Winter 2010 Vol. 68 No. 1

Primroses

The Quarterly Of The American Primrose Society

Winter 2010 Vol. 68 No. 1 American Primrose Society Winter 2010 OFFICERS Primroses Alan Lawrence, Vice President and Editor President’s Message Acting President Jane Guild Primroses P.O. Box 37 2647 A Deville Road Victoria BC V9B 3W9 Canada Alan Lawrence Lake Delton, WI [email protected] [email protected] The Quarterly of the Editorial Committee American Primrose Society Maedythe Martin Michael Plumb, Secretary Judith Sellers 3604 Jolly Roger Crescent Michael Plumb Happy New Year to everyone! Hopefully 2010 Volume 68 No 1 Winter 2010 Pender Island, BC V0N 2M2 Alan Lawrence will bring us all the blooming rewards our efforts Joan Hoeffel (250) 629-6806 deserve. This is my first President’s message [email protected] Editorial Deadlines The purpose of this Society is to bring the people Winter issue - October 15 since taking on the job from Joe Philip when time interested in Primula together in an organization to Jon Kawaguchi, Treasurer Spring issue - January 15 pressure forced Joe to reduce his commitments. 3524 Bowman Court Summer issue - April 15 increase the general knowledge of and interest in the Autumn issue - July 15 He is now concentrating on organizing the 2010 collecting, growing, breeding, showing and using in Alameda, CA 94502 (510) 331-3337 ©American Primrose Society 2010 APS National Show, which is probably a full time the landscape and garden of the genus Primula in all its Primroses (ISSN 0162-6671) is published [email protected] activity in itself. Unfortunately, there are only 24 forms and to serve as a clearing house for collecting and by the American Primrose, Primula and Auricula Society. All material printed hours in a day, and many of us find that 24 hours disseminating information about Primula. DIRECTORS in the quarterly, except as noted, is copyright by APS. No part may be are not quite enough. Now that I am retired I cannot Through 2011 . . . . Linda Bailey reproduced without the permission of APS. imagine how I ever found time to go to work. 240 Silke Rd, Apt. 220 Manuscripts for publication are invited, Contents Colville, WA 99114 though there is no payment. Send articles, (509) 684-8936 preferably in Microsoft Word, directly to Winter is a busy time for me, and many of my [email protected] the editor. primulas suffer because of our chosen lifestyle. We President’s Message by Alan Lawrence ��3 Photographs are credited and used only How do you deal with slugs? ...... 4 Cheri Fluck with the permission of the photographer. overwinter in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, as 17275 Point Lena Loop Rd Photos submitted to the editor are preferred my wife and I are keen cross-country skiers. Here Primula section Primula in the Caucasus region in 300 dpi digital format but other images Juneau, AK 99801-8344 in the extreme western tip of the UP, the climate by John Richards ��5 (503)-504-4200 can be accepted. Any material used that has Some Primulas of Central Asia previously appeared elsewhere is properly is modified by the vast thermal sink of Lake [email protected] credited and used with the permission of by Panayoti Kelaidis and Michael Bone ��8 the original publisher and/or creator. Superior, creating winters with reliable snow cover Breeding Green- and Grey-Edged Auriculas Through 2010 Rodney Barker 49 Woodcliff Road Membership in the Society includes a (locally over 200 inches per year) and summers subscription to Primroses, seed exchange by Dr David Mellor ��13 Newton Highlands, MA 02461 with no excessive heat. This sounds like ideal A Plethora of Primulas by Frank Cabot ��25 privileges, password to the member’s only [email protected] section of the APS web site (including the Primula country, and I recently gave a talk to the Pins + Thrums ...... 29 Pictorial Dictionary) and use of the slide Julia Haldorson, Membership local gardening club to try to spark some interest. Chapter reports 2009 ��30 library. P.O. Box 210913 Unfortunately for me, most of my primulas are at In search of Abchasica by Lee Nelson ��33 Auke Bay, AK 99821 Dues for individual or household [email protected] membership, domestic and Canada are: our home in South Central WI, 4 hours away at An Abiding Affection for Primroses $25 per calendar year by Vincente Sette ��34 Marianne I. Kuchel $70 for three years the excessive speed of my driving. I make this trip 1815 Blood Brook Road Overseas rates are: every 10 days or so, to check on all my plants and Minutes ...... 36 $32 per calendar year New Members this Quarter ��39 Fairlee, VT 05045 $90 for three years. seedlings. This is when I often make that classic Officers of the Chapters ��39 (802) 333-4835 Membership renewals are due November [email protected] 15 and are delinquent January 1. error of overwatering brought on by the paranoia of Submit payment to the treasurer. Mary Jo Burns “I won’t be here for 10 days or so.” The resulting 4169 Westwood Drive Advertising rates per issue: root or crown rot is not a pretty sight. I certainly Anchorage, AK 99515 Black and White: Full page: $100 would appreciate an expert article on “How to Credits: Photos and text reproduced with permission. (907) 248-2827 Half page: $60 water your plants” in the quarterly. [email protected] 1/4 page: $30 Front Cover: Primula ‘Raynald’, a sterile hybrid that originated 1/8 page: $15 at Frank Cabot’s garden, Les Quatre Vents. Photo by Richard Color: The Seed Exchange has again provided a diverse Brown. Half page: $150 and comprehensive selection of seeds of species Full page: $300 Back Cover: $450 and hybrids to tempt us to try something a little Contact the treasurer for details. 2 3 American Primrose Society Winter 2010 different or something a little difficult. Primula section Primula in the Caucasus region. We all owe Jacques Mommens and ...how do you deal with his crew of able helpers a debt of slugs? gratitude for all the hard work they John Richards put into receiving, cleaning, sorting, The most common approaches packaging and distributing the great seem to be: What is Primula section Primula? Well, for the oxlip, and cowslips are native selection offered in the Seed Exchange. • Watering schedule - watering it is the group of species (there are only almost as far east as the Pacific. This I usually try something new each year, in the evening leaves damp seven) which used to be known as the is a very “Eurocentric” viewpoint! As often with only limited success due to places overnight for slugs Vernales, and include such familiar I have explained in my book Primula the above mentioned winter neglect • Seaweed - it is salty and rough plants as the primrose, P. vulgaris, the (2003), the genus almost certainly first and overwatering. Last year I tried when dry cowslip, P. veris and the oxlip, P. elatior. diversified in the eastern Sinohimalaya, Primula x kewensis and now have half • Copper - creates electric shocks More than 40 years ago, the “plant so it is very likely that the forerunners a dozen seedlings waiting for me to not in their slime! lawyers” who meet every four years to of this group actually spread westwards overwater. I hope you have ordered a • Predators - toads, beetles, birds dream up rules governing plant names, into Europe. good selection for yourself. and nematodes decided in their wisdom that the group • Hair clippings - sharp ends (section, subgenus, whatever) that In Geographical Botany, there is an old Joe Philip will be show chairman for this deter slugs contains the type species of the genus concept, first put forward by Willis, year’s National Show, and that means it • Nightime raids with a flashlight should have the same name as the genus. of Age and Area. This says that the will be another good one! Please plan However, there seems to be some No-one doubts that the type species of most widespread species tend to be the to attend if you possibly can! controversy surrounding the Primula is the cowslip, P. veris, and so oldest, and that regions with the greatest following: Best wishes for the 2010 Primula we have to call the ‘Vernales’ Primula, diversity of species may well be those in • Diatomaceous earth - can kill growing year! the same as the genus. Sorry! which the group evolved. Although this other beneficial insects theory does not always hold true, there Alan Lawrence • Coffee - questionable results I am lucky enough to live in an area of is no argument as to where the centre • Salt - messy and can alter soil northern England where primroses and of origin might be for section Primula! chemistry cowslips are common native plants, and The other four species in the group, P. • Beer or milk traps - also messy so spring is a season we await eagerly! megaseifolia, P. juliae, P. renifolia and and can kill beneficial insects But we have only two members of P. grandis only occur in the Caucasus The following websites may be of the section native here, and some of region (including north-eastern use in the springtime. the others are quite hard to cultivate. Turkey), and all the widespread species • http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/ Nevertheless, most forms of oxlip occur there too, and in an amazing h2g2/A2876862 (not the purple ones!) are also hearty array of local forms not seen elsewhere. Quarterly Sets • http://www.eartheasy.com/ growers here, although as a native plant Nearly all the biodiversity exhibited grow_nat_slug_cntrl.htm it is restricted in the UK to a tiny area of by these far-flung plants is crammed Available - $25! • http://www.cf.ac.uk/biosi/ staffinfo/wocs2.html eastern England. Oxlips are much more into this tiny, politically chaotic corner Please contact Cheri Fluck for • http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/ common in parts of Europe. We saw of the world. We will never know for more information: profiles0700/slugs.asp drifts, often emerging from the melting certain, but surely this is where section 503-504-4200 (also txt msg) As always, if you have any tips snow, in the Dolomites this summer. Primula first diversified, later to migrate westwards into Europe. 17275 Point Lena Loop Rd to pass on, we would be most These three species are very widespread, Juneau, AK 99801-8344 USA grateful! Send them to: editor@ [email protected] spreading eastwards to Iran in the case Primula megaseifolia is very localised americanprimrosesociety.org of the primrose, to central Siberia in steep wooded valleys near the 4 5 American Primrose Society Winter 2010

