TheThe AmericanAmerican

GARDENERGARDENER® TheThe MagazineMagazine ofof thethe AAmericanmerican HorticulturalHorticultural SocietySociety July / August 2007

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1.800.545.4411 www.oxo.com contents Volume 86, Number 4 . July / August 2007

FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

5 NOTES FROM RIVER FARM 6 MEMBERS’ FORUM 7 NEWS FROM AHS AHS award winners honored, President’s Council trip to Charlotte, fall plant and antiques sale at River Farm, America in Bloom Symposium in Arkansas, Eagle Scout project enhances River Farm garden, second AHS page 7 online plant seminar on annuals a success, page 39 Homestead in the Garden Weekend. 14 AHS PARTNERS IN PROFILE YourOutDoors, Inc. 16 PLEASURES OF THE EVENING GARDEN BY PETER LOEWER 44 ONE ON ONE WITH… Enjoy the garden after dark with appropriate design, good lighting, and the addition of fragrant, night-blooming plants. Steve Martino, landscape architect. 46 NATURAL CONNECTIONS 22 THE LEGEND OF HIDDEN Parasitic dodder. HOLLOW BY BOB HILL GARDENER’S NOTEBOOK Working beneath the radar, 48 Harald Neubauer is one of the Groundcovers that control weeds, meadow rues suited for northern gardens, new propagation wizards who online seed and fruit identification guide, keeps wholesale and retail national “Call Before You Dig” number nurseries stocked with the lat- established, saving wild magnolias, Union est woody plant selections. of Concerned Scientist call for public’s pledge to protect forests, the legacies of nurseryowner and plant breeder William SHEER INTRIGUE pagepage 2222 28 Flemer, III, and plantswoman and BY JANET DAVIS arboretum founder Polly Hill. Use plants that have airy, see-through flowers and stems as scrims and screens to add texture, drama, and a hint of mystery. 52 GREEN GARAGE® Solar power in the garden. EVENING PRIMROSES BY MARCIA TATROE 34 54 BOOK REVIEWS Conjure magic in your garden at dusk with the diverse members Burpee The Complete Flower Gardener, of the genus Oenothera and its relations. Foliage: Astonishing Color and Texture Beyond Flowers, and A Pattern Garden: The 39 HARDY PLANTS BY CAROLE OTTESEN Essential Elements of Garden Making. These reliably hardy perennials, shrubs, and trees thrive in cold- Special focus: Summer reading. weather regions. 58 REGIONAL HAPPENINGS 62 HARDINESS AND HEAT ZONES ON THE COVER: The Abyssinian gladiolus (Gladiolus callianthus, syn. Acidanthera bicolor) adds a AND PRONUNCIATIONS

TOP LEFT: CAROLE OTTESEN. BOTTOM LEFT: MICHAEL HAYMAN. RIGHT: DAVID HATHCOX DAVID RIGHT: HAYMAN. MICHAEL LEFT: BOTTOM OTTESEN. CAROLE LEFT: TOP violetlike fragrance to the evening garden in summer. Photograph by Susan A. Roth

July / August 2007 3 AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA 22308-1300 (800) 777-7931 fax (703) 768-8700 www.ahs.org Making America a Nation of Gardeners, a Land of Gardens

American Horticultural Society President’s Council

PRESIDENT Deane H. Hundley CHAMPION'S CIRCLE Ms. Judy Daniel ■ Ms. Frances Velay Board of Directors CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. John H. Ariail, Jr. ■ Mrs. Katherine Belk ■ CHAIRMAN Susie Usrey Dayton, Oregon Mrs. Susan M. Cargill ■ Mitchell Petersen Family Foundation, Inc. ■ Mr. and FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN Don E. Riddle, Jr. Davidsonville, Maryland Mrs. Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. ■ Jeanne Shields ■ Mr. Arnold Steiner ■ Mr. and SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN Leslie Ariail Alexandria, Virginia Mrs. W. Bruce Usrey SECRETARY Albin MacDonough Plant Baltimore, Maryland TREASURER Arnold Steiner Birmingham, Alabama LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY CIRCLE Mr. Richard C. and Mrs. Katherine Stark Bull ■ IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR Arabella S. Dane Center Harbor, New Hampshire Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Dane ■ Mrs. Elisabeth C. Dudley ■ Mrs. Marion Greene ■ Ms. Minako Henderson ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Kulp, Jr. ■ Ms. Joann Luecke ■ Mr. and Mrs. J. Landon Reeve IV ■ Mr. John Ulfedler Allan M. Armitage Athens, Georgia ■ Suzanne Bales Oyster Bay, New York ■ William E. Barrick, Ph.D. Theodore, Alabama ■ Katherine Belk Charlotte, North Carolina ■ Kurt Bluemel Baldwin, Maryland ■ Katherine HAUPT CIRCLE Nancy J. Becker, M.D. ■ Mr. and Mrs. John B. Burke ■ Mrs. Stark Bull Washington, D.C. ■ John Alex Floyd, Jr. Trussville, Alabama ■ Carole Hofley Wilson, Wyoming Richard W. Hamming ■ Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Hanselman ■ Mrs. Carole Margaret Kulp Louisville, Kentucky ■ Caroline Lewis Coral Gables, Florida ■ Melissa R. Marshall Pittsburgh, S. Hofley ■ Mr. and Mrs. Albin MacDonough Plant Pennsylvania ■ Carol C. Morrison Palatine, Illinois ■ Shirley Nicolai Fort Washington, Maryland J. Landon Reeve IV Woodbine, Maryland ■ Harry A. Rissetto, Esq. Falls Church, Virginia COUNCIL MEMBER’S CIRCLE Mr. and Mrs. Carter Bales ■ Ms. Marietta E. Michel Sallin Groveland, Florida ■ Jeanne Shields Greenville, Delaware ■ Gail Smith Belville, North Carolina Bernot ■ Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Bigos ■ Mrs. George P. Bissell, Jr. ■ Mr. and Steven Still Hilliard, Ohio ■ Howard McK. Tucker Alexandria, Virginia ■ Robert D. Volk San Marino, Mrs. C. William Black ■ Dr. Sherran Blair ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Bogle ■ California ■ Daryl Williams Lake Buena Vista, Florida Count and Countess Peder Bonde ■ Mr. and Mrs. Michael T. Bradshaw ■ Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Carr ■ Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Demisay ■ Mr. and Mrs. PRESIDENT EMERITUS Katy Moss Warner Robert Duemling ■ Mrs. Walter Fletcher ■ Dr. and Mrs. John A. Floyd, Jr. ■ Ms. Marguerite Peet Foster ■ Mr. and Mrs. Joel Goldsmith ■ Dr. and Mrs. 2007 Advisory Council William O. Hargrove ■ Mr. and Mrs. Allan L. Holmstrom ■ Mrs. Elizabeth Beverly Hanselman, Nashville, Tennessee – Chair Hooff ■ Mr. Philip Huey ■ Mr. Deane H. Hundley ■ Ms. Mary A. Lambert ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Lindsay ■ Mrs. Dorothy Marston ■ Mrs. Barbara Clarissa Bonde, Washington, D.C . G. Ray Miller, Brandon, Florida McClendon ■ Ms. Lillian McKay ■ Mrs. Paul Mellon ■ Mrs. Rosalyn Walter Bull, Columbia, South Carolina Egon Molbak, Bellevue, Washington Milbrandt ■ Mr. and Mrs. Egon Molbak ■ Dr. and Mrs. David E. Morrison ■ Anne Bucher, Silver Spring, Maryland Dean Norton, Mt. Vernon, Virginia Mrs. Kathryn A. Moss ■ Mrs. Shirley Ann Nicolai ■ Mr. and Mrs. James T. Elaine Burden, Middleburg, Virginia Nancy Keen Palmer, Nashville, Tennessee Norman ■ Dr. Julia Rappaport ■ Mrs. Josephine Shanks ■ Mr. and Mrs. Patty Bush, St. Louis, Missouri Bob Patterson, Washington, D.C. Emanuel Shemin ■ Mr. and Mrs. Charles Henry Smith, Jr. ■ Mrs. P.M. Spreuer Skipp Calvert, Alexandria, Virginia Dr. Julia W. Rappaport, Santa Ana, California ■ Mrs. Juliet Sproul ■ Dr. and Mrs. George E. Staehle ■ Mr. Harold Stahly ■ Philip Catron, Frederick, Maryland William Sadler, St. Louis, Missouri Mr. and Mrs. John B. Strasenburgh ■ Mr. Howard McK. Tucker and Ms. Megan Dr. H. Marc Cathey, Davidson, North Carolina Deen Day Sanders, Norcross, Georgia Evans ■ Mr. Joe Viar ■ Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Volk ■ Ms. Katy Moss Warner Russell Clark, Boston, Massachusetts Josephine Shanks, Houston, Texas ■ Mrs. Agnes Binder Weisiger ■ Mr. and Mrs. Harvey C. White ■ Mr. and Mrs. Bartie Cole, Owings Mills, Maryland Barbara Shea, Owings Mills, Maryland John W. White, Sr. ■ Mr. and Mrs. Klaus Zech Jim Corfield, Geneva, Illinois Holly Shimizu, Glen Echo, Maryland Edward N. Dane, Center Harbor, New Hampshire Charles Henry Smith, Jr, Middleburg, Virginia HONORARY PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL Mrs. Enid A. Haupt ■ Mrs. John A. Lutz ■ David and Kitty Ferguson, Westwood, Massachusetts Tom Szaky, Trenton, New Jersey Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Miller Ben Griswold, Glyndon, Maryland Nancy Thomas, Houston, Texas Carolyn Marsh Lindsay, Ponte Vedra, Florida Bryan Thomlison, Haddonfield, New Jersey Mickey Lynch, Dunmore, Pennsylvania Jeff Trunzo, Port Orange, Florida Bob Malesardi, Easton, Maryland Pauline Vollmer, Baltimore, Maryland Robert and Joanna Martin, Menlo Park, California Joyce and Harvey White, Nashville, Tennessee Mrs. Malcolm Matheson, Mt. Vernon, Virginia Joannah Williams, Sebring, Florida Barbara McClendon, Alexandria, Virginia Sheryl Wood, Middleburg, Virginia

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Horticultural Partners America in Bloom ■ Bellingrath Gardens and Home ■ Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Garden Symposium ■ Cox Arboretum & Gardens Metropark ■ Epcot International Flower & Garden The 2007 password to access the Festival ■ The Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Clubs of America ■ The Homestead in the Garden Symposium ■ Inniswood Garden Society ■ Leonard Haertter Travel Company members-only portion of the AHS Magic of Landscapes ■ Morris Arboretum ■ Oklahoma Botanical Garden & Arboretum website, www.ahs.org, is dogwood. Oklahoma Horticultural Society

4 the American Gardener The American NOTESC FROM RIVER FARM GARDENER

EDITOR David J. Ellis MANAGING EDITOR AND ART DIRECTOR OU, OUR MEMBERS, the readers of this magazine, are our most important Mary Yee constituent group. Our goal is to bring you a broad range of gardening infor- ASSISTANT EDITOR mation that will be of value to you—and inspire you—in your personal and Viveka Neveln Y professional life. This issue features a special focus on evening gardens, and you will EDITORIAL INTERN Courtney Capstack find numerous ideas and inspirations for creating a haven to be enjoyed after dark. CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Other articles include a profile of Harald Neubauer, a Tennessee nurseryman who Rita Pelczar propagates new trees and shrubs for many of the country’s top wholesale and retail CONTRIBUTING WRITER nurseries, and a feature on hardy plants for cool-climate gardens. Carole Ottesen During a recent meeting of our Board of Directors, a great deal of discussion re- volved around the American Horticultural Society’s national mission and goals. Or- EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD ganizations such as ours frequently revisit the mission to ensure CHAIR Richard E. Bir that the information and programs we are providing to our Brevard, North Carolina members remain timely and valuable in an ever-changing world. Allan M. Armitage Athens, Georgia Over the next few months, we will be conducting a study and Nina L. Bassuk doing some surveying to help us refine our guiding principles Ithaca, New York and member services. Steve Bender In June, we held our annual national awards ceremony Birmingham, Alabama here at River Farm to honor the winners of the Society’s 2007 John E. Bryan Great American Gardeners Awards and Book Awards (an ar- San Francisco, California ticle on the awards ceremony can be found on page 7). The KASSIE BAKER John L. Creech recipients of these awards are people from all across this country who have made Columbus, North Carolina a difference in diverse sectors of the gardening world. From the perspective of Panayoti Kelaidis someone who was attending the awards ceremony for the first time, it was truly a Denver, Colorado memorable experience. Several of the winners gave very emotional speeches. Nurs- Richard W. Lighty Kennett Square, Pennsylvania ery owner Paul Saunders, winner of the Paul Ecke Jr. Commercial Award, brought Elvin McDonald his wife, children, and grandchildren up to share the podium with him. West Des Moines, Iowa What rang through loud and clear, however, was just how touched each and every one of them was that the American Horticultural Society sponsors this na- tional awards program. After the ceremony, one of them came up to me and said, CONTACT US The American Gardener 7931 East Boulevard Drive “Thank you for honoring me for doing the work that I love.” In the near future, Alexandria, VA 22308 we will be launching a campaign to permanently endow all of our awards to en- (703) 768-5700 sure that these dedicated people and companies will get the recognition and sup- port they deserve for their life’s work. ADVERTISING & E-MAIL: [email protected] CORPORATE It’s an exciting era at the American Horticultural Society. In the coming months PARTNERSHIPS we will be sharing with you details of some new initiatives we are getting ready to

EDITORIAL E-MAIL: [email protected] launch. I invite you to pass along any ideas you might have in this regard, as well as to add your input to the discussion we will be having during our “2010 Mission” planning process. The American Gardener (ISSN 1087-9978) is published bimonth- ly (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, Septem- I look forward to the opportunity to speak with you at one of our upcoming na- ber/October, November/December) by the American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300, tional programs. These include the National Children & Youth Garden Symposium (703) 768-5700. Membership in the Society includes a subscrip- in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 19-21; the Annual Gala with the theme “Music tion to The American Gardener. Annual dues are $35; two years, $60. International dues are $50. $10 of annual dues goes toward in the Garden” here at River Farm on September 29; and the Garden School hosted magazine subscription. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, Vir- ginia, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send by Yew Dell Gardens in Crestwood, Kentucky, on October 4 and 5. Form 3579 to The American Gardener, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300. Botanical nomenclature is based on The American Horticultural Society A–Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, on A Synonymized Check- list of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Canada and Greenland and on the Royal Horticultural Society Index of Garden Plants. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the authors and are not necessar- ily those of the Society. Manuscripts, artwork, and photographs sent for possible publication will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. We cannot guarantee the safe return of unsolicited material. Back issues are available at $8 per copy. —Deane H. Hundley, President & CEO Copyright ©2007 by the American Horticultural Society. Printed in the U.S.A. on recycled paper.

July / August 2007 5 6 Gebrueder SchuetzNurseryGebrueder atOlo- a long-timementorandfriendtoJelitto. KarlFoersterfor German nurseryman and rich Hagemann, whowaschiefgardener discoverer Hein- about‘Goldsturm’ story to Perennial Seeds shared thisinteresting without fertilization. apomictic—producing seed might be there issomesuspicionthattheplant Indeed, variation from seed. shows any of simplyabotanicalvariety is eyed-Susan black- winning award- This there wasnone. ‘Goldsturm’ but be the“original” to thought was offered what have sometimes catalogs nursery Over theyears, were seed-raised. vision, butrather produced by di- vegetatively not were plants distributed first sturm’. The understanding aboutthecultivar ‘Gold- mis- but wantedtoclarifyanoccasional genus I enjoyed Pam Baggett’s onthe article THE STORYOF‘GOLDSTURM’ dener eral backissuesof An AHSmemberisinsearchofsev- MAGAZINE ISSUESWANTED 1999: July/August 1998: July/August 1997: July/August 1996: March/April 2706 [email protected]. contact ReneLipshiresat(508)429- of anythefollowingissues,please you arewillingtopartwithyourcopy In the1930s,Hagemann visitedthe KlausJelitto ofJelit- Several years ago, Rudbeckia fulgida the American Gardener Rudbeckia that arenolongerinstock.If nteMay/June issue in the ‘Goldsturm’ rudbeckia The American Gar- American The and very rarely very and Rudbeckia speciosa. right, young man. This oneisbetterthan sans andsaidtoHagemann, “You were black-eyed amongthesenew Su- quietly following year, in1938.Foerster walked andflowered forthefirsttime den ias. They were plantedinFoerster’s gar- and wasgiven 10ofthespecialrudbeck- agOhebeganplantingandpro- gang Oehme Bluemel andlandscapedesigner Wolf- Kurt whennurseryman until the1980s, initsnative continent come popular Europe. Ironically, theplantdidnotbe- slowly madeitswayacross inGer- many and best-sellingperennial a come repeatedly re- futed thisclaim. Hagemann but border, smuggledacross theGerman had been a specialform—ontheinitialplantsthat ducted breeding work—or even selected been suggestedthatFoerster hadcon- uted. These were allseedgrown. It has ofplantswasfirstdistrib- small number anditwasnotuntil1949thata vened, inter- but Worldcompanies, WarII made withseveral German mailorder were from seed.Contracts comes true thatthebotanical variety at thetime immediately, becausetheydidnotrealize sturm’”—German for“gold storm.” called‘Gold- found aname.It shallbe erster triumphantlyannounced,“Ihave vantii! R. fulgidavar. speciosa could bemore attractive thanRudbeckia but Foerster wasdubiousthattheplants mann toldhisbossaboutdiscovery, Foerster’s garden, nearPotsdam, Hage- Upon hisreturn to the seedoriginated. no oneknows where intheUnited States from theUnited States. Unfortunately, tria, whichinturnhadobtainedseed from thebotanicgarden atGraz inAus- var. nearly 50plantsof lic. He wasimpressed withagroup of mouc, inwhatisnow theCzech Repub- Hagemann laterreturned toSchuetz yte15s Glsum a be- By the1950s,‘Goldsturm’ had Vegetative propagation commenced sullivantii MEMBERS It isnogood!” Two dayslater, Fo- (now more commonlyrendered C speciosa). cut a received Schuetz had But thename, ’ Rudbeckia fulgida FORUM sulli- during theirapprenticeships inGermany. itbecausetheyhadlearnedof moting um we have grown. after deadheadingthananyotherheleni- gives abetter secondround ofbloom Helenium waldtraut and shows adifferent selection,suchas there achanceyour photoismisidentified that Iknow sowell inmyown garden. Is Plants) (Frances Perry CollinsGuide toBorder from the“warm glowing bronze-red” heim Beauty’, different butitlooksvery shown onpage22isidentifiedas‘Moer- May/June 2007edition,thehelenium In by Jo thearticle AnnGardner inthe HELENIUM MISIDENTIFICATION? Editor's response: tity andwelcome suggestionsfrom readers. Beauty’. We to confirmitsiden- are trying most publishedimagesof‘Moerheim shown above, seemsquitedifferent from with you; the sneezeweed inthephoto, American Gardener, American Letters weprintmay beeditedforlengthandclarity. [email protected] (note LettertoEditorinsubjectline). Alexandria, VA22308.Send e-mails to PLEASE WRITEUS! Helenium In ourgarden, ‘Moerheim Beauty’ flowers ofthe‘Moerheim Beauty’ Sevenoaks, Kent, United Kingdom ‘Moerheim Beauty’—ornot? David G. Clark (Reverend) Address letterstoEditor, 7931 EastBoulevardDrive, We are inclinedtoagree Jelitto Perennial Seeds or Louisville, Kentucky H. ‘Chelsey’? Allen Bush The

LEFT: CHARLES MANN. RIGHT: SUSAN A. ROTH News from AHS July / August 2007

PROGRAMS • EVENTS • ANNOUNCEMENTS

AHS Award Winners Honored spring. Members enjoyed tours to public and private gardens in RECIPIENTS OF the AHS 2007 Great American Gardeners the surrounding area, including Wing Haven Garden & Bird Awards and Book Awards were honored on June 1 during an Sanctuary, Elizabeth Lawrence House & Garden, and a behind­ evening banquet and ceremony at the Society's headquarters at the-scenes tour of rhe Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. River Farm. A veritable who's who in the green industry from all Next year, members of the AHS over the United States were on hand to receive awards for their President's Council will be offered outstanding contributions to horticulture, landscape design, gar­ the opportunity to tour the gardens den communication, and other related fields. and nurseries of the Willamette Val­ ley and in Portland, Oregon. The President's Council consists of six donor levels: the Champion's Circle, Chairman's Circle, Liberty Hyde Bailey Circle, Haupt Circle, Council Member's Circle, and Hon­ orary President's Council. Donor benefits include special travel oppor- The President's Council tour tunities, autographed gardening included a visit to Daniel books, two tickets to rhe AHS annu- Stowe Botanical Garden. al gala, and a private, guided tour of rhe AHS headquarters at River Farm. For additional information, call Sue Dick at (703) 768-5700 ext. III or e-mail [email protected].

Fall Plant and Antiques Sale

MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the AHS's first annual Fall Kris Jarantoski of the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Plant Sale and the National Capital Area Garden Club's Professional Award from Awards Committee Chair Bill Barrick and (NCAGC) Antiques RiverShow at River Farm. On Sunday, AHS Board Chair Susie Usrey during the June awards ceremony. September 23, local plant vendors will be selling IT'S SEED SAVING TIME! The evening culminated with the presentation of the Liberty fall-blooming herbaceous Hyde Bailey Award for woody plant guru Michael Dirr, an au­ plants, new releases for the As plants in your garden begin to thor, professor, and plant breeder who is about to retire after more 2008 season, and hard-to­ set seeds this summer, consider than 20 years as a horticulture professor at the University of Geor­ find perennials, shrubs, saving seeds to share with fellow gia. AHS Board member Steven Still accepted the award on be­ ferns, and bulbs. members in the AHS Annual Seed half of Dirr, who was not able to attend the ceremony. In conjunction with the Exchange. Each winter, members "These award winners represent the highest levels of achieve­ AHS Fall Plant Sale, the can choose from a variety of peren­ ment in nearly every sector of the horticulture industry," says NCAGC will host an An­ nials, annuals, vegetables, and AHS President Deane H. Hundley. "It's our privilege to rec­ tiques RiverShow fund­ other plants. Participating in this ognize them for their dedication, creativity, and all-around pas­ raiser. Modeled on the popular member benefit is a cost­ sion for plants and gardening." popular public television efficient, easy way to increase vari­ Nominations for next year's Great American Gardeners Awards program "Antiques Road­ ety in your garden. The deadline for are being accepted until September 28. Tu rn to page 8 for more show," the event will fea­ seed submission for the 2008 ex­ information and a nomination form, or call AHS Education Pro­ ture professional antique change is November 1, 2007. Visit grams Coordinator Jessica Rozmus at (703) 768-5700 ext. 137. appraisers who, for a fee, www.ahs.org or call (703) 768- will be available to assess 5700 for additional information. President's Council Excursion items brought in by visi­ tors. Antique dealers will A RECORD-BREAKING 37 AHS President's Council members also be selling specialty antiques. For additional information, attended the exclusive trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, rhis past visit www.ahs.orgor call (703) 768-5700.

