PRIMROSES Quarterly of the AMERICAN PRIMROSE SOCIETY American Primrose Society Summer, 1991 OARD OF DIRECTOR'S Volume 49, Number 3 MEETING The Board of the American Primrose Society Editor: Maedythe Martin met on April 13, 1991 at the South Center 951 Joan Crescent, Pavilion, in conjunction with the National Show. Victoria, B.C. CANADA V8S 3L3 Minutes and Treasurer's Report were presented. Other business included the following topics. Update on the Conference IN THIS ISSUE... Greg Becker, Conference Chairman, was Board of Directors Meeting 3 unable to attend but sent a report. Planning is on Show Report; National Show 4 schedule. A registration form will be sent to all Primroses in Spring: Eastside Show 8 American Primrose Society members with the Tacoma Primrose Show 10 summer issue of the Quarterly. Oregon Primrose Society 13 Update on "Primula Worldwide" 15 ON THE COVER: New Editor Primula Notes 16 One of the early summer primroses, Primula Maedythe Martin of Victoria, B.C. is the new helodoxa, now known as P. prolifcra, is seen editor of the Quarterly. She reported that the An Almost Fatal Mistake 19 Cy Happy, incoming President and Guest of here in the Skupens' garden. Quarterly is behind schedule and she will try to made by Herb Dickson cet the Spring issue out in late May. Every effort Honor, speaking at the banquet. Ask the Growers: Primroses in Summer 20 will be made to get the Summer issue, due in Mulching Your Primroses 22 July, out on time. Please send articles and banquet, confirmed the slate of officers for 1991 / by Cy Happy PHOTOGRAPHIC information to her at the address listed inside the 1992. Gold-Laced Polyanthus for the Garden 23 CREDITS: back cover. Anyone willing to help as Advertis- by John Kerridge Cover photo and p. 29 by Cy Happy. National ing Manager, also contact the editor. Book Review: Primulas - and Tacoma shows, photos by Louise Fenili. Summer Picnic and Board The Complete Guide 25 Oregon show and p. 32-34 photos by Jay Lunn. Seed Exchange Meeting Photos p. 23 by Jennifer Lort. A Snapshot View of Rae Berry 25 The following motions concerning the Seed The American Primrose Society picnic will Line drawing on page 15 and in symposium News from the Chapters 26 Exchange were approved: be held on July 13, 1991 at Herb Dickson's notice on back cover by Doretta Klaber. * Donors must submit seed to the Chairman home in Chehalis, Washington. We will need a Primula Worldwide: Speaker Biographies ..28 no later than October 31, 1991 new host for the picnic the following year. Exotic Primula megaseifolia 29 * Seed list will be mailed to members no later by Don Keefe than December 10, 1991 Banquet Notes from the Editor 32 * Only primulas will be included in the seed Cy Happy, the incoming President and guest From the Mail Box 36 list. of honor at the National Show and Banquet for Officers of the Chapters 37 1991, spoke after dinner. He was introduced by Slate of Officers June Skidmore. Cy thanked Flip Fenili and Seventy-five ballots were received for the Larry Bailey for their hard work over the last annual meeting. The vote was unanimous for year. There have been some difficult times, and it was only through the dedication of members PRIMROSES (USPS 452200, ISSN 0162-6671) |the slate -of officers presented. The Board is published quarterly by the American Prim- ) wishes to thank all the members who included such as these that the Society is able to continue. It has been over thirty years since Cy found rose, Primula and Auricula Society, 6620 NW comments on their ballots, many of which con- tained positive comments concerning the Ameri- himself in the President's chair, and he remi- 271st Ave., Hillsboro, OR 97124. Second- POSTMASTER: Send address changes to can Primrose Society. A formal vote at the nisced about some of the things that have changed Class postage paid at Hillsboro OR and addi- Primroses, 6620 NW 271 st Ave., Hillsboro, OR in the Society over this time. tional mailing offices. 97124. Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the 3 2 Summer 1991 /American Primrose Society American Primrose Society / Summer 1991 American Primrose Society Show Report: National Show South Center Pavilion, April 13 & 14,1991 Hosted by the Washington Chapter Show Chairman, Thea Oakley Guest of Honor: Cyrus Happy III Trophy table at the National Show. C. F. Hill Trophy: Best Alpine Seedling Trophies Herb Dickson: Red/burgundy seedling Bam ford Trophy: Best Show Auricula Seedling Ivanel Agee Trophy: Best Juliae Hybrid Herb Dickson: Red show auricula seedling Don Keefe: Yellow Frank Michaud Trophy: Best Named Show Captain HawkesTrophy: Best Gold-Laced Poly- Auricula anthus Herb Dickson: Red self Maedythe Martin: 'Gold Nugget' John Shuman Trophy: Best Alpine Auricula Raye Berry Trophy: Best Species Herb Dickson: Red/burgundy seedling Darlene Heller: John Haddock Trophy: Best