Primroses

Sakiwake sakurasoh Kagyoh sakurasoh

Vol. 46 FALL, 1988 No. 4 PRIMROSES The drawings on front and back Quarterly of the are from a Japanese gardening b> American Primrose Society lished in 1733, "Chikinshoh Furoku" /,. Summer is Dying Fall 1988 Mr. Ihei Itoh, and accompanied the /e,,j ture article on Sakurasoh by Kazuo Har,-\n this issue Volume 46, Number 4 by Laura Louise Foster Published October 1, 1988 These are the last sweet days of summer and the leaves Entered 2nd Class, Bryn Mawr, Pa. spin float drift slip through the sunspun air smelling of mushrooms and woodsmoke ripeapple leafmold spiced and laced with the sharp cold fragrance of asters and drying grass. Plunge your hands in the fire of color. Drink deep the smoky spicy Summer is Dying bluehaze of summer's breath by Laura Louise Foster .... 121 for she is dying in glory Join a Round Robin and there is a long grey time between. by Elizabeth van Sickle .... 122 Sakurasoh: Primula Sieboldi These are the last days. by Kazuo Hara 123 The air is blue with mist in the morning Moving Along and the hills are blue on the blue sky And in the evening by Dee Peck 131 Let's Talk Cameras the mountains are crimson and gold, the rivers streaks of scarlet. by Bruce Gould 132 The Genus Primula Touch the scarlet the crimson, by Josef Halda 135 Bask in the flame hot reds Transplanting Seedlings 149 and the yellow Candelabra Primula the bright bright yellow by Herb Dickson 153 while the birds Primula Suffretescens flock and swirl above the burning hills. by Gwen Baker 156 For summer has spread her funeral meats For the Love of the Primula and the black crows gather. by Glenn Barber 158 Garner the amber. The gold of the sunfold lap-warm about you against the long lententime for the crows have come to feast to pry surreptitious and strut their mourning. PRIMROSES (ISSN 0162-6671] is published quarterly by American Primrose, Auricula and Primula Society, 8518 - 28th Ave. E., These are the last Hold her close kiss Tacoma, WA 98445. Second-class postage the last days of summer her golden sunwarmed skin paid at Tacoma, WAand additional mailing and the birds stream away for she is leaving offices. and the last leaf falls and a long barren time will pass and the sky before the seed of spring POSTMASTER: Send address changes to thickens with wind bruised clouds. quickens and swells PRIMROSES, 6730 West Mercer Way, in the womb of the year. Mercer Island, Washington 98030,

American Primrose Society Page 121 Sakurasoh: Join a Round Robin, exchange ideas and information, Primula Sieboldii become friends. by Kazuo Hara, Secretary Matsumoto Sakurasoh & Primula Club Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan HOW A ROUND ROBIN WORKS

1. You write a letter to me, Elizabeth van Sickle, 654 Marine Drive The Historical and Cultural Background Sequim, Washington, DC 98382, USA telling where you live, some- thing about your interests, other than primroses (play the violin, grow (Ed.'s Note: Because of its charm and garden plants which you see popular all roses, raise geese, 4H Leader, have two little children or four grown felicity of expression the editor has left over the world today were raised and children) type of growing conditions, soil, weather and mountains, this piece all but untouched. I know you bred in those days; for example, Sakura sea level. How long have you been growing primroses and what types will enjoy it that way as much as I did.) (cherry blossom), camellia, peony, do you grow and are you interested in other varieties? chrysanthemum, morning glory, In the gardening world of Japan- Hanashobu (Japanese Iris), lily, Kaede 2. What kind of a Robin would you enjoy being in? Sakurasoh (sieboldii) dominates over a (Japanese maple tree), Fuji (Japanese wis- 3. Rules of the Robin: lot of other cultivated primulas as one of teria), Satsuki (Japanese azalea), etc. Be- The Robin travels via the mail, arrives and you read, enjoy, copy, the traditional garden plants and is re- sides, there are still lots of those which glean information, if seeds are enclosed take a few and within ten garded as incomparable just like the case have not been introduced to the world (10) days send the packet on with your new letter enclosed (remove i |bf Auricula in Great Britain, yet and not known well. Sakurasoh is one your "old" letter) Your letter should be kept to three (3) or under It was back in Edo Era lasting from the of them. (1) pages and pictures two, if you send these being sure they are beginning of 17th century to the mid 19th The Japanese had described various labeled. The Robin always goes FIRST CLASS . . . postage being century when the gardening culture flowers in the form of poems ever since what it is ... do not put catalogs or other material in the Robin . . . flourished most and culminated in the ancient times. However we cannot find list addresses and information ... if other members wish the long history of japan except for today. any description of Sakurasoh in the an- material they may send for their copy. During the long period of time which had cient poetry. It was the end of 16th cen- lasted for nearly 300 years, japan had en- tury that Sakurasoh had first appeared in 4. When you mail the packet on you send me a post-card with the joyed stable days under the strong feudal a literature on flower arrangement. Also, date on it of when you mailed it ... and IF you must keep it over system governed by the Tokugawas (the Sakurasoh is said to have been first fea- ten let me know. (You don't have to keep it ten days) Tokugawa shogunate) without involved tured in a gardening book entitled in any warfares. It closed the door com- "Kadan Kohmoku" (published in 1681). 5. This sheet and your members list always stay with the Robin. pletely to the world except for China, In a publication on gardening called 6. Type if possible, if not write or print clearly. Don't use pencil as Korea and Holland. Isolated from the "Kadan Chikinshoh" (written by Ihei Itoh it fades as the packet goes through the mail. world, people enjoyed peaceful days and in 1695) a brief description about the col- lives, and various arts and industries, cul- our of corollas was included and it ture and science had developed and explained only about the purple flower evolved during the time of peace. form and the white flower form of P. Allowing for Holidays and slow mail an eightmember Robin returns Since the successive 'shoguns' of the sakurasoh. Thereafter, the reference to about every three months ... a good Robin usually makes it around Tokugawas had cherished flowers out of P. sakurasoh became more frequent and three times per year. I find more than ten members is "over-load" the common, the habit of plant culture the part of description on its cultuvars in takes too long and interest is lost. Better to start another Robin than prevailed among 'daimyos' (feudal lords) books increased every time new publica- have one too large. first and spread to scholars, then to tions on gardening came out to the pub- uddhist monks and to wealthy mer- lic. In 1733 a gardening book entitled ) chants, down to the citizens. Quite a few "Chikinshoh Furoku" was published

Page 123 Page 122 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society the plants all over Japan again. And now featuring descriptions and illustrations of into an object of speculation. It was % posed to different culture introduced from the Western countries, and so they small clubs of Sakurasoh lovers and chap- 9 varieties of Sakurasoh together with P. equally true in the case of "Hanashobu" r seemed to have forgotten Sakurasoh for ters of the society have been established modesta and P. kisoana. (Japanese Iris) and "Hanabasu" (Japanese that period.(5i But Sakurasoh was never one after another in every place of Japan The habitat of P. sieboldii ranged lotus flower). On the contrary, "Rens" of totally neglected by all. Soon after Japan's since then. widely all over Japan. Edo (now Tokyo) Sakurasoh became extremely closed to opening its door to the world, the aristo- Thinking about the history of Auricula was merely a newly developed city when the public in order to avoid scattering crat classes began to devote themselves on this occasion, I see it very interesting leyasu Tokugawa (1542-1616), the first and mixing-up of named varieties and the to culture and breeding of Sakurasoh. that, while Sakurasoh and Auricula be- shogun, founded the shogunate there. rules in each "Ren" became rigid too. On The characteristic of those varieties, if we long to the different species and they To the north, there was a large meadow the other hand, it was rather democratic point out here, which have been raised made quite remote and different process which was a fertile flood plain of Ara River inside the group.w By the time when since then, is that most of them have the of development from each other in their running in the middle of Edo, where P. those "Rens" flourished here and there, tendency toward being gigantic corollas. horticultural history at both ends of the sakurasoh grew gregariously all over. highly improved varieties of Sakurasoh Exclusivism of the Sakurasoh groups, Old World, the former in the east and Every spring people of Edo city came and were raised one after another. Almost a the latter in the west, on a quite contras- enjoyed hiking and seeing flowers of half of the varieties we grow today have however, remained unchanged even tive standard of beauty one another, they Sakurasoh there. It is said the the culture survived through years from those days. after the drastic change in the society. It was after the foundation of "Ninon have something in common with each of Sakurasoh originated from the fact that Also the method for exhibiting Sakurasoh Sakurasoh Kai" (Japan Sakurasoh Society) other. Maybe we have to refer to the cul- people picked up some plants with vari- in pot on the show bench was ac- in 1918 that a lot of new activities were tural background of the west and that of ation among them and brought them complished at that time. They discussed launched one after another in order to Japan if we try to discuss this matter. I back home for pot culture. and studied in details from the aesthetic eliminate the abuses which had been pre- so suggest you Westerners, especially point of view the choice of pots for the In the mid 18th century, propagation vailing among Sakurasoh lovers' clubs. British people, to study and know much plants, how to pot and train plants and by seed became very popular among gar- They held flower shows of Sakurasoh about the cultural background the his- the arrangement of plants in pot on the dening people and then a lot of new vari- which they made totally open to the pub- tory of Sakurasoh of Japan. At the same show bench. The rules for exhibiting eties of P. sakurasoh had been raised and time, we Japanese should equally learn plants is strictly followed by us even lic, where visitors could buy some plants bred. Some of the varieties raised in as the society's plant distribution pro- more about Auricula as well. today. those days still survive even today. As gram. In association with 'Naniwa The majority of Sakurasoh lovers of ADDENDUM: the cultivation of Sakurasoh won popu- Sakurasoh Kai' (Sakurasoh Society of those days belonged to the 'samurai' (1): Sakurasoh appeared as a gardening larity, those who loved the plants met (warrior) classes who were in the upper Osaka) established in western Japan. plant in Japan a little later than those together and made organizations called 'Ninon Sakurasoh Kai' took active parts class in the society of those days but were plants like chrysanthemum, camellia and "Ren" in Japanese. There is a record that in promotion of the spread of Sakurasoh not very rich financially. It was, however, cherry blossom, among the groups "ShitayaRen" held the in Japan until the beginning of World War those 'samurais' who had contributed to (2): The leader of "Shitaya Ren" was first flower contest for the new introduc- II. The continuous air raids all over Japan the development of Sakurasoh culture Mr. Takesuke Tsuji. tions of P. sakurasoh in 1804.121 In the con- during the war gave annihilative damages with the support of their great store of (3): In spite of those exclusive groups, test flowers were classified according to to Sakurasoh, too. However it was indeed knowledge and eyes for the beautiful. plants of Sakurasoh had been cultivated the type of flower, and were graded into a matter of remark that some thoughtful Many of the variety names of those days and produced at nurseries in the subur- 6 levels in each class. The prizes were lovers of Sakurasoh had made allout ef- are nice and elegant as they were named ban Edo and they were in the market of decided by means of a popularity vote forts during the war time so that they after old Japanese and Chinese poems, Edo city as a potted plant. among the members. In the world of gar- could manage to preserve most of the 'Noh' (Japanese drama in the medieval (4): Sakurasoh then spread over the dening of those days Japanese people varieties of Sakurasoh which had been times), the court music and the tea cere- city of Edo and to other parts of Japan. were very much enthusiastic about rais- long cherished and cultivated for years. mony, etc. for which those samurais had (5): There were some plants, besides ing new flowers because those new cre- a taste. It is said that there had been 700 After World War II, Sakurasoh en- Sakurasoh, which had lost most of their ations were looked upon as objects of variety names, or you may say 1,000 thusiasts re-organized a nation-wide so- varieties during that period. Both Lychnis speculation so that great progress was created for Sakurasoh at that time.(4} ciety named "Sakurasoh kai" (P. sieboldii and Taraxacum platycarpum made in creation of new flowers. Just like sakurasoh Society) in 1952 with the late used to have a lot of varieties but there the case of tulips in Europe, the new in- And now the end of Edo Era comes. In Mr. Reiro Ohyama as chairman and they are none available today but they are left troductions of "Kiku" (chrysanthemum) 1868 Japan opened its door to the world started various activities to popularize only on record. and "Omoto" (Rhodea japonica) were after 200 years' of silence. For the first traded at quite high prices. P. sakurasoh, few years Japan had faced internal distur- however, seems to have remained as a bances and various culture shocks plant for hobbyists and was never turned among people who were suddenly ex-

