In Like a Lamb…Spring Chores, Tips & Reminders

March is just around the corner and our weatherman is predicting mild and pleasant weather. Could 2012 be the Midwest’s year without a winter? Does that mean that March will go out like a lion? I certainly hope not. And that’s all we can really do– hope. No matter what, there are many things we can and should do throughout March in preparation of spring’s official arrival. Below is a list to help you get growing this season.

Spring Garden Chores and Reminders

• Plan your vegetable garden before you plant. Ask yourself the following: How much space do you have? How much light does your plot get? Most vegetables require six hours of light each day. How much time can you dedicate to tending? What do you like to eat?

• Start seeds indoors so they are ready to transplant when the soil temperature warms.

• Mid-March is a good time to plant cool season crops such as cabbage, kale, chards, cauliflower and broccoli. A cool-season crop is defined as a vegetable that grows best with temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees F. Cool-season crops can tolerate light to moderate frosts, but are intolerant of high summer temperatures.

• If this is your first vegetable garden, have your soil tested before you plant. Your local Cooperative Extension Office can help with this.

• Prepare garden beds by adding more organic material to your soil and work it in about 6 inches deep. This is a good yearly habit to get into.

• Now is a great time to get your mower in for a tune-up or take blades in for sharpening. Do it before everybody else does to avoid long waiting periods for service.

• Pick a day to bring out any patio furniture and clean, repair, or touch up as needed.

• Clean, sharpen, and oil garden tools. Organize your garden shed/work area.

• While the garden is still dormant, take an objective look at “the bones” of your landscape and select areas that need improvement. Trees, evergreens, grasses and berry-covered shrubs will create structure and visual interest year round.

• Order mulch for beds and borders.

• On a sunny day, rake and pick-up fallen branches, twigs, leaves and any other debris from the winter months. Cut back ornamental grasses.

• For a burst of color, fill a few containers with pansies as soon they become available. Pansies can tolerate frost and freezing temperatures. Resist the urge to purchase warm season annuals until the danger of frost has past.

• Keep filling bird feeders this time of year as food is scarce in colder regions.

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day

I’ve joined an internet meme (pronounced meem) created by fellow Hoosier blogger Carol Michael. In case the term meme is new to you, it is a word that describes an idea that is spread and promoted through the internet. Most memes are spread from person to person via blogs, social networks, even email. In this case, Garden Bloggers Bloom Day is a meme that occurs on the 15th day of each month whereby participants post images of what’s in bloom in their gardens. It’s a great way to see what’s blooming all over the country, and world for that matter. Here’s what’s happening in my neck of the woods this month.

Blooms are hard to come by during the winter months, but I did find a lovely Witch Hazel in bloom. This is Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’. Known for it’s winter blooming, these multi-colored flowers are capable of producing a sweet fragrance. Flowers bloom along the stems in February to March.

Not satisfied with only one offering, I turned my attention elsewhere and found a couple of blooms on two indoor plants.

Begonia Rex. I keep several Begonias indoors during winter. I grow them for their fancy foliage, but the delicate blooms that appear each February are always a delight. A sweet touch on Valentine’s Day. Growing Begonias indoors can be challenging. If you’d like to learn more, follow this link: American Begonia Society.

Areca Palm. There is a long story about how I came to own (ahem, care for) this plant, but I won’t go into that right now. The palm flower always catches me by surprise because it is so unusual. My partner swears it reaches for him every time he walks by it. See, you can teach an old plant new tricks.

Happy Garden Bloggers Bloom Day. Be sure to visit Carol Michael’s creative blog, May Dreams Gardens.

Fall in Love

Dear O isami,

Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you I had no control over.

Love, M.

Silly isn’t it? All this for a tree? But I can’t deny my feelings for Acer japonicum O isami, or any Japanese maple for that matter. And it’s only by chance that a favorite nursery man would bring us together when he came to stay with us last spring and kindly inquired if there was anything specific that he should bring up. I had been intrigued by a specific leaf shape on a Japanese maple, but was new to the terminology that accompanies the species Acer japonicum. I had trouble communicating what I was looking for, so I did what any reasonable person would do, I turned to Google. Eventually I found a photo of the leaf shape I was looking for. I emailed the reference photo and received a positive response, “I think I have something you’ll like.”

