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July 20, 2012

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Mark Cullen

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

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“Gardening adds so much peace, beauty, humour, adventure, connection (both to nature and to each other) and healing to our lives.”

— Pat Stone

Somewhere on our wish list is a beautiful garden. For many, sitting on a bench and observing the activity of birds and butterflies is about as close to the gardening experience as they wish to get. This column is not for those people.

There are a lot of people who are considering the direction of their education, or are out in the work force and thinking of a career change. I have a message for these people: The future looks bright and prosperous when viewed through rose glasses.

Currently there are over 100,000 people working in the horticultural trades in Ontario; over 200,000 in Canada. That is in the private sector. Add another 40,000 people working in the public sector and you get the picture.

Horticultural trades generate economic activity, taxes and, for the most part, train their own people for advancement. And yet there are less than 500 graduates from formal horticultural courses in Ontario in a given year. Do you suppose that there is a need that has yet to be met? You bet.

As you ponder the work of the landscaper, garden designer, and even the grass cutter, do not be too hasty to assume that there is a limited future in horticulture.

Landscape Ontario, the trade association that represents over 2,500 landscape professionals in this province, publishes the following stats:

 • Level One: Labourer earns $15,000 to $20,000 a year. It is recommended that you have a high school diploma and that you are in good physical condition to meet the demands of the job.

 • Level Two: Crew supervisor, $30,000-$45,000. Several years of experience as a labourer are required and/or a degree or diploma in horticulture landscape technology, landscape design, basic business management, or a Canadian Landscape Professional designation (from Landscape Ontario).

 • Level Three: Salesperson/designer, $30,000-$70,000. You require three-plus years of experience in the field plus a degree or diploma in horticulture. You will be responsible for sales, designing landscapes, estimating jobs, and possibly project management.

 • Level Four: Landscape contractor, $40,000-$90,000 plus. Requires several years of experience, a degree and/or diploma in horticulture and business management experience and/or training. You will manage the financial aspect of the business, oversee employees, customer service, some on-site work, and assume ultimate responsibility for all projects. You are “the boss” but you are accountable to your investors, and your success hinges on your ability to attract and keep customers, who are the real boss.

Look Across the Pond

In Great Britain, arguably the centre of the horticultural universe, Alan Titchmarsh recently reported in The Garden magazine that Prime Minister David Cameron grouped gardening as an unskilled activity along with “litter picking.” The result was a public outcry that could be heard over here in Canada (certainly I heard it).

The very idea that the only country in the world with a 500-year pedigree in gardening would lump the profession in with litter picking was the ultimate insult. The people of Great Britain pride themselves on their sophisticated approach to plants, garden design and nursery production.

“Prime Minister Cameron should consider the impact that gardening plays in society,” Titchmash exclaimed. “If gardening was embraced as a profession to a greater extent than it currently is, crime would decrease and children would grow up with a greater understanding and appreciation for the natural world around us.”

Touché, buddy.

This reminds me of a discussion that I had with Karen York, from the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association. When describing the gardening experience, York said, “It is not an escape from reality; it is an escape to reality!”

When you are in your garden, you are nearer to the natural world than when you are in an office, home, or shopping mall, where the disconnection from trees, fresh air and butterflies is obvious. Driving down an asphalt is not exactly being close to nature either. Though, there are moments during a road trip when the sight of green space and trees does provide its own respite. Even the Don Valley Parkway can provide that.

If the idea of working with plants and people in the out of doors appeals to you, why not join the likes of Allan Kling of Urban Garden, who gave up a promising career in law to become a landscaper. Kling, and many like him, chose to change his live by taking control of his living and how he makes it.

Landscape Ontario is the perfect place to start the discussion about your future in the world of horticulture. They can lead you to a formal education in horticulture, or they will teach you how (through their own in-house, industry-sponsored courses).

Landscape Ontario offers courses on landscaping, garden centre management or irrigation technician. Go to horttrades.com and click on the professional development tab.

Whether you want to work in a greenhouse, on a farm, in landscaping, in design or maintenance, the industry is vast and complex. The upside is that there is a growing need for skilled people. . Being motivated is the key to your success.

Special Event Notice

Protect our ash trees against infestation by becoming an Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Ambassador. Local Enhancement Appreciation of Forests (LEAF) is providing a free training session that will give you the tools you need to educate your neighbours and community about EAB and the options for treatment, removal and planting.

The session will be held at the Scarborough Civic Centre on Saturday, July 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To register, visit yourleaf.org.

Question of the Week

Q: I have a tropical hibiscus that I move outdoors every summer. It has small green bugs on the flower buds. Can you tell me what to do?

A: Hibiscuses are susceptible to aphids. Spray with Green Earth Insecticidal Soap to control the aphid population.

Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author and broadcaster. You can sign up for his free monthly newsletter at markcullen.com, and watch him on CTV Canada AM every Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. You can reach Mark through the “contact” button on his website and follow him on Twitter @MarkCullen4 and Facebook. Mark’s latest book, Canadian Lawn Garden Secrets, is available at Home Hardware and all major bookstores.

Editor’s picks

Chelsea van Rijn from Trevallan Lifestyle Centre with Camellia Japonicas.

IT’S not my fault, it’s my grandfather’s!

Every year I wait patiently for July, not just because it’s my birthday month but because one of my favourite flowers starts to come into bloom – Camellia Japonicas.

This love affair started with my grandfather and all my mother did was cultivate it and make it worse.

If you come into Trevallan Lifestyle Centre at this time of year you can see my love affair may have gone a little overboard.

Do yourself and your garden a favour and treat yourself to a Camellia Japonica.

These glorious plants are sometimes called the rose of winter, but should be called the jewel of winter because they put on a fabulous flower display in the cooler months of the year when the rest of the garden often looks dull and bare.

Japonica flowers are what make this plant so perfect. I get such joy in seeing the buds open to these so flawless and diverse flowers. I have found more than 10 different descriptions of Japonica flowers.

The most common are single, double, peony and formal double. The shades of the flowers are just as diverse and can vary from red to pink to white and sometimes have multi-coloured stripes or specks.

The flowers are not small either, with many flowers being at least 15cm in diameter. What is even better is these plants flower in abundance and last for ages.

A childhood memory is of water bowls all over our house filled with japonica flowers.

Camellia Japonicas have the darkest green glossy foliage.

The leaves are quite broad, thick and smooth, making the plant look lush and dense.

Japonicas will grow superbly in full shade or part shade. In climates where deciduous trees are popular, japonicas are usually planted underneath so they are protected from the hot summer sun but shine while they are in flower and the tree is naked.

Japonicas don’t mind if they are planted in the ground or in a pot. They don’t like wet feet though, so make sure your soil is well drained and slightly acidic, around pH6.

They are quite hardy once established. I find they do best if they are mulched well and are given a good fertilise about every three months with a slow-release complete organic fertiliser.

Why doesn’t everyone have one of these glorious plants? Over the years they have been given a bad reputation because they are slow growing and some varieties can take years to flower.

Many people also suffered with bud drop, which is loss or decay of buds. Beautiful plants do not grow overnight and it is nice to have a plant that does not need constant trimming.

Some Japonicas can take years to flower, mainly the formal doubles, the others flower very easily.

We also now know that bud drop can be caused by over watering, high temperatures, or pot-bound roots. Some things we can fix others we cannot.

A Camellia Japonica in a pot on a veranda is the perfect way to give your dull winter life some TLC and bring some happiness back into your garden.

To read more lifestyle stories

Give any garden a tropical look See how at the Mercer Arboretum Sumer Symposium Saturday

Monday, July 23, 2012

Trilla Cook

Dont have a green thumb? Visit Mercer Arboretum Botanic Gardens July 28 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and learn about growing plants that will give a tropical look to any garden.

Mercer is teaming up with The Mercer Society (TMS), a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization, to present the Summer Symposium Saturday day-long workshop, which focuses on hardy and bold tropical-looking plants that flourish in the heat.

Listen to various gardening experts as they share tips on plant selection and water conservation during the hot summer months.

Enjoy a wide variety of featured topics and speakers, including Gingers and Heliconias by David Glover of Tejas Tropicals; Ferns and Hoyas by Mike Lowery of Another Place in Time; Plants for a Tropical Effect by Gary Outenreath of Beaumont Botanical Gardens; and Landscape Begonias by Tom Keepin of the Astro Branch of the Begonia Society.

Mercer Director Darrin Duling will lead a tour of Mercers own tropical-looking plants to complete the day.

Our Summer Symposium offers visual examples and expert advice, along with a wide range of plants for sale, that will inspire people to inject their garden with an atmosphere of exotic tropical elegance, said Duling.

Duling has been the director at Mercer since September 2011. He has previously served as the director of The Native Plant Center at Westchester Community College in Valhalla, N.Y.; the curator of glasshouse collections for The New York Botanical Garden and director of horticulture for the American Orchid Society. Dulings extensive work history and passion for plants and gardens have taken him to England, Thailand, Borneo, Brazil, Crete, Florida, Oman, Peru, Puerto Rico and Singapore.

The plant sale for participants starts at 8 a.m. (opens to the public at 9 a.m.). The day concludes with an on-site garden tour featuring tough plants that flourish in tropical-looking landscapes. The workshop fee provides lunch, admission to the talks and sale, handouts, and the garden tour.