Page 125 Page 124 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society II.The Name "Sakurasoh" and the gigantic-sized flowers look rich Some of the plants of this type have the 'in substance and gorgeous as well. Most kind of corolla on which face the colour of the gigantic-sized varieties have been "Sakurasoh" in Japanese language rose". As you know, rose is the national of the reverse exudes quite delicately and raised during the past few decades. literally means a cherry blossom (Sakura) flower of U.K. and ours is "Sakura", subtly. There are several colour patterns and herb (soh). It is an herb that bears cherry blossom. Please note that the size of the flower of exuding on the face of corolla (See the flowers very similar to cherry blossoms often varies depending on the weather attached Figure). As you see, each of in every spring just after the cherry blos- Here is one piece of famous "Haiku" and growing conditions of the year. them will give a different impression. som season is over as if the withered pet- (Japanese short lyric poem) composed by 2. The colour of corolla (See the Fig. 1) There are flowers of bi-colour as well. als of cherry trees came to life again. This Issa Kobayashi, one of the greatest poets The colour of corolla of Sakurasoh is (See the Figure 2.) What is unique about plant is indeed worthy of the name. in the 18th century; it goes like this, "In not very rich in variation compared with this pattern is that there is one type of Speaking of the plant name, it has some- my country, herbs too bear cherry blos- that of Auricula and Polyanthus. The col- flower with the petals dappled at the thing in common with English "Prim- soms". our variation ranges from crimson red to edge and part of the lobes are coloured rose, pink, white, lavender and purple green as well. Even a white flower form with the colour of a wild form as the stan- with a red throat occurs, which is not illustrated in the figure. , The Classification of Flowers dard. There are no colours like orange, yellow and blue. Since we have our own 3. The type of flowers aesthetic sense of colour, we prefer rela- Like a number of varieties of Auricula Colour patterns of petals in which the A. Various forms of petals (Fig. 3} tively faint colours. On the other hand, are classified into various types depend- colour of the petal is white while the re- No. 1 "Sakura-ben" (a Sakura-shaped Sakurasoh has some typesof flowers with ing on the colour and the pattern of verse is coloured. These patterns sho\\ the colour of the reverse soaks out petal, the standard type), No. 2 the face of petals coloured differenty corolla, a great many varieties of "Namiuchiben" (a wavy petal with ruffles from the revese. In most cases, the face Sakurasoh are categorized mainly in ac- on the petals. ^ at the fringe), No. 3 "Bai-ben" (a spoon- of corolla is coloured white while the re- cordance to the pattern of petal, the vari- shaped petal), No. 4 "Kagari-ben" (a verse is red, pink or purple. This pro- ation of corolla and the size (diameter) notched petal; a deeply notched petal is duces a great visual effect on our eyes. of flowers. The variation in these aspects called "Fukakagari-ben" and a shallowly is so delicate and subtle that you would notched one is called "Asakagari-ben"), feel as if you saw the elaborate craft No. 5 "Maru-ben" (a round petal without Colour patterns of petals works. I would say that this characteristic notches) of Sakurasoh symbolizes very well the 1 contrast between the horticultural view B. The variation of the width of petal (Fig. point of the Japanese toward flowers and 4) that of the West. Now I will make a brief No. 1 The Standard (an average petal explanation about the classification of of a wild form), No. 2 "Hoso-ben" (a slen- Sakurasoh as follows: der petal; some wild forms have these petals. There are not so many varieties 1. The size of flower with this type of petals. But each one has Taking the diameter of a wild form of a peculiar atmosphere), No. 3 "Moto- P. sieboldii as the standard (30mm-40mm hoso-ben" (a petal which becomes on an average), which is categorized as rapidly narrower toward end at the point "Medium-sized" flowers, those under of joint), No. 4 "Ju-ben" (broader petals the standard are called "Small-sized". overlapping each other), No. 5 "Hiro- Those with 41mm-50mm in diameter are ben" (a broad petal which does not over- classified as "Large-sized", and those lap each other but fills the space between with 51mm and larger in diameter is the petals neatly). "Gigantic-sized" flowers. The small-sized C. The variation of flowers (Fig. 5) varieties look pretty. Some of the vari- 2. Me-jiro /. Shibori No. 1 "Hira-zaki" (the standard; a eties in this group raised in 18th and 19th 3. Me-nagare 2. Soko-beni corolla of flat blooming), No. 2 "Ume- century have survived and are in cultiva- 4. Akebono-jiro 3. Tsumj-jiro zaki" (a corolla flowering like a Japanese tion now. the medium-sized flowers are 5. Soko-jiro 4. Shiro-fu apricot flower (Prunus mume) with all full of uniqueness, and the large-sized 6. Hake-firo 5. Midori-shibori five lobes rolled up inward at the apex),

Page 126 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 12; No. 3 "Asakakae-zaki" (a corolla with the a mixture and combination of those ele- highly developed aesthetic sense of the whole lobes slightly rolled up inward), I ments described in the above. I hope this Japanese that Sakurasoh enthusiasts have No. 4 "Fuka-kakae-zaki" (a corolla with Various forms of petals explanation will help you appreciate the attained for the past few hundred years. the whole lobes deeply rolled up in- ward), No. 5 "Tsukami-zaki" (a corolla Variation of flowers I flowering like a grabbing hand), No. 6 "Tama-zaki" (a corolla flowering like a ball; the whole lobes are completely rolled up inward), No. 7 "Hoshi-zaki" (a star-shaped flower), No. 8 "Kurui-zaki" (a corolla with irregular petals which does not look neat but gives an impression as rhythmical like a dancing flower}, No. 9 "Shishi-zaki" (the extreme type of "Kurui- zaki" takes this form of flower. The petals are curled and frizzled and/or toothed deeply). 1. Hira-zaki There are a great many number of vari- 2. Ume-zaki 3. Asagakae-zaki eties of Sakurasoh with the flower pat- terns No. 2 to No. 5 in the above classifi- 1. Sakura-ben cation, while the number of varieties with 2. Namiuchi-ben the flower type No. 6 to No. 9 is quite 3. Bai-ben small. As for the varieties categorized 4. Kagari-ben (Kire-ben) into No. 2 to No. 9, we can enjoy both 5. Maru-ben the colour of the face of the corolla and that of the reverse at the same time be- > cause, in most cases, the two sides of the petals of those flowers are coloured dif- Variation of the width of petals ferently from each other. The flowers of No. 8 and No. 9 represent a preference I of the Japanese for asymmetry. This ten- dency is also seen in the cases of 4. Fukagakae-zaki 5. Tsukami-zaki Hanashobu (Japanese Iris), Morning 6. Tama-zaki Glory and other Japanese traditional gar- den plants. Also the Japanese like to enjoy the sequential transformation fo flowers, which is quite delicate and sub- tle; i.e. "Tama-zaki" (No. 6) often changes from a ball to a grabbing-hand (No. 5) in the end. Now above explains what the standard for the classification of Sakurasoh is all about. Some other elements like which direction the flower faces, upward, hori- '/. standerd zontally or downward, could be in- 2. Hoso-ben cluded. Also the length of pistils is re- 3. Motohoso-ben garded as another index to distinguish 4. ju-ben one variety from the other. Several hun- 8, Kurui-zaki 5. Hiro-ben dreds of varieties of Sakurasoh consist of 7. Hoshi-zaki 9. Shishi-zaki

Page 128 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 129 IV. The Cultivation and Appreciation of Sakurasoh > "Moving Along"