When Kevin arrived, he promptly unloaded his trailer to set up his booth for the IMA Perennial Premiere. He showed me the tree he had selected and I was smitten. I learned that this particular leaf form is known as “full moon” due to its large, rounded form. As I’ve stated before, I’m a foliage guy. I didn’t really care how big the tree did or didn’t get. It made no difference to me whether it would have good fall color or not. I wanted that leaf!

When all was said and done, we purchased 3 Japanese maples that weekend. All planted and watered in, they endured a very hot summer as they acclimated to their new digs. Like any young romance, it’s at this point that you’re the most vulnerable no matter how strong your love. Everybody knows that love is not necessarily permanent. And you have to work at it. So I did. I watered. I mulched. I even staked for goodness sake. Devoted and true, I focused all my attention on O isami all summer long.

When fall finally rolled around, I’d wondered if all my doting and pampering had been for not. No signs of reciprocation. I didn’t panic though. I’ve learned not to expect much from newly planted trees. Some trees wait ages to finally tell their gardener that they love them. Prepared for a long wait-and-see period, I remained committed. Then out of nowhere, as if to declare the formation of our romantic partnership, O isami turned all sensuous with luxurious shades of scarlet, orange and yellow mixed together. My expectations were met– exceeded, and I fell in love, in fall.

Some people maintain that falling in love in the truest sense of the phrase, not just infatuation, is really the closest most of us come to seeing life in its spiritual form. I would add that gardening, in the truest sense of the word, is also. When I think of the future, I can’t imagine it without Acer japonicum O isami. It must be true love.

P. S. Fall in love whenever you can.

Girly Steel (and Style) at the Super Bowl

One woman adds her own personal touch to downtown Indianapolis streets as our city primes for its Super Bowl debut. Joanie Drizin, owner and artist of Girly Steel in Noblesville, IN, is best known for her unique steel and metal landscape sculptures. She has created a new series which features stylized footballs perched on a tall base– reminiscent of a very famous trophy. I recently interviewed Joanie to find out more about this project and her work.

How did this sculpture project come to be?

I was contacted by The Brickman Group, a landscaping company which maintains the city’s downtown planters. They reached out to me in June about the possibility of collaborating on this project whereby they would design the plantings and I would design a sculputral piece for the large-scale planters. I agreed to submit designs for consideration and that’s how the process began. I created 4 initial designs which were reviewed by a committee. The designs were enthusiastically received and I was then asked to create physical to-scale samples.

Were you given complete creative control or were there parameters set forth for the sculptures?

I wouldn’t say there were strict design parameters. I think this was a result of Brickman already being familiar with my work. The requirements were simply to A) incorporate a football, and B) the size should be 4 to 5 feet tall. A requirement was that they must fit into preexisting concrete planters. I took it from there and put pen to paper, sketching until I was satisfied with some initial designs.

Many new design variations were inspired as I was fabricating the first samples. I documented these in case there would be a need for more. Again, this phase went smoothly and now the work would need to be approved by Indianapolis Downtown Inc.

How many total sculptures did you create and how long did it take to fabricate them?

When all was said and done, I created 20 sculptures comprised of 16 originals and only 4 repeated designs. My original samples were approved by the local group that had commissioned me. I didn’t get the city’s final approval until late August. I worked diligently to complete the 20 pieces by early December. That’s about 3 months of intense cutting, bending, and welding.

Sounds like it went very smoothly.

It did for the most part. It was touch and go there for a while. You see, when you work with subject matter like this, for this particular event, the higher-ups certainly have their say. When we didn’t hear back from them right away, we wondered if the project would be cancelled. They eventually got back with us and it was full steam ahead.

What are the plans for the sculptures once game day has passed?

