Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/greenscene3916edpr f I i t I SEEDS. GROWING LIVES. THINKING January-February 2011 *$5.00 The 2010 Garden Photo Contest Winners The Garden of Anne Stookey Wild Dicentras Two green thumbs up The new 2011 Forester is your wheelbarrow, garden shed and greenhouse all rolled into one. Built in a zero landfill plant, it comes with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive standard and has won more awards than any other small SUV.* Just a few reasons why it’s both gardener- and Mother Nature-approved. Love. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru. Forester.® Weli-equippetf srt $20,495^ -Tbd •Claim based on cumulative awards won since 1997 from Car & Driver (5 Best Trucks). Edmunds.com (Editor's Most Wanted) and RL Polk & Co. (Polk Automotive Loyalty Award). -lyiSRP excludes destination and deliveritcharges, tax, title and registration lees. Dealer sets actual price. Forester 2.5X Limited pictured has an MSRP of $26,495. SHOW DATES: MAR' "Ginkgo Enterprises." When I ' bought my house I was delighted ■ that there was a ginkgo growing % J outside my front door, smelly nuts and all. One rainy fall morning, I saw this single ginkgo leaf on my front step and was struck by the beauty of the raindrops on the leaf and the color gradation of the leaf against the stone background. I went straight back into the house to get my camera. For me, this photo captures that feeling of a cool autumn morning after the rain. Honorable Mentions jf ftibonu Barbara ▼ Flannery Stookey says she was drawn to gardening through her appreciation for architec- ture, and that shows in the lines of her Chestnut Hill garden. Matching juniper topiaries flank the deep red front doors of the 147-year-old house faced in Wissahickon schist. Clipped English ivy clinging to a trellis graces a wall in a crisscross pattern that reflects the latticework on a nearby porch. Espaliered fruit trees stretch their pruned branches gracefully along a wall. A couple of large granite balls, half hidden among the greenery in summer, are echoed in winter by boxwood orbs and round topiaries. Foliage color, texture, and form are the most important attributes of plants in this garden, which is dominated by trees like willow, katsura, river birch, and Japanese maple; shrubs including peonies, hydrangea, and smoke bush; hedges of boxwood and yew; and perennials such as ferns, hostas, grasses, tiarella, heucheras, and ajugas. “The plants serve the design,” says Stookey. “1 want the unexpected, the unpredictable ... to be on the cutting edge of design.” She likes the elegance of a monochromatic color scheme — every shade, tone and tint of green imaginable — but she doesn’t hesitate to use accents of purple and orange. It all adds up to a garden that is at once sophisticated and inviting; it accommodates both entertaining and her dog Tracy, an eight-year-old retired greyhound that loves to run. Yet Stookey wasn’t really a gardener when she moved to Philadelphia from Washington, DC, in 1994 with her husband, Comcast senior executive Joseph W. Waz, Jr. Her career in public broad- casting hadn’t allowed much free time for pursuits like gardening. But her interest in it went back to childhood. “I grew up in Texas, and my father was a great gardener, but mostly vegetables,” she says. “1 enjoyed helping — I loved being in the dirt — but I was always stage-managing the artistic aspects.” It wasn’t surprising, then, that she became an accomplished amateur floral designer at the same time she was developing her gardening skills. “The principles and elements of design, color, harmony, light, proportion, that sort of thing, apply to art, floral arrangement, and gar- den design,” says Stookey, who is a member of Ann Stookey's Garden Ann St<|)key in her garden, \ilith clippe^ English ivy Rowing on a crisscross trellis behind he;;,* Wissahickon Garden Club and a flower-arranging judge for the Garden Club of America. She was strongly influenced by European floral designers who take a lean, architectural approach, using minimal materials to achieve high impact. “That really resonated with me,” she says, “and I saw this as an opportunity for a high- style concept” in the garden. Stookey describes the garden she inherited as “leftover Wissahickon,” with a lot of rangy rhododendron and mountain laurel surrounding a large stone house built in the Victorian style in 1863 but remodeled and “Frenchified” in the 1930s, when the front porch was removed and a mansard roof installed. “There’s a lovely side porch and a little terrace, so I started think- ing about how to link them with a transitional garden,” she says. With the help ol landscape architect Alice Farley and her business partner, Leslie Purple, of the Plant Connection in Wyndmoor, Stookey added some hardscaping to the side garden and established an outdoor sitting area. “1 started thinking about this outdoor room Stars of a Foliage Garden idea before it was a ‘thing,’” she adds. She took a break from the garden to remodel the house, but about seven years ago enlisted the help of garden designer Nina Schneider. The two women hit it off immediately when they met. They shared not only a design background but also a love for rescued greyhounds — Schneider has two — and the Morris Arboretum, and have collaborated on Stookey’s garden ever since. Editing has played a large role in the development of the garden, says Schneider, who is not averse to moving plants, including some sizeable birch trees, if she thinks they are in the wrong place. “We try to walk the garden once a month to assess and discuss,” she says. “Nina helped me to understand that repetition strengthens design,” Stookey says, pointing out the many white-flowering Annabelle hydrangeas that lighten the shade and look good at night, when she moves her dinner parties outdoors. “Close to the house, we’ve tried to keep the lines clean, with color blocking — large groups of a few plants, depending on the texture,” she says. “On the terrace, for example, there are three layers of hedges: boxwood, yew, and carpinus, which will be a tall hedge.” The trunks of the carpinus are trimmed high, to create “windows” between the top of the yew hedge and the carpinus foliage. It’s a multi-season view that works equally well from outside or inside the house. “My mother, who is a fabric artist, always talked of the ‘back art,’ that the back of a piece was just as important as the front,” she adds, and it is a lesson she applies throughout the garden. Stookey views her window boxes and containers as opportunities for floral design, and changes them frequently: “I’m easily bored, and it’s a chance to do something different.” There seems little likelihood of boredom in this constantly evolving garden, but just in case, Stookey already has her eye on the next project: the landscaping around the carriage house that she uses as a design studio. “We need to start working on that garden,” she tells Schneider. The garden's design accommodates Stookey's retired greyhound, Tracy, who loves to run an established course with other rescued greyhounds owned by garden designer Nina Schneider. The plants in Ann Stookey's garden are chosen primarily for their design attributes, including foliage color, texture, and form. As a result, she is building col- lections of "go-to" plants such as heucheras, ajugas, grasses, ferns, and hostas. Below is a list of her particular favorites ("at the moment," she qualifies). Heuchera 'Caramel', which is featured in the front garden Ajuga reptans Black Scallop, which she uses mostly in containers, but also in the front garden Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus', because she likes grasses, carexes, and liriopes and uses them in a variety of situations Ligularla dentata 'Othello', a tropical-looking plant that thrives in shade, which Stookey fea- tures under a lilac standard, Syringa meyer/ 'Palibin' Cotinus coggygria Golden Spirit, a smoke bush known for clear golden leaves that turn to bril- liant corals and reds in fall, which is grown as a stand-alone specimen in Stookey's garden Petasites japonicus atropurpu- rea, a dramatic-looking plant that is teamed with Heuchera villosa 'Caramel' in the garden Salix integra 'Hakuro-nishiki', a variegated willow with four- season appeal that Stookey and garden designer Nina Schneider cut back to the ground each spring to take advantage of the colorful new growth 15 Native Plants that Deserve your Attention by Jo Ann Gardner Dutchman's breeches (D. cucullarial GREEN SCENE • january/february 201 1 16 Dicentras ^1^ £ you’re interested in growing wild E ■ M dowers, you can’t do better titan | ■ to start with native dicentras, g ■ ■ close relatives of the familiar ^ Asian bleeding heart (Dicentra | spectabilis). These perennial beauties are dainty plants s that grow easily when you meet their needs: rich, o humusy soil in light woodland or partial shade. New ^ introductions open up more possibilities of growing g them in sunnier conditions, in the flower border. All g bear charming flowers that come and go from mid to | late spring and into the summer, right through early frosts, and, with some exceptions, are hardy from Zones 3 through 8. The dicentra season begins with Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cncullarid) and squirrel corn (D. canadensi^, native to the eastern United States and westward. These fall into the category of spring ephemerals, whose fleeting presence is one of the most welcome signs that winter has truly passed. Although blooms may only last two weeks, their freshness is unequaled. Like all dicentras, dowering stems arise naked and arching from finely cut basal foliage, gray-green in squirrel corn. The flowers of Dutchman’s breeches are striking in appearance, like pantaloons — white with a yellow waistline — hung upside-down to dry on a clothesline. The flowers of squirrel corn, so-called because squirrels like to eat their yellow tubers, are in the familiar bleeding heart design, but slender and greenish-white, tinged pink. Both plants reach 6 to 10 inches tall and then die down after blooming. They are best started from plants, which should be established in the fall in slight- ly acid to neutral soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. You will know if your soil is too acidic when plants produce foliage at the expense of flowers; add a little agricultural lime as recommended. Plant the fleshy roots of Dutchman’s breeches 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep, 4 to 6 inches apart. For squirrel corn, plant roots 2 inches deep in small groups, covering roots with wire mesh to protect them from rodents. Lightly mulch plantings. Once established, both types will self-seed, finding their way in and around rocks, woodland plants, and trees. Both enjoy the company of bloodroot, hepatica, and trillium. Fringed bleeding heart, 10 to 15 inches tall, is a bushier plant. It pushes through the soil in early spring, and begins blooming when the ephemerals have passed. It continues into late summer, unless dormancy is triggered by heat and drought. Native to eastern North America, its inflated, short-spurred hearts, mauve-pink to Dicentra is a Latin-based word meaning "with two spurs GREEN SCENE • january/february 201 1 17 Wild Dicentras These fall into the category of spring ephemerals, whose fleeting presence is one of the most sought-after signs that winter has tmly passed. rose, dangle over deeply-cut green foliage. Fringed bleeding heart is more adaptable to soil and site than the other native species, thriving in more open ground, with some shade, as a long-blooming ground cover. Its counterpatt. Western bleeding heart, is nearly identi- cal except lot its deeper-hued flowers and noticeably grayish-green foliage. Grow fringed bleeding heart from plants set out in the fall, about 1 inch deep and 2 feet apart, and cover with light mulch. Propagate by division. Selections from these two species, and the hybrids arising from their crossing (with the addition of an Asian species into the mix), have resulted in a new race of longer-bloom- ing plants, more tolerant of sun, heat, and dry conditions. They are rated hardy from Zones 3 through 9. Here are four cultivars that are sure to catch your fancy: • D. eximia ‘Snowdrift’ produces sprays of pure white flowers over gray-green foliage. • D. ‘King of Hearts’ bears well-sculpted rosy-pink, flared hearts — a contrast to its blue-green foliage. • D. ‘Luxuriant’ has cherry-red hearts with green foliage. • D. ‘Burning Hearts’ has caused a sensation in the gardening world. It produces sprays of flared, white-edged rosy red hearts set off by a compact mound of silvery blue foliage. Jo Ann Gardner tends her wild dicentras in upstate New York. Dutchman's breeches is one of many plants whose seeds are spread by ants, a process called myrme- cochory. The seeds have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome that attracts ants. The ants take the seeds to their nest, where they eat the elaiosomes, and put the seeds in their nest debris, where they are protected until they germinate. They also get the added bonus of grow- ing in a medium made richer by the ant nest debris. 18 GREEN SCENE • jonuary/february 201 1 Current APS Memoirs Peter Collinson and the Eighteenth-Century Natural History Exchange Jean O'Neill and Elizabeth P. McLean Vol. 264 -$75.00 •Cloth ISBN; 978-0-87169-264-1 POLAR HAYES: The Life and Contributions of Isaac Israel Hayes, M.D. Douglas W. 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Box 617, Darby, PA 19023 (phone 800-782-3833; fax 610-461-6130). Online orders may be sent to orders@dianepublishing. net. See our website for recent catalogs and backlist: www.aps-pub.com. A Provacative Thoughts for Container Gardening by Ray Rogers Photos by Rob Cardillo you garden in containers, you already I I appreciate and enjoy the versatility and I beauty this branch of gardening provides. I I Perhaps you dabble in aspects of design, JLm considering and playing with the color, line, shape, and other attributes of plants in pots. But I’d like to encourage you to look beyond what you see: let potted plants conjure up mental images and associations. What you perceive might well be different from what I do, but appreciating diversity makes life a little more interesting, don’t you think? 20 GREEN SCENE • january/february 201 1 V fL Plenty of food-bearing plants grow well in containers, but not all of them offer the visual punch of cabbage and their kin. Here we see a selection of red mustard {Bvassica juncea) that looks like an octopus slithering out of its underwater den (or maybe languidly drifting in a sapphire sea). You might perceive some sort of explosion radiating out from its central blast point. Whatever you imagine, there’s no doubt that the leaves create a noticeable linear effect, reinforced by their striking white midribs. Some might want to see the mustard in a less stridently blue pot, and to those I say: carefully transplant the mustard into a pot of your choice, or establish new plants in that pot. It’s not hard; mustards start easily from seed and transplant readily if you keep the root balls intact. Keep them well watered in a sunny spot, and make sure they don t lack for nitrogen. When the plants get too big for the pot and/or their companions, cut some leaves for a tasty side dish prepared according to your favorite recipe. I like them sauteed in a little olive oil and garlic or gently simmered in savory stock. Bacon adds a soulful touch. Students of color theory often refer to the “temperature” of a color, such as in “hot” orange or “cool” blue. Of course the colors themselves don’t literally have a temperature, but they certainly can create a perception of heat or coolness. Take this refreshing pot of Caladium humboldtii, for example: doesn’t it look like it could keep a nearby glass of lemonade icy cold? The fresh green and snowy white do most of the work, but the gray basket of concrete flowers and the gray-toned steps reinforce the chill. (For the total opposite of this cold sensation, check out the container of ‘Mickey Mouse’ tulips elsewhere in this article.) If you want to give C. humboldtii a go, I recommend growing it in dappled shade in nothing but long-fiber sphagnum moss kept constantly wet. Every couple of weeks, provide a water-soluble high-nitrogen fertilizer during its brief but glorious growing season. You can enjoy more or less the same cooling power with one of the larger-leaved caladiums (such as ‘Aaron’, ‘Candidum’, or ‘White Christmas ), which will happily grow in a pot filled with a loose, moist organic mix in bright light. i GREEN SCENE • january/february 201 The Pot Upended Let’s think far outside the box for a little while. Why not grow a plant solely for its ability to conjure up images instead of simply providing leaves or colorful flowers? Do you see little heads of Boston lettuce in a big salad bowl or maybe an amusement-park ride here? Note how the veins of the hosta leaves repeat the lines of the Pistia stratiotes and add to the apparent action. Too weird or edgy for you? Consider this: all water lettuce needs is some water under it in a shady to sunny place and an occasional dollop of nitrogen fertilizer. The only plants that require less maintenance, really, are fake or dead ones. Also, fake or dead plants don’t multiply quickly (a few starter plants of water lettuce can fill a good-sized pot in a single growing season), and I dare you not to play with Pistia and otherwise succumb to its allure. At first glance you might think this is a waterfall or multi-basined fountain, but a closer look reveals a weathered metal conveyor belt holding clusters of Sedum morganianum on a sturdy post. Less prosaically, maybe you see long blue-green tresses, abun- dantly dripping candles, or a college dorm room (with its bunk beds doubling as a rack for clothes, backpacks, and other student paraphernalia). So you don’t have any suitable hardware or other found objects in your basement or garden shed? Even one small, conventional hanging basket of this sedum — or a strand or two dangling over the side of a large, earthbound container — can evoke images through the power of its dramatic lines, uncommon color, and “touch me” shape. Provide lots of sun, don’t worry if you can’t water this succulent for a couple of weeks or more, and take it easy with the fertilizer. Best of all, when some of the chubby leaves fall off after you yield to its touchable chains, let them remain on the soil surface, where they will produce tiny new plants for garden pictures elsewhere. Author and speaker Ray Rogers has been growing and thinking about plants in containers for more than five decades. He is the author of The Encyclopedia of Container Plants {Tmber Press, 2010). GREEN SCENE • january/february 201 I ADMIT MY MIND CAN CONJURE UP only one (rath- er obvious, I think) image here, namely flames emerging from a well-used cauldron. Yes, these are comfortably familiar tulips (‘Mickey Mouse’, specifically), and yes, tulips can be celebrated as briefly glorious container plants, whether grown in their pot from fall planting to spring blooming or forced in another pot and then placed into a more attractive cachepot. But it’s not the plants that grab my container-gardener’s attention and imagination here. It’s that gorgeously mottled and beautifully proportioned pot with the “damaged” patch on the right side. How many other pots can suggest so much char- acter, much as an elderly, non-surgically altered, un-Botoxed, makeup-free face can project? You might even go so far as to give this pot a prominent place in the garden . . . unpLmted. - A Garden Worth Preserving Charles Cresson Carnes on a Family Tradition Story and Photos by Marcia Tate takes 40 to 50 years for a typical garden to become mature, but this garden has been nurtured with constant maintenance for 80 to 90 years,” says Charles Cresson with pride. The garden designer, lecturer, and award-winning author is reflecting on Hedgleigh Spring, the two-acre garden in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, that began as part of a gentleman’s farm purchased by his great-grandfather in 1883. The well-kept colonial revival house, built by Cresson’s grandfather in 1911, belies the landscape behind it that has been described as one of the pre- mier examples of an early twentieth-century garden in the United States. An ardent and erudite gardener, Cresson has lived most of his 56 years at Hedgleigh Spring. Educated in traditional estate-style gardening, he attended the University of Vermont and the University of Bath in England. He has also worked for England’s Royal Horticultural Society, Meadowbrook Farm, and the W. Atlee Burpee Company. Today he teaches, lec- tures, and consults, in addition to giving private tours of his remarkable garden. Cresson grew up hearing his father speak of the land and how it had changed under three generations of 24 GREEN SCENE • jonuory/february 201 1 Cresson Garden family tenure. A pivotal point in his life occurred while touring Natural d'rust properties and private gardens in England, oken guided by current family members vested in the historical continuity of their ancestral estates. “I felt a deep and special connec- tion to these places. When 1 came back home I realized that I had something special, too, and that Hedgleigh Spring was worth preserving in the face of all the changes in the world,” says Cresson. The family heritage is clearly present throughout the property. For instance, a nineteenth-century springhouse that was part of the original farm — and is the source of the name Hedgleigh Spring — has been carefully maintained. The “tool house,” a former outhouse relocated from behind the old barn, is filled with a mix of old and new imple- ments, many branded with the Cresson name. With the foresight and hard work of Cresson’s grandfather, the landscape took shape in the first half of the twentieth century out of an open piece of ground. The property has evolved into a series of intimate spaces connecting manmade structures with natural elements. These include the largest and best trees on the original 1 5-acre farm and a stream that has been integrated as an essential feature of the garden. Cresson sees the house and garden together as a package: “It’s just a composition of the two and one wouldn’t be quite the same without the other.” Visitors to Hedgleigh Spring are greeted by a 100-year-old cut-leaf Japanese maple, Acer palmatum dissectum ‘Ornatum’, which gracefully arches over the front lawn. Towering oaks and gum trees surround the spring house; sweeps of azaleas planted in 1948 continue to thrive. Tragically, the most cherished tree, a centuries-old white oak under which Cresson’s grandfather had built this house, came crashing down in 2009, just missing the house but crushing many established plantings in its wake. A seasoned plantsman, Cresson has greatly expanded the existing collections while maintain- ing the garden’s character. Hydrangeas and hollies complement the original selection of rhododen- drons and azaleas. Fall- and spring-blooming camellias reflect Cresson’s longstanding interest in the new hardy hybrids. These and other appropriate additions to the mix fill a void while supporting his grandfather’s design. Two new additions stand out. The shade and moisture-loving Hydrangea aspera subsp. sargentiana is a show stopper with large. "It's not a castle or a grand mansion, but it is the reservoir of more than a century of accumulated hands-on knowledge which has flowed from father to son." sandpapery leaves and lavender lace-cap flower heads that bloom in July. IlexX koehneana, an English holly hybrid with large leaves, retains its red-orange fruit for a full year and consistently delivers a spectacular display. Hedgleigh Spring is full of “garden moments” that keep Cresson entertained and give visitors something to anticipate in every season. In June, the central flower garden is festooned with climb- ing roses and lush beds of hybrid roses, most varieties original to this early twentieth-century- style flower garden, which also includes more than 100 feet of mixed borders. These borders provide an evolving display of vibrant color through October. One finds relief from the intensity of the flower garden in the surrounding shade gardens; the naturalistic pond garden with its water lilies, Japanese iris, and cardinal flower; and the waterfall in the meadow beyond. Cresson has been praised for maintaining the integrity of the garden’s design, a longstanding family edict, despite an increasing diversity of plants. He is also acutely conscious of the need to balance ecology with the formality of the garden. He sees species diversity, particularly the natives, as making an important ecological contribution by supporting the food chain for wildlife, evident in the varied bird population in residence. When considering the future of Hedgleigh Spring, his greatest concern is that the property remain open space. “I hope future generations will also find the garden worth preserving,” he says. Hedgleigh Spring is the central core of a family consciousness that has persisted through four generations, and with which Charles Cresson feels a direct connection. “It’s not a castle or a grand mansion, but it is the reservoir of more than a century of accumulated hands-on knowledge, which has flowed from father to son,” says Cresson. “Everybody needs a mission in life. This is my mission.” GREEN SCENE • january/february 201 1 27 Amberland Farm, in Southampton, Pennsylvania, describes problems encountered by novice soil block users. “Beginners may be afraid that their blocks are too wet, but you have to make sure the blocks have adequate moisture,” he says. If the blocks are too dry, the seeds will dry out and the blocks will collapse. The soil should be the consistency ol oatmeal or peanut butter, according to Alps. While Coleman’s soil mix is superb, Alps experimented ftirther and found his own simple blend: four parts mix to one part compost. “Soil-less peat-based mix that contains some' fertilizer and homemade This time of year, most dedicated vegetable gardeners can’t wait to get their hands on some seed packs to start growing their own plants. Maybe this year, you’ll consider breaking out ol your (vegetable-growing) mold. You can leel good about reusing butter tubs, yogurt containers, milk cartons, or even old newspapers lor growing seedlings. Just about any type of container will do as long as it is at least two to thtee inches deep and has dtainage holes. How about going “containerless” this year? Eco-friendly soil blocks or “potting blocks” offer a simple way to start your seedlings. Made from lightly compressed cubes ol soil mix, the blocks are pressed by a form or mold into a shape, usually a square. With the proper moisture in fibrous growing medium, the block will keep its shape and hold together. As the roots grow, the block grows sturdier. The seedlings become quickly established after transplanting the blocks into the garden. The tool lor making soil blocks, a soil block maker or “blocker,” comes in a variety of sizes. For the home gardener, it’s best to start out with a small blocker with four two-inch squate compartments. After wetting the growing medium, fill each compartment with a soil-less mix. Use it like a cookie cutter to make lour little blocks of soil to plant your seeds in. just push the block maker down, turn, squeeze, and lift. Then, set the filled block maker into a tray and release. You can plant the seed directly in the depression creared by the block maker. For successful results, you’ll need the proper soil mix and moisture content. Eliot Coleman’s mix, the industry standard, is de.scribed in detail in his book. The New Organic Grower. Coleman describes mixes with peat, lime, coarse sand or perlite, fertilizer, compost, and soil. Beginners will find the chapters on soil blocks very informative. Andrew Alps, a soil-block advocate, vegetable grower, and owner of 28 GREEN SCENE • january/february 201 1 compost or organic bagged humus works great,” he says. Alps also advocates a blend of one part garden soil, one part coarse sand, and two parts compost. However, since peat moss is a non-renew- able resource, obtained from peat bogs, you may want to think about using other materials to grow seeds. West Chester-based Organic Mechanics Soil Company sells peat-free mixes that contain a blend of coconut fiber, compost, worm castings, and other materials. The company recommends using the Premium blend for potting blocks. “Worm castings are full of beneficial bacteria that produce a glue-like substance to help bind soil particles together,” says Mark Highland, founder and president of the company. Plants such as cabbages, sweet corn, beets and cucumbers, which don’t like their roots disturbed, can be grown successfully with soil blocks. Normally these types of plants are not recommended for transplanting since their roots can suffer transplant shock. If you’re an eco-conscious gardener who is tired of washing out plastic pots every year, then think about using soil blocks. Get the neighbors involved and have a “block party!” RESOURCES gotomeadowbrook.com pottingblocks. com organicmechanicsoil. com johnnyseeds.com your sanctuary... come to Mostardi s for distinctive^j^\ plants, expertise t and inspiration Unprecedented Experience Personal Service Exceptional Quality It's The McFarland Way! m Tree & Landscape Services Call today to schedule a free professional consultation to review your property. 215.844.TREE(8733) 610.688.6644 Fax: 215.438.1879 www.mcfarlandtree.com GREEN SCENE • lanuary/february 201 French Floral Design Hector Guimard's Metro station entrances used smooth curves and stylized writing, in the style Guimard, to create a structure that is both organic and functional. This floral design makes a modernistic fan from bear grass by wrapping nine strands of bear grass {Xerophyllum tenax) with decorative 24-gauge wire and at intervals, dropping three strands and adding three more. When the desired size is achieved, all of the grass strands are gathered together to form the fan shape, which is tied with wire to make a structure. Calla lilies (Zantedeschia) are added to reinforce the curves and asymmetry. O W CT <

f’ spp.) • Galex leaf ( Galex urceolatd) Remembering Jean Byrne By Tony Lyle Jean Byrne, founding editor of Green Scene, which she launched and helmed for nearly 30 years, succumbed to leukemia on September 23 at Good Shepherd Hospice in Philadelphia. She was 80. Born in 1930 to a single parent, she was placed in foster care at an early age and passed from home to home until graduating from Hallahan High School. Ms. Byrne started working at the former Smith Kline pharma- ceutical firm as a secretary, soon advancing to a writ- ing position. At night, she attended class in the College of General Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, eventually earning her bachelor's degree in English. On weekends, she served as a stagehand under famed director Jasper Deeter at the Hedgerow Theater in Rose Valley, PA. Later, she earned a master's degree in counseling. In 1972, Ms. Bryne was tapped by then-PHS presi- dent Ernesta Ballard (who became her role model and friend) to create Green Scene. It was designed to be a lively and engaging bimonthly publication that appealed not only to horticulturists and both sophisticated and amateur gardeners, but to the general reader as well. Working with a small staff and limited funds, Byrne was able to attract a talented group of freelance writers, photogra- phers, and illustrators to both inform and delight her readers. Says former PHS president Jane G. Pepper, "Jean not only created a magazine that beauti- fully highlighted the horticultural wonders of the Greater Philadelphia region, but she also brought together a family of writers, many of whom might never have published a single story if it hadn't been for her encouragement. I am just one exam- ple and will always be grateful for the patience with which she encouraged me to write my first story for Green Scene. Jean brought a lot to PHS over almost three decades, and I think there are others who will, like me, not only miss her spirit and enthusi- asm, but also her fiery temper. Mercifully, the storm disappeared as quickly as it came, and before you knew what was happening, Jean would be back extol- ling the movie she had just seen — or the book she had just read and wanted to make sure was on your reading list." Ms. Byrne was also known as a good Samaritan who worked tirelessly for a number of local organiza- tions and individuals in need. She helped make breakfast for the AIDS residents at Calcutta House and walked miles to raise money for others with breast cancer or other illnesses. After she retired, she answered telephones, licked stamps, and brought lunch for the staff and clients of Siloam, an HIV/AIDS wellness agency on Spring Garden Street. Once, she won the top prize of $1,000 at Gay Bingo at the YMHA — and contributed it on the spot back to ActionAIDS. For that, she received a standing ovation. classified Ads FLORISTS Sustainable Event Decorating Garden arrangements — fresh local flowers Featuring unique artist made containers Corporate-private \N\N\N. urbanbotanical. com Helen@urbanbotanical. com 215-438-7533 GARDEN STRUCTURES GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Custom Aluminum or Wood 35 Years' Experience Call Robert J. LaRouche at Glass Enclosures Unlimited 610-687-2444 GREEN TECHNOLOGIES Rainwater Harvesting Systems Capture • Filter • Reuse Please visit our website to learn more iwww. YourPond.com Cedar Run Landscapes 1 -800-Landscape HARDSCAPING HERITAGE STONE & MARBLE We are an installation and restoration company who emphasizes long lasting quality with outstanding craftsmanship. FLAGSTONE, BRICK-patios and walkways, COBBLESTONE-edging and paving, STONE walls, RETAINING walls, MARBLE, GRANITE-floors, walls, countertops. 215-699-5611 Upper Gwynedd, PA PATIOS & WALKWAYS Flagstone - Pavers - Brick Robert J. Kleinberg Landscape Design & Construction 610-259-6106 See our work online 100's of pictures at WWW.KLEINBERG.COM LANDSCAPE DESIGN BURKE BROTHERS LANDSCAPE DESIGN/BUILD Nationally-recognized designs. Experienced staff ensures the integrity of the design from concept to completion. burkebrothers.com 215-887-1773 610-520-2025 David Brothers Landscape Services Native Plant Nursery Architects, Builders and Nurserymen Providing the Fine Art of Garden Construction and Landscape Restoration 215-247-2992 610-584-1550 www.davidbrothers.com Eco Design and Management Designs, Installs, Restores & Maintains Ecological, Artistic Landscapes 610-659-6737 866-496-9882 WWW. ecodesignmanage. com LINDA CORSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN • Consulting • Plans • Supervision Registered Landscape Architect Member ASLA 215-247-5619 MULCH BALED PINE NEEDLE MULCH Pick up/Delivery/Spreading service Cedar Run Landscapes Call for brochure 1 -800-LANDSCAPE WWW. CedarHunLandscapes. com FLOWERS AND MORE, INC. Garden Design, Installation & Maintenance PINE-NEEDLE MULCH Wholesale and Retail 610-701-9283 renee52@comcast.net NURSERIES RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS • Specimen plants • Pond plants • Bonsai • Drchids • Hardy cacti • Tropicals • Sculptured trees and shrubs • Perennials • Unique Flower and gift shop. MUTSCHLERS' FLORIST & RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 WWW. mutschlers. com Triple Oaks Nursery & Herb Garden *Great Plants*Display Gardens*Programs* Franklinville, New Jersey WWW. tripleoaks, com 856-694-4272 grea tplan ts@tripleoaks. com TREES Giant 25-30' Colorado Blue Spruce & Holly Indian Orchards 24 Copes Lane, Media, PA 19063 6! 0-565-8387 Tree Transfers Inc. Large Tree Transplanting and Sales Large Screening & Specimen Plant Material 215-635-2310 Serving the Delaware Valley since 1987 GREEN SCENE • january/february 201 1 33 Local Heroes A Family Tree; By Jane Carroll 34 GREEN SCENE • january/february 201 1 Photo by Margaret f unde’^burg Vr •< ^/38f'/SS» *■•■«»;' ii ''»iA'iy^*fwiHiiifit !Wk; • Medford Leas IMAGINE LIVING IN AN ARBORETUM! Beautiful arboretum settings on two campuses Variety of residential home designs including garden-style townhomes and apartments Mind & body fitness programs Total Home Maintenance ->~ On-site primary health care, assisted living, and nursing facilities ->► Life-long learning programs Resident-directed community life Refundable entrance fee options And much, much more... YOU REALLY CAN HAVE IT ALL! MEDFORDLEAS.ORG 609.654.3000 or 800.331.4302 A national^ accredited. Quaker-related, not-for-profit community for those age with campuses in Medford and Lumberton. NJ HOME OF THE LEWIS W. BARTON ARBORETUM AND NATURE PRESERVE MEMBER: AMERICAN PUBLIC GARDENS ASSOCIATION. GREATER PHILADELPHIA GARDENS. AND GARDEN STATE GARDENS ©PNC WEALTH IVIANAGEIVIEISIT To put your trust in someone else’s hands is to have complete confidence in them. We earn this trust by providing clients with an experienced team that will listen, understand and then develop a customized plan to achieve their goals. When it comes to helping guide our clients in building their future, we look for solutions that will benefit them in the long run. Our long-term perspective has made us one of the best- performing large banks in America today and it is also the same perspective we apply to managing our clients’ wealth. To find out how we can help you, call 1-888-762-6226 or visit pnc.com/wealthmanagement. At PNC Wealth Management we ve been helping secure our clients futures for more than 1 50 years. Let our strength and stability be the basis for yours. At PNC, taking the long view? is how we help you take the right path. A The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. ("PNC") ptOwcles wealth management, fiduciary 'sendees, -fPIC-insured banking products and services and lending and borrowing of funds through its'^ubsidiapes^T’NC Bank, -National Assdriwforf 'and PNC Bank, Delaware andNational City Bank, which are Members FDIC. PNC does not provide legal, tax or accounting advice. Investments: Not- FtSiC tgsured. No BanktSUarSntde. May Lose Value. ©2010 The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. All rights reserved. 5iEi^lON! 4 1 ©PNC SPRIN^T^ in PARIS PHILADELPHIA ^ternatonalF LOWER 5H0W Li jg ^_2y| ^11 d iH 1 I % i f I i } I r < 5 % s I i Imagine a 4--acre indoor conservatory where thousands of blooming orchids drape the walls, flow from pedestals, and are fashioned into curtains. Experience 20 rooms of pure sunshine where spring has never left. And yovu' family won’t want to, either. don’t miss the return of THE INTERNATIONAL ORCHID SHOW & SALE MARCH 25-27! IN WINTER THERE ARE'ACRES OF REASONS TO COME Cathedral Village 1 P ■ ■ i Are Pleased to Announce . . . Our New Rejundable Entrance Fees Offering 90%) 75% and 50% Rejunds Now combine our Extensive Type A Contract with one of three Refundable Entrance Fees. This is an opportunity to move in at a younger age and know that you have taken an even greater step toward preserving your personal finances, as long as you are under 85 years of age. Our Standard Basic Entrance Fees continue to be offered with no maximum age limit. Cathedral Village is the one community that continues to provide a secure future for current and prospective residents. Questions about the direction and availability of health care services, or the cost of nursing care, are no longer an uncertainty with our Type A Contract which is the best and most comprehensive in the Retirement industry. Consider the facts about our commitment to you once your Contract is signed. The Monthly Fee for the apartment of your choice covers a broad spectrum of departmental services that support every day health care. A few examples are: ♦ Unlimited visits for routine and emergency care provided by our Outpatient Department which is staffed with professional nurses 24 hours daily/365 days of the year. ♦ Thomas Jefferson Physicians, Certified in Gerontology, on-site 5 days a week, and always on call. Unlimited stays in Bishop White Lodge, our skilled nursing facility. 'lA ' ♦ The quality of our 12-hour day Dining Services program which accommodates the dietary requests of each resident, including those needing special diets, and by serving three full meals every day prepared by our own Executive Chef and his staff of Sous Chefs. ♦ Our state-of-the-art Health Club with indoor pool, a spacious Fitness Center, personal direction and assistance of our Health Club Director, Water- Aerobics and Exercise classes, along with Yoga and Tai-Chi classes. ♦ Our own Security Department, staffed 24 hours daily/365 days a year, provides all transportation services. Monthly fees also cover numerous professional concerts in Cathedral Hall, year-round Village College courses. Horticultural and Greenhouse classes and seminars, or Painting and Pottery classes. Enjoy a relaxing swim in the pool winter or summer, compete with friends on the Putting Green or use the Art Studios and Craft Shop for quiet creative time. Learn More About the Four Entrance Fee Options! Visit Monday through Friday — 9 AM to 3 PM. Appointments are needed for weekends. Cathedral Village 600 East Cathedral Road Philadelphia, PA 19128 www.cathedralvillage.com (215) 984-8621 Cathedral Village i.s a Nonprofit, Nondenominational Continuing Care Retirement Community Accredited by CARF-CCAC Since 1984 • Affiliated With the Jefferson Health System Since 1986 I ■ I j I i 2011 PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SHOW 12 Springtime in Paris Come to the 201 1 Philadelphia International Flower Show for the quickest trip to Paris you'll ever take. 14 Inspiration from the Show Get a quick lesson on French garden style and design. SPECIAL TREE SECTION 20 How Do They Do That? Ever wonder how exhibitors get those giant trees into the Flower Show? Let's find out. 24 One Million Trees Join PFIS as we launch the Plant One Million campaign in the Philadelphia region. 28 How Do You Prune a Lilac? Learn these quick tips to make your spring bloomer look even better. 36 A Forest in the City Inspiring people share inspiring ideas for growing trees in the city. 40 Thin is In! Need a tree for a tight space? Look here for the latest skinny trees. 48 Designing with Trees Find out how branches can add structure to your arrangements. 50 Lemon Lift Freshen up your property with two citrus-scented magnolias. 54 Quiz Whiz! Take our Flower Show quiz and find out your secret gardening persona! 