JULY/ AUGUST 2007 7 Call for Nominations

AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 2008 GREAT AMERICAN GARDENERS AWARDS

Norman Lownds, 2007 Jane L. Taylor Award 2008 Liberty Hyde Bailey Award achievements during the Given to an individual who AWARDS course of his or her career has made significant represent a significant lifetime contributions to at contribution to least three of the following UV horticulture. It’s an Honor… horticultural fields: teaching, research, Catherine H. Sweeney Award Since 1953, the American Horticultural communications, plant and participation in Recognizes extraordinary Society’s Great American Gardeners exploration, administration, horticulture. and dedicated Awards Program has recognized art, business, and philanthropic support of leadership. Landscape Design Award the field of horticulture. individuals and institutions that have Given to an individual made significant contibutions to H. Marc Cathey Award whose work has Jane L. Taylor Award American horticulture. Nominations are Recognizes outstanding demonstrated and Given to an individual, now being accepted for 2008. scientific research that has promoted the value of organization, or program Nominate your “horticultural hero”— enriched the field of sound horticultural that has inspired and horticulture. practices in the field of nurtured future a memorable professor, a favorite garden landscape architecture. horticulturists through book author, or the driving force behind Paul Ecke Jr. efforts in children’s and an incredible community project. Commercial Award Meritorious Service Award youth gardening. Use the nomination form on the Given to an individual or Recognizes a past Board opposite page. For additional company whose member or friend of the Teaching Award commitment to the highest American Horticultural Given to an individual whose information, visit www.ahs.org or call standards of excellence in Society for outstanding ability to share his or her (703) 768-5700 ext. 137. the field of commercial service in support of the horticultural knowledge with horticulture contributes to Society’s goals, mission, others has contributed to a Nominations must be submitted the betterment of and activities. better public understanding by September 28, 2007. gardening practices of the plant world and its everywhere. Frances Jones Poetker important influence on Award society. Horticultural Recognizes significant Communication Award contributions to floral design Urban Beautification Award Recognizes effective and in publications, on the Given to an individual, inspirational platform, and to the public. institution, or company for communication—through significant contributions print, radio, television, Professional Award to urban horticulture and and/or online media—that Given to a public garden the beautification of advances public interest administrator whose American cities. America In Bloom Symposium AHS NATIONAL EVENTS AND PROGRAMS “ROCK ‘N ROLL” into Rockford, Illinois, for the sixth annu- al America in Bloom (AIB) Symposium and Awards Program 2007 CALENDAR September 27 through 29. The program includes keynote pre- sentations by Illinois En- vironmental Protection ark your calendar for these national events that are Agency Director Dou- Msponsored or cosponsored by the AHS. Visit glas Scott and landscape www.ahs.org or call (703) 768-5700 for more information. architect Doug Hoerr, concurrent information- al sessions, and inspira- • JULY 19–21. National Children & Youth Garden Symposium. tional learning tours. It Chaska, Minnesota. Hosted by the Minnesota Landscape Ar- will conclude with a gala boretum Public Policy Programs. and awards ceremony to honor winners from • AUG. 4. Lecture with The Care of Trees Entomologist. eight different popula- George Washington’s River Farm. Alexandria, Virginia. tion categories. “The symposium is a The AIB symposium includes an optional • AUG. 24–26. The Homestead’s In the Garden Weekend. Hot very inspiring event,” tour of Rockford’s Sinnissippi Gardens. Springs, Virginia. says AIB Administrator Laura Kunkle. “In addition to being fun, the sessions and tours • SEPT. 23. Fall Plant Sale and Antiques RiverShow. George provide real take-home ideas that people are excited about im- Washington’s River Farm. Alexandria, Virginia. plementing in their own community.” For more information, contact (614) 487-1117 or visit the AIB • SEPT. 25. “Bulbs that Work.” AHS online seminar hosted by website at www.americainbloom.org. Allan Armitage.

• SEPT. 27–29. America in Bloom Symposium & Awards Ban- Eagle Scout Project at River Farm quet. Rockford, Illinois. WITH THE HELP of 14 fellow Boy Scouts in Troop 1509, Eagle Scout Colin Amerau earned a badge that elevated his scout • SEPT. 29. AHS Annual Gala. George Washington’s River rank in June by enhancing the facilities in The Growing Con- Farm. Alexandria, Virginia. nection Demonstration Garden at River Farm. Amerau, who lives in Alexandria, Virginia, designed and helped build an out- • OCT. 4 & 5. AHS Garden School: “The Amazing World of door classroom consisting of six benches and a demonstration Plants.” Yew Dell Gardens. Crestwood, Kentucky. table. The Yacht Haven Garden Club of Alexandria generously donated the lumber used for the project. • OCT. 23. Dr. H. Marc Cathey Day. George Washington’s River Created through a partnership between the Food and Agri- Farm. Alexandria, Virginia. cultural Organization of the United Nations and the AHS, The • DEC. 3–21. Holiday Trees Display. George Washington’s Riv- er Farm. Alexandria, Virginia.

• DEC. 13. Annual FORF Holiday Reception. George Washing- ton’s River Farm. Alexandria, Virginia.

Growing Connection is an international program that educates children about nutrition and growing food in a global context. “Colin and his troop have created a great learning space to conduct The Growing Connection’s teacher trainings and demonstrations,” says Jessica Rozmus, AHS education pro- grams coordinator. “Their craftsmanship will greatly enhance our ability to show middle-school teachers how to grow veg- etables, herbs, and other plants in self-contained planters called EarthBoxes. The teachers then use what they learn from our Eagle Scout Colin Amerau at the demonstration table that he helped training to develop lesson plans that teach students the science

TOP: COURTESY OF AMERICA IN BLOOM. BOTTOM: JESSICA ROZMUS design and build for The Growing Connection garden at River Farm. behind growing food, nutrition, math, and other subject areas.”

July / August 2007 9 Homestead In the Garden Weekend a complimentary Gorge Hike through the Cascades Gorge, where participants can learn about many of the native plants JOIN AHS horticultural and see 13 beautiful waterfalls,” says Eileen Judah, marketing partner the Homestead department head at the Homestead. resort, located in pic- For additional information about this symposium, visit the turesque Hot Springs, Homestead’s website at www.thehomestead.com or call (800) Virginia, for its upcom- 838-1766. ing ninth annual “In the Garden Weekend,” held August 24 to 26. TGOA Photo Contest The program features ARE YOU PROUD OF your garden and interested in showing presentations by horticul- it off to gardeners across the country? Consider capturing those turist and author André tantalizing plant combinations and perfect blooms on film for The Viette, native plant ex- Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Club of America pert Richard Bir, horti- (TGOA/MGCA) 2008 Photography Contest. culturist Robert Lyons Two AHS members who submitted images for the 2007 of Longwood Gardens, competition will have their photos published in the 2008 landscape architect Gor- TGOA/MGCA calendar. AHS Immediate Past Chair Arabel- don Chappell of Colo- la Dane’s photo will be the featured image for the month of nial Williamsburg, and July, and a photo by Anne C. Allen, from Brownsville, Ver- many other horticultural The Homestead will be hosting its mont, will grace the October page. luminaries. Garden Weekend in late August. The deadline for submissions to next year’s competition is In addition to the ed- February 13, 2008. For additional information, contact Judy ucational presentations, participants will also enjoy a welcome Schuck, the TGOA/MGCA national photography and calen- reception, afternoon tea, and a guided hike. “This year, we have dar chairman, at (913) 362-8480 or visit www.tgoa-mgca.org. COURTESY OF THE HOMESTEAD

An exclusive ahs garden school REGISTRATION OPENS JULY 15

THE AMAZING WORLD oin noted plant breeders and garden OF PLANTS Jdesigners at Yew Dell Gardens, the former estate of the late plantsman, Theodore Klein, New trends in plant selection and for a behind-the-scenes exploration of the their influence on garden design latest trends in plant breeding and selection. Learn from the pros how new plant introductions, along with time-tested classics, October 4 & 5, 2007 can be integrated into landscapes of all styles. Yew Dell Gardens, Crestwood, Kentucky For more information on how you can be part of this exciting event, visit www.ahs.org or call (703) 768-5700 ext. 137.

Featuring guest horticulturist Graham Rice, editor-in-chief of the American Horticultural Society’s Encyclopedia of Perennials and author of numerous books including The All-in- One Garden and The Ultimate Book of Small Gardens.

10 the American Gardener Please join the American Horticultural Society for an elegant evening under the stars to support our national education programs and the stewardship of River Farm.

September 29, 2007 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. River Farm, Alexandria, Virginia

Honorary Chair Julie Moir Messervy Award-winning landscape designer

RICHARD HOWARD and author

Background: Toronto Music Garden, designed by Julie Moir Messervy

For more information about the gala or to request an invitation, please e-mail Kyle Marie Harpe, volunteer coordinator, at [email protected] or call (703) 768-5700 ext. 124. Second AHS Online Seminar Presented in May

AHS MEMBERS from 33 states plus the District of Columbia and one Canadian province participated During “Annuals That Work,” Allan Armitage answered several questions in the second AHS webinar, “Annuals That Work,” from participants. Here he responds to a few of the questions he was not able on May 10. Through their computers, they watched to address during the webinar. an hour-long presentation given by University of Georgia horticulture professor and garden author Can you recommend a in pastel colors and the you have shade for about Allan Armitage on new and unusual annuals. Some few petunias that have plants are taller, but the half the day, salvias, annuals Armitage is particularly excited about in- the good old-fashioned fragrance will fill the nierembergias, lobelias, clude Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’, naranjilla scent that just hangs in evening air. and a few others will work. (Solanum quitoense), and eyeball plant (Spilanthes the air in the evening? oleracea). At the end of the webinar, Armitage also Jesse Bell What are some good How do you recom- responded to questions from the audience. Claremore, Oklahoma flowering annuals for mend fertilizing potted “These sessions are super,” says Linda What with the insane shady areas? plants? Lehmusvirta of Austin, Texas, who attended both breeding in petunias and Dora Rouse Mary Sebring the AHS’s first webinar on perennials in March other annuals, fragrance Worthington, Ohio Kent, Ohio and the annuals webinar. “I learned so much and has often been forgotten. Shade is a moving target; if If I am going to keep a I’m looking forward to more.” Look for seed packages— you are talking about plant in a pot or grow it in “Bulbs That Work,” the final webinar in the se- I doubt garden centers will heavy shade most of the a container, I use a slow ries presented by Armitage, will be held on Sep- have these as plants—of P. day from big trees or release fertilizer, such as tember 25. Visit www.ahs.org to register. integrifolia, or “old-fash- buildings, there is little to Osmocote. I apply a table- ioned” petunias. The flow- choose from other than spoon at planting and an- News written by Editorial Intern Courtney Cap- ers are smaller and usually impatiens and begonias. If other in midsummer. stack and Assistant Editor Viveka Neveln.

Gifts of Note

In addition to vital support through membership dues, the American Horticultural Society relies on grants, bequests, and other gifts to support its programs. We would like to thank the following donors for gifts received between April 13 and May 31, 2007.

BMW of Arlington In memory of Marjorie “Midge” Orr In memory of Max DeSilva Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Dane Mr. and Mrs. Alan Allert by Mr. and Mrs. James Smith Ms. Judy Daniel Ms. Margaret S. Binney In memory of Coulter Cooksey Edwaldan Foundation Ms. M. Vivian Boley by Mr. and Mrs. James Smith Dr. and Mrs. John A. Floyd, Jr. Mrs. Ann Greenleese In memory of Roxanne Ewan Mrs. Richard W. Hamming Good Shepherd Catholic Church by Mr. and Mrs. Werner Michel Ms. Rosalyn Milbrandt Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Livingstone Monrovia Nursery Company Mr. and Mrs. Werner Michel MTR Landscape Architects, LLC Ms. Myra L. Withers In honor of Arabella Dane Mrs. P. M. Spreuer from The Little Compton Garden Club and The Hanover Garden Club.

If you would like to support the American Horticultural Society as part of your estate planning, as a tribute to a loved one, or as part of your annual commitment to charitable giving, please contact: Sue Dick, (703) 768-5700 ext. 111 or [email protected].

12 the American Gardener Confidence shows. Because a mistake can ruin an entire gardening season, passionate gardeners don’t like to take chances. That’s why there’s Osmocote® Smart- Release® Plant Food. It’s guaranteed not to burn when used as directed, and the granules don’t easily wash away, no matter how much you water. Better still, Osmocote® feeds plants continuously and consistently for four full months, so you can garden with confidence. Maybe that’s why passionate gardeners have trusted Osmocote® for 40 years.

Looking for expert advice and answers to your gardening questions? Visit PlantersPlace.com — a fresh, new online gardening community.

© 2007, Scotts-Sierra Horticulture Products Company. World rights reserved. www.osmocote.com 14 in start-up companiestoFortunein start-up 500s. backgrounds rangefrom seniorpositions boasting acore managementstaffwhose World Craniofacial Foundation, and five percent ofallrevenue earnedtothe American Horticultural Society), donating dening organizations(includingthe nerships withnineuniversities andgar- a rapidlygrowing business,formingpart- Florida-based companyhasexpandedinto other garden handtools.Since then,this facture product anddistributehisnew founded YourOutDoors, Inc., tomanu- cations andmedicalsoftware industries, career includedstintsinthetelecommuni- for usersofallagesandabilities. den Tool System,” amulti-purposetool Perfectneeds, Miller designed“The Gar- found heavy andimbalancedforhisnew that conventional garden toolswere too pastimes: gardening. Upon discovering A TOOL FORALLGARDENERS A TOOL F gonomically toincrease stability, replaces market and combinedthemintoone.” of themostpopulargarden toolsonthe saysMiller.fits everyone,” “We selected13 ity. “Iwantedtocreate agarden toolthat Inc., wasdesignedformaximumversatil- initial product offeringofYourOutDoors, Perfect“The Garden Tool System,” the by CourtneyCapstack YourOutDoors: PROFILE IN PARTNERS AHS [email protected] www.ahs.org www.perfectgardentool.com. YourOutDoors, Inc., For more informationabout please visittheAHSwebsite at corporate partnershipwiththe AHS, In 2006,Miller, anentrepreneur whose The uniquehandle,designeder- To learnmoreaboutestablishing a the American Gardener ability toenjoy oneofhisfavorite attack,jeopardizinghad aheart his OUR YEARSAGO, or e-mailSueDickat . visit itswebsiteat Ray Miller Creating aMulti-functionalGardeningTool outdoors.” and gainastronger connectiontothe ple willbecomeinvolved withgardening Miller, “we hopemore young peo- says children atool they canenjoy using,” length oftheadulthandle.“By giving tures ahandle that istwo-thirds the ciently withlessmusclepain.” of allagesandabilitiesto“work more effi- gardening positions” toenablegardeners “supports both thestandingandkneeling one streamlined tool.Thetool,saysMiller, connect tothebaseofhandle,creating tool—such asahoe,rake,orshovel—to tor” allows thedesired activity-specific dening tools,anda“Quick-Snap Connec- the traditionalpolehandleonmostgar- and theEpcot International Flower & ery, Growers andLandscapeAssociation, Master Gardener Program, Florida Nurs- partnered withtheUniversity ofFlorida gardening community, YourOutDoors has To expanditsreach further totheyouth CHILDREN TO BRINGING GARDENING sizes suitableforadultsandchildren. The PerfectGardenToolSystemcomesin A youth version ofthetoolsystemfea- says young peopleinvolved withgardening,” try. is dependentongetting industry “This competition tochildren across thecoun- with conventional garden tools. Perfecting “The Garden Tool System” dren thenwritea500-word essaycompar- children cangrow theirown gardens. Chil- ceives onesetoftoolswithextrahandlesso schools, andeachcompetingschoolre- tition isopentobothpublicandprivate School Garden Competition.Thecompe- Garden Festival tocreate theFlorida dream intoreality. AHS asanothersteptoward turningthat Miller. He withthe seesthepartnership affect achangeingardening tools,”says him lookingahead.“We setabouttohelp gardeners through hisinvention alsokeeps promise generationof of influencinganew as muchormore now thanever.” The Miller says,“I’m 67 years old,andIgarden Garden Symposium inMinnesota. year’s AHSNational Children &Youth Tool System” toolstoattendeesatthis Perfecterous collection of“The Garden YourOutDoors hasagreed todonateagen- the AHS’s youth gardening initiative, gardening,” saysGoodinson. In of support asm, andasolidcommitmenttoyouth “YourOutDoors hasgreat energy, enthusi- parallel goalsbetween bothorganizations. AHS director ofdevelopment, recognized tools willhelpgettheminterested.” Doors. “Cool,innovative, uniquegarden for Capstack isaneditorialintern Courtney goals,” saysMiller. the work theAHShasdoneandits AHS andYourOutDoors. “We respect between the in fosteringthepartnership A senseofshared values wasinstrumental SHARED GOALS YourOutDoors hopestoexpandthis Recovered now attack, from theheart The American Gardener. Jeff Trunzo , president ofYourOut- Barry Goodinson  ,

COURTESY OF YOUROUTDOORS, INC.

pleasures of the BY PETER LOEWER Evening Garden

Enhance your enjoyment of the garden after dark with appropriate design, good lighting, and the addition of fragrantfragrant night-bloomingnight-blooming plants.plants.

16 the American Gardener BOUT 20 YEARS AGO, I be- came intrigued by the idea of an A evening garden. My garden pique was the result of subscribing to Major Howell’s International Seed Collection from Cobham, Surrey, England. The good major collected seed from a number of botanical gardens around the world and usually featured 2,000 named varieties. In 1984, I read his entry on Hemero- callis citrina, the night-blooming daylily, and immediately sent for the seed, know- ing this might be an unusual addition to the garden. The seed arrived, germinat- ed, and two years later my evening gar- den—along with the germ of an idea for a book—was launched. REWARDS OF EVENING GARDENS So, you might ask, why develop an evening garden? My answer at that time (which is even more timely today) was with another question: What’s left of your day after you’ve met commitments to family, home, pets, the job, and your community? From a city terrace to a country deck, an evening garden is the perfect site for both relaxing and thinking about the day that’s passed. Without the distractions of the day, the night gives us a better chance to think about the grand scheme of things, at least in the world of the garden. en trellis attached to the side of the house. early 1990s, most books included only a The evening garden is also a great spot Three great pots held brugmansias, an- slight mention of night bloomers or trop- for entertaining. My wife and I have par- other a potted palm hung with fairy lights. ical nocturnals, and those were British gar- ties on summer nights with friends and More pots contained schizopetalons and a dening books, too. They usually referred neighbors who come over to watch the very old and large night-blooming cereus. to a few well-known plants that either moonflowers open with their slow flair or Here and there were pots with various bloomed at night or were redolent with to enjoy the sweet fragrance of the evening white-flowered plants that were particu- fragrances that swelled when the sun set primroses in the night air. larly beautiful under moonlight, includ- and the moon rose. ing geraniums, nicotianas, pansies, Most gardeners in America live in parts DESIGNING AN EVENING GARDEN impatiens, and begonias. of the country where winter temperatures It’s a great idea to plan a small garden de- The garden next to the terrace was fall below freezing. Because the majority voted to the night, where the plan is built home to a small pond full of night-bloom- of nocturnal plants are tropical in origin, around a terrace, a deck, or a small piece of ing tropical waterlilies, a bank of evening plants for the evening garden are often ground close to a home or apartment. My primroses, night-blooming daylilies, yuc- chosen from what I term annuals that are most successful evening garden was an area cas, a free-standing trellis vined with really tropical perennials that bloom the of 10 by 15 feet located next to a terrace just gourds, and low-voltage lights through- first year from seed; others are time-hon- off the dining room of our former country out. (For more on garden lighting, see ored perennials. home in the Catskills of New York. sidebar on page 19). While researching my book, I com- The terrace included a number of in- piled a list of plants available in the Unit- teresting containers. One held a mass of FAVORITE PLANTS FOR THE EVENING GARDEN ed States. The following represent just a moonflowers that twisted about a wood- Until I wrote The Evening Garden in the few of my favorite choices. (A chart listing

Opposite page: The jasminelike evening fragrance of flowering tobacco more than makes up for its somewhat bedraggled daytime appearance. This page, top: A “moon garden” of white flowers and silvery foliage at the Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison, Wisconsin, includes

OPPOSITE: ROB CARDILLO. THIS PAGE: DAVID CAVAGNARO flowering tobacco, cleomes, dusty miller, cosmos, and petunias.

