The Wildest Garden in Town
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Vol. 69 No. 1- News Edition A Publication of the American Horticultural Society January 1990 A mulberry branch provides a tasty treat for "Mahatu," a Sumatran rhino living in the Cincinnati Zoo. The Wildest Garden In This Issue Zoo Horticulture " 1 in Town Enemies in the Air 4 Members' Forum . 6 he garden is serene. Patches Well, not just any otter and not just any of yellow, cream, and rose botanical garden. These Oriental small EPA: Closer to Home 8 pink water lilies ripple with clawed otters and their water lily-covered the gentle water of the pond. pond are both at home in the National Regional Notes . 10 A breeze rustles the leaves of the golden Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. SEED CATALOG . Insert daylilies nearby. Suddenly an otter pops In the past decade, zoos across the his head out from among the lily pads country have been adding more natural Gardener's a&A . 11 and looks quizzically at passersby. areas and landscaped settings for their Another playful face l,Jreaks the surface animals. Zoos in San Diego, New York Gardener's Bookshelf . 12 ofthe water and glances around the City, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Seattle Gardener's Dateline .14 shore before ducking under the water to have been foremost in creating state-of resume her morning swim. the-art designs in zoological horticulture, AHS Bulletin Board . 16 Otters in a botanical garden? but others are starting to include plants 1990 Seed Program Catalog Enclosed! and garden designs in their master as "horticulture with the complication American plans. of animals." Like most gardeners, zoo horticulturists do everything possible Horticultural Society The First Zoos to create optimum conditions for the plants in their care. But giraffes OFFICERS 1989-1990 Mrs. Carolyn Marsh Lindsay, President The earliest zoos were menageries licking the bark off maple trees and Mr. John H. Whitworth Jr., and animal shows where strange or zebras digging up the lawn aren't 1 st Vice President exotic animals were caged and problems for most gardeners. Such Mrs. John M. Maury, 2nd Vice President displayed as freaks of nature. The first difficulties are commonplace at zoos, Mr. Richard C. Angino, Secretary American menagerie was organized in where horticulturists must make Mr. Richard J. Hutton, Treasurer a small section of New York's Central plants serve a number of functions Mr. Everitt l. Miller, Park in 1856. while dealing with the animals' Immediate Past President Horticulture assumed a role only a frequent lack of reverence for the few years later, according to Cincinnati landsca ping. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Zoo horticulturist Dave Ehrlinger: in "We're dealing with an animal in an Mr. Richard C. Angino, Harrisburg, PA 1870 the Philadelphia Zoo became a enclosed space," says Hider. 'We have Mr. George W. Ball Jr., West Chicago, IL Dr. Sherran Blair, Columbus, OH zoological garden with plants to define what will survive in that Mrs. Benjamin P. Bole Jr., Cleveland, OH incorporated into the public spaces and space." Elephants will eat all the plant Mr. J. Judson Brooks, Sewickley, PA animal environments. Cincinnati material within reach; a rhinocerous Dr. Henry M. Cathey, Washington, DC followed suit a year later. will bulldoze right through plant Mr. Russell B. Clark, Boston, MA At first these zoos were groomed barriers such as shrubs and bushes. Mrs. Erastus Corning II, Albany, NY parklands rather than wild areas, But animals aren't the only threat to Mrs. Ann Lyon Crammond, Atlanta, GA Ehrlinger noted. Then in 1929, animal the plants, he said. "Our second Mr. Edward N. Dane, Boston, MA dealer Carl Hagenbeck of Hamburg, concern is the public. In general, a Mrs. Beverley White Dunn, Germany, paved the way to today's zoo's clientele is much younger than Birmingham, AL Mr. K. Albert Ebinger, Boxford, MA greater naturalism by building the first the average botanical garden visitor Mr. Richard J. Hutton, West Grove , PA cageless zoo. To create an illusion of in May the zoo averages 200 buses of Mr. Stephen F. Keating, Wayzata, MN wild animals roaming free, Hagenbeck school children a day-and visitors are Mr. David M. Lilly, St. Paul , MN substituted ditches, moats, and rock there to look at the animals, not to Mrs. Carolyn Marsh Lindsay, Rochester, NY piles for metal bars. admire or respect the plant material." Mrs. John M. Maury, Washington, DC The newest impetus to zoological But the effort is worth it, because zoo Mr. Elvin McDonald, Brooklyn , NY horticulture is concern about the environ plants are much more than just Mr. Everitt l. Miller, Kennett Square, PA ment. Modem zoos are creating exhibits attractive foliage and bright blooms. Mrs. Jane Scarff, New Carlisle, OH to increase awareness of the interdepen Low-growing shrubs and vines may Mrs. Virginia Urschel, Montecito, CA Mr. Andre Viette, Fishersville, VA dence between plants and animals and be used to create natural barriers or to Mrs. Helen Fulcher Walutes, the need for biological diversity. disguise existing physical barriers Mount Vernon , VA Ric Hider, horticulturist with the between different animals or between Mr. John H. Whitworth