"The Wired Gardener" Online Newsletter
February, 2008 
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Web Reviews
Dan Hinkley Will Help You Jazz Up Your Garden at the Philadelphia Flower Show
Noted plantsman and author Dan Hinkley is a featured speaker at the Philadelphia Flower Show (March 2 - 9) at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Dan will talk about his favorite new and unusual trees, shrubs, vines and perennial plants for Zones 5 - 6. He will present his lecture twice: on Sunday, March 2 at 11:30 and on Monday, March 3 at 1 pm.
Sponsored by Monrovia, these FREE daily lectures range from flower arranging, container gardening, landscaping and gardening on your deck to pest control, Ikebana, growing orchids and much, much more. A complete schedule will be posted on the Philadelphia Flower Show web site in mid-February.
Free Plant Information Online
Plant Information Online, one of the best internet resources for botanical and horticultural information, once only available by subscription, is now free to the public. University of Minnesota Libraries maintains this huge database of botanical images, information, and plant and seed sources.
Catch Up on the Latest Botanical Research
Peruse New York Botanical Garden’s research pages .Their scientists have been doing research in the field since 1891. Learn what they have discovered during their nearly 2,000 expeditions about lichens or liverworts, ferns or frankincense.
Conserve Energy in the Dark
Visit Lights Out America and pledge to turn out all non-essential lighting from 8 pm - 9 pm on Saturday, March 29, 2008. This grassroots organization wants you to know that this simple act can save as much as 15 percent of the energy consumed on an average Saturday night. Don’t forget to check out their top 15 energy-saving tips.
New Orleans City Park Needs Your Help
Even though Hurricane Katrina hit the city over two years ago, New Orleans City Park still needs your help to recover. The park sustained nearly $43 million worth of damage from the hurricane and is working hard to rebuild. Great parks make great cities, so see the park’s website for a full status report and to find out how you can help restore New Orleans.
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PHS McLean Library News
New Exhibit in the Library
“Gardens of the Jazz Age”
January 23 - March 31
McLean Library
Including material from the McLean Library archives, this exhibit is inspired by the 2008 Philadelphia Flower Show theme, Jazz it Up! and accompanies garden historian Jenny Rose Carey’s lecture on “Gardens of the Jazz Age” on January 23. This exhibit features images from glass lantern slides of gardens and other material related to gardens and gardening in Philadelphia between the first and second World Wars. The McLean Library is open Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm.
New Books in the Library
See the "What's New in the Library" page of our web site.
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Travel with PHS!
Gardens in Holland and Belgium
April 21 – May 2, 2008
Join us for an exciting trip to Holland and Belgium to visit outstanding private gardens in each country and to learn the latest ideas in Dutch and Belgian garden design, as well as the influence of historic gardens.
We will visit the Keukenhof, the showplace for Dutch bulb growers that is open for only a few weeks each spring, and Het Loo palace and restored gardens. Our guide, Beline Geertsema-Key, organizes the Dutch Open Garden Scheme and knows the best private gardens in the country. [more]
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PHS Events
City Gardening Series: Cacti and Succulents as Houseplants
Monday, February 4, 6 - 7 pm
Whitman Branch, Free Library of Philadelphia
200 Snyder Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
Community gardener Janet Carter will share tips and tricks about the cultivation and care of succulents and cacti. [more]
Book Club: Stories from the Garden
Thursday, February 7, 5:45 - 7:45 pm
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society McLean Library
100 North 20th Street, 1st Floor
Philadelphia, PA
February selection: F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby. [more]
City Gardening Series: Growing Herbs Indoors
Friday, February 8, 11 am - Noon
Perzel Community Center
2990 St. Vincent Street
Philadelphia, PA
Horticultural therapist Mona Gold demonstrates how to keep your indoor herb garden thriving for year-round enjoyment. [more]
City Gardening Series: Seed Starting Indoors
Wednesday, February 13, 6:30 - 7:30 pm
South Philadelphia Branch, Free Library of Philadelphia
1700 S. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA
Get a jump on spring. Master gardener Robin Potter will share tips and techniques for starting plants from seeds. [more]
Meadowbrook Farm Tour: Flower Show Behind the Scenes
Wednesday, February 20, 10 - 11:30 am OR 1 - 2:30 pm
Meadowbrook Farm
1633 Washington Lane
Abington Township, PA
This behind-the-scenes tour of Meadowbrook Farm’s magical greenhouses will focus on the art, science, successes, and challenges of forcing plants for the Philadelphia Flower Show. [more]
City Gardening Series: Gardening in Containers
Monday, February 25, 6 - 7 pm
Philadelphia City Institute, Free Library of Philadelphia
1905 Locust Street
Philadelphia, PA
Garden designer Toni Ann Flanigan will present a slide show about how to create an attractive all-season container garden. [more]
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Family-Friendly Gardening
Pancake Breakfast and Maple Sugaring
Saturday, February 2, 8 am - 1 pm
Tyler Arboretum
515 Painter Road
Media, PA
Tours and demonstrations of maple syrup production complemented by a hearty pancake and sausage breakfast. [more]
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Other Gardening News & Events
Continuing Education Courses
February 2008
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
Garden design, a cruise to the tropics, garden writing for publication, floral arranging ... these are just a few of the interesting courses, classes, and lectures offered in February at Longwood Gardens.
