A host of seminars across the region in the coming months will benefit not only local farmers and agribusiness but home consumers as well.

“Those programs that are geared toward farmers and agribusinesses indirectly benefit consumers by ensuring that they are using the best methods for producing safe, abundant and affordable food and fiber,” said Paul Pugliese, Bartow County Extension Office coordinator. “Our society takes for granted the modern conveniences of grocery stores and restaurants. Extension provides the research and education necessary to keep our farmers feeding a growing world population of over 7 billion people.”

Kicking off Monday in Rome with the 2013 Georgia Ag Forecast, the list of events includes a Bartow County Extension Office open house and a state conference as well as a series for the do-it-yourselfers from the Master Gardeners.

“Consumers that have an interest in home vegetable gardening and do-it-yourself landscaping can benefit by learning from certified Master Gardener Extension volunteers about the many services that we provide through the Bartow County Extension Office,” Pugliese said. “We provide research-based information from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences specific to growing fruits, vegetables, lawns and landscape plants in Northwest Georgia. The information we provide is not biased toward trying to sell or endorse any products, which makes us a unique, local and reliable source.”

For Pugliese, who took over the office in January 2012, said the home lawn and garden series tops his list of seminar picks.

“These seminars will help educate consumers on how to save time and money and be better equipped to make informed decisions about their lawns, gardens or landscapes. We want consumers to take advantage of the vast amount of information and resources that we have available through our office,” he said. “Every day we see clients making common mistakes such as planting the wrong varieties or spraying the wrong chemicals, which can end up being very costly, frustrating or damaging to the environment. These mistakes could have been easily avoided just by contacting our office or referencing the many free publications and fact sheets we have available on these topics.

“There are so many misleading sources of information today from the Internet to junk mail, and ads on television that can confuse consumers. Knowing where to find the answer is half the battle. Knowing how to interpret and apply that information is the next step.”

While the Master Gardener series is useful, trained volunteers are available to assist residents every Monday and Wednesday at the county Extension Office, 320 W. Cherokee Ave. in Cartersville.

“We have some extremely dedicated and passionate volunteers that want to grow the program and reach out to the local community through more educational programs such as the upcoming lawn and garden seminar series and local ‘Ask a Master Gardener’ clinics,” Pugliese said.

Those interested in learning more about the program or becoming a Master Gardener Extension volunteer are encouraged to attend upcoming seminars and clinics.

“We also have a variety of diagnostic services that benefit farmers, agribusinesses and backyard gardeners such as soil testing, water testing, insect, weed and plant disease identification. We help clients make smart, environmentally friendly choices for their farms, lawns and gardens,” Pugliese added.

In March, the Upper Ocmulgee River RCD Council Inc. and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services will hold the first of three Georgia Multicultural Sustainable Agriculture conferences at the Clarence Brown Conference Center.

The theme of these conferences is “myConservationPad,” playing on the popular concept of gathering information through the use of apps on a computer tablet, according to a press release.

“Georgia has experienced a significant increase in ethnically and culturally diverse populations,” said Jerome Brown, District Conservation, USDANatural Resources Conservation Service in Lawrenceville. “At our first Multicultural Sustainable Agriculture Conference in July, the participants received an introduction to local, state and federal resources available to them. The goal of these conferences is to go a step further and provide tangible tools and resources that multicultural producers can begin utilizing immediately. We feel that the theme ‘myConservationPad’ and calling the training sessions ‘apps’ is a clever way of connecting the changing faces of farmers with changing practices in sustainable agriculture.”

According to the release, Cartersville’s conference will highlight poultry management, agri-tourism, how to start a farm, organic fruits and vegetables farming, and micro irrigation. Conference participants may attend sessions on how to become eligible and apply for USDA Farm Bill programs, developing a farm business plan, soil and plant resources, developing a successful conservation plan, risk management, best management practices, engineering design for your farm and how to grow international and ethnic foods.

Pugliese said the fact that Cartersville will host one of the three conferences highlights northwest Georgia’s thriving agriculture industry.

“The combined production value of agriculture in Bartow County is over $84 million dollars per year. This conference is a great opportunity for new, beginning and prospective farmers to network and learn more about current trends toward community supported agriculture and locally grown foods,” he said. “We have a tremendous potential to expand the number of small farm cooperatives, agri-tourism operations and farmer’s markets in northwest Georgia. This will give local entrepreneurs the foundation and tools to move forward in these ventures.”

Following in April, the Extension Office will host its first open house to provide information on services and opportunities through the agency.

“We want participants to see the full range of programs and services that we provide in the areas of 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture Natural Resources, and Family Consumer Sciences. We invite local youth, families, farmers and agribusinesses to explore what we do — there’s something for everyone, both young and old,” Pugliese said. As spring approaches, Pugliese said residents should take the time to learn something new.