Glover is a Houstonian who has lived most of his life in East Texas, and is co-owner of Tejas Tropicals and Tejas Heritage Farm, along with his wife, Cheri. The Glovers have four grown children, as well as three live-at-home monkeys. Davids father was a major influence in developing his passion for plants and wildlife, which included weekly visits to Lynn Lowerys garden to check out the newest native plants. His nursery specializes in cold-hardy tropicals including gingers, heliconias, palms, cycads and aroids. He now has one of the largest groups of gingers and heliconias on the U.S. mainland and loves sharing these plants with others.

Lowery was born and raised in the Houston Heights, and started his gardening career at the age of 10 by working on a daylily farm. He is the owner of Another Place in Time which was voted by “Ultimate Houston” as the Best small nursery in Houston. His business is well-known as your uncommon garden center, and is no bigger than the front yard of a Heights cottage. It is full of plants of high quality and low prices, coupled with a marvelous plant-centric gift shop, which brings local gardeners back for more.

Outenreath, director of Horticulture at Beaumont Botanical Gardens in Beaumont, previously was the horticulture manager at Moody Gardens for 13 years. He was involved in the development of the Rainforest Biome and research programs involving medicinal plants and biological controls of damaging plant pests. His qualifications also include working for a landscape architectural firm in Houston; managing a 54-acre wholesale nursery; working as the horticulturist at the 5,000 acre Las Colinas Development near Dallas and writing for both the Houston and Dallas/Ft. Worth “Home and Garden Magazines.” He co-authored the “Houston Garden Book,” and he has made numerous plant collecting trips to Central and South America, focusing on plants of ethnobotanical interest.

Keepin has been a member of The American Begonia Society since 1975. He has found that all types of begonias grow very well and over-winter in the Houston area through experimentation in his own garden. Keepin started his landscaping and maintenance company, Keepin it Green, in 1982, after leaving a position with the Department of Agriculture Federal Grain Inspection Service. He will share his vast expertise on growing begonias as garden perennials.

Paid registration is required by July 16, as space is limited. The fee for the symposium is $70 for TMS members and $85 for nonmembers, which includes handouts, lunch and early entrance to the plant sale. For more information and to register, call 281-443-8731. Information can also be found online at www.hcp4.net/mercer.

© 2011 Ourtribune.com

SEAL HARBOR, Maine — Some of Maine’s most popular destinations are located on Mount Desert Island, including Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. But the island is also home to several remarkable gardens, all connected to the renowned landscape architect Beatrix Farrand, whose philosophy of garden design emphasized native plants and using natural landscapes to define outdoor spaces.

One of the gardens, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden in Seal Harbor, is a private garden that’s open to the public, by reservation only, just a few days a year. But the other two, Thuya Garden and Asticou Azalea Garden in Northeast Harbor, which contain plants from Farrand’s Bar Harbor home, welcome visitors daily for much of the spring, summer and fall.

All three gardens use natural settings so artfully that it’s sometimes hard to tell where the landscaping ends and nature begins.

Farrand, the sole woman among the founders of the American Society of Landscape Architects, was born in New York in 1872 and died in Bar Harbor in 1959. She designed gardens for the White House, consulted at Princeton and other institutions, and had many prominent private clients, including John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife Abby.

Farrand worked with Abby Rockefeller to design the private garden in Seal Harbor between 1926 and 1930. The property is still owned by the Rockefeller family. Each summer, the garden opens to the public one day a week, but reservations fill up fast. As of mid-July, only a handful of slots were left for late August and early September. And there’s no sneaking in: To be admitted, your name must be on a checklist at the entrance, which is virtually unmarked and hard to find even with directions. Photos are permitted only for personal use.

Once inside, most visitors head to the rectangular lawn, where the borders burst with colorful flowers and plants familiar to any backyard gardener, from bright purple clematis vines to gray-green dusty miller. But in some ways the Rockefeller garden is at its most stunning away from the sunny flower beds, where the landscaping melts into the woods. Forested paths are carpeted by velvety moss; giant hostas and feathery ferns offer contrasting textures and a palette of greens. A stone wall punctuated by doorways shaped like the full moon or a bottle give the feeling of stepping into a secret garden hidden in a magical forest. The property also displays centuries-old Asian art, ranging from Buddhas to tall stone figures lining the walkways.

David Bennett, a landscape architect in Washington D.C., has visited the Rockefeller garden as part of his research for restoration of Farrand’s kitchen garden at The Mount, the country estate in Lenox, Mass., created by Farrand’s aunt, writer Edith Wharton. Bennett says Farrand wanted her gardens to “fit into their natural settings. She had a strong appreciation for the natural character of the land and the appropriate way of integrating a designed landscape with its natural context.”

