An Unforgettable Breakfast

Believe it or not I have been touring nurseries in the Garden State and purchasing plant material for Spring 2012. To ensure quality, voice issues that may have arisen this past year, learn new plants and simply have a face-to-face meeting, I try to visit all our growers at least once a year from coast to coast! Touring South Jersey and looking for more great “Jersey Fresh” plants, I had my friend, salesperson and overall plant aficionado John Stella by my side. When we are together we tend to have longer meetings as we throw Latin names around comfortably and become engrossed in conversation; sharing plant stories, talking industry trends and pointing out all the attributes of every plant we see. Yea, we’re plant geeks!

This particular day, however, had a bonus. We started early in the morning, jumped on a golf cart and proceeded to tour a nursery known for “cutting edge” plant material. While driving the rows of beautiful plant material we happened across a most pedestrian tree. Alleghany Serviceberry, Amelanchier laevis is certainly not an uncommon tree. However, the bounty of fruit draped on its limbs was extraordinary and we saw it as a sweet treat. Allegheny Serviceberry has rich purple-black fruit at maturity and today was that day. We scooped up handfuls of the fresh fruit and enjoyed at least a pint full. For those of you who do not know this wonderful tree, Serviceberry is a native tree that flowers in mid spring with white, fleecy clusters (panicles) up to 4” long. Good fall color, this small to medium sized tree does well in filtered light and can be used most effectively as an understory tree.

Pressing on we came across the “Holy Grail”. This years hot tree, for us at our garden center, was ‘The Rising Sun’ Redbud, Cercis canadensis ‘The Rising Sun’. An Eastern Redbud whose foliage starts off peachy-apricot, maturing through chartreuse-yellow and finishes a deep green. A smaller tree, ‘The Rising Sun’ has lavender-purple flowers very early in the spring and is hardy to zone 5. A native that I have seen in full sun to part shade doing very well, we have Ray Jackson of Belvedere, Tennessee to thank for this garden gem. Not far from this group was another coveted Redbud… ‘Ruby Falls’, Cercis canadensis ‘Ruby Falls’. ‘Ruby Falls’ is a weeping form of the very popular ‘Forest Pansy’. Velvet-purple foliage hangs on graceful, weeping branches and later turns to a bronze-green in late summer. Add to this purple waterfall, purple flowers born directly on the bark and running the length of the branches. I always think Redbuds look like they have streamers attached to their branches when they are in flower. Again, a native whose attributes would fit into most any garden.

Finally, for this nursery, a pair of Zelkova’s! One I had not seen in person… Variegated Japanese Zelkova, Zelkova serrata ‘Variegata’ and another, its brethren ‘Ogon’. ‘Variegata’s’ leaves are smaller than many other types and have a narrow, white edge around them. Better for a small garden than other types, ‘Variegata’ has crinkled, textured foliage that I instantly fell in love with. We had one of these in our new Nexus greenhouse at the garden center and when we hosted Garden Centers of America in June we stumped almost everyone on the tour. Most thought it was a type of Ficus tree or another indoor houseplant. The markings are so pronounced and the gracefulness of the tree is so picturesque that I wish I had not planted Zelkova serrata ‘Green Vase’ at our house. The fall color is an exciting orange-brown as well. Again, smaller than most other Zelkova’s, I can only imagine and hope that the bark will become exfoliating, like other Zelkova types, with age. Last but not least ‘Ogon’ Zelkova, Zelkova serrata ‘Ogon’. Striking yellow leaves that hold in the hot summer months, ‘Ogon’s’ bark is also amber-yellow. Dr. Michael Dirr compares the trees bark, in the winter, to that of Newcastle Ale amber… great reference. Barry Yinger and Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD appear to have introduced this tree.

A great day all around! Any time I have the chance to talk plants, learn a new tree, partake in the harvest that nature provides and share all this with a great friend like John, I’d say it’s a great day. Blessed to do what I love everyday it really never feels like work.

