Michigan Gardener - Your guide Great Lakes gardening: Garden Event Calendar / Expert Advice / Plant Profiles / Tree Care

PLEASE NOTE: In the autumn of 1995, we hatched the idea for a free, local gardening publication. The following spring, we published the first issue of Michigan Gardener magazine. Advertisers, readers, and distribution sites embraced our vision. Thus began an exciting journey of helping our local gardening community grow and prosper.
After 27 years, nearly 200 issues published, and millions of copies printed, we have decided it is time to end the publication of our Print Magazine and E-Newsletter.

Website Extra: An eclectic collector’s garden

June 28, 2013 • 1 Comment

To read the entire article, pick up a copy of Michigan Gardener or check out our digital edition.

In 1985, the Hodgsons contracted with an individual who wanted experience in building a koi pond, so they exchanged the experience for the construction. The soil removed from the pond hole was used to build the cactus berm. The pond water is green because of an algae bloom caused by warm, sunny weather and organic material in the water. If controlled properly it is not harmful to the fish.

Mick picking up fish is a demonstration activity. This koi is an early version of the butterfly koi, known for its long fins and tail. The Hodgsons hand feed the koi from the same location multiple times a day, so the fish anticipate the feeding and come to beg when Mick and Cathy are in the backyard. The older fish in the pond teach the young fish about this group activity.

Cathy feeds goldfish in the figure eight pond.

The Hodgsons created this area to bring two paths together and provide a reflective, cool place to sit and rest. In the center is a suspended natural ledge rock with native moss. Water gently overflows from the rock’s center and trickles through the moss and over the edge back into the water. There are a few smaller goldfish to add movement and mosquito control. The Buddha sculpture meditates across from the stone bench and frogs come and go.

Janet’s Journal: Simplify your garden Website Extra

June 28, 2013 • Leave a Comment

To read the entire article, pick up a copy of Michigan Gardener or check out our digital edition.

Irises and peonies in Wil Strickland's garden exemplify his advice, "Watch what does well. Plant a lot of that and let the plants fight it out. I call it choosing your weeds." — Irises and peonies in Wil Strickland’s garden exemplify his advice, “Watch what does well. Plant a lot of that and let the plants fight it out. I call it choosing your weeds.”

Cathy Connelly: Use non-plant material for color and interest: Statuary, garden flags, rocks, whimsical yard art, even attractive old birdbaths or bird feeders that you give yourself permission not to fill.

The Fiskars Power Gear loppers (top) are a great tool to amplify a gardener's own power. Many people who have used mine say, "Oh my, I want those!" Meanwhile, Burdette Chapman dreams of being gifted with the very lightweight, superbly balanced, sharp and easily sharpened ARS 25-inch professional hedge shears (bottom). — The Fiskars Power Gear loppers (top) are a great tool to amplify a gardener’s own power. Many people who have used mine say, “Oh my, I want those!” Meanwhile, Burdette Chapman dreams of being gifted with the very lightweight, superbly balanced, sharp and easily sharpened ARS 25-inch professional hedge shears (bottom).

Ginger Reichenbach does all the work herself on two acres of garden and wouldn't have it any other way. How does she do it? "Don't stop. Don't ever stop. If you are offered help, take it and have them do things you can't. Sometimes one of my grandsons will help me and I always think then about what my father told me: 'If you have one boy, you have one boy. If you have two boys, you have half a boy. If you have three boys, you have no boy.'" — Ginger Reichenbach does all the work herself on two acres of garden and wouldn’t have it any other way. How does she do it? “Don’t stop. Don’t ever stop. If you are offered help, take it and have them do things you can’t. Sometimes one of my grandsons will help me and I always think then about what my father told me: ‘If you have one boy, you have one boy. If you have two boys, you have half a boy. If you have three boys, you have no boy.'”

The Grand Garden Show comes to Mackinac

June 24, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Proven Winners has joined with Grand Hotel to host “The First Annual Grand Garden Show” this summer on Mackinac Island, Michigan. This 3-day hands-on experience is set for Sunday, August 25 through Tuesday, August 27 and is designed to delight and inspire gardeners of all kinds.

Guests will step back in time as they step onto Mackinac Island. They can look forward to a two-night stay at Grand Hotel, an exclusive cocktail reception on the Grand Porch complete with live jazz, dinners created in Grand Style, and time to create art in the garden. Each day, small groups will break into individual gardening sessions after breakfast and will then enjoy walking tours of 12 exclusive private gardens.

P. Allen Smith, well-known television host and gardening expert, will join the guests at Monday evening’s reception, and will present “A Journey of Colors, Trends and Textures” Tuesday morning. Other topics include “Tips ‘n’ Tricks for Maximizing Garden Performance,” “Hydrangeas Demystified,” and “How to Combine Perennials for Late Season WOW!”.

Jack Barnwell, owner of Barnwell Landscape and Garden Services, will also discuss a variety of topics, and will share the story of what goes into designing hundreds of beautiful landscaping beds each year on an island where motorized vehicles are not allowed.

Every year since 1887, Grand Hotel has welcomed guests and families to Mackinac Island, where bikes and horse drawn carriages are the favored modes of transportation. No two guest rooms are alike at Grand Hotel and many visitors enjoy the spectacular views of the Straits of Mackinac from a rocking chair on the world’s longest porch.

For more information about this event please visit Proven Winners.

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