exhibit purple coloring in lower leaves.

However, the severity of the symptoms will depend on the severity of the deficiency. Plants that are only slightly deficient often will not show obvious symptoms, unless viewed alongside a plant that is not lacking P, which is why a soil test can be so important for diagnoses.

Phosphorus behavior in the soil is really quite complex. It is largely immobile in soil, and therefore the concentration of P in the soil will usually decrease with depth.

Phosphorus that is in the soil or

added to the soil can quickly form various insoluble compounds. As a result, most soils contain very little dissolved P in the soil solution at any one time. There are many different, organic and inorganic P containing compounds in the soil, which will “release” or make available more P for the soil solution when it is removed by plant roots.

How much is likely to “released” is what the soil test tries to estimate.

Soil P analyses do not measure the total P in soils, but rather are an index measurement of the amount of P that can be taken up by the plant. There are a few different methods that can be used based on the pH of the soil being tested.

Rather than trying to understand the values given for a particular method, the best thing for the average gardener to do is ask the soil test laboratory for a low, medium, or high interpretation, if one is not given. The important thing to remember about the soil P test is that because it is an index measurement, it is not absolute. Research data used to establish the soil test interpretations indicates that most “low” soils will respond to P fertilizer and most “high” soils will not.

The laboratory should give, or have available upon request, fertilizer recommendations based on the soil test P. Low soil test P will typically call for rates around 2-3 lbs. of P2O5 per 1000 sq. ft. (P2O5 is the fertilizer industry’s standard way of quantifying P). Whereas a high soil test P won’t recommend any application, or may recom-

June 2012 / The Kansas City Gardener

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compounds, slow release fertilizers can be beneficial by not allowing the applied P to all be immediately tied up, but instead slowly releasing it over time. This gives the plants greater opportunity to use it before it becomes unavailable.

In recent years P has received a great deal of attention as a problem in streams and lakes. So, it is important when applying it to try to keep it off of driveways and sidewalks, where it could be washed away and carried into streams, etc.

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mend a relatively small application in order to maintain the P at that level. The fertilizer grade (N-P2O5-K2O) required to be displayed on fertilizer labels, shows the percent of P2O5 contained in the fertilizer. So, if the fertilizer grade is 10-34-0, the fertilizer contains 34% P2O5. If you need to apply 3 lbs. P2O5/1000 sq. ft., you simply divide the needed amount by the percent in the fertilizer. For example, roughly 9 lbs. of 10-34-0 fertilizer per 1000 sq. ft. would be needed to achieve the desired 3 lbs. of P2O5/1000 sq. ft. (3/0.34=9).

Because P is so immobile in the soil, it is important to incorporate it down into the root zone when possible, as surface applications will not typically move much deeper than the top few inches. The fertilizer type can play a role with P availability. Because P in the soil can quickly be tied up in insoluble

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The Kansas City Gardener / June 2012

Landscape with Perennial Herbs 13

Leah Berg

T

he John Wornall House Museum herb garden stays open to visitors all year to inspire cooking and landscaping with herbs. It’s included with the June 9 garden tour of 5 private homes benefitting the historic museum, 6115 Wornall.

Consider perennial herbs for their beauty, longevity and relatively low-maintenance qualities. Longtime volunteer Cathy Campbell knows some of their lavender here is over 30 years old. (#10, 11) A classic landscape focal point catches the eye while approaching the white picket fence and gate...a sundial on a brick pedestal (#5) surrounded by varieties of thyme, a nice gardening double entendre.

Brick paths frame the raised beds. (#13) Opposite the sundial, the picturesque arbor over a bench supports an heirloom pink climbing rose.

Herbs don’t need strictly defined formal gardens, but definitely work well in them.

Reflect on simple structural elements you might include in landscapes at home or workplaces. Restaurants and residents of apartments and condos may add windowboxes, containers or raised beds with herbs on decks, steps and even rooftops or asphalt parking lots.

June 2012 / The Kansas City Gardener

Anyone with limited yard space may include herbs successfully in front or side yards mixed with shrubs and perennials, like Russian sage (Perovskia) with beebalm (Monarda) (#1). Shop for mildew-resistant cultivars or native Monarda species.

Many herbs resist deer and other pesky critters, repelled by the strong scents most people enjoy— especially the aromas of mint family species (including sage, beebalm and annual basils).

Confine mint in containers (#2), or let it serve as ground cover.

Most herbs prefer sunny and welldrained sites, though some tolerate more shade. Try mints, fennel, angelica and lovage where other sun-lovers struggle.

Match the right herbs to different sites with some research and visits to gardens where they grow successfully, noting how much space they fill. Some varieties suit “fairy gardens” —like wooly thyme or elfin thyme!

Herbs do quadruple duty for ornamental, aromatic, and practical uses (culinary, medicinal, dye) and as companion plants attract vital pollinators to fruiting crops.

With design nods to the historic French Villandry gardens as well as ordinary backyard gardens, the Heartland Harvest Garden at Powell Gardens displays an amazing range of herbs.

As a tour guide, I hear people often ask about three herbs out of the hundreds of species showcased.

All attract beneficial insects.

Underplanting the apple orchard, masses of chives blooming in April-May with round flower clusters on slender green stalks

appeal to those fond of the color purple. (#3) And in June, many visitors gazing at the vinyard mistake the haze of flowers on green massed mounds under the grapevines for lavendar—but it is hyssop (Hyssop officinalis). (#6) The third mystery plant edging many of the HHG sidewalks proves to be Satureja--both winter savory and summer savory beautifully soften hardscapes in mounds and may be naturally shaped or formally clipped.

Ordinary green fennel foliage is pretty enough, but it’s hard to beat bronze fennel for a smoky plume of contrast beside a white picket fence, gray stone, or a brick wall. It provides height and backdrops for other bedding plants in ground or containers. (#7) Fennel flowers resemble closely related dill. Remove seedheads to minimize reseeding into unwanted spots, or let it wander and see how many swallowtail larvae appear on this host plant.

Within arms’ reach along the walk to my front door are 5 fragrant perennial herbs. Oldest is creeping thyme ‘Caprilands’ near ground cover rose ‘Red Ribbons’ planted in 2000 (when I worked at Longview Gardens).

I might add a sundial with another thyme to emphasize “take time to smell the roses,” with my very fragrant apricot Dr. Buck rose ‘Winter Sunset’ nearby.

I’m moving golden oregano ‘Aureum’ (#8) whose nearly yellow color clashes with this rose.

Oregano ‘Kent Beauty’ with its unusual flowers should work better. (#4)

Newest additions upright Rosemary ‘Arp’ and trailing ‘Prostratus’ should tempt visitors to enjoy rubbing the rich aromatic leaves regardless of whether they cook with it. Small lavendar flowers periodically bloom along the stems.

Officially Kansas City became USDA hardiness zone 6 recently, so rosemary survives in certain locations now. Prostrate forms may trail over retaining walls, and classic erect rosemary may fill a container strictly on its own, or provides a spiky partner for other plants. (#9) My lavendar ‘Provence’ doubled in size in two years, transplanted from another location. Friends nearby have reliable ‘Munstead’ clumps over 10 years old. Choose lavendar varieties hardy to zone 5 to be safe, or pick protected sites for zone 6 cultivars. Bold foliage of ‘Grosso’ stands out compared to more dainty foliage of ‘Lady.’

I don’t cook with culinary sage (#12), but love Salvia’s ornamental qualities enough to want an entire garden showcasing as many varieties as possible--as done at the National Herb Garden in Washington, D.C. Take a “virtual” herb garden tour at www.herbsociety.org but please do local tours in person to appreciate the smells, textures and beauty of herbs like these!

Leah Berg is a landscape designer with a conservation emphasis.

She teaches at MCC-Longview and is also the Agribusiness/Grounds and Turf Management department coordinator. Contact her at 816353-7170.

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10th Biennial John Wornall House Garden Tour Announced

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he John Wornall House Museum Garden Tour is launching into its 10th Biennial event on Saturday, June 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. come rain or shine. Tours start at either the John Wornall House Museum or any of the gardens listed below.

Those purchasing tickets for the Garden Tour will also be able to tour either house on the same day at no cost. All proceeds from the Garden Tour go to the John Wornall House Museum.

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased in advance for $15.

Tickets are $20.00 the day of the Garden Tour. They can also be purchased at any Hen House location, The Brookside Market, at our website www.wornallhouse.org, by calling the John Wornall House Museum at 816-444-1858 with your credit card number or in person by visiting the John Wornall

House Museum at 6115 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO 64113.

Maps of the tour are available at any of the Garden Tour houses and the John Wornall House Museum the day of the event. For more information about the event, please visit our website www.wornallhouse.org or call the Museum at 816-444-1858.

The Hallquist Garden (Carol & Allan Hallquist, #17 Janssen Place, KC, MO) This garden runs the gamut from mild to wild. The soothing, formal beauty of the front yard features tightly pruned Coral Burst crabapple trees, low cut hedges, columnar gingkoes and the fancily named “Prairie Fire” crabapple trees. When you are ready for some intrigue, walk along the front porch to your right.