Holy Heuchera

The longer I spend time in the green industry the more I realize that a well-balanced landscape really does consist of a mixture of plant types. Great design, I believe, has a balance of deciduous ornamentals, conifers, perennials, bulbs and perhaps a tropical or two for some spice. Early on in my education I believed conifers to be supreme. And while my belief is that conifers are stately, bold and colorful they can stand to be supported, brilliantly, by perennial and annual color. One particular genus that I have grown to be quite fond of is Heuchera.

Heuchera is a versatile group that seems to have endless possibilities. At least 50 species of herbaceous perennials, all are native to North America. The most common name for this group is coral bells, however, alumroot is also used. Palmately-lobed leaves seem to be the biggest attractant for me. Heuchera was named after Johann Heinrich von Heucher (1677-1746), an 18^th century German physician who, I believe, would be proud of the exciting colors today’s Heuchera bring. There is considerable variety with these some 50 species. Adding to the complexities is the different conditions these Heuchera prefer. Temperature, soil and light are just three obvious hurdles that Heuchera can be sensitive to. With that said, Heuchera are an engaging group that have many gardeners and non-gardeners WOWED! Heuchera sanguinea, can be found in the dry canyons of Arizona while Heuchera maxima is found on the Channel Islands of California amongst the rocks and wind of the salt water shore. Horticulturists have enjoyed playing with this species, hence developing many new types. Bloom size, foliage color, foliage types and geographic tolerances have gardeners collecting the next great Heuchera.
Natives of the Northwestern United States have used tonic derived from Alumroot roots to aid digestive difficulties and the leaves, though somewhat astringent, have also been used to add complexity to “bland greens”. The majority of Heuchera sold for gardens today are hybrids of Heuchera americana. Our most popular seller Heuchera ‘Purple Palace’ was discovered in a royal palace in England and is believed to be a hybrid of H. micrantha x H. villosa, later crossed with H. americana.

Aside from their value in the ground supporting other plant types, I have found them equally rewarding in planters. Again, big bold colors and textures set within the confines of interesting pottery gives drama to any space. Specifically, at our own house, Heuchera ‘Black Beauty’ rests in a planter. ‘Black Beauty’ has purplish-black foliage with ruffled outer margins. I really don’t care about the tiny white, bell-shaped flowers it produces, it’s the foliage in a dark space that keeps my attention. An herbaceous perennial with a tiny footprint, 12-16”, ‘Black Beauty’ has a big impact in a cobalt blue container with Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’, golden hakone grass. Heuchera ‘Southern Comfort’ was hybridized with Heuchera villosa for improved heat and humidity tolerance. That being said, New Jersey gardeners should seek this one out. Large, cinnamon-peach leaves turn burnished amber in the fall months. Creamy-white summer flowers, again, are wasted on me, as the foliage is rich enough. Heuchera x ‘Georgia Peach’ was also bred with villosa. ‘Georgia Peach’ shows the same heat and humidity tolerance and doesn’t seem to melt away in our agonizing summer months. Large peach-colored leaves have a sort of white, veil-like pattern. Dark orange tones are clearly evident in the spring, while rosy-purple tones follow in the fall. Heuchera villosa ‘Caramel’ has new leaves emerging a bright gold, maturing to a peachy-orange. ‘Caramel’ seems to take more sun in our yard. Finally, Heuchera ‘Sashay’ has just made our back yard. A small mass planting of ‘Sashay’ surrounds a smaller Ginkgo biloba ‘Korinek’. ‘Sashay’ has bicolored foliage, dark green on the top with a purple belly, and heavily crinkled edges. It is because of these textured edges that you can clearly see the two colors working together in the garden. Its tidy, mounding habit quickly reaches 16 inches tall and wide and seems a perfect fit for my OCD tendencies.

