LOTUSLAND NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS VOLUME 16 NO. 2 SPRING 2007 Chamaedorea Palms By VIRGINIA HAYES N THE SHELTERED corner of Lotusland known as the shade palm Igarden is a collection of diminutive palms in the genus Chamaedorea. Chamaedorea palms are small in stature, rarely growing taller than 15 feet or so, and have slender stems, many not much more than an inch in diameter. Palms occur as single-trunked specimens or as many-trunked clumps. This genus includes species that also grow in both forms. Besides their thin trunks, Chamaedorea palms share other common characteristics. Most have pinnate, or feather-shaped, leaves. Among the single-stemmed species are C. tepejilote and C. plumosa. C. seifrizii is sold under the name bamboo palm as its clumps of slender stems resemble bamboo. Other S YE species may also appear under this HA IA C. costaricana, N common name, such as I G R C. microspadix, and C. radicalis. One I V Y species, C. elatior, is more vine-like. It B S O clambers through surrounding vegeta- T O H tion to lengths of 60 feet or more. A P few species, such as C. metallica, have Chamaedorea palms grow slowly. These parlor palms (Chamaedorea elegans) were planted more undivided leaves that resemble fish tails. than 20 years ago and are under five feet in height. The leaves of this particular species also have a metallic sheen. A number of IN THIS ISSUE species also have showy flower stalks with bright red, orange, or black fruits. Chamaedorea Palms 1 Volunteer Profile: John Vasi 10 A few Chamaedorea palms may be President’s Letter 3 Quietly Standing Out From the Crowd more familiar as houseplants than as Palm Lecture 10 Digital Photography Workshop 4 garden subjects. Parlor palms, including Congratulations, Virginia! 11 Chamaedorea elegans, were first popular Spring Twilight Tour 4 Garden Tour 11 during the Victorian era and continue LotusFest 4 A Farewell From Mike Bush 11 to be grown by the thousands for this New to the Collections 5 purpose. Several small plants may be Specimens from UC Santa Barbara Thank You to Our 11 Garden Benefactors planted together in a single pot and Storybook Tour 5 can survive for many years. In the Mother’s Day Tour and Tea 11 The Lotus Society 6 garden, these naturally single-stemmed Where the Wild Things Are 12 individuals will eventually reach eight Horticultural Happenings 7 Modjadji Cycad feet or more. Chamaedorea palms are Members’ Family Day 8 Lotusland Celebrates 12 Continued on page 2 Buried Treasure! Hidden Wonders in the Soil Peter Pan’s Lotusland 2 The LOTUSLAND NEWSLETTER FOR MEMBERS is published by Ganna Walska Lotusland Foundation 695 Ashley Road Santa Barbara, California 93108 805.969.3767 www.lotusland.org BOARD OF TRUSTEES Kisa Heyer, President W. Mason Farrell, Vice-President Arthur R. Gaudi, Secretary Linda J. Gluck, Treasurer Ella Brittingham Jane Gail Copelan Geoffrey Crane Larry Durham Sherry Gilson Harry W. Kolb Jill Levinson Michael Mayfield Sandra Nicholson Chapin Nolen Brett M. Posten Barbara Siemon Cynthia Spivey Marianne Sprague John Tilson Bizarrely-shaped concretions—natural mineral Immature (green) and mature (black) fruits of Nancy L. Wood formations—are displayed throughout the shade Chamaedorea tepejilote are held on bright palm garden. orange stalks. Merryl Brown Robert J. Emmons Anne Jones Continued from page 1 fluctuate widely and moisture levels are Michael Towbes Carol L. Valentine ideally suited as indoor plants not only consistently high. With adequate water, Lifetime Honorary Trustees because they remain small, but also they adapt readily to the low light and because they come from deep forest moderate temperatures of our interior Steven Timbrook, Ph.D. Director Emeritus habitats throughout Mexico, Central spaces. In southern California, they also Interim Financial Officer America, and northern South America. grow well outdoors with ample water Anne Dewey, CFRE Many grow in rain forests or cloud and full shade. Director of Development forests where temperatures do not There are about 100 species of Marguerite Gamo Chamaedorea, but a much smaller num- Manager of Administration and Human Resources ber are commonly grown. Lotusland’s Deanna Hatch collection now contains nearly half Communications Manager of the described species. In 2002, the Virginia Hayes Curator of the Living Collection number was greatly augmented when Michael Iven Dr. Donald Hodel arranged for his Director of Grounds and Facilities collection to come to Lotusland. It Dorothy Shaner comprised 45 species and more than 230 Public Programs Manager plants. Dr. Hodel has literally written Printed by Jano Graphics the book on the genus and had collected Lindse Davis, Design and grown them during his research. Printed on recycled and recyclable paper These palms have been waiting in the with vegetable-based inks nursery to be added