Vol. 69 No.5. News Edition A Publication of the American Horticultural Society May 1990 And the Winners Are...

ach year the American Horticultural Society honors those individuals whose E creativity and dedication have brought excellence to the gardening community. Those selected as horticulture's best and brightest for 1990 will receive their awards on June 22 at a banquet climaxing the Society's Annual Meeting in .

The Liberty Hyde Bailey Award Dr. Marion T. Hall's conviction that resources should be directed toward programs that benefit the public is just one reason he is receiving the Liberty Hyde Bailey Award this year at the American Horticultural Society's 45th Annual Meeting. The prestigious award-the highest honor the Society can bestow-recognizes someone who has achieved excellence in horticulture in at least three of the following areas: teaching, research, writing, exploration, administration, C1-rl, business, and leadership. For the past 2"4 years Hall has been director of the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois, where he has developed an outstanding plant collection. He has also strived to increase the knowledge of woody and environmental quality through research, and to interpret the research and the arboretum's collections through Marion T. Hall at Morton Arboretum's Arborfest Memorial Tree Planting. education. He was nominated by Everitt L. Miller, past president of AHS and former director of Longwood Gardens. "Dr. Hall's management In This Issue skills and knowledge in organizing and developing sound research programs, AHS's 1990 Awards 1 Board Members Nominated 15 along with the expansion of high Making a Difference 8 Gardener's Q&A ... 16 quality adult education programs, has made the Morton Arboretum an Seattle's Chinese Garden .10 Gardener's Bookshelf 18 outstanding institution," Miller said. Hall's academic and botanical career Regional Notes .12 Gardener's Dateline 20 began in 1942 with a stint as a A Peace Garden .13 Classifieds 22 seasonal ranger for the National Park . . . . . Service. After a two-year run as a pilot AHS Bulletin Board .14 A Mint's Self-Defense 24 in the U.S. Navy Air Corps, Hall returned to botany and the academic Butler received a bachelor's degree in American life, teaching in the botany departments botany from the University of Illinois ofthe University of Oklahoma, in 1940 and is a Master Gardener. He Horticultural Society University in St. Louis, the has been a member of the American University of Michigan, and Butler Rock Garden Society for 23 years, OFFICERS 1989·1990 Mrs. Carolyn Marsh Lindsay, President University in Indianapolis, Indiana. He serving as its president for four years Mr. John H. Whitworth Jr., spent six years as a botanist at the and receiving the organization's Award 1 st Vice President Cranbrook Institute of Science in of Merit in 1987. Mrs. John M. Maury, 2nd Vice President Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and four Additionally, Butler is a life member Mr. Richard C. Angino, Secretary years as director at the Stovall Museum of the Bellbrook (Ohio) Garden Club, Mr. Richard J. Hutton, Treasurer of Science and History in Norman, and has served on the boards of Mr. Everitt L. Miller, Oklahoma, where he continued research Dayton's Wegerzyn Garden Center and Immediate Past President on junipers, pines, and trillium. the Cox Arboretum Foundation, where In 1966 Hall became the third director of he is an honorary horticulturist. BOARD OF DIRECTORS the Morton Arboretum, 1,525 acres of ''Harry is endowed with the ability to Mr. Richard C. Angino, Harrisburg, PA Mr. George W. Ball Jr., West Chicago, IL forest, prairie, bouinical, and horticultural be creative and accomplished as a Dr. Sherran Blair, Columbus, OH collections that include nearly 50,000 gardener and the talent to relate his Mrs. Benjamin P. Bole Jr., Cleveland, OH types of plants. The arboretum is especial­ knowledge in talks, during walks in his Mr. J. Judson Brooks, Sewickley, PA ly known for its lilacs, rhododendrons, crab garden, and to reach many people with Dr. Henry M. Cathey, Washington, DC apples, and magnolias. his radio and TV shows through the Mr. Russell B. Clark, Boston, MA In a retrospective article in the years," Jean Verity Woodhull, an AHS Mrs. Erastus Corning II, Albany, NY Winter 1986 issue of The Morton Board Member and chairman of its Mrs. Ann Lyon Crammond, Atlanta, GA Arboretum Quarterly, arboretum awards committee, noted on her Mr. Edward N. Dane, Boston, MA historian Carol Doty credited Hall nomination form. His "fantastic ability to Mrs. Beverley White Dunn, Birmingham, AL with creating a non-authoritarian share his encyclopedic horticultural Mr. K. Albert Ebinger, Boxford, MA atmosphere at the arboretum, granting knowledge with others through the Mr. Richard J. Hutton, West Grove, PA his staff "extraordinary latitude to do magical worlds of television and radio Mr. Stephen F. Keating, Wayzata, MN their work and to pursue related has made gardening more enjoyable and Mr. David M. Lilly, St. Paul, MN projects of their own initiative. He productive for generations of listeners." Mrs. Carolyn Marsh Lindsay, Rochester, NY shuns the limelight and at times has Mrs. John M. Maury, Washington, DC quietly sacrificed some of his own The Catherine H. Sweeney Award Mr. Elvin McDonald, Brooklyn, NY projects in order to support worthwhile Mr. Everitt L. Miller, Kennett Square, PA programs proposed by his staff." Given each year to recognize extraordi­ Mrs. Jane Scarff, New Carlisle, OH nary and dedicated efforts in the field of Mrs. Urschel, Montecito, CA Hall has also continued his academic Mr. Andre Viette, Fishersville, VA pursuits: he is an adjunct professor of horticulture, this year's Catherine H. Mrs. Helen Fulcher Walutes, biology at the University of Illinois' Sweeney Award goes to Eulalie Mount Vernon, VA Chicago Circle campus and at Northern Wagner for her superb gardens at Mr. John H. Whitworth Jr., New York, NY Illinois University in DeKalb, and a "Lakewold" in Tacoma, Washington. Mrs. Jean Verity Woodhull, Dayton, OH horticulture professor at the University Lakewold had been maintained as of Illinois' Urbana campus. Wagner's private residence-though EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR generously shared with interested Mr. Frank L. Robinson The G. B. Gunlogson Award gardeners-but Wagner recently opened the gardens to the public and has For 20 years Harry Butler was the organized a foundation that will conserve AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST voice of gardening on WHIO-TV in the garden for future generations. EDITOR: Kathleen Fisher Dayton, Ohio. His weekly garden The garden boasts a magnificent ASSISTANT EDITORS: program, "Urban & Suburban," which rhododendron collection, a clematis­ Peggy Lytton, Mary Beth Wiesner he also produced, attempted to expand covered gazebo, a perennial garden, a EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Martha Palermo the horticultural horizons of gardeners luxuriant rock garden with a waterfall, MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: on everything from trees to ferns. and a charming herb garden. According Kathleen B. Amberger to Betty Miller, a former AHS Board ADVERTISING: American Horticultural Society Advertising Department, 80 South Early Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22304. Phone (703) 823-6966.

Address all editorial correspondence to: The Editor, American Horticulturist, American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308. AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST, ISSN 0096-4417. is published by the American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, (703) 768-5700. and is issued six times a year as a magazine and six times a year as a news edition. The American Horticultural Society is a nonprofit organization devoted to excellence in horticulture. Botanical nomencla­ ture in AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is based on HORTUS THIRD. National membership dues are $35; two years are $60. Foreign dues are $45. $12 of dues are designated for AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. Copyright © 1989 by the American Horticultural Society. Second·class postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send Form 3579 to AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308. Harry Butler Eulalie Wagner Georgia Vance

2 .. American Horticulturist • May 1990 Paul G. Hawken Laina and Egon Molbak J. C. Raulston Steven R. Lorton

Member and charter member of AHS's National Council of State Garden Conservation International, and the President's Council, Wagner's "vigor, Clubs, and she has contributed articles Garden Conservancy. imagination, and creativity seem un­ to two Brooklyn Botanic Garden abated as she has added one feature after handbooks: Dried Flower Designs and Commercial Award (Institution) another (to the garden). Every feature is Designing with Flowers. memorable, and the whole property Born and raised in Denmark, where he reflects Mrs. Wagner's love ofhorticul­ Commercial Award (Individual) received an education in floriculture, ture, artistic vision, keen sense of color Egon Molbak became one of the first values, and her dedication to the highest "Paul Hawken has organized the exchange interns of the American­ standards of horticultural excellence." finest mail-order and retail store for Scandinavian Foundation. Eight years Wagner hasn't limited her talents to gardeners in our country- highest later, in 1956, Molbak and his wife her own garden. She is a past president quality, best selection, most beautiful Laina began operating their own of the Tacoma Garden Club and past catalog, all guaranteed," according to business with just 3V2 acres and five national vice president ofthe Garden the nominating committee. small greenhouses in Woodinville, Club of America. She has served on the With Dave Smith, Paul G. Hawken Washington. Today it occupies 50 acres national board of the Garden Club of founded Smith & Hawken, Inc., a catalog and includes a production facility and America for nine years. Lakewold is and retail company that has specialized two highly regarded garden centers. among the gardens that will be toured in garden and horticultural products Diversity is a key to the success of at the AHS Annual Meeting. since 1979. Now its chairman and CEO, Molbak's Greenhouse and Nursery. he is awarded the Individual Commercial The production greenhouses support The Frances Jones Poetker Award Award for a commitm~nt to excellence in over 1,000 varieties of indoor foliage commercial horticulture that contributes plants, over 750 varieties of summer Georgia Vanee's love of flowers began to better gardening practices. annuals, 75 varieties of herbs, and early, instilled by her mother and The idea for the popular garden catalog dozens of indoor flowering plants, grandmother. For nearly 25 years her began in 1972 as Hawken was inspecting along with perennials and vegetables. elegant dried flower arrangements have a Texas crop for a natural foods business Molbak's two 55,000-square-foot green­ decorated the U.S. Department of State's that he then owned and noticed a pile of houses are state-of-the-art: computers magnificent Diplomatic Reception Rooms broken tools in the back of the farmer's control the climate and water, venting, in Washington, D.C., and have graced pickup truck. A couple of years later heating, and shading. For environmental historic homes in Virginia, embassies in while touring British gardens Hawken control the greenhouses are divided into Washington, and the Garden Club of had a chance to try some finely made eight climatic zones. Indoor and outdoor America headquarters in New York. It is English tools and was convinced there sensors measure humidity, light;-wind fitting that she should receive the was a market for such quality equipment speed, wind direction, rain, and tempera­ Frances Jones Poetker Award, given for in the United States. ture. Areas are watered by a combina­ a significant contribution to the Hawken's success hasn't been limited tion of drip irrigation and capillary mats; appreciation of creative floral designs. to his gardening business. He has fertilizer is injected into the watering Vance, a Hood College graduate who written four books-Growing a Business, system as needed. lived for a while in Europe, has taken The Next Economy, Seven Tomorrows: The Woodinville garden center boasts her flower preservation and Toward a Voluntary History, and The a tropical conservatory and year-round arrangement methods on the road, Magic ofFindhorn - which have been display gardens. The center holds free, lecturing to garden clubs, symposia, published in 12 countries. He also public seminars once or twice a month and flower festivals. She also conducts created a 17 -part PBS series based on and complimentary gardening and workshops at Short Glade Farm, the Growing a Business, Which featured 16 plant information sheets offer tips and property she purchased in 1973 in the successful entrepreneurial businesses. practical growing advice. The Seattle Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Her He has written business articles for a garden center, located downtown in the workshops stress good craftsmanship wide range of publications. , caters to the urban and the mechanics of creating beautiful Hawken's expertise is also lent to non­ dweller and downtown businesses and and long-lasting arrangements. She profit organizations- he is currently on provides bulk supplies for the farmers has written a book, The Decorative Art the board of directors of 10 organizations who frequent the market. of Dried Flower Arrangement, which including Chalone Vineyard, Trust for The company is a generous supporter won the Helen S. Hull Award of the Public Land, National Audubon Society, of nonprofit horticultural endeavors,

American Horticulturist • May 1990 • 3 an art for some people, a religion for some-for some it is both. It has been an enormous pleasure to spend nearly two decades knowing the personalities and reporting the work of people who create gardens with artistic passion and religious zeal."

