I recently had the privilege of visiting the Botanical Garden and the Technical University at Delft, (TU for short), in the Netherlands.  TU has one of the world’s leading initiatives in applied botanical research with a focus on solving modern-day problems. The Delft Botanical Garden has research partnerships with the TU Schools of energy, construction, environmental pollution, insulation, aerospace and architecture.
This model of partnership between a great research university and an active botanical garden that we see at Delft is exactly the model I dream about for Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. It uses the best resources and expertise of both organizations; it pushes boundaries, breaks new ground, and makes impact.  Plants are fundamental to our survival and quality of life.

Maybe the pendulum is swinging back to recognize the amazing properties of plants and their applicability to solve our present-day challenges in every sector of our lives.
We already have an opportunity of this type “on the drawing board” in our comprehensive Water Management Plan. It has the potential to have long-term influence on regional water conservation, long-term supply, comprehensive management and quality — ultimately impacting the James River and Chesapeake Bay through its replicability. The Garden will become the public demonstration, interpretive and educational site for scientific research on river ecology, up-stream management and regenerative design. The plan has the potential to establish a national model for the integration of environmental science, landscape design, botany and horticulture.
I hope you will be inspired to read about the following fascinating initiatives currently underway in Delft.

The Milking of Taxol: Taxol is a powerful anti-cancer agent used to treat breast, ovarian and lung cancers, and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Its source is the Pacific Yew, Taxus brevifolia, and secondarily, the English Yew, Taxus baccata. However, it takes thousands of pounds of bark and needles to produce a single dose of Taxol, and the process is fatal to the trees. Taxus brevifolia, (native to the NW U.S. and Western Canada), is listed as endangered, and is one of the slowest growing woody plants we know. There is aggressive research going on to synthetically produce Taxol, but its major source has continued to be living plants, which has kept supply limited and its cost very high.

At TU, research has demonstrated that a strong electrostatic field will induce the release of taxol-containing liquids through the stomata (pores) of Taxus needles.  Once “milked” electronically, the Taxus tree requires a rest period to restore potency, but the process is otherwise undamaging to the trees. It is possible we may one day see Yew plantations, like rubber plantations, where this cancer-fighting breakthrough will be produced in large quantities through this “milking” process.

This image shows the chemical structure of Taxol superimposed over the Taxus tree.

Green Walls: There has been a movement afoot in European cities, led by Paris, to create buildings with “green walls” – vertical facades which support plants for both beauty and environmental benefits.  TU is studying the composition of building materials which will support and encourage plants to grow on their surface.

Vertical walls have the potential to cool, clean and soften our cities. The plants they support absorb CO2, heat and noise pollution, while giving off oxygen and cooling water vapor, as well as beautifying and softening urban streetscapes.  They also provide habitat and food sources for urban insects and birds. Green walls, like green roofs, may well mark our healthy cities of the future.

mixed media slabs with varied plant combinations, held at various angles and exposures at TU to test “best” potential combinations for green walls

Green walls obviously will have impact on structural engineering, requiring foundations and above ground structural systems that will support the weight and other requirements for durability.
Additional architectural engineering research focuses on the inclusion of long-and-strong plant fibers in concrete and other building products to create structural strength with highly renewable, durable materials, with less weight. Think of the difference between constructing with steel reinforcing rods versus threads of bamboo, and the impact of less mining, manufacturing and transportation costs.  And, consider the potential to increase structural integrity and safety for buildings in poor, earthquake-prone areas like Haiti and rural China, if native plant fibers could be incorporated into building materials at minimal costs.
Bamboo, banana, flax, sisal, and hemp are all fast-growing and highly renewable sources of long-and-strong fibers.  In addition to research into architectural systems, these fibers are being studied as less expensive and more environmentally friendly alternatives to petrochemical-based fibers like polyester.  High grade interior fabrics for automobiles and flexible containers for the aerospace industry are already in use through TU’s research.

Pinus mugo

UV Absorbing Wax: TU scientists have discovered that the Mugo Pine, Pinus mugo, (a much-loved, common garden plant), native to high altitudes of Central Europe, has a surface wax protecting its needles which absorbs ultra-violet (UV) rays, converts the radiation  to blue light, while avoiding being broken down by the UV energy as it does so.