Black Sea, although it is found in both away many years since) are its equal. I tend to have a more marked stalk to the before the leaves, like many bulbs! Turkey and Georgia. This is a very wet am a species snob! leaf than yellow-flowered plants, and Most elegant is subsp. cordifolia with region, and the habitat is often shaded, are greyish-hairy underneath. They are its neatly hairy bronzy leaves which for instance under rhododendrons, Primula renifolia is one of the most called subsp. sibthorpii, after the 18th make such a contrast to the luminous although I have heard that it also can desirable and sought-after of all Century Oxford Professor. They occur flowers. I struggled with it here and occur in open sites above the tree line, primulas. It comes from wet subalpine sporadically as far west as Greece, could only manage it in a pot. At least where it may overwinter under deep regions, often growing near waterfalls, where Sibthorp travelled. However, as equally difficult here are the lovely snow. Nevertheless, it is not very hardy. in a tiny area near Dombai (Teberda you approach the Georgia border along purple to lilac forms, which are lumped The round leathery leaves are only valley) in the north-western Caucasus. the southern coast of the Black Sea, there as subsp. meyeri. Again, the Russians produced once a year, after flowering, In happier times tourists used to visit is a marked change in the primroses. split, creating P. amoena, P. kusnetsovii and can be severely damaged by sudden this area, but I never heard of it being Hybridization between the western and P. meyeri. They are plainly all frosts, or temperatures below about -5C. seen by a westerner, and the few plants ‘yellows’ and the eastern ‘reds’ (!) in oxlips, and are interfertile with the With us it is best grown in shade on the previously in Western cultivation came the overlap zone has spawned a huge yellow ones, but they are true alpines, humid floor of the glasshouse, watered from a Botanic garden. Perhaps because range of lovely plants which caused which may explain their intractability regularly, and repotted and divided only a thrum clone was grown with us Russian taxonomists to create several with us. I can grow them amongst my into a leaf-mould-rich compost after it was never persuaded to set seed, and new names, P. komarovii, woronowii, petiolarids, but they don’t flower well! flowering. There are some great hybrids was finally lost. We keenly await a new abschasica, but they are all primroses! (with the next species) called ‘John introduction from this troubled region! We owe subsp. sibthorpii a huge debt Fielding’ and ‘Barbara Midwinter’. for lending its reds and purples to the Primula grandis is a real oddity. The polyanthus and their garden kin. But the Primula juliae is a little sweetie, one hanging clusters of lemon flowers wild plant is a lovely thing, and thrives of my favourite species. I wonder if the from one-meter-high stems are just a in our garden. We grow several clones Russian lady Professor of Botany, Julia tube, with no petal-limb. This caused and get seedlings. Mlokosewitsch, who discovered it and many authors to put it in another genus, the yellow Caucasian peony, both of Sredinskya. However, look at the leaves Caucasus cowslips are not very which are named for her, was half as and it is no surprise that the DNA puts exciting, although you get the large- charming? It occurs in forests on mossy it, not only in Primula, but bang in the flowered, baggy-calyxedP. veris subsp. rocks by tumbling mountain rivers in centre of the Primula section. This is macrocalyx here, as well as more the far eastern Caucasus, split between another western Caucasian, but is much normal ones, and, in north-east Turkey Daghestan and Azerbaijan. I find it more widespread, occurring through the elegant P. veris subsp. columnae rather too delicate for the rough and much of the western Caucasus, mostly with white-backed leaves. tumble of the garden, and it dislikes my to the south of the watershed. It is pots, but I can keep it going in shady a plant of wet meadows and stream However, oxlips have really gone to town troughs which are best not covered in edges, growing in much the sort of site in the Caucasus region. My favourite winter. It loses its leaves and disappears in which the Candelabras thrive. I can is P. elatior subsp. pseudoelatior, a to a cluster of reddish nubbles in grow it here in northern England, but long-lived dwarf clumping plant which winter, but creeps around and is easily it sulks without fresh soil and very wet disappears in winter, and is just perfect propagated. It is fully hardy here (zone conditions while in growth. for exhibition! It is very vigorous here. 8-ish), but I guess would not go below Subspecies leucophylla is not as easy 7. It has been a wonderful parent of In the Caucasus, primroses, P. vulgaris, here and may be more of an alpine. It course, but I don’t think that any of are usually pink or even purple- also disappears, but when the flowers the “later Wandas” (the original passed flowered, occasionally white. They jump up in spring, they often do so

