OCTOBER 1982 ~ iHis'GBeo P'iiFitiED WE lEGUm FORMis aRoUGHl 1 1 TO YOU BY AHS FOR YOUR BENERT. 1 Send to: GEICO PREFERRED, GEICO Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20076 If student away at school, give distance from home 1 Name --miles 1 Addres,,-s ______Apt.# CAR 1 CAR 2 CAR 3
City,______State"'--- ______Zi .... p ____ Year & Make (Buick, 1 Dodge, etc.) 1
1 Phone( Model (Skylark. Omni, Name of current insurancecompany______etc.) I I Date present insurance expires Mo __ Yr. __Employer ______Yrs __ Body type: 2 dr., Sta. Wag., etc. 1 Title/ Gradc..e ______Yrs. __ No. of cylinders 1 If in present occupation less than 2 yrs. or retired, give former occupation: I Est. Total Mileage 1------Est. Annual Mileage 1 1 Years at current addres,,-s ______Previously insured by GEICO: Yes 0 No 0 Days per week driven to work, school or ~epot Traffic 1 Accidents Conviction, License One way distance M Driver in Past in Past Suspen. 1 ustAIl Birthdate Marital or Percent of Use Training Years 5 years· 3 Yearso sion· I Is car used in business Dlivtlrs Relation Mo. Day Yr. Status F Occupation Car 1 Car 2 Car 3 Yes No Drivin Yes No Yes No Yes No except to/from work?" 1 (Self) 1 Car location ~ different than mail address: 1 City/State I 1 ' If "yes" explain 1
I * For accidents, traffic convictions, or license suspension, give dates and complete details, including cost of damages, on a separate sheet. I • ------Check for information on Homeowners Insurance 0 Boatowners Insurance o. Auto insurance not available in New Jersey or Massachusetts. _na.
HERE'S HOW AHS MEMBERS CAN TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF GEICO PREFERRED LOW-COST AUTO AND HOME INSURANCE. As a society member, you are entitled to extra YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE YOUR OWN COVERAGE. consideration for advantages like these: The coverages GEICO offers vary by state, but LOW RATES FOR QUALIFIED DRIVERS. you have many options in putting together your car GEICO PREFERRED insures those members and home insurance packages, both in the amounts of preferred groups-like AHS whose driving rec and kinds of protection. You also get a wide choice ords are better than average. Better drivers cost of convenient payment plans. GEICO auto insur GEl CO less. And these savings result in low rates. ance is not available in New Jersey and Massachu setts. Homeowners insurance is not available in GUARANTEED ONE· YEAR RATE ON YOUR AUTO New Jersey and Mississippi. POLICY AS WRlnEN. Many auto insurance companies now offer only YOU GET GEICO PREFERRED TREATMENT. 6-month auto policies. But as long as you don't All member inquiries receive prompt, prefer change the conditions of your policy, GEICO PRE ential service by a GEICO PREFERRED FERRED rates are guaranteed to remain the same Insurance Counselor. for a full year-so you don't risk having your rate increased after just 6 months. FOR A FREE RATE QUOTATION CALL TOLL FREE 1·800·368·2734 LOW·COST HOME INSURANCE TOO. In Maryland Call Coiled (301) 986·3500 Just check the appropriate box at the bottom of Your AHS membership entitles you to special the coupon, and you will also receive free informa consideration for low-cost auto and home insur tion on low-cost insurance for homeowners, renters ance. Good drivers, find out how much you may and owners of condominiums. Your application will save. For a free rate quotation, call today. Or mail receive special consideration. this coupon. No obligation. No salesman will call. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES INSURANCE COMPANY· A Shareholder· Owned Company Not Affiliated W~h The U.S. Government. Judy Powell EDITOR RICAN Rebecca K. McClimans ART DIRECTOR ....-ORTICULTlIRIST Barbara W. Ellis ASSOCIATE EDITOR VOLUME 61 NUMBER 10
Steven H. Davis Jane Steffey EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
Irene Polansky PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
H. Marc Cathey Gilbert S. Daniels HORTICULTURAL CONSULTANTS
Gilbert S. Daniels BOOK EDITOR
Louise Baughn Cindy Weakland ASSISTANTS TO THE EDITOR
May Lin Roscoe BUSINESS MANAGER
Elizabeth Hume EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS DIRECTOR
Connie Clark MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE Design expertise is nowhere more self-evident than in the works of Nature herself. Here, the play of light and shadow emphasize the pleasing composition of John Simmons Agave, commonly found in Baja, California and Mexico. Turn to page 22 and explore this re~ion's fascinating landscape. Photograph by Pat O'Hara. Chroma graphics Inc. COLOR SEPARATIONS President's Page 2 C. Lynn Coy Associates, Inc. S S Forest Street Plants for the Landscape: The Bamboo Alternative by Gail Gibson 4 Stamford, CT 06902 (203) 327-4626 Seasonable Reminders: Proper Planting of Ornamentals ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE by Houchang Khatamian 10 Book Reviews by Gilbert S. Daniels 14
Replacement Issues of AMERlCAN HORTICULTURlST Chatsworth Garden by Wendy J. Sheppard 16 are available at a cost of $2.50 per copy. Bergenia by Mrs. Ralph Cannon 20 The opinions expressed in the articles that appear in AMERlCAN HORTICULTURlST are those of the Baja by Rita Shuster 22 authors and are not necessarily those of the Society. They are presented as contributions to contemporary thought. Manuscripts, art work and photographs sent for possible F10riade '82 by Donald Vining 26 publication will be returned if they are accompanied by a self·addressed, stamped envelope. Euonymous by Gay McDonnell Bumgarner 29
AMERlCAN HORTICULTURlST is the official Medieval Garden Designs by Lorraine Marshall Burgess 31 publication of The American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, (703) 768·5700, and is issued monthlr. Membership in the Sources 34 Society includes a subscription to AMERlCAN HORTICULTURlST. Membership dues start at $20.00 a Pronunciation Guide 37 year, $12.00 of which is designated for AMERlCAN HORTICULTIJRIST. Copyright © 1982 by The American Horticultural 'society. [SSN 0096-4417. Second· Capillary-Mat Watering by Dr. Richard M. Adams, II 40 class postage paid at Alexandria, Virginia and at additional mailing offices. Posbnaster: Please send Fortn 3579 to AMERlCAN HORTICULTURlST, Mount Gardener's Marketplace 44 Vernon, Virginia 22121.
Member of Society of National Association Publications ON 1HE COVER: Yucca in flower. Photograph by Pat O'Hara.
American Horticulturist AMERICAN HORfICULTURAL PREsIDENT'S PAGE SOCIETY
OFFICERS and the learning process is always fun and PRESIDENT stimulating. Edward N. Dane Arabella is an active judge for both the Garden Club of America and the Federated FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Mrs. Edward C. Sweeney Garden Clubs so that between her activ ities and my Society association, we have SECOND VICE PRESIDENT met an incredible number of good gar Richard J. Hutton deners, many (')f whom have helped us in SECRETARY more ways than we could relate. We both Mrs. Charles W. All~n, Jr. look forward to meeting as mallY of you TREASURER as possible and seeing you at Society gath J. Judson Brooks erings during the next three years. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Thomas W. Richards IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT y first year as President also marks Dr. Gilbert S. Daniels the American Horticultural So M ciety's 60th anniversary. In 1922 BOARD OF DIRECTORS it was the intention of the founders "to develop a national organization devoted TERMS EXPIRING IN 1983: to horticulture in all its branches; to ed Gerald S. Barad, M.D. ucate; and to disseminate horticultural in J. Lyle Bayless y predecessors as Presidents of formation to all parts of the country." We Mrs. Benjamin P. Bole, Jr. our Society have been noted for try to fulfill that aim in many ways, not Everett Conklin their expertise in various fields of the least of which is by publishing this Jackson R. Eddy M Richard J. Hutton horticulture. As your new President I will magazine. Happily, though not intention Mrs. William Wallace Mein readily admit to being among the ranks of ally, the release of our newest publication, Dr. Julia Rappaport enthusiastic but amateur gardeners. I am North American Horticulture, A Refer Mrs. Harry J. Van de Kamp not particularly troubled by this admis ence Guide, also coincides with our 60th TERMS EXPIRING IN 1984: sion, however, because I have found that anniversary celebration. In this volume we gardeners are always willing to share their have brought together hundreds of organ Mrs. Charles W. Allen J. Judson Brooks knowledge, techniques, successes and fail izations in North America relating to hor Mrs. Erastus Corning ures, and hence I know that I can get plenty ticulture, thus fulfilling yet another goal Dr. Thomas A. Fretz of help when I need it. of the Society's founders-to "bridge the Mrs. Bruce Gunnell It is really because of the great personal broad area between the serious amateur Ms. Carolyn S. Marsh satisfaction I derive from my association gardener and professional horticulturist." Mrs. Malcolm Matheson, Jr. with the Society that I willingly undertake Uniting the interests of all American gar Mrs. Joseph Poetker the responsibilities of President. Similarly, deners is no simple task, for it is an enor Mark Sullivan, III I will feel I have done my job if the Society mously varied field. Today our member TERMS EXPIRING IN 1985: achieves for others the many benefits I have ship covers a broad spectrum-amateur Russell Clark enjoyed. and professional, nurseryman, backyard Edward N. Dane To add a small personal note for those gardener, landscape designer, prize-win Mrs. A. Lester Marks of you I didn't meet at the Annual Meeting ning orchid grower, rose fancier. In 60 Everitt L. Miller in Boston last year, I am a native New years the Society has accomplished a great Mrs. Edward C. Sweeney Englander and live on the coast north of deal, but there is much more to be done. Mrs. Philip Temple Boston in Pride's Crossing. My wife and I look upon. that challenge optimistically Dr. John A. Wott I are very fortunate to be living on a piece surely these possibilities for the future are of land that belonged to her great-grand the nicest birthday present the Society could father. It was originally landscaped by the receive. We've only just begun! Olmsted Brothers and retains some of the original, turn-of-the-century plants. We have three active children, a menagerie of animals and the beginnings of some good gardens. Every season brings a little better Edward N. Dane understanding of what we can accomplish, President
2 October 1982 THE AMERIO\N HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY
Tall oaks from little acorns grow
1922.- 1982 PLANTS FOR THE LANDSCAPE lHE BAMBOO AlTERNATIVE
Nandina's light, airy texture and form make it an excellent specimen plant. LEFT: Fruit of Nandina domestica. TOP RIGHT: Panicle of flowers of N. domestica. BOTTOM RIGHT: Nandina, growing at River Farm, displays its bamboo-like form .
everal years ago I was looking for pot and garden culture-Nandina domes standard-sized and dwarf, are grown in the a shrub that could be grown in a tica. The Japanese Nanten, also commonly South and in California as evergreen spec Scontainer and would provide a light called heavenly or sacred bamboo, has imens, foundation plantings or hedges. and airy effect on my apartment's balcony. small, angular leaflets that are borne 01'1 'Compacta' is a popular cultivar for gar I had often admired screeFling hedges of graceful, bamboo-like stems, which turn a den and pot culture because at maturity it bamboo grown in Pennsylvania and Mary brilliant scarlet in the fall. reaches a height of only four to five feet. land, and I had read that dwarf varieties I first discovered this shrub in the yard The dwarf cultivar, 'Nana Purpurea', cur of bamboo could be grown in pots or even of my cousins' house in Alabama. Nan rently being recommended in some mail as bonsai. Yet when I selected a small dina, a member of the Berberidaceae or order catalogues, is slightly coarser in leaf leaved bamboo from a local nursery, planted barberry family, grows well there under texture than the taller cuitivars, but it is it in a large pot and waited, I could only sun filtered through Spanish moss. The nicely mound-shaped and it grows only look on in dismay as its leaves browned leaflets of these bushes are about 1 % inches about one foot tall. This new dwarf plant in the sun and fell off. The plant was un long, dark green and leathery. By July of is attractive as an edging plant for patios able to live in the pot I had provided; bam each year the stems arch from the weight or under trees, and it adapts well to pot boo needs lots of moisture and room for of foot-long panicles of pinkish-white or porch culture. its underground rhizomes. For a time I flowers, which in October or November Nandina will remain evergreen in winter abandoned hope of achieving an oriental begin to form clusters of shiny red or or temperatures to about 10° F (U.S.D.A. Zone mood of peace in my balcony garden. ange berries. My cousins grow the popular 8). It is deciduous when exposed to tem Fortunately there is a shrub available in standard-sized species (N. domestica) of peratures of about 5° F, and the root sys the nursery trade that can be used to create this one-species genus, which grows into tems will survive to 0° F. It can, therefore, the light and airy effect of bamboo yet an open shrub six to eight feet tall. be grown outdoors successfully in the very whose root system is well suited to bo~h Many cultivars of N. domestica, both southeastern portions of Penl'lsylval'lia, in
4 October 1982 For more than 30 years, The Edward most translucent, flawless Boehm English '-PREFERREDRESERVATIONFORM"----- 1be Edward Marshall Boehm M~rshall Boehm Studio has enjoyed a bone china and will feature a 24K gold rim. well-deserved reputation for excellence in As you can imagine, such ~&ounol6motme~~ porcelain art. And an important part of craftsmanship requires a great deal of To Assure Acceptance, Mail By: Ncwember 30, 1982 the Boehm Studio fame has been the time and devotion, so the edition size for Limit: Two plates per collector creation of vibrant porcelain masterworks "Toy Clown" has been set at only 10 Please reserve for me 1be " Toy Clown" Miniature Rose Plate, first issue in 1be Edward Marshall Boehm with floral themes. In fact, the first-ever firing days in the limited-production Miniature Rose Plate Collection. This fine English bone Boehm plate, featuring the full-sized Boehm kilns. But since "Toy Clown" is china collector's plate - with original artwork inspired "Peace Rose," sold out in a matter the first plate from the Boehm Studio by an award-winning miniature rose, and enhanced by a 24K gold rim - has an original issue price of $39.50. of months. ever inspired by miniature roses, and I understand that I will have 30 ~s after receipt of the Now this premier studio announces because of its exceedingly Feasonable first-issue "Toy Clown" plate to decide whether to keep its first-ever miniature rose plate. This issue price, this edition limit could be it, and if I should return it, I will receive a full refund. first-issue, "Toy Clown," is a full-sized, reached rather quickly. Thus, an early I prefer to pay for my;;-;;; plate(s) as follows: 8" -diameter collector's plate - created application is strongly advised. o With this order. I enclose my payment of $39.50* after many months of research, study, and Before you make your final decision, ($79.00* for two plates) by check or money order. o By credit card. Charge $39.50* ($79.00* for two artistry by dedicated Boehm craftsmen. It you may preview "Toy Clown" in your plates) to my credit card (check one): _ MasterCard beautifully portrays The "Toy Clown" home for 30 days at absolutely no risk _ Visa _ American Express _ Diners Glub MiniafilFe Rose, which has won the under The Hanillton Collection 100% Acc!. No. Exp. Date --- 033282 1809 HC420-D coveted" Award of Excellence," Buy-Back Guarantee. If you should Nmne~ ______bestowed by the prestigious American return the plate during that time, we will Admess~~ ______Rose Society. refund all you have paid. City ______-----State __ Zip ___~_ In painting and then producing this Allow yourself the enjoyment of masterwork, Boehm artists used color beautiful, Award-Winning roses on Signature ______'FIo AN IDEAL CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOUR GARDENING FRmNDS Keep track of the garden as it grows with our handy, quick reference and a preprinted rule on useful Garden Diary. Inside this lovely cover ene page to make measuring the size of flowers (it's laminated to prevent staining) we've or seedlings that much easier and more included 96 ring-bound pages to record all sorts accurate. of garden information: cultural instructions for Best of all, AHS members are entitled to a favorite plants, month-by-month events in the discount off the retail price. In bookstores our garden (enough space for three years' data), Diary will sell for 814.95, but the discounted graph paper for drawing landscape and border price to members is just 811.95 including designs; a blooming sequence chart to keep postage and handling. Order several today in track of color in the garden from week to week; plenty of time for Christmas giving. useful blank pages for you to do with as you please. We've also added a helpful pocket to Send your check (made out to the American securely hold informative newsclippings, catalog Horticultural SOCiety) to Dorothy Sams, AHS, information-whatever you want to save from Box 0105, Mt. Vernon, VA 22121. Virginia your reading. We've even prOvided tabs for reSidents, add 4% sales tax. NANDINA CONT'D protected locations to southern coastal New In Japan Nandina is also known as the ca.ding over the massive rock effectively England and in very sheltered locations "Symbol of Clear Air" or the "Gift of Pu accentuated the lightness of the nandina's into the southern parts of U.S.D.A. Zone rification." It is often planted there as a form and the interesting color of its leaves. 