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"The Wired Gardener" Online Newsletter
 November/December 2006
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Web Reviews
It’s Time to Give Thanks
A great way to be thankful for our native crops and to insure their continuation is to participate in Native Seeds/SEARCH’s “Adopt-A-Crop” program. Native Seeds/SEARCH is a nonprofit conservation organization based in Tucson, Arizona. NS/S works to conserve, distribute and document the adapted and diverse varieties of agricultural seed, their wild relatives, and the role these seeds play in cultures of the American Southwest and northwest Mexico.
Ring in the Holidays with Cacti
Your Thanksgiving cactus, Schlumbergera truncate, will be in bloom very soon, followed closely by the blooms of your Schlumbergera bridgesii, or Christmas cactus. To refresh yourself on their care, see Auburn University’s fact sheet.
Vote for Your Favorite Lily Online
The North American Lily Society has posted its annual popularity poll online and if you are a NALS member you may submit your top ten favorites. It also lists past year and Hall of Fame winners.
Archeological Fruit Find
The June 2006 issue of Science magazine reports that archeologists have found nine carbonized fig fruits dating from the early Neolithic period (11,400 to 11,200 years ago). This discovery calls into question the belief that the first domesticated crops were cereals and grains. Read the abstract. Science subscribers may access the full-text of this article on the magazine’s website. See also the BBC News report of this finding.
Philadelphia Ranks Eighth in Most Sustainable Cities Category
SustainLane’s 2006 U.S. City Sustainability Ranking of the nation’s 50 largest cities is the nation’s most complete report card on urban sustainability. Philadelphia ranks strong in many categories, including transportation, local food and agriculture, and energy and climate change policy, raking eighth overall. SustainLane Government is a site designed to give state and local government officials a way to share their sustainability best practices and networks. For more on sustainability efforts in Philadelphia, see the November 16 listing below under “Other Gardening News and Events” for Philadelphia’s Urban Sustainability Forum on transportation.
Botanical Librarians Choose Award-Winning Books
Legumes of the World (Kew, 2005), edited by Gwilym Lewis et al., and The Naming of Names: the Search for Order in the World of Plants (Bloomsbury, 2005), by Anna Pavord, have won the 2006 Annual Literature Awards from the Council on Botanical and Horticultural Libraries. The awards honor both the author and the publisher of works that make a significant contribution to the literature of botany and horticulture. [more]
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McLean Library News
Book Sale Continues!
In case you missed our annual sale, we still have some new titles at substantial discounts, just in time for Holiday gifts! Stop by the library to buy Rosemary Alexander’s The Essential Garden Maintenance Workbook, Edmund Snodgrass’s Green Roof Plants, Noel Kingsbury’s Seedheads in the Garden, and more.
McLean Library Updates Speakers List
The McLean Library is updating its list of speakers on gardening and related topics. This list is available to PHS members, local gardening clubs, and the public. Copies will be available in February, 2007. If you are a horticulturist who lives in the Mid-Atlantic region and would like to be included on the 2007 list, please contact Priscilla Becroft, pbecroft@pennhort.org or 215-988-8772, for a questionnaire.
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Logan Square Dedication in November
Monday, November 6, 11 am
Logan Square
Philadelphia, PA
A partnership of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Fairmount Park Commission has produced a beautiful new crown jewel on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Please join us to celebrate the completion of renovations surrounding the Swann Fountain on Logan Square and the planting of new empress trees. For more information, contact Steve Maurer, 215-988-8833 or smaurer@pennhort.org.
