WATERBORO – In life, Waterboro’s Barbara Lord had two passions: flowers and books.

It seems appropriate, then, that a $5,000 fund established after her death in 2003 be used to create flower gardens on the property of the Waterboro Public Library.

“It’s a great thing,” said Lord’s daughter, Patricia Joyce. “My mother was an avid reader.”

After a referendum to build a new library near Massabesic Middle School on Route 5 failed last fall, town and library officials decided to renovate the library’s current location, at 187 Main St.

As part of that work, library trustees have decided it’s high time to put the memorial fund to use, building new gardens outside the library and around the sign that greets visitors there, according to Brigit McCallum, chairwoman of the library’s board of trustees.

Of course, McCallum said, the trustees asked Lord’s spouse, Willis Lord, himself a longtime Waterboro resident and past state senator and selectman, for his blessing before proceeding.

 “I think it’s a wonderful thing,” he said, when asked how he felt about the new project.

The building and property have a long history with the town. The land was donated by the Hamilton family in 1925, and the town was free to do what it liked with it, provided the use was educational in nature.

Right away, the town built what was then called the East Waterboro Elementary School, which opened in 1926. It remained part of the school department until the mid-1980s, when it last served as the superintendent’s office.

Meanwhile, McCallum said, the Waterboro Lions Club, noting the lack of a public library in town, had built one on the second floor of its building, located on Route 202, also in the 1980s.

But that soon proved inadequate for the library’s needs, and in 1990, the club moved the library to the Main Street location, preserving the requirement to use the property for educational purposes.

In 2000, the library and its staff became an official town department, and, McCallum said, she remembered getting involved shortly afterward, in 2002, first as a member of the Friends of the Waterboro Public Library, and later as a trustee.

While most agreed that it would make sense to eventually build a new library, McCallum said, it’s been tough to get funding for such a big expense. Now, the trustees are hoping to get some more life out of the existing building, and the gardens will be a part of that.

“It’s really a new chapter in the life of this building,” she said.

When Barbara Lord died, Willis Lord asked well-wishers to donate to a fund in her name, which he eventually donated to the library – about $5,000. Back then, McCallum said, the plan was to use the money to build gardens outside a new library building when the time came.

But with no clear plans to build a new library in the immediate future, McCallum said, the trustees sought Willis Lord’s permission to use the funds to build a garden at the Main Street building.

The project is now under way, with the help of the Waterboro Garden Club. When finished, McCallum said, it will have sunken stone walls surrounding flower beds with plenty of perennials.

“This weekend, we’re starting to buy plants,” McCallum said last week.

McCallum said she hopes the gardens will be finished in about a month.

Queensland gardening guru Colin Campbell.

RARELY do we have a friend, neighbour and colleague the likes of our friend Colin Campbell, so we trust our readers will bear with us for a few moments as we say goodbye to him on your behalf.

He was such an amazing support to the horticultural industry, instigating the start of the Horticultural Media Association Queensland branch where we all became such firm friends, speaking at hosts of gardening events, writing columns and articles, persuading Mayor Campbell Newman to create the beautiful Roma Street Parkland, appearing on Gardening Australia, and of course being a stalwart at the wonderful Queensland Garden Expo in Nambour. There would be few who didn’t feel they knew him personally.

He’ll be greatly missed by all of us, and our sincere sympathy goes to Bev, his wife and helpmate of 36 years – Vale Colin.

 

TASTY VEGIES

With the warmer weather romping in, and maybe a touch of rain or two, the vegetable garden is thriving for most people.

Some of the great successes we’ve noticed this season are the lettuces (in this column recently) and silverbeet, and in our patch they are bedmates!

For those of you who, like us, don’t have much room, we find Silverbeet Rainbow or Ruby Chard provides us with an excellent pick-and-grow again veg that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.

The brilliant stem colours and chopped green leaves add another dimension to stir-fries, soups, omelettes, salads and almost any other combined savoury, as well as making a very tasty “green” third veg to serve with roasts, grills and steamed food – it even goes well with fish and chips.

Rainbow Chard is the Yates Seed of the month for September, so do yourselves a favour and add some of the quite large seeds to your vegie or flower garden now.

It’s very helpful to their germination if you soak the seeds in water for a few hours before planting, then.