Local Horticulture Award (Individual) From her own spectacular garden (featured in the April issue of American Horticulturist) to her extensive civic activities, Elisabeth Carey Miller is one of the Northwest's most prominent Elisabeth Carey Miller J. Judson Brooks John Nash Ott horticulturists. She has won 17 garden­ ing awards including ARS's prestigious donating plants and services or offering sentiment echoed by this year's awards Liberty Hyde Bailey award in 1988. discounts to local garden clubs, schools, committee. "J. C. is the most enthusias­ Among her significant horticultural PTA groups, charitable organizations, tic plantsman; he grows thousands of projects are: raising $40,000 in private government agencies, and senior plants and gives them away by the funds for the horticultural development citizen and youth groups. truckload! He wants everyone to know of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, and grow new plants." which connects Lake Washington with Horticultural Communication Award Puget Sound; serving as horticultural Horticultural Writing Award advisor for Operation Triangle, which J. C. Raulston has driven over 35,000 involved the planting of traffic islands miles to bring horticulture courses to After completing a bachelor's degree in throughout Seattle; founding the landscape and nursery industry profes­ communication from Otterbein College Washington State Roadside Council, sionals throughout North Carolina and in Westerville, Ohio, and a master's which created legislation to control the has distributed more than 45,000 plants degree in journalism from the use of billboards; expanding and of over 250 taxa to growers in his classes University of Oregon in Eugene, supporting the Elisabeth C. Miller over the last decade. In his current Steven R. Lorton began a career as a Horticultural Library at the University position as director ofthe North Carolina garden writer for Sunset Magazine. of Washington; serving as horticultural State University Arboretum and profes­ Twenty years later as Sunset's consultant for and a sor in its ornamental horticulture depart­ Northwest editor, he continues to proposed Chinese classical garden, ment, Raulston each year supplies over inspire readers with "how-to-do-it" both part of the Seattle Parks 200,000 cuttings from the arboretum to stories and articles that push Department, and for Gerber Park, a the nursery trade. Raulston's cuttings gardeners into new and exciting areas. project with the Seattle Engineering come with extensive background on their "It's been a challenge to stay ahead of Department;.and initiating a long­ origins, culture, and commercial value in trends without being esoteric, always range national horticultural survey hopes of encouraging the use of different giving the readers ideas that they can project on environmentally tolerant and exciting plants in the landscape. In take action on immediately. I've hoped plants for the Garden Club of America. addition, Raulston conducts an average to lead readers to new and unusual Miller is or has been a member of of 50 public talks and presentations each experiences: finding the roses in the over 25 horticultural organizations year and over the past 30 years he has Rose City (Portland, Oregon), the including the Botanical Society of collected 65,000 horticulture slides and rediscovery of peonies, liriopes for South Africa, the New York Horticul­ 2,000 horticultural books that he uses to Northwest gardens, and a behind-the­ tural Society, the Garden Club of illustrate and research his gardening scenes look at the support systems that America Rare Plant Group, Garden messages. keep the gardens of Kyoto going." Conservation, Inc., and the American Raulston grew up on a small grains and Lorton's gardening involvement Horticultural Society. forage crops farm in Oklahoma and extends beyond Sunset's pages. He is The form nominating Miller observed: received a bachelor's degree from active in the Town and Country 4-H "Betty is one of the finest plantswomen Oklahoma State University and master's Club in Shelby County, Ohio, and has in the world and has spent her lifetime and doctoral degrees from the University been a member (now honorary) of sharing this knowledge." of Maryland. His training is diverse­ Seattle's Madison Park Garden Club Miller's garden, which has been floriculture, nursery, vegetable and fruit since 1957. He is also a member of the featured in three books-America's production, landscape design, post executive board ofthe Washington Great Private Gardens by Stanley harvest physiology, and herbicides--and Park Arboretum, the editorial board of Schulyer, The Shade Garden published his career has been just as varied. He has the Washington Park Arboretum by Time-Life Books, and An American worked in greenhouse production and as Bulletin, and the advisory board of Woman's Garden by Rosemary Verey­ a retail florist, a landscape designer, and Seattle Street Tree. is part of the garden tour scheduled for as a retail nursery salesman. He also He has lent his writing talents to the this year's Annual Meeting. spent two years with the U.S. Army Plant organizations above and to the Junior Sciences Laboratories. He has taught and League of Seattle, the Perennial Plant Meritorius Service Award researched in the fields of floriculture, Association, the Northwest Flower and ornamentals, and landscape design. Garden Show, and various educational This award is given to a member or Horticulture magazine has called institutions including both of his alma friend of the Society who has supported Raulston a "plant evangelist," a maters. He says, "I believe gardening is its goals, services, and activities.

4 • American Horticulturist • May 1990 J. Judson Brooks, a member of the Society's Board of Directors since 1975 "has certainly been a tower of strength National Achievement Award and a valued counsel on the Board of AIlS-and has stuck by us through thick Recognizing extraordinary achieve­ Delaware. The French gardens are and thin with generous contributions ments in national horticulture and among the finest in the country. and wise judgment," said Nancy Bole, a beautification of America, the 1990 Perhaps the most famous du Pont fellow AIlS Board Member. National Achievement Award will be horticultural creation is Longwood Brooks received bachelor's and law presented to the du Pont family. Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsyl­ degrees from Yale University and For nearly 200 years the du Pont vania, begun by Pierre du Pont in began his career at the A. M. Byers family has been involved in gardening. 1906. Longwood has been described manufacturing company. He spent two E. I. du Pont built Eleutherian Mills, the as the "ultimate garden treasure," years at the First National Bank of first du Pont home, in 1803. He and features over 350 acres and 20 Pittsburgh and in 1943 became a created a French Renaissance-style indoor gardens. The floral proces­ lieutenant (jg) in the U.S. Navy garden and a classica"y inspired sion includes magnolias, wisterias, Supply Corps stationed in the Solomon Italianate garden on the property and azaleas, roses, water lilies, orchids, Islands. After earning the rank of a gardening tradition was begun. and chrysanthemums. lieutenant commander Brooks left the According to Philip G. Correll, Beyond these striking gardening Navy and joined the trust department landscape curator at the Hagley achievements du Pont family at Pittsburgh National Bank. He was a Museum and Library in Wilmington, members have been actively involved vice president of the bank when he Delaware, "It is very fitting that the du with the Wilmington Garden Center, retired in 1965. Pont family should be considered for the Garden Club of America, and local Community service, conservation, an award recognizing its contributions conservation and preservation efforts. and preservation are important to to the field of horticulture. Few The award will be accepted by three Brooks-he is currently a member of American families have similar family members. Pamela Cunningham the boards of the Pittsburgh History histories of involvement. E. I. du Pont, Copeland is owner and designer of the and Landmarks Association, the who began this tradition and passed Mt. Cuba Center for the Study of YMCA of Sewickley Valley, Pennsyl­ the love of horticulture to subsequent Piedmont Flora, which features vania, and the Carnegie Museum of generations, was himself involved in wildflowers, native trees, and , Natural History. He spends his free horticultural exchanges and garden­ and is a winner of the Garden Club of time hybridizing rhododendrons and ing activities. He worked to save America's Achievement Award Medal has been a member of the American gardens established by the French and the Henry Francis du Pont Award Rhododendron Society and its Great government in Europe and distributed from Winterthur Museum. Julia du Lakes Council since 1961, serving as plants from Europe to America." Pont Andrews Bisse", a great-great­ director and president of the Great Generations of du Pont family grandaughter of both Victor and Lakes Council for 10 years and as a members have created spectacular El,euthere Irenee du Pont, specializes member ofthe national board. Brooks gardens, many of which (including . in native plants, camellias, and is also a trustee of Phipps Conser­ Eleutherian Mills) are open to the azaleas that she grows on her vatory in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, public. Winterthur Gardens, home of mother's estate in Aiken, South and a member of both the Garden Club Henry Francis du Pont, is nestled Carolina, and has won the Conserva­ of Allegheny County and the Little among mature woodlands and the tion Committee Certificate and the Garden Club of Sewickley, Pennsylvania. rolling hills of Winterthur, Delaware, Horticultural Award from the Garden in the Brandywine Valley. The Club of America. Wilhelmina du Pont Scientific Award garden covers 200 acres of woods Ross, who gardens in Delaware and in and meadows featuring native and the Adirondack Mountains in northern What began as a hobby in 1927 became exotic plants. Three hundred acres New York State, is a Longwood a life's work for John Nash Ott, who of gardens and natural woodlands Gardens trustee and a member of has been awarded this year's Scientific surround Nemours, the former home Longwood's Landscape and Visiting Award recognizing an individual who of Alfred I. du Pont in Wilmington, Committees. has enriched horticulture through research. According to awards commit­ tee chairman Jean Verity Woodhull, Ott's "research into time-lapse photog­ raphy has directly and immeasurably enhanced the quality of garden photog­ raphy, and therefore, has improved horticultural research, education, and communication efforts." Ott began his career as a banker but continued to pursue his high school hobby oftime-lap~ photography. When his efforts caught the attention of Walt Disney, he gave up his banker's hours for film making, which in turn led to his research with lights. Disney was looking for a time-lapse film of a pumpkin growing from seed to ripened fruit to use in the animated classic, "Cinderella." Julia Andrews Bissell Pamela C. Copeland Wilhelmina du Pont Ross While filming the sequence Ott

