Professional Documents
Culture Documents
“The Garland”
Bred in United Kingdom (1835) by William Wells.
Hybrid Moschata, Hybrid Multiflora.
This enormous climber was just about ready to bloom - when in bloom the foliage is nearly
obscured by the abundance of flowers! Flower and bud detail
“Alexander Girault”
Bred in France (1907) by
Barbier Frères & Compagnie. Looking toward the entrance to the front gate we walked under 5 arches of
blooming climbing roses to end our visit - the fragrance was outstanding!
How fortunate we were to visit such a lovely garden. Ï
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î June - July 2008 5
Congratulations
to the
Class of 2008
What native or drought tolerant blue brilliance. I finally acquired one of these trees from
Darcy (MG 06).
flowers do you grow for cutting and Unfortunately, I thought I lost it in last spring's cold
what tips can you share about snap. I was disgusted with myself and towed the pot to
the back of the patio. After about two months, it came
growing them? back from the roots. It has tripled in size to a massive 12
Sherie Bolen, MG03 inches high at this point. In my
A good native flower for floral mind's eye, I again see my tree in its
arrangements, or to just cut and place mature magnificence, but it is taking
in a vase, is Heuchera maxima (Island its time.
Alum Root). The long stems with the Tom Karwin, MG99
airy white or buff flower clusters
I have three Chitalpa tashkentensis
make good filler in arrangements, and
trees in my garden. These are crosses
are long-lasting. This is an easy plant
of the Desert Willow (Chilopsis
to grow when placed well, and is
especially adaptable to growing under linearis) and Common Catalpa (C.
and near oaks, since not much water bignonioides). A few years ago, Al
is required. Some drip irrigation is Derrick brought cuttings of this tree
helpful during the dry season, and the to a MG class and recommended it as
plant can be kept looking neat by small patio tree. One of my trees grew
cutting the tired flower stalks and from one of Al's cuttings. It's now
pulling or cutting out any dead leaves about twelve feet tall and should
from the base. It grows well in sun or eventually reach 20 feet or more.
part shade in my north-facing garden. Sunset's Western Garden Book describes
The photo above shows Heuchera in the flowers: "erect clusters of frilly,
a vase with a cut branch of another trumpet-shaped flowers in pink,
California native, the shrub white or lavender appear from late
Fremontedendron. spring to fall. 'Pink Dawn' has pink
blooms, 'Morning Cloud' white ones."
Chris Carrier, MG06 (My trees are 'Pink Dawn'.)
Above: Heuchera in a vase with a cut branch
Our garden is nearly all California The WGB recommends not plant-
of another California native, the shrub
natives, and not a single one lives in ing this tree near a patio because it
Fremontedendron. (Photo by Sherie Bolon)
fear of being savaged for human drops blossom and leaves. I agree, but
beautification. It's our task to be Below: C. canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ with I just sweep them up occasion-ally. It
acceptable visitors in their house. Juncas, Euphorbia and Melianthus. also recommends not to over water.
(Photo by C. Kriedt) As a gardening procrastinator, I never
Sharon Tyler MG04 have a problem with over watering!
I have found that California
poppies do well in arrangements. Candice McLaren, MG01
They close up at night just as they do My favorite flowering tree has to
outside. be my small pink flowering
Also, the common Star Lily Eastern Red Bud, Cercis cana-
(Zigadenus fremontii), a native bulb that densis ‘Forest Pansy’. The flowers
thrives on neglect in my yard, makes don't last very long, which is why I
nice arrangements alone, with probably enjoy it so much. The
daffodils, or with other groupings. It beautiful pea-like pink flowers fade
flowers profusely in early spring. and fall off allowing the equally
beautiful small colorful leaves to
What is your favorite grow.
flowering tree and how Throughout the year, the leaves
change color ending in the fall with a
do you care for it? pallet of reds, oranges, and greens.
Chris Carrier, MG06 Just beautiful!
