Welcome to the May 2021 edition of Shade Monthly

Some notes from the editor

The AGM

Yes, that time again. This year it will happen over Zoom, Wednesday May 19th, at 19:00. You will receive the relevant papers by email. After the formalities, we are to be treated to a talk by Annie Godfrey (from Daisy Roots Nursery), entitled ‘Shady Characters’ (I am intrigued already).

Open Garden @ Montana, May 23rd

Diana is generously holding an ‘Open Garden’ at Montana, Shire Lane, Cholesbury, Herts HP23 6NA on Saturday May 23, commencing at 12:00. Please let Diana know if you are able to attend.

Seed Exchange

Wilma would like to remind us all about collecting seed from spring ephemerals. Please send seed to Wilma Keighley, York Villa, Hammill Road, Sandwich CT13 0PR and she will arrange onward distribution.

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The index

Shade Monthly is one of a rarefied group of journals in that it has an index, studiously maintained by Eleanor. As new editor, I thought I should go and acquaint myself with it. The index is located at: https://www.hardy-plant.org.uk/meet-us-at/pdb-shade-index.

There are no fewer than 4 listings: • • Subjects and Themes • Contributors • Gardens, nurseries and individuals The entries within these indices are hyperlinked (the techie term for the ability to click on something – in this case the month – and be taken to the relevant place. So if I wanted to know more about Arisaema sikokianum, I would look that up (the list is in alphabetical order) and I would see that the August 2016 edition is where I need to look. Clicking on ‘August’ (the hyperlink, in blue) takes me to that edition, and I can read the relevant article.

Similarly, reading the article by Walt Bubelis in this months’ edition will make you want to make sure you have not missed any of his writings in past editions, and consulting the ‘Contributors’ index will enable you to locate articles from him in past editions (Walt is a regular contributor, you can potentially ‘lose yourself’ for some time).

As ‘new boy’ I am finding the index rather valuable (thanks Eleanor), how about you?

Photos There are a superb collection of photos this month (OK, not counting the ‘cover’ photo). Those from Walt and Tricia I have chosen to place at the end of their respective ‘notes’, rather than interrupt the flow of the text. I would welcome feedback regarding the photos. Do you prefer photos at this size, or would you prefer them somewhat smaller in future editions? Please email me with your views….

…and also email me with articles, there is plenty of space left in the June edition (May 23 is your target)

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Notes from Seattle – April 2021 Walt Bubelis

Although we are still getting quite a bit of rain, temperatures are slowly creeping up. When working in the garden during a dry spell, I’m always eager to check on the progress of some favorites. sessile is emerging as is Erythronium californicum. I just purchased some Erythronium oregonum and am keeping it well away from any other Erythronium so I lessen the chance of mixing up the names. If I’m hazy on any names, I go to the computer data base or place a discrete label nearby. I’m not willing to go as far as Gertrude Jekyll in putting in large, obnoxious signs that were only removed once she fully remembered what a was.

I’ve been working with the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden quite a bit of late helping to develop self- guided tours. They’re limited to about 10-12 plants per tour and have themes. Broadleaf Trees was the first, Oddities is the current one (with plants such as Corokia cotoneaster and Zanthoxylem planispinum), Notable Barks is to be next, followed by Vines and Edible Plants. The plants are given QR codes and a garden map and stay up for a month or more. Herbaceous plants are usually covered in the monthly newsletter. Hopefully one or both postings bring people out to the garden to see for themselves the ever-changing scene on the 3 ½ acre site. Dr. Kruckeberg was my mentor for my Masters at the University of Washington in Plant Ecology where I studied Lewisia tweedyi (now Cistanthe). He and his wife Mareen traveled extensively and collected unusual seeds that encouraged Mareen to start a nursery which still exists today as both have passed away. He was a world expert on serpentine soils and loved Ceanothus and Western U.S. and Mexican oaks in particular. I much enjoy the Parrotiopsis jacquemontiana that he gave me from seed he collected while in Pakistan. He was such an inspiring figure that I love giving back to the Foundation by sitting on the Garden Committee, giving tours and short classes, the latter to resume later this year. Here are some of the plants in the garden to give you an idea of the range of what is here. Over 2000 species are represented, not all in good shape due to shading. Much deliberation occurs on what can be safely removed, even if a rarity, to allow others to thrive. (The best close-ups were taken by a student intern from Edmonds College, where I taught by the way). The new director is bringing in many good ideas and seeing them through, such as a lowland water feature with native plants, sculptures and a commitment to educating the public.