6 7 American Primrose Society Winter 2010

foothills, however, and intervening medical conditions. The prospect of a Some Primulas of Central Asia valleys are filled with plants of a more good soaking was almost irresistible at southerly affinity. This region is isolated this point on our trip, but the springs’ Panayoti Kelaidis and Michael Bone enough from the Himalayas and other radioactive properties were worrisome. ranges that many of the Primula genus We soon discovered the spa was by Central Asia covers a vast swath of the separated from one another by steppe members are distinct at the species doctor’s prescription only! We were earth’s surface. Having spent a mere or even desert-like parkland that has level. spared a good wash, and likely a good three weeks there this past summer, effectively isolated the mountain flora dose of carcinogenesis. A campground we would feel a bit self conscious into floristic islands; each range is a bit The first Primula we encountered was nearby was to be our staging ground to submitting this article to Primroses if different from the neighboring range. Primula veris, very similar to what finally get above tree line. we hadn’t searched various archives One of the reasons we were interested passes under this name in Europe. and Googled to our heart’s content in exploring these mountains was This occurred in open montaine forests Possibly our most enchanting day in and found practically no pictures and that they closely resemble the Rocky of Pinus sibirica and Laris sibirica, the Kazakhstan Altai was when we little information available about the Mountains in their flora. alongside familiar garden classics like climbed Burhat Pass, within site of areas we traveled and the primroses we Bergenia crassifolia and Corydalis Rachmanovski springs. We lingered so encountered there. Our trip to Kazakhstan began and ended nobilis, in the same edge of forest and long on this steep, beautiful slope taking by the Tien Shan in the former capital meadow environments where we have pictures of the dozens of spectacular Our field guide was Vladimir of Kazakhstan, the very modern city seen cowslips in Europe. alpines that by the time we reached Kolbintsev, who has been leading tours of Almaty. After a very short night, the summit of the pass, the top half of through Kazakhstan for the better part we departed the next day for Ust The next Primula we encountered Mt. Belukha some 20 miles away was of two decades. His mastery of the Kamenegorsk, the easternmost sizable turned out to be classic Primula nivalis obscured in cloud. The twin peaks of fauna as well as flora—not to mention city in Kazakhstan, where we met our growing in the middle of a turbulent this highest mountain of both Siberia his ebullience and good spirits—made guides and the vehicle that we used subalpine stream alongside the very and the Altai Mountains reaches 14,784 this trip particularly enjoyable. for most of our travel over the next rugged road. Several frantic participants feet. We are at the latitude of Southern two weeks. Kazakhstan encompasses risked serious injury crossing the Canada, so the massive glaciation of this The Altai Mountains are in the very roughly the west central slice of the slippery current to get close enough mountain would be truly awe inspiring heart of Asia, equidistant from four Altai consisting of ten distinct ranges. to photograph what turned out to be on a clear day. Knowing this, we would oceans: Arctic, Indian, Atlantic and We traversed four of these in the course a rather mediocre specimen in partial have climbed more quickly up to the Pacific. Coming as we do from the heart of two weeks. The last half of June is bloom. It is really just an outlier this pass, and lingered on the slopes on the of America, we should not have been the very peak of the alpine spring in low in the Siberian pine forest area. way back to take pictures! surprised that the steppes, deserts and this region, and the floral displays were Very much like Primula parryi (which it mountains of Central Asia reminded us lavish and panoramic. resembles closely), Primula nivalis can The highlight on the pass was finding of home in Colorado. occur along streams in the subalpine, Primula nivalis in huge drifts growing It is perhaps important to stress at this although it is much more abundant in with a bright buttercup in the soggy Like the Rocky Mountains we are so point that the Primula genus is not the big, soggy snowmelt well above snowmelt. It was uncannily similar familiar with, the Altai Mountains hugely represented here, considering the treeline. superficially toPrimula parryi, although consist of numerous ranges—one size and extent of the Altai Mountains. these are clearly in different sections of reference listed 47 distinct ranges, The flora at montaine and alpine We’d been driving from Katom the genus when it comes to less visible mostly tending east-west whereas the levels is holarctic; most of the higher Karagai to our first campsite near details of their morphology. Most of Rockies generally tend north-south. elevation plants are either identical or Rachmanovski Springs, a Soviet era the plants were the lavender-magenta Much like the Rockies, the montaine closely related to species found in the resort featuring radioactive water used so common in the section, although a and alpine heights of the Altai are Alps or much of North America. The in special spa treatments for special single albino was very popular on this 8 9 American Primrose Society Winter 2010 trek, photographed sequentially by unappetizing. It is apparent that the free very long hike above the tree line on my trip as varieties of Primula nivalis. everyone with a camera. range policies of traditionally nomadic our second day to view the Potanin At one point or another, all have been Mongolia have led to catastrophic Glacier (purportedly the largest of over described simply as Primula nivalis. P. We spent several more days in the results. I have read that this vast country 1000 glaciers in the Altai Mountains). xanthobasis grew in the same sort of vicinity, and we did findPrimula algida has little more than a hundred miles of We were fortunate to have a very habitats as Primula nivalis further west, in quite a few different sites. It was official road. Once we left Olgii, the comfortable, sunny day. The total hike but the golden meal on the undersurface rather sparsely distributed on tundra in “road” consisted of an endless series was over 20 miles long, leading up to of the leaves, and other details of the this part of the Altai, but in one broad of braided trails sometimes half a mile an overview of the Glacier, which rises inflorescence and morphology suggest river valley it grew by the thousands wide; you simply drove wherever you at the point where three great nations to me that it deserves at least subspecific much as one sees Primula incana in wished. Needless to say, this sort of meet. The panorama of snowy peaks recognition. For gardeners, they are the Rockies or Primula farinosa in the land use was very disheartening. After and tundra stretching for miles in all both stunning and would be well worth Alps. Its commonest neighbor here was a few hours drive we came to moister, directions, studded with gorgeous growing, although I suspect these are the bright purple Dactylorhiza umbrosa, more montaine vegetation, and stopped alpines in full-bloom was something I only for people in very cool climates a gorgeous orchid similar to many for lunch alongside an extremely lush shall not soon forget. I will be describing common meadow orchids found in the meadow (albeit cropped to goat’s tooth the full range of alpines in articles The next day we began a trek that took Alps and elsewhere in Eurasia. On drier height). The meadow was studded with elsewhere, but one of the showiest of us nearly 50 miles over the spine of the spots nearby, Orostachys spinosa grew tens of thousands of Primula nutans, a the day was Primula xanthobasis. I mountains into the Tsagaan Salaa river almost like a groundcover. I hope this lovely miniature in the Aleuritia section should explain that the nomenclature valley, an enchanted region that was fabulous meadow will be preserved. with distinctively shaped flowers and of the nivalid Primulas is confusing minimally grazed, with huge lakes and relatively farinose-free foliage. I was at best: many recent treatments have dramatic peaks on the Chinese border We ended this leg of the Kazakhstan especially pleased to find this lovely lumped all three nivalids I found on where we were met by a vehicle to bring Altai exploration by returning to Urst primrose since I have grown and loved us back to Olgii. Primula xanthobasis Kamenogorsk and flying across the Primula nutans Hort, now classified as grew by the tens of thousands on the length of the entire Altai mountain P. flaccida, a stunning Himalayan. Its summits of the mountains we crossed, ranges to Westernmost Mongolia, Central Asian usurper isn’t half bad! and along streams down to the tree line: landing in the small town of Olgii There were dozens of other miniature a primrose lover’s dream. Androsace (also called Bayan Olgii). This part alpines dotted among the Primulas Legendary Barnhaven septentrionalis and Primula algida of Mongolia is inhabited primarily by including tiny alpine poppies (Papaver seed - still carefully were the only other Primulaceae we nomadic Kazakh and Tuvan peoples, radicatum) and dense cushions of encountered on this trek, but there was who both speak Turkic languages. As in Glaux maritima, another primrose hand-pollinated from a wealth of other alpines. This area Kazakhstan, we had to travel in rugged relative with pale pink flowers forming rigorously selected has some of the most concentrated vehicles for several hours (nearly 100 dense tufts along streamsides. I’m plants. We also send prehistoric rock art in all of Asia miles) to reach our base camp in the amazed that a charming plant with such bare-rooted plants which is featured in Archaeology and Altai Mountains very near the borders universal distribution in the Northern Landscape in the Mongolian Altai: An of China, Russia and Mongolia. Hemisphere seems to be utterly absent to the USA. Atlas by Esther Jacobson-Tepfer and from gardens, although I can see its 11 rue du Pont Blanc James E Meacham, to be published spready habit could be a problem. in late 2009. We visited one site with The steppe landscape between Olgii and 22310 the base camp was incredibly heavily concentrated rock art featuring the rich Plestin les Grèves, France impacted by overgrazing: the only plants A very dramatic cluster of peaks fauna that once abounded in the region, that rose more than a few centimeters forms the border between the three Tel/Fax: 1133 2 96 35 68 41 but which has been largely replaced by above the ground level were either countries. We approached this range [email protected] goats and camels. very spiny or otherwise poisonous or on two occasions, the first being a www.barnhaven.com 10 11 American Primrose Society Winter 2010

