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Maria Zampini
Maria Zampini

President, UpShoot LLC

On the Road and In Person

May 12, 7pm
Perry, OH
Garden-pedia talk
and book signing
Perry Library

May 14, Time TBA (evening)
Fishers, IN
Garden-pedia book signing
Allisonville Nursery

May 16, 11am-2pm
Norton, OH
Garden-pedia talk
and book signing (registration required)
Dayton Nurseries

May 28, noon-1pm
Kirtland, OH
Garden-pedia talk
and book signing (registration required)
Mooreland Restoration Garden Club

April Showers bring May flowers… if it rains

Think H2OI recently returned from the California Spring Trials representing the HGTV HOME Plant Collection at scenic Edna Valley Vineyards.

Traveling from San Luis Obispo to Santa Paula one day, MapQuest took me on the scenic route through the Los Padres National Forest and past Lake Cachuma. I saw first-hand the drought devastation as the lake is at less than 40% of capacity.

According to USA Today, 40 states will have water shortages in the next decade. After watching a piece on the local SLO news, it inspired me to see how I could conserve more water, in particular when it comes to gardening and my landscape.  Check out the Think H20 website and revisit our July 2014 enews where we discussed Smart Irrigation Month, for conservation tips so that we can all start to make a difference, one drop at a time; let’s make Earth Day every day!

Water Wise Nativar

Bobbie Schwartz
Bobbie Schwartz, FAPLD
Bobbie’s Green Thumb  

Our colleague Bobbie Schwartz of Bobbie’s Green Thumb says, “Tough as nails!  Every landscape designer dreams of a plant that can withstand drought and shade but also performs beautifully in sun and average moisture, is available in different sizes and shapes, and has more than one season of interest.

“To my delight, the LCN Selections cultivars of Cornus racemosa fit this wish list. I probably use Cornus Geauga® the most because so many urban and suburban lots have narrow spaces yet height is needed to create privacy or screening.”

Geauga® Gray Dogwood 
Cornus racemosa ‘Geazam’

Geauga Gray Dogwood

Besides being a water wise plant, we love Geauga as it naturally forms an easy to maintain, dense and compact, fast growing hedge that does not require pruning unless a more formal appearance is desired.

Geauga Gray

Armitage memoir

#PerDrA

Dr. Allan Armitage, one of the most respected plant authorities in the green industry, has penned his memoirs.

Allan Armitage memoir

His stories depict his unlikely trajectory as a shy boy from a quiet neighborhood in Montreal to a world-renowned plantsman. This book exemplifies everything you have come to expect from one of the most engaging storytellers today.

Dr. Allan Armitage and Maria Zampini

From digging graves to braving North Atlantic storms, Dr. A’s adventurous life is revealed like an unfurling bloom–each petal just a little wilder than the one before.

The book is self-published and available for $19.99 on allanarmitage.net. Orders can be personalized; what a great gardening gift idea!

Chicago Flower & Garden Show

Sweet Find

This March I had the privilege of speaking and doing a Garden-pedia book signing at the Chicago Flower & Garden Show held at the Navy Pier. This show is a plant lovers gem as it focuses on just that: plants. No kitchen cabinet, window or paint displays here!

Kerrie Rosenthal and Carol Niec

It had a lot of great vendors including Kerrie Rosenthal and Carol Niec, two lovely ladies behind The Seed Keeper Company.

If you are looking to keep your gardening seeds and tags organized then you need one of their Seed Keeper Units!

Seed Keeper

I also love their burlap girdles; they are hand-made and much lighter than a ceramic or clay pot and are much easier and smaller to store during off gardening months.

TIME Magazine

Garden Apps

Foolproof Plants appt

Foolproof Plants for Small Gardens received a wonderful shout-out from TIME.com in The 8 Best Apps to Get Your Yard Greener Than Ever This Spring: “The only way this app could be more helpful would be if it could push a wheelbarrow.”

The app, authored by Susan Morrison who is a landscape designer, master gardener, and the co-author of Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces, features special input and collaboration from Maria Zampini when discussing zones 5 and 6 plants.

Armitage app

I also recommend these two gardening apps I have on my own smart phone: Armitage’s Greatest Annuals & Perennials from Dr. Allan Armitage and Grow It! which helps you garden socially. Watch this video for Grow It!

Preview

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