Gardening in the South Country Casual to Antebellum Elegance

AHS 43rd Annual Meeting. April 14·16, 1988 • Atlanta, Georgia

• Tour magnificent private gardens and see a grounds of the Atlanta Historical Society and variety of southern gardening styles the Atlanta Botanical Garden and delight in • Enjoy educational sessions that will expand Georgia's historical and horticultural treasures your gardening expertise and provide you with • Savor the magic of Callaway Gardens new inspiration • Enhance your own garden with plant • Learn about the latest developments in purchases from visits to Goodness Grows horticultural research from experts associated Nursery and other noted garden centers with the Biosphere II project in Arizona Plan now to join us in Atlanta-a city rich in • Wander through the beautifully landscaped history and horticulture-April 14-16, 1988. VOLUME 66 NUMBER 10

President's Page: Meet Our New Directors by Carolyn Marsh Lindsay 2 Plants for the Landscape: Hardy Geraniums by Elisabeth Sheldon 4 Flowers for Drying: Everlasting Perennials by JoAnn Schowalter Loebel 10 The John J. Tyler Arboretum Text by Marcia Bonta Ph otography by Bruce Bonta 14

An Autumn Garden by Peter Loewer 21 Restoration of a Poet's Garden by Jane Baber White 27

Book Reviews by Barbara W. Ellis 32

Garden Hints: Choosing the Best Rose by Rayford Reddell 35 Classifieds 38

The Design Page: Spring Bulbs by Margaret Hensel 42

Sources 45

On the Cover: The brightly colo red leaves of Brassica oleracea, commonly called flowering kale or ornamental ca bbage, add a distinctive touch to the autumn garden. This colorful plant also makes an unusual centerpiece for the table. For more on color in the garden during the fall season, see " An Autumn Garden" on page 21. Photograph by Joanne Pavia.

Erratum: The flower pictured on page 10 of the August issue was incorrectly identified as Belamcanda chinensis; however, it is actually Iris dichotoma. Even though these two plants are members of Iridaceae, B. chinensis has deep orange flowers with red dots. The society deeply regrets this error. Achillea 'The Pearl' is just one of many "everl as ting" perenni als featuring long-lasting flo wers that can be dried and easily preserved. To learn more about these versatile plaAts, turn to "Everlasting Perennials" on page 10. Photograph by JoAnn Schowalter Loebe!.

ASSO CIATE ED ITORS, Lynn M. Lynch, Bri an C. Little. ART DIRECTOR, Rebecca K. McClimans. HORTICULTURAL CONSULTANTS, Gilbert S. Daniels, Jane Steffey. ASS ISTANT TO THE ED ITO R, Martha Palermo. ADVERTISING, Contact Publications Office (703) 768-5700. MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR, Sa lli e Hutcheson. COLOR SEPARATIONS, Chromagraphics In c. EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD; Dr. Gerald S. Barad, FlemingtOn, Nl; Dr. Harrison Fli nr, West Lafayette. IN ; Peter Loewer, Cochecton Center, NY; Dr. Eli zabeth McClintock, San Francisco, CA; Frederick McGourty, Norfolk, CT; Janer M. Poor, Winnetka, IL ; Maire Simington, Ph oeni x, AZj Ja ne Steffey, Sy kesvill e, MD; Dr. James E. Swazey, Newark, DE; Philip E. Chandler, Santa Monica, CA.

Replacement issues of AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST are available at a cost of $2.50 per copy. The opini ons expressed in the a rticles that appear in AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST a re those of the authors and arc not necessa ril y those of the Society. ManusGripts, 3rt work, a nd photographs se nt for possible publica tion will be returned if they a re accompanied by a self­ addressed, stamped envelope. We call not guarantee the sa fe return of unsoli cited material.

AMERI CA N HORTICULTURIST, ISSN 0096-44 17, is the official publication of the Ameri ca n Hortioultural Society, 793 1 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, (703) 768-5700, and is iss ued monthly. Membership in the Society includes 3 subscription ro AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. National membership dues a re $25; foreign dues arc $35. $12 of dues a re designated for AMER ICAN HORTICULTURIST. Copyright © 1987 by the Am erican Horticultural Society. Second-class postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia, and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please se nd Form 3579 to AMERICA N HORliICULTURIST, 1'.0. Box 0 105, Mount Ve rn on, Virgin ia 2212 1.

American Horticulturist PRESIDENT'S PAGE

AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Meet OurNew omCERS 1987·1988 Mrs. Carolyn Marsh Lindsay Rochester, New York President Directors Mrs. Harry J. Van dc Kamp Pasadena, California First Vice President Mrs. John M. Maury Washington, D.C Second Vice President am delighted to report to the membership that we have found a new Executive Mrs. Charlcs W. Allcn, Jr. [ Director who is actively working right this minute at River Farm. He is Pieter Glenview, Kentucky F. Oechsle, former President of F.A.O. Schwarz, Inc., the world-renowned retail Seaetaty toy chain headquartered in N€w York City. Mr. RichardJ. Hutton West Grove, Pennsylvania Mr. Oechsle comes to the Society with a strong background in retail and mail­ Treasurer order management. Before his tenure with Schwarz, he was Director and General Mr. Evcritt L. Millcr Manager of Oechsle CIA Commercial S.A., a wholesale distributor of small tools, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania gifrware, textiles, and toys in Lima, Peru. Along with the wholesale business, he Immediate Past President operated three retail stores in the greater Lima area, under the name of Tiendas BOARD OF DIRECTORS Oechsle. Mr. Oechsle was involved in overseeing imports, visiting American and Mrs. Charlcs W. Allcn, Jr. European trade fairs, and developing exclusive representations of specific merchandise Glenview, Kentucky lines. He was also responsible fOt' setting up a small toy manufacturing plant, Juguetes Mr. Richard C. Angino Harrisburg, Pennsylvania y Envases Nacionales S.A. in Lima, Peru. Gerald S. Barad, M.D. Mr. Oechsle holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree, with an emphasis in marketing Flemington, New Jersey and economics, from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Mrs. Bcnjamin P. Bolc, Jr. We also have a new Director of Publications and Communications-Virginia Cleveland, Ohio Warner Louisel!. Mrs. Louisell was formerly Director of Information Services at the Mr. J. Judson Brooks Sewickley, Pennsylvania National Association for Foreign Student Affairs (NAFSA) in Washington, D.C. Dr. Hcury M. Cathcy While at NAFSA, she was responsible for editing and producing all publications for Washington, D.C the 5,300-member organization, including a newsletter and softcover books. She Mr. Russcn Clark has also served as Director of Publications and Public Relations at rwo academic Boston, MassachusettS institutions, including Mary Baldwin College, where she was involved in writing a Mrs. Erastus Corning, n Albany, New York public relations procedures manual that was published as a national model for small Mr. Edward N. Danc colleges. As Director of Alumnae Activities at Mary Baldwin College, she was involved Boston, MassachusettS in managing the annual alumnae fund and other projects, as well as in designing Mr. RichardJ. Hutton direct mail appeals. West Grove, Pennsylvania Mrs. Louisell received her bachelor's degree from Mary Baldwin College and has Mrs. Carolyn Marsh Lindsay Rochester, New York completed postgraduate work in advertising, journalism, accounting, and public Mrs. John M. Maury speaking. Washington, D.C Pieter Oechsle, Virginia Louisell, the entire staff at River Farm, and your Board Mr. Everitt L. Millcr of Directors are forging a team to serve your horticultural needs and interests better. Kennell Square, Pennsylvania Mrs. Edward King Poor, ill In my first letter I asked rwo favors: first, to write and share your ideas and goals Wi nnetka, Illinois for AHS, and second, to share the joys of horticulture by giving a friend a new Dr. Julia W. Rappaport membership in the Society. Alic€! and Richard Angino of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Santa Ana, California have already brought in 12 new members! Mr. Angino, a member of the Board of Mrs. Philip Tcmplc Little Compton, Rhode Island Directors, actively serves as Chairman of the Membership Committee and also works Mr. Roy G. Thomas on the Finance and Education Committees. Both are members of the President's Woodstock, Vermont Council and regularly attend all of the AHS functions. Bravo, Anginos! Mrs. Harry J. Van de Kamp I was thrilled with each and every helpful idea - especially that of Mrs. George Pasadena, California Gardner, who suggested better ways to handle book orders, and a gentleman from Mr. John H. Whitworth, Jr. New York, New York Texas who asked to have our seeds distributed earlier, as the present schedule is Mrs. Jcan Vcrity WoodhuB too late for southern gardeners. We have already implemented a more efficient book Dayton, Ohio OFdering procedure and have scheduled the seed catalogue to be printed earlier. Dr. John A. Wott While I mentioned the Anginos' outstanding response, your entire Board is diligently Seanle, Washington working to make AHS a vehicle for all our members to work toward a common EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR goal-excellence in horticulture and a more beautiful America. So brighten your Mr. Pidcr F. Occhsle friend's day with a new membership in the American Horticultural Society, and keep your suggestions coming! - Carolyn Marsh Lindsay President

2 October 1987 Is your garden missing jewel-like flowers floating on a one of the most satisfying forms of gardening. If you shimmering water surface and the darting brilliance of haven't one, you' are missing a great deal of satisfaction goldfish? Are you missing the melodic sounds of water from your garden. spilling from a fountain, vessel or waterfall? Let Lilypons and TETRA POND help you to get started What you need in your garden is a water lily pool. A water today by ordering one of our durable TETRA POND 32 mil, lily pool is a garden whose plants like damp to very wet flexible 2 ply PVC pool liners. So easy to install and main­ feet. Fish and frogs like to live there and butterflies will tain you will ask yourself why you waited so long to begin like your garden better than ever. A water garden is simply this adventure. , Ch@ose from the seven sizes listed (sizes are approximate, for depth 1 Ys' to 2' in your own design.): o Lilypons water gardenfng cat.alogue suli>scrtption ...... $ 4 \ 0 8 ' x 12' bner makes 4' x 8' pool ...... $ 99 o 10 ' x 16' l:inermakes 6' x 12' pool...... 8145 0 13' x 13' l1ner makes 9' x 9' pool ...... 8165 o 13' x 20' l1ner makes 9' x 16' pool...... $199 0 16' x 23' liner makes 13' x 19' pool ... ' ...... 8299 o 20' x 26' I.!.IH~r makes 26' x 22' pool...... 8399 0 23' x 30' l1ner makes 19' x 26' pool ...... 8499 Use your personal check or cil:c1e credit card: AE CB CH DC MC VS. , Card Number: Exp. Date ~~~ ______~~~ _____

Name Address ___~;,..,.- ______~ ______City State Zip Phane ( Catalogue free with l1ner order. Maryland (5%) and Texas (5-1/8%) residents please add sales tax. Lilypons Water Gardens 1526 Amhort Road 1526 I.llypons Road P.O. Box 10 P .O. Box 188 Lilypons, Maryland 21717-0010 BrookshIre, Texas 77423-0188 (301) 874-5i33 Washington Local 428-0686 (713) 934-8525 Houston Local 391-0076 PLANTS FOR mE LANDSCAPE Hardy Geraniums

ardy geraniums are addictive. Not everyone. There are small ones, those of only are these annuals, biennials, medium height, and taller ones (none is H and perennials obliging and un­ taller than three feet). Their attractive fo­ temperamental, but like so many of the liage varies in size, design, color, and tex­ best garden plants, they are also largely ture, and is sometimes aromatic. In many free of disease and persecution by insects. of the species, the foliage turns red in au­ Unlike pelargoniums, those gorgeous big tumn. The flowers are small but usually ted- and pink-blossomed things that are copious enough to make a distinctive con­ commonly called geraniums, hardy gera­ tribution to the garden. The colors range niums, or cranesbills, are comparatively from white, pale pink, lavender, afid blue modest, small-flowered plants. One hardy to a fierce magenta. geranium with which almost everyone is Many cranes bills tolerate dry, shady familiar is Geranium macula tum, our na­ conditions and are especial.ly useful to gar­ tive woods geranium, which has deeply cut deners who have sl'lch a problem site to leaves and pale lavender blossoms. The deal with. Almost all of them will tolerate pretty weed called herb Robert (G. ro­ partial shade, and some even welcome it. bertianum) is another species of the same They are attractive when planted in large genus. There are wild geraniums in other numbers at the base of shrubs or when parts of the world, however, that put on used in underplanting shrub roses. Some a better show than do ours. It is these bloom in early spring, but most have a perennials and their special hybrids that are described here. ABOVE: Geranium sanguineum va r. striatum. Hardy geraniums offer something for RIGHT: Geranium endressii.

4 October 1987 American Horticulturist 5 PLANTS FOR THE LANDSCAPE

peak blDssD m periDd in June. (A few Df Divisio.n is easy with mo.st hardy gera­ der during Io.ng, rainy perio.ds. The species them will perfDrm again if cut back.) Sev­ niums and is best dDne either in spring Dr G. cinereum, which co.mes fro.m the Pyr­ eral especiall y generous individuals blo.Dm right after the plants finish flDwering in enees, is a ro.sette plant with grayish leaves, all seaSDn long. July. (The Dnes that never finish flDwering white- o.r pink-veined flo.wers, and Io.ng, Cranesbills get their name frDm the seed­ must be divided in spring.) AccDrding to' trailing stems. It Io.o.ks especially attractive carrying part Df the plant, which is shaped SDme experts, if YDU want new plants, YDU cascading o.ver a wall. G. cinereum var. like the bill Df a crane. (Geranos means can burrow dDwn under with YDur fingers subcaulescens, from Turkey, is also. go.o.d crane in Greek.) This part consists Df a and break Dff pieces from the mDther plant. fo.r cascading o.ver walls, and o.ffers daz­ little five-sectiDned chamber, the rostrum, I've never tried this methDd; my So.il is zling co.lo.r in the garden. The flo.wers are frDm which emerges a IDng, thin central probably too' sDlid fDr such a neat Dper­ deep purplish-red, o.r magenta, with a black cDlumn who.se exterio.r is cDvered by five atiDn, but it might wDrk well in sandy lDam, area in the center. G. cinereum var. sub­ separate strips, Dr awns, that act as springs. especially with G . sanguineum and all its caulescens 'Splendens' is a no.n-trailing ro.­ When the seed is ripe, the rostrum starts cultivars, which prDduce many fleshy ro.ots. sette and a charming, fero.cio.us little thing to' separate into. sectiDns called mericarps. Two. Df the mDst Po.Pular hardy gera­ who.se blo.sso.ms are ho.t pink. It, to.o., sho.uld The awns suddenly peel away from the niums Dn the market to.day are cultivars be grown in a ro.ck garden, perhaps sur­ bDttDm, curling upwards; each awn then Df G. cinereum-'Ballerina' and G. ciner­ rounded by gray-fo.liaged plants and small takes its mericarp with it, shDDting the seed eum var. subcaulescens 'Splendens'. The blue campanulas. It sho.uld not be planted into. the air. (If YDU intend to. harvest the first bears a fDur-inch mDund Df gray-green, in So.ggy clay. dry seed, YDU must act quickly befDre the five-parted, lDbed leaves. The petals Df the AnDther gDDd plant fDr a raised bed Dr plant disperses it; Dtherwise, YDU will be Dpen-cup, smDky-pink flDwers are nDtched wall garden is G. dalmaticum. This six­ left with Dnly the empty crane's bills.) Dn the edges and have purplish-red veins. inch-tall native o.f Yugo.slavia bears tiny Hardy geraniums are propagated by seed This is definitely a rock garden plant and tufted clumps Df small gIDSSY, lo.bed, fan­ in the spring Dr by stem cuttings in sum­ shDuld be planted up high, in a suitably shaped leaves. The flDwers are a pure pale mer. They are also. propagated by divisiDn, gritty sDil Dr, at the very least, in sandy, pink, withDut even a hint Df magenta. In Dr, in the case o.f SDme species, by roDt well-drained IDam o.n level grDund. I lDSt regiDns where mDderate temperatures pre­ cuttings. several o.f them from the front o.f the bo.r- vail in the summertime, it shDuld be grown TAKE THE PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY WITH MOST PESTICIDES. AND YOU COULD · THE BUGS TO DEATH. Conventional pesticides are made from petro­ chemicals. So you're well-advised to make certain that they don't come in contact with your body, and that you don't inhale their fumes. Safec pesticides, on the other hand, aren't petrochemical-based. Scientifically derived from bio­ degradable ingredients, Safer products kill bugs and weeds, but they're safe to use, indoors and '"~ _ . out. Even around children and pets. . You decide. Are you going to use