6. When frost touches any Nandina its carefully shaped specimen in front of a This effect was complemented by nearby dark-green leaves turn pinkish-bronze to house, a shrine or a gate. One Japanese plantings of long-needled pine and a ber scarlet. This striking color, the display of pond-side garden featured a standard, genia-like plant with bold, round leaves. summer flowers and the quarter-inch ber thinned, but mound-shaped Nandina Japanese gardens often highlight the spe ries have assured continuing popularity for planted near a boulder of gray stone. The cial fonn and texture of plants by using this attractive shrub. contrast of textures and wispy leaves cas- contrast. For example, dense and deeply Nandina grows best and produces its clusters of berries most prolifically in the sun, but it will also grow and flower well in light shade if the soil is rich, peaty (slightly acid) and moist. Maintaining a proper bal ance of moisture for the roots is very im Energy-efficient Elegance portant. Dry soil during the summer will cause incomplete flower set, and fall drought A Lord &. Burnham greenhouse will cause the berries to drop. Conversely, takes energy from the sun and makes it work for you. too much moisture in the form of heavy rain during the summer will wash away It is functional as well as beautiful. It warms your home. It gives pollen from the flowers, preventing pol you a window on your world. an elegant way to add valuable lination and berry production. living space. a perfect place for you and your plants to grow. To keep moisture near the roots it is You can choose from over 200 models. important to mulch these plants. An acid window size to room size. material such as half-rotted oak or maple leaves, peat moss, fine wood chips or pine Send coupon and see. bark is ideal. Since the organisms that help decompose these mulches may tie up the nitrogen in the soil, apply a fertilizer rich .~. ,). in this element in the spring when new growth begins. Apply subsequent light ap plications of a balanced fertilizer from April to August to ensure good flower and fruit set. In full sun nandinas will grow into pleas ing, op 8 October 1982 r-- Send me quarter-inch deep in a sterile seed-starting mixture at 70° F. I covered the three-inch pot containing this tamped down mixture Burpee~ free 198, with polyethylene film and placed it in a bright but not sunny window. Germina tion Was slow, but in a little over a month seed catalog! ~" . :::- I noticed the first seedling. Even though I want your full-color seed many books recommend stratifying the catalog describing more than seeds in alternating layers of seed and sand 1,800 vegetables, flowers, outdoors in a cold frame, I did not find trees, shrubs, bulbs, and garden aids. (If you ordered this technique necessary for successful ger from Burpee in 1982, your new mination. Catalog will be sent to you automatically in December.) Since 1876, Burpee has been developing new vegetable and Nandina will remain flower varieties that are easier to grow and more productive. evergreen in 'Yinter Your satisfaction is guaranteed or your money back. Special temperatures to about 10°F discount for ordering early. (D.S.D.A. Zone 8). It is ' ~~ deciduous when exposed to Burpee® tempetatui-es of about 5°F, w. Atlee Burpee Co. 2033 Burpee Building and the root systems will Warminster, PA 18974 survive to O°F. Name------______r~ Admess ______A better and more usual method of City ______.Stat .e.e _____ Zipl ______ propagating Nandina is by division of the , American Horticulturist 9 SEASONABLE REMINDERS PRoPER PlANTING OF 0 stablishing trees and shrubs in a harsh environment can be difficult, Eespecially when they're not planted or cared for properly. To avoid such prob lems and increase tree and shrub survival, special attention to location, soil condi tions, quality of plant selected, proper planting techniques and proper post-trans plant care are needed. Making the right choice of plants to site and soil conditions could be the subject of an article in itself. [Editor'S note: see "Ornamental Trees," October 1981.) This column will be re stricted to a discussion of what to do with the plant once it's bought. Plants are commonly sold as "bare-root," "balled and burlapped," "container grown," "balled and potted," or "pack aged stock." Because they have no soil around the roots, bare-root plants will die unless they're planted immediately. If for some reason this is not possible, pack peat moss or other moisture-holding materials around the roots to keep them moist, then water them and keep them in a cool place. If they need to be stored for several days or weeks prior to planting, put them in a shallow trench by covering the roots with soil. Bare-root plants are usually available in early spring, before the bud break, or in the fall after the leaf fall. Be wary about bare-root stock with bud or leaf breaks. A balled and burlapped (b & b) plant retains around its roots a ball of field soil wrapped in burlap to prevent root dis turbance, which makes it easier to estab lish. Container-grown, potted and pack aged plants are desirable for the same reason. PLANTING TIME Balled and burlapped stock can be planted in the spring or fall or even during warmer periods if the plants are properly mulched and watered. Plant container-grown stock with an undisturbed root system any time of year, except when the soil is frozen or high temperatures coupled with dry winds Some plants-such as birch, magnolia, In summer the rate of transpiration and would increase the chance for excessive sweet gum, beech, flowering dogwood, water loss from the foliage is less for needle desiccation. Otherwise, plant most deci rhododendron and Japanese maple-with leaf evergreens than for deciduous species. duous stock, particularly bare-root nurs thick, fleshy root systems, are best planted Therefore, needle-leaf evergreens are less ery stock, during the dormant period (after in the spring. This allows ample time for subject to transplanting shock and can be leaf-drop in the fall and before bud-break roots to develop before the onset of low moved earlier in the fall and later in the in the spring). temperatures in the fall. spring than can most deciduous species. In 10 October 1982 TOOLS TO the fall, transplant evergreens early enough to allow for root development before the onset of winter. PRUNING AT PLANTING TIME Improper pruning creates more problems than solutions and can ruin a plant's form for life. One popular recommendation is to remove about 30 percent of the top growth at planting time to compensate for Stokes Seed Catalog root loss. Some studies, however, have re Almost 200 pages of delicious vegetables vealed that pruning more than 15 percent and brilliant fl owers including the newest introducti ons plus all your old fa vorites. of top growth may reduce the plant's visual LAST A The huge selecti on includes more than 95 quality for a season or two. Probably only tomato varie ties . corrective pruning should be done at LIFETIME Accura te descriptions tell you exactl y planting. The evaporative demand of a w ha t to ex pect fr om each variety. Exact plant, its root size and the soil-water sup HAND FORK and TROWEL in g tempera ture a nd humidity controlled by Wilkinson Sword are a true in storage of our seed assures you of extra ply should also be considered when prun seed vigor a nd pla nt performa nce. If you ing. If the plant will lose more water than vestment that with normal use will last a lifetime. Made in dema nd the maximum performa nce from it will be able to take up, then it should your garden, plant Stokes Seeds. England of mirror polished Shef be pruned severely. As a general rule, fast field stainless steel they are SEND TODAY FOR YOUR FREE CATALOG growing trees with large leaves will need handsome. durable. and will not more water than small-leaved, slow grow rust. The drop forged shank fits STOKES SEEDS ing plants because they transpire at a greater through the entire length of the 2222 Stokes Bldg., Buffalo, NY 14240 rate. On the other hand, a plant with little handle providing strength and Name ______or no water loss should be pruned lightly balance. The 5" handle is made of Address ______or not at all. For example, a cottonwood kiln dried beechwood carefully Zip _ ___ or a tulip tree would need more water and shaped for comfort. The trowel would dry out more quickly than a yew has an extra large 6" blade. or a small-needled evergreen. These heavy duty garden tools are of professional quality and Now Available PREPARING THE SOIL ANP made with the care of surgical in in the United States PLANTING struments. They are a pleasure to own and use . . . a beautiful gift Dig the planting hole wide enough and for the serious gardener. deep enough to allow the roots to spread Hand Fork ...... $19.95 ppd. without crowding. For container-grown Hand Trowel ..... $19.95 ppd. Complete Set .. .. $35.95 ppd. and b & b stock, the hole should usually Over-sized; be about two feet wider than the soil ball Mass. Res. add 5% Sales Tax 320 pages; to allow adequate backfill. Amend the 1200 FREE CHRISTMAS Illustrations, backfill with no more than 20 percent or Many in color. ganic materials, such as peat moss or com CATALOG post. Loosen the soil in the bottom of the Quality tools. equipment. accessories and books for the serious gardener. hole to a depth of four to six inches. $45 If the hole is dug by an auger, loosen the hard, smooth surface created by the ------The first-ever illustrated biographical dictionary equipment. This hard layer often prevents of British Gardeners. A delightful. authoritative ~ work, including many unpublished contemporary penetration by young roots, confining the photographs & drawings of fameus gardens. Dept. AH102. 1121 Washington St. root system to the auger hole. Remove West Newton. MA 02165 Available exclusively from: plastic packaging prior to planting. Burlap __ Hand Fork(s) @$19.95ppd. SMALLWOOD & Co. may be left on b & b rootballs, but it __ Hand Trowel(s) @ $19.95ppd. 100 Fifth Avenue, Room 1205, NY, NY 10011 should be loosened and pushed a third of __ CompleteSet(s) @ $35.95 ppd. A very special Christmas gift the way down on the soil ball. Also remove lbtal enclosed ______SHIP TO so-called "plantable pots" to hasten es Payment by: tablishment and root growth. Cut roots of o MasterCharge o Visa Name container-grown plants lengthwise two to #_---;::::::-:::--__--:Expires ____ three times with a sharp knife to stop roots o Please send FREE catalog Address Apt. from circling around the pot and to stim Name ulate lateral root growth. Place bare-root Address City State Zip stock over a mound of prepared backfill, City ______Please send check or money order only; add $1.75 and spread out the roots to create a plant- p + h. Allow 4-6 weeks delivery. NYS residents add sales tax. L State Zip ------.1 American Horticulturist 11 rqREERqiRDEN$1 SEASONABLE REMINDERS CONT'D I -.. ~ / I I - \ "/ I ing situation similar to that of the original I I one in the field. ' I I If a tree or shrub is planted too deeply or not deeply enough, its growth will be Justly Famous For I I stunted, and eventually it may die from root diseases or other problems. Plant trees Make every day : Rhododendrons : at the same depth they were growing in • SUNday. . I Azaleas I the nursery. Generally the root collar, where the roots join the stem of the plant, should With a Janco gre~nhouse I Japanese Maples I that'sjust right for your home Dwarf Conifers be three to four inches below 'the level of or business. Free-standing or I Bonsai Materials I the soil. It is better to err in the direction lean-to, Janco greenhouses are I Flowering Trees & Shrubs I of a slightly shallow planting than to plant all-aluminum for easy care and I Rock Garden Plants I too deeply, because too much 'dirt on the come with regular or factory roots will smother the plant. Also, newly sealed insulated 91ass. A choice I Good selection of I planted trees may settle a bit after planting. of attractive fiA[shes, tool Sta~ ' . unusual Horticu!ture Books - I When using bare-root material, make sure with a Janco and you'll enjoy 1 Color catalog describes, prices over I the roots are not exposed to the sun during years of growing success. • 1600 plants. Widely recognized as a I planting. If a number of plants are to be Send $2.00 for our 4B-page valuable reference book. color catalog feat uring the I I planted, place them in a container filled 1982 edition, $2,00 largest selection of I with water until they are planted. Once and accessories. 'Alfo~ ~ur~;;;t§;;;j ' , I planted, fashion a watering basin or a sau : WORLD WIDE SHIPPING I cer-shaped depression around the plant to allow water to flow in the root area. I Dept AH 1280 Goodpastl,lr8 Is. ~d. II FERTILIZING Eugene,Ontgon,97401 , Dept AH-l 0 9~90 Davis Avenue I No one can dispute the beneficial effects Laurel! MD 20701 (301 )498-5'7'00 (503) 686-8266 J I--_----__ II!III , of fertilizing trees and shrubs. Timing of applications and the type of fertilizer used affect the outcome. Recent research reveals several advantages of applying fertilizers at planting time, particularly phosphorus (P), which enhances the formation of new roots needed for the quick establishment of the newly planted trees. Apply nitrogen (N) fertilizer cautiously at planting time; it should not come in direct contact with roots. Mix the fertilizer into the backfill or with the soil in the bottom of the planting hole. Any all-purpose, complete fertilizer (10- 10-10, 10-6-4 or 12-12-12) will provide Beautiful the nutritional needs of the plant. Some fertilizers will supply only nitrogen, phos phorus or potassium. For example, such Solariums phosphorus materials as superphosphate • Perfect for Room Additions, Hot Tubs, or bone meal are effective in producing a Solar Collectors, HorticultuFe good root system and can be added directly • Complete Selection of Styles and Sizes, to the planting hole. Lean-To and Free Standing Some slow-release or time-release fer • Special Insulating Materials and Accessories tilizers, which are safer and more labor Available saving to use but also are more expensive For a FREE color catalog, write to: than the conventional types, are Nitroform "Eaglet" Greenhouses and ureaform (both 38 percent nitrogen), sulfur-coated urea (36 percent nitrogen plus sulfur), MagAmp®( magnesium ammonium NATIONAL phosphate), Osmocote®( several formula GREENHOUSE COMPANY tions are avail~ble ) and the Agriform tab lets. I.n addition to granular types, there Dept. AH National Greenho .... Company, Bo. 100 are liquid fertilizers, such as the 20-20-20, Pan., n. 62557 10-52-17 and other formulations, all of 12 October 1982 CAMBRIDGE iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~ Popular Encyclopedia of Plants Y.H. Heywood and S.R. Chant, Editors The plant world in all its diversity and beauty is captured by this lavishly illus trated, large format encyclopedia. The Support newly planted trees with stakes placed near the tree trunk or with three or four guy 2,200 entries, arranged alphabetically, wires fastened to the ground. Gen(!raliy, trees more than one inch in trunk diameter should