Vibrant colors, great texture and endless possibilities await your garden should you choose a Heuchera. There have been great strides made since Johann Heinrich von Heucher. Perhaps the only thing that can eclipse Heuchera is Heucherella, a perennial flowering plant that is a hybrid of Heuchera and Tiarella. Clearly a topic for another time!

Good Things Come In Small Packages

Could it be…. Spring is finally here? After one of the longest, coldest, snowiest winters I can remember in a long while, the buds on maple trees are opened, daffodils have welcomed us and the cheerful faces on pansies are sitting in our planters outside our front door. Thank God! Nursery stock is pouring into your local independent garden center right now and there are so many plants to be excited about this year. In particular, there are some tiny wonders to be on the lookout for to help your garden grow. The following plants are a collection of smaller cultivars that will fit neatly into most any garden. Here we go!!

Buddleia ‘Lo & Behold’ is a hot new comer! A breakthrough variety of Butterfly- bush with all the fragrance and butterfly appeal of traditional varieties, this pint size wonder stays under four feet without any pruning. ‘Lo & Behold’ blooms continuously from mid-summer to frost without deadheading. A non-invasive, easy to grow, care free Buddleia that requires full sun and not much more. This Butterfly-bush is “hardy” to zone 5. Mass plantings just got a whole lot better.

Next is Clethra alnifolia ‘Cristalina’. A dwarf Summersweet offering fragrant, pure white flowers in mid to late summer. Dark, glossy foliage holds its shape neatly without any pruning and turns yellow in the fall. An excellent native plant that has always been thoughtfully planted in shade and wet areas, this Summersweet has certainly held my attention.

Hydrangea ‘Incrediball’, Hydrangea arborescens ‘Abetwo’ is an adaptable native plant producing enormous white flowers, as much as a foot across. A trustworthy beauty that is cold hardy, ‘Incrediball’ blooms on new wood. The flowers are held upright on sturdy stems and don’t flop around like other varieties. Prune this one back in late winter to encourage strong new growth and know that flower color is not affected by soil PH here. ‘Invincibelle Spirit’ is the first pink-flowering mophead Hydrangea arborescens! Another hardy, reliable, worthwhile garden gem that spits loads of hot pink flowers from early summer to frost, ‘Invincibelle Spirit’ is a heavy bloomer in the north and is heat tolerant. Both of these hydrangea fit nicely in smaller spaces with anticipated heights of 4-6 feet.

“An oldie but a goodie” for me is Little Henry Sweetspire, Itea virginica ‘Sprich’. Little Henry has always proven itself useful as a reliable answer for wet conditions. Another native with lots of potential. Growing anywhere from full sun to full shade, it seems many times to me to be indestructible. Little to no maintenance, ‘Little Henry’ has scented, pure white flowers that shoot out at you in the early summer. Its mounded and compact stature is ideal again for mass plantings.

‘Bloomerang’ Purple Reblooming Lilac, Syringa x ‘Penda’ is a revolutionary new kind of lilac. A continual bloomer throughout the spring and summer, ‘Bloomerang’ is not only fragrant, but it can bloom until the frost. An ideal candidate for foundation plantings, you can enjoy the sweet smell of lilac for months on end now. Hardy from zones 3-7, Bloomerang is sure to brighten up your garden.

Cherry Dazzle Crape Myrtle, Lagerstroemia ‘Gamad I’ starts with bronze new foliage that later turns to dark green. Following this performance are masses of bright red flowers and showy red-purple autumn foliage. With improved disease and pest resistance this dwarf Crape Myrtle matures nicely between 3-5 feet.

Finally, my new favorite plant, at least for this week, is Liriope ‘Emerald Goddess’, Liriope muscari ‘Love Potion No. 13”. This is a superior selection of Liriope that maintains its dark green markings throughout the winter and has good resistance to crown rot. The flowers are more intense, uniform and longer lasting than ‘Big Blue’. This outstanding, evergreen groundcover is one of the strongest architectural plants used by designers today. Useful in borders, planters, woodland gardens, formal, informal, wet, dry… really almost anywhere, designers keep finding new uses for this strap-leaf lilyturf. Truly magnificent paired against boxwood in big drifts.

