American Primrose Society Quarterly Winter Issue 1983 Volume 41, Number 1 Published January 24, 1983 President's message Copyright 1948 Entered 2nd Class, Edmonds, Washington Editor's Committee: 1570 9th Avc. North The holidays, joyous reunions and celebrations are over. I hope they were Edmonds, WA 98020 joyous for all concerned. We now look forward to a new year with renewed Larry and Linda Bailey hope and expectations that it will be better than the last. During these Irene Buckles winter months, as gardeners, we make out our seed orders, sort out and Dan and Evelyn Douglas Jerry Flintoff clean any seed of our own we have saved, do our dreaming and planning Cy Happy On the cover for all the things we are going to do with our plants this coming season. Allan and Rosctta Jones If you are the practical person and keep your plans within the limits of Dee Peck Primula nutans - the enchanted your ability to accomplish, you are the exception among gardeners. Most Orpha Salsman Primula from China. Photograph Brian and June Skidmore gardeners plan during the winter months more than they can complete taken by Larry Bailey in his garden. during the rush of activity during the spring; so, some projects have to be See page 10. postponed to another year. That is why we live so long trying to complete ISSN 0162-6671 our projects. As A.P.S. members I would recommend two things to put in your plans. First, grow more species Primula. Second, make some hand pollinated crosses with a purpose. These can be very flexible in amounts depending on your available space and time. They can also give you a lot of personal satisfaction of accomplishment. There are many other things we can do as In this issue A.P.S. members, such as, entering primrose plants in flower shows, making your surplus Primula plants available for garden club sale and plant President's Message 3 "™™7"-™™ exchanges, and getting new and young people interested in primroses and Memories form Maine 4 l^r^:'^^:^f joining the A.P.S. by Harriett Gurney '...-Z^ZLZI' ^ If you give top priority to the first two things, the others will follow Correcting Chlorosis on Primroses . 8 -..— -.«—.— naturally. by Ralph Freeman I hope to see many of you at our shows and annual meeting this year. Blue Ridge Mountain Notes 9 '""'^"' Amcriian Frtiim., Frinwln airi *i.rif i To all a Happy Primrose Year, by James r. Long Nutans - The Enchanted Primula from China 10 by Larry A. Bailey Herb Dickson Helen Clarke 14 by Cy Happy APS at AHS 15 by Herb Dickson Section Proliferae Pax 16 by G. K. Fenderson Resource Directory - 1983 25 j APS Seed Exchange 32 Membership Roster 42 Dorothy Ross Springer, I bought seed mixed colors; I received a beautiful Memories from Maine and still grow this lovely thing. Sent white and one rose. I would guess I to Wagon Wheel Gardens for my first by Harriett Gurney have given away at least two hundred Doubles, (100 seed $3.00). Mr. and plants over the years and they are still Fairfietd, Maine Mrs. Fred Clarke won the National just as beautiful as when I first Sweepstakes at the Tacoma Show. purchased them. The amazing The cover picture was Best Auricula durability of some of the Primula by Seedling of 1969, Winner of the Herbert Dickson was what prompted My first encounter with the prim- are now tattered and torn, loaned Bamford Trophy, grown by Mrs. me to purchase my first P. sieboldii. rose was a chance seedling that came out, lost and found so many times. I Orval Agee. Fall 1969: The most beau- Summer and Fall 1971: New in the soil of some perennials. When I must buy a new copy. tiful double acaulis you ever saw ap- President is Mrs. Olaf E. Nelson. Also first noticed this plant, it was quite Summer 1968: the cover showed peared on this cover! Dues are now at this time an article 'The Fascinating large-looking much like a chinese Primula acaulis, 'Vatters Kirchenfen- $5.00. Miss Fayme Haverty was Seed Candelabra' by Dr. O.W. Hillery cabbage. No one seemed to know ster', I still wish I had this plant. Mr. Exchange chairman. appeared. Used my seed exchange what it was. The first year it grew Herbert Dickson became President Winter 1970: A Life Membership allotment for P. candelabra and over quite large; came Spring it was a very and Mrs. Orval Agee won the was awarded to Mrs. Lawrence G. Tait the years these have been my favorite. large plant. In the late spring, lo and Bamford Trophy. In this issue I dis- for her devoted service. Can you By the by, Mr. Keith F. Elcombe was behold it bloomed-the most beauti- covered the Barnhaven primrose ad imagine serving nine years as Treasur- the Seed Exchange