be describe ornamental and commercial supported in this fashion for one to two years after planting. Il1u strati ons by Ca rl a Aduddell plants as well as the timber species, which are soluble and should be ideal for attached to garden hose, rope or plastic botanical curiosities, lower plants, and deep-root feeding. string. The ties should be low on the trunk. more. Apply granular fertilizers at about one If two stakes are used instead of one, tie Each entry summarizes the number of tenth to one-fifth pound nitrogen or one the tree to both stakes. For large trees sev species, distribution, and general form to two pounds of a 10 percent fertilizer eral stakes or guy wires may be needed. of the plant in question, and discusses (10-10-10) for every inch of tree-trunk di Hold the tree in place by three to four guy its importance to man. Where relevant, ameter. A three-inch tree would need three wires looped to the trunk or lower branches information is given on outstanding fea to six pounds of 10-10-10 mixed in the and perhaps tightened by turnbuckles. An tures of the plant's biology, ecology, and backfill at planting. other method is to drive a stake in the history. $29.95 ground away from the trunk at a 45° angle MULCHING Over 700 Full-Color and tie it to the tree. Cover the ground above the roots with Do not stake trees for more than two to Illustrations four to six inches of mulch such as peat three years. Research shows that trees staked moss, ground bark, straw or compost after and supported over a long period do not YES! Please send me Popular you'v€ planted. A mulch greatly reduces develop strong trunks or root systems and Encyclopedia ofPlants weed growth and water loss from the soil are more prone to wind movement. In con Cambridge University Press surface; it prevents surface crusting; it im trast, trees grown with little support de Department P proves water penetration; and, most im velop a flexible stem that can bend without 32 East 57th Street New York, NY 10022 portant, it helps maintain a uniform tem breaking. perature, which will promote greater root To avoid damage on a tree trunk caused Name ______growth. Applying heavy mulch is espe by sun, winter weather extremes, borers cially impo~tant when planting in the fall, and animals, wrap newly planted trees up Address ______because it helps protect roots from drying to the first limb with burlap, paper tree City ______out and temperature fluctuations. wrap or strips of material known as "tree STAKING AND GUYING guard" (available at any nursery OF garden State Zip ______center). Remove the wrapping after 12 to In New York and California, please add Generatiy, trees more than one inch in trunk 18 months. sales tax. diameter should be supported by a stake By following these simple recommen o Payment Enclosed or guy wire for one to two years after da tions, any w€ll chosen tree or large shrub planting. After roots have penetrated firmly should survive transplanting and grow into o Master Charge Interbank # in the soil and the plant becomes estab a healthy, vigorous addition to the garden. lished, no further external support will be o VISA o -Houchang Khatamian needed. Card # ______Exp. ___ For trees of up to two inches in diamter, a stake (2-inch x 2-inch) driven into the Houchang Khatamian is an assistant ground close to the trunk will b€ adequate. Professor of Ornamental Horticulture at Signature Tie the tree to the stake by pieces o~ wire Kansas State University. American Horticulturist 13 BooK REvIEws ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS. Massachusetts, the author guides us through C. E. Lucas Phillips and Peter N. 34 outstanding public gardens of the east Barber. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. ern United States. All the vital statistics New York, New York. 1981.320 pages; location, admission hours and fees and such hardcover, $29.95. AHS discount price details as provisions for the handi $22.20 including postage and handling. capped-are included. The author also de This English shrub book, although in scribes each garden and calls attention to tended for the American market as well, any special plant collections within it. A will be of use to the advanced gardemer in historical sketch provides further back the United States but not the beginner. Many ground for each establishmenr, and a series of the cultivars discussed will be difficult, of "boxes" throughout the book provide if not impossible, to find. Hardiness zones interesting vignettes about special plant for the United States and Canada, and for groups, people and garden features. If you Europe, have been reduced to a common like to visit gardens, this guidebook is a system that is useful. The general text of must. the first 60 pages is definitely for the Eng BROMELIADS. lish reader, but the "Register of Shrubs," Jack Kramer. Harper & Row. New which makes up the rest of the book, cov York, New York. 1981. 179 pages; ers many species and cultivars that may be hardcover, $27.50. AHS discount price, new to the American reader. The black and $23.50 includingpostage and handling. white line drawings and photographs scat With the increasing popularity of bro tered through the text are too few in num meliads as house plants, this excellent ber to be of much help, but the 32 color treatment should answer any question that plates are superb. might occur to the beginning grower. Lots of photographs (both color and black and TWO FOR THE WEST COAST white), descriptions and cultural instruc tions for more than 200 species clearly FLOWERING PLANTS IN THE show the great variety to be found in this LANDSCAPE. fascinating plant family. Chapters on buy Mildred E. Mathias (editor). University are included. The selection is varied and ing, collecting and displaying your plants of California Press. Berkeley. 1982. 254 even more choices are listed in a series of in the garden and around the house com pages; hardbound, $16.95. AHS appendices. plete the story for the beginning grower discount price, $14.80 including postage Gardening with Native Plants, although and might even give the more advanced and handling. dealing with more than 250 plants from collector a few new ideas. the Pacific Northwest, is intended to be GARDENING WITH NA TIVE ROCK GARDEN AND ALPINE used as an introduction for gardeners PLANTS OF THE PACIFIC PLANTS. throughout the country as well. In addition NORTHWEST. Raymond Foster. David and Charles. to recommendations on use in the gar Arthur R. Kruckeberg. University of North Pomfret, Vermont. 1982.256 den, propagating and cultural instructions Washington Press, Seattle, 1982.252 pages; hardcover, $31.50. AHS discount are also included. This is a well written pages, hardbound; $24.95. AHS price, $26.45 including postage and and well illustrated guide to the rich flora discount price, $23.70 including postage handling. of a region that has much to offer to our and handling. gardens. This book is true to its title. It is about Originally published as a series of booklets plants rather than gardening (a few pages on flowering trees, shrubs and other plants, THE GREAT PUBLIC GARDENS OF of the book do touch on this subject). If this latest effort of Los Angeles Beautiful THE EASTERN UNITED STATES. you are a rock garden enthusiast you will is a new version of the earlier Color for Doris M. Stone. Pantheon Books. New enjoy learning where your plants come from the Landscape, re-edited and expanded. If York, New Yor~. 1982.302 pages; and how they grow in nature. The ar you garden in a Mediterranean climate (this paperbound, $12.95. AHS discount rangement is geographical, and the plants, means in much of southern 'California), price, $12.25 including postage and their natural growth habit and their wild this beautifully illustrated guide will show handling. associations are discussed by regions. The you what to expect from the choicest Starting with Fairchild Tropical Garden in entire world is covered. The last 50 pages plants from a world-wide selection. Trees, Miami, Florida and progressing north to are devoted to a cultural table covering shrubs, vines, groundcovers and natives the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, more than 1,000 plants. 14 October 1982 GERANIUMS FOR HOME AND Hortieultural Prints GARDEN. Alan Shellard. David and Charles. North From Original Works by Pomfret, Vermont. 1981.232 pages; hardcover, $22.50. AHS discount price, Henry Lindenmeyr $19.00 including postage and handling. Covering all aspects of selecting and grow ing the popular cultivars of Pelargonium (which we call "geraniums"), this book is good for the beginner. Since geraniums are mostly grown as house plants, the cultural instructions are applicable even though this is a British book. Unfortunately, as is usu ally the case, American readers will have a difficult time locating the European cul tivars that are described. fl -Gilbert S. Daniels Gilbert S. Daniels is the Immediate Past President of the American Horticultural Society. ------, ORDERFoRM Stokesia Pansies o Ornamental Shrubs $22.20 Now Available to You in Highest o Flowering Plants in the Landscape 14.80 Quality Four-Color Offset Printing. o Gardening with Native Plants of the Pacific Northwest 23.70 Admired by Artists, Curators and o The Great Public Gardens of the Eastern United States 12.25 Botanists Alike. o Bromeliads 23.50 o Rock Garden and Alpine Plants 26.45 A Notable Addition to Any Room. o Geraniums for Home and Garden 19.00 In Pairs, or IndiVidually. Enclosed is my check for __ books Size: 22" x 30" First Two in a Set of Four. For the total amount of _ __--- Printed on Fine 100# Stock-Ph Neutral. Please allow six weeks for delivery. Discount .------~~-----~~ price includes postage. Virginia residents add Framed: 564.95* Mall to: IlL Gr.apMes. 4% sales tax. Include $5.00 eaGh for shipping and Box 96il6,.asldu~.. , D.C. handIing. eOOI.6. Mail to: Dorothy Sams 5ilvel' 0 Gold American Horticultural Society ·Sto&esia P.O:'Box 0105 M0unt Vernon, Virginia 22121 Ship to: ______ Street: ______== ~ ___ City: __--- ______, , Pansies ~ , State: Zip: ' o !;;j Bo'th: SM. 95 ,L ______~I' ------,...,------_._-_._--,-----_._-----_._------AH-82 American Horticulturist 15 c BY WENDY j. SHEPPARD trolling through a constant drizzle, one can still enjoy banana to ripen in England was grown there. However, due to the beauty and romance of the Cascade, the Emperor neglect during World War 1, the contents died and the CC)ll SFountain and the Azalea Dell in the garden surrounding servatory was demolished. Chatsworth House---a fine example of an English country house. The center of the Great Conservatory's original site presently This 17th-century garden, located in Derbyshire at Bakewell, is contains a yew maze, which was planted in 1961. To the south considered to be the most extraordinary and varied of the land of the maze are plantings of lupines, which produce a spectacular scape gardens in England. Presently owned by the Duke and array of colors in May and june, and to the north are autumn Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth House and Garden have flowering Michaelmas daisies and dahlias. Although Paxton's passed through the hands of many owners and undergone nu greatest achievement at Chatsworth was destroyed, the garden's merous alterations. basic design as it appears today is a result of his work. The original garden was laid out around the main block of A new greenhouse in the Rose Garden was built to replace the house for the 1st Duke of Devonshire (1641-1707). It was the Great Conservatory. It contains a collection of camellias, transformed during the ownerships ofthe 3rd Duke (1698-1755) including two rare Camellia reticulata, which flower in March and his son, the 4th Duke (1720-1764). Launcelot "Capability" and April, and various other interesting plants, such as Buddleia Brown was responsible for the "natural" style of landscaping, auriculata and Magnolia wilsonii which, by 1760, obliterated the formal garden. The most fascinating elements of the garden are the Cascade Besides enlarging the house, further changes were made after and the Emperor Fountain. The Cascade was part of the original the 6th Duke inherited Chatsworth in 1811. He hired joseph garden and is crowned by the Cascade Temple. Water cascades Paxton, noted for his application of scientific and engineering down small, circular steps, which form the domed roof of the techniques to landscape design, to assist in redesigning the gar temple. Streams rising from the temple jets spill down the stairs den. Paxton's exceptional engineerililg skill was evidenced by of the Cascade, disappear underground, appear again in the Sea construction of the Great Conservatory, or Great Stove, begun Horse Fountain and finally spend themselves in the fountain on in 1836 and completed in three years. It flourished with plant the west-froNt lawn. Natural water pressure for the Cascade is specimens obtained from all over the world. In fact, the first supplied by a series of nearby lakes. Until the middle of the 18th century, the hillside above the Cascade and Temple was barren TOP: The Cascade Temple is one of several outstanding architectural of trees. Careful selection of specimens has resulted in a beau landscape features of Chatsworth. RIGHT: Fountains abound at Chatsworth. Through clipped hedges, a newer addition to the garden tifully wooded hillside, a perfect backdrop for the sparkling can be seen-a serpentine wall of beech added in 1953. waters of the Cascade. 16 October 1982 ABOVE: Iris enjoy their proximiry to the In contrast to the aesthetic beauty of the Dell, planted with Ghent, double-Ghent Canal Pond, constructed to supply the Cascade, the long Canal Pond was con and Mollis azaleas that are most outstand household with ice. TOP CENTER: structed for a more practical purpose. It ing in May and June; the serpentine hedge Rhododendrons add color accents to a lush planting adjacent to yet another man-made was dug for the 1st Duke, in 1703, to stock of beech, planted in 1953; golden box, attraction, a waterfall. FAR RIGHT: This the underground ice-house with ice for the planted in the middle division of the west bucolic view of Chatsworth House gives no summers. The pond now boasts the Em front garden, which can only be appreci indication of the engineering marvels its peror Fountain, another example of Jo ated when viewed from an upper story of surrounding gardens contain. RIGHT: A yew maze, established in 1961, is surrounded by a seph Paxton's engineering prowess. With the house; and the Grotto, a conceit built lovely display of lupine. its water pressure supplied by the largest at the request of the beautiful Duchess of the ponds on the nearby hilltop, the Georgiana (1757-1806). fountain can shoot as high as 290 feet Chatsworth flaunts its colors for a large the highest in England. The 6th Duke had part of the year thanks to England's fa it designed to honor Czar Nicholas, who vorable climate. Showy daffodils, crocus, was to visit Chatsworth in July of 1844. iris and other bulbs appear in early spring Unfortunately, the Czar changed his plans ... a brilliant display of colors can be seen and the fountain was unveiled without him. when the azaleas and rhododendrons bloom Although abounding with obviously in early summer . .. roses, lupines and man-made attractions, Chatsworth Gar shrubs flower later in the summer ... and den has many naturalized settings. Paxton autumn produces many-colored foliage. began planting the arboretum and pinetum Chatsworth Garden (and the house, in 1835. Expeditions were sent to North which can be visited year-round) should and South America, Nepal and India to not be missed by any visitor to England. collect seed of plants rare or unknown to If the sky is gray and the weather damp, England. Several of the plant materials in see it anyhow, because there could be no troduced by these expeditions were rho setting more peaceful and romantic than dodendrons, trees of the genus Pinus, blue this spot during a soft, summer rain. f) spruce (Picea pungens), dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and swamp Wendy J. Sheppard graduated from the Ohio State Universiry with a degree in horticulture. cypn~ss (Taxodium distichum). She is now a project coordinator for the Among numerous other attractions to Office of International Agricultural Programs be found in the garden today are the Azalea at Kansas State Universiry. 