Notice how the Hornbeam trees

SPEAKERS’ BUREAU Need a speaker for your church, civic group or garden club? The Johnson County Extension Speakers’ Bureau have the speakers you are looking for on just about any topic like environmentally safe lawn care, or perennial flower gardening. To schedule a speaker for your group, please contact the office. For more information, call 913-715-7000.

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The Metzler garden features many old-fashioned plantings including hydrangea bushes and eye-catching boxwood parterres. screen out the outside world. To your left is a small terracotta fountain and statues representing the four seasons. These fountains will eventually be enveloped by the pink roses that surround them.

Continue on and you’ll arrive in the expansive back yard. To the east, you’ll see four raised beds which yield cut flowers and vegetables. Circle back toward the house and enjoy the raised goldfish pond with its playful water sounds and beautiful aquatic plants. The pond is bordered by barberries and the inedible herb Germander. Finally, step into the shady back porch area cooled by strategically placed shade trees.

As you go along your way, don’t forget to say hello to Layla,

the gentle Doberman who serves as the gardener’s Assistant.

The Metzler/Williams Garden (Steve Metzler & Brian Williams, 3724 Holmes St., KC, MO) “Our garden’s bones are English in nature with a touch of Charleston,” say the owners of this Janssen Place garden, platted on the largest lot in Central Hyde Park. The garden tends to bloom in early March through the summer months and features many old-fashioned plantings, including blooming hydrangea bushes and eye-catching boxwood parterres.

Though the front of the property tends toward a comfortable formality, the upper garden lets nature have her way a bit. Visitors should

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The Guastello garden includes a secret area with a lovely water garden and colorful fish. be sure not to miss the “secret garden,” with its urns and other ornaments, behind the garage.

The Guastello Garden (George & Betsy Guastello, 3239 W. 88th St., Leawood, KS) The Guastello’s have created a truly inspired outdoor living area. Start at the formal front yard where you can enjoy the low boxwood hedges and yews. Then, head toward the back, where carefully chosen plants accent an extraordinary patio dotted with antique mill stones. Take note of “Fire Island,” with its outdoor fireplace and built in grills for entertaining guests, and then finally, pass through the arbor for a peek at a private garden just off the master bedroom. This secret area features a lovely water garden, a laughing fountain and colorful fish.

The Fabro/Mead Garden (Gary Fabro & Mike Mead, 408 W. 61st Terrace, KC, MO) The Fabro/Mead Garden is a sweet urban spot that shows how

even a small amount of space can provide respite and beauty.

Meandering borders of lush plantings and a bubbling fountain help create a relaxing urban retreat and a pea gravel patio completes the trendy look. The owners frequently invite guests over, so they have dedicated a significant amount of space to entertaining.

The Sion Community Garden (Notre Dame de Sion, Sydney Evans, 3625 Locust St., KC, MO) The Notre Dame De Sion Community Garden was created in 2010 as a result of parents’ desires to improve the hot lunch program.

Highlighting a food garden is a first for the Wornall House Garden Tour, but we recognize the importance of the burgeoning community foodgrowing movement. Vegetable gardens can be very beautiful, and they can address nutrition, obesity and care of the environment in a positive way. That’s why we believe this local, school-run garden is something everyone should see.

Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center 1401 NW Park Road Blue Springs, MO 64015 June 23/Saturday/9:00-11:00AM Registration required (Adults) Meet us on the Little Blue Trace Trail for an unforgettable stroll in an area rich with biodiversity. Along this historic bottomland forest, you will be amazed at how many of the plants are edible.

This program is FREE. To register, call 816-2283766.

Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center is located in Blue Springs, Mo., one mile north of I-70 and one mile west of MO 7 on Park Road. Six trails, 1,071 wooded acres, two picnic areas, indoor wildlife viewing area, 3,000 gallon native fish and turtle aquarium, hands-on nature exhibits, gift shop, and sales of fishing and hunting permits.

Website: http://mdc.mo.gov/node/280

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Weston’s Country Gardens Welcome You June 22 & 23

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weeping vistas framed by large gardens to intimate side-yard gardens combine to give you a view of private country gardens high on the bluffs of the Missouri River in Northwestern Platte County June 22 and 23.

The Friday and Saturday Country Garden Tour features the gardens of five members of Weston’s Cottage Gardeners Garden Club, open 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This is the fourth garden tour presented by the Cottage Gardeners.

Two have been in the City of Weston, and one other in the countryside. “People really loved the country tour,” said club president Marilyn Lindahl. “You can peek into gardens as you walk around Weston, but this tour gives you a view of beautiful gardens you can never see from the road.”

Your tour can begin at any of the gardens, but the one closest to Kansas City is Aleta’s Garden,

9600 NW Baker Road. Aleta and her husband built a stunning house on the nine-acre property, then surrounded it with favorite plants brought from their previous home.

There’s a vegetable garden right outside the back door, birdhouses, and plants to encourage hummingbirds, cardinals and butterflies.

“Several years ago I dug a mimosa tree from what was my grandmother’s garden and planted it near the existing pond,” she said. “During renovation of the pond, bulldozers and excavators carefully worked around the mimosa tree knowing its history. Now the mimosa tree is a focal point of the large rock wall.

The pond garden area is all new and will be a work in progress for years to come.”

Not far from this garden is Sachiko’s Garden, 103 Wallace Street, Farley. Sachiko’s father kept an extensive formal Japanese garden when she was a girl in

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Lee Stroebele welcomes visitors to her garden, which features planting around a beautiful cellar.

Japan. She has brought that love of gardening to her home in Farley.

Over the last 13 years, she and her family have added plants from friends across the country to create a peaceful retreat at the top of the hillside in the village. “I am a great believer in sharing plants and cuttings with family and friends,” she said. “Many of my plants and flowers come from other people’s gardens. Likewise, nothing makes me happier than to see a cutting from my garden doing well for someone else.” In a moment of serendipity, she installed a pond about 10 years ago and it quickly became the centerpiece of the garden. “I got the idea for it when we were having a new septic tank installed; it seemed such a waste to let a perfectly good back-hoe just sit there…”

Moving north of Weston, you come to Phillis’ Hidden Valley Garden, 29720 Countryside Road, where she has planted more than

100 fir and cedar trees. “I find trees soothing, especially the sound of the wind blowing through them,” she said. “One of my most unusual tree groupings is the Thuja Green Giant Evergreens. This ancient tree knew the dinosaurs, but is wellsuited to modern landscape plantings.” Trees and shrubs frame the earth-sheltered home, and a small, picturesque bridge leads to a wide meadow surrounded by forested hills. As did other gardeners, she planted shrubs and ground cover on hard-to-mow areas.

Lee is getting ready for a wedding at her Peony Ridge Garden, 27580 East Dye Road. Her daughter’s wedding will be held on the front steps of the home, so the wedding’s green and cream color scheme has been incorporated into the annual plantings. “I continually try to add things of interest each season,” she said. “Some of these things include garden decora-

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The Kansas City Gardener / June 2012

Northland Garden Club presents

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A mimosa tree from Aleta’s grandmother’s home in Sedalia has pride of place near the new pond at their home. What a comfortable place to sit at the end of the day! tions that have special meaning to me and my family.” The gardens feature formal areas, more casual “rooms,” water features, bird and butterfly houses, a beautiful collection of hybrid tea roses and comfortable places to sit and enjoy morning coffee.

Four years in the making, Michelle’s garden at 25720 is “Asian Meets Prairie.” “I wanted the garden to blend in with the surroundings,” she said. “However, I’m most inspired by Japanese gardens. I have tried to incorporate many conifers, rocks, water features and a strict adherence to a color palette of blues, greens and purples to combine Japanese with Prairie.” Every rock you see in the garden was selected and moved

by Michelle herself. “My favorite moment was when I finally decided it is was finished!” Inspiration came from visits to botanical gardens and her tendency to devour gardening books and magazines.

“I never sketch out any plans for the garden, but I do fill my head

Bells greet visitors of Sachikos Garden in Farley. with imagery of other gardens that inspire me before I dig.”

Tickets are available by mail at: Cottage Gardeners, PO Box 102, Weston, MO 64098 or at www. westoncottagegardeners.com. Send your name, address and e-mail along with a check. Tickets are $10 each through June 21, $12 afterwards. After June 10 tickets can be picked up or purchased at Renditions, 522 Main Street, Weston, MO. Call 816-640-2300.

Tickets will also be available at the tour homes.

Proceeds from the garden tour go to beautification projects in and around Weston you can see as you drive around the town. Projects completed in the past four years include two rain gardens in Benner Park, a redesigned garden at the Weston Historical Society, plantings to soften the corners of the Spring and Thomas Street Bridges and Crocuses on the hillside at Hwy. 45 and Welt and at the southeast corner at West Platte High School.

