Is your garden missing jewel-like flowers floating on a one of the most satisfying forms of gardening. If you shimmering water surface and the darting brilliance of haven't one, you are missing a great deal of satisfaction goldfish? Are you missing the melodic sounds of water from your garden. spilling from a fountain, vessel or waterfall? Let Lilypons and TETRA POND help you to get started What you need in your garden is a water lily pool. A water today by ordering one of our durable TETRA POND 32 mil, lily pool is a garden whose plants like damp to very wet flexible 2 ply PVC pool liners. So easy to install and main­ feet. Fish and frogs like to live there and butterflies will tain you will ask yourself why you waited so long to begin like your garden better than ever. A water garden is simply this adventure. Choose from the seven sizes listed (sizes are approximate, for depth 1 %' to 2' in your own design.): o Lilypons water gardening c;:tta10gue SUbscripti0n...... $ 5 '0 8' x 12' Liner makes 4' x 8' p00l ...... $ 99 o 10' x 16' lmer makes 6' x 12' pool...... $145 0 13' x 13" liner makes 9' x 9' pool...... $165 o 13' x 20' liner makes 9' x 16' pool...... $199 0 16' x 23' liner makes 13' x 19' pooL ...... $299 o 20' x 26' liner makes 26' x 22' pool...... $399 0 23' x 30' liner makes 19' x 26' pooL ...... $499 Use your personal check or circle credit card: AE CB CH DC MC VS. Card Number: Exp. Date ______-==~~ --_ Name Address ______-_------__------City State Zip Phone ( ) ~~~ ____ Catalogue free with liner order. CalifOrnia (6%), Maryland (5%) and Texas (7%) residents please add sales tax. Lilypons Water Gardens 1526 Amhort Road Suite 1526 152{) Lilypons Road, P.O. Box 10 P.O. Box 1130 P.O. Box 188 Lilypons, Maryland 21717-0010 Thermal, California 92274-1120 Brookshire, Texas 77423-0188 (301) 874-5133 Washington Local 428-0686 (619) 397-4258 (713) 934-8525 Houston Local 391-0076 VOLUME 67 NUMBER 2

President's Page: Some Thoughts About Travel by Carolyn Marsh Lindsay 2 The Design Page: Redefining the Front Yard by usa n Rademacher Frey 5 A Catalog Review: Searching for Wildflowers by Peter Loewer 10 New Plants for 1988 by the Staff of American Horticulturist 15 Atlanta in Springtime by Ruby Weinberg 20 Star Quality Orchids That Bloom in Trees by Olwen Woodier 27

The Indoor Gardener: Exotic Plants From Seed by Anthony De Blasi 30

Old-Fashioned Flowers: Sweet Willjam: Gallantry, Finesse, Dexterity by Penelope Doan 34

Sources 38

Book Reviews 40

Classifieds 42

On the Cover: Why not plan a front yard that entices the eyes, creates areas for outdoor rel axation, and shows off nature's cycles in a glorious twelve-month display of color? Such a landscape is the opposite of the boring yards so often found in suburban Amer­ ica. For some new ideas, turn to page 5. Cover photo from the U.S. National Arboretum.

Left: The trumpet-shaped Calla 'New Zealand' Hybrid Mix, a new introduction from Park Seed, is available in a range of shades for new color groupings in your garden. Our annual roundup of out­ standing new plants for 1988 starts on page 15.

PUBLI CATIONS DIRECTOR, EDITOR, Virgi nia W. Louise1l. SENIOR ASSISTANT EDITOR, Kathleen Y. Riley. ASSISTANT EDITOR, HORTICULnJRE, Laura E. CoiL ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR, Martha Palermo. ART DIRECTOR, Rebecca K. McClimans. MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR, Sa llie Hutcheson. ADVERTISING, American Horticultural Society Advertising Department, 80 South Early Street, Alexandria, VA 22304, telephone (703) 823·6966. COLOR SEPARATIONS, Chroma-Graphics, Inc. EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD, Dr. Gerald S. Barad, Flemington, Nj; Dr. Harrison Flint, West Lafayette, IN; Peter Loewer, Cochecton Center, NY; Dr. Elizabeth McClintock, San Francisco, CA, Frederick McGourty, Norfolk, Cfj Janet M. POOT, Winnetka, IL; Maire Simington, Phoenix, AZ; Jane Steffey, Sykesville, MD; Dr. James E. Swasey, Newark, DE; Philip E. Chandler, Sama Monica, CA.

Replacement issues of AMERICAN HORTICULnJRIST arc available at a COst of $2.50 per copy. The opinions expressed in the articles th at appear in AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST arc those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Society. Botanical nomenclature in AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is based on HORTIJS THIRD. Manuscripts, art work, and photographs sent for possible publication will be returned if they are accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We cannot guarantee the safe return of unsolicited material.

AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST, ISSN 0096·4417, is the official publication of the American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, (703) 768-5700, and is issued monthly. The American Honicultural Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to excellence in horticulture. Membership in the Society includes a subscription to AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. National membership dues arc $30; foreign dues are $40. $12 of dues are designated for AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. Copyright © 1988 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, P.O. Bo x 0105, Mount Vernon, VA 22121.

American Horticulturist 1 PRESIDENT'S PAGE

AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Sanw rghts

omCERS 1987-1988 Mrs. Carolyn Marsh Lindsay Rochester, New York President About 1klvel Mrs. Harry J. Van de KaIIIp 12guna Beach, California First Vice President Mrs. John M. Maury Washington, D.C Second Vice President good friend and mentor, John Eisley, recently Mr. Richard C. Angino Harrisburg, Pennsylvania encouraged me to learn more about Graham Stuart Secretar), Thomas. I started by reading The Art of Planting in Mr. RichardJ. Hutton West Grove, Pennsylvan ia which Mr. Thomas again reminded me that we do Treasurer A not start young enough to learn and experience the full Mr. Everitt L Miller Kennett Square, Pennsyil'ania majesty of gardening. But Mr. Thomas further stated that Immediate Past President there are ways to achieve some expertise, taste, and ability other than trial and error, which is thorough but exhausting. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Visiting gardens is undoubtedly the best way of learning and Mr. Richard C. Angino Harrisburg, Pennsylvania the most enjoyable way! How wonderful to be reminded Gerald S. Bane!, M.D. that, no matter how old or young we are, we can all learn Flemington, New Jersey and be stimulated by looking at what others have done. Mrs. Benjamin P. Bole, Jr. Cleveland, Ohio Seeing is the difference, seeing the long-sought solution to a Mr. J. Judson Brooks perplexing problem right in front of you. Sewickley, Pennsylvania That is why the travel program of the American Dr. Henry M. Cathey Washington, D.C Horticultural Society has such variety in its offerings. Nancy Mr. RlI5SeD Clark Bole and Betty Corning are co-directing the new travel Boston, Massachusens Mrs. Erastus Corning, n committee, assisted by Judson Brooks, Georgie Van de Albany, New York Kamp, and Dottie Temple. With their leadership, we will Mr. Edward N. Dane Boston, Massachusetts have even greater opportunities to learn more about Mr. RichardJ. Hutton gardening, because individually they have covered the world West Grove, Pennsylvania and together they will plan adventures many of us never Mrs. Carolyn Marsh Lindsay Rochester, New York deemed possible. They are hard at work organizing travel Mrs. John M. Maury experiences to meet a wide variety of tastes and pocketbooks. Washington, D.C Our new, three-year schedule will include adventures in our Mr. Everitt L Miller Kennett Square, Pennsylvania own country, as well as overseas, " that will excite and Mrs. Edward King Poor, m educate the members and heighten horticultural pursuits"­ Winnetka, Illinois Dr. Julia W. Rappaport the very words of the AHS Committee Handbook. Since Santa Ana, Californi a 1922, the purpose of the American Horticultural Society has Mrs. Philip Temple been to encourage excellence in horticulture, and our new Little Compton, Rhode Island Mr. Roy G. Thomas travel committee is doing just that. Please watch carefully for Woodstock, Vermont details in future publications. Mrs. Harry J. Van de KaIIIp Pasadena, Califo rnia Let me give you previews of only a few upcoming tours! Mr. John H. Whitworth, Jr. At the end of April there is the Virginia Garden Tour, at the New York, New York end of Maya cruise of the British Isles, and during the Mrs. Jean Verity WoodhuD Da)10n, Ohio second half of June, a tour of the Gardens of the Riviera and Dr. John A. Wott Burgundy. We have learned so much from the great Seattle, Washington gardeners who have joined us in the past and shared their EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR experiences and ideas. We hope you will join us, too. Mr. Pieter F. Oechsle

2 Feb ruary 1988 r --5UB :cR ~p-:r~ ;; ~ - - - ~ --- Pl;a~; ~: ilb~ - ---- ~PPL I .\T I ON 'W March 31, 1988. Hand-painted porcelains quality-the firs t ever authorized by th e world-leading culinary Le Cordon Ble u de P aris from the foremost authority c/o The Franklin Mint institute. Each is glazed to a Franklin Cen ter. P enn ylva nia 19091 on culinary arts. lustrous finish, complete with its Please ente r my s ub cription for T he Cordon Ble u own specially created recipe from Porcelain Mould Coll ection, consisti ng of s ix im­ The great country houses of I)orted mo uld s o f lus trous, ha nd -painted por­ Le Cordon Bleu. celain . 17th-century Europe displayed a Culinary art to enhance every I need send no payment now. My moul ds will be lovely new art form-hand-painted ent to me a t the rale of one e very other month, decor. Classics to complement your and I will be billed for each one in two mo nthly porcelain moulds. style . .. and good taste. install ments of S18. 75* each, wi th the fi rst pay­ This collecting tradition takes ment d ue before the mou ld is sent to me. * Plus m)' state sales lax and a total of 51. beautiful new form in six for s hi pping and handling. sculptured moulds of the finest SIGNATURE ______-..,-,-::::--::-:: ALL A PPLlC"'TIONS ARE SUB JECT TO ACCEPTANCE porcelain. Lavished with hand-painted colors and French MR.lMRS. / MISS ______country charm from Le Cordon ADDRE SS ______Bleu de Paris. CITY ______Even connoisseurs of the art have never seen porcelains of this STAT E ______Z IP _____ 11008 - 150 THE CORDON BLEU PORCELAIN MOULD COLLECTION

THE DESIGN PAGE Redefining the Front Yard

Visiona ry li ce of the suburban ings, lawn, annuals-a bland setting in­ land cape i being erved up by the deed for the National Capitol Area Fed­ AU.. National Arboretum as the erated Garden Club headquarters, gift shop, "New American Garden." It promi es to and res t rooms. Aware that this highly vis­ reclaim the front ya rd for li vin g, with a ibl e area could be a model for the future, connoisseur's blend of some of the best Director Cathey asked Oehme, van Swe­ idea on ga rdenmaking. " How many square den and Associates to express the "spirit miles of America are lost to front yards in of America" in a new home landscape where which people don't do anything?" asks the plants and design would be equal parmers Arboretum's director, Dr. Henry M. (Marc) year-round. Cathey. "The rea on we' re nOt a ga rden At first glance, it seems a mirage of the country like England o r Japan is that we've great American prairie, an exuberant ocean given up the front ya rd to three shade trees of hardy perennials and grasses, barely and a lawn whi ch is largely ceremonial. " contained by the street. A second look, The typ ica l front ya rd stretches green through the loosely planted screen, reveals and blank across uburbia: lawn a display a seating area, sculpture, and the house, panel for the house, which is curiously ob­ scured by foundation pl antings; annual color competi ng with specimen trees for the sun . No one would ca ll it a garden. Certainl y it's no place in which to relax with guests o r a book, enjoying the sensual pleasures of the natural world. It reduces our activities to perpetual housekeeping; its high level of water, energy, and chem­ ical consumption is environmenta ll y un­ sound. We may take pride in our appa rent do­ minion over nature, but we are, in fact, enslaved. The typical front yard is a moat around every household that isolates us from landscape diversity and traps us in a never-ending cycle of drudgery. A waste­ land of personal expression, it accom­ plishes nothing except conformity with one's neighbors. "The reason we're not a That's where the New American Garden comes in, with solutions that make the garden country like traditional front yard obsolete. This de­ England orJapan is that lectable prospect is on display just inside the Arboretum's R Street gate in Wash­ we've given up the front ington, D.C., at the Visitors' Activity Cen­ garden to three shade ter. Just over a year ago, the nondescript ranch house had typical foundation plant- trees and a lawn which is largely ceremonial." The New American Garden sparks the imagination by drawing on Asian, European, and nativ~ American honicultural traditioAs Dr. Henry M. (Marc) Cathey and practices.

u.s. National Arboretum American Horticulturist 5 ,1 L A.,.1~ .' \ I _J / ,I I I u iil <: o'Il \ 6 \ 11 ~ \ :; > E -" 0 For greener, healthier, more vigorous houseplants, ·Oxygen Plus ABOVE: Oehme, van Sweden and is the best-performing plant food you Associates made can buy. University tests prove it. creative use of Mixed witM water, Oxygen Plus plants and space in their innovative releases critically-needed oxygen at design for the New the root level to protect against the American Garden. #1 causes of houseplant failure­ RIGHT: Clouds of compacted soil and overwatering. Rudbeckia fulgida soften the landscape Oxygen Plus delivers essential nutri­ of the New ents everytime you water-even if American Garden at you overwater. the U.S. National Oxygen Plus. There's simply Arboretum. nothing better for your plants. Let us prove it.

I Buy one 8 oz. bottle for the regular price of $2.99 and we'll send the second bottle FREE! Send order with a check or money order to Plant Research Laboratories, P.O. Box and suddenly you realize that this is a gar­ within an interlocking garden sculpture, 3976, Laguna Hills, California 92654. For den that's been turned inside out. It's an where nearly self-sufficient plants are se­ additional orders, please call 1 (800) adroit move. In pulling the plants away lected to express their changing characters 221-2589 (OUTSIDE CALIF) , (714) 721 -0153 (INSIDE CALIF) , or instruct from the house, the landscape architects throughout the year. us on your personal stationery. have opened up a new zone for garden Dramatically unlike the traditional front living that mediates between home and yard with its foundation plantings pushed Name ______street, private and public. up against the walls of the house, the re­ The concept of the New American Gar­ defined front yard rearranges the furni­ Address ______den depends on a complementary design ture, so to speak. Pulled away from the relationship between plants and space that house as a changeable green architecture, City ____ State __ Zip __ has been pioneered on previous projects the plants now define a series of subspaces. © 1987. Plant Research Laboratories by Wolfgang Oehme and James A. van Along the sides of the house, larger and ------HOR Sweden. Simply put, the house is a pavilion more definite woody plants enframe the 6 February 1988 house and create a buffer zone. Two of the major specimens are Picea abies 'Ni­ diformis' and Cory/opsis pauciflora. Adjacent to the house itself is a new kind .--- of planted edge that doesn't conceal the I foundation, but rather softens the transi­ I tion where the building meets the ground. I Here and there a shrubby specimen will I Greenhouse rise above a loose jigsaw of ground covers. I or Sunroom? Several Nandina domestica seem almost Make the right choice with Janco . randomly placed in a bed of Deutzia gra­ I cilis 'Nikko', a recent Arboretum intro­ I We're the on ly manufacturer to offer duction that heralds a new generation of I a complete range of greenhouses and ground cover shrubs. The planting bed ad­ 50larooms to match every lifestyle. I climate and budget jacent to the front door stretches away I 50 before you make your decision , from the house toward the outer bed, al­ SUND IALS I send $2.00 and receive our informa­ most seeming continuous with it save for WEATHERVANES tive 32-page color catalog featuring I over 100 greenhouses, the broad walk that steps between them. WEATHER INSTRUMENTS In this way, the approach to the front door I 50larooms and IANCO+ accessories. becomes a walk through the garden; set­ FREE CATALOG I ~fKlIJsEs &. GLASS STRUCTURES backs along the way provide niches for I Mall to: Building in the su n si nce 1948. seating and sculpture, allowing it to double I Janco Greenhouses, Dept. AM - 2, 9390 Davis Ave. Laurel, MD 20707, (301 ) 498-5700 as a garden terrace or entertaining area. Wind & Weather I rve enclosed $2.00 to cover first-class postage and handling of my 32-page color catalog . From the house toward the street, the PO Bo x 2320- AH I Name ______planting design gains density in layers and Mendocino, CA 95460 I Address ______materials. When sitting on a memorial (707) 937-0323 I City State__ Zip __ bench in the garden, you can't see through L Phone ( ) .. the tall Calamagrostis X acutiflora 'Stricta' ------to the administration complex across the street, instead you look into the layered Create a textures and colors of the planting com­ position. The center of the bed is below eye level, allowing views into the distant HOMI open fields in the Japanese manner of bor­ rowed landscape. To the right, a young With Nature Quercus rubra and a Miscanthus sinensis Balance yo ur garden's texture and design var. purpurascens together screen the with the help of this enchanting collection of driveway. The planting design works 12 theme garden ideas. Each chapter presents equally well from the street to secure pri­ preparation directions, double· page plan, plant vacy for the garden interior, while allow­ choices and descriptions of all the specified ing limited views of the house. Yet the plants. You 'll find comments on weather, ani­ mals and insects that affect the garden, the his­ control is never overbearing or static, be­ torical background of certain plants, along with Invite cause the entire composition is constantly an extensive source list of plants and rare seeds. changing throughout the year. This is a garden of moments that are in PAPERBACK $12.95, HARDCOVER $19.95, 7Y, x 9Ys, 256 pages, dozens of iJlus. a continuous overlapping stream, always NATURI available to the observer and never failing To YourHome to captivate and reward. These effects are Design your landscape to welcome a wide vari­ extremely subtle and acutely temporal, ety of birds to even the smallest yard. This beau­ quickening the senses and romancing the tifully illustrated guide helps you plan for proper observer. light, shelter and food and provides a complete The beauty of this planting design is that directory of 100 species' appearance, song, habi­ it is a concept rather than a formula. The tat, migration patterns, nesting requirements and concept is twofold: broad masses of the predators for both western and eastern birds. same plant, each blending into the next, HARDCOVER $17,95, 7112 x 9Y1, 160 pages, 300 four-color illustrations and twelve months of color. In combina­ tion, the design delivers "a constant ro­ "... Follow the instructWns, and your garden "... In a literate and charming styre ... as should be full offinches and rured by cardi­ tation of everything from foliage to flower precise as a biologist's rendering and nals ... " - The Boston Globe to fruit to inflorescence," says Curator Lynn charming enough to accompany fairy Available at your bookstore, or write to: Batdorf. "It's a study in contrasts that looks tares ... " - The New llirk Times Roda1e Press, 33 E. Minor Street Emmaus, PA 18098