Walt Bubelis Professor Emeritus, Horticulture [email protected]

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Adenocarpus decorticans

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Cardamine quinquefolia

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Carpenteria californica

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Corylopsis glabrescens

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Cryptomeria japonica Gracilis

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Cyclamen repandens

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Gaultheria wisleyensis Wisley Pearl

Grevillea victoriae

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Hepatica nobilis

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Holboelia latifolia

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Kadsura propinqua 14

Leucosidea sericea

Parrotiopsis jacquemontii 15

Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. asplenifolius

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Oplopanax horridus

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Pileostigma viburnoides

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Quercus hypoleucoides

Quercus vaccinifolia 19

Torreya taxifolia

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Trillium chloropetalum

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Zanthoxylem planispinum

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Three shade lovers that do well at Glencoe Farm Garden

Keith Ferguson

Anemone ranunculoides ‘Ferguson’s Fancy’

Discovered in a woodland near Vienna by Lorna Ferguson some years ago and named by the late Michael Wickenden in his 2015 Cally Gardens catalogue. The flowers are smaller and less regular than A.ranunculoides ‘Pleniflora’. It has unusually large rosettes. Easy to grow.

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Sanguinaria canadensis

The North American Blood root so called because of its red sap in the rhizomes. Widespread in woodlands in entire eastern half of the USA and adjacent Canada. Very variable in the size and shape of the petals and some forms have been named. There is a rare pink form that is said not to be stable. The most garden worthy is the double flowered form which holds its petals while the single form loses them in a few days. Its great feature is that rather thick, grey green foliage persists into early autumn long after that of most other woodlanders has died down. Easily propagated by lifting the clump just after flowering and cutting the thick rhizomes into pieces and immediately replanting. The single form is easily raised from seed.

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Cypripedium formosanum

Considered to be one of the most beautiful of all the species in the genus. It is also said to be one of the easiest of the cypripediums to grow but may not be hardy throughout the British Isles.It has thrived with us in heavy moist clay enriched with leaf mould. The flowers we have found are very susceptible to late frosts in spring and do need protection. The foliage is quite hardy. Starting with a single plant its creeping rhizomes have produced some 20 flowering stems in 7-8 years. A native of Taiwan it is related to C.japonicum from Japan, Korea and China. P.Cribb in his monograph “The genus Cypripedium” (Kew 1997) suggests that C.formosanum is best grown in pot culture but kept frost free. Our clone seems quite hardy and has withstood heavy snow and freezing temperatures.

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Celandines

Tricia Howard

The lesser celandine is one of the earliest flowers to cheer us up after winter, with their shiny yellow flowers and heart shaped mottled foliage. They can be a bit invasive, but they die back after flowering and I love to have them in my garden. I have grown the double form verna Flore Plena group for many years, and of course the amazing dark black leafed ‘Brazen Hussy’ which the late Christopher Lloyd introduced. There was an article in the RHS ‘The Garden’ magazine this January about some new celandines bred by Joe Sharman at Monksilver Nursery, which inspired me to add to my collection. I sent for some of the Ladies series, named after French students who worked at Monksilver, I am really pleased with them, some have petals which are backed with slate blue or rust, and such attractive foliage as well.

Ficaria verna 'Crimson Damson'

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Ficaria verna 'Snow Bunting'

Ficaria verna 'Brazen Hussy' 27

Ficaria verna 'Jaquelie'

Ficaria verna 'Sylvie' 28

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