Michigan Gardener

SIGN UP to stay in touch!
We will send you occasional e-mails with gardening tips and information!


Digital Editions

Click on the cover to read now!

PLEASE NOTE: In the autumn of 1995, we hatched the idea for a free, local gardening publication. The following spring, we published the first issue of Michigan Gardener magazine. Advertisers, readers, and distribution sites embraced our vision. Thus began an exciting journey of helping our local gardening community grow and prosper.
After 27 years, nearly 200 issues published, and millions of copies printed, we have decided it is time to end the publication of our Print Magazine and E-Newsletter.

We will continue to update our Website with articles and enter current gardening events in our website Event Calendar. All the best wishes for 2024 and beyond.

Detroit students learn to grow and prepare healthy meals

  •   Leave a Comment

 

Detroit Merit Charter Academy learn in a Teaching Garden sponsored by Health Alliance Plan and the American Heart Association.
Detroit Merit Charter Academy learn in a Teaching Garden sponsored by Health Alliance Plan and the American Heart Association.

This summer, children at Detroit Merit Charter Academy are eating the crops they sowed in the spring, thanks to a Teaching Garden sponsored by Health Alliance Plan (HAP) and the American Heart Association (AHA). Students planted mint, cilantro, spearmint, dill, basil, lettuce, collard greens and other fruits and vegetables. Now they are enjoying the opportunity to cook with the same foods they planted months ago with HAP’s Ready, Set Cook! Program, a hands-on cooking and lifestyle program for children ages 8-14 that focuses on addressing childhood obesity. This program teaches children to cook and prepare healthy, simple meals and empowers children to make healthier food choices on a daily basis, which ties into the goals of the AHA Teaching Garden Program.

The AHA Teaching Garden program is a national school-based program to help children become healthy and also help combat childhood obesity specifically in elementary school-aged children. It is also designed to provide hands-on learning experiences with the planting and growing process. The teaching gardens are one of the AHA’s many ways of meeting their goal to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20% by the year 2020.

Detroit Merit Charter Academy is the second school in Michigan to participate in the AHA Teaching Garden program. The students will be maintaining the garden year-round; they will use their fruits and vegetables in recipes for healthy meals including soups, salads, salsas, and other foods available at the school.

Growing medicine in the garden

  •   Leave a Comment

NPR:

The Renaissance Garden at the New York Botanical Garden, a re-creation of a 16th-century medicinal garden, is so lush and colorful, it takes only a stroll through to absorb its good medicine.

The garden, part of a summer exhibit called Wild Medicine: Healing Plants Around the World, is a small-scale model of the Italian Renaissance Garden in Padua, Italy, Europe’s first botanical garden.

The landscape includes Mediterranean flowers in multiple colors, fountains and odd plants that many people have never seen, like the opium poppy, with its unusual seed pods. The garden in Padua was created in 1545 as part of the University of Padua medical school, one of the earliest and most important medical schools in Europe.

Read the full article…

Late summer and early fall is the best time to control common reed grass (Phragmites)

  •   Leave a Comment

August through October are the best months to treat phragmites with herbicides. (Photo by John Meyland)
August through October are the best months to treat phragmites with herbicides. (Photo by John Meyland)

Phragmites (frag-MY-teez) is a tall reed grass (Phragmites australis) that thrives in wetlands. It grows up to 15 feet tall, and has seed heads in the fall that look like feather dusters. It spreads primarily by its roots, which can extend 30 feet or more. Phragmites aggressively fills in wetlands, roadside ditches, and anywhere its rhizomes and seeds take hold. This plant can dry up wetlands and clog drainage ways, requiring expensive maintenance.

August through October are the best months to treat phragmites with herbicide, after the seed heads have developed and before the first hard frost.

The Oakland Phragmites & Invasive Species Task Force (OPIS) is dedicated to bringing about awareness of this invasive plant. Learn more at oaklandphragmitestaskforce.com.

The North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy has produced a brief guide to small-scale phragmites control: click here to read.