While in Weston, enjoy one of our restaurants for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Shops will be open all day.

For more information on Weston, go to www.westonmo.com

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2012 FLOWER SHOW

he 2012 Beautiful Madness Flower Show will again be held at the NKC Public Library on Saturday, June 23, 2012. The library is located at 2251 Howell North Kansas City, MO. This year our Judge and Floral Designer will be Rita Mcfarland.

The theme is Cottage Gardens.

The show is free and open to the public.

Everyone is encouraged to enter arrangements and specimens in the following categories. This year’s theme is Cottage Gardens.

There are five Floral Design categories and three Specimen categories. * Petite and Precious: This Lilliputian design should have a Cottage Garden flavor. While being no taller than 6” and no wider 8”, including the container. * Collector’s charm: Gather up fresh flowers from your garden

and combine with things that have a special meaning to you. * Branching Out: Will it be Curly Willow, Birch Branches or something from your favorite shrub that you will choose to be the main focus of this design? * Arts Alive: Create your own garden, by using potted plants and a picture frame. * Green and Gorgeous: Everyone will be ‘Green with Envy’ with your design of green flowers and/or foliage.

The three Specimen categories are The Perfect Bloom, The Best Leaf and the Showiest Shrub.

Entries may be checked in from 9:30-10:30. Judging is from 10:30-12:00. The entries will be on display from 12:30-2:00. There will be a floral demonstration from 12:30-1:00.

For more information, call Marla Galetti at 816-587-1556 or go to our Website at northlandgardenclub.com.

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June 2012 / The Kansas City Gardener

23

Four Seasons Water Garden…Summer

Diane Swan

A

s the days get longer and hotter, and the skies are blue comes the fulfillment of Spring in the form of Summer.

All the hard work cleaning, trimming, and planting has paid off and now is the time to enjoy a beautiful water garden paradise.

Summer is our reward and a time for enjoyment. The lush plantings soften the look of the hard rocks and the flowers beckon to take a walkabout. In the same respect the rocks add accents to the plantings.

The aquatic plants don’t mind the heat of summer with their feet in the water and stay looking great even if the landscape shows stress.

Lotus and Tropical lilies enjoy the summer heat, so don’t be afraid to raise them in the pond so they can get more of the warm air and water.

1.) Tropical lilies come in day and night bloomers. They are noted for their unusual flower colors of blues, purples, fuchsias, rainbow and autumn shades. They hold their blooms high in the air so you can’t help but see them. You can always tell a tropical from a hardy because their leaf pads have wavy or serrated edges. Some leaf pads are so dramatically mottled or speckled that they are actually bought for their leaf color more than flower color. An added bonus is that the night blooming tropicals are great for shade gardens as well.

• Tanzanite or Ultra Violet day bloomers are both New Best Water Lily winners, 2009 and 2008 respectively. They bloom profusely with purple blossoms.

• Star of Siam and Star of Zanzibar day bloomers have

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purplish blue blossoms but are noted for their striking mottled leaf pads.

• Moonbeam and Southern Charm day bloomers—Southern Charm has blue fused with yellow blooms with mottled leaves and won 2nd place in 2007. Moonbeam has more soft hues of blue fading into pale yellow.

• Red Flare night bloomer has dramatic deep red flowers and red leaf pads • Emily Grant Hutchings and Rosa De La Noche have large pink blooms that shine at night.

• Wood’s White Knight and Trudy Slocum night bloomers reflect the moonlight and really stand out in the night pond.

2.) Lotus are indeed the “Queen of the Water Garden’ with their tall huge leaves and large blossoms.

They are loved for their uniqueness and symbolism of purity of body, speech, and mind. In Feng Shui they represent peace, hope, contentment and a symbol of spirituality. They prefer shallow water in the summer and love the heat of the sun and water. There is a size for every pond, container garden, or lotus bog garden. Available in small (2-3’), med. (3-4’) or large (4-5’). Some varieties are: • Russian Red Lotus—large single deep rose pink blossoms.

• Pretty Pink Peyton Lotus-large semi-double rosy-pink fading to lt. pink.

• Yellow & Pink Lotus—small soft yellow with pink tips.

Tropical lilies and Lotus are unique in their own right, but take a look at some of the more unusual plants that prefer and thrive on the summer heat.

• Sensitive water plant—long trailing vine that floats on the surface and produces small yellow flowers. Leaves will close when touched and close up each night.

• Mosaic—a fragile, dainty small variety leaf plants that spread on the water’s surface.

The design the leaves make looks like a mosaic on the top of the water.

• Carnivorous Bog plants— bug-eating aquatic plants!

1. Northern Pitcher Plant has red to purple veins on stout wide hoods. Darkens in full sun but tolerates shade and are Zone 3 hardy.

2. Dana’s Delight is tropical with exceptional ruffled hoods and brilliant red veins and filled with pink.

Aquatic flowers of summer call you to come out and take a look at their beauty.

While you are observing this spectacular display you will notice that the splashing waterfalls and streams give the illusion of being cooler even when it is not.

So spend a little time in the heat of summer around the pond and enjoy the flowers of the summer pond.

Kevin and Diane Swan own Swan’s Water Gardens, a full service water garden center. You may contact them at 913-592-2143.

The Kansas City Gardener / June 2012

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caterpillars and children grow up to become even more beautiful.

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Lenora Larson

hildren are always welcome at my butterfly workshops.

Most kids love bugs! And most know far more about the butterfly’s life cycle than do their parents. Even kindergarteners bring me recognizable drawings of the butterfly’s life cycle because many schools bring butterfly caterpillars into the classroom. The very hungry caterpillar munches on its specific host plant for several weeks, then transforms into a chrysalis. Children witness the magical metamorphosis when the adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis and is set free to fly.

Teachers reinforce the lesson:

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Typically adulthood is the shortest stage, lasting only a few days to a few weeks. Adult butterflies have just one purpose: reproduction.

They do not eat or grow—that’s the caterpillar’s job. But some butterflies do enjoy a sip of nectar from your flowers as they search for mates and their caterpillars’ specific food plant.

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Magical Metamorphosis

1. An adult female Pipevine Swallowtail enjoying a sip of Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) nectar on her way to my Wooly Pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa) to lay her eggs. moths, beetles, bees, flies and ants, each stage of the life cycle looks entirely different and has different needs and purposes. The egg, like the seed of a plant, carries the genetic information for the next generation. The caterpillar is a single-minded eating machine, shedding its skin repeatedly as it grows to full size. Then it crawls away from the host plant and selects a spot to transform into the chrysalis, the magic chamber where all the caterpillar’s organs and tissues liquefy into a butterfly soup. Depending on species, time of year and weather, it may take three weeks to three years before the triumphant adult butterfly emerges, metamorphosed into the flying flower and ready for love!

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The Kansas City Gardener / June 2012

St. Joseph Water Garden Tour and True Love Story

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2. Pipevine Swallowtail eggs on a Pipevine leaf stem—see the caterpillar emerging?!

4. After three weeks of eating Pipevines, the caterpillar transforms into the chrysalis to await metamorphosis into the winged adult.

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Mutual friends introduced them.

They hiked Arizona mountains, the Grand Canyon to the bottom and back, and discovered their mutual love of nature – and each other. It was true love right from the start.

They found a cabin, waterfall and peace and quiet on their first date, near the Spruce Mountain area in Prescott. They never forgot that sweet place.

When it was time for retirement, the ‘St. Joe Kid’, Jan Reed and her wonderful husband Tom (an Indiana Boy) fell in love with St. Joe again and moved back in 2003.

It took nearly 10 years to create what they have now. An

Arizona and Ozark type waterfall, water gardens, flowers, trees, peace and quiet. The backyard when they moved was a total blank slate and it has been a labor of love, time, sweat, and fun creating a staycation spot. They have been married almost 23 years and are still going strong.

The Reeds’ garden is just one of the 10 to 12 ponds on the annual St. Joseph Water Garden Society Tour held June 23 and 24, from 1 to 5 p.m. Tickets are only $7 for adults – what a deal! Tickets are available at Earl May St. Joe, Mann’s, Moffets, Westlake Hardware or call 816-232-7041 or 816-233-4312.

Come and ask more about the wonder adventures of water gardening. New memberships available.

3. A Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillar chomping a Pipevine stem. This is the only plant in the universe that it can eat. You will never see Pipevine Swallowtails in your garden unless you plant a Pipevine for the caterpillars. terflies to your garden by providing the requirements for all four stages of their life cycle. The egg and caterpillar depend on their unique plant host. The chrysalis needs an undisturbed area while it transforms, and many of the adults sip nectar, rotting fruit, tree sap or

moist scat. The universal requirement? NO INSECTICIDES! MICO Extension Master Gardener and Kansas Native Plant Society member, Lenora Larson gardens and hosts butterflies in the cruel winds and clay soil of Paola, Kansas.