The jacaranda offers about as much I have it planted up on a mound in
loveliness as a mortal can stand. The my back yard and found that it does
first time I saw this tree I had to pull not like summer water. It's still too
off the road to stare at the display of small to prune but I've learned it does
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î June - July 2008 9
Roses in Water
— Paul McCollum, MG04
Above: A bouquet of roses and irises. (Photo by Sharon
I have tried many things but I keep coming back to this: Ettinger) Below: Centranthus, Carpenteria, Pelargonium, Rosa,
some roses just last longer in the vase! Loose-petaled roses and others. (Photo by Christina Kriedt)
(‘Jude the Obscure’ for example) seem to last the shortest
time and buds that are beginning to open stay good-
looking as they open. Buds picked too early sometimes
never open but just turn brown and droop. Many of the
modern hybrid teas (‘Tropical Sunset’ for example) stay
good-looking and last in the vase a week or more. I think it
helps if when you cut a rose from the bush it goes directly
into water. Also, when cutting the stem before placing in
the vase it is best to cut it under water and immediately
transfer it to the vase. I have tried putting an aspirin in the
water, 7-up, and other things but a week in the vase is
about it no matter what I do. The bottom line, in my
opinion, is the timing of the cut and the variety of rose.
Although my wife appreciates me bringing roses into the
house for her, my favorite way to enjoy them is just to go
out in the garden and smell the roses - and let nature take
its course! Ï
10 June - July 2008 Î MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS
‘Belle of Portugal’
This was taken in March of 2007 - not at the
peak of her bloom. She is larger this year and
growing up the pine tree.
Above, and right (Photos by Paul McCollum)
Updates
Water-Smart Garden Contest and Tour
Statewide Conference
— Candice McLaren, MG01
— Simon Stapleton, MG06
This year’s Monterey Bay Master Gardener Tour is
Reminder: The MG Statewide Conference is being held going to be fantastic! It is our 11th annual tour and will
September 24-26 at Asilomar in Pacific Grove. It promises feature gardens that demonstrate the many ways to
to be an exciting event with breakout sessions addressing conserve water in the garden.
many of today’s issues and providing valuable gardening The Water-Smart Garden Contest closed Friday, May
information. There is surely something for everyone at this 16th, with over 27 entries submitted. Some of the photo
year’s conference. Make plans now to attend. Registration previews and descriptions of the various gardens are
and all pertinent information is available online at absolutely wonderful! Photos show gardens with water
www.mgconference.ucdavis.edu. Register early before the catchment systems, lawn alternatives, plants with low
events fill up. water requirements and some great before and after
The MBMG will be entering 3 of our projects in pursuit photos. Several homeowners provided landscape plans,
of the prestigious Search For Excellence award; our plant lists, and one homeowner even submitted his soil
Gardening on the Edge newsletter, our website, and the Smart report! You are all going to be amazed at the gardens!
Gardening Faire. We think all of these projects are worthy Our panel of judges met on May 21 st to finalize the
of recognition by all Master Gardeners from around the judging criteria and define gardening and water
state. As you know, much thought and hard work has conservation terms. The judging team includes Master
made these projects second to none and we are proud to Gardeners Maryanne McCormick, Tina Heitzman, Bonnie
present them to our fellow Master Gardeners. Pond, Alicia Molina; Joe DiMaggio with California
We will also be participating in the conference American Water; and Vai Campbell from Soquel Creek
Marketplace. This is an opportunity for us to sell a few Water District.
items and add some $ so that we can support worthy Discussion topics included efficient irrigation;
projects in our area. We have identified some items to be irrigation zones; types of sprinkler heads; and, of course,
offered, but if you have some ideas, please submit them to plant selection, drought-tolerant plants, natives,
the MBMG board for consideration. Mediterranean plants, succulents, and grasses. We have
Besides Advanced Training opportunities, the agreed that each garden will be visited by a judging team
conference will also provide many opportunities for comprised of one water agency representative and one
volunteer hours. As soon as all the tasks are identified, we Master Gardener.