Every garden could benefit from at least one of these exiting plants. The attributes of these small wonders lend themselves to new and exciting garden design. Pressing the envelope of what is possible, thoughtful and inspirational these plants are contributing to better gardens everywhere. For myself, a front foundation drift of some 175 Liriope ‘Emerald Goddess’ has helped punctuate my Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’s while at the same time helped me to think outside the box. And that’s not a bad thing!

A Trifecta for May

Years ago, when I first started to learn horticultural vocabulary; I had two bosses who gave me a new plant to learn everyday. Starting out in this business over twenty years ago, I worked a summer job at Metropolitan Plant Exchange in West Orange, New Jersey. I had two wonderful mentors, Tony Maiello and Stephen Schuckman. To this day we are the best of friends and both are true gentleman in every sense of the word. My friends taught me much about plants and even more about business over the years. To this day I remember the word games they gave me to try and remember some of the complex vocabulary that often comes with botanical nomenclature. I would do word associations to remember the plants. Three plants that are stellar performers for the month of May are Deutzia, Exochorda and Fothergilla (D, E & F).

I believe this to be true: all three of these plants are highly underused in our landscapes today. Azaleas and rhododendron seem to account for much of the retail sales in May and when I suggest these other three plants, people often balk at the thought simply because they have not heard the names as often or if ever. The thought of buying a plant that you have never heard of seems preposterous to most. Often the first response I get is “is it hardy”? In fact these three plants offer so much to a landscape and all are “tough as nails”.

Slender Deutzia, Deutzia gracilis, I have long admired, if for no other reason, it seems to be very deer resistant. Do I have your attention yet? Slender Deutzia is a medium sized shrub that grows comfortably between 2 and 4 feet tall and wide. It can grow slightly larger, however, it can easily be kept to these specs. This broad mound of a shrub has graceful, slender branches. A deciduous beauty that looks fantastic when mass planted, especially in the month of May. Perfect, white flowers, that have some fragrance, are born in panicles and continue to flower for two weeks. Place this small garden gem in more sun than shade and prune them after they flower. The fall color can be purple, however, I find that to be hit and miss.

Common Pearlbush, Exochorda racemosa, is perhaps the one that people have least heard of. This is a sizeable plant that can exceed 10 feet high and wide. Perfectly hardy to zone 4, Exochorda has captivated me ever since a saw a hedge line of it in Bernards Township, New Jersey. Another noteworthy spot to view this beauty is Longwood Gardens. Consider using this plant the same way you would use some Viburnum. Sometimes described as being open in habit or loose, Pearlbush can be trimmed hard to have a more dense habit. Again, perfect white flowers appear here and last for a few weeks. The flowers are 5-petaled and are 1 ½” across. According to Michael Dirr, “each expanding bud reminds of a pearl”. With no serious pests, Exochorda likes full to part sun and can survive even with neglect. Be on the look out for Exochorda x ‘The Bride’. A dense, compact hybrid of (E. racemosa x E. korolkowii) that only grows to about 4 feet tall, this garden gem features racemes 3-4” long of 5-petaled white flowers. Yellow fall color is a bonus here also.

Finally, dwarf Fothergilla, Fothergilla gardenii. This botanical beauty looks outstanding in the landscape in mass or as a single specimen in a container. Only growing 3-5 feet tall with a similar spread, Fothergilla is hardy to Maine. With almost blue-green foliage that is quilted and leathery, Fothergilla has sensational fall color markings. Expect a combination of yellows, oranges and reds in the autumn. For now, look for white, fragrant 2” long flower spikes that look like a bottlebrush. Easy to spot now as the flowers precede the foliage. Another trouble free plant that would benefit from more sun than shade, Fothergilla will even tolerate clay soil. An excellent choice for borders, containers and foundation plantings, this plant truly has 3 seasons of interest. Couple this native plant with ericaceous plants and your garden will “pop”.