Most UV filters are decomposed by the very UV radiation they absorb, and thus are relatively short lived. You know this first-hand by having to re-apply your sun-screen every few hours, or suffer getting sunburned.

The use of sustainable UV bio-filters could mean much longer-lived plastics, latex paints, asphalt, solar panels, and healthier cosmetics! Beyond the convenience and financial impact of such improvements, (less frequent painting of your house), our sunscreen used in future days at the beach will be much more sustained and safe.  Potentially the incidence of skin cancer could be reduced due to this unique characteristic of the “common” Mugo Pine.

Vetiver roots system

Erosion and Flood Protection: The Netherlands is located in one of Europe’s major river deltas, and 60 percent of the country is under sea level, (parts of Amsterdam are 16 feet below sea level!).  It should not surprise us that TU is studying ways to protect dykes and levees, as well as stabilize river banks.

A native grass from Southeast Asia known as Vetiver, Vetiveria zizanoides, has amazing properties to stabilize and protect banks, dykes and dams. Vetiver grows to a height of 6 feet, and its above-ground foliage has been demonstrated to absorb 75 percent of the erosive energy of natural waves and wakes caused by boats. Perhaps more importantly, its roots descend to a depth of 12 feet, creating a complex matrix of resilient fibrous organic material which greatly reinforces soil.

This is the same Vetiver known for its fragrant oil used in perfumes, soaps and medicines. It has been cultivated in Asia for centuries, spreads little by seed, and is not considered invasive.

Vetiver — and future hardy hybrids — has the potential to stabilize the banks of our great commercial rivers, reducing erosion and particulate pollution of estuaries, like the Chesapeake Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. It also may not only protect the low-lying parts of The Netherlands, but in the future prevent levee failure and flooding, as we have seen in our own city of New Orleans and most recently in Iowa.

With the threat of melting polar ice caps and the rise of sea levels, Vetiver might well be a first-line defense for the globe’s barrier islands and coastal cities – green, clean, carbon neutral, and readily propagated.

Vetiver has many other commercial and cultural applications.

Self-healing Concrete: Now if that doesn’t draw your attention!  Deteriorating forces on concrete present some of the greatest challenges for our global “infrastructure” — roads, bridges and buildings. It is one of our fundamental building products –- used by the ancient Egyptians, and after the great fire of Rome in 64 A.D., required by Emperor Nero for the rebuilding of the city.  Time, chemicals, freeze-thaw action, shrinkage, vibration, mechanical stressors, earth movement, etc., all take their toll, and concrete ultimately begins to fall apart.

TU structural engineers are studying the opportunity to embed living bacteria in concrete, which have the unique ability to constantly precipitate calcite, which would give concrete the ability to “repair itself”.  There is a common soil bacterium, Bacillus pasteurii, which continuously exudes calcite. If scientists could induce proliferation of this bacterium within concrete, cracks and pores would self-repair, vastly increasing concrete’s longevity and usefulness.
The challenge is to understand the life cycle and conditions for sustaining Bacillus pasteurii: to know what it requires to thrive in the soil, and to determine if those conditions can be introduced within concrete itself without compromising its structural properties. As the bacterium lives in common garden soils, and plays an important role in the breakdown of urea into nitrogen (making nitrogen available to plant root systems), no doubt its life cycle includes green plants, organic detritus, association with other bacteria or fungi, the presence of certain minerals, moisture, etc.
The potential economic impact for the future of our “built environments” is monumental, and could save the world trillions of dollars in long-term maintenance and replacement costs, thanks to a microscopic bacterium that lives around us every day.

Medicine, urban ecology, structural and civil engineering, macro-economics -– the research taking place between the Delft Botanical Garden and the Technical University will be broad in its impact on future generations and the world we humans live in.  The work underway at Delft is both intriguing and exciting!  I hope we will have the opportunity to follow suit in the years ahead.

I write the following to document and interpret the impact of our weather on the Garden, but more so to commend the horticultural, operations, maintenance and volunteer staff for the superb job you have done under really difficult conditions in recent weeks, with special thanks to Jay, Danny, Mike, John and Karen for their efforts to ensure we have adequate water to get through the next month!  Thank you! Thank you!

You may have noticed in the last few weeks  evidence of extreme stress on trees in the landscape. I mention this for two reasons — the dramatic nature of the change, and the various ways in which these plants respond to extreme environmental stress.