“Take the time to learn something new every chance you get. If something didn’t work last year for your farm or garden, then find out why. Try a different approach this year with a new plant variety or a new technique,” he said. “Farming and gardening is a science that is constantly evolving and improving with new and better innovations.”

One gardening trend has yet to wither: People want to grow what they eat.

That’s likely to be evident this weekend at Cal Expo during the annual Northern California Home Landscape Expo. More than 30,000 people are expected to turn out for this huge show, produced by Gary Brown Enterprises. Among the nearly 600 vendors and exhibits are several dedicated to home food production.

From seeds to harvest to preservation, this backyard bonanza is a popular home show topic and one gardening category that continues to mature. New products keep cropping up to meet increased demand, often from gardening novices.

The possibility of producing home-grown vegetables and fruit has created millions of new gardeners.

But will they keep gardening? Often, they get frustrated because their early harvests don’t meet their dreams or investments.

Maybe they don’t want to be full-out backyard farmers, but they’d like to squeeze in a Meyer lemon or a kumquat next to the patio.

This year’s expo is putting added emphasis on edible landscaping and vegetable gardening with new exhibits and workshops loaded with practical advice.

Jenn Hammer, a “vegetable gardening coach,” provides inspiration with her edible display garden at the expo. She repurposed a wide assortment of castoffs – from plastic bottles to an antique washtub – for a creative container garden. For folks with no room, vertical gardens get plants off the ground and onto walls.

Her display focuses on vegetables with something for gardeners of all ages. Much to the delight of youngsters, worms in the vermicompost bin demonstrate how they wiggle waste into fertilizer.

“I let people play in the dirt and give them some different ideas,” Hammer said.

At her Antelope home, Hammer gradually converted her garden to vegetable production.

“First I took out the back lawn, then the front lawn went,” she said. “All I’ve got left is a small space for the dog.”

Hammer, concerned about her family’s health, decided to grow as much food as possible. She uses what she’s learned to help others and puts out information on her blog at jennsgardeningspot.blogspot.com.

For beginning gardeners, Hammer’s advice: Start small.

Many beginners fail because they try to do too much their first season.

“A lot of people tend to start to grow big instead of starting small,” she said. “People don’t realize how much work a garden can be. They start planting too many things and get overwhelmed. Your first year: Get one tomato, two peppers and one squash (all as transplants). Then, see how you like it.”

Vegetable gardens demand attention for success. They need some coddling – and definitely weeding.

“If you’ve never grown anything before, start with herbs,” Hammer said. “They’re small. They’re easy. Then, add the tomato and the squash. Don’t start out trying to do everything at once. Build your experience.”

Hammer uses herself as an example.

“It took me 10 years to take over the whole backyard and front yard. I now can everything we grow.”

In the “start small” category, edible landscaping is a logical bridge.

Edible ornamental expert Geoffrey Wood will present ideas to squeeze beautiful food-makers into almost any landscape. His talk is set for 2 p.m. Sunday in Cal Expo’s Pavilion building.

Wood, a Sacramento County master gardener, sees many spaces for edible plants among ornamentals. Citrus can do double duty as privacy screens or hedges. Lavender and rosemary fit into low-water landscapes. Strawberries form an attractive border or ground cover. Blueberries make a pretty shrub. Chard and kale look interesting as a backdrop for marigolds, which are tasty, too.

“Edible landscaping is definitely an up-and-coming trend,” he said. “There’s so much more awareness about local food, slow food, organic farming. Edible landscaping is part of that groundswell.”

That represents a major shift, he added, and a return to roots.

“We’ve seen a change of mind-set,” Wood said. “After World War II, victory gardens were actually outlawed in a lot of communities. Just a few years ago, edibles were allowed in the front yard again.”

Wood recommends three plants to add color, form and food to sunny spots – that same beginner’s assortment: Tomato, pepper and squash. Ripening tomatoes are eye-catching, peppers come in a rainbow of colors and squash have impressive big leaves and a plentiful harvest.

“Edible landscaping combines form and function,” he explained. “In particular, I really love Thai peppers. They’re so colorful – purple, yellow, red. They fit in anywhere.”

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HOME AND LANDSCAPE EXPO

Where: Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento

When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today and Sunday

Admission: $7; children age 12 and under admitted free

Details: www.homeandlandscapeexpo.com

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

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A few tips on how to get a pro-looking garden all by yourself

Living in cities, most of us only have a little space in the front or out back for a garden. One of our readers (Bindhu N from Killipalam) has written in asking how to modify her existing front garden. She has a lawn but wants something more manageable — potted plants and maybe a bed or two of flowering plants. The reader also mentions that she has a tall light in the middle of this space. I thought it would be interesting to visualise this and work around it, to give you all some ideas.

Potted plants are easy to maintain and can be used in different places and different combinations to give your home a new look every now and then. So, for instance, you could get about 30 potted plants, perhaps eight in 12” pots, 10 in 9” pots and the rest in assorted ceramic, glass and terracotta containers of various sizes.

