Despite the recent rains, Cecilia Griego, the city of Redlands’ water conservation coordinator, warns that this is our third consecutive dry winter.

“We’re still in a drought,” Griego said.

Our limited rainfall, along with the increasing cost of water, is prompting more area residents to consider replacing some or all of their lawn with waterwise alternatives.

The timing is good. More extensive water-efficiency rebate programs are in the works by Redlands and other Southern California cities. Also, residents are becoming aware of other benefits of native plants and drought-resistant landscapes.

This is the first in a series of three articles on how to replace lawns and plan waterwise landscaping, featuring area residents who have done the process already.

In 2008, my husband and I embraced drought-tolerant landscaping when the Redlands home we moved into was great — except for the dead lawn. For Redlands resident Brenda Wolfe, the change to drought-tolerant landscaping was spurred by drainage issues in her yard and a longtime attraction to succulents.

Highland resident Molly Bogh urged water conservation for years in her job as a city planner. Then one day her son asked why they still had a large lawn, so she spearheaded a personal project to walk her talk.

Water and maintenance savings

Even though many of us wince when we open our water bills, are we really overusing water? In 2012, the most recent figures available, Redlands residents used 345 gallons per person every day.

While showers, laundry and dishwashing makes up some of that water use, landscaping accounts for about half, with lawns a primary use.

How this compares to other cities might be a surprise. The national average is around 145, meaning Redlands residents use more than twice the average. Chicago, which gets more than double the precipitation, uses less than 90 gallons per person.

However, we’re not the highest. According to the California Department of Water Resources, Palm Springs residents top the list, at 736 gallons.

Income plays a role. In the Bay Area, the affluent town of Hillsborough averages 334 gallons, while residents in working-class East Palo Alto 14 miles away use one-fourth that amount.

The 2001 book “Blue Revolution: Unmasking America’s Water Crisis” claims that lawns make up America’s greatest crop, evident in satellite images that show lawns encompassing about 63,000 square miles and using nearly 20 trillion gallons of water. The high prevalence of lawns in the arid Southwest is especially questioned.

Many residents who have replaced their lawns attest to water bill savings. The city of Santa Monica runs a demonstration project that features two gardens — a garden featuring native plants and a traditional garden with an irrigated lawn. A nine-year case study showed the native-plant garden used 83 percent less water, generated half the green waste and cut maintenance by more than half.

Additional rebate incentive in the works

Is the city getting calls about water-efficient replacements?

“Oh my, we’re getting so many calls. I’m assuming it’s because of the drought,” Griego said.

“We’re working on a rebate program for conversion from turf to drought-tolerant plants, and right now we’re researching the estimated savings to establish the rebate amount.”

Current city of Redlands rebates cover lawn replacements with no-water-use landscaping such as synthetic turf or decomposed granite, so this will offer a specific rebate that previously fell under an “other” category.

Griego said a waiting list exists, with a recent $25,000 allocation from the City Council allowing a continuation of this fiscal year’s rebate program. The program gives residents a 90-day window from pre-inspection to post-inspection, with both required for rebate eligibility.

More than financial benefits

The Theodore Payne Foundation in Sun Valley, which runs a non-profit nursery selling native plants and seeds, is reporting a brisk business these days. Lily Singer of the foundation reports that people are interested in creating habitat gardens that attract birds, native butterflies and other insects that appear with the native plants.

Highland’s Molly Bogh said her lawn was rarely used.

“It was flat, hot and boring out there. There was no place to sit and nothing to do. The new garden design includes a shaded courtyard with seat walls surrounded by trees. Now we love sitting out there with family and friends, watching hummingbirds while the kids play on the rocks,” Bogh said.

Bogh’s advice is to think about lawn conversion as a great opportunity to expand your outdoor living area, while cutting the water bill.

How to kill your lawn

There are a number of ways to kill lawns. Some start by cutting off the water supply — but it’s good to let neighbors know your plan first. With our lawn dead already, we hired someone to remove the top four to six inches. We did need to pull grasses that appeared for the first couple years.

Others use solarization, an especially effective method in spring through summer, in which plastic is stretched over the lawn for a month or more, which results in high temperatures that kill the grass.

Some opt for herbicides. Bogh chose this method to kill about 6,000 square feet of Bermuda grass because of Bermuda’s deep underground rhizome. The lawn was scraped and hauled away.

“Killing the lawn this way allowed us to start building the new garden within a few weeks, instead of spending months with a pick and shovel digging out Bermuda roots,” Bogh said.