July / August 2007 17 18 been symbolsoftheevening garden for out aheady, sweet scent. evening approaches theblossomssend flowers are openduringtheday, butas an occasionalplungewon’t The hurt. 60 degrees Fahrenheit atnight,although protect plantsfrom temperatures below to with asmuchsunpossible,andtry that are especiallyfragrantatnight. uously withlightyellow-peach blooms the temperature climbs,itflowers contin- Sun’, reaches asix-footheightandwhen compactcultivar,months. Anew ‘Inca they flower profusely duringthesummer den andmakegreat patioplantsbecause are oftheevening gar- oneofthestalwarts garden whentheyflower. shrub, thenmove thepotsdirectly tothe mer sunby hangingthemunderatree or Keep themawayfrom thepiercing sum- growing outbetween watering. mixtodry (with drainageslits)andallow theorchid buds perstem. sepals andpetals,withanaverage offive flaring lipsurrounded by greenish white summer garden. Theflowers have awhite ary, tothelate bringingitslushperfume blooms from lateSeptember intoFebru- for homegardeners togrow, theplant evening garden. One oftheeasiestorchids one ofmanyorchids suitedforaspotinthe Lady-of-the-night PERENNIALS ANDTROPICAL ANNUALS cle ontheAHSwebsite atwww.ahs.org). can befoundinaspeciallinktothisarti- dozens ofothernight-bloomingplants bloom onlyatnight. at night,”andreferstoplants that for twilight.Nocturnal light” andcomesfromtheLatin word puscular from theLatinforeveningstar. open atthattime.Thewordisderived in theevening”andreferstoflowersthat flowers. of night-bloomingandnight-fragrant There arethreewordsusedinthestudy NIGHT-BLOOMING WORDS The night-bloomingcereuses have Provide evenly moist,richsoilinaspot Angel’s (Brugmansia trumpets Pot uptheorchids inclayorchid pots the American Gardener Vespertine means “activityatduskortwi- (Brassavola nodosa) means “ofordone means “occurring —P.L. Cre- spp.) is fragrance ismostpronouncedintheevening. brugmansias, thedelicatelycoloredflowersof‘PeachBlossom’ areopenallday,buttheir Top: Thelarge,fragrantwhitebloomsofmoonflowersopen at dusk.Above:Likeother plant thatblooms inmygarden. miliar withis nocturnal flowers, buttheoneI’m mostfa- plied tomanycactus-familymembers with was heldthenightcereus bloomed. an oldSpanish-American home,afiesta see aneighbor’s cereus inbloom.In many wrote about walkingupthehillatnightto and inhisJournals, series,TheTemplebotanical art ofFlora; Thornton featured itinhismagnificent Joseph Redouté topaintoneforher;Dr. centuries. Marie AntoinetteaskedPierre- The namenight-bloomingcereus isap- Epiphyllum oxypetalum, author John Cheever the alba). should sport somemoonflowersshould sport ( garden every just forpatioentertainment, August andSeptember withtheirblooms. to brightenupwarmsummer nightsin the plantgoouttogarden, hopefully eachofpottingsoilandsharpsand. part num mossandcontainsasoilmixofone wire. Thepotislined withsheetsofsphag- 14-inch hangingpotmadeofenameled my greenhouse, where it’s containedina Whether salutingtheevening garden or Once frost dangersare past,thepotand From November toFebruary, itlives in Moonflowers are perennial vines in Ipomoea

TOP: ALAN AND LINDA DETRICK. BOTTOM: PETER LOEWER the tropics or a warm greenhouse, but are usually treated as annuals in northern gar- dens because they bloom the first year BASICS OF NIGHT LIGHTING from seed. The vines reach a height of 10 Lighting a garden at night used to require an outlay of thousands of dollars paid to feet or more in a good summer season. high-end night-lighting landscapers—or you made do with variations on Malibu lights The flowers are pure white with just the from California. ghost of a teal-green tint where the trum- Then, almost in answer to the prayers of the evening gardener, low-voltage light- pet petal folds before opening. They’re so ing hit the mass market. Today, even local hardware stores have complete kits of five attractive and so beautifully scented, they lamps that use a special step-down transformer that reduces regular—and danger- often become the highlights of a party as ous—household current of 120 volts to a safe 12-volt system. And it’s truly safe: If guests gather to watch the flowers open. you accidentally touch a bare wire used in a 12-volt system, you’ll not get a shock. With warm weather, they can flower There are even a number of solar lighting options available now, although these within six weeks of sowing but eight weeks lights have obvious limitations related to the amount of daylight they receive. (For is the norm. To help break through the more on solar lighting options, see “Green Garage” on page 52.) hard seed coat, nick them with a file or Today, design choices abound and even the big box stores feature install-it- soak overnight in warm water. Plant them yourself night-lighting in fertile, moist soil in full sun or a bit of lamps and wiring that will shade down south. But remember to pro- enhance the most elegant vide strings or a trellis, or plant them on of gardens. the edge of a wall and the stems will spill Costs are reasonable, over, creating a grand effect. and with an investment of The fruit of the bottle or penguin gourd under $100 and a weekend (Lagenaria siceraria) is best known as the of laying cables (a simple source of materials for the manufacture of job), you will be able to bird houses, dipping spoons, or artful gar- walk the evening garden den toys, but its musky-scented flowers with safety and ease. open at night and the female flowers show Design techniques vary the potential fruit just below the petals. from downlighting (this is a A trellis is needed for this vining bit more work as the lights plant, and at dusk the developing pods hang down from overhead hang down like shapely sandbags faintly tree branches); uplighting reminiscent of the pods from the classic using beams that turn the horror movie Invasion of the Body Snatch- leaves above into shimmer- ers. Around them the opening blossoms ing pools of light; accent or look like cellophane stars gleaming spot lighting (you just light a against the dark green of the leaves. favored tree or garden area); Easy to grow, bottle gourds need only and path lights (small lights average soil with a bit of compost mixed help you find your way). in, plus full sun and plenty of water, espe- Remember that all those Lantern lights cast a romantic glow in this garden inviting cially as the gourds develop. polished fixtures you see in visitors to wander along the stepping stones. Evening stock (Matthiola longipetala light displays quickly lose subsp. bicornis) exudes a wonderful scent their sheen when exposed to the elements. Try to buy copper, as it ages to a dark heavy with the perfume of jasmine. Stocks brown or deep green patina that blends into a background of plants. When buying are annuals and are best described as strag- lights with a black surface, look for fixtures that feature a durable black polyester gly. The small pink or purple four-petaled powder coating. flowers have a white center and look like The only caveat from my vantage point: Use color filters with care. Most instal- bits of rain-washed tissue paper. Easily lations advise using a warm white light but some Floridians recommend using a pink overlooked by day, they become stars of filter with tropical plants. —P.L. the night border. The English call them melancholy gilliflower because of their sad presence Mirabilis jalapa, the miracle flower of A number of colors are available in- during the day, but numerous garden writ- Peru, or four o’clocks, have been cultivat- cluding red, yellow, white, or rose, and ers have penned purple prose to salute their ed since the 1540s. Known for bearing dif- many flowers will be striped or dashed nocturnal fragrance. To enjoy the per- ferent-colored flowers on single plants with other hues. fumes throughout the summer, sow new opening around four o’clock in the after- In tropical America they are perenni- seeds every 10 days or so, at least through noon, they also have a very pleasant lemo- als, forming large tubers just like dahlias.

MARK TURNER the middle of July. ny scent. You can dig up and save the tubers for the

July / August 2007 19 next year but they often bloom just as try pushed and pulled for almost a centu- quickly when grown every year from seed. ry and succeeded only in scattering the The capa de oro (Solandra maxima) has genes throughout the daylily clan, result- very fancy flowers, even for night ing in a number of cultivars having night- bloomers. The ripe yellow, cup-shaped blooming tendencies. blossoms are about seven inches long and But nothing beats the species. In addi- six inches across. Five dark purple lines run tion to opening late in the afternoon— down the tube from the lip—where the only melting with the coming of the next edges of the cup are folded back—ready to day’s noon—it’s a carefree perennial, guide a moth to the bottom of the floral growing almost anywhere you provide well. As the flowers age, they assume tints moist, mildly fertile soil and, in the Amer- of orange. Although the scent of capa de ican South, some protection from the oro closeup reminds me of really cheap noonday sun. In addition, as they mature, soap, it mellows with distance. I grow them plants produce hundreds of flowers and from seed and treat them like any tropical have a fountain of leaves, unlike the lim- vine, giving the plant a place to climb and ited foliage of most daylily cultivars. protection from the hot sun of high noon. The tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa) is Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana alata) is Solandra maxima is a tropical vine with among the sweetest scented flowers of the another somewhat sorry-looking daytime glossy green leaves and strongly scented night. Plant it beneath an open window so garden inhabitant. But around 6 p.m., its yellow flowers that age to gold. you can enjoy its rich fragrance indoors trumpet-shaped flowers open along stems and out. There are two selections: the four that may reach five feet tall. Their fra- ing daylily (Hemerocallis citrina) launched foot tall ‘Mexican Everblooming’ and the grance might remind you of jasmine. It is my interest in evening gardens. Some- double flowered ‘Pearl’, which reaches a native to tropical South America, where it times called the citron daylily, plants height of only 16 inches. Tuberoses grow is perennial, but here we grow it as an an- were originally found in central China, from bulblike rhizomes; they take a rela- nual. Breeders have worked to extend its discovered in 1890 by a Catholic mis- tively long time to produce flowers, so flowering into daylight hours, but this has sionary, Guiseppe Giraldi, who sent start plants indoors about four weeks be- come at the cost of fragrance. plants to Italy. fore the last spring frost. Except where the Immediately, hybridizing began—the ground never freezes, the tender rhizomes BULBOUS PLANTS AND HARDY PERENNIALS goal being to extend the one-day bloom of can be dug and stored for winter in a As mentioned above, the night-bloom- a daylily to two days. The nursery indus- warm dry place.

Resources The Evening Garden by Peter Loewer, Macmillan Publishing Co., New York, 1993.

The Moonlit Garden by Scott Ogden, Taylor Publishing Co., Dallas, Texas, 1998. Sources The Fragrant Path, Fort Calhoun, NE. www.fragrantpathseeds.com. Catalog $2. (Seeds only)

Logee’s Greenhouses, Danielson, CT. (888) 330-8038. www.logees.com. Catalog $3.

Nichols Garden Nursery, Albany, OR. (541) 928-9280. www.gardennursery.com.

Park Seed, Greenwood, SC. (800) 213-0076. www.parkseed.com.

Perennial Pleasures Nursery, East Hardwick, VT. (802) 472-5104. www.antiqueplants.com.

Thompson & Morgan, Jackson, NJ. (800) 274-7333. www.thompson-morgan.com. The waxy white blooms of the tuberose retain their delicious scent even when cut for

flower arrangements. TOP: COURTESY OF FOREST AND KIM STARR / WWW.HEAR.ORG. BOTTOM: JESSIE M. HARRIS

20 the American Gardener Above: One flowering stem (scape) of the citron daylily may produce up to 50 flower buds. Top left: Abyssinian gladiolus (Gladiolus callianthus) blooms in midsummer from corms planted in spring. Bottom left: The flowers of Yucca filamentosa turn upward at dusk.

on six-foot stems in mid- to late summer. they turn up to the evening sky, open Unlike most other lilies, Madonna lilies wide, and release a sweet soapy scent to the must be planted so the top of the bulb is night air. The odor attracts time-honored only an inch or two deep. pollinators, the yucca moths (Tegeticula The evening primroses (Oenothera yuccasella), small unassuming insects that spp.) are another favorite group of plants are responsible for all the yucca seeds even- for the evening garden, although a few are tually released to the winds. rambunctious enough to be best relegated to the wild garden. These biennials and SEIZE THE NIGHT perennials are covered in a separate article Back in the late 1980s, upon entering my in this issue (see page 34), but I mention first evening garden, the die was cast. them because there is a short period of Today my wife and I hold full-moon gar- time on summer evenings—10 to 15 min- den parties (with pathways marked with utes at most—when the atmosphere takes luminarias) and visitors often bring a The Abyssinian gladiolus (Gladiolus on a luminous quality, magnifying the yel- glass of wine in tow as we amble along, callianthus, syn. Acidanthera bicolor), is a low flowers of many selections—and the taking in the sights, the sounds, and the bulbous plant in the iris family. Its results are quite beautiful. It’s then that wondrous perfumes of the garden at creamy white blossoms have a decorative sphinx moths descend to drink the nectar, night. Despite the scourge of mosqui- rich chocolate maroon center. They fill adding to the spectacle. toes, my garden continues to be a terrif- the evening air with a sweet smell remi- There are a number of species of yuc- ic respite from the trials and tribulations niscent of violets. Growing from corms, cas (Yucca spp.), but my favorite garden of the modern world. Spending a few these plants are hardy only in USDA entry is Adam’s needle (Y. filamentosa), a evenings in the garden this summer will Zones 7-10, but in cooler regions they clump grower that in midsummer sends probably not completely unplug the tele- can be planted in April and then dug up up flower panicles that can reach 10 feet vision set, but I’m sure your electric bill in fall and overwintered much like but are usually a little shorter. The spine- will go down just a bit.  dahlias. They bloom in July to August, tipped leaves are gray-green, up to 30 inch- depending on the region. es, and edged with long, curly threads. Peter Loewer is a garden writer and artist Another bulbous plant for the evening The fragrant blossoms are white. who lives in Asheville, North Carolina. He is garden is the Madonna lily (Lilium can- During the day the six-petalled blos- the author of more than 15 gardening books,

LEFT: SUSAN A. ROTH (2). RIGHT: PETER LOEWER didum). The fragrant white flowers unfurl soms hang down like bells, but at dusk, including The Evening Garden.

July / August 2007 21 the Legend of Hidden Hollow

BY BOB HILL PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL HAYMAN

Working beneath the radar, Harald Neubauer is one of the propagation wizards who keeps wholesale and retail nurseries stocked with the latest woody plant selections.

T IS WELL WORTH the dusty trip ing ribbons of purple and warm gold to- budded in the field and offer in their Hid- along winding Buncombe Road in ward the surrounding green hills. Con- den Hollow Nursery catalog. I south central Tennessee just to walk tinuing the redbud parade are the with Harald Neubauer through the fields glossy-green leaves of ‘Traveller’, a weep- GRAFTING MAGIC of his family nursery. The vigorous 66- ing redbud, and ‘Silver Cloud’, a white- The trees are the product of an outdoor year-old’s face is tanned, his hair almost on-green variegated redbud introduced propagating technique Neubauer all but white, his enthusiasm contagious. by legendary Kentucky plantsman pioneered; he was the first American nurs- Behind him, the sun-bright leaves of Theodore Klein. eryman to bud thousands of magnolias thousands of field-grown redbuds—Cer- Their long rows join almost 100,000 and witch hazels in the field. Budding is a cis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ and ‘Hearts other diverse shade and ornamental plants form of grafting in which a single bud of a of Gold’—stretch out in long, undulat- that Neubauer and his son, Alex, have desired plant is inserted into a slit in the

Surrounded by rows of field-grown ‘Forest Pansy’ and ‘Hearts of Gold’ redbuds, Harald Neubauer carries a harvest of freshly cut budwood.

22 the American Gardener “Harald is one of the great people in the business. He, like the noble Don Shadow, can put roots on a telephone pole.” —Michael Dirr, woody plant expert bark of a stock plant. He perfected the coax six to eight feet of growth from each Carolina horticulturist Jon Roethling. technique the hard way—bent like a tiny bud. It is “biological magic with a “I was told if I needed someone to human horseshoe over his rootstocks for knife, bud sticks, and rootstocks,” says propagate a redbud, Harald was the long hours in the Tennessee sun. Michael Dirr, a University of Georgia hor- man,” says Roethling. “He’s one of the “I didn’t want to propagate indoors be- ticulture professor and woody plant expert. best budders and grafters there is.” So he cause I didn’t want to water plants every sent a piece to Neubauer. Within a few day,” Neubauer recalls. “I decided to throw ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW years Neubauer had hundreds flowing the book away and write my own.” Scattered among the long rows of plants across his fields, in anticipation of the de- He is still easily able to bend at the are many new selections found by garden- mand for the new selection. waist and place the palms of his hands ing friends around the world and sent to When Dirr saw ‘Hearts of Gold’ for the flat on the ground, but with Alex joining the Neubauers to evaluate and propagate. first time at the JC Raulston Arboretum in the nursery full-time about nine years One of the challenges for plant growers is Raleigh, North Carolina, he says, “I could ago, Harald has cut back his grafting recognizing worthy new plants; another is not contain my enthusiasm.” He inquired schedule, which lasts three months each meeting the demand for their production. where he could get one and almost imme- year, from seven days a week to a mere “Harald makes the best of the new varieties diately received one sent by Neubauer via six. “I’m slowing down,” he says. available quickly,” says John Elsley, horti- a mutual friend. “He already had the plant Father and son will annually bud the cultural director of Klehm’s Song Sparrow in production,” marvels Dirr. “He’s always 100,000 plants on their 10 acres, well up Nursery in Avalon, Wisconsin. ahead of the curve.” from the “couple thousand” redbuds Har- Neubauer’s intuition and production Steve Hottovy of Beyond Green nurs- ald budded 22 years ago when he first efficiency both came into play with the in- ery in Dayton, Oregon, had a similar ex- started the nursery. troduction of ‘Hearts of Gold’ redbud. perience with the ‘Wildfire’ black gum The budding understock is either The plant, with its golden yellow leaves in (Nyssa sylvatica), which sports dramatic grown from seed or purchased in huge lots. spring, was discovered in 2003 growing burgundy new growth in spring. At first, Using irrigation lines, fertilizer, and atten- near a dentist’s office in North Carolina, Hottovy thought the plant was a photinia tion to detail, the Neubauers can annually and was referred to Neubauer by North that had popped up in a batch of seedlings.

Above: Harald Neubauer and his son and business partner, Alex, right, stand amid a field of a yet-unnamed variegated dogwood variety that features an attractive reddish blush on new growth, left.

July / August 2007 23 Bud grafting in the field requires a strong back, as Alex Neubauer and a nursery employee demonstrate, above, while budding 'Tennessee Pink' redbuds onto a row of rootstock. The process, left, involves removing a section of bark from the rootstock where a bud of the desired plant, or scion, will be attached.

which, after the war, was part of Com- hooked. “It seemed like magic,” he says. munist East Germany. In 1964, at 23, he brought what Elsley Neubauer’s childhood playground was calls “a traditional nursery background littered with the refuse of war: guns, phos- and a European sensibility” to the Unit- phorus grenades, and airplane fuel tanks. ed States for a one-year apprenticeship at His first garden was a collection of small the Shadow family nursery near Win- He mentioned the plant when Neubauer cacti. After about 10 years in Torgau, chester, Tennessee. There he worked was visiting Oregon. The following year, Neubauer’s father arranged once again to with Don Shadow, another nursery leg- Hottovy sent Neubauer some scion wood. have the family concealed in a railroad car end in the making, establishing his “He sent back eight-foot trees in one compartment and smuggled past armed American roots. Hidden Hollow would season,” Hottovy says. “It was amazing.” guards across the Iron Curtain to West eventually be located only a few miles Germany, where he met them. from Shadow’s nursery. EARLY UPHEAVALS “It must have been rough on my par- Neubauer returned to Germany to at- It is also amazing that Neubauer ended ents,” says Neubauer. “That was twice tend college and after graduation went to up in rural Tennessee at all. He was born they left everything behind.” work for a veneer manufacturing compa- in 1941 in Silesia, a strongly German area ny. His first assignment was a six-month in what is now Poland. When the Russ- LEARNING THE TRADE jaunt along the barely navigable roads of ian Army approached the region at the After high school, an uncle with a nursery South America in a Volkswagen bus in end of World War II, his father, a railroad in Berlin helped Neubauer get a job at a search of veneer. “It was quite a trip,” he employee, smuggled out his wife and nursery in Elmshorn, where he learned to says. “I didn’t speak a word of Spanish.” four children in a railroad car. The fam- graft plants such as willows, currants, and Over the next few years, as he traveled ily fled to Torgau on the Elbe River, gooseberries. The experience got him through Central and South America,

24 the American Gardener Hidden Hollow Nursery 214 Tanager Hill Lane Belvidere, TN 37306. ■ Hidden Hollow is a wholesale nurs- ery and is not open to the public. For information about wholesale plant orders and availability, e-mail Alex Neubauer at [email protected].

terest in plants and propagation. After at- tending the University of North Carolina in Asheville, Alex returned to Tennessee to help with the family nursery. Now co- owner of Hidden Hollow, he and his wife, Amy, and their two children live in a house near the propagation fields. REDBUDS, DOGWOODS, AND MORE Of the 100,000 plants they propagate, only about half end up as stock the Neubauers Harald Neubauer was the first to mass-produce Lavender Twist® weeping eastern redbud (Cercis will ship all over the United States and the canadensis ‘Covey’), a small variety featuring purplish-pink flowers and contorted branches. world. The rest are culled in the interest of quality control. “We have a reputation for Neubauer learned to speak Spanish, Eng- field grafting redbuds and witch hazels for good plants,” says Neubauer. lish, Dutch, and Portuguese. himself. “I love witch hazels,” he says, but Shipping season means 90-hour work He met his future wife, Susie, on a he was told they’d be difficult to sell since weeks for everyone. The Neubauers push blind date while back in Tennessee for a they would already have bloomed by the to keep the plants going out the door— visit. They were married in 1970 and time the garden centers opened in spring. and their ever-growing customer base sup- lived for a time in Honduras. But “I said, well, all of Europe can’t be wrong plied—has been matched by another chal- Neubauer missed propagating plants. because everybody has a witch hazel in lenge: finding new plants to propagate. “You cut down a lot of trees in the veneer their yard,” says Neubauer. One of Neubauer’s most significant business. I thought it was time to pay Susie Neubauer worked with her hus- contributions to the garden industry, ac- back.” So the Neubauers decided to re- band in the fields and handled the office cording to Elsley, is “the wider availability turn to Tennessee and start a nursery. work. Neubauer honed his techniques and greater selection of redbuds.” In addi- while increasing his stock and client base. tion to ‘Forest Pansy’, ‘Hearts of Gold’, A FAMILY AFFAIR Over time, the Neubauers expanded ‘Traveller’, and ‘Silver Cloud’, there are In the early days, Neubauer raised cattle on their small house, nursery, and family. Sons ‘Appalachian Red’, a glowing pink-red in- the farm while grafting Japanese maples for Nick and Alex both worked in the nursery, troduction from the late Max Byrkit of Don Shadow. But he stubbornly began but it was Alex who developed the most in- Hagerstown, Maryland; ‘Tennessee Pink’, a Neubauer introduction with true pink blooms; and ‘Royal White’, a prolific white-flowered selection. And redbuds are only part of the show. The fields include dozens of rare cultivars of dogwood (Cornus kousa and C. florida), yellowwood (Cladrastis kentukea), sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), magnolia (Magnolia spp.), witch hazels (Hamamelis spp.), zelkova (Zelkova serrata), and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica).

Neubauer found this variegated native witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), which he has cloned at Hidden Hollow Nursery.

July / August 2007 25 HARALD NEUBAUER’S INTRODUCTIONS Here are some of Harald Neubauer’s favorite selections—both in cultivation and under evaluation.

Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica) ‘Autumn Cascades’ (a weeping form) ‘Red Rage’ (clean green leaves) ‘Wildfire’ (red-tipped new growth) Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) ‘Kintoki’ (a dwarf cultivar with bright green leaves) Eastern dogwood (Cornus florida) ‘Appalachian Spring’ (a white- flowered plant resistant to anthracnose) Redbud (Cercis canadensis) ‘Appalachian Red’ (brilliant reddish, pink flowers) ‘Hearts of Gold’ (golden-yellow foliage) ‘Tennessee Pink’ (Neubauer’s own selection with a true pink flower) ‘Traveller’ (a weeper with glossy green leaves) Sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana) ‘Coosa’ (dwarf form) ‘Green Bay’ (evergreen) Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) ‘Slender Silhouette’ (can grow 60 feet tall and six feet wide) Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) ‘Little Volunteer’ (dwarf form) Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) Top: ‘Wolf Eyes’ is one of several Chinese dogwood cultivars propagated at Hidden Hollow ‘Little Susie’ and ‘Little Daddy’ Nursery. Above: Harald Neubauer takes cuttings from a new variety of dogwood produced (dwarf forms) from a cross between Chinese and American species. ‘Mohawk Red’ (red flowers) Zelkova (Zelkova serrata) Chinese dogwoods (Cornus kousa) in- lost. He “saved many one-of-a-kind plants ‘Ogon’ (yellow-green leaves and light clude the heavy-blooming ‘Milky Way’, for us from a single, dying stick of wood,” orange bark) the pink-flowered ‘Satomi’, and the green- says landscape architect and plant explor- and-white variegated ‘Wolf Eyes’. er Ozzie Johnson of Chamblee, Georgia. There are also his homegrown surpris- Neubauer combines his skills with pa- The Neubauer propagation fields typ- es to be evaluated; the variegated, dwarf, tience, hard work, and a demand for qual- ically include 35,000 dogwoods, 15,000 upright, or weeping plants the Neubauers ity. Johnson observes that Neubauer’s redbuds, and 7,000 witch hazels among find popping up among their own stock or “uniqueness begins with his honest, open the other woody treasures. in the surrounding fields and woods. demeanor and hospitality and ends with Eastern dogwood (Cornus florida) se- “Every spring you get new stuff,” says the great contributions he has made to the lections include red-flowered ‘Cherokee Neubauer. “They start coming out like lit- introduction of great garden-worthy Chief’ and white, double-flowered ‘Plena’. tle kids and you want to run over to see plants.” As Dirr notes, “Our gardens are Hidden Hollow also offers three new what they’re turning into.” richer for his passion and efforts.”  mildew- and anthracnose-resistant dog- With his eye for recognizing remarkable woods from the University of Tennessee: plants and his gift for propagating them, Bob Hill is a columnist for the Louisville ‘Appalachian Blush’, ‘Appalachian Snow’, Neubauer has helped introduce numerous Courier-Journal and a co-owner of Hidden and ‘Appalachian Spring’. varieties that might otherwise have been Hill rare plant nursery and sculpture garden.