Following is a brief description on the Alps, I do not need to shade plants. The by Dee Peck traditional cultivation of Sakurasoh. The plants of large-sized flowers should be Philadelphia, PA formal way of cultivation is a pot culture. fed adequate fertilizer while they are One reason is that the plants are easy to growing, but you must be careful not to get nipped if they are exposed to rain, let them be over-fed as Japanese wind and strong sunshine. Another is Sakurasoh lovers do not like that. As the above title promises, things are Gardens and many smaller features such that the flowers should be appreciated Growing Sakurasoh in pot has been re- truly moving along for our worldwide as the traditionald carp, a bamboo Suzu at a height of human eyes holding the garded as a kind of'bonsai'(a herbaceous Primula Conference in '92. Decisions or "deerchaser", traditional stone lan- plants in pot in hands. Sakurasoh lovers bonsai) in that people attach importance about both major and minor details have terns, and over fifty varieties of Japanese had a good selection of pots more than to the balance between the plant and the been made, ranging from the design for Iris. It is the perfect place for the plant a hundred years ago which had been best pot. Sakurasoh lovers try their best to a conference logo to the selection of the lover to feast his eyes and meditate. suited for this lovely and elegant plant. balance and train the height, the size and place for the meetings and the setting up Chris Brickell of the Royal Horticultural Those pots were called "Magohando", the flower colour of plants by adjusting of a tentative program. The logo is quite Society is in charge of the speakers and which had been originally used as a cook- the quantity of fertilizer and the fre- simple, very attractive and I hope you subjects to be included in theprogram. ing vessel for food, but were considered quency of watering, or by considering will be seeing it very soon. After many Though still tentative, they will include as the best pots ever for Sakurasoh in all how much compost is to be covered on discarded designs, this one meets with such subjects as Native Primulas of Japan, aspects; a dark brown colour of the sur- the plants at the time of transplanting. the approval of all the major participating Plant Hunting for Primulas in China (in face sets the pale colour of the flowers Plants in pot are placed on the show organizations. gardens and in the wild), Primulas of the off to advantage, and good drainage and bench called "Kadan" for the traditional The place chosen as the conference Himalayas, Primulas of the Near East and ventilation, etc. As those types of pots exhibition, which is a simple hut with I center is the Greenwood Inn. It is just Russia, Primulas of Western North are no longer available, each Sakurasoh stages. The design is very refined with minutes from downtown Portland and America, Primulas in Great Britain (what's lovers' clubs makes the kind of pots 5-story bench. On each stage 8 pots are Portland International Airport. Besides in cultivation, and how), Primulas and which look quite similar to them. placed in order. This form of exhibition excellent meeting and banquet facilities, Tissue Culture, The Landscape Uses of The Sakurasoh pots are 15cm in diame- was established over 150 years ago so that the Inn offers attractive guest rooms, Primulas, and many other related sub- ter. You can place 5 plants in a pot if they flowers of Sakurasoh looked most beau- some with balconies and fireplaces, and jects. A few British speakers have been are small-sized flowers or 4 plants if they tiful on the stage. The rule has been fol- all surrounded by beautifully planted chosen and will probably include George are large-sized flowers. The best time for lowed by Sakurasoh lovers ever since courtyards. There are other facilities of- Smith, Chris Grey-Wilson and Brian planting is either in November or in Feb- then. It regulates the best arrangement fered (swimming pools, disco club, etc.) Matthews. It is expected that there will ruary here in central Japan. All plants of pots in consideration of the colour of to those who want to extend the confer- also be speakers from japan, China, and must be transplanted once a year while varieties. This "Kadan" hut matches best ence into a real resort vacation! of course America. they are dormant. Planting should be with a Japanese style garden and with a We will not let you in on the entire Besides all these lectures, remember done to leave enough space among tea-house where the tea ceremony is program until it is firmer than at present, there will be such fun things as lunches plants and to estimate equal intervals be- conducted. but those of you who do not live in the together, the banquet with film of the tween the plants when they are grown Today you don't, of course, have to Portland area might like to learn a little Expedition, the Flower Show, plant sale, up. stick to this rule of the traditional pot about the Japanese Garden, which will workshops and last, but far from least, The plants should be put in the sun- culture and the arrangement of pots on definitely be the setting of a reception the tour of Berry Botanic Garden. shine until they come into bloom, then the show bench when you try to grow early in the conference. It is located in In addition to all this, a preliminary after flowering (around the end of April) Sakurasoh. You can take your own way. Portland's Washington Park, and accord- budget has been accepted by the three they should be kept under the light Enjoy growing Sakurasoh first and let's ing to those who have seen it, it is a gem organizations, work on The Book has shade. As I myself live on the central share the beauty, elegance and esprit of indeed. Besides exquisite plantings, it in- begun, plans for the expedition are in highlands of Japan, at the foot of Japan the plant with us. cludes all the traditional Japanese fea- process and funding for the film comes tures: a Ceremonial Tea House, a Strol- ever closer. Although a great deal has |ling Pond Garden, a Pavilion, (where our been done, much remains to be done, reception will be held), Sand and Stone and 1992 is closer than you think!

Page 130 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 131 .having the right kind of quality equip- and there is no manual override. In con- IV. Let's Talk Cameras Pment. Becoming a creative, knowledge- trast, add-on motor drives can be discon- able photographer comes from hard nected and the camera can be used by by Bruce Gould work with what you have, not throwing itself. 3. If you're not careful you can Vincentown, N) money at a camera store hoping you can waste a lot of film. Since it is so easy to buy success. Which is good, since most just push the button you may end up with "good" photographers I know, after pay- a half a dozen poorly exposed, out of ing for film, processing, travel and what focus, badly composed pictures instead As readers of previous columns know, landscapes. equipment they can afford, are usually of just one. But it may be worth the draw- equipment is not my favorite subject. Another thought is, will you be using broke. backs since you can get that next photo, New equipment is introduced so quickly your camera close to home or trekking I would like to look at cameras, not the one that would have gotten away if that many of the things I could write it around the world? How easy will it be gadgets or lenses or add-ons, just the about today will be old hat by the time to get it repaired at home and abroad? you had had to advance the film yourself, camera body. With what is sold today, this is finally printed and mailed. There- How complicated is it to maintain? Is it The least understood, most quickly that could be a book in itself. Improve- fore I'll cover the basics, but recommend affected by high humidity, the cold, or changing, most sophisticated electronic ments, changes, discontinuitions make that you subscribe to one of the better being banged around? Also, will it be an part of the camera is the exposure control keeping ahead of the manufacturers a photographic magazines for the newest asset to your travels or a liability? How system. Proper exposure of the film is full-time job. of equipment. much room will it take up in your luggage dependent upon the light that passes through the diaphragm in the lens and My own equipment is comparatively and how much of your time will it take Basically, the camera body is a light- simple, as my style and preferred sub- of your travels? Will you be toying with tight box that holds the film in place and then past the shutter to the film. The cor- jects demand. Since I like to travel I usu- some exotic article when you need to be supports the lens in a focused position rect amount of light needed to expose ally find my subjects in some of the worst keeping up with your spouse, friends or so that the image can be transmitted the film is expressed in its ASA or ISO environments. Thus equipment is as light party? through the lens to the film. Well, an number. The higher numbered films re- as I can make it, with few electronic op- Lastly, the most important considera- oatmeal box will do that (as anyone who quire less light to expose them. Armed tions and automatic nothing. This is my tion is cost. With the declining dollar has made a pin hole camera knows), with that information you can adjust the personal preference, not necessarily my value, cameras, which are almost all fwhat is it that makes a camera body cost diaphragm (or f/stop) and the shutter to recommendation. made in japan or Germany, have in- hundreds of dollars? allow the proper amount of light to reach If you don't have a camera, or you are creased in price substantially, Some top- The first thing that can drive up the the film. In times past this was done with about to buy a new one, here are some line models have almost doubled in price price is having the body made of a light meter, which read the intensity of thoughts that might help. I'm a great be- in the last two years. Cost goes deeper titanium, a strong lightweight metal. This the light being reflected by the subject. liever in self-questioning as a way of es- then just the initial purchase. People will is fine for the people who use a camera The information was then manually tablishing a need or direction. tend to leave their expensive camera every day under adverse conditions, like dialed into the camera. How much time and effort are you locked up when faced with foul weather photojournalists or many wildlife photo- With the advent of new electronics and goingtospend in learningand usingyour or lack of security. This means that if a graphers. This is an option with many computer chips that same information camera? Are you going to make a serious photographic opportunity comes along, top-line cameras, can be read, digested, compared with effort in photography? Then you will they are out of luck. Having a camera that Next is a power winder or motor drive. stored information, and merged with want a camera that allows you complete you are afraid to use is worse then having This can be added on or built into the special information supplied by the control over the photographic elements. no camera at all. You have invested all camera. Its purpose is to advance the film photographer then relayed automatically For those who want to use their cameras that money in something that is not pay- and reset the shutter automatically. This to the lens and shutter, all in mil- casually to document a subject the cam- ing a dividend. Then, too, the more ex- can be a real help when you wish to take liseconds. era with built-in controls might be just pensive the camera the more costly the a series of photographs. When the film In most new cameras the reflected light what is needed. repairs and maintenance. Please re- is advanced automatically it is one less is read by the light meter at the shutter Next question: are you willing to lug member there is a point where you are thing you have to worry about while con- or viewing surface. This will take into around a great deal of supplementary paying for a name and a lot of extras you centrating on your subject. There are consideration any change in lens, filter equipment such as lights, lenses, etc.? may not need or want. The amount of three drawbacks: 1. Motor drives are or add-on accessories in front of the lens Some new camera systems are close to money paid for a camera system will not heavy, particularly the add-ons that use and read what light will be available to being complete, with but a few acces- make a poor photographer great, Great eight AA batteries. That adds about one expose the film. sories. These have film winders and elec- photography starts with the photo- pound to your camera. 2. The built-in The idea behind a light meter is to read tronic flash built-in and hooked up with grapher, not the equipment. Creative, |drives use fewer batteries, but when the the brightest white and the darkest black zoom lenses that will cover close-ups to thinking photographers are helped by power runs out, the camera is inoperative and give you an average of the two. This

Page 132 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 133 is close to what the human eye and mind averaged and the exposure calculated. -^ does. The difference is that it won't read This system takes into consideration the |( all of the whites or all of the blacks in bright sky, the brighter sun in the upper the viewfinder. Many systems have corner, the flower center-right and the The Genus Primula what's called a "center weighted" meter. deep shadow bottom-left. To make this This meter will read an area of the lower lightening-quick calculation even more Josef Halda 2/3 of the viewing screen and 2/3 of the mind boggling, the manufacturers have Horach, Czechoslovakia width. The reasoning behind this idea is hooked this information into a computer that when the camera is held horizontal chip which has thousands of photo- the top third is filled with sky which if graphic situations on file. The data from II. subgenus Auriculastrum Schott. overly bright will give a false reading. The each zone is cross-referenced with idea holds up well until you turn the cam- stored information which then uses or era vertically and then all the meter is on disregards some data and enhances 1. section Auriculastrum (for- only an occasional mountain rain gives one side, including much of the sky. others all in relation to the film used and merly sect. Auricula Duby and water to the resting plants. Even autumn over-all lighting conditions. Nikon FA in the mountains is usually dry. Only with Another idea in metering is to readonly Arthritica Duby. winter does the water come again - but a small circle in the center. The "spot and the Canon EOS were the first Primroses of section Auriculastrum are now in the form of snow, which protects meter" gives the photographer a great cameras to use this five area meter sys- tem. among the most of ten grown alpines. The the plants against harsh cold. Many of deal of control over what is going to influ- more difficult species (such as PP, al- these mountain plants are damaged in ence the exposure. The problem is that Simple or complex, seat of the pants lionii, decorum, kitaibeliana and others) the lowlands by the winter thaws, If such the subject, which you want properly ex- observation or years of experience, man- do not enjoy such renown among rock warmer periods last for several days, the posed, is not always in the center. In that ual or computer, whatever you use make gardeners. Many growers, considering Primroses start their growth and the in- case the subject must be "read" by the sure the camera you choose fits your these species to be very difficult, prefer evitable frosts which follow damage meter then the photo composed. This needs and personal pleasure. to grow them in alpine houses. Even them. isn't always easy if it's a bird on the wing ' there these plants prove difficult to keep All species of this section need perfect and you have two second to compose, ) alive. I mention this indoor wasting away drainage, even those which grow in moist focus and shoot. Some cameras, such as s „,..,! ,-v ,,,_, ,u,,Bci nave ,