There is information on the Internet about different techniques or you can check with a nursery that specializes in drought-tolerant alternatives, such as Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens or the Theodore Payne Foundation.

Upcoming waterwise landscape contest

Aside from the rebate programs offered by more cities, Inland Empire residents who convert should consider applying for the Western Waterwise Landscape Contest, sponsored by the area water districts, which includes monetary rewards.

Redlands resident Brenda Wolfe was the local winner of the 2012 Western Waterwise Landscape Contest, chosen to represent the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District. Our yard won the previous year for the area.

For anyone who has already done a conversion, applications for the 2014 contest will be accepted April 1 through June 1.

Linda Richards lives in Redlands. Her website www.ifnaturecouldtalk.com is dedicated to speaking for the natural world. Contact her at linda @ifnaturecouldtalk.com

Explore
some of the state’s most historic and well-preserved properties when the annual
Maryland House Garden Pilgrimage
returns for six weekends this spring from Saturday, April 26 through Saturday,
May 31.

A
Maryland tradition for 77 years, the Pilgrimage offers the opportunity to
explore some of Maryland’s most fascinating and noteworthy properties,
including the grave of a man who played a key role in the creation of our
national anthem and other landmarks of great import in the War of 1812,
according to a news release.

The
2014 tour includes about 50 private homes, gardens, farms, churches and
historic sites across five areas in Maryland. They are Prince George’s County
(Saturday, April 26); Baltimore County/Parkton (Sunday, May 4); Talbot County
(Saturday, May 10); Calvert County (Saturday, May 17) and Kent County
(Saturday, May 31).

Each
tour is $30 when purchased in advance; proceeds help support preservation
projects in the host communities. Lunches will be available on all tours.
Purchase tickets and get more information at mhgp.org or 410-821-6933.

“In
this 77th year, we are proud to present so many unique and
vastly different types of properties,” said Meredith Boren, Chairman, Maryland
House and Garden Pilgrimage. “In addition to getting a glimpse of the important
role that these individual counties played in the history not only of our
region, but of the nation as a whole, guests on the tours will explore Prince
George’s County’s War of 1812 landmarks, experience examples of both white and
African American one-room schoolhouses in Calvert County, see an inn that
offers a visual explanation of the term ‘bar and grille’ (which does not
involve the cooking of food) in Parkton (Baltimore County), enjoy the flora and
fauna of Talbot County and take in the beauty of a church and grounds that date
back as many as 400 years in Kent County.”

Guests
will be offered lunch (at an additional cost) on each of the county tours.

Highlights
for each of the jurisdictions on the 2014 tour include the following.

Prince George’s County:

The
tour offers a mini history lesson about the War of 1812 and follows part of the
Star Spangled Banner National Historic Trail and Byway. Among the highlights of
the 15 attractions is Bellefields, the main block of which was built in the
first half of the 18th century. It was the home of Major
Benjamin Oden during the War of 1812 and the site of a meeting between Gen.
William H. Winder and then-Secretary of State James Monroe during the war.
Another site of interest along the tour is the grave of Dr. William Beanes, who
was taken hostage by the British and confined to a vessel on the Chesapeake
Bay. Francis Scott Key helped to negotiate his release, watched the British
attack on Baltimore, saw that the tattered American flag still waved at the end
of the bombardment and penned the lyrics to the National Anthem. The tour
concludes at Darnall’s Chance, another 18th century home that
played a role in the war, where locally produced wine and cheese will be
served. 

Baltimore County/Parkton:

A
standout on this eight-stop tour is the Castle Calder. The original dwelling
burned and was replaced by the two-story brick Federal-style home in 1876,
which was lived in by many generations of the Calder family. Calders are
undoubtedly included in the guest log of Wiseburg Inn, in existence since 1810
as a one-stop shop for travelers providing food, lodging, horse changing,
sleighs, animal tending and entertainment. The current owner retained the original
wooden grille work that protected the liquor, which was traditionally locked at
night, thus giving rise to the phrase “bar and grille.” 

Talbot County:

The
Historical Society’s Gardens are the first official stop on a tour that boasts
breathtaking flora and landscaping at almost all of the eight venues. The River
Bank offers an explosion of color inside and out, with vibrantly hued
needlework adorning the rooms and a riot of blooms ringing the pool and croquet
court. Wheatlands features 20 raised beds for organic vegetables and greens.
The grounds at Lombardy include many trees and boxwoods that are believed to
predate the original house, built in 1775. The tour concludes at the Wye
Heights Plantation, where the Federal-style plantation house is complemented by
10 acres of formal gardens. 