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Available at fine garden centers nationwide. 2006 ©Monrovia ©Monrovia 28 drama, andahintofmysterytothegarden. Use plantsthathaveairy, see-throughflowersandstemsasscrimsscreenstoaddtexture, The tallstemsand airypaniclesofpurplemoorgrass provideadelicatescreenthrough whichclumpsofrudbeckia bloomsarerevealed. M of plantsthatmakesthem idealfor quality shared by arelatively smallroster sign. But there’s another, more ethereal building blocksofsuccessful garden de- and shape.These,afterall,are thesturdy plant characteristicssuchascolor, height, the American Gardener Sheer Intrigue Sheer Intrigue OST GARDENERS ating abedorborder around ofcre-stand theimportance under- own role whilelettingviewerslook design, itdefinesaplantthat fulfillsits played outinthebackground. In garden audience toseethrough ittoascenebeing gauzy, transparent thatallows curtain the plants. In theaterparlance,ascrimis toaplantingscheme. sense ofmystery adding movement, light,andeven a These are the“see-through” or“scrim” florescences thatmove easily inthewind, flowers loose,airy or in- stemsorvery wiry not completelyobscure theview. a patioorpoolinsummer, tosoftenbut screen asapartial around instance, serving also beusedtocreate seasonaleffects;for ners ofthegarden. See-through plantscan through it tootherplantsordistantcor- The bestsee-through plantsfeature tall, BY JANETDAVIS

SUSAN A. ROTH Above: The narrow, spiky, olive green leaves of dasylirion weave a loose scrim through this garden of cacti and succulents. Left: In early summer, the tall, loosely arranged blooms of meadow rue (Thalictrum roche- bruneanum) rise above blue-green foliage to contribute a seasonal scrim and gentle movement to the mixed border.

swaying in delicate contrast to their more stolid neighbors. If placed well, their leaves look spectacular backlit by late-day sun. Ideally, their foliage should be very fine or grow in a basal clump that does not inter- fere with the hazy effect above. HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS Perennials with tall, branching stems topped with cloudlike inflorescences composed of numerous tiny flowers are excellent to use as gauzy screens. Giant kale (Crambe cordifolia), with its coarse basal leaves and tiny white flowers held aloft on airy stems is one; lime-loving baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata) with its masses of tiny, white, summer flowers is another; and false aster (Boltonia asteroides) topped with small, white daisies in early fall is a third. These plants look lovely screening other perennials, of course, but really sparkle in front of dark-leaved shrubs such as the

TOP: SAXON HOLT. BOTTOM: SUSAN A. ROTH ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) cultivar

July / August 2007 29 30 front ofacontrastingfoliage orfloral flowerstlebrush thatseemto dancein buttonorbot- stems toppedwithcolorful, flowers andgrows uptothree feet. tard-yellow flowers, butP. villosa blooming asters.Most patriniashave mus- cardinal flower (Lobeliacardinalis) andfall- scrim forotherlatebloomerssuchasred mer flowerscapes thatmake a brilliant scabiosifolia) with whiteflowers). Golden lace Butterflies’‘Whirling (twotothree feet (two tofourfeetwithcrimsonflowers) and lent cultivars include‘Crimson Butterflies’ above thefoliageonarching stems.Excel- fect ofitswhiteandpinkflowers, held ican Southwest beloved ef- forthefluttery (Gaura lindheimeri), lovers suchasastilbeismagical. in front ofotherearlysummershade- its smallpinkorwhiteflowers twinkling lean alittlewithoutstaking,theeffectof witt’s Double’. Thoughthelattermight rochebruneanum soms, twoofthebestsee-throughs are T. trum (Cotinus coggygria ‘Monlo’ (Diabolo ■ ■ ■ DESIGN TIPS plant orthedesignwilllookcluttered. more thanonetypeofsee-through more substantialplants,don’tlayer the samescrimplantinfrontofdrifts dramatic. Whileit’sfinetousedriftsof sitting orstandinginthegarden. that canbeenjoyedateyelevelwhile achieved withtallormid-sizedplants intended toengageviewers,it’sbest such asfencesortrees. them andisnotblockedbyobstacles that lateafternoonsunshinesbehind garden andsituateplantsinsuchaway the trackthatsunfollowsoveryour be successful,youneedtodetermine ful whenbacklit,butforbacklightingto Many perennials feature tall,wiry For gaura midsummereffect,try Of themanymeadow rues Since thescrimeffectisavisualone Many see-throughgrassesarebeauti- Keep yourcombinationssimpleand the American Gardener spp.) withloosepaniclesoftinyblos- has chrome-yellow, latesum- ® ‘Purpurea’). ) orpurplesmokebush and T. delavayi a native oftheAmer- has white (Patrinia (Thalic- ‘He- The delicateflowersof are easilyviewedthroughthewispywhiteblossomsofbaby’sbreath Top: Yellowfalseoxeye guisorba tenuifolia dark red flowers ofJapanese burnet(San- designer Piet Oudolf isfondof usingthe background. Renowned Dutch garden “Their beingspaced outonstemsmeans “Their signing withPlants polymorpha). blooms ofwhitefleeceflower white times infront ofthefeathery burnet (S. officinalis) As henotesinhisbook,De- ‘Purpurea’) andgreater (Timber Press, 1999): Gaura lindheimeri lindheimeri Gaura (Heliopsis helianthoides) (Heliopsis as ascrim,some- (Persicaria appear tohoverabovethefoliagelikebutterflies. rangy stems;and shade-loving master- gigantea) ion flowers; giantscabious(Cephalaria donica) Macedonian scabious stems are transparent.” in thesamewaythatgroups ofnarrow buttons; theyare effectively transparent, that itispossibletoseethrough clustersof and purplespikedgayfeather Perennials witha similar habitinclude with itsburgundy-red pincush- with smallyellow flowers on (Gypsophila paniculata). (Gypsophila (Knautia mace- (Liatris spicata) (Liatris

TOP: JANET DAVIS. BOTTOM: DAVID ELLIS MORE SEE-THROUGH PLANTS

Plant Name Height/Width Description and Bloom Time USDA/AHS (ft.) Zones Actaea simplex ‘Brunette’ 3–4/2 dark purple, fernlike foliage and tall, arching stems of 4–8, 12–1 (autumn snakeroot) purple-tinted, white flowers in fall Agastache rupestris 11/2–3/11/2 aromatic leaves and spikes of orange flowers with lavender 5–9, 9–1 (sunset hyssop) calyces in summer Artemisia lactiflora 5/2 deeply cut leaves and long-lasting, loose, white flower heads 3–7, 7–1 (white mugwort) from late summer to fall Aruncus dioicus 4–6/3–4 large, fernlike leaves, loose pyramidal panicles of white 3–7, 7–1 (goatsbeard) flowers in early summer Chaerophyllum hirsutum 2/2 tiny soft pink flowers in showy umbels from late spring to 6–9, 9–6 ‘Roseum’ early summer Dasylirion texanum 5–8/5 long, narrow, stiff, pointed leaves emerge from crown; 8–11, 12–10 (sotol) white flowers in summer on five-foot stalk Deschampsia cespitosa 6/4–5 tussock forming evergreen grass with arching panicles of 5–9, 9-1 (tufted hair grass) silvery spikelets in summer Limonium latifolium 2/11/2 basal leaves with wiry, loosely branched stems of 7–9, 9–7 (sea lavender) lavender-blue flowers in late summer Pennisetum alopecuroides 2–5/2–4 tufted grass with linear leaves and oblong panicles of green 6–9, 9–6 (fountain grass) or purple spikelets in summer Sporobolus heterolepis 11/2–2/2 clump forming grass with bright green leaves and drooping 3–8, 10–2 (prairie dropseed) panicles of pale pink flowers in late summer

wort (Astrantia major) with small blos- soms in white, rose, and red. Then there are the spiky flowers of sea hollies (Eryn- gium spp.) and the prairie native rat- tlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium), which are loosely-branched, architectur- al perennials that tolerate dry conditions. A good American native see-through is culver’s root (Veronicastrum vir- ginicum), a summer bloomer that fea- tures candelabra spikes of white, pink, or lavender flowers. And the creamy-white spires of the tall, summer, and fall snake- roots (Actaea spp.) look luminous placed in front of a dark-green hedge. Other plants that have slender or airy spikes in- clude rusty foxglove (Digitalis ferruginea) and drought-tolerant Russian sage (Per- ovskia atriplicifolia). GRASSES Ornamental grasses with tall, wispy inflo- rescences can be dramatic scrim plants, re- sponding to the smallest breeze with constant movement and swishing sound. Among the best are the tall moor grass cul- tivars (Molinia caerulea subsp. arundi- The stiff, steely blue flowers of amethyst sea holly (Eryngium amethystinum ‘Sapphire Blue’) nacea) ‘Skyracer’ and ‘Transparent’—an provide both architectural interest and a view of the bright blooms of maiden pinks (Dianthus

JANET DAVIS Oudolf favorite—whose strong but slen- deltoides ‘Flashing Lights) in the background.

July / August 2007 31 der stems and airy flowers make a delicate veil and a delightful foil to summer daisies such as false oxeye (Heliopsis helianthoides) and sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale). The zingy little flowers and seeds of na- tive switch grass (Panicum virgatum) are constantly in motion and look lovely screening the big, bold flowers of swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos). Similarly, the airy flowers of prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) make a lively, tex- tural scrim for other prairie natives, such as pink-flowered Echinacea purpurea.

Resources Designing With Plants by Piet Oudolf. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 1999.

Encylopedia of Grasses for Livable Landscapes by Rick Darke. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2007.

Planting Design: Gardens in Time and Space by Piet Oudolf and Noël Kingsbury. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2005.

Many grasses with thin, silky leaves and flowers, such as tufted hair grass (De- schampsia cespitosa), look transcendent when backlit by late-day sun. Other ex- cellent see-through grasses are pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris); blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens); feath- er reed grass (Calamagrostis ✕acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’); giant feather grass (Stipa gigantea); and Mexican feather grass (Nasella tenuissima). BULBS AND ANNUALS Bulbs and annuals can also have a see- through effect. Drumstick allium (Allium sphaerocephalon) is a hardy summer bulb with spherical, crimson flowers on bob- bing stems. ‘Lucifer’ crocosmia (Crocos- mia ✕crocosmiiflora) bears numerous

Top left: Pink muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris) bears thin three-foot-tall flower stems in late summer and fall. Left: The airy flowers and narrow gray-blue leaves of blue oat grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens)

lighten a bed of brightly colored flowers. TOP: ROB CARDILLO. BOTTOM: JANET DAVIS

32 the American Gardener Clump-forming Mexican feather grass (Nasella tenuissima), above, blooms throughout summer, adding a thin screen between other plants and gentle movement in the garden. Right: Fairy wand (Dierama pulcherrimum) grows from a corm and bears small pink, purple, or white flowers on wiry stems that grow three to six feet tall.

scarlet flowers on arching stems in early to midsummer. A more unusual choice is fairy wand or angel’s fishing rod (Dierama pulcherrimum), a native of southern Africa that has small pink, purple, or white flow- ers on slender dancing stems to six feet. Grow this plant in free-draining soil where it will receive regular water in summer. As for annuals, lacy-leafed umbellifers such as dill (Anethum graveolens), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and bishop’s lace (Ammi majus) have sparse umbels con- sisting of hundreds of small florets. These plants have the added benefit of catering GETTING STARTED garden. In warmer areas, for example, del- to a variety of pollinators and other bene- The best way to perfect a planting phiniums can be divas, and fennel tends ficial insects, but they also self-sow readi- scheme using see-through plants is to do to self-sow aggressively in the mid-Atlantic ly, so be sure to deadhead them. a little research first, checking out some region and in California. But once you’ve And there’s no livelier see-through an- of the plants mentioned here in books assigned the starring roles and directed a nual than Brazilian verbena (Verbena and at botanical gardens and snapping few performances, the scrim scenes in bonariensis) with its butterfly-friendly photos of good combinations you come your garden are sure to garner rave reviews purple flowers topping tall, wiry stems. across in your travels. (For a few design from all who see them.  Try this self-seeder in a mass planting of tips, see the box on page 30.) Zinnia angustifolia ‘Profusion Orange’ for Above all, make sure your cast of Janet Davis is a freelance writer and photo-

TOP: KAREN BUSSOLINI. BOTTOM: MICHAEL S. THOMPSON spectacular summer color. “screen stars” performs well in your own grapher based in Toronto, Ontario.

July / August 2007 33 34 way intocultivation. Many aone. big-name retail ofherbaceousperennials purveyors offernary North andSouth America,onlyadozen orsooftheshowiest evening primroses have madetheir almost 200speciesofannuals,biennials,andperennials from awidevariety ofhabitatsacross culture. So, whyaren’t eveningAmericangarden? primroses inevery Amajorreason isthatof T deign tostayopenallday. ing-blooming varieties may generally overcast, even even- weather ismistyorskiesare daytime. In regions where the evening primroses close inthe mates—and notallspeciesof vious insun-drenched cli- hard sell.Thistraitismore ob- desirableplantsa otherwise flowers are not,makingthese garden centersare open,the the heatofday, sowhen closing theirflowers during evening primroses have of the slightlyvexing habit without aclear rationale.Reportedly, ed withadifferent genuswas assigned pears tobeacasewhere anameconnect- derivation ofthegenusname,butitap- clarkia can natives suchasgaura(Gaura which includesotherAmeri- rose family (Onagraceae), members oftheevening prim- (see sidebar, page38).Bothare closely related to the genusOenothera, Evening primroses belongto THE GENUSATAGLANCE Evening Primroses This snubmightbedueto There ismuchdisagreement aboutthe the American Gardener (Clarkia of California,theseintrepid wildflowers are alsoamongthemostamenabletogarden flowers ofAmerica’s native flora.Brightening roadsides from coastalFlorida tothedeserts HE DIVERSE spp.). Calylophus Conjure magicinyourgardenatduskwiththediversemembersof and are spp.) and evening primrose clan laysclaimtosomeofthelargestandshowiest the genus carpa) Missouri eveningprimrose of evening primrose root allowed the im- according toonesource—consumption (“wine”) withthera Oenothera blooms fromlatespringtoearlyautumn. Oenothera BY MARCIATATROE combines theGreek (“booty”) because— and itsrelations. (Oenothera macro- (Oenothera oinos nounced inspring orautumn. reddish castthatistypicallymore pro- Leaves orstemsofseveral cultivars have a silvery. orthesurface ers, theiredgesruffled leaves bitasattractive are astheflow- every lance shaped.In more thanonespecies,the Foliage varies butisgenerallynarrow or scented. moths. Most are alsosweetly pollinators suchashawk light toattractnight-flying and sorely onreflected moon- flowers thatbloomatnight minescent qualitytypicalof across. All have thesatiny, lu- reaching upto sixinches cases, theyare enormous, two indiameter, but,inafew theflowerspart, are aninchor are pink.For true themost tain selectionsof pronounced astheyage.Cer- thatbecomemoredertones white flowers have pinkun- ants. Many ofthose with yellow specieshave whitevari- are white,andseveral ofthe notably species,most inates, butafew and thecoloryellow predom- than mightbeprudent. biber todrinkmore wine Flowers are four-petaled Oenothera caespitosa, O. speciosa

KAREN BUSSOLINI In form, evening primroses run the gamut from stiffly upright to low and spreading. The latter are ideal for cas- cading over walls. Smaller, more com- pact types are unbeatable for rock gardens, particularly in areas where sum- mers are too hot and dry for true alpines. Taller evening primroses are striking fillers for the traditional border or mead- ow planting. Dryland western species add color to xeriscapes. Seeds form in late summer in elongat- ed capsules—some with prominent papery wings—that turn brown as they mature. CARING FOR EVENING PRIMROSES Garden culture is as variable as the evening primroses’ wide geographic distribution suggests, but most are obligate sun-lovers. Many will not bloom unless sunshine is full on their face. In general, they grow best if planted in free-draining soil; western species in particular succumb if the soil re- tains moisture in winter. Evening primroses have few pests or disease problems when their cultural re- quirements are met. One exception is the flea beetle, which, in bad years, can filigree the foliage in short order. Kelly Grum- mons of Timberline Gardens in Arvada, Colorado, recommends controlling these pests with lemon-scented dish soap mixed three to five tablespoons per gallon of water and sprayed once a week for up to five weeks starting when the beetles first appear in June. Insecticidal soap or horti- cultural oil is also effective. WESTERN SPECIES The bulk of evening primroses native to Borne in summer, the fragrant flowers of Oenothera caespitosa can be four inches across. the western half of the United States are short and best suited to rock gardens, used es three to four feet in height and produces primrose, handkerchief plant, gumbo lily, as accents along dry water courses, or pale yellow flowers from mid- to late sum- rockrose, or alkali lily. Whatever you call it, placed at the front of xeric borders. Two ex- mer. It is short-lived but can self-sow, and O. caespitosa is ubiquitous along roadsides, ceptions are Bridges evening primrose (O. seedlings are easy to dig up and transplant. from the western edge of the high plains of longissima, USDA Zones 6–9, AHS Zones Also yellow, but with a sherbety-orange Nebraska and the Dakotas, west to the 10–6), found in Bridges National Monu- wash, Organ Mountain evening primrose scrub deserts of California, and south into ment in Utah and throughout the Great is the longest enduring evening primrose Arizona and New Mexico. Despite its har- Basin region, and Organ Mountain in my garden, at 15 years and counting. It diness, this plant performs best in semi- evening primrose (O. organensis, Zones reaches two feet tall when watered weekly arid regions. It tolerates pure clay in 5–8, 9–5), from the Organ Mountains in and blooms on and off all summer. badlands habitats but is more successful in New Mexico. Although rare in cultivation Of the western evening primroses, gardens if the soil is moderately well and usually only available through seed ex- Oenothera caespitosa (Zones 4–8, 8–1) is drained and when watered once or twice a changes, both are easy to start from seed unquestionably the most widely recog- month; it does not tolerate wet feet. and have large, showy flowers. nized and beloved. Depending on local The silky white flowers of O. caespitosa Oenothera longissima grows in micro- custom, you might find this wildflower re- can be as large as four inches across, each

JESSIE M. HARRIS climates where moisture collects. It reach- ferred to as morning lily, tufted evening petal forming a perfect heart. The fragrant

July / August 2007 35 36 the interiorWest. Whenwinterand grows ondry, rocky hillsidesover muchof mostly undiscovered, even thoughit (Zones 4–9,9–4),this treasure remains Now generallyreclassified as equalled treasure forthenightgarden.” called “Resources,” below), thelateClaudeBarr from thecenterlikelegsonaspider. exception—its 12-inch-longstemsarch out Oenothera caespitosa typically heldinaground-hugging rosette. irregularly toothedalongtheirmargins,are tothetouchand gray leaves, slightlyfurry anotherflushofflowers.ing forth Silvery the growing season,eachrainstormbring- caespitosa the firstflushofflowers inlatespring, morning before collapsingatmidday. After subspecies, fadetopinkthefollowing flowers openlateintheday, and,inafew Minneapolis, Minnesota,1983. Barr. UniversityofMinnesota Press, Jewels ofthePlains den, Glencoe,Illinois,2005. Notes, No.26.ChicagoBotanicGar- Evening Primroses.”PlantEvaluation “A GardenStudyofSundropsand Resources (541) 535-7103. Siskiyou Nursery, (800) 925-9387. High CountryGardens, (435) 795-2303. Great BasinNatives, 846-7269. Forestfarm, (800) 852-5243. Bluestone Perennials, Sources rareplantnursery.com. gardens.com. natives.com. perennials.com. In hisbookJewels ofthePlains the American Gardener Oenothera brachycarpa blooms onandoffthroughout Williams, OR.(541) www.forestfarm.com. www.forestfarm.com. Medford, OR. www.siskiyou www.highcountry www.greatbasin www.bluestone subsp. by ClaudeA. Holden, UT. Madison, OH. Santa Fe,NM. eximia O. howardii “an un- is the (see O. gins ofeachleafedgedinwhite. as distinctive astheflowers, thewavymar- evening primrose. Its sagegreen foliageis bronze—hence thecommonnamebronze dusk andcloseby mid-morning,fadingto bloom from May through August, openat foothills west ofDenver nearmyhome. nescent, saucer-sized flowers lightupthe spring rainshave beengenerous, itslumi- close ascloudspassedoverhead. garden, theflowers we observed openand tophotographthemin afriend’strying that once,whenmyhusbandandIwere these flowers tochanginglightconditions traffic-stopping yellow. So sensitive are tacular, three inchesacross andradiant, badlands, andbluffs.Theflowers are spec- prairies, across thecentralstatesondry macrocarpa, The Missouri evening primrose (O. EVENINGPRIMROSES EASTERN cultural conditions. ern cousincanhandleagreater rangeof drought tolerantas widely available. Whilenotnearlyas evening primrose, whichismuchmore because itissosimilartotheMissouri xeric garden west oftheMississippi only Although individual flowersof in showyclusters throughoutsummer,forminga colorfulgroundcover. I suspectO.howardii The sweetly fragrantflowers, which The botanicalnameforMissouri Zones 5–8,8–3)isabundant O. howardii, is notinevery Oenothera fruticosa Oenothera its east- carpa Fremont’s evening primrose (O.macro- carpa), primrose ( leaves ofthetypespecies,Missouri evening guished by differences infoliage.The species andselections,mainlydistin- tall’s originalname. detective work inthe1960srestored Nut- to spelling hasinmanycasesbeencorrected tis’s BotanicalMagazine in1813.Themis- it waspublishedasO.missourensis discoverer, plantexplorer ThomasNuttall, Originally namedO.macrocarpa confusion andcontroversy over theyears. Ozarks sundrops, hasbeenasource of evening primrose, sometimescalled carpa through theTexas panhandle, nia poppy. silver-gray leaves that resemble aCalifor- to itsname,withbrightyellow flowers and “Sources,” thispage),‘Shimmer’, lives up from HighGardens Country (see and silvery. introduced Anewly cultivar of Nebraska andKansas,are long,narrow, against silvery foliage, against silvery silver. Selected forred stems thatstandout er stunnerwithitslargeblueleaves frosted O. missouriensis, Plants are variable, withseveral sub- From habitatsinKansasandsouth dry are onlytwoinches across,theyappear subsp. subsp. are glossyanddark green. Thoseof O. macrocarpa fremontii), incana ‘Silver Blade’ isanoth- but somebotanical O. macrocarpa from thechalkhills subsp. O. macro- in macro- by its Cur- ‘Co-