Solutions for the climate challenged garden

  •   Leave a Comment

NPR:

At the Hillwood Estate gardens in Washington, D.C., the new norm is: “Expect the unexpected.” So says volunteer coordinator Bill Johnson, who has worked on property belonging to the heiress of the Post cereal fortune for 30 years.

Like home gardeners, the horticulturalists and professional gardeners at Hillwood are confronting an unpredictable climate.

“We’ve been getting mild winters, things start growing sooner, so the bloom time is skewed on everything,” Johnson tells NPR’s Linda Wertheimer.

So what’s a home gardener to do? Johnson says it’s likely you have to change plants.

Read the full story here…

Website Extra: An eclectic collector’s garden

  •   1 Comment

To read the entire article, pick up a copy of Michigan Gardener or check out our digital edition.

In 1985, the Hodgsons contracted with an individual who wanted experience in building a koi pond, so they exchanged the experience for the construction. The soil removed from the pond hole was used to build the cactus berm. The pond water is green because of an algae bloom caused by warm, sunny weather and organic material in the water. If controlled properly it is not harmful to the fish.
In 1985, the Hodgsons contracted with an individual who wanted experience in building a koi pond, so they exchanged the experience for the construction. The soil removed from the pond hole was used to build the cactus berm. The pond water is green because of an algae bloom caused by warm, sunny weather and organic material in the water. If controlled properly it is not harmful to the fish.

 
Mick picking up fish is a demonstration activity. This koi is an early version of the butterfly koi, known for its long fins and tail. The Hodgsons hand feed the koi from the same location multiple times a day, so the fish anticipate the feeding and come to beg when Mick and Cathy are in the backyard. The older fish in the pond teach the young fish about this group activity.
Mick picking up fish is a demonstration activity. This koi is an early version of the butterfly koi, known for its long fins and tail. The Hodgsons hand feed the koi from the same location multiple times a day, so the fish anticipate the feeding and come to beg when Mick and Cathy are in the backyard. The older fish in the pond teach the young fish about this group activity.

 
Cathy feeds goldfish in the figure eight pond.
Cathy feeds goldfish in the figure eight pond.

 
The Hodgsons created this area to bring two paths together and provide a reflective, cool place to sit and rest. In the center is a suspended natural ledge rock with native moss. Water gently overflows from the rock’s center and trickles through the moss and over the edge back into the water. There are a few smaller goldfish to add movement and mosquito control. The Buddha sculpture meditates across from the stone bench and frogs come and go.
The Hodgsons created this area to bring two paths together and provide a reflective, cool place to sit and rest. In the center is a suspended natural ledge rock with native moss. Water gently overflows from the rock’s center and trickles through the moss and over the edge back into the water. There are a few smaller goldfish to add movement and mosquito control. The Buddha sculpture meditates across from the stone bench and frogs come and go.

Janet’s Journal: Simplify your garden Website Extra

  •   Leave a Comment

To read the entire article, pick up a copy of Michigan Gardener or check out our digital edition.

Irises and peonies in Wil Strickland's garden exemplify his advice, "Watch what does well. Plant a lot of that and let the plants fight it out. I call it choosing your weeds."
Irises and peonies in Wil Strickland’s garden exemplify his advice, “Watch what does well. Plant a lot of that and let the plants fight it out. I call it choosing your weeds.”

 
Cathy Connelly: Use non-plant material for color and interest: Statuary, garden flags, rocks, whimsical yard art, even attractive old birdbaths or bird feeders that you give yourself permission not to fill.
Cathy Connelly: Use non-plant material for color and interest: Statuary, garden flags, rocks, whimsical yard art, even attractive old birdbaths or bird feeders that you give yourself permission not to fill.

 
The Fiskars Power Gear loppers (top) are a great tool to amplify a gardener's own power. Many people who have used mine say, "Oh my, I want those!" Meanwhile, Burdette Chapman dreams of being gifted with the very lightweight, superbly balanced, sharp and easily sharpened ARS 25-inch professional hedge shears (bottom).
The Fiskars Power Gear loppers (top) are a great tool to amplify a gardener’s own power. Many people who have used mine say, “Oh my, I want those!” Meanwhile, Burdette Chapman dreams of being gifted with the very lightweight, superbly balanced, sharp and easily sharpened ARS 25-inch professional hedge shears (bottom).