Don’t get caught up this spring with just azaleas and rhododendron. There are so many other worthwhile plants out there for you to consider. Be bold, think out of the box, and try something new in your garden. The average cost for one of these plants can be the same price as an entrée in a nice restaurant. That experience can be gone the next day, but these plants can last a lifetime.

“California Dreamin'”

I never thought I would be so excited to just see green grass. After the brutal winter we have all just endured that is exactly what helped sooth my soul as I touched down in California on a recent vacation. Looking at snow covered landscapes for nearly 7 weeks; landing in San Luis Obispo’s airport was refreshing to say the least. Gorgeous mountains, palm trees and cyclamen in front foundations were all breathtaking, but simply seeing green blades of grass reassured me that spring will eventually come.

Having San Luis Obispo as our home base my family and I ventured off in nearly equal, opposite directions. The first day of our trip took us to San Simeon and the famous Hearst Castle. The gardens were an integral part of the “Enchanted Hill”. William Randolph Hearst and his architect Julia Morgan worked together to create the garden designs. Fountains, statuary, plants and buildings, most of which is priceless, painted the picture high atop a mountain overlooking the pacific. Strolling through the gardens, familiar plants like boxwood, daphne and roses were all represented. However, what leapt out at me were the citrus trees covered with fruit, Camellias in full bloom, yellow Mimosa in flower and of course the Italian Cypress used as strong vertical accents. A successful groundcover used in mass was Ice Plant (Delosperma), a South African succulent whose rubbery foliage and brightly colored flowers has always captivated me.

Our second day took us to wine country in Paso Robles. The highlight of the day, from a horticultural standpoint, was our stop to Linne Calodo. Known for their Zinfandel and Rhone blends, this boutique winery has a plethora of Ginkgo trees surrounding their sign as well as lining their driveway all the way to the tasting facility.

The following day we ventured north and stopped first in Harmony, California. A population of less than 20 people, Harmony has some quaint shops and an impressive Eucalyptus tree towering some 60-80 feet. Still traveling north on coastal route 1 we stopped and admired the Elephant Seals. Colonizing the mainland beach of Piedras Blancas in the southern range of Big Sur, near San Simeon, these huge, blubbery beasts were as cute as they were loud. Continuing on we passed the Point Sur Naval Facility that at first glance reminded me of Mont Saint-Michel, a tidal island in Normandy, France. Pressing on we traveled through Big Sur and imbibed the intoxicating aroma of some monstrous Eucalyptus trees. Nearly all Eucalyptus are evergreen, are members of the myrtle family and have leaves covered with oil glands. Appreciative of their bark and fruit, I was particularly enamored with the White Ironbark (Eucalyptus leucoxylon) and Argyle Apple, (Eucalyptus cinerea) trees. Finally, we reached our northern most point for this trip… Monterey. Every view seemed to be punctuated with Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa), a species that is endemic to the Central Coast of California. A medium-sized evergreen tree, Monterey Cypress often becomes irregular and flat-topped or windswept in appearance because of the strong winds typical of this area. Artistic examples of this cypress were evident along coastal route 1 coming into Big Sur, Carmel and eventually Monterey.

The fourth day, heading south, we traveled through Los Olivos and into Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara’s architecture had wonderful examples of Spanish Mission and Spanish Colonial revival. Mediterranean landscape designs depicting clean lines and a relaxing feel all the while being functional and beautiful. Simple stucco and adobe exteriors, elegant arches, clearly defined geometric patterns and coastal Mediterranean vegetation all left me in awe. Again, another highlight for me was the tall Eucalyptus and the wafts of aroma they provided were just too much. Dwala Aloe (Aloe chabaudii) was evident at most turns. Their bright orange-red flowers and broad, pale blue leaves edged with small teeth were stunning. Traveling down State Street in Santa Barbara, planters in front of shop stores were filled with Bird of Paradise and Mondo grass.

