COMING IN THE NEXT ISSUE Author Ronald Meyer will tell you everything you need to know about growing bonsai chrysanthemums-from nurturing the plants from seed to choosing an appropriate bonsai container once the plant has been trained. Dr. James E. Klett will write about cutting blooming shrubbery to force indoors; Martma Prince will write about ferns; and Jane Pepper will take you on a guided tour of the Winterthur Gardens' in anticipation of the Society's Spring Seminar in the Brandywine Valley. Finally, Alvin W. Mosher and Dr. Dan Milbocker will discuss the Chinese gooseberry, or kiwi, an exotic fruit you may soon be able to grow in your own garden. Illustration by Mary Jourdan DeWalt VOLUME 58 NUMBER 6
Judy Powell EDITOR
Rebecca McClimans .;..:..::; r"· ART DIRECTOR ~t
Jane Steffey , EDITORIAL ASSISTANT . _ t .. ( .' H. Marc Cathey Gilbert S. Daniels Donald Wyma n HOR TICUL TURAL CONSULTANTS ...... ' ;..;;
Gilbert S. Daniels BOOK EDITOR PAGE 18 May Lin Roscoe BUSINESS MANAGER FEATURES Florence Bay li ss EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS COORDINATOR Chelsea 14 Judy Canady Text by Lorraine Burgess MEMBERSHIP/SUBSCRIPTION Photography by Guy Burgess SERVICE The Art of Dye ing Wool 18 Cindy Weakland Dorothea Thomas ASSISTANT TO THE EDITOR In Praise of Geraniums 22 John Simmons Anthony J. DeBlasi PRODUCTION COORDINATION A Townhouse Garden 27 Chromagraphics Inc. Pamela Harper COLOR SEPARATIONS Publisher Services, Inc. A Maintenance Guide for Perennial Herbs 32 621 Duke Street Betty Ann Laws Alexandria, Virginia 22314 ADVER TISING REPRESENTATIVES Saintpaulia Species 35 Tex t by Helen Van Pelt W ilson Replacement Issues of AMERICAN Photography by Margaret H . Stone HORTICULTURIST are ava ilable at a cost of $2.50 per copy. The opinions expressed in the articles COLUMNS which appear in AMERICAN HOR TICUL TURIST are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of President's Page Gilbert S. Daniels 3 the Society. They a re presented as Country Gardens-An Endangered Tradition David E. Starry contributions to contemporary thought. Manuscripts, art work and photographs Letters 5 sent for possible publication will be returned if they are accompanied by a Strange Relatives: The Rue Family 8 self-addressed, stamped envelope. Jane Steffey AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST is the Contributors 11 official publication of Thll American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Book Reviews 12 Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22308, and is issued in February, April, Gilbert S. Daniels June, August, October and December. Index 42 Membership in the Society automatically includes a subscription to AMERICAN Gardener's Marketplace 44 HOR TICUL TURIST. Membership dues start at $15.00 a year, $9.00 of which is designated for AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST. Copyright © 1979 ON COVER: Nancy Wilson, a floral designer from Alexandria, Virginia, works by The American Horticultural Society. THE ISSN 0096-4417. Sllcond-dass postage best when she's given a fr ee rein. Our only instructions to her were to use her imagination paid at Alexandria, Virginia and at to create a holiday arrangement for our cover. The result includes many unusual items: additional mailing offices. Postmaster: birch branches, bittersweet, heather, Nerine lilies, an ornamental pineapple, mushrooms, Please send Form 3579 to AMERICAN a bird's nest, dogwood berries, am autumn orchid (Cattleya labiata), Freesia, mid-century HORTICUL TURALIST, Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121. lilies, a polypore fungus, pomegranates and Euphorbia. Cover photograph by Susan Bennett-Ha ttan.
American Horticulturist 1 Once again ... Armstrong offers you more. Over 250 Rose and Fruit selections are available in this beautiful 40 page 1980 full color Catalog. Including ... New roses for 1980 3 MRS winners 3 Exclusive Fruit Introductions Annstrong's • "Black Beauty" Seml-dwarf Mulberry • "Young Quinn" • "Black Jack" Dwarf Fig • "Deep Purple" • "Champagne" Peach New Miniature Roses Champagne Peach If you want the dependability of a long-established nursery, a wide choice of classic favorites and fine new introduc tions, order the best guide today... Armstrong's 1980 Rose and Fruit Tree Catalog. All this ... and it's absolutely FREE!
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concrete and tarmac, while indiscriminate applications of insecticide have unwit AMERICAN tingly reduced the sounds of nature to a HORTICULTURAL minimum. And as for grandmother's SCXIEIY kitchen garden, it survives only on the shelves of the nearest supermarket. Go ne indeed are the days when country gardens OFFICERS not only gave sustenance to both body and soul, but also offered a wealth of herbal Dr. Gi lbert S. Daniels abracadabra reputed to effectively combat PRESIDENT the witchcraft sti ll lurking in the dark cor ners of our folklore. Mrs. Erastus Corning, II Ah yes, these are the days of stan FIRST VICE PRESIDENT dardization w hen we are cajoled into thinking that expensive artificial settin gs Dr. Harold B. Tukey, Jr. and arty co ntrivances can improve on the SECOND VICE PRESIDENT unregimented beauty of nature. But can they? Are we not trading the natural har Mrs. John M. Maury mony of creation for the boredom of ce SECRETARY ment blocks, a yardstick and a draftsman's compass? Edward N. Dane David Starry submitted the article whi ch Sadly, vi ll age or suburban gardens no TREASURER follows several months ago. It is so similar longer have the romantic persuasion of the to my own feelings that I wanted to run it days when songs of the "Come Into the Thomas W. Richards as this issue's President's Page with my Garden, Maude" vi ntage were popular. In EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT blessing and concurrence. Mr. Starry, fact, they are now more commonly known thank you. I'm delighted to know you feel as "yards," and certainly "Come Into the Dr. Henry M. Cathey this way about gardens and gardening, and Yard, Maude" does not lend itself to IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT I hope other members of the Society will poetry. An acceptable garden now consists agree. of a neatl y mowed expanse of lawn, with BOARD OF DIRECTORS all the charm of a putting green, primly TERMS EXPIRING IN 1980: Country Gardens- edged with petunias or geraniums, while An Endangered Tradition the foundations of the house are obscured J. Lyle Bayless, Jr. by a well-disciplined parade of evergreens. Mrs. George P. Bissell, Jr. By David E. Starry One gets the impression that the gardener Mrs. Benjamin P. Bole, Jr. Everett Conklin What has happened to the days when the is at war with nature rather than trying to Mrs. Nicholas R. du Pont term "country gardens" was the ve ry complement or cooperate with it. Can we Alfred M. Hunt not take a lesson from the peculiar beauty Mrs. William Wallace Mein epitome of nature's yearly fulfillment? Mrs. Pendleton Miller Where are those sultry, star-studded nights of the temple gardens of Japan, or the Captain Walter W. Price, Jr. when you could relax in the coolness of studied informality of certain famous your dooryard and savor all the scents and European gardens? Perhaps it might be TERMS EXPIRING IN 1981 : sounds of summ€r? When the atmosphere wise to recall the words describing the gar J. Judson Brooks was heady with the aroma of thriving flow den of England's Hon. Sackville-West at Dr. Gilbert S. Daniels ers and vegetables, and fireflies lifted in South Cottage, in Kent: "planting ar Harold Epstein ranged with great artifice in a 'natural' Mrs. Howard S. Kittel flight from patches of greensward to flicker Mrs. Joseph G. Poetker through the shrubbery like airborne mini way." Dr. Harold B. Tukey, Jr. atures of Diogenes looking for an honest Should you speak with many house Theodore Van VeeN James W. Wilson man? In such idyllic settings, the silent holders about the naturalness of a garden, they would probably regard you with sus rhythm of growing things was punctuated TERMS EXPIRING IN 1982: only by the plop-plop of a toad foraging for picion. I have heard comments that a truly insects, or the soft scuttle of a box turtle informal garden indicated that the owner Richard Both enroute to grandmother's strawberry bed. was too lazy to pull the weeds or keep his Edward N. Dane borders straight. This is a thought process Jaokson R. Eddy And occasionally the distant rumble of Mrs. A. Lester Marks thunderheads, or the flicker of heat light that reaches a ludicrous climax when we Mrs. John M. Maury ning along the horizon gave promise of a are treated to the sight of a host of pathetic Mrs. Edward C. Sweeney Mrs. William C. Weaver, Jr. refreshing shower before morning. pansies imprisoned within the circle of a Dr. John A. Wott But alas! In today's gardens most of the discarded rubber tire, or a defunct bathtub stands of flowers and shrubs have been brimming with marigolds and forget-me pushed to the background by stretches of nots. I know of one woman who planted
American Horticulturist 3 PRESIDENT'S PAGE CONT'D
