Cuttings From the Editor's Garden
by Rommy Lopat

ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED: 2000 Fall

The Editor's Garden

If you're looking for the color "clear pink", the best long-bloomers in my garden are verbena ÔShauna Ann', Phlox paniculata ÔDresden China', and rose ÔMartha's Vineyard PP#9664', which has the short stature and many small blooms of a landscape rose. They all look great together, and have bloomed since July. The verbena is rumored to be hardy to Zone 4! Tune in next year for a report...

I wait with great anticipation the blooming of Spiranthes cernua var. odorata, otherwise known as nodding ladies' tresses ÔChadds Ford'. This is a hardy white orchid that has sent up straight-as-an-arrow 3' stems with spiral-shaped flower spikes at the top. The individual florets unfurl from the spikes and "nod" downwards. I was alarmed at first that there were no roots, but then I reminded myself that orchids produce underground stems. We shall see if there is fragrance, as rumored, and whether they make excellent cut flowers, as also hyped.

Philadelphia's Gardens

Speaking of Chadds Ford, located in (southeast) Pennsylvania, this editor just returned from that renowned Piedmont. The Garden Writers Association held its annual conference in Philadelphia, and we had the big treat of visiting some unbelievable gardens in the region.

For example, we visited Mt. Cuba Center, which is a private home built in 1935 by Mrs. Lammot du Pont Copeland. The trees she planted back then in this former cornfield are now mature. In the 1960's she began to plant wildflowers in these woods, resulting in "the largest display of wildflowers under cultivation in the mid-Atlantic region". By the way, I noticed plenty of Meehania cordata (see p. 7) growing in the woods. Mt. Cuba also introduces new plants to the trade: Aster novae-angliae ÔPurple Dome' and Solidago sphacelata ÔGolden Fleece' are two well-known cultivars that hail from there, and I saw a deep pink turtlehead [Chelone] that may soon be in your garden.

Mrs. Copeland is now in her nineties. She tours the gardens every day by using a golf cart, leaving notes for the gardeners in mailboxes that she erected along the garden's winding paths. I want to grow up to be just like her, especially because she has given the public the gift of her gardens after her death. Whatta gal!

We also visited Longwood Gardens, Chanticleer, Fordhook Farms (the Burpee farm which operates as a "bed and breakfast"), Bartram's Garden, Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College, Conard-Pyle Roses, and many smaller private gardens. It was great to see them, and I thank all the staffs for their wonderful hospitality.

I especially appreciated that the Scott Arboretum offers plant lists in mailboxes that are placed in each of their gardens. Great idea--can it be introduced into all of our Midwestern public gardens?

Plants Seen and Desperately Needed

While travelling in Pennsylvania, I noticed a few plants or designs that are now "must-haves". I loved the "Metasequoia Allee"--two parallel lines of the ancient dawn redwood, running between two buildings--at the Scott Arboretum. I have only one of these venerable trees, which the deer (or was it the husband?) unfortunately "limbed up" for me. Now I need seven more and life will be perfect.

Hydrangea macrophylla ÔPreziosa' is fabulous, with flower heads of burgundy. The book I have, Hydrangeas, by Daria Price Bowman [Friedman/Fairfax, 1999] calls the mopheads pink or red, but trust me, they're burgundy. Or crimson. Anyway, dark red.

I was also taken with the idea of taking a large ceramic urn, filling it with water, and floating flowers on the surface, as they do on the screen porch at Chanticleer. Guests who sat on the couch couldn't help but be fascinated by the intricacies of even the simplest flower as it floated by.

The old-fashioned white Rose of Sharon [Hibiscus syriacus] has become all the rage again. Quite worthy of resurrection, except for those darn Jap beetles. In late August, I saw a planting of white hibiscus ringing a sideyard fenced by cast iron next to a historic Greek Revival mansion in Southport, Connecticut. Appropriately gorgeous!

Ilex glabra ÔDensa' is a great native holly. It should be used instead of boxwood more often. Surround it with semi-evergreen hellebores, and its "bare ankles" will disappear handily.

I love my fringetree [Chionanthus virginicus], but the Chinese version [Chionanthus retusus ÔSerrulatus'] is to die for! Leathery, shiny leaves, dark blue berries, and peeling bark. Is it hardy in Chicago? Will it survive here? I must run to a book and read up. Oh, darn, never mind, it'll die. I knew it was too good to be true...

