To everything there is a season. Plants thrive in fall’s ideal growing conditions. Gentle rains and cooler soil temperatures rejuvenate summer-stressed plants, preparing them for the winter ahead. You can help, too, by making Osmocote® Smart-Release® Plant Food a regular part of your fall gardening routine. Osmocote adjusts to changing soil temperatures, so your plants always get just the right amount of nutrition. Maybe that’s why passionate gardeners have trusted Osmocote for 40 years – no matter what the season.

© 2006, Scotts-Sierra Horticulture Products Company. World rights reserved. www.osmocote.com contents Volume 85, Number 6 . N ovem ber / Decem ber 2006

F EATURES DEPARTMEN T S

5 ON THE ROAD WITH AHS 6 NEWS FROM AHS 2006 AHS Gala, changes to AHS Board of Directors, Children’s Garden makeover, newest AHS Corporate Partner, APGA conference coming to Washington, D.C., new well for River Farm.

12 AHS NEWS SPECIAL: FASHION IN BLOOM Highlights from this year’s plant displays at River Farm.

15 AHS NEWS SPECIAL: AMERICA IN BLOOM Community beautification was celebrated pagepap gege 1616 at this year’s AIB awards banquet.

42 ONE ON ONE WITH… 16 FROM BACKYARD TO BIG TIME BY DOREEN G. HOWARD Rosalind Creasy, edible You don’t have to be a plant breeder to find and introduce a best- landscaping trailblazer. selling garden plant. Here are some tips for recognizing, protect- ing, and profiting from a new variety. 44 HABITAT GARDENING The southwestern deserts.

22 ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAIKU BY TOM JENKINS 46 GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK A Denver bonsai garden pays homage to nature, culture, and Innovative holiday tree family. recycling in San Francisco, catmint is named 2007 Perennial Plant of the Year, BETSY STRAUCH

; pagepapagege 4444 26 ANGEL’S TRUMPETS & THORNAPPLES BY RAND B. LEE Australian “fossil” tree now Divinely scented and beautiful in flower, plants in the genera available, booze stunts bulb Brugmansia and Datura are also steeped in legend and lore. growth, aspen die-off puzzles researchers, SUSAN A. ROTH ; awards for Anna Ball, David Lemon, and the Chicago Botanic Garden. 32 GROWING FOR SHOW BY RAY ROGERS 50 GREEN GARAGE® The winner of hundreds of flower Managing your load with wheelbarrows and show ribbons offers a personal garden carts. account of his experiences preparing plants for entry. 52 GIFTS FOR THE GARDENER 54 BOOK REVIEWS 36 DANGEROUSLY PRETTY The Welcoming Garden: Designing Your Own BY KRIS WETHERBEE Front Garden; Teaming With Microbes: A Warnings about plant toxicity are Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web; and Gardening with Heirloom Seeds. sometimes overstated, but there are a few truly poisonous plants you Special focus: Books on public gardens. should know about, especially if pageppaaggee 3636 57 REGIONAL HAPPENINGS you have children or pets. 60 2006 MAGAZINE INDEX

ON THE COVER: The bright yellow flowers of the ‘Charles Grimaldi’ cultivar of angel’s trumpet HARDINESS AND HEAT ZONES

LOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF TOM RANNEY / NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY 62

C turn orange as they mature. Photograph by David Cavagnaro AND PRONUNCIATIONS

November / December 2006 3 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA 22308-1300 (800) 777-7931 fax (703) 768-8700 www.ahs.org Making America a Nation of Gardeners, a Land of Gardens

American Horticultural Society President’s Council

INTERIM PRESIDENT Tom Underwood CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. John H. Ariail, Jr. ■ Mr. Bill Barry ■ Mr. Board of Directors and Mrs. Kurt Bluemel ■ Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Dane ■ Mrs. Judy Daniel ■ Mrs. Dawn Ford ■ Mr. Gerald T. Halpin ■ Mrs. Minako Henderson ■ Mr. CHAIRMAN Susie Usrey Dayton, Oregon and Mrs. James S. Hutchinson ■ Mr. Robert E. Malesardi ■ Mitchell Petersen FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN Don E. Riddle, Jr. Davidsonville, Maryland Family Foundation, Inc. ■ Ms. Barbara Robinson ■ Mrs. Deen Day Sanders SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN Leslie Ariail Alexandria, Virginia ■ Mr. Phil Snyder ■ Mr. Arnold Steiner ■ Mr. Robert Stohler ■ Mr. and Mrs. SECRETARY Albin MacDonough Plant Baltimore, Maryland W. Bruce Usrey ■ Mrs. Pauline Vollmer ■ Ms. Claire Watson TREASURER Arnold Steiner Birmingham, Alabama

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Arabella S. Dane Center Harbor, New Hampshire LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY ASSOCIATES Ms. Sue Dick ■ Mrs. Elisabeth C. Dudley

■ Mr. A. Michael Gellman ■ Mr. and Mrs. Mickey Lynch ■ Mr. and Mrs. Ken

Mountcastle ■ Mr. and Mrs. J. Landon Reeve IV ■ Mr. and Mrs. Don E.

Allan M. Armitage Athens, Georgia ■ Suzanne Bales Oyster Bay, New York ■ William E. Barrick, Ph.D. Riddle, Jr. ■ Mr. Timothée Sallin ■ Ms. Katy Moss Warner ■ Ms. Harriet Theodore, Alabama ■ Katherine Belk Charlotte, North Carolina ■ Katherine Stark Bull Washington, D.C. Zbikowski ■ John Alex Floyd, Jr. Trussville, Alabama ■ Beverly Hanselman Nashville, Tennessee ■ Carole Hofley Wilson, HAUPT ASSOCIATES Dr. and Mrs. William E. Barrick ■ Mr. and Mrs. C. Wyoming ■ Margaret Kulp Louisville, Kentucky ■ Melissa R. Marshall Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania William Black ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Bogle ■ Mr. Richard C. and Mrs. ■ Carol C. Morrison Palatine, Illinois ■ J. Landon Reeve IV Woodbine, Maryland ■ Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. Katherine Stark Bull ■ Dr. and Mrs. H. Marc Cathey ■ Mrs. Robert Duemling Falls Church, Virginia ■ Michel Sallin Groveland, Florida ■ Jeanne Shields Greenville, Delaware ■ Steven Still ■ Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Hanselman ■ Mrs. Carole S. Hofley ■ Mr. and Hilliard, Ohio ■ Howard McK. Tucker Alexandria, Virginia ■ Robert D. Volk San Marino, California Mrs. Robert E. Kulp, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Matheson, Jr. ■ Mr. and ■ Daryl Williams Lake Buena Vista, Florida Mrs. Harold McClendon, Jr. ■ Ms. Christine Perdue ■ Mr. Paul H. Pusey ■

Ms. Michele Richardson ■ Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. ■ Dr. and Mrs. George E. PRESIDENT EMERITUS Katy Moss Warner Staehle ■ Mr. John Wm. Thomas and Mrs. Valerie Thomas ■ Mr. Howard

McK. Tucker and Ms. Megan Evans ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Volk 2006 Advisory Council Beverly Hanselman, Nashville, Tennessee – Chair COUNCIL MEMBER’S CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Angino ■ Mr. and Mrs.

Carter Bales ■ Nancy J. Becker, M.D. ■ Mrs. Katherine Belk ■ Dr. and Mrs. Clarissa Bonde, Washington D.C. Robert and Joanna Martin, Menlo Park, Colorado Joseph Benedict ■ Mr. Phillip Bermingham ■ Dr. Joel Birnbaum ■ Mrs. Anne Boucher, Silver Spring, Maryland Mrs. Malcolm Matheson, Mt. Vernon, Virginia George P. Bissell, Jr. ■ Dr. Sherran Blair ■ Count and Countess Peder Bonde Walter Bull, Columbia, South Carolina Egon Molbak, Bellevue, Washington ■ Mr. and Mrs. Michael T. Bradshaw ■ Mrs. Anne Bucher ■ Mr. and Mrs. Elaine Burden, Middleburg, Virginia Dean Norton, Mt. Vernon, Virginia Cason Callaway, Jr. ■ Mrs. Susan M. Cargill ■ Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Carr Patty Bush, St. Louis, Missouri Nancy Keen Palmer, Nashville, Tennessee ■ Mr. and Mrs. James L. Corfield ■ Mr. and Mrs. Edward Daisey ■ Mr. and Dr. H. Marc Cathey, Davidson, North Carolina Bob Patterson, Washington D.C. Mrs. James F. Delano ■ Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Demisay ■ Ms. Doris Diman Fred Clapp, Alexandria, Virginia Dr. Julia W. Rappaport, Santa Ana, California ■ William P. G. Dodson, D.D.S. ■ Mrs. Beverley W. Dunn ■ Dr. and Mrs. Russell Clark, Boston, Massachusetts Deen Day Sanders, Norcross, Georgia John A. Floyd, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Garcia ■ Prudence Gilmore ■ Mr. Bartie Cole, Owings Mills, Maryland David Shultz, St. Cloud, Florida John Sward Gleiber ■ Mr. and Mrs. Joel Goldsmith ■ Mr. and Mrs. John H. Jim Corfield, Geneva, Illinois Josephine Shanks, Houston, Texas Guy, IV ■ Mrs. Richard W. Hamming ■ Dr. and Mrs. William O. Hargrove Virginia Hill Daisey, Dedham, Massachusetts Barbara Shea, Baltimore, Maryland ■ Mr. and Mrs. Max Hartl ■ Mr. and Mrs. Brent Heath ■ Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Dane, Center Harbor, New Hampshire Holly Shimizu, Glen Echo, Maryland Richard F. Hohlt ■ Mr. and Mrs. Brian E. Holley ■ Mr. and Mrs. Allan L. David and Kitty Ferguson, Westwood, Massachusetts Charles Henry Smith, Jr., Middleburg, Virginia Holmstrom ■ Mrs. Elizabeth Hooff ■ Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hopkinson ■ Mr. Ben Griswold, Glyndon, Maryland Regina Smith, Middleburg, Virginia and Mrs. Albert Huddleston ■ Mr. Philip Huey ■ Mr. Henry Jameson ■ Mr. Henry Jameson, East Sound, Washington Nancy Thomas, Houston, Texas and Mrs. Robert B. Lindsay ■ Ms. Joann Luecke ■ Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Dr. Richard W. Lighty, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania Bryan Thomlison, Haddonfield, New Jersey Marshall ■ Mrs. Dorothy Marston ■ Mr. George Cole S. McCray ■ Mrs. Carolyn Marsh Lindsay, Ponte Vedra, Florida Pauline Vollmer, Baltimore, Maryland Rachel L. Mellon ■ Mrs. Rosalyn Milbrandt ■ Mr. and Mrs. Egon Molbak ■ Mickey Lynch, Dunmore, Pennsylvania Joyce and Harvey White, Nashville, Tennessee Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Moore ■ Dr. and Mrs. David E. Morrison ■ Mr. and Robert E. Malesardi, Easton, Maryland Joannah Williams, Sebring, Florida Mrs. William J. Moss ■ Mrs. Shirley Ann Nicolai ■ Ms. Cristin M. O’Hara ■ Barbara McClendon, Alexandria, Virginia Sheryl Wood, Middleburg, Virginia Mr. and Mrs. William G. Pannill ■ Mr. and Mrs. Albin MacDonough Plant ■ Stu McMichael and Lucinda Crabtree, Mrs. Charles Price ■ Mr. and Mrs. William A. Pusey ■ Mr. and Mrs. William Falls Church, Virginia Seale, Jr. ■ Mrs. Josephine M. Shanks ■ Jeanne Shields ■ Mr. and Mrs. Charles Corporate Partners Henry Smith, Jr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. William M. Spencer ■ Mrs. Juliet Sproul ■ Mr. Harold Stahly ■ Ms. Lida M. Stifel ■ Dr. and Mrs. Steven Still ■ Mr. and The Care of Trees ■ Chapel Valley Landscape Company ■ Cherry Lake Tree Farm Mrs. John B. Strasenburgh ■■Mr. and Mrs. Peter Tilles ■ Mr. Joe Viar ■ Mr. ™ ■ ■ EarthBox Green Industry Yellow Pages Homestead Gardens and Mrs. Harvey C. White ■ Mr. and Mrs. John W. White, Sr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. ■ ■ ■ Kurt Bluemel, Inc. Monrovia NaturaLawn of America Osmocote D. Anderson Williams ■ Mrs. Marilyn B. Wilson ■ Mrs. Ann Witherspoon Smart Gardening TV ■ Your OutDoors, Inc./Perfect Garden Tool System ■ Mr. and Mrs. Klaus Zech

Horticultural Partners HONORARY PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL Mrs. Enid A. Haupt ■ Mrs. John A. Lutz ■ Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Miller America in Bloom ■ Bellingrath Gardens & Home ■ Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Garden Symposium ■ Cox Arboretum ■ Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival ■ The Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Clubs of America ■ Homestead Resorts Horticultural Symposium ■ Leonard Haertter Travel Company ■ Magic of Landscapes ■ Morris Arboretum ■ Oklahoma Horticultural The 2006 member password for the Society AHS website (www.ahs.org) is tulip.

4 the American Gardener T he Am e ric a n ON THEC ROAD WITH AHS GARDENER

EDITOR David J. Ellis MANAGING EDITOR AND ART DIRECTOR REALLY LOVE color in the garden. And clearly I am not alone in this because Mary Yee there is a significant trend in American gardening to use bright colors. Flow- ASSISTANT EDITOR ers, foliage, sculpture—all offer endless creative expression with color. These Viveka Neveln I past few months I have been inspired by the artistry of the bold and dramatic color EDITORIAL INTERN Heather Robbins effects I have seen in gardens across the country. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS My color tour started with Fashion in Bloom, where the leaders in the horticul- Rita Pelczar tural industry put on a series of amazing displays this past September at six sites in Joanne Wolfe the mid-Atlantic, including the AHS’s headquarters at River Farm. The gardens CONTRIBUTING WRITER were spectacular for a second year in a row, with im- Carole Ottesen pressive displays of flowering bedding plants, peren-

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD nials, shrubs, and trees from the five participants (for more on Fashion in Bloom, see page 12). CHAIR Richard E. Bir Brevard, North Carolina Following Fashion in Bloom, on my way to the Allan M. Armitage America in Bloom Awards Symposium in Eureka Athens, Georgia Springs, Arkansas (see page 15), I stopped to visit AHS Nina L. Bassuk members Bob and Marilyn Bogle in Bentonville, Ithaca, New York Arkansas. As great believers in flower color, they have Steve Bender made a major contribution to their community by Birmingham, Alabama creating parks filled with petunias, roses, and impa- John E. Bryan tiens. This joyful exuberance is there for all to enjoy. San Francisco, California Thanks to AHS Board member Allan Armitage John L. Creech of the University of Georgia and our good friends Columbus, North Carolina at the Ball Horticultural Company, I was able to participate in the Perennial Plant Panayoti Kelaidis Denver, Colorado Production Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. During a break in the program, Richard W. Lighty Allan and I toured a couple of private gardens. I have never seen such enthusi- Kennett Square, Pennsylvania asm for bold foliage color; one garden included nearly 20 varieties of coleus. Elvin McDonald Then, on a trip to the Pacific Northwest, I stayed with author and plantsman West Des Moines, Iowa Dan Hinkley, who received the AHS 2006 Liberty Hyde Bailey award. Dan and Felder Rushing his partner, Robert Jones, took me to the garden of artists George Little and David Jackson, Mississippi Lewis in Bainbridge Island, Washington. Using colored concrete—in hues of cobalt blue, turquoise, and purple—as their sculptural medium and tropical plants ADVERTISING The American Gardener as habitat, these two artistic geniuses have created a garden with the feel of an ar- AND CORPORATE 7931 East Boulevard Drive PARTNERSHIPS Alexandria, VA 22308 chaeological discovery in a Mexican jungle. (703) 768-5700 I would be remiss if I didn’t share with you one of the most spectacular displays E-MAIL: [email protected] of color I have experienced in a garden—the Niki de Saint Phalle exhibit at the Atlanta Botanic Garden. The garden’s executive director, Mary Pat Matheson, spearheaded the project to bring together the world’s largest exhibition of the late artist’s outdoor sculptures. Many of the pieces are large enough to walk inside— The American Gardener (ISSN 1087-9978) is published bimonth- ly (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, Septem- see me in the photo above—and every piece is brilliant with color and sparkle. Be ber/October, November/December) by the American Horticultural on the lookout if this collection comes to a public garden near you. Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300, (703) 768-5700. Membership in the Society includes a subscrip- As I write this column, I am back at my childhood home in Garrison, New tion to The American Gardener. Annual dues are $35; two years, $60. International dues are $50. $10 of annual dues goes toward York, where the brilliant fall color of the sugar maple leaves in the Hudson Valley magazine subscription. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Vir- ginia, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send rivals all that I saw on my travels. Now, sated with color, I can anticipate with plea- Form 3579 to The American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, sure the muted hues of winter. Alexandria, VA 22308-1300. Botanical nomenclature is based on The American Horticultural May you all be surrounded by much joy and love during this holiday season. Society A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, on A Synonymized Check- list of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Canada and Greenland and on the Royal Horticultural Society Index of Garden Plants. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and are not necessar- ily those of the Society. Manuscripts, artwork, and photographs sent for possible publication will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We cannot guarantee the safe return of unsolicited material. Back issues are available at $8 per copy. Copyright ©2006 by the American Horticultural Society. —Katy Moss Warnerr, AHS President Emeritus Printed in the U.S.A. on recycled paper.

November / December 2006 5 6 A Michel Salli w 23. An artistic sensi 23. Anartistic t b Un t thatbe at theendofastory land of t credible evening,” saysKaty, “not onlyas James van Sweden One ofthemostsou t t THE FRIENDSOFRIVERFARM complished thisyear.” d w a ing Americaanationo Co-Chair auction presi Emerit pro M Chan presses, crapemyrt Farm he ograp displaysoftheGardenhe colorful CentersofAmerica’s Fashion inBloom (seepa o thesuccessofRiver Farm asasiterepresentin er,” saysAHSInterim Presi l e e h as “An A one-o News P na mrcnHriutrlSceyGala2006 nnual AmericanHorticulturalSociety I l n “T A Fun “T ieva o supports t o supports d C d g R ,” therenowned landsca raffleandsilentauctiontobenefitRiver Farm andtheAHSincludedawidevariety ofdonatedob erwoo the American Gardene ala’s chair, honorary butassomeone uction o HEL , OG h h isthemostrecent additiontotheAHSBoard ofDirec- h bl u d e ga e AHSwasso g y o s s raise ardens.” f e num g RRA -a- K f Skipp Calver n ternoon S f l d A es totheAHSBoar

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d f k a e e - - - - - h . urt d d t AHS d asmagno h OOU isp isp l h h ornamenta an out t d h S P l K Above: Dur e 1980s,t e AHSBoar U f andscape arch p private c all hotographer AmyLambchatswithTimoth l C l er t aty MossWarnersharesamomentw d d ay atRiver Farm). ay inRiver Farm’s EstateHouse. any s N , F i p h n ofCherryLakeTreeFarm. h C h ers andawide erry La erry g e l e missiono EEM ori thebestinAmerican f p l M estive evening, sty ias, ecia h d i ng thegala,AHSPres l EN e a, C l ients (se trees p b d k l rimary izes in a p o e Tree i TTS ld tect JamesvanSweden.R h any’s f err Directors presente cy- f f or t y e h e AHSan comp j THI Ma v experienceandpassionfor “Their s e G J W i part o part towardvolunteering hertimeandeffort therestoration ofthis Fair ect toearn ng gar evera oel Goldsmith, r ance t g i l illiam A.Puse l e Steppin y Felder, Bill, andJoel have devoted totheAHSover thelast roy, Ca y d S tale Garden. TheAHSwasluck “America’s Gar g k l i

l f dent Emer is years,” says AHSInterim Presi d SU ardenin t h eover forFairyta d h contri h e AHS’s missionan en writeran e e C MMER d l g i

f down from theBoard are d b ornia. “We great h h t y t er Gir i g i b h ght: ld i November/December 2006 g . tus ute i e AHS’s Annua é h t e 12)andviewedthebotanically-themedpho- y ren’s Gar , e h e en magica p , anattorneyfrom Richmond,Vir resident andCEO ofGoldsmith Seeds in d l ScoutGo en Ce d d o ra f d a l c d en. Mo l d e io s h h b exten l y appreciate a ig anges occurre ration,” asguestsstro l h ld Ga h sc ow ow Awar ll d g h l l y conceptua ardenin ournationa a onSatur e Gar oo y h d j F ects and services. Alive ects andservices. tohave ost ent elder Rushin l d stu , w Tom Un f ll d g rom Mississippi, d h t have helped ad- ent’s senioryear inRiver Farm’s ic h d d e timean Moll h ay, Septem l e ize l must outreac n ll d d g e t y g inia, and erwoo d Turner h , ami alead- is pro- b d e ac h en .” b d d er s - - t . .