[more]
Scott Arboretum Workshops and Events
February 2008
Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College
500 College Avenue
Swarthmore, PA
A lunchtime lecture on Chile and a workshop on composting are just two of the February offerings at Scott Arboretum. [more]
Calendar of Events
February 2008
Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve
1635 River Road
New Hope, PA
A Land Ethics Symposium, Winter Lecture Series, and a tree id program/walk are among the February programs at the preserve. [more]
Art Exhibit: Recent Paintings of Kathleen Keane
Through Friday, February 29
Delaware Center for Horticulture
1810 N. Dupont Street
Wilmington, DE
The colorful paintings of award-winning artist Kathleen Keane are on display throughout the month. [more]
Winterthur Museum & Country Estate and Longwood Gardens
Winterthur: 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE
Longwood: 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, PA
Friday, February 1 - Wednesday, April 30
Garden lovers can visit both magnificent du Pont gardens and take a guided tour of the Winterthur mansion for $20 over this three-month period. [more at Winterthur or at Longwood Gardens] Mention the offer when purchasing tickets.
American Begonia Society
Saturday, February 2, 10 am - Noon
Huntingdon Valley Library
625 Red Lion Road
Huntingdon Valley, PA
Virginia Page comes to the Delaware Valley Branch of the Begonia Society to speak about using ferns as houseplants. Contact Bernie Wiener at wiener1@verizon.net or 610-446-2160.
Wedding Talk Program and Tea
Sunday, February 3, 1 pm
Triple Oaks Nursery and Florist
2359 Delsea Drive
Franklinville, NJ
Prospective brides are invited to take part in an informal wedding talk with floral designers. [more] Or call 856-694-4272.
Four Season Container Gardening
Wednesday, February 6, 7 pm
Delaware Center for Horticulture
1810 N. Dupont Street
Wilmington, DE
Outlandish plant stylist Michael Bowell will share his knowledge of plants and favorite combinations. [more]
Lecture: “Cut Flowers at Home and in the Garden”
Wednesday, February 13, 10:30 am - Noon
The American Horticultural Society
George Washington’s River Farm
7931 East Boulevard Drive
Alexandria, VA
Gardening expert and best-selling author Amy Stewart will speak. [more]
West Jersey Rose Society
Wednesday, February 13, 7:30 - 9 pm
Carman Tilelli Community Center
Cherry Hill Township Complex
820 Mercer Street
Cherry Hill, NJ
Program not yet announced. Contact 856-234-6583.
Sweetheart Dessert Tea Party
Sunday, February 17, 1:30 pm
Franklinville Community Center
1584 Coles Mill Road
Franklinville, NJ
Jaye Schneider will speak on “Tea Gardens: What, Where & How” at this event sponsored by the South Jersey Unit of the Herb Society of America. Contact Elyse Cramer at sjpeachy@yahoo.com or 856-881-2585 or Andrea Sparano at onaraps@comcast.net or 856-346-0426.
What’s New for 2008?
Wednesday, February 20, 7:30 pm
Student Center Music Room
Henry Schmieder Arboretum of Delaware Valley College
700 East Butler Avenue
Doylestown, PA
Founders Lecture with John Stella. No registration necessary. For more information call 215-489-2283.