The Scott Arboretum has a gigantic Seven Sons Flower tree [Heptacodium miconioides]. I was rather stunned to see how large it can get, since I planted mine near the beginning of my driveway where I wouldn't want it to block visibility. I'd say the one I saw is a pretty ungainly bush about 20' x 20', included as part of a loose hedge of small, dense trees. I thought, "Thank God I only planted one, but it's going to have to move." Then I went to Chanticleer and saw that they planted three (!) in a tight corner next to the patio. Ha! Even the experts don't always know how these plants are going to mature.

Speaking of Hellebores...

Landscape designer Georgia Lyman (Oak Park, IL) writes to ask about rabbit-resistant plants. While I can't offer a definitive list, I refer you to Nancy Goodwin's article in "Homeground" newsletter (Fall, 1999). Mrs. Goodwin, who gardens in North Carolina, recommends surrounding your delicious hostas with hellebores, "which no critters will eat [since] they are extremely toxic." Doubtless you already know that any aromatic plant (basil, lavender, rosemary, thyme, salvias, agastaches, artemisias) are resistant to all critters, but Mrs. Goodwin also recommends more wacky plants like castor oil, gomphrenas, Zinnia peruviana and Z. augustifolia, tithonias, colocasia, bananas, and cannas.

Jerry Baker jokes notwithstanding, Mrs. Goodwin offers a recipe for a "sure-fire homemade repellent." She blends one egg, one tablespoon Tabasco, and a small amount of water. She strains it, pours it into a gallon jug, fills the jug with water, and adds one tablespoon of dish soap. The spray is used weekly and after each rain.

You Can Sell Anything OR Tromping Through the Tulips?

Fran Hopkins e-mails me the following: "I was cruising weedpatch.com and thought I'd recommend that you check out our website, underafootplants.com. We have a new idea called "Stepables" that's hitting the garden center in your neck of the woods. These are resilient perennials that you can walk, stomp, smash, or run on. There will be a number of wholesale growers in your area, such as Twixwood Nursery [Berrien Springs, MI], to service retail stores."

H'mmm. This news calls for a change in my business plan. I had thought that my acres of garlic mustard were my cash crop, since they're "better than spinach", but now I know that I have a fortune in thistles, veronica repens, violets, and creeping charlie. I just have to start calling them, "Stepables" or maybe, "Stompables". Anyone want to invest?

What's Causing our Frog Fatalities?

According to a report in the July 7th edition of The Chicago Tribune, the deformation of frogs and salamanders has become so widespread that the Federal govement will launch an investigation. Hallelujah--it's about time! I've been writing about this problem since I've been publishing (which is nine years now), even though the article says that the first incidence of frog problems was noticed in Minnesota in 1995. Not!

Anyway, the incidence of deformity reaches as high as 17.9 percent of some local frog populations. Normally, deformities occur in about 1 percent of the frogs in a national refuge, according to writer Michael Killian. Eighteen species of frogs and salamanders are on the endangered species list. How horrible! Just imagine that the problems plaguing frogs--which partially breathe through their skin--could be affecting us. Ugh.

The National Widlife Service will study the frogs which live in 43 refuges in 31 states, ranging from Hawaii to Alaska to Maryland. Pollution, parasites, viruses, acid rain, bacteria, ultraviolet radiation, and fungi are some likely suspects. They'd better take less than six years to study up, or else the frogs will be gone by the time an answer is announced.

Fritz Olsen Sculptures

While visiting southeastern Michigan in August, we went to pick blueberries in Sawyer. Not only were the blueberries blue, but there was also a fabulous sculptor located next door. Fritz Olsen sculpts in all manner of stone, and virtually all of his work can be placed in the garden. Many of the pieces swivel; they can be turned 360 degrees so that you can view them at different angles as your heart desires. Olsen has placed much of his work along paths in his aspen woods, so you can view them as they might look at home. I also loved the planters he creates from taking a hunk of rock (marble or granite) and drilling a circular hole through its center, perfect for placing a container into. I also fell in love with a simple garden bench made of extinct pink marble from Georgia--hopefully, it will turn up under my Christmas tree. Call Fritz Olsen at (616) 426-3003.

