KCG 09Sep18

The Kansas City

GARDENER A Monthly Guide to Successful Gardening

September 2018

The Pin Oak always a champion

Mistaken Identity Tips for your fall lawn KS Wildflower of the Year

The Kansas City

editor’s notes

GARDENER A Monthly Guide to Successful Gardening

Precious time in the garden

Independently owned and operated since 1996 Publisher Michael Cavanaugh Editor Elizabeth Cavanaugh Contributors Nik and Theresa Hiremath Lenora Larson Gary Lyngar Ken O’Dell Diana Par-Due Dennis Patton Judy Penner Ed Reese Chelsea Didde Rice Phil Roudebush Scott Woodbury Distribution Publishers Delivery Solutions, Inc.

How to Reach Us ...

P.O. Box 8725 Prairie Village, KS 66208 Phone: 913-648-4728 For advertising information contact Michael Cavanaugh at mike@kcgmag.com

There is one gardener who rarely complains about gardening. Even when faced with the heat, humidity, and dry conditions this summer presented, rarely does he grumble.

My friend Bob grows a nice variety of vegetables.

From banana peppers and eggplant, to cucumbers and green beans, his haul is impressive enough to open his own farm stand. With numerous challenges while growing a backyard garden, how is it that he remains so upbeat?

When squirrels and rabbits dare to help themselves, when pests arrive to wreak havoc, and when every gardener I know is complaining about the poor performance of their garden, I wonder what keeps Bob so calm.

You see, he has a secret weapon, a partner in the garden. Bob has a gardener in training by his side, and he seldom gardens alone.

Ruthie, a precocious preschooler, has been gardening with her grandfather since she has been able to walk. They have planted seeds, watered, and weeded together, dis-

Submit editorial questions to Elizabeth Cavanaugh at elizabeth@kcgmag.com

In this issue

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September 2018• Vol. 23 No. 9

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ho’s ready for fall? Me, me, me! Although, it doesn’t seem that long ago when my answer to that question was emphatically not me! We spent summer days doing summertime things, especially when the kids were school age. Mealtime and bedtime were relaxed, allowing the entire family flexibility and autonomy. For me, this meant I could garden until dark.

Ahhh, the good ol’ days, when I actually could garden for 12 hours straight. No matter the temperature, I was able to weed, water and prune my garden, then volunteer to care for the landscaped island on the street where I live—all in one day. Now I surprise myself when I’m able to clean up the perennial bed without whining. Too often, I sound like one of the kids when asked to help with garden chores, “it’s hot”, “I’m thirsty”, “can I stop now”, “how long do we have to do this”, “I have to go to the bathroom”.

Today I know well my limitations and adjust my expectations accordingly. My mother-in-law uses these sensible words, “We just don’t bounce back like we used to.”

Don’t I know it!

Herb Profile: Chamomile .......... 4 Ask the Experts ........................ 6 Choosing the perfect tree ......... 7 Fall Bird Migration .................. 8 Become Wyandotte EMG ......... 9 Tossed Salad Gardening .......... 10 KS Wildflower of the Year ........ 11 Rose Report ............................ 12 Bird Facts ............................... 13

about the cover ...

The Pin Oak ............................ 14 Powell Gardens Events ............ 16 Pets & Plants ........................... 18 Mistaken Identity ..................... 19 Tips for your fall lawn .............. 20 Upcoming Events ..................... 22 Garden Calendar .................... 26 Subscription form .................... 27 Meet an EMG ......................... 27

Local tree expert Ken O’Dell details the features and habits of this champion tree, the mighty pin oak beginning on page 14. Photo courtesy of Ken O’Dell.

September 2018 | kcgmag.com

cussing what happens in the garden.

Bob teaches her the sequence of events, the basics of nature, about how seed and soil and sun work together.

She has learned proper harvesting techniques, when to eat what you’ve grown, and when to ask mother first.

Every time Bob and I get together, inevitably he has a sweet story to tell about their time in the garden. I wonder who enjoys these get-togethers more. Is it Ruthie who gets one-on-one time with Grandpa? Is it Bob who treasures their time and documents their encounters in his verbal diary, Gardening with Ruthie? Or is it me, as a witness to this precious blossoming bond?

There are enough blessings to go around with this story, even for you dear reader, with your reading this essay. My prayer for you are days filled with stories like this.

I’ll see you in the garden!

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EARLY FALL IS THE BEST TIME TO FERTILIZE! Many homeowners think lawns need less care in the fall because the grass grows more slowly.

In fact, its just the opposite. In the fall grass is absorbing energy, moisture & nutrients to prepare for a long & dormant winter.

GIVE YOUR LAWN A LITTLE TLC NOW FOR A GREEN LAWN NEXT SPRING SEED

FERTILIZE

+

6 EASY FALL LAWN CARE STEPS Keep on mowing - make sure to keep blades sharp

Control weeds now so they don’t come back in the spring

Rake the leaves

Fertilize for future growth

Fill in bald spots

Aerate the soil

= NEW LAWN

FALL BULB PLANTING For spring color

next year!

BULB PLANTING TIPS & TRICKS You can plant bulbs just about anywhere in your garden, as long as the soil drains well. Avoid areas where water collects. Bulbs also like sun.

Plant the bulb pointy end up.

Plant big bulbs about 8-in. Deep and small bulbs about 5-in. Deep.

Plant bulbs in clusters, or make a long thin line along the walk.

Clusters will give a concentration of color For a greater impact.

TULIPS ARE GREAT FOR BULB PLANTING! WESTLAKE ACE HAS A WIDE SELECTION TO CHOOSE FROM! www.WestlakeHardware.com

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Chamomile DIANA PAR-DUE, local herb maven, details the differences of Roman and German, annual and perennial.

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hamomile has been a popular herb for centuries. It has intensely apple-scented blooms and grows as a perennial here in zone 6. At least, Roman (or English) chamomile is because that is the true chamomile called Chamaemelum nobile. There is another variety that grows the same flowers and similar looking foliage except that it grows taller called German chamomile, which is not a true chamomile but is a reseeding annual in our zone. It has the applescented flowers and is a beautiful plant that blooms prolifically.

Both have many calming properties although they do differ a little but are stunningly similar in flower appearance and leaf shape.

German chamomile is satisfying to grow because it produces so many blooms constantly through-

out the season and can grow in part shade as well as full sun.

Harvesting the blooms is simple, as soon as the petals begin to droop, pluck the bloom and set it out to dry. Use for brewing tea in the evenings as it can induce drowsiness.

Roman chamomile does bloom at a slower rate but it spreads quickly and the foliage is also edible and incredibly fragrant. Remember, this is a perennial and will return each year for free, growing larger and with the ability to be split and planted along path edges, beside your driveway or slipped into your lawn as a low growing green.

Chamomile has been well known for its medicinal qualities even in ancient cultures like Egypt.

It has been used for skin infections, respiratory disease, to treat headaches, in cosmetics and oils,

for liver and kidney diseases and to ease menstrual symptoms.

Brewing a tea to drink or preparing a salve are effective ways to use chamomile but there are essential oils that can be diffused or applied topically with a carrier oil for many benefits.

Growing chamomile couldn’t be easier. The perennial (Roman or English) can be grown by seed or a seedling in a sunny area. Water

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until it’s established, but then it is drought tolerant and will slowly spread as it ages. German chamomile can be started by spreading seed or a seedling as well and will reseed easily if allowed. It is not invasive and errant seedlings can be easily pulled to control and can be grown in pots as well. Both are visually appealing and worthy additions to your medicinal or culinary herb gardens.

Diana Par-Due is an avid gardener who, when not raising children, raises plants. She dreams of beekeeping and chickens one day when her town makes it legal. Until then, she spends her time writing, reading, and studying as a mature student at a local college and making garden plans she never actually keeps.

© 2018, The Scotts Company, LLC. All rights reserved

There’s still time.

Fall offers another opportunity to grow fresh, tasty salad crops. Spinach and lettuce, for example, prefer cooler growing conditions. To get the best results, be sure to use Osmocote® Smart-Release® Plant Food Flower & Vegetable.

If you grow your own, grow with Osmocote®.

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The Kansas City Gardener | September 2018

5

Ask the Experts Gardeners have plenty of questions about landscape issues, DENNIS PATTON answers a few of them here.

STEPS TO SOD, RATHER THAN RESEED Question: I’ve read your many articles on seeding a lawn in the fall. But I am going to sod an area. Can you please discuss the steps for sodding?

Answer: Sodding is a great way to get a new lawn look overnight. It is most commonly done with new construction but also can be used to bring a lawn back to life. Soil prep is most important and often overlooked. Ideally the soil would be tilled to break the hard pan or compaction. Compaction limits root growth which in turn affects drought tolerance and growth.

Here are the steps; till to a depth of six inches. Level and lightly “compact” to settle the soil and make an even smooth base. Next, roll out the sod making sure the ends are staggered. The freshly laid sod

is often rolled with a little weight to help ensure good soil contact. The next step is the same as seeding.

Water frequently to ensure the soil and sod layer are moist at all times.

This may last four weeks or more, then the frequency can be backed off. Happy sodding!

EASY CARE LOW LIGHT HOUSE PLANTS Question: Please suggest an attractive, easy care house plant for low light.

Answer: Low light plants are hard to come by as most plants will do better with more light.

Here are a couple plants you might research for your situation: ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is an upright, shiny green plant that has a nice habit. Cast Iron or Bar Room plant (Aspidistra elatior) is

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September 2018 | kcgmag.com

should come out. A side note, if at all possible, do not plant in the same hole but offset as much as possible. People tend to have better luck in a new spot even if it’s just a few feet over.

One last thought. Are you really sure you want this large of an evergreen next to your home? It seems like an upright this large would be overpowering for the home.

ZZ plant is a suitable low light houseplant. another great plant. It has upright spear shaped leaves. Water as needed and feed during the growing season and these plants should provide a nice pop in a low light corner of the home.

JUNIPER RELIEF Question: It is time for my 22-year-old, two story, juniper to be replaced. It has lots of dead and just does not look good. Is there a variety of juniper you would recommend?

Answer: There are several good varieties on the market depending on your desired size. Personally, I think the junipers in the virginiana species are the most durable.

Unfortunately, many of them are too big. A great one that is very narrow is ‘Taylor.’ Other species include ‘Keteleeri’ or ‘Spartan.’

There are others so look for what meets your needs.

One tip. Stay away from the blue cast upright junipers in the scopulorum species as they are susceptible to a canker disease that has no control.

DIFFICULTY IN DIGGING IT UP Question: Second question about my juniper. How hard will it be to dig out the roots of the old juniper?

Answer: My recommendation would be to eat your Wheaties before tackling this project.

Junipers have fibrous roots, but they will be difficult to cut through.

My advice would be to use an axe or a power Sawzall to cut through the roots. But with a little effort it

DAHLIA PLANTING REGRET Question: I didn’t get my dahlias planted this spring. Can I hold until next spring?

