From the Spring 2001 Newsletter

The Gardener's Journal

by Eric Stinson, Head Gardener at Cooley Gardens

Hello everybody! Time to put on my salesman hat again and talk about this year's plant sale. I will try and keep any hype to a minimum and convey useful information -- things that will help you get to the plant sale and spend your money wisely.

First, how are the plants chosen? There are a number of criteria involved and I'll list them as they occur to me. The vast majority will be plants that I've either grown myself or that I would like to grow. That means they have a proven track record in gardens here, in Europe and/or the orient. Some plants included are rare enough that there isn't any reliable information available on them, but not many belong in this category. They were chosen because it's good to experiment. Much thought was given to having plants that are well-adapted locally -- in terms of both hardiness and our alkaline soils. There is a good mix of sun and shade plants, natives and exotics. Many hours have been spent writing a brief information sheet on each plant, with entries on planting combinations, what is special about the individual item, and the best information I could find about culture. At the bottom of things though, after meeting all the various criteria above, the gardener had to think the thing was groovy -- and that's what you're getting!

A few examples: Anthemis 'Sauce Hollandaise'. Anthemis tinctoria is a European daisy that likes sunny, dry, and infertile conditions. The orange varieties (St. Johannes) have always seemed interesting, the sort of color you see in Calendula or Trollius varieties. This variety with a good descriptive food name, (the marketing tool of choice now) is a pale "sauce" yellow, one of my favorite colors, and foods. What's cool about Anthemis is that it blooms very hard for six weeks or more, mid-June into September. Then, it's very tough -- no extra fertilizer, or water, maybe a shearing back in September if you're so inclined. They can be brought to a blooming sized plant from stem cuttings taken in April of the same year (in containers of vermiculite, in plastic bags). They bloom hard enough to need division every 2-3 years, else they bloom themselves to death. I'm planting them in the island bed at the north end of the parking lot with sage, catnip, veronica, grasses, and so on. They'll fill in the July lull nicely. That's a problem, that July lull.

On that note, another July lull plant, the native sunflower relative Heliopsis. This one called 'Loraine Sunshine', which, in addition to doing all the good things that Heliopsis does, has variegated foliage. I have been wondering when new varieties of this would begin coming to market. The native plants are becoming more popular here at home so they get more horticultural attention (selection breeding). I've not seen this plant to judge whether the variegation is subtle or bright. Either way, it would be useful. Again, I will plant it in the parking lot island bed, probably with Helianthus 'Lemon Queen', with masses of pale yellow flowers over an extended period in September-October. Hopefully it doesn't sell out before I'm able to get one from the sale tables. Maybe some kind soul would bring me a plant for a division up the road if I neglect this.

I have seen photographs from Germany of a pale sunflower much like this, and it was about pretty enough to make you cry. The Europeans have been working with our native plants for long enough now that the phrase "another native that has been to German finishing school" is becoming common.

Finally, for sun, the grasses. Fergus Garret who is the head gardener at Great Dixter, Christopher Lloyd's magnificent garden in the U. K., showed a slide of Calamagrostis brachytrica planted at the base of what was probably a giant Miscanthus. The Calamagrostis bends forward, almost weeping, in bloom. The Miscanthus blades are upright to about 6 feet tall and then gently cascade down. What a picture! Typical Dexter artistry; same shape roughly, different plants. Anyway this Calamagrostis species is very elegant, from Korea, withstands part shade or full sun, and tolerates moisture, coming from moist woodlands and edges in it's range. Beautiful, all the rage, and we have it.

Shade plants? We've got many shade plants indeed! Geranium macrorhizum, called the bigroot Geranium, from southern Europe is about the sturdiest plant in Cooley. It forms a 15" high mat of foliage that makes a wonderfully textured ground cover. Vigorous, but not invasive, I've seen it cascading over walls beneath mature Norway maple, deep shade and ultra dry, and in full sun -- and poor soil too. Most likely it would be somewhat more vigorous in fertile, moist soils, but seems to be a couple of feet across on average where I've noticed it. It blooms in the spring in white, pink, or magenta and has 6 inch leaves that are deeply lobed and felty. I first read about this in a book about foliage plants in which the author couldn't say enough good things about it's toughness, good looks, and effectiveness as ground cover -- all true, for once. Alan Armitage says "this is one of the easiest geraniums to grow". I'd add, in a genus that's pretty easy to begin with.

