Welcome to the Party

Posted by Tony Bielaczyc

I get asked about native plants a lot by people who are thinking of changing the plant palette or design of the their gardens. Just last night, I was talking with neighbors in my new building about the beds that surround the building: ditching this, moving that, when one person said 'I want to use just naive plants'. He then added how he liked the butterfly bush (Buddleia) that we have in the front of the building since they're a 'nectar source for insects'. I didn't really have the heart to tell him that the buddleia we have is a native of China and is now considered a noxious weed in Oregon and Washington state. Native plants are good, right? They're 'pollinator plants', right? They behave nicely and are trouble free, right? Non-natives are bad, right? They dominate, and overrun a place, right? We shouldn't be using them, right?

Well...yes and no. Native plants are mostly trouble free, and in many cases are a food source for insects and other animals, yes. But they do self sow and spread. So, trouble free and well behaved? Not always...when people use the phrase 'native plants,' it's like saying 'organic' or 'going green'. The intent is good, but what do they really mean? In terms of gardening, I think  they mean plant diversity. Plant diversity is just that, lots of different kinds of plants all together. Plants like butterfly bush: Easy as can be to grow, thriving in hot, sunny spots, deer resistant and fragrant, pretty flowers that attract and help feed pretty butterflies. No wonder it's wildly popular. But can it still be a good choice, even when it's on its way to becoming not just noxious, but downright obnoxious.

It has been said before: Gardening is a lot like hosting a big dinner party with loads of widely different personalities. And like a good party, it isn't a 'set-it-forget-it' event, but requires lots of work to make sure everyone has what they need to enjoy themselves and shine in the way that made them attractive and a good candidate to invite to the party to meet all the other great guests in the first place. With work and luck, everyone gets along and has a fabulous time, both locals and visiting dignitaries. To keep everyone comfortable, we need to tidy up after some of our guests and rein them in when they start to take up too much space in the room. But those non-native revelers are great to invite and liven things up. And they're often a great choice in unexpected places.

Like this beauty, Australian bush mint, Prostanthera rotundifolia. A listener called yesterday for advice on how to grow it. Well, with a name like Australian bush mint, you can bet it's not a Washington state native. In fact, it is a native to Australia where it's considered a very responsible garden choice for its drought tolerance, long flowering period, as a food source for pollinators, a medicinal used by indigenous people, and even for it's fragrant foliage that helps to deter grazing animals. But in Seattle, an Aussie in Seattle? Well, if you think about the notoriously hot, dry, Aussie-like summers of Seattle, yes. To make sure it does its best, our gentle listener should look for the sunniest, hottest spot in her garden, like a place between a paved walk way and a wall or a raised bed that has lean, fast draining soil with some shelter from winds. Or in a container that's out all summer and wintered over in a cool, sunny enclosed porch or room. I know, I know, sunny in Seattle during the winter, right...I'm just saying ideally.

And I'm just saying that when we make plant choices, we need to be proactive. Mix things up, but ask questions and read labels. If your choice is a rampant grower that sheds tons of seed all over the place, maybe it's not the best choice, be it native or exotic. Or, maybe you need to be willing to take the upper hand and deadhead big time, thin self sown seedlings, and dig and compost the far too many established plants already there. It's not a question of black or white, good or bad, native or non-native, but of deciding which of the fun, interesting potential 'guests' out there you'll invite.

What's in a Name Game

Posted by Tony Bielaczyc

Andrew, Stacey and I love hearing from listeners. It makes us feel like we're really there with you all and we get a big kick out of hearing about everything that's going on, in and around your gardens. However, I sometimes feel like AB and Stacey have a stronger level of recall and better memories than I do. (Must be all those Ginkgo biloba brownies they're always munching on!) They're far less apt to feel any twinges when someone calls with a plant id question. Like when Darla Steinborn from Louisiana called into Morning Living a couple of weeks back to ask about an overgrown ornamental blocking the way to the front door of her place. Stacey, the indefatigable plant id person at MSL was ready with the right name. Or, so she thought...