Page 134 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 135 these primulas have a good supply of apennina, daonensis, villosa, cottia, hir- food in the soil, the alpine gardener does suta. not need to be too concerned whether 5. subs. Rhopsidium, Schott, - plants this or that Primrose comes of granitic or with fleshy, thick leaves, glandulose- limestone mountains. Actually, in the hairy, but without any farina. Excretes of wild we can see many of the species in- glands colorless. Bracts elongate, corolla habiting both acid, neutral and alkaline rose to violet. PP. kitaibeliana, tyrolensis, substrates, and they grow well in all. integrifolia, allionii. Auriculastrum is exclusively a Euro- 6. subsect. Cyanopsis, Schott with fleshy pean section, Perhaps the largest area is leaves, glossy, glabrous, serrate, crenu- occupied by P. minima, which grows late or entire margined, viscose. Bracts from the Alps, over the Sudetes and the wide, leaf-shaped. Flowers violet to Carpathians, to the mountains in the very bluish purple. P. glutinosa and P. northern part of the Balkans. Since they deorum. are eye-catching plants, they could not 7. subsect. Chamaecalllis, Schott is be missed by older botanists, and so, this monotypid, containing only P. minima. section is perhaps the best known and It is characterized by leathery, thick most elaborated of all the genus. It is wedge-shaped leaves, desussate above possible that perhaps during our time and dentate. Bracts oblong. Corolla most there will be some changes in inner divid- often carmine rose, but even white, pur- ing of sections and subsections etc, but ple or bluish. I consider the system worked out by Pax Some of the species have more in- at the beginning of this century as per- teresting characteristics, or special re- fect, and I retain it. Pax divides section quirements which I will write about in Auriculastrum into 7 subsections; their the descriptions of the species. Nearly short characteristics are as follows: all species of this section cross spontane- ously and have produced many very 1. subsect. Auricula, Pax is characterized by pale green, entire margined or den- beautiful hybrids. The natural hybrids, tate, wide leaves. Flowers are yellow, those coming from the wild, I will write with very short calyx. Here belong P. about at the end of this chapter. The auricula and P. palinurt. species are arranged alphabetically, with- 2. subsect. Brevibracteatae, Widmer out regard to subsection. with pale green leaves, which are dentate P. allionii, Lois, comes from the or entirely margined, bracts are short and Maritime Alps, where it grows below wide. Calyx short, corolla violet or rose. overhanging rocks in crevices at elev. P. marginata, P. carniolica, P. viscosa. 700-200m. The grayish-green rosettes are 3. subsect., Arthritica, Schott. Plants about 3cm long, Leaves are viscid, glan- with smooth, glossy, leathery leaves with dulose, stems 2-3cm high. Flowers occur cartilagineous margin entire. Bracts elon- in groups of 1-10. The corolla rose to gate, narrow, calyx long. Corolla in vari- white, the limb about 25mm in diameter. ous shades from rose to carmine. PP. In time the plant forms tufts of rosettes spectabilis, glaucescens, wulfeniana, on long thick branchlets. It requires a clusiana, baumgarteniana. well-drained mixture of light soil. The 4. subsect. Erythrodrosum, Schott con- best mix is leafmould and a grit, 1:1. If tains species with pale leaves with den- this plant is situated in a crevice with shar- tate or crenate margin, glandulose-hairy ply sloped drainage it winters outdoors, and often with farina. Excretes of glands evens without protection in winter. 1. P. allionii, 2. P. auricula, 3. P. baumgarteniana, of leaves are rusty brownish. Bracts short, P. apennina, Widmer comes from the 4. P. carniolica, 5. P. clusiana, 6. P. deorum corolla rose to purple. PP. pedemontana, N. Apennines. Leaf rosettes can reach up

Page 136 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 137 to 25 cm in diameter and are composed populations inhabiting the Alpine and group in one place (and that only 3 times) It is often mistaken in rock gardens for of 5-10cm long leaves, which are wide, Carpattiian systems. than 30 to 50 individuals. It does not per- P. wulfeniana, glaucescens or spectabilis. with margins covered with red glandular forma serratifolia, Rochel is charac- sist in full sun in the rockery - the sun P. spectabilis has sticky leaves with trans- hairs. The stem is about 15cm high, flow- terized by its deeply dentate leaves. It burns it. It wants partial drainage, a lucent dots, widely cartilagineous mar- ers occur in groups of 2-8, corolla is rose was originally described from Banat, humusy, wet crevice with north expo- gins. In P. glaucescens the leaves are to violet with a white eye. Apennina Roumania, but it was found later even in sure. Older plants are easy to divide. quite glabrous, bluish-green, with car- tilagineous margins, in P. wulfeniana, blooms from March to May. This plant the Alps and northern Carpathians, P. carniolica, Jacq. has its home on which is the closest, the leaves are dis- requires a moister spot, with a good com- forma excapa, Widmer is a stemless, mi- limestone rocks shaded by forests in the tinctly firm, rigid, dark green to bluish, post of humus, but the soil must not be nute plant, scattered in all areas of the Julie Alps, the Trnov mountains, and with wide cartilagineous margins. P. heavy. It is very close to P. pedemontana, species. Karawanken, where it is not found higher clusiana has the largest flowers in this but differs in its dentate leaves and mi- var. obristii, Stein/Beck differs from than 1000m. I have found it often in as- group. It inhabits limestone rocks, or nute seed pods. others by elongate leaves with car- sociation with Saxifraga umbrosa, Wul- slopes covered by sedges and grasses. tilagineous margins, some farinose, fenia carinthiaca, Oxalis acetosella, P. auricula, L. is widespread on nearly Often it grows together with Arctous al- some less glandular or hairy. The dentate Asplenium trichomanes and other such all Alps, Apennines, Abruzzes, Carpath- pina, with which it forms very showy leaf margin is often bordered by longer alpine neighbors. It forms numerous ians and Dinaric mountains, its area color combinations in the fall, when the haris. It grows in the Eastern Alps and semi-woody "trunks" such as we know reaching the western part of the Balkans. leaves of Arctous become red and those Western Carpathians, in the similar P. marginata, terminating Most often it grows in crevices in lime- of P. clusiana lemon yellow. It requires in loosely-spread rosettes of green, glab- stone or dolomite, but quite often we ssp. ciliata, Moretti/Koch has leaves with- a moister spot, the soil rich in humus but rous leaves with no farina, which are car- can find it even in stony meadows and out farina, but with dentate and car- gritty. It must be planted in full sun if it tilagineous marginate, glandular hairy on other such places. It is found up to tilagineous margin, so decorated with is to flower well. Clusiana is easily prop- their borders. Their length varies from 3 3000m. and as low as 300m. above sea long bristle-like hairs that the surface is- agated by simple division of tufts, or by to 20 cm and width from 1-3 cm. They level. From the winter bud there rises in more or less glandulose hairy. Flowers seeds. are obovately elongate, entire margined, spring a leaf rosette, usually covered by are not scented. The home of this sub- P. daonensis, Leybold comes from the finely serrate or slightly wavy to curly. white farina. The stem holds 1-20 yellow species is the southern Alps (on lime- Rhaetic Alps, where it occurs at eleva- | The stem is10-30cm long, with 2-15 flow- to whitish flowers, each with a white eye stone) and the Apennines. • tions of 1000-2800m. It forms rosettes of ers, the corolla rose with lilac tube, the and sweet scented P. auricula is among P, baumgarteniana, Degen/Moesz is en- vivid to olive-green viscid leaves, poorly limb is 20-30mm in diameter, and lobes the easier species in cultivation and even demic to the Piatra Craiului range in the but sharply dentate, and covered by red- are obcordate. f. lactea, Derganc with in the hands of a veritable beginner it South Carpathian Mountains. It occurs dish-brown glands. The stem is 3-10cm white flowers is scarce in nature. does well. It is a very variable species in on limestone and dolomitic rocks at high, with 1-10 flowers. The corolla P. carniolica is not difficult in culture; the wild; in the same locality we can find heights of 1300-2000m, on rocky towers comes in various shades of rose, but al- it needs partial shade, plenty of moisture plants both densely white farinose and in wet North and East crevices. It also ways with white eye. Corolla lobes are but permeable soil that is in good part glabrous, specimens with yellowish grows in cushions of moss, from the re- deeply emarginate, wavy. Most often it humus. In my garden (in the mountains) green leaves or bluish green ones, with gion of spruces to rocky alpine screes. It inhabits rocky ridges, in crevices with it grows in full sun in turfy soil, where it flower colour in many shades of yellow. creates deep green shiny-leaved rosettes very little soil, but it may be seen even blooms better and more richly than the Even the classically citated white throat up to 10cm in diameter. The leaves are on peaty ridges, where it sometimes plants in shady crevices. At lower eleva- of the corolla can be yellow. The leaf mar- coriaceous, sticky, oblong-elliptic, acute forms almost continual cover. As it has tions it dislikes direct sunshine, espe- gin can be entire, or on the other hand with thin, light, cartrlagineous margins. no special requirements, it should be cially around noon. The plant is easy to dentate. The shape of the corolla lobes The stem is4-6cm high and bears 1-5 light grown more often in the rock garden. grow from seed, or by the dividing of varies from the simple rounded to a rose flowers, 2.5 to 3cm in diameter, with tufts. P. deorum, Velenovsky is an endemic deeply emarginate or nearly bifid. In the light eye in the middle. Taxanomically it P. clusiana, Tausch. has its home in the plant of the Rila mountains in Bulgaria. wild occur several distinct types, which may be placed between P. glaucescens It grows there exclusively on such acid are described as varieties. and P. wulfeniana. (The placing of this Alps of Austria and Switzerland on lime- substrates as granites, rula, etc. From the var. bauhinii, Beck has leaf margins car- species was long unclear.) The species stone, at elevations of 600-2000m. It forms rounded rosettes of oblong, winter bud (which can be up to 10-15cm tilagineous, powdered or glabrous, was first collected by Fuss in the middle acuminate, vivid green leaves with car- long) rises in spring the leaf-rosette, co- shortly glandulose hairy to pubescent of the last century. I found it first on the tilagineous margin. From the center of vered by yellow or whitish farina. Leaves and with hairy calyx, North side of the Central Piatra Craiului the rosette arises a stem about 5 cm high, are 10-20cm long, viscid with a charac- forma monacensis, Widmer, with elon- Range, in the region of Mt. La Om at an teristic scent (as is true of nearly every gately acuminate leaves about 3 times elevation about 1800m. It is very rare in ' Jm kwith 1-8 flowers. The corolla is rose, Auricula). The upper surface is vivid to longer than wide, is currently found in the wild and I have never found a bigger (rarely white) the limb 3-4cm in diamter.