MARK TURNER MORE EVENING PRIMROSES Name Height Flower Color Notable Features Origin USDA/AHS Zones Hooker’s evening primrose 2–3 feet pale yellow, good in mixed California, Mexico Zones 7–9, 9–7 (Oenothera elata var. hookeri) aging to orange borders Magic evening primrose 5 feet pale yellow flowers open like of cultivated origin Zones 3–8, 8–1 (O. glazioviana clockwork at dusk syn. O. erythrosepala) Oenothera versicolor 2 feet pale pinkish can be grown as species native to Zones 5–9, 9–6 ‘Sunset Boulevard’ orange an annual South America Saltillo evening primrose up to 1 foot pale yellow good groundcover Baja, Mexico Zones 7–9, 9–7 (Oenothera stubbei, for xeric gardens syn. O. drummondii)

Left to right: Oenothera glazioviana, Oenothera versicolor ‘Sunset Boulevard’, Oenothera stubbei.

manche Campfire’, selected by Harlan and only two inches across, but they are flower color. ‘Fyrverkeri’ (Fireworks), for Hamernik of Bluebird Nursery in Clark- displayed in clusters, so you get a lot of example, has orange-red buds and bur- son, Nebraska, is also a real knockout. bang for your buck. And its flowers stay gundy fall foliage. This particularly florif- All subspecies of O. macrocarpa tend to open during the day. erous cultivar was one of the top-rated sprawl, making them ideal for cascading There are a dozen or so named selec- performers among evening primrose se- down walls. To keep plants more compact, tions available with subtle variations in lections during a five-year evaluation of cut long stems back to the center foliage the genus conducted at the Chicago rosette at any time during the growing sea- Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois (see son. Although they are drought tolerant, “Resources,” page 36). The buds on ‘Son- supplemental watering guarantees more nenwende’ (Solar Solstice) are deep red and larger flowers. Good drainage in win- and the leaves become reddish in autumn. ter is vital. Stephanie Cohen, author of Avent and Cohen are both partial to Perennial Gardener’s Design Primer, reports ‘Cold Crick’, a floriferous selection intro- that the selection ‘Silver Wings’ performs duced by Peggy Rowley of Cold Crick well in her Pennsylvania garden. Extreme Nursery in Virginia. It grows eight to 12 humidity in the South is another matter inches tall and has bright yellow flowers. entirely. In the experience of Tony Avent Common evening primrose can sur- of Plants Delight Nursery, none of the O. vive dry spells in the East, but extended macrocarpa varieties he has tried have sur- drought will kill it. These plants look their vived the humid and moist summers of best with regular watering but have a ten- Raleigh, North Carolina. dency to drop their lower leaves late in Gardeners in damp, humid regions do summer. If they become unsightly, prune have some choices, however. Common them back to their basal foliage. evening primrose or sundrops (O. fruti- A few evening primroses are nomadic. cosa, Zones 4–8, 8–1) is native to the east- But as long as they are sited with care, even ern United States and excels in the South ‘Cold Crick’ is a cultivar of O. fruticosa with aggressive spreaders can have their uses.

TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT: DAVID CAVAGNARO; COURTESY OF THOMPSON & MORGAN; COURTESY OF CLARENCE A. RECHENTHIN @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS DATABASE. BOTTOM: JOSEPH G. STRAUCH, JR. TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT: DAVID CAVAGNARO; COURTESY OF THOMPSON & MORGAN; CLARENCE A. RECHENTHIN @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS DATABASE. and in the Midwest. Its flowers are yellow foliage that turns bright red in autumn. And care is definitely the watchword for

July / August 2007 37 the seductively pretty showy evening through Oklahoma and New Mexico. CALYLOPHUS: THE OTHER primrose (Oenothera speciosa, Zones 5–8, The only safe place to grow tenacious 8–1). This is one of the few plants I have groundcovers such as O. speciosa or O. EVENING PRIMROSE actually evicted from my garden—after it pallida might be a median strip in the crossed a three-foot-wide concrete side- middle of a wide boulevard or a dry, rocky Variously called sundrops and evening walk and smothered an entire flowerbed slope where nothing else will grow. primroses, the genus Calylophus con- on the other side. My experience is not sists of long-lived perennials and sub- unique; Avent calls it one of the worst UP TO THE CHALLENGE shrubs invaluable for xeric gardens and weeds he’s ever encountered. The evening primrose’s rarity in Ameri- landscapes. Calylophus plants are dis- There is no question that O. speciosa can gardens might also be another one of tinguished from oenotheras by yellow is an attractive perennial. Sweetly scent- those cases where familiarity breeds con- ed and day-blooming, it produces flow- tempt. We gardeners have a long history ers in such profusion that they nearly of turning up our noses at any wildflower obscure the plant—and they keep com- that grows along roadsides or in vacant ing all summer long on stems 12 to 18 lots, deeming them too common for the inches tall. White forms are more garden proper.

Calylophus hartwegii flowers have wrinkled petals typical of the genus.

square-shaped flowers with wrinkled petals that could have been fashioned from crepe paper. They also have per- sistent, slightly woody, stems. These wildflowers bloom all summer if wa- tered once a week, but they can with- stand significant drought in xeric plant- ings. All are native to harsh places in the West and are quite hardy. Fendler’s sundrops (Calylophus hartwegii subsp. fendleri, Zones 5–8, Despite its name, showy evening primrose’s (Oenothera speciosa) flowers open during the day. 8–5) bears two-inch-wide clear yellow This plant can spread aggressively, so be sure it is contained in the garden. flowers that age to pale orange. They open at the end of the day and close northerly in origins and generally more But recent trends are beginning to re- late the following morning. Leaves are winter hardy than their pink southern flect new attitudes. We are starting to value green on foot-long stems that tend to counterparts. This species tolerates ex- our native plants, especially those that can sprawl. The flowers of lavenderleaf treme humidity and does best with week- take care of themselves. And when it comes sundrops (C. lavandulifolius, Zones ly watering. Long, hot, dry spells can kill to plucky, few native wildflowers can hold 4–8, 8–4) are similar but paler yellow it in desert climates. There are several a candle to the evening primrose. The and the foliage is grayish-green. named selections, among them white- verspertine selections offer a perfect excuse Sawtooth evening primrose (C. ser- flowered ‘Alba’ and ‘Woodside White’, to gather friends in your garden at dusk to rulatus, Zones 3–9, 9–4) is more shrub- and pink ‘Rosea’ and ‘Pink Petticoats.’ watch as the buds unfurl and the pollina- like, typically 10 inches tall, with small The pink-flowered cultivar ‘Siskiyou’ was tors arrive to do their thing.  but profuse flowers that stay open dur- also rated highly during the evaluation at ing the daytime. A compact selection Chicago Botanic Garden. Garden columnist for the Denver Post, called ‘Prairie Lode’ bears larger, fuller Westerners have their own bad actor in Marcia Tatroe lives in Centennial, Col- flowers on a six-inch plant. —M.T. the invasive pale evening primrose (O. orado. Her most recent book is Cutting pallida), which hails from sandy places in Edge Gardening in the Intermountain

Wyoming and South Dakota, and south West (Johnson Books, 2007). LEFT: JOSEPH G. STRAUCH, JR. RIGHT: SAXON HOLT

38 the American Gardener CAROLE OTTESEN (2) for cool-climategardens Hardy Plants throughout summer. Topright:Itsshowyfruithas beenusedtothickensaucesand puddings. Above: Bunchberry cold-weather regions. These reliablyhardyperennials,shrubs,andtreesthrivein often measure plantsuitabilityonlyby the plant catalogsandothergarden literature containers andthedescriptionsinmany that plantsare sold.Thetagsonnursery forced by whatwe have read andtheway Thisnotionhasbeenrein- plant survival. I T ISNOT ture asthebe-all,end-alllimitto deners tendtothinkoflow tempera- surprising thatmanygar- (Cornus canadensis) (Cornus blooms abundantly inMayandJune,thensporadically 1997 encouragedustoexaminewhatwe ticultural Society’s Heat Zone Map in azine’s ClimateZone Map. or—for Western gardeners—Sunset out-of-datePlant Hardinessvery map ofAgriculture’sthe U.S.Department now sponding tothehardiness zones ofeither degrees ofcoldaplantwilltoleratecorre- The publicationoftheAmericanHor- BY CAROLEOTTESEN mag- simply can’t abideit. plant isswiftand devastating. Some plants At othertimes,heat’s effect onatreasured uted to,andofteninvites,other problems. can causeagradualdemisethat isattrib- the effectsofheatonplantperformance problem, canbeslow incomingbecause izes it’s thetemperature “aha!” moment,whenthegardener real- USDA Zone 7astheydoinZone 5. tain liliesseemaslush,big,andhealthyin spp.), coralbells(Heuchera dens. Nor dolady’s mantles show thattheypresent gar- innorthern they never putonquitethesamedazzling belowsurvive theMason-Dixon line,but lupines, andpeonies,forexample—may gardens—lilacs,ing starsinnorthern preference forcoldclimatesismanifest. multiply intovast colonies,thattheirclear their behaviorinthewee zones, where they isfactorily intheSouth. It isn’t untilwe see grandiflorum) um angustifolium),andtrillium ianthemum canadense), maculatum), Canadamayflower (Ma- nials suchasJoe Pye weed (Eupatorium garden inmore temperateclimes.Peren- not alwaysbeobvious tothoseofuswho and summersare cool. only where wintertemperatures plummet gardens, theylive better, longer, oratall regions. Whentheyare transplanted into gions ofplantsinhabittheplanet’s frosty asiscold. mance andsurvival can beasgreat abarriertoplantperfor- have beenconditionedtodisregard: Heat When heatcausesplantstofail,the someofthemostoutstand- Likewise, The preference foracoolerclimatemay In fact,someplants seem togrow andflower sat- July /August 2007 fireweed that’s causingthe like spp.), andcer- it cold.Le- (Alchemilla (Trillium (Epilobi- 39 Some plants that merely survive in warmer climates grow with wild abandon in cooler locales. Left: Spotted Joe Pye weed colonizes a hillside in Canada. Right: Cool summers are required for lupines to perform best.

THE ICE QUEEN rhodora genes and some of rhodora’s win- Lilac Lights grows just over three feet Rhodora (Rhododendron canadense, ning characteristics in their own backyards. tall but spreads to four or five feet wide. USDA Hardiness Zones 3–6, AHS Heat Since 1957, the Woody Landscape Unlike its rhodora parent, this azalea has Zones 6–2) is the poster child of the chilly Plant Breeding program has developed been domesticated and adapts easily to life weather plant, one that demands moist azalea cultivars “sufficiently hardy for in the garden. cold to survive. It doesn’t take well to do- USDA Zone 4,” states Associate Professor mestication either, but grows freely and Stan Hokanson. One of the program’s GOOD PLANT, BAD RAP blooms beautifully in the wild. This stars is Lilac Lights™, a cross of R. Not all wild beauties require chromoso- propensity prompted Ralph Waldo Emer- canadense and R. ✕kosteranum, made in mal domestication. Just as it is, sheep lau- son to write: 1979. It captures the vivacity of rhodora’s rel, (Kalmia angustifolia, Zones 1–6, 6–1) flowers; long, tousled lavender petals with would be a popular garden plant by any Rhodora! if the sages ask thee why a contrasting purple blotch. other name. But this low-growing native This charm is wasted on the earth and sky, “Lilac Lights is an improved version of shrub suffers from bad publicity. Its com- Tell them, dear, that, if eyes were made ‘Orchid Lights’—an earlier hybrid—that mon names—lambkill, wicky, calfkill, for seeing, possesses stronger lower flower petals,” and sheep-poison—attest to the toxic na- Then beauty is its own excuse for Being. says Hokanson. “It is also a larger plant ture of its narcotic leaves and do little to than ‘Orchid Lights’ that flowers on aver- recommend a potentially good plant for Unique among native azaleas, the rose- age one-and-a-half weeks later.” cold gardens. purple flowers have a more deeply divided corolla, elongating the petals and lending them a tousled appearance. The flowers al- ways seem both too vivacious and dispro- portionately large for the modest shrublets. Like many native azaleas, rhodora is de- ciduous and stoloniferous. Unlike most, it rarely grows over three feet tall in the moist-to-wet areas where it colonizes hum- mocks. Those who canoe the boundary waters between Minnesota and Ontario in May are treated to splendid displays of rhodora in bloom. With few exceptions, rhodora can only be enjoyed in the wild. But, thanks to the University of Minnesota’s Woody Land- Rhodora, left, puts on a spectacular flower scape Plant Breeding and Genetics Pro- show in late spring. Lilac Lights, above, owes

gram, gardeners can enjoy azaleas with its showy flowers to its rhodora genes. TOP: CAROLE OTTESEN (2). BOTTOM LEFT: DAVID CAVAGNARO; RIGHT: COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY MINNESOTA

40 the American Gardener TOP: CAROLE OTTESEN. BOTTOM: MICHAEL S. THOMPSON Sheep laurel and bloomsinlateMayJune. America, from British Columbiato tierofNorthbroad swatheofthenorthern Historically, grew wild across a bearberry the tradebutharder tofindinthewild. 6–1), iseasierthansheeplaurel tofindin and ‘Poke Logan’. that originatedinMaine, ‘Kennebago’ and twoselectionswithlustrous leaves flowered, stoloniferous ‘Hammonasset’, ered, stoloniferous ‘Candida’, dark-rose compact ‘Royal Dwarf,’ thewhite-flow- occasional nursery. Cultivars includethe can befoundatnative plantsalesandthe light shade. well-drained acidicsoilinfullsunor of soiltextures, butgrows bestinmoist, tremely hardy andtoleratesawiderange tall, dependinguponexposure. It isex- smaller, rangingfrom onetothree feet rel isevergreen, butitissignificantly in June. Likemountainlaurel, sheeplau- laurel those ofitssouthernrelative, mountain and, typically, more deeplycolored than nick Cultivated bearberry, alsocalled kinnikin- GROUND COLD COVERING Uncommon inthetrade,sheeplaurel Its flowers are more dome-shaped (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Zones 2–6, (K. latifolia), (Kalmia angustifolia) (Kalmia blooming pinktored grows onlyonetothreefeettall,butupfivewide, orders ofthekidneys. diseasesaswell asdis- used totreat urinary times. Highly astringent,theleaves were been puttomedicinalusessinceRoman smoked, usedtotanleather, andhave were theberrieseaten,leaves were ofitsnaturalrange.Noted inparts only is listedasrare, endangered, andextirpat- its disappearanceinnaturalareas; today, it ranges intoCaliforniaandVirginia. Labrador, andsouthalongmountain Bearberry’s usefulnesscontributedto in thefall,and‘Massachusetts’, adisease- larger, glossier leaves thatturnwine-red bia BotanicalGarden inVancouver, with tion from University ofBritish Colum- ‘Vancouver Jade’, avigorous introduc- orfertilization. pruning tering sun,orsaltsprayandneedsno rocky,wind, infertile soil,blis- bone-dry evergreen inextreme cold, willsurvive established, thistough,low-growing shade. Whiletrickytotransplant,once sandy, light acidicsoilsinfullsuntovery quently, itsneeds. bearberry’s heathfamilytiesand,conse- palest pink,theflowers bearwitnessto ley typeflowers appear. Waxy whiteto spring andsummer, smalllily-of-the-val- slowly outward tosixfeetormore. In a foothigh,butitstrailingstemsroot groundcover. Asubshrub, itstaysunder with infertile,acidic soil. excellent groundcover fordry,sunnysites Bearberry (719) 942-3935. Western NativeSeed, print catalog. 846-7269. Forestfarm, Marion, NC.(828)738-8300. Meadowbrook Nursery/We-DuNatives, Online catalog. www.landscapealternatives.com. Shafer, MN.(651)257-4460. Landscape Alternatives,Inc., Online andfreeprintcatalog. 548-0111. Greer Gardens, Print catalog$5,freeonline. (856) 451-6261. Fairweather Gardens, Sources www.we-du.com. gardens.com. nativeseed.com. Older include cultivars ofbearberry thrives inwell-drained,Bearberry isasa A farbetteruseofbearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) (Arctostaphylos Williams, OR.(541) www.greergardens.com. www.forestfarm.com. Catalog $5. Eugene, OR.(800) Online catalog. July /August 2007 Online andfree www.fairweather www.western Greenwich, NJ. Coaldale, CO. is an 41 resistant bearberry with abundant flow­ EXPERTS' PICK OF COLD-HARDY PLANTS BY REGION ers and fruits. The long-lasting red berries, technically "drupes," are eaten by bears and also provide an important food for other wildlife. In addition to A. uva-ursi, some new Arctostaphylos selections have been intro­ duced through the Plant Select® program. Administered by Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University with horti­ culturists and nurseries throughout the Rocky Mountain region, this program finds and promotes the best plants for landscapes and gardens from the inter­ mountain region to the high plains. Two cultivars of an interspecific hybrid bear­ berry (Arctostaphylos xcoloradensis, Zones 4-8, 8-3), Mock Bearberry'" manzanita and Panchito'" manzanita, were chosen in 2005 and 2006 respectively. "Both are cold hardy to USDA Zone 4b and hardy to about 7,000 to 7,500 feet elevation. Both came from the Uncompahgre plateau in MIDWEST: WOODLAND PLANTS FOR SHADY GARDENS western Colorado," says Jim Klett, profes­ Neil Diboll, president of Prairie Nursery in Westfield, Wisconsin, calls these "the sor and Extension landscape horticulturist hardiest of the hardies, everything you could expect in a perennial: tough, long­ at Colorado State University in Fort lived, low maintenance, and tolerant of extreme cold as well as heat." Collins. Both bloom between February American wild ginger (Asarum canadense, Zones 2-8,8-1) and April and "are xeric once they are es­ False Solomon's seal (Smilacina racemosa, Zones 4-9,9-1) tablished," says Klett. Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina, Zones 4-9,9-1) Like bearberry, bunchberry (Cornus Large flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora, Zones 3-7,7-1) canadensis, Zones 2-7, 7-1) makes a good Northern maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum, Zones 3-8,8-1)* groundcover and is named for its brilliant Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum, Zones 4-8,8-1) red drupes that also have been used both *needs shelter from strong wind. medicinally and in cooking. Another common name, puddingberry, derives SOUTHWEST: SHADE-TOLERANT PLANTS FOR DRY CLIMATES from its use in making traditional New David Salman, president and chief horticulturist at High Country Gardens in San­ England plum pudding. ta Fe, New Mexico, suggests the following plants for dry, shady places. Fortunately, bunch berry is abundant. Comfrey (Symphytum 'Hidcote Blue', Zones 4-7,7-1) It grows from coast to coast in Canada and Horehound (Marrubium sp. 'Green Apple' or 'Apple Green', Zones 4-9,9-1)* the northern United States and on moun­ Plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, Zones 5-9, 9-4) taintops further south. It thrives wherever Prairie poppy mallow (Callirhoe involucrata var. tenuissima, Zones 4-6, 7-1)** summers are mild and acid soil stays cool­ Yarrow (Achillea millefolium 'White Wonder', Zones 3-9,9-1) er than 65 degrees Fahrenheit. *an obscure reseeding Marrubium that thrives in dry shade A tiny, three-to-six-inch shrublet, **semi-shade or dappled shade bunchberry cohabits with blueberries and other heath family plants in moist, well­ ALASKA: DOUBLE-DUTY PLANTS FOR EXTREME WEATHER drained soil. It will grow in sun, but in Co-author of Chicken Soup for the Gardener's Soul, Marion Owen, the UpBeet shade, bunchberry spreads outward by Gardener from Kodiak,Alaska, likes these plants because they provide food and gar­ rhizomes and by seed into vast, thickly den interest. populated colonies. As it covers the Chives (Allium schoenoprasum, Zones 4-8, 12-1) ground, cleanly cut whorls of leaves pre­ Currants (Ribes hudsonianum and sp., Zones 1-5, 5-1) sent appealing and uniform evergreen to Johnny jump-up (Viola tricolor, Zones 3-9, 12-1) semi-evergreen texture that become red to Red-twig dogwood (Comus sericea, syn. C. stolonifera, Zones 3-8,8-1) mahogany in color in fall. Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum, Zones 3-8,8-1) In May and June and sporadically -c.O. through the summer and into fall, showy white dogwood-type flowers appear. As

42 THE AMERICAN GARDENER The extremely hardy moun- tain ash is the perfect size and shape for a residential land- scape. Reaching about 20 feet tall, it also makes a good speci- men tree. The leaves are sumaclike and deciduous. ‘Dwarfcrown’ (Red Cascade™) is a compact cultivar that grows only about 15 feet tall. Bill Cullina, director of horticultural research for the New England Wild Flower So- ciety, is partial to showy moun- tain ash (S. decora, Zones 2–7, 7–3), which has a similar native range to American mountain ash but flowers and sets fruit a week or two later. “It’s a beauti- ful tree, and I frankly prefer it to American mountain ash for both foliar and fruit effect,” writes Cullina in his book Na- tive Trees, Shrubs, and Vines: A Guide to Using, Growing, and Propagating North American Woody Plants (Houghton Mif- flin, 2002). While the mountain ash is valued in northern North America, its European coun- terpart, the rowan, (Sorbus au- cuparia, Zones 4–7, 7–1) has enjoyed thousands of years of The arching branches of the rowan tree adulation in northern Europe and is an- (Sorbus aucuparia) bear white flowers in other good choice for cool-climate gar- spring followed by brilliant red berries. dens. Its common name, “rowan,” reveals Right: Folklore attributes magical powers to the awe in which this plant was held. the rowan tree’s glossy berries. “Rowan” is derived from the word rune, which means “magical” or “secret” (from with dogwood trees (Cornus spp.), the the Old Norse rogn, an ancient word that true flowers are actually small, encircled figures in Scandinavian mythology). by white bracts that look like petals. It isn’t too hard to imagine why our an- Bunchberry flowers pollinate curiously cestors deemed a plant magical when it re- and explosively. When an insect lands on mained unscathed and insouciant in the one of the true flowers, the flowers catapult face of cold so deadly, it threatened human pollen onto the visitor, a phenomenon that life. If not magical, plants that revive to lasts only a micro-second. Scientists spec- advantage of supporting wildlife. Follow- bloom lustily in the tentative springs that ulate that the explosion disperses pollen ing “abundant, showy, and long-lasting” follow fearsome winters are awe-inspiring. onto the body of the insects where it is June flowers, the berries of the American Impervious to ice and snow, these hardy harder for them to eat it, thus enhancing mountain ash (Sorbus americana, Zones survivors bloom and bear fruit in places the chances for the pollen to be transferred 3–5, 6–1) provide “an equally abundant where the temperature plummets and icy to another flower. fruit harvest for our birds,” says Nova winds howl through the bitter nights— Scotia gardener and birder Beth Kent. and they like it that way.  SUPER-NATURALLY HARDY Even in the midst of the North’s extrava- Berries are a lasting and reliable ornament ganza of blazing fall foliage, the mountain Carole Ottesen is a contributing writer for

CAROLE OTTESEN (2) in northern gardens that have the added ash’s berries are standouts. The American Gardener.