18 October 1982 American Horticulturist 19 • rna BY MRS. RALPH CANNON ver 200 years ago a tough group of plants from the Si berian wilds arrived inO England to settle down and grow. From England these leathery-leaved perennials mi grated to our shores, and, find ing our climate to their liking, flourished here. These plants have been classified by various names. First as Saxifraga, then Megasea and finally Bergenia. The present name honors an 18th-century German bota nist, Karl Bergen. German nurserymen have always been interested in bergenias and have produced many fine hybrids. Bergenias' long-lasting flowers appear in early spring. Their leaves are round or cor date, large, glossy, leathery and evergreen. The leaves generally form large rosettes as they grow, which makes the plant a particularly attractive addi tion to the garden. The leaves of some types change color during the winter, becoming pinkish or reddish on the tips. Because the flowers appear rather early, the blossoms are often subject to early frosts. Plant bergenias in a site shel tered from the early morning sun to prevent the sun's rays from rapidly thawing the fro zen blossoms and damaging them. Don't worry about the plant itself, however. Since bergenias are natives of Siberia and the Himalayas, they are extremely hardy. RIGHT: Bergenia ciliata growing at Kew. FAR RIGHT: Bergenia used in the rock garden at New York Botanic Garden. 20 O ctober 1982 and has spoon-shaped, fleshy, bright-green leaves. Its rose-colored flowers stand above the leaves and bloom early. B. cordifolia has cordate, glossy, dark-green leaves that turn reddish in winter. It grows to a height of 15 inches, and its magenta flowers ap pear a bit later than those of B. crassifolia. Other species include Bergenia X schmidtii, a widely grown plant that is usu ally the first to flower (rose-pink) in the spring and B. stracheyi var. alba, a dwarf variety from the Himalayas. It grows to about nine inches in height, has small, deep green leaves and white flowers. Several cultivars are partiuclarly out Bergenias will grow in any kind of soil, standing. 'Ballawley', from Ireland, has but they appreciate good compost and leaf large, oval, green leaves that turn to a ma mold. A sprinkling of bone meal is also hogany color during the winter months. useful, but they don't like manures high In the spring the crimson flowers appear in nitrogen. They also adapt to a sunny or on curved, 12-inch red stems. 'Silver Light', shady location, but dappled shade, where a German hybrid, has white flowers flushed they can get a few hours of sun every day, pink and shiny green leaves. 'Evening Glow', seems best and still encourages flowers to another German hybrid, has reddish-pur appear. A windy site is not desirable, how ple flowers and cordate, bronze lea~es. ever, because the wind easily tears the leaves 'Rosy Morn' is a strong grower With pink and makes the planting unsightly. flowers. These three hybrids were devel Once planted, only disturb bergenias oped by George Arends and are of the when they need dividing. Allow them to highest garden merit because they flower grow into large, noble clumps. These large in the spring and fall. clumps will make dramatic statements In Bergenias are such hardy, pest-free pe a border bed or formal garden, or in groups rennials that they demand consideration they will make a fine groundcover with in any garden plan. Gardeners over the their dense rosettes of leaves. years have used them in a number of im Bergenias are best propagated by divi aginative ways: They are particularly ef sion. The main roots, which are thick and fective planted in a dry wall. As the rosettes fleshy, grow along the surface of the soil. spread from crevice to crevice they com Divide the roots into small clumps, each plement and soften the stonework .. Ber clump including a few leaves or a growing genias are also good to use at a turn In the crown. Replant the division, with the leaves border where their greenery acts as a fOil just above ground level, during the fall. for more prominent flower colors. Beside To propagate from seed, first hand-pol a small stream a planting of bergenias makes linate the flowers to assure that seed is a lovely garden picture. Wherever tulips produced-the individual Bergenia cul.ti grow, a fine mass of Bergenia will lend vars are often self-sterile, so they reqUire stability to the planting and endure after pollen from another cultivar to set seed. the flowers have died. Or they are pleaSing The seed can be sown as soon as it ripens just by themselves. With their early c~lor in midsummer, or it can be held and sown contribution they act as a curtain raiser in the late fall or early spring. Mature, for the whole garden, and their autumn flowering plants can be obtained in two color and winter hardiness provide con or three years. Bergenias generally hybri tinuity of interest when the usefulness of dize very freely, so the progeny will prob other plants has been exhausted. 0 ably be quite variable. There are many species and hybrids of bergenias from which to choose. Two spe Mrs. Ralph Cannon received her Do.ctorate cies both of which are from Siberia, are from the University of Chicago and IS now retired as Emeritus Professor from that . . the 'most widely grown. Bergenia crassi institution. She gardens on 26 acres of Illmols folia grows to a height of about 20 inches woodland. American Horticulturist 21 rossing the border from San Diego sprawled over the ground. Gray-leaved into Baja California is the first step chaparral shrubs covered the hillsides, Cinto an enchanted land-blue skies, punctuated by the stout flowering stalks rugged mountains, sparkling beaches and of the century plant, Agave shawii. This friendly people. Our tour group of 36 agave was used by early natives as a food BAJA American Horticultural Society members, resource. Both the bud of the flowering guide Elissa Martino and myself started stalk and the plump leaf bases can be roasted down the Baja Peninsula on March 22, and eaten, and the sap is fermented to make BY RITA SHUSTER 1981. Driving along in a comfortable, air mezcal and tequila. conditioned motor coach, we compared We spent our first night at the beachside views of the Pacific coast to the west and El Presidente hotel in San Quintin and took the hills and mountains to the east. Cheer an early morning stroll to watch shore ful, yellow bush sunflowers, Encelia cali birds and collect sand dollars. After break (ornica, and desert dandelions, Malacoth fast we drove inland to the great Vizcaino rix glabrata, bloomed along the roadside. ABOVE: Elephant tree. TOP RIGHT: Agave. Great tangled thickets of galloping or dag OPPOSITE RIGHT: Encelia, yellow bush ger cactus, Lemaireocere'Us gummosus, sunflower or brittlebush. OPPOSITE: Yucca. 22 October 1982 American Horticulturist 23 ABOVE: Cardon cactus, Pachycereus pringlei. Desert. Plants in a wide variety of shapes, tylifera, surrollnd the town and nearby la RIGHT: Opuntia, cholla cactus. OPPOSITE: colors and textures are mixed togeth~r in goon making an oasis in the desert. Stately Fouquieria splendens, commonly called this l'Ough and rocky landscape. Broad ocotillo. old specim~ns of Ficus benjamina (for leaved buckeye trees, Aesculus parryi, and merly F. nitida), commonly called tropic laurel sumac, Rhus laurina, are found be laurel, shade the town squar~ where we tween spiny clumps of cholla and prickly bought dri~d figs and dates for snacks and pear cacti, Opuntia spp. Giant cardons, visit~d the old Dominican mission. Cross Pachycereus pringlei, tower up to 40 feet. ing a range of volcanic mountains in the The slender, crooked stems of ocotillo, morning to leave San Ignacio we caught Fouquieria splendens, wave in the sky, and the first glimpse of th~ lov~ly, blue Gulf the massive cwnical trunks and whisker of California and later had a picnic lunch like branches of cirios or boojum tn~es, under palm-thatched sheit@rs on the beach Idria columnaris, contrast with the deli of Bahia Conception. Unspoil~d islands cate, leafy shrubs of th~ creosote bush, beckoned from offshore, and g~ntle waves Larrea divaricata. Within easy walking lapped quietly at our feet. Brown pelicans distance of our hotel in Catavina we re skimmed over the calm water, occasionally view~d and photographed dozens of the diving for fish and then returning to bc:>b unique plants characteristic of this rich de on the surface. sert flora. Traveling down the peninsula from Lor The scenery changed as we drove on to eto to La Paz we found the lovely, endemic the Southwest, crossing the 28th parallel yellow morning glory, Merremia aurea, and at Guerrero Negro and entering Baja Cal the conspicuous yellow trumpet bush, Te ifornia South. Due to the higher humidity coma stans. Two types of elephant tr~es, near the coast epiphytic ball moss, Til Pachycormus discolor and Bursera micro landsia recurvata, and lichens wrap the phylla, with thick, sturdy trunks and smooth branches and trunks of cardons and cirios. bark, grew on the rocky hillsides. The sil Later only the inclined trunks of the hardy very white bark of th~ graceful palo blanco yucca, Yucca valida, are conspicuous on trees, Lysiloma candida, gleamed from the the windswept landscape of the coastal ravines. San Miguel vine, Antigonon lep plain. Where no other form of wood is topus, also called Mexican creeper or chain available, the trunks of these yuccas are of-love, displayed showy pink blooms along used as firewood and for fenceposts. the roadsides. La Paz is the largest city in R ~ turning inland w~ stopped for a night southern Baja, and we enjoyed the oppor at the pleasant community of San Ignacio. tunity for good dining, sightseeing and shop· Groves of tall date palms, Phoenix dac- Continued on page 38 24 October 1982 F10riade ~82 BY DONALD VINING Once every 10 years the Dutch outdo themselves at this special floral exhibition in Amsterdam. Acres of new plants, equipment and gardening ideas are introduced, many of which we can anticipate seeing in America soon. Here are some highlights of this summer's show. COLOR TREND That trendiest of color schemes-orange, blue and white-so desirable and so difficult to achieve in the garden, gets some help on the hardest part from a new pansy called 'Tangerine'. MORE FOR YOUR GROUND COVER GILDERS Dutch vegetable gardeners have taken the notion of the hot Bred into the large-flowered cap all the way to blowup: a garden-sized sheet of light, per hybrids from the species, the forated plastic keeps the chill off but admits water and air multiple-bloom character circulation. The plants themselves-in this case, various let istic is the keep-corning thing, tuces-hold the airy thing aloft. Right next door, more la seen here in Tulipa 'Orange borious lettuce cold-frames, bow-supported tubes of plastic Bouquet'. film, must be opened in the mid-day sun. BIG SPLASH Right in the middle of the perennial beds were excla matory clumps of ornamen tal rhubarb. The club-like PLANTER WALLS bloom spikes provoked the Built from pre-cast concrete most frequently asked ques sections, this low retaining tion: what is it? The beds wall brings rock gardening LOOK-ALIKES were planted like a forest to the edge of the patio. The Though most people still prefer tulips that look more or less floor, with great drifts of one blocks fit between grooved like tulips, there's obviously a market for tulips that look like plant gradually giving way wooden posts, making a something else. Tulipa 'Peach Blossom' was only one of many to another, the masses punc barrier ready to back-fill and peony-flowered tulips, and Tulipa bakeri 'Lilac Wonder', pic tuated with tall plants like plant. tured, seemed to have the water lily as model. rhubarb. 26 October 1982 LITTLE GEMS There's more interest now than ever in the species tulips, es pecially the small flowered forms, which are so perfect in rock gardens and other niches. Look at Tulipa chrysantha, 'Tub ergen's Gem' combined with muscari-and not much bigger. BANK ON IT It's such a simple idea that ROCOCO REVIVAL no one seems to have thought Watch for a return to favor of the parrot tulips, especially those of it before now: weeping that offer variegated foliage in the bargain. This mutant of the trees as "ground" cover to cultivar 'Hollywood' has yellow-bordered leaves instead of reshape and accentuate a white and a coral cast to the usually pink flower. bank. THE WHOLE THING Tulip breeders are paying more attention to the whole plant, draining color from the flower into the leaves and stem for a total effect. A standout example was Tulipa 'Douglas Baader', whose perfect pink cup was filled SUNSCREENS from a sturdy purple stem Screening the light and heat above spruce-blue foliage. 0 in Floriade's vast range of lHE FUTURE IN TULIPS D~mald M. Vining is on the greenhouses was done with The news in tulips is all right here: variegated foliage, which edi torial staff of Metropolitan flair and efficiency in long, looks somewhat hosta-like after the flowers have passed, and Home magazine in New York sheered panels of nylon. multi-bloom heads, which keep the color coming longer. City. American Horticulturist 27 28 October 1982 Euongmus t is exciting to see a favorite plant, challenged by a new but so numerous that even the cardinals, attracted to red objects, situation, come through with flying colors. Euonymus alata come to decorate the branches. The seeds are sometimes eaten I has done that for me. Called winged euonymus or burning and sometimes not, but for most of the winter they provide bush, this shrub has been used for hedging for years. Each fall, another source of interest. when it actually turns into a "burning bush," its most outstand This small tree is eager to leaf, and while other trees are still ing attribute demands center stage-its foliage turns a brilliant dormant it puts forth its welcome spring growth, providing a shade of red. green background for nearby flowering trees. Its leaves arrive Searching for more varieties of small woodland, understory so early and stay so late that even in Missouri it is without leaves trees to grow in the shade of taller trees in my garden, I began for only a few months of the year. to experiment with this old friend. I knew this plant had relatives Euonymus alata is not demanding, and it will perform without that were becoming hard to find, so much so that I hesitated to spraying since it has few disease or insect problems. Like most list them on a plan. Fortunately, after years of watching Eu good performers, it needs extra water during long, hot spells, onymus alata perform with great success in my experiment, I but this is only true until the plant begins to feel at home and fed prepared to introduce it to you in its new role-as an out really puts down roots. Then it requires less water than most. standing, small woodland tree! trees and will come through a drought looking fresh and green. Corky, winged bark gives this plant a true, tree-like structural A hardy fellow, Euonymus has been with me through -1 r F appearance, but it appreciates a bit of help to enhance its shape. winters and 1100 F summers. I prune off lower twigs and branches for the first few years. Euonymus is also available from almost any nursery. To my Each year less growth appears that needs to be removed, and mind, a plant that is hard to get often makes it undesirable. running my hands up and down the trunk will knock off the There is a compact form, Euonymus alata 'Compacta', but this beginning buds. The natural vase shape is pleasant, with five or cultivar should be used as a shrub. Yet if you meet some of its fewer stems or trunks. The winter view of a wide-spreading, other relatives, such as the wahoo (E. atropurpurea), E. euro short tree adds variety to a natural woodland. paea, or E. hamiltoniana, take them home, for they have the The results are worth the effort. Dogwoods, redbuds and same fine attributes, with variations of fruit, fall color and growth whitebuds seem to be the only choices for understory trees when size. planning a natural woodland area. But put Euonymus alata in Join other homeowners who are turning more and more of the front of your woodland, or even in deep shade within, and their grounds into wildlife areas, and invite this star performer J.;)o matter how long it must wait-until all the neighboring trees to become a part of the cast. It will bring color and character lose their leaves-it will eventually demand attention. With other to your garden and demand little in return-except appreciation. trees as bare-branched background, its leaves give us one last, n bright curtain call before winter snows begin to fall. Gay McDonnell Bumgarner has been a landscape designer for 17 As an added attraction the dramatic fall foliage gives way to years and has had articles published in House Beautiful and the appearance of equally lovely' scarlet fruits, which are small Flower and Garden magazines. BY GAY MCDONNELL BUMGARNER American Horticulturist 29 ABOVE: This rose-covered summerhouse at Badminton, near Bath, England, is a modern adaptation of a favorite medieval garden design element. RIGHT: Designing with supple branches is as simple and effective today as it was during the Middle Ages. Broad planks form a hinged gate suspended from a twisted wood portal. If the gate posts are cut when the wood is green and the upper branches malleable, the entwining of branches is easier. 