RICAN ORTICULTURIST NEWS EDITION-NOVEMBER 1983 Summer Interns: Poison Ivy, Pokeweed and New Knowledge Most AHS members have heard of AHS's Summer Internship Project at our River Farm headquarters. In fact, many members made contribu­ tions to the Project this spring, ena­ bling the Society's Director of Build­ ings and Grounds, Steven Davis, to hire five college students who are planning careers in horticulture. "Their help is essential," Steve said at the September conclusion of the 1983 Project. "This year's In­ terns were particularly helpful. I'm sure that they learned a great deal, too." Interns share all the grounds maintenance tasks on the 25 -acre River Farm estate. They also spend some time working on special pro­ Summer Interns Mike Wild, Tim Sams, Brian K. Davis, Aaron Danielson (left to right) and jects. This year they helped clear a John McDonald (not pictured) shared all the grounds maintenance tasks on the Society'S wooded area for the Society's long­ 25-acre River Farm estate, including weeding, watering and planting. planned Woodland Walk. Each In­ higher wages to help cover college poison ivy and gaining an intimate tern had his turn caring for the Soci­ expenses, Aaron could not resist the knowledge of Phytolacca americana ety's 450 rose bushes, coming in at opportunity to work at River Farm. (pokeweed). Interns got acquainted dawn to water during a prolonged "I've loved plants since I was in with poison ivy and pokeweed work­ dry spell and, of course, weeding. fourth grade," Aaron said. That love ing in River Farm's wildflower Tim Sams, a student at Old Domin­ of plants made the decision about meadow. Although the meadow saves ion University in Norfolk, Virginia, summer jobs easy for him. the Society many man-hours because it says he dreaded the thought of Aaron is particularly interested in does not require mowing, it must be hours of weeding when he first plant propagation and put in a bed cleaned out each season. Interns have started working at River Farm. "But at home with roses started from cut­ hauled away great loads of undesira­ now I get into it," he said recently. tings. He was even trying his hand ble plants, working at the peak of "I'm not passionate about it or any­ at rooting boxwood, a challenge August's heat and humidity. thing, but it is interesting." even to an experienced gardener. For John McDonald, the meadow Tim spent much of his time re­ Like his fellow Interns, Aaron jok­ was the capstone of his AHS experi­ plenishing and refurbishing the Ideas ingly told me his favorite part of the ence. John will graduate from Vir­ Garden's perennial borders. To him, Internship was learning to identify Continued on page 3 this was the most interesting part of the Internship. "It's like architecture, reconstructing the borders when they're messed up, or putting in new Inside This Issue plants." • Society Announces 1983 Award Winners ................................... 4 Aaron Danielson, who studies at North Park College in Chicago, gave • Two New Newsletters Published ............................................... .. 9 up a high-paying job with a moving • New Plants Listed as Threatened or Endangered ......................... 10 company to work at River Farm this • Plants Wanted .............................................................................. 12 summer. Though he needs the • Miniature Peonies for Small Gardens ........................................... 16 When to plant: Check with your (Leucojum sp.) , snowdrops and River Farm Notes local Extension Agent for recom­ trout lily (Erythronium sp. ). Cro­ mendations in your area. The bulbs cuses can go a bit deeper, three to Although fa ll is a season filled with we plant in the fall here at River four inches, while flowering onions beauty, the mere thought of winter's Farm are all considered hardy, but (Allium sp.) prefer a three- to six­ icy breath on our necks can often they must be planted early enough inch depth, depending on the size of subdue our planter's instincts. We to ensure that their root systems will the bulb. Four to five inches is quite " forget" all that must be done to develop properly before ground tem­ satisfactory for crown-imperial (Fri­ prepare our gardens for a long win­ peratures sink too low. There is an­ tillaria imperiaiis). Both tulips and ter's sleep: plants and beds must be other side to this coin, however; if Dutch iris like between four and six "winterized"; nonhardy favorites planted too early, some bulbs will inches of soil over their heads, and must be removed from the earth to expend vital energy producing fall Camassia prefers a nice, even five the protection of cold frames, the vegetation, which will uselessly die inches. Six inches will do for daffo­ kitchen windowsill or the green­ back just as soon as colder tempera­ dils and hyacinths, while lilies are house; and spring's spectacular dis­ tures arrive. happy with six