You may think trees can die from drought alone, but in truth, when we have prolonged drought and no intervening rain to reduce both air and soil temperatures, trees (and other plants) actually die from root systems shutting down from soils that are too warm.  Both lack of water and soil temperatures reduce root metabolism, but once soils reach temperatures beyond 95 degrees F, root respiration slows to a stop, and the trees virtually suffocate.

Oak species tend to have the greatest fragility levels, literally reaching a stress point and sometimes “die over night,” including very mature specimens.

Other species cope by defoliation or segmental death of the plant – individual branches or certain segments (top half) of the tree dying to reduce the amount of strain on the plant’s attempts to support foliage, flowers and fruit through the uptake of water and nutrients.

Urban trees suffer the most under these conditions. The greater the soil mass, ability of soils to hold water, quantity of understory plants which help to shade and cools soils, mulch and accumulated organic materials covering root zones, etc. all impact a tree’s ability to survive these extremes.

Irrigation provides both water and soil cooling, and can make the difference between life and death, but water alone can’t overcome the impact of hot soils – 100-degree wet soil and 100-degree dry soil are equally fatal. Trees living in small soil volumes, with large tree-to-soil ratios, in compacted soils, with limited root systems, without the benefit of other “communities” of plants to mitigate their environment, etc. really suffer in this kind of weather.

There are ethical discussions about irrigation and whether it should be used during water stress. Luckily, the vast majority of Lewis Ginter’s irrigation water comes from rain we collect in our lakes from surface run-off, roofs and clean paving. The issue of using treated water from public utilities gets more complex (and that is subject for another discussion), but I believe trees do so much good for our environment, the use of water to sustain them is inarguable.

We had a very wet winter and spring, and ideal pollination conditions for many spring flowering trees. This is now seen in particularly heavy fruit set, as seen in our venerable female Ginkgo at Bloemendaal House. Maples (Acer species) and Redbuds (Cercis species) also had very heavy fruit set this year. Plants invest the majority of their energy into their flowers and fruits – their next generation. Sadly, our Ginkgo has invested so much nutrient in its fruit that the accumulated weight has resulted in the spontaneous loss of several major branches in the past month. This is highly uncommon, but in this case, it is too much of a good thing. Trees currently in flower or fruit are subject to especially high stress as they attempt to survive in order to reproduce.

Not all trees within similar conditions respond the same. There could be multiple factors involved, (disease, insect infestation, etc.), but under these extreme conditions, the genetics of a plant have huge influence. In truth, we have limited clones in most landscape plantings, and genetic variation is an important factor in a tree’s longevity. As in all of nature, it is the survival of the fittest. So, if you see one tree thriving in a landscape and another in stress, it could well be its genetic make up – just as some of us humans live to a ripe old age, and others do not.

It has long been my contention that the entire Botanical Garden is one big research project – that so many plants in so many conditions have never been assembled in Central Virginia before. As they mature, grow into communities, impact one another with shade, root competition, etc., adapt to micro-climates, and are tested by time, weather, disease, insects and cultivation, our accumulated learning will be rich indeed.

In spite of many weeks of record-breaking temperatures and drought, we have very few plants which are “at risk” or which have been damaged by the conditions. Those few which are struggling will teach us all more about nature in general, and the plants species, varieties and cultivars specifically.

I want to commend the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden horticultural and maintenance staff and volunteers for an outstanding job of keeping the Garden’s collections healthy and strong through this period. Their steadfast dedication seven-days-a-week keeps this “research project” an oasis of beauty and a center of education which benefits the entire region.

Trees often have a special place in childhood memories. For me, it was a dogwood I loved to climb in my parents’ backyard. About five feet up, the branches made a “V” providing a perfect perch to view the world.

Hopefully the mulberry in our Children’s Garden will provide the same kind of memories for our young visitors. We find it wonderfully ironic that with all of the well-planned features in the Children’s Garden, one of the favorite activities is climbing the mulberry.