The last day, well really morning, was spent touring my nephew’s school, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. A university with a “learn by doing” philosophy had an enormous collection of plant material to look at. Two highlights for me include a huge wave of yellow heather embedded under towering palm trees outside the football stadium and a collection of Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) in the middle of campus.

California is a state known for its plant diversity. This was a welcome sight amidst this treacherous winter as I was beginning to lose hope that spring would never get here.

A Brilliant Harbinger of Spring

Most gardeners are chomping at the bit this time of year, pent up with cabin fever. Eager to get their hands in the dirt and create new garden experiences there is one tree, this time of year, that is so shocking in its appearance, that it seems to stop everyone dead in their tracks when they see it in bloom. One of the first deciduous trees to welcome spring may be modest in stature, but its presence is bold, especially when clothed with flowers. Of course I’m talking about Redbuds!

Over the years I have grown to love the genus Cercis and most of its members. A highly adaptive tree with respect to soil types, Redbuds perform well in full sun to part shade, but need a little help from its caretaker concerning water. Redbuds don’t like wet feet nor do they enjoy being deprived of water. Well-drained soil truly is the goal. Native to New Jersey, Redbud’s appearance is typically spreading with a flat top to a rounded crown peaking to equal heights and widths of about 20-30 feet. On older specimens a crackling orange hue bleeds into the blacks and browns of the outer bark. More interesting still are the 3” pods (legumes) that form in the fall, starting out reddish-green and finishing brownish-black. Make no mistake though, clearly most people are after the shocking flowers that start out as colorful nubs, born directly on the stems, and finish like streamers hanging within the tree.

There are so many noteworthy choices, of the native type, to choose from and equally as many from the ones native to China. So let’s get to it! A very handsome and extremely popular one to start is ‘Forest Pansy’ Redbud (Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’). The heart-shaped leaves emerge red-purple and when the heat index rises these colorful markings tone themselves down to an eventual red tinge with prominent dark-green markings. The flowers of ‘Forest Pansy’ are a better rose-purple than the species and open a bit later too. ‘Covey’ is a weeping form with an eventual umbrella-shaped crown. Ideal as a specimen, particularly around a water feature, ‘Covey’s’ flowers and fruit are quite similar to the species and the eventual height of this garden gem is only 5-8 feet. Clearly there would be room for one in any garden. ‘Ruby Falls’ is the hot, new weeper that again, is small in stature. A selection from the breeding work of Dr. Dennis Werner, NCSU, and the parentage is ‘Covey’ and ‘Forest Pansy’. As things suggest we now have a weeping form with red-purple foliage and rose-purple blooms to be excited about. ‘Hearts of Gold’ has huge, gorgeous, golden heart-shaped leaves and that alone is enough for me. The fact that it too has lavender-red flowers and that the new tips, in the spring, take on an orange-red hue are simply a bonus. This is a new and rare tree so be patient in your search. ‘Little Woody’, as the name suggests, is a tiny wonder for any garden. A heavy bloomer with mauve clusters of flowers also has lustrous, dark green, crinkled foliage. Finally, for the native Cercis, is ‘Pauline Lily’. Found in the mountains of West Virginia and named for the wife of its discoverer, ‘Pauline Lily’ has blush colored flowers, almost white, and is a heavy bloomer with typical heart-shaped leaves that turn yellow in the fall.

There are two Redbuds native to China that I adore. The first is Cercis yunnanensis ‘Celestial Plum’. Introduced by J.C. Raulston Arboretum (like many other outstanding plants) ‘Celestial Plum’ has deep plum-purple flowers. Forming a small, multi-stem tree, Michael Dirr points out that it is “quite resistant to canker”. My friend and colleague Eileen Ferrer introduced my other Chinese favorite to me years ago. Cercis chinensis ‘Avondale’ is, in my mind, the showiest of all the redbuds. A selection from Duncan and Davies in New Zealand, ‘Avondale’ has brilliant deep purple flowers along its branches and main trunk! Eileen’s was a multi-stemmed tree, branched very low to the ground and gave an impressive vase-shaped appearance. So stunning, it continues to stop traffic every time one sees it.