her sweet peas in an old porcelain com my own rece nt efforts at ga rdening have mode and was always slightly offended at been disastro us si mply because I didn't pay the mirth whi ch this spectacle so metimes heed to a bi t of local gardening lore. They provoked. And heaven help the natu ral told me not to pl ant anything in the shade grace of a shrub w hen it is attacked by an of a walnut tree, but I did and the plants over-zealous gardener with the new pair of Increase your growing pruning shea rs Aunt Minnie gave him fo r space with a Christmas. An acceptable garden Janco Greenhouse And to carry this craze for neatness to today now consists of a the limit, how often we hear peopl e refer to When you've run out of space for your neatly mowed expanse of indoor plants .. .when you want to "open certain trees as being " dirty" si mply be up" a living or family room, bedroom or ca use (hey shed catkins or seed pods on lawn, with all the charm kitchen to sunshine & flowers . . .when immaculate lawns in the spring, or because of a putting green, primly you want "growing pleasure" all year their leaves litter the sidewalks in autumn? round, then you're ready for an all alumi edged with petunias or num, minimum-maintenance Janco. Are we no lo nge r aware of the beauty of a Quality, price, design-these are the 3 red brick pathway strewn with October's geraniums, while the major reasons customers give for choos crimson and gold? Perh aps trees that en foundations of the house ing a Janco. Over 100 lean-to & curved gage in sexual activity or shed their leaves eave models to fit any site, every budget. should be abolished from the premises of are obscured by a Write for FREE 48-pg. full color cata puritanical gardeners! Yes, modern yards well-disciplined parade of log today---compare our quality, price and gardens are we ll mani cured and need & deSign! evergreens. only a few tombstones to make them look Janco Greenhouses like ce meteries. Perhaps this mania to Dept. AH-12 subjugate nature is a subconscious hang didn' t like it a t all. The bean stalks 9390 Davis Avenue over from pioneer days w hen the great ob Laurel, Md. 20810 sprawled over the ground with nary a sign jective was to tame the wilderness. (301) 498-5700 of a bean, and my tomatoes looked like a But let us leave Maude to muse among bevy of frustrated spinsters. In co ntrast, the mignonettes while we meander down my neighbor Reuben, who meticulously ' BlJ the flagstone path for a look at the more S S E ED~"~ bows to all the fo lklore signs and taboos, "' os Burpee r:, ..~ util itarian aspects of old-fas hioned gar accompanied by liberal appl ications of s EE Ow new 1980 See dening and how it has fared in modern rabbit manure, has had thriving results. times. Before the days of packaged foods Reuben's only trouble with the powers of Catalog .... FREE each household had its vege table plot, and Featuring new ev il h as been w ith the vill age klep exciting vegetable in the late summer and autumn there was tomaniac. In the dark of the moon this and flower much preserving of home-grown fruits and unfortunate indivi dual has dipped his hand varieties for the vegetables, while the herb garden supplied home gardener. into Reuben's stri ng bean crop, all the most of the seasoni ng now bought off the while quoting scripture and muttering he new 184-page shelves of supermarkets. So me garden Burpee Catalog "God have mercy on my soul. " T plants, along with those gathered from is a comprehensive Today, the old herbal lore, as well as planting and fields and woodlands, fu rnished the ingre ho me gardening, is fas t disappearing. growing guide with dients of home remedies based on the ac over 1800 vegetables, Supermarke ts have replace d ki tchen gar tual medi ci nal properties of the plants fl owers, frui ts, shrubs and trees. Plus dens, and herbal lore has gone to " pot" the msel ves, co mbined with healing powers helpful hints from Burpee's horti- with the yo unger generation and their culture experts on how to have a more derived fro m witchcraft lore da ting back to dange rous journeys into the realms of producti ve garden. Send fo r you r medieval Europe. free copy today, and it will arrive in marijuana and hashish. And most depart In this latter ca tegory, enchanter's night your mailbox in early January. ment stores now stock showy plastic If you ordered fro m Bu rpee last yea r, shade, ange lica, hell ebore and mandragora you will automatically receive yo ur free fl ower arrange ments that never need water roll off the tongue like a witch's incanta and are guarantee d not to fa de. No longe r Burpee catalog in 1980. © Burpee Seed Co. 1980 tio n. And not all of the pl a nts were ca n we invi te Maude to go fo r a stroll amid r------cherished for their healing powers alone; BURPEE SEED CO. the seductive aromas of an old-fashio ned I 1090 Burpee Bldg., Warminster, Pa. 18974; some were the spawn of the dev il and their I or Clinton, IA 52732; o r Riverside, CA 92502 garden. Instead, we take her for a spin in uses diabolica l. From olden times pl ants I (Please ma il to nearest address) the family car, and ro mance blossoms in such as mandragora have bee n associated I Yes. Please send me the 1980 Burpee the reek of exhaust fumes and artificial I Seed Catalog FREE. with the powers of darkness and one of the leather. 0 I Name ______~~~~------most effecti ve mediums of a witch's wrath. I (Please print) As Spenser sa id in The Faerie Queen, " the I Address ------hidde n power of herbs, and might of magic ~;;T3~ I City ______spell." -Gilbert S. Daniels IL ______State Zip _____ J As a gesture toward fighting inflation, President
4 December 19791January 1980 Country Garden Basket wo\'en of moss and twigs. Waterproof interior. Charming filled with flowers, plants, fruit, or any item. A perfect gift for any occasion. A friend of mine showed me the las t copy which are of interest to gardeners a nd Send for brochure. of your magazine and I was most interested profess ional horticulturists. The artwork Made to order sizes on request. in it! Not only is it a beautiful magazi ne, accompanying the articl es on "Orchid #103 6" Diam. by but the article on "Grandmother's Gar Flowered Butterworts" by R.S. Bennett 11 " Hi gh $17.50 a nd "Grandmo ther's Garden" by Ms. Shipping $ 1.50 den" by Martha Prince spoke of roses, one N. Y. Res. add tax of which was named for a neighbor of Prince was so beautifully drawn, colored mine, Miss Annie Camak a nd another and reproduced. The drawings added a gra~ named for my father, Billips Phinizy. special im agin ative dimension to the flow I am most anxious to find out Ms. ers a nd plants they illustrated. Dep~~ Prince's connection with Athens, Georgia I ga ined a new appreciation for many RO J, Box 38, Rhinebeck, New York 12572 and any other information about her and new pl ants a nd activities by read in g this her grandmother. I wonder if yo u would issue of American Horticulturist and l'm mind telling me how I co uld contact her. I certain I will continue to learn from and would so appreciate it. enj oy future iss ues. Louise P. Tillman Gail Gibson Athens, Georgia Berwyn, Pennsylvania
Editors note: Mrs. Tillman's letter was forwarded to Ms. Prince and together they I certainly enj oyed th e new layo ut of hope to discover the relationship between American Horticulturist this month. In the the two families. past I have always recommended your magazine as the best in the field and it is growing more beautiful all of the time! All of us who worked on the Pinguicula Tovah Martin article would like to congratulate the staff Danielson, Connecticut of American Horticulturist on a very fine job of rendering it into print. We were "all smiles" upon seeing the This is in regard to the article, "Cryp cover and were also pleased with the qual tomeria japonica," by Gail Gib son in the ity of the reproduction and layout within. JunelJulyedition. Best wishes for your future plans with In drawing the plans for landscaping the the magazine. grounds around St. Andrew's Episcopal Richard M. Adams, II Church, Mentor, Ohio, seven Cryp Ithaca, New York tomeria japonica 'Lobbii' were included. The trees were six to eight feet tall when planted in April, 1961. They have not had Martha Prince's articles have given me fertilizer nor artificial watering since they great pleasure. They are a rare blend of were pl anted but mulched heavily by practical and technical information, en whatever foliage has fallen. They are ex gaging literary style and empathy with her posed to the north by northwest and tem subject, all this enhanced by her lovely peratures ranging around 10° F and below drawings. I have long believed that this in winter, up to 90° to 95° F in summer. Vegetable Factory® love for plants and words is always, and Currently they are 18 feet in height, no only, absorbed in early childhood. losses have occurred and they are quite SOLAR PANEL "Grandmother's Garden" strengthened uniform. They were purchased from this belief and drew from me the most sin Hubert C. Horton, President of Horton GREENHOUSE cere compliment one writer can pay Nurseries, Inc., Madison, Ohio. At the another. .. . I wish I had written that. time of Mr. Horton's death about 15 years USES 60% Pamela Harper ago he had a goodly number of these beau Seaford, Virginia tiful Cryptomeria japonica 'Lobbii' in the LESS HEAT. Th is practicat thermal wal l greenhouse nursery. solves the energy cost problem. Patented The new format for presenting the Features My initial idea for using them in this rigid double-wall construction, tested in Vermont. Cost about Y3 as mu ch to heat and Columns in the August-September plan comes from the pl antings in Japan as ordinary greenhouses. More than pays for itself in heat savings alone. Exclusive, issue was both informative and helpful. I where they are used to enshroud temples, factory direct only. All models and sizes, read each article with a feeling that the shrines and sacred places. Many of the av 5 year wa rranty. Free Color Brochure. changes in style and presentation will enues of the islands are made magnificent Call or Write for fnformation further add to each member's enthusiasm by their use, and the beauty of their gar P.O. Box 2235 Dept. AH-12 not only for reading the magazine but also dens are enhanced by them also. Grand Central Station for trying new plants, or for learning about Raymond E. Siegel New York, N.Y. 10017 new areas of the country and activities Mento?', Ohio (212) 867 -0113
American Horticulturist 5 AGARDENlHAT DELIGHTS
e-t :r" e """
Whether your garden is on 20 acres or on a cheery windowsill, delighting in what grows there is what gardening is all about.
