5 Garden Diary

Our Garden Diary sold so well last year, we pages for you to do with as you please. We've couldn't keep up with the demand. So if you also provided a pocket to hold informative news-. didn't get your copy, here's another chance. Sur­ clippings or catalog information, tabs for handy, prise your gardening friends with an unusual quick reference and a preprinted rule to make gift, or treat yourself and your garden to this measuring flowers or seedlings easier. useful record-keeper. Inside this lovely cover Best of all, AHS members are entitled to a dis­ (laminated to prevent staining) we've included count off the retail price of $14.95. The discount­ 96 ring-bound pages to record all sorts of garden ed price for members is just $11.95, including information: cultural instructions for favorite postage and handling. plants, month-by-month events in the garden (enough space for three years' data), graph paper Send your check (made out to the American for drawing landscape and border designs, a Horticultural Society) to Jeanne Eggeman, AHS, blooming sequence chart to keep track of color in Box 0105, Mt. Vernon, VA 22121. Virginia resi­ the garden from week to weeki useful blank dents add 4% sales tax. VOLUME 63 NUMBER 6 Contents

On the Cover: Peonies, such as these delicate single pinks, are a feature of spring gardens across the country. In the south, they grace us with their blooms in May; farther north, in June. June also brings thoughts of mountain laurel, whose showy trusses light up eastern hillsides. For information on the exciting new cultivars of this great American plant, turn to page 5. June's warm days bring to light many less well­ known inhabitants of our gardens. Read about spiders 10 the garden on page 31. Photograph by Pamela Harper.

President's Page: The Fragility of Knowledge by Edward N. Dane 2 Seasonable Reminders: A New Look at Mountain Laurel by Ruby Weinberg 5 Strange Relatives: The Spurge Family by Jane Steffey 9 Book Reviews by Gilbert S. Daniels 12 Research Battles Blackspot by Rosalyne B. Dobbs 14 An English Gardening Love Affair Text and Photography by Jerald Harpur 18 Bee Balm by Jeanne Goode 25 The Bickelhaupt Arboretum Res~archers throughout the United States are trying to by Mary Coakley Smith 26 develop blackspot-resistant roses. Here, roses grow in the southern California fields of Jackson & Perkins, Spiders in the Garden one of the country's major rose growers. In recent Text and Illustrations by Peter Loewer 31 years, blackspot has become a major problem in this part of the country. For more inf.ormation on the Sources 35 battle against blackspot, turn to page 14. Photograph courtesy of Jackson & Perkins. Classifieds 36 Pronunciation Guide 42 The Design Page: Color by Margaret Hensel 44

EDITOR, PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: Barbara W. Ellis. ART DIRECTOR: Rebecca K. McClimans. ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Lynn M. Lynch. EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Jane Steffey. HORTICULTURAL CONSULTANT, BOOK EDITOR: Gilbert S. Daniels. PRONUNCIATION GUIDE ADVISOR: Everett Conklin. ASSISTANTS TO THE EDITOR: Louise Baughn, Ci ndy Weakland. BUSINESS MANAGER: May Lin Roscoe. MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR: Con.nie Clark. COLOR SEPARATIONS: John Simmons, Chromagraphics Inc. ADVERTISING . REPRESENTATIVES: C. Lynn Coy Associares, Inc., 55 Forest Street, Stamford, CT 06902, (203) 327·4626.

RepIacemenr issues of AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST are available at a cost of $2.50 per copy. The opinions expressed in the articles th at apFear in AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Society. They 3re presented as contributions to contemporary thought. Manuscripts, art work and photographs sem for possible publication will be returned if they are accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is the official publication of the American Horticultural Society, 793 1 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, (703) 768·5700, and is issued monrhIy. Membership in the Society includes a subscription to AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. Membership dues start at $20.00 a year, $12.00 of which is designated for AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. Copyright © 1984 by the American Horticultural Society. ISSN 0096-4417. Second-class postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please se nd Form 3579 to AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121.

American Horticulturist 1 PRESIDENT'S PAGE The Fragility of fedge

hen I first visited River Farm, I gardens have received 2,345 varieties of entific in my browsing, I have only a vague noticed' the · hundreds of books trees and plants from America ... until sense of how much data there is in these W that sit, uncatalogued, on shelves the list of plants now cultivated in this old works. I do know, however, that with­ all over the River Farm house. Some rare country [England] exceeds 120,000 vari­ out the written history of plants and gar­ volumes lean gracefully on the shelves in eties." This modest number obviously cre­ dens, horticulturists would lose much of the parlor, the oldest part of the house, ated excitement among plant lovers. the richness of our scientific heritage. patiently waiting to be read. Books of our Turning up another dusty volume, The Just as modern hybridization has, in some own era are stacked everywhere. The effect American Gardener's Calendar by Ber­ cases, overlooked some positive charac­ is a homey one, and, though I knew the nard McMahon (Philadelphia, 1806), I read teristics of plants, we professional and am­ collection should be catalogued, it did not that the author sincerely hopes that gar­ ateur gardeners stand to lose much wis­ seem an urgent need, particularly since staff den-rocket (Hesperis matronalis) might dom if we neglect the resources left for us members had organized many of our most some day "be found on this side of the by our predecessors. The Society's beau­ frequently used books. Atlantic." This plant is now listed by Ror­ tiful old books with their ornate bindings Then, not long ago, I began to hear of tus Third as naturalized throughout this and meticulous engravings were treasured books in the attics of the River Farm house country. Mr. McMahon also lists over 50 by past generations; we cannot leave them and the nearby Carriage House. Appar­ plants to be collected in the American wild to decay in our attics. A few hardy vol­ ently, the Society's move to its new River that are now commonly cultivated and ac­ unteers (Alice Bagwill, Barbara McGlone Farm headquarters from a rented office in tively hybridized. and Elaine Logan) have started a cata­ 1973 had posed an enormous challenge: From a quick glance at this treatise, we loguing program, undertaking the im­ 26 acres of grounds that needed immediate have an idea of how horticulture has mense task of organizing our uncounted attention, and one large house and several changed in these 180 years, but we also books, but they have yet to start work on smaller buildings that had to be converted see a common thread of puzzlement. Mr. the attic depositories. Even if the Society somehow into practical office and storage McMahon speculates with wonder about continues to receive their generous help, space. In the course of the adjustment, the the workings of Mimosa pudica, sensitive we will need funds for cataloguing mate­ thousands of volumes that are now in the plant, and concludes that its leaves fold up rials, shelving, and book repair and pres­ attics became the victims of higher priorities. when touched because it is a highly delicate ervation-the minimum requirements for Most of the older books in our collection plant, and that this reaction is akin to the putting any kind of library together. were given to the Society by Harold B. fainting of animals. He finds this sensi­ Now they rest, rarely disturbed, in the Tukey, well known for his contributi0ns bility admirable. Although we, in our late dusky attics, waiting for us to fulfill our in the field of horticultural science. But, twentieth-century sophistication, avoid mission as an organization: to provide in­ because of lack of staffing and funds, these anthropomorphizing plants and lean on formation that will promote horticulture wonderful books have remained upstairs, sounder theories, we can share the frus­ in this country. I quote again from The uncatalogued and unused. tration of thinking men through the ages New York Farmer and Horticultural Re­ Looking at these long-untouched books as we read Mr. McMahon's inquiring es­ pository, February 1830: "Horticultural recently, I felt a great sense of frustration; say: "The cause of this, seemed so hard to Societies have sprung up with amazing ra­ here at the hub of our national gardening be discovered, that a curious Malabrian pidity in some of the Northern and Eastern organization are literally hundreds of years philosopher, upon his observing the nature states, and are likely to prove of much of knowledge stored in leather bindings, of this plant, without being able to dis­ benefit. ... The members are zealous, and but for all intents and purposes, the in­ cover the cause of its sensibility, ran mad; . . . new trees, plants, fruit, vegetables, seeds formation in them is inaccessible. In glanc­ just as Aristotle is said to have flung him­ &c. are numerous." ing through one box of treasure, I found self headlong into the sea, because he could In a new country, horticulturat"societies several bound volumes of The New York not comprehend the reason of its ebbing paved the way for the flourishing horti­ Farmer and Horticultural Repository, cov­ and flowing." culture and agriculture that enrich us to­ ering the years 1830-33. The browning The next page tells us that Venus's fly­ day. I hope our "zealous members" will pages reflect a sense of the writers' pride trap closes its lobes over insects to protect help retrieve from dusty storage the re­ and wonder in their new country, an im­ itself against the creatures' depredation. minders of our humble beginnings and the mediate sense of the frontier we seem to Perhaps because a stray horticulturist here basis for our future growth, by contrib­ have lost. The twentieth-century reader and there has "run mad" over the years, uting to the Society's Harold B. Tukey Me­ begins to understand what this vast new we now know better, but see in our fore­ morial Library Fund. land meant to the horticultural world as bears' wonderings the root of all science: he reads one correspondent's report: "Since the need to know. the discovery of the New World, English Tending to be more literary than sci-

2 June 1984 AHS Best Sellers

Choose long-lasting gifts for Gardens Are for People. Japanese Gardens-Design your gardening friends from Thomas D. Church. (Edited by Crace Hall and Meaning. our list of best-selling books and Michael Laurie.! McCraw-Hili Book Mitchell Bring and Josse Wayembergh. Company. New York, New York. (2nd edi­ McCraw-Hili Book Company. New York, reviewed in American Horticul­ tion.! 1983. 256 pages; hardcover, $37.50.. New York. 1981. 214 pages; hardcover, turist. All available at a special AHS discount price, $31.50. including $27.50. AHS discount price, $23.25 in ­ discount to AHS members. postage and handling. cluding postage and handling. An updated edition of a classic work in Analyzes in detail 10 outstanding gardens Manual of Woody Plants. landscape architecture that includes and discusses the origins of the Oriental Michael A. Dirr. Stipes Publishing Com­ Thomas Church's thoughts on design garden deSign concepts. Chapters on pany. Champaign, Illinois. (3rd edition.! principles. All of the illustrations are new, Principles of Design and Construction 1983. 826 pages; softcover, $19.80.; hard­ and most of the gardens shown are ones Details as well as extensive garden plans cover, $28.80. AHS discount prices, soft­ Church designed after 1955. Destined to and excellent photographs throughout. cover, $17.85; hardcover, $25.95 includ­ set new standards in the field of land­ ing postage and handling. scape architecture. This updated edition of a very useful The Complete Book of Roses. book includes 300 new species and 500 Cerd Krussmann. Timber Press. Portland, new cultivars not found in earlier edi­ Oregon. 1981. 436 pages; hardcover, tions. There are also over 300 new line $50..0.0. AHS discount price, $43.75 in­ Order Form drawings. Excellent information on size, cluding postage and handling. hardiness, habit, growth rate, culture, Updated and translated from the original Prices reflect AHS Member Discount diseases, landscape value, cultivars and German edition of 1974, this is THE de­ and include postage and handling. propagation of each woody plant. finitive study of the rose from prehistoric Gardens of a Golden times to 1981 . Describes each variety of Manual of Woody Plants rose, with information on the originator, o Hardcover $25.95 Afternoon. date of introduction and parentage of Jane Brown. Van Nostrand Reinhold. New o Softcover $17.85 the hybrids. Various rose-related topics The Life and Travels of York, New York. 1982. 20.8 pages; hard­ include paleontology, mythology, com­ o John Bartram $22.50 cover, $29.95. AHS discount price, $22.50. mercial production, propagation and including postage and handling. plant breeding. Includes rose species, old o Gardens of a Golden Tells the story of the gardens designed garden roses and modern hybrids. Afternoon $22.50 jointly by Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lut­ o Japanese Gardens­ yens. Beautifully illustrated with many The Life and Travels of John Design and Meaning $23.25 color photographs and details of garden Bartram. o Gardens Are for People $31.50 design. Recommended reading for the The Complete Book of lover of English cottage gardens or for Edmund Berkeley and Dorothy Smith o the garden history buff. Berkeley. University Presses of Florida. Roses $43.75 Tallahassee, Florida. 1982. 376 pages; o Japanese Maples $30.89 A Dictionary of Botany. hardcover, $25.0.0.. AHS discount price, o The Englishwoman's R. John Little and C. Eugene Jones. Van $22.50. including postage and handling. Garden $17.95 A fascinating account of the life and Nostrand Reinhold Company. New York, o A Dictionary of Botany $16.05 New York. 1980.. 40.0. pages; hardcover, travels of John Bartram, one of America 's $18.50.. AHS discount price, $16.0.5 in­ foremost botanists and plant collectors. cluding postage and handling. His travels in search of plants took him to Enclosed Is my check fOr __ books A botanical dictionary covering all aspects most parts of the eastern United States, In the amount of $,_...... ,.. __~-- of the plant sciences. Indispensable to and his unusual plant collections had a the professional or the serious amateur profound influence on horticulture and Please allow six weeks for delivery. who makes frequent use of the litera­ botany in the eighteenth century. A book Discount price inclUdes postage and for all plant lovers. ~ure . The perfect gift for the student of handling. Virginia reSidents add 4% botany or horticulture. The Engllsflwomants Garden. sal.es tax. Japanese Maples. AMIde Less-Milne and Rosemary Verey J. D. Vertrees. Tim'ber Press. Forest (editors). Merrimack Book Service. Salem. Mall to: Jeanne Eggeman, American Crove, Oregon. 1'978. 178 pages; hard­ New Hampshire. 1980. 156 pages; hard­ Horticultural SocietY, P.O. Box 0105, cover, $39.50.. AHS discount price, $30.89 cover, $24.95. AHS discount, $17.95 in­ Mount Vernon, VA 22121. including postage and handling. cluding postage and handling. An authoritative work on a group of The story of ~6 English gardens as told Ship to: __~_~-~--~- plants with tremer.l~olJs variety-Japa­ by their owners, including plant likes and nese maples. Describes and illustrates the dislikes, 'climatic and architectural prob­ Street:: ____~_~-~-- more than 250 cultivars of Acer palma­ lems, gardening practices and the history tum, plus many other species of Acer of each garden. Describes many gardens City::_--"-_~_~~~--- found in Japan. EnjoyaBle reading and developed or rejuvenated since World beautifully illustrated . War II. A truly inspirationql work. State: ______lip,___ _ ...... - ...... 4 June 1984 SEASONABLE REMINDERS A New look at Mountain Laurel

y tiny plants growing in tubes in the full-blown flower, whose petals carry and plugs reveal little of their a uniform design of pink or'purple spots. M potential beauty, but each label Each blossom in a cluster is usually white is marked with an intriguing name: 'Shoot­ infused with a delicate pink. From a design ingStar', 'Bullseye', 'Silver Dollar', 'Freck­ point of view, the intensity of the bud color les' ... . These are only a few of the exciting is of equal importance to the open bloom, new cultivars of an old favorite, Kalmia because buds and expanded petals appear latifolia, mountain laurel. together for quite a long time during the The plants growing in these strange­ three-week flowering period. looking capsules originated in tissue cul­ Most of us tend to treasure the exotic ture laboratories, and these cultivars rep­ far more than the familiar. Perhaps be­ resent, at long last, new possibilities for cause of its widespread distribution, the garden use of mountain laurel. Nurs­ mountain laurel was accepted in its natural erymen have been planting them for two state, and hybridizers paid little attention or three years; today, these beautiful new to improving it. Nor were there many at­ forms are becoming available. tempts to identify clones with superior Mountain laurel is a broad-leaved ever­ qualities. However, during the recent win­ green that lights up the deciduous winter ters of 1980-1982, some gardeners expe­ woodlands on rocky, acidic hillsides of the rienced hardiness problems with other eastern United States. From Maine to broad-leaved evergreens. These gardeners northern Florida, and as far west as Mis­ are now taking a new look at rugged Kal­ sissippi, mid-spring is a time for rejoicing, mia latifolia, which survives, without when the mountain laurel is in bloom. Less damage, in temperatures as low as _20 0 F. than half a mile from my home in north­ In my own garden, mountain laurel has western New Jersey, nature has dressed an bloomed profusely following a month in entire slope with these dense understory which lows reached -15 0 F. Frequently, I shrubs. One of the most splendid displays have observ~d budded branches that had occurs in June in Pennsylvania's Pocono been encased in ice over an extended pe­ Mountains. Both Pennsylvania and Con­ riod of time flowering with no apparent n~cticut have recognized the beauty of Kal­ damage the next spring. mia latifolia by designating it as their state The major obstacle in growing and im­ flower. proving mountain laurel has been propa­ Early colonial settlers were the first to gation; from the plant's ~arliest recorded admire this native American shrub. They history, gardeners have found it noto­ called the plant ivy, dug it up from the riously difficult to reproduce. wild and planted it in their gardens. Moun­ Laurels were first noticed in 1726 by the tain laurel's virtues were appreciated by English botanist, Mark Catesby. However, such noteworthy gardeners as George seeds and plants introduced to his native Washington and Thomas Jefferson, both land did not thrive. (They were misiden­ of whom used it as an ornamental. The tified as well.) In 1747 Sweden commis­ shrub transplants easily and is adaptable sioned naturalist Peter Kalm to search for to many garden uses. valuable New World plants that might grow Calico is another eommon name for the in th~ frigid Scandinavian climate. Kalm plant; each flower somewhat resembles that found the mountain laurel, which he cotton cloth, which is printed with a fig­ thought was exceptionally beautiful, and ured pattern. The calico effect can be s~en brought it home. Linnaeus examined it and found it was a member of an entirely new Kalmia latifolia, commonly called mountain genus. He honored its discoverer by nam­ laurel, growing in the Connecticut wild. ing it Kalmia.