Answer: Let me just rip the bandage off, no. By the time spring rolls around they will be completely dried out. Unfortunately, they are probably best suited for the compost pile.

BLAME SICKLY ANNUALS ON MOTHER NATURE Question: My annuals just look sick this summer. I planted petunias, salvia, impatiens, and zinnias to name a few, and they either rotted or underperformed.

I have fertilized and done everything right. What gives?

Answer: Mother Nature gives, as she has made this a difficult gardening year. Back in the spring it was below average in April which slowed root growth. Then it turned hot and stayed that way. The plants were not able to establish a strong root system with the quick swings in soil temperature. Now that it has been so hot the plants just don’t have the support system for good growth. If it makes you feel any better I have noticed this problem also.

The best performing annuals I have seen are the heat-tolerant ones such as lantana, vinca and a few others. Better luck next year.

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.

Choosing the perfect tree CHELSEA DIDDE RICE gives guidance on what to consider when selecting a new tree.

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arlier this year, spring arrived and brought with it a twist of fate and some sewer line repairs, resulting in a perfect spot to plant a new tree.

Initially overwhelmed by the number of possibilities but determined to make the best choice, I began my search. I spent several hours poring over websites and making lists, talking with garden center employees, imagining the area and noting which plants would complement each type of tree. I considered a crabapple, ginkgo, arborvitae, dogwood and Japanese maple, among others. I won’t bore you with the details, but seriously, I think I spent more time researching trees than some people spend buying a car.

When it comes to selecting a tree, there are a few key things I’ve learned to consider: Site exposure: How much sun or shade does the area get? In addition to sun exposure, make sure that the tree you choose is hardy to zone five or six, depending on where you live in the Kansas City area.

Size: DO NOT, I repeat, do not choose and plant a tree with a mature size that’s too tall or wide for the area. Even if you think you’ll “prune to keep it in check,” just save yourself the hassle (and future cost) by choosing an appropriately sized tree from the beginning. Ideally, you should only have

to prune the tree to thin the canopy (if necessary) or remove damaged or dead limbs.

Roots: Along the lines of size, plant trees far enough away from houses, sidewalks and underground plumbing or utility lines. Over the years, the roots of large trees can wear on these and cause damage.

Trust me, I know what a massive elm tree’s roots can do to old, clay, sewer pipes (spoiler alert: it’s expensive).

Goal: Think about your goal.

Do you want the tree to provide shade, create privacy, add color to the landscape or block your view of the neighbor’s back deck?

Different types of trees are best suited for each of these applications. Talk with your local garden center employees for help with variety selection.

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Annoyance potential: Okay, this wasn’t in anything I read, but in my humble opinion, it’s a real factor. Many trees are low maintenance, beautiful, and create peaceful shade that we’re thankful for in the heat of the summer. Sadly, others end up creating decades of annoyance by dropping bothersome sticks, messy fruit or weedy seeds that sprout everywhere. Take your time when selecting a tree and make sure you’re okay with any maintenance.

After considering all of this in my search, I kept coming back to the Bloodgood Japanese maple for the spot in my yard. Unlike most maples which have green leaves in the summer, the Bloodgood Japanese maple retains deep, reddish green leaves throughout most of the summer and welcomes fall

with crimson red foliage. It’s elegant yet bold, and delicate yet structural. It provides year-round interest and grows to about 15-20 feet tall and wide. And so, after sitting with my decision for a few weeks, I borrowed a truck and drove to Suburban Lawn & Garden to pick up the tree.

Are you wondering what happened next? Visit The Kansas City Gardener’s Facebook page, YouTube channel or kcgmag.com to see a video of what a Bloodgood Japanese maple looks like and learn tips on how to correctly plant a tree.

When Chelsea Didde Rice isn’t at work as a communications specialist, she’s an avid gardener who enjoys teaching young and old how easy it can be to garden.

Plants & Pumpkins

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It’s Mum Time!

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U-Pick Sunflowers and Veggie Patch opens Labor Day.

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The Kansas City Gardener | September 2018

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Fall Bird Migration Local birding expert, THERESA HIREMATH explains the fall migration of our beloved birds.

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all officially arrives September 22nd, and the change of seasons generally means that we can look forward to beautiful leaf color, cooler temperatures, garden harvests, and fall bird migration.

We are lucky in the Kansas City area because we host migratory birds from both the Mississippi and the Central bird migration flyways.

This, in turn, means we are in the path of many bird species that migrate south in the winter time.

The Central flyway’s eastern boundary goes right through Kansas City, and its western boundary follows the Rocky Mountains.

The Mississippi Flyway’s western boundary is Kansas City and its eastern boundary follows the Appalachian Mountains. Along the coasts, there are the Pacific flyway and the Atlantic flyway.

Many birds migrate south from breeding grounds in Canada and the Northern United States as the days grow shorter, to over winter in warmer areas with abundant food sources. The birds have bred over the summer, so there are typically a larger number of birds migrating south than migrated north during the previous spring migration.

While birds of prey, with their large wings, migrate during the day, most smaller birds migrate at night when air currents are calmer and temperatures are cooler. Examples of smaller birds that migrate at night include warblers, thrushes, tanagers, grosbeaks, flycatchers, and vireos. While the migration of all birds can last from midJune to the first part of January, songbird migration typically peaks here September through mid-October.

Shorebirds from the Arctic tundra have a very short nesting season, and their southerly migration brings them through this area in September and October, while waterfowl are some of the latest migrators and they don’t reach this area until December.

During fall migration, I most look forward to seeing hummingbirds, orioles, dark-eyed juncos, and red-breasted nuthatches (if it’s an irruption year).

Since male hummingbirds don’t participate in raising young, they begin their southerly migration right after mating, usually in June.

Females and juveniles generally begin their southerly migration in

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September 2018 | kcgmag.com

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early August. Bird banding studies indicate that the hummingbirds visiting your feeders on a late-migration day are completely replaced by a new wave of migrants within 24 hours.

To estimate the number of hummingbirds using your feeders during migration, multiply times five. For example, if you see 10 hummingbirds at your feeder at one time, you will have about 50 passing through your yard that day.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds’ breeding grounds reach far into Canada, and they rely on your feeders to help them bulk up for the remainder of their migration into central and South America.

To ensure you are providing muchneeded nourishment for late stragglers as they migrate south, keep your hummingbird feeders up and full of fresh nectar for an additional two weeks after you observe a hummingbird using them. In this area, that usually means leaving feeders up until around the end of October.

Unlike the ruby-throated hummingbird, female and juvenile orioles migrate first (in early August) with the males following a few weeks later. Compared to the spring oriole migration, fall migration can sometimes be a non-event, with few sightings.

As there are a wide variety of birds migrating through the area, offering a variety of seed and suet might bring some unusual birds to your feeders and backyard.

The arrival of dark-eyed juncos is a sure sign of the coming winter weather, and they usually show up in early November. The junco, with its snowy white underside and gray upperside, is commonly

referred to as a snowbird.

Most juncos in the southern half of the U.S. are females, while males stay further north to shorten their migration in spring, and to arrive early at prime breeding territories.

In an irruption year, the redbreasted nuthatch is always a treat to watch. They arrive around the end of October, but only if winter food crops fail in their mountain and boreal forest habitats.

Some great resources to learn more about migration include Audubon.org/migration, ebird. org/news/fall-birding-basics, and allaboutbirds.org/the-basics-howwhy-and-where-of-bird-migration.

Of course, you can call or visit the store and our certified birdfeeding specialists are happy to answer any questions you may have!

CORRECTION: The picture in the last issue of The Kansas City Gardener labeled as a pileated woodpecker actually depicted an ivory billed woodpecker due to a file selection error. We apologize for any confusion this caused.

Nik and Theresa Hiremath own and operate Wild Birds Unlimited of Leawood at 11711 Roe Avenue, Leawood, Kansas. Contact them at 913-491-4887.

Apply Now to Become a K-State Research & Extension Master Gardener

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he Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners Association is now accepting applications for participation in the 2018 Fall Training Program.

Classes will be conducted every Tuesday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., from September 18 through November 6, 2018.

Master Gardener candidates receive over 40 hours of basic horticulture training. Courses are taught by the experts in their respective fields. All are K-State Research & Extension Specialists or other qualified professionals. Each Tuesday’s training includes one morning and one afternoon class.

Course topics included are: • Plant Science • Wildlife Management • Landscape Design • Soils • Flowers: Annuals & Perennials • Fruits • Vegetables • Turf • Trees & Shrubs • Entomology (Insects) • Pesticides • Plant Pathology • Landscape Maintenance

Master Gardener candidates do not have to be gardening experts to enter the program. While some first-hand knowledge of gardening basics is helpful, it is not required.

Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners are member of their community. In exchange for the training, they then give back to the community by volunteering on various Master Gardener projects, including demonstration gardens, the Hotline, and/or the Speakers Bureau.

Master Gardeners have a vast array of horticultural interests.

Some are primarily interested in methods for improving lawns.

Others focus primarily on flowers or vegetables. Others spend time with programs and projects that educate the public, from pre-school children to adults of all ages.

Whatever your horticultural interest, you will find someone within the group who shares it.

The training program costs $125.00, which includes class materials. Applications are available at the Wyandotte County Extension Office, 1216 N. 79th St., Kansas City, KS. Completed applications must be received by Sept. 1, 2018.

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Pumpkins, mums, ornamental cabbage and more. Fall is the perfect time to plant trees and shrubs.

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The Kansas City Gardener | September 2018

9

Tossed Salad Gardening with Natives can help identify weeds and invasive plants, a coach who can help make these gardens look more like a garden and less like an abandoned lot. Here is what I mean.

Tossed salad gardens, a term used by colleague Ted Spaid, work well when they have a border or frame to define the edge. Mowed lawn or massed sedges or grasses make a great edge.

Plants like prairie dropseed grass (Sporobolus heterolepis) and fox sedge (Carex annectans or C. vulpinoidea) in sun, and palm sedge (Carex muskingumensis) in part shade work really well. They are relatively small and grow densely to help keep weeds out. Turf grass is best where people will be walking.

These simple plantings provide a clean edge to the controlled chaos in the middle. Like a painting or a picture, it pulls everything together. This border should be 3 to 4 feet wide in small garden spaces, 5 to 10 feet for medium gardens and wider in large spaces.

Split-rail fences also make natural-style gardens look intentional and under control, especially when plants are over 3 feet tall. The fence holds plants upright at the edge and

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September 2018 | kcgmag.com

can serve as a place to grow small, behaved vines like leather flower (Clematis versicolor) and yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava).

In their recently published book, Planting in a Post-Wild World, authors Thomas Rainer and Claudia West describe how to design and plant gardens that are reflective of natural systems (where greater plant diversity = greater wildlife diversity) and are accepted and celebrated within urban and suburban communities.