She used plants to create “impressionistic” effects of texture and color, and was also known for creating outdoor “garden rooms,” with “the idea of moving through a landscape in a sequence, from one space to another, where each space has its own character,” Bennett said. “One space may be very shady and enclosed, and you pass through a hedge or a row of trees or through an actual gate in a wall to enter a very sunny and open space.”

The Thuya and Asticou gardens, easily found along Route 3 in the neighboring town of Northeast Harbor, both include plants from Farrand’s Bar Harbor estate, called Reef Point, which Farrand sold in the mid-1950s.

The azaleas at Asticou are finished blooming by summer, but Asticou’s landscaped pond is a star attraction in all seasons. The garden was created in 1956 by Charles K. Savage, who owned the nearby Asticou Inn. The picture-perfect pond reflects the surrounding flowers and trees like a mirror, and the layers of greenery and contrasting shapes and textures look like a Japanese landscape painting. Savage also designed Thuya Garden, where the centerpiece consists of spectacular rows of colorful flowers, from towering blue larkspur to delicate pink and white snapdragons bordering a rectangular lawn.

Those interested in learning more about Farrand can also visit Garland Farm on Route 2 near Bar Harbor, which this summer started offering regular visiting hours for the first time, Thursday afternoons through Sept. 13. Farrand retired to Garland Farm after dismantling Reef Point, bringing plants and ornaments with her and designing her last gardens there. Garland Farm is also home to the Beatrix Farrand Society, which just completed restoration of Farrand’s terrace garden at Garland Farm and is working on restoring other areas there.

Alvion Kimball, who owns the Orland House Bed Breakfast about 40 miles from Seal Harbor and is on the board of DownEast Acadia Regional Tourism, says each of the gardens has its own charms. At the Rockefeller property, he likes the mossy garden best, while the impressive show of flowers at Thuya is like “an English cottage garden.” The garden at Garland Farm is “a more personal garden, on a smaller, intimate scale,” but Asticou with its pretty pond and walkways is his favorite, even without the azaleas in bloom. “It’s just so understated, peaceful and quiet,” he said.

Kimball notes that Farrand’s preference for indigenous plants and natural settings, rather than exotic specimens or rearranged landscapes, was ahead of her time. “You look at what’s happening today with native plants and ecology,” he said, “and to me, it’s almost an extension of what she’d be doing if she were still here.”

___

If You Go…

THUYA AND ASTICOU AZALEA GARDENS: http://www.gardenpreserve.org . Located in Northeast Harbor, Maine, on Mount Desert Island. Asticou is at the intersection of Routes 198 and 3, and Thuya is a half-mile away on Route 3. Open daylight hours, May to October, $5 suggested donation for each garden.

ABBY ALDRICH ROCKEFELLER GARDEN: http://rockgardenmaine.wordpress.com/ . Located in Seal Harbor, Maine, on Mount Desert Island. A private garden open to the public one day a week in late July, August and early September, by reservation only, with two-hour slots filling up well in advance. Check availability online.

GARLAND FARM: http://www.beatrixfarrandsociety.org . Located on Route 2 near Bar Harbor, Maine. Open Thursdays, 1 p.m.-5 p.m., June 21-Sept. 13.

NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Opportunities for hiking, swimming, boating, nature walks and other activities on Mount Desert Island abound, along with accommodations ranging from campsites to hotels. The island is home to Acadia National Park, http://www.nps.gov/acad/ and Bar Harbor, http://www.visitmaine.com/region/downeast/bar_harbor/ or http://www.downeastacadia.com . Other area gardens include the Charlotte Rhoades Park and Butterfly Garden in Southwest Harbor and the Mount Desert Island Historical Society’s Somesville Historical Museum and Gardens.

GARDEN-RELATED ACTIVITIES

• BEARDED IRIS SALE

Where: Shepard Garden and Art Center, 3330 McKinley Park Blvd., Sacramento.

When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. today and Sunday.

Admission: Free

Details: (530) 756-5881

The Sacramento Iris Society hosts its annual rhizome sale with more than 100 colors and types of bearded iris. Experts will be on hand to answer questions and demonstrate correct planting techniques.

• GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS

Where: Elderberry Farms’ demonstration gardens, Soil Born Farms’ River Ranch, 2140 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova

When: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. next Saturday

Admission: Free

Details: http://sacvalley.cnps.org, (916) 717-6155

Hosted by the Sacramento Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society, this hands-on event teaches volunteers how to incorporate native plants into home landscaping while taking care of the farms’ demonstration gardens. Bring gloves and water. Tools will be provided.