I’ve been told that the city will auction them off when the event is over.

Your website mentions that you have dabbled in many mediums. Tell me how you came to like metal, steel, and welding.

I have a background in commercial art. I grew up and studied in Cincinnati, OH, then moved to Broad Ripple (an Indianapolis neighborhood) as an adult. I’ve always had a strong interest in fine art and began taking classes at the Indianapolis Art Center. My main focus was pottery and I even had a full Ceramic studio in my home. However, I was very intrigued with the Metalsmithing class and decided to try it one day. I was hooked and slowly began to give myself over to it. Eventually, I sold off my Ceramics equipment and traded in my potter’s wheel for a welding helmet.

Was landscape sculpture an immediate choice, or did you work into it?

I would say it was a pretty immediate choice. I love gardening and found myself placing my sculptures outdoors in the landscape. The plant material kept inspiring me, so it was a natural fit. The gardening gene has been passed down to my son who studies plant biology and conservation at Northwestern University. He also works at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Can you tell me about your connection to gardening and how your work fits into that?

There was always a bit of exposure to gardening in my childhood as my mother kept small backyard gardens. It wasn’t until I was an adult and on my own that I really developed as a gardener and began to apply my creativity to my own perennial beds. After I moved to Indianapolis, I had the time to devote to it and I began exploring creative expression through gardening. Though today, my time is mostly devoted to the sculptures.

One of my favorite aspects of your work is the intentional lack of coating the metal. Tell me about that symbolic gesture.

Yes! I just think the raw rusty color blends nicely with nature. I believe that nature’s own beauty is the star and my works are there to enhance it- not overtake it. The rusting metal changes and that symbolizes the passage of time.

I love how the sculptures look in winter– the rusty brown color in contrast with the snow. I deliberately incorporate geometric shapes and cutouts to catch gentle snowfalls which highlight the silhouettes.

What is the best way for people to purchase your work?

I’d love it if everyone could visit my studio in Noblesville, IN and see the actual pieces in the sculpture yard, but I realize that’s not possible, so I suggest they call or visit my website. GirlySteel.com

Do you accept commissions?

Yes. I squeeze them in from time to time– between fabrication for my general inventory.

What is inspires you?

I would say I draw the most inspiration from nature and contemporary design. It’s fair to say that I have a passion for both and the best qualities of each always find their way into my work. I strive to find a balance between the two to achieve a holistic sensibility. And let’s not forget whimsy- you gotta smile and laugh too!• 

Who knows if we’ll see any snowfall on these wonderful sport-themed sculptures. Either way, visitors are bound to enjoy the work of this Indiana artist as they gather in the streets and enjoy everything we Hoosiers have to offer. Girly Steel is located in Noblesville, IN, (317) 490-1980. To see more of Girly Steel’s work, please visit the website: GirlySteel.com

You're Getting Warmer. New USDA Hardiness Map

Crap! I think I need to change my blog name to Hortus | 6.

A recent update to the USDA Hardiness Zone Map shows that half of the nation is officially a half-zone warmer. With increased computing power available to researchers, more factors such as elevation, the slope of land, even heat generation from large cities, can be taken into account to produce finer zone delineations than ever before.

The new map was built using Geographic Information System technology. As a result, sharper boundaries and better resolution are noticeably different on the interactive map.

The Fun Part

If you want to see if your zone changed, click here. You will be prompted to enter your zip code.

If you live in Canada, use this link instead.

What’s The Big Deal?

The more accurate the info, the better success rate we all have. Gardeners, nurseries and plant breeders will now be able to apply the updated findings to their work. For gardeners, plants once thought to be not fit for the garden are now an option. The new data also affects the agricultural industry as the data is used for crop-risk assessment, and the spread of insects and exotic weeds.

Global Climate Change?

Maybe, maybe not. The USDA claims that a different set of data is used to figure those calculations. So, they’re not confirming that there is a trend toward global warming.

