The Snowbells of Korea

Paul Meyer

Styrax japonicus and obassia are small, spring-blooming trees that add a touch of elegance to any garden. Both species have gained in popularity I in recent years.

When horticulturists think of the origin of than a hundred years, both species are little many oriental garden plants, Japan and China known beyond the circles of avid gardeners. most frequently come to mind. Though over- These Korean snowbells are among the hardi- looked until recent years, Korea is also home est of some one hundred and twenty Styrax to an exceptionally rich temperate flora and species. The genus, largely tropical and sub- contributes much to our American gardens. tropical, occurs in East Asia, the West Indies, When the Korean climate is compared with South and Central America, the Mediterra- that of the northeastern United States, strong nean region, and North America. similarities are evident, often more pro- J110WUe11 r.;,n:~ccu tl~am ~W~ii~i~iC~ w the climates of ~ij’isi~ juwiiia,ii~-jd~)allCJC most of Japan or China. When a species occurs Both the scientific epithet and common name across a wide geographical range that includes of this species obscure the full breadth of its parts of China, Japan, and Korea, the Korean natural range. It is indeed native to Japan, populations may be the most adaptable to the where it was first collected by Western growing conditions of the northeastern botanists, but it is also native to Korea, China, United States. Taiwan, and the Philippines. Japanese snow- Over the past fifteen years, a number of bell is a small tree, seldom much taller than American institutions-the U. S. National ten meters at maturity. When young, it can Arboretum, the Holden Arboretum, the be narrow and upright, or multistemmed and Arnold Arboretum, and the Morris Arbore- spreading. At maturity it broadens to become tum-have aggressively collected plants in a spreading, flat-topped tree. At the Morris Korea. I personally have participated in five Arboretum, a plant of unknown origin is at trips to Korea in search of trees and shrubs least seventy-seven years old, and measures 11I well adapted to the growing conditions of the meters tall by 12 meters wide, with a trunk eastern United States. diameter of 48 centimeters measured at breast During the course of these expeditions, I height. Another plant at the Arnold Arbore- have become interested in the genus Styrax, tum (AA #17334), raised from seed C. S. Sar- the so-called snowbells, represented in Korea gent collected in Japan in 1892, is still by two species, Styrax japonicus Siebold and thriving, having reached a height of 10.8 Zuccarini and Styrax obassia Siebold and meters, with a spread of 14.6 meters. Both Zuccarini-both outstanding horticulturally trees branch relatively low to the ground, and as small flowering trees. Although familiar to their trunks have a distinctly sculptural qual- American gardening connoisseurs for more ity. Bark on the trunk and older branches, dark 3

Close-up of the flowers of Styrax ~apomcus. Photo by P. Del ~edici. charcoal in color, is relatively smooth and niches from relatively well-drained lowlands sinewy. The leaves are small, dark green and to higher elevations. Most commonly found fine textured, and give the tree a refined in the understory and edges of oak-pine wood- appearance. lands, it grows in association with Quercus In late May, numerous pendulous flowers dentata, Q. aliena, Pinus thunbergiana, and create horizontal layers of white beneath the P. densiflora. already dense green foliage. When seen from During a 1984 United States National above, the bell-shaped flowers are scarcely visi- Arboretum expedition to Korea that I partici- ble, but from below the effect is striking. The pated in, along with collectors Barry Yinger, flowers are followed by pendant, oval, light- Sylvester March, and Peter Bristol, an interest- green fruits which, though interesting when ing, naturally occurring variant of Styrax examined closely, have little landscape merit. japonicus was spotted. The plant was grow- These fruits contain the poison egosaponin. ing in dry, sandy soil just a short distance from When the fruit is crushed, its poison can stun the coast of the Yellow Sea, exposed to salt fish if sprinkled on a pool of water. In the spray, periodic drought, and reflected heat. We Orient, it is used as part of a traditional fish- noted that this collection had particularly gathering technique. large, glossy, leathery leaves, and speculated Widely distributed in south Korea, Styrax that plants adapted to these stressful natural japonicus occurs in a variety of ecological conditions might be well adapted to analogous 4

The multistemmed trunk of Styrax japonicus (AA #17334J raised from seed collected m Japan m 1892 by C. S. Sargent. Photo by P. Del l~edici.

urban conditions. Six-year-old seedlings from occurs, this earlier blooming tendency might this parent plant are now under evaluation in be a problem. Plants grown from seed are a relatively stressful site in the Morris Arbore- highly variable, some individuals growing tum parking lot. They range between 2 and upright with a strong central leader, while 2.3 meters tall and all are 3 centimeters in others are multistemmed and spreading. diameter. One seedling in particular, which J. C. Raulston of North Carolina State shows the distinct leathery leaf characteris- University Arboretum has promoted another tics of its parent, will be evaluated closely over interesting natural form of Styrax japonicus. the next few years for possible introduction. Collected in 1986 on Souhuksan Island off the Other young plants of Styrax japonicus of southwest coast of South Korea, this form is known Korean origin are growing throughout notable for its large flowers and exceptionally the Morris Arboretum. The oldest ones, rang- large, lustrous leaves, nearly twice the size of ing from 2 to 6 meters tall, are eleven years the typical species. The hardiness of this of age. Phenologically, these Korean collec- cultivar, which is of a more southern origin, tions bloom about one week earlier than other is not yet established. A specimen of this older plants in the collection of unknown clone at the Morris Arboretum continued to natural origin. In years when a late frost produce new growth late into the autumn in 5

The pendant frmts of Styrax japonicus. Photo by Peter Del l3~edici.

1991, and may, therefore, be particularly sus- characteristics, thus increasing the adaptabil- ceptible to winter damage. Though promising ity of this attractive landscape tree. for some regions, this clone requires further Snowbell evaluation before it can be widely promoted, Styrax obassia-Fragrant especially in the Northeast. Although grown in the U.S. since 1879, Sty- As one might expect with any widely dis- rax obassia is still rare. Like Styrax japonicus, tributed species, Styrax japonicus is quite it is a relatively small tree, usually under 10 variable. Prior to recent collections, most meters. Its large, bold, heart-shaped leaves, plants in cultivation in this country came measuring up to 20 centimeters across, cre- from a few individuals introduced at the turn ate a strong textural element in the landscape. of the century and therefore represented only Racemes of fragrant white flowers open in a narrow slice of the potential genetic diver- mid-May in the Philadelphia area (in late May sity of the species. Newly introduced popula- around Boston)-about a week before Styrax tions from Korea may, in time, result in japonicus. In the autumn, the leaves turn a improved winter hardiness, stress tolerance, clear yellow before falling away to expose a disease resistance, overall form, and landscape smooth, sculpted, gray trunk. On the young The flowers and fohage of Styrax obassia growmg m Harnsburg, Pennsylama. Photo by J. Horace McFarland, 1935. From the Archives of the Arnold Arboretum. ’ branches, the brown bark peels off in long, tion was probably based on plants collected narrow strips, often persisting for some time in warmer parts of its range in Japan and before falling away. China. In South Korea, my colleagues and I Like Styrax japonicus, S. obassia is a plant have collected populations north of Seoul of open woodland understory or edges. It where winter temperatures drop to -35 degrees grows best in moist well-drained soil and is Centigrade. We’re eager to test these popula- susceptible to drought, especially a newly tions in the hope that they will provide established plant. In many ways the natural individuals with greater winter hardiness. At habitat and horticultural adaptability of both the Morris Arboretum, these new populations these species are similar to those of the native have performed well so far. One plant, grown American flowering dogwood (Cornus from Korean seed collected in 1979, stands 5 florida). meters tall and 2.2 meters wide. Nine plants In older literature, Styrax obassia is from a 1981 expedition to Korea average 10 reported hardy only to Zone 6. This informa- centimeters in diameter, 5.4 meters in height, 7

and 4 meters in width. It is common for young plants to grow more than a meter a year when well sited. Dr. Michael Dirr of the University of Geor- gia has been testing the hardiness of a num- ber of different individuals within this species in the laboratory. As one might predict, early results indicate that these northern popula- tions show superior hardiness. In particular, one northern collection showed laboratory hardiness to at least -30 degrees Centigrade. Trees from this population are growing at the Morris Arboretum and the Arnold Arbore- tum, and seeds from these plants are now being distributed to interested nurseries for further evaluation.

Insect and Disease Problems Styrax japonicus and Styrax obassia are rarely affected by most msect or disease problems. However, the Morris Arboretum, Brookside Gardens, and the Holden Arboretum report some problems in both species with ambro- sia beetle (Xylosandrus germanus), an insect that bores into the wood, destroying the vas- cular tissue. Although it was previously thought to attack only plants under stress, The mature frmts of Styrax obassia at the Arnold recent observations at these three institutions Arboretum. Photo by Peter Del ’I~edici. indicate that ambrosia beetle can also attack young, vigorously growing plants. Though infested plants were often killed to the moist, warm stratification for 150 days, fol- ground, they subsequently resprouted from lowed by moist, cold stratification. Some the base; in other instances, only lateral seeds, though, may not germinate until the branches were killed. At the Morris Arbore- second year. Plants of Styrax japonicus can tum, a group of ten plants of Styrax japoni- also be grown easily from softwood cuttings. cus growing in full sun on a hot south-facing At the Morris Arboretum, cuttings taken in slope was severely mfested with ambrosia bee- June are dipped for 10 seconds in a solution tle. Our observations suggest that both spe- of 2000 ppm of indolebuteric acid (IBA) dis- cies grow best on a cool, moist, woodland solved in propylene glycol. Cuttings are stuck edge, or in an open understory. Under these in a 3 to 1 perlite/peat mix and misted approx- conditions, plants are less likely to be imately 6 seconds every 8 minutes. Some attacked by ambrosia beetle. selected cultivars are also propagated by grafting. Propagation Cultivars Shelly Dillard, propagator at the Morris Arboretum, reports that seeds of S. japonicus Until recently, virtually no cultivars of Sty- and S. obassia are readily germinated after rax were available to American gardeners. In 8