8 c 0) X m f” 5 Z JJ "GO GREEN" BY READING GREEN SCEA/E ONLINE! Want to read Green Scene online? An electronic version of Green Scene will be available beginning with the March 201 1 issue. A special link to the next issue will be sent to your inbox upon publication. To submit your email address or to "opt out" of the print edition of the magazine, send an email to memserve@pennhort. org I i 5 The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society motivates people to improve the ^his will help US reduce OUr printing and mailing - quality of life and create a sense of costs, and better Still, you can opt back in at any community through horticulture, pi^ggg join PHS in helping to conserve paper by trying out our new e-magazine. We think you'll like it! Cover photo: Dzmitry Siarou I Dreamstime.com AMERICAN HORTlCia rURAl SOClEl*Y Be part of the story. Share your dream of the ideal retirement lifestyle, and Waverly Heights will bring it to life Chances are you have a vision of how you’d like your retirement to look and feel. We believe you should have your way. So, we’ve spent twenty-five years fine-tuning our services to put the retirement lifestyle you seek within easy reach. We have the residence, the chef, the housekeeper, the programs director, the trainer.. .and a long list of other superb professionals and resources happily in place. We’re just waiting for you to give us the chance to deliver. Visit soon to tell ns all that you have in mmd. WAVERLY 1400 Waverly Road, Gladwyne, PA 19035-1 296 ^ Tel: 610.645.8764 Fax: 61 0.645.861 1 www.waverlyheightsltd.org A nonprofit, non-sectarian lifecare community COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG’S 65™ ANNUAL GARDEN SYMPOSIUM 20 K' The tJoloma! \\'illiamNbnrg Foundation For more information: history.org/conted 1-800-603-0948 dchapman@cwf.org DougTallamy, Ph.D. -iiU professor and chair, department of entomolog) Suzy Bales author, lecturer, floral arranger Joe Lamp 1 founder and CEO, The joe gardener Company; executive producer and host Growing u Greener World and wildlife ecology, University of Delaware ,;4I c / April iO & . 201 6 GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 GREEN scene march-april 201 1 Editor Pete Prown Senior Editor Jane Carroll Associate Editor Daniel Moise Staff Photographer Margaret Funderburg Art Design Baxendells' Graphic Printer ALCOM Printing Group, Inc. PLANTING SEEDS GROWING LIVES Website PHSonline.org 100 N. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 215-988-8800 Chair John K. Ball President Drew Becher Vice President, Programs Maitreyi Roy PHS Membership Information Linda Davis, 215-988-8776 Display & Classified Ads Manzo Media Group 610-527-7047 mmanzo@manzomediagroup.com Garden Q & A Phone Line 215-988-8777, Monday through Friday, 9:30 to 12 (closed in December) askagardener@pennhort,org GREEN SCENE (USPS 955580), Volume 39, No. 2, is published bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September, November) by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a nonprofit member organization at 100 N. 20th St„ Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 Single Copy: $5.00 (plus $2.00 shipping). Second-class postage paid at Philadelphia, PA 19103. POSTMASTER: Send address change to GREEN SCENE 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. ©2011 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society MIX Paper from responsible sources www.(sc.org FSC® C006218 lllustratfcn. A (U.7 Smith Dig deeper. . . be EXCHAVi'Ki). he dkugh i i:d. he lnspirkd. BANK TO BEND GARDEN LECTURE: FROM ART INTO LANDSCAPE March 12, 11:00 am Landscape architect and artist W. (jary Smith will explore the ways artists unleash their creatKity and create inspiring gardens. With illustrations from his mvn work and from historic gardens like Winterthur, Smith will demonstrate how to create gardens that connect a local sense of place with a personal sense of art and design. $20; $15 Members. To register, call 800.448.3883. FLOWER POWER! Spring brings mcJiith after month of glorious blossoms to Winterthur’s March Bank, Sundial (rarden. Azalea Woods, and Peony Garden, \4sit often to enjoy a succession of showstopping blooms! Winterthur is nestled in Delaware's beautiful Brandywine Valley on Route 52, between 1-95 and Route I. GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 7 Always in Season www.yeilowspringsfarm.com 1165 Yellow Springs Road Chester Springs, PA 19425 610-827-2014 LIVE WITH NATURE Container Plants, Design & Installation of Native Landscapes GREAT WATERSCAPES AT AFFORDABLE PRICES p EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, Tree Servk/int. EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE Distinctive Water Gardens A FULL SERVICE COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN: Tree Service Ponds & Pondless Water Features (Aquascape Certified Contractor) Outdoor Lighting Professional Landscape Design & Installation Patios & Walkways Maintenance & Drainage Call for Pricing Call 610-647-1028 • www.PezzottiBros.com • Email us at: PezzottiBros@comcast.net Our Community. Our Lifestyle. Welcome to Meadow Lakes, a place where natural beauty forms the backdrop to a retirement lifestyle that reflects the way you want to live. Our campus is a wooded green retreat with three lakes on 1 03 lush acres. We're also a registered arboretum, a reflection of the quality and diversity of our outstanding collection of trees. Life at Meadow Lakes is amenity-filled and maintenance-free. Our full-service retirement lifestyle means great dining, weekly housekeeping and high-quality healthcare on-site, in case you should need it. Call today to schedule your personal tour of our beautiful community, and we'll send you your very own full-color 201 1 "Trees of Meadow Lakes" calendar. Quantities are limited, so call today! (800) 564-5705 300 Meadow Lakes, East Windsor, NJ 08520 ^ 6^ MEADOW LAKES A SPRINGPOINT COMMUNITY meadowlakesonline.org 8 GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 ©PNC WEALTH MANAGEMENT To put your trust in someone elses hands is to have complete confidence in them. We earn this trust by providing clients with an experienced team that will listen, understand and then develop a customized plan to achieve their goals. When it comes to helping guide our clients in building their future, we look for solutions that will benefit them in the long run. Our long-term perspective has made us one of the best-performing large banks in America today and it is also the same perspective we apply to managing our clients’ wealth. To find out how we can help you, call 1-888-762-6226 or visit pnc.com/wealthmanagement. At PNC Wealth Management we’ve been helping secure our clients’ futures for more than 1 50 years. Let our strength and stability be the basis for yours At PNC, taking the long view ’V is how we help ^ you take the right path. / ^ T af? W [rTn/Si if! /•' irraTf ^ - I •%. j/'i At.-- : The PNC Financial Services Groijp, Inc. (“Pl^”) ptovides investrfS^fPS^^weaith management, fiduciary ■s52b9S^,fD*C-insured banking products and services and lending and borrowing of funds through its'subsidiacies'^^NC Bank.. National AssocSfion-'and PNC Bank, Delaware and'National City Bank, which are Members FDIC. PNC does not provide legal, tax or accounting advice. Investments; Not F&1C Insured. No Bank-SfciSdnt^. May Lose Value. ©201 0 The PNC Financial Services Group. Inc. All rights reserved. GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 9 -pVXlTH o-TOH^ llnstrucdoMS tn cspaftoil (ver pantl posteiilor) BIGGER BLOOMS NATURALLY #1 CHOICE FOR FEEDING AZALEAS CAMELLIAS, RHODOS, & HYDRANGEAS FOR ACID Ai LOVING PLANTS SSNATUB^l^SSiiS All Natural Plant Food for For over 60 years [Holly-tone® nos been the preferred choice of avid gardeners hollies • azaleas for feeding acid-loving plants. It contains the finest natural ingredients rhodos • dogwoods available and is safe for people, pets, and the environment. Use all natural I* Holly-tone Spring and Fall and get ready for oceans of blooms and deep evergreen color. www.espoma.com Current APS Memoirs Peter Collinson and the Eighteenth-Century Natural History Exchange Jean O'Neill and Elizabeth P. McLean Vol. 264 - $75.00 • Cloth ISBN: 978-0-87169-264-1 POLAR HAYES: The Life and Contributions of Isaac Israel Hayes, M.D. Douglas W. Wamsley Vol. 262- $75.00 •Cloth ISBN: 978-0-87169-262-7 Patriot-Improvers, Volume III Whitfield J. Bell and Charles Griefenstein Vol. 228 -$60.00 'Cloth ISBN: 978-0-87169-228-3 Volume One (1997) - $40 Volume Two (1999) - $40 Volume Three (2010) - $60 Three-volume set - $125 Current APS Transactions Johann Schbner's Globe of 1515: Transcription and Study Chet Van Duzer Vol. 100, Part 5- $35 •Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-005-1 The Ground Sloth Megalonyx (Xenarthra: Megalonychidae)from the Pleistocene (Late Irvingtonian) Camelot Local Fauna, Dorchester County, South Carolina Steven E. Fields Vol. 100, Part 4- $35 'Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-004-4 Alhacen on Refraction: A Critical Edition, with English Translation and Commentary, of Book 7 of Alhacen's De Aspectibus, the Medieval Latin Version of Ibn al-Haytham's Kitab al-Manazir A. Mark Smith Vol. 100, Pt. 3 - $35 each; $50 set Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-003-7 ISBN: 978-1-60618-006-8 2010 J.F. LEWIS AWARD WINNER Learning Greek in Western Europe, 1396-1529: Grammars, Lexica, and Classroom Texts Paul Botley Vol. 100, Pt. 2- $35 'Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-002-0 Sporting with the Classics: The Latin Poetry of William Dillingham Estelle Haan Vol. 100, Pt. 1 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-001-3 Playing with Fire: Histories of the Lightning Rod Peter Heering, Oliver Hochadel, David J. Rhees (editors) Vol. 99, Pt. 5 - $35.00 • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-995-5 Magnetic Fever: Global Imperialism and Empiricism in the Nineteenth Century Christopher Carter Vol. 99, Pt. 4 - $35.00 • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-994-8 Choosing Selection: The Revival of Natural Selection in Anglo- American Evolutionary Biology, 1930-1970 Stephen G. Brush Vol. 99, Pt. 3- $35 'Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-993-1 2009 J. F. LEWIS AWARD WINNER THE MOST IMPORTANT CLDCK IN AMERICA The David Rittenhouse Astronomical Musical Clock at Drexel University Ronald R. Hoppes Vol. 99, Pt. 2 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-992-4 Descended From Darwin: Insights into the History of Evolutionary Studies, 1900-1970 Joe Cain and Michael Ruse (editors) Vol. 99, Pt. 1 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-991-7 The Long Route to the Invention of the Telescope RolfWillach Vol. 98, Pt. 5- $35 'Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-985-6 The Invention of the Telescope Albert van Helden Vol. 67, Pt. 4- $30 'Paper Original print date 1977; reprinted 2008 ISBN-10: 0-87169-674-6 ISBN-13: 978-0-87169-674-8 Sophie de Grouchy, Letters on Sympathy (1798): A Critical Edition Karin Brown Letters translated by James E. McClellan III Vol. 98, Pt. 4 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-984-9 Raising Kane: The Construction of Dr. Kane, Hero of the Romantic Age Mark Metzger Sawin Vol. 98, Pt. 3 -$35.00' Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-983-2 Franz Boas and W. E. B. Du Bois at Atlanta University, 1906 Rosemary Levy Zumwalt Vol. 98, Pt. 2 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-0-87169-982-4 2008 J.F. LEWIS AWARD WINNER Alhacen on Image-Formation and Distortion in Mirrors: A Critical Edition, with English Translation and Commentary, of Book 6 of Alhacen's De Aspectibus, the Medieval Latin Version of Ibn al-Hay- tham's Kitab al-Manazir A. Mark Smith Vol. 98, Pt. 1 - $29 each; $42 set • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-981-8 Lightning Rod Press Titles Darwin's Discipie: George John Romanes, A Life in Letters Joel S. Schwartz ISBN: 978-1-60618-920-7 LIGHTNING ROD PRESS, VOLUME 5 $60 'Paper AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 104 South Fifth Street Philadelphia, PA 19106-3387 (Tel) 215-440-3425 (Fax) 215-440-3450 “TO DO JUSTICE TO HIM & MYSELF" -.Evert Wendell's Account Book of the Fur Trade with Indians in Albany, New York, 1695-1726 Edited and Translated by Kees-Jan Waterman with linguistic information by Gunther Michelson ISBN: 978-1-60618-912-2 LIGHTNING ROD PRESS, VOLUME 4 $50.00 'Paper THECHINDALI LANGUAGE OF MALAWI - 3 volumes - $100.00 for set Volume 1 - A Chindali and English Dictionary, with an Index to Proto-Bantu Roots Robert Botne, in collaboration with Loveness Schafer ISBN: 978-1-60618-909-2 LIGHTNING ROD PRESS, VOLUME 1 $45.00 'Paper Volume 2 - A Grammatical Sketch of Chindali, Malawian Variety Robert Botne ISBN: 978-1-60618-910-8 LIGHTNING ROD PRESS, VOLUME 2 $35.00 'Paper Volume 3 - Narratives of Chindali Life and Culture Compiled and analyzed by Robert Botne, in collaboration with Loveness Schafer ISBN: 978-1-60618-911-5 LIGHTNING ROD PRESS, VOLUMES $40.00 'Paper BOOK ORDERS: Please contact our fulfillment service— Diane Publishing Co., P.O. Box 617, Darby, PA 19023 (phone 800-782-3833; fax 610-461-6130). Online orders may be sent to orders@dianepublishing. net. See our website for recent catalogs and backlist: www.aps-pub.com. i FLOWER SHOW This March, Flower Show visitors will enjoy a day in Paris without having to get on a plane. The 201 1 Show is themed Springtime in Paris and will include all things French, from flowers to design to cuisine, and yes, even a massive, brilliantly lit Eiffel Tower. Let’s begin our journey. Visitors will feel as though they are liter- ally stepping from one continent to another as they enter the Show. A stunning Parisian park filled with an allee of cherry and zelkova trees and blooming flower beds, planted in an Art Nouveau design, will provide a luxurious setting for the 75-foot- wide, 33-foot-tall Eiffel Tower. Using a bit of trompe-l’aiL the tower will appear to magically disappear through the roof of the convention center. The structure will have 1,000 lights on it that move in time with music wafting through the air. Amid the 25,000 tulips in bloom, along with roses, delphiniums, cleome, and petu- nias, music and imagery in the form of plein air painters, mimes, and strolling accor- dion players will enthrall visitors. And it wouldn’t be Paris without a line of can-can dancers, as well as musicians playing bistro jazz a la Edith Piaf or Django Reinhardt. Also look for the ubiquitous Parisian flower carts and lavender stands. A veritable bouquet of French-themed exhibits will include “Romantic Paris,” capturing the scene of a fantasy wedding at Notre Dame Cathedral, replete with gargoyles and hunchbacks, by Robertson’s Flowers. “Gourmet Paris,” a rooftop garden filled with herbs, flowers, and an espalier, will be presented by Stoney Bank Nurseries. Michael Petrie’s Handmade Gardens will build an “Artists’ Paris,” a surreal portrayal of never-before-seen masterpieces under water. The American Institute of Floral Designers will design a flowery modern-art installation with “Underground Paris” cata- combs. In an exhibit titled “Timeless Paris,” Burke Brothers Landscape Contractors will create a modern French garden inspired by Medieval times. A charming Belle Epoque parlor with a small formal garden outside its window will portray “Opulent Paris,” by Jamie Rothstein Floral Design, who will team up with French antiques collector John Whitenight. All of this, of course, is only the tip of the Champs-Elysees. Look for flower-stuffed animals like peacocks, snails, dolphins, and ponies all leading the way to the Carousel Stage. The University of Delaware, the American Orchid Society, and the Boxwood Society will present special gardening how-to exhib- its. Children’s activities will take place daily in the Family Lounge, and every night a new event with themed activities will wel- come girlfriends, guy-friends, the after-work crowd, and families. PNC will celebrate its 20th year as Presenting Sponsor of the Philadelphia International Flower Show with a Living Wall (designed by Michael Petrie). At the PHS display. Show visitors will learn about PHS’s work to transform the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, its City Harvest program that feeds 1 ,000 families in the city each week, and the PHS Gold Medal Plant Award program. You can also buy plants from Meadowbrook Farm and renew your PHS membership. And for home gardeners, of course, the Flower Show Shoppe and Marketplace will offer a multi- tude of gifts, products, and ideas. See you at the Showing QVC is teaming up with PHS to broadcast live from this year's Flower Show. Reaching more than 98 million U.S. homes, the leading multimedia retailer will give viewers a sneak peek inside this exciting event with two scheduled broadcasts on Thursday, March 10 at 1 PM (FT) and 8 PM (FT). It’s all part ofQyC’s 25th anniversary celebration. QPNC Preienti SPRINCTIME IN PARIS ^PHILADELPHIA /M! I FLOWER 5HOW To Benefit; PHS •lASTlSCSUDS CROVVtNCli All proceeds from the Philadelphia International Flower Show, including tickets and sponsorship contributions, benefit the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and its acclaimed urban greening program, Philadelphia Green. Thank you for your support. DATES: Sunday, March 6 through Sunday, March 13 PHS Members' Preview Saturday, March 5; 12 noon to 3:30 pm (household and leadership levels only) PLACE: Pennsylvania Convention Center 12th & Arch Streets Philadelphia, PA 19107-2299 HOURS: Sundays, March 6 & 13: 8 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday, March 7 - March 11: 10 am to 9:30 pm Saturday, March 12: 8 am to 9:30 pm (Best viewing hours are after 4 pm) Box Office closes one hour before Show closing on all days. TICKET PRICING: Online visit theflowershow.com [service charges apply) Adult: $25 • Student (17-24): $20 • Child (2-16): $15 Box Office at the Show Adult, Opening Day (March 6): $30 Adult, Monday - Friday: $26 Adult, Closing Weekend (Sat., March 12 and Sun., March 13): $28 Student: $20 • Child: $15 Student tickets available online and at the Flower Show Box Office. You must present a valid student ID and proof of age to receive discount Advance General Admission ( *Service charge may apply. Please call retailer for details, link to retail list belovYi Adult: $25 • Child: $15 Group: Adult: $24 • Child: $15 Purchase at Retail Outlets *PNC Bank branches, AAA Mid-Atlantic, ACME Markets, Boscov's, Giant Food Stores, SEPTA ticket sales outlets, local garden centers, nurseries, and florists. Service charges may apply. Call store for details. ** Please note that the Flower Show Value Pak and Family Fun Pak are not available at retail locations. The Family Fun Pak may be purchased online or at the box office, while the Flower Show Value Pak is on/y available online. Recorded Information: 215-988-8899 (recorded information) Wheelchair Rentals: Rentals are $15 a day on a first-come, first-serve basis. The rental booth is located on the Show Level Concourse outside of B Hail. Passenger drop-off is located at 1 1th and Arch streets. Volunteer aids are available. Insoiration from Want to give your garden a little Parisian flair? At the 201 1 Flower Show, you will see a wide variety of French- style design, from formal knot and parterre gardens to lavish naturalistic plantings and potager kitchen gardens. Let’s take a look at some of France’s finest gardens for even more inspiration. Le Clos DU COUDRAY is an organic garden northwest of Paris. According to the website gardenvisit.com, “The garden is divided into distinct rooms — there is a potager, rock garden, exotic garden and rose garden with pergola.” Being organic, the garden has a natural design and features moisture-loving ostrich ferns, not unlike many gardens in the Delaware Valley. One distinctly French touch, however, is the restrained color palette, a gentle blend of char- treuse, dark plum, sherbet orange, and a variety of green hues. At the Chateau de Villandry, a formal Renaissance garden was re- imagined by a twentieth-century owner to include the ornamental use of veg- etables and thematic gardens, including a Garden of Love and Garden of Music. The vast potager may seem historic, but the artistic plantings of lettuces and cabbages are completely modern and in keeping with the contemporary idea of “edible landscapes.” In the GrVERNY garden of Impressionist painter Claude Monet, the phrase “art imitates life” quickly comes to mind, as the artist frequently used his landscape as a painting sub- ject ...or was it the other way around? Glimpses of French Garden Design By Pete Prown Photography by Derek Fell & Alan Oetrick Two green thumbs up. The new 2011 Forester is your wheelbarrow, garden shed and greenhouse all rolled into one. Built in a zero landfill plant, it comes with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive standard and has won more awards than any other small SUV.* Just a few reasons why it’s both gardener- and Mother Nature-approved. Love. It’s what makes a Subaru, a Subaru. i. I 4ie Vasterival Either way, Monet’s garden reveals a strong Japanese influence, which was quite fashion- able in the late nineteenth century. And cer- tainly, he was aware of the shimmering effect that his plantings would have when reflected in the pond’s water. If you visit the eighteenth-century Chateau de Canon, in Normandy, you will find a garden shaped by the Age of Enlightenment. While one normally associ- ates roses with England, they are also integral to many northern French gardens, especially since Normandy shares a moist and rainy climate with the UK. Above, you can behold the lovely juxtaposition of formal sculpture and blowsy red roses. At Le Vasterival, the garden of the late Princess Sturdza near Dieppe, “trees, shrubs, perennials, climbers, and bulbs flourished in a series of woodland glades,” notes the Royal Horticultural Society. In this image, a blooming mass of clematis grows on the house, creating a fantasy-like vision. Its natu- ral form is nicely contrasted by the formal hedges in the foreground. Celebrate 100 Years of Academic Excellence With Temple University Ambler! March 20: 100 Years of American Women in Gardens In partnership with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Learning Center Auditorium, Noon to 5 p.m. May 7: Anniversary Plant Sale Ambler Campus Greenhouse, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 12: Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser Northview, Noon to 5 p.m.. Call for Reservations Visit wwxv.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary for more information. 580 Meetinghouse Road Ambler, PA 19002 267.468.8000 w\ew.ambler. temple.edu Ambler TEMPLE UNIVERSITY® 16 GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 The Philadelphia Antiques Show A B 1-: N l' I-' 1 r !•• o R P ! •: N N M ! •: D I c I N E April 9-12, 2011 \ Several added events for the 2011 Show are fi-ee with admission including: for the 50th celebration of The Philadelphia Antiques Show, featuring 50 distinguished exhibitors offering the finest American antiques and decorative arts. o CELEBRAnNG FLOWERS Jane Godshalk AIFD Through the Ages Monday, April 11 I 11:30 am Historical Floral Designs Reinterpreted with Modern Techniques — a lecture and demonstration by internationally renowned floral designer, Jane Godshalk, AIFD. o Antiques In Bloom A juried flower exhibit running throughout the event displaying exceptional flower arrangements created to complement the dealers’ booths and galleries. TThere will be an opportunity to meet some of the accomplished flower arrangers on Monday afternoon, April 11. Show ojfers group admission rates, hotel packages, daily guided show tours and special events. Free parking at The Navy Yard and complimentary shuttle service available from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. t/emM ThilaAntiques.com The Nav)'T^ud Pliiladelphia Cmise Temiinal at Pier One Show managed by Keeling Wainwright Associates I*khsi;n I'iNC .Sponsor Drexel Morgan & Co Investment Management Plant Ahead... Long-range broinwork and elegant spade-work display the full value of your property year after year. Landscape Design Group achieves distinctive land- scape architecture that continues to improve and enhance your property with a minimum of upkeep. LANDSCAPE DESIGN GROUP, INC Landscape Architecture and Construction Doylestown, PA • 215-340-7890 You'll enjoy a custom design, quality execution, and on-time completion well within your budget. To review our residential portfolio and discuss your ideas, please call Michael or Frank Montemuro at 215-340-7890. We dig for elegance. www.landscapedesigngroupinc.com One of France’s most-loved gardens is at the Chateau de Bagatelle, a neoclassical estate featuring an abundance of spectacular roses, tulips, irises, and water lilies. It sports a formal parterre design and more than 1,000 varieties of roses that explode in May and June. Feeling inspired yet? You will after you visit Springtime in Paris in a few weeks. Until then, au revoir, mes amis. What is a Jardin Potager? The traditional kitchen garden, also known as a potager (in French, jardin potaget), is a space separate from the rest of the resi- dential garden — the ornamental plants and lawn areas. Most vegetable gardens are still miniature versions of old family farm plots, but the kitchen garden is different not only in its history, but also in its design. The kitchen garden may serve as the central feature of an ornamental, all- Heat Shed Solar Photovoltaic Systems Residences & Commercial Systems P; 610-847-2064 F: 610-847-2110 www.heatshed.com bleat Shed 267 Rock Ridge Rd Revere, PA 18953 Since 1977 Philadelphia Flower Show Booth #337 season landscape, or it may be little more than a humble vegetable plot. It is a source of herbs, vegetables, fruits, and edible flowers, but it is often also a structured garden space with a design based on repetitive geometric patterns. The kitchen garden has year-round visual appeal and can incorporate permanent perennials or woody shrub plantings around (or among) the annuals. -wikipedia.com 18 GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 More Time - More Friends - More Choices Setting Standards of Excellence In Retirement Living Since 1 967 Foulkeways at Gwynedd, community members look forward to exploring new horizons and re-establishing past interests and hobbies. There's always something close at hand to inspire both mind AND body! So, what are you doing with the second half of YOUR life? Foidkeivays For more information about life at Foulkeways Continuing Care Retirement Community, call Lori Schmidt at 215-283-7010 in the Residency Information Office today. Tirst h=i panpha FRIENDS SERVICES? AGING aahsa Guided by Time-Honored Quaker Values 1 120 Meetinghouse Road, Gwynedd, PA 19436 215-643-2200 • www.foulkeways.org Foulkeways® at Gwynedd does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or sexual orientation. Uncover ancient and scenic Ireland From Powerscourt House and Gardens in County Wicklow, to the magnificence of Dunluce Castle in Country Antrim and its majestic setting on the Causeway Coast, Ireland's castles, great houses and gardens are a constant source of delight. Your vacation will be filled with delightful discoveries at every turn, To start planning your vacation visit discoverireland.com '^'hZ^-eyre-JvclcLTld GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 19 TREES i' 1 ! I SHOW TREES How Do They Get those Big Trees into the Flower Show? By Betsie Blodgett Sure, it’s called the Philadelphia International Flower Show, but PHS’s annual spring event would hardly be the same without some serious arboreal representation. “Trees make our Flower Show gardens feel real,” says Flower Show designer Sam Lemheney. “They give you the canopy, the color above your eye. It would be a ‘flat’ show without the trees you see in nearly every exhibit.” Lemheney, who loves to have “anything big and flowering” when it comes to trees for the Show’s main garden displays, relies on expert tree “forcers” like Jack Blandy to provide the flowering kwanzan and okami cherry trees, as well as lush zelkovas and European lindens that will greet visitors as they enter Springtime in Paris, the 201 1 Show. Flower Show forcing — the technical term for tricking plants into flowering or leafing out the first two weeks in March, well in advance of Mother Nature’s schedule — is an art and a science. Blandy has been forcing trees for some 30 years, both for his family- owned Stoney Bank Nurseries exhibits and for PHS and other clients. “A lot of people don’t realize how much effort it is to select the right tree to force,” Blandy says. “You can’t just go out and dig up any old tree.” Selected specimens are brought into two of Stoney Banks’s eight greenhouses that have been designed specifically for forcing trees, complete with heated floors, carbon dioxide generators, and drip irriga- j 1 20 GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 Photo by ■ tion for the “balled and burlapped” roots. Larger trees are turned on their sides and rotated on a specific schedule to ensure even growth; with some trees topping 30 feet, horizontal forcing is the only way to grow them in the 18-foot-high greenhouse. Some trees are a snap to force, while others are notoriously difficult. “Birches, cherries, and dogwoods are the easier ones,” Blandy explains. “Stewartias, parrotias, and katsuras are more difficult, and beeches and oaks are the toughest.” Blandy likes to try something new for every Flower Show, and this year is no exception. For Stoney Banks’ Parisian rooftop garden, look for flowering pears, apples, and apricots, some in espalier form, “l ire tricky thing will be to hold them and not let them flower too soon,” he says. Getting trees to the Show requires plan- ning, not to mention special equipment to load trees weighing up to 800 pounds, with a 60-inch root ball on one end and an 1 8-foot spread of branches, leaves, and flowers on the other. Once in place on the Show floor, well-planned grading and care- fully placed boulders, shrubs, and larger perennials hide the root halls. PHS’s Meadowbrook Farm, which forces the majority of the annuals and perenni- als exhibitors use at the Flower Show, also forces smaller-scale trees in containers. “Trees at the Flower Show add a dimension of ‘permanence’,” notes John Story, director of Meadowbrook. Crews prepare large, balled-and- burtapped cherry trees for forcing at Stoney Bank Nurseries. To find out more about trees that thrive in this region, Story suggests visiting PHS’s Gold Medal exhibit, where visitors can see live award-winning trees in a garden setting, talk with tree experts, and pick up a list of current and past Gold Medal winners. Special awards are given specifically for trees in exhibits, including the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association Trophies and the Kate and Robert Bartlett, Jr., Award. PHS President Drew Becher says visitors will want to check out the exhibit to learn about the ambitious program PHS will help lead to plant one million trees in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. This campaign officially debuts at the Flower Show on Thursday, March 10, the same day as the annual tree care conference sponsored by Bartlett Tree Experts. “Like the Flower Show, trees are a great equalizer,” Becher says. “No matter where you live, trees are so important. They improve the quality of life in every community.” Unprebed^ted Experience T •Tree « Landscape ^Services ^ PersonallService .’• • Exception^ Quality ^ th^^cFari^d Way! IF . / V :: > v * .r • ^ ' 4 • 'S ,• iiL Call today to schedule a free professional consultation to review your property. 215-844-TREE (8733) • 610-688-6644 • Fax:215-438-1879 www.mcfarlandtree.com BROADWAY'S EPIC LOVE STORY ON STAGE AT THE WALNUT! MAY 17 -JULY 17 FOR TICKETS VISIT: WalnutStreetTheatre.org ticketmaster OR CALL 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787 SPONSORED BY MEDIA SPONSORS Progressive Business rfr^IlL Dxvfni — Pubiicstions — I L"^nbc JD^lUl ® WALNUT STREET THEATRE FOUNDED 1809 AMERICA'S OLDEST THEATRE - PHILADELPHIA'S MOST POPULAR THEATRE COMPANY 22 GREEN SCENE • march/april 2011 The X5 xDrive35 Diesel. EXPERIENCE ALL 265 HORSEPOWER AT OTTO’S BMW. I ! I Otto’s BMW 1275 Wilmington Pike, West Chester, PA 610-399-6800 | www.ottosbmw.com The Ultimate ottosbmw.com Driving Machine I PHS Launches Plant One Million, a Regional Partnership to Plant Trees in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware Story by Jane Carroll • Photos by Rob Cardillo TREES Malus 'Prairifire' at Chanticleer w "The Plant One Million campaign will have a major impact on the environment and economy of the whole region." - PHS President Drew Becher These days, PHS President Drew Becher is talking trees. Lots of trees. At the 201 1 Philadelphia International Flower Show, he’ll announce a new PHS initiative to plant one million trees in southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware.* Why one million? The Greater Philadelphia Region has lost millions of trees in recent decades due to develop- ment. Several years ago, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources responded with TreeVitalize, a public/private partnership led by PHS in southeastern Pennsylvania that has added 150,000 trees. PHS will now lead Plant One Million, an expanded campaign to add one million trees in 13 counties. It will educate and mobilize volunteers throughout the region to “plant, count, and tend” trees. The goal is to restore the region’s “tree canopy cover” — the area of land shaded by trees — to 30 percent. “The Plant One Million campaign will have a big impact on the environment and economy of the whole region,” says Becher, who in his prior position as director of New York Restoration Project led an initiative called Million Trees NYC. The Power of Trees Gardeners know that trees provide shade and beauty and serve as visual focal points. But trees do so much more. Studies show that planting a single tree on your property increases the value of your home by 1 0 percent and that shoppers spend more time and pay higher prices in tree-lined shopping districts than they do at barren strip malls. More importantly, trees are environmental powerhouses. The US Forest Service estimates that 100 trees remove 1.2 tons of COt per year and 130 pounds of other pollutants. Trees reduce summer cooling costs and help prevent the accumulation of ground-level ozone, which triggers or aggravates a number of respiratory illnesses. Many people don’t realize the key role trees also play in preventing flooding. The US Forest Service calculates that 100 mature trees capture 77,000 gallons of rainwa- ter annually. And while they’re absorbing all that water, trees filter out harmful substances that rainwater picks up as it travels across the ground (known as “non-point source pollution”), helping to keep our rivers and streams healthy. Trees do all of this for a relatively small investment — Why is Tree Canopy Important? The tree canopy is the upper branches or crowns of mature trees. Measuring the area of land shaded by or covered by tree canopy provides an important yardstick for a healthy environment, since trees improve air and water quality and help reduce erosion, water pollution, and flooding. * The Plant One Million campaign will encompass Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania; Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Mercer, and Salem counties in New Jersey; and New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties in Delaware. GREEN SCENE • march/opril 201 1 25 reason enough to plant more of them. But according to experts, green spaces with trees also improve our physical and mental health and contribute to lower levels of crime and domestic violence. “Each tree planted becomes a powerful engine to improve our environment and enhance the quality of life in communities throughout the region, now and for future generations,” says Maitreyi Roy, PHS vice presi- dent for programs. A Broad-Based Partnership “To reach our goal of one million trees, we’ll build partnerships with county and municipal governments, local and regional nonprofits, residents, businesses, and landowners,” says Amanda Benner, who is overseeing the Plant One Million campaign at PHS. PHS will also mobilize and expand its network of more than 3,000 vol- unteers trained through its Tree Tenders® program. Within Philadelphia, adding more trees is part of Mayor Michael Nutter’s sustainability plan, Greenworks Philadelphia, which calls for planting 300,000 trees by 2013. PHS will support the city’s goal by targeting private and institutional land through direct action and incentive programs. Outside the city, PHS will work with com- munities and partners across state lines to plant 700,000 trees. The Delaware Center for Horticulture and the New Jersey Tree Foundation will serve as lead partners in those states. Fundraising and marketing campaigns — including corporate volunteer opportunities and outreach to govern- ment agencies, foundations, businesses, and individuals — will build support for the initiative and raise awareness about the importance of trees. For volunteers, tree planting provides an immediate sense of accomplishment, but keeping all those new trees alive and thriving will require the ongoing commitment of more volunteers to help tend and care for them after planting. It will also depend upon the continued col- laboration of government, business, and nonprofits. PHS hopes the partnerships created through Plant One Million will lay the groundwork for greater investment in green spaces for years to come. “That’s the beauty of this program,” says Becher. “It will continue to build on itself” Get Involved: Plant, Count, Tend! Visit PHSonline.org or call 21 5-988-8800 to learn how to: • Sign up for PHS Tree Tenders® training. • Volunteer to plant trees in your area. • Learn more about trees. What will you do in yours?... “Visit our booth at the Philadelphia Flower Show” Decades of Heritage & Tradition Married with Technology & A Simple Elegance inspired by our Rugged Irish Countryside... The Dubarry Country Collection ■ GORE-TEX lined® ■ Waterproof ■ Breathable ■ Lightweight ■ DryFast-DrySoff^ Dubarry USA 1 06 West Christine Rd, Nottingham, PA 19362 1-866-658-3569 dubarm'^ of Ireland J www.dubarry.us MEDFORD LEAS— A nationally accredited. Quaker-related, not-for-profit community for those age 55+, with campuses in Medford and Lumberton, NJ. Member. Greater Philadelphia Gardens and APGA. WWW.MEDFORDLEAS.ORG THE BARTON ARBORETUM & NATURE PRESERVE at MEDFORD LEAS Annual Arboretum Lecture MAKING PHILADELPHIA THE GREENEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY SATURDAY, APRIL 16, 2011, 11:00 AM DREWBECHER President, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) PHS, the nation’s first horticultural society, founded in 1837, motivates and inspires people to improve their quality of life and transform their communities through horticulture. Join us for this special opportunity to hear Drew Becher high- light PHS — its positive impact on the city of Philadelphia, its signature initiatives, and his vision for its future. Lecture followed br light luncheon fare and guided Arboretum tours. NO CHARGE. RESERVATIONS REQUESTED. PLEASE CALL 609-654-3527 TO RSVP. GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 27 I I I IFREES HICH FOR YOUR WHRX your [MACS BLOOM, ARL THL Ll.OWLRS TOO SNIFFINC, Pl.HASURF,? OR ARF THF.RF HARDLY ANY FI.( WLRh A l' ALL? If SO, MA^'BF YOU NHFD SOMF. PRUNING TIPS TO GF/F YOUR LILAC BLOOMING LIKF MAD. New lilacs {Syringa spp) begin blooming within two to five years. While, dependent on weather or whim, they flower profusely some years and not others, judicious pruning is essential for abundant bloom. Diligent annual grooming not only improves the shape and appearance of lilacs, but also impacts health and blossom production. Prune lilacs immediately after flowers fade. Trimming at the wrong time can remove buds for the next year’s show. While plants are young, deadheading spent blooms directs the plant’s energy into setting more buds. Snip off dead trusses with clippers, all the way back to the stem. Mature plants rarely need this encourage- ment, and eventually you’ll have so many flowers the enterprise will exhaust you. Use a saw or loppers when By llene Sternberg Photos by Rob Cardillo GREEN SCENE march/april 201 29 A folding pruning sav» is. |ha when removing larger deadwood near the I i ! BARTLETT. BECAUSE FULL, HEALTHY TREES MAKE FOR FULL, HEALTHY LIVES. The trees and shrubs that shade us and grow along with us are valuable assets that deserve care and protection. For over 100 years, we’ve led both the science and services that make your landscape thrive. No matter the size or scope of your tree and shrub care needs, our experts provide you with a rare mix of local service, global resources and innovative practices. Trees add so much value to our lives. And Bartlett adds even more value to your trees. BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS For the life of your trees. PRUNING . FERTILIZATION . PEST & DISEASE MANAGEMENT . REMOVAL PLEASE CALL 877 BARTLETT 877.227.8538 OR VISIT BARTLETT.COM 30 GREEN SCENE • march/opril 201 1 cutting branches more than 2 inches in diameter. Horticulturist Rick Ray advises, “The first rule of thumb: don’t cut a branch larger than your thumb with a hand pruner. The second rule of thumb: don’t cut your thumb.” Remove water sprouts (shoots that grow straight up from a lateral branch). Trim suckers and shoots at or near ground level or where they exit the main trunk. To keep lilacs full, cut larger stems from the shrub’s center to increase ventilation, inviting sun and air circulation to avert disease. This also encourages fresh branching on the plant’s exterior. Sever awkward limbs and prune a few stems back to the main trunk to create a well-balanced, rounded shrub. If your patient is large and overgrown, you can fearlessly cut the entire plant to within 6 to 8 inches off the ground in late winter (March to early April); new growth will develop during the growing season. Before cutting, verify whether your lilac is grafted. (There will be a noticeable swelling where the scion wood of the cultivar meets the Merci to Our Sponsors 0PNC PRESENTS i SPRINCTIME IN PARIS PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW To kSNEFITTHE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY PREMIER SPONSOR SUBARU OFFICIAL Sponsors ACME ePHEKRY ^Tourism Ireland Somis MEDIA Partner Caterinc iT JTAIiAMARK Protect your GARDEN from rabbits and small critters. Critter Repellent Sprinkle Plaiitskydd throughout your garden. It couldn't be easier! Available as 1 lb., 3 lb., 7 lb., and 20 lb. NEW! Plantskydd® Granu\ar Rabbits and Small #1 Most Effective #1 Longest Lasting #1 Most Tested ORGANIC Plantskydd® Deer Repellent Repels deer, elk, and rabbits. Available as Ready-to- Use Spray |l qt.) or Jug (1.32 gal) and Soluble Powder Concentrate |l lb., 2.2 lb. and 22 lb.|. For our DEALER LOCATOR, FAQs, testimonials and “independent research results, visit our website: www.plantskydd.com CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-252-6051 Naturally Green. Pine Run Retirement Community... ...growing beautiful gardens, good will and a healthy lifestyle in the perfect Bucks County Pennsylvania location. Owned and operated by Doylestown Hospital, Pine Run is a true continuing care retirement community. Cottages and apartments charm the campus along with many amenities such as a greenhouse, the Back - Achers vegetable garden, and a walking path with views of Pine Run Lake. Visit our mature landscape today. B me Call 800-992-8992. un Community Uniquely Doylestown. Definitely Pine Run. 777 Ferry Road, Doylestown, PA 18901 www.pinerun.org c PANPHA GREEN SCENE • march/april 2011 31 94^iAfUned ta ioah ojcce^/tti? ■Ah r- Vmt '1^4,! ■*■ A . Over 5,000 items from Around the World for Every Outdoor Room, Garden & Home Decor Need 4 Union Hill Rd., West Conshohocken, PA 19428 • 610.825.5525 - Tues-Sat Year Round 10 am - 5 pm Sunday By Appointment Only • Closed Monday www.whitehorsevillage.org White Horse Village - A Gardener’s Paradise A retirement community located on 96 acres of gardens, meadows and woodlands adjacent to a state park, White Horse Village is truly paradise for nature lovers. We invite you to visit and stroll through our splendid gardens where residents have tagged and identified over 2500 species of trees and plantings! 