• INTEGRATING EDIBLES INTO YOUR LANDSCAPE

Where: Soil Born Farms’ River Ranch, 2140 Chase Drive, Rancho Cordova

When: 9-11 a.m. next Saturday

Admission: $25

Alison Harris of Peas Harmony leads this informative class on how to have a beautiful landscape – and eat it, too.

• SACRAMENTO BROMELIAD AND CARNIVOROUS PLANT SOCIETY SHOW AND SALE

Where: Shepard Garden and Arts Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. next Saturday and July 29

Admission: Free

Details: (530) 273-9161

Here’s a plant show like no other. See hundreds of colorful bromeliads and unusual bug-eating carnivorous plants at the society’s 42nd annual event. Take some home, too.

HOME-RELATED ACTIVITIES

• PLANNING YOUR KITCHEN REMODEL

Where: DreamBuilders Home Remodeling Showroom, 893 Embarcadero Drive, Suite 103, El Dorado Hills

When: 10 a.m. today

Admission: Free

Details: (916) 933-7371

Learn the basics before you start. This workshop will cover cost guidelines, the remodeling process, design, cabinetry, appliances, lighting and more.

• AMADOR COUNTY FAIR

Where: Amador County Fairgrounds, 1861 Sherwood St., Plymouth

When: 9 a.m.-midnight Thursday-July 29

Admission: $10; seniors age 60 and older, $7; children ages 7-12, $5; children age 6 and younger admitted free; parking, $5

Details:www.amadorcountyfair.com, (209) 245-6921

This year’s theme for the foothill wine-country fair is “Barn in the USA.” Find plenty of ideas as well as products to take home to your “barn.”

– Debbie Arrington

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.

It starts innocently enough.

A neighbor with a green thumb has an overabundance of Dames rocket (hesperis matronalis) and shares it with you. You decide to further brighten the landscape with fiery burning bush (euonymus alatis), purple loosestrife (lythrum salicaria) and yellow iris (iris pseudacorus), and throw in a little wintercreeper (euonymus fortunei) for ground cover.

Your garden ends up looking like a hardy riot of color and texture, but in reality, your beautiful yard is bad for the environment.

These species, as well as a host of others, are classified as invasives: nonnative plants that beat out indigenous ones for sunlight, space and nutrients.

While you may not be too concerned because the problem seems contained to your backyard, Emily DeBolt will tell you 80 percent of the plants used in gardens have exceeded their boundaries and taken over roadsides, wetlands and fields.

“With more development, more habitat loss, our gardens are part of the bigger environment, the bigger ecosystems. What we put in our gardens does matter; it’s not just our own space,” said DeBolt, co-owner of Fiddlehead Creek Farm and Native Plant Nursery in Hartford and the director of education for Lake George Association.

Invasive plants can be introduced into new environments in several ways.

Birds, for instance, might eat the berries off the burning bush in your yard and leave their excrement in the woods. Before long, new plants start sprouting there.

Seeds from invasives can be transferred by wind, water and humans.

DeBolt said she often finds dandelions growing along a trail in the high peaks likely tracked in on a pair of hiking boots.

Once they take hold, the effects of these plants can adversely affect the environment, economy and human health.

Such commonplace plants as garlic mustard (alliaria petiolata) threaten tree seedlings by expelling a toxic chemical into the soil.

The aforementioned burning bush, which DeBolt said hasn’t been sold in garden nurseries in Massachusetts for 10 years, is a big problem for maple syrup producers because the shrub takes over the forest understory — the area from under the tree branches to the forest floor — and prevents maple seedlings from regenerating.

Giant hogweed (heracleum

mantegazzianum), which originated in the Caucasus Mountain region between Europe and Asia, is listed as a “noxious weed” on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website. Coming in contact with its sap can cause severe irritation, blistering, scarring and blindness.

DeBolt recently attended a meeting of the Ecological Landscaping Association in London and listened to the serious issues caused by the highly invasive Japanese knotweed (fallopia japonica), which grows in dense patches along streambeds and crowds out native species, and in turn, wildlife. It’s a problem not only in Europe but also here.

The economic impact is tremendous, too. According to one report, plants of this nature cost the United States at least $137 billion annually.

Certainly not all nonnative plants are invasive, and according to one website devoted to invasive species control and management, only about one-third of the plants in New York are not indigenous to the area.

The problem is that 10 to 15 percent are aggressive enough to lessen the biodiversity of a region and wreak havoc on the environment and economy.

At Fiddlehead Creek Farm, DeBolt and her husband, Chris, carry only perennial flowers, grasses, ferns, groundcovers and shrubs that are indigenous to New York. These are the plants that were found growing in this area, typically before European settlement.