American Horticulturist 5 SEASONABLE REMINDERS

Over the years, the secret of germinating and growing the seed has gradually been revealed, but it is such a slow and difficult process that American nurserymen found it more practical to collect mountain laurel from the wild and either grow it further or resell it immediately to gardeners. Iron­ ically, it was English horticulturists who finally looked at this native American plant more closely and, in 1886, sent the first recorded cultivar to the United States, call­ ing it Kalmia latifolia 'Rubra'. Unfortu­ nately, cuttings of mountain laurel, which could be used to reproduce a mother plant exactly, are difficult to root. So, despite the availability of improved selections, the northeastern mountainsides continued to be used as collecting grounds. As the human population increased, so did the demand for this beautiful garden plant. Only within recent years has the impor­ tance of conservation of natural resources become more apparent. Americans learned ABOVE LEFT: These blooms illustrate the banded color pattern called fuscata. ABOVE RIGHT: that environmental hazards such as soil A form of mountain laurel with almost pure white flowers. BELOW: A hybrid with bright red erosion and flooding can occur when hill­ buds that open into paler flowers. sides are denuded of an entire species of plant. Clearly, better methods were needed whose parentage has been carefully con­ from seedlings rather than from mature so that mountain laurel could be im­ trolled, he has also discovered some forms plants. As a result, many growers who have proved, propagated and made available to of mountain laurel that will breed re­ been working with newly selected cultivars the gardener without depleting wild pop­ markably true from seed. Through his work have had better success in rooting than was ulations or destroying its natural habitat. with several Kalmia species, he has se­ formerly possible. Early in the 1960s, Dr. Richard Jaynes lected, hybridized and introduced many Any gardener who has ever attempted of the Connecticut Experiment Station be­ new ornamental types. Dr. Jaynes also has to propagate mountain laurel can testify gan studying the plant. In addition to find­ discovered that successful rooting is more to the problems involved. Seed must be ing a way to collect cross-pollinated seed likely to occur when cuttings are taken collected at exactly the right time of the

6 June 1984 Its ~rm~t for year and carefully separated from the chaff. 'Silver Dollar' is white with exceptionally the Very Finest in When seedlings finally appear, they are so large flowers and foliage. 'Still wood' is Miniature Roses tiny and slow growing that they can scarcely white in bud as well as in flower. A late­ be handled. Researchers have attempted blooming white called 'Shooting Star' has to accelerate this stage by treating seed also been found. This plant has deeply cut, We carry the best with growth hormones such as gibberel­ reflexed petals, which give it a frilled ap­ selection, featur­ lins. They have also experimented with pearance when the plant is in bloom. lighting the plants to supplement the low The term "fuscata" is sometimes used ing the very best levels of light available in winter, and with in descriptions of mountain laurel. It means adding carbon dioxide to greenhouse at­ brownish and refers to the banded pattern mospheres to speed growth. With cuttings, on the petals. Instead of the tiny spots found the very newest horticulturists face another problem: even on the flowers of most wildlings, mountain varieties. when roots are initiated, it is difficult to laurel has various kinds and colors of bands. coax the little plants out of their deep, Some cultivars are solid, such as the red­ extended dormancy. dish brown 'Bullseye'. 'Goodrich' is a cul­ Until Dr. Jaynes studied mountain lau­ tivar with a slim white rim encircling a :--D---~-~-~~--~;--;~::--~-~-~:~----- rel, the occasional discovery of an unusual wide band of an odd color that might be form of the plant was of little significance. called grape. Other bands, as in the cul­ iCatalog Today! Plants have been found with features such tivar called 'Freckles', are splotchy and have as unusual dwarf stature, red or yellow been termed " interrupted." Name stems, feathered petals, variegated foliage Perhaps the new selections with pure and willow-shaped leaves. Now, at last, pink flowers will prove to be the most Address -=~------. with these propagation breakthroughs, new popular of all. 'Pink Charm' has deep pink ~~ i cultivars of Kalmia latifolia are becoming buds and flowers of a medium intensity. ~------~~------. State Zip i a reality. An exceptionally hardy cultiva r is 'Pink The most promising development in Surprise', which has pink flowers and broad .for~t Miniature Roses, Inc. i mountain laurel research appears to be the green leaves. 58 Hammond Street i meristem, or tissue culture, method of A rare dwarf form of the mountain lau­ :______l!_~~~~~, __ ~?_~~?_:~~~~_~~~_~_~?_~? ______j propagating plants. Many genera, such as rel, Kalmia latifolia 'M yrtifolia ', has re­ Rhododendron, Amelanchier and Malus, sulted in the development of 'Elf', a so­ NOW.. •BY MAIL! are now being successfully reproduced us­ called miniature cultivar. Other low-grow­ FLOWER ARRANGING ing this technique. Fortunately for gar­ ing plants may soon appear. SUPPLIES: deners, the culture is being perfected si­ Since tissue culture permits the produc­ Tools, Techniques, multaneously with new methods for rooting tion of enormous numbers of plants in a mountain laurel cuttings. Already, home relatively short period of time, it is highly Tricks of the Trade! gardeners are able to buy some of the likely that these and other mountain laurel splendid new cultivars, and, in time, more cultivars will become more widely avail­ SPECIAL OFFER - wjll appear on the market. able in the near future. One distinct ad­ MAKES A GREAT GIFT: Much attention has been given to the vantage of this method is that the prop­ red-budded feature of mountain laurel. The agator needs only a few stock plants of The Original flower buds can be distinctive and prom­ each cultivar to begin his work. Stock plants inent, and clones with unusually deep vel­ are grown under controlled conditions de­ Stem Stripper vety red buds have been identified. As a signed to minimize disease, and the new A unique tool for removing thorns general rule, the open flowers are pink. tissue-cultured plantlets start life free from and leaves from stems. Some selections have the added feature of disease problems that could be passed on 95 including only $9ea . postage £, handling red-tinged stems. to plants that are propagated from cunings. Connecticut Indian tribal names have In tissue culture, a piece of plant tissue been given to two cultivars with red buds: (called an explant) containing a bud is re­ The Keth Company 'Nipmunk' and 'Quinnipiac'. These cul­ moved from the stock, and its surface is P.O. Box 645 tivars are red in bud but light pink when sterilized. The material is then placed in a Corona del Mar, CA 92625 the flowers open. Others are 'Ostbo Red', laboratory culture vessel containing a

'Sarah' and 'Olympic Fire'. Although carefully composed chemical medium. Please send me __Original Stem Strlpper(s) at $9.95 growers have not yet found a laurel red in Sterile conditions are maintained at all times each including postage and handling. Enclosed is my U check or 0 money order. (Sorry, no C. 0. D.s. CA res. add 60¢ ea. lax.) open flower as well as in bud, the search in order to prevent ·contamination. is on, and it is very possible that some day The little shoots that arise from the bud D Please send your FREE Complete List of Floral Supplies. PLEASE an observant nature lover may discover multiply rapidly and in great numbers. PRINTName ·______such a plant. When they are approximately an inch long Address ______~ ____ Pure white flowering is also a desirable the shoots are removed from the vessels (;I y ______landscape feature, and several white cul­ and placed either in covered glass con­ tivars of mountain laurel are being grown. tainers or under intermittent mist. This is State. Zip ______Satisfaction Guar anteed or Your Money Back!

American Horticulturist 7 SEASONABLE REMINDERS

the stage in which most of the rooting oc­ do well under the same conditions as curs. Since laboratory light levels are low, mountain laurel are a useful addition to it is important to acclimatize the plants any planting. In partial shade, Fothergilla gradually to the higher amounts of light gardenii and Hydrangea quercifolia are two needed for rootirig. good choices. If planted along the house By using tissue culture propagation, a foundation, laurel can easily be kept to six small laboratory can produce thousands feet in height. Space plants a minimum of of cultured plants every month. five feet apart. Mountain laurel requires an acidic soil. The major obstacle At least one grower is searching for laurel that will thrive under alkaline conditions. in growing and Although laurel is sometimes discovered growing naturally near swampy areas, it improving mountain is by no means tolerant of wet soils, and needs a well-drained location in the gar­ laurel has been den. Transplanting is easy, because root propagation. systems are wide rather than deep; col­ lected, balled and burlapped plants often Propagators deliver tissue-cultured plants have root systems thatlook like big pancakes. growing in tubes or plugs to nurserymen, An additional feature of mountain laurel who either plant them in the field or into that is worth noting is its autumn display. containers. A well-grown cone is filled with Cheery seed capsules turn rosy brown in a matted root system topped by a few stems late fall. These are sometimes removed by and leaves. Some growers produce plant­ deadheading-a quick twist of the wrist lets in small plugs of peat moss. to remove the capsules. While this pro­ Nurs€rymen are now experimenting with cedure does insure compactness and the various methods for growing on mature production of more flowering shoots, it is Harvest Glow Systems, Inc. specimens. One Oregon grower pots each not altogether necessary. The seed pods has introduced this new state plant individually and places them out­ are rather interesting when left on th€ plant of the art home hydroponic doors in the spring under lath. The pots or cut for indoor arrangements. system for producing horticul­ are placed on sandy beds over heating ca­ Until recently, landscaping with moun­ bles to accelerate growth. According to tain laurels has been somewhat limited. tural crops. Indoors or out­ this grower, by following a program of How€ver, the new cultivars of this Amer­ doors this 31" x 8" x 12" unit maximum fertilization, he can produce a ican plant provide garden makers with a two-foot plant in only two years. How­ great many options. Variations in height, will produce bountiful ~arvests ever, this procedure may be possible only texture, period of bloom and flower color of tomatoes, cucumbers, let­ under the temperate conditions of the provide interesting new possibilities. Fus­ tuce, herbs or most any orna­ northwestern United States. cata types make glorious single specimens; mental plant. The system Mountain laurel is a landscape shrub a grove with pure whit€ or glowing pink comes complete with pump, with many uses. Planted as a single spec­ flowers can be combined nicely with lower imen, it looks solemn and dignified, but growing perennials. Dwarf types are per­ plumbing parts, nutrients, nature demonstrates a far better use: col­ fect small shrubs in the rock garden. seeds, grow blocks and an at­ onizing. Placing odd-numbered groups of One of the few cultural problems that tractive wood exterior. Every­ plants in drifts under high-limbed trees will sometimes appears is leaf spot disease. create a naturalistic effect. Like rhodo­ However, spraying with a fungicide such thing you need to enter the dendron, mountain laurel flourishes in light as Benomyl at bud break and again 10 days exciting world of hydroponic shade in an organic soil. Laurel, however, later, with a repeat in 20 days, is highly growing, except water. In­ will also grow (though slowly) in a soil effective in controlling the blig)'lt. structions included. that is poor to moderate. Heavy shade re­ When the ancient Greeks crowned their sults in sparse flowering. In fact, some of heroes with laurel, they were dealing with the new cultivars seem to bloom best in an entirely different genus from Kalmia. fuil sun. If interplanted with rhododen­ But here in our-country, it is Kalmia lat­ Harvest Glow Systems, Inc. dron, foliage of the two ericaceous plants ifolia that deserves our laurels. There is 32 East Fillmore Avenue will meld, as they are quite similar. The cause to celebrate the introduction of St. Paul, Minnesota 55107 designer can develop continuity of bloom new forms of mountain laurel. 4) by planting April- and May-flowering aza­ -Ruby Weinberg leas and rhododendrons followed by June­ blooming laurels. Ruby Weinberg, a landscape designer and a former instructor of vocational horticulture, - (612) 291-7383 - Except for dwarf types, mountain laurel grows broad-leaved evergreens on her farm in grows quite tall. Low-growing shrubs that New Jersey.

8 June 1984 STRANGE RELATIVES/PART II The spurge FamUy

his month's "Strange Relatives" resumes the description of the T spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, with a focus on family members of economic importance. As mentioned in April's col­ umn, this is a large family of cosmopolitan distribution, chiefly tropical. The spurges are known for their milky sap or latex. The wide variation in size and habit of growth of these plants is notable, as is the distinctive character of flower types. Ornamental plants in the family, such as poinsettia, have commercial value in their sphere, but the worldwide economic importance of certain other family mem­ bers is of far greater significance. Chief among the latter are rubber, cassava and oil seed. Ninety-nine percent of all the natural rubber in the world comes from one mem­ ber of the spurge family: Hevea brasilien­ sis, commonly called Para rubber. (Hevea is the Latinized form of the Brazilian name for these tropical trees that are native to northern South America.) This Amazon Valley tree, 60 feet or more tall, has milky sap and thick, leathery leaves. Its flowers are small and petalless, with male and fe­ male flowers separate but borne in the same inflorescence. The fruit is a large capsule, splitting into three, one-seeded sections. Hevea was probably first used by aborig­ inal natives of the Amazon Valley, who ate the seed as food. Wild rubber was harvested in the West­ ern Hemisphere and the use of rubber there was already well established before the time of Columbus. The earliest visitors to the New World reported that Indians had many uses for rubber, and documented the use of protective garments, balls for games and syringes. Trees whose exudations could be made into rubber were systematically cultivated. At a Goodyear rubber plantation on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, a tapper uses an exten­ Many plants were tested for rubber pro­ sion knife to draw latex from a rubber tree. The rubber produced will be sold to manufacturers duction before Nevea became established of surgical gloves, baUoons, overshoes and carpet backing. as the principal commercial source of nat­ ural rubbeF. The discovery of the process improve strength and resilience and to re­ start until the British took seeds of H. bras­ of vulcanization spurred interest in the cul­ duce stickiness and odor. Demand for rub­ iliensis from Brazil in 1876 and brought tivation of rubber as a crop. Vulcanization ber grew as knowledge of its suitability for them to the British colonies in the Far East. is a chemical treatment in which the phys­ innumerable uses increased. The centers of the rubber plantation in­ ical properties of rubber are changed to Cultivation of Hevea did not get a real dustry today are the Malay Archipelago

American Horticulturist 9 STRANGE RELATIVES and Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). alcoholic beverage are derived. Tapioca is cies grows and fruits in South Florida. Despite the existence of synthetic rub­ the only cassava product found in northern A. montana, mu-oil or mu-yu, from South ber, manufacturers continue to rely on nat­ markets. Other food items, such as the China and Burma, yields an oil of inferior ural rubber; its resistance to heat build-up gelatinous fufu of West Africa and the bami quality. It was discovered and named by makes it valuable for tire treads for racing mush of Jamaica; also come from cassava. E. H. "Chinese" Wilson, the eminent cars, trucks, buses and airplanes. The tuberous roots of sweet cassava, M. American plant explorer. Sapium, a genus of 100 tropical species dulcis, are largely free of the poisonous Ricinus communis, castor bean, is a giant of both the Eastern and Western Hemi­ prussic acid. tropical herb used as an annual in tem­ spheres, is one of the least known of the In the industrial world, the tuber usually perate zone gardens for the foliage effect important rubber-bearing genera of Eu­ goes by the name of manioc. It is used in of its handsome, lobed, green or bronze­ phorbiaceae. Rubber-bearing Sapium spe­ leather tanning and in the manufacture of red leaves. The fruiting branches are or­ cies occur only in the Western Hemisphere, textiles, explosives, glues, dextrin and alcohol. namental, with dense clusters often one to principally in Andean regions. During The six species of Aleurites, natives of two feet high. The individual flowers are World War II the United States Govern­ East Asia and the Hawaiian and Pacific small and petalless. The fruit is a bristly ment made intensive studies of the possi­ Islands, yield a number of valuable oils. pod containing beautifully marked, b€an• bilities of obtaining rubber from native The name of the genus is supposedly de­ like, poisonous seeds. stands of Sapium, and a great deal of data rived from the Greek word for flour, in Castor oil, a non-volatile fatty oil, is was collected on the quality and produc­ reference to the mealy appearance of some obtained from the beans by pressing or by tivity of different species. Howev~r, Sap­ species. The stems, foliage and inflores­ solvent extraction. Both the beans and the ium sp. are more difficult to tap than other cences are hairy. Flowers are borne in ter­ oil are produced principally in India and rubber-bearing trees, and they yield less minal panicles and have petals. In The Brazil, and used primarily in the United latex than does Hevea. Today, Hevea re­ World Was My Garden, David Fairchild States, largely in industry. Castor oil is tains its lead as the principal commercial described them as "charming pink and white commonly used in the production of plas­ source of natural rubber. flowers .... I was enchanted when I first tic, paints, cosmetics, printing inks and lu­ The genus Sapium is better known for saw a tung oil tree in bloom," he wrote. bricants. As a cathartic, it can be harmful. the Chinese tallow tree, S. sebiferum. Cul­ A. fordii is the tung-oil tree or Chinese Jatropha is a genus of tropical trees that tivated for its white, waxy seeds, which wood-oil tree. The fruits are about the size are particularly abundant in the American yield a substance used for soaps and can­ of large plums. Inside their hard, shell-like and African tropics. The name comes from dles, this poisonous-juiced, 50-foot tree husks are three hard-shelled seeds. The meat the Greek words for physician and food, from South China and Japan is somewhat inside the shells contains the oil. Although in reference to the medicinal value of some poplar-like in shape and gives brilliant au­ extremely purgative, the seeds are not species. Of about 160 known species, only tumn color. Sometimes grown for orna­ poisonous. two are of commercial interest. ment in the United States, it is not hardy Tung oil is used in varnishes and paints, Unlike most other genera of Euphor­ north of Zone 7 but has become natural­ as a waterproofing agent, and in making biaceae, Jatropha has complete flowers with ized from South Carolina to Florida and linoleum, oilcloth and insulating com­ both a calyx and a corolla. The flowers Louisiana. pounds. Development of tung oil culture are unisexual and appear simultaneously Amusing, if not of economic interest, is started in the United States in 1904, when in abundantly branching inflorescences. S. biloculare, the Mexican jumping bean. our consul in China sent a shipment of Terminal flowers are female, lateral flow­ Its seeds contain a moth larva whose ac­ seeds to Dr. Fairchild at the U.S. Depart­ ers, male. tivities cause the beans to tumble. ment of Agriculture. Trees were distrib­ ]. curcas, physic or Barbados nut, pro­ Manihot, another spurge genus of eco­ uted to experimenters in the South Atlan­ duces seed from which soap, a cooking oil nomic importance, includes about 160 tic, Gulf and Pacific Coast states, that is, and a powerful purgative are made. The species of herbs, shrubs and trees native in those areas that seemed best suited to seeds themselves can be eaten if thoroughly to North and South America. Among the the trees' extensive cultivation. Soon the roasted to remove the poison. The latex herbaceous species, the most important is industry entered the commercial stage of can be used directly as a chewing gum, as M. esculenta, which is extensively culti­ exploitation, and thousands of acres were it coagulates in the mouth. This species is vated throughout the tropics for its im­ planted. Unfortunately, hurricanes 10 or widely cultivated as an ornamental in Flor­ mense, starchy root, which has both food 15 years ago along the Gulf Coast wiped ida and Hawaii. ]. multifida, coral plant, and industrial value. Natives who eat it as out commercial production of tung oil in has showy scarlet flowers and is common a staple food call it manioc; elsewhere, it the United States. in Florida. is called cassava. It is the source of tapioca. Japanese wood-oil tree, A. cordata, is The yield of milky, poisonous latex from The root of this valuable tropical food another source of oil for paint and quick­ Jatropha species is too low for commercial plant is similar to a dahlia or sweet potato drying varnish. exploitation as a source of natural rubber. in appearance. Raw roots or peelings of A. moluccana, the candlenut or varnish During World War II, intensive studies of the tubers can develop a concentration of tree, is cultivated in China and the Phil­ native stands in Mexico indicated that plants prussic acid sufficient to cause death from ippines for oil. The oil produced from the were much less plentiful than originally cyanide poisoning; however, prussic acid seeds is more like linseed oil than tung oil. reported. A form of Jatropha known as can be destroyed by boiling or other pro­ Kernels are good to eat when roasted; na­ 'Chilte' has been known and used in Mex­ cessing. It is this root from which cassava tives of the Moluccas string them on palm ico for many years, mostly fOl; making fig­ flour, tapioca, laundry starch and even an spines and use them as candles. This spe- urines and toy balloons; when broken, the

