GardenDesignOnline

Orchids: A Rain Forest in the Bronx

photo: NYBG/John Peden

The 11th Annual Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) opens on Saturday, transforming the Enid Haupt Conservatory into a lush tropical rain forest.

This is the largest curated show featuring orchids in the country, and it was designed this year by the NYBG's Francisca Coelho, a VP for Glasshouses and Exhibitions.  Part of this year's show features trees that fell in the garden's Thain Family Forest during Hurricane Sandy.  Some were recycled as replicas of tropical rain forest trees and others are used to show off epiphytic orchids and other tree-dwelling plants.

Visitors will learn about efforts to conserve rare and endangered orchids in the world's rain forests as they wander past giant bamboos, palms, ferns and bananas, a large pool and a waterfall.

Many special lectures are also taking place during the exhibition, which runs through April 22nd.

Happenings March 2013

SELECTED EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY:

Thru March 10, Orchid Show, Cleveland, OH
"Orchid Mania," Cleveland Botanical Garden, 216-721-1600
Thru March 24, Orchid Extravaganza, Kennett Square, PA
Longwood Gardens, 610-388-1000
Thru March 31, Orchid Show, St. Louis, MO
"Madagasgar," Missouri Botanical Garden, 314-577-5100
Thru April 14, Orchid Daze, Atlanta, GA
"Surreal Beauty," Atlanta Botanical Garden, 404-876-5859
Thru April 21:  Orchids of Latin America, Washington DC
Orchid Exhibition, National Museum of Natural History, 202-633-2220

Feb 28-March 3 Nashville Lawn & Garden Show, Nashville, TN
"Gardens of the Sun," Tennessee State Fairgrounds, 615-876-7680
March 1-2, 5th Ithaca Native Landscape Symposium, Ithaca, NY
8AM-5PM, Cinemapolis, 607-533-7193
March 1-3, Maricopa County Home & Garden Show, Glendale, AZ
Univ. of Phoenix Stadium, 602-485-1691
March 1-3, Vermont Flower Show, Essex Junction, VT
"The Road Not Taken," Champlain Valley Expo, 888-518-6484
March 2-10, Philadelphia Flower Show, Philadelphia, PA
"Brilliant" (British Gardens), PA Convention Center, 215-988-8899
March 2, The Pool Reinvented, Dallas, TX
9AM-4:30PM, Seminar on Natural Swimming Pools, 507-246-6682
March 2, "Wake Up Your Garden" Saturday, Bronx, NY
10AM-5PM, 3 Classes, NY Botanical Garden, 800-322-NYBG
March 2, "Rosemary Verey, Life & Legends ..."  Boylston, MA
1:30-2:30PM, Lecture & Book Signing, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 508-869-6111

March 5, Davidson Horticultural Symposium, Davidson, NC
8AM-4:15PM, "Beyond the Garden Gate," Davidson College, 704-604-6618
March 6, Meadowscaping in Urban & Suburban Spaces, Cambridge, MA
7-8:30PM, Lecture by author Catherine Zimmerman, Cambridge Public Library, 617-354-0502
March 7, Lawrence Halprin's Skyline Park, San Francisco, CA
6-8PM, Lecture, Walt Disney Family Museum, The Garden Conservancy, 415-971-9844
March 8-10 International Orchid Festival, Coral Gables, FL
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 305-667-1651
March 8-10 Blue Grass Trust Antiques & Garden Show, Lexington, KY
Alltech Arena, 859-253-0362
March 9, Annual USBG Production Facility Open House, Washington DC
US Botanical Garden plants open house, 202-225-8333
NOTE: SELLING OUT FAST!
March 9-17, Chicago Flower & Garden Show, Chicago, IL
"The Art of Gardening," Navy Pier, 312-595-5400
March 9-17, Indiana Flower & Patio Show, Indianapolis, IN
IN State Fairgrounds, 55th Annual Show, 317-576-9933

March 12, World's Fair Gardens, New York, NY
5:30-8:30 PM, Lecture & Book Signing, Museum of the City of NY, The Garden Conservancy, 917-492-3395
March 13-17, Boston Flower & Garden Show, Boston, MA
"Seeds of Change," Seaport World Trade Center, 617-933-4900
March 14 & 15, Lighting Design Workshop, Bronx, NY
10AM-3:30PM, NY Botanical Garden, 800-322-NYBG
March 15-17 Southeastern Flower Show, Atlanta, GA
Cobb Galleria Centre, 404-351-4003

