Sky Miles for Sky Pencil: The Journey from Mt. Daisen to Maryland

You migth suspect I do a bit of traveling – but plants have a funny way of traveling around the world too.

Sky Pencil, Japanese holly, (Ilex crenata) is a plant that has earned some serious sky miles. This narrow, column-like, evergreen holly was discovered in the wild on Mount Daisen, Honshu, Japan by my friend Akira Shibamichi. He then passed it on to his good friend, and my acquaintance, Dr. Yokoi, the noted variegated plant collector. Dr. Yokoi passed it on to Rick Darke (the ornamental grass guru) while he was in charge of research at Longwood Gardens in Kennet Square, Pennsylvania. (I met Rick while I was a summer student at Longwood in 1982). Rick got the plant in 1992 while on a plant collecting trip to Japan with Sylvester March of the United State National Arboretum. The USNA then propagated it and introduced it and now it’s grown by nurseries and gardeners across the U.S. and around the world.


Just to keep the story going, Mike Farrow of Holly Hill Farms nursery in Earlville, Maryland took ‘Sky Pencil’ and crossed it with a male selection of Japanese holly. His goal was to develop a very narrow, conical holly with dark green leaves. You see - vertical Plants, especially those with the quintessential Christmas tree shape are very popular, Thuja occidentalis (aka arborvitae, aka Eastern cedar), Skyrocket Juniper and Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’) are all narrow, pyramidal varieties and nurseries grow them by the acre. Mike Farrow understood this. Successful plant breeding starts with a good eye for plants and a good idea and Mike has both. (His impressive plant portfolio includes Arctic Fire Redstem Dogwood, 'Sienna Sunrise® Nandina, Bollywood Variegated Azalea and Pink Panther Echinacea).


After growing out hundreds seedlings, Mike selected out the six best plants to propagate and to evaluate further. Part of this evaluation took place in Michigan after Mike sent his six holly selections to Spring Meadow. For our part of the evaluation, we propagated and grew on about 1,000 plants of each selection. We evaluated each variety in propagation, as a one gallon crop and then as three gallons to gain a thorough understanding of it production and timing. To better understand how the plant performed in the garden we planted the hollies out on two different test gardens. Eventually we choose the best looking, best performing plant of the bunch. At this point we sent plants to about thirty growers across the country to find out how the plant performed under various climates and soils. Ultimately, after all these evaluations we took the leap and introduced Mike’s new plant as Sky Pointer Holly (Ilex crenata ‘Farrowone’ pp# 20,049).



Sky Pointer Holly has shiny, flat, dark evergreen leaves. The flat leaves make for hard living for spider mites, as they cannot hide and protect themselves under the cupped-shaped shaped leaves which are common on Japanese holly. This gem has tight, upright, conical branching which makes it a great container plant. I see many such plants used in sidewalk cafes and near store fronts for decoration. It’s hardy to zone 6 and just like ‘Sky Pencil’ it appreciates a bit of shade, especially in the winter. Growers appreciate its narrow growth habit. Narrow plants require little or no spacing in the nursery, which ultimately saves them time, labor and money.

And thus the journey continues. Last year, Spring Meadow Nursery shipped Sky Pointer liners (starter plants) to wholesale growers across North America. These growers pot them up, and grow them on for one or two years and then send them on a truck to a garden center near you. If all goes as planned, someone will buy a Sky Pointer holly. Perhaps it will be you. And after you plant it in your yard and watch it grow, I suspect you’ll think about its long journey from Honshu, Japan to your front yard.

Felder Rushing - A Simple Dirt Gardener

I've known Felder Rushing for about eight or ten years. I see him at garden writer conferences. He's easy to notice and hard to forget with his beat up hat, scraggily goatee and his standout Southern accent. I knew he was a successful writer and that he wrote books and that his articles were published in fancy magazines that actually paid him money. I also knew he has a garden growing in the back of his F-150 pickup truck. But until Felder was booked to speak in my home town of Grand Haven, Michigan and I read an article in my hometown paper – I didn’t know how little I knew about Felder.

I did not know that Felder is a self-proclaimed dirt gardener. What's a dirt gardener you ask? Well this is how Felder describes himself:

"I garden for the love of it — not for the challenge of it. I have one basic gardening rule Green side up. Dirt gardeners don't do soil prep — we plant stuff in the dirt. We know a ceramic gnome is just as valuable as a life-size marble naked goddess statue, and that birds are just as interesting as anything out there and they don't ask much of us." He says, “... a plant shared with a friend is as valuable as one ordered from a glossy catalogue. We know where our plants came from — even the ones we stole."