American Horticulturist 7 THE DESIGN PAGE

simple but is subtle and complex." For­ of the National Arboretum-to develop tunately, Wolfgang Oehme is a consum­ innovative linkages between planting and mate plantsman who, in collaboration with landscape design-and provides a perfect partner James van Sweden, has developed stage upon which to display its latest "elite" an exquisitely sophisticated palette that a introductions. novice gardener can handle, and that could With the entry of this new leisure class not fail to enthrall the advanced gardener. of plants and relatively little work to do, the gardener may enter into a more con­ templativ€ and pleasurable relationship with ''We're used to tidiness­ the garden. Plants are presented " in the round," to be viewed from all sides, and deadheading, staking, in various combinations throughout the spraying - all part ofthe year-from shoot to £lower to dried form. And designing with an intimate knowledge modern age ofagriculture. of each plant's capabilities allows for a We've turned our backs on phenomenon that Lynn Batdorf calls " time­ At last! Now there's a sharing," where the same plants share one tillerI cultivator exclusively plants'intrinsic, built·in space in the garden, but give their display designed for small, back­ resistance to stress." at different points in time or in different yard gardens. levels of the space simultaneously. One of No longer do you have to choose Batdorf's favorite effects is when the pur­ between a yank-you-along front-tine Because this concept is founded on in­ ple wands of Liatris spicata emerge mys­ tiller and an expensive, hard-to-guide, tricate counterpoints to the broad brush, teriously from the lime-yellow flowering rear-tine tiller. Now there's Mantis ... Dr. Cathey sees it as a viable alternative Coreopsis verticillata 'Moonbeam', which the 20-pound wonder that makes every to the collector's garden as we know it­ later plays host to the violet-blue haze of gardening job a breeze! Mantis starts with a flick of the wrist. .. turns on a a spotty, albeit interesting, display of plants Perovskia atriplicifolia. dime ... weeds an average garden in that succeeds only in close-up. The alter­ Advanced gardeners will readily under­ 20 minutes ... and runs all day on a native provides the advanced gardener with stand the implications of the New Amer­ gallon of gas. a flexible framework for mass and speci­ ican Garden. But you might sti ll be asking Mantis tills a full 8" deep, or deli­ cately weeds just the top 1" to 2" of men display, while the emphasis on subtle what's " New American" about it. The your soil. It's so easy to guide that you blending allows for the exploitation of var­ plants originate in equal thirds from Eu­ can cultivate right around plants, along iations with a species. For instance, the rope, Asia, and America. Familiar ideas crop rows and up tight to fences ... New American Garden contains six cul­ from all over the world include mass plant­ without worrying about running into tivars of Miscanthus sinensis, including ing, perennials, borrowed landscape, tem­ your growing flowers and vegetables. And, with its easy-on/easy-off preci­ 'Condensatus', 'Silberfeder', and 'Flori­ poral effects, prairie imagery, and so on. sion attachments, Mantis quickly dulus', while there are more than 100 We may even have experimented with these becomes a PlanterlFurrower ... a Calamagrostis X acutiflora 'Stricta', concepts in our own backyards. What's Border Edger . .. a Lawn Oe- Thatcher Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm', and Cer­ new is the alchemy--combining these choice and Aerator . . . or a superb Trimmer for pruning shrubs and hedges. atostigma plumbaginoides. ingredients in an exotic way that redefines Best of all, Mantis costs a fraction of These are what Dr. Cathey calls "elite" the front yard and expresses the year-round what you'd pay for a big tiller! plants, meaning that they have been care­ beaury of the American landscape. Most For free details fully selected by horticulturists according of all, what's new is its gesture to com­ call toll free, to a demanding list of criteria. They are muniry spirit. If the nation's advanced gar­ 800/344-4030 aestheticall y remarkable in several ways­ deners reclaim their front yards from an­ (in PA, 800/342-0052) or mail coupon todayl such as foliage, color, flower, habit. Cul­ onymiry, we can begin to build a landscape turally, they are very nearly self-reliant. ethic that will bring us together in caring These undemanding plants tend to thrive for our common ground. on a simple regimen of well-prepared soil, -Susan Rademacher Frey good drainage (especially in winter) and an annual cut-back in early spring. Susan Rademacher Frey was formerl y editor­ "We're used to tidiness-deadheading, in-chief of Landscape Architecture and staking, spraying- all part of the modern Garden Design magazines. age of agriculture. We've turned our backs I Nv. ' I Mantis Manufacturing Co. To visit the New American Garden: Be su re to ~ .....ntIS 1458 County Line Rd. , Dept. 8000 on plants' intrinsic built-in resistance to bring a notebook, as the labels are exceptionally ~~L-__--.J Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 stress," laments Dr. Cathey. He points out I o Please send more information on the Mantis I good. Handicapped access. The U.S. National Tiller/Cultivator ... and your special FREE that the New American Garden requires a Arboretum in Washington, D.C. is open every limited time oHer! I new tolerance, an appreciation for aging, I Name day, except December 25, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Address ______for movement. All these plants grow free­ weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays I City ~ but according to plan. In this way, the New and Sundays. Enter at R and 24th Streets, NE; L.!ta!!... _ ----Zip ----11~ American garden represents a major goal call (202) 475-4815 for further information.

8 February 1988 The largest and most famous seed catalogue in the world ...

A glowing tribute to our founder, William Thompson, who in 1855 started his unbroken record of flower and vegetable seeds. A Royal Horticultural Soc. gold medalist and a recipient of rare seeds from Charles Darwin he initiated the modern policy of T&M. Acknowledged in the 1977 Guinness Book of World Records' 'To bring the widest possible range of varieties for your enjoyment.

* Over 4000 varieties. * Scores of NEW ones. * 236 pages (9x6" approx.) * Every page in color. * State growing information. * Soil & position info. * Germination gen. * Green fingers guide.

r------.,Don't delay, send today ffifj CJ'ltpmpsoIL I To: Thompson and Morgan Inc., Dept 7 , Jackson, N.J . 08527 . Please send me your FREE 236 page seed catalogue. I o ~GMorgaIL Name . I "Tlte S eedsm el/.. C£sU855 1"" r~1 Address I Suppliers of seeds ".- ... City to the Royal Families of virtually every country in Europe I and leading Botanical Gardens throug~out the world. A CATALOG REVIEW

first sight of wildflowers was leaves of the previous fall was enough to So<;m I discovered a wonderful old book while I was roaming the spring convince us that spring was approaching. to help us in our search. How to Know M countryside around Buffalo, New Not only did these flowers of the wild bloom the Wild Flowers by Mrs. William Starr York, with my parents and my younger before their civilized cousins-those ro­ brother. After a winter on the edge of Lake bust perennials that grew in my mother's Erie, traipsing about in a wood where the Native wildflowers such as Stylophorum garden-but they were distinctly different: diphyllum, trillium, Phlox divaricata, ferns, floor was carpeted with hepaticas and vi­ smaller, almost elfin, and quite refined in and violets grace this garden in Metcalfe, olets pushing up through the snow-worn both color and form. Tennessee.

10 February 1988 r------, GOPHER IT! Eliminate Burrowing Dana, originally published in 1895, was dula), a four-foot plant with leaves of gray­ Rodents found in a used bookstore in Buffalo. Within green. It bears white pea-like flowers in its pages were descriptions of 164 Amer­ the spring and rema in s attractive as a At last an effective ican native plants with charming pen and backdrop even when not in flower. For ink drawings accompanying each descrip­ bog gardens they stock the white-topped means to rid the yard tion. pitcher plant (Sarracenia leucophylla ) with and garden of Gophers, Eventually, I established a woodland th e typica l purple-red, nodding flowers of garden devoted o nl y to American wild­ the genus and, as their name implies, tall Moles and Shrews. flowers; today it is my favorite part of the narrow leaves that are white on the top garden. If you have a setting suitable for and graced with howy green and purple wildflowers and have been considering es­ ve ining. And for those gardeners who have tablishing a wild garden, the following planting room at the rear of a wi ld garden, NEW baker's dozen of nurseries are suggested. th ere is the ten-foot New York ironweed The They are operated by people who would (Ve rnonia noveboracensis), a drought-tol ­ have delighted in spending a day with Mrs. erant perennial that is statuesque and works electronic Dana. beautifully in both fresh and dried fl oral stake vibrates • Donaroma's Nursery is located on Mar­ arrangement . and emits a noise tha's Vineyard. The owners are engaged • Passi£1ora, also in North Carolin a, in­ in developing a collection of perennial cludes both plants and seeds in its catalog. in 15 second intervals wildflowers that could grace either a For the sunny ga rden, it ca rri es one of the causing underground woodland spot near your back door or an more attractive evening primroses (Oen­ dwellers within 1000 adjacent field that is now nothing but weeds. othera erythrosepala) whi ch ranges from square yards to flee. Among the flowers featured in their cat­ being an annual to a short-li ved perennial, alog is the charming blue-dogbane, often and the blue-eyed grass of California (S is­ Has been proven effective. called the willow Amsonia (Amsonia tab­ yrinchium bellum), a member of the Iris ernaemontana), a lovely little plant that family with its clusters of blue, star-like bears terminal clusters of pale blue flowers flowers. Look for the wi ld bergamot and attractive autumn foliage of soft ye l­ (Monarda fistulosa) with bright lavender low. Also featured are white snakeroot flowers on three-foot stems-a perfect (Eupatorium rugosum), a shade dweller choice for naturali zi ng. Passiflora also with flat-topped clusters of fluffy white maintains a research database and can lo­ Protect your Lawn, flowers in the autumn, and a white form cate sources for over 800 species of wild­ of the obedient plant (Physostegia virgi­ flowers and oth er native plants. Garden and 'frees. niana 'Alba'), a peculiar item because the • Prairie Nursery, located in Wisconsin, individual flowers can be pushed around has been in the business of supplying hardy FEATURES the stem without any harm and will stay native plants to both landscapers and in the spot where one's finger moves them. backya rd naturalists si nce 1972. Its own­ • No more gas, traps or • Natural Gardens is found in Tennessee ers are devoted to saving the open, grass­ pOlson. and is entering its fifth year of providing covered, treeless landscapes of middle home-grown wildflowers. In addition to America. Their catalog features the beau­ • Safe for children and pets. stocking a number of plants whose blos­ tiful pale purple coneflower (Echinacea • Each stake is effective for soms are attractive to butterflies, the own­ pallidal with its drooping rays or petals ers also propagate the thimbleweed or wood on top of five-foot stalks, which was used 1000 square yards. anemone (Anemone virginiana) noted for by the early settlers for burns and snake­ • Battery powered its off-white flowers and leaves brushed bites. The catalog also highlights the queen­ (4 "D" cell- not included). with silvery hairs; the Tennessee cone­ of-the-prairie (Filipendula rubra) with its flower (Echinacea tennesseensis), an en­ large pink plumes on six-foot stems­ • Waterproof, dangered species with showy flowers bear­ looking a great deal like cotton candy­ • No servicing required. ing rose-colored rays; and the rough-leaved plus one of my all-time favorites, prairie goldenrod (Solidago rugosa) bearing crin­ smoke (Geum triflorum), a plant that • 1 Year Warranty. kled, bronze-colored leaves on three-foot blooms in mid-spring and produces seed stems and delicate sprays of yellow flow­ heads covered with silvery feathers like 1-800-628-2828 ext. 433 ers. (It is the ragweed that causes allergy wisps of smoke. It makes a fine ground or problems; the pollen of goldenrod is too cover. Please send a check or money order.. for $45.00 heavy to drift through the air and must be • The Primrose Path in Pennsylvania is each (plus $4.00 shipping). Save money and buy carried from plant to plant by the bile.) propagating many of the rarely seen native 2 for $85.00 (plus $6.00 shipping). CA Residents • Niche Gardens, in North Carolina, spe­ plants of the Appalachian Mountains and, add 6% sales tax. cializes in native plants of the Southeast. for eventual introduction to the Northeast, M.D. Xpres"-s ______Among the fascinating offerings are the many more species from the Rocky Moun­ 4330 Barranca Pkwy. • Suite lOlE Irvine, CA 92714 • (714) 559-1831 beautiful white wild indigo (Baptisia pen- tains. Among their attractive offerings are L ______J

American Horticulturist 11 YOU CAN GROW HERBS A CATALOG REVIEW Our handbook/ catalog is a the New England aster (Aster novae-an­ dictionary of herbs from gliae) with large pink-to-purple flowers that Acorus to Yarrow, with crowd the tops of four-foot stems every accurate descriptions of fall; an alumroot native to the West Vir­ more than 600 culinary, tea , ginia shale barrens (Heuchera pubescens) decorativ~ and scented that bears white-to-pink flowers coupled herbs, scented geraniums, with leaves that turn red in winter; and dye plants, flowering peren­ Country Casual coming in the spring of 1988, a new phlox nials, seeds, topiary plants Thc ( ian .kn and I.t'isufe Furniture ~ pt' c i ;.lIi:-'l :-' (Phlox subulata) with flowers of a pale and frames . Recipes, books, a A superior col/ection of dil'erse desi[!,lIs gray-blue called 'Allegheny Smoke'. growing guide, and garden from En[!,land's major joineries designs help your fragrant and custom u'orkshojJs. • Rice Creek Gardens in Minnesota not only excels in its selection of plants for the and gourmet gardening . SOLID TEAKWOOD rock garden, the catalog has a special sec­ BENCHES' CHAIRS' TABLES tion entitled " Rock Plants and Wildflow­ SWINGS' PLANTERS Handwritten ers for Shade." There you will find my in finest Immediate shipment from our own favorite flower of early spring, the hepatica calligraphy. Maryland warehouse. Country Casual (Hepatica americana), in colors of blue and pays the freight Send $3 .00, white; Jacob's ladder (Polemonium rep­ refundable Colour catalogue $2 .00 tans) with its clusters of clear blue, cupped first order Call or write for more information flowers; and one of the all-time charmers to: COUNTRY CASUAL - CAH of the wild garden, oconee-bells (Shortia I 7 ) I 7 German town Road galacifolia) originally from the mountains Ger~antown , MD 20874-2999 (301) 540-0040 of North Carolina. Sandy Mush Herb Nursery • Rocknoll Nursery of Ohio has contin­ Rt. 2, Surrett Cove - AH ~I~ ENSURE AUTHENTICITY • ued to expand its collection over the past Leicester, NC 28748 SPECIFY fifty years; it now stocks a number of ~ ~ MADE IN ENGLAND American native wildflowers. Try black snakeroot (Cimicifuga racemosa) in the back of the wild border. This plant has an attractive form: white and fuzzy spikes of FROM 15" LEYLAND CYPRESS flowers spire up stalks that can reach eight TO OVER A fast-growing evergreen (3 to 5 ft. per yr.) feet if the soil is good and there is adequatt'l 7 FEET Long-living with no known diseases water. It also stocks the downy rattlesnake IN JUST orchid (Goodyera pubescens) with its dark 2 YEARSI Leyland Cypress was discovered in 1952 grt'len leaves traced with white lines, and by Mr. Leyland in Wales. Since then it has twinleaf Ueffersonia diphylla), bearing been widely grown in England and Ireland. delicate white flowers that appear between It is only now becoming available in this deeply-lobed leaves on eight-inch stems. country. The trees, grown on the Eastern • Sunlight Gardens is another Tennessee Shore, are in pots. nursery where plant species originally found all over the country now flourish in their Trees can be planted NOW planting fields on the banks of the Ten­ Rated for Zone 7 nessee River. They always stock the shoot­ • Will grow in marshy or dry soil ing-star (Dodecatheon meadia), a beauti­ • Not affected by salt sprays ful and desirable wildflower that is the emblem of the American Rock Garden So­ Prices from $ 5.00 ciety. It has white or pink petals reflexed (Lots of 100 or more $4.00 ea.) to the sky and yellow anthers pointed to (Larger sizes available) the ground. Also featured are the seashore mallow (Kosteletzkya virginica) with pretty MAIL ORDERS: Six (15") Trees two-inch flowers like a hibiscus that top Caf'!!ea NURSERY Delivered $51.00 (UPS) four-foot stems, and Stoke's aster (Sto­ wholqsale kesia laevis), a showy flower with fringed Catalpa Point Ox1ord Road Gift Certificates Available rays or petals surrounded by lacy green PO BOX 1599 EASTON. MD. 21601 Leyland Cypress Trees make bracts. (301) 822-0242 thoughtful gifts for holidays, • Tripple Brook Farm in Massachusetts homes and other special events. offers a wide line of plants, including a U.S. Rt. 50 to Easton By-Pass (Rt. 322) number of American native wildflowers. OPEN 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to Oxford Rd . (Rt. 333) . Turn right at the Selections include the wild ginger (Asarum Catalpa Point Sign (3 mi . from By-Pass) SUNDAYS By Appointment canadense), a perennial ground cover with