Calvert County:

This
11-stop tour offers a glimpse into Calvert’s past – including two very
different examples of one-room schoolhouses. The first, the Old Wallville
School, was used to educate African-American students from the 1880s until 1934.
Originally located in Wallville, the building was rescued from destruction and
relocated to its Prince Frederick site. Later in the tour is the Port Republic
School No.7, an all-white institution, which was built around 1876 and in
continuous use until 1932. The Calvert Retired Teachers Association restored
the facility in 1976 and it is now a living history site for children. The
other sites on the tour include Spout, Tynewydd and Windy Hill Farm, the latter
featuring gardens that date back to the early 1900s, and include daylily,
bearded iris, herbs and virgin forest trees.

Kent County:

There
are eight historic stops on the Kent County tour. Discover what “222 bushels of
good merchantable wheat” would buy in 1780 when touring the Simon Wickes house,
a Georgian home purchased with that quantity of grain. Today, the owner has
opened her riverside gardens to the tour providing visitors with a breezy stop
from the Chester River. Among the additional stops on the tour is 360 year-old
St. Paul’s Parish, one of the two earliest surviving Anglican churches on the
Eastern Shore.

For
more information, tour details and tickets, visit www.mhgp.org or
call 410-821-6933
between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, or send an email
to mhgp@aol.com.

Maryland
House and Garden Pilgrimage (MHGP), a nonprofit organization, is dedicated to the
preservation and restoration of architecturally significant properties in the
State of Maryland. The Pilgrimage has remained constant with this purpose since
its formation in 1937. It is the only statewide house and garden tour
organization and the oldest tour in the State of Maryland, raising and
distributing well over $1 million dollars in its 77-year history to support
preservation projects in each host community.

A 1-acre facility in North Las Vegas serves its surrounding community through researching and demonstrating fruit production under Nevada’s desert climate.

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Research Center Demonstration Orchard, 4600 Horse Drive, tests and demonstrates a variety of tree fruits and vegetables such as grapes, blackberries, strawberries and nopales.

“The orchard has been here for the past 20 years,” said M.L. Robinson, horticulture specialist at the orchard. “We place a special emphasis on water conservation, and we do a lot of demonstrations to see which trees do best in this type of climate.”

The 10-acre orchard is a cooperative effort between the University of Nevada, Reno and UNLV.

New information is developed from research and demonstrations at the orchard, which is published in university fact sheets and distributed to the general public through mass media programs.

Jonathan Chodacki, who oversees approximately 25 volunteers and workers, manages the orchard.

“This climate is not made for great agriculture,” Chodacki said. “There are a lot of adjustments that have to happen to the soil and a lot of work that is involved.”

Research and educational activities are aimed at backyard and small-scale organic fruit production under desert conditions.

After much study, Robinson recommends that people plant deciduous fruits, such as pears, figs, apricots and peaches, which work well in the Southern Nevada climate.

In order to aid people with their gardening, the orchard provides horse manure and a stockpile of natural organic mulch for a donation.

The mulch helps retain water, provides nutrients for beneficial microorganisms and keeps the soil cool in the summer, according to Robinson.

He suggests people mix 3 to 4 inches of mulch with the soil in their gardens or around trees.

The orchard also provides a space for people to meet and learn about gardening through the Master Gardener program.

In order to become a Master Gardener, people must complete 80 hours of training, which consists of 20 classes of instruction.

Classes are offered from 8:30 a.m. through 12:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the spring and fall semesters. Classes include three hours of lecture and one hour of hands-on activities.

There is a $150 fee charged to offset program-operating expenses.

Volunteers must sign an agreement to volunteer 50 hours a year to the program in order to stay certified as a Master Gardener. They answer phone calls, send out informational materials and develop community gardens.

“I joined the program because I moved here from Florida, where the climate was very different,” said volunteer Nancy Grimm. “There’s always something new to learn. We’re always trying different techniques. It takes a lot of patience.”

Various workshops are also held throughout the year.

In the winter, pruning workshops are held, which focus on the selective removal of parts of a plant, such as branches, buds or roots. Most workshops range from one to two hours. A $5 donation is requested.

Upcoming workshops will focus on spring planting, Robinson said.

Past workshops have included water conservation training, ways to reduce pesticide and fertilizer chemical use, landscaping, grape crushing, wine making and gardening tools.

There are 12 beehives at the orchard. The bees aid in the pollination of fruits and vegetablesand provide honey for local chefs and the public through sales at farmer’s markets, according to Robinson.

For people interested in gardening, Robinson suggests that people plant fruit trees in their backyard.

