Conifer Quarterly

Vol. 21 No. 2 Spring 2004 a w o Photos by Gary Whittenbaugh o his I gest t o the t part of in is ies t tan ting is an or ypar af ground plant, ground r om the lar G imp propagation, conifer fr nurser hobbyist plant collector. plant hobbyist Review the basics of side grafting on page 30, expert by as taught George Okken. hamaec C as a back ’ essa ompr lumosa C ’t resist incorporating incorporating resist ’t ‘P a an er pisif t the same time he warns against becoming too attached t the same time he warns too against becoming C. enbaugh c op) while a hitt e (t W y e ar den, olden Mop’ in the fall (left)favorite,‘Snow.’ and Gary’s ar

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The Conifer Quarterly is the publication of The Conifer Society Contents Featured conifer genus: Chamaecyparis 6 Resurrecting Lawson Cypress for the 21st Century Tanya DeMarsh-Dodson 12 Seedling Conifers Offer Challenge and Variety Peter C. Jones 16 Origin, Distribution and Variation of Atlantic White-cedar Kristin Mylecraine and John Kuser 20 Reader Recommendations More features 24 Hands Across the Sea Derek Spicer 29 Obituary: Bob Tomayer 30 The Art and Science of Grafting: A Demonstration by George Okken Anne M. Brennan 38 One Acre in Rochester Gerald P. Kral Conifer Society voices 2 President’s Message 4 Editor’s Memo 15 Conifers on the Web 23 Puzzle Page 42 Central Region Builds on Past Success 43 Western Region Update 44 Northeast Region to Visit the “Flower City” 46 Southeast Region Announces Itinerary

Cover photo: An unusually cold Pennsylvania winter melts away with the snow from Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Crippsii’,just as last year’s muted foliage will soon disappear behind the glowing golden spring flush for which this cultivar is known.

Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 1 Conifer PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BY DENNIS GROH Your Board of Directors met in St. Louis member. The National Meeting plus all prove awareness and understanding. Quarterly on February 7th. Most arrived one-half other non-Regional sources must gener- Of the $52 annual per-member cost, day early to participate in a strategic ate adequate revenue to cover this $14 about $28 is relatively fixed and $24 is Spring 2004 Volume 21, No. 2 planning session. On behalf of the per member shortfall to avoid a deficit. somewhat variable. My best estimate is, Conifer Society, I thank these dedicated This underscores the financial risk if we doubled our total membership at The Conifer Quarterly (ISSN 8755-0490) is individuals for their personal sacrifices and our dependence on the generosity of current costs, our annual per member published quarterly by the American Conifer Society. The Society is a non-profit or- of time and travel in winter weather. those who donate our auction items and cost would drop from $52 to about $35. ganization incorporated under the laws of the Extended and spirited discussion the enthusiasm of the bidders. The short- (However, since this change would sig- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is tax ex- centered on what is a fair price for a fall also impacts the amount of premium nificantly increase the workload of the empt under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Rev- enue Service Code. member to pay for National Meeting at- that must be charged to the members National Office, perhaps some of the You are invited to join our Society. Please tendance. Several participants were sur- who attend National Meetings over the fixed costs would not remain fixed.) address membership and other inquires to the prised to learn just how dramatically the (rising) breakeven cost. A balance is se- Enclosed in this CQ is a member- Conifer Society National Office, P.O. Box 3422, Crofton, MD 21114-0422. Membership: cost of hotel food and services, bus lected between expected attendance (risk ship application brochure. If each per- US$30 (basic), $30 (institutional) $50 (sus- costs, etc. have escalated. Subsequently, management) and an appropriate sur- son is able to recruit a new member, taining), $100 (corporate/business) and ($130 the Board requested I use this opportu- charge to enjoy the privilege of walking who remains a member, we can help to (patron). If you are moving, please notify the National Office 4 weeks in advance. nity to better explain both Conifer Soci- a private garden or a trail with experts take the financial pressure off the Re- Editorial and advertising matters should ety costs and budget concerns. (e.g. 2003 generous member-experts gional and National meetings. An alter- be sent to the Editor: Anne Brennan, 145 At March 2004 membership levels, Jerry Morris and Don Howse). native to recruiting a new member Cedar St., Jenkintown, PA 19046. the total annual Conifer Society costs There are two broad categories of would be to consider moving from a I I I are about $52 per member. (The Board costs: 1) fixed costs stay the same inde- Basic membership to a higher member- Editor has scrutinized the budgets and these pendent of the number of members, and ship category, helping to offset the true Anne Brennan costs are as efficient as possible.) $32 of 2) variable costs change (usually de- current cost of your membership. Technical Editors this total is required to produce and de- crease) as the number of members in- Ethan Johnson Susan Martin liver all member printed material. The creases. While a simplification of a What will YOU do in the next 90 days to R. William Thomas balance of $20 is required to operate the complex subject, this should help to im- make the Conifer Society better? L Advisory Committee National Office (phones, supplies, rent, Don Wild, Committee Chair insurance, IRS filing, contract, web site Jane Frampton Tom Schlereth & credit card fees, etc.), plus reimburse ex officio: Dennis Groh volunteers for their expenses. ex officio: Marvin Snyder Since basic dues are $30/yr., there is ex officio : John Martin a shortfall of about $22 per member per I I I year. The shortfall is covered primarily Copyright © 2004, American Conifer Society. via our Regional and National Meetings All rights reserved. No material contained and their associated plant auctions, Seed herein may be reproduced in any form with- Exchange, advertising, and merchandise out prior written permission of the publisher. Opinions expressed by authors and advertis- sales also contribute revenue. The Na- ers are not necessarily those of the Society. tional Office provides support for each region, and consequently the Regions Note: Hardiness Zone references in the Conifer Quarterly are USDA classifications are assessed a charge of $8 per member. unless otherwise specified. This lowers the shortfall to $14 per

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EDITOR’S MEMO BY ANNE M. BRENNAN

Welcome, Spring! I hope that those of Where did all of those cedar shingles the genus Chamaecyparis in Britain’s you in temperate climates are all enjoy- come from – the ones we still see on horticultural heritage. As previously announced... ing the greening of lawns, gardens and older East Coast homes? C. atlantica, Highly-respected plantsman and The Summer issue will feature especially the conifers. the Atlantic white-cedar, covered vast Conifer Society member Robert the genus Picea! This issue features the conifer genus swampy regions of New Jersey and Tomayer passed away in January, Chamaecyparis, and we begin with an North Carolina in colonial times. Learn leaving behind many fond memories From the dramatic Picea orientalis important article about the use of Phy- more about the history and status of this among those who knew him. Two of ‘Skylands’ to the common yet tophthora-resistant rootstocks for C. species on page 16. his friends and colleagues share their beloved bird’s nest spruce (P. abies lawsoniana that are helping this species’ Our counterparts across the pond memories of Bob on page 29. ‘Nidiformis’), many of us have cultivars make a comeback in the nurs- have recently succeeded in forming the Grafting – now there’s something placed representatives of this ery trade. Thanks to our friends at Pacific British Conifer Society as a means of I’ve never quite been able to get my group into our gardens.Tell the Horticulture magazine who originally appreciating the plant resources in their mind around. We skimmed over it in Conifer Society why you love them! published the article, and to member country and sharing that knowledge my college horticulture classes, so Please send your photo or Dan Montague in Olympia, Washington, with conifer enthusiasts everywhere. about all I remembered was my class- comment to the Editor by May 15th. who brought it to our attention. Two of their founding members at- mate who sliced her finger with the Next we hear from Peter Jones in tended our national meeting last sum- grafting knife and needed stitches. Our Start planning now... Virginia, who began propagating C. ob- mer in Denver and were warmly Society’s plant auctions overflow with tusa 15 years ago from seeds he har- received by our group. One of them, grafted plants, suggesting that this is The genus Thuja will highlight vested from his own garden. He shares Derek Spicer, updates us on their orga- something everyone does, yet I had the Fall issue. with us the pitfalls and successes of what nization’s status and future plans on never really seen anyone do it. Then a Perhaps the most often misused began as a hit-or-miss endeavor. page 24 and reviews the rich history of dozen Northeast Region members and and misunderstood landscape I attended George Okken’s grafting conifer, arborvitae does have workshop in February and, while I am endearing qualities when planted far from proficient, I feel empowered and maintained correctly. Some to try a bit of grafting on my own next members of the genus are native winter. You too might pick up some trees with an important place in Publication Dates pointers, starting on page 30. our regional ecosystems.What do Deadline to Publication Date Our Regions are enthusiastically you love (or hate) about Thuja? Let Issue Calendar Quarter submit articles (approx. mailing) planning summer and fall events for the Editor know by August 15th. the remainder of 2004, so be sure to Winter Jan/Feb/Mar Oct 31 Jan 15 check out the preview articles in this Bonus color pages planned for Spring Apr/May/Jun Jan 31 Apr 15 issue. And finally, don’t miss the the Winter Conifer Quarterly... trivia contest question on page 23! I Summer Jul/Aug/Sept Apr 30 July 15 Check the Summer issue for details hope to make puzzles a regular part of Fall Oct/Nov/Dec 31 July 31 Oct 15 about an expanded color photo the Conifer Quarterly, so if you have section we’ve scheduled for Winter ideas, I’d love to hear from you. Submit articles/photos to: 2005.We’ll have even more room Anne Brennan, Conifer Quarterly Editor to display your favorite plants in See you in the summer! 145 Cedar St., Jenkintown, PA 19046 • PH (215) 376-0231 all of their glory during the season FAX (215) 827-5926 • E-mail: [email protected] when you need it the most. Stay tuned!