a pesticide that requires you to dress <-

6 October 1987 coming in full sun ; in those areas where summers pl anted every few years. soon! are hot, it should be grown in moist soil In another case of mi staken genealogy, and in partial shade. the 15- to 18-inch Geranium X 'j ohnson's The ll/z-inch-ta ll G. endressii is ava il ­ Blue' is often mi stakenl y associated with abl e at most nurseri es. The most readily G. endressii. Actually, it is a cross between ava il able cultivar is 'Wargrave Pink', al­ G . himalayense and G . pratense. This well­ though my favorite is 'A.T. Johnson'. They known steril e hybrid, like so many of the both grow 15 to 18 inches hi gh and have ta ll er geraniums, forms a wonderful hem­ deeply lobed, five-parted leaves like those isphere of deepl y divided leaves until it of a buttercup. Both fl ower all summer; blooms, when the perfect filigreed half­ 'Wargrave Pink' bears candy-pink blooms, globe is destroyed. The violet-blue fl owers while the fl owers of 'A.T. Johnson' are a are almost 11/2 inches across, with trans­ sil ve ry salmon-pink. They have one habit lu cent vei ns and pinkish tones, especiall y that some gardeners find annoying: after toward the base. If you plant a swath of their initial burst o f bloom in spring, they 'Johnson's Blue' in front of a mass o f 'Helen send masses of new blossoming stems out Eli zabeth' Oriental poppies, I can promise from under the central tuft of foliage; as you an ex hil arating aesthetic experi ence. a result, they take up about one foot more G . himalayense is also sold under the all the way around than is usually all otted names G. grandiflorum and G. meeboldii. to them. Their neighbors either fight back It, too, is 15 to 18 inches tall and produces or sink quietly out of sight. In August, you the largest a nd the most intensely blue may ask yourself, "Wh ateve r happened to fl owers of any cranesbill. (They are sti ll those blue salvias?" When you lift up the violet-blue, but G raham Thomas says they skirrs o f ,War g rave' or 'A.T.Johnson', you'll are " like butterflies, beautifu ll y veined. " ) know. If you were to cut the plant to the The blooms appear from June to August. ground after the first fl owering, it prob­ After the pl ants have finished blooming, abl y wouldn't have to resort to such rude they can be cut to the ground; they will tacti cs in order to keep blooming, and would quickly make fresh new foliage but will simply send up a new, nicely restrained not bloom again. fl owering clump. Some people plant these Geranium X ' Magnificum' has been cranesbills near tolerant shrubs into which called " the king of the cranesbi ll s." It has they can climb. always been my favorite blue, so I am glad G. endressii was crossed with G. ver­ to see it lauded. It is often labeled as G . sicolor to make G. X oxonianum 'Clar­ ibericum or G. platypetalum, altho ugh it idge Druce', a vigorous plant that grows is a sterile hybrid of the last two pl ants. It quite tall for a cranesbill-2 ifz to three feet. is two feet tall , and has sticky-hairy flower The foliage is somewhat hairy and slightly stalks and handsome, deeply cut, hairy, glossy. The fl owers are funnel-shaped and rounded leaves that usually turn red in the rosy-pink, with a strong netwo rk of dark fall. The large blue, red-veined fl owers are, veins; the color fades to white at the base. I think, even prettier than those of 'John­ This plant has two outstanding virtues: it son's Blue'. All of these taller geraniums likes shade, and it will reproduce the par­ need frequent division, since they spread ent plant. quickly. A superior plant with G. endressii as a G. pratense, the handsome European and parent is G. X riversleaianum ' Russell Asian meadow cranesbill, is the ta ll est o f Prichard'. Although it is said to be mar­ them all. Its flowers a re blue, too, bur they Watch your mailbox for the arrival ginally hardy (the lovely, but tender G. are a gray- or lavender-blue. The pl ant is of our all-new 1987 " Flowers of traversii is its other parent), I've kept it really too much of an oaf for the border, River farm" notecards. cheerful in my border for three or four at least for mine, for it flops open as it years. Since I've read that it likes a dry, fl owers. (If only it would retain its elegant Pictured above, each card shows sunny spot, I plan to put a piece o f it on dome shape!) It also seeds itself with what flowers which grow at River Farm ... the home of the a rock wall. Its ebullience is unquenchable; someone calls " feckless fecundity." All in American Horticultural Society. bright pink flowers are borne all summer all, this species is a good candidate for the and fall. (Because the flowers' color has wild garden, where it can naturalize itself Your contribution for these special magenta in it and is brighter than that of and spread out to its heart's content. I have cards will enable us to keep Ri ver either parent, this culrivar has been wrongly G. pratense 'Plenum Violaceum', which, Farm - and all our AHS assumed to have G. sanguineum fore­ although bulky, doesn 't seed itself and has programs - vital and thriving. bears. ) I cover it tenderly in winter and lift charming, double, red-violet blossoms. Also off the pine boughs with much trepidation available is 'Plenum Album', as well as ~~ every spring. It should be divided and re- 'Mrs. Kendall Clark', which some say is ~ ~ American Horticultural Society

American Horticulturist 7 PLANTS FOR THE LANDSCAPE

blue, others say pearl-gray flu shed with that it can be used more effecti vely as a rose. ground cover under dry, shady conditions. Thanks to British seed exchanges, I have The pale pink fl owers on this lO·inch pl ant raised a few specimens of G . wallichianum are not dazzling, but the divided, rounded, I and G . wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' li ght green leaves are aromatic as well as (sometimes ca ll ed 'Buxton's Blue'), which pretty. I'd li ke to get 'Album', whose white I I also hover over, fea ring they will die some flowers have red calyxes, and 'Bevan's I cold winter night. (They are from the Him­ Vari ety', in crimson-purple. I alayas but are undoubtedl y not used to One species that is offered in this coun· A TRULY I capricious and vi olent weather changes, try in quantity is G. sanguineum. Although DRAMATIC EXPERIENCE I sometimes without the protection of snow.) it is call ed " bloody cranesbill " in England, FOR YOUR PLANTS-LIQUID These low mound plants, with interesting its bright magenta fl owers are far from CONCENTRATE, GUARANTEED RESUL TS I marbled leaves, send out endless trailing reminding one of bl ood. The species, usu­ JUNGLE JUICE (2-5-4) for fantastic foliage I stems. These stems produce little one-inch all y 1 '/2 to two in ches hi gh, is a kind of growth and super green . I fl owers with scall oped petals that are quite dense, twiggy, aggressiv e-spreading shrub GRANNY'S BLOOMERS (0-6·5) ZERO nitrogen I deli cious in cool weather. The outer edges with starry leaves. The fi ve-petaled fl owers and special trace for abundant african violet blooms, you won't believe your eyes . I are iridescent blue, shading to crimson to­ are fl aming red, purple, or magenta. There wards the center, where there is a circle of are a couple of very good dwarf forms of CACTUS JUICE (1·7-6) For outstanding I specimens and helps promote flowering . I pale cool white. The whole petal is traced this cranesbill sold by a rock garden nurs­ with faint wine-red veins. A cluster of dark ery, as well as 'Shepherd's Warning', re­ FLOWER CRACKER (1·6·5) For Impatiens, I Orchids, Bromeliads, Geraniums, all flowering wine·colored stamens whose anthers are cently a rrived from England at another plants. I navy·blue completes this little masterpiece. nursery. Also avail able is 'Album', whi ch 6oz. bottle makes 12 gals. capful measure. I The underside is a rosy-lavender veined I love, despite its coloni zing impulses. It I $3.85 ppd. Any 4-6oz. btls., $11 .85 ppd. I with dark red. 'Buxton's Vari ety' should bears delicate pure-white bl ossoms. The Free catalog write I be grown on a wall or in a well ·drained one most people prefer is G. sanguineum spot in the front of the border, near a va r. striatum, which is found either in Dept. AHS n Clarel fri endl y neighbor whose fo li age w ill be mound or prostrate form. It has pointed, Deerfield, IL 60015 '" Laboratories. Inc complementary and who won't object to divided leaves and pale apple-blossom-pink being laced with the wandering stems of fl owers that are ve ined red. This cl assy the cranes bill. Gray santolinas, small white va ri ety bears a mass of fl owers in sprin g, ParlChina good example of fin e garden pl ants that • . a lmost s m ell • the beautiful fl owers and taste the luscious I that will not survive in my area, according are not always easil y o btain abl e. Although vegetables!" ra rk Seed's new 132 page catalog I to W ym an's Gardening Encyclopedia. these pl ants have been gracing European I has a ll you need to grow you r best garden ever. gardens fo r decades, ga rdeners in this lOver 2.100 qua lit ), products: nower a nd vege- • Lincoln Foster's description is so enticing table seed. bu lbs. pla nts a nd ga rden supplies . • that I'm hoping Wyman exaggerates . Fos· country are now able to buy onl y a handful I Everything comes to your door wit h complete ter says G. pylzowianum creeps and bears of the many di ffe rent species and cultiva rs. I instructions and backed by our guarantee of . complete satisfac ti on. • lovely, fl at, clear-pink bl ossoms on thin, The onl y way to speed up the process, aside I "Home Garden Seed Specialists Since 1868" • wiry stems one to two in ches above the from nagging the nursery people, is to join the Ameri can Rock Garden Society, the I D Send full 'C"nr£, I foli age. It requires full sun. I have onl y one I Color Catalog J: j\.J:J. I specimen of G. renardii, and it doesn't look Royal Ho rticultural Society, the Alpine • Please G020 quite satisfied. Its fo li age and mounded, Garden Society (in England), or the Scot· • Print: • compact structure make it worth growing; tish Rock Garden Club, and take advan· tage of their seed exchanges. In the mean­ • Name I th e grayish leaves are circul ar, puckered, a nd deepl y lo bed. The fl owers a re de­ time, let us cherish those hard y gera niums • Address I scribed as " brief"; on my pl ant, they are we do have or can grow ourselves from • Apt _ _ • also sparse. This species grows best in a seed. 6 - Elisabeth Sheldon • Cil y I rock garden and hates heavy soil. . I Elisabeth Sheldon manages a sma ll perennial Sta te ___ Zi p I I've been trying to keep G. macrorrhi­ I nursery in Lansing, New Yo rk. A former II Park Seed ~~::~~~~dR~d'2~6:8~8o~66 I zum 'Ingwersen's Vari ety' from spreading painter and teacher, she cmrentl y writes and ••••••••••••• all over its part of the border. I've learned lectures on horticultural topics .

8 October 1987 IF YOU GROW INDOOR PLANTS PLEASE READ THIS AD!

I would like to talk to you about the kind of Wonderlite is unique because it has a balanced light your plant needs and why under certain cir­ spectrum and can be screwed into any ordinary cumstances our Wonderlite lamp is what you should light socket. Its light extends from the blues (380 purchase. Of course, if you have low light demand­ nm) to the far reds (730 nm) (which has been ing plants or your plants get sufficient natural light, proven to make plants grow and flower) because you may not need Wonderlite, but please read on it contains two sources of light! One strong in the anyway. Who knows, this ad may let you talk your­ blues and the other in red. Because it can be self into that special high light plant you have screwed into an ordinary socket, you can have always wanted. plants virtually anywhere you want them, and be­ cause it is a flood light, you can use it on your Plants use different portions of the light spec­ larger expensive plants or an entire collection of trum whose radiations are measured in smaller ones. As a bonus, Wonderlite makes plants wavelengths called nanometers (nm) for all biolog­ look beautiful and is compatible with natural light ical activity. For example: photosynthesis, the con­ and most other indoor lighting. version of light energy to chemical energy take place between 440-490 nm (blue) and also between Wonderlite costs $39.50 which is not cheap 650-680 nm (red). Flowering may be triggered in but looks better when compared with a fluorescent the photo chrome molecule by wavelengths of 660- set up of four 40 watt tubes (to match our 160W 730 nm (far red). There are many more photores­ Wonderlite) which is about $70.00. As I said, ponses which you should investigate but the point plants which are either low light demanding or is that a healthy plant requires a balanced light have access to sufficient natural light do not require spectrum. Wonderlite (however, all plants thrive under Won­ derlite) but for those who do our lamp is uncondi­ The problem with standard screw-in bulbs is tionally guaranteed for one year and when used that they use one source of light and therefore, are properly (at least 8 hours between switch-offs) it deficient in a portion of the spectrum. For example, is rated over 10,000 hours. To repeat, the Wonder­ most bulbs labeled "plant lights" are really incan­ lite can be screwed into existing sockets such as descent lights which are strong only in the yellow­ track lights, clip-ons or any free standing fixture red (560-650 nm) area of the spectrum and have and its balanced spectrum will help your plants a sprayed on blue coating inside the glass. This grow and bloom. coating actually cuts down the brightness or inten­ sity of the light and only improves the spectrum To order, please fill out the coupon or call our to a minimal degree. It is true that some fluorescent toll free number 1-800-221-4392. tubes do have a balanced spectrum but they require Thank you, a means of putting the tubes right over the plant as they are not completely effective at distances greater than 21/2-3 feet. This makes them inefficient 1/~ for large plants. Besides many fluorescent fixtures H. Allerhand are decoratively unsuitable. President PUBLIC SERVICE LAMP CORP. Wonderlite® ------

Wonderlite Department o Please send me Wonderlite(s) at $39.50 ($2.50 postage & handling) each Public Service Lamp Corp. Please include Clamp Fixture(s) at $14.95 each Dept. C o 410 West 16th Street o N.Y. State Residents add appropriate sales tax New York, NY10011 Total Enclosed ____ _ (212) 989-5557 o Check o Visa o Master Charge Card No. ______Expires ______

Signature ______

Name ______Address ______AH3 City ______State ______Zip ______FLOWERS FOR DRYING Ever/astingPerennials

ardeners tend to think of "ever­ lastings" as annuals, but in fact Gthere are many hardy perennials that offer the same qualities as the an­ nuals-that is, long-lasting blooms that can be dried and easily preserved. I have grown "everlasting" perennials for many years. Not only do they provide me with excellent material for crafts and flower arrangements, they also add a spe­ cial beauty to my borders. Our smallish (one-third-acre) suburban lot is positioned perfectly to catch the afternoon sun. However, because the trees and hedges surrounding our property have grown so quickly, casting shadows over the property, we decided to re-design the garden. Since the trees shaded existing per­ ennial borders, which were situated around the edges of the yard, and tree roots com­ peted with the perennials for space, we decided to add new borders that could take advantage of the sun in the center of the yard. The new borders-two L-shaped raised beds-are now almost entirely within reach of the sun's rays from early morning until dusk. With so much new border space to fill, naturally I lifted and divided many of my favorite perennials from the old borders. Anything troublesome or demanding of time and space was left behind. Daisies, phlox, and chrysanthemums from the old borders form the framework of the new garden; Among the "everlasting" perennials they should be cut and hung upside-down their robust foliage and generous display moved to the new sunny borders is tall to dry. (Be sure to cut them before any of flowers provide interest throughout the Achillea ' Coronation Gold', commonly hint of brown appears.) I wind a "twist­ changing seasons. The front of the raised called yarrow. In the old border, it needed tie" or pipe cleaner around three to six beds are edged with candy tuft (lberis), ve­ to be staked as it leaned into the sun. In stems and hang them upside-down in a ronicas, coral bells (Heuchera), dwarf bell­ its current spot in the sun, it requires stak­ warm, dry, dark place for about two weeks. flowers (Campanula), aFld pinks (Dian­ ing, this time because of the number and When the large heads stand firmly above thus). These low-growing treasures have size of its blooms. It also grew much larger the stems, they are ready to use. New flow­ multiplied and bloomed profusely in their than I expected, so I tried dividing it in ers develop from the side shoots through­ new environment. late spring in its second year. I have since out the growing season. The biggest surprise of all, however, has divided it in the fall as well, and have also Also in the new borders is the less-familiar been the "everlasting" perennials I used to grown a successful stand of plants from Achillea ptarmica 'The Pearl', which offers fill in the borders. Thanks to full sun and seed. clouds of little, pure white, puffy balls that improved soil, these have turned out to be Achillea thrives in hot weather, survives look like branches of pearls. My plants much more of an attraction in the new drought, and offers attractive ferny foli­ grow to about two feet. The I8-inch to­ borders than they had been in the old ones. age. The flat-headed, golden blossoms of mato stakes placed around them, which I Although they had much to offer under this three- to four-foot-tall plant can be entwine with string, are quickly hidden by semi-shady conditions, their generosity in used as dried flowers. As the strong­ the fine, narrow leaves. In July, sprays of the new borders is boundless. stemmed blooms develop in early summer, blossoms cover the plant. Best of all, the

10 October 1987 FAR LEIT: The puffy flowers of Achillea 'The Pearl' stay white even after they are picked. ABOVE: Sedum spectabile looks attracti ve when combin ed with dusty­ miller and chrysanthemums. LEIT: The silky foliage of Artemisia 'Si lver Mound' retains its texture when dried.