10 June 1984 LEFT: A variegated fo rm of Manihot esculenta; the starchy, sweet-potato­ ii ke root of th is pl ant is the so urce of tapi oca. ABOVE: Euphorbia antisyphilitica, commonl y call ed candelilla, is a spineless desert shrub wh ose branches are covered with a hard, white wax. balloons are used as chewing gum. rubber production. Experimenters at­ va tion, reduce harvesting costs, and im­ Croton species are strong-scented herbs, tempted to produce rubber commerciall y prove the wax-extracti on process. With shrubs or trees of the tropics and sub­ in West Africa from E. tirucalli, pencil tree these improvements, candelilla could be­ tropics, some of which are of economic or milk bush, but the project was not suc­ come an important source for bringing for­ importance. Seeds of C. tiglium are the cessful. This spineless, succul ent, shrub­ eign currency to arid developing nations." source of the strongest of all purgatives, like plant is often grown as a pot plant for E. antisyphilitica took its name from its croton oil. This oil is now considered un­ house and patio. The pencil-like branches use by cowboys and early settlers in the safe for use as a purgative and has been are green, cylindrical and about one-half Chihuahuan Desert and adj acent regions removed from the pharmacopoeia of sev­ inch thick, with very small leaves at branch as a preventive of syphilitic infection. The eral countries. C. lacciferus is the host plant tips, which drop soon after they appear. edible wax obtained from processing the for lac-producing insects and thus is im­ The toxic properties of the pl ant's milky plant is now used by millions of people in portant to the varnish industry. C. linearis, sap can cause dermatitis; however, in bush the United States, Mexico and elsewhere granny bush, is a wild shrub growing on medicine it is reportedly effecti ve in re­ for a quite different purpose: the wax re­ rocky land near the sea on islands in the moving warts. mains hard under conditions of heat and Caribbean. Odd foliage and sweet fra­ The rubber from E. intisy of Madagas­ humidity, and, when combined with choc­ grance characterize this bush. This plant car is of high quality and is the best pro­ olate or other confection coatings, the re­ yields a brew or tea that is reported to duced by any species of Euphorbia. Wild sult is the ever-popular "melt in your mouth have local medicinal uses. C. eluteria, a stands were ruthlessly exploited until the but not in your hands" candy nuggets. small, fragrant tree, is similarly used as an plant almost became extinct. Several other The diverse spurge family has served the "aromatic stimulant." Euphorbia species also produce apprecia­ family of man well. Evidence abounds of Several herbaceous, annual Croton ble amounts of latex. man's reliance upon these plants through­ species are found growing in Mexico and E. antisyphilitica, candelilla, is a spine­ out time, from toy balloons to tires for in waste places and sandy barrens of the less shrub from desert areas of northeast­ automobiles and airplanes; from candles United States, from the warm eastern states, ern Mexico and West Texas. It grows to and chewing gum to candy coatings for all into the Midwest and south into Louisiana three feet and has many cylindrical, almost seasons; from starchy flour to explosives and Texas. Among these is prairie tea, leafless branches. The branches are cov­ and tapioca; from oily seeds to lubricants, C. monanthogynus. ered with hard, white wax, which is col­ cosmetics, and varnish and waterproofing Crotons are infrequently grown as or­ lected from wild plants for commercial use. agents; from native wildflowers to im­ namentals. Codiaeum is the popular, col­ Mexico has been producing and exporting mense commercial enterprises. Even a lim­ orful florists' croton. the wax to the United States for many years, ited introduction to ihis family makes ap­ The genus Euphorbia, the largest in the but no effort has been made to develop parent the key role it has played in world spurge family, was discussed in the pre­ candelilla into a crop. According to a re­ history and geography, agriculture and in­ vious column in reference to the orna­ port published by the U. S. National Acad­ dustry, food and medical research. 6 mental uses of many species. We return to emy of Sciences, "About half the candelilla -Jane Steffey it now to consider its value in industry and wax imported in the U.S. is used in coating agriculture. Jane Steffey recently retired as the Society's and polishes; about one-third is used in Horticultural Advisor. She is now an active The latex of some euphorbias, as well chewing gum." The NAS report states that AHS volunteer and serves as Editorial as of many other spurges, was tested for "research could adapt the plant to culti- Advisor to American Horticulturist.

American Horticulturist 11 Book Reviews

CLIMBERS AND TRAILERS. Julie Grace. Timber Press. Portland, Oregon. 1983. 114 pages; hardcover, $19.95. AHS discount price, $18.45 including postage and handling. Anyone who is looking for something dif­ ferent to climb a wall or cover the ground will find this book to be an excellent ref­ erence. The author provides color pho­ tographs and cultural information on 260 climbing and trailing plants. Written by a New Zealander, the majority of the plants included are particularly suited to the warmer parts of the United States. How­ ever, many of the plants described are also well suited to even our most extreme win­ ter climates.

CACTI AND SUCCULENTS. Gunter Andersohn. EP Publishing Ltd. Wakefield, England. 1983.312 pages; hardcover, $19.95. AHS discount price, $15.95 including postage and handling. This book is an excellent introduction to all aspects of cacti and succulents. Not only are there chapters devoted to culti­ vation, propagation, indoor gardening, outdoor gardening and a review of .prin­ cipal genera, but the excellent introductory chapters give a clear picture of the unique place these-plants occupy in nature. Clear, well-illustrated discussions of the under­ in plants, and has some good basic infor­ nists who have specialized in the taxonomy lying physiology, areas of natural distri­ mation every gardener (even the older ones) of the eucalypts. bution and the floral biology of these plants, should know. For gardeners in the warmer regions of as well as of the economic importance of the United· States, this work represents a succulent plants, are very readable and EUCALYPTS. valuable resource for the selection and in­ provide a good background for the gar­ Stan Kelly. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. troduction of new trees that are highly dec­ dener who wants to get even more pleasure New York, New York. 1983.368 pages orative. Our past experience with Euca­ from this hobby. (Vol. 1), 388 pages (Vol. 2); hardcover, lyptus globulus, a widespread weed tree, $50.00. AHS discount price, $43.20 should not discourage the introduction of BEING A PLANT. including postage and handling. more suitable species from this worthwhile Lawrence Pringle. Thomas Y. Crowell. This two-volume wo·rk, suitable for the genus. New York, New York. 1983. 88 pages; layman, is a complete survey of all species hardcover, $10.95. AHS discount price, of Eucalyptus. The author provides infor­ THE BUTTERFLY GARDENER. $10.25 including postage and handling. mation on each species, including its re­ Miriam Rothschild and Clive Farrell. This well-written children's book de­ gi0n of origin and cultural requirements. Michael JosephlRainbird. London, scribes clearly and accurately how plants The color plates iUustrating each species England. 1983. 128 pages; hardcover, grow and reproduce, and how plants are make this a unique work. The 535 plates $14.95. AHS discount price, $13.95 different from animals. If you have a young reproduce the watercolor drawings pre­ including postage and handling. gardener in your household, here are the pared over a lifetime by Stan Kelly. The Although this book was written for the answers to a lot of questions you may be text that accompanies these remarkable English gardener, the subject matter is so asked. Recommended for ages 12 and up, drawings was prepared by G. M. Chip­ unusual that I can still recommend it to this book could stimulate a lifelong interest pendale and R. D. Johnston, both bota- American gardeners. Lots of booh have

12 June1984 • HYACINTHS • TULIPS • CROCUS • been written about attracting birds to the • DAFFODILS • ANEMONIES • NARCISSUS • garden; here is one not only about attract­ ------ing bwtterflies but also about raising but­ terflies and enjoying their beauty in the Buy Bulbs Wholesale small home greenhouse. While most of the butterfly species are not found in North America, the garden plants that attract Dutch Gardens Inc. offers you butterflies are, and are attractive to but­ quality top size bulbs, shipped pre terflies no matter what their species may be. Here is a new and rewarding way to paid, from our growing fields in expand the interest and beauty in your garden. Holland. Get an additional bonus with quantity orders grouped from Save time & money. you and your friends. Order gardening Send now for your free color books available at a catalog and order forms to: discount through the Society. Dutch Gardens Inc. Attention Dept. 1001 P.O. Box 369 THE MIRACLE HOUSEPLANTS. Virginia F. and George A. Elbert. Montvale, NJ 07645 Crown Publishers. New York, New York. 2nd Edition. 1984. 272 pages; ----- softcover, $11 .95. AHS discount price, • LILIES • GLOXINIAS • GLADIOLUS • $11.05 including postage and handling. If your acquaintance with the Gesneriad • IRIS • AMARYLLIS • PAPERWHITE • family is limited to African violets, you are missing a lot in your gardening life, as the subtitle of this book, African Violets and r------Other Easy-to-Bloom Plants in the Ges­ I neriad Family, suggests. The Gesneriad I family abounds in plants that are ideally I I Book Order Form suited for indoor gardening, and even in­ I cludes a number of genera that can add I Please send me the books I have checked below at the beauty and interest to the hardy alpine I special AHS discount rates. garden. The authors have done a remarkable job of cOFlsolidating and presenting a great deal o Climbers and Trailers $18.45 Please allow six weeks for delivery. Cacti and Succulents $15.95 Discount price includes postage and han­ of information that normally would be lost o Being a Plant $10.25 dling. Virginia residents add 4% in the technical publications of botany. In o o Eucalypts $43.20 sales tax. addition, they not only clarify the taxo­ o The Butterfly Gardener $13.95 nomic confusion of the last few years, but Ll The Miracle Houseplants $11.05 they also describe many of the new species Mail to: Jeanne Eggeman that are available. Complete cultural in­ American Horticultural Society formation and up-to-date lists of wltivars Enclosed is my check for __ books P.O. Box 0105 give added value to the work. This is an for the total amount of $, ______Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121 excellent book for the indoor gardener who wants to know more about gesneriads and Ship to: _=~ ____~ ______~ ______i who wants to grow a wider variety of these I rem'arkable plants. 6 Street: ___~~ ______I -Gilbert S. Daniels I City: ______I Gilbert S. Daniels is the Immediate Past I Presid(lnt of the American Horticultural State: ______------Zip: _____ I Society. I ------~------American Horticulturist 13 BY ROSAL YNE B. DOBBS

very rose grower dreams of bushes and recrossed with modern cultivars many are more virulent and damaging than others, that need no spray for blackspot, times before their descendants will exhibit and the fungus mutates as does the flu E the most destructive disease of gar­ the other desired traits. This entails solving virus. In comparing blackspot te> other plant ' den roses the world over. Now science is a maze of problems. diseases, Semeniuk says it poses a problem taking giant steps to combat this trouble­ The main problem is "the very high S11S­ similar to that of wheat stem rust, where some disease, and spray-free roses are no ceptibility" of modem garden roses to hundreds e>f strains of the disease exist. longer an impossible dream. blackspot, says Dr. Eldon Lyle, plant path­ The 'Spotless' wltivars, which will serve As millions of rose growers know, there ologist of Tyler, Texas and former chair­ as parent plants to new disease-resistant is no cure for blackspot; it can only be man of the ARS research committee. lines, carry resistan<;e to seven strains of controlled by regular, preventive appli­ Rlackspot has invaded rose gardens for blackspot from eight states: Maryland, cations of fungicides. Blackspot is more <;enturies. The early hybrid teas and hybrid Delaware, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, widespread and damaging than mildew or perpetuals had it, but historians blame to­ Iowa, Texas and Georgia. The great var­ rust, and without regular spraying, it may day's inneased problem on the introduc­ iability of the fungus explains why the cause bushes to lose their leaves, produce tion of the extremt'liy susceptible Rosa foe­ 'Spotless' roses may be free of disease in fewer blossoms and weaken or die. Yet tida 'Persiana' (commonly called Persian one area and not alilother; the resistance fungicides are expensive, time-consuming yellow rose) by Joseph Pernet-Ducher of of these cultivars might also change. Se­ to use and carry potential for damaging France in the late 1800s. This rose brol1ght meniuk expects them to spot in certain the environment. marvelous orange, yellow and flame tints areas of the country, but the only repe>rt The best way to conquer blackspot is by to modern cultivars. Unfortunately, it also thus far comes from Ames, Iowa, where developing genetically resistant roses that brought a susceptibility to blackspot. U.S.D.A. ratings she>w blackspot is most fight the disease without spray. This is the Roses vary in their susceptibility to this virulent. goal of studies at the United States Agri­ disease. Those with smooth leaves are less Considering the great obstacles, is it cultural Research Center in Reltsville, prone to infe<;tion, explains Semeniuk, be­ possible to develop the ultimate rose? "It Maryland. Begun in 1965, the work has cause fungal spores Need from six to nine should be possible," says Herbert C. Swim, received partial funding from the Ameri­ hours in water to germinate, and water who has created a record number of beau­ can Rose Society. Three cultivars that will may not remain on a smooth surface that tiful All-America Rose Selections award­ serve as the foundation of breeding lines long. Rough leaves encourage invasion by winning roses (with 12 of his own aNd 13 that carry genetic resistance are the result: trapping water. as co-producer). The problem, he says, is 'Spotless Pink', 'Spotless Yellow' and According to Semeniuk, breeding roses finding those rare roses that are not sus­ 'Spotless Gold'. The floribunda-like pink with genetic resistance is difficult, because ceptible to blackspot in order to introduce cultivar is the most promising. Peter Se­ it involves so many variables that surround the resistant trait through breeding meniuk, research horticulturist on the two living things-the plant and fUNgus. programs. project since it began, hopes that crossing Both react to "nutrition, temperature, en­ The researchers tested many species roses these new resistant cultivars with modern vironment and everything else," he says. and found that a great number are indeed garden roses will eventually create an im­ In addition, they interact with each other. resistant to Numerous races of blackspot. proved race of spray-free plants. Although Ideally, disease-resistant roses would also Although the blossoms of species roses are the center released the parent lines to about resist mildew and rust, adding even more small and bear little resemblance to hybrid 100 professional and amateur breeders in variables. However, Semeniuk's research teas, the undesirable bloe>m traits can be 1979, Semeniuk stresses that "the 'Spot­ deals with blackspot only. bred out, says Semeniuk. The critical fac­ less' roses are just the beginning, not the The difficulties in creating resistance to tor is resistance to the fungus. ultimate rose." blackspot are similar to those encountered For superior resistance, Semeniuk chose To produce the "ultimate" rose, black­ in developing resistance to any disease, but Rosa rugosa, a tough spe<;ies rose. How­ spot resistance must be combined with hy­ the extreme variability of blackspot sets it ever, when he tried to cross it with modern brid tea qualities-beautiful colors, ex­ apart from most. "Blackspot is like the cultivars, the result was a dismal failure. quisite form and large blossoms. Although common cold in humans," Semeniuk de­ the 'Spotless' roses have tenacious resis­ clares. It is not one disease but over 50 Roses growing in the Jackson & Perkins tance to bla<;kspot, they must be crossed strains, and new ones keep appearing. Some fields in soutflern California.

14 June 1984 American Horticulturist 15 The offspring were sterile because the par­ ents did not have the same number of chro­ Controlling Blackspot mosomes; modern roses usually have four sets, and R. rugosa had only two sets. The Fungicides for blackspot are far better bushes dry. Leave enough space when sterile offspring had three sets. Solving this today than the sulfur dust first used to planting bushes to avoid crowding, and problem took several years. Semeniuk ar­ combat the disease. Several excellent prune to open the center of bushes. tificially created two additional sets of chemicals are available, and most of them Other tips: Rak~ and discard diseased chromosomes in R. rugosa, using a process control other fungal diseases, too. Ortho leaves and clippings to get rid of spores similar to that used in breeding apples, Funginex carries the endorsement of the and prevent disease spread. Choose highly blueberries and other plants. Then he suc­ American Rose Society for controlling resistant roses, discarding the disease­ cessfully made the cross, and the 'Spotless' blackspot, mildew and rust. It is a liquid prone. The best defense against black­ roses came into existence. containing triforine, and has systemic ac­ spot or any disease is to keep the bushes Genetics is unpredictable in many ways, tion. Other fungicides for blackspot in­ in robust health. Semeniuk explains. "When you make your clude Benlate (benomyl), Phaltan (fo l­ See "Sources" on page 35 for an ex­ cross, a lot of roses turn out single. They pet), and Daconil 2787 (chlorothalonil). cellent reference on rose diseases. may carry resistance, but that's not the Start your spray program right after kind of flower you want. In rose genetics spring pruning. Apply fungicide every BLACKSPOT-RESISTANT ROSES you don't know just what your next gen­ week to 10 days throughout the growing Many beautiful roses have resistance ro eration will be." season, more often In rainy seasons. Mix blackspot. Here is a list of those rated as Semeniuk continues to explore the pat- . an insecticide as needed with the fungi­ most resistant to the disease in a study tern of genetic inheritance of blackspot re­ cide, but apply miticide for spider mites of bushes growing in 10 public gardens sistance. As the parent lines undergo trials, separately. across the nation. Participating in the study he is also studying how many individual To prevent the disease from becoming were gardens located in Pennsylvania, genes are involved in the inheritance of the resistant, alternate one fungicide with Ohio, Texas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, resistant trait. another every few weeks rather than us­ Oregon and California. Scant reports are available on the per­ ing one constantly. Those receiving top ratings were not formance of the parent lines. The Conard­ For good coverage, spray the underside totally immune to blackspot but were Pyle Company in West Grove, Pennsyl­ and top of leaves and use a spreader-sticker rated as resistant if the first flush of dis­ vania grew them for about a year but not tblat is compatible with the chemical. ease did not infect them. Indicated by an under true test conditions, since the test When temperatures soar into the 90's, asterisk are the ones also identified as plants were sprayed along with all of their reduce the amount of fungicide by half having most overall disease resistance. non-resistant bushes. Despite the use of the to prevent leaf burn. This list appeared in The American Rose fungicide sprays, blackspot was a consid­ After a season of severe infestation, use Annual 1978 and is reprinted with per­ erable problem with the non-resistant roses. a dormant spray once or twice while plants mission of the publisher. The 'Spotless' test plants were free of are inactive, provided you live above the blackspot and "quite impressive in that Blackspot-Resistant Hybrid Teas frostline. respect," says Richard]. Hutton, president If you spray regularly and still have 'Tropicana' <' 'Proud Land' of Conard-Pyle. many spots, check to see if they really 'First Prize' 'Duet' Armstrong Nurseries of California also are blackspot. Another fungus often mis­ 'Miss All- 'Peace":' tested these parent lines, saying they were taken for it is rose annhracnose, Spha­ American 'Electron'<' "weak in growing habit, prone to mildew celoma rosarum. Blackspot's lesions are Beauty'<' Others: and rust ... and of poor flower quality." coal-black with feathery edges, usually 'Mister Lincoln'" 'Pascali'·' Jackson & Perkins Company is trying enlarge to over a quarter inch across, and 'Tiffany' <' 'Sutters Gold' them, says William A. Warriner, research cause leaf yellowing. In anthracnose, spots 'Portrait' * 'Granada' director in Tustin, California. He is well are seldom over a quarter inch across, 'Pristine'* 'Carla' known for developing All-America Rose and change from dark brown or purple 'Pink Peace' <' 'Cayenne' Selections award-winning roses. In fact, he to black and upon aging to white. At the Blackspot-Resistant F10ribundasl swept the 1980 selections with 'Love', white stage, spots may drop out, creating Grandifloras 'Honor' and 'Cherish', and garnered two a shot-hole effect in the leaf. The best more awards in 1984 (his lifetime total is 'Queen 'Ivory Fashion' control for anthracnose is Phaltan. 11). "Breeding with the 'Spotless' group Eliza beth' <. 'Sonia' A nutritional problem may also trigger may be effective," Warriner says. "We don't 'Prominent' " 'Carrousel' leaf spots. Manganese excess causes tiny know yet, but are trying. Other types of 'Rose Parade' 'Angel Face' black peppery specks all over older leaves. spotless varieties may be developed." 'Razzle Dazzle' 'S un Sprite' Good cultural practices help deter dis­ Warriner says they rarely saw blackspot 'Gene Boerner' ,:. 'Betty Prior' eases. Since blackspot spores need at least in southern California until recent years, 'Europeana' <. 'The Fairy' six hours in water to germinate, keep the and, for this reason, it was difficult to in­ 'Montezuma' 'Pink Parfait' bushes dry when possible. Avoid splash­ clude blackspot resistance as a measure of 'First Edition' 'Redgold' ing water on the leaves while watering quality. However, for four or five years to prevent spores from spreading, and To add to the tally, Dr. Walter Lammerts they have been " hit hard with the disease." keep fungicide intact. Spray early enough says he finds that 'Frau Dagmar Har­ Southern California is home base for so that leaves will dry before dark. topp', a hybrid rugosa, has very high re­ three of the largest commercial rose breed­ Plenty of air circulation also keeps the sistance to blackspot. ers in the country. Blackspot's migration right into their midst offers a first-time