TOP: HEATHER ROBBINS (2). BOTTOM: COURTESY OF CHERRY LAKE TREE FARM high-bred

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Available at fine garden centers nationwide. 006 2 Monrovia © Join us this April for Washington Blooms! at River American Horticultural Society Farm. Nothing compares with the beauty of the early spring blooms in the National Capital area. Cherry blossoms, daffodils, and tulips herald the coming of spring in an explosion of color. Mark your calendar ashington and plan to visit River Farm and the National Capital area this April—you’ll find a variety of spring delights with something for every gardener and looms! garden enthusiast, no matter what your passion! W Visit www.ahs.org or call (703) 768-5700 for more information. BApril 2–28, 2007  2007 Washington Blooms! Events at River Farm April 7 • Spring Garden & Bulb Tour April 14 • Spring Garden & Bulb Tour April 20 • Members-Only Preview Night for Friends of River Farm Plant Sale April 21 • Friends of River Farm Plant Sale & 22 April 28 • Spring Garden & Bulb Tour

Ongoing for the month of April at River Farm • Thousands of spring blooms! • AHS Garden Shop • Botanical art exhibit More reasons to visit the National Capital Area in April • National Cherry Blossom Festival (March 31 – April 15) • Historic Garden Week in Virginia (April 21 – 28)

8 the American Gardener She says the River Farm YourOutDoors is Newest Children’s Garden had a AHS Corporate Partner formative effect on her as a child, and she “loved YOUROUT DOORS, INC. , makers of the “Perfect Garden the opportunity to give Tool System,” is the newest member of the AHS’s Corporate back to the community.” Partner program. The Florida-based company’s innovative gar- The Fairytale Garden den product includes 17 tools in one, featuring just about any is designed to engage tool the home gardener could ever wish for! The interchange- children’s imaginations able tool system is designed for superior ergonomics, func- and introduce them to tionality, and durability. gardening through sto- As a testament to the company’s commitment to charitable ries and fantasy-play. causes, a portion of the proceeds from all tool sales benefits the Molly’s detailed proposal World Craniofacial Foundation and non-profit garden clubs for the rejuvenation in- across the country. To watch a video demonstration of the Per- cluded replacing strug- fect Garden Tool System and learn more about the AHS’s gling plants, building a newest corporate partner, visit www.perfectgardentool.com. For wrought-iron enclosure information about the AHS’s Corporate Partner program, con- to distinguish this “gar- tact Barry Goodinson, director of development, at (800) 777- den within a garden,” Girl Scout Molly Turner puts the 7931 ext. 125 or [email protected]. and improving the path- finishing touches on the Fairytale way that leads through it. Garden at River Farm. Molly surpassed the APGA Annual Conference Coming required 50 hours of volunteer time while working around her S paid summer job. Nancy Busick, AHS youth programs coordi- to Nation’s Capital nator, says that the necessary work to realize the Fairytale Gar- THE U.S. BOTANIC GARDEN and the Smithsonian Institu- den’s potential “would not have been possible for several years tion will host the 2007 American Public Gardens Association EATHER ROBBIN H without Molly’s initiative and offer to help.” (APGA) Annual Conference, which will be held in Washing-

November / December 2006 9 Gifts for Gardeners at www.ahs.org AHS NATIONAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS When it comes to tools, clothing, plants, and decorative items, gardeners have myriad options. Fortunately, help 2006-2007 for the well-intentioned gift-giver is just a mouse-click CALENDAR away at www.ahs.org. Through our AHS Marketplace link, you’ll find a wide ark your calendar for these upcoming national events array of gifts available through Mand programs that are sponsored or cosponsored by alliances with companies such as the American Horticultural Society. Gardener’s Supply Company and Garden Artisans. A percentage of the proceeds from all sales placed through the website goes toward 2006 • DEC. 1–22. Holiday Trees Display at River Farm. George supporting AHS educational programs. Washington’s River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia. Look for discounts in the Members-Only area (see password on page 4), and tell your family and friends • DEC. 14. Friends of River Farm Holiday Reception. George how much you would appreciate a gift from www.ahs.org. Washington’s River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia.

2007 ton, D.C., from June 26 to 30, 2007. The conference theme • FEB. 14–18. AHS Green Garage® Exhibit at the 2007 North- will be “Defining Your Garden’s Culture,” with sessions ad- west Flower & Garden Show. Seattle, Washington. dressing public garden identity as characterized by staff and community, landscape, and other factors. The AHS will be one • APR. 2–28. Washington Blooms! George Washington’s River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia. of several partnering organizations, along with the American University, Brookside Gardens, Green Spring Gardens, Hill- • APR. 9–12. AHS President’s Council Trip. Charlotte, wood Museum & Gardens, and the U.S. National Arboretum. North Carolina. Visit www.publicgardens.org to learn more about the event. • APR. 13–JUNE 3. Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Lake Buena Vista, Florida. All’s Well at River Farm • APR. 21 & 22. Friends of River Farm Plant Sale. George Wash- SEPTEMBER MARKED a momentous occasion for the Soci- ington’s River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia. (Please note: Mem- ety’s River Farm headquarters: the construction of a new well! ber’s-only preview sale is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 20.) All of the property’s potable • APR. 26 & 27. AHS Garden School. “After Dark in the Gar- and irrigation water needs den.” George Washington’s River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia. have been met by two aging wells for many years. In late • APR. 29–MAY 2. Colonial Williamsburg Garden Symposium. 2005, one well failed, leav- Williamsburg, Virginia. ing the property in a po- • MAY 4. Magic of Landscapes. Lake Buena Vista, Florida. tentially precarious position

• MAY 20. Friends of River Farm Family Picnic. George Washing- A new well at River Farm ton’s River Farm. Alexandria, Virginia. means more water is available for expanding gardens. • MAY 31. Taste of River Farm. George Washington’s River Farm. Alexandria, Virginia. should a problem develop • JUNE 1. Great American Gardeners Award Ceremony and Ban- with the remaining func- quet. George Washington’s River Farm. Alexandria, Virginia. tioning well. At its June meeting, the AHS Board of •JULY 19–21. National Children & Youth Garden Symposium. Chaska, Minnesota. Hosted by the Minnesota Landscape Ar- Directors allocated funds boretum Public Policy Programs. to drill a new well behind the Carriage House to re- For more information about these events, call (800) 777-7931 place the one that failed. The drilling machine, with its di- or visit the AHS website (www.ahs.org). nosaurlike proportions, elicited much curiosity from young

visitors to the adjacent Children’s Garden.  S AVID ELLI

News written by Editorial Intern Heather Robbins. D

10 the American Gardener American Horticultural Society 2007 Travel Study Program

ourney with America’s premier travel team—the 2007 TOUR SCHEDULE AHS and the Leonard Haertter Travel Company— J JANUARY 12–26, 2007 Summer Coastal Gardens to some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. of New Zealand, M/V Clipper Odyssey Since 1985, we have offered extraordinary travel study AHS Hosts: Kurt and Hannah Bluemel programs to exceptional private and public gardens FEBRUARY 10–17 Wilderness Gardens of led by knowledgeable and experienced guides. Exciting Nicaragua and Costa opportunities await you this year! Rica, M/V Wind Star AHS Host: Katy Moss Warner

MAY 7–17 Gardens of Piedmont and Liguria AHS Host: Arnold Steiner E

MAY 10–26 Spring Gardens of Japan, M/V Clipper Odyssey

F ARABELLA DAN AHS Hosts: Bill and Jessica Barrick O Y S MAY 15–25 The Great Gardens of Scotland URTE O and the Royal Chelsea Flower Show AHS Host: Carol Morrison

JUNE 4–15 Gardens of the Hill Towns of Umbria and Tuscany AHS Hosts: Susie and Bruce Usrey F LYNN DUNBAR. FAR RIGHT C O

Y SEPTEMBER 25–OCTOBER 4 S Gardens of Majorca and Catalonia URTE

O AHS Hosts: Mac and Wickie Plant C OS T O OCTOBER 26–NOVEMBER 5

M PH For detailed tour information, brochures, or to make a

O Gardens of Portugal and the Island of Madeira TT

O reservation, call the Leonard Haertter Travel Company at AHS Hosts: Jim and Judy Corfield (800) 942-6666 or visit www.haerttertravel.com

P AND B Additional trips are being considered. Please check O T No member dues are used to support the Travel Study Program. Calendar, AHS Hosts, and Tour the AHS website (www.ahs.org) for updates. Directors are subject to change. AHS NEWSSPECIAL BY HEATHER ROBBINS PHOTOGRAPHS BY AHS STAFF Fashion in Bloom 2006 New plants for spring 2007 debuted at River Farm in September.

URING FOUR days of invigorating au- D tumn weather and equally gorgeous plant dis- plays, the American Horticultural Society’s River Farm headquarters was one of six host sites for the second annual Garden Centers of America’s preview event, this year named “Fashion in Bloom: Collection 2007.” From September 20 to 23, green industry profession- als and the public previewed some of the hottest new plants and gardening trends for next spring.

Left: Goldsmith Seeds’ relaxing “Family Gathering” vignette is tucked among an array of colorful annuals. Above: ‘Color Guard’ yucca provides a dramatic edging for Centerton Nursery’s display of pink roses and ‘Oranges and Lemons’ gaillardia.

Preparation for the event, in conjunc- vignettes—a series of “outdoor rooms”— “It was hard to imagine we could im- tion with the AHS’s annual gala on Sep- were designed by landscape architect Carla prove on last year’s event,” says Tom Un- tember 23, involved transforming several Shuman, while Phyllis Kennedy of The derwood, AHS interim president. “But areas of River Farm. This was accom- Enchanted Florist coordinated the fur- thanks to the efforts of all our partners, plished through the efforts of a dedicated nishings and accessories. With a dash of friends, and staff—and cooperation from team of AHS staff and volunteers, who whimsy and an abundance of color, the the weather—the displays were even more worked with River Farm’s five partnering partnering companies at River Farm sur- spectacular.” companies to create vignettes in keeping rounded each of their vignettes with a mix- Fashion in Bloom attendees at River with the site’s theme of “America’s Garden ture of their most successful offerings and Farm began their visit in front of the Es- Celebration: Decorating Inside Out.” The new introductions for spring 2007. tate House, welcomed by beds of Proven

12 the American Gardener Above left: A tree-lined pathway led visitors to Cherry Lake Tree Farm’s “Welcome Home” vignette. Left: Goldsmith’s ‘Sparkler Rose’ cleomes make a pink splash. Above: Saunders Brothers offers ideas for “Dining Alfresco.”

based company, pointed range of uses, from formal to cottage gar- out that the trees are den; boxwoods are a lot more versatile and available year round and long-living than people often think.” can be planted anytime. Goldsmith Seeds created colorful “They have a hundred swirls surrounding a “Family Gathering” percent of their root sys- vignette. The California-based company, tems and won’t experi- whose focus is on new and novel flowers, ence the transplant shock selectively breeds for disease-resistance associated with balled and hardiness in popular bedding plants and burlapped trees,” he such as zinnias. Goldsmith has produced commented. 22 All-America Selections winners, in- Overlooking River cluding the ‘Zowie! Yellow Flame’ zinnia, Farm’s meadow and the whose bold orange-to-red blooms are Winners® plants in shades of red, white, Potomac River, Centerton Nursery, Inc.’s sturdy and upright, ideal for cut flower and blue. Large mixed containers of an- display comprised an undulating mass of arrangements that “bring the outdoors nuals and grasses framed a “Company’s container and wildlife-friendly plants that in,” according to Retail Manager Faith Coming” vignette where the plants’ warm led to a “Relaxing Retreat” complete with fall colors stood out against the white a bathtub full of deep red Home Run™ wicker furniture. roses. The container-grown perennial dis- Proven Winners® is a marketing con- play included Gaillardia aristata ‘Oranges sortium owned by three U.S. propagators: and Lemons’, whose range of splashy or- Euro American in California, Four Star ange hues created a sunburst effect against Greenhouse in Michigan, and Pleasant the variegated spikey foliage of Yucca flac- View Gardens in New Hampshire. Col- cida ‘Color Guard’. lectively, these companies put the Proven Saunders Brothers Nursery’s elegant Winners® label on high-performance “Dining Alfresco” vignette complement- plants available at garden centers across ed their display of boxwood cultivars. For the country. last year’s GCA event, Saunders Brothers Next, visitors followed a circular gravel installed rows of several different box- path through an allée of large containerized woods, all of which are thriving despite ex- trees from Cherry Lake Tree Farm, lead- tremes of drought, deluge, cold, and heat ing to its “Welcome Home” vignette. The that have characterized the past few sea- trees on display included some of the com- sons in northern Virginia. pany’s best selections, such as Miss Chloe® “We have many different cultivars in- magnolia and Hightower® willow oak. stead of straight American or English ‘Supertunia Bordeaux’ petunias and ‘Creme Timothée Sallin, director of business and types,” commented Beth Scott, a compa- Brulee’ heucheras from Proven Winners® marketing development for the Florida- ny sales representative. “This allows for a mix well with other plants in this container.

November / December 2006 13 Savage. “Our breeding makes Another extensive educa- petals reflex downward slight- tional display addressed the ly so the water won’t pool in- history of propagating new side blooms, though they plants with descriptions of all appear the same as old fash- five Fashion in Bloom compa- ioned varieties,” she explains. nies participating at the River The AHS also had a display Farm site. of its award-winning Green Photographer Amy Lamb, Garage®, first featured at the whose exquisitely detailed 2006 Philadelphia Flower Show. botanical photographs were The free-standing garage show- on display in the Estate House cases earth-friendly gardening during the event, remarked tools and equipment, such as a that Fashion in Bloom “makes composter, rain barrel, and this fall feel like spring.” solar-powered fountain. Plant- To experience some of the ings provided by Mon- Above: Visitors to the excitement Fashion in Bloom generated rovia nursery completed Saunders Brothers area for the 2007 growing season, visit the appealing and edu- discuss the nursery’s new www.fashioninbloom.com. In addition to cational setting with re- boxwood offerings. Left: providing information about the Garden gionally appropriate The AHS’s Green Garage® Centers of America and the participating (USDA Zone 7, AHS featured regionally appro- companies and their plants, the website Heat Zone 7) selections. priate plantings and a features a blog, or web diary, that high- Attendees commented display of earth-friendly lights the day-to-day activities at all six on the attractiveness of gardening equipment. mid-Atlantic sites during the event.  the display itself, as well as the multitude of innovative ways to con- to page 50 for this issue’s “Green Garage” Heather Robbins is editorial intern for The serve resources in the home garden. (Turn recommendations.) American Gardener.

14 the American Gardener ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMERICA IN BLOOM 200 A by HeatherRobbin 17 ma at its2006Educational Symposium and F AH year was“LifeinthePast Lane,”with oriente c A th in ety o t t th A September 28to30inEureka Sprin A Community Invo in arow, Lo senters an quaint setting,t Invo he spiritanddonnin he Gala andAwards Ceremony, atwhich umulatin ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ S ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ P war rkansas HS, whichs g e Ozar is country an is country PE O merica InB A In accordance withthehostcit toincrease community ml uiesdsrc ColumbusAvenue,NewYorkCit Universit LincolnS Small businessdistrict Medium businessdistrict 50,001–100,000 20 15 10 5 under 5,000 Meister MediaWorldwideHerita S Scotts Pro J. FrankSchmidt&SonUrban Forestr Ga Ball HorticulturalCom American HorticulturalSociet Am P l IB isanon-pro f , C d U vement Awar cate 001–10 j , , , or awards were presented inavari IAL AWARDWINNER s Ga a Bl OR THEFIFT r LATI NEW 001–50 001–20 001–15 d j e de nd accomplishmentsof ect Ever 6 communitiesacross t k ri , oom (AIB)recognize a Victorian-era town nestledi d Mountains g ca n Mir g Award Winner some participants gettingint someparticipants ories (see l O s a. T more than500,000hourso N inBl Aliv y g SS cam , C an, Ohio, wonthe AHS ac p 000 h d , , , h ATE onsors theCommunity 000 000 000 e symposium’s t g a e event too l e e reen Landsca oo PE ! Envir l d p - vement Awar f s GO f G itting partner itting partner . For t us b g it organizationsee m Ti . r for Victorian finery ox ox C o RY AWARDWINNER H T IA b y o d u e ear, Americai l h nm S L in rf l oom p e secon ow) g k ess an & ardenin d p e h t n G . y e country l h p h Aw ace ta FloralDis d eme t r g ed AreasAward e ou

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COURTESY OF WWW.SPRINGMEADOWNURSERY.COM OT ALL NEW plant introduc- RECOGNIZING OPPORTUNITY tions are the results of sophisti- An overnight trip to buy plants is a vaca- Ncated breeding programs. Many tion for Rita Randolph, second genera- illustrious plants were serendipitously dis- tion owner of Randolph’s Greenhouses in covered in someone’s garden or among a Jackson, Tennessee. It was on one of batch of seedlings potted up at a nursery. these jaunts in the early 1980s that she If you have found an unusual first spotted an attractive Boston fern seedling or a “sport”—a genetic muta- (Nephrolepis exaltata) with golden tion that exhibits very different charac- fronds. The fern caught her eye again a teristics from the parent plant—in your dozen years later at a small nursery in backyard, it’s quite possible you could the middle of Tennessee. The nursery profit from your discovery, or at least soon went out of business, but Ran- have the satisfaction of knowing that dolph had already bought the ferns and your plant’s special qualities will grace was propagating them. “Every time I the gardens of likeminded enthusiasts. showed the gold fern at lectures and Plant breeding is “the purposeful, goal- slide shows, I was amazed at how many directed application of genetic under- true plant nerds had never seen it be- standing to a crop’s improvement,” fore,” Randolph says. “This happened explains Richard Lighty, former director of over and over; even professional horti- the Mt. Cuba Center for the Study of Pied- culturists and those who travel abroad mont Flora in Greenville, Delaware. extensively had not seen it.” She knew Plant selection, on the other hand, may she had a winner, and now Rita’s Gold™ or may not involve breeding. Some plants (named by University of Georgia horti- are simply selected when a gardener notices culturist Allan Armitage, who trialed it an unusual trait—a compact form, varie- for Randolph) sells briskly at numerous gated leaves, flowers of an unusual color, or garden centers and through the mail a tolerance to heat when others of the same from Randolph’s Greenhouses. kind languish. “Most introductions by am- “Any industry lives and dies on inno- ateurs,” says Lighty, “are simple selection vation. That’s why new plants are so valu- of possibly worthwhile horticultural vari- able to the horticulture industry,” says ants—sort of a serendipitous spin-off from Brian Corr, new crops development man- gardening.” The key to such discoveries, he ager at Ball Horticultural Company. notes, is keen observation. Dan Heims, president of Terra Nova ‘Snow and Sapphires’ Jacob’s ladder, top, a Nurseries, Inc., in Tigard, Oregon, variegated cultivar of Polemonium caeruleum, knows this, too. When he spotted a was spotted under a greenhouse bench by Dan variegated Jacob’s ladder (Polemoni- Heims, above, of Terra Nova Nurseries. um caeruleum) under a greenhouse bench as Floyd McDonald showed owner in Loomis, California, spotted in him around Morning Glory Farms a bed of Coreopsis rosea. Instead of toss- ).

2 in Fairview, Tennessee, Heims rec- ing out the strange-looking stem, he ( ognized a unique plant with profit took cuttings and planted it in a separate potential. ‘Snow and Sapphires’ container to observe its growth. When Jacob’s ladder has been a mainstay in the plant bloomed, the white flowers, Terra Nova’s catalog since 1999. Mc- touched with raspberry, were larger and Donald, a motorcycle enthusiast, more colorful than those on the mother made enough money from the roy- plant. On the advice of a former college alties to fulfill the dream of owning professor, Leonard partnered with a fully equipped Harley-Davidson Blooms of Bressingham to introduce motorcycle, before his death in 2005. and market the plant. Walt Stackman found Golden These success stories didn’t happen au- Shadows® pagoda dogwood (Cor- tomatically. Each gardener proceeded cau- nus alternifolia ‘Wstackman’) in his tiously to protect his or her find and Illinois garden, where he hybridizes recruited a commercial partner to propa- Opposite: Walt Stackman discovered the daylilies. It was introduced by Spring gate and market the plant. Randolph en- Golden Shadows® dogwood in his garden. Meadow Nursery, Inc., this year. tered into agreements with large wholesale Above: Rita’s Gold™ Boston fern was a The ‘Sweet Dreams’ tickseed is a growers to propagate and distribute Rita’s ™ LEFT: COURTESY OF RITA RANDOLPH. RIGHT: TERRA NOVA NURSERIES chance find by nursery owner Rita Randolph. sport that Mark Leonard, a nursery Gold Boston fern. McDonald traded ex-

November / December 2006 17 1 tissue sam Tissue culture, a techni than yellow orvarie a year from So So a bloom more frequently orprofusely? acteristic d form, andflowers. Does thefolia a breeders. Berr I formerly ofPlant Develo withvarie shrub N v and evaluate tion, ta If OFDISTINCTIO PLANTS b clusive rightsfordevelopment anddistri- plants are “varie t mana tense incolorthanothers,ordoesthe a How stature, orweepin on normally commercia t stea a ment an sistant? Does the 8 h h nc., acom bl l elopment mana istinct s ution o you t d s ursery, says at amongt at e itactua Gary Gosset, proGary “It takesmore thanonesuperiorchar- d istinctive p h d i the American Gardener d ape, narrow growt o d g oes not Stackman an b f k er at h t out t e area d in f h h f

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TOP: COURTESY OF BLOOMS OF BRESSINGHAM. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF TERRA NOVA NURSERIES (2) Your Plants” on page 20 for details on these legal documents.) Most plant com- panies will draw up the agreement for you if they are interested in your plant. Terra Nova Nurseries routinely does so and fol- lows up with all other legal protections re- quired, such as the plant patent. “We even pay the postage,” says Heims. Costs, in- cluding the patent, are deducted from your first royalties. It usually runs about $2,500, he says. Never send a plant to a company without a contract, Wood cautions. Send a photograph of it first to determine if there is interest. “Include the disclaimer that this is not an offer for sale,” he says. That way the clock is not ticking on patent limitations. You only have a year from the first time a plant is offered to the public until a patent application must be filed. After you reach an agree- ment, then it’s time to send your plant to your partner. “Don’t send us just a single plant. We need at least three divisions to prove it will propagate,” Heims explains. “You should retain plant material, too, in case what you send is lost or damaged.” Put some effort into naming the plant, too. A bad name can kill sales, Berry says. “Don’t name it after a relative. This is a consumer culture in which the right name will get people to spend money on a plant with an appeal- ing or clever name.” Euphorbia ‘Tasman- ian Tiger’ and Hosta ‘Diana Remembered’ are good examples of Two new river birches (Betula nigra)— marketable names. weeping ‘Summer Cascade’, above, and Interview plant variegated ‘Shiloh Splash’, left—were companies just as you discovered by John and Danny Allen of would a potential em- Shiloh Nursery. ) 2 ( ployee or a babysitter for your children. Ask vices. Plants like ‘Hillside Black Beauty’ for references from cimicifuga, Encore Azaleas®, and ‘Blue- other individuals who berry Sachet’ nemesia have come to mar- have partnered with ket through breeder services. them. Make sure the company has the Another option for getting your plant Another alternative is to partner with a production experience to handle any to market is to employ a breeder service. university to get your plant to market. problems that may arise. Choose one that Such companies do all the work to put This is the route John and Danny Allen of has demonstrated success with your type your plant into commerce. They assess its Shiloh Nursery in Harmony, North Car- of plant, such as a shrub or bedding plant market value, test and trial it, secure olina, took when John discovered a cou- producer. And, most importantly, make patents and other legal protections, and li- ple of river birches with unusual features sure there is excellent two-way communi- cense the plant to wholesale growers for in the nursery. He transplanted and ob- cation between you and a potential com- distribution to consumers. These agents served them for a while. “John has a very OURTESY OF TOM RANNEY / NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