 
Ginger Reichenbach does all the work herself on two acres of garden and wouldn't have it any other way. How does she do it? "Don't stop. Don't ever stop. If you are offered help, take it and have them do things you can't. Sometimes one of my grandsons will help me and I always think then about what my father told me: 'If you have one boy, you have one boy. If you have two boys, you have half a boy. If you have three boys, you have no boy.'"
Ginger Reichenbach does all the work herself on two acres of garden and wouldn’t have it any other way. How does she do it? “Don’t stop. Don’t ever stop. If you are offered help, take it and have them do things you can’t. Sometimes one of my grandsons will help me and I always think then about what my father told me: ‘If you have one boy, you have one boy. If you have two boys, you have half a boy. If you have three boys, you have no boy.'”

The Grand Garden Show comes to Mackinac

  •   Leave a Comment

Proven Winners has joined with Grand Hotel to host “The First Annual Grand Garden Show” this summer on Mackinac Island, Michigan. This 3-day hands-on experience is set for Sunday, August 25 through Tuesday, August 27 and is designed to delight and inspire gardeners of all kinds.

Guests will step back in time as they step onto Mackinac Island. They can look forward to a two-night stay at Grand Hotel, an exclusive cocktail reception on the Grand Porch complete with live jazz, dinners created in Grand Style, and time to create art in the garden. Each day, small groups will break into individual gardening sessions after breakfast and will then enjoy walking tours of 12 exclusive private gardens.

P. Allen Smith, well-known television host and gardening expert, will join the guests at Monday evening’s reception, and will present “A Journey of Colors, Trends and Textures” Tuesday morning. Other topics include “Tips ‘n’ Tricks for Maximizing Garden Performance,” “Hydrangeas Demystified,” and “How to Combine Perennials for Late Season WOW!”.

Jack Barnwell, owner of Barnwell Landscape and Garden Services, will also discuss a variety of topics, and will share the story of what goes into designing hundreds of beautiful landscaping beds each year on an island where motorized vehicles are not allowed.

Every year since 1887, Grand Hotel has welcomed guests and families to Mackinac Island, where bikes and horse drawn carriages are the favored modes of transportation. No two guest rooms are alike at Grand Hotel and many visitors enjoy the spectacular views of the Straits of Mackinac from a rocking chair on the world’s longest porch.

For more information about this event please visit Proven Winners.

Tips for lawn care during wet and cool weather

  •   Leave a Comment

MSU Extension:

At least to this point in the year, the weather of 2013 couldn’t be any different than 2012. The season of 2012 was characterized by high temperatures and extended dry conditions. Now that we’re about mid-June, nary has an air conditioner been fired up and most turf managers are just hoping for a couple days of dry weather. Although precipitation is always somewhat scattered and variable from location to location, since Sunday night (June 9), many locations have received between 1 to 3 inches of rain, and this wasn’t following a dry spell. What challenges do the cool weather and abundant precipitation present for managing your lawn?

Read the full article here…

 

Michigan’s Hemlock Trees Face Big Threat from a Tiny Insect

  •   Leave a Comment

Michigan Department of Agriculture recommends inspecting your hemlock trees

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is a tiny, aphid–like insect that damages hemlock trees by inserting its mouthparts into the base of the needles and removing plant fluids.
The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is a tiny, aphid–like insect that damages hemlock trees by inserting its mouthparts into the base of the needles and removing plant fluids.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (MDARD) is reminding homeowners and landscapers that although hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) can be seen year round, spring is one of the better times to inspect hemlocks for their presence.

“The HWA is a tiny, aphid–like insect that damages hemlock trees by inserting its mouthparts into the base of the needles and removing plant fluids,” said Gina Alessandri, director of MDARD’s Pesticide and Plant Pest Management Division. “This feeding activity results in needle loss, reduced twig growth, dieback and death. HWA can kill an entire tree in as few as three years.”