the 1980s, however, Brookside Botanic Barry Yinger to Brookside Gardens. The lar- Gardens introduced several cultivars of Sty- gest plant at Brookside Gardens, received in rax japonicus obtained by Barry Yinger from April 1981, now measures 4.5 meters tall by Japanese nurseries. Currently, no cultivars of 2.1 meters wide and is 8.9 centimeters in Styrax obassia are available in the American diameter at ground level. Normandy reports nursery trade. The recent introduction of new that it reliably produces an abundance of germplasm of these two species into the U.S., attractive pink flowers and is similar in other however, will more than likely result in new respects to the species. Both cultivars root cultivars over the next decade. The following readily from soft wood cuttings, although high cultivars are currently available in North losses can be expected during the first winter. America: The weeping trait comes partially true in plants grown from seed, indicating that this ‘Carillon’ Styrax japonicus cultivar might be appropriately classified as This cultivar was first received in the United forma pendula. At Brookside Gardens, ambro- States by Brookside Gardens from Shibamichi sia beetle has not been a problem on either Nursery of Angyo, Japan, through the collec- of these clones so far. tions of Barry Yinger. Philip M. Normandy, Curator of Brookside Gardens, reports that Bibliography their was largest plant of this cultivar planted Bean, W J. 1980. Z~ees and Shrubs Hardy in the Bntish outdoors in June, 1983, as a two-gallon plant. Isles. London: M. Bean and John Murray. It now measures 1.4 meters tall by 1 meter L. 1986 feature wide and has a diameter at level of 3.88 Creech, John Outstandmg Styrax species ground handsome flowers Amencan Nurserymen 163 centimeters. its fl_n~n,Ta_rc and - Where_ac foliage (5) : 48-49 are typical of the species, its branches are weening nr nP»rl»ln"e_ This cultivar ~uy ?.° Dirr, Trt_~ 1.w~1 ~ . i~7o. ~ ii. i.~ymauc au~wUCli~. Hmerl- trained to form a small tree by staking the can Nurserymen 147 ~12~: 7-8, 87-90. leader until the desired is reached. Its height Hahn, C R., and Barry Ymger. 1983. Cultivars of Japanese mounded resembles that of cut- dense, habit plants at Brookside Gardens. Arnoldia 43 /4~: leaf Japanese maple cultivars. Normandy 13-19. reports some winter branch dieback, but the Normandy, M 1988. ’Pink plant subsequently grows back vigorously. Philip Styrax ~apomcus Chimes’. The Pubhc Garden 3 (3): 33-34. The cultivar name ’Carillon’ was applied by Brookside Gardens, after determining that the Sargent, Charles S. 1917 Plantae Wilsomanae Cam- Japanese name ’Shidare’ was invalid. bmdge: Harvard University Press.

Styrax japonicus ’Pink Chimes’ Spongberg, S A. 1976. Styracaceae hardy m temperate North America. Journal of the Arnold Arbore- This cultivar was selected for its light pink tum 57’ 54-73. flowers. The petals, pale at the top and darker at the base, tend not to fade. Branches of Webber, B. C., and J. E McPhearson. 1983. Life history young plants are slightly pendulous, but of the ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus germanus Annals the become less so as the This culti- of Entomological Society of plant ages. America 76 455-462. var was introduced into cultivation in Japan about 1976 by the Shibamichi Kanjiru Nurs- ery Company, of Angyo. It was brought origi- Paul W Meyer, former Curator at the Morris Arboretum to North nally America by the U.S. National of the University of Pennsylvania, has recently been Arboretum and then reintroduced in 1978 by appointed its Director. The Lady as Landscape Gardener: Beatrix Farrand at the Arnold Arboretum, Part 2 lane Brown

"Your trust in my training is the greatest honor of my fifty years of active practice:’1 -Beatrix Farrand to Dr. Paul C. Mangelsdorf, May 15, 1946, on her appointment as Consultant Landscape Gardener to the Arboretum

Having launched the young Beatrix Jones on illuminated by Mildred Bliss at the very start her career in the late 1890s, Professor Charles of the commission for Dumbarton Oaks: hav- Sprague Sargent, her "Chief as she called ing put forward all her design ideas, Beatrix him, was a continuing benefactor in her was keen to make a brave start and wrote to progress. Beatrix and her mother, Mary Cad- Mrs. Bliss, sending photographs of three walader Jones, invariably visited Holm Lea for cedars, which she could obtain from the the rhododendron parties each June, on their Arboretum for $300 each for digging and pack- annual northward migration from New York ing. Mrs. Bliss replied promptly in favor of the to summer in Bar Harbor. (Beatrix, in her turn, cedars, noting that if "Mr. Sargent loves you most frequently used the hybrids connected enough to part with them," then go ahead.2 with her friends, Mrs. C. S. Sargent, Ignatius When Charles Sargent died, aged eighty-five Sargent, and Louisa Hunnewell in plantings and still working, in March 1927, Beatrix was for her clients.) The Professor never failed, it about to embark on a major diversion from seemed, to give her a discreet good recommen- her life’s pattern because of Max Farrand’s dation where he could, and even gave her appointment as Director of the Henry E. Hun- Christmas presents of significance; in 1911 it tington Library at San Marino, California. was Wilhelm Miller’s What England Can From then on the Farrands’ lives were divided Teach Us About Gardening, in which Holm basically into winters in California and sum- Lea was much praised, and where Beatrix mers at Bar Harbor, though much of Beatrix’s found the corroboration for many of her own time was taken in long train journeys to keep opinions.’ The Sargents, loving her, were her scattered commissions in Chicago, Long doubtless overjoyed, as were her other friends, Island, Washington, D. C., and at Yale in order. by her happy marriage to the historian Max She had little time for her old haunts, except Farrand in December 1913, and though the for a brief call on Alice Sargent at Holm Lea pattern of her life changed, she worked as hard to design a new trellis for the house walls. as ever, and still paid frequent visits to the Connections with the Arboretum were Arnold Arboretum, with her notebook, to maintained through Susan Delano McKelvey3 refresh her knowledge of plants for a new com- and Chief Propagator William Henry Judd.’ It mission or situation. The relationship was to these two people that she turned for between Beatrix and her Professor was aptly help when she agreed to her longest-distance 10

commission of all, to work for Leonard and Dorothy Elmhirst (the former Dorothy Whit- ney Straight) at Dartington Hall in Devon, England, in 1932. She needed to renew English contacts, so William Judd (who had been trained at Kew and was secretary to the Kew Gardeners of America) introduced her to Sir Arthur Hill, then Kew’s director, and Mrs. McKelvey paved her way to the doyen of English plantsmen, W J. Bean, who was work- ing on the third and final volume of ’I~ees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles (1933), fol- lowing his retirement from the Royal Botanic Garden.

Reef Point The contacts worked well and Beatrix was grateful. Susan McKelvey became a frequent visitor to the Farrands’ Bar Harbor home, Reef Point, and she rarely arrived empty-handed. Many varieties of clematis and lonicera went from the Arboretum to Reef Point, where their progress in that northerly and sea-girt habitat was eagerly reported. William Judd went fre- auentlv to Reef Point, h»t W ct ac often orrncc the country to the Huntington gardens, where Beatrix Farrand in her late sixries, c. 1937. Reprmted there were not only the exotic delights of the with permission from the Prmceton University cactus garden, but also other visiting experts Library. for entertainment. Beatrix greatly enjoyed put- ting her plant-expert friends together, and more devoted to where they felt really at introducing one to another, and leaving them home, at Reef Point. They set up the Reef to enjoy their private worlds: during the thir- Point Gardens Corporation in 1939, with Mrs. ties Judd helped her to educate and entertain McKelvey as a member, to carry forward their two head gardeners from Dartington Hall for plans to turn their home and garden into an whom she arranged grand tours, as well as educational center for people interested in John Murray from Yale Botanical Garden and every kind of gardening. The prime objects various park superintendents from New were to demonstrate "what outdoor beauty Haven. The latter she felt were "much in can contribute to those who have the interest need" of Judd’s skill and help, and in general and perception that can be influenced by trees it seems clear that if she could have dis- and flowers and open air composition"5 To patched every head gardener and grounds these ends they set about the reorganization superintendent (let alone a few of the of the garden and, most importantly, the nam- architects!) that she encountered to the ing and recording of the plants. It was soon Arboretum for enlightenment and inspiration, revealed that, in several aspects of the garden, her working life would have been a much the educated but mainly instinctive acquisi- smoother path. tions of the years had grown into interesting By the end of the 1930s (Beatrix was sixty- collections, especially for a garden in eastern five in 1937), the Farrands’ lives became more Maine, of rhododendrons and azaleas, climb- 11