535 Gradyville Rd in Edgmont Township. (610)558-5000 rootstock and a difference in the bark of the two.) If your plant is grafted, cut above Aixt graft union and don’t let rootstock shoots grow into flowering stems, or your reju- venated lilac will not produce the desired flowers of the cultivar. Late the following winter, select and retain several strong shoots and remove all others at soil level. Clip retained shoots to just above a bud. If you can’t bear beheading your baby all at once, you can prune over a three-year period, beginning with removing one-third of the large old stems at ground level in late winter. The following March or April, cut out one-half of the remaining old stems and thin out some new growth. Keep sev- eral well-spaced healthy stems and remove the others. Finally, eliminate all remain- ing old wood in late winter of year three, along with some new growth. This method should allow you to enjoy flowers ever)' spring. Keep lilacs vigorous by removing a few of the old branches even.' 3 to 5 years, and they should live nearly forever. 32 GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 Nemours Mansion AND Gardens “Nemours has been returned to its youthful splendor - and perhaps even a little bit more.” — Architectual Digest “French glory as it was.” — Philadelphia Inquirer “A visitor might believe he or she magically just stepped into Europe.” — News Journal Plan your visit today, for reservations and information: www.nemoursmansion.org | 1-800-651-6912 Alapocas Drive and Powder Mill Road (Route 141)1 Wilmington, Delaware 19803 GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 33 Please visit us at the Philadelphia International Flower Show, Booth#s 521, 523, 620, 622 Delightful, enchanting and beautiful BRONZE SCULPTURE AND FOUNTAINS to make your garden special. These elegant and timeless works of art enhance any outdoor setting. RANDOLPH ROSE COLLECTION 500 Nepperhan Avenue • Yonkers, NY 10701 Phone 914.423.2047 • Toll Free 1.800.462.5851 www.RandolphRose.com lnfo@RandolphRose.com i PROUD TO SUPPORT The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Visit us at the Flower Show, booths # 301 -200 are just around the corner.'"^,: 120 Years your neighborhood grocer — ACME — 34 GREEN SCENE • morch/opril 201 1 t 4033 West Chester Pike (Rte.3) Newtown Square, PA 19073 610-356-8035 • www.nnostardi.com Gold Medal Garden... Start with High Performance Plants from Mostardi! We stock flowers, shrubs and trees that are recom- mended by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s “Gold Medal Award” program. They are superior plants that will provide longer-lasting beauty all around your home. Stop by today and check out our incredible collection of greenery. The colors are gorgeous. The values are exceptional. And the prices are surprisingly low for such high quality. But then, that’s what you should expect from Mostardi plants. They are good as gold! Plants • MOSTARDI SHREINER 1986-20U TREE CARE Excellence for 25 years 610.265.6004 www.shreinertreecare.com Visit our store: Open everyday io-6 814 N. 4th Street ~ Philadelphia 215.627.6169 Shop Online! wivw.cityplanter.com GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 35 It’s not a bold statement to say that Philadelphia has a lot of trees. The city is home to Fairmount Park, one of the largest urban park systems in the country, and PHS and its Tree Tenders volunteers and partners have been busily planting trees along city streets and in parks since 1993. Under Mayor Michael Nutter’s Greemvorks plan, Philadelphia will add even more trees — 300,000 of them — by 2015. As staggering as that number is, many people still have a hard time grasping its impor- tance. Trees are often the most reliable and prolific of all plants, and therefore also some of the most overlooked. To reach this ambitious goal, the city will need advocates and stewards, and PHS’s Tree Tenders program, which trains volun- teers to plant and care for trees, is helping to recruit them. Lisa Maiello completed the training in 2006 and began organizing com- munity tree plantings because she felt that her South Kensington neighborhood was being left out of this arboreal renaissance. Her group of Tree Tenders is working to Tending Urban Forest by Nic Esposito V- nurture a thoughtfully planted urban forest to create a healthier environment for the benefit of everyone in the community. Lisa explains, “Planting and caring for trees is a great way to connect us to our neighborhoods. To achieve a sustainable urban forest you need to plan it on a neigh- borhood scale and engage at the local level.” By physically connecting people to the land through tree plantings and gaining the sup- port of organizations like PHS, she hopes to pass on the stewardship skills she learned through Tree Tenders to ensure that this urban forest is maintained for generations to come. This need for “successive stewardship” is an issue that farm educator David Siller has pondered for some time. Siller developed a love of trees while living in rural Virginia, To sign up for spring 201 1 Tree Tenders® classes or for more details, please visit PHSonline.org. 36 GREEN SCENE • march/april 20 where much of the countryside still has orchards from colonial times and most resi- dents have an apple tree in their front yards. He noticed that when people harvested the fruit from these trees, they did so with great care and respect. This experience led him to study hun- dreds of varieties of edible plants and devel- op foraging techniques when out in the woods. When he moved to Philadelphia, Siller found that all it took was a bike ride to have the same experience. Bicycling around the city, he found wineberry, juneberry, cherry, mulberry, and what he calls “Philly figs.” That’s why tree education is so vital to Siller. He thinks that by teaching people the importance of trees as sources of food, he can inspire them to plant more. And just like a farmer, he replenishes the food he for- ages by propagating over 200 fig trees just this year to plant in people’s yards. But whether it’s a more connected com- munity or a healthier lifestyle. Siller and Maiello agree that education — on both the city and grassroots levels — will help shape the creation and stewardship of the future urban forests of Philadelphia. And although Siller wouldn’t disclose the location of the latest raspberry patch he found, he did say, “When you’re aware, you’ll see them. If not, you’ll just walk right by.” Enjoy edible landscaping? Read about the Philadelphia Orchard Project on our blog, philadelphiagreen.wordpress.com. (JasaCe Sodini Tuscany, ItaCy l^ivi iCsogno! - Live tfie cfream! ^eautifuIXy ^stored Tamfiouse ancf MiCC tfie MecfievaC Town of Lucca .T (Bedroom, 3 (Batfi Lwgiry 'Cidd xuitH (Foot Centrady Located to f TCorence, CHianti, and (Pisa ■ CHef AvadaSCe upon Ppquest Jiccepting (Rfservations for 2011 eX, 2012 Contact Leslie Halloran at 440-423-4424 leslie@casalesodini.com www.casalesodini.com At Beaumont, watch us grow! Please join us for an exclusive Pennsylvania Horticultural Society lecture and hands-on presentation. Container Gardens for Small Spaces Saturday April 30th, includes a beautiful spring lunch Please reserve your place(s) today as seating will be limited! Find out more and register at 610-526-7004 or www.beaumontretirement.com/events. AT BRYN MAWR A Gracious, Resident-Owned Community 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-1797 610-526-7000 | beaumontretirement.com GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 37 utsmart hungry deer Plant what you want and protect it with DeerTech. i|^ us at booth 413 [ P^adelphia Internatioui 'er Show Bit It’s where you want to be. A warm, welcoming community. An active, independent lifestyle. A comfortable, contemporary home right outside the city. It’s The Hill at Whitemarsh - and now is the time to make the right decision to protect your future. Call now to schedule a tour... consider your options... and let the fun begin! The right place for you. Find it at The Hill at Whitemarsh. The Hill at Whitemarsh, 4000 Fox Hound Drive, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 Ph: 215-402-8725 Toll-free; 800-315-4103 w'ww.TheHillAtWhitemarsh.org 38 GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 The Vines of France Jewelry Natural grape leaves collected from the BOURDEAUX AND CHAMPAGNE REGIONS COVERED IN COPPER AS PINS AND PENDANTS. BOOTH 310 PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL FLOWER SHOW Natural Jewelry & Botanical Art BY NATURE’S CREATIONS www.LEAFPiN.coM 800-288-7813 Rockville, Maryland ARBORS TRELLISES 'i'l OATES ;-.v ARCHWAYS OBELISKS TOWERS S PAVILIONS PERGOLAS SELECT FROM OUR POPULAR LINE OF PRODUCTS OR LET US BENCHES CUSTOM DESIGN/BUILD TO YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS. FENCES Painted Gardefu, Inc. (215) 884-7378 WWW.THEPAINTEDGARDENINC.COM 304 EDGE HILL ROAD. GLENSIDE, PA 19038 SHOWROOM BY APPOINTMENT lanu H G/IRDKN.SUKD.S- KXCl.USIVt III III PePPCtK POT PAKM ca. I7>0 www.9ardensheds.e0m handcrafted Buildings at Beautify your landscape with Timeless design and Uncompromising craftsmanship reminiscent of another era. Ij . O ^ Our original products are fully Assembled, finished, and shipped from our Peimsylvania workshop To 48 States. View our entire collection of Gardensheds, Greenhouses, Screen Houses, Pool Houses, Pavilions, Follies, Entry Gates, Estate Planters, Bird Houses and Dog Houses. www.Gardensheds.com Toll-FREE:877-SHEDS-11 til LAMBERTVILLE, NJ GREEN SCENE • morch/april 201 1 39 TREES Buxus 'Green Mountain' GREEN SCENE SKINNY TREES! Fresh Solutions for Narrow Planting Spots - by George Weigel Almost every landscape has them: tight spots that call for something tall and narrow. Maybe it’s that maddeningly thin, 4-foot . strip between the front of the house and the sidewalk. Perhaps you’d like a little privacy in that side yard but have only a few feet to spare. Or maybe you need something on the sleek side to flank a doorway, soften a bare wall between windows, or edge a patio. The ! good news is that there are many excellent “skinny” e plants available. Let’s look at a few. ' Columnar boxwoods These versatile broad-leaf evergreens grow into tight pyramids 8 to 10 feet tall but only 2 to 3 feet j around. Buxus sempervirens ‘Dee Runk’ (a PHS Gold Medal Plant Award winner); ‘Fastigiata’; and ‘Green Tower’ top the list with a denser form and neater appearance than the older ‘Graham Blandy’. Slightly shorter and fatter at about 6 by 3'/2 feet is Buxus X ‘Green Mountain’. All do best in part-shade, although they’ll tolerate full-sun to mostly shade. Pyramidal hollies Two narrow evergreen hollies, IlexX aquipernyi ‘Meshick’ (Dragon Lady) and IlexX ‘Rutzan’ (Red Beauty), can easily be kept at 4 to 5 feet around with a single spring pruning. They shear well and look best maintained at 8 to 12 feet tall. ‘Red Beaut)'’, the more compact of the two, produces large, nicely displayed red fruits (with a male blue holly pollinator nearby). Dragon Lady has a more open look, grows faster, and prefers sun or part-shade. GREEN SCENE march/april 201 1 41 The Skinny on Gold Medal Plants When it comes to tight spaces, upright is the way to go. These "fastigiate" or "columnar" trees are ideal for landscape areas where space is restricted in smaller home landscapes or near the corner of homes or decks where wide- spreading branches would create obstacles. Here are two good choices from PHS's Gold Medal Plant Award program and, better yet, they're both natives. Sweetgums are great native trees, but their "gumballs" make them less than favorable for some situations. But Sweetgum 'Slender Silhouette' {Liquidambar styraciflua), a 2011 Gold Medal winner, suits urban landscapes since it's very narrow and drops its gumballs (the spherical, spiky seed capsules) in a 4-foot patch around it. The tree reaches 60 feet tall but only four feet wide! In the fall, the leaves turn shades of yellow and red. "This sweetgum cultivar works in tight urban spaces; because of its narrow shape it can be used in courtyards and other confined areas," says Joe Ziccardi Jr., PHS's Gold Medal Plant Award manager. Because of its surface root spread, he does not recommend it for alleyways or as a street tree. Pin Oak 'Green Pillar'( Quercus palus- tris) is another slender cultivar. This narrow, upright tree grows to 50 feet high and only 1 5 feet wide. A 2006 Gold Medal winner, it has glossy green leaves that turn to vibrant deep reds and maroon. It will be at home in full sun as a park or specimen tree, as a street tree, or in small yards. "We have a duty to plant more oaks," says Ziccardi. "They are vital as animal and insect habitat but are diminishing due to diseases, competition from overplanting of non-natives, deforestation, and the fact that they are slow-growing. Faster growing trees will shade out oaks in forests." Columnar Hinoki cypress These durable, soft-needled evergreens thrive in varied light settings and come in different sizes, shapes, and colors. If you’ve got a bit of room, try one of the taller green types: Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Gracilis’, the feathery-textured ‘Ericoides’, or the slightly twisted ‘Filicoides’. Figure on 12 to 15 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide as a good mainte- nance size. In tighter spots, go with one of the many superb dwarf Hinokis. ‘Nana Gracilis’ is a slow-growing green type, and ‘Torulosa’ is green with a twisted habit. ‘Verdonii’ and ‘Tetragona Aurea’ have a conical shape and golden foliage. Columnar junipers Choose these stiff-needled evergreens for hotter, sunnier areas. Good selec- tions include Juniperus chinensis ‘Blue Point’; Juniperus virginiana ‘Blue Arrow’ and ‘Corcorcor’, also known as ‘Emerald Sentinal’ (a Gold Medal Plant); and Juniperus scopulorum ‘Gray Gleam’. Juniperus communis ‘Gold Cone’ is one of the best gold-tinted uprights. Upright yew and plum yew Yeah, everybody’s got yews, but they’re mostly sheared into boxes and balls rather than grown as columns. Taxus X media ‘Beanpole’ and ‘Flushing’ are 2-foot-wide Veiv'Fastigiata' 42 GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 — Laura Brandt s* I I j Smith & Hawken' Smith & Hawken® Long-Handled Tools. V Available exclusively at Target.com/smithandhawken As soon as you pick up a Smith & Hawken shovel, you know something’s different. A smooth, ash handle— sturdy as the tree from which it was cut. A solid-forged head subjected to rigorous strength testing, for both peace of mind and effortless maintenance, And the feeling of confidence, familiar only to the Smith & Hawken gardener. is52011 Target Stores. The Bullsaye Design aixl Target are registered tiademarKs of Target Brands. Inc. All rights reserved. 041308 H|pni^ '<• Ji jRVH i« ^L--' V-' t A i F^ ■ .a. \ I I ill.: Landscape and Garden Design and Installations info@finegardencreations.com • www.finegardencreations.com Tel; 610-338-0630 • Fax: 610-328-4850 • PA 01 3202 green tubes, while Taxus X media ‘Viridis’ is a hair wider with yellow new foliage. Japanese plum yews like ‘Fastigiata’ have a similar habit but wider, more tropical-look- ing blades and a taste that deer don’t like. They do well in part-shade or shade. Vines on a trellis If you’re not sure about your snipping ability, erect a trellis or two and use them to support twining plants. Clematis works well because most of them are more compact than rapid climbers like wisteria, trumpet vine, and climbing hydrangea. Also, they don’t pose the threat of grabbing a passerby with thorns as do errant arms of climbing rose. Good clematis cultivars include ‘Wisley’ and ‘Polish Spirit’ (purple); ‘Madame Julia Correvon’ and ‘Rosemoor’ (rose); ‘Betty Corning’ (lavender); ‘Will Goodwin’ and ‘Gen. Sikorski’ (lavender-blue); and ‘Comtesse Bouchaud’ and ‘Bees Jubilee (pink). Furniture Designed to Last a Lifetime • No Painting - Ever • 100 plus Designs • No Winter Storage • 9 Great Colors ^ Visit us at the f Philadelphia International Flower Show Booth #411 artH Inc. ^tttdoor Furniture A ACC€SSOr\€S Call today for your free color catalog 1-877-220-0448 or visit us on-line at: www.bytheyard.net 1 You can find other excellent upright plants through the PHS Gold Medal Plant program. Learn more at goldmedalplants.org. George Weigel is a Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturist, garden writer for The Patriot-News in Harrisburg, and owner of a garden-consulting and design business. i i 46 GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 i LA CONTESSA Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens October 2010 tlLrou^h June 2011 65 soiil|)lures IValiirinj*' soiiiul A ino\emeiit in a 15 acre botanical setting Don't miss this one-of-a-kind exhibition at Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens! (all 610.647.8870 or visit www.jenkinsarboretum.org for more information. AN OUTDOOR SCULPTURE EXHIBITION OF SOUND & MOTION WIND iL TREES DCePLY rOOTOD In addition to our legacy of outstanding customer service, extensive horticultural knowledge, and comprehensive selection of merchandise. Primex also works with over 50 community organizations each year, donating products and making connections between our vendors and non- profits to build gardening resources in the Philadelphia area. We are proud to have provided 100 EarthBoxes® which were distributed to schools and community centers, providing food and inspiring a new generation of gardeners. How can we help you? PRIMEX GARDEN CENTER Independent owned and operated by the Green family, serving the Glenside Community since 1943 485 West Glenside Avenue Glenside • 215-887-7500 www.primexgardencenter.com GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 47 Designing with Trees Nature as Inspiration By Jane Godshalk, AIFD • Photographs by Laura Pearson "To the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself." — William Blake A walk through the woods is an opportunity to look at trees for inspiration. Nature gives us all of the elements and principles of design in the most perfect form — light, space, line, form, size, color, texture, and pattern — in the visible world all around us. In floral design, branches and flowers can capture the feeling of trees, if only for an instant. At the Philadelphia International Flower Show, designers are often given a class title or theme and are asked to interpret the title in their arrangements. Let’s look at a class that might be called “Trees.” Photos by Laura Pears Design 1: An interpretive design In this design, tiger branches {Astronium fraxinifoliuni) are tied to a metal stand to mimic a vertical tree trunk and canopy. The form is asymmetrical with two branches creating a strong horizontal line. A focal area is created with an aralia [Fatsia japonicd) leaf and one orange rose. Gloriosa flowers {Gloriosa rothchildiand) float through the design like leaves in the wind. Design 2: An abstract design As in abstract art, abstract floral design uses line, color, and form to create a bold and streamlined depiction of an idea or object. This design uses abstraction to express the beauty of the different parts of a tree. For materials, palm bark, a root, a dried seed pod and Dendrobium orchid each are pierced through or tied to a metal stand. The root, pod, and flower are of relatively equal visual weight, creating multiple focal areas. This encourages the eye to jump from one area to another, rather than move smoothly as in traditional design, GREEN SCENE • mail THE MAGAZINE OF FRENCH TRAVEL & CULTURE France Today is America's only monthly publication devoted to France. Each issue is filled with beauti- fully written and illustrated stories on French travel, culture, food & wine, design, shopping, real estate and much more. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 8^ The Magazine of French Travel and Cui Jhe Great Southwest; ^Toulouse and Albi Giverny: Monet’s Gardens Star in a New Museum Cannes: Festival Fireworks n Oui! Please begin my subscription to France Today at $45 for 1 year (1 1 issues). CH Oui! Please begin my subscription to France Today a\ $75 for 2 years (22 issues). Save $15! For foreign orders, please add $35. Allow 4-6 weeks for your first issue to arrive. For faster service, subscribe online at wvrw.francetoday.com or call 1-800-901-6560. n Check enclosed (payable to France Today] Charge my: n Visa IZI MasterCard IZI American Express Account #: ... .... Exp. Date: Name: BONUS DIGITAL EDITION! Get the Digital Edition of France Today for free when you subscribe to the magazine (a $19.95 value). Now available on the iPad! Signature: Address: City / State / Zip: Country: Email: IZI Please sign me up for the Digital Edition of France Today for free! n Please send me the free weekly e-newsletter Le Petit Journal NO RISK GUARANTEE If at anytime your decide to cancel your subscription to France Today you may obtain a refund for any unmailed issues. Please return this coupon with your payment to France Today Subscriptions, 333 West 39th Street, Suite IHAlOl 702, New York, NY 10018 The Sustainable Garden A Little Lemon Two Citrus-Scented Magnolias for Your Pleasure Story by Laura Brandt Who wouldn’t want some lemony scents on their property? Here are two mag- nolias that are both fragrant and cold- hardy, which is why they were selected for the PHS Gold Medal Plant Award. Better still, they’re both North American natives, making them perfect for the sustainability-minded gardener. SwEETBAY Magnolia ‘Jim Wilson Moonglow’ received the Gold Medal designation in 2008 for its fast growth rate, cold hardiness, and glossy dark green foliage with whitish undersides. “The tree has an upright growth habit and flowers at a young age,” Gold Medal manager Joe Ziccardi says. “The lovely creamy white flowers have a wonderful lemony scent — it’s one of my favorite magnolias.” Considered an evergreen tree because it retains most of its leaves in our region, this easy-to-grow tree likes a partly sunny location. Jim Wilson, the tree’s namesake, hosted the PBS Victory Garden show for many years. The almost tropical-looking tree grows to 35 to 40 50 GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 feet in height and spreads to about 1 5 to 20 feet. Magnolia grandiflora ‘Bracken’s Brown Beauty’ j is another native magnolia ! with lemon-scented blooms. This pyramidal-shaped, ever- green southern magnolia also sports glossy dark green leaves. “Because of its evergreen pres- ^ ence and beautiful fragrant ' blooms, it’s easy to see why many visitors ask about growing southern magnolias at home,” says Rhoda Maurer, assistant curator and greenhouse man- ager for the Scott Arboretum on the Swarthmore College campus. She currently serves as a PHS Gold Medal committee I member. j This spring, why not visit j more Gold Medal plants around ! our area? “Besides having many of the Gold Medal plants scattered throughout Scott Arboretum, we have a garden called the Gold Medal Garden that focuses on displaying these plants on a residential scale,” notes Maurer. In addition, you can see most of the program’s plants at Chanticleer in Wayne, PA. Check your local nurseries I for their Gold Medal selections this spring. INFO: goldmedalplants.org scottarboretum.org chanticleergarden.org BEAUTY FROM BULBS Bring the beauty of bullts to your gardens from our va.st collection of the be.st Dutcli flower bulbs and herbaceous peonies at the best prices. Select a color palette and create natural, harmonious gardens with intermingled (lower bulbs. Here is a fragrant combination of Triumph Tulip Apricot Beauty and Hyacinth Blue jacket. Contact Van Engelen for our 52-page whole.sale (lower bull") price list or John Scheepers for our colorful 88-page Beauty from catalog. Contact Kitchen Garden Seeds for our 60-page catalog with over 500 gourmet vegetable, herb and (lower seeds. It has a wealth of pnictical gardening tips from Barbara Damrosch and wonderful recipes from renowned I'.S. cliefs. Happy fall ne.sting! John Scheepers CngclcM Kitchen Garden Seeds’^'^ Phone: (860) 567-0838 Phone: (860) 567-8734 Phone: (860) 567-6086 www.johnscheepers.com www.vanengelen.com www.kitchengardenseeds.com Serving America's finest gardens for over 100 years! PA20 ^ Specializing in quality orchids for 80 years. Join us for our Pos^|gi Flower Show Sale^t otlr Nursery in Linwood, NJ March I8tlv&l9ihk www.waldor.com 10 E. Poplar Avenue Linwood« NJ 08221 Ph (609) 927-4 1 26 Fax (609) 926-06 1 5 preservation ▲ • Pruning & Removals • Organic Plant Healthcare • Cabling & Bracing • Natural Lands Restoration • Integrated Pest Management • Big & Historic Tree Specialists GREEN SCENE • march/opril 2011 51 Classified Ads FLORISTS Sustainable Event Decorating Garden arrangements-fresh local flowers Featuring unique artist made containers Corporate-private v\j\m/. urbanbotanical. com Helen@urbanbotanical.com 215-438-7533 PATIOS & WALKWAYS Flagstone - Pavers - Brick Robert J. Kleinberg Landscape Design & Construction 610-259-6106 See our work online 100's of pictures at WWW.KLEiNBERG.COM LANDSCAPE DESIGN LINDA CORSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN • Consulting • Plans • Supervision Registered Landscape Architect Member ASLA 215-247-5619 MULCH GARDEN STRUCTURES GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Custom Aluminum or Wood 35 Years' Experience Call Robert J. LaRouche at Glass Enclosures Unlimited 610-687-2444 GREEN TECHNOLOGIES Rainwater Harvesting Systems Capture • Filter • Reuse Please visit our website to learn more www.YourPond.com Cedar Run Landscapes 1 -800-Landscape HARDSCAPING HERITAGE STONE & MARBLE We are an installation and restoration company who emphasizes long lasting quality with outstanding craftsmanship. FLAGSTONE, BRICK-patios and walkways, COBBLESTONE-edging and paving, STONE walls, RETAINING walls, MARBLE, GRANITE-floors, walls, countertops. 215-699-561 1 Upper Gwynedd, PA BURKE BROTHERS LANDSCAPE DESIGN/BUILD Nationally-recognized designs. Experienced staff ensures the integrity of the design from concept to completion. burkebrothers.com 215-887-1773 610-520-2025 David Brothers Landscape Services Native Plant Nursery Architects, Builders and Nurserymen Providing the Fine Art of Garden Construction and Landscape Restoration 215-247-2992 610-584-1550 www.davidbrothers.com Eco Design and Management Designs, Installs, Restores & Maintains Ecological, Artistic Landscapes 610-659-6737 866-496-9882 www.ecodesignmanage.com BALED PINE NEEDLE MULCH Pick up/Delivery/Spreading service Cedar Run Landscapes Call for brochure 1 -800-LANDSCAPE www.CedarRunLandscapes.com FLOWERS AND MORE, INC. Garden Design, Installation & Maintenance PINE-NEEDLE MULCH Wholesale and Retail 610-701-9283 renee52@comcast.net NURSERIES RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS • Specimen plants • Pond plants • Bonsai • Orchids • Hardy cacti • Tropicals • Sculptured trees and shrubs • Perennials • Unique Flower and gift shop. MUTSCHLERS' FLORIST 8i RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 WWW. mutschlers. com Morris Arboretum -. celebrates \ Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival Two Saturdays in April April 2 & April 9 for event listings visit morrisarboretum.org 52 GREEN SCENE • marcFi/april 201 1 Perennials Are Our Specialty! POPES' GARDENS Pansies • Easter Flowers • Spring Dish Gardens Annuals • Hanging Baskets • Shrubs & Trees Classes • Display Gardens • Farm Animals 1146 Old White Horse Pike, Waterford, NJ (856) 767-3343 \N\N\N. popesgardens. com Triple Oaks Nursery & Herb Garden *Great Plants*Display Gardens*Programs* Franklinville, New Jersey www.tripleoaks.com 856-694-4272 greatplants@tripleoaks.com TREES Beautiful in ground Holly Trees 6' to 30' INDIAN ORCHARDS 24 Copes Lane, Media, PA 610-565-8387 for Better Results, ^^^^aturally. Milorganite Creating Great Lawns and Gardens for over 80 Years "This sustainable product has been helping gardeners and professionals since 1926. The organic nitrogen fertilizer can be used on all your landscape plants. . . one product for all your gardening needs. This amazing material improves drainage in heavy soils and increases the water holding ability in sandy soils. The high iron content greens up the landscape and the phosphorus is non-leaching. It's "goof-proof" and has given me great results naturally." See you at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Melinda Myers, Horticulture Expert Nationally known author, radio & television host www.milorganite.com GREEN SCENE • march/april 201 1 53 Discover Your Inner Gardening Persona! Are you a daffodil or a tulip? A snowdrop or a sunflower? Take the Philadelphia International Flower Show's "Garden Personality Quiz" and unlock the hidden secrets of your garden personality. Just put your numeric score in the blank line next to each statement and then add up the total. Of these three choices, I would grow • Daffodils - 1 point • Eggplant - 2 points • Wave petunias - 3 points In the garden, I wear on my feet • Flip-flops, sneakers, or bare feet - 1 point • Wellies or other waterproof shoes - 2 points • Fleels or street shoes (because I always stay on the brick path, thank you) - 3 points If money were no object, I would • Work directly with a designer or landscaper to create my garden - 3 points • Grow thousands of plants from seed - 2 points • Still personally buy my plants from a nursery or mail-order catalog - 1 point My idea of garden luxury is • Flaving so many veggies that I have to give lots away - 2 points • Throwing a big garden party in early June - 3 points • A quiet cocktail on the patio with my significant other - 1 point My flower plantings might include • Zinnias and marigolds - 2 points • Delphiniums and roses - 3 points • Daylilies and hostas - 1 point In summer. I'm happiest when it is • Rainy outside - 2 points • Evenly overcast - 1 point • Sunny outside - 3 points I go to the Philadelphia Flower Show to • Buy plants (lots of them!) - 1 point • Discover outdoor projects to keep my spouse or landscaper busy - 3 points • Get hands-on ideas for my own garden - 2 points 54 I GREEN SCENE • morch/april 201 1 My friends would best describe me as a • Knock Out rose - 3 points • Cucumber - 2 points • Flellebore - 1 point TOTAL POINTS Your Score 8 to 12 points You are a Snowdrop and are the kind of person others describe as a "plant nut" (though you often regard that term as a compli- ment). Gardening appeals to the collector in you and you may have an insatiable appetite for buying plants — the rarer the better. You have an intellectual tendency and are considered complex. Some folks might find you intimidating, but your friends would describe you as a generous spirit who's always willing to share cuttings or plant divisions. Like a snowdrop about to bloom, there's something warm and thriving beneath the cool surface. 13 to 19 points You are a Sunflower and nothing makes you happier than tending your vegetable patch each summer. In winter, you scour catalogs for the latest seed varieties and start them on your windowsill. You also tend to prefer organic foods and local produce, may be a veg- etarian, and surely have a thriving compost pile. Some may think of you as shy and introverted, but you're always happy to give extra produce to your friends and love to have friends and family visit you in your garden. Like the sunflower, you love the earth and feel most at home with your hands firmly planted in its soil. 20 to 24 points You are a Tulip and are a Type-A garden extrovert. To you, gar- dening means lavish parties, bold flower arrangements, and eye- popping landscapes. Unlike the "hands-in-the-dirt" gardener, you think of yourself as more of a designer and don't hesitate to hire a landscaper to make it all happen. Your friends are impressed by your talents and maybe a little jealous, too. Some might consider you a tad aggressive, but for you, garden season is "show time" and it's your time to shine. Like the tulip, you've been storing your energy up all winter to bloom forth passionately in the spring. Email your flower type to greenscene@pennhort.org and we'll post the final tally on our website, PHSonline.org. r 1 I y — r •r- - StoneyBank NURS'^ERIES fAeJi/te art of /ant/ooa^e f/e6fq/t "•-sS^ ' • * :* OfA v V Our award winning designers {including Jack) are transforming landscapes. creating native, contemporary and romantic gardens where dreams are realized through horticultural craftsmanship and innovative design. pisit us online at stoneybanknurseries.com A Complete Design-Build Company 61 Stoney Bank Road | Glen Mills, PA 19342 | 610-459-5100 , '.I l■Io^v^.■|■ Sliow. Residential Landscape Master Planning iNSTAfet^^iON ^ Irrigation Design )!my Confidence shows. % f0 Osmocote Smart-R(’li*ase Plant food Outdoor & Indoor S ^ PIANirOOD Alimento ur r- !' las para Exli-"'"r - 4 Mifor Feeds plants what they need when they need it Guaranteed not to burn^ © 2011 The Scotts Company LLC. World rights reserved / Because a mistake can ruin an entire gardening season, passionate gardeners don't like to take chances. That's why there's Osmocote® Smart-Release® Plant Food. It's guaranteed not to burn when used as directed, and the granules don't easily wash away, no matter how much you water. Better still, Osmocote feeds plants continuously and consistently for four full months, so you can garden with confidence. Maybe that's why passionate gardeners have trusted Osmocote for 40 years. May- June 2011 • $5.00 f ,:Joe knows Nature. ' * -9 % ^\Joe knows plantSy Joe knows treesy Joe knows flowersy Joe knows desig - & Joe knows Jack! Our award winning designers (including Joe) are transforming landscapes. creating native, contemporary and romantic gardens where dreams are realized through horticultural craftsmanship and innovative design just ca'l to mee /)/> 6 1 0-45 9' 5 1 00 I 61 Stoney Bank Road I Glen Mills, PA 19342 Residential Landscape w , Master Planning Installation » Irrigation Design Current APS Memoirs Peter Collinson and the Eighteenth-Century Natural History Exchange Jean O'Neill and Elizabeth P, McLean Vol. 264 - $75.00 • Cloth ISBN; 978-0-87169-264-1 Visual Mechanic Knowledge: The Workshop Drawings of Isaac Ebenezer Markham (1795-1825), New England Textile Mechanic David J. Jeremy and Polly C. Darnell Vol. 263- $60 •Paper ISBN: 978-0-87169-263-4 POLAR HAYES: The Life and Contributions of Isaac Israel Hayes, M.D. Douglas W. Wamsiey Vol. 262 -$75.00 •Cloth ISBN: 978-0-87169-262-7 Patriot-Improvers, Volume III Whitfield J. 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Hoppes Vol. 99, Pt. 2 - $35 • Paper ISBN; 978-1-60618-992-4 Descended From Darwin: Insights into the History of Evolutionary Studies, 1900-1970 Joe Cain and Michael Ruse (editors) Vol. 99, Pt.1- $35 •Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-991-7 The Invention of the Telescope Albert van Helden Vol. 67, Pt. 4- $30 •Paper Original print date 1977; reprinted 2008 ISBN-10; 0-87169-674-6 ISBN-13: 978-0-87169-674-8 Lightning Rod Press Titles CLIMATE CRISES IN HUMAN HISTORY A. Bruce Mainwaring, Robert Giegengack, and Claudio Vita-Finzi (eds.) Vol. 6- $35 •Paper ISBN; 978-60618-921-4 Darwin's Disciple: George John Romanes, A Life in Letters Joel S. Schwartz VOLUME 5 $60 •Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-920-7 "TO DO JUSTICE TO HIM &MYSELF":Evert Wendell's Account Book of the Fur Trade with Indians in Albany, New York, 1695-1726 Edited and Translated by Kees-Jan Waterman with linguistic information by Gunther Michelson VOLUME 4 $50.00 •Paper ISBN; 978-1-60618-912-2 AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 104 South Fifth Street Philadelphia, PA 19106-3387 (Tel) 215-440-3425 (Fax) 215-440-3450 BOOK ORDERS: Please contact our fulfillment service — Diane Publishing Co., P.O. Box 617, Darby, PA 19023 (phone 800-782-3833; fax 610-461-6130). Online orders may be sent to orders@dianepublishing. net. See our website for recent catalogs and backlist: www.aps-pub.com. Cathedral Village We teCC tfiem we enjoy . . IVfien friends ancC famiCy JAsk, ''yvfiat do you do for fun?'' ♦ The Village College, where courses are taught by our own resident professors, without any tests to take! ♦ Swimming at sunrise . . . during the day . . . and even in the winter when it’s snowing! ♦ Dinners prepared to order and fresh from the Gourmet Grill on Saturday evenings. ♦ The camaraderie of friends while exercising in the Health Club or doing Tai Chi and Yoga. ♦ Singing in our Village Chorus which performed in a professional show at the Arden Theatre. ♦ Our Greenhouse for year-round personal use, and seminars given by professional horticulturists. ♦ Using our light-filled Art Studio for self-expression, as well as classes in a variety of media. ♦ Molding clay into works of art in the Pottery Studio where free classes are also held. ♦ Attending professional Concerts in Cathedral Hall including those presented by our own professional resident musicians. ♦ The many dramatic and comedic Play Readings created by our talented resident actors and directors. ♦ Putting around on our Professional Green for fun as well as competition. ♦ Many Bridge tournaments. Scrabble competitions, and parties for all occasions. ♦ Taking the Cathedral Village bus to Center City for the Orchestra, Theater and Ballet, and for day trips to The Philadelphia Flower Show, Philadelphia area museums and other places of interest. ♦ Joining Resident Committees and enjoying each other’s company while volunteering in the Library, Gift Shop and other areas of the Village where our help benefits others. Woven into this truly enjoyable lifestyle are new friendships with kindred spirits! Come for a visit and discover even more! Monday through Friday between 9 AM and 3 PM. Appointments are needed for weekends and holidays. Cathedral Village is a Nonprofit Nondenominational Continuing Care Retirement Community 600 East Cathedral Road • Philadelphia, PA 19128 www.cathedralvillage.com (215) 984-8621 EQUAL HOUSMO OPPORTIMTY Accredited Since 1984 Affiliated With the Jefferson Health System Since 1986 THE McLEAN LIBRARY Pennsylvania Horticultural Society 100 North 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19103 "Go Green" by reading Green Scene online! Want to read Green Scene online? An electronic version of Green Scene is now available to every PHS member (Household level and above) who has provided PHS with a valid email address. Each time a new issue of the magazine is published, you will receive a message with a link to the online version. You will still receive the print version of Green Scene unless you opt-out by sending an email to memserv@pennhort.org letting us know of your choice. You can opt back in at any time and go back to the paper version. By reading Green Scene online only, you'll help PHS reduce printing and mailing costs and save trees, tool So try our e-magazine today. We think you'll like it. I he Pennsylvania Horticultural Society motivates people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture. Features SPECIAL EDIBLE GARDENING ISSUE 8 Eating Fresh at Osteria A hip Philly eatery grows its own. 10 Vertical Gardening is I Growing Up! Look up to see the hottest new f gardening fad. 12 Lettuce Rejoice! Lettuce steals the show at Chanticleer in Wayne, PA. j 18 What's Hot in Veggie Gardening? Celebrate the Year of the Vegetable. 24 Getting Started Get some tips from PHS's new book! i PLUS... I 30 Think Spring Spring natives abound at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve. Columns 36 Floral Design Using color and light 38 The Sustainable Garden More tips for recycling your nursery plastics GREEN scene 42 Local Hero Urban farmer Bill Shick Cover photo: © Dennis Neffendorf | Dreamstime.com The Value of VEGGIES Here at PHS, we take our veggies seriously. Not only do we like planting and eating them, but also creating programs that bring fresh produce to families in need throughout the region. Since the beginning of our City Harvest project, more than 77,000 pounds of produce has been harvested, providing organic vegetables to more than 1 ,000 families each week during the growing season. And you’re part of this, too — a portion of your membership dues goes to supporting this very program. PHS got big news this winter when an audit of the Philadelphia International Flower Show indicated that it has a $61 million dollar impact on the Greater Philadelphia Region. In addition, the event accounts for more than 22,000 hotel-room nights and generates $8 million in tax revenue. For us, the Flower Show provides $1 million in revenue for PHS and its greening programs, including City Harvest and the Plant One Million tree campaign that you read about in the last issue. So again, we take our veggies seriously. Healthy food is rapidly becoming part of the prosperity of our region and, because of the Flower Show and your support, we’re all a part of that success, too. Let’s keep it going. Vete/Vv^OM)v\j email; greenscene@pennhort.org 4033 West Chester Pike (Rte.3) Newtown Square, PA 19073 610-356-8035 • www.mostardi.com Gold Medal Garden... Start with High Performance Plants from Mostardi! We stock flowers, shrubs and trees that are recom- mended by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s “Gold Medal Award” program. They are superior plants that will provide longer-lasting beauty all around your home. Stop by today and check out our incredible collection of greenery. The colors are gorgeous. The values are exceptional. And the prices are surprisingly low tor such high quality. But then, that’s what you should expect from Mostardi plants. They are good as gold! Plants Home eg q 6 GREEN SCENE • moy/june 201 1 GREEN scene may-june 201 1 Editor Pete Prown Senior Editor Jane Carroll Associate Editor Daniel Moise Staff Photographer Margaret Funderburg Art Design Baxendells' Graphic Printer ALCOM Printing Group, Inc. PLANTING SEEDS. CROWING LIVES- Website PHSoniine.org 100 N. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 215-988-8800 Chair John K. Ball President Drew Becher Vice President, Programs Maitreyi Roy PHS Membership Information Linda Davis, 215-988-8776 Display & Classified Ads Manzo Media Group 610-527-7047 mmanzo@manzomediagroup.com Garden Q & A Phone Line 215-988-8777, Monday through Friday, 9:30 to 12 Iclosed in December] askagardener@pennhort.org GREEN SCENE (USPS 955580), Volume 39, No.3, is published bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September, November) by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a nonprofit member organization at 100 N, 20th St„ Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495, Single Copy: $5.00 (plus $2.00 shipping). Second-class postage paid at Philadelphia, PA 19103. POSTMASTER: Send address change to GREEN SCENE 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. ©2011 Pennsylvania Florticultural Society Dig deeper. . . be ENCHANTED, be DEEIGHTED. be INSPIRED. Wednesdays at Winterthur 1 1:30 am, Greenhouses Join us for demonstrations, talks, and guided walks cox ering a wide range of gardening topics. Programs last approximately one hour. May 4 The Kurumes of Azalea Woods May 1 1 dVaces ol Pink: I’he Storied Past of Azaleas at Winterthur May 18 Faerie Flowers from the Grossman Collection May 25 F he Quarry Garden in Flower June 1 Beekeeping Basics June 8 Magical Martagon Lilies June 15 Ponds, Seeps, and Streams June 22 Aquarium to derrarium June 29 Focus on Farm Operations Second Saturdays Garden Walks 1 :00 pm, \5sitor Center Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate \s ith our expert horticulture staff. Walks last appro.ximatcly 90 minutes, May 14 Azaleas and Spring Wildllowers June 11 Meadows, Streams, and Ponds (8:00 pm, bring your flashlight) For more information call 800.448.3883 or x isit winterthur.org. Included with admission. J Members tree. Winterthur is nestled in Delaware’s beautiful Brandywine Valley on Route 52, between 1-95 and Route I. GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 7 Eating Fresh at Osteria By Beverly Vandenberg Picture ripe summer squash growing next to neat rows of tomatoes and a trellis covered with pole beans. Now picture a busy city restaurant with cooks coming and going, plucking arugula and beans for a special appetizer. It’s all in a day’s work at Osteria, the brainchild of Marc Vetri of the renowned Vetri Ristorante. Osteria has been serv- ing seasonal Italian fare since it opened in Center City Philadelphia in early 2007. More casual than Vetri, it is known for rustic pizzas, homemade pastas, and prestigious accolades — executive chef Jeff Michaud received the James Beard Award lor Best Chef Mid-Atlantic in 2010 — but less well-known is the verdant garden behind the restaurant. Sitting just outside an enclosed terrace, the garden took shape about six months after the restaurant opened and is fully run by the staff, with help from a farmer at Linvilla Orchards. Osteria’s Kristina Huber says she is outside every' day weeding and watering the crops. In early April, she and other staff members start tilling and turning over the soil to prepare for planting. They give the soil a boost by spreading compost and manure. As summer comes to an end, staff puts in fall crops like lettuces. Kitchen scraps go into a compost bin to complete the cycle. The hard work has paid off, as the garden’s raised beds brim with fresh vegetables such as fava beans, cucumber, cantaloupe, and eggplant. ! I Although it produces a variety of tasty crops, the garden is too small to supply food for every diner who walks through Osteria’s doors. The freshly grown produce is used for daily specials and sometimes shows up on the tasting menu at Vetri, which is a smaller restaurant with fewer patrons. The purpose of the garden is simple — fresh food just tastes better. And what could be fresher than something plucked from a restaurant’s own garden just before it’s served on your plate? Osteria is located at 640 North Broad Street in Center City Philadelphia. Visit it online at osteriaphilly.com. www.yellowspringsfarm.com Visit us for Farm Open House Days May 7-8 and May 21-22 10 am - 4 pm all days rain or shine 1165 Yellow Springs Road Chester Springs, PA 19425 610-827-2014 Container Plants, Design & Installation of Native Landscapes Always in Season^ LIVE WITH NATURE GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 9 The Potting Shed HER1-’s a RIDDI 1 lOR YtlU: WHAT TYP1-: OF tiARDFNING MICH'I' BE SMAR'I' TO CONSIDER IF you’re RUNMNt, OUT OF ROOM, FIND IF HARD TO BEND, NT ED SOME PRIVACY, AKO/OR WAN SOMETHINC wri’H Oh APPEAL FOR A BLANK SPACE? ThE ANSWER IS VERTICAL CARDENIA'd. W Q O I— I cj Vertical gardening, or wall gardening, is ideal for city dwellers with few areas in which to plant other than balconies, small terraces, or narrow walkways between buildings, or for maxi- mizing space in a tiny townhouse garden. It’s also a great strategy for vegetable or fruit growing. There’s little or no crouching involved, so it’s kind to your knees and back. Harvesting from a fruit tree espal- iered on a wall or picking veggies from a trellis, freestanding tripod, or A-frame puts your kitchen garden right where you need it. Growing a climbing rose or a vine on an upright armature makes a perfect privacy screen. You can fill the crevices of a stone wall with plants, or on smooth or solid surfaces you can hang planters or modular units made especially for wall garden- ing by various manufacturers. For instance, the Woolly Pocket Garden Gompany {woollypocket. com) makes soft-sided, breathable pockets in single or modular units o X) QJ X made from 1 00-percent recycled plastic water bottles. Plantsonwalls. com makes vertical garden panels and living wall kits of various sizes and weight capacity, plus watering and fertilizing equip- ment. Plant Gonnection, Inc. {myplantconnection.com) makes pre-planted GroWall™ systems with built-in irrigation that mount on brackets for hanging. There are other compa- nies on the Web, and your garden center may even sell wall units. To get a first-hand look at a prime example of vertical garden- ing, go to Longwood Gardens, which installed the largest indoor GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 1 living wall in North America in its East Conservatory Plaza last October. (Pittsburgh’s PNC Bank Building is the second largest.) Gsky Plant Systems, Inc. {gsky. com), the company responsible for the wall, claims it will provide as much oxygen as 90 14-foot- tall trees and clean over 15,500 pounds of dust and harmful toxins from the air each year. The green wall covers 4,072 square feet and contains 47,000 plants represent- ing 25 species, including spider plants, mosses, ivies, holly, and ferns. Among the ferns are holly fern, rabbit’s foot fern, button fern, asparagus fern, maidenhair fern, ladder brake fern, and Dallas fern. Watered by almost 4,000 feet of computerized irrigation drip lines strategically placed through- out, the 3,590 stainless-steel panels lined with coconut coir fiber hold the plants in place. Once you get a feel for verti- cal gardening, the possibilities are endless. Succulents like stonecrop and hens-and-chicks make beauti- ful wall gardens. They have small root systems and rarely need watering. Try growing your herbs vertically. Hide an ugly chain link fence with vines or pole beans, vining cucumbers, edible-pod or snow peas, Malabar spinach, or gourds, squash, or melons tied directly to a fence or trellis with cloth or soft cord. Tomatoes grown upright perform better than when sprawling over the ground where the fruits are easily damaged by insects and disease. Create an imaginative mural with annuals. Paint a living tapestry with color- ful plants. Elevate your garden to new levels. American Vegetable Gardeners by the NUMBERS Interested in... Organic gardening: Water conservation: Native plants: Spending most of their gardening budget on edibles: ^ (higher than any other gardening category) Source: The Garden Writers Association. 2010 Garden Trends Research Report 1 ^StelfarEitible Garden ^ _ at Chanticleer ' . Lettuce at Chanticleer I I 1! Chanticleer horticulturist Jonathan Wright wanted ornamental plants that would look great in the garden when the calendar said spring but the weather didn’t, so he turned not to evergreens but to edibles. Specifically, lettuce. Lots and lots of lettuce. “It’s difficult to put out plants that look good early and can take some light frost and cold, so I always look at which groups of plants can do that, and how we can use them,” says Wright, who’s in charge of the Teacup and Entry Gardens as well as the Tennis Court Garden at Chanticleer. Located in Wayne, Chanticleer opens to the public each year just days after the official beginning of spring, and regardless of the weather, the ornamental gar- dens must look appealing. “I had often used herbs and lettuces, Swiss chard and purple-foliaged beets, purple mustard and those sorts of things in my spring pots, and I realized that the lettuces always do beautifully. So I thought, why not do a little lettuce farm?” He tried it first in the spring of 2009, experimenting with straight rows of lettuce around the central cup-and-saucer lountain that gives the Teacup Garden its name. Interspersed among the rows, as though their seeds had been blown there by the wind, were wildflowers such as Virginia bluebells, linaria, and grape hyacinths. 14 GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 * “A nice thing about growing edibles is that you can enjoy the food from the garden, but if you let some of them go [unharvested], they’re lovely.” The juxtaposition of the mature edible lettuce with several Pati Queen palm trees that Wright added as the weather warmed caught the attention of photographer Rob Cardillo, who included a shot of the design in Chanticleer: A Pleasure Garden. The book, by Washington Port writer Adrian Higgins with photographs by Cardillo, was published last month by the University of Pennsylvania Press. “Edibles in unexpected places always make me grin,” Cardillo explains. “The ‘Red Sails’ lettuces that Jonathan chose for this formal bed are like foliar waves lapping the trunks of these tropical palms.” Wright decided to use lettuce again last year, but this time his design for the Teacup Garden was inspired by the Dr. Seuss children’s books. “I was thinking of the wavy illustrations in Dr. Seuss, and I wanted to play with strong color contrasts. What I hoped it would do was lead the eye up to the fountain and beyond it. You can do things in rows, but they don’t have to be straight rows. They can be weaving and meandering.” He chose red and green head lettuce as well as loose-leaf types, with a mesclun mix on the corners that was allowed to send up flower stalks. Adding to the Dr. Seuss flavor were the herbs and vegetables he used in nearby beds, especially big heads ot red cabbage that popped up unexpectedly in window boxes — and ended their lives as coleslaw later in the season. “I planted the lettuces very densely, because I wanted the pattern to be evident very GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 15 Lettuce at Chanticleer 1 "D O O a *0 :p o $ early, and as they started to fill in, 1 thinned them carefully, taking out every other one, and we ate those as we went. You can do that with pretty much any edible crop — lettuces, beets, chard, anything that is going to look interesting early in the season. “A nice thing about growing edibles is that you can enjoy the food from the garden, but if you let some of them go [unharvested], they’re lovely. For example mustard greens send up delicate yellow flowers that are really pungent and delicious when they are in bud. Or arugula has white flowers that taste just like the leaves and are wonderful in salads. People are often afraid to let these things bolt. They think it’s wasteful, but they’re not only beautiful when that happens, they’re still delicious.” Not all the plants surrounding the Teacup last year were edible. Scattered among the lettuces were the airy blooms of Iceland poppies and spiky clumps of blue fescue grass. Why those choices? “Poppies often become weeds in agricultural areas, in English fields, for instance, so 1 thought it would be nice to have some flowering ‘weeds,’ even though it’s very stylized,” says Wright, who sometimes floated a handful of the colorful blossoms in the fountain. “And I chose blue fescue because I wanted something sharply contrasting to the lettuces. The color was great, and it loves cool weather.” I XVinrfe if?n ComiJosT-Twin You can have a constant supply of compost! Discarding garden debris, kitchen scraps, and leaves is a costly waste of compostable material. Recycle them into soil-enriching compost with the Mantis ComposT-Twin. Mantis ComposT-Twin features: ■% Unique two-chamber composter design Easy-turning handle rotates both composting chambers simultaneously ■% Let one side “cook” while adding material to the other side Sits 32 inches off the ground for convenient loading and emptying finished compost ■% Try it for a year, risk-free! If you don't like it, return it for a full refund The Mantis Promise Try any product that you buy directly from Mantis with NO RISK! If you’re not completely satisfied, send it back to us within one year for a complete, no-hassle refund. 1.800.366.6268 O 2010 SchiHef Grounds Care Inc www.compost-twin.com The Mantis ComposT-Twin is easier to turn than other composters. No back-breaking work to mix and aerate the pile - just turn the gear-driven handle. See just how easy making your own compost can be! 1028 Street Road. Dept CM100021 Southampton. PA 18966 YES! Please rush me a FREE DVD and information on the Mantis ComposT-Twin and your ONE-YEAR NO-RiSK TRIAL Tell me about all the special offers now In effect Name Address City State Zip Email 1 16 GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 Mixing Edibles and Ornamentals The idea of mixing edible plants with ornamentals isn't new, of course; gardeners have been doing it for centuries. But only in recent years have many American gardeners been willing to move their veggies out of the backyard. To try some edible landscaping based on early-season crops like lettuce, horticulturist Jonathan Wright, who is in his seventh season of gardening at Chanticleer, sug- gests a trip to the local garden center to see what starter plants it offers in market packs. You may have to adjust your plans accordingly. "I had done some loose sketches, but I had to change my original idea according to what plants I could get, which is part of the fun," he says. Wright added a top dressing of about three inches of "good home- made garden compost" to the bed before he planted his lettuce garden in Chanticleer's Teacup Garden. "Nothing seems to compare to good old organic matter," he says. "It's always a good idea to have the soil tested before adding fertilizer, so I generally rely on compost, which makes it hard — but not impossible — to go wrong." Using cool-season annuals is a great way to try out a new design for your garden, too. "You could easily plant something like this [lettuce garden] early in spring with starts, and then when it gets really hot, you can har- vest them and eat them, or let them bolt and flower, and then replant with your later-season plants." Once your lettuces are harvested, simply dig whatever compost remains into the bed before planting your summer display. ^ At Beaumont, You Have the Freedom to Live Your Life Exactly as You Imagined. “Dining at Beaumont is always a 4-star experience... ” Mr. & Mrs. Herd, residents Discover superior elegance and service in a non-institutional retirement community owned and governed by residents. From exceptional dining and amenities, to on-site healthcare and facilities, Beaumont offers a unique, worry-free lifestyle. Arrange a personal visit by calling Audrey Walsh at 610-526-7004. Beaumont AT BRYN MAWR A Gracious, Resident-Owned Community 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 BeaumontRetirement.com HeatShed a GeOBenix company Solar Photovoltaic Systems Residential & Commercial Systems 1 -877-453-2422 Heat Shed vwvw.heatshed.com RO. Box 336 Revere, PA 18953 Since 1977 SUNPOWER ELITE DEALER — D.C. GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 17 GREE®CENE H ood news! Low- calorie, nucrient- I packed, fiber-rich bundles of good- ness (a.k.a. fruits and vegetables) are in this year. Driven by health- and cost- conscious consumers who want to grow their own nutritious, pesticide-free foods, gardens are popping up everywhere, from the front lawn of the White House to the front yards of everyday Americans. George Ball, chairman of W. Atlee Burpee, declared 2011 as the “Year of the Vegetable” in his op-ed piece last fall in The Wall Street Journal His prediction is coming true. Vegetable gardening is up 20 percent and community gardening up 60 percent over last year, according to the Garden Media Group. Let’s look at a few trends that are shaping our gardens this year. Vege-licious Varieties Today’s vegetables pop with color, and Burpee’s new offerings don’t disappoint. Tomatoes include red, pink, yellow, and orange one-pounders (‘Kings of Golor’ beefsteak tomatoes) to emerald green cherries (‘Green Envy’). No doubt you’ll be humming jazz riffs as you harvest lus- trous ‘Round Midnight’ purple-leaf basil. Take exotic ‘Purple Dragon’ carrots — reddish purple on the outside and yellow- orange on the inside. Then there’s the alliterative favorite. Purple Pod Pole beans, an heirloom variety with reddish- purple pods. Did I mention that they’re prolific producers? Small Plants, Big Harvest Breeders also have been busy develop- ing dwarf plants for space-starved veggie gardeners. Two-foot-tall hybrid dwarf tomatoes (a determinate form also known as patio tomatoes) fit well in small containers. Burpee’s Bush Big Boy tomatoes are only half the size of regular Big Boy tomato plants. Red Robin and Lizzano (semi-determinate) dwarf cherry tomatoes thrive in small pots and hanging baskets. Compact indeterminate (vining) tomatoes such as ‘Better Bush’ and ‘Husky Red’ are the best of both worlds; they’re shorter, but plentiful all season long. More good news: you don’t have to live in Georgia to grow peaches! Dwarf, hardy fruits such as the ‘Reliance’ peach is a good choice for our area according to garden consultant Ron Kushner of Ron’s Organic Garden in Lafayette Hill, PA. Heirlooms Loom Big “With the spike in new gardeners due to the recession, more and more people are growing their own vegetables and saving seeds,” says Tom Wahlberg, seed- house manager with Seed Savers Exchange in Decorah, Iowa, a nonprofit that saves and shares heirloom seeds to presen'e them for future generations. Those designated as heirloom vegetables have been grown for at least three generations and are selected for their great flavor as well as pest and disease resistance. Open-pollinated heirlooms will breed true and can be saved Irom year to year, unlike modern hybrids. GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 19 Veggie Hotspots Online burpee.com communitygarden. org earthbox.com garden.org gardeners.com kidsgardening.org meadowbrookfarm. org ronsorganicgarden.com seedsavers.org squarefootgardening, com New Seed Savers catalog items include ‘Edmonson’ cucumbers, ‘Champion of England’ peas, and ‘Rosso Sicilian’ toma- toes— each with a historical connection. Pennsylvania gardeners will enjoy read- ing food historian and heirloom vegetable expert William Woys Weaver’s fascinating veggie-tales in his book. Heirloom Vegetable Gardening: A Master’s Guide to Planting, Seed Saving, and Cultural History. Beautiful Beds & Pretty Potagers Container gardens, portable gatdens, vertical gardens, attractive kitchen gardens or potagers, raised beds, and all-in-one gardens are in this year! Gardeners are just as likely to plant tomatoes in a “tomato grow bag” (Gardener’s Supply Co.) or portable garden as they are in a conventional garden plot. Creative Containers You can grow a surprising amount of fresh produce on a balcony or patio in containers filled with baby leaf lettuce, root vegetables, and even bushy vegetables (pep- pers, green beans, eggplant, and tomatoes). Self-Watering Containers Many companies feature these, includ- ing Gardener’s Supply and EarthBox. Developed by commercial farmers, EarthBox (29 X 13.5 X 1 1 inches) is a portable garden- ing system with a self-watering reser\'oir and optional casters for moving. A mulch cover keeps rain out to keep the plants from get- ting excess water and prevents insect damage and weed growth. J 1 20 GREEN SCENE • may/june 20 Photo? lhl< pan*^ Burpeo. Soort EJave * Exc.hange. Natiorml t, .i Joninq Bureau, I aura Bfandt West Laurel Hill Cemetery Bringhurst Funeral Home Providing Green Burial and Funeral Offerings - dr - ^ ! , . i • No embalming, no outer burial containers required, all-wood or natural caskets or West Laurel Hill Cemetery shrouds used BRINGHURST FUNER.\L HOxME • Area landscaped with indigenous plants and grasses • Green funerals allow families to be part of many, if not all, aspects of tire funeral process • Bringhurst and West Laurel Hill are the only funeral home /cemetery combination in the Mid-Atlantic region to offer both green burials and funeral services One Call To One Place - For Everything 225 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cymvyd, PA 1 9004 610.664.1591 contactus@forever-care.com www.forever-care.com NN'illiam .\. Sickeh I I).. Supcmsor. R.R. Bringhurst & Co., Inc. Year of the Vegetable Retirement Community... ...growing beautiful gardens, j good will and a healthy lifestyle I in the perfect Bucks County Pennsylvania location. Owned and j operated by Doylestown Hospital, ’ Pine Run is a true continuing care j retirement community. Cottages 1 and apartments charm the campus along with many amenities such as a greenhouse, the Back - Achers vegetable garden, and a walking path with views of Pine Run Lake, Visit our mature landscape today. Call 800-992-8992. me Run Community Uniquely Doylestown. Definitely Pine Run. 777 Ferry Road, Doylestown, PA 18901 www.pinerun.org til _ C Edible Gardens Gone Glam Last century’s vegetable gardens were planted in single rows, a practice that started when mules cultivated the garden. Today’s gardens are brimming with delicious edibles, and they’re attractive! Raised beds with interesting trellis structures and colorful arrays of edibles are up front and center or next to the kitchen. Progressive gardeners aren’t afraid to plant edibles in the front yzrA either. Raised beds require less space and less maintenance than traditional row gardens. Even a 4 X 4-foot plot of 16 square feet will yield an abundance of food. You’ll find lots of tips on raised beds in Mel Bartholomew’s book. All New Square Foot Gardening. Mel, who began the “square foot” craze back in the mid-70s, advocates a no-dig approach and building raised beds only six inches high instead of twelve. Raised beds make it easy to grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and ;i Xollectpr Quality Birdhouses from ^80 1 NEW! 82" high 100*>/d Copper Mounting Pofrs *75 www.bird-housesicom 800-382-2473 RAILS ARBORS ‘’A TRELLISES GATES ARCHWAYS OBELISKS TOWERS PAVILIONS SELECT FROM OUR POPULAR LINE PERGOLAS OF PRODUCTS OR LET US BENCHES CUSTOM DESIGN/BUILD TO YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS. Thc-> Painted Garden^, Inc. (215) 884-7378 WWW.THEPAINTEDGARDENINC.COM 304 EDGE HILL ROAD. GLENSIDE, PA 19038 SHOWROOM BY APPOINTMENT 22 GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 flowers in the same space, a trend known as the “all-in-one-garden.” Ron Kushner’s clients often request low-maintenance designs and plants. Some of the edibles he recommends include ‘Heritage’ raspberries, ‘Reliance’ peaches, ever-bearing strawberries, goose- berries, honeyberries, garlic, and even artichokes (‘Imperial Star’ and ‘Green Globe’). Are You Excited Yet? It looks like 201 1 will be the year of the fresher-tasting, nutritious, organic, heirloom, container-grown, economically- savvy vegetable. And when someone compliments you on your salsa this summer, you can proudly say that the ingredients were freshly picked — today! fih e rt h Bpk se If-wate r i ngplanter comes with optional casters. AN OUTDOOR SCULPTURE EXHIBITION OF SOUND & MOTION WIND tL TREES .k Jenlcins Arboretum S’ Gardens October 2010 through June 2011 65 sen I pi II res featiiring sound movement in a 15 aere hotanieal setting' Don't miss this one-of-a-kind exhibition at Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens! (all 610.647.8870 or visit www.jenkinsarboretum.org for more it formation. www.tesselaar.com Proven Landscape Performers GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 23 In this excerpt from PHS'S NEW BOOK, Community Gardening. A PHS Handbook, BEGINNER TECHNIQUES FOR STARTING A NEW VEGETABLE GARDEN 24 GREEN SCENE Choosing What to Grow One of your first tasks is to figure out which plants will grow best your climate. Start by talking to other gardeners, contact- ing your local County Extension Service, or browsing online. Also, determine which USDA Hardiness Zone your garden is in. Visit the USDA website for more informa- tion: usna. usda.gov/hardzone/ushzmap.html. You can also use these resources to get the frost dates for your area. When to Plant Vegetable crops fall into two groups: those that thrive in cool weather and those that should not be planted until after the last frost. In most parts of the country, early crops include leafy greens, peas, onions, beets, and cole crops (broccoli and cabbage). Some herbs, including dill, also grow best in cool periods, so sow it directly outside early in the growing season and again toward the end. Wait until after the last projected frost date to plant warm-weather crops such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, and tender herbs like basil. Seed Starting and Planting A time-honored way to get plants is to start them from seed, but not all plants are as conducive to seed-starting as others. You can break down your plant list like this: • Seeds sown directly in the ground before the last frost (peas, lettuce, beets, spinach, turnips) • Seeds sown directly in the ground after the last frost (corn, beans, squash, basil) • Seeds started indoors in soil-less mix (tomatoes, cauliflower, celery, cabbage) • Pre-grown plant “starts” bought at a nursery or plant sale (tomatoes and peppers) Starting Seeds Indoors Start warm-weather plants indoors in sterilized seed-starting mixture (also known as a “soil-less mix”) and transplant them into the garden after the last frost date. You can buy seed-starting trays at nurseries or online, but you can also make your own. Anything that holds a medium will work. Place trays in bright light and keep planting medium between 70° and 75° F. Cover the trays with plastic to retain moisture. Most trays come with their own clear plastic lids, but you can also use plastic kitchen wrap with a few holes punched in it for air circulation. At first you don’t need much circula- tion, but as the seeds begin to sprout, you’ll want to open up air slots to prevent fungal outbreaks that can easily kill the seedlings. Once your seedlings have germinated, move them to a cooler environment for sturdy growth. umiiiiiimiimiimiimmniiiimiiiimmiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiii Quick Tip: Mini Hothouses Collect milk jugs and cartons to use as mini-hothouses to protect the early seedlings as you move them from the house or cold frame to open garden. iiiniimiiiiiiinmiimiiiiiiiminiiiiiMMmiiiMiimiMMim Starting Seeds Outdoors Snap peas are one of the earliest seeds to sow directly in the vegetable garden. Once the weather begins to warm up, you can also plant potatoes, onion sets, onion plants, let- tuces, and spinach outdoors. Put transplants of cabbage and broccoli into the garden for early yield before the weather gets warm. After planting, surround each seedling with a small collar (one to two inches deep) to deter cutworms from severing the stem. You can make collars from paper cups — just remove the bottom. Hardy herbs (sage, mint, tarragon, and chives) should be planted into the garden earlier in the season or in the fall. If you need only a few plants, it’s more practical to New Book on Community Gardening on Sale Now PHS is proud to announce its latest publication: Community Gardening: A PHS Handbook. This new book shows readers how to work collaboratively with friends and neighbors to create a thriving community garden for all to share. In its pages you will learn how to secure the land on which you garden, work with local businesses and officials, reach out to the wider community, and sustain the garden for years to come. Based on PHS's decades of experience in greening, the Handbook is an indispensable tool for community gardeners everywhere (and it has great photos tool). The book is available at Amazon, com. Also check out its companion piece. The PHS City Parks Handbook. All proceeds support PHS greening programs. 25 it's All in the Soil primex IS Growinc Primex has always been committed to bringing you great plants and plant advice. We’re also delighted to be growing into an outstanding resource committed to building and strengthening a better, greener community. We've got a lot planned this spring, including a new line up of community events and programs, so stay tuned and remember to bnd us on the web! www.primexgardencenter.com come crowwiTH us! PRIMEX GARDEN CENTER Independent owned and operated by the Green family, serving the Glenside Community since 1943 485 West Glenside Avenue Glenside • 215-887-7500 www.primexgardencenter.com buy plants instead of growing them from seed. Mint is invasive, so plant it where it cannot spread over less vigorous plants, or grow it in a container. iiiiiiiiNmiiminmmmmimmmimiimiiimiiiMiimiii Quick Tip: Hardening Off Be sure to "harden off" plants before planting them in the garden. This helps indoor seedlings acclimate to the harsher outdoor environ- ment. Put tender plants and seedlings outside during the day and bring them back in at night. You can also use a cold frame or set containers in a protected area and cover them with light plastic or row-cover fabric. miiiiiiimiimiiiMmiiiiiiitiMiMiMMiMiMMiimiiiMminii To grow healthy vegetables, you need healthy soil. Prepare your garden bed by removing large debris, rocks, and big roots. Dig deep to loosen soil and work in generous amounts of good- quality screened compost. Add a little sand to improve drainage in heavy clay soil. Check your soil pH, too. A good range for most plants is between 6.2 and 6.8. Testing kits for pH are available at garden centers. If you are gardening in an urban area, it's a good idea to test your soil for harmful substances before growing edible plants. You can order a standard soil test from your county extension office (csrees. usda.gov/extension). If you have especially poor soil, you can grow plants in raised beds. Raised beds are easy to build (diagrams and plans are available on the American Community Gardening Association's website, communitygarden.org) . Do not use pressure-treated wood or railroad ties, since these may leach chemical toxins, such as arsenic, into the soil. 26 GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 Nemours Mansion AND Gardens Experience the Grandeur “Nemours has been returned to its youthful splendor - and perhaps even a little bit more.” — Architectual Digest “French glory as it was.” — Philadelphia Inquirer “A visitor might believe he or she magically just stepped into Europe.” — News Journal Plan your visit today, for reservations and information: www.nemoursmansion.org | 1-800-651-6912 Alapocas Drive and Powder Mill Road (Route 141) I Wilmington, Delaware 19803 Gardening Basics Purchasing Plants When buying vegetables, look for tight, compact plants with dark green leaves throughout (passing up those with yellow- ing leaves or elongated stems); check under leaves for aphids and whiteflies. If you order plants by mail, open the boxes as soon as they arrive to check them. Most plants are shipped in a dormant state, so don’t worry if the foliage is brown and dead or if the roots look limp. Do not transplant in the heat of the day. Wait until early evening and shield new plantings from the hot sun for a day or two with bushel baskets or pots. Separate tangled root systems by gently pulling roots apart. Water seedlings well. eA/e/uj, outcHooAi njoomf (jXiAAleAA. and home decx)Ai n^eed! Unique Artists’ Pieces and Inventory from Around the World in our Gardens and Showroom! Elizabeth Schumacher's f \ 4 Union Hill Rd., West Conshohocken • 610.825.5525 www.gardenaccents.com O'pjeti lyfean. Rcumd Tues-Sat 10 am - 5 pm Sunday By Appointment Only • Closed Monday THE BARTON ARBORETUM AND NATURE PRESERVE OF MEDFORD LEAS Gardeners and Nature Lovers — You’re Invited! Spanning more than 300 acres, the Barton Arboretum offers visitors a unique blend of accessible public gardens, collections, and preserved natural areas set amidst Medford Leas’ two campuses. Individuals and small groups are welcome to visit the Arboretum at no charge. For more information on self-gnided tours or to arrange dedicated tours and horticultural interest programming for your group, contact Jane Weston at 609-654-8007 or janeweston@medfordleas.org. Visit our website calendar for our Arboretum and other public special programs/events. WWW.MEDFORDLEAS.ORG A nationally accredited. Quaker-related, not-for-profit community for those age 55+, with campuses in Medford and Lumberton. NJ. Member: American Public Gardens Association • Greater Philadelphia Gardens ■ Garden State Gardens 28 GREEN SCENE • moy/june 201 1 201 1 The Colonial Vtllliamsburg Foundation 1 Be part of the story Imagine waking up 250 years ago in a place and time where history was made. A place where we can watch the sunrise over the fields as a colonial farm comes to life. Join the spirit of Independence in the re-enactments at Revolutionary City. Watch a colonial battle through clearing cannon smoke. Then wrap up the day listening to tales along an historic ghost tour. Discover over 1,000 hotel rooms ranging from luxurious to family-friendly. Ten convenient restaurants, including fine dining and historic taverns. Three unforgettable golf courses. Unique shopping. A complete spa and fitness club. And over 67,000 square feet of amazing meeting space. Plan your stay at colonialwilliamsburg.com t « \ ^1 \ s n Be part of the story. The Wild Side Ephemeral Magic at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 30 ! owman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, near the Delaware River south of New Hope, PA, is a beautiful place in any season, a 134-acre remnant of natural lands once common in the Philadelphia suburbs but which have been mostly destroyed by residential development. While the preserve can be considered a managed landscape — deer are excluded, invasive plants are rogued out, and some species have been added since it was created in 1934 — nature is still the main designer here, making a walk on the meander- ing paths a more subtle experience than a visit to display gardens such as Longwood Gardens or Chanticleer. i Bowman’s Hill Normally 1 dislike guided tours of gardens, preferring to follow my own eye and instinct and mood of the moment. But in this landscape of native plants, a guide can point out both the diminu- tive beauties that might otherwise be overlooked and the natural systems at work that help each plant thrive — what the Preserve’s executive director Miles Arnott calls “habitat heterogeneity.” Ranging from dry woodland and meadows to moist floodplains, each habitat supports different plant communities, providing hospitable homes for about 800 of Pennsylvania’s 2,000 native species — remarkable diversity for such a small area. Maintaining such diversity, Arnott says, would be an impossible task if deer were not kept out. “We have almost half the floral diversity of the state represented here,” he says, “and we can’t have deer coming in and mauling our collection.” A fence, installed around 100 prime acres in 1992, and an annual deer drive, in which volunteers help force any deer that might get past the fence back out again, help keep deer depredations to a minimum. Controlling and (where possible) eradicating invasive plants is another crucial part of maintaining the collection. If left unchecked, vigorous non-native species such as garlic mustard, Japanese honey- suckle, multiflora rose, and stilt grass could easily crowd out many of the native species. During a tour of the Preserve last May, Arnott pointed out the 32 GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 Photo by Amy Hoffmann Bringing Native Plants Home The ten plants listed below are just a few of the standout native species that Miles Arnott, executive director of Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, pointed out during a tour last May. If I had walked around the Preserve with him in another season, or even on another day, this list might be completely different. Senecio aureus (golden ragwort) spreads both by seeds and underground stems called stolons; this vigorous plant will hold its own against the common invasive plant, garlic mustard. Caltha palustris (marsh marigold) does well in moist places both in sun and part shade. Veratrun viride (false hellebore) has spires of green flowers and pleated green leaves; it likes moist soil in dappled light. Calycanthus florida (Carolina allspice) and Clethra alnifolia (sweet pepperbush) are two of Arnott's favorite native shrubs; the first has unusual fruity-smelling flowers; the second has sweet-smelling white flowers and spreads underground to create colonies. Jeffersonia Diphylla (twinleaf) gets its com- mon name from pairs of large leaves that per- sist after the flowers fall. It likes slightly acid rich soil in dappled sunlight, and dislikes a lot of competition from other plants. Osmunda regalis (royal fern) is, as its name suggests, a striking species; it will thrive in a range of sun exposures, but prefers moist soil. Cimicifigua racemosa (black cohosh) grows up to five feet, with long spires of white blooms in the summer that will lighten up a shady corner of the garden. Eupatorium fistulosum (Joe-Pye weed) is a stately perennial whose flowers provide nec- tar for many butterflies. Phlox stolonifera (creeping phlox) is a spring- blooming, ground hugging plant whose blue flowers will light up the woodland garden. Bowman Hill's Spring Plant Sale Sunday, May 8, 10am - 4pm bhwp.org Chrysogonum virginianum (green-and-gold) is a creeping plant with golden yellow flowers up to six inches high in spring and early summer; it prefers shady or woodland conditions. Bowman’s Hill GREAT WATERSCAPES AT AFFORDABLE PRICES A FULL SERVICE COMPANY SPECIALIZING IN: • Tree Service • Ponds & Pondless Water Features (Aquascape Certified Contractor) • Outdoor Lighting • Professional Landscape Design & Installation • Patios & Walkways • Maintenance & Drainage • Call for Pricing BrofA EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY, Tree Service Inc. EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE Distinctive Water Gardens Call 610-647-1028 • www.PezzottiBros.com • Email us at: PezzottiBros@comcast.net tting Standards of Excelfence Retirement Living Since 1967 Gwynedd, PA • 215-643-2200 • www.foulkeways.org Guided by Time-Honored Quaker Values li} panpt^ FRIENDS SERVICES 'rS; AGING Foulkeways* at Gwynedd does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or sexual orientation. results of this landscape management — the healthy “vertical stratification” so important to a thriving natural ecosystem, but which is missing in many woodlands where deer and invasive plants run wild. At Bowman’s Hill, each layer of the landscape — from the ground- level herbaceous plants and shrubs to the juvenile trees that will eventually grow up to replace the canopy trees looming overhead — is healthy and teeming with life, providing habitat for a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. About 110 avian species (including 31 warblers) can be sighted at the Preserve throughout the year, making it a hotspot for birdwatchers as well as for plant lovers. Many of the trails in the Preserve (total- ing 2 1/2 miles) have names reflecting the prominent plants one finds alongside them. As we walked down the Marsh Marigold Trail, Arnott pointed out toyal ferns, skunk cabbage, and Iris versicolor growing in a low moist area where a spring bubbled to the sutface. (The trail’s namesake Caltha palustris had already bloomed by then.) The north- facing flank of Bowman’s Hill itself is studded with rhododendron, mountain lau- rel, and other species more commonly associ- ated with the Poconos and other mountain- ous parts of the state. The floodplain along Pidcock Creek is home to a spectacular sweep of Virginia bluebells, and other trails feature native azaleas, which are both beautiful and fragrant; many varieties of ferns; and native plants with medicinal uses. Seeing what grows in each distinct area of a place like Bowman’s Hill can show us the different ways in which native plants can be incorporated into out own gardens. To that end, the Preserve offers a wide variety of booklets and brochutes, as well as daily guided tours, special lectures, and other programs. Spring and fall native plant sales feature both common and hard-to find species, many of which are propagated in the Preserve’s own wildflower nursery. Extensive lists of native plants suitable for home gardeners can be found on the Preserve’s website {bhivp.or^. Before trying natives in your home garden, Arnott suggests that you follow the Preserve’s example and give them a fighting chance by excluding deer and controlling invasive plants. 34 GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 ^pasaCe Socfini lAiscany, ItaCy Vivi iC sogno! - Live tLie cfream! 