C mercial partner. take a commission from sales for their ser- keen eye and is always on the lookout for

November / December 2006 19 something new,” says Tom Ranney, the horticulture professor at North Carolina PROTECT YOUR PLANTS State University whom John contacted Until a newly discovered or created plant is legally protected, do not exhibit it at about five years ago to take a look at his se- shows, on the Internet, in print, or offer it for sale. Doing so shortens your time- lections. Ranney agreed that the two line for legal protection. You have a year from the first time it is offered to the birches—one with a weeping habit, one public for sale until the patent application must be filed. Here are the types of with variegated leaves—were worth trial- plant protection available: ing. He facilitated the introduction process by securing patents for ‘Summer U.S. Plant Patent For new and distinct varieties of asexually reproduced plants Cascade’ and ‘Shiloh Splash’ and con- except tubers. The patent holder has sole authority to propagate and sell the necting the nursery with potential li- patented plant or to assign those rights to others. It is good for 20 years from the censees across the United States and in date of application. For more information about plant patents, visit the National several other countries. In return, says Association of Plant Patent Owners website at www.anla.org/industry/patents/ Ranney, the Allens, “have been kind index.htm. enough to donate half their royalties on these trees back to the university to sup- U.S. Utility Patent To obtain utility patent protection on a plant, people must have port further research.” had a hand in the creation of the new variety that generally involves more than a mere crossing of two parental varieties. This form of protection can be expensive GOING IT ALONE to obtain; however, it can have multiple claims of varying scope, including method If your plant isn’t right for mass market- claims. ing or you want to control the process, find a patent agent and a marketing spe- Trademark If the anticipated returns on the plant are not likely to offset the ex- cialist. You will still need experts to nav- penses involved, an alternative is to trademark the plant name. Only the owner igate legal and distribution hurdles. of the trademark can market the plant under that name, although he or she does Barry Glick, owner of Sunshine Farm & not control propagation or sale of the plant under any other name. A patented Gardens in Renick, West Virginia, used plant can also have a trademarked name, affording significantly more protection. Proprietary Rights International to get A trademark registration is good for 10 years and it is renewable. Be careful to the plant patent on Euphorbia ‘Jessie’, an ensure that the mark you choose is not identical or similar to a varietal name for interspecific cross he selected and devel- the same plant or related varieties. oped. Such companies take your plant through the entire legal process and pro- Plant Breeders’ Rights (foreign plant protection) To protect your plant in foreign tect it during every step. They draw up markets, you will need to comply with the regulations of each country. In order trialing agreements for you if others test to be viable, applications for protection must be made in a timely manner (the your plant, obtain patents, secure pro- time varies from one country to another). The grace period allowed before filing tection for foreign markets, and prepare for patent protection in the United States is not as generous as the grace peri- documents to license your patent to ods available in most foreign countries. growers in exchange for royalties. In Glick’s case, costs ran about $2,500 for a Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA) Certificate Used for sexually produced plants, U.S. Plant Patent. especially open-pollinated ones and hybrids other than F1 generations, and tu- bers. It is most commonly used for seed-produced vegetable and agronomic crops. The new variety must be distinct, uniform, and stable. A Certificate of Pro- tection remains in effect for 20 years from the date of issuance. The cost of ob- taining this certificate may be considerable.

Trialing Agreement or Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) This contract aims to pro- tect your rights before or during the patent process—which can take longer than a year—when granting permission to a grower to trial the plant. The document out- lines what is expected of both parties, denotes when the trial will begin and end, protects confidentiality, and designates what reports will be made. The agreement should stipulate that the grower cannot photograph, publicize, or sell your plant.

License Agreement Growers of patented plants must seek a license from the patent holder and pay a royalty fee. It’s up to the patent holder or a representa- tive to monitor and enforce these agreements. —D.H. Euphorbia ‘Jessie’ was selected and OURTESY OF BARRY GLICK

introduced by nursery owner Barry Glick. C

20 the American Gardener TO MARKET, TO MARKET Randolph, who participated in the 2005 Getting a plant to market is not a fast conference. “I learned that plants aren’t just process. It will take up to five years, ac- thrown out there. There are recognized Resources cording to all the experts interviewed. steps in getting your plant to market,” she “Some companies push to market in a bit says. “The conference helped me see more PLANT PRODUCERS over a year,” says Gossett, “but to do a clearly down the road and meet the people These companies consider new good job of production, greenhouse, and I wanted to work with.” If you go, bring an plants and have guidelines for in-ground trials and production quanti- array of photographs of your plant and cre- submission on their websites. ty ramp-up, it takes two-and-a-half to ate a summary sheet about the plant’s his- three-and-a-half years. That is with an tory and propagation in order to receive Ball Horticultural Company, easy plant.” feedback from industry experts. For more www.balldiscoveries.com. Your one plant will have to be in- information, visit the conference website creased to 100,000 plants or more for in- at www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/IPBC. Blooms of Bressingham, troduction. If your plant is disease-free “There’s a big need for new plants,” www.bobna.com/breeders.asp. and easy to propagate, as was ‘Sweet says Buddy Lee, an independent plant Dreams’ coreopsis, it can be on the mar- breeder who developed the Encore Aza- Chicagoland Grows, Inc., (847) 835- 8301. www.chicagolandgrows.org.

Color Choice ® at Spring Meadow Nursery, (616) 846-4729. www.breedersrights.com.

Monrovia, (800) 999-1101 ext. 124. www.monrovia.com.

Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc., (800) 215-9450. www.terranovanurseries.com.

PATENT AGENTS They obtain patents and all other legal protection for plants.

Biological Patent Services, (612) 237-6623. E-mail: [email protected]. Plant breeder Buddy Lee, right, developed ‘Autumn Chiffon’, left, and other Encore Azaleas®, which bloom in spring just like other azaleas, then rebloom in the midsummer to fall. Proprietary Rights International, (254) 836-5150. E-mail: ket in less time. “Gardeners should know leas® and works closely with Plant Devel- [email protected]. that it takes time to build up numbers of opment Services, Inc. Lee encourages plants to evaluate and to develop mar- gardeners to keep their eyes open for new BREEDER SERVICES keting plans,” says Wood. plants, and to get those that are worth- These companies handle the entire while to market. “Some of the best plants process from market assessment to NETWORKING in the world may have withered in some- introducing plants to consumers. The annual Independent Plant Breeder’s body’s backyard because the gardener Conference in Orlando, Florida, which is didn’t recognize their potential,” says Lee. NARA Services, (805) 487-3858. being held this year from November 17 Introducing a new plant can be lucra- www.naraservices.com. ) 2 ( through 19, helps amateurs learn how to tive and satisfying if the business end is profit from their plant discoveries. Hobby handled correctly. Your plant with poten- Plant Development Services. Inc., breeders of any horticultural crop meet tial may end up paying dividends sooner (888) 922-7374. plant producers, patent experts, scientists, than you think.  www.plantdevelopment.com. and product development professionals representing companies such as Sakata, Formerly garden editor for Woman’s Day, Plant Haven, (805) 569-0169. Ball Horticultural, and Proven Winners®. Doreen Howard is now a freelance writer www.planthaven.com. It’s an excellent networking environment and editor. She breeds new tomato varieties OURTESY OF WWW.ENCOREAZALEA.COM

C that has paid dividends for people like in her Roscoe, Illinois, garden.

November / December 2006 21 22 H R ARTI the American Gardene C LE ANDPH oc a iku O ky T OG RAPH r S Mountai BYT O M JENKIN S c A ulture, and Denverbonsa f am i gardenpayshomagetonature, i l y . n

PHOTO OF BOB KATAOKA COURTESY OF LILY UYEDA XCEPT FOR ITS rows of large his wife, Mary, moved into the west Den- structed the pond, made the stone windows both front and rear, the ver home in 1956 and began transforming lanterns, cast and built the bridge, and E Kataoka house looks like all the it into a unique blended landscape that, planted all of the trees and shrubs.” other mid-20th-century ranch-style though distinctly influenced by Japanese homes in its modest Denver, Colorado, culture, is at the same time in harmony A LIVING TRIBUTE neighborhood. The landscaping, howev- with its Rocky Mountain setting. The Kataoka garden is mostly devoid of er, sets it as far apart from the others as, Born in Japan in 1906, Kataoka emi- showy ornamentation. Bob chose the say, East and West. From the carefully grated to the United States in the 1930s, placement of his plants with great care to placed rocks and artfully pruned trees out settling first in California, and then, in the achieve a simplicity and minimalism that front to the collection of bonsai trees and 1940s, moving with Mary to Colorado, is both beautiful and serene. His bonsai the 18-foot-long pond complete with where he worked in a furniture factory. A specimens are considered among the best footbridge in the back, even the most ca- widely recognized self-taught bonsai ex- in the country; examples of his work have sual viewer can see this is the work of a pert, Kataoka spent his spare time and, been displayed at the U.S. National Ar- horticultural master. later, his retirement working in his garden boretum in Washington, D.C., and at The privately owned half-acre garden is and training his beloved bonsai trees. He Weyerhaeuser’s Pacific Rim Bonsai Col- a legacy of the late Bob Kataoka, who, with was a founding member of the Rocky lection in Washington State. Mountain Bonsai Society (RMBS) in the Panayoti Kelaidis, director of outreach late 1960s, which honors him by present- at Denver Botanic Gardens, who used to ing the Bob Kataoka Memorial Award to live a few blocks from the Kataokas recalls, a rising bonsai artist at its annual bonsai “I would frequently walk by to enjoy the show at the Denver Botanic Garden. garden. It was a stunning collection of Although Bob Kataoka died in 1986 bonsai, exquisitely displayed.” and Mary died earlier this year, his vision In the front yard, large beds of sand- is very much alive in the garden that their colored pebbles contrast with the green daughter, Lily Uyeda, now cares for using lawn. Planted in the beds are large trees the skills he taught her. “Dad designed that have been pruned and trained to look and built all of it,” she says. “He con- like large-scale bonsai specimens. Stone

Left: Bob Kataoka training a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) in the early 1980s. Top: The Kataoka front garden includes ponderosa pines, Douglas firs (Pseudotsuga menzesii), and a juniper in the shape of a bird. Opposite: This juniper is estimated to be 900 to 1,000 years old.

November / December 2006 23 lanterns provide an unmistakable Asian flavor, while a juniper pruned into the shape of a bird adds a touch of humor. The bulk of Kataoka’s bonsai trees are in the backyard, placed around the large pond that is spanned by a low, arched bridge. The bridge provides shade to resi- dent goldfish and access to the back of the garden, where soil from the excavation of the pond was used to build a berm. Plant- ed with blue spruce (Picea pungens) and Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), the berm

CREATING A BONSAI TREE Originating in China, bonsai (pro- nounced BONE-sigh) is the technique of growing and training trees and shrubs in containers so that they maintain a miniature size even at maturity. In bonsai, pruning is the single most important technique. To maintain her father’s collection, Lily Uyeda says, “I use different tools, including various shears and snippers for pruning and thinning the needles and sometimes the branches to limit the amount of growth each year. This keeps the tree small without harming it.” In addition to careful pruning, bend- ing and wiring some trees create an an- cient, weathered look, even the illusion that with the right perspective, a tiny tree resembles a giant in the forest. It is vital to clean out the roots and repot bonsai trees a minimum of once every seven years to keep them healthy. A properly cared-for bonsai specimen can live for centuries. —T.J. provides privacy and a backdrop for rocks and numerous ponderosa pines (Pinus ponderosa). Throughout the yard, the permanent- ly planted trees are interspersed with those placed in traditional bonsai trays and pots. Although some of the plants in the Katao- ka garden are species from Japan, such as the five-needle pine (Pinus parviflora), it is the native junipers and limber (Pinus flexilis) and ponderosa pines that make this garden special. These naturally tough trees can withstand Colorado’s harsh win- Above: This five-needle pine (Pinus parviflora) is a Japanese tree that is not hardy in Colorado ters and remain outdoors year round, and must be brought indoors each winter. Top: In addition to the many bonsai specimens, the while the less-hardy Japanese trees must be back garden features a large pond and a stone bridge, both hand-built by Bob Kataoka.

24 the American Gardener INSPIRED BY NATURE The bonsai creative process seeks to capture the spirit of nature in minia- ture. In Bob Kataoka’s time, when conservation regulations were less rig- orous, this included the practice of transplanting trees and shrubs grow- ing in the wild into a pot or tray in a home garden. Taken from its setting high in the Rock- ies of the western United States, a bristlecone pine, ponderosa pine, limber pine, or juniper is often naturally stunted and dessicated from exposure to Above: This ponderosa pine bonsai in the Kataoka garden has wind, tempera- been trained to convey the windswept look of trees—like the ture extremes, bristlecone pine, left—growing wild in the mountains. and arid soil. Over the years, high wind shapes the tree, bending it earthward, stripping off its bark from the windward side, reducing the growth of its foliage and restricting its size. After the tree is relocated to a garden or greenhouse, the bonsai artist seeks to maintain its natural symmetry as it is kept miniature in size by bonsai training. Because collecting plants from the wild is generally illegal—unless the collection is done on private property with permission— today’s bonsai artists tend to train selected nursery-grown trees and shrubs to look like wild trees that have been shaped by the ele- ments. This requires detailed observation of wild trees, skill, and patience. A bonsai specimen can be “in training” for decades be- fore the desired effect is realized. In either case, nature is always the source of inspiration. —T.J. moved into the greenhouse in the stubbornly alive; a 28-inch-high ju- backyard to overwinter. niper is estimated to be 1,000 years old; and another 29-inch-high spec- COLORADO GROWN imen is estimated to be 600 years According to longtime RMBS old. “My father would spend hours member and family friend Allan looking at the structure of the old Hills, one of the most important trunks of his junipers with silent ad- lessons Kataoka imparted to him miration,” Uyeda remembers. was how to make bonsai North The collecting and successful American. “He was a guiding light transplantation of wild trees was a for our bonsai society for many creative act requiring knowledge of years,” says Hills. “Bob read many and respect for a plant’s natural of the Japanese bonsai magazines, habit. As Bob Kataoka once said, re- which had a lot of information on planting a young tree into a bonsai how to train Japanese black pine pot can be likened to “capturing the [Pinus thunbergii]. He showed us spirit of the wilds in a controlled set- how to adapt those techniques for our Lily Uyeda carefully prunes one of her ting.” (See “Inspired by Nature,” above.) native trees, such as the ponderosa pine.” father’s prized ponderosa pines. The bonsai trees are now Uyeda’s con- In fact, the Rocky Mountains offer a nection to her father. Maintaining them, wealth of opportunities for practicing ridges and remote ravines, to get them.” she admits, “takes constant attention,” bonsai. “Colorado has such ideal trees— When Kataoka and other fellow hob- but it has its rewards. As she cares for the especially the pines and junipers—for the byists collected trees in the wild, they were trees, each one seems to emanate a quiet bonsai process of taking stress and staying able to estimate their age by counting tree serenity that speaks to her. “My dad used alive despite periodically severe weather,” rings in similar, nearby trees. Many of the to say, ‘It happens because I talk to the says Uyeda. “Most of our specimens were trees in the Kataoka garden are ancient. trees in Japanese.’”  collected in the 1950s and ’60s, when get- Alongside the 200- and 400-year-old pon- ting a permit was no problem. Dad went derosa pines are junipers with large dead Tom Jenkins is a freelance writer living in to the mountains, sometimes to high portions of trunk and branches but still Centennial, Colorado.

November / December 2006 25 Unlike mostother bru 2 and livestock divided intotwogroups thatIdistin- they ima (Ph interestin sified inthe Ori BR f nificent asa er, rest o dens frequented by toddlers,ve Ange d h grant v spp.) an characteristics suchastobacco pl con p o A them stand-outsinthe and ornamentalssuchas nos artic among itsran berant BY RANDB.LE A also stee Brugmansia i D u n 6 ine f ers angerous, w ouse p ants wit t ll i U f T v h , intoxicating y or not g GMAN h f s salis alkeken (Ca i ( e nig l the American Gardener lower, ina h pp ing pets,or nel l e “Dangerous f Solan ’s trumpets fl usmayin e so g .), and Datur b NGEL owers o ll d p rowth, andlusciouslyni l ers o S g g ants. T sicu y a

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SUSAN A. ROTH ered in downy hairs. The seed pods tend to be egg-shaped or elongated. The eight- to 12-inch-long flowers, which dangle from their branch-ends, come in a broad spectrum of colors from white to red. They tend to deepen in color as they age, so that in many cultivars sev- eral shades are displayed on the plant si- multaneously. Brugmansias tend to bloom in monthly flushes, followed by three- to six-week resting periods. The blossoms open at night and most release a fragrance that is described as jasminelike with an un- dertone of lemon. The exception is Brug- mansia sanguinea, which, like most of nature’s red bloomers, relies on color rather than scent to attract pollinators. One of the largest brugmansia groups is B. ✕candida, which includes both natur- al and contrived hybrids of B. aurea and B. versicolor. Generally speaking, these hy- brids get six to 15 feet tall and five to eight feet wide, bearing long, toothed or smooth, wavy-edged leaves and foot-long, pendulous, very fragrant, white, soft yel- low, or pink flowers, each with winged spurs accenting its flared mouth. The flow- ers come in singles, doubles, and triples. Among the many intriguing cultivars are ‘Enchanted Double White,’ which bears fully double, hose-in-hose flowers; ‘Double White’, which bears large white flowers with frilled centers that are quick to bloom and repeat; the apricot flowered ‘Grand Marnier’, which earned an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horti- cultural Society (RHS); and ‘Herren- hauser Garten’, featuring triple to quadruple white flowers maturing to bright orange. Thornapples Brugmansia ✕cubensis is a small group that includes some of the most decorative the Old World centuries before Europeans outdoors year-round in Zones 10 and brugmansia hybrids; their forebears are set foot in the Americas. above. In temperate regions, most gar- B. aurea, B. suaveolens, and B. versicolor. deners grow them in containers that can Among the standouts in this group are BRUGMANSIAS be moved inside for the winter (see side- ‘Charles Grimaldi’ and ‘Dr. Seuss’. The Brugmansias—“brugs” to aficionados— bar, page 29). They are generally very former grows to six feet, bearing numer- are the more fashionable and respectable heat tolerant (AHS Zones 12–1) as long ous, moderately fragrant, strongly re- of the two genera. These are the big, as they receive adequate watering. curved, luminous bright yellow flowers tropical, woody, evergreen, shrubby or In cultivation, most species and hy- aging to orange. A moderate grower, it is treelike angel’s trumpets, about six brids top out at anywhere from six to 15 great for containers. ‘Dr. Seuss’ is a vig- species in all. Most are root-hardy, with feet tall by eight feet in diameter (some of orous grower bearing many large, pen- protection, to about USDA Zone 8, but the taller species grow to 30 feet in the dant, highly perfumed, pale pink flowers O their foliage and flowers are very sensitive wild). Their leaves are large and dark shading to creamy yellow at the throat. to frost and they will only thrive growing green; most are smooth, but a few are cov- “This is the one brugmansia to have if AVID CAVAGNAR

D The upward-facing flowers of Datura metel ‘Double Yellow’ help to identify it as a thornapple, as do the round, spiny fruits that follow the blooms.