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Resurrecting Lawson Cypress for The experimental use of biological and ‘Ellwoodii’ among them, into the agents, both mycorrhizae and microbes 1990s. When plants of ‘Ellwoodii’ the 21st Century antagonistic to water molds, has been began to fail in his fields in the mid- somewhat effective, but is too compli- 1990s, he phased the Port Orford cedars By Tanya DeMarsh-Dodson cated to be a practical treatment for use out of production, convinced that Phy- by most gardeners. It may be, however, tophthora lateralis was an inextricable Anyone raised in the maritime Pacific Northwest, from Portland to Vancouver or that the nurserymen who propagate the presence in his soil. plants have outwitted the disease by the Victoria, is familiar with Lawson cypress in residential gardens and public parks, choice of rootstocks onto which the A Rootstock for Grafting as it is here that the greatest concentration of cultivated trees is found. trees are grafted. For more than twenty years, Hallgren Accounting for its popularity as a garden plant are its gracious habit, the had enjoyed a twenty-five foot tall pair range of blue, yellow, green and gray green tones in its leaves, the densely held It may be that the of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Wisselii’ growing in front of his home on the nurs- cascading foliage typical of many forms, its tolerance of some degree of shade, nurserymen who ery grounds; he had used these plants as and its suitability for this region’s dry summers.There are more than two hundred propagate the plants have a source of cuttings for the ‘Wisselii’ he cultivars in cultivation worldwide. outwitted the disease by grew for sale. Because of its dark green foliage and its structured but whimsical the choice of rootstocks form, ‘Wisselii’ remained one of Hall- Not long ago in Pacific Horticulture only in our gardens but also in their rel- gren’s favorite cultivars. In 2000, he no- (October ’02) Douglas Justice lamented atively remote native range (the moun- Nurseryman Gordon Hallgren grew ticed branches on the two ‘Wisselii’ in the demise of Lawson cypress or Port tains of Northern California and along a up in Everett, Washington, appreciating front of his house had began to discolor, Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoni- narrow strip of the Oregon-California the beauty of Lawson cypress in his becoming a dull dark green. ana), one of the more important conifers coast). As Justice indicated, attempts to neighborhood and in the parks where he Realizing he was seeing the effects in ornamental horticulture here in the control the disease have met with lim- worked for a decade. Like many in the of Phytophthora lateralis attacking their Pacific Northwest. Its nemesis has been ited success: chemical controls are inef- nursery business, Hallgren grew various roots, Hallgren tried to save the plants a water-born mold, the fungus Phytoph- fective, and controlling ground water selections of Lawson cypress for many he loved by grafting scions from their thora lateralis that attacks the roots of and surface runoff to curtail movement years at Peacedale Nursery, for sale to re- more vital branches onto the rootstock the cypress and kills the plant. Since its of the fungal spores into unaffected tail nurseries in the Puget Sound Basin. of moss sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis introduction in the 1920s, this fungus areas is not possible in most landscapes. He propagated the cultivars from rooted pisifera f. squarrosa). The grafts took T

has spread so an cuttings, growing them first in small con- and the plants grew well; it seemed his y widely that it is now a D tainers and then planting them in the strategy was successful. regarded as endemic eM ground and growing them on until they After a year or so, however, Hallgren in the Pacific North- arsh-D reached a size appropriate for retail sales. noticed that there had been some over-

west. It now affects o In the 1980s, he found that the plants growth on these grafted plants of ‘Wis- dson Lawson cypress not he sold did not always thrive in the gar- selii’; that is, the scion (the top growth) dens where they were planted, and, as was out-growing the rootstock. While A twenty-year-old the decade progressed, he began to lose this phenomenon did not affect the health specimen of more and more plants in production. of the young ‘Wisselii’, it was not partic- Chamaecyparis The cuttings he made grew, but the ularly attractive. There was also the pos- lawsoniana ‘Minima plants failed when set out in the field. sibility that, as the plant grew and Glauca’ grafted Because he valued their contribution to matured, it might become too heavy for onto C. pisifera the landscape, Hallgren continued grow- the slow-growing rootstock, which could ‘Plumosa Vera’ ing a few popular cultivars, ‘Wisselii’ result in a break at the graft site in a

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T an y Foliage of Chamaecyparis pisifera a D eM Earlier Experiences They carried the knowledge of C.

‘Plumosa Vera’ arsh-D The work of two other nurserymen sug- pisifera as rootstock with them from the gests that Hallgren has discovered an ef- nursery center of Boskoop, where the o heavy snow or in a strong wind. He then dson fective means of propagating viable Dutch had long studied and experi- tried using the faster growing boulevard Lawson cypress for garden use in the mented with the process of grafting cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Boule- twenty-first century. Tony Van den conifers. Collective evaluation recom- vard’) as a rootstock instead of moss Akker and Maurice Ravensberg (now mended C. pisifera ‘Plumosa Vera’ as a sawara cypress; boulevard cypress pro- both deceased) emigrated from Holland suitable rootstock for C. lawsoniana. duces a “beefier” trunk more rapidly. to the United States after World War II Ravensberg and Van den Akker valued He has been watching all of these to pursue their careers in horticulture. the vigorous, fibrous root system of grafted plants grow for two and a half Both came from families that had been plume sawara cypress and the ease with years now, and they are vigorous and in the nursery business for more than a which it handled transplanting. They healthy, both in containers and in the generation. After working for a few field. His observations have led him to years for other growers in the Seattle conclude that C. pisifera ‘Boulevard’ area, both started their own businesses. Their concern was and C. pisifera f. squarrosa rootstocks Van den Akkers Nursery soon became producing a plant are suitable for dwarf forms of Lawson known for its conifers and its excep- cypress, such as ’Minima Glauca’, tional deciduous azalea hybrids (known that would be well suited ‘Nestoides’, or ‘Lutea Nana’, but he re- as the Van den Akker hybrids). Ravens- for landscape uses

mains skeptical about the T berg Landscaping created many award- an y

long-term physical compati- a D winning residential and commercial

bility of the faster growing eM landscapes in the Seattle area. Ravens- were also aware that the growth rate of selections on either of these arsh-D berg continued to propagate plants for the rootstock was compatible with that rootstocks. Hallgren is con- use in the landscapes he created. of Lawson cypresses; they had no trou- o vinced, however, that graft- dson Both of these nurserymen were ble with overgrowth using this particular ing will resolve the knowledgeable grafters, having learned cultivar as a rootstock. conundrum gardeners have the art as part of their education in Eu- The plantings of the Lawson cypress faced with this wonderful rope. Both grew Lawson cypress and these men grafted in the 1950s, 1960s, group of garden plants. both used a selection of Chamaecyparis and 1970s offer testament to the wisdom pisifera as the understock, though dif- of Hallgren’s strategy for protecting this ferent from the one Gordon used. Their conifer by grafting the susceptible reasons for using C. pisifera were also plants onto a rootstock resistant to Phy- A young plant of different. They chose C. pisifera tophthora lateralis. His choice of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Plumosa Vera’ (syn. ‘Plumosa Viridis’), Chamaecyparis pisifera as a rootstock is ‘Minima Glauca’ grafted which is similar in many respects to one that is effective for the long run, onto a rootstock of moss other plume sawara cypress; it will grow provided care is given to match the sawara cypress (C. pisifera into a large tree with dense prickly juve- growth rates of the rootstock and the f. squarrosa); the enlarged nile foliage and scale-like softer adult scion. Several cultivars of Lawson cy- base of the topgrowth foliage. Their concern was producing a press that Van den Akker and Ravens- could eventually create plant that would be well suited for land- berg grafted still grow in commercial problems for the scape uses; Phytophthora lateralis was and residential landscapes in the Seattle grafted plant. not an issue when they began their graft- area; some are now more than forty ing work. years old.

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Continuing Research that can at times be associated with the gren—gardeners need not fear that Law- 1980s, Lawson cypress cultivars such as Hallgren continues to search for other grafting process. Thus, there may now son cypress will disappear from the ‘Lutea,’ ‘Erecta’, and ‘Alumii’ were re- rootstocks that might protect the delight- be at least two rootstocks for nursery- landscape. moved as they became diseased and fully ornamental selections of Lawson men to consider when grafting to protect In a year or two, gardeners in the were replaced with giant sequoia (Se- cypress from phytophthora and grow a the most desirable cultivars of Lawson maritime Pacific Northwest will be able quoiadendron giganteum). It would be well-shaped, easily cared for cultivar. to appreciate the results of the work of wonderful to have these parks once The U.S. Department of Agriculture has Gardeners need not fear these committed nurserymen. Great cul- again graced by the appealing form of been experimenting with seedlings of tivars like ‘Blue Surprise,’ ‘Minima Lawson cypress—elegant pyramidal Chamaecyparis lawsoniana in an at- that Lawson cypress Glauca,’ ‘Pembury Blue,’ ‘Wisselii,’ trees densely clothed to the ground with tempt to find one resistant to Phytoph- will disappear from ‘Tamariscifolia,’ ‘Pelt’s Blue’ and Stew- gracefully cascading fans of foliage. thora lateralis. They sowed thousands of the landscape artii’ should be available in our local Our Canadian neighbors in Vancouver seeds and then inoculated the seedlings nurseries on protective rootstock. Be- and Victoria may also be able to reverse with the fungus. They have found a fore you buy, however, ask if the Law- the decline of Lawson cypress in their seedling variant that is, thus far, totally cypress. The search for the “best” root- son cypress you have chosen was landscape, choosing their cultivars with resistant. Hallgren hopes to obtain some stock may not be over, but, as long as in- grafted and on what rootstock. a discerning eye for this new century. L plants of this resistant Lawson cypress terested, committed, and creative Hallgren may also realize his wish to next year, to serve as the understock for nurserymen, dedicated to growing the return Lawson cypress to the landscape Reprinted, with permission, from Pacific grafting some of the cultivars he favors. best plants for ornamental horticulture, of two great parks in Everett, Washing- Horticulture, January 2004, the maga- Grafting Lawson cypress onto itself are in the business—men like Van den ton: Forest Park and Legion Park. In the zine for West Coast gardeners (www.- carries little risk of any of the problems Akker, Ravensberg, and now Hall- pacifichorticulture.org).

You arediall cory invited to hejoin t GEE FARMS American Rhododendron Nursery & Landscaping Society 10 Acres of Container Plants Conifers, Hosta, Ornamental Grasses, Perennials Annual Subscription of $35 (USA) 2004 will be our 58th year in We invite you to visit our display gardens and new water garden Benefits: quarterly journal, business. We offer dwarf featuring many unusual and hard to find plants. seed exchange, chapter affiliation, and unusual conifers and Japan- conventions ese maples from small Family Owned since 1849 to specimen sizes. 8:00 am till Dark – 7 days Dues may be sent to: When the snow flies, we make custom plant labels by order. Gary & Kaye Gee Dee Daneri, Executive Director 14928 Bunkerhill Rd., Stockbridge, MI 49285 11 Pinecrest Drive PH: (517) 769-6772 or 1-800-860-BUSH Fortuna, CA 95540 USA 816 Holly Pike FAX (517) 769-6204 Mt. Holly Springs, PA 17065 Visit our Web site @ www.geefarms.com for our plant list ARS Website: (717) 486-5142 http://www.rhododendron.org www.suncrest-gardens.com