May 19 - OctOber 7, 2012 Fairy houses and forts to inspire, amuse and ignite an interest in exploring the great outdoors, all at Kansas city’s botanical garden. It’s a garden adventure you won’t want to miss!

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June 2012 / The Kansas City Gardener

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June

garden calendar n VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

• Plant squash, cucumbers, sweet corn, green beans and other summer vegetables.

• Tomato leaf disease reduces yield, treat with a fungicide if needed.

• Conserve moisture and control weeds by mulching.

• Harvest spring vegetables until the end of the season then remove.

• Pinch herbs to keep bushy and fresh with new growth.

• Squash bugs multiply rapidly, watch for development and control.

• Keep garden evenly watered; apply 1-inch per week if no rain.

• Continue a regular fruit disease and insect control program.

• Fertilize strawberries regularly to promote new growth.

• Renovate June bearing strawberry beds.

• Treat peach trees for borers.

• Remove sucker growth from base of trees and along branches.

• Turn compost pile and keep moist to hasten breakdown.

n FLOWERS

• Pinch chrysanthemum tips for development of bushier plants.

• Remove (deadhead) spent flower blossoms to keep plant flowering.

• Remove flower stalks from peonies and irises.

• Fertilize roses and trim spent blossoms.

• Check plants for insects.

• Remove dead foliage from spring bulbs.

• Water and fertilize container plantings regularly to encourage growth and flowering.

• Maintain a 2 to 3-inch mulch layer to reduce moisture loss, control weeds and cool soil.

• If there is no rainfall, water about 1-inch per week.

n LAWNS

• Mow bluegrass and tall fescue 3 to 3 1/2 inches to improve drought stress.

• Avoid fertilizing tall fescue and bluegrass during summer.

• Mow zoysia to a height of 1-2 inches all season.

• Fertilize zoysia with high nitrogen fertilizer such 27-3-3, one to two more times this summer.

• Repair dead spots and bare areas in zoysia by sodding or plugging.

• Core aerate zoysia to control thatch and improve water and nutrient uptake.

• Spot treat for summer broadleaf weeds.

• Fertilize naturally by letting grass clippings fall.

• Water the turf sparingly to increase drought tolerance during the heat of summer.

• Begin grub treatments with preventive type insecticides.

• Keep mower blade sharp for a clean cut.

n TREES AND SHRUBS

• Check for bagworms and control • Prune: -Elongated “candles” of new growth on pines and spruces to shape and control size.

-Spring flowering shrubs.

• Water newly planted trees and shrubs.

• Check for spider mite damage by shaking branch over white paper.

Mites look like small dots.

• Clip hedges to maintain shape.

• Maintain mulch ring around young trees and shrubs.

• Prune dead or damaged limbs to correct structure and maintain health.

n HOUSEPLANTS

• Water and fertilize on a regular basis to promote summer growth.

• Repot overgrown plants, shifting up to a 1-inch larger pot.

• Rotate pots to provide sunlight on all sides, which produces a balanced plant.

• Prune and shape plants.

Johnson County K-State Research and Extension recommends environmentally-friendly gardening practices. This starts by identifying and monitoring problems. Cultural practices and controls are the best approach for a healthy garden. If needed, use physical, biological or chemical controls. Always consider the least toxic approach first. Dennis Patton is the horticulture agent for Johnson County K-State Research and Extension.

For free information fact sheets, visit www.johnson.ksu.edu, or call the Extension office at 913-715-7000.

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The Kansas City Gardener / June 2012

C

an you imagine a garden in downtown Kansas City? A garden the size of an entire city block? A garden of vegetables, fruit trees, berry vines and flowers?

A garden that captures and filters the rain to quench it’s thirst, and harnesses the wind and sun to help supply power?

The Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City want you to do more than imagine so please join us for a lecture and guided tour of the DST Systems, Inc.’s 18Broadway demonstration site on Tuesday, June 19th at 6:30 p.m.

The evening begins with a talk at the Tony Aguirre Community Center followed by a guided tour at 18Broadway.

Jim Miller of DST will discuss 18Broadway’s role as a demonstration project for urban gardening, storm water management and

Photo by John Iiams, 360 Architecture.

Gardeners’ Gathering at DST 18Broadway Garden

green initiatives. And this garden is so more than theoretical; volunteers from DST Systems, 360 Architecture and several other companies and organizations work in the garden. Collectively, they raised nearly 3 tons of fresh produce in 2011 for donation to

Harvesters. The garden season will be well under way at the time of the tour.

Gene Lund, lead architect from 360 Architecture and Matt SchoellSchafer, lead landscape architect from Vireo will describe the planning and implementation of this

complex and innovative project.

They will discuss how 18Broadway uses storm water management systems to capture, filter and reuse storm water, potentially diverting more than one million gallons from Kansas City’s storm sewer system and how the green energy features and the plantings contribute to the overall plan.

Kathy Pemberton, DST Systems, Inc. garden coordinator, along with the speakers will provide attendees a guided tour of 18Broadway.

The lecture will be held at the Tony Aguirre Community Center, 2050 West Pennway, KCMO, followed by the guided tour of 18Broadway. The garden is located on Broadway between 18th and 19th. This event is free and open to the public. For additional questions, call Debbie Johnson 816213-5280.

SUMMER PLANT CARE VISIT WESTLAKE FOR ALL YOUR WATERING NEEDS! PERENNIALS, SHRUBS & TREES should be watered one to three times a week during hot weather.

TREES START TO SHOW SIGNS OF HEAT STRESS when the leaves start turning brown from the tips inward. A long, slow trickle is best & allows the water to soak deep into the soil without runoff.

THIS TIME OF YEAR – PLANTS NEED A LOT OF CARE TO DEAL WITH THE HIGH HEAT AND HUMIDITY.

June 2012 / The Kansas City Gardener

SHRUBS ARE BEST WATERED in the early morning or in late evening.

Use a soaker hose to insure deep watering to the roots.

VEGETABLE GARDENS need about 1-In. of water per week to keep from getting too dry. Use a rain gauge to see how much water is being provided by the rain and sprinkler. *VISIT WESTLAKEACEHARDWARE.COM FOR A STORE LOCATION NEAR YOU!

29

Plan a Summer Adventure

Upcoming Garden Events

Fairy Houses & Forts, garden-fresh dinners and Booms & Blooms await at Powell Gardens

E

arly summer is a lovely time to wander through Powell Gardens and June is blossoming with special events. Admission, unless otherwise noted, is $10/adults, $9/seniors, and $4/children 5-12.

Fairy Houses & Forts: An Enchanting Garden Adventure 9 a.m.-6 p.m. now through Oct. 7 This summer blockbuster includes seven large-scale fairy houses and fanciful forts to inspire, amuse and ignite an interest in exploring the great outdoors, along with whimsical garden displays and an indoor display of small-scale fairy gardens and houses. Selected through a competition among architects, artists and landscape architects, the winning large-scale entries showcase the region’s creativity and talent.

The exhibition is endorsed by the Kansas City Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Prairie Gateway Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the Kansas City Art Institute, and sponsored in part by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency.

Enjoy the following related drop-in activities during June: * Enchanted Clay Fairy Ring Discovery Station, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

June 9-10 * Make Your Own Fairy House or Fort art piece, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

June 13 and June 27 * Fairy Wind Chime Discovery Station, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. June 23-24 Under a Blue Moon: Garden Party and Rare Plant Auction 5 p.m. June 10 Join supporters of Powell Gardens for an evening under the stars and the chance to acquire rare botanical finds plus garden art and decor. The party begins with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a silent auction, followed by a short live auction during dinner and dessert.

Call 816-697-2600 x207 for reservations. All proceeds benefit educational programming for children.

Father’s Day Missouri Barn Dinner 6 p.m. June 17 Guest Chef Renee Kelly of Caenen Castle will create a magical seasonal meal to be served in the gorgeous Heartland Harvest Garden.

Tickets, which include wine with each course and admission to the Gardens, are $75 per person. See details and reserve your space at www.powellgardens.org/barndinners.

Chef Demonstrations in the Heartland Harvest Garden Gather at the Missouri Barn to learn new ways to prepare gardenfresh foods. The Garden Chef Series continues at 2 p.m. Sundays in June, featuring: Sunday, June 3: Laurie Haney, Rumors Steakhouse Sunday, June 10: Jane Zieha, Blue Bird Bistro Sunday, June 17: No demo (join us for our Barn Dinner Series with Chef Renee Kelly) Sunday, June 24: Bradley Gilmore, Bread & Butter Concepts (BRGR Kitchen + Bar, Urban Table and Gram & Dun) Saturday, June 30: Tad Davis, Tadley’s Homemade Ice Cream (Booms & Blooms Festival) Booms & Blooms Festival 9 a.m.-dusk June 30 It’s peak bloom for Powell Gardens’ dazzling collection of daylilies. Enjoy the riotous blooms, purchase daylilies for your own garden and then stay for a picnic by the lake, live music by the Lee’s Summit Symphony Orchestra and a brilliant fireworks display. Festival pricing applies: $12/adults, $10/seniors and $5/children 5-12.