Page 139 Page 138 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society dark green, paler on the reverse. The growing season. It prefers to be dry in stem is 20-30cm high with 1-30 flowers, winter. In the Southern Alps, around the each having a characteristically long North Italian lakes, it grows together with corolla tube, with limb about 2cm in Daphne petraea, Phyteuma comosum, diameter. The color is a rich purple-vio- Melandrium elisabethae, Rhodothamnus let. After blooming the flowering stems chamaecistus and other choice plants. distinctly elongate. This lovely primrose P. glutinosa, Wulfen also comes from grows most often on wet meadows which the southeastern Alps, where it grows on are flooded in the spring, or on wet acid substrates at elevations of 1800- brooksides, together with Primula 3000m. This tiny plant forms tufts of long exigua, Centiana djimilensis, Pinguicula lanceolate leaves, to an apex loosely and leptoceras, Sweertia alpestris and others. smoothly dentate viscid on both sur- In rock gardens it grows well near any faces. The stem holds 1-15 bluish-violet brook or pool - a sunny, but cool spot flowers in a one-sided, head-like inflores- in soil heavy with leafmould. Seedlings cence. It is very sweet-scented. Glutinosa bloom within 3-5 years. This primrose in- blooms from April to July. In the litera- creases very slowly, so the dividing of ture on rock gardening it is often ob- older plants is not productive. Below served that this Primrose is shy in flower- Mount Musla in Bulgaria I have found ing. But this is caused by a too-light soil. just once a nice bluish-colored plant, and In the garden this Primrose prefers a mix- am very anxious to see the seedlings of ture of clay with turfous soil, and it pre- it. Velenovsky, who found this Primrose fers the coolest spot, as does P. minima. at the end of the last century on the lower In the fall, it sets buds for next spring, slopes of Mt. Musala, (in Turkish Mus- after which it needs to be left dry. I have Allah, i.e. Mount of Cod) named his new collected numerous plants of this species find after the mountain, (deorum in Latin on Crossglockner mountain in the High means "of god") People, who do not Taures where I found among thousands know its story often ask how a plant with of specimens a few pure blue individuals such a sad and melancholy look came to as well as some white-flowered ones. have such a name. The hybrids of P. glutinosa with P. P. glaucesens, Moretti comes from the minima are nearly impossible to identify southeastern Alps. Very often it is to be in the wild, as their habit is so similar to found in Lombardia. It grows from 400 that of P. glutinosa. The sight of a to 2500 meters above sea level. There are meadow full of these Primroses is un- several different forms: forgettable. Plants are easy from seed, ssp. glaucescens is characterized by its and seedlings bloom in 3-5 years. It can more robust growth, its leaf rosettes be easily divided. reach up to 25 cm in diameter. Leaves P. hirsuta, All. comes from the are leathery, viscid, with cartilagineous Pyrenees, the Central Alps and the south margin, often somewhat concave. The Tirols. It prefers acid substrates and in- stem is to 20cm high, thick, with 1-8 flow- habits both rock crevices and stony fields ers. The corolla varies in color from rose covered with short grass. It forms small, to purple. sparse rosettes of spathulate leaves with ssp. longobarda, Porta/Widmer is smaller narrow petioles, the margins of which are in all its aspects, but its corolla tube is usually coarsely dentate. The leaf surface twice as long as the calyx, (corolla lobes is densely covered with yellowish or red- 1. P. glaucescens, 2. P. glutinosa, 3. P. hirsuta, 4. P. integrifolia are rounded, not emarginate.) This dish glands. The stem is about 10 cm high 5. P. kitaibeliana, 6. P, marginata, 7. P. minima species is easy, it needs only well - as long as the leaves. Flowers are on drained, rich soil and moisture during the even longer pedicils, the corolla various

Page 140 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 141 shades of rose, most often with a white characteristic of warm and humid rocks. eye. It is a very variable species and many It grows well both in shade and in sunny variants and forms are described. Of in- places, but on lighter spots it blooms terest would be - var. excapa, more profusely. It likes a rich soil with t * Hegetschw./Heer/Pax has short leaves plenty of humus and enough water without petioles and with stemless flow- during growth. Propagating is easy by ers. P. hirsuta is among the easiest plants division. of the section; it requires only a good P. marginata, Curtis comes from the soil with enough food, drained with Maritimes and Cottian Alps, where it some grit, water in its growing season grows at elevations of 600-2600cm. Mar- and dryness in winter. Seedlings grow ginata is a plant with characteristic verti- well and bloom in 1-2 years. Together cal woody "trunks", bristly on the sur- with P. auricula it is the main parent of face. The leaves are dentate, with distinct all hybrids of garden Auriculas, which are beautifully farinose margins, covered by very hardy plants. tiny glands, 2-10cm long and 1-4cm wide, P. integrifolia, I. comes from the not cartillagineous, elongately obovate. Pyrenees and several places in the Alps. The stem is 3-15cm long, holding a one- It is a plant with small rosettes of vivid sided floral head. The calyx is purple, the green, its leaves always glossy and entire. corolla lilac to lilac-blue, 2-3cm across, The stem is up to 10cm long, with 1-6 with wavy lobes. In the wild it inhabits flowers, the corolla is rose to violet, rock crevices both on limestone and gra- rarely white. Most often it grows on stony nite, often on very exposed spots. In gar- fields and short grassy meadows from dens it is among the most resistent 1500 to 3000m, mostly on acid substrates, species and can be recommended to all occasionally on limestone but only on beginners. Numerous cultivars exist in thick layers of humus. In culture it needs culture and in the trade. I prefer as § a sunny place, plenty of water in the perhaps the nicest one cv. 'Linda Pope' growing season and a compost of leaf- with large lavender flowers, but there are mould with grit. It is easy from seeds. other marvelous forms and hybrids. Dividing of older clumps is easy too. It P. minima, L. Its area ranges from the crosses readily with nearly all other Alps over the Sudetes and the Carpat- Auriculas. hians to the mountains of the northern P. kitaibeliana Schott grows on the Vel- Balkans. It grows at elev. 800-3000m. It is ebit mountains in Yugolsavia, and its area perhaps the smallest of all European runs through Bosnia, Hercegovina, Primroses - in time of flowering it rarely Monte Negro and Dalmatia. It forms mi- exceeds 3cm in height. It forms large car- nute rosettes of brownish green, ovate, pets, often more than a meter in diamter. silver-shinning leaves (with minute Its leaf rosettes measure 1-5cm, as do its glands on both surfaces), entirely mar- flower clusters, which in time of flower- gined or serrate. The stem can reach ing in our rock garden fully cover the 10cm in height and usually bears 1-3 large leaves, Leaves are 0.5-30cm long, 3-15mm rose flowers, some paler in the throat. It wide, glossy, the blade is on the sides, inhabits limestones in lower elevations. entire, the apex is decussate with several I have collected it on Mt. Klek in Velebit frontal acute teeth. The stem is usually at about 400m in shaded rocks under 1cm high, with one (rarely two) flower. overhanging cliffs. It grew there with The corolla exhibits numerous shades of Adianthum capillus-veneris, Ceterach of- rose, carmine or purple, rarely bluish or ficinarum, Asplenium trichomanes, A. white, but always with a white throat. In 7. P. palinuri, 2, P. pedemontana, 3. P. spectabilis, ruta-muraria and with many other species the garden it grows well, but to bloom . P. tyrolensis, 5, P. viilosa, 6. P. viscosa, 7. P. wulfeniana

Page 142 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 143 allionii are membranaceous, widely 800-2400m. It is among the most robust well it must have a sufficiently heavy soil buds of P. rosea before opening. The ( ovate and dry. The leaves of P. tyrolensis members of its subgenus. Older plants mixture, the best seem to be a heavier white eye in the flowers is large. It has are thirt, nearly translucent. Flowers often form large clumps of woody root- turfy soil with grit, half and half. After fall no special requirements and belongs open on short stems with a corolla of stocks with terminal rosettes, which are it needs dry conditions. In the wild it in- among the easy Auricula species in culti- deeply divided lobes, most often rose, never widely open. In this it resembles habits acid substrates, but in rock gar- vation. In our garden it grows well in full but also white or violet. Differing from species such as P. nivalis. It is not farinose dens it is sometimes grown on limestone sun, in a moist place together with Sol- P. allionii, which is most often grown in either, but its leaves have a characteristic tufa - and does well. The best place for danella pusilla and Centiana frigida, in alpine houses, P. tyrolensis is quite hardy scent and are covered with glands. To it is near a brook on sunny spot, If its leafmold without any other additions. It and winters outdoors well even in low- touch these leaves causes an allergic roots reach the water, it blooms regularly is easy from seeds and by division of lands. Only water in winter can kill it. reaction in sensitive people. Many cases and profusely. It is easily divided, and older plants. The best situation for P. tyrolensis is an of such reactions have come from touch- easy from seed, too. It hybridizes with P. spectabilis, Tratt. has its home in the exposed place. It grows well even where ing plants in the wild, and the animals nearly every Auriculas and some of the southern Alps, at elevations of 800- it lacks water in summer, and it increases on pastures respect this Primula and resulting hybrids are very beautiful in- 2600m, on limestones or dolomites. Its and blooms there. It likes full sun, rich leave it strictly alone. The flowers are deed. leaves are not farinose - they are firm, leafmold and some fertilizing in summer. mostly lilac-rose, but occasionally can be P. palinuri, Petagna comes from south silky, glossy, elongately rhomboid or lan- It sets seeds only rarely, but it is easy found carmine or white-flowered speci- Italy, where it grows in large colonies on ceolate, with fine glands. Rosettes only from cuttings during all its growth mens. Corolla lobes are most often limestone cliffs near the seacoast and rarely reach more than 20cm in diameter, periods. rounded and length of tube is a notable even in the coastal sand. It forms semi- and their glaucous, shades-of-green, and characteristic of the blossom. With older P. villosa, Jacq. comes from the west- woody fleshy "trunks", from which in the finely wrinkled surface is characteristic. plants one can see up to 30 pendulous ern Alps, elev. 800-2000m, and grows only spring rise rosettes 5-20cm long with Margins of leaves are widely cartilagine- flowers on a stem. It is interesting that on acid substrates. It is closely akin to P. leaves 3-7cm wide, which live til I the plant ous, but not so rigid as those of P. wul- with some plants the flowers are sweet- hirsuta, rarely is more than 10cm high, sets seeds. At the beginning of summer feniana or P. clusiana. The stem is to 15cm scented, but on the majority of plants but its leaves are more rounded in blade, all leaves die out. The leaf margin is high, with 1-8 flowers. These flowers they have an offensive smell. So they are are often entire, dark green, and long smooth, thin, somewhat cartilagineous. have a large rose corolla, the lobes of pollinated usually by flies. P. viscosa is (3-15cm). The entire plant is covered with Leaves are glabrous, not farinose, obo- which are nicely emarginate and wavy - W not a difficult Primrose to grow. It can colorless or pale reddish viscid glands, vate to oblong, bluntly-toothed. Off one nearly as with P. sieboldii. The long and live in nearly every slightly acid soil if it which repulse slugs. Flowers bloom 1-20 rosette rise several stems with 5-40 usu- pale rose corolla tube contrasts nicely contains some humus and is permeable. on a stem, with corollas, in various ally pendulous flowers. The calyx is den- with the purple calyx. The limb can reach The fertilized plants form mighty clumps shades of rose (rarely white) about 25mm tate, white farinose. The corolla is vivid 3cm in diameter, the throat is sometimes and can survive on one place more than in diameter. The corolla lobes are widely yellow, sweet-scented, and about 2cm in white. It is a typical inhabitor of rocks, so 20 years. Seedlings bloom after 3-5 years. emarginate. This description is true for diameter. After pollinating the pedicils it is sensitive to a surplus water in periods Many wild forms are known, including the typical subspecies, ssp. villosa, but with seed pods elongate markedly. This of resting. But when in growth it needs these: /. cynoglossifolia, Widmer with there exist several geographical types, for species needs to be dry in the garden in plenty of water and food, as well as the elliptic, entire or only very finely serrate ex. ssp. commutata, Schott/Widmer, an summer for resting. It is quite hardy, and sun. Most often I collected it in Italy in leaves. It occurs only at higher elevations endemic of Herberstein Mountain in spends our winters without protection. the vicinity of Lakes Garda and Como; (2000-2500m) in the Maritime Alps, in Styria, where it grows on porphyric rocks The best soil is composed of equal parts there it grows in company with Daphne the Cottian and Graian Alps, and in the at 400m. It has large, thin and elongate turfy soil, leafmold and grit. Easy plant. petraea, Melandrium elisabethae, Wallis. leaves, with large teeth and narrow Primula glaucescens, Phyteuma com- f. pyrenaica, Pax is the most robust type P. pedemontana, Thomas comes from petioles, to 20cm long. Flowers are smal- osum, Saxifraga tombeanensis and many of P. viscosa. Large and wide, deeply the western Alps where it grows 800- ler. So this species is not too difficult to others. It is easy from seeds, the older dentate leaves nearly cover the stem, 3000m above sea level, usually on acid grow. It needs rich soil with humus, and plants can be divided. with a rich umbel of pale violet flowers, substrate. It is somewhat smaller than P. a well drained spot, but it can have much it grows in the Pyrenees and the western hirsuta, to which it is closely akin, but its P. tyrolensis, Schott comes from the more moisture and shade than its rela- Alps. leaves are glabrous on the upper surface southeastern Alps, near the south Tirol tives PP. hirsuta, pedemontana and /. graveolens, Hegetschw. et Heer/Pax. (or nearly glabrous). On the margins are Dolomites. It grows on rocks and stony oenensis. It is easy from seeds, and seed- is a small plant with elongate, narrowed densely ciliate glandular hairs, reddish- fields at elev. 800-2500m, often in fine lings bloom in 2-3 years. brown. The stem is 10-20cm high with dolomitic sandy scree. It is closely related to the base leaves, which are, in the 1-20 flowers, The corolla is vivid rose - to P. allionii, very dwarf with short bluntly p. viscosa, All. grows at various upper half, curly and dentate. A poor perhaps the nicest among the red-flo- dentate leaves. The bracts of P. tyrolensis localities in the Alps and Pyrenees where umbel contains small, violet flowers. wered Auriculas. This color recalls the are green and leaf-like, while those of P. it seems to prefer acid substrates at elev. Rhaetic Alps.