Now comes the exciting part, choosing the plants. For the large pots, it’s best to get plants that grow big and bushy. Large crotons, bougainvilleas in different colours, and Indian jasmine are good options.

Since we are talking of a home garden, Barleria Cristata or December Poo and Crossandra or Kana-kambaram also work.

Lilies in different colours, areca palms, and plumerias are plants that are available in almost all nurseries and are easy to maintain.

For the smaller pots, get money plants, smaller crotons in different colours, zamia, oleander (Arali), and hybrid varieties of roses, gerberas, chrysanthemums, pansies and seasonal flowering plants. The small, variegated planters can hold fancy plants like zamias, asparagus, lilies, and 10 o’clock plants.

You could also have a few ornamental pots with adenium, cacti and Bonsais. Now that your potted plants are done, it’s time to create the garden.

Plan your flower beds at the end of the garden or close to the boundaries. Plants that grow tall, like canna lilies with their large orange and red flowers, add a lot of colour and are perennial plants in our tropical climate. You could also opt for tall oleanders in a row of red, pink and white colours.

Tall creepers like blue bells, bougainvillea, betel leaf or Vethilai, and Nithya Malli also work for the first row against the wall. In front of this line, arrange a row of potted plants, and then plant another bed with shorter plants — dwarf allamanda, golden duranta, or lavender are good choices. This creates something close to a step garden.

The reader mentions a tall light in the centre of her garden. This can be played up. Place pots all around it, and add a fancy shade to the lamp (terracotta, poly-urethane, or tinted glass) for effect. It adds character to the space. How about a bench or cane chair under it? Even a large granite stone or rock could work as a seat.

Besides this, you can place small potted plants on windowsills and ledges, or hang plants from arty, terracotta containers in your porch or from window overhangs. Your little haven is ready.

The writer is an environmentalist who works on landscaping projects in public and private spaces. Mail her at hinduhabitat@gmail.com

Naples Botanical Garden, 4820 Bayshore Drive, Naples, offers events for a variety of interests. The Garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays. Regular admission prices: Members free; $12.95 adults, $7.95 children (ages 4-14); 3 and younger, free. Information: 239-643-7275 or visit naplesgarden.org.

Special Garden event:

Tributes in the Garden:,5:30 to 9 p.m. today: Don’t miss Rocket Man: A Tribute to Elton John featuring Mudbone from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The Garden will close by 5:30 p.m. No outside food or beverage permitted; bring your own seating. Admission: $7 Garden members/$15 others; child $3 member/ $5 nonmember child.

Lifelong Learning Lecture: 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday: Growing Tomatoes in Southwest Florida: Science and Technique, presented by Jonathan Thomforde; $10 garden members/$15 for others.

Here’s what’s happening this week:

Dogs in the Garden Walk: The family and the family dog both have the opportunity to visit the gardens and enjoy the canine-friendly atmosphere (except the Children’s Garden) during designated Dog Walk Hours.

The fee is $7.95 for nonmember dogs

Sundays: 9 to 11 a.m.

Tuesdays: 8 to 11 a.m.

Thursdays: 3 to 5 p.m.

Saturday, Sunday

W.O.N.D.E.R. in the Garden: 10:30 a.m. — This month’s theme is “Birds.” What makes a bird a bird? Eggs? Flight? Feathers?

Learn the answer to this and more as we examine bird feathers up-close, make birdfeeders and become “bird detectives.” Smith Children’s Garden; no registration necessary.

Sunday

Yoga in the Garden: 10 a.m. The Garden hosts a weekly outdoor yoga class, led by a Bala Vinyasa Yoga instructor, on the Kapnick Caribbean Garden lawn. The fees are $10 for garden members and $15 for others (includes admission to the garden).

Tuesday

Early Bird Hours: 8 a.m. — Every Tuesday, we open our gates for the “early birds.” Whether you choose to paint, take photographs, use the miles of walking trails, or just come out to bird watch, we invite you to join us during these special morning hours.

Regular Garden admission; free to members.

Walking Group: 9 a.m. — Show up at the Garden for a special get- moving program to help guide you in the right direction with health and fitness instruction and activities.

Thursday

Master Gardener’s Plant Clinic: 9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m., Visitor’s Center. Mike Malloy, plant and butterfly expert, answers your questions about plant health, landscaping and more. Free.

Tai-Chi in the Garden: 10 a.m. — Instructor Karen Atkin will host this energy-flow exercise on the Water Garden stage each Thursday. The fees are $10 for garden members and $15 for others (includes admission to the garden).

Break forth into Spring at the 2013 Dogwood Arts House Garden Show
By Jeaneane Payne

The 2013 House Garden Show is set for February 15 and 16 at the Knoxville Convention Center in downtown Knoxville.

The show has been selected as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events for 2013.