30

places to go, things to do, people to see Club Meetings African Violet Club of GKC Tues, Jun 12, 5:30-8pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Members meeting. 816-784-5300 Bonsai Society of GKC Sat, Jun 9 and 30, 9am-2pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Workshop. 816-784-5300 Garden Center Association Tues, Jun 5, 12, and 19, 6-8pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Tree Class. 816-784-5300 Greater Kansas City Dahlia Society Sun, Jun 10, 1-3pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Members meeting. 816-784-5300 Greater Kansas City Gardeners of America Mon, Jun 4, 6-8pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City MO. Members meeting. Guests are always welcome. Come join us and make a gardening friend! 816-941-2445. GreaterKCGOA@ gmail.com Greater Kansas City Herb Study Group Wed, Jun 13, 12-2pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Members meeting. 816-784-5300 Greater Kansas City Herb Study Group Wed, Jun 20; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Field trip to visit two Lavender Farms, a Rose garden and other exciting gardens in Topeka, KS. Trip presented by Caren’s Charters. Early registration required. Call 816-822-1515.

Independence Garden Club Mon, Jun 11, 6:30pm; at the Sermon Center 4th floor, corner of Truman and Noland Rd’s.

Program to be announced. Visitors are welcome. For more information call 816-3731169. Visit us at our website www.independencegardenclub.com.

Johnson County Rose Society Thurs, Jun 14, 7pm; at Prairie Village Community Center, 7720 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS. “Roses and Rememberance”.

History lovers, with or without rose gardens will enjoy the program to be presented by Laura English, who is affiliated with the Kansas City Rose Society. Ms. English, a rose lover and local history expert, will weave both her love of roses and of Kansas City history into a delightful program about Laura Conyers Smith and the rose garden at Loose Park, which bears her name. Members and guests are welcome to take advantage of the “Consulting Rosarian’s Corner” during the meeting for a free individual consultation with a Consulting Rosarian about specific questions or concerns regarding all aspects of rose growing and care. All meetings are free and open to the public. Refreshments provided. For more info about the meetings, programs, and other activities of the JCRS, or for membership details, visit website at http:/www.rosesocietyjoco.org at Facebook.com/JoCoRoses.

Kansas City Rose Society Sun, Jun 3, 1-5pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Rose Day, open to public. For more informa-

tion, www.kansascityrosesociety.org or call the Garden Center at 816-784-5300.

Kaw Valley Herbs Study Group Tues, Jun 12, 6:30pm, at Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence, 1263 N 1100 Rd, Lawrence, KS. Our group meets monthly to learn about herbs. We explore all aspects of an herb: growing and harvesting, historical lore, culinary virtues, medicinal merits, and aromatherapy, household, and cosmetic applications. Our gatherings are fun and educational, and jampacked with useful information, including relevant demonstrations. Our June focus herbs are Lavender and Mullein, and you never know what you’ll learn during our popular Share, Show, and Tell segment. Everyone with an interest in herbs is welcome. There is a $2 charge to cover costs (KVHSG is a non-profit group; no charge for students). No pets. No children under 12. For info and monthly newsletter email herbstudygroup@gmail.com.

Leawood Garden Club Tues, Jun 26, 10:30am; at Leawood Presbyterian Church, 2715 W 83rd St, Leawood, KS. Business meeting starts, followed by Installation Ceremony for newly elected officers for the coming year. Potluck luncheon. Desserts & beverages are provided.

Open to the public; guests are welcome.

Contact 816-363-0925 or jaguyn@aol.com for further information.

Lenexa Field and Garden Club Tues, Jun 12, 7-8pm; residence of Susan Scholl, 13606 W 82nd St, Lenexa, KS. Members only garden tour. www.lenexafieldandgardenclub. org; 913-541-1465.

Master Gardeners of Greater KC Tues, Jun 19, 6:30pm; at Tony Aguirre Community Center, 2050 West Pennway, KCMO. Gardeners’ Gathering – “Innovative Gardening at the DST 18Broadway Demonstration Garden” Lecture followed by a tour of 18Broadway. A panel of experts from DST Systems, 360 Architecture and Vireo will share details about the planning and implementation process for this innovative urban garden space. Free and open to the public.

Door prizes. Questions? Call Debbie Johnson at 816 213-5280.

Mid America Begonia Society Sat, Jun 9, 1:30-3:30; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Members meeting. 816-784-5300 Mo Kan Daylily Society Sun, Jun 17, 10:30am-4pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Members meeting. 816-784-5300 Olathe Garden and Civic Club Tues, Jun 19; at the home of a former club member, Charlene Meyer, in Syracuse, MO. A trip to tour her lovely gardens. A tour of the Washington Creek Lavender Farm near Lawrence, KS had originally been planned, but the roads to the farm are not yet ready for travel. That tour will happen at a later date.

For more info contact www.facebook.com/ olathegarden.

Overland Park Gardeners of America Mon, Jun 11, 7pm; at Colonial Church, 7039 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS. Our guest speaker: Craig Nienaber. His topic is “Flower Gardening in Kansas City”. Craig Nienaber

The Kansas City Gardener / June 2012

has been a Kansas City-area gardener for more than 25 years. His talk will highlight common mistakes, his own work in progress, his personal gardening challenge, and advice. The author of “Flower Gardening in Kansas City”, he has profiled more than 20 of the area’s best gardeners, who offer their secrets and tips.

Craig is deputy metro editor at The Kansas City Star, where he hosts the kcgardens blog at kcgardens.kansascity.com.

ShoMe African Violets Society Fri, Jun 8, 11am-2pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Members meeting. 816-784-5300 St Joseph Herb Gardeners Thurs, Jun 7, 6:30pm; at FCS Financial building. Personal wellness story by Teresa Gall.

President: Helen Snuffer 816-279-7372 St Joseph Herb Gardeners Sat, Jun 23, 7am-5pm; at Burr Oak Conservation, Blue Springs. Program: Eat Your Weedies. Bus trip. Leave at 7am from East Hills, arrive at 9am, split group, Golden Corral at 11:30-12:30, Back to Conservation, leave at 3pm, home at 5pm. Paid reservations.

President: Helen Snuffer 816-279-7372

Events, Lectures & Classes June Plant Diseases Fri, Jun 1, noon; at Kansas City Community Gardens, 6917 Kensington, Kansas City, MO 64132. Learn about common plant diseases and how to control them. We will discuss problems such as tomato blossom end rot, septoria leaf spot, cedar-apple rust and powdery mildew. Presented by Mary Roduner, Beanstalk Children’s Garden Coordinator.

There is no cost for attending the workshop.

Space is limited so please call Earlene Franks at 816-931-3877 to register. kccg.org Kansas City Rose Society’s Rose Show Sat, Jun 2 and 3; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. “Never Enough Roses”. Entries will be accepted between 9:30am and 12:30pm on Jun 2. All rose growers are invited to bring a rose to the show on Jun 2. The exhibit will be open to the public between 1pm and 5pm on Sun, Jun 3.

For info visit the Kansas City Rose Society website www.kansascityrosesociety.org.

Kansas City Rose Society’s “Rose Day” Sun, Jun 3; at the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden in Loose Park.

Performance by the Kansas City Youth Ballet will be at 3pm. Ice cream and refreshments provided by Roberts Dairy. Award winning roses will be on display in the Garden Center.

The event is free and open to the public. For more info visit the Kansas City Rose Society website www.kansascityrosesociety.org.

Northland Annual Garden Tour Sun, Jun 3, 1-5pm. The tour, A Day of Wine and Roses, will feature unique and beautiful private gardens in the Liberty area with the final stop at Belvoir winery for refreshment.

Presented by Northland Garden Club. For info, www.northlandgardenclub.com or call Dee West, 816-455-4013.

Missouri Master Naturalist Orientation Meeting Tues, Jun 5, 6:30pm, at Anita B Gorman Discovery Center, 4750 Troost, Kansas City, MO. Learn about the community-based natural resource education and volunteer service organization; explanation of the mission, the training classes, the requirements and the benefits of this fun group. Contact Stacey Davis 816-759-7300 or stacey.davis@mdc.mo.gov.

June 2012 / The Kansas City Gardener

Deciduous Trees and Shrubs (AGBS 106) Jun 6-Jul 27, Mon/Wed 5:45-8:30pm; at Metropolitan Community College-Longview Campus, 500 SW Longview Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO. Local field trips enhance studying the value & identification of regional native and ornamental plants. Instructor: Leah Berg. Fee applies. This 3 credit hour class may be taken for personal interest or by students enrolled in the Grounds and Turf Management program at Metropolitan Community College-Longview Campus. For more information, please e-mail Pam.Hensley@mcckc.edu or call department coordinator Leah Berg 816-353-7170.