American Horticulturist 11 FLOWERS FOR DRYING

flowers stay white when picked, and new also be propagated by tip cuttings. flowers develop throughout the summer. Another plant that has thrived in the Strip all foliage from the branches and hang new garden is Astilbe. If this plant were them to dry. I prefer to order vegetatively grown strictly for its foliage, it would be propagated plants (those plants produced worth having, but the white, pink, or rosy by division or from cuttings) of this cul­ sprays also add a beautiful feathery accent AHS TRAVEL 1988 tivar rather than seeds; not all specimens to the borders. The sprays turn to beige as I have seen are as impressive as the jewel they dry, but hold their form quite nicely. with I have in my garden, and I suspect some The glossy, deep green leaves, which are seed-started plants are to blame. Although lacy in texture, provide long-lasting inter­ PASSAGES UNLIMITED, INC. an occasional catalogue calls this treas­ est and, if placed in front of baby's-breath ure a "spreader," I have grown it for 15 or Oriental poppies, will fill in the spaces. In 1988 Passages Unlimited has again years, divided it many times, and never This hardy and totally trouble-free plant designed three unique trips for the had to worry about it encroaching on its can be divided in spring or fall. Society's membership. It is our great neighbors. Astilbe is always found on lists of plants good fortune to have Dick Hutton, Board Gypsophila, or baby's-breath, was an­ for shade. However, I find it also has much member and President of Conard­ other obvious choice for the sunny bor­ to offer in the sun. Although the clumps I PYle/Star Roses, as our tour leader for ders. My plants now produce wispy clouds have left behind in the old borders are two of these offerings. Back by popular of white flowers in early summer. One of growing satisfactorily, the plants that have demand is his trip to see The Gardens of the most successful groupings in the new been moved to the sunny borders are even garden has been a collection of white per­ more successful. the Riviera & Burgundy (June 11-25), ennials: the early Phlox cultivar 'Miss Lin­ Both the dwarf and the taller types of featuring one week in the south of France gard', baby's-breath, 'Miss Muffet' dai­ Liatris add spiky accents to the garden. and one week on the barge Janine in sies, a white astilbe, Achillea 'The Pearl', The upright feathers of purple appear at Burgundy. In October we will Fall Into and Phlox 'Everest'. The white puffs of different times during the summer. When Spring when Dick will also lead a three Achillea 'The Pearl' and baby's-breath fill the color has faded, the strong spikes pro­ week trip to New Zealand, Tasmania in the spaces between daisies and phlox. vide interest in the borders, and the grassy and Australia to see gardens and do Then, as the phlox starts to fill out, it is tufts of foliage remain attractive through­ some botanizing in this extraordinarily time to cut back the baby's-breath, and out the growing season. Like the flowers beautiful and rugged part of the world. 'The Pearl' continues to hold its own. My of astilbe, these spikes do not retain their astilbe has been known to re-bloom at the color, but do retain their shape. Many a By contrast to these exotic destinations same time, which gives the baby's-breath clever flower arranger has been known to time to recover. spray them after drying, to add color to a we are also presenting the AHS !

12 October 1987 sandy soil. The teasel-like, pineapple-shaped pods. T he pl ant remains quite handsome hea ds are marve lo us fo r drying. in the border throughout the growing sea­ Yet anoth er small blue perennial with son. If the fo li age is pi cked fo r drying, the "everl asting" bl ooms is Ca tananche. leaves remain on the stems and curl just a Commo nl y call ed Cupid's-dart, it bears bit. cornflower-blue, zinnia-like blooms atop Lavender is another plant that offers both 18-inch stems. The fl owers, bo rne in ea rl y dried fl owers and dried fo li age. Lavandula summer, are one inch across and have black angustifolia subsp. angustifolia, whi ch centers. The blossoms cl ose to fo rm a sil ­ grows to three fee t, and its 1 1/2 -foot-tall ve ry bird's nest, with edges of blue peeking cultiva r 'Munstead Dwarf' are both good out the top. If picked before they cl ose, ga rden plants. The violet spikes appear in they will remain blue. The silvery nests are July and August. Bo th fl owers and foli age also attracti ve . Each clump produces a are used in dried fl ower arrangements and dozen o r more stems, but Cupid's-darts aro mati c products. Lavender req uires full look best planted in masses. sun. I grow these attractive perennials from M embers of the allium fa mil y also offer seed every few years, since they a re not good dried specimens. O nion bl ossoms are long- li ved. Frequent di vision in spring seems small , flu ffy, lavender ball s th at dry best to prolong their life; good drain age also when hung. The purple fl owers of the tall , helps. To dry, secure six to eight stems wi th May-blooming Allium aflatunense last fo r a " twist-tie" and hang. The stems a re spin­ weeks in the garden, and the seedpods th at dl y, but they toughen as they age. foll ow have an interes ting spoke-type fo rm. I did not include Baptisia in th e new I prefer th ese pods to those of the June­ For greener, healthier, more borders, since it is doing quite well in the bl ooming A.giganteum, whi ch must be vigorous houseplants, Oxygen Plus old garden. A vigorous, handsome pl ant, pi cked before the color fa des to preserve is the best-performing plant food you Baptisia is not bothered by pests or di s­ the glo be fo r drying. T hey all do well in can buy University tests prove it. eases, but it has a deep taproot and does myoid semi-shady bo rder. O nl y A. gigan­ Mixed with water, Oxygen Plus not like to be moved. It o ffers sweet, pea­ teum, which needs to be protected in the like, blue fl owers in spring and good fo­ M idwest from late fros ts, requires special releases critically-needed oxygen at li age all summer. The long, bl ack seedpods attention. The tiny buds begin to poke up the root level to protect against the that fo ll ow the fl owers on the sturdy stalks fro m between the wide leaves in ea rl y spring #1 causes of houseplant failure­ are very ornamental and can be harvested and will be bl ackened by frost if no t pro­ compacted soil and overwatering . as you wish. tected. I cover my pl a nts with a bushel Oxygen Plus delivers essential nutri­ There was no need to move my sedums basket at ni ght until stable temperatures ents everytime you water-even if from the old border either, because they prevail. you overwater. do well no matter where you put them. Last, but not least, is my favorite foli age Oxygen Plus. There's simply Although there are hundreds of sedums perennial, Artemisia 'Silver Mo und'. This nothing better for your plants. Let from which to choose, cultivars o f Sedum low-growing rock garden pla nt has the us prove it. sieboldii and S. spectabile are bes t fo r my silkiest foli age imagin able and ro unds o ut purposes. I prefer 'Autumn Joy' and 'Me­ to about 12 inches. When it becomes a bit teor' for the deeper color their bl ooms of­ fl oppy in midsummer, it is time to trim it fer. These succul ent pl ants are low-grow­ back. T o dry, ha ng the trimmings in ing most of the summer, but in July and bunches . The stems become stiff, but the early August, they suddenl y put up sturdy fluffy foli age retains its texture. (I use the Buy one 8 oz. bottle for the regular price I 12- to 18-in ch stems with fl at-headed green foli age to cover straw wreaths o r as a fill er of $2.99 and we'll send the second I blossoms. The green slowly turns a tan­ in baskets of "everl astings.") Divide the bottle FREE! tali zing pink o r rose. As fall arrives, the plants very carefully in spring. Send order with a check or money order I colors fade to beige, o r ru st and brown. The decision to provide the ri ght spot to Plant Research Laboratories, P.O. Box I The tones of the dried blossoms are un­ for many of these sun-lovi ng pl ants was 3976, Laguna Hills, California 92654. For believably ri ch, and the dried fl ower stalks indeed the ri ght one fo r us. Full sun makes additional orders, please call 1 (800) I are very lo ng-lasting. They survive the a tremendous difference, especia ll y for these 221-2589 (OUTSIDE CALlF.) , (714) 721-0153 (INSIDE CALlF.), or instruct I heavi es t snows if left unpicked, but are also "everl asting" perennials, which all ow gar­ us on your personal stationery. I excell ent fo r winter bouquets. deners the o ppo rtunity to savo r the beauty A perennial that is not as widely grown of their blossoms year-round. 0 Name ______I as it deserves to be is three-foot-tall willow -JoAnn Schowalter Loebel I amsoni a. I di vided the plant from the shady Add ress ______borders and almost did not recogni ze it in JoAnn Loebel is a garden writer and lecturer I its sunny locati on. It bears lovely, pale blue living in Northbrook, Illinois. She is co­ City ___ State _ Zip __ I author of a book on drying fl owers, Flowers bl ossoms in late spring that are fo ll owed Are For Keeping, and has written for The © 1987. Plant Research Laboratories I by long, tendril-like, multi-fingered seed- Mother Earth News and Garden Design. ------HOR I American Horticulturist 13

n arboretum is often a balm for weary urban souls who come in Asearch of peace and tranquility among the tall trees and quiet trails. This is certainly true, at least, of the John J. Tyler Arboretum near Media, Pennsylva­ nia. A wilderness oasis in the suburbs of Philadelphia, it is justl y famous for its la rge variety of woody plants, both native and exotic. It is eq uall y va lued for the 20 miles of trai ls th at meander through the 700- acre terrai n, which ranges from deep woods to open fields. The Arboretum is th e legacy of Minshall and Jacob Painter, two Quaker brothers who pl anted nea rl y 1,000 species and va ­ rieties of sh rubs and trees on thei r inherited famil y estate from 1849 until 1876. Both were interested in botany and meteorol­ ogy, and they co-edited a variety of pam­ phlets on such esoteric subjects as a pho­ netic alphabet and a numerical system based on 16 rather than 10. Minshall was the older and more sci­ entifically inclined of the two and, like most 19th-century self-taught naturali sts, dab­ bled in many scientific projects. His me­ ticulous meteorological records were sub­ mitted to the Smithsonian Institution, and his many inventions included a fire alarm device that utilized a detonating mi xture. One of four founders of the D elawa re County Institute of Science, he collected minerals and insects as well as plants. Jacob, who was 13 years younge r th an Minshall, was interested in literature and wrote poetry. However, like Minshall, he also collected plants, and the brothers worked together to collect plant specimens for their estate. When a plant was intro­ duced into cultivation, they would obtain a specimen from one of their botanist­ friends or from a nearby commercial nurs­ ery to add to their collection. When Minshall and Jacob di ed in the 1870's, within three years of each other, the estate was left to a nephew, John J. Tyler. (Tyler's mother was the Painter brothers' sister Anne.) It was Tyler who

LEFT: Magnolia blossoms at the Arboretum. RIGHT: A giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum). extended the property from 300 to 700 both the pungent and sweet smells of cu­ acres and who, together with his wife Laura, linary herbs, herbaceous plants, and flow­ created an endowment to administer the ering shrubs. Planted on two terraced lev­ estate as an arboretum after their death. els and bordered by stones, this garden is In 1945, it became a public arboretum. tended for two hours every Wednesday Today, 19 of the original trees planted morning by members of the Philadelphia by the Painter brothers still stand on the Chapter of the Herb Society of America. property. Most of these trees serve as the (Visitors with questions about the culti­ focal point of the Old Arboretum and are vation of herbs are encoUfaged to come at featured along meandering trails in the val­ that time.) The Fragrant Garden is at its ley below the manor house, Lachford Hall, best in midsummer, when the tansy, lov­ which was built in 1738. The most notable age, spearmint, lavender, thyme, bayberry, Painter specimen is a giant sequoia (Se­ and other herbs are thriving. quoiadendron giganteum) that was planted Visitors will find that there are plant just before the War Between the States. It ABOVE: Hybrid maple trees in the Pinetum collections in flower at the Arboretum most is the only Painter tree that is not located area, RIGHT: The Glenn Dale azalea 'Dayspring'. of the year. In late February, for example, in the Old Arboretum but rather along the hillside below Lachford Hall is covered Painter Road. Its isolated location may ex­ press (Chamaecyparis pisifera) of Japan, with white snowdrops (Galanthus elwesii) plain why a trespasser was able to cut the and the ancient Chinese ginkgo (Ginkgo and yellow winter aconites. These are fol­ top off to use as a Christmas tree back in biloba), the remaining Painter trees are all lowed by the large blooms of naturalized 1895 without being detected. It is now 80 native to the eastern United States. These plantings of spring bulbs. Early Asiatic feet high, has a circumference of 11 feet, include the yellow buckeye (Aesculus oc­ magnolia blossoms in shades of pink and and-because of the trespasser's deed­ tandra), red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar purple are quickly succeeded by the pink has a double trunk in its upper portion. maple (Acer saccharum), Canada hemlock and white flowers of cherry trees in the Another remarkable specimen planted (Tsuga canadensis), and American sweet fields, as well as the showy blossoms by the Painters is an Oriental spruce (Picea gum (Liquidambar styraci(lua), which is of the Arboretum's large crab apple tree orientalis) that is now over 100 feet tall. attractive as a park or lawn tree. collection. Native to mountainous areas in Asia Mi­ Two small, but lovely gardens at the Early May is lilac time at the Tyler Ar­ nor, Caucasus, and Armenia, this slow­ Arboretum are the Bird Habitat Garden boretum. On a breezy spring day, visitors growing tree is resistant to disease and in­ and the Fragrant Garden, built for visitors can detect the odor of 80 lilac bushes long sects, and thrives in sheltered niches as far with sight impairments. The Bird Habitat before they reach the grassy lane that leads north as southern Canada. It offers narrow Garden has been planted with aesthetically through this old specimen planting of purple, purple cones and an attractive pyramidal pleasing shrubs and small trees that pro­ pink, and white cultivars, most of which are shape, and it is still one of the best spruce vide songbirds with food, shelter, and a no longer available to the home gardener. 'trees to plant if you want a large conifer place to rest. Some of the species that offer Just as the lilacs begin to fade, the rho­ in your garden. food for birds are the red chokeberry dodendron and azalea collections come into Another prize Painter tree at the Tyler (Aronia arbutifolia), common winterberry full bloom on Rhododendron Hillside and Arboretum is a specimen of the venerable (Ilex verticillata), shadbush (Amelanchier the North Woods. For almost two months, cedar-of-Lebanon (Cedrus libani), a native canadensis), Washington hawthorn (Cra­ there is a continual succession of blossom­ of Syria. Because of its broad shape, it taegus phaenopyrum), longstalk holly (Ilex ing native azaleas and the very late-flow­ needs ample room to grow, and therefore pedunculosa), and common trumpet creeper ering Swarthmore rhododendron hybrids. does best on property with large acreage. (Campsis radicans). Many of these small The latter hybrids were developed by Dr. In contrast, the lovely Yulan magnolia plants also provide shelter and resting areas John C. Wister, who was once the head of (Magnolia heptapeta), another Painter tree, for the birds. An old quarry stone is used the Botany Department at nearby Swarth­ is small, with fragrant white or creamy as a birdbath in the summer, while a bird more College and used the Tyler Arbo­ flowers. It has been cultivated in small feeder is kept filled in the winter. At any retum for his rhododendron exp~riments. Chinese gardens for at least 1,300 years time of the year, visitors can siton a wooden Today, visitors wander along woodland and can still be found growing in the moist, bench and watch or listen to the birds in trails to see such beauties as Rhodo­ wild woodlands of central China. this quiet nook on the west side of the old dendron x 'Elie Shammarello', the Glenn Except for the enormous white poplar barn. Dale azalea 'Dayspring', and Rhodo­ (Populus alba) from central Europe and Directly above the Bird Habitat Garden dendron 'Fantasy', strikingly set in a grove Asia, the 125-year-old Sawara false cy- is the Fragrant Garden, which is filled with predominated by tulip trees. This same area

16 October 1987

also contains the Holly Collection, which includes many older American holly cul­ tivars, as well as exotic hollies from all over the world. As part of its mission to educate gar­ deners about the landscape value of native plants, the Tyler Arboretum has recently added the Golden Walk with its own self­ guided tour. An informative brochure de­ scribes the salient features of the shrubs, trees, · and wildflowers, all of which are labeled. The fringe tree (Chionanthus vir­ ABOVE: The Visitors' Center, with cedar-of-Lebanon (Cedrus lib ani) in the foreground, RIGHT: The fragrant lilac trees are a popular arrra(?tion at the Arboretum in early May. ginicus), sweet bay magnolia (Magnolia virginiana), arrowwood viburnum (Vi­ burnum dentatum), and swamp azalea ties in Pennsylvania and sections of Cecil blend of wild nature and cultivated plants (Rhododendron viscosum) all have showy County in Maryland, although other ex­ that the Tyler Arboretum has achieved. white blossoms in spring. The spicebush amples can be found in Cuba, Japan, Other visitors pick up a trail map at the (Lindera benzoin) has yellow flowers in Norway, and Italy. (The green mineral John C. Wister Education Center and spend early spring and yellow leaves and bright "serpentine" takes its name from a green­ the day hiking on the various trails that red, spicy-tasting berries in the fall. The and-brown snake that lives on serpentine run throughout the Arboretum. The 10- American elderberry (Sambucus canaden­ outcrops in northern Italy.) Because ser­ mile-long Wilderness Trail encircles the sis), flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), pentine contains toxic amounts of mag­ entire property and occasionally follows sour gum (Nyssa sylvatica), and American nesium, nickel, and chromium (which are the meanderings of both Dismal and Rocky holly (Ilex opaca) are just a few of the toxic), as well as inadequate amounts of runs. There are also shorter trails, such as native shrubs and trees bearing fruit that calcium, potassium, and phosphorus (which the Dogwood Trail, which leads through is attractive to birds. most plants require to grow), the plants several acres of native flowering dogwood It is easy to find a wide variety of wild­ that have adapted to the presence of the trees, and the Rocky Run Trail, which fea­ flowers growing beside the miles of trails mineral are both more sparse than and tures some of the most mature woods at at the Arboretum. There are trout lilies or different from those of the surrounding the Tyler Arboretum. adder's-tongue (Erythronium ameri­ habitats. The few familiar plants growing Donald Wyman defines an arboretum canum), bloodroot (Sanguinaria canaden­ on the barrens, such as dry land snakeroot as a place that "may be used for public sis), wood lilies (Lilium philadelphicum), (Eupatorium aromaticum), usually have a enjoyment and recreation" but " is estab­ Indian-pipes (Monotropa uniflora), may­ dwarfed form. Many visitors to the Tyler lished specifically for the education of the apples (Podophyllum peltatum), and skunk Arboretum in late April take the Pink Hill public." Certainly the John J. Tyler' Ar­ cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) , to name Trail not only to see the showy moss pink boretum, with its wide variety of educa­ just a few. Most of these, along with many on the open barrens but to enjoy the rest tional programs throughout the year on other species, have also been planted along of the wooded trail as well. both horticultural and nature-related sub­ a wildflower loop just off the Golden Walk. Still another interesting area to explore jects, fits Wyman's criteria. But the Ar­ Here, the visitor can always find at least is the Pinetum, a field of over 25 acres boretum also describes itself as "a place a few labeled plants in bloom, from the featuring a large conifer collection of pines, for growing and exhibiting plants and for cut-leaved tooth wort (Dentaria laciniata) spruces, hemlocks, firs, cedars, false cy­ the quiet study and enjoyment of the nat­ and marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) in presses, junipers, and larches. In addition, ural life. "Such gentle, worthwhile pursuits late April, to the zigzag goldenrod (Soli­ this open field environment provides a su­ are reminiscent of the horticultural-natu­ dago flexicaulis) and closed gentian (Gen­ perb habitat for bluebirds. One of the first ralist brothers who began the enterprise tiana andrewsii) in late September. bluebird box projects in Pennsylvania was so many years ago.O Perhaps the crown jewel of the Arbo­ begun here, and 45 to 50 pairs of bluebirds retum's wildflower collection is moss pink now live year-round in the Pinetum area. Marcia Bonta, a weekly columnist for the (Phlox subulata), which grows on a rare Many visitors spend quiet hours wan­ Altoona Mirror, has written for The remnant of a serpentine barren called Pink dering over the 200 acres of the Arbore­ Conservationist, Bird Watcher's Digest, and Pennsylvania Heritage, Her most recent Hill. In the eastern United States, serpen­ tum's cultivated grounds. Wooden benches article in American Horticulturist, tine barrens occur only in isolated sections are tucked in just the right places so that "Bowman's Hill State Wildflower Preserve," of Chester, Delaware, and Lancaster coun- one can stop to rest and appreciate the fine appeared in the April 1987 issue.