With more than 200 exhibits, a Cooking School, a Green Living Pavilion, arts, and the third annual fundraising raffle the House Garden Show, the stage is set for a spectacular event.

Showcasing will be the Grand Gardens which will feature over 10,000 square feet of landscapes constructed by the region’s top designers. Interior designers will display innovations for the home.

Special Features:
• The Green Pavilion is a sustainability initiative that emphasizes energy efficiency and conservation. Green Living vendors will educate attendees about new energy-efficient technologies, products and services, while providing resources focused on greener and cleaner homes, gardens, and overall lifestyles
• A Cooking School, sponsored by locally-owned-and-operated, Avanti Savoia, will be providing thirteen cooking demonstrations focused on home-made Italian cuisine, throughout the weekend
• The third annual fundraising raffle will give visitors 18 years and older the opportunity to win one of five amazing prize packages including:

– Enter for a chance to win $2,500 to customize your own furniture from the HGTV HOME Design Studio at Bassett. Donated by Scripps Networks Interactive.

– Cook like Food Network chefs with $750 worth of kitchen products from Kohl’s. Donated by Scripps Networks Interactive.
– Building materials for a 15′ x 60′ patio to include a fire-pit – valued at $7,500. Donated by ACME Block Brick.
– Two (2) Telescope Casual Momentum Deep-Seat Arm Chairs; One (1) Telescope Casual Solid Surface Coffee Table; and One (1) Big Green Egg, Nest, and Mates – all valued at $4,450. Donated by Prism Pool and Backyard.
– Invisible Fence Silver Package to include a control panel with one (1) surge protector, one (1) computer collar, one (1) power cap battery plan, professional installation for up to a half-acre, and two (2) training sessions from a certified trainer – value: $1,099. Donated by Invisible Fence.

• Artists – furniture makers, custom tile makers, faux painters, fine art painters, and more!

Celebrity speakers will be on-hand throughout the weekend on the Entertainment Stage as they educate and entertain audiences. Among others, Matt Muenster, host of DIY Network’s Bath Crashers will present “Bathroom Design for 2013 Beyond!”; Leigh Anne Lomax from Cheekwood Botanical Garden in Nashville will present “Cheekwood’s Dynamic Dogwoods: Building an Exemplary Collection”; and Alison Victoria, host of DIY Network’s Kitchen Crashers will present “Alison’s Five Best Kitchen Tips.”

Participating artists include: Alex Smith, Art by Nick, Cadman Cummins Studios, Charles Pinckney Designs, Jill Stone Studio, Michelle Monet Creations, The Clay Horse, and Tufa Garden Art.

Participating Landscape Designers include: Ecoscapes, Forever Green, Landscape Outfitters, Mark W. Fuhrman Complete Landscape Services, Petey’s Landscaping, Pleasant Hill Nursery, Proscapes, Reno Land Design, Stuart Row Landscapes, The Lawn Butler, and Willow Ridge Garden Center Landscaping.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors (over 65), and $5 for youth (6-12 years old). Children under 5 are admitted free. Tickets purchased at any local ORNL Federal Credit Union will receive $1 off the ticket price from January 28 through February 14. All proceeds benefit Dogwood Arts.

The show, presented by the Knoxville News Sentinel, will take place Friday, February 15 and Saturday, February 16 from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm and Sunday, February 17 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

For more information on the House Garden Show, visit www.dogwoodhouseandgarden.com.

Published January 24, 2013

The Great Big Home and Garden Show will return to the I-X Center Feb. 2-10 with more than 650 exhibitors.

New Features and Attractions:

• A fully-constructed, 4,000-square-foot Idea Home sponsored by Sherwin-Williams and Cleveland Magazine and built by Perrino Builders will inspire visitors with ways to plan and create their dream house.  

• A fully constructed, 2,000-square-foot Dream Basement built by Chagrin Falls-based Custom Remodeling and Design.

• Fine dining at the Cambria Bistro, a full-service, white-tablecloth restaurant.

• “The Good Life” is the theme of the daily cooking sessions presented by local chefs and instructors of the Loretta Paganini School of Cooking. (www.lpscinc.com).

Returning Favorites from 2012:

• The Garden Showcase, sponsored by WKYC, WDOK and WQAL, and located in the South Hall. 

• On Feb. 2 at 2 p.m., Architectural Justice will host a fashion show on The Main Stage that combines Haute Couture with interior design. 

• The Celebrity Designer Rooms will be custom-designed by a Northeast Ohio design business or exhibitor with the help of a local radio or television personality. 

• Belgard Hardscapes, Inc. will feature outdoor living spaces created by two of the area’s premier landscapers – Rock Bottom Lawn Landscaping and Friberg Landscaping Construction, LLC.

• At The Petitti Gardening Stage, daily gardening seminars on landscape design, flora and furnishing outdoor rooms will be held by Northeast Ohio landscape experts. 