In this book, cultivated plants grow very close to native plants, mixed and in layers. The plantings somehow look wild and controlled at the same time. Sounds odd, but it’s true. I’ll let you be the judge of it.

Similarly, the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO, which is celebrating 25 years in 2018, demonstrates a natural-garden style in the upper woodland, which is near the Joseph H. Bascom House. This garden was originally planted like a tossed salad with plugs and divisions, then mulched, weeded, dead-headed (cutting off seed heads) and watered for two years. After two years, mulching and dead-heading ended and plants began spreading from seed, further enhancing a natural look.

The main activity involves a practice called “editing” or “negative gardening” where seedlings of more-aggressive plants like garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) and blue-stem goldenrod (Solidago caesia) are pulled when they crowd less-aggressive plants like maid-

Photo by Doug Bauer.

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ome native gardens look like somebody threw plants up in the air and planted them where they fell. At first glance it may appear random and disorganized because the arrangement is chaotic, sort of the way nature looks. But when you realize that specific native plants were selected for their ability to grow in sun or shade, wet or dry soil, and are intended to be kept weed-free and watered, then it starts to make sense. But to the untrained eye it may still look out of place.

To a person of an older generation (like me) who is used to traditional garden styles, this kind of garden may look unkempt and forgotten. But this “tossed salad” approach is becoming more attractive to a number of gardeners— especially those who seek maximum diversity because more plant diversity equals more wildlife species attracted to the garden. Things like butterflies and birds for sure, but also bees, wasps, flies, bugs, moths, ants and sawflies to increase ecological function. What I find, as a public horticulturist, is that some people do it well and others could use a garden coach—a coach that

Photo by Scott Woodbury.

Native plant guru, SCOTT WOODBURY explores plant diversity to attract more wildlife species to the garden.

enhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) and Indian pink (Spigelia marylandica).

Today the garden somewhat resembles a natural woodland plant community, albeit more colorful and packed with showy native plants. It’s also an insect and bird magnet where a turf grass desert once grew. This reminds me of what Sara Stein once said: her cat would disappear in the tall grass of her natural garden, tail twitching in anticipation of fat meadow voles.

He never stalked the lawn. Though I don’t promote having cats outdoors, this statement describes how diverse gardens promote food chains that support life. Native plant leaves feed caterpillars that feed baby birds and lizards. Plant roots and seeds feed voles and mice that feed hawks, snakes, and if you are lucky, coyotes and bobcat.

Plant nectar feeds many bee species that lay eggs in plant stems. If these kinds of interactions inspire you, then perhaps it’s time to consider a tossed salad garden full of a diversity of native plants.

Horticulturist Scott Woodbury is the Curator of the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO, where he has worked with native plant propagation, design, and education for 27 years. He also is an advisor to the Missouri Prairie Foundation’s Grow Native! program. Find suppliers of native plants and other native plant resources at www.grownative.org, Resource Guide.

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Penstemon Cobaea

A

Photos by Mike Haddock.

Kansas Native Plant Society 2018 Wildflower of the Year

t 1 to 3 feet in height, this species is clump forming with erect stems, and its leaves are opposite, clasping, serrate, dark green above and dull shiny green below. It is found throughout the eastern 2/3 of Kansas in dry open prairies, eroded pastures, and hillsides in limestone-based, sandy, or rocky soils where competition from other species is limited.

The penstemons were formerly in the Scrophulariaceae or Figwort family, but are now in the family Plantaginaceae (Plantain family).

Penstemon cobaea also goes by the common names cobaea beardtongue, prairie penstemon, prairie beardtongue, foxglove penstemon, and foxglove beardtongue. The name “penstemon” makes reference to its 5-parted flower (five fused petals and five stamens). In

at Pollinator Prairie, 320 S Blake St, Olathe, KS 66061.

Event includes fascinating exhibits: MonarchWatch.org demonstrations including tagging and release of monarchs; “Bringing Nature Home”, “Gardening for Pollinators” and “Bluebird Stewards” exhibits by the K-State Extension Master Naturalists; “Caterpillar Petting Zoo” and Bat exhibits by the K-State Extension Hasta Luego Monarchs Event will include Master Gardeners Wildlife Committee; Recycling and Compost fascinating exhibits: by JoCo Environmental; Exhibit and storytelling by Olathe Public MonarchWatch.org demonstrations including Library; Inviting Birds to your Backyard; tagging and release of monarchs “Bringing Nature Home”, “Gardening for Entertainment, music and more!

Pollinators” and “Bluebird Stewards” exhibits by Native Plant Sale to Benefit The Pollinator Prairie! the K-State Extension Master Naturalists “Caterpillar Petting Zoo" and exhibitsGardens. by the byBat Parsons

K-State Extension Master Gardeners Wildlife Committee ourbywebsites for more information: Visit our websites for more information: Recycling and Visit Compost JoCo Environmental https://pollinator.org/pollinator_prairie.htm Exhibit & storytelling by Olathe Public Library https://pollinator.org/pollinator_prairie.htm https://www.facebook.com/PollinatorPrairie/ Inviting Birds to your Backyard https://www.facebook.com/PollinatorPrairie/ Entertainment, music & more!

In the Gazebo

9:30-10:00am Library Storytime Native Plant Sale to Benefit 10:15-11:00am Monarch’s Mexican The Pollinator Prairie!

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addition to four fertile stamens, the one sterile stamen has tufts of hairs at the bottom of the tubularshaped flower that can look like a bearded tongue; hence the name “beardtongue.”

With showy, large (2”), white to pink to purple flowers in May and June, this species is a popular landscaping plant to use in full sun native gardens where it grows well in dry to medium well-drained soils. Pods of cobaea penstemon produce a high volume of seeds which readily germinate after 30 days of cold/moist stratification.

Penstemon cobaea attracts a variety of wildlife including bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds.

For more photos and a detailed description of Cobaea penstemon, visit kswildflower.org.

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Saturdays at Noon

The Kansas City Missouri Parks Department in partnership with the Kansas City Rose Society presents a free Rose Demonstration on October 6th, 2018 from 10 am to noon at the Loose Park Rose Garden. Learn how to protect your roses for the winter.

The Kansas City Gardener | September 2018

11

Rose Report JUDY PENNER says good riddance to Japanese beetles and invites us to upcoming events in the rose garden.

N

o doubt you’ll sense relief in my voice this month.

It has been a rough summer, as you well know. The roses and I are breathing easier now that the ravenous Japanese Beetles have gone. They took quite a toll on our roses, cannas, and Linden trees. Our only defense in the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal (LCSM) Rose Garden was to push the roses to bloom more, so that the beetles would stay away from the leaves. It was a good strategy.

The roses did not grow much during the beetle attack. With continued watering and fertilizing they recovered when the beetles left.

Expect the beetles to return to your garden next year, so ensure your roses get plenty of water and food.

This will strengthen their ability to withstand the next feeding frenzy.

Rose Demo Come see all that is possible when growing roses. Visit the LCSM Rose Garden in Loose Park and be surrounded by blooms and fragrances. Also, you’re invited to attend the October 6th Rose Demonstration that I give at the Garden Center in Loose Park to discuss winterizing your roses. This event allows you to find answers to your rose questions and help to make your rose growing a success.

Speaking of success Like any garden, the rose garden has had lean years. I remembering reading a newspaper article from the 1970s that showed a picture of the weeds taller than the roses. Quite sure that didn’t last long, because when I started working in the garden in 1987 the roses

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were in good shape. However, the hardscapes, pillars, walkways, edging, etc., were in need of tender loving care.

The Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden is Kansas City’s local treasure. Did you know that we received national recognition? In June 1989, the All-America Rose Selections Inc. Public Rose Garden Award was presented for contributing to public interest in rose growing through its efforts in maintaining an outstanding Rose Garden.

In the late 1990s Sandy Campuzano, Kansas City Rose Society president at the time, asked how the Rose Society can help with the garden. All I had to do is mention the fountain and its problems, and the next thing I knew Sandy and the KCRS board had a 10-year plan and a fundraising program in place to give the garden a muchneeded structural facelift.

Between 2002 and 2014, the garden received a new fountain including a bowl with roses carved by artisans from Italy, new sidewalks, restored decomposed granite pathways, new metal edging, new teak benches, new roses, shrubs, trees, sod, new drainage, enhanced irrigation, new lighting, new wood for pillars and pergolas, and restored stone pillars and stairs.

Incredible!

This year on July 4, at the World Federation of Rose Societies tri-

ennial conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden was one of several gardens that earned the Award of Excellence from the World Federation of Rose Societies.

I am sure the two ladies who started the garden in the 1930s, Mrs. Jacob L. Loose and Laura Conyers Smith would be happy that the garden has received world recognition.

A big thank you Kansas City Rose Society for your continued dedication, care and support of the LCSM Rose Garden! I want to thank all the friends and donors of the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden. You have made possible all the improvements and updates. We are grateful for the contributions you have made allowing this gem in our city to shine at the local, national, and now the world level!

Finally, fellow gardeners, please help us celebrate our World Award this year at the Wine and Roses event on September 20th, 2018 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Rose Garden. For all the details, visit kansascityrosesociety.org.

Remember to Stop and Smell the Roses!

Judy Penner is Expert Rosarian at Loose Park, Kansas City, Mo. You may reach her at judy.penner@ kcmo.org.

Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave. KC MO 64110. Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale, 816-716-9159 www.moprairie. org Saturday, September 15, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Day Trip!

Backyard Bird Center, 6212 NW Barry Road, KC MO 64154, Platte Land Trust Native Plant Sale, 816-746-1113.

September 22, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

PRAIRIE JUBILEE at Prairie State Park 128 NW 150th Lane, Mindenmines MO. Saturday, September 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An educational and fun event for everyone, as well as an opportunity to purchase plants. https://mostateparks.com/event/71666/prairie-jubilee Open daily at our Brazito (Jefferson City) location.

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September 2018 | kcgmag.com

MARIA’S FAMOUS BELGIAN MUMS ARE BACK!

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Bird Facts ED REESE explains about bird habits with fall arriving soon.

Y

ou may notice a drop-off of birds at your feeders in autumn. Don’t get frustrated!

This is normal behavior. Nature provides an ample supply of seeds and fruit in fall, resulting in fewer birds on feeders.

It is important to consistently make available food and water, even if birds don’t frequent your feeders or water source often. Birds have an established territory, and typically those territories contain as many as 25 different neighboring feeders. Our feathered friends will remember where there is food and water. When the natural food sources are gone, and it gets cold outside, birds will come back to those sources and stay. When it’s cold, birds will spend days fueling up with your seed, suet and other offerings, rather than scouting around for things to eat. You’ll be in great shape for winter bird

12th Annual Sunflower Art and Music Fest September 14, 15 and 16

A

collection of fine arts and crafts designed to appeal to a wide audience will be featured at this family friendly event, guaranteed to appeal to the seasoned arts aficionado as well as someone just looking for that perfect piece to call their own. A variety of talented musicians are sure to entertain throughout the event!