Tovara viriniana (also known as Persicaria virginiana) is another shade lover that is native to the Eastern U. S. It is probably best used in a dry understory, where it will seed to colonies of what is a first class native foliage plant. These plants didn't sell last year, maybe because people don't know them, maybe because they think they seed around too much. Well, when something looks completely fresh and beautiful in magnolia shade in August it's worth a second look, isn't it? Look at the cover of Dan Hinkley's most recent book The Explorer's Garden, it's on there. Look at Ken Druse's book The Plant Collectors. It's in there. These folks are very cool. I rest my case! Now, if it seeds too much for you, hey, it pulls easy. Feel free to come over and yell at me. 'Compton's Variety' reminds me a lot of the magnificent Persicaria 'Red Dragon'. Persicaria 'Painter Pallete' is in both books mentioned above. And I've certainly experienced "weeds", if that's what you want to call them. Just site it so you don't care.

Monarda 'Jacob Cline', also grown in shade, is one of five kinds I ordered, which is too many, so please don't overlook them. This one got on the list as it was mentioned by the respected plants woman Stephanie Cohen as her favorite at a presentation this winter. She called it a monarda "on steroids', which I think in this instance means "tough"? Whatever, she says it has "no mildew", which probably means it has one of the other Monarda species in it's breeding. Deep red flowers. Sounds good. Also bought 'Marshalls Delight', her number two pick, also hybrid, on relatively mildew-free plants. Rich pink. 'Claire Grace' with soft lavender flowers, 'Gardenview Scarlet' in brilliant red, and 'Raspberry Wine' round out the list. All should be excellent. 'Gardenview Scarlet' has been really good in dry shade at Cooley and 'Raspberry Wine' was introduced by White Flower Farm -- which markets good plants.

Finally for shade, a broad selection of hardy ferns. The maidenhair fern, native locally, is delicate and elegant, and a tough woodland competitor. At Cooley, it's where you wouldn't notice it in dry shade overwhelmed by bracken fern. But it lives on, for 8 or 10 years now, and deserves a place of it's own. Athyrium 'Vernoniae Cristatum' is called "queen of the ferns" by John Mickel in Ferns for American Gardens. At 3-4 feet with finely cut "crested" foliage it was at it's height of popularity during the "Victorian fern craze" when many of the mutated forms were widely grown. A standout. Athyrium nipponicum 'Pictum' has grown very well at Cooley, in particular when given just a little TLC; that is, when not grown in the driest shade I have. With morning sun and a little water, it approaches 2 feet and is a beautiful silver picture.

The Christmas ferns (Polystichum), which again were overbought, are plants that I've always wanted to grow, but which are hard to find. Very popular in Europe though, one of them, P. setiferum, has over 300 named varieties. This is soft-shield fern, and if you can find a photograph you'll know right away why it's in the sale. 'Plumosomultilobum' is the other P. setiferum we're offering. What a name! Some of these Christmas ferns, like our native P. acrostichoides, are ridiculously easy to grow, some want a little more care. Read the descriptive sheets at the sale for details.

So -- and hopefully this is coming across in this writing -- these plant choices are a lot about things I've grown, or often, would like to grow. Which is only saying that in twenty years of professional experience, this stuff is, or looks like it is, good. Cooley is not the easiest place to garden. It's quite dry and alkaline -- and the soil is basically eroded riverbank, fertility flowing downhill with the water. My plant choices then are based a lot on what works, and then on what looks good. There isn't time for a lot of fussy stuff. The goal of the plant sale is to pass this experience along, hoping that it will work for you, and you can garden with a minimum of wear and tear. While some of these plants are on the expensive side, I've tried to keep prices down as much as possible by concentrating on choosing plants that have proven themselves over time, and not buying those that were simply new and sexy -- and priced accordingly. There are a good number of those too, though. No going off the deep end on Geranium and Heuchera. With hosta, the rule was to avoid the expensive stuff, and buy classics at lower cost, which is what happens when buying for Cooley. It's hard to pay $30 for a hosta for some reason. Not that the expensive plant isn't good, but you're paying more for the "new" than the "good". So we have Hosta 'Sagae'; "a legend in Japan before arriving in the west", and 'Birchwood Gold' that has looked very good at Cooley for ten years, every year -- and is an award winner. The last expensive hosta planted in the garden was 'Niagara Falls' by Bill Brincka, but it's an amazing plant and was in a 3 gallon container for $30. That's OK. A $20 'Patriot' in not quite a gallon is less OK.