• The Plant Sale begins after the show closes on Feb. 10 at 6:30 p.m. Get great deals on the products and plant material on display in the gardens just in time for spring.

• Kids can have fun in Playground World’s KidsZone, which features slides, swings, basketball hoops and the world’s safest, fully-enclosed SpringfreeTM Trampoline. 

Home Improvement and Culinary Celebrities:

• Known as the de-cluttering and organization guy, Peter Walsh from the hit TLC show “Clean Sweep” will appear Feb. 2.

• The show will also feature Ohio native Chris Crary, a season nine participant and fan favorite from Bravo’s popular television series “Top Chef,” on Feb. 9.

• Matt Fish, owner and chef of Melt Bar and Grilled will also present on The Main Stage Feb. 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10. 

• Returning as this year’s Main Stage emcee, Matt Fox will offer home improvement knowledge and special educational presentations on Feb. 2, 3 and 5. 

Adult admission is $14 at the box office, but discount tickets are available online, at Home Depot and AAA locations. Seniors 65 and old are $10; kids 6-12 are $5, and kids 5 and under are admitted free.

Check the Great Big Home and Garden Show’s website for more information.

­Small, intimate gardens are typical in the older neighborhoods of the New Orleans area, both on the south and north shores. Land is not cheap in towns and cities, and lots tend to be relatively small. Even in the more expansive yards of homes in subdivisions with larger lots and semi-rural locations, areas with smaller-scale plantings — typically close to the house — are not uncommon.

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Kenneth Harrison

 

I have experienced both situations. When I lived in New Orleans, my home in Algiers Point occupied most of the small lot it sits on. My entire garden was a small 30-by-30-foot backyard. Now, I garden on 3 acres in Prairieville.

Despite the larger property, the beds around my back porch and patio area are small and close to my home. The plants and design ideas I used when creating these gardens were quite different from those I used for the gardens located out in the yard, which are on a much larger scale.

Although creating small-scale gardens may seem easier to deal with than larger ones, careful planning is just as, or even more, critical. The choice and use of materials and plants, the positioning and flow of traffic, textures, shapes and colors, and the appropriateness of the planting area to its surroundings — all of these are matters of concern.

When every square inch counts, a well-thought-out plan is essential, since there is less space to plant what you wish for, and the viewer is going to be closer to the landscape and therefore more aware of every detail.

Design considerations

The concept of good design can mean different things to different people, and there is no one absolutely right design for a given situation. To get you started in the right direction, however, certain design considerations are worth bearing in mind when you go about planning a small-scale landscape.

As I mentioned, small-scale gardens often are located close to the home. The style of the garden should reflect the location and style of surrounding buildings.

Look for established neighborhood features (neighborhood buildings, parks, old gardens) and take inspiration from them. The building materials used in the garden should also relate to and harmonize with the building materials used in the house.

For instance, stucco Spanish Revival homes might incorporate formal Spanish elements into their landscape style, while homes with a relaxed, Acadian style architecture would be complemented by a more informal landscape style. You can learn more about styles of landscapes and their characteristics from any good landscaping book.

When I lived in New Orleans, my home was a turn-of-the-century Victorian Eastlake style house. The Victorian period generally favored formal elements in the landscape (symmetry, geometric layouts of beds, straight lines) and the exuberant use of color. This was the style I adopted for my garden.

My selection of building materials was also influenced by my home and neighborhood. After looking around, I chose such elements as laid brick, lattice, wrought iron, clapboard, terra-cotta pots and French doors and stained glass. Remember that your landscape will not exist in a vacuum, and you should feel free to draw on existing surroundings for inspiration.

One last thought on style and materials: Remember that the style and decor of rooms that have a view of the garden should also be considered, since the garden will literally become a part of those rooms and should harmonize with them.

How will it be used?

Once the fundamental style of your garden has emerged, consider the tastes and needs of yourself and your family. The actual form and layout of the garden is largely dictated by how it will be used.

The first step in mapping out the landscape plan is to take stock of your family’s needs that can be fulfilled by the garden. Do you need privacy, a patio for outdoor entertainment or shade? Are you an avid gardener, or do you need to minimize maintenance? How about vegetables, flowers, pets, children’s play areas and hobby work areas? This is the time to consider what you actually have room for.

After you have determined the general style, how the landscape will be used and what it needs to provide, it’s time to begin working on drawing a plan. The area can be carefully measured to produce a scale drawing, or simple sketches might suffice.

The desired features of the garden, based on the chosen style and needs, are arranged and re-arranged on paper until you are satisfied with the results. If there are existing features that will be retained, make sure you include them in the plan.

Plant choices

When it comes time for choosing plant materials, keep in mind the smaller scale, and select plants that are compact, dwarf or slow-growing.

