Chris Hansen is a plant hybridizer by trade, and he tests his creations in his superbly colorful home garden Chris Hansen displays an abundance of color in his garden using predominantly the foliage of perennials, conifers, trees, and shrubs. by Lisa Steinkopf / Photographs by Chris Hansen To meet and spend time with plant hybridizer Chris Hansen is an adventure and one I will not soon forget. Chris is one of the most plant (and life in general) passionate people I’ve ever met. His enthusiasm for plants is second to none—it makes you want to rush out and buy some! His home garden in western Mi ..read more

These handy lists will help you select excellent shrubs and place them in the right spots Shrubs play a major role in landscaping, as we create a hedge here and cover the ground there, there, develop a backdrop in one spot and a pivotal year-round focal point in another. As I design, each shrubby player begins as a set of desirable characteristics, sans name. My rough sketch might have a note like this next to a prominent circle: “Eight feet tall, rounded in outline, winter interest, and color in one or more seasons.” Then, auditions begin and I select possibilities, working from a list of abo ..read more

by Mary Gerstenberger Autumn in the vegetable patch is a busy time. Cold-sensitive veggies such as tomatoes and peppers need to be harvested before first frost, or to extend their season, cover them with a sheet or tarp on nights when a frost is predicted. Cold tolerant plants such as radishes and lettuce can still be planted. Late in September is the time to plant garlic cloves for next year’s harvest. More importantly, autumn is the time when garden cleanup as well as garden preparation begins. Good garden cleanup is fundamental to having a healthy garden next year. Many types of fungal spor ..read more

Concolor fir offers superior form, color, and texture when compared to many other common large conifers. One of the finest firs, and perhaps larger conifers, for use in the Midwest and eastern areas of North America, this unusually showy specimen boasts 2- to 3-inch long, silvery blue foliage that is soft and aromatic. Although this majestic grower can reach 100 feet, it can be used in almost any full sun location that will accept its 20-foot spread. Known for its exceptional color and elegance, the white or concolor fir will be a winner when used as an alternative to the more commonly used fo ..read more

Chip and Betsy Erwin thoughtfully designed their wonderful front yard potager, which many passersby stop to enjoy.Chip and Betsy Erwin generously share the abundant harvest of vegetables and flowers from their superb vegetable garden. Text and Photographs by Lisa Steinkopf It isn’t often one sees a potager or kitchen garden in a front yard. Yet, Chip and Betsy Erwin have created a stunning one in the city limits of Ann Arbor. I visited with Chip and asked him how this garden came to be in front of their home instead of in the backyard like most. He told me he and Betsy didn’t want to take up ..read more

Both the flowers and foliage of globe thistle make a strong impact in the perennial border. (photo credit: Eric Hofley / Michigan Gardener) by George Papadelis When it comes to durable, non-demanding perennials for sun, several great plants come to mind. Yarrow (Achillea), silver mound (Artemisia), tickseed (Coreopsis), purple coneflower (Echinacea), daylilies, black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), and ornamental grasses are just a few of these tough, long-lived gladiators of the perennial border. This list would not be complete without globe thistle (Echinops ritro). Even the worst winters, the hotte ..read more

‘American Gold Rush’ black-eyed Susan boasts a long season of bright color, from the height of summer up to fall frosts. Golden-yellow flowers feature arching rays and a reddish halo surrounding dark chocolate cones. Three-inch flowers blanket the compact plant, only 22 to 27 inches tall with a broader width to 40 inches if given room to grow. The green leaves and stems are covered in hairs, which gives them a silvery cast. On sunny days, peeking through the blooms to the leaves is a shimmering silver-and-gold sight. ‘American Gold Rush’ is an excellent focal point in perennial borders and com ..read more

These maintenance techniques will keep your flowers neat and profuse by Steven Nikkila To deadhead is to remove spent flowers. To cut back is to remove spent flowering stalks and foliage after a plant’s effective bloom season has finished (see photos 1 and 2). Photo 1: Sea pinks (Armeria maritima) before deadheading.Photo 2: Sea pinks after deadheading. Deadhead and/or cut back to keep the garden neater and more colorful. It prevents seed formation, which in turn may prolong a plant’s flower production cycle. It reduces the amount of ripening, brown seed ..read more

The petunia is one of the most popular annual flowers to ever grace our gardens, porches and patios. History The petunias we know today are a far cry from those that first appeared in 19th century gardens, although they are all based mainly on two species that were discovered in South America in the mid-1700s and early 1800s: white-flowered Petunia axillaris and purple-flowered Petunia violacea. Introduced into Europe in the early 1800s, these species weren’t spectacular garden flowers—they were lanky and rather small-flowered—but breeders began crossing them in search of larger ..read more

In midsummer, panicked homeowners see fallen leaves from their crabapple tree and wonder if it is dead. These folks love their plants and want to save them from what looks like certain death. They are right to be concerned when they see leaves falling like large snowflakes. The cause of such “sudden” defoliation can be many things that can often only be determined by firsthand examination of the tree. Drought stress on a recently transplanted tree, root-drowning from excessive irrigation, or a disease organism are some of the possibilities. When defoliation occurs in mid to late summer, one of ..read more