Town Square Program: Building the Green Economy
Thursday, February 21, 6 - 8 pm
Main Auditorium, Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Ben Franklin Parkway (at Logan Circle)
Philadelphia, PA
Environmental leader and civil rights attorney Van Jones will speak about efforts to promote integrated solutions to urban America’s social inequality and environmental destruction, including the promotion of a national green-collar-jobs initiative. The intent of this approach is to create “green pathways out of poverty” while greatly expanding the coalition fighting global warming. RSVP required.
[more]
Gardening with Conifers: Making Wise Design Choices
Thursday, February 21, 7 pm
Delaware Center for Horticulture
1810 N. Dupont Street
Wilmington, DE
Teacher, photographer, and author Richard Bitner will discuss how to consider size, appearance, hardiness, care, rarity, and susceptibility to pests when choosing conifers. [more]
Green Matters: Sustainable Landscapes
Friday, February 22, 8:30 am - 4:40 pm
Brookside Gardens
1800 Glenallan Avenue
Wheaton, MD
Attend this symposium to get cutting-edge information on the first Sustainable Sites report plus information on ways you can green your landscape’s footprint. [more]
Winter Walk: “Winter Structure in the Landscape”
Sunday, February 24, 1:30 pm
Haverford College Arboretum
Haverford College
370 Lancaster Avenue
Haverford, PA
Join arboretum director Bill Astifan on a walk to observe the unique structural characteristics of trees on the campus. Call Martha Van Artsdalen at 610-896-1101.
Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in our Gardens
Thursday, February 28, 7 pm
Delaware Center for Horticulture
1810 N. Dupont Street
Wilmington, DE
University of Delaware professor Doug Tallamy will discuss his research on how we garden and the effects it can have on birds and wildlife. [more]
Philadelphia Botanical Club
Thursday, February 28, 7:30 pm
Comisky Conference Center
Blank Rome LLP
One Logan Square
(enter on north side of Cherry Street between 18th and19th Streets)
Philadelphia, PA
Benjamin Torke of the Academy of Natural Sciences will speak on “The Diversity and Evolution of Rainforest Tree Communities in the New World Tropics.” Reception will follow. [more]
Symposium: Powerful Exhibitions for Every Institution
Friday, March 7, 8 am
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
At this day-long event, gain insight and ideas about how public horticulture and other nonprofit organizations can execute exhibitions that have the right fit, the right purpose, and attract the right audience. [more] Or call 302-831-2517.
12th Annual GardenWise Symposium
Saturday, March 8, 8 am - 3:30 pm
York Suburban High School
1800 Hollywood Drive
York PA
Presentation topics at this symposium presented by the York County Master Gardeners include “Beyond the Grass Ceiling: Less Lawn, More Natives” and “Naturalistic Gardening from the Gardener’s Point of View.” Contact Connie Schmotzer at csx51@psu.edu.
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Garden Q & A
Our gardening experts volunteer their time to answer your questions. Use the form on our web site.
Q. I have a Plumeria in a pot with two stems. One is sprouting leaves right now even though it is on top of the fridge and not in a window. The other hasn't sprouted leaves ever since last June even though the plant was outside at that time. How do I get the second branch to sprout?
Allison C., Havertown, PA
A. It is normal for a Plumeria to go dormant. They usually wake up when the days get longer and they get more light. I don't know how big the stems are, but they usually are at least six inches long, in which case, you could cut the both back to about three inches. Then you should get two new sprouts out of each stem. You do this in April. I suspect that the stem that has leaves is longer and higher than the other stem. It has what is called apical dominance, which is caused by hormones in the plant. Cutting them back to the same length will hopefully cause them to balance out and both start growing. You can try to root the cuttings you remove, by laying them on fresh soil and covering them with clear plastic for a few weeks to keep the humidity up. Do this a few days after you cut them off so that the cut end has a chance to dry up a little.
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How to Submit News & Events
The Wired Gardener is issued 10 times a year (no July or December issue) on the 1st of the month. We post notices of gardening events and give precedence to Philadelphia-area events. Deadline: the 15th of the month for listing in the next month's issue. Send brief details and contact information by email and reference "Wired Gardener" in the subject line. Press releases are not accepted. Please review and follow the format used in our Other Gardening News and Events section.
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About the Wired Gardener
Edited by Janet Evans, McLean Library manager, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, with contributions by Elena Sisti and Priscilla Becroft.
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