ing plants on the house, and single-flowered a "dud" plant. In "Climbing Plants in Eastern hybrid tea roses. Thrown back into the puz- Maine"$ she writes: "This species of the Celas- zles of identification and nomenclature, trus family was planted on the southeast Beatrix naturally returned to the sure ground corner of the house, and started to grow with of her associations with the Arnold. Perhaps rampant cheerfulness. Its sweetly scented to smooth her path, she wrote to Dr. Alfred trusses of tiny flowers are often nearly three Rehder on 25 June 1940 in her characteristi- feet long, and in July the whole side of the cally modest vein: "You have doubtless forgot- house where it grows is as murmurous with ten an old acquaintance who used to see you bees as any English lime-tree walk The other when she was occasionally at the Arboretum success story was the Japanese hydrangea- with her "’chief Professor Sargent ;’ but she vine, Schizophragma hydrangeoides, sent wanted to thank him for his Manual of Cul- from the Arnold on October 9, 1931: this grew tivated ’I~ees and Shrubs, which had given "so marvelously up to the second-floor windows much aid to a working landscape gardener" on the north corner of the garden house, only over the years. The occasion was her receipt outdone in magnificence by two big Hydran- of a revised edition.b Dr. Rehder, of course, had gea petiolaris, which clambered to more than not forgotten her but chided, "when Professor thirty feet. Sargent was still with us, you used to come In the early 1940s, Reef Point’s garden much more frequently" and hoped she would flowered as its makers intended; both Farrands return to the Arboretum soon.’ worked very hard for their project, our "little Beatrix took the opportunity, at least by let- horticultural foundation;’ as Beatrix described ter, and tackled Chief Propagator Judd on the it to William Judd in July 1942. "You may like identification of her loniceras, which he did; to know," she continued, "that already at this they were both pleased with her Lonicera early season we are sure that more than 300 tragophylla, the Wilson introduction, with people have visited the garden" and as she dic- large butter-yellow heads of flowers, which tated the letter she could see more people had thrived since coming from the Arbore- wandering around.9 Both Farrands were now tum. The naming process went on through entirely devoted to this dream project, but Reef Pomt’s clematis, some pears, apples, bar- within a very short time Max Farrand’s poor berries and hemlocks, sempervivums and health marred their happiness. For his last alpines. Soon a formal arrangement to pay year Beatrix worked doubly hard to achieve Judd’s expenses was made, and the Arboretum their plans for the education center and the was also offered, in return, any cuttings that library, and yet to keep the seriousness of his might be wanted, as long as specific instruc- illness from him. When he died, in June 1945, tions were sent as to how to take them and just two days before her seventy-third birth- how to pack them. The rare Decaisnea far- day, she was both exhausted and stunned. The gesii, with remarkable metallic blue pods was only thing she could do was to carry on, with offered, and a couple of little Clematis tan- now a kind of obsessive energy devoted to gutica obtusiuscula were accepted. fulfilling Max’s hopes and plans. William Judd must have been a little per- The Arnold Connection turbed to find a letter from her so soon, dic- The record of plants sent from the Arnold to tated the day after Max’s death, at the Reef Point is by no means complete, but there moment the announcement appeared in the seemed to be two particularly successful Boston Herald, asking him to identify her Arnold "children" A docket dated May 12, rhododendrons. Furthermore, she had already 1924, lists the ’Il~ipterygium regelii, which organized the cutting and packing of over Professor Sargent sent, telling Beatrix that sixty flower heads, and almost immediately Reef Point was most welcome to it as it was these were tumbling out onto the laboratory 12

Torch azaleas (Rhododendron obtusum var. kaempfery gromng on Bussey Hill in 1928. This pm.ture accompamed Beatrix Farrand’s article on the Arboretum that appeared m Arnoldia m 1946. Photo by J. Horace McFarland Co. From the Arnold Arboretum Archives. table. Judd, Dr. Rehder, and Donald Wyman She knew that she was being ungracious, dropped all they were doing, and prepared a and "a nuisance to my friends" but it was her list of names that was sent to her by return grief and desperation that made her so; for- mail. She was not very satisfied; she queried tunately, within a month she had resumed her many of their attributions, and sent another appreciation of the "kind and helpful" Wil- twenty-five blooms. In all they identified more liam Judd and was hoping he would be her than eighty specimens, mostly the species welcome guest later in the summer. calendulaceum, japonicum, myrtifolium, and A arborescens, with some Ghent and Fortunei Major Appointment hybrids, plus the cultivars ’Boule de Neige’ The following spring she was both surprised ’Bijou des Amateurs,’ ’Louisa Hunnewell,’ and and delighted to be appointed as Consultant ’Lady Armstrong’ Even so, she was forced to Landscape Gardener to the Arboretum. "Your admit that Reef Point might need a real trust in my training is the greatest honor of rhododendron expert, "so-called." my fifty years of active practice she wrote to 13

Dr. Paul C. Mangelsdorf.’° She accepted "in much of a "tidal wave" Within a week Man- great humility of spirit" and with the "hope" gelsdorf had replied that Donald Wyman, who that her colleagues would not be disap- was Curator of the Living Collections, had all pointed ; she looked forward to working with the authority required to make decisions Judd and Dr. Wyman. However, it was not to about moving plants as necessary, which be, for a few days later William Judd died of appeared a carte blanche to proceed. Donald a heart attack. The Arnoldia of June 7, 1946, Wyman, whom Beatrix had found "frosty" at paid tribute to him, and in the same issue, first, had "thawed" considerably towards her, Beatrix’s appointment was announced. and they were getting on well, particularly There was a justice in that her last impor- when he visited her at Reef Point for discus- tant commission was at the place where she sions. The result was their list of twenty-three had started her career, but it was perhaps sur- landscape problems needing immediate prising that an almost seventy-five-year-old attention. lady should start striding around the Arbore- Surveys, plans, and discussions had taken tum, measuring, taking notes, and asking per- half of her first year as consultant. Arnoldia tinent questions. She brought in an assistant, of November 1, 1946, printed her draft paper Robert W Patterson, an architect and land- on her approach to the design problems, scape architect from Bar Harbor," to do the which was a classic summation of landscape strenuous work, but she also warned Dr. Man- variabilities: time, soil depletion, a deteriora- gelsdorf, "You will need patience and under- tion of soil quality in some places, new plant standing of physical limitations of age which introductions, visitor problems, changes in are most irksome to me, but which must be taste, and particularly the devastating hurri- recognized *"I’2 cane of September 21, 1938, had all taken their No such limitations seemed evident, for toll on Olmsted’s original design for Sargent’s within two months of her appointment, that conception. It seemed clear that one of the is, on 12 July 1946, she was writing to Dr. reasons for Beatrix Farrand’s appointment as Mangelsdorf that Dr. Wyman, Patterson, and consultant was just that she was one of the herself were in "hearty agreement on the main few people around who could actually remem- points." These points were no timid tinker- ber what Sargent said he was trying to do, and ings, but recommendations for major revi- certainly her loyalty to the Professor was sions to the appearance of the Arboretum. unshakable. She concluded, "Old friends of "Project One" advocated a remodeling of the the Arboretum may feel aggrieved in seeing planting at the main entrance, around the some of the plantations altered, but they will Hunnewell building, and at the Forest Hills be less distressed when they realize that these entrance; a long-term plan for Hemlock Hill; very alterations are in the truest sense of the and a revision of the planting on Bussey Hill. word restorations, as they are intended to "Project Two" envisaged the removal of dupli- restore the design to the original conception cates, and aged and outworn plants through- of the great botanist and artist who was its out the collections, and "Project Three" was first director."’^ for the establishment of a 25- to 40-acre nurs- She must have been busy with frequent ery outside the Arboretum.’3 Immediate visits to the Arnold for two and a half years, approval was sought for these recommenda- though no drawings or correspondence of tions, but Peter’s Hill, the marsh at the main work in progress appears to have survived. Her entrance, and a planned watering system for first descriptive report of the work she had the whole Arboretum also required urgent supervised appeared in Arnoldia of April 15, consideration. She felt in a certain "psycho- 1949.’ This elegant piece, "The Azalea logical fog" as to how to obtain decisions or Border ;’ is a gem of landscape writing, beau- actions, and hoped her report was not too tifully balanced in its treatment of the botan- 14

Beatrix Farrand’s plan for the azalea border along Meadow Road. From the Arnold Arboretum Archmes. ical and visual aspects of planting design. The Then came the early-flowering deciduous accompanying plan was deceptively simple, rhododendrons ("the crinkled petals of for she and her colleagues at the Arboretum mucronulatum, when they first appear, look had achieved far more than just a "border." The as though they had been ill packed during the land opposite the Hunnewell building, winter in a small valise"), keeping the lavender between Meadow Road and the marsh, had and purply shades separated from the pinks been cleared as a home for the family by "islands and tufts of shadbush, Labrador tea Ericaceae, a family of "distinction and and leatherleaf with huckleberries and tall elegance ... from the flat and fragrant mats blueberries. The rhododendrons progressed of mayflower to the tall rhododendrons and through American natives and Chinese sourwoods."’6 Loads of peat had been imported schlippenbachiis with Enkianthus and "good and great care taken to place lovers of the Phellodendrons" as well as old sumacs, to damp places just where they could keep wet separate species from hybrids and pinks from feet, but the design priorities had also been oranges and scarlets. Once these had all set- carefully interwoven with the planting: tled, "further little tufts and wisps of the "Immediately inside the entrance the quiet smaller Ericaceae will be tucked into the bays open view over the marsh is maintained by and hollows" and the grass path on the marsh low ground-hugging shrubs like bearberry, low side would be made.’8 blueberry and pachistima, ending in a higher In the autumn of 1949,’9 Beatrix explained mass after the first vista has been enjoyed."~~ her designs for Peter’s Hill, where Professor 15

A mew of Meadow Road on 27 May 1950, with pinkshell azaleas and a flowemng dogwood in bloom. From the Archives of the Arnold Arboretum.