12 February 1988 For People Who } Jt Really Love Birds ~ large, shiny, heart-shaped leaves and roots THE FEATURE th at smell like gin ge r; the Virgini a creeper PACKED AUDUBON (Parthenocissus quinquefo /ia), a fas t­ growing native vine with co mpound leaves BIRD FEEDER th at turn a glori ous scarlet in the fa ll ; and another personal favo rite of min e, the pur­ • Tested and endorsed by the National Audubon Society . • Huge pl e flowering raspberry (Rubus odoratus), capacity (1 .2 gallon pole style or actua ll y more a shrub than a wi ldflower 2.2 gallon hanging style) . • Easy to but beautiful in any ga rd en whether formal fill. • High impact Le xa n ., or wild. construction for durability and • We-Du Nurseries, a North Ca rolina es­ weather resistance . • Squirrel proof. • Internal metering ring reduces tablishment now enterin g its seventh yea r, spillage and waste . • Solar heating offers many quite unusual pl ants, both - dark gree n metal base clears American nati ves and new immi grants from portholes of snow and ice, keeps seed around the world. Usua ll y avai lable i the dry, prevents dangerou s mold. trout lil y, often ca ll ed th e dog-tooth violet • Nylon perches protect bird s' feet. • Sat isfaction guaranteed. or the adder's-tongue (Erythronium um­ . 24 " high x 6" diameter. bilicatum), a wi ldling with charming mot­ tled leaves that bears nodding, lil y- li ke Pl ease send you r val ue·packed FREE WITH EVERY PUR CHASE! r------• catalog . I enclose $2, deductible ..• Roger Tory Peterson's book, fl owers and is a spring deli ght even th ough • on my first catalog ord er. • the leaves di e back by summer. It also stocks Ant Guide to Birds. th e great Solomon's sea l (Po lygonatum • Name • commutatum), a plant trul y noti cea ble in To order, send check or money order for $39.95 • St.lRFD • plus $3 shipping and handling per unit. NYState th e ga rd en because of its white fl owers in residents add sales ta x. Specify hanging style or • City State---2ip_ • spring and red berries in the fa ll , and great pole mounted (pole included). II send 10: • merrybells (Uvularia grandi(lora), with twO­ NORTH FORK • GILBERT H. WILD & SON, INC. • inch-l ong, bright ye ll ow flowers nodding Dept A2, Box 741 , Mineola, NY 11501 AH -288 ~ li n st. • Sarcoxie...!:l.0 64862 • above lovely gray-green fo li age. ... __ .... --- • The Wildflower Source, in Illin ois north of Chi cago, has nati ve-Ameri can orchids and a full line of th e beauti ful Trillium Now you can hang those genus. The firm offers the large white wake­ beautiful hanging baskets robin (Trillium grandi(lorum) with its three green leaves and three white bracts that and plants in your greenhouse -- appear as petals carpeting the forest fl oor; with Radco's p-Iant hangers the ye llow trillium (T. viride va r. luteum), bearing mottl ed green leaves setting off a flower of cl ear lemon ye llow; and the • Allows full rotation painted trillium (T. undulatum), a lovely of plants plant with wavy-edged white flowers, each suffused with veins of red. • Supports 50 Ibs. • Native Gardens is a Tennessee nursery • Made of alCJminum where the owners have been growing wild­ • Easy installation (no tools needed) flowers from seeds or cuttings and adding • Insert foot in channel and more species every year. Last year the cat­ tighten wing nut alog featured cardinal flower (Lobelia car­ dinalis), with its glorious red flowers, and • Satisfaction guaranteed its close cousin, the great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica), which is easier to grow Radco Box 614 Wayne PA 19087 than the red (its name refers to its use as Fits the following greenhouses Price $1.50 each a medicinal aid in centuries pas t). They Lord & Burnham 0 National 0 Qty 10-$14.00 also have switch-grass (Panieum virga­ Janco 0 Four Seasons 0 25-$35.00 Please check box for your greenhouse 50-$65.00 tum), one of the most attractive of the Please send plant hangers Shipping $.75 native grasses with stems up to eight feet, Enclosed is my check or PA residents add 6% sales tax a perfect backdrop in a wild or woodland money order fer $ ______garden. Name ______-Peter Loewer Address ______Peter Loewer is a botanical artist and scientific illustrator who writes and illustrates City ______State ______Zip ______hi s own books.

American Horticulturist 13

NEiPIANTS FDRIB88 he anticipation of a new season brings Bush', an All-America Selections 1988 award excitement to the grayest winter day, winner, combines many outstanding char­ and planning for spring and summer acteristics of a cucumber in one compact, gardens is even more intriguing when versatile plant. you add something brand-new to your list of Before stopping by your favorite nursery favored standbys. Try a plant such as the vi­ or garden center, browse through the fol­ brant early-flowering lowing selection of new hybrid Impa­ interesting and at­ tiens'Super Elfin Red tractive new plants Velvet', or add inter­ that are being of­ est to a sunny win­ fered this year. These dowsill with the new selections, com­ subtly-colored pink bined with a little bracts of Mussaenda imagination, will get e~h~phyH&Foran your 1988 garden­ apartment or town ing plans off to an ex­ house garden, 'Salad citing start.

American Horticulturist 15 • Delphinium 'Fantasia plant grows to 16 inches tall. Mixed' • Achillea 'Hoffnung' Huge spikes of showy blooms Also from Charles Klehm, this characterize this excellent new new yarrow hybrid is excellent semi-dwarf delphinium from for cut or dried flower Burpee, which grows about 27 arrangements and is easy to inches tall and doesn't need establish in any good garden staking. Colors include white, soil. Flower heads are flat or lavender, and shades of blue mounded with close, solid from light to dark, all with arrays of tiny light creamy­ creamy white centers, or yellow daisy-like flowers borne "bees." The shorter plant size on sturdy stems. Foliage is fern­ and profusion of flower spikes like. These are full sun make 'Fantasia' ideal for perennials. bedding; this is also an • Mussaenda erythrophylla excellent choice for cutting and 'Pink' makes an impressive show in 'Pink' came to Logee's the border. Greenhouses from Trinidad, • Impatiens 'Super Elfin Red where it is grown as a popular Velvet' ornamental. Like the poinsettia, This very early impatiens from Mussaenda is noted for its Pan American Seed combines a colorful floral bracts, which vibrant, intense red bloom with outshine the small yellow bronze foliage and produces flowers and last for months. profuse flowers, making it aFi The pink Mussaenda has a outstanding performer in its compact growth habit, remains color class, which has tended in under two feet in height, and is the past to late and scanty naturally branching. It thrives bloom. It exhibits good basal in any sunny window. branching and makes an • Hemerocallis 'Red Landscape excellent basket or container Supreme' planting. American Daylily and • Convallaria majalis 'Fortin's Perennials' new daylily hybrid Giant' offers many outstanding Charles Klehm and Son characteristics including vivid Nursery introduces this color and near-continous extremely fine lily of the valley, bloom. The plants proliferate which produces exceptionally quickly and can be naturalized fragrant flowers in the spring in a lawn or used as a dramatic that are twice the size of the ground cover; blooms are normal species. Foliage is also brilliant crimson red with broader and darker green; the green-chartrel!lse throats. Plants

16 February 1988 are abo ut two feet ta ll and send Ca rl son's Gardens in an up multiple new fl ower stalks unusually deli cate shade of as many as ix time per bloo m pink. It blends particul arl y well eason. T hi new pl ant makes a with th e typical lavender of the colo rful compani on ro other species and adds a hint of perennial in traditio nal subtle color to the landscape. bord er or can erv e as a bright The plant is hard y ro 25 ga [den accen r. degrees below zero . • Dahlia 'T & M 's Octopus' • Cucumis sa tivus 'Salad Series Mixed Bush' T ho mpson and M orga n has A 1988 All-America Selections developed a breakthrough award winner, this cucumber orchid-type dahli a whi ch comes has a bush habit and is illiiiiiilllilili.__ ililiilililliilll. in a fu ll range of colors and extremely versatile in terms of yields flowers six inches or growing techniques. Vines more across. Wonderful for extend onl y two feet, and the flower arranging, this plant is plants can be gently secured to very free flowering in the a trellis or grown in a large border and easy to raise from container. In a raised bed or seed. vegetable plot, 'Salad Bush' • Cantaloupe 'Sweet Dream' requires only two square feet, H ybrid making it well-suited to 'Sweet Dream' is an intensive vegetable culture. The outstanding new melon fr om bush produces ripe cucumbers Burpee with pale green, very in about 58 days, is high­ juicy, sweet fl esh. Vines are yielding, and has a high extremely vigorous and tolerance to viral and fungal -"*----- productive and hold well until disease. 'Salad Bush' will late in the season; first fruit reward gardeners with six- to matures in about 79 days. seven-inch slicing cucumbers Melons weigh about five over a long harvesting season. pounds each and are six to • Salvia splendens 'Fireworks' seven inches in diameter with a This new introduction from very small seed cavity. Provides Thompson and Morgan a fine addition to the home provides something a little different: a red salvia with dramatic, clear white stripes mucronulatum 'Pink Pegnoir' running through the bracts. A soft pink clone of the early­ Reaching a height of twelve to blooming, deciduous R. fourteen inches, this salvia produces a striking, effective .... 12&~.~lillC!I~1II mucronulatum was developed ii,; by Bob and Jan Carlson of contrast in the garden.

American Horticulturist 17 • Crinum X powellii Buttons" in its native Australia, This classic (1732) English this plant displays unusual one­ hybrid between two South inch, ball-shaped, golden African species is being offered yellow flower heads on wiry by Wayside Gardens. Huge two-foot tall stems. Seldom bulbs, almost the size of seen in the U.S., this striking footballs, produce, in spring, new introduction makes a fine basal clusters of broad, lax, cut or dried flower and is easy strap-shaped leaves. In late to grow from seed. summer and fall, sturdy three­ • Calla 'New Zealand' Hybrid to-four-foot stalks arise, Mix bearing up to 10 fragrant The color range of this new trumpet-shaped flowers, four hybrid calla takes it far beyond inches long, in various shades the whites, pinks, and yellows of rose, pink, and (rarely) usually found in callas. Colors white. This unusual plant include reds, purple, lavender, provides a long period of late orange, yellow, and bicolors, bloom, particularly valuable along with bronze tones, pink, since relatively few flowers are and white. The green foliage is at their peak at that time. The often accented with mottled plant is hardy outdoors south variations. Flowers appear in of Zone 6 of the U.S. the first year of planting and Department of Agriculture display their colors from early hardiness zones with protection to mid-summer; blooms last and can be grown northward in three to four weeks either on large containers brought the plant or in a vase. The indoors for the winter. plant is not cold-hardy; • Rosa 'Crested Sweetheart' rhizomes must be lifted and Wayside Gardens' new hybrid stored over winter in cold carries on the fine tradition of areas. Calla 'New Zealand' the best old-fashioned roses, Hybrid Mix is available from bearing clusters of fragrant, Park Seed. rose-pink flowers with • Rhododendron 'Shanghai' exceptionally high petal counts. Hardy and adaptable, this new Foliage is healthy bright green hybrid, offered by Greer and disease resistant, and the Gardens, is very vigorous and plant is strong and vigorous, free-flowering and exhibits suitable as a shrub specimen, in unusually large leaves and groups, or as a climber. flowers. Flowering in mid-May, • Craspedia globosa it grows to six feet in ten years A half-hardy perennial from and is hardy to more than Park Seed, nicknamed "Billy 100 F below zero, making it

18 February 1988 adapta bl e in many areas of the Pride' is ava il able from ountry no t gencra ll y suitabl e Wayside Nurse ry. fo r rh ododcndron . • SaintpauIia 'Royal • Dianthus 'Butter Up' Sensation' This pecial new pi cotce A dramati c addition to the di anthu from New Zealand, indoor pl antscape, this new ava il abl e fr o m Jackson and introducti on is an African Pcrkin ,exhibit bl ooms o f soft vio let with dark velvety purple, buttcr ye ll ow trimmed with a doubl e to semidouble stars with narrow band of dark red. The a white edge over green, pl ant i vigorous, producing ye llow, and cream-colored abundant, full y doubl e, peony­ variation. It is offered by like bl o soms with rounded Lynd on Lyon Greenhouses, Inc. petals. • Pelargonium peltatum • Iris 'Supreme Sultan' 'Solidor' A rea l advance in fl ower size is This very early ivy geranium, represented by this new, ta ll offered by Fischer Geraniums beard ed iris. Its huge blossoms USA, Inc., exhibits flowers of mea ure more th an six inches ; salm on rose; blooms are semi­ stems with six to seven buds double and very abundant. T his each stand a full 40 inches tall. compact variety adds extra 'Supreme Sultan' is a medium­ appeal to small er spaces. to late-blooming bi color iris • Viola 'Spring Magic White' whose butterscotch yellow This year Harris Moran has standards contrast with deeper released eight separate colors in red falls. This new c.ultivar is addition to their popular available from Schreiner's 'Spring Magic' pansy mixture, Gardens. characterized by earlin ess and a • Clematis 'Perrin's Pride' free-flowering habit. 'Spring Four- to seven-inch diameter Magic White' is a pure white blooms with uniform rounded with an abundance of two to petals of deep velvety purple, two-and-a-half inch blossoms darkening toward the petal covering six-inch plants. edges, distinguish this new The plants featured this year hybrid clematis. Bronze are available from the sources stamens slowly change to si lver, li sted in the descriptions; All adding a bright accent to the America Selections are available center of the blooms. 'Perrin's from local garden centers or Pride' needs no pruning and nurseries and from major mail will reach a height of eight to order firms . For more ten feet; it blooms from June information, write to them at I!:!IIWilYilllllil/i_~_IoiIIj,jjM~ through September. 'Perrin's the addresses listed in Sources.

American Horticulturist 19 in Springtime

Atlanta is becoming an early .... season migratory destination for "snow birds" - visitors from colder climates who can no longer wait to see spring arrive at home.

ABOVE: Comus florida provides a reason for celebration in Atlama each spring. RIGHT: The Atlanta Botanical Garden's Japanese Garden is a small but perfect oasis of serenity.

ongwriters, who have long Spring 1988 promises to be a standout celebrated April in Paris, may season for horticultural activities in At­ now find new inspiration in lanta, beginning February 10-14 with the Atlanta, Georgia. It is a bus­ inauguration of the city's first flower show, tling commercial city, yet At­ cosponsored by the Atlanta Botanical Gar­ lanta's horticultural heritage den and the Atlanta Market Center. Even dates from before the Civil War. Now, an before local gardens begin to stir, flow­ increasing population of Northerners, es­ ering plants forced into early bloom will pecially appreciative of Atlanta's early and give winter-weary visitors a glorious show prolonged spring growing weather, is join­ of color, fragrance, and variety. ing with descendants of the original resi­ The city has long been known for its dents in creating new gardens, as well as magnificent azalea displays and for its restoring the old. Atlanta is becoming more Dogwood Festival. The latter, proclaimed and more an early-season migratory des­ by Atlanta's General Council in 1936, is tination for "snow birds"- visitors from now a two-week event in April in which colder climates who can no longer wait to such activities as horse shows, tennis tour­ BY RUBY WEINBERG see spring arrive at home. naments, and hot air balloon races vie for

20 February 1988

Wildflower and the visitor's attention. But it is the dog­ in the North as a potted plant. The pageant wood tree, Cornus florida, both the species continues with magnificent rhododen­ conservation developments and its cultivars, that is the cause for all drons, tolerant of Atlanta's hot summers, are in evidence this festivity. In the South the tree is seem­ as well as other flowering shrubs, early ingly unaffected by the blight that has de­ perennials, flowering vines, and the first everywhere, displaying stroyed so many of its Northern counter­ buds and blossoms of a wide variety of the wealth of Georgia's parts. White, pink, and rosy-bracted roses. dogwood flowers are seen in their lacy glory Perennials and roses come into their own native flora. throughout the city from late March to the in early May, when many of Atlanta's busy end of April. gardeners try to take time off from their April is also a prime month for viewing own activities to see what their neighbors Atlanta's public gardens. Wildflower and are accomplishing. A half dozen or so of conservation developments are in evidence Atlanta's finest private gardens may be vis­ everywhere, displaying the wealth of ited each year on Mother's Day weekend, Georgia's native flora. Public buildings with an event called "Gardens for Connois­ formal gardens exhibit the pansy and tulip seurs." In 1987 the fourth annual tour fea­ in sumptuous beds and borders. By the tured, among other intriguing highlights, second week in April, hybrid azaleas begin a visit to "Le Jardin des Fleurs." The own­ to steal the show, especially the Indian ers of this cottage garden modeled their azalea, a large-flowered hybrid usually seen grounds after Giverny, the reconstructed

Tulips and azaleas adorn a raised bed planting at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.