American Horticulturist · May 1990 + 5 Louise G. Smith Portland Garden Club clubhouse discovered that different colors of light Preservation have all benefitted from brought forth either all staminate or her expertise. She has received three all pistillate blooms. This led to further awards from the Garden Club of studies involving the full electromag­ America and was named Water netic spectrum and its influence on the Conservationist of the Year (19'74) and human immune system and human Conservationist of the Year (1975) by health and behavior. the Alabama Wildlife Federation. In 1948 Ott began a film-making com­ According to Floyd, Smith "is, in my pany, John Ott Pictures, Inc., followed in mind, an educator, preservationist, 1960 by John Ott Laboratories, Inc. In environmentalist, conservationist, and 1962 he founded and became president of the best practical and best-read the Time Lapse Research Foundation, horticulturist I have ever had the later renamed the Environmental pleasure of being associated with." Health and Light Research Institute. Ott's research on the effects of sunlight Urban Beautification (Institution) on plants, animals, and human life has revealed many health benefits of ultra­ Six months after the Portland (Oregon) violet light. Health experts have warned Garden Club was formed its members people of the harmful effects of ultra­ began their first project-insuring the per­ violet light (skin cancer, cataracts), but manency of Portland's Rose Test Gardens. Ott's findings show that a basic amount In 66 years their horticultural commitment ofUV light can reduce cholesterol, lower to the community has never diminished. high blood pressure, and can be used to The club's first gift to the city fulfilled treat those with cancer, AIDS, and the conditions of certification set by the degenerative arthritis. American Rose Society: members of the Ott's honors include horticultural club became rose society members and awards from the North Shore Horticul­ employed a curator for the test gardens. tural Society, the American Horticultural Since that first project the Portland Council, the Garden Club of America, Garden Club has supported projects o Please send me a free catalog. Men's Garden Clubs of America, and the throughout the city: a 19-acre wildflower o Please send me 100 Mammoth Garden Club of New Jersey. meadow at Macleay Park; the Duniway Darwin Hybrid Tulips for $19.95. Lilac Garden, which includes the lilac o Payment enclosed: ____ Urban Beautification (Individual) collection of B. O. Case; construction of a o Charge to: 0 Master Card 0 VISA glass house at the Rhododendron Test Acct. No.: ______John Alex Floyd Jr., marketing services Garden; plantings of Oregon natives Exp. Date: ______director for Southern Living magazine, around the state office building; and describes Louise G. ''Weesie'' Smith, plans for the Japanese Garden in Name: this year's Urban Beautification Washington Park. Mailing Addr~ss: ______(Individual) award winner, as ''the heart The garden club has provided financial of horticulture in the Mountain Brook support to numerous Portland organiza­ area of Binningham ." Smith, a devoted tions including Pittock Mansion, Oral Shipping Address: ______gardener and environmentalist, describes Hull Foundation Garden for the Blind, her garden as having "given way to Marquam Nature Preserve, the Rae Sell­ City: ______native wildflowers and shrubs rescued ing Berry Botanic Garden, Washington State: _____ Zip: _____ from the bulldozer as dams, freeways, Park Zoo, and Leach Botanical Park. The and shopping centers were built." club has also donated funds to the Phone Number: ______Smith was instrumental in organizing Nature Conservancy to preserve six the Nature Conservancy in Alabama. natural areas in the region. The club's VaJ1 €J1SdCJ1 lJ1c .. The Birmingham Botanical Gardens, projects attempt to protect native trees Stillbrook Farm Friends of Jemison Park, Alabama Wild­ and plants and encourage civic beauty. 313 Maple Street, Litchfield, CT 06759 flower Society, and Sipsey Wilderness -Mary Beth Wiesner (203) 567-8734

6 • American Horticulturist· May 1990 ·EXPLORE HORTICULTURE IN TIlE MAGNIFICENT NORTHWEST!

JUNE 19-22, 1990 45TH ANNUAL MEETING SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

JOIN fellow gardeners in the "Emerald City"

LEARN about topics from "alpines" to "waste management"

VISIT private gardens featured in Rosemary Verey' s An American Woman's Garden

ENJOY Bloedel Reserve, Washington Park Arboretum, Freeway Park, and the Rhododendron Species Foundation

HEAR Ann Lovejoy on perennials and Ken Gambrill on rhododendrons

EXPLORE on your own nearby nurseries, the locks and salmon ladders, Mt. St. Helens, Butchart Gardens, the San Juan Islands, and Vancouver

MEET AHS award winners, past and present For further information, call (800) 777-7931 or write ~ American Horticultural Society _~ 7931 East Boulevard Drive [I] Alexandria, Virginia 22308

American Horticulturist • May 1990 + 7 Making a Difference I Passionate About Pruning

Cass Turnbull once confronted some tree terrorists directly. But when she hopped out of her car to tell them that their lovely little cherry tree might die from having its limbs chain-sawed to stubs, their reaction was to express doubts about her femininity. Since then, she has avoided hand-to­ hand combat with the enemy, but she is no less ardent about the evil done to woody plants. "I am," she says, "a woman with a mission." An ll-year veteran of the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department, Turnbull left to start her own landscaping business, and three years ago founded PlantAmnesty, the goal of which is "to end the senseless torture and mutilation oftrees and shrubs caused by malpruning." The private, nonprofit corporation now has about 500 members in 27 Cass Turnbull states and several foreign countries: professional gardeners, garden writers, extension agents, arborists, and this is the right approach. After all, evenly throughout the plant. The concerned citizens. For their $10 a they see instant effects. But they thinning should be selective, she year, members receive the quarterly should see very little: good pruning is emphasizes: take the puniest, sickest, newsletter, which is written to amuse invisible, says Turnbull. ugliest branches, but not necessarily as well as inform. It includes "Tales of Topping-cutting all of a tree's every one that is less than perfect. The Hope" and "Tales of Horror," atrocious branches to the same height- is one of goal is to let more light into the horticultural jokes, and a list of woody Turnbull's nightmares. "Topping has interior of the plant. plants that can be had free for the nothing to do with pruning. It's so bad Your pruning method will also digging and hauling. Members can for the trees that you just cringe depend on the plant itself, and whether attend monthly meetings, yearly inside." Shearing, on the other hand, it is naturally mound-shaped, a cane­ retreats, and the annual Fun(d)raiser, "is mildly disgusting. It can be good or grower, or more treelike. which includes an Ugly Yard Contest. bad, depending on the plant and the Turnbull attempts to spread the But Turnbull emphasizes that it is desired effect." She is not opposed to PlantAmnesty gospel through classes, not merely appearances that are at shearing small-leafed plants to create lectures, articles, and a popular slide stake here. "Bad pruning drags on the topiaries, "but too many people show of pruning horrors. Through a health of the plant," she will tell you. poodleball forsythias." Stripping­ "Good Gardeners Referral Service," "It causes stress, deadwood, and low removing all the side branches to homeowners in need of plant care are vigor, but the effects take years to achieve a more pronounced trunk-is given the names of professionals who show." One noticeable effect is also a poor practice, especially with won't do strange and unnatural things suckering: a malpruned plant will rebel mature trees and shrubs. to the landscape. For its efforts, by sending lots of ugly little whips up In a brochure she has developed, PlantAmnesty has received the "Friend from its roots. But ill-informed Turnbull calls shearing, topping, and of the Tree" Award from the City of homeowners will keep repeating the pinching ''heading" cuts: "Good for Seattle, and the Golden Leaf Award same mistakes until they literally hedge() and chrysanthemums. Not good from the International Society of prune a tree to death. for most shrubs and trees." Instead, Arboriculture. To make matters worse, says she advises, pruning should consist of -Peggy Lytton Turnbull, 80 percent of commercial about 80 percent thinning cuts, which landscapers don't prune correctly. The are cuts back to another branch or twig fact that professionals will top trees where the cut branch began as a bud. For more information about and shear shrubs into lollipops and Such cuts force new growth in existing PlantAmnesty, write to Cass Turnbull poodle balls convinces homeowners that branches and spread new growth more at 906 NW 87th, Seattle, WA 98117.

8 + American Horticulturist· May 1990 ooncerned with the environment. Although groups plant trees; and special pruning Volunteers. early classes were heavily p,ppulated with days on which its graduates descend on amateur gardeners and retirees, the a neighborhood en masse. New York's Trees oontinual updating and refining of the Eber-Schmid said she has been curriculum have attracted professionals asked for guidance in starting similar When New York's city government was hoping to advance their careers. programs in other cities. While the going bankrupt in the late 1970s, the The consortium's offerings have basic structure of the course can be the city's tree lovers concluded that the expanded, too, to include a number of same anywhere, "our textbooks really care of street trees was not about to get direct services that grew out of its wouldn't be too useful in the Midwest high priority. So they took matters into course. In addition to brochures that and South or in Phoenix." their own hands. offer "tree tips" and "tree tips for kids," Today, New York is solvent again, but it now has a hot line with arborists on the group that formed during that call to advise citizens concerned about Write the New York City Street Tree fiscal crisis is still growing. The New sick city trees; a matching fund to help Consortium at 16 West 61st Street, New York City Street Tree Consortium has block associations and other civic York, NY 10023, or call (212) 541-8268. graduated some 1,600 citizens empowered to prune, spray, water, and landscape around neglected city trees. "They have to prune down low, for liability reasons," said Barbara Eber­ Schmid, the consortium's executive director, ''but they can accomplish quite a bit with limb loppers and pole saws. And our focus is on new and young trees, because they're the ones most impacted by urban conditions." The consortium offers two courses each year, consisting of three or four classroom sessions and two field trips. To earn their diplomas, students must correctly answer 28 of 40 questions on a written exam. There is now an advanced seminar that introduces students to additional tools and includes more on disease-identification. The consortium itself is, as the name im­ plies, a coalition of city and state agencies Iris Intersection Lilypons Water Gardens !BEgin you~ waf.£~ gauiw todCUj witl'z a -'£if.yponi catalogUE The Society for Louisiana Irises was among the organizations donating work fEatu~ing pagE aftE~ pagE of GEautifuL watE~ LiLiEi, LotU.i, Gog and materials to the Gateway Lafayette pLanti, (iili, itatua7.!J' and tl'zE EiiWtiali fo'/. kEEping it alL wo~ing Project, a community effort to beautify tOgdI'zE~ . the intersection of Interstates 10 and 49 outside of Lafayette, Louisiana. ..No pooL? {!'I'zOOiE a (iGngLaii o~ qxv{!. pooL fwm tl'zE many iiu.i The $2.1 million project, in which the Lafayette Tourist Center was moved iliown in thE -'£if.ypOni catalogUE. nearer to the interstate, involves land­ scaping the area with two large ponds, ~------12,000 azaleas, 560 cypresses, 184 live I 0 Please send the new Lilypons catalogue plus informative , and 1,200 camellias on 10 acres. It I newsletters with seasonal sales. Enclosed is g5.00. seemed the perfect opportunity to draw I California (30'1). Maryland (25'1) and Texas (3S'I) residents please add tax. more attention to the beauty of Louisiana I 0 Please rush my catalogue by first class mail. Enclosed is 86.75. irises. This fall society president Dorman Hayden and member Jim Leonard planted I o 1500 Amhort Road 0 1500 Lilypons Road o 1500 LilypOIlH Way 1,500 rhizomes in five beds: three of mixed I P.O. Box 10 1'.0. Box las P.O. Box 1130 colors, one with predominantly blue and I Lilypons, MD 21717 Brookshire, TX 77423·0188 ll1ermal, CA 92274 lavender, and one featuring the hybrids of I (301) 874-5133 (713) 934-8525 Dr. Charles Amy. The rhizomes were I donated by Amy and Hayden. Later, Leonard hopes to plant another 2,500 I rhizomes--a total of 80 cultivars--in six I J'\ame Address more beds adjacent to the ponds. I I City State Zip I_~ ____ ------~ Write the Louisiana Iris Society at PO. Box 40175 USL, Lafayette, LA 70504.