Because Felder gardens in the heat of Mississippi, and I garden in the great white North, I assumed we had little in common. But I was wrong. It turns out we share the idea that gardening and growing plants is fun and simple. So simple that anyone can do it.

The big problem, in my opinion, is that there are way too many expert horticulturists out there telling you how complicated it is to garden. They would have you believe you need to match your flower colors using a color wheel. They say you have to sequence the bloom time of your flowers and to use grey as a foil between red and orange. They'll tell you to double dig your flower beds, do a soil test and to adjust your pH. (I’ve never done any of these things). And of course they'll tell you to “buy my book” to know how to garden.

This is all phooey.

You do not need the help of garden experts to garden. You just have to dig a hole and put a plant in it and water it a bit. Get over the idea that every plant you plant has to live 100 years. Plants are living by definition so of course they die. Just plant it - and don’t take it so personally if it dies. I’ve got a master's degree in horticulture and I've killed hundreds of plants. I'm ok with that. That’s how you learn!

It’s not about you!

When a plant grows well in our garden we say “Look what I did!” And when a plant dies we say “I have such a brown thumb.” Either way we give ourselves way too much credit. The fact is the plants is doing the growing – not us. So dig a hole, put a plant in it and enjoy it. If it struggles or gets too big for it's spot – dig it up and move to another location. If it dies - dig it out and plant something else. If it thrives - enjoy the miracle that plants are living creatures that hang out in our yard.

Growing plants is fun. It’s wondrous. It’s addicting. It’s good for the soul. It’s dirty, yet at the same time it brings us closer to God. It’s suppose to relaxing, so drop the guilt and stress that comes with doing it right or wrong – and just do it.

Felder Rushing is the author or co-author of 15 gardening books; and countless newspaper columns and articles for publications such as Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Better Homes & Gardens, Fine Gardening, and National Geographic. Felder has been featured three times in full-length articles in the New York Times. He has hosted a television program that was shown across the South, and appeared many times on other TV garden programs. Felder currently co-host’s a call-in garden program on NPR affiliate stations called The Gestalt Gardener.

Talks, Meetings, Misc. (Things a Nurseryman does in the Winter)


American Hydrangea Society February Lecture Meeting!



If you live the in the Greater Atlanta area I will be speaking at the American Hydrangea Society Meeting, Monday, February 22, 2010, at the Atlanta Botanical Garden (Day Hall) at 7:30 pm.

The American Hydrangea Society is one of my favorite groups, because (as you may know) I'm pretty much crazy about Hydrangeas. If you can make it great! Send an RSVP at their Facebook Page.



Horticulture Students

If you are a Hort student I have good news. Spring Meadow Nursery offers internships. It's a great place to work and to learn. We welcome international students as well. We've had interns from France, Poland, and the USA. Learn more.

Dale Deppe the owner of Spring Meadow, knows that the future of horticulture depends on the next generation. That's why he has started a scholorship for aspiring horticulturists. Apply at ANLA.



ANLA Management Clinic in Louisville.


American (Plant) Idol

I hope to see some of you at the ANLA Management Clinic. I will be presenting some new plants at the PLANT IDOL on Monday, Feb. 1 at 2:45. I'll need your votes so please come and cheer me on. Come see Horticulture’s hottest new intros, a celebrity panel of judges and Chris “Call me Seacrest” Beytes. In this fast-paced, high-drama session you’ll meet the latest and greatest plant introductions, hear them professionally critiqued by expert judges, and vote to determine the winner.

(Please come and vote for me and boo the judges if they give me a hard time!)

The No-New-Plants New Plant Session

I'll also be on a group panel -  "The No-New-Plants New Plant" Session. No plant talk allowed here, rather we will be discussing the role of new plants in nursery / garden center business. This will be on Tuesday, Feb 2nd at 10:15. Hope to see you there.

A Gift for Gardeners



That's what gardeners had to say about last year's first-ever Outdoor Living Extravaganza events in Chicago and Boston. This year Proven Winners is bringing this enjoyable and educational gardening seminar to additional cities across North America.

You'll learn from experts about creative new ways to use color, the easiest ways to grow plant varieties, how to put together exceptional containers, and much more.

P. Allen Smith, The Today Show’s gardening expert, will be at some locations with fun and practical advice, and later you can join him for book signings and photos.

In addition, you'll be treated to a goody bag of exciting gifts-including a plant; you'll enjoy delicious lunch, beverages, and snacks; and you'll have plenty of chances to win great prizes. Even your non-gardening friends will enjoy this relaxed and entertaining look at what’s new in outdoor decor, Proven Winners style.