Such plants act not only as food and habitat for butterflies, birds and other wildlife, but they having adapted to our climate over time. They don’t need fertilizers or pesticides to stay healthy.

Working with the plants nature intended for your property also means you won’t have to spend money and time amending the soil.

Natives help protect waterways, too, because the deep roots absorb stormwater run-off better than turf grasses and the shallow root systems of ornamental plants.

While some people equate native plants with a wild, weedy look, DeBolt said there are so many choices, you can still have that meandering meadowlike field of flowers with bee balm (monarda didyma), bergamot (monarda fistulosa) and switchgrass (panicum virgatum) if you’d like, or you can cultivate a more defined, manicured appearance using lady fern (athyrium filix-femina), foam flower (tiarella cordifolia) and low-grow fragrant sumac (rhus aromatica) with mulch separating each shrub.

“It really is about having the right plant,” she said. “There are some made for clay and sandy soils, shade and sun. Natives live in extreme climates even within New York — high peaks, cliffs, thin soils, low moist wetlands, the coast. If you have acidic soil, have blueberries.”

DeBolt emphasized when buying plants, be sure to know the scientific name, because there are different species and some may not be native.

Certainly if you have established gardens full of invasive plants, you might be reluctant to pull out what you’ve spent a lot of money and effort sinking into the ground. DeBolt advised just to learn from your previous ways and buy native forever after.

“It’s really just not to have the invasives,” she said.

However, if you’ve decided you do want a more eco-friendly garden and wish to rid your garden of the offending plants, pull them out and place them in a black garbage bag. Let it sit in the hot sun until the plant material turns to mush, and dispose of it in the trash. Don’t put the plants out for waste pick up or in a compost pile, and check with your local department of public works for more disposal information.

And it’s still OK for gardening buddies to share plants; just make sure they are noninvasives.

“It’s part of the gardening culture. We just need to be a little more thoughtful,” DeBolt said.

Some of Maine’s most popular destinations are on Mount Desert Island, including Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. But the island is also home to several remarkable gardens, all connected to the renowned landscape architect Beatrix Farrand, whose philosophy of garden design emphasized native plants and using natural landscapes to define outdoor spaces.

One of the gardens, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden in Seal Harbor, is a private garden that’s open to the public, by reservation only, just a few days a year. But the other two, Thuya Garden and Asticou Azalea Garden in Northeast Harbor, which contain plants from Farrand’s Bar Harbor home, welcome visitors daily for much of the spring, summer and fall.

All three gardens use natural settings so artfully that it’s sometimes hard to tell where the landscaping ends and nature begins.

Farrand, the sole woman among the founders of the American Society of Landscape Architects, was born in New York in 1872 and died in Bar Harbor in 1959. She designed gardens for the White House, consulted at Princeton and other institutions, and had many prominent private clients, including John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his wife, Abby.

Farrand worked with Abby Rockefeller to design the private garden in Seal Harbor between 1926 and 1930. The property is still owned by the Rockefeller family. Each summer, the garden opens to the public one day a week, but reservations fill up fast. As of mid-July, only a handful of slots were left for late August and early September. And there’s no sneaking in: To be admitted, your name must be on a checklist at the entrance, which is virtually unmarked and hard to find even with directions. Photos are permitted only for personal use.

Once inside, most visitors head to the rectangular lawn, where the borders burst with colorful flowers and plants familiar to any backyard gardener, from bright purple clematis vines to gray-green dusty miller. But in some ways the Rockefeller garden is at its most stunning away from the sunny flower beds, where the landscaping melts into the woods. Forested paths are carpeted by velvety moss; giant hostas and feathery ferns offer contrasting textures and a palette of greens. A stone wall punctuated by doorways shaped like the full moon or a bottle give the feeling of stepping into a secret garden hidden in a magical forest. The property also displays centuries-old Asian art, ranging from Buddhas to tall stone figures lining the walkways.

David Bennett, a landscape architect in Washington, D.C., has visited the Rockefeller garden as part of his research for restoration of Farrand’s kitchen garden at The Mount, the country estate in Lenox, Mass., created by Farrand’s aunt, writer Edith Wharton. Bennett says Farrand wanted her gardens to “fit into their natural settings. She had a strong appreciation for the natural character of the land and the appropriate way of integrating a designed landscape with its natural context.”

She used plants to create “impressionistic” effects of texture and color, and also was known for creating outdoor “garden rooms,” with “the idea of moving through a landscape in a sequence, from one space to another, where each space has its own character,” Bennett said. “One space may be very shady and enclosed, and you pass through a hedge or a row of trees or through an actual gate in a wall to enter a very sunny and open space.”