March 19, The New American Garden, Bronx, NY
1PM-3PM, Lecture, NY Botanical Garden, 800-322-NYBG
March 20, The Making of Queen Elizabeth Park, Philadelphia, PA
6-7:30 PM, Lecture & Book Signing, Penn Design, 215-898-6591
March 20-24, San Francisco Flower & Garden Show, San Mateo, CA
Mateo Event Center, 415-684-7281
March 22-24, Washington DC Home & Garden Show, Washington DC
Washington Convention Center, 703-823-7960
March 23-34, Garden Dialogues: Miami Area, Gulf Coast, Houston, New Orleans
Special Tours of Gardens by Top Designers, The Cultural Landscape Foundation 202-483-0553
March 23, Spring Gardening Symposium, Seattle, WA
8:30AM-4PM, "The European Garden," NW Hort Society, 206-780-8172
March 23, "More Native Plants" Saturday, Bronx, NY
10AM-5PM, 3 classes, NY Botanical Garden, 800-322-NYBG
March 23, Small Space Design, San Francisco, CA
10AM-2PM, Workshop, SF Botanical Garden, 415-661-1316
March 23, Water-wise Landscaping Seminars, Dallas TX
9AM-5PM, TX A&M Agrilife Research & Extension Center, 214-670-3155
March 23, Lahr Native Plant Symposium, Washington DC
8:30AM-3:30PM, US National Arboretum, 202-544-8733

March 29, 7th Horticultural Therapy Forum, New York, NY
9AM-3PM, Hort Society of New York, 212-757-0915

LOOKAHEAD:

April 1, Garden Dialogues, Washington DC, Virginia, Portland OR, New York
Special Tours of Gardens by Top Designers, The Cultural Landscape Foundation, 202-483-0553
Other April Garden Dialogues: Phoenix, Southern CA, CT, Charleston, SC

April 11, Landscape Lectures, Boston, MA
7PM, Landscape Architect George Hargreaves, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 617-278-5156
April 13, Northen Gardening Symposium, Randolph Center, VT
9AM-2PM, New England Wildflower Society, 508-877-7630

May 21-25, Chelsea Flower Show, London, UK

Philadelphia Flower Show Preview 2013

March 2-10, Philadelphia Convention Center: America's Premiere Flower Show.

"Brilliant" is the name of this year's show, in honor of Britain's long gardening traditions. Visitors will enter the flower show floor through the "gates" of the Royal Palace and proceed through an alleé of birch trees to a mock-up of Big Ben, where there will be a light and sound show every half hour.

Drew Becher, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, says the Flower Show "celebrates Britain's amazing and landscapes and cultural icons" and also lifts up "the British passion for gardening, which has contributed so much to the appreciation of horticulture and its role in our lives."

During the show, there will be special presentations by Mark Lane, gardens manager for Buckingham Palace and the Royal Household, Raymond Evison of Evison Clematis on the Island of Guernsey and many others.

This year's show opens on Saturday, instead of Sunday, so there will be two full weekends available to see all the exhibits. Among this year's new attractions are a "New Plant Showcase," workshops that offer visitors the chance to design and take home their own creations, and "The Backyard" -- a room devoted to outdoor living.

Landscape Design Trends 2013

photo: Archpot

ASLA -- The American Society of Landscape Architects -- has released its 2013 survey of landscape design trends, with fireplaces and firepits topping the list of desired garden elements.

 

Ninety-seven percent of landscape architects reported that fire elements were much in demand for this year, followed closely by grills, outdoor seating and dining areas, and lighting.

ASLA Executive Vice President and CEO Nancy Somerville said that in this [still] "uncertain economy, homeowners want to get more enjoyment out of their yards. They want attractive outdoor spaces that are both easy to take care of and sustainable."

Other very popular landscape elements included waterfalls, ornamental pools and splash pools, along with terraces, patios, decks and fencing.

As far as plants are concerned, ASLA reports that more than 90 percent of homeowners want low-maintenance plantings, and there's a slight increase in the preference for organic, food, and vegetable gardens, including orchards and vineyards.

Sustainable gardening elements are also rising in popularity.  Homeowners are opting for native or drought-tolerant plants, drip irrigation, permeable paving and a reduction in lawns.  That's good news for everyone.

 

Books: Proper Pruning

I am not a fan of pruning ... I always try to first talk clients into putting the right-sized plant in the right place.  Some plants, however, always outgrow their projected size, so selective pruning is a necessary art.

For most, pruning is indeed a mystery, though it need not be if you turn to the latest edition of Cass Turnbull's Guide to Pruning, 3rd Edition: What, When, Where, and How to Prune for a More Beautiful Garden (Sasquatch Books, 2012).  Turnbull is the founder of Plant Amnesty, an organization devoted to timeless pruning techniques and good plant management.