HWA was first discovered in Virginia in 1951 and has since infested hemlock trees from Maine to Georgia. HWA has decimated hemlock stands across much of the eastern U.S.

Approximately 100 million hemlock trees are present in Michigan forests and hemlocks are commonly utilized in landscape plantings. At this time, HWA is not known to exist in Michigan although it has been found here before.  HWA has been documented in the Harbor Springs/Petoskey area (2006, 2007, and 2010), the Utica and Clinton Township areas of Macomb County (2010), the Grand Haven and Holland areas (2010) and the New Buffalo area of Berrien County (2012). At each of these sites, MDARD required the removal and destruction of infested trees, treated hemlocks in close proximity to those infested trees with insecticides and is conducting follow-up surveys.

The biggest threat of introduction of HWA into Michigan comes from the importation of hemlocks, primarily through the nursery and landscape trade, from areas where HWA is established.  If you have ever had hemlock planted on your property, your hemlocks could have an increased risk of having HWA. Michigan’s Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Quarantine restricts the movement of hemlock into the state, and includes a complete ban on the movement of hemlock from infested areas of the country into Michigan.

Examine your hemlocks for the presence of white cottony masses on the underside of the outermost branch tips where the needles attach. As it matures, HWA produces a covering of cottony-like wax filaments to protect itself and its eggs from natural enemies and to prevent them from drying out. The “cotton” can be readily observed from late fall to early summer.

“Most positive reports of HWA in Michigan have come from alert and conscientious arborists and landscapers,” said Alessandri.  “This underscores the importance of citizen involvement in invasive pest detection.”

If you suspect you have seen HWA, immediately call MDARD’s Customer Service Center at (800) 292-3939 or via email at MDA-Info@michigan.gov and report it.”

Website Extra: The artistic country garden

  •   1 Comment

The garden of Judy and Larry Rowe reflects their love of art and creativity

To read the full profile on Judy and Larry Rowe, pick up a copy of the June, 2013 issue of Michigan Gardener in stores or find it in our digital edition.

Photos by Sandie Parrott

Purchased from a neighbor, this manure spreader is the center of attention in the front yard, along with a white dogwood (Cornus florida ‘Weaver’s White’) and a pink-purple rhododendron (‘Elsie Lee’).
Purchased from a neighbor, this manure spreader is the center of attention in the front yard, along with a white dogwood (Cornus florida ‘Weaver’s White’) and a pink-purple rhododendron (‘Elsie Lee’).

 
Larry made the arbor for this corner garden that sits next to their sunroom where they relax and listen to singing birds playing in the water. There are two ‘Jackmanii' clematis on the arbor, several hostas, and two Alberta spruces for seclusion.
Larry made the arbor for this corner garden that sits next to their sunroom where they relax and listen to singing birds playing in the water. There are two ‘Jackmanii’ clematis on the arbor, several hostas, and two Alberta spruces for seclusion.

 
Larry made the wishing well from an old barbeque grill. The arbor Larry also made is covered with clematis, while clay drain tiles serve as a border. Insulators line the paths to keep hoses out of the gardens and prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa), hardy in Michigan, surrounds a planted cactus dish garden.
Larry made the wishing well from an old barbeque grill. The arbor Larry also made is covered with clematis, while clay drain tiles serve as a border. Insulators line the paths to keep hoses out of the gardens and prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa), hardy in Michigan, surrounds a planted cactus dish garden.

 
Judy collects cacti, even though most are not hardy in Michigan and must be taken inside. The pot of succulents is made of five drain tiles turned upside down and wired together to form a flower shape. The display is crowned by a hypertufa pot made by a fellow Master Gardener.
Judy collects cacti, even though most are not hardy in Michigan and must be taken inside. The pot of succulents is made of five drain tiles turned upside down and wired together to form a flower shape. The display is crowned by a hypertufa pot made by a fellow Master Gardener.

Copyright 1996-2024 Michigan Gardener. All rights reserved.