Primroses Spring 1996 Volume 54, No. 2 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996
Primroses Contents Mrs. Brodhead's Primula Quarterly of the By Jay G. Lunn, Hillsboro, Oregon American Primrose Society Mrs. Brodhead's Primula 3 Sporing 1996 by Jay G. Lunn In 1892, Mrs. Brodhead collected determination that they would have not Volume 54, Number 2 Plant Portrait 6 some plant specimens at Ketchum, Idaho made if they had seen both in the wild! by Ann Lunn Editor: Claire Cockcroft in May and early June at 6,000 feet They even referred to correspondence Primula Brevicula 8 altitude and at Bayhorse, Idaho, July 1 at with Mrs. A. C. U. Berry which indicated 4805 228th Ave. N.E. by Ian D. Scott that she was inclined "to regard it as a Redmond, WA 98053-8327 A Shopping Expedition in England 10 8,000 feet altitude. She sent these e-mail: [email protected] by John Kerridge specimens to Marcus E. Jones, a distin- geographical form of P. Cusickiana." At Designer: Rebecca Nolle Surfing the Net for Primroses: guished field collector and taxonomist of least one reference [7] gives M. E. Jones A Beginner's Information Guide 14 western plants. The following year [1] the credit for collecting the specimen EDITORIAL DEADLINES by Pat Wilson he published a description of the collec- from Bayhorse, Idaho. This can not be Winter issue ... November 1 Under the Overhang 18 tion from Ketchum, as a new species, correct, because Jones was traveling in Spring issue ... February 1 by Rick Lupp Primula brodheadae, and the collection Mexico from April 16 to July 18, 1892. Summer issue ... May 1 APS Seed Exchange 19 from Bayhorse, as a new variation, P. On July 1, he was visiting a saltpeter Fall issue ... August 1 More about Plant Plugs 20 brodheadae var. minor. Included in the mine and botanizing in Jayamite, by April Boettger Mexico. The type specimens for both the PHOTOGRAPHIC CREDITS Journal Report 21 description of the new species, Jones All photos are credited. by Mary Frey wrote that it was "Dedicated to Mrs. species and variety of P. brodheadae APS Slide Library 22 Brodhead, the collector." I have not been resided in the personal herbarium of M. Board of Directors Meeting 23 successful in finding any information E. Jones until it was purchased by APS Bookstore 24 about Mrs. Brodhead, but she surely must Pomona College in 1923. Notes from the Editor 25 have been a robust individual to travel The type specimen for P. by Claire Cockcroft around the rugged territory of central brodheadae var. minor was misplaced, News from the Chapters 27 Idaho at that time. Travel then would but the type specimen, for the what was Officers of the Chapters 30 have been by horseback, wagon, stage- once considered P. brodheadae, now coach, rail or foot. resides at the Herbarium of Rancho Santa When Louis 0. Williams published Ana Botanic Garden (photocopy, next his "Revision of the Western Primulas" page). This specimen appears to be very [2] in 1936, he concluded that P. similar to the primrose that grows in the brodheadae and the P. brodheadae var. proximity of Boise, Idaho, that is known minor were synonymous with P. by local botanists as P. witcoxiana [8], cusickiana, a status which perseveres nomen nudum (name unaccompanied by today. This was after Ferdinand Pax had a description or reference to a published reduced both to P. parryi in 1905 [3], description). In Jones' description of/*. PRIMROSES (ISSN 0162-6671) is published apparently without seeing the collection brodheadae var. minor, he wrote "I quarterly by the American Primrose, Primula material that Jones used in making his suppose that this species is the same as and Auricula Society, 9705 SW Spring Crest ON THE COVER determination. Thomas Howell [4] and var. Wilcoxiana, Wood of P. Parryi, but Dr., Portland, OR 97225. Second-Class Front Cover: Primula ellisiae Per Axel Rydberg [5] both recognized the I do not know that that was ever charac- postage paid at Hillsboro, OR and additional at Sandia Park, New Mexico. species in their works, albeit they mis- terized in print." mailing offices. Back Cover: Primula rusbyi in the spelled it "Broadheadae" (or at least It is unlikely that anyone will ever Magdalena Mountains, New Mexico. different from Jones' spelling). Although know exactly where Mrs. Brodhead POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Ann Lunn explains how closely these two Smith & Fletcher [6] spelled the species Primroses, 9705 SW Spring Crest Dr., primulas are related on Page 6. Portland. OR 97225 Photos by Jav G. Lunn name correctly, they considered it synonymous with P. angustifolia, a American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 5
Photo by Jay G. Lunn Mrs. Brodhead's Primula continued On the opposite side of the Salmon River from Bayhorse Creek and approxi- collected her namesake. In those days collectors routinely carried barometers to mately 25 air miles southwest are the determine the elevations at which they White Cloud Peaks. At one site there, at made various collections. These instru- an elevation of 10,000 - 10,400 feet, grows a diminutive form of P. cusickiana ments were not always terribly accurate. in the alpine tundra (pictured). An Read Marcus E. Jones [9] and you will unusual characteristic of the population at run across comments in his diary and field notes like "..barometer greatly this location is its flower color. Although disturbed" and "..my barometer got out of many of the plants exhibit the typical violet-purple color of the species, there order, but this is not far out", so elevation records should be viewed with some are quite a few individuals with white or suspicion. intermediate colored flowers. These Mrs. Brodhead's first collection site, plants are small in stature, just as Jones Primula cusickiana in the alpine tundra. described them in his diagnosis for P. the town of Ketchum, Idaho, was created brodheadae var. minor. He described the in the 1880's by ranching and mining. plants as 2 inches high; flowers 1 to 2 on tion from the sun. More likely, the form Averell Harriman, president of the Union of the plant is the result of adapting, over Pacific Railroad, didn't start building the the scape; leaves an inch long or less. In many thousands of years, to the environ- Sun Valley ski resort until 1936. There- contrast, he described the species as 2 to 4 inches high; 1 to 4 flowered; leaves 1 to ment of its little niche of the world, that it fore, Ketchum probably wasn't much of a has claimed as its home. Could this have town before that, but it may have been the 4 inches long. The form of the plants in the White Clouds may be a result of their been the source for one of Mrs. prominent landmark for the area. The short growing season and intense radia- Brodhead's collections? I wish I knew! elevation near Ketchum is 5,736 feet. Has the site where she collected remained Photocopy of herbarium specimen, courtesy Rancho Santa Ana Botanic intact, or has it been destroyed by the SOURCES: Garden. development at Sun Valley, or could it 1. Jones, M. E. 1893. Contributions 7. Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, possibly be 30 miles south of her refer- to Western Botany, No.3. Zoe 3:306-307. M. Ownbey and J. W. Thompson. ence point? In 1950, Dr. Richard M. of an old collection made in the vicinity; 2. Williams, Louis O. Revision of Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest, Bond wrote in this Quarterly [10] about however, it was even farther from the Western Primulas. The American part 4, p. 51. University of Washington his trip with Mrs. A. C. U. Berry and their Ketchum than this site. Midland Naturalist, 17(4):746, 1936. Press, Seattle, 1959. search for P. brodheadae. I believe I In the late 1800's, Bayhorse, Mrs. 3. Pax, Ferdinand A. Das 8. Vascular Plant Species of Con- have visited the same site, where they Brodhead's second collection site, was a Pflanzenreich, IV, 237:128, 1905. cern in Idaho. University of Idaho, found plants, and its elevation is approxi- flourishing mining town. The mouth of 4. Howell, Thomas J. A Flora of Forest, Wildlife and Range Experiment mately 5,100 feet and 30 air miles from the canyon of Bayhorse Creek was filled Northwest America, p. 434, 1903. Station Bulletin No. 34, Moscow, ID, Ketchum. Although I have been there as from canyon wall to canyon wall with 5. Rydberg, Per A. Flora of the 1981. early as mid-April, the primroses have various sorts of domiciles, from wood Rocky Mountains and Adjacent Plains, p. 9. Lenz, Lee W. Marcus E. Jones: always been past full bloom, but from houses to tents, or anything else that 648, 1922. Western Geologist, Mining Engineer & what 1 have seen, they look very similar would provide shelter for miners who 6. Smith, W. Wright and H. R. Botanist, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic to the herbarium specimen of P. flocked there. What remains there today Fletcher. The Genus Primula: sections Garden, Claremont California, 1986. brodheadae. Did we walk in the foot- is only a skeleton of its past grandeur. Cuneifolia, Floribundae, Parryi, and 10. Bond, Dr. R. M. Collecting steps of Mrs. Brodhead? Maybe — or, The elevation of Bayhorse is about 5,400 Auricula. Transactions of the Royal Primulas in the Northwest. Quarterly of maybe not! There is at least one record feet, so to proceed to the 8,000 feet level, Horticultural Society of Edinburgh. the American Primrose Society, 8(4):59, one would have to ascend almost to the 61:645-647, 1948. April 1951. * top of the steep canyon walls. American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996
gentle, north-facing slope, P. rusbyi was withstood prolonged periods of below Plant Portrait found. Even at this altitude, the blooming freezing temperatures dipping as low as 8 By Ann Lunn, Hillsboro, Oregon season was almost finished. The soil was degrees F. at night — all without rocky and humusy, about what one would snowcover. It would be interesting to expect above treeline in areas of heavy grow the true P. rusbyi in various climatic likely habitats, we moved off the trail and PRIMULA ELLISIAE snowfall. Lichen-covered rocks and short locations to see how it really performs in looked over the edge of the vertical OR PRIMULA RUSBYI? grasses surrounded the primula along cultivation. precipice. There they were, nestled in It was the Fourth of July weekend in with Oxalis and an occasional deep red Based only on the two populations steep, southwest-facing rock crevices. It centra] New Mexico; not exactly the Lomatium. we observed, P. rusbyi and P. ellisiae is an amazing location for a primula that place a cool weather-loving Northwest- The plants in this area were quite appear to be distinctly different species. needs partial shade in the summer in erner would prefer to be. The purpose of distinct from P. ellisiae we saw earlier. The substance, margins and posture of the cultivation. Here in New Mexico, the trip was to locate, observe and Primula rusbyi appeared to be a sturdier leaves are substantially different; P. however, the majority of rainfall comes in photograph Primula ellisiae and P. rusbyi plant with stiff, sharp-toothed upright rusbyi having stiffer, more upright leaves late summer and early autumn. That fact, in the wild. leaves. On the few plants still in bloom, with more toothed margins. One distin- combined with the high altitude and large Uncertainty and differing opinions we observed the yellow-eyed flowers guishing characteristic is the length of the rocks, help to keep the roots cool. persist as to the taxonomy of these two were darker, more purple or magenta than corolla tube relative to the length of the Continuing up the trail (it would have species. Both are members of the Parryi rose. There was a distinctive crimson calyx. required rock-climbing skills to photo- Section, but there the agreement ends. ring around the eye. The corolla tube was Primula rusbyi at the Magdalena graph the first plants) we spotted one Pax (1905) and Balfour (1913) consid- 2 to 2 1/2 times as long as the calyx, a Mountain site had a corolla tube defi- plant of P. ellisiae growing in a rock ered both to be P. rusbyi. Today, Halda characteristic that distinguishes it from P. nitely twice or more the length of the crevice somewhat above eye level. From lists P. ellisiae as P. rusbyi ssp. ellisiae. ellisiae. The calyx of P. rusbyi was calyx. At Sandia Crest, P. ellisiae that viewpoint, the flat, rose to pink Although Richards lists them as separate shorter than its relative, but both were exhibited the more nearly equal corolla flowers were easily seen and photo- species, he does not discount the possibil- covered with white farina. Primula tube and calyx. graphed. The one and a half-inch flowers ity that Halda is correct. Sylvia Kelso rusbyi reportedly rarely sets seed, However, two populations are not were centered with a yellow eye. The believes they are both variants of the whereas P. ellisiae can be quite prolific. large enough for a scientific sampling. corolla tube equaled or slightly exceeded same species. We have grown plants from seeds Plant characteristics are notoriously the yellowish-green calyx covered with A plant later to be described as P. labeled P. ellisiae and P. rusbyi. All the variable and it is possible that we were white farina. Three to four-inch leaves ellisiae was discovered in 1901 by Miss resulting plants appear to be P. ellisiae. seeing the extremes of those variations. encircled the six-inch flower stems; the C. Ellis in the Sandia Mountains of New Our plants are grown under the eaves on In the final analysis, I would need more leaves were slightly sticky with finely Mexico. Thus, our first destination was the northeast side of the house. There evidence before taking a stand on either toothed margins. Unlike its close Sandia Crest, a steep rocky ridge just east they receive morning sun and summer side of the controversy. That sounds like relative, P. rusbyi, the leaves assumed a of Albuquerque. The road ascended irrigation, but little moisture reaches them a good excuse to go back to New Mexico! drooping posture, rather than the rigid, through areas of small farms, up through when they retreat to a dormant bud during upright stance of P. rusbyi. beautifully forested landscapes, and the winter. Although found in areas Having seen P. ellisiae, we were SOURCES: finally reached the top at about 9500 feet difficult to imitate in the garden, P. anxious to observe P. rusbyi in its native Richards, A. J. (1993). Primula. at Sandia Park. On that Fourth of July ellisiae seems the least demanding of the habitat. Henry Rusby discovered P. Batsford, Ltd., London. holiday weekend, the park was filled with Parryi group. Good drainage, spring and rusbyi in the Mogollon Mountains of Halda, Josef (1992). The Genus people. Even the gift shop and restaurant summer moisture and relative dryness in New Mexico in 1881. We planned to Primula. Tethys Books, Englewood, were overflowing! the winter should satisfy it. look in the Magdalena Mountains to the CO. ft Determined to see P. ellisiae, we One P. rusbyi in our garden grows northeast of the original discovery site. started up the trail with what seemed like with P1". ellisiae, as mentioned above, but a hundred other people. Not seeing any Now there was the true wilderness experience. We had the whole, rather doesn't appear to have its vigor. Perhaps it just doesn't like its growing conditions! desolate, wind-swept mountaintop to Although the cold hardiness of this ourselves. At about 10,000 feet on a species has been questioned, our plant has American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996