22 February 1988 French ga rd en of impressionist painter Claude Monet. (See "Givern y" by Mar­ garet Pa rk e in the April 1987 is sue of American Horticulturist.) When I W3 last in Atlanta, I spent three fu ll days in late April visitin g several publi c gardens. An unexpected pring fro thad delayed early flowering plants and I was able to enjoy a wide va ri ety of ornamentals that do not always bloom at the ame time.

t the Atl anta Historical Society twenty-six acres of garden a nd rolling woodland h ave been preserved for publi c en­ joyment since 1966. Thi intricate complex is in the hea rt of the city's Buckhead District, a n a rea long known for its afflu ent mano r hou es. Two of its mansion , McElreath Ha ll and Swan House, contain historical and art coll ec­ tions within the land caped es tate. A Vic­ tori an playhouse, a res to red 19th century rock out of thi quarry and loaded it onto Vivid plas hes of color brighten the spring farmer's cottage, and a combination ga­ mule, then into wagon waiting at the top landscape at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. rage and servants' quarters (Swan Coach of the hili. The rock wa u ed for the coun­ House, now a restaurant and gift hop) ty's road con truction. As the convict complete the architectural picture. The worked, the tream and fore t floor ank, tion . The garden also contains part of buildings are of contemporary, Palladian, leaving a high, rocky bank and a hole of " Wi l on's Fifry"-the famous coll ection and plantation styles, and each is land­ fa ll en trees, a ll completely entangled in un­ of Kurume evergreen azaleas brought from scaped accordingly. For example, Swan dergrowth. The ite was redi covered in China to the Arnold Arboretum by plant House, an imposing structure of neocla s­ 1972 by the Mimo a Garden lub, which explo rer Ernest Wilson in 1918. Clones of icalltali an design, is surrounded by broad hired horticulturist Eugene Cline to ex­ these famous azaleas have been coll ected staircases, enormo us stone urns, ta ll amine the ledge, redirect the trea m and in botanical gardens ever since. shrubbery, and a formal pool and fo un­ waterfa ll , and dev ise a des ign with ram­ Fernbank's " Forest of Wildflowers" is tain. In April, large specimens of white­ bling beds of Piedmont and Coastal plant­ a se ries of trai ls through a wooded area blossoming azaleas swathe the ornate stone II1gs. containing native Southern Piedmont plants. building. T he quarry now is a woodland garden A brochure avai lable at the entrance to the There are several woodland trails wi thin sheltered beneath ta ll sycamore and beech fo rest contains interesting data kept since the Histori cal Society's grounds. However, trees. There are also open areas, boggy 1976 on the bl ooming dates of these wild­ the plantings around the restored T ull ie streamside plantings, and a host of wi ld­ flowers. The records are a testimony to the Smith house are of the most ho rticultural fl owers, as well as a coll ection of native ever-changing weather patterns which cause interest. This two-story frame building, of trees and shrubs. The shrubs are particu­ earl y-, mid- or late-blooming cycles each considerable age, was transported to the la rl y interes ting. Besides the common year. site as an example of a simple plantation mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), there " We've got a whole lot growing on" is farmhouse. In the front yard, a tiny garden are representatives of other Kalmia spe­ the byword of the Atlanta Botanical Gar­ is planted with crape myrtle trees and old­ cies: K. angustifolia , K. cuneata, and K. den. ABG, as it calls itself, is located on fashioned annuals such as o range wall­ hirsuta. At the time of my visit, a few of sixty acres of the city's midtown Piedmont flowers. In the rear of the house are beds the shrubs seen in bloom were the tetter­ Park, leased only eight years ago. At that of mixed herbs and vegetables and a grape bush (Lyonia lu cida), the Carolina all spice time, a small but dedicated group of hor­ arbor. Clambering amid the outbuildings, (Ca lycanthus floridus), and the purple ticulturists brought a dynamic personality old roses such as Rosa rugosa, R. banksiae, anise (Illicium fl oridanum). The latter is into their fold to be executive director­ and R. laevigata begin to bloom in late a magnoli a relative with reddish-purple, Ann Lyon Crammond from Connecticut. April. Primitive garden tools are on displ ay multi-petaled fl owers, long-blooming and This enthusiastic woman with an executive here as well. peaking in midsummer. background undertook an enormous chal­ Near the Smith house is the M ary How­ A half dozen miles east of downtown lenge. Piedmont Park was then the gath­ ard Gilbert Memorial Garden, a quarry Atlanta, in the suburb of Decatur, is the ering place of derelicts who vandalized the garden containing three acres of native Fernbank Science Center. The main build­ grounds, leaving trails of garbage in their plants. While most are well labeled, it is ing houses a pl anetarium and a museum wake. Establishing a botanical garden on helpful to first procure a booklet at the of natural history. Visitors will find Fern­ such a site required vision, planning, and Society's information desk which names bank's botanical garden of interest, with financial backing. Ann Crammond was and diagrams the planting schemes. its bonsai, herb, and perennial sections, fortunate in finding support for this proj­ At the turn of the century, convicts hacked and an exhibit of All-America Rose selec- ect among many of Atlanta's wealthy cit-

American Horticulturist 23 izens, leading foundations, and corpora­ ness further north. Many other perennials tions; she and her group were able to raise are only on trial, because Georgia'S hot $3.6 million in endowment funds. summers do not provide ideal growth COIil­ ditions. Two research projects are now in their oon the Dorothy C. Fuqua infancy: a wildflower plot showing the best Conservatory, a major gift, will use of native plants, and a camellia har­ be completed. This contem­ diness project. In many parts of the South, porary three-climate-con­ both Camellia sasanqua and C. japonica trolled greenhouse could very were devastated by recent erratic winters. well increase the garden's at­ Ann Crammond believes that excessive tendance from its present 100,000 visitors hybridization might have destroyed their annually to over a million. Ann Cram­ hardiness. She hopes to procure older va­ mond describes it as a home for desert, rieties of C. japonica to test, with the aim tropical, and Mediterranean plants and of reinstating the camellia as a choice plant hopes that in the future a refrigerated al­ for Southern gardens. pine house will become part of the struc­ No visit to the botanical gardens is com­ ture. plete without a walk through Northwoods ABG presently has five acres of formal Trail, over twenty acres of former farm­ gardens. In one place, a tiny Frog Baby land that has grown into a natural hard­ Pool features the statue of a baby boy hold­ wood forest right in the center of the city. ing a fish above a circular pond. Anchusa On a tour through the woods, the guide and small yellow-flowered Louisiana pointed out environmental changes caused swamp iris (probably a natural hybrid of by the passing of the years. One of the Iris fulva) complete the composition. guides has set up a "window in the Nearby, tall empress trees, Paulownia to­ woods"-a glass panel mounted on the mentosa, spread a canopy of purple trum­ side of a hill and covered with a door. pet flowers overhead. This species is usu­ Viewers can lift the door to see the un­ ally criticized for its fast, weak growth and derground action of mice, grubs, earth­ its constant litter of leaves and twigs. worms, and other subterranean creatures Nevertheless,. in a Southern park-like set­ working to return forest debris to com­ ting, the empress tree creates dramatic post. beauty when it blooms. As in other botanical gardens, gathering The Japanese garden is meant for view­ collections of ornamentals is a prime goal. ing rather than strolling. This tiny, en­ In the spring of 1987, ABG was the recip­ closed landscape is built around two scrub ient of 300 kinds of woody and herbaceous pines (Pinus virginiana), contorted and full plants from the Lewis Ginter Botanical of character, overlooking small pools or­ Garden in Richmond, Virginia. These gift namented with the common scouring rush seedlings were grown from collections from (Equisetum hyemale). A few clumps of iris, the Far East and Russia and include tan­ a small stone bridge, several lanterns, and talizing species and varieties of Clethra, a green ground cover are all part of the beauty berry (Callicarpa), crape myrtle scene. The typical Japanese ground cover (Lagerstroemia), and maple (Acer). As they of moss would be impractical here because become mature, the garden's horticultur­ of Atlanta's hot, dry summers; instead, Di­ ists will evaluate the use of these rare plants. chondra, a grass-like substitute, looks well, Visitors will be able to spot the new ac­ though it needs constant control. quisitions easily, as each label will be The herb garden is encircled on three marked with a green stripe. Such plant sides by a brick wall; the "pierced wall" exchanges help to enlarge the range of little­ design, used often in England, was a fa­ known species which might possibly en­ vorite with early American colonists. Herbs, rich our private gardens in the future. in patterns of chartreuse, apple green, and A love of the good earth has always been silver, are pleasingly arranged in formal a Southern characteristic. Modern At­ beds around a sundial and surrounded by lanta, a major city, is experiencing an up­ low boxwood hedges. surge of interest in the field of horticulture. ABG has made a fine beginning in its Fortunately, many other places in the choice of specimen plantings such as crape country are also getting caught up in this myrtles, hybrid hollies, and magnolias. trend; as populations increase, so does the There are some unusual perennials here as need for creating green sanctuaries every­ well. The lovely purple-flowered trailers where to both excite and console the hu­ that cover one low bank are moss verbena, man spirit. Verbena tenuisecta. These seed-grown plants have the appearance of delicate al­ Ruby Weinberg is a gardener and writer pines, though they are of doubtful hardi- living in Califon, New Jersey.

24 February 1988 FAR LEFT: Yarrow, daylili es and Shasta daisies draw artists to the Atlanta Botanical Garden. LEFT: The Frog Baby Pool is a famili ar landmark to garden visitors. BELOW: Camellia sasanqua 'Yae Arare' is a subject o f hardiness studies at the garden.

American Horticulturist 25 26 February 1988 StarQuality

ThatBloom inltees

BY OLWEN WOODIER

specia l ga rden fl o ur­ with a series o f waterfa ll s. Su rrounded by i he in Mi ami , Florida, bo ulders, stone, and numerous plantings, rh a t is a pa radi e fo r it i bui lt and lined with ooli tic limestone macaw, wa rb le r , rock and runs underneath several oaks. hummingbird , creech He ha call ed this creation Maddux Fall s owl , wood duck , and after his ma rried daughter's fami ly name. ma ll ards. There i al a one Ameri can COO t Other signs point to Chris' Corner (named th at return winter a ft er winter, announc­ after a grandson) and indicate the way to ing its arrival by walking to the back door Pea nut Point. and begging to be hand fed. This ga rden T hen there is the swi mming pool. N ot is also pure enchantment for people who, th e u ual O lympic-style pool, it fo ll ows the like "Sam" the COO t, come back often to configuration of a natu ral pond in a sylvan the home o f Jim and Nancy M cLamo re. setting where you can reach out to touch Tranquil beauty seduce no matter where shrubs, flowers, rocks, and stones. O ne you walk in J im McLa more's three-and­ does nOt think of doing laps here; rather, one-half acre ga rden. Gently rounded hill s the des ire is to floa t w ith your eyes closed ro ll down to the fifteen-acre lake. Each and imagi ne that you are in a secret tidal large oak dorted along the 450 feet o f lake pool on a secluded is land. frontage is a ga rden wi thin a ga rden. T he When Jim McLamore, co-founder and trunks and li mbs of rhe ra il oaks play host chairman emeritus of Burger Kin g and to stagho rn fe rns (Platycerium), resurrec­ chairman of the boa rd of trustees of the ti on fe rn (Polypodium polypodioides) , and University of M iami , bought the property several species of orchids. More orchids twenty years ago, the lay of the land was make thei r home around the bases, next not at all th is way. It sloped graduall y down to the bromeliads and tree fe rns. to the lake; there were huge pine trees and A beauti ful fi fty-yea r-old gumbo-limbo a tennis court. N ot long a fter moving in, tree (Bursera simaruba)- its bark peels Ji m and N ancy decided to insta ll the swim­ away in thin sli ces, revealing a smooth, ming p ool. T h e excavatio n crea ted a sil ve ry-grey inner trunk-looks li ke many mountain of ea rth that sent J im's fa ntasies but is reall y onl y one spreading specimen. reeling. And that was the beginning of his " I take a branch and grow another tree by fo ray into garden design. sti cking it in the gro und," said Jim. Close Jim's garden fits the bill o f a man-made by, the eye is arrested by an outcropping miracle. There is not a tree or group of of rock, the backdrop to the blooms o f a shrubs that fill s a space by chance. Every­ peach-colored hibiscus. Areas are hidden, thing in the three-and-a-half-acre garden one from the other, by clumps of palmet­ pl ays a role in the total picture. H e had toes (Sa bal spp.). the pines removed because he likes lots of Another of Jim's creations is a little brook lawn space. Earth, boulders, and stones were moved around to create undulating effects. Jim McLamore, chai rman o f the board of trustees of the Uni ve rsity o f M iami, has When the property next door came up t ra nsfo rmed a n ordina ry garden with some fo r sale in 1972, the M cLamores bought extrao rdi nary ideas. it for a guest house. Again he built up the Marjo ri e MIC hael

American Horticulturist 27 thrives on experimenting with plants and moving them about in a landscape that is constantly evolving and expanding.

or a number of years Jim has been cultivating a va­ riety of orchids outdoors. He grows most of them di­ rectly on live oak trees. De­ spite his lack of technical knowledge, the orchids have survived and flourished through many winters-includ­ ing the freak weather Miami experienced in January 1985. (The books say certain orchids cannot take temperatures of fifty degrees or lower, but Jim has proven them wrong.) And they bloom profusely nearly all year. There are pink Cattleya skinneri, cascading spikes of yellow Dendrobium aggregatum, lavender blue Yanda 'Nelly Morley', green-bronze clusters of fragrant Epidendrum tampense, creamy vandas, white and purple star flowers of a hybrid laelia cattleya, chartreuse cymbidiums, glistening cerise ascocendas, and the pink, moth-like phalaenopsis. "My garden contains a great variety of plant and landscaping interests," said Jim. "The orchid culture is just a minor part of the whole and actually receives minimum attention. My philosophy," he continued, "is grow or go. I've learned by trial and error and in the process have developed some useful techniques. Maybe I've killed a lot of fine orchids in the learning process, but I've managed to produce some stun­ ning results." However, much to the as­ tonishment of professional orchid growers such as Bob Scully, president of Jones and Scully, a twenty-acre com~ercial orchid operation in Miami's farm country, Jim has been successful with the outdoor cul­ land, this time in the front and in the back tinkling of the wind chimes and the gentle tivation of many varieties of orchids. of both houses. Shrubs were cleared out gurgling of water, there is soft music­ His techniques are actually quite simple. and thirty-two oak trees of varying sizes everywhere. "There are eight speakers He attaches the orchids' rhizomes to the were root pruned and transplanted. Twenty­ scattered throughout the gardens," said Jim. east side of oak trees with staples. Orchids seven of the transplanted oaks survived. "No matter where you stroll, there is ster­ with clustered bulbs, such as E. tampense The McLamores' pleasure in their se­ eophonic music." or D. aggregatum, are pressed to the tree cluded landscape is not reserved for day­ It is hard to decide what makes the plants with a nail and a tin roofing washer. On time enjoyment alone. Dusk is a signal for flourish so well-the tender loving care the tree trunk, just above the orchid, he the screech owls to come out of their nest from Papa McLamore, the lighting, or the staples a homemade nutrient pouch con­ box. It is also a quiet interlude for the music. Perhaps it's a combination, includ­ taining osmocote fertilizer. The fertilizer McLamores, sometimes shared with friends. ing the gentle watering from the sprinkler is released each time it rains or when the For eventide enjoyment of the plantings systems set twelve feet up in ten of the oak sprinkler system goes on for fifteen min­ and landscaping, discreet lighting has been trees. utes each morning, giving the orchids a installed in and under trees, along the Jim McLamore does have help in his steady diet of nutrients. About once a swimming pool, and by the waterfall. garden, five days a week. But he is the month, a liquid 20-20-20 fertilizer is ap­ Everything is bathed in a luminous glow, designer and creator. He might not move plied by tank sprayer. Once the orchids and whether sitting on the outdoor patio the trees around or do much weeding (for­ are established, their roots take hold in the among clumps of red and white begonias tunately, Nancy finds it impossible to walk bark crevices and gather further nourish­ and impatiens or strolling about the past a weed without pulling it up), but Jim ment from the tree. grounds, it is still possible to admire the plants and transplants. Jim believes that orchids love to be around gardens. And in addition to the peaceful Accomplished gardener that he is, Jim staghorn ferns. The ferns' large leaves have

28 February 1988 the ability to trap moisture and create a humid mi croclimate which has a positive effect on the o rchids. "The o rchid roots venture into the stagho rn and use precisely the moisture they need," sa id Jim. "Cat­ t1eyas, for example, will send roots ri ght into the back of the fern, whereas va nda se nd sea rching aeri al roots down into the leaves." McLamore grows the staghorn fe rns on the trees in much the ame way he grows the orchids. He attaches stagho rn "pup ," with a backing of spaghnum peat mo , to the oak trees with nail s and roof washers. Some of his staghorns that have been nur­ tured this way have grown to eno rmous sIzes. The res urrection fern is also used by McLamore as a companion for o rchid . He has had va ndas and ca ttleyas end Out new roots on contact with res urrection fern growin g on lateral oak branches. Aga in , the ferns provide moisture, humidity, and" nourishment for the o rchids. ~ There are Cattleya skinneri growin g on ~ oak logs placed amo ng rocks of ooliti c g. limestone. Composted oak leaves under- i nea th the logs encourage the o rchids to FAR LEIT: O rchids growing send out root systems over the bark of the in trees? A fertilizer packet log and into the new medium. There are attached above the plant several o rchid " logs" growing down by the makes it possible. ABOVE: A brook and the waterfalls, an environment glance skyward in this south Florida ga rden reveals an that gives the orchids' rOo ts the choice of unusual floral grouping sea rching out their ideal environment­ perched in a tree. LEIT: Jim dry, moist, sunny, or shaded. McLamore believes that Just like people, orchids have their pref­ staghorn ferns and orchids erences. During the eleven years that Jim make ideal garden compani ons. McLamore has been cultivating o rchids, he has come to know some of their li kes and dislikes. He says oncidiums seem to prefer the crotches o f trees and dendro­ biums grow in crotches and on lateral branches. A cymbidium is vegetating in the pocket created when fronds of a palm, Bis­ marckia nobilis, were cut back and, much to Jim's delight, it finally bloomed last summer. " I was afraid that the Miami climate would be too warm for it," he confided. For years Jim maintained that the plants were incidental, that his pleasure came from the shape of the garden. "I will not allow orchids, however hard they try, to manage my private world of gardening," he an­ nounced. Jim McLamore's resolve finally broke down. During the last year, he has admitted that the orchids have proven ir­ resistible. "I've gone bonkers over the si ll y plaFlts," he says. " At the rate I'm going, I'll be lucky to see the oak bark in a year or two!" ~ ~ ------~'" Olwen Woodier is a free-lance writer .. specializing in gardening, nature, and food. ~

American Horticulturist 29 THE INDOOR GARDENER ExoticPlantsFrom Seed

potted olive tree (Olea europaea) graced the altar of my church in A Maine last yea r for the Good Fri­ day service. The three-foot wisp of silver and green flanked a wooden cross, a sheen on its tough little leaves. "Started it from seed," I told those who asked where I got it. It was worth waiting three months for the seed to sprout and for the wonder of seeing an olive tree growing in Maine. Last summer-a year after sprouting­ a Chilean jasmine (Mandevilla laxa) climbed out of a box and bloomed in front of my house. The white tubular flowers, like waxy petunias, impressed everyone with their subtle tropical perfume. In a letter to a friend I enclosed a dry leaf-it looked something like a bay leaf­ with instructions to crush and smell it. "It's from a camphor tree, Cinnamomum cam­ phora," I explained in the letter. I had

, ,., . Not knowing what to expect is part ofthe fun ofraising offbeat plants from seed. There will almost certainly emerge some strikingplant that will whet your appetite for something even more daring. Plants such as this fragrant Mandevilla laxa, a tropical American native, can be yours if you grow exotic plants from seed.