As they start to grow, thin them out if necessary and feed regularly with Thrive Soluble Plant Food.

 

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The fan flower makes an attractive ground cover.

IT’S almost Father’s Day, so we have some good suggestions for something special for him.

A great idea would be to give him a 43rd edition of Yates’ Garden Guide, celebrating 125 years in Australia.

These books have topped the best-selling gardening books list for a century, and are available in all good bookshops.

Add to that the excellent gardening magazine, subTropical Gardening – a wonderful gift even for ‘ho-hum’ gardeners, which is a beautifully presented publication with superb photography, and articles from a long list of noted horticulturists in our climatic region.

A subscription to this would keep him well-informed and enthusiastic about his surroundings, with annual subscriptions for the four issues just $35.80.

Phone or fax orders to 3294 8914 or subscribe online to www.stgmagazine.com.au/subscribe.htm.

The quarterly magazine ATG – About the Garden – is produced by well-known local company Searles, who have been providing products to improve our gardening skills since 1977 including this magazine which is about to release its 61st edition.

Filled with good advice and colour, it can be home delivered for $18 annually and $30 for two years, by emailing atg@aboutthegarden.com.au or phone 5422 3090.

Gardening tools are always popular, ranging from trowels, secateurs and leaf rakes, to bigger items such as mulchers that will even chop up palm fronds for under $250.

We sold our Ozito brand we’d owned for five years when we moved to the village, and it’s still going well.

There are also compost bins from $35 and a blower/vac costing $60 that mulches the leaves littering your paths.

The family could all club in together for any of these, and he’d be a happy chappy.

If on the other hand he has all those things, but has dreamed of having his own fruiting trees without the space to grow them, you can easily overcome that problem for him.

There are many different varieties of dwarf fruit trees available nowadays including such delectables as mangos, which would do well as long as they have a sunny situation.

Citrus trees are probably the most popular and are certainly not difficult to grow, and you can purchase several varieties of oranges, lemons, mandarins and limes that would all grow well in tubs.

So select the one he would prefer, purchase a suitable tub and the best potting medium available, and make his day.

 

Plant of the week

There’s a lovely Australian native called scaevola, more commonly known as fan flower (due to the flowers being shaped like a fan), that makes a delightful groundcover for almost any garden.

These hardy plants flower most of the year, are evergreen, and there are several colours available including white, lilac, blue, pink and a new one known as scaevola seaside that has both blue and white flowers.

Our neighbours have one, and it is a real eye-catcher, so we don’t think it will be long before many more of us have some beautifying our village.

They do best in well-drained soil in a sunny spot, and if you have run out of ground space, they make ideal hanging basket subjects.

Have a look for them.

 

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Boyne Island residents Des and Dianne Rigby and their grandson, Cooper, 3, took part in last year’s competition.

IT’S TIME to start pruning, potting, planting and preparing for the 2012 Observer Civic Beautification Committee Garden Awards.

Last year’s awards attracted nearly 50 entries and organisers are hopeful this year’s event will draw an even better response from garden enthusiasts in the region.

There are 15 classes in this year’s garden awards including large garden, small garden, Australian native garden, school garden, vegetable garden and more. Entries close at 5pm Wednesday, October 3, and judging will take place the following week between October 9 and October 12.

Organisers have renowned landscape architect Lawrie Smith judging this year’s competition. To enter the Observer Civic Beautification Committee Garden Awards, pick up an entry from the Observer reception or online at gladstoneobserver.com.au.

Look out for more information about the garden awards in the Gladstone Observer.

The major sponsors of this year’s competition are the Civic Beautification Committee, The Gladstone Observer, Rio Tinto, Bill Robertson Toyota, Gladstone Regional Council and Channel 7.

To Susann Hadler, a September garden tour seemed like a natural, combining good weather with good causes.

But she didn’t want to focus on flowers and traditional landscaping.

“When we came up with this idea, we decided to feature edible gardens instead of another tour of just pretty gardens,” explained Hadler, a member of Soroptimist International of Sacramento. “This gets people inspired, regardless of what space you have.”

And the Soroptimist tour’s gardens do look good enough to eat. Why not? Among the gardeners are chefs Patrick and Bobbin Mulvaney, owners of Mulvaney’s restaurant.

