Monroe County Master Gardener Association

photos and article by Gail K.
#2 HLG bulb show- Despite the room being small it was filled to the brim with a variety of blooming flowers. To not do additional pictures would not do it justice.

I will focus particularly on the Amaryllis; I see these more @ Christmas time.. but here;
Standing tall & erect like soldiers, they lined the walls. Proudly showing off in colors of reds, whites, pinks and a mix of all.

Enjoy-
I see a star in this one, can you see why they are favorites @ Christmas.


Almost translucent and again, a deep crimson star in the center….a needed sign in these times



I have to say I was rather partial to the white ones with just so ever a hint of another color….





Maybe I will try one this Christmas. They really are quite interesting Before departing, here are some other plants which were scattered in the beds among the amaryllis-


check out the foliage on this one….


How many of these indoor plants did you recognize??



That’s all on the exhibit–but since I have outdoor pics to share, let’s do a HLG #3…….hang in there, stay safe gk

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Due to even MORE RESTRAINTS on Michigan’s agriculture businesses I have both written and called the Governor’s office protesting the blocking off of store areas selling plants, seeds, garden supplies, etc. and also banning greenhouse/garden centers from operating. Many of us have gardens that we grow fruits and vegetables in – both from seeds and plants – that not only keep us engaged on our own properties, but supply fresh produce that we consume, share and preserve. Garden retailers are more than willing to comply with restrictions set forth on curbside delivery and are insuring that they will follow the guidelines of the number of customers in the stores/garden centers at one time.
If you agree, please reach out to Governor Whitmer’s office by mail, phone or email – or all three!:
Mail:
Governor Gretchen Whitmer
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing, Michigan 48909
Phone:
517-373-3400
517-335-7858 (Constituent Services)
Email: governorsoffice@michigan.gov.

“In recent comments to Michigan Farm Bureau publication Michigan Farm News, the bureau’s Horticulture Specialist Audrey Sebolt estimated the gardening industry could lose out on between $580 and $700 million if growers can’t sell their plants, and said people might want to turn to gardening as a way to cope with stress.

The decision to shut down parts of stores that aren’t food and medicine comes shortly after the Michigan Farm Bureau requested the governor consider the retail sale of plants essential infrastructure, suggesting retailers were willing to comply with increased restrictions like curbside delivery.

Thanks,
Naida

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Story & Photos by Gail K.
Yearly, Hidden Lake Gardens awaken us from our Michigan winter doldrums with their Spring Bulb Exhibit.

I’m inviting you to HOP along with me, as I “tip toe” thru Tulips & other colorful blooms on display.

As I approached the entry-my visual senses were the first to be aroused–Pansies ;BRIGHT, Bold & VIBRANT guarded the doorway, enticing me to enter the exhibit.

WAKE UP SLEEPY HEAD!!!!

Their nodding faces hold their secrets–“this will be a good day”. Pausing briefly in the entry-my nose was bombarded by the intense aromas engulfing me.

Right on cue I find the main exhibit area; Where, BAMM!- in your face, aromas arise from the
multitude of flowers.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG! If only I could share the essence of the fragrance which encircled me at that moment!!!

The displays primarily in colors of red, yellow & pink; were showcased by a Winterberry shrub, loaded with its red fruits,

A large bottlebrush with its red blooms-

Complimenting the reds were sprigs of blooming forsythia in sunny yellow attire

Surrounded by clusters of pink hyacinth.
Acting as sentry guards- pots of amaryllis in bloom,

Filled the raised shelving along the perimeter of the room.

Tulips, Tulips & Tulips single colors & multi-colored:
many not yet fully opened-

Waiting to expose their inner souls.

This bi-color was a favorite of many-I would like to see it when just partially opened.


The multi colored ones were quite striking and would be most welcomed in my garden!!

Not to be outdone by the tulips- In defiance, Daffodils stand erect,showing off their trumpets—

In every imaginable combination of yellows, oranges, white & peach. Long trumpets & short-

I’m partial to the white or peach colored ones, so this one showing both colors, caught my eye.

Hmmm –?? identity crisis or just mistaken identity??

Hovering near the ground; adorned In colors of pale pink, peach, yellow & white; Hyacinths!

OH LOOK-focusing on those which are hugging the ground we find the small blue clusters of
grape hyacinth.

Those small clusters were complimented by vibrant violas
strewn at their feet.

Folks- many other pictures & of course I took a leisurely drive thru the outside gardens–watch for
HLG #2

To all of you- Peace, Love & Prayers @ this time gk

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To our Michigan Gardener Bulk Subscribers,

Since May, 1996 our readers have enjoyed 176 issues of Michigan Gardener totaling over 4.5 million copies distributed throughout southeastern Michigan. We are proud to have continuously published for nearly 25 years despite the challenging times surrounding September 11, 2001 and the Great Recession. This streak will be temporarily disrupted due to the Coronavirus and the Governor’s March 23, 2020 Executive Order. As a result, we are unable to publish our April issue.

We know this comes as a disappointment for gardeners that eagerly await our April issue and the start of the gardening season. Like so many businesses, we pause as the world waits and watches. However, we are optimistic this too will pass and we will soon get back to publishing. We look forward to a gardening season that will surely be one of the most rewarding in recent memory.

Thank you for your understanding,

Eric Hofley and Jonathon Hofley

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For your enjoyment, Jennie sent this from Bob

Hi Jennie, since i can’t do it in person, wanted to share a new song with you folks. Was feeling a little melancholy over some of the restrictions and such. On the way home from Kroger passed a field of spring peepers having a good old time and that perked me up! So, got home and wrote down this tune. Hope it makes someone’s day a little better. You are welcome to share it if you like. Take care, Bob Bransky

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F3I-50YpQNAePX83KEexWhelLB2kLD6O/view

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I received an email with this link from Garden A to Z. It’s a video from Janet Macunovich, talking about pruning back plants. It is a long video, but should be good for 2 hours of education. I learned much by watching, it’s sure worth the time. In the email, she asked us to share and to part of a trial. Here is the email sent along with the link:

Hello friends!
You asked to be part of our webinar trial.