Sargent’s thorns had become a thicket and a best and very considerable skills, but she was fire hazard. Her plan showed how beautifully still keen to do more: "It looks as though our the plantations of Crataegus and Malus, the next big job were the rearrangement of the walks, and open glades would flow with the shrubs in the present shrub collecting area;’ grain of the hill form, while the grove of native she wrote to Dr. Karl Sax, the new Director, oaks and some old conifers on the west slopes on November 9, 1949.2° She was full of plans were carefully saved. The very top of the hill, for herself and Donald Wyman to work on this a typical New England knoll, was to be kept area through the winter, and she was to come open for its view of Boston "with radiating at the end of the month and discuss it all with vistas." them. Her plan was prepared but never carried out, and her correspondence ceases. What The Final Years happened is not entirely clear: perhaps By the time her piece on Peter’s Hill appeared, Donald Wyman, boosted by the publication Beatrix was well into her fourth year as the of Shrubs and Vines for American Gardens Arboretum’s consultant (at a maximum of in 1949 and Trees for American Gardens in $2,000 a year, though what she actually 1951, felt he should be able to arrange his own charged is not known). She had given of her collections, or perhaps Dr. Sax was over- 16

whelmed by the mounting controversy over Arnold Arboretum by some splendid speci- moving the library, herbarium, and some of mens of "her" Forsythia,22 a tetraploid hybrid the Arboretum’s staff to the new building in from’Arnold Giant’ raised in 1944, with mag- Cambridge. Another clue might lie in the nificently rich, deep-yellow flowers, and- constant reassurances and provisos with perhaps "an upright and vigorous" growth which she had had to package every move so habit. far, in deference to the "old friends" of the Arnold who wanted nothing changed.z’ Troub- Acknowledgments led times were ahead for the Arboretum, but I am particularly grateful to Sheila Connor, Librarian of it seems sad that its distinguished landscape the Arnold Arboretum, for help with this part of my consultant was the first casualty. research on Beatrix Farrand. And after all, Beatrix Farrand was eighty in ’ Miller, W. 1911. What England Can Teach Us About 1952. She had to face the bitter truth that her Gardenmg. New York Doubleday. beloved Reef Point Gardens, the "little hor- 2 Letter from Mildred Bhss to Beatrix Farrand, 14 April Dumbarton Oaks Garden ticultural institution" she had set up with her 1924, Library. 3 Schofield, E. A. 1987. A life redeemed: Susan Delano could not be maintained. In 1955 husband, McKelvey and the Arnold Arboretum. ArnoMia 47 (4~: she took steps to dismantle everything they 9-23. had created, even the home which she had 4 William Henry Judd, 1888-1946; see Amoldia 6~6~: known since she was ten years old. That ele- 25-28. 5 Pomt Gardens Bullerin Vol. No. 1946. ment of desperation, so evident in her actions Reef 1, 1, August Reef Point Gardens Collection, Documents Collec- after Max Farrand’s reas- immediately death, tion, College of Environmental Design, University of serted itself in her final acts. She disposed of Callfomla, Berkeley. her plants, destroyed her house and garden, . Rehder, A. 1940. Manual of Cultivated Tl~ees and and gave her life’s working drawings (together Shrubs Hardy in North America, 2nd ed. New York: a.:;tt-~.t~c.,....cr-..._~__.1_._,___"~v.’ith those of Gertrude ,ilr-.L1 ~ulle~iun" . T~(,...... ;11.... }ekyll), 7 Alfred Rehder to Beatrix Farrand, 27 June 1940, Arnold of prints andand library library ofof 2,7002,700 books (includ-~includ- Arboretum Archives. ing many rare herbals, floras, and gardening 8 Farrand, B. 1954. Chmbmg plants in eastern Maine. books) to the Department of Landscape Plants and Gardens 10~1~: 40-44. 9 Architecture at the University of California’s There were 2,000 visitors to Reef Point in the sum- mer of 1945, and the total number after its closure m Berkeley campus. There are rational reasons 1955 was many times that. for this course of but 10 events, questions persist: Beatrvt Farrand to Paul C Mangelsdorf at the Insti- if Beatrix Farrand’s appointment as the tute for Research m General Plant Morphology, Har- Arnold’s landscape consultant had not ended vard University, 15 May 1946, Arnold Arboretum Archives. so ignominiously, would it not have been per- " Robert W Patterson’s fees were to be mcluded 1n her natural for the Arnold to have had her fectly own allowance of $2,000 per year. And Arnold 12 collections? if the and Harvard Farrand to Mangelsdorf, 15 May 1946, Arnold Arbore- had not been so embroiled in the controversy tum Archives. over the Jamaica Plain library and herbarium, 13 Farrand to Mangelsdorf, 12 July 1946, Arnold Arbore- tum Archives. The was of the use should they not have been duty bound to con- nursery part pro- posed for the Case Estates, which had been given to serve her in its natural habitat? For the legacy the Arboretum m 1942 saddest thing was that in sending her legacy " Arnoldia 6~10~: 45-48, 1946. to California she had to flout the abiding rule ’S Arnoldia 9~2~: 6-7, 1949. 16 of her landscape life-that of the fitness of any Ibid., p. 6. 17 Ibid. work for its It was the rule that setting. 7. Charles had her. " Ibid., p. Sprague Sargent taught Arnoldia 9/9/~ 38-43, 1949. Now, on the 120th anniversary of her birth, z° Beatrix Farrand to Karl Sax, 9 November 1949, Arnold Beatrix Farrand’s name is perpetuated at the Arboretum Archives. 17

2’ Beatrix had always conscientiously dealt with the "old friends" of the Arboretum who were shocked at her changes. In 1947, Dr. Sax asked her what she thought about the idea of forming a Friends’ Association-she agreed and sent names of subscribers, adding, "What do you hope people will subscnbe, $10, $100, or $1,000 a year~" Farrand to Sax, 20 August 1947, Arnold Abore- tum Archives. 22 The specimens of Forsythia ’Beatnx Farrand’ were located and identified for me one fine afternoon in 1991 by Michael Dirr, author of Manual of Woody Landscape Plants ~Champaign, Ill : Stipes)

Jane Brown is a well-known writer on the history of land- scape gardening The information m this article is based on her forthcommg book on Beatrix Farrand’s life and work, scheduled to be published by Vilmng m the spring of 1993 The "Hope of Spring" Magnolia Finally Flowers in Boston

Stephen A. Spongberg and Peter Del T~edici

After a difficult start, Magnolia biondii from China flowered in the Arboretum for the first time in March of 1991.

The spring and early summer of 1991 at the biloba, and Magnolia biondii. While we were Arnold Arboretum were extraordinary with eager to examine each of these in turn, and regard to the heavy flowering of many of the to document their flowering with voucher trees and shrubs within the Arboretum’s col- herbarium specimens and photographs, the lections. Nor was this phenomenon restricted first flowering of the last-named magnolia to the confines of the Arboretum, for across presented us with the opportunity to examine the Northeast crabapples, flv~y.riWg dog- the flowers of tills species and to fix its posi- woods, and other ornamental trees and shrubs tion in the classification of the genus T A _ _ _ _ _ 7 ’ »Ync~llrar~ an ~lwnr~~n~nr ~f 1-.lv~,-,.‘ ‘ly.y i ^..t_^.7 tvtu~ttVllCt. the season as outstanding. The relatively mild winter of 1990-1991 and the abundant rainfall Early History of the Species that fell during the summer of 1990 combined Magnolia biondii was first described by the to make the spring of 1991 an exceptionally Italian botanist Renato Pampanini in 1910 floriferous one. based on specimens collected in Hubei Not only was there an abundance of bloom, Province in central China in 1906 by the but many of the newer accessions at the Italian missionary and naturalist, P. C. Silves- Arboretum, some of which have been consi- tri. The plant was next collected in 1907, also dered only marginally hardy in our location, in Hubei Province, by E. H. Wilson, who was also flowered for the first time. Included in traveling in China on his first expedition spon- this group were two species of Sinojackia (S. sored by the Arnold Arboretum. Wilson’s rehderiana and S. xylocarpa), rare members specimens, one of which was in fruit, were of the Styrax family from China, Liquidam- studied by Arboretum taxonomist Alfred bar acaylcina, a recently described species of Rehder, and the two men named another new sweetgum, also from China, and Fortunearia species, M. aulacosperma, based on Wilson’s sinensis, a little-known genus in the witch collections. This new species was described hazel family named to honor the well-known and published in Plantae Wilsonianae in nineteenth-century plant hunter, Robert For- 1913, with the added note that it formed "a tune. Several members of the magnolia family shapely tree with many rather slender and also flowered for the first time, including a spreading branches and wealth of leaves:’ hybrid tulip tree that combines the American However, the late James E. Dandy of the and Chinese species (Liriodendron chinensis British Museum, a noted English authority on x L. tulipifera), Magnolia officinalis var. the genus, determined that Rehder and Wil- 19

Bloommg for the very first time at the Arnold Arboretum, the dehcate, creamy-white flowers of Magnolia biondm (AA #1216-77-B) were photographed on 29 March 1991 Photo by Racz and Debreczy 20

son’s Magnolia aulacosperma was the same cylindrica, a similar Chinese species, with M. species collected by Silvestri and originally biondii. named by Pampanini in 1910. As a conse- First Successful Introduction quence of his earlier description, Pampanini’s name, M. biondii, is the correct one for this To our knowledge, Magnolia biondii was first central and northern Chinese species, which successfully introduced into cultivation in is now known to occur in eastern Sichuan, North America by Professor Y. C. Ting of Honan, and Shensi provinces, as well as in Boston College in 1977 when he traveled to western Hubei, where it was first encountered Honan Province to visit his homeland and by both Silvestri and Wilson. Nowhere a com- relatives (Ting, 1977). Professor Ting had been mon tree and apparently occurring only as encouraged to obtain seeds of this elusive widely scattered individual specimens, it has Magnolia by members of the American Mag- the northernmost distribution of any Chinese nolia Society, and on returning home to magnolia with the exception of M. sieboldii, Boston after a successful trip-a similar jour- a species that occurs in eastern and northern ney the previous year had been curtailed by China and also in Japan and Korea. Its Chinese a severe earthquake-he kindly gave half the common name, wan chun hwa, means "hope seeds he had obtained to members of that for spring flower ;’ and refers to its early flower- Society and half to the Arnold Arboretum. ing in late winter to early spring (Ting, 1977). These seeds, accessioned as #1216-77, germi- Silvestri’s collection consisted of flowering nated in the Arboretum greenhouses in the specimens, and although Wilson procured spring of 1978, and twenty-seven seedlings sufficient fruits so that seeds were processed resulted. Cuttings taken from these plants at the Arnold Arboretum ~PPnl~p,~,,g~o,S neither ~~ere rooted in the summer oi i98i and dis- man successfully introduced the species into tributed to members of the American Magno- !’77~t,Vatinn in ,eractarn crnr~Anc T7olz.ae. (1~127 m vw,av.~y in im. j~iiil~ Vl 170G ~1JCI lICCIl(;1 1940) nonetheless listed its year of mtroduc- and Alexander, 1981). tion as 1908, but the seeds entrusted to Jack- The plant that flowered for the first time in son Dawson at the Arboretum greenhouses the spring of 1991 was one of the original seed- either failed to germinate or the young plants lings from lot #1216-77. It now stands nearly failed to grow in the Arboretum nurseries, and four meters tall and three meters wide. While there is no record of the plants having been it has a central leader at this point, there are added to the Arboretum’s collections. In this also several secondary trunks that will prob- regard, sometime before 1927 Wilson wrote to ably become codominant, suggesting that this J. G. Millais, another noted English authority particular individual will eventually become on the genus, "It is the only Magnolia I found a multistemmed tree. We cannot say whether in China which I failed to introduce into this condition is due to the genetics of the spe- gardens" (Millais, 1927, p.85). cies or to the fact that this specimen was Following Wilson’s failure, the introduction somewhat stunted in its development by of Magnolia biondii into cultivation in virtue of being grown in a container until Europe and North America became clouded 1984, when it was finally planted in the mag- by speculation, inasmuch as unsubstantiated nolia collection adjacent to the Hunnewell rumors of its existence in the nursery trade building. in England and its inclusion in collections in Canada, the United States, and Germany were Thxonomy occasionally reported (Savage, 1974; Kehr, Based on Pampanini’s original description, 1986). Apparently, these erroneous reports Magnolia biondii has been thought to belong were based on the confusion of Magnolia to the Buergeria section of the genus Magno- 21