petals. Curiously, one plant consistently perhaps the ground was too heavy. In the produced flowers with a corolla of six wild, the species inhabits stony pastures Primula Brevicula petals. and alpine meadows. Whatever the Photo by Ian D. Scot! by Ian D. Scott, Fife, Scotland The first to flower was a large pan of reason, by the autumn there was scarcely six plants cautiously overwintered in the a clump still alive. Even more tragically, Words like "This looks like an easy unheated greenhouse. In contrast to the all the small seed capsules were devoid of nivalid" often return to haunt us. And so lush growth, the three scapes each viable seed, except for one oddly shaped it was with my first attempts to establish bearing a meager two or three blooms capsule that had elongated into a thin Primula brevicula in the garden. With so were a poor reward for our efforts. Those cylinder of nearly 2 cm length. In few species of the nivalid outside, although flowering later, were retrospect, having now seen the same (Crystallophlomis) section in cultivation, much more floriferous and compact. long seed capsules on herbarium material I was delighted to be offered seed from Likewise, the inside plants refused to set at the Edinburgh Royal Botanic Garden, the 1993 Kunming-Gothenburg Botanical seed despite several attempts at hand this was our only fertile seed pod from Expedition to NW Yunnan (KGB). Three pollination. over a dozen healthy plants! This single collections had been made of this dwarf Growth continued rapidly throughout capsule contained over 60 seeds which high alpine form (KGB 118, 376 and 506) early summer but, contrary to Richards' await sowing in January '96 to prove as well as a sinopurpurea / brevicula claims, the plants remained dwarf in their viability. intermediate (KGB 134). Primula brevicula (KGB 118). stature and quite distinct in leaf color Despite this initial set-back, all is not Naturally my first recourse was to from P. chionantha or P. sinopurpurea. gloom, as the experience should help us John Richards' work on the genus, in By now we were so confident with the with our current batch of seedlings. (about 5 cm in length and 1 cm in width) which he relegates P. brevicula to being species that we even started dividing up These came from the Alpine Garden with the leaf margins finely toothed, merely a subspecies of P. chionantha. clumps to increase our stock. Then it all Society China Expedition of 1994 (ACE). although this may not be immediately His reason for this classification is that, started to go wrong, and we remember the Initial reports indicate that a number of obvious as the edges tend to roll back on when reintroduced into cultivation in the warning words of Smith and Fletcher in growers have had successful germination themselves. The base of each leaf 1980s, the dwarf wild plants collected on their 1942 review. "Plants under Primula with the four collections (ACE 1545, coming up from the crown has a distinc- the Gang Shan grew out of character in brevicula were in flower in Edinburgh in 1689, 1799, 1877), but will this will lead tive red coloration. Another diagnostic our milder climate, producing much June 1916 but did not long survive in to viable seed production and a wider feature is the under surface of the leaf, larger plants that closely resembled P. cultivation." cultivation? Let us hope so. I am sure which is heavily coated with white farina. sinopurpurea. First, the divided clumps made no that given time and patience we can During the winter of '94 the resting We surface sowed our seed (KGB growth and gradually died away. Then elucidate the preferences of this fine buds of the outside plants were covered 118) into plugs using a peat-based the outside clumps started to follow this plant. It would be a shame to see history with a layer of fine gravel but given no compost in mid-February and left them example one by one. Maybe it was the repeating itself, eighty years on. <3f other protection. Despite conditions that uncovered in an unheated greenhouse. unusually high summer temperatures or Excellent germination occurred four oscillated between being very wet and weeks later and growth was so rapid that being very cold, the plants came up the plugs of seedlings were being potted strongly in the spring and were flowering up by mid-April, and planted out into the by mid-May. In their natural habitat, this Twins Wanted! garden by late May. The plants are species is said to flower at snowmelt or extremely attractive, with single seedlings shortly afterwards. With such a large Dennis Oakley reports that he still has a couple of English rapidly forming little clumps. The dark number of plants to compare, it was growers looking to "twin" with an APS member. For more green leaves are small and lanceolate interesting to see the natural variation. information write to: The main petal color ranged from a light Dennis Oakley violet to a bluish purple. In most plants 10060 Dennis Place the corolla was lighter towards the center, Richmond, B.C. V7A 3G8 but there were exceptions,with one plant Canada having nearly a blue eye to its pale violet American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 1 1
here is so beautiful in its soft green should have been the end. The load was A Shopping setting of the northern dales, mellow and sufficient to make us turn for home. misty, perfect for Primula. Here another Originally there were unrealistic plans to problem arose — temptation by such a get to more nurseries, three in Expedition in England variety of P. allionii cultivars and Lincolnshire, several in the Midlands and by John Kerridge, Vancouver, British Columbia hybrids! These soon began to crowd into two near the Welsh border in Shropshire. some of the space originally intended for Next time. It started with a planned 10 day visit N.A.&P.S. members. Another survey auriculas, and the small car was filling up A highlight to come was a chance to to my sister in England and gradually lists auriculas most often grown fast. stay with Peter Ward, Hon. Sec. of the became a quest for named auriculae as (N.A.&P.S. Northern Section Year Book, The drive down to York through N.A.&P.S. Midland and West Section, the temptation to bring back plants 1994), but these would not necessarily be Middleton is worth the visit in itself, and to travel with him to their Annual overcame me. My sister was happy to the best, although doubtless easier to down the Pennine ridge forming the Meeting and Symposium in Birmingham. come along, and that is how we ended up grow. Perhaps they offset readily, or backbone of England. We drove past The planning to do this required moving in a rented car all over Northern England were micropropagated. Interestingly, stone-walled fields with flocks of sheep heaven and earth at this end to change my up to the Scottish border seeking out there is a feeling that some of the recent on the hillsides and into York — where 'unchangeable' return ticket. We traveled specialist nurseries. introductions are superior to old-timers, accommodation was not available! Such with Bob Archdale, their new President, For most of its 53 year history, the who like us can fade away with time. a beautiful city is a popular tourist and had good discussions. A fine talk by American Primrose Society has seen only Import permits were ready, marked destination. Allan Hawkes, the authority on striped a few named varieties, mostly bred here, 'traveling in England' (also ones for Michael Myers near Harrogate holds auriculas, was appreciated also by and we clearly need to begin work on a Wales and Scotland but this dream was the National Collection of P. marginata, Maedythe Martin, who had traveled there really good collection. A few members cut short by lack of time). A good effort and as he was expecting us, was able to especially to hear about her special who have acquired good collections was made to locate local Plant Inspectors provide a number of cultivars. Again interest. Of course there was a plant sale. thoughtfully make offsets available as to obtain all those Phytosanitary Certifi- temptation took over. Then we had a How can you resist...? insurance against loss, so the job cates, and here a major problem arose. lucky strike; at Beningborough Hall near Back in Pangbourne it was now all shouldn't take too long. Also, an injec- The Head Office in England wrote that York was a plant sale with the support of hands to getting those plants ready for tion of really good material should give Canadian Authorities required 'soil tests' the Royal Horticultural Society. Many inspection, conveniently done at home for the A.P.S. a boost — and could attract from the site of each nursery dealt with, growers came to sell on the lawns of the a fee; but the convenience was spoilt by new members. Frank Michaud of and that as each test could take a number great walled garden, and the whole difficulties with timing. Do not fly home Alpenglo Gardens here in B.C. used to of weeks, be prepared for delays! This setting was a picture. How lucky people on a Monday as the inspection has to be import and distribute years