Little did I suspect that after nearly three The prize of the Tien Shan, however, weeks in the Altai, my one day’s drive was the local nivalid: the spectacular Breeding Green- and Grey-Edged Auriculas: in the Tien Shan above Almaty would Primula turkestanica grew only on A Beginner’s Tale be so exciting. Many hundred miles the highest crags, sometimes nestled further west and also further south, the in scree or even crevices. We never Part One – Why? Tien Shan has a remarkable flora that encountered the stream habitat where seems to blend classic boreal alpines nivalids grew so commonly in the Dr DAVID MELLOR with a large dose of Himalayan species Altai, although I suspect that had we and its own, distinctive endemics in a done so, this gem would have grown “That is the essence of science: sold my Primulas and Lewisias to other heady floristic mix. The rugged road, enthusiastically there as well. The ask an impertinent question and collectors. The bug had well and truly only a dozen or so miles long out of the dozen or so specimens we encountered you are on the way to a pertinent bitten. capital, brought us well above tree line. were all covered with golden meal on answer.” The flowers along the way changed both surfaces of their leaves, and the The addiction affects different people drastically every mile from the dry flowers seemed especially large and Jacob Bronowski, in different ways. Although I have steppe vegetation bristling with foxtail showy. This stunning nivalid must rank The Ascent of Man, ch.4. been a member of the Northern Section lilies below to extremely cold heights as one of the most beautiful primroses of the National Auricula and Primula with mythical alpines at the top. It would and was a fitting end to a magical trip to This is the first in a short series of Society (NAPS) for around five years, be hard to convey how exciting it was the heart of Asia. articles that gives what I fondly imagine I had never really made the effort to for a botanist/horticulturist to find wild to be a very personal insight into the attend any shows. Consequently, for apples and apricots for the first time world of raising new varieties of green- quite a while, I knew few other people in the foothills, and a few hours later and grey-edged show auriculas. The who grew these special plants. In 2008 to see cliffs encrusted with Saxifraga approach that I have adopted is that I decided that this had to change – I oppositifolia, the heavenly columbine of a detective story – each part in the would get out to the shows, meet people ancestor, Paraquilegia microphylla HELP! series becomes a little deeper, a little and (eventually) exhibit my plants. I and the lilac globeflower Trollius more mysterious and certainly a little joined the other two Sections of NAPS, lilacinus, three among the many dozens Our Treasurer needs more forensic before the ending is attended as many shows as possible of spectacular flowers in full bloom I your assistance! revealed. I’m big on evidence, by the and – I’m pleased to say, made lots of encountered for the first time. Advertising Manager needed! way. If someone advises me of the best friends in the process. Which really Do you have a few way to go about something I always brings me to the start of the story. Primula algida was abundant spare hours a month want to know “why” and “show me throughout the alpine turf, growing to correspond with the the evidence”. It has led me to some I made all the typical beginner’s alongside the tiny, nodding yellow pretty interesting places over the years. decisions (AKA “mistakes”). I bought Tulipa heteropetala and no end of vendors who advertise practically any auricula that came my strange plants. The plants here were in the Quarterly? Jon way, regardless of whether or not it was larger and much more robust than Kawaguchi, our treasurer, I live in the English Lake District those we found in the Altai, although would welcome someone where the summers are cool, wet and up to show quality. I tended to love this could have been due to the cooler, to take over the files windy and the winters are not a lot them for their own sake, not caring a wetter environment. They almost looked and keep in touch with different: maybe cooler, windier and fig whether they were of prize-winning, like miniature Primula denticulata, these people. For more wetter. Ideal conditions for growing thoroughbred stock. I don’t regret although invariably with the vibrant information, email Jon at auriculas. I started growing them about this since it gave me the opportunity pink coloration. [email protected] ten years ago, along with a variety of to become familiar with the growing Primulas and Lewisias. Gradually, I requirements of a very wide and varied expanded my interest into auriculas and range of auriculas over a few short 12 13 American Primrose Society Winter 2010 years. But, as experience is gained, But despite my late application to the winners I promptly read every book and that useful by auricula breeders? Why it seems natural to want to reduce the 2008/09 schemes, all three Sections article on the subject. Then I fired off should we not cross greens with greys? numbers of older, “beginner’s” plants provided me with packets of seeds. a few grovelling e-mails to established What happens if we do? and focus a wee bit more on the show- What an impact that had on me. In experts in the field requesting tips, stoppers. And that’s where I ran into February 2009 I followed the guidance guidance and – well, anything they I decided that the answer to the first my first problem, one that may be kindly provided with the seeds and might think to be worth knowing, really. question might be straightforward all too familiar to North American sowed the lot. The germination rate Slight additional complication. Having – there are no published works that growers: how, exactly, do you get the was pretty good; by mid April most hitherto made no effort to mix in the present basic genetic theory alongside very best varieties – the rare, the much seed trays had at least some tiny green excellent society of florists, I didn’t practical tips on auricula hybridizing. sought-after and hugely in-demand leaves rising up from the surface of the actually know any experts. Not one. This is understandable as the auricula ones? Nurseries generally don’t have compost. I was enthralled - and hooked However, it was easy to identify them world is not that large and there may them. You have to have friends in high again (only deeper, somehow). from the NAPS Yearbooks, textbooks be few geneticists within it and fewer places and attend all the plant sales at and published articles. Unashamedly still willing to write about it. But, I the NAPS shows. But there is another But now a new problem hove into I contacted most of the “Great Men of reasoned, it doesn’t necessarily follow way. There always is, of course. Raise view – my auriculas were almost all Edges” by e-mail – cold calling style. from this that the subject has nothing to your own from seed! in bud and about to flower. Having (Funny that – why are there not more offer. It’s just that it’s a bit of a blank seen firsthand that auricula seeds will women raising edges?) Thankfully, all canvas waiting to be filled at the present To be scrupulously fair, it isn’t really an actually germinate in large numbers responded and none objected to being time. alternative way, more of an additional (seeing truly is believing), I suddenly contacted out of the blue by some way – another string to your bow. had to decide what my breeding unheard-of novice. The second question really intrigued And what a string! Not only is it objectives might be and make some me. I knew the standard answer, the great fun in its own right, but should wise choices of parents. When all the advice, recommendations, conventional wisdom. This is that if a you succeed against all the odds you tips, hints and how-to chapters and green-edge is crossed with a grey-edge, will have tremendous satisfaction, I liked the new problem very much. articles had been digested, two one of the resulting seedlings might and some admired and much sought- Although I’m now retired, my prominent trends emerged. Firstly, the well be a green-edge. But, such a green- after varieties to give names to. That background is in industrial research concepts of genetics and lineage were edge will tend to have a smattering of seems motivation enough, to my way (mainly oil exploration). I’m used to notable by their near total absence. meal (farina) along the edge of the pips of thinking. And every good detective reading up as much as possible and As far as breeding new varieties is (petals) and possibly across the face of story needs to address motivation, “doing the theory” before committing concerned, such references as exist in the petals themselves. The thinking doesn’t it? to practical experiments, under books can be summed up as “hard to is that such a green-edge carries with pressure, generally. I decided upon understand” and “of no real relevance it undesirable traces of meal inherited With that in mind I started raising a lofty ambition – I would raise some to the task at hand”. Secondly, there from the grey-edged parent. Exhibition seed from one or two tentatively new green-edged shows and some new was a strong consensus against the dark judges recognise this meal-edging (also made crosses a few years ago. I have grey-edged shows. Oh, and maybe I practice of crossing green-edges with called “China Edge”) as a fault which to say that, looking back (and at the might try one or two selfs as well, but grey-edges which threatened, at the marks the plant down compared to one very patchy results) I was unfocussed, mainly the edges. Breeding Objective very least, to rip the fabric of the space- that doesn’t have it. Consequently, unsystematic and, unsurprisingly, nailed. What about the parents? Are time continuum if practiced by mere breeders of edges reckon the risks of unsuccessful. Yet again, something there any recognized, reliable methods beginners. Hmmm.... such a mixed marriage to be not worth had to change. I would cut out the of selecting parents to breed from? taking. Which begs the third and final crossing stage altogether and obtain Well, that set me to thinking. More question – what happens if you do? seed from the NAPS seed exchange To address the knotty problem of accurately, it set me to questioning schemes. Good decision. Bad timing. picking parents that might produce – why are genetics not held to be all It’s in the tradition of a detective novel 14 15 American Primrose Society Winter 2010 that the author ends a chapter with some cliff-hanging, dramatic situation that makes the reader want to get to the next instalment as fast as possible to find out what happens next. At the same time, it is also traditional to scatter a couple of clues around to link to the next part. Well, it should come as no surprise that I decided that I had to invest a sizeable chunk of time becoming a bit more knowledgeable about genetics. It helps that my wife has a master’s degree in Evolution, Variation and Taxonomy – or genetics for short. Well, we’d happily while away the winter evenings chatting about this gene and that gene until she’d say “I think it’s time I walked the dog, dear”. I knew this was her way of telling me she’d had enough of auricula genetics for a while – we don’t have a dog.

This four-part series will continue in the next issue. If you simply cannot wait, you may email the editor ([email protected]) for an email copy of the next three installments.

Pop’s Plants has many green-edged auriculas available for shipment overseas!

Pop’s Plants Auriculas

Chelsea gold medalists and Green-edged holders of four british national collections of primula auricula BeechenBeauties! Green, Serenity and more than 1,000 cultivars kept – many old and scarce traditional Fleminghouse are some of the florists’ auriculas available older green-edged auriculas often available in North American that www.popsplants.com could be used for breeding. International mail order – new shipping rates!

pop’s cottage, barford lane, downton, see article page 13

Salisbury, Wiltshire, sp5 3pz u.k. Clockwise from top: Beechen Green (photo in Brenda Hyatt’s book Auriculas - originally provided by Mr. P. Talboys), Serenity (photo by NAPS Northern), Fleminghouse (photo by David Hadfield). Photos courtesy of Bob aylorT 16 17 American Primrose Society Winter 2010

Primula section Primula in the Caucasus region. John Richards

see article page 5

Facing page, top: Primula renifolia. Bottom: Primula juliae. This page, top: Primula grandis. Bottom: Primula sibthorpii. All Photos: John Richards 18 19 American Primrose Society Winter 2010