Magnolia biondn in bloom on 29 March 1991. The plant is just over four meters (ten feet) tall and looks as if it will become multistemmed over time. Photo by Racz and Debreczy. 22

lia, a group of five species restricted to eastern Asia characterized by the precocious appear- ance of the flowers in spring before the foliage and by an outer whorl of three very small, often early-deciduous, sepal-like tepals. How- ever, the lack of flowering specimens of M. biondii in western herbaria (other than Silves- tri’s in the herbarium in Florence, Italy) has left the question of sectional placement ten- tative. While most magnolia enthusiasts have accepted Pampanini’s description as correct, uncertainty has remained, especially on the part of those who prefer to see evidence first- hand. This uncertainty was compounded when August Kehr reported that scion material of M. biondii that he had received from the Magnolia Society distribution had flowered in his North Carolina garden in the spring of 1986, undoubtedly the first time the its native species produced flowers outside of A view of the stamens and gynoecium of Magnolia China. It turns out that Kehr had grafted the biondii. Photo by Peter Del Ttedici. scion onto a mature specimen of M. kobus, and that he could not dctcct the expected outer whorl of small sepal-like tepals on the Occasionally, the three small tepals do persist -fln~W arc r_"rn~"..o.7 .,."....,.. 1~., y ~li.i...... v, biaLm,u I~_.7 V1d11v,11t_ , Ii1C111,, aiter the wooiy bud scales have fallen, but 1986). rarely do they persist for more than a day or As a consequence, it was with great interest two. This fact easily explains Dr. Kehr’s obser- that we inspected the morphology of the vations of the flowers produced in his garden flowers produced by the Arnold Arboretum in the spring of 1986. plant for the first time on March 27, 1991. Other characteristics of species of section Suffice it to say that these flowers cor- Buergeria (particularly Magnolia salicifolia, responded to the requirements for placement the so-called anise-leaved or willow-leaved of Magnolia biondii in section Buergeria: a magnolia) are shared by the Arnold Arbore- whorl of three, linear, greenish-white tepals, tum plant of M. biondii and combine to con- each measuring about 10 millimeters in firm its sectional placement. These features length by about 4 millimeters in width, com- include the yellowish-green coloration of the prises the outermost whorl of tepals. By con- young twigs and a pronounced lemony or trast, the tepals of the inner two whorls (each anise-like odor emitted when the fresh twigs consisting of three tepals) measure 50 mil- are broken or otherwise bruised. Now that a limeters in length and 25 millimeters in flowering specimen of M. biondii is growing width, and these obovate to spatulate tepals in the Arnold Arboretum, comparisons are white with the bases tinged purplish. The between it and the other members of section small tepals of the outer whorl, however, were Buergeria, which include the above-named M. seen to fall from many flowers along with the salicifolia from Japan, M. kobus and M. stel- protective bud scales as the flowers opened, lata also from Japan, as well as a second and unless only partially opened flowers are Chinese species, M. cylindrica, can be easily inspected, the small tepals may not be found. facilitated in our collections. As of this writ- 23

ing, the Arboretum plant of M. biondii has Kehr, A. E 1986. Magnolia biondii, the ’Hope of Spring’. 7-10. numerous large flower buds, which promise Magnolia 22~1~: that the will flower in the plant again spring Mtllats, J. G. 1927. Magnolias London: Longmans, Green. of 1992. The fact that its flowers opened very early in the spring of 1991 (March 27) suggests Pampanmt, R. 1910. Nuovo Giornale Botamco Itahano that the species is a prime candidate for 17 275. damage from late frosts. By coincidence, M. Pampanini, R 1915. Le Magnoha Sprengen Pamp e la biondii its flowers on the same opened exactly Magnoha aulacosperma Rehder et Wilson. date as another early-blooming magnolia Bull della R. Soc. Toscana di Orticultura 40: recently introduced from China, M. zenii (Del 99-102. Tredici and Spongberg, 1989). Whether this A. 1940. Manual Cultmated Tl~ees and curious will occur this Rehder, 1927, of synchrony again year Shrubs. New York: Macmillan. remains to be seen. In order to determine the limits of hardiness Sargent, C S. 1913. Plantae Wilsonianae, Vol. 1. Jamaica of Magnolia biondii, as well as to learn more Plam: Arnold Arboretum about the length of time necessary for the spe- P. 1974. The nude Newsletter cies to reach sexual the authors Savage, J. beautiful ivory maturity, of the Amencan Magnolia Society 10(2). 3-9. would like to hear from anyone who received one of the distribution cuttings in 1982. Ting, Y. C. 1977. Collecting Magnolia biondn in China. Newsletter of the Amencan Magnoha Society References 13(2) : 19, 20. Del Tredici, P., and J H Alexander 1981. Magnoha bion- dn distribution. Magnolia 17(2): 29.

Del Tredici, P., and S A Spongberg. 1989. A new magno- Stephen Spongberg is Horticultural Taxonomist at the ha blooms in Boston. Amoldia 49~2y 25-27. Arboretum, Peter Del Tredici is editor of Arnoldia. Groundcovers for the Garden Designer

Gary L. Koll er

An eclectic selection of unusual plants for innovative gardeners.

With one foot firmly planted in the living col- lections of the Arnold Arboretum and the other in the Landscape Architecture Depart- ment of the Harvard Graduate School of Design, I look at plants for novel uses that may not be fully appreciated by the garden- ing public. I have long believed that the cohe- siveness of a well-crafted garden relies heavily on the successful application of groundcovers. These plants can be used as a "substrate" through which other plants emerge, and which knits the planting into a composition that is visually and spatially pleasing. Given time and the appropriate conditions for growth, groundcovers potentially can reduce the maintenance requirements of the total landscape. Having the opportunity to visit many plant collections as well as developed gardens, I have come across a number of plants that appear to have all the qualities of a successful ground- cover, but are seldom cultivated as such. What are those qualities, you might well ask? Most good groundcovers are little more than very successful weeds controlled and put to good use. The plants not only must maintain them- Epimedium pmnatum var. colchicum in bloom. From in are selves the spot where they planted but the Arnold Arboretum Archives. also must be able to spread outward and colonize an ever-expanding area. With many good groundcovers, the primary concern is not of most volunteer weeds, and tough enough to encourage their growth, but rather to con- to survive neglect, poor soils, and extremes of tain them by installing restraining devices at drought and cold. Groundcovers should main- the perimeter of the space allowed them. tain their foliage in good condition all sum- A good groundcover should be rather low mer long and not die back prematurely, and dense enough to suppress the intrusion leaving a patch of bare earth where late sum- 25

Artemisia stellerana ‘Silver Brocade’ m bloom. Photo by Gary Koller.

Anemone canadensis mer weeds can move in. While a groundcover can be either woody or herbaceous, the focus The rapid growth habit of Anemone canaden- in this article will be on less familiar herba- sis leads some gardeners to dub it as "invasive;’ ceous species that deserve greater recognition and I have been cautioned against deploying and testing. As you read about the following it in the landscape. However, it is precisely plants, bear in mind that each one has this trait that enables the plant to make a strengths that can be used to advantage in tight, dense cover and to persist in difficult garden-making as well as weaknesses to be locations. While it may not be a plant for the suppressed. mixed perennial border, it could be used very What follows is a selection of plants that appropriately in challenging areas: beneath I am still learning about and that seem to have trees and shrubs, or in locations where it can a bright future as groundcovers for our be contained by barriers that restrict its gardens. I hope that one or more of them may spread. be unfamiliar to you, and that I may entice I can envision this plant being used to good you into acquiring them for testing under your advantage in parking islands, between side- own growing conditions and maintenance walks and buildings, and in urban parks to fill regime. My comments are offered here in the in empty spaces that invite weeds. The small spirit of challenge-to encourage you not only white flowers in early summer persist for to keep an eye out for plants with unusual var- several weeks and are charming if not spec- iations but also to experiment with nontradi- tacular. The attractively lobed foliage remains tional uses of these plants. I welcome hear- green and in good condition all summer long. ing from any readers who might know of This anemone might be improved by the similar plants that deserve wider recognition. selection of compact forms with darker green 26