The De Soto Arts Council will again sponsor a booth for artists with disabilities; we are pleased to have the JCDS Emerging Artists with us again this year. Their program was established to develop the skills of emerging artists, so they may reach their full potential and receive income through the sale of their work. Please be sure to visit their booth and see the love they put into each piece they create.

Beautiful cut sunflowers will be available for purchase at the Bowlin Farms booth as well as pumpkins and a variety of fresh garden items.

A variety of food vendors will be available throughout the weekend to delight your palette.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enjoy this family friendly art, craft and music fest this Fall, Friday, September 14th, noon to 7 p.m., Saturday the 15th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday the 16th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at The Barn, located at 9120 Kill Creek Road just north of Highway 10 on Kill Creek Road in De Soto, Kansas. This relaxing and pleasant event is FREE of charge and open to the public.

For additional information contact Linda Lane, De Soto Arts Council President and Sunflower Artfest Chair, at desotoartsks@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook for updates as well as De Soto Arts Council website www.desotoartsks.org.

watching if your feeders and water sources are available in the fall.

Hummingbird tips Finally, a question that we often receive this time of year is when to take down hummingbird feeders. There is no set time or date to put away feeders, as the migration process is driven by weather.

Hummingbirds migrate, with males leaving first, followed by females and juveniles. The whole process may take a week or it could take longer. A safe rule of thumb is to keep your hummingbird feeders up until you have not seen any hummer activity for at least two weeks.

Ed and Karen Reese own and operate the Wild Bird House in Overland Park. The store has been provisioning outdoor backyard bird lovers for over 26 years.

Contact them at 913-341-0700.

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The Kansas City Gardener | September 2018

13

Photos by Ken O’Dell.

Female flowers of the pin oak

Leaves of the pin oak in November

One and two year fruit (acorns) of the pin oak

Distinctive growth of the pin oak tree in wintertime

Golden leaves of the Champion Pin Oak

Pin oak tree in November 14

September 2018 | kcgmag.com

Pin oak leaf in August

The Pin Oak always a champion KEN O’DELL, local plantsman and top-notch tree expert, highlights growth habits of this champion tree.

T

here are 600 species of oak trees in the world, 60 species in the United States, 19 species in Missouri and 10 species in Kansas. Of these 19 or 20, we all have one oak tree that is a favorite.

Most local species of oaks mature to between 45’ to 90’ in height. Driving around the Kansas City region we see varieties such as red oak, pin oak, bur oak, chestnut oak, post oak and new introductions that have different growth patterns. Of these great oaks, the pin oak is near the top of the list for use as street trees, shade trees, general landscape, and don’t forget, it is a distinguished lumber tree. It is actually the lumber industry that gave it the name pin oak.

The pin oak, Quercus palustris, has a distinctive growth habit with top branches growing upright, middle branches growing horizontal and the lower branches always drooping.

In between the branches are dozens and sometimes hundreds of tiny short branches called pins.

When it is cut into boards for lumber, the pins, known as pin knots, show up as tiny 1/4” to 1/2” pin knots which makes the lumber attractive.

This growth habit of larger pin oak trees growing by themselves is one identifying feature of the tree.

The champion pin oak tree in the greater Kansas City region grows on the southeast section of Loose Park in Kansas City, Mo. It was measured at 15’ 4” in circumference, 105’ tall, with a spread of 99’. It stands alone making it easy to see and to photograph. You will love this tree.

The pin oak tree is fast growing, grows to a large size, and is easy to transplant. Prefers full sun. In the

rocky bluff area of the Overland Park Arboretum there are three large pin oak trees growing 70’ to 80’ in height that stand above the naturally planted woodlands in the arboretum.

Male and female flowers appear on the same pin oak tree. Male is a long catkin and the female is a tiny acorn about the size of the tip of a match head. The male pollen comes out first ready for the wind to carry it to the receptive female.

Once pollinated, the fruit which has the well-known acorn with the scaled cup on top is produced.

The pin oak is in the red oak group and takes two full growing seasons for the acorn to mature so it will grow into another tree. The other notable group is the white oak group and their seed matures in one growing season. The seed of oak trees (the acorns) do not have a great shelf life and need to be properly protected if you gather them to plant and grow into trees.

After I gather pin oak seed, I put them in a pail of water. The ones that float are thrown away as they likely hold worms. The acorns that sink to the bottom are keepers and I dry them for a day or so. Then place them in a dark fridge at about 38 degrees until ready to plant sometime in January or February.

When planted outside, I protect as best I can against mice, or I may plant inside in a pot full of soil in a bright winter time window and keep lightly moist.

The white oak group is done the same way but they must be planted in soil immediately after sinking.

A pin oak tree in good growing conditions should be 25’ tall and have a trunk diameter of 10”-12” in 15 to 20 years. Pin oak trees usually start producing seed (acorns) at

the age of 15 to 25 years depending on conditions of soil, sun, moisture and nutrients. The seed is eaten by deer, squirrels, mice, wild ducks, and woodpeckers.

Pin oaks tend to keep many of their leaves in winter. This is especially true of younger pin oak trees.

The leaves turn brown and hold on to the twigs and small branches.

When pin oaks are planted in alkaline soil, over time they typically develop chlorosis, which is a yellowing of the leaves during the summer. Adding sulfuric acid to the soil will correct this.

Pin oak tree leaves are a shiny, green color all summer. The leaves have several lobes with soft bristles on the ends of the lobes. In autumn with warm, sunny days and cooler nights (not freezing) the leaf slows down making food and the green chlorophyll which has been present all summer, starts to disappear and a chemical in the leaf called anthocyanin increases.

Another chemical called carotenoids present all summer and with the green chlorophyll disappear-

ing, the carotenoids start showing more and the anthocyanins increase. Carotenoids give the leaf the yellow, orange and brown colors. The anthocyanins give the leaf red and purple colors. Depending on the growing season during the summer, during late summer and early autumn is why some colors are better than others in certain years. Sometimes the pin oak has strong reddish leaf colors while other years they show a light coppery brown color.

Not only is the pin oak greatly appreciated in the United States, but also in Europe, where it is planted in parks and estates. The pin oak has been given the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.

Remember that all trees are totally resigned to their position in life so give that tree a hug.

Ken O’Dell is the Kansas City Regional Leader of the Kansas Native Plant Society. He is also a long-time volunteer at the Overland Park Arboretum.

Long row of pin oak trees on 151st Street, Black Bob Park, Johnson County, Kansas.

The Kansas City Gardener | September 2018

15

Powell Gardens in September History of Powell Gardens: Celebrating 30 Years Sunday, Sept 2, 2-3 p.m.

FREE with Garden Admission Join Powell Gardens docent Betty Boyd for a tour of Powell Gardens that features information about the history of the land, the Powell family, development of the gardens onsite and more. Dress for the weather. Free with garden admission. Details at powellgardens.org “The Flower of the Milk” Luncheon with Jasper Mirabile Thursday, Sept 6, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. $35 (includes Garden admission) Chef and radio-show host Jasper Mirabile loves fresh tomato season.

And what goes better with the end-of-summer’s juicy, ripe orbs than “The Flower of the Milk,” the Italian translation for stretching the proteins that make mozzarella?

Mirabile will demonstrate how to

make fresh mozzarella, a menu item made table-side at Jasper’s Ristorante, the Mirabile family’s revered restaurant, which opened in 1954. With a few deft moves, the accomplished chef will show how easy it is to make two other delicious fresh Italian cheeses, burrata and ricotta. During the class, enjoy a three-course luncheon that includes a limoncello spritzer, a salad of heirloom tomatoes, fresh burrata cheese drizzled with a pesto crema; summer pasta (cut pasta, heirloom tomatoes, red chili peppers, extra-virgin olive oil, Sicilian bread crumbs and n’duja, or andouille paste, finished with a spoon of fresh ricotta) and XV Olive Oil Torta & Basil Gelato.

Details at powellgardens.org.

Salsa Y Salsa Sunday, Sept 9, noon-4 p.m.

General Admission Applies Spend a day in the Heartland Harvest Garden featuring salsa mak-

ing, salsa music, and salsa dancing.

Don’t miss a salsa thrown-down including a timed cook-off, tastings, demonstrations, a salsa competition, free instruction on growing salsa ingredients, and more.

Enjoy live music performed by the KC Latin Jazz All-Stars who will feature live salsa dancing and free tips. All the festivities take place in the Heartland Harvest Garden under the eaves of the Missouri Barn, in the education building, and under a tent—rain or shine. Food, beer and product vendors selling salsa-related items will be on-site.

Details at powellgardens.org Missouri Barn Dinner: Patrick Ryan of Port Fonda Saturday, Sept 15, 5 p.m.

COST: $75 Treat yourself to a Mexican late-summer picnic featuring family-style mains, sides and desserts with local produce from the Heartland Harvest Garden. The menu will be inspired by Kansas City backyard bbq’s with a bit of a Mexican spin. The party starts with a tequila-based welcome cocktail!

Details at powellgardens.org.

Cars at the Gardens Hosted by Mid-America AACA Sunday, Sept 16, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

General Admission Applies Peruse classic cars, trucks and

One free, easy call gets your utility lines marked AND helps protect you from injury and expense.

Safe Digging Is No Accident: “Always Call Before You Dig in Kansas” Call 811, 1-800-DIG-SAFE, (800-344-7233) or visit us at www.kansas811.com.

16

September 2018 | kcgmag.com

motorcycles in a scenic garden setting. Classic car registration begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 12 p.m.

Details at powellgardens.org.

SAGES: Off the Beaten Path Thursday, Sept 20, 10:30 a.m.-noon COST: $25.00 (includes tastes) Enjoy an illustrated talk engaging all of the senses, featuring Barb the Gardener. Barb will present information about unexpected edibles that can be grown in the region. Learn about several unusual and refreshing fruits and berries and taste them. Following the talk, participants are invited to explore the garden on their own.

Cocktails, Constellations & Charcuterie Friday, Sept 28, 8-10 p.m. (rain date Oct. 5) COST: $45 (21 and older only) Join KC Skyentist Patrick Hess for a unique experience that will take you to the stars and back!

A perfect choice for date-night, this event features exploration of the night sky with moon showers, planets, and a cocktail class by Till Vodka, a Kansas farm-to-cocktail purveyor, and Boozy Botanicals, a KC-based organic cocktail mixer featuring herbs, flowers and other herbal essences. Justin Kent, sous chef at The Classic Cup, will offer a selection of charcuterie.

Girl Scout Workshop: Nature’s Narrative Saturday, Sept 29, 9:30 a.m.-noon and 1-3:30 p.m.

COST: $15 per child (chaperones are free, additional adults must pay garden admission) This workshop combines a sensory walk through the gardens with nature-inspired art creations.