In my small Algiers Point garden, I was highly restricted for space. But I still managed to get in an outdoor living area, privacy, shade, a greenhouse to shelter tropicals during winter, a work area, tool storage, water features, flowers and even some herbs and vegetables. This was possible because I carefully thought out what I wanted or needed from my landscape, and then incorporated as many of them as possible.

When you have a larger property to work with, you have the luxury of moving something you want to a spot away from the small-scale area being designed. I’ve moved vegetable gardening, for instance, away from the gardens around my patio and into its own area. But, I have a small planting of herbs in the beds around the patio near the house, as I like the convenience.

Landscape design tends to be intimidating, even to experienced gardeners. But, just as we create comfortable, functional and attractive rooms inside our homes, I believe most gardeners can do the same in exterior spaces. We just need to take the time to think things through and make plans to accomplish the results we want.

There is always professional help available if needed. If you are unsure of your final plan, consult with a licensed landscape architect to iron out the rough spots. Just like an interior designer, they can help you take your general concepts and specific needs and create something attractive and functional for you and your family.

DAN GILL’S MAILBOX

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A native, ground-dwelling orchid, Zeuxine strateumatica, is known by the common names of lawn orchid and soldier’s orchid. It is native to Florida and along the Gulf Coast to Texas.

 

We would appreciate your help. Attached are pictures of a clump of flowers that appeared in our lawn in the past week or so, and we need some help identifying it. The flower appears to look like an orchid, and the flower stalk is only 3 to 4 inches tall.

Howard Case

You are on the right track, Howard. This is a native, terrestrial (ground-dwelling) orchid, Zeuxine strateumatica. It is known by the common names of lawn orchid and soldier’s orchid, and is native to Florida and right along the Gulf Coast to Texas. This lovely, diminutive wildflower is considered a weed in some situations. I remember it best years ago showing up in the damp, winter lawns of the English Turn area. Lawn maintenance companies occasionally contacted me on how to get rid of it. As they really don’t hurt lawns or cause problems, I always recommended telling the client they were orchids (after all, who doesn’t like orchids) and could be left alone.

I have not heard one word about these orchids for years, yet recently I’ve received a number of emails from around the area showing these delightful little orchids in bloom. I suspect they may be growing in more locations than we imagine, but not blooming and going unnoticed. But, this year they are blooming all over the place. Why? Weather phenomena are often the reason for things like this. I suspect the unusually wet weather is responsible. These little orchids like wet, saturated soil — they are a wetlands indicator species. They are likely happily blooming because of all the rain.

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Is it time to pick all the grapefruit and oranges off of my trees?

Joycelyn Folse

All of the fruit should be removed from grapefruit, orange and other types of citrus trees before they begin to bloom. Fruit left on the tree may diminish flowering and fruit set. Time is short, as citrus trees generally begin to bloom in late winter/early spring. All fruit should be removed by the end of January or the first week of February at the latest.

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Is it OK for me to radically prune back my pentas now? They’ve been blooming ever since I planted them almost a year ago. Now they are just looking a bit tired and faded, so I thought I’d cut them way down and hope for thicker, healthier growth. Is this advisable?

Stacey Dehmer

If they survive the winter, it’s a good idea to cut back pentas and other tender perennials we plant for summer color. But it is still too early. So far, we have not had any killing freezes that would severely injure or kill these tender perennials, but the chance of severe freezes is not yet over. The pentas will be more tolerant to any freezes if you leave them alone for the time being. In other words, it is too early to force the new growth you want. Wait until early March to do this, when the coldest part of the winter is past. When you cut them back, fertilize them. In addition to controlling their height, you can expect to see the plants come back thicker and more vigorous ­– as long as we don’t have a killing freeze in February.

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Dan Gill is extension horticulturist with the LSU AgCenter.

Send mail to:

Dan Gill, garden columnist

The Times-Picayune Living Section

3800 Howard Ave.

New Orleans 70125-1429

Send email to dgill@agcenter.lsu.edu.

Please include a phone number.

JAN. 26

Beautiful Botanicals: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 26 (part 1), Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise. Artist Sharron O’Neil will explore traditional materials and methods of drawing and painting botanicals. Part 2 will be Feb. 2. $25 members, $30 nonmembers. Registration required. 343-8649, idahobotanicalgarden.org.

JAN. 30

Caring for a Water-Wise Landscape: 6 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30, Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd. The first of four in the Water Efficient Landscaping series. The free classes are offered by United Water Idaho, the Ada County Extension Service, the City of Boise and Boise Public Library.

FEB. 5

The Cook’s Garden: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 5, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise. Community Supported Agriculture farmers Jim and Elaine Jenkins will share how they grow an abundance of produce each year at their home farm. $10 members, $15 nonmembers. Registration required. 343-8649, idahobotanicalgarden.org.

FEB. 6

Xeriscape Principles and Design: 6 p.m. Feb. 6, Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd. Discussion with Susan Bell from the University of Idaho Extension Service. Free. Email landscape@unitedwater.com to sign up.