Seedling Alpine Outgoing President flip Fenili and Secretary Ann Lnnn at the National Sho\e cold weather seems to have taken its toll Ellen Page Haydon Trophy: Best Double Au- Auricula ricula Herb Dickson: Red/burgundy seedling The old green acaulis. shown by John Rosetta Jones: Brown double seedling as exhibits were fewer than expected. There Kerridge, was indeed an oddity, with petal tissue were 12 exhibitors at the show. Plant highlights a pale green when fully open. There is a color included a striking Garryard X oxslip by Peter plate of this plant in Barbara Shaw's book, The Atkinson with tall sturdy red stems, pale yellow Book of Primroses, page 23. The named gold- flat (lowers and great vigor- a very handsome laced polyanthus from England, 'Gold Nugget,' plant. Selected from his own seedlings, this which won a trophy for Maedythe Martin, is a plant, called 'Celebration,' won best hybrid in division from a plant imported from England by the Washington State show in 1987 and best John Kerridge. polyanthus at Tacoma in 1991. Another hybrid Two displays added interest to the show. One of interest was a brown double auricula shown by the Society encouraged new members with by Rosetta Jones. Raised from herown seed, the complimentary copies of old Quarterlies, The flower is an attractive antique auricula color, second presented some excellent photographs with very full, formal camellia-shaped flowers. of a wide variety of primulas not often seen at tht A third hybrid of some note was a clear red shows, taken by June and the late Brian Skidmore. garden auriculaseedling staged by Herb Dickson. A plant sale table was the other draw ing card. Herb has been working on producing a clear red A good selection of primula and other plants color in the garden auriculas, and both the color were available to members and show visitors and form of this seedling were very good. alike. Exhibit tables at the South Centre Pavilion. 4 Summer 1991 /American Primrose Society American Primrose Society / Summer 1991 Wesley Bottom Trophy: Best Hose in Hose Best Rarities Cy Happy: 'Emily' No award CHEHALIS RARE PLANT NURSERY Ivanel Agee Trophy: Best Gold-Laced Polyan- 2568 Jackson Hwy., Chehalis, WA 98532 Best Oddities thus Seedling Herb Dickson, Prop. John Kerridge: Green poly/acaulis After 30 years of selecting and breeding, 1 John Kerridge: Dark ground seedling Best Junior have developed an improved strain of Gar- James Watson Trophy: Brightest Garden Au- den Auricula with a complete palette of No award ricula color. Herb Dickson: Red seedling Best Novice No award Mixed Garden White Garden Yellow Garden Brown Garden Best Grower's Exhibits Blue Garden Red Garden Section A, Thea Oakley (pot of 6 P.malacoides, purple) Exhibition Petite Hybrids, a strain of small species and Section B, No award hybrids in a wide range of color. Best Primulaceae The above $1.00 per packet of 50 seeds. Thea Oakley: Dionysia Primula Floridae & Mixed Candelabra Best Decorative Generous packet $1.00 each. Thea Oakley: Alpine planting Hand pollinated Show Auricula Best Companion Plants Red Self Green Edge Yellow Self Gray & White Edge Rosetta Jones: Lewisia, orange striped unnamed $2.00 per packet of 25 seeds. Winner in the species class: miniature Primula hybrid Hand pollinated Double Auricula Mix denticula shown by Darlene Heller. Raised from $3.00 per packet of 15 seeds. her own seed, it is consistently small. MINIMUM ORDER $5.00 Post free in U.S. and Canada Best Garden Auricula and Brightest Garden Overseas orders please add .50 cents Auricula Herb Dickson: Red self seedling Best Double Auricula, Best Double Auricula Seedling and Best Auricula Seedling Herb Dickson s award winning gold centered IHOTWENT AND Cl" CUL* HOW Rosetta Jones: Brown double auricula seedling alpine auricula seedling. (own hybrid) Awards Species: Best European: Best Plant in Show Best Asiatic: Peter Atkinson: 'Celebration' (own hybrid) Darlene Heller Sweepstakes (most points in show) Best Not Hardy: Thea Oakley Thea Oakley: Primula malacoides, pale pink Best Vulgaris (Acaulis) Thea Oakley: Purple/red acaulis with yellow eye EXHIBITION PLANTS Best Polyanthus Best Show Self Auricula Peter Atkinson: 'Celebration' Garryard x oxslip Herb Dickson: Red self seedling Best Acaulis/Polyanthus Best Alpine Auricula, Best Alpine Seedling No award Herb Dickson: Red/burgundy alpine seedling Best Juliae Hybrid Best Named Show Auricula Don Keefc: Yellow No award ) 'Celebration' a Garryard .\ hybrid by Best Hose-in-Hose Best Gold-Laced Polyanthus Cy Happy: 'Emily' (own hybrid) Peter Atkinson, Best Plant in Show, ton the Maedythe Martin: kGold Nugget* right) and Primula malacoides, shown by Then Best Jack-in-the-Green Best Seedling Laced Polyanthus Oakley and winning Best Non-hardy Species Peter Atkinson: White (own hybrid) John Kerridge: Dark ground seedling Primula (on the left).