16 June 1984 merts says, "One which I have great hopes for, that seems so far to be completely immune to all diseases, is under number 81002/7." Another promising rose has ad­ vanced from a number to become 'Coral Pink Pillar'. It is still undergoing tests and has not yet been introduced. Although 'Coral Pink Pillar' gets a few spots on the lower leaves, " it is very, very resistant to blackspot," says Lammerts, who lives in northern California. His progress is very encouraging, since some of the resistant "hopefuls" have blossoms with good form, too. In the future, new approaches to fungus control may come from an exploration of the mys teries surrounding plant-fungus ski rmishes. It has been known for some time that a plant "senses" a fungal attack and produces chemicals called phytoalex­ ines to kill invading diseases. Thus far, researchers have identified over 100 phy­ toalexines, or natural fungicides. Most plants produce these chemicals, says Dr. Hans D. VanEtten, plant pathol­ ogist at Cornell University. Although none 'Carefree Beauty', a new cultivar that is highly resistant to blackspot, needs linle or no spray. have been identified in the rose, they are found in its relative, the strawberry. opportunity to observe and cope with the " high tolerance" to Iowa's extremely vir­ Genetic studies at Cornell have concen­ disease. ulent strains of blackspot as well as to trated on 200 strains of Fusarium fungus, According to Warriner, normal hybrid­ those in many other parts of the nation. which attacks peas and other plants. Re­ izing, in which plant breeders have kept Although the leaves may spot slightly, searchers have found that the fungus uses an eye out for blackspot-resistant plants, 'Carefree Beauty' is not affected by black­ certain enzymes to counteract a plant's has not been very productive in developing spot and other diseases, and will grow vig­ natural fungicides. This work opens up the such resistance. Unless it is made a primary orously with little or no spray. possibility of developing chemicals or de­ goal of breeding programs, there is not The cultivar's long line of ancestors in­ vising genetic means to help suppress the likely to be much progress in this respect. clude Rosa laxa, a wild species rose from enzymes produced by fungal diseases or to In a great departure from normal hy­ Turkestan, and several modern roses, in­ increase the potency of the plant's natural bridizing, researchers at Iowa State Uni­ cluding 'Queen Elizabeth', 'Carrousel' and fungicide, or both. Elsewhere, scientists are versity used a survival-of-the-fittest tech­ 'Prairie Princess'. Researchers dub 'Care­ taking a similar approach in combatting nique to produce a rose that is highly free Beauty' a "shrub-floribunda," be­ insects that use their enzymes to break down resistant to blacks pot and seldom ever needs cause its habit of growth resembles both toxins in pesticides. Unfortunately, map­ spraying. The objective actually was har­ classes. Introduced in 1979, the plant is ping out new fungus controls will take a diness-the ability to withstand harsh showing up in more and more gardens. long time. temperatures (to -200 F) with little winter Dr. Walter E. Lammerts, a prominent Advanced hybridizing techniques could protection-but researchers also selected rose hybridizer, is striving to develop bushes offer new possibilities in the ~rea of disease for disease resistance, according to Dr. that are not only totally resistant to black­ resistance. According to Warriner, for roses Griffith J. Buck, horticulturist and hybrid­ spot but also to mildew and rust. His "ul­ this is fairly far down the road. "When izer. This work was also funded in part by timate" rose would also bear flowers with genetic engineering, gene transfer and so­ the American Rose Society. classic form. He has pursued this goal for matic hybridization [a new type of tissue Buck explains that he started the plants over 40 years, during which time he has culture) are more commonplace and af­ in the greenhouse and moved them outside WOg 12 All-America Rose Selections awards fordable, it might be possible to do great for field trials after about a year, when for enduring roses like 'Charlotte Arm­ things," he says. they Were large enough to live through strong', 'Queen Elizabeth' and 'Chrysler Much work remains, but science is grad­ winter cold. In the field, the roses were Imperial'. Now he is crossing his roses with ually conquering blackspot and other rose cultivated and fertilized like corn or field Dr. Griffith Buck's 'Music Maker' and diseases. For those who enjoy growing this crops, except that no fungicides or insec­ 'Prairie Princess' as well as 'Hazeldean' favorite flower, a glorious spray-free age ticides were used. He selected seedlings for from Percy Wright of Canada. 'Music is on the way. 4} breeding that survived the severe winters Maker' and 'Prairie Princess' are light pink and onslaught of insects and disease. shrub roses, while 'Hazeldean' is an old Rosalyne B. Dobbs is a free-lance writer 'Carefree Beauty' is the outcome of three hybrid-tea-like garden rose with pale yel­ whose articles have appeared in Organic decades of work. Buck, who is now chair­ low flowers. All three plants have superior Gardening, Garden and American Rose Magazine. A consulting rosarian and a man of the American Rose Society Re­ disease resistance. member of various rose societies, she is search Committee, says the new rose shows Concerning his new seedlings, Lam- currently writing a book on growing roses.

American Horticulturist 17 TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHY BY JERALD HARPUR

here is something until, through the Women's say if he's lost things or if he's psychologically uplifting Institute, I had the opportunity done something wrong." T about a garden that to go on a course at the "He's very human," agreed rises, via steps and slopes, Waterperry Horticultural Albert. "He's also a great help through vistas to a point at the School. One day a month for with lilies and clematis. We've top that looks straight back at six months I went over there got 19 different varieties of the roof of the house. This is during the winter to learn those, although we lost our the exhilarating effect on about general gardening. It was favorite clematis, 'Elsa Spaeth', arrival at "Yeomans," an so interesting that I went on for this winter. It's a sort of purply Elizabethan malt house cottage another year, learning about blue, you know, with rose-red in the North Oxfordshire more specific things like fruit stripes." village of Tadmarton, England; trees and pruning, and then for "From the books," Marion Set on half an acre with lawns a further year working in the said, "we went on and found and ancient stone walls, the greenhouses. We do have a out about planting and plant garden is part of a love story, glassed-in bit here, but I've associations and types of soil one that began 20 years ago noticed that greenhouses very and all that sort of thing." when Mr. and Mrs. Albert often get used as storehouses, Said Albert, "Our soil is Pedder (he was 59 at the time, so I bring up all my seedlings sandy, with a pH of 7.5-just a she was 48) married and came in the kitchen, and then they go little on the alkaline side." to live here. on the windowsill. After that, "The soil is so light that our They admit to having had a they go out to harden off and biggest problem in the garden pretty limited experience with to be pricked out and then to a is drought," Marion said, gardening before then. The tall cold frame. That's my routine "especially up in the top and scholarly Mr. Pedder, an every year from March garden, which we bought from oil company geologist, had onwards. In winter I also use a neighbor 10 years ago. We spent most of his life in the the spare bedroom to store the continually have to water all Middle and Far East, where he geraniums." over in the summer, top to usually made a patch of lawn, "Yes, it's a bit inconvenient bottom, like painting the Eiffel grew things like zinnias, and for visitors sometimes," said Tower." longed for a garden in England, Albert. Originally, the top garden particularly with lush green Laughing, Marion continued: was full of old rubbish, all of lawns. Marion Pedder, small "The things I learned at which had to be dug out (the and energetic, had always kept Waterperry gave me more Pedders got help with that), but some sort of a garden, although confidence, and so we both it happened to include a large, most of her time was devoted learned plant names, turfed out old piggery bench that now sits to running the homemade cake all the ordinary things from the as a focal point at the top of shop and restaurant that she garden and went in for the lawn. In this garden, Albert kept in Marlow. plantsmanship. Nearly all the was able to further his lifelong " I don't think either of us books we borrowed from the ambition of creating green had ever realized how much joy library were to do with lawns between curving borders, there was in gardening and gardening. Christopher Lloyd's giving the appearance, as how much we would enjoy book The W ell-Tempered A gravel walk leading between free­ sharing it with others," said Garden, for example, is form beds filled with a variety of Marion. "We originally planted excellent; he's very good plants leads toward the Elizabethan things which people gave us because he never hesitates to malt house cottage called Yeomans.

18 June 1984 American Horticulturist 19

Marion said, of a river of and types of plants, it wasn't a labeled for visitors) along the green. The borders were filled very successful project." top of the wall, including the with plants like rugosa and "But you can see how pink Diascia 'Ruby Glow', shrub roses, barberries, successful he is with the gentians, dwarf London-pride heathers and shrubs, as well as lawns," said Marion. "His hard and some small euphorbias. colorful perennials. work really pays off; Open Day Perennials grow against the Marion herself took over a visitors have been known to wall. third of the new part of the ask if they could actually walk The border along the lawn garden to create a large on them-really! He looks after immediately by the house has vegetable garden on the other the hedges as well as the roses undergone several planting side of the border. She loves and all the spraying. This changes. The Pedders tried working in this garden, but . garden is sheer hard work and things like daffodils and confesses to not being very dedication for both of us. And annuals first. These were not a good at making straight rows. bright ideas on his part, like great success, so they tried to "The only vegetable I ever what plants to put where, and make the bed wider. However, tried to grow was asparagus," why." finding that this would involve said Alb~rt quietly, "but, "Oh, no," said Albert. "She's the removal of large rocks and despite trying all sorts of advice got the green fingers, and I slabs, they replaced the soil, come along with the whip." put in new compost and LEIT: Pink, white, and purple pe­ tunias and tall, fragrant flowering Another of Albert's successes planted moisture-loving plants tobacco line an edge of the garden involved removing the rounded like hostas, astilbes, Lobelia that faces the street. ABOVE: The concrete top on the line of cardinalis and, on the wall, the wall separating the old garden from double walling that leads from early-flowering Clematis the new is lined with perennials such as astilbe. The space along the the old garden into the new macropetala. top of the wall is filled with a col­ one. Here he planted a "We don't always agree," lection of alpines. collection of alpines (well said Marion, "but we do like

American Horticulturist 21 the same sort of colors. This at the top, by the wall; they are the end of February to prune garden is not very big, so you pink, on a tall stem, and I can the clematis or the roses. When have to be very careful about take them into the house and the snow comes, you have to what you plant, and our overall they will last for a month. The shake it off the conifers, and idea is to have color all the kaffir lily [Schizostylis sp.] is your hands and feet get so year round, if at all possible. another October flower, cold. The rewards do come "At either end of the year, reddish pink like a small later." we can stand at the top of the gladiolus. But, for a long­ "Yes, we both love gardening garden and look down through lasting show of color, we'd and are thankful for it, but the heathers and the rose hips never be without potentillas, because of our ages (Albert is to the house and the two lawns which flower all summer long." 79) we shall inevitably have to below. We love the hips on the Marion continued: "I keep a cut down on the amount of moyesii roses, which are bright five-year diary, and last year work, so we are planting more red, and the [Rosa] we d€cided to record the shrubs and cutting down on the sweginzowii has huge, orangey, flowers that were out and the annuals. This winter has killed flagon-shaped hips. The nerine progress of the seedlings so that a number of shrubs and many lilies [Nerine sp.] come out in we can compare from year to roses, especially the climbers October in the warmest place- year. I write it in bed every and the early clematis on the night and often find that we walls on and near the house. TOP: Columbine and hostas fill a niche in a corner of the garden. have done exactly the same This has meant a lot of new ABOVE: The walls of the house thing on the same day each work and difficulty in are festooned with a variety of year. replacing, so there are not quite climbing roses. RIGHT: Shrub "Gardening often means so many ambitious plans for roses, hybrid lilies, campanulas, 6 peonies, foxglove and a host of driving yourself out into the the moment." other plants bloom in gay abandon garden to do things at the right Jerald Harpur is a photographer/ during the English summer. time, say, in a howling gale at writer living in Essex, England.

22 June 1984 American Horticulturist 23

Monarda didyma 'Cambridge Scarlet'.

BY JEANNE GOODE

rom early summer to early fall, fra­ physician who, in 1569, wrote a book de­ One very pleasant thing about bee balm grant bee balm, Monarda didyma, scribing the medicinal plants of the New is that it is easy to please, growing happily F brightens woodlands from Quebec World. in any kind of soil that is fairly rich and to Georgia and westward as far as Mich­ There are about a dozen species in this moist, in full sun or partial shade. Growth igan. It is a striking plant-one of the most North American genus, which is in the is not exactly rampant, but it is vigorous, beautiful of our native wildflowers. Plants Labiatae, or mint family. Several of them and the plants need space; a small speci­ can reach a height of four to five feet, and have medicinal properties. The Indians men of two or three stems will fill a four­ clumps can be four feet in diameter. Each taught early settlers to make a stimulating, foot area in three or four years. Under­ squared stem is covered with soft, woolly aromatic infusion from the leaves of M. ground runners move from the center out­ leaves and topped by great, ragged clusters didyma that was used to relieve fevers, wards and send up new stems. By the fourth of tubular scarlet flowers. Often the upper colds and sore throats, and the plant be­ or fifth year, the stems in the center will leaves and surrounding bracts are red or came known as Oswego tea. The volatile decrease in vigor. These can be discarded, bronze as well. A flourishing colony is oil derived from the plant was diluted with and divisions can be made from the outer spectacular, especially when reflected in olive oil or soap and applied externally to sections every four years or so. However, the waters of a stream or lake. Crowds of relieve chronic rheumatism, and the same if your bee balm is growing where there bumblebees, butterflies and ruby-throated oil was used to perfume hair tonics made is plenty of room for expansion, such ma­ hummingbirds add motion, sound effects from bear's grease. Important in the phar­ jor division and replanting will not be nec­ and even more color to the scene as they maceutical industry as late as 1950, mo­ essary. Simply remove the tired center stems feast on the abundant nectar that bee balm narda oil has largely been replaced by other and replace them with a couple of young­ provides for them. substances. However, it is still widely used sters from the outer ring whenever nec­ Beautiful, hardy and undemanding, it is in the manufacture of perfumes and per­ essary, and you can keep a clump going no wonder that bee balm became a popular fumed soaps. indefinitely. If you want to restrict a plant garden plant soon after it was introduced Today, bee balm is grown chiefly as an to a small area in the perennial border, into cultivation in eighteenth-century Eng­ ornamental. The wild species is a valuable poke several holes in the bottom of a plas­ land by the noted plant collector, Peter addition to increasingly popular wild or tic dishpan, sink the dishpan in the border, Collinson. Collinson's garden at Mill Hill woodland gardens. In more formal set­ and plant the bee balm in the dishpan. in Middlesex was noted for its New World tings, the numerous cultivated varieties and Varieties of M. didyma can be grown plants. "Very few gardens, if any, excell hybrids, mainly derived from M. didyma easily from seed. Seeds sown in July will mine at Mill Hill for the rare exotics which and white- to purple-flowered M. {istu­ produce good-sized seedlings by Septem­ are my delight," he wrote proudly. A good iosa, are preferred. They offer more com­ ber for planting in a sheltered, mulched many of these exotics came to him from pact growth and larger flowers in a wide nursery bed. The following April they will his friend John Bartram, our first Ameri­ range of colors. 'Cambridge Scarlet' has be ready to set out in permanent positions. can-born botanist, who traveled up and brilliant scarlet flowers, and 'Mahogany' Mildew can be a problem if the planting down the Eastern Seaboard collecting for is a rich, deep red. My favorite, 'Adam', site lacks good air circulation and the sum­ avid English plant lovers. Bartram had col­ is a cheerful cherry red, while 'Croftway mer is unusually wet. Affected plants, cut lected seeds of bee balm near the town of Pink' is a lovely rosy pink. 'Alba' and 'Snow back to three or four inches after bloom­ Oswego, New York in July of 1743, after Queen' are white, as you might suspect; ing, will revive and bloom again in Sep­ a refreshing swim in Lake Ontario. The 'Snow Queen' is particularly free flowering. tember. Winterkill is another occasional seeds, sent to Collinson soon after, sprouted Bee balms are at their best when massed problem, because bee balm is shallow successfully, and bee balm bloomed at Mill near a brook or stream--not because they rooted; a deep, permanent mulch and reg­ Hill for the first time in 1745. By 1760, need unusual amounts of moisture but for ular applications of compost will prevent Collinson was able to report that there the splendor of the reflection. They are this and will also help keep the soil moist were "plenty in Covent Garden Market." good as bright accents against a darker and rich. This was a matter of some satisfaction for shrubbery background, too, and have been Bee balm is often considered an old­ him, since an earlier introduction of the the mainstay for the back of the herba­ fashioned plant, but for me, that is a large plant had not survived. , ceous border ever since our great-great­ part of its charm. If you love flowers for Bee balm quickly became a fixture in grandmothers first planted them and gath­ their associations as well as for their beauty gardens all over England and Europe. It ered their long-lasting, fragrant branches and fragrance, you will grow this one gladly, was popular among practical colonial gar­ and flowers to grace the parlor table. They and you will surely make the bees, but­ deners, too, since it was useful as well as are certainly appropriate in the herb gar­ terflies and hummingbirds happy, too. '6 beautiful. The plant belongs to the genus den, whether you drink the tea or not. Jeanne Goode is a free-lance writer whose Monarda, named in honor of Nicolas Peter Collinson described its taste as "not articles have appeared in Horticulture and Monardes, a sixteenth-century Spanish unpleasant. " Garden. She gardens in Yonkers, New York.

American Horticulturist 25 The Bicke ~'IIIllpt Arbore BY MARY COAKLEY SMITH ob and Fran With characteristic Bickelhaupt are thoroughm~ ss they B devoting their investigated the idea. retirement to a surprising Although it may have seemed variety of activities: snipping to neighbors that the faded blooms in their Bickelhaupt garden simply naturalized daffodil planting; grew without effort, countless pruning lilacs, sometimes inquiries and much research before breakfast; supervising went into the proposed the annual burning of a small project before a final decision restored prairie; weedililg was made to proceed with ground cover test plots; and the venture. In addition to keeping detailed records on carefully studying the legal all of their horticultural aspects involved, Bob and activities. The usual activities Fran visited arboreta and of retirement did not appeal botanical gardens across the to this unique couple, who nation. chose instead to dedicate their During the early phases of resources aNd the remainder planning, the Bickelhaupts of their lives to a different were also involved with world of challenges and organizing a Heavy DUlt opportunities. Truck Dealers Association, While still in their early which involved coast-to-coast fifties, the Bickelhaupts travel. This gave them an decided the world had been opportunity to collect data very good to them, and they and information from nearby wanted to redirect their gardens wherever they were efforts to benefit others. visiting. Methodically, they "We both had a wealth of observed these gardens and experience with volunteer consulted with personnel, all work in church and hospitals, of whom showed interest and ABO¥E: Fran and Bob Bickelhaupt, founders of the Bickelhaupt Arbore­ were extremely helpful, and in industrial development tum. RIGHT: The plant conservatory, formerly the family'S indoor pool. and business associations," In the foreground, ground covers line the steep banks of Rock Creek. according to Fran. they explained. (Bob was After reviewing the owner/manager of Bickelhaupt Motors before his retirement.) information they had gathered, Bob and Fran were convinced "So we knew that what we wanted to do with the rest of our that the most important aspect of organizing their arboretum lives was to find a worthwhile cause and develop it. After was to keep excellent records of all details. The history of walking 90 miles and more through the city of Clinton, Iowa, each plant in the arboretum would be extremely valuable, where we had spent our entire lives, we were appalled at the they reasoned, and from the beginning every plant ~as devastation caused by Dutch elm disease and the need for properly accessioned, recorded and labeled with permanent renewed beautification. We felt that the grounds around our markers. The Bickelhaupts maintain their plant records on home could be developed into a public arboretum for the the computers at the Plant Sciences Data Center of the people of eastern Iowa and western Il'linois." American Horticultural Society. They have found that The usual activities of retirement did not appeal to the Bickelhaupts; instead, they chose to develop the grounds around their home into a public arboretum.