ago, and I seemed a formidable obstacle, but from are to be able to collect such wonderful done on a prior weekday, too long for believe Shows and interest were all the previous trips I knew the real require- plants without all the hassles of transport, bare-root survival. Coupled with that, the better for it. ments are that the plants be truly rootbare agricultural inspections, customs etc. For inspector would only do it on the Thurs- The first problem was where to look and that the medium that they were us this sale saved a lot of traveling around day, which meant preparing everything for the best material. The National grown in be certified as being free of and brought more purchases, not all of on the Wednesday. Are you still with Auricula and Primula Society Northern certain specific organisms. In the end this them auriculas! me? By the time you have recovered Section had listed Prize Winning Auricu- was carried out satisfactorily. The next stop had to be the last from the flight home and can stand las 1989 - 1994 in charts drawn up by Off we went from Pangbourne in the unless the car was to be traded for a truck, looking at all those bare roots again you Alan Chadwick, showing 'Selfs and beautiful Thames Valley near Oxford, with my old friends Steven and Marlene are looking at almost a week for the poor Edged' and 'Alpines', respectively. This and first found Castle Alpines near Craven and their daughter Dawn at things. Luckily, survival hasn't been too is a most useful guide, and surely the Woodstock, a small back-garden business Binglsy near Bradford. Their new bad since it was late September and the varieties listed have to be the best, if not packed with alpines and some good location on a hilltop looking over to plants were not trying to grow anyway. the most vigorous or easy to grow. Alas, Auriculas. Then in a long and rapid run Derbyshire Peaks is a winner, and the We put them in straight sand as some they are of course not that easy to find, on the motorway we were up near the breezes suit the Primula. We enjoyed a mushiness and impending rot was and many would be a treat even for local Scottish border near Penrith, visiting social evening (in the pub) trading ideas. obvious. Just now in February they are Hartside Nursery at Alston. The country By now I was up to 119 plants — that 12 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 13
Shopping in England continued NORTHERN WELSH BORDER LEICESTERSHIRE Hartside Nursery Garden Kim W. Davis Ailsa Jackson transplanted into a gritty mix. The P. Low Gill House, Lingen Nursery and Garden Paddocks, Moira Road, marginata's and P. allionii's look the Alston, Cumbria, CA9 3BL Lingen, near Bucknell, Shelbrook, Ashby de la Zouch, best! This was not my original intention. Tel. 01434381372 Shropshire SY7 ODY Leics. LE65TU I forgot to tell you that on the first Charlie Johnson Tel. 01544267720 (Write first.) time around the Inspector rejected my Waincliffe Garden Nursery Hillview Hardy Plants efforts and a total recleaning was done. 24 Bradford Rd., Worfield, Bridgnorth, HERTFORDSHIRE Phew! For travel the plants had their Northowram, Halifax, Shropshire WV15 5NT roots in aluminum foil with a small piece Hopley's Plants West Yorkshire Tel. 01746716454 of damp toilet tissue. Next time I shall Much Hadham, Alec Stubbs try to get small plants with a free root Herts. SG100BU Wharfedale Nurseries SOUTH system that is easy to clean. Being 4 Springfield Rd., greedy, we had looked at larger ones that Brenda Hyatt LINCOLNSHIRE Grassington, Skipton, had lots of offsets — and were root- Holder of National Collection Potterton and Martin N. Yorkshire BD23 5LD bound. Try cleaning those down to the of Green, Grey and White Edged Moortown Road, Nettleton, Derek Telford microscopic level of freedom from any and Fancy Auriculas, Caistor, N. Lines. 109CroslandOakes, soil or like material. 1 Toddington Crescent, Tel. 0472851792 Huddersfield HD3 3PW It is a good idea to put a 'Live Plants Bluebell Hill, near Chatham, Mary and Michael Robinson (Write first.) - Perishable' sign on any package in Kent ME5 9QT Martin's Nest Nursery Steven and Marlene Craven transport, should it get delayed or lost. On Castle Alpines Grange Cottage, 1, Foulds Terrace, previous occasions, I have had an Castle Road, Hemswell, Gainsborough, Bingley, unlabeled package sent air freight just to Woodstock, near Oxford W. Lines. DN21 5UP W. Yorkshire BDI6 4LZ sit for a week in a hot warehouse, until I Tel. 01427668369 Tel. 01274561412 happened to phone England to see if it MIDLANDS National Collection (Normally mail order.) had been sent yet. Ashwood Nurseries of Barnhavens and Elizabethans is at Michael Myers Cottage Garden Here is a list of some of the sources. (predominantly seed suppliers) Jacqueline Giles Fairview, Smelthouses, If you are planning a visit you can write Greensforge, Kingswinford, Windy Ridge Summerbridge, near Harrogate, first, but from my experience nursery W. Midlands DY6 OAE Bolton Percy N. Yorkshire HG3 4DH owners are too busy to get into correspon- Tel. 01384401996 National Collection Tel. 0423780291 dence nor are they anxious to plan their Field House Alpines of Alpine Auriculas is at: Barbara Shaw days ahead to see the odd visitor. Do Doug Lochhead & Valerie Woolley, Golden Acre Park Leeds. National Collection of Primroses write first if it is specifically indicated. It Leake Road, Gotham. (No sales, I believe.) 6 (Vernales) is certainly polite to call by phone to see Nottingham NGI10JN Tan Cottage, if a visit is convenient. Some are mail Tel. 01159830278 Cononly, near Skipton, order only. I have listed phone numbers Glenda Ritchie Auriculas N. Yorkshire where they are available to me; directory 57 Portland Close, Mickleover, Ken Bowser inquiries are very helpful. On occasion in Derby DE3 5BR 15 Moorlands Road some nurseries, a plant inspector will Tel. 01332515450 Skelton, York Y03 6XZ certify an approximate number of Bob Goal by Holden Clough Nursery primulas ahead of time. But for Canada, 278 Walstead Road, Bolton by Bowland, you will still have to do the root washing. Walsall, W. Midlands Clitheroe, Ask about this service at individual Tel. 0922640634 Lancashire BB7 4PF nurseries. Tel. 01200447615 14 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 15
Gardenscape Home Page consider donating titles on primroses to Surfing the Net for Primroses: http://www.gardenscape.com their local libraries. Our Juneau group International in scope with useful purchases books on a regular basis. I'm information for the professional and certain this practice introduces books into A Beginner's Information Guide recreational gardener. the collection that wouldn't otherwise by Pat Wilson, Juneau, Alaska find their way onto the shelves. Alhough Gardening in the Cabbage Patch it is always possible to borrow books A novice primrose grower and a Some of the hits were for cosmetics, http://www.polarnet.fnsb.ak.us/ through interlibrary loan, it's a more veteran librarian, I decided to find that herbal medicines, folk songs, and the users/pbabcock/patch difficult process that many people don't special book that would answer all my literary works of Keats, Shakespeare, A collection of articles from the undertake. primrose questions. After all, there's T.S.Elliot and others. There was the Fairbanks Daily News Miner, primarily Compiling this list has proven to be a nothing like a good book to answer those famous violist, William Primrose, the of use to far north gardeners. learning experience for me. I hope the obvious, beginner's questions that can be music of Johannes Brahmes, Watership listing proves useful to others. embarrassing to ask. Down. Primrose Hill in North London, LIBRARY SURFING The library designations follow the In Juneau, Alaska, we are fortunate restaurants with primrose rooms, and My quest for one special book, in citation [ ]: J=Juneau Public Libraries, to have an automated community library even a primrose color designation that is addition to turning into a "primrose tour M=Multonomah County Library, system that allows us to dial-up from our commonly used by casket manufacturers! of the Internet", developed into a survey S=Seattle Public Library, UA=University home computers. The system also Some sites directly related to the of what is available in a representative of Alaska, Fairbanks, Library, provides Internet access via our statewide culture of primroses, although none was group of Pacific Northwest libraries. UO=University of Oregon Library, SLED (Statewide Library Electronic very substantive. There were graphics of The results were quite interesting, not UW=University of Washington Library. Doorway). primroses and some short snippets of only for what is there, but for what isn't. Using my trusty computer in the information drawn from larger general In Juneau, we have seven books on BOOKS warmth of my home (it was January, so publications. You might want to try some primroses, most of which were published American Primrose Society. Picto- this was an important consideration), I Internet searches to see if you have better in recent years. This turned out to be a rial dictionary of the cultivated species began my quest for information. I started luck. Sites change rapidly, and many very respectable collection and a suprise, of the genus primula. 