'n: wtti- Wimttifvffy (Restored TamHouse and Mid !JRear tHe MedievaC Town of C ucca 5 (Bedroom, 5 Luxury 'dida witd www.gardensheds.com ^^odcrafted Buildings at fm Collation lanu A G/IRDKN.Sm:D.S" KXCUISIVI Beautify your landscape with Timeless design and Uncompromising craftsmanship reminiscent of another era. “ O. Our original products are fully Assembled, finished, and shipped from our Pennsylvania workshop To 48 States. View our entire collection of Gardensheds, Greenhouses, Screen Houses, Pool Houses, Pavilions, Follies, Entry Gates, Estate Planters, Bird Houses and Dog Houses. www.Gardensheds.com Toll-FREE:877-SHEDS-11 ^Tsii LAMBERTVILLE, NJ GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 35 Floral Design Nature as Inspiration: Color and Light Cool colors and soft tints and tones have a calming effect and illustrate the gentle contrasts of nature in floral design. Here a soft purple ceramic container holds blue-green hydrangea, soft pink peonies, and lavender curcuma while a sparkle of allium 'Shubertii' leads the eye upward to the sun and sky. Early- season green privet berries blend into the garden background. Morning light captures the delicate colors of the flowers and enhances this decorative floral design. Strong hues and contrasts of light and dark create energy. The sunflower faces reach for the noonday sun while parallel placement of stems mimics the lines of naturally growing plants. Dark heuchera leaves and moss at the base of the design add weight to visually support the tall flowers. Like a garden, this vegetative design is made to be viewed from all sides. Eremurus and cattails are seen from behind, while heuchera flowers and curly allium weave gently throughout the arrangement. By Jane Godshalk • Photographs by Joanne Bening Light creates color; without light there is no color. The amount and intensity oflight dramatically impacts our perception of color. A walk through a garden heightens the senses to color and light and offers unlimited combinations, each with its own mood. In nature, light changes from moment to moment. A gray cloudy day sheds soft illumination on flowers and plants while bright sunshine makes flowers vibrate with energy and reflection. The same view is very different in summer than in winter, as the sun strikes a garden from different angles throughout the seasons. When arranging flowers, it is important to consider the element of light, the time of day, and the setting — indoors or outdoors, direct or ambient light. Soft colors do well with gentle natural light, strong hues shine in bright light, and white and cream colored flowers stand out in the evening, 36 GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 It’s where you want to be. A special thank you to our clients, coworkers and friends for your continued support. www.shreinertreecare.com TREE CARE SHREINER A warm, welcoming community. An active, independent lifestyle. A comfortable, contemporary home right outside the city. It’s The Hill at Whitemarsh - and now is the time to make the right decision to protect your future. Call now to schedule a tour... consider your options... and let the fun begin! The right place for you. Find it at The Hill at Whitemarsh. GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 37 The Hill at Whitemarsh, 4()0() Fox Hound Drive, Lafayette Hill, R\ 19444 Ph: 215-402-8725 Toll-free: 800-315-4103 www.TheHillAtWhitemarsh.org iCity Planter Create your urban oasis Visit our store: Open everyday io-6 814 N. 4th Street ~ Philadelphia 215.627.6169 Shop Online! www.cityplanter.com a The Sustainable Garden RECYCLE IT! More Local Nurseries that Recycle Garden Plastics by Laura Brandt More than 350 million POUNDS OF GARDENING PLASTIC IS GENERATED IN THE UNITED STATES EACH YEAR. Luckily, many garden centers now collect and recycle horticultural plastic such as used pots, flats, and even garden markers. Contact your local nursery to see what types of plastic they take. In our region, most trash haulers offer curbside recycling, but many only take plastics numbered 1 (PET or polyethylene) or 2 (HOPE or high-density polyethylene). Plastic nursery pots and trays are most commonly either Type 2, Type 5 (PP or polypropylene), or Type 6 (PS or polysty- rene). Some trash haulers have partnered with RecycleBank, a recycling service that takes most types of plastic in certain geographic areas. They will also take used plastic nursery containers as long as they are rinsed out and free of debris. A handful of garden centers have stepped up to the recycling plate by offering to collect used nursery pots and flats directly from their customers. Some have a recycling area near the parking lot where shoppers can return clean used nursery flats and pots. More garden centers are getting on board each year to collect recyclables from the public. Following up on our story from last November’s issue, here is a small list of nurseries in the Philadelphia area that accept plastic. If you know of a garden center that recycles in Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware, please let us know at greenscene@pennhort.org we’ll update this list on the PHS blog. And if your garden center does not accept plastic from its customers, ask them to consider doing so. • Meadowbrook Farm, Abington Township, PA • Behmerwald Nursery, Schwenksville, PA • Carousel Gardens, Newtown, PA • Gasper Garden Center, Richboro, PA • Laurel Hill Gardens, Philadelphia, PA • Mostardi Nursery, Newtown Square, PA • Primex Garden Center, Glenside, PA • Russell Gardens Wholesale, Churchville, PA • Seasons Garden Center, Washington Crossing, PA • Waterloo Gardens, Devon and Exton, PA • Green Acres Nursery, Colmar, PA 38 GREEN SCENE may/june 201 1 Protect your GA.R.DEN from rabbits and small critters. NEW! Plantskydd® Granu\ar Rabbits and Small Critter Repellent Sprinkle Plantskydd throughout your garden. It couldn't be easier! Available as 1 lb., 3 lb., 7 lb , and 20 lb. #1 Most Effective #1 Longest Lasting #1 Most Tested ORGANIC Platjtskijdd® Deer Repellent Repels deer, elk, and rabbits. Available as Ready-to- Use Spray (I qt.) or Jug (1.32 gal) and Soluble Powder Concentrate (1 lb., 2.2 lb. and 22 lb ). For our DEALER LOCATOR. FAQs, testimonials and •independent research results, visit our website: www.plantskydd.com CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-252-6051 Bring the beauty of bullxs to your garden.s From our v'a.st collection of the be.st Dutch flower bulb.s and herbaceous peonies at the be.st prices. Select a color palette and create natural, harmonious gardens with intermingled flower bulbs. Here is a fragrant combination of Triumph Tulip Apricot Beauty and Hyacinth Bluejacket. Contact Van Engelen for our 52-page wholesale flower bulb price list or John Scheepers for our colorful 88-page Beauty from catalog. Conttict Kitchen Garden Seeds for our 60-page catalog with over 500 gourmet \-egetable, herb and flower .seeds. It has a wealth of practical gardening tips from Barbara Damrosch and wonderful recipes from renowned U.S. chefs. Happy Spring! €n5clcti Phone: (860) 567-8734 www.vaneneelen.com John Scheepers Phone: (860) 567-0838 www.johnscheepers.com Serving America's finest gardens for over 100 years! Share your dream of the ideal retirement lifestyle, and Waverly Heights will bring it to life Chances are you have a vision of how yoLi’d like your retirement to look and feel. We believe you shoitld have your way. So, we’ve spent twenty-five years fine-tuning our services to put the retirement lifestyle you seek within easy reach. We have the residence, the chef, the housekeeper, the programs director, the trainer.. .and a long list ol other superb professionals and resources happily in place. We’re just waiting for yoLi to give us the chance to deliver. Visit soon to tell us all that you have in mind. WAVERLY 1400 Waverly Road, Gladwyne, PA 19035-1296 Tel: 610.645.8764 Fax: 610.645.861 1 www.waverlyheightsltd.org A nonprofit, non-sectarian lifecare community oyiviiiNCfAM: EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 39 1 Classified Ads EDIBLE HORTICULTURE Delicious Raspberries, Blueberries & Blackberries Tree fruit and vegetables. Picked and PYO June through October. Indian Orchards 24 Copes Lane, Media, PA 610-565-8387 FLORISTS Sustainable Event Decorating Garden arrangements — fresh local flowers Featuring unique artist made containers Corporate-private www.urbanbotanlcal.com Helen@urbanbotanical.com 21 5-438-7533 GARDEN STRUCTURES GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Custom Aluminum or Wood 35 Years' Experience Call Robert J, LaRouche at Glass Enclosures Unlimited 610-687-2444 GREEN TECHNOLOGIES Rainwater Harvesting Systems Capture • Filter • Reuse Please visit our website to learn more www.YourPond.com Cedar Run Landscapes 1 -800-Landscape LANDSCAPE DESIGN ARTICHOKE DESIGN LLC Sustainable Design, Custom Plans Garden, Fire-Pit, Pavilion, Deck, Patios Design Consultation, Construction Plans Kirsten Puskar, ASIA 215-646-441 8 BURKE BROTHERS LANDSCAPE DESIGN/BUILD Nationally-recognized designs. Experienced staff ensures the integrity of the design from concept to completion. burkebrothers.com 215-887-1773 610-520-2025 David Brothers Landscape Services Native Plant Nursery Architects, Builders and Nurserymen Providing the Fine Art of Garden Construction and Landscape Restoration 215-247-2992 610-584-1550 www.davidbrothers.com LINDA CORSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN • Consulting • Plans • Supervision Registered Landscape Architect Member ASIA 215-247-5619 HARDSCAPING HERITAGE STONE & MARBLE We are an installation and restoration company who emphasizes longlasting quality with outstanding craftsmanship. FLAGSTONE, BRICK — patios and walkways, COBBLESTONE — edging and paving, STONE walls, RETAINING walls, MARBLE, GRANITE— floors, walls, countertops. McGLADE & SON LANDSCAPING Services we've offered since 1943; • Year Round Property & Garden Care • New Garden Design & Installation •Landscape Renovations • Container Gardens & Window Boxes Elegant Landscapes & Timeless Gardens Begin With Us. 610-642-6299 Gladwyne, PA WWW. mcgladelandscaping. com 215-699-5611 Upper Gwynedd, PA MULCH PATIOS & WALKWAYS Flagstone - Pavers - Brick Robert J. Kleinberg Landscape Design & Construction 610-259-6106 See outwork online 100's of pictures at WWW.KLEINBERG.COM BALED PINE NEEDLE MULCH Pick up/Delivery/Spreading service Cedar Run Landscapes Call for brochure 1 -800-LANDSCAPE WWW. CedarRunLandscapes. com FLOWERS AND MORE, INC. Garden Design, Installation & Maintenance PINE-NEEDLE MULCH Wholesale and Retail 610-701-9283 renee52@comcast.net NURSERIES RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS • Specimen plants • Pond plants • Bonsai • Orchids • Hardy cacti • Tropicals • Sculptured trees and shrubs • Perennials • Unique Flower and gift shop. MUTSCHLERS' FLORIST & RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 www.mutschlers. com Perennials Are Our Specialty! POPES' GARDENS Annuals • Vegetables • Herbs Hanging Baskets • Shrubs • Trees Fruit Trees & Berry Bushes Classes • Display Gardens • Farm Animals 1146 Old White Horse Pike, Waterford, NJ 856-767-3343 www.popesgardens.com Triple Oaks Nursery & Herb Garden • Great Plants • Display Gardens • Programs • Franklinville, New Jersey www.tripleoaks.com 856-694-4272 grea tplan ts@tripleoaks. com WATER GARDENING BULLFROG PONDS An Award Winning Custom Water Features Company Design • Build • Seasonal Maintenance And Restoration of: Fountains, Water Gardens, Koi Ponds, & Natural Swimming Ponds 610-642-7052 Gladwyne, PA WWW. bullfrogponds. com OTHER ADIRONDACK OUTDOOR FURNITURE Created with 1" thick Western Red Cedar Member PA Guild of Craftsmen Leisure Woodworks LLC WWW.LEISUREWOODWORKS.COM 484-832-1848 40 GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS to the Thousands of Local Gardeners who read GREEN 3«^ene Magazine Contact Michel Manzo at 610-527-7047 or mmanzo@manzomediagroup.com for more information , Jt -Tree Lan dscape .Services .X V *■*»:, Unpreted^ted Experience ^ PersonallService X * J-* Exceptional Quality ^^ts.th^^cFarldUd Way! ** ■: ‘-.'f » Call today to schedule a free professional consultation to review your property. 215-844-TREE (8733) • 610-688-6644 • Fax:215-438-1879 www.mcfarlandtree.com Our Community. Our Lifestyle. Welcome to Meadow Lakes, a place where natural beauty forms the backdrop to a retirement lifestyle that reflects the way you want to live. Our campus is a wooded green retreat with three sparkling lakes on 103 lush acres. We're also a registered arboretum, a reflection of the quality and diversity of our outstanding collection of trees. Life at Meadow Lakes is amenity-filled and maintenance-free. Our full-service retirement lifestyle means great dining, weekly housekeeping and high-quality healthcare on-site, in case you should need it. Our grounds are beautiful any time of year, but right now Meadow Lakes is in full flower. It's a glorious time to pay us a visit Call today! (800) 564-5705 300 Meadow Lakes, East Windsor, NJ 08520 MEADOW LAKES A SPRINGPOINT COMMUNITY meadowlakesonline.org GREEN SCENE • moy/june 201 1 41 ( ' .Local.Heroe'S • By Kirsten KubraC*' , .i’ Sharing the Joys of Gardening On a small plot of land in North Philadelphia, urban farmer Bill Shick is growing more than just fruits and vegetables. He’s teaching city residents about gardening and, more importantly, about eating healthy food. Bill is the leading force behind a demonstration garden run by SHARE (Self Help and Resource Exchange), a place where city dwellers can learn gardening tips and buy great veggies. SELARE plays a key role in the PHS City Harvest program, a partnership that helps make fresh food available to low-income city residents. SHARE helps distribute vegetables grown by volunteers in community gardens throughout the city. It also donates food directly from its garden, and a soon-to-be-built greenhouse will be a resource for a network of entrepreneurial growers created by PHS with a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture. “When people come to pick up their food, they get to observe the natural space and see where the food is coming from,” says Bill. “Residents see what vegetables look like straight out of the garden.” The SELARE garden also sells produce to neighborhood residents at about half of what they would pay at a grocery store. For growers like Bill and other City Harvest participants, it is important for everyone in the city to have access to fresh, local produce. “We will teach people how to grow and will offer garden- ing materials to anyone, no matter what their income,” he notes. Bill’s favorite part of the job is meeting and sharing information with the people who come to the demonstration garden. “There are people who come to us who can name every single plant here. Then there are the people who have never seen vegetables before — like a kid seeing a sweet pepper for the first time. I have amazing conversations like this every day.” With vacant lots of land all over the city. Bill hopes he can help make some of that space available to people who want to start their own neighborhood and community gardens. “We are changing diets,” declares Bill. “And we think that people will eat more fruits and vegetables if they have a part in growing them.” e 42 GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 i-: ■' ¥''i: V \ J> i NATURALLY FOR Ali POTTED PLANTS << INDOOR AND OUTDOOR! Growing beautiful potted plants with more abundant blooms is easy with Espoma Organic Potting Mix and Gro-tone^*^ liquid plant food. Both are made from all natural and organic ingredients and are safe for people, pets, and the environment. Espoma - the most trusted scan to watch video name in organics since 1929. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/espomaorganic ORGANIC POTTING MIX p For All Potted Plants Gro-tone .nyOBGAWIC^.^NIWG Improre Moisture Retention • Red Promote Root Growth • Crow 6<} For All Indoor ft Outdoor c www.espoma.com Osmocote Smart-Release* Plant Food Flower & Vegetable . PLANT FOOD ■ A( - .-.to dP Plan:.. ■ ^ para Tifif--. V Vegetalfs formulated for fisvorfu) vegetables and colorful blooms Guaranteed not to burn’ Introducing a great new way to feed all your outdoor plants. Osmocote® is now available in an easy-to-use bottle. ^ Spread Osmocote Flower & Vegetable Plant Food throughout your garden so you can enjoy vibrant flowers, lush X foliage and mouthwatering vegetables. Osmocote is formulated to feed consistently and continuously for up to four full months, plus it's guaranteed not to burn. And if that's not enough, the new bottle gives you yet another reason W to be an Osmocote gardener. , ^ © 2011, The Scotts Company LLC. World rights reserved. ^ r malce the mo!>t of [ your gardeh spaces! H :s ^HSO filing PHS Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago THE PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society inspires and motivates people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture. Please support PHS in this effort by making your donation at PHSonline.org or contact Jennifer Shepard, Vice President of Development at 2 1 5-988-8766; jshepard@pennhort.org. FROM INSPIRATION TO INSTALLATION EP HENRY IS WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY No one makes it easier. No one makes it better. our quick and easy Project Funding" and industry exclusive Lifetime Product Guarantee plus Installation Warranty. Cathedral Village We teCC them we enjoy . . yvtien friends ancC famiCy jAsky ''AVdat do you do for fun?’' ♦ The Village College, where courses are taught by our own resident professors, without any tests to take! ♦ Swimming at sunrise . . . during the day . . . and even in the winter when it’s snowing! ♦ Dinners prepared to order and fresh from the Gourmet Grill on Saturday evenings. ♦ The camaraderie of friends while exercising in the Health Club or doing Tai Chi and Yoga. ♦ Singing in our Village Chorus which performed in a professional show at the Arden Theatre. ♦ Our Greenhouse for year-round personal use, and seminars given by professional horticulturists. ♦ Using our light-filled Art Studio for self-expression, as well as classes in a variety of media. ♦ Molding clay into works of art in the Pottery Studio where free classes are also held. ♦ Attending professional Concerts in Cathedral Hall including those presented by our own professional resident musicians. ♦ The many dramatic and comedic Play Readings created by our talented resident actors and directors. ♦ Putting around on our Professional Green for fun as well as competition. ♦ Many Bridge tournaments. Scrabble competitions, and parties for all occasions. ♦ Taking the Cathedral Village bus to Center City for the Orchestra, Theater and Ballet, and for day trips to The Philadelphia Flower Show, Philadelphia area museums and other places of interest. ♦ Joining Resident Committees and enjoying each other’s company while volunteering in the Library, Gift Shop and other areas of the Village where our help benefits others. Woven into this truly enjoyable lifestyle are new friendships with kindred spirits! Come for a visit and discover even more! Monday through Friday between 9 AM and 3 PM. Appointments are needed for weekends and holidays. 600 East Cathedral Road • Philadelphia, PA 19128 www.cathedralvillage.com (215) 984-8621 Cathedral Village is a Nonprofit Nondenominational Continuing Care Retirement Community Accredited Sitrcyit 9.8^ .“v Affiliated With the Jeffers^^ Systc;pi SiBCS .I^i ^ Features SPECIAL ISSUE; GARDEN DESIGN 8 Gallery of Graciousness In this photo gallery, we present a series of vignettes showing good design concepts and how you might replicate them at home. 15 Tips from the Experts Four acclaimed garden designers share advice, from planning the space to picking the perfect plants. 22 Working with a Landscape Contractor Calling in the pros may seem a daunting prospect, but in this article, we show you what to expect when you bring in a design-build company. Go Green" by reading Green Scene online! Want to read Green Scene online? An electronic version of Green Scene is now available to every PHS member (Household level and above) who has provided PHS with a valid email address. Each time a new issue of the magazine is published, you will receive a message with a link to the online version. You will still receive the print version of Green Scene unless you opt-out by sending an email to memserv@pennhort.org letting us know of your choice. You can opt back in at any time and go back to the paper version. By reading Green Scene online only, you'll help PHS reduce printing and mailing costs and save trees, too! So try our e-magazine today. We think you'll like it. THE MdLEEAN LIBHARY' motivates people to improve the quality of life and Pennsylvania Horticultufil Stidlety ^ horticulture 100 North 20th St. Cover photo: © Rob Cardillo Phftactelphia, PA 19103 30 Style in Swarthmore Joe Henderson and Jeff Jabco, both garden professionals who know how to weave magic in a small-garden setting, discuss their home land- scape. Columns “V y §.z| ® 9'$. 3" ^ 00 p W 2. -I I m 36 Floral Design Working with patterns 38 The Sustainable Garden Water-wise gardening TJ > 00 ^ I o c c 5 CD ? DO -< 41 The Gardener's Bookshelf 42 Local Hero Environmental artist Stacy Levy o> Photos by Margaret Funderburg i BY NOW, YOU’VE HEARD about our PHS Pops Up gardens that have sprung up in three Center City locations, most notably in the large empty lot at 20'*’ & Market streets, right in the middle ol Philly’s bustling busi- ness district. Here, PHS and its crack team ol landscape architects, designers, gardeners, and staff worked with Temple University to re-purpose its 201 1 flower Show exhibit as the centerpiece for a new garden. PHS President Drew Becher says, “This unique project brought together an amazing team of corporate partners, great chefs, land- scape architects, academics, and urban farmers. Our goal was to engage residents and visitors in the beauty and impact of community gardens, and inspire them to support programs that build healthy communities.” Partners include Independence Blue Cross, Brandywine Realty Trust, and the William Penn Foundation. While this Pops Up space will only be around for a lew months, it’s a great example of how people can develop an idea, blend it with good design and plenty of grunt work, and create a dazzling showpiece of urban horticulture. And let’s not forget the underly- ing design: since Temple’s “ecolibrium” greenhouse from the Flower Show was itself based on the geometric art of Piet Mondrian, so too is the 20'*’ & Market Pops Up garden based on Mondrian. Visitors will also note how the PHS/Temple team created this garden out of reused materi- als and Flower Show displays, and used solid design techniques to tie it all together — clean, simple lines; interesting textures and scale; and an excellent plant palette (including PHS Gold Medal plants). The next step, ol course, is to come visit the PHS Pops Up gardens yourself be it at 20th & Market; at PHS headquarters at 20th and Arch streets; or just a little further north at Fogan Square, where you'll see carousel animals from the 201 1 Flower Show tucked in among the plantings surrounding the Swann Memorial Fountain. Come see the city alive with color, plants — and great design — this summer! Mark Paronish, one of PHS's talented landscape architects, and VP of programs Maitreyi Roy enjoy a laugh in the garden. at PEPPER POT EARM ca. 1750 ince 1995 we've been designing and constructing premium small buildings suitable for garden, pool, utility, cottage, studio and home office applications. To date we have shipped over 1 ,500 buildings to discerning clients who value quality, authenticity and personalized service. Our original, copyrighted buildings are historically inspired. We offer a complete turnkey service from order placement and approval drawing to delivery and installation. Each building is fully assembled and finished in our workshop to your specifications including exterior/interior paint, options and pre-wire. Your building is ready to use and enjoy the day of delivery. We ship from our Eastern PA workshop to 48 States. ■ 1 Find us on Facebook www.gardensheds.com • TOLL-Free: 877-sheds-ii 6 GREEN SCENE • july/augusf 201 1 L GREEN scene July-August 201 1 Editor Pete Prawn Senior Editor Jane Carroll Associate Editor Daniel Moise Staff Photographer Margaret Funderburg Art Design Baxendells' Graphic Printer ALCOM Printing Group, Inc. PHS PlANTtNC SEfDS CROWtNC LIVES Website PHSonline.org 100 N. 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495 215-988-8800 Chair John K. Ball President Drew Becher Senior Vice President Katrina L. Wilhelm Vice President, Programs Maitreyi Roy PHS Membership Information Linda Davis, 215-988-8776 Display & Classified Ads Manzo Media Group 610-527-7047 mmanzo@manzomediagroup. com Garden Q & A Phone Line 215-988-8777, Monday through Friday, 9:30 to 12 (closed in December] askagardener@pennhort. org GREEN SCENE (USPS 955580), Volume 39, No. 4, is published bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September, November) by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a nonprofit member organization at 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495. Single Copy: $5.00 (plus $2.00 shipping). Second-class postage paid at Philadelphia, PA 19103. POSTMASTER: Send address change to GREEN SCENE 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. ©2011 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society FSC www.fsc.org MIX Paper from responsible sources FSC® C006218 C^isaCe Socfini lAiscany, ItaCy "Uivi iCsogno! - Live tfie cfream! - = - = - = ^ ‘Kestored TarmHouse and 'Mid Ax iNear tHe MedievaC Town of Lucca ' 5 (Bedroom, 5 (BatH Luxury ‘V’ida witH RGANIC POTTING MIX For Alt Potted Plants Plants have been thriving on our organic plant foods ever since we originated them for gardeners in 1929. Now you can treat all of your indoor and outdoor potted plants to our Organic Potting Mix. It’s a rich blend of the hnest natural ingredients to help grow larger plants and more abundant blooms. And because it’s approved for organic gardening, our soils are safe for kids and pets. Espoma. A natural in the garden since 1929. Click. Watch. Learn. Container gardens. - -cn^.rn.-. Improve Moisture Retention • Reduce Drmif^C Stress Pronwte Root Growth • Grow Big Beautiful Plant' h For All Indoor & Outdoor Containers Join our gardening community at facebook.com/espomaorganic DESIGNING YOUR OWN LANDSCAPE Sj.f nn ■ he Philadelphia region is rich with public gardens, ■ arboretums, civic landscapes, and historic sites with gar- dens. These beautiful landscapes not only ser\'e as sanctu- aries for the soul, but also as living laboratories of good garden design. But what happens when home gardeners turn to their own gardens? Do they give thoughtful consideration to design, or are most people simply seduced by whatever is in bloom at the garden center? Many of the ideas that make professionally designed gardens work so well can also be applied to the gardens we create for our- selves. Green Scene asked garden-design experts who appeared at the Philadelphia International Flower Show this past March to share a few tips with home gardeners. “Don’t be afraid of the process,” advises Susan K. Weiler of Philadelphia-based OLIN, which is known nationally and internation- ally for its green design. Instead, learn Irom what others have done. “Philadelphia has such a wonderful heritage, it’s almost in our DNA, the importance of horticulture,” she says. “There are so many wonderful examples of gardens that people should just go explore and see what catches their eye.” GREEN SCENE • july/august 201 1 15 * • ^ Doug Hoerr “I think for many people the idea of a designed garden is alien, or perplex- ing,” says Douglas Hoerr, a landscape architect whose dramatic streetscapes in Chicago have contributed to that city’s green renaissance. “They want instant gratification — to go out and just plant things — but that’s like buying a wardrobe of clothes and then find- ing nothing fits together because you didn’t think about it.” “First, design the spaces,” says Hoerr (pronounced “hair”), a partner in Chicago’s Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects. “Consider something as simple as how you get to the front door of the house. It’s like theater — you want to direct in a way that shows off the best of your property.” That may mean putting the garden’s entry point farther out to create an attractive route to the front door. Create focal points and sitting areas that entice visitors to enjoy the whole property. “Where is the nerve center in the house?” Hoert asks. “A lot of people pack plants up near the house because they think that’s where they go, but many people enjoy their plants from inside because they don’t have time to be in the gatden. We come home from work and we want to look out and see our garden, so try to orient those gardens where they can be seen — maybe away from the house, so they aren’t hidden by the windowsill.” He points out that plants can be used in many different ways. There are those you want for your own enjoyment; some that block views or create privacy; others that complement the architectural style of the house; and some that are functional, such as herbs and vegetables. Hoerr continues, “When I’m design- ing a garden from scratch, I ask, ‘Why am I using plants in this location, and what is their role in the garden?’ It’s critical that you pick plants that are happy in their locations — whether that’s sunny, shady, a wet spot, dry shade — rather than having a precon- ceived idea that you ate going to use a certain plant. Pick the right kind of plant for the spot, then look for the attributes that will make it interest- ing— that will give you good seasonal interest, texture, and form.” Choose plants that will allow you to achieve the goals you have identified in your design, Hoerr concludes, “and you will have a well-conceived garden that offers shade, privacy, beauty, and utility.” Designing Your Own I.andscape DESIGN T IP Garden design is like theater-you want TO direct in a way that shows off the BEST OF YOUR fROfERTY. A design should take into account how a garden looks from inside a house. ik DESIGN T li^ Treat [ptANTs ih your gardehI as a tiviNC wardrobe- you're putting a wardrobe TOGETHER, FOR SPRING^ SUMMER, WINTER. Susan K. Weiler “Observation might be the first step in designing a new garden,” suggests Susan K. Weiler, a partner with OLIN, whose recent projects include the Anne d’Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden at the Philadelphia Museum ot Art. Visit gardens and look at the massing ol plants — the use of plants big and small, the way things are layered, what’s growing in shade and in sun. But don’t stop there. “At smaller nurseries there is more time to observe what the plants look like, their needs — spacing, how big they will get, etc. — and gardeners can see them next to other plants, so they can literally hold one up against the other,” she says. “Treat it as a living wardrobe- — you’re putting a wardrobe together for spring, summer, winter.” Choose your own style. Don’t feel compelled to use a certain kind of stepping stone just because everyone seems to be doing that. Incorporate elements and plants that you value. “I think gardens should have the ability to make people happy,” Weiler says. “They shouldn’t be making people leap up and down with joy all the time, but they should accommodate moods — be restorative, or sometimes be reflective or contemplative. “Sometimes the same garden will feel different to people when they are having their morning coffee than it will later in the after- noon or in the evening. A lot of it has to do with the changing light, temperature, atmosphere, moisture — environmental impacts that are there all the time.” Being aware of those conditions, as well as plants’ needs, will help to ensure the garden’s success. Above & Right: Views of the Anne d'Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, including its "green roof" atop the parking garage. (Weiler is the co-author of "Green Roof Systems: A Guide to the Planning, Design, and Construction of Landscapes over Structure. "] \ The redesigned garden at Logan Square, in Philadelphia, is a peaceful respite for residents and visitors along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. (Weiler collaborated on the project with PHS, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Center Ctty District, and the City of Philadelphia.) Designing Your Own Landscape Craig Bergmann “Know the house you are work- ing with,” says Craig Bergmann of Craig Bergmann Landscape Desigr Inc., whose company does a lot of historic restorations around Chicago but also tries to incor- porate modern twists. He urges people to take note of architec- tural details that can help connect the landscape to the house or buildings. Sidelights on a front door, lead-glass windows, or a capital on a column could all serve as jumping-off points for a design element. “If we need a trellis, we’ll look at how the windows are divided. and often mimic or complement the dividers in the trellis design,” Bergmann says. A rectangular grid, for example, could be incorpo- rated into the trellising that would be mounted on the wall between the windows. But don’t overdo it. Bergmann would not use red brick in the garden of a red-brick house — because there’s already a lot of it — but instead might complement the texture and age of the bricks in his choice ol flagstones. He adopts a similar approach with plants, using older plants strategically to make a garden look more established. He points out that with trees, younger trees are often more adaptable. “For every inch caliper ol trunk, it takes an additional year for that tree to get back to normal growth rate” after transplanting, he says, “so a three- inch tree will take three years to establish, but a 10-inch tree will take a decade to go back to normal growth. Sometimes, the three- inch tree will be bigger than the 10-inch tree in 10 years.” DESIGN T l!> Take note of architectural DETAILS THAT CAN HELR CONNECT THE LANDSCAPE DESIGN TO TOUR HOUSE. Photos below by Linda Oyama Bryan Twin boxwood parterres alon^ pattern of the fri door sidejigM'^ Bergmann advises using plants that fit in with the existing conditions to fool the eye, so that a new garden looks as though it has been established for years. I He doesn’t advocate planting three small things where you really want one large specimen, however. “In three to five years, all will be misshapen,” he says, “so plant the one and make it look a little bigger by using seasonal plants to fill in.” The same idea works for garden beds and climbing plants. A one-gallon clematis may take four or five years to cover a pergola, he says, but a budget-conscious gardener could plant morning glories with it to fill in the gap and give the planting an established look. GREEN SCENE • july/august 201 1 DESIGN T IP The ?tANT MIX SHOUtD INCLUDE SHRUBS^ I'ERENNIALS^ BULBS ANDr TO SOME EXTENT^ ANNUALS. THIS THERE WILL BE INTERESTING PLANTS TO ENJOY ALL YEAR LONG. Lynden B. Miller Before you start designing a fancy garden, consider how you are going to maintain it, says Lynden B. Miller, director of the Conservatory Garden in New York’s Central Park and author of Parks, Plants, and People: Beautifying the Urban Landscape, a highly regarded book on planning urban parks that is also relevant for amateur gardeners. “Home gardeners might not put enough thought into mainte- nance,” she says, “but creating a garden is like having a child — you have to take care of it.” A respected garden designer. Miller is responsible for about a quarter million plants in Manhattan, so she is well aware that maintenance is a big part of success. That’s one reason she advocates mixed planting as a mainstay of a well-designed garden. “Using shrubs and perennials in that way means a lot less maintenance. Sustainable is maintainable — if it’s maintainable, that means you’ve put the right plant in the right place.” 19 ( Designing Your Own Landscape ' tynden Milfef , is director of •Conseryatbry Garden in Ceiifi^^ark. pjiii Miller learned the merits of mixed planting by working on her hands and knees in her own garden in Connecticut. She adds winter interest by using ever- greens; shrubs with all-season appeal such as oakleaf hydrangea (“my favorite plant in the world”); and an occasional ornamental grass such as Helictotrichon sempervirens, or blue oat grass, as an exclamation point. An artist as well as a horticulturist, Miller stresses that gardening is not simple: “Gardening is an art form, and it is very complicated to get it right. It I ever see gardening moved to the art sec- tion of the newspapers, I will die a happy woman.” Denise Cowie is an amateur gardener and Australian transplant who fell in love with the history of horticulture in Philadelphia during the years she wrote about gardening for the Philadelphia Inquirer. THE BARNES FOUNDATION HORTICULTURE COURSES In 1940, Laura Barnes established the Arboretum school to provide students of horticulture, botany, and landscape architecture the opportunity to work under professional guidance. The Barnes Foundation carries on the tradition today, offering a three-year program in ornamental horticulture that offers a comprehensive curriculum of botany, plant propagation, practical horticulture techniques, and landscape design. The curriculum develops skilled horticulturalists through a combination of classroom lecture, self-directed learning, and hands-on practice. Open enrollment for Fall 2011 classes in Merion For information and registration: www.barnesfoundation.org or call 610-667-0290 ext. 1071/3825 The Barnes Foundation, 300 North Latch’s Lane, Merion, Pennsylvania 19066 20 GREEN SCENE • july/augusf 201 1 Glen Mills, PA 19342 Residential Landscape ’*• Master Planning '• Installation Irrigation Design Three Landscape Firms OtStiifs Come True by Jane. Carroll Outdoor fireplaces are popular features. Burke Brothers Landscaj/e Deetga/Build Many homeowners want a garden that REFLECTS THEIR TASTES AND LIFESTYLES BUT DON T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. FORTUNATELY, LOCAL COMPANIES OFFER EXPERT SOLUTIONS, FROM SKETCHING OUT A GARDEN PLAN ON PAPER TO PUTTING PLANTS AND PATIOS INTO THE GROUND We spoke with three design professionals who explained how they work with private clients to create distinctive home landscapes. All three are award-winning exhibitors at the Philadelphia International Flower Show. Although they take different approaches, all agreed that each garden is unique and that what matters most is matching the garden to the client’s wishes and to the landscape. Located in Glen Mills, PA, Stoney Bank Nurseries specializes in high-end residential projects. The company creates everything from formal gardens and outdoor dining areas to ponds and woodland gardens, and builds “hardscape” elements, such as patios, walls, and fountains. Vice-president Joe Blandy, whose father. Jack Blandy, founded the company and designed its Flower Show exhibits for several decades, explains, “We work mainly on larger estates, but we also design smaller spaces like courtyards and rooftop gardens.” Burke Brothers Landscape Design/Build, of Wyndmoor, PA, has carved out a niche for itself in landscape renova- tion. “We work on a lot of older properties where younger families have moved in and want to use the garden in a different way,” says Kevin Burke, who co-owns the company with his brother, Sean. Handmade Gardens of Downingtown, PA, is the brainchild of Michael Petrie, d rained as an artisr, Petrie takes a less conventional approach to garden design, oflcring free consultations at his eclectic retail nursery and garden shop for customers who bring in photographs ol their properties. “Many of our clients come to us because they want something a little dillerent. For the 'do-it-your- self ’ gardener, we oHer guidance on plant selection and placement,” Petrie explains. “If someone wants a Japanese garden or a meadow — or something a little crazy — we help them create what they want.” I I ( I 1 I i \ ( I I AftQiv^udying a property, Michael Petrie Handmade Gardens tikes to spray- paint his ideas directly onto the ground to help customers "see" them. i Michael Petrie ? The Design Process A PA-registered landscape architect, Stoney Bank’s Joe Blandy explains how he works with a new client: “The first step is to schedule an initial consultation to see the space, assess the site conditions, and learn about the client’s likes and dislikes. Then we put together a proposal for design services.” Once a contract is signed, he prepares a schematic design laying out the general direction. Blandy says it’s crucial to find out exactly how the client intends to use the space. “More and more, people view their outdoor spaces as an extension of the home.” Stoney Bank’s team then works with the client to choose specific elements and plant varieties. “We lean toward native plants but we do use a mix of ornamentals, because you may want design characteristics that you can’t find in a native,” Blandy says. Like Stoney Bank, Burke Brothers employs a professional staff that produces a site plan after studying the topography, the location of mature trees, light exposure, and architecture of the house. Kevin Burke says he tries to help customers articulate what they want. “Sometimes when we first visit a property, people aren’t really sure what they want, so we ask questions and try to figure out where they are in their lives,” he says. “Some people want to make a statement to the outside world; others just want a beautiful setting to relax in at the end of the work day.” 24 GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 Above: Large boulders are used to build a retaining wall. Burke Brothers Landscape Design/Build ( ( I I ( I Above Michael Petrie's solution for a meadow that could not be planted due to a large population of deer was to carve out a serpentine path through the tall grass. Michael Petrie GREEN SCENE • may/june 201 1 25 From Paper to Perfection £ This cottage garden complements the rustic stone building. Stoney Bank Nurseries In addition to his in-store consultations, Petrie of Handmade Gardens offers on-sire design assistance for a fee. After studying the property, he spray-paints his ideas directly onto the ground. Then he creates perspective sketches showing the principal sightlines and views of a proposed design. “This gives the customer a three-dimensional sense of what they are going to get. I’m really not a fan of traditional landscape design plans. I think they’re too abstract,” says Petrie. His com- pany installs gardens, as well, but does not build hardscape elements. Staying Atop the Latest Trends Kevin Burke says many younger families are interested in play areas for their children and are willing to invest in outdoor space for family time. In fact one of his com- pany’s biggest sellers is the outdoor fireplace. “We’ve built at least a dozen in the past few years,” he says. He has also noticed two trends that reflect A "smoke house" provides shelter 4i around an outdoor i , fireplace. Stoney Bank Nurseries today’s tougher economy. “We’re doing 26 GREEN SCENE • july/august 201 A curving flagsto^ path leads visitors to the front door and ties in well with the hard^ape elsewhere oiWhe property. " Burke Brotmers Landscape Design/Build\ y -•* . V . -t' ‘ - - ii’’. ** T Workers move a mature Japanese maple into place for panting. ■> Buri^ Brothers Landscape Design/Build '*•, . - fewer outdoor kitchens,” he says. “Also, we used to complete projects all at once, but now we do more jobs in stages. Actually we love that because we get to work with more clients and do more projects, and we get to know the properties and can help the gar- den take shape over time.” For those seeking a “green” solution, Stoney Bank Nurseries uses sustainable practices as much as possible. “Sustainabilitv is I think where our company stands apart,” says Joe Blandy. “We look for creative ways to incorporate sustainable options into the historic properties we tend to work with.” Burke Brothers uses natural stone products and likes to find a second life for used materials. “We re big into recycling,” says Kevin Burke. “We ll sometimes use wood from old barns that have been taken down. We also tr\- to use what’s already in a garden. Maybe some shrubs have grown too large near the house foundation. There might be another place on the propertc' where they can be moved. ” m 27 Water features often look mpre natural when aquatic plants are installed along with peripheral plantings, such as grasses and iris. Stoney Bank Nurseries r From Challenges to Solutions Joe Blandy of Stoney Bank stresses that designs are “always fluid, always changing.” Once in a while, conditions on the ground can throw a curve ball at the design team. “We had a client who had old ruins on his property and wanted us to create a ruin garden,” he says. “Once the work began we found several underground springs, so we made water features like ponds and foun- tains a focus of the garden.” Of course, some surprises are less happy: “You might want a large specimen tree in a prominent spot and find a 100-year-old cesspool buried there.” One practice Burke Brothers would like to encourage is fall planting. “I always tell cli- ents that for the health of trees, shrubs, and turf, fall is the ideal time to establish new plantings,” Burke says. Michael Petrie declares that “the biggest design killer in our area is a four-letter word: deer'' He says mosr customers don’t want to build huge fences or use a lot of sprays to keep deer out. So he gently breaks the news that the palette of deer-resistant plants is limited, though he carries several interesting varieties at Handmade Gardens. “The other big factor is soil condition. If you have a lot of rock, gravel, shale, or clay, many plants will end up doing poorly,” Petrie says. “You have to choose plants based on your soil.” Petrie’s key piece of advice for homeown- ers is to cultivate patience. “Don’t expect a makeover — thar’s an idea from TV and it’s a bad concept for horticulture,” he says. “Building a garden takes time. Plants take time to grow, and everything changes. You need to build a relationship with a designer and ‘make a garden’ together.” lAI' Save the Date! Don't miss the 2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show, "Hawaii: Islands of Aloha." March 4-1 1 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. 