Conifer Quarterly Vol. 21 No. 2 Spring 2004 P hot os b y G ar y W hitt enbaugh Gary Whittenbaugh can’t resist incorporating Chamaecyparis into his Iowa garden, while at the same time he warns against becoming too attached to them. Read about these plants’ role in the Midwest on page 20. Shown here are (top) C. pisifera ‘Plumosa Compressa’ as a background plant, ‘Golden Mop’ in the fall (left) and Gary’s favorite,‘Snow.’ Grafting is an important part of conifer propagation, from the largest nurseries to the hobbyist plant collector. Review the basics of side grafting on page 30, as taught by expert George Okken. een r y G on T 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 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY Vol. 21 No. 2 Vol. 21 No. 2 CONIFER QUARTERLY 3 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.