In every issue of the new American Horticulturist ,------,I I we hope to expand your knowledge and enhance I your enjoyment of gardening. We'll show you how to grow new and unusual plants ahd we'll take you on pictorial tours of public and private gardens around the world. In one issue you may learn how AMERICAN HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, to dry flowers that will last for years; in another MOUNT VERNON, VA 22121 you'll be able to peek behind closed doors-to find out what's happening in the backrooms of the U.S. YES, I would like to become a member of the Department of Agriculture. American Horticultural Society. Subscribe now by joining the American Horticultural Society. For $15 a year, you will not D I enclose my check for $15. only receive 6 issues of American Horticulturist, but D Please bill me. also bimonthly issues of our newsletter, News & Views, free seeds once a year, discounts on gardening books, access to a free gardener's Name information service, reduced rates on exciting travel opportunities and invitations to all Society Address events at our headquarters at River Farm. Simply fill City State Zip out the form at right and mail it to us today. We 0 79 think you'll be delighted. ~------Inside Gardening LETTERS CONTO with Way back o n May 25 you sent me a copy of g ust in order to get tbem growtb file the American Horticulturist for June/J uly orientated before winter. I get about 90 / everGREENHOUSES because of the very beautiful announce percent ge rminatio n from my tetraploid ment of the American H orticultu ra l Soci seed. .~.d'=';~":::~~=~ ~ ety Meeting at Portland in October, in Mrs . Ra lph Cannon whic h you no ted , "Celebrate the Year of Chicago, JIIin ois the Rose in the C ity of Roses." Editor's Note: Uufortunately, the Society I would tell you that the announcement no 10llger has copies of the 1968 daylily of the meeting, in my opinion, is o ne of the issue it can se ll . What few issues remain we best and most a ttention-ge tting an must keep for our archives. nouncements of that sort that 1 have ever seen. I don't believe anybody could open Everlite answers all your needs all up the magazine and go by that page with I don' t mean to be unkind, but modern year 'round with : out stopping to read the contents a nd ad daylilies are no more like those pictured in • Over 90 models starting at $308 mire the picture of Mount Hood, framed your article (A ugust/September J 979) than • Precision prefabrication for fast si lk is li ke burlap. When you print an arti assem bly . with the city and roses. • Quality e ngineered throughout. We appreciate your giving the "Year of cle on a particular flower, aren't yo ur • Full accessories line including the Rose" a plug, and I expect the Portland readers entitl ed to know about tbe more automatic climate control s. meeting will be a very successful one. recent ones? Get the Inside story . . . Write lor catalog-price list AH-129 George E. Rose Then, l believe there are at least two All-America Rose Selec tions erro rs in the article: "To keep bybrids true c5'llwnirz.um Shenandoah, Iowa to color, don't let them go to seed." How preposterous! Letting tbem go to seed, {jreen1lPuses, lIz,c. After reading the article on daylil ies in your even deliberately crossing them one witb last issue of the American Horticulturist I another as detailed in the article, in no way thought that anyone interested in growing cha nges the plants. Of course, the seedl ings hemerocallis from seed should read the ar will be different, but that's the whole point ticle published in the spring iss ue of The in hybridizing. American Horticultural Magazine, 1968 , Then, I'll stick my neck out and say I pages 121-15l. This research was carried believe tbe information regarding rooting out by Voth, Griesbach and Yeager. Their clipped off roots in moist sand and peat is directions for the germination of daylily another piece of misinformation. If tbis is seed is found in detail on page 147 of that true, please publish details and illustra article. tions in a furure issue. They state, "Freshly harvested seed of Mrs. Lola S. Branham the deciduous type daylilies sown in the Richmond, Virginia Plan your ga en now autumn remain dormant until the follow with Gurney's Spring ing spring. Seed of evergreen varieties are Author Lorraine Burgess rep lies: We pre Catalog - FREE! generally capable of immediate germina fer to photograph established examples · over 4,000 items to . share success stories choose from and pictures from tion. " and to respond emotionally to a particular • all choice, top quality, fellow gardeners GUARANTEED • planting charts, mois· I am interested in hybridizing tetraploid flower. Granted, the daylilies are not 1979 • hard-to-find varieties, ture guides some offered only by • landscaping and gar- hemerocallis and for germin ation of the vintage, but they are robust and beautiful, Gurney's dening ideas seed I follow the Voth-Griesbach article. In and well enough established to assure their • famous 1¢ money- • free surprise gift when saving offers you order from the the Chicago area, I generall y pl ant my seed durability. Mrs. Branham labels as pre • special " how-to-grow" catalog tips in fl ats o n March 20th; water them in well posterous the statement "To keep hybrids Join the thousands of Gurney gardeners who and then place the fl ats in polyethylene true to co lor, don't let them go to seed." I enjoy the satisfaction and natural beauty of growing their own gardens. Save money on bags and ti e them to prevent evaporatio n. I consider it valid. Her own letter says, "Of groceries, too. Order everything direct by mail pl ace the bags on the patio o utside for the course, the seedlings will be different, but from AMERICA'S MOST COMPLETE SEED AND NURSERY COMPANY - seeds, plants, flowers, soil media and seed to ge t a couple of hard that's the whole poi11t in hybridizing." I trees, hybrids, high-quality standard varieties, or freezes or frost to break the dormancy of say it may be the whole point in hybridiz unique and unusual items. Gurney's big 70-page, full-color catalog is like having a giant garden the seed. At this late date of planting there ing, but it is not recommended if you wish store right in your own home. to keep an existing hybrid clump true to Send for your FREE Gurney's 1980 Spring Catalog and will be no sub-freezing in this area. By start plsnning your gsrden now. March 30 the fl ats containing the seed have co Lor. Ms. Branham also counts as misin Fill out, clip and mail today. thawed. I leave the fl ats in the bags until I formation propagation tech11iques using r------,.. Dakota I g~;N9E8: ~3~~dp~gNeU~~~~a~~tr;;R ~~'uth 57079 I see the start of germinati on, which took clipped off roots. I suggest she try this I Please send me the 1980 Spring Catalog, FREE. I place this year the last week in April. I practice before condemning it. It can pro I I I I remove the fl ats from the bags and keep the vide quick multiplication with robust root I Name I seedlings watered well and growing until stock, although I doubt it wouLd make I Street or Route Zip II August. I transpl ant the seedl ings in Au- anyone rich with a new introduction. 0 I No. I Post OHice State Please! Zip speeds delivery. I "'------~ American Horticulturist 7 STRA GE RELATIVES
THE RUE FAMILY
A love of plants and the study of horticul ture are uniting elements that bring us to gether as members of the Ameri can Hor ticultural Society. The many aspects of hortic ulture lead us as individuals on di verse paths. A path which can become an avocati on or a vocation is the study of pl ant families and how pl ants are related. It can be an armchair, fires ide occupati on or an explo ratory peregrinati on to distant lands- or to the nearby outdoors. Either way, we sometimes enco unter some strange rela tives among pl ants; as individual plants th ey are famili ar to us but we would not have guessed their kinship. This column will, fro m time to time, in troduce some of these members of plant families whose relationship ca n onl y evo ke the query: "What do they have in co m mon? How are they related ?" You might almost say that they need to be introduced to each other. For example, the grapefruit and the gas pl ant; both are members of the Rutaceae, o r Rue famil y. What fa mily characteristi cs make their relati onship ap parent? The Rutaceae family is co mp osed of more than 100 ge nera and 1,000 species . Cultiva ted for their aromati c oils or edible fruits, they range from the unimportant herbaceous plants to a group of perhaps the most important fruit trees in cultiva tion. Botanical detail s-the structure of centuries, o riginall y in the O rient and later long time and is still known by its cl assical fl ower and fruit parts-bring this large carried by overl and trade routes to Europe. name, derive d fr om Mt. Dicte in Crete. It is group together into a famil y. Small trans In commerce Citrus species represe nt a popular perennial border pl ant with fr a luce nt bl ack dots on the lea ves whi ch are vast economic investment. The fruits con grant fl owers, white or in so me va rieties oil glands are the most distinctive fea ture stitute an important element of Western rosy-pink, borne on showy racemes, fol of Rutaceae. Aromati c oils from these diet in modern times. Lemons are popular lowed by fascinating winged pods. Once glands account for the fragrance of crushed for cooling drinks and cookery; oranges established, the gas pl ant may persist fo r foliage. The leaves on different species may and grapefruit for fres h fruit and juice. As ge nerati ons. Characteristi call y for a mem be si mple or compound, arranged opposite ornamentals they enter our homes and ber of the Rue family, the crushed leaves. or alternately on the stem. The fl owers are conse rva tories to offer their exotic fr a are slightly lemony. Its co mmon name re not particul arly showy but are noted for a grance, waxy green foliage and fruits of fers to the fact tha t the punge nt oil from the pervasive aroma; they may have 3 to 5 bright orange or lemon hues for our pl eas leaves is fl ammable and ca n so metimes be petals, 3 to 5 se pals, and stamens number ure. A dwarf variety of Sevill e orange pro ignited when a match is lighted near the ing 5 to 10. The fru it of so me ge nera is a duces the valu abl e " bergamot oil " fo r stem of a fl ower cluster. Fire worshippers berry, such as the grapefruit. perfumes fro m its fruit, and from its blos in India co nsidered this a sacred pl ant be It is easy enough to recognize a ki ns hip so ms, "oil of neroli" fo r use in eau de col ca use of this phenomenon. among the Citrus species- oranges, lem ogne. Another famil y member, Skimmia, ac o ns, gra pefruit, tange rines- abo ut 16 The gas plant, Dictamnus albus, al- co mmodates itself to our landscaping species in all and co untless hybrids. Many though at the opposite pole of economic schemes as an eve rgree n bord er shrub. Citrus species have been in cultivati on for importance, also has bee n cultivated for a Skimmias are grown outdoors in warm -