July / August 2007 43 44 by LindaMcIntyre tv atn:From Heretic toHerointheDesertSouthwest Steve Martino: L to talkabouthiswork creating gardens landscape. thatpromote thebeautyofdesert Linda McIntyre caughtupwithhimrecently inthebusythree-person officeofhisfirm,CactusCityDesign, place—Phoenix, Arizona, anditsenvirons—where muchofthelandscapingfollowed aregionally inap- Mediterranean plants—they’ll live inthe to aremnant site.We desert were using we worked onatownhouse project next While Iwaswiththelandscape architect, native plants? What sparked your interest inusing landscape. asamodelforhowI sawthedesert to more interesting thananythinginthecity! and realized ecosystemwas thedesert critically atthelandscapedareas we live in During lookingmore thattime,Istarted for acoupleofyears tolearnsomeskills. added totheproject. found thatengagingthefullsitereally architect in mebegantoemerge,andI spaces inbetween. Thelatentlandscape included several buildingsaswell asthe I hadachancetowork onaproject that being anarchitect, butearlyinmycareer, site over toothers.Ihadplannedon signers ofbuildingsshouldnotturnthe should belandscapearchitects; thede- Steve Martino: you windupinlandscapedesign? and architecture incollege,how did Linda McIntyre: I tookajobwithlandscapearchitect This year, Martino istherecipient ofthe2007AmericanHorticultural Society LandscapeDesign Award. the American Gardener ANDSCAPE ARCHITECT than 30years, longbefore itwasconsidered “cool.” Even more impressive, hebegandoingitina I feelallarchitects Having studiedart carried around inaMason jar.” would bewall-to-wallBermuda grass.Whatwouldbeleftofthewatertablecould Martino’shis letternominatingMartino forthemedal,“Without influence,Phoenix Medal. AsReed Kroloff, deanoftheTulane University SchoolofArchitecture, saidin can Society Design presented ofLandscape Architects himwiththeASLA (ASLA) propriate anduninspired patternoflawnandfoundationplantings. Martino hasreceived manyawards In forhispioneeringefforts. 2006,theAmeri- Steve Martino hasbeendesigninggardens withnative plantsformore N NOEWITH ONE ON ONE C …

PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEVE MARTINO Left: Peaks in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve provide a rugged backdrop for this residential yard designed by Steve Martino. A water trough reflects the natural beauty of the sky and mountains. Surrounding it are plants native to the Sonoran Desert, including mesquite (Prosopis velutina), ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), desert iron wood (Olneya tesota), brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), and blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida).

Opposite page: Echoing the desert mountains both in color and in spirit, the undulating wall on this commercial property sets off a colorful border of creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), octopus agave (Agave vilmoriniana), Eaton’s penstemon (Penstemon eatonii), desert marigold (Baileya multi- radiata), and other native species.

desert but they need a lot of attention and How do you use native plants in your out decades ago, the plants I used seemed irrigation. Next to the property there was designs? so unusual that they stopped people in all of this great mesquite (Prosopis spp.) I sometimes call my approach to design their tracks. Now, the trend in the design and creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). “weeds and walls.” I like to contrast the world is to use native plants in regional- When I asked why we were using high- forms of our desert plants with hard- ly harmonious landscapes. I like to say maintenance Mediterranean plants when scape. The sun here is so bright that it I’ve gone from heretic to hero by doing those others would grow naturally in our flattens out texture and washes out color. the same thing! conditions, I was told they were “weeds.” Plants such as cactus cast great shadows; That answer wasn’t good enough for me. they act as a sort of sundial against a wall. Do you have favorite plants? I love trees. Mesquite and palo verde How did you find plants for your pro- Beyond their aesthetics, are there other (Parkinsonia spp.) are a couple of partic- jects before there was an established qualities that draw you to natives? ular favorites. I love their bark, the beans, native plant movement and a network Native plants are tough; I consider them their habit, the way they evoke the desert. of growers? “high tech.” They represent the state of But each and every plant can offer a I found a local nurseryman, Ronald Gass, the art of the evolution of a place. We re- fascinating look into another world. I who knew just about every plant in the cently had a freeze out here that wiped once had a volunteer plant in my own desert. I’d bring him seeds and we’d also out exotic plants all over town, but the garden that turned out to be jimsonweed go out collecting together in southern natives, which have long adapted to the (Datura stramonium). One night, I saw a Arizona and Mexico. I even worked for idiosyncrasies of our climate, survived. huge, dinner-plate size moth on it, a him as a propagator for a while. Native plants also attract a variety of moth that only pollinates that plant. I It’s been a great relationship from the pollinators and predators to the garden, lived in the city and the moth lived out beginning, when I needed a source for na- making it a habitat. in the country, but somehow it found tive plants and he needed a market. He this plant. When these sorts of things started out growing plants in soup cans Have other designers and home gar- happen, you realize that a garden is much collected from local elementary schools. deners started to embrace natives? more than decorative.  He has a big operation now—Mountain A lot of my clients come to Phoenix from States Wholesale Nursery in Glendale, other places, and they really want the Linda McIntyre is a freelance writer who Arizona—and I’m still working with him. desert experience. When I was starting lives in Washington, D.C.

July / August 2007 45 46 by KathrynLundJohnson Avoiding theStrangleholdofDodder A species are excluded from “noxious” status. by theUSDA’s AnimalandPlant Health Inspection althoughsomenative Service, orwidelyscattered States, mostofwhichare annuals.ThegenusisincludedontheFederal Noxious Weed Listadministered mass oftheparasite’s spaghettilikestems. are barely perceptible beneath atangled until bothhostsandnon-hosts nearthem vine produces more andmore haustoria is nolongerneededanddiesoff. originally anchored thedoddertosoil minerals, andwater. Theroot thathad the hostandextractingcarbohydrates, dodder stemtouchesthehost,penetrating ria develop from tinybudswhere the hold. Adventitious rootlets calledhausto- is found,dodderencircles itinastrangle- initspath.Once asuitablehost everything for ahost,thedoddervinecoilsaround more CollegeinPennsylvania. associate professor ofbiologyatSwarth- in about10days,”saysColinPurrington, seedlings thatfailtofindahostusuallydie cate ahostplanttoprovide food.“Dodder and sugarsand,therefore, mustquickly lo- root butnegligibleamountsofchlorophyll can produce more than16,000seeds. ty formanyyears. Asingledodderplant coat thatallows theseeds toretain viabili- encased inathickheat-andfire-resistant in diameterandusuallycontainsfourseeds isaboutone-eighthinch scales. Thefruit covered withminuteleaves resembling amentlike green, orange,oryellow stems clusters from latespringthrough fallonfil- small pink,creamy, orwhiteflowers in pending onthespecies,plantsproduce shoelaces, lover’s knot,andtanglegut.De- such epithetsasdevil’s-hair, witches’ The plant’s characteristicshave earnedit A DEPENDENTNATURE Growing three tosixinchesperday, the Twining counterclockwise initssearch Seedlings produce atinyephemeral the American Gardener TOG O OMNPEST COMMON A NOT LTHOUGH lem whenitoccurs.Of theapproximately 170speciesworldwide,about50are foundintheUnited potatoes, andtomatoes. falfa, beets,corn,cotton,flaxseed, plications forvulnerablecrops suchasal- infestation canhave hugeeconomicim- transmits anumberofplantdiseases.An more susceptible todisease.Dodder also but inaweakened statethatmakesit A mature hostis more likelytosurvive, ly succumbtotheparasiteafteranattack. University, setout tofindtheanswers. Justin B.Runyon, allofPennsylvania State Mark C.Mescher andgraduatestudent Professors ConsueloM.De Moraes and How doesdodderlocate apreferred host? SNIFFING OUTAHOST Delicate-looking flowersbeliethestranglingwaysoffive-angleddodder AUA CONNECTIONS NATURAL Younger, lessestablished plantsusual- , the parasiticplant,dodder(Cuscuta C C. pentagona tagona). host offive-angled dodder(Cuscuta pen- and usesthem to itsadvantage! tects thescentof anotherplant’s volatiles this situation,however, theparasitede- pests; andluringpredators ofpests.In plants toproduce chemicaldeterrents to to flowers; stimulatingsurrounding purpose: drawingpollinators important released by thehostplant.” airborne chemicalcompoundsthatwere was drawntothehostby detectingthe “We discovered insteadthatthedodder out the‘random’ theory,” Mescher says. They knew thattomatoisapreferredThey knew Volatiles released an by plantsserve spp.), canbeaseriousprob- “In aseriesofexperimentsusing and tomatoplants,we ruled (Cuscuta pentagona) (Cuscuta .

COURTESY OF CHARLES T. BRYSON, USDA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE, WWW.FORESTRYIMAGES.ORG PREVENTION AND CONTROL of crops and ornamentals. Lanini pro- The best way to control dodder is to vides an example: “Garlic is susceptible avoid introducing it in the first place. Resources to dodder when it is planted in the Once established, the parasite is almost Dodder by W.T. Lanini, et al., Univer- spring. Dodder generally germinates and impossible to eradicate. Care must be sity of California–Davis. www.ipm. emerges in the spring, so the seedling taken to avoid transporting seed inad- ucdavis. edu/pdf/PESTNOTES/pn growth of the two coincides, making gar- vertently from an infested area to anoth- dodder.pdf. lic an easy mark for dodder. Planting gar- er location by way of clothing, shoes, or lic in the summer or fall reduces its gardening tools. Introduction to Parasitic Flowering chances of becoming a host plant. Tim- In the home garden, dodder can be Plants by Daniel L. Nickrent and Lyt- ing a planting can offer an alternative hand pulled before seed is produced; after ton J. Musselman, American Phy- method of control to weeding or using haustoria appear, this usually requires re- topathological Society. www.apsnet. herbicides. moval of both the dodder and the host org/education/IntroPlantPath/ Using transplants is also helpful. plant. Household vinegar has proven to be PathogenGroups/Parasiticplants. “Dodder has a difficult time attaching to effective in controlling dodder when it is the larger stems of the transplants, com- sprayed on the seedlings before they attach pared to the stems of the smaller themselves to the host plant. Removed been a problem. The parasite may appear seedlings,” says Lanini. dodder plants should be placed in a se- the first year, but it will be weak and un- While dodder remains a threat both curely sealed plastic bag and disposed of in able to establish itself. Planting with dod- in the wild and in gardens, awareness of the trash. In some cases, it may be neces- der-free seed is crucial. It’s also important this parasite is increasing, along with re- sary to use post-emergent herbicides to kill to remove any weed hosts of dodder, in- search that may help control it. Home both the parasite and the host to prevent cluding pigweed, nightshade, lambs- gardeners can do their part in stemming further spread of the dodder. quarters, and field bindweed. its spread through pre-emptive measures Growing non-host plants is a reliable W. Thomas Lanini, weed ecologist for and proper cultural practices.  and effective measure for home gardens. the University of California’s cooperative Non-host plants may also be used as ro- Extension, has been studying dodder Kathryn Lund Johnson is a freelance writer tation plants in areas where dodder has control in relation to the planting dates who lives in Middleville, Michigan.

July / August 2007 47 48 chemilla mollis), ment and natural products chemistry at ment andnatural products chemistry on, associateprofessor of weed manage- niponicum such asJapanese painted fern species. “For shadysites,we love ferns (Solidago sphacelata), (Nepeta resistant includecatmint performers thereby suppressing weed germination.” duces lightpenetrationatthesoilsurface, and formadensecanopyoffoliagethatre- rapidly, overwinter inUSDAZones 5to7, covers exhibitedtheabilitytoestablish found that“the mostsuccessfulground- herbaceous perennials, theresearchers sides andothermanagedlandscapes. tives todealingwithweeds alongroad- whenlookingfornon-toxic alterna- try ofTransportation,partment decidedto cooperation withtheNew York State De- searchers from Cornell University, in vited guests.Thisisexactlywhatre- plants thatcanout-competeyour unin- beat themattheirown gameandgrow to control weeds inyour garden, whynot If you’re lookingforapesticide-free way GROUNDCOVERS WEED-BUSTING cover researchplotwithamixofspecies. Master Gardenersplantaroadsideground- Horticultural NewsandResearch ImportanttoAmericanGardeners Some ofthetoplow maintenance,pest In afive-year studyofmore than150 the American Gardener ‘Walker’s Low’), fallgoldenrod var. pictum),” saysLeslieWest- and several Sedum lady’s mantle (Athyrium (Al- in aChicagoBotanic Gardenstudy. ‘Elin’, ahybridmeadow rue,performedwell ers website (www.gardening.cornell.edu). be foundonCornell’s AllstarGroundcov- rating andotherculturalinformation,can plete witheachplant’s weed-suppressing ture inthelandscape.” suppress weeds andprovide colorandtex- Cornell whoworked onthisstudy. “They jury ormajordiseaseproblems. The jury pink flowers andexhibitingnowinterin- score possible—forproducing abundant earned afour-starrating—thehighest inches tallwithoutflowers. Thespecies est speciesevaluated, reaching amere two sianum), adaptability, andwinterhardiness. disease andpestresistance, cultural 2003, whichevaluated ornamentaltraits, tivars conductedfrom 1995through study on26meadow speciesandcul- rue ic Garden recently released acomparative flowers togardens. TheChicagoBotan- offer attractive fernlikefoliageandairy or tuberous perennials, manyofwhich prises about130speciesofrhizomatous buttercup family(Ranunculaceae),com- The genusThalictrum, GARDENERS MEADOW RUES FORNORTHERN GARDENER A fulllistofplantsinthestudy, com- Kyushu kiu- meadow (Thalictrum rue native toJapan, wasthesmall- C ’ NOTEBOOK S a memberofthe botanic.org. (847) 835-5440orvisit tion, calltheChicagoBotanicGarden at tive tallest at10feet,theNorth Americanna- association that works to prevent damage lines. TheCommon Ground Alliance, an know thelocationofunderground utility that require digging,it’s to important tree, other projects putinafence,orstart When planningtobuildapond, planta NUMBER ESTABLISHED BEFOREYOUDIG” “CALL NATIONAL onlineresources/frsdfam/. database athttp://nt.ars-grin.gov/sbmlweb/ seedsmayfindituseful.Access the mystery across anunlabeled packetofhomegrown Evenseeds andfruits. gardeners whocome searchers, and othersidentifytheworld’s Plant Health Inspection agents,re- Service photographs thatwillhelpAnimaland 418 plantfamiliesandmore than3,000 ily Guide forFruits andSeeds.” It contains created anonlinedatabasecalledthe“Fam- vice (ARS)inBeltsville,have Maryland, entists withtheAgriculturalResearch Ser- don’t endupintheUnited States. comes toensuringexotic invasive species rectly whenit identifythem,particularly versity canmakeitachallengetocor- of colorsandshapes.Thisamazingdi- pounds inweight, andcomeinanarray Seeds canrangefrom microscopic totwo GUIDE IDENTIFICATION NEW ONLINESEEDANDFRUIT ichangense T. actaeifolium,T. delavayi, plant vigor, andexcessive winterinjury, rochebruneanum. ‘Elin’, nine othertaxaincludingthehybrid habits.” Additional topratingswent to for “heavyflower production androbust For acopyofthemeadow evalua- rue To helpmakethisjobalittleeasier, sci- Due toweak flower production, low T. pubescens, T. flavum received pooroverall ratings. subsp. also received fourstars glaucum, www.chicago and and T. T.

TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION. BOTTOM: RICHARD HAWKE / COURTESY OF CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN to underground infrastructure, has genetic diversity, but these species set up a new national hotline to are also a “highly sensitive indica- “eliminate confusion caused by tor” of the forest’s health. “We now multiple ‘call before you dig’ num- have a choice,” says Oldfield. “We bers across the country.” People can use the new information to anywhere in the United States can conserve these important trees and dial 811 to have their utility lines restore their forest habitats or we marked for free. Operators will can catalogue their extinction.” route your call to local utility com- Approximately two-thirds of all panies who will send out a profes- magnolia species are found in Asia, sional locator in a few days. Learn of which more than 40 percent are more at www.call811.com. native to southern China. Accord- ing to the report, “half of all wild WILD MAGNOLIAS IN JEOPARDY Chinese magnolias are at risk of According to a recent report from extinction.” A similar finding is Botanic Gardens Conservation emerging in the Americas. For ex- International (BGCI), Fauna and ample, more than 30 of Colom- Flora International, and the bia’s native magnolia species are in Global Trees Campaign, many of danger of extinction. the world’s wild magnolia species are at Magnolia dawsoniana growing wild in the For more information, visit the BCGI risk of extinction. As stated in the Red Sichuan province of its native China. website at www.bgci.org. List of Magnoliaceae, 131 out of a global total of 245 species are threatened to be- medicinal products,” says Sara Oldfield, VIRTUAL VEGETABLE PROBLEM SOLVER come extinct. “The main causes of the secretary general of BGCI and one of the When your cucumber plants start inex- decline of Magnolia species in the wild authors of the report. plicably wilting or something is making are loss of habitat and, for some species, Not only is this “potential catastrophic holes in your tomatoes, it can be frustrat-

COURTESY OF BILL MCNAMARA / QUARRYHILL BOTANICAL GARDEN over-exploitation—either for timber or loss of magnolias” a threat to the family’s ing if you don’t know the cause. To help

July / August 2007 49 50 and Editorial Intern Capstack. Courtney Written byEditor Assistant Viveka Neveln campaign/5_22_07_firewood_pledge. Make your pledgeathttp://ucsaction.org/ ommend usingonlylocal firewood. son getsintofullswing.Instead, theyrec- asthesummercampingsea- important to another, anissuethatbecomesmore firewood fromnot totransport onesite Scientists isaskingthepublictopledge ald ashborers, the Union ofConcerned native insects anddiseasessuchasemer- lines oroutofquarantineareas. firewood state acrosstransport certain ed areas. Because ofthis,itisillegalto woodproducts outofinfest- transporting ican forests spread wheninadvertently by other countries,devastating North Amer- ganisms have arrived asstowaways from Many insectsandplant disease-causingor- FORESTS PROTECT PLEDGE TO www.rosicrucian.org/nativeplantscontest. September 15.For more information, visit offered. Thedeadlineforsubmissionis maturity.” Two first-placeprizes are being require littletonowateroncethey reach dens, usingCalifornianative plantsthat ments ourEgyptian architecture andgar- brilliant landscapedesignthatcomple- sign. Theorganizationislookingfor“a de- is invitingthepublictohelpwithanew wants toreplace twoofitslawnareas and maintenance costs,theRosicrucian Order ever, tohelpreduce wateruseandcut rose gardens, fountains,andstatues. How- of visitorsannuallywithitslargelawns, in San Jose, California,attractsthousands lish Grand LodgeoftheRosicrucian Order Rosicrucian Park, oftheEng- headquarters DESIGNCONTEST PLANTS NATIVE solving your nextveggie pickle. vegproblems symptom. Visit www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/ trol measures andphotographsofeach briefly describedwithrecommended con- sect pests,diseases,andotherproblems are problem, ineitherEnglish orSpanish. In- Crops.” Users cansearch by vegetable orby “Common Problems forVegetable vice hascreated onlineresource, anew sity ofIllinois Cooperative Extension Ser- crop upinvegetable gardens, theUniver- gardeners withpeskyproblems thatcan In tostemthespread aneffort ofnon- the American Gardener for tipsandsuggestions  1965 andfrom 1968to1970. Society in1996.Shealsoserved ontheAHS’sBoardofDirectorsfrom1964to ciety in1993,andtheCatherine H.SweeneyAwardfromtheAmericanHorticultural nia in1990,theThomasRoland MedalfromtheMassachusettsHorticulturalSo- Medal andAwardfromtheScott ArboretumofSwarthmoreCollegeinPennsylva- plants shecultivatedthereforfourdecades. lic arboretumthatpreservesher70-acrepropertyonMartha’s Vineyardandthe nurseries tointroducethehorticulturalmarket.In1996, she establishedapub- members. Ratherthansellingtheplantsherself,shegavethem tocolleaguesand rior varietiesamonghermanyseedlings,whichsheoftennamed afterherfamily curiosity, patience,andperseveranceinthegarden.Shehad akeeneyeforsupe- azaleas, dogwoods,magnolias,hollies,andcrabapples. West Tisbury,Massachusetts,diedinAprilatherhomeHockessin,Delaware. Centenarian PollyHill,knownasthefounderofeponymousarboretumin The LegacyofPollyHill ticultural Society’sCatherineH.SweeneyAwardin1992. boretum ofSwarthmoreCollegeinPennsylvania1987,andtheAmericanHor- of Honorin1983,theArthurHoytScottMedalandAwardfromAr- Propagators SocietyAwardofMeritin1973,theGardenClubAmericaMedal AHS’s BoardofDirectorsfrom1973to1976. and theVisitingCommitteeforArnoldArboretum.Healsoservedon House GroundsCommittee,theU.S.NationalArboretum’sAdvisoryCouncil, shade treeselectionandalsopublishedfourbooks.HeservedontheWhite grafted andcontainerizedstockonmorethan2,500acres. ident ofthebusinessfrom1972to1992.Theyexpandedinclude Flemer, Sr.Workinginpartnershipwithhisbrother,JohnW.hewaspres- began workingatPrincetonNurseries,foundedin1913byhisgrandfather,William and master’sdegreesinbotanyfromYaleUniversity19461947.Hethen Jersey, attheageof85.Representingthirdgenerationfamily-runPrince- Nurseryman andplantbreederWilliamFlemer,III,diedinAprilPrinceton,New In Memoriam:WilliamFlemer,III PLACESintheNEWS PEOPLE and Over herlifetime,Hillgarnered manyawards,includingtheArthurHoytScott Hill wasrenownedforthemeticulousrecordsshekeptaswell asherboundless Among hismanyprofessionalaccolades,hereceivedtheInternationalPlant Flemer wroteandlecturedwidelyontopicssuchasplantpropagation patents onmorethan45trees,shrubs,andvines. ‘Green Vase’Japanesezelkova maple in Americanlandscapes.Theseinclude‘OctoberGlory’red many newcultivarsoftreesandshrubsstillwidelyusedtoday ternationally asaninnovativeplantbreeder,introducing ton NurseriesinAllentown,NewJersey,hewasknownin- ton Sentry’ginkgo with seed-grownvarietiesofmanyshrubsandtreesincluding mer homeonMartha’sVineyard,shebeganexperimenting Delaware. Inher50s,aftersheinheritedfamily’ssum- Longwood GardensinPennsylvaniaandattheUniversityof York in1928butlaterstudiedbotanyandhorticultureat eties ofgardenplants. ing 1,700taxaandselectingmorethan80improvedvari- The arboretumpreservesherlegacyofcollectingandgrow- After servinginWorldWarII,Flemercompletedbachelor’s Hill earnedamusicdegreefromVassarCollegeinNew (Acer rubrum), (Acer (Ginkgo biloba) (Ginkgo ‘Greenspire’ linden (Zelkova serrata), (Zelkova . Intotal,Flemerheld (Tilia cordata), (Tilia and ‘Prince- 

