the gateway gardener march 2012

THEGatewayGardenerYour Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

®

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MARCH 2012

Dwarfs, Doubles & Dazzlers New Shrubs for 2012

Spring Window Box Containers

Starting Veggies Indoors

How to Build A Bubbler

®

GROUNDCOVER rOSES

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On the Cover...

If you’re looking for some new shrubs to add to your garden, there are some new varieties that will dazzle, including this Hydrangea ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ . For more great new shrubs for 2012, see page 12. (photo courtesy Bailey Nurseries, Inc.)

FEATURES11 Morpho Mania

12 New Shrubs for 2012

16 How to Build a Bubbler

DEPARTMENTS 4 Callicarpa-Beautyberry

6 Creating a Spring Window Box Display

8 Native Flowers for Spring

10 Prairie Herbs

14 Wake Up The Rose Garden

18 Starting Veggie Seeds Indoors

20 Dig This

22 Upcoming Events

MARCH 2012Volume 8, Number 2

PublisherJoyce Bruno

EditorRobert Weaver

ColumnistsBarbara Perry Lawton

Garden Book Author and Garden Writer

Connie AlwoodMaster Gardener

Ellen BarredoBowood Farms

Diane BrueckmanRosey Acres

Joyce DriemeyerMaster Gardener

Cindy GilbergLandscape Design

Mara HigdonGateway Greening

Glenn KraemerG. R. Robinson Seed Co.

Printing: Breese Publishing, Breese, IL The Gateway Gardener® is published monthly by Double Dig Communica-tions, Inc. to promote enjoyable, suc-cessful gardening and livable landscapes in the St. Louis greater metropolitan area. The magazine is distributed free to the public at designated garden centers, nurseries, garden gift shops, lawn equip-ment rental, repair and sales establish-ments, and other locations supporting sound gardening, lawn and landscaping practices.

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Fax: (314) 968-4025

[email protected]

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From the EditorTHEGatewayGardenerYour Guide to Enjoyable Gardening and Easy-Care Landscapes

®

It’s been a crazy winter! As I write this in late January, we’ve yet to

have a noteworthy snow, and at least through December the temperatures have been so mild as to encourage the daffodils in the picture at right (along with our Gateway Gardener mascot Teddy) to cooperate with the advance deadline demands of printed publishing by giving us a decent March scene in January (the first actually opened on Christmas Day 2011!).

Regardless of how mild the rest of the winter will prove, I’m sure I’ll still be out in the garden searching for the first crocuses, witchhazel and hellebore blossoms and other signs of advancing spring. I wonder what I’ll find in what used to be my shady woodland garden. This area used to come alive in early spring with ephemeral woodland plants like bloodroot, Virginia bluebells and the nodding yellow blossoms of wild

oats (see Cindy’s article on page 8 for more native spring flowers). After losing the two main shade-providing trees in February 2011, I began reinventing the area last summer as a sunny bird garden (see “How to Build a Bubbler” on page 16 for one element of the transformation).

Our gardens are always in such a state of change, whether through a slow evolution or more dramatic makeover such as my shade-to-sun project. We plant something somewhere and it doesn’t work, so we move it somewhere else.

Whether change is forced upon you, or you just want to try something new, now is a great time to plan it and, if the weather cooperates, plant it! And this issue has lots of ideas to help you out. In addition to the ‘Vanilla Strawberry’ Hydrangea on the cover, we have other great new shrub varieties suggested

by several local plant pros (pg. 12). Barbara Perry Lawton writes about another shrub—a real eye-catcher in the fall—beautyberry (page 4). And Steffie plants some ideas in our heads for spring-flowering containers on page 6.

Even if it wasn’t a particularly trying winter, it’s still nice to welcome in spring in the garden.

Good Gardening!

4 The Gateway Gardener™ MARCH 2012

Barbara Perry Lawton is a writer, author, speaker and photographer. She has served as manager of publications for Missouri Botanical Garden and as weekly garden columnist for the Post-Dispatch. The author of a number of gardening and natural history books, and contributor to many periodicals, she has earned regional and national honors for her writing and photography. Barbara is also a Master Gardener and volunteers at MBG.

Callicarpa - Beautyberry by Barbara Perry Lawton

C. dichotoma f. albifructaC. americana

Beautyberry is one of a group of some 140 trees and shrubs in the genus Callicarpa, members of the verbena

family. The name comes from kallos, the Greek word for beauty and karpos, Greek for fruit. While most of the species are native to the tropics and subtropics, there are several that are valid prospects for our Missouri gardens, including our native Callicarpa americana.

Although this native used to be considered hardy only in southern Missouri, it is now considered hardy throughout the state. Even where cold winters and harsh winds cause dieback, you can follow the same directions as with butterfly bush and herbaceous perennials. Simply cut last year’s growth to about four inches in the fall or wait until spring to prune back to live growth.

Missouri Native BeautyBerry

Our native beautyberry is a 3-9-ft. shrub with many branches and somewhat coarse, m e d i u m - g r e e n foliage. In July and August, numerous pink to lavender flowers grow in leaf axils, followed by showy violet to purple to blue quarter-inch fruits that are sweet and fleshy.

In Missouri, the native beautyberry was especially common as an understory shrub in wooded regions along the White River until the river was dammed. It can still be found growing wild in some areas of this region. The fruit is a favorite food of bobwhite quail as well as other birds, including bluebirds, mockingbirds, catbirds and others as well as animals, including gray foxes, raccoons and opossums. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

The native American beautyberry, which can be found in some specialty nurseries, makes a good choice for naturalizing at the edge of woods. It can provide an attractive backdrop for ornamental beds. It is most effective when planted in groups. Well-draining soil with ample moisture will bring best results. Although this native will tolerate shade, it will be more fruitful and dense in sunny locations. There are other species of beautyberry but the American one is showier, with a multitude of larger berries.

American Indians had many medicinal uses for beautyberry, including root bark as a diuretic, leaves for dropsy, root and

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berry tea for colic and also in sweat baths to treat rheumatism, malaria and other fevers. A 2007 study indicated that it might have anti-cancer possibilities.

BeautyBerry relatives Callicarpa japonica was introduced from Japan in the mid-1800s. This is the species most commonly found in nurseries. There also is a cultivar known as ‘Leucocarpa’ that has white berries, though that one is less well-known commercially.

Callicarpa bodinieri, the Bodinier beautyberry is another species that you may find in nurseries. First introduced from China in the late 1800s and more often grown in Britain than in our country, it has leaves that are more narrow than those of C. japonica and flowers of lavender to purple followed by berries that are blue-lilac to violet. ‘Profusion’ is a cultivar with handsome bronze-purple spring foliage that matures to dark green.

Callicarpa dichotoma, is an 1800s import from the Orient. The small lavender-pink flowers are followed by one-eighth inch violet to lilac fruits. The three-to four-foot shrub itself is thought to be more

attractive than the other species, with slender graceful branches that arch to the ground. ‘Early Amethyst’ is a cultivar that bears bright purple berries earlier than other beautyberries. C. dichotoma f. albifructa is a white-fruiting variety.

aMericaN BeautyBerry Jelly

Beautyberry jelly is sweet and bland. The recipe calls for the American species but I’m sure that the others would work as well. The American beautyberry fruits are larger, which makes harvesting a bit easier.

• 1½ quarts of beautyber r ies . Remove leaves and stems. Wash berries.

• 2 quarts water.• Boil the two

ingredients above for 20 minutes, then strain—this

makes an infusion.• Boil the following for 2 minutes: 3 cups

of the infusion plus 1 envelope of Sure Jell and 4½ cups of sugar.

• Remove from stove and let it stand until foam forms. Skim off the foam.

• Pour into sterile jars and cap.


Charming, frivolous, challenging; a window box display of spring

annuals is all of these, and really worth it. Design of a good window box planting is critical to its success and longevity. Plants that grow to the proper portions, adequate numbers of plants to start with, the best planting soil, a water source and slow release fertilizers must all be taken into consideration. Like any good recipe, don’t skimp on the ingredients or your soufflé may fall flat.

