International MG Conference Notes
The Best Herbs to Use in a Landscape Design - Sue Goetz https://suegoetz.com
Herbs that make a bold statement (and might be showing up in my gardens in 2024): Amethyst Basil - stunning color and large leaves, use like coleus
Thai Basil - sturdy and compact
Magic Mountain Basil - grows fast, up to 36” high, sturdy, and very fragrant
Fennel - adds feathers to a landscape
Shiso - unique sawtooth leaf
Curly Parsley - for low borders and textured in-fill
Arp Rosemary - Zone 6, cold tolerant that thrives near dry, hot walls
Creeping Thyme - a blanket to cover the ground
Carolina Allspice - a dense, rounded shrub 6 to 9 feet high. Zone 4-9
Design Tips:
It’s more than the flowers. Make a statement by combining different sized and shaped leaves.
Plant a perfume garden next to outdoor seating areas.
Create an herb meadow by planting herbs of every size and shape close to each other. They will grow until they touch their neighbor.
Create a fragrant hedge of basil.
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The Future of Gardening Advice
- Nikki Barker, Senior Horticulture Advisor, Royal Horticultural Society in the UK
75% of people learn and seek gardening information from friends
Communities where people can serve with others are the healthiest.
Growing food for people creates community and happiness.
Resources:
Sustainable SITES Initiative – https://www.sustainablesites.org
Learn how to work WITH nature in your gardens
https://landscapeforlife.colostate.edu – USDA Plant Data Base
https://plants.usda.gov/home –
Tropicos, the HUGE database for everything plant related
https://www.tropicos.org/home – Wildflower database
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/search.php
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Growing Spices - Tasha Greer
Talk on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GlC5HNy6K2Y
Book: Grow Your Own Spices
https://www.amazon.com/Grow-Your-Own-Spices-incredible/dp/0760368023
Yes you can grow…
- Dijon Mustard
- Sichuan Pepper (Zone 6-9) Prune and move inside in winter.
- Licorice (Zone 7-9) I found Wild Licorice (Zone 3-9) which I will grow for the unique leaf.
- Fenugreek, fast growing, nitrogen fixing, unique leaf
- Nigella sativa (black cumin) pretty flower, annual (Zone 2-9)
- Galangal, grow as indoor plant (Zone 7-9). Interesting leaf shape
- Paprika peppers
- Saffron, cold hardy to Zone 7. Treat as an annual
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Plant Partners - Jessica Walliser
A.K.A. companion planting which science refers to as polyculture, inter-cropping, etc. Importance of companion planting:
- Improved aesthetics
- Increased soil health
- Reduction of weeds
- Reduced pest pressure
- More pest predation
- Improved pollination
Partnerships:
- Peas & Lettuce
- Cowpeas & Peppers/Tomatoes
- Green Beans & Potatoes
Trap Crop Companions:
- Radish for keeping flea beetles off tomatoes/peppers
- Blue Hubbard squash trap squash vine borers
Partners to Mask Host Plants:
- Onions with peppers to deter green peach aphids
- Zucchini/summer squash with nasturtiums to deter squash bugs
- Basil with tomatoes to deter thrips, hornworm & striped armyworm egg laying
- Calendula with collards/cabbage to deter aphids/attract beneficials
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Mini Forest Revolution - Hannah Lewis
https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/mini-forest-revolution/
The Miyawaki Method, devised by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, uses a method to plant mini-forests said to be healing the world.
Ted Talk: “An engineer’s vision for “tiny forests, everywhere” presented by Shubhendu Sharma
+++++++++ Changing lawn perceptions
Pollinator Visits
- Grass lawns: 1
- Flowery lawns: 40
- Grass-free lawns: 80
Different types of Species Visits
- Grass - 8
- Grass-free lawns: 45
Growing Native Plants
- Native plants do not require fertilizers and require fewer pesticides than lawns.
- Native plants require less water than lawns and have deep roots to prevent erosion.
- Native plants provide shelter and food for native wildlife.
https://www.usbg.gov/native-plant-recommendations
https://www.sourcingnativeplants.com
+++++++++ Bicycling with Butterflies - Sara Dykman
A true story Sara’s nine month, 10,000 miles bicycle journey following monarch butterflies on their annual migration. AMAZING!!
Other Plant Information:
*US Botanic Gardens (yes, this is OUR garden, we own it!!)
https://www.youtube.com/@UnitedStatesBotanicGarden/videos
*Royal Botanic Gardens - Kew
Click to begin your educational journey. (Read & Watch tab)
*Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries
https://www.cbhl.net/plant-libraries
*Plants for Birds - Marshall Johnson
https://www.audubon.org/plantsforbirds
https://www.audubon.org/news/get-know-these-20-common-types-native-plants
*Composting & Climate Change
- Landfills produce methane 68 times stronger than C02 in changing the climate.
- Less than 10% of the methane from landfills is recovered.