May/June 2001 - Volume 80, Number 3

The following is a table of contents of the articles that appear in the May/June 2001 issue of The American Gardener.  Links have been established to each article.  However, many articles are only accessible to American Horticultural Society (AHS) members . When you click on these links, a challenge will appear for a username (ahs) and password that AHS members can use to view these articles. Non-members are encouraged to join AHS to be able to enjoy each of these articles and the many other benefits of AHS membership.

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Features

• Gardening with Hummingbirds by Arnette Heidcamp - Attacting these beautiful birds to your garden is easy once you know how. Learn about the major types of hummingbirds found in North America and the diverse native and exotic plants that hummingbirds are drawn to in different regions. Includes tips on using hummingbird feeders.

• Magnificient Meadow Rues by C. Colston Burrell - Versatility and grace are the hallmarks of the herbaceous perennials in the genus Thalictrum, which includes selections suitable for both sunny and shady borders.

• Wild Sesame and Balloon Flower by Susan Davis Price - Korean immigrants living in the Minneapolis area reap spiritual and psychological rewards from an urban oasis they have created. This article is excerpted from Growing Home: Stories of Ethnic Gardening, which received the 2001 AHS Annual Book Award.

• Garden Vignettes by Rita Pelczar - Even the best gardeners can't keep all parts of a garden in full bloom through the growing season, but it's easy to create small-scale plantings within the garden to provide seasonal drama. In this photo essay, garden designers offer tips for effective plant combinations.

• Easy-to-Make Plant Supports by Harold Taylor - Construct attractive teepee-style supports for climbing vegetables using natural materials such as shoots pruned from shrubs, woody vines, and bamboo. Step-by-step instructions are provided.

• Rhododendrons to Rave About by Sonja Nelson - Learn which rhododendrons grow best in gardens in different regions of North America, as selected by experts from the American Rhododendron Society.

Departments

• An Inside Look* - An overview of what's in each issue and engaging insights from American Horticultural Society President Emeritus H. Marc Cathey.

• Members' Forum - Readers write to voice their opinions, make recommendations, or set the record straight. In this issue: Thanks for gardening inspiration and clarification on how to build an arbor.

• News from AHS* - Updates on American Horticultural Society programs and events. In this issue: The 2001 AHS Annual Book Awards winners; AHS involvement with International Master Gardeners and the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival; bee hives installed at River Farm to help improve plant pollination; spotlight on 2001 AHS Horticultural Therapy Award winner Nancy K. Chambers.

• SmartGarden™ - A series of articles highlighting different aspects of AHS's new SmartGarden™ program, which promotes a holistic approach to gardening using scientifically sound and environmentally responsible practices. This issue: Selecting plants suited to your site.

• Gardener's Notebook* - Short, newsworthy articles on horticultural topics. This issue: All-America Rose Selection winners for 2001; Wave Hill director of horticulture Marco Polo Stufan awarded 2001 Scott Medal; kudzu discovered in Oregon; oil-coated paper mulch proves to be a sound alternative for plastic.

• Offshoots - Essays on gardening from a personal viewpoint. This issue: A mother-daughter relationship defined in the garden.

• Gardeners Information Service* - The plant specialists at the American Horticultural Society answer gardening questions. This month: The best time to apply beneficial nematodes; defining what is an "annual"; and help for a winter-stressed magnolia. Plus, a discussion about heat-tolerant lilacs.

• Seasonal Garden Goods - A look at selected products on the market based on innovative design, horticultural utility, and environmental responsibility. This issue: products to attract wildlife to the garden, including a durable bird house, ceramic toad house, and hummingbird and butterfly feeders.

• Book Reviews - Featured: Sunset Western Garden Book, Warren Schultz's A Man's Garden, and Nancy Kober's With Paintbrush and Shovel. Also, short descriptions of other newly released gardening books and references.

• Regional Happenings - Listings of lectures, flower shows, and other gardening events across the country. Featured: Elvin McDonald to be honored at the American Gloxinia and Gesneriad Society's annual convention in Kansas City.

• Hardiness and Heat Zones and Pronunciations - A guide to USDA Plant Hardiness and AHS Plant Heat Zones for most of the cultivated plants listed in each issue-and an easy guide to pronouncing their botanical names.

• Notes from River Farm - Thoughts and observations from the editor's desk. This issue: Reassessing garden design.
   

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Items marked with an asterisk (*) can be viewed by non-members without a username and password.

Letters to the editor should be emailed to: editor@ahs.org or mailed to:
Editor, AHS,
7931 East Boulevard Drive,
Alexandria VA 22308.