2nd ed. Rich- locally and then surfed my way along the new sites are being added, so it is difficult for we are a community of fewer than mond, B.C., I.S. Kohaly Press, 1967. 108 Internet to the Seattle Public Library, the to stay current. 30,000 people. p., illus. [S] Multonomah County Library in Portland, I found several general gardening I was suprised to learn that the Oregon, as well as to the libraries at the sites that I can recommend as a starting Seattle Public Library, which has the Biffen, Rowland Harry, Sir. The University of Alaska, the University of point for Internet searches. Internet largest collection, hasn't added many auricula, the story of a florist's flower. Oregon, and the University of Washing- browsers like Netscape are nice, but you new titles in recent years. Multonomah Cambridge [Eng.], University Press, ton. don't need one to access these sites: County has done a little better. Their 1951. 164 p., illus. [M] collections, however, are rich in older Mertus' Gardening Web Page INTERNET SITES volumes from the 40's and 50's, with Blasdale, Walter Charles. The On those rare occasions when I beat http://www.cog.brown.edu/gardening exotic sounding titles and authors. cultivated species of Primula. Berkeley, Includes 1617 gardening catalogs my husband and son to our computer and The university libraries had small University of California Press, 1948. 284 successfully Netscape into Internet, I with links to some of the best gardening collections, with the University of p., illus. [M,S,UO,UW] always find myself wandering through home pages. Washington topping the group at eight twists and turns that reveal the most titles. The book list, resulting from my Bohmig, Franz. Gattung Primula. amazing, trivial, and fun information. GardenNet's Guide to Internet meanderings along the Internet, appears [1954]. 189 p. (Gartnerische 1 ran searches on the Lycos and Resources at the end of this article. A comparison Kulturpraxis 3) [UW] Webcrawler indexes, each of which http://www.olympus.net/gardens/ of the collections clearly shows that new yielded more than fifty sites when I used point01.htm materials are not added regularly. the keywords "primroses" and "primula". Links to lots of useful sites and Regional groups might want to strong in Pacific Northwest gardening information. 16 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 17
Surfing the Net for Primroses continued Books on Horticulture) 216 p., illus. primulaceeen. of various plants can also be quite cylindrica x hirtella. This hybrid can Under The Overhang pronounced; thus this is a plant that vary from plants that look very much like by Hick Lapp, Graham, Washington merits growing from seed to provide a one or the other of the two parents to good selection of forms from which to plants that are nicely intermediate choose those worth growing on. In good between the two. Almost all of the ARETIAN ANDROSACE as a last resort. Check on a regular basis forms this plant can also totally cover seedlings of this cross are plants that for aphids, especially in early spring and FOR THE ALPINE HOUSE itself with a bloom of single, white produce nice, rounded cushions with a during hot spells. Healthy plants will flowers. We find this plant easier to The androsaces are close relatives of good bloom. The resultant hybrid vigor have less problems with pests. please than A. vandellii but with similar the primulas, and many are plants that are produces plants that are trouble free in Aretian androsaces all seem to do requirements. well known to rock gardeners and alpine cultivation and build up into good best in cool, bright situations. We grow Androsace cylindrica is another great house enthusiasts around the world. specimens in short order — just right for ours in open ended hoophouses under favorite of ours for the alpine house. We Section Aretia subsection Aretia embraces those that are getting started with an 50% shade cloth, which does not seem to find this plant to be one of the easier some of the crown jewels of European alpine house. adversely affect their ability to produce aretian androsaces to grow and keep for high alpine cushion plants, most of which Those of you who are looking for tight cushions with short stemmed the long term. It makes very impressive make perfect subjects for the alpine house more of a challenge can try A. alpina, A. blooms. During the hottest summer domes made up of rather large rosettes and can be grown without too much brevis or A. hausmannii. These are more periods, we move our plants out of the that build up into good size plants rather difficulty if an effort is made to provide demanding plants that require careful alpine house into cooler areas in the open. quickly. The white flowers with a green- attention to their needs at all times if you for their most basic needs. They make wonderful plants for troughs We grow all of our aretian androsace yellow eye are borne eight to ten per want to keep them for the long term and that are small enough to keep cool in rosette and are held on somewhat longer have them bloom well. They can in a well drained mix that consists of summer and cover in winter. approximately two thirds minerals by stems than the two preceding species. succumb very quickly to problems We consider Androsace vandellii to Androsace hirtella is a very similar resulting from overwatering, stagnation volume in the form of coarse sand and be the queen of aretian androsace, with its pumice (you can substitute granite grit, etc. species with more narrow foliage and or, especially in the case of A. alpina, wonderful tight domes of tiny, silver sweet scented blooms. It is also quite for the pumice) and one third peat. We aphid attack. Take good care of them and rosettes a feature unique to this species. easy in cultivation. feed very sparingly once a year with an they can reward you with an incredible A well grown plant will be totally The perfect choice for a combination encapsulated, slow-release fertilizer that is display of spring bloom. covered with single, white flowers with a of ease of cultivation and beauty of form Give yourself a treat and decorate applied to the surface of the growing small yellow eye. This plant grows medium, usually in late winter or early and bloom might well be the hybrid your alpine house with some of these exclusively in rock crevices in nature and offspring of the above two species, A. classic alpine beauties. I am one of those folks who just needed for good germination. I think the ADVICE AND PRIZES Furness adroitly grows two colonies loves the snow, even lots of snow —- pumice also helps to prevent damping off. Primrose cultivation based on a in different areas. One thrives in a rich when firmly entrenched in my bed with Don't overfill or the seed may get lecture by Dr. John Lonsdale is featured leaf-mold bed shaded by trees and shrubs the electric blanket on medium, with a cat washed into the next cell or right away. in the December 1995 Quarterly Bulletin and misted daily by a computerized or two draped here or there and of course, I use my fingers to poke the soil down, of the Alpine Garden Society. Lonsdale watering system. The other group with a good