chairman. ful thing I had ever seen. Determined from Far North Gardens; most of my er? I counted eight members from Winter 1972: Picture on the cover to know what I had, I went back to primula seed then came from them. Maine in the 1970 Membership list was P. farinosa, and as a result I grew Mr. Ralph Taylor's. There were many The first officially named double printed in this issue. Spring 1970: it from seed, this dainty plant is still of these plants scattered about, in full auricula in America, was named Ellen Mrs. Thelma Nelson became the with me. Ralph Balcom and Evelyn bloom and many colors. Mr. Taylor Page Haydon, a lovely peach, the Round Robin chairman, I read those Balcom were given Life Memberships. only knew this was a Primrose. pride of Ralph Balcom. Fall 1968: this letters with much interest. Summer Round Robin chairman was Mrs. Ruth Reading a garden book, I found an was my first venture in planting seeds V 1970: Mrs. William Dines is the new Bartlett. 'Moist Sand Beds', a Round ad for the American Primrose Society. of primulas, with not very much luck. APS President. A 'Newcomer wins Robin letter from Norman Deno; if By sending dues of $3.50 to the Winter 1969 was my beginning in Bamford Trophy', and to whom are you have a difficult time germinating Treasurer, Mrs. Lawrence Tait, I the Seed Exchange, with Mr. Elmer they referring? Why, Mr. Al Rapp of P. rosea try this method, it works! promptly became a member in 1967. I C. Baldwin as the Director; what fun! Tacoma, Washington. I never think Spring 1972: Mr. Albert Rapp was fascinated with the Quarterly, it had The Quarterly cover featured Primula of him as ever being a newcomer! became the new APS President. thirty pages; Mrs. Grace Conboy was marginata. I sent to Sky Hook Farm Mrs. Ivanel Agee wins the American Spring Hill Farms offered Double then President of the A.P.S. In the for this beauty and grew it five years Primrose Society Hybridizing Award; Vernales ($3.00 for 50 seed) and I had Fall 1967 issue Mrs. Lucian Alexander before it departed; I am still without a a deserving and most earned award. to try these; a beautiful soft lavender wrote her last 'Notes from Rhone replacement. Did you know that even Excerpts from Primroses and Spring is and a nice white. However, being new Street'. Florence Bellis, of the famous back then Alice Hills Baylor was wonderful reading in this issue. If you to these lovely primulas I only had Barnhaven, received a citation from answering questions in the Quarterly? do not have this book by all means them two years. The double primroses the National Council of State Garden Such dedication and love for Primula buy it! A picture P. abschasica bloomed from early spring to late fall, Clubs for distinguished achievement and people. It was in this issue I saw the inspired me and this I still grow. Fall but did not come up the next spring. in hybridizing new primroses (Barn- ad for the American Rock Garden 1970: Primroses and Spring excerpts Primula Family Chart; this has been haven Strain). Beth Tait won the Society, I promptly became a continue; a picture of Primula such a help over the years. Summer Bamford Trophy for her yellow self member. The article by Ralph W, kisoana was such a beauty and a joy. and Fall 1972: Seed Exchange was Show Auricula seedling. Balcom 'Seeding Methods for Lost my start three winters ago when transferred and now members send Spring 1968: Dickson's Gardens Primroses' helped me to plant seed there was no snow cover; it is now on only Primula seed to the Exchange. had auricula seed for $1.00 pkg. (at and to grow many a fine seedling. By my wish list! The membership is still climbing! least 200 seed); also Sky Hook Farm. Ralph's methods my germination Winter 1971: I sent for seed of There are now ten Round Robin Oh, what a joy to correspond with improved 100%. Alpine Auriculas from Primrose groups. Sent to Far North Gardens for Alice Hills Baylor. I learnt more about Spring 1969:, Joined a Round Acres. I still have some. These Double Primulas seed, I just had to primroses and received many a lovely Robin with Mrs. Olaf E. Robins as beauties are now happy in my garden try again. plant from her. Through Alice I chairman; this was a most successful j after years of trying to grow them. Winter 1973: 'Pollinating' by found out about Primroses and venture. Summer 1969: After Spring 1971: the Chehalis Rare Plant Florence Levy Bellis, I have always Spring by Doretta Klaber; the pages reading 'Cowichan I love You' by Nursery offered Primula sieboldii, wanted to try this interesting repro- duction of plants; perhaps in the inside cover.