“These trees are great for providing shade; they flower in the springtime, and they provide food,” Robinson said. “It’s better to grow food rather than wasting time and resources on plants (used for decoration).”

He also said grapevines and pomegranates can be used as ornamental plants that can provide fruit in the Nevada climate.

“People can not only feel proud of producing their own food, but they understand all of the work that farmers go through,” Robinson said. “Plus, gardening is much cheaper than therapy.”

The Research Center Demonstration Orchard is open from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. For more information, call 702-257-5555 or visit www.unce.unr.edu.

Children can also participate in gardening classes through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension’s Food for Thoughts program at 4600 Horse Drive.

Karen Johnson, Food for Thoughts School Children’s Demonstration Garden coordinator, is in charge of the school garden in North Las Vegas. The garden is open to schools and the community.

“We started the demonstration garden for teachers and their students to come out, learn and get ideas,” Johnson said.

The garden consists of apriums, apricots, pluots, apples and peaches. Grapevines decorate the walls, and there are also rows of artichokes, onions, broccoli, cabbages and garlic growing.

The garden is protected by cages and bird blocks, which avoid the use of pesticides.

“The biggest challenge of maintaining the garden has to be watering,” Johnson said, “especially when the weather gets dry.”

The 155-foot-long garden is also used to teach the Junior Master Gardeners program.

The two-year program occurs every spring and fall on the first and third Saturday of the month. A new program starts every semester.

There is also an optional summer program for anyone 6 or older.

Lisa Vargas has been teaching for more than a year. She said the program consists of 90 minutes of instruction inside the classroom and 90 minutes of hands-on projects.

“Children can learn so much through the program,” Vargas said. “We teach them about the cycle of life, nutrition, tool safety, discipline and patience. It also teaches them about where their food comes from.”

Every semester, the children must also participate in a community project.

Children who graduate from the program receive certificates and leadership opportunities.

The program is aimed at 7- to 12-year-olds. At the end of the semester, children can harvest vegetables and fruits to take home.

Efforts are being made to create a storybook-themed garden, which will create a space for families to relax during the summertime surrounded by blossoming flowers.

“This place is really dear to our hearts,” Vargas said. “Kids learn not to be afraid to get their hands dirty.”

For more information, visit www.unce.unr.edu/programs/sites/foodforthoughts or call Johnson at 702-257-5523.

Contact North Las Vegas and Centennial View reporter Sandy Lopez at slopez@viewnews.com or 702-383-4686.

MURRELLS INLET, S.C. — On Saturday, March 22, Brookgreen’s annual garden festival offers an exceptional opportunity to get expert advice on a wide range of gardening topics. From demonstrations and guest speakers to workshops and a container plant silent auction, this event offers excellence in horticulture education and ideas.

“Every year we offer lecture that we informative and relevant to our specific areas and this year we have an outstanding line-up and all of the programs are in the Wall Lowcountry Center Auditorium, Learning Labs, and Program Shed, so the event is accessible rain or shine” said Sara Millar, Vice-President of Horticulture and Conservation.

The festival is free with garden admission and guests will receive a coupon for free admission April 12 or 13 for the Plantacular Sale.

Here’s the event schedule:

Lectures in Lowcountry Center Auditorium

11a.m. – noon: 40 Years of Horticulture: Observations, Inspirations, and Invitations

Guest speaker Bryce Lane producer and host of two-time Emmy-award-winning public television show “In the Garden with Bryce Lane.” Since 1981, he has served the Department of Horticultural Science at NC State University as Lecturer, Undergraduate Coordinator, and Professor Emeritus.

1 p.m. – 2 p.m. “Winging it in a Human World”

Join Patrick McMillan as he explores the intricate connections from end to end of the globe that can be traced to changes we see here in South Carolina. Patrick is the host, co-creator, and writer of the popular and award-winning ETV nature program, “Expeditions with Patrick McMillan” and is a professional naturalist, lecturer, and director of the Campbell Museum of Natural History at Clemson University.

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. “I’m not From Around These Parts: Putting Down Roots in the Southeast”

As a transplant to the South from New England, Bryce Lane has learned much about gardening here in the past 32 years. He will talk about many of the successes and failures he has experienced and translate what he has learned into recommended garden practices for all gardeners in the Southeast.

Lectures in Lowcountry Center Learning Lab 1

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. “Lifelong Landscape Design: Gardens for Health and Longevity”

Seasoned landscape architects Hugh and Mary Palmer Dargan, enjoy creating custom master plans for living environments. Their designs for residential properties, museums, churches, and campuses have received innumerable awards. They will talk about how to design a lifelong landscape to produce food, healthy activity, social interaction, and stress reduction.