A few notes about the structure of your window box. Make sure it can withstand being wet for extended lengths of time,

does not rot or rust too easily and is secure enough to the windowsill or wall to hold quite a bit of weight from wet soil and growing plants. Now please use fresh potting soil each year and include a slow release fertilizer that will continue to feed your plants when you are on vacation in the summer. Also arrange for adequate water supply from a drip irrigation system or from a scheduled routine including you or your neighbor while you are out of town. Plants need water to grow and thrive even when you are not around!

My favorite part is the plants and their arrangement. I love the old-fashioned spring annuals that shout cheerful, charm

and elegance. These include snapdragons, alyssum, dianthus, linaria, lobelia, stock, nemesia, ranunculus and the queen of spring, pansies. For something new, try the beautiful Senetti® Pericallis hybrids, or ‘Laser Synchro’ cyclamen. The list can go for pages since I seem to love all flowering plants, but the point here is to find a combination of florific plants that have colors that blend and contrast well and are bright enough to stand out from a distance or even from 8-10’ below. I like to start with a neat row of upright flowering plants like snapdragons or stock in a scrumptious color

and then pair that with some trailing plants with flowers or colorful foliage to highlight the taller plant’s color. Here is where you use the new trailing

alyssum ‘Snow Princess’ or ‘Plentifall’ pansy, lobelia, nemesia or even add variegated ivy or golden creeping jenny. Good design dictates that you start with an odd number and fill in the spaces with an even number, but if you have a large planter or are running window boxes in a continuous row, then just space your upright plants about 6-8 inches apart and fill in your box properly. Then select a bushier type plant to fill in around the other plants. Some

Creating a Spring Window Box Displayby Steffie Littlefield

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Steffie Littlefield is a horticulturist and garden designer at Garden Heights Nursery. She has degrees from St. Louis Community College at Meramec and Southeast Missouri State and is a member of Gateway Professional Horticultural Association and president of the Horticulture Co-op of Metropolitan St. Louis.

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of my favorites include elegant ranunculus, darling linaria, and sweet dianthus. Here is where you have to get brave and pack in the plants, because for a window box to really be memorable it must be filled to overflowing, to the point of being lavishly opulent. Yes, stuff those plants in if you want your neighbors to be jealous and the mail carrier to take a second look.

As your plants grow large and lush, it is expected that you

will trim them and shape them once in a while to encourage strong new growth as the season wears on. Deadheading flowers and trimming leggy vines just improves their vigor and stimulates new shoots to revive tired looking plants, keep the clippers handy. When the weather turns really warm, thin out the waning flowers and slip in some heat tolerant zinnias, begonias and periwinkle to refresh your display.

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After a long winter with pent-up cabin fever, gardeners can hardly wait for the first sign of spring. For the impatient, Ozark witch hazel (Hamemalis vernalis) is one of the first

Missouri native plants to bloom and is definitely one to add to the landscape. On warm days in late January and February the sweet scent of witch hazel flowers teases us into thinking spring is here. This large shrub bears fragrant, yellow-orange flowers and can be pruned into a tree form to allow for plantings beneath.

Soon thereafter, it is the early March chorus of spring peepers that heralds the beginning of Missouri’s springtime show of flowers. The woodlands have an abundant vernal display as many understory

plants are quick to flower before the leaves of larger trees emerge, expand and shade the woodland floor. Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a small tree that blooms in March with numerous small yellow flowers. Next to bloom is serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea), another short statured tree with showy white clusters of flowers.

By late March and early April, the ground has warmed up enough to encourage a fast-paced succession of flowers. In the woodlands, sky-blue flowers of Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans) rise above semi-evergreen foliage, blooming along with many other woodland perennials such as pale blue wild sweet William (Phlox divaricata) and pink-flowering wild geranium (Geranium maculatum). Low-growing, evergreen groundsel (Senecio obovatus) forms a ground cover that is blanketed in spring with yellow flowers. Blue crested iris (Iris cristata) also flowers now and is a short, woodland iris that grows 8”-10” tall.

As spring progresses from April into May, yellow celandine poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum) begins to bloom with large, bright yellow flowers rising above the white flowers and succulent, round leaves of woodland stonecrop (Sedum t e r n a t u m ) . Hummingbi rds begin to arrive at this time in spring attracted at first to those flowers that sport bright red flowers. Favorites include the blooms of red columbine ( A q u i l e g i a canadensis) and red buckeye tree (Aesculus pavia). In mid-April Missouri’s state tree, flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), is in full bloom. There are several other dogwoods that flower in April and May with clusters of small white flowers instead of the more familiar large flower.

There are many garden-worthy spring bloomers that grow in more open, sunnier locations in the landscape. An early-to-bloom native shrub, golden currant (Ribes odorata), adds a spicy, clove-scented fragrance to the garden with small yellow flowers in early April. Missouri’s native Viburnum species bloom with large, flat clusters of white flowers in late April and May. Viburnums are large shrubs that can be planted as hedges, as specimens or pruned in a multi-trunk tree form. Later in the season, the currant, dogwoods and

For More Information About Native Plants:Missouri Department of Conservation

Grow!Native program: www.grownative.org

Missouri Botanical GardenNative Plant Garden, Classes

and Plant Finder: www.mobot.org

Shaw Nature ReserveWhitmire Wildflower Garden, Native Plant School and other special events: www.shawnature.org

Wild Onesa non-profit organization with local chapters:

www.for-wild.org

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viburnums are important for wildlife, producing berries that are favored by birds.

Shining bluestar (Amsonia illustris) and false indigo (Baptisia spp.) are both great choices for late spring bloom in full sun gardens. Bluestar, tolerant of wet and dry soils, is a large perennial with numerous light sky-blue flowers in May. Also flowering at this time are the yellow or blue flowers of false indigo (color depends on the species). Lance-leaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) provides a blast of yellow that is only rivaled by the large flocks of yellow goldfinches that come to feast on its ripe seeds later in the summer.

From a design point of view, add spring-blooming native plants throughout the landscape to put a quick end to winter’s cabin fever. Leave room for the addition of later blooming plants to have continuous bloom and interest throughout the garden in each season. Always include a path that leads to sitting areas in order to enjoy and relax in the garden.

For more ideas on which native plants will work in your landscape, Shaw Nature Reserve’s Native Plant School offers topics that include habitat gardening, deer-resistant native plants, flowering trees and shrubs and many more. They also host a Spring Wildflower Sale May 12, 2012 where like-minded native plant enthusiasts can meet, share ideas and find the perfect plants to add to their gardens.

Cindy Gilberg, horticulturist and Missouri native, founded and ran the garden center at Gilberg Perennial Farms with her husband Doug for 28 years. She now focuses on garden design, consulting and teaching, and also works part-time in the Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve, emphasizing the use of native plants in home landscaping. You can reach her at [email protected].

The Whitmire Wildflower Garden is located at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO. Hours: 7 a.m. – dark. Visitor’s Center Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekends.

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It was the summer of 1980, and not unlike the summer we just experienced in

2011: very hot and dry! In fact, it was August and 102 degrees as we stomped about tall green fields, while the surrounding countryside of cultivated corn and soy beans was brown and desiccated. The experts said the prairie was stunted in growth; nevertheless, it was quite green and I was impressed. So impressed with what I learned at that Prairie Conference in southwest Missouri that I determined to learn more.

All plants were native American grasses and herbaceous plants called forbs—which in later years I have called prairie herbs. These plants have in the past as well as present continued to be useful to man.

The French called the open, treeless grasslands that stretched across mid North America “prairie”—their word for meadow. Unlike a meadow, however, these lands were a climax community of plants “of ancient lineage with every possible ecological niche occupied by one or more organisms adapted to it through natural selection.”

It is a land dominated by grasses and virtually devoid of woody plants except on its eastern fringes where precipitation encourages creeping forests.