Participants will observe and mimic the unique sounds and motions of plants and animals discovered, and use cameras to create and tell their own stories after they build miniature elf houses. This experience is designed for Brownies to complete requirements for the Girl Scouts’ Outdoor Art Creator Badge. Steps 1 and 3-5 in the Brownie’s Outdoor Art Creator Badge Booklet will be completed during this workshop.

Materials and instruction are included but we encourage participants to bring a digital camera (phone cameras work best). Please dress for the weather and light physical activity.

Space for each workshop is limited to 25 scouts. Two leaders per troop are required as chaperones.

Call For Artists Powell Gardens is accepting exhibition proposals from profes-

sional artists for the gallery spaces in the gardens’ Visitor Center building. Submissions are welcome from any artist working in twodimensions and in any media for works that can be installed on a wall and that are framed under glass (all works must be professionally displayed). The exhibition spaces are open to the public during regular garden hours daily.

Proposals through October 1, 2018 and more details can be found online at powellgardens.org/jobs Recruiting for Docent Training Class at Powell Gardens The education department at Powell Gardens is currently seeking garden enthusiasts to join our existing volunteer docent group.

Garden Guides are a committed group of tour guides who engage with Powell Gardens K-12 student and adult tour groups and help them discover the many aspects of the Garden, while discussing unique plant collections and landscapes. Garden Guides lead scheduled group and drop-in tours for varied public audiences during the year. More details can be found online at powellgardens.org/jobs.

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Call or Click 3 Working Days Before You Dig.

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Confirm Utility Response.

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Respect the Marks.

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1-800-DIG-RITE or 811 The Kansas City Gardener | September 2018

17

Pets and Plants – Pyrethrins & Permethrin

By Phil Roudebush, DVM, DACVIM

P

yrethrin (natural) and pyrethroid (synthetic) ingredients are used in numerous household and garden insecticide products and many flea-control formulations (aerosols, dusts, granules, sprays, collars, dips, shampoos and once-a-month spot-on products).

Adverse reactions in pets due to exposure to these types of products vary in severity depending on the agent involved, animal type and route of administration.

Pyrethrins are a group of at least seven different organic compounds extracted from flower heads of the pyrethrum plant, Chrysanthemum cinerarifolium. Other members of the chrysanthemum plant family also contain pyrethrins, but they are poor sources compared to C. cinerarifolium. Pyrethrins are natural insecticides and generally safe for use on cats, dogs and in their envi-

ronment. When present in lower amounts, they also appear to have an insect repellent effect. They are considered more environmentally friendly than many other insecticides because they break down fairly quickly on exposure to light and oxygen. The majority of the world’s supply of pyrethrins comes from flowers grown in Kenya.

Pyrethrins are excitatory neurotoxins that attack the nervous system causing paralysis of insects.

Although natural and relatively safe, pyrethrin poisoning can occur in pet animals — kittens, puppies and debilitated animals are most susceptible to adverse effects from pyrethrins. Accidental, inadvertent oral exposure can result in sudden onset of excessive salivation and vomiting. Exposure to concentrated pyrethrin solutions on the skin may result in drooling, muscle tremors,

Welcome Fall in Your Garden with Vibrant Hues! a Shrubs for fall color and year ‘round interest! Come see what shrubs are known for their fabulous fall color and berries! a The area’s best selection of home grown perennials and ornamental grasses! a Holland bulbs~ plant tulip, daffodil, and hyacinth bulbs now for a splash of color in the spring! Bulbs will be available shortly after Labor Day. a Fall mums and celosia in all colors!

The following Kansas-grown fall plants will be available by mid September: a Winter hardy pansies in vibrant and pastel hues! a Cool flowering cabbage and kale that feature the colors of fall! a Idaho ‘O’Henry’ Peaches will be available by preorder, likely to arrive in early to mid September! Call or email retail@arnoldsgreenhouse.com to preorder your Idaho peaches (limited availability)!

Arnold’s Greenhouse • 1430 Hwy. 58 S.E., LeRoy, KS 66857 620-964-2463 or 2423 www.arnoldsgreenhouse.com Fall hours: Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm. Closed Sundays.

Only 1-1/2 hours from Southwest Kansas City • I-35 to Hwy 75, South 23 miles to Hwy 58, then East 1-1/2 miles (Located 4-1/2 miles West of LeRoy, KS on Hwy 58)

18

September 2018 | kcgmag.com

twitching, vomiting, agitation, constant restless or irritable behavior, unstable gait and seizures.

The chemical structure of pyrethrins inspired the development of synthetic cohorts called pyrethroids. Pyrethroids now constitute the majority of commercial household and animal insecticides and include such compounds as resmethrin, sumithrin, imiprothrin, allethrin, bifenthrin, prallethrin, permethrin and many others. Pyrethroids are generally more toxic (to both pets and insects) and persist longer in the environment than natural pyrethrins but are safe to use on people, animals and in the garden when applied appropriately. Poisoning with pyrethroids in pet animals occurs from ingestion, overzealous heavy topical application or use of certain pyrethroid compounds on the wrong type of animal. Clinical signs of pyrethroid

toxicosis are similar to those with pyrethrin poisoning.

One serious problem is exposure of cats to permethrin. Cats are extremely sensitive to this pyrethroid. Bottom line, permethrin can kill cats! The biggest danger to cats is use of products containing permethrin that are labeled “for use in dogs only”. There are many canine products containing permethrin on the market — they are generally safe when used appropriately in dogs but will cause poisoning if used on cats. Dog products containing permethrin are often found in the store aisle next to similar feline products without permethrin.

Life threatening problems (tremors, seizures, coma) occur in cats exposed to permethrin accidentally and there is no specific antidote.

Cats with mild to moderate exposure will survive with intensive supportive care.

Permethrin is also extremely toxic to fish. Products containing permethrin should not be used as insecticides around water gardens or other water features with fish.

Phil Roudebush is a retired veterinarian and specialist in small animal internal medicine. He was an adjunct faculty member in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University and is now an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer in Buncombe County, North Carolina. He can be reached at philroudebush@gmail.com.

TUNE UP: Get your mowers and equipment in for a SUMMER TUNE UP! Tune ups include changing the oil and filter, replacing spark plug, air filter, and sharpening blades.

Mowers, Blowers, Hedge Clippers and Chain Saws are in stock now! All equipment assembled, serviced and ready to go when you buy it.

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John Marr Topsoil Service • Quality Pulverized Topsoil • Delivered and Installed • Gravel Driveway Repair • Bobcat Services • Drainage Work 913-484-5000 • 816-520-2810 www.kansascitytopsoilman.com Find us on Facebook @johnmarrtopsoilandbobcatservice Local three-generation, family-owned business serving south Kansas City and Johnson County for 30 years

Mistaken Identity The Butterfly Lady, LENORA LARSON discusses the confusion caused by butterflies needed for survival.

Photos by Lenora Larson.

Orange and Black, A Color Scheme for Survival

The Toxic Monarch

The Viceroy, a near-perfect match

Painted Lady, close enough!

Shimmering Blue and Black Protects the Imitators

The Toxic Pipevine Swallowtail

I

mitation is not only the sincerest form of flattery, it can be life or death for butterflies.

Have you ever noticed how many butterflies wear patterns of orange and black? Or been confused trying to identify the many blue and black butterflies? This is not an accident or your ignorance. Butterflies intentionally create confusion and mistaken identities.

Mimicry Copying or mimicking the color pattern of a successful survivor is a frequent tactic in the wild.

Monarchs are poisonous to birds and mammals because their caterpillars eat poisonous milkweed and sequester the cardiac glycosides in their bodies. A bird learns after one bite: orange and black means ‘YUCK!” Conversely, Viceroy caterpillars eat non-poisonous leaves like Willow and Hackberry Trees, so they are not poisonous. But the adult Viceroy’s near-perfect mimicking of the Monarch’s wing pattern and color protects it from hungry predators. And has made it famous as the classic example

Red-spotted Purple

Female Tiger Swallowtail

Female Black Swallowtail

of this “batesian mimicry”. Last year’s unusual population explosion of the smaller Painted Ladies confused many people who called them “baby Monarchs”. No, baby Monarchs are caterpillars. Because their mimicry of Monarchs persists, Painted Ladies must be confusing birds too!

Swallowtails in the area. Likewise, Black Swallowtail males are black and yellow, while the ladies are black with shimmering blue on their hindwings.

icry has evolved as an important weapon in the arms race between prey and predators and helps many butterflies survive and breed as cases of mistaken identity.

Survival of the Trickiest Most examples of batesian mimicry are visual displays, but the mimicking may also be of a behavior or even acoustic like the moths that mimic the ultrasound warning signals of unpalatable moths to dissuade hungry bats. Batesian mim-

Marais des Cygnes Extension Master Gardener, Idalia Butterfly Society and Kansas Native Plant Society member, Lenora Larson gardens and hosts butterflies in the cruel winds and clay soil of Paola, Kansas. She may be contacted at lenora.longlips@gmail.com.

Blue and Black Every year, people send me photographs of a “blue and black swallowtail that has lost its tails.”

Fooled again! You have photographed the glorious Red-spotted Purple butterfly, which is closely related to the Viceroy. So why the blue and black? To mimic the shimmering blue and black Pipevine Swallowtail, the most poisonous North American butterfly. The Red-spotted Purple Butterfly and the females of several species of swallowtail mimic this blue and black shimmer for protection from predators. For example, male Tiger Swallowtails always wear yellow with black tiger stripes. However, the female can be blue and black, especially if there are Pipevine

CLASSIC STATUARY Fountains = Planters = Bird Baths = Benches

14935 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS - 913-897-4700 www.classicstatuarykc.com The Kansas City Gardener | September 2018

19

Tips for your fall lawn Experienced in the workings of grass seed and fertilizer, GARY LYNGAR explains steps towards a lush, green lawn.

A

s we make the descent from hot, dry summer days, it’s time to focus on our lawns.

Most lawns look brown, dry and drab. With cooler temperatures on the way, the conditions are ideal for improving the lawn. We prescribe a specific program to customers so they can be successful in attaining that lush, green lawn we all desire.

We’ve simplified it into four steps and this fall it’s time for steps three and four.

It’s time to seed!

September is the time to seed and fertilize your lawn with what we consider step three of our program.

Seed can be put down between August 15th and September 15th however we recommend doing it in early September for several reasons. It’s better to wait until the

temperatures have started to cool off, especially at night. While the beginning of September may have hot days that still feel like summer it is still well above freezing, so grass seed can germinate quickly. That means it will produce deeper roots than it would in hot weather. Deeper roots mean better access to water, and water is key when it comes to grass. Seeding in September allows plants to establish these roots to dig in deep before winter arrives and gives them a head start on withstanding summer heat the following year.

Before you seed you’ll want to mow your grass as short as possible.

This will allow the new grass to quickly catch up in height and not have to compete with existing grass for sunlight. Next, remove the layer of thatch that has accumulated over

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September 2018 | kcgmag.com

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the course of the summer. Thatch is a build-up of old grass and organic debris that settles in between the grass and the soil. Removing this layer will expose soil surface for the seeds to settle in. Do this by using a verticutter, a power-rake blade on your mower, or a hand rake if you’re looking for some exercise. Once these two steps are complete you’re ready to seed.