18 October 1987

An AUTU N GARDEN

BY PETER LOEWER

utumn in the Catskill Mountains A number of plants still have their au­ is usually over just after Hall ow­ tumn dress. Japanese iris are swords of A een. Until then, most of the flame­ yellow-brown, and a few hostas display colored leaves manage to cling to the trees. yellow leaves, though most are now be­ In local gardens, a few staunch marigolds ginning to break apart. Many of the smaller continue to bloom, while bedding mums ornamental grasses have put forth new dot driveway borders with brilliant tones leaves in answer to the cold. But generally, of red and orange. Then, in early Novem­ those plants that were specifically chosen ber, the cold fall rains come; wind-whipped to provide color or flowers from spring drops fly across dark gray skies, pelting through fall give the best show. the trees, and soon only the beeches, the In the cutting garden, a number of the oaks, the now-yellowing larches, and an annual California tidy-tips (Layia platy­ occasional peach have any foliage at all. glossa) are still in bloom; their white-edged Shortly after Election Day, night temper­ yellow petals seem impervious to the cold. atures go down to 20° F. By Thanksgiving, Seeds are scattered on the spot two or three sleet storms may alternate with light snow. times a year to ensure continual bloom. It is now early November in the Cats­ Arching five feet over the heads of the kills. One night out of three, temperatures tidy-tips are the branches of milkweed or in the garden fall to 26° F, and it's 10 butterfly flower (Asclepias fruticosa), a o'clock in the morning before the frost on perennial from Africa that is treated as a the north side of the roof melts and turns warm-season annual by most seed cata­ to wisps of steam under a still, warm sun. logues. A fine ornamental, this rangy plant Only when the stars are hidden by clouds is usually grown for the strange pods that brought up from the South by spiraling follow the blossoms. Bronzy-green in color, high-pressure systems will the garden awake the pods are covered with soft spines and the next morning without any ice in the often grow to 1 V2 inches in diameter. White birdbath or a few frozen drops at the tip bunches of small, rather unusual flowers of the outdoor water faucet. that hang in groups of five or six are shriv­ There's a cool breeze rustling the leaves eled by the middle of October, but the of the ornamental grasses in the perennial plants and pods persist. We started them border as I pass on the way to the cutting indoors last March to give them a big jump garden to see what still offers color. A flock on the season. of red-winged blackbirds flies overhead (the There are three cardoons (Cynara car­ geese have long gone) on its way to Ja­ dunculus), which were started indoors in maica Bay and then south. early April. Their thistle-like blossoms ap­ pear on four-foot stems that stand hi gh Brassica oieracea, flowering kale or ornamental above beautiful, deeply cut, arched leaves cabbage. of dull silver. This plant is a perennial in

American Horticulturist 21 the warmer areas of the world and is said transplanted on the first of June; the plants to survive USDA Zone 7 winters. In our began to bloom in July. mountain cold, cardoon is treated as an Finally, a whole row of ornamental cab­ annual, though it is a spectacular one that bages (Brassica oleracea) stretches across will persist well into November. the front edge of the vegetable garden. In Just to the right of the cardoons are the my area, the plants are true biennials and three-foot-high stems of the Australian na­ are grown only for their foliage; flowers tive, winged everlasting (Ammobium ala­ only appear the second year and are im­ tum). The common name is in homage to mediately killed by the frost. Leaves are the strange green ridges that run up and either deeply cut or slightly lobed. The cen­ down the stiff, winged stems. In fact, the ter leaves of the plant are predominantly plants resemble tall, green "twist-'ems" (the pink, white, red, or purple, depending on kind used to tie up plastic bags), each topped the cultivar. Seed is sown either indoors with small, white everlasting flowers with six weeks before the last spring frost, or yellow centers. This is another plant that directly in the garden in late spring. As the one would think would shrivel up at the nights begin to get colder, the leaves of first sign of frost, yet the only hint of the ornamental cabbage become brighter with cold is the diminished size of the flowers; color; the colder the nights, the brighter what was once three inches wide is now only a scant inch. The seeds were started BELOW AND RIGHT: Ornamental grasses indoors last spring, and the seedlings were highlight the author's garden in autumn. the tints. (For a m'ost unusual centerpiece hill; after five years, it is now a sizable for an autumn table, the stalks can be cut, tree. By selectively cutting the shoots pro­ There's a cool hreeze the larger and rangier leaves at the bottom duced during the spring and summer, I can rustling the leaves of removed, and the cabbage placed in a vase carefully plan the direction of the grove. of water, where the plant will continue to Americans often denigrate the sumac the ornamental grasses grow.) because it grows in poor soil and is com­ All the perennials that brighten the au­ mon throughout the Northeast. But the in the perennial horder tumn garden were chosen because they meet English have long recognized the sumac's three requirements: they are hardy in an value; the Royal Horticultural Society gave . . . A flock of red-­ area where once every three or four years it its Award of Garden Merit in 1969. I, winged hlackhirds nies the temperature plummets to -25 0 F; they too, find it to be a valuable tree. All sum­ require little care; and they are at their best mer long, the tropical-looking branches give overhead . .. when the days shorten, in September and welcome shade, while in the fall, the tree October. Rather than bunching these par­ is a blaze of orange. Now, toward the end ticular plants together in one spot, we have of autumn, the leaves have all but fallen, scattered them throughout the garden. yet the stems are still topped with the dark To the left of the vegetable garden, I've red clusters of fruit at the branch tips. started a grove of staghorn sumacs (Rhus On the bank that rises above the per­ typhina), patterned after those growing in ennial border, we've planted the rock co­ the Wild Garden of Wave Hill in the Bronx, toneaster (Cotoneaster horizontalis) so that New York. My first sumac was a chance its branches will cascade down the slope. seedling from the woods at the top of the Attractive all through the year, this creep-

American Horticulturist 23 RIGHT: Asclepias fruticosa, commonly called milkweed or bunerfly flower. FAR RIGHT: Lamium 'Beacon Silver'.

24 October 1987 ing bush is especially distinctive in the fall, when the red berries sparkle among the glossy, green leaves. The flowers in June are small and pink and easily missed, but the berries are truly beautiful and persist throughout the winter. A young plant will grow only inches off the ground but will eventually develop a herringbone pattern of layered branches with shiny, deep green leaves. In various places around the garden, we've set out autumn crocuses. The glo­ rious mauve-tinted double flowers appear in stark contrast to the brown crumpled leaves blown about by the winds. The love­ liest is Colchicum 'Waterlily', which was planted on September 15th and began to bloom in mid-October. The soil must be well drained, and since the six-inch leaves do not appear until the following spring, the corms must be placed carefully. On top of the bank, winged euonymus (Euonymus alata) stands guard against the sand-flowered aster, boltonia will grow last into early spring. Full sun and average fields that follow up the hill. The leaves under most conditions, though it requires soil are the only requirements for healthy are sparse and bright scarlet against the adequate sun. The flowering stems of my growth. blue sky. On closer inspection, one can see plants are three to four feet tall and literally Next to the Amur silver grass is my fa­ bright orange berries standing out against covered with starry blossoms. They have vorite ornamental grass, variegated purple the strange cork-winged stems of this six­ been brightening up this corner of the gar­ moor grass (Molinia caerulea 'Variegata'). foot-tall shrub. Winged euonymus is an­ den throughout most of October. 'Snow­ This is truly a plant for all seasons: a foun­ other garden denizen that entertains the bank' is the attractive cultivar offered by tain of fresh, green-and-white-striped leaves whole year, with fresh green stems in spring most nurseries in the United States. Bol­ in spring; blossoms in summer on three­ and summer; bright red leaves and berries tonias are especially beautiful in a wild foot-high panicles that are striped like the in the fall; and finally, unusual branches garden. leaves but also tinged with violet and green and twigs that give a fine texture to the Below and along the edge of the raised highlights; and then in the fall, a fireworks winter garden. Soil demands are simple, bed where the stones face north and display of colors, best described as yellow­ and full sun is preferred. branches of a neighboring weeping birch bronze, that persists well into winter, until Along the back wall of the garage, I put provide some summer shade, I have planted the icy winds rip most of the foliage apart. in a two-foot-high [ilised bed, surrounded a line of Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Sil­ Unlike most grasses, purple moor will tol­ by a wall of stone rather than of wood. ver'. Only the edges of the leaves are green; erate partial shade. Since its ancestors are The b~d is filled with soil laced with white the rest of the surface is a soft silver that native to the moors of Scotland, it prefers an pine needles, sand, and gravel that was left glistens in the shade, a fit background for acid soil and even tolerates some dampness. over after the driveway was scraped and the little pink, snapdragon-like flowers that As I walk back to the kitchen for a late­ topped with new gravel. The bed faces bloom during the summer. At this time of morning (Up of coffee, I pass the area across southwest and sits in the direct sun in the year, the leaves are still bright and silvery, from the garage, a spot that is shaded all summer. There I planted a clump of Sta­ and will remain so well into November. year by a 60-foot white pine that towers chys byzantina (lamb's-tongue or lamb's­ Amur silver grass (Miscanthus sacchar­ overhead. Around the trunk is a planting ears, depending on your point of view). if/orus) can grow to a height of 12 feet in of myrtle (Vinca minor) that has been slowly The plants now cover an area of four square a good season. In our climate, it usually spreading for 15 years. Summer or winter, feet and form an eight-inch-high mass of matures at around 10 feet, and is topped it's a carpet of shiny green, dotted here soft, felty, gray leaves. At this time of year, with waving, feathery plumes-first pur­ and there with lavender flowers every the mass of leaves is topped with many ple, then silver, and finally white. spring. This morning I see three dots of dead, but still-attractive 3~-inch sterns that Throughout the summer, this clump of color; the myrtle is blooming again, fooled carried small purple flowers throughout bamboo-type stems and gracefully arched by the mild afternoons into thinking it is July and August. What a happy sight to leaves is a focal point in the border, but already spring. fl see these woolly leaves, warm-looking even the full beauty of this grass shines during under a layer of frost! the fall, when the flowers dry in the after­ Peter Loewer is a botanical artist and Just behind the lamb's-ears are three noon sun. After mid-October, the green scientific illustrator who writes and illustrates boltonias (Boltonia asteroides), from a ge­ his own books. His most recent article in leaves slowly change to light tan, and closer American Horticulturist, "A Catalogue nus of asters named after an English bot­ to the ground, the stems darken to red. Review: Tree & Shrub Suppliers," appeared anist, James Bolton. Often called the thou- The blossoms and most of the leaves will in the February 1987 issue.

American Horticulturist 25

~toration 0 a Poets Garden

Born in 1882) Harlem Renaissance poet Anne Spencer spent many hours during her lifetime tending her Lynchburg) Vi1'lJinia garden) the source ofinspiration for most ofher poems. When she died in 1975) she left behind not only her poetry) but also her special garden) which has been carefully restored and is now open by appointment.

BY JANE BABER WHITE

our years ago, on the advice of a she had no formal training in landscape 70 years. In 1976, the Spencers' house, friend, I went to see the remnants design and few opportunities to observe along with the garden, was declared a Vir­ F of a little garden in the heart of the construction of a garden firsthand, she ginia Historic Landmark and placed on the Lynchburg, Virginia. My life has not been seemed to have a talent for designing gar­ National Register of Historic Places. the same since then. dens. She decided to divide the long (45- When I went to see the garden, it was The garden I saw was that of Anne Spen­ by-125-foot) space behind the house into in shambles. A peony was poking its head cer, a Harlem Renaissance poet of inter­ "rooms" by using an arbor and a pergola. out from under the smothering weight of national renown whose poems have been This design proved to be not only attrac­ honeysuckle vines, the little English box­ published in the United States as well as tive but also effective in directing the flow wood was broken, and the cast-iron head South America and Europe. Born in 1882, of traffic through the garden. no longer spouted water. Yet I could tell, Anne was educated at the Virginia Semi­ Edward added his own clever touches just from the feeling of the place, that Anne nary in Lynchburg and worked as a high­ to the garden, including a lattice fence at Spencer had loved the garden. school librarian for 24 years. Her husband, the entrance, which he built with wood Anne's son , Chauncey, who is now 81 Edward, was Lynchburg's first parcel from the original back porch of the main and li ves across the street from the family postman. The Spencers' home served as an house. He also constructed three large pur­ home, gave me a tour of the property. As intellectual oasis for notable black scholars ple martin houses, which towered above we talked, he pulled out old photographs and entertainers, such as Martin Luther the garden. of the garden as it looked in the 1920's King, Jr., James Weldon Johnson, George Friends often traveled from afar to see and in later years. As a landscape designer, Washington Carver, and Marian Anderson. the garden at its peak of bloom. One fre­ I knew then that this little jewel of an aban­ Anne frequently worked on her poetry quent visitor, W. E. B. Du Bois, presented doned garden deserved to be-indeed had into the late evening hours in her garden the Spencers with "Prince Ebo," a cast­ to be-restored, and that I knew how to cottage, "Edankraal," a charming one-room iron African head, which they imbedded do it. sanctuary built for her by her husband. in the concrete edge of their pond and was It was difficult to know where to begin. Edward constructed the chimney, floor, used to spout water. Although the garden area was relatively and terrace using slabs of greenstone given An amateur horticulturist, Anne kept small , there were so many things to con­ to him by his friends at a local quarry. The abreast of the latest plant introductions sider-for example, historical accuracy, as stained glass used for the front window and sometimes traveled long distances to well as selection of a time period on which and the Gothic arches used to make trum­ purchase new cultivars. Her love for plants to concentrate restoration efforts. Then pet-vine supports on the sides of the front was so strong, in fact, that almost every there was maintel1ance of the garden once porch were also gifts from friends and poem she wrote derived from the garden it was restored, not to mention the prac­ neighbors. in som!; way. For example, Nasturtium ticality of the operation itself; existin g Anne created a traditional cottage gar­ was a favorite subject. Other features of flowers, trees, and shrubs would have to den to complement Edankraal. Although nature, such as blades of grass, the sky, or be salvaged, and the garden structures (of earthworms, also figured prominently in which there were many) would have to be "Prince Ebo," a gift from W. E. B. Du Bois, her poetry. re-built. overlooks the pond, which serves as the focal Anne Spencer died in 1975 at the age of But the greatest obstacle of all was money. point of Anne Spencer's garden. 93, after tending her garden for more than The Friends of Anne Spencer Foundation,