The Thuya and Asticou gardens, easily found along Route 3 in the neighboring town of Northeast Harbor, include plants from Farrand’s Bar Harbor estate, called Reef Point, which Farrand sold in the mid-1950s.

The azaleas at Asticou are finished blooming by summer, but Asticou’s landscaped pond is a star attraction in all seasons. The garden was created in 1956 by Charles K. Savage, who owned the nearby Asticou Inn. The picture-perfect pond reflects the surrounding flowers and trees like a mirror, and the layers of greenery and contrasting shapes and textures look like a Japanese landscape painting. Savage also designed Thuya Garden, where the centerpiece consists of spectacular rows of colorful flowers,.

Those interested in learning more about Farrand can visit Garland Farm on Route 3 near Bar Harbor, which this summer started offering regular visiting hours for the first time, Thursday afternoons through Sept. 13. Farrand retired to Garland Farm after dismantling Reef Point, bringing plants and ornaments with her and designing her last gardens there. Garland Farm is also home to the Beatrix Farrand Society, which just completed restoration of Farrand’s terrace garden at Garland Farm and is working on restoring other areas there.

Alvion Kimball, who owns the Orland House Bed Breakfast about 40 miles from Seal Harbor and is on the board of DownEast Acadia Regional Tourism, says each of the gardens has its own charms. At the Rockefeller property, he likes the mossy garden best, while the impressive show of flowers at Thuya is like “an English cottage garden.” The garden at Garland Farm is “a more personal garden, on a smaller, intimate scale,” but Asticou with its pretty pond and walkways is his favorite, even without the azaleas in bloom. “It’s just so understated, peaceful and quiet,” he said.

The Beaver Dam Area Arts Association (BDAAA) has a new theme for the 6th annual Secret Garden Tour, set for Saturday, July 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Explore Gardens, Lawns and Landscapes,” will allow participants from the area to not only enjoy private gardens open to the public just for this special fundraiser, but to explore some unique landscaping and eclectic yards. The all-in-one map and ticket allow for ease of touring and BDAAA has been fortunate to find several groupings of gardens in areas close together.

The ticket also provides insightful narratives of the creativity spawned by master gardeners, do-it-yourself landscapers, and nature artists who use their property to create amazing destinations and at-home escapes. All monies raised allow the BDAAA a continued presence in our community, offering educational and creative classes in everything from painting and drawing, to gardening and writing, to bringing six to seven art exhibits a year to the Seippel Arts Center.

Along with the Secret Garden Tour, the BDAAA Exhibit Committee specifically scheduled “Green Thumb Art” to coincide with the tour. More than 25 artists have contributed to the exceptional garden art exhibit. The Seippel Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the day of the tour so that guests may view the exhibit, buy tickets for the tour or purchase garden art.

To enhance the overall Secret Garden experience, BDAAA has added entertainment at many gardens. From an acoustic guitar, to violins, a saxophone solo and individual performers such as Chris Hughes and Pam Shuler with her mandolin, participants will enjoy these background performances while browsing through the gardens. The group of high school and college-age students from FOG (For Our Generation) will also make an appearance at one of the gardens, previewing their upcoming performances at Beaver Dam High School from July 27 to 29.

Green Valley Enterprises will provide a 14-passenger shuttle to carry a small group of people to all the gardens. People who wish to ride the shuttle are asked to park at the Seippel Art Center by 9:50 a.m. to board. The shuttle will depart at 10:05 a.m. and will return for box lunches from Black Waters Coffee (optional) over the noon hour. Menus are available in advance to pre-order lunches whether you ride the shuttle or drive on your own. Snacks and refreshments will be served and restrooms are available.

Black Waters Coffee is also offering a Secret Garden Tour special at their location at 308 S. Center St. (Watch for the coupon in the ticket. It’s good on the day of the tour and into the following week).

Guests may visit gardens in any order they choose. A greeter from BDAAA will be on hand to welcome guests at each location.

Tickets will be on sale at Rechek’s Food Pride and Piggly Wiggly of Beaver Dam, or purchase them at the Seippel Arts Center, 1605 N. Spring St. The event is sponsored by Fitz’s Lawn Care, Black Waters Coffee and Green Valley Enterprises. Prices are $10 in advance, or $12 on the day of the event. For more information contact the Seippel Arts Center at (920) 885-3635 or email bdaaa@seippelcenter.com.

“Gardening adds so much peace, beauty, humour, adventure, connection (both to nature and to each other) and healing to our lives.”

— Pat Stone

Somewhere on our wish list is a beautiful garden. For many, sitting on a bench and observing the activity of birds and butterflies is about as close to the gardening experience as they wish to get. This column is not for those people.