8 December 19791January 1980 STOP KILLING YOUR PLANTS! END SOIL GUESS WORK! CONTROL pH, LIGHT, AND MOISTURE, GET PROFESSIONAL RESULTS. Easy-to-use precision instruments show status instantly. No soil samples, chemicals or dyes. temperate a reas as o rn amentals admired Simply insert probes into soil. Fun~mental tools for growing all plants. for their fr <\ grant fl owers a nd attracti ve fruits. The plants may be grow n in po ts and SPECIAL OFFER! where no t hardy a re sometimes grown Buy all three meters and get pH adjusters under glass. The po pula r Skimmia (upper and downer) and Mist-Spray FREEl japonica is so mewhat tender. It produces A $6.45 value. male a nd female fl ow ers o n se pa ra te Also Available - plants, so it is necessa ry to have pl ants of Chlorine Neutralizer for tap water - 2 oz. conc. bo th sexes in a pla nting in order to have its - $2.95. shiny red berries ; birds wi ll no t take the 1. MOIST-SURE meter - Prevents Algaecide/ Fungicide - 4 oz. bottle - $3.95. overwatering - #1 killer of plants. berries so the decorati ve effect is lasting. THIRSTease - waters while you're away 2. pH meter - End soil guesswork - Get Pkg. $1 .95. The dotted fo liage exudes the cha racteri s acid/ alkalinity balance. pH Adjusters - 1 ea. upper and downer. tic lemo ny aroma when crushed. 3. MOISTURE/ LIGHT meter - Know Set $6.45 - With FREE Mist-Sprayer. Also of this famil y and widely reco m your water & light needs. FREE GIFT with all orders. * Complete instructions & guide for over SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. mended fo r ornamental use is rue, Ruta 350 plants. 1 yr. warranty. All items shipped PREPAID, within 24 hours. graveolens, a co mpact shrub about two •...... •••.••...... •....•...... ••.•.•••••.•...•••••.• feet hi gh with glaucous gree n leaves and ENVIRONMENTAL CONCEPTS 710 N.W. 57th Street, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33309 greenish-ye ll ow fl owers. Its blue-fo li aged (305) 491 -4490 Dept . AH 0 Send FREE Catalogue variant, 'Jac kman's Variety', is co nsidered Check. M .O .. or charge whh~aster Charge_ Visa ORDER FORM especiall y effecti ve as a fo il fo r bright fl ow Card # ______------$---- ers in the garden bo rder. The moist fo li age Expire ____Inter Bank # _____ may be an irrita nt to persons with es pe Signature ______cially se nsitive skin. NAME ______Rue has interesting associati o ns in addi ADDRESS ______tion to being a valu abl e evergreen under CITY ______shrub. It is o ne of o nl y a few pl a nts to STATE ZIP TOTAL $---- figure in heraldry; it is represe nted in the Collar of the British Order of the Thistl e. As an herb it has bee n considered a cure fo r countless ill s, its leaves hav ing bee n used REVOLUTIONARY NEW GROWING SYSTEM for medicinal and culinary purposes fro m lets you grow in your ancient times. As " Herb of Grace" it is associated with repentance. In times of plague in the Middle Ages sprigs of rue OWN BUSINESS were carried to ward off infecti o n. Possibly less widely known outside the EARNING BIG South is another fa mil y member, the Chinese orange, Poncirus trifoliata. Its MONEY! Thousands of individuals are earning extra income kinship to Citrus species is apparent in its stocking and distributing plants and plant related white flowers followed by small o ra nge items. GARDEN CENTERS , INC. is one of the fastest fruits whose fr agrance is unmistakabl y growing Companies in America today with their fast citric-but they are inedible. Its spiny moving Growing Systems, plants and other related green structure is frequently seen as a vig items. These are market tested items that sell fast and yield high profit margins for the local distributor. We orous hedge in warm climates. At River are seeking sincere individuals who have $4990 to Farm plants of the Chinese orange have invest in a business. A business that GARDEN CEN been trained over one of the brick arches of TERS will supply the original inventory, racks, high the ballroom promenade. This member of traffic locations and Company training. A business the famil y has its commercial uses too, as a that is virtually depression-proof. A business that will commence to yield you money within 30 days. Join rootstock for some orange varieties . Fruit the many distributors we have that are making money borne on trees on trifo li ate rootstocks is in t mis pleasant, part-time business distributing GAR thought to be smoother and of better qual DEN CENTERS products. CALL NOW, TOLL FREE , ity. PHONES ARE STAFFED 24 hours a day. Or write for Members of the rue family enrich our FREIE information. lives through their contributions to food Call 1-800-325-6400 ask for Operator 129 fragrance, ornamentation and medicine. in Missiouri 1-800-342-6600 - Op. 129 And knowledge of the botany, history and GARDEN CENTERS, INC. legends associated with them enhances our 2701 East Sunrise Blvd ., Suite 516 appreciation of the plant kingdom. 0 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304 - Jane Ste ffey
American Horticultu rist 9 lOur knowledge of horticulture will blossom amid some of America's finest gardens. Nowhere is the tradition of 18th century gardening more beautifully stated than in Colonial Williamsburg, where the gardens of America's early householders served as nostalgic re minders of those back home in England. From April 13th through 16th, the 34th Annual Garden Symposium gives you an exceptional opportunity not only to view the 100 acres of gar dens and greens in the Historic Area, but also to learn firsthand many new and traditional techniques from some of today's leading horticulturists, land scape architects and flower arrangers. During this exciting 3V2- day ..'iti event, presented in association with .~ the American Horticultural Society, you can hear such authorities as Britain's famed horticultural explorer Roy Law caster, who will speak on "'Ravels of a Plant Hunter." You can take a special tour ofJames River gardens and plall' tations, enjoy the Early Riser's Bird Walk, attend how -to workshops, panels, teas, a candlelight concert and the deli cious finale of the annual Gardeners' Banquet. Since reservations must be accepted as received, we strongly recommend that you make plans now to attend. Then you can enrich your knowledge of 20th- century gardening by returning to the 18th century. For a detailed program and registration information, write Mrs. Peggy W Sabol, Registrar, Williams burg Garden Symposium, Po. Box C, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185. Or ):, ." "j,, ;'~ ' .. ' ... ~ ~{' . call (804) 229-1000. ~,~. f " .... '.,':Ji }i:; ~.~t , _'"' ~ "' '' ..j. ..~' ,"- COLONIAL ~TRIBUfORS Lorraine and Guy Burgess a re av id garden an o ffshoot o f gardening. She now grows ers who have worked fo r nati o nal ho me a nd sell s them. [n addition, she freq uentl y and garden magazines for more than 20 writes arti cles about them for gardening The American yea rs, combining ideas and illustra ti o ns magazines. Her credits include articl es in Horticultural Society into ga rden art. Their articles have ap Flower and Garden, Family Food Garden, invites you on a 22-day peared in Better Homes and Gardens, Plants Alive, Countryside, Christian Sci trip to Woman's Day, House and Garden, Flower ence Monitor, The Mother Earth News and Garden, H orticulture a nd Plants and several newspapers and Sunday sup the Orient Alive, as well as American Horticulturist. plements. She also has experimented with April 9-30, 1980 Their last article for this magazine was the use of herb in land cape des ign. Itinerary " Daylilies," published in the Augustl 1st Day-Depart West Coast via Japan September, 1979 issue. "Chelsea," in this Airlines 747 . 2nd Day- Late afternoon arrival in issue, is the resul t o f their trip to the fa mous David E. Starry writes freq uentl y abo ut Tokyo. Transfer 10 the Tokyo Hilton fl ower show last year w hil e o n a tour of na tural history subj ects. [n coll ege he was a Hotel . England spo nsored by the American Ho r nature study and biology majo r a nd had 3rd Day-Sightseeing Tokyo . ticultural Society. the good fortune to work with Dr. Liberty 4th Day- By rail Tokyo to Kyoto. H yde Bailey. His post-coll ege work, w hil e Transfe r to the Miyako Hotel . 