Apps for Plants and Birds W
Millenium Allium
Begonia Big paired with English Ivy
when planted in good soil, requiring limited water. Plus, insects don’t bother them. In his front landscape, Bill has turned a problem spot into a welcoming garden with four seasons of interest. A manufactured stone retaining wall is covered with English Ivy planted in a narrow strip of soil along the driveway. The ivy both climbs the wall and cascades onto the pavement. The wall is topped off with Begonia Big that flowers nonstop. Under a mature pin oak by the entrance, Bill has planted drifts of hostas, heucheras, brunnera, helleborus, ferns, and epimedium. Ivy and lysimachia trail down a slope. Bush Clematis weaves through the plantings with its blue summer flowers popping out every now and then. As we walked around his backyard, Bill pointed out some chameleon plants that were trying to invade from his neighbor’s property. Eradicating this groundcover has been a challenge. Chameleon plant is what drove Bill from his old home; it was easier to move than fight it! With this garden, he has been careful about what he plants and is fortunate to have access to new plants in the marketplace through the nurseries he represents. One of my favorites in his garden is Millenium Allium. What a great plant! It is clump
forming with glossy green foliage, drought tolerant, and showy flowers in the heat of summer. I’m tearing out the Summer Beauty Allium in my garden and planting Millenium instead. Tired of large maturing Russian Sage in my gardens, I was very interested in the Denim ‘n Lace Russian Sage that Bill is growing. It has a nice tidy size of 28” x 34”. Sun King Aralia is another perennial I fell in love with and is new to me. In part shade, it glows yellow. In shade, it is lime green. Maturing 3’ x 3’, Bill has combined Sun King Aralia with Chocolate Chip Ajuga, heucheras, hostas and yews in a beautiful, low maintenance border. Favorite variegated hostas he pointed out as we walked around are June Spirit and Autumn Frost. More plants that need to find a home in my gardens. I left there inspired and ready to dig up some turf at home and create new beds. Fortunately, the 90+ degrees brought me to my senses and I decided to make plans first and wait for cooler weather. Fall is a great time to dig, amend the soil and plant shrubs and trees. In the spring, I’ll be ready to expand my perennial palette and go shopping!
ho hasn’t seen the news reports of throngs of people walking around area parks staring at their phones? Pokemon has gotten more people outside using their phones to discover new places. But what about those that are already outside looking for nature? Is there a Pokemon app for nature lovers? There just might be! Technology has turned our phones and tablets into infinite libraries and indispensible tools in learning, reporting and teaching nature. Would you know what apps will help you ID a bird? Contribute to citizen science? Technology has opened up an
entirely new world for the nature curious. How can you use your devices camera to expand your knowledge? Document sightings or places? Even record audio? What can you do with free apps, and which paid apps are really worth the price? Join the Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City as we put nature in your pocket at 6:30pm on Thurs., Oct. 20, 2016 at Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, 4801 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO. No registration. Free, open to the public. For more information call 816-665-4456, or see www.mggkc.org.
U-PICK PRODUCE and FLOWERS KC FAMILIES’ FAVORITE PUMPKIN FARM Admission includes: Wagon ride • 20-acre corn maze Farm animal corral • Jumping pillow • Huge playground Mon-Fri: ages 3-12, $11; 13-59, $9; 60+, $7 Sat-Sun: ages 3-12, $13; 13-59, $11; 60+, $9
Adult Season Pass available for $15. Perfect for grandparents! (Admission prices include tax.)
HUGE FARM GROWN 3 GALLON MUMS $10.99 or 3/$29.99 • Hurry in for best color selection!
Home of Pumpkin Donuts and Cider Slushies
Join garden writer Susan Mertz for tours and photographs of gardens at inthegarden.buzz.
Johnson County Building Materials 913-432-8092 New & Used Brick • River Rock • Pavers • Sand Gravel • Top Soil • Mulch • Fireplace Materials 9108 W. 57th (One block East of Merriam Drive) • Merriam, KS 66203
Plants & Pumpkins
Check our website for fall hours, events, and specials.
www.johnsonfarms.net 177th and Holmes 816-331-1067
Hours: Mon. thru Fri. 7 am–5 pm • Sat. 8 am–12 pm The Kansas City Gardener | October 2016
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