1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. “Liberated Gardeners Get More Done: Saving Your Planet, Your Time, Your Budget, and Your Back”

Frank Hyman has created beautiful and sustainable gardens in Durham for 20 years as the owner of Cottage Garden Landscaping. He is an experienced practitioner of organic and sustainable gardening and farming techniques. He will share methods and experiences to increase efficiency and decrease garden maintenance.

3 p.m. – 4 p.m. “Photographing Spring Flowers”

Brookgreen’s photographer, Anne Malarich, will share tips and secrets of photographing flowers in the garden. She’ll show you how to capture macros/close-ups by controlling the background, light, and composition, as well as affordable tricks to use for enhancing your photos. She is an award-winning photographer with over 35 years in the marketing and photography industry.

4 p.m. – 5 p.m. Photography Workshop in the Gardens ($25 per person)

After her lecture, join Anne Malarich for a specialized photography workshop in the Gardens. Participants should bring and have a working knowledge of their own cameras. The workshop is $25 per person and reservations are required by calling (843) 235-6016.

Demonstrations in Lowcountry Center Program Shed

10 a.m. – 11a.m. – Tom Francis, of Bees by the Sea, is an experienced beekeeper and even has honeybee hives at Brookgreen. Tom will share secrets of the honeybees, highlighting their significant role in the natural world, as well as secrets of beekeeping.

11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Sharon Stollenmaier has years of experience creating and maintaining water features of all sizes, from fountains to ponds. Sharon will share her expertise of pond and aquatic systems of varying scales, offering practical techniques for the installation, cleaning, and maintenance of garden water features.

12:45 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Ananda Fitzsimmons, co-founder of Inocucor Technologies, a company that makes natural microbial products for use in agriculture and soil and water remediation, will discuss the role of beneficial microorganisms in plant growing systems. Ananda has discovered natural, effective, and user-friendly ways to decrease the use of harmful chemicals in the environment.

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Todd Stephenson, of Total Tree Care, will show us proper pruning techniques to increase plant health and appearance, focusing specifically on Crape myrtle.

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Pruning Workshop in the Gardens ($25 per person) After the lecture, join Todd Stephenson for a hands-on demonstration of proper Crape myrtle pruning techniques in the Poetry Garden. Put an end to “crape murder” – unsightly topping – and other pruning nightmares. Reservations required by calling (843) 235-6016.

Silent Auction – A creative selection of unique and interesting container designs by Brookgreen’s horticulture staff will be available for bids.

Brookgreen Gardens, a National Historic Landmark and non-profit organization, is located on U.S. 17 between Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island, South Carolina, and is open to the public daily. For more information visit www.brookgreen.org or call 843-235-6000.

California is experiencing one of its driest years in history, and a major concern among garden center retailers is the perception of residents, who might think the best way to conserve water is to forgo landscaping on their own properties.

In February, California Gov. Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency and called on residents to voluntarily decrease their water use by 20 percent. State officials have reported that 17 communities are in danger of running out of water in the coming weeks.

Retailers now have the challenge of communicating to their customers that conservation doesn’t have to mean sacrificing lush landscaping.

Altering Public Perception

“There is a worry the wrong message will resonate with the end consumer not to plant and let their yard suffer,” says James Russell, vice president and general manager of Armstrong Garden Centers.

“The message to target the plants rather than the way water is applied is having an effect. A short-sighted message promoted by those that sell so-called drought tolerant shrubs is taking hold and is shunning those who want a lusher tropical look,” says Russell. “A recent newscast showed a homeowner in the shadows not wanting to be on camera because her lawn and landscape were so green and lush. Balance is what we need. Succulents and native shrubs are great and should be a part of living in California.”

Russell says he believes growers should not allow the drought to take away what many people enjoy about living in California.

“If the media and government messaging continue to target plants as the reason we are in a drought, the effects will be a dry-looking, rock garden type of California,” he says. “We have the technology in irrigation control and devices that, if implemented, should not stop a consumer from having their garden of choice.”

If retailers can get the word out on how to best water, as well as the fact that most flowers do not need as much water as they are typically given, Californians could live between low water years without sacrificing the beauty of flowers in their homes and communities.

“Our company message is ‘Don’t change your garden; change the way you water!’ Research shows that California gardeners over water their gardens by as much as 50 percent,” Russell says.

Tips For Your Customers

Armstrong Garden Centers’ experts suggest that gardens and landscapes would actually be healthier if residents watered less, but more effectively.