Small in stature, redbuds offer big rewards in almost any garden. Perhaps one of the greatest quotes said about these harbingers of spring and a feeling one gets once they see the flowers emerge is by Michael Dirr, “In my heart, I know that spring is close and the joy and excitement of a new gardening season looms on the horizon”.

To cut, or not to cut, that is the question:

Perhaps the most famous line in English literature, Hamlet’s greatest soliloquy, inspired a sort of play on words for this title. Often asked when is the proper time to cut back ornamental grasses in the garden, I can’t help but think of Shakespeare’s words every time.

Ornamental grasses are a group of plants that I have come to love and use over the years. For me, their artistic movement offers a calming affect every time I see them in mass. Offering incredible interest year round, housing for wildlife and virtually carefree once established, ornamental grasses are also as close to “deer proof” as you’re going to get. So why do so many cut back their grasses in the late fall rather than late winter or early spring? My guess has always been because some believe them to be unsightly or unkempt if they don’t do so.

Amended soils at the time of planting and some mulch to help keep them moist are about all you need to keep your grasses happy. Most ornamental grasses are perennial, meaning they will come back every year, and should be cut back in late March, before the new growth appears. Failure to do this would delay new growth and the appearance of the grass. Moreover, when you cut your grasses back too soon, the end of autumn, you deprive wildlife the seeds and shelter they are looking for. Not to mention that the plant can no longer protect itself against the harsh elements of winter as you have denuded its dormant foliage. This dormant foliage will help shed water away from the clump, thus preventing rot. Aesthetically the winter foliage is attractive, in my opinion, offering seed heads affixed to a sort of swaying winter interest effect with wheat-colored markings throughout our coldest months in New Jersey.

When you go into the garden, at the right time of year to cut back your grasses make sure you arm yourself appropriately. One of the reasons, as I mentioned earlier, ornamental grasses are “deer resistant” is because they can be sharp. Make sure you have long pants, long sleeves and garden gloves on before you begin. Should you be blessed with a warm day in March and are eager to get your garden looking good, heed this advice! When you run your hands up the foliage or brush your legs and arms against their leaves you will thank me. For the most part a good pair of hand pruners should do the trick for single specimens. However, should you have larger groupings, I find a sickle, string trimmer or on tougher grasses even a chain saw will suffice. Something to note, some grasses develop such thick canes, loaded with silica that this could quickly dull even the sharpest of instruments.

During the months that your larger grasses are actively growing, I have found that peony rings help contain the plant, offering structure, while being concealed by the foliage. Conversely, when you go to cut down your grasses at the end of winter it is helpful to tie the heads with string as you can better see what you are cutting. This also helps with cleanup. The question I am also asked is how far back do you cut your grass? The simple answer is either two thirds of their full size or six to eight inches from the ground. Be mindful not to cut too closely to the ground, as most grasses will resent this. Finally, the issue of dividing and transplanting. Should you wish to make more plants or simply move a plant to another part of your garden, consider doing this as the new growth begins in the early spring.

Shakespeare’s words “To be, or not to be” in the literal sense relate to his own ideas of the meaning of life and death. Not taking lightly the seriousness of the topic, I have always found some comedic attachment to my thought of “To cut, or not to cut,” simply because if you cut too soon or too hard you could sacrifice the well being of your plant. Carefree plants that are deer resistant, easy maintenance, quick to root, available in assorted colors, many with attractive flower spikes… what more could you ask for?

Do You See What I See?