will be recruiting volunteers from our organization. If you Winners of the Water-Smart Garden Contest will be
are interested in volunteering, please submit your name to announced at the Smart Gardening Faire on June 21 st. Tour
sistapleto@comcast.net. I will be compiling the list of tickets will be sold at the Faire; maps and directions will
volunteers and let you know when we have identified all be available soon after. Then just 48 days later, on August
our needs. 9th and 10th, we will hold the 11th Annual Master Gardener
Again, I encourage you to make plans to attend at least Tour featuring the winning gardens!
some portion of the conference. It should be a very Volunteers are needed for designing the
rewarding experience. Ï ticket/brochures and poster; distribution of the tickets and
posters; plant sales; raffle; and overseeing the docents for
each garden. If you are dedicated to educating the
gardening public (and yourself) about water conservation
Mark Your Calendar methods, this is the volunteer project for you! Email
Candice (cmclaren1010@sbcglobal.net) or call 426-0758. Ï
Smart Gardening Faire Favorites for cutting:
Sweet pea and Dahlia
June 21 (Photos by C. Kriedt)
The Rose. It is the ultimate flower for your spring, cautioned that regular water and fertilizer, especially for
summer and fall bouquets. It’s beauty is legendary, the stuff alstroemerias in containers, is essential. Otherwise, they’re
of poetry and romance the world over. An entire family of easy to grow and can provide beautiful cut flowers for two
plants carries its name. The majestic and – excuse me… I’m full seasons. Most of the flowers above were photographed
sorry. [whisper-whisper-whisper] I have just been informed at The Garden Company.
that according to the result of a recent poll conducted As for their celebrated vase-life, I am a devout believer.
among the Monterey Bay Master Gardeners, the plant in To illustrate this article I went on a photographic mission:
the Number One position of our ‘10 Best Flowers for take as many pictures of alstroemerias as possible in order
Cutting’ is NOT the rose but Alstroemeria, the humble to get one or two good shots. I pulled a single stem out of
Peruvian Lily aka Lily of the Incas aka “Ulster Mary” (an the ground at my daughter’s house to place it in better light
interesting corruption). Well, what do you know? for its portrait. After photographing it at my home, I left
The Alstroemeria. It is the ultimate flower for your the 28” stem with its one blossom across a large planter in
spring and summer bouquets. Its beauty is not particularly the sun and promptly forgot about it. Two days later, I
legendary; it is not the stuff of poetry or romance anywhere noticed that the flower had not wilted. Two more days
in the world (at least I couldn’t find any literary mention of passed and, you guessed it, the flower had still not wilted.
it during a 2-minute Google search). It has an entire family Today is the 7th day, and it has still not wilted! I have to
of plants named for it too: Alstroemeriaceae. It is the #1 admit, I’m seriously impressed.