30 October 1982 m~Cli~\'al 6arCl~n D~signs TEXT AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY LORRAINE MARSHALL BURGESS Gardeners have area for idle ro never been afraid mancing. Granted, to borrow ideas many of the gar from other eras. dens were made Perhaps garden for the upper ing, like no other classes, but the pastime, so values urge to garden be experience. As came more wide gardeners have spread among all searched in old people. When the books for new grandeur of great ways to find com stone walls, foun fort, ease tensions tains and fine or bring refresh statuary were be ment to the spirit, yond means, in many have dis ventive plants covered the mer men turned to its of the Middle hedging, wood Ages as one of the palings, lattice de brightest sources signs and topiary of garden delight. to provide the re Defined by his finements desired. torians as the time Those who could between Antiq not afford pavil uity and the Renaissance (476-1500), ions or summer houses resorted to the the Medieval era has provided us with construction of boxed spaces planted a visual heritage of great worth. Ten with flowers and edged with turf seats, sions eased and fortifications and castle places open to the sky but special, where walls gave way to open gardens. Do gardener hosts could offer hospitality to mestic life assumed a happier note. Or their friends. Ingenuity, improvisation chards and herb gardens were still main and caprice were tools of design, no tained as necessities, but flower gardening matter the class. These are tools we might came into its own as these lusty people use more often today. learned the pleasures of leisure time. Old drawings and prints give us clues Gardens were reshaped into pleasure re to the caprices that have gone before. treats and became the focus of family The gardens of kings were monumental festivities. in scale and remain as such, evoking awe Garden ideas were exchanged. The and wonder from tourists. But the ideas English borrowed from Italy, France and and aspirations of modest men are wor the Low Countries. Rich men built thy of our study too. In gardening, as fountains and water jets to startle their in much else, nothing is new. All we can guests and mazes and labyrinths to puz- . do is review old portfolios and interpret zle them. Arbors were raised up as shel or echo what pleases us. Remember, too, ter against sun or rain as the weather that the drawings we see are not pure. dictated, but, more to the point, as an They represent instead the artist's com- American Horticulturist 31 prehension of his own life and times, items he has seen or imagined. As a final caution, realize that the im ages viewed are dependent upon the artists' abilities to record in form;ltion accurately. Neverthe less, there is inspiration to be found in Medieval ideas. 1. With a few wood planks and 1 X 2 stakes, build a turf-covered retaining wall to hold soil in place. As an added feature, include a nich~ in the wall to allow room for a game table between the turf seats. 2. A box seat in a tree is a garden folly first reported in 14 90. Ap parently it offered protection from ground squirrels and people and was a quiet place to meditate. 3. Make a portable pyramid ar bor from leafy saplings tied to 1. gether with rope. The more the leaves, the greater the shade. (A similar "teepee" garden was planted in last year's children's garden at River Farm.) Please note: these fresh-cut solutions are for people who live with rampant growth on their own woodland. Those less fortunate should make arrange ments with the property owner be fore, cutting down any live growth. 4. In medieval times men often constructed spiral earthen mounts to enjoy the view. Benches or a re freshing fountain were top-side amenities. A similar mound exists in southern England today at the side of a soccer field. Spectators climb as high as they choose for a good view of the game. S. Hedging and topiary forms flourished in England because of the ease with which the English grew evergreen privet, box, yew and holly'. When something sculpturai was desired they pruned and trimmed their shrubs into birds, animals and abstract forms. One inventive gardener grew and trained a double row of plants into a, "house of hedges" with its own cool tunnel and lookout mount. 6. Medieval gardeners may not have had our barwa chairs or red wood lounges, but they did know 32 October 1982 how to get contour relaxation. They shaped turf into gentle curves to fit the reclining figure. On this they sprawled, with or without a mat between themselves and the grass. 7. The branches of a giant tree, often pine, were trimmed into lay ers and a summerhouse skirt was added around its base. A feature such as this was encircled by a lab yrinth hedging to make arrival at this spot a greater delight. A lab yrinth is generally a continuing spi ral. If you persist, you arrive.· A maze, by contrast, is a puzzle with blocks and detours not always solved. 8. Build a vegetable arbor for vining crops of forked saplings set into the ground around a square of planter boxes. Plant squash, peas and beans in the back box, and turf on either side of the portal should you and your guest wish to sit in the shade of this bounty. Tie the cross pieces of wood together with rope. The same design might be used with grapes, so you can eat them off the vine. 9. With a spring or a waterpipe as an assist, fashion a four-way drinking fountain for your garden. It might be the central ornament in a chessboard arrangement of foqr to sixteen square, raised beds with paths of equal width between. En close the entire garden with a high fence of lattice, wattle or wide wood palings and design and build one gate for all your comings and goings. Presto! You have a Hortus Conclusus, an enclosed garden the purest of human pleasures. 10. Planted in a raised bed in a wattle casing, a fruit tree can be turned for balanced growth or transported to another location. Wattle fencing is woven from fresh cut, flexible shrubbery stalks. Os ier twigs are best. Known to be as strong as stone walls as fortifica tions, wattle was a Medieval fa vorite-cheap and requiring little skill to build. 0 Lorraine Burgess is an artist and writer on garden subjects. She is the aqthor of Garden Art and The Garden Maker's Answer Book. American Horticulturist 33 MOST EFFECTIVE DEER SoURCES REPEJ.J.fJVT Developed by the Weyerhaeuser Co. EPA approved for conifers, BERGENIA non-bearing fruit trees, orna mental shrubs. Used by foresters, A number of sources include Bergenia cor orchardists, tree growers, home difolia and/or its most popular cultivar, owners. Proved over 85% effec 'Perfecta', in their listings. Companies in tive -lasts about 2 months. the list below that offer a wider selection dry are marked with an asterisk. Spray on liquid form in weather OUTOOOR LIVING-INDOORS! A beautiful insulated OR dust 6n powder fil-wet con- glass addition for solar collection, hot tub enclo sure and Plants sun-time activities. Bronze finish modular design Carroll Gardens, PO Box 310, 444 East ditions. -- provides a wide range of sizes. Exclusive patented ORDER FROM YOUR PowRVent'", Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157 The Solar Living Space Featured In: Garden Place, 6780 Heisley Road, FORESTRY SUPPLIER, • The 1982 World 's Fair, Knoxville, Tennessee OR DIRECT • Can Edison Conservation Home, Briarcliff Manor, NY. Mentor, OH 44060 • U.S. Dept. of Energy Brookhaven House, Upton, NY 1 gallon kit (2-part system, mix • Kohler Demonstration House, Kohler, Wisconsin Powell's Gardens, Route 2, Box 86, CATALOG and TAX CREDIT GUIDE: Send $1. for 1982 PriFlceton, NC 27569, catalogue $1.50 with water) OR 16 oz powder (no Theme Catalog , price li st and tax guide for pas sive solar mixing) $23.50. Both protect credits. *Shady Oaks Nursery, 700 19th SAMPLE WINDOW KIT: Send $5. for actual sample of Avenue, NE, Waseca, MN 56093, about 400 trees 2 ft. tall. P.P.G. bronze finish aluminum frame and glazing, 5 gal. kit OR Sibs. powder $78.00 assembly manual , heating guide plus Catalog and tax catalogue $1.00 credit guide. Postage Paid. Send check to: *Andre Viette Farm and Nursery, ROtltt'l 1, Box 16, Fishersville, VA 22939, .~ GREENHOUSESSEASONS lo!:rURMIg. by Four Seasons Solar Products Corp. catalogue $1.00 ~~.~~.AWAYT~" ~ 910 Route 110, Dept. AH 210. Wayside Gardens, Hodges, SC 29695, ~ Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735 712 15th Avenue NE ~ IN N.Y. CALL (516) 694-4400 catalogue $1.00 Minneapolis, MN 55413 CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-645-9527 White Flower Farm, Litchfield, CT The Energv Saving House of the 1982 World 's Fair " Knoxvill~ Tenn. © 1982 Fou r Seasons Gree nh ouses 06759, catalogue $5 .00 Seed Far North Gardens, 15621 Auburndale AUTOMATIC VENTILATION Avenue, Livonia, MI 48154, catalogue and collector's list $1.00 o~~~ by ~ j>OSc:~ J. L. Hudson, PO Box 1058, Redwood ~'o~~ For • cold frames • greenhouses • skylights ~1?8 City, CA 94064, Catalogue $1.00. ~ • solar collectors. animal houses 'D Geo. W. Park Seed Company, Inc., PO THERMOFOR automatically controls hinged windows as heavy as 30 lb . Box 31 , Greenwood, SC 29647 to maintain the temperature required . It will lift a full 12 inches, or hold Thompson and Morgan, PO Box 100, part way open as necessary. Farmingdale, NJ 07727 • You can go away with no worry CAPILLARY MAT about sudden weather changes. • Power failures have no effect - Capillary mat is available by the foot electric power is not used. from Barrington Industries, PO Box • Your plants thrive with closer 133, Barrington, IL 60010, catalogue temperature contr?1. $2.00. Algicide is also available. ~ __...... c" The SELECT model - best for greenhouses because it takes only 2 FLORIADE inches headroom. Clamp-on attachments simplify installation on metal houses. Write the following companies for more Ask for FREE PLANS to make your information about the products men own CAREFREE COLD FRAME , Start now and enjoy fresh salad crops right tioned. into winter - and be ready for an earl ; Perforated Plastic start in your garden next spring, Gebr. Eveleens Oosteinderweg 391 The SOVEREIGN model - best for IBRAMEN CO " lNC.~O New ~b;-S-;: cold frames because it's readily I P.O.Box 70-AK Salem, Mass. 01970 1432 AZ Aaismeer disconnected and re-connected. The [J Please send full information about Netherlands frame can be opened fully at any time. I • THERMOFOR controllers Nylon Drapery [l Please include FREE PlANS for making my own CAREFREE COLD Eo. Ludwig-Swenss.on Holland B.V. No wiring! Easily installed on FRAME. Langeweg 1 Name ______any greenhouse vent-top or 3214 H J Zwidland Ad&~ ______side-or on any cold frame . Netherlands 34 October 1982 Next ~ear's carefree GARDENERS! " garden starts ,.... J . , I , .... -, .. - MEDIEVAL GARDENS now If your curiosity in old prints is piqued, look for the following books at horti cultural libraries: Early English Gardens and Garden Books, Ellen C. Eyler, Cornell University Press, 1963. • Lifetime Warranty • The Gardener's Labyrinth, Thomas Hill, 1577. You can now enjoy lush, productive flower and vegetable gardens with little or no The Country Housewife's Garden, weeding, watering or fertilizing. A Wow William Lawson, 1617. Shredder/Grinder will turn waste into com The English Husbandman, Gervase post, brush into mulch, poor soil into rich Markham, 1614. loam. It will break up, crush, chop and shred virtually anything organic into usable ma Paradisi in sole, Paradisus terrestris, BIG OFF SEASON SAVINGS terial for your lawn, garden and shrubs. ON GUARD 'N GRO mini greenhouses. John Parkinson, 1629. But re-building the soil and stopping the Save up to 25% during pre·fall sale. These mini Maison Rustique, Charles Estienne and weed cycle starts this fall. Next summer, greenhouses are 100% solar powered. No artificial light or heat needed. Makes plants Jean Liebault, (translated by Richard you'll have the best gardens you've ever grow big and fast. Extends growing season Surflet), 1600. had ....with far less work! Let us tell you 6 to 8 weeks! Mail coupon for free brochure about the machine smart gardeners swear by. on all sizes. models. Mediaeval Gardens, Sir Frank Crisp, 1924,1966. *D','d .,.a..,;llilo )§J;IW311 The French Garden 1500-1800, William Mr. Roland Stanley, WoW Grinder, Inc. Howard Adams, 1979. Room 21102, 2957 N. Market St .!Wichita, Kansas 67204 Telephone: (316) 838-4229 T, ~~-;,~;, Dept AH10G , NANDINA o Please rush details on your WoW Shredder/Grinders St. James, NY 11780 I NAME I Name I Plants AODRESS I Address ______I TOWN I City ______Carroll Gardens, PO Box 310, 444 East I STATE Z IP I State Zip I Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157 '---~~--- ~ Wayside Gardens, Hodges, SC 29695, catalogue $1.00 Seed J.L. Hudson, PO Box 1058, Enjoy WATER-LILIES Redwood City, CA 94064, Catalogue $1.00 In your own garden. Lilypons catalogue features everything PHOTOS IN needed for your garden pool, TIllS ISSUE: including the pool. R=Right; L=Left; C=Center; T=Top; B=Bottom The Bamboo Alternative: Pamela Harper 4L. Gail Gibson 4TR. Lilypons Water Gardens Barbara W. Ellis 4BR. r------Chatsworth Garden: Michael Selig LIL YPONS WATER GARDENS 16, 18, 19TL, 19TR. Hollen Johnson WATER-LILIES 1510 Amhort Road 1510 LUypons Road 17,19B. LUypons, Maryland 21717 Brookshire, Texas 77423 Bergenia: Michael Selig 20. Barbara Fiberglass garden pools, (301) 874-5133 (713) 934-8525 W. Ellis 21. Lotus, aquatic plants, YES, Please send me the new colorful Baja: Pat O'Hara 22, 23, 24R, 25. Filters, pumps, lights Lilypons catalog. I enclose S2,50 Rita Shuster 24L, 38. PVC pool liners, sweeps Name______F10riade '82: Bardley Olman. Statuary, books, koi (Please print) Euonymus: Gay McDonnell Goldfish, scavengers Address Bumgarner. City ______Send $2.50 for catalog. Capillary Mat-Watering: Dr. Riohard State ______M. Adams II. Zlp ______ '------,------... American Horticulturist 35 NANDINA CONT'D from page 9 neYou them with orange-gold bittersweet and mahogany-brown seed pods from a local Own Trees field. The effect of these splashes of color in an old pewter pitcher was entirely dif . WITH A ferent from the more formal Christmas ar rahgement using the same berries. This past Christmas I combined some new dusters of nandina berries with white and red can dystripe carnations and lbng-needled pine. These new clusters of berries will last for years, but they will eventually begiN to turn to a duller, deeper red. Model #300SA the cultivar 'Alba' has attractive white a'Long berries, and although I could buy omly the 40% Tax Credit & State Credits standard red-berried kind at local nurs America's first producer of solar struc eries in Pennsylvania, I would expect that tures introduces the best value ever! the white berries would contrast most ef Hamdsome bronze aluminum, .double fectively with the standard cultivafs and wall insulated, it RUNS ON THE SUN® . . and not much else. Offers you all with many varieties of evergreens . . the options, to heat or grow, and save The leaves of Nandina are a wond!,!rfully you money in every way. All sizes, complex mixture of colors in any se~son shatterproof, the only greenhouse in the industry with a 5 year warranty. pale green shading to dark green, pifikish SEND $1 FOR COLOFI BROCHURE & bronze shading to reddish-purple; Hark A COPY OF RGCGNT IRS RULING green shading in the fall to scadet ·. ~tid in "', ON TAX CREDITS. the spring to bronze-green. These com V~GETABLE FACTORY, INC. pounded leaflets are as attractive as the P.O. Box 2235, Dept. AH-82 berries in flower arrangements; they will New York, NY 10163 last a week or two when cut and placed in warm water. Nandina offers contrasts of color and Propagation Breakthrough fOJ'm rarely combined in one shrub. Even o • _.