to the display in the garden. To accommodate them, some older palms of dubious origin will be Mission Statement moved out and new planting beds To preserve and enhance the created. The fascinating mineral con- spectacular collections of exotic plants cretions will be safely stored away on the Montecito estate of the during the construction phase to be late Madame Ganna Walska and, reset when it is completed. through interpretation of these collections, One major issue in the design for to foster increased knowledge and the garden will be to provide adequate appreciation of the importance of plants and the need for their conservation. Many Chamaedorea palms have brightly-colored shade for the expanded growing area. fruits to attract animal dispersers. Several short-term as well as long-term 3 strategies will be employed, including planting ornamental and complementary tree species to further enhance the diversity of this secluded garden area. During the reconstruction of the shade palm garden, access will be restricted, but the end result will definitely be worth the disturbance. By year’s end, more than half of Hodel’s important collection will be settled into their new home. In the coming years, after additional trees have matured enough to provide adequate shade, a second phase will make it possible to see the entire collection on display. Dr. Hodel will give a palm lecture at Lotusland on June 16. Please see page 7 for details. The leaves of Chamaedorea metallica are divided only at the tip and have a bluish, metallic sheen. President’s Letter MEMBERSHIP AND GIVING and if you haven’t attended them OUR MEMBERSHIP BASE continues to before, I encourage you to do so in the grow. We are really happy to have future. It is truly magical to experience your support, and I thank you for the garden while listening to a musical becoming involved with the garden. performance or enjoying a tour filled Many of you supported our Annual with entertainment and a fine meal, Appeal, which is crucial to operating and these events significantly help the gardens. The special party for our our ability to operate the garden and Upper Level supporters at Patricia and its programs. LL E Larry Durham’s exquisite home and B P SERVICE TO LOTUSLAND M gardens was something that will long CA be remembered—and provides much DURING THE YEAR, we recognized two LL E new Lifetime Honorary Trustees, Merryl N incentive to consider an upgrade from Kisa Heyer your current membership level. Brown and Robert Emmons. And now Our planned giving program, The it is with great admiration that we say T HAS BEEN A GREAT YEAR. And a Lotus Society, is vital to the continued goodbye to Trustee Anne Jones, who is busy one, as you can tell from growth and preservation of Lotusland. I stepping down from the Board of Iwhat’s below. We truly have much am pleased to report that it has grown Trustees after 23 years of service to to celebrate as we look back on one of to 70 members in the five years since its Lotusland. I am pleased to announce our most stellar years. Lotusland had creation. This year’s annual luncheon that the board has named Mrs. Jones as a very successful 2006 filled with to honor Lotus Society members was at our newest Lifetime Honorary Trustee in fabulous events, outreach programs, Virginia Castagnola-Hunter’s beautiful recognition of her many contributions. workshops, and awards for the garden. home and garden and was truly a A Founding Trustee, she has been very delight for all who attended. involved in horticulture organizations AWARDS AND RECOGNITION throughout the community. We will WE WERE THE PROUD recipients of the miss her greatly. Santa Barbara Beautiful President’s GREAT EVENTS I am also very pleased to welcome Award and received national recognition LOTUSLAND’S EVENTS ALSO continued to four new Trustees who have graciously in articles in a variety of publications receive rave reviews. Lotusland Celebrates: agreed to serve on our board. Jane including The Wall Street Journal, Opera The Summer of Love and the newly- Copelan, Brett Posten, Cynthia Spivey, News, Cowboys & Indians, and Tinta Latina established Music at Lotusland, which and Marianne Sprague will join us this among others. Local foundations as well last year featured An Afternoon of Jazz month. They each offer unique wonder- as national organizations continue to with The Tierney Sutton Band, was a ful qualities that will greatly enhance fund Lotusland’s Fourth Grade Outreach wonderful start to what will now be an the board as we continue to develop the Program, sustainability programs, and annual music event. We are so pleased future leadership of Lotusland. other valued projects. with your patronage of these events, Continued on page 4 4 Continued from page 3 Financial Officer and as a member of on May 19 is a not-to-be-missed event, the Management Operating Committee.