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Free Lecture Series in January
How Plants Work: Practical Plant Physiology for Gardeners
Tuesday, January 16, and
five Mondays, January 22 - February 19, 6:30 - 8:30 pm
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
100 N. 20th Street, 5th Floor
Philadelphia, PA
PHS and the Wagner Free Institute of Science co-sponsor this series. Knowing more about how plants work leads to a better appreciation of their complexity and a better understanding of how to meet their needs. This course will focus on select topics in plant physiology, namely how photosynthesis, water, minerals, and hormones play a role in plant structure and growth. [more]
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PHS Events
Book Club 'Stories from the Garden'
Thursday, November 2, 5:45 - 7:45 pm
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society McLean Library
100 North 20th Street, 1st Floor
Philadelphia, PA
This month's selection: Herbert Mason, Gilgamesh: a Verse Narrative. [more]
TreeVitalize Neighborhood Tree Planting
Saturday, November 4, 10 am - 1 pm
Spruce Hill
Philadelphia, PA
Come help plant trees! UC Green, neighbors, and local Tree Tenders will plant 68 trees in Spruce Hill with community support. [more]
City Gardening Series: Tips and Tricks for Growing African Violets
Saturday, November 4, 1:30 - 2:30 pm
Roxborough Branch, Free Library of Philadelphia
6245 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
Environmental educator Lori Hayes will show how anyone can grow beautiful African Violets by providing the simple conditions required for healthy growth. [more]
Tree Tenders Tree Bike Ride
Sunday, November 5, Noon - 4 pm
Italian Fountain or Pretzel Park
Philadelphia, PA
Join us for a family-friendly bike ride to explore trees and open spaces in Philadelphia. The ride will be about 16 miles round-trip. [more]
Meadowbrook Farm Demonstration: Orchids 101
Thursday, November 9, 10 - Noon
Meadowbrook Farm
1633 Washington Lane
Abington Township, PA
This class will introduce you to the basics of orchid care, including how to identify and correctly pronounce the plant names. [more]
TreeVitalize Neighborhood Tree Planting
Saturday, November 11, 9 am - 1 pm. Three neighborhoods:
New Kensington, Port Richmond, Lindenwood
Philadelphia, PA
Come help plant trees! Neighbors and local Tree Tenders will plant trees in three neighborhoods (choose 1). [more]
TreeVitalize Neighborhood Tree Planting
Saturday, November 18, 9 am - 1 pm
Tacony
Philadelphia, PA
Neighbors and local Tree Tenders will plant 29 trees in Tacony with community support. [more]
City Gardening Series: Tropical Plants Indoors
Wednesday, November 29, 7 - 8 pm
Andorra Branch, Free Library of Philadelphia
705 East Cathedral Road
Philadelphia, PA
Mona Gold provides information and ideas on how to successfully care for and grow tropical plants indoors. [more]
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Meadowbrook Farm Tour: The Legacy of Liddon Pennock
Wednesday, December 6, 10 am - Noon
Meadowbrook Farm
1633 Washington Lane
Abington Township, PA
This program includes an in-depth tour of Meadowbrook Farm’s noted Robert McGoodwin-designed house and garden, dressed in gorgeous holiday finery. [more]
Book Club 'Stories From the Garden'
Thursday, December 7, 5:45 - 7:45 pm
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society McLean Library
100 North 20th Street, 1st Floor
Philadelphia, PA
This month's selection: Mary Doria Russell, The Sparrow. [more]
Garden Tenders Workshop: Holiday Arrangement Hands-on
Thursday, December 7, 6 - 8 pm
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
100 N. 20th Street, 5th Floor
Philadelphia, PA
Make a holiday centerpiece. [more]
City Gardening Series: Holiday Houseplants
Saturday, December 9, 1 - 2 pm
Joseph Coleman Regional Library
68 W. Chelten Avenue
Philadelphia, PA
With the approach of the holidays, brightly colored plants will add to the festive atmosphere. [more]
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Other Gardening News & Events
Continuing Education Courses
Longwood Gardens
Kennett Square, PA
See Longwood’s calendar for complete descriptions of November and December classes, workshops, and events. [more]
Workshop: Winter Containers
Friday, November 3, 1 - 4 pm
Scott Arboretum Classroom and Gardens
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
Don't give your containers the fall and winter off just because they worked hard for you all summer. [more]
Begonia Society Meeting
Saturday November 4, 10 am
Huntingdon Valley Library
625 Red Lion Road
Huntingdon Valley, PA
Scott Hoover, founding director of the New England Tropical Conservatory, will speak on plant exploration. Free begonia to first time visitors! For details, contact Debbie Evans, 215-836-1590 or dfevans@msn.com.