5th Day-Sightseeing Kyoto. unrela ted to gardening, all owed him to 6th Day-Transfer to Kobe to board the Gilbert S. Daniels is the current Pres ident travel all over the world. As a result, he has Aquamarine. Sa il at Noon. Afternoon of the American Horticultural Society. He visited gardens in Europe, Australia, South cruise the Inland Sea. holds a doctorate in botany from UCLA Africa a nd the Far East. 7th Day-At sea. 8th Day-At sea. and is the Principal Research Scientist 9th Day-Arrive HSlnkang (Pek ing). a t the Hunt Institute for Botanical 10th Day- Tiensi n. Jane Steffey is a gradua te of Hood Coll ege Docume ntatio n, Carnegie-Mell o n Uni 11th Day- Peking . with a major in botany. She is the current versity. He also trained at H arvard as a 12th Day-At sea. physical a nthropologist. He is a na ti o nall y ho rticultural a dvisor to the American 13th Day-At sea. respected bo ta ni st and pl ant ex pl orer. H orticultural Society, ha ndling member 14th Day- Arri ve Shanghai inquiries. A lo ng- time gardener herself, she 15th Day-Soochow and Wuxi has recently speciali ze d in indoor pl ants 16th Day-Sail from Shanghai. Anthony J. De Blasi is a freelance writer and for a number of years wrote the Indoor 17th Day-At sea. 18th Day-At sea. with a life-long interest in growing and Gardener column for the Washington Post. 19th Day-Canton. collecting pl ants. He has written for many 20th Day-Arrive Hong Kong . garden m agazi nes. As a self-ta ught Di sembark and transfer to the Mandarin· plants man, he has observed and studied Hotel . gardens in a reas as diverse as England and Dorothea W. Thomas is a graduate o f 21st Day-Sightseeing Hong Kong . Conco rd Academy and Smith Coll ege. She 22nd Day- Return flight to West Coast. Korea. Mr. De Blas i has, at one time or Arrive on the evening of the same day. another, grown just about everything, is an active gardener and maintains three using just about every growing method. ga rdens at her ho me, o ne o f which is de Due to the popularity of this tour reserva tions are invited immediately. Early reser While he considers geraniums special, voted to growing pl ants to be used in dried vations will ensure the best choice of ship some other favorite plants are camellias, a rrange ments. She is a member of the accommodations. Call or write Florence jasmines and peonies. Wes ton Garden Club a nd the Noanett Bayliss , Tour Coordinator. the American Horticultural SOCiety. Mount Ve rnon . Vi r Garden Club in Massachusetts. Her last ginia 22121 (703) 768-5700 for complete article, " How to Dry Flowers," appeared details. Pam Harper received her horticul tural in the October/November, 1979 iss ue. training in England. While in England she owned a specialist nursery and wrote The Story of a Garden, published in 1974. She Helen Van Pelt Wilson has written some 20 also has written articles for Flower and authoritative gardening books. She is a Garden, Horticulture, Organic Garden fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society ing, Plants and Gardens, Pacific Hor and a recipient of a medal from the African ticulture and American Horticulturist. She Violet Society of America. House Beautiful is the owner of the Harper Horticultural has ca ll ed her" America's foremost editor In"+,,.I1I+" Slide Library, w hich contains over 17,000 of gardening books." H er most recent nSchultz SOLUBLE FERTILIZER slides covering a wide variety of horticul books include Houseplants Are for Pleas 20-30-20 Concentrated. High Analysis - All tural subjects. ure and Color for Your Winter Yard and Purpose - 20-30-20 crystals. Grows Vegetables, Flowers, Roses, Trees, Garden. She is listed in Who 's Who of Shrubs, Lawns, Etc .• in Yards, American Women a nd Foremost Women Gardens, Greenhouses. AvaflBole SI your s/or(l or SBnd $7.95 lor Betty Ann Laws' interest in herbs began as in Communications. 0 510 (Includes m8i1fng). American Horticulturist 11 ~s~ ______ A PRACTICAL AMPELOGRAPHY. and the accent is on proper identification used as drugs. Aside from the sociological Pierre Galet. Cornell University Press, of the attacking insect. Details of the life problems which may arise from their use, it Ithaca, New York. 1979.248 pages, history of each insect aid in effective appli is a rather different study of one way in hardcover, $28.50. cation of control. Recommendations for which plants are used by man. actual control ~re given in only general Pierre Galel A Practical ._" terms, but the educated reader should be Ampelography ~-:,;:~; G",pevlneldentificalion able to extend those sl!lggestions to the Save time and choice of an approved insecticide or other money-buy books by control method without difficulty. Westcott's Plant Disease Handbook cov mail! Order books ers all the other organisms that attack available at a discount plants except insects. They include, among others, viruses, bacteria and fungi. In ad through the Society. dition to a rather detailed discussion of each pathogenic organism and recom ORCHID GENERA ILLUSTRATED. mended means of control, the second half Tom and Marion Sheehan. Van Nostrand of the book is devoted to lists of such or Reinhold Company, New York, New ganisms arranged by host plants. As a York. 1979. 207 pages; hardbound, This rather specialized book is cONcerned further aid to proper identification, the with the identification and description of $29.95. Available to members of the states wherein the plant diseases are Society at a 20 percent discount plus wine and table grapevines of the United known to occur are given for each or States and France. In addition to the many $1.25 for postage and handling ($25.20 gafllsm. total). cultivated varieties of Vitis vinifera, de Neither of these books is recommended Orchids are generally considered to be scriptions also include the many native for the beginning gardener, but for the among the most exotic and desirable plants American species which were introduced serious advanced gardener, they are basic grown. With more than 30,000 species into France during the last century and reference works that should be seriously distributed among nearly 800 genera, plus which were hybridized with th€: European considered for addition to the home li many thousands of hybrids, identification cultivars. Fascinating reading for the in brary. tellectually curious, but useful only to the and understanding the classification of or commercial grower. chids can oftentimes be difficult. The NARCOTIC PLANTS (2nd Edition). Sheehans have attempted a first cut at un William Emboden. MacMillan Publishing derstanding the orchids by providing us WESTCOTT'S PLANT DISEASE Company, New York, N ew York, 1979. with analytical colored illustrations of 61 HANDBOOK (4th Edition). Revised by 209 pages; hardbound, $15.95. Available genera of orchids, together with a descrip R. Kenneth Horst. Van Nostrand to members of the Society at a 10 percent tion of the features of the plant and flower Reinhold, New York, New York. 1979. discount plus $1.25 for postage and that define each genus. Geographical dis 832 pages; hardbound, $32.50. Available handling ($15.60 total). tribution maps and cultural information to members of the Society at a 20 percent Written by an ethnobotanist, this survey of round out the coverage of each genus. For discount plus $1.25 for postage and the drug plants used by man over the cen the beginning orchid grower, this work handling ($27.25 total) . turies is intended to provide perspective opens a wide vista, and for the more ad INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN and knowledge for a subject which is often vanced grower the comparativ€: drawings AND ORCHARD (7th Edition). Ralph approached with emotion and ignorance. and descriptions should provide a means of H. Davidson and William F. Lyon. John As Dr. Emboden points out, the history of understanding the classification of orchids. Wiley and Sons, New York, New York . civilization has been a history of drug cul A worthwhile additiotl to the literature and 1979.596 pages; hardbound, $22.95. ture and our own society today is no ex a definite "must" for the library of any With rapid changes taking place in the de ception. One doesn't have to look to the serious orchid grower. velopment of chemical controls, legislation excesses of hard drugs to define a drug controlling the application of such chemi culture, for our way of life, based on coffee, STOCKING STUFFERS cals and an increasing interest in non tea, tobacco and alcohol, fully meets his chemical control of plant diseases and in definition of a society dependent on be THE TREES OF CHRISTMAS. Edna sect pests, new guidelines are constantly havioral modifying substances. The num Metcalfe. Abingdon, Nashville, needed by the farmer, nurseryman and bers of such substances used by man over Tennessee. 1979. 189 pages; paperback, serious home gardener. These two books the centuries are amazing. This scientific $6.95. provide the means of identifying the at and historical survey of drug plants offers a Designs and illustrations for 23 traditional tacking organism and suggest the applica perspective which is certainly needed and contemporary Christmas trees from ble means of control. Insect Pests is in which may, in fact, go a long way in help around the world, together with plans for tended primarily as a college text but will ing us to understand the problems of drug individual Christmas tree ornaments. serve equally well as a general reference excesses. From the botanical point of view Good ideas with a different approach. work for the advanced gardener. It is ar it is fascinating to see how many plant Color illustrations of each tree and line ranged roughly by the type of plant host, products man has discovered which can be drawings of individual ornaments. 12 December 1979/january 1980 EDIB LE NUTS OF T H E WO RLD. THE AUDUBON SOCIETY FIEL D THE H O ME GARDENER'S BOOK O F Edwin A. Menninger. Horticultural GUID E TO NO RTH A M ER ICAN FE R NS. Jo hn Mickel. Holt, Rinehart and Books, Inc., Stuart, Florida. 19 77. 175 W ILDFLOWERS. Eastem Region by Winston, New York, New York. 1979. pages; hardco ver, $14.95. (AHS William Hiering. Wes tern Region by 256 pages; paperback $7.95; hardco ver disco unt, $11 .95 total). Charles R. Ches tcnman. Alfr ed A. Knopf, $12.95. N ew York, N ew York . 1979. 864 pages How yo u ca n grow ferns indoors and o ut each; softb ound, $9 .95 each. and w here they occur in nature. Individual Two ha ndy wildflower guides arranged for species are described onl y in pass ing. easy identi fica ti on by fl ower color and shape. Colored photographs of all species EMIGRANT EUCALYPTS . Robert Fy fe described . H and y four-i nch-by-71/2-inch Zacharin. Melbourne University Press, fo rmat for field use but a li ttl e too thick for Melbourne, Australia. 1978. 137 pages, most pockets. Eastern region covers area hardcover $20.00. from th e foothills of th e Rocky Mountains A fascinating history of the distribution to the Eas t Coast. Western region incl udes a nd use th ro ugho ut the w orld of this the en ti re Rocky Mountain ra nge a nd the la rgely Australian ge nus of trees. West Coas t. T H E HISTOR Y OF GAR D ENS. GA RDENER'S MAGIC AND OTH ER Christopher Thacker. University of From almonds to za mi as, a description of OLD W IVES' LORE. Bridget Boland; California Press, Berkeley, California. all the nuts of the world ea ten or otherw ise OLD WI VES LO RE FO R 1979. 288 pages; hardbound, $35.00. us ed by man. GARDEN ER S. Maureen and Bridget (A HS discount, $29.25). Boland. Farrar, Strauss & Giroux . N ew THE G RAFTER'S H ANDBOOK. R . J. York, New York. 1977. 64 pages each; Garner. Oxford University Press, New hardcover, $5.95 each. (A HS discount, York, N ew York. 1979. 319 pages; $3.00 each total). hardbound, $16.95. (AH S disco unt, Two cha rming little books illustra ted with $16.50). old wood cuts. Their bindings, paper a nd A thorough and well-written explanatio n type w ill delight the book co ll ector. of a te chnique that is a mys tery to many ga rdeners. Illus tra ted w ith cl ear line MANUAL OF D WA RF C ONIFE RS. drawings as well as photographs, this is a Humphrey J. Welch . Theophrastus Pub recommended reference book for the seri lishers, New York, New York. 1979. 