The Online Garden Gossip
June 2007/Issue #14

Kirkwood in BLOOM

Kirkwood in BLOOM is a citizen-inspired and managed effort to beautify public spaces in Kirkwood.

Plans include adding colorful landscape displays to popular entrances of the community; replacing and enhancing landscape plantings along city streets and public properties; urban-scale street planters, landscape islands, and hanging planters along street corridors in the Kirkwood Junction Special Business District; and creating “recipes for success” for privately owned commercial and residential landscapes.

Sugar Creek Gardens is a proud sponsor of the program.  To learn more, go to www.kirkwoodinblooomorg.

It takes a village...
and a couple of tennis balls to change the cover on the Sugar Creek shade house

Every couple of years we have to replace the plastic on the tent covering our shade plants, and 2007 was one such year.

Volunteers included every available Sugar Creek husband, boyfriend, son, neighbor, employee -- and even a customer joined in the fun.

For more pics, click here.
 

Feature
Stroll through a Crestwood garden paradise

You're invited to Ann Million's annual garden stroll through her beautiful yard on Saturday, June 16.  She will lead guests on a tour that will feature shade gardening, rose gardening, areas in bright sunlight, container gardening, specimen plants, lots of annuals, and more.  There's something to interest every gardener.

In addition, each attendee will receive a special Sugar Creek coupon.  Enjoy the camaraderie of fellow gardening buffs -- beginners and pros alike.  Strolls begin at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.  Please make reservations by calling Sugar Creek at 314-965-3070.  You can pick up a map to Ann's house at the nursery, or check here.

Upcoming talks at Sugar Creek
You're invited, and they're free!

“Oh Deer,” Sat., June 9, 10 a.m., Peggy Hoelting, Horticulturist.  Are deer and rabbits feasting on all of your hard work?  If so don’t despair – come to this class to learn proven battle-tested tips.  Hear about the techniques and repellents that will keep the animals away from your prized beauties, along with the many perennials and annuals that they find distasteful.

“The American Cottage Garden,” Sat., June 16, 10 a.m., Tina Paletta, Garden Designer and Horticulturist.  If your idea of garden beauty is the delightful look of the English cottage garden, then this class is for you.  This American-style interpretation will teach you which plants work. 

Gardening for Wildlife Garden Party, June 21,
5-7:30 p.m.   Plants that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, birds and other wildlife, by enhancing your gardens with nectar rich blooms, plump berries, and decorative seeds will be on display.  Bring your family and friends for an evening of merriment.  You’ll enjoy:

• 20% Off your total purchase between 5 and 7:30 p.m.
• FREE Refreshments, punch, wine and snacks
• Door Prizes
• One FREE herb for every guest (with any plant purchase)
• Surprise sales during the evening

“No Spraying, No Fuss, No Kidding – Easy Care Roses,” Sat., July 7, 10 a.m., Ann Million, Horticulturist.  Are you desperate for roses, but dislike the work?  Then you need this class.  Hear about exceptional, low-maintenance roses that will have your yard overflowing with luscious blooms all summer.

Have a question or comment? Send us an e-mail.

Karen's gardening calendar

Karen Collins, a longtime Sugar Creek employee, has identified things you can tackle in your garden this month:

• Watch for bagworms feeding on juniper and arborvitae.
• As blossoms fade, deadhead bulbs and spring-flowering perennials.
• Apply organic mulch, such as Back to Nature Cotton Burr Compost.  Organic mulches discourage weeds, conserve moisture, and enrich the soil as they decay.
• Continue spraying roses with a fungicide to prevent black spot disease.  We recommend Ortho RosePride Rose & Shrub Disease Control.
• Keep spent blooms off roses to promote new bud development.  If your rose is showing signs of blind growth -- the ends stop growing and usually show only 3 leaflets at top -- cut back to first full 5 leaflet.  Apply Epsom salts.
• Check container plants to make sure they do not dry out.  In the heat of summer, some containers in full sun may need to be watered as often as twice a day.
• For best flowering performance, feed annuals with a liquid fertilizer at half strength once a week, or full strength every two weeks.
• Now you can purchase a hard copy of Karen's Garden Calendar for only $9.99.  Each copy includes monthly action items, a list of all Sugar Creek seminars, an explanation of botanical terms, and copies of our handouts.  All this useful information in a single location -- a great gift idea for the gardeners in your life.

Unusual
plant of the month
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterfly weed

If you drive south in Missouri, you'll spot this hot orange flower growing wild on the roadside.  In St. Louis, it's a little harder to find -- but it doesn't have to be.

This tough, drought-tolerant native blooms with intense orange flowers in mid to late summer. As the name implies, it attracts many varieties of butterflies and is especially attractive to Monarchs.

Asclepias loves full hot sun and will grow 12-18 inches tall.  It's a beautiful solution for a dry sunny slope.