A quick reprise of where your money goes. Last season, about half of the proceeds were spent on "garden purchases" and half on labor for the garden. The money spent on labor bought 28 hours of help weekly mid-April into late September. This season, for the first time since the late 80's there will be two full-time people gardening here, myself and one other. This garden has always been at least a two person job. My intern, Josh Flukes, will start early, about April 1, and if the sale goes well, will be here full time until September and part time after that. "Garden purchases" will be kept to a minimum -- since last year's spending will provide plenty of material carried overwinter for this season. My wages, of course, are paid by the city -- and they do pick up many ongoing costs, water, fertilizer, building maintenance, and so on. But a full-time intern, with some good background experience (Josh comes from the perennial division at Smith's here in town), is great! Particularly as I'm 52 now, and my 2 year old daughter Emma is both energetic and wonderful. She sets the pace and I try to keep up.

Cooley Gardens is well on the way to becoming what it was in the beginning, a local institution. Regardless of the construction at GM and the associated noise and dust, people say they come here for respite and solace. That's very rewarding for all the people who work very hard to make this garden continue to happen and we're hoping (again) that this year's sale will succeed and be fun for everyone.

From the Spring, 1999 Newsletter

By Renee Leone, Cooley Garden Intern

January 1999

Reaching for a cup of coffee this morning, the innocent-looking indoor/outdoor thermometer that sits on my kitchen counter caught my eye. I had to look twice to be sure I had read the unassuming digital display correctly. My glance it turns out was accurate, the numbers did read 2.9 degrees Fahrenheit and the little mark in front of them was a minus sign. So it's official, after several false starts, our spectacular and prolonged fall has indeed transitioned into winter. As the New Year begins, I once again settle in to reflect on the year that has passed. Of my many thoughts on 1998, one consistent source of joy and satisfaction is my work at Cooley Gardens. What a pleasure it was to spend the entire growing season in such a beautiful environment, working and learning by the side of a gardener as skilled and knowledgeable as Eric Stinson. Also a gifted teacher, Eric shared his knowledge with an ease and enthusiasm that comes naturally to those who love what they do. It was an experience for which I am most grateful and will enthusiastically repeat next year.

I began in April and spring initiated me to the plants and guiding hands that make up Cooley Gardens. From the blooming Epimedium, Bunnera, and Pulmonaria to the wheelbarrow loads of dirt, mulch, and compost, the many wonders and forms of work encompassing my job were revealed; I relished them all. By early June, I had become well acquainted with the wild onions, gout weed and vine weed squatting for their space in the garden and managing to keep them at bay. In the unusually warm and gentle weather of Spring, the peonies and other flowers bloomed early and set an early timeline that proved to last all the way through October. The rose garden was a particular source of delight for me as Eric asked me to oversee its pruning and general maintenance, so I had the pleasure of frequently working in its beds. As I suspect Eric knew would happen, the sometimes blatant and other times subtle beauty that is a rose slowly began to work its magic on me and claimed a new devotee. I think it's Eric's secret mission to dispel the intimidating reputation of the rose and cultivate awareness of its charm and accessibility. I think he is succeeding! The tapestries of color that are Eric's annual beds also took form in June and we, together with the many friends of Cooley Gardens, worked busily on plans for the second annual plant sale. What an exciting and busy time these first few months proved to be!

Each week that passed offered me a new discovery, a new lesson, a new insight. Slowly I was introduced to the garden's countless varieties of plants: Viburnum, roses, magnolias, edging plants, maples, conifers, woody and herbaceous perennials and more. My awareness of the light, soils, and moisture needs of the plants increased. And quite wonderfully my understanding of the roles of color, texture, and form in the design of the garden expanded. I also had ample opportunity to improve my skills with a rototiller, edger, and hedge clipper! I felt that Eric and I accomplished a great deal in our work. I was left in near constant awe of just how he managed to complete so many tasks for so many years.