MBMG recommended plant to grow for its long-lasting
and colorful cut flowers. This ubiquitous restaurant-table Tips for growing and showing alstroemerias:
decoration is in fact a valuable, beautiful, interesting and • Plant in full sun (or they’ll get leggy and fall over)
honorable plant brought to us from Chile and Brazil. • They like regular water and fertilizer
Alstroemeria is, in many ways, unlike a rose. It is a • Snails and slugs cannot resist them
member of the order Liliales that also includes (surprise!) • Deadhead by removing entire stem
the Lily family and eight others. So they are monocots
• For bouquets, pull the entire flower stem out of the
(roses are dicotyledons in the order Rosales). Alstroe-
rhizome or cut it
merias also have a root system comprised of one slender
rhizome or a cluster of rhizomes very unlike that of a rose, • Remove all the leaves from each stem before placing in
which is fibrous. A really unusual feature of this plant is a vase as the leaves yellow long before the flowers fade
that the leaves are resupinate, meaning that they twist 180 • Divide in late summer or fall; replant only robust roots
degrees from the base so that when you’re looking down on • Plants die back completely in winter Ï
a leaf surface, you’re actually seeing the bottom, which is
References:
on the top. Rose leaves, to the best of my knowledge, are http://www.alstroemeria.com/en/products/growing_info_cuts.php
not confused about which way is up. I’m not saying they’re http://www.incacollection.com/home/growing-tips
better, just different. Roses have petals, but alstroemerias list (online at www.montereybaymastergardeners.org )
have tepals. No, really. Alstroemeria tepals are typically http://www.wholesale - wedding - flowers.com/fast - facts/
spotted and/or striped with sometimes brilliant alstroemeria.php
contrasting colors. It’s worth taking a close look. http://www.weidners.com/alstroemeria_growing_instructions.html
Charlie at The Garden Company, a sponsor of GOTE, 2218 Mission
I had a very pleasant chat with Charlie at The Garden Street, Santa Cruz
Company about their large and lovely collection. He
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î June - July 2008 15
Book Review:
Gardening Without Firearms
—Tom Karwin, MG99 I also was pleased to discover that Volume 2 follows
Volume 1’s exemplary format, which features a wealth of
The challenges in my garden happily do not include practical information on each plant. Singer lists some
hungry deer, so I haven’t tested Master Gardener Carolyn versatile plants that also appear in Volume 1, so she refers
Singer’s plant list in Deer in My Garden — Volume 2: the reader to the detailed information in the earlier book.
Groundcovers & Edgers for its lack of appeal to deer. The title For most plants, however, she includes valuable details
might seem ambiguous, but the books (there is a Volume 1: under the following headings:
Perennials & Subshrubs) do in fact list deer-resistant plants. Nomenclature: the plant’s common name and its full
Both are from The Yucky Flower Series, the name of which botanical name (genus, species, cultivar);
was suggested by Singer’s three-year-old grandson, who Description: mature height and width, growth habit, leaf
wisely commented, “The deer won’t eat yucky flowers.” and flower color and form;
Her recommendations seem credible because they are Cultural Requirements: the plant’s light and soil
based on her observations of deer with easy access to a preferences, and irrigation requirements;
variety of plants. After several years of observations, she Seasonal Interest: changing leaf colors, formation of
was prepared to list plants that were never eaten by the berries or attractive seedheads;
deer. She did not even list plants that the deer ate Bloom: time and duration of blooms, needs for
occasionally. deadheading and seed harvesting;
Singer defines “groundcovers” to include both low- Companion Plants and Landscape Use: grouping plants
growing plants and those that grow up to about three feet with similar water needs, selecting plants for their
high, and notes that the taller plants may be most mature size, foliage color, and other characteristics;
appropriate in larger scale landscapes. Propagation: the preferred method for making new
She omits three common groundcovers that are deer- plants, given options of propagating from divisions,
resistant but invasive: ivy (Hedera), creeping St. Johnswort cuttings, seeds, or layers.
(Hypericum calycinum) and periwinkle (Vinca). I once spent Singer lists the plants alphabetically by botanical name,
several hours digging out about 100 square feet of Vinca which may well be the best organization for convenient
minor that is not as invasive as Vinca major but still reference, and most entries include photographs. Two of
troublesome. the three appendices offer multiple ways to locate plants:
The main section of the book identifies fifty-five deer- by common name, and by exposure category, or particular
resistant plants. Several are quite familiar, including landscape situation
Achillea (Yarrow), Coreopsis (Tickseed), Lavandula Many gardeners in the Monterey Bay area have frequent
(Lavender), Penstemon (Beardtongue), Rosmarinus invasions of their gardens by wild deer and are frustrated
to find their desirable and costly plants chewed to nubs.