Her classic book has been updated with info on 20 additional plants and three new chapters. Although Turnbull is from Seattle, Washington, most of the plants in the book are ones that you'll find all over the country.  It's one of the easiest-to-understand pruning books out there, with easy-to-follow illustrations and clear, concise instructions on what you need to do.

Add this book to your reference shelf  ... you won't regret it.  And it would be a great present for all homeowners who are determined to try pruning themselves.

 

Garden Art: Heavier Light Containers

images: Campania - click to enlarge

A lot of designers are talking about GFRC -- that is, glass fiber reinforced concrete containers.  Campania International recently introduced the line, offered in just four designs.

 At left is the Davos Square planter, 36" across by 30" high, 229 pounds, less than half the weight of cast stone.  Not as easy to move as fiberglass, obviously, but then, these planters won't get knocked down or swept away by the wind.

These planters can be stained in any of the traditional Campania patinas, but they are designed to look like cast stone.  This one is Davos Round - 36 x 31", 178 pounds.

 

The largest planter is Umbria, at left, which weighs in at 256 pounds, but it's 40" wide by 31" high. 

Any of these would be an elegant addition in commercial settings, or in large residential gardens.

 

 

Garden Design Magazine: Out of Business

Things don't last forever, and it's no wonder the CEO pulled the plug on the magazine: circulation less than 200,000.

Bonnier Corp, whose predecessor company, World Publications, bought Garden Design in 2000, announced last week that the April issue will be the last one.

Amazingly, Garden Design had only 179 -- repeat -- 179 ad pages in all of 2012. A statement by Bonnier said that "the economic climate, compounded by the significant industry transition to digital, have limited the growth in advertising needed to make this brand viable for our future."

Might it also be that not enough consumers found the editorial content relevant? Given the popularity of gardening and design, there shouldn't be a problem figuring out how to appeal to this significant audience. 

Garden Trends: Containers, Containers, Containers

photo: Scott Arboretum - click to enlarge

Containers are the hottest trend out there in gardening these days, and the trend shows no sign of slowing.  You can grow almost anything in a container: trees and shrubs, grasses, perennials, annuals, and all kinds of edibles. 

If you need inspiration, plan a visit some time to the Scott Arboretum in Swarthmore, PA (not far from Philadelphia). The horticulturists are famous for their container combinations, and it's well worth your time to take a lot of notes and photos.  (You might also visit the US Botanic Garden in Washington DC for a study in great containers).

Last week, I was at the New England Grows trade show in Boston, and a lot of people were talking about containers of glass fiber reinforced concrete -- lightweight pots that won't blow away in the wind. 

At the show, pots were everywhere -- especially pots full of succulents, vegetables and herbs.

Today's gardeners want low maintenance and no fuss, and that's what you can get in a container.  Large ones will accommodate almost anything, and irrigation systems can easily be installed.   You can roll many of them about on your deck or patio to catch the sun if you like.  You can even repurpose old materials to make a fanciful statement:  planters made of old wooden packing crates, chairs and bedframes, benches or almost anything else you can find at a flea market or salvage yard.  With just a little imagination, your container garden could out-compete those boring borders and foundation plantings and make your life a lot easier.

 

 

 

Plants: Neighborly Trees

If you're looking to avoid tree fights with neighbors, plant a tree they're likely to love.  One of my favorites is the plain old dogwood (Cornus florida) ... one of the lovliest trees in mid spring.  And if you're lucky, you can't beat the form, either.

Three experts were interviewed recently by the New York Times for their favorites ... among them:

Japanese snowbell (Styrax japonicus)
White Oak (Quercus alba) -- one of my faves, too.
Crabapple (Malus 'Sugar Tyme')
Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)
Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica)
Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana)

All of the trees have great characteristics .. you can read the entire article (and see photos of the trees) here.

 

Garden Art: Bold Containers

photos: Stephen Procter - click to enlarge

Sentinel Vessel
52" high, 24" wide

At his studio in Brattleboro, VT, Stephen Procter turns out magnificent large pots that are perfect for almost any garden.  As he says himself, "A good pot can bring a room to life, announce an entry point, or create a garden destination."

The vessels are high-fire stoneware, and the ones that have lids can be used outdoors year-round and will do pefectly well in freezing temperatures.

He works on a potter's wheel using the coil-and-throw method, and the results are clearly wonderful garden sculptures.

For those of you in the Northeast, Steve is exhibiting this year at the Boston Flower and Garden Show March 13-17.

To see samples of his work, visit his website here.