28 GREEN SCENE • july/augusf 201 1 Landscape Designers from the Philadelphia International Flower Show Burke Brothers Landscape Contractors, Inc. Wyndmoor, PA , 215-887-1773 burkebrothers.com Mark Cook Landscape & Contracting Doylestown, PA I 215-345-9164 ^ mclcdesign.com ^ J. Downend Landscaping Ridley, PA 610-833-1500 ^ downendlandscaping.com Groundswell Design Group Hopewell, NJ • 609-466-8100 ' groundsweiidesigngroup.com EP Henry ^ ephenry.com Hunter Hayes Landscape Design * Ardmore, PA 610-896-0309 hayeshorticuiture.com ^ Irwin Landscaping Hockessin, DE 302-239-9229 irwiniandscaping. com i Kepich 8e Associates Holicong, PA 215-794-5090 kepichiandscapedesign. com Michael Petrie's Handmade ^ Gardens Downingtown, PA 610-873-2830 handmadegardens. net Romano's Landscaping Pitman, NJ 609- 471-1067 Stoney Bank Nurseries Glen Mills, PA 610- 459-5100 stoneybanknurseries. com Dig deeper. . . be ENCHANTED, be DEEIGHTED. be LNSPIRED. Wednesdays at Winterthur 11:30 am, Greenhouses Join us for demonstrations, talks, and s^iided walks co\cring a w ide range of gardening topics. Programs last approximately one hour, 't July 6 Behind the Scenes: Plant Record System July 13 Managing Weeds and Im ashes July 20 Stonewalled; Methods and Materials Jtily 27 Prtming: W hat. When, and How Second Saturdays Garden Walks 8:00—9:30 pm, Visitor Center Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our ex|)ert horticuhtire stalT. \Valks last approximately 90 minutes. July 9 Chimney Swifts on Farm Hill (Bring a flashlight and wear walking shoes.) Enchanted Woods Celebrate 10 years of magic in our aw ard-w inning children's garden. Kids of all ages w ill enjoy exploring the ruli}) Free House, Troll Bridge, Faerie Cottage, Upside-Dow n Free, and much more! For more information call 800. 148.3883 or \ isit winterthur.org. t Included uid) admission. J Mcnihcis tree. Winterthur is nestled in Delaware’s beautiful Brandywine Valley on Route 52, between 1-95 and Route I. GREEN SCENE • july/august 201 1 29 Yours, Mine Text & photos by Jeff Jabco and Joe Henderson ^ Jeff's dry-laid stone wall is topped with purple alliums; orange Euphoria griffithii 'Dixter'; red tree peony [Paeonia 'Chinese Dragon'); burg'undy-foliaged Berberis thunbergi f. atropurpurea 'Hetmond Pillar'; and Rosa banksiae on the house corner. The steps in the stone wall are planted with thymes and sedums. 30 Ours Joe Henderson is a gardener at Chanticleer, in Wayne, PA. Jeff Jabco is director of grounds and coordinator OF HORTICULTURE AT THE ScOTT ArBORETUM OF SwARTHMORE College. They share a house in Swarthmore, PA. *Tw6 gar^^ .discuss how they collaborated bn thoir home garden'^design Jeff: We’ve been gardening together at our home in Swarthmore since 1994, and, since we are both horticultural pro- fessionals, we tell others that our garden is a cooperative effort. But let’s get something clear now — it’s all about pick- ing your battles and who gives in first! Playing to Your Strengths Joe: The first time I saw the house I now call home, I thought of the great potential it held. Jeff had cleared almost all of the existing foundation plantings. He laid down the beginning bed lines, organic and curvaceous, which I was not too thrilled with. I prefer some straight lines to juxtapose orderliness with chaos. When I look at a landscape I think of my college professor. Dr. Frey, at the University of Delaware, and divide the space into public (open for all to see), private (more infor- mal), and utilitarian (storage, vegetable gardening, service area). Jeff: We do agree that we each have our strong areas. Joe is creative about shade gardening, pushing the comfort level on color, plant combinations, and garden ornamentation. My strong suit is design, interest through the seasons, construction, and maintenance. The Front Garden Jeff: We live in a 1950 Cape Cod house, so I’ve always envisioned the front garden as my interpretation of a cottage garden. This area is shaded all afternoon by a large scarlet oak street tree. The front has a deep foundation planting of flowing, curvaceous beds full of snowdrops and hellebores in winter; epimediums, hepati- cas, corylopsis, and peonies (in spots with enough sun) in spring; and in summer, hydrangeas and clematis growing through everything. Years ago I didn’t like the view from our GREEN SCENE • july/august 201 1 31 ■ V-* ' '' — li ' ll former dining room, which looked across the front garden to the street beyond. Joe convinced me to plant a bed along the inside of the public sidewalk. This full-shade bed is now a white border with snowdrops, white hellebores. Narcissus ‘Ice Wings’, Viburnum ‘Conoy’, ferns, a Picea orientalis ‘Gowdy’ for evergreen screening with a Clematis climbing through it. The lawn crosses the front diago- nally and is only about one-quarter of the space in front of the house — just enough to set off the beds. Joe wants to naturalize blue chionodoxa and scilla in the lawns and beds. Joe: I wanted our front garden to be inviting but private as well. The lawn serves as a grassy sward for access, and the bed along the public sidewalk creates a partial screen from the street. Through trial and error we decided on a fairly neutral palette of whites and chartreuse with some punches of color. The chartreuse is carried onto the house by painting the screen and front door two shades of green — the outer door a lighter chartreuse as if it’s hit by sun, and the inner door a darker green to appear as if in shadow. All of the beds and color focus attention on the entrance. So many homes lack this focus. 1 like walking through the front garden to enter our home. It gives you a few seconds to decompress before you step inside. The Rear Garden Jeff: T he rear garden is roughly a square that we divided into two rectangles separated by a dry stone wall, with the upper area just 20 inches higher than the lower garden. I wanted an s-curve stone wall with dry-laid stone steps to connect the two gardens. The stone used for the wall is Wissahickon schist — the same as the walls of the house. Repetition is important in my design so we’ve also used Pennsylvania bluestone for the front entrance walkway and the rear patio.” The full-sun planting on top of the stone wall is mainly hot colors: orange tulips with purple alliums; magenta clematis on the purple ‘Helmond’s Pillar’; and purple and white Clematis ‘Venosa Violacea’ on a honey-apricot Rosa ‘Graham Thomas’. The farthest border is a yellow border with yellow foliage in spring: Carex elata ‘Aurea’ (aka Bowles Golden), Cornus ‘Sunshine’ and 32 GREEN SCENE • july/august 201 The ^o-to|^e^ front door^h'c^es the low and green grass,. Hakonechloa macra 'Aureola', and the chartr^u&e foliage of Hosta 'Sun Pojwer'. Heuchera ‘Citronelle’. These are accented by Siberian iris in purples and blues and the blue spikes of Camassia. Joe: In the rear garden, we took advan- tage of the longest axis, a diagonal, to make it appear as large as possible. This recom- mendation by Mara Baird, a friend and landscape architect, would merge many ideas for the space by providing a destina- tion and a focal point. By not setting the axis parallel to the house, the rear garden encourages a more leisurely approach. The stone wall functions as both a divide and extra seating. The planes of the house and garage are balanced with a recess for a patio to display containers of seasonal loliage and flowering plants. A large Lady Banks rose [Rosa banksiae) 100 E. Northwestern Ave * Philadelphia * 215-247.5777* www.morrisarborerum.org Mughal/Botanical Gardens Spice/Tea/Coffee Plantations Forest/Jungle Walks Two Small-Group Departures in 2012 Custom Departures Available FlowerA''egetable Markets Himala3'an/Tropical Flora Extensive Cultural Sightseeing www.fromlosttofoundtravel.com GREEN SCENE • july/ougust 201 1 33 i me yellow border ends with a rustic seating area, where the focal point is the Cornus controversa 'Variegata' under-planted with yellow-foliaged Heuchera 'Citronelle'. “Our home garden is an evolving garden that constantly changes and is never what we consider finished.” Below: Clematis 'Venosa Violacea' climbs through Rosa Graham Thomas I'Ausmas'), supported by a metal obelisk that Joe built. 34 GREEN SCENE • |uly/august 201 1 softens the corner of the house and graces the second-story balcony. The garage wall bounding the patio is partially concealed by a tracery of black bamboo, providing a wooded feel in a confined area. Anchored by a stone column, the terrace is a function- al transition zone between inside and out- side. The two-story addition to the back of the house, which we completed about seven years ago, restructured the interior space to take advantage of the garden. Designed by Mary Holland of Cicada Architecture, the addition takes advantage of views to the garden, allowing the plantings to be enjoyed as much from the inside as out. Designing into the Future Joe: Our home garden is an evolving garden that constantly changes and is never what we consider finished. We’re fortunate that we still have new ideas and are willing to change things. And luckily, nei- ther of us minds living with a work in progress. lAi' MOSTARDI 4033 West Chester Pike (Rte 3), Newtown Square, PA 19073 610-356-8035 • www.mostardi.com Make the most of every season with a Burke Brothers landscape GREEN SCENE • july/august 201 1 35 LIVE WITH NATURE Container Plants, Design & Installation of Native Landscapes 1165 Yellow Springs Road Chester Springs, PA 19425 610-827-2014 www.yellowspringsfarm.com F oral Oc'rgn ) Designing! By Jane Godshalk, AIFD • Photographs by Rob Cardillo | Pattern is created by repetition of the elements of line, form, color, and texture and 1 is found throughout the natural world. Repetition of these patterns creates rhythm i or a visual path through a design. This path may be fast, slow, regular, erratic, or i any combination. In nature, patterns can be random or become slightly more ordered, as when waves make a drifted pattern when bringing in shells from the ocean. Rivers flow in A simple pairing of a flower and a nautilus shell illustrates the impact of pattern. Although the color and shape of these two objects are similar, there is a subtle variation in their patterns. The spiral pattern of the white ranunculus petals repeats circular lines and creates a round form around a central axis. The white nautilus shell also has a spiral pattern, but the lines gently flow outward from a central axis, rather than around it. 36 GREEN SCENE • july/august 201 with Pattern serpentine patterns, and circles and spirals are visible in many plants and natural settings. The pattern in a single flower is often formed by the repetition of a series of petals. Combining flowers in a floral design requires careful attention to each flower’s pattern and then looking for ways to repeat, vary, or contrast it with other elements in the design. Naturally Green. Pine Run Retirement Community... ...growing beautiful gardens, good will and a healthy lifestyle in the perfect Bucks County Pennsylvania location. Owned and operated by Doylestown Hospital, Pine Run is a true continuing care retirement community. Cottages and apartments charm the campus along with many amenities such as a greenhouse, the Back - Achers vegetable garden, and a walking path with views of Pine Run Lake. Visit our mature landscape today. -M.^..Community Uniquely Doylestown. Definitely Pine Run. 777 Ferry Road, Doylestown, PA 18901 www.pinerun.org PANPHA ; * GREEN SCENE • july/ougusf 201 37 The Sustainable Garden Water Wise Gardening Story and photo by Laura Brandt How many times have you seen an automatic sprinkler system aimed at the sidewalk instead of the grass, or someone running a sprinkler on a hot, sunny afternoon? These all too common wasteful practices are costly, both to homeowners and our environment. The average American uses 200 gallons per day watering their lawn, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects. It’s time for gardeners to set an example by spreading the word about money-saving and environmentally friendly alternatives. Here are some rips for conserving those precious drops of water in your garden this summer: Rethink your landscape If you have a great deal of water-intensive lawn or annuals, it may be time to re-think your landscape design. Water-efficient landscapes using native and other drought- tolerant plants can reduce watering by more than 50 percent. Think of the savings in time and money. Consider reducing the amount of turf on your property. Do this gradually, over several years if you like. Replace the turf with native plants and drought-tolerant shrubs and peren- nials. In addition to the water savings, you’ll appreciate the textures and colors that these plants offer. You’ll find more birds, butter- flies, and beneficial insects in your garden as well. If you must water the garden or a new lawn, water during the coolest part of the day (early morning is best). Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation; avoid sprinklers, because most of that water evaporates into the atmo- sphere. Use mulch & organic maher Adding organic matter such as compost to the soil will improve its structure so that it can retain more moisture. Adding a layer of mulch suppresses weed growth and helps conserve water by retarding moisture evapo- ration during dry periods. Gardeners use various types of landscape mulches, includ- ing plastic and gravel. However, organic mulch is best for keeping the soil moist and cool while also improving the soil. Choose drought-tolerant plants Gardeners today can select from a wide variety of great drought-tolerant native plants for our area. As a landscape designer and gardener for over twenty years, some ot my favorite drought-tolerant native plants include goldenrod {Solidago sp.), fall-bloom- ing asters, black-eyed Susan {Rudbeckia sp), coneflower {Echinacea sp), and various grasses. Native ‘Shenandoah’ switchgrass [Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’) is a winner with its spectacular reddish tall color. Sedums and other succulents, once established, don’t require any supplemental water at all. d you’re a rose lover, try the Knock Out series of disease-resistant roses that bloom nonstop from June until frost. Gommercial landscapers use these tough plants for bursts ot bright color. Most annuals can be water- guzzlers, but super-tough lantana, my all- time favorite, comes in a variety of outstand- ing color blends. Switch to eco-friendly pots AND CONTAINERS Clay pots are lovely, but porous. I had quite a collection until I became their slave with daily watering. Switching to self- watering containers — which have built-in water reservoirs — saves time and money. There are so many beautiful options in retail centers and gardening catalogs. For example. Gardener’s Supply Company {gardeners.com) offers a huge assortment of shapes, sizes, col- ors, and finishes in self-watering containers, from window boxes to hanging baskets. You can switch any pot to self-watering by adding an inexpensive reservoir to your container. With conventional pots, you can also add water-retentive, starch-based gels to the soil. These “hydrogels” swell with mois- ture and release it when needed. Harvest rainwater Connect a rain barrel to your down- spout to collect rainwater for use on your plants. Just a half inch of rain falling on a 1 ,000-square-foot roof can produce 300 gallons of water runoff. Best of all, recycled rainwater is free! You’ll be cutting your water bill and feeling good about doing your part in environmental stewardship for your community — and our planet. It’s where you want to be. A warm, welcoming community. An active, independent lifesMe. A comfortable, contemporary home right outside the city. It’s The Hill at Whitemarsh - and now is the time to make the right decision to protect your future. Call now to schedule a tour... consider your options... and let the fun begin! The right place for you. Find it at The Hill at Whitemarsh. The Hill at Whitemarsh, tOOO Fox Hound Drive, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 Ph: 215-402-8725 Toll-free: 800-315-4103 \uvvv.TheHill.\tWhitemarsh.org GREEN SCENE • july/august 201 1 39 classified Ads EDIBLE HORTICULTURE Delicious Raspberries, Blueberries & Blackberries Tree Ripe Peaches, Pears and Apples Picked And PYO June through October Indian Orchards 24 Copes Lane, Media, PA 610-565-8387 FLORISTS Sustainable Event Decorating Garden arrangements-fresh local flowers Featuring unique artist-made containers Corporate-private www.urbanbotanical.com Helen@urbanbotanical.com 21 5-438-7533 GARDEN STRUCTURES GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Custom Aluminum or Wood 35 Years' Experience Call RobertJ. LaRoucheat Glass Enclosures Unlimited 610-687-2444 GREEN TECHNOLOGIES Rainwater Harvesting Systems Capture • Filter • Reuse Please visit our website to learn more WWW. YourPond.com Cedar Run Landscapes 1 -800-Landscape HARDSCAPING HERITAGE STONE & MARBLE We are an installation and restoration company who emphasizes long lasting quality with outstanding craftsmanship. FLAGSTONE, BRICK-patios and walkways, COBBLESTONE-edging and paving, STONE walls, RETAINING walls, MARBLE, GRANITE-floors, walls, countertops. 215-699-561 1 Upper Gwynedd, PA PATIOS & WALKWAYS Flagstone - Pavers - Brick Robert J. Kleinberg Landscape Design & Construction 610-259-6106 See our work online lOO's of pictures at WWW.KLEINBERG.COM LANDSCAPE DESIGN ARTICHOKE DESIGN LLC Sustainable Design, Custom Plans Garden, Fire-Pit, Pavilion, Deck, Patios Design Consultation, Construction Plans Kirsten Puskar, ASLA 215-646-4418 BURKE BROTHERS LANDSCAPE DESIGN/BUILD Nationally-recognized designs. Experienced staff ensures the integrity of the design from concept to completion. burkebrothers.com 215-887-1773 610-520-2025 David Brothers Landscape Services Native Plant Nursery Architects, Builders and Nurserymen Providing the Fine Art of Garden Construction and Landscape Restoration 215-247-2992 610-584-1550 www.davidbrothers.com MULCH BALED PINE NEEDLE MULCH Pick up/Delivery/Spreading service Cedar Run Landscapes Call for brochure 1 -800-LANDSCAPE WWW. CedarRunLandscapes. com FLOWERS AND MORE, INC. Garden Design, Installation & Maintenance PINE-NEEDLE MULCH Wholesale and Retail 610-701-9283 renee52@comcast.net NURSERIES RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS • Specimen plants • Pond plants • Bonsai • Orchids • Hardy cacti • Tropicals • Sculptured trees and shrubs • Perennials • Unique Flower and gift shop. MUTSCHLERS' FLORIST & RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 www.mutschlers. com Triple Oaks Nursery & Herb Garden •Great Plants • Display Gardens • Programs* * Franklinville, New Jersey www.tripleoaks.com 856-694-4272 greatplants@tripleoaks. com LINDA CORSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN • Consulting • Plans • Supervision Registered Landscape Architect Member ASLA 215-247-5619 McGLADE & SON LANDSCAPING Services we've offered since 1943: • Year Round Property & Garden Care • New Garden Design & Installation • Landscape Renovations • Container Gardens & Window Boxes Elegant Landscapes & Timeless Gardens Begin With Us. 610-642-6299 Gladwyne, PA WWW. mcgladelandscaping. com OTHER ADIRONDACK OUTDOOR FURNITURE Created with 1" thick Western Red Cedar Member PA Guild of Craftsmen Leisure Woodworks LLC WWW.LEISUREWOODWORKS.COM 484-832-1848 WATER GARDENING BULLFROG PONDS An Award Winning Custom Water Features Company Design • Build • Seasonal Maintenance And Restoration of; Fountains, Water Gardens, Koi Ponds, & Natural Swimming Ponds 610-642-7052 Gladwyne, PA www.bullfrogponds.com 40 GREEN SCENE • july/august 201 1 The Gardener’s Bookshelf Chanticleer: A Pleasure Garden Text by Adrian Higgins; photos by Rob Cardillo (Penn Press, $29,95) Located in Philadelphia's Main Line, Chanticleer is a 47-acre gardening and artistic marvel, delighting the senses of individuals for decades. Editor Adrian Higgins and photographer Rob Cardillo spent two growing seasons at the gardens, crafting this book as a testa- ment to the work of its original developer, Adolph Rosengarten Jr., and to those horticulturists, planters, and board mem- bers who have continued to uphold Adolph's vision. Highlighting an entire year's worth of gardening, growing, and tending, this book chronicles how Higgins and Cardillo came to "know Chanticleer Garden far more deeply, not just in its horticultural topogra- phy, but in the way that it changed from month to month, even week to week." The book further reveals the garden's hidden intimate trails and meditation grounds, while showcasing the elegance of the many ponds, bridges, and streams. — Geraldine Koenig Vertical Gardening Text and photos by Derek Fell (Rodale, $23.99) Vertical gardening is pretty hot these days, and Derek Fell is on the case. Here, you will learn about all kinds of growing systems, including trellises, arbors, pergolas, fences, walls, and more. Derek provides information on flowers, veggies, and fruit, and how growing vertically can increase yield in small spaces. The author also notes how vertical gardening can help your plants become "less prone to insects, diseases, and animal pests." 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Bnnvliurti & Cm., Im ARBORS ARCHWAYS TOWERS PAVILIONS BENCHES RAILS GREEN SCENE • july/august 201 1 41 Photo bv Heidi Lewis Local Heroes Stacy Levy By Jane Carroll culptor Stacy Levy is often called an “environmental artist” because her work weaves art and science together to reveal the natural world around us. But she is also on a mission to change the way art intersects with our lives. “I think art can make people aware of something, but let’s take it a step further and make art that can actually change things,” she says. Recently Levy created an installation that will help change the Delaware Riverfront for the better. It’s part of a new park called Washington Avenue Green. Administered by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, the site began its life as City Pier 53 but had sat unused for years. The idea for the new park was to remove the concrete barrier, allow better access to the river, and restore riverside vegetation to naturally filter out toxins and pollutants from water entering the river. Working closely with the design firm Biohabitats, Levy came up with an artful solution called “decay gardens.” Holes were drilled through concrete and troughs cut into the asphalt, and then plants were inserted through the holes in the hardscape. Their winding pattern is based on the local watershed, which includes a long-buried tributary called Hell’s Creek. Over time, the plants and their root systems, along with the freeze-thaw cycle of water, will break down the concrete and asphalt. “You could spend the entire project budget just removing the concrete,” explains Levy, “or you could let time and the power of plant life and water do the work for you.” Washington Avenue Green also features native woodlands and meadows, as well as “floating wetlands,” which help cleanse the tidal shallows that are home to over 20 species of spawning migratory fish. A bike trail along the riverfront will link the park to the planned East Coast Greenway stretching along the northeastern seaboard. Prior to construction, PHS formed a project advisory committee and engaged people from the surrounding city neighborhoods in hands-on educational workshops for the park. It also helped form a volunteer friends group of local residents to help create programming. Levy worked with local citizens when tracing the path of the missing Hell’s Creek. Says Levy, “1 look for sites that give me the opportunity to bring the patterns and processes of the natural world into the built environment.” Visit stacylevy.com for photographs and more information about her work. Tl o o (J "0 ® (D "D O S D 42 GREEN SCENE • july/august 2011 Ask for your 5-YEAR WARRANTY >ARTICIPANT MERCHANTS -WAYS THE CARDEN WATERLOO CARDENS MICHAEL PETRIE'S HANDMADE CARDENS 15 PHILADELPHIA PIKE 136 LANCASTER AVE 320 WEST UWCHLANAVE ILMINCTONDE 19809 DEVON PA 19333 DOWNINCTOWN PA 19335 12.798.6030 610.293.0800 WW.ALWAYSTHEGARDEN.COM WWW.WATERLOOCARDEN5.COM WWW.HANDMADECARDENS.NET VTEWAY CARDEN CENTER MAIN LINE GARDENS PUCHTOWN ACWAY CARDEN CENTER 77 LANCASTER AVE 376 PAOLI PIKE 819 PUCHTOWN ROAD & RT 100 KKESSINDE 19707 MALVERN PA 19355 SPRINC CITY PA 19475 610.644.2300 WW.CATEWAYCARDENS.COM WWW.MAINLINECARDEN5.COM WWW.PUCHTOWNACWAY.COM liLONIAL CARDENS GARDNER'S LANDSCAPE AND NURSERY DANIEL'S LAWN AND GARDEN CENTER 5SCHUYKILLRD 535 EAST UWCHLAN AVE 1457 SUMNEYTOWN PIKE lOENIXVILLE PA 19460 CHESTER SPRINGS PA 19425 HARLEYSVILLE PA 19438 WW.COLONIALGARDENSPA.COM WWW.DANIELSLAWNANDGARDEN.COM lAVELY'S CARDEN CORNER RP NURSERIES SNAVELY'S CARDEN CORNER 06 LONCOLN WAY EAST 649UNI0NVILLE ROAD KENNET SQUARE PA 19348 610.444.1116 19719 LEITERSBURC PIKE AMBERSBURG PA 17202 HAGERSTOWN MD 21740 WW.SNAVELYS.NET WWW.RPNURSERIE5.COM WWW.SNAVELYS.NET VTERLOO CARDENS 0 NORTH WITFORD ROAD VW.WATERLOOCARDENS.COM Contest runs from March 1 to October 31, 2011 Details and rules available at USEMYKE.COM on your TREES St SHRUBS h 1 ii II I Osmocote Smart-Release* Plant Food Flower & Vegetable L PLANT FOOD Full ^ Months formulated for ^ fJavorful vegetables arid colorful blooms Guaranteed not to burn' Net I nt r roducing a great nev vay to feed >P read Osmocote Flow in & VegetabI r _ 1 ol iage and mouthwate rin g vegetable ul 1 months, plus it's gu lan 3nteed not 1 September-October 2011 *$5.00 i Artisan T 1 1 Goat Cheese A k. 7 Rustic Furniture Backyard Eggs New Life for Antiques i OTc^neyoa N ,:u -R ^ R ^ f/ie fhi'e Our award winning designers {including Jack) are transforming landscapes creating native, contemporary and romantic gardens where dreams are realized through horticultural craftsmanship and innovative design. Installation • Irrigation Design Residential Landscape Master Planning BARTLETT. BECAUSE FULL, HEALTHY TREES MAKE EOR FULL, HEALTHY LIVES. assets that deserve care and protection. For over 100 years, we’ve led both the science and services that make your landscape thrive. No matter the size or scope of your tree and shrub care needs, our experts provide you with a rare mix of local service, global re- sources and innovative practices. Trees add so much value to our lives. And Bartlett adds even more value to your trees. BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS SOENTtFIC TREE CARE SINCE 1907 For the life of your trees. PRUNING . FERTILIZATION . PEST & DISEASE MANAGEMENT . REMOVAL PLEASE CALL 877 BARTLETT 877.227.8538 OR VISIT BARTLETT.COM Look Carefully! Choose Stability and Value! Look carefully at retirement communities that call themselves “Continuing Care.” To help you do that, we have created a Comparison Book that will help you to make a well-informed decision and to understand better why Cathedral Village has earned its fine reputation. Cathedral Village is the Community that Provides Stability along with Exceptional Care and Services . . . Physical and Financial Security . . . and the Best Value for your Monthly Fee. Our management and staff have a national reputation for job retention and career longevity. The value of their experience and stability cannot be underestimated or matched! ~ For More Information ~ We Invite You to Visit... Question... and Compare! Hours are Monday through Friday from 9AM to 3 PM. Appointments are Required for Weekends. 600 E. Cathedral Road Philadelphia, PA 19128 215-984-8621 www.cathedralvillage.com Cathedral Village EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY yT LeodingAge' X 'Quality A Nonprofit, Nondenominational CCRC Accredited Since 1984 Affiliated With the Jefferson Health System 4 GREEN SCENE • septem her/ October 201 1 Potting Shed 8 Glamorous Birdhouses 10 Sumptuous Sausage 1 1 Green Scene Readers on Facebook Features 12 Goat Cheese Bliss Join us on a visit to Yellow Springs Farm, where owners Al and Catherine Renzi turn their herd's milk into magical, creamy goat cheese. 16 From Trash to Treasure Young Philadelphians Walter and Margaux Kent repurpose old relics into modern objects for the home and garden. Let's take a look at their local antiquarian alchemy. 22 Rustic Rebel Meet David Hughes, a Bucks County artisan who gathers wood from inva- sive trees and sculpts it into amazing rustic furniture. 26 Gold Standards Discover the winners of the 2012 PHS Gold Medal Plant Awards. From trees to shrubs, this year's crop of victors will look great in your backyard. Apple iPad edition of Green Scene is here! Now take Green Scene with you wherever you go with your iPad! Along with the e-version of Green Scene that members can access on their computers, PFIS will now offer an Apple iPad version of the magazine in brilliant color! When each issue is published, all qualifying members will receive an email containing links to each version. 32 The Sustainable Gardener A Passion for Pawpaw Columns 34 Floral Design The Standing Bouquet 37 Books in the McLean Library 38 Local Hero Bailey Hale makes the case for backyard chickens GREEN scene THE McLEAN LIBRARY Pennsylvania Horticultural Society 100 North 20th St. ■ Philadelphia, PATIOS- - As a further step, you can help us save the planet and reduce our printing bill by contacting us to opt out of the paper version of Green Scene. Just send an email to memserv@pennhort.org and we'll take care of the rest. Cover photo; © Corinna Gissemann/Dreamstime.com The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society motivates people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture. Letter from the Editor Artisans in the Garden In the pages of Green Scene, we usually talk about plants and gardeners, but this time around, we wanted to focus on peo- ple who make things, often using materials from their gardens or landscapes. This is all the more prevalent in this era of sustain- ability and local tood, when many of us are trying to re-connect with the natural resources that surround us, be it a piece of wood or a chicken happily clucking in the yard. One such artisan is Christina Maser, who makes locally sourced, organic goodies, from herb-scented soaps and candles to salsa, mustard, and vinaigrette for the table. We discovered Christina’s delights, notably her simply delicious fruit jams, at Meadowbrook Farm, the PHS-owned garden center in Abington Township, PA. “We support nearby farms, so 90 percent of the fruit we use for our jams comes from local Lancaster County farmers,” says Christina, whose company is based in Lancaster {christinamaser.com). “We get all of our peaches from the Althouse Farm, all of our red raspberries from Mr. Levi Stoltzfus, and all of our strawberries from Mr. Aaron King Jr. No matter what we’re looking for, from jars to wicks, we always look local first. It just makes the most sense. “Most of our jam varieties, however, are created based on what fruit I have on hand at the time,” she continues. “For example, when Peach Basil was created it was because I had an abundance of both peaches and basil and didn’t want either to go to waste. It turned out to be an incredible combination. Blueberry Lime happened the first time I attempted to make blueberry jam. I already had the berries in the pot and realized I didn’t have any lemons or lemon juice, but I did have a few limes. Blueberry Lime is our number-one selling jam, hands down. Sometimes great creations happen based on an overabundance of something from the garden.” Christina’s inspiring story is but one of many such tales in our region. In the following pages, you’ll read about other creative folks doing amazing things, often using natural materials or found objects right at their fingertips. Now it’s your turn: Do you know any gardeners or artisans who are making interesting, natural products? If so, visit the PFdS Facebook page and let us know about their talents! Pete^Prown/ email: greenscene@pennhort.org Share your dream of the ideal retirement lifestyle, and Waverly Heights will bring it to life Chances are you have a vision of how you’d like your retirement to look and feel. We believe you should have your way. So, we’ve spent twenty-five years fine-tuning our services to put the retirement lifestyle you seek within easy reach. We have the residence, the chef, the housekeeper, the programs director, the trainer.. .and a long list of other superb professionals and resources happily in place. We’re just waiting for you to give us the chance to deliver. Visit soon to tell us all that you have in mituL WAVERLY 1400 Waverly Road, Gladwyne, PA 1 9035-1296 Tel: 610.645.8764 Fax: 610.645.861 1 www.waverlyheightsltd.org A nonprofit, non-sectarian lifecare community 6 GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 PIANTING S£tOS GHQWINGlIVtS INFORMATION 215-988-8800, phsonline.org MEMBERSHIP 215-988-8776, memserv@pennhon.org FLOWER SHOW 215-988-8899, theflowershow.com McLEAN LIBRARY 215-988-8772, mcleanlibrary@pennhon.org YOUR GARDENING OUESTIONS Our online database: pennhon.libanswers.com EVENTS & WORKSHOPS Visit PHSonline.org ar\6 click on "Calendar" STREET ADDRESS The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society 100 N. 20*^ Street, 5th floor Philadelphia, PA 19103 PHS SOCIAL MEDIA GREEN scene Editor Pete Prown Senior Editor Jane Carroll Display & Classified Ads Manzo Media Group 610-527-7047 mmanzo@manzomediagroup com Art/Design Baxendells' Graphic Printer ALCOM Printing Group, Inc. Chair John K. Ball President Drew Becher Vice President, Programs Maitreyi Roy GREEN SCENE (USPS 955580), Volume 39, No. 5, is published bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September, November) by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a nonprofit member organization at 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495, Single Copy: $5,00 (plus $2 00 shipping). Second-class postage paid at Philadelphia, PA 19103. POSTMASTER: Send address change to GREEN SCENE 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. © 201 1 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society FSC MIX Paper from responsible sources FSC* C006218 Ptioto le^nnette Undvig Dig deeper. . . be ExNCaHjVNI'ed. be deeigh i ed. be lxspired. Wednesdays at Winterthur 11:30 am, Greenhouses Join us for clcinonstrations, talks, and sfuidcd walks covering a wide range of gardening topics. Programs last approximately one hour. September 7 Entertaining in Elegance September 14 14ie Secrets of Azalea Propagation Revealed September 2 1 Succession of E4eld to Forest September 28 An Arrangement of Autumn October 5 Ehe Purple and Red of Sycamore Hill October 12 A Hanest-Time Hike October 19 Scenic Fields and Woods by Hay Wagon October 26 Be Inspired: Fall and Winter Container Ideas Second Saturdays Garden Walks 1:00 pm, Visitor Center Learn fascinating, little-known details about the estate with our expert hortieulture staff. \Valks last approximately 90 minutes. September 10 Garden Architecture and Water Features ( Ictober 8 Autumn Color, Flowers, and Fruits For more information call 800.448.3883 or \ isit winterthur.org. + Incluclcd with atlinission. * Members free. Winterthur is nestled in Delaware’s beautiful Brandywine Valley on Route 52, between 1-95 and Route I. GREEN SCENE • september/october 2011 7 Mansions for the Discriminating Bird By llene Sternberg Looking for an august aviary to attract upscale birds? Then you might consider one by masterful artisan Thomas Burke, builder ot fine bird homes — it would be a slight to call his mini-mansions mere “birdhouses.” A native Delawarean, Burke has spent much of his life immersing himself in the art, culture, and ambiance of the Delaware Valley, especially Chadds Ford and vicinity. After 25 years constructing custom homes for humans with his father, recycling weathered lumber from dismantled farm buildings and crafting “Barn Again Furniture,” about 12 years ago he began fabricating pole-mounted replicas of clients’ homes and historic edifices. Inspired also by the paintings of the Down East Maine and Brandywine Valley houses of Andrew Wyeth, Burke has made his mark building abodes for discriminating birds. From his dusty nest in the basement of a 1 5-story Delaware Avenue condo in Wilmington, Tom typically fashions a Styrofoam model, then uses 3/4-inch pl)'wood detailed with materials that best match the house he wants to depict. This might include cedar shake roofs, turrets, stucco facing, concrete to duplicate stone or paint to resemble brick, ladders, Dutch doors, diverted rain spouts, or other pertinent elements. “Purple martins love to live in condominiums,” says Burke, “so their homes tend to be multiplexes.” Depending on the complexity and size, a few of Tom’s McMansions weigh 400 pounds or so and are priced at more than $9,000. Burke, 5 feet 10 inches tall, says, “1 could lie down in some of them.” Burke is not a birder, nor are most of his customers. “They enjoy the birds, but they’re mostly into their houses,” he says. Nevertheless, his exclusive estates attract a wealth of sophisticated roosting residents who recognize that an ultra-fancy bird dwelling — even one that sells for $500 and up — is still one tweet deal, especially now, when housing loans for birds are currently at an all-time low. 8 GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 i I A native Delawarean, Burke has spent much of his life immersing himself in the art, culture, and ambiance of the Delaware Valley, especially Chadds Ford and vicinity. “Although I do mostly commissions of houses inspired by people’s homes, I can do other projects,” he says. You can see examples of Burke’s works in the Delaware Art Museum, the Rockford Map Gallery, and Rags to Riches, as well as in your own backyard, if you’re so inclined. Who knows? You may even lure a firebird, a thunderbird, or a Philadelphia Eagle to move into your classy castle. For more information, visit tfburkebirdhomes.com or call 302-654-5550. Enjoy a fabulous fall at Morris Arboretum! * Oct 1 - Oct 16: Scarecrow Walk * Oct 2: Fall Festival * Oct 23: Mill Day at Springfield Mill * Sept 23: Yards Brewery Beer Tasting * Sept - Dec: Fail course offerings * All Fall: Go Out on a Limb for fall color from 50 feet up. Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania Details at www.morrisarboretum.org 100 E. Northwestern Ave. » Philadelphia » 19118 primex IS crowinc Primex has always been committed to bringing you great plants and plant advice. We’re also delighted to be growing into an outstanding resource committed to building and strengthening a better, greener community. We’ve got a lot planned this fall, including a new line up of community events and programs, so stay tuned and remember to find us on the web at primexgardencenter.com! come crowwiTH usi PRIMEX GARDEN CENTER Independent owned and operated by the Green family, serving the Glenside Community since 1943 485 West Glenside .4ve. Glenside • 215-887-7500 www.primexgardencenter.com I 5 f I 4 i V GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 9 Potting Shed Sweet Stem’s Sausage Penne Pasta Sweet Stem Farm is a small farm in Lititz, PA, right in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. The farmers raise beef cattle, lamb, and pork using sustainable and humane methods, and produce some tasty meat along the way. Here's a recipe for their favorite penne pasta dish. Serves 4 Ingredients: • 1/2 lb. Sweet Stem Farm Italian Rosemary & Garlic Sausage • olive oil • 1 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped • 1-1/2 cups fresh tomatoes, chopped • sea salt and black pepper (to taste) • 1/2 lb. penne pasta • 1 cup heavy cream • fresh parsley, chopped 1) Slice sausage into thin rounds and brown on both sides with a little olive oil. 2) Add rosemary and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Allow the tomatoes to simmer moderately for 10 minutes or until they have broken down. Add a little water if necessary to keep the contents of the pan moist. 3) Cook pasta until nearly al dente. 4) When the pasta is almost ready, raise the heat on the sauce, add cream and reduce it until thickened slightly. 5) Drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the sauce. Toss with a little chopped parsley and serve immediately. ^ Learn more at sweetstemfarm.com or call 717-733-4279. 10 GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 Save the Date: 2011 PHS Fall Garden Festival Autumn is a fabulous time to plant SBptember 24, PhiladGiphia Navy Yard and plan new projects for the garden, and 10 aiD - 4 pin the PHS Fall Garden Festival will get you Admission and Parking are Free inspired. The Festival offers a variety of activities, including workshops, music, shopping, children’s activities, and tours of the Navy Yard, Bring your PHS membership card to take advantage of the PHS Annual Plant Dividend. All activities are free and open to the public, so please invite your family, friends, and neighbors. The Navy Yard is conve- niently located just off 1-95. Visit PHSonline.org for directions and event details. SHREINER TREE CARE A special thank you to our clients, coworkers and friends for your continued support. 