In presettlement times, prairie extended from what is now Indiana to the Rockies, probably about 1,000,000 sq. miles. The Rockies created dryness with annual precipitation of 10 inches, while the eastern edge of the prairie lands had precipitation of about 40 inches. The prairie existed on all types of soil, from flinty unglaciated areas to deep loess, wet to dry, and vegetation adapted

accordingly. From that original acreage there now exists less than 1%. Missouri, alone, was nearly 40% prairie in presettlement days, about 13,000,000 acres.

According to Walter Shroeder, formerly of University of Missouri-Columbia, in the early 19th century, prairies occupied 61% of the present city of St. Louis and 17% of St. Louis County.

Prairie country is characterized by hot, dry summers, very cold winters with little snow cover and constant winds. Plants had long since adapted to these

conditions with reduced leaf structures, hairy leaves and stems and extensive tap or fibrous root systems. It is not uncommon for roots to extend 6-10 ft. underground, with some as deep as 17 ft. Because of adequate soil and moisture, Missouri was in tall grass prairie country, where grasses grew “taller than a man on horseback” and still the major portion of the plant was below ground.

“Breaking the prairie” was the expression used to define what was required to plow through the prairie grasses in the 1800s. There were called the sodbusters and until the development of the steel plow, the American pioneer was unable to turn over the root-impregnated soils. But change the land they did, and vast prairies are now replaced by wheat, corn, beans and cattle. Disturbing what had been centuries of accumulated organic matter resulted within 60 years in loss of more than a third of stabilizing humus. The loss of this protection resulted in the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, when drought hit the country.

Missouri has at least 26 designated prairies, mostly managed by the Department of Conservation, with lands purchased by The Nature Conservancy and the Missouri Prairie Foundation.

Aside from the beautiful grasses, the plants that have had my interest for years have been the forbs or prairie herbs. These plants with an historic past were often used by Native Americans not only for food but for medicinal and household purposes. Many make beautiful garden inhabitants today and can be used for roadside plantings and for land reclamation work.

Prairie HerbsBy Joyce Driemeyer

After 30 years as a landscape designer, Joyce is now retired. She has been a MBG volunteer since 1969 and a Master Gardener since 1985. She is also a past board member of the Herb Society of America, and is a current board member of the St. Louis Herb Society.

Two Wonderful Garden ShowsONE GREAT TRIP

For more information and to book your trip of a lifetime contact: Unique Journeys, LLC • Nancy Luechtefeld, CTC • 9787 Radio Dr.

St. Louis, MO • (314) 644-8691 • [email protected]

Experience the World Horticultural Expo in the Netherlands; FLORIADE – it only happens ONCE every ten years. Spend the day learning how important flowers, plants, trees, vegetables and fruit are to our lives.

Next stop, HAMPTON COURT FLOWER SHOW, an annual event in England staged in the

“backyard” of one of England’s most beautiful castles. You’ll marvel at the passion of the

English for all things gardening.


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A visitor favorite is returning to the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House this March. The Common Blue Morpho is one of the jewels of the butterfly collection living inside the tourist attraction’s

8,000-square-foot tropical conservatory. Any other time of year, visitors would see about 300 of these iridescent turquoise creatures in free-flight, but during the month of March the conservatory will be filled with up to 2,000 of them! Experience a sight unlike any other during March Morpho Mania®, March 1 through 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (closed Mondays).

Common Blue Morpho butterflies (Morpho peleides) are native to Central and South America. The collection at the Butterfly House mainly hails from El Bosque Nuevo, a sustainable butterfly farming operation in Costa Rica.

The most celebrated feature on a Blue Morpho butterfly is its pair of wings, which can span up to eight inches across. Tiny scales on the wings refract light as they flutter, producing flashes of bright blue that bewilder predators. When at roost with closed wings, predators are also fooled, as their underside is colored in a spotty brown camouflage.

Witness hundreds of Blue Morpho males cruising about the 85-degree conservatory during the day, trying to attract females and establish their territory. Hundreds more can be seen fluttering amidst the greenery of the lush tropical plantings or dining on bananas and other fruit presented on hanging feeding plates.

Visitors are welcome to bring a hand-held camera to capture the experience of seeing these 2,000 blue butterflies in action. No tripods, monopods or external flash equipment allowed.

The Butterfly House is located at 15193 Olive Blvd. at Faust Park in Chesterfield, Mo., accessible from Interstate 64 at exit #19B. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays (closed Mondays). The last ticket is sold 30 min. prior to closing each day.

March Morpho Mania is included with Butterfly House admission of $6 for adults, $4.50 for seniors (ages 65 and over) and $4 for children (ages 3 to 12). Children ages 2 and under and Missouri Botanical Garden members are free.

For more information, visit ButterflyHouse.org or call (636) 530-0076.

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See Morpho Mania FREE!

Each Monday in March, we’ll give away 3 tickets to a randomly chosen “Facebook Friend”.

If your aren’t already a Facebook Friend, just go to GatewayGardener.com and click on the Facebook icon,

then click on the “Like” button on our Facebook Page. Not only will you be eligible, you’ll also get to share gardening photos, questions and tips with our network of Gateway

Gardener friends.Not into Facebook? No problem! Just send us a postcard with your name and address, and we’ll have one special drawing during the month for non-Facebook Friends.

Winners will be announced on Facebook and in the May issue of the magazine. Good luck!


Shrubs are the foundation of a great mixed border, providing a visual break

in structure and texture from the shorter perennials and annuals surrounding them. Plus they’re a must-have element in a bird-friendly garden, giving cover and sometimes food to your feathered friends. If you’re looking to add some shrubs to your landscape, here are some new or recent introductions that area nursery professionals are excited about for 2012.

thiNk sMallNothing is more frustrating than a shrub that immediately outgrows its space, adding to maintenance problems with its pruning demands. So it’s not surprising to find our experts recommending several new dwarf shrubs. Steffie Littlefield of Garden Heights Nursery likes ‘Little Devil’ ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Donna May’), a cross between the popular ‘Diablo’ purple-leaf ninebark and Dwarf Ninebark. This diminutive shrub only reaches a height of 3-4’, compared to its 6-10’ cousins,

but retains the beautiful deep-wine foliage and pretty pink spring flowers.

Also in the small stature/big bang category are the newer Drift Roses. Annie Stanley of Sappington Garden says, “I love, love, love the color of the Peach Drift Rose, and they smell great!” These roses are a cross between a groundcover rose and miniature rose, and only reach a height of 1-2’ with masses of blooms. They come in a variety of colors, including red, pink, peach, coral, apricot, and a new ‘Sweet Drift’ double pink. Best of all, they’re highly

disease resistant and bloom all season long! Slightly larger at 3-4’, but also mentioned by Steffie Littlefield as well as Jamie Granger of Lake St. Louis Garden Center is the Pink Home Run Rose.

Another dwarf favorite of Jamie’s is the butterfly bush (Buddleia) Lo and Behold ‘Purple Haze’. This compact version of the popular butterfly magnet offers fragrant purple-blue flowers from midsummer to frost, is heat tolerant and best of all, deer resistant!

Ellen Barredo of Bowood Farms added another delectable dwarf with her pick, the oakleaf hydrangea ‘Minuteman’ (H. quercifolia) (formerly ‘Ruby Slippers’), a true dwarf variety (3-1/2’) that produces huge white clusters of flowers that turn pink to red late in the season.

twice as NiceIf one set of petals is good,

Dwarfs, Doubles ‘n’ Dazzlers!New Shrubs for 2012

By Robert Weaver

Ninebark‘Little Devil’

Pink Home Run Rose

Peach Drift Rose

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(636)441-5048M-Sat 9-5, Sun 10-5Daniel’s Farm

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Enjoy a breath of SPRING at our

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Sunday, April 15th10am - 5pm

• 15 Impressive Greenhouses • Over10,000 Hanging Baskets!• 100’s of Varieties of Perennials• Over 100,000 Annuals• Over 70 Varieties of Roses• Great Selection of Beautiful Planted Containers

$5.00 OFF any purchase of $50 or More on ALL Nursery Products (Including Trees & Shrubs!)