Darla described to Stacey the plant in question as having sets of leaves like an outstretched hand, pointed with shiny surfaces and big. Beyond wanting to know the name, Darla hoped to cut back the beast and make the way to her door open and available once again. Could she do this without killing the thing, she wondered. Stacey paused for a moment and answered, chaste tree plant, Vitex agnus-castus.

Vitex is a favorite of ours here in Garden. Easy, drought tolerant once established, adaptable to sun or shade, hardy for Z6-10, it's got leaves that are big and dark green on top with a silver cast underneath. They have a sage-like scent that makes them very unappealing to all but the most starved of deer. And if it gets too big, you can cut it nearly to the ground in very early spring for a full flush of new growth each year. Oh, AND, it's got long tapered spires of flower, flowers, flowers that are a favorite of bees and butterflies with varieties in a range of deep to lavender blue and onto silvery-white. There you go, Darla, cut away and enjoy! She thought the case was closed until Andrew and I went back to the radio studio that afternoon for the Thursday edition of Homegrown.

We're there blathering on about something horticultural, when a call comes in from a listener named Darla in the great state of Louisiana. How can we help? Darla says she called that morning to ask Stacey for some help with a plant id and what she thought was the answer isn't. Andrew and I look at each other with furrowed brows of incredulity. Stacey got the id wrong? Our Stacey, the plant detective? we thought. 'Tell us more' we asked. Shiny leaves, again. 'Are the leaves joined at the base or separate smaller leaves?'. Joined...I see a bulb go off over Andrew's head. RICE PAPER PLANT beams down from above.

He says 'Rice paper plant' and looks at me with his hand moving around and around searching for the botanic name. TA-DAH, Tetrapanax papyriferus, of course, I chime in. (Must a had a ginkgo brownie!)

And why not Tetrapanax? Darla is in Louisiana, clearly a Zone 8-9 region, so it's a cinch that Darla can use a number of plants that we, up here in Z5, think of as houseplants outdoors in her outdoor landscape, including Tetrapanax. And it's got some big leaves (sometimes 15" across), joined at the base, shiny for sure and this baby can get 15' in size.

Done deal, Darla. And she thanks us for the help. Andrew and I have a bit of that 'We're fabulous' glow on and head back to the office only to look in our Homegrown email mailbox and find that Darla has sent us a message saying it's not rice paper plant after all. Now, all three of us are pissed. This is it. We're figuring this out, do or die. Smart girl that she is, Darla included several shots of the beastie and she wasn't kiddin'; that thing is BIG! Stacey digs in and finds out what it is. Fatsia japonica, Japanese aralia.

Andrew promptly sets fingers to keyboard and let's Darla in on the true name of the plant she has and that she can cut that thing right down to her preferred size without any harm to the Fatsia at all, just one of the blessings of growing this beauty.

A collective sign of total, final accomplishment goes out from all three of us. All in a days work at Martha Stewart Living, from your garden editor friends in print and on the air. So, keep those questions comin', folks. We're all of us ready!

It's peony planting time

Posted by Stacey Hirvela

To enjoy the beauty of peonies this May, you'll have to plant them now. They look delicate and fragile, but they are actually extremely tough plants, living for several decades, so they are a solid investment for your garden. There are two main types of peonies: tree peonies and herbaceous peonies.

Fruit and Veggie Challenge: Healthy, Fruity Muffins and More!

Posted by Lisa Mantineo

This week we selected dishes packed with snap peas, corn, and summer fruits. We even have a healthy recipe for muffins! Check it out below.

For new listeners: If you're interested in making your meals a little healthier by using more fruits and vegetables, then you might want to sign up for our Fruit and Vegetable Challenge. The goal of the program is to incorporate more produce into your busy schedule. If you want more info on the challenge, read our first post about it.

Don't forget: Keep track of the amount of servings you are eating throughout the week. Simply email us -- everydayfoodradio@yahoo.com on Thursday night with the fruits and vegetables you've consumed and the number of servings per day.

