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Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

• About
• Contact
• Garden Coach
• Going To Pot
• Hoosier Gardener Store
• HortusScope/March 2012: Garden tours and nature related events for Indiana
• Speaker and Topics

Upcoming Events

• March 24, 2012:
  • IMA horticulture staff presents Art of Gardening (all day)
  • Hoosier Gardener is keynote speaker at Indiana Garden School (all day)
  • Hoosier Gardener offers programs at Sullivan Hardware & Garden (4:00 PM)
• March 25, 2012:
  • Hoosier Gardener offers programs at Sullivan Hardware & Garden (1:00 PM)
  • Hoosier Gardener offers programs at Sullivan Hardware & Garden (3:00 PM)

Garden Resources

• Cold Climate Gardening
• Indianapolis Museum of Art Horticulture Blog
• May Dreams Gardens
• Perennial Resource
• Purdue Garden Pubs

Organizations

• Garden Writers Association
• Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
• Marion County Master Gardeners
• SafeLawns.org

Photography

• Words and Photos by Joe Konz

Sustainable Living

• Indiana Living Green

Clover mites, lamium announce early arrival of spring

Clover mites. Photo courtesy Purdue University

Because the winter has been incredibly mild, many people are asking if there will be more insects this year.

Purdue University Entomologist Tim Gibb says Indiana’s 11^th warmest winter probably didn’t hurt insects or help them.

Bugs have behavioral and physiological ways of buffeting the cold and usually are unaffected by winter temperatures mild or fierce, says Gibbs in a posting at Purdue’s Plant & Pest Diagnostic Laboratory Website.

However, when insects emerge from their winter doldrums is temperature related and people may see bugs earlier than normal when the season has been mild.

“In fact, we are already seeing the late winter emergence of many arthropods such as lady beetles, clover mites and crane flies that usually begin later in March,” Gibbs says.

Clover mite size. Photo courtesy Purdue University

Right now, clover mites are on the radar.

The mites congregate in newer lawns and migrate in fall and late winter. “Clover mites are small enough to squeeze through the tiniest of cracks and openings in buildings, making it nearly impossible to seal them out,” Gibbs says.

Although their presence can creep people out, clover mites are harmless to humans and pets. However, wiping them up often leaves brown-red smears that are difficult to clean.

Gibbs recommends applying a double-sided tape around windowsills to help stop mites from gaining access. Once indoors, the mites quickly dehydrate and can be swept up with a vacuum cleaner.

Hoosiers will probably see more garden weeds.

Mild temperatures prompt the germination of winter weeds, such as  lamium (Lamium purpureum) and Persian speedwell (Veronica persica), which seem particularly rampant this spring.

Lamium purpureum. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

Black medic (Medicago lupulina), a summer annual weed, also has appeared already. Dandelions (Taraxcum), a perennial weed, never seemed to go away. They bloomed periodically all winter.

Pull, hoe out or treat weeds as soon as you see them. If using an herbicide, read and follow the label directions so desired plants will not be harmed.

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day March 2012

(C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

Probably by the time you read this, spring will have sprung and gone here in Central Indiana. A week of 70+ degree days (at least one 81-degree day) does that to spring bulbs, especially.

The early stuff, like snowdrops (Galanthus) irises (Iris) and crocus (Crocus) take the biggest hit. Soon to follow will be the early daffodils (Narcissus). Rushed into bloom and gone will be the hyacinths (Hyacinthus) and tulips (Tulipa) and later season daffs.

Hydrangeas and other spring and summer shrubs are leafing out and we can only hope that there will be no deep freezes between now and their time to bloom.

The exfoliating bark makes Heptacodium a great plant for the winter garden. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

On Tuesday, I spoke at the Chicago Flower & Patio Show where I saw some lovely plantings, including overalls with plant-stuffed pockets and attractive window boxes mixed with tropicals, annuals, conifers and perennials. One of the most eye-catching displays was an image of the White House as a backdrop to several raised beds planted with vegetables.

At my friend Tom Tyler’s house in a western suburb, the seven-son flower (Heptacodium) reveals why it’s a great four-season plant.

In my own yard, I’m relishing the what’s here and what’s to come. The Trevi Fountain Pulmonaria has survived two seasons of drought, heat dormancy and transplanting to bloom again.

Dutch hyacinths are on their way in along with a frilly daffodil whose name I don’t remember. Solar Eclipse Heucherella looks great in its new spot. And then there’s the first batch of daffodils that I planted when I moved here that have moved into my neighbor’s yard.

The curly leaf parsley (Petroselinum) has reviving from its winter doldrums and since this will be its second year in the herb bed, will probably bloom.

Chicago Flower & Garden Show. (C) Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp

The hellebores (Helleborus) are still going strong and will look great for months to come.

So, the message is enjoy the garden today because we don’t know what nature will bring us tomorrow.

Hoosier Gardener is keynote speaker at Indiana Garden School

Who: Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp will be the keynote speaker at the Indiana Garden School, Saturday, March 24, 2012, in Anderson, Ind. The keynote addresses 2012 The Year of the Herb by discussing them as ornamental as well as culinary plants. In two other sessions, she will speak about the best plants for the Indiana landscape, based on her the best-selling garden book, The Indiana Gardener’s Guide.

What: Indiana Garden School I, sponsored by the Madison County Master Gardener Association.

When: 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday, March 24, 2012.

Where: Madison Park Church of God, 6607 Providence Drive, Anderson. That’s  just south off of the I-69 and SR 109 Exit (26), then 1 mile west of Menards). This is an excellent facility with plenty of room for our breakout sessions and is very accessible.

Why: Other topics include Vegetables — Produce Your Own? and the ABCs of Small Fruit with Jim Barbour; Cooking from the Garden with Karen Lackey; The Latest on Pesticides and Plant for Pollination with Roy Ballard; Let’s Plant Some Heirloom Tomato Seeds with Brad Willoughby; Wildflowers with Kevin Tungesvick; Wildlife Rehabilitation with Kathy Hershey; and Monarch Butterflies with Ann Richardson.

Registration: $30 per person, $40 for a family, lunch included. Deadline is March 16, 2012. Visit the Madison County Master Gardener Association Website or contact Steve Doty,  jsdoty@indy.net.

Hoosier Gardener offers programs at Sullivan Hardware & Garden

Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp will teach classes March 24 and 25, 2012 at Sullivan Hardware & Garden at 71st and Keystone store. Here’s the schedule:

4 p.m. Saturday, March 24, Mix It Up — Tips for planting perennials and small shrubs along with annuals in pots for multiple seasons of color.

1 p.m. Sunday, March 25, Mix it Up — Tips for planting perennials and small shrubs along with annuals in pots for multiple seasons of color.

3 p.m. Sunday, March 25, No-Fail Plants for the Indiana Garden —  Annuals, perennials and shrubs that give turn your thumb green.

Attendance is free, but reservations are requested: (317) 255-9230.

Daylight Saving Time steals mornings