American Primrose Society Page 145 Page 144 1988 Fall Quarterly P. wulfeniana, Schott is a small plant of P. x dinyana, Lagger (P. integrifolia x hybrid of the Alps. The colour of flowers is cultivated under name P. bilekii. This the southeastern Alps. In the Karawan- viscosa), Western Rhaetic Alps. (varies from white through many shades is a very nice alpine, not difficult, suitable ken Mountains I have found it in associ- P. x discolor, Leybold (P. auricula x of rose, yellow, violet and purple to for associating with the dwarfest alpines, ation with Ranunculus sequieri, K. traun- daonensis), Judicarian Alps. blackish brown. 'Alba' is one of the best it blooms each year with shining carmine fellneri, Soldanella minima and Gentiana P. x dumoulinii, Stein (P. minima x white Auricula. These plants require rose flowers and a white eye. froelichii, growing in abundance in spectabilis), Judicarian Alps. plenty of food, water and sun. P. x venusta, Host (auricula x car- covers of Carex firms and Sesleria P. x escheri, Brugger (P. auricula x in- P, x pumila, Kerner fP. minima x niolica), a well-known hybrid which is sphaerocephala. It forms small rosettes tegrifolia) Western Rhaetic Alps. daonensis), Judicarian Alps. Minute and often grown in gardens. The corolla is in of dark green, glossy, sometimes bluish P. x facchinii, Schott (P. minima x wul- nice plant, easy to grow, flowers large, various shades of red, purple to brow- leaves, which differ from those of P. feniana), Judicarian Alps. rose, with emarginate corolla lobes. nish. It comes from Julie Alps. clusiana. In wulfeniana they are firm, P. x floerkeana, Schrad. (P. glutinosa x P. salisburgensis, Floerke (minima x P. x venzoi, Huter (tyrolensis x wul- rigid, with a wide cartilagineous margin minima), South Austria. glutinosa), Tirol. Better known under its feniana). A nice plant from the Venetian and densely covered by glandular hair- P. xforsteri, Stein (P. hirsuta x minima), synonym P. floerkeana, Reichb. Nice and Alps. lets. The leaves are green on the upper Tirol. Near to P. minima by habit. easy plant. P. x weldeniana, Kerner (auricula v. surface, gray-silvery on the reverse. The P. x heerii, Brugger (P. hirsuta x integ- P. x sendtneri, Kellerer (auricula x ciliataxspectabilis), rare. Southern Alps. stem is very short, reddish, up to 2cm rifolia), Western Rhaetic Alps, the pedemontana) Western Alps, similar to The number of existing natural hybrids high, the most often the flowers are ses- Pyrenees. A very showy plant forming a P. pedemontana. is far from exhausted by this short list. sile, numbering 1-3, the corolla a clear cover of dwarf, adpressed rosettes. It P. xseriana, Widmer (hirsuta x daonen- There are many complex hybrids, which rose to shining carmine-violet, up to 4cm blooms profusely, flowers are of pale vio- sis), Bergamo. Intermediate between the were identified by experimental means, in diameter, with lobes deeply emargi- let or rose colour. Requires soil with parents. but for an alpine gardener they are only nate to bifid and throat white. Also differ- good drainage and humus. P. serratifolia, Cusmus (wulfeniana x "interesting" plants, not too important. ing from P. clusiana, it requires a much P. x huhuenii, Brugger (P. glutinosa x minima). Southern Alps. Like P. wul- The growers can state the pedigree of moister place in the rock garden, and full integrifolia), on various places in the feniana, but with smaller flowers and the these hybrids only with great difficulty. sun. In its growing season it likes some Alps. Sometimes one finds nice blue leaves are serrate on the apex. For spontaneous hybrids originating in fertilizing. forms. Easier to flower than P. glutinosa. I P. x ste/nii, Obrist (hirsuta x minima), the garden we should use cultivar names. P. x huteri, Kerner (P. glutinosa x comes from Tirol, of limestones. Otherwise we will soon encounter the Hybrids of subgen. Auriculas- minima). Similar to P. glutinosa and P. x sturii, Schott (minima x villosa), is same confusion that now exists, let us to trum Schott: easier to grow. closer to P. villosa with smaller flowers say, with Kabschia Saxifrages. We should I include here only natural hybrids, de- P. x intermedia, Portenschl. (P. in a head-like umbel, butthe leaves recall not waste time on analysing dubious hyb- scriptions and names of which have been clusiana x minima), similar to P. clusiana, P, minima. rids, but concentrate on selecting those validly published. The Auricula hybrids it looks like its miniature. Limestone Alps P. x truncata, Lehm. (villosa x minima), plants of hybrid origin, which are better of garden origin are quite impossible to in Austria. Styria. than old cultivars, thus replacing and im- identify - they are a mixture of wild P. x juribella, Sund. (P. minima x P. x venalensis, Cusmus (hirsuta x proving them as we go. species and multiple garden hybrids and tyrolensis), South Tirol. minima) is very near to P. minima. Often (to be continued) are not the subject of this chapter. P. x kellereri, Widmer (P, hirsuta x P. x admontensis, Cusmus (clusiana x minima), Tirol. Like a minute P. hirsuta. auricula) comes from the Styrian Alps, P. x kolbiana, Widmer (P. viscosa x and favors P. clusiana. daonensis), the Alps near Bergamo. P. auriculoides, Cusmus (P. auricula x P. x lebleana, Gusmus (P. auricula x wulfeniana). Southern Alps. wulfeniana), closer to P. wulfeniana. SEED of DOUBLE ACAULIS P. x berninae, Kerner (P. hirsuta x vis- Austria. cosa), Switzerland. P. x obovata, Huter (P. auricula var. NEW SEED CROP IN AUGUST P. x biflora Huter (P. minima x ciliata x tyrolensis) Tirol. Minimum Order - 50 seed - $5.00 glutinosa), Tirol Alps. In the garden it is P. x paxii, Cusmus (P. minima x vis- graceful alpine. cosa), Western Alps. P. x coronata, Porta (P. minima x P. x plantae, Brugger (P, hirsuta x. Rosetta Jones 6214 South 267th Street daonensis) - Italy. daonesis), Western Rhaetic Alps. Phone 852-0330 Kent, Washington 98031 P. x deschmannii, Cusmus (P. minima P. x pubescens, Jacq. (P. auricula x hir- x wulfeniana), Austria. suta). The best known and most popular

Page 146 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 147 Transplanting Seedlings

® The very first pot is the most important RA-PID-GRO Reprinted from "House Plants and Porch Gardens" March '79

Raising plants from seed is an activity number of seedlings to be sacrificed for fraught with failure, disappointment and the greater good of the seed flat. a particularly sweet feeling of success. With a pair of nail scissors, a good gar- Although the seeds in a packet are tough dener gets rid of weak youngsters to Plant Food enough to handle months of storage, that make room for the strong seedlings with virtually indestructible character changes the most growing potential. All the smal- markedly once a seed is submerged in lest, palest, least vigorous young plants moist soil. There's a sense of urgency are snipped off at the base of their stems. To establish healthier, about a germinating seedling, where just At the end of this thinning operation, a few hours of the wrong treatment can only well-spaced, robust seedlings re- doom an incipient plant, So, the vast main. These are the youngsters most bigger and better plants, use majority of the seeds scattered on a seed likely to succeed; they have to survive flat never survive to maturity. And that's only one final test of their strength. RA-PID-GRO why the lush plants that did start out as What Next? seeds occupy a special place in the hearts When a young plant matures beyond of their growers. its first pair of leaves (seed leaves or Plant Food Since a high seedling mortality rate is cotyledons), it is ready for new chal- par for the course, most folks sow two lenges. The first pair of adult leaves is an with FORTI-5 or three times as many seeds as the indication that the plant has gone beyond number of plants they really want, Seeds the reserves of its seed. Cotyledons exist are inexpensive and young seedlings take in miniature form within the seed coat, micro- up only a small amount of windowsill or but adult leaves, which have a different light-gardening space. So gardeners shape from cotyledons, must be man- nutrients. sprinkle seeds with calculated abandon, ufactured solely by the developing seedl- sowing more than they need to make ing. Although the expanding plant still with sure that they end up with enough. must be coddled, it needs room to The seedlings' trials begin as soon as stretch its roots. The growing youngster X FORTI-5 also requires a richer, more nutritious Micro-Nulcenls to they emerge from their protective seed UNLOCK EXTRA VIGOR coats. Some may be so overwhelmed by soil than the medium used to germinate Dissolves quickly. completely in water moisture that they never poke through seeds. In other words, those first adult

