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Box 1130, Dept. 1526 Buckeystown, Maryland 21717 B).?ook&h:ire, Texas 77423 Thermal, California 92274 1-800-723-7667 eric an Horticulturist Volume 73, Number 8 August 1994 ARTICLES Avian Gardener by Richard Devine .. .. ... .... ........ ................. 18 Whether you own a huge estate or a sma ll lot, yo u can do your part to help bring back America's birds. A Great Notion in Grand Rapids by Margery Guest ................. ..... ..... ... .. 27 Two news articles launched a Michigan woman on a 12-year crusade for a conservatory for her city. After July-Agastache by Jack Henning .. .. .. ................................... 32 They're pretty, pungent, and can take the heat. Mantis Metamorphosis AUGUST'S COVER by Maggie Perry ............ .. .. ........... .. .. .. ... .... 36 Photographed by Rob Simpson A confirmed bug hater undergoes a change of heart. The red-shouldered hawk, one of Refreshing Gaultherias the commonest hawks in the Southeast, breeds in moist, by Daniel Hinkley ....... ..... ..... ... .. .. .. .. ........ .. 39 lowland woods and bogs, often Their bright berries put pizzazz into the late fall landscape. close to cultivated fields. It hunts from a low perch, from,which it drops to catch snakes, frogs, and DEPARTMENTS rodents. Richard Devine, head gardener on a private north Florida estate, was inspired by the Commentary ..... ..... ..... ..... .... ..... ........ 4 hawks and other birds that li ve in its acres of natural woods to Members' Forum ..... ....... .. ..... ... ... .. ..... ... 5 landscape his own home as a haven for birds. His story begins Offshoots ..... .. ....... ........ .... .. .. ........... 6 on page 18. Gardeners' Information Service . ............................. 8 Natives at Risk . .. .. .............. .. ... ...... .... .... 9 Natural Connections ..... ..... ... .... ................. ... 10 Planting the Future ........ .. ... ... .. ................. 12 The Urban Gardener . ....... .. ........... .. ............ .. 13 Book Reviews . ... ..... ... .. .......... ..... .. ...... ..... 15 Pronunciations . ... ........... ........ ....... ..... ..... 44 Classifieds .. .. ..... .. ..... ... .. ..... ... ... .45 American Horticultural Society The American Horticultural Society seeks to promote and recognize excellence in horticulture COMMENTARY across America. OFFICERS 1993-1994 Mrs. Sarah S. Boasberg Chairman y the sounds you hear in yowr gar­ Washington, D.C. den, or wafting into your home, you Dr. William E. Barrick know the summer of 1994 is in its First Vice Chairman B Pine Moumain, Georgia full glory: leaf, insect, bird, and even frog Mrs. W. R. J. Dunn noises resownd from this season's verdant Second Vice Chairman gFowth. Even the bitter scars of our 17-snow Birmingham, Ala@ama Mr. William A. Pusey winter here in the Washington, D.C., area Secretary seem to fade under the luxuriance of foliage, Washingt@n, D.C. flowers, and seed heads. Few plants have yet Mr. Gerald T. Halpin to reflect the changes that the environment is Treasurer Alexandria, Virginia already using to prepare them---even in the most tropical parts of our country-for the BOARD OF DIRECTORS coming winter. Dr. Thomas Amason These seasonal changes are often fac­ Birmingham, Alabama Mrs. Suzanne Frutig Bales tored owt of am awareness by careful but Bronxville, New York shortsighted plant selection and design in public and private gardens, Dr. Sherran Blair theme parks, and even in malls. Everything must look like a Ross Hunter Columbus, Ohio Mr. William F. Brinton production where Sandra Dee is 23 years old forever---everything must be Mount Vernon, Maine in place, perfect, and never changing. Seasonal changes provide a vehicle Mrs. Nancy H. Callaway Pine M@unta·in, Georgia to incorporate a much wider palette of species, and forms beyond the Mr. Paul Ecke Jr. typical three-tiered design-upright tree forms, shorter flaring masses of encinitas, California shrubs, tied together with ground cover and lawn. Dr. John Alex Floyd Jr. Birmingham, Alabama Designs based on nature allow for a much wider range of forms-not Mrs. Julia D. Hobart only upright but weeping and columnar, and foliage that is a mix of Troy, Ohio evergreen and deciduous or that changes color. Imagine reclothing a barren Dr. Richard L. Lower Madison, Wisconsin urban site with multiple layers of plants, in exposures ranging from full Mrs. MartYn L. Miller sun to deep shade. Ashton, Maryland Mrs. Walter M. Morgan Jr. When you add water for the enjoyment of songbirds, you have all the Nashville, Tennessee elements of what is coming to be recognized as the New American Garden. M~. William G. Pannill