One coupon per customer per visit. Hurry offer expires April 30, 2012!

Hydrangea‘Minuteman’


another is even better, or so seems the thinking behind many new varieties. Don Sherman of Hillermann Nursery and Florist likes the new Double Take ‘Orange Storm’ Quince (Chaenomeles spp.), featuring bright orange double flowers in early spring. It’s thornless and deer resistant (but for quince jam lovers, sorry, it’s sterile). Jamie at Lake St. Louis also mentioned the ‘Pink Storm’ and ‘Scarlet Storm’ versions.

Double attractions sometimes mean something besides double flowers. Both Don at Hillermann’s and Annie from Sappington Gardens recommended the Double Play Spireas, so named because they offer a “double

play” of color, first in colorful emerging spring foliage followed by the delicate summer flowers. The ‘Artist’ variety features purple/red spring foliage turning to green in summer, while the ‘Big Bang’ version offers up bright orange foliage in spring turning to a summer yellow.

Doubles can also be represented in repeat bloomers. Encore azaleas promise blooms in both spring and fall. According to Angela Jackson of Home Nursery, a local wholesaler of these azaleas, not all Encores are hardy in St. Louis. For our area, she recommends Autumn Amethyst (lavender), Cheer (medium pink), Lilac (lavender-violet), Sundance (deep pink), Twist (white with purple stripes), Sunset (orange-red) and Carnation (cotton candy pink) all hardy to Zone 6A. Autumn Carnation, in fact, doubles its double gifts, producing semi-double blossoms!

DazzliNg DeButaNtesIn addition to the doublers and the dwarfs, a few other recommended new shrub varieties dazzle in other ways.

A couple new hydrangeas made the “new and exciting” list, including Steffie’s picks, First Editions Great Star (Hydrangea paniculata), with huge, white star-shaped flowers, and First Editions Vanilla Strawberry, with large creamy white panicles turning to pink in late summer (see the cover).

Finally, there are some new shrubs that dazzle with spectacular foliage. Steffie and Annie both mentioned the ‘Golden Dream’ boxwood (Buxus macrophylla), a compact (2’) boxwood with green leaves edged in yellow. Ellen voted for a couple shrubs with foliage power, including the barberry ‘Orange Rocket’ (Berberis spp.), a compact (2’) barberry with coral orange new foliage and bright orange-red fall color, and ‘Fire Chief’, a green arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis) with red tips.

Photo Credits:‘Little Devil’ Ninebark,’Great Star’ hydrangea courtesy Bailey Nurseries, Inc.Peach Drift Rose courtesy The Conard-Pyle CompanyPink Home Run Rose courtesy Gene Sasse (©2007) of Weeks Roses‘Autumn Lilac’ Azalea, courtesy Encore AzaleaDouble Play ‘Artist’ spirea, courtesy Proven Winners.‘Minuteman’ Hydrangea, courtesy Ellen Barredo

Hydrangea‘Great Star’

Encore Azalea‘Autumn Lilac’

Double Play ‘Artist’ Spirea

6967 Route 111 Piasa, IL 62079 Phone (618) 729-4324

Where plant excitement rains...

Hundreds of varieties of Tropicals, Annuals, Perennials and Woody Shrubs. Find the Hummingbird Plants of Your

Dreams at Our Horti’s Hummer Haven Table.

Come See Us at the Ferguson

Farmers Market

this Spring & Summer!!

For more information, visit:

www.fergusonfarmersmarket.com

Our greenhouse

is openMarch 1st!

Celebrate spring with succulents,creatively potted in vintage ceramics.

Beautiful and whimsical!

Bill & Chris Kelleywww.CottGardens.com

Hours:Mon - Sat 9-5 pm & Sun 10-5 pm

Hundreds of Tropicals, Annuals, Perennials, and Hummingbird Plants.

“Cottage Garden is one of a kind! This unique nursery embellishes gardening for the soul.”

—June Hutson, Kemper Center, Missouri Botanical Garden


March is here and we are all tempted to go out and wake-up our sleepy roses.

Let’s proceed slowly! No matter what the weather, DO NOT uncover your roses before the 15th of April. There are many other things we can do. Late February and March, is an ideal time to prune and retie your climbers. Those out-of-control shrubs, like Knock Out, will do well with a good haircut at this time as will other hardy shrubs such as Rugosa roses. DO NOT prune any once-blooming roses, Old Garden Roses or most rambling roses. Rambling roses are a class of climbers that have very pliable, whip-like canes. These roses will crawl along the ground if not supported, unlike climbing tea or hybrid tea roses that will send up long canes that are thicker and stiffer and will support themselves for a while. Most modern climbers are repeat blooming roses with one exception, the David Austin climber ‘Constance Spry’.

Any climber that has been in the ground for 3 years can probably benefit from a good pruning. Look over the crown of the plant and assess the canes. Look for healthy, thick canes coming from the crown. Ideally you will have 3 or more good canes. Leave the best canes and remove diseased, broken and dead canes. The next step is to cut back the lateral canes to an outside facing bud, leaving 4 to 6 buds on

the cane. Now tie the main canes to their support being sure to stress the cane slightly. If you do not stress the main canes, they will only have blooms at the ends of the canes and you will have a very tall rose bush with very few blooms. Rambling roses are pruned after they bloom, usually late June is a good time.

Those Knock Out roses that are full of dead wood and 5 to 6 feet tall will look much better if the dead wood is removed and crossing canes are taken out. Then, it is a matter of trimming back the canes to a moderate size. Be careful not to take out more than a third of the live wood. The 1/3 rule is a good one for most pruning. Of course, dead wood does not count in the 1/3.

Now that the roses are cleaned and retied, it will be easier to get at those weeds before they bloom. Remember, by removing weeds before they set seed you will reduce next year’s weeds by 20% (that only applies to annual weeds). Finish off with a spring feeding of organic fertilizer and a new layer of mulch.

Waking Up the Rose GardenBy Diane Brueckman

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Your beginning to an extraordinary landscape314-965-3070

1011 N. Woodlawn • Kirkwood, MO 63122www.SugarCreekGardens.com

“for exceptional & rare plants”

Garden ConsultationsYour beginning to a beautiful outdoor spaceWith over 2,000 varieties of exceptional and rare perennials,

shrubs, roses and annuals along with of all the best in gardening!

For a limited time, we are offering free 45 minute garden consultations

at the nursery with our Design Professionals. Call 314-965-3070.

free


Diane Brueckman is a retired rosarian with Missouri Botanical Garden, and currently owns Rosey Acres in Baldwin, Illinois. You can reach her at (618) 785-3011.

15193 Olive Blvd. Chesterfield, MO 63017

(636) 530-0076

www.butterflyhouse.orga division of

Sophia M. Sachs

March 1–31

11530 Gravois Road, St. Louis, MO 63126 (314)843-4700 1-1/4 Mi. East of I-270, just one block east of Sappington Road on Gravois

2012 FREE Gardening Seminar SeriesYou are cordially invited to attend our FREE gardening seminars,

starting Thursday Feb. 23rd running through March 29, 2012. Attend and receive professional advice on how to be successful

with your gardening and landscape endeavors.

Seminars Each Thursdays at 2 PM and 7 PM

February 23rd

Perennials for Shade and How to Care for ThemBarry Ritter, Owner, Ritter Perennials

March 1st Sun Perennials: Select, Care & UseBarry Ritter, Owner, Ritter Perennials

March 8th

Solving the Mystery of the DahliaJohn Fox, Speaker for the St. Louis Dahlia Society

March 15th

Conquering Rose-Growing in St. Louis Robyn Wilkerson, American Rose Society, Consulting Rosarian

March 22nd Habitat GardeningCindy Gilberg, Horticulturist, Gilberg Design and Consulting

March 29th Vegetable Gardening: How Does Your Garden Grow? Or Does it?Nancee Kruescheck, Continuing Education, Meramec Comm. College

These are great programs by professional industry experts, come as often as you like—and don’t forget to

BRING YOUR QUESTIONS WITH YOU!

