The Online Garden Gossip

1011 North Woodlawn, Kirkwood, MO 63122                         314-965-3070                                 www.sugarcreekgardens.com

Vines for shade

Many gardeners think that they can't grow vines in shady conditions, or they try a "sun vine" and are disappointed when it doesn't perform well.

We're here to tell you that yes, there ARE vines that live and thrive in the shade.

The kiwi vine, or actinidia, is a deciduous vine that grows 15-20 feet and is known for its striking pink variegated foliage.  Male and female vines are necessary to bear fruit.  How fun is that?!  And it loves the shade.

                                        
You might be familiar with climbing hydrangea, or anomala petiolaris.  It does well in shade with some morning sun, and has showy fragrant white flowers and dark green leaves that turn gold in the fall.  This vine, a slow grower, needs a sturdy wall, fence, or trellis upon which to grow.

And for you hydrangea lovers who are looking for something unique, try the Japanese hydrangea vine, or schizophragma hydrangiodes rosea.  Its flat cluster of flowers are pink-hued, and blooms in late spring and summer.  And this one loves shade, too!

We also recommend the akebia vine, which will grow in sun or shade.  It has chocolate-purple flowers in the spring and showy, five-fingered leaves.

Dutchman's pipe, or aristolchia, will grow in partial shade.  This woody deciduous climber will grow to 12 feet and has unique yellow-green U-shaped tubular flowers.

The trumpet vine, or campsis, will grow anywhere, and it attracts hummingbirds and tolerates drought and poor soils.  Ditto for sweet autumn clematis, or clematis paniculata.  J

Features
Are there fairies in your garden?

The fairy gardening craze has hit St. Louis, and regular visitors to Sugar Creek have probably seen our tiny garden rakes, benches, and arbors.  It's hard not to be smitten by the miniature garden furniture and teeny plants that fit perfectly into a container, creating a small oasis for fairies and big gardeners alike.

We've got more fairy accessories than ever, including a variety of fairies themselves.  Peruse our accessories here.  Or, if you want to see what some of our fairy gardens look like, check here. J

Why we love
Guy Wolff pottery

You may not spend much time thinking about flower pots, but Guy Wolff does.  He's an internationally recognized flower pot designer, historian, and overall aficionado who participated in an exhibit dedicated to the history of flower pots a few years ago entitled "A Place to Take Root."

Wolff has found inspiration for his designs in pot shards unearthed in gardens at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, in records at historical societies, and in historical paintings where a potted plant is in the background.  The "...Root" exhibit featured replicas of what Wolff believed to be the earliest American-made pot, which was produced in Norwich, Conn., around 1750.

Guy Wolff really knows -- and loves -- flower pots.

We're happy to be able to share with you his Greenhouse Series of garden pottery, with pots starting at $9.99.  J

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

"Outstanding Shrubs for Gardens and Landscapes," Saturday, June 17, 10 a.m. with Roxanne Cronin, horticulturist and Sugar Creek plant manager. Learn how you can enhance your gardens and landscape with exquisite shrubs.  Roxanne will teach you how to get luscious blooms, sumptuous fall color, textured winter bark and bright spring foliage.  Learn about the many different varieties of hydrangea and how you can incorporate them in your garden.  Hydrangea care and maintenance will be discussed.  

Call 314-965-3070 for reservations. J

Karen's gardening calendar

Every few weeks we feature timely advice on things you can do in your garden, thanks to Karen Collins, one of Sugar Creek's longtime employees and a master gardener.

Things you can tackle in your garden this month include:

• Watch for bagworms feeding on garden plants, especially juniper and arborvitae.
• As blossoms fade, deadhead bulbs and spring flowering perennials.
• As the soil warms, apply mulch.  We recommend Back to Nature Cotton Burr Compost, which can also be used as a mulch.  Organic mulch discourages weeds, conserves moisture, and enriches the soil as it decays.
• Check soil moisture daily of houseplants brought outdoors.
• After the first show of rose blooms, apply a balanced rose fertilizer, such as Bayer's Advanced All-in-One Rose & Flower Care Concentrate.  If necessary, spray roses with fungicide to prevent black spot disease.J

How do you turn a pink hydrangea blue?

With the exception of white hydrangeas, most color is determined by the pH of your soil, which affects the amount of aluminum available to your plants. The more acid your soil, the more blue; the more alkaline, the more pink. For blue blossoms, mix 3 oz. of aluminum sulfate in a gallon of water.  Soak the plant roots thoroughly.  If the blooms do not turn blue within a few days, give the plant another application.  For pink blooms, add lime, following the directions on the package carefully.J