We are compiling your feedback now and thank you all for taking the time.

See the recording of the March 28 Weekend Walkabout: Too Big, Too Much at

Please share this with friends.

Those who attended the live Weekend Walkabout 3/28 will notice the recording is not the same. Apologies for this. This is a trial, we expected some glitches. The 3/28 recording had serious audio-video synch problems. Yet we wish to post recordings of each Weekend Walkabout trial so we can gather as much input as possible.

So we recorded the presentation again. Differences:

Steven was not able to be there for the recording. Janet solos.

There is no live Q&A with those who attended. This loss is what we regret the most. Good questions, good conversation. Ah, well!

The screen changes size. This was our glitch, made in editing the replacement. We have no time to try a third time. Please overlook that screen size shift.

The posted video includes new information about dividing and controlling perennials. We ran out of time in the live webinar but decided to include perennials for re-viewers. To see only this new material, speed the video to the 1:35:00 mark. Perennials section follows images of birds, frogs and butterflies.

Thanks for helping us with this.
Janet and Steven

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Deb K. sent me a text with some information from Fine Gardening magazine. She sent a link to the article for sharing here. I think you will find it very interesting:

7 Important Host Plants for Pollinators

As well, she sent Jennie’s response, to her sending the article link to her. It includes which ones are in our demo gardens: Jennie’s comment:
” Interesting! Did you think of me when you saw the pawpaw flowers? We have most of those in the demo gardens. Pipevine and that genus of wild buckwheat are not native to MI, although some pipevine has escaped cultivation and “gone wild” in the state. In the demo gardens we have a relative, wild ginger, and a closely related butterfly, the spicebush swallowtail that is similar in appearance to the pipevine swallowtail. (and we have spicebush). The weed called wild buckwheat around here is in another family related to buckwheat, but as its latin name, Polygonum convolvulus suggests, it looks more like a morning glory (Convolvulus), except for the flowers. There is some of that along the chainlink fence at the demo gardens but we try to keep it down.”

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Article & Photos by Gail K.
As promised, I wanted to share the many blooms we saw. Linda’s recent talk focused on “more than the bloom” So let’s blend contrasting aspects of bloom & non bloom.
Focus on the elements of design; Texture, color, shape & form. I love blooms and purple so these caught my eye!!

In a partially shaded area, despite being slender, the color- bright fuchsia, drew our eyes up and to the forefront of the dark shaded background;

While contrasting green and white ground cover draws the eye down

Do you recall Linda speaking of the Kingwood effect when we toured her yard??
Here it is!! We were both drawn to this display of Coneflowers.

The cool vibrant colors were wild & excited our senses

However, the mass grouping of Daylilies had a calming effect; with soft pastel colors of yellow, white
& peach.

{Note how design makes the building almost disappear}

It’s always worth the time to investigate the individual in mass plantings-

Look what we would have missed if we had just walked by-

Garlic heads reach up on stiff stalks in defiance of any mid-summer breeze
below:
resembling the graceful queen ann’s lace-as it softly sways to & fro # note to self- find and plant in my yard

ARE WE TRULY-EVER ALONE IN OUR GARDENS???

DO WE WANT TO BE????

Love Purple–variations of One color; look at all the contrasting in the shape, form & texture

Matters not to me, I would like to have both in my garden

Note the variety of plants & elements of design


Greens do not have to be “just green” — more than the bloom—

Sharp contrast ahead!!

Soft, easy on the eye & pleasing to the nose

Before leaving-we went into the conservatory- large rooms with good variety of plants.

When I tour gardens I don’t really “study”- I hope these photos help you apply design elements in your own gardens. So get out there and explore—
Let’s all be inspired by those who have already done. gk

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Article and Photos by Gail K.
Growing weary & impatient for warmer days, I’ve resorted to looking at garden photos from summer past to thaw my frozen bones. I hope this blog entry will warm the essence of your “inner gardener.”

Last July, Linda & I enjoyed a day at the Kingwood Gardens. We had a focus on seeing a specific exhibit by Lea Gray;Linda will blog later on that. The gardens are undergoing a huge ddition;note the gray area. Please, join me as I re-visit the day thru my photos.

In addition to the construction taking place beyond the painted barrier, it was hot—

so we strolled leisurely from one garden to the next; happy to find shaded respite.

An interesting journey never follows a straight path ( Marjan van den Belt )
From sun to shade to sun.

Note how the gardens embrace all styles,from relaxed borders to defined garden areas.

As the style of gardens changed, so did the use & type of plants in the design.

Despite the time of year, there was an abundance of plants in bloom.

Stairways–leading to or away from???

What is structure for some may be chaos to another.


One’s destination is never a place but a new way of seeing things. ( Henry Miller )


Water is always a pleasant feature in the garden for birds and people. It lends to a cooling effect and it was welcomed that day.


Which method would appeal to you for maintaining order?? Your answer might hinge around trimming when mowing???


Above: intriguing-plantings with defined borders, encircled by soft walkways of grass
Below: Archways attract me & are a favorite structural aspect; the conflict-which way do I go??

I hope you enjoyed viewing the structural & design aspects of The Kingwood Gardens….
How cool is this-Where could we most likely find such a display???

Thank you Linda for being such a valuable resource for us.
Stay tuned, will follow with a post focused on the flowers.

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