Special Topics in Horticulture (AGBS 151) Jun 7-Jul 28, Tues/Thurs 5:45-8:30pm; at Metropolitan Community College-Longview Campus, 500 SW Longview Rd, Lee’s Summit, MO. This special elective taught by Mary Roduner of the Kansas City Community Gardens offers an introduction to horticulture with field trips and projects tailored to needs and interests of students, ranging from annuals and perennials, native plants, edibles in the landscape to beneficial insects. Fee applies.

This 3 credit hour class may be taken for personal interest or by students enrolled in the Grounds and Turf Management program at Metropolitan Community College-Longview Campus. For more information, please e-mail Pam.Hensley@mcckc.edu or call department coordinator Leah Berg 816-353-7170.

Country Garden Tour

in the Weston Countryside

Friday & Saturday, June 22-23, 2012 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Tickets $10 each (after June 21, tickets are $12).

Send name and address with payment to: Cottage Gardeners, PO Box 102, Weston, MO 64098. www.westoncottagegardeners.com After June 10, tickets can be purchased at: Renditions, 522 Main, Weston, MO, ph. 816-640-2300.

W

eston-area country gardens will be featured on the tour this year.

See what’s down those country driveways, surrounding our antebellum (and newer) homes out in the rolling hills, high above the Missouri River. Proceeds will be used to beautify the Weston area, including tree plantings along new sidewalks that are making Weston a walkable town.

Year-Round Container Gardening Thurs, Jun 7, 7pm; at Roeland Park Community Ctr, 4820 Rosewood, Roeland Park, KS. Containers offer four seasons of pleasure, fun and creativity. This class will teach the basic principles of container design so that you’ll have the confidence to change out the plants frequently during the growing season. One 60 minute class $8 ($9 Non-Johnson County Residents). 913-826-3160 Rose Day Sat, Jun 9, 10am-2pm; at Family Tree Nursery, 7036 Nieman Road, Shawnee, KS. Johnson County Rose Society is teaming up with Family Tree Nursery for a special Rose Day. The public is invited to come to Family Tree Nursery and talk with Consulting Rosarians about rose growing and care and see the large variety of roses and rose care products available at Family Tree. The Consulting Rosarians will present free programs at 10am and noon about growing and caring for roses.

Members of the Jonson County Rose Society and the staff of Family Tree Nursery will be on hand to answer your questions, help you select rose plants and products, and introduce you to the Johnson County Rose Society. The Johnson County Rose Society meets from 7-9 pm the 2nd Thursday of each month from February through October at the Prairie Village Community Center at 770 Mission Road in Prairie Village. Their meetings feature programs and speakers on a wide range of topics about growing and enjoying roses. The meetings are free and open to the public and refreshments are provided. For more information about the Rose Society, visit their website at http:/rosesocietyjoco.org or find them on Facebook at Facebook.com/JoCoRoses.

Father’s Day

Gift Ideas! bird seed • bird houses bird baths • quick-clean finch feeders & seed tubes hummingbird & oriole feeders • field guides nitrile garden gloves garden accents gardening books switchable night lights tilley hats • gift cards and more.

The 17th Annual Union Hill Garden Tour Sun, Jun 10, 11am-4pm. Walk through over a dozen residential and community gardens.

Free parking is available in KCPT lots at 31st Street and Grand Avenue. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors (over age 60).

Kids under 12 are free. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the historic Union Cemetery.

Plants will be available for purchase along the tour. Admission includes free backyard BBQ lunch at the Velvet Dog: Burgers, chips, drink specials, and entertainment. This is one of Kansas City?s most unique garden tours

11711 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS (next to Comfort Plus Shoes) • 913-491-4887 Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; Sat 9am-5pm; Sun noon-4pm www.wbu.com/kansascity

(continued on page 32)

BIRDSEED • FEEDERS • BIRDBATHS • OPTICS • GARDEN ACCENTS

Serving Kansas City for 24 years

31

Hotlines for Gardeners Extension Master Gardeners are ready to answer your gardening questions.

DOUGLAS COUNTY

785-843-7058; dgemg@sunflower.com; Mon-Fri, 1-4pm

GREATER KANSAS CITY MISSOURI AREA

816-833-8733 (TREE); Mon-Fri, 9am to 3pm

JOHNSON COUNTY, KS

913-715-7050; Mon-Fri, 9am-4pm; garden.help@jocogov.org

JOHNSON COUNTY, MO

660-747-3193; Wed, 9am-noon

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY

913-364-5700; Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm

MIAMI COUNTY

913-294-4306; Mon-Fri, 9am-noon

PLATTE COUNTY

816-270-2141; Wed, 1-4pm

WYANDOTTE COUNTY

913-299-9300; Mon, Wed, Fri, 9am-noon and 1-4pm

June Weather Report

Highs and Lows Avg temp 75° Avg high temp 84° Avg low temp 66° Highest recorded temp 107° Lowest recorded temp 44° Nbr of above 70° days 29

Clear or Cloudy Avg nbr of clear days 10 Avg nbr of cloudy days 10

Rain and Snow Avg snowfall 0 Avg rainfall 4.8” Avg nbr of rainy days 10 Source: WeatherReports.com

From the Almanac Moon Phases Full Moon: June 4 Last Quarter: June 11 New Moon: June 19 First Quarter: June 26 Source: Harris’ Farmer’s Almanac

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Plant Above Ground Crops: 1-3, 20-22, 27-30

Plant Root Crops: 6, 7, 10, 11

Control Plant Pests: 13, 14, 18, 19

Transplant: 1-3, 27-30

Plant Flowers: 20-22

Upcoming Garden Events places to go, things to do, people to see (continued from page 31) in a historic Victorian neighborhood, just south of Crown Center. For more information, please go to www.unionhill.com or find us on Facebook under “Union Hill Garden Tour”.

Cruise Through the Gardens of Lakewood Tues, Jun 12, 9am-8:30pm; at the Lakewood Marina, Lee’s Summit, MO. Members of the Lakewood Garden Club will host this 17th annual event. A picnic meal and a 90 minute pontoon boat ride will take our guests to view the lovely gardens and landscapes of our lakefront community. Cost: $22. Ticket includes one picnic and one cruise. No rain date. For cruise times and reservations call Cheryl 816373-2432 or Norma 816-350-3236.

North Riverside Garden Stroll Sat, Jun 16, 10am-4pm; Wichita, KS. Five gardens for $5. We will feature gardens large and small, shaded and sunny. Homeowners will be present to answer questions. Proceeds support neighborhood landscape and improvement projects including our Triangle Garden at McKee and Coolidge. North Riverside Neighborhood is just west of Wichita North High School, north of 13th Street and between the Little Arkansas and Arkansas rivers. Tickets are available beginning Jun 1 at all Johnson’s Garden Centers and at neighborhood gardens the day of the Stroll. Information Line 316261-8129.

KC Cactus and Succulent Society presents the Mid-States Conference Sale and Show Jun 22-23, 9am-4pm; at The Hilton Garden Inn, 19677 E Jackson Dr, Independence MO 64057. Show and Sale open to the public.

Vendors from around the country will be selling plants, books and pottery. The Mid-States Conference is open to paid registrants and features a line-up of speakers including Panayoti Kelaidis, from the Denver Botanical Garden who will be speaking on hardy cactus and succulents. For more information on the show and sale or the conference check out www.midstatesconference.org or call 816-444-9321.

Country Garden Tour Jun 22-23, 9am-4pm; presented by Cottage Gardeners of Weston, Mo. Weston-area country gardens will be featured on the tour this year. See what’s down those country driveways, surrounding our antebellum (and newer) homes out in the rolling hills, high above the Missouri River. You’ll see ideas you can bring home to your garden, whether it’s large or small. Proceeds will be used to beautify the Weston area, including tree plantings along new sidewalks that are making Weston a walkable town. For more info, 816-640-2300.

Lotus Days Fri, Jun 22, 9am-6pm, Sat, Jun 23, 9am-4pm and Sun, Jun 24, 11am-4pm; at Swan’s Water Garden Center, 20001 Padbury Lane, Spring Hill, KS 66083. Come join us and celebrate everything Zen. Special discount coupons on Lotus, Tropical lilies, and Zen Statuary available at the door for this event only.

Zen Music in the gardens. Refreshments and Lunch served each day from 11am-1pm. Sign up for free drawing. 913-592-2143 Countryside Garden Tour Sat, Jun 23, 9am-4pm. The Master Gardeners of Johnson County Missouri present a Countryside Garden Tour. Explore four private

country gardens in Warrensburg, Mo. These diverse gardens are beautiful and educational.

One of the tour highlights is the stunning garden belonging to Barbara Fetchenhier, Powell Gardens’ Garden Interpreter, and her husband Jeff. There will also be an art exhibit by Mid-Missouri Artists and a plant sale. Tickets are $5 and available from the University of Missouri’s Johnson County Extension Office at 660-747-3193.

Northland Garden Club Flower Show Sat, Jun 23; at the NKC Public Library, 2251 Howell, North Kansas City, MO. The theme of the sixth annual Flower Show of the Northland Garden club is “Cottage Gardens”.