~ 0 ~._._ • o. • though severe winter temperatures will de lay leaflet and stem growth in the spring, and berry production in the fall, tenderness in the shrub should not be considered a serious limitation because so many areas Nothing comes even close to the in the sheltered garden or in the house will propagation yields, convenience and foster healthy growth in the plant. Nurs versatility of Aquamonitor Mist Controls. eries in the mid-Atlantic states are begin 1. AQUAMON ITOR's sensor is placed in the ning to offer a greater variety of standard cutting seed bed . Its automatic multi-level nandinas, and mail-order suppliers spec mist is unique and unequaled. 2. All system adjustments are at the sensor, ialize in the more unusual dwarf cultivars. handy for "hardening off". You save time, Nurseries in the SOI!lth ami in western steps and avoid moving plants . California offer a wide selection of both Save a bundle by doing your own 3. Mist blasts can be set for 1/ 10 second up to 100and more. standard and dwarf cultivars. In these sec tree pruning. Up to 17 foot reach, 4. AQUAMONITOR is exceedingly stable and tions of the country where temperatures strong fiber glass poles, fast and reliable in or outdoors. The sensor is self are mild and winters are short, growth of easy cutting up to 1W' limbs, cleaned automatically. stems and side-shoots of Nandina is vig 5. It costs nothing to install or move. It is pre 16 inch saw blade for bigger stuff. orous enough to require frequent and often Teflon-S® coated blades won't wired, pre-plumbed, plug in, pull out, hand fitted ·and portable. extensive pruning, But in any section of stick, gum-up or rust. A great, 6. It is amazingly easy to operate and adjust. the country, when Nandina is properly money saving tool! Once set, it can be left pretty much alone until " hardening off" thinned, pruned, watered, sheltered and SEYMOUR SMITH & SON, INC. 7. 'One kit can operate a single nozzle or as trained, it develops into an adaptable shrub Better Garden Tools Since 1850 many as 150. P0wer is less than two watts. of Oriental grace and beauty. 8 Oakville, Conn. 06779 Multi-kit installations cost less and provide better control. PRUNING SHEARS. GRAS.S SHEARS -Gail Gibson HEDGE SHEARS. LOPPING SHEARS 8. It is rugged, durable, trouble free, safe, PRUNING SAWS dependable, solid state and has little wear or upkeep. The first kits sold 11 years ago are DO NOT USE THESE TOOLS NEAR Gail Gibson is a free lance writer and ELECTRICAL WIRES. operating today. amateur gardener whose articles have USE ONLY WHILE STANDING FI WRITE FOR OUR FREE LITERATURE ON DRY LAND. appeared in American Horticulturist, Plants AQUAMONITOR Alive and Home Garden. Box 327-Z Huntimgton., N .Y. 11743 36 October 1982 SPECIAL OFFER For a Limited Time Only PRONUNCIATION GUIDE BEGONIAS Cuide to Botanical Names in This Issue Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum The pack-i-SEER-ee-us PECK-ten a-bor-RIDGE Complete Reference Guide The accent, or emphasis, falls on the In-urn syllable that appears in capital letters. The by M.L. and E.J. Thompson vowels that you see standing alone are P. pringJei p. PRING-lee-eye pronounced as follows: Pachycormus discolor i-short sound; sounds like i in " hit" pack-i-COR-mus DIS-col-or o-long sound; sounds like 0 in "snow" Phoenix dactylifera a-long sound; sounds like a in 'hay". FEE-nicks dack-til-IF-er-ah Picea pungens PY-see-ah PUN-jinz Pinus ponderosa PY-nus pon-der-O-sa Aesculus parryi ESS-kew-lus PAIR-ee-eye Agave shawii ah-CAV-ee SHAW-ee-eye Pseudotsuga menziesii Antigonon leptopus sue-do-SUE-ga men-ZEES-ee-eye an-TIC-o-non LEP-toe-pus Rhus laurina ROOS law-RY-na Arbutus xaJapensis Spathodea campanulata ar-BEW-tus zal-ah-PEN-sis spath-O-dee-ah kam-pan-yew-LA Y-ta Arctostaphylos pungens Tabebuia tab-ah-bew-EE-ah ark-toe-staff-FY-los PUN-jinz Taxodium distichum tacks-O-dee-um dis-TY -kum g" x 12" 384 pages Over 2450 vanetles Bergenia cordifolia Over 850 Illustrations t 65 In color ber-GEN-ee-ah cor-di-FO-lee-ah Tecoma stans te-KO-ma ST ANS Tillandsia recurvata Beginner & Advanced Growers B. crassifoJia b. crass-i-FO-lee-ah till-ANDS-ee-ah ree-cur-VA Y-ta History Illustrated with old B. X schmidtii b. SCHMIDT-ee-eye Tulipa bakeri TOO-lip-ah BAKE-er-eye botanical and horticultural prints. B. stracheyi var. alba T. chrysantha var. tubergeniana Classification Facts and b. STRA Y-kee-eye AL-ba t. cry-SAN-tha too-ber-gen-ee-A-na characieristics of the 8 groups of Bombax palmeri BOM-bax PALL-mer-eye bl3gonias ... over 2450 species and Yucca valida YUCK-ah VA-lid-ah Bougainvillea glabra cultivars. boo-gan-VEEL-ee-ah CLAY-bra Culture Special needs of the 8 Bursera microphylla A Unique Illustrated Tour groups with many step·by·step pictures for potting, mixes, staking, BUR-ser-ah my-kro-FILL-ah of Britain's Royal Gardens pruning, fertilizing, spraying, Dasylirion wheeleri propagating. da-si-LEER-ee-on WHEEL-er-eye wn \1 (,\I\IJI '\" SRecial Techni!=jues For hanging EnceJia californica 7* x 10 Y2 in s containers, naturalistic growing, en-SEEL-ee-ah kal-i-FORN-i-ka 224 pages hybridizing, terrariums, and the Over 80 Erythrina flabelliformis different growing environments: Photographs in window garden. fluorescent light air-ry-THRINE-ah fla-bell-i-FORM-iss color and gardeI', outdoor garden and Euonymus alata yew-ON-i-mus al-A-ta black & while greenhouse. E. atropurpurea e.' at-tro-pur-pur-EE-ah All books shipped UPS or First Closs Moil E. europaea e. your-o-PEE-ah $22.50 within 2 days after receipt of order. E. hamiltoniana e. ham-il-ton-i-A-na Ficus benjamina FY-kus ben-ja-MY-na A lavish guide to the magnificent and historic $27.50 Fouquieria splendens gardens created and maintained by the Royal Oacket price S37.50) foo-key-A-ree-ee-ah SPLEN-denz Family. Specially-commissioned photographs Idria arborescens of II principal gardens, including Sandringham, Balmoral and Windsor Castle, reflect the Mati to: The Thompsons ID-ree-ah ar-bo-RESS-ens changing traditions of Royal gardening. Subsidiary of Mil lit" Thompson . 111 ('. I. columnaris i. coll-um-NAIR-iss AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM: P.O. Drawer PP SOuthampton. NY 11968 Ipomoea bracteata SMAlLWOOD & Co. ip-o-ME-ah bFack-tee-A-ta Please send an outogro",hed copy of 100 Fifth Avenue, Room 1205 , BEGONIAS for me. I understand that the Larrea divaricata New York, NY 10011 price of $27.50 (Jacket Price $37.50) in cludes shipping charges. LARE-ee-ah dy-vair-i-KA Y-ta A perfect Christmas gift Lemaireocereus gummosus Name ______le-mair-ee-o-SEER-ee-us gum-MO-sus SHIP TO Address ______LysiJoma candida Iy-si-LOW-ma CAN-did-ah Name Malacothrix glabrata mal-ah-COTH-ricks gla-BRA Y-ta State Zip Merremia aurea mare-EM-ee-ah A W-ree-ah Address Apt. o Check or money order enclosed. Chargeto __Visaor __MasterCard Metasequoia glyptostroboides o Number Expiration date __ met-ah-se-QUOY-ah City State Zip glip-toe-stro-bo-EYE-deez I J I I I I I I I I I " I 1/ Nandina domestica Please send check or money order only; add Signature ______$1.75 p + h. Allow 4-6 weeks delivery. NYS nan-DEE-na doe-MES-ti-ka Offer is good from Oct. 1 through Jon. 5. 1983. residents add sale s tax. Opuntia o-PUN-tee-ah American Horticulturist 37 THE AMERICAN BAJA CONT'D from page 24 HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY is delighted to offer to its members the following books written by the legendary English gardener GERTRUDE JEKYLL which have been specially reprinted to a high standard by the ANTIQUE COLLECTORS' CLUB ABOVE: The Hotel Finisterra in Cabo of Great Britain San Lucas. LEFT: Tarahumara Indian GARDENS FOR SMALL woman selling crafts at Divisadero. COUNTRY HOUSES (with Sir Lawrence Weaver) $44.50 less 20 % discount to members $35.60 WOOD and GARDEN $29.50 ping. The town is bright and tropical with took a boat ride in the nearby harbor of less 20% discount to members plantings of Bougainvillea glabra and the $23.60 Topolobampo, where we saw groups of African tulip tree, Spathodea campanulata. seals diving in the water and Magnificent HOME and GARDEN We had come over 1,000 miles when we $29.50 Frigatebirds circling high overhead. less 20 % discount to members arrived in Cabo San Lucas, and for three Los Mochis is the western terminus of $23.60 nights we stayed at the very tip of the Baja the famous Chihuahua al Pacifico railroad. WALL, WATER and Peninsula in the Hotel Finisterra. This ho The train starts east across the coastal plain WOODLAND GARDENS tel is built into the rocks of a cliff that early in the morning, passing orchards of $29.50 overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf less 20 % discount to members citrus fruit and avocados. This region is $23 .60 of California (also known as the Sea of characterized by thorn forest where many Cortez). By day we could go swimming, COLOUR SCHEMES for the kinds of trees, shrubs and cacti occur, all FLOWER GARDEN walk into town and shop, take a boat ride armed with thorns, barbs and spines. $29.50 to view the rock formations at "Land's Among the mimosa, mesquite and acacia less 20 % discount to members End," or drive back into the desert to see trees grows the hairbrush cactus, Pachy $23 .60 fossilized remains of ancient whales and cereus pecten-aboriginum. The spiny fruits GARDEN ORNAMENT sharks. Pleasant evenings were spent din of this cactus have been gathered and used $49 .50 less 20 % discount to members ing to the music of a mariachi band. Then, as combs by natives of the region. The $39.60 with a fond adios to this lovely spot, we thorn forest is gradually replaced by the NEW TITLES boarded our flight from Cabo San Lucas sub-tropical deciduous forest where the LILIES FOR to cross the Gulf of California and land train begins to ascend into the mountains. ENGLISH GARDENS on the Mexican mainland for the second At the end of the winter dry season many $29.50 half of our trip. trees come into bloom before leafing out. less 20 % discount to members Everyone was surprised to see huge fields $23.60 We saw the silk-cotton tree, Bombax pal~ of marigolds as we flew into Los Mochis. meri, with spectacular white-petalled CHILDREN and GARDENS Here the flowers are harvested and dried $29.50 blooms up to eight-inches in diameter, and less 20 % discount to members as a crop and then used as an additive to the showy flower clusters of both pink and $2 3.60 chicken feed to brighten the color of egg yellow primavera or trumpet trees, Ta M ake checks payable to yolks. Sugar cane crops also contribute to bebuia spp. Two unusual relatives of the The A merican Horticultural Society and the prosperity of this modern commercial morning glory occur in the canyons of the send to Mount Vernon, Va 22121, attention Dorothy Sams. Please city, and the warm tropical air is rich with region. The bracted morning glory, Ipom understand that as these books are being the sweet scent of the refineries' products. oea bracteata, climbs over trees and shrubs despatched J rom England there will be We spent an afternoon touring the city and and makes a show with masses of rosy a delay oj Jo ur to Jive weeks. 38 October 1982 bracts. The stark branches of the tree Ericaceae). At the station in Divisadero we brought us into the town of Creel, center morning glory, Ipomoea arborescens, bear stepped off the train and walked down a of the logging industry in the region and fragrant white blooms that open at night short sidewalk to our hotel on the rim of a headquarters for Indian activity. Creel is and attract bats as pollinators. Altogether the Copper Canyon. Leaning on the rail a major marketplace for local crafts and the train crosses a system of 39 bridges at the rim we looked down at buzzards we chose from blankets, mugs, baskets, and 86 tunnels between Los Mochis and sailing on the wind currents in the canyon pottery and woodenware. Many of the Chihuahua. Climbing the canyon of the and at the Uri que River 4,000 feet below. Tarahumara Indians still wear traditional Rio Fuerte we passed deep gorges, alluring We had climbed from sea level at Los costumes and live in caves or hand-hewn waterfalls and shady side canyons. Many Mochis to 8,000 feet at Divisadero in one log houses. We visited some local families surprises and treasures await the botanist day, and the air felt thin and cool. The and took an excursion to see the 2S0-foot who ventures into this steep and rugged rustic hotel at Divisadero had small fire waterfall at nearby Cusarare. terrain. We marvelled at the robust Ficus places in every room, though, so we could Our trip ended in Chihuahua City with trees with roots spreading over rocks, the each enjoy a warm and cheerful blaze that an extended tour of the main plaza, the spider-shaped agaves clinging to sheer cliffs night. cathedral, Pancho Villa's mansion and the and the wild dahlias with glossy scarlet In the morning we hiked along the can central markets. We had traveled over 1,SOO petals. yon rim identifying many species of pines miles and had seen plants of tremendous By mid-afternoon we reached the top of and oaks in the forest. Small clearings in diversity: seaside plantings and mountain the canyons and rode out into the Sierras the vegetation that clothed the canyon walls flora, plants of the sub tropics and those where the terrain levels out and the pine identified the distant cornfields and dwell of the desert, all within an area possessing and oak forest extends for hundreds of ings of the Tarahumara Indians who live a distinctly different culture from our own. square miles. Here and there the smooth, in the area. Some Tarahumara women and Our tour of Baja had lived up to its promise red bark of the madrone tree, Arbutus xal children gathered around the station plat of being a true horticultural exploration. apensis (formerly A . texana) shines out be form to sell lidded baskets made from sotol, o tween the somber pines. The common Dasylirion wheeleri, dolls and figurines shrub, Mexican manzanita, Arctostaphy carved from pine bark, Pinus pon Rita Ann Shuster recently received her los pungens, with its red bark, evergreen master's degree in botany from the University derosa, and coral beans, Erythrina flabelli of Colorado in Boulder. She has also taught leaves and pale-pink flowers, is a smaller (ormis, strung as beads. adult education courses in gardening and relative of the madrone (both are in the A short train ride over the mountains greenhouse management. Endangered Wild Flower Calendar hree thousand species and varieties of American wild flowers-one tenth of those native to the United States Tare threatened with extinction. More than 50 of them have already disappeared. Help save our endangered wild flowers by purchasing this attractive, 1983 Endangered Wild Rower Wall Calendar. Funds raised from sales will be used to support conservation projects. • 14 full color photographs • Extra large lOx 17 inch format • Informative data on all plants pictured • U.S. map indicating number of threatened species per state • Plenty of space for daily notes and appointments ____ Help Save Endangered Wild Flowers __ _ I To order, send $5.50 per calendar ($4.50 each on orders I I of four or more) to Dorothy Sams, American Horticultural I I Society, P.O. Box 0105, Mt. Vernon, VA 22121. I I I I Name I I Street I I I I~~~ I I Total # ordered Amount Enclosed ~ J ______Sabatia kennedyana Photo by B. Some L- ______ American Horticulturist 39 INDOOR GARDENER CAPH1ARY-MAT WATERING hick, fluffy, pure-white capillary of the drainage holes. Since I switched to hands of a potential brown-thumb or cal mat fabric draws up water and capillary-mat watering my plants have never endar-waterer. T transfers it efficiently to pots with looked better, and I have more time for And plants that could benefit: soil in contact with it. This property, which things other than watering. • Flats of seeds or cuttings: these require allows indoor plants to be watered con A capillary mat or "cap-mat" is simply continuous moisture to germinate or grow tinuously and automatically without un a piece of water-conducting cloth. Its ef but, if overwatered, may be susceptible to derwatering, may be one of today's most fectiveness is based on capillary action, the damping-off. liberating advances in indoor horticulture. tendency for water to be drawn into small • Terrariums, easily overwatered because With a capillary mat system I no longer spaces when the molecules stick to other of their closed bottoms, easily neglected water the plants in my fluorescent light surfaces as well as to each other. Some because they don't need watering often. garden one-by-one; I just add water to a examples of people who could benefit from • Prized specimens coming into flower: if central reservoir, and water reaches each capillary-mat watering: over or under watered their blooms may plant all week long. A capillary mat dips • The self-effacing "brown-thumb" who wither. into the water trough and loops over a flat claims not to be able to pick up the knack • Kitchen herb gardens: they require op sheet of crystal clear acrylic sheeting. Water of watering, or tends to water by the cal timal water levels for the best growth, ap is drawn into the mat, then into the pots endar rather than need. pearance and pungency. through string wicks or soil sticking out • Bonsai: growing in minuscule amounts • The green-thumb who never has enough of soil, they may need watering twice daily; Ferns, sundews and a pitcher plant, grown by time to water plants when they need it. the author in this terrarium, thrive in the forget to water, and the results of years of environment he has created with the help of a • People who go away and don't want to pruning, shaping, training may be over with capillary mat. neglect their plants or leave them in the in a day. 40 October 1982 THE CAP-MAT CONCEPT being absorbed, conducted and transpired, Watering would be simpler but roots The explanation of capillary mats begins the total quantity must remain within close have conflicting demands. They need water with water. Plants, weight-wise, are largely tolerances for the plant to survive. around them to absorb, but they also need water, but most of it is transient, flowing Cultivating plants involves balancing to "breathe." Roots are living tissues that continuously from substrate to roots, roots their water flow. We supply water at the need oxygen for respiration, but oxygen to shoots, and evaporating from shoots to input point, the roots, and we help regulate diffuses through water much more slowly air. Although the water accounting for most its outflow through the leaves by adjusting than through air. Some aquatic plants have of the pla~t's weight is in continuous flux, ventilation, temperature and light level. foliar air passages through which oxygen Building a Cap-Mat Terrarium or Planter 1. BASE. Select as a water reservoir a three dimensional clear plastic picture frame, 5 x Figure 1 7, 8 x 10 or 11 X 14 inches. 