My good friend and horticultural demigod, John Stella, inspired the title of this article. Several months ago we were talking about characteristics of plants and how a trained eye can see them so clearly. Just as a doctor can look at an X-ray, a mechanic can listen to engine or a chef can taste the individual ingredients of a dish, so too can a plant person look into the depths of a landscape and pull apart all of it’s inner beauty with ease. Asked years ago to list all of my favorite plants, I believe I gave up somewhere around 400 or 500. There are simply too many plants that do too many wonderful things to have a list any smaller. While most are happy just being enamored with the leaves and flowers of plants, there are those of us who appreciate the bark and twigs as well. Many trees and shrubs devoid of their foliage offer outstanding characteristics, in the dead of winter, and in many cases builds the argument for their main appeal in the first place.

Coral Bark Maple, Acer palmatum ‘Sango Kaku’ has to be the grand champion for winter interest. An upright, deciduous tree that many, when they first learn it, deem to be the most shocking because of its electric red bark in the coldest months of the year. Here’s another though, Pacific Fire Vine Maple, Acer circinatum ‘Pacific Fire’ also has similar markings. This one, however, has more of an orange-red hue on its bark with a waxy sheen that leaps out at you in the winter. Paperbark Maple, Acer griseum has classic cinnamon or red-brown exfoliating bark. “Snow acts as a perfect foil for the bark and accentuates its qualities” Michael Dirr. Persian Parrotia, Parrotia persica, a tree native to Iran has exfoliating gray, green, white and brown patches on older specimens and is a personal favorite. Quaking Aspen, Populus tremuloides is the most widely distributed tree of North America! Younger trees express smooth, greenish-white to cream colored bark and landscape designers like the strong vertical white lines they offer as they come through mass plantings beneath them. Japanese Zelkova, Zelkova serrata is heavily lenticelled and usually depicted with a strong central trunk supporting a huge vase-like head. The bark, on older specimens, has gray-brown markings, often exfoliating, reminiscent of Chinese Elm, Ulmus parvifolia.

Perhaps my favorite, smaller deciduous shrub, for winter interest, is Japanese Kerria, Kerria japonica. Distinct yellowish green, and in many cases, bright neon- green stems in the winter are a beacon for many. Kerria, incidentally, looks infinitely better when mass planted. Common Winterberry, Ilex verticillata has bright red, sticky fruit, often in pairs, looking as though they are holding on for dear life through February. Tatarian Dogwood, Cornus alba is a deciduous dogwood shrub of medium stature, reaching heights of 6-10 feet. And while there are many with interesting foliage, the winter months punctuate the bark, often showing crimson reds or bright yellows. And who could forget Highbush Blueberries, Vaccinium corymbosum; whose stem color in the winter is yellowish-green to red. Another superb deciduous plant for mass plantings!

Finally to the conifers! Albeit, the following plants are not deprived of their foliage in the winter, on the contrary, they maintain their winter coats and also have distinguishable marking that amplify their external jackets. A Lodgepole Pine drawing considerable attention is Pinus contorta ‘Chief Joseph’. A deep, rich, golden-yellow pine pulls itself away from the drab colors of winter and beckons to be touched to see if it’s real. Found in the Wallowa Mountains of northeastern Oregon by Doug Will, this tree transforms itself from green in the warmer months to extreme yellow in the colder months. A Canadian hemlock to note is Tsuga Canadensis ‘Albospica’. Cultivated since 1866, this hemlock has snowy-white tips that contrast dramatically against its interior dark-green needles. A dusting of fresh snow held over this shade garden plant will make you a believer that there is a God. Finally, a Himalayan Pine with incredible winter interest is Pinus wallichiana ‘Zebrina’. A variegated selection that has long, thin needles and bands of yellow held in and around powder blues. Formerly listed as Pinus griffithi, Himalayan pines are native to the high mountains of Afghanistan to Nepal.

Many plants devoid of their foliage offer outstanding attributes. My hope is that this article has you looking at landscapes this winter in a new light. While flowers, leaves and needles are nice to look at; it’s not the whole picture. Great gardens inspire us throughout the seasons and winter is where it all begins.