A quick tip on grass seed…

While bluegrass is the softest and usually the most desirable, its roots are often shallow and hard to keep maintained without the assistance of an irrigation system.

Fescue is much coarser in texture, but its roots penetrate deep into the soil, allowing it to withstand drought much better. We usually recommend a blend of both fescues and bluegrasses, increasing your chances for success with multiple types and varieties. Most varieties are suitable for an average amount of sunlight, but there are specific varieties available for yards that are in deep shade.

Don’t forget the fertilizer.

Once seed has been put down, you’ll want to apply fertilizer.

When looking at fertilizers and soil amendments, you’ll notice an analysis of three numbers, indicating the nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (often referred to as N-P-K) levels. Nitrogen is crucial for growth and foliage (think grass blades), phosphorus feeds flowers and is essential for fruit production, and potassium aids in root development and growth. Our step three - Fall Fertilizer has an analysis of 19-0-4. This is a phosphate-free, fall fertilizer that restores nutrients such as iron to green and thicken your lawn after several months of heat and limited rainfall. We believe in using a phosphate-free fertilizer because our soil naturally contains enough of this nutrient and excess amounts can have a negative environmental impact.

This excess phosphorus can run off into storm drains, lakes, and waterways. Choosing a phosphate-free fertilizer for your lawn will avoid further contributing to this issue.

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 on this service, call 913-715-7000.

Tree Trimming • Tree Removal • Lot Clearing 24/7 Emergency Storm Damage

FREE ESTIMATE Austin Mozingo • 816-651-6653 mozingotreecare@gmail.com

Why is seed maintenance important?

Once your seed and fertilizer have been spread, cover it with an organic material such as straw, sticky straw, mulching pellets, compost, or peat moss. This will keep your seed in place, fend off opportunistic birds, and help provide a suitable home for the seed to germinate. Water new grass lightly every day, keeping the soil moist, until it is at least 2-3 inches tall, unless we receive a significant amount of rain that day. Slowly taper back on watering as fall progresses. You may need to water a couple times a month through the winter if we do not receive at least an inch of rain per week.

Ridding your fall lawn of leaves.

As fall progresses and the leaves begin to blanket your lawn, stay on top of either mulching or bagging and composting. Mulching can add nutrients back into the soil, but it should only be done if leaves form a fairly thin layer across your yard.

Dense piles should be removed and added to a compost pile to avoid starving your lawn of sunlight and airflow.

And most important…don’t forget your late fall fertilizer Step four in our program is a winterizer and should be applied approximately five weeks after you’ve put down your seed and fertilizer. Winterizer is a nitrogenphosphorus-potassium formula and has an analysis of 30-0-0. It can be followed up with a second application in November or December.

This is a late fall fertilizer designed to help grass plants build storage in the roots for survival as we head into winter dormancy. It is specially formulated to encourage thick, rapid growth and rooting the following spring.

Take advantage this month and get your lawn in the best shape possible before winter arrives. Your hard work will pay off next spring when the temperatures warm and your lawn is the most lush and green on the block.

FALL

PLANTING

IS BEST FIND OUT WHY

E A R L M A Y. C O M

The “Colonial Crew” experts at Colonial Gardens, Blue Springs, Mo. (colonialgardenskc.com) led

by Gary Lyngar, collaborated to author this article. If you have questions, you may reach them at 816-229-1277.

Top 10 Reasons to Topdress* with STA-Certified Compost this Fall 1. Supplies beneficial microorganisms 2. Encourages a healthy, more disease resistant lawn 3. Increases nutrients in your soil 4. Improves soil structure 5. Helps grow deep and strong roots 6. Reduces compaction in heavy clay soils 7. Aids in building a strong over-winter foundation 8. Improves water retention and drought resistance 9. Increases pore space for better water movement 10. Gives your neighbors LAWN ENVY

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The Kansas City Gardener | September 2018

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SEPTEMBER PLANTING DATES Plant Above-Ground Crops: 11-14, 18, 19, 23, 24 • Plant Root Crops: 1, 24, 28, 29 Plant Flowers: 11-14 • Transplant: 18, 19, 23, 24 • Control Plant Pests: 3, 4, 7, 8

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September 2018 | kcgmag.com

Upcoming Garden Events places to go, things to do, people to see Club Meetings Bonner Springs Garden Club Tues, Sep 18, meet at 9:30am in parking lot on the SE corner of Third and Cedar, Bonner Springs, KS. We’re headed out for an outdoor adventure. We will then venture to the Happy Apple Farm in Tonganoxie, KS and tour the operation. After lunch in Tonganoxie we’ll travel to Lawrence to the Water’s Edge. After visiting there, we will go to the HYVEE Garden Center for great end of season bargains. Returning to Bonner Springs around 4pm. Everyone is welcome.

For more info contact: bonnerspringsgardenclub@gmail.com.

Bonsai Society of GKC Sat, Sep 1, 9am-noon; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st and Wornall, Kansas City, MO. Workshop. www.bsgkc.org. 816-513-8590 Greater KC Gardeners of America Mon, Sep 10, 5pm; at The Children’s Beanstalk Garden, Kansas City Community Garden, 6917 Kensington, Kansas City, MO 64132. We will be hosting a tour of the Children’s Beanstalk Garden. Ben Sharda, Executive Director of KCCG will be conducting the tour. Please come see the garden in full bloom! Snacks will be served.

Greater Kansas City Herb Study Group Wed, Sep 12, noon; at Rose Room, Loose Park Garden Center, 52nd and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Program: Herb Gardens of Colonial Days. This is an excellent program to learn about the historical uses of both culinary and medicinal herbs. Discover the methods of our ancestors during colonial days in planting, harvesting and medicine preparation. Presented by Elizabeth Cutting and Nancy Huffman. Lunch: Bring your own lunch and drinks. We invite anyone interested in Herbs to join our group. We meet the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Dues are $15, we have an Herb garden at Loose Park we maintain, and have wonderful classes and luncheons to learn all aspects of herbs and how to use them in our lives. Facebook: check us out at Greater Kansas City Herb Study Group.

Friends, visitors always welcome. Questions: call Nancy at 816-478-1640.

Greater KC Water Garden Society Tues, Sep 18, 5:30pm for snacks and socializing; at Our Lady of Sorrows meeting space, 2552 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108. Parking is free just outside the west doors. At 6:30 our first speaker, Michael Sandy, Executive Director for Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary in Liberty will be sharing an overview of changes and improvements over the summer; including an update on the 2 ponds on the property. Mr Sandy will also have information on the 2 different hydroponics systems they have set up in the retail space and community center. They have a gravity-fed hydroponics garden and an ebb and flow hydroponics system. Find out which system is functioning better for fish and their current observations on the 2 hydro systems.

Our featured speaker is Brandon Henderson, owner of Blue Stone Aquatic Designs. He will be sharing his experiences as a professional over this extremely hot summer that includes his own experience with aquaponics. Mr Henderson will also be addressing concerns and offering some solutions from a survey of the KC Water Garden Society membership.

Visitors are always welcome! For additional information please visit www.kcwatergardens. com or follow us on Facebook.

Heart of America Gesneriad Society Fri, Sep 28, 1-4pm sale only; Sat, Sep 29, 9am-4pm show/sale; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st and Wornall, Kansas City, MO. 816-513-8590 Heartland Hosta & Shade Society Sat, Sep 8; Check-in and Hospitality at 9:30, Meeting at 10am; at First Lutheran Church, 6400 State Line Rd, Mission Hills, KS 66208.

Speaker Don Dean was introduced to hostas in 1984 and has spent years growing them from seed and has registered over 50 unique hostas. His presentation “Darn Right I’ve Got the Blues”. The Club will provide grilled and baked chicken for a potluck at noon, bring your favorite dish to share. Come for great information, food, door prizes, and great raffle options.

Everyone is welcome! For more information, please visit our website www.heartlandhosta. club, our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ HeartlandHostaAndShadePlantSociety/, or email drileycook@aol.com.

KC Cactus and Succulent Society Sun, Oct 21, 1:30-4pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st St and Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. October will be our annual plant exchange, which is a fun way to add variety to your collection! Visitors are welcome to attend and to participate in the plant exchange.

There is no club meeting in September in lieu of the Tri-City meeting. For information on the Kansas City Cactus and Succulent Society, visit our website: kccactus.com or find us on Facebook.

Kaw Valley Herbs Study Group We meet bi-monthly near Lawrence 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 jam-packed with useful information, including relevant demonstrations. We meet every 2nd Tues evening in Jan-Mar-May-Jul-Sept-Nov. Everyone with an interest in herbs is welcome.

More info/newsletter: email herbstudygroup@ gmail.com.

Leavenworth County Master Gardeners Wed, Sep 12, 11am; at Riverfront Community Center, 123 Esplanade St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Join us for “Master Gardener Travels!”

Leavenworth County Master Gardeners Candy Dial and Joy Kromer will give a presentation on their trips to Monet Gardens.

And, Leavenworth County Master Gardener, Charlotte Van Wormer will present “Monarch Butterflies in Mexico”. The meeting is free.

Visitors are welcome. For more information contact Paula Darling at 913-240-4094.

Leawood Garden Club Tues, Sep 25, 10:30am; at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Rd, Leawood, KS. At about noon, Sami Aaron will speak on “The Evolution of a Gardener.” Sami is a K-State Extension Master Naturalist. The meeting and our membership are open to everyone and guests are most welcome. Please bring a sack lunch; beverages and desserts are provided. For more information, please visit www.leawood.org/committees/lgc or send an email: leawoodgardenclub@gmail.com.

Lee’s Summit Garden Club Tues, Sep 11, 7-9pm; at Winterset Park Community Center, 2505 S W Wintercreek Dr, Lee’s Summit, Mo 64081. Our guest speakers are Teri Bowes and Hannah Difiore.

Subject: Grow Your Own Cutting Garden.

If you have left over division plants, bulbs, tubers or seeds, please bring these items to share with other members for a small donation to our club’s “Cash Crops”. Refreshments are always provided. Visitors are always welcome. Visit our website www.leessummitgardenclub.org or call 816-914-3970.

Mid America Begonia Society Fri, Sep 28, 1-4pm sale only; Sat, Sep 29, 9am-4pm show/sale; at Loose Park Garden Center, 51st and Wornall, Kansas City, MO. 816-513-8590 Olathe Garden & Civic Club The Old Settlers’ Flower Show: Sep 6, 7, and 8; at the Olathe City Hall, 100 Santa Fe Street, Olathe. Members of the Public and Garden Club members may bring entries for the show from 6-8pm on Thurs, Sep 6 and from 8-9am on Fri, Sep 7. Entries will be judged on Sep 7 and displayed until 3pm on Sat, Sep 8, the close of the Show. For information, email Cathy at fraucathya@gmail.com Raytown Garden Club Tues, Sep 4, 10am; at Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church, 6429 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, MO. Jennifer Barnes, Raytown Garden Club member, Master Naturalist and former Senior Gardener at Powell Gardens, will present the program entitled “Planting Seeds for Fall Color”. Refreshments will be served prior to the program. Visitors are always welcome.