Davey Tree professional pruning mulberry in Children's Garden

As you might expect, this affection has taken a toll. After all, we estimate the tree is more than 100 years old! Trees, unfortunately, do not live forever, but the Garden is doing what it can to extend the life of the mulberry. Yesterday, professionals from Davey Tree visited and carefully removed dead or compromised branches. “Mulberries are very tough trees,” explains Mark Bennett, manager of Davey’s Richmond office. ”The work done should help keep the tree available for people to enjoy for years to come. “

The next step will be placing “tree props” beneath it. If you’re familiar with the mulberry, you know low-lying, sprawling branches are part of its great appeal. The tree props will be placed strategically under the branches to take the weight of the climbers and to preserve the integrity of the tree. The Garden’s Geezers, a group of “well-seasoned” volunteers, are building the tree props, so look for them to appear soon.

Pieces of the mulberry tree removed yesterday will continue to play an important role in the Children’s Garden. They’ll be used for educational programs and also in Woodland Pointe, where children create fairy houses and other structures crafted from found objects. Chosen as one of the Remarkable Trees of Virginia , the beloved mulberry in the Children’s Garden continues to provide gifts to us all.

Every Wednesday morning, I see volunteers carrying trays of freshly-cut flowers and other plant material into the GardenFest of Lights decoration workshop—signaling the first stage of the imaginative, hand-made holiday decorations that delight annual GardenFest visitors starting the weekend after Thanksgiving.

In most inside spaces, ornaments made from dried plant materials decorate trees, form table decorations, and drape fireplaces and chandeliers. Their creation is a year-round effort from planning which seeds to buy, to planting and caring for the plants, to harvesting and drying. And, much of the work happens when you’d expect it least — in the heat of summer — July & August.  Walking into the workshop, I’m like a kid again, waiting to see what our creative horticulture staff and volunteers will come up with this year!

A hydrangea being immersed in silica

There’s years of experience on tap for this project, from best plants for drying — and the best technique for each one.  Apparently, we had a disaster this year when an experimental method for keeping lotus leaves flat while drying resulted in a mildewed mess—oh well, sometimes you have to go with the flow, and start fresh. We’ll be working with the second crop of lotus leaves, and around their ‘personalities’. Plants are harvested all summer and carried to the basement workshop in the Education & Library Complex where GardenFest magic is crafted.  Some plants are dried in silica gel, which works great, preserves the shape of the plant part and a good bit of the color, and can be reused a number of times.  Even peonies get the spa treatment!  In addition to the gel, some plants are air dried, some are pressed.  In October, more fun starts as the staff puts their design ideas into action.  The result: remarkable, unique ornaments and decorations.

If this sort of craftiness seems right up your alley, then you will want to join us on  July 17th as garden horticulturists Laura Sullian and Shannon Smith share their accumulated knowledge about creating the best dried botanical decorations ever! This brand new class starts with planning which plants to grow, harvesting techniques, and best preserving methods, so you can survey your own yard and garden and start working on your own decorations.  Plus, you’ll get a tour of the workshop where plant magic happens, and go home with a small starter project.  A perfect way to celebrate Christmas in July!

Selecting and Drying Flowers and Plants for Botanical Decorations, Saturday, July 17, 9 – 11 am

The remarkable botanical decorations featured each December and January at GardenFest of Lights are made from plants mostly grown and preserved here. Garden Horticulturists Laura Henley and Shannon Smith discuss drying techniques and best choices of materials for these spectacular botanical ornaments. Some time is spent in the Garden and some in the workshop where materials are assembled and decorations are planned. Come away with a small starter project for your own garden jewels!

$40 / $30 members

1 session = 2 hrs. GES: HL, 2, elective

In what seems like one of the most unpredictable turn of events in the food movement, DC public schools are leading the way in kicking sugary milk and cereals off of their menu. While it seems like a no-brainer for health reasons, it is a bold move.  I have a huge amount of respect for DC schools and their Healthy Schools Act, passed by the council earlier this year and funded in the 2011 budget.  For many of DC’s inner city children, the free (or reduced cost) meals they get at school are the best (and sometimes) only nutrition they get — so it’s important.  According to the Healthy Schools Act, DC has the highest rate of adolescent obesity in the nation and  in some neighborhoods, half of the children are overweight or obese.

With obesity, diabetes, and other health issues on the rise it seems like DC may be just the first of many school systems who will eventually do the same.    For kids, having to choose sugary milk or that is the best nutritional choice is too big a decision with too much freedom.  As parents we would be considered irresponsible if we let our children watch whatever TV shows and movies they want without regards to the content. Why would we do the same with food?