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TOP: SAXON HOLT (2). BOTTOM: JERRY PAVIA. Perhaps the most strongly scented brugmansia is B. suaveolens. First de- scribed by Europeans in 1733, it is native GROWING AND CARING FOR BRUGMANSIAS AND DATURAS to southeastern Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru. Brugmansias can be propagated from six-inch cuttings planted directly in sandy It grows 10 to 15 feet tall and half as wide, soil over bottom heat or rooted in water. Brugmansias and daturas also can be with egg-shaped, pointed leaves. Its long started from seed sown indoors in late winter or early spring, at the time you would white, yellow, or pink trumpet-shaped normally start tomatoes. Use a sterile, just-moist sowing mix, and place the starter blossoms have a delightful fragrance that pots over bottom heat until they germinate. Prepare to be patient. While some intensifies at dusk. The flowers are fol- species can sprout within one to eight weeks from sowing, others can take up to lowed by five-inch-long, spindle-shaped nine months. Species will come true from seed, but hybrids may not. pods resembling okra. Once seedlings emerge and Brugmansia versicolor is a small tree, have developed two sets of true eight to 15 feet tall, bearing smooth- leaves, feed them with half- edged leaves and large, dangling, 12- to strength fertilizer at every water- 18-inch, highly night-fragrant trumpets ing. When the roots touch the with long, flaring, recurved lips, opening bottom of their seedling contain- white and aging to apricot or peach-pink. ers, transplant them to four-inch Cultivars include ‘Alba’, with flowers pots. They can go outdoors once that stay white a long time before aging the soil has warmed (at the same to pink; ‘Apricot’ and ‘Ecuador Pink’ time you would plant tomatoes). bear—as you might expect—apricot and Daturas develop a fleshy taproot rich pink flowers, respectively. as they grow, so it’s best to trans- While flowers are the primary reason plant them while they are quite for growing brugs, several cultivars also young, or grow them in peat pots offer variegated leaves. Among these are to be set straight into the ground. the green and white B. ✕candida ‘Maya’ Brugmansias are best over- (white blossoms maturing to soft peach); wintered indoors in most of the ‘Peaches and Cream’ (four to six feet, with continental United States. Kept peach and white blossoms borne spring to in a sunroom or greenhouse, they fall); B. suaveolens ‘Variegata’ (three to four require daily watering, and, dur- feet in pots with foot-long white blos- ing their flowering periods, week- Angel’s trumpets such as B. suaveolens will thrive soms); and the white flowered B. ✕candi- ly meals of a balanced fertilizer. outdoors year-round in frost-free regions. da ‘Variegata’. More unusual is Brugmansia Most angel’s trumpets can be ‘Axelrose’, which bears large serrated leaves kept flowering happily in a 15-inch pot, but I plant mine in half-barrels, pruning that emerge yellow-tinged and mature to them into standards. variegated green and blue-green. Its nod- Since I don’t have a sunroom in which to keep my brugs going through the win- ding, 14-inch flowers bloom in shades of ter, I lug my barrels into the cellar in fall (an attached garage is also suitable, as peach and apricot. New on the scene is B. long as temperatures stay above 40 degrees). At that point I stop all fertilizing and ✕cubensis ‘Snowbank’, which has peach- reduce watering to once a month, which causes the leaves to drop. Come spring, colored blossoms and intricately patterned I bring them out of hibernation, replace the old soil with fresh, prune off any yucky foliage featuring two shades of green set off bits, and resume a regular watering and feeding schedule. by cream-colored margins. Gardeners in the Deep South, the Pacific Northwest, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii For brug lovers with limited indoor can enjoy their brugmansias and perennial daturas outdoors year round. They thrive space, several cultivars are either naturally in full sun to part shade, but in very hot climates high mountain brugs such as B. dwarf or can be induced to flower happi- arborea and B. sanguinea may need protection from the worst of the afternoon ly when pruned to about three feet tall. sun. Give them a rich, deep, well-drained, loamy soil; space them far enough They include the white-flowered Brug- apart—five feet at least— to accommodate their eventual size; and stake them un- mansia ‘Betty Marshall’; ‘Cypress Gar- til their trunks get strong enough to support their considerable upper growth. Wa- dens’ (white, maturing to light salmon); ter daily in the hottest weather and feed weekly while in active growth. ‘Golden Lady’ (double white blossoms Despite their toxicity to mammals, angel’s trumpets and thornapples are food maturing to soft yellow); and ‘Rosabelle’ plants to many insects. Flea beetles and tomato hornworms—the larvae of the ma- (white blossoms maturing to light pink). jor angel’s trumpet pollinator, the hawk moth—are frequent pests outdoors, while ‘Inca Sun’ is a two- to six-foot hybrid bear- whiteflies and spider mites can become troublesome when the plants come in to ing fragrant, smallish, light golden peach the dry air of centrally-heated homes during winter. Keep air moist with a humid- R blossoms; unlike most brugmansias, this ifier and treat infestations with insecticidal soaps. —R.L. RNE U new cultivar blooms nearly continuously ARK T

M through the growing season.

November / December 2006 29 DATURAS Datura contains the herbaceous tender perennial or hardy annual angel’s trum- pets, sometimes called thornapples. While datura plants are sensitive to frost, Wayne Winterrowd points out in his book, An- nuals and Te nder Plants for North Ameri- can Gardens (Random House, 2004), that datura seed “is surprisingly winter-hardy, so that several species are naturalized in Europe and in North America as far north as [USDA] Zone 5.” There are eight to 15 species in all, depending on which refer- ence you consult, but, unlike the brug- mansias, they have not attracted much attention from hybridizers. One reason for this, perhaps, is that several daturas have proven weedy in temperate to tropical countries world- wide, where they are reviled as poisoners of livestock and poultry. Prejudice against daturas may also relate to their long use as ritual and medicinal plants in non-Christian societies, which earned them such common names as herbe aux sorciers (sorcerers’ herb), concombre- zombi (zombie cucumber), devil’s weed, and devil’s trumpet.

Well-suited to growing in a container both indoors and outdoors, Datura metel ‘Flore Pleno’ produces large, frilly, lavender-and-white double flowers and purple stems.

Daturas can stand anywhere from one species or cultivar, datura trumpets can get to five feet tall by two to four feet wide. four to eight inches long and up to seven Their large, grayish-green, alternate leaves inches broad at the mouth, with single, are lobed or toothed at the edge, sprout- double, triple, and even quadruple layers ing from rubbery branches. The leaves are of petals. And though the flowers usually hairy and soft to the touch, but give off an last only one day before wilting, they are unpleasant odor if bruised or crushed. quickly replaced, particularly if the devel- The funnel- or trumpet-shaped flow- oping fruits are cut off as they appear. ers, which emerge from the leaf axils, are The datura’s highly decorative fruits are night-blooming and intoxicatingly fra- oval to rounded and spiny (hence the grant. And it is not only humans who find common name thornapple), and they

the perfume seductive. Most mornings split open when ripe, loosing a flood of . during flowering season, I find stupefied seeds. Unless you want volunteers, this is insects sleeping it off deep within the still- another reason to deadhead the seed pods. open blossoms of my plants. Despite the lack of recognition from The color range for datura flowers, breeders, there are some very lovely and which are held more or less upright, is unusual datura species and selections. more limited than that for brugs: datura Datura ceratocaula, a two- to three-foot, Although it has a tendency to be weedy, Datura blossoms can come in white, white tinged fleshy annual first noted by Europeans in inoxia subsp. quinquecuspidataa, which bears lilac, or, more rarely, pale yellow. But what Cuba in 1805, has thick, purplish, hairy- very fragrant, opalescent white flowers, can they lack in color range they make up for based, forking stems (the species name

be an asset in the evening garden. in size and shape. Depending on the means “horn-stalked”) and toothed, TOP: MICHAEL S. THOMPSON. BOTTOM: JERRY PAVIA

30 the American Gardener lance-shaped, narrow green leaves, felted States as a house plant, blooming contin- on their undersides. Its large white flow- ually in pots at only two to three feet tall. ers possess five rosy stripes in their throats There are a number of interesting Sources and pale lavender edges; they are followed color forms. ‘Double Black Currant J.L. Hudson, Seedsman, La Honda, by smooth, egg-shaped pods. Often semi- Swirl’ is an exotic beauty with its frilled, CA. www.jlhudsonseeds.net. Catalog aquatic (the only angel’s trumpet to ex- fully double, mauvy purple blossoms. free online. (Seeds only.) hibit this inclination), D. ceratocaula was ‘Aurea’, from southwestern China, bears a favorite of British garden designers fragrant single to double yellow blossoms Karchesky Canna Collection, Gertrude Jekyll and William Robinson. on compact, two- to three-foot-tall California, PA. (724) 466-0979. By way of contrast, desert thornapple plants. ‘Cornucopaea,’ the purple horn- www.karcheskycanna.com. (D. discolor) is perhaps the best datura for of-plenty, gets two to three feet tall in Catalog online. very dry, well-drained soils in full sun. Na- pots and bears purple and white, hose-in- tive to low altitudes in the Colorado hose trumpets. ‘Double Purple’ bears Logee’s Greenhouses, Danielson, CT. Desert, Arizona, southeastern California, large, scented, dark purplish-red trum- (888) 330-8038. www.logees.com. and Mexico, this one-and-a-half-foot-tall, pets, with double, triple, or quadruple Catalog online. upright annual bears broad, rounded, gray-green leaves and white flowers Prejean Nursery, Lake Charles, LA. flushed purple or indigo in the throat, fol- www.prejeannursery.com. Catalog lowed by nodding spiny pods. online. Much more widespread in its range than the previous two species is the downy Valley Grow Nursery, DeFuniak thornapple, (D. inoxia, syn. D. meteloides). Springs, FL. (850) 951-0951. Classified as a noxious weed by the USDA, www.valleygrow.com. Catalog online. this sprawling annual, which grows two to three feet tall and up to twice as wide, may have originated in Mexico or Central Resources America. Nowadays it is found through- American Brugmansia & Datura out the Southwest, the north central states, Society, Inc., www.abads.net. and east to New York, where it plagues cat- tle ranges. It is very pretty, with downy, Brugmansia and Datura: Angel's green, six- to eight-inch long, pointy, Trumpets and Thorn Apples by Ulrike broad leaves sometimes wavy at their edges A garden pariah, jimsonweed is of interest Preissel, Hans-Georg Preissel. and large, fragrant, five-lobed, funnel- for its curious role in American history. Firefly Books, Buffalo, New York, shaped trumpets that open cream and age 2002. to pink or pinkish lavender. rows of petals; ‘Flore Pleno’ bears foot- A variant, D. inoxia subsp. quinquecus- long double lavender trumpets; and Nightshades: The Paradoxical Plants pidata (syn. D. wrightii), is native to west- ‘Triple Yellow’ bears fully triple pale yel- by Charles B. Heiser. W.H. Free- ern Texas, Colorado, and northern low flowers. man and Co., San Francisco, Cali- Mexico. Sometimes called sacred datura, Although not in the least gardenworthy, fornia, 1969 (reprinted 1987). it has grayer leaves than the species and the most notorious datura—at least in the open-faced, fragrant white or pale violet United States—has got to be D. stramoni- blossoms that open from the leaf axils in um. A cosmopolitan annual weed found in when an enterprising cook loaded their summer. It comes up every year all over most of the continental states and in other mess with what he thought were nutritious my Santa Fe garden, and at night the huge temperate areas worldwide, its common local wild greens. It turned out to be D. flowers open wide, like luminous UFOs. names include jimsonweed, stinkweed, stramonium, and under its influence the The datura best known in Europe and and mad apple. It bears four- to eight-inch, men began behaving like such lunatics Asia is D. metel. It is a fast growing, oval, toothed leaves and four-inch, funnel- that, wrote Beverly, “they would have wal- downy, two- to six-foot-tall annual with shaped, white or purplish trumpets, which lowed in their own excrements if they had large, dark green leaves. It bears four- to appear in the leaf-axils. These are followed not been prevented.” When the madness eight-inch-long, erect, single to double, by round, prickly brown seed pods. passed, it left the soldiers without the delightfully fragrant white flowers, some- The extravagant toxicity of this species slightest memory of the previous 11 days; times tinged lavender or pale yellow. The has become legendary through a story first and thus the Jamestown weed entered the flowers are followed by round, knobby or documented by Robert Beverly in his His- vernacular as the American devil-herb, spiny pods. Drought tolerant, frost resis- tory and Present State of Virginia (1705). Ac- “jimsonweed.”  tant, and thriving in full sun and deep, cording to Beverly, in 1676, British soldiers well-drained rich soil, D. metel is the sent to Jamestown, Virginia, to quell Garden writer Rand Lee grows angel’s trum- ERRY PAVIA J species most often grown in the United Bacon’s Rebellion suffered a bit of a setback pets in his Santa Fe, New Mexico, garden.

November / December 2006 31 3 misses forcom Flower Show,this amar Reachin G ma An award-winnin 2 j the American Gardene or flowershowcom g

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TOP: RAY ROGERS. BOTTOM: ROB CARDILLO. CATCHING THE BUG I settled in central New Jersey and dis- So how did I evolve from amiable horti- covered Atlock Farm, a local nursery. I culturist to fierce flower show competi- became friends with the owner, Ken PLANTS FOR NOVICES tor? Well, in 1980, my first week as an Selody, who provided me with a space in A plant doesn’t need to be big, rare, intern at the Morris Arboretum in his greenhouses to experiment with my covered with flowers, or difficult to Philadelphia happened to be the week first plants for the show. grow to be considered a potentially before the opening of the Philadelphia Among the first entries I made, at the good show plant. And you don’t have Flower Show. At that time, the Morris 1990 Philadelphia Flower Show, were a to have a greenhouse or other special- Arboretum routinely created prize-win- curly-leaf kale (yes, the vegetable) and a ized growing environments to produce ning educational and display exhibits, so good-sized specimen of the shrubby winning plants. as an intern I was expected to help with Australian mint bush (Prostanthera ro- Often, an unassuming but well- installation and staffing. I had some free tundifolia), which I had coaxed into grown little plant can win awards. Plants time to wander around and take in the bloom the night before in a very warm I would recommend for someone con- Show. I eventually found myself in one bathroom. To my great surprise, both of sidering entering a flower show for the of the far ends of the Show, where ex- them won blue ribbons. first time include African violets (Saint- hibitors and volunteers were poring over Buoyed by that success, I have contin- paulia spp.), amaryllis (Hippeastrum begonias and cacti and giant topiaries ued to enter plants each year. I don’t spe- spp.), cane stem begonias (Begonia and tables full of spring-blooming bulbs. cialize in any particular group, but favorites spp.), coleus cultivars, especially stan- dards (Solenostemon scutellarioides), English ivy (Hedera helix), and gerani- ums (Pelargonium spp.) I have also had good success with cacti and other succulents, many of which—prickly pears (Opuntia spp.), aloes (Aloe spp.), haworthias (Hawor- thia spp.), and Crassula spp., for in- stance—are quite easy to grow. —R.R.

Success is often born of failure. Flow- ering bulbs stored at the wrong temper- ature, plants allowed to grow lopsidedly toward the light (yes, this can happen in greenhouses, too), flowers ruined in bud by thrips, cacti and other succulents per- manently marred by oil-based pesticides, top heavy plants packed thoughtlessly for Judges review the hundreds of plant entries in the Philadelphia Flower Show’s Horticourt. a long, sometimes bumpy trip to the Show—need I go on? I like to believe a This was my first taste of the Horticourt, include hardy bulbs (particularly daf- lesson can be learned from every failure, where hundreds of gardeners of every fodils), non-hardy bulbs (most notably if only to reinforce the certainty that fu- stripe vie for ribbons, rosettes, and per- amaryllis), cacti and other succulents, ture meltdowns await. haps a measure of horticultural celebrity. herbs, and geraniums (Pelargonium). The following year, a friend invited me The most entries I have made in any Do your homework. No matter what to serve as a passer, one of the quality-con- one show was 175, in 1993, when I won specific plant or plant group you choose to trol volunteers at the show. That stint led Sweepstakes for the most award points. grow (see box above for some suggestions to more than 15 consecutive years of pass- In recent years I’ve averaged about 60 en- for beginners), make sure you research— ing, which also gave me time to closely tries throughout the week of the show. and test out under your own growing con- observe the beautifully grown and metic- ditions—the cultural requirements your ulously groomed entries throughout the THE VOICE OF EXPERIENCE plants need to look their best. Horticourt and meet many of the regular I hope that perhaps some of the lessons For example, feeding variegated competitors. I’ve learned along the way will inspire pelargoniums with a high-phosphorus fer- you to grow and enter plants at a show in tilizer during the two or three months lead- N FROM OBSERVER TO COMPETITOR your area, or at least to gain a deeper ap- ing up to a late-winter show can turn up The next phase of my conversion to show preciation for what goes into preparing the color volume. And placing a succulent DAM LAIPSO

A competitor came in the late 1980s, when the entries at shows you visit. in a warmer, sunnier spot than usual at the

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TOP(2): KEN SELODY / COURTESY OF RAY ROGERS. BOTTOM: RAY ROGERS Resources FINDING THE COMPETITION The Philadelphia Flower Show: Celebrating 175 Years by Adam Levine and Ray Most major regional flower shows offer Rogers. Harper Collins Publishers, New York, New York. 2003. juried competitions for a variety of plant and cut flower categories, so no matter American Daffodil Society, http://daffodilusa.org. where you live you can probably locate a place to show off your prized plant. American Orchid Society, http://orchidweb.org/aos/events. If you want to test the competitive waters before entering a major city Philadelphia Flower Show. For information on how to enter plants for competition, flower show, a good place to start is your visit www.theflowershow.com/attractions/exguide.html and download the Ex- local garden club. “Most clubs sponsor hibitor’s Guide. (There’s also a Beginner’s Guide for first-time entrants.) some sort of flower show at least once a year—some hold mini-shows at their Northwest Flower & Garden Show. For information on the children’s container club’s monthly meetings,” says Arabel- garden contest (and other juried competitions) visit www.gardenshow.com/nw/ la Dane of Center Harbor, New Hamp- exhibitors5.html. shire, who is immediate past chair of the AHS Board of Directors. Dane, who is a master judge for Learn from others. Even the flower shows, says that garden clubs try most experienced and accom- to hold their flower shows at public plished exhibitors can learn new places such as libraries, museums, and tricks, but a novice can learn botanical gardens. And while garden volumes by studying other en- club members are usually the primary tries. Make notes on plants you participants, in most cases all or part of might want to try growing and the competition is open to the public. any special special qualities of en- In addition to the local garden club tries that catch your eye. And be shows, Dane says certain regional shows sure to try to speak with other ex- are held every other year in many cities. hibitors. Horticultural skill, along “These major shows usually include a with long-lasting friendships and variety of juried classes such as horti- good-natured rivalries, can devel- culture (live plants in containers, cut op from admiring entries and ask- flowers, fruits, vegetables, and other ing questions about them. seasonal material), flower arranging, gar- den photography, and children’s Push the envelope. Whether you begin as This pelargonium—entered in the 2006 events,” she says. a general competitor or as a specialist (in Philadelphia Flower Show—garnered two A number of plant societies host categories such as flowering bulbs, gerani- more award ribbons for the author. flower shows at their regional and na- ums, or orchids), after a while you may tional meetings. The American Daffodil want to extend yourself and attempt to No matter what happens, enjoy the ca- Society, for instance, has a very active produce something exceptional. Try forc- maraderie with other show participants. flower show program, as does the Amer- ing an unusual daffodil cultivar or other Flower shows are social events that happen ican Orchid Society, which sponsors flowering bulb you’ve never seen entered to feature competition, but The Game shows hosted by regional orchid soci- into competition, or let a Pelargonium doesn’t need to be the only thing on your eties throughout North America. These grow as it will instead of trying to prune it mind. Whether the scope of your rela- shows offer competitive classes for spe- into a perfect mound. Another way to tionship with other exhibitors is restricted cialists in the various categories or divi- push the envelope is to concentrate on only to show time or extends throughout sions of these plant groups. achieving a superlative characteristic, such the year, competition at shows can be- Some flower shows also host com- as the biggest hanging-basket fern you’ve come the basis of a decades-long friend- petitions in categories such as floral ever seen or the most tulips ever in a given- ship. And remember, just as in outdoor design, bonsai, and floral art. And in sized pot. Judges and the public will take gardening, there’s always next year.  many cases there are events designed notice of obviously exceptional entries. for children. At the Northwest Flower Garden writer and editor Ray Rogers has & Garden Show in Seattle, Washing- Above all, have fun. Accept failure, re- won hundreds of ribbons for his plant entries ton, children can design and enter S joice in serendipity, and remember that at the Philadelphia Flower Show. His next their own small container gardens. good and bad luck will probably even out book, Pots in the Garden, will be published —David J. Ellis, Editor AY ROGER

R in the long run. in spring 2007 by Timber Press.

November / December 2006 35 3 Dan nal distress. Thankfull and snowberr over 100,000callsannuallyconcernin ritant compoundsandproduce skinirrita- day whileIwasplayin cor s nous, butthede c g w a smallpercenta mi in toxic, wit tivel tential plantandmushroom poisonin tro pl l b b ofputtin short b p t t as bein substances eachs th More than700plantspecies A Y reac (Digitalis As A that youshouldknowabout,espec Wa earn a oxic. Some p ion an h ases, even 6 SS estive upset toconvulsions—andinsome eauti erries o lant. For exam een sure, t it ants int g e Unite arp-eye ld saotpatt yaes te ttd u os u ts a p ous so po y u t e a e a e e but stated, e o es et so e a ty c to t a p about gs a l T Most adultsdonotha Poisonous p symptomsran d h E Centersint h g rnin p SS y ing tot

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SUSAN A. ROTH Calla lilies, left, and elephant’s ears and caladiums, right, contain calcium oxalate. If ingested, these microscopic needlelike crystals can irritate sensitive tissue in the mouth and throat. Contact with the plant sap can cause skin irritation.

tive to poison oak or poison ivy to varying The amount ingested influences the plants in the heath family (Ericaceae) that degrees, but some people also react to box- severity of symptoms. For instance, daf- can cause a variety of symptoms—the wood (Buxus spp.) or chrysanthemums fodils and dahlias are toxic only if con- most extreme being paralysis or coma. (Chrysanthemum spp.) with mild dermati- sumed in large quantities. Highly toxic Plants with berries containing certain gly- tis. And while poinsettias are not poison- plants, however, cause a host of debilitat- cosides or alkaloids—such as deadly ous, if you have a sensitivity to latex, ing symptoms even in small doses. Azaleas nightshade (Atropa belladonna), privet contact with them can result in a skin rash. and rhododendrons contain a toxic com- (Ligustrum spp.) or daphnes—may even In addition, there are photosensitizing pound called andromedotoxin, a hydro- prove fatal if eaten. compounds possessed by plants such as carbon present in many conifers and “The true toxicity depends on what marigold (Tagetes spp.) and yarrow (Achil- body tissue they impact,” says Sharon M. lea millefolium and hybrids) that make the Douglas, a plant pathologist with the Con- skin more sensitive to the sun. necticut Agricultural Experiment Station. The potential for problems increases Different plant toxins may affect the spinal when a poisonous plant is ingested. At the cord, brain, heart, liver, kidneys, or ner- “mild” end of the scale are plants that typ- vous system. “The level of a particular toxic ically produce localized mouth or throat compound may also be quite variable pain, or limited digestive distress. Calla within a plant or plant family,” Douglas lilies (Zantedeschia spp.), caladiums, and adds. Take the nightshade family (Solana- elephant’s ear (Colocasia esculenta) contain ceae), for example. Tomato fruits are non- calcium oxalate crystals that can pierce toxic, and potato tubers are a culinary cell walls in the mouth and throat caus- staple, but the leaves, vines, sprouts, and ing serious pain and swelling. Elephant’s green berries are highly toxic and may even ear—also known as taro or dasheen—is a be fatal. All parts of deadly nightshade are curious case, however, because its tuberous highly toxic. roots and young leaves are staple food items in many tropical regions. Apparent- FACTORING IN THE VARIABLES ly the cooking process breaks down the As potatoes demonstrate, one part of a . BOTTOM: BETSY STRAUCH ) 2

( poisonous compounds. plant may be edible, while other parts are Many other plants cause nausea, vom- toxic. Rhubarb is another classic exam- iting, and/or diarrhea if they are ingested. ple—the stems are edible but the leaves Common examples include holly (Ilex Children should be warned to steer clear of are highly poisonous. The fruits of apri- spp.), four-o-clock (Mirabilis jalapa), and the attractive orange to red fruits of daphnes, cot, peach, nectarine, and cherry are ab-

TOP: DAVID CAVAGNARO soapwort (Saponaria officinalis). which contain poisonous glycosides. solutely delicious, but the seeds, twigs,

November / December 2006 37 TRULY TOXIC GARDEN PLANTS Poisonous plants can vary in their toxicity and the type of reaction they produce. The truly toxic cause serious problems—even death—if ingested. Take special note of the following common garden plants.