NETWT800Z (5 IBS | the soil surface. Others may sprout only leaves are the signal that a seedling is to die when the soil is too dry for an hour ready for its first pot. too long. The seedlings often are terribly Only the presence of adult leaves can overcrowded, a bunch of irregular green indicate a seedling's readiness for potting clumps with leaves overlapping so up. Neither age nor size indicates matur- closely'that you can be sure their roots ity, which is what really determines are struggling underground. This stifling whether or not a young plant can live in condition makes it necessary for a large adult soil. Some young plants, especially

Page 149 Page 148 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Providing your plants with fresh soil, ,^.t mix until the young root system is buried soil and separated later when they've of course, is the main reason for bother- : ^B Jto a depth equal to that of the seed flat. reached a more manageable size. ing to transplant seedlings in the first Then turn to another seedling and repeat Croup transplanting, or patching out, place. Most plants do well in an all-pur- the potting procedure, continuing as- involves transferring a batch of several pose mixture composed of equal parts sembly-line fashion until the seed flat is seedlings to a single pot. Patching out of packaged potting soil, peat moss and empty. doesn't differ in principle from the proce- perlite. Acid lovers prefer an extra part Tiny Transplants dure used with individual seedlings, ex- of peat moss added to the basic mix. Many flowering plants start out as such cept that those tiny quarter or half-inch tiny seedlings that they can't be handled plants can be bruised easily in the move. The day before you transplant seed- individually. Some seedlings take a long Prepare a new pot with crocking and lings, mix together the new growing time to get started and still don't amount soil just as you would for a larger seed- medium. Moisten the adult soil until it to much by the time they have produced ling. Then take the teaspoon to dig out has a crumbly, cakelike consistency. The their first adult foliage. Even after thin- an inch-square patch of seedlings. Make moist pieces should stick together when ning, the seed flat is covered by irregular deep vertical cuts, as if you were cutting you squeeze them. Also, water the seed clumps of tiny seedlings. The young up brownies. flat a days or two ahead of time so that plants survive transplanting better when Center the plant patch in the new pot. all the soil involved is moist but not they are transferred in groups to adult Keep the spoon down in the container muddy. 77?e way /o fe//a seedling's readiness for Individual Transfers potting is by its physical maturity, not its The largest seedlings, those over an age or size. A young plant must have two inch or two tall, are the easiest to trans- sets of leaves before it is transplanted. plant. They have an expanse of leaf you That second set of foliage differs from can grasp to maneuver each youngster the cotyledons, or seed leaves, by the during the transfer. Also, each seedling fact that it has to be manufactured by the is large enough to fill a pot, so you won't ^^ young plant without drawing on any seed have to worry about divisions or addi- 4^B reserves. It's an indication that the young tional thinning in the future. plant is on the road to becoming an adult. Before the move, prepare the founda- tion of each seedling's new home. Cover outdoor vegetable and flower seeds, are the bottom of a new pot with a single ready for their first pots within a week or layer of drainage material that will hold two of germination. Many plant seed- in soil while allowing excess water to es- lings, on the other hand, may take a cape, Then add an inch of the adult soil, month to emerge from the soil and firming it as you pour it in the pot. another month to produce adult leaves. Turn your attention to the seed flat and At the same time, these month-old plants use a teaspoon to scoop out a likely may be one-quarter the size of week-old seedling. Dig about an inch into the transplants. It all depends on the species growing medium and then carve out a with which you're dealing. cylinder one to two inches in diameter Transplanting is called for when your all around the seedling. With the spoon, seed flat is filled with seedlings sporting transfer the seedling to a new pot, hold- two or more sets of leaves (cotyledons ing the foliage lightly to prevent the plus adult foliage). At this time, gather young plant from falling over. Never grab together the tools for transplanting. A the young stem for support, since you teaspoon makes an excellent miniature may crush it. spade for digging out seedlings and Deposit the seedling in the center of transporting them to their pots. Be ready its new pot. Then, grasping a leaf to hold with a supply of two and three-inch pots, the youngster upright, add soil in the Seedlings-'dver one inch tall can be potted individually in two or three-inch pots. L'se a teaspoon to as well as some crocking material in the space between the rootball and the con- ^^ dig out each seedling while maneuvering them with a light hold on the foliage. Never grab a seedling form of potshards or pebbles. tainer's wall. Continue to add the potting ^^ by the stem; too firm a grasp can choke a young plant.

Page 150 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 151 I or use a couple of pencils to support the moisture whenever the soil surface is dry root mass while you add more adult soil. to the touch. Since they succumb even to the lightest Larger, individually potted seedlings touch, try to avoid handling the seedlings can handle the sunlight in which they'll Candelabra Primula directly. spend their lives. Set in a south window Getting Established until it's time to move then to the garden. Primroses of the Summer After potting, arrange the containers Keep the patched-out seedlings out of on a water-filled tray where the soil can direct sun, preferably in a north window Herb Dickson soak up moisture from below. Bottom or in a light garden, until they're a few Chehalis, WA watering gives the roots a good dousing inches high. Now that these plants have As recorded by Larry Bailey without disturbing the young plants. This gotten started, adulthood isn't far off. gentle watering procedure is in order Those tiny seedlings eventually will be- Candelabras as a general rule require during the week or two it takes for the come the impressive specimens you love a lot of water during the summer growing young seedlings to become established best because they are the plants you period. The water should be fresh in their new pots. Remember to add started from scratch. (streams, ponds or other damp areas). Candelabras have a long blooming sea- son, set seed readily, and are easy to grow. Many species of this primula sec- tion cross pollinate with each other, mak- ing it difficult to keep the strains sepa- rated when planting species close to- gether. This is the reason much of the NATIONAL AURICULA AND PRIMULA seed obtained thru seed companies and exchanges are not true species. SOCIETY - Northern Section Clumps of the candelabra primulas Invites all Auricula and Primula Lovers to join this Old Society should be divided every couple of years Membership includes year Book of so. The clumps divide themselves into D. G. Hadfield individual plants making it easy to sepa- 746 Queens Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, Cheshire, England rate into individual crowns. Transplant- ing should take place in the spring at the first signs of growth. Fall transplanting NATIONAL AURICULA AND PRIMULA should be avoided as the roots do not SOCIETY - West and Midland Section have a chance to establish themselves be- fore winter. Plants in this section are very Invites all Auricula and Primula Lovers to join this Old Society susceptible to heaving during freezing Membership includes year Book temperatures if planted in the fall. If a Hon. Sec., Mr, R, Coalhy plant is in a container in the summer or fall months, it is better ot leave it in the 99 SamerfieMRd., Bloxu-icb, Walsall, West Midlands, U.K. container, keep it well watered and wait until spring to transplant it into the ground. This is especially true for seed- NATIONAL AURICULA AND PRIMULA lings (P. vialietc.). All candelabra go dor- mant in the winter months. SOCIETY — Southern Section Candelabras do well in shady areas as Invites all Auricula and Primula Lovers to join this Old Society well as sunny. If planted in sunny areas, Membership includes year Book keeping them well watered is even more Laurence E. Wigley critical. If the plants enjoy their habitat 67 Warnham Court Road, Carshalton Beeches, Surrey, England they will self seed themselves very P. an Isadora readily. *

Page 152 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 153 Herb fertilizes his plants a couple of 4i/j" pots (easier to tackle than a whole times during the growing period (Osmo- flat at a time), covers the seed with ver- cote 18-7-12 or Agro Nursery Supplement miculite to hold the seedlings in place, No. 3 for seedlings, and a liquid 20-20-20 places a piece of cloth (anchored down fertlizer for second year plants.) Can- with small pebbles) over the vermiculite delabras are heavy feeders. to keep the birds away and to make it When transplanting, use large pots (1 easier to water, and then places the pots gallon containers or better) with a soil in full sun-outdoors on benches. When mix consisting of 1/3 composted soil, 1/3 the daytime temperature is around 60 de- pumice, 1/3 sand or coal steam plant ash. grees, germination takes place in two to The Rare Plant Nursery mixes 3 cubic feet three weeks. If germination does not take at a time, to which is added 4 gallons of place the first year, Herb does not water loose peat (#10), 2 gallons of perlite, and the ungerminated seed during the sum- a slow release fertilizer. The mix is mer months but waits for the next year sterilized before using. Herb took special to try again. Sometimes it takes up to note to the fact he does not use any lime three years for species seed to germinate. in his mix (which is the same for all his After the seeds germinate, the cloth is primulas) except for plants in the Au- removed and the seedlings are placed in ricula section. Herb does add lime to his a shady location. If a person is sowing auriculas. the seed in a greenhouse, the Although the Rare Plant Nursery grows greenhouse should be kept cool (60 de- candelabras in pots for retailing, he did grees daytime temperature). After the say that plants in this Section do better first true leaves appear, they are trans- in the ground and will bloom later and planted into flats, 2W apart, where they longer than those in pots. remain until growth starts the following Herb sows his seed in the winter, uses spring.

