Name this Plant

You name your children and pets. You can even have a star named after someone (or you). Now you have an opportunity to name a plant.

Encore® Azalea is having a contest to name one in a series of four new varieties, all of which will debut in retail stores next fall. The new varieties offer more color and size options, and are hardy to USDA Zone 6A.

The contest runs through November 14th. The winner of the naming contest will receive 10 3-gallon Encore Azaleas. Check out the variety and name it here. The winner will be announced on the Encore Azalea Facebook page.

Encore® Azalea Autumn Starlite™
Photo courtesy of Encore® Azalea

Year of the Heuchera

H. 'Peach Crisp'
Photo courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries

The National Garden Bureau Inc. (NGB) is declaring 2012 the Year of the Heuchera, Herb and Geranium (actually Pelargoniums). Each year representatives of the professional horticulture industry select one flower/bedding plant and one vegetable to be showcased. In 2012, they are adding a perennial to their selections. The plants are chosen because they are popular, easy-to-grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse, and versatile...all of which perfectly describe Heuchera.

Fine Gardening's plant pronunciation tool pronounces Heuchera as "Hew-ker-uh," but the plant was named after Johann Heinrich von Heucher, an Austrian professor of medicine and botany, whose last name was pronounced "Hoyker." According to the NGB, the plant should be pronounced "hoy-ker-uh." Relatives of Heuchera include Bergenia, Tiarella, Saxifrage, Mukdenia and Rodgersia all of which are in the Saxifrage family.

H. 'Southern Comfort'
Photo courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries

Nearly 50 species of Heuchera originate from islands off the California coast to mountains in the Rockies to the Gulf of Mexico. What started out as a plant commonly known as coral bells (H. sanguine) for its delicate sprays of flowers emerged with the introduction in 1980 of H. villosa "Purple Palace" as a garden powerhouse because of its colorful foliage. Florists are beginning to use the long-lasting Heuchera leaves in floral arrangements to add pops of color. Today, breeders are combining species to create stronger, more adaptable and colorful plants.

Terra Nova Nurseries, located in Canby, Ore., has developed a rainbow of Heuchera adaptable to virtually every region of the U.S. As with other breeders, they use five species:

H. americana – survives extreme hot and cold with mounding habit and the most exciting leaf patterns
H. villosa – hairy large leaves take heat and humidity
H. micrantha – source of wavy foliage and has the best tolerance to wet roots
H. cylindrical – compact form with rigid flower stems
H. sanguine – extremely drought and heat tolerant with excellent flower color range

For example, Terra Nova Nurseries introduced Heuchera 'Peach Crisp' as part of their Crisp™ series. Its breeding relies most heavily on micrantha, but also sanguine and americana. Offering a similar cinnamon peach color but very different in leaf form is 'Southern Comfort', which relies most heavily on americana, but also micrantha and villosa breeding.

H. 'Delta Dawn'
Photo courtesy of Terra Nova Nurseries

Because I love, love, love chartreuse in my garden, I wanted to share a 2011 exclusive Terra Nova Nurseries introduction: H. 'Delta Dawn'. Here's how Terra Nova describes it in their catalog: "'Delta Dawn' has large, round leaves with red centers in the spring and fall; in summer its red veins run like rivers to the sea. The gorgeous gold to lime main leaf color highlights the venation. Strong, vigorous habit. Perfect for a shade container or to add color to a dark area."

Heuchera require well-drained soil and do well in raised beds, on a berm, or in containers. According to NGB, "even mounding the soil slightly where you plant them will help." In the Northwest, many do well sited in sun to partial shade. As they grow, their crowns rise up and out of the soil. Mulch to protect the crown, or lift, divide and replant every two to three years in the spring.

For more information on NGB's "Year of" selections, visit their web site. Terra Nova Nurseries' web site offers good information to home gardeners.

Singing the Blues



Photo courtesy of Tokyo Nylon Girls

Perhaps blue M&Ms, which were introduced in 1995, started the love affair with things-that-shouldn't-be-blue. I, for one, wasn’t in favor of adding blue to the M&M palette (but I seem to eat them just fine now). Blue-dyed poinsettias—some with glitter—have been selling, and selling out, since 2005. It's positively unnatural!