American Horticulturist 27 Tbott art cmne to us~ 0 God~ this year

Thou art come to us~ 0 God~ this year- Or how come these wisteria boughs Dripping with the heavy honey ofthe Spring Art here. For who but Thou could in living bring This loveliness beyond all consisting of a small group of local citi­ Our words for prayer zens, had already encountered many fi­ nancial problems in restoring and main­ And blur ofleafish shadows~ leafin ochre~ taining the historic house. It was obvious Orchid ofblomn with bright tears the garden restoration would have to be a Of Thy ApriPs grief separate undertaking. The financial obstacle was overcome We thank Thee great God­ thanks to a generous offer made by the We who must now ever house Hillside Garden Club. A local club affili­ ated with the Garden Club of Virginia, In the body-cramped places age has doomed­ Hillside has been involved in garden res­ That to us comes Even the sweet pangs torations for almost 60 years. Not only Ofthe SouPs illimitable sentience did the Club adopt the restoration of the garden as a project and agree to provide Seeing the wisteria Thou has bloomed! financial backing, Club members also of­ fered to contribute "old garden flowers" -Anne Spencer from their own gardens to supplement those salvaged from Anne Spencer's garden. After several months of visiting the gar­ den, studying old photographs, and read­ ing about Anne Spencer's life and poetry, we drew up a restoration plan. It was Fall 1983, and we were finally ready to begin. Before we could bring in the bulldozer, however, we needed to salvage plants and structures. The lacy wrought-iron trim atop the bordering fence was removed in one­ foot pieces, cleaned, and stored. English boxwood, peonies, daylilies, and roses were rescued and moved to the vegetable garden area on my property. The " bulldozer" (actually a front-end loader) moved in cautiously to avoid dam­ aging the old dogwood trees, the colorful lattice fence at the garden entrance, and other garden landmarks. We worked along the garden's perimeters with burlap, boxes, and a shovel, constantly on the lookout for another rose, a clump of unknown bulbs, a hunk of greenstone, or an old brick that might need rescuing. Three days and 25 truckloads of debris later, the land was bare, except for a few trees and the fish­ pond, and the garden was bathed in light once agaIn. One of the first things to be res tored was Edward Spencer's underground water line, which terminated at the pond. " Prince Ebo" began to spout water again, and a

Wisteria blossoms hang from the pergola, which

was restored by local Eagle Scouts. L-______~~

28 October 1987 large concrete semicircular bench was placed at the pond's edge. Next came the boundary fence, which was restored using the same framework of iron water pipe, with a double-pipe " post" and two-by-four-inch mesh screening be­ tween posts. The lacy iron trim, salvaged earlier, was re-attached all along the top. This unusual fence had originally bordered Randolph-Macon Woman's College and had been given to Edward by the College, Anne Sp ence r's ga rden as it appeared in the 1930's. where he frequently delivered ma il on his parcel post route. Chauncey Spencer took on the task of restoring the purple martin houses. At­ taching the ISO-pound structures atop the 21-foot iron poles, which were already imbedded in concrete, was not an easy task. In the end, it took three " floors" of scaf­ folding and an elaborate system of pulleys to mount the houses. Restoration of the grape arbor and wis­ teria pergola came next. Eagle Scout can­ didate Stuart Desso, along with his leaders and fellow Scouts, spent many weekends designing and reconstructing both struc­ tures with the help of old photographs. Although the garden paths were grass at one time, for practical purposes they were restored using crushed gravel edged with brick. Three 'high-school masonry students completed the job in record time, incorporating a few irregularities that now add to the restored charm of the garden. Anne and Edward Spencer in their garden with two of their grandchildren in the 1930's. A secondary path leading to the garden from the house was laid in large flagstone, had worked them into the soil to enrich 'Climbing American Beauty' (1909), 'Blaze' a gift from the city of Lynchburg. Flag­ it. Decades of gardening using organic (1932), 'Betty Prior' (1935), 'American stone was also used to create a terrace techniques had produced an 18-inch-thick Pillar' (1902), 'Aloha' (1949), 'Mothers­ under the pergola, where a statue of Mi­ layer of soil that was totally unlike the red day' (1949), and 'Mme. Gregoire Stae­ nerva looks out over the garden. (The statue clay typical of the region. chelin' (1927). was a gift from a friend who admired Anne's The rose garden came first. There were We re-planted all of Anne Spencer's bulbs wisdom. Today, touring schoolchildren approximately 35 plants, many with un­ in a little wooded area. Now, each spring, often ask if this is where Anne Spencer was usual configurations-for example, huge visitors are greeted with a profusion of buried!) gnarled roots with 10-foot stems protrud­ snowdrops, daffodils, and Narcissus. Scilla, Finally, in the spring of 1984, eight ing. We sawed and pruned, and finally put tiger lilies, and Quaker-ladies that had been months after the area was cleared, it was everyone of the original plants in the ground smothered for years have also "re­ time to re-plant the garden. Those of us at random to see what would happen. Mi­ appeared" to join the others. The local involved in the actual digging were de­ raculously, all the roses survived. With the Sweet Briar College Alumnae Club do­ lighted with the beautiful rich soil, which help of a local heritage rose expert, Carl nated additional bulbs to the restoration required no additional treatment. Accord­ Cato, all but one (a lovely spring-blooming project. ing to Chauncey, his parents had brought yellow climber) have been identified. These Next, we tackled the two long, narrow truckloads of leaves into the garden and include 'Climbing Crimson Glory' (1946), borders that run the length of the garden.

American Horticulturist 29 30 October 1987 LlRIO'P e: ED('IN6

On one side, we planted old-fashioned purple and white lilacs to form a hedge. We then underplanted the lilacs with periwin­ kle and bulbs. Along the other border, we planted a full array of mixed old-fashioned ·-/.... ___ f-r..,..I:NGLIS~ perennials and annuals, based on old pho­ eoXW OOD C. O ("A L ~r'-, l ," \" ,) HEuc.E tographs of the garden: poppies, peonies, U~ ;,.,rlJr.( iris, daylilies, hollyhocks, rose-of-Sharon, I\O~ I A CHI2 i' :'J.' I I\ \,' (. ' I n' .. daisies, phlox, chrysanthemums, coral­ HOI LY ,l oc\( MAHONIA bells, and foxglove, to name just a few. The central axis leading from the grape arbor to the pond was planted with more than 100 little English boxwood. We de­ cided to use the slow-growing boxwood instead of re-planting the privet hedge, si nce the former is easier to maintain. We re-planted the grape arbor with two cultivars of grapes that were known to exist in the early-20th century: 'Concord' and ' Niagara'. Several months later, we were thrilled to discover a poem by Anne Spencer entitled "Grapes: Still-Life," in which she describes the "green-white Ni­ agara" and the " purpling Concord." In 1985, the Hillside Garden Club re­ ceived the coveted Commonwealth Award from the Garden Club of Virginia in rec­ ognition of the Club's efforts. Hillside was also given additional funds to restore the driveway as well as the colorful lattice fence at the garden entrance. Now, 12 years after Anne Spencer's 'death, the garden has been completely restored, thanks to the contri­ butions and expertise of many community friends, volunteers, and donors. I often wonder whether Anne Spencer would be happy with the way her garden has been restored. Although she was un­ doubtedly used to scholars interpreting her poetry, her garden was never as closely f"\Vl13 ER'R.Y/ · scrutinized as her writing during her life­ P O f:".Wo,e1> , time. Perhaps the following verse from" Any ANI~ Wife to Any Husband: A Derived Poem" DV \-1'~ . reveals the garden'S true meaning for the gifted poet from Lynchburg: This small garden is half my world I am nothing to it-when all is said, I plant the thorn and kiss the rose, but they will grow when I am dead. n ABOVE: A blueprint of the restoration design, which shows how the long, narrow lot is Jane Baber White is a landscape designer and divided into "rooms" by the arbor and the pergola. LEFT: The boundary fence, constructed of lifelong resident of Lynchburg, Virginia. pipes and wire and topped with lacy iron trim, borders a bed filled with digitalis.

American Horticulturist 31 SAGAPRESS CLASSICS For Gardeners and Landscape Architects

The Complete Flower Paintings and Drawings of Graham Stuart Thomas Book Reviews with essay and notes by the author The R.H.S. awarded a Gold Medal to Graham Stuart Thomas for his botanical paintings and drawings, reproduced here in one magnificent The English Garden in Our Time. tures, humidity, aNd annual rainfall. The volume. These spellbinding portraits jane Brown Antique Collectors' Club. Woodbridge, next section of the book is devoted to the reveal a rare combination of artistry Suffolk, England. 1986 272 pages; hardcover, principles of gardening in desert areas. and scientific understanding of the The authors have provided brief notes flowers he so sensitively depicts. This 539.50. AHS member price, 532.60. stunning book also documents Mr. on traditional designs, as well as a variety Thomas's life work including details of Although countless volumes have been of plant lists suggesting species for specific his magnum opus: restoring the published about the history of gardening situations. Included are shade trees, ground gardens of England's National Trust in Great Britain, little has been written covers, hedge or windbreak plants, and from 1955 , plus his definitive books on about contemporary design movements and container plants. A second set of lists pre­ old roses and 170 illustrations. 208 pp Hardcover, 58 color plates styles in that country. Jane Brown is the sents species by blooming sequence, plants AHS Member Price $42.75 author of Gardens of a Golden Afternoon, grown for their fragrant flowers, and plants The English Flower Garden which describes the garden-making part­ grown for fruit or berries. The discussion by William Robinson nership of Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lut­ of cultural fundamentals includes basic in­ A masterwork reprinted, called the yens. In this book, she begins the story of formation on soil preparation, watering, most important and influential in the 20th-century English gardens with a look planting, fertilizing, pruning, and main­ language. Crusty and opinionated, at Jekyll's own garden at Munstead Wood, tenance, as well as disease, insect, and weed Robinson prescribed perennials and which set the tone for modern gardens in control. Finally, the book contains an en­ natural effects, writing vigorously from experience. His dictionary of hardy the Western world. Through the text and cyclopedia of species that are suitable for plants is invaluable. Plant nomencla­ a variety of illustrations, Brown analyzes gardens in this part of the world. The en­ ture is updated by Graham Stuart the gardens at Munstead Wood and the tries include cultural suggestions as well Thomas. Foreward by Henry Mitchell; influence they-and Jekyll-had on the as plant descriptions. introduction by Deborah Nevins. development of English gardens in this The book is illustrated throughout with Original fine steel engravings. 720 pp Hardcover century. From Munstead Wood, Brown color photographs and black-and-white line AHS Member Price $33.25 moves on to a wide variety of gardens and drawings. An index and glossary are also The Formal Garden in England garden desigrlers, including William Rob­ provided. by Reginald Blomfield inson, Vita Sackville-West and her beloved Reprint of the classic handbook on for­ Sissinghurst, and Lawrence Johnson, de­ Indoor Plants. signer of the garden at Hidcote Manor. mal design. His theme: the garden George B. Briggs and Clyde L Calvin. john Wiley & should logically extend the house, The text concludes with an in-depth anal­ Sons. New York, New York 1987. 516 pages; reflecting its ge0metry and its style. ysis of Geoffrey Jellicoe and his "Garden Garden history, knots, parterres, uses hardcover, 532.95. AHS member price, 527. 70. of the Mind" at Sutton Place. of grass, pleaching, hedges, mazes, with plans and illustrations, steel This is a well-written, well-illustrated This college textbook, written for the stu­ engraved, first published in 1892. book that is both informative and thought­ dent of horticulture, stresses the scientific 252 pp Hardcover provoking. It is illustrated throughout principles behind growing indoor plants. AHS Member Price $23.75 with drawings, paintings, border de­ The text begirls with an introduction to Daylilies by Arlow B. Stout signs, sketches, and photographs-both plant nomenclature and to the taxonomy Reprint of a masterpiece by an Ameri­ black-and-white and color. The English and basic botany of plants. Sexual and can botanist. updated by Graham Garden in Our Time is fascinating reading asexual plant propagation are also cov­ Stuart Thomas and DaFrel Apps. for anyone with an interest in the history ered. In addition to directions for various Species. early hybrids. cultural and hybridizing notes, newly discovered of garderls and gardening. methods of plant propagation, such as seed, color plates, photos -- the day lily leaf cuttings, and stem cuttings, the au­ reference, unique in its scope. Gardening in the Middle East. thors have included information on the 145 pp Hardcover, 12 color plates Eric Moore. Stacey International London, England. formation of callus tissue and its impor­ AHS Member Price $27.55 tance in asexual propagation, clones and 1986 144 pages; hardcover, 535.00. AHS member The Peony by Alice Harding price, 529. 75. their creation, rooting hormones, and A delightful and authoritative book. transplanting seedlings. this overdue reprint covers history of Not surprisingly, this is a book about gar­ The chapter on soil provides a basic in­ the genus. mythology. seed setting. dening in the desert. It contains a great troduction to soil science, with discussions preparation of soil and a SHrewd ap­ praisal of varieties still grown and deal of useful information about gardening of soil texture, structure, and composition. loved today by discerning gardeners. under adverse conditions, suoh as searing Information specific to growing plants in 253 pp Hardcover. 15 color plates sun, dry winds, and sandy soil. The book containers, including soil amendments, AHS Member Price $25.65 begins with a map and tables explaining potting mixes, and hydroponics, is also Please add $1. 75 per book for postage and handling. the climatic zones of the Middle East, in­ included. In addition, the principles of plant Allow six weeks for delivery. Mail to: Robin Williams. AHS, Box 0105, Mount Vernon, VA 22121. cluding average high and low tempera- nutrition are presented, and the authors

32 October 1987 have included charts detailing the various minerals required by plants, as well as an extensive description of fertilizers and their use with indoor plants. The book contains .--- , information on the roles that temperature, humidity, and light pl ay in plant growth; • • explanations of the characteristics of dif­ • • ferent types of artificial light; and lists of • Greenhouse •I plants for low light intensity. Plant pests and diseases also receive extensive treat­ orSunroom? I ment. One section of the book is devoted Make the right choice with Janco. I to how plants are used indoors, including We're the only manufacturer to offer I instructions for making terrariums and a complete range of greenhouses and I forcing bulbs. The final sections of the book 50larooms to match every lifestyle, I describe the major pl ant groups and in­ cl imate and budget I clude detailed cultural information on the So before you make your decision, send $2.00 and receive our informa­ I 150 most common house plants. tive 32-page color cata log featuring I rlWJJ-.-- ml . ~R~" over 100 greenhouses, ~ I !!I!I! Please send your value.packed ." Use the order form on 50larooms and IANCO lfit catalog. I enclose $2, deductible accessories. tREENl I I on my first catalog order. I II.. GLASS STRUCTURES I this page, and take Mall to: Building In the sun si nce 1948. I I Name ~ • Janco Greenhouses, Dept. AM·10, 9390 Davis Ave. advantage ofAHS book Laurel, MD 20707, (301) 498·5700 I I &JRFD I • I've enclosed $2.00 to cove r first·class postage and discounts! I handling of my 32-page color catalog . I I City State---...Zip_ I Name ------• II send to: I I Address ______The focus of this book is on commercial I City State __ Zip __ • I GILBERT H. WILD & SON, INC. • ~ AH-l087 Joplin st. • Sarcoxie, MO 64862 .....~ production and the plants that are usuall y Phone ( ) .. __ .iB.eiB_•••• grown for the house plant trade. However, L for anyone who wants to learn more about ------the scientific principles behind growing plants, this book would be a good place Wbayes End Nursery to start. Perennials ~I---Z. The RHS Encyclopedia of House Plants, ~ -.:=~ container grown Including Greenhouse Plants. ;;: : j,':r~ !Et~ ffiID- Shipped in pots - no planting shock! Kenneth A Beckett Salem House Publishers. 8f.Jl~~;~~l1_ Planted this fall - nights cooler, rain more Tops/ield, Massachusetts. 1987. 492 pages; hardcover, $34.95. AHS member price, $2800. dependable, plants become catalog $2.00 established. before summer heat Devoted indoor gardeners will want to add P.O. Box 310 returns - insures bloom next this new volume to their gardening li­ Burgess, Va. 22432 season braries. Its encyclopedic entries, which are arranged alphabetically by genus, list over (804) 453-3807 4,000 species of plants suitable for house or greenhouse culture. Each entry begins with a discussion of the origins and pri­ Book Order Fonn mary botanical characteristics of the ge­ nus, and includes basic cultural and hor­ Please send me the following books at the special AHS member prices. ticultural information. Descriptions of o The English Garden important species follow the general in­ in Our Time...... $32.60 Enclosed is my check for $, ______ANTIQ 05490 formation, and the authors have included o Gardening in the origins, common names, and cultivars, if Middle East ...... $29.75 available. The text is illustrated through­ HUMAN 05450 Ship to: ______mIt with lovely color photographs-over o Indoor Plants ...... $27.70 IWILE 05440 Strect: ______1,000 in all-and provides the indoor gar­ o The RHS Encyclopedia deliler with a wealth of new plants to try. of House Plants ...... $28.00 City: ______-Barbara W. Ellis SALEM 05480 I would like to order books. State: ______Zip: ______Barbara W. Ellis is the form er Publications Please add $1.75 per book for postage and Director and Editor of American handling. Virginia residents, also add 4Y2'Yo sales MAIL TO: Robin Williams, AHS, P.O. Box 0105, Horticulturist. tax. Please all ow six weeks for delivery. Moum Vernon, VA 22121 .