One of the best things about DC Public Schools Healthy Schools Act is that it is clearly spelled out that this program will establish a school gardens program and competitive grants in order to both educate kids and make eating vegetables more appealing.  My elementary-school-aged kids, who are pesca-vegatarian (ie we are vegetarian but we eat fish), and who don’t eat HFCS, food coloring or artificial sweeteners, LOVE vegetables. But I would never serve them processed, canned, trucked-in, or unripe fruits and vegetables that are often served in the school cafeteria. To be honest, I wouldn’t want to eat them either. I know first-hand — in order to get kids to like veggies, you have to give them the best: fresh, local, in-season, organic produce.  And, you have to give them choices. One of my children likes spinach, peppers & cucumbers, and berries — the other doesn’t, but she loves carrots & peas –which the first one won’t eat.  They both pretty much love any other vegetable they come across as long as they know it is fresh and grown locally, without pesticides.

Plus, nutritionally the canned green beans they serve at schools pale in comparison to the just picked fresh raw green beans that my kids are eating in their lunch.  How silly is it that in our culture,  my children are teased because they think peas or spinach are yummy! How strange that my child’s teacher asks if he has a medical problem becuase I won’t let him eat petroleum-based food dyes typically found in many children’s foods — like strawberry milk or Froot Loops.

Blogger, and former Post Reporter, Ed Bruske, who scooped local media to make the announcement, has lots of other great commentary on his blog. If you care about these issues, take the time to read it, you’ll be glad you did.

Here at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, we know how important it is to have good nutrition — with plenty of locally grown vegetables  — even if you can’t find the time to garden or shop at the local farmer’s market.   That is why we started the Community Kitchen Garden with the help of the Community Foundation. Our goal (and we nearly met it last year) is to grow 10,000 lbs of fresh local vegetables for the areas neediest families — those that depend on the Central Virginia FoodBank, Meals on Wheels and partnering daycare organizations that provide food to low income citizens and families.  And so far, it seems to be working.

Back in DC,  The Washington Post‘s Mike DeBonis points out that much of the hard work for DCPS is yet to come:

It’s one thing to take away patently unhealthy choices from schoolkids; it’s another to add new, healthy choices.

And, he’s got a point. But if you ask me, getting the freshest local food and training the staff not to overcook it — but to let its fresh flavor stand on its own is half the battle.

And,this move, coupled with Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign and her school garden initiative along with the White House Garden gives me hope.

Meanwhile, here in Richmond, not only are we incredibly lucky to have the great partnering organizations  in the Community Kitchen Garden project but also we have urban garden advocate Tricycle Gardens. Together with passionate parents at local elementary schools, and organizations like Farms to Schools, there is no where to go but up in our children’s nutrition.  And when I hear whispers at my children’s elementary school that the parents are going to rally, and get a garden planted and get a grant for a salad bar to be built to serve the fresh local veggies that the kids will grow themselves. I don’t doubt for a second that they’ll do it — because times are changing.

Image credit: http://betterdcschoolfood.blogspot.com/2010/06/dc-schools-to-discontinue-flavored-milk.html

Photo courtesy of Ed Bruske

Although I was very tempted to write a blog post about how playing in the dirt can make you smarter and less depressed (as reported in new research this week), instead I’m going to write about how in so many ways, Gardening is becoming cool again. Not that it ever wasn’t cool.  But in today’s over scheduled, overworked,  fast-food,  American culture — for a while, gardening fell victim to our busy lifestyles. So many households have two working parents,  who come home exhausted and feeling lucky if they fit in a trip to the gym during the day, and who often depend on someone else to prepare their family’s dinner, it seems gardening somehow became seen a luxury. And shopping at the grocery store or eating out became standard, even with rich soil right in your back yard.

Ryan Smartt's pug, Deacon, and a hot pepper.

Scott Pharr's beer battered stuffed squash blossoms.

But, that was before the GardenWars Started. Yes, you heard me — #GardenWars! Three pioneering Richmonders, John Sarvay (of Floricane and Buttermilk & Molasses), Ryan Smartt (of ConnectRichmond), and Scott Pharr (of PharrOut and RVANews) face off each week in a duel to see which of them can earn the most votes (vote by comment) for their photos and “clever(ish)” commentary on their own backyard agricultural efforts. We are talking blooms, beer battered squash blossoms, graphic photos of cucumbers, and piles of green beans topped with a rubber ducky. We are talking green kale shakes, toddlers who can’t control their vegetable-eating impulses and puppy dog eyes.