610.265.6004 www.shreinertreecare.com facebook. Gardeners Sound Off Online On PHS's Facebook and Twitter pages, we asked visitors how their gardens reflect their own personalities. Here are some of their clever responses; CAROLYN "Shade loving, low-maintenance, looks good in purple and deep reds!" DONNA "My outdoor garden has a mix of all different design styles. I also like to mix it all up and keep evolving, like my garden." ANTOINETTE MARIE "I tend three community gardens, and the gardens I work in reflect me by showing my community involvement. My personal yard reflects me in that I finally get a space where I can dictate exactly how it looks. I have potato vines, eucalyptus trees, herbs, and more growing in a beautiful raised bed that my fiance built, which take your eyes away from the oh-so-prevalent South Philly cement slabs." ELIZABETH "I can't recycle my age, but I can recycle plants! I grow from seeds given out at the Flower Show, and then I compost and deadhead. So I am not a deadbeat!" AMELIA "My Philadelphia row home has a small postage-stamp front yard garden filled with mostly shade-loving native perennials. I welcome spring with some cheerful bulbs and keep it neat, but overall, it is very low-maintenance. The garden reflects my fairly structured and consistent approach, while allowing for some spontaneity and creativity." FIA "My garden is disorganized, messy, and hardworking ... hmm, sounds like someone I know." 11 Bi 5 f j I I I t When folks ask Al Renzi of Yellow Springs Farm what it takes to become an artisanal cheesemaker, he often responds with a question: “I ask people if they enjoy washing dishes,” he says, “because cheesemakers do a lot of that.” Making excellent cheese — and making it safely — requires a meticulousness that many people would find daunting. There are other challenges as well, such as getting up at three in the morning to feed baby goats, keeping up with the fluctuating prices of hay and goat feed, and confronting the daily grind of back-breaking labor. Those unglamorous details, however, fade into the background when one tastes the end result: a piece of creamy goat cheese that has been washed in red wine, wrapped in a sycamore leaf, and aged for up to two months. This earthy Yellow Springs Farm creation, called “Red Leaf,” earned a top prize from the American Cheese Society in 20 1 0, and for good reason — it’s sublime. Renzi and his wife, Catherine, got into the artisanal goat cheese business gradually. They purchased their eight-acre property about 1 0 years ago and started a native plant nursery and garden consulting business. The plant nursery is still thriving; the goats came later. “We received two Nubian goats from a friend six years ago,” Al explains. “We both love to cook and we started making cheeses for ourselves and to share with family and friends. Then people started saying, 'You should do this.’” GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 13 Yellow Springs Farm Yellow Springs has won quite a few awards for its cheese. Located in Chester County, Yellow Springs Farm, with its house and out-build- ings, is a remnant of a larger dairy farm that existed on this spot 150 years ago. “We wanted to do something that respected the history of the place,” says Al. The site is too small now to support dairy cows, but goats presented an attractive option. The Yellow Springs herd now includes 50 adorable goats with long, soft ears — and yes, each one has a name. The Art of the Curd Breeding happens in October. When the goats become pregnant, milk production drops, bringing the cheese-making to a full stop in December. Once the kids are born, the Renzis let them nurse on their moth- ers for a few days, afterwards feeding them organic cow’s milk from a local farm. Adult goats eat organic grains and local hay. With a background in microbiology, Al is well suited to the painstaking task of making cheese. (Catherine handles market- ing and is the main driver of the nursery end of the business.) The process begins with gentle heating and stirring of the goat’s milk in a large stainless steel tub over many hours to release the liquid whey. As the separation begins, the soft curds are cut with a long knife. Next, the curds are strained and placed into molds lined with cheese cloth. Flavorings are added at this point, and the cheese is placed in a cool cellar — actually it looks more like a walk-in refrigerator — and left to age for up to two months. Al makes traditional soft goat cheeses, known as chevre, as well as hard cheeses. The more whey extracted from the cheese, the firmer it will be. He also makes an extremely delicious goat’s milk caramel sauce. While the Renzis sell cheese at farmers markets, online, and to a few restaurants, their primary outlet is the Yellow Springs Farm CSA (community supported agriculture). Customers purchase subscriptions at the beginning of the season and receive three selections of cheese per month. “We like having that direct connection with our customers,” says Al. From Garden to Plate Al likes to flavor the cheeses using plants and trees grown on the property — to make the cheese, as he says, “of the place.” “We try to connect all the dots on the farm,” Al explains. “Flowers, herbs, bark, and leaves from our plants go into the cheeses.” For example, the Renzis harvest young green nuts from black walnut trees on the property to make nocino, an Italian liqueur. The “must” (leftover fermented nuts) goes into another award-winning cheese called “Nutcracker.” “I like finding a positive use for the black walnut,” says Renzi. (Gardeners dislike the tree because its roots produce a toxin that can kill other plants.) Such creative use of what is right at hand sets Yellows Springs Farm’s products apart, and that’s the way Al and Catherine like it. Says Al, “We like to charge ahead without fear, and that approach has helped us create cheese that is truly unique.” O) D X) (D ■D c D > X ■D CO (1) a in in X in O O X 0. r 1 ' ' --- V' 1 ^ * TTi L iV# \ ' M ♦ 1 X - k W j fu ' f / W \\ !r . ^ 14 You can visit Yellow Springs Farm (yellowspringsfarm.com) during its fall open house on September 9th, 10th and 11th, or by calling ahead to make an appointment. Protect your G/KR.DEN from rabbits anti small critters. NEW! Plantskydd® Granu\ar Rabbits and Small Critter Repellent Sprinkle Plantskyiid throughout your garden. It couldn't be easier! Available as 1 lb., 3 lb., 7 lb., and 20 lb. #1 Most Effective #1 Longest Lasting #1 Most Tested Piantskydd^ Deer Repellent Repels deer, elk, and rabbits. Available as Ready-to- Use Spray (1 qt.) or Jug (1.32 gal) and Soluble Powder Concentrate (1 lb., 2.2 lb. and 22 lb ). k V % FroniTrocin to Treasure By Diane Huskinson Peg and Awl breathes new life into antique materials For Walter and Margaux Kent, SCAVENGING FOR SCRAPS OF LEATHER FROM ANTIQUE CHAIRS OR FOR J Wooden planks from a DILAPIDATED HARDWARE STORE AND REi>URPpSING THEM TO CREATE ' ^ ' Something new is all ABOUT TELLING A STORY. 1 I i • Sandra Sunningl lam 1 Ureamstime.com PkPrIKA •• • . t* »*. c/>. ( We like things from the past, but we like them as they were affected by time. — Margaux Kent The husband-and-wife team has traveled everywhere from Italy to Amsterdam and throughout the United States in search of well-worn materials to bring back to their home-based studio in Philly’s Fishtown neighborhood. Working in an 1800s and once-upon-a-time bootlegger’s house, Margaux and Walter make handmade journals, jewelry, and products for the home and garden to sell under the name Peg and Awl. Shipping crates are transformed into a pair of bookends, and 200-year-old scrap wood becomes a set of garden stakes. “We like things from the past, but we like them as they were affected by time,” says Margaux. A new item that looks vintage won’t do. That’s not interesting, she says. By using reclaimed materials, the couple is sharing an old tale and at the same time adding a new chapter. Their love of stories told through time-worn treasures is rooted in a deep appreciation ol history. Margaux records her personal histon," through writing in her own handmade journals. She visits abandoned buildings for fun and deems few things, not even her grandmother’s hankies, as worthy ol trashing. Walter is the son of a woodworker and was home-schooled by his mother, who was his commander of Civil War reenactments and personal chaperone to historic sites. The marks ol histor}' and hints of bygone days are evident in the antique, knotted 1 19 I r I k V % ^Marg'aCix auffd Walter Kent create products for tfie^t ':jjome ancTgarden uf\d^4?^ame Peg and Awl. woods, the rich oils and stains, and the clean Shaker-like lines of Peg and Awl’s handcrafted furniture, vase caddies, picture frames, garden boxes, and tree swings. As much as Walter and Margaux are artists inspired by the past, they are equally practical. Nearly everything they make and sell serves some everyday need in the home and garden. Necessity is, as they say, the mother of invention, and it is what first gave life to Peg and Awl. “Peg and Awl started when Margaux asked me for a tub caddy,” says Walter. “She wanted to be able to sit in the tub and read and write in a journal,” so he made her one out of oak taken from an old hardware store that is now his woodworking shop. That human element is an important part of their work — from the carefully selected materials tenderly crafted into new items to the handwritten letterpress tags that accompany each sale. After all, a story is only as good as its characters make it. To learn more about Peg and Awl, visit pegandawlbuilt.com. Diane Huskinson is editor of the award-winning magazine Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery and a freelance writer and editor, specializing in horticulture, the green industry, and the environment. I Photos courtesy of Peg and Awl Bring the special beauty of bulbs to your family's garden with over 750 varieties of the best Dutch flower bulbs and herbaceous peonies at the best prices. The simple act of planting plump bulbs on a sunny fall afternoon will bring your family year after year of gorgeous spring flowers. After all, w'hat would Spring be without the easy magic of flower bulbs? If you love this planting duo, visit us at www.johnscheepers.com for The Birthday Garden Party Special or at www.vanengelen.com for The Opposites Attract Special. Contact Van Engelen for our 52-page wholesale flower bulb price list or John Scheepers for our colorful 88-page Beauty from Bulbs catalog. Contact Kitchen Garden Seeds for our 60-page catalog with over 500 gourmet vegetable, herb and flower seeds. It has a wealth of practical gardening tips from Barbara Damrosch and wonderful recipes from renowned U.S. chefs. CM5elcti Phone: (860) 567-8734 www.vanengelen.com John Scheepers Phone; (860) 567-0838 www.johnscheepers.com Kitchen Garden Seeds Phone; (860) 567-6086 www.kitchengardenseeds.com Serving America’s finest gardens since 1908. Xltttim Globent9stci^#4471) Always in Season"^ NATIVE PLANT NURSERY & ARTISANAL GOAT CHEESE DAIRY AWARD WINNING GOAT CHEESE Now accepting Goat Cheese CSA renewals ancd sign-ups for 201 2! 1165 Yellow Springs Road Chester Springs, PA 19425 610-827-2014 www.yellowspringsfarm.com It’s where you want to be. 000 A warm, welcoming community. An active, independent lifestyle. A comfortable, contemporary home right outside the city. It’s The Hill at Whitemarsh - and now is the time to make the right decision to protect your future. Call now to schedule a tour... consider your options... and let the fun begin! The right place for you. Find it at The Hill at Whitemarsh. -«o»- The Hill at Whitemarsh, 4000 Fox Hound Drive, Lafayette Hill, PA 19444 Ph: 215-402-8725 Toll-free: 800-315-4103 wwwTheHilLWhitemarsh.org GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 21 i David Hughes turns invasive trees into functional furniture i by Laura Brandt photos by Pete Prown and Laura Brandt Although David Hughes designs ecological landscapes, you might refer to him AS A LANDSCAPE ART-CHITECT. HUGHES, A DoYLESTOWN-BASED REGISTERED LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND OWNER OF WeATHERWOOD DESIGN, ALSO CREATES STUNNING RUSTIC FURNITURE, MUCH OF IT BUILT FROM THE WOOD OF INVASIVE TREES AND WOODY VINES. Hughes grew up in Glenside, just north of Philadelphia. “I come from a family of tradesmen. I have cousins who are stonemasons and one who is a blacksmith. My grandfather was a roofer who built or made whatever he needed, including an addition to his home. I began building things in high school. Then in college, I made a loft bed to save space in my dorm room.” Hughes’s cousins do most of the stonework for his landscape design clients. The rustic furniture portion of his business took off about two years ago, after Hughes attended a workshop with Daniel Mack in Warwick, NY. A respected authority on rustic furniture styles. Mack has written several books on the topic, including Making Rustic Furniture and Rustic Furniture Workshop. “Mack is a wonderful individual who is open and honest,” says Hughes. “With his hands-on teaching style, he allows students to learn at their own pace in their own way.” Hughes spends part of his week working on garden design projects and part of it building ...j' SJ?- ■ v.«. I- furniture for various projects. Sometimes the design work generates the woodworking projects. For example, for a recent residential landscaping project, the clients — whose property includes a cedar glade — asked him to create a fire pit terrace. After that, they requested four chairs to place around the fire. “As the cedar forest matured, some of the trees were shaded out. I was able to harvest some dead Eastern red cedar timbers and use them for parts of the chairs.” Hughes enjoys finding a connection like this to the property or to the property owner. “When you build furniture from wood that was on the clients’ property, they have a deeper stake in the project.” Hughes enjoys working with a variety of woods but has his preferences. “One of my favorites is sassafras wood,” says Hughes. “It is lightweight in comparison to black locust. It’s easy to work with and carve. It has some rot resistance, but not as much as black locust.” For outdoor pieces, he prefers to use cedar and black locust. Other useful woods include white mulberry {Morns alba) and Osage orange {Madura pomifera). “I use a lot of red cedar — it’s plentiful and readily available, and others don’t want it. While Eastern red cedar {Juniperus virginiana) is our native ever- green, people don’t seem to want these trees on their property as much because they have an unkempt chatacter.” Often Hughes finds himself working on sites where there are a considerable number of invasives that must be temoved before installing a native plant garden. He salvages some of this material for furniture, rustic art pieces, garden screens, and other pieces. “From the beginning of the native plant movement, invasive plants have been seen as bad and ugly things,” says Hughes. “While invasives are degrading landscapes, it’s a mistake to look at them as waste products. I like to look at them as by-products that can be used for another purpose. I think this is a healthier way to view the overall picture of the ecological movement.” Hughes reclaims invasives such as Norway maple, white 23 David also makes small, whimsical "tabletop chairs. Hughes with-,tfhe of his creations j I 1 mulberry, and Eurasian honeysuckle. “My future vision is to have a property where 1 grow trees in a hedgerow style and crop out the oldest sterns every few years,” says Hughes. “By carefully selecting sections of several years of growth, the hedgerow replenishes itself. Europeans have been growing and rejuvenating hedgerows for hundreds of years for firewood and other purposes.” He hopes to work with ironwood and a few other native species. Hughes envisions a small farm complete with a barn to store and dry large quantities of wood. He also hopes to build a solar kiln to dry the wood and a solar sawmill to cut the wood. At age 43, Hughes has enough passion and energy to realize his dreams; it’s only a matter of time. When asked what advice he would give to those interested in woodworking or following their passion, he says, “Draw from your various life experiences in whatever you do. You don’t have to have woodworking experience to start building furniture. But it helps to take some workshops in this area to learn from the masters of this craft. “Ask yourself what you want to create in your own life,” he continues. “My business has been an evolution, sort of a mix between the right and left brain. Part of the week I spend doing technical landscape-related drawings, while at other times I’m doing more hands-on work creating furniture. There’s an artist in everyone — the question is: do you allow it to surface and tap into it, or do you let it pass by and wonder what might have been?” You can see Hughes's woodworking pieces at Riverbank Arts in Stockton, NJ. In addition, he will be participating in this year's Doylestown Arts Festival on September 17 and 18. For more information: weatherwooddesign. com danielmack.com doylestownartsf estival com riverbankarts.com “Beaumont’s sound financial management and debt-free balance sheet means that we don’t need to worry about unexpected issues in the future. ” -A. Paier, resident 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 BeaumontRetirement.com At Beaumont, You Have the Freedom to Retire Exactly as You Choose. Discover superior elegance and service in a non-institutional retirement community owned and governed by residents. From exceptional dining and amenities, to on-site healthcare and facilities, Beaumont offers a unique, worry-free lifestyle. Arrange a personal visit by calling Audrey Walsh at 61 0-526-7004. Beaumont AT BRYN MAWR A Gracious, Resident-Owned Community at PEPPER POT EARM ca. 1730 ince 1995 we’ve been designing and constructing premium small buildings suitable for garden, pool, utility, cottage, studio and home office applications. To date we have shipped over 1 ,500 buildings to discerning clients who value quality, authenticity and personalized service. Our original, copyrighted buildings are historically inspired. We offer a complete turnkey service from order placement and approval drawing to delivery and installation. Each building is fully assembled and finished in our workshop to your specifications including exterior/interior paint, options and pre-wire. Your building is ready to use and enjoy the day of delivery. We ship from our Eastern PA workshop to 48 States. Find us on Facebook www.gardensheds.com • TOLL-Free; 877-sheds-ii i 5 f f r I I GREEN SCENE • sepfember/october 201 1 25 By llene Sternberg _ w Each year, a group of PHS staff and expert volunteers CHOOSES A NEW CROP OF WINNERS FOR THE PHS GOLD MEDAL PlANT Award program, which promotes woody plants of exceptional MERIT. Nominations for plants come from home gardeners, GARDEN DESIGNERS, HORTICULTURISTS, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, NURSERY OWNERS, PROPAGATORS — ^JUST ABOUT ANYONE WHO LOVES TREES, SHRUBS, AND VINES. This year, the volunteer Gold Medal CommittHe picked FOUR GREAT PU^S THAT DESERVE A SPOT IN YOUR GARDEN. \ m 26 GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 Cercis canadensis The Rising Sun^w is a standout among Eastern redbuds. Jim Thompson of Greenleaf Nursery says, “It’s sure to brighten up your garden with golden heart-shaped foliage that lasts all summer long without burning,” surpassing other gold-leaved redbuds. Its distinctive smooth, tan bark with a yellowish cast extends the peachy color into winter. Rosy-orchid sweet pea-type blossoms march along bare branch- es in early spring. Heat tolerance, drought resistance, and cold hardiness are other desirable attributes. A vigorous grower, 12 feet when mature, it is petfect for small in-town gardens or as an accent in larger landscapes. Comas officinalis ‘Kintoki’ (Japanese Cornel Dogwood) blooms in March, two weeks earlier than Comas mas. Heidi Hesselein, co-founder of Pleasant Run Nursery, says, “It’s a great multi-season plant. Small brilliant yellow flowers cover the stems in March. This cultivar was originally chosen for the Japanese cut-flower trade because of the heav)' flower production. The spring display is followed by bird-attracting bright red hanging fruit in early fall, and winter interest is provided by the multicolored exfoliated brown, orange, and tan bark.” Fifteen feet high and equally wide, ‘Kintoki’ is smaller than the species and puts on a spectacular display in full sun or partial shade. GREEN SCENE • september/october 2011 27 Gold Medal Plants 28 GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 PHS would like to thank the nnembers of the Gold Medal Plant Award Committee for their expertise and hard work in selecting this year's winners. Steve Mostardi, Chair Richard L. Bitner, M.D. Jack Blandy Sheila Gmeiner Richard Hesselein Steven B. Hutton Rhoda Maurer Paul W. Meyer Philip Normandy Erica Shaffer R. William Thomas George Weigel Barry Yinger Charles Zafonte Prunus lusitanica, Portugal Laurel, a species of Mediterranean cherry, has been grown in England since Elizabethan times. Wild specimens can reach 50 feet, but cultivated trees or shrubs scarcely reach 30. Bright green leaves sprout on red stems. In May, profuse 5- to 10-inch racemes of small white flowers are followed by reddish-green fruits turning dark purple or black by autumn — for birds alone. Says Steve Mostardi of Mostardi Nursery, “It expands the palette of broad-leaved evergreens for our area, specifically in its adaptability to shade and poor soil conditions.” It also resists a fungus that plagues many cherries. Caution: the leaves may be deer-browsed and will release cyanide into the air if burned; the berries are also toxic. To learn more about PHS Gold Medal Plants, visit www.goldmedalplants.org City Planter Create vour urban oasis Visit our store: Open everyday io-6 814 N. 4th Street ~ Philadelphia 215.627.6169 Shop Online! www.cityplanter.com i 5 r s GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 29 Gold Medal Plants A Viburnum X rhytidophylloides ‘Dart’s Duke’, adaptable and easy, was selected for its impressive 8- to 10-inch creamy flower heads that attract butterflies in May and occasionally re-bloom in October; abundant bright red berries that turn black; and extra large, leathery dark green leaves. It grows 8 to 10 feet high and wide, tolerating full sun or shade. To produce the most berries, a pollinator of the same species [dentatum) and bloom time, but different variety, should be planted nearby. Heidi Hesselein also recommends this multi-season plant because its semi-evergreen “winter leaves don’t droop and look ‘depressed,’ and best ol all, it has proved to be deer-resistant in all but the worst deer-infested areas.” 30 GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 We stock flowers, shrubs and trees that are recom- mended by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society's “Gold Medal Award” program. They are superior plants that will provide longer-lasting beauty all around your home. Stop by today and check out our incredible collection of greenery. The colors are gorgeous. The values are exceptional. And the prices are surprisingly low for such high quality. But then, that’s what you should expect from Mostardi plants. They are good as gold! plants • THE BARTON ARBORETUM AND NATURE PRESERVE of MEDFORD LEAS 4033 West Chester Pike (Rte.3) Newtown Square, PA 1 9073 610-356-8035 • www.mostardi.com A nationally accredited. Quaker-related, not-for-profit community for those age 55+. with campuses in Medford and Lumberton. NJ. Member: American Public Gardens Association ■ Greater Philadelphia Gardens • Garden State Gardens Gold Medal Garden... Start with High Performance Plants from Mostardi! Gardeners and Nature Lovers — You’re Invited! Spanning more than 300 acres, the Barton Arboretum offers visitors a unique hlend of accessible public gardens, collections, and preserved natural areas set amidst Medford Leas’ two cam- puses. Individuals and small groups are welcome to visit the Arboretum at no charge. For more information on self-guided tours or to arrange dedicated tours and horticultural interest programming and events for your group, contact Jane Weston at 609-654-8007 or ianeweston@medfordleas.org Visit our website calendar for our Arboretum and other public special programs/events. GREEN SCENE • september/oclober 20 1 1 31 One bright fall day while shopping for fresh produce at the Lower Makefield Township Farmers Market, I saw a man selling unusual, incredibly large fruits that looked like mangoes. He invited shoppers to try the oblong-shaped fruits and offered growing information and recipes. He was selling both the fruits and tree seedlings. This was Larry Rossi, the “pawpaw man.” While many people have never heard of pawpaw, some may recall the refrain “Pickin’ up pawpaws, put ’em in your pockets,” from the folk song, 'Way Down Yonder in the Pawpaw Patch. Pawpaw {Asimina triloba) is the largest edible native fruit of North America. Most people describe pawpaw as having a creamy, custardy texture and a mango-banana flavor, with citrus, melon, and pineapple notes. Rossi has devoted the last 1 5 years to growing more than 700 pawpaw trees along the Neshaminy Creek near his Langhorne home. To grow this crop successfully, gardeners require patience, knowledge, and intellectual curiosity. Just like these uncommon fruits, Rossi is an uncommon man with a singular passion. Pawpaw Growin'and Pickin' Rossi’s orchard lies in a great spot near the creek with its deep, fertile floodplain soil. “I think you could grow pawpaws anywhere with good soil and good drainage,” says Rossi. For maximum fruit production, you will need at least two different cultivars that receive at least a half day of sun. In May the trees produce dark purplish red blossoms and give off a fetid scent that attracts flies and beetles, which pollinate the flowers. However, this process is highly weather-dependent. “Pawpaws are not an easy thing to grow; the farmer needs persistence,” says Rossi. “Last year we had frost in May, which killed many of the blossoms. But some years I’ve had to thin the fruit out because too much fruit zaps energy from the trees.” Pawpaws grow in clusters like bananas. While the fruit ripens during the month of September, it takes about a month for all the fruit to ripen on one tree. Larry Rossi studies the fruit closely to guage ripeness. Because it is difficult to find ripe pawpaw clusters in the orchard, Rossi has to feel each individual fruit in each clus- ter to see if it has softened a bit; otherwise, the fruit could be rock hard. “The fruits don’t have a color break when they ripen, although they may turn slightly yellowish, but not bright yellow. Anything really yellow is too soft,” he says. Pawpaw Findin' Besides your local farmers market, you may find pawpaws at arboretum plant sales or through mail-order sources. While the fruit is intriguing, you might simply want to grow this small native tree for its beautiful golden fall leaf color. As a bonus, you’ll attract zebra swallowtail caterpillars that feed exclusively on pawpaw leaves. Once you discover pawpaws, you’ll want to try to grow them. This spring, 1 received a small tree seedling at a plant swap, and I can’t wait to watch it grow! Area resources for trees Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, New Hope, Fall Plant Sale Go Native Tree Farms, Manheim, PA Mail-order tree nurseries One Green World, OR Nolin River Nut Tree Nursery, KY Forrest Keeling Nursery, MO Websites for more info petersonpawpaws.com pawpaw.kysu.edu Mail-order fruit Heritage Foods USA Earthy Delights, Ml kting Standards of Excellence in Retirement Living Since 1967 Gwynedd, PA • 215-643-2200 • www.foulkeways.org Guided by Time-Honored Quaker Values FRIENDS panpha services L-.— AGING Foulkeways^'^ at Gwynedd does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or sexual orientation. iMughal/Botanical Gardens Spice/Tea/Coffee Plantations Forest/Jungle Walks Two Small-Group Departures in 2012 Custom Departures Available FlowerAkjgetable Markets HimaltiA'an/lropical Flora E.xtensive Cultural Sightseeing www.fromlosttofoundtravel.com ' 11^ Plant Sale SEPTEMBER 16-18 ^ FRI. Special Friend.s Preview Party, 4 to 8 pm; Sept. 16 shop first, call for info 610-328-8025 Sat. Members Only Shopping, 10 am to 1 pm; Sept. 17 General Sale, 1 to 4 pm; Free admission Sun. General Sale, 11 am to 3 pm; Sept. 18 Free admission / www.scottarboremm^rg/plantsale GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 33 Floral Design Standing The A structure of Harry Lauder's walking stick {Corylus 'Contorta') supports larkspur, foxtail lily, amaranthus, gerbera, and phlox. These combine with winding ivy to create a standing bouquet for a low bowl. The standing bouquet is an innovative way to display flowers. Flower stems are tied to a branch structure for support. Tubes can be used to elevate stems tor added height. The standing bouquet helps flowers last longer because they are in fresh water, and it is a good way to display delicate stems. When prop- erly constructed, the arrangement is a free-standing piece and can be moved quite easily. Flower stems can be placed in tubes for added height. ^ M-T f ■! ■ SELECT FROM OUR POPULAR LINE OF PRODUCTS OR LET US CUSTOM DESIGN/BUILD TO YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS. Thc^ Puinted Garderu, Inc. (21 5) 884-7378 WWW.THEPAINTEDGARDENINC.COM 304 EDGE HILL ROAD, GLENSIDE, PA 19038 SHOWROOM BY APPOINTMENT ARBORS TRELLISES GATES ARCHWAYS OBELISKS TOWERS PAVILIONS PERGOLAS BENCHES FENCES RAILS Cemetery • Crematory • Funeral Home Service and Reception Areas • Monuments • Green Burials/Funerals • No embalming, no outer burial containers required, all-wood or natural caskets or shrouds used • Green funerals allow families to be part of many, if not all, aspects of the funeral process • Bringhurst and West Laurel Hill are the only funeral home/cemeteiy combinarion in the Mid-Atlantic region to offer both green burials and funeral sendees West Laurel Hill Cemetery HRINGHL'RST FI XER.\L HOME One Call To One Place - For Every thing 225 Belmont A\enuc, Bala Cynwyd. PA 1 9004 610.664.1591 contactus(&Torever-care.com www.forever-care.com U'ltiun* .\ Si< krl. FI).. SufXTVTMu. R R HnttghurM & Ci*> , Iiu GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 35 Classified Ads EDIBLE HORTICULTURE Indian Orchards - 4th Generation Farm Crisp Juicy Apples Concord Grapes, Raspberries & Pears Picked and PYO 24 Copes Lane, Media, PA 610-565-8387 FLORISTS Sustainable Event Decorating Garden arrangements-fresh local flowers Featuring unique artist made containers Corporate-private www.urbanbotanical.com Helen@urbanbotanical. com 1 1 5-438-7533 GARDEN STRUCTURES GREENHOUSE AND CONSERVATORY DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION Custom Aluminum or Wood 35 Years' Experience Call Robert J. LaRouche at Glass Enclosures Unlimited 610-687-2444 GREEN TECHNOLOGIES Rainwater Harvesting Systems Capture • Filter • Reuse Please visit our website to learn more WWW. YourPond.com Cedar Run Landscapes 1 -800-Landscape HARDSCAPING HERITAGE STONE & MARBLE We are an installation and restoration company who emphasizes long lasting quality with outstanding craftsmanship. FLAGSTONE, BRICK-patios and walkways, COBBLESTONE-edging and paving, STONE walls, RETAINING walls, MARBLE, GRANITE-floors, walls, countertops. 215-699-5611 Upper Gwynedd, PA PATIOS & WALKWAYS Flagstone - Pavers - Brick Robert J. Kleinberg Landscape Design & Construction 610-259-6106 See our work online lOO's of pictures at WWW.KLEINBERG.COM LANDSCAPE DESIGN ARTICHOKE DESIGN LLC Sustainable Design, Custom Plans Garden, Fire-Pit, Pavilion, Deck, Patios Design Consultation, Construction Plans Kirsten Puskar, ASLA 215-646-4418 BURKE BROTHERS LANDSCAPE DESIGN/BUILD Nationally-recognized designs. Experienced staff ensures the integrity of the design from concept to completion. burkebrothers.com 215-887-1773 610-520-2025 David Brothers Landscape Services Native Plant Nursery Architects, Builders and Nurserymen Providing the Fine Art of Garden Construction and Landscape Restoration 215-247-2992 610-584-1550 www.davidbrothers.com LINDA CORSON LANDSCAPE DESIGN •Consulting •Plans •Supervision Registered Landscape Architect Member ASLA 215-247-5619 MULCH BALED PINE NEEDLE MULCH Pick up/Delivery/Spreading service Cedar Run Landscapes Call for brochure 1 -800-LANDSCAPE WWW. CedarRunLandscapes. com FLOWERS AND MORE, INC. Garden Design, Installation & Maintenance PINE-NEEDLE MULCH Wholesale and Retail 610-701-9283 renee52@comcast.net NURSERIES RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS • Specimen plants • Pond plants • Bonsai • Orchids • Hardy cacti • Tropicals • Sculptured trees and shrubs • Perennials • Unique Flower and gift shop. MUTSCHLERS' FLORIST 8i RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 WWW. mutschlers. com Triple Oaks Nursery & Herb Garden • Great Plants • Display Gardens • Programs^ Franklinville, New Jersey vwvw.tripleoaks.com 856-694-4272 greatplants@tripleoaks. com PLANT SALE David Culp Sells Unique Perennials October 8, 9:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. Downingtown Friends Meeting 800 E. Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA For more information call 610-942-3732 REAL ESTATE GARDENER'S PARADISE FOR SALE 265 Colket Lane, Wayne, PA - Upper $7's Approx. 1 acre exquisitely landscaped garden with spacious 6 bedroom home in pristine condition. 1st floor Master Suite. Located in desirable Main Line neighborhood. For photo's & details www.prufoxroach.com - MLS-5889596 Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors Barbara Wandersee - 610-651-2700 Cell: 610-716-0707 36 GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 Tips for Container Gardening by the Editors & Contributors of Fine Gardening (Taunton Press, $19.95) The folks at Fine Gardening nnagazine have put together a collection of tips and photographs on container gardening from gardeners and gardening experts all over the country. The ideas are presented in short, easy-to-grasp entries and range from the practical — growing 100 pounds of potatoes in a barrel — to the dramatic— a mixed planting that features King Tut grass (Cyperus papyrus), which grows up to 6 feet tall. As one might expect with a project of this sort, there's a range of quality, both in the pictures and the concepts, but the collection offers plenty of useful information, including clever tips on watering, maintenance, and over-wintering. — Jane Carroll Books in the PHS McLean Libraiy Confessions of a Bad Beekeeper by Bill Turnbull (The Experiment, $13.95) The stated aim of this book is to demystify the beekeeping universe and help others avoid the author's foibles, which are recounted with plenty of self-deprecating humor. As a "bad beekeeper," Turnbull says, he's "managed to send three queens to their doom" and has been stung "more times and in more places" than he can recall. Happily, though, this enjoyable read is full of "good beekeeper" information and fascinating details about bees, such as the fact that they dance to tell other bees where to find flowers, the source of the all-important nectar they turn into honey. That process, we also learn, involves a fair bit of regurgitation. "So the honey you eat," Turnbull writes, "has actually been through the mouths of a number of bees, and has been expectorated from one to another. Yum." , Specializing in .quality orchids foribta r . 80 years. h||| Just miles from the Jersey Shore and nestled . in a quiet residential neighborhood, sits^ ~ Jl^Waldor Orchids, an award-winning, family-owned nursery that's home to some 500,000 orchid plants. IPIWwe invite you to visit our Web site at www.waldor.com 10 E. Poplar Avenue Linwood, NJ 08221 Ph (609) 927-4126 Fax (609) 926-0615 Unprecedented Experience Personal Service Exceptional Quality It's The McFarland Way! Call today to schedule a free professional consultation to review your property. 215.844.TREE(8733) 610.688.6644 Fax; 215.438.1879 www.mcfarlandtree.com GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 37 1 i The Case for When people think of locally grown food, tomatoes and zucchini likely come to mind. But Center City resident Bailey Hale believes that Philadelphians should have the right to raise another valuable food source: egg-producing chickens. Cities as varied as Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and Baltimore all accommodate chicken ownership, but it is technically illegal in Philadelphia. Hale, who grew up on a farm and recently tried his hand at raising chickens (bur ran “a-fowl” of the law), sees this restriction as old-fashioned and misinformed. “I like to think that for every chicken that people raise on their own, there is one more factory chicken without a job,” he says. There can be no denying that the eggs of home-grown chickens are of a superior class. “Local eggs are fresher than those that are shipped and sit on supermarket shelves,” says Hale, “and there’s a comfort in knowing the chickens responsible for them are well cared for.” ! Hale, co-owner of the floral design company MODA botanica (a Philadelphia International Flower Show exhibitor), j remains hopeful: “The food movement in Philadelphia has come a long way, and I’ve found more support for local, urban I farmers lately. Perhaps someday soon, inner-city chickens and their tasty, affordable eggs can find a home here, too.” i I Learn more about Bailey's floral design work at modabotanica.com. CHICKENS By Kirsten Kubiak Photo by Margaret Funderburg 38 GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 1 Current APS Memoirs Astronomy in the Maya Codices Harvey M, Bricker and Victoria R. Bricker Vol. 265- $75 •Cloth ISBN; 978-0-87169-265-8 Peter Collinson and the Eighteenth-Century Natural History Exchange Jean O'Neill and Elizabeth P. McLean Vol. 264 - $75.00 • Cloth ISBN: 978-0-87169-264-1 Visual Mechanic Knowledge: The Workshop Drawings of Isaac Ebenezer Markham (1795-1825), New England Textile Mechanic David J. Jeremy and Polly C. Darnell Vol. 263- $60* Paper ISBN: 978-0-87169-263-4 POLAR HAYES: The Life and Contributions of Isaac Israel Hayes, M.D. Douglas W, Wamsiey Vol. 262 -$75.00 •Cloth ISBN: 978-0-87169-262-7 Patriot-Improvers, Volume Whitfield J. Bell and Charles Griefenstein Vol. 228 -$60.00 •Cloth ISBN: 978-0-87169-228-3 Volume One (1997) - $40 Volume Two (1999) - $40 Volume Three (2010) - $60 Three-volume set - $125 Current APS Transactions The Bookrunner: A History of Inter-American Relations — Print, Politics, and Commerce in the United States and Mexico, 1800-1830 Nancy Vogeley Vol. 101, Part 1 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-011-2 Johann Schoner's Globe of 1515: Transcription and Study Chet Van Duzer Vol. 100, Part 5- $35 •Paper ISBN; 978-1-60618-005-1 The Ground Sloth Megalonyx (Xenarthra: Megalonychidae) from the Pleistocene (Late Irvingtonian) Camelot Local Fauna, Dorchester County, South Carolina Steven E. Fields Vol. 100, Part 4 - $35 • Paper ISBN; 978-1-60618-004-4 Alhacen on Refraction: A Critical Edition, with English Translation and Commentary, of Book 7 of Alhacen’s De Aspectibus, the Medieval Latin Version of Ibn al-Haytham's Kitab al-Manazir A. Mark Smith Vol. 100, Pt. 3- $35 each; $50 set • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-003-7 ISBN: 978-1-60618-006-8 2010 J.F. 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Hoppes Vol. 99, Pt. 2- $35 •Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-992-4 Descended From Darwin: Insights into the History of Evolutionary Studies, 1900-1970 Joe Cain and Michael Ruse (editors) Vol. 99, Pt.1- $35 •Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-991-7 AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 104 South Fifth Street Philadelphia, PA 19106-3387 (Tel) 215-440-3425 (Fax) 215-440-3450 The Invention ofthe Telescope Albert van Helden Vol. 67, Pt. 4- $30 •Paper Original print date 1977; reprinted 2008 ISBN-10: 0-87169-674-6 ISBN-13; 978-0-87169-674-8 Lightning Rod Press Titles CLIMATE CRISES IN HUMAN HISTORY A. Bruce Mainwaring, Robert Giegengack, and Claudio Vita-Finzi (eds.) Vol. 6 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-60618-921-4 Darwin's Disciple: George John Romanes, A Life in Letters Joel S. Schwartz VOLUME 5 $60 •Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-920-7 "TO DO JUSTICE TO HIM &MYSELF":Evert Wendell's Account Book of the Fur Trade with Indians in Albany, New York, 1695-1726 Edited and Translated by Kees-Jan Waterman with linguistic information by Gunther Michelson VOLUME 4 $50.00 •Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-912-2 BOOK ORDERS; Please contact our fulfillment service — Diane Publishing Co., P.O. Box 617, Darby, PA 19023 (phone 800-782-3833; fax 610-461-6130). Online orders may be sent to orders@dianepublishing. net. See our website for recent catalogs and backlist: www.aps-pub.com. GREEN SCENE • september/october 201 S S r I n I i i I ! Plant Food Outdoor & WO®' pij\HlfOOD AlimentodeW* Full Months’ plants they need hey need it i^teed not to burn r- • -.^-.v To everything there is a season. " \ Plants thrive in fall's ideal growing conditions. Gentle rains and cooler soil temperatures rejuvenate summer-stressed plants, preparing them for the winter ahead. You can help, too, by making Osmocote-^ Smart-Release® Plant Food a regular part of your fall gardening routine. Osmocote adjusts to changing soil temperatures, so your plants always*get just the right amount of nutrition. Maybe that's why passionate gardeners have trusted Osmocote for 40 years - no matter what the season. © 2011, The Scotts Company LLC. World rights reserved, November-Decembi W t ^1 1 1 IL ^ J jP^B| 1^. Current APS Memoirs Astronomy in the Maya Codices Harvey M. Bricker and Victoria R. Bricker Vol. 265- $75 •Cloth ISBN; 978-0-87169-265-8 2011 J.F. LEWIS AWARD WINNER Peter Collinson and the Eighteenth-Century Natural History Exchange Jean O'Neill and Elizabeth P, McLean Vol. 264- $75 •Cloth ISBN: 978-0-87169-264-1 Visual Mechanic Knowledge: The Workshop Drawings of Isaac Ebenezer Markham (1795-1825), New England Textile Mechanic David J. Jeremy and Polly C, Darnell Vol. 263- $60 •Paper ISBN: 978-0-87169-263-4 POLAR HAYES: The Life and Contributions of Isaac Israel Hayes, M.D. Douglas W. Wamsiey Vol. 262 - $75 • Cloth ISBN: 978-0-87169-262-7 Patriot-Improvers, Volume III Whitfield J. Bell and Charles Griefenstein Vol. 228- $60 •Cloth ISBN: 978-0-87169-228-3 Volume One (1997) - $40 Volume Two (1999) - $40 Volume Three (2010) - $60 Three-volume set - $125 Current APS Transactions Treason on Trial in Revolutionary Pennsylvania: The Case of John Roberts, Miller David W, Maxey Vol. 101, Part 2 - $35 • Paper ISBN; 978-1-60618-102-9 The Bookrunner: A History of Inter-American Relations— Print, Politics, and Commerce in the United States and Mexico, 1800-1830 Nancy Vogeley Vol. 101, Part 1 - $35 • Paper ISBN; 978-1-60618-011-2 Johann Schoner's Globe of 1515: Transcription and Study Chet Van Duzer Vol. 100, Part 5 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-005-1 The Ground Sloth Megalonyx (Xenarthra: Megalonychidae) from the Pleistocene (Late Irvingtonian) Camelot Local Fauna, Dorchester County, South Carolina Steven E. Fields Vol. 100, Part 4 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-004-4 Alhacen on Refraction; A Critical Edition, with English Translation and Commentary, of Book 7 of Alhacen's De Aspectibus, the Medieval Latin Version of Ibn al-Haytham's Kitab al-Manazir A, Mark Smith Vol. 100, Pt. 3" $35 each; $50 set • Paper ISBN; 978-1-60618-003-7 ISBN: 978-1-60618-006-8 2010 J.F. LEWIS AWARD WINNER Learning Greek in Western Europe, 1396-1529: Grammars, Lexica, and Classroom Texts Paul Botley Vol. 100, Pt. 2- $35 •Paper ISBN; 978-1-60618-002-0 Sporting with the Classics: The Latin Poetry of William Dillingham Estelle Haan Vol. 100, Pt.1- $35 •Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-001-3 Playing with Fire: Histories of the Lightning Rod Peter Heering, Oliver Hochadel, David J. Rhees (editors) Vol. 99, Pt. 5 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-995-5 Magnetic Fever: Global Imperialism and Empiricism in the Nineteenth Century Christopher Carter Vol. 99, Pt. 4- $35 •Paper ISBN; 978-1-60618-994-8 Choosing Selection: The Revival of Natural Selection in Anglo-American Evolutionary Biology, 1930-1970 Stephen G. Brush Vol. 99, Pt. 3 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-993-1 2009 J. F. LEWIS AWARD WINNER THE MOST IMPORTANT CLOCK IN AMERICA: The David Rittenhouse Astronomical Musical Clock at Drexel University Ronald R. Hoppes Vol. 99, Pt. 2 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-992-4 Descended From Darwin: Insights into the History of Evolutionary Studies, 1900-1970 Joe Cain and Michael Ruse (editors) Vol. 99, Pt. 1 - $35 • Paper ISBN; 978-1-60618-991-7 Lightning Rod Press Titles The Life of C.S. Rafinesque, A Man of Uncommon Zeal Charles Boewe Vol. 7 - $50 • Paper ISBN; 978-1-60618-922-1 CLIMATE CRISES IN HUMAN HISTDRY A. Bruce Mainwaring, Robert Giegengack, and Claudio Vita-Finzi (eds.) Vol. 6 - $35 • Paper ISBN: 978-60618-921-4 Darwin's Disciple; George John Romanes, A Life in Letters Joel S. Schwartz VOLUME 5 $60 •Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-920-7 "TO DO JUSTICE TO HIM & MYSELF":Evert Wendell's Account Book of the Fur Trade with Indians in Albany, New York, 1695-1726 Edited and Translated by Kees-Jan Waterman with linguistic information by Gunther Michelson VOLUME 4 $50 •Paper ISBN: 978-1-60618-912-2 AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 104 South Fifth Street Philadelphia, PA 19106-3387 (Tel) 215-440-3425 (Fax) 215-440-3450 BOOK ORDERS: Please contact our fulfillment service— Diane Publishing Co., P.O. Box 617, Darby, PA 19023 (phone 800-782-3833; fax 610-461-6130). Online orders may be sent to orders@dianepublishing. net. See our website for recent catalogs and backlist: www.aps-pub.com. NAME CITY/STATE/ZIP PHONE RODGERS & HAMMERSTEINS MtDIA SPONSORS SPONSORED BY: B^lOl Citizens Bank' AMERICA'S OLDEST THEATRE - PHILADELPHIA'S MOST POPULAR THEATRE COMPANY FOUNDED 1809 825 Walnut Street • Visit us at WalnutStreetTheatre. NOV. 8 - JAN. 8 FOR TICKETS VISIT: WalnutStreetTheatre.org or ticketmaster OR CALL 215-574-3550 800-982-2787 ENTER TO WIN TWO VIP TICKETS! Fill out the entry form completely and mail to: The King and I - GS Contest, Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St., Philadelphia PA 19107 E-MAIL All entries must be postmarked by December 1 , 201 1 . Winners will be notified by phone. No purchase necessary to enter. No ticket refunds or exchanges. It’s where you want to be. A warm, welcoming community. An active, independent lifestyle. A comfortable, contemporary home right outside the city. It’s The Hill at Whitemarsh - and now is the time to make the right decision to protect your future. Call now to schedule a tour... consider your options... and let the fun begin! The right place for you. Find it at The Hill at Whitemarsh. The Hill at Whitemarsh, -tOOO Fox Hound Drive, Lafayette Hill, R\ 19444 Ph: 215-402-8725 Toll-free: 800-3 15-4 103 \u\-w.TheHilL\t\\hitemarsh.org GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 3 room to bloom Need a little dirt under j/our fingernails? The Horticulture Center at Cathedral Village is just the place to pursueyour passion for gardening and provides room to bloom all year long. Call today for a brochure and tour. 215.984.8621 855.769.6942 (toll free) We take our gardening seriously, but have a little fun along the way. A premiere continuing care retirement community Cathedral Village 600 East Cathedral Road Philadelphia, PA 19128 www.cathedralvillage.com Nondenominational CCRC Accredited Since 1 984 AfTiliated with the lefTerson Health System GREEN scene november-december 2011 CONTENTS POTTING SHED 8 Retro Plants Make a Comeback 3 A Sweet Tooth and a Green Thumb 10 Garden Clubs Demystified FEATURES 12 Fall in Love with Fall Anne Raver offers a paean to the autumn garden and tells us how to keep enjoying its bounty and beauty long after summer is over. 20 Meet the King of Cactus For award-winning Flower Show exhibitor Dr. Gerald Barad, a childhood interest in horticulture turned into a lifelong passion for succulent plants. 