The Soroptimists will bring in master gardeners to answer questions at every stop, along with classical string players to provide background music and other perks to make next Saturday’s tour stand out. Their brochure includes pointers on nearby places for lunch.

When it comes to selling tour tickets, extras can be make the difference.

“We keep trying to think of more things to make it a well-rounded day of tour fun,” Hadler said.

Said Bobbin Mulvaney, “If you buy your tour tickets at our restaurant, we’ll add in ‘Bobbin’s BFF pass.’ (On tour day), we’ll have something special – appetizers or other treats – as an added incentive.”

September in Sacramento traditionally ushers in a second wave of home and garden tours, a chance for groups to raise money while satisfying patrons’ abundant curiosity about landmark homes or interesting gardens.

Now in its second year, the Soroptimist’s East Sacramento Edible Gardens tour features five homes clustered in the Fabulous 40s and around McKinley Park plus Theodore Judah School’s “Science Alive” gardens.

“Psychologically, people think of gardening and spring,” Hadler said. “At the end of summer, gardens are winding down and we start thinking of fall and winter and the holidays.

“But gardens can really shine in September,” she added. “Fall gardens are inspirational. You see things at their peak of harvest – pumpkins, squash, peppers – and you get all winter to think about maybe trying (to grow those things) yourself next April or May.”

With herbs and abundant vegetables, Hadler’s own garden was featured on the inaugural edible tour, which was an instant hit. More than 600 people took part.

“Three people came up and wanted to be part of the (2012) tour,” she said. “We have six gardens this year, all completely different. It shows what you can do with your yard, big or small.

“An edible garden tour is perfect for Sacramento,” Hadler added. “In this part of town, we have great soil. There’s so much interest in edibles now, too. There’s nothing like being able to go out into your backyard and picking something for supper.”

This year’s tour includes a “secret garden” with fruit trees and berry bushes, a sustainable cottage garden with an English feel, a poolside backyard “farm” and a Zen garden that provides food for the spirit as well as the body.

Other edible gardens were recruited by word of mouth, Hadler said. That includes the Mulvaneys’ cottage home.

The couple moved into the Fabulous 40s neighborhood in November and started their garden in earnest in April. In less than six months, they created a series of whimsical outdoor “rooms.”

“This is my family indulging me,” Bobbin Mulvaney said. “I’m having so much fun. I really, really, really love it.”

Her garden started as a Christmas gift.

“Patrick gave me a journal with a contractor’s business card inside and a sketchbook,” she said. “The rest was up to me.”

Mulvaney, a self-described “found artist,” had boxes of castoffs awaiting her creative touch. Broken tile and chipped plates became patio pavers and mosaics. Discarded silverware found new life in wind chimes and mobiles.

“In the restaurant business, we go through so much china,” Mulvaney said. “We’re totally into recycle, repurpose, reuse.”

Oyster shells (more restaurant leftovers) seem to pop out organically from a river of tumbled blue glass that traces through a gravel-covered walkway. Scattered horseshoes create a path.

Nearby, a side patio became an outdoor reading nook, shaded by a glass panel fountain. The former driveway was transformed into a succulent garden and a sitting area with rough-hewn furniture created from a single colossal oak.

Surrounded by potted citrus trees, an outdoor kitchen sits next to a plunge pool, just big enough for a quick dip before breakfast. With raised beds, a backdoor vegetable garden provides bountiful peppers, cherry tomatoes and herbs.

“We’re in a business where we’re constantly critiqued,” Bobbin Mulvaney explained. “Everybody has an opinion about the food, the decór, the service. In my garden, I don’t have to please anybody but myself.”

And maybe the chickens. This summer, the Mulvaneys added two hens – Alice and Dora – plus an elaborate coop to their backyard oasis. Next to the coop is a new water feature created from a crate of broken glassware.

“It arrived at the restaurant this way,” Bobbin Mulvaney said of the cracked glass dishes. “Instead of throwing it out, I thought I could do something with it.”

As with the couple’s restaurant, the Mulvaney garden aims to make people feel happy.

“It’s all whimsical,” Mulvaney said. “We really love to get that quirky smile on people’s face.”

