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11-02-09 Splendor in the Grass

Broadcasting the week of 11-02-09

This episode of P. Allen Smith Gardens is all about grass. Learn about tough turf being grown for drought conditions, ornamental grasses for border and containers and see how the Dallas Arboretum complements their yearly tulips display with a lush lawn. Then top it all off with a recipe for Thai Lemon Grass Soup from the Viking Cooking School.

Feature Highlights

• Ornamental Grasses
• Ornamental Grasses for Texture
• Rye Grass Containers
• Cool Season Grasses
• Grass for Shade
• Thai Lemon Grass Soup

Featured Plants

• Fountain Grass ‘Giant Burgundy’ (Pennisetum setaceum)
• Maiden Grass (Miscanthus)
• Red Fountain Grass (Pennisetum)
• Broom Corn (Panicum miliaceum)
• Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria)
• Sunflowers ‘Moulin Rouge’

Color Corner: 'Fishnet Stockings' Coleus
Thank goodness for coleus. Since sun tolerant varieties have become available I’ve been using this plant everywhere. Really. This is the first time I’ve grown ‘Fishnet Stockings’ and so far, I love it!. Not only are the colors intense, but the texture is amazing as well. According to the tag it will reach about 36-inches tall. I just planted it a few weeks ago and already it has grown about half the predicted height and has become a real showstopper.
Annual, Upright, 24 – 36 inches tall, Full Sun

People and Places

• Adrienne Kume, Backyard Gardener, Albany, OR - Working for Pennington Seed no doubt inspired Adrienne to want a lush lawn that is the perfect gathering place for family and friends. Adrienne and her family use the outdoor living space they created as an extension of their home.
• Dave Forehand, VP Gardens and Visitor Services, Dallas Arboretum, Dallas, TX - We visit with Dave Forehand surrounded by the stunning beauties of the season at the Dallas Arboretum. Over the years the Arboretum has made a name for itself when it comes to spring tulip displays and in turn has helped to educate visitors about tulip varieties that do well in the warm, Southern states. We also find out how the Arboretum keeps their lawns looking great in spite of heavy foot traffic. The lawns are over seeded with perennial rye, which greens the turf up in the spring and then dies back with the arrival of summer heat. Just as the rye is fading warm season Bermuda grass comes on strong and stays green through the winter.
• Jim Sparks, Golf Course Builder, Course Doctors, Flat Rock, North Carolina - Jim Sparks has built golf courses across the country. Jim shared his insight on how homeowners can get a great lawn learning from golf course design.
• Anne Tofield and Jim King, Master Gardeners, Tallahassee, FL - Anne and Jim visited the Garden Home Retreat during the International Master Gardeners Conference. Jim and Anne shared their gardening interests. For Jim it is water features and for Anne it is her greenhouse. Jim and Anne became friends through their Master Gardener program in Tallahassee and since Anne doesn’t like to drive Jim has become the official driver for Anne and their fellow master gardener friends.
• Jason Lafferty, Chef, Viking Cooking School, Memphis, TN - Jason Lafferty brings to life a traditional Thai soup called Tom Kha Gai. A signature of this dish is using a mortar and pestle to bruise or crush ingredients to bring out the flavor of the seasonings in the soup.