493 ous gardener. pages, hardcover, $25.00. Dwarf conifers a re not onl y the subj ect of a THE COMPLETE G UIDE TO specialized pl ant ho bby but a re also a mong FLOWER AND FO LIA GE the most useful of pl ants for landscaping THE QUEST FO R PA RA DISE. Ronald ARRANGE MENT. Iris Webb, editor. the average home. This work is a com King. Mayfl ower Books. New York, N ew Doubleday and Company, Inc., Garden pletely new edition of the author's earlier York. 1979. 288 pages; hardbound, City, N ew York. 1979. 256 pages; boo k published in 1966. Although written $19.95 (until January 1, 1980) . by an Englishman, the subj ect coverage is hardbound, $19.95 (AHS discount, Two well produced a nd well illustrated $1 7.20). worldwide. A few short chapters give ex large format books tracing the history of cellent instructi on for cultiva·tion, care and Another lavishl y produced, large format gardens primaril y in Europe. Both works use . The grea test part of the book, how book. Broad coverage fr om basic princi treat briefl y the garden's origins in the ever, is devoted to descriptions and his ples of fl oral a rra nge me nt to recom Near and Far Eas t, and Ronald King even tories of the individual cultivars, many of mended plants for the arranger's garden co mes to North America for one short which are included in the excellent illus and a guide on how to run a fl ower show. chapter. Both make good re ading for a trations. winter evening, but not much of either can ONWARD AN D UPWARD IN THE be applied to the average home garden. GARDEN. Katherine S. White. Farrah. NA TIVE HAR VESTS. Barrie Kavasch. Strauss & Giroux, N ew York, N ew Random House, New YGrk, N ew York. York. 1979. 362 pages; hardb ound, 1979. 204 pages; paperback $5.95; Orders for books available at a discount to $12. 95. hardcover $10.00. Available to members members of the Socie ty should be se nt to A collectio n of 14 essays on gardenimg at a 20 percent discount plus $1.25 in the attention of Dotty Sowerb y, American which originally appea red in the N ew postage and handling ($6.01 paperback H orticultural Society, M ount Vernon VA Yorker. Critical comments on all aspects of or $9.25 "hardcover total). 22121. Make checks payabl e to the Soci gardening, seed catalogues, garden books Story a nd recipes of plants used by the ety. Note: we cannot guarantee delivery of and much more. Delightful bedtime read American Indians. Also includes some books by Christmas. 0 ing by a literate and understanding author. animals. - Gilbert S. Daniels American Horticulturist 13 CHElSEA 14 December 1979IJanuary 1980 TEXT BY LORRAINE BURGESS PHOTOGRAPHY BY GUY BURGESS urely th e Spring Flower Show in finding a place to stand or a way to at Chelsea in London is th e move, particularly on a rainy day when greatest eve nt of its kind in th e everyone scurries into the tent for shelter. S world in term S" of scope, There are more than 100 exhibitors at showmanship , co lo r and excitement. For Chelsea, some with breathtaking di spl ays the 200,000 o r more persons who attend of delphiniums, foxgloves, Iceland each yea r it is a rewarding experience, poppies, begonias, and roses; others with and it is alm ost as val uable for th e garden se ttings of wildflowers, sh rubs millions of gardeners who never leave and trees, orchids, carniverous plants and their home grounds. a nnuals. Royal Horticutural Society The Royal Horticultural Society has experts stand ready at information sponsored this grand event for 58 years, booths to offer garden advice free of with interruptions onl y during World charge. The outdoor exhibits include a War I a nd World War II. Visitors come series of model gardens under the from all corners of the United Kingdom sponsorship of garden magazines, and many foreign countries . They expect commercial houses and landscape to see great things and they are seldo m architects. disappointed. It is a five-day event. The Near the embankment entrance there Queen and her court attend on Monday are displays of rock plants on a hillside, evening, Royal H ort members and wildflowers in a stoney place and great fellows enjoy a private showing on drifts of rhododendron in bold and Tuesday, and the grounds are open to th e dissonant colors. On the northern rim a public on Wednesday, Thursday and wide range of garden equipment and Friday. Attendance now exceeds ho rticultural sundries are shown, 215,000. everything from grass " mowing The exhibition covers six to seven acres machines" to ornamental fi sh ponds, of ground. Inside a huge tent that takes garden tools, furniture and greenhouses. two weeks to erect and covers 31/2 acres, The temptations are endless, the exhibits more susceptible to the weather demonstrators expert and are di splayed. The high quality of the accommodating. exhibits is so consistent that it is difficult On the west side of the big tent a host for the home gardener to di scern of scientific representatives are waiting to improve ments from year to year. Instead, discuss developments in fields such as regul ar visitors dwell on the differences. disease control, mushroom growing, The only hitch with such large crowds is woody ornamentals, organic gardening, American Horticulturist 15 16 December 19791January 1980 herbs, groundsmanship (turf culture), nitrogen fixation and worm composting. Chelsea is truly a great, green show, with almost too much to see. Britishers who have gone this route many times before spend at least one full day on the grounds. They carry a large bag to hold all the pamphlets that are offered, and to store a hearty lunch for midday consumption. The show opens at 8:30 a. m.; the knowing visitor purchases his ticket in advance or queues up at 8: 15 a. m. The crowds are smaller during the early hours and in the late aftern oon and evening. Admiss ion on Wednesday, the first public day, is £4. On Thursday the price goes down to £3 and on Friday to £2. Closings are at 8 p.m. except on Friday when the show is dismantled at 5 p.m. Most of the plant material is returned to the nurseries or transplanted into regi onal parks. I'm told there are handouts for the visitors who show up during the final hours. But the best things American visitors ca n bring home with them are armloads of ideas and hearts full of inspiration. from the work of an esteemed amateur, in economical and imaginative ways. For centuries British explorers have Mrs. Iris Monro of In verness. H er In time, from Chelsea, we are alerted been gathering plants from all parts of Pelargoniam introductions have won the to British gardening techniques seldom the world to enrich their English gardens. Banksian Medal. Her newest zo nal practi ced on our side of the Atlantic. For ' Chelsea has become the showcase of geranium, 'Virginia Wade', should be a example, a miniature row greenhouse, these horticultural treasures. New champion, too. known in England as a tunnel cloche, is developments are reported, new pl ants The works of British landscape widely used to protect ea rl y and tender are displayed, and new products are des igners, as demonstrated in the outdoor vegetables from spring rain and cold. introduced by the trade. In a short time model garden exhibits, are generally Soon we also should have access to new the word filters down to all of us. conservative while presenting new plant stakes designed to be practically For instance, we hear of the products and new co mforts that may invisibl e. They are now advertised as "a reintroduction of a very old rose by eventually add to our own daily joy not to be able to see." Meillafld to celebrate the firm's pleasures. Last year, one garden followed It is no wonder that Chelsea attracts centennial, together with the introduction a geometrical theme, using world-wide enthusiasm. It aims to be of a very new rose to honor the first mass-produced, hexagon paving slabs instructive as well as spectacular. It offers test-wbe baby, 'Louise'. We buy a packet and bubble fountains in a creative way. guidance on the treatment and of Iceland poppy seeds for our own Another concentrated on trellises and nourishment of soils and lawns, and on garden and are then able to speak to tent cotton as backdrops and shade the control of pests and diseases. Last Dennis O'Brien Baker, the man from devices. Two other designers did a year one garden products company, Martlesham who spent a lifetime beehive design inspired by a Mogul offering a new line of sturdy, bright developing poppy hybrids in an miniature painting. They circled the hives plastic containers, wisely showed the pots extraordinary range of brilliant color. We with plants and flowers loved by bees. planted, which of course gained may soon learn from our nurseryman of Other artists shaped gardens with immediate attention. Another display site the first offering of a new upright beech plants having low water requirements showed the use of grow-bags filled with a tree (Fagus sylvatica 'Dawyck Purple') and low growth haGits, or evergreen compost mix as vegetable containers. from the famed Hilliers Nurseries near gardens with dwarf conifers for The bags were split open and planted in Winchester. It was first offered in a year-round color on the small plot. situ with a hearty stand of patio limited edition of fifty at £50 each at Striking a whimsical note, a husband and tomatoes. the Chelsea '79 Show. In time it is hoped wife team offered ideas on how to use old A new product called blocking it will be available to everyone. furniture and such wrought iron relics as compost, which can be mixed with just Through Chelsea we also can benefit headboards and sewing machine bases (Continued on page 41 ) American Horticulturist 17 The Art of Dyeing Wool Some Modern Colonial Dames Rediscover an Old Skill BY DOROTHEA THOMAS Dorothea Thomas 18 December 1979/jal1uary 1980 The co lonial dames of New England found dyei ng wool using natural dyes which the blue of bluets (Hedyotis caeruLea) to the itwas no easy task to dye their wool using pioneers migh t have found in their New brilliant o range of the butterfly milkweed nature's produce, but along with a group England area, as well as o nes they im (Asclepias tuberosa) and the vibrant purple of energetic modern colonial women in ported for that purpose. After the