book to read. I then proceed though eventually I'd like a tool to tamp masters petiolarids (including P. prospers at the base of large boulders on a to occasionally look out the window whole sheets at once or at least a row at a gracilipes, P. petiolaris and P. aureata ) steeply sloping, northern peat bed. Even saying, "Oh My, How Lovely!" time. by providing an optimum environment: though the latter bunch receives no And that is just how I spent Sunday I fill the plug trays outside, water 60% shade and high humidity. Petiolarids misting, both grow equally well. morning, but instead of a book I had my them well, let them drain a bit, then carry detest warm weather so Lonsdale installed Primula 'Nettie Dennis' grown by Winter quarterly! I only wish it could them inside where it is warm to plant a misting system, spraying them for a John Dennis earned the Award of Merit, have lasted as long as this snow. them. To sow, I place a small quantity of minute every hour until 6:00 p.m. Also, bestowed to plants of great merit for I really appreciated Ian Scott's article seed on a lid or saucer, shake the con- instead of using peat in his soil mix, exhibition. Dennis' cross between P. on growing his primula as plugs, since I tainer lightly so that the seeds are Lonsdale uses a fine grade bark called aureata and P. gracilipes is a compact planted well over a hundred 11" x 21" scattered, then use my dampened finger Cambark to duplicate the woodland duff. plant smothered with large creamy-white flats of plugs two years ago and several tip to pick up a seed and drop it (hope- Lonsdale also explores P. allionii and blooms and a deep yellow eye. It blooms dozen more last year. I used mostly the fully) over the middle of the cell. I keep primrose pests and diseases. His best and from May to October! 72's (6 cells x 12 cells) for planting on; a couple of toothpicks handy for markers, most basic advice is that "no amount of Primula 'Wharfedale Village' grown each plug was about 1 1/2" wide by 2 1/4" so that I know where I left off when the chemicals can substitute for regular by David Rankin won Preliminary deep. I also used some 48's (12-4 packs phone rings or I'm interrupted. I have a repotting, division and observation of Commendations, given to promising new to a sheet) for direct selling. In addition, special nozzle that sprays a fine mist for your plants. A well looked after plant is plants. At first glimpse the bloom I bought some 50's to try this year. watering after planting. far less susceptible to attack by any insect clusters on this gorgeous plant resemble So far I have succeeded easily with Since primula seed needs to be kept or fungus." Amen. hydrangea balls. The creamy frilled Primula bellidifolia, P.flaccida, P. rosea, constantly moist, the plug trays must be Nine members of the primulaceae blossoms combined with leaves heavily P. alpicola, P. florindae, P. secundiflora, watered several times a day. For this family were recognized by the Joint Rock coated with white farina add up to one P. vialii, P. prolifera (candelabra), P. reason I don't recommend using trays Garden Plant Committee of the Royal striking plant. It is a clone of P. x denticulata, P. veris, P. vulgaris, and smaller than the 72-cell sheets. Anything Horticultural Society, the Alpine Garden pubescens. many primula (vernales) hybrids. With smaller tends to dry out too fast. With the Society, and the Scottish Rock Garden Primula brevicula grown by Alan all of these it is best to sow just one seed larger trays, too, if you don't get every- Club, in its 1994-1995 selections. Furness also won Preliminary Commen- per cell. You may get a few blanks, but thing transplanted the first year, you can Primula bhutanica grown by Alan dations. Sir Isaac Bayley Balfour and not many. I have been less successful neglect them for a year or two — speak- Furness received a First Class Certificate, George Forrest retrieved this plant in with P. auricula; next time I'll use at ing from personal experience. which applies to plants of outstanding 1916, yet its worth as a garden plant is least three to five seeds per cell. Needless to say, it takes much more excellence. Few plants receive this only now being recognized, Furness' I use the same soil mix in plug trays time to plant this way, but I do most of award. Introduced by Frank Ludlow and winning plant is from seed collected in that I use for everything in my nursery, my seed planting in February when not George Sherriff in!936, P. bhutanica as 1993 near N.W. Yunnan, China. It grows filling the plugs about three quarters full much else can be done. (However, my pictured is a burnished, compact plant in an unshaded north-facing peat bed at and lightly covering them with washed transplanting is done in the Spring and with lightly toothed and nearly variegated the base of a large boulder. pumice. The pumice provides protection Fall when I have an overwhelming leaves. Each ice-blue bloom includes a for the seed but doesn't block the light number of things that need doing immedi- green eye surrounded by a white glowing continued on page 28 ring. 22 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 23 Journal Report continued Chris Wood writes a smart review on the worth and culture of Gold Laced Board of Directors Meeting BEARS EAR AND GOLD LACE Polyanthus. He abandons the practice of Held October 14, 1995 at Mary McCrank's Restaurant, Chehalis, Washington The Argus Yearbook of the National sowing new seed in July or August so that Auricula and Primula Society, Midland plants flower in spring. Rather, he Present: John Kerridge, Dorothy banquet forms and sales square forms. and West Section is a good read for both advocates waiting until the following Springer, Thelma Genheimer, Claire Washington State: No December or spring so that plants have time to mature novices and experts. Cockcroft, Addaline Robinson, Thea Oakley, January meetings. Dave Tarver, illustrator of the new to their finest. Further, Wood believes Allan Jones, Cheryl Fluck, Flip Fenili, Cyrus Seattle: Claire Cockcroft said there book Auriculas, recounts the earliest book that the practice of having plants last only Happy, April Boettger. would be no meeting until February when in English devoted to auriculas (1782) one year discourages new growers from The meeting was called to order at 10:45 Rick Lupp will be the speaker. called 'A Treatise on the culture and planting gold laced polyanthus and by President John Kerridge. John announced B.C. Group: John Kerridge reported the management of the Bear's Ear or Auricula "precludes the naming and propagation of the death of Ann Lunn's father. group still meets at Tom Hobb's nursery and Minutes of the October 1995 Board Ursi', with directions for raising it from varieties". show dates will be April 27 and 28th. meeting were approved as printed. Mary Prey's e-mail address is: Alaska: John has received several long seed. Bears Ear? Anyone? Business arising from minutes: A [email protected] Board of Directors Meeting continued issue, which will be printed by Eagle Press in Redmond. Claire has been corresponding contact with Peter Ward of the N.A.P.S. in with Jacques Mommens regarding a Quarterly Notes from the Editor England and will order their society growing index covering the past ten years. By Claire Cockcroft, Redmond, Washington Photo by Steve Hootman guides to sell through the A.P.S. library. The Quarterly will print a notice Judges: No report. regarding the willing of member slides, Round Robin: No report. books, plants and finances to the A.P.S. CANADIAN CUSTOMS Quarterly Librarian: Cheryl Fluck A letter from Herb Dickson was shared Dennis Oakley reports from Rich- reported she has done over $700 in business. with the Board. Contents of the letter will be mond Beach, British Columbia, about his Membership: Cyrus Happy suggested a tabled until the next meeting when Herb may experience with Canadian Customs and membership brochure be professionally done. be present. seeds ordered from Plant World: Claire Cockcroft is interested in helping with Any other business: Addaline Robinson "We felt it must have been the the brochure. April Boettger resigned as has received three Life memberships in the membership chairperson. 