March is also a good time to move roses and to plant bare-root roses provided the soil can be worked. If you prepared your beds last fall for new roses you’re one step ahead. You can move roses any time from now until the end of April and be pretty sure of success. There are two things to keep in mind when planting bare-root roses. First soak the plant in a mild bleach solution for several hours to overnight before planting (1-2 tablespoons of bleach to a gallon of water). The purpose of soaking the plant is to kill any bacteria on the roots. It’s a hedge against crown gall. I then use the water to water the plant in. The second thing you MUST DO is cover the rose as if you were winter protecting the bush, even if the weather is very warm. Cover the rose with mulch to the tops of the canes. If the leaves open out before the roots can take up moisture the plant could die. Uncover in about 2 weeks.

After April 15th, uncover, prune, feed, weed and mulch your existing roses. Have a great spring! Love those roses!

.

Meet us at Kirkwood Market

150 E ArgonneApril 7, 14, 21, & 28

May 5 Saturdays 9am - 4pm

Pick up orders at Kirkwood Market

Order in advance (by Wed.), or choose from the selection at the Kirkwood Market.

Shaw Nature ReserveSaturday, May 13th

9am-4pm

Nursery Hours at Brazito MOOpening Day - March 17th

Mon - Sat 9am - 5pmSunday 12- 5pm

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery573-496-3492, fax: 573-496-3003

[email protected] Pleasant Hill Rd.

Jefferson City MO 65109


How To Build A Bubbler Photos, Text and Illustration by Margy and Dan Terpstra

A surefire way to draw birds to your garden year round is to provide fresh moving water. It doesn’t take ‘Niagara Falls’

to get their attention. A simple pondless bubbler will provide the trickling, sound and sufficient water for drinking and bathing that will keep birds and their offspring coming to your garden year after year.

Tips: Place your bubbler near a window where you can enjoy watching the birds. Also, nearby small trees or shrubs will provide safe places for the birds to hide, and other plants that provide food and nesting material will also help attract more birds.

Time To compleTe job: 2-3 hours (not counting electrical work)

Tools Needed:Heavy duty hammer drill (can be rented or have the rock drilled at a material supplies facility).• 3/4” masonry bit• 3/8” drill• Hole Saws: 7/8”, 1-1/4”, & 1-1/2” diameter• Tin snips (to cut hardware cloth)• Scissors (to cut landscape fabric and pond liner)• Screwdriver• Shovel• 2’ Spirit level and 4’ straight board (or 4’ level and no board)

lisT of maTerials (for a 5 ft. diameter pondless bubbler):• Attractive ‘bubbler’ rock – approximately 10” – 12” thick• A ‘magic’ perching branch• Pond liner - 10’ x 12’ (40 mil thick)• 5-gallon bucket with lid – clean and chemical free• Landscape fabric- 18” x 36” piece to wrap around the bucket• Duct tape• 1/4” or 3/8” mesh hardware cloth- 18” x 40” piece to wrap around

the bucket over the landscape fabric• Sheet metal screws - 6 - #8 x 1/2”• Small fountain pump - Little Giant rated at 170 gph• De-icer or Pond heater - thermostatically controlled Ice Chaser,

1250 watts• Tubing - 3 to 5 ft. of 1/2” i.d. black tubing to run from the pump

up through the bubbler rock• Lava rock - 1 cu. ft. bag to put around the bucket as bio-filter• Gravel – Meramec River gravel in two sizes: 9 bags “B” and 4

bags “C” (This totals approximately 1/2 cubic yard of gravel or 1300 pounds)

sTep-by-sTep coNsTrucTioN:1. Determine the location of the bubbler and have a licensed electrician run a dedicated 15 amp circuit to the area with a GFCI duplex outlet.

2. Use a hammer drill to drill a 3/4” hole straight through the chosen bubbler rock.

3. Prepare the bucket by drilling 15 1-1/2” holes around the outside in a pattern of 3 alternating rows of 5 holes each. Drill two holes in the bucket lid, opposite one another; one 7/8” hole for the tubing and one 1- 1/4” hole for both electrical cords to go through.

4. Wrap the bucket in landscape fabric and secure

sides and bottom edge with duct tape.

5. Cover the wrapped bucket with the hardware cloth, cut out around the bucket handles to fit, overlap the ends and secure with


sheet metal screws at several places around the bucket.

6. At the bubbler site, dig a hole approximately twice the diameter of the bucket and a few inches deeper than the bucket’s height.

7. Remove more soil to make a ledge around the hole approx. 5 ft. in diameter and a few inches deep, sloping toward the hole.

8. Place the bucket in the hole and check that the perimeter is level acrossthe entire basin area; remove bucket.

9. Lay the pond liner across the excavated area and carefully work it down into the hole. Stand in the hole and work the material around the edges until it lays reasonably flat with the folds evenly distributed.

10. Build up a 3”- 4”-high berm at the perimeter of the excavated area to help keep debris from washing into the basin. The liner should cover the berm and extend a few inches

beyond it.

11. Place the bucket in the lined hole. Put in the pump, attach the tubing and fill the bucket and hole with water. Plug in and test the pump, adjusting the flow control so that the water spouts up 3” above the end of the tube.

12. Place the heater in the bucket where it will float above the pump. Feed the plugs and tubing through the holes in the

lid. Secure the lid. Stuff a small piece of landscape fabric into the cord hole to keep gravel and debris out.

13. Surround the bucket with the lava rock that acts as the biological filter.

14. Place larger gravel on top of lava rock. Lower the bubbler rock over the tubing and position it where desired on top of the bucket. Fill the rest of the basin with gravel out to the top of the berm. Scoop a puddle area in the gravel for the birds to bathe in.

15. Distribute mulch around the perimeter of the bubbler basin,

covering the edge of the liner and up to the edge of the gravel.

16. Add a magic branch and watch the birds come in!

maiNTeNaNce:Water should be added as needed in dry conditions, even in the winter. Use natural microbial products called Microbe-Lift to reduce the scum buildup from bird droppings and dead leaves. If algae becomes a problem, use Oxy-Pond Cleaner (see www.microbe-lift.com). We got ours at O.K. Hatchery in Kirkwood. Never add chlorine bleach, but a few ounces of 3% hydrogen peroxide added once or twice a month would help oxygenate the water.

Watch the Video!Visit GatewayGardener.com

Margy and Dan Terpstra enjoy gardening, photographing and observing wildlife around their Kirkwood home and elsewhere.


Mara Higdon is the Program Director at Gateway Greening, Inc. They focus on community development through gardening throughout the St. Louis area. You can reach her at (314) 588-9600 x22 or by email at [email protected].

Like other gardeners throughout the area, I am eagerly awaiting spring to plant my garden. To prepare for the gardening

season you can start your own cool crops indoors using inexpensive lights and a shelving system or bookcase. With baby seedlings in hand, you can get that first tasty bite of lettuce almost a month earlier! Here’s what you need to start.

SeedsSoilless potting mixClean containers – yogurt containers, butter containersOld cake pans, cookie sheets (should have sides)Shop lightsEye hooks or S-hooksTimerSmall fanWire shelves or an old bookcaseSpray bottleSharpie marker

I start by making sure my containers have sufficient holes for water drainage. You can use a knife or a small drill depending on your containers. Moisten your potting soil with water. If you take a handful of the mix and squeeze it, you want it to be damp, but not dripping water. Fill your container and slightly firm up the mix with your hand. Once all the containers are full, I line them up and decide how many plants of each type I want to seed.

Seeds should be planted to a depth 2-3 times the length of the seed. Lettuce and other greens seeds can be very small and often flat. For the smaller seeds, I make a slight indentation with my finger into the mix and place a seed in the indentation. I then go back and sprinkle a bit of mix on the top to finish it off. For larger seeds, I use my finger or a pencil/chopstick to

make a hole 2-3 times the depth of the seed, drop the seed in, and pinch the hold closed. As you seed the containers be sure to label the containers with the date and variety of plant that you seeded.