Check out our Facebook page at Raytown Garden Club or visit our website at www. sites.google.com/site/fgcmwestcentraldistrict/ raytown Sho Me African Violets Fri, Sep 14, 11am-1pm; at Loose Park Garden Center, 5200 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO. Visitors welcome. 816-513-8590

Events, Lectures & Classes September Fall Color: Beyond Mums and Burning Bush Tues, Sep 4, 4pm; at Lansing Community Library, 730 1st Terrace, Ste 1, Lansing, KS 66043. Mums and Burning Bush offer awesome fall color, but there are other plants to consider. Learn about some perennials and annuals that can give long lasting color to your garden. Pat Matthews, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener will give the presentation.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

For more information contact Paula Darling at 913-240-4094.

Pruning for Beginners Wed, Sep 5, 6-8pm; at Loose Park, 5200 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO. Heartland Tree Alliance will offer basic tree pruning course for shade and ornamental trees utilizing handson and teacher instruction. All tools provided, must register in advance, $5 fee covers cost of USFS booklet for each student. https://tinyurl. com/pruneKCMO or call Sarah 816-561-1086 Beekeeping II Wed, Sep 5 & 12, 6:30-8:30pm; at Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS. This course offers an in-depth review of current beekeeping practices. You will study beekeeping in the classroom and explore a beehive in the field.

The course will give you hands-on experience

working a beehive. Fee: $59. To enroll go to https://ce.jccc.edu or call 913-469-2323.

Potpourri, Sachets & Teas Thurs, Sep 6, 11:30am-1pm; at the Sunflower Room, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. Sponsored by Wyandotte County EMGs. Anyone who grows herbs and flowers knows firsthand about the wonderful aromas to be enjoyed when working among these plants.

But how can you capture these fragrances to enjoy long term? Paula Winchester, who until recently operated Herb Gathering, a business growing and supplying fresh herbs to area grocers and restaurants, will demonstrate how to prepare, and then assemble the ingredients for potpourris and herbal teas, using easily attainable ingredients from the garden.

Registration is not required. Fee: $5 payable at door (waived for certified Extension MGs).

For more info, call 913-299-9300.

TreeKeepers Thurs, Sep 6, 6:30-9pm through Thurs, Oct 4; at Sylvester Powell Community Center, 6200 Martway St, Mission KS. Heartland Tree Alliance will offer TreeKeepers over 5 consecutive Thursdays in Sep/Oct. Participants will learn tree biology, urban soils, tree pruning, planting, selection and ID and common pests/problems. All tools provided, must register in advance, $50 fee. https://tinyurl.com/ TreeKS or call Sarah 816-561-1086.

Farmer/Florist Meet and Greet with Debra Prinzing Tues, Sep 11, 5:30-8pm; at The Homesteader Café, 100 East 7 St, Kansas City, MO 64106.

Cost: $45. Join Andrea K Grist Floral Art (andreakgristfloralart.com) and Florasource KC in welcoming Debra Prinzing, the founder of Slow Flowers to the Kansas City area.

Whether you are a farmer, florist, gardener, writer, landscape designer, or a fan of American grown flowers this evening is for you. Debra is an award-winning author, speaker and leading advocate for American-grown flowers. She is the creator of Slowflowers. com, a free online directory that helps consumers find florists, designers, studios and farms that supply American grown flowers.

Debra’s book Slow Flowers (St Lynn’s Press, 2013) received a Silver Medal from Garden Writers Association in 2014. Learn more and purchase tickets at:https://www.eventbrite. com/e/farmerflorist-meet-and-greet-withdebra-prinzing-tickets-46309391637?utmm e d i u m = d i s c o v e r y & u t m c a m p a i g n = s o c i a l & u t m content=attendeeshare&aff=escb&utmsource=cp&utm-term=listing Fall Color: Beyond Mums and Burning Bush Wed, Sep 12, 7pm; at Basehor Community Library, 1400 158th St, Basehor, KS 66007.

Mums and Burning Bush offer awesome fall color, but there are other plants to consider.

Learn about some perennials and annuals that can give long lasting color to your garden. Pat Matthews, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener will give the presentation.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

For more information contact Paula Darling at 913-240-4094.

GHF Fall Native Plant Sale Thurs, Sep 13 and 20, 4-6:30pm; at the Cottin’s Farmers Market, behind Cottin’s Hardware & Rental, 1832 Massachusetts St, Lawrence, KS. Grassland Heritage Foundation presenting.

Native wildflowers and grasses are beautiful, hardy, and can thrive in home landscapes – and pollinators love them. Fall is also a great time to plant natives. All plants are locallygrown Kansas natives and are neonic free. The cost for all plants is $4.00. We cannot take advance member orders during the fall sale. (continued on page 24)

Just in time for fall!

FALL LAWN FOOD & FERTILIZER Colonial Gardens has you covered! low Environmental impact

FeRtilizeR A phosphate-free fertilizer that restores nutrients to your soil and feeds your lawn.

Contains iron to green and thicken your lawn after summer heat and drought.

1 9 - 0 -4 Apply September through October

View our website for upcoming classes on Lawn Care, or speak with a Colonial Expert today! 816-229-1277 w w w. c o l o n i a l g a rd e n s kc . c o m 2 7 6 1 0 E . Wya t t Rd .

Blue Springs, MO 64014

GET READY FOR FALL We have everything you need, like food, nets, deicers and more.

Our store carries a complete line of pond supplies, liner, fishes and a large selection of aquatic plants.

Vacation services available!

We can check on your pond while you’re gone. Daily/weekly.

We also offer plant watering services and reptile/bird checks.

New LOWER PRICING on pond products you use every day!!

Check our website and Facebook for more information.

816-842-5012 • pondskc.com • 1557 Swift Ave., KCMO The Kansas City Gardener | September 2018

23

Salsa Y Salsa

Upcoming Garden Events places to go, things to do, people to see

Sunday, September 9 Noon-4 p.m.

(continued from page 23) Contact us at grasslandheritage@gmail.com or 785-840-8104 for additional information. www.grasslandheritage.org

SALSA MUSIC SALSA MAKING SALSA DANCING powellgardens.org | 816.697.2600

Award Winning Designs

Landscape Design/Install Paver Patios/Walkways

Butterfly Garden Open House Sat, Sep 15, noon-3pm; at 500 Eisenhower Rd, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Leavenworth County Master Gardeners will host an open house at their Butterfly Garden. Please join us as we follow the migration of the Monarch Butterfly as they continue their journey to Mexico.

Learn about our Monarch Waystation. There will be activities for children. If available, we will catch and tag Monarch butterflies.

For more information call the Leavenworth County Extension office at 913-364-5700 and leave a message for Charlotte.

Insect Symphonies in Your Backyard Wed, Sep 15, 5:30pm Pot-luck Dinner and 6:45pm Presentation; at Prairie Village Community Center, 7700 Mission Rd, Prairie Village, KS 66208. On warm summer nights and into the fall, a chorus of insects can be heard battling acoustically for territory and mates. We will discuss how and why insects make sounds with an emphasis on Missouri’s meadow katydids, who are among the loudest and most musical of our insect choristers. The presentation will include a powerpoint, live katydids (hopefully singing) and recordings.

Ginger Miller studies insect communication and graduated from the University of Kansas with her PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She has been teaching classes and workshops for over 15 years. She currently works as a Conservation Education Consultant for the Missouri Department of Conservation where she provides guidance and resources for K-12 teachers as they help their students to discover nature.

MPF Kansas City Native Plant Sale Sat, Sep 15, 9:30am-2:30pm; at Anita B Gorman Discovery Center’s Monarch Mania event, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery. Pure Air Natives, Gaylena’s Garden, and Green Thumb Gardens will sell a variety of natives, donating a portion of proceeds to support MPF’s prairie conservation work. Customers may place pre-orders with some of the vendors. Some vendors accept credit cards; some only cash or check.

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Winter Gardening: Growing Greens to Beat the Blues Thurs, Sep 13, 6-9pm; at Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS. Growing nutritional edibles during the dreary fall and winter months has many advantages. It is easier gardening than in the heat of the summer, less watering is needed and there are fewer bugs and weeds!

Discuss the science, methods and some simple structures that work well for a small scale home garden and learn which plants do well in the cold. Leave excited about growing in an unexpected, yet productive season. Early Sept is the time to plant! Fee: $39. To enroll go to https://ce.jccc.edu or call 913-469-2323.

September 2018 | kcgmag.com

Beekeeping III Wed, Sep 19 & 26, 6:30-8:30pm; at Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS. This class will be a fun and active way to learn how to be a successful backyard beekeeper. We will provide the basic knowledge needed to keep and man-

age a healthy beehive, and produce honey and beeswax. This class will cover bee behavior, hive management, diseases, pests, swarming and how to harvest honey right from your own backyard. Fee: $59. To enroll go to https:// ce.jccc.edu or call 913-469-2323.

Fall Color: Beyond Mums and Burning Bush Thurs, Sep 20, 7pm; at Leavenworth Public Library, 417 Spruce St, Leavenworth, KS 66048. Mums and Burning Bush offer awesome fall color, but there are other plants to consider. Learn about some perennials and annuals that can give long lasting color to your garden. Pat Matthews, a Leavenworth County Master Gardener will give the presentation.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

For more information contact Paula Darling at 913-240-4094.

Hasta Luego Monarchs Sat, Sep 22, 9am-2pm; at Pollinator Prairie, 320 S Blake St, Olathe, KS 66061. Event includes fascinating exhibits: MonarchWatch. org demonstrations including tagging and release of monarchs; “Bringing Nature Home”, “Gardening for Pollinators” and “Bluebird Stewards” exhibits by the K-State Extension Master Naturalists; “Caterpillar Petting Zoo” and Bat exhibits by the K-State Extension Master Gardeners Wildlife Committee; Recycling and Compost by JoCo Environmental; Exhibit and storytelling by Olathe Public Library; Inviting Birds to your Backyard; Entertainment, music and more!

Native Plant Sale to Benefit The Pollinator Prairie! by Parsons Gardens. Visit our websites for more information: https://pollinator. org/pollinator_prairie.htm; https://www.facebook.com/PollinatorPrairie/ Native Plant Sale Sat, Sep 22, 9am-2pm; at Backyard Bird Center, 6212 NW Barry Rd, Kansas City, MO 64154. Platte Land Trust Native Plant Sale.