Speaking of unnatural, earlier this year Silver Vase Inc. introduced Blue Mystique, touting it as the first blue orchid. Similar to the dyed poinsettias, the company website says it is "the result of a patented process that infuses white orchids with a special medium." Or, in the words of a new label for the orchid "...with a little bit of magic we turn a white orchid blue." Seems to me, orchids are amazing and enthralling enough without needing to dye them blue (in my opinion anyway).



 A blue rose has been the Holy Grail in rose breeding for many. According to Wikipedia’s blue rose entry, "Due to the absence in nature of blue roses, they have come to symbolize mystery and longing to attain the impossible..." But that hasn't stopped—or perhaps it’s what has encouraged—Japanese company Suntory from introducing a blue rose named Applause. It is touted as the world's first rose with nearly 100% blue-pigmented petals. The photo that accompanied the recent press release looks mauve(ish) to me, but perhaps that's because I'm a skeptic. What do you think?

From the Suntory website: "The hue of the dawn sky, with a refined and colorfully refreshing scent, blue rose APPLAUSE captivated the international audience when it first went on sale in Tokyo in 2009. Now, Suntory brings this breathtaking flower to the United States and Canada...the blue rose APPLAUSE will be sold in North America at select florists." It doesn't sound like you'll be able to plant it in your garden any time soon (would you want to?!?!). They go on to say: "Suntory embarked on research with the aim of developing a blue rose in 1990 with their Australian subsidiary, Florigene, now Suntory Flowers. Success was finally achieved in 2004 after introducing a gene for blue pigment from a pansy. In 2009, after nearly two decades of research and developmental work, sales of the blue rose began for the first time." FYI...it typically takes nine years or so to bring a new rose to market.

Best of the Rest

Photo taken at Swan Island Dahlias

Best Flower Name – Swan Island Dahlias still has thousands of dahlias in bloom. I had to laugh when I saw a dahlia named Bed Head! It immediately took me back to when I had a perm in the ‘80s and my dad wondered why anyone would pay good money to look like they just got out of bed.

It All Started with 84 Baskets – The nursery industry is filled with interesting and wonderful people and stories. Lisa Meddin, Harmony Design Northwest, tells the story of The Garden Corner and Jonn “J-Dog” Karsseboom, its passionate-about-gardening owner.

Life-Changing Cabbage Feeds 275 – Everyday Health has a new TV series that profiles ordinary people who overcome extraordinary obstacles and who are helping others lead healthier, happier lives. Episode 5 aired October 1 and featured Katie Stagliano, an inspirational 13-year-old girl who founded Katie’s Krops, a movement designed to gets kids to grow food and feed the less fortunate in their communities. Catch a glimpse of the episode. We know you’ll find it inspiring.

Encyclopedia of Life – This Website’s mission is to provide global access to knowledge about life on Earth. Did you know that "because butterflies and moths are always at risk of flying into spider webs, their wings are covered with detachable scales. When these insects are caught in a web or held in the grasp of a predator, the scales pull away freely and thus enable the moth or butterfly to slip away."

Yard, Garden & Patio Show – Save the date for the 2012 gardening show that kicks off of the spring gardening season in Portland, Ore., February 17-19 at the Oregon Convention Center. This year’s theme is “Think Global. Garden Local” so expect to see wonderful showcase gardens, each with the flavor of a faraway location. Thank you to Dennis’ 7 Dees Landscaping & Garden Centers and our other sponsors and volunteers that make it possible for the Oregon Association of Nurseries to bring the show to you.

Gardening Events & Classes

EVENTS

Fall Harvest Festivals – Check Websites for activities...there are loads of them!

Bauman Farms – Pumpkin Patch through October 30
French Prairie Gardens – Harvest Festival through October 30
Fresh to You Produce & Garden Center – Autumn Festival through October 31
Smith Berry Barn – Heirloom Apple Festival, October 15-16
Wooden Shoe – Pumpkin Fest through October 31

Oct. 14-16 and 21-23, 10am-5pm - 24th Annual Apple Tasting Event, Portland Nursery (Stark Street)

October 15 & 16, 10am-4pm – Home Orchard Society All About Fruit Show (Clackamas County Fairgrounds, Canby)—One of the areas' largest exhibits of fall fruit varieties. See and taste many, including apple, pear, grapes, and quince. Get advice on selecting the right variety, tips on growing, pruning, and harvesting. Fee: $4 members, $6 non-members (free admission with new membership).