Once all your seeds have been planted, spray them initially with warm water from a spray bottle. You don’t want to disrupt the seed by using a hose or the faucet directly.

Next, you need to prepare and place your shelves. Set up your shelves in an area that is above 65-68 degrees at all times. If your location is a little cooler, please note that the shop lights themselves will put off a little heat as well. If you are buying new shop lights, it should come with two chains. You can also use string or twine. Use the eye hooks on wooden book cases or S-hooks on wire shelves to attach your lights to the underside of the shelf. The lights will shine down on your seedling containers. Adjust the lights to hang 3-4 inches away from the containers. This maximizes the amount of light that the plant will need to germinate. However, there are some seeds that don’t need light to germinate initially and can begin this process in darkness. Only after you see the first signs of germination do they need

light. Raise the lights as the plants grow.

Place your seedling containers on the cookie sheets or cake pans. Try to keep uniform heights of containers together on the same sheet. Place the trays on the shelves underneath the lights. Set the timers to be on for 14-16 hours every day. Most cool weather vegetables should germinate

within a week or so. If not, check the container and reseed if you cannot find the old seed. Be gentle when checking! Water daily as necessary with the spray bottle or you can flood the cookie sheet with water, leave for 30 minutes, and then dump the excess.

Finally, once the seeds have germinated, I set up the small circulation fan on low to discourage damping off and pesky bugs. This air current also stimulates stronger growth of the plants as they learn to adjust to the movement – similar to what they will experience once planted outside.

After your seedlings have their second set of true leaves, you can transplant them to larger containers. To prepare the seedlings for the outdoors, begin leaving the seedlings outdoors in a protected area such as a sun porch or open garage for a couple of hours. Increase the number of hours that they spend each day outside in the elements. After two weeks the seedlings should be hardened off and ready to plant outdoors. Once you have planted the seedlings outdoors, be cautious and watch the weather. You can cover your newly transplanted seedlings with row cover, leaves, or create a barrier with straw bales and a light bed sheet if very cold weather strikes unexpectedly.Grow a diverse selection of plants just in case one crop gets hit with a disease or bug. Have fun with it! And remember to share when you’ve got an excess of seedlings. You don’t want all that hard work to go to waste!

Starting Veggie Seeds IndoorsBy Mara Higdon

Design/Installation Also Available

314-741-3121 618-585-3414


Houseplants, our Green Heroes, work tirelessly purifying our home and office environments removing common

pollutants and continuously releasing oxygen and moisture into our homes and offices. Houseplants improve our lives, naturally cleansing the very air we breathe. A recent news report noted that people in general spend 90 percent of their lives inside their home or office. YOU NEED A HERO, a houseplant in your life and yet you have resisted the purchase of one. WHY? The number one reason customers tell me is, “I don’t want to kill it.” This month I want to review some general guidelines about houseplants in an effort to encourage those of you who have failed to try again! Tip! You learn from your mistakes!

Light Requirements: All houseplants require light to manufacture food and to grow. Window coverings, trees outside your windows, and the type of houseplant will play a factor when deciding where to place your houseplants. Most houseplants like 8 - 10 hours of light per day, and will grow well with bright indirect sunlight. It helps to KNOW what your plant needs in terms of light. When placing plants near windows, pay attention to the direction the windows are facing. South and west windows generally provide the most sunlight. Remember that south- and west-facing windows, especially during the summer months, produce the most heat and light, which is not suitable for all houseplants. Many customers struggle with a north window and what plant to place there. Never fear, there are plants that will survive in this lower light exposure! East windows are very accommodating. Many plants grow in this location happily! TIP! Purchase plants from an independent garden center where an educated sales associate can assist you! Watering Requirements: More plants are killed by improper watering than any other problem. The amount of water and the frequency of watering will depend on how much light the plants receive, the temperature and humidity in the home, and how close the plant is to heating and cooling vents. The type of plant and size of container also determine how quickly water is used. Generally, when watering, you should water so that some of the water makes its way into the saucer. Do not leave water in the saucer. Water standing in the saucer should be removed within a few hours after watering. The best way to tell if your plant needs water is to feel the soil! Stick your finger about an inch down in the soil and if it feels dry, it is time to water.

If the plant is still very moist, wait a couple of days and check it again. TIP! During winter, houseplants will not require as much water as they do in the summer. Temperature & Humidity: Houseplants are generally tropical plants and do not like extreme changes in temperatures. If you are comfortable, most likely the plant will be comfortable. Most houseplants do not like temperatures below 50 degrees and temperatures above 80 degrees. And just like you, houseplants will not want to be sitting by a drafty window. Cold drafts can damage foliage. Because most houseplants are tropical, they prefer some humidity during the winter months. To increase the humidity in your home for your houseplants try the following suggestions: 1. Group your houseplants together. 2. Place your houseplants on a water tray filled with pebbles so that the bottom of the pot rests on the pebbles above the water level. 3. Lightly mist the leaves with a spray bottle. 4. Get a whole house humidifier. TIP! I hang small misters on the side of pots that require more misting than others. Fertilizing: Houseplants enjoy regular fertilizing for best performance.

There are many organic and synthetic fertilizers readily available from your local independent garden center to choose from. Houseplants require less fertilizer during the winter months when the plants are not actively growing. During the growing season (spring-fall) it is recommended to fertilize every 4 - 6 weeks. Some plants such as orchid have a feeding schedule to follow. TIP! More is not better!

For additional tips on repotting and common problems and cures associated with houseplants, please see the expanded version of this article at GatewayGardener.com, or write for your FREE printed copy.

Ellen Barredo may be reached at Bowood Farms (314) 454-6868. She is also co-hosting monthly on AM 550 KTRS, the Inside Out Show with Host John Shea, Saturdays from 12-3 p.m.

Houseplants: Green Heroes!by Ellen Barredo

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Dig This!Gateway Gardeners

and Businesses in the NewsSt Charles Parks & Recreation Receives Citation of Commendation

The Fleur de Lis Garden Society presented Chris Atkinson, Asst. Dir. of Parks & Recreation, St. Charles, with a Citation of Commendation on recently for the Department’s stewardship and conservation of the historic trees in its city parks.

The St. Charles County Parks Department, along with the St. Charles Tree Council, created a brochure identifying 19 champion trees in St Charles County. Brochures may be picked up at the St. Charles County Parks Department, 201 N. Second St., S-510, St. Charles. Pat Halle, 2011 Tree Tour Chairman made the presentation. This is the 4th year that the garden club has toured these historic trees in St. Charles and the surrounding areas. The City of Hazelwood and Lindenwood University also received citations this year.

The Fleur de Lis Garden Society is a member of National Garden Clubs, Inc. and meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm at the Kisker Road Library. The location and date are subject to change. Guests and new members are always welcome. Visit their website at FleurDeLisGardenSociety.org for more information.

Communities Getting Chicken FriendlierThe City of Richmond Heights recently amended its existing law restricting backyard poultry to allow the keeping of up to 5 chickens for single residence private homes, and has eliminated a proposed requirement that would have required a privacy fence. The city began issuing permits in early January. The new ordinance was promoted by a group known as the Friends of Richmond Heights Foundation, which promotes projects relating to public art, sustainable development and parks expansion in Richmond Heights.

The City of Creve Coeur also recently overturned a three-

year-old lawn banning chickens. The new law now allows up to 12 hens per private residence, depending upon lot size. Other restrictions are also included in the ordinance.

Gateway Greening Names New Director Gateway Greening, a non-profit organization promoting urban community gardening throughout St. Louis, recently named Michael Sorth its new executive director. Mr. Sorth brings extensive private sector, government and non-profit experience to Gateway Greening and hopes to expand the visibility of the organization and to lead fundraising efforts to sustain and grow the organization’s community gardens, youth programs, Urban Roots downtown landscape initiative and urban farming, including a new program called Farm Works. Farm Works will include private developer Craig Heller and a collaboration of St. Patrick Center, Gateway Greening and other partnering organizations. The program will consist of greenhouses with hydroponics, aquaponics and an outdoor garden that will be used to profile and showcase urban farming techniques and tools. The partnership hopes to have the Farm Works project structure in place in 2012.