CASTOR BEAN (Ricinus communis) ers followed by spiny fruit capsules containing many Annual with large, attractive leaves growing six to 15 feet seeds. Angel’s trumpet (Brugmansia spp.), a closely tall. Ornamental fruit capsule is large, prickly, and bright related and similarly toxic tropical species, has drooping red and contains beanlike seeds. flowers and fleshy fruit. Poisonous parts: Seeds Poisonous parts: All parts are highly toxic. are highly toxic if in- Toxic principle: Tropane alkaloids. gested, leaves to a less- Symptoms: Hallucinations, headache, delirium, rapid and er extent. weak pulse, convulsions, coma; can be fatal. Toxic principle: Con- Comments: Cut off spent flowers to prevent formation of tains ricin, a highly seeds, which are particularly toxic. toxic protein, and rici- nine, an alkaloid. DELPHINIUM, LARKSPUR (Delphinium spp.) Symptoms: Nausea, Annuals, biennials, or perennials with upright spikes of vomiting, abdominal elongated flower clusters growing three to seven feet tall; pain, bloody diarrhea, smaller species grow to 12 inches tall. convulsions, coma; also Poisonous parts: All parts, especially young plants and gastrointestinal, kidney seeds. and liver damage; can Toxic principle: Potent alkaloids, including delphinine and be fatal. Contact with ajacine. broken seeds may pro- Symptoms: Burning and numbness of mouth and throat, duce severe dermatitis in some individuals. intense vomiting and diarrhea, muscular weakness and Comments: Carefully store seeds prior to planting; cut off spasms, respiratory system paralysis, convulsions; can be flower stalks before they set seed. fatal. Comments: Most species are also poisonous to cattle. DAPHNE (Daphne spp.) Evergreen, semi- FOXGLOVE (Digitalis spp.) evergreen, or deciduous Biennial or short-lived perennial with showy tubular flow- shrubs with clusters of ers on elongated spikes growing two to eight feet in height. typically fragrant flowers Poisonous parts: All parts, including water from vases followed by red or yellow containing cut flowers. fruit. Toxic principle: Cardiac or steroid glycosides. Poisonous parts: All Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, parts are poisonous, severe headache, dangerously irregular heartbeat, mental especially fruits. confusion, tremors, convulsions; can be fatal. Toxic principle: Diter- Comments: Source of pharmaceutical digitalis, a potent penoid (mezerein). heart medication. Symptoms: Swelling and ulceration of mucous membranes in mouth, throat, and stomach; nausea, vomiting, internal LILY-OF-THE-VALLEY (Convallaria majalis) bleeding, kidney damage, coma, may be fatal; leaves con- Creeping perennial tain irritant chemicals that may cause burning or blisters groundcover to nine on exposed skin; ingesting berries can be fatal. inches tall, with white Comments: All Daphne species are toxic, particularly D. or pale pink sweet- cneorum, D. genkwa, D. gnidium, D. laureola, D. mez- scented, bell-shaped ereum, and D. odora. flowers, sometimes followed by bright red DATURA, JIMSON WEED, berries in fall. COMMON THORNAPPLE (Datura spp.) Poisonous parts: All Nightshade family annuals with erect, funnel-shaped flow- parts, including water

38 the American Gardener from vases containing cut flowers. tion, abdominal pain, weakness, convulsions, coma, Toxic principle: Cardiac glycosides and saponins. cardiovascular collapse; can be fatal. Symptoms: Irregular heartbeat and pulse, abdominal pain, Comments: Andromedotoxin is a neurotoxin also found in diarrhea, mental confusion. the nectar of certain species of rhododendron (Rhododen- Comments: Contains cardioactive toxins similar to those in dron spp.) and other members of the heath family. foxglove; glycoside compounds are a source of pharmaceu- tical heart medications. WISTERIA (Wisteria spp.) Twining, woody vines with pealike flowers born on MONKSHOOD (Aconitum spp.) elongated, pendent clusters of blue, white, or pink Perennial or biennial with showy hooded blue, purple, or blooms followed by velvety, yellow flowers that rise above handsome clumps of lobed pealike pods. or deeply cut leaves; plants are two to six feet tall. Poisonous parts: Seeds (most Poisonous parts: All parts. toxic), pods, and bark. Toxic principle: Potent alkaloids, including aconitine. Toxic principle: Glycoside Symptoms: Burning of mouth and numbness of throat; wisterin and a toxic resin. paralysis of the respiratory system; nausea, vomiting; Symptoms: Severe digestive muscular weakness and spasms; convulsions; can be fatal. disorders; nausea, vomiting, Comments: Avoid planting near vegetables which produce stomach pain, diarrhea, edible underground crops to avoid accidental harvesting of dehydration. the toxic tuberous root. Comments: Though no fatali- ties have been reported, the OLEANDER (Nerium oleander) seeds can seriously poison Ornamental evergreen a child. shrubs or small trees with leathery leaves YEW(Taxus spp.) and funnel-shaped, Evergreen, coneless shrubs or trees are dioecious (male typically fragrant flow- and female flowers on separate plants), with females ers clustered at tip of producing red, fleshy berrylike fruits—each containing twigs or branches. a single green seed. Poisonous parts: All Poisonous parts: Bark, leaves, seeds. parts are extremely Toxic principle: Alkaloid taxine, a cardiac depressant. toxic, green or dry, Symptoms: Nervousness, trembling, slow heart rate and including smoke from pulse, breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, vomiting, burning branches or convulsions, car- water from vases containing cut flowers. diac failure; can Toxic principle: Cardiac glycosides, saponins. cause sudden Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, death. dizziness, irregular heartbeat; can be fatal. Comments: The Comments: Do not use the stems or branches as skewers for red, fleshy part food; a single leaf may be highly toxic if ingested. surrounding the seed (called the PIERIS (Pieris spp.) aril) is sweet and Attractive evergreen shrubs edible, though with drooping clusters of the single seed it white, pink, or reddish urn- contains is highly shaped flowers. toxic, along with Poisonous parts: Leaves and the rest of the nectar from flowers. plant. Toxic principle: Androme- dotoxin. Symptoms: Nausea, vomit- Photos: Opposite page, top left and bottom right: David Cavagnaro; bottom left: Mark Turner. This page, top left: Saxon Holt; bottom left: Jerry Pavia; top right: Susan A. Roth; bottom right: David Cavagnaro ing, diarrhea, hypersaliva-

November / December 2006 39 and foliage contain varying levels of cyanogenic glycoside, a highly toxic com- pound that can produce cyanide when Resources plant cells are damaged. Be forewarned: The AMA Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants by Kenneth Lampe, Mary don’t use any branches or twigs of these Ann McCann, and American Medical Association. American Medical Associa- trees as kebab skewers or roasting sticks. tion, Chicago, Illinois, 1985. The plant species, condition of the plant, stage of its growth, and the environ- Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435. www.aspca.org/apcc. Note: A ment all play a part in the levels of toxins consultation fee may be charged. present within plants. Other variables can influence the degree of reaction and sever- Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System, http://sis.agr.gc.ca/pls/pp/poison.

Common Poisonous Plants and Mushrooms of North America by Nancy J. Turner and Adam F. Szczawinski. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 1995.

Cornell University Poisonous Plants Database, www.ansci.cornell.edu/plants.

Handbook of Poisonous and Injurious Plants by Lewis S. Nelson, Richard Shih, and Michael Balick. Springer Publishing, New York, New York, 2006.

National Capital Poison Center, (800) 222-1222. www.poison.org.

Poisonous Plants of the United States by Walter Conrad Muenscher. Macmillan Publishing, New York, 1972.

Regional Poison Center. “[Calls about] in- off” approach to plants that have the po- door plants are far more common, by a 3 tential for contact dermatitis. Never use to 1 ratio.” If you’re unsure as to the iden- any plant parts for any food purposes un- tity of a particular plant, bring a sample to less you are absolutely sure they are safe. your local nursery or county Extension Young children especially should be taught agent for proper identification. never to eat any outside or inside plant— Be sure to educate everyone in your fruit, leaves, stems, seeds, flowers, or oth- Children should be warned about all toxic family about the potential dangers of plant erwise—without asking first. (Plants plants, particularly those such as rhubarb, poisonings. Teach kids to take a “hands comprise 6.9 percent of poison exposure shown here, which have edible stems but poisonous leaves. ity of symptoms, such as a person’s health status, age, and weight in relation to how much is ingested. Small children are par- ticularly at risk because they have a lower body mass than adults and can be affected by smaller doses of toxins. Individual reac- tion can also vary according to a person’s diet, metabolism, and medications. AVOIDING DANGER One of the most effective ways you can avoid the hazards of plant poisoning is to identify your plants both indoors and out-

doors and learn their toxic potential ) before 3 a poisoning occurs. Indoor plants that are ( within reach of children can be particular- ly hazardous. “We receive about 1,600 to 1,700 calls about plant ingestion per year,” Dumb cane (Dieffenbachia spp.), left, and lilies, right, are among the common indoor plants ICHAEL S. THOMPSON says Henry Spiller, director of Kentucky’s that are often implicated in poisonings of pets. M

40 the American Gardener for children under the age of six.) And be sure to keep bulbs and seeds out of their reach by storing them in a safe location. KEEPING PETS SAFE Should a situation arise where someone Dogs, cats, and other pets are not immune to the effects caused by toxic sub- has eaten a potentially poisonous plant, stances in certain plants. Pets like to nibble—sometimes on shoes and newspa- stay calm and act quickly. First, remove any pers, and other times on indoor and outdoor plants. Plants that are poisonous can plant parts from the person’s mouth. If it’s cause reactions ranging from mild nausea to seizures, coma, or even death. Just a life-threatening emergency, immediately as with humans, the effects can vary depending on the size, weight, and age of the call 911. Otherwise, call the National Cap- animal, time of year, plant species, and plant parts consumed. ital Poison Center (NCPC) at (800) 222- Plants that are poisonous to humans are also generally poisonous to pets, with cas- 1222 and you will be connected to the tor bean, yew, oleander, mistletoe, rhododendron, rhubarb leaves, wild black cherry, poison control center nearest you. “The daphne berries, and jasmine berries rating poison center will ask questions about among the most toxic. Bulbs like tulips, what plant was ingested, information on daffodils, and autumn crocus can cause the person who swallowed the plant, how seizures and damage the heart. And when the bulbs smell like onions, which some do, they can be quite appealing Many pets, like the to certain dogs. author’s Bengal cat, The bark, leaves, like to nibble grass and and flower buds other vegetation. of hydrangea contain hydrangin, a cyanide-type toxin that, when ingested, induces a very quick onset of symptoms that may even result in death. Other potentially poisonous plants include those grown indoors, such as cy- clamen, kalanchoe, azalea, peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp.), schefflera, dracaena, di- effenbachia, philodendron, and pothos (Epipremnum spp., syn. Scindapsus spp.). Plants that are non-toxic or only mildly toxic to humans can still be deadly to pets. For example, heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica) may cause seizures, respirato- ry failure and death in both dogs and cats. All parts of lilies (Lilium spp.) and daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.)—from the stamen to the root—are highly toxic to cats, resulting Delphiniums are striking garden flowers, but in kidney failure and death. (Dogs only get stomach irritation.) “The vast majority of all parts of the plant are poisonous. ingestions are with lilies that have been brought indoors,” notes Dana Farbman, spokesperson for the Animal Poison Control Center run by the ASPCA. much and what part was ingested, when it Mulch, too, can be just as poisonous as it is appealing—at least when it comes happened, and if they are having any prob- to cocoa bean shells and dogs. If large amounts are ingested, this by-product of lems,” explains Rose Ann Soloway, a clin- chocolate production can cause symptoms similar to those seen with canine choco- ical toxicologist with the NCPC in late poisonings. Last year the Animal Poison Control Center received calls for Washington, D.C. “We will then make a around 170 cases involving cocoa bean shell mulch. The most common symp- specific treatment recommendation.” toms that occurred following ingestion were hyperactivity, muscle tremors, and While a plant may be toxic, it’s impor- vomiting, although the cocoa bean shells may be lethal if consumed in large enough tant to keep things in perspective. Ripping amounts. There is slightly less of the toxic principle, theobromine, in the processed out plants or avoiding new plantings be- mulch (0.19 to 2.98 percent) than in unprocessed cocoa beans (1 to 4 percent), cause of potential toxicity is unrealistic. but it’s best to be on the safe side and avoid using this mulch around dogs with E After all, part of the enjoyment of garden- indiscriminate eating habits. ing is growing a diversity of plants, and the In fact, it’s also best to play it safe when it comes to pets and potentially poisonous vast majority of plants are not poisonous. plants—especially if you have a pet that is curious or likes to nibble. That can mean Just heed those that are.  simply supervising pets as they explore, keeping house plants out of your pet’s reach, putting a barrier between poisonous plants and your pets, or using a commercial pet Writer Kris Wetherbee specializes in gar- deterrent. However, Farbman says they have yet to find a deterrent that is consistent- dening, wildlife and environmental issues. ly effective against all animals. “With the extremely high toxic potential that lilies She and her husband, Rick, a photographer, have, I wouldn’t feel secure with using a pet deterrent,” she adds. That said, you may recently collaborated on Attracting Birds, find the best solution is to get rid of the plant altogether. —K.W. Butterflies & Other Winged Wonders to

LEFT: MICHAEL S. THOMPSON. RIGHT: RICK WETHERBE Your Backyard (Lark Books, 2005).

November / December 2006 41 4 by Rosalind Creasy, EdibleLandscapingTrailblazer decades. She recently talkedwithDoreen Howard aboutusin d “Her bookinfluencedmyideas forusin of soilonlyonefootdeepto band, Robert, shepondered giftssquandered. TheIsraelis spentseven years and suita i body com f yard, soIcouldonlyplant ve R g th Doreen Howard: an Rainbow chard is front ofthechickencoopsokidscansiton Name t t. It’s a ront, w 2 row edibles,how didyou start eve osa at your yar d DoreenHoward Creasy haswritten17booksonediblelandscapin p the American Gardener l bl l l in ante oping e f h d ive- h f ere t Creasy ree easy ornamenta or every gar p s PIPHA d capin lained, soItookoutthelawn more. T b y-six- h d f ey wou or manyyears an : h g I f g N a oot patc forever. On theplanetriphomeaftervisitin h W or d h ld a Y” I to e on d g hen

d b s eous. Alllettuces en. h e l oo l a b y grass S d h g y etter use k e inmy TH etables inth . ou decide goo l e l d E e ? d f . No b t isin g i only word toexplainwhyRosalind Creasy setouttochangesuburbanland- bl d ac d row food,andshewasblessedwith20-foot-deepalluvialsoilinCalifornia’ to are t e k- d e s - are goo mixe pops. Andall the salad especia Pink chard and pinkpetuniasmakea b What are someofyour favorite com out t riety fortasteandproduction throu b plants. Also,ever-bearin mates, The h eauti inations o e N NOEWITH ONE ON ONE b y h g d canbeusedallwinterinmildcli asis f e season ve wit u d ll b l c y an ecause t g h b h f C etables inthe oices, especia eauti or my d e f e tast Combinin b o a Santa ClaraValley, whichwasbein chief forthe t came concept—“e t The Com ing e l d . o d o he 1980s,”says n i pen space etter use bl g i d f d “Ros Creasy has alsobeeninfluentialinEuro I bl y u ica n 1982,shepublishedherfirstaward-winnin e ay an . ‘Tristar’ ist pavement att h l es an pairingt d fl l g ey are coo atest ll p i owers suc andinspired bl y sensitive art oftheAmericanlexicon. art g ll d es wit g strawberriesar d p y t reens are

d fl lete Booko consi g b togrow d h owers herpassionforbeautifulve g oo h e d win j g arden increative ways,ideaswhichI’ve bee h at visua ust-released l i anIsraeli kibbutzin1975withherlatehus- h h ea e bl k l … g -seaso asnas ornamenta b f , dl fruits andve fruits ? d types e est va g Th l g ere h an arden writerGraham Rice,editor-in l ing rea g an e a lly h g e A d f f n n e d - - - - - t . Edible Landsca ardeners worldwideinthelastthree oo d scapin l f t armin scaping”—a termt ast, s ll h d f off s bl g l Y i Can ediblesbeusedtosolve landsca e t p t -in-One Gar an ng pro ruit, an ruit, urtiums, calendulas,andviolets.The urtiums, ore orsoftenawallfence.The ures thatyou can e , rat n roundcovers. A es! There are edibleplantsforevery rovi A ue d er waxy l d b HS Enc h less combinations s. g b scape situation,except i g e d practices,Creasy erries asa bl h g rateo e a f etables inthe er t bl d e o e $

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MARCY HAWTHORNE / COURTESY OF ROSALIND CREASY other options depending on where you live. In Florida, you can use citrus trees for hedging; if you live in the desert, try pomegranates. Espaliered apples are wonderful in cold areas like the upper Midwest and New England.

Give gardeners a couple of tips to suc- ceed with ornamental edibles. Start simple and keep it manageable. Most people forget when they plant edi- bles that they also have to factor in time for harvesting. The easiest way to start mixing edibles with ornamentals is to grow them to- gether in wine barrels. I think every fam- ily in the country should have a barrel. It holds plenty of soil so there is ample room for planting, and the volume of soil prevents it from drying out too fast. Try ) 2 ( one planted with culinary herbs by the kitchen door to enhance your cooking. Above: Pink chard and pink petunias are one Their fresh taste will make your meals go of Ros Creasy’s favorite combinations. Right: from black and white to HDTV!  This path at Creasy’s home is lined with petunias, sunflowers, bush beans, zucchini, Doreen Howard, former garden editor at parsley, and thyme. A metal arbor at the end of the path supports cherry tomatoes.

OURTESY OF ROSALIND CREASY Woman’s Day, gardens in Roscoe, Illinois. C

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LEFT: SUSAN A. ROTH. RIGHT: MICHAEL S. THOMPSON Sources Resources Desert Gardens Nursery, Phoenix, AZ. (602) 569-1300. Arizona Native Plant Society, http://aznps.org. www.desertgardensnursery.com. Catalog online. Growing Desert Plants: From Windowsill to Garden by Great Basin Natives, Holden, UT. (801) 795-2236. Theodore B. Hodoba, Red Crane Books, Santa Fe, www.greatbasinnatives.com. Catalog online. New Mexico, 1995.

High Country Gardens, Santa Fe, NM. (800) 925-9387. Native Plant Society of New Mexico, http://npsnm.unm.edu. www.highcountrygardens.com. Catalog free. Native Plants for Southwestern Landscapes by Judy Mielke, Plants of the Southwest, Santa Fe, NM. (505) 438-8888. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas, 1993. www.plantsofthesouthwest.com. Catalog $3.50. Nevada Native Plant Society, Western Native Seed, Coaldale, CO. (719) 942-3935. http://heritage.nv.gov/nnps.htm. www.westernnativeseed.com. Catalog free.

with the yellow-flowering desert olive parian plant that combines well with The Sonoran is both the hottest and (Forestiera pubescens), which attracts birds desert willow. Grasses such as bush muhly wettest of America’s deserts, which ac- with its blue-black berries. Flameleaf and alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) counts for its rich diversity of flora and sumac (Rhus lanceolata) sports white provide cover and nesting sites. Attract fauna. One of its most striking plants is summer flowers and flaming fall leaf hummingbirds with Penstemon superbus, the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea), color followed by showy red fruits. All red-flowered hedgehog cactus, and ocotil- which is now federally protected. Saguaro three trees are suitable for small gardens. lo (Fouquieria splendens). fruit is one of the few summer food Four-wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) sources in the desert and is eaten by hu- is a deciduous shrub whose seeds attract SONORAN DESERT REGION mans and wildlife. Each fruit produces as Gambel’s quail; the seeds of indigo broom Occupying southwestern Arizona and a many as 2,000 seeds; one plant produces (Psorothamnus scoparius) attract quail and corner of southeastern California, the as many as 40 million seeds in its lifetime. doves. Fruiting plants for wildlife include Sonoran Desert is so rich in plant and an- Whitewing doves, bats, and insects drink pale wolfberry (Lycium pallidum), com- imal life that a portion of it—the Organ the saguaro’s flower nectar, and its trunk mon hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), and Pipe Cactus National Monument—has provides nesting sites for owls, Gila wood- yellow-flowered Engelmann prickly pear been designated a World Biosphere Re- peckers, gilded flickers, and cactus wrens. (Opuntia engelmannii var. engelmannii). serve. The large cities of Palm Springs, These cacti grow slowly, reaching only Birds love the seeds of blanketflower Phoenix, and Tucson are located in this re- three feet tall after 30 years, but they are (Gaillardia pulchella) and prickly poppy gion, and Tucson offers especially fine ex- available from nurseries in various sizes. (Argemone pleiacantha); the latter is a ri- amples of native desert landscaping. A great small tree for Sonoran gardens, velvet mesquite is a leguminous soil nitro- gen fixer, as is the shrubby catclaw acacia, a superlative nesting and food source for birds. Surround these with red wolfberry (Lycium berlandieri), spiny hackberry (Celtis ehrenbergiana), and beavertail prickly pear (Opuntia basilaris )—fruiting plants that attract hosts of birds and small

O mammals. Colorful chiltepin peppers (Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum) are favored by mockingbirds, thrashers, cardi- nals, pyrrhuloxias, and house finches. 