October 16, 3pm – Fall Color Preview Tour, Hoyt Arboretum (Portland)—Join a celebration of fall color with Curator, Martin Nicholson, on a special route designed for optimum color viewing. He'll answer all of your questions along the way. Meet at the Visitors Center, 4000 SW Fairview Blvd.

October 19, 6-7:30pm – Fall Twilight Lantern Walk, Leach Botanical Garden (Portland)— Glimpse the Garden's colors in the glow of a setting sun and experience the magic of a twilight lantern walk. Space is limited; pre-registration required. To register contact education@leachgarden.org, call 503-823-1671 or pay for your event online. Cost: $15 general/$10 Leach Garden Friends Members.

October 29 (9am-6pm) & Oct. 30 (9am-3pm) - Portland Chrysanthemum Society Show & Sale, Portland Nursery (Division Street)

October 29, 4-6pm – The Great Pumpkin Event, Dennis' 7 Dees (Seaside location)—Music apple cider pressing and tasting, homemade cookies and ginger bread, pumpkin carving demonstration and contest. Costumes encouraged (but not necessary). Door prizes will be provided.

November 18-20 - Olio Nuovo Festa (New Olive Oil Festival), Red Ridge Farms (Dayton)—The weekend events at the Oregon Olive Mill focus on the newly pressed olive oil and give guests a chance to see first-hand how olive oil is made on the imported Italian olive press. Guests will also enjoy tastes of a variety of freshly-pressed olive oils.

CLASSES (unless noted, classes are free)

October 15
• 10am-4pm – Willow Furniture Workshop, Farmington Gardens (Beaverton)— Construct your own one-of-a-kind garden furniture. Under the guidance of the folks from The Willow Station, you will have fun creating your own whimsical garden bench, chair, plant stand, end table, plant trough, or trellis. A guaranteed finished project by the end of the day! And for those who have taken this class before, you will be able to make more advanced projects of your choosing; please inquire about those options. Cost: $125 plus $10 registration fee. Registration required.

• 10am – Fall Bulbs for Spring Color, Dennis' 7 Dees' (Seaside location)—Okay, let's get this straight...Spring flowering bulbs are called "fall bulbs"? That's exactly right! One of Karen's favorite gardening chores is to plant her spring color on a sunny crisp fall day! Learn how to lay out your flower garden, so that it blooms from late February to early May, and what fertilizers to use to give them that extra boost!

• 11am - Halloween Containers! The Garden Corner (Tualatin)—Have fun with your containers! Build front porch containers for Halloween. Anything goes. They can't wait to see the spooky creations that this unleashes!

• 11am - Create Your Own Bonsai Workshop, Tsugawa Nursery (Woodland, Wash.)—If you like the idea of having a plant in miniature but have no idea of how it can be done then this is the workshop for you. Just about any plant can become a bonsai. Tsugawa Bonsai staff and experienced members of Tsugawa Bonsai Group will be on hand to show how the process begins. Workshop includes all materials necessary to create a bonsai. Please come early to pick out your supplies. Class is limited to 10 participants. Cost: $35.00 for supplies. Registration required.

• 2-3pm – Build a Glorious Floral Bulb Spectacle, Dennis' 7 Dees (Eastside location)—Join Ed Hobs from Simple Pleasures to build a glorious floral bulb spectacle. Learn how to pair a variety of bulbs for a piece of art that will bloom late winter until late spring. You will leave with a pot full of bulbs to be excited about! Cost: $25 to purchase everything needed to create a fabulous fall potted display. Registration required; call or stop in the Eastside store to pay and secure your spot in the class.

October 22

• 11am – Pruning Japanese Maples, Tsugawa Nursery (Woodland, Wash.)—Japanese maples are elegant in all seasons, with delicate leaves, fine fall color and lovely branch patterns. Simple pruning can help maintain and enhance their natural form, bringing out the best for summer and winter viewing. Join Brian Tsugawa as he shows you the tips and techniques to get the most from your Japanese maple. Registration required.

