Message Board

Hot Topic - The Pleasures Of Garden Crafting

Moderator — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:41:18 GMT

The Pleasures Of Garden Crafting -
Growing Plants For Artful Fun

There are a growing number of gardeners who are choosing the plants in their gardens based on their ability to provide materials for their crafting hobbies. As most of us already know, gardening can be a whole lot of fun, but it's even more exciting when you can use the plants you grow for another source of pleasure - particularly when that pleasure is as enjoyable in the dead of winter as it is during summer.

So to honor the crafters out there who see their plants as materials for their crafting projects as well as fun to grow, we're starting a discussion on growing plants for crafts. You can contribute your favorite plants for crafting, or describe some interesting applications of plants you've grown that might fascinate others. If you grew it and then you used it, tell us about it!

Here's what our gardening gurus have to say about growing plants for crafts;

Stefan Says...

Garden crafting has made a resurgence of sorts. Many people have become aware of the vices associated with mass-produced products and have enlisted 'grass roots' alternatives for their garden craft/hobbies. But it all comes with preparation, and early spring is the best time to begin the search for the right materials for your garden crafts.

For floral crafts, lavender is an 'all-time' favorite. In colder climates it takes the unreliably hardy Munstead Lavender a long time to establish and become viable. However, I have often used the fast-growing and floriferous fernleaf variety in zone 3 as my source. If fragrance isn't the issue but the blue color is what you desire, Victoria Blue Salvia (Salvia farinacea) is great and a readily available substitute for crafting.

Another plant that provides an exotic dried flower is artichoke. Often I have started this plant indoors until it produces two sets of true leaves and then tossed it outside when the colder (but not freezing) temperatures of April force it to go dormant for a short period. As a biennial it is fooled into believing it has gone through a winter and readily produces the chokes that make great focal plants in dried floral arrangements. Other plants that could also be used for dried floral arrangements include daylily and Siberian iris seed pods, ornamental grasses, and of course Oriental poppy seed pods. Remember to pick the grass fronds just before they break open in the late summer and spray them with hair spray to stop them from making a mess inside.

Jim Says...

I'm not much of a crafter per se, so my contribution to the conversation will be mostly secondhand. I've been associated with a number of gardeners who are big into crafting and who use what they grow to support their hobby.

I love the idea of "outdoor art" where the whole yard is the canvas for the craft. I've seen some brilliant landscapes where the gardeners have used standing dead trees or stumps as creative elements, adorning them with wonderfully trivial items or carving them into whimsical forms. I also love outdoor arrangements in large containers, such as mixing dogwood and birch branches, one or two evergreen boughs (sprayed to keep the foliage on) and an accent such as one or two creative ornamental grasses. It just makes fall seem to go on long after the leaves have actually dropped.

One of my personal favorite plant materials is willow. I've seen some stunning things built from willow whips, including woven arbors, welcome mats and an interesting birdhouse. It's such a flexible material and it's surprisingly easy to weave together - it holds together exceptionally well.

On the indoor side dried arrangements have always fascinated me. It amazes me how many of our garden staples can be used in creative arrangements. The hardy Annabelle hydrangea has one of the finest large flower heads and looks so bold indoors - and it holds all winter! And if you grow your own wildflowers, many of them can be successfully dried for a potpourri-like effect in a vase. Stunning!

What Do YOU Say?

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Forum: Gardener's Edge

Wind resistant plants

Mary — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:48:39 GMT

I am looking for suggestions about wind resistant plants in Northern WI.

I have a very sunny rock wall which lines my driveway. The problem is my land is located between 2 lakes and the winds can be fierce during summer and winter. Also, the soil is pretty rocky.

Are there any flowering plants that will thrive in this sort of area?

Forum: Annuals, Perennials and Flowers

no damp alternative

kimberley — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 03:11:32 GMT

Hello, I am wondering what a suitable replacement for no damp would be? Now that it is no longer being made, what are other people using/doing?

Forum: Annuals, Perennials and Flowers

Hot Topic - Gardening The Next Generation

Moderator — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:59:08 GMT

Gardening The Next Generation -
How do We Engage The Kids?

Most of the people who use the Northscaping website are either avid gardeners for whom this is a community to share stories or learn about plants, or they're "part-time gardeners" who have specific questions, usually about novice gardening or landscaping projects. Put a different way, these are either people who are already gardeners, or people who are in the process of becoming gardeners!