LET FALL GARDEN TOUR SEASON BEGIN

Sacramento’s warm September weather makes early autumn ideal for garden strolls – or tours. Next weekend starts a second season of home and garden tours meant to inspire as well as entertain. Here are some highlights:

EAST SACRAMENTO EDIBLE GARDENS TOUR

Where: Theodore Judah School and five east Sacramento homes

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. next Saturday

Admission: $20 in advance at several locations (see website); $25 day of the event at Little Real Estate Services (4201 H St., Sacramento); free for children under age 12

Details: www.ediblegardensac.org, (916) 709-6748

Hosted by the Sacramento chapter of Soroptimist International, this second annual tour features six diverse gardens that provide food as well as beauty. The school’s Science Alive gardens get kids excited about growing food (and eating it, too). Featured are the whimsical garden of chef Patrick and Bobbin Mulvaney, a poolside orchard with container-grown tomatoes, a sustainable version of an English country garden, a tasty Zen retreat and “the best secret garden in town.” Proceeds benefit Sacramento-area programs for disadvantaged women and children.

RIPON SEPTEMBER STROLL

Where: Ripon (map with ticket purchase)

When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. next Saturday

Admission: $20 general; $8 for children; tickets available at Schemper’s Ace Hardware, 150 N. Wilma Ave., Ripon; the Barbouri, 204 E Main St., Ripon; and garden centers in Ripon, Modesto, Manteca and Escalon.

Details: (209) 599-3871

Hosted by the Ripon Garden Club, this 16th annual community tradition features six Ripon-area gardens. Proceeds cover a lot of ground, too – scholarships, school gardens, Ripon’s Main Street flower pots, the butterfly garden in Stouffer Park and Bethany Home and Beth Haven gardens.

ARDEN PARK FALL GARDEN TOUR

Where: Start at 1217 Eastern Ave., Sacramento

When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 15

Admission: $10 in advance (call for tickets), $15 day of event

Details: (916) 487-5825

Hosted by the Arden Park Garden Club, this tour features a variety of diverse and charming gardens, most within walking or biking distance.

37th ANNUAL SACRAMENTO OLD CITY ASSOCIATION HOME TOUR

Where: Poverty Ridge neighborhood, Sacramento

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 16

Admission: $20 in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/251052 or at these Sacramento locations: Avid Reader, 1600 Broadway; Collected Works, 1019 L St.; 57th Street Antique Mall, 875 57th St.; and Time Tested Books, 1114 21st St.. On tour day, $25 at the booth on 22nd and U streets.

Details: http://sacoldcity.org, (916) 455-2935

Some of the most remarkable homes in Sacramento will be featured on this tour of the lavish hilltop neighborhood that never shook its 1800s nickname – no matter how many millionaires moved in. Among the highlights is the magnificently restored Roan-Didion House, once home to renowned author Joan Didion.

EAST SACRAMENTO HOME REMODELING TOUR

Where:Start at 1355 38th St., Sacramento

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 23

Admission: $20 advance (see website); $25 day of tour

Details: www.friendsofeastsac.org, (916) 452-8011

Hosted by Friends of East Sacramento, this tour focuses on five homes and one garden. Proceeds benefit Clunie Center.

SLOW FOOD SACRAMENTO GARDEN TOUR

Where: Homes in Curtis Park and Land Park

When: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 5

Admission:$10

Details: http://slowfoodsacramento.com

Hosted by Slow Food Sacramento, this edible garden tour features seven homes plus Bret Harte Elementary School’s garden – all within biking distance. Snack on home-grown produce along the way.

HEART OF THE HOME TOUR

Where: Homes in Davis, Woodland and Winters

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 20

Admission: $25, available at the Gifted Penguin, 716 Main St. Suite A, Woodland; the Avid Reader, 617 Second St., Davis; and other locations

Details: www.elderlynutrition.org , (530) 662-7035, ext. 207

In support of Yolo County’s Meals on Wheels elderly nutrition program, this unusual tour features six kitchens in action. This year’s tour has a twist: Chefs will compete in a cookoff with patrons voting for “Top Chef.”

– Debbie Arrington

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It can be hard keeping the garden green in this hot, dry summer, but a new style of landscaping can help gardens withstand drought conditions.