My Conslusion

So, it’s all making sense now. As a self proclaimed Zone-pusher, I had been slowly introducing Zone 6 plants to my Zone 5 garden and having good success with survival rate. I thought I was special. Turns out my instincts were right as I am now officially in Zone 6a. But really- should I change the blog name?

Kevin Collard– if you’re reading this, start picking out some cool Zone 7 stuff to ‘push’ at Sutherland!!  

The Making of a Flower & Garden Show

‘Tis the season for Flower and Garden Shows around the country. It’s always fun to see the display gardens at these shows, but rarely does the public see what goes into putting it all together. Here’s a rare glimpse of how one show, comprised of 25 indoor gardens, comes together. It’s the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle, WA. 12 days of activity compressed into 7½ minutes. Sigh… if only it came together this fast in real life!

Video by wsulandesigner.

In With The New!

Every year the National Garden Bureau announces many of the gardening industry’s newest varieties. The flowers below are just a sampling of what’s in store for 2012. My observation is that color is being amped up and cleaned up (less subdued hues) across the board.

The National Garden Bureau was born in 1920 and was the inspiration of James H. Burdett. He lead the charge of promoting gardening and beautification to the masses by enlisting horticultural writers and broadcasters to further education of everyday citizens and creating a population of gardeners. The Bureau came into age during World War II when the victory garden movement was in force. Today, the mission of the Bureau is the same as it was then, to improve the quality of life and the environment through increased use of seeds and plants.

There are many organizations with a similar purpose, but I look to the Bureau this time of year to get a glimpse of what to expect at nurseries and garden centers this coming season. Hopefully, some of these sensational introductions will find their way to a retail outlet near you. You may also find them in catalogs or online. For detailed plant characteristics and growing needs, visit the National Garden Bureau’s website and click on New Varieties.

Click on an image to expand the view and begin a slideshow

2012 New Flower Varieties

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 All images courtesy of the National Garden Bureau Inc.

A New Year Symphony

Here’s to new beginnings and best wishes for a very happy new year.

To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;
to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not, rich;
to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages,
with open heart;
to study hard;
to think quietly, act frankly,
talk gently, await occasions,
hurry never;
in a word, to let the spiritual,
unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common—
this is my symphony.

– by William Henry Channing

Hellebore: The Christmas Rose

One of the great things about Hellebores is that they are among the first plants to bloom in the garden. Their winter blooming habit and myth of an angel giving a blossom to a young shepherdess who had no gift for the infant Jesus, has earned them the nickname ‘Christmas Rose.’ Interest in these late winter/early spring beauties are said to show maturity in a gardener. I don’t know about that, but it does remind me of a story. A non-gardener friend of mine was with me when I was plant shopping. On a mission to buy up all the H. ‘Ivory Prince’ that I could find, I was elated when I spotted one. I picked it up and lovingly smiled at it (you plant nerds know what I’m talking about). Then, during ‘our moment’ I heard my friend who was standing behind me say “that’s ugly!” We’re still friends, but the Hellebores don’t care for him much.

I can understand his reaction. The plant had bloomed weeks prior, and all that remained was deep dark leathery foliage with silvery-grey veining. For a non-gardener, that would be no match for all the colorful annuals we zoomed past to get to my beloved Hellebore. Helleborus ‘Ivory Prince’ is still my favorite. I love it’s upright bloom, though many species have blooms that nod to the ground. Regardless, I think they’re pretty special because they bloom just when you need a little jolt to snap you out of the winter doldrums. Bloom time is generally between December and March, and the foliage is a great compliment to summer and fall flowering plants. Another great attribute of the Hellebore is the thick hardy foliage that stays green throughout winter (Zone 6 and above). Did I mention they love shade? A partially shaded location that offers dappled shade would suit them well– think beneath a tree canopy. I use them as a companion plant in the Hosta garden. Growing tip: Cut back the old foliage in late winter to fully enjoy the emerging flower stalks.