26 June 1984 American Horticulturist 27 maintaining computer records of their collections has helped them enforce the discipline required for good record-keeping. Furthermore, the store of information would be of inestimable value to international horticulture, they believed. " Unless a given plant has a recorded history, its value is limited," Bob said. "We would any day rather be out pruning, mowing or planting in the garden than inside keeping the records up to date, but it is a discipline we insist upon," Fran added. " We do not even allow ourselves the pleasure of tearing open a packet of slides, no matter how anxious we are to see them, until we have at least an hour to catalogue and cross-reference 20 slides." Daily journals are catalogued: "No one gets supper until the daily entries are made," Fran said with a smile. The Bickelhaupts felt that a grid layout of the entire arboretum was also important. Thanks to their foresight, they can now pinpoint any plant at any time. In the garden, permanent markers designate each 70-by-100-foot grid, while on a map in the Education Center, every plant in every grid is noted, along with the location of water hydrants. Only native plants or those proven hardy in Iowa's winters earn precious space in the 13-acre Bickelhaupt Arboretum. Oaks, ashes, maples, sumacs, birches, poplars and willows thrive. The conifer collection includes species and cultivars not often found in area nurseries; it is hoped that visitors who are exposed to these selections will create a demand for thellL Stretching down one slope, a large planting of ornamental landscape shrubs and a viburnum collection provide a long season of color, starting with the bloom of witch hazel, Hamamelis sp., in February. Collections and areas of special seasonal interest include April-flowering crabapples underplanted with thousands of daffodils (5,829 blooms one season, according to Fran's count), lilacs in May and the prairie restoration in late summer. The grass beneath the crabapples is cut only in November, thus providing not only an attractive meadow but also a place for nesting meadowlarks. A natural amphitheater in a grove of bur oak trees gives one the feeling that it has been there forever. Its unique quality attracts not only its owners but also those who hold church services there. Many weddings are scheduled at this site; lilac time is especially popular. Wedding parties approach the setting through an aisle in the lilac garden, over a footbridge and on to the oak grove. Owners of today's smaller home properties can appreciate the dwarf garden that adjoins the lilac garden. Most of the ABOVE LEFT: Pines and maples, fronted by blue-flowered Ajuga, proposed 163 conifers and 76 deciduous shrubs are form part of a windbreak planting. ABOVE RIGHT: A group of fifth graders on a visit to the Arboretum. BELOW RIGHT: The established. If specimens grow too large to be considered Arboretum boasts a collection of flowering crab apples as well as dwarfs, they are removed. a display of small flowering trees (toreground). The prairie restoration is proving to be as popular in the BELOW LEFT: The Clinton, Iowa Fire Department supervises the late summer as the crabapple and lilac displays in the annual burning of the 6,OOO-square-foot prairie restoration. springtime. "It is sometlling different and a rare sight in our cultivated countryside," said Fran. "There will be more public interest, since it would demonstrate a way of saving prairies," Bob added, "considering the number of inquiries energy in terms of both fuel and labor." The Bickelhaupts from others who are interested." were also motivated by a desire to show what our all-but­ Visits to the 6,OOO-square-foot prairie have resulted in at vanished prairies look like and how plants of endangered least two prairie plantings in the nearby Quad-Cities, one at species might be preserved. With these ends in mind, they Hansen School in Rock Island and another at Butterworth have made their literature, prints and slides of the prairie, as Center in Moline. Bob also knows of several individuals who well as the planting board used in sowing the seeds, available have started mini-prairies in their own back yards. to the public. The original plans did not call for the use of valuable space The prairie site was prepared in 1976, and in 1977 it was for a prairie display. However, as Bob explains, "Along came sown with seeds of native grasses and forbs that Bob and a the energy crunch, and so we thought the prairie would be of local prairie authority, Dr. George Aurand, collected within a

28 June 1984 maintenance. He is concentrating on those plants that are hardy, easy to grow and economical to maintain in the Upper Midwest. As part of his plan to make ground covers a major feature of the Arboretum, Bob will add at least 50 more va rieti es to the 105 already established. To preserve the terrain, ground covers have been established on the banks of Rock Creek, which meanders through seven oxbows, from the northwest to the southeast corners of the property. Some of the banks are very steep, and during extremely heavy rainfall the creek will ri se from an average depth of two feet to a crest of 10 feet. Yell ow archangel, Lamiastrum galeobdolon 'Variegatum' (formerly Lamium galeobdolon ), holds one steep bank and covers it with yellow blooms in May. The statistics available on this bed serve as an example of the Bickelhaupts' detailed record-keeping. Six-inch plants, set out on M ay 12 on north­ facing banks, were spaced on 18-inch centers. The slope is, horizontall y, 13 fee t with a nine-foot drop. The bed is 16 feet by 30 fee t long. It was planted in six hours and 45 minutes with an auger and trowels. In June, July and September four hours were spent hand weeding. Plants grew to a two-foot spread in one month and later required very little weeding. Self-sufficient ground covers, such as a healthy stand of ajuga, beautify a corner grouping of evergreens, and pachysandra covers the ground beneath a row of white pines. Hostas, vinca and sedums carryon farther down the ridge. A magnificent planting of ivy, its evergreen appearance welcome in winter, sets off shrub plants. M any evergreen va rieties cover one slope, while others embellish rock walls. Detailed records are kept of the planting and development of each ground cover. With both daughters grown and no longer living at home, the Bickelhaupts were able to adapt their large residence to the needs of the Arboretum. Aside from their living quarters, there is the Education Center/Library, formerly the family room, where a photographed family history is part of the decor. This large room comfortably seats 65 people and contains audio-visual materials, microfiche, slides, herbaria and complete plant record-keeping facilities. Off to one side is the maintenance shop and equipment area, and up a few steps in the other direction is the indoor plant conservatory, formerly the family indoor pool, where Bob and Fran still keep fit with a daily swimming session. A potting room and cistern have been added to the back of the Arboretum to accommodate additional activities and storage. 20-mile radius. A small amount of additional seed was Bob and Fran not only live in the midst of their garden, collected about 50 miles away. Sixty-one kinds of seeds were they don work clothes daily and become hard-working planted in all. During the first growing season, 73 hours were gardeners in the heat of summer as well as in the cold Iowa spent weeding; the prairie plants had taken over by the final winters. Obviously, 13 acres soon proved to be more than we€!ding of the season, in late July of the first year. Burning they could handle alone, so they employ€!d a full-time each year in early spring is the only maintenance now gardener from the area for several years. In the summers, they required. Last year Bob clocked the Clinton Fire Department, employ students for on-the-job training. Now in their late which performs the task, at 124 seconds. sixties, the Bickelhaupts are gradually turning the reins over Gazing over the restored prairie on a breezy Iowa day, it is to two younger employees, Joe Hill and Steve Van Akkeren. not hard to visualize the grandeur of a larger prairie. The Hill currently serves as assistant director of th€! Arboretum, rustling of the tall grasses and the colors of th€ late while Van Akkeren is the Arboretum's horticulturist. wildflowers are enough to make a person long for the simpler Garden columnist and head volunte€r Thelma Abbott, who ways of an earlier era. developed the indoor plant collection, serves as plant The natural topography of the Arboretum grounds also consultant. There are now a total of 12 qualified volunteers lends itself to the displays of ground covers found in many who help the Arboretum staff. parts of the garden. Bob believes that ground covers will According to Fran, the aim of the Arboretum is basically become more and more important as a means of beautifying educational. An important asp€!ct of the Bickelhaupts' work home grounds while saving precious energy and reducing Continued on page 43

American Horticulturist 29 . , .. ' .I .l ,..) .. I J ., ~ . I ., •

.. TEXT & ILLUSTRATIONS BY PETER LOEWER

hey have the distinction of being places, usually where flower petals join or calycina and many of her cousins can among the most hated of all crea­ leaves clasp the stem. They can be so pa­ change, in the course of a week or more, Ttures, and yet they are a fascinating tient as they lie in wait that you can cut from white to yellow on a yellow flower and unique group, granted a scientific clas­ flowers for a bouquet, gather the blooms or an artificial yellow substratum. The ac­ sification all their own. Although often in a basket, trim the stems in the kitchen tion is reversible, usually requiring only mistakenly thought of as insects, spiders sink, put the flowers in a vase for an hon­ five or six days." are arachnids. All spiders have eight legs ored spot at the dinner table, and only then Despite the crab spider's somewhat ag­ and are wingless, as opposed to the six legs see a crab spider, wondering where the gressive nature-notable even for spi­ and one or two pairs of wings that are garden has gone, hanging by her dragline ders-it should be mentioned that t~e fe­ characteristic of the insects. right over Uncle Fred's cup of consomme. male is especially well known for her slavish Spiders have no true jaws and cannot And Uncle Fred is usually the only relative adoration of her egg cocoon. She will guard ( chew. They must take their food by suck­ with an unnatural fear of spiders. it with her life, day after day, until she ing the blood of their victims rather than Their aggressive nature, coupled with a hears the first rustlings of the eggs begin­ masticating them as the insects do. very strong venom, gives them the ability ning to hatch. Only then does she cut a Spider eyes are simple; that is, each eye to attack insects far larger than themselves. hole in the silk, allowing the young to es­ is covered by one cornea-as in man-and I was once amazed to see a thirsty wasp, cape. She then promptly dies. not faceted like the insect eye. Nearly all lingering over a drop of water that lay near spiders have eight simple eyes. the attachment of a daisy petal, suddenly THE JUMPING SPIDERS And of course spiders have silk organs. confronted by a much smaller crab spider; Insects do, too, but spiders have the most after a brief scuffle, the spider won. It's a warm afternoon in the garden. Since complicated known. With these organs they Although crab spiders do not have the one o'clock, the edging around the iris bed spin egg sacs, draglines, temporary homes, fine vision of jumpers and wolf spiders, has been trimmed, piles of pruned branches strong webs for scaffolding and sticky webs studies suggest that they are able to see and twigs have been removed to the com­ for holding prey. colors. A. S. Pearse, the American ecolo­ post heap and the brow has begun to red­ Spiders build irregular nets, sheet-webs, gist, noted that 84 percent of white crab den a bit, both from welcome sun and funnel-webs and orb-webs. Many spin no spiders studied were found on white flow­ webs at all. ers, while 85 percent of the yellow species They are generally timid, content to fol­ were seen on yellow flowers. low the spider path. Misumena calycina (or sometimes vatia) The following four spiders (and one close is the common crab spider of North Amer­ relative) are all found in gardens. ican gardens. In addition to the other traits of the tribe, Misumena has the ability to THE CRAB SPIDERS actually change color to match the flower it is on. Willis J. Gertsch, in his classic book Crab spiders are exactly what their name American Spiders, wrote in 1949: "The implies; not only does their disposition seem ability of Misumena calycina to change its testy at best, but they also move back and color from white to yellow and vice versa forth, side to side, with the type of move­ was first noted about seventy years ago. ment characteristic of their larger crusta­ This fact engaged the attention of many cean relatives. Like crabs, these spiders do naturalists and led in some instances to not trap food but instead lie in ambush, erroneous application of the same prin­ their flattened bodies easily fitting into tight ciple to other spiders on little evidence, to LEFT: Crab spider, Misumena calycina, fantastic claims of change through many hanging from an iris blossom. RIGHT: A hues that have no basis in fact. It can easily jumping spider, Salticus senicus. be demonstrated, however, that Misurnena some exertion. It is time to sit back in the drops of jet. And make no mistake: those THE WOLF SPIDERS freshly painted lawn chair and plan the eyes can see at least a foot with clarity, rest of what promises to be a fine day in while the shifting images formed by the Winter comes early to our mountain late April. total eight give the spider a perception that home, and it stays late. We have a January flies swarm around the white, warm reaches a far greater distance. thaw, but we pay dearly for those few days clapboards of the house. A few bees drift Jumping spiders live to hunt and are of comparative warmth; either snow or about the top edge of the rock garden, therefore curious qbout every movement sleet, with cold fronts that come along for looking into every Allium bloom, and the that they see. Able to leap long distances the ride, visit until late March. ever-present wasps circle about the gutter in a single bound, they lay a dragline wher­ But every year we see a sign of spring and the eaves. But there is a closer move­ ever they go. If they miss the jump from next to the woodpile in the living room, ment just above your left ear: a small black leaf to branch, the dragline saves them, usually in mid-february-about the time do·t that climbs about the chiseled edge of and they climb back up and try again. that maple sugaring begins. The sign must the top of the chair, stops, then moves If you are patient, you can coax one to be seasonal, since that corner of the room again. Not a fly, or a bug or a beetle; it is sit upon a finger tip and get close enough is warmed by the fireplace that burns con­ too small and too direct, and it seems to to see those black and sparkling eyes. But tinually from the twentieth of November watch your every move. get too close, and jump it will. to at least the fifteenth of March. You slowly turn your head and see a John Crompton, in his book The Life Just out of the corner of the eye, one brightly white-and-black-striped spider ofthe Spider, wonders why there are trained sees a sudden movement as a small sleek looking directly at you with a deliberate fleas but not trained jumping spiders. Nat­ spider scuttles up the chimney, silhouetted stare, yet it is scarcely the size of a tack uralists have trained Salticus to jump onto against the white-painted concrete blocks. top. The collar of your shirt shifts as you waiting fingers for food, then to jump from It's a handsome spider with a body about nervously jerk your neck, and two large hand to hand until a leap of eight inches half an inch long, covered with a well­ and beady eyes follow; move your shoul­ was achieved. "So," says Crompton, "the groomed coat of fur colored black, gray der a few inches back, and the spider darts thing could be done." and brown. He stops midway up the chim­ a few inches closer. You're being hunted In addition to their agility in jumping, ney for just a moment, as though checking by one of the most developed and most another gift from nature allows these spi­ to see if his compass is in order, then darts amusing members of the spider family: the ders to climb sheer rock and polished glass. either to the left or right, and then quickly Salticidae, or jumping spiders. No patient All other spiders are unable to hold tight back to the safety of the woodpile. and slowly creeping insect here; no curling to smooth surfaces, but jumpers have tiny Lycosa (from the Greek for wolf) is the up in a web to wait for prey. This spider pads of adhesive hairs on the tips of their name of our visitor. His temporary home is the leader of the pack. feet enabling them to go where they will. is probably under the floorboards or down The spider described above is the most You'll often find another species of spider in the basement close to the chimney. We common jumping spider in the United States that has slipped into a basin or tub and is see him as he checks out a new addition and England: Salticus scenicus, the zebra unable to climb back to the top--but never to the woodpile, hoping for a few insects spider. The family is one of the largest, Salticus. that might be hiding under the bark. He and members have been found in all parts Nights are spent in tiny silken sleeping might be making these forages all winter of the world except the polar regions, with bags sheltered by leaves, by stones, or in long, yet we only begin to see him as species numbering in the thousands. the corner of a house, safe in clapboard thoughts turn to spring. Most wolf spiders Salticus has traded life in a web for the crevices. You will find larger spiders in the live much longer than one year, and ours keenest eyesight in the spider world. Its house and garden, but none friendlier than would be foolish to give up a good home eight eyes are set in three rows; the four Salticus. And considering the insect pests for a cold spot out in the woods or garden. in the front row are large--especially the that they consume, they are more than As spring approaches and nights outside center pair-while the rest are tiny, little worth their weight in gold. are only cool, not cold, Lycosa goes out to the garden, departing through one of the many exits in the un mortared field­ stone of our house foundation. He spends his summers in the garden with others of his kind, usually beneath the flat rock wall of the scree bed. These spiders are true hunters, purging the garden of pests throughout the summer and fall. They have exchanged the spider web for very good eyesight and strong legs that move with great speed. Their fear­ some heads have four small eyes that look slightly down from the front of the face and a little to each side. Just above these are two larger eyes pointing straight ahead, and on the top of the head, two more look up. Thus, wolf spiders are able to see in four directions at once and are known to be able to focl!ls on a future dinner at a distance of several inches. :... .. ~ ... < ." y. _i. . .' ".

