Swiss Chard - The Original Ornamental Edible

My winter blogs have been understandably more reliant on color to get us (me) through these dismal months.  It was sunny and frigid cold today but that can describe most of our weather over the past month or so.  We did have a nice volunteer turnout today with some of the Grumpies going out in the gardens.  Terry went out to bring in lights and Urban was out pruning this morning.  Marv and Maury ran some errands while Pat and Gene worked on processing lights and some other indoor projects.  Gary and Dr. Gredler painted while Ron Y., Jim and Vern all worked on carpentry projects.  Dick H. became immersed in some vehicle repairs.  We also saw Del, Gary S., Janice, Ron W., Rollie and many others.  Pat C. came in to help me with some spreadsheet preparations and other office duties (much appreciated!).  Larry and Bill worked on snow removal and some other projects while I bounced between my usual seed ordering, presentation preparation, etc.  With the WPT Garden Expo coming up this weekend, we're getting all of our "ducks in a row" for set-up on Thursday and the event on Friday through Sunday at the Exhibition Hall of the Alliant Energy Center (Madison, WI).  See www.wigardenexpo.com/ for more event information.  We are selling tickets for this event at the Cottage Garden Gallery (while supplies last!).  The ticket lines can be lengthy at the Expo so consider pre-purchasing your tickets in order to streamline your entry.

I think I've focused on Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) in the past although it is not a plant that I feel can be over-promoted (or over eaten).  It is a true ornamental edible!  Swiss chard is dynamite as a summer vegetable, having nutritious stalks and greens.  One cup of chopped Swiss chard has only 7 calories and contains significant Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron and also potassium, magnesium, Vitamin K, protein and fiber.  Swiss chard will thrive in our summer heat with adequate moisture and decent soils.  You can continually harvest stalks from the outer portion of the plant or cut back severely as needed (hence the other name of "perpetual spinach").  This plant will generate new growth after a severe cutting which I accomplish at home three times each summer (for every clump of chard).  Beets (also Beta vulgaris) are closely related and while also having edible greens, generate the "beet" that is a very nutritious, swollen taproot.  There are some fun varieties of beets (look for 'Bull's Blood' and 'MacGregor's Favorite) with very dark foliage that is ornamental and edible too!  As this blog will illustrate, Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) also has colorful veination and stems/stalks.  Most varieties will stay under 18" tall but all have textured leaves that feature a vein color and stem coloration as well.  Some selections are mixes of many colors (see 'Bright Lights' below) while many, like 'Orange Fantasia' directly above and directly below, are selected for their specific color contribution.  You can't go wrong with Swiss chard in a sunny spot and even if  you don't "acquire the taste", this plant can be a strong component in the garden.  If you aren't cutting stalks for consumption, consider removing the older, outer stems on occasion to expose the brightest (and youngest) growth.

'Orange Fantasia' Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris)

'Bright Lights' Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris)

'Bright Lights' Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris)

'Magenta Sunset' Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris)

stalks of 'Pink Lipstick' Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris)

'Silverado' Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris)

'Rhubarb' Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris)

stalks of 'Rhubarb' Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris)

stalks of 'Peppermint' Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris)

traditional garden use

ornamental garden use

use in a mixed border

use in a mixed border

2013 use of 'Bright Lights' Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) in our vertical pallet planter

Consider A "Seasonal Dash" Of Lime In The Garden

It's tough to categorize lime as a color in the garden.  As a variable (and subjective) color, lime can encompass a wide range of greens and head in to the "chartreusey" range. Regardless, the point of my blog is to emphasize effective seasonal plants that can offer some fun greens and bright lime components with flower and/or foliage.  Above is a chartreuse flowering tobacco (Nicotiana langsdorfii) which really looks dynamite with these bright pink petunias and the 'Purple Majesty' ornamental millet (Pennisetum glaucum) in the background.  Lime can offer a nice punctuation when combined with darker colors and can certainly brighten up a container or sunny border as well.  This blog focuses on seasonal plants but keep in mind the value of lime/chartreuse as it also relates to the flowers and/or foliage of perennials and woody plants too.  In 2013, we had two areas with a strong lime theme (see the next two photos).  They were very effective and note the use of the vining obelisks that were painted to give a nice lime vertical element along both long borders.  Read my blog yesterday for more information on our obsession with obelisks at RBG.  See further below for my tribute to lime and its impact in the garden.  Do consider a "seasonal dash" of lime in 2014!

Today was relatively quiet at the Horticulture Center and the weather wasn't too bad outside.  It looks like we'll have sporadic snow over the coming week but that isn't unusual!  Pat was in to process lights in the morning and later returned and went outside in the afternoon to bring in more lights from the Holiday Lights Show.  Janice stopped by for timely office work and Maury was in to run some errands.  Urban came in after the lunch hour to do some pruning and we also saw Bill O., Bev D. and Deb G.  It was a productive day for me with minimal interruptions, distractions or unexpected challenges!

lime border at RBG (2013) - maintained by Don and Pearl (volunteers)

lime border at RBG (2013) - maintained by Janet (volunteer)

mixed border with plenty of lime at RBG (2011)

'Golden Delicious' pineapple sage (Salvia elegans) adding some bright chartreuse foliage (and red flowers in October) - not at RBG but can't recall garden location....

chartreusey coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) in a vivid annual border at Olbrich Botanical Gardens (Madison, WI)

green love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus 'Viridis')

'Sylphid' plume celosia (Celosia plumosa)

'Green Ball' dianthus (Dianthus hybrida)

'Queen Lime' zinnia (Zinnia elegans)

Bells of Ireland (Moluccella laevis)

flowering tobacco (Nicotiana langsdorfii) - close-up

'Perfume Lime' flowering tobacco (Nicotiana hybrida)

'Sophistica Lime Green' petunia (Petunia)

'Lanai Lime Green' verbena (Verbena hybrida)

'Spring Green' cockscomb (Celosia cristata)

'Gypsy Lime Lace' sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas)

'Limon' Jewels of Opar (Talinum paniculatum)

'Lime Zinger' elephant ear (Xanthosoma sp.)