Here are ten simple tips from Armstrong Garden Centers that could help your customers save water outdoors in a drought:

• Water early in the morning: Set automatic sprinklers to run in the early morning and finish before 8 a.m. This will reduce evaporation and will lessen the likelihood of water waste from interference from winds. It will also reduce plant disease and water damage.
• Mulch: Placing a layer of organic mulch on the soil surface around plants can save hundreds of gallons of water each year. Mulch prevents water evaporation and also stops weeds from growing.
• Repair and adjust sprinklers: Observe sprinklers as they run. Adjust them as necessary to reduce overspray on sidewalks, roads and patios etc. Repair damaged sprinklers immediately. Check pipes for leaks. Quick repairs and adjustments can save as much as 500 gallons each year.
• Water deeper, but less often: Most gardens on automatic sprinkling systems in California are over watered. Change systems to water every other day or every third day. At the same time, increase the times by only 50 to 75 percent. There will be less evaporation and water will be further down to where roots can access it.
• Change watering times with the seasons: Gardeners should adjusts automatic systems at least three times per year. Highest frequency will be July to October, lowest will be November to March, with April to June somewhere in between. During periods of rain, turn off automatic systems.
• Use trigger sprayers when hand-watering: Every hose should be equipped with a trigger sprayer so water is not wasted. Also, use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks.
• Minimize water loss in pots: Use water-retentive potting soils such as Danish Potting Soil in all container gardens. Add soil polymers to potting soil and planting time. Polymers store water for plants’ use as the soil dries.
• Add lots of compost to your soil: Adding store-bought or homemade compost to planting beds and pots will decrease the amount water needed. Clay soils that are amended with organic matter will accept and retain water better. Sandy soils improved with compost will have improved water absorption and retention.
• Use organic fertilizers: Organic fertilizers slowly release nutrients into the soil at a natural rate that matches plants’ needs. With a slow, even feeding there is no overabundance of soft green growth that chemical fertilizers produce. Thus, plants need less water when fed organically.
• Install a smart sprinkler controller: The latest technology can help dramatically reduce water use (and water bills). These wireless “smart controllers” activate automatic sprinklers via computer based on current weather data and information about the specifics of your garden. This type of controller can save 40 gallons or more each day.

The Hawaii Island Landscape Association, working with the University of Hawaii Extension Service, is holding classes for those who would like to learn about installing a new landscape or maintaining an existing one.

The series of 10 classes will cover a range of topics of interest and value for homeowners interested in gardening as well as professional landscapers and landscape workers seeking ways to improve their knowledge and service to their clients. The classes are open to the public as a series or individually and are offered from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays at the Kaupulehu Interpretive Center, located north of the old Kona Village Resort.

March 26, Erin Lee, landscape director at Hualalai Resort, will review basic botany and identify about 75 groundcovers and shrubs that grow well here. I will continue with more plant identification the following week, covering additional shrubs, tropical trees and common weeds. Included in this class will be a review of herbicides that can help control weedy pests in Hawaii.

On April 9, Derek Shigematsu from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture will discuss the safe and effective use of pesticides. Ty McDonald from University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources will discuss soil health and its importance April 16. If you want to install or maintain an existing irrigation system, Brian Burke from Grass Busters Landscape will share helpful information in his “Irrigation Basics” class April 23.

Learning to prune properly is essential for maintaining healthy, productive plants. I will review the basics of pruning and offer hands-on practice April 30 in “Pruning Tree and Shrubs.” Chris McCullough’s “Turf Care” will offer lots of information on mowing, fertilizing and maintaining healthy lawns May 7.

Valuable information on the planting, transplanting and upkeep of a healthy landscape will be offered in “Establishing and Managing a Landscape” by Keone Au from Island Greenscapes on May 14. Learning to identify pests and control insects in Hawaiian landscapes will be covered in UH’s Chris Jacobsen’s “Insect Pest ID and Control” on May 21.

The final class, “Plan Reading and Calculations,” will be of interest to homeowners as well as professionals who need to follow a landscape architect’s plans. Since ordering supplies as well as calculating pesticide and fertilizer application rates is also part of all landscaping work, a special section of this class will be devoted to math. Garrett Webb, from Kalaoa Gardens will help simplify the task.

Classes are offered to members of HILA for $35 each or $325 for the complete series. The public is invited to attend at $40 per class or $375 for the series. More information is available through Ty McDonald at the UH-CTAHR office in Kainaliu. Contact him at tym@hawaii.edu or 322-4884. Schedules and registration forms are available at hilahawaii.com. The deadline to register is March 19.