30 February 1988 picked it from a little tree with a bushy thing even mo re daring. canopy of jade-green leaves that look like Your " nursery" for starting exotic seeds wax. Perhap you' ll see this beautiful " fo­ sho uld be bright and warm, with non-s tag­ li age pl ant" in a garden center or green­ nant air. A supply o f fl ats, sha ll ow boxes house in the near future; perhaps not. It's or pots, a strong pl asti c bag, and a hand available, however, if you grow it from prinkler or mister are basic to the enter­ seed. pri e. A hea ting cabl e helps maintain th e PASSAGES UNLIMITED, Folks in Argentina, Pales tine, and Sri eleva ted temperature that triggers most Lanka may laugh; I'd probabl y laugh, too, seed into acti on. (I fit i not thermosta t­ INC. if someone raised a pot of dandelions and ica ll y contro ll ed, turn the ca bl e o ff if the PRESENTS AHS TRAVEL called it an exotic plant. Someone, some­ room gets very warm, a on a sunny day, where in the world, is constantly showing but don't fo rget to turn it back o n before 1988 off somebody else's weeds. But whatever the room cool down again.) Tweezers fa­ Again in 1988 Passages Unlimited has "exotic" means to you, it no longer need cilita te ha ndl ing seeds no t quite la rge design ed three unique trips for the involve a trip to a foreign country or a enough to pi ck up with the fin ge rs; with Society 's membership. It is our great conservatory. A host of plants, from Aca­ onl y a few seeds in a packet, you must cia to Zamia (a cycad), can travel to your make each o ne count. Also useful is a sma ll good fortune to have Dick Hutton, Board door in the form o f seeds and, with a little sti ck, blunt a t one end and harp at th e member and President of Conard­ patience and prompting on your part, will oth er (I use a quarter-inch dowel). Fin all y, Pyle/Star Roses, as our tour leader for establish themselves in your ga rden o r on yo u will need a upply of twO- to three­ two of th ese offerings. Back by popular your windowsill, perhaps to grow better inch pots o r seedling strips for the first demand is his trip to see The Gardens of than they did "at home." transpl anting o f eedlings, plu your fa­ the Riviera & Burgundy (June 11-25), The adventure begins with looking at vo rite seed-s ta rting medium to fill them. featuring one week in the south of France catalogs from seeds men offe ring rare and Mine is milled phagnum moss in a thin and one week on the barge 'Janine' in exotic pl ants. Considering whether to try layer (up to one in ch, depending on size Burgund y. In October we will Fall Into of seed) spread over a steril e medium such sprouting the six-inch seed of Ameri ca n Spring when Dick will also lead a three mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) in a glass as Pro-Mix. week trip of 'Rhododendrons and Roses' of salt water, or to risk growing the poi­ A dry sphagnum o r pea t-based medium sonous rosary pea (Abrus precatorius), o r should be moistened before use. Po ur it th ro ugh the extraordinarily beautiful to find something easy for indoors that is and some warm water into a pl astic bag, gardens of New Zealand, with a possible more exciting than ficu s and philodendron then, w hile holding the bag shut with one ex tension to Thhiti . may not be as thrilling as hunting for plants ha nd, squeeze a nd knead the medium By co ntrast to these exotic destinations in the wild, but it is safer and far cheaper. through the bag, forcing it to absorb the !

American Horticulturist 31 THE INDOOR GARDENER

The anti-transpirant useful in getting tough-coated seeds to wake mination and early development. Com­ used by horticulturists, up. Then th ere are seeds th at need to be bining math with healthy pessimism, ex­ stratified. This means they need a period pect a packet of eight to ten seeds to yield nurserymen and of cold to persuade them to sprout. Slip­ two to four plants-roughly one out of landscapers for ping the flat in a plastic bag and refrig­ three. over 40 years ... erating for two weeks is a simple and ef­ Do not sow different species in the same ficient method. If the packet contains plenty flat. Some, like the bush morning glory of seeds, sow some of them direct, without (Ipomoea arborescens), germinate in less stratification. Sometimes unstratified seeds than five days after swelling in a warm­ germinate faster than treated seeds. (Hard water soak. Others take longer: coffee amd fast rules do not abound in this busi ­ (Correa arabica) takes at least thirty days; ness.) With lots of seeds, you can afford olive (Olea europaea) takes at least eighty to experiment; with just a few, however, days. Some, like banana (Musa), are ex­ plant them all according to specific in­ tremely irregular, taking anywhere from a structions. And do plant them all ; don't week to six months to sprout. Even if the save some " for later." Viability, freshness seeds are all the same size, managing a seed of seed, and other factors influence ger- flat with such a mixed population is risky.

Exotic Seeds That Normally Germinate in Less Than 30 Days This is a partial list. The (R) denetes a good houseplant. Abutilon (H)-Flowering mapl

32 February 1988 If you are new at indoor seed-sta rting, dry out, give a li ght prinkle and cover it seedlings to their bright growing area. When choose plants that germinate in less than with some newspaper. If you rea ll y must the young plants are well along, the night a month for your first attempt. leave th e contain er of unspro uted seed for temperature may be all owed to fall below It is important to establish these three more than one day, slip it in pl asti c and seventy degrees down to sixty. hard-and-fast rules in your mind before shade it, but then remove th e plastic a nd What you do with your baby exotics, you start: return it to li ght when you return. Be sure once they o utgrow their first pot, is up to 1. Do not sow the seeds too deeply. to take notes to compa re actual germi­ you. Subtropicals may be planted o ut­ 2. Keep the s urface of the medium nation times to th ose published. doors in th e Sun belt; tropicals had better slightly moist-not wet-at a ll time. Young spro ut need no pampering, ex­ be kept in pots, tubs, or boxes and tteated 3. Maintain the preferred temperature cept perhap to move them to ca tch the a indoor-outdoor plants. Shrubs a nd trees range (Between 70° F and 75° F) if you are ea rl y morning a nd la te afte rn oon sun. lend th em elves to bonsai, or you can cu rb in doubt. Strong li ght but no t strong un is th e rule their development by pruning sharply in Be sure to label the container and in­ with eedling . Do not fee d th em until well the spring o r after blooming. Quite a few clude the date. Except for stratifi cati on of after th ey have been transpl a nted to their make fin e ho usepl ants. some seed types I do not recommend sli p­ nur ling pot, but if sown in 100 percent I think the magic of pl anting seeds and ping seed flats into plasti c bags to maintain milled sph agnum mo ,apply half-strength having plants from a ll over the world pop moisture. Seeds sprouting in a stagnant, liquid food o nce a week. up before yo ur eyes is a most satisfying anaerobic environment are under stres A th e eedling form true leaves o r a experi ence. While I'm not in the ha bit of when they are suddenl y forced to adapt to th ey become too la rge for th e eed fl at, talking to plants, I sometimes do find my­ yet another environment at the time the tran plant them to ma ll pot, li fting them elf speakin g to a young sprout a nd saying plastic wrap is removed. The trade-off be­ ca refull y and setting them at the ame depth omething like this: "Do you know you're tween conveni ence a nd seedling mo rtality in th e POt th at th ey grew in the fl at. Tamp not ri sing fr o m a warm forest floor in India becomes critical with ra re seeds. th e fresh Pro-Mix (mo istened) or potting but fr o m a be nch in West Newfield, Check the sowings daily, sprinkler in oil gently a ro und the eedling . La bel th e M ai ne?" -Anthony De Blasi hand, and moisten any surface that begi ns POt. Water li ghtl y th e fir t tim e-tho r­ to dry. If you are to be away fo r th e day oughly thereaft er when the o il look dry Anthony De Bla i is a free-lance writer and and worried that the sowing surface might (b ut before plant wi lt)-and return the photographer li ving in West Newfield, Maine.

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American Horticulturist 33 OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS Sweet Wtlliam: Gallant1] Finesse, Dexterity

ivine Flower" is the Greek trans­ be forgotten today. It is a classic cottage Flowers, Their Language, Poetry, and lation of Dianthus, that large tribe garden flower, good company for peonies, Sentiment, written in 1870 by an anony­ D of plants which includes carna­ foxgloves, and Canterbury bells. Modern mous author, claims sweet William is in­ tions, pinks, and sweet William. Dianthus cottage gardeners like Faith and Geoff digenous to Germany (other sources vaguely barbatus (the latter means barbed or Whiten often use sweet William in their say southern and eastern Europe). It was bearded) is the sweet William of our schemes. sometimes called The Bearded Pink and grandmother's garden. Such a reliable, easy­ in French was known as the "poet's eye." The author says the flower represents to-grow plant, which gives three or four Dianthus barbatus, a classic component of weeks of showy, lightly scented blossoms the old-fashioned cottage garden, is enjoying "Gallantry - Finesse - Dexterity" and lauds and is a long-lasting cut flower, tends to a resurgence of interest among gardeners. it with a poem:

34 February 1988 FIRST & ONLY Greenhouse/Screenhouse "The knights of old mi ght envy thee Year-Round Combination! Thy courtly grace of mi en Thy noble daring, brave and free, UNI~~~RG't'_SAV'NG RC.t\~ [n every dangeroll s scene. To age how kin d thy courtesy SOH-PO INSULATED To woman how sin cere! WINTER SUN SPACE CONVERTS Alike removed fro m va nity, TO A SUMMER SCREEN ROOM! From arti fice and fea r. " Published the same yea r an ocean away, FIVE YEAR GARDEN DIARY William Robinson's The Wild Garden was directing th e British to plant primroses, This year, jot down your garden peoni es, poppies, lu pine, and weet Wi l­ notes in this a ll-in-one-place li am in th e meadow grasses. T hirteen yea rs 5-year diary for gardeners. later in The English Flower Garden he Its 366 da ily pages are big would cl aim sweet Willi am to be "one of enough-6 1/2X9 -for a ll kinds of the most admired of garden flowers." He information, and there are extra disapproved of th e double- fl owered type , pages for clippings or with the exception of the vari ety he ca ll ed sna pshots, too. You'll be glad magnific us. Margery Fis h a lso loved this dark crim­ to have it a ll later. son double sweet Willi am. " ] am ve ry fo nd of it and try hard to keep it .... [t is a Avail able through Bronze aluminum Shatter-resistant glaZing No foundation s required J Ea sy dO -It -yo urself very old plant havi ng been produced by a AHS Book Service ass embly Ideal spa /hot tub room . Scottish nursery-m an in 1770. It is some­ Robin Willia ms Send $2 for Color Catalogues, Prices, times call ed M urray 'S Sweet Will ia m and P. O. Box 0105 SENT FIRST CLASS MAIL. at one time was immensely popul ar." T he Oealer InqUIries Welcome Mt. Vernon, VA 22121 VE GETABLE FACTORY, INC . fo li age is bronze, and in [reland it forms $10.60 ppd. POBox 2235. Dept. AH-87 "great crimson ca rpets, which glow in th e New York, NY 10163 sunlight. " Sweet Willi am is th ought to have been introduced to England by Carthusian monks The Home PrOperly during the twelfth century. It was bo ught for th reepence per bushel fo r Henry VIII's garden at Hampton Court. At one time "Clean-up Machine"! there was also sweet John, whi ch had nar­ rower leaves than sweet William. In 1557 Burning, Hauling Tho mas Tusser recommended bo th fo r I' or Hiding Yard Umbs go " windows and pots." Parkinson li sted it • Debris! ~nh~~: side under Armeria (Thrift) in the 1660s and called it Pride of Londo n (no t to be mis­ The Troy-Bilt TOMAHAWK® Chipper/ taken for London-Pride, which is a Ger­ Shredder is the fastest, easiest way to trude Jekyll favo rite, Saxifraga umbrosa). dispose of all the leaves, limbs, brush Jean Hersey in A W oman's Day Book and other yard wastes you need to get rid of Annuals and Perennials says the sweet of to keep your property looking its best! William acquired its Engli sh name from • Dispose of downed limbs . tum St. William of Aquitaine. M ary Durant in branches up to 3/1 thick into attractive wood Who Named the Daisy? Who Named the chip mulch . Rose? claims it was named in hono r of • Clean up fallen leaves . reduce their William the Conqueror. A fascinating story volume, while turning them into a useful, is that in Scotland, following the Battle of compost-like plant food almost instantly. MAIL THIS COUPON TODAY! Culloden in 1746 w hen Bonnie Prince • Eliminate ugly brush, prunings, I Garden Way Mfg., Dept. A714 3 13 Charlie was defeated, this plant came to I suckers· drop them in ...out comes finely 1 102nd St. & 9th Ave., Troy, NY 12180 I be called Stinking Billy after William Au­ shredded mulch for controlling weeds in your gardens! I O YES! Please send me fu ll details on the I gustus (second son of George II ) who was I TOMAH AWK including prices, 3 model sizes, I known as The Butcher and as Bill y. • Revolutionary UPRIGHT design I and your 30 day FREE trial peri od. I Some experts call sweet William a bien­ has TWICE the speed of bulky, old-style nial and others label it a perennial. When chipper/ shredders, and stores in nearly ; ~~ HALF the floor space. I James Crockett raised it in filtered sun­ IM~~ I light, he treated it as an annual and pulled Also available in Canada I City I it out after flowering. In her remarkably '------C1988 Garden Way Inc., I02nd Ave. & 9th Ave. , Troy, NY 12180 I State Zip .I American Horticulturist 35 OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS

candid manner, Eleanor Perenyi of Green If separate plants are incorporated in a Thoughts explains the dilemma. "The plants perennial bed, they brighten a late-flow­ you expected to pull up and throwaway ering area or combine well with other plants will often live on, causing you to plume which blossom at the same time such as yourself on having wrought a miracle when peonies, lupines, iris, foxgloves, poppies, I The ONLY specialty liquid plant I all you have done is enter the world of pinks, cranesbill, lady's mantle, colum­ I foods in the industry. Made for I plants that are actually short-lived peren­ bines, coral bells, thrifts, and hardy glox­ safety, accuracy and results. I nials but are labeled biennial because that Inia. I JUNGLE JUICE (2-5-4) for fantastic is how they are likely to behave." Sweet Sweet William is hardy to Zone 3 of the foliage growth and super green. I I William is such a perennial, grown tra­ USDA hardiness zones and has single or I GRANNY'S BLOOMERS (0-6·5) I ditionally as a biennial. double nickel-sized (sometimes fringed) ZERO nitrogen and special trace I Happily, I knew none of this when I first I for abundant african violet flowers which form an umbel of blossoms I blooms, you won't believe your I started raising sweet William. I am uncer­ five inches across on stiff straight stems eyes. tain of the origin of the plants which have about eighteen inches tall. Dwarf cultivars I CACTUS JUICE (1·7·6) For I been growing undisturbed for five years in such as 'Indian Carpet', 'Pinocchi o' Uim I outstanding specimens and helps I a sunny bed next to the house. Most likely Crockett's favorite dwarf), 'Nanus', and promote flowering. I they came from a package of seeds picked 'Roundabout' are between six and nine I FLOWER CRACKER (1-6·5) For up at the grocery store during a March inches tall. 'Summer Beauty' is a true an­ I Impatiens, Orchids, Bromeliads, I episode of cabin fever. They have been nual about twelve to fifteen inches tall. I Geraniums, all flowering plants. I completely carefree, blooming year after Colors are varied: purplish maroon, vivid 6 oz. bottle makes 12 gals. capful I year and weaving themselves together into scarlet, carmine crimson, rose, salmon, a measure. $3.85 ppd. I a handsome mosaic of dark reds, pinks, range of pinks, and pure white. There are I Any 4·6 oz. btls. $11.85 ppd. Free I catalog. and bicolors. They produce offshoots from also cultivars with "eyes," a white center the parent plant. In this crammed part of which William Robinson called " Auricula­ the garden it is difficult to detect self-seeding, eyed." In a mixture of seeds the resulting . g Clarel which sweet William is reputed to do. orange-reds and blue-reds can clash, but Deerfield, IL 60015 La btlora ones, nc However, since they have not spread from as they are the same flower it is not so where they were originally planted, my offensive. There are varying degrees of fra­ guess is that it is the offshoots which per­ grance, described by Matthew Arnold as NOW •.• BY MAIL! petuate the plants, not the seeds. its "homely cottage smell." 'Excelsior' and Unusual, Hard­ A more recent patch of sweet William 'T & M Auricula-eyed' are quite fragrant; To-Find Rower will prove a better study. I bought the seed some cultivars have hardly any scent at all. in England and sowed it in March in the An interesting offspring of D. barbatus Arranging greenhouse, using a mixture of two parts (sweet William) and D. plumarius (cottage Supplies: sterilized garden soil to one part vermic­ pink) is Dianthus X salmonae, a sterile Tool. Techniques. ulite. That summer I was inundated with hybrid which flowers all summer long in Tricks of the Trade the seedlings, and having more pressing a dense mat of sweetly scented blossoms. things to do, I hastily stuffed the thirry or When using seeds of different color SPECIAL OFFER­ forty plants into a sunny bed that I was plants, one can imaginatively combine them MAKES A GREAT enlarging for other purposes. They bloomed without the surprises of a mixture. Chris­ GIFT: the following summer and became a solid topher Lloyd's "smashing" display men­ The mass of every shade and tint of red, with tioned in The Adventurous Gardener con­ distinct, pure white exclamation points. sisted of a white strain and a dark red Original Seen from the upstairs window, their sturdy 'Morello'. He planted two dark reds to one blossoms of equal height patterned the white, filling up three rows for even color Stem ground like an oriental carpet, reminiscent distribution. Stripper of seventeenth century parterre d'broiderie In The Scented Garden, Rosemary Verey (flower beds laid out in intricate designs quotes a lovely description of sweet Wil­ A unique tool for removing and colors which were intended to be viewed liam. In 1578 Henry Lyte wrote in the thorns and leaves from stems. from above and at a distance, like the gar­ Newe Herball, a translation of Dodoens' dens at Versailles). Historie of Plants, that the flowers were 95 including onI y $9ea postage [, My chance success is an excellent ex­ " three or four togither at the toppe of the handling ample of the effectiveness of massing plants stalkes, sometimes nine or ten togither, like of the same species or color. The sweet a nosegay ... " Past praises still apply. For Catalog, ,. $1.00 William now covers an area nearly twenty all garden purposes and the heady delight M.C. & VISA ACCEPTED feet square, blooming at the same time and of every sense, this "small bundell of The Keth Company in similar hues from mid-June through July. floures" is still a top choice. P.O. Box 645 It is a splendid display for almost four -Penelope Doan Corona del Mar, weeks and keeps the house full of bou­ Penelope Doan is a landscape designer and California 92625 quets. freelance photographer in Monroe, Maine.

36 February 1988 1111 t 0" lhe ofG;", d, K," "Y' ~ ~ I I " ~,,"'"columnist for the 0,San:1 "~~.~::"~:~Diego Union.) "~o,::,.g~"I applied ~::~::; Nitron to 200 acres of soybean U Used over a period of time , enzymes can ground at the rate of 1/2 gallon per acre in two 0 relieve problems of shallow sO il by penetrat- appl ications. They received approximately 1 r ing hardpan and even marl. Finger demon- 1/2" of rain before harvest: the normal for thi s g strated this on a field where he had hardpan period is 5 inches. Even th ough these beans Did you hear near the surface He pushed a 3/8 inch steel were hailed on , there was no ledging (bruis- what happened on Frank's farm? rod its full length of 36 inches into the ground ing or loss of foliage), and the 200 acres without effo rt . ThiS could be a boon to hun- averaged 35 bushels per acre." Some readers will remember a story pub­ dreds of thousands of acres of land in South­ Frank Finger's wife, Gay, takes care of the lished in the San Diego Union April 6 report­ ern California vegetable garden, shrubs and house plants: ing a new soil conditioner made from Agricultural enzymes also Will detoxify "Last spring I sprinkled my row of carrot enzymes. Th e first inkling I had concerning soils that have been chemicalized to death seeds with 1 1/2 gallons of water with 1/4 cup th is product for gardening and commercial with Inorganic fertilizers , herbiCides and of Nitron added before covering the carrots. agriculture came from Acres, USA , a pesticides They also will adjust the aCld­ In five days the carrots were up so thick I had farmer's newspaper published monthly In alkaline balance to a favorable pH 65 to 7, to thin them several times. We ate them Raytown, MO. which nearly all plants prefer. Even high through the season and mulched them when The editor and publisher, Charles Walters , alkali solis can be restored to production . freezing weather came. We have been dig­ Jr., gave permission to quote the story about Theywill cause heavy SOils to flocculate (to ging and eating them all winter." Frank Finger, a biodynamic farmer near loosen and break down) so the structure IS Also , she has a cucumber story: "I Larned, Kan ., an d his experiments with loose an d plants can develop a more mas­ accidently over-treated one of my cucu mber enzymes on his soybean and alfalfa fields. sive root system and irrigation water or rain plants With a mixture of half water and half The difference between an inkling of infor­ can penetrate more qUickly, evenly and Nitron which I had intended to dilute; how­ mation and an in-depth probe is about the deeply. ever, I watered the area deeply and that same as Mark Twain's definition of the differ­ Perhaps the most important thing of all that cucumber plant took over the whole patch. ence between a ligh tnin g bug and lightning. enzymes do IS Improve the soil's "catlon­ One day in July I picked 79 from it and picked So when the opportunity offered, I made a trip exchange" capacity. Cation-exchange 50 on each of three other days that week. I to Frank Finger's farm . means the release of the natural minerals pulled up all my other cucumber plants to give There I set foot on the first enzyme-treated and plan t nutrients by unlocking them and this one room to spread." soil I have ever knowingly trod upon. All of converting them to a form the plant can use to There are many other stori es about central and eastern Kansas looks like a make its food by photosynthesis. enzymes that border on fantasy. Perhaps I beautifully planned and meticulously main­ No matter how bad your soil is , It is almost can tell about them later. tained park, and Frank Finger's farm seemed certain that you have considerable ancient to have an extra glow of well-being . minerals and trace elements wh ich it needs Our 32-page catalog contains more details To understand what agricultural enzy mes but which are locked in by an imbalance about Wet-Flex Hose in addition to many natural are and what they do, you must fi rst know caused by a lack of organic material and soil building products from Bat Guano to Fish Meal and from Blood Meal to Liquid Humic Acid. what they are not. Enzymes are not a fertil ­ enzymes. By adding both to the soil, the And of course, our primary product, Nitron, izer nor a plant nutrient. enzymes supply the magic key to unlock Formula A-35, enzyme soil conditioner. 1-800-835-0123 WET-FLEX HOSE Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Nitron Enzyme Soil Conditioner Description Cost Shipping ~" "; ,~- .> -.,,-> '.~ - : ~;"~ ~.: ~~ :-: "', ""~~t. f: : - " -~< .~V;- ' Gallon ...... 1 $25.95 ...... $4.00

• • ", I 2 Gallons ...... $51.00 ...... $7.20 4 Gallons ...... $92.00 ...... $9.50 5 Gallon Contai ner ...... $105.00 ...... $11 .00 Wet-Flex Hose ... thousands of tiny pores put the water 50' Wet-Flex Hose .... $19.98 ...... $3.50 100' Wet-Flex Hose .... $32.98 ...... $4.00 where you want it! ,------,500' Wet-Flex Hose ... $140.00 ...... $15.00 WET FLEX HOSE-When we first heard about this eS Frank and Gay, I want to hear more about enzymes! new hose that "leaks" and "sweats" from thousands I 0 Please send FREE 32 page catalog I of pores, the idea seemed too good to have been so I Y Ol'd ",0 Ilk" FREE bmoh"" '" Wet,FI" Ho," I long in coming . When we learned further that it was niwn made of recycled automobile tires, the idea seemed I Name -- - I even better. Several hundred thousand feet later, I~~ I our customers continue to give us feedback on the qualities of Wet· Flex Hose. Wet-Flex Hose works I City State __ Zip I best on low pressure, reduces water usage and I 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. Enzymes - the life I eliminates evaporation. Buried subsurface (2 I Most orders shipped within 2 days . • We honor Visa and Mastercard. force of the soil I inches to 12 inches, depending upon the crop). Wet­ NITRON INDUSTRIES' Dept AH7 • P.O. Box 400 • Fayetteville, AR 72702 • (501)521-0055 Flex Hose conserves even more water and is Information & Ordering. Call Toll Free 1-800·835-0123 '10ugh" enough to last for years. AZALfAS AND RMODODENDRONS Azaleas in July and June Need no longer seem pie in the sky - 'Carlson's Postscripts' will bring You an encore to Spring Sources When the usual kinds have gone by! Extensive selection! Personal service! "For Gardeners & Designers Who Care .. . " Need Advice? Call (914) 763-5958. 01 · 1!~0Ns 2-year Catalog Subscription Exotic Plants From Seed ~~RDE~ $2.00 (deductible with order) The Acacia Tree, 4526 Vista Superba Drive, ~ Box305-AH Los Angeles, CA 90065 ...... ------OF VERSES South Salem, NY 10590 The Banana Tree, 715 Northhampton Street, Easton, PA 18042- J-L Hudson, Seedsman, P.O. Box 1058, Redwood City, CA 94064. John Brudy Exotics, 3411 Westfield Drive, TIle Future Brandon, FL 33511. George W. Park Seed Company, Inc., Cokes bury Road, Greenwood, SC 29647-0001. woks Excellent Thompson & Morgan, P.O. Box 1308, Jackson, NJ 08527.

Sweet William: Gallantry, Finesse, Dexterity George W. Park Seed Company, Inc., Cokesbury Road, Greenwood, SC 29647 (seed). W. Atlee Burpee Co., 300 Park Avenue, Warminster, PA 18974 (seed). Thompson & Morgan, Inc., P.O. Box 1308, Jackson, NJ 08527 (seed). Carroll Gardens, Inc., 444 E. Main St., Westminster, MD 21157 (p Ian ts, retail). Bluestone Perennials, Inc., 7211 Middle Ridge Road, Madison, OH 44057 Anheuser·Busch is planning today for the work will involve potato variety develop· (plants, retail). 21st century. New ideas are being ex· ment as well as the development of other plored. New people are being hired, agricultural raw materials. Springbrook Gardens, Inc., Mentor, OH trained and groomed for increased res· (plants, wholesale). To qualify, you need a master's degree in ponsibility. New areas of business are Walters Gardens, Inc., Zeeland, MI (plants, being researched and developed. Look to agriculture, food science or a related tomorrow with Anheuser·Busch, and to area; or a bachelor's degree and one year wholesale). career excellence in the following posi· experience. We also require knowledge tion: of genetics and/or plant breeding. At Anheuser·Busch, you can earn an Searching for Wildflowers Agronomist excellent salary and comprehensive bene· fits. Please send your resume today to: Donaroma's Nursery, Martha's Vineyard, You will become a part of our Corporate ANHEUSER·BUSCH COMPANIES; Box 2189, Edgartown, MA. Catalog Research and Development Department. Department A·61-JM; One Busch Primary responsibilities will involve ini· Place; St. Louis, MO 63118. An Equal $1.00 (refundable with first order). tiating, developing and/ or coordinating Opportunity Employer M/ F. Native Gardens, Route 1, Box 494, Green­ raw material research projects. Your back, TN 37742. Catalog $1.00; send self-addressed stamped envelope for plant lists. Natural Gardens, 113 Jasper Lane, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Catalog $1.00 (re­ fundable with order). Niche Gardens, Route 1, Box 290, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Catalog $3.00; plant list free. ANHEUSER-BUSCH Passiflora, Box 99, Germantown, NC 27019. Catalog free. COMPANIES Prairie Nursery, Box 365, Westfield, WI 53964. Catalog, $1.00.

38 February 1988 The Primrose Path, RD 1, Box 78, Scott­ dale, PA 15683. Catalog $1.50 (refund­ able with first order). Rice Creek Gardens, 13 15 66th Av enu e NE, Mi nneapo lis, MN 55432. Catalog $1.00. Rocknoll Nursery, 9210 U.S . 50, Hi ll boro, OH 45133. For ca talog send 44 ce nt postage. Sunli ght Ga rdens, Route 3, Box 286, Lou­ The largest don, TN 37774. Catalog $1.00. U. S. grower Tripple Brook Fa rm , 37 M iddle Road, MUSSER TREES Southampton, MA 01 073. Catalog fr ee. The widest selection availabl e of Eve rgreen and Hard­ We-Du N urseries, Route 5, Box 274, Ma r­ wood Seed lings and Transpl ants, Landscape Ornamen­ to ", tals. Rhododendron. Rooted Cullings. Ground Covers. gf~::: ~$ 4,'" ,' ion, NC 28752. Catalog $1.00. Container-Grown Plan ts. plus money saving Speci al curl-up with an exceptionally The W ildfl ower Source, Box 312, Fox Lake Ollars W. ahlp to ali U.S. atatea and Canada. beautiful Fall 19871 IL 60020. Catalog $1.00. BUY DIRECT FROM GROWER Spring 1988 color catalog. .,"~ ' , € Beauty begi ns in the bu lb. \~',,~~ ~~ , 't I ~" :t .,'- ~ PI .... send FREE CATALOG to: Bu y qu aIl y. ~ I 11 // \ t,~,,~ ~~," New Introductions for 1988 Name ______e-4~ 't.~~~:.!"'%l

The plants featured this yea r are ava ilable Address ______Plt! a~e ~~ nd you r stunrung new catalog. I enclose $2, from the sources listed in the article;AII ­ City ______dc..-ductlble on my first catalog order.

ArnericaSelections are availabl e fr om local ~ame ______garden centers or nurseri es and from major 51. RF IJ ______mail order firms. For more info rmati on, Clly _____ State __ Z,p __ or to obtain a ca talog, contact them at th e send to: addresses below. OREGON BULB FARM S ...... 14U71 '. E.. .Arndt... . .Rd...-H...... • Auro...... ra. OR 97002...... American Daylil y & Perennials, Box 11 0, Dept. 340, Grain Vall ey, MO 64029. W. Arl ee Burpee Company, 300 Park Av­ enue, Warminster, PA 18974. Jumbo fruits, Carl son's Gardens, Box 305-AHP, South Sa lem, NY 10590. Fischer Geraniums USA, Inc. , 24500 S.W. ready fast .~if(; 167 Avenue, Holmstead, FL 33031. .Hard-to·find combination of large size Greer Gardens, 1280 Goodpasture Island and early maturity .• Produces big fruits Road, Eugene, OR 97401. weighing up to 18 pounds-more than Harris Moran Seed Company, 3670 Buf­ enough to feed a famil y! .Firm, ju ic y, ... . extra-sweet, rich salmon flesh . • Com­ ' .. ... falo Road, Rochester, NY 14624. pact vines with in crediby heavy fruit set. - -:t: Jackson & Perki ns Company, Medfo rd, I OR 97501. GIANT IOC Charles Klehm & Son Nursery, Rural Route MUSKMELON P~ ~-:. 3, Champaign, IL 61821. Logee's Greenhouses, 55 North Street, Plus a FREE! Dani elson, CT, 06239. Lyndon Lyon G reenho uses, Inc., 14 Spring Catalog Muchler Street, Dolgeville, N Y 13329. Gurney' s Seed & Nursery Co., Dept. 93-9348 Page St., Yankton, SD 57079 Pan American Seed Company, P.O. Box 438, West Chicago, IL 60185. George W . Pa rk Seed Company, Inc., r Here's my 10~ . Please send me my packet of Giant muskmelon I I O seed and a FREE copy of Gurney's big 1988 spring catalog. Cokesbury Road , G reenwood, SC ------I 29647-0001. I ~~ I Schreiner's Gardens, 3625 Quinaby Road, NE, Salem, OR 97303. I~ I Thompson & M organ, Inc., P. O. Box 1308, I P.O. Box Rt. Box I Farraday and Gramme Avenue, Jack­ I City State ZIP I son, NJ 08527. MAIL TO: TM Seed & Nursery Co., Dept. 93-9348 Page ,- Wayside Gardens Company, Hodges, SC G-..,' -RNEV Yankton, South Dakota 57079 s~. , ~ 29695-0001. ~ ____.LlMIT ONE OFFER PER FAMILY _____ 1

' American Horticulturist 39 Now there are over 120 practical gardening items in our Garden Catalog. Powerful Steinmax Book Reviews

