Painted Ladies

I'm not a big fan of painted poinsettias, but Chris Beytes reports on these really pretty creations in the latest issue of Grower Talks Acres On line

Finally … what about paint?
It wouldn’t be poinsettia time if I weren’t writing about my favorite poinsettia of all: painted ones! But not those that are sprayed a dozen at a time. I’m talking about the works of art produced by just a handful of poinsettia Picassos out there.

My favorite so far is Scott Hamburg at K&W Greenery in Janesville, Wisconsin. I emailed K&W to see if Scott was still doing his thing for them, and Chris Williams replied that he is, on a freelance basis, even though he no longer works for them.

Chris reports they’ve sold 60 painted poinsettias so far in 2009 (as of December 15), compared to 101 for all of 2008. “The demand has been dwindling a bit over the past few years,” Chris admits. Their poinsettia sales are “decent,” with 8 in. and 10 in. doing well and probably surpassing 2008.

Chris sent me a few photos of Scott’s current work, but I wanted to share with you again one of my favorite groupings of his masterpieces … as inspiration for any of you who think the trend is worth dabbling in … or who have a few whites left that you need to move!

For more gardening information, visit Garden Media Group

2010 Perennial Plant of the Year

Natives are in for 2010! The new 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year is Baptisia australis. A wonderful, blue-flowering, sun-loving perennial native hardy in USDA zones 3-9.

Known as False Blue Indigo, the genus name comes from the Greek word "bapto" which means "to dye" because some of the darker flowered species were used as dyes.

It sports blue spikes of pea-shaped flowers resembling the tall racemes of lupines in May and early June. It's slow to mature, but very rewarding native garden perennial. Found in open woods, river banks and sandy floodplains, New York to Nebraska to Georgia.

According to North Creek Nurseries, this is the most cold hardy species and performs well over a wider range of environments than others. In the early spring, it is one of the first plants to emerge, and the gray-green leaves quickly fill out into a substantial sized bush.

The 10-12" long, flowering stalks arise in the spring, carrying 1" long, indigo-blue, pea-like flowers which last for about 4 weeks. Although the flowers are violet-blue, there is much variation when plants are raised from seed. Flowers will vary from light to deep indigo blue.

In partially shaded gardens the plants need support, but if grown in full sun, no staking is required. The plant spreads by rhizomes (slowly) and consumes considerable garden space. It does not require dividing from the plant's point of view, but division every 4-5 years may be beneficial to ease overcrowding.

Growing and Maintenance Tips
Grow in full sun average to dry soil. Baptisia has a very deep tap root, giving it the ability to survive long dry periods and making it a challenge to move once it is established. Move in the early spring if you must.

Garden Media Group

AAS Names New Director

Congratulations to our good friend Diane Blazek, former president and publisher at Ball Publishing, who has been named to fill the shoes of soon-to-retire All-America Selections executive director Nona Koivula. Nona has headed up AAS and the National Garden Bureau for more than 25 years.

For 75 years, AAS has promoted new garden seed varieties that past the test of superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America. NGB is a non-profit organization providing reliable, accurate gardening information on flowers and vegetables grown from seed. It encourages all people to garden, with a keen focus on children’s gardening programs.

Diane begins today at her new job.

According to Acres Online, Nona says she has no immediate plans for her retirement other than to continue to pursue her interests, such as Plant a Row for the Hungry.

Cheers, Nona, to a happy retirement! And cheers, Diane, on the new job!

Suzi, Garden Media Group

Today is National Poinsettia Day

Celebrate the season with poinsettias by Denny Schrock for BH&G Everyday Gardeners
While it may not rank up there with other major holidays of the season, this observance of a plant closely associated with the Christmas holidays is worth noting.

If you think of bright red bracts at the mention of this winter bloomer, you’re a traditionalist. There’s nothing wrong with that; almost 3/4 of poinsettia buyers prefer that color. But poinsettias are available in many more colors, now, from pink to white, creamy yellow, deep plum, and marbled and frosted bicolors.

The poinsettia was named for Joel Poinsett, U.S. ambassador to Mexico, where the plant is native. The plant’s botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, means “most beautiful euphorbia”.

Some shy away from this gorgeous flower because of a persistent, untrue rumor that the plant is poisonous. Research at Ohio State University has disproved this myth. Some people’s skin may be sensitive to the milky sap. However, eating the flowers is safe (but not recommended!).