HILA offers this series of classes annually to help homeowners and landscapers gain new information and review the basics of good landscape maintenance practices. With so few gardening and landscaping classes available in West Hawaii, you may want to take advantage of the opportunity these classes offer.

Additionally, a landscape maintenance certification test preparation intensive will be offered June 7. Information on the test and preparation are available through the contacts for Ty McDonald.

Tropical gardening helpline

Phil asks: I have been given a koa tree that is about 17 feet tall. We live at 3,500 feet elevation on the wet side of Waimea and want to know where and how to plant our new tree. What are the best conditions for growing koa trees?

Tropical Gardener answer: You are lucky to get a koa tree. The Acacia koa is endemic to Hawaii, meaning that the species originated here and nowhere else. The Hawaiian word koa means brave, bold, fearless or warrior, so you have acquired a hardy tree for your landscape. They grow quickly into lovely, large specimens so plan on giving your young tree lots of room to grow.

Your location is a good one for koa. They are native to upland forests and will do well at your elevation and enjoy the frequent rains. Since you are on the wet side of Waimea, you may want to plant the tree in a sunny spot where it will get full sun on nonrainy days. That will allow it to grow rapidly and develop an attractive shape.

Dig a hole for your new tree that is twice as wide as the pot it is in and the same depth. You want to mix native soil with about 30 percent organic matter to fill the hole once the tree is in place. Carefully plant the tree so the soil line that is established in the pot remains the same in the ground. You do not want to bury the “crown” of the plant which is right at the soil line. Be sure the tree does not sink once planted.

For the first week or two, water the tree deeply every second or third day if you have no rain. You can water less once you see new leaves appearing. Though koa can get root rot and other diseases at lower elevations, it will probably be fine with only rainwater and occasional watering during dry spells.

Because koa is a nitrogen-fixing plant, it will do fine with little fertilizing. Applying a fertilizer with low nitrogen and micronutrients two or three times a year should be plenty. You can prune your tree as you like to help it develop an appealing shape, but its natural growth habit is tall with an attractive, spreading round head. Left alone it will probably do fine. In favorable conditions your tree can grow as much as 5 feet per year.

Email plant questions to konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu for answers by Certified Master Gardeners. Some questions will be chosen for inclusion in this column.

Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant with an organic farm in Captain Cook.

After 40 years of dispensing gardening advice in magazines and newspapers, Jan Riggenbach will be giving some personal pointers to Chicago-area readers.

At 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, the Omaha resident will be the first of dozens of speakers to take the podium over the nine-day run of the Chicago Flower Garden Show at Navy Pier.

Riggenbach, who focuses on the tough conditions faced by Midwest gardeners, for many years had room to indulge and experiment on 30 acres. She since downsized and is still learning what works and what doesn’t on smaller lots.

“Big Ideas for Smaller Gardens” is the topic of her seminar. Striving for more impact, more fun and less work is the idea.

“This is a reflection of what I am doing with my own new city garden,” says Riggenbach. Her book “Your Midwest Garden: An Owner’s Manual,” a compilation of columns and other information, was published last year.

In visits with gardeners around the Midwest, Riggenbach said she has encountered many who are faced with less garden space and limited energy and/or time. So have show organizers.

“Seventy percent of our attendees come from the suburbs but a fair amount of people ask, ‘What can we do in a small space?'” said Tony Abruscato, show director and president of Flower Show Productions.

“Jan’s not hard to find in the gardening community. With her new book coming out and things she’s done over the course of her career, she was somebody exciting for us,” to have as part of the show, he added.

Riggenbach says she will share her “less can be more” discoveries.

“It’s my garden style. Now my attention has turned to having the biggest impact with the easiest plants,” she said.

“I’ve discovered it’s also on the minds of a lot of other people. They may have a lack of space or they may have a lack of time but everybody wants the biggest impact with the least effort.”

Some examples include:

• Pint-size shrubs, such as Little devil ninebark and Little Lime hydrangea, require little pruning and don’t require a lot of space.

• Avoid perennials that spread aggressively such as ladybells and spotted bellflower.

• Favor trouble-free varieties like coral bells, that can take the heat.

• Depend on slow-growing perennials such as gas plant and goat’s beard that last long and don’t need dividing.

• Increase food production by growing vegetables in permanent raised beds and by landscaping with berry-producing shrubs and other edible plants.

• Plant a diverse mix so a disease or pest won’t take out a large segment of the landscape. “It’s so easy to fall into the trap of loving a ton of one kind of plant,” Riggenbach says.

• Celebrate our Midwest heritage by landscaping with ornamental prairie grasses an other native plants.