Judging will be held from 10am-12pm. The show is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to enter their arrangements in the following categories. Petite and Precious, Collected Charm, Branching Out, Art Alive and Green and Gorgeous. The specimen categories include A Perfect Bloom, Best Leaf and Showiest Shrub. Please contact Marla Galetti with any questions. 816-587-1556 St Joseph Water Garden Pond Tour Sat, Jun 23, Sun, Jun 24, both days 1-5pm.

Tickets $7 each for adults. Kids under 12 free with adult ticket. Large selections of water features, all styles and sizes, many new and lots of established ones. A great value and lots of fun. Tickets available at Earl May, Moffets Nursery, Mann’s, Westlake Hardware, or call 816-232-7041 or 816-233-4312 for questions or tickets. Website for pictures and updates www.sjwatergarden.com.

RAW Food Workshop Sat, Jun 23, 10am-noon; at our historic Apple Barn, 150B NW Colbern Rd at Unity Village (just a quarter mile west of the ColbernLee’s Summit Rd intersection). This inspirational RAW Food workshop demonstrates how you can change your food and change your life. Facilitated by Jane, Loran and Jace Van Benthusen. $10/Free for members. Please make reservations 1 week prior to workshop.

Go to www.gardensatunity.org or call 816769-0259 to enroll. For more information, visit us on FaceBook!

Cultured Foods Workshop Sat, Jun 30, 10am-noon; at our historic Apple Barn, 150B NW Colbern Rd at Unity Village (just a quarter mile west of the ColbernLee’s Summit Rd intersection). Come explore the benefits of Cultured Foods-facilitated by Donna Schwenk, founder of Cultured Food Life $10/Free for members. Please make reservations 1 week prior to workshop. Go to www.gardensatunity.org or call 816-769-0259 to enroll. For more information, visit us on FaceBook!

Mokan Daylily Society Regional Convention Jun 29-July 1; at Hilton Garden Inn, Independence, MO. Tour six daylily gardens.

Contact Jane Shepherd 816-781-0241 for registration information.

July Hart’s Delight Daylilies Annual Tour Jul 7-8, 9am-1pm; at 7460 W 255th, Louisburg, KS. Daylily sale to benefit Late Bloomers garden club (tag sale with August pick-up).

Garden has over 900 varieties of daylilies.

913-837-5209

The Kansas City Gardener / June 2012

Kansas City Water Garden Society Pond Tour Days Jul 7-8. Swan’s Water Garden Center will be open Sat and Sun for this special event.

We will have the Pond Tour Coupon Books.

913-592-2143

Farmer’s Market” on Wednesdays (4pm-6:30 pm). Rotary Sunflower information: Darrel Zimmerman (913-209-4446); Sunflower Artfest information: Dick Stine via e-mail at dkstine@kc.rr.com, or Rose Burgweger at rmbgraphics@earthlink.net.

Garlic Workshop Sat, Jul 7, 8am-1pm; at our historic Apple Barn, 150B NW Colbern Rd at Unity Village (just a quarter mile west of the ColbernLee’s Summit Rd intersection). Come celebrate GARLIC! Harvest your own or buy pre-picked from our Market stand. Try some new ways to enjoy this healthy and tasty vegetable. Please make reservations 1 week prior to workshop. Go to www.gardensatunity. org or call 816-769-0259 to enroll. For more information, visit us on FaceBook!

Fairy Gardening Thurs, Jul 19, 7pm; at Roeland Park Community Ctr, 4820 Rosewood, Roeland Park, KS. A fairy garden can be any size or shape ranging from sprawling gardens to a tiny flower pot. The main ingredient needed to create a fairy garden: imagination, creativity, and a pinch of time. Join the class for a fun exploration to the world of fairies and learn the secrets to creating these magical gardens.

One 60 minute class $8 ($9 Non-Johnson County Residents). 913-826-3160

Flowers in the Flint Hills Sat, Jul 7, 9am-3pm; at the Marion City Library, 101 Library St, Marion, KS. Visitors to the historic city of Marion will see two beautiful gardens at the Marion County Lake, and a peaceful scenic landscape in town. In Florence they will visit a mercantile with a quaint garden on Main Street and then continue through on Main Street to a home south of town with a historic history, home and beautiful yard and garden. There will also be a farmer’s market and a Car Show held at the beautiful Brooker Park in Marion. Cost is $5.00. Tickets with maps must be purchased at the Marion City Library that is located in the recently renovated 1912 Santa Fe Depot which is celebrating its’ 100th anniversary this year.

Refreshments will be served at the library.

For more information call the Marion City Library 620-382-2442 or visit http://marion. mykansaslibrary.org

August

Sunflower Artfest 2012 Fri, Jul 13, 6-9pm; Sat, Jul 14, 10am-8pm; Sun, Jul 15, noon-5pm; at The Barn At Kill Creek Farm (formerly Zimmermans Kill Creek Farm), 9212 Kill Creek Rd, De Soto, KS. Our annual Sunflower Artfest celebrating the arts with a variety of fine artwork, food, live entertainment and children’s craft area– amidst the beautiful sunflowers planted by the De Soto Rotary Club. Browse through a variety of art booths, the “Sunflower Art Exhibit,” and pick-your-own sunflowers from nine different types. Proceeds go towards Rotary International’s PolioPlus Program. Sunflowers will be available for purchase throughout the month of July and during the “Fresh Promises

istory lovers, with or without rose gardens will enjoy the program to be presented by the Johnson County Rose Society on Thursday, June 14. The featured speaker will be Laura English, who is affiliated with the Kansas City Rose Society. Ms. English, a rose lover and local history expert, will weave both her love of roses and of Kansas City history into a delightful program about Laura Conyers Smith and the rose garden at Loose Park which bears her name.

The meeting will be held at 7:00 pm at the Prairie Village Community Center, 7720 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS. Members and guests are welcome to take advantage of the “Consulting Rosarian’s Corner” during the meeting for a free individual consultation with a Consulting Rosarian about specific questions or concerns regarding all aspects of rose growing and care.

All JCRS meetings are free and open to the general public.

Refreshments will be provided.

For more information about the meetings, programs, and other activities of the JCRS, or for membership details, please visit their website at http:/www.rosesocietyjoco.org and at Facebook.com/JoCoRoses.

Tomato Workshop Sat, Aug 25, 10-11am; at our historic Apple Barn, 150B NW Colbern Rd at Unity Village (just a quarter mile west of the Colbern-Lee’s Summit Rd intersection). Today we honor the beautiful and colorful TOMATO - all heirloom varieties should be in abundant supply! Lou Elder will facilitate a FREE workshop on Seed Saving. Please make reservations 1 week prior to workshop. Go to www.gardensatunity. org or call 816-769-0259 to enroll. For more information, visit us on FaceBook!

September Pesto Workshop Sat, Sep 1, 10-11am; at our historic Apple Barn, 150B NW Colbern Rd at Unity Village (just a quarter mile west of the Colbern-Lee’s Summit Rd intersection). Get creative with PESTO. It’s not just for Basil anymore $10/ Free for members. Please make reservations 1 week prior to workshop. Go to www.gardensatunity.org or call 816-769-0259 to enroll. For more information, visit us on FaceBook!

Bean Leaf Beetle

Photos by Mary Roduner.

Composting Workshop Thurs, Jul 12, 7pm; at Roeland Park Community Ctr, 4820 Rosewood, Roeland Park, KS. Basic composting info will be covered, but this class is for those who have been composting in the past without much success.

Come and learn the ‘Five Rules of Rot’ and turn the compost pile into a garbage eating machine. One 60 minute class $8 ($9 NonJohnson County Residents). 913-826-3160

Growing and Cooking with Herbs Thurs, Aug 16, 7pm; at Roeland Park Community Ctr, 4820 Rosewood, Roeland Park, KS. Growing herbs is not as hard as you think! Once you have the taste of fresh herbs.

One 60 minute class $8 ($9 Non-Johnson County Residents). 913-826-3160

ROSES AND REMEMBERANCE H

Scotland Workshop Sat, Sep 1, 10-11am; at our historic Apple Barn, 150B NW Colbern Rd at Unity Village (just a quarter mile west of the ColbernLee’s Summit Rd intersection). The magical Findhorn Gardens draw many to its mystical and sandy shores. Member Linda Chubbuck shares insights from her recent trip to Scotland. $10/Free to members. Please make reservations 1 week prior to workshop. Go to www. gardensatunity.org or call 816-769-0259 to enroll. For more information, visit us on FaceBook!

Cerotoma triburcate

T

Submitted by Mary Roduner, Children’s Gardening Coordinator, Kansas City Community Gardens.

Promote your gardening events!

he first beans of the year are damaged by leaf beetles.