Jr., New York, NY National Zoo, defines zoo horticulture the animals and the public. Mrs. Jean Verity Woodhull, Day1on, QH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Mr. Frank l. Robinson Zoo Plants for People Landscaping public areas is another important aspect of zoological horticulture. AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST Lynden Miller--a public garden designer and winner of AHS's Landscape EDITOR: Kathleen Fisher Design Award in 1989-was hired by the Central Park Zoo's architects to ASSISTANT EDITORS : redesign the Central Garden around its seal pool. The project was funded by the Peggy Lytton, Mary Beth Wiesner Wallace Fund established by DeWitt and Lila Wallace, founders of Reader's EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Martha Palermo MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: Digest. Mrs. Wallace asked that the funds be used for a perennial bed. Kathleen B. Amberger A hedge of Ilex crenata 'Microphylla' separates the Central Garden from other ADVERTISING: American Horticultural zoo areas. Paths of hexagonal paving and teak benches were laid out to avoid Society Advertising Department, 80 South the roots of the existing 50-year-old crab trees. Four beds contain 500 shrubs Early Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22304. and 2,000 perennials, planted in large drifts to provide form and structure. Phone (703) 823-6966. Miller's favorite combinations include purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea Address all editorial correspondence to : The Editor, 'Br.ight Star') with gray Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia) and Coreopsis American Horticulturist, American Horticultural 'Moon Beam' with Stachys byzantina 'Silver Carpet'. Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308. AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST, ISSN Since the zoo has visitors throughout the year, the Central Garden is 0096·4417. is published by the American Horticultural designed to be handsome in every season. Junipers, Colorado spruces, and Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexanciria, Virginia weeping hemlocks along with oak-leaf hydrangeas, cut-leaf Japanese maples, 22308, (703) 768·5700, and is issued six times a year as a magazine and six times a year as a news edition. The and hybrid bluebeards (Caryopteris x clandonensis) add fall and winter American Horticultural Society is a nonprofit organization interest. In summer, annuals like white Nicotiana sylvestris and purple-blue devoted to excellence in horticulture. Botanical nomencla· ture in AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is based on Salvia farinacea 'Victoria' and 'Indigo Spires' complement the perennial beds. HORTUS THIRD. National membership dues are $35; Although Miller didn't have to design the garden with consideration for the two years are $60. Foreign dues are $45. $12 of dues are designated for AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. seals-animals don't have access to the Central Garden-she "thought it Copyright © 1990 by the American Horticultural Society. would be amusing to add plants with animal names since we were working in Second·class postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send Form the zoo." Included in the menagerie are foxgloves, pink and white 3579 to AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST, 7931 East snapdragons, crab trees, and red-twig dogwoods. Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308. And even though zoo-goers don't usually visit for the gardens, Miller notes proudly: "The public actually noticed-and really liked-the garden!" 2. American Horticulturist • January 1990 Good plant habitats make the animals maple along with 21 species of bamboo feel comfortable and secure. Plants may ranging from dwarf to timber. In all, provide nesting areas, hiding places, or Their Association the elephants' new home includes perches. In doing so, they both create 12,000 trees of some 150 species. attractive living areas for the animals Zoo horticulturists can receive expert A new wetlands exhibit at the National and help educate the public about an advice from the Association of Zoo also incorporates naturalistic animal's natural habitat. Zoological Horticulture. The non-profit plantings. Giant and fragrant water Education is a key aspect of zoological association was started in 1980 to lilies, water hyacinths, wild rice, and big horticulture. Zoos may keep vegetable provide a network for sharing ideas leaved arrowheads share the marsh with gardens to teach the public about and solving problems, and as a means red-eared sliders, black-crowned night animal diets. The Central Park Zoo's of furthering horticultural research and herons, and trumpeter swans. Exhibit bamboo plantings provide a special conservation programs. signs identify wetland birds and turtles treat for their red panda while snow Members may exchange seeds and as well as plants in an effort to educate monkeys and colobus monkeys enjoy plant materials along with sources for the public about whole environments. weeping willow branches. Grape leaves hard-to-find specimens. The associa The Arizona-Sonora Desert ~useum in are a favorite among the primates.