“I had a lot of plans but I also was surprised that everything didn’t work out the way I thought it would,” she said. “It’s kind of an ongoing effort to get the right plant in the right place.”

In keeping with the “Do Green, Do Good” theme of the show, Riggenbach said she will emphasize environmentally friendly practices. Planting native wildflowers, such as boneset, golden alexander and asters, for example, will attract pollinators and beneficial insects.

Riggenbach also advocates conserving water via rain gardens and rain barrels and careful plant selection. Eliminating tilling, mowing and edging can conserve fossil fuels, she added.

Besides the daily seminars, the show includes a stage and several mini-classroms that will feature live gardening demonstrations and how-to tips on shrub pruning, dividing perennials and other topics. Organizers say there will be more than 150 educational workshops and seminars.

The 170,000-square-foot venue also will feature 26 display gardens to include 70 varieties of tulips and 20 varieties of hyacinths, for example, Abruscato said.

“We’re in there so long,” he said of the duration of the show, “my seasonal allergies kick in.”

Speaking of the season, the winter that won’t end bodes well for plants here, according to Riggenbach.

“Having the persistent snow cover is a lot better for plants than not having one,” she said.

“It’s an insulating blanket. I would say your area is set up for a very good spring.”

1:00 AM

‘Ornamedibles’ are putting down roots at your local garden centers and appear to be here to stay.

By Tom Atwell

Gardeners have shown increasing interest in growing food for about six years, since the most recent recession hit. Now they want more: to grow food and have a beautiful garden at the same time.

“People are looking for ways to make vegetables pretty,” Christina Salwitz of Renton, Wash., said in a lecture at New England Grows in Boston last month. “They want to consider aesthetics, and not have just a boring patch of veggies.”

The easiest way to grow food and have the garden look great is to select edible plants that are beautiful, Salwitz said, using the term ornamedibles.

“Garden centers would sell a lot more edibles if they displayed them front and center,” she said. “There are blueberries and figs of every size that make great food shrubs.”

She said that Tuscan kale is a beautiful plant with contrasting foliage. Another wonderful display of foliage is to grow three different types of basil together, creating a mix of purple and green leaves. Giant artichoke plants make a wonderful V shape with their big leaves. Even a tomato plant can be beautiful, especially as the fruit begins to ripen and get red – or in some cases, white.

Salwitz says she like to quote Roz Creasy, who Salwitz said is her idol as a pioneer in edible landscaping, as saying: “It’s hilarious if you really want to freak your friends out, you grow some white tomatoes and make pasta with white tomato sauce and don’t tell them what you’ve done.”

In addition, Salwitz said, the white tomato plant also looks great in the garden.

She likes to use lettuce as an understory plant for taller vegetables such as corn, making a better look than corn growing in rows. She also likes the mix of tomatoes and lettuce.

She plants Alpine strawberries “for their super-intense chartreuse foliage, and the berries are seriously good.”

But you don’t have to limit yourself to edible plants. You can mix in some non-edible ornamentals. A couple that she likes are mixing Swiss chard or kale with petunias and cranesbill geraniums with just about anything. She also thinks broccoli is pretty growing among coleus.

Salwitz believes that fruits and vegetables can be especially good looking when grown on supports.

She says she has a horse trough which looks good, and is good for growing vegetables like tomatoes and peppers because the soil stays warmer. You can select some attractive-looking bean plants and grow them on a trellis. Or, lay the trellis down on the garden and use it to set apart the different kinds of lettuce you grow. You can use rakes as trellises.

Spiral tomato cages can be used for tomatoes, of course, but you can grow any other vegetable on them to get them off the ground and make them more visible. She showed a picture of blackberries draping over an old mirror, which made a major statement in a garden.

Salwitz discussed how gardeners in other parts of the country have run into trouble with homeowner associations for turning their front lawns or even hellstrips and esplanades – the strip between the sidewalk and the street – into food-producing gardens. That has not been a problem in Maine.

Businesses and even governments have become more open to food-producing landscapes. At Adobe’s Seattle plant, the company created some raised beds on a rooftop where employees could grow food, and they had to hold a lottery to determine who got the plots and now have a waiting list.

In Toronto, the Statehouse has vegetable gardens growing right by the main entrance.

Salwitz said edible gardens are especially good for children.

(Continued on page 2)

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A home’s landscape can be its most healthy and attractive room, helping our planet while saving money too. You may be willing to make a few small changes or renovate your whole yard; either way, you’ll reap the environmental benefits, enjoy your outdoor space more, and harvest the herbs, fruit and vegetables, too.