Larvae feed on plant roots stunting plants. Adults beetles chew holes in leaves and cotyledons of new beans. Large numbers of adults can seriously damage plants. Look for the beetles on the undersides of leaves in the early afternoon. Handpick adults or if more than 25% of plants have damage, consider treating the plants with either Sevin or a pyrethrin insecticide. Be sure to spray when the beetles are present. Unless the damage is severe most plants will outgrow it. Waiting 2-3 weeks to plant will avoid the early infestations.

Send information to:

The Kansas City Gardener P.O. Box 8725, Prairie Village, KS 66208 Fax: (913) 648-4728 E-Mail: editorcavsgarden@kc.rr.com Deadline for July issue is June 5.

June 2012 / The Kansas City Gardener

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Patio Perfect Succulents • Good quality potting mix • Low container, preferably with drainage holes Just pot them into the bowl and tweak it with moss and rock for that designer look.

Erin Busenhart

I

have talked a lot about succulents. But, I know there are some of you (my mother) who hear the word succulent and instantly conjure up an image of a giant southwestern cactus. But, there are ways to easily and painlessly bring the cool world of succulents into your patio.

THE SUCCULENT BOWL The super trendy succulent bowl is popular for a reason – it’s a great way to add a little personality to any outdoor space – and you can still see across the table! What you need: • 5 assorted succulents is a good number for an 8-12 inch bowl

ADD POP TO YOUR POTS Give some pizzazz to combos – tuck in plenty of plantings!

HANG THEM UP Use a ring of succulents to funk up that basic front door entryway or try a hanging ball of succulents instead of the typical hanging basket. They are actually super easy to put together – all they require is a little time. What you need: • Wreath/ball form made out of moss • Assorted succulents – try using hardy sedums and hen and chicks for a perennial version • Pole pins (several packages) • Patience Just poke a hole in the moss, shove in the succulent (really, I’ve

made a lot of these – shoving works best) and pin in place.

GENERAL CARE No matter how you use them, the care is pretty much the same…

EASY! • Outdoors succulents can tolerate sun or shade. However, remember…they’re like us – the first day outside in full sun can burn. You can’t apply sunscreen – so try and acclimate slowly to afternoon sun.

• Let your succulents tell you when they want water. Wellwatered succulents look healthy – they have thick, plump, shiny leaves. When it’s time for a drink they’ll flag you down – they’ll lose that sheen and start to sag and then give them a good soak.

Remember – it doesn’t mist in the desert!

• I think it’s easier to not mix cactus and succulents – they have different watering schedules and I still am looking for a way (not involving ESP) to decipher when cactus needs to be watered.

A good loose high-quality potting mix works great for succulents. Don’t use a mix with moisture crystals!

Erin Busenhart is seasonal color designer at Family Tree Nursery, Overland Park, Kan. You may reach her at 913-642-6503.

Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City presents

Water Gardens 2012 19th Annual Water Garden Tour Saturday, July 7 • Sunday, July 8 9am - 5pm Rain or Shine Bus tours available. Contact Connie Halastik • 816-419-3245 • Clh1217@yahoo.com

Buy early to plan your personal driving tour of 50 plus gardens in Greater Kansas City and nearby communities. There are a variety of private gardens, Water Garden Society constructed educational water gardens for schools and nature centers.

Tickets are $10 per person (ages 14 and older). A tour book with maps, driving directions, and host written descriptions of the gardens are included.

Proceeds benefit construction of educational and restorative water gardens and other educational programs in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Tickets available after June 20 at locations.

Contributing Sponsor: House of Rocks

Tickets available at all Hen House Markets, all Westlake Hardware stores and all Grass Pads.

Bannister Garden Center, Kansas City, MO Brothers Fish, Kansas City, MO City Pets & Ponds, Kansas City, MO Colonial Nursery, Blue Springs Creekside Market, Raymore Cripple Creek Rock, N. Kansas City, MO Earl May Garden Center, Shawnee Earl May Garden Center, St. Joseph Family Center, Harrisonville

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Family Tree Nursery, Shawnee Family Tree Nursery, Overland Park Family Tree Nursery, Liberty Full Features Nursery, Smithville Heartland Nursery, Kansas City, MO Homestead Nursery, Leavenworth, KS House of Rocks, Kansas City, KS Kansas City Pond & Water Gardening, KCMO Paradise Nursery Inc., Kansas City, MO

Planters Seed Co., Kansas City, MO Prairie & Wetland Center, Belton Randy’s Lakeview Nursery, Lee’s Summit River City Water Gardening, Kansas City, MO Roberts Nursery, Blue Springs Rosehill Gardens, Martin City Soil Service Garden Ctr & Nursery, Kansas City, MO State Farm/Sue Franks Suburban Lawn and Garden, Leawood

Suburban Lawn and Garden, Kansas City, MO Suburban Lawn and Garden, Lenexa Swan’s Water Gardening, Spring Hill Union Station, Kansas City, MO Van Liew’s, Kansas City, MO Waldo Grain Company, Kansas City, MO Water’s Edge, Lawrence Wild Bird Center, Independence Wild Bird Center, Kansas City, MO

The Kansas City Gardener / June 2012

Properly Dispose Hazardous Products

D

id you find garden products that are unused, outdated, and considered hazardous while spring cleaning? If you’re cleaning out the garden shed or garage, and it’s time to dispose of old herbicides, fertilizers, stains and paints, what do you do with them?

There are regional household hazardous waste collection facilities and are available for residents to safely dispose their household hazardous waste. Locations are in Kansas City, Mo., Lee’s Summit, Wyandotte County, Olathe, Johnson County, Leavenworth County, and Miami County.

A list of these locations, along with directions and hours of operation, is available on the Mid-America Regional Council web site (http://www.marc.org/Environment/SolidWaste/HHW/hhwfacilities. htm). Here’s an abbreviated list for your convenience.

Professional’s Corner

In Missouri: Kansas City: 4707 Deramus; 816-513-8400 Lee’s Summit: 2101 SE Hamblen Road; 816-969-1805 In Kansas: Wyandotte County: 2443 S. 88th Street; 913-573-5400 Olathe: 1420 S. Robinson; 913-971-9311 Johnson County: Mission; 913-715-6900 Leavenworth County: 24967 136th Street, Leavenworth; 913-727-2858 Miami County: 327th Street and Hospital Drive; 913-294-4117 Many of these locations operate by appointment only, so be sure to give them a call first. Thank you for properly disposing of hazardous materials and for protecting people, animals and landscapes of your community.

Don’t Miss a Single Issue!

The Ka nsa s City

GARDENER A Monthly Guide to Successful Gardening

For convenient mail delivery, complete the form below and send with your check for $20.00. You will receive a one-year subscription to The Kansas City Gardener.

Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Phone: E-mail: Where did you pick up The Kansas City Gardener?

Please enclose your check payable to The Kansas City Gardener and mail with this form to: P.O. Box 8725, Prairie Village, KS 66208 The Kansas City Gardener is published monthly Jan. through Dec.

June 2012 / The Kansas City Gardener

Chris Owens (left) with manager Chris Andrews are ready to help you with your pond and water feature needs.

Owner: Chris Owens Business: Pond & Water Feature Division of Custom Aquariums by Design, Inc. Location: Mission, Kansas Type of operation: Water Feature and Koi Pond repair, refurbishing, spring cleanings and monthly maintenance. We also provide 24hr emergency services.

Years in business: We’ve been helping our customers with their ponds for 17 years – 7 years as Custom Aquariums by Design, 10 years previous as division under Mission Pet Mart, Inc. How did you get started: We’ve serviced and installed custom aquariums for clients for many years and several of those clients had ponds so we naturally started taking care of those clients’ ponds and word of mouth took over. Referrals are the best testimonials.

Describe your business: Year round we are designing, installing and servicing custom aquariums, however March thru October in addition to aquarium work we are either performing spring cleanings, fall closings, repairing liners, replacing pumps, etc. for our pond clients.

We can also provide any and all livestock or supplies needed: all varieties of Goldfish, Koi, Orandas as well as all varieties of plants including Lilies, Marginals, Lotus, etc. We re-pot any and all types of plants as needed for our clients. We also design and install small to medium size, fishless water features as well as small size ponds. We also provide 24hr Emergency Service for our pond customers.

Favorite pond plants: Evergreen conifer, Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar planted next to a pond makes quite a statement while ‘weeping’ over the edge of the pond. As for water plants, the traditional hardy water lily in a variety of colors, mixed in the pond.

Favorite pond/aquarium destination: The Overland Park Arboretum for ponds and the Omaha Zoo Aquarium is a must-see!

What every gardener/ponder should know: Keep up with your regular maintenance, at least the yearly spring cleanings and your fall closings will help your pond function better and last longer (pumps, plumbing, waterfall, etc.). Your fish will also appreciate the healthier aquatic environment and plants will do better when re-potted on a bi-yearly basis.

Contact information: Pond Division of Custom Aquariums by Design, Inc., 5944 Broadmoor Street, Mission, KS 66202; 913-7223000 24 hrs; www.pond-guys.com; info@pond-guys.com.

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The Kansas City Gardener / June 2012