Three Amigos On the Radio

Radio station KTRS (550 AM) has debuted a new team of gardening and plant experts to fill the shoes vacated by Rolling Ridge’s Jim McMillan, who retired last fall from the Inside Out Show radio program. Co-hosted by John Shea, the show’s home maintenance and improvement expert, the gardening side of the fence is now

Michael Sorth

Chris Atkinson and Pat Halle

left to right, Ellen Barredo, Steffie Littlefield and Jennifer Schamber at a 2011 class


fielded by a rotating team consisting of Bowood Farms’ Ellen Barredo, Garden Heights’ Steffie Littlefield, and Greenscape Gardens’ Jennifer Schamber. The three have frequently teamed up for symposium and class programs, so much so that they are affectionately known in the industry as the “three amigos!”

Though the show has aired on Sundays throughout the winter because of sport programming conflicts, it will return to its regular slot this spring on Saturdays from 12:15-3pm.

Donate Your Perennial Divisions

Do you have perennials in need of dividing, but don’t have the time or energy to do the work? Gateway Greening and their team of “dig crew” Master Gardeners need your plants!

For more than ten years, backyard gardeners from the entire St. Louis region have turned their trowels into weapons against urban decline by donating thousands of plants dug from their own yards during the Great Perennial Divide. Plants donated by these gardeners are made available to 200 Gateway Greening community and youth gardens in the inner city core.

Digs occur during the first month of spring, or March 20-April 20, and are scheduled by personal appointment.

In order to qualify to host a “dig crew” at your home, you must have enough work to accommodate a minimum of four volunteers for at least two hours. The volunteers are experienced and conscientious gardeners, but you must also agree to direct and supervise the volunteers so they

know what to take and what to leave. Hardy, low-maintenance sun and shade perennials are particularly desired. For more information on how to become a dig site and what is involved, contact [email protected] or 314-588-9600x28.

New USDA Zone Maps ReleasedThe U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released the new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PHZM), updating a useful tool for gardeners and researchers for the first time since 1990 with greater accuracy and detail. The new map is available online at www.planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

For the first time, the new map offers an interactive format and is specifically designed to be Internet-friendly. The map website also incorporates a “find your zone by ZIP code” function. Static images of national, regional and state maps have also been included.

Our region, which used to straddle the 5b-6a zone, now falls in the 6a-6b category, depending upon proximity to urban areas, bodies of water, elevation and other factors. Many area gardeners have even experiemented with Zone 7 plants with degrees of success. Ask your favorite nursery professional what new plants you might now be able to grow reliably now!


Give us the details of your upcoming gardening, lawn or landscaping event and we’ll add it to our website and include it in our next issue. Deadline for printing in the May issue is April 1st.

How to reach us:Mail: PO Box 220853, St. Louis,

MO 63122Fax: (314) 968-4025

Email: [email protected]

GARDEN CLUBS AND PLANT SOCIETIESInterested in joining a garden club or plant society? We have meeting dates, locations and contact information on more than 50 area garden clubs on our website at GatewayGardener.com. Don’t have access to the internet? Just call us at (314) 968-3740, or write us at the above address, and we’ll get the information to you. Share your joy for gardening and join a garden club or favorite plant society today!

FUN FOR KIDS

March 3rd 9am—Children’s Garden Club-Growing in the Garden. FREE, no reservations required, everyone welcome. The Children’s Garden Club is designed to educate and bring delight in gardening to children with projects they do themselves. Sherwood’s Forest Nursery & Garden Center, 2651 Barrett Station Rd., (314) 966-0028.

CLASSES, LECTURES AND EVENTS Now through Mar. 25th 9am-5pm--Annual Orchid Show. Features 800 orchids from one of the worldís premier collections. Missouri Botanical Garden Ridgway Center. Garden admission plus $5. Free for members.

February 23rd

2pm & 7pm—Shade Perennials and How to Care for Them. Barry Ritter, Ritter Perennials, guest speaker at Sappington Garden Shop, 11530 Gravois Rd. (314) 843-4700. FREE.

March 1st

2pm and 7pm—Sun Perennials: How to Select, Care and Use. Barry Ritter, Ritter Perennials, guest speaker at Sappington Garden Shop, 11530 Gravois Rd. (314) 843-4700. FREE.

6-8pm—Composting, Recycling for Better Soil. Learn steps in composting including materials that can be composted, plus how compost improves soil properties resulting in healthier, better yielding plants. Presented by Matt Herring, Agronomy/Natural Resources Specialist, University of Missouri Extension. Register at 636-239-6729. FREE. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, Hillermann.com.

March 3rd 8am-4pm--St. Louis Garden Blitz: Solve, Grow, Enjoy. Join nationally and locally recognized horticulture professionals for an informative and inspiring day of classes, demonstrations, exhibits and workshops. The keynote speaker is Doug Tallamy, author of Bringing Nature Home. Also featured will be Diane Ott Whaley, founder of Seed Savers Exchange. Produced by Missouri Botanical Garden and the Horticulture Co-op of Metro St. Louis in association with the St. Louis Master Gardeners. Missouri Botanical Garden; members $70; non-members $85.

Parkland Master Gardeners Symposium. For gardeners of all levels of interest and ability. $18 includes catered lunch (advance registration Jan. 10th-Feb. 20th only. Fee must be paid with registration and is non-refundable.). Mineral Area College, Park Hills, MO. For more information, contact Ginny Smith at (573) 756-2284.

10-11:30am—Landscape Design. Ron Gatewood, Certified Arborist, will discuss the most important steps to take when designing, installing, and maintaining your landscape.No reservations required. FREE. Sandy’s Back Porch, 2004 West Blvd., Belleville, IL. (618) 235-2004, or SandysBackPorch.com.

6th Annual Native Plant Seminar. Dave Tylka featured guest speaker, plus Grow Native vendors. Ages 18 and up. Conservation Center,

Cape Girardeau, MO. Hosted by The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Cape Girardeau County Master Gardeners. For more information call (573) 290-5218.

10am—Bloom Gloom No Doom. Guest speaker Karen Collins, author of Karen’s Garden Calendar, offers tips for early spring gardening. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. Call (314) 965-3070 for reservations.

March 8th-11th

8:30am-5:30pm daily—Permaculture Training. This four-day foundational training course in permaculture design features classroom and project components geared for the suburban or city resident who wants to transform their immediate environment into one of natural beauty, productivity and functionality. The workshop earns credit toward Permaculture Design Course (PDC) Certification. Optional evening activities at the Missouri Botanical Garden and local project sites. $595 ($550 for Missouri Botanical Garden and USGBC members). Advance registration required by Mar. 5. www.usgbc-mogateway.org/events.

March 8th

1-4pm—Native Plant School: Deer-resistant Native Plants. Bring your questions, comments, photos, drawings, and plant specimens for discussion. Session includes hands-on tours and demonstrations. Audience participation encouraged. $15 ($12 Garden members). Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve. Register and pay online at ShawNature.org, or call (636) 451-3512 ext. 0.

2pm and 7pm—Solving the Mystery of The Dahlia. John Fox,St. Louis Dahlia Society, guest speaker at Sappington Garden Shop, 11530 Gravois Rd. (314) 843-4700. FREE.

6-8pm—Garden Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Can Improve Your Health. Learn simple techniques to boost the amount of fruits and veggies for every occasion.Presented by Mary Schroepfer, University of Missouri Extension Center. Call 636-239-6729 to register. FREE. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, www.hillermann.com.

6-9pm—Organic Gardening. Learn the A to Z of growing vegetables, herbs, annuals, perennials, and shrubs without harsh pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Includes handy resources for natural gardening. St.

Charles County Extension Center, 260 Brown Rd., St. Peters MO. Visit http://extension.missouri.edu/stcharles/gardenclasses/aspx or call 636-970-3000 for information. Pre-registration required. $25.