American Horticulturist 33 34 October 1987 GARDEN HINTS Choosing the BestRose

f you ask rose breeders what their fa­ vorite rose is, chances are they will I name one of their own creations. But for some rose lovers I know, choosing a favorite rose is not an easy matter. Sam McGredy of the famous Irish rose dynasty, for instance, would rather be asked to name the best rose in the world. "That would be easy-'Iceberg'," he said re­ cently. (If pressed, he will admit reluctantly that'Sutter'sGold' is probably his favorite.) Another rose lover I know, when asked about her favorite rose, said, "Whatever's prettiest in my garden that day." I under­ stand this reasoning. What good is Rose A, no matter how sumptuous, if only Rose B is blooming? I learned to deal with the question long ago by simply declaring 'Color Magic' to be my favorite. (This response seems to satisfy those people who want an answer they can write down or the name of a rosebush they can mail-order.) However, I squirm when people ask if they should grow it. 'Color Magic' is problem-ridden, persniGkety, and selfish with its blossoms until you learn exactly how to coerce the bush into bloom. I tell them not to plant it if that is all they are going to grow. A good friend who has always loved roses and has grown them for many years recently forced me to grapple with this issue of "favorite versus best." She had bought a home in San Francisco with a back yard that was typical of the area: narrow, fenced on either side, and shady except in the middle. In her yard, half the sun's rays were wasted on a fountain and LEFT: 'Precious Platinum'. ABOVE: 'Pristine'. a small pond, in which languished some straggly water lilies and something that looked like an old lotus. Along the sides called to say that she had decided to get don't care if they are All-America [Rose grew well-established camellias, azaleas, rid of her little water garden: "The foun­ Selections], or even what their names are. rhododendrons, and other shade-lovers. tain only trickles, the pool's a nauseous Just give me lots of blooms, nothing dis­ In front of the pool, in the only other green and a breeding ground for mosqui­ ease-prone, and something fragrant, if spot where the sun shone, was an herb toes, and the lilies never bloom. And I've possible." garden. "I love roses," she kept saying, just got to have some roses." My mind was reeling as I hung up the "but I just don't have any room for them. She turned to me for suggestions. I told phone. I couldn't steer her wrong; she only I can't rip out my herb patch-I love cook­ her that six bushes would fill the three-by­ wanted six! I thought of nothing else all ing, too." I knew the solution, but dared nine-foot space nicely, though I knew she evening. After toying with foolish possi­ not tell her; she had to come up with it wanted more. "Okay," she said. "I want bilities, I finally began to think sensibly. on her own. two reds, two pinks, and two whites-the I decided to side with the experts and Finally, the answer dawned on her. She colors that look best in my gray house. I to choose proven cultivars-specifically,

American Horticulturist 35 For People Who }.Jt Really Love Birds ~ GARDEN HINTS THE FEATURE those rated 8.0 and higher by the American PACKED AUDUBON Rose Society, (Roses rated between 8,0 and 8.9 are considered to be excellent; those BIRD FEEDER rated 9,0 and higher are considered out­ standing,) I realized that choosing sure-fire _ Tested and endorsed by the National Audubon Society. _ Huge performers meant that I would have to lay Country Casual capacity (1 .2 gallon pole style or personal preferences aside, nlt, (;aruen amJ I.eisure Furniture :-'pl'ciali ~ t~ 2.2 gallon hanging style). _ Easy to Since the back of the new rose plot would fill. _ High impact Lexan ® be bordered by a brick wall, the height of A superior collection of dil'erse desif:(lls construction for durability and from Enf:(la/7d 's major joineries weather resistance. _ Squirrel proof. the roses was important. I decided that the and custO/ll u'orkshops. _ Internal metering ring reduces bushes should be placed according to size, spillage and waste. _ Solar heating with the smallest in front and the largest SOLID TEAKWOOD - dark green metal base clears in back. HENCHES • CHAIRS· TAHLES portholes of snow and ice, keeps seed First, I put 'Queen Elizabeth' in the top SWINGS· PLANTERS dry, prevents dangerous mold. _ Nylon perches protect birds' feet. left-hand wrner. The very first Grandi­ Immediate shipment from our own _ Satisfaction guaranteed. flora, 'Queen Elizabeth' set a standard for Maryland warehouse. Country Casual _ 24" high x 6" diameter. its class that has never been topped. Its pays the freight. blooms are pink and are borne one to a Colour catalogue $2.00 FREE WITH EVERY PURCHASE! stem or in sprays, Once the bush is well Call or write for more information Roger Troy Peterson's book, established (three years in the ground), it AnI Guide 10 Birds, COUNTRY CASUAL - CAH produces panicles of blossoms with 37 to 17:' 17 Germantown Road 40 petals each, 'Queen Elizabeth' is not Germantown, MD 20874- 2999 To order, send check or money order for $39.95 (301) 540-0040 plus $3 shipping and handling per unit. NY State only regal but also vigorous and disease­ residents add sales tax. Specify hanging style or resistant. Its foliage is large, dark, and ~I!'-:: ENSURE AUTHENne,,,,· pole mounted (pole included). leathery. The 9,1 rating by the American SPECIFY NORTH FORK Rose Society is no accident; 'Queen Eliz­ ~ ~ MADE IN ENGLAND Department A10 , Box 741, Mineola , NY 11501 abeth' has been reviewed every year since 1955, when it was introduced, I selected 'Precious Platinum', a dark red hybrid tea, to go next to the 'Queen'. (Its Build a 10' x 12' name has nothing whatsoever to do with its color.) Bushes of 'Precious Platinum' are huge when full-grown; they are also portable greenhouse heavy bloomers. While some red roses look best in bud, 'Precious Platinum' blossoms for under $299! look progressively better as they open, The blooms eventually open to the size of din­ ner plates and are deliciously fragrant. Bushes require judicious pruning before each spring, both to keep plants within bounds and to encourage long stems. I chose 'Pristine' to occupy the space in front of 'Queen Elizabeth', In my book, 'Pristine' is, without a doubt, the best rose of the 1970's, Both vigorous and free­ blooming, this hybrid offers flowers that are distinguished by their unusual form. The American Rose Society says they are white, though they look light pink to me; • Attractive, specially-engineered hoop Write today for the petal edges are carmine, The stems are design with 4' wide beds, 2' wide door. more information: • Expandable in 4' lengths (no limit). exceptionally long and thorny. The foliage • Convenient, sturdy galvanized steel of 'Pristine' is mahogany-red at first, then tubing/ plywood/greenhouse film turns dark green just before the blooms construction. open. • Flexible enough to follow the contour of your land. 'Duet' was planted in front of 'Precious • Usually, no building permit is required. Platinum', next to 'Pristine'. Of the six • Easy assembly/ breakdown. bushes, it is the workhorse. No other rose • Can expand your growing season by cuItivar I know of blooms more often than up to 4 months! FOX HILL FARM 20 LAWRENCE ST . • ROCKVILLE, CT 06066 'Duet', which produces fragL'ant, two-tone pink blossoms, It was the All-America Rose

36 October 1987 Selection in 1966 and has been a favorite among rose lovers ever since. 'Duet' is also popular among flower arrangers and others who like long-lasting roses. Shorter rosebushes went in the fore­ ground. I put 'Europeana' in front of 'Pris­ tine'. This classic Floribunda originated in Holland in 1963 and became an All-Amer­ ica Rose Selection five years later; it has The larges t remained among the best of its class ever U. S. grower ~ since. Blooms are ruby-red and are borne in sprays, three or more per stem. Bushes are about as wide as they are tall, and " , ','..., display distinctly toothed foliage. Fra­ ~{~;::: " ~;i curl-up with an exceptionall y grance is light, but blooms are prolific. bea utiful Fall 19871 Like Sam McGredy, I believe 'Iceberg' Spring 1988 color catalog. 'I\- ~\, ,~ ~. SUNDIALS may be the best rose in the world. Even if f Bea uty begIns In the bulb. ~;\~~~~~ ~~ WEATHER VANES it is not, it surely deserves a place in a plot Bu y quality! rxl ~'ll~ 1 , {~(~ of six rosebushes. I planted this superb rose ~ 4H -..'.,:'~~ '"f,! WEATHER INSTRUMENTS to the right, in the front. The blooms are FREE CATALOG pure white and borne in clusters. Although Please send \'ou r slunrunl! new ca talog. J encl ose $2. there may be peak periods of blossom, the dedulotlble 01; my fir st ca talog ord er Ntlme ______bushes never seem to lack blooms. De­ Wind & Weather 51. ~F Il ______pending on how you prune and maintain PO Box 2320-AH Cll )' _ ____ State __ Zip __ it, 'Iceberg' can grow to almost any size. Mendocino, CA 95460 Once I settled on these six fine roses, I send to: OREG ON BULB FARMS (707) 937-0323 sat back and relaxed, confident in my se­ 14071 N. E. Arndt Rd- J-1 • Aurora. O~ 970Ul lection; I was happy. Apparently, my friend has been happy, too. She has had her little rose plot for over a year now and calls regularly to tell me about a stunt that one of the cultivars has performed that I " just won't believe." (I believe every tale.) While she sometimes has more blooms than she needs (even enough to share with others), there is never a day, from the first of May until early November, when she doesn't have at least one rose in the house. Not bad for only six bushes in their first year in the ground! Gardeners in Odessa, Texas or Sche­ nectady, New York who yearn for this red, white, and pink color scheme will find that these six bushes will also perform well in their vicinity. Whi,le some roses perform best in certain regions, outstanding roses such as these transcend locale. Those gardeners with the luxury of lots of garden space might want to try 'C0lor Magic', my favorite rose. Of course, you Y0U enJoy your greenery without can always ask rose experts in your region trees, wreaths and greens there's worrying about shedding. what their favorite rose is. But be sure to one thing you should have Ask for Wilt -Pruf at your have them recommend their best rose, too. on hand: Wilt-Pruf®, nursery or garden supply H space is limited, the best-not necessar­ Wilt-Pruf gives ever- ® center. It will help eliminate ily the favorite-is the one to plant.ft -Rayford Reddell greens and plants a protec- needle and leaf drop. Plus it's tive coating that holds in ANnTRANSPIRANT biodegradable and organic. Rayford Reddell is a rose grower from mOIsture. G~%c:'f~~t That should put W~lt -Pruf at Petaluma, California. His book, Growing And that means you can year'roond. the top of your lIst. Good Roses, will be released by Harper & po. Box4280, Greenwich, CT06830-0280. Row in November.

American Horticulturist 37 FIRST&ONLY Greenhouse/Screenhouse Year-Round Combination! UNI~~~RGY_SA"'NG Rtt''' Classifieds SOH-pO INSULATED WINTER SUN SPACE CONVERTS TO A SUMMER SCREEN ROOM! Learn the fine art of Bonsai-join BONSAI CLUBS INTERNATIONAL. $15 USA mem­ bership includes one-year subscription to BCI MAGAZINE and many other benefits, i.e. sym­ posia, lending library, member Bonsai tours. Dept. AH, 2636 West Mission Rd. #277, Tal­ lahassee, FL 32304. BOOKS OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS: Bought and Sold: Classified Ad Rates: Horticulture, Botany, Landscaping, Herbology. 85 ¢ per word; $17.00 minimum per inser­ Large Catalogue $1.00. POMONA BOOKS, tion. 10% discount for three consecutive Rockton, Ontario.. Canada LOR 1XO. insertions using same copy. Copy must be GARDEN DESIGN & HISTORY; GARDEN received two months prior to publication ART & ARCHITECTURE; CLASSIC WORKS date. Send orders to: American Horticul­ ON GARDENING. NEW & OUT-OF-PRINT BOO KS. Search service. Catalogs $1.5 O. Special tural Society, Box 0105, Mount Vernon, PLANT HUNTING book catalog upon request. o Bronze aluminum 0 Shatter-resistant glazing Virginia 22121. Or call (703) 768-5700. WARREN BRODERICK, PO Box 124A, Lan­ o No foundations required 0 Easy do-it-yourself singburgh, NY 12182. assembly 0 Ideal spa /hot tub room . ALPINE & ROCK DRIED BOUQUETS SO REAL THEY LOOK Send $2 for Color Catalogues, Prices, MOUNTAIN GROWN (6,500 ft.) HARDY FRESH! Show-and-Tell books: Step-By-Step SENT FIRST CLASS MAIL. BOOK OF DRIED BOUQUETS, over 285 Pho­ Dealer Inquiries Welcome ALPINES, PERENNIALS, and Western Moun­ tos: Williamsburg, Modern, Country, Victo­ VEGETABLE FACTORY, INC. tain natives. Many rare and hard to find. Send PO Box 2235, Dept. AH-87 $1.00 for descriptive catalog. ALPINE PLANTS, rian, Gifts. ($12.95 ppd.). Step-By-Step BOOK New York, NY 10163 PO Box 245A, Tahoe Vista, CA 95732. (916) OF PRESERVED FLOWERS, professional se­ 546-5518. crets for preserving 100 flowers, includes Mi­ crowave, ($3.95 ppd.) BOTH BOOKS $15.90 PLANTS NEED MINERALS AROID SOCIETY ppd. FREE NEWSLETIER, send stamp. RO­ Interested in Anthuriums, Dieffenbachias, Phil­ BERTA MOFFITI, PO Box 3597, Wilmington, ~T MIRAC~:;~oIlFree : odendrons, etc? Join the International Aroid So­ DE 19807. ciety: Monthly Newsletter, Quarterly Journals. 1985 Edition EXOTICA 4, with 16,300 photos, Dues $15, annually. Write: INTERNA­ 405 in color, 2,600 pages in 2 volumes, with ~ In CA & PJ~:~;~!!~!!~5 TIONAL AROID SOCIETY, PO Box 43-1853, Addenda of 1,000 Updates, by Dr. A. B. Graf, Miami, FL 33143. $187. TROPICA 3, revised 1986, 7,000 color That's why we formulated Multi­ photos, now 1,156 pages, $125. Exotic Plant mineral GREEN CROSS Wintercare (2-20- THE AVANT GARDENER 10), an exclusive granular nutritional formula Manual, 5th Ed., 4,200 photos, $37.50. Exotic DIFFERENT, EXCITING, GREAT FUN TO House Plants, 1,200 photos, $8.95. Circulars specifically designed to harden stems, READ-for the gardener who wants to get more strengthen roots, reduce winter, wind, dieback, gladly sent. ROEHRS, Box 125, E. Rutherford, acid rain and drought injury. Loaded with out of gardening! Subscribe to THE AVANT NJ 07073 . GARDENER, the most useful, most quoted of CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, mON ...All Out of Print and scarce gardening and botanical all gardening publications. Every month this MINERALS-NO FILLERS. GREEN books. Catalogs issued regularly. Please write CROSS Wintercare fortifies and protects roses, unique news service brings you the newest and camellias, rhododendron, a7aieas, trees, shrubs, most practical on-going information-new to WHEELBARROW BOOKS, 22, Brangwyn Ave., Brighton, Sussex, BN1 8XG, England. perennials ... all plants. Results are cumulative plants, products, techniques, with sources, plus with continued use. Patent Pending. feature articles, special issues. 18th year. Awarded SCARCE, OUT-OF-PRINT BOOKS. Garden­ Garden Club of America and Massachusetts ing, botany, horticulture and related subjects. 1.5Ibs.-$7.95 rrreats 6 Plants) Free catalogue. CAROL BARNETI, 3128 SE 5.0 Ibs.-$14.95 rrreats 20 Plants) II-, ::-':' Horticultural Society Medals for outstanding 25Ibs.-$32.99 rrreats 100 Plants) . contributions to horticulture. Curious? Sample Alder Ct., Portland, OR 97214. * SPEOAL 10% OFF ORDERS OF 100 lBS. OR MORE copy $1. Serious? $10 full year (reg. $15). THE BULBS Prices Postpaid in USA. Canada, AK, HI, PR AVANT GARDENER, Box 489M, New York, add25%. Orders shipped UPS. Bulbous Plant Journal, HERBERTIA and Quar­ NY 10028. Send check to: Green Cross Wintercare Inc., 260 terly Newsletter. Color-filled articles on bulbs, Bay. Suite 207. AH San Francisco, CA 94133. AZALEAS & RHODODENDRONS corms & tubers of Amaryllidaceae and related Name: ______HARDY AZALEAS & RHODODENDRONS: families. $20/Year. APLS-AH, PO Box 5355, Address: ______Nonhern grown and acclimated. Proven hardy Pasade ~ CA 91107-0355. City: _____ State: __ Zip: ___ here without winter protection. Big sizes! Big CACTI & SUCCULENTS selection! Personal service! Two Year Catalog Phone: ______"CATALOG OF UNUSUAL SUCCULENTS" Subscription: $2.00 (deductible). CARLSON'S Discover the largest selection of weird and un­ __ Please RUSH a FREE Brochure. GARDENS, Box 305-AHA1087, South Salem, usual succulents-picture book catalog of suc­ NY 10590. (914) 763-5958. culent crests, variegates, living stones, and odd­ Also available through Gardener's Supply Co. BONSAI balls. Send $1.00 today. "CATALOG OF catalogs and the finest horticultural nurseries. Bonsai Trees, Supplies. Catalog $2.50. We ship UNUSUAL SUCCULENTS," Dept. A-10, 553 anywhere. Mle. VISA. BONSAI CREATIONS, Buena Creek Road, San Marcos, CA 92069. 2700 N. 29th Ave., #204 AH, Hollywood, FL ATTRACTIVE and UNUSUAL CACTI, Lith­ 33020. (305) 962-6960. ops, and other succulents all seed grown. Gov-