wool o f the swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum). New England who attempted to emulate was dyed we planned to use it in stitching a We had our work cut out for us. the skill of our forebears in modern kitch three-by-five- foot crewel wall-h anging de ens, I decided to try. The impetu s was a sign of 20 na ti ve wildflowers found in the LEFT: The " modern" colo ni al dames' finished flower show in Weston, M assachusetts. I Massachusetts woods a nd fields. Our wall-hangi ng is now displayed a t the Garden-in-the-Woods in Framingham, am proud to report that our efforts pro group needed a wide range o f co lors Massachusetts. BELOW: Different pl ants duced excellent results. from the delica te pink o f the lady's-slipper produce different dye colors, as this chart Our group of 20 women decided to try (Cypripedium acaule) and the porcelain illustrates. American Horticulturist 19 Colonial women probably used staples from their supply shelf such as salt, vinegar, cream of tartar or lye to serve as mordants in the dyeing process. We gathered for dyeing sessions in members' kitchens where we stirred our brews and experimented with nine dif ferent dyes. After many sessions and countless pots of coffee, we finally ob tained all the colors we needed. Our stitchers stitched all summer, sometimes together at a member's house while our children played; other times in spare moments of a busy day. By fall everything was properly assembled for the show. Each member of our group had some part in the project. How delighted we all were to receive the Educational Award in our division! Upon requestwe displayed our exhibit at the Annual Meeting of the National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc. in Pittsburgh and at the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, Inc. meeting in Framingham. Since we received other requests for this display, we decided to present our wall hanging with our various charts to the New England Wildflower 50- ciety.1t is now on permanent display at the Garden-in-the-Woods in Framingham. In detail, this is how we proceeded: after much research, planning and experiment ing, we discovered that there were really only two important steps in the process- mordanting and dyeing. The word mordant is derived from the Latin mordere, meaning to bite, and it refers to any chemical substance that, when com bined with a dye, serves to produce a fixed color in a textile fiber. Mordanting also helps to enrich the color. Colonial women probably used staples from their supply shelf such as salt, vinegar, cream of tartar or lye to serve as mordants. But metallic salts of alum, chrome, iron and tin also work. Early pioneers also knew that the Dorothea Thomas vessel itself could be used as a The wall-hanging depicts 20 native mordant-an old iron pot or even rusty wildflowers found in Massachusetts nails were frequently used. We ex- woods and fields. 20 December 19791January 1980 perimented with the metallic salts and dis days these trees were cut in logs several feet patches of rough white linen. We held covered that different mordants produced long, and the outer parts were chipped weekly sewing sessions in the summer. different colors using the same pl ant. away leav ing the va lu able red co re. Non-sewers worked on labeling and un Just as the early colonial dames did, we By experimenting with different matting any dyed wool. Our center went to our backyards to look for potential strengths of dyes and mordants, and by piece was a combination of all the indi plant dye material. The pionee rs were varying temperatures and timing, we pro vidual flower patches arranged in an artis quick to recognize pl ants which resembled duced a beautiful spectrum of varying ti c design . We were elated and proud of our those from their native land such as sumac colors-an ideal selection of wool colors to final piece, having en joyed the work and (Rhus typhina), which is similar to the match the co rrect hue of the 20 selected fun as we relived the experiences of colo " European Dyer's Sumac" (Rhus wildflowers in our hand-stitched hanging. nial settl ers 200 years before us. coriaria) . We tried our local sumac berries One of our more tal ented members was If I have whetted your appetite, try plant and they gave us beige and brown hues. as ked to design our wall-hanging using th e materials from your own backyard and Skins of onion (Allium cepa) gave us a 20 varieties of wildflowers we had selected. experiment with different mordants. You, variety of yellows, browns and even She submitted six designs and one was ap too, ca n become a modern colonial dame oranges. Rhododendron (Rhododendron proved by the group. Individual flowers (or ge ntleman) and enjoy using yo ur envi maximum) leaves were another source were drawn in colored ink on 20 separate ronment to enrich your life with color. f} which gave us yellow to brown colors. As we scheduled our dyeing program for the fall, our supply of available plant material Step-by-Step Guide to Dyeing Wool was somewhat limited since the time for flower blossoms and fresh green shoots If you would like to try dyeing wool in your own kitchen, follow this simple had passed. But some other native colonial procedure: dyes which could be used should you Preparing the wool. Start off wi th 100 percent wool, white in color, and decide to experiment with this project divide it into one-oun ce skeins. Tie each skein loosely with cotton string in yourself are: alder, bayberry, black oak, about four di Herent places. This prevents the skeins from tangling in the dye bracken, goldenrod, hemlock, va rious bath. If they are too tight, uneven dyeing may res ult. Wash all the wool in lichens, pokeweed or tansy. soap suds, carefully rinsing it, and hang it up to dry. Our group also tried some imported dyes, a practice not uncommon among The mordanting process. An easy way to mordant four ounces of washed early American settlers. We needed to ob wool is as follows: heat about one gallon of water in a stainless steel kettle to tain a variery of reds, purples and blues and a warm temperature, but one not so warm that the water cannot still be touched with your hand. Dissolve one ounce of alum and one-quarter ounce hoped this would be the solution. First we of cream of tartar in the water. Wet the wool thoroughly in warm water and tried indigo, which comes from lndigofera tinctoria, a tropical shrub of the Orient, immerse it in the water bath, spreading and stirring it with a glass rod. Then which also was grown as a crop on colonial simmer (do not boil) for one hour, turning the wool occasionally. Cool, plantations in the South. We obtained gently squeeze out the excess water and hang the wool loosely to dry, or some lovely blues. Because several of these keep it damp for immediate use. The wool is now ready for dyeing. substances used in the process were Dyeing. Onion skins are easy to obtain and make an excellent dye material dangerous, such as a caustic-soda solution, for the beginner. Place about two handfuls of the outer skins of common we fled to the local junior high school to yellow onions in a gallon of water and heat. Simmer them for one hour, then work in their chemistry lab. The teacher strain off the skins. When the dye bath has cooled, put about one ounce of became so interested in our project that she wetted, mordanted wool divided into four skeins in the liquid. Slowly bring asked one of our members to lecture to a the bath to a gentle simmer for 15 minutes. Stir the wool from time to time chemistry class on the dyeing process! with a glass rod. Remove one skein and let it drip over the bath for a Madder, a dye produced from the moment. Rinse in cooler water, squeeze gently and hang the wool up to dry ground roots of Rubia tinctorum, which is in the shade. Continue this procedure, removing a skein every 15 minutes, an herb native to Southern Europe and amd compare the difference in color. The longer the wool is left in the dye, Asia, gave us a variety of rose hues. We the darker the color becomes. It is helpful to keep a record book and use obtained more brilliant reds and purple tie-on labels for each skein indicating what mordant and dye material was from cochineal, a famous red dye which used and the time period the wool remained in the bath. comes from an insect (Dactylopius coccus) An excellent and informative book, which explains the dyeing process in tha t produces carminic acid. Years ago the detail, is Natural Dyes and Home Dyeing by Rita J. Adrosko, published by Indians of Mexico first discovered its Dover Publications, Inc. of New York. It is available through bookstores for beneficial properties when they dried the $2.00. female insect and ground it to a powder. Should you wish to try imported dyes, two mail-order sources for these The last imported dye we used was from materials are Nature's Herb Company, 281 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA the logwood tree (Haematoxylum cam 94012 and Batik and Weaving Suppliers, 102 Massachusetts Avenue, Ar pechianum), which comes from Central lington, MA 02174. America and the West Indies. In colonial American Horticulturist 21 AlOwnhouse Garden TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAMELA H ARPER ere yards away from the hustle-bustle of a city street li es a microcosm of calm and M charm. Difficult sites can often lead to more creative gardens. Such is the case with the townhouse garden created by Mrs. Edward L. Alexander in Newport News, Virginia. Curving roadways, old- fashioned lamplights and neatly maintained grounds enhance the attractice old-brick town houses of the apartment complex where she lives. Park your car outside the end house in the block and you face a brick wall striped with English ivy. Algerian ivy (Hedera canariensis) spills over the edge of the raised bed at the foot of the wall , and amidst the ivy stands a handsome terracotta POt holding a flat-topped Tanyosho pine, Pinus densi(/ora 'Um braculifera'. This miniature tree, with its dense umbrell a-like head of branches, grows extremely slowly, a connoisseur's plant well suited to o utdoor pot culture. Behind the house is a courtyard garden minute in size but exquisite in design and detail. Sitting in this 15' x 20' patio, it is OPPOSITE: A cherry potted geranium rests on hard to believe that a busy street lies just a pedestal of stacked bricks. Above it, a outside the fence and a shopping mall Japanese lotus