American Horticulturist· May 1990 • 9 Yin Meets Yang in

t has been said that "we enter abundance of garden-making garden entry, through the waterfalls the entire culture of materials, and the availability of and rushing torrents of the gorge, to through the moon gate of the experienced and talented landscape the "Mirror Lake," the water surfaces garden." Chinese gardens architects and artisans with distinctive have been designed to combine the Icontain a record of the country's garden-making techniques. dynamic and stationary, even and millennial history, philosophy, poetry, The goal of the Seattle Chinese straight, winding and tortuous. In the art, and architecture, as well as its Garden Society, which is leading the ripples one may see the inverted plant life and geology. Inspired by the campaign to raise funds for the garden, reflection of the rope-shaped bridge, natural landscape gardens of is to begin construction of the garden whose beauty derives from its apparent Province, the City of Seattle and the in 1991. The projected cost is more flexibility. Or one might traverse the Seattle Chinese Garden Society, in than $6 million. Buildings and other zigzag bridge, where a newly framed cooperation with the Garden architectural features will be vista is revealed with every twist and Bureau, are planning the first fabricated in Chongqing and assembled turn. The seeker of solitude can sit in authentic classical Chinese garden to be by skilled craftsmen in Seattle. the ''Water Listening Pavilion" and designed and built by the Chinese in A walk through the garden will reveal watch swirling waters tumble into the the United States. the principle of yin/yang, which views rock-strewn gorge. Further The six-acre garden design that life and nature as the balance of forces downstream, the twisting and turning emerged from the most recent visit to in contrast-restless and serene, large waters widen into a mirror lake that Seattle by the design team from and small, light and dark, rising and reflects the "Moon Water Pavilion" and Chongqing, its Chinese sister city, is falling. Confined courtyards give way "Sichuan Marble Boat." based on a design tradition that had its to large, open areas; jagged rocks give Irregular rock formations, including origins 2,000 years ago in the hunting way to calm waters; curves meet intricate grottoes and "mountains," parks of Chinese emperors. The Seattle straight lines. evoke images of the natural landscape Chinese garden is a comprehensive Each turn in a path or glimpse of Sichuan. Rock shapes, textures, and work of art composed of buildings, hills through the lattice window in a wall colors are carefully combined to look as and waters, flowers and trees. While all reveals a carefully framed view, while natural as possible. Clusters of rocks classical Chinese gardens are poetic maintaining a feeling of spontaneity, tucked against courtyard walls may and picturesque, this design will differ imagination, and delight. The whole inspire quiet comtemplation. from the grandeur of the northern garden is never perceived in a glance; a Tracing the steps of the "Mountain imperial gardens and from the elegance few elements at a time are unveiled as Climbing Covered Corridor" up the and mildness of the gardens of South one moves through. pine-covered hillside takes one to the China. The unique natural beauty of Water is the heart of the garden. three-tiered "Cloud Pagoda," where the Sichuan gardens springs from the From its hilltop source near a complex view is not of the Sichuan mountains mysterious, tranquil mountains, an of pavilions and courtyards at the immortalized in ancient Shan-Shui

10 • American Horticulturist· May 1990 (mountain-water) paintings, but of majestic Mount Rainier, the snow­ ... a treasury of cold-hardy capped Olympic and Cascade hard-to-find perennials for GARDEN mountain ranges, and the Seattle skyline, nestled against the sparkling your pleasure ...... ACCENTS waters of Elliott Bay. Balanced against this profusion of water, rocks, pavilions, walls, near and distant views are plants chosen for their symbolic meanings as well as their physical qualities. The "three friends ofwinter"- pine, bamboo, and winter-flowering plum--evoke various aspects of nature. The pine symbolizes strength; bamboo, resilience and flexibility; the plum, renewal and hope. In winter, the plum trees and Sichuan camellias will blossom defiantly HARDY through snow or frost. GERANIUMS Seattle is universally known for a Over 20 climate that enables the growth of a As direct importers we offer over 100 to choose from. personally selected. handcrafted items greater diversity of plant material than from foreign countries: powerful bronze any other single region on the globe. and marble animals, Chinese relics, porcelain flshbowls. planters. pottery. These conditions will let Seattle's s ton e l anterns and garden stools. Chinese garden use plant material of Call Nowl Our catalog Is FREE. Chinese origin and fulfill the Chinese Busse Gardens sensitivity to plant forms, colors, "The Minnesota Perennial People" east/westin textures, shadows, and movement. Rt. 2 - Box 238-) The garden will offer an exceptional GAKDENS~ Cokato. MN 55321 opportunity to introduce a number of Call: 415/321·2571 (612) 286-2654 Write: 1259 E:I Camino Rea l interesting hardy ornamentals of Suite 196. Dept. 51 Chinese origin to the gardening public Catalog $2.00 - Deduct on first order Menlo Park. CA 94025 in Seattle. These will include Enkianthus deflexus, with its tall, erect habit; Rosa moyesii, spectacular in its fall color and its bright crimson fruit; Syringa reflexa, one of the best of the lilac species; Decaisnea fargesii, which Picturesque bears unusual flowers and fruit; Viburnum setigerum, a distinctive plant with foliage of constantly 6-Foot changing color; Rubus henryi var. bambusarum, a handsome vine for Fan Trellis pergolas with its bamboolike foliage, pink flowers, shiny black fruit, and graceful habit; and dwarf peony species Only $12.95 of various foliage types. To help acquire these plants, the Seat­ This beautifully crafted Fan Trellis is made tle Chinese Garden Society has of solid, long-lasting pressure treated lumber received a $30,000 grant from the and is easy to assemble. Order one today and Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, a add a touch of elegance to your garden. San Francisco-based, internationally Only $12.95 plus $3 .00 for shipping and han­ governed organization. The selection of dling each. the plant materials is being led by the nationally recognized horticulturist Order two or more and we'll pay the shipping Mrs. Pendleton Miller. A model of the and handling. garden, which is being built in Satisfaction Guaranteed! Chongqing, is expected to be done in time for display at the American ------B~it~~- W~~d-C~~ - ~--P~O~-B~~ -i94--; - B~it~-~:MAOi740------Horticultural Society's Annual Yes! Send me __ Fan Trellis(es) at $12.95 pluse $3.00 shipping and Meeting in Seattle in mid-June. handling each (Massachusetts Residents add 5% Sales Tax). Please allow -James C. Dawson two weeks for delivery. Enclosed is my check or money order for: $ _ ____ Name James C. Dawson is a principal in the Street Address City State _ Zip __ Seattle architectural firm Dawson o Visa 0 Mastercard Signature ______Hoshide Williams and is president of Card Number Exp. date ______the Seattle Chinese Garden Society. For quick-ship orders by credit card call 508-779-6122

American Horticulturist· May 1990 .. 11 Regional Notes

Fuelproof Landscape

You may think your list ofthe ways plants can benefit humans is about complete. But does it mention fire prevention? The City of Santa Barbara, California, has developed a model "Firescape" that uses four zones of increasingly fire-resistant plants to reduce potential damage from wildfires. The outermost zone, Zone 4, consists of existing native vegetation that has been thinned to reduce fuel volume. Many native plants are less susceptible to fire than common landscaping plants. The coastal live and silktassel also stablize slopes and their extensive root development keeps them healthy through long, dry seasons. They are to be thinned to grow 20 to 40 feet apart. The next area, Zone 3, consists of selected native and introduced plants found here is the oleander, which of similar low-growing, slow-burning tolerates intense heat and sunlight, Dedication characteristics. Reduced volume little water, and poor soil. shrubs such as santolina and rockrose Zone 1, closest to the house, calls for June 14 will mark the formal dedication of and meadow plants such as yarrow highly fire-resistant plants such as the the National Capitol project at tolerate sun, heat, poor soils, and need tobira and shiny leaf jasmine, which the U.S. National Arboretum. The new little moisure. This area is to be are also tolerant of drought, heat, dust, arboretum feature is more historical than maintained by periodically removing and smog. Proper pruning and removal horticultural: the 22 columns that are its invasive grasses and crowded plants. of plant litter are also recommended for focal point were once part of the east Still closer to the house is Zone 2, the reducing the risk of fire. portico of the Capitol Building in "greenbelt," planted with highly The Firescapes Garden can be seen at Washington, D.C., but were removed as fire-retardant succulents and ground City Fire Station No. 7, less than five miles part of an expansion in 1958. The design covers. Fleshy succulents such as the from downtown Santa Barbara at 2411 was conceived by famed landscape ar­ jade plant and sedum resist fire by Stanwood Drive. For more information on chitect Russell Page shortly before he died. storing water in their tissues. Also the site or concept, call (805) 564-5703. Mrs. George Garrett and then Betty Rea led a group of arboretum supporters, Friends of the U.S. National Arboretum, in obtaining ConservatotyOosOO private funds to have the 15-ton, 30- foot-tall columns taken out of storage The century-old Franklin Park and moved to the new site selected by Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, Page, a personal friend of Mrs. Garrett. was closed to the public this spring Set in the arboretum's ellipse meadow, so that it can be expanded and the columns are arranged on a nearly renovated for the AmeriFlora '92 square stone platform from which a Floral and Garden Festival, which low fountain overflows into a small begins in April 1992. It will be channel and cascades down a gentle expanded by some 30,000 square slope to a reflecting pool. Page asked feet, making it one of the largest that there be no formal paths to the conservatories in the world. site, so visitors will climb a grassy John Peterson, executive director slope to reach the platform, or view the of the first sanctioned international columns from the west where they are floral and garden festival in the set off by a forest background. United States, said the closing of the Since Page's death in 1985, the conservatory represented a time of landscaping of the National Capitol mixed emotions, because the Columns has been overseen by EDAW, planned improvements necessitated Inc., of Alexandria, Virginia. The closing it to its most regular visitors. columns will be formally planted this spring and lit for viewing at night.

12 + American Horticulturist· May 1990 A Garden for Peace

he nation's capital has many monuments honoring the men and women killed during past wars: the Tomb Tof the Unknown Soldier, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery. But a former English teacher visiting from Berkeley, California, felt that something was missing-a garden devoted to the Site plan of Eduardo Catalano's winning design for the National Peace Garden. The future, and to peace, seemed the smaller plan indicates details of the ground plan beneath the foliage. perfect complement to these memorials to the past. Exedra, or half-circle, benches will visual offenses built by men are Now Elizabeth Mackay Ratcliff's furnish places for rest, contemplation, silenced by the outburst of spring." dream is becoming a reality. Four and conversation along the paths. -Mary Beth Wiesner years ago she took her idea of a peace The garden's future home is Hains garden to Congress and a year later, on Point, 12 acres of federal land in June 30, 1987, the National Peace Washington's . The For more information contact the Garden Bill was signed into law by park is bordered by the National Peace Garden at 80615th President Reagan. Ratcliff hopes the and the Washington Channel, two miles Street, N. W., Suite 218, Washington, garden will be an enduring symbol of south of the Mall. Jogging, walking, DC.20005, (202) 393-6248 or P.O. Box the quest for peace. "A garden is a fishing, picnicking, and playground areas 5282, Elmwood Station, Berkeley, CA metaphor for the future. A garden has already within the park will be 94705, (415) 652-6351. to be tended, just as peace does," she preserved. The plan has generated some told The New York Times. protests from local residents because it The garden has been designed by will necessitate removing a popular Eduardo Catalano, whose entry won sculpture by J . Seward Johnson. ''The Buzz Off! $20,000 in the National Peace Garden Awakening," a massive figure arising Design Competition. The 71-year-old from the ground, has been on loan to the Many gardeners find it hard to relax architect from Cambridge, National Park Service since 1980, but and enjoy their flowers when they're Massachusetts, is a native of Buenos was never intended to be a permanent being visited by stinging pollinators Aires and professor emeritus at the installation, according to an official there. such as bees and wasps. Virginia Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Immediate goals of the garden planners Tech entomologist Richard Fell says school of architecture. include building a national in a recent issue of The Virginia Catalano's garden-one of 930 entries organization, and, by 1992, raising the Gardenerthat it's almost impossible in the competition- is a twist on the $12 million needed to build the peace to select garden plants that won't parterre style. Instead ofthe classic garden. Garden organizers have received attract any of the stinging insects: geometric-shaped beds, plants will be a $75,000 grant from the National wasps may forage around the' house arranged in the shape of an olive branch. Endowment for the Humanities, but no for insect prey or nesting sites. But if Visitors will enter the tree-bordered federal funds were authorized by the it's bees that worry you, you can garden through the Peace Gate, a peace garden bill. Funding is being plant some annuals that either don't hemispherical glass pavilion, which sought from foundations, corporations, entice the creatures or are only will be used as an information center organizations, and individuals. minimally attractive. Bees find blue, and a place for gatherings and Rita Eisenberg, a young Washington yellOW, and white blooms particularly ceremonies. Paved pathways will tour guide, has been involved with the pleasing. As a general rule, Fell says border each of the seven leaves of the project since the beginning. After meet­ that red flowers are less alluring. branch, connecting where the leaves ing Ratcliff by chance on the Washington Bees are blase about carnations, join. A variety of ground covers and subway, Eisenberg testified before a chrysanthemums, daisies, red grasses will form the leaves, creating congressional subcommittee in support of dianthus, geraniums, marigolds, an intricate texture of green. The a national peace garden. In addition to roses, strawflowers, and zinnias. curved stem and leafforms will be leading tours, she now volunteers in the There are others; Fell suggests that elevated one foot above the ground and garden's Washington office. For gardeners wishing to reduce their illuminated at night. Near where the Eisenberg the garden fulfills "a great bee populations should observe stems join the main branch, round need to balance all the war memorials," a small groups of different flowers to containers of white-flowering plants­ sentiment echoed by Eduardo Catalano. determine if they are visited by bees representing the purity of peace-will Upon winning the design competition, he or other stinging pests. suggest the calyxes ofthe olive's flower. expressed his feeling that "... all the