Either way, we've all come to realize that gardening is a fantastic hobby and pastime. Unfortunately, some of us don't discover the joys of gardening until later in life, and miss out on its pleasures for much of our early years. Some are fortunate enough to have had gardener parents who shared the joys of gardening with them as they were growing up, passing on their love and appreciation of this fantastic hobby. But not everyone was that fortunate.

How can we get the up and coming generations excited about gardening for life? How do we instill the love and passion in our children so that they don't have to wait until later in life to discover its pleasures? Here's what our debaters have to say on this topic;

Jim Says...

I think gardening could be a major cure for much of what ails society, especially our youth. Look at all of its positive points; gardening puts you in touch with nature and in communion with living things, it gets you into the outdoors and gets you active, it is calming, and it teaches patience. All of these are noble virtues that our troubled society could use a little more of. That's why I vigorously support any initiatives that get kids involved in gardening from a young age.

Kids should be encouraged to share in the wonders of gardening at the "dirt under the fingernails" level. Get them out into the garden with you and show them how it's done. Engage them in all aspects of gardening, from planting and weeding to watering and harvesting. Explain things to them as though you're exploring the great mysteries of the world; the good and bad roles of bugs, how a plant grows from a seed into a seedling and the to maturity, and how flowers are pollinated. Your garden is a little microcosm of life and there is so much to be learned there.

It doesn't have to be complicated, and I think much of it comes down to basic parenting skills and leading by example. Parents who should show an active interest in gardening are more likely to have their children view it positively as well, especially if they treat it as an honorable leisure activity worthy of some of their quality time. And the worst thing to do is make it seem like a chore. Believe it or not, if you make weeding look like fun, that's likely how they'll come to see it as well. Remember, your enthusiasm can be very contagious!

Stefan Says...

The famous words of Jean-Luc Picard - "Make It So" - resonate with me. Children hold the keys to the future sustainability of the Earth. Unfortunately many of today's children don't know that the fruits and vegetables they eat are not produced by some machine or computer - after all we do refer to them as 'produce'. But on the flipside, children today are more astute about the necessity to sustain the world in which we live, and more and more young adults are looking to alternative energies and growing their own foods for a healthier tomorrow. As they mature and have children of their own, I'm hopeful that those venerable traits will be passed down to their children in the next generation of young gardeners.

Children respond best with hands-on activity. In this wireless age of iPods and cell phones, the key is that they are using their hands. When children and young adults work closely with a trusted friend, they excel - so encourage your child to have their best bud join up with them. Enroll or even take your child to one of the local garden club or horticultural society meetings where you are making something or planting up something. Take your kids along to the garden center when buying plants and have them pick out something for themselves, and give them a specific part of the garden in which to work. It needn't be large and may start with a simple pot of flowers that they can nurture. You will be amazed at how they respond to this.

One bit of advice - avoid competitions when it comes to children. A guaranteed way to have your child stop being interested in gardening (or any endeavor for that matter) is to have them do it for the potential prize at the end, such as the Best Novice Gardener in the club. Remember, this child has spent an entire summer nurturing and watching this plant, container or garden flourish. They have achieved something that means a great deal them, only to have some outsider tell them that Suzie's is better (and Suzie likely did nothing; her parents did all the work and put her name on it and all the kids knew this). Avoiding failure is paramount to instilling a long-lasting desire to garden in your child.

Help your child learn through assistance, and do not take over the project as we often have a tendency to do. Teach them the health considerations of what they are doing. And once their work is complete, whether they have succeeded or not, let them know when they have accomplished something - even if it is helping them to understand why their project died or failed. And to finish with another quote from the good Captain, "Things are only impossible until they're not!"

What Do YOU Say?

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Forum: Gardener's Edge

Geranium Bevan's Variety

W. Barteluk — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:34:10 GMT

Does any one have a Canadian source for this Geranium? I live in Central BC

Forum: Annuals, Perennials and Flowers

Boxelders turning color

William — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:34:46 GMT

A curious occurance has me baffled. We have a 1/2 mile road going north and south with boxelders on each side, over 100 years old, many meeting in the middle. Every year that I can remember, the trees on the east turn color and lose their leaves sooner than the trees on the west. The only thing I can think of is that the east row shades the west row, disrupting the daylength. Any ideas?