Newer varieties of poinsettia are long lasting. Given bright light, warmth (average room temperature), and even moisture, the bracts should remain colorful for months. In tropical areas, poinsettia will grow into a large shrub. I remember a photo of my aunt and uncle next to a huge blooming poinsettia bush in front of their home in Nigeria. In temperate zones its usually easiest to simply discard the plant when it’s no longer attractive.

If you’re the type who likes a challenge, you can grow it on and try to bring it back into bloom next year. You’ll need to give the plant 14 hours or so of uninterrupted darkness each night beginning in late September in order to ensure bloom by the holidays. If you’re unsuccessful, you can always buy a can of spray paint.

To find out about other Christmas plants, visit Costa Farms.

GIFT IDEAS BLOOM AT THE GARDEN SHOP

THE WELL-DRESSED GARDEN by Marty Ross for Universal

Santa can take a hint — and he might need one, if a bubbling fountain, a shiny new spade, a fancy trellis or an antique garden urn is what you have at the top of your wish list.

Santa is a jolly fellow, indeed, but not much given to gardening up there at the North Pole, so see to it that he gets the word loud and clear — and in plenty of time — to improve your chances of actually getting the surprise you're expecting on Christmas morning.

You can send a text message to Santa these days, of course, but be sure to send a copy to loved ones and close friends. You'll really be doing them a good holiday deed, by reminding them that garden stores are great places to gift-shop, even when the weather outside is frightful.
You might even send word to your favorite garden shop. At department stores, traditional gifts for brides — dishes, bedding, housewares, — remain on the shelves year-round. At garden shops, "things change a lot," said John Kinsella, managing director of terrain at Styer's, a gardening and outdoor-living shop in Concord, Delaware County.

"If you want a certain garden chair, we may not have it any longer than three weeks," he said. "It's a challenge." At Terrain, gardeners or their friends who stop in to browse for presents will find practical, unexpected and fun gifts: Besides plants and pots, hoses and mulch and everything nice for under your trees, terrain stocks the shop with garden antiques, home furnishings with an earthy, garden theme, and even terrarium kits. "We like to inspire people to think creatively," he said. "We want gifts to be memorable."

Gift certificates at Terrain (and at most garden shops) do not expire. They can be redeemed year-round for anything: trowels, boots, bulbs, design consultations or lunch in the shop's cafe.

Visit terrain’s online store at shopterrain.

Landscape to Save Energy

Written on December 9, 2009 at 8:21 am, by Justin W. Hancock
A little blizzard is rolling through Meredith headquarters (and much of the rest of the Midwest) as I write this; we’ve been blanketed with a good snowfall (it looked like about 18 inches as I shoveled this morning), there are strong 40-mph winds, and we have single-digit temperatures.

One consequence of this is it’s probably increasing my heating bill this month. Happily, though, I know some landscaping tricks that help save me money on my heating/cooling bills.

One is to plant a windbreak. While not a new concept (farmers have been doing it forever), an evergreen barrier on the north or east side of your property has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of heat that cold winter winds pull from your home.

If you don’t have the space for a windbreak, consider a berm. It can create a pocket of insulating air space around your home’s foundation. Plant on it and you’ve also created a little extra privacy in your landscape.

How much can it save you? Many experts say 5 to 25 percent, depending on a number of factors. Couple that with the fact that attractive landscaping adds to your home’s value, and it seems like a pretty good deal, eh?

Want a little help with the landscape plan, find a professional landscape designer in your area by clicking APLD.

A hip way to rethink houseplants

From Dirt du Jour for Dec 8th

Unisomhome.com (Finland) brings us this, a walnut ladder with dishwasher-safe porcelain pots to plunk those houseplants youre going to get as hostess gifts.

If the planter is the gift, pair it with Judy Whites lastest book Bloom-Again Orchids (Timber Press) thats as close as an orchid for dummies book as you'll find.

For more garden news, visit Garden Media Group.

All moved in!

We are moved in. Packed in, I should say.

Saturday, Tracey, GMG's office manager supreme, orchestrated a seamless move into our new "home". Now we have to unpack all the boxes . . . and distribute chairs. We have an abundance of chairs.

Please note our new number: 610-444-3040

New Address: 520 N. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348

A HUGE thank you a million million times to Tracey for all she did from inspections, to renovations to moving us in, she is the best! Thank you, Tracey!

Come see us, Suzi

GMG is Moving!

This is our last day in Chadds Ford. We've been here for more than six years and have enjoyed our time "above the money" in this wonderful little village.