Herbs Through the Seasons at and white, are also fine, but I wish that at CapriJands. the beginning of each section, instead of Adelma Grenier Simmons. Roiklle Press, Emmaus, photographing different places, she had motors. followed Monet's example in his garden Center blade has an exclusive clean·cutting Pennsylvania 192 pages; illustrated, 119.95. AHS action -against fi xed counter blades to member price, 115.95. at Giverny, where he painted from the same quickly shred corn stalk s, vines, prunings, spot througout the seasons. My choice for old plant s, leaves and newspapers. Mrs. Simmons does tend to write the same her would have been the site where she Side chute holds I V4" branches stead y for 3450 rpm chipper blades. book over and over, but this latest replay, photographed "Winter." Maybe next book. Bulk Leaf Shredding Accessory or medley, as she calls it, is as smooth as has 12-edge blade and large circular hopper silk. An enticement for the novice, it sets Encyclopaedia of Ferns: An opening for piles of leaves. Finely shreds a forth, once more, the strong theme in all bushel in under a minute. Introduction to Ferns, Their Structure, of her work. With "time, labor, lime, a Biology, Economic Importance, great idea ... and enthusiasm to carry it Cultivation and Propagation. on," she says, herb gardening and the study David L Jones ISBS, Portland, Oregon 433 pages, of herbs "touches all aspects of our lives, 250 color plates, 155.95. AHS member price, 147.55. at all ages, under all conditions." The book is divided into four sections, David L. Jones's encyclopaedia is a superb for the four seasons, beginning with spring. edition, "destined," he writes, "to stimu­ Each section begins with a 'Diary' and in­ lattl interest in ferns both as an intriguing cludes specific planning and maintenance group of plants and as appealing orna­ instructions, suggested parties, recipes, and mental subjects." It is rare for a reference Leaves-AwayTM activities appropriate to the time of year, book to project so much enthusiasm for such as a May bowl, summer potpourris, the subject, as well as erudition, as this one Gutter Guards autumn harvesting, Christmas decora­ does. 4 ft. lengths of aluminum each have 3600 tions, and salad suggestions for all seasons. The book is divided into seven parts: holes to admit water but exclude leaves and debris. Guards slide up under shingles, then Adelma Simmons' knowledge of herbal Introduction; Structure and Botany; Cul­ clip securely to outer edge of aluminum lore is so extensive that she is able, in a tural Requirements; Pests, Diseases and gutters. Perm anent , effective, unobtrusive Other Ailments; Propagation and Hybrid­ and economical. few pages, to give us a quick distillation of 5,000 years of history, including ization; Specialized Fern Culture, Repot­ Continuous process achievements and apt quotations by fa­ ting, Fern Containers, and Housing; Ferns Compost Bins mous herbalists. Who could fail to be to Grow; and Appendices-Lists of Ferns charmed by John Gerard's " Organy (oreg­ for Various Purposes. ano) is very good against the ramblings of While home gardeners and house plant the stomacke."? But interestingly, I don't lovers will concentrate on parts five to seven, recall her addressing the work of any of the book should also prove invaluable for her distinguished peers in this field. This commercial growers and as a text. The author writes highly personal accounts of amateur should not miss the botanical sec­ her research and activities in her own pub­ tions, which are written simply and with lic heartland. In Coventry, Connecticut, on admirable clarity. General interest in ferns fifty acres, Caprilands has more than thirty is ever present; they have been a mainstay Scientific design holds in warmth and moisture, lovely gardens, developed by her over half of conservatories and green plant collec­ accelerates decomposition. Turns garden and kit chen wastes into rich soil-conditioning a century to please the sight and senses. tors since memory serves, both for their compost in a few week s. Add materials Surely it took grit and singleminded de­ decorative foliage and color and for their anytime, slide up panels to remove mature compost at ground level. Four sizes to choose. votion to detail to develop this enterprise, comparative ease of maintenance under the aided by the money one pays to take the right conditions. Other items: • Bird Houses tours, hear lectures, dine; to watch Morris For those who proudly recognize the • Sheffield Pri'de tools • Watering cans dances and other entertainments; to buy Boston, Christmas, staghorn, bird's nest, • Juwel cold frames • English planters plants, recipes, Simmons' books, spices, maidenhair, and a few other ferns by their • Garden Arches • Tool racks wreaths, and a myriad of herbal gifts. Not popular names, it will be something of a Call or write for OUR FREE CATAWG a stalk nor single seed is wasted. revelation to learn that there are 230-250 Kinsman Company The line drawings in the glossary are genera of pteridophytes ("ferns and their River Road, Dept. All very good indeed, the artist only identified allies") of which 1600 species and seven Point Pleasant, PA 18950 by " KB " beside each plant. Randa Bish­ to eight genera are true ferns. The book's (215) 297-5613 op's photographs, in color and in black drawings and photographs are fine aids

40 February 1988 for study and identification. Jones, a professional Australian ho rti ­ cu
turist' is author of Australian Ferns and We Grow Fern Allies and several other books and Beautiful Perennials papers on Australi an plants, palms, and A t A Price X£!! Will Like!!! orchids. After many yea rs in the fi eld , he The plan ts that return to bloom season now devotes hi s tjme to writing and con­ after season for years of easy pleasure, sulting. - Faith Jackson our specialty . . . Perennials. White J beris for earl y spring, Faith Jackson is a writer and ga rdener who summer's perky Shas ta Daisies and resides in St. Inigoes, Maryland. - solar powered - fa U for blooming Chrysanthemums . .. Perennials beautify your home. The Garden Border Book. !Of GREENHOUSES and COLOFRAMES Bluestone grows over 300 varieties FEATURES of perennials which are shipped in Mary Keen Photographs and plans by Gemma full growth - easy to plant and each NesbitL Capability's Books, Deer Park, Wisconsin • fits most !inle:nhOUSBS - !inlat tar fi!Jerylass 6 PolfllilJ11 also plant guaran teed. 153 pages; 127.50. AHS member price, S22.00. • Ymilli or Hprizpntal vents Send for our free catalog. We will be If you are in th e pl anning stages of a new pleased to hear from you. garden, this book of typically English flower • Lit ts 3Z fJIIIJlli TEll ts up to 13:. • JiJ/~ Opening Terrrpl!T71/~ Name ______borders can be helpful. Whether your gar­ dening goals include a painterly view, herb • 1hIJgedlll7Ils ang similar prudnct Address ______for the kitchen, a coll ection of unusual or ______State ___ rare plants, reworking a corn er of an ex­ FREE INFORMATION or isting garden, or coping with a new town­ dealer Inquiries welcomed. Zip _____ house, there is something there to be used. SuperiorC}l.u toven ts 7225 Middle While all of the thirty British gardens fe a­ Ridge Rd. tured here are open for viewing in England, 17422 La Mesa Lane Hunllngton Beach. Ca . 92647 Madison, Gemma Nesbitt's lovely photographs and Ohio 44057 cl ear diagrams will suffice to bring them to hand for your use. Most of these gardens were created by famous names in land­ CH-6T scape design, but none need be slavishly The WalkLite™ followed, and can be adapted to your space and desires. Mary Keen frequently offers BY CHRONAR her own alternate plant suggesti ons to NO Wiring • NO Installation lengthen the blooming season, or for a NO Utility Bills change of exposure, for instance. The author offers guidance for design­ THAT'S RIGHT! NO WIRING AND NO ing, but assumes you either have the hor­ UTILITY BILLS. The Chronar WALKLITE ticulture knowledge or will seek it else­ stores light from the sun or OVERCAST where. U.S. sources of plant material are DAYLIGHT and converts this energy to given. A good addition to the serious gar­ light after dark. UP TO FIVE HOURS. Turns on automatically at dark and dener's bookshelf. -Mary Read Cooper turns off when energy is depleted. Easy installation, simply insert the 24" pole into the ground where you want it. Move it around whenever the Mary Read Cooper is a free-l ance writer who resides in Vienna, Virginia. mood strikes you. The WalkLite features elegant contemporary styling and comes in two sizes. A fulll0 year limited warranty on the solar panel. The Chronar CH-6T, 5" x 61/4". The Chronar Errata: Ch-12T 5" x 12114". Money back guaranteed The reviewer of Daylilies by A.B. if not satisfied. Stout in the September issue incor­ rectly stated that the color plates TO ORDER: Send check, money order, were made by "cutting and pasting MasterCard or VISA to C & ESales, P.O. Box plates from several books" whereas 1130, Nashville, Indiana 47448. Allow 4 the wlor plates were made from col­ weeks for delivery. lages of several artists' work. Page 42 of the October issue iden­ CH-6T $49.95 + 5.75 ship. & hand. each. tified lily-flowered yellow tulips as CH-12T $69.95 + 6.90 ship. & hand. each. 'Mrs. John Scheepers', but they ac­ Credit card orders must have credit card tually were yellow 'West Point'. number, expo date and your signature. CH-12T

American Horticulturist 41 Classifieds

here without winter protection. Big sizes! Big selection! Personal service! Two Year Catalog Subscription: $2.00 (deductible). CARLSON'S GARDENS, Box 305-AHA288, South Salem, NY 10590. (914) 763-5958. BOOKS OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS: Bought and Sold: Horticulture, Botany, Landscaping, Herbology. The Secrets of Large Catalogue $1.00. POMONA BOOKS, Showplace Gardening! Classified Ad Rates: Rocktot:!, Ontario, Canada LOR 1XO. 85¢ per word; $17.00 mllll­ DRIED BOUQUETS SO REAL THEY LOOK Discover how professional FRESH! Show-and-Tell books: Step-By-Step gardeners assure award winning mum per insertion. 10% dis­ BOOK OF DRIED BOUQUETS, over 285 Pho­ results in their gardens with the count for three consecutive in­ tos: Williamsburg, Modern, Country, Victo­ ideas you'll find in the Mantis sertions using same copy. Copy rian, Gifts. ($12.95 ppd.). Step-By-Step BOOK Spray Mate "Better Gardening OF PRESERVED FLOWERS, professional se­ Spray Plan." Contact us today by must be received two months crets for preserving 100 flowers, includes Mi­ phone or mail and we'll show you prior to publication date. Send crowave, ($3.95 ppd.) BOTH BOOKS $15.90 how to: ppd. FREE NEWSLETTER, send stamp. RO­ orders to: American Horticul­ BERTA MOFFITT, PO Box 3597, Wilmington, o Improve transplant success rates tural Society Advertising De­ DE 19807. o Keep your foliage greener and partment, 80 South Early Street, 1985 Edition EXOTICA 4, with 16,300 photos, blemish free 405 in color, 2,600 pages in 2 volumes, with Alexandri~, Virginia 22304. Or o Extend perennial bloom times Addenda of 1,000 Updates, by Dr. A. B. Graf, 2 to 3 weeks call (703) 823-6966. $187. TROPICA 3, revised 1986, 7,000 color photos, now 1,156 pages, $125. Exotic Plant o Revive tired annuals at year end Manual, 5th Ed., 4,200 photos, $37.50. Exotic o Increase flower counts up to 50% House Plants, 1,200 photos, $8.95. Circulars o Protect your roses without ACCENTS gladly sent. ROEHRS, Box 125, E. Rutherford, unsightly dust REDWOOD BURL AND DRIFTWOOD NJ 07073. GARDEN DESIGN & HISTORY: GARDEN All this and much morel OCEAN SMOOTHED, PERFECT FOR o LANDSCAPING, INTERIOR DECORA­ ART & ARCHITECTURE: CLASSIC WORKS Mantis Spray Mate is the ideal TION, FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS. CATA­ ON GARDENING, NEW & OUT-OF-PRINT gardening and landscaping sprayer. LOG $.25 PLUS LSASE; S. GARROW; BOX BOOKS. Search service. Catalogs $1.50. Special It's quiet but powerful battery pump 8059; EUREKA, CA 95502-8059. PLANT HUNTING book catalog upon request. is push button simple. Use from 1 WARREN BRODERICK, PO Box 124A, Lan­ AMERICAN CONIFER SOCIETY singburgh, NY 12182. to 12 gallons for small and large Interested in dwarf and unusual conifers and jobs. And it rolls Out of print, scarce and antiquarian gardening their companion plants? Join the ACS: Quar­ and botanical books. Catalogs issued regularly. on wheels to terly bulletin. Annual summer meetings held all save you time Write to WHEELBARROW BOOKS, 22, over the U.S. Tax deductible dues $20.00 an­ Brangwyn Avenue, Brighton, Sussex, BNl, 8XG, and effort! nually. Write: AMERICAN CONIFER SOCI­ England. One Full Month Garden Tria! ETY, % Maxine Schwarz, ACS Secretary, P.O. Box 242, Severna Park, MD 21146. BULBS Send Coupon Today or THE AVANT GARDENER Bulbous Plant Journal, HERBERTIA and Quar­ call 1-800 344-4030 terly Newsletter. Color-fill ed articles on bulbs, (PA Call 800 342-0052) DIFFERENT, EXCITING, GREAT FUN TO corms & tubers of Amaryllidaceae and related READ-for the gardener who wants to get more families. $20/Year. APLS-AH, PO Box 5355, -- ~ out of gardening! Subscribe to THE AVANT Pasadena, CA 91107-0355. O)PRAYMArE GARDENER, the most useful, most quoted of Mantis Manufacturing Co. all gardening publications. Every month this BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES 1458 County Line Rd. Dept. P3118 unique news service brings you the newest and Profits From Backyard Herb Garden. Complete Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 most practical on-going information-new details: marketing, packaging, growing culinary plants, products, techniques, with sources, plus herbs. Net $50-$250 per week. Small growing Please send all the free o Yes! feature articles, special issues. 20th year. Awarded area; spare time. Satisfaction guaranteed. $9.50 information on the Mantis Spray Garden Club of America and Massachusetts ppd. SANJUAN NATURALS, Box 642F, Fri­ Mate Sprayer right away! Horticultural Society Medals for outstanding da.y Harbor, WA 98250. contributions to horticulture. Curious? Sample Name CACTI copy $1. Serious? $10 full year (reg. $15). THE ATTRACTIVE AND UNUSUAL CACTI, Address AVANT GARDENER, Box 489M, New York, NY 10028. L1THOPS, and other succulents all seed grown. City Government license; ship anywhere. Informa­ AZALEAS & RHODODENDRONS tive catalog $2.00 (redeemable). REDLO CACTI State Zip HARDY AZALEAS & RHODODENDRONS: lAH, 2315 Northwest Circle Blvd., .corvallis, L ______J Northern grown and acclimated. Proven hardy OR 97330.