• 11am – Tea in the Garden, The Garden Corner (Tualatin)—Did you know that water temperature is important when brewing a cup of tea? Learn about the different types of tea, their proper brew times, a few caffeine myths, and how to let a simple cup of tea bring out the beauty of your garden. Joanna Derungs of Natural Whisperings will be here to create a new experience of drinking tea in the garden.

• 4:30-6pm – Intro to Urban Fruit Trees, Portland Nursery (Division Street)—Learn some great tips and techniques for successfully growing fruit trees with Monica Maggio of the Home Orchard Society. Monica will discuss site requirements & preparation, pollination needs, maintenance requirements of different fruits, and how to select a good fruit tree. She will also talk about general care, maintenance, and common pests. Click here to register for this class.

October 23, 1pm – Season Extenders: Hoop Houses, Cloches & Cold Frames, Portland Nursery (Division Street)— Join Tim Lanfri of Community Garden Creators to learn all about hoop houses, cloches, frost blankets & cold frames, and how they can increase your garden's bounty. Tim will discuss different types of season extenders, design ideas, plants that benefit from protection, and tips for getting your spring crops in early. Click here to register for this class.

October 29

• 10am-5pm – Winterizing Your Landscape: The Mini-Series, Tsugawa Nursery (Woodland, Wash.)— Come for one class or plan to spend the whole day. Seminars last no longer than one hour and will concentrate on what to do when the cold weather hits. Winterization of: Ponds and Fountain - 10:00 am; Bonsai - 11:00 am; Perennials – Noon; Tender Plants and Roses - 1:00 pm; Fruit Trees and Spraying - 2:00 pm; Seeds and Cover Crops - 3:00 pm; and Extreme Conditions, Below Freezing - 4:00 pm. Registration required. [Print Winterization Seminar Flyer]

• 11am – Pumpkin Planter Children's Outing, The Garden Corner (Tualatin)—Nothing says Halloween like a pumpkin. Bring in your little goblins and have fun creating a Halloween pumpkin planter.

• 1pm – Fall Lawn Care, Portland Nursery (Stark Street)—Attention paid to your lawn at this point in the year can set you up for healthy soil and turf next year. Paul Hastings will cover the necessary steps to getting the grass ready for its winter rest: taking care of weeds, thatch, and bare patches, fertilizing and liming, will all add up to more vigorous and resilient green in summers to come. Click here to register for this class.

• 1-2:30pm – Composting Basics, Portland Nursery (Division Street)--Fall is a great time to start composting. Join Beth Wieting to learn all about converting your kitchen scraps and yard debris into productive compost piles. She will discuss various styles of composting, proper "ingredients", the food-soil web, and give you a taste of what biodynamic gardening is all about. Click here to register for this class.

October 30

• 10am-2pm – Fall Woodland Floral Workshop, Dancing Oaks (Monmouth)—Francoise Weeks of European Floral Design will lead this inspiring seasonal workshop. After a demonstration of techniques and mechanics, you'll be encouraged to listen to your intuition with the guidance of this unusual and accomplished designer. The workshop will utilize the bounty of the many fall flowers, leaves, berries and lichen encrusted twigs in the garden of Dancing Oaks. This workshop will change the way you look at your own garden, our abundant landscape and the world around you. Cost: $35; includes materials. Space is limited; registration is required by calling 503.838.6058.

• 1pm – Children's Pumpkin Floral Bouquets, Portland Nursery (Stark Street)—Join Jolie for Halloween fun creating a unique seasonal floral arrangement in a pumpkin. The arrangements will make lovely centerpieces or gifts. Children 3 and older. Limited to 10 children with adult supervision. Click here to register for this class.

November 6, 1-3pm – Building Your Own Rain Barrel, Portland Nursery (Division Street)—Learn how to harvest the rain by making your own rain barrel. Join Brad Crowley of Harvest the Sky to learn the tools and techniques for creating your own rain harvesting system to supplement your gardens irrigation. Brad will walk you through the process step-by-step, as he builds a rain barrel in class. He will have various parts available for sale after class. Click here to register for this class.

November 19, 2-4pm – Ikebana Class, Dennis' 7 Dees (Eastside location)— This is a "make 'n take" class in which you will make a beautiful fall arrangement. Ikebana is an Asian style of floral arranging that emphasizes all areas of the plant, such as stems and leaves, as well as the bloom. It draws emphasis toward shape, lines and form. Cost: $20 covers all the supplies (vessel, pin frog, and fresh flowers). Space available; contact Linda Harrison to reserve your spot in the class at 503.297.1058.