There are many kinds of web spinners: '., .l some make horizontal webs that infest cor­ ' : .. ners of the house, gathering dust in ad­ dition to insects; others, like the infamous ·'i· .. ,.' .',' : black widow, Latrodectus hasselti, have earned a place in spider folklore of such magnitude that no thought is ever given .; . to their maze-like web but only to their power to kill. Contrary to popular belief,

" ,' . the black widow does not always eat its .. ' .,:"' mate, and there are very few recorded cases of its bite being lethal to man. Some web­ . -. '" ~. . ': bers are drab, colorless and small, prefer­ . ; ring to spin their webs in dark cellars, while ... ! . . :.. ..:\ .. . : .. ' r - others-large and brilliantly colored-sit !- . . '" . ... with aplomb directly in the center of the web and dare all to come near. ",: An example of the latter is the common garden spider, Argiope aurantia. With a body of velvety black usually an inch in length and marked with bright orange or yellow spots, it occupies the center of a ...... web two feet in diameter that is strung " L.:. : j,_.~~. ,.:", .': between plants or shrubs in the garden or • ...... 1 .. :.: .... tall grasses in the meadow . "'. .",\ .' / ', Argiope is so fond of her web that sh@ Later in the season, after mating, the the magnitude of the bites' symptoms were adds zigzags of a heavy white silk, called female spins an egg sac of spider silk. Once in direct proportion to the fee paid for the stabilimenta, across the middle to warn full of eggs, the sac is often as large as the performance. small birds and large butterflies to steer spider's body, and she will carry it wher­ clear. Such warnings seem to work, as these ever she goes. THE ORB.WEAVERS creatures have been seen swerving al'ld flying I usually scare a wolf spider every day over the webs. while working in the scree bed, and startle When spiders are mentioned, most peo­ When I was young I believed these spi­ two more as I weed the rock garden, They ple think of the aerial web spinners, those ders were among the most fearsome crea­ will dash for cover, holding the precious builders with spider silk that have given tures in the world. But I learned over the bag over their heads. Later, when the eggs up speed, sharp eyesight and unusual years that their eight eyes are so weak that hatch, the young will ride about on the strength, and replaced them with the in­ they cannot comprehend me, and that their mother's back for a week or so before they stinctive gift of making gos.samers of only interests lie in food and mating. Their leave the immediate area by ballooning. amazing durability-webs to trap and en­ bite is usually less toxic than that of a In the words of John Crompton, "The snare living food. Instead of wandering wasp, and these spiders must be severely little spiders hurry on. They run up short about in search of prey, these creatures sit pushed to even begin to sever the skin, at grasses and down again and try others. quietly in the web's center or concealed in least in most of North America. Already some have reached the tops o.f brush nearby and wait for the food to come If her web is severely damaged, Argiope railings or tall herbage. It is as if each one to them. prefers to build anew, though she will COI'l- carried a banner with a strange device­ Excelsior! Shortly, they go higher still. One by one, like prophets snatched to heaven, they al'e ascending into the blue without app.arent agency." It is interesting to note that the fearsome spider of folklore-th@ spider that could with one bite send the victim into a frenzy of uncontrolled spastic torment, the "ta­ rantula danc@"-is a large European wolf spid@r, Lycosa tarentula. Recent findings suggest that sIKh dal'lces were performed by willing peasants for tourists al'ld that

ABOVE: A common garden spider, Argiope aurantia, sits in the middle of her web. LEFT: A wolf spider, Lycosa species, holds a silken egg cocoon beneath her abdomen. RIGHT: Harvestmen, also called daddy longlegs, are close relatives of spiders. SPIDERS IN THE GARDEN duct minor repairs if the damage is not for the next morning. unerring instinct for tracing vibrations. Do extensive. It only takes about an hour to Argiope can be teased by tapping a leaf it too many times, though, and she will replace the whole affair, and construction at the outer edge of the web; she quickly just sit still, in an apparent sulk. generally starts at twilight so all is ready runs to the affected spot, guided by an When an insect (Argiope is especially fond of grasshoppers) does become entan­ gled, she responds to the feel of the victim's struggle. If small, she quickly kills it. If CONSTRUCTING A WEB large, a bit more discretion is called for. While a few legs hold the prey, the others After finding the "perfect" place for a wind the panicked victim's body in a tomb web, the spider begins by constructing a of silk. When all danger is past, she bites horizontal bridge. In this case, a female it and injects a massive dose of poison. She climbs up a branch, stops, aims for a sec­ then begins dinner at once or waits for a ond branch, and shoots a line out into future time, depending on her appetite. space. She waits for it to take hold, and A The males of this genus are smaller than when held fast at the far end, she pulls the the females and start life in the spring by line taut, and the first bridge is formed (A). building a smaller and much less accom­ Now she walks down to a lower point plished web. Soon they give it up and move ' on the left branch and attaches a new line. to a place at the outer edge of a female's Holding it carefully in two of her legs to web, living on leftovers and waiting to mate prevent it from tangling on the bark, she in the fall. spins as she moves back to the bridge and As the days grow shorter and the nights then across and down the right side, where cooler, Argiope produces a great number she again reels in the slack and completes B of eggs. She carefully wraps them in a bun­ a second bridge roughly parallel to the first dle of silk, which is then suspended within (B) . the framework of a bush, plant or shrub Next, left and right sides are added, and tied with so many loops of thread that forming a rough trapezoid. the roughest of winter winds will not tear She walks back to the center of bridge it loose. Then, with the first killing frosts, one, jumps down to the second bridge, the adult spiders die. trailing silk behind her, then bobs on a plumb line. Once it's secure, she walks THE HARVESTMEN halfway back along that vertical, and, c choosing a spot close to the center, marks Harvestmen, or daddy longlegs, are not the hub of the web (C). true spiders. They lack a separate head (or Now it's time to form the radii or spikes cephalothorax) and abdomen but instead that stretch to the outside frame. Working have both in one body segment. They have first one side, then the other, always keep­ only two eyes and have no spinning glands ing the lines in balance, she lays some 20 at all. Still, they are close relatives of the of them by dragging silk from the hub to spiders, and because of their eight legs they the frame over existing lines, neater than are often thought of as spiders. a student sectioning a circle in geometry D These daddy longlegs sometimes kill tiny class (though some spiders, for no obvious insects for food but usually feed on the reasons, will do a careless job). When fin­ dead and ingest juices from overripe fruits ished, she moves back to the center and and vegetables. Although they are found spins extra webbing to thicken and in abundance from late spring to the first strengthen the hub (D). killing frosts, most people remember seeing Walking in a counter-clockwise cj.irec­ them at harvest time; hence the common tion, she lays a wide spiral of silk across name. the center half of the web, a scaffold to Adults die in the fall, although a few hold the foundation lines in position as E might overwinter in the southern regions. she completes the spinning (E). Their eggs, buried in the ground, will hatch Until now the lines have all been dry, with the warming days of spring. At first not sticky, but work now begins in earnest. the baby harvestmen are very small and Starting at the outside of the frame, she take to hiding under rocks and leaves. They lays a new line speckled with glue, each are also nocturnal and wander about at turn taking her closer to the hub. When twilight looking for food, slowly growing she reaches the scaffold, she deftly removes larger. Then in the early days of fall, as it, putting a sticky line in its place. the days shorten, we become more aware The "parlor" is now complete (F) . F of their existence.

34 Jun e 1984 Although their legs are long, they usu­ ally walk with them bent in such a way that the body hovers just above the ground. Sources You will often see tiny red spots cluster at the joints of the legs of many harvest­ A NEW LOOK AT men. These are tiny parasitic mites, which stamped envelope to ARS at the above are also closely related to the spiders. Their MOUNTAIN LAUREL address. relationship is akin to that described in the The following companies offer some of the The American Rose Center gardens are popular poem: newer cultivars of mountain laurel, Kalmia open from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven latifolia. days a week. Admission is free for ARS Little fleas have lesser fleas Eastern Plant Specialties, Mr. Mark Stav­ members and $1.50 for nonmembers. Upon their backs to bite them; ish, PO Box 40, Colonia, NJ 07067, Children under 12 free. Lesser fleas have smaller fleas, catalogue free. And so ad infinitum. Gossler Farms Nursery, 1200 Weaver Road, THE BICKELHAUPT ARBORETUM Springfield, OR 97477, catalogue $1.00. The Arboretum is open to the public all BALLOONING Greer Gardens, 1280 Goodpasture Island year round from dawn until dusk, and free Road, Eugene, OR 97401, catalogue tours are available for groups of 20 or On one of those golden days in late spring $2.00. more. For more information, write The or fall, a day when skies are crisp and blue Verkades Nursery, c/o Gerald H. Verkade, Bickelhaupt Arboretum, 340 South 14th and morning dew still sparkles on the fields, Crystal, Rear 13, Lower Blvd., New Street, Clinton, IA 52732, or call (319) newly hatched spiderlings take wing on London, CT 06320, write for list and 242-4771. fresh breezes to see the world. Although availability . it's claimed to be just instinct (and reason Wayside Gardens, Hodges, SC 29695, cat­ tells us so), the spider's search for new alogue $1.00. territory appears as thrilling as any journey White Flower Farm, Litchfield, CT 06759, with an unknown destination. catalogue $5.00. Leaving the protective shell of the family COCOOI'I, which is packed with hundreds of RESEARCH BA TILES still-opening eggs, the almost weightless BLACKSPOT hatchlings walk upward toward the sun, 'Carefree Beauty' is available by mail order climbing branches and blades of grass or from the following nurseries. flower stems and garden fences, always Wayside Gardens, Hodges, SC 29695, cat­ toward the light. Then, at the summit, they alogue $1.00. point their abdomens toward the sky in Inter-State Nurseries, 504 E. St., Ham­ what could be termed a foolish posture, burg, IA 51640, catalogue free. but one with great rewards. Shooting out The Compendium of Rose Diseases is a filmy gossamer balloon, they are caught an excellent reference for diseases caused on rising tides of air and flyaway toward by fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, nu­ new horizons. tritional deficiencies or toxicities, pesticide Their journey may be short or long. Some toxicity, environmental imbalances or air sail far out to sea, 200 miles or more, be­ pollution. Published by the American Phy­ fore their tiny rope is caught in the rigging topathological Society, the Compendium of a ship. Others, once aloft, fly over is available from the American Horticul­ mountains and across plains, and a few, tural Society for $13.50, including postage like boomerangs, return to where the ride and handling. To order a copy, write Jeanne began after mir.lUtes in the air. Most never Eggeman, American Horticultural Society, THE WIDE, WIDE WORLD OF BULBS & PLANTS soar m.igher than 300 feet, but sometimes PO Box 0105, Mount Vernon, VA 22121. Lists thousands of items, many rare, elUSive, and unobtatn· a hardy few reach two miles, holdil1lg fast able elsewhere. Plants, corms, roots, bulbs and tubers from For information on the American Rose theveI)'finest U. S. andforctgn growers. Orchids, bromeliads, to their shining thread, waiting to land in Society, write PO Box 30,000, Shreveport, insectivores, cacti, succulents. gesneriads, amaryllis. aroids, a new field or garden. gingers, herbs. lilies. perennials, wild flowers, ferns, irids, LA 71130. Members receive the American Dutch bulbs. PRICE, 85.00 (deductible) includes money­ Occasionally an older spider, still not Rose Magazine each month, as well as the saving wholesale catalogs. too large or fat, can be accidentally caught INfERNATIONAL GROWERS EXCHANGE American Rose Annual, a 200-page book P.O. Box 397-E. FARMINGTON. MICHIGAN 48024 in a rising wind and be blown far away containing articles on rose culture and re­ from the home web. Others, seemingly tired ports on disease resistance and perfor­ Fine Tools Better .for your garden, of familiar fields, back into the wind and mance of modern roses. Members also re­ easier on you sail away. 8 ceive the Handbook for Selecting Roses, which contains ratings of roses currently Our tools for garden, field and forest do a better job with less effort, Peter Loewer is a botanical artist and and no straining or stooping. Choose the best from Europe and the available iR the United States. Nonmem­ U.S. - many hard-t()-find - all superb quality, all in our FREE scientific illustrator who writes and illustrates CATALOG . Send for it today. DIlL 0S46 8011919 his own books. He is the author of Peter bers may obtain a copy of the Handbook GreenRiverToolS ~. VTel Loewer's Month-By-Month Garden Almanac. by sending 50¢ and a self-addressed,

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CAL-DIXIE IRIS GAR­ DECORATIVE BROMELIADS reasonably C-Cap Style Markers 30 $7.00 DENS) 14115 Pear Street) Riverside, CA. 92504. priced. 21 page catalogue ($1.50) with prices D-Swlnging Style Markers 30 $5.95 ·BOOKS and full descriptions of 200 varieties we selL E-Rose Markers 30 $6.60 Also 80 page publication BROMELIADS FOR F-Tall Display Markers 30 $9.25 DRlED BOUQUETS SO NATURAL THEY G-Tall Single Staff Markers 30 $6.75 MODERN LIVING with 135 color photos (not H-Flag Style Markers 30 $5.50 LOOK FRESH!!!! Two show-and-tell books by sold separately) $5.00 for both. THE BRO­ J-Small Plant Labels 100 $5.65 Roberta Moffitt. "Step by Step Book of PRE­ MELIAD TREASURY, 63'!1 Bend Drive, Sun­ K-Tie-On Labels roo $6.60 SERVED FLOWERS" showing four methods nyvale, CA 94087. M-Miniature Markers 30 $5.60 including Microwave, $2.95. "Step-by-Step Book Special Quantity Prices Available of DRlED BOUQUETS," (over 285 photos) BULBS ,Postage Prepaid Williamsburg and Modern, Centerpieces, $8.95. NERINE FILIFOLIA, blooms every y.ear, rec­ Postage $1.00 or both books $12.90 ppd. FREE ommended 3 bulbs $10. Postpaid. Rare bulb Introductory Offer: 1 Each; A, B, C, D, E, H, J, K Newsletter; send stamp. ROBERTA MOF­ list $1. Deductible with order. WILLETTS, PO with Water-Proof Crayon Only $2.50 FITT, Box 3597, Wilmington, DE 19807. -Box 446, Fremont, CA 94536. "BEAUTY IN FLOWERS" by Mrs. Herbert If you're looking for top-quality flower bulbs PAW PAW EVfRLAST Greger: A step-by-step guide to the art of flower in la,rger quantities 'at affordable prices, write LABEL COMPANY arranging. Hard cover copy $7.50 plus $1.00 for our FREE catalog: McCLURE & ZIM­ P.O . .Box 93-AM postage. Quantity rates available. Mrs. Ine Gre­ MERMAN, QUALITY FLOWER BULB BRO­ Paw Paw, Michigan 49079-0093 ger, 12025 Edgepark Ct., Potomac, MD 20854. KERS, 1422 Thorndale, Chicago, IL 60660.

36 June 1984 HERE'S HELP WANTED PERENNIAL GROWER. Experienced grower for developing and expanding containerized THE perennial nursery. Responsible for production NOW YOU CAN PRODUCE NEW and distribution of perennials for sales to retail HEALTHY PLANTS FOR LESS stores in greater New York. Send resume to THAN 1 ~-NOT 25~ or 30~! Director of Education, FLOWER TIME, INC., 1178 Route 109, Lindenhurst, NY 11757. YES-WE DO! DIRT POSITION WANTED AQUAMONITOR GETS THE MAX­ A special $2 .00 discount to AHS members EXPERT PROPERTY CARE. Land, flora , IMUM FROM THE SUN. IT AUTO­ structures, administration, capably handled. on a new book that tells you how and why of Permanent position sought. Will live on-site. MATICALLY SHADES WITH gardening emphasizing the role of the soil L.S., P.O. Box 761, Oiai, CA 93023. TIMELY BURSTS OF MIST-RAPID community . It provides organized directions to GROWTH WITHOUT BURNS. the successful planting, tending, harvesting THE BUSINESS OF HERBS and preparing 48 vegetables from Asparagus THE BU$INESS OF HERBS. The only NEWS­ YOU SAVE A "BUNDLE"-FUEL to Zucchini, including some imports. LETTER catering to herb business needs. Trade BILLS DWINDLE. The agony and the ecstacy of a lifetime bout news, marketing, techniques, supplies. Sample OUTDOORS OR IN YOU SAVE TIME with Mother Nature is chronicled by George copy $1.00. Dept. 3, PO Box 559, Madison, Boggs Rosco'e; pictured by Earl Charnock . VA 22727. AND MONEY. CACTI & SUCCULENTS NOTHING CAN COMPARE-NOT SENSE PUBLICATIONS, Inc . EVEN COME CLOSE. Box 330 Cacti/Succulent plant and seed catalog. $1.00. Mt. Vernon, Virginia 22121 MESA FLORA NURSERY, N.B.U. 1002, Yucca Valley, CA 92284. FREE BROCHURE DESCRIBES THE MARVELOUS PROPAGA­ Please send me postpaid ___ _ copy(ies) of "CATALOG OF UNUSUAL SUCCULENTS" " Here's the Dirt" at your special introductory offer Discover the largest selection of weird and un­ TION EQUIPMENT. of $14.95 on prepaid orders. usual succulents--over 150 photographs of suc­ Amount enclosed $ _____ culent crests, variegates, living stones, and odd­ Print balls. Send $1.00 today. "CATALOG OF Name . UNUSUAL SUCCULENTS" Dept. A-6, 553 Street . Buena Creek Road, San Marcos) CA 92069. City State . . ... Zip ...... EPIPHYLLUMS (ORCHID CACTUS), RHIPSALIS, HOYAS. We sell high quality cut­ tings at reasonable prices. Special offer 3 rooted epiphyllum cuttings (our choice) $7.00. Family run business for 60 years. Catalog50¢. BEAHM EPIPHYLLUM GARDENS, Dept. AH 84, 2686 Paloma) Pasadena, CA 91107. USE THIS COUPON CACTUS & SUCCULENT RAINFOREST CACTI! $1.00 (deductible) gets FOR FREE INFORMATION ON our full-color 37-page catalogs. Hundreds of Orchid Cactus, Rhipsalis, Hoyas, Rattails, 163 Cacti Books. NEW: ChristmaslEaster Cactus, NUTRIPONICS® including yellow Christmas Cactus "Gold Charm." RAINBOW GARDENS, Box 721- AH64, La Habra, CA 90633. SPECIAL COL­ New Hi-Tech Indoor Gardening LECTION OFFER: 5 rooted Orchid Cactus plants (assorted colors), plus "Gold Charm," Please send free information on Nutriponics to: catalogs, airmailed, $13 .50. Credit Cards ac­ cepted. Name ______CARNIVOROUS PLANTS Carnivorous, woodland terrarium plants and Address ______~------supplies. Book, The World of Carnivorous Plants, $6.95 postpaid. Catalog FREE. PETER PAULS NURSERIES, Canandaigua, NY 14424. COMPOST BAGS Inexpensive kits available. 50-page color-illustrated 'POST HASTE composting bags let you have instruction book included in all kits. With this simple useable compost in two weeks. Made from DuPont's "Tyvek," 'POST HASTE bags hold method, you can grow Tomatoes, African Violets, Ge­ in heat hut let air circulate and excess moisture raniums, etc. Planters are self-watering. This unique escape. 1 hag, $2.95; 5 hags, $9.95; 10 for discovery is better than hydroponics--developed pri­ $17.95, from FORENCO, Dept. A, PO Box 908~ Wilmington, DE 19809. marily for indoor plants. DAFFODIL BULBS Naturalizing Mixture (8 + mixed colors) Bushel $75.; Peck $25. King Alfred Bushel $60.; Peck WINDOWSILL GARDENS $20. FREE Folder. RIVER'S EDGE FARM, RFD Grafton, New Hampshire 03240 4, Box 228A, GlOucllstllr, VA 23061.