FEB. 12

Happy Houseplants: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise. Learn from experts Dave Fellows and Nancy Willis-Orr of The Potting Shed about the basics of growing indoor plants. $10 members, $15 nonmembers. Registration required. 343-8649, idahobotanicalgarden.org.

FEB. 13

Landscaping with Native and Firewise Plants: 6 p.m. Feb. 13, Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd. Discussion with Ann DeBolt from the Idaho Botanical Gardens. Free. Email landscape @unitedwater.com to sign up.

FEB. 19

Berry Good: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise. University of Idaho Extension Educator Ariel Agenbroad will introduce participants to the best berry crops for the Treasure Valley and share cultivation, maintenance, pruning and propagation ideas to help keep plants healthy and producing for years to come. $10 members, $15 nonmembers. Registration required. 343-8649, idahobotanicalgarden.org.

FEB. 20

Organics for Soil Health and Water Efficiency: 6 p.m. Feb. 20, Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd. Discussion with Mir Seyedbagheri from the University of Idaho Extension Service. Free. Email landscape@unitedwater.com to sign up.

FEB. 23

Culture and Care of Orchids: 10 a.m. Feb. 23, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise. Janet Crist of the Treasure Valley Orchid Society and American Orchid Society will share her 35 years of experiences in growing orchids. $10 members, $15 nonmembers. Registration required. 343-8649, idahobotanicalgarden.org.

FEB. 26

Intermountain Gardens: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 26, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise. Mary Ann Newcomer, author of “Rocky Mountain Gardeners Handbook,” will share her personal recommendations of plants that thrive in our region. $10 members, $15 nonmembers. Registration required. 343-8649, idahobotanicalgarden.org.

FEB. 28

Waking up Your Garden: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road, Boise. Vegetable garden manager Meg McCarthy will discuss planning, starting seeds, preparing and improving the soil, weeding, pruning and other chores to wake up the garden after a long winter. $10 members, $15 nonmembers. Registration required. 343-8649, idahobotanicalgarden.org.

MARCH 22-24

Boise Flower and Garden Show: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 22, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. March 23 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 24, Boise Centre, 850 W. Front St. Shop for the latest in landscape design, garden art and decor, yard furniture, plants, decks, greenhouse and more. Enjoy display gardens, educational and fun gardening seminars, orchid and bonsai displays, a silent auction of container gardens and more. $8 general, $3 children 12-17, free for ages younger than 12. gardenshowboise.com.

MAY 10-11

Spring plant sale: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 10-11, 1211 S. Owyhee St., Boise. Annuals, perennials, herbs and veggies grown by garden club members and CWI horticulture students. Proceeds benefit community service projects and scholarships. idhort.com.

The modern houseplant

Early in 2012 Marten felt that he’d taken flowers as far as he could.
Contemporary statements of glamorous stems in sculptural vases left him
cold. He longed to work with material which was “alive not dying”.

The idea of creating hip terrariums for the modern age had been knocking
around in his mind for a while. In the United States and Australia, indoor
gardens, terrariums and interior landscapes have been coming back into
fashion for a while. Exponents include the artist Paula Hayes, who makes
installations using glass vessels and plants. These, says Marten, “straddle
art, landscaping and product design”, while American companies like Slug
Squirrel make small terrariums from found glass objects.

There are also hints of a revival in Victorian interiors at the moment, with
fossils, natural history specimens and objects of “curiosity” in the mix.
Even “brown” furniture has been rehabilitated. It was hints and cues like
these which brought Hermetica London into being.

However, Marten still has to battle for hearts and minds. For all kinds of
reasons, many of us have given up growing indoor plants. It seems the
Seventies and early Eighties was the last time we thought seriously about
terrariums and houseplants. Back then, everyone aspired to have green plants
in their homes. It was a time of white-painted brick fireplaces with baskets
of ferns inside, or 6ft-high palms beside the open-tread pine staircase.
Large recycled glass demijohns planted with succulents or African violets
were a popular addition to stylish interior shots. Green plants worked with
the newly fashionable “country” look, all that pale wood, macrame pot
holders and Laura Ashley “spriggery”.

Marten’s many trips to Holland as a professional florist had showed him that
fantastic indoor plants are available, but many of them we never see in this
country, so sourcing good material can be hard. The one plant many people do
have indoors is the indestructible phalaenopsis orchid. Trouble is, as their
popularity has soared they have become too familiar. Offerings from the
British wholesale market are often dull, though a few garden centres are
more adventurous. For many gardeners, houseplants can also mean serious
guilt if they die slowly before our eyes, even if they cost less than a
bunch of flowers. We feel more comfortable with cut flowers, knowing that
they are bound to die and can be thrown out.