816-746-1113. Give your order to Missouri Wildflowers Nursery by Tues before the sale and they will bring to the location. Contact Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, 573-4963492, www.mowildflowers.net; mowldflrs@ socket.net Learn to Make a Pine Needle Basket Sat, Sep 22, 12:30-4:30pm. Join us as an experienced guest instructor guides us in the making of lovely traditional pine needle baskets. Take home a basket you’ve made! $39 (supplies included). Register now: www.

GoodEarthGatherings.com.

Rub Shoulders with Garden Celebrities Armitage, Dirr, Dooley, Hamill at Mizzou Botanic Garden Walkabout and Plant Talk Sun, Sep 23. Univ of Missouri, Columbia.

This fall, “Georgia Champions of Landscape Gardening & their Published Passions for Plants” features a team of gardening celebrities with ties to the Peach State. Two events featuring guests Allan Armitage, Michael Dirr, Vince Dooley, and Natalia Hamill are scheduled for Sun, Sep 23. Featured guests will lead a Walkabout and Plant Talk in the garden beginning at 10am. With a limit of 50 participants, preregistration and a fee of $50 are required to participate. At 2 pm, a free and open to the public Garden Symposium with featured guests and others will be held in Room 22 of MU’s Tate Hall auditorium.

Authors’ books will be on hand for purchase

Prairie Jubilee Day Trip Sat, Sep 29, 10am-4pm; at Prairie State Park, 128 NW 150th Lane, Mindenmines, MO. An educational and fun event for everyone, as well as an opportunity to purchase plants. https://mostateparks.com/event/71666/ prairie-jubilee. Contact Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, 573-496-3492, www.mowildflowers. net; mowldflrs@socket.net

October Pruning for Beginners Wed, Oct 3, 9-11am; at Antioch Park, 6501 Antioch Rd, Merriam KS. Heartland Tree Alliance will offer basic tree pruning course for shade and ornamental trees utilizing handson and teacher instruction. All tools provided, must register in advance, $5 fee covers cost of USFS booklet for each student. https://tinyurl. com/pruneJOCO or call Sarah 816-561-1086 Advanced Beekeeping – Fall and Winter Honeybee Management Wed, Oct 3, 6:30-8:30pm; at Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS. Proper preparation of your hives for winter is the most important activity for a beekeeper. The better you manage your hives for Winter, the better the odds are that your bees will not only survive but will thrive when spring arrives. Review harvesting, processing and storing honey, processing beeswax, securing your hive from pests, verifying your bees have adequate honey stores and the methods of feeding when necessary, treatments for varrora mites, wind breaks, and how and when to check your hive over the winter.

Fee: $29. To enroll go to https://ce.jccc.edu or call 913-469-2323.

Plants Gone Wild Thurs, Oct 4, 11:30am-1pm; the Sunflower Room, 1208 N 79th St, Kansas City, KS. The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, and the third year they leap! Learn which plants are invading our landscapes and how to manage their spread. Lynn Loughary, Horticulture Specialist with K-State Research & Extension/Wyandotte County, will present this class. Sponsored by the Wyandotte County Extension Master Gardeners. Registration is not required. Fee: $5 payable at door (waived for certified Extension MGs). For more information, call 913-299-9300.

Shawnee Indian Mission Fall Festival Oct 12-14. Kick off on Fri from 6-9pm; All events at the Mission, 3403 West 53rd St, Fairway, KS. There will be a bluegrass band from 6-9pm on Fri with burgers, beer and other beverages available. The main event is

10am-5pm on Sat and Sun. It also is free to attend (suggested donation to the Mission’s Foundation of $2.00 per adult). For children, there are supervised games and activities of the 1800’s as well as the popular Drum Safari, Boy Scout rope climbing, the Marble Man, and archery with home-made bows and arrows. Children’s art and crafts are supervised in a huge, authentic Plains Indian teepee. The whole family will enjoy living history presentations, such as a blacksmith, outdoor cooking over a wood fire, a cider press, and log sawing. There’s a ride in a mule-drawn wagon, music all day from members of the Folk Alliance, and appearances of the Missouri Town Dancers. A juried selection of vendors will have art objects, woodcrafts, woven clothing and household fibers, and accessories for gift and pleasure purchases.

The Johnson County Master Gardeners will have gardening tips and display the historical gardens they plant and maintain at the Mission, and there will be a quilt show. Eat from food trucks all day, and buy home-made dessert items. The Missouri Free Trappers are reenactors of life in the mid-1800’s. Around their campfire, there will be music by the Bluegrass Boys, dancing, storytelling, and learning about the life of a trapper and wilderness survival skills. Information: www. simfoundation.org or 913-262-0867.

Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People!

Sat, Oct 13, 9am-12pm; at Johnson County Community College, 12345 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS. Not all dirt is dirty.

Discuss the importance of composting, its many uses and advantages, and the basics of the process, including how to build and manage a compost pile. Also review other methods of handling food and yard waste such as mulching and worm composting. This course focuses on the micro-biome of the soil, the ecology of the soil food web and the complexity in the underground environment.

Guest speaker Stan Slaughter will share best practices from his 25 years composting and recycling. Healthy soil makes healthy food, which makes healthy people! Fee: $39. To enroll go to https://ce.jccc.edu or call 913469-2323.

Spooktacular Orchids Kansas City Orchid Expo & Sale Oct 27-28. The Orchid Society of Greater Kansas City (OSGKC) will celebrate Halloween by hosting Spooktacular Orchids, the Kansas City Orchid Expo & Sale, in conjunction with the Mid-America Orchid Congress (MAOC) fall meeting, Oct 27-28, 2018 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 19677 E Jackson Drive, Independence, MO. Hours are 10am-5pm Saturday, and 10am-4pm Sunday.

More details to come.

More must-see events are posted on our website, KCGMAG.COM, and click on “Events.”

Promote club meetings, classes, plant sales and other gardening events for FREE! Send details to:

elizabeth@kcgmag.com

Deadline for publishing in the October issue is September 5.

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The Kansas City Gardener | September 2018

25

September

garden calendar

n LAWN

• Seed bluegrass or tall fescue lawns early in the month for best results.

• Sod new lawns or dead spots for quick recovery.

• Renovate bluegrass or tall fescue by verticutting then overseeding.

• Core aerate cool season turf to aid in root development and thatch breakdown.

• Fertilize cool season grasses with high nitrogen sources of fertilizer.

• Mow turf at 3 inches and sharpen mower blade for a clean cut.

• Continue to mow zoysia but do not fertilize or aerate this late in the season.

n FLOWERS

• Plant spring flowering bulbs, tulips, daffodils and others.

• Dig, divide or plant peonies.

• Divide perennials, especially spring bloomers.

• Remove seed heads from perennials to prevent reseeding in the garden.

• Plant chrysanthemums for fall color.

• Dig gladiolus as foliage begins to yellow and air-dry before storing for winter.

• Clean up garden areas to reduce insects and disease as plants dieback for winter.

• Enrich soil by adding organic matter such as compost.

• Soil test for the next growing season.

n VEGETABLES AND FRUITS

• Continue to harvest vegetables.

• Pick apples and pears and store in a cool place to extend freshness.

• Harvest pumpkins when flesh is completely orange, and avoid carrying by the stem.

• Harvest winter squash when the rind cannot be punctured with your fingernail.

• Plant lettuce, spinach and radishes for fall harvest.

• Remove weeds from garden plantings before going to seed.

• Tender herbs can be dug from the garden and placed in pots for indoor use this winter.

• Remove small tomatoes to increase late development of more mature fruits.

• Spade or till garden plots incorporating fallen leaves or grass clippings to improve soil.

• Plant garlic cloves for next year’s crop.

n TREES AND SHRUBS

• Plant trees and shrubs, deciduous and evergreen.

• Rake up fallen leaves and compost.

• Prune broken and dead branches from trees.

• Avoid pruning spring flowering shrubs to ensure spring flowers.

• Handpick bagworms to reduce problem infestation next year.

• Dry summers could mean a dry fall. Water young trees and shrubs.

n HOUSEPLANTS

• Bring plants in before temperatures drop into the 50’s.

• Clean and wash before moving indoors to reduce insects.

• Fertilize before winter conditions arrive and growth slows.

• Poinsettias can be forced into Christmas bloom by starting dark treatment.

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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September 2018 | kcgmag.com

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Swan’s Water Gardens “Creating Paradise ... in Your Backyard”

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We back our Water Garden installations with a 5 year leak free guarantee!

Come and experience true paradise! Tour 9 water features of various size and styles then browse the retail store filled with all your pond accessory and maintenance needs. Choose from our vast selection of aquatic and land plants plus take home a beautiful Koi or Goldfish as a perfect addition to any pond.

For over 24 years we’ve helped transform boring backyards into magical places by designing and building water features while providing the tools necessary to maintain your little piece of paradise.

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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.

Meet Extension Master Gardener, Kristi Wyatt

What first drew you to the hobby of gardening: Someone gave me some seeds when I was about 7 or 8 years old, so I bugged my father until he put in a little garden bed for me beside the garage. The germination process fascinated me. My mother was an avid gardener, and I watched her grow roses, peonies, irises, many

types of flowering shrubs. My parents and several other relatives had large vegetable gardens; I loved to wander through the rows every day, fascinated with how much plants had grown, and harvest what was ready to be picked.

How long have you been a Master Gardener, and why did you want to be an EMG? I started my training in the fall of 2015. It was on my bucket list after retirement because of how impressed I was by the gardens on the Johnson County EMG Public Garden Tours over the years.

How long were you gardening before you became an EMG: I’d been gardening for over 30 years, ever since I bought my first house.

I never had time to be an Extension Master Gardener until I retired in 2015.

Most valuable information you learned: That plants under stress are more susceptible to disease and pests. So, if you improve the condition of the soil by adding organic material, if you plant something where it gets the proper amount of light, and if you feed and water it appropriately, you probably won’t need to treat it for any diseases.

Favorite tool: It may not be a tool, per se, but I really like the automatic pot watering system that my husband built for the pots on our deck.

It has been a huge time-saver over the past several years.

Favorite shrub, tree, perennial: Shrub: ‘Girard’s Fuchsia’ evergreen azalea because of the bright color in spring and the small evergreen leaves. Tree: Sycamore because of the peeling bark. Perennial: Pulmonaria “Raspberry splash’ because of the bloom color and the attractive spotted foliage all season long.

What are you passionate about? Sharing plants with friends. Many of my perennials were given to me by my mother or my friends, and as they proliferate, I supply them to friends, neighbors, or anyone who will give them a good home. I just can’t bring myself to divide a plant or pull up a seedling and throw it away.

Any challenges: There aren’t enough cool daylight hours in summer to take care of everything, so major projects remain on my “To Do” list.

Best advice: Don’t crowd your plants. Give them space to grow.

Who inspired your love for gardening: Primarily my mother. When she got older, I couldn’t persuade her to move to a senior community because she didn’t want to leave her garden. She planted tomatoes and geraniums four days before she died last spring.

The Kansas City Gardener | September 2018

27

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