I am grateful to the Friends of Cooley Gardens for providing me with the opportunity to work in such an inspiring setting and for Eric's willingness to share his knowledge so generously. I recall with great warmth the many days that we worked together side by side weeding, planting, hauling and shoveling. And of course we talked and laughed and developed a friendship together as well. There are many such memories that, like snapshots in my mind's eye, I think of when I think of my year at Cooley. The day, for instance that Eric and I discovered a couple of deer nibbling on the yews. I will never forget the expression on Eric's face in that moment! I will also not forget what the light in the rose garden looks like at 10 a.m., or the view of the garden from my perch on top of the trellis we painted, or the dramatic rise of the annual beds in June and their demise in October. I will remember the visitors picnicking, walking, painting, photographing, and delighting in the gardens, the frost on the ground, and our breath condensing in the air. By the time the shadows in the garden had grown long and the leaves fallen from the trees, my time working in the garden was coming to a close. Following the examples of the plants I was tending, I too was moving into the slower and inward state that is autumn and winter. I have visited Eric and the garden on several occasions since my work has been completed and there in the stillness, with branches bare and the anticipation of snow heavy in the air, the garden continues to inspire and thrill. Even now under the layer of snow that blankets its green, the silent pulsing of life glows beneath the surface. It can be seen and felt by any visitor that pays attention and it waits patiently to bloom again come spring. I heartily encourage anyone with a warm coat to venture into the garden at this time of year and share in the experience of its brilliant calm.

As I type these last few lines, I glanced at my growing pile of nursery catalogs stacked on the shelf and take a moment to enjoy the knowledge that many of you who read these words possess a similar stack and a similar source of joy! I look forward to the coming new season, perhaps meeting some of you and for the opportunity to continue my exploration and discovery of the wonders of Cooley Gardens. I wish you all a Very Joyous and Growthful New Year!

Renee Leone

From the Autumn 2000 Newsletter

By Jan Russell, Cooley Garden Intern

Meeting Cooley Gardens

Five years ago, I discovered Cooley Gardens. Actually, I came to see the Michigan Women's Museum, but was captivated by the tranquil atmosphere of this hidden jewel of a garden. At that time, I was working for the State of Michigan in downtown Lansing, so I visited Cooley often. Each time, I was enchanted again, from the stone pavilion and the quaint brick shed with their soft green paint, to the constantly changing show of plants. Since then, I have retired from my clerical job and returned to school, first at Lansing Community College, then at Michigan State University, studying for my Bachelor of Science in Horticulture. I plan to have a career working in public gardens, so when I saw an ad for a summer job at Cooley, it was the perfect opportunity for me to acquire hands-on experience.

The Weeds

Beginning in May, I learned exactly what it takes to keep Cooley so beautiful. Each day, we worked intensively on one garden area. I met the thugs: Virginia creeper, grapevine, and pokeweed, which we cut and dug and hauled to the compost pile by cart loads and wheelbarrows full. There was also the insidious bindweed, with a root that is almost impossible to get out. Instead, it snaps off and a week later has grown back and is choking the plants again. Honeysuckle and hawthorn seedlings are generously distributed by the birds. Some of the plants seed around so vigorously they threaten to take over the garden, so new seedlings must be pulled constantly. Most of the shrubs need pruning to keep them within bounds or to remove dead or unsightly branches. Even the grass must constantly be pulled away from the garden edge to keep it neat.