Marten gardens and knows his plants but he says there is a risk that
horticultural know-how can be inhibiting. “In a way, I need to forget what I
know about gardening and start again from scratch to free up the
possibilities,” he says. He thinks we should all be braver in our plant
choices and resist always buying the easy option: “Buy something beautiful
and delicate and exotic, be prepared for it to die eventually but enjoy it
for the time that you have it. You can always compost it if you feel guilty
when it has to go.”

A glass act

Originally terrariums came from a period when plant hunters transported living
specimens thousands of miles home. They provided a self-sustaining
mini-environment in which moisture created by the plants collected on the
inside surfaces of the glass and dripped down to replenish them. Wardian
cases (named after their inventor the botanist and entomologist Dr Nathaniel
Bagshaw Ward) became a way for wealthy Victorians to display plants indoors,
especially in cities where pollution made gardening difficult. It is
possible, but rare, to find examples of these at fairs and boot sales.

Fortunately, Marten has found a company still able to make glass terrariums.
Conveniently near to London, in Billericay, Essex, Glass from the Past will
be making containers for Marten’s projects and hosting workshops where
people can learn to make a terrarium.

“It’s a cube with a corner missing, basically. You see it as a cube but if you
just tilt it on its side it transforms it. It’s amazing how something so
simple can have such an entirely different effect. We’ll do a 7in cube for
the workshops so it’s easy to take home afterwards when it’s filled with
plants.”

Marten is also working with a designer to make a contemporary “Wardian case
with a twist”, including LED lighting. He says: “It will function as a table
but there will be a garden beneath you and you’ll be able to place it where
you wouldn’t normally put plants.”

Other ideas come from the possibilities offered by electronics and lighting.
These open the way for some extraordinary effects. Why not make a narrow
vertical display case or vitrine which doesn’t take up much space, planted
and hung on a wall? Ken wants to experiment with displays which shift with
time, slowly and almost imperceptibly, or maybe with faster-growing roots
suspended in a liquid medium that change almost daily. Who isn’t fascinated
by the roots of a hyacinth bulb growing into a glass jar?

Containers don’t have to be made for the job though, you just need an eye to
spot the potential of things you come across. For a recent window display in
London’s West End, Marten used groups of old laboratory glasses, bell jars
and flasks combined with small succulents, skeleton plant stems, fossils and
more, making an extraordinarily detailed still-life. It caused many a
preoccupied pavement-focused walker to stop and look up in wonderment at a
fragile natural world of living green, caught and surviving among the city
glass, steel and concrete.

View
some of Ken Marten’s terrariums in our gallery

Visit hermeticalondon.co.uk.
Follow @oscarsinteriors
on Twitter for news of a project with interior design shop Oscars.

Terrariums by Hermetica will be on show at the Garden Museum, London SE1,
from April 8 in the Floriculture exhibition (Feb 14-April 28). Ken Marten
will speak at an evening event on April 12. For tickets see gardenmuseum.org.uk.

The three-day event arrives as GCC governments step up their efforts to revamp outdoor environments, as new legislation in 2013 is expected to be passed requiring developers and contractors to include a minimum of 25% of ‘green space’ and ‘outdoor landscaping’ in all residential and commercial projects.

Ahmed Abdulkarim, Director of Public Parks Horticulture for Dubai Municipality, welcomed the launch of the show to provide a platform for the industry during legislative change.

He said, “With a flourishing landscaping community in Dubai, we are now in the position to create and maintain unrivalled green communities that offer the best environment for people and businesses that are living and working here.”

“By 2025, the vision of Dubai Municipality is to see a quarter of the emirate covered in green space, spanning some 38,000sqm, while we also plan to have one million trees planted by 2014. “The Outdoor Design Build Supply show will present an arena in which we can share knowledge and find new avenues to take this vision forward,” he added.

Outdoor Design Build Supply will address the use of outdoor space in construction projects, providing support to developers, landscape architects and designers creating outdoor spaces including parks, hotels, private and palace gardens, green areas within urban communities, major residential and commercial projects, sports stadiums, golf courses, and hospitals.

In addition to the Dubai Municipality, the show is supported by Municipality of Abu Dhabi City and Al Ain Municipality, and has already attracted big players such as Fitco Irrigation, Greenworks, The Inout Company, Orient Irrigation, Terraverde, Timberwolf, and Toscana Landscaping.

Thea Skelton, Project Director of Outdoor Design Build Supply said, “Gardening and outdoor landscaping is an integral part of our living spaces, and even more so now that there is a conscious effort to develop a greener and more sustainable outdoor environment.”

“With this first edition of Outdoor Design Build Supply, we can look forward to a booming Middle East outdoor landscaping sector, as regional governments and developers continue to put more emphasis on the sustainable beautification of our outdoors,” he added.

Visitors to Outdoor Design Build Supply will include government and urban planning officials, corporate project managers and horticulture experts who will give exhibitors the opportunity to strengthen existing relationships while putting them in front of a targeted market.

Outdoor Design Build Supply is supported by the largest buyers of outdoor products and services.