(Rosemary), Stachys (Lamb’s Ears), Thymus (Thyme), and
The various aromatic sprays and bars of soap are unreliable
others.
deterrents, it seems. As a result, the determined gardener
At the other end of the range of familiarity are several
could either enclose the garden with a tall fence (or,
plants that I might recognize but have never grown:
ideally, two fences several feet apart) or limit the garden to
Aegopodium (Bishop’s Weed), Antennaria (Pussy Toes),
plants that are naturally deer resistant.
Cymbalaria (Kenilworth Ivy), Prunella (Self-heal), and
Singer’s two Deer in My Garden books, plus the future
Tanacetum (Tansy). Some or all of these plants might be third volume, are excellent resources for finding and
more familiar to you. selecting deer-resistant plants. While the hungry deer
I have listed only the genus of the plants included in discourage the gardener from growing many desirable
this book. In several instances Singer identifies the species plants, these books give the gardener many good options to
or cultivar of the plant that she has found to be deer- consider.
resistant. She occasionally indicates plants in the same On the bright side, the avid gardener should enjoy the
genus that deer find tasty. For example, she reports that intriguing challenge inherent in a project to design an
Arctostaphylus uva-ursi (the species) and the cultivars appealing garden while drawing from only a limited
‘Radiant’ and ‘Point Reyes’ are reliably deer-resistant, inventory of “yucky” plants. Ï
while the deer always ate the cultivar ‘Emerald Carpet’.
Confessions of a Reluctant
discovered in China, it was named ‘Among or Near the
Gardener: They’re Only Man Sequoyah with Hollow Carvings that Resemble
Something’ or, more correctly, the tree that looks like a
Words — Christina Kriedt, MG06 redwood. The truth is, I don’t care at all what this
particular name means; I just like saying it: Metasequoia
As discussed in the article on page 14, alstroemerias
have leaves that are ‘resupinate.’ I would have thought, if I glyptostroboides.
saw the word out of context, that it meant something Of course, you know what monocots and dicots are;
about eating your soup again. But obviously it means and if a leaf doesn’t have a pedicel it’s okay because flowers
“upside down due to twisting of the pedicel.” Of course, it have pedicels and leaves have petioles. So the definition I
helps to know what the pedicel is. And, as any savvy found for resupinate should read “of the pedicel or petiole.”
gardener knows, resupination is the-orientation-of- Then, to really confuse me, the photo I took of the
zygomorphic-flowers-during-development-so-that-the- alstroemeria leaf suggests that there is no distinct petiole
median-petal-obtains-the-lowermost-position-in-the- (is it sessile?) and that the leaf twists. Okay, I give up.
mature -flower.(http://www.sciencedirect.com/ Actually, before I gave up entirely, I found this
s c i e n c e _ o b = A r t i c l e U R L & _ u d i = B 6 W N H -4 P 7 1 8 M P - statement about the naming of the Metasequioa: “The tree
2&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_a was given the name Metasequoia glyptostroboides by Hu &
cct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5= Cheng. The generic name...was derived from the Greek
35aed501cb78a51ee0e649f7746280f8) meta, meaning alike or akin, and Sequoia, the generic name
Yeah. Even the URL is too long. But all kidding aside, of the coast redwood, which the tree resembles. The
there are: resupinata, resupinatum, and resupinatus. Supine specific epithet, glyptostroboides, is a reference to the genus
means lying on your back. So that makes sense. I mean Glyptostobus, the Chinese swamp cypress, with which the
about the leaf. tree was initially confused. The popular common name of
Dawn Redwood was a suggestion of Ralph W. Chaney, a
professor of paleobotany at the University of California,
Berkeley. The use of "dawn" in the name was an attempt to
emphasize the tree's early fossil record.” (A Reunion of Trees,
by Stephen A. Spongberg, Harvard Univ. Press, 1990. http://
oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/megl.htm).
