Of Cranbrook House by June L
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Masters of American Garden Design: Fletcher Steele in Cant:exc The archin§ rails of Steele's Ealue Steps at Naumkeag in Massachusett's Berksnires ecl90 the semi-GirGular vaults, while the grove of Betula papyrifera hi§hlights the white rails. Landscape architect Fletcher Steele designed more setts. The symposium is being held in concert with than 500 gardens during his long career from 1914 a traveling exhibit on the work of Steele, being shown to 1 g6El. His approach-sometimes playful, often January 1 B through March 30 at the PaineWebber lyrical and dreamlike-was always directed toward Gallery, 1286 Avenue of tne Americas. Both events the creation of powerful, spatial volume. It can be are sponsored by the American HorticultlJral Sm::i more fully appreciated when contrasted with the ety, Registration for the 9 a .m . to 4 :30 !=l .m. sym differing philosophies of his contemporaries. An all posium is $100. For more information, call AHS toll day symposium on January 19, 1990, at the free at (80m 777-7931 . Registration deadline is PaineWebber Conference Room in Manhattan will January 5 . explore the artistry of Steele in the context of other landscape designers of the first half of tnis century and their best-known remaining works: Warren Man Please send me more information on the ning, a protege of Frederick Law Olmsted who served Fletcher Steele Symposium. as Steele's mentor, and Marming's design of grand vistas and native trees for Stan Hywet Hall in Akron, Ohio; Ellen Bid<dle Shipman, a rather formal designer Name _____________________ but sensitive plantswoman who designed Longue Vue Gardens in New Orleans; Jens Jensen, who took a Street _______________________________________ naturalistic approach in his designs for the American Midwest; and Beatrix Farrand, whose contributions City ______________________~ ~_ to land design are evidenced in a number of major gardens, Against this backdrop, the symposium will State ________________________ Zip ___________ explore Steele's life, philosophy, and the p li'eserva tion and restoration of his most famous project, the Mail to: American Horticultural Society, Gardens of Naumkeag in Stockbridge, Massachu- Box 0105, Mount Vernon, VA 22121. American Horticulturist Volume 68, Number 12 December 1989 ARTICLES The Devoted Volunteers of Cranbrook House by June L. Hicks ............... ........................... .. ................... ................... .. ................. .. ................................ 16 With eighteen people and seventeen dollars, they set out to save a neglected Michigan garden. A Bountiful Haven on Tortola by Sally Dick-Read ..................................................................................................................... ............. 24 Paulina Dean tries to give back as much as she receives from land that she claimed from an island jungle. Ivy: A Symbol of Mirth Emerges from Shadow by Deborah Reich .............................................................................................................................. ...... 30 This appealing vine isn't just for covering architects' errors. SHORT FEATURES Personalities/The Eckes Are Always Dreaming of a Crimson Christmas ...... ..................... 6 DECEMBER'S COVER History/Remember Me in Flowers ............................................................................................... .. .. 12 Photographed by Jessie M. Harris Plant Proille/Feeling at Home with Hellebores ........ .. ........... .. .. ........................................... .. .... 36 Treasures of River Farm/An All·American Home for American Horticulture .... ... ......... 42 There are many horticultural symbols of the holiday season, but non~ so DEPARTMENTS vibrant as the pOinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). Native to tropical CGmmentary ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Mexico, it was brought to the United Pronunciations ..................... .. .............................. ....... .. ....................................... ........... .............. :.. ..... 33 States by botanist Joel POinsett, who Letters ................................................................ .. .................................................................................... ... 35 served as U.S. ambassador to that Classifieds ..... .. .... ... ........... .. .. ............ .. ....... .......... ... .. .. ................................................... ... .. .. .................... 38 country in the 1820s. But it owes its Book Reviews .......................................................................................................................................... 40 wide popularity to Californian Paul 1989 Index ....................................... .. ...... .. .............. ................. ............ ......................... ...... ...... .. ............. 45 Ecke Sf. EDITOR: Kathleen Fisher. ASSISTANT EDITORS: Peggy Lytton, Marl' Beth Wiesner. EDITORIAl. ASSISTANT: Martl,. Palermo. DESIGN DIRECTO R: Rebecca K. McClimans. MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: Kathleen B. Amberger. ADVERTISING: American Horticultural Societ)' Advertising Department. 80 South Earll' Street. Alexandri a. VA 22304. telephone (703) 823·6966. COLOR SEPARATI ONS: Chroma· Graphics, Inc. EDITORIAl. ADVISORY BOARD: Dr. Gerald S. Barad , Flemington. NJ ; Dr. Harrison Flint. West Wayette. IN; Peter Loewer. Cochecton Center. NY; Dr El izabeth McClintock. San Francisco. CA; Frederick McGourty. Norfolk. CT; Janet M. Poor. Winnetka, IL; Maire Simington, Phoenix, AZ; Jane Steffel'. Sykesville, MD; Dr. James E. Swasey. Newark. DE; Philip E. Chandler. Santa Monica. CA . Replaceme nt issues of AMERICAN HORTI CULTURIST arc available at a cost of 52';0 per copy. 111e opinions expressed in the articles that appear in AME RI CAN HORTICULTURIST are those of Ihe authors and arc not necessarily those of the SOCiety. Botanical nomenclature in AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is based on HORTUS THIRD. Manuscripts. art work. and photographs se nt for possible publication will be returned if they are accompanied by a self· addressed, stamped envelope. We Cannot guarantee the safe return of unsolicited malerial. AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. rSSN 0096·44 17. is the official publication of the American Horticultural Soc iety, 793 1 East Boulevard Drive. Alexandria, Virgi nia 22308. (703 ) 768·;700, and is issued six times a year as a magazine and six times a year as a news edition .. The American Hort icultu ral Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to excellence in horticulture. Membership in the SoCiety includes a subsc ription to AMERlCAl'l HORTICULTURIST. National membership dues arc 530; two years are 5;;. Foreign dues are s40. SJ 2 of dues are deSignated for AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. Copyright © 1989 by the American HOrticultural Society. Second· class postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia , and at addi tional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send Form 3579 to AMERICAN HORTI CULTURIST. 793 1 East Boulevard Drive. Alexandria, VA 22308. AMERICAN HORTfCUL TURIST 3 American Horticultural Society Commentary Officers 1989·1990 Mrs. Carolyn Marsh Lindsay Rochester, New York President Mr. John H. Whitworth Jr. New York, New York n important dimension in our world First Vice Presidell t of choices was brought to the at Mrs. John M. Maury tention of members of the Allyn 's Washington, D.C. A SeGond Vice President Creek Garden Club at our last meeting. Mr. Richard C. Angino We met at the home of Helen and Joe Harrisbu rg, Pennsylvania Secretary Taylor in Honeoye Falls , New York, which Mr. Richard J. Hutton is just a few miles from Rochester. Joe West Grove, Pennsylvania has been an avid birder and naturalist all Treasurer his life. He was the very first in North Mr. Everitt L. Miller Kennett Square, Pennsylvania America to record 600 birds, and has Immediate Past President since attained the 700 mark, which dis Board of Directors tinguishes great birders and speaks of Mr. Richard C. Angino their keen interest and dedication . Fellow Harrisburg, Pennsylvania club members were all anxious to hear Mr. George Ball, Jr. about the latest developments in his new butterfly garden . West Chicago, iJJin@is Buddleias, Asclepias, Monardas, Dr. Sheeran Blair Joe reported that his and other Columbus, Ohio flowering plants were indeed attracting a number of butterflies, but Mrs. Benjamin P. Bole,Jr. nothing like the quantity he remembered as a child growing up in Cleveland, Ohio Brighton, a Rochester suburb. So he looked up the food of the but Mr. J. Judson Brooks Sew i ckl~y , Pennsylvania terflies' larval stage . Caterpillars are very host-specific; among their Dr. Henry M. Cathey favorites are weeds such as thistles, nettles, and milkweed, along with Washington, D.C. some treasured garden plants and trees. He noted that the dedication Me. Russell B. Clark Boston, Massachusetts of gardeners to being weed -free and insect-free means using weed Mrs. Erastus Corning II killers and pesticides that are dramatically reducing the number of Albany, New York butterflies. Mrs. Ann Lyon Crammond Joe's talk made us realize that the relationship between butterflies Atlanta, Ge.orgia Mr. Edward N. Dane and plants is even more intimate and complex than we imagined . We Boston, Massachusetts all knew that henceforth, weeding our gardens would take on a new Mrs. Beverley White Dunn meaning, and holes in foliage would be given better evaluation . The Birmingham, Alabama Mr.