TOP; COURTESY OF WILLIAM FLEMER, IV. BOTTOM; COURTESY OF THE POLLY HILL ARBORETUM

52 by RitaPelczar Solar Power intheGarden These andotheradvances translateintoso- teries canbechargedeven onovercast days. have becomemore efficient,andmanybat- landscaping stylesanduses.Solar collectors New designsare suitedtoawiderrangeof made solarlightsmore practicalthanever. Improvements years inthepastfew have UPGRADES TECHNOLOGICAL W don’t costanythingtouse. spot inthegarden. And,bestofall,they lights cansimplybeplacedinanysunny ed tothepower source by wires, solar household current andmustbeconnect- age systemsthatdrawelectricityfrom landscape. Unlike standard orlow-volt- economical waytobrightentheevening glow oflanterns. deck orpatiocanbebathedinthesoft garden features canbehighlighted,anda can bemarked offforsafefoottraffic, garden intotheevening. Paths andsteps lighting extendsyour enjoyment ofthe after thesungoesdown. Well-placed sound thatkeeps thepestsatbaywithina15-foot radius. protection withoutchemicals, its Anti-MosquitoGuardemitsanultra-highfrequency recharged bythesun,andrepeller worksbothdayandnight.Andformosquitobite tect anareaofapproximately 6,000 squarefeet.TheabovegroundNiCADbatteryis promises todriveawaymolesand otherrodentsusingsoundandvibrationsthatwillpro- radio runsonbatterieschargedbythesun,withawind-uphandle asback-up. by theFreeplayEnergyGroup.Noneedtoworryaboutoutlets, wires,orbatteries—the play-by-play ofyourfavoritesportsteam,considera tain birdbaths.BothPlow&HearthandGardener’sSupplyoffer awideselection. single ormultiplefountainheads,multi-tieredcascades,floating fountains,andfoun- are simpletoinstall.Theyavailableinawiderangeofsizes andstyles,including Solar fountains MORE SOLARGARDENPRODUCTS Solar lightsofferan easy-to-install, Solar Homeofferstwo If yournotionofspendinganafternoonweedingincludeslistening tomusicorthe the American Gardener HEN DAYTIME doors isoftenmore inviting temperatures soar, theout- are aneasywaytoaddadramaticwaterfeatureyourlandscape and solar pest-controldevices:ThewaterproofSolarPestRepeller summer help illuminateagardenwalkwayatnight. These Two-in-OneFlexiSpotSolarPathLights may behousedseparately. For gr cated inapanelontopofthefixture, but ittoelectricalenergy,converts isusuallylo- PV cell,whichcollectssolarenergyand fixture andaphotovoltaic cell. The (PV) minated longerthanearlierversions. lar lightsthatshinebrighterandstayillu- Solar lightsbasically consistofalight RE GARAGE GREEN solar radio C such asthoseoffered ® eatest ef- —R.P. features asolar-powered fountain. This attractivebirdbathfromSolar Home by securingthefixture toabranch. spotlighting agarden feature from above ing atree from beneathitsbranchesor dramatic lightingeffectssuchasuplight- a sunnyspot.Thisfeature makespossible garden, aslongthecollectorisplacedin nents allows illumination withinashady easy-to-hide wire. Separating thecompo- light fixture, connectingthemwithathin, lights separatesthesolarcollectorfrom the vices, dependingontheeffectdesired. ways by reflectors anddirectional opticde- be directed ordiffusedinanumberof than othertypesofbulbs.Theirlightcan give offminimalheat,lastingmuchlonger ting diodes(LEDs)have nofilamentsand secutive daysbefore theyare recharged. store enoughenergyforuptofive con- NiCADs; someNiMH batteriescan larger capacitythansimilarlysized um (NiCAD). NiMH batterieshave a metal hydride (NiMH) ornickelcadmi- madeofnickel rechargeable battery placed infullsun,facingsouth. ficiency, thesolarcollector A feature available withsomesolar The electricalenergyisstored ina Low-powered andefficientlight-emit- should be

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light hours, when their batteries recharge. ed collector with two eight-watt fluores- 11 XMAS TREES 17 HYDROSEEDING 22 FLOWERING PLANT 12 REFORESTATION 18 LANDSCAPING COMPETITIONS Many solar light fixtures are mounted cent bulbs that, when fully charged, 13 HYDROPONICS 19 PROPAGATION 23 INTERIORSCAPING 14 FIELD CROPS 20 ANTI-EROSION 24 CUT FLOWERS 15 BONSAI 21 ENVIRONMENTAL 25 WEATHER DAMAGE on in-ground stakes that keep them in provide up to five hours of illumination. 16 TISSUE CULTURE IMPROVEMENT 26 WATER GARDENS place, others are freestanding and can be The range of solar lighting options AT CONSCIENTIOUS PLANT DEALERS WORLDWIDE placed on a table or hung on hooks. and the efficiency of their components Used, tipped to, and supplied by thousands of conscientious Solar path lights are designed for safe- continues to grow. And as technology ad- plant-selling firms. On every continent, without salesmen. ty as well as aesthetics. The fixtures typi- vances, the cost of solar lights is begin- REFUSE “just as good,” false, cheaply made, unbalancing substitutes – often 991/2% water. cally direct the light downward or ning to come down—another incentive NOTHING IS AT ALL “LIKE”  provide a soft non-directional glow. They for going solar in your landscape. 50 VITAMINS-HORMONES needn’t be exceptionally bright, but they V Made in U.S.A. by VITAMIN INSTITUTE I should mark a path clearly, particularly Rita Pelczar is a contributing editor for The 12610 Saticoy Street South, North Hollywood, CA 91605 Website www.superthrive.com COURTESY OF GARDENER’S SUPPLY (2) where it turns or where the level varies. American Gardener.

July / August 2007 53 BOOKC REVIEWS

Recommendations for Your Gardening Library

Burpee The Complete Flower Gardener: The Comprehensive Foliage: Astonishing Color and Texture Beyond Flowers Guide to Growing Flowers Organically Nancy J. Ondra. Storey Publishing, North Adams, Massachusetts, Karan Davis Cutler and Barbara W. Ellis. Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hobo- 2007. 304 pages. Publisher’s price, softcover: $24.95. ken, New Jersey, 2007. 488 pages. Publisher’s price, hardcover: $34.95. MY BACKGROUND in textile design has made me a diehard foliage gardener, so I admit to having a predisposed positive bias LIVING UP TO the words “complete” and “comprehensive” in toward Foliage, the attractive and accessible new book by Nancy its title, this book does far more than just explain how to care for Ondra. I view arranging differently textured, shaped, and col- flowers the organic way. It looks like a ored foliage plants as a gardener’s ver- coffee table book, reads like a work of sion of designing an art quilt with literature, and works like a how-to or printed fabrics ranging from tiny reference manual. dots to graphic splashes. Good soil is the foundation of any Ondra and photographer Rob organic garden, and so it’s not surpris- Cardillo provide newfound inspira- ing that there’s a chapter devoted to that tion for foliage choices and combina- subject, one to managing pests and dis- tions. For these collaborators, foliage eases organically, and another to plant- is more than mere space filler in the ing seeds and caring for flowers. The landscape. Foliage, Ondra writes, “greatly extends the seasonal book also focuses on design principles interest of individual plants, and of the garden as a whole.” and color theory, and includes specific suggestions for plant com- Chapters in this useful reference are organized by foliage color: binations. If you’re looking for ideas for a theme garden, you’ll find gold-yellow-bronze, red-purple-black, silver-gray-blue, and varie- it here with lists of plants to attract butterflies, another for hum- gated-multicolored plants. Plant icons indicate spiky, bold, medi- mingbirds, as well as ideas for an edible flower garden, a “moon” um, fine, and lacy foliage textures, helping to guide the garden garden, a dyer’s garden, and suggestions for specific environments designer in each of us. I especially appreciate that sun and shade such as a hillside, pathside, and woodland. foliage plants are identified, as well as the section on how to deal About half the book is an encyclopedia of flowers, but this with the common diseases and pests that strike foliage plants. one goes far beyond the usual bulleted basic information about For each palette, Ondra offers a botanical Latin primer ti- height, bloom time, light and soil preferences, and flower color. tled “What’s in a Name?” For example, many of us already Here you’ll learn all sorts of fascinating tidbits about each plant. know that aurea indicates “gold-colored,” but did you know For example, did you know that Allium moly was an antidote that flavida means “yellowish?” Or, how about that nishiki to Circe’s poison, thus protecting Odysseus from being turned means “brocade,” as in a patterned fabric? into a swine? Or that the name Coreopsis is from the Greek for Plant profiles are the heart of this book, in which Ondra “like a bug” because of the seed’s appearance? Hence the plant’s writes with a confident voice. When she describes a plant, I common name, tickseed. know she’s grown it herself. Among Cardillo’s photos are sev- You have to read through a lot of text to find the basic in- eral taken in Ondra’s own garden in Pennsylvania. formation, but, in the process, you’ll learn all sorts of interest- For someone like me, who is still in horticultural shock from ing things, and the index is helpful if you want to skip right to leaving Seattle (USDA Zone 8) for Los Angeles (Zone 10), I am a specific topic. But beware, you may be looking for average last grateful for the “alternatives” offered with each plant entry. When frost dates for your region and find yourself sidetracked, ab- I moved to southern California, I left behind a collection of Zone sorbed in an explanation of phenology, the study of recurring 5 to 8 Japanese maples. Instead, Ondra suggests I try growing se- natural signs to predict local weather conditions: “When the lections of African rose mallow or cranberry hibiscus, which have dogwood flowers appear/ Frost will not again be here.” palmately-lobed, maplelike, deep red leaves and grow happily in —Catriona Tudor Erler Zones 8 to 11. That tip alone is worth adding Foliage to my shelf. —Debra Prinzing A resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, Catriona Tudor Erler is the author of eight garden books, and she has contributed to many more. Recently transplanted from Seattle to southern California, Debra Her next book, Design Ideas for Home Landscaping, will be Prinzing is a garden and design writer. Her next book, Stylish Sheds published in spring 2008. & Elegant Hideaways, will be published in 2008.

54 the American Gardener A Pattern Garden: The Essential Elements of Garden Making regardless of a garden’s size, location, or other factors. They in- Valerie Easton. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, 2007. 216 pages. clude creating a sense of arrival, instilling feelings of shelter Publisher’s price, hardcover: $34.95. and refuge, making a journey with paths that are relevant to a setting, balancing enclosure and openness, using appropriate A PATTERN GARDEN starts with a simple premise: You can scale, creating destinations and focal points, and incorporat- make a garden feel more welcoming and comfortable if you ef- ing water features, containers, and garden art. For example, the fectively include specific design ele- “gates” pattern describes various ways to create portals that ments—what the author terms conceal or frame views into a garden. “patterns.” Valerie Easton says in the Easton discusses both practical and psychological issues to book’s introduction that she wants to consider in using patterns to foster intrigue, meaning, coher- make the garden-making process more ence, and sheer delight. She emphasizes that personalized and accessible for home gardeners by relevant renditions of these patterns imbue a garden with an defining what are often intangible ex- aura of being a special and memorable place. periences or “felt senses.” This book offers an abundance of beautiful photographs She also acknowledges that this and inspiring and well-organized design ideas, but also pro- book pays homage to A Pattern Lan- vides insights into why these things matter. A Pattern Garden guage by Christopher Alexander (Oxford University Press, explores garden making as an enlivening process that draws on 1977), a bible of sorts for architects, interior designers, and any- every aspect of human experience. It tackles and translates big one trying to make a house become a home. That book influ- concepts into language and images that are likely to trigger enced Easton for many years before she decided to reinterpret “aha” moments for the reader. In turn, that’s likely to inspire some of its key ideas for gardeners. According to Easton, these aha moments in your garden.  design patterns are essential because they “deal with the under- —Virginia Small lying patterns of behavior and form that shape our experience and stir the emotions.” In other words, they appeal to arche- A former senior editor at Fine Gardening, Virginia Small is now a typal human experiences. freelance writer, editor, speaker, and garden consultant based in Easton has successfully distilled complex design theory into Woodbury, Connecticut. She is currently writing a book on gardens of 14 distinct patterns that can be interpreted in countless ways, the Berkshires to be published in 2008. PHOTO BY ANNE C. ALLEN FROM 2008 GARDENER’S CALENDAR

2008 “Gardener’s” Calendar There are 13 prize-winning colors taken by TGOA/MGCA members, including AHS members who are also members of TGOA/MGCA $6.95 ($59.00 for 10) Postpaid To order: call 515-278-0295 or e-mail [email protected] The Gardeners of America/ Men’s Garden Clubs of America Box 241, Johnston, Iowa 50121-0241 (515) 278-0295 www.tgoa-mgca.org

July / August 2007 55 GARDENERC’S BOOKS

Summer Reading

ITH SPRING’S FLURRY of planting, pruning, and $24.95), a new collection of 132 columns weeding done—or mostly so in my case—gardeners this beloved garden writer penned over W finally get to enjoy fresh tomatoes, bouquets of flow- a period of 14 years for the Charlotte Ob- ers, and other summery delights. However, during the dog days server beginning in 1957. Those unfa- with the heat, humidity, and mosquitoes in full throttle, I find miliar with Lawrence will find myself darting out of doors only long enough to hose down a few themselves enchanted with her thought- parched plants on the verge of a crispy death. While I wait out the ful and conversational writing, akin to a sultry weather, a book starring plants helps me get the rest of my modern day blog. Organized by themes gardening fix. Here are some fun and fascinating titles that just such as “Seasonal Flowers” or “Garden- may give the summer’s latest beach novels a run for their money. ers and Gardens,” these short pieces If you’re in need of a vicarious road trip, ride shotgun with range widely over gardening tips and in- Scott Calhoun for a rollicking romp around the Southwest in sights as well as places, literature, and people that influenced Chasing Wildflowers: A Mad Search her. The book even includes a small collection of black and for Wild Gardens (Rio Nuevo, 2007, white photographs of Lawrence and her garden. $16.95). The book chronicles a series of After coming across an ancient Chinese almanac that divides visits Calhoun made to six states from the year into 72 periods of five days each, author Liza Dalby felt Utah to Texas as well as parts of Mexi- this system makes a lot of sense for gar- co over a period of two years to hunt for deners because “every week in the gar- indigenous wildflowers. A self-con- den is a different season.” In East fessed plant nerd, Calhoun often pulls Wind Melts the Ice (University of Cal- over to investigate a promising flash of ifornia Press, 2007, $24.95), Dalby color on the shoulder of a sun-baked weaves her observations about the nat- highway, and does “take pains to correctly identify” the plants he ural world and Asian cultures into elo- encounters with common and botanical names. He also blends quent and incisive essays as she charts in tidbits about local cuisine (he has quite a propensity for fish each of these little seasons in her own tacos), people he meets along the way, and even advice for stay- garden in Berkeley, California, and in ing at Motel 6. Many of his wildflower photographs further en- the larger natural world. Part garden liven this compelling book. journal and part memoir, this book presents an intriguing new For a divergence into a world of limousines and French perspective—for Westerners at least—on the minute but inex- chateaus, there’s The Landscape Diaries: Garden of Obsession orable seasonal changes happening every day. (Ruder Finn, 2007, $24.95). Aptly Another essay collection, More Papers From the Potting named, this engaging tale reads Shed (Frances Lincoln, 2006, $24.95) comes down more on the somewhat like a private diary in wry side of things. Charles Elliott which Carole Rocherolle, daugh- began gardening in New York and ter of the late business magnate Massachusetts, but for the last 20 years Lester Avnet, describes how she lit- has been ensconced in the British gar- erally ran away from her privileged dening scene. Many of the pieces, de- youth to marry a member of rived from a column he wrote for French nobility. However, after she Horticulture magazine, take a humor- and her new husband, Jerome, fall ous look at various gardening quirks in into the nursery and landscape business, they are no strangers to these cultures—for example “British hard work and the rewards it brings. The book follows the 30- hedge-rage” versus Americans who year trajectory of their horticultural development, including es- “conduct their lives in full view of their tablishing Shanti Bithi Nursery in Connecticut, traveling the neighbours (sic), to say nothing of every snoop wandering world in search of unusual plants, and the creation of their most down the street.” Elliott also weighs in on “a fairly preposter- important legacy, the private Steinhart gardens in New York, ous range of topics, from medieval grafting practices to excus- complete with stunning color photographs. es for banning leaf blowers, from [his] own adventures with Fans of Elizabeth Lawrence will want to get their hands on birds to the history of guano.”  Beautiful at All Seasons (Duke University Press, 2007, —Viveka Neveln, Assistant Editor

56 the American Gardener

REGIONALC HAPPENINGS

Horticultural Events from Around the Country

NORTHEAST Events sponsored by or including official SOUTHEAST CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT participation by AHS or AHS staff members AL, FL, GA, KY, NC, SC, TN RAP JULY 21. Garden Furniture Design. are identified with the AHS symbol. RAP JULY 19. Roots of Gardening Series. Workshop. Berkshire Botanical Garden. Lecture. Georgia Golf Hall of Fame’s Botanical Stockbridge, Massachusetts. (413) 298- Events hosted by botanical gardens and Garden. Augusta, Georgia. (706) 724-4443. 3926. www.berkshirebotanical.org. arboreta that participate in AHS’s Reciprocal www.gghf.org. Admissions Program are identified with the RAP RAP JULY 28. The Art of Cottage Garden- RAP symbol. Current AHS members showing a JULY 23 & 24. Eastern Region Interna- ing. Workshop. New York Botanical Garden. tional Plant Propagator’s Society Area Meet- valid membership card are eligible for free or Bronx, New York. (718) 817-8747. ing. Yew Dell Gardens. Crestwood, Kentucky. discounted admission to the garden or other www.nybg.org. (859) 257-1273. E-mail: [email protected]. benefits. Special events may not be included; JULY 28 & 29. Garden Walk Buffalo. Garden contact the host site for details or visit RAP JULY 28. Butterfly Days. Festival. tour. Buffalo, New York. (716) 879-0123. ww.ahs.org/events/reciprocal_events.htm. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Coral www.GardenWalkBuffalo.com. Gables, Florida. (305) 667-1651. www.fairchildgarden.org. AUG. 9–12. Beantown Digs Community RAP JULY 23–27. EcoExplorers. Summer Gardens. Conference. American Community camp. The State Arboretum of Virginia. AUG. 1. Gardens of Japan. Lecture. Bellin- Garden Association. Boston, Massachusetts. Boyce, Virginia. (540) 837-1758 ext. 242. grath Gardens and Home. Theodore, Alaba- (877) 275-2242. www.communitygarden.org. www.virginia.edu/blandy. ma. (251) 973-2217. www.bellingrath.org.

Looking ahead JULY 24–26. Penn Atlantic Nursery Trade AUG. 9–11. SNA 2007: Researcher’s Confer- SEPT. 11. The Great Victorian Trees of Show (PANTS). Pennsylvania Landscape & ence and Trade Show. Southern Nursery Asso- Chateau-sur-Mer. Garden tour. Newport Nursery Association. Atlantic City, New Jer- ciation. Atlanta, Georgia. (770) 953-3311. Mansions. The Preservation Society of sey. (800) 898-3411. www.PLNA.com. www.sna.org. Newport County. Newport, Rhode Island. (401) 847-1000 ext. 154. RAP JULY 28. Water Garden Tour. The AUG. 15–17. 2007 Summer Green Show. www.newportmansions.org. Delaware Center for Horticulture. Gateway The North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Garden Center. Wilmington, Delaware. (302) Association Inc. Greensboro, North Carolina. SEPT. 14. Gardening in a Changing Climate 658-6262. www.dehort.org. (919) 816-9119. www.ncnla.com. II. Conference. New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, New York. (718) 817-8747. RAP AUG. 3. Using Native Plants in Your RAP AUG. 16. Planning Your Autumn Vege- www.nybg.org. Landscape Design. Lecture. Green Spring table Garden. Lecture. Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Alexandria, Virginia. (703) 642- Garden. Atlanta, Georgia. (404) 876-5859. SEPT. 15. Art Goes Wild Gardener’s Festival. 5173. www.greenspring.org. www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org. New England Wild Flower Society. Framing- ham, Massachusetts. (508) 877-7630. AUG. 5. Cactus & Succulent Show. Brookside AUG. 21. Tennessee Green Industry Field www.newfs.org. Gardens. Wheaton, Maryland. (301) 962- Day. Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Asso- 1448. www.BrooksideGardens.org. ciation Inc. Franklin, Tennessee. (931) SEPT. 22. Gathering of Gardeners: 473-3951. www.tnla.com. A Recipe for a Perfect Garden. Workshop. RAP AUG. 15 & 16. Invasive Plants: Re- The Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative search, Removal, and Renewal. Conference. Looking ahead Extension of Monroe County. Rochester, Mid-Atlantic Exotic Pest Plant Council. Mor- SEPT. 6 & 7. Southern Plant Conference. New York. (585) 461-1000 ext. 225. ris Arboretum. University of Pennsylvania. Southern Nursery Association. Alabama http://GatheringOfGardeners.com. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (215) 247- Nursery and Landscape Association. Mobile, 5777 ext. 156. www.ma-eppc.org. Alabama. (770) 953-3311. www.sna.org. MID-ATLANTIC Looking ahead RAP SEPT. 15 & 16. Carolinas Dahlia Soci- PA, NJ, VA, MD, DE, WV, DC RAP SEPT. 11, 18, & 25. Become a Tree ety Annual Show. Festival. The North Caroli- JULY 20. Pond Care. Workshop. Ladew Topi- Tender. Tree training workshop. Pennsylva- na Arboretum. Asheville, North Carolina. ary Gardens. Monkton, Maryland. (410) nia Horticultural Society. Landsdowne, (828) 665-2492. www.ncarboretum.org. 557-9570. www.LadewGardens.com. Pennsylvania. (610) 489-4315. www.pennsylvaniahorticulturalsociety.org. NORTH CENTRAL JULY 20. Woody Plant Conference. The Scott IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI Arboretum of Swarthmore College. Swarth- RAP SEPT. 13–15. Fall Plant Sale. Lewis Gin- more, Pennsylvania. (610) 328-8025. ter Botanical Garden. Richmond, Virginia. JULY 17. Summer Turf Problems and Solu- www.scottarboretum.org. (804) 262-9887. www.lewisginter.org. tions for Where You Live, Work, and Play.