November 20, 1pm – Medicinal Herbs for Winter Health, Portland Nursery (Division Street)—There are lots of plants in your garden and your kitchen that can be used to boost immunity or ward off the sniffles as the seasons shift. Join Missy Rohs, a community herbalist and avid gardener, as she walks you through how to use some of your favorite plants, including rosemary, sage, garlic and more as home remedies. Click here to register for this class.

Mulch that Garden!



 Every spring and every fall I ponder purchasing a huge mound of garden compost (I need more than a unit—7 yards—to cover my garden). From a practical standpoint, spring seems a good time because it’s easier to work around perennials, which either haven’t emerged or they are relatively small and haven’t spread their “wings,” so to speak. But it often is wet and there’s not much heavier than rain drenched mulch (unless its gravel or rock). Mulching in the fall typically offers better weather making it a more enjoyable (ha!) experience. I have to confess: I haven’t mulched in years. I haven’t been able to talk myself into lugging dozens of wheelbarrow loads from the driveway in front to the garden in back (and down the hill and over the stairs). I get tired just thinking about it.

My soil and plants are telling me it’s time to take the plunge. In the maritime Northwest, it really doesn’t matter when we mulch. A 2009 Quick Poll says Random Acts of Gardening readers are most likely to mulch in both the spring and fall (55%). There isn’t a dramatic difference between mulching just in autumn (22%) or just in the spring (16%). Nine percent fall into my camp and don’t mulch at all. According to a 2010 Quick Poll, when readers do mulch, they most often use a combination of compost and bark dust (41%). Thirty-three percent use compost (12% use their own compost) and 17% use bark dust.

There are many “pros” to mulching and not many “cons.” On the con side, it is hard work (though mulch can be blown in making it a lot easier, albeit more expensive) and weed seeds are likely to come along as part of the package. However, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks (I’m definitely talking myself into another unit of garden compost).

Benefits of mulching:

1. Keeps weeds down (bare soil tends to attract unwanted vegetation) and makes it easier to weed when they do appear (it’s easier to pull roots out of mulch than soil).
2. Conserves soil moisture by reducing evaporation and makes it easier for water to penetrate the soil.
3. Helps prevent soil compaction and erosion caused by rain and wind.
4. Keeps soil from splashing onto leaves (plants look better and it helps to prevent soil-borne fungal diseases).
5. Decomposing organic matter adds humus to the soil, encourages the growth of microorganisms and keeps the soil loose and airy, which is good for root growth.

Fall mulching helps soil retain heat, especially helpful in areas prone to cycles of freezing and thawing. Woody plants continue absorbing water, allowing plants to go into winter with more moisture, which in turn minimizes foliage desiccation. If you mulch in spring, do it after the soils warm up, otherwise plant growth may be delayed. Also, stepping on wet soils in early spring to spread the mulch likely will cause soil compaction.



Courtesy of Madison Tree Care & Landscaping

 Layer the mulch two to three inches over the soil—slightly deeper if you have sandy soils—but keep it from having direct contact with tree and shrub bark because excess moisture can cause rot and make the plant more susceptible to disease. Warning! Mulch volcanoes (aka mulch mounds) are a “no-no!”

Here’s a mulch spreading tip to help with your perennials and smaller plants: If you happen to have a few spare one- or two-gallon nursery containers, put them over top of your plants and then shovel the material right onto your bed.

A few sources for bulk garden mulch and gravel: Boring Bark & Landscape Materials (Boring), Farmington Gardens (Beaverton), Grimm’s Fuel Company (Tualatin), Lane Forest Products (Eugene and Springfield), Marr Bros. Bark (Monmouth, 503.838.11830), McFarlane’s Bark Inc. (Milwaukie), Mt. Scott Fuel Co. (Portland), Phillips Soil Products Inc. (Canby), Prineville Landscaping Materials & Nursery (Prineville), and Rexius (multiple locations). Be sure to ask about the source of the material for the compost; you don’t want Verticillium to be invited into your garden.

Ibuprofen here I come!