The genus Helleborus covers a group of perennial herbaceous plants that come from Europe and Asia. During the past decade, they have gained popularity in the US. In 2005, they were named ‘Perennial Plant of the Year’ by the Perennial Plant Association. You need to shop for them during bloom time to truly appreciate their appeal. Traditional bloom form is usually star shaped with 5 sepals (petals). As commercial hybridization increases, more doubles, semi-doubles, bi-colored and picatee varieties are finding their way into the market. A picatee is a flower whose edge is a different color than the flower’s base color. Buying Tip: Don’t buy unless you see a flower or a photo of the flower so you know exactly what you’re getting.

I believe that every garden has at least one spot for a Hellebore. Aside from blooming when most plants are still in winter dormancy, Hellebores are easy to grow and pretty carefree plants. And that my gardener friends,  is an awesome Christmas present all it’s own! Happy Holidays from Hortus|5.

Image Key

1. H. x hybridus Party Dress Group
2. H. x hybridus Harvington Yellow Double Spotted
3. H. x hybridus Harvington Double Red
4. H. x. hybridus Harvington Yellow Speckled
5. H. ‘Pirouette’
6. H. x ericsmithii ‘Winter Moonbeam’
7. Helleborus x. sternii Blackthorn Group
8. H. x hybridus ‘Emerald Queen’
9. H. Double Spotted
10. H. x hybridus Harvington Double Chocolate
11. H. x ericsmithii ‘Winter Sunshine’
12. H. x hybridus Harvington Yellow

 All images ©Immediate Media Company

Caring for Poinsettias

Poinsettias are America’s best selling flowering potted plant. Would you believe that each year Americans purchase over 60 million of this popular holiday plant? My favorite color is white, but the photo above would indicate that I don’t make all the decisions in our household. Choose your battles, right?

Anyway, the color red accounts for nearly three-quarters of all sales, followed by white and pink. Lately, there are all these crazy colors available as the result of dyes and paint. Oh wait! Can I have some glitter with my obnoxious airbrushed poinsettia? What’s up people? Stick to the classics. Good taste never goes out of style.

Below is a list of best practices to prolong the life of your poinsettia, no matter what color it is.

©Meadow View Growers Inc.

Caring for Poinsettia Plants

First and foremost, protect your plants from wind or cold on the way home from the store. They are highly sensitive to cold temps and just a few minutes of exposure below 50°F can cause them to wilt. Make sure they are wrapped properly for transport.

Once you’re home, unwrap your plant carefully and place it in indirect light. Six hours of light per day is ideal. You can diffuse bright light with shades, shudders or sheer curtains.

Keep poinsettias away from warm or cold drafts which can be caused by opening doors or windows, air registers and radiators. This is perhaps the best thing you can do to prolong the life of your poinsettias.

Keep poinsettias from touching cold windows.

Ideal temperatures for poinsettias: Daytime temps of 60° to 70°F  and night time temps around 50°F are ideal. High temps will shorten the plant’s life

Check the soil daily and water when dry. Water enough so the soil is moist but not soggy. If your poinsettia has a decorative foil or plastic wrapper around it, punch holes or cut out a circle in the bottom so water can drain out. Place a saucer beneath the pot to catch water. Discard excess water.

Want to save your poinsettia and have it rebloom next year? Good luck. I don’t recommend it as the process, while completely doable, requires constant care. Its like having a puppy. And, I’ve never known anyone to actually have rebloom happen. But if you really want to know how, follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS58ZkRTnqs

And there you have it. Following these simple tips will help keep your poinsettia looking lush and healthy throughout the entire holiday season.

Did You Know?

Most people think the colored parts of poinsettias are the flowers, but they are actually colored bracts. Bracts are modified leaves.

In nature, poinsettias are perennial flowering shrubs that can grow to ten feet tall.

Poinsettias are native to Mexico.

Poinsettias are not poisonous. Studies have shown that eating bracts will not kill you, but they might give you a stomach ache. Where did they find the people to be human test subjects for that study?!

Poinsettias were introduced into the United States in 1825 by Joel Poinsett.

December 12th is National Poinsettia Day.