BGGC Public Seminar, April 17, 2013

Cynthia Druckenbrod. , the Director of Horticulture at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, presented an informative and thorough lecture about perennials, shrubs, trees, and annuals that are natives to our region.  They are not only hardy, they are colorful and each adds positive assets to the landscape.  Her accompanying pictures showed the following  plants growing at the Cleveland Botanical Gardens and at her home.  The following is a summary of her presentation.

Perennial

1.     `Colchicum autumnale, or autumn crocus, is very hardy and has flowers that are larger than spring crocus.  They are a source of colchicine, a medicinal compound used to treat gout.

2.     Lycoris radiata is the bright red spider lily that is generally grown in Zone 7.  However, it does exist in the Cleveland Gardens because of the proximity of Lake Erie and its moderating effects.  Lycoris squamigera is lighter pink and more likely to survive in our area.

3.     Tricyrtis formosana “Dark Beauty”, or toad lily is a complex plant and the latest blooming perennial.  Tricytris hirta “Lightening Strike” has blooms along every node and are quite lovely.  They like partial shade.

Plant of the Month, March, 2013
AKRON, Ohio—Dependent on what they could grow themselves, early settlers to Northeast Ohio made a point of bringing seeds or plants with them. One was costmary, likely transported as a rhizome (root), since it produces few seeds. Today costmary grows in the circa 1815 herb garden recently recreated by the Bath Gamma Garden Club at Hale Farm and Village. 

Costmary (Tanacetum balsamatica) is a perennial herb hardy to Zone 4. It has a pleasant, balsam-like fragrance. The common name comes from Latin costus (aromatic oriental plant) and Maria, a tribute to the Mother Mary. Grown in sun, it produces unimpressive

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is an annual with edible leaves, flower and seeds. A useful companion, it repels insects that damage squash, cucumber, broccoli and cabbage plants.    

Plant of the Month, February, 2013
In the summer of 2010, Bath Gamma Garden Club created an herb garden next to the Saltbox House at Hale Farm and Village. This year, our Plant of the Month articles will highlight some of the more unusual and useful plants in the Salt Box garden – plants that may be suitable for your home garden like the nasturtiums shown here.  

I saw this example of a sign when visiting the Atlanta Botanical garden this summer. Always looking for sign ideas for Hale Farm. What do you think?

Plant of the Month, December, 2012
With its insignificant flowers, you’d never guess that Artemisia is a member of the Aster family. While flowers are not its strong point, beautiful, aromatic leaves make many of the 300 species of Artemisia favorites in the herb and flower gardens of Bath Garden Club members. Most Artemisia are native to North America, and all have grey or silver leaves. Some, most notably Tarragon, are grown as herbs and have extensive culinary uses.  

For many years the only commonly available garden Artemisia was “Silver Mound” (A. Schmidtiana). Used extensively as an edging plant, this low mound of fine, silvery-green, feathered foliage grows only 12 inches tall. Like a well-clipped poodle, Silver Mound begs to be petted. Unfortunately, it also has the habit of either 

Plant of the Month, November 2012
Eupatorium maculatum, or Joe Pye Weed, is one of the many purple flowers that grace the ditches, wild areas and gardens of Bath each autumn. Bath Garden Club recommends this large, easily grown plant. 

Even if you’re not familiar with their names, it’s likely that you’ve noticed Joe Pye Weed and Ironweed, the tallest and most impressive of the fall-blooming wild asters. About six feet tall, and two to four feet wide, Joe Pye Weed has rounded flower heads in mauve, while Ironweed has flat flower tops in a dark, rich “royal” purple.  Joe Pye Weed may be a bit wild and large for your garden, but there are members of the Eupatorium family to provide a plant for most home gardens.