Four DBG Docents, (L-R in photo: Tish Varney, Elena Piazzisi, Sharon Matheson, and Maureen Keilty) attended the Plant Select Conference in Denver, June 13. This sold-out conference agenda included a brief look at the new 2024 Plant Select offerings, multiple speakers, a book premiere, and awards.  Tish Varney and Elena Piazzisi submitted the following notes and reports.

Plant Select's plants for 2024 are Letitia flannel plant, Verbascum ‘Letitia’; Eversilver ™ creeping germander, Teucrium ‘harlequin’s Silver’; Sarad’s Greek mountain tea, Sideritis syriaca ‘P023S’; Crystal Frost ™ Arizona cypress, Hesperocyparis  arizonica ‘Fandango’ (Go here for photos and more information on these selections)

Among the interesting presentations, one by Mike Lorenc of Utah's Conservation Garden Park, West Jordan, Utah, with an emphasis on waterwise landscaping, was especially noteworthy considering our intent to promote more efficient use of water.  According to Lorenc, the CGP has over 40,000 visitors a year with classes and events to help people understand water conservation in Utah. 

The CGP has discontinued using the term "xeriscaping," preferring instead, "local scaping".  Local scaping is built on five fundamental thoughts:

Among numerous interesting presentations, one by Mike Lorenc of Utah's Conservation Garden Park, West Jordan, Utah, with an emphasis on waterwise landscaping, was especially noteworthy considering our intent to promote more efficient use of water.  According to Lorenc, the CGP has over Local scaping is built on five fundamental thoughts:Lorenc recommends drip irrigation when possible at the rate of 10 minutes twice a day and every 7-10 days.  For a ¼ acre lot he recommended 10 zones. With this formula he noted a decrease in water usage from 196,250 gallons per season to 65,766 gallons per season.

He further discussed the maintenance of "bland scape" (traditional grass yard maintenance) vs local scape. People hesitate in taking out their grass with the idea local scape will be more work. For traditional maintenance he noted approximately 45 hours per year. For irrigation, traditional yards take 40" per year and local scape 14" per year. 

Spray irrigation, he noted, was not as effective in providing even coverage. He recommended installation of an inline drip system, in a grid pattern, 18" apart. Overall, he noted local scape maintenance is not more, just different. 

Lorenc further reminded when using irrigation to set the inline drip for the size of the mature tree. He recommended the grid system for vegetable gardens as well. For local scape the yard maintenance is more forgiving. He reminded us that mulch is your friend. Finally, if you want to seek more information, he has posted video and additional educational information on www.conservationgardenpark.org.

Awards:

Organizational Partner Award went to Wheeler Loveland Garden Center

Showcase Garden Award was Red Butte Botanic Gardens, Salt Lake City

Individual Partner Awards were Jim Boreland and Keith Funk (Weis Guys), Grace Johnson of Chatfield Arboretum and Kirk Fieseler.

Book Considers Influence of Wild Shrublands and Naturalistic Planting

One of the highlights of the Plant Select Conference was the excellent presentation given by Kevin Philip Williams and Michael Guidi, two of the Denver Botanic Gardens' rising stars in the horticultural world and authors of Shrouded in Light, an exploration into shrubs and the role they play in the natural world. In the presentation and the book, they explore the patterns that shrublands create which are pleasing to the brain. Shrubs have a multi-stem, intermediate growth form creating multiple benefits by providing shelter for small animals (bunneries) and birds and acting as a nurse plant for new sprouts.

The coffee table quality pictures demonstrate that shrubs grow in many different climates around the world and illustrate islands of plant type. They further expand on the idea that shrubs can be compared to neo-expressionist paintings and give examples in beautiful photographs from around the world.  The gardener can create naturalistic plantings in the home garden from these patterns; too often we see shrubs relegated to lollipop shearing and intense pruning.

The authors invite gardeners to “to work, live, play with shrubs by celebrating the shrublands that fill our world in all kinds of climate and growing conditions.”

The book is for available through the Denver Botanic Gardens and many booksellers. It is well worth the price! You may view their presentation on a British YouTube video available under Garden Masterclass, Shrouded in Light—Exploring the World’s Shrublands.  For more on the book and to purchase