Primroses of DIRECTORS American Primrose Society - Winter 2002 1
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OFFICERS & BOARD Primroses OF DIRECTORS American Primrose Society - Winter 2002 1 Quarterly of the Ed Buyarski, President P.O. Box 33077 Primroses 60th Anniversary Dedication American Primrose Society Juneau, AK 99803-3077 KDll OR/GRAPHIC DKSKilN (907) 789-2299 Robert Tonkin Volume 60, Number 1, Winter 2002 th [email protected] 3155 Pioneer Ave. This expanded 60 Edition of Primroses is dedicated to The purpose of this society is to bring the people Juneau. AK 99801 the future members of the American Primrose, Primula and Cheri Pluck, Vice President (907) 463-I554 [email protected] interested in Primula together in an organization to 17275 Point Lena Loop Rd. Auricula Society. While our Society has a very rich history increase the general knowledge of and interest in the Juneau, AK 99801 EDITORIAL COMMITTEE full of lifelong individual efforts furthering its purpose, it is (907) 789-0595 Hdward Buyarski collecting, growjng, breeding, showing and using in [email protected] Pam Eveleigh the future generations of members who will benefit from Judy Sellers the landscape and garden the genus Primula in all its Terry Milchell those efforts. Without new members, all the knowledge, hard Robert Tonkin, Secretary forms and to serve as a clearing house for collecting work, dedication, and decades of volunteer efforts made by 3155 Pioneer Ave. EDITORIAL DEADLINES and disseminating information about Primula. Juneau. Alaska 99801 Winter issue - December 10 our members, both past and present, will be lost between (907)463-1554 Spring issue - March 1(1 the pages of our printed history. [email protected] Summer issue-June 10 1 Dedication Fall issue - September 1(1 It is our goal to place in this edition as much practical 2 Foreward by Jay Lunn Julia Haldorson. Treasurer information as space permits to enable any gardener to be P.O. Box 210913 4 Living Soil by Mary Kordes Primroses (ISSN 0162-6671) is pub- Auke Bay, Alaska 99821 successful growing the widest range of the plants; by soil 8 Getting Started with Primroses by Dee Peck lished quarterly by the American Prim- (907) 789-5860 rose, Primula and Auricula Sociely, type, sun, shade, temperature and PH preference of the genus 14 Barnhaven Primroses by Jay Lunn [email protected] 19933 Cohen Dr. Juneau, AK 99801. Primula. In the pages that follow we have comprehensively Membership in ihe Society includes a 16 Primula vulgaris by Penelope Harrison DIRECTORS subscription to Primroses, Seed Ex- detailed 12 primroses and complemented them with useful 19 Primula juliae and hybrids by Mary Kordes Through 2004 change privileges. Slide Library privi- and informative articles from past editions of Primroses; to Pam Eveleigh leges and the opportunity to join a Round 22 Polyanthus Primroses by Angela Bradford Robin. Dues for individual or household 6520 Law Drive include such information as geographic considerations, membership in the American Primrose 25 Primula denticulata by Pam Eveleigh Calgary, Alberta T3E6A1 Society, domestic, and Canada are $25 various habitat considerations (the scree, the rock garden, 36 The Meaning of Plant Names by Ralph Balcom (403) 240-4417 per calendar year. $70 for three years or the woodland environment, the raised peat bed), and [email protected] $350 for an individual life membership. 37 Primula marginata by Mary Irwin OM.-IMMS rates are $32 per annum, and references to resources that will enable those so interested 40 Primula japonica by Dot Plyler Elaine Malloy $90 for 3 years. Submit payment to the to continue their interest. P.O. Box 38 Treasurer. Membership renewals are due 42 Primula sieboldii by Elaine Malloy South Salem, NY 10590 November 15 and are delinquent al the These 12 primroses are meant to be an introduction to the first of the year. Periodical postage paid [email protected] 44 Primula auricula hybrids by April Boettger at Juneau. AK. genus Primula. They only scratch the surface of this broad 47 Primula elatior by Fred Knapp Through 2003 Posimaster: Please send address and diverse genus. They were chosen because of their 50 Primula veris by Grace Dowling Terry Mitchell changes to APS Treasurer. Julia probability to make the gardener, new to the genus, successful 52 Primula florindae by Beth Tait 17 Fearnley Dr. Haldorson. P.O. Box 210913, Auke Bay, OssctI, Wesl Yorkshire WF5-9EU AK 99821. growing them. The Society 2002 Seed Exchange list will 54 Primula kisoana by Ed Buyarski I MjLiM'.l offer these 12 Primroses as a "Basic Set" that can be ordered (144) 1924-261-698 Manuscripts for publication in the 58 2001 Seed Exchange Donor List quarterly are invited from members and as a group to get the gardener started with the genus Primula. 