Orzo and Snap Pea Salad
Barley Risotto with Corn and Basil
Healthy Banana-Blueberry Muffins

SEE MORE RECIPES FROM PREVIOUS FRUIT AND VEGGIE CHALLENGES:

Broadcasting from the Gardens

Posted by Alexis Tirado

The New York Botanical Gardens is a phenomenon -- there are acres and acres of greenery! Just like people can't believe that Central Park exists smack in the middle of NYC, it's pretty amazing that the NYBG is located in the Bronx.

Tomorrow from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm EST, Martha Stewart Living Radio will be broadcasting live from NYBG! We'll have cool guests on air from Food Network chefs to herbal tea connoisseurs. If you live in the NYC area and want tixs to the event email radio@marthastewart.com If you can't attend the event, make sure to tune in (Sirius 112 or XM 157) or view online Martha's Herb Garden (it's located at the NYGB).

SEE THE TOPICS & GUESTS FROM THE BROADCAST AFTER THE JUMP

A Shout Out to the Bug that Roared

Posted by Tony Bielaczyc

Mention bugs to somebody and they almost always have a squeamish reaction to the word. Creepy, crawly, multi-legged, sticky, drippy, piercing visions ala Indiana Jones and The Raiders of the Lost Arch start whirling around in their heads. Well, Andrew and I want to, once again, make a plea to gardeners everywhere and the world at large for not quashing or squashing everything buggish that moves. (Not that we didn't love this move by the president )

We LOVE the Highline

Posted by Tony Bielaczyc

On Monday, Stacey and I went for a walk through the newest public park to open in Manhattan, The High Line.  After nearly 10 years of jumping through hoops, juggling egos, cajoling donors, reviewing designs, hosting public panels and a frantic steamroller-like installation of hard surfaces, planting beds, lighting, irrigation, seating and plant material, 'tis done, 'tis just begun, 'tis open to the public!

The main stairway entry is at Gansevoort and Washington Streets in the meat packing district in lower Manhattan.  It is the official beginning spot for the 1.5 mile long park that snakes its way overhead through the top of the West Village into Chelsea and will eventually make it to 34th St.

Sleek and sensitive, modern and humane, the landscape architecture was done by Field Operations  and the architecture by Diller Scofidio.  The formal elements are of a strong presence while acting as the perfect partners for the planting design. 

Ahh, yes, the plants...This is where Stacey and I almost cried with joy.

Piet Oudolf is the gardener and plantsman l'extraodinaire/maestro who did the design.  His selection and masterly combination of material is sublime and divine , really.  Those words sound like cheesy cliches from a 50s romance movie, but they really sprang to mind as Stacey and I swooned over and over at what had been accomplished.

 

Get out and see some gardens - I did!

Posted by Stacey Hirvela

All of us in the garden department work hard to help our readers and listeners become better gardeners. One of the best ways to do that, however, is to get out and see what is going on in other gardens. Public gardens, your neighbor's garden, nurseries, are all good - but what is even better is seeing private gardens through The Garden Conservancy's Open Days Program.

Plant this: Lonicera fragrantissima, winter honeysuckle

Posted by Stacey Hirvela

Did you see me in Central Park this weekend? Yeah, that was me - the crazy lady with her nose stuck in the winter honeysuckle!

Wanted: Fragrant Azaleas

Posted by Dionne Victor

Most people love growing azaleas because they are relatively pest-free and easy to grow shrubs, but there are so many to choose from.  In fact, there are over 10,000 different registered azaleas.

A listener called in to last week’s “Homegrown,” specifically looking for fragrant varieties. Here's a great place to look for different varieties of fragrant azaleas. Deciduous azaleas are native to North America and lose their leaves in autumn.  Although deciduous azaleas are surprisingly fragrant, its flowers are pale in color, ranging from mostly white and pink to lavender and even some yellows.

Azaleas