58 the American Gardener Regional seminar. Ohio Turfgrass Founda- tion. Centerville, Ohio. (888) 683-3445. Wildflower Garden Centennial Celebration www.ohioturfgrass.org. PARTICIPANTS OF this year’s American Horticultural Society National Children RAP JULY 26 & AUG. 2. Math for Gardeners. & Youth Garden Symposium have the exciting opportunity to help celebrate the 100th Workshop. Chicago Botanic Garden. anniversary of the oldest public wildflower garden in the nation. Various events and cele- Glencoe, Illinois. (847) 835-8261. brations are scheduled at the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary in www.chicagobotanic.org. Minneapolis, Minnesota, in honor of this milestone. Under the concerned petition of schoolteacher Eloise JULY 27. NNLA Field Day. Festival. Nebraska Butler and additional botany colleagues, the Minneapolis Nursery & Landscape Association. Omaha, Nebraska. (402) 450-7192. www.nnla.org. Park Board preserved three acres of land on April 27, 1907, as a refuge for native flora. Since then, the Eloise Butler JULY 28. Gorgeous Gardens Promenade Wildflower Garden and Bird Sanctuary has expanded to Walks. Garden tours. Grout Museum Dis- comprise 15 acres of woodland, wetland, and prairie ecosys- trict. Waterloo, Iowa. (319) 234-6357. tems. The sanctuary resides within the Theodore Wirth www.groutmuseumdistrict.org. Regional Park, the largest regional park in the Minneapo- lis Park and Recreation system. One full-time garden cu- RAP JULY 28. Journey Gardening Class. rator, one seasonal part-time naturalist, and more than 60 The Journey Museum and Gardens. Rapid volunteers manage the 500 woody and herbaceous plant City, South Dakota. (605) 394-6923. species and 140 resident and migratory bird species in the www.journeymuseum.org. park. Open from April through mid-October, the garden JULY 28. Tour Le Jardin. Garden tour. Elm receives approximately 60,000 visitors annually. Brooke Garden Club. Milwaukee, Wauwa- To help commemorate the centennial anniversary, an Eloise Butler tosa, and Elm Grove, Wisconsin. (414) 578- Eloise Butler history exhibit is on display at the gardens 2513. E-mail: [email protected]. through September 30. Additional celebrations include an Eloise Butler Birthday Bash on August 11, and “100 Trees for 100 years,” a tree planting event and guided tours of the AUG. 5–11. 25th Perennial Plant Symposium garden, on September 29. For additional information, visit the Minneapolis Park & & Trade Show. Perennial Plant Association. Recreation Board website at www.minneapolisparks.org or call (612) 230-6414. Columbus, Ohio. (614) 771-8431. www.perennialplant.org. Perennial Plant Association Symposium in Ohio RAP AUG. 7. MSU Garden Plant Showcase. Workshop and tour. Michigan State Univer- THE 25TH ANNUAL Perennial Plant Association (PPA) Symposium will be held Au- sity. East Lansing, Michigan. (517) 355- gust 5 to 11 in Columbus, Ohio. This special anniversary celebration features an impres- 0249 ext. 1339. www.hrt.msu. edu/plant sive slate of lectures from prominent industry experts, a trade show, and tours of the area’s tour/MSU_showcase.htm. finest garden centers, nurseries, and public and private gardens. Always a highlight of the yearly calendar for green industry professionals and plant enthusiasts, the PPA symposium AUG. 11. Wildflower Garden Birthday Bash. Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Bird is “the only annual program dedicated solely to perennial education.” For additional in- Sanctuary. Minneapolis, Minnesota. (612) formation, please call (614) 771-8431 or visit the PPA website at www.perennialplant.org. 370-4903. www.minneapolisparks.org. —Courtney Capstack, Editorial Intern RAP AUG. 25 & 26. Dahlia Show. Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Madison, Wisconsin. (608) 246-4550. www.olbrich.org. Society. Will Rogers Garden Center. Okla- Springs National Park, Arkansas. (800) Looking ahead homa City, Oklahoma. (405) 843-7130. 366-4664. www.garvangardens.org. RAP SEPT. 14–16. Antiques & Gardeners’ www.okhort.org. Fair. Franklin Park Conservatory & Chihuly SEPT. 13–17. Fall National Convention & Collection. Columbus, Ohio. (800) 214- RAP JULY 28. PlantWise: Native Alternatives Rose Show. American Rose Society. St. 7275. www.fpconservatory.org. to Invasive Plants. Workshop. Lady Bird John- Louis, Missouri. (314) 469-6691. son Wildflower Center. Austin, Texas. (512) www.arsconventionstl.org. 292-4200. www.wildflower.org. SOUTH CENTRAL SEPT. 28–OCT. 2. Get Your Gardening Kicks on AR, KS, LA, MO, MS, OK, TX RAP JULY 29. Iris Show. Botanica, The Wi- Route 66. Symposium. Garden Writers Asso- JULY 20 & 21. Watermelon Festival and chita Gardens. Wichita, Kansas. (316) 264- ciation. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (703) Garden Show. Valliant City Park. Valliant, 0448. www.botanica.org. 257-1032. www.gardenwriters.org. Oklahoma. (580) 933-5050. www.valliant chamber.org/watermelon_festival.html. AUG. 16–19. Nursery/Landscape Expo 2007. SOUTHWEST Texas Nursery & Landscape Association. AZ, NM, CO, UT RAP JULY 21–29. Cactus Show and Sale. Dallas, Texas. (800) 880-0343. Henry Shaw Cactus Society. Missouri Botan- www.tnlaonline.org. RAP JULY 19. Desert Vegetable Gardening ical Garden. St. Louis, Missouri. (314) 577- 101. Desert Botanical Garden. Phoenix, 5100. www.hscactus.org. Looking ahead Arizona. (480) 941-1225. www.dbg.org. RAP SEPT. 5. Landscape Design Work- JULY 27–29. Iris Rhizome Sale. Oklahoma Iris shop. Garvan Woodland Gardens. Hot RAP JULY 21. Garden Art Auction. Western COURTESY OF MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC LIBRARY

July / August 2007 59 Colorado Botanical Gardens. Grand AUG. 11 & 12. Edible Gardens Festival. JULY 21 & 22. Northwest Herb Fest 2007. Junction, Colorado. (970) 245-9030. COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Herbal Transitions. Pleasant Hill, Oregon. www.wcbotanic.org. Food & the Arts. Napa, California. (541) 736-0164. www.herbaltransitions.com. (707) 259-1600. www.copia.org. RAP AUG. 4. Highlands Art Garden Tour. JULY 26–28. East Meets West: Conifer Denver Botanic Gardens. Denver, Colorado. AUG. 18. Roof Water Catchment. Workshop. Artistry of Man and Nature. National (720) 865-3500. www.botanicgardens.org. Occidental Arts and Ecology Center. Occi- meeting. American Conifer Society. dental, California. (707) 874-1557. Seattle, Washington. (336) 945-0483. AUG. 10. Southwest Horticulture Annual Day www.oaec.org. www.conifersociety.org. of Education (SHADE). Arizona Nursery As- sociation. Scottsdale, Arizona. (480) 966- AUG. 31–SEPT. 3. Northern California JULY 31–AUG. 3. Nurturing the Written Word: 1610. www.anza.org. Women’s Herbal Symposium. Black Oak Further Adventures in Creative Garden Ranch. Laytonville, California. (707) 824- Writing. Center for Urban Horticulture. RAP AUG. 25. Native Seed Collecting. 1429. www.womensherbalsymposium.org. University of Washington Botanic Gardens. Workshop. Red Butte Garden and Arbore- Seattle, Washington. (206) 543-3889. tum. Salt Lake City, Utah. (801) 581-4747. Looking ahead www.wwbotanicgardens.org. www.redbuttegarden.org. SEPT. 4–8. American Begonia Society Convention. Palos Verdes Branch of The RAP AUG. 4 & 5. Anchorage Garden Club American Begonia Society. Los Angeles, Flower Show. Anchorage Garden Club. Alas- WEST COAST California. www.begonias.org. ka Botanical Garden. Anchorage, Alaska. CA, NV, HI (928) 770-3692. www.alaskabg.org. JULY 21 & 22. Orchid Show. Kaimuki Orchid SEPT. 16. Carmel TomatoFest. Tomato har- Society. Honolulu, Hawaii. (808) 734- vest celebration. Carmel, California. (800) AUG. 23–25. The Farwest Show. Oregon Asso- 3839. www.bsteele.com/mirror/orchids. 965-4827. www.TomatoFest.com. ciation of Nurserymen. Portland, Oregon. (800) 342-6401. www.farwestshow.com. JULY 28. Getting Started Garden Design. Work- NORTHWEST shop. The Watershed Project. Youth Science RAP AUG. 25. Bug Day. Festival. Idaho AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY Institute. Saratoga, California. (510) 665- Botanical Garden. Boise, Idaho. (208) 343- 3430. www.thewatershedproject.org. JULY 20–22. Sequim Lavender Festival. 8649. www.idahobotanicalgarden.org. Farm tours, crafts, food tastings, and JULY 28 & 29. Culver City Garden Club Show demonstrations. Sequim Lavender Growers RAP AUG. 25. Xeriscapes of the Botanic & Sale. Culver City, California. (310) 203- Association. Sequim, Washington. (877) Gardens. Summer garden tour. Cheyenne 1482. E-mail: [email protected]. 681-3035. www.lavenderfestival.com. Botanic Gardens. Cheyenne, Wyoming. (307) 637-6458. www.botanic.org.

CANADA

JULY 22. Plant Show and Sale. Vancouver Shade Garden Society. VanDusen Botanical Garden. Vancouver, British Columbia. (604) 602-6644. www.vandusengarden.org.

AUG 3–9. International Plant Cold Hardiness Seminar. University of Saskatchewan. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. (306) 966-8617. www.8ipchs.usask.ca.

AUG. 12–15. Northern Nut Growers Association Annual Meeting. Carleton University. Ottawa, Ontario. www.auntiesocial.net/NNGA98.

Looking ahead SEPT. 8. Arboretum Auxiliary Plant Sale. The Arboretum at University of Guelph. Guelph, Ontario. (519) 824-4120. www.uoguelph. ca/arboretum.

“Works wonders.” –Denver Post SEPT. 12 & 13. 2007 CanWest Hort Show. “Elsie’s beauty secret.” –Glamour Horticulture trade show. Vancouver, British Columbia. (604) 574-7772. It’s remarkable what big things are being reported about the stuff inside our www.CanWestHortShow.com. little green can. Try some today. Your skin should be softer tomorrow. SEPT. 16–19. Annual Meeting of the Eastern DAIRY ASSOCIATION CO., INC. Region of the International Plant Propaga- tors’ Society. Educational sessions, tours, P.O. BOX 145, DEPT. AG07, LYNDONVILLE, VT 05851/TEL. 802-626-3610/WWW.BAGBALM.COM and plant auction. Montreal, Quebec. (631) WEST OF ROCKIES: SMITH SALES SERVICE, 16372 S. W. 72ND ST., PORTLAND, OR 97223 765-9638. www.ipps.org/easternna. 

60 the American Gardener GARDENC MARKET

CLASSIFIED AD RATES: All classified advertising must be prepaid. $2.75 per word; mini- mum $66 per insertion. Copy and prepayment must be received by the 20th of the month three months prior to publication date. To place an ad, call (703) 768-5700 ext. 120.

Can you spot the IRRIGATION ORCHIDS ORCHIDS FOR EVERYBODY. All award-winning $5 billion plants. Cattleyas, Oncidiums, Vanda, Miltonias, water storage plant? Paphiopedilum, Phalaenopsis, other genera. The lowest prices always. For more information, con- tact: Franz Patzwald, 3126 Huntington Drive, Trees are helping areas like yours save up Largo, Florida, 33771. Telephone: (727) 536- to $5 billion in stormwater management 2508. Nursery registration: A133174. costs and $50 million in air pollution control costs. Help us plant that idea around the country. Call or visit us on PLANT LABELS the web. LILIES LILY NOOK—“Lilium Specialists,” Asiatic, LA Hy- ENGRAVED BOTANICAL brids, Martagon, Trumpet, Oriental, Orienpet & PLANT LABELS Species Lilies. Color catalog $2.00. Box 846AG, PLANT IDENTIFICATION FOR EVERY GARDEN Neepawa, MB. R0J-1H0 Canada. Phone: (204) FAMILY - GENUS - SPECIES - COMMON NAME 476-3225; E-mail: [email protected]; Web: Order @ www.gardenmarkers.com www.lilynook.mb.ca. FAX: 434-975-1627 P.O.Box 2000, Washington, D.C. 20013 PLANT LABELS – STAKES – TREE TACKS 800-545-TREE

Wish List of Goods & Services how you can make a difference to the AHS

In-kind donations of goods or services by individuals We are looking for… and businesses are an important way of supporting Education/Programs Gardens & Buildings the American Horticultural Society. Perhaps you • Digital camera • Garden carts have something that you no longer need but would • Electronic weather station • 4WD garden utility vehicle be very useful to the AHS staff. Gently used or new (with Internet connectivity) • Rugs and carpeting (please items are preferred and arrangements need to be • Hi-lumen LCD projector contact Trish Gibson at ext. made for items to be delivered to the Society’s • Library bookcases 114 for more information) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. (However, • Weather-proof web camera • Lightweight 6-foot folding there is an exception to every rule, so please get in • Retractable motorized tables touch with us to discuss your particular situation.) projection screen • Seasonal mowing and edging services To donate a wish list item or to inquire about Communications/Publications donations of other products or services, please • Laptop computer Membership/Development contact Tom Underwood, Director of Member • File cabinets • Computer task chairs Programs/COO, by phone at (703) 768-5700 • Lawyer’s bookcases • Desktop paper-folding ext. 115 or e-mail [email protected]. machine

Before dropping off an item, please call or send us an e-mail in advance to make sure that we still need it and to help us prepare for your donation. Donations are tax-deductible.

Many thanks to those who have helped support the AHS through your in-kind donations of Don’t have any of these items but goods and services. want to help? Please consider a donation to the AHS Annual Fund.

July / August 2007 61 PRONUNCIATIONSC AND PLANTING ZONES

Most of the cultivated plants described in this issue are listed here with their pronunciations, USDA Plant Hardiness Zones and AHS Plant Heat Zones. These zones suggest a range of locations where temperatures are appropriate—both in winter and summer—for growing each plant. While the zones are a good place to start in determining plant adaptability in your region, factors such as exposure, moisture, snow cover, and humidity also play an important role in plant survival. The codes tend to be conservative; plants may grow outside the ranges indicated. A USDA zone rating of 0–0 means that the plant is a true annual and completes its life cycle in a year or less. To purchase a two-by-three-foot glossy AHS Plant Heat Zone Map for $9.95, call (800) 777-7931 or visit www.ahs.org.

A–D Gaura lindheimeri GAW-ruh lind-HY-mur-eye O. howardii O. how-WARD-ee-eye (4–9, 9–4) (6–9, 9–6) O. longissima O. lon-JIS-sih-muh (6–9, 10–6) Allium sphaerocephalon AL-ee-um sfeer-o-SEF- Gladiolus callianthus glad-ee-O-lus O. macrocarpa O. mak-ro-KAR-puh (4–8, 8–3) uh-lon (USDA 4–11, AHS 12–1) kal-ee-AN-thus (7–10, 10–7) O. organensis O. or-guh-NEN-sis (5–8, 9–5) Ammi majus AM-ee MAY-juss (0–0, 9–1) Gypsophila paniculata jip-SOF-ih-luh O. speciosa O. spee-see-O-suh (5–8, 8–1) Anethum graveolens uh-NEE-thum gruh-VEE-o- pan-ik-yew-LAY-tuh (4–9, 9–1) lenz (0–0, 12–1) Helenium autumnale heh-LEE-nee-um P–Z Arctostaphylos ✕coloradensis ark-toh-STAFF-ih- aw-tum-NAL-ee (4–8, 8–1) loss kol-ur-uh-DEN-siss (4–8, 8–3) Panicum virgatum PAN-ih-kum vur-GAY-tum Helictotrichon sempervirens hel-ik-toh-TRY-kon A. uva-ursi A. YOO-vuh-UR-sy (2–6, 6–1) (5–9, 9–1) sem-pur-VY-renz (4–9, 9–1) Astrantia major uh-STRAN-tee-uh MAY-jer Patrinia scabiosifolia pah-TRIN-ee-uh Heliopsis helianthoides hee-lee-OP-siss (4–7, 7–1) skay-bee-o-sih-FO-lee-uh (5–8, 8–5) hee-lee-an-THOY-deez (4–9, 9–1) Boltonia asteroides bohl-TOH-nee-uh P. villosa P. vih-LO-suh (5–8, 8–4) Hemerocallis citrina hem-er-o-KAL-liss ass-tuh-ROY-deez (4–8, 9–2) Perovskia atriplicifolia peh-ROV-skee-uh sih-TRY-nuh (3–9, 9–4) Brassavola nodosa bras-uh-VO-luh no-DOH-suh at-rih-plih-sih-FO-lee-uh (5–9, 9–2) Ipomoea alba ih-po-ME-uh AL-buh (min. 55°F, 11–7) Persicaria polymorpha pur-sih-KAIR-ee-uh (min. 45°F, 12–10) Calylophus hartwegii subsp. fendleri pah-lee-MOR-fuh (4–9, 9–4) Kalmia angustifolia KAL-mee-uh ang-gus-tih-FO- kal-ih-LO-fus hart-WEG-ee-eye subsp. Polianthes tuberosa pol-ee-AN-thees lee-uh (1–6, 6–1) fend-LER-eye (5–8, 8–5) too-bur-O-suh (8–11, 12–7) K. latifolia K. lat-ih-FO-lee-uh (4–9, 8–3) C. lavandulifolius C. lah-van-dyew-lih-FO-lee-us Rhododendron canadense ro-doh-DEN-dron Knautia macedonica NAW-tee-uh mass-uh- (4–8, 8–4) kan-uh-DEN-see (3–6, 5–2) DON-ih-kuh (5–9, 9–5) C. serrulatus C. sair-yew-LAY-tus (3–9, 9–4) Sanguisorba officinalis san-gwi-SOR-buh Cephalaria gigantea sef-uh-LAIR-ee-uh oh-fiss-ih-NAL-iss (3–8, 8–1) L–O jy-gan-TEE-uh (3–7, 7–1) S. tenuifolia S. ten-yew-ih-FO-lee-uh (9–7, 7–1) Cotinus coggygria ko-TY-nus ko-JEE-gree-uh Lagenaria siceraria laj-eh-NAIR-ee-uh Solandra maxima so-LAN-druh MAKS-ih-muh (5–9, 9–3) sih-suh-RAIR-ee-uh (0–0, 11–4) (11, 12–6) Crambe cordifolia KRAM-bee kor-dih-FO-lee-uh Lobelia cardinalis lo-BEEL-yuh kar-dih-NAL-iss Sorbus americana SOR-bus uh-mair-ih-KAN-uh (6–9, 9–6) (2–8, 8–1) (3–5, 6–1) Crocosmia ✕crocosmiiflora kro-KAHZ-me-uh Maianthemum canadense my-AN-theh-mum S. aucuparia S. aw-kew-PAIR-ee-uh kro-kos-me-ih-FLOR-uh (6–9, 9–3) kan-uh-DEN-see (3–8, 8–3) (4–7, 7–1) Deschampsia cespitosa deh-SHAMP-see-uh Matthiola longipetala subsp. bicornis S. decora S. deh-KOR-uh (2–7, 7–3) sez-pih-TOH-suh (5–9, 9–1) mah-tee-O-luh lon-jih-PEH-tal-uh subsp. Sporobolus heterolepis spor-OB-o-lus Dierama pulcherrimum die-uh-RAH-muh by-KOR-nis (8–10, 10–8) het-ur-o-LEP-iss (3–8, 10–2) pul-KER-rih-mum (8–10, 10–8) Mirabilis jalapa mih-RAB-ih-liss jah-LAP-uh Stipa gigantea STY-puh jy-gan-TEE-uh (9–11, 12–1) (8–11, 12–1) E–K Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea Thalictrum delavayi thal-IK-trum deh-luh-VAY- moh-LEEN-ee-uh see-ROO-lee-uh subsp. eye (4–7, 7–1) Epilobium angustifolium eh-pih-LO-be-um uh-run-dih-NAY-see-uh (5–9, 9–1) T. rochebruneanum T. rowsh-broo-nee-AY-num ang-gus-tih-FO-lee-um (3–7, 7–1) Muhlenbergia capillaris mew-len-BUR-jee-uh (3–8, 8–4) Epiphyllum oxypetalum ep-ih-FIL-um ok-sih-PET- kap-ih-LAIR-iss (6–10, 10–5) Verbena bonariensis ver-BEE-nuh bo-nair-ee- uh-lum (11, 12–1) Nasella tenuissima nah-SEL-luh ten-yew-ISS-ih- EN-siss (6–11, 12–1) Eryngium amethystinum ee-RIN-jee-um muh (7–11, 12–7) Veronicastrum virginicum ver-on-ih-KASS-trum am-uh-THISS-tih-num (3–8, 8–1) Nicotiana alata nih-ko-shee-AN-uh ah-LAY-tuh vir-JIN-ih-kum (4–8, 8–3) E. yuccifolium E. yuk-ih-FO-lee-um (4–9, 12–1) (10–11, 12–1) Yucca filamentosa YUK-uh fil-uh-men-TOH-suh Eupatorium maculatum yew-puh-TOR-ee-um Oenothera caespitosa ee-NOTH-ur-uh (4–11, 12–5) mak-yew-LAY-tum (5–11, 9–1) sez-pih-TOH-suh (4–8, 8–1) Zinnia angustifolia ZIN-ee-uh ang-gus-ti-FO-lee- Foeniculum vulgare fee-NICK-yew-lum O. fruticosa O. froo-tih-KO-suh (4–8, 8–1) uh (0–0, 11–1) vul-GAY-ree (4–9, 9–1)

62 the American Gardener