John Sarvay's harvest

I asked Ryan Smartt how GardenWars came to be: “Scott, John and I were talking smack on Twitter one day about what we’re growing/have grown this year. RVANews came up with the idea of making the smack-talk public, mix in some pictures and create a little competition out of it….There’s an inexplicable satisfaction in planting a seed in the ground, watching it grow, taking care of it, and then eventually eating the fruits of my labor.”

Scott Pharr explains, “[The] most rewarding part for me has been watching others take part in this fun little competition, even feel inspired to plant their own gardens, and of course just watching both Smartt and Sarvay as they continue to BRING IT every week”

John Sarvay offers some insight, “It’s one area of my life where I don’t actually have a clue what I’m doing – that, and parenting – and it doesn’t seem to matter. Every time something dies, I just put something else back in the ground! I’m terrible at it, and get really excited when something actually works – and I end up with eight pounds of green beans a week.”

John Sarvay's daughter, Thea, with copious amounts of green beans.

For me, the #GardenWars seems like a trend of something bigger. A trend where smart, witty men move the one-up-manship from the basketball court to the backyard and from the poker table to the kitchen table.  Or, as Scott Pharr says, “…don’t all manly men love gardening?”

“I feel that if, down the road, we could make Garden Wars into something bigger and better…an annual event that has a truly positive impact on the community….well, THAT would be something!” Smartt says.

And, well, what if playing in the dirt does make you smarter? Maybe this is a bandwagon we should all jump on. For those of you who don’t have time to commit to a garden of your own, you can always “Drop in and Dig” with the kids at Lewis Ginter Botancial Garden — Wednesday mornings, June 23 – September 8, 9 – 11 a.m. or during Families After 5  on  July 20 and August 17, 6 – 8 p.m.  It just might make you smarter and happier! Or, you can volunteer at our Community Kitchen Garden on Monday or Saturday mornings from 9 am to noon.  All produce from the Community Kitchen Garden is donated to Meals on Wheels of Central Virginia & the Central Virginia Food Bank. The Community Kitchen Garden also accepts surpluss vegetables from private vegetable gardens on Monday and Saturday mornings.

I am very fortunate to be traveling by coach from Amsterdam to Maastricht in the Netherlands (or Holland as we often call it). Though we’ve been in the country for 3 full days, I am just now able to take time to log some of our journey.

I am one of nine on Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s trip:  Holland – 100 Years of Horticulture, led by Frank Robinson, the Garden’s Executive Director, and Edwin Groeneweg, our Dutch guide. While we’re here to enjoy the country and experience the culture, we have a specific focus on the horticulture and plant development of Holland – and often how it has affected our plant world in the states and at the Garden.

On our first day we walked through the Floating Flower Market in Amsterdam. The cut flowers were amazing, many of the amaryllis bulbs were two to three times larger than any we’d ever seen and the tulips came in batches of 50 for €8 (Just under $10)!  “Expensive,” said Edwin. I was so excited to see my favorite flower, peonies, in bloom as well. Too bad we can’t bring any back!

Lewis Ginter's travel group at Restaurant De Kas, the ‘greenhouse restaurant.’

Saturday we took a trip to Hortus Bontanicus – one of the oldest gardens world-wide with over 6,000 plants growing on less than 2 acres. It was originally created as a school and study lab for doctors and botanists during the period of the plague in the early 1600’s. Today it’s a popular attraction, though still very much a study garden made more for viewing individual plants rather than sweeping landscapes.

That night we went to one of the most amazing restaurants I have ever been to – Restaurant De Kas, the ‘greenhouse restaurant.’ You dine in a greenhouse-like setting and most of the produce and herbs are grown on-site. The chefs prepare meals based on what’s in season and blooming behind the restaurant. (I was proud to tell one of our group members, who is from Illinois, that we have a Community Kitchen Garden at Lewis Ginter, and that our local food bank does the same thanks to our deliveries.) I’m getting hungry as I remember the outstanding white and green asparagus — the signature veggie of the Netherlands. De Kas also uses herbs and edible flowers from their grounds – we had a colorful bloom in each course, a thyme blossom in our champagne.  We had five courses but it was so light and fresh we were able to walk out without wanting to undo the top button – Yum!