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

Amaryllis from seed

Elko — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:23:02 GMT

Looking for someone who grows Amaryllis seedlings. Could use some information on what to do with mine. Should they be kept growing or left to go dorment for the winter? I've got some of both but which is right? Too late for this season but still need to know.

Forum: Specialty Gardening

architectural element for landscape needed

Holly Mawby — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:04:36 GMT

Hi all! I looking for a new element to add to our garden design. We have 10 beds laid out in a parterre design with a long (32 foot) arbor down the middles, one long bed bordering each side of the arbor and ten beds (5 on each side) going around that. In the past, all beds have been filled with perennials but that has become a maintenance nightmare. This summer I am going to revamp the beds. I will keep the two larger beds on either side of the arbor as perennial beds, as well as the four across the front that border the sidewalk/road as they are most commonly seen. The other six I want to edge with short perennial herbs, (German winter thyme, winter savory, and maybe sage) in almost a hedge fashion and then wood chip the bed around the herbs and through the center of the bed. My problem becomes what to put in the center. We are on the ND plains where blistering sun and hot winds tend to dry out any planter you would put there. Because of this, a single planter or group of planters is out, it would dry out faster than I could water. Also can't really warm up to the idea of putting 'art' in there. Sculpture, found objects, etc. can tend to look either messy or out of place because they are either too formal or too many when you have six beds to set. Whatever it is needs to be planted in the ground. I was thinking weeping caragana, dwarf Korean Lilac on a standard, pruned sculptural junipers (pom pom) or something along that nature. Keep in mind, I need six and money and budget are tight - any exciting ideas on how to train a vine onto a structure, how to pick up an inexpensive shrub and prune it to shape - open to anything at this point.

Forum: Outdoor Living, Style And Design

the new food

akeimou — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:32:46 GMT

just saw the movie Food Inc over the holidays. i've read Pollan's In Defense of Food, taken a peek at sustainable gardening, etc. i rarely embrace anything 100%, just little hugs that make sense to me, at least that's what i think i do. but what are the little hugs in this case esp in our northscaping climate?

- replace all groundcover with strawberries?
- plant mostly fruiting trees?
- switch to goat and duck meat and get them fresh at the farmer's market only?
- focus more on edible rather than flowering annuals?
- grow a banana tree indoors?

or are these ideas targeted more at big food producers rather than home gardeners? and just education for us the consumers? say goodbye to food variety---old food is the new food? or just sit tight and wait for what happens next?

--meg

Forum: Edible Gardening - Fruits and Vegetables

Hot Topic - Social Networking And The Gardener

Moderator — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:26:31 GMT

January's Hot Topic:

Social Networking And The Gardener -
Whither Shall The Twain Meet?

Facebook. MySpace. Twitter. These are just a few of the many new forums of inter-personal interaction on the Internet that fall under the category of "Social Networking" media. Apparently meeting friends in person and chatting over a glass of wine by a warm fire are no longer the only way to engage those in our social circles. All Hail the mighty Internet!

There's no doubting the burgeoning popularity of these social networking sites. But how do they fit into the world of the gardener? After all, gardeners are supposed to be lovers of nature, at one with the plants and the soil, not tapping away at a computer for pleasure. Surely this community above all others still values human contact and face-to-face interaction? Or is that just a myth, a nostalgic vision that no longer accurately portrays today's gardener?

How do you envision the role of social networking in your gardening life? Are you an avid user of these online communities, or do you shun them in favor of something a little more tangible? Here's what our technically-inclined debaters have to say on this month's topic;

Andy Says...

Nowadays, it seems that almost every technophile geek with opposable thumbs is on some form of social networking site, sharing the intimate details of their lives that nobody really cares about. Admittedly, I fail to see the point with the majority of these sites, but I have a real issue with the Twitter-pates who find it necessary to document their existence 140 characters at a time.

Can it be different for gardeners? How about a theoretical example from what I will call the "Gardening Twit";

- Woke up this morning. Nasty sunburn. Hurts. Where's my lotion?
- Found it. Guess I should water the garden now.
- Can't find watering can. Oh, there it is under my QWERTY phone.
- Wondering how phone gets so filthy.
- Filling up watering can. Wow this is heavy when full.
- Phone making strange ringing sound, not sure what to do! Better text friend.
- Whoops, dropped phone in mud, again.
- Watering plants. Should be happy now. Guess I'll mow the lawn.
- Thumbs sore. Wonder why? Maybe I should concentrate on the lawn mowing?