Today we are packing up. Tomorrow the movers come. Monday we will be back in business at our new location. We are so excited.

Our new "home office" was built in 1925 and is in the borough of historic Kennett Square. We finally are going to have a test/display garden and lots of sun. Our sunporch will be the perfect place for all of our house plants and maybe even some seed starting.

Plus Kennett is full of great restuarants, cute shops and a farmers' market.

GMG's new address is: 520 W. State Street, Kennett Square, PA 19348

New phone: 610-444-3040

We all are looking forward to our new "home" and invite you to come and visit us anytime.

Indoor Plants Key to Clean Air

We've known this for years, but now new research proves indoor plants can drastically reduce levels of stress and ill health and boost concentration because they soak up harmful indoor air pollution.

Horticulture expert Dr. Stanley Kays, the lead researcher at University of Georgia, says some indoor plants remove harmful VOCs from indoor air. He identified five "super ornamental plants" that every workplace should have to clean up indoor air. They include English ivy, waxy-leaved plants and ferns.

The study says that simply introducing common houseplants into your home has the potential to significantly improve the quality of indoor air. The grassroots campaign, O2 for You, gives a great overview of the health benefits of indoor plants.

According to a World Health Organization report in 2002, harmful indoor pollutants represent a serious health problem that is responsible for more than 1.6 million deaths each year.

Indoor air is up to 12 times more polluted than outdoor air in some areas, with air quality affected by chemicals from paints, varnishes, adhesives, furnishings, clothing, solvents, building materials and even tap water. These produce volatile organic compounds that have been shown to cause illnesses in people who are exposed to the compounds in indoor spaces.

Kays, writing in the journal HortScience, said: "The VOCs tested can adversely affect indoor air quality and have a potential to seriously compromise the health of exposed individuals."

Read more

Edible Walls

Check out this story from the New York Times.Edible gardens are in. Green walls are in. Now we can eat the walls!

(In the photo: GOING VERTICAL Brad Zizmor, left, had edible walls installed on the deck of his Manhattan apartment with the help of Kari Elwell Katzander, a landscape designer, and two workers.)

Edible walls — metal panels filled with soil and seeds and hung vertically.

They may sound like a piece of Willie Wonka’s chocolate factory. In fact, they are the latest development in green roof technology. Like green roofs, edible walls include a thick layer of vegetation on the outside of buildings to provide insulation and reduce heating and electricity costs.

But unlike green roofs — and their vertical cousins, green walls — edible walls also produce fruit, vegetables and herbs in far less space than typical gardens. That’s why advocates of urban farming have embraced them as a way to lower food costs, increase nutritional quality and cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions by using fewer delivery trucks.

Read more and go to Garden Media Group for more gardening trends.

Christmas Angel Looking for Gardening Stuff

Every year my husband and I pick an angel from on our church's Angel Tree to provide a holiday gift. We've given little red wagons, Star Wars and baby dolls. This year I found this request from 10 year old Dennis Torres: Books on gardening and planting. Imagine that! A budding landscape designer.

I am giving him "Gardening for Dummies" and "Anyone Can Landscape" along with some planting diagrams and a new trowel.

Do y'all have any other suggestions to inspire and engage a 10 year old boy who likes to garden?

Vintage Tree Trimming Ideas from Terrain

Visit terrain's online store Shopterrain.com for inspiration and great gift ideas for the holidays. From natural critter ornaments to beeswax candles to handmade Christmas tree skirts, terrain has something for everyone in all price ranges.

Complimentary shipping now through December 23rd for standard shipping on orders over $100. Use promocode HOLIDAY.

Shop terrain now.

Top Performing Annuals with Allan Armitage

Webinar Wed, Dec 2, 2009 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST

Are the varieties you are growing and selling true performers? Find out and maximize your spring offerings by registering for this free webinar hosted by Greenhouse Grower.

Greenhouse Grower's resident varieties guru Dr. Allan Armitage of the University of Georgia (UGA) presents the top performing annuals based on responses from hundreds of visitors to UGA’s trial gardens in 2009.

UGA’s trial gardens have become the litmus test for plants that can withstand heat and humidity. Armitage will talk about annuals that have looked good for extended periods of time and award winners from the Trial gardens at UGA. As Armitage says, if the plant will perform well in Georgia, it will perform most anywhere.

Sign up for the Greenhouse Grower Dec 2 webinar with Allan here.

Happy Thanksgiving