February 6 - Dallas, TX

SPEAKERS



February 20 - Lake City, UT

SPEAKERS

P. Allen Smith
Kerry Meyer
Carmen Johnston
TBD

March 6 - Chicago / Rolling Meadows, IL

SPEAKERS

Kerry Meyer
Tim WoodTBD
TBD


March 13 - Minneapolis / Park, MN

SPEAKERS

Amy SitzeJohn Gaydos
TBD


March 26 - Vancouver / Rosedale, BC Canada

and March 27

SPEAKERS
P. Allen Smith
Brian Minter
Ingrid Hoff
John Gaydos

April 24 - Boston / Norwood, MA

SPEAKERS
P. Allen Smith
Kerry Meyer
Tim Wood
Amanda Thomsen

What People are saying ......


I attended your PW seminar in Chicago, this weekend. Loved it! It was a wonderful day! Thank you!Nancy from Wisconsin

I was at your Chicago show over the weekend and I would like to compliment you on a great time! All of the speakers were wonderful and I really learned from them. I would love to attend another show! I just wish it wasn't winter in Chicago I am ready to attack the yard! Thank you for an enjoyable Saturday! Kathy from Illinois

My husband and I were among the fortunate gardeners who attended the Outdoor Living Extravaganza in Chicago yesterday. Thank you, thank you, thank you for an inspiring, fun, and informational day. We've been serious gardeners for over 40 years and have never experienced a garden seminar that could even come close to the experience you provided. We hope this will become an annual event. Again, thank you for a wonderful day. Kim from Wisconsin

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The first 100 to register prior to the New Year will receive a FREE 2010 Proven Winners calendar and save $10.00.All those registering before the first of the year will receive $10 off their ticket. $75.00 per person before January 1, 2010. $85.00 per person starting January 1, 2010.
REGISTER HERE

Abracadabra Hydrangea


Regular people look at plants quite differently than your typical horticulturist. That’s why I get a kick out of reading comments by Mike Dirr where he gushes about the attractiveness of the bark on some particular shrub. As if the typical homeowner is going to actually crouch down under a shrub and exclaim “Wow, now that’s awesome bark.” From my experience, the public does not get overly excited about bark (that is unless it has in-your-face bark like a Paper Bark Birch).

I get excited about bark, but I have to remind myself that most people won’t even notice. Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Nigra’ (Syn.: H. macrophylla 'Mandshurica') is a good example. It’s a cool plant. I like it but it’s never been a big seller. It has very attractive back stems, but the feature is obscured by the leaves, so few people ever notice.

When I first saw the Abracadabra Series of Hydrangea in Germany, I got so excited I could hardly contain myself. That’s because, for the first time ever, I actually felt that the average shopper could get excited about bark. What makes these plants so unique is that they have internodes (the spacing between the leaves) that are large enough to give you a real good view of the dark, glossy black stems. Of course it doesn’t hurt that the plants also have funky blooms that are both massive and richly colored. I honestly think that these plants have a cool factor that will make them as popular as lucky bamboo. As a pot plant they would make great centerpiece on a table. You’d actually be able to see the person across the table from you.

Abracadabra Star has massive lace-cap blooms with hot pink flowers. The stems are straight and strong.


Abracadabra Orb is a mop-head hydrangea. The flowers emerge a blend of peach and green then mature to a deep pink. As with Abracadabra Star, the bloom size is massive. The sepals are thick in texture and again are held up on strong, upright stems.

Cool Conifers

The great thing about dwarf conifers is that they require so little work to keep them looking so good. Just plant them and enjoy them. They add color and structure in the winter months. I like varieties that add interesting color or texture as they stand out in the garden. Here are a few of my favorites.
Thuja plicata 'Gruene Kugel' is a great little Western cedar. It requires little to no pruning and it has very nice shinny foliage and dark color.


Thuja occidentalis 'Linesville' is a soft, rounded, juvenile plant discovered by Joe Stupka of Pennsylvannia. Also sold under the name Mr. Bowling Ball.



Juniperus horizontalis 'Gold Fever' was introduced by Iseli Nursery. A colorful, low growing plant that benefits from dappled sun.





Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Little Keon' in a small rouned plant with foliage similar to 'Boulevard.' Blue foliage is always a great additon to the garden.



Thuja plicata 'Whipcord' is a very cooling looking shrub. The species has good deer resistance.


This is just one of the funny, sheared conifers that can be found at Iseli Nursery. While I'm not into shearing plants myself, you have to respect someone that can do it this well. It does make you smile.