Joanne Turner Wolfe is a contributing edi- tor for The American Gardener. This is the final installment in Wolfe’s 12-part re- gional habitat gardening series, which de- Flowers provide seasonal color to the desert garden. Gaillardia pulchella, above left, and Opuntiaa buted in the January/February 2005 issue of

LEFT: JESSIE M. HARRIS. RIGHT: DAVID CAVAGNAR basilaris, above right, produce abundant yellow-and-red and dark pink blooms, respectively. this magazine.

November / December 2006 45 4 mas Tree Association.Tappin di such as fruitless olives (Oleasuch asfruitless euro known todowell inthecit B wh residents canbu coor San Francisco neig pro th th d year, accor t t Live trees are atreasure S HOLIDAY TREESGETNEWLIFEIN native tocut trees helpin of theEnvironment an down trees, let’s planttrees.” the holida Thanks toaninnovativenew ion hem soldintheUnited States eac 6 AN FRAN eman ris g e Ur e “Dreaming o Horticultural NewsandResearch ImportanttoAmericanGardeners Starting inDecem “We’re tryin m shift,”saysAmberBie ic g b d ram, which the American Gardene f h ane or many, wit inator wi b g d tofundstreet tree plantin an Forest , t C y ll b I h s, aboveleft,and,later,beautif d SCO inc ox ox e San Francisco Department ing tot f or FUF. “Instea

( l S g Lop u TREET g tobrin d y f ives residents analter- ( f e avariety o containerized trees, aGreen C h FUF or t hb h h 25to30mi ostemon con e Nationa SC b or h er, San Francisc AP d ) d e h g

theFrien

h oo h E aboutapara- h ave o y o p g d r l ’s man d l i ro , campai s. i d o g d h l g ays w intothis l f aunc a f ristmas p C ram, livin s cutting y ll ea) f tra ertus) p ion o h y d ecies mi rist- g h h a s o d i nd gn i e l i n h d o ” e - - f f , y g tesreso a Francisco,aboveri thestreetsofSan broadleafever c th h th g n planted inthecity’s mosttree-deficien s peop c ( E C vi environments. For more information n t o i g n bratin has only12percent.” FUF, whichiscele n PPA o raisenee on, t roclimates. Thetrees willbe RAZY F RAZY anopy, onavera ram resulted in100trees bein etting communitiesinvo f opes todoublethatnumber eig ess o ization t ac G s aGreen C g e Unite roug i A andcarin t h ARD hb s Bie www. year, t l ) es’ choosesaPerennial Plant oftheYear f g h or t h O its25thyear, isanonprofit or e trees wi h h R out t h g e importance o e importance omes, an d E oo h explains,“Most urbanareas in f C C u h States d at wor ATMINT f e Perennia h d e .net. g g ristmas” program wi d s. Lastyear’s inaugura h reen treeshel fortrees. The“Dreamin f e city. T u g n h ll d k e, butSan Francisc d att ave a21 s toreme

b s an e pic l P h e en l f d h ant Association trees inur create aware l is year, FU ve p k p d bri d E e . d dy ercent tre o d elivere inp B g upan f g planted t t OO hten u h h g ll l ht. e sea at

l pro h ant- d b K g e t by a lp a F n d o o p g e - - - - - t , “As a Y view 3 to8an able. It fl loveBees andbutterflies thiscatmint’ blooms fade in small, dark blueflowers onupri g es ta this cultivar actually h W wh the plant,butratherto var name does notrefer tothehei sa wh durable selectionthat Pl ease o needs, multi b c ‘ Walker’s Low’catmintmakesastrikin reen ear, visit omb ase eig owers, y a hile various sources listaran l s PPA Executive Director Steven Still. C ‘Walker’s Low’ hasaromatic silver ere, an n ic ate sprin d ll t h ontrary topopu ontrary h

i l an o ona p f t anyw nat an itwas f propagation. T f revious Perennial Plants ofth g o t b rows inUSDAHardiness Zone d d l i h d d iage an on w ut sca 36inc w e AHSHeat Zones 8 to1.T successisusua d Y ww.perennia apta , g d p p itwillrebloom insummer h ea . I eer e i le seasonsofinterest, an ere d th ‘Moonsh r i pl iscovere f b h cut d s f ant itiscertain i es wi f in pro Ne l rom 10to 22inc ity, d g l p g b rows upto36inch t ar et rows almostevery- h ac d l d h ow maintenanc e 2007Perennia a l uces c e. d b e p p k ll i ‘ e l int ne’ yarrow. a Walker’s Low’. y guarantee ant.org. l ie l ant unpa f ter t f , t g h l g usters o arden i e 1 h ht stem l y aver h e cu g e 97 g ht o e o f h l irs 0s d l at es ti , n d o y ” e e g s s s - - - - t f f f . , . l

LEFT AND CENTER: COURTESY OF FRIENDS OF THE URBAN FOREST (2). TOP RIGHT: COURTESY OF PERENNIAL PLANT ASSOCIATION FROM AUSTRALIA WITH LOVE: A portion of the sales will go to Na- THE WOLLEMI PINE tional Geographic’s mission programs American gardeners now can own a piece and Wollemi Pine International Pty. of prehistory in the form of the WOLLE- Ltd., whose mission is to “conserve the MII™ pine tree (Wollemia nobilis). This rare Wollemi Pine for future generations and conifer belongs to a plant family thought to raise awareness of conservation inter- to be extinct for the last two million years, nationally.” For more information, visit until living trees were rediscovered near www.wollemipine.com. Sydney, Australia, in 1994. This holiday season, National Geographic has part- BOOZING UP YOUR BULBS nered with Floragem®—a brand-market- For those thinking of growing paper- ing company comprised of greenhouse white narcissus (Narcissus tazetta) bulbs growers and marketing professionals—to this winter, you might want to break out offer a limited number of these trees for the hard liquor. Recent research from sale (see “Gifts for Gardeners,” page 52). In Cornell University’s Flower Bulb Re- the spring of 2007, the trees also will be search Program revealed that one way to available at select garden centers around solve the common problem of paper- the country. whites growing too tall and flopping over A relative of the Norfolk Island pine is to grow them with a little alcohol. (Araucaria heterophylla), the Wollemi pine Plant your paperwhite bulbs as usual tree grows up to 65 feet tall and prefers full in a bowl of gravel or other stones and sun. It has pendulous, dark green foliage add plain water. After the bulbs have and its distinctive bark has been likened to sprouted roots and about one or two bubbling chocolate. It grows in USDA inches of shoots, pour off the water. Hardiness Zones 7 to 11 and AHS Heat Then mix one part 40 percent distilled Zones 11 to 1, but can be grown indoors as spirits such as gin, vodka, whisky, or rum OURTESY OF JAMIE PLAZA

C a houseplant as well. A Wollemi pine growing in the Australian wild. with about seven parts of water to make

herry Lake Tree CFarm is pleased to announce its corporate partnership with the American Horticultural Society and is committed to helping fulfill the AHS mission by promoting the importance of large trees in the landscape.

November / December 2006 47 4 T you will co g w as w use itwhenever you needto a a should bemixed with 10 Bu l rant aspaperw 8 f co h ith flowers thatare ater Paul EckeRanch marketed 19AASaward-winnin t siderable spaceforAAStrialsatTheGardensBall.Addi- This pastAugust,All-AmericaSelections(AAS),anon-profi Anna BallandDav PLACESintheNEWS PEOPLE and fr h ive percent a h the other on the The i lb William Miller en a onally, PanAmer o o ig h m All-Am the American Gardene l AA Researc o . He cautionst h l l p eve dd —t wi ercenta S g p alsoawardedDav et is a shorter plant—uptohal et isashorter t l. lants’ hei ll h h a g at won’t require support is so rou l e h so wor r Program, sayst l g ica co p e ofalcoholinthewaterusedto force h l ution toyour s, fromlefttori ites , h

director oftheFlower g Se o i ht. Inthis h i d LemonRece k j l can i at “as wit so ust aslar l n Enc strongly supportsAASbyallocatingcon Amon industry inanexceptionalmanner. ment ofhorticultureorthegardensee p lion ofHonor.AAS ticultural Com A moting newseedvarieties,presented organization dedicatedtotestingandpro g , ectio rown wit nn erson whocontributestotheadvance b l ut one ution. Ru a S p

eed, ad Ball n arts ofwater.arts g i s r i n p herman d Lemo g h i hoto tas, b , presidentandCEOofBallHor e andfra

h p p h g u h at w art o art offth ht, containtwo, four,andsix g umans lb out a i varietiesinthelast15 g bb ve To i s an C ra p v n al b i an h in p f s , ut it ap at h, thefour i if l- d g on o e y y - f , p orn , withits2006Medal achievements,Bal g Honors ives thisawardto“ l ant i f a d f i t S AILING ASPENS ch r c d p a, w Ball,hasbredo n declinefordecades,under remuloi rom grazing,competitionwit an n o tan oses,” soitisim a rou h p d anges. g b o

erw d e toavoid undesired physiolo d p g i l ree iseases. But t th the so ots onthefarleft containonl ht, andotherfactorssuchaspests s o h d d l ites cana f ution int p es) er att qua a p i erwhites hasamarkedeffect 2006 y n western states ears. k in he p p d ” a g l r - - - - - t h l ercent alcohol ortant tokee ortant so su h aspentrees ey seemto e f it hasbecomethesecondmostvisitedpublicgardeninth a northernsuburbofChicago,openedin1972.Sincethen, b U b t “exemplifies thehigheststandardsofhorticulturalprac- m G T C 1982, andhasservedonnumerousAAScommittees. p g p B Award forGardenExcellence, our tosix ices” andiscommittedto“supportingdemonstrating eraniums, andsweetpeashassetnewstandardsforthese ff erior otan est gardeningpractices.”The385-acregarden,locatedin hicago BotanicGardenReceivesExcellenceAwar he ChicagoBotanicGarden(CBG)receivedthe2006 lants. LemonwasalsopresidentofAASfrom1981t ardens Association(APGA)andsponsoredby reeders’ n agazine. Thisannualawardgoestoapublicgardentha er a i ted i l p c co h lant varieties.In h S h g p ave ta coni h tates, anden ave arden p . (Po your al- C o y p ressure water; u l ercent over p p b g f u

k ical een ers, f l or h e i u n thenat n - s i s l exactly iscausin Written s pro mana 30 o M d th t con Restoration” todiscuss theproblem. Th s s s placin year ortwo,an mature trees are dyingquickly, within h main trun s t i t t A l h a turn p “The decline “The eaving ng a ion pro he ‘die-off’ ofwholeclones.” he ‘die-off’ he USDAForest Rock Service earch are needed,”sa earchers convene ystems are endin ain Researc ity if itiona ave beendyin l as scientistsconcerne rizona toAlberta j ains Da roug ountain Researc o et Th A p bl y f “We f i erence i articular, hisworkwithmari s thelar spens regenerate t on. b me ach f ems an g or “Restoring t is h out f g ement to h g ll or t e to it.Thisindicatesthattheroot j l p out t up new clonalshootswhenth upnew b y, “int ects thatare planned orunderwa arge swat h g y Assistant E y Assistant ast Se l k iven b f ave twot e Bartos, aspeneco h or t f p

d ocuse d e worseinrecent years. Trees d namesinas i h ying, h evements , ies to g whichwe have been talk- e Intermountain West. A Station inLogan,Uta p h est membersh g h g d tem offatanacceleratedrate e past30to35years, an g y e near b ether tobetterdefineth d new s new d theroot death. d theAmericanPubli ac iscuss w h h b onavariet , atUtah State Univer es o Canada. Station wi b h ut noone’s sure w k er, more t d y in . T itor Viveka Neveln s Bartos d f h f g f h i rom t uture, t beca

h p n breed s e West: Aspe d oots are notre en researc e recent h g ea Horticulture at oin d u y k trees h ip . l h o se affecte ll ogist wit g in eir roots h an 100re-

y on,”ex- o f i g e Roc d Moun- restora n g et 25t f d s o olds g an h ie-o su- f d an rom f re h e c o y  k t , d h at ff n h d d d o y y a e e e - - - - - . . , ,

TOP: COURTESY OF BALL HORTICULTURAL COMPANY. BOTTOM: COURTESY OF WILLIAM B. MILLER

50 b Managing Your LoadwithWheelbarrowsandGarden Carts un l move a era size, num faces u g T ONE WHEELS: i s wh Consider how eas h thinkaboutwhat den cart, wh l materia A d h t t wh n possi over th t an i ( w t suit s ficult tocontrol an are e t willholduptorou tself. Abe ength ofthehandles.Some and carts i p oo h ion o o wo simplemachinescombined: arden canbeabitblurry, carts butin esigne y ificant share oftheloa ar au k mon h heel (ortwo)anda aces where you willneedit,andhow well e a g an d d RitaPelcza l e ee While allwheelbarrows are andcarts Positioning aloaddirectly over th W W et e wa ee d d ether, thesecomponentsprovid w astan certain gar certain l f d q ing an b dl er to ar the American Gardene bl g p lb erstoo h l h h istinction ual. Some tasks— stylessuit certain h i ax reater distancesthanotherwis ecific tasksorneeds. f g l er itcanmaneuver t es) w p e, sincet ee arrows o en se lazy. “But,” hesaid,“it’s thelazypeoplewhoinvented thewheelandbicycle becausetheydidn’ O ee

ity to transport ity totransport l f f d themostobvious differences are: l o u on whichyou are likelytotravel, orwar oa lk to transport totransport lb l lb ll BEL PEA d f b e o l t

i d su arrows an er, an d l arrows in f d h oa h l orb t. ,

ecting aw over w d e TWO ff ose l pp i g d, d b d gh itsapp ers t h ff b orcarryin , t e eners—

, orts itw orts h d e w er a etween w d andtoofarbackit’s f u tenin , y ow sta h u typeo or r h ORFOU cket hol itisfor l e h ave asin crum ist crum h dd d g e h l b ee oa C gar h use. at f uc l b itiona g h ar more weig oa l d. b bl p assumesasi l d h E PRIZE est com an ee k ications int etter t f k air oflever i ismore d d w e itisont h l et; an R lb in e atrest. A d en carts ar en carts s, nota ee y d gl s theloa h arrow orgar ou toliftand l d g contro h lb

r h ee f y e w o t e w eatures t h roug ou willbe arrows an d l an ot h f ; size an b sty terrain h ina- in h d ll ee h ee i

ht l h g- e sur- f l e an g l d l; l w a e e e e h oa s - - an g t l s.” It pro ers. en- h inner andformerPolish president LechWalesa onceadmittedtobein he d at h d d d d s - . e gar e J rows are andcarts inflatable,andkeepin cross a the advanta w un ity. T l barrows, likeJee g er tofull cient use eitherpieceofequipment more effi t recart t stable; it’s lesslikelytotipover, even i gar an is aplankofwoodtospanthedistanc am trave eep’s wheelbarrowfeaturesflat-r y h l h arden usuallyhave two. carts Some wheel i heels—similar toawa m em proper h e d d d T Ty d p ave twow i b some l en. nate theneedtoper er t en cart, ont en cart, le, ifyou need toford acreek or oa h l l h a p y. “Most over narrow very spaces.For ex- e w q ey are space bl ica d d uires wider h itc RE GARAGE GREEN isuneven y y wasn’t e ll h inflatetheirtires sothe C b h y, t y, ee b g a wit l e ofmaneuverability: itcan h e y in l lb ance. T d h ee h p arrow’s sing e tires o . Some carts h l omeowners never ’s “dualie” models,actual fl s provi h your ate e ot d l p l

y on f athways d air i d h od h wi g l istri d e mu f oa er l g on. i

y c ing a cally b a ll d ot h ena f b , a l an l ose to ter t h e w ute l . dd ti-w ll i w h d nflate them. i bl you nee b t , ismor ave e d h h e you t d i h . But ee ee h res that g sta y b et e w ee l lb f en ot

h ou h b l ar- e er h- i as l- d d d o h g a e e r - - - f , ee l carry upto350pounds. carry can s consider afoldin o e e T t e v p b v m wh d U BEDS ORBUCKETS l co you p your main load,volume isim ’s invention t oads suchasfirewood orsoil. o he Low from LeeValle RiderCart asil asy r esting vegeta as. They vary inca as. Theyvary ot acity isamore si urable butheavy, orru n t ools lowers directly totheground for sua g a f ll t, co ic d If T onomically desi h ectin native totheinflatabletire—a sturd Jeep marketin carrie particu up wit l o t w C Do fl fl y h b e o vo l h ot o your storagespaceisatapremium h icu lly between rows thanwidebedcarts. oa ver rou e at at ri l e ra ire-s arts, arearts, mounte is an to e so l T ll constructe f -fr ll d ower l a l ume an l apsi f g ar h i ing an yCar h t k gh d l b ee

f p e tires o uminum, woo as h l e l h t ,” saysCurt Feic tire t eaves an y easytomaneuver u oked wheels,whichare h l d aw f ter, e strainouto bl b ar g au d b rig bl o g ut strong canvas h terrain,andtheytake e t ac eve l r lif forJeep Wheelbarrows es, sma ™ d y w l b h b d roc g isparticu k h h e h ee e weig cart. Most cart. of thesehave an g d l an d d t into e. at isguarantee at savvy ope f nificant issue.For har- s or lb g o h s: t d somecarts k p d ned toreduce strain en s an

d acity withres arrow t f g Vermont Gar ll stee d h s h rass c b gg er d apractica e Low Ri t. I h uc h d on d ou ed polyethylene, b f h eavy , ny soi l

l k f uc h , w e ar

p ets cana k ld l l au h b eaves wi ippin h l ortant, butif ortant, g k , l l y at wo ers an , weig h uc on, orcan- ets eavy- d ar l ic h b ing l , irector o oa

k an uc d h d l f ph d i et. It is er Cart it more isver p l g k eners d a to k d bbl h ect to s t h l d d e t s ar i so et o y eavy l ll p t ca- ll can d uty ter h

f ar- or es e he be b b or at g n y y y a e e e t - f f , , . ,

RITA PELCZAR WORLD’S #1 TOP Sources PLANTP SUPPLYS Y DR® Power Equipment, Vergennes, VT. (800) 687-6575. www.drpower.com. #1 EXTRA LIFE Jeep Wheelbarrows, Port Chester, NY. (914) 934-9833. www.jeepwheelbarrows.com. Greatest Guarantee-Offer PROOF Ever 65YEARS, $5,000. GUARANTEED to be Worldunchallenge Cd, HAMPION Lee Valley Tools, Ltd., Ogdensburg, NY. (800) 871-8158. www.leevalley.com. #1 Activator, #1 Trans/ #1 Extra #1 REVIVER, PLANTER, GROWER, WORLD’S FAIR SCIENCE-MEDAL-WINNING #1 Perfecter VI TMs The Original Wheelbarrow Screener, Rome, OH. www.originalwheelbarrow 50 IN screener.com. ONE VITAMINS-HORMONES USED BY U.S. –– FERTILIZER G UARANTEED Departments of –– PESTICIDE –– POLLUTING BioUSABLES As Advertised in Plow & Hearth, Inc., Madison, VA. (800) 494-7544. www.plowhearth.com. AGRICULTURE, ARMY, NON TM Better Homes & Gardens NAVY, AIR. Etc. TO ADD TO FERTILIZING for growing Landscape Architecture ALSO BY STATES, Horticulture CITIES, COUNTIES, DOUBLE MONEY-BACK UNIVERSITIES RECOMMENDED TOP VALUE BY EXPERTS OF TV, RADIO, BOOKS, EXTREME Concentration Rittenhouse, Inc., St. Catharines, ON, Canada, (877) 488-1914. MAGAZINES, Drop-A-CuppTMT or CONFERENCES Dozens Drop-A-G-GGaalTM OF THE www.rittenhouse.ca. WORLD’S SCIENCE & INDUSTRY ONLY GOLD MEDAL WORLD’S FAIR 1940 scsciiencce Yardiac, Greenville, SC. (864) 288-1661. www.yardiac.com. ADD to any fertilizingTM • 50 INSSTAANT BioUSABLES NORMMAAL PURE COMPLEXESOxygen • From Caarbon-Hydrogen- ral organic crystals MIRACLES natur ing while plants from wait • Save them INNE EACACHCCH tryinng to make ike” it. • Uniquuee. Nothing–– is “l DROPROPOPP! O BBELIEVE nts SEE TO ER, FAS TER pla HEALTHIER,LTTHI FAS OP ield cally powered and self-propelled, BEAUTY and CROP yieldADDED TO 21 FERTILIZERS by 21 Growers YOU CAN it is equipped with a rechargeable ORDER PINT, QUART, 12-volt battery. GALLON, Billions–PROVEN The Wheelbarrow Screener or DRUM B A L A N C E D ORIGINAL ADDED TO 18 FERTILIZERSFERTILIZERS,FERT , by by 18 GGrowers from Yardiac is a handy device. Constructed of steel mesh sur- rounded by a heavy-duty plastic frame, it fits atop most wheelbar-

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November / December 2006 51 GIFTS FORC THE GARDENER

No matter what the season or for what reason, the following items make perfect gifts for the gardeners in your life.

AHS Encyclopedia of Perennials Hot off the presses, this new encyclopedia from the AHS, developed in partnership with DK Publishing, contains thousands of close-up plant portraits and AeroGarden detailed horticultural information for more than 6,000 individual species and cultivars of perenni- Satisfy winter cravings for fresh herbs and salad greens with this als—including the newest introductions. Available attrac tive and easy-t o-use coun tert op hyd h droponi cs syst em. E ach to AHS members for $25 at www.ahs.orgg; retail unit comes with starter plant plugs and an instruction manual. price is $40. $149.95 in black or white at www.theaerogarden.com.

Teacup & Saucer Planter Add a dash of childhood fancy to your garden or home with this terracotta planter that comes with a drainage hole and glazed saucer. From Garden Artisans for $16.95. (410) 721-6185. www.gardenartisans.com.

52 the American Gardener Soapstone Pot Maker This mold allows you to make your own recycled newspaper seedling pots that biodegrade when planted directly into soil. A great children’s gift as well. A Gardener’s Supply Company exclusive for $9.99. (800) 427-3363. www.gardeners.com.