March 9th

1-4pm—Native Plant School: Book Review 2 (Bringing Nature Home). Bring your questions, comments, photos, drawings, and plant specimens for discussion. Session includes hands-on tours and demonstrations. Audience participation encouraged. $15 ($12 Garden members). Whitmire Wildflower Garden at Shaw Nature Reserve. Register and pay online at ShawNature.org, or call (636) 451-3512 ext. 0.

March 10th 10am—Beginning Perennial Gardening. Steps needed to create a successful perennial garden. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. Call (314) 965-3070 for reservations.

10-11:30am—Miniature Gardens. Bring on the fairies and all the fun that Fairy Gardening can be. Linda Sulentic will show us how simple and easy it is to make a fairy garden. Her lifelong enthusiasm for miniatures will inspire you to create one of your very own. FREE. Sandy’s Back Porch, 2004 West Blvd., Belleville, IL. (618) 235-2004, or SandysBackPorch.com.

1-4pm— Grape Vine Pruning Principles and Demonstration. . Learn the Fruiting habits of grapes, the Balanced Pruning concept, the importance of light exposure, shoot thinning, shoot positioning, leaf removal and more. St. Charles County Extension Center, 260 Brown Rd., St. Peters MO. Visit http://extension.missouri.edu/stcharles/gardenclasses/aspx or call 636-970-3000 for information. Pre-registration required. $25.

March 15th6-8pm—Movie Night at Hillermann’s. Join Labadie Environmental Organization (LEO), Missouri Organic Association (MOA) and Slow Food for a public screening of “Fresh” a movie that celebrates local, healthy organic food systems. Call 636-239-6729 to register. FREE. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, www.hillermann.com.

2pm and 7pm—Conquering Rose-Growing in St. Louis. Robyn Wilkerson, American Rose Society,

Upcoming Events


Consulting Rosarian, guest speaker at Sappington Garden Shop, 11530 Gravois Rd. (314) 843-4700. FREE.

6-8pm—Native Plants in the Home Landscape. Invest in your home gardens with long lived plants that also attract birds, pollinators and other wildlife to the yard. St. Charles County Extension Center, 260 Brown Rd., St. Peters MO. Visit http://extension.missouri.edu/stcharles/gardenclasses/aspx or call 636-970-3000 for information. Pre-registration required. $20.

March 17th 9am-noon—Growing Vegetables in Patio Containers. Learn what containers, soils and plants to choose so your family can enjoy growing a successful mini garden this season. St. Charles County Extension Center, 260 Brown Rd., St. Peters MO. Visit http://extension.missouri.edu/stcharles/gardenclasses/aspx or call 636-970-3000 for information. Pre-registration required. $25.

10am—Beginning Perennial Gardening Design. Learn how to select and combine color, texture, form and bloom time. Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. FREE. Call (314) 965-3070 for reservations.

10am-4pm—Landscape Design: For the way you live outdoors. Meet Frisella designers and let them help you create that ideal outdoor living space. Pictures of projects on display, and designers will be available to answer questions. Frisella’s Nursery, 550 Hwy. F, Defiance, MO. (636) 798-2555.

2pm—How to Grow Your Own Potatoes. Bowood’s Lilla Bartko will talk about the many unique potato varieties available as well as planting and care techniques so that you will

be harvesting your own delicious potatoes in no time. Bowood Farms, 4605 Olive St. in the Central West End. Go to www.bowoodfarms.com or call (314) 454-6868 for more information. FREE.

Weekend Gardener. A variety of class topics to appeal to novice and experienced gardeners alike. Registration information along with the complete program with description available at www.extension.illinois.edu/madisonstclair. Gateway Convention Center, Collinsville, IL. For additional information or a brochure contact Denise at Madison-St Clair Unit, (618) 236-4172.

March 20th-21st9am-4:30pm—The Living Earth – Water and Related Issues. A 2-day seminar sponsored byThe Federated Garden Clubs of Missouri. Program will incorporate interactive activities, open book exam, plus a field trip to Forest Park. Courses can be used for educational credit for Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists. National Garden Club Headquarters, 4401 Magnolia Boulevard, St. Louis 63110. $50 includes lunches. Contact Sue Reed, 636-220-4143 or [email protected], for information and registration. Deadline to register is March 1, 2012.

March 22nd

6-8pm—Simple and Sensational Cooking Class. Taste and enjoy fresh spring veggies at the peak of their flavor. Demonstration of cooking techniques. Samples provided. Presented by Mary Schroepfer, University of Missouri Extension Center. Call 636-239-6729 to register. FREE. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, www.hillermann.com. 2pm.and 7pm—Habitat Gardening. Cindy Gilberg, Horticulturist, Gilberg Design and Consulting, guest speaker at Sappington Garden Shop, 11530

Gravois Rd. (314) 843-4700. FREE.

March 22nd and 27th 10am (22nd) and 5pm (27th)—Let’s Make a Terrarium. Create a terrarium, including traditional design, fairy garden or more modern looks. Supplies provided and experienced tutor to guide you through the process. Glass containers, soil and plants provided. Class size is limited and reservations required. $45 ($35 if you bring your own container). Sugar Creek Gardens, 1011 Woodlawn Rd., Kirkwood. Call (314) 965-3070 for reservations.

March 24th10-11:30am—Curb Appeal. Ron Gatewood, partner of Crain Tree Farm, will show how creating a cohesive plan to maximize appeal is easier than you think. Sponsored by the Southwestern Illinois College Community Education Program. Call 618-235-2700 Ext 5393 or 5618 for reservations. Attendees will receive a Sandy’s Back Porch Gift Certificate to reimburse them for the class fee-approx $8. Sandy’s Back Porch, 2004 West Blvd., Belleville, IL. (618) 235-2004, or SandysBackPorch.com.

10am--The Midwestern Native Garden Discussion and Book Signing. Learn how non-native species may be replaced with native alternatives best suited for Midwestern soil and climate in the home garden. For reservations call (618) 467-2521, or email [email protected]. www,thenatureinstitute.org. Talahi Lodge, Godfrey, IL.

2pm– Create a Living Moss Garden. Adding moss to the garden gives it a sense of calm and age, and is a great low maintenance alternative to grass. The Live Moss Garden Pack makes it easy – all you need is a shady, damp spot. Bowood’s Kathie Hoyer will show you how. Bowood Farms, 4605 Olive St. in the Central West End. Go to www.bowoodfarms.com or call

(314) 454-6868 for more information. FREE.

March 29th

2pm.and 7pm—Vegetable Garden-ing: How Does Your Garden Grow, or Does It? Nancee Kruescheck, Continuing Education, Meramec Community College, guest speaker at Sappington Garden Shop, 11530 Gravois Rd. (314) 843-4700. FREE.

6-8pm—Home Grown Herbs. Learn about growing herbs and their many uses. Call 636-239-6729 to register. FREE. Hillermann Nursery & Florist, www.hillermann.com.

6pm–Journey from Ireland to St. Louis with Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson. Meet Missouri Botanical Garden President, Dr. Peter Wyse Jackson, who will share photos chronicling his journey from his birthplace, Kilkenny, Ireland to the Midwest and share his thoughts on gardening in the unpredictable St. Louis climate. Bowood Farms, 4605 Olive Street, 63108 in the Central West End. Call 314-454-6868 or visit www.bowoodfarms.com for more information.

Mar. 31st - April 1st9am-3:30pm (Sat.)--No Child Left Inside Conference. A daylong conference to help educators (classroom/center & informal), youth leaders/volunteers and parents of young children (3 – 9 years old) discover ways to get children back outdoors. Keynote speaker Sherri Griffin, Professor of Early Childhood Education, Central Methodist University, and Curt Carter, Environmental Musician/Educator. Plus optional post-conference field trips on April 1st. $39 registration fee includes box lunch. For more information, or to register, call (314) 516-7250 or visit umslce.org/index.php/catalog (search keyword: no child).

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