A fabulous Holland garden at Geelvinck house

Sunday, we met up with garden designer, historian and tree expert, Andre Ancion. He led us through the city of Amsterdam and into a spectacular private house and garden, Geelvinck Hinlopen. I was surprised by the size of the garden compared to the view of the row homes from the canal. This particular house is a double canal house, noted by having 5 windows facing the canal instead of 3. The garden design really allowed for the maximum plant space and some asymmetrical design that was quite stunning.

From there we walked to an area called the Begijnhof (“be-gyne-hof”).  Started in the 1100’s, it was a community of women who lived similarly to nuns though they didn’t take vows. They were usually well-to-do women who chose to reside in a gated court and live a life of social work to benefit the community.

Frank and I  believe there is connection between the life of the Begijnhof women and Grace Arents, Lewis Ginter’s niece,  who stated in her will that  Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden be developed as botanical garden honoring Lewis Ginter.  Arents never married and dedicated her life to giving to others –- she gave her time and money to many Richmond causes.  There are architectural details in and around the courtyard that are similar  to those at Lewis Ginter’s own  Bloemendaal House (meaning “valley of flowers” in dutch). Also, there was a women names Cornelius Arents who lived in the Begijnhof!  Unfortunately, Grace had her personal records burned when she died and we cannot be sure a true connection exists.  We do feel pretty confident in assuming that she did, at least, spend time here in Holland.
Continuing on, we caught our early morning bus and drove over to the flower auction –- Flora Holland -– in Aalsmeer, near the airport. We had to arrive early because the auction begins at 6 a.m. and ends by 10 or 11 a.m  each day. Flora Holland auctions 45 million cut flowers and 2.5 million potted plants per year in a warehouse of over 1 million square meters! It is the largest trade building in the world –the wall street of plants. Flowers are priced by the stem (up to €1 each) and auctioned in sets of bundles by the Dutch Auction Method – starting high, buyers ‘buz-in’ their price as it falls and the first to buz gets the flowers.  It seemed like we walked for miles as we toured the auction rooms, watching class 1 plants pass through on trolleys and sell to the highest bidder, strolled the catwalk for a top-view of the bustle of trolleys going to auction rooms, getting sorted, and leaving the building to meet their buyers, and (quickly) visited the store rooms kept at 3-8° for the overnight storage of plants before auction. We were all momentarily dumbstruck and in awe of the process – and then we shook our heads, smiled and cooed over the freshest, top-notch flowers in quantities of thousands we’d ever seen. It was truly a sight to behold!
I can’t imagine how we can top the past few days, but the itinerary looks promising and I am learning so much. Edwin just said we have 20 minutes left on the bus and we are getting off to tour the Castle Gardens of Arcen – a large garden with over 10,000 roses, an Italian garden and a water garden. What an amazing trip!

The Garden periodically arranges botanical-theme based travel. The next trip, Chicago:  Emerald of the Midwest, is slated for Septemeber 2010.  Our adult education web page has more information.  Leave a comment if you have a suggestion for a trip!

Summer seems to have moved into the Garden, but it is June after all. There are many shady spots to get out of the sun, but if you need to cool off come see us in the Garden’s  Library where it is cool, quite, and lovely. You can enjoy the glass sculpture, rest your feet and learn something, too.

Gardens take a lot of work but give back so much. Each garden has its own personality and each gardener has an individual take on how to create and preserve that personality.  Amidst the books in the Library about plants, garden design, and pests, I’ve found some gems about living with our gardens. These books are available to members for checkout.

The Invisible Garden by Dorothy Sucher: about the healing that can come from the frustrations and triumphs of having a garden.

Crazy About Gardening: Humorous Reflections on the Sweet Seductions of a Garden by Des Kennedy: sometimes it can seem that nature is out to get you, but with a little help from neighbors and local lore you can learn something.  A laugh-out-loud book you are sure to enjoy.

Poisons in Our Path: Plants That Harm and Heal by Anne Ophelia Dowden: a lovely little book, with color illustrations, about the toxicity and/or healing properties of some of our favorite plants.

