The Kansas City
editor’s notes
GARDENER A Monthly Guide to Successful Gardening
Pros of non-fussy garden
Independently owned and operated since 1996 Publisher Michael Cavanaugh Editor Elizabeth Cavanaugh Editorial Assistant Lauren Cavanaugh Contributors Charles Anctil Leah Berg Erin Busenhart Barbara Fairchild Clarke Fry Diane & Doc Gover Kylo Heller Lenora Larson Terry Blair Michel Patrick Muir Dennis Patton Diane Swan Brent Tucker Distribution Publishers Delivery Solutions, Inc.
How to Reach Us ...
P.O. Box 8725 Prairie Village, KS 66208 Phone/Fax: 913-648-4728
T
he garden is especially handsome now. The Zinnia ‘Profusion Orange’ starts that were planted early have now become a bright band of color at the front edge of the garden. The blooming daylilies (names of which escape me) that return year after year are a parade of varying colors and heights. And Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ has been nonstop with its spears of blue. Look deeper into the garden and you’ll see the yellow Yarrow blooms pop up behind the liriope border, and the white and pink veined Caladiums standout in front of the boxwood. At the front door, there’s the tropical hibiscus that never fails to show it’s coral blooms daily. I’m continually impressed. All of this and so much more happens in the garden, in spite of my neglect. Yes, that’s right ... neglect. Admittedly, I have been less than attentive to my garden these days, compared to previous years. The season began like gang busters, with me tending to all of the garden duties ... cleaning out the beds, hard pruning the
boxwood, fertilizing and watering. Then, as spring was underway and July 28 (the date for the WIN FOR KC Triathlon) kept getting closer and closer, I traded my gardening time for training time. Instead of watering, I’ve been swimming. Instead of weeding, I’ve been running. Instead of pruning, I’ve been biking. Now when I look beyond all that gorgeousness in the garden, I notice all of the needed chores. There’s sucker growth on the crab-apple tree. The weeds are as tall as the shrubs. The containers on the deck need a dose of fertilizer. The hydrangea need pruning ... and I’m just getting started. Thankfully we don’t have a fussy garden. Other than the new intersectional peony added Mother’s Day, much of what’s planted is more than two seasons
For advertising information contact Michael Cavanaugh at cavsgarden@kc.rr.com.
In this issue
Submit editorial questions to Elizabeth Cavanaugh at editorcavsgarden@kc.rr.com.
July 2012 • Vol. 17 No. 7
Join us and fellow gardeners. Become a fan.
Don’t Miss A Single Issue! Get a subscription for yourself or your favorite gardener. See page 31. July 2012 / The Kansas City Gardener
GN Plains coreopsis ................ 4 Ask the Experts ....................... 6 Patrick’s Picks: Garden Blogs .... 8 Help for containers .................. 12 The Bird Brain ......................... 14 Rose Report ............................ 15 Rose-of-Sharon ........................ 16 Brown Spots in Lawn ............... 18 Why Butterflies are Beautiful ..... 20 Soil Test Nitrogen .................... 21
old and well established. Watering is important, of course. But if I don’t get to the pruning this season, it’s not the end of the world. I’ll catch up with it when the time is appropriate. Plus a requirement for selection in the Cavanaugh garden is low maintenance. I don’t mind feeding and watering when needed. Beyond that, you, little plant (shrub or tree) are on your own. As the chore list gets longer in my head, I promise myself that July 29 is the action date. That is, of course, I’m able to function the day after my first triathlon. Until then, I’ll do what I can to keep up with essential maintenance and leave the rest for another day. I’ll see you in the garden!
Negative Space ...................... 22 Passionflower vine ................... 23 Garden Calendar .................... 25 Upcoming Events ..................... 26 Powell Garden Events .............. 26 Weather ................................. 28 Hotlines .................................. 28 Bugs Wanted Alive .................. 29 Water Garden Ideas Galore ..... 30 Professional’s Corner ................ 31
11
about the cover ...
With a trademarked name like Lil’ Kim™ hinting at a compact size only 3-4’ tall and wide, even restricted spaces may welcome a Rose-of-Sharon like this one with white flowers and red “eyes” in the centers. Leah Berg shares other varieties of this longblooming, easy-to-grow shrub starting on page 16. (Photo courtesy www.provenwinners.com.)
23 3