foliage and a longer flowering period. There with pale yellow variegation in the leaves. is also the possibility of hybridizing Anemone There is some question whether this is a canadensis with other anemones to extend natural variation or a population with a virus. the floral color range, the season of bloom, or If, however, some types are discovered with the spreading tendency. A. canadensis is often good stable variegations, they would be a compared to A. sylvestris, a plant that blooms definite plus for the shade garden. Horticul- several weeks earlier, but one I find a weak ture can be enriched by observant individuals grower under those conditions where A. combing wild plant populations for canadensis thrives. individuals with traits for use. _ superior garden Once found, the plant needs to be propagated Artemisia stellerana ‘Silver Brocade’ and evaluated under different environmental Parched, sunny growing conditions present a conditions. If the plant maintains its unique challenge in many areas of the country. characteristic and is garden worthy, it can then Artemisia stellerana is one of those plants be publicized and distributed. that loves to bake in the sun and that natur- takesimana ally inhabits sand dunes and poor soils. A Campanula native of Asia, it has naturalized itself on This campanula is familiar to only a few dedi- beaches from Quebec to Virginia where it cated perennial gardeners, who mostly use it holds and stabilizes the shifting sand. The cul- in the mixed border. Spreading at a deliberate tivar ’Silver Brocade’, a recent introduction of pace, it forms sizable colonies over time, and the University of British Columbia Botanical because of this tendency, it seems well Garden, was selected for rich gray foliage, a adapted to use as a groundcover. The leaves more finely cut leaf, and a lower, more com- are roughly heart-shaped with attractive, scal- pact growth habit. In the landscape, it can loped edges. The flowers are produced in large look beautiful edging a bluestone path where terminal panicles, which rise out of the basal it has the opportunity to spread out and soften cluster of leaves to a height of 30 to 60 cen- the hard lines, while at the same time echo- timeters (12 to 24 inches). Because of the num- ing the blue-gray color of the stone itself. In ber, weight, and size of the individual flowers, coastal New England, this plant is one of the the inflorescence has a tendency to arch over. best choices for the harsh environmental Individually the flowers are tube-shaped, and assaults encountered by the dunes along the range from a pale, pink-beige to ivory, with ocean. chocolate or bronze markings on the inside of the blossom. If flowering stems are cut back Asarum canadense as the blooms fade, the plant is capable of Few plants tolerate drought and moderate flowering two or three times a summer. This shade as well as the Canadian ginger. It grows tendency to rebloom varies directly with the naturally in the understory of woods in Ohio, amount of light available. Repeat flowering Kansas, and Missouri where it forms diffuse, also appears to be dependent on soil moisture, but widespread colonies. In cultivation and for in extremely dry seasons I have observed with some level of attention, it stays dense that these plants flower less frequently. In any and displays a beautiful moderate green case, I have found that the foliage itself is foliage all summer long. It combines naturally quite drought-resistant. with ferns and other woodland plants. In the Carex siderostricta future, this plant could be improved by some ‘Variegata’ selection for more vigor and darker colored In northern landscapes (Zones 5 and 6), Carex foliage. siderostricta ’Variegata’ has the potential to be James Waddick of Kansas City, Missouri, used much as Liriope muscari ’Variegata’ is recently took me to see a wild population in the south-except that its greater cold 27

~ ----- ~ --,-,- The fohage of Campanula takesimana. Photo by Gary Koller. hardiness is accompanied by a deciduous where. Barry Yinger, a noted collector of habit. Carex siderostricta ’Vamegata’ forms Japanese plants, tells me that, while there are broad clumps of cream-colored variegated several mediocre forms in terms of degree of foliage, which stand 20 to 30 centimeters tall variegation, a spectacular form is available (8 to 12 inches). It thrives in light shade and from Watanabe Nursery. soils that vary from dry to moist. In extremely While I am not aware that they exist yet, dry locations, I have noticed the white mark- would it not be desirable to select ings of the leaves will assume a tired, epimediums for unusual leaf types, for richer, brownish cast by late summer. This species more saturated, autumn foliage colors persist- mixes well with hosta, astilbe, and ajuga, ing into wintertime, or for foliage marbled forming tapestries of foliage texture and color. with contrasting colors of green? We need to seek out new forms actively and introduce Epimediums them to the gardens of America. I’ll be the first Few plants are as tough, dependable, and per- in line to purchase them. sistent in shaded landscapes as the various species and cultivars of Epimedium. These Liriope muscari plants could be made more useful by the Southern gardens are rich in many forms of introduction of variegated types, which lily turf, which allow for numerous creative presently exist in Japan and perhaps else- applications of this attractive groundcover. In 28

realized that plants with huge leaves and great stature could provide visual excitement and spatial illusion for smaller landscape spaces. At maturity, Petasites can stand over a meter tall (3 to 4 feet), reaching the limit in height of what is considered acceptable as a groundcover. What makes Petasites japonicus ’Variegata’ a desirable addition to garden design is that the early-season leaves are richly marked with cream-colored blotches, which appear different from leaf to leaf. These foliage markings are most intense in spring, and as summer advances, they become some- what muted. In conditions of adequate soil moisture and light shade, the plant thrives and spreads vigorously. It is particularly use- ful as a design element to bring boldly tex- tured, cream-colored leaves into shaded locations. Here they provide a color accent all summer long. This is a plant large enough to be planted along the edge of lakes and rivers where the size and scale will not be dwarfed of the and it is The growth habit ot Carex siderostricta ‘Variegata:l F‘j’ tl:e expanse CouWiySidi,, at home in the small when Photo by Gary Koller. equally garden .....,....pY~op:.u~.,~y.c;ro~ ., ;..~.~1.. At present only a lucky few have this plant the north we have no reliable cold-hardy in New England, but in time the plant should forms, although I have heard of rock gardeners become a common component of our gardens, growing this species farther north than it especially gardens with an area that is moist should be expected to grow. Have they hit and lightly shaded. I first heard of it through upon some secret treasure? Thinlc of the mar- Wayne Winterrod of Reedsboro, Vermont. ket potential if a selection could be made that When he learned that I was making a trip to would extend Liriope muscari by another the Pacific Northwest, he assigned me the hardiness zone, making it reliable for the task of bringing back a division for him. Upon urban areas such as Boston, Montreal, and inquiry, I located what probably is the origi- Chicago. It seems that a nursery with a nal colony introduced into North America, pioneering spirit could make a greater market growing in the Asian Garden at the Univer- impact by selecting a more cold-tolerant form sity of British Columbia Botanical Garden, rather than yet another cultivar of questiona- Vancouver. Dr. Gerald Straley, Curator of Col- ble distinctiveness. lections, showed me the colony and gave me permission to gather divisions to bring back Petasites japonicus ’Variegata’ to Boston. The plant was originally introduced Earlier in this century, Petasites was the sig- to the University of British Columbia Botan- nature plant of the landscape architect ical Garden by its then Director, Dr. Roy Tay- Fletcher Steele, who found a place for it in lor, who found it growing in a field near an each of his garden compositions. One can still airport in Japan. He collected divisions to find the plant thriving in the garden at Naum- bring back to Canada, and from there it is now keag in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Steele finding its way across North America. 29

Back in Boston some months later, I spoke Crocus tomasinianus, Galanthus nivalis, and with Paul Aden of Long Island, who for many Eranthis hyemalis. I find I must cut the bam- years has collected rare variegated plants. I boo back at the end of winter so that the bulbs thought I had a new plant for him, but he will have head space to grow and to be seen informed me that he had a "whole field of it." well as they flower. As the bulb foliage begins He could not understand why no one grew or to ripen off, the bamboo begins its new used it as a landscape plant. The answer is, growth. This bamboo is a strong, vigorous of course, that no one can grow a plant if it’s grower and, once established, can run out- not distributed. wards 1.6 meters (5 feet) or more each season; therefore, permanent and strong containment Pleioblastus viridistriata (= Arundinaria is essential. Pleioblastus viridistriata is toler- viridistriata) ant of considerable abuse, and I have found it I have a weakness for plants with foliage in a particularly suitable choice for raised beds shades of yellow to gold. As a result, I have in urban parks and for islands along city and long admired and grown Pleioblastus viridis- suburban streets. Here the golden foliage pro- triata, a yellow variegated bamboo that stands vides the illusion of abundant color all sum- 60 to 120 centimeters (2 to 4 feet) tall. In mer long and works, from a color standpoint, sunny exposures the new foliage emerges with somewhat like a planting of marigolds-with an irregular pattern of golden-yellow stripes the advantage of coming back each season. alternating with green; in shade, however, the In the Vermont garden of Wayne Winterrod and Joe Eck, this bamboo occurs in a mixed planting with the white-stemmed raspberries (Rubus lasiostylus var. hubeiensis). Cornelia McMurtirie, a local landscape designer, showed me photographs of one of her designs where the client was attempting to create a strong tropical landscape effect. In the design, she combined the Pleioblastus with Yucca filamentosa and rhubarb to create a bold, non- traditional effect. A planting at Haskell’s Nursery in New Bedford combines the bamboo with a gold- form of Acer so that the _ _ _ _ --.-- variegated negundo The foliage of Pleioblastus viridistriata. Repnnted gold color is visually pulled from ground level from The Horticultural Bamboo Species in Japan by to a height of 8 to 10 meters (25 or 30 feet). H. Okamuza, 1986. In my own designs, I have combined the bam- boo with Chamaecyparis obtusa ’Cripsii; a variegation is muted and appears light gold-leaf form of this Japanese conifer, which greenish-yellow. In full sun the golden-yellow worked as a gigantic echo of the yellow color. color is retained all summer long and into the All of the above plantings create a strong and fall or winter, when severe cold causes the consistent color effect lasting several months. foliage to turn beige. I find the foliage most attractive in the autumn landscape, for it Rubus calycinoides ‘Emerald Carpet’ blends well with other autumn foliage colors Taiwan creeping raspberry is a plant suitable and generally looks attractive until Christmas only for the warmest sections of New or beyond. England-Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and The colony in my yard is underplanted with Block Island. The wild species occurs at high minor spring bulbs-Crocus chrysanthus, elevations in Taiwan and, while its hardiness 30

The winter aspect of Sasa veitchii, growing on a mound m Japan. Reprinted from The Horticultural Bamboo Species in Japan by H. Okamura, 1986.