American Horticulturist· May 1990 • 13 AHS Bulletin Board

envelope will work if you tape all the will appear on the supplementary seed Seed Program 1991 openings well. Place the seed packets in list or in the next year's program. a padded mailing envelope, label it Is there anything I should enclose Participating in the American "Hand Cancel" and mail to: 1991 Seed with my seeds? Horticultural Society Seed Program is a Program, American Horticultural There are several very important pieces wonderful way to share your seed with Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, of information you should send: others who would enjoy growing the Alexandria, VA 22308. 1. Information about the plant's height, same plants you treasure. In this year's How much seed should I send? flower color, germination, zones of hardi­ program, tree seeds went extremely When donating seed, you should send ness, and other cultural information. well; we have sent out over three times enough seed to fill at least 200 2. Your name, so we can give credit as many as we have in the past. orders. The size of the seed determines where credit is due, and your phone Perennial wildflowers also were very how many we will put in each envelope. number, in case we have questions popular. Named cultivars, such as Ideally, we would like to send about 50 about your seeds. Cosmos 'Bright Lights', also do well, so small seeds per envelope. For larger Thank you for your support. If you have if you have one ofthe cultivars that will seeds, such as tree seeds, etc., the any further questions or comments, feel come true from seed, try to send a large envelopes only hold five seeds. free to call our toll-free number (800) 777- amount of that seed. Other selections What is the deadline for sending in 7931. We hope to receive seed from every that went well this year included the my seeds? member this year! hostas, Penstemon cyananthus, the November 1,1990, is this year's dead­ -Cathy Gau Allium species as a whole, the line. Any seed received after that date Horticultural Intern Aquilegias, and both species of Lobelia, L. cardinalis, and L. siphilitica. The vegetables, on the other hand, went Flower Show Citations Awarded slowly and some not at all. We have had many member requests Each year AHS recognizes one exhibit at • New York. Mrs. Jock Whitney's Long for information on this program so here each of several major flower shows Island garden, Greentree, an apartment are some typical questions and "which best demonstrates the bond terrace garden that proved a small city space answers that we hope will be helpful. between horticulture and the environ­ could be turned into a beautiful garden; How do I send my seeds? ment," and inspires viewers to ''beautifY • Boston. Randall G. Wieting Landscape When your seeds are ready to home and community through skillful Design, Inc., in Salem, Massachusetts, for harvest, collect, clean, and dry them. design and appropriate plant material." a simply designed viewing garden that The drying process is very important. Winners of the 1990 citations were: demonstrated an appreciation and respect Let the seeds dry on a paper towel or on • Atlanta. Ryan Gainey, Tom for the natural world; sheets of newspaper. If the seeds are Woodham, and Brooks Garcia of the • Philadelphia. MansmannlLinkey sealed in an air-tight bag and sent Connoisseur's Garden in Atlal'lta for Landscape Contractors of Frazer, while still wet, they will mildew and "Mr. Skinner's Vegetable Garden"; Pennsylvania, for their exhibit entitled, become unusable. When you pack the • Washington. Kevin and Steve "A Garden Sanctuary." seeds, be sure and seal them well McHale of McHale Landscape Design in because little seeds have a way of Brandywine, Maryland, for an informal finding any hole and working their way all-white garden that featured white free . Reclosable plastic bags are good azaleas, tulips, pansies, dogwood, and for this purpose, but a plain mailing japonicas complemented by a waterfall;

Dogwood Donated

River Fann is very proud of its newest Garden Club of America. A 1920 addition-a flowering Chinese resolution called for encouraging "the dogwood donated by the Garden Club preservation of all woodland things, that of Alexandria. Club members the natural beauty spots of our country presented the tree March 15 in honor of may not be destroyed." Nancy Talley, president of the GardeA Members chose the Comus kotlsa­ Club of Virginia, during a joint meeting a new genus in River Farm's with the Fairfax Garden Club and the collection-because of its beauty and Hunting Creek Garden Club. All three resistance to disease. The tree is the "Mr. Skinner's Vegetable Garden" won the groups are members of the Garden first of several from the Garden Club AHS citation at the Atlanta Flower Show. The Club of America. of Alexandria, according to AHS formal parterre style garden featured edible The tree planting, one of several Executive Director Frank Robinson. A projects that are part of the club's 40-year-old pine originally occupied flowers, vegetables, herbs, and fruit for the South, including radishes, beets, broccoli, National Celebration of the Outdoors, the area; it toppled over during a wind English peas, alpine strawberries, elephant fulfills a 7o-year obligation of the and rainstorm last June. garliC, parsley, nasturtiums, and violas.

14 + American Horticulturist • May 1990 Six Nominated to AHS Board of Directors

The following individuals have been Agricultural College Advisory Club of Dayton and over the last five nominated to serve on the American Committee, and the Riverfront years has worked with Child Horticultural Society's Board of Directors. Development Committee in Columbus, Associates of Cambridge, Massachusetts, The three year terms begin with the Georgia. Barrick is a prolific writer and to create gardens at her Troy and Society's Annual Meeting in June. researcher; his articles have appeared Nantucket homes. Hobart is also active in William E. Barrick is executive vice in The Florida Nurseryman, Florist school-related and arts·organizations. president and director of gardens at Review, Southern Florist and Joseph E. Howland, a retired Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Nurseryman, and HortScience. professor of horticulture, is currently a Georgia, a position he has held since Mary Katherine Blount is an active professor of advertising/marketing at 1980. He received a doctoral degree in gardener and long-time member ofthe the University of Nevada in Reno. He landscape horticulture from Michigan Montgomery Garden Club in received a doctoral degree in floricul­ State University. Barrick is currently vice Montgomery, Alabama. She serves on ture from Cornell University. Howland president of the American Association of the board of directors of Kenmore, a has been an associate editor at Better Botanical Gardens and Arboreta and restored estate and museum in Homes & Gardens and garden editor of serves on Longwood Gardens Visiting Fredericksburg, Virginia, as well as House Beautiful and The Practical Committee, AmeriFlora '92 Masterplan boards of several colleges, museums, Gardener. Howland has been a horticul­ Subcommittee, Abraham Baldwin and other charitable organizations. tural consultant to Reader's Digest, Sally Boasberg is a landscape TimelLife Books, World Book designer in Washington, D.C., and encyclopedia, and Ortho garden books. teaches courses in the history of He has also served as chairman of Pan AHS Board of garden design and garden preservation American Seed Company, Burgess at George Washington University. Seed & Plant Company, CASSA Seed Directors Proxy Boasberg IS a graduate of Smith Company in Honduras, and Ball College and received a certificate in Advertising. Notice of Election in conjunction landscape design from George Flavia Redelmeier of Toronto, with the 45th Annual Meeting of the Washington University. A 15-year Canada, is owner of Southbrook Farms, American Horticultural Society. Cut member of AHS, she is a former a market farm which produces sweet out proxy and return by June 12, to chairman of the Washington Opera corn, strawberries, and raspberries. President, AHS, 7931 East Guild and has been active in other She is a director and officer of the Herb Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA organizations. Society of America and is past 22308. Julia Hobart of Troy, Ohio, is president ofthe Garden Club of I will not be able to attend the administrator of the Overfield Early Toronto. Redelmeier, an avid gardener Annual Meeting of the American Childhood Program, a program which and flower arranger, also serves on the Horticultural Society on June 20, she began in a log cabin 30 years ago. board of the Royal Ontario Museum 1990. Please assign my proxy to AHS She is an active member of the Garden and is a Girl Guide leader. President, Carolyn Marsh Lindsay, or AHS Membership Services to cast my ballot in the annual election of the Society's Board of Directors, Your satisfaction with our member service is very important to us. If you have a and to cast my ballot in other matters question or problem concerning your membership, please contact the Membership that may properly be brought before Department for assistance. the Annual Meeting with the same You can help by giving complete information when you call or write. Please refer to effect as though I were personally the five digit number on the mailing label of your magazine or news edition. The num­ present. ber helps us to quickly identify your membership record for corrections.

Vote for six. Changing Your Address? o William E. Barrick Please allow 6-8 weeks advance notice. Attach a current mailing label in the space o Mary Katherine Blount provided (or write in your old address) then fill in your new address on the lines below. o Sally Boasberg o Julia Hobart o Joseph E. Howland Old Address: Member # o Flavia Redelmeier Name Address ______State _ ___ Zip Write-in Candidate City

Write-in-Candidate New Address: Name Name Address Address City ______State ____ Zip City State Zip Mail to: Membership Services, American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Signature Date Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308.