A prototype, the New American Friendship Garden, designed by Wolfgang Martinsville, Virginia Dr. Julia W. Rappaport Oehme and James van Sweden for the National Council of State Garden Santa Ana, California Clubs, is on display at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. Mr. Geoffrey L. Rausch Native plants and selected species from around the world flourish with Pitt;sburgh, Pennsylvania Mrs. Jane N. Scarff birds and insects in an environmentally responsible garden. New CaFi isle, Ohio In this issue, read how the head gardener at a north Florida estate used Mrs. JoseplUne M. Shanks Houston, Texas the surrounding natural forest as a guide for replanting his own garden to Mr. Emanuel Shemin attract birds. Another gardener tells how a 1 O-year-old neighbor persuaded Greenwich, Connecticut her to take a close and appreciative look at that garden terminator, the ~. Andre Viette Fishersville, Virginia praying mantis. Most of us are familiar with wintergreen and anise hyssop; Ms. Kary Moss Warner two other articles will expand your awareness of their relatives. Lah Buena Vista, FloFida Through this magazine as well as our awards program (you'll hear about Mr. Monroe Whitton Alexandria, Virginia this year's winners in the next news edition), AHS always stresses that individual gardeners can make a significant difference in the lives of many others. Read also about Betsy Borre, the driving force behind a new public PRESIDENT garden in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who emphasized throughout her DF. H. Marc Cathey 12-year effort the importance of educatiol'l and accessibility for all. EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Each of us can do our share in our own communities, creating gardens Mrs. Helen Fulcher Walutes to define and sustain the environment and havens that welcome all people and earth's otheF creatures as well. As you enjoy the sounds and sights of the summer of 1994, I encourage yow to respond to the call. Together we can make ours a nation of gardeners. H. Marc Cathey, AHS President 4 AUGUST 1994 American Horticulturist Editor MEMBERS' FORUM Kathleen Fisher Managing Editor Mary Beth Wiesner Assistant Editor Chris Bright Editorial Assistant Midwest Bougainvillea with catmint, N. x faass enii. N. cataria Steve Davolt Regarding the letter from A. H. in Colum­ grows to three feet and has leaves up to two Design Director bus, O hio, in your February "Gardeners' inches long and white (sometimes pinkish) Joseph Yacinski Information Service," bouga invillea could flowers. N. x faass enii can reach 18 inches Designers be grown that far north-if one is willing with blue-violet fl owers and narrow leaves Pam Johnson Bob McCracken to make some concessions. one and a half inches long. This is a natural Membership Director We lived in Mexico, where I fell in love hybrid of N. mussinii and N. nepetella. N. Darlene Oliver with this glori ous vine. Later we lived mussinii is a low-growing, spreading plant many years in Bermuda. Now th at we are w ith blue flowers that self-seed s Editorial Advisory Board John Bryan back in the Midwest, we still have one of readily. Mary Ober Sausalito, California our favorite vines. No, we cannot have a Fairfax Station, Virginia John Creech IS-footer that sprawls over the eaves, but Hend ersonvi lle, North Carolina Keith Crotz we can enjoy it many other ways. You 're right. Our description of catnip did Chi llicothe, Illinois A south window is essential (p referably sound more lik e N. x faassenii than N. cata­ Panayoti Kelaidis a tall so uth window), as are some large ri a. Elisabeth Sheldon's article "The Catmint Denver, Colorado plant containers and sharp pruners. When Muddle" in our August 1993 issue makes it Richard Lighty one is certain that there will be no more easy to tell one Nepeta from another. Greenville, Delaware killing spring frost, the bougainvilleas go Peter Loewer Asheville, North Carolina outside in sun or half sun. They are watered Big Leaves and Large Flowers Elvin McDonald when they begin to show that they need it. It's frustrating as a horticultural photogra­ Houston, Texas They should not be kept wet, ever. I let ours pher to see your beautiful magazine blem­ be watered by our own rainfa ll unless as last ished occasionall y by misidentified photos. Advertising year, we have a constant deluge. They can The latest culprit is the so-called "southern AHS Advertising Department be allowed to dry out-up to a couple of magnolia " on page 19 of the April issue. 2300 South Ninth Street, Suite 501 Arlington, VA 22204-2320 months with no water-and will slowly Our native deciduous magnolias, like this (703) 892-0733 come back.