60 A.P.S. Membership Applications [email protected] other gardeners, although there is no payment. Please include black and white We are hopeful that success will bring with it an interest Judith C. Sellers photographs, slides or color prints if pos- in joining our Society. Join us in our purpose to benefit others R-D.3 Box 233A sible. Send articles directly to the Edi- Unadilla, New York 13849 tor at the addresses above or email ar- to come to know the pure joys and rewards of growing these 19 22 (607)369-9237 ticles and pictures to [email protected]. wonderful plants. Welcome! 50 [email protected] Articles composed in Word or another word processor are greatly appreciated. Editorial Committee 47 Please send pictures scanned at 300 dpi, January 2002 Through 2002 scanned at their intended size of 5 by 3 54 Dr. Roger Eichman inches for wide halt'page shots and 2.25 223 GriJTiih Point Rd. by 3.3 inches for quarter page shots. APS Editors Note... The recognition for the need for this "basic 40 28 Nordland, WA 98358 reserves the right to use submitted ar- 25 (360) 379-9566 ticles and pictures for other official APS how to" publication came from Ann Lunn during a [email protected] uses. All photos are credited. 44 conversation at the 200! APS National Show regarding her Ruby ('hong Advertising rates per issue: full page, "Plant Portrait" series. Both Ann and Jay have been $ 100; half page, $50; quarter page, $25; 6870 Union St. eighth page and minimum. $12.50. Art- instrumental in its creation. They deserve not only 52 42 16 Burnaby BC V5B 1X5. Canada work for ads is the responsibility of the (604) 298-8384 advertiser, and camera ready copy is ap- recognition for inspiring this expanded edition, but a warm [email protected] preciated. Submit advertising to the Edi- thank you for decades of work benefiting our Society. (or. (Graphic artwork help is available.) American Primrose Society - Winter 2002 2 American Primrose Society - Winter 2002 3 some protection from the hot sun can satisfy most primroses. Although some respond Foreword to the 60th Edition By Jay Lunn well to a rich diet, most will maintain their character and get along just as well with limited fertilization. You would be amazed at how well some primroses will perform The common name, primrose, is used in conjunction with several genera. This while growing in pure sand and just a little feeding! None like the full mid-summer contributes to some confusion over the name. For example, some people believe sun of low elevation locations at latitudes that are closer to the equator than either that primroses are the fairly large plants commonly growing in the arid western pole. Even primroses grown farther from the equator will appreciate a slope facing United States with white or yellow flowers that close by mid-day. These are the away from the prevailing sun or at least partial shade, particularly in the afternoon evening primroses in the genus Oenothera, not the true primrose. Primroses are in hours. the genus Primula and are unrelated to the former. Carolus Linnaeus, a Swedish Primroses are subject to some predation by a few despicable critters. Since they botanist now known as the "Father of Botany", published the first description of a are producing tender morsels early in the season, slugs find them very inviting. Primula, P. elatior (which may have also included what is now know as P. vulgaris) Root weevil larva can be a problem in early summer, especially if the adult weevils in 1735. His choice of name for the genus is from the Latin prima, which means are not controlled when attracted to other plants in the garden. "first". It is an appropriate name for the genus with well over 400 species now In this expanded 60th Edition of Primroses, twelve species or categories of recognized, many of which are the earliest blooming plants in their native habitat. primroses, considered easy to grow by many gardeners in a variety of geographical You may ask "why do I need primroses in my garden?" Primroses are generally locations, are examined in detail. Most of these "selected primroses" are very cold early blooming plants that provide color to the garden when little else has begun to hardy. They can be grown in Alaska, Scandinavian countries, interior provinces of flower. In Pacific Northwest gardens, P.juliae hybrids start blooming in mid-winter Canada and upper Midwest of the U.S., and do so probably better than in the Pacific and continue through early spring and begin their show in colder regions as soon as Northwest, Atlantic coast, England or France. If you live anywhere in California, the snow melts. Other primroses are slower to begin their floral display, but they except right along the Pacific coast, you may find growing some of them a test of your gardening skills. However, Californians are fortunate to be able to grow less will be flowering by late spring or early summer.