American Horticulturist· May 1990 • 15 Gardener's Q&A

Explore the world of . Yes, lavender should be pruned A• back to half of the stern's Letter to the Editor gardening by asking length, in the late winter or early spring. Pruning will keep the lavender Regarding your March article on and learning through upright, increase the air circulation landscape fabric, we have another throughout the plant, and encourage probl~m with it that was not ou r Gardener's flower productioI). from the new growth. mentioned. Out here on the prairie Information Service. where. the wind blows all the time ' . I tried growing freesias in organic mulches such as shredded Q • my house last winter but I bark or wood chips will not stay didn't get very many flowers, just put on landscape fabric. This is . I have had violets growing in leggy stems. I would still like to try usually no problem with mulch that Q • my garden for over 20 years. these again next year. Do you have is placed directly on soil. Apparent­ They are very healthy and spread any suggestions? ly the mulch will not grip or bind rapidly but there are few flowers. C. H., College Station, Texas with the landscape fabric as it will What can I do to encourage blossoms? in direct contact with soil. W. M. S., Wilmington, Delaware We have also had a problem hold­ . Freesias are cormous plants ing mulch on slopes or where water A . with beautiful, fragrant blooms. moves across a bed. The mulch . Violets (Viola odorata) prefer It is important to purchase high stays put better when in direct soil A • cool, slightly shaded locations quality, plump corms. Buy them from a contact than when placed on top of with plenty of oak leaf mulch or well-known bulb specialist, not from landscape fabric. We have stopped compost. They also need well-drained, supermarkets and discount stores. using it because of this problem. neutral to slightly alkaline soil but Freesias do not need the cold treat­ Steve Sprehe, Landscape Supt. they are not finicky plants. In fact, ment that tulips and daffodils need. Conoco, Inc., Ponca City, Oklahoma they are prone to spread rapidly and if They do need porous, well-drained soil. allowed to do so may decrease their In the fall, plant the corms about one flower production. Your violets may be inch deep and two inches apart in a pot too crowded; try weeding out a few and place the pot in a cool, dark place. Plant the Very Best ... and/or dividing the plants after they When the shoots emerge, transfer the bloom this spring. You might also try pot to a well-lit but cool place in the Plant Andre Viette feeding them with fish emulsion a house. This is often the most difficult Quality Perennials! month or so before the blooming period. part since most houses are centrally The Famous Andre Viette heated. When the flower stalks begin Farm and Nursery has to show, apply a dilute fertilizer once a My boxwood is fairly old and one of the largest . week until the blooms open. Freesias collections in the East. Q • large. Many of the leaves are do get tall and will flop over if they We ship nationally. "cupped," but I always thought that don't have support. But if they seem this was just a natural characteristic especially elongated, it may be that you Rare and Unusual of boxwoods until a neighbor haven't yet found the right Perennials explained that it was caused by an combination of bright light and cool insect. Is this true? Specializing in temperature. Flowering W. G., Rochester, New York - Peggy Lytton Perennials Gardener's Information Service Rock Garden .. Boxwood cupping is caused by Perennials extremely small, sucking Woodland A Plants insects called psyllids that suck the Daylilies ___"'''''' juices from the leaves, causing them to "./-",.-:7,-- yellow and curl. To eradicate the psyl­ Correction .' ~ . , lids, spray the boxwoods in the spring with a systemic insecticide (contact your local extension agent or nursery In the January "Members' Forum," for brand suitable for your area). To an extra million crept into our prevent infestations, spray with half­ reported estimate of how many strength dormant oil in the winter. pleione bulbs were believed to have been imported by Japan from Accept No Substitute Taiwan in 1985. The correct figure . I have lavender growing as a should have been 250,000. Thanks 703-943-2315 Q • perennial hedge in my back to member Arthur F. Phinney of yard. Should I prune it back at any Dept. AH, Rt. 1, Box 16 Fairfax, Virginia, for drawing this Fishersville, VA 22939 time? typographical error to our attention. A. R., Hagerstown, Maryland Write for our catalog - $2.00

16 • American Horticulturist· May 1990 {jivemy 9\f-visited 1890-1990

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American Horticulturist· May 1990 + 17 Gardener's Bookshelf

Exotic Flowering Houseplants Although Exotic Flowering Houseplants is a British book (which means you need to remember that "compost" means soil), the admiration for flowering houseplants is universal. If you haven't yet branched out into this area of gardening, here is a good primer. ' The introduction covers the basics of selecting a disease-free plant, bringing it home, and acclimatizing it; general tips on care; pests and diseases; and displaying the plants. The rest of the book describes 75 plants, each beautifully illustrated with a color photo, which have been divided into three categories: Easy, Moderately Easy, and Difficult to Grow. These definitions are based on the care required after the blooming period. Easy to Grow plants are usually bought in full bloom and discarded The Cook's Garden after flowering. Moderately Easy plants require different conditions after flowering Tired of hard tomatoes, wilted salad to induce a dormant period; Difficult plants greens, and cardboard carrots? Try are mostly flowering shrubs requiring growing non-commercial varieties of greenhouses. A shortcoming of note is that vegetables and herbs with The Cook's although the author includes tips for A Gourmet's Guide to Garden, a refreshing guide to the prolonging bloom, he often fails to offer Herbs & Spices combined arts of gardening and eating. detailed instructions for repeating blooms The Ogdens' years of experience shine year after year. By William Davidson. After mastering the art of cultivating through as they emphasize conservation Price Stern Sloan, Inc., Los Angeles, even the most difficult of herbs, the of space, time, and energy yet use California. 1989. 96 pages. Color next question that comes to mind may creative techniques such as blanching, photographs. Publisher's price: softcover, be "Now what?" A Gourmet's Guide to growing seedling crops, and interplant­ $9.95. AHS member price: $8.45. - P. L. Herbs & Spices is not a grower's ing. Those who already garden can skip manual. It begins at the point of past the basics of soil, water, and light SUCCESSFUL INDOOR GARDENING harvest and guides the reader through and zoom right ahead to ideas such as exotic culinary adventures. This mixing carrot seeds with radishes to pictorial encyclopedia covers herbs, help speed germination ofthe less EXOTIC salad leaves, edible flowers, spices, and vigorous carrots, or planting cool­ flavorings from throughout the world, weather greens in the summer shade of techniques for harvesting and storage, trellised late peas. Variety Source FLOWERING and recipes for using herbs in vinegars, Charts list recommended varieties of oils, butters, and teas. Many of those vegetables and herbs, and for each, HOUSEPLANTS obscure herbs and spices that one when to plant, when to harvest, what to hears about but rarely ever sees­ harvest, and sources. My favorite is the clary, curry leaf, purslane, rocket- are what to harvest-for years I have described and very well illustrated, as wondered how to eat a leek. Unfortunate­ are spices and spice mixtures for ethnic ly, not every plant is illustrated; one dishes: alino criolo (Venezuela), garam would have to use another source to masala (India), pickling spice learn what a mache looks like before it (England), and Japanese seven-flavors matures. The last chapter lets the reader spice. Further uses for the herbs and incorporate the season's harvest into spices are found in 48 recipes with several of Ellen's recipes. By Shepherd color photographs of the prepared and Ellen Ogden. Rodale Press, dishes. By Mary Trewby. Price Stern Emmaus, Pennsylvania. 1989. 230 Sloan, Inc., Los Angeles, California. pages. Black and white drawings. 1989. 120 pages. Color photographs. Publisher's price: hardcover, $19.95; Publisher's price: softcover, $9.95. AHS softcover, $14.95. AHS member price: member price: $8.45. -Po L. hardcover, $16.95; softcover, $12.70. -Peggy Lytton Wi lliam David son

18 • American Horticulturist· May 1990 Window Boxes and trailers, plants for every season, shade lovers and sun lovers, plants Three years ago my husband and that are pollution-tolerant--are all I received a wonderful wedding described along with suggestions for present--a beautiful window box what looks good with what. There are handmade by a friend. But after ideas for rock garden window boxes, several unsuccessful attempts to seasonal displays, fruit, vegetable, and produce a box overflowing with herb boxes, hanging baskets, and even flowering beauties we still had designs for creating a year-round only scraggly-looking plants. So I garden in just one box. Baxendale also put the box away hoping to come covers basic gardening techniques­ up with some other use for it. planting, watering, feeding, pests, and Now that I've read Martin diseases. An appendix contains two Baxendale's book, I thi·nk there sections-for seasonal and permanent may be some hope in using the displays-listing for each potential window box as a window box! choices among bulbs, corms, and Here is everything I've ever tubers, evergreens, bedding plants, wanted to know about window climbers, trailers, foliage plants, bushy box gardening, from planning plants, rock garden plants, and dwarf and design to solving plant shrubs. Part of Ward Lock's Gardening problems. The containers themselves By Design series, this is an excellent are naturally the first consideration comprehensive guide to window and Baxendale weighs the advantages gardening. By Martin Baxendale. Book Order and disadvantages of many types with Ward Lock Limited, London, England. comments on style, color, size, and Distributed by David & Charles, Inc., Form material. He provides easy-to-follow North Pomfret, Vermont. 1989.80 directions and drawings for construct­ pages. Line drawings and color Please send me the following ing your own boxes, and for mounting photographs. Publisher's price: books at the special AHS the boxes to a window ledge or to the softcover, $11.95. AIlS member price: member prices. house if you haven't much windowsill. $9.95. D THE COOK'S GARDEN Then it's on to the planting- climbers -Mary Beth Wiesner o Hardcover • $16.95 ROD003 D Softcover ...... • $12.70 fences, water gardens, roof gardens, RODOO4 Town Gardens D EXOTIC FLOWERING and garden ornaments are briefly HOUSEPLANTS ....••• $8.45 Those with limited space in their mentioned. Detailed line drawings PRI226 gardens will want to make room in graphically explain various garden D A GOURMET'S GUIDE TO their home gardening libraries for processes and the many full-color HERBS & SPICES $8.45 Town Gardens. Gill Page has packed photographs should inspire many town PRIOlO o WINDOW BOXES • $9.95 this slim volume with all the informa­ garden design ideas. Town Gardens is DAV046 tion needed for turning an unsightly part of Ward Lock's Gardening By D TOWN GARDENS . $9.95 corner or cramped yard into a beautiful Design series. By Gill Page. Ward Lock DAV045 flowering retreat. He opens with a Limited, London England. Distributed I would like to order books. chapter on planning the small garden, by David & Charles, Inc., North covering practical issues such as Pomfret, Vermont. 1989. 80 pages. Please add $2.50 per book for designing a garden to complement the Line drawings and color photographs. postage and handling. Virginia house and accomm@date your lifestyle, Publisher's price: softcover, $11.95. residents add 41i2% sales tax. Please providing spaces for children and pets, AIlS member price: $9.95. -M. B. W. allow six weeks for delivery. Prices and creating attractive storage spaces. are subject to change witheut notice. Plant selection is well covered; D Enclosed is my check for $ ___ Page makes suggestions among climbers and wall shrubs, small D Charge to: trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, o Visa 0 MastetCard Exp. Date __ annuals, bulbs, and water plants for shade, semi-shade, and sun, Acct. # ____---_--_-- and offers pointers on which look Signature ______---- best together. Of course container plants are perfect for the small TOWN Ship to ______garden and all the basics are GARDENS Street ______included here, from choosing the City ______------container and the plants (herbs, bulbs, and vegetables as well as State ______Zip __ annuals andperenniaJs) to the Daytime phone number ______actual planting. A chapter on hard-surfacing CQvers different MAIL TO: AIlS Books, 7931 East types of paving, noting the ad­ Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA vantages and disadvantages of 22308. each, and provides examples of bricklaying patterns. Walls and

