Gardening enthusiasts got a chance to talk with gardening expert and crinum lily cultivator Jenks Farmer
Saturday at the Simpson Garden Park.
The event was part of the Kuebeck Forum on Nature and Environment.
Farmer donated some of his lilies to the park as an experiment to see how the normally southern flowers
would function in Northwest Ohio. Many have done well and are currently featured in the Sensory Garden
near the waterfall at the park.
Farmer spoke a little about the crinums, explaining they come from all over the world.
"The perception is they won’t grow here because of the difference in climate. We are proving that
wrong," Farmer told the group.
He did note various differences, saying what might be an annual for this area is actually a perennial in
his South Carolina-based operation. And vice versa.
He shared how some plants need the cooler nights of this area, while others can’t take the cold winters
here.
Farmer said the plants are used to a little temperature difference, stating if the high is 100 degrees in
the day, it might only drop to 97 degrees at night.
One of his biggest theories seemed to satisfy those gathered when he was asked what determines having a
successful garden.
His response: "A successful garden is one that pleases you."
As for the crinum lilies, as well as many other varieties, he recommends not trimming the leaves back
once the plant is done blooming.
"People like to get rid of those leaves, to tidy things up," Farmer said, noting that the
leaves as they fall over provide some insulation and protection for the bulbs.
He shared a variety of stories with the roughly two dozen people in attendance, noting how one lady was
able to grow star fruit very successfully when others could not. Her secret was to bury used tuna cans
in the garden near the fruit trees to attract gnats. The gnats pollinated the fruit and reinforced his
belief that everything cannot always be tidy.
"You can’t have a weed-free garden," Farmer said. "The expectation is unrealistic."

He explained it is not natural and that weeds will always be a part of gardening.
Chris Gajewicz, Natural Resources Coordinator for Bowling Green Parks & Recreation, says he
regularly fields calls from people who expect one thing and are disappointed when it was not the way
they remember or as they had hoped for.
"Everyone has they own expectations of what a garden is supposed to look like." Gajewicz said.

Farmer praised the local garden for its willingness to try new things and experiment as "plant
pioneers."
He said, "This is what a botanical garden should be."
While he generally is against the use of chemicals in gardens due to the residual effects for a variety
of reasons, he also said sometimes that is the only way to handle a problem.
"In hindsight we know chemicals are extremely dangerous," Farmer said.
He did share that one new trend is starting to grow in using mushrooms in an increasing variety of ways.
The fungi are being used to create food, fuel, medicines, and fiber.
Farmer presented a second session that evening, and also gave a reading of his book, "Deep Rooted
Wisdom," at Grounds for Thought on Sunday.
The forum is part of a three-event series presented in remembrance of the late Dr. Edelbert Kuebeck.