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Seedling Conifers Offer Challenge nating seeds, but we found that the leaf and/or plant societies visit. Keeping mold and sand mix works best for us. these conifers in containers also helps and Variety Members of the local Rock Garden when I present a lecture on dwarf club told me about soaking seeds in gib- conifers or growing Bonsai trees. Due to By Peter C. Jones berellic acid before planting. In research- space limitations, we can only keep one ing gibberellic acid, I learned that it naturally occurs in leaves, which are a Like many Conifer Society members, ducing the seeds healthy? major part of our soil mix as mentioned Our plan is to keep we are driven to seed propagation by the To answer these questions, one must above. Arlington County, Virginia, where reporting our progress hope of finding that unique and choice keep good notes, and I had not. How- we live, has an excellent program for re- with the hope that conifer. It is well known that conifer cul- ever, we now make every effort to insure cycling leaves; county residents can pick tivars don’t produce true from seeds, but that the trees are healthy and growing up as much leaf mold as they want. some of our local Conifer in some cases a seedling can produce a Over the years, we have seen some Society members may true jewel of a plant. nice plants developing from the seeds do the same Many years ago, my wife Caecilie A seedling can produce a we’ve collected and planted. One of our and I noticed that several Chamaecy- true jewel of a plant most prized Chamaecyparis is now 13 paris obtusa growing in front of our years old (see photo on page 14). From or two plants from each batch of seed home had produced seeds (see photo that year’s seedling batch, many germi- that we germinate. below). I first collected seeds about 15 well. We use mainly organic plant foods nated and 11 seedlings survived the win- Our first experience with the Conifer years ago and planted them just to see if and holistic methods for dealing with ter. Of the 11, two remain in our yard in Society’s Seed Exchange program came anything would grow. The first few problems. pots for a show-and-tell when friends, about four years ago. From that seed years, seedlings would emerge but we In our seedling flats, we now use a gardening clubs, horticulture groups, order, two species have performed well, had difficulty keeping them alive. This mixture of 50% leaf mold, sieved and we are pleased with their dwarf raised many questions: Are we using through a 1/4-inch sieve, and 50% growth rate, foliage color and root de- the best propagation medium? Have we coarse builder’s sand for our basic mix. velopment thus far (see photo). We now placed the seedling flats in the best lo- Over the years, we’ve tried various soil have several Abies koreana (Korean fir) cation in the yard? Are the trees pro- mixtures for rooting cuttings and germi- and Tsuga (hemlock) to evaluate. This year we hope to share some of these P et plants with friends that have the space to er C. plant them in the ground for further ob- J ones servation. I believe that both the Abies and Tsuga will require afternoon shade Abundant annual here in the Washington D.C. area. seed production by the We’ve tried using nursery markers to author’s Chamaecyparis track the seeds we’ve planted, but unfor- obtusa inspired him to tunately this marker did not perform give propagation a try. well and the seedling information was lost. Our plan is to keep reporting our progress with the hope that some of our local conifer society members may do ones J Eight-year-old seedlings display a er C. et

P variety of forms and textures.

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Conifers on the Web

SaveOurHemlocks.org creased access to information on the na- As you may know from reading past is- tion’s biological resources.) Please visit sues of the Conifer Quarterly, we are in the “Save Our Hemlocks!” website to

P danger of losing our eastern hemlocks. find out what you can do on your prop- et

er C. The hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges erty and how you can help protect our J

ones tsugae) is an introduced insect from Asia that is devastating the hemlocks the same, joining us in this study of throughout Appalachia. Infestations seedling conifers. have been confirmed from New Hamp- As soon as seedlings appear, varia- shire to Georgia – already much of the tions in growth are evident. However, at range of the Eastern hemlock (Tsuga least three years must pass before one can canadensis) in the Appalachians. Be- sides the Eastern hemlock being a key species to a heavily shaded and acidic At least three years must soil environment, the Carolina hemlock pass before one can begin (Tsuga caroliniana) is in great danger to predict what shape or since it has a very limited distribution along Appalachian slopes from Virginia form the plant will have to Georgia. Most of the newly infested counties in the year 2002 were found in southern public lands from hemlock woolly adel- begin to predict what shape or form the Appalachia, causing great alarm. In an- gid – as well as view a collection of re- plant will have. It is also during this time swer to this need, the Hemlock Woolly source web links and an iPIX photo tour frame that the weak seedlings are lost. Adelgid (HWA) Action Team was cre- of one of the oldest hemlock groves in the Each year, we try to send our excess ated under the direction of the Southern Great Smoky Mountains National Park. seeds from the front yard Chamaecy- Appalachian Man and the Biosphere paris to the Seed Exchange. My obser- (SAMAB) program. The action team Additional information on the Web: vations of the seedlings so far are most comprises about 50 members from mul- • National Biological Information In- rewarding. Our Society’s Seed Ex- tiple federal and state agencies along frastructure (http://www.nbii.gov) change offers us an excellent opportu- with private organizations that are fo- • Southern Appalachian Information nity to obtain seeds from around the cused on combating this invasion. Node (http://sain.nbii.gov) world, and the people running it deserve One of Pete’s older seedlings has found Timely information-sharing is needed • Southern Appalachian Man and the a medal for the service they provide. L its place as a bonsai-in-training. to provide quick action, so members of Biosphere (http://samab.org) our national biological information net- work helped the action team create an in- About the author: Pamela J. Nabors is a About the Author: Peter C. Jones lived in Fuerth/Bay, Germany from 1960 to 1970. It formative website which is available at biogeographer employed by the Ten- was during this time that he became interested in horticulture, after seeing some of http://www.saveourhemlocks.org. (The nessee Valley Authority, currently work- the old gardens in Europe. In 1971, he visited the Gotelli Collection for the first time Southern Appalachian Information Node ing through a joint venture with the and has been searching for rare, choice and unique conifers to grow since that visit. (SAIN) team is a part of the National Southern Appalachian Information He is also working with Arlington County to develop a conifer collection. Biological Information Infrastructure Node (SAIN) of the National Biological (NBII) commissioned with providing in- Information Infrastructure (NBII).

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Origin, Distribution, and Variation of coast, C. pisifera and C. obtusa in Japan, Ocala National Forest, Florida, and and C. formosensis in Taiwan. Most are westward to southern Mississippi Atlantic White-Cedar large trees, up to 150 feet (45 m). (Hardin et. al., 1996). In early 2001, a Rutgers team collected cuttings and fo- Kristin Mylecraine Tracking the Atlantic white-cedar liage samples throughout the entire Dept. of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources Atlantic white-cedar is the smallest range. They rooted the cuttings, and member of the genus, usually 60-70 feet within two years had established three Rutgers University (18-21 m) high and relatively slow- New Brunswick, N.J. growing. It occurs in dense, pure stands or in mixture with hardwoods in Construction along the John Kuser swamps along river and streams, mainly New Jersey Turnpike in Prof. Emeritus near the coast. In New Jersey, it is our 1998 unearthed many only obligate wetland tree species. It is Dept. of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources found mainly in the Pine Barrens, but cedar stumps, of which the Rutgers University also occurs in isolated locations in the largest measured over five New Brunswick, N.J. northern part of the state. Good speci- feet across. mens can be seen along North Lemon Road, south of park headquarters in Introduction to Chamaecyparis preserved, and not definitely Chamae- Brendan Byrne State Forest, and at provenance-test plantations in New Jer- Atlantic white-cedar (southern white- cyparis (Clark, 1916). Cheesequake State Park, where a board- sey and North Carolina. They also com- cedar, locally “juniper” in the Caroli- A series of 44 Chamaecyparis or walk traverses the cedar swamp. There pared allozymes from 30 locations nas), Chamaecyparis thyoides, belongs Chamaecyparis-like fossils, ranging in is an isolated stand at High Point State within the range, to determine the de- to the redwood or cypress family, age from late Cretaceous to Pliocene, is Park, the farthest inland and highest ele- gree of relationship among provenances. Cupressaceae. The family includes coast described by Kotyk et al (2003). Their vation site where the species occurs It is estimated that in colonial times, redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), dawn paper chiefly concerns a new fossil (Mylecraine and Zimmermann, 2000). cedar occupied as much as 100,000 redwood (Metasequoia glyptostro- species, C. eureka, which grew in Nationally, Atlantic white-cedar acres (400 km2) in New Jersey and boides), giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron swamp forests on Axel Heiberg Island in ranges from Appleton Bog, Maine, to about 300,000 acres (1200 km2) in giganteum), baldcypress and pondcy- the Canadian Arctic (78° N.) about 45 press (Taxodium spp.), China-fir (Cun- million years ago, when the climate was ninghamia lanceolata), cryptomeria warmer than today’s. The exquisitely- (Cryptomeria japonica), and a large va- preserved remains of this tree resemble riety of “cedar”-like trees including ar- C. pisifera more than any other extant Figure 1. borvitae (Thuja spp.) and our familiar species of Chamaecyparis, but do not White-cedar cuttings redcedar (Juniperus virginiana). exactly match it. Our present species, C. rooting in mist bed Its lineage is ancient, dating back to thyoides, was present in New Jersey at Cook College the time of dinosaurs in the Mesozoic. about 10,000 years ago, according to Greenhouse, Rutgers y An early fossil, possibly ancestral to Watts (1979), who found fossil leaves University, New ersit our white-cedar, discovered in the and cones at Helmetta Swamp in Mon- niv Brunswick, NJ. Magothy formation along the Severn mouth County. gers U

River in Maryland, was named Cu- Today there are five recognized ut pressinoxylon bibbinsii, and is thought species of Chamaecyparis, with C. thy- esy of R to have lived about 130 million years oides along the east coast of North t our ago. However, the specimen was poorly America, C. lawsoniana on the west C