Facing page: Top left: Primula algida from Tian Shen. Top right and bottom: three examples of Primula xanthobasis from Mongolia. Some Primulas of Central Asia This page: Top: Primula nutans from Mongolia. Middle: Panayoti Kelaidis and Michael Bone Primula xanthobasis. Bottom right: Primula turkestanica from Tian Shen. see article page 8 All Photos: Panayoti Kelaidis 20 21 American Primrose Society Winter 2010 A Plethora of Primulas Frank Cabot

see article page 25

Facing page: Top left: Primula vulgaris ssp. sibthorpii with P. ‘Wanda’. Top Right: A corner of the woodland garden with Primula japonica. Bottom: Candelabra primroses. This Page: Top: Primula ‘Johanna’ by a woodland pond. Bottom Left: A woodland stream runs through a clearing filled with primulas. Bottom Right: A view of the house from the Perennial Allée

Text and photos provided for reproduction by designer Susan McCllan and Hortus Press with the kind permission of Frank Cabot. All Photos: Richard Brown 22 23

American Primrose Society Winter 2010 An Abiding A Plethora of Primulas Affection for Primroses Frank Cabot see article page 34 Frank Cabot, a long time APS member every year. In fact it is a good idea to “At the end of and kind supporter of the Society sow many of the perennial species the counter you has created a magnificent garden at as well, to be sure that the colonies could pick up his property in Les Quatre Vents in and drifts are kept well upholstered. a trowel and Charlevoix, Quebec. Drifts of Primula Working out the bloom cycle of the open a container bloom thoughout the season from primulas in the Woodland to achieve and scoop up early spring until full summer glory. continuous and harmonious color has a quantity of His book about creating the garden been an agreeable and challenging lively Primroses The Greater Perfection (Hortus Press, pastime. For the most part we’ve chosen complete with NY, 2001) received the American to separate the color variations within roots and soil.” Horticultural Society Award in 2002 a species and to mass a given color for and the Literature Award from the effect, in the belief that the visual impact Yellow Jack-in-the Council of Botanical and Horticultural will be more satisfying. At the same Green, red three- Libraries in 2003. We are fortunate to time we have planted each of the five year-old primrose, be able to include excerpt of Chapter 11 streams with its own distinctive group blue Phlox divaricata, devoted to how our favorite plant, the of primulas that follow in succession. by Vin Sette. Primula were woven into the structure Primula species are divided into a of the woodland garden. number of sections. The blossoms of A Plethora of Primulas the Oreophlomis section follow close Perennial Seed. Beautiful. on the heels of the Petiolarids. Up Useful. Native... Most of all there are primulas – so many until recently the Oreophlomis section To the Planet. of them that the Woodland Garden was known as Farinosa subsection could really almost be called a Primula auriculata, which helped a lot since P. Garden. The different species bloom auriculata is indigenous to the Caucasus in waves from the first of May, just as and our few plants came from a the snow is melting and P. whitei and P. specimen collected on the slopes of sonchifolia (the two petiolarid species Mount Elbruz, the highest of those from the Himalayas that have survived dramatic mountains. What’s more, to date in Charlevoix) shyly show their the flowers of P.auriculata’s kindred delicate blue blossoms, to September Asiatic species, P. rosea, clarkei, and when the monocarpic P. capitata and P. the tongue-twisting warshenewskyana glomerata display their round whirls of are very similar. These, along with their Production · Breeding · Seed Technology attractive dark blue florets. While most vigorous and wonderfully easy hybrids,

USA Office: 125 Chenoweth Ln. · Louisville, KY 40207 of the species are thoroughly perennial, ‘Peter Klein’, and ‘Johanna’, cheerily Phone (502) 895-08 07 · Fax (502) 895-39 34 · http://www.jelitto.com · [email protected] a few, in Charlevoix at least, vanish illuminate the Woodland with sheets of German Headquarters: P. O. Box 1264 · D-29685 Schwarmstedt after they have flowered. As a matter of pink shading to red for several weeks Phone 01149-5071-98 29-0 · Fax 01149-50 71-98 29-27 · www.jelitto.com · [email protected] course we sow these short-lived species in May, sharing the stage with the 24 25 American Primrose Society Winter 2010 drumstick primula, P. denticulata. trees bringing shade to the Woodland, this case favoring the light duff and their limited space for gardens, have a and conclude the first wave of bloom. pale madder ioessa hybrids. Primula society for this species, the Sakurasoh. While trekking in Central Nepal with By mid-May the Woodland is filled with waltonii hybrids display an even wider So far they have risen to the challenge Tony Schilling in 1983, we walked for the blossoms of anemone, cardamine, color range and I am slowly endeavoring of naming the constantly increasing two days up and down alpine meadows and erythronium. Low blue carpets to build masses of the yellow, red, and number of forms that appear. I use at the 10,000 foot level which were of Primula frondosa and its section dark madder forms. massed plantings of white and pale pink covered with P. denticulata, in every mates (P. darialica, modesta, the choice varieties in the Woodland and, since color from white to the darkest purple. farinosa, and the diminutive, indigenous In June there is an explosion of primulas the species has a tendency towards There were thousands of them and they P. laurentaiana and mistassinica) as the month unfolds – P. bulleyana, magenta, have planted the rest in the looked like a sea of lollipops, with small appear just in time to complement the cockburniana, and alpicola in its magenta corner. globular heads, at the most six inches tail end of warshenewskyana’s extended violet, pale yellow, and white forms. high. In cultivation in Charlevoix this blossoming. The pale yellow blossoms Primula cernua’s delicate blue spires The two flower colors that I find amenable species grows into great of P. elatior, the oxlip, follow. The complement the scented P. alpicola indigestible are magenta and orange, which many good and vigorous plants multi-stalked, cabbagey clumps with easiest of the genus, like P. denticulate, blossoms. Our plants originated from flaunt shamelessly – I suppose they drumheads that could serve only for the it has to be dead-headed to prevent seeds collected in the valley at 12,500 attract the pollinating insects more largest of base drums. They couldn’t indiscriminate seeding. Being a fan of feet below the great 21,000 foot pyramid effectively, much as the lurid and be showier or easier but that charming pale yellow, as opposed to the richer of Sigunian-Shan in Western Szechuan. ubiquitous MacDonald’s arches lure us elfin quality, so evident in the wild, is variety, in the garden, I’ve chosen to It doesn’t persist, once it has bloomed, to try their fastest of foods – but, to date, nowhere in evidence. Also, unless they suppress P. veris, the cowslip. Not and has to be germinated regularly – but I’ve been unable to accept these colors are dead-headed before they set seed, one to be put down, a specimen has there are worse chores, given the results. in association with anything other than they will spread throughout the garden chosen to establish itself in the front Primula flaccida, another charmer, and green or white. The solution has been with a vengeance. lawn where, surrounded by a sea of the diminutive P. reidii var. williamsii to reserve corners of the Woodland to green, it fits in well with the dandelions behave in much the same manner. The southernmost of the five streams in which plants sporting the offending and doesn’t clash with its neighbors. the Woodland flows from a little pond Then comes the stately, if scentless, colors can be relegated, and where they Carefully nurtured and avoided by the flanked by drifts of ‘Johanna’ and ‘Peter P. prolifera (helodoxa) along with P. are surrounded entirely by green and boy who cuts the lawn, it grows into a Klein’ through a narrow, fifty-foot secundiflora and sikkimensis followed accompanied, occasionally, by white. larger clump year by year. swath of P. denticulata, occasionally by the candelabras: P. japonica, There is an area near the Gazebo by the intermingled with P. rosea. The Questions of color aurantiaca, burmanica, poissonii, and second rope bridge, as one approaches denticulata are segregated by color, the pulverulenta (including its Bartley the Machiai, that is filled with the whites at the upper end, then the good Back in the Woodland, P. chionantha, Hybrids). The easy P. japonica tends to orange blossoms of Trollius ledebourii, blues, shading through lavender and now including species that used to be self-sow as readily as P. denticulata and, Lilium hansonii, tiger lilies, and all mauve to the darkest forms. known as sinopurpurea and melanops if not watched, a clump of a solid color those lilies that were supposed to be (recently relegated to sub-speciesdom such as ‘Postford White’ or ‘Miller’s red when ordered but turned out to be The last of the oreophlomis section by John Richards), takes over the Crimson’, or a good clear pink or brick orange. There is a corresponding area to bloom is P. luteola, from the wet bloom cycle in conjunction with the red, will turn into a kaleidoscope of in a southeast corner of the Woodland alpine meadows of Daghestan. Its wonderful jumble of P. ioessa and color. P. sieboldii is even worse. While which is the repository for all the configuration shows little kinship to its waltonii hybrids. Primula ioessa has it can become a useful groundcover with magenta primulas, not only the myriad smaller pink-flowered cousins, as far a distinctive cowbell-shaped blossom persistent division, it is one of the most forms of P. sieboldii, but P. cortusoides, as those of us who are not taxonomists and its hybrids come in a wide range variable plants extant, with hundreds of gemmifera, heucherifolia, kisoana, can determine. Its yellow blossoms of colors. I tend to separate a Primula variations in flower size, shape, petal the lurid P. polyneura, and saxatilis as coincide with the emergence of the genus by color rather than letting form, and color. The Japanese, who well, along with Cortusa matthioli and fresh green leaves of the deciduous the colony become a random mix, in grow most of their plants in pots given its ssp. pekinensis. I have no problem 26 27 American Primrose Society Winter 2010 with magenta en masse as long as it is This stately primula was discovered is the apotheosis of the primula year. Long, narrow sweeps of color run through isolated. The white forms of some of by Kingdon Ward in the Tsangpo the garden as summer turns the corner. The clear days, golden evenings and cool these species, such as P. kisoana ‘Alba’ Basin of southeastern Tibet in 1926, nights of August follow. The tall, handsome, dark purple blossoms of P. capitata and Cortusa matthioli ‘Alba’, are used where it grew and hybridized with and glomerata complete the primula tableau into September, blooming so late that elsewhere in the Woodland. its Sikkimensis section cousins, P. we never seem to be able to gather ripe seed before the winter sets in. The primulas alpicola, and waltonii. He named it are divided in August, the Woodland soil amended where necessary and the vision There are a few exceptions. The after his wife, Florence. In Charlevoix, of what the next season will bring, if the winter snow cover comes early and stays delicate, tiered, pale orange whirls of P. florindae is in bloom in July and late, is filed away in the memory bank to sustain us until the following May. P. cockburniana, following closely on August and appears to be indestructible. the heels of the yellow blossoms of P. It has a tendency to colonize and bulleyana, seem to know their place and naturalize, hybridizing readily with blend readily with the rest of the clan, as its section mates and appearing in a do the light orange-duff candelabras of color range from pale yellow through P. aurantiaca, the purplish candelabras russet to darkest red. We separate the of P. poissonii, and the small purplish three categories of colors so that the blossoms of P. secundiflora, whose pale yellow form, the true P. florindae, name signifies that the flowers are follows one stream to the lip of the clustered on one side of the stalk. Ravine, the variants encompassing the New book on Auriculas russet shades surround a pool in the Slowly the preferred colors – where middle of the Woodland and follow There is a gorgeous new book on auriculas by Allan Guest – called The Auricula there is a variation within a species – are the stream that flows from it, while the (Garden Art Press, 2009). It is available from Amazon Books online. More being encouraged. This involves hours of handsome, dark red variants line the than half the book is an alphabetical dictionary of the current named plants in crawling about and marking the different banks of a third stream. Britain, with a picture and information about the plant. The most interesting thing color forms so that the rearrangement about this book, which includes a history of the auricula, along with cultivation In the early 1990s a sterile hybrid, can proceed once the bloom is finished information, is that it lists many of the recently introduced striped auriculas. It’s a almost certainly a cross with P. and they can be divided. The different very handsome and useful book – maybe a special treat for yourself? alpicola, appeared in an entirely new scents of P. alpicola, ioessa, and color, a pinkish maroon with a dusky waltonii make this a pleasant chore. Treats for the Soul fawn interior. After frequent division Inter-specific hybrids that have resulted it is now spread along a fourth stream, If you need some wonderful colorful pictures of auriculas and primulas to cheer from the assemblage of so many species in this instance the denticulata/rosea of this promiscuous genus, many of you up in the winter doldrums, have a look at Derek Salt’s new website. Derek stream which also features clusters of has introduced many new double auriculas over the past few decades and is now them self-sterile, appear regularly. This the very pale yellow P. alpicola var. natural consequence of cohabitation focusing on striped doubles. It is a feast for the eyes! You can find this at: luna that are over by the time the new http://freespace.virgin.net/robert.wilkinson47/index.htm (does it account for the derivation of the hybrid begins to flower. The hybrid is “Primrose Path?”) adds a kaleidoscope being registered with the Nomenclature With Sadness of color to corners of the Woodland as in Authorities as Primula ‘Raynald’ after the finale of a fireworks display. It isn’t Raynald Bergeron who works with It is with sadness that we report that Harry Lill passed away in late November, the finale, however, because there is the me in the garden and who first noticed 2009. He was a long time and valued member of the NAPS Northern Section dark red of the choice P. anisodora to that the single specimen was different. and did the seed exchange for them for many years. He will be missed by many follow and the emergence on the scene The Woodland during the florindae auricula friends. of P. florindae, the most durable of all season is filled with scent, especially the primulas in the Woodland. at twilight on a still, damp evening. It 28 29 American Primrose Society Winter 2010