American Horticulturist 37 JANELLCO CLASSIFIEDS BALCONY BRACKET cedar. Perfect gift. Keepsake. Lock. Only $9.95- DAYLIUES The lanellco Balcony postpaid. $9.00 each 2 or more. GUARAN­ DA YLILIES GALORE! All named hybrids. TEED. CHEST, 403 Wellingt0n, Forest, VA Bracket lets you Quantity Discounts. FREE Catalog for SASE. 24551. LEE BRISTOL NURSERY, Rt. 55A, Sherman, hang plants from a CT 06784. GREENHOUSE ACCESSORIES balcony or MANY COLORS DA YLILIES-tetraploids, COMPLETE MIST PROPAGATION SYS­ porch railing. diploids, minitures. Spuria, Louisiana IRISES. TEMS. Get phenemenal propagation results­ Catalog $1.00. CORDON BLEU FARMS, Box Greater financial yield! Unequalled-inexpen­ No adapter is 2033, San Marcos, CA 92069. sive-FREE BROCHURE. AQUAMONITOR, Box 327-B Huntington, NY 11743. necessary on some railings DOG REPELLENT Seedling Starter Kits! Useful tools, supplies, and but an adapter is provided Protects garbage cans, shrubs, gardens and lawns information for greenhouses, sela~iums and in­ to make sure from roving dogs. The waterproof repellent that deor gardens. Prompt servic;e. Catalog 50¢. works for weeks. Treats over 225 running foot GRO-TEK, RFD 1, Box 518AA, South Berwick, that the bracket or 500 square foot. One GOntainer with direc­ ME 03908. will hang from tions $3.50 or 2 for $6.00 ppd. LOUMAC GREENHOUSE BOOKS CHEMICAL COMPANY, PO Box 8382, AS, a variety of Chattanooga, TN 37411. GREENHOUSE MANAGEMENT, SECOND EDITION by Robert W. Langhans, Cornell handrail sizes DRIP IRRIGA nON University Professor for 25 years. 270 pages and shapes. DRIP IRRIGATION-ideal for flowers, vege­ with over 100 illustrations inform you on heat­ tables, etc. Save water, reduce disease, increase ing, cooling, fertilizing, watering, lighting Send $1.00 yields, durable. FREE information. MISER IR­ and pe~t control. Send $21.00 postpaid to RIGATION, Box 94616 AH, Lincoln, NE HALCYON PRESS OF ITHACA, 111 Halcyon for our 68509-4616. Hill, Ithaca, NY 14850. brochure. DWARF CONIFERS GREENHOUSES & ACCESSORIES Over 170 types of dwarf conifers described by GREENHOUSES, 8' long, 4W wide, 6W high, size, shape, c;olor and texture. Many types suit­ $69.95. Larger model available. Earthworm Patent Pending aole for Bonsai. 50 page catalog $1.00 (refund­ castings and other accessories available. FREE able) . Botanic PI am List FREE. WASHING­ information write: SOLARLITE GREEN­ TON EVERGREEN NURSERY, Box 388AH, HOUSE, 6938R Foothill Blvd. Tujunga, CA JanellcoTMProducts, InC. Leicester, NC 28748. (704) 683-4518. 91042. HARPER HORTICULTURAL SLIDE 700 Museum Drive, Charlotte, N.C. 28207 FALL FLOWERING CROCUS 704-375-0662 LmRARY (PAMELA HARPER) Crocus, Colchicum and Sternbergia to bloom We supply many of the pictures in American this fall-top quality, 11 varieties-write for Horticulturist. Over 50,000 slides of plants and our FREE catalog: McCLURE & ZIMMER­ gardens available. Dllplicates $2.00. Lecture sets MAN, QUALITY FLOWER BULB BROKERS, on many topics $25.00 rental. 1983 catalogue 1422 Thorndale, Chicago, IL 60660. $1.50.219 Robanna Shores, Seaford, VA 23696 FLOWER ARRANGING SUPPLIES (804-898-6453). Carefully selected supplies, equipment and ac­ HEATHS & HEATHERS cessories for flower arranging, corsages, house­ Colorful low-cost HEATHER COLLECTIONS plants. Illustrated catalog 25 ¢. Retailers use let­ shipped UPS. Send SASE for 100-cultivar list. terhead. DOROTHY BIDDLE SERVICE, GM2, HEATHER GROWERS, Box 850, Elma, WA Greeley, PA 18425-9799. 98541. FLOWER VASE LAPEL PIN JEWELRY HERB PLANTS SIL VERJGOLD Designer Handcrafted Flower SCENTED GERANIUMS Leaves used for herbs, Vase Pins. Hold FlowersfWater Securely. Send teas. Catalog of 800 Geraniums, $1.00 refund­ Legal-size SASE: FLOWER JEWELRY, Dept. able. SHADY HILL GARDENS, 833 Walnut, :railorder 6AH4, Box 810, Buffalo, NY 14213-0086. Batavia, IL 60510. FOR SALE HERBS Show the world you've a personal flair­ Seven-room, two-story, brick home (custom-built HERB PLANTS, SEEDS. Common and Exotic. Don't buy any old plant anywhere. 1936) on 1 %-acre secluded wooded lot. Exten­ culinary, Medic;inal, Ornamental. 320 Vari­ eties. Catalog-$1.50 (refundable). COMPAN­ When you pick, be specific sive well-established plantings of many varieties ION PLANTS, Rt. 6, Box 88 AHS, Athens, OM Where your choice is terrific - of azaleas, rhododendrons, other shrubs and wildflowers. Attractive neighborhood four miles 45701. Join the ranks of the gardeners who care! from downtown Washington. $245,000. Con­ HOUSE PLANT ACCESSORIES & SUPPLIES tact James Matlack, 2700 N. 25th St., Arling­ America's largest maiIorder selection ton, VA 22207. Tel. (703) 528-3573. NEW AFRICAN VIOLET PLANTER POT. Ja­ of supertJardy, landscape size azaleas. pan/California research developed easy system GESNERIADS to water, drain, add nutrients and root aeration. Catalog $2.00 "Learn to Know and Grow" Fascinating house­ Prevents overwatering. Two piece self-con­ (deductible from order) plants-sinningia, gesneria, s~reptocarpus, other tained ... no spill, no mess. Unique design com­ plants related to the African Violet. Member­ bines benefits previous inventions. No trial and Box 305-A ship $10.00 yearly, includes six issues of THE error. Grow healthy showpiece blooms. Longer South Salem, New York 10590 GLOXINIAN. AMERICAN GLOXINIA AND between waterings. Attractive green, or white GESNERIAD SOCIETY, PO Box 493, Beverly unbreakable pure polypropylene. GUARAN­ Farms, MA 01915. TEED. Only $4.50 postpaid. 2 or more $4.00 each. Quantities available. State color: OYAMA GIFTS PLANTERS, 403 Wellington, Forest, VA 24551. Famous VIRGINIA MINIATURE CHEST. Real ORCHIDS, GESNERlADS, BEGONIAS, CACTI

38 June 1984 r·~·-·-·-·-·-·-·, Lily Bulbs Grown & SUCCULENTS. Visitors welcome. 1984 Cat­ alog $1.25. LAURAY OF SALISBURY, Rt. 41 in Holland (Undermountain Rd. ), Salisbury, CT 06068 (203) A wide se lection of Asiatic, 435-2263. trumpet & Oriental hybrids. HOUSE PLANTS NEW! Color catalog, 1984-86-$3.00, now lists -- Highest Quality-­ 2,000 unusual Indoor Plants-Bego ni as, Exotics, Lowest Prices Geraniums, J asmines, Herbs. LOGEE'S None over $2.50 GREENHOUSES, AH, 55 North Street, Dan­ ielson, CT 06239. TRADITIONAL & RARE Tropica l Plants, Be­ gonias, Gesneriads and Succulents for the hob­ byist. Catalog $1.50. COUNTRY HILLS GREENHOUSE, Rt 2, Corning, OH 43730. VALUABLE, WONDERFUL RARE PLANTS , c:B!t1j/" for cherishing-if yo u can get it elsewhere, we probably don't have it, but if you can't get it elsewhere, we probably do-living works of art- 90 different Bamboo, giant, medium, dwarf, ~. variegated, hardy, tropical. 80 Palms, including 1432 Manor Lane rare Madagascar species. 50 Cycads, including Blue Bell, PA 19422 South African types which are quick ly becoming Please rush Bluebell Lilies unobtainable. Rare multi-colored Phormiums Please send your value-packed o from New Zealand. Spectacular exotic jungle •p------catalog. I enclose $2, deductible ..• catalog. $1.00 enclosed. foliage, including otherwise unobtainable mar­ • on my first catalog order. • antacea, aroids such as anthuriums, philoden­ Name ______drons, alocasias, 200 Hoyas, 250 variegates. • Name • 150 Sansevierias, big, little, variegated, an un­ Address ______expected wealth of variety. 180 succulents. We • St.lRFD • specialize in variegation. Horticultural books. • City State----..Zip_ • City ______Four lavishly illustrated, highly informative ca t­ • send to: • alogs per year $5. (Future collector's items) EN­ • GILBERT H. WILD & SON, INC . • Stat ....e _____ Zip ______DANGERED SPECIES, 12571 (A) Redhill, Tus­ AH-684 Joplin SI. • Sarcoxie, MO 64862. 1984103006 tin, CA 92680-2832...... ~.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.~ RARE-REASONABLE-GUARANTEED: Aroids, _._-_. Bromeliads, Cycads, Unusual Foliage, Platycer­ iums, Epiphytic Ferns, Palms, etc. List for stamp. JERRY HORNE, 10195 Southwest 70 Street, Miami, FL 33173. WATER- LILIES HOUSEPLANTS-many unusual and rare va­ rieties. Catalog with photographs $1.00. in your garden SHADOW LAWN NURSERY, 637 Holly Lane, Plantation, FL 33317. -HOYA SPECIAL Lilyponscatalogue What's a hoya? six each different hoya cuttings. features everything $14.95 postpaid, $1.00 for descriptive li st and needed for your growing instructions. Satisfaction guaranteed. SAN LUIS GARDENS, 4816 Bridgecreek, San gardenpoo~ Luis Obispo, CA 93401. including the pool INDOOR-OUTDOOR GARDENING SUPPLIES "FREE CATALOGUE" ... "LOWEST PRICES-TOP QUALITY SUPPLIES" ... Plas- tic pots, hanging baskets, peat pots, etc . ... 40¢ Lilypons Water Gardens stamps for postage. PLANT COLLECTIBLES, 103E Kenview Ave., Buffalo, NY 14217. Water-lilies, Lotus, Aquatic plants, Goldfish, Scavengers, INTERESTED IN A SHADY DEAL? KOi, Fiberglass garden pools, PVC pool liners, Sweeps, Protect your plants from blistering sun with SHADE 'CLOTH. Write or call (collect (404) Filters, Pumps, Lights, Statuary, Books and much more. 778-8654) 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. e.s.t. weekdays for FREE informational kit. Your custom fab­ New colorful Lilypons catalogue and seasonal mini catalogs, S3.50. ricated order, complete with reinforced binding and brass grommets, is normally shipped within Nam.~e ______~~----~------LILYPONS WATER GARDENS I 10 days. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. ( Please print) Economical, effective, long lasting, practical, and 1500 Amhort Road 1500 Lilypons Road I Addres,,-s ______P.O. Box 10 . P.O. Box :!c~ I a proven way to create a more beautiful, healthy, Lilypons, MD 21717·0010 Brookshire, TX 77423·0188 and efficient greenhouse. Used also as patio shade, CJty (301) 874-5133 (713) 934·8525 I protective bird netting, tarpaulin and swimming State YES, Please send me the new color- I pool cover. Mastercard and Visa. YONAH ful Lilypons catalogue and seasonal I MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Box 280 I Zip mmi catalogs. I enclose $3.50. AH, Cornelia, GA 30531. I_--_----_------~------______~

American Horticulturist 39 Horticultural CLASSIFIEDS Explorations JASMINES PLANT SPACE SAVER Rooted camellia cuttings, named and labelled, Unique new product allows growing more plants 10 for $7.50. Grand Duke or sambac jasmine, in less space-IMPROVE LIGHT DISTRIBU­ 4 for $6.00. List 25 ¢. Mrs. R. C. Welsh, Route TION-AIR CIRCULATION-DRAINAGE. 3, Box 1700, Madison, FL 32340. Information $1.00. SOUTHERN EXPOSURE, 35 Minor, Beaumont, TX 77702. MAPLES Rare and Unusual Japanese Maples and Pines. PLANTS-RARE BUT AFFORDABLE Now shipping older plant material. Catalog Extensive selection: "American Natives * Out­ $1.00. MATSU-MOMIJI NURSERY, PO Box standing Ornamentals * Uncommon Conifers 11414, Philadelphia, PA 19111. (215) 722-6286. * Wild Fruit * Hardiest Eucalyptus * Wildlife Plants *. Affordable containerized starter-plants. MISCELLANEOUS Informative catalog-$1.50. FORESTFARM, STICK IN THE MUD Handcrafted COPPER 990 Tetherah, Williams) OR 97544. Hummingbirds, Quail, Ducks, Butterflies, etc., PLUMER1AS will add a touch of elegance to your house and garden. Catalog: 50¢. HILLSETT, AH-12, 3821 SENSATIONAL OFFER! Over 45 Different va­ Camino Blanco, PO Box 13283, Tucson, AZ rieties of Plumeria cuttings guaranteed true to 85732. name, many rare, some dwarf! Also hybrid seeds, book on culrure. Send SASE fm: FREE descrip­ NURSERY STOCK tive price list. THE PLUMERIA PEOPLE, PO Box 720291, Houston, TX 77272. FALL ENGLAND (Sept. 5·20) BABY EVERGREENS, seeds, seedlings, rhodo­ Visit 12 private gardens in England, dendron, azaleas, flowering shrubs, shade trees, PUBLICA nONS large assortment of rare and standard plants. one of the most avid gardening EXOTIC FRUIT and VEGETABLES! Grow your Catalog free. GIRARD NURSERIES, Box 428, own! LIVING OFF THE LAND, Subtropic countries in the world. Tour British Geneva, OH 44041. public gardens, including Wisley, Newsletter. Sample $1.00-MARIAN VAN ORCHIDS ATT A, PO Box 2131AH, Melbourne, FL 32902- Hidcote, Chester Zoo Garden, 2131. Ness, Cambridge and Arley Hall. ORCHIDS! ORCHIDS! ORCHIDS! Brome­ Enjoy the cultural and historical liads, Staghorn Ferns, Books, Peters Fertilizer, RHODODENDRONS & AZALEAS sights of London. Highlights of the Potting Mixes, Supplies for indoor and green­ SPECIALIZING IN THE UNUSUAL. Dwarf tour will be the Royal Horticultural house culture. REQUEST CATALOG. FOX Rhododendrons, Evergreen & Deciduous Azal­ ORCHIDS, INC., 6615 West Markham, Little eas, Dwarf Conifers, Companion Plants. Cat­ SOCiety's Great Autumn Show and Rock) AR 72205. alog $1.00, refundable. THE CUMMINS GAR­ the International Garden Festival. DEN, 22 Robertsville Rd., Marlboro, NJ 07146. PERENNIALS NEW ZEALAND (Oet. 15· (201) 536-2591. Daylilies, l=Iosta, Japanese Iri·s, Peonies. FREE Nov. 1) Enjoy the horticultural SEEDS catalog! CAPRICE FARM NURSERY, 15425 wonders of New Zealand at the S.W. Pleasant Hill Rd.) Sherwood, OR 97140. WORLD'S LARGEST SELECTION of quality peak of springtime. Visit lush public rare seeds from every continent. Thousands of Spring is for planting; Kelway's Daisy (An­ hard-to-find exotics, tropicals, houseplants, and private gardens, a rhododen­ themis tinctoria 'Kelwayi') , Lime Scented Mint palms, flowers, bulbs, hardy perennials, trees, dron preserve and the Otari Plant (Mentha cv.), Seaside Speedwell (Veronica mar­ ferns, alpines, etc. Rare herbs, medicinal, edible Museum. Explore the Alpine peaks itima), Rock Cress (Aubrieta deltoidea), plants, European and Oriental vegetable vari­ and fjords of Milford Sound and the Chamomile (Chamaemelon nobile), Hardy eties. Hundreds of exclusives, all at reasonable thermal region of Rotorua. Trips to Fuchsia (Fuchsia magellanica 'Senorita'), Silver­ prices. The world's most informative catalog, Edged Thyme (Thymus vulgaris 'Argenteus'), the famous cities of Auckland, Wel­ packed with illustrations, cultural and historical Greek Oregano (Origanum cv.), Silver Dead lington and Christchurch are also information, $1.00. WORLD SEED SERVICE, Nettle (Lamium 'Beacon Silver') and Pink Cin­ planned. Box 1058-AT, Redwood City, CA 94064. quefoil (Potentilla nepalensis 'Miss Wilmott'). TETRAPLOID DA YLILIES AUTUMN IN TIlE ORIElVI' All plants are well established in pint perennial cans at $2.25 ppd. each or three of the same Over 450 hybrids; exotic new Tetraploid In­ (November 1·21) Visit private variety at $6.60 ppd. One each of the above ten troductions. Catalog $1.00, deductible with or­ homes and gardens in Japan, as perennials for $20.00 ppd. Listing. WREN­ der for plants. SEAWRIGHT GARDENS, 134 well as selected nurseries, public WOOD, Rt 4, Box 361, Berkeley Springs, WV Indian Hill, Carlisle, MA 01741, (617) 369- botanical and temple gardens, 25411. 2172. Visitors welcome! Mount Fuji and Nikko National HARDY PERENNIALS, herbs, wildflowers. TOPIARY Park. Enjoy a ride on the famous Strong plants, reasonable prices. Descriptive Topiary Frames, animal shapes, geometries. Bullet Train. We will also travel to catalog $1.00. SEXTON NURSERY, 23340 Writt for brochure. Wholesale. Retail, TOPI­ the garden city of Singapore, fa­ Doane Cr. Rd. AH, Sheridan) OR 97378. ARY, INC., 41 Bering, Tampa, FL 33606. mous for its orchids, and see the Specialist Listings of LILIES, DA YLILIES, SI­ TREE PROBLEMS-BOTANICAL OR cultural attractions of Kyoto, Tokyo BERIAN IRIS, SDB IRIS and DAFFODILS. Send LEGAL and Hong Kong. $3.00 for a full color catalog with complete For Directory of members of the American So­ plant descriptions to: BORBELETA GAR­ ciety of Consulting Arborists-the experts in DENS, 10078 154th Avenu~, Elk River, MN tree care and appraisals for legal matters, write: 55330-6233. ASCA, 315(AH) Franklin Road, North Bruns­ For any of these programs, please PHALAENOPSIS (MOTH) ORCHIDS wick) NJ 08902. write for your free brochure to the Blooming size, postpaid $9.50 each, minimum WATER SYSTEM Education Department, American order three plants. 10 mixed seedlings $35.00. SWEETWATER ion exchange system for Horticultural Society, P. O. Box Catalog $1.00 credited on first order. See the healthier plants. Removes calcium, magnesium 0105, Mount Vernon, VA 22121. World's Fair in New Orleans, plan weekend and other harmful ions effectively and effi­ Or telephone (703) 768-5700. visit to GREEN VALLEY ORCHIDS, Rt. 1, ciently. Safe, easy, inexpensive to operate. Write: Box 233 S, Folsom, LA 70437. (504) 796-5785. NCTT, PO Box 2016, DelMar, CA 92014.

40 June 1984 Presenting the leading gardening books from Sterling Publishing at a special discount rate . .. BUY ANY OF THESE TITLES FOR 20% LESS THAN THE RETAIL PRICE!

CACTI AND SUCCULENTS, Gunter Andersohn. Over 500 HOW TO GROW FUCHSIAS , Brian and Valerie Proudley, CULPEPER 'S COLOR HERBAL, Nich- . , magnificent full-color photos and diagrams covering authors of Fuchsias in Color. The Proudleys cover every­ olas Culpeper. A Classic (that's been : (TLI'E1',ER'S every aspect of cacti. Includes requirements for light, thing beginners need to know in order to make their in print for over 300 years!) All new.: Dllorllcrbul warmth and water propagation . pest control-indoors fuchsias thrive ; general guidelines. cultivation in garden Large format paperback full color ' ~ t ~. It?" and out , even greenhouses . " One of the dandiest spe ­ or greenhouse . composts . propagation , training . winter throughout , info on almost 400 herbs . fill. '" ~)? ~V1 cialty books to appear in a long time ." J.L. Faust , New care , and even a section on fuch si as as house plants. & plants-their medicinal virtue s, i"" 'Ifj ~? I~ York Times . 316 pages , appendix , glossary, and 8 page BONUS : An excellent pest- control ch art . which tell s how plus completely new. modern com- ".....'J?f. " index . Hardcover $19.95 retail. $15.95 to AHS members. to prevent damaging pe sts or deal with them . if neces­ mentary on the use of the herbs to- I :/' ~;,~ ,,,/" sary. 96 pp. Paper $3.95 retail, $3.15 to AHS members. day. Index of diseases & their herbal ~'~ Ii ~ RHOOODENDRDNS & AZALEAS , Mervyn Kessell. A rem edies. 224 pp. Paper $12.95 re- ~ ~ ~, . , ~ complete handbook which introduces the huge range of tail, $10 .35 to AHS members. 'f,; 't - .- rhododendron s & azaleas to gardeners. describing which plants are suitable for variou s purpo ses . detailed planting advice . propagation . pest control & more . 71 full -color photos . 192 pp. Hardcover $17.50 retail. $14.00 to AHS members.