'Royal Hawaiian Maui Gold' elephant ear (Colocasia esculenta)

'Kong Jr. Lime Halo' coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides)

'Blazin' Lime' bloodleaf (Iresine hybrida)

The Obelisk For Garden Verticality

Today was quite "warm" (relatively speaking of course!).  It was in upper 20 degrees F range although the wind chill was significant too.  I had a presentation up in Dane County on Shade Plants that went well with less than 50% of the crowd falling asleep with my monotone presentation.  Actually, it was nice to see Lisa J. (UWEX Horticulture Educator for Dane Co.) up there as well as Paul Ganshert, Rich Miller and other green industry professionals.  I was lucky in that I missed the snow with my travels to and fro although we did get some blowing snow by the lunch hour.  It was a productive morning for the Grumpies with Pat and Urban out in the gardens bringing in lights and lots of indoor activity at the Horticulture Center.  Pat also processed lights for storage.  Jim, Vern and Ron Y. continued work on their carpentry project while Dr. Gredler and Gary continued with their respective painting projects.  Gene helped here and there and we later saw Bill O. who came in to help Larry.  Mark S. stopped by as well.  Maury was around and certainly others I missed seeing due to my morning gig.  Larry continued cleaning and sharpening tools which is a very important task over these winter months and our larger equipment is next on the tune up list.

It's important to mention and admit that I'm not using the word obelisk correctly.  The dictionary says that an obelisk is "a stone pillar, typically having a square cross section and pyramidal top.  Frequently used as a monument."  Well, my modified and refined definition of a garden obelisk is "a wooden, frequently painted, pyramidal structure with a square cross section that offers a strong vertical element in the garden and frequently a support for vines as well".  There are many styles of obelisks and we have been using them for many years out in the gardens. Our "carpentry-inclined" Grumpies make them annually and out in the gardens we have five different styles that are represented by heights of 4', 6', 7', 9', 12' and a 20' monster.  We sell a nice 6' cedar obelisk with a copper top in our Cottage Gallery Gifts for $125 plus tax and they are very popular.  We currently don't offer or sell plans for these although we're asked often about that possibility.  I've included just some of many obelisk photos I've taken over the years and keep in mind that the repainting occurs every winter as we plan for upcoming use in specific situations and color themes.  See further down for more obelisk information.

We've only had obelisks at RBG for the past 10 years or so.  It started with three six foot tall obelisks that we used to support vines.  I saw these in a catalog, cut out the photo and had our Grumpies build them just for fun. They looked neat and certainly offered a strong vertical element in the garden.  We also had lots of positive feedback from visitors regarding these structures.  The next year we started painting those original obelisks and a whole new world of opportunity opened up for us!  We currently have about 50 obelisks (see some above) that we secure out in the gardens each year.  As mentioned above, the paint colors selected for these are not random.  We coordinate obelisk color with collections and always rely on them as a strong vertical element and focal point out in the garden.  While we plant vines on many of these, some we don't at all.  For instance, in the top photo (2013), those obelisks (you can see six of eight in the formal annual sections) did not have vines and were selected for that strong blue impact.  We usually secure every obelisk with two stakes on opposite corners and use cable ties or screws on occasion to make sure that these don't get floppy (particularly once vines get established).  Proper anchoring is a must.  If we have time, we'll paint the anchoring stakes the same color as the obelisk so they aren't too conspicuous.  All of these are made of cedar and are painted or re-sealed each year.  Some have copper tops (from Menard's), finial tops or special pyramid tops made by the Grumpies for clean and sharp (literally and figuratively) contribution.

Above is the 20' obelisk in the "Jungle Garden" in 2013.  This actually had an opening for kids (or stooping adults) to pass under the obelisk (see below although the openings are hard to see).  The second photo down shows a view from inside the structure looking upwards.  Built in the fall of 2012, this giant obelisk has been used in two of our Holiday Lights Show displays (see fourth, fifth and sixth photo down).  While the scale of this giant obelisk may not be appropriate for the home garden, it works in the areas that we've positioned it.  There are unsubstantiated rumors of a second one being constructed this winter....

From left to right are Jim, Vern and Dave although Bob A. and Ron Y. are also involved with the obelisk creation and in this case, some repairs.

above is Rose doing a color conversion

These "garden pyramids" fall in to our originally errant (but creatively modified) definition of an obelisk in terms of their contribution out in the garden.  Note the color transformations over the years (seen below) and the fact that these structures are built to rest comfortably level on our 30 degree entrance garden slope.  We will be converting these to pink for 2014 if that gives you any hint on a color theme? :)

2013 Entrance Garden

2012 Entrance Garden

2011 Entrance Garden