42 February 1988 o ffer : jib. $4.95, 5 Ibs. $14.95. Free Brochu re CARNIVOROUS PLANTS on Specialry Fertilizers. PLUMERIA PEOPLE - Ca rni vorous, woodland terrarium planrs and DEPT AF, Box 820014, Houston, TX 77282- suppli es . Book, T HE WORLD OF ARNIV­ 0014. OROUS PLANTS, $8.95 postpaid. Cata log FREE. PETER PAULS NURSER IES, Canan­ FRAGRANCE daigua, NY J 4424 SEEDS FOR FRAGRAN E, herbs, and the English Fl ower Garden. Catalogue $1.00. TH E CATALOGS FRAGRANT PATH, Box 328A, Fort alh oun, FREE GARDEN CATALOG-4,000 items: NE 68023. Seeds, Planrs, T rees, Pots, Planr Food , Bene­ GALA HERB WEEKEND ficial Insects, Books, Greenhouse. MELLIN­ GER'S Dept. 320 North Lima, OH 44452. BITTERSWEET H ILL NURSERIES, 1274 Governor's Bridge Road, Davi d onvill e, MD is Trees, shrubs, flowering perennials, ferns, he rbs, presenring a ala Herb Wee kend March 19-20. bonsai. Catalog $1.00. OWEN FARMS, Rt. 3, Free Herb Garden Des ign , Exhibits, Demon­ Box 158A, Ripley, TN 38063. strati on , Door Pri zes, Gourmet Cookin g. Spe­ cia l Sale on favorite herb pl anrs. Held in our CHESTNUT S WARM GREENHOUSES. Public Invited. Hours 42ndAnnual CHESTNUTS and PERSlMMONS. Ameri ca n 9 ro 5. (3 0 I) 798-0231. x Chinese Dunstan Hybrid Chesrnuts-proven Williamsburg blight resistance, upright growth form , large, GARDEN ORNAMENTS sweet, easil y peeled nuts. Unique new Orienral Bronze, Lead, and Srone including Topi ary. 400 Persi mmons-25 non-astringenr, dwarf and cold page ca talog avai labl e $8.00. Hard bound li­ Garden hardy cultiva rs. CHESTNUT HILL NURS­ brary edition over 2,000 illu trati on showing ERY, RI, Box 341AH, Alachua, FL 32615. bird baths, benches, bronze including tablets, Symposium cistern , compasses, cupids, curbing, dolphins, DAHLIAS eagle, elephants, fini als, frogs, foxes, fruit ba - Dahl ias- All rypes, size, color, world-wide kets, gates and ga te pOStS, Japanese lanrerns, April 10-13, 1988 selecti on, color catalog $1.00 refundabl e on lead figure, li on and lion mas ks, mermaids, order. CONNELL'S, 10216 40th Ave. E., planrer ,St. Francis, weathervanes. KENNETH "The Lure a nd Lore of Tacoma, WA 98446. LYNCH & SONS, 78 Danbury Road, Wilron, the Garde n" will be the DAYLILIES CT 06897. theme explored by respect­ DA YLILI ES GALORE! Beautiful named hy­ GARDENING GLOVES ed horticul tural a uthori­ brids. Q uanriry discounrs. Send now for FREE GOATSKIN GLOVES. To ugh, li ghtweight ti es in dail y lectures, informa ti ve catalog. LEE BRISTOL NURS­ goatskin stretches and becomes form-fitting, clinics, demonstrations ERY, Box 5A, Gaylordsvill e, CT 06755. giving wearer ultimate in fit, grip, dexteriry. Natural lanolin in lea ther keep hand soft . Sizes and tours at the peak of DWARF CONIFERS 7-10 or send outline of hand. $8.50 postpaid. springtime in beautiful OVER 200 TYPES OF DWARF CON1FERS PUTNAM'S, Box 295C, Wilton, N H 03086. Co lonial Wi ll iamsburg. descri bed by size, shape, color and texture. Many GLADIOLUS BULBS suitabl e fo r bonsai. Ask fo r our new Catalog Topics will incl ude peo­ # 6 ($2.00 refundabl e with first order). WASH­ Choice Gladiolus Bu lbs 150 kinds all colors spe­ nies, irises, Georgia's Cal­ INGT ON EVERG REEN NURSER Y, Box cia l miniature varieties. Low postpaid prices, 388AH, Leicester, NC 28748. Catalog FREE. STILLPOINT GARDENS, Box laway Gardens, a nd the 24E, McKnightstown, PA 17343. garden s of Seattle, the EXCITING NEW HOUSE PLANTS Symposium's featured city. EXOTIC N EW FLOWERS, G reenh o use/ GREENHOUSES Houseplanrs! Vines, Miniatures, Bonsai. Cat­ HOOP HOUSE GREENHOUSE KITS FOR A highlight will be a dem­ a logue $1.00. PLANT KINGDOM, BOX UNDER $299. For colorful brochure and grow­ onstration a nd lecture by 7273NG, LINCOLN ACRES, CA 92047. er's supply catalog, send $1.00 to: FOX HI LL She ila Macque en, re­ FERNS - HARDY AND EXOTIC FARM, Dept. A-28, 20 Lawrence Street, Rock­ nown ed Britis h fl ower ville) CT 06066; (203) 875-6676. Rare spore grown woodl and, xerophytic, alpine arranger. and indoor species. 1988 catalog descri bing 70 + GROUND CO VERS va rieties $1.00. FOLIAGE GARDENS, Dept. Q UALITY GROUND COVERS AND PEREN­ For in formation, mail th is coupon to: S., 2003 128th Ave. S. E. , Bell ev ue, WA 98005. N IALS. Aegopodium, Ivies, La miums, Pachy­ Garde n Symposium Regis tra r (2 06) 747-2998. sandra, Plumbago, Primrose, Sed urns, Vin cas. Colonia l Wi ll iamsburg FERTILIZER Over 100 va ri eties. GILSON GARDENS, Dept. Box C, Willia msburg, VA 23187 AH, PO Box 277, Perry, Ohio 44081. PROBIOTIC " HUMA GRO" Orga ni c M ulti or call 1-800-220-7255 Purpose Pl ant Food lridoor or O utdoor Con­ HEATHS & HEATHERS Name ______.___ _ cent, Liquid. Non toxic Drench or Foli ar Feed HARDY H EATHERS FOR ALL-YEAR GAR­ Address ______Humic Acid Contains Trace Elements. Good DEN COLO R! Send SASE for descriptive mail­ Results. Money Back Guarantee. Gall on $28.00 City ______order li st. Fast Service ! H EATHER GROW­ P.P., Quart $14.50 P.P., I. F. B., Box 254, West­ ERS, Box 850, Elma, WA 98541. State Zip _____ hampton, NY 11 977. (5 16) 369-1 613. Cultural Information on Request. HERB GARDENING NUTRISTAR-All-Purpose Controlled Rel ease Profits From Backyard Herb Garden. Complete ~a£ Fertilizer, 14-14-14, A MIRACLE OF MOD­ details: marketing, packaging, growin g culinary ERN SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGY. " Sus­ herbs. Net $50-$250 per week. Small growing tained release through microbial action." Your area; spare time. Satisfaction guaranteed. $9.50 plants receive a steady, balanced diet resulting ppd. SANJUAN NATURALS, Box 642F, Fri­ L ______in increased health and vitali ry. Introductory day Harbor, WA 98250. w~bA: '

American Horticulturist 43 SAGAPRESS CLASSICS For Gardeners CLASSIFIEDS and Landscape Architects

The Complete Flower Paintings HOSTAS UNUSUAL FOOD TREES & SHRUBS. 180 an­ and Drawings of CHOICE SELECTION, CATALOG $2.00. SA­ tique hardy apples, chestnut, Saskatoon, hybrid VORY'S GREENHOUSES AND GARDENS, hazel, black currant, pecan, kiwi, persimmon Graham Stuart Thomas and much more spring dug quality at lowest with essay and notes by the author Hybridizers and Growers, 5300 Whiting Ave., Edina, MN 55435 (614) 941-8755. cost. 2 stamps for catalog. BEAR CREEK The R.H.S. awarded a Gold Medal to NURSERY, PO Box 411A, Northport, WA Graham Stuart Thomas for his HOUSE PLANTS 99157. botanical paintings and drawings, LOW-LIGHT INDOOR EXOTICS. Dwarf Lady ORCHIDS reproduced here in one magnificent Palms, Grape Ivy, Sago Palms, Ming Aralias, Orchids-Mature, easily bloomed, potted, volume. These spellbinding portraits Fine Pottery. 32 page catalog $1. RHAPIS GAR­ 3/$27.95 ppd, Catalog $1.00 (refundable). reveal a rare combination of artistry DENS, P.O. Box 287-A, Gregory, TX 78359. OAKMONT ORCHIDS, Pelham, AL 35124. and scientific understanding of the flowers he so sensitively depicts. This ORCHIDS, GESNERIADS, BEGONIAS, CACTI PERENNIALS & SUCCULENTS. Visitors welcome, 1986-87 stunning book also documents Mr. We offer a good selection of sturdy plants. Send Thomas's life work including details of catalog $1.75. LAURAY OF SALISBURY, Rt. $1.00 for Plant List (refundable). CAMELOT his magnum opus: restoring the 41 (Undermountain Rd.), Salisbury, CT 06068 NORTH, R2, Pcoguot Lakes, MN 56472. (203) 435-2263. gardens of England's National Trust NEW INTRODUCTIONS AND OLD FA­ from 1955, plus his definitive books on INDOOR-OUTDOOR GARDENING VORITES featured with detailed cultural in­ old roses and 170 illustrations. SUPPLIES formation and growing tips in our 48 page cat­ 208 pp Hardcover, 58 color plates "FREE CATALOG"-"LOWEST PRICES" .. . alog. Wildflowers and trees and shrubs, too! AHS Member Price $42.75 Pots, baskets, flats, packs, labels, pens, etc ... . Send $2.00 for two year subscription. HOL­ The English Flower Garden 2 Stamps .. , Postage . . . PLANT COLLEC­ BROOK FARM, Rt. 2, Box 223B-8032, Fletcher, by William Robinson TIBLES, 103E Kenview, Buffalo, NY 14217. NC 28732. A masterwork reprinted, called the JAPANESE FLOWER ARRANGING HOSTAS, IRISES, DA YLlLlES, WILDFLOW­ ERS, and other sun and shade loving perennials. most important and influential in the Bimonthly newsletter devoted to study and Large selection of many common and rare va­ language. Crusty and opinionated, practical application, $12/yr. Editor Pototsky, rieties. Catalog $1 (refundable). LEE'S GAR­ Robinson prescribed perennials and 44 Lane Park, Brighton, MA 02135. DENS, Box 5, Tremont, IL 61568. natural effects, writing vigorously from JAPANESE IRIS experience. His dictionary of hardy NEW, INEXPENSIVE way to buy perennials. plants is invaluable. Plant nomencla­ Also DA YLlLlES, PEONIES, HOST AS, SIBE­ Specialists in growing and improving perennials ture is updated by Graham Stuart RIAN IRIS. 1988 catalog $1.00 (refundable). guarantee you the finest plants ever offered­ Thomas. Foreward by Henry Mitchell; CAPRICE FARM NURSERY, 15425 SWPleas­ same as used by professional nurserymen. Send introduction by Deborah Nevins. ant Hill, SherwoQQ, OR 97140. (503) 625-7241. for FREE Bluestone catalog, lists more than 300 Original fine steel engravings. MUSHROOMS varieties, plus information on care and growing. 720 pp Hardcover BLUESTONE PERENNIALS, 7201 Middle GROW SHllTAKE/EXOTlC MUSHROOMS Ridg~ Madison, OH 44057. AHS Member Price $33.25 Producers & suppliers of the highest quality commercial strains for mushroom growers. Color your garden Beautiful with glorious lilies. The Formal Garden in England Carefree plants produce abundant flowers every by Reginald Blomfield Consulting, Supplies, Spawn. Serving the in­ dustry with state of the art solutions backed by year. Collection of ten different hybrid bulbs Reprint of the classic handbook on for­ scientific and applied research. Send $2 for cat­ just $13.99 including shipping. Order "Lovely mal design. His theme: the garden alog (refund w/purchase) to: NORTHWEST Lilies" from MILAEGER'S GARDENS, 4838 should logically extend the house, MYCOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS, Dept. A, Douglas Avenue, Racine, WI 53402. Perennial reflecting its geometry and its style. 702 NW 4th St., Corvallis, OR 97330. Wish book offering 500 perennial varieties, $1.00; Garden history, knots, parterres, uses free with order. of grass, pleaching, hedges, mazes, NEW CARDINAL FLOWER COLORS Hostas, Perennials, Helleborous, Wildflowers, . with plans and illustrations, steel HARDY PERBNNIAL LOBELIA HYBRIDS: for the South. List $1.00. PICCADILLY FARM, engraved, first published in 1892. Not available elsewhere. Fuchsia, amethyst, 1971 Whippoorwill Road, Bishop, GA 30621. 252 pp Hardcover pinks, whites, others. SASE FOR LIST (issued OVER 300 VARIETIES-PERENNIALS for AHS Member Price $23.75 January) THURMAN MANESS-WILD­ SUN & SHADE. Unusual ROCK & ALPINE Daylilies by Arlow B. Stout WOOD, Rt. 3, Box 165, Pittsboro, NC 27312. PLANTS. Hosta, Hemerocallis, Sempervivums, Reprint of a masterpiece by an Ameri­ NEW PLANTS WANTED Siberian & Japanese Iris, Wild Flowers, Dwarf can botanist. updated by Graham Expanding S. California Ornamental Nursery Shrubs, Ground Covers, Perennial Seed. 13 Va­ Stuart Thomas and Darrel Apps. with national marketing capabilities seeks new rieties Dianthus, 28 Var. Phlox Subulata, 13 Species, early hybrids, cultural and or unusual plant selections or varieties that can Var. Hardy Geraniums. 24 Page Catalog. Send hybridizing notes, newly discovered be tested, licensed or patented. Please contact 44¢ Stamps. ROCKNOLL NURSERY, 9210 color plates, photos -- the daylily (415) 461-5820 or write to: William P. Mott, U.S. 50, Dept. 33, HILLSBORO, OH 45133- reference, unique in its scope. Suite 240, 900 Larkspur Landing Circle, Lark­ 8546. 145 pp Hardcover, 12 color plates spur, CA 94939. PLANTERS AHS Member Price $27.55 NURSERY STOCK TEAK, PLANTERS AND WINDOW BOXES. Superior quality, largest line in U.S. Affordably The Peony by Alice Harding BABY EVERGREENS, SEEDS, SEEDLINGS, RHODODENRON, AZALEAS, FLOWER­ priced for the trade. Free brochure. KINGSLEY­ A delightful and authoritative book, ING SHRUBS, SHADE TREES, LARGE AS­ BATE LTD" 4638 Green Place, NW, Wash­ this overdue reprint covers history of SORTMENT OF RARE AND STANDARD ington, DC 20007. (202) 337-2721. the genus, mythology, seed setting, PLANTS. CATALOG FREE. GIRARD NUR­ PLUMERlA, GINGERS, HIBISCUS, preparation of soil and a shrewd ap­ SERIES, BOX 428, GENEVA, OH 44041. BOUGAINVILLEAS praisal of varieties still grown and loved today by discerning gardeners. MILLIONS OF SEEDLINGS: High Quality. ALSO RARE AND UNUSUAL BULBS, FLOW­ Reasonable Prices. Over 100 Selections for 253 pp Hardcover, 15 color plates ERING VINES, FRAGRANT PLANTS, SPE­ Christmas Trees, Ornamentals, Windbreaks, CIAL TY FERTILIZERS AND MORE. COLOR AHS Member Price $25.65 Timber, Soil Conservation. Wildlife Cover. Free CATALOG-$1.00 HANDBOOK ON PLU­ Please add $1.75 per book for postage and handling. Catalog. CARINO NURSERIES, Box 538, Dept. MERIAS-$4.95. PLUMERIA PEOPLE, DEPT. Allow six weeks for delivery. Mail to: Robin Williams, AHS, Box 0105, Mount Vernon, VA 22121. J, Indiana, PA 15701. A, PO Box 820014, Houston, TX 77282-0014.

44 February 1988 N o WIRING, NO DI GG ING, NO MAIN­ RARE FRUIT T ENANCE, AND NO UTIUTY BILLS. Easy I NDOOR ITRUS & RARE FRUIT SO IETY in stallation, just insert small pole into the ground. Pr ovides a 24 pg. Newsletter featuring citrus, Works on cl oud y days, too. Emits up to five I ndoors/ourdoors; more than J 00 tro pical fru its; h ours of li ght after dark . Turns off when stored fi gs; seed avail ability; a finder's servi ce for the p ower is depi cted. Traditional elega nt styling. u nusual; special book prices for members. Dues: T en yea r warranty. Se nd fo r free ca talog, & E $ 15/y r. U.S.A. and Canada, elsewhere $ 18. end Sa les, PO Box 11 30, Nashvill e, IN 47488. SPE­ $ 1 for sample of 24 pg. illustrated Newsletter. IAL SAL E PR I E FOR FEBRUARY, I C & RFS, 176 Coronado Avenue, Los Altos, MARC H AND APRIL. CA 94022. TREES AND SHRUBS RHODODENDRONS & AZALEAS Ca mclli as, unusual eve rgreen and deciduous SPECIAU Z ING IN THE UNUSUAL. Dwa rf -Ilrub s and trees. Direct introduction from hin a Rhododendrons, Evergreen & Deciduous Azal­ a nd Japan, over 200 specic and varietics of­ e as, Dwarf Conifers, Companion Pl ants. at­ fc rcd. Many new thi s yca r. atalog, 44~ post­ log$1.00, refundable. THE UMMINS GA R­ a a gr. AMELUA FO REST NURSERY, 125 DEN, 22 Robertsvill e Rd., Marlboro, NJ 07746. ( arolin a Fore t, hape! Hill, N 275 J 4. ( 20 I) 536-2591. A ROSE IS A ROSE IS A ROSE----- ROCK GARDEN PLANTS Rare Alpines, Wildflowers, Dwarf o nifer , Groundcovers, colo rfu l Rock Pl ants, ha rd y P Rhododendrons, Bonsa i Books. Catalog $~. r RI CE CREEK GARDENS, 13 15 66th Ave. NE, d Minneapolis, MN 55432. (6 12) 574- 1 197. r ROSES HARD TO FIND ROSES, old and new varieties WATER LlLI E . Send $2.00 for a complete I ncluding the HT Maid of H onour. List on re­ WATER GA RDEN CATA LOG from the oldest quest. HORTICO, INC., R.R. #1 , Waterdown, water ga rden pecialist in America, WILLIAM Ontario LCR 2HO (416) 689-6984. TRICKER, IN ., Dept. AH, 7 125 Tanglewood SEEDS Dri ve, Independence, O H 4413 J. (216) 524- 3491. Now al P & S Porcelains! Our rose necklaces PRIMULA AURICULA SEED, IMPROVED are unique - each one is handpainted in white GARDEN AURICULA STRAIN THE RESULT WILDFLOWERS porcelain over wedgewood blue porcelain .. Each OF 30 YEARS OF SELECTIVE BREEDING. NURSER Y SOURCES: NATIVE PLANTS AND one is sel in sterling silver and comes with an IS-i nch sterling silver chai n. We're proud of our A COMPLETE PALETTE OF COLORS. ALSO WILDFLOWERS. Unique 72-page booklet lists: roses. You will be, 100. Large size $34.95 each. SHOW, ALPINE, DOUBLE AND SMALL HY­ where to bu y seeds or propagated plants for BRID AURICULA, CANDELABRA HYBRIDS Small size $24.95 each. We pay postage, and we over 200 popular wildflower for hardiness zones guarantee your satisfacti on or your money bac k! AND LATE FLOWERING PRIMULA FLOR­ 4-6· 58 nurseri es sel ling propagated wi ldflowers P & S PORCELAINS INDAE. 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American Horticulturist 45 ~~ ~======~ ~~ ~======~ Gardening in the South Country Casual to Antebellum Elegance

ADS 43rd Annual Meeting • AprII14-16, 1988 • Atlanta, Georgia • Tour magnificent private gardens and see a grounds of the Atlanta Historical Society and variety of Southern gardening styles the Atlanta Botanical Garden and delight in • Enjoy educational sessions that will expand Georgia's historical and horticultural treasures your gardening expertise and provide you with • Savor the magic of Callaway Gardens new inspiration • Enhance your own garden with plant • Learn about the latest developments in purchases from visits to Goodness Grows horticultural research from experts associated Nursery and other noted garden centers with the Biosphere II project in Arizona Plan now to join us in Atlanta-a city rich in • Wander through the beautifully landscaped history and horticulture-April 14-16, 1988. Look for program details and registration form inside this issue.