PrimulaWorld, explained why the blooming here on November 11th! So Chapter reports 2009 taxonomy of Primulas really does make far we’ve had a mild fall with only a sense. With her incredible photographs few frosts and I still have hardy fuchsias Tacoma Chapter we made plans for hosting the National and straightforward examples, she blooming vigorously in pots - soon to be Tacoma Chapter voted to again continue Show at Tower Hill in May. After a most delineated those differences in plant moved into my root cellar. The freezer with APS after this decision was put enjoyable meal around the huge dining structure and function which cause is full, lots of dry wood stacked for the to the members. Communication is table, we held our business meeting Primulas to be placed in the various woodstove, and it’s time to dream about limited as the meetings and agenda to make decisions about advertising, sections, and taught us to look at the spring. presentations, tours, lodging and are posted on line and we don’t have plants and flowers in a new way. banquet options, activity scheduling and ~Ed Buyarski, President computer access. judging. Having completed the agenda, Following Pam’s presentation, we held a The Chapter meets at Candy Strickland’s brief business meeting, during which we it was time to cross the snow to tour the B.C. Primula Group house the fourth Thursday of the month greenhouse. Everyone welcomed the discussed a request from the Berkshire except November, December, July and scents and sights of that warm weather Botanical Garden that we plan and plant The B.C. Primula Group meets every August. Some of the members of the garden in late January. a small garden of Primula which their other month from Sept. to May. It group are ill and the Thanksgiving/ staff would subsequently maintain. The was with great sadness that we learned The first weekend in May brought very Christmas potluck will not be held this project is one which could provide an that Roxanne Muth passed away in pleasant weather for the APS National year. Though we don’t have many exciting challenge for 2010. April. We have a loose organizational Show at Tower Hill Botanical Garden structure in our group, but Roxanne members we have a lively lunch and in Boylston, Massachusetts. Garden ~ Co- Presidents Rodney Barker & was more than our “secretary,” though enjoy our meetings. tours, buffet and banquet dinners, Mark Dyen she was never called that formally. She We lost two of our members this year: benches filled with a fine selection of kept us organized and kept us in touch Gordon Lymburne and Louise Feneli. Primulas, and exciting guest speakers Juneau Chapter with articles on Primulas from around Both had been long time members and provided a memorable experience. the world. We will miss her greatly. despite ill health were still interested in David and Lynne Lawson, owners of Just a brief note on Juneau primrose Chapter activities. They will both be Barnhaven Primroses in France, gave growers. We are about to begin winter Due to illness and moving away of sadly missed. presentations, as did APS president Lee meetings and decide the future of the other members, our group is sometimes Chapter with elections, programs, now only 5 or 6 members at a meeting, One of our members will speak at a Nelson. David’s photos of the facilities and special sales events at Barnhaven projects with local gardens and other though we had over 10 members and Fuschia Society meeting on how to had us all wanting to fly to France. business. It is likely that we will help spouses at the May meeting when plant Primula seeds and care for the Lynne showed us how she pollinates the support the Jensen Olsen Arboretum Yvonne Rorison presented an interesting plants in the new year. plants and prepares the seeds for sale with our plants, labor, and finances. We and beautiful selection of her pictures of ~Candy Strickland and answered many questions about will also assist the NE chapter with the the trip to China and Tibet in 2007. The Primula cultivation. National Show in 2010 however we program for the March meeting was on can. P. juliae, a compilation of information New England Chapter October provided another luxury for Primula enthusiasts. Our Chapter It was a great summer for gardeners - from books and articles, presented by The New England Chapter held three invited members of the Berkshire we even had to water during several dry Maedythe Martin. special events this year, increased our Chapter of NARGS to share a spells! Perennials flowered beautifully, The fall meeting in September was membership, and created and mailed presentation by Pam Eveleigh at The a productive berry crop fed birds, bears, cancelled due to most members being a late winter newsletter to all APS Berkshire Botanical Garden. Pam, and humans, and vegetable gardens unable to attend, and the program on members. who is well known to APS members were bountiful. the various mixes and potting mediums During our midwinter meeting at the as a previous web master for the APS The growing season is nearly over used by members for their range of home of Matt Mattus and Joseph Philip site, and the owner of the Web site but there are still Primula capitata Primula plants will likely be presented 30 31 American Primrose Society Winter 2010 in January. The November meeting was a great success with a good turn out (for In search of Abchasica us!) when Claire Cockcroft presented Would you Lee Nelson her recent survey of Primula, both in her garden and others and particularly please let us Sometime in the spring of 2009, I I finally managed to contact John Gyer from Steve Doonan’s garden. The determined to find again a plant of late this past summer (sadly Janet talk was compiled in honor of Steve know how Primula abchasica. In the mid 1970s, has passed away). Then I actually Doonan, who passed away this spring. while attending my first APS meeting, I met John this fall, when I traveled to It was a successful meeting. they’re doing? had the good fortune to meet Linc and Philadelphia to give a lecture for the Timmy Foster. The following spring Dorretta Klaber chapter. John sent me ~Maedythe Martin I was invited to visit their garden in stock of his P. abchasica , which came So many new seeds are Connecticut. It was during that visit that I from the Winterthur estate in Delaware, first sawP. abchasica. Image my delight Doretta Klaber Chapter where both he and Janet had served as sent out as part of the when I came home with a division of this volunteers. The plants, a gift from Linc The Doretta Klaber Chapter of the annual Seed Exchange sturdy little Primula. Unfortunately, in to Mr. du Pont at Winterthur, were still American Primrose Society had our the 1990s I lost it. growing in the quarry garden. John was spring meeting February 28 at the PHS that are never heard not sure of the exact provenance of the Horticulture Center in Fairmount Park. I knew Linc had shared P. abchasica from again. with many friends, but it wasn’t until I plants he sent me. They could be from Our speaker was Walt Cullerton of the original seed from Mrs. Artiushenko the Conifer Society on “Conifers for mentioned my plight to Maedythe Martin that I found a lead to someone that might or the clone that Linc crossed with a the Garden”. Seeds from the APS and have it. Maedythe emailed me that she white P. vulgaris. NARGS seed exchanges were passed Would you be so kind had totally by chance, when looking for out. I knew that Sydney Eddison, the noted as to let us know how something else, come across the 1999 garden writer, still has plants originally In April, two members opened their winter issue of the APS quarterly in those seeds are doing: from Lincoln Foster. This spring Sydney gardens for us so we could see their which P. abchasica was featured. will send me a division from her plant. primroses. Unfortunately, it was one how they germinated, I am also in contact with a person in of the hottest days of the summer, I went to look in my set of old quarterlies what may be flourishing Georgia (Russia) who may be able to at least 90°F. Our picnic on June 6 – it is so handy having the set to refer to – and there it was! It even featured a send me fresh seeds next year. at the home of John Gyer had much from previous years? picture of the plant on the cover. Eureka! cooler weather and had a good turnout. This plant, although vigorous in growth, There were primroses and other plants The authors, John and Janet Gyer in is very shy setting seed, so plants by available for sale, propagated from the It is always helpful to get New Jersey gave an interesting and division may be the only hope. If any seed passed out in February, or from feedback on the process informative overview of the plant which APS member has or knows of someone member’s gardens. as well: did you donate, comes from the Caucasus Mountains that grows P. abchasica, I would love to Our last meeting of the year was October at the edge, where Europe meets Asia. hear from you. My goal is to establish 3, again at the Horticulture Center. Lee did your ordered seeds Lincoln Foster had his plants and seeds the provenance of this plant, grow it on Nelson was the speaker on “Extending originally from a Mrs. Artiushenko who and share it with any of our members arrive quickly? traveled there on expeditions in 1957 and the Season” - many primroses were who might be interested in growing this 1960. He multiplied the plant, dividing featured. enchanting little primrose. it and grew it very well until, in 1965, ~Diana McCormack Thank you so much for he had 86 plants! These were distributed Additional articles by Lincoln Foster widely through the American Primrose about P. abchasica can be found in the your input! Society and the American Rock Garden APS Quarterly Summer 1965 pgs.90-91; Society. Winter 1996 pgs.13-14 32 33 American Primrose Society Winter 2010