There are a lot of people who are considering the direction of their education, or are out in the work force and thinking of a career change. I have a message for these people: The future looks bright and prosperous when viewed through rose glasses.

Currently there are over 100,000 people working in the horticultural trades in Ontario; over 200,000 in Canada. That is in the private sector. Add another 40,000 people working in the public sector and you get the picture.

Horticultural trades generate economic activity, taxes and, for the most part, train their own people for advancement. And yet there are less than 500 graduates from formal horticultural courses in Ontario in a given year. Do you suppose that there is a need that has yet to be met? You bet.

As you ponder the work of the landscaper, garden designer, and even the grass cutter, do not be too hasty to assume that there is a limited future in horticulture.

Landscape Ontario, the trade association that represents over 2,500 landscape professionals in this province, publishes the following stats:

 • Level One: Labourer earns $15,000 to $20,000 a year. It is recommended that you have a high school diploma and that you are in good physical condition to meet the demands of the job.

 • Level Two: Crew supervisor, $30,000-$45,000. Several years of experience as a labourer are required and/or a degree or diploma in horticulture landscape technology, landscape design, basic business management, or a Canadian Landscape Professional designation (from Landscape Ontario).

 • Level Three: Salesperson/designer, $30,000-$70,000. You require three-plus years of experience in the field plus a degree or diploma in horticulture. You will be responsible for sales, designing landscapes, estimating jobs, and possibly project management.

 • Level Four: Landscape contractor, $40,000-$90,000 plus. Requires several years of experience, a degree and/or diploma in horticulture and business management experience and/or training. You will manage the financial aspect of the business, oversee employees, customer service, some on-site work, and assume ultimate responsibility for all projects. You are “the boss” but you are accountable to your investors, and your success hinges on your ability to attract and keep customers, who are the real boss.

Look Across the Pond

In Great Britain, arguably the centre of the horticultural universe, Alan Titchmarsh recently reported in The Garden magazine that Prime Minister David Cameron grouped gardening as an unskilled activity along with “litter picking.” The result was a public outcry that could be heard over here in Canada (certainly I heard it).

The very idea that the only country in the world with a 500-year pedigree in gardening would lump the profession in with litter picking was the ultimate insult. The people of Great Britain pride themselves on their sophisticated approach to plants, garden design and nursery production.

“Prime Minister Cameron should consider the impact that gardening plays in society,” Titchmash exclaimed. “If gardening was embraced as a profession to a greater extent than it currently is, crime would decrease and children would grow up with a greater understanding and appreciation for the natural world around us.”

Touché, buddy.

This reminds me of a discussion that I had with Karen York, from the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association. When describing the gardening experience, York said, “It is not an escape from reality; it is an escape to reality!”

When you are in your garden, you are nearer to the natural world than when you are in an office, home, or shopping mall, where the disconnection from trees, fresh air and butterflies is obvious. Driving down an asphalt is not exactly being close to nature either. Though, there are moments during a road trip when the sight of green space and trees does provide its own respite. Even the Don Valley Parkway can provide that.

If the idea of working with plants and people in the out of doors appeals to you, why not join the likes of Allan Kling of Urban Garden, who gave up a promising career in law to become a landscaper. Kling, and many like him, chose to change his live by taking control of his living and how he makes it.

Landscape Ontario is the perfect place to start the discussion about your future in the world of horticulture. They can lead you to a formal education in horticulture, or they will teach you how (through their own in-house, industry-sponsored courses).

Landscape Ontario offers courses on landscaping, garden centre management or irrigation technician. Go to horttrades.com and click on the professional development tab.

Whether you want to work in a greenhouse, on a farm, in landscaping, in design or maintenance, the industry is vast and complex. The upside is that there is a growing need for skilled people. . Being motivated is the key to your success.

Special Event Notice

Protect our ash trees against infestation by becoming an Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Ambassador. Local Enhancement Appreciation of Forests (LEAF) is providing a free training session that will give you the tools you need to educate your neighbours and community about EAB and the options for treatment, removal and planting.

The session will be held at the Scarborough Civic Centre on Saturday, July 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. To register, visit yourleaf.org.

Question of the Week

Q: I have a tropical hibiscus that I move outdoors every summer. It has small green bugs on the flower buds. Can you tell me what to do?

A: Hibiscuses are susceptible to aphids. Spray with Green Earth Insecticidal Soap to control the aphid population.

Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author and broadcaster. You can sign up for his free monthly newsletter at markcullen.com, and watch him on CTV Canada AM every Wednesday at 8:45 a.m. You can reach Mark through the “contact” button on his website and follow him on Twitter @MarkCullen4 and Facebook. Mark’s latest book, Canadian Lawn Garden Secrets, is available at Home Hardware and all major bookstores.