American Horticulturist • May 1990 • 19 Gardener's Dateline

Northeast .. June 9. The 16th Annual Plant Clean Air Council. U.S. National Sale. Garden in the Woods, New Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave., N.E., .. May 5. Wilmington Garden Day. England Wild Flower Society, Hemen­ Washington, DC. Information: (202) Tour of gardens and homes benefits way Rd., Framingham, Maine. Informa­ 475-4815. children in Delaware. Wilmington, tion: (508) 877-6574 or (617) 237-4924. Delaware. Information: Mrs. David H. .. May 5. Annual Herb Plant Sale. . Williams (302) 764-7426. .. June 9. The 22nd Annual Rose Sponsored by the Potomac Unit of the Show. The only rose competition in Herb Society of America. U.S. National .. May 9-10. Annual Benefit Plant New York City, Our Lady of the Snows Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave., N.E., Sale. Largest in the Northeast. Church, 258-15 80th Ave., North Floral Washington, DC. Information: Jo Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Brooklyn, Park, Queens, New York. Information: Sellers (703) 451-7037. New York. Information: Lois Carswell (718) 347-6070. or Lucille Plotz (718) 622-4433. .. Through May 6. 1990 Maryland .. June 17. Annual Garden Tour. House and Garden Pilgrimage. .. May 10. The 51st Annual Herb Visit five private gardens in the Sponsored by six Maryland organiza­ Sale. The Herb Society of America­ Wilmington area. Sponsored by the tions to raise funds for historic preser­ Philadelphia Unit. Farm of Dr. and Mrs. Associates ofthe Scott Arboretum. vation. Information: (301) 821-6933. Bryce Douglas, Pughtown Road, Kimber­ Information: (215) 328-8025. town, Pennsylvania. Information: Mrs. .. May 6. Second Annual ''Gardeners Edward S. Madara (215) 664-2738. Mid-Atlantic In Their Gardens" Tour. Vrrginia Beach, Virginia. Sponsored by the Norfolk .. May 12·13. Wildflower, Native .. May 2. Symposium.: Clean Botanical Garden Society. Information: Plant, and Seed Sale. Brandywine Air/Air Pollution Plants are the (804) 481-6656 or (804) 4814777. River Museum, Chadds Ford, Pennsyl­ Solution. In cooperation with The vania. Information: Laura Mumaw .. May 10, 12·13. Wildflower (215) 388-7601. Photography Lecture and Workshop taught by John D. .. Through May 13. The 12th Fun at the Farm Smithers. U.S. National Arboretum, Annual House and Garden Tour. 3501 New York Ave., N.E., Coordinated by The Friends of Spring is a beautiful time to visit the Washington, DC. Information: (202) Independence National Historic Park. American Horticultural Society's 475-4815. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Informa­ Fliver Farm,headquarters any day of tion: (215) 928-1188 or write POH, 313 the week. But if you need an excuse .. May 18·20. Wintergreen's Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106. to come out, we always have some Seventh Annual Spring Wildflower special events coming up: Symposium.. Wintergreen, Virginia . .. May 24·26. Herbs and Folklore. .. May 6, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Our Information: Mike Caouette (804) Landis Valley Museum, Lancaster, annual spring festival has been 325-2200, Ext. 391. Pennsylvania. Information: Landis greatly expanded this year. Special· Valley Museum, 2451 Kissel Hill Road, ty nurseries and plant societies will .. May 19. Annual Plant Sale of Lancaster, PA 17601, (717) 569-0401. offer perennials, shrubs, and herbs the Old Dominion Chrysanthemum. for sale. Fleston, Virginia, artist Society. Giant Food Store parking lot, .. May 3().June 3. Rhododendrons for Marian Buckner will be displaying Hillwood Ave. at Arlington Blvd., Falls the '90s: The Northeast Perspective. and selling paintings of River Farm. Church, Virginia. Information: Edith Hosted by the Massachusetts Chapter of There will be other arts and crafts Probus (703) 536-8358. the American Rhododendron Society. and food to buy, or you can bring Tara Hyannis Resort & Hotel, Hyannis, along a picnic. Admission is free. .. May 20. Annual Roses and Massachusetts. Information: Anne Reisch .. June 16,10:30 a.m. Libby Hodges Mayflowers Garden Tour. (508) 671-2494 during business hours, Oliver of Colonial Williamsburg will Annapolis, Maryland. Sponsored by the (508) 371-0755 after business hours. present a lecture and demonstration Historic Annapolis Foundation. on "Fresh Flower Arranging in the Information: Write or call the William .. May 31. Biennial Garden Tour. Williamsburg Style." Admission $5. Paca Garden, 1 Martin St., Annapolis, West Hartford Garden Club, West Call for reservations or pay at the door. MD 21401, (301) 267-6656 or (301) Hartford, Connecticut. Information: Mrs. .. June 23, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Daylily/ 269-0601. Bradford Ward, 36 Banbury Lane, West Lily Day. Members of the Capitol Hartford, CT 06107, (203) 236-1019. area chapters of the national daylily .. June 18·22. Weeklong Conifers and lily societies will be on hand to Course. Longwood Gardens, Kennett .. June 7. "An Evening of Roses." share all their knowledges on Square, Pennsylvania. Information: Brooklyn Botanic Garden Auxiliary growing these two genera, which Continuing Education, Longwood benefit for the restoration of the rose should be at the peak of their bloom. Gardens, P.O. Box 501, Kennett garden's wood structures. Brooklyn, Admission is free. Square, PA 19348-0501, (215) New York. Information: (718) 622-4433. For more information call (703) 388-6741, Ext. 516. 768·5700 or (800) 777·7931.

20 .. American Horticulturist • May 1990 .. May 19. Xeriscape for the AM~R ICAN 8 ~G O N I A IOCIHY CON VfNTlON1 990 Homeowner Seminar. California San Antonio Site Arboretum Foundation. Los Angeles State and County Arboretum, Arcadia, of Begonia Meeting California. Information: LuAnn Munns (818) 446-8251. The American Begonia Society will hold its BEGONIAS annual convention May 17-20 at the Airport .. May 26-27. The 12th Annual Holiday Inn in San Antonio, Texas. The meeting Rose Show. Fountain Square, 7115 is hosted by the Southwest Region of the Greenback Lane, Citrus Heights, American Begonia Society. California. Information: (916) 969-6666. Conservation is the theme this year, with emphasis on preservation of species in cultiva­ .. June 2-3. Creating a Garden, tion and in their native habitat, and conservation Centennial Symposium. Morrison of water resources in gardens and greenhouses. Auditorium, California Academy of For more information call or write: Tamsin Sciences, Golden Gate Park, San Fran­ Boardman, Box 249, Roanoke, TX 76262, cisco, CA. Information: (415) 642-3343. (817) 481-4305. ~AN ANTONIO .. June 7. Lecture on unusual trees for Southern California gardens. The Southeast Botanical Gardens and Arboreta, P.O. Huntington, 1151 Oxford Rd., San Box 206, Swarthmore, PA 19081. Marino, California. Information: .. May 12-13. Bonsai Exhibit. Selby Catherine Babcock (818) 405-2147 . Gardens, Sarasota, Florida. Information: West Coast The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 .. June 29-July 1. The 25th South Palm Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236, .. May 3. Mediterranean Gardens. Annual Cactus and Succulent (813) 366-5730. Talk by Shirley Kerins. The Show and Sale. Los Angeles State Huntington, 1151 Oxford Rd., San and County Arboretum. Sponsored by .. June 11-15, 18-22,25-29. Marino, California. Information: the Cactus and Succulent Society of Landscape School of the South. Catherine Babcock (818) 405-2147. America. Information: Karen Ostler, Louisiana State University. Baton (818) 881-9601. Rouge, Louisiana. Information: Course .. May 5. The Strybing Arboretum Content, Dr. Neil Odenwald (504) 388- Society 23rd Annual Plant Sale. .. June 30-July 8. International 1434. To register, LSU Short Courses, San Francisco County Fair Building, 9th Festival of Flowers. Hilo, Hawaii. (504) 388-6621 or (800) 234-5049. Ave. at Lincoln Way, San Francisco, Information: 929 Kuhikuhi St., Hilo, California. Information: Apple Walker HI 96720, (808) 435-2845. North Central (415) 661-1317 or Susan Addison (415) 549-9549. International .. May 17,19-20. Wildflower Photography Lecture and Work­ .. May 5-6. Rose Show. South Coast .. May 22-25. Chelsea Flower shop taught by John D. Smithers. Rose Society. South Coast Botanic Show. London, England. Information: The Holden Arboretum. Mentor, Ohio. Garden, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Royal Horticultural Society, 80 Vincent Information: (216) 946-4400. California. Information: LuAnn Munns Square, London SWI 2PE, or call (818) 446-8251. 01-834-4333 . .. May 20-24. Annual Convention of the American Iris Society. .. May 12-13. "Geranium Festival." .. June 14-17. European Garden Omaha, Nebraska. Information: Kay Annual Plant Show sponsored by the Symposium and Exhibition. Nelson, P.O. Box 37613, Omaha, NE Los Angeles Branch of the Internation­ Dunkirk, France. Information: APRIA: 68137, (402) 895-9112. al Geranium Society. Descanso Gar­ 35, rue du General-Foy, 75008- Paris, dens, 1418 Descanso Dr., LaCanada Phone: 33-1-4293 1924, Fax: 33,-).-43 .. Jun~ 22-24. "Summer Spec­ Flintridge, California. Information: 877192. taculars." Summer Flower Show, Betty Tufenkian (213) 222-3469 or Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, (213) 222-6809. Illinois. Information: (708) 835-5440.

Northwest l .. ' William Tricker, Inc. ~ America's Oldest Water Garden .. May 5, 12, 19, 26. June 2, 9, 16, ~ Sp"iaI;" ,iu," 1895 23, 30. Spring Tours of Ikenobo Exclusive Videos on Wa te r Garde ning Gardens. Redmond, Washington. Made on Location at Tricke r's! Information: Marla Kenney (206) NEW $39.95 each or $72.25 for both . . . 868-0589 or (206) 242-6583. o HOW TO BUILD A WATER GARDEN o INTRODUCTION TO WATER GARDENING .. June 27·30. AABGA Annual Free Catalog Se nt With Orde r of Video or & _,' '" " Meeting. Focusing on Working with Send $2.50 for a Tricker's Color Catalog ~ - -:-' ,~' Plants. Hosted by the Center for Urban Tha t Contains All Your Wate r Ga rde ning Needs. (/c:f.~B : -"_ .:~ Horticulture, University of Washington. Seattle, Washington. Dept. AH -7125 Tanglewood Dr. ---~ Independence, OH 44131 Information: American Association of (216) 524-3491 :