is not fully documented, it is thought to be foliage may turn a coppery color. Neither hardy to USDA Zone 7. flowers nor fruit on this plant is a significant Rubus calycinoides is a plant that hugs the ornamental attribute. ground while it spreads outward, forming a Rubus calycinoides ’Emerald Carpet’ was solid mat of foliage. Evergreen in mild loca- propagated from seed collected for the Univer- tions and semi-evergreen to deciduous at the sity of British Columbia Botanical Garden by northern fringe of its range, this plant toler- Dr. Richard J. Pearson at Ho Huan Shan, ates exposures ranging from full sun to moder- Taiwan (elevation 2900 meters), in 1978. First ate shade, but in northern locations some introduced to the horticultural trade in 1985, protection from the winter sun and wind may it is just now becoming available in New mean the difference between success and England. Bruce McDonald, Director of the failure. It will also probably benefit from being University of British Columbia Botanical placed in a location with excellent soil and Garden, suggests that this plant is well suited air drainage. to small townhouse gardens as a low ground- The foliage is bright green, with three- to cover for shaded or semi-shaded areas. five-lobed leaves of an unusual crinkly tex- ture. The visual quality of the leaf surface is Sasa veitchii distinctive and adapts well to tapestry plant- One of the most important and frequently ings, which bring unusual combinations of used species of bamboo for Japanese garden height and texture together. The autumn design is kuma-zasa. In the United States it 31

Shibataea kumasaca m a landscape setting in an Amencan garden. Photo by Gary Koller. has proven to be root hardy to -31 degrees Cen- tivated locations. The soil must be well tigrade (-25 degrees F), and it is reliably hardy drained for it is intolerant of wet and poorly in the Boston area. The plant, standing 60 to drained locations. While it does spread out- 150 centimeters tall (2 to 5 feet), has a rela- ward, I have found it to be less aggressive than tively wide leaf blade that is a moderate green most of the other stoloniferous bamboo color all summer. The arrival of shorter and species. cooler days in the autumn causes the margin Shibataea kumasaca of each leaf to turn beige or straw color in a band roughly 0.6 to 1.2 centimeters wide. It A bamboo of small stature with a distinctively is at this time that the plant is most visually erect habit and lustrous, dark green foliage, distinctive, for the leaf color variation is a Shibataea kumasaca can range in height from striking part of the autumn landscape. In areas 1 to 1.6 meters (3 to 5 feet). Long-established where winter temperatures and winds are not plantings observed by this author have so severe, the leaf remains evergreen; with produced colonies so uniform in height that more exposure, the entire leaf becomes desic- they resemble the top of a table. A fine exam- cated and fades to beige. ple of mature growth can be seen at the Bilt- Unable to thrive in full sun, Sasa veitchii more Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, requires light shade. It is an ideal groundcover where a huge colony grows near the edge of under mass plantings of large trees and shrubs the driveway leading to the main house. In and for stabilizing steep, wooded slopes in cul- locations with a winter climate similar to 32

Boston, the plant requires shade in order to remain evergreen. The winter sun can beat and tatter the foliage, and recovery takes until mid-July when new growth masks the damage. Uvularia grandiflora This plant is native to woods and thickets from southwest Quebec to North Dakota, and in the south, ranges from Georgia to Okla- homa. In the wild, it inhabits calcareous soils, but I have seen it cultivated in more acidic conditions. In garden use, one normally sees it as an individual mixed among other wood- land species; it is displayed in this manner at the Gardner Museum, Boston, where a large plant emerges through a simple groundcover of Hedera helix. Groundcover-style mass plantings can be seen in the native plant sec- tion of the Landscape Arboretum at the University of Minnesota and at the Calgary Zoo in Alberta, Canada. In both of these loca- tions, plants arc situated in what appeai to be dry sites, with considerable tree shading. TT~.~1....:...... v umu Sauuuytvlu -ltll.._._ ~___~J1VW ,tI.GJ ~11411, , ,udlx , green leaves that, when full grown, can reach heights of 30 to 100 centimeters (1 to 3 feet). Uvularia the bellwort, native to eastern Its flowers are and deli- grandiflora, yellow small, nodding, North America. Photo by Gary Koller. cately showy, for they appear before any sig- nificant leaf expansion each spring. Individual plants expand slowly to form a robust clump and its colonies spread outward. Uvularia ses- that is generally circular in shape. To achieve sili folia ’Variegata’ looks beautiful when a solid continuous cover, some attention must woven through Vinca minor, drifted through be given to spacing and placement, or else the colonies of European ginger, or rising out of colony appears as scattered circles of foliage. masses of bronze and purple-leafed Ajuga rep- Once established, plantings seem to be per- tans. The only problem I have ever noticed is sistent, dependable, and attractive throughout that the variegated leaf sections sometimes the entire summer. turn yellow or brown when the plant is exces- sively dry or located in too much sun. Uvularia sessilifolia ’Variegata’ Vancouveria hexandra This quietly variegated plant bears creamy white stripes on each leaf and is similar in This Epimedium relative, native to the Pacific size, habit, and spreading qualities to Dispo- Northwest, provides a low, tightly knit mass rum sessile ’Variegatum’. It naturally inhabits of thin-textured, light-green leaves, which dry to moist woodland sites and forms colo- stand 15 to 45 centimeters tall (6 to 18 inches), nies that range from dense to diffuse in with height depending on the clone and the character. Blossoms are small pale yellow, conditions of the site. Small individual nodding bells. The plant has thin, wiry stems, leaflets are positioned in such a way as to give 33

the total plant a very delicate visual effect, not cate leaves; and with many ferns, which unlike that presented by ferns. The flowers are provide contrasts in height, color, and texture. also small and rather insignificant but at their From a cultural standpoint, it requires little finest contribute to the delicate veiled effect. more than some shelter from the sun and a While Vancouveria will never be regarded moisture-retaining, well-drained soil. Estab- as a great flowering plant, the color and tex- lished plants need little attention and can ture of the foliage make it useful when weav- remain undisturbed for many years. In the ing foliage tapestries into the landscape. It can West, the plant bears the charming common be successfully interplanted with hellebores, name redwood-ivy. which rise above it with bold dark-green foliage; with hosta cultivars selected to mimic the same with which foliage color; trilliums, Gary Koller is Senior Horticulturist at the Arnold Arbore- the of the Vancou- poke up through foliage tum and teaches a course on Plants as Elements of Design veria and appear to float across a cloud of deli- at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. BOOKS Neil Jorgensen

Second Nature by Michael Pollan. Atlantic gardening-actual dirt gardening-my delight Monthly Press, 1991. 320 pages. Hardcover. in the book turned to disappointment. $19.95. It takes years to become a good naturalist; it takes even more years to become a good This book has received acclaim from every gardener. Unfortunately, Pollan has not yet reviewer that I have read. I must dissent. As served his time. It shows all through the book. an autobiography, it is splendid; as a local His many references suggest that he has read history, it is vivid; as a dissertation on widely on gardens and gardeners, but reading nineteenth-century Naturphilosophie, I guess about gardens is not the same as doing it is a good place to begin. But as a book about gardens. Pollan just plain lacks first-hand nature and gardening, Second Nature is experience. The gardening discussions are so almost worthless. naive and simple-minded that they killed Michael Pollan is an uncommonly good whatever enthusiasm I might have otherwise writer. Though many people have learned to had for the book. Shall I weed my garden? write clearly and succinctly, only a few can Shall I build a fence around my vegetable paint with words like Pollan. His writing garden to keep the woodchuck out? Shall I makes the reader fed like a hungiy ~ucai. en. ~iam a willow in the meadowf Uh, come on. a gourmetgourmet dinner, onon the one handhand wanting Pollan gets into even bigger trouble when to wolf the insights but at the same time he tries to give us practical gardening Advice. wanting to savor the metaphors. For one of the many examples, read the fol- In his first chapter, "Two Gardens ;’ Pollan’s lowing : autobiographical account of his early garden- Watch the handles ing days reminded me of Russell Baker’s won- way [an expenenced gardener] seedlings Compared to the novice who treats his derful Pollan tells us about his Growing Up. young plants gingerly, the experienced gardener gardening mentor, a grandfather who, upon seems almost rough with them. semiretirement, developed a vegetable garden that single-handedly could have supported a Who are these experienced gardeners he’s been farm stand. How the crafty old businessman watching, and what seedlings have they been would disarm his negotiating opponents with almost rough with? If he is referring to coarse bushels of fresh produce is the stuff of dra- and husky young tomatoes or zinnias, maybe matic comedy. And the scene of his non- they can stand being slammed around. But gardening father in his underwear-his usual use that same treatment on tiny and fragile leisure outfit-tinkering with a permanently primula or gentian seedlings and see how defective sprinkler system made me laugh out many of those survive. Again it comes back loud. I wish that this part of the book had to experience: Pollan either has not trans- never ended. planted enough different kinds of seedlings, But, alas, end it did. And when Pollan or he has not met enough experienced turned his attention from autobiography to gardeners. Or both. 35