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North Carolina. There were extensive Both natural seeding and hand plant- Bibliography cedar forests in the Meadowlands; con- ings are used for restoration; natural re- Clark, W.B. 1916. The Upper Creta- About the authors: struction along the New Jersey Turnpike generation depends on an adequate ceous. Report of the Maryland Geo- Kristen Mylecraine expects to com- in 1998 unearthed many cedar stumps, seedbank in the soil or presence of ma- logical Survey, 2 vol’s, pp. 791. plete her Ph.D. this Spring at Rutgers of which the largest measured over five ture, cone-bearing cedars within 100 Hardin, J.W.; D.J. Leopold, and F.M. University. In 2000, she wrote the feet across. Today New Jersey’s largest yards (90 m) upwind. Planting can be White. 1996. Harlow & Harrar’s Atlantic White-cedar Ecology and Best two specimens, both approximately 10 done either with seedlings, which are Textbook of Dendrology, (9th ed., Practices Manual now used by the New feet (3 m) in circumference, grow in difficult to produce, or with stecklings pp. 231-233). McGraw-Hill, New Jersey Forest Service. swamps near Nixon Branch and Muskee York. Dr. John Kuser is Professor Emeri- Creek in Cumberland County. The na- Kotyk, M.E.A.; J.F. Basinger, and E.E. tus at that institution, having spent his tional champion, 13 feet (4 m) around, is C. thyoides ‘Glauca’ McIver. 2003. Early Tertiary academic career studying forest genet- Chamaecyparis Spach from Axel near Brewton, Alabama. is a selection from ics and urban forestry. Atlantic white-cedar was prized for Heiberg Island, Canadian High Arc- For the past five years, the two have its decay-resistant wood, which was the bluest forms tic. Can. J. Bot. 81:113-130. traveled the entire range of Atlantic used for shingles, siding, boats, buckets, found in the wild Little, S. and P.W. Garrett. “Chamaecy- white-cedar, collecting plant samples and channel markers (Little and Garrett, paris thyoides (L.) B.S.P. Atlantic- from Maine to Florida and west to 1990). Many houses in Philadelphia and White-Cedar”. In Burns, R.M. and Mississippi. From that data, Kristen Baltimore were roofed with cedar (rooted cuttings), which are relatively B.H. Honkala, eds. 1990. Silvics of devised a dendrogram showing the shakes. The wood is used less exten- easy (Fig. 1). The State Forest Tree North America Vol. 1. Conifers. (pp. relationships between the populations, sively today because its supply is very Nursery at Jackson, NJ, produces 103-108). U.S.D.A. Forest Service, which will be published at a later date. limited. 10,000 to 20,000 a year of these, using Ag. Hdbk. 654. Forest Service, parent material from Brendan Byrne U.S.D.A., Wash. DC. Today’s trees State Forest. In restoration efforts, great Mylecraine, K.A. and G.L. Zimmer- Over the last 200 years there has been a care must be taken to protect the young mann. 2000. Atlantic White-cedar significant decline in the area occupied cedars from destruction by white-tailed Ecology and Best Management Prac- by the species. Cedar swamps are valued deer; the most widely used devices are tices Manual. New Jersey Forest Ser- now because of their ecological func- electric fences, which can be moved to vice, P. O. Box 404, Trenton, NJ tions: they filter and purify water, miti- new locations after the trees have grown 08625-0204. 83 pp. gate flood and drought, and provide above browse height. Watts, W.A. 1979. Late quaternary veg- habitat for diverse bird, reptile, and am- There are several horticultural culti- etation of central Appalachia and the phibian species and several rare plant vars of Chamaecyparis thyoides. One, C. New Jersey coastal plain. Ecol. species. thyoides ‘Glauca,’ is a selection from the Mono. 49:427-469. Efforts underway today to restore bluest forms found in the wild. These cedar swamps are being led by foresters occur more often in the northern part of and ecologists at Rutgers University, the species’ range, from High Point, NJ Richard Stockton College of New Jer- to Appleton Bog, ME. Two others appear sey, New Jersey Forest Service, North to be single clones which are vegetatively 66 Jackson Lane, Bethlehem, CT 06751 Carolina State University, and North propagated: C. thyoides ‘Andelyensis,’ a Carolina Division of Forest Resources. relatively compact, heavy-coning culti- Restoration has been most successful on var; and C. thyoides ‘Heatherbun,’ a low- sites formerly occupied by cedar, which growing, round-headed cultivar with Owners: Dennis and Mary Lou Dodge Phone/Fax 203.266.7783 grows best on muck soils underlain by juvenile needles which feels soft and sand or gravel. fuzzy to the touch. L www.bethlehemnursery.com [email protected]

18 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 19

Reader Recommendations – Your favorite Cedrus cultivars

Chamaecyparis in Iowa THE ENHANCEMENT OF NATURE’S DEFINITIVE SPACES and the Upper Midwest WOLF-RUN by Gary Whittenbaugh NURSERY G

ar LANDSCAPES y

W •RARE AND UNUSUAL PLANTS

hitt •EXOTIC CONIFERS

The Chamaecyparis of choice for this have a tendency to burn when first enbaugh Karen & Mark Priebe 610-779-5717 area is Chamaecyparis pisifera and its planted but after established it is fine. Toll Free 877-779-5715 29 Klappenthal Road cultivars. The most popular one seems Some plants seem to be more prone to Fax 610-779-0555 Reading, PA 19606 E-mail: [email protected] to be ‘Boulevard.’ It is a nice plant but burn than others. wolfrunnursery.com like some of the other pisifera cultivars I do have about ten different it is better as a young plant than an older Chamaecyparis obtusa growing in Fran- plant. However this is not all bad, as mara Garden here in Oelwein, Iowa. Conifer Society Slide Sets However I tell visitors to the garden do In contrast to the more traditional Available to Members for as I say, not as I do, and don’t grow C. landscape uses of Chamaecyparis Local Presentations Do as I say, not as I do, obtusa – they will just break your heart. (see inside front cover), this C. They may go seven or eight years then and don’t grow C. obtusa – obtusa ‘Nana’ grows in a crevice they‘ll just break your heart we will have a winter when the temper- and is highly recommended for atures may reach minus 25 and the fo- troughs. liage will burn. I use them quite often in they are relatively inexpensive and make my trough gardens and they always wonderful filler plants. If used correctly, come through the winter in fine shape. over six years and went through a win- as some of the slower growing and more The reason for this being during cold ter of minus 25 and is looking good. But choice miniature and dwarf conifers get weather I can place them out of the wind I wouldn’t bet the farm on many C. law- larger and plants such as ‘Boulevard’ or and winter sun. Some of the C. obtusa soniana doing well in Iowa or any place Would you like to talk to your other pisifera start to look a little shabby we have had in the garden for over five else here in the upper Midwest. L garden club or social organization they can be removed. We love to re- to ten years are ‘Elf,’ ‘Gazebo,’ ‘Nana’ about gardening with conifers? model our kitchens, bathrooms, and (very good in troughs), ‘Nana Aurea’ even the whole house every so often so (planted over fifteen years ago) and Two slide sets featuring why not remodel our landscape or gar- ‘Rigid Dwarf.’ attractive plant combinations and den every 15 to 20 years or so. The only Chamaecyparis thyoides design ideas are available to Some of the Chamaecyparis pisifera we have is ‘Heatherbun’, which is doing Conifer Society members. Many cultivars we have here in Franmara Gar- nicely. I have tried ‘Red Star’ and ‘Top of the images come from the den that seem to retain their charm as Point’ (both rated hardy in Zone 4) but 16804 NE 102nd Ave., collection of Charlene Harris. Battle Ground, WA 98604 older plants are ‘Gold Spangle,’ ‘Golden they always burn badly. Surprisingly I Contact coordinator Byron Richards Mop,’ Plumosa Compressa,’ ‘Sun Gold,’ have had some success with Chamaecy- catalog $2.00 and my favorite ‘Snow’ (see photos, in- paris lawsoniana particularly in trough to borrow the slides via e-mail at 360-574-3832 fax 360-571-8540 side front cover). One thing I have no- gardens. I have the cultivar ‘Snow [email protected] or call (828) e-mail [email protected] 696-0801. ticed about ‘Golden Mop’ is it seems to White’ which has been in the garden for http://www.collectorsnursery.com

20 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 21

Reader Recommendations Cedrus CONIFER PUZZLE PAGE – Your favorite cultivars PHOTO CORRECTION: Cedrus deodara Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Bridal Veil’ ‘Silver Mist’

e discovered the plant ?

at our nursery about 12 D W uv years ago. It probably re- all N Maud Henne from Charlottes-

sulted from a bud sport of urser ville, Virginia, poses this trivia

Chamaecyparis nootkatensis y challenge: ‘Pendula.’As a young graft, it was noticeably different so Which plant is known as the we kept it for observation. smallest naturally occurring Over the years it has devel- conifer (species, not cultivar!) oped its own unique charac- in the world, and where is its ter and is now about 10 feet native habitat? wide and 18 feet tall. The primary branching habit is open and airy com- Maud is offering a prize to three pared to other weeping members who send her the cor- Alaska-cedars. The secondary rect answer by May 15th. Have branchlets are quite closely you seen the beautiful conifer- spaced along the main themed notecards she creates? branches and hang straight You could win a set of note- outa

down, giving the appearance cards if you know the answer to ohn R J of a fan or veil, hence the this puzzle! name ‘Bridal Veil.’ John Routa bought this Cedrus The plant retains a dark If she receives more than three deodara ‘Silver Mist’ from Blue sage green throughout the correct responses, she will con- Sterling Nursery in 2000 for his year with no winter yellow- duct a random drawing to select garden in Marysville, Pennsyl- ing, and we’ve seen no evi- the three winners from those re- vania. He reports that, of their dence of pest or deer damage. sponses. 120 conifer cultivars, this is his We propagate this plant wife’s favorite plant. by side grafting the scion Send your guess to: onto Juniperus chinensis Maud Henne Editor’s Note: We regret that the ‘Hetzi’ in January or Febru- Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 1670 Milton Rd. wrong ‘Silver Mist’ Deodar cedar ary. We feel the juniper under- ‘Bridal Veil’ at Duvall Nursery Charlottesville, VA 22902 was pictured with John’s caption on the inside back cover of the stock reduces cold weather in Michigan. [email protected] root injury and root rot. Winter 2004 issue. Here is the beautiful tree that he and his wife enjoy so much! – Andy and Carol Duvall, Duvall Nursery. South Lyon, Michigan GOOD LUCK!

22 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 23

Hands Across the Sea brought about a strong sense of friendli- cultivar ness and cooperation between the Chamaecyparis British Conifer Society plans Web site, journal to share the region’s horticultural British and American societies. Bill history rooted in Britain treasures with the world Barger in the U.S. has generously of- fered to develop our Web site and we Gardening and the popularity of by Derek Spicer hope to have a direct link to yours. I sus- rock gardens in the Victorian era pect that we will develop along similar beginning around 1850 encouraged As some of you are aware, we have started in Spring 2003 with minimal fi- lines but with subtle differences. (There the selection of smaller growing formed a Conifer Society in Britain. How nancial backing. shrubs and dwarf conifers. By ironic that with our history of botanical We seem to have been very fortunate 1923, Murray Hornibrook’s book exploration and dwarf conifer collecting, with our coincidental choice of commit- How ironic that, with our Dwarf and Slow-Growing Conifers we are 20 years behind you in getting tee members. Chris Reynolds, curator of history of botanical listed 230 varieties. Many of these started! I can remember some of us say- Bedgebury Pinetum, brings a forestry exploration and dwarf were witches’ brooms, but increas- ing back in the early 1970s that we ought background. Our secretary, Daniel Lus- ingly nurserymen were selecting to have a society but nobody had enough combe, is the horticulturalist at Bedge- conifer collecting, we are dwarfs and colorful varieties from time, so we missed an opportunity and a bury and brings down the average age of 20 years behind you seedlings. generation of enthusiasts passed on. the committee quite a lot. Our treasurer in getting started! It is pertinent that Chamaecy- Daniel Luscombe and myself dis- is Stephen Grubb. Stephen is one of our paris is the theme for this issue of cussed the matter again while in New foremost collectors of dwarf conifers the Conifer Quarterly. The genus Caledonia on an International Dendrol- and is already known to a number of is no shame in mimicking the success- has been incredibly successful in ogy Society Tour after the Auckland American members. We also have three ful.) Initially we are only able to afford the British climate. Your own native Araucariaceae Symposium. In February enthusiastic and experienced nursery- to publish two journals each year, but Chamaecyparis lawsoniana can be 2003, we gathered a group of enthusi- men (i.e. we are all getting old) with we hope to increase this number as our seen growing well in all parts of the asts for an inaugural meeting and plenty of committee experience and di- membership grows and provides more British Isles. The fact that it is formed our initial committee. The gen- verse interests – John Tate, John Tilbury, time, expertise and funding. I am hope- flourishing should be of some com- erous offer of office facilities by Bedge- and myself. ful that the tone of our publication re- fort to those of you concerned bury National Pinetum enabled us to get Stephen’s influence has already flects the diverse interests of the conifer about threats to the wild population world and bridges the gap between the in Oregon. The species was intro-