2. TOP. For the terrarium or planter, cut use glue containing methylene chloride, (or have a plastics retailer cut) pieces of 'Is ethylene dichloride, inch-thick acrylic sheeting, sized to fit on top and/or methyl ethyl kerone; of the frame, as follows: 2 sides: length that sides extend to desired or tape together and " weld" by height for terrarium bl eeding methylene chl oride of the frame by the height you choose for the terrarium 2 ends: width that of the frame plus inti" :~~::y~ad::rP:;r . '/4 inch (or twice the thickness of the plastic used, to compensate for the thickness of the terrarium or por o f capil1 ary maning Vs"· thick acry lic pl astic prevents soil loss, frame's sides), by the height chosen for the pieces gl ued together ___ fa cilitates la ter removal terrarium. Bottom: thickness of plastic 3/,6 or '/4 inch to support the weight of the soil, length that of the frame minus 3fs inch (to allow for capillary matting sewn to form belr end gaps for the mat to pass through), width the same as the frame's. Top: length and width that of frame, both plus % inch, to allow top to sit on sides. All pieces must be precisely cut for a good in ve rted 3-D pl astic fit. If you visit a plastics dealer, write down pi cture fr ame forms water reservoir the number of pieces needed and their di mensions to facilitate ordering. When you pick up the pieces, take a ruler and check the ac curacy of the cutting. line the inside (see diagram). This will prevent to dry out and xerophytic succulents and cacti. 3. GLUING. Join the plastic pieces with an soil from seeping through the end slits into Succulents might do well if the water reservoir acrylic glue, one containing methylene chlo the reservoir and will also make it easier to were filled only briefly, drained and refilled ride, ethylene chloride and/or methyl ethyl ke remove the medium if you should replant. only when the soil dried again. tone. Or, for a more finished appearance, as 6. SUBSTRATE. Mix the growing me 8. FILLING RESERVOIR. Distilled or rain semble the pieces in their final form with dium, add a wetting agent if desired to speed water is best. Refilling will be required about removable tape (e.g. drafting tape) and apply water uptake, moisten and spoon into the ter once a month, depending upon closure of top, methylene chloride along the joints using an rarium. Soil moisture, aeration and weight can air exchange, number of plants and other fac eye-dropper or fine-pointed applicator bottle be controlled by adding perlite and/or ver tors that influence transpiration and evapo (available from plastics dealers). The meth miculite. As an alternative to adding soil, place ration. ylene chloride will be drawn by capillarity into individually potted plants, wicked to ensure 9. LIGHT. Place the terrarium in diffuse the joints and will "weld" the pieces together moisture flow, directly on the mat. This is light, bright or dim according to the plants' in a strong, neat-looking bond. In assembling, good for rooting cuttings or germinating seeds. requirements, but not in direct sunlight, as the allow the sides to extend 3/'6 of an inch beyond 7. PLANTING. Use plants that prefer moist "greenhouse effect" (the plastic's admission the bottom at either end, leaving a gap for the soil. This includes most species except epi of visible radiation and retention of infrared) matting to pass through. The ends should abut phytic plants like orchids with roots that need will overheat the inside of a covered terrarium. the sides, given the above dimensions, so the outside edges of the terrarium and frame will Sizes of plastic pieces required for building capillary mat terrariums on top of be flush. 4. MATTING. Cut a strip of capillary mat picture frames of given sizes. fabric the width of the inside and a little longer Frame size Formula than twice the length. You will need enough to Pieces 5 x 7 8 x 10 11 x 14 length x width cover the bottom and dip into the water res ervoir in a continuous loop. Thread the ends of 2 sides 7 x height 10 X height 14 x height 1 x height the matting through the slits in the bottom of 2 ends 5% x height 8'/4 x height 11% x height (w + '/4) x height % the terrarium and sew them together. top 5% x 7% 8% x 10% 11% x 14% (w + %) x 1 + w X (1 - 3fs) 5. LINER. Cut another strip of matting to bottom 5 x 6% 8 x 9% 11 x 13% American Horticulturist 41 INDOOR GARDENER CONT'D reaches their roots, and many succulents soil in the ground, but since it also has less MATERIALS FOR SET-UPS can stay dry a long time, but ordinary plants' total absorbent capacity it also dries out Mats. These are made of organic or syn roots-those not so specialized-need to faster. Its water level cannot as readily be thetic fibers. Organic fibers may be cheaper, have both moisture and oxygen in the balanced at field capacity, so the plant is but synthetic fibers last longer. One brand proper balance, and that balance makes continually subjected to extremes of sog of organic-fiber mat is advertised as having watering an art. We must strive for the giness and drought. a useful lifespan of 21/2 years, while syn optimal moisture level, staying on a fine The capillary-mat or " cap-mat" system thetic mats may last for several years. Mats line between too much and too little. for watering potted plants has the effect are generally sold by horticultural supply To do this, we need to know something of making each pot part of a larger system companies (see the Sources Section on page of the forces that control water. Gravity with the properties of soil in the field. 34) in long rolls, say 150 feet. If cap-mats and capillary action are two of the most The mat itself is a sheet of water-ab become more popular with homeowners, powerful controlling forces. You can see sorbing material. You lay it on a level, the material may become more readily them come into balance by dipping a sponge waterproof surface, keep it moist, and set available by the yard or foot. into water, pulling it out and holding it pots on it with their medium in contact Growing Media. In experiments with up to drain. As you pull the sponge from with the mat (directly or by a wick). The capillary-mat watering at Cornell Univer the water, gravity draws water from it substrate in each pot draws water from sity, peat-lite mixes have been used. They a stream at first, becoming finer, breaking the mat by capillary action, so it is main are light in weight and have a high cation into droplets that gradually slow in for tained continually at field capacity. The exchange capacity (the ability to hold nu mation and cease. At this point the sponge moisture level can be varied by adjusting trients and release them gradually). These is still wet; the remaining water is held by the height of the mat above the water source. mixes consist of varying proportions of capillarity. Continuous moisture may be excessive for peat moss, vermiculite and perlite. The Soil is like a sponge in that gravity and plants that need to dry out between water proportions of these ingredients determine capillarity control its water content. In a ings, like succulents or epiphytes, and it the properties of the medium-its moisture plant container gravity draws water down may be insufficient for those preferring to content, aeration, cation-exchange capac and out of the soil, while capillarity draws stand in water, like aquatics and some kinds ity and weight. Peat, decomposed sphag it in. More specifically, a well-structured of bog plants, but for most plants, those num moss, is organic, acidic, has high soil is approximately 50 percent pore space, thriving in soil that is evenly moist and moisture and cation-exchange capacities about half of this micropores-spaces so near field capacity, it is ideal. A capillary and is heavy; pure peat is poorly aerated, small and narrow that they draw in water mat system is quite simple: it requires a however. Perlite, exploded lava rock, is like capillary tubes. The other half of the sheet of water-conducting fabric, a water neutral in pH, holds little moisture and pore space is macropores-larger spaces source and contact between the soil and has a low cation-exchange capacity, but is where gravity predominates and draws the mat. lightweight, promotes good aeration and water downward. To plants, this means HISTORY is durable. Perlite contains trace amounts micropores soak up water that roots can of fluoride, which may be toxic to some absorb, while macropores allow water to The first capillary "mats" were layers of plants, but this can be removed by rinsing drain out and air to diffuse in. sand on benches. The sand drew water in running water. Vermiculite, exploded In the ground a "tug-of-war" between from channels underneath or was mois mica rock, is also lightweight but, because these two forces balances the water con tened continuously by automatic or drip it is many-layered, it has high cation-ex tent. Capillarity takes its grip in the mi irrigation systems. But sand is heavy and change and moderate moisture and air crop ores that form a vast, sponge-like net difficult to put down and remove. Later, holding capacities. It is easily compressed, work absorbing water and spreading it cloth mats were developed to replace sand. however, and does not last a long time. uniformly through the soil. Gravity pre Today, a large-scale commercial set-up may Pots. Hard plastic (e.g. polystyrene} pots dominates in the macropores, draining consist of a cotton or synthetic-fiber mat have thin walls and can often be used on them. After a rain, when the soil equili underlaid by polyethylene sheeting atop a mats without wicking if they do not have brates, the micropores are full of water and level bench. It may be watered intermit long feet. Clay is permeable to water, and the macropores are empty. At this point tently by timer-controlled spray nozzles, clay pots lose moisture faster than plastic the soil is said to be at field capacity (as or continuously by water-permeable tub pots. (Also, the moisture lost through their opposed to saturation, where all spaces are ing or a network of Chapin "spaghetti" sides may support growths of algae, moss full, or the wilting point where all spaces tubes, the water draining freely from the and fungi.) Styrofoam plastic pots do not are nearly empty). bench. lose moisture through their sides and are Growing a plant in a pot, we isolate a Those who grow a variety of plants in light-weight, but they are thick-walled for cylinder of soil from the capillary network different media and pots can realize a key strength, so there is often a gap between of which it would, in the ground, be a part. advantage of cap-mats: as long as the mat the soil and the bottom of the pot; the pots We break the imaginary rope through which is moist and mat-soil contact is good, all must be wicked to be used effectively on the counterbalancing forces tug. By direct pots will be kept continually at the same a capillary mat. 6 analogy, gravity has a shorter length of moisture level, regardless of how much -Dr. Richard M. Adams, II soil upon which to pull, and this smaller water they use. Here, the cap-mat elimi segment of soil is isolated from the larger, nates both the application of water and Dr. Richard M. Adams, II is the Curator of capillary sponge of soil. So, after watering, the decisions as to which plants need the University of California, Riverside, potted soil retains more water than would watering. Botanic Gardens. 42 October 1982 Setting Up a Capillary-Mat Watering System Figure 2-Large Scale, Trough-Type Set-Up Figure 3-Stand-in Mat gurrer connecting pieces mat suppOrt arc available to make 3/4" ri se makes of 3/. 6" thick troughs longer than 10 ft . mar drier above, acrylic sheet werrer below, [0 suit different plants' preferences; make support level for uniform moistn ess troughs of polyvinyl chloride gun er cut mat suppOrt o f pl ywood from '1 O~ft. sections waterproofed with polyester to desired length o r vin yl paint~on coaring inverted 3 ~D plastic ( Marine~ o r prescrvarive~treated su pport legs of picture frame forms plywood is [Oxic to plants.) V4" acrylic rod water reservoir 1. MATERIALS. A level, waterproof sup inch acrylic support. (The frame is actually ting time. For small pots with several drainage port surface and a water reservoir are all you a little larger than 8 x 10 inches, to hold holes, insert a continuous loop of wicking down need. Suitable support materials include acrylic artwork of that size, so the support fits nicely through one hole and up into another. Fray both plastic sheeting (e.g. Plexiglas, Lucite), wood inside. ) The acrylic sheet is supported by legs ends for good soil contact, and hold them into coated with vinyl or polyester or covered with made of V.