'grinch who stole Christmas' who past three months. checked the package, because we were A.P.S. has received a donation of $622 Cheryl Fluck will float the price on old charged $3.75 duty, $3.25 AST and $5.00 from the Alaska Group. John has written to Quarterlies. Interested buyers must be A.P.S. thank them. members to purchase old Quarterlies. service charge!! We have placed many Quarterly Editor: Claire Cockcroft Meeting was adjourned at 2:15. orders from Great Britain, USA, France, said donations received will be in the Winter by Dorothy Springer & and Tasmania; this is the first time this has ever happened. Apparently the law is Primula faberi(t) in Yunnan China. that if the seed packets are less than 25 grams they are dutiable, but a 'truckload' American Primrose Society Bookstore is exempt. We feel it may have been along with a copy of the import permit, in avoided if the customs sticker had said a box separate from your luggage. Fly A.P.S. members are able to get special prices on these beautiful books: 'No Commercial Value'. I wrote Plant into a location that has a plant inspection Auriculas, by Gwen Baker & Peter Ward, 1995 - $25US World, pointing this out, and to my station; Los Angeles, San Francisco, Primulas The Complete Guide, by Mary A. Robinson, 1990 - $15US surprise they gave us a credit note for Seattle, New York, and Miami all do. Primula, by John Richards, 1993 - $36US £10.00 and suggested that when we order Remember that USDA plant inspectors The Book of Primroses, by Barbara Shaw, 1991 - $15US we request that the sticker be so marked. work Monday through Friday only. The Genus Primula, by Josef Halda, 1992 - $20US This was doubly appreciated, as their Plants arriving on the weekend must wait. seeds are very good." For detailed information, contact Periodically, our librarian obtains older, used books. For a list of what is your local plant inspection station. available, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to her. Address your orders and U.S. PLANT INSPECTIONS inquiries to: What must you do if you follow John YUNNAN PRIMULA SPECIES Thea Oakley, American Primrose Society Librarian Kerridge's example and go primrose Steve Hootman of the Rhododendron 3304 288th Ave. NE, Redmond, WA 98053 USA shopping abroad (Page 10), but want to Species Botanical Garden in Federal bring plants into the U.S.? First apply for Way, Washington, sent the accompanying Thea's e-mail address: [email protected] an import permit from the U.S. Depart- photo of a Primula species that he collected this summer in Yunnan, China. Orders must be prepaid in US dollars by check on a US bank or by interna- ment of Agriculture (USDA). Processing takes about one month. Then obtain a The seed is in the APS seed exchange as tional money order, made out to Thea Oakley, A.P.S. Librarian. Postage and phytosanitary certificate when you SEH #215 and was collected at 3900 m. handling: in the US add $3 for the first book and $1.50 for each additional book, or The plant grows about six inches high outside the US add $5 for the first book and $2.50 for each additional book. purchase- your plants. The certificate is not mandatory but is helpful, since the and the blossom is fragrant. Steve has USDA inspectors will destroy any tentatively identified the plant as Primula infected plants. Plants roots must be faberi, a rarely seen primula not in washed clean of all soil before packing. cultivation. If you are carrying the plants, pack them, 26 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 27 Notes from the Editor continued wildflowers are associated with their organization. You can seek information News from the Chapters MORE SLUG CONTROL IDEAS by individual states, catalogs, interna- A Summary of chapter meetings Jan Kelly finds that slugs thrive in tional links, photography sites, plant the damp climate of Conquille, Oregon. identification and reference materials. ALASKA The chapter's annual seed sowing Since Jan has four cats and two dogs, Norman Singer in Sandisfield, MA, Jean Eichman reports from Juneau: meeting boasted over 70 varieties of seeds she's sensitive to the problems of using suggested a list server called Alpine-L, a this year. Dot writes: slug bait around pets. She's found a We held a well-attended meeting in 250 member network that started as a October to plan for 1996. We decided to use "People have been wonderfully kind and method of baiting that works for her, and forum for alpine lovers but includes other the profits from our very successful plant sale sent seed to DKC/APS. Some came from she askes that I share it with you: serious gardeners including primula in May to bring in speakers from other John Kerridge, Ian Scott, and RHS Wisley... "Somewhere along the line I read growers. Members exchange informa- Southeast Alaska towns. We will have the We're delighted with everything... Now we need somehow to arrange for a summer with about putting the [slug] bait in pieces of tion via electronic mail, which is posted owners of the local Yard Doctor / Glacier black plastic pipe. My husband cuts the Gardens Nursery in January, the Ketchikan minimal or no 90° days and gentle rain to everyone on the list. There is no falling in adequate amounts." pipes about six or eight inches long and I charge to join. To subscribe, send to city gardener in February, and in March, we will have someone from Sitka make a In March, the DKC/APS joined the use a long, plastic ice tea spoon to put the [email protected] the command: Delaware Valley Chapter of the North presentation. We are very excited that Cy slug bait in the pipes. I find the granular American Rock Garden Society to hear a talk SUBSCRIBE ALPINE-L YOURNAME Happy, former APS president, has agreed to bait works best as the pellets have a comma CITY JURISDICTION ZONE come to Juneau to speak to our group. We by Kris Fenderson, author of A Synoptic Guide to the Genus Primula. tendency to roll back out. Not only does For example: will reserve a booth to sell primroses and this [method] keep animals out of the subscribe alpine-L Reginald Farrer, memberships at the gardening conference in bait, the bait lasts longer because it is Washington DC Zone 7a early May, then stage a sale of the late- WASHINGTON protected from the rain and watering. The comma enables the LISTSERV blooming primroses sometime in June. Washington State Chapter Last year was the first year that I really software to alphabetize its list of sub- Members debated becoming an official Meets the second Friday of each month, had the slugs under control — I must scribers alphabetically by surname. chapter of the APS. The consensus was to except July and August, at the United Good have a hundred of these pipes around my stay as an unofficial group. I will take over as Neighbor Center at 305 S 43rd Street, gardens! When I started to bait the traps unofficial group leader as John O'Brien joins Renton, (across the street from Valley NEW PLANT SOURCE the national APS board in 1996. General Hospital) at 7:45 p.m. Guests are in late Jauary, after I noticed some slug Add Reflective Gardens Nursery to We are looking forward to a very busy welcome. activity, I found that any of the traps that your list of mail order primula and and interesting year." February's meeting featured Rosetta were out of bait had slugs living in them. pinellia sources. This is a new nursery Pat Wilson adds: At Juneau's January Jones and Thea Oakley leading a discussion So I guess they should be baited all the offering a good selection of woodland meeting, members enjoyed a program by on sowing seeds. The group also finished plans for the Chapter's annual show, to be time. My pets do not bother these pieces plants and plants not often seen in other Steve and Cindy Bohay, owners of the Yard Doctor / Glacier Gardens Nursery. The held on Easter weekend at the Rhododendron of plastic at all, but I think a puppy might catalogs. Write for a catalog: be tempted to play with them." Bohays have been growing plants and Species Botanical Garden. Reflective Gardens Nursery landscaping in Juneau for the past ten years. Eastside Chapter 24329 NE Snow Hill Lane The focus of their program was starting plants Meets the first Monday of every month MORE INTERNET RESOURCES Poulsbo, Washington 98370 