The Plants

Still, every time I approach Cooley and the tranquil green ground covers, shrubs, and trees of the East gate, I am intrigued. White roses (Rosa rugosa) and upright arbovitaes line the flagstone walk. A graceful Chamaecyparis beckons toward the stone pillars framing the open gate. Inside, arching, leathery burgundy barberries give way to lush green grass and a brilliant display of annuals. In the peony garden, the outer green barberry hedge and inner red barberry hedge form a room within a room. The lush pinks of the peonies combined with the blue of irises were striking in late spring. A variety of shrubs and trees form a backdrop: variegated viburnum, paperback maple tree, another viburnum, a variegated dogwood, and aralias with white late summer flowers and black fall berries. Through an arbor draped with fragrant honeysuckle and a climbing rose, several stone steps descend to the rose garden. Another arbor beckons you through the garden, where the roses 'Sun Sprite' and pink 'Fairy' as well as Lady's Mantle, dianthus and several other roses mingle. Lavender and Russian sage, dead sedge, tall lilies, sedums, geranium, heuchera, oxalis, even chard all blend in a lush pattern of color and textures. Four ginkos, pollarded to create a ball of leaves at the top of their trunks, stand sentry at the corners of the rose garden. The Kolkwitzia formed a sweetly fragrant wall in late spring. 'Harry Lauder's Walking Stick' is a favorite of many visitors. In late summer, phlox, asters, and anemones added their blooms.

The curving path leading past a weeping mulberry underplanted with lush banks of Galium odoratum and Ostrich ferns leads to the stark conifer garden, with its large rocks and unusually shaped evergreens. The southwest bed has banks of chelone and monarda, an oakleaf hydrangea, roses, and recently planted native plants. A grouping of contoneaster, blue juniper, and artemisia is a favorite of mine. The contrast in color and texture is beautiful.

Next along the path are several varieties of Hostas underplanted with variegated vinca, shaded by mature pine trees. Farther along are a variegated dogwood, a peashrub, barberries, roses, 'Nootka' Chamaecyparis, sumac, banks of holly and broad stone steps flanked by large crab apple trees. The steps lead to the upper panel where a fantastic display of annuals takes center stage. This year, head gardener Eric Stinson, used a hot color scheme. Mexican sunflower, canna, crocosmia, fuschia, geranium, red sage, marigolds and 'Medusa' peppers provided the color, with Coleus 'Burgundy pillar' and duckfoot coleus to blend.

Some surprises in the garden were "weeds" that were allowed to bloom: campion, fleabane, and goldenrod. Plants such as verbena, perilla, and coreopsis were welcome "volunteers". Some plants were used in unusual ways: garden sage in a bed opposite lamb's ears. Ornamental peppers with annuals. The purple flowers of ornamental oregano 'Herenhausen' combined with purple and green garden sage, purple salvia, and lavender verbena were gorgeous and long lasting.

Although I was at the garden three days a week, I never got tired of looking at the plants. Each day different plants were blooming as others faded. I would notice combinations I hadn't seen before: Labrador violet and black mondo grass, burgundy knautia and purple monarda.

The People

A surprising variety of people visited the garden. A couple with a baby in a stroller met for lunch weekly. Other couples seemed to like the arbors. Many regulars came to eat lunch often. A daycare group in fairy costumes, complete with wings and magic wands, came to blow bubbles and touch the lamb's ear, a fairy's favorite plant. Walkers breezed through for exercise, but gardeners walked slowly, looking for ideas they could use. GM used the pavilion for classes al fresco, and a woman whose mother was seriously ill came for solace. College graduates came to have their photos taken, as did high school seniors. Artists came to paint watercolors, and one painter even painted me watering flowers! Many couples planning a garden wedding visited and even construction workers enjoyed the quiet within Cooley Gardens.

Lessons at Cooley

Working at Cooley Gardens was the most enjoyable and the most difficult job I've had. The hard physical labor, day after day, despite the heat and humidity, was draining. But my personal enjoyment of being a part of Cooley Gardens made it worthwhile. Working with Eric and having him share a small part of his vast knowledge with me was a privilege. I learned to appreciate the subtleties of plants, leaf color or texture or habit, instead of just flower colors. Eric explained design considerations when combining plants and the effect he had been trying to create in a particular bed. He also explained when the plants didn't work together. Cooley Gardens will never be finished. As the last weed is pulled, a new one sprouts. As plants mature, others decline. Plants outgrow their space or succumb to disease and must be removed. In order to be knowledgeable in choosing replacements, we visited other gardens. The MSU Demonstration garden has a wealth of plants in striking combinations. The MSU trial gardens showcase the newest annuals. We also went to Hidden Lake Gardens at Tipton. The Hosta garden displayed an incredible selection of plants, as did the conifer garden. I learned how much I still have to learn. I'm going to miss Cooley Gardens, but I still plan to visit frequently.

Jan Russell