Now, if only the plants would evolve their own set of thumbs, we could really communicate, or at least follow their tweets;

- What a nice sunny day. I think I'll photosynthesize for a while.
- Wow, I'm thirsty. I hope that strange animal comes by and waters me again.
- OH NO! There's a caterpillar on me. GET IT OFF!!! GET IT OFF!!!
- Don't you dare, bird!
- Yippee! Watering animal is here.
- Ouch. It dropped something on me. That's going to bruise.
- Better now. What's that noise?
- Boy that lawnmower is getting awfully close. Maybe I should...
- Oh Mulch!

You know, I can't wait until plants are online. They seem to lead much more interesting lives than most of the twits on Twitter. Now if you will excuse me, I have to post this to my Facebook page, link it to my MySpace account, comment on 17 "friend" photos, chat on MSN and check my gmail messages. Busy, busy, busy. After all, I've got places to Google and people to avoid.

Jim Says...

I am one of a growing many who think that social networking has a role to play in the gardening world. Sure, Andy is probably right that Twitter takes this to the extreme, and thus the absurd, but that doesn't diminish the value of the more "moderate" tools like Facebook.

Let's be honest, it's January. We at Northscaping and our colleagues in the plant retailing world may preach the virtues of indoor gardening, the pleasures of bonsai and the wonders of forcing bulbs indoors, but I can't help but feel that these are all poor substitutes for what we gardeners really want; to be out playing in the mud in the warm sunshine, meticulously pampering our green friends and being at one with nature herself. But that's not going to happen any time soon here in the North, global warming aside.

This is where social networking sites become "social commiserating sites" for impatient January gardeners. We can compare stories of the miserable weather, lament not being out in the gardens for another few months, reminisce about the wonders of last season, and share our eternal hope for a better gardening season ahead. In the end, all of this idle banter won't matter a hill of beans once we get back out into the gardens come spring, but that seems so very far off right now in the depths of a bitter winter. Hence the value of Facebook and MySpace for gardeners.

It's a curious proposition, though. After all, our Garden Cafe discussion forum here at Northscaping is a form of social networking in itself. If the above hypothesis were true, things would be really busy now and then slow down as the season begins when the gardeners are once again unleashed out into their yards and gardens. Yet we observe the complete opposite; things are pretty quiet this time of year on the forums, and go nuts in spring. I wonder how that works?

What Do YOU Say?

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Forum: Gardener's Edge

Weather rollercoaster

Marvin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:43:31 GMT

Merry Christmas everyone!

Here in Southern Alberta we've had an uneventful fall until 2 weeks ago. Since then we've had several days of whiteout blizzards, -35C temperatures and with wind chill up to -48C!!!!!! And today (right now as we speak) its +2C and the snow is melting quite nicely. That's right a chinook rolled into town. This morning when I woke up it still was -28C and it warmed up to above the freezing mark this afternoon. It's supposed to be +8C on Thursday. I wonder how my new trees (Austrian Pine, Black Walnut, Crimson King Maple, Skyline Honeylocust) I planted this summer will pull through this winter? They better get used to it - because this is typical Southern AB weather!

Forum: Topical Discussions

Hot Topic - Books As Gifts For Gardeners

Moderator — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:25:01 GMT

December's Hot Topic:

Books As Gifts For Gardeners -
Timeless Tradition Or Tired Cliche?

As the Holidays advance upon us once again, many a harried shopper will struggle with the challenge of finding those perfect gifts for the gardeners in their lives. After all, gardening is the number one pastime in North America according to the statisticians, so chances are that almost everyone will have to buy something for at least one avid gardener.

Invariably the gardening-challenged gift seeker will turn to the magical world of gardening and landscaping books as an ideal solution. Everyone can appreciate a book, and even the most hardened concrete-lover will feel a little tingle at the dreamy gardens and exotic landscapes portrayed in the heavily-airbrushed photos inside. Besides, gardening books are easy to find, they're easy to buy, and you can usually find something that's right in your perfect price range for that special someone.