T dwarf conifer enthusiasts, academics duced to Britain in 1854, and on

y G and the tree enthusiasts. within a few years many different Chris Reynolds (left) r een We have a rich heritage of arboreta forms had been selected. By the and Derek Spicer and old collections of conifer varieties. 1960s it had become synonymous attended our own This will enable us to have a full pro- with the word “conifer” for many Conifer Society’s gram of one day and weekend visits. British gardeners (though it was national meeting in This is fine for our domestic members likely supplanted in the 1990s by Denver, Colorado, but I hope that visitors from abroad will the Leyland cypress). last July.Their visit be able to join in or use the reports to While probably excessive, there generated a lot of plan their own itineraries. are now over 600 varieties named, interest in the new many of which were originally se- British Conifer Britain’s wealth of conifers lected in Britain during the early Society from our It is worth noting that, although we have days. However, most of the older American members. only three native conifers in Britain, our cultivars were discarded as succes- (continued on page 27)

24 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 25

(continued from page 25) These early activities have left us a Chamaecyparis cultivar history dwarf conifer scene. W. H. Rogers of extremely varied climate enables us to wonderful legacy of mature trees from rooted in Britain (continued) Red Lodge Nursery at Eastleigh near grow more of the world’s conifer all over the world; many of these plants the South coast of England introduced species than any other comparable area. are part of less well known collections sive batches of seedlings yielded bet- the dwarf yellow C. lawsoniana ‘Aurea Pines and spruces were introduced from or exist as individual trees. I suspect that ter colors and shapes. Densa,’ C. lawsoniana ‘Minima Aurea’ continental Europe beginning in the many of us do not realize quite what It is interesting to note the differ- and C. lawsoniana ‘Lutea Nana,’ all 1500s. Introductions from further afield valuable resources we have here. ences between the types of conifer seedlings from an unknown taller yel- included pines and firs from Eastern We hope to send regular updates on cultivars selected and used in British low cultivar. our progress to the Conifer Quarterly and American gardens. You have a In the 1920s a mature plant of C. and highlight notable plant collections rich population of native species and obtusa ‘Nana Gracilis’ set seed for the Our extremely varied in our own journal. Whether or not you so have been able to continue select- first time, and from the seedlings the have visited Britain before, we will help ing witches’ brooms from firs, pines famous and extremely dwarf “Tennis climate enables us to and guide you as much as possible so and spruces. This was really brought Ball cypresses” were selected. This grow more of the world’s you can share the most interesting fea- seemed to inspire a wave of conifer conifer species than any tures of our conifer landscape. L collecting that reached its peak in the Selections displaying 1960s and ’70s. Humphrey Welch’s other comparable area bright yellow, blue and Manual of Dwarf Conifers was pub- About the author: Derek Spicer is a lished in 1979. founding member of the British Conifer winter-russet foliage A little later there was a surge of North America in the 1700s. Plant col- Society and is presently serving as the were emphasized over interest in slow-growing and colorful lecting, largely by Scottish plantsmen, organization’s chairman. He entered the those with unusual form forms of Chamaecyparis, Juniperus, began in earnest in Western North trade in 1970, running his nursery part Cryptomeria and Thuja. These were America and the Himalayas from 1800 time while employed as a Metal Trader. often grown in association with to 1850, and Japan and S. America from Having earned degrees in botany and home to those of us at your National heather, a combination popularized by 1850 to 1900. Significant plants from taxonomy, Derek’s plant interests have Meeting in Denver, Colorado, last Adrian Bloom. China were introduced from 1900-1930 evolved from Arctic plants and alpines year where we saw just a fraction of We have always benefited from a and has recently resumed. to dwarf and ornamental conifers, and Jerry Morris’s achievements. steady arrival of new forms from con- Several arboreta, now quite exten- now he is most fascinated by seeing In Britain, the introduction of tinental Europe, especially Holland sive, were established in the nineteenth conifers in the wild. Chamaecyparis lawsoniana – and C. and Germany. There now seems to be century and many smaller pinetums were obtusa, C. pisifera and C. thyoides at a resurgence of interest by the collec- planted. All of this activity was fueled by about the same time – triggered an ex- tors in dwarf forms of pine, spruce the Victorian enthusiasm for collections. plosion in cultivar numbers. Thuja and fir, especially from North Amer- Domestic conferences on conifers were species were also involved. The vast ica. Perhaps our two societies can held in 1891 at the Chiswick RHS gar- majority of these new cultivars were work together to solve the problems den and in 1931 and 1970 at the RHS seedling variations and sports rather of import restrictions. halls in London. A truly international than brooms. Selections displaying The British Conifer Society will conifer conference was hosted by Wye bright yellow, blue and winter-russet have around 100 members at the end College, Kent in 1999. In retrospect, foliage were emphasized over those of its first year. I believe this modest with all that interest and our history of with unusual form. beginning is similar to that of your or- forming gardening and other specialist One nursery in particular deserves ganization, so we look forward to the societies – the RHS is 200 years old this a mention for its contribution to the future with optimism. – D.S. year! – it is puzzling that a conifer soci- ety was not established.

26 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 27

THUJA X 'GREEN GIANT' Robert L.Tomayer

Replacement Tree For New England's Dying Hemlocks got to know Bob pretty well during ¦ the last five years. We frequently Original Tree Planted 1967 U.S.N.A. I Washington D.C. 50'x11' compared propagation strategies, though l New US National Arboretum Plant I must admit, I was more often on the l Pennsylvania Gold Medal Plant Award 1998 receiving end. l Tough, Fragrant, Tall, Narrow Pyramidal Evergreen One of those most memorable expe- l Deer, Bagworm & Disease Resistant riences I had with Bob occurred during l Fast Growing, 3'-5' / Year the Central Region’s meeting in 2002 l Zone 5-8 May 2, 1920 – January 10, 2004 hosted at his nursery, Wavecrest. The l Excellent Alternative to Leyland Cypress Sunday following the meeting was yet l Also Valley Forge American Elm bout 20 years ago, I came across the another, hot, desiccating summer day. l We Ship All Year Awonderful Wavecrest Nursery in Bob was not exactly chipper that day Michigan, created by Robert Tomayer. but, as always, mentally active. He said Over the years he became a cherished to me, ‘Let's get in my truck and I'll www.botanyshop.com friend, and we traded many plants. show you the field beds.” So we took off. 90 pictures on our website! One year he gave me a seedling The field beds were virtually pure sand, viburnum that looked like Viburnum so it was not exactly a smooth ride, but Plants 8in. - 3 1/2ft. tall, $3.00 to $45.00 each sieboldii except that the foliage was Bob didn’t seem to mind as he was Botany Shop - Joplin, Missouri very large and heavy, and the fall color more focused on showing me plants. was fire-engine red. Along came Dr. He showed me some of his unique PHONE: (888) 855-3300 Harrison Flint, an expert who had writ- grafting techniques, the most famous of ten excellent articles on viburnums. He which were the multi-grafted weeping walked around the plant, crumpled a larches. We also visited the original The above 3 pictures were taken at Valley Forge leaf under his nose, took a sniff and pro- Concorde barberry (Berberis thunbergii the National Arboretum in claimed that yes, it was Viburnum 'Concorde'). All in all, we spent more Washington D.C. in August of 2001. American Elm sieboldii. Thus was born V. sieboldii than an hour spinning around in the When planted in the fall of 1998, Many pictures and information on our website ‘Wavecrest,’ a cultivar now listed by Dr. sand, and I saw things I’d never seen be- www.botanyshop.com they were 3 feet tall and planted on 6 or call 888-855-3300 for prices and information. Michael Dirr in the latest edition of his fore even though I’ve been around a bit. 1/2 foot centers. They grew 3 feet in Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. It was always an education with Bob. the first year (1999), and are now 10- • The Most D.E.D. (Dutch Elm Disease) Being around Bob was always a Who will replace Bob? Do we have a Resistant American Elm Ever Tested 12 feet tall. It can be trimmed to any treat. He was so knowledgeable and so generation of young and committed • New U.S.D.A. Release very kind and generous – the epitome of plantsmen waiting in the wings? Unfor- height or width to create the ultimate • No Secrets Or natural or formal hedge. a wonderful nurseryman. I always came tunately, our brightest young minds in Patents away having learned something new. He the field of horticultural science seem to "The Thuja Green Giants are the • Anyone Can was a true master at grafting and taught gravitate away from practical horticul- toughest, disease, insect, deer and ice Easily Propagate, me to graft some of my own trees and ture. Simply put, Bob was unique, for resistant evergreen I have ever used. I Grow Or Re-Sell am 6' tall with a 6' arm span, so you This Great shrubs. he combined scientific theory with art can see the height to width ratio of American Tree His passing is a great loss to every- and craftmanship. one who knew him. these trees." - Mike Shade • We Give A Richard A. Larson 15 Year D.E.D. Gene Coffman Propagator (For faster solid screen, plant 5 feet apart.) Guarantee Bellevue, Iowa Dawes Arboretum