Lecture: Gardening with Unusual Annuals, Tender Perennials, and Tropicals
Thursday, November 9, 7:30 pm
Lang Performing Arts Center Cinema
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
Dennis Schrader will explain how to design, grow, and over-winter these denizens of the tropics. Free. [more] LINK
West Jersey Rose Society
Wednesday, November 8, 7:30 - 9 pm
Carman Tilelli Community Center
Cherry Hill Township Complex
820 Mercer Street
Cherry Hill, NJ
Pinelands expert Rich Bizzub will present Watersheds and Water Quality. For information, call 856-234-6583.
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Critter Workshop
Saturday, November 11, 10 am - 1 pm
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Work with a great assortment of dried flowers, pods, and seeds to make creative critters for gift giving. Presented by Cheryl Wilks. For information call 215-247-5777 ext 156.
Free Fall Lecture
Sunday, November 12, 2 pm
Sharpless Auditorium
Haverford College
370 Lancaster Avenue
Haverford, PA
Anthony Aiello, director of horticulture at the Morris Arboretum, will describe his trip to Gansu Province, China, in the fall of 2005. [more]
Free Guided Tour: A Walk with the Curator
Monday, November 13, 2:30 - 3:30 pm
Departs from Scott Arboretum Offices
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
Andrew Bunting will discuss the most recent accessions acquired for the collection, as well as why some plants were removed from the collection and maybe should be removed from your garden. [more]
Urban Sustainability Forum - Sustainable Transportation
Thursday, November 16, 6 pm
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA
How does transportation directly affect our quality of life? Why is it considered the largest source of "pork-barrel" appropriations in Congress? And what exactly are our transportation choices for the future? Come hear an exciting group of panelists show us how to change our transportation network to build more livable cities. Stop by the Academy during the day to get free rides on some of the vehicles of the future, including bus rapid transit systems (BRTs), hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles, and car shares! [more]
Floral Turkey Thanksgiving Centerpiece
Sunday, November 19, 1 - 3 pm
Morris Arboretum
Philadelphia, PA
Create a fun, novelty fresh and dried flower centerpiece to decorate your table or to give as a gift. Presented by Cheryl Wilks. For information call 215-247-5777 ext 156.
Workshop: Green Wreaths
Thursday, November 30: Session A: 1 - 3 pm; Session B: 7 - 9 pm
Friday, December 1: Session C: 1 - 3 pm; Session D: 7 - 9 pm
Saturday, December 2: Session E: 10 am - Noon
Scott Arboretum Classroom and Gardens
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
Create a festive wreath with a variety of greens. [more]
African Violet Society of Philadelphia Open House
Thursday, December 7, 7:30 pm
Ridge Avenue United Methodist Church
Bodiee Hall
7811 Ridge Avenue at Shawmont
Philadelphia, PA
Guest Speaker Olive Ma Robinson, co-owner and hybridizer of the Violet Barn, Naples, New York, will speak on African violet design. Plant sale will feature African violets and gesneriads. For more Information, contact Judy at 215-233-2379 or AVSPhiladelphia@yahoo.com.
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How to Submit News & Events
The Wired Gardener is issued 11 times a year (no December issue) on the 1st of the month. We post notices of gardening events and give precedence to Philadelphia-area events. Deadline: the 15th of the month for listing in the next month's issue. Send brief details and contact information by email and reference "Wired Gardener" in the subject line. Press releases are not accepted. Please review and follow the format used in our Other Gardening News and Events section.
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Garden Q & A Closed in December
We give our wonderful volunteers a well-deserved break during the holiday season. After November 30, hold those calls and emails until January 3, when this gardening information service reopens.
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About the Wired Gardener
Edited by Janet Evans, library manager, McLean Library, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society; contributions: Elena Sisti and Priscilla Becroft.
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