38 October 1987 Now there are over 120 practical gardening items in our Garden Catalog.

ernment li censed; ship anywhere. Informative Powerful ca talog $1.00 (redeemable). REDLO CACTI AH, GREENHOUSE ACCESSORIES 2315 NW Circle Blvd., Corvallis, OR 97330. COMPLETE MIST PROPAGATION SYS­ Steinmax ORCHID CACTUS. Las t chance before winter! TEMS. Get phenomenal propagation results, in­ Our GORGEOUS 100 + colo r photos accen­ doors-outdoors. Compl etely automated. FREE tuate quality fl owers in our 38-page plant/book­ BROCHURE. AQUAMONITOR, Dept. 4, Box shop catalog. We also ca rry Rhipsalis, Hoyas, 327, Huntington, NY 11743. Nightblooming Cactus, Ratta il Cacti , other GREENHOUSES Tropical Forest Pl ants. Send $1.00 for your cat­ Redwood / fiberglass kits. Free Brochure. alog TODA Y: RAINBOW GARDENS, Box 721- GOTHIC ARCH GREENHOUSES, PO Box AH87, La Habra, CA 90633-0721. 1564-AH, Mobil e, AL 36633. Toll Free 1-800- CARNIVOROUS PLANTS 255-0284 after tone 1059. motors. Center blade has an exclusive clean-cutting Carnivorous, woodland terrarium pl ants and HORTLINE ac ti on .again st fixed counter blades to supplies. Book, The World of Carnivorous Plants, Back in print: Hartline, the "when to-how to" quick ly shred co rn stalks, vi nes, prunings, $8.95 postpaid. Catalog FREE. PETER PAULS ho rticulture newsletter! $ 15.00/ yr. for 12 old plants, leaves and newspapers. NURSERIES, Canandaigua, NY 14424. Side ch ute holds I !/.I" branches steady for monthly issues. USDA zones 4, 5, 6 and 7. Make 3450 rpm chipper blades. checks payable to: TOM'S WORD HORTI­ DAYLILIES Bulk Leaf Shredding Accessory DA YLILIES GALORE! Beautiful na med hy­ C ULTURE CONSULTING, PO Box 5238, Cha rl eston, WV 25361. has 12-edge blade and large circular hopper brids. Quantity discounts. Send now for FREE openi ng for piles of leaves. Finely shreds a informative catalog. LEE BRISTOL NURS­ HOUSE PLANTS bushel in under a minute. ERY, Box 5A, Gaylordsv ill e, CT 06755. JASMINES! BEGONIAS! Exotics from the far DWARF CONIFERS corners of the world! Logee's 1986-88 profusely OVER 200 TYPES OF DWARF CONIFERS illustrated mai l-order catalog features 2,000 rare described by size, shape, color and texture. Many indoor pl ants fo r your windowsill or green­ suitabl e for bonsai. Ask for our new Catalog ho use. Catalog-$3.00. LOGEE'S GREEN­ # 6 ($2.00 refundable w ith first order). WASH­ HOUSES, Dept. AH, 55 North Street, Daniel­ INGTON EVERGREEN NURSERY, Box son, CT 06239. 388AH, Leicester, NC 28748. ORCHIDS, GESNERlADS, BEGONIAS, CACTI & SUCCULENTS. Visitors welcome. 1986-87 EDUCATION catalog $1.75. LAURAY OF SALISBURY, Rt. Come grow with us! Hundreds of courses in 41 (U ndermountain Rd.), Salisbury, CT 06068 horticulture, landscape design and interi or land­ (203) 435-2263. scaping, botany, gardening, fl ower arrangi ng, Leaves-AwayTM LOW-LIGHT INDOOR EXOTICS. Dwarf Lady biological illustrati on, nature photography and Palms, Grape Ivy, Sago Palms, Ming Aralias. much more available at The New York Botan­ Catalog $1. RHAPIS GARDENS, POD-287-AM, Gutter Guards ical Garden. Also special symposia, trips and 4 ft. lengt hs of aluminum each have 3600 Gregory, TX 78359. tours. Certificate programs, college credit rec­ holes to ad mit wa ter but exclude leaves and ommendation and licensed School of Ho rticul­ INDOOR-OUTDOOR GARDENING debri s. Guards slide up under shingles, then ture. Bachelor's a nd Associate's degree pro­ SUPPLIES clip sec urely to outer edge of aluminum gurters. Permanent, effect ive, unobtrusive grams with local colleges. For Free Fall catalogue "FREE CATALOG"- " LOWEST PRlCES" .. . and eco nomi ca l. write: Education Program, THE NEW YORK Pots, baskets, fl ats, paks, labels, pens, etc ... . BOTANICAL GARDEN, Bronx, NY 10458- 2 Stamps ... Postage ... PLANT COLLEC­ Continuous process 5126 or call (212) 220-8747. TIBLES, 103E Kenview, Buffalo, NY 14217. FREE 24-HOUR HORTICULTURAL INDOOR-OUTDOOR GROWING t Bins ANSWERS SUPPLIES The horticultural answer men at Green Cross FREE GROWING SUPPLIES CATALOG. Wintercare answers all horticultural questions Wholesale Prices! Fast Service! Pots, fl ats, labels, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 1-800- fertilizer, tools, plant stands. FPI-H, 2242 Pal­ 841-1105: leave question ... answer by mail. mer, Schaumburg, IL 60173. In California (415) 362-0660. Or write: H.A.M., 260 Bay, Suite 207, San Francisco, CA 94133. JASMINES GARDEN ORNAMENTS Assorted Jasmines, Thunbergia Erecta or Pentas four for $7.50. List 30¢. EDNA WELSH, Rte. Bronze, Lead, and Stone including Topiary. 400 3, Box 1700, Madison, FL 32340. page catalog available $8.00. Hard bound li­ Scientific design holds in warmth and moisture, brary edition over 2,000 illustrations showing LILACS accelerat es decomposition. Turns ga rden and bird baths, benches, bronzes including tablets, LILACS YOU'LL LOVE-their first year! kitchen wastes into rich so il-conditioning cisterns, compasses, cupids, curbing, dolphins, Shipped with root balls intact-not bare root­ co mpost in a few weeks. Add materi als eagles, elephants, finial s, frogs, foxes, fruit bas­ to avoid the year or more wait for them to anytime, slide up panels to remove mature kets, gates and gate posts, Japanese lanterns, become established. Free list. CARLSON'S compost at ground leve l. Four sizes to choose. lead figures, lions and lion masks, mermaids, GARDENS, Box 305-AHLl087, South Salem, . Other items: • Bird Houses planters, St. Francis, weathervanes. KENNETH NY 10590. (914) 763-5958. LYNCH & SONS, 78 Danbury Road, Wilton, • Sheffield Pride tools • Watering cans LONGWOOD FELLOWSHIPS IN PUBLIC CT 06897. • Juwel cold frames • English planters HORTICULTURE ADMINISTRATION • Garden Arches • Tool racks GARDENING GLOVES Newark, Delaware and Kennett Square, Penn­ Call or write for OUR FREE CATALOG GOATSKIN GLOVES. Tough, lightweight sylvania. University of Delaware's Longwood goatskin stretches and becomes form-fitting, Graduate Program is accepting applications giving wearer ultimate in fit, grip, dexterity. through 31 January 1988 for the 1988-90 class. Kinsman Company Natural lanolin in leather keeps hands soft. Sizes The rwo-year program yields the M.S. degree Ri ver Road, Dept. All 7-10 or send outline of hand. $8.50 postpaid. in Public Horticulture Administration with em­ Point Pleasant, PA 18950 PUTNAM'S, Box 295C, Wilton, NH 03086. phasis in administration and management of (215) 297-5613

American Horticulturist 39 Endangered Wi1c!fWwers CLASSIFIEDS public gardens. The Program offers students ac­ ademic study at the University of Delaware and practical experience working with business, ed­ 1988 CALENDAR ucation, horticulture and maintenance staff of Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Penn­ sylvania. The Longwood Graduate Program is • Funds raised from sales will be used To Order Calendars: appropriate for individuals interested in profes­ to support conservation projects Send $6.95 per calendar; $6.25 for AHS sional careers in arboreta, botanical gardens, • 16 full-color photographs members. (For orders of 3 or more mailed to horticultural societies, park systems, civic gar­ • Information on all plants pictured the same address: $6.45, non-members; den centers and related institutions. further in­ • Large 8W' by 11 W' format (8W' by $5 .75, AHS members.) Please add $1.00 per formation and applications may be requested 23" when open) calendar for postage and handling. Postage by contacting Dr. James E. Swasey, Coordi­ • Reward offer: calendar owners are paid for orders of 5 or more calendars. Mail nator, Longwood Graduate Program, 153 orders to Jeanne Eggeman, AHS, P.O. Box Townsend Hall, University of Delaware, New­ encouraged to help rediscover popula- 0105, Mount Vernon, VA 22121. Virginia ark, DE 19717-1303. Tel. 302-451-2517. tions of plants thought to be extinct residents, please add 4V2% sales tax. NURSERY STOCK o My club or society would like to help sell the Endangered Wildflowers Calen­ Send one dollar for catalog of hard-to-find trees dar. Please send me information. and shrubs. BEAVER CREEK NURSERY, 7526 Pelleaux Rd., Knoxville, TN 37938. Name: ______ORCHIDS Help! We need room. Mature Cattleya orchid Address: ______plants, our selection, $8.00 each. Minimum or­ der five plants. Packed five maximum per box, Ci~: ------bareroot. In clude $5.00 per box shipping. FOX ORCHIDS, INC., 6615 West Markham, Little State: ______Zip: ______Rock, AR 72205, 501-663-4246. PEONIES Including rare hybrids. Also DA YLlLlES, JAP­ Price/Calendar: $ Total # ordered: ANESE IRIS, HOST A. 1987 catalog through November 15 or reserve your February 1988 Postage & handling: $ Enclosed is my check for: $ copy--$1.00 (refundable). CAPRICE FARM o NURSERY, 15425 SW Pleasant Hill, Sher­ wood, OR 97140. (503) 625-7241. PERENNIALS THATCHED The Charm of Old Roses Perennials, Hosta, herbs, ornamental grasses, for Your Garden wildflowers and azaleas. Hundreds of varieties, ROOF many rare and unusual. Catalog $2.00 (refund­ able). List 56¢ legal SASE. THE CROWNS­ BIRD VILLE NURSERY, PO. Box 797, Crownsvill e, MD 21032. HOUSES We offer a good selection of sturdy plants. Send $1.00 for Plant List (refundable) . CAMELOT NORTH, R2, Pequot La~ MN 56472. Large Selection of Perennials for sun and shade. Tall, Medium and carpeting Sedums. Extensive coll ection of annual and perennial herbs. Cat­ alog $1.50. WRENWOOD, Rte. 4, POBox 361, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411. PLANTS--CHOICE AND AFFORDABLE Extensive Selection: * American Natives * Outstanding Ornamentals * Uncommon Con­ Made in England by "cottage industry ," ifers * Perennials * Potential Bonsai * Har­ The Thatched Roof Bird Houses have the diest Eucalyptus * Wildlife Plants * Affordable charm of Folk-craft ...one of those pleasant containerized starter-plants. Informative cata­ touches that make the English Gardens log--$2.00. FORESTFARM, 990 Tetherah, famous . The house is a rustic hollowed Williams, OR 97544. branch with a flat back to hang on a wall , PLANTS--SCARCE AND UNUSUAL fence , or tree . A stub of a stem is the perch . Distinctive plants for your garden and land­ Twigs are fitted to hold the thatching . 10" Rare and unusual roses ... over scape. Sca rce, unusual and many old favorites. high . Easy to clean out. Writes a reordering 230 varieties. Our 80 page Well established in 4" pots, ready for you to customer: ... .. my thatched bird house is the descriptive catalog is full of grow on. FREE catalog. APPALACHIAN GAR­ talk of the neighborhood ." Only 18.95 history and detailed gardening DENS, Box 82, Waynesboro, PA 17268. (717) each . Shipping $2 .00 information. Send only $2.00. 762-4312. The Walt Nicke PLUMERIAS! GINGERS! HIBISCUS! Company BOUGAINVILLEAS! p.o. Box 433A, 36 McLeod Lane DA YLILIES, TROPICAL BULBS, BOOKS. A Topsfield, MA 01983 802-4 Brown's Valley Road COLLECTOR'S DREAM CATALOG OF Watsonville, CA 95076 EASY-TO-GROW EXOTIC PLANTS--$1.00.

40 October 1987 HANDBOOK ON PLUMERIA CULTURE­ li st on request. HORTICO, INC, R.R. #1, --AIIS-­ $4.95. RELIABLE SERVICE, GROWING IN­ Waterdown, Ontario, Canada LOR 2HO. (416) STRUCTIONS, SPECIALTY FERTILI ZERS. 689-6984. SPECIAL OFFER: Plumeria cuttings, fiv e dif­ SEEDS ferent colors (our selection) $25.00 (postpaid, Travel USA). PLUMERIA PEOPLE, Dept. AH, PO Box THE WORLD'S LARGEST and most famous 820014, Houston, TX 77282-0014. seed catalog. Over 225 pages, 4,000 varieties, 1,000 color pictures. A majo r book of reference. POSITION WANTED The Encyclopedia o f how and what to grow EXPERT PROPERTY CARE. Land, Flora, from seed. Vegetables, potted plants, exotics, Program Structures, Administration, all capably handled. perennials, alpines, rockery, latest and best an­ Permanent position sought with responsibili­ nu als, trees, shrubs, bulbs from seed; includes The American Horticultural Society ties. Will live on site. L.S., PO Box 761, Ojai, rare items unobtainable elsewhere. Write for CA 93023. free copy, a ll owing three weeks, or enclose $2 is sponsoring an exciting program RARE FRUIT for first-class mail: THOMPSON & MOR­ of horticultural explorations for the GAN, IN C, Dept. AHC, PO Box 1308, Jack­ INDOOR CITRUS & RARE FRUIT SOCIETY son, NJ 08527. 1988 season. Plan to join fellow AHS provides a 24 pg. Newsletter featuring citrus, indoors/outdoors; more than 100 tropical fruits; WORLD FAMOUS SELECTION of ra re seeds members on one or more of these figs; seed availability; a finder's service for the from every continent. Thousands of exoti cs, interesting and educational garden­ unusual; special book prices for members. Dues: wi ldfl owers, trees, Himalayan alpines. Gourmet related tours. Use the coupon below $15/yr. U.S. and Canada, elsewhere $18. Send vegetables, culinary herbs. Catalog $1.00. J.L. $1 for sample of 24 pg. illustrated Newsletter. HUDSON, Seedsman, Box 1058-AT, Redwood to request more information. IC&RFS, 176 Coronado Avenue, Los Altos, CA Ci ty, CA 94064. AHS "At Home" in Virginia (April 23-May 94022. Rare and un common seeds and bulbs. Mostly 1). Join us during Historic Garden Week for RARE NATIVE PLANTS tropica l: Heliconi a, Banana, Cashew, Mango­ steen, Carambola, numerous palm s and protea. a tour of many Restoration and private gar­ Rhododendron chapmannii, R. austrinum, R. We ship WORLD WIDE. For ca talog send 50¢ speciosum, R. serralatul'l, R. prunifolia, Mag­ dens in Virginia. We will conclude the week's or stamps. THE BANANA TREE, 7 15 North­ nolia ashei (Weatherby), Magnolia pyramidata, ampton St., Easton, PA 18042. visits with a special tour of the American Hor­ Stewartia malacrodondron. Grown from native ticultural Society's headquarters, River Farm. seed or cuttings. Write for prices and shipping TOPIARY dates. SALTER TREE FARM, Rt. 2, Box 1332, Special Christmas Topi ari es, Frames, Mossed, Gardens of Burgundy and the Riviera (June