28 THE CONIFER SOCIETY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 THE CONIFER SOCIETY 29

The Art and Science of Grafting: or weeping forms that are held off the (14 °C) propagation greenhouse for two ground by a long, branchless trunk. But to three weeks before grafting begins. A Demonstration by George Okken unless there is an aesthetic reason for He wants to see new healthy root doing so, he and George agree, low growth starting before he begins. by Anne M. Brennan grafts are superior since they can be At Okken Nursery, the grafting buried just below the soil surface. marathon begins with maples since they Grafting expert and member George Okken stresses sharp knives and straight cuts for best results Plant preparation Grafting requires planning in terms of While success in grafting both tools and plant materials. George does rely somewhat on the Which aspect of woody plant grafting is source plant and will display the same buys seedlings in tree tubes a year in ad- grafter’s own technique, the most difficult to master? Choosing physical characteristics. While this is vance to use for understock and keeps the right understock can be confusing. also true of plants grown from rooted them in his nursery under 50% shade. there’s no getting around Then, one must decide where to cut – cuttings, grafting can be a more effi- Shortly after the plants’ arrival, he re- the need for a very how high on the understock, and on cient way to propagate difficult-to-root moves the lowest side branches and sharp knife! which side? Once the cuts are made, cultivars. prunes excess root growth to increase what if the understock’s cambium In some cases, the species of under- their suitability. Some must be discarded stock used for the graft can influence the due to poor health or shape; a sickly un- break dormancy earlier than the Plants have been known growth rate or hardiness of the overall derstock is unlikely to produce a suc- conifers, so the window of opportunity plant, which can add value to that plant. cessful graft, George contends. is shorter. For all species, the scion ma- to thrive for years On the other hand, plants have been Once these seedlings go dormant in terial (taken from the plant he wishes to after grafting, only to known to thrive for years after grafting, winter, he moves them into the 58 °F propagate), is grafted while dormant, suddenly die after only to suddenly die after 10 years or since an actively growing shoot would more when the area where the graft oc- likely die from desiccation long before 10 years or more curred suddenly stops transporting ma- the graft successfully heals. terials from the roots to the top growth. doesn’t match the scion’s? And then George makes a two-part recom- Knife tips there’s the “tying off” that can seem im- mendation to reduce the incidence of While success in grafting does rely possible without a third hand. graft failure after the plant is installed in somewhat on the grafter’s own tech- As rubber bands flew and knives the landscape. First, graft as low on the nique, there’s no getting around the need glinted in George Okken’s propagation understock as possible – that is, close to for a very sharp knife! You will need to greenhouse in Pompton Plains, New Jer- the soil. When planting outdoors, situate sharpen yours before you begin and fre- sey, about a dozen Conifer Society- the plant so that the graft union is one quently while you work. If you will be member students tested their hand-eye inch below the soil surface. “The scion buying a new knife, keep the following coordination while George demon- has a very good chance of rooting,” says in mind: strated his technique. Connecticut mem- George, after which the original root- ber Stanley Eyre helped to organize the stock will no longer be needed and will • A carbon-steel blade can be sharpened event. disappear, leaving a plant on its own to a finer edge than can a stainless- roots with a better chance of long-term steel blade. Most folding pocket Why graft? survival. knives are stainless steel because they “Grafting is a form of cloning,” George “Some people prefer to make high een reminded the group, so a grafted plant grafts, such as to produce standards,” r possesses exactly the same genes as the noted Stanley, referring to certain dwarf y G George looks for new root growth on on T his understock plants.

30 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 31

Every forest is filled with characters – do not rust and are more practical for into the bark to make a shallow T- some delightful and some that are better left alone other uses, so George does not recom- shaped cut so the bark flaps can be mend them for grafting. peeled back. So for George’s workshop, • For this type of grafting, sometimes the inexpensive, red-handled pocket Meet the neatly called side grafting, the knife blade knife I’d brought as backup worked bet- sheared Gum Drop must be flat on the back and beveled ter, simply because it had the flat- on the front. This allows control over backed blade. Pines and get to know the depth and direction of each cut. It their sports-enthusiast also means that a left-handed person Making the cut friends, the Pom Pom will need a left-handed knife. Some of us were starting to realize this Pines. Learn why Before attending the workshop, I was a lot more complicated than we re- Highway Pines are bought a $25 knife

packaged and sold T fascinated by traffic on as a grafting knife at y G r and discover what a well-known local een makes the Punk Pines so garden center. Un- rebellious. fortunately, the knife has a double-sided, Become fluent in the stainless-steel blade – two thumbs down latest Pine Society slang from George. This like legal limb it and type is apparently curvature of the pine, intended for bud and learn why you grafting, in which should never tell the point of the knife a pine to spruce up! is inserted straight

Above: A straight, smooth cut made in one quick motion is Available only in hardcover and filled with color essential for photographs of the pine characters it describes, maximum contact A Society of Pines brings the forest alive with an between the scion’s exquisite mix of high whimsy and warm science. and understock’s cambium layers, but it takes practice. To order, visit www.knifeislandpublishing.com or mail $17.95 plus $5.95 shipping and handling to: Left: George recommends Knife Island Publishing grafting as low on P.O. Box 251277 the understock as een r

Woodbury, MN 55125 y G possible. on Call with questions: (612) 845-4520 T

Minnesota residents add 6% sales tax. Wisconsin residents add 5%. Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 33

alized, with so many possible pitfalls to first cut. This allows a better fit when the close the wound, conserve moisture and avoid. But the returning attendees reas- scion is inserted into the understock and apply pressure to the exposed cambium sured us that it would be fun, and the covered by the understock’s flap (see surfaces so they will heal as intended. trays of cut plant material and potted un- Figure 3). Sure enough, when George in- Grafting bands are short, narrow rubber derstocks waiting on the benches in serted the scion into the cut in the under- bands about three inches long before front of us reminded us why we were stock, they matched perfectly. they’re stretched. there. We watched intently as George “The hardest part may be wrapping While the exact motions George rec- pulled out his knife and started slicing. the graft union,” said Stanley, looking ommends to wrap and secure the graft – ahead to the next step, “but the art is in without letting the scion slip out of posi- making the proper cuts.” tion – are difficult to describe exactly, I can pass along a few important hints: Banding together One more demonstration was in order • While pressing one end of the band Figure 3. A much smaller, before we tried this ourselves. The against the top of the graft union, second cut on the opposite side process of tying off the graft is meant to stretch it as much as possible while of the scion allows a better fit when the scion is inserted into the understock. Below left: It’s important to stretch the band taut before you start wrapping the graft union.This holds the graft together more tightly.

First, George made a cut on the con- Below right: A properly tied-off graft includes a small loop or tab. Simply pull on the vex (outward-curving) side of a spruce tab to release the band after the graft heals. understock plant, as low as possible on Figure 1. When you cut into the the stem. He kept the knife almost per- understock, you must keep the pendicular to the stem; starting the cut knife almost perpendicular to at too deep an angle will gouge the the stem. Avoid gouging. wood and the cut will not be flat (see Figure 1). “The cuts you make must be straight,” he insisted. “No bevels, or you won’t get good contact between the cambium. You don’t want air pockets.” Next he took a spruce scion of the same caliper (stem size) from one of the trays. Similar size is important because it allows better matching of cambium layers when the scion and understock are joined. He identified the convex side and cut all the way through the wood at the same angle as the understock cut (see Figure 2). Figure 2. Cut the scion so the Finally, he made a small second cut een exposed surface will be the same on the opposite side of the scion, to re- r length as the understock cut. y G

move a small part of the tip left by the on T

34 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 35

you wrap it three to four times around become comfortable using a sharp knife, the graft. This pulls the scion and un- learn to anticipate the amount of cutting About the author: Anne M. Brennan is college, she remains optimistic that derstock together and still leaves resistance encountered with various Editor of the Conifer Quarterly. Though some of her conifer grafts from the re- extra length at the end of the band to plant species, and reach a certain level of unsuccessful at grafting apple trees in cent workshop will flourish. secure it. proficiency in tying off the grafts. (Be- • To keep the band from unraveling, you ware of airborne rubber bands!) Perhaps must secure the loose end beneath the we should have spent a couple of hours final “wrap.” George manages this by just cutting up twigs and tying the pieces holding two fingers of his left hand together before we attempted a live graft. alongside the stem during the final But fear of failure aside, working with wrap of the band, so that the fingers living plant material is no doubt the best are wrapped along with the stem. Then way to learn – and the most rewarding, if he uses these two fingers to pull the any of the grafts succeed! end of the band through, ideally leav- ing a small loop for easy removal of George Okken invites interested Conifer 41370 SE Thomas Road • Sandy, OR 97055 the band once the graft has healed. Society members to contact him with 503.668.5834 phone/fax questions about grafting at (973) 835- EMAIL: [email protected] Helping to heal 5189. L www.porterhowse.com Now, what was to become of our lit- T tle creations? They would need time on y G

to recuperate from their surgery, and r een George has just the place. After we labeled our plants for re- trieval in three months, George buried the pots in bottom-heated 8938 Newburg Road greenhouse benches filled with a 2004 Color Catalog Rockford, IL 61108 50/50 peat-perlite mix and watered Producers of rare and Phone:(815) 332-5610 them in. In doing so, he situated the unusual conifers, Fax:(815) 332-7495 graft unions beneath the surface Shrubs, and Trees. E-mail:[email protected] where the surrounding media would Originators of the prevent desiccation as the tissues Girard Line of Azaleas, Rhododendrons, and healed. If we were lucky, at least Juniper ‘Saybrook some of our scions would flush with Gold’ (Pat.#5014). new growth by the time we returned Visit our nursery and In a Rare Mood … to claim the plants in May. If not… conifer gardens. try our • Japanese Maples well, there’s always next winter! • Dwarf Conifers Send for free catalog to: • Bonsai Like any physical skill, grafting Girard Nurseries • Bonsai Supplies requires a lot of practice. One must P.O. Box 428 Geneva, OH 44041 1451 Pleasant Hill Road (440) 466-2881 Harrisburg, PA 17112 Buried beneath a 50/50 peat-perlite Fax (440) 466-3999 (717) 545-4555 mixture, the graft unions are protected from desiccation during www.girardnurseries.com their twelve-week healing process. www.natureswaybonsai.com

36 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 37

One Acre in Rochester ‘Sango Kaku’) left the tree’s bark com- house. Initially I was hesitant to destroy pletely separated from the underlying such old shrubs, but the excitement of by Gerald P.Kral wood and the plant did not survive. An- clearing a new canvas for unusual plants other cultivar, ‘Oridono Nishiki,’ was se- quickly doused any regrets I had. Three hundred conifer cultivars and rarely seen companion plants await verely damaged in the same manner, but People who tour my gardens and see Northeast Region meeting attendees this Fall enough bark remained viable to permit the hundreds of conifer taxa on display the tree’s survival after two-thirds of it were removed. Several Japanese cedar The topic of witches’ My first conifers were a pair of weeping played with over 300 taxa of companion (Cryptomeria), Japanese black pine Norway spruce (Picea abies ‘Pendula’) plants. Try to find the Secret Garden. (Pinus thunbergiana) and Japanese red brooms invariably arises, purchased over 20 years ago. Fourteen Listen to the splashing water in the pine (P. densiflora) suffered winter burn and I often wished I had an genera, 55 species and over 300 conifer Alpine Stream Garden. Stop to enjoy the but all candled well and have survived. example of one to better cultivars later, I admit to a serious case Goldfish Pond, the Dragon Fountain The removal of a 75-year-old yew of Addicted Conifer Syndrome. Garden and the Fat Cat Garden. Unusual (Taxus) hedge from the front of the explain what they look like. statuary includes a fiber-optic harp and a house provided room for two new gar- Try to find the Secret five-foot praying mantis, and benches dens. The hedge was a bear to maintain, often ask where all the different kinds along the way encourage contemplation. quite overgrown and – as we discovered come from. The topic of witches’ Garden ... Listen to the Notable plants include redbuds (Cer- during its removal – was the cause of brooms invariably arises and I often splashing water in the cis canadensis) ‘Covey’ and ‘Forest some serious structural damage to the wished I had an example of one to better Alpine Stream Garden Pansy’ as well as Chinese dogwoods explain what they look like. Finally I was (Cornus kousa) ‘Gold Star,’ ‘Wolf Eyes’ The huge witches’ broom on this Picea able to obtain a 5-foot (1.5-m) dwarf and the weeping cultivar ‘Elizabeth abies ‘Pygmaea’ serves as a show-and- Norway spruce (Picea abies ‘Pygmaea’) Terraced, raised fieldstone beds Lustgarten.’ Over 30 cultivars of Japan- tell example for inquisitive visitors. with a huge witches’ broom comprising greet visitors as they approach the front ese maple (Acer palmatum), including yard. These beds display a forest of rare ‘Oridono Nishiki,’ are displayed in the and unusual conifers, shrubs, small garden. Outstanding Japanese cedars trees, grasses and perennials. Conifers (Cryptomeria japonica) include an 8- of note include a specimen-size Abies foot ‘Sekkan,’ a 14-foot (4-m) ‘Cristata’ koreana ‘Silberlocke’ (Korean fir), the and a teenaged ‘Spiralis.’ windswept silhouettes of two 15-foot Canada hemlocks (Tsuga canaden- (4.5-m) Picea pungens ‘Iseli Foxtail’ sis) ‘Cole’ and the rare ‘Betty Rose’ are (Colorado spruce), an Abies pinsapo featured, and unusual cultivars of box- ‘Aurea’ (Spanish fir) and a golden foun- wood (Buxus), holly (Ilex), euonymous, tain by the name of Juniperus x pfitzeri- rhododendron and hydrangea abound ana ‘Gold Lace #2’ (Pfitzer juniper). beneath the dappled canopy of a grove The original pair of Picea abies ‘Pen- of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) dula’ also stand among this group. reaching 120 feet (36 m) high. The terraced-bed theme continues in the backyard where more than a quarter- Recent changes mile of meandering, bluestone pathways The winter of 2002-’03 claimed some al lead visitors through dozens of “garden choice specimens and damaged others. r K rooms.” Aesthetic appeal is emphasized Freezing damage to a 12-year-old coral- . ald P