organization/
date day time class contact
website
June 7 Sat 10:00 MBMG Quarterly Meeting, UCCE - Filoli Slide Show MBMG linny@cruzio.com
mgracec@sbcglobal.net
7 Sat 11:00am First Saturday Tour of the Arboretum UCSC Arboretum
8 Sun 1:00pm Point Lobos Perimeter Hike CNPS Rosemary Foster
625-3083
July 17 & 18 Thu-Fri 11:00 – 2:00pm Plant Problem - Diagnosis & Becoming a 1st Detector UC Davis
23 & 24 Wed & Tilden Park, Berkeley -- Biology & Identification (Wed) Cal-IPC
Thu & Control Methods (Thu) of Invasive Plants
24 Thu 7:00pm Plant Collecting in Chile UCSC Arboretum
Aug 2 Sat 11:00am First Saturday Tour of the Arboretum UCSC Arboretum
Sept 6 Sat 11:00am First Saturday Tour of the Arboretum UCSC Arboretum
Websites:
Native Revival Nursery http://www.nativerevival.com/about_us.html
UC Davis http://ucce.ucdavis.edu/calendar/eventdisplay.cfm?caleventnum=28913
Southern Nevada MGs http://www.extension.iastate.edu/story/news/09mgconf.htm
Love Apple Farm http://loveapplefarm.typepad.com/growbetterveggies/upcoming-eventsclasses.html
CNPS http://www.cruzcnps.org/events2.html
CA Native Garden Fund http://www.cruzcnps.org/events2.html
UC Davis Conference and Events Services http://www.cevs.ucdavis.edu/Cofred/Public/Aca/ConfHome.cfm?confid=34714
California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) www.cal-ipc.org/fieldcourses/index.php
UCSC Arboretum http://www2.ucsc.edu/arboretum/calendar.html
Volunteer Opportunities
Quail Hollow Ranch: Felton, Wednesdays 9:30-11:30, or as arranged. Contact Simon @ sistapleto@comcast.net
Homeless Garden Project: Natural Bridges Farm; 10-2 Thursday and Fridays at Natural Bridges Farm. Saturdays are
available upon request by contacting Paul at 423-1020 or e-mail at paulg@homelessgardenproject.org
Cooper Adobe Garden: workdays 10:00-noon on 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of month. Contact Marcia Smullen, 626-3519.
Other workdays can be arranged.
Seaside Green Team Project: workdays every 3rd Saturday 1:00 - 3:00 PM. Contact Mary Wilson, 393-0193
bluespud@pacbell.net, and ask to be placed on email reminder list.
Carmel Orchid Society: meets at 8:00 PM on the first Monday of each month, except May, September and December at:
First Presbyterian Church of Monterey, 501 El Dorado Street, Monterey.
Santa Cruz Orchid Society: monthly meeting at Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz at 8:00 PM on the first
Friday of each month. Orchid show and sale is in early February each year.
Monterey Bay Dahlia Society: meets second Friday of every month; 7:00 PM potluck dinner, 7:30 PM meeting. Simpkins
Swim Center, Community Room 979 - 17th Avenue, Santa Cruz
Monterey Bay Rose Society: meets the last Friday of the month at the Grange Hall, 2555 Mar Vista Drive, Aptos. Check
the web site (http://www.montereybayrosesociety.org/) for guest speaker information.
MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS Î June - July 2008 19
CONTRIBUTORS
Candice McLaren Paul McCollum Steve Tjosvold
Christina Kriedt Sharon Ettinger Tom Karwin
Cindy Lloyd Sharon Tyler
Claudia Boulton Simon Stapleton
STAFF
Bonnie Pond
Cynthia Jordan
Denise Weatherwax
Kari Olsen
Paul McCollum
Simon Stapleton
Tanja Roos
Tom Karwin Hotline: 831-763-8007
Copyright © 2008 MBMG. All rights reserved
20 June - July 2008 Î MONTEREY BAY MASTER GARDENERS