Wollemi Pine Perfect for someone who likes unusual plants with intriguing stories. Believed to be extinct for millions of years, this “fossil” tree was rediscovered in Australia in 1994 and is now available ® ™ to home gardeners in North America for the first time. Ten-inch Leatherman Hybridy plants for $99.95 via the shop at www.nationalgeographic.com Gardening Pruners or by calling (800) 437-5521. Get nine practical garden tools in one with this handy new light- weight product from Leather- man®. Stainless steel tool set—which includes pruners, a saw, and vari- ous screwdriver heads— with nylon sheath for $75. (503) 253-7826. www.leatherman.com.

Freeplay™ Eyemax AM/FM Radio This solar- or hand-crank-powered radio combined with a flashlight provides earth-friendly gardening enjoyment and comes in handy during power outages. AC adapter includ- ed. Retail price is $49.99 from U.S. distributor at www.ordertree.com/freeplay or (866) 697-7529.

Products profiled are chosen based on qualities such as innovative design, horticultural utility, and environmental responsibility; they have not been tested by the American Horticultural Society. Listed prices are subject to change. Send new product information to New Products, The American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308, or e-mail to [email protected]..

November / December 2006 53 BOOKC REVIEWS

Recommendations for Your Gardening Library

The Welcoming Garden: Teaming With Microbes: Designing Your Own Front Garden A Gardener’s Guide to the Soil Food Web Gordon Hayward. Gibbs Smith, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2006. 144 pages. Jeff Lowenfels and Wayne Lewis. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, Publisher’s price, hardcover: $29.95. 2006. 196 pages. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $24.95.

“THE NEW AMERICAN garden,” writes author Gordon Hay- A BREAKTHROUGH book both for the field of organic gar- ward, “is about walking among our plants, not walking past dening and for its authors, Teaming with Microbes takes the em- them.” This statement captures the spirit of his new book on pirically based, common sense approach that has characterized front gardens, The Welcoming Garden. good gardeners since time immemorial Hayward is in favor of surrounding and provides a solid scientific back- the house with a garden, of living in- ground for their practices. side a garden instead of adjacent to it. The authors start with a basic but solid In this spirit, he has created a practi- discussion of the microbial life of the soil— cal and inspiring guide to re-thinking the real organic material of organic gar- the front yard. dening—that is a marvel of clarity. There Although this is not entirely a rip- is just enough nomenclature to make the out-your-lawn book—many of the gar- relationships between each group of soil dens pictured in the book have retained dwelling organisms clear, without getting some lawn—it certainly comes at a bogged down in the taxonomic detail— time when many Americans are rethinking the value of their and controversy—that burdens some specialist texts. lawns. As lots get smaller and water restrictions become a way of They then discuss the effect of chemical fertilizers and pesti- life in many parts of the country, people are looking for alterna- cides on the microbial community, and how methods and mate- tives to lawns. A front garden can provide shade, act as a wildlife rials that work with, rather than overrule, that community help habitat, and encourage a connection with neighbors. As Hayward to create a garden and landscape that is not only healthier, but also explains, there’s a front garden to meet every need. requires less maintenance. These are not new ideas; they have been He encourages gardeners to develop an overall style, a plan to around longer, in fact, than the high-tech alternatives prevalent guide the development of the garden. Consider sight lines for mo- over the last 50 to 100 years, but Lowenfels and Lewis do a great torists and pedestrians. Think about whether you’d like to sit in service by putting the time-tested truisms of organic gardening your front garden. Decide how the garden will relate to the archi- into a form that ought to be convincing to even the most beaker- tectural style of the house. To help with these decisions, he offers wielding and lab coat-clad skeptic. color photographs and encourages readers to interpret those pho- The practical solutions they offer for gardens that have been tographs in ways that might apply to their situation. ruled by the now debunked chemical paradigm are simple: com- Fortunately, this is not a book that showcases sprawling post and compost tea. The passion one man may feel about wines, mansions and gardens designed on an unlimited budget. Hay- Lewis and Lowenfels clearly feel about compost tea. They go into ward deals very effectively with the reality of ordinary front gar- great detail about how to make and apply both tea and compost. dens, devoting a chapter to driveways and garages, another to The book includes a short “seasonal task list” chapter as well deciding how much lawn to keep, and another to planting in as an appendix that lists 19 “Soil Food Web Gardening Rules,” sidewalk strips and around mailboxes. which, while useful, is not as coherent or well-organized as the My favorite part of the book was a section at the end in rest of the book. A resource list and index are also provided, and which he describes a front garden that runs the entire length of plenty of sharp color photographs back up the book’s jargon- the block, extending across the front yard of every home on the free (but still Latin-rich) text. street. This shared garden reflects the kind of community spir- All in all, Teaming With Microbes is a book well worth own- it that is possible when neighbors come together, and it shows ing and reading. No comprehensive horticultural library should just how welcoming a front garden can be. be without it. —Amy Stewart —Shepherd Ogden

Amy Stewart is the author of Flower Confidential: The Good, the Shepherd Ogden is director of Heritage Organics in Doylestown, Bad, and the Beautiful in the Business of Flowers. Pennsylvania, and a former associate editor of this magazine.

54 the American Gardener Gardening with Heirloom Seeds: Tried-and-True Flowers, o’clocks, ‘Countess Cadogan’ sweet peas, and ‘Cinderella’s Car- Fruits, and Vegetables for a New Generation riage’ pumpkins. Lynn Coulter. The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North When I was a kid, I loved the towering hollyhocks in my Carolina, 2006. 328 pages. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $34.95. grandma’s Iowa garden that reached eight or nine feet in bloom. Thanks to this book, now I know they were an heirloom strain, THIS PLEASANT BOOK leads us cheerfully and invitingly ‘Outhouse Hollyhocks’, which was often used to shield outdoor through the seasons, sowing and growing heirloom plants. Lynn privies from view. And now I know that the ‘Oxheart’ carrots on Coulter’s light, informative style makes this book good reading our cheese-and-veggie sandwiches from the co-op at college— for both new gardeners and those one huge, thin, sweet slice per sandwich—were heirlooms as well. already smitten with seed sowing Of more practical interest are seed-sowing and seed-saving and heirlooms. Although written tips, brief yet adequate cultural instructions for growing the from a southeastern gardener’s plants, and a list of commercial sources for the seeds. viewpoint, nearly all the informa- My only complaint about the book is minor: The title im- tion applies even in my cold garden plies that the book covers fruits as well as flowers and veggies, in northern Michigan. Attractive and although technically tomatoes and pumpkins are fruit, I color photographs, historic catalog was a bit disappointed to find no mention of berries, stone illustrations, and seed packet covers fruits, and so on. Most of the plants that produce these types of illustrate the text, while wide mar- fruit, of course, will not come true from seed, so the problem gins encourage note-taking by the lies not with the book, but with the title. gardener. Gardening with Heirloom Seeds is delightful to peruse with Accounts of annual flowers and vegetables—alphabetized by morning coffee, with evening tea, or anytime the gardener needs common names—form the backbone of the text, supplement- a break from daily cares. Whether you read it straight though or ed by a few classic perennials such as pinks and columbines. I in bits and pieces, you’ll find it informative and diverting.  was pleased to find some of my favorites listed, such as ‘Em- —Nancy McDonald peror William’ cornflowers, edible-pod radishes, and ‘Black Prince’ snapdragons, and excited to read about other heirlooms Freelance writer Nancy McDonald gardens with her husband, dog, I have not yet tried. Next year I shall sow ‘Yellow Twilight’ four and horse in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

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November / December 2006 55 GARCD OOKS

American Gardens for the Public

UBLIC GARDENS serve as places of beauty, inspira- cultural grandeur it is today. Published in honor of Longwood’s tion, research, learning, and conservation. Many have centennial, the 124-page book describes how the garden took P unique and fascinating histories, and have become a shape under du Pont’s owner- highly valued part of our horticultural heritage. These gar- ship as he built fantastic foun- dens often sponsored expeditions to bring back new plants tains, a grand conservatory, and freely borrowed design ideas from other parts of the and many other features that world, but the end result, as the following recently published are still part of the garden. The books will attest, is something uniquely American. book then explains how, after While many of the first botanical gardens in Europe initial- du Pont’s death in 1954, Long- ly focused on the collection and study of medicinal plants, the wood transitioned from a pri- “most significant contribu- vate estate into a public display tion made by Americans to garden that has welcomed mil- the concept of botanical gar- lions of visitors over the years. dens is that they have be- Color and black-and-white photographs of the garden and the come, above all, educational people who influenced its development round out the text. institutions,” according to A Paradise in the City: Cleveland Botanical Garden by The New York Botanical Diana Tittle (Orange Frazer Press, 2005, $39.95) tells the story Garden (Abrams, 2006, $50). of a public garden in Ohio Edited by NYBG’s President that began as a civic project in and CEO Gregory Long and 1930 to preserve a small col- New York Public Library Ed- lection of gardening books itor Anne Skillion, this book takes the reader on a tantalizing and horticultural references. tour of one of the world’s leading botanical gardens through The book leads off with a well-written text and stunning photographs. Sections on the brief history that includes a plant collections, research collections, and educational pro- handful of black-and-white grams describe this 250-acre garden’s many resources and con- photographs depicting the tributions to botany and horticulture. garden’s origins as the Garden Center of Greater Cleveland. The Beginning in the 18th century, botany became an increasing- rest of the book’s pages are filled with lively descriptions and in- ly popular “field of inquiry,” explains author Carol Grove in teresting tidbits about the garden, along with color photographs Henry Shaw’s Victorian Landscapes: by Ian Adams and Jennie Jones that showcase the beautiful The Missouri Botanical Garden and urban haven the Cleveland Botanical Garden has become. Tower Grove Park (University of Mass- Bayou Bend Gardens: A Southern Oasis (Scala Publishers, achusetts Press, 2005, $39.35). English- 2006, $45) is also about a public garden with its origins in the born businessman Henry Shaw caught early part of the 20th century. the botanizing bug, resulting in another “Bayou Bend represents an out- one of America’s prominent public gar- standing example of the neo-ante- dens, the Missouri Botanical Garden in bellum garden of the ‘Southern St. Louis, which he founded in 1859, and Garden Renaissance’,” writes author later, nearby Tower Grove Park. Pub- David B. Warren, “and an extraor- lished in association with the Library of dinarily well-preserved example of American Landscape History, the book takes a fascinating his- American gardening that accompa- torical look at the establishment of these two landscapes and their nied the final stage of the Country development over the ensuing years. House Movement.” Warren infuses Another business tycoon, Pierre du Pont, also gave America his account of the gardens’ history a premier public garden, described in Longwood Gardens: 100 with an intimate familiarity you might expect from his 38-year Years of Garden Splendor (Longwood Gardens, 2006, career at Bayou Bend, which included serving as the director. $19.99). In this volume, Longwood’s historian, Colvin Randall, Modern and historical photographs also help to bring this gar- chronicles the garden’s development from its origins as Quak- den in Houston, Texas, to life.  er farmland in Pennsylvania to the 1,050-acre display of horti- —Viveka Neveln, Assistant Editor

56 the American Gardener REGIONALC HAPPENINGS

Horticultural Events from Around the Country

NORTHEAST SOUTH CENTRAL CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT Events sponsored by or including official AR, KS, LA, MO, MS, OK, TX RAP participation by AHS or AHS staff members RAP THROUGH JAN. 7. Buried Treasures: are identified with the AHS symbol. NOV. 25. Fall Wildflower Walk. The Nature and Art of Bulbs. Exhibition. Crosby Arboretum, Mississippi State New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, New University Extension Service. Picayune, York. (718) 817-8700. www.nybg.org. Events hosted by botanical gardens and Mississippi. (601) 799-2311. arboreta that participate in AHS’s Reciprocal www.msstate.edu/dept/crec/camain. RAP DEC. 2. Seasonal Spices. Admissions Program are identified with the Workshop. Wave Hill. Bronx, New York. RAP symbol. Current AHS members showing a DEC. 6. Poinsettia Open House. Oklahoma (718) 549-3200. www.wavehill.org. valid membership card are eligible for free or State University Research Greenhouses. discounted admission to the garden or other Stillwater, Oklahoma. (405) 744-7361. DEC. 4. 50 Great Native Plants for the benefits. Special events may not be included; www.okhort.org. Northeast. Lecture. New England Wildflower contact the host site for details or visit Society and Conway School of Landscape ww.ahs.org/events/reciprocal_events.htm. Looking ahead Design. Conway, Massachusetts. JAN. 5 & 6. Horticulture Industries Show. (508) 877-7630. www.newfs.org. Holiday Inn City Center. Fort Smith, Arkansas. (405) 744-6460. Looking ahead Looking ahead www.okhort.org. FEB. 6–8. New England Grows! Conference JAN. 4 & 5. Mid-States Horticultural Expo. and exposition. Boston, Massachusetts. Louisville, Kentucky. (502) 848-0055. SOUTHWEST (508) 653-3009. www.NEGrows.org. www.knla.org or www.sna.org/midstates. AZ, NM, CO, UT

JAN. 19–21. Southern Gardening Symposium. RAP NOV. 27. Gardeners’ Ecology. Class. MID-ATLANTIC Callaway Gardens. Pine Mountain, Georgia. Denver Botanic Gardens. Denver, Colorado. PA, NJ, VA, MD, DE, WV, DC (800) 225-5292. www.callawaygardens.com. (720) 865-3500. www.botanicgardens.org. THROUGH NOV. 25. Chrysanthemum Display. Brookside Gardens. Silver Spring, Maryland. JAN. 20. Garden Gurus IX. Purchase Area Mas- RAP DEC. 2. Principles of Pruning. Class. (301) 962-1451. www.mc-mncppc.org/ ter Gardeners. Symposium. Paducah, Ken- Denver Botanic Gardens. Denver, Colorado. parks/brookside/xperience_intro.shtm. tucky. (270) 554-9520. www.pamga.org. (720) 865-3500. www.botanicgardens.org.

RAP NOV. 19. South Jersey Orchid Society RAP JAN. 20 & 21. Camellia Show. Harry P. Looking ahead Auction. Wenonah, Pennsylvania. Leu Gardens. Orlando, Florida. (407) 246- AHS JAN. 12–14. Maricopa County Home & (856) 482-2713. www.pennsylvania 2620. www.leugardens.org. Garden Show. Phoenix, Arizona. (602) 485- horticulturalsociety.org. 1691. www.maricopacountyhomeshows.com. NORTH CENTRAL RAP DEC. 22–31. Bonsai Winter Silhou- RAP JAN. 20. Vegetable Gardening Through IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI ettes. Exhibit. U.S. National Arboretum. the Seasons. Desert Botanical Garden. Washington, D.C. (202) 245-2726. THROUGH APRIL 1. Gregor Mendel: Planting Phoenix, Arizona. (480) 941-1225. www.usna.usda.gov. the Seeds of Genetics. Exhibit. The Field Museum. Chicago, Illinois. (312) 922- WEST COAST Looking ahead 9410. www.fieldmuseum.org. CA, NV, HI RAP JAN. 24. Invasive Plants Workshop. U.S. National Arboretum. Washington, D.C. RAP DEC. 10. Gardens by Candlelight. Fel- DEC. 11. Tray Gardens and Cookie Exchange. (202) 245-2726. www.usna.usda.gov. lows Riverside Gardens. Youngstown, Ohio. San Diego Horticultural Society. Del Mar (330)740-7116. www.millcreekmetroparks. Fairgrounds, San Diego, California. com/riversidegarden.htm. (760) 295-7089. www.sdhortsoc.org. SOUTHEAST AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN RAP THROUGH JAN. 6. Carnivorous Plants. DEC. 13. Urban Garden Talks: Winter RAP THROUGH MAY. Beauties and Beasts: Exhibit. Bolz Conservatory, Olbrich Botani- Pruning. Urban Garden at Walt Disney Tropical Exhibition. Naples Botanical Gar- cal Gardens. Madison, Wisconsin. (608) Concert Hall. Los Angeles, California. den. Naples, Florida. (239) 643.7275. 246-4550. www.olbrich.org. (213) 972-3688. www.musiccenter.org. www.naplesgarden.org. Looking ahead Looking ahead RAP DEC. 5. Plant Selection and Planting JAN. 17–19. Mid-America Horticultural Trade AHS JAN. 5–7. South Bay Spring Home and Procedures. Presentation. Daniel Stowe Show. Lakeside Center at McCormick Place. Garden Show. Santa Clara Convention Cen- Botanical Garden. Belmont, North Carolina. Chicago, Illinois. (847) 526-2010. ter. Santa Clara, California. (800) 321- (704) 825-4490. www.dsbg.org. www.midam.org. 1213. www.southbayhomeshow.com.

November / December 2006 57 5 sympos California. (415)661-1316. R Show J Look www.tacomahomeandgardenshow.com. Washin Ga A www.otsusa.com. J Looking ahea www.sfbotanicalgarden.org. S RAP www.descansogardens.org. Fl Show. RAP 82 Universit Garden SanctuariesintheCity AN. AN. 19–21 8 tryb i H i dge ntr r 4-4 de S Men’ 16. 13 prize-winningcolorphotostake 2 i i i n the American Gardene PHOTO BY JAMES TRACY FROM 2006 GARDENER’S CALENDAR . fi ng Arboretum. n d 120 J g JAN. 26. C Descanso Gardens.LaCañad J eld, Wash g 00 g AN. i AN. C ahea S um lark CountyExhibitionHall. e, The Gardenersof Americ ton. (253)756-2121. y on h ofGuel b . . o C 3 . C 13 if www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum. w. y 1–FEB. 4. al 7 “ Horticulture er Worksho lark CountyHome&Garden AK, ID,MT, d d

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November / December 2006 59 2006C INDEX