here, as hundreds of conifers are dis- bark Japanese maple (Acer palmatum er G

38 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 39

LETTER TO THE EDITOR at least half the plant (see photo). While Alaska-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootka- the plant pushed its usual two inches of tensis) called ‘Van den Akker’ (see Searching for photo of mature Abies lasiocarpa ‘Du Flon’ annual growth, the broom pushed only photo). At a height of 15 feet (4.5 m), it 0.25-0.5 inches (0.6-1.3 cm) – a great ex- may not sound appropriate for a founda- In 1989 after freedom was restored there exists any good color photo- ample I can show to curious visitors. tion planting but as you can see, it has in my country, I reported in the Czech graph of the mature Abies lasiocarpa In the same planting area in front of no horizontal branching and is less than Rock Garden Club periodical Skal- ‘Du Flon’ in the Society’s possession our house, I added an unusual weeping 18 inches wide with all foliage weeping nicky on the pretty American fir culti- for reprinting. If not, would you straight down. I consider it to be the var Abies lasiocarpa ‘Du Flon.’ I kindly publish an appeal in the ultimate vertical statement that published the article under the Eng- Conifer Quarterly for furnishing one? adds drama and excitement to this lish title “Challenge” to describe this garden bed. I’ve also added three beautiful miniature conifer. My con- Sincerely, 25-year-old specimens of Chinese tribution then was based on informa- Jaroslav (Aousek) Kazbal elm (Ulmus parvifolia ‘Hokkaido’), tion compiled from a 1985 ACS Slezská 98 grouped forest-like and under- Bulletin. I was taken in first by its 13006 Praha 3 planted with miniature ferns and “story.” (The story is an integral part Czech Republic Astilbe. of any cultivar, without which it Only 12 years in the making and would not be complete – at least for designed almost entirely by my wife me.) That is, however, not the reason If you are able to send our Karen and me, the garden has been for my writing this letter. It is respec- fellow member a color featured on a local public television tive of the cultivar’s portrait. photograph of Abies lasio- special, The Secret Gardens of Because a good quality photo was carpa ‘Du Flon,’ please send it Rochester. We recently hosted the not available, I did not include one in directly to him at the address 100th tour of our garden by local, my article and thus introduce the plant above or contact the Editor, regional, national and international to Czech readers in all its beauty. Anne Brennan, who will garden groups. Visitors have in- Since 1989, many things have forward it to him. cluded Michael A. Dirr, Allan changed, and a few ‘Du Flons’ have M.Armitage, Daniel J. Hinkley and found their way to our specialists’ Thanks in advance for your Tony Avent. gardens, but they are young plants and help! We’re looking forward to seeing not yet too photogenic. I still feel in- – Anne Brennan, Editor you during the Northeast Region debted to readers of Skalnicky for the meeting in September! L absence of its picture, so I wonder if

About the author: Gerald Kral re- tired from 27 years as a high school Rare & Garden Conifers science teacher in 1993. Jerry and Ginkgos, Beeches, Perennials his wife, Karen, garden on a one- Rich’s Hostas, Daylilies, Irises, acre parcel in the city of Rochester, Foxwillow Alpine Plants NY. The garden was begun in 1993 Rich and Susan Eyre to indulge Jerry’s severe case of Pines 11618 McConnell Rd al r

K Woodstock IL 60098 815-338-7442 (phone) . “Addictive Conifer Syndrome,” and Nursery 815-338-7446 (fax)

ald P Jerry has been a member of the

er [email protected] G Conifer Society since 1996. Inc. www.richsfoxwillowpines.com Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Van den Akker’

40 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 41

Central Region Builds on Past Success with Local Gatherings and Tours Western Region Update by Randy Oster,Western Region President by Gary Whittenbaugh, Central Region President

On Saturday, Oct. 4, 2003, the West- Julian from Monrovia Nursery Exciting news and opportunities abound Michigan ern Region fall event, “Northwest shared information regarding propa- for members in the Central Region this Plans are in process for a three-day whis- Conifer Craftsmanship,” was hosted gation trials and techniques in use at year. tle stop tour of Michigan in mid-June. by Monrovia Nursery in Dayton, their facility. Tom Fetting of Jeff This year the National Meeting is Friday, June 18th - Kicking off my Oregon. The stunning courtyard set- Viers Nursery Supply spoke to us “The Meeting” in the Central Region. trip I’ll visit Fernwood Botanical Gar- ting at Monrovia found 110 guests about a complete line of products for Mark your calendars for the first den and Nature Preserve for their 40th mingling among waterfalls and plant conifer propagation, explaining each weekend in August, and join us at the Anniversary Celebration where I’ve displays on a beautiful fall after- product and its use. Dawes Arboretum in Newark, Ohio for a been asked to give a Trough Gardening noon. The group’s enthusiasm was The Verbal and Silent Auctions Conifer Short Course. Here is your demonstration Friday Morning. To cele- peaked by the tours, panel of speak- were a much-anticipated success. chance to come visit with people you brate their 40th Anniversary, Fernwood ers and plant auctions. Larry Stanley and Don Howse read about or see in the Conifer Quar- is open to the public at no charge from Monrovia staff led us through shared auctioneer duties while terly but have never met. 10:00AM-6:00 PM the third weekend in their propagation areas where we Cindy Lou Pease presided over the Don’t miss this opportunity. Details June with complimentary refreshments were provided with demonstrations can raffles. Thanks to all of our plant and photos are now on the Conifer Soci- for all visitors. Fernwood is located in ranging from grafting to rooted cut- donors who supported us with plants ety Web Site and registrations will be the southwestern corner of Michigan tings. The opportunity to view a for the auctions! mailed to all members in late spring. near the town of Niles. large-scale production facility pre- Denim shirts and hats embroi- In lieu of a regional meeting we have Saturday, June 19th – I’ll travel north sented us with many ideas for our dered with the Conifer Society logo several local one-day events being to participate in the first Iosco County own projects. were a big hit and provided an addi- planned. Conifer Society members are Master Gardener Rendezvous in Tawas Our distinguished panel of ex- tional avenue for fundraising. welcome to join us for any of the fol- City. Trough gardens and conifers will perts included Vern Holden, who The Western Region is blessed lowing events. be the focus of this Rendezvous with provided us with a detailed look at with a great group of folks who love garden visits to top off the day. the benefits and the nuts and bolts of to make these events informative, Iowa: June 13th Sunday, June 20th – My trip to Hot Callus Tube Propagation. Jason profitable and fun! Ellen and Jim Kelley will host the 2004 Michigan will wrap up with a trough Garden Rendezvous in Bettendorf, IA, making and planting session for the which is located in eastern Iowa on the Great Lakes Chapter of NARGS at Mississippi River near the Quad Cities. Saguaro’s Nursery and Gardens near If you are interested in more infor- Rock Garden are on our program. We In addition to the Sunday events, Ann Arbor, MI. mation about these or other events in the are looking forward to our first ever there are plenty of gardens in the area. Central Region, or if you would like to meeting in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”. Less than 30 minutes from Bettendorf, Minnesota: June 23-26 plan a Garden Rendezvous, contact me In closing I would like to introduce you could visit The Heartland Collec- The Tri State Master Gardener Confer- at (319) 283-3050 or Email fran- three new state representatives: Char- tion of Conifers at the Bickelhaupt Ar- ence in St. Cloud, Minnesota will fea- [email protected]. lene Harris (Michigan), Terri Park (Indi- boretum in Clinton plus several local ture a presentation on “Gardening With The Central Region 2005 Meeting ana), and Richard Rodich (Minnesota). member gardens noted for conifer col- Conifers” plus a program on “Trough will be in the Minneapolis, Minnesota Rick’s first job has been helping with lections. I invite everyone to the Ren- Gardening”. This is a super conference area, June 24-26th. The Minnesota the preparations for the MN meeting. dezvous. with many speakers and garden tours. Landscape Arboretum and Lyndale Park Thanks Charlene, Terri, and Richard. L

42 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 43

Northeast Region To Visit The “Flower City” Visit Marlowe Marcus’ Garden and by Elmer Dustman and Gerald Kral Support the Northeast Region!