28 What Makes a Great Garden Designer? David Fierabend, owner of Groundswell Design Group, thinks the best landscape designs involve a bit of theater. COLUMNS 34 Floral Design Artful Anthuriums 37 Books in the McLean Library A New Guide to Sustainable Gardening 38 Local Hero The editors of Organic Gardening bring composting advice to the e-reader. Now take Green Scene with you wherever you go with your iPad! Along with the e-version of Green Scene that members can access on their computers, PHS will now offer an Apple iPad version of the magazine in brilliant color! When each issue is published, all qualifying members will receive an email containing links to each version. THE McLEAN LIBRARY Pennsylvania Horticultural Society 100 North 20th St. Philadelphia, PA 19103 The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society motivates people to improve the quality of life and create a sense of community through horticulture. Cover photo courtesy of Top Kat Photography Letter from the Editor Exciting Days at the PHS McLean Library There are cool things happening in PHS’s McLean Library, and I thought I’d share a few of them with you. Located at PHS headquarters at 20'^*’ and Arch streets in Center City Philadelphia, the library is currently hosting its first plant exhibition. Strange Beauties, which will celebrate the amazing world of succulent plants. Dozens of entrancing speci- mens are on display from October 31 until December 2, when we will have a special plant sale (stay tuned to PHSonline.org iot more details). Most of the plants were grown at Meadowbrook Farm in Abington, PA, long known as a source for great succulents. We will be staging more plant exhibi- tions in the future, reviving the tradition of smaller plant shows that the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society held in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The library will increasingly be a site for at PEPPER POT TARM ca. 1/30 ince 1995 we’ve been designing and constructing premium small buildings suitable for garden, pool, utility, cottage, studio and home office applications. To date we have shipped over 1 ,500 buildings to discerning clients who value quality, authenticity and personalized service. Our original, copyrighted buildings are historically inspired. We offer a complete turnkey service from order placement and approval drawing to delivery and installation. Each building is fully assembled and finished in our workshop to your specifications including exterior/interior paint, options and pre-wire. Your building is ready to use and enjoy the day of delivery. We ship from our Eastern PA workshop to 48 States. Find us on Facebook www.gardensheds.com • TOLL-Free: 877-sheds-ii educational activities at PHS, from classes and trainings to book groups and plant society meetings. If you or your plant society is interested in having a meeting for your members or becoming involved with the McLean Library, please send me an email at pprown@pennhort.org. We’d love to hear from you. Of course, the McLean Library is still a great place to relax and browse through our inimitable collection of 15,000 gardening books, or use the free Wi-Fi to surf for gardening information online (check out the gardening and greening Subject Guides, which are “best of’ horticultural resources compiled by the library staff). Our expert volunteers can also help you with your gardening questions, either in person, by phone, or online. This year, these volun- teers and library staff answered over 2,000 questions on everything from “What tree should I plant in my yard’’ to “What were the Flower Show themes of the past eight years?” To learn more about the library and find assistance, visit our website and click on “All About Gardening.” In the library’s online catalog you’ll find links to digital versions of historic gardening books from our collec- tion, which you can view on your computer or Kindle. So please come downtown and visit the McLean Library — it’s also the new home for Green Scene offices — or look in PHS News (and on the PHS website calendar, PHSonline.or^ for the latest classes and events. There’s always something happening here these days, plus we’re within easy walking distance of many other museums and cultural institutions in the city. We hope to see you in the library soon! Pete Prown greenscene@pennhort. org 6 GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 PIANTINC SEEDS GROWING LIVES INFORMATION 215-988-8800, phsonline.org MEMBERSHIP 215-988-8776, memserv@pennhon.org FLOWER SHOW 215-988-8899, theflowershow.com McLEAN LIBRARY 2 1 5-988-8772, mcleanlibrary@pennhon.org YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS Our online database: pennhon.libanswers.com EVENTS 8e workshops Visit PHSonline.org an6 click on "Calendar" STREET ADDRESS The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society 100 N. 20*^ Street, 5th floor Philadelphia, PA 19103 MEDIA You(^ PHS SOCIAL fl GREEN scene Editor Pete Prown Senior Editor Jane Carroll Display & Classified Ads Manzo Media Group 610-527-7047 mmanzo@manzomediagroup. com Art/Design Baxendells' Graphic Printer ALCOM Printing Group, Inc. Chair John K, Ball President Drew Becher Vice President, Programs Maitreyi Roy GREEN SCENE (USPS 955580), Volume 39, No.6, is published bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September, November) by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a nonprofit member organization at 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-1495, Single Copy. $5.00 (plus $2 00 shipping). Second-class postage paid at Philadelphia, PA 19103. POSTMASTER: Send address change to GREEN SCENE 100 N. 20th St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. © 201 1 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society MIX Paper from responsible sources FSC* C006218 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 BeaumontRetirement.com You are invited to join Dr. Dan Gottlieb, host of WHYY’s “Voices in the Family,” as he leads a panel discussion on “Moving into Retirement” from both your and your family’s perspectives. When is the right time, how do you prepare, and where do you turn for help? Seating is limited - register today by contacting Audrey Walsh at 610-526-7004 or awalsh@BeaumontRetirement.com. For more information and directions to Beaumont, please visit www.BeaumontRetirement.com. BeaumonT AT BRYN MAWR A Gracious, Resident-Owned Community Call today to schedule a free professional consultation to review your property. 215.844.TREE(8733) 610.688.6644 Fax: 215.438.1879 www.mcfarlandtree.com Unprecedented Experience Personal Service Exceptional Quality It's The McFarland Way! Saturday December 3rd at Beaumont 12:00 noon light lunch, 1:00 p.m. panel discussion and audience Q&A, 2:30 p.m. casual mix and mingle. V ! J Tree Landscape Services GREEN SCENE • november/december 2011 7 Potting Shed {Epipremnum aureuni). Pothos retains better foliage markings in brighter light. Then there’s the spider plant {Chlorophytum comosuni), fondly known in the feline world as “delicious handy snack.” Even though folks usually grow these in hanging planters, they fail to realize that determined cats can jump pretty high. And don’t forget the terrarium. These miniature gardens are interesting to culti- vate and easy to manage, and a lidded glass or plastic container makes it pet-safe. Indoor plants purify the air, filter noise, lower blood pressure, and bring life and color to your decor. A fragrant kitchen herb garden can improve your cooking. Feng Shui advocates say plants can bring harmony to your home. So, don your bell- bottoms and tie-dye shirt, pop a Barry Manilow LP on the hi-fi, fall into your comfy beanbag chair, wriggle your toes in the shag carpeting, and have a groovy time with your “new” houseplants. In Search of Orchids: PHS Goes to the Amazon! April 9- 18, 2012 PHS offers a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to travel to Peru to search for orchids and to experience the fascinating scenery and history of the Amazon Basin. We will visit Cusco, Lima, and the sacred city of Machu Picchu. The group will stay at a hotel that features the world's largest native orchid garden, where 15 species of humming- birds and 108 species of butterflies are frequent visitors. Info: 215-988-8775 or ckleiber@pennhort. org _ you own a U\J cool ’70s plant you’d like to share? Take a photo and post it on PHS’s Facebook page! Plant which are succulent and so can also “hold their water.” The rubber plant {F. elasticd) has big leaves and loves sunny spaces, but also adapts to low- light situations. Also perfect for the novice is the snake plant {Sansevieria spp.), some- times called “mother-in-law’s tongue” because of its blade- like leaves. It takes moderate to bright light and comes in some very attractive forms. Among non-succulents, dumbcane {Diejfenbachid} is also called “mother-in-law’s tongue” because of its toxicity. (Consider this if you have small children, pets, or an inquisitive mother- in-law.) The umbrella tree {Schejflera actinophylld), another popular evergreen plant, will probably never bloom in your living room, but in its native Australian and Javan habitats, it produces remarkable spikes of up to 1,000 flowers that supply nectar for honey-eating The fruits attract other birds and animals. Philodendron {Philodendron) is a genus consisting of 900 or more species with leaves of various sizes and shapes. You probably still have some of these from the ’70s, because they almost never die. If “houseplanticide” is one of your vices, equally hard to kill is pothos, a.k.a. devil’s ivy Just as funky, ‘70s-style clothing is experiencing a fashion revival, so too are houseplants of that era. It’s not so much about nostalgia as it is about busy twenty-first-century people who don’t have time to fuss with finicky flora, and most old favorites are resilient and easy to maintain. Succulents, such as the jade plant ( Crassula ovatd) are back in favor because they require little watering and have a nice sculptural feel. Also born again are Aeonium, Dudleya^ Echeveria, and cacti. Fig trees {Ficus) belong to a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphytes, some of facebook 8 GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 An Oh-So-Sweet Garden At home, a pastry chef turns to horticulture By Daniel Moise • Photography hy Pete Prown Thomas Heck has a totally sweet gig. He’s the head pastry chef at Davio’s, the popular Northern Italian steakhouse in Center City Philadelphia. But after a long day whip- ping up sumptuous dishes of panacotta, tiramisu, and chocolate souffle, he heads straight for the garden. “For me, gardening is the ultimate de-stresser,” Thomas notes. “It’s quiet and calming, unlike the crowded, fast-paced kitchen at a top restaurant.” In his relaxing garden just north of Philadelphia, one finds a viburnum that Thomas bought at Meadowbrook Farm, the PHS nursery in Abington Township, PA. His property also features specimen trees, including the PHS Gold Medal-winning paperbark maple {Acer griseum) and hibiscus. Thomas also uses plants from the garden in his restaurant desserts: “I like to use herbs when possible, especially rosemary, lemon thyme, and lemon verbena. I’ve even used hot chili peppers. Any of these can offer a great twist on classic desserts.” Thomas Heck's Herbed Creme Brulee • 2 cups heavy cream • 2 cups whole milk • garden herbs • 3-1/2 oz sugar • 10 egg yolks • 1 vanilla bean Pour the cream into a medium saucepan, scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the cream, and add the vanilla pod. Add a few sprigs of herbs. (I use cuttings from my own garden, such as rosemary, lavender, lemon verbena. fresh garden herbs in Davio's signature desserts. orange mint, hibiscus, or rose hips.) Place over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edges of the pan. Remove from the heat and let cool for 30 minutes. Whisk sugar and egg yolks together, add infused cream, blend together well, and then strain. Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Place six standard-size flan dishes (or ramekins) in a baking pan. Divide the custard mixture among the dishes. Pour warm water into the pan until it reaches halfway up the sides of the dishes. Bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the center of each custard slightly jiggles. Remove from oven and, using tongs, lift the dishes from the hot water. Let cool briefly and refrigerate for at least two hours. When ready to serve, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar over each custard. Using a hand-held torch, caramelize the sugar. Garnish with a sprig of the herb vou used. GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 9 Potting Shed ready to Join a Garden Club? By Denise Cowie Hundreds oe thousands of GARDENERS IN AMERICA ARE MEMBERS OF GARDEN CLUBS — THOUSANDS GARDEN CLUBS — ALL OVT.R THE COUN FRV. What’s the appeal? Among the uninitiated, there’s a percep- tion that the clubs are merely a social outlet for middle-aged women with little to do “who like to fool around with flowers,” as one garden club member wryly observed. The reality is quite different. The idea that clubs are full of blue-haired ladies who don’t work “is absolutely wrong,” says Gene Dilks, a lawyer and a member of the Garden Club of Philadelphia. “We have doctors and lawyers and professionals, young and old, who are bound together by an interest in things horticultural or environmental.” “There is a social aspect,” says Margaret Leone, president of Haddonfield Garden Club, the oldest garden club in New Jersey, “but it’s the education and community service compo- nents that are dominant.” In the Greater Philadelphia Region, club members who exhibit and volunteer are a mainstay of the Philadelphia International Flower Show. “There are about 120 clubs we know about in the area,” says Betty Greene, committee coordinator for PHS. “Easily 75 percent of these clubs are involved, and many hundreds of club members are active in the Flower Show.” For some clubs, the Show is the reason for their existence. It’s why the independent Men’s Garden Club of Philadelphia was launched about 20 years ago, says charter member Michael Petrie, owner of the 10 GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 Where to Join! Landscape Design Company Handmade Gardens. “We try to get involved with the Azalea Garden and things like that, but the real purpose is to put an exhibit in the Flower Show.” Petrie is one of a core group of designers at the club, which has won many awards over the years. Members choose a design at a summer barbecue meeting, set a schedule at a dinner meet- ing, and then work through the winter to get the exhibit done. “It’s not a club you join if you want to study horticulture, but because it’s a fun thing to do,” Petrie adds. “But we serious about the exhibit.” From the beginning, garden clubs have been interested in community service, often on a broad scale. Almost a century ago, a group of women got together in Philadelphia one spring day to form a national organization “to stimulate the knowledge and love of garden- ing among amateurs ... and to encourage civic planting.” The women, who represented a dozen previously independent garden clubs in seven states, called their new organization the Garden Club of America, and included among their objectives “to aid in the protection of native plants and birds” — thus anticipating by many decades today’s concern for native plants. At the local level, too, helping others through horti- culture is important. Longtime Garden Club ol Wilmington member Ashlin Bray says club volunteers teach horticultural skills such as herb gardening and flower arranging to resi- dents at the Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution. “We do a lot of community service,” says the Haddonfield club’s Leone, pointing out that new members are usually assigned an urn to tend along the town’s main street, and members also take care of several small gardens in the community, run an annual herb sale, and orchestrate projects at assisted-living facilities. “We go into the schools and teach children, includ- ing special-needs children, how to make floral arrange- ments for special holidays such as Mother’s Day,” says the Norristown Garden Club’s Meg Gaibiselis, president of the 243-member club, which will celebrate its 100'^ anniversary in 2013. “We also help kids to enter the PHS Junior Flower Show at EarthFest each spring [at the Temple Ambler campus], and hold workshops to encourage kids to enter flower shows.” Although some clubs are not affiliated with any parent group, many garden clubs in the region belong either to the Garden Club of America or to National Garden Clubs Inc., a similar but much larger umbrella organization that was founded in 1929 and now includes more than 6,200 clubs. Membership is a big issue for many clubs, given that members tend to be older, and the majority of clubs meet during the day. That could be changing. Noting that membership is declining a little each year, Shirley S. Nicolai, national president of National Garden Clubs, says that garden clubs need to change the way they think about meeting times and how they meet. She sees a growing trend toward evening and online meetings. But even with changes in technology and lifestyles, some things remain constant. “I think gardening keeps people young,” says Norristown’s Gaibiselis. “I expect we will be here another hundred years.” The Garden Club of America at 1 00 In 2013, representatives of GCA's 200 member clubs will celebrate the organization's centennial in Philadelphia, with a focus on trees. As part of that celebration, the 14 GCA clubs of Pennsylvania and Delaware that are hosting the event have undertaken an ambitious beautification project at historic Concourse Lake in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. Landscaping plans call for hundreds of colorful native trees and shrubs, Although it may be the old- est, having been founded in Philadelphia in 1913, the New York City-based Garden Club of America, with its 200 clubs and about 18,000 members, is one of several national organizations. National Garden Clubs, Inc., founded in 1929 and now headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, bills itself as the largest volunteer gardening organization in the world, with almost 200,000 mem- bers in more than 6,200 clubs, and hundreds of inter- national affiliates. The Gardeners of America/ Men's Garden Clubs of America, founded in 1932 and based in Johnston, Iowa, has about 2,800 members in 48 clubs scattered across 17 states. (The Men's Garden Club of Philadelphia is independent.) The Garden Club of America gcamerica.org Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania pagardenclubs. org National Garden Clubs Inc. gardenclub.org The Gardeners of America/ Men's Garden Clubs of America tgoa-mgca.org Floramity, an unofficial but extensive directory of garden clubs floramity. com/directory_ alphabetical.html clean up” the garden in autumn, because caterpillars, like the i yellow and black striped swallowtail, are often feeding on my dill, fennel, and parsley. And long into the fall and winter, birds are sustaining themselves on the seeds of Joe Pye weed, sunflowers, and zinnias. The idea that my garden is a food factory for all these insects, birds, and other animals makes it infinitely more valuable to me than some pristine, perfect place, in which every- thing is yanked out or pruned within an inch of its life. Nature is messy and so, happily, am I. We don’t mow a section of grass outside our barn, because natives like goldenrod, chicory, milkweed, and asters have sprung up. All these plants feed our pollinators and birds. In winter, chickadees stay alive by pecking open the round galls on the goldenrod stems to eat the midges inside. m never in a Fall in My Garden I 'I GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 Anne Raver's walled garden colje^s heat and offers ^ iHolecti^from the frosty .t y\^ds 1)f fall^ttu^^o wi ng {.’'Her to e;dqnd the groturmg^ season. . , 'N Zinnias deepen in color with cold temperatures, still feeding all types of butterflies. As hard host nears, I bring in my potted herbs, setting them in south- facing windows, for an indoor winter supply. I dig up a few parsley plants, taking care not to injure the tap roots, and set them in deep pots with a mix of compost and good potting soil. Sometimes, if it’s a long, warm fall, basil keeps growing in protected cor- ners of the garden. If 1 want to freeze the leaves. I’ll spray the plants in the morning and let them dry in the sun, then pick the leaves without washing them further, so I can toss them into plastic storage bags for winter meals. It’s amazing how green the frozen leaves are when I crumble them into a salad or soup, and they taste almost as good as those just picked from the garden. I pull up my fish-pepper plants and hang them upside down, fruits and all, from the rafters in our mudroom, where the peppers dry slowly, out of direct light. These bushy little plants are quite ornamental, with their varie- gated green and white leaves and green chiles, which have white racing stripes before they ripen and turn fiery red. The fish pepper, so the story goes, was brought to Baltimore by slaves from the West Indies, and its hot, yet mel- low flavor — a wine-like after-taste that settles in the back of the mouth — was embraced by Marylanders who still use it in fish chowders today. If it’s a warm fall, and I haven’t planted my garlic bulbs, I do that, too, setting each plump clove about three inches into the rich soil and covering the bed with another layer of compost. After the first icy frost, I add a thick layer of clean straw. Fall is also a time to start seeds of more basil and cilantro. I let them germinate on our radiant heated floor, and then move them into the greenhouse, where they get plenty of light. (The greenhouse is a money pit, keeping the propane heater going at GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 15 Mammoth Sunflowers Mature seed-heads provide food for many birds, especially goldfinches, and are also packed with Vitamin E, so they're good for humans, too. SCENE IpCastor bean !i;i^ (Riccinus communis) lends a tropical look to the garden and ^ grows to the size of a small tree by fall. This magnificent and easy-to-grow tropical plant sir should be used cautiously because its seeds are quite f poisonous. Fall in My Garden Even though its larvae are pests, the cabbage butterfly (sipping nectar from late-blooming Vitex agnus castus) is still a beauty. The idea that my garden is a food factory for all these insects, birds, and other animals makes it infinitely more valuable to me than some pristine, perfect place, in which everything is yanked out or pruned within an inch of its life. 18 GREEN SCENE • novembei/december 201 night when temperatures drop to freezing or below, but drinking that first cup ol cof- fee, looking out at the snow — surrounded by bougainvillea, fragrant geranium, and herbs — can chase the February blues away.) I also plant winter-hardy greens in our cold frame, made simply of black locust boards, hay bales, and two old paned win- dows, and by November we begin to eat the thinned seedlings. We eat these greens until the very coldest freeze — and then they start growing again, after the thaw. Carrots, of course, sweeten with the frost, so as winter nears, we mulch ours with com- post and about six inches of clean straw. We dig them in winter until the ground freezes, and then again in the spring. I fill up my bird feeders again — some just for sunflower seeds and others with a good mix that has no millet, which only attracts the sparrows that bully away shyer song- birds— and make sure the old trough we use for their bird bath is always full and clean. Birds can die of thirst, so it’s important to supply them with water, especially in win- ter, with either a solar heater, or a willing human to keep it fresh, not frozen. The pleasure of a late fall garden is partly bittersweet — seeing plants turn color and seed pods dry, and thinking about death and all that. But then the snow and ice makes sculptures of all those dried plants, turning yet another page in the garden. I love to see what’s out there — frozen kale leaves poking out of the snow, birds perching on mam- moth sunflower stalks. This is after all, what we all need, the earth included; a resting period, a great sigh and a yawn, and a good night’s sleep. Then it starts all over again. Anne Raver writes about gardening, landscape design and the environment for the New York Times. Landscape Architecture magazine and other publications. The author of "Deep in the Green: An Exploration of Country Pleasures, " she is working on a memoir about returning to her Maryland farm, which has been in her family since 1795. Mughal/Botanical Gardens Spice/Tea/Coffee Plantations Forest/ Jungle Walks Two Small-Group Departures in 2012 Custom Departures Available Flower/Vegetable Alarkets Himalayan/Tropical Flora Extensive Cultural Sightseeing www.froTTilosttofoundtravel.com Wc in\ ilc you to visit our Web site at www.waldor.com 10 E. Poplar Avenue Linwood, NJ 08221 Ph (609) 92 7-4 1 26 Fax (609) 926-06 1 5 Specializing in quality orchids for 80 years. ‘Follow US on Twitter and Facebook.’ GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 19 i i After more than 60 years breeding, growinc;, and jiXHiBiTiNG award- winning CACI'I AND SUCCULENTS, Dr. GeMLD BaRAD KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT I'HESE FASCINATING PI^^S, He SPENDS MANY ISOLATED HOURS ^ OVER A MICROSCOPE AND CAMERA, PAINS TAKINGLY EXPERIMEN TING WI TH HIS HUGE COLLECTION OF CACTI AND SUCCULEN TS IN HIS Flemington, New Jersey, greenhouse, where he BENEFITS FROM THE “UNDERSTANDING AND ■ ^ encouragement” of his wife, Bea. I Come to the first-ever plant exhibit in the PHS McLean Library, located inside PHS headquarters at 20'^ & Arch streets in Philadelphia. The free exhibition will feature stunning plants from all over the world, from Mexico to Madagascar. Many of these specimens are being grown by our experts at Meadowbrook Farm. The exhibit offers visitors the opportunity to learn how to grow succulents, see "green roof" plants, and meet other gardeners who share a passion for these plants. PHS members can also check out related books and DVDs. So come visit "Strange Beauties" this fall and enjoy the magic of cacti and succulents! The show will run through December 2"'*. For more information, call 215-988-8872 or send an email pprown@pennhort.org. Visit "Strange Beauties,” The PHS Succulent Plant Exhibition! Beginning October 31 at the McLean Library Admission is FREE! s. The Cactus King One wonders how a retired obstetrician developed such an interest in plants. “My mother was inro plants and belonged to a local garden club,” says Barad. “When I was about seven or eight years old, I would board a subway from my Brooklyn home and travel to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden every Saturday morn- ing, which I did for years.” Barad enjoyed tending the children’s vegetable garden there. He began to do plant research and presented his findings, research- ing tulip viruses that are associated with the variega- tion in flower petals. Barad went on to study botany at Cornell University and then served with the U.S. Army Medical Department in India during the Second World War. When it was over, he returned to Cornell as a pre-med student. After the war, Barad married Bea, who shared his passion for plants. “My wife and I would visit my uncle who had a small greenhouse and a collection of cacti. We were completely taken by the shapes and dif- ferent forms,” he recalls. Barad discovered the Cactus & Succulent Society of America (CSSA) and traveled to his first CSSA convention in Arizona in 1949 (he is a past president). “At that CSSA meeting, my wife and 1 made lifelong friends. Bea and I were crowned the first king and queen of the society at the convention. That’s where I began to collect plants.” Over the years, the Barads enjoyed traveling to exot- ic places around the globe. “At the Golden Temple in India, we visited a Sikh friend, an orthopedist who let us in through the back door. We were enthralled with his fabulous cactus collection.” Other cacti-collecting adventures have included trips to Argentina, Peru, Israel, Canary Islands, Madagascar, Morocco, Sourh Africa, Somalia, Togo, Yemen, Mexico, and many other countries. When asked why he fell in love wirh a prickly plant like a cactus. Dr. Barad replies, “When you first see a group of cacti, you notice a tremendous variation in color and form — they’re very attractive and they have gorgeous flowers. The flowers are short-lived for only a day or two, but they are beautiful.” Among his collection — which now numbers 8,000 plants — Barad has his favorites, including an aloe that began as a rosette about an 1 1/2 inches in diameter and is now 1 1/2 feet across, sporting hundreds of lirtle rosettes. “This plant is very special. It was sent from South Africa 30 years ago by a very good friend who got it from Professor Gilbert Reynolds, the man who wrote the original book on aloes and collected it in Madagascar.” mfim The Cactus King jyember/december 201 1 GREEN SCE Barad spends many hours in his Remington New Jersey, greenhouse. The Cactus King 26 GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 Barad has left his legacy in oiir area by helping build the Philadelphia Cactus and Succulent Society to more than 100 mem- bers. “The best way to find out more about cacti is to attend a meeting and ask ques- tions,” he says. “We welcome people of all ages.” He also has inspired others by sharing his passion through lectures at PHS. At age 88, that passion has not waned. His awards for exhibits at the Philadelphia International Flower Show are too many to count, and in 2002, he and his wife received the prestigious PHS Certificate of Merit. Cacti and succulents are perfect for urban plant lovers. “We started growing these in an apartment on a south fac- ing windowsill when I attended medical school,” he says. “If you don’t have a south-facing window, you can still grow some types on east or north-facing win- dows. Some plants, such as Haworthia, will grow in lower light conditions.” Haworthias are small succulent plants native to South Africa. If want to purchase a cactus, Barad recommends visiting Meadowbrook Farm’s greenhouses in Abington, PA (operated by PHS). Or you can wait until next spring RESOURCES Find Great Succulents at Meadowbrook Farm meadowbrookfarm.org 1633 Washington Lane Abington, PA Phone: 215-887-5900 and purchase one from a Flower Show vendor. Barad sells plants at the Philadelphia Cactus and Succulent Societ)' meetings. “Make sure the plants have good drainage,” he warns. If you’re successful at growing cacti, you’ll probably want a few more. And then some more. As Dr. Barad will tell you, it’s potentially a life-long passion. Laura Brandt is a Bucks County garden writer. Philadelphia Cactus & Succulent Society philacactus.org Cactus & Succulent Society of America cssainc.org AT WINTERTHUR OPEN DAILY FOR HOLIDAY TOURS NOVEMBER 19-JANUARY8 F or more information and a full schedule of special c\ cnis, call 800.448.3883 or \ isit winterthur.org/yuletide. Cactus & Succulent Plant Mall cactus-mall.com Open Xcw ^’cal'’s Day. Closed Thanksa;i\ ing and tthristmas Day. Winteithur is nestled in Delaware's beautiful Brandywine Valley on Route 52, between 1-95 and Route 1 . 8(X).448.3883 • 302.888.4600 • winterthur.org GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 27 How Groundswel|%' David Fierabend i I Turns Earth into Artl By Daniel Moise GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 29 The Designer's Eye I TO HIM AbOUT H)S „ ,.ND INSPIRATIONS. SECRETLY lOPING THAT A LITTLE OP HiS ACUMEN RUBS 0:T ON US. What makes a great designer? A good designer can put things together nicely. A great designer can think on his or her feet, and assemble something amazing from disparate parts and ideas. Lastly, I secretly think great designers can work with two opposing ideas in their heads at the same time, and still believe in both of them. What common mistakes do homeowners make? If you design for the inside of your house, also plan for the outside. I think that neglected but well-intentioned landscapes scream out, ""I do?i’t care." Why spend hard- earned money making your house wonderful only ro have shabby plant material? It takes away from rhe whole experience. How important is showmanship in landscape design? The presentarion of an idea is as important as the idea itself, and I think that many landscapers overlook rhis because they think that simply completing the task is suf- ficient. But I look at the larger picture and, yes, it’s true that landscape design involves a little bit of theater. GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 I Photo courtesy of Groundswell Look up I Th?s landscape in the air adjoins a private residence in the Rjttenhouse section of Philadelphia. \ David's Design Picks Favorite color: blue X' ■ Favorite fabric: Egyptian cotton Favorite place for finding inspiration: magazines Artists or designers he admires: Andrea Cochran, Jeff Koons, John Brookes Go-to perennial: Amsonia tabernaemontana 'Blue Ice 31 The Designer's Eye How do you balance your personal preferences with the tastes/style of the client? Well, we are in the service industry, so we always want to put our clients’ needs first. They are the ones who live with the space, so it is important for us that they love the work even after we are gone. Landscape design changes over time, so there is a bit of programming for the luture that takes place in the planning. And you want it to change in a way that is favorable to the client over the long term. Ultimately, we take cues from the client, but the client usually wants us to do what we do best. What project are you most proud of? I love all of our projects, because every single one of them represents a moment in time for our business. If I were pressed to pick one, it would be the greenhouse project in New Hope, PA (photo on pages 28 and 29). The clients were amazing to work with and have become personal friends. That project ushered in a whole-hearted “lifestyle design” path lor us. We did all of the landscape design work, but we also designed and built the interior of the greenhouse. We staged the entire space from top to bottom. To be there in the evening, right when the sun is setting, is a magical experience. Where do you find the art, fountains, and furniture that you use in your work? We love sourcing out interesting items and we take it seriously. We go far and wide for artifacts. As far as the Internet, I love Remodelista, Design Sponge, Design Milk, farFetchers, Studio G, and Apartment Therapy. In the Philadelphia area, we use Zinc in Lambertville, NJ; the Stock Group in East Falls/Roxborough; Provenance in the Northern Liberties neighborhood; Artefact in New Hope; and Groundworks in North Philly. We also have a pretty wide variety of smaller hobbyists in our area who help us get our hands on fun stuff, too. Give us one fast, easy design tip. Personally, I love reusing objects in unexpected ways. You could say my design philosophy is simply. Repurpose, repurpose, repurposd GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 'mirrrK, The photos here showcase the home of Dr. Larry Dumont, a renowned child psychiatrist. Dr. Dumont was one of Groundswell's first major clients. He gave the Groundswell team carte blanche with the site, and David was able to turn a muddy swamp into formal gardens that contrast with the surrounding Pennsylvania wilderness. As for the design, David wanted to translate Dr. Dumont's love of folk art into the landscape and envisioned a place with secret outdoor rooms where different elements are continually found anew. Most of the project was done at once, but smaller additions are made every season. It is a site that is perpetually refined. — DM Floral Design Hawaii brings us a myriad of colors, from black volcanic lava and blue water to the vibrant hues of sunrises, sunsets, and tropical flowers. This is the first of three articles to welcome the upcoming 2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show, Hawaii: Islands of Aloha. Even in our chilly Philly winters, you can elicit a feeling of sunshine and warmth by com- bining tropical flowers in floral designs, notably Anthurium, which comes in a range of toasty orange hues. The anthurium plant has large, showy, triangular-shaped leaves; a straight- stemmed flower with a shiny, heart- shaped spathe; and a tail-like part called a spadix. Anthurium andraeanum was discovered in Columbia in 1876 and introduced to Hawaii in 1889. Hawaii is now a center for growing and hybrid- izing anthurium and has developed the large and dramatic Obake Anthurium, with blossoms over 7 feet long. Another delightful and more delicate variety in the anthurium family is Anthurium amnicola or tulip anthurium. This species comes in a wide variety of colors. It is long lasting and good for both home and Flower Show designs. Care and handling of anthurium: Unpack anthurium carefully, re-cut stems and place into fresh, room- temperature water. If flower heads seem dehydrated or soft, submerge the entire head of flower under fresh water for 10 to 20 minutes. Anthurium absorbs water through tiny flowers on the spadix. Remove from water, cut 1/2 inch off bottom of stem, and put stems into water. Mist flowers daily and change water every two days. Designing with Anthurium Anthurium holds up well in both home and show designs. The spadix creates a strong directional line, so it is important to turn the flower head to a desirable direction. Anthurium stems are straight and pliable and may be gently bent. Strong contrast and focal areas are created by the shiny, heart-shaped form. A mixture of green anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum 'Midori'), orange roses {Rosa 'Orange Miracle'), orange pincushion protea (Leucospermum), aspidistra leaf, and orange Gloriosa leonella combine with orange Plexiglas rods to make a lively table design. Orange Plexiglas triangles with folded leaves and a single Anthurium 'Cinnamon' float on a white ceramic vase from Ikea. A green hydrangea {Hydrangea macrophylla) a and wrapped with copper bullion wire to the tip of the Plexiglas, extending the green line in the design. of copper bullion wire anthurium add interest and aid transition from the shiny textured flower to the translucent plastic. up of Anthurium 'Midori' A narrow-necked vase supports a white Mitsumata branch on which aspidistra leaf has been cut and pulled to the length of the branch. Orange roses {Rosa 'Orange Miracle') create a base layer for white Anthurium 'Oshiro White' to be the star of this design. Small orange mokara orchids {Mokara 'Super Orange') soften the color contrast and dangle below the design to mirror the small circles on the vase. 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Garden Design, Installation & Maintenance PINE-NEEDLE MULCH Wholesale and Retail 610-701-9283 renee52@comcast.net NURSERIES RARE & UNUSUAL PLANTS • Specimen plants • Pond plants • Bonsai • Drchids • Hardy cacti • Tropicals • Sculptured trees and shrubs • Perennials • Unique Flower and gift shop. MUTSCHLERS' FLORIST & RARE PLANTS 1-800-242-9438 www.mutschlers.com Triple Oaks Nursery & Herb Garden • Great Plants • Display Gardens • Programs • Franklinville, New Jersey www.tripleoaks.com 856-694-4272 greatplants@tripleoaks. com Trees In Ground Specimen Holly Trees 10ft-30ft Fresh Cut Holly, Greens & Arrangements Christmas Trees - Cut When You Come Indian Orchards 24 Copes Lane - Media 610-565-8387 36 GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 Books in the PHS McLean Library THE NEW AMERICAN LANDSCAPE LEADING VOICES ON THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE GARDENING Edited by THOMAS CHRISTOPHER The New American Landscape: Leading Voices on the Future of Sustainable Gardening Edited by Thomas Christopher (256 pp., $34.95) Creating a backyard haven for yourself and for wildlife is eas- ier than you think. In this new book, thirteen of the leading experts in sustainable gardening show us how to create gardens that enhance, not degrade, our environment. Through the book's concise explanations, color- ful images and informative sidebars, we learn how to balance native and exotic plants, create meadow and hab- itat gardens, and conserve water. Authors Douglas Tallamy, Rick Darke, John Greenlee, Neil Diboll, Eric Toensmeier, David Wolfe, Elaine Ingham, David Deardorff, Kathryn Wadsworth, Ed Snodgrass, Linda McIntyre, and Toby Hemenway also provide timely tips and sustain- able solutions. As editor Thomas Christopher suggests, we can trans- form the American landscape "one yard at a time." ^ — Laura Brandt - ► SPRING. SUMMER. OR FALL... YOUR OWN VILLA IN TUSCANY Weekly rental for up to ten jteople includes liousekccping and stiperb home cooking of regional foods. An easy walk to the town of Montisi, the villa property and oli\e grove is less than an hour Irom Siena, Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino and other Tuscan hill towns. Hiking, relaxing by the infinity pool, atid day trijrping begin at your front door. See www.poderecollelungo.com or call 610-633-9446. We’ll help you gather all the special things you need this holiday season.... Come visit our Christmas garden shop. . V* ‘ 4033 West Chester Pike (Route 3) • Newtown Square, PA 19073 610-356-8035 • www.mostardi.com GREEN SCENE • november/december 201 1 37 Local Heroes The Time to Compost is NOW By Betsie Blodgett omanic ( «araening Compost