-inch-diameter acrylic rods. The the pot while adding soil. With only one drain polyethylene sheeting, and (for the smallest set mat is higher on one side to give a range of age hole, insert one or more pieces of string, ups) glass. The reservoirs can be any stable con dampness for growing plants with different leaving an inch or so sticking out of the bottom tainers into which the matting can extend. The moisture preferences. There can be several of the pot to contact the mat. Use pieces of size of trays and troughs can be made to fit the stand-in supports in a single, large reservoir. crocking if necessary to keep soil from leaking required space, even narrow windowsills. My Another of my set-ups is a 11 x 14 inch out of the holes. Otherwise, no drainage ma set-ups, which stand on a fluorescent light plant frame with four supports, 51/2 x 7, each a terial is necessary. After setting up the mat, check cart shelf, are of two types: different height. periodically to see that each pot is receiving 2. RESERVOIR SIZE. How large should the adequate water. The soil should feel moist to • The trough-type (Figure 2) has a 3/16-inch water reservoirs be in relation to the mat atea? the touch. If it is not, check the moisture of the thick acrylic sheet (15 x 18 in.) that straddles The greater theit water-storage capacity, the less mat, the contact between wick and mat and the two troughs (18 x 3 x 11j, in. high) made often you will have to refill them. How often contact between wick and soil. of acrylic. The capillary mat covers the sup will depend upon the relative humidity, air flow, 5. CONTROLLING MAT MOISTURE. The port and dips into the troughs at either side. amount of light, number and sizes of plants on amount of water in the mat depends upon its The troughs were made from cheaper, "scrap" the mat and their transpiration rates. In general, height above the water reservoirs, the higher the acrylic, leftover pieces from large sheets, often I have found that to go a week or more between drier. This is useful in regulating the mat's mois sold by the pound by plastics retailers. I have refillings indoors, the volume of the reservoirs ture content to suit the moisture preferences of also used balsa wood for supports and troughs. should be approximately equal to the area of plants. For carnivorous plants, I keep the water Balsa is inexpensive and can be cut with a capillary mat surface. For example, a mat 15 level within half an inch of the mat surface to razor blade or X-acto knife, but several coats x 18 inches (270 square inches) will require keep these bog dwellers wet. For palm trees and of vinyl are needed to make it waterproof. two 18 x 5 x 1 V2 inch (270 cubic inches) ferns that like it drier, the mat is an inch or For large-scale set-ups, acrylic sheeting be reservoirs. more above the water. I have successfuly grown comes expensive as area and thickness in 3. SETIlNG UP. Cut a piece of matting of succulents on mats six inches above the water crease. It is cheaper to use plywood (with a appropriate size and lay it over the support, supply. You can get different'moisture levels on waterproof plastic coating, but not marine dipping into the reservoirs (see Figure 2) . The the same mat: tilt the support surface by prop or other treated plywood, which can be toxic mat may be slow to take up water at first but ping up the back of trough-type mats or using to plants) for supports and polyvinyl chloride you can sprinkle water on it; excess will drain two different lengths of legs on stand-in set-ups, gutter sections or slit-open, 4-inch polyvinyl into the reservoirs. Use rain or distilled water, raise the mat in small areas by putting thick chloride tubing (available from building sup if available, since hard tap water may, as it pieces of plastic or other supports underneath pliers) for troughs. If you have an automatic evaporates, leave salt deposits that will clog the it, or set pots on top of moisture-conducting watering system, it can be used to keep a mat. florist's foam. To test the range of moisture capillary mat moist. Simply lay the mat on 4. POTS. To take up water, the growing me conditions obtainable, I am experimenting with top of a layer of 4-mil polyethylene sheeting dium must contact the moist mat through a bog plants and desert plants-on the same mat! and set up enough watering tubes or nozzles pot's drainage holes, either directly or via a wick. 6. ALGAE. If algae grow on the mat, they to adequately moisten the mat. Use string, cord or yarn (preferably synthetic, can be controlled if necessary with the appli • The stand-in set-up (Figure 3) has an inverted since cotton and other organic fibers can rot). cation of a fungicide/algicide, such as Physan picture frame as the reservoir, in which stands To test wick materials for capillarity, wet a piece, 20. a piece of acrylic on four legs. The mat forms place one end in a glass of water, and let the 7. FERTILIZATION. Liquid fertilizer, if it a continuous loop over the support and into other end hang out. If the string conducts water, drains from pots or is applied to the mat, will the inverted frame. One such set-up consists it will draw water and form a puddle outside encourage the growth of algae. To avoid this, of an 8 x 10 inch frame with an 8 x 10 of the glass. Wicks are best incorporated at pot- use solid, timed-release fertilizer in the soil. American Horticulturist 43 GARDENERS MARKEI'PIACE AFRICAN VIOLETS BROMELIADS CLASSIFIED AD RATES: LARGEST SELECTION-Save 20/40% on Plant THE BROMELIAD TREASURY Dept. A offers Stands, Light Fixtures, Growing Accessories, 50¢ per word; $10.00 minimum per insertion. 10% a selection of decorative species and hybrid Bro discount for three consecutive insertions using same Lamps (3 0 kinds) FREE CATALOG. Indoor meliads at very reasonable prices. Unique 22 copy. 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Brand new GARDENER, the most useful, most quoted of Biannual Bonsai magazine-catalogue, $3.50. 1983 total color plant catalog featuring hundreds all gardening publications. Every month this Bonsai care information, unusual starter trees, of Orchid Cactus (Epiphyllums), Rhipsalis, Rat unique news service brings you the newest and tools, pots, fertilizers. Visit or write to: Shoen tail Cacti, Hoyas, Holiday Cacti, Starter Col most practical on-going gardening informa Bonsai and japanese Garden, 601 E. Gude Drive, lections, plus multiple discount and winter tion-new plants, products, techniques, with Rockville, MD 20850. (301) 762-0878. BONUS specials. Send $1.00 (deductible) for sources for every item, plus feature articles, spe super 37-page catalog to: RAINBOW GAR BOOK SEARCH SERVICE cial issues. Now in its 14th year. Awarded the DENS, Box 721-AHI02, La Habra, CA 90631. Garden Club of America Medal for outstanding Send your list of wanted gardening books or Cactus, Epiphyllums, Lithops, Echeverias and achievement in horticulture. Special to new sub general titles to me. (Out of print, antiquarian, other succulent plants. 112 page illustrated cat scribers, $10 for a full year. Sample copy $1. second hand.) I'll try to locate them. No obli alog $1.00. CACTUS GEM NURSERY, Dept. THE AVANT GARDENER, Box 489M, New gation. Edward F. Smiley, Bookseller, RFD 5, H, 10092 Mann Drive, Cupertino, CA 95014. York, NY 10028. 43 Liberty Hill Rd., Bedford, NH 03102. Visitors welcome. BOOKS C~OROUSPLANTS ANTHURIUMS New EXOTICA 4, enlarged to 16,300 photos, Carnivorous, woodland terrarium plants and "ONLY THE BEST FOR 40 YEARS" by Dr. A. B. Graf; 2,590 pages in 2 volumes, supplies. Book, The World ofCarnivorous Plants, BLOOMING PLANTS READY FOR POT $175 . TROPICA-7,000 Color photos of ex $6.50 postpaid. Illustrated catalog 25 ¢, Peter TING. OBAKES . . . Two color blossoms. KAU otic Plants and Trees, $115. EXOTIC PLANT Pauls Nurseries, Canandaigua, NY 14424. MANA .. . Deep red. KOZAHARA . .. Deep MANUAL-4,200 photos, $37.50. EXOTIC red. OZAKE .. . Lipstick pink. PASTELS . . . HOUSE PLANTS-l,200 photos, $8.95 . Cir CLOTIllNG many colors. ONE PLANT OF EACH VARI culars gladly sent. ROEHRS, Box 125, E. Ruth LEE jeans. Factory outlet work clothes, shoes. ETY READY FOR PLANTING SHIPPED VIA erford, Nj 07073. Bargains on new shirts (low as $4.95), LEE jack AIRMAIL POSTPAID .. . $21.50. HISAE GARDENING BOOKS: New, used, rare, out ets, boots, gloves, coveralls. Send $1.00 for cat CAMPBELL, PO Box 1232, PAHOA, HI 96778. of-print. Hundreds of titles in stock at all times. alog. SARA GLOVE CO., 16 Cherry Ave., Dept. Send 6 20¢ stamps for catalogs. WARREN C-131, Waterbury, CT 06704. BRODERICK, 695 4th Avenue (PO Box 124), DAYLILIES Lansingburgh, NY 12182. Seven named varieties. Wide color and season DRY YOUR FLOWERS for Winter Bouquets! range, $10. Descriptive catalog 25 ¢. TRAN Two Step-by-Step Books. " PRESERVED QUIL LAKE NURSERY, 45 River Street, Re FLOWERS" $2.95 and "DRIED BOUQUETS" hoboth, MA 02769. $8.95. SHOW-and-TELL DIRECTIONS with hundreds of photos, so anyone can do it. $1.00 GREENHOUSE GROWING postage one or both books. FREE NEWSLET FREE! "How to propagate cuttings better in TER, send stamp. Roberta Moffitt Designs, Box and outdoors." Get information on a "break 3597, Wilmington, DE 19807. through" write now. AQUAMONITOR, Box 327-B, Huntington, NY 11743. BRITISH TEAK GARDEN SEATS Solid Teakwood Garden Seats-featured in the HARPER HORTICULTURAL SLIDE aboretums & gardens of England. The perfect LIBRARY (PAMELA HARPER). heirloom gift for church, park or private garden. We supply many of the pictures in this and other Send $1 .00 (deductible) for color catalogue and garden magazines. You may rent these and current price list. COUNTRY CASUAL, 17317 40,000 others, or buy duplicates. Lecture pro Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874. grams on many topics. Catalog $1. 219 Ro (301) 428-3434. banna Shores, Seaford, VA 23696. 44 October 1982 HORTICULTURAL GIFTS MISCELLANEOUS RARE PLANTS "HORTICULTURAL TREASURES"-A stun Exotic Butterflies, Beetles ... Africa, Brazil, etc. NEW PLANTS, RARE PLANTS, EXOTIC HA ning catalog collection of juried gifts for men 64 Page Catalog. $1.00. COMPLETE SCIEN W AllAN PLANTS, HARD to find house plants. and women who garden. Specialty hand tools, TIFIC, PO Box 307-H, Round Lake, IL 60073. NAMED plumeria, Ti plants and Hibiscus. Rare solid teak British garden seats, Colonial style Aroids and Variegates. FREE LIST. HA oak hayforks, traditional egg baskets, pot pourri NEW METHOD OF IRRIGATION WAIIAN SUNSHINE NURSERY, PO Box 353, cottages, antique doll sawdust ornaments, gold NEW METHOD OF IRRIGATION. Saves up Haleiwa, HI 96712. floral jewlery-pins, tie tacks, cuff links, floral to 80% of water and energy used on gardens, RARELY OFFERED SOUTHEASTERN NA screen prints, elegant pot pourri lace sachets, lawns, orchards and residential & commercial TIVES, woody, herbaceous, nursery-grown. lace impressed stoneware wall basket filled with landscaping. One control will irrigate up to 300 Many hardy northward. Also newly introduced a Williamsburg style floral bouquet, and more. square feet of garden or as many as four trees. exotics selected for Southern gardens. Send SASE Free catalog-Country Casual "Horticultural No maintenance, vandalism or electricity. Sim for extensive mailorder list. WOODLANDERS Treasures," 17317 Germantown Rd., German ple to install. Tested and proven successful by AH, 1128 Colleton Ave., Aiken, SC 29801. town, MD 20874. (301) 428-3434. U.S. Department of Agricu lture. Price $30.00 each. California add 6% sales tax. No C.O.D. RHODODENDRONS and AZALEAS HORTICULTURAL SCHOOL Guaranteed. WATERGUARDE, PO Box 1222, SPECIALIZING IN THE UNUSUAL. Dwarf POM-OLERI INSTlTUTE-A two-year voca La Mesa, CA 92041, Dept. A. Rhododendrons, Evergreen & Deciduous Aza tional Horticultural School. Box 704, Ava, MO leas, Dwarf Conifers, Companion Plants. Cat 65608. (417) 683-2319. NURSERY alog $1.00, refundable. THE CUMMINS GAR HOUSE PLANTS DWARF EVERGREENS, UNCOMMON DEN, 22 Robertsville Rd., Marlboro, NJ 07746. TREES. Visitors welcome. Displays labeled. (201) 536-2591. ORCHIDS, GESNERIADS, BEGONIAS, CACfI Browsing encouraged. Please send a stamp or & SUCCULENTS. Visitors welcome. 1982-83 two for our li st. (No shipping) DILATUSH ROOTIN COMPOUND Catalog $1.25. LAURA Y OF SALISBURY, Rt. NURSERY, 780 Rte. 130, Robbinsville, NJ DIP 'N GROW, LIQUID ROOTING COM 41 (Undermountain Rd.), Salisbury, CT 06068 08691. POUND distributed nationally. IBA and NAA (203) 435-2263. combined, plus antibacterial and anti-fungal RAREST PLANTS EXCLUSIVELY; otherwise ORCHIDS properties. Dilute 1:5 for hard to root; 1:10 for commercially unavailable, 250 variegates, Dra ORCHIDS! ORCHIDS! ORCHIDS! Brome most plants. Mfg. by ALPKEM, Inc. 1 pint, caena, Philodendrons, 50 palms, 25 grasses, Eu li ads, Staghorn Ferns, Books, Peters Fertilizer $18.50; 1 gallon $86.50. Sent UPS prepaid. PA phorbias, 150 Sansevierias, 40 Aloes & Agaves, Potting Mixes, Supplies for indoor and green CIFIC ORNAMENTALS, PO Box 1045, Hills 180 Succulents, 60 Cycads, 200 Hoyas, Ferns, house culture. Catalog, 40(1 coin or stamps. FOX boro, OR 97123. 40 Bamboo, 250 shrubs, 200 trees. Catalog & ORCHIDS, INC., 6615 West Markham, Little SEDUMS & SEMPERVIVUMS newsletter $4. ENDANGERED SPECIES, 12571 Rock, AR 72205. Unusual Collection of Sempervivum-Sedum. (A) Redhill, Tustin, CA 92680. PALM SOCIETY Catalog 25¢. ALPINE GARDENS, Box 247AH, HOYA SPECIAL PALM SOCIETY members receive our inter Dallas, OR 97338. national quarterly journal "Principes." Our Seed WHAT'S A HOYA? Send for free descriptive TREE PROBLEMS-BOTANICAL OR Bank distributes seeds of rare palms collected list. Limited hoya introductory offer. 6 different LEGAL 2" hoy as $19.95 PPD. SAN LUIS GARDENS, worldwide. Five chapters in the U.S. meet fre quently, enjoy viewing beautiful collections, For Directory of members of the American So Rt.3, Box 269A, Dept. AH, San Luis Obispo, ciety of Consulting Arborists-the experts in CA 93401. conduct rare palm sales, and exchange cultural information. Regular membership $15 to THE tree care and appraisals for legal matters, write: HYBRID AFRICAN VIOLET SEEDS PALM SOCIETY, INC., Box 368-AH, Law ASCA, 315(AH) Franklin Road, North Bruns Select from Regular Foliage Mix, Variegated rence, KS 66044. wick, NJ 08902. Foliage Mix, Trailer Mix, Miniature Mix. $4.25 PHALAENOPSIS (MOTH) ORCHIDS UNUSUAL INDOOR PLANTS per packet of 100 seeds. Complete instructions, Blooms for months in greenhouse or window Unusual Indoor Plants. 1,800 Varieties-Be unconditional guarantee. For list only (includes gonias, Ferns, Geraniums, Herbs, Exotics. NEW specific crosses list) send 50¢. NADEAU sill; white, pink, yellow, peppermint, novelty species. Other orchid genera available. Write 1982-84 catalog with more color $2.50. SAINTPULIA SEED CO:, 48A Queensbrook, LOGEE'S GREENHOUSES, AH, 55 North St. Louis, MO 63132. for list. GREEN VALLEY ORCHIDS, Rte. 1, Box 233 S, Folsom, LA 70437 (504) 796-5785. Street, Danielson, CT 06239. IRIS UNUSUAL PLANTS Siberian iris. Seven named varieties. Broad color PLANTS-RARE BUT AFFORDABLE • Outstanding Ornamentals » American Na UNUSUAL PLANTS, rare succulents, Caudi range, $10. Descriptive catalog 25¢. TRAN ciforms, Sansevierias and other exotics. Illus tives » Conifers * Wild Fruit » Bird and Wildlife QUIL LAKE NURSERY, 45 River Street, Re trated catalog and periodic newsletters-$1.50. hoboth, MA 02769. Plants ,. Containerized starter-plants; afforda ble prices. Descriptive catalog-$1.00. FOR SINGERS' GROWING THINGS, 17806 Plum IVIES ESTFARM, 990 Tetherah, Williams, OR 97544. mer Street, AH, Northridge, CA 91325. Rare and unusual Ivies for you in 82! TROP WILDFLOWERS EXOTIC GROWERS, INC. Ivy Specialists, 708 RARE MAPLE SEED JAPANESE MAPLES, UNUSUAL SPECIES FALL PLANTING. Guaranteed highest quality 60th Street, N.W., Bradenton, FL 33529. $1.00 wildflower tubers, roots, etc. Free descriptive for catalog, deductible with first order. AND SELECTED CUL TIVARS. Small packets for collectors, specialists and bonsai use. Send catalogue. MASTER GARDENS-B, 3930 MAGNOLIAS 20¢ for list: MAPLEWOOD SEED COM Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. MAGNOLIAS, 60 varieties-many new and rare, PANY, 6219-A S.W. Dawn, Lake Oswego, OR maples, dogwood, stewartias, styrax, other un 97034. usual trees and shrubs. Catalog, $1. GOSSLER TREE PEONIES FARMS NURSERY, 1200 Weaver Road, RARE NATIVE PLANTS .....::....:-:--=------::: CHINESE CONQUEST Springfield, OR 97477. Rhododendron chapmannii, R. austrinum, R. Blue and green flowers plus many unusual specimens from speciosum, R. serralatum, R. prunifolia, Mag Chinese dynasties never seen before. Send 52.00 for Chinese MAPLES nolia ashei (Weatherby), Magnolia pyramidata, catalog and new 1980·1981 all other peonies catalog-credited MATSU-MOMIJI NURSERY-Rare & unu Stewartia malacrodondron. Grown from native on first order. Also AMARYLLIS catalog . sualJapanese Black Pines and Japanese Maples. seed or cuttings. Write for prices and shipping LOUIS SMIRNOW and SON Shipping List 50¢. PO Box 11414, Philadelphia, dates. SALTER TREE FARM, Rt. 2, Box 1332, 85 linden Lane. Brookville. N.Y. 11545 PA 19111. Madison, FL 32340. American Horticulturist 45 It lells You When to Water he lower half of the Nutriponics® planter shown above very red, and they are larger than cherry tomatoes. They are is transparent so you can see the water level The roots growing in our attractive planter which makes plants grow faster T grow down into the liquid and pull up water and nutri and better. We have had similar success with all types of plants ents as needed. You need add water only every week or two. from African Violets to Geraniums to Sunflowers. You can also depending on the plant Tomatoes may require more frequent use Nutriponics to give your plants a head start for planting watering when the plant is large. later outdoors. • Our instruction leaflet on growing tomatoes indoors is free for You will be thrilled at how easy it is to grow your favorite the asking. Also we have written an illustrated 52-page book on plants using this new technique. We do not grow plants for sale, NUTRIPONICS which is included in each of the kits listed in the but we have hundreds of different kinds of plants growing in our coupon shown below. experimental areas. Write us for more information or use the The tomatoes in the above photo are Pixie which are sweet and coupon below. Windowsill Gardens, Grafton, N.H. 03240, Dept AHJ D Send Information Namp"-______D Send $9.95 kit StreetL______D Send $19.80 kit City State"--_____Zip __ Includes planter shown above. Include $2.00 for shipping WINDOWSILL GARDENS Grafton, New Hampshire 03240