Eat More Dirt: Diverting and Instructive Tips for Growing and Tending an Organic Garden by Ellen Sandbeck: a series of essays about  producing a paradise garden whose whole purpose is to create bliss. Includes practical suggestions for tools, planting, and exercises for the gardener.

Speaking of dirt, join us in the Library this Friday, June 11, from 11 a.m. to Noon, for the Botanical Book Club. Our selection for this meeting is Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations by David R. Montgomery. The book club is free and open to the public. Being a Garden member is encouraged, but not required.

If you’re like me and enjoy being in the Garden on over-cast, misty days, the Library also provides a dry respite from traversing the damp paths. And don’t forget, there are always the Cafe and Tea House to enjoy too… and the Gift Shop! There are lots of things to enjoy in the Garden on days when the weather is less than perfect. Come, join us in the Garden.

by Frankie Geouge, Conservatory Volunteer, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

The Lewis Ginter Conservatory is full of botanical surprises, even for a seasoned gardener.  One of these is the delightful Jaboticaba Plinia Cauliflora, of the family Myrtaceae.  Also called the “Brazilian grape,” this slow-growing evergreen is widely cultivated in its native country.  What I find most interesting is the unusual placement of its flowers and fruit.  In the springtime Conservatory, Jaboticaba sprouts profuse tufts of feathery white flowers directly from the trunk and limbs.  Soon afterward, multitudes of purple-black fruits cling like fat, wine-filled ticks to the smooth, light colored bark.  The small, dark, plentiful fruit is made into jams, jellies, and wine in Brazil.  According to one cultivator, the flavor of the fruit changes according to its age.

“On the first day, its flavour is like guava; the second day it is like mangosteen; the third day is lychee; the forth is passion fruit; the fifth is sweetsop fruit; the sixth up to the eighth is grape. The best flavour sensation is on the ninth day when the fruit is perfectly ripe: it tastes sweet and smells good.”

Another floral surprise can be found in the center of the Conservatory, and is now blooming delightfully under the Dome.  The Pink Trumpet Tree, tabebuia heterophylla, hails from Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Antilles and grows only in zones 10A through 11 of the continental United States.  The University of Florida Extension office says the tree is usually evergreen throughout most of its range, but “may be briefly deciduous as the new leaves emerge.”  This year in the Conservatory, the tree denuded in early spring.  After a brief rest (and while the tree was completely leafless), sumptuous, pink, hibiscus-like blooms began appearing in clusters on the tips of the branches.  Now the leaves have started to return, the flowers are in full bloom, and the combined effect is glorious.

While visiting the Conservatory, be sure to enjoy the amazing Fräbel sculptures!

“I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.”  — Abraham Lincoln

Did you know that Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden now recycles garden plastics? With the help of Strange’s Garden Center and the Henrico County Extension Office,  we return our plastic garden pots to Strange’s wholesale growers where they reuse them or recycle them into new nursery products. All others we take to their Broad Street location.

Home gardeners can also now recycle their garden pots! Pots with resin codes 2, 5 and 6 (the number printed on the bottom of the pot) can be dropped off  at either locations of Strange’s Garden Center, 12111 W. Broad St.  or 3313 Mechanicsville Turnpike. The local effort is the beginning of a statewide initiative to redirect nursery containers from landfills to the recycling centers that will receive them.

Extension Agent Lisa Sanderson said that most metropolitan area recyclers do not accept nursery plastics. “But much of this plastic can be recycled into new garden pots and nursery containers,” she said. “We just need to collect it.”

For more information, visit the Green Tech website, or call the  Henrico Extension Office at 501-5160.

Speaking of helping the environment, the water conservation district is offering a rain barrel workshop. Area residents can learn to build and use a rain barrel at a 2-hour workshop offered by the Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) the class will be held Wednesday, June 9 and  Thursday, July 29 from 6-8 p.m. at the Human Services Building, 8600 Dixon Powers Drive.

The SWCD workshops will provide materials and hands-on instruction to help participants construct their barrels, which can help homeowners conserve water by maintaining a supply of fresh water for outdoor use. Built from recycled food-grade plastic, the rain barrels also divert runoff from storm drains, protecting the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.

The workshops cost $45, including materials. Pre-registration is required. To register contact Henricopolis SWCD at 501-5175 or print out a registration form.