bloom. There was an obconica that had everybody.” The cars help destroy the An Abiding Affection for Primroses wintered over for 3 years. roads and most of all, the farmers have to give up their customary Sunday dinner Vincente Sette I decided at breakfast with the Primulas to stand guard with shotguns against I was born in Italy in Lombardy - the evenings, and we could jump double still on the table that we needed a trip the pilfering in their fruit orchards. Ah town of San Ponzo Semola with a dutch in the gaslight. Eventually, our to our aunt in Italy. We left that day - Woe! population of 350: a farming town neighbor who lived in the opposite my husband and our friends to arrive situated in the mountain range called brownstone came out to scold us by air (the tunnel across the Channel Editor’s note: Alpinella - an area below the Swiss and for disturbing her daughter -- who had not yet been built). In a few hours Vin Sette still demonstrates her passion Italian Alps. The house I was born in happened to be the poet, Edna St we arrived at San Ponzo - I had never for Primroses as a valued member of the was 900 years old and now it approaches Vincent Millay. We lowered our voices, come early in the spring or late winter. APS and of the New England Chapter. 1000. A pretty town with red clay roofs but kept jumping. That was on Morton Everywhere in the ditches along the Just this year, she painted a watercolor and stone buildings, upper stalls to Street. road leading to the village of San Ponzo of some of the primroses she has grown house people and animals in the lower there were blossoms of Primroses - from the APS Exchange, and sent a section. The town had no plumbing It was years later that I fell in love mostly yellow. In the Alpine Primroses, copy of it with the letter from which the until the First WW. Dependent on with Primroses. I was visiting a friend there was some sign of pink. I was above has been extracted. Vin lives in water from a river and a brook which with whom I frequently celebrated our anxious to get to the woods. Bare of Millbrook, NY, and is looking forward leaves, the chestnuts were dark in limb, to celebrating her 99th birthday in flowed through the town and served as a birthdays by visiting one another’s the mountains were heavy with fallen February. sewage system, it was rife with typhoid homes and families. We were shopping leaves and the Primula auricula grew and TB. These medieval conditions for dinner at a supermarket in an area in mounds along the path. The area was were changed as people returned from outside Kopenhavin - slightly different delicately scented. I was in heaven. My the US and Argentina where over the from our markets - in Denmark they aunt was happy to see us but thought John Richards at National Show years they had emigrated. sold wine along with milk and soda. we were a little deranged to make a A very special event at this year’s You provided your own shopping bags. trip for flowers, but we had a nice party show will be a presentation by Dr. I have no recollection of the ocean At the end of the counter you could pick with primroses on the table and good John Richards. He is the author of trip, (to America, in 1914) but my up a trowel and open a container and food, including some dried porcini first memory of leaving Italy was the scoop up a quantity of lively Primroses ‘Primulas of The British Isles’ ( 1989, mushrooms from the woods to flavour Shire Publications Ltd., UK) and of farewell with an elderly neighbor who complete with roots and soil. Placed in a the risotto. came knocking at my door to ask, plastic bag, home they went to be placed ‘Primula’ (2nd edition from Timber Press, 2002) which has become the “Shall we go pick flowers?” And so in a ceramic container with the existing On another note, we learned that San we did each morning - flowers from soil from the purchase. The container Ponzo was facing a crisis because most important book on the genus in the meadows and from the mountains - was usually a swan or a duck. The of its antiquity and because it has an our time. heavy with chestnut groves and porcini height and length of the container lent ancient Roman fort with slits to shoot mushrooms to flavor our Sunday dinner, itself to continued propagation. “When arrows. Built as housing for the soldiers In addition to giving his presentation, which in the North of Italy consisted of are they going into the garden?” I asked. stationed to guard the approach to the which will be open to the public at polenta (cornmeal) with rabbit stew or “Oh, maybe tomorrow -- maybe,” and mountain passes, it has been declared a Tower Hill, Dr. Richards has agreed risotto (rice) with a tiny bit of braised so it was. Into the garden they went National Monument which because it to act as the facilitator for our Round veal also with the fragrant mushrooms. with the knowledge that there would be is only an hour’s drive from Milano. It Table discussion, when questions and a continuous supply of Primroses. Not brings hoards of people driving through answers will the primary feature of In the twenties, traffic on the side streets all went into the garden. Some were the mountains, picking mushrooms an informal gathering. in Greenwich Village stopped in the carried over in pots on windowsills in and shouting, “The woods belong to 34 35 American Primrose Society Winter 2010 American Primrose Society Membership th Minutes of the Board Meeting held on November 1st, 2009 . As of October 25 , there were 363 APS members (346 in April, and 356 in August). . Joe asked for two members from each chapter or group to join a committee The meeting was held online and by telephone. It opened at 6:10 pm, Eastern Time. on ways to increase membership. So far Ed and Julia volunteered from the Juneau Chapter, and Michael from the BC Group. Board members present: Linda Bailey (Director), Rodney Barker (Director), Ed . Alan is working on a proposal to set up an APS Collections Program, Buyarski (President, Juneau Chapter), Mark Dyen (President, New England Chapter), involving both garden and wild collections. This should produce some Cheri Fluck (Director), Julia Haldorson (Director, Membership Secretary), Jon interest in the gardening news media. Kawaguchi (APS Treasurer), Marianne Kuchel (Director), Alan Lawrence (APS Vice- . Linda informed the board that Judy Sellers has invited the Yahoo Primula president), Joseph Philip (APS President), Michael Plumb (APS Secretary) chat group to collect seed. The 287 people signed up for this chat are a potential source of new members. Regrets: Mary Jo Burns (Director), Maedythe Martin (Editor, President of BC Group), . The New England Chapter is upgrading the Primrose Walk at the Berkshire Diana Cormack (President, Doretta Klaber Chapter) Botanic Gardens, which should help gain new members. Website 1. The Minutes of August 9th, 2009 – Accepted with an amendment to item 4, . Upgrading continues. Membership – “earlier” should read “later” (Michael/Linda). . ACTION: Anne will ask Jane to send her the Contents Page of each current Quarterly, so that this can be displayed on the website. 2. Treasurer’s Report (Emailed before the meeting) Technical Committee . Total liabilities and equity as of September 30th, 2009: $23,031.44 . Report POSTPONED. . Income less expenses January 1st, 2009 to September 30th, 2009: ($1,768.49) . The loss for the 3rd quarter was mainly due to the Quarterly production. 4. Business Arising and Old Business Revenues will increase in the 4th quarter with membership renewals. Dorothy Dickson Award . Donations are up and higher than the projected amount for 2009, but are . We need to vote on a way to select the winner in a timelier and more still a vital source of funding. efficient manner. POSTPONED to the next meeting. . MOTION (Rodney/Michael) to accept the report - carried unanimously. 5. New Business 3. Committee Reports Terms of APS officers and directors Seed Exchange . MOTION (Michael/Ed): That two of the four directors elected in the . The addresses for donations and purchases have been updated in the coming election (winter 2009-2010) serve a term of two years instead Quarterly and on the website. of three. Carried. This motion was introduced to return the rotation of . Jacques Mommens will continue as Seed Exchange chair, with the directors to the system laid out in the APS Constitution, by which two out assistance of Mary Malloy, Judith Sellers, and others. of six directors are to be elected each year, in order to maintain continuity. National Show The candidates in the upcoming election will be asked if they are willing to . The Juneau Chapter is unable to hold the 2010 National Show. serve a year less than normal. Consequently, the New England Chapter has formed a Show Committee. . Discussion of the other problem, in which all four officers are due for The President of Juneau (Ed) offered to help NE, and told the NE Show election in early 2011, was POSTPONED until the board meeting in fall Committee to keep the $500 they owed Juneau and use it to help run the 2010. show. . ACTION: Michael will find out if certain members in Washington State are 6. Adjournment (Julia/Linda) at 7:50 Eastern. willing to run a future show. Editorial Committee Next meeting: January 31st, 2010 (provisional) . Printing costs are still relatively low, in spite of the high Canadian dollar (The Quarterly is printed in Canada at present). ACTION: The Editorial Respectfully submitted, Committee will consult Maedythe on how the recently voted allocation Michael Plumb, Secretary of an extra $500 should be used – whether for extra pages or extra color photos. The Editorial Report was accepted (Michael/Julia). 36 37 American Primrose Society Winter 2010 New Members this Quarter Join the National George Africa, Vermont Flower Farm, 256 Peacham Pond Road, Marshfield, Vermont 05658-8099 U.S.A. Kevin Baker, 11243 – 105th Street, Edmonton, Alberta T5G 2M4 Canada Auricula & Gina Docherty, 14051 Fejes Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99516 U.S.A. Michael Dodge, 1943 Ridge Road North, Fairfield, Vermont 05455 U.S.A. Dr. and Mrs. John Gontarz, 546 Chesterville Road, Landenberg, Pennsylvania 19350 U.S.A Primula Society Cynthia Harvey, 7 Duston Lane ,Acton, Massachusetts 01720 U.S.A. Kathy Hirdler, 24797 Brotherhood Road, Mount Vernon, Washington 98274, U.S.A., Laura Howick, 10 Lincoln Street, Maynard, Massachusetts 01754, U.S.A., Midland & West Section Sally Konen, Plant Native’s Nursery, 8386 Daffodil Lane, Lewiston, Idaho 83501, U.S.A., Robin McGown, P. O. Box 54, Salisbury, Connecticut 06068, U.S.A. , Dr. David Mellor, The Croft, Pardshaw, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 OSP, England, U. K., www.auriculaandprimula.org.uk Andy Navage, The Bloedel Reserve, 7571 NE Dolphin Drive, Bainbridge Island, Washington 98110, U.S.A., Patricia and Richard Poor, 7400 New Cut Road, Kingsville, Maryland 21087, U.S.A., Mary Seitz, 22604 Northeast 20th Place, Sammamish, Washington 98074, U.S.A., Vivien Self, 6 Lanchester Road, Maiden Law, Lanchester, Durham, DH7 0QS, England U.K., Margaret Serrao, 266 Arlington Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M6C 2Z7, Canada, Bonnie Studdiford, 124 Bunganuc Road, Brunswick, Maine 04011, U.S.A., Mr. Bobby Ward Dennis L. Stuebing, 203 James St, Timberlea, Nova Scotia B3T 2C7, Canada, Executive Secretary, NARGS Mary Jane Whatley, 628 McKellar Street, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 1R3, Canada, PO Box 18604 Phil Zimmerman, 220 Coonamessett Circle, East Falmouth, Massachusetts 02536, U.S.A., Raleigh, NC 27619-8604 £10.00 Overseas Membership.