AUTHOR Garden d Month,” M h ” M M/A/A, 57. 57 “H“Hardy d River FFarm,” ” J/FJ/F, 55; M/AM/A, 55; M/JM/J, Youth Programs Internship,” Plant Study Weekend.” M/A, 59. 5. “On the Road with AHS,” J/A, M/A, 11. “Patriotic Tree Planted Armitage, Allan M. “Fall’s Bounty “Inspired Garden Art,” M/J, 22. 5; S/O, 5; N/D, 5. at River Farm,” S/O, 8. “Produce of Native Asters,” S/O, 16. “Exploring Specialty Fruit in Ken- Wetherbee, Kris. “Dangerously from River Farm Aids Area Food Askey, Linda. “Texas’s First Lady tucky,” M/J, 58. “From the Gar- Pretty,” N/D, 36. “Getting a Grip Bank,” S/O, 9. “TGOA/MGCA Na- of Herbs,” M/A, 34. den to the Table,” S/O, 56. “New on Weeds,” J/F, 24. “Growing a tional Convention,” M/A, 10. Baxter, Pamela. “D. Landreth Children’s Garden at Missouri Truly ‘Green’ Lawn,” S/O, 23. “Transitions in AHS’s Board,” Seed Co.” J/F, 30. Botanical Gardens,” M/J, 14. Wingate, Marty. “Uncommon J/A, 7. “River Farm’s Meadow Burrell, C. Colston. “High Impact “Paul Ecke Jr. Flower and Garden Hedges,” J/A, 16. Grows,” J/A, 12. “Susie Usrey is Foliage,” M/J, 36. Show,” M/J, 60. “Regional Gar- Wolfe, Joanne Turner. Habitat Gar- New AHS Board Chair,” J/A, 14. Clattenburg, William. “Gulf Coast dening,” M/J, 56. “Susie Usrey is dening series: “Southern Coastal “Washington Blooms! And His- and Florida Gardens Begin Re- New AHS Board Chair,” J/A, 14. Plains and Forests,” J/F, 44. “The toric Garden Week in Virginia,” covery,” J/F, 12. “sLowlife” at Miller, Carol Bishop. “Evergreen Southern Prairies and Plains,” M/A, 9. “Western Edition of Pub- the United States Botanic Gar- Shrubs,” M/J, 26. M/A, 46. “The Eastern Deciduous lic Gardens Book,” M/J, 10; den,” J/F, 57. Neveln, Viveka. “Gardening in Forest, “ M/J, 42. “The Mountain “YourOutDoors is Newest AHS Cooper, Thomas C. “An Apprecia- Small Spaces,” J/A, 56. “Gar- West,” J/A, 42. “The Mid-Atlantic Corporate Partner,” N/D, 9. tion, Christopher Lloyd,” M/J, 50. dening with Edible Plants,” M/A, Region,” S/O. 46. “The South- AHS Awards: “AHS 2006 Great Cox, Jeff. “Climbing and Ram- 56. “Plant References,” J/F, 52. western Deserts,” N/D, 44. American Gardeners National bling Roses,” M/J, 16. “Public Gardens,” N/D, 56. Award Winners,” M/A, 12. “2006 DeWitt, Linda. “Nature’s Patterns: SUBJECT Ogden, Shephard. “Creating a AHS Book Award Winners,” M/A, The Photography of Amy Lamb,” Kitchen Garden,” M/A, 38. AHS: “2006 AHS Gala,” N/D, 6. 16. “AHS Awards Ceremony at S/O, 28. One on One With… Ottesen, Carole. “Plant Frenzy,” “AHS Co-sponsors Williamsburg River Farm,” J/A, 12. “Growing series: “Bill Radler,” M/J, 44. J/F, 35. “The Allure of the Symposium,” M/A, 11. “AHS Good Kids Book Awards for “Nona Koivula,” J/F, 42. Meadow Garden,” M/J, 31. Helps Local School Create Out- 2006,” S/O, 7. “Whitney Cranshaw,” M/A, 44. Pelczar, Rita. “A Gift of Gar- door Learning Space,” S/O, 10. Angel’s Trumpets: “Angel’s Trum- Fromme, Tres. Gardening by dens,” J/F, 20. Green Garage “AHS Partners with Green Roof pets and Thornapples,” N/D, 26. Design Series: “Go Forth Series: “The Essential Garden Group,” M/A, 8. “AHS Receives Asters: “Fall’s Bounty of Native and Garden,” J/F, 40. Hose,” J/A 52. “Managing Your Grant for Master Plan,” M/A, 8. Asters,” S/O, 16. Hamill, Natalia. “Statuesque Load with Wheelbarrows and “AHS Corporate Partner Smart Book Reviews: American Green, Silphiums,” J/A, 22. Garden Carts,” N/D, 50. “Pick- Gardening TV,” J/F, 8. “All’s Well M/J, 55. Armitage’s Native Plants Hays, Betsy. “The Organic Table ing the Right Rake,” S/O, 52. at River Farm,” N/D, 10. “Ameri- for American Gardens, J/A, 54. Comes of Age,” S/O, 38. “Sci- “Small Hand Tools,” M/A, 48. ca in Bloom’s 2006 Award Win- The Audubon Society Guide to At- ence and Nature Harmonize in “Sun Protection for Gardeners,” ners,” N/D, 15. “APGA Confer- tracting Birds, S/O, 54. Begonias, the Bronx,” J/A, 59. M/J, 52. “Welcome to the Green ence Coming to Nation’s M/A, 54. Bird-by-Bird Gardening, Hinkley, Daniel J. “Spicebush’s Garage®‚” J/F, 54. Capital,” N/D, 9. “Changes to S/O, 54. The Complete House- Exotic Siblings,” J/A, 37. Reich, Lee. “The Merits of Drip AHS Board,” N/D, 6; “Chapel plant Survival Manual, J/F, 50. Howard, Doreen C. “From Back- Irrigation,” J/A, 32. Valley Partners with AHS,” M/A, Cultivating Words: The Guide to yard to Big Time,” N/D, 16. Robbins, Heather. “2006 Youth 10. A Colorful Garden School,” Writing about the Plants and Gar- “The Gardener Transplanted,” Garden Symposium,” S/O, 12. J/A, 9. “Dahlia Demonstration at dens You Love, M/J, 55. Garden- M/A, 24. One on One With… “America In Bloom’s 2006 River Farm,” J/F, 10. “Dr. Day at ing with Heirloom Seeds, N/D, series: “Tony Avent,” J/A, 44. Award Winners,” N/D, 15. AHS,” J/F, 9. “Dr. Cathey Day 55. Gardens by Design, M/J, 54. “Lorrie Otto,” S/O, 44. “Ros- “Celebrate Kitchen Gardens in Celebration,” S/O, 10. “Friends Gardens in the Spirit of Place, alind Creasy,” N/D, 42. August,” J/A, 58. “Fashion in of River Farm Family Picnic,” J/F, 51. Gardenwalks in Califor- Jenkins, Tom. “Rocky Mountain Bloom 2006,” N/D, 12. J/A, 13. “Friends of River Farm nia, M/A, 55. Hellebores, S/O, Haiku,” N/D, 22. “National Garden Opens in Plant Sale,” M/A, 9. “Garden 52. Last Child in the Woods, J/F, Johnson, Brian. “Conservation Washington, D.C.,” S/O, 48. Club Photo Competition,” J/A, 50. Montrose: Life in a Garden, Begins at Home,” S/O, 43. “New Hardy Palm Collection 10. “Gardeners Go Native At Riv- J/A, 55.The Naming of Names, Johnson, Kathryn Lund. “Things in Texas,” N/D, 58. er Farm,” M/J, 9. “Garden Essay J/A, 54. The New Garden Par- That Go ‘Blink’ in the Night,” Rogers, Ray. “Growing for Show,” Contest Open,” M/J, 10. “A Gift adise: Great Private Gardens of J/A, 46. N/D, 32. of Gardens,” J/F, 20. “Holiday the World, M/A, 55. Outside the Joyce, Alicia. “New Museum in Small, Virginia. “Making the Most Tree Ornaments Wanted,” S/O, Not So Big House, M/A, 54. P. San Francisco Boasts Extensive of a Small Space,” J/A, 26. 10. “Hurricane-Hit Gardens in Allen Smith’s Colors for the Gar- Grounds and Gardens,” J/F, 58. Sternberg, Guy. “10 Tough Native AHS Reciprocal Admissions Pro- den, M/J, 54. Planting Design:, “Renovated Getty Villa Re- Trees,” S/O, 32. gram,” J/F, 10. “In Memoriam M/J, 54. Sunset Western Land- opens,” S/O, 60. Sternberg, Ilene. “New Plants for Peg Dunnigan,” S/O, 8. “Katy scaping Book, S/O, 55. Tabletop Lee, Rand B. “Angel’s Trumpets & 2006,” J/F, 14. Moss Warner to Retire,” M/J, 8. Gardens, J/A, 56. Teaming With Thornapples,” N/D, 29. “Heav- Thomas, Pamela. “Native Bulbs,” “Makeover for Fairytale Garden,” Microbes, N/D, 54. Tempting enly Jacob’s Ladders,” M/A, 29. M/A, 18. N/D, 8. “New AHS Perennials Tropicals, J/F, 51. The Truth McIntyre, Linda. “April is National Warner, Katy Moss. “Notes from Encyclopedia,” S/O, 8. “New About Garden Remedies, S/O, 55.

60 the American Gardener The Welcoming Garden, N/D, 54. Show,” M/J, 8. “Growing for dictions,” M/J, 46. “Preserving “Fall’s Bounty of Native Asters,” Books for Gardeners (short reviews Show,” N/D, 32. Plant Diseases,” J/F, 47. “Rain S/O, 16. “Native Bulbs,” M/A, 18. by theme): “American Public Gar- Foliage: “High Impact Foliage,” Gardens Storm Kansas City,” M/J, “Spicebush’s Exotic Siblings,” dens,” N/D, 56. “From Garden to M/J, 36. 48. “Record-Breaking Bird J/A, 37. “Statuesque Silphiums,” Table,” S/O, 56. “Gardening in Garden Design: “The Allure of the Count,” M/J, 49. “Researchers J/A, 22. Small Spaces,” J/A, 56. “Garden- Meadow Garden,” M/J, 31. “Cre- Study Wind Protection,” J/A, 50. New Plant Introductions: “From ing with Edible Plants,” M/A, 56. ating a Kitchen Garden,” M/A, “Rice Creek Gardens Relocates,” Backyard to Big Time,” N/D, 16. “Plant References,” J/F, 52. “Re- 38. “Go Forth and Garden,” J/F, S/O, 50. “Roslyn Nursery Clos- “New Plants for 2006,” J/F, 14. gional Gardening,” M/J, 56. 40. “Making the Most of A Small es,” S/O, 50. “Rules Change Aids Notes From River Farm: See under Bonsai: “Rocky Mountain Haiku,” Space,” J/A, 26. “Rocky Moun- Seed Exchanges,” J/A, 48. “The Warner in author index. N/D, 22. tain Haiku,” N/D, 22. Scoop on Scuppernongs,” S/O, Organic Gardening: “Growing a Botanical Gardens and Arboreta: Garden Art: “Nature’s Patterns: 50. “Scott Arboretum Honors Truly ‘Green’ Lawn,” S/O, 23. “New Children’s Garden at Mis- the Photography of Amy Lamb,” Richard Bir,” M/A, 50. “Seeds in “The Organic Table Comes of souri Botanical Gardens,” M/J, S/O, 28. “Inspired Garden Art,” a Jiffy,” J/F, 47. “Spotlight on Age,” S/O, 38. 14. “Gulf Coast and Florida Gar- M/J, 22. Endangered Gardens,” S/O, 49. One on One With: See under DeWitt dens Begin Recovery,” J/F, 12. Gardener’s Notebook: “2006 All- “Vail Medal Awarded to New in author index. See under “Longwood Celebrates its Centen- America Selections,” J/F, 46. York’s Green Space Champion,” Howard in author index. nial,” J/F, 48. “National Garden “2006 Award-Winning Plants,” S/O, 50. “Wild American Chest- On The Road with AHS: See under Opens in Washington, D.C.,” S/O, M/A, 48. “Ailing Aspens,” N/D, nuts Discovered,” S/O, 48. “The Warner in author index. 48. “Norfolk Botanical Garden 48. “Anna Ball & David Lemon Wollemi Pine,” N/D, 47. “Work- Perennials: “Fall’s Bounty of Na- Recognized as Historic Site,” M/A, Receive Awards,” N/D, 48. man Publishing Acquires Timber tive Asters,” S/O, 16. “High Im- 51. “Science and Nature Harmo- “Boozing Up Your Bulbs,” N/D, Press,” J/A, 50. pact Foliage,” M/J, 36. “Stat- nize in the Bronx,” J/A, 59. 47. “Branding Native Plants,” Green Garage®: “AHS Green uesque Silphiums,” J/A, 22. “sLowlife at the United States M/A, 50. “British Plantsman Garage® at the 2006 Philadel- People: Avent, Tony, J/A, 44. Botanic Garden,” J/F, 57. “New Christopher Lloyd Dies,” M/A, 50. phia Flower Show,” J/F, 8. Cathey, Dr. H. Marc: “Dr. Cathey Hardy Palm Collection in Texas,” “Chicago Botanic Garden Re- “Green Garage® a Hit at Day Celebration,” S/O, 10; “Dr. H. N/D, 58. ceives Award,” N/D, 48. “Choos- Philadelphia Flower Show,” M/J, Marc Cathey Day at AHS,” J/F, 9. Brugmansia: See under Angel’s ing the Best Boxwoods,” J/F, 48. 8. “Green Garage® Goes West,” Cranshaw, Whitney, M/A, 44. Trumpets. “Crazy for Catmint,” N/D, 46. S/O, 8. Green Garagee® series: Creasy, Rosalind, N/D, 42. Haupt, Bulbs: “Native Bulbs,” M/A, 18. “Dry Climate Research Facility “The Essential Garden Hose,” Enid Annenberg, J/F, 20. Hill, Children’s Gardening: “2006 Opens,” J/A, 51. “Ecoscaping for J/A, 52. “Managing Your Load Madalene, M/A, 34. Kataoka, Youth Garden Symposium,” S/O, Everyone,” M/A, 50. “Endan- with Wheelbarrows and Garden Bob, N/D, 22. Koivula, Nona, J/F, 12. “New Children’s Garden at gered Plant at Center of Develop- Carts,” N/D, 50. “Picking the 42. Lamb, Amy, S/O, 28. Lloyd, Missouri Botanical Gardens,” ment Controversy,” S/O, 51. Right Rake,” S/O, 52. “Small Christopher, M/J, 50. Otto, Lorrie, M/J, 14. “AHS Helps Local “Garden Crusader Awards,” J/F, Hand Tools,” M/A, 52. “Sun S/O, 44. Radler, Bill, M/J, 44. School Create Outdoor Learning 46. “Garden Groups Partner on Protection,” M/J, 52. “Welcome Usrey, Susie, J/A, 14. Space,” S/O, 10. National Plant Database,” M/A, to the Green Garage®‚” J/F, 54. Pests: “Moth Imperils Native Conservation: “Conservation 48. “Good Gardens Enhance The Growing Connection: “AHS Cactus,” J/A, 48. “Pest Predic- Begins at Home,” S/O, 43. Property Values,” M/A, 49. “Help Helps Local School Create Out- tions,” M/J, 46. D. Landreth Seed Co.: “D. Landreth Monitor the Effects of Climate door Learning Space,” S/O, 10. Photography, Garden: “Nature’s Seed Co.,” J/F, 30. Change,” J/F, 46. “Heronswood’s “Produce from River Farm Aids Patterns: The Photography of Datura: See under Angel’s Nursery Site Closed,” J/A, 50. Area Food Bank,” S/O, 9. Amy Lamb,” S/O, 28. Trumpets. “Holiday Trees Get New Life in Habitat Gardening: See under Wolfe Plant Sales: “Plant Frenzy,” J/F, Drip Irrigation: “The Merits of Drip San Francisco,” N/D, 46. “Hot in author index. 35. Irrigation,” J/A, 32. New Bulbs for Fall Planting,” Hedges: “Uncommon Hedges,” Poisonous Plants: “Dangerously Environment/Ecology: “Ecoscaping S/O, 48. “Hot Sundrops and Ele- J/A, 16. Pretty,” N/D, 36. for Everyone,” M/A, 50. “Getting a gant Evening Primroses,” M/J, Herbs: “Texas’s First Lady of Polemonium: See under Jacob’s Grip on Weeds,” J/F, 24. “Grow- 46. ”Maligned Mulch,” M/J, 46. Herbs,” M/A, 34. Ladders. ing a Truly ‘Green’ Lawn,” S/O, “Moth Imperils Native Cactus,” Heirloom Seeds: “D. Landreth Roses: “Climbing and Rambling 23. “Help Monitor the Effects of J/A, 48. “New Award for Green Seed Co.,” J/F, 30. Roses,” M/J, 16. Climate Change,” J/F, 46. See al- Space,” J/F, 49. “New Acronym Jacob’s Ladders: “Heavenly Jacob’s Shrubs: “Evergreen Shrubs,” M/J, so under Green Garagee® and for AABGA,” M/A, 50. “New Cali- Ladders,” M/A, 29. 26. “Spicebush’s Exotic Sib- Habitat Gardening series. fornia Center for Urban Horticul- Kitchen Gardens: “Creating a lings,” J/A, 37. “Uncommon Evergreens: “Evergreen Shrubs,” ture,” S/O, 50. “New Director for Kitchen Garden,” M/A, 38. Hedges,” J/A, 16. M/J, 26. Longwood Gardens,” M/J, 47. Lawn Care: “Growing a Truly Silphiums: “Statuesque Silphi- Fashion in Bloom: “Fashion in “New Executive Director for Cali- ‘Green’ Lawn,” S/O, 23. ums,” J/A, 22. Bloom 2006,” N/D, 12. “Fash- fornia Native Plant Society,” M/J, Lindera: “Spicebush’s Exotic Trees: “10 Tough Native Trees,” ion in Bloom at River Farm,” J/A, 47. “New Lilacs from National Siblings,” J/A, 37. S/O, 32. 7. “Fashion in Bloom This Fall,” Arboretum,” J/A, 50. “Norfolk Meadow Gardens: “The Allure of Vegetables: “Creating a Kitchen M/J, 9. “River Farm Celebrates Botanical Garden Recognized as the Meadow Garden,” M/J, 31. Garden,” M/A, 38. American Gardens During Fash- Historic Site,” M/A, 51. “Not Just Moving: “The Gardener Trans- Vines and Climbers: “Climbing and ion in Bloom,” S/O, 7. Another Pretty Plant (Beautyber- planted,” M/A, 24. Rambling Roses,” M/J, 16. Fireflies: “Things That Go ‘Blink’ ry),” M/J, 48. “Organic Food Re- Native Plants: See also Habitat Gar- Weeds: “Getting a Grip on in the Night,” J/A, 46. duces Pesticide Exposure in Chil- dening series. “10 Tough Native Weeds,” J/F, 24.  Flower Shows: “Green Garage® a dren,” J/F, 49. “Organic Goes Trees,” S/O, 32. “The Allure of Hit at Philadelphia Flower Academic,” J/A, 49. “Pest Pre- the Meadow Garden,” M/J, 31. Index compiled by Elaine Lee.

November / December 2006 61 PRONUNCIATIONS AND PLANTING ZONES

Most of the cultivated plants described in this issue are listed here with their pronunciations, USDA Plant Hardiness Zones and AHS Plant Heat Zones. These zones suggest a range of locations where temperatures are appropriate-both in winter and summer-for growing each plant. While the zones are a good place to start in determining plant adaptability in your region, factors such as exposure, moisture, snow cover, and humidity also play an important role in plant survival. The codes tend to be conservative; plants may grow outside the ranges indicated. A USDA zone rating of 0-D means that the plant is a true annual and completes its life cycle in a year or less. To purchase a two-by-three-foot glossy AHS Plant Heat Zone Map for $9.95, call (800) 777-7931 or visit WWvV.ahs.org.

A-C D. metel D. MET-el (10-11, 12-4) Physalis alkekengi FY-sal-iss al-keh-KENJ-eye Echinocereus coccineusvar. gurneyi eh-kee-no­ (3-9, 8-1) Acacia constricta uh-KAY-shuh SEER-ee-us kok-SIN-ee-us var. GURN-ee-eye Picea pungens PY-see-uh PUN-jenz (3-8, 8-1) kon-STRICK-tuh (USDA 9-13, AHS 12-10) (12-15, 12-10) Pinus flexilis PY-nus FLEKS-ih-lihs (3-7, 7-1) Acanthus mol/is uh-KAN-thus MOL-lis Eriogonum fasciculatum air-ee-OG-o-num P. ponderosa P. pon-deh-RO-suh (5-8, 8-5) (7-9, 10-7) fas-sik-yew-LAY-tum (8-10, 10-8) P. sylvestris P. sii-VES-triss (3-7, 7-1) Achillea millefolium ah-kih-LEE-uh Forestiera pubescens for-es-tee-AY-ruh P. thunbergii P. thun-BER-jee-eye (5-8, 8-5) mih-lih-FO-Iee-um (3-9, 9-1) pyew-BESS-enz (5-9, 9-5) Polemonium caeru/eum pahl-eh-MO-nee-um Araucaria heterophyl/a ah-raw-KAI R-ee-uh Fouquieria splendens foo-kee-A I R -ee-u h see-ROO-Iee-um (4-9, 9-1) het-ur-o-FIL-Iuh (9-11, 12-8) SPLEN-denz (7-11, 12-6) Populus tremuloides POP-yew-Ius trem-yew­ Argemone pleiacantha ar-JEM-o-nee Gaillardia aristata gay-LARD-ee-uh LOY-deez {1-7, 8-1) plee-uh-KAN-thuh (6-8, 9-5) ahr-iss-TAY-tuh (3-8, 8-1) Prosopis velutina pro-SO-piss vel-oo-TEEN-uh Atriplex canescens AT-rih-pleks kuh-NES-senz G. pulchella G. pui-KEL-uh (10-11, 12-1) (7-9, 10-7) (3-9, 9-4) Haworthia viscosa ha-WORTH-ee-uh Prostanthera rotundifolia pro-stan-THER-uh Brugmansia arborea brug-MAN-see-uh vis-KO-suh (12-15, 12-10) ro-tund-ih-FO-Iee-uh (11-15, 12-5) ar-BOR-ee-uh (10-13, 11-7) Hedera helix HED-er-uh HE-Iiks (5-11, 12-6) Psorothamnus scoparius saw-ro-THAM-nus B. aurea B. AW-ree-uh (11-15, 12-8) Larrea tridentata LAR-ree-uh try-den-TAY-tuh sko-PAR-ee-us (6-8, 9-6) B. sanguinea B. sang-GWIN-ee-uh {8-11' 12-8) Rhus lanceolata RUS lan-see-o-LAY-tuh (10-12, 11-7) Lophostemon confertus lo-FO-stee-mon (6-8, 9-7) B. suaveo/ens B. swa-vee-0-lenz (11-12, 11-7) kon-FUR-tus (10-11, 12-10) Ricinus communis rih-SY-nuss com-YEW-niss B. versicolor B. vur-SIK-uh-lur (11-15, 12-8) Lycium berlandieri ly-SEE-um bair-lan­ (0-0, 12-1) Capsicum annuum var. g/abriusculum DEER-eye (6-8, 9-7) KAP-sih-kum AN-yew-um var. glab-ree-us­ L. pallidum L. PAL-ih-dum (5-9, 9-6) S-Z KYEW-Ium (9-11, 12-4) Mammillaria prolifera mam-ih-LAIR-ee-uh Salvia dorrii SAL-vee-uh DOOR-ee-eye Carnegiea gigantea kar-NAY -gee-u h pro-LIHF-ur-uh (8-9, 9-8) (7-10, 10-7) jy-gan-TEE-uh (8-11,12-9) Mirabilisjalapa mih-RAB-ih-liss jah-LAP-uh Saponaria officina/is sap-on-AIR-ee-uh o-fiss-ih­ Celtis ehrenbergiana SEL-tiss air-en-bur-gee­ (9-11, 12-1) NAL-iss (3-9, 9-1) AN-uh (7-9, 11-7) Muhlenbergia porteri mew-len-BUR-jee-uh Solenostemon scutellarioides so-len-0-stee-mon C. occidentalis C. ahk-sih-den-TAL-iss PORT-ur-eye (5-10, 10-6) skoo-tuh-LAIR-ee-OY-deez (11-12, 12-1) (2-9, 9-1) Narcissus tazetta nar-SIS-sus tuh-ZET-uh Sporobo/us airoides spor-OB-o-lus air-OY-deez Chilopsis linearis ky-LOP-siss lih-nee-YAR-iss (3-9, 9-1) (4-10, 10-4) (8-9, 9-8) Nephrolepis exaltata neh-FRO-Iep-is eks-ai-TAY­ Symphoricarpos a/bus sim-fo-rih-KAR-poz Convallaria majalis kon-vai-LAI R-ree-uh tuh (13-15, 12-1) AL-bus (3-7, 7-1) muh-JAY-Iis (2-7, 7-1) Nerium oleander NEE-rih-um o-lee-AN-der Washingtonia filifera wash-ing-TOH-nee-uh Coreopsis rosea kor-ee-OP-sis ro-ZAY-uh (9-11' 12-1) fih-LIF-ur-uh (8-11, 12-8) (4-8, 8-1) Wollemia nobilis woi-LEEM-ee-uh NO-bil-is Comus alternifolia KOR-nus al-tur-nih-FO-Iee-uh 0-R (7-11, 11-1) (4-8, 8-1) Olea europaea 0-lee-uh yew-ro-PEE-uh Yucca brevifolia YUK-uh breh-vih-FO-Iee-uh D-N (8-10, 10-8) (9-15, 12-10) Opuntia basilaris o-PUN-shuh bas-ih-LAIR-iss Y. flaccida Y. FLAS-sih-duh (5-9, 9-5) Datura ceratocaula duh-TOOR-uh seh-rah-toh­ (5-10, 11-6) KAWL-uh (10-11, 11-4) 0. enge/manniivar. enge/mannii 0. en-gui-MAN­ 0. discolor D. DIS-kul-ur (0-0, 12-3) ee-eye var. en-gui-MAN-ee-eye (6-9, 10-7) 0. inoxia subsp. quinquecuspidata D. ih-NOK­ Penstemon superbus PEN-steh-mon see-uh subsp. kwin-kwuh-kusp-ih-DAY-tuh soo-PUR-bus (6-9, 9-6) (10-11, 12-4)

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