from seed. Though they don't grow prim- at First Interstate Bank, 6615 132nd Avenue Gary Lipe in Fort Worth, TX, wrote phone/fax: (360) 598-4649 «r roses, they described their greenhouse NE, Kirkland, at the Bridle Trails Mall at that wildflower information is available operation, where thousands of plants are 7:30 p.m. from WILDFLOWERS at URL: grown from seed each year. They shared how At February's meeting, members viewed http://rampages.onramp.net/-garylipe/ they use primroses in landscaping and offered slides of primulas and gardens by the late WILDFLOWERS organizes wild- some useful landscaping tips. It was an James Menzies. The group also enjoyed a flower information in one place and tries informative and well attended meeting. cake and party celebrating the chapter's birthday. to identify other related Internet re- sources. WILDFLOWERS is not a PENNSYLVANIA commercial endeavor but vendors, Doretta Klaber Chapter gardens, state parks, attractions and Meets four times a year. Contact Dot Plyler, chapter president, for details. publishers are invited to highlight how Photo by Dorothy Schramm American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 29 28 American Primrose Society - Spring 1996 News from the Chapters continued BRITISH COLUMBIA CRAVENS AURICULAS BC Primrose Group Seattle Chapter Meets on the third Wednesday of - NEW FOR 96 - Meets four times a year. Visitors are September, November, January, March, and welcome. Contact June Skidmore, chapter We can now ship auriculas to the U.S. We offer our May, at 7:30 p.m. at the Thomas Hobbs president, for details. U.S. friends the chance to share in the beauty of Old Southlands Nursery, Vancouver. Call (604) English Auriculas. Two collections are available. April E. Boettger Rick Lupp, owner of Ml Tahoma 244 Westside Highway 274-0551 or (604) 224-7813 to confirm. Nursery, gave an excellent presentation at THE YORKSHIRE COLLECTION Vader, WA 98593 At the November meeting John Kerridge (360)295-3114 February's meeting about small, early- 4 different named Show Auriculas. 2 Yellow, 2 dark/red showed slides of his trip to England. (Story blooming varieties of primula and androsace. on Page 10.) Following John's talk, a raffle THE AIREDALE COLLECTION Primula Lover's Delight Tacoma Chapter was held of a named auricula donated by 4 different named Alpine Auriculas. because as primulaceae Meets the first Tuesday of each month, enthusiasts we plan to carry Bodil Leamy, and leftover Barnhaven seeds except July and August, in the Fireside Room Both Collections each $20 inc. Postage & Packing a full range of primulaceae, were offered to the members. of the First United Methodist Church, 1919 but as primula specialists our The January meeting had a good turn out All collections sent with easy to follow instructions. West Pioneer, Puyallup, at 7:30 p.m. Plants will be bare root, well wrapped, dispatched in forte is primroses-especially of 20 members and three visitors. For the Jiffy Bags. auricula. program, John Kerridge spoke about his OREGON method of seed planting and passed out some Plant Catalogue $3 Seed Catalogue $3 Both $5. Free list with SASE Oregon Primrose Society or detailed catalog for leaflets giving the details. He then followed Please send Dollar Bills or Sterling Cheques, No postal orders $2.00. Meets the third Friday of every month with a slide presentation of his visit last year to from September through May at 1p.m. at the to Alaska, showing gorgeous beds of primulas Mail order only Cravens Nursery 1, Foulds Terrace / Bingley, Milwaukie Community Club, 42nd and that had us all drooling. He also had some U.S. & Canada West Yorkshire / BD164LZ / England Jackson Sts., Milwaukie OR, Contact Ann slides of the various species native to the area Tel: 01274561412 AT THIS TIME WE ARE NOT Lunn, chapter president, for details. and explained how these had migrated from OPENED TO THE PUBLIC. Valley Hi Chapter Asia and Japan. He also told of the difficulty Meets the second Monday of the month in getting to Marie Skonberg's place due to from September through November and bad weather that caused his plant to turn back, February through May at 1 p.m. at Thelma necessitating the trip be made on her CHEHALIS RARE PLANT NURSERY Genheimer's house, 7100 SW 209th, husband's fish boat! Seeds that were Beaverton, OR. Contact Thelma for details. collected with permission from Van Dusen KILL BUGS 19081 Julie Road, Lebanon, MO 65536 Gardens were distributed. Herb Dickson, Proprietor The date for our show and sale was fixed for April 26, 27, and 28, 1996. AMERICAN PRIMROSE SOCIETY Officers of the Chapters OFFICERS Doretta Klaber Chapter Washington State Chapter President - Dr. John Kerridge, 4660 10th Ave. W, #1102, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6R 2J6 President, Dot Plyler President, Rosetta Jones Vice-President - Ann Lunn, 6620 NW 271st Ave., Hillsboro, OR 97124 18 Bridle Path, Chadds Ford, PA 19317 E. 170 Dunoon PL, Shelton, WA 98584 Past President - Cyrus Happy III, 11617 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW, Tacoma, WA 98499 Eastside Chapter Seattle Chapter Recording Secretary - Dorothy Springer, 7213 South 15th, Tacoma, WA 98465 President, Thea Oakley President, June Skidmore Corresponding Secretary - Thea S. Foster, 779 E 21st St., North Vancouver, BC, Canada V7J 1N7 3304 288th Ave. NE, Redmond, WA 98053 6730 W. Mercer Way, Mercer Island, WA Treasurer - Addaline W. Robinson, 9705 SW Spring Crest Dr., Portland, OR 97225 Oregon Primrose Society 98040 President, Ann Lunn Alaska Group DIRECTORS 6620 NW 271st Ave., Hillsboro, OR 97124 Contact Jean Eichman 1998 Karen Schellinger, 31335 Kalla Lake Rd., Avon, MN 97068 Tacoma Chapter P.O. Box 20765, Juneau, AK 99802-0765 Fred Knapp, 58 Kaintuck Lane, Locust Valley, NY 11560 President, Dan Pederson British Columbia Primrose Group 1997 Glen Spurrell, 72 St. Anne's Road, Toronto, Ont., Canada M6J 2C3 7614 48th Ave. E., Tacoma, WA 98443 President, John Kerridge Misty Haffner, 8118 Hamstead Ln., Juneau, AK 99801-9116 Valley Hi Chapter 4660 10th Ave. W. #1102, Vancouver, B.C. 1996 Larry A. Bailey, 1507 9th Ave. N., Edmonds, WA 98020 President, Orval Agee Canada V6R 2J6 Flip Fenili, 7102 Citrine Lane SW, Tacoma, WA 98498 11112 SE Wood Ave., Milwaukie, OR 97222 EDITOR MEMBERSHIP Claire Cockcroft Dues for individual or household membership EDITORIAL DEADLINE FOR SUMMER ISSUE OF PRIMROSES IS 4805 228th Ave. N.E., Redmond, WA 98053 in the American Primrose Society, domestic MAY1 e-mail: [email protected] and foreign, are $20 U.S. per calendar year ($21 for renewals postmarked after January ROUND ROBIN 1); $55 for three years; or $275 for an individual life membership. Submit payment Edward Davis to the treasurer. Membership renewals are 226 S High Street, Hillsboro, OH 45133 due November 15 and are delinquent at the Ml MOMA NURSERY SEED OF DOUBLE first of the year. SEED EXCHANGE ACAULIS Position open. Please contact the editor for Membership includes a subscription to the more information. quarterly Primroses, seed exchange Rick Lupp (206) 847-9827 AND DOUBLE privileges, slide library privileges and the opportunity to join a Round Robin. Alpines, WashingtonState AURICULA SHOW JUDGES Natives, Species Primulas, Rosetta Jones E 170 Dunoon Place, Shelton , WA 98584 PUBLICATIONS Troughs and Trough Plants NEW SEED CROP IN AUGUST Manuscripts for publication in the quarterly Custom Propagation MINIMUM ORDER LIBRARIAN are invited from members and other gardening experts, although there is no payment. Please 40 SEEDS-$5.00 Thea Oakley Nursery open include black and white photographs if 3304 288th Ave. NE, Redmond, WA 98053 by appointment only possible. Send articles directly to the editor. e-mail: [email protected] Mail Order in U.S. & Canada only ROSETTA JONES Advertising rates per issue: full page, $100; E. 170 DUNOON PL SLIDE LIBRARIAN Send $1.00 for Plant List half page,$50; quarter page, $25; eighth page SHELTON, WA 98584 John A. O'Brien, Sr. and minimum, $12.50. Artwork for ads is the 28111 - 112th Avenue E. PHONE: 206-426-7913 9450 Herbert Place, Juneau, Alaska 99801 responsibility of the advertiser, and camera Graham, Washington 98338 ready copy is appreciated. Submit advertising to the editor. Spring 1996 Volume 54, No. 2