Pollan has a chapter he calls "Planting a When you get right down to it, almost any Tree." After an extended and uplifting human intervention on the land-merely philosophical discussion-ranging from oaks moving a spadeful of earth-could be consi- in Germany to cypresses in California, from dered an unnatural act, yet there are plenty William James and the Puritans to Zeus of gardeners and gardening styles that try to himself-what species does he finally choose work with Nature, not against it. Wildflower to bring shady pleasure to future generations meadows, woodland gardens, the new in rural Connecticut? A Norway maple. A ornamental grass gardens, naturalistic tree Norway maple. What a gift! In the pantheon and shrub plantings at places like the Arnold of bad trees, the Norway maple is right up Arboretum-all of these gardening styles there with the strangler fig. Coarse leaves, seem hardly to bother Nature, much less greedy roots, gloomy shade, and seedlings enrage her. You can tell Nature doesn’t mind everywhere: what more could anyone want? them because well-executed gardens in each Sadly but surely, a number of other gardening of these styles stay beautiful with only a mini- novices will now follow Pollan’s example and mum of upkeep. also plant this dreadful tree to shade their My quarrel is not with Pollan’s choice of houses. subject matter. Any gardening book can focus In his chapter "Weeds Are Us"-whatever more on the philosophical than the practical. that means-Pollan admits to having read too But I don’t think a discussion of such lofty much Emerson. Though he seems finally to ideas as whether or not God is a gardener, how reject Ralph Waldo Emerson’s old canard to honor the past landscape, or what Thoreau about weeds being plants whose virtues no really thought about his bean patch can com- one has yet discovered, he typically dwells pensate for a lack of experience in the discus- upon it far too long. Even if such horticultural sion of weeds, carrots, and compost. In natural terrors as poison ivy, goutweed, or Campan- history and gardening, hours in the library ula rapunculoides eventually turn out to be don’t take the place of hours in the field or in saviors of the world, they will still be noxious the dirt. And I always have believed that peo- weeds to anyone who has the misfortune of ple should first become authorities on a sub- finding them in the garden. ject before they write a book about it. And nowhere in this weedy threnody does So why all the hype over Second Nature? he mention the value of mulch, that great Why all the gushing reviews? As a colleague natural weed-suppressing weapon. Of course, pointed out, it is ironic indeed, when there are no mention either of the controversial but so many gardeners and naturalists with impor- wonderful weed fighter, Roundup® and Sur- tant things to say who never get the chance, fan.® At least I don’t think there was; when that a neophyte like Michael Pollan gets a I went to the index to see if I had missed them, huge chance and then says almost nothing I found that the publisher neglected to include important. A book jacket endorsement an index. proclaims, "You don’t have to be a gardener to In another chapter, Pollan tells us that love Second Nature. That may be the answer Nature abhors a garden. Nonsense. Nature to its popularity. only abhors some gardens. And from Pollan’s Perhaps if you are a person for whom nature description of his own gardens, I suspect they and gardening happen on country weekends would be at the top of Nature’s hate list! sometime between tennis and cocktails, you Vegetable gardens are unnatural; perennial may find this book fascinating. But if you’re borders are unnatural; orchards are unnatural; a serious gardener or naturalist, you’ll proba- rose gardens are extremely unnatural. bly want to pass it by. 36

Arnold Arboretum Weather Station Data - 1991

Average Maximum Temperature 61°F Average Minimum Temperature 45°F Average Temperature 53°F Total Precipitation 42.9 inches Total Snowfall 20.4 inches

Warmest Temperature 99° on July 20 and 21 Coldest Temperature -1° on January 23

’ Date of Last Frost 28° on Spring March 311 ,

Date of First Fall Frost 32° on November 9 Crowing Season 222 days

Note: According to state climatologist R. Lautzenheiser, 1991 was the third warmest year in the 121 years of record keeping by the National Weather Service. This follows 1990, the fourth warmest year on record. Nine months were warmer than average with February showing the greatest discrepancy at 5.4 degrees above normal. Precipitation was 1.56 inches above normal; snowfall was 16.9 inches below normal. NEWS

Why Renovate?

Robert Cook, Director

/""’~ iven that a major renova- tion of our main administra- tion building, the Hunnewell Visi- tor Center, will be both highly dis- ruptive and rather expensive, why are we doing it? First, and foremost, we must renovate to keep the building le- gally functioning. The herbarium wing has major structural prob- lems that will require steel rein- forcements to the floors, and this work alone will trigger a number of regulatory requirements for other parts of the facility. The plumbing and electrical systems Beyond regulatory require- There is, however, a third need to be significantly upgraded. ments, we must achieve a standard justification. This renovation, along devel- We must strengthen our fire pre- of everyday operation appropriate with our master plan being vention systems with smoke and to the Arnold Arboretum. We have oped by the landscape consulting will heat detectors, alarms, and a sprin- an obligation to establish condi- firm of Sasaki Associates, per- kler system. The passage of the tions of climate control that will mit us to renew our commitment Americans with Disabilities Act, prevent the continuing deteriora- to public education in a profound which became law earlier this tion of our valuable library hold- way. Our current classroom in the will be to ac- year, requires that all aspects of ings. Similarly, it is not acceptable building enlarged the building need to be modified to ask staff members to work with commodate more individuals for in order to accommodate individu- stifling heat each summer and our continuing adult education lectures. als who may have physical handi- space heaters in winter. Finally, program and other major We will also be a caps. To do this we will add an el- the public should not be greeted creating signifi- evator tower to the west side of with inadequate bathroom facilities cant interpretive exhibit, currently from the building, along with an interior when they come to visit the under planning with a grant fire stairwell. We will also be de- Arnold Arboretum. Our renovation the National Endowment for the that will indi- signing a new entrance that will plans will address all of these Humanities, provide permit wheelchairs to approach issues. viduals with a greatly enhanced our front door with ease. (continued on next page) educational focused on experience Arboretum looking further into the future, to our historic Olmsted landscape Prograrns During maintain the Arnold Arboretum’s .,...... ,.,... "...... ",,",v. miaSiOe W Wc the Renovation high standards m education and Arboretum. The centerpiece of this public service. exhibtt ww be a model large-scale Richard Schulhof Since the early 1890s when of the Arboretum which, in con- Assistant Director for F~cternal Professor Charles Sargent first ar- with new brochures and junction Relations ranged a program of public lec- signage on the grounds, will allow tures, the Arnold Arboretum has visitors to choose from a menu of been known as a center for the over a century the potential interactions with the ForJL Hunnewell Center’s elegant, study of botany and horticulture. plants in our magnificent landscape. red-bricked facade has beckoned Evolving from modest begin- At the end of the there- day, visitors the Arboretum’s nings-26 students in 1891-Arbo- I see through fore, the renovation as a ma- return education main gate to the of the programs have occasion for splendors jor revitalizing our into a landscape. Indeed, the past de- grown nationally recognized commitment to public education over stu- cade has brought even greater program serving 7,000 and visitor enjoyment of the Arbo- dents public use, as the Hunnewell Cen- annually. retum. At the same time we will As the ter has served as the site pending temporary be primary establishing a standard of op- closure of the Hunnewell Center for growing education programs eration consistent with our dedica- has of our and as an increasingly popular prompted many friends tion to quality in all that we do. and meeting and resting place for Ar- supporters to inquire about boretum visitors. While the build- the future of the educational offer- which on ing is about to undergo extensive ings depend this facility, ~~ we wish to share our for renovation, plans are currently un- plans these derway to ensure the continuity of programs. our education programs, and, the we ask Adult Education ter. At that time, programs for chil- In coming year as we the Due to construction, the dren will return to their current your patience prepare for an- Hunnewell Center will be closed level. Hunnewell Visitor Center Child- other of service. Further, to the public from September of Future plans for the century we invite comments or ques- this year through the fall of 1993. ren’s Program promise a greater any tions have concerning ei- Although course offerings must be commitment to improving the you may our reduced by 25% due to the tempo- quality of science education in ther the renovation or plans for the future. We look forward to rary closure of the Hunnewell lec- Boston area elassrooms. Beginning from ture hall, classes will continue this year, we have made our Field hearing you. year-round in the classroom facil- Studies Experiences program avail- Arboretum ity at the Dana Greenhouse and able in several Boston school- Arnold during the spring, summer and fall yards. In addition, we plan to fur- Public Meeting months at the Case Estates in ther develop our teacher’s training’ Arnold Arboretum has Weston. Looking beyond the reno- program, LEAP. With the help of a Sasaki Associates, vation, we plan to offer roughly generous grant from the Jessie B. Tcontracted he and con- 400 class meetings a year, the pro- Cox Charitable Trust, teachers Inc., landscape planning area schools will sultants from Watertown, Massa- gram size represented by our cur- from Boston to create a master rent spring/summer catalogue. come to the Arboretum for training chusetts, plan in Plain. As for the content of the pro- in this nationally recognized for our landscape Jamaica Funded with from the Insti- gram, we plan to take fuller ad- curriculum. grants tute of Museum Services, the Na- vantage of the living collections in tional Endowment for the Arts, Jamaica Plain with a stronger focus Visitor Services of Visitor Ser- and the Stratford Foundation, the on the biology and horticulture of Under the umbrella will recom- woody plants. While courses in vices we include weekend tours master plan develop landscape history, design and her- and the Bookstore. Sunday tours mendations and long-range guide- baceous materials will continue to will continue during May, June, lines concerning the upgrading of visitor the enhance- be offered, it is our aim to more September, and October of the services, of our walls, and fully address the Arboretum’s tradi- renovation year, while the Book- ment entrances, and the tional strengths in botany and store will close, along with the rest other perimeter elements, arboriculture. of the Visitor Center, on Septem- management of lands peripheral ber 8, 1992. to the historic Olmsted/Sargent The Children’s Program When the Hunnewell Center landscape. of the As with the adult education pro- reopens in 1993, we look forward As part planning pro- of visitor the Arboretum will hold a se- gram, the renovation will necessi- to offering a higher level cess, of three tate a reduction in the activities of information and services. Thanks ries public meetings. the Massa- Please us on Wednesday, our Children’s Program. During to support provided by join in the audi- construction, classes will be staged chusetts Foundation for the Hu- April 22 at 7:00 p.m. the State Laboratories out of a tent in an area below the manities and the National Endow- torium of on South Street (a Dana Greenhouse, while guide ment for the Humanities, the fu- Building located the Forest Hills training will take place in the ture Hunnewell Center promises short walk from to meet the Sasaki Greenhouse classroom facility. AI- new interpretive exhibits that tell Subway Station) and team and discuss the master though a smaller number of chil- the story of the collections plan- is available. dren can be accommodated via landscape, improved visitor orien- ning process. Parking call this arrangement, it will allow us tation, and an information center For more information, please to maintain the program until the that will offer books, pamphlets, 524-1718. reopening of the Hunnewell Cen- and other materials specific to the Arboretum’s world-renowned liv- ing collections. 3 National Park Service at the Arboretum

The National Park Service has recently joined in partnership with the Arnold Arboretum to ex- pand interpretive services available to Arboretum visitors this spring. Park Rangers from the Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline will introduce Arbo- retum history and design in a pro- gram of weekend walking tours covering various portions of the landscape. We welcome you to join Park Rangers Alan Banks and Christopher Lamond on Saturdays and Sundays from April 18 through June 21 for special walk- ing tours at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Each no-fee tour will leave from the Park Service Ctaoin~s arn~ near Forest Hills Gate to the Arbo- av.,,uim. ivatyclJ W111 AIJV pC 51.3- tioned at this location weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to supply information and handouts.