Minnesota’s first irrigation-free landscape garden is in the Longfellow neighborhood of Minneapolis. The Longfellow Community Council along with the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization helped pay for the $4,000 project hoping to set an example of sustainability. Council member Spencer Agnew explains, “We’re hoping that by doing this demonstration project other people will see it, learn about it, and like it enough that they want to try it on their own.”

The plants remain lush and green even though most have not been watered since June 6. The secret? Underground watering basins that retain water and keep them close to plants’ roots. Landscape architect John Kamp of Prairieform Landscaping, who invented the system, explains, “It’s like a bowl except its just earth and the plant is planted in that and filled up with water.” Kamp adds, “We love water. We love our lakes, and this is a way to conserve water in a real way.”

There are 205 plants in the garden, which are being weaned off of water. They were planted this Spring. By next summer, the hope is that they will need no watering at all.

COLUMBIA — Isaac Wagner, a student employee who is responsible for taking care of the Mizzou Botanic Garden, said he and other workers have had to focus on the lack of moisture in the garden because of the drought.

“The heat kind of outruns you,” Wagner said of the struggles that the 45 to 50 workers are facing.

According to the US Drought Monitor website, more than 97 percent of Missouri is currently suffering from what is classified as extreme drought. This has affected the health of gardens and crops across the state. Among those affected is the Mizzou Botanic Garden.

The garden was established in 1999 and is home to 11 thematic and seven special collection gardens around MU. These gardens house thousands of plants, some of which will have to be replaced this year due to the drought, said Christopher Starbuck, associate professor for the division of plant sciences.

The main problem is the severity of the drought, he said.

“When you have a historic drought like this, it’s almost to the point where you can’t water fast enough,” he said. “In a normal year, you may have some drought stress on newly planted trees and shrubs, but this year, with the soil moisture levels so low, it just pushes some of the plants over the edge.”

Wagner said much of his day is spent watering.

He said he thinks MU’s Landscape Services does a great job of giving crews the equipment they need for landscape maintenance, but not all places on MU’s campus have the same watering systems. Some areas, such as the east side of campus, have seen worse damage from the drought.

Starbuck said there is not any physical way the available landscaping crew can keep up with the whole garden.

Karlan Seville, communications manager for campus facilities, said the Mizzou Botanic Garden currently holds 6,200 trees. The maintenance of trees is strongly emphasized because they are more costly to replace.

In order to help maintain the health of the trees, Starbuck said the city of Columbia granted permission to attach fire hoses to fire hydrants in Peace Park in an attempt to transfer water to some of the trees showing drought stress.

In addition to this, there are tools and irrigation systems that are used to help get enough water into the soil.

While the Mizzou Botanic Garden is known for its beautiful plants and trees, some students have noticed a change in their scenery.

“I was excited to come back to fall colors,” Alaina Lancaster, a sophomore, said. “But a lot of the plants are already dead.”

Starbuck said he thinks the drought will affect the way visitors see the garden.

“When it’s hot and dry and dusty and everything is turning brown, it’s just not too attractive, to be honest.”

Starbuck said he thinks the precipitation expected to reach Missouri from the result of Hurricane Isaac will positively affect the garden, even though it might only make a small difference.

Wagner agreed.

“We’re not too worried about some of the watering because we’re expecting that rain,”  he said.

Starbuck said he thinks the drought teaches individuals the importance of water.

“It does make you appreciate rainfall doesn’t it?” he said. “Last time it rained most of the rain came for about an hour, and I just stood outside and looked at it. We should appreciate it when we get it.”

Supervising editor is Elizabeth Brixey.

Johnson’s Legacy Landscapes is moving shop from their location on North Ridge Road in Wichita down the street to a 4.6 acre spot.
The landscape business sits on 3.6 acres now, and according to The Wichita Eagle, owner Linden Johnson wanted to have some more space for display gardens, patios and retaining walls.
Linden and his brother Marty split their landscaping and garden center businesses five years ago, and Marty has been leasing the space for the garden center. Now that Linden Johnson is planning to sell the property, Johnson’s Garden Center may have to move.
Marty Johnson said he would continue to lease his space, but if that does not work, he’ll explore other options.
According to their Facebook page, Johnson’s Garden Center plans to “continue to serve west Wichita with quality plants, gardening supplies and the same advice,” they have always provided.
For more, read the full story at The Wichita Eagle blog.