American Horticulturist · May 1990 + 21 Travel/Study Trips for the Classifieds AHS Gardener Classified Ad Rates: $1 per word; minimum CAROL DIDRICK'S LITTLE RED BOOK ON $20 per insertion. 10 percent discount for OLD GARDEN ROSES. Where to get them and three consecutive ads using same copy, where to plant them. An introduction to OLD June 23-July 3,1990 provided each insertion meets the $20 mini­ GARDEN ROSES. Each book signed and num­ Natural Gardens of Alaska mum after taking discount. Copy must be bered. Send $14.95 postpaid. CAROL DIDRICK, received on the 20th day of the month three 1535 Willard Dr., Orrville, OH 44667. *Please Cruise aboard the Yorktown Clipper in add $2 for out of country mailing. search of natural wonders including months prior to publication date. Send orders wildlife, spruce forests, and fields of to: American Horticultural Society Advertising BOTANICAL CRAFTS lupines. See, up close, Tracy Arm, Department, 7931.East Boulevard Drive, DRIED FLOWERS ... Statice ... artemesia Glacier Bay, and Le Conte Bay as you Alexandria, VA 22308. Or call (703) 768-5700. ... globe amaranth ... Potpourri. Herbs, spices, cruise along the sheltered inside passage AFRICAN VIOLETS fragrances. Containers. Books. Catalog $1 of Alaska. Then enjoy a post-cruise stay (refundable). TOM THUMB WORKSHOPS, in Vancouver to visit Nitobe Japanese America's Finest- 177 best violets and ges­ AH, Mappsville, VA 23407. Gardens, VanDusen Botanical Garden, neriads. Color Catalog and Growing "Tips" 50 and the famed Butchart Gardens on cents. FISCHER GREENHOUSES, Box H, BULBS Vancouver Island. Program Linwood, NJ 08221. DUTCH BULBS FOR FALL PLANTING. 12 coordinators are AHS President Carolyn THE AVANT GARDENER cm. Tulips, DNI Daffodils, Hyacinths, and Marsh Lindsay and Bob Lindsay. Miscellaneous. Catalog $1 (refundable). Paula FOR THE GARDENER WHO WANTS TO M. Parker DBA, Mary Mattison van Schaik. Leonard Haertter Travel Company, 7922 Bonhomme GET MORE OUT OF GARDENING! Sub­ Ave. , St. Louis, MO 63105, (800) 942-6666 IMPORTED DUTCH BULBS, P.O. Box 32AH, scribe to THE AVANT GARDENER, Cavendish, VT 05142. America's most useful gardening publication. September 20-0ctober 3, 1990 Every month this unique news service brings CHOOSING FLOWER BULBS? Our unique Castles and Gardens of Scotland you the most practical information on new catalog and planting guide lists over 400 plants, products, techniques, with sources, varieties with information to help you make See Culzen Park Castle and Crarae Wood­ smart choices. Free copy: MCCLURE & ZIM­ land Gardens in Argyll; the Isle of Skye's features, special issues. 22nd year. Awarded Garden Club of America and Massachusetts MERMAN, Dept. C, P.O. Box 368, Friesland, Clan Donald Center, 40 acres of woodland WI 53935. gardens and nature trails; and the high­ Horticultural Society medals. Curious? land gardens at Inverewe before traveling Sample copy $1. Serious? $12 full year (reg. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES on to Inverness and Edinburgh. You'll be $18). THE AVANT GARDENER, Box 489M, New York, NY 10028. Let the government finance your new or exist­ guided by Everitt Miller, former ing small business. Grantslloans to $500,000. Longwood Gardens director. BEEKEEPING SUPPLIES Free recorded message: (707) 449-8600. (LF5) Passages Unlimited, 2 Oliver St., Eighth Floor, ASSURE GARD):N PRODUCTIVITY and in­ CARNIVOROUS PLANTS Boston, MA 02109, (800) 232-2939 crease wildlife through BEEKEEPING. Free catalog. BRUSHY MOUNTAIN BEE FARM, Rt. Carnivorous (Insectivorous) Plants, woodland November1D-17,1990 1, Dept. 36, Moravian Falls, NC 28654-9988. terrarium plants, supplies, and books. Color brochure free. PETER PAULS NURSERIES, Gardens of the Colonial South BONSAI Canandaigua, NY 14424. Board the Nantucket Clipper in Florida and BONSAI TREES, pottery, books, tools, trays, DAVLlLlES travel north to old Southern gardens on Sea supplies, and soils. Catalog $2.50. 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22 • American Horticulturist· May 1990 GARDENING SUPPLIES IRIS POSITION AVAILABLE ROSE MARKERS, 15" zinc, 25 count­ Bearded 1rises-7 mixed named. $10 postpaid. HYDROCULTURIST: Experiment and inves­ $7.50lbundle; Gardencut Shears-$8.50, add Color catalog $2. Many iris types. COMANCHE tigate to develop suitable soilless method or $3.25 shipping. Free catalog. THE ECLECTIC ACRES IRIS, Dept. AH, Gower, MO 64454. system of cultivating ornamental plants for GARDEN SUPPLY COMPANY, P.O. Box 3254, NURSERY STOCK commercial use in public buildings and homes. 1068 Blackfield Ct., Santa Clara, CA 95055. Determine best method of hydroculture sys­ SUB ZERO CITRUS from China! Northern tem for commercial production of foliage "FREE CATALOG" ... "LOWEST PRICES" Figs, Passion Fruit, Kiwi, Guavas, Loquats, plants. 40 HPW 8:30 am to 5 pm $400 p/w 2-yr . .. .Light fIxtures, pots, flats, domes, baskets, Pawpaw, Persimmon, Edible Cacti, more! degree in Ornamental Horticulture & Garden etc ... Stamps ... Postage ... PLANT COLLEC­ Now shipping 100 varieties! OREGON EX­ Design. 4 yrs. experience. Send resume to Job TIBLES, 103E Kenview, Buffalo, NY 14217. OTICS, 1065 Messinger Ave., Grants Pass, Service of FL #FL0246334, 105 E. Broward GOATSKIN GLOVES. Tough, lightweight, napa OR 97527. Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301. goatskin stretches and becomes form-fitting, PEONIES giving wearer ultimate in fit, grip, dexterity. POSITION WANTED Natural lanolin in leather keeps hands soft. Sizes AMERICA'S FOREMOST PEONY GROWER ESTATE OR HISTORIC PROPERTY 7-10 or send outline of hand. $9.50 postpaid. presents their NEW 84 page full color 1990 Manager, over 15 years experience supervis­ PUTNAM'S, Box 295-AH, Wilton, NH 03086. perennial catalog. Filled with Estate Peonies ing the operating of large properties, college exclusively hybridized by the Klehm Family, degreed, horticultural and mechanical sys­ GREENHOUSE ACCESSORIES Hybrid and Choice Garden Peonies developed tems expert. 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Route 5, Box 197cl, South Barrington, IL Hampton, NY 11937. (516) 267-6270. ppd.: 50-$15.50; 100-$27.95; 500-$114.95; 60010-9555 or call toll free--800-553-3715. ROSES 1000-$205. First-class stock. Folder on request. PEEKSKILL NURSERIES, Box H, Oak, PLANTS HORTICO ROSES: Hard-to-find varieties, new NY 10588. HANGING CEDAR BASKETS. Ivy Geranium Austin hybrids (new English garden roses), hardy 8" baskets $19.95,2/$29. Bougainvillea 6" bas­ Canadian Explorer roses, HTs, FL's, climbers, old HELP WANTED kets $12.50, 21$19.95. Herb baskets 6" $9, garden varieties. Thornless roses from Harvey We at the American Horticultural Society are 2/$15. Your choice Parsley, Oregano, Basil, Davidson, Peter Beales English garden roses, show often asked to refer individuals for signifIcant Dill, Lavender. Please add $3 shipping for roses from Astor Perry, Rennie's miniature roses, horticultural positions around the country. each basket ordered. ORCHID COLLEC­ and many others. Catalog listing over 400 varieties We are not in a position to offer full placement TION. 4" pots, will bloom within one year, available on request at $2. HORTICO INC., 723 services to candidates or employers. However, Cattleya, Dendrobium, Oncidium, Robson Rd., Waterdown, ON LOR 2H1 Canada as a service to our members, both individuals Paphiopedilum, Phalaenopsis. All 5 for $32.50 Phone: (416) 689-6984. Fax: (416) 689-{;566. and employers alike, we would be very glad to + $5 shipping. MIAMI ORCHIDS, 22150 S.W. SEEDS receive resumes and cover letters of in­ 147th Ave., Miami, FL 33170. Phone Orders Exotic TROPICAL and TEMPERATE PLANT dividuals seeking job changes and employers (305) 258-2664 VISAIMC. seeking candidates. All responsibility for SEED-Rare and common species from trees checking references and determining the ap­ PLANTS (UNUSUAL) to annuals, FREE catalog. JUNGLE FEVER, propriateness of both position and candidate Over 300 Varieties Perennials for Sun & P.O. Box 130315, Birmingham, AL 35213. rests with the individuals. AHS's participa­ Shade, Rock Plants, Hosta, Hemerocallis, TREES tion in this activity is only to serve as a con­ Sempervivums, Dwarf, Siberian & Japanese Trees, shrubs, perennials. Container grown, necting point for members of the Society. Iris, Wild Flowers, Dwarf Shrubs & outdoors. Catalog $2. OWEN FARMS, Rt. 3, Inquiries and informational material should Evergreens. Perennial Seed. 40-Page Catalog, Box 158-AAH, Ripley, TN 38063-9420. be sent to: Horticultural Employment, fifty cents in stamps. ROCKNOLL NURS­ American Horticultural Society, 7931 East ERY, 9210 U.S. 50, Dept. 33, Hillsboro, OH WATER GARDEN VIDEO Boulevard Dr., Alexandria, VA 22308. 45133-8546--0ur 62nd Year. (513) 393-1278. New Water Garden Video! Learn from the HOSTA OVER 1000 KINDS OF CHOICE & AFFOR­ professionals how to water garden. Send $2.50 DABLE PLANTS. Outstanding Ornamentals, for a complete color catalog from i\werica's AMERICA'S PREMIER HOSTA GROWER oldest water garden specialist. WILLIAM presents their NEW 84 page full color 1990 American Natives, Perennials, Rare Conifers, Pre-Bonsai, Wildlife Plants, much more. TRICKER, INC. , 7125 Tanglewood Dr., Inde­ perennial catalog. Filled with the lastest pendence, OH 44131. (216) 524-3491. varieties from Paul Aden, plus many varieties Descriptive catalog $2. FORESTFARM, 990 of Peonies, Daylilies, Hosta, Ornamental Tetherow, Williams, OR 97544. Grasses, Iris and Companion Plants .. .many exclusives. All are hardy plants homegrown in rich Illinois prairie soil. All are containerized plants for all season shipping. Each plant is hand packed the way Grandma Klehm would have shipped it. Send $4 (fully refundable on ~ 'l"\\..ES of /jl . O~~~~I.~~~: fIrst order). 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American Horticulturist • May 1990 • 23 Top: Insects are Rare Mint Protects repelled by the mint scent of Itself With '80mb' frutescens found pleasant by Cornell Cornell University researchers have biology professor found that a nearly extinct mint plant Thomas Eisner, protects itself with a chemical ''bomb'' chemistry professor that remains hermetically sealed until Jerrold Meinwald, an insect bites into one of its leaves. and graduate student The leaves of the mint, Dicerandra Kevin McCormick. frutescens , which is found in only a few Bottom: Ants feeding patches in central Florida, contain on a circle of sugar capsules of a number of mint oils found begin to flee from a in other plants, but also a previously mint leaf thrust in unknown one, called trans-pulegol. their midst. Many plants contain chemical defenses in their leaves, said Thomas Eisner, the Jacob Gould Schurman professor of biology at Cornell; it is the mint's means of economizing on its defenses that make it particularly intriguing. "It's probably a general phenomenon points to such recent discoveries as that we biologists have overlooked." vincristine, an anticancer agent iso­ The discovery was made at the lated from the Madagascar periwinkle; Archbold Biological Station in Lake cyclosporin, made from a Norwegian Placid, Florida. When an undamaged fungus and used to prevent rejection of mint leaf was offered to ants feeding on a transplanted organs; and invermectin, sugar solution, they took no notice, but a drug derived from a Japanese mold when the leaf was cut, they stopped and used to treat river blindness. feeding and fled. When trans-pulegol The trans-pulegol discovery was dabbed on a cockroach's abdomen, demonstrates that researchers don't I the insect.began to scratch itself. have to go all the way to the tropical . _ O~y. onEJ'insect, the caterpillar of a rain forests to discover useful 'i~pyraliQ.Wbth, seems able to tolerate substances in plants, Eisner said, \'eatingti'l:e mint leaves. That caterpillar although there is a greater variety of ." then uses the,mint as its own defense, by life there. It also underscores the Team members be1ieve large regurgitating the meal when disturbed. urgency of such research. Mark quantities of trans-pulego I could be Eisner is an advocate of what he calls Deyrup, an Archbold scientist who produced synthetically if there is com­ "chemical prospecting": a systematic participated in the study, noted that mercial interest, so that the remaining search for undiscovered medicines, food the entire known population of population can remain undisturbed. chemicals, and substances like trans­ Dicerandra frutescens would be wiped They will next study two related mint pulegol that might serve as natural out in a few hours with a lawn mower, plants found in Florida that are in • pesticides. In the medical area, he or a few minutes with a bulldozer. even greater danger of extinction. it,

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