But do all gardeners eagerly anticipate the annual receiving of tomes of gardening wisdom and anthologies of super-worldly garden vistas, or have these become nothing more than well-worn cliches? Sure, books may provide inspiration and comfort over the cold winter months, but isn't gardening really about doing, about being out in the garden getting soil under your fingernails? Besides, how much can be written about gardening before it gets repetitive?

Here's how this month's debaters feel about receiving gardening books as Christmas presents. Be sure to add your thoughts on this topic - at the very least, you'll help shape the gift-buying habits of those tasked with shopping for you for many Holidays to come!

Stefan Says...

Christmas is a time of giving, and it goes without saying that at this time of the year there are many books available at the local booksellers on the subjects of landscaping and gardening. Many of these come complete with vivid floral pictures and pleasing landscapes for all gardeners to appreciate and desire to reproduce in their own yards. Thus they become an easy source for gift-giving. Many of us avid gardeners and horticultural types will receive these books from friends and family who see our passion and gift them to us to help encourage our pursuits in the field. But what exactly are we catering to?

Many of these books are just pipe dreams for us. They are far too complex, and the elegant gardens that they feature have endured and developed over time, and can never (or maybe should never) be reproduced elsewhere. Others are merely drivel, based on some individual's desire to become a recognized author by repackaging information that has repeatedly been written in many different books. And many others are filled with wonderful pictures that should be in a museum of photography rather than a book for gardeners.

This resonates with the contemporary notion of commercialism that has destroyed the essence of what the Holiday season is all about. Granted, there are few gems that do emerge, but to be frank, in how many ways can you describe a potentilla or a spruce tree? Many inroads have been made on the subject of garden philosophy, but we often find that the information overlaps into the mundane as well. One must read between the lines and filter out the personal biases to get the true meaning.

So what books are we getting this year for our libraries of horticultural delights? This year I have asked that I get none as I have yet to see something on the market that isn't old rhetoric or another coffee table dust collector. Besides, who has coffee tables nowadays? Maybe there are some other avid gardeners who have seen something worth writing a letter to Santa for? I'd be curious to know!

Jim Says...

I have to admit, I'm not the kind of gardener who easily tires of receiving good gardening books for Christmas. To me, every decent gardening book is a chance to see someone else's take on garden design, to see how others approach function and beauty in a landscape, or to see new takes on old plants. Even the reference books don't go stale; every time I see a new photo of a tree or shrub, it always looks different, and this never ceases to amaze me.

Of course, my caveat here is that they be GOOD gardening books; the preponderance of formulaic piffle out there does absolutely nothing for me. I don't need someone to regurgitate old wisdom or recycle dated photographs for my viewing pleasure. I need to see new and different things, groundbreaking ways and unconventional vistas. I want my imagination to be stimulated by this book!

Unfortunately, this makes book-buying for me somewhat of a challenge. I can appreciate how hard it would be for a non-gardener to discriminate between a good gardening book and kitsch that's not even worthy of a place on the coffee table. Maybe it's time for Northscaping to implement some kind of book rating system by gardeners; at least then the black-thumbs would stand a chance of finding that worthy gem in the ocean of mediocrity that characterizes garden writing these days!

What Do YOU Say?

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Forum: Gardener's Edge

Green Transport, a brilliant solution!

Jo — Thur, 26 Nov 2009 21:05:48 GMT

Hi everybody, have you heard about the new Cascades Green Transport Contest? You could win one of the 15 passes for an entire year of free public transit or one of the 10 Louis Garneau bikes! To participate, you need enter the UPC code; this code is at the back of each Cascades Tissue Group products. Each UPC code gives one chance to win; you can also increase you chances to win by inviting friends to participate to the contest. An invitation gives one additional chance to win. To enter this contest visit the http://contest.simplegreenaction.ca/contest-green-transport/

Forum: Outdoor Living, Style And Design

Active Growth Phases

Langston — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:20:12 GMT

I was wondering if anyone knew of a good resource/reference online or in a book to find out when the active growing phases of local trees are. I live in Northern New Jersey.

Thanks for the help!

Langston

Forum: Trees and Shrubs

Seed Catalogs/Online Sources

Arlene — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:47:52 GMT

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering what some of the favorite sources that folks here regularly use for ordering vegetable and flower seeds. (I need to stop wishing for spring when it's barely even mid-November

Forum: Topical Discussions