July gardens: Plain old green
BY GOTTI KELLEY

Structural foliage plants give the garden a sense of definition and permanence. With summer's lavish display upon us and gardens awash in floral color, let's not forget the "plain old green" with its multifaceted textures and patterns.

Henry Thoreau wrote, "Nature made ferns for pure leaves to show what she could do in that line." Fascinating ferns are not only space fillers for problematic shady areas, but can dazzle with their gardening potential. The key is to know what to expect in terms of color, form, texture and, above all, size from the plant you are planning to acquire. Think of your garden as exhibition space.

Intriguing, spectacular ferns available in garden centers or online:

Japanese painted fern Ursula's red (athurium nipponicum) is a vibrant iridescent elegant plant with wine-red accents, ideal in a smaller garden. A most dependable plant that appears year after year.

Variegated holly fern (arachniodes simplicior variegate) is striking with snazzy zigzag of bright gold bands contrasting with dark green. So unique!

Even more stunning is the regal ostrich fern (matteuccia struthiopeteris), one of the most majestic ferns, growing 5 feet and higher with graceful fronds. A stunning display when massed. Dream big!

Brilliance autumn fern (dryopteris erythrosora) changes color with every season. Copper fronds appear in spring, turning green for summer and russet for autumn. It deserves to become a garden classic!

Look for "Encyclopedia of Garden Ferns" by Sue Olsen.

What is a rain garden?

Managing rainwater sustainably in the garden and landscape is an up-and-coming topic in the serious gardener's world. Rain gardens can enhance the garden and benefit the environment at the same time by capturing, channeling and diverting rain.

A rain garden is simply a shallow depression that is designed to take as much excess rainwater run-off as possible from a roof, or water discharged from your sump pump, thus reducing the volume of stormwater entering our sewer systems.

Rain gardens are designed to slow water, capture and infiltrate within a day, and feature beautiful, hardy, low-maintenance native perennial plants. Native plants are drought resistant, accustomed to our area soils and loved by birds and butterflies. You do not need to worry about mosquitoes. Most rain gardens will not hold water long enough for these pests to reproduce. Even so, dragonflies, swallows and other natural control processes will keep them in check. Think of a rain garden as a purposeful garden that not only looks beautiful, but does a little work as well.

Why does a rain garden matter? The biggest cause of pollution in rivers is nonpoint source pollution. That is run-off from streets and lawns carrying pesticides, fertilizer and oil from storm sewers to streams. Every drop of rain that you keep on your property helps to keep our drinking water less polluted. Every drop matters. Every drop counts.

Keep your garden smiling: Give your houseplants a summer vacation and put them outside in light shade. Continue to mulch plants to conserve moisture. Pull weeds. Deadhead spent flowers with Nader-like zeal to assure continuous bloom, but don't leave debris in your flower beds. It invites pests and disease.

Check plants for signs of insect infestation. Use integrated pest management (IPM) methods for dealing with problems. Remove yellowed foliage from bleeding hearts, wood hyacinth and other spring-flowering plants. After blooming, dig and divide iris, bleeding hearts and lily of the valley. Stake and support plants as they grow. Hold deer at bay by spraying your garden perimeter with deer repellent.

Since you are a relentless, curious gardener, and while your back demands a rest, spend a few hours at the following events. You will find whole wheelbarrows full of ideas and practical information:

Annual Monmouth County Fair, July 25-29 at East Freehold Park, Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. Fore more information: www.monmouthcountyparks.com.

Tour of Rutgers Display Gardens and Plant Sale, July 28, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu or call (732) 932-8451.

N.J. State Fair, Sussex County Farm and Horse Show, Aug. 3-12; (973) 948-5500.

Did you know? Deep Cut Gardens, 321 Red Hill Road in Middletown, and Rutgers Gardens, 112 Ryders Lane, New Bruns-wick, are All American Selection Display Gardens in New Jersey. They introduce to gardeners reliable new varieties that have proved their superior performances in trial grounds across North America. Visit, enjoy and learn.

Gotti Kelley is a longtime member of the Navesink Garden Club and is on the board of the Garden Club of New Jersey.