to eight inches ov€r• play must be planned and prepared. Here in the Washington, D.C. head. Of all these tasks, I find preparing area we adhere to the following The distance between bulbs for spring the most enjoyable. The schedule. In September through Oc­ should be twice their planting depth. bulbs we put into the ground today tober we plant trout lilies, hyacinths, Soil Preparation: Few bulbs like will reward our efforts a thousand glory-of-the-snow and daffodils. wet feet, so drainage is an important times over when they awaken from Also starting in September, but ex­ factor. Good soil consistency and their winter's respite- that is, if we tending to as late as November, we lightness not only promote drainage, give them everything they need to plant wood hyacinths, snowdrops, but also aid root growth and aera­ keep them happy! Some basics should Siberian squill, lilies and grape hy­ tion. To ensure richness, try forking be kept in mind each year when pre­ acinths. Beginning in September, but in several inches of peat moss or paring for the tasks at hanel, includ­ continuing through November, we compost each year before planting. ing when to plant, bulb depth, soil plant crocuses. Our tulips go into Remember, even a top quality bulb preparation and fertilizing. the ground in October through De­ will not respond favorably to poor cember, and the Dutch irises only in soil. the months of November and Fertilizer: Even bulbs get hungry, December. so nourish them annually. We gener­ ~RICAN Bulb Depth: Depth is very impor­ ally blend in (thoroughly) about five tant. Shallowly planted bulbs may pounds of bone meal per lO-by-10 - R°ImCULTURlST receive winter damage or may not foot plot. VOLUME 62 NUMBER 11 be able to support heavy sprirtg top­ Take the time to prepare for growth. Deeply planted bulbs may spring now- you'll be happy you EDITOR not have the strength to reach the did! - Steve Davis Barbara W. Ellis surface in the spring. As a general ART DIRECTOR rule, the distance from the top of Rebecca K. McClimans the bulb to the surface of the soil ASSOCIATE EDITOR should be three times the diameter Lynn M. Lynch of the bulb. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT New Board ] ane Steffey Anemones like shallow planting; a depth of from two to three inches is Members Elected Address all editorial correspondence to: fine. Soaking the tuberous rhizomes The Editor, American Horticulturist overnight in water is helpful, espe­ The Society elected nine new direc­ American Horticultural Society cors to serve on its board at the Box 0105 cially since it makes the tops of the Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121 "bulbs" a little easier to identify. 38th Annual Meeting in Philadel­ AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is pub· Generally, the top is bumpy and phia. Seven are incumbents and two li shed monthly by the American Horticul­ rough, and the bottom is convex • are new members. tural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, and smoother. If in doubt about The incumbents include Dr. Ger­ Al exandria, Virginia 22308, 703-768-5700. which end is up, plant anemones on ald S. Barad, Mr. J. Lyle Bayless, Jr., Dues for membership in the Society start their sides, and they will be perfectly Mr. Everett Conklin, Mr. Jackson at $20 per year, $12 of which is for AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. Copy­ happy. R. Eddy, Mr. Richard J. Hutton, Dr. right © 1983 by The American Horticul­ The planting depths we use for Julia Rappaport and Mrs. Harry J. tural Society. some of the more common bulbs are Van de Kamp. The American Horticultural Society is a varied. Winter aconites prefer shal­ The new board members are Mr. non-profit organization. Contributions are low planting, two to three inches Richard C. Angino, a senior partner deductible for income tax purposes. from the top of the bulb to the soil in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania law ISSN 0096-4417, Second-class postage paid surface. Three inches is a good firm of Angino & Rovner, and Mrs. at Alexandria, Virginia and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send depth for glory-of-the-snow, check­ John M . Maury, former Secretary Form 3579 to AMERICAN HORTICUL­ ered lily (Fritillaria sp.), grape hy­ and Second Vice President of the TURIST, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121. acinths, Siberian squill, snowflakes American Horticultural Society. 2 e ' NOVEMBER 1983 Summer Interns GREAT NEWS Continued from page 1 FOR YOUR ginia Polytechnic Institute with a de­ HOUSE PLANTS gree in horticulture on December 16 and hopes to own his own landscap­ AND YOU ing company someday. "The Send for FREE meadow particularly interests me," INFORMATION on John said. "I look out my apartment window at VPI and see acres and NUTRIPONICSTM­ acres of hilly areas with people Use Coupon Below pushing lawn mowers.