MadisonJ FL 32340. or Planted. For brochure send large stamped 11-25). Take a week-long cruise of the canals RHODODENDRONS envelope. TOPIARY, IN C, 41 Bering, Tampa, ofBurgundy and the Rhone Valley aboard the FL 33606. RHODODENDRONS for landscape, wood­ luxurious hotel bargeJanine. Spend a second land and rock gardens. Free descriptive listing. TREES AND SHRUBS week exploring the gardens of the Riviera, CARDINAL NURSERY, Rt. 1, Box 316M, State Native and introduced woody ornamentals for Road, NC 28676. (919) 874-2027. flower, fragrance and color. Rare and worthy dividing time between Cannes and Monaco. On the scenic peninsula of Cap d'Antibes, RHODODENDRONS & AZALEAS plants; free listing. TERRAPIN SPRINGS FARM, P.O. Box 7454, Tifton, GA 31793 . SPECIALIZING IN THE UNUSUAL. Dwarf we'll visit the famous Meilland nurseries, Rhododendrons, Evergreen & Deciduous Aza­ UNUSUAL PLANTS where many of the world's most beautiful roses leas, Dwarf Conifers, Companion Plants. Cat­ RARE SUCCULENTS, EUPHORBIAS, CAU­ are raised. Leader: Richard Hutton, AHS alog $1.00, refundable. THE CUMMINS GAR­ DICIFORMS, SANSEVIERIAS, LOW LIGHT Board Member and President of Conard-Pyle/ DEN, 22 Robertsville Rd., Marlboro, NJ 07746. PLANTS, OTHER EXOTICA. Catalog and pe­ Star Roses. (201) 536-2591. riodic newsletters $1.50 deductible from 1st or­ RHODODENDRONS AND AZALEAS-Select der. SINGERS', 17806 Plummer St., North­ Fall into Spring (October 20-November 5). from 1,000 varieties with many new exciting ridge, CA 91325. Join us on an exciting trip to New Zealand, introductions. Also Laurel, Andromeda, Holly, VIDEOTAPES Conifers, Rare Plants and Trees. Mail-order cat­ Tasmania, and Australia. During our three­ alog $2.00. ROSLYN NURSERY, Dept. AH, NEW VIDEOTAPES! Increase your vegetable/ week tour, we will visit gardens and see the Box 69, Roslyn, NY 11576. (5J 6) 643-9347. flower yield; tour famous gardens. Over forty titles. Free Catalog (800) 331-6304, California botanical wonders of this extraordinarily ROOTING call collect (415) 558-8688. THE ORIGINAL beautiful and rugged part of the world. Leader: CLONE your favorite plants with the CLON­ HOME GARDENER'S VIDEO CATALOG, Richard Hutton, AHS Board Member and POT@) Kit. Special plastic and clay containers, Box 410777, Dept. AH, San Francisco, CA President of Conard-Pyle/Star Roses. suppli es and complete instructions for rooting 94141. cuttings $13.95, $2.00 shipping. SKOGEN P. WILDFLOWERS YES! Please send me more information on SUPPLY, P.O. Box 753, Grand Haven, MI BEST QUALITY, HARDY NURSERY­ 49417. the tours I have checked below. GROWN WILDFLOWERS AND FERNS for AHS "At Home" in Virginia ROSES fall planting in northern/southern gardens, sun/ o HARD TO FIND ROSES: Old and New vari­ shade, wet/d~y. 32 page booklet (send $1.00, o Gardens of Burgundy and the Riviera eties including: HT Elizabeth Taylor, HT Lemon deductible) gives plant descriptions, growing in­ o Fall into Spring Sherbert, HT Maid of Honour, HT Marijke structions, suggestions for landscape uses, plant Koopman, HT Nantucket, HT Sandringham combinations. SUNLIGHT GARDENS, Rte. 3, Name ______Centenary. We carry the l1lardy Canadian Ex­ Box 286-AH3, Loudon TN 37774. plorer roses, and a large selection of the new UPiconvelltional, rare and familiar native wild­ Adm~s ______Austin English Shrub Roses which combiPie old flowers al'ld cl!lltivated perennials for formal or rose fragrance and appearance with HT and FL naturalistic amas. Top quality nursery propa­ flowering frequency. Excellent additions from gated plants. Free list of mail-order plants or City State __ Zip ______McGrecly: HT Penthouse (pk), HT Freshie descriptive catalog $3.00. NICHE GARDENS, tvWL TO: Elizabeth Smith, American Horticultural Society, (sa lm on pk), HT Redwood (very dark pk), HT Rte. 1, Box 290, Dept. A., Chapel Hill, NC PO Box 0105, Mount Vernon, VA 22121. Peachy (peach), and FL Red Hot (reddish). Free 27514.

American Horticulturist 41 THE DESIGN PAGE SjJringBulbs

was to create seasonal highlights. The succession of tulips in the borders was very simple, beginning with sweeps of early-blooming Tulipa kaufmanniana 'Heart's Delight', a short-stemmed, car­ mine-red cultivar with light rose edges and handsome mottled green leaves, followed by sweeps of lily-flowered tulips: 'White Triumphator', yellow 'West Point', and the late-blooming yellow 'Mrs. John Scheep­ ers'. In late May, the bloom periods of the lily-flowered tulips frequently combine with those of a few of the earliest peren­ nials, including Viola cornuta, Phlox di­ varicata, forget-me-nots, and Brunnera macrophylla. I don't believe in digging up tulips, stor­ ing them, then planting them out the next year; the extra digging is too labor-inten­ sive and tends to mash the foliage of emerging perennials. I try to get at least two years from hybrid tulip plantings, then add to them the third year. Tulips, as a whole, do not die gracefully. With the exception of 'Greigii', with its mottled, striped leaves, and others like 'Heart's Desire' (of 'Greigii' parentage), tulip foliage looks very disreputable soon after it is through blooming. To help hide their ragged, yellow leaves, I plant the ma­ n the past few years, I've seen a lot of surround a large bluestone terrace. Two jority of tulips away from edges, in drifts newly created perennial borders. As clumps of white birch on either side of the toward the center of the borders. Hidden I good as some of them have been, it entry path are important year-round focal behind the fresh foliage of emerging per­ is surprising how few have included spring points. These birch-with their wild, ennials, they can look as ragged as they bulbs, which can give a bit of color in early woodsy grace-set the mood of the garden. want till their stalks have matured and are spring and add richness to a border's first When drawing up the bulb plan for the ready to be pulled out. flush of perennial bloom in May. garden, I decided to play up the birch and Another important part of this border's A carefully planned succession of spring reinforce their importance in early spring spring display is a path of bluestone pavers bulbs can help cover a lot of otherwise by underplanting them with hundreds of edged with Vinca minor, commonly called bare, brown ground in March and April. Chionodoxa luciliae 'Gigantea'. Larger than periwinkle or myrtle. This path serves as Yet with so many different spring bulbs to C. sardensis, 'Gigantea' bears bright blue the main access into the garden from the choose from-beginning with species cro­ flowers in late March and early April that kitchen courtyard. A frequent route for cuses in March and continuing through a are almost two inches across. Also under family and guests, this strip definitely needed vast selection of early to late daffodils and the birch, we planted drifts of blue, white, a bit more life, so it, too, was planned for tulips-probably the biggest challenge is and yellow species crocuses, followed by a succession of bulb bloom. to avoid throwing in a bit of everything. hybrid crocuses and Narcissus 'Gera­ For this intimate space, we weren't in­ One approach I've used to create stylis­ nium', ferns, blue forget-me-nots, and the terested in old stalwarts like Narcissus 'King tic unity is to select a feature of the border hardy Geranium macrorrhizum. Alfred', whose big, bold blooms are best or the surrounding area and make what Drifts of these same species and hybrid Gertrude Jekyll called "pictures." For crocuses were then repeated in the central LEFT: Lily-flowered species tulips (Tulipa example, in one garden I have worked with areas of the borders. Here, too, the idea batalini) and Iris sibirica. RIGHT: Tulipa 'Mrs. for several years, the perennial borders behind the selection and placement of bulbs John Scheepers' with Phlox divaricata.

42 October 1987 American Horticulturist 43 NOW ... BY MAIL! Unusual, Hard­ THE DESIGN PAGE Its ~rmart for To-Find Rower the Very Finest in Arranging seen from a distance. Rather, we were after Miniature Roses Supplies: a more graceful efft;ct, and wanted the flowers to be more in scale with the small Tool, Techniques, evergreen leaves of the periwinkle. The We carry the best Tricks of the Trade Narcissus cultivars we selected included selection, featur­ SPECIAL OFFER­ the mid-season 'Actaea', with large, grace­ MAKES A GREAT fully formed, white petals and tiny golden­ ing the very best GIFT: yellow cups rimmed with Gimson; the late­ of the older and The blooming 'Thalia', with three to four large, the very newest but graceful, white flowers per stem; the late-blooming, sweetly scented 'Gera­ varieties. Original nium', with its white petals and striking Stem orange cups; and the very dainty, lemon­ yellow 'Minnow', with two to four flowers Stripper per stalk. :--D---~-~-:~--~;--;~::--~-~-~~;----- A unique tool for removing These narcissus were repeated along the thorns and leaves from walk, in groups of about a dozen per va­ ICatalog Today! stems. riety, and interplanted with drifts of spe­ 95 including cies tulips: Tulipa tarda and T. turkestan­ onI Y $9ea postage [, Name handling ica. Both of these small-flowered tulips have turned out to be a wonderful addition to Address Catalog ... $1.00 the periwinkle. First to bloom, in early City M.C. & VISA ACCEPTED April, is the eight-inch Tulipa turkestanica, State Zip The Keth Company with clusters of pointed white flowers, their P.O. Box 645 yellow centers flushed a pleasing bronzy­ for~t Miniature Roses, Inc. Corona del Mar, green. T. tarda blooms in late April; its 58 Hammond Street, Dept. AH California 92625 clusters of flowers are bright yellow, with ______Row ley, Massachusetts 01969 I white-tipped petals. The bloom periods of these tulips usually overlap, so both bloom with the periwinkle. And on sunny days, FROM 15" LEYLAND CYPRESS the blue periwinkle and the yellow and white tulips, with petals spread almost flat TO OVER A fast-growing evergreen (3 to 5 ft. per yr.) 7 FEn Long-living with no known diseases upon the evergreen foliage, create a won­ IN JUST derful combination. Leyland Cypress was discovered in 1952 The actual bulb planting of the estab­ by Mr. Leyland in Wales. Since then it has lished path was a bit more complex. To l' been widely grown in England and Ireland. help visualize and refine the plan I had It is only now becoming available in this drawn, we tried to place the larger nar­ country. The trees, grown on the Eastern cissus bulbs, by variety, on top of the per­ Shore, are in pots. iwinkle. These, of course, kept slipping through the foliage. After most of the nar­ Trees can be planted NOW cissus were planted, we scattered the smaller Rated for Zone 7 bulbs of the species tulips and watched • Will grow in marshy or dry soil them also disappear in the greenery. t, T • Not affected by salt sprays Eventually, we got all-or most-of the f,s" bulbs, each with a bit of bone meal, into Prices from $5.00 W11 the ground. This task took a great amount (Lots of 100 or more $4.00 ea.) of patience and a bit of courage. As we (Larger sizes available) hacked hundreds of holes through the tan­ gle of periwinkle leaves and roots, we won­ MAIL ORDERS: Six (15") Trees dered (as does every gardener now and C~aIt!..a NURSERY Delivered $51.00 (UPS) tmen when he or she tries something new) wholesale how the periwinkle would fare. Of course, Catalpa Point Oxford Road Gift Certificates Available it survived, and the following spring it PO. BOX 1599 EASTON. MD. 21601 Leyland Cypress Trees make bloomed better than it had in years. O (301) 822·0242 thoughtful gifts for holidays, -Margaret Hensel homes and other special events. u.s. Rt. 50 to Easton By-Pass (Rt. 322) Margaret Hensel, a landscape de s ign ~ r and to Oxford Rd . (Rt. 333) . Turn right at tlole OPEN 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. consultant, lives in the Berkshires in western Catalpa Point Sign (3 mi . from By-Pass) SUNDAYS ely Appointment Massachusetts.

44 October 1987 Sources

HARDY GERANIUMS am, Jackson, NJ 08527, catalogue free. Shreveport, LA 71133, catalogue free. Plants Both Ferbert Garden Center, 806 South Belt Carroll Gardens, Dept. AH, 444 East Main The Country Garden, Dept. AH, Rt. 2, Highway, St. Joseph, MO 64507, cat­ Street, P.O. Box 310, Westminster, MD Box 455A, Crivi tz, W154114, catalogue alogue free. 21157, ca talogue $2.00. $2.00. Roses by Fred Edmunds, 6235 S.W. Kahle Milaeger's Gardens, Dept. AH, 4838 George W. Park Seed Company, In c., Dept. Road, Wilsonville, OR 97070, cata­ Douglas Avenue, Racine, WI 53402, AH, Highway 254 North, P.O. Box 31, logue free. catalogue $1.00. Greenwood, SC 29647, ca talogue free. SPRING BULBS Owl Ridge Alpines, Dept. AH, 5421 mER ARBORETUM Whipple Lake Road, Clarkston, MI Breck's, Dept. AH, 6523 North Galena 48016, catalogue 50¢. The Arboretum grounds are open eve ry Road, Peoria, IL 61601, catalogue free. Wayside Gardens, Dept. AH, Hodges, SC day from 8 :00 a.m. until dusk There is an The Daffodil Mart, Dept. AH, State Rt. 29695, catalogue $1.00. admittance fee for non-members. To reach 793, Rt. 3, Box 794, Gloucester, VA White Flower Farm, Dept. AH, Rt. 63, th e Arboretum from Philadelphia, take the 23061, catalogue $1.00. Litchfield, CT 06759, catalogue $5.00. Schuylkill Expressway to U.S. 1, City Av­ De Jager Bulbs, Dept. AH, 188 Asbury Seeds enue exit. Follow Route 1 south 13.8 miles. Street, South Hamilton, MA 01982, cat­ Michael Vassar, Dept. AH, 14132 Lemay Turn right on Pa. Route 352. Proceed to alogue free. Street, Van Nuys, CA 91405, catalogue the town of Lima (about 1 mil e). Turn Dutch Gardens, Inc., Dept. AH, P.O. Box free. right onto Barren Road. Drive less than a 400, Montvale, NJ 07645, catalogue free. mile to Painter Road. Turn left at the sign EVERLASTING PERENNIALS Alexander Heimlich, Dept. AH, 71 Bur­ for th e John J. Tyler Arboretum. Proceed lington Street, Woburn, MA 01801, cat­ Plants '/z mil e to the Arboretum parking lot on alogue free . Busse Gardens, Dept. AH, 635 East 7th th e right. Kelly Bros. Nursery, Dept. AH, Dansville, Street, Rt. 2, Box 13, Cokato, MN 55321, AUTUMN GARDEN NY 14437, catalogue free. catalogue $1.00. Earl May Seed & Nursery Co., Dept. AH, The Country Garden, Dept. AH, Rt. 2, Carroll Gardens, Dept. AH, P.O. Box 310, Shenandoah, IA 51603, catalogue free. Box 455A, Crivitz, WI 54114, catalogue 444 East Main Street, Westminster, MD Michigan Bulb Co., Dept. AH, 1950 Wal­ $2.00. 21157, catalogue $2.00. dorf N.W., Grand Rapids, MI 49550, McClure & Zimmerman, Dept. AH, 1422 Holbrook Farm & Nursery, Dept. AH, Rt. catalogue free. West Thorndale, Chicago, IL 60660, 2, Box 223B, Fletcher, NC 28732, cat­ Royal Gardens, Dept. AH, 282 Fairfield catalogue free. alogue $2.00. Road, P.O. Box 588, Freehold, NJ 07727, Thompson & Morgan, Dept. AH, Farra­ Lamb Nurseries, Dept. AH, East 101 Sharp catalogue free. day & Gramme Avenues, P.O. Box 1308- Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202, catalogue John Scheepers, Inc., Dept. AH, 63 Wall am, Jackson, NJ 08527, catalogue free. $1.00. Street, New York, NY 10005, catalogue Wayside Gardens, Dept. AH, Hodges, SC Louisiana Nursery, Dept. AH, Rt. 7, P.O. free. 29695, catalogue $1.00. Box 43, Opelousas, LA 70570, cata­ Wayside Gardens, Dept. AH, Hodges, SC White Flower Farm, Dept. AH, Rt. 63, logue $2.00. 29695, catalogue $1.00. Wayside Gardens, Dept. AH, Hodges, SC Litchfield, CT 06759, catalogue $5.00. 29695, catalogue $1.00. RESTORATION OF A POET'S GARDEN We-Du Nurseries, Dept. AH, Rt. 5, P.O. Box 724, Marion, NC 28752, catalogue Tours of Anne Spencer's home and garden 50¢. are available by appointment only. For more Seeds information, write to Mr. Chauncey Spen­ W. Arlee Burpee Company, Dept. AH, 300 cer, 1306 Pierce Street, Lynchburg, VA Park Avenue, Warminster, PA 18974, 24501, or call (8 04)846-0517. catalogue free. Far North Gardens, Dept. AH, 16785 CHOOSING THE BEST ROSE Harrison, Livonia, MI48154, catalogue Buckley Nursery Garden Center, 646 North $2.00. River Road, Buckley, WA 98321, cat­ J.L. Hudson, Seedsman, Dept. AH, P.O. alogue free. Box 1058, Redwood City, CA 94064, Carroll Gardens, P.O. Box 310, 444 East catalogue $1.00. Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157, Thompson & Morgan, Dept. AH, Farra­ catalogue $2.00. day & Gramme Avenues, P.O. Box 1308- Donovan's Roses, P.O. Box 37800,

American Horticulturist 45