By the way, the aspens are there because the lot was obviously cleared, but a patch of Queen of the Prairie [Filipendula rubra], an endangered species in Illinois, was blooming. They sprouted right up among the aspens. Jealous is me!

Stan Herd, Environmental Artist

I regret missing the exhibition by Stan Herd at Woodfield Mall [Schaumburg, IL] in early September. Herd uses indigenous materials to create pictorial landscapes. Can you imagine the image of an Iowa countryside or the Statue of Liberty being made from plants? At Woodfield, Mr. Herd used live flowers and shrubs to create a 5,000 square foot "quilt"--a tribute to American quiltmakers. Cool, eh?

Creeping Charlie Control

The Morton Arboretum's newsletter (June, 2000) reminds us that creeping charlie or ground ivy [Glechoma hederaceae] is controlled by using 2, 4-D after frost in October and then again while the plant is in full bloom, usually early- to mid-May. In between times, 2, 4-D is not effective. Products containing Dicamba are only somewhat effective, and TMA does not like using Borax, as sometimes recommended.

Congratulations!

There are so many people in Midwest horticulture who deserve recognition for their accomplishments, so it is always wonderful to tell you when they receive it. Tony Tyznik is the retired landscape architect for The Morton Arboretum (Lisle, IL) who is most easily found at his son, Dave's, Planter's Palette Nursery (Winfield, IL). In late October, he will be recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects, in honor of his many outstanding projects.

George Ware, retired director of research at The Morton Arboretum, will receive the Award of Merit from the American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta. This is the highest honor a person can receive from AABGA. Dr. Ware spent 32 years advancing our knowledge of trees, especially elm trees and trees useful in the urban landscape. Congratulations to both gentlemen!

Jens Jensen Lives!

Congratulations are also in store for Chicago landscape designer and historian Jo Ann Nathan, who is the newly-named director of the Jens Jensen Legacy Project, part of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs. I recently received the Project's beautifully-designed first newsletter, which announced several initiatives. There will be an exhibition of Jensen's life and legacy in 2001-2002; a Jens Jensen award at the Chicago Metro History Fair; a design charette in conjunction with the Botanica exhibition at the Chicago Cultural Center; a series of posters for CTA buses; and the creation of a Jens Jensen room in his former office at the Humboldt Park Stables. If you wish to get the JJLP newsletter, call (312) 742-1772 or e-mail jensen@winstarmail.com .

Children's Gardens in Chicago

Lucky kids! There are some great new Chicago-area places for children to explore the world of plants. First, the Garfield Park Conservatory, located on the west side of Chicago (its fern room was designed by Jens Jensen), has opened its $2.8 million Elizabeth Morse Genius Children's Garden. I was pleased to attend its gala opening. The educational programming in store for kids, in addition to all the intriguing plants used in this hall, is exciting to anticipate.

Up at the Chicago Botanic Garden (Glencoe, IL), 100 arborvitae were planted to form a maze for kids to follow. According to landscape designer Cheri Allen, whose Wilmette, IL company, Yes, We Care, helped build the maze, the CBG Children's Garden also features a tunnel made out of willow branches, tree roots exposed behind glass, and boxes filled with bugs, which the kids can peer at by removing the lids. (Now we know what CBG staff does with all the slugs and grubs they find in the garden. Ooo, gross!)

Woodland Habitat CD-ROM
Available from IDNR

Way cool! More than 400 Illinois woodland species of mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, fish, arthropods, segmented worms, plants, fungi, protists and bacteria can be seen in full color on this new CD-ROM (accessible both on Windows and Macintosh computers). 83 of the species make sounds! These have been distributed for free to elementary schools, but your's can be had by calling (217) 524-4126 or teachkids@dnrmail.state.il.us. By the way, just what is a "protist"?

Just What Do Mosquitoes Crave Most?

The answer: toe jam, perhaps spread with a little Limburger cheese. Under the "I kid you not" category of The Weedpatch Gazette, I quote entomologist Daniel L. Kline: "I wore socks for 12 hours on three consecutive days. When I wasn't wearing the socks, I put them in a sealed plastic bag... I also found mosquitoes love Limburger cheese. Interestingly enough, the main ingredient in the cheese is a bacterium that can be found on the human foot," he says.
Note: Limburger cheese was first made in The Netherlands by monks. They trampled the cheese with their feet to get the finished product.

Now wasn't that information alone worth the price of a year's subscription?

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