Left: Primula japonica "Fujii" Opposite; P. bulleyana

1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 155 ^>f my sink-planted one, and about the in July. Maybe the P. suffretescens seed Jame size as the one with nine spikes last also thinks it is autumn. They are so mi- t year. However, some seed I 'won' from nute yet it is impossible to identify them Primula Suffretescens a seed exchange has germinated in the as primulas, except for two that have de- by Gwen Baker rain we have had daily for the last three veloped a rosette like a minute Auricula Wolverhampton, England weeks, after ten days 'summer'. The tem- seedling. I was ever an ooptimist, so I perature has dropped noticably and live in hope they are true to name and I some of my Mediterranean plants, an au- shall be able to raise them to maturity. tumn flowering Cyclamen intaminatum Your seed exchange will tell the tale if I I loved the article in the APS journal more new growth. I hoped for seed, but and Ranunculus caladrinioides have sent do. by Larry Bailey about his expedition to none set, obviously it is self-incompatible. up flower-buds, the first I have ever seen Round Mountain and finding this primula About this time I was badly hit by our growing wild, the more so because I was most insidious and damaging insect pest, given a small plant of it some four or five vine weevil. It is the fat short comma- The years back, since then I have been exper- shaped larvae that do the damage, eating The Quarterly Bulletin ALPINE imenting as to the best way to grow it. off the plant roots, and the first you know known in 27 Countries throughout the World for its The first step, of course, was to look it of their presence is the plant falling over GARDEN illustrations and technical standards. up in my ACS book, "Primulas of Europe when the last root is severed. I lost sev- Society and America", my primula "bible", where eral auriculas from it's activities, and I ANNUAL SEED DISTRIBUTION LIST, with preferential treatment for overseas I found it grew in 'rock fissures and soil suspect several polyanthus, The female members, of some 5.000 varieties, including new introductions otherwise unobtainable from the weathering of granite. That spel- is parthenogenic, no males are known, Subscription for overseas members is £12.00 or $19.00 U.S. -payable to the Secretary: led acid leaf-mould, good drainage and and unless you can find and destroy all E.M. Upward, Lye End Link, St. John's, Woking, Surrey, England some shade. At first I tried it in a pot, as larvae or her nibs she can lay up to 1000 — Send for fully descriptive folder — one tends to do with a new, rather rare eggs. I do not know if you suffer this plant,a but it was not really happy, awful pest, which is resistant to all insec- though it did send out new growth in ticide except Aldrin, which is now pro- May. By chance 1 inspected it closely and scribed. I found one of these grubs eating THE SCOTTISH ROCK GARDEN CLUB found the new piece had sent out a root a P. modesta in the sink-garden, and I offers you . , . as long and as thick as a darning needle had to move the plants to change the soil Its twice yearly journal, well illustrated in black & white, straight down into the soil. So I took a - how many more of the pests were in and containing authoritative articles on all aspects of rwk cutting. I had just filled an old ceramic it? So my Primula suffretescens went gardening, rock plants, and their worldwide haunts. Its ex- cellent annual scheme for the distribution of rare and sink situated in shade, with my acid soil, back, but this time into three pots and a unusual seed amongst its international members. grit and leaf-mould, spiced to taste with small bit into my Petiolarid bed. Once O.OO or SI2.00 U.S. fertiliser, so I popped my rooted cutting again I was shown it approved of open Subscription Scin-tary, Miss K. M. Gibb into it. I was amazed at the speed at which ground treatment, but not pots. It lived, 2 I Merchistiin P;irk it took off, sending it's horizontal but flowered sparcely, while the bit be- Edinburgh EH HI 4 PW Scotland rhizomes in all directions, pegging itself came three-pronged in no time. This down as it went. Knowing it was used to Spring I eventually got the sink filled with snow cover I put a pane of glass over it clean lime-free soil, leaf-mould and grit in the winter, though I am not convinced in roughly equal proportions, spiced as it was really needed. However, I've lost before with a long lasting fertiliser, and Featuring a large selection of species mroe than one primula with our false replanted two pieces of my P. suffretes- '*rj'""~\ primulas as well as a good selection of promises of Spring, which bring the cens. Yesterday I passed that way and / j <*£•£ North American, European and Asiatic Al- plants into tender new growth, cut by inspected them. The big one is in bud. f ra /,''' pine plants. lUnuU) • the next onslaught of frost, so I continue Hurray! T 'Winner of13 blue ribbons at "Alpines 86". to protect it. Next May my Primula suf- To be fair, two days later I noticed my ,. .. j^,- ^ ~pines, Inc. fretescens was covered with it's flat pot plants were also increasing and send- Crown at 8,000' in the Rockies. magenta flowers, I counted nine spikes ing up flowers, but there is only one spike Jj| p. o. box 2208 avon, Colorado 81620 (303) 949-6464 with three or four blooms on each, and on the biggest plant, three times the size ^^

Page 156 1988 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 157 iys Jo. ^'They make a nice ground cover Although he doesn't plan on turning )lant. his primulas into a business, Jo says he For the love of the Primula "A lot of the colours of these low-grow- may in the future sell some of his plants ing types are not that interesting, how- to other specialists. Why Dentist Jo Kennedy gave up his Job... ever. You get a lot of mauves flowering Jo's range of blooms in three lean-to in March and April and I am trying to get greenhouses and a plastic tunnel goes by Glenn Barker nice bright colours on to these, which on and on. reprinted from an English paper could take quite a while. It begins in January with some of the "The other aim is to get a good strong, Himalayans. Europeans start coming in For love of the primula, dentist Jo Ken- thusiasm," he adds most modestly. But clear stripe of a good colour." during February and, as the Asiatics de- nedy has retired early from his job - be- his 'Glenshesk', named forthe particular He has been very much influenced in part, more Europeans follow in March. cause he wants to revive the great tradi- one of the nine glens of Antrim in which his work by the late Florence Bellis, who "Never at any one time can you see tions of growing that flower in Northern he lives, is nevertheless a good blue dou- was hybridising in the thirties in Oregon, the whole lot," says Jo, "but something Ireland. ble. 'Knocklaye', a purplish low-growing USA and was the originator of the Barn ha- blooms here all year round. There's a "I'm going to breed primulas full time single, is named after the mountain be- ven primulas. primula in every month, but it is really now," says Jo, whose lovely home with side Ballycastle. "There are between 400 and 600 from February to June when you get a its panoramic views is at Ballycastle, on His work is now concentrated in four species, butintheBritish Isles now there good range." the scenic northern shores of Ulster. specific areas. are only five, including the lovely wild Jo grows auriculas as a hobby within a "Ireland used to be kind of famous for Dark leaves were a feature of some of yellow primrose, the cowslip that is fairly hobby. launching new primulas as far back as the old Irish primulas, Jo points out. wide-spread and the oxslip, now only "Purists in the north of England are par- 150 years ago," Jo explained. "Usually these had pink flowers, but I am present in one wood in Suffolk," says Jo. ticularly interested in this kind of thing, "The climate here is very suitable, be- trying to get yellow, peachy or tangerine "Then there's the pink one found in grown indoors and put on benches cause an awful lot of primulas don't like ones on a good dark leaf." the Lancashire and Yorkshire dales and purely for show," Jo says. "I experiment heat. But Jo knows only too well that his new Jhe very similar but smaller Primula with them - mix them up and get all sorts "The landed gen try-many of them En- coloured blooms, set in theirdark leaves, ycotica, from the sand dunes on the very of weird things." glish with their big, walled estates and a may well take years of intercrossing and tip of Scotland and in the Orkneys." It's a long road to the realisation of Jo lot of time and money - were able to a lot more works before they materialise. But, Jo adds, there are still unexplored Kennedy's dream of a whole new gener- employ people to make very good gar- The next area is the Jack-in-the-green areas of China where there must be ation of Irish primulas - but at least he dens, many of which are still there today type of primula. "The old ones had quite another 50 species at least. now feels he's on the way. - but most of the old primula varieties a small ruff of leaves with the flower," Jo have died out now." explains. "What I'm trying for is getting After ten year of breeding primulas as a big ruff of leaves with a flower nestling a hobby, Jo was more than ready to quit in the middle, which would be much schools dentistry at 52. nicer." "I used to do four hours in the morning He's also working on the doubles. before I went to work, at lunchtime I'd "Double flowers arise spontaneously in 1989 Dues come home and spend an hour on it, the wild - a mutation from a single - and 1989 membership renewals are now due. Once again our annual rate for both then go back until evening, when I could some of these yellow and whites were home and overseas members remains at $10.00, and once more for members in the get into the glasshouse again. recorded as far back as 1590," Jo says. British Isles there is provision for paying in sterling. Here are the steps you must take: "Lately I'd been resenting dentistry "They didn't set seed, however, and have more and more," says the man who fi- had to be divided and handed down over 1) Send your cheque, made payable to Brian Skidmore, Treasurer to Acct. #0291941, Lloyds Bank,C&C Branch,47MilsonSt., Bath, BA11DX. nally called it a day in January. the generations, A lot of the older ones 2) In order to insure proper credit in the USA it is absolutely necessary "What I'm trying to do is to start new have become weakened, so I'm trying to to inform the Treasurer in Seattle by letter that your cheque has been and different varieities. I think many raise new ones." deposited in the British bank, things are named far too easily these Finally, Jo is going all out to improve All of you are reminded that membership for the calendar year of '89 and that days and are not better than anything striped varieties like the old Irish hybrid renewals should be made before December 15. If you are in doubt about the status previously." 'Kinlough Beauty'. jaf your membership, just check the mailing label of the envelope in which this The only primulas which Jo has named "They have a future in that they form Jh ..Quarterly comes to you. And say, thanks! so far were "in the first flush of en- low mats that grow along the ground,"

Page 158 1986 Fall Quarterly American Primrose Society Page 159 New and improved strain of garden auriculas, the result of 30 years of selecting and breeding for better American Primrose Society color and vigor. ) BLUE GARDEN YELLOW GARDEN MIXED GARDEN Officers DICKSON'S PETITE HYBRIDS (a mixture of small-species hybrids) President: Larry Bailey, 1570 9th Ave. W. Edmonds, WA 98020 Vice President: Claire Muller, 2001 Ridley Creek Rd., Media, PA 19063 MIXED EXHIBITION ALPINES Recording Secretary: Ester (Candy) Strickland, 8518 - 28th Ave., Tacoma, WA98445 Treasurer: Brian Skidmore, 6730 West Mercer Way, Mercer Island, WA 98040 The above $1.00 per packet of 50 seeds Hand-pollinated show auriculas Directors Red self, yellow self, green-edged Rosetta Jones, Kent, WA Vasco Fenili, Tacoma, WA $2.00 per packet of 25 seeds Etha Tate, Milwaukee, WA Kris Fenderson, South Acworth, NH Presidents of affiliated societies and chapters Cyrus Happy III, Tacoma, WA CHEHALIS RARE PLANT NURSERY Membership 2568 JACKSON HIGHWAY Dues of $10 a year are payable Nov. 15. Membership includes four issues annually CHEHALIS, WA 98532 of the Quarterly, cultural chart and seed exchange privileges. Sustaining member $50. Life membership, $200; garden club affiliated societies, $10 a year; library and Minimum order $5.00. horticultural societies, $10 a year; second member in family, $1 a year. Overseas members, $10 a year; please send by international money order. Send dues to the treasurer. Publications "Schultz-lnstantULTRA PURE CONCENTRATED ALL PURPOS"E Back issues of the Quarterly are available. Order from the secretary. LIQUID PLANT FOOD Manuscripts for publication in the quarterly are solicited from members and other gardening experts, although there is no payment. Please send articles and EASY DIRECTIONS "7 drops per quart water photographs to the editor at 1236 Wendover Ave., Rosemont, PA 19010. Advertising rates per issue: full page $60; half page $30; quarter page $15; eighth Every time you water, page and minimum $10. Submit advertising to the editor. thine, uou grow. Seed Exchange Ester Strickland, chairman. 8518 28th Ave. E., Tacoma, WA 98445. Show Judges

"Schultz-lnstantULTRA PURE CONCENTRATED ALL PURPOSE SOLUBL"E Al Rapp, 4918, 79th Ave. W., Tacoma, WA 98467 Slide Library EASY DIRECTIONS Ann Lunn, Route 5, Box 93, Hillsboro, OR 97124

Page 160 1986 Fall Quarterly I I & Primroses

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Cen/7 sakurasoh Fujiura sakurasoh t » Vol. 46 FALL, 1988 No. 4