ochester, New York, earned the The Oesterly Gardens Marlowe Marcus’ garden will be open to the public on Saturday, May 22, 2004 R nickname “Flower City” in 1860 This two-acre, Japanese-influenced es- as part of the Garden Conservancy's Open Days Program. This is a very intense when more than 2000 acres of the city tate unveils one remarkable feature after collector’s garden on one-half acre. It contains 1,000 cultivars, including 260 land was devoted to the nursery and seed another. Enclosed by a cedar fence and a Japanese maples, 105 European beech trees (the largest collection in the U.S.), industry. The region included growers viewing shelter is a dry Zen garden and 600 conifers, many of them miniature. of fruit, ornamental and evergreen trees, complete with raked gravel and a classi- In the spring, which is the best time to see the garden, the colors of the annuals and perennials. cal hill rock vista. A pathway takes you maples are magnificent. The conifers include many rare specimens, and the col- The Ellwanger & Barry Nursery be- under a Tori gate and leads to a large ors range from yellows to various shades of green and blue. These colors are came what is reported to have been the Japanese feature. Indian runner ducks present all year. The European beech collection has about fifteen cultivars that largest in the nation and later gained and koi may be seen swimming around cannot be found anywhere else in the U.S. at present. recognition for helping to develop the a massive Japanese Lantern set into the The Garden Conservancy's Open Days Program supports the Conservancy’s nursery trade. Wholesale distributors pond itself. mission of strengthening the public’s commitment to garden preservation by were established and stock was shipped Dozens of rare specimen-size Japan- inviting the public to visit America’s very best, rarely-seen private gardens. Part by Erie Canal, railroad and mail order to ese Maples dot the rolling landscape, and of the proceeds from the tour benefit the Conifer Society’s Northeast Region; developing areas of the country. large Tanayosho, Scots, Eastern white admission is $5. The jewel of Rochester’s arboreta and Japanese black pines abound. Many For more information about this event, visit the Garden Conservancy’s Web and park system, Highland Park, began of these conifers have been sculpted to site at www.gardenconservancy.org, or contact Harry Oefinger of the Northeast with donated nursery land and a design reflect different styles of Japanese pres- Region at 973-597-5810. by Frederick Law Olmstead. Once Du- entation. A large 15-foot bamboo grove rand Eastman Park and Genesee Park and an Asian-style gazebo seem to trans- were added, the park system became a port visitors away from this Rochester plants will be on display in an outdoor taxa are for sale. Choose from 140 testing ground for woody plants from suburb to a village in Japan. courtyard. On Friday evening, Valavanis Japanese maple cultivars, 200 dwarf to China via the Arnold Arboretum, and will create one of his works of art before landscape sized conifer cultivars and 25 many mature specimens can be ob- International Bonsai Arboretum your eyes and the result will go home varieties of Bamboo. Select specimens served today. William N. Valavanis’s International with some lucky raffle winner! of beech, dogwood, ornamental grasses, The Rochester park system distrib- Bonsai Arboretum is the finest in North ferns and perennials round out this feast uted thousands of seeds, plants, trees, America. Valavanis is an acclaimed Oriental Garden Supply Nursery of plant material. This is a nursery you shrubs, scions and cuttings to hundreds Bonsai artist, and viewing his collection Bring your truck, trailer or car with a don’t want to miss! L of botanical and horticultural institu- is an awe-inspiring experience. See large trunk. Even leave your clothing tions throughout the United States and conifers as you have never seen them home – you’ll need the room, as you abroad. The largest institutional distri- before. Imagine a decades old Japanese won’t be able to visit Oriental Garden The meeting and tours will be held bution was a 10,000 pound shipment of pine clinging to a porous rock no larger Supply and leave without making a pur- September 17th & 18th. Members seeds and small plants to the Royal than a basketball. chase. in or near the Northeast Region will Botanical Garden at Kew, New London, Valavanis has introduced numerous Owner Al Pfeiffer, a fellow Society receive registration information by England in 1931. rare and unusual Japanese yatsubusa member, shares his passion for plants mail shortly. Others interested in This horticultural tradition remains cultivars to bonsai enthusiasts through- with us by offering for sale some of the attending are invited to contact alive and well, as you will see when you out the United States and Canada. The most unique plant material available meeting chairman Elmer Dustman visit several Conifer Society members’ Arboretum reflects over 40 years of today. Seedling to specimen-size exam- at (585) 248-5156 or edustma1@ gardens and arboreta this September. Valavanis’s work. Several hundred ples of hundreds of rare and unusual rochester.rr.com.

44 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 45

Southeast Region Announces Itinerary Your experience will begin Friday June. Also, while in the area you can take evening with a guest lecture by Dr. F. advantage of numerous side trips. Signif- for 2004 Conference and Tour Todd Lasseigne, Assistant Director, JC icant among these are Camellia Forest Raulston Arboretum. Dr. Lasseigne Nursery, University of North Carolina studied under Dr. Michael Dirr and Dr. Botanical Garden and Duke Gardens. Dear Conifer Friends: JC Raulston Arboretum. You plant Raulston as well in the U.K. for 1 year. We are also in the planning stages lovers know it’s almost impossible to for a round-table discussion on growing We’re sending you this notification ear- pick up a catalog or garden book and not conifers in the South that would start lier than usual because the news is so ex- find the name JC Raulston. Unfortu- We will travel to the Saturday evening. Current planning is to citing we just couldn’t wait any longer nately Dr. Raulston met an untimely personal gardens and have three university professors from to share it with you. Also, since this is a death in 1996 but he left a garden legacy nursery of another each of the major geographic regions conference you will definitely not want that is unrivaled in the Southeast. He (mountains, plateau and coastal) to to miss, we wanted to give you an early was one of the pioneers in testing horticultural giant – share their perspective. This should have opportunity to put it on your calendar. conifers for the south as well as working Tony Avent application and be of interest to anyone This year’s Southeastern Region with commercial nurseries such as Iseli in the U.S. who is interested in learning conference will be held in Raleigh, in an effort to select rootstock that more about conifer culture. North Carolina starting on Friday, Octo- would survive southeastern tempera- He has traveled the globe in search of Following dinner you will have the ber 8th and running through Saturday tures, high humidity, clay soil and new plants. On Saturday morning Dr. opportunity after seeing and talking evening, October 9th. drenching summer rains. Today this ef- Lasseigne will treat us to a personal plants all day to purchase some really For starters, Raleigh is home to the fort continues in high gear. tour of the JC Raulston Arboretum cool stuff at the auction. Dr. Lasseigne (www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/) has graciously agreed to serve as auc- which contains over 7,000 taxa. tioneer. Following this unique experience, So, go get your pen and mark your 2004 Conifer Quarterly Advertising Rates we will travel to the personal gardens calendars. We will be updating you with Dimensions Cost Cost per 4 issues and nursery of another horticultural further details and you can also check Ad Type (W x H) per issue (10% discount) giant – Tony Avent. Tony is the owner of the website. Plant Delights Nursery www.plantde- Full page 5 x 7-7/8 in. $195 $702 lights.com, which is an International Tom Cox and Flo Chaffin Half page horizontal 5 x 3-7/8 in. $135 $486 Mail Order Business specializing in rare Regional meeting co-chairs Half page vertical 2-3/8 x 7-7/8 in. $135 $486 and hard to find plants. Tony’s personal paradise, the Juniper Level Botanical Quarter page horizontal 5 x 1-7/8 in. $85 $306 Garden is connected to the nursery. You Quarter page vertical 2-3/8 x 3-7/8 in. $85 $306 will not want to miss the opportunity to Eighth page 2-3/8 1-7/8 in. $55 $198 x see this garden which is rarely open to visitors. One of the true garden gems Submit inquiries, ad material and payments to: found anywhere in the U.S.; it is a gar- Anne Brennan, Conifer Quarterly Advertising den experience you will not forget. 145 Cedar St., Jenkintown, PA 19046 • PH (215) 376-0231 While there, we will be served a BBQ FAX (215) 827-5926 • E-mail: [email protected] lunch and will have some time to stroll and enjoy the many unusual plants. The Conifer Society welcomes advertising from companies and individuals selling conifers, We are in the process of coordinating companion plants, gardening supplies and other plant-related products and services. visits to two other major collections in the area and will have this firmed up by

46 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 47

Directorate Officers President Dennis Groh, 160 S. Evangeline, Dearborn Heights, MI 48125 PH (313) 561-2315, E-mail: [email protected] Vice President/ Don Wild, 3058 Cross Creek Ct., Ann Arbor, MI 48108 Treasurer PH (734) 662-6461, E-mail: [email protected] Secretary Kathleen Pottratz, 10978 SW Durham Rd. #65, Tigard OR 97224 PH (503) 620-1617, E-mail: [email protected] Past President Marvin Snyder, 9107 Outlook Dr., Overland Park, KS 66207 PH (913) 648-4009, FAX (913) 648-1024, E-mail: [email protected] Directors Term expires 2004 Bill Barger, 3200 Rohrer Rd., Wadsworth, OH 44281 PH (330) 336-9695, E-mail: [email protected] Ridge Goodwin, P.O. Box 310, Holicong, PA 18928 PH (215) 794-3216, FAX (215) 794-7104, E-mail: [email protected] Sam Jones, 1971 Whippoorwill Rd., Bishop, GA 30621 PH (706) 769-6516 Term expires 2005 Flo Chaffin, 3650 Colham Ferry Rd., Watkinsville, GA 30677 PH (706) 310-0143, FAX (706) 310-0562, E-mail: [email protected] Don Wild, (see Vice President/Treasurer above) Lester Wyman, 86 Tavern Waye, Hanson, MA 02341 PH (781) 447-3579, FAX (781) 447-3758, E-mail: [email protected] Term expires 2006 Tom Cox, 1621 N Lake Dr., Canton, GA 30115 PH (770) 772-9747, FAX (770) 663-4063, E-mail: [email protected] Elmer Dustman, 26 Peachtree Ln., Pittsford, NY 14534 PH (585) 248-5156 Byron Richards, 31 Southridge Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28739 PH (828) 696-0801, E-mail: [email protected] Regional Presidents Northeastern Region Ridge Goodwin, PO Box 310, Holicong, PA 18928 PH (215) 794-3216, FAX (215) 794-7104, E-mail: [email protected] Central Region Gary Whittenbaugh, 625 3rd Ave. SW, Oelwein, IA 50662 PH (319) 283-3050, FAX (319) 283-4773, E-mail: [email protected] Western Region Randy Oster, 29600 Kowall Rd., Estacada, OR 97023 PH (503) 630-7975, FAX (503) 630-7955, E-mail: [email protected] Southeastern Region Michael Balogh, 40 Elkins Branch Rd., Weaverville, NC 28787 PH (828) 626-2695, E-mail: [email protected] American Conifer Society Staff ACS Office John Martin, P.O. Box 3422, Crofton, MD 21114-0422 PH (410) 721-6611, FAX (410) 721-9636, E-mail: [email protected] Editor, Anne Brennan, 145 Cedar St., Jenkintown, PA 19046 Conifer Quarterly PH (215) 376-0231, FAX (215) 827-5926 E-mail: [email protected] National Meeting Charlene Harris, P.O. Box 519, Chelsea, MI 48118-0519 Coordinator PH (734) 433-9773, FAX (734) 433-5442 E-mail: [email protected] www.conifersociety.org

48 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Unusual foundation plantings aren’t the only surprise visitors find in Gerald Kral’s garden in Rochester, New York. Read about his collection on page 38, then decide whether you can afford to miss the Northeast Region meeting this fall. al r ald K er G

Below: Peter Jones first germinated conifer seeds from his own garden, then he took part in the Conifer Society Seed Exchange and expanded his back- yard experiments to other species. Shown here are a compact Chamaecyparis obtusa (left) and young fir and hemlock seedlings. Read more on page 12. ones er J et P man ean Linder esy of D t our C

A trio of Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Green Arrow’ point the way through this section of Dean and Linda Linderman’s expansive garden in Leesburg,Virginia.