to: The Honorary Treasurer, Roger Woods, Should there ever be a question about your membership, please contact: 44 Tansey Crescent, Stoney Stanton, Julia L. Haldorson, APS Membership Leicestershire, LE9 4BT United Kingdom. P. O. Box 210913 Auke Bay, Alaska 99821 U.S.A. [email protected] OFFICERS OF THE CHAPTERS British Columbia Primrose Group New England Chapter Maedythe Martin, President Mark Dyen, Co-President 951 Joan Crescent Victoria, BC V8S 3L3 132 Church Street Newton, MA 02158 (250) 370-2951 [email protected] [email protected] Rodney Barker, Co-President 49 Woodcliff Road Newton Highlands, Doretta Klaber Chapter MA 02461 Diana Cormack, Acting Chair [email protected] 424 Bulltown Rd., Elverson, PA 19520 610-286-0577 Tacoma Chapter [email protected] Candy Strickland, Co-President

Juneau Chapter 6911 104th St. E. Puyallup, WA 98373 Overseas membership £7.50 ($10.00 US) Ed Buyarski, President (253) 841-4192 Box 33077 Juneau, AK 99803-3077 Cy Happy III, Co-President (907) 789-2299 11617 Gravelly Lk. Dr. Tacoma, WA [email protected] 98499 http://www.alaskaprimroses.org (253) 588-2585 38 39 APRÊÊ30Ê-ÊMAYÊ2 TOWERÊHILLÊBOTANICÊGARDEN BOYLSTON,ÊMA