POPULAR EXOTIC CACTI IN COLOR, Edgar and Brian Lamb . Combines 100 glamorous full-color photos of cacti from far away places like Burma , China and India, au­ thoritative information of unusual or rare specimens de­ GAROEN CONSTRUCTION tailing habitat. description and cultivation plus full intro­ GARDEN PLANNING & DESIGN duction of how to raise each species . Incredibly low­ GREENHOUSES, CLOCHES & FRAMES priced! 176 pages (88 in color) . Paper $6.95 retail, $5 .55 By Peter McHoy. A lavishly illustrated 3-volume home to AHS members. reference set to answer any question on planning a fully integrated garden setting-both indoors and out . Garden Planning offers sound , easy-to-follow advice on various w~s to layout a garden , including altering existing designs . Covers water and rock gardens, herb and vege­ table gardens , roof gardens , more . Garden ConstructIon explains how to : erect a fence , hang a gate , build a wall, install a sprinkler, clear the land plus select dependable plants . Greenhouses, Cloches & Frames describes growing flowers and vegetables under glass offering ad­ ORCHIDS IN COLOR, Brian & Wilma Rittershausen . For vice on shapes , styles , sizes, equipment, ventilation, orchid hobbyists-lavishly illustrated with over 100 full­ potting and more . Each volume: 128 pages . 64 full-color color orchid portraits and packed with useful information photos , index . Paper $6.95 each retail, $5.55 each to on the genus and pedigree of over 100 plants . Bonus! AHS members. THE ILLUSTRATED REFERENCE ON CACTI & OTHER Graphic descriptions of plant structures and 30 page SUCCULENTS IN 5 VOLUMES, Edgar & Brian Lamb. introduction to raising orchids . 192 pages . Paper $6.95 Provides fast and easy recognition of the world 's cacti and retail, $5.55 to AHS members . succulents . including description. country of origin and general cultivation . Series contains over 1.300 magnifi­ THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO WATER PLANTS, Helmut cent photos , 400 in splendid full color! Each volume Miihlberg . Probably the finest and most complete book 261-310 pp. Hardcover $20 .95 each retail, $16.75 each to ever attempted on all aquatic plants . Full information on AHS members . Order complete set for $83.75. Save anatomy. physiology and propagation plus 300 page ref­ $21.00. erence section describing the families , genera and spe­ cies of over 100 plants . 109 photos in full color. 391 pages . GAZEBOS and Other Garden Structure Designs, Janet A. Hardcover, $14.95 retail, $11 .95 to AHS members. Strombeck and Richard H. Strombeck. 53 fabulous and SCIENTIFIC GREENHOUSE GARDENING, P.K. Willmont. unique designs-Victorian , Traditional , Rustic , Oriental PONDS AND WATER GARDENS, Bill Explains the principles of professional greenhouse man­ and Modern plus designs for 7 classic arbors (that make Heritage. 64 full-color photos of ma­ agement in plain language . Uses the newest materials & picturesque garden pathways), and 13 " strombellas"­ jestiC water lilies shot close up and in methods to explain heating & ventilation , soil & com­ intimate structures for shading a bench , swing . sandbox , romantic garden settings combine posts. watering & irrigation, propagation and more! 44 picnic table and more. Detailed blueprints can be or­ with practical information on plan­ photos-14 in full color. 220 pp. Hardcover $17.95 retail, dered for all styles, includes one set of plans for the ning, stocking and finally planting a $14 .35 to AHS members. most popular "Tiffany " gazebo, plus two mini-plans of fully integrated water garden . 168 birdfeeders . 96 pp. Papu $7.95 retail, $6.35 to AHS pages (48 in full color) . Paper $6 .95 HANDBOOK FOR FLOWER ARRANGERS, Phyllis Page. A members . retail, $5.55 to AHS members . practical book with arrangements for every season of the year: driftwood miniatures. Christmas. Japanese ar­ THE COMPLETE BOOK OF HERBS rangements and even styles of another age! 123 photos in AND HERB GROWING, Roy Genders. full color! 170 pp. Hardcover $9.95 retail, $7.95 to AHS Complete! Provides full descriptions members. of over 100 popular herbs including THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BIRDHOUSES AND FEEDERS, detailed information on herb culture , Monica Russo and Robert Dewire. Learn to design a medicinal and culinary uses and more successful house or feeder including how to select mate­ plus line illustrations and full-color rials and 'tailor-make ' a birdhouse that will attract the photos for identification . Instructs species of bird you want. Perches, size of entrance hole, how to raise herbs and plan a garden . nesting material , feeds and more are discussed. Charm­ 100 pages (16 in color) . Paper $9 .95 ingly illustrated . 125 pages . Paper $6.95 retail, $5.55 to retail, $7.95 to AHS members. AHS members. ORDER FORM Prepaid orders to the American Horticullural Society, Box 0105 , Mount Vernon. VA . 22121 . Virginia residents add 4% sales tax . Postage and handling is an additional $1 .25 per book: 3 or more books shipped postage free . Make checks payable to the American Horticultural Society. PLANT PROPAGATION FOR THE AMATEUR GARDENER, John I. Wright. Create new plants from the ones you OTY. TtTLE PRICE already have . All major methods are covered (methods for any climate & any part of the world) , with 57 explanatory plans & line drawings and extensive indexes of both common and scientific name . 176 pp. Hardcover $16 .95 retail, $13 .50 to AHS members. EVERGREEN GARDEN TREES AND SHRUBS, Anthony Huxley. 129 exquisite full-page, full-color plates depict over 300 varieties of evergreens, even those that bear NAME ______blossoms and fruit. Full descriptions name each genus and speCies, habitat, height, form of growth, and full ADDRESS ______p'lanting instructions in cultivation. 181 pages, 220 color CITY ______STATE ______ZIP' ______Illustrations . Paper $6.95 retail, $5.55 to AHS members. Pronunciation Guide

The accent, or emphasis, falls on the C. monanthogynus c. mo-nan-tho-JY-nus Lobelia cardinalis syllable that appears in capital letters. C. tiglium c. TY-glee-um lo-BEEL-ee-ahllo-BEEL-ya card-in-A Y-liss The vowels that you see standing alone Diaseia dy-ASS-cee-ah Malus MAL-us Euphorbia antisyphilitica are pronounced as follows: Manihot dulcis MAN-i-hot DULL-sis yew-FOR-bee-ah an-ti-syph-ill-IT-i-cah M. esculenta m. ess-kew-LENT-ah i-short sound; sounds like i in "hit" E. intisy e. INN-ti-sy Monarda didyma mo-NARD-ah DID-i-ma o-long sound; sounds like 0 in "snow" E. tirucalli e. ty-ru-CALL-eye M. fistulosa m. fist-you-LO-sa a-long sound; sounds like a in "hay" Fothergilla gardenii Nepeta mussinii foth-er-JILL-ah gar-DEN-ee-eye ne-PEE-ta moose-IN-ee-eye Alchemilla al-che-MILL-ah Hamamelis ham-ah-ME-lis Nerine ne-RY-nee Aleurites cordata Hevea brasiliensis Rhododendron ro-do-DEN-dron al-your-R Y-tees cor-DAY -tah HEEV-ee-ah brass-ill-ee-EN-sis Ricinus communis A. fordii a. FOUR-dee-eye Hydrangea quercifolia ry-SIN-us com-MUN-iss A. moluccana a. mol-Iuck-KA Y-na hy-DRAN-gee-ah kwer-si-FO-lee-ah Rosa foetida RO-safEE-ti.d-ah A. montana a. mon-TAN-ah Jatropha curcas ja-TROPH-ah CUR-cass R. laxa r. LACKS-ah Amelanchier am-el-ANK-ee-er j. multifida j. mul-TIFF-i-da R. moyesii r. MOYES-ee-eye Clematis macropetala Kalmia latifolia R. rugosa r. rew-GO-sa CLEM-ah-tiss/clem-AT-iss macro-PET-ah-Ia CALM-ee-ah lat-i-FOL-ee-ah R. sweginzowii r. swedge-ins-OW-ee-eye Codiaeum co-DI-ee-um Lamiastrum galeobdolon Sapium biloculare Croton eluteria CROW-ton €l-you-TER-ee-ah lam-ee-AS-trum galley-OB-do-Ion SAP-ee-um bi-Iow-cue-LAR-ee C. lacciferus c. lac-SIFF-er-us Lamium galeobdolon S. sebiferum s. see-BIFF-er-um C. linearis c. lin-ee-A Y-riss LA Y-me-um galley-OB-do-Ion Schizostylis skiz-Q-STY -liss

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42 June 1984 mE BICKELHAUPT ARBORETUM

Continued from page 29 and work did not proceed until all ques­ Botanical Gardens and Arboreta or the In­ is the NatlJre Awareness Program con­ tions were satisfactorily answered. Bob was ternational Society of Arboriculture. ducted in the elementary schools. Each particularly concerned that the types of While at the Morton Arboretum, the January, February and March the staff goes, shingles that had been used on the roof of Bickelhaupts had become acquainted with at the Arboretum's expense, into all of the his original dwelling might influence the head propagator Roy Nordine, whom they area schools to instruct the children. Later, quality of water in the cistern. later commissioned as their consultant. then~ is a spring tour of the garden for "From our 2,500-square-foot roof, an Now, 14 years after the founding of the first- and fifth-grade students selected by inch of rain brings us 1,977 gallons of Arboretum, at least 90 percent of the woody the staff, a science teachers' committee and clear, soft water for indoor and outdoor plants that Nordine planned and laid out the Clinton Community School Curricu­ use-water which has not been chemically are established and prospering. According lum Director. treated, which depletes no local supply, to Nordine, the Bickelhaupts have built in "God has given us nature, and we are which goes through no meter. Good ecol­ a few years one of the finest arboretums gratified to help teach the children how to ogy, good economy," Bob explained. of any size in the country. care for it, respect it and love it," Fran After more than a decade of experience Periodically, the Bickelhaupts critically said. In 1977,32,000 Iowa teachers voted in running an arboretum, both Bob and evaluate all procedures and record-keep­ to honor the Bickelhaupts with the Iowa Fran believe that a person with a business ing methods in an effort to make improve­ State Friends of Education Award in background is best equipped to make an ments and to determine the best methods recognition of their extensive outreach arboretum run on a sound financial basis. for maintaining and preserving the Ar­ program. "Coming into arboretum work from years boretum. Last winter they spent 253 hours A Plant Information Service, which Bob in the business field, we were sure of one transferring original data to clear, easy-to­ and Fran call their "hot line," has fur­ thing," Bob said. "Keeping maintenance use, permanent accession ledger forms. Also, thered their educational goals by providing costs down in every way consistent with the subject files were cleared of duplicate the opportunity for person-to-person con­ good management is a matter of basic eco­ and outdated material. tact with the public. According to Bob," in nomics. Money wasted on haphazardly The Bickelhaupts have made many pro­ order to be effective, the hot line must be planned maintenance is money misdi­ visions to ensure a bright future for the operated on a regular schedule. Bob usu­ rected from the main goal." Arboretum, which has been organized as ally assumes this duty from 1:00 to 3:00 Bob looks for the right tool or motorized a private operating foundation by a ruling p.m., seven days a week the year round. equipment to get the job done right while of the International Revenue Service. Bob While waiting for calls, he uses the time saving as much expensive time, labor, fuel and Fran have endowed their Arboretum to read up on the latest in the plant world. and human energy as possible. If a piece in perpetuity; they know that their daugh­ The number of calls has increased from of equipment proves to be inefficient or ters, both members of the Arboretum's 100 in the Service's first year of operation unsafe, it is either adapted or replaced. All board of directors, will act in the interests to more than 800 in the past year. Each tractors have hour meters, double seats, of the Arboretum. If, for any reason, the question, the caller's name, the date and tool boxes and holders for rakes and shov­ Arboretum must be closed down, provi­ the information provided are recorded in els; no man hours are wasted running back sions have been made for funds to go to­ a card file. to the shop for a forgotten tool. Nor is ward the establishment of a chair in En­ The many classes and meetings held at any time wasted pampering trees or shrubs vironmental Horticulture at Iowa State the Arbor@tum are well att@nded, and classes that cannot survive Iowa winters. University in Ames, Iowa. an~ frequently repeated to accommodate "From 1965 to date, we have studied at A map of Bob and Fran's early walks the large number of registrants. In addition more than 200 arboreta and botanical gar­ through the city hangs in the Education to the landscapitlg and pruning classes held dens and have acquired a first-hand Center, a reminder of their achi@vements every spring and fall, courses are offered knowledge of the financial problems fac­ since the founding of the Arboretum in in conjunctiofl with the State and County ing non-profit institutions of this type. We 1970. What started out as a desire to help Extension Services. Indoor houseplant have also observed the need to keep within the immediate community has developed workshops, sponsored jointly by the Ar­ the physical bounds which our funds will into a project whose effects are felt na­ boretum and the Clinton Community always support," Bob explained. tionwide. Consultations with institutions, Coll@ge, are held in th@ potting room and Consequently, when they were offered communities, churches, civic groups, ar­ conservatory. an opportunity to acquire additional boreta and individuals have filled the Bick­ In addition to these @ducational activi­ grounds adjoining their 13 acres, Bob and elhaupts' lives with the rewards of running ties, the staff aids researchers by testing a Fran declined, preferring a wdl-main­ an arboretum. wide variety of horticultural products. The tained small gardetl to a larger one that Bob and Fran admit that, like children, staff has also collected information for en­ might suffer from inadequate car@. they find each day exciting because they tomological srudies conducted at Iowa State The Bickelhaupts got their early horti­ know they will learn something new. Such University. cultural education in classes they attended enthusiasm and exuberance make a visit Every new concept or project uQ.der­ at Morton Arboretum in the 1960s. Now, to the Bickelhaupt Arboretum memorable. taken at the Arboretum is carefully re­ to keep curr@nt, they study, visit other ar­ o searched before it is b@gutl. For exampl@, b0reta, attend educational meetings and during the planning stages for the con­ Mary Coakley Smith is a garden columnist eonsult with professionals in the horticul­ and free-lance writer whose articles have struction of the cistern and potting room, tural and botanical fields. They never miss appeared in Family Food Garden and Flower at least eight sources were investigated, a meeting of the American Association of and Garden. She gardens in Bellevue, Iowa.

American Horticulturist 43 mE DESIGN PAGE Color

n our search for year-round garden For example, certain shades of blue or pur­ garden composition. When she speaks of color, many of us inevitably turn ple, in proximity to Alchemilla, make that "the complete aspect of unity and beauty I to garden books for advice. Just as plant appear even more chartreuse. Vi­ that to the artist's eye forms a picture," inevitable are the alphabetical listings of sualize deep violet against blue-gray, then she prepares us for a theme central to her plants found in these books. Broken down that same violet against a deep golden yel­ work. In each of her "garden pictures," by flower color, month of bloom or simply low, and you gain some sense of how colors color as well as form, texture, the rela­ species, seldom do these guides offer help affect one another. tionship of one plant to the next, the feel in arranging plant choices. Even the briefest discussion of garden of each plant and how to relate it to those Color, per se, is easy enough to achieve color demands a reference to Gertrude Je­ plants around it, are all taken into account. in a garden. With personal preferences and kyll's Colour Schemes for the Flower Gar­ The tendency is to remove these pictures a knowledge of such basics as the mood den, published in 1908. Although Miss from their context as reproductions and and tone created by cool or warm colors, Jekyll expounds with great sensitivity on to divorce color from the other essential creating color combinations might seem as innumerable aspects of color in her exten­ elements. Like the countless Degas balle­ simple as selecting groups of plants to flower sive gardens, for many people the color rina prints at $3.95, something is incal­ each month. But contrary to popular be­ scheme of her main herbaceous border is culably lost in the translation. lief, not all colors go together; the pro­ the heart of her message. Gertrude Jekyll's garden compositions fanity of orange marigolds and red salvia Planned for peak bloom from mid-July grew from a highly personal, artistic view­ lining countless American driveways is only through October, the border, measuring point, accompanied by practical trial and one example. about 200 feet by 14 feet, has a ground­ error. Over many years, the relationships No color ever stands alone in a garden; work of gray and glaucous foliage at each between plants, color and composition were each interacts with those around it, cre­ end. Flowers at the western end are "pure explored, stretched to their limit, refined ating harmonies or contrasts. Only in com­ blue, grey-blue, white, palest yellow and and only then, crystallized in book form. bination or juxtaposition do colors be­ palest pink," then pass through stronger While Jekyll's complementary color law come vibrant, subtle, even poetic. yellows to orange and red, reaching a cres­ can be applied to any color combination To go beyond ordinary color combi­ cendo in mid-border. The flowers then re­ (o r not at all), certainly one of her major nations or "safe" contrasts, such as red cede "through orange and deep yellow to contributions to today's gardens and gar­ and white or blue with white and yellow, pale yellow, white and palest pink," end­ deners is teaching us to look, observe and awareness of color hues (where each color ing at the eastern end with purple and lilac ultimately see. For example, walking step stands in relation to the other colors in the instead of pure blues. by step through her gardens, we are led to spectrum), tone or brightness (how much While certainly this and her other the­ observe catmint (Nepeta mussinii), "a pigment is present) and color saturation ories are well conceived and equally well midway purple between light and dark," (purity) is necessary. Rarely, for example, illustrated, providing an invaluable aid to against the "white-grey woolly patches of is color-even a primary color such as our understanding of the role of color in Stachys and the half-grown bushes of Gyp­ blue-pure. Blues can contain green, pink, the garden, I have seen too many (and I'm sophila, and the Lavender and other plants yellow or red, all of which have an influ­ sure there will be more) facile imitations of greyish foliage . .. against the warm ence on placement in a color scheme. of this main border scheme. Those who yellow of the sandy path." Some knowledge of the color wheel is quote what Jekyll calls "the law of com­ Through Jekyll's eyes we see the effect particularly helpful for the more ambitious plementary color" (so lavishly illustrated of plants not yet in bloom and observe garden colorist. Neighboring colors on the in that main border) as if it were some their progress through the seasons. The color wheel normally harmonize, whi,le religious dictum are chltting themselves and relationships of plants-their textures, colors that are opposite, such as red and Miss Jekyll short, minimizing her rele­ heights and colors strengthening and green, are complementary and provide vance to present-day gardens. Styles and complementing one another-are dy­ maximum contrast. Shades serve a bridg­ methods of gardening have changed since namic, and Jekyll helps us see them in ways ing role between colors of the wheel, for 1908; maintenance demands alone make we never have before. 0 example, orange shades between red and it difficult for the English-never mind im­ -Margaret Hensel yellow, and violet shades between blue and possible for Americans with our vastly dif­ red. An awareness of these facts can help ferent climatic conditions-to copy liter­ At Old Westbury Gardens in Old Westbury, you create fluid color transitions in flower ally what Jekyll created. Long Island, the repetition of bright red tulips borders. A kind of blithe cocktail cult presently along either side of the walk carries the eye Background colors, whether provided threatens Jekyll with its static interpreta­ along the walk and past the fountain. by house or garage, nearby shrubs or per­ tion of her intent. Never in her work is Margaret Hensel is a landscape designer and ennials, all need to be taken into account. color divorced from the overall unity of garden writer living in Massachusetts.

44 June 1984

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