plaque hangs in an ivy frame within walking distance. which rook three years to train. ABOVE: Initial assets were the six-foot cedar Trained ivy and an espaliered sasanqua camellia make attractive backdrops for the fence and attractive brick paving. Weeds statuary. LEFT: A stone pixie grins a welcome were the only vegetation. Now not a weed by the house. Hedera helix 'Glacier' runs up can be found, and the fence gives the effect the wall behind him. of Regency striped wallpaper in a drawing room. Ivy was planted at the base of the fence, then disciplined into slender vertical strands at nine-inch intervals. Picture-like on the fence, encircled by an ivy frame which took three years to train, hangs a lotus plaque bought in Japan. Originally it was covered with gold leaf and was pur chased for interior use. Before hanging it in the garden Mrs. Alexander refinished it in verde green, a term used to cover the appli cati on of a wash of different pigments to obtain a natural weathered or verdigris ef fect. There is a Japanese influence in the plantings-few flowers, but variations of pattern and texture in the basically green American Horticulturist 27 theme which forms the setting for pieces Preparation was thorough. The original seen healthier boxwoods. A watering and of statuary. Splashes of color come from soil- a heavy clay, baked hard when dry, misting system was then installed, incon tubbed geraniums. waterlogged when wet- was dug out to a spicuously housed in a fenced corner ad The first step in the creation of the gar depth of three feet. An auger was then used joining the house, which also conceals the den was the building of raised beds, two to pierce drainage holes through the blue air conditioning unit. The 12 two-foot bricks high and two feet wide, along both marl to a further three-foot depth. The 12 boxwood globes have never been sheared sides of the courtyard, to house boxwoods, holes, one for each boxwood, were half (which would damage and brown the Buxus sempervirens 'Suffruticosa'. "The filled with small · rocks, then topped up leaves and make surface growth too secrets of success with boxwood," says with sand. The beds were then filled in with dense), but they are thinned each August Mrs. Alexander, "are good drainage, well a mix comprising one-third each of topsoil, by "plucking"-removing branches from prepared soil, watering and feeding." peat and rotted cow manure. I have never the perimeter and the center to let in light 28 December 1979ljanuary 1980 and air. They are fed with cottonseed meal so that blossom buds may form. A neat in February and May. A mulch of bark square of Pachysandra (firethorn) grows at nuggets is used for neatness, moisture re the base of the camellia. In 1976/7, a winter You would expect such tention, weed suppressal and to prevent of record-breaking cold, the camellia was mud splash. badly damaged, but it has been nursed a tiny garden to be taken Under a ship's lantern on the bottom back to health until the polished leaves and in at a glance, but after an fence a sasanqua camellia has been pa pink October flowers are once again re hour I was still delighting tiently trained into an espaliered tracery of flected in a looking glass on the back wall branches. Side growth is pinched out as of the living room, through which Mrs. in the discovery of fresh needed throughout the growing season, Alexander-like the Lady of Shalott-can detail. two leaves always being left on each shoot view her world in mirror image, a view left unimped ed by the sliding glass doors which front the living room. Ivy plays a key role in this courtyard. A also, has been given the verde green treat small-leaved, self-branching form of Hed ment. Though heavy in weight, it has such era helix (probably the one now named an airy look that a loveseat, three chairs, a 'Cascade') edges the boxwood beds and tea cart and a set of stacked tables are in no overhangs the retaining walls. Silver a nd way distracting or overbearing arranged green 'Glacier', green a nd cream 'Chicago beneath the canvas canopy which shades Variegated', a nd the speckled 'Gold Dust' two thirds of the courtyard. swathe the plinths of an armillary sundial Many gardens, most perhaps, are and other o rnaments. 'Telecurl ' is trained planned for spring and summer color and up to form a bouquet in the arms of a stone a re largely ignored through the winter figurine. Fence posts are capped with ivy months. This one, depending for effect on finials. line, detail and evergreen plants, is no less You would expect such a tiny garden to attractive in January than it is in May. be taken in at a glance, but after an hour I December snow turns the garden into a was still delighting in the discovery of fresh fairyland, settling in fluffy cotton handfuls detail. An ornamental frog stands on a on the topiary, ivy strands and statuary, support of unique design. A glazed clay and outlining the paving bricks with a drain pipe sta nding o n end forms the base. white tracery seemingly squeezed from an Into the bowl-shaped top was fitted a icing bag. wrought-iron flower arrangement tripod Alongside the garden lies a communal turned upside down, and on top sits an old courtyard, giving passage from the service metal plate. Contemporary art need not be entrance at the rear to the parking lot at the expensive when imagination abounds. front. This, also, is being beautified. In an Turn to face the house and a stone pixie angle of wall and fence stands a circular grins a welcome from his seat atop a stone bench on a crushed marble base, inviting toadstool in a corner niche. Variegated iv y you to rest awhile. Behind it an evergreen is trained on the wall behind. Euonymus fortunei is espal iered, green One problem hard to overcome in a and structurally interesting through sum small garden is the housing of gardening mer, scarlet with berries in fall when the paraphernalia in an unobtrusive way. birds permit, and when they don't, well, a Though the eye runs without pause along cardinal perched on a branch is more col the bottom of this courtyard it is, in fact, a orful than a berry! Mrs. Alexander has staggered line. A section of fence to the noticed that Euonymus grown this way, right is set forward to conceal a small gar with much of the wood exposed to light den shed behind it. Here, too, is the gate and air, does not suffer from that curse of opening onto a service entrance. the genus, scale. On the corner piers of the Garden furniture was chosen as wall, stone pineapples symbolize southern thoughtfully as were the plants. One red hospitality, solid against the sky by con wood chaise longue would have dwarfed trast with the delicate tracery of branches this diminutive garden. Instead, the draw from a honey locust (Gleditsia triacan ing room theme is maintained, with elegant thos) in front of the wall. A smiling cherub Salterini furniture of weatherproofed pours water from an urn over the ivy sur wrought iron, the backs, seats and table rounding his feet. The base of another tops formed of expanded metal mesh. This, ivy-draped statue conceals floodlighting. In a corner a Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii) is being not so much pruned as The gate to the service alley lies behind the sculpted into shape. section of fence on which hangs the] apanese lotus plaque. Into thi s corner is tucked the Personality and environmental experi tool shed. ences both playa part in shaping our lives, American Horticulturist 29 and thus in shaping our gardens. This one traveled in Japan, and the Oriental influ with the maintenance of several large for combines the practical with the creative. ence is seen in the restrained use of color mal gardens at Mrs. Alexander's previous The practical solution to a small living and the shaping and controlling of the home, but it is an outdoor relaxation room was to extend it into the garden. In plants. Other aspects of the garden owe which plays an important part in her active coastal Virginia the weather gets really their being only to the owner's imagination life. When diminishing energy signals the cold for only about two months each year. and creative talent. end of large scale gardening, there is com Even in January and February there are It all looks so effortlessly well-groomed. fort in the thought that a garden's beauty often days warm enough to sit outside in Not so, nor was this intended. During the and interest need not be limited by its mod comfort. Virginia tradition is apparent in growing season some 12 hours a week is est dimensions. "That is best which lieth the choice of boxwood as the major plant spent training and restraining the ivies and nearest; shape from that thy work of art," ing in the garden, but Mrs. Alexander has topiary, minimal time when compared wrote the poet Longfellow. He must have 30 December 19791January 1980 had gardens in mind, and in taking hi s receiving a gold award. Many of her fl ower H oll and. In 1965 she was awarded by the advice Mrs. Alexander has created a gar arrangements have been reproduced in Garden C lub of Virginia the coveted Mas den worthy of the poet's praise. gardening publications. In 1959 she gave a sie Medal, w hi ch was inscribed, "For dis lecture o n color for a symposium spon tinguished service to the community a nd sored by the Federated Garden C lub of inspirati o n in the pursuit and creation of Editor's Note: Mrs. Edward L. Alexan New York State, which was presented a t Beauty." Locally, Mrs. Alexander is Foun der is one of America's best known fl ower the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New der a nd H onorary President of the Penin arra ngers. A Nationally Accredited Flower York City. In 1960 she was one of 10 sul a Council of Garden Clubs, and, after Show Judge and Instructor, she has twice women chosen by the American H orticul many years o f active membership, she is a n represented Virginia a t the Intern ati o nal tural Society to demonstra te fl ower a r H onorary member of the Hampton Roads Flower Show in New York Ci ty, each time rangement at the Floriade in Rotterdam, Garden C lub. 6 OPPOSITE: An ivy border provides interesting detail beneath one of the canopy supports outside the living room. ABOVE: Hedera helix trained into vertical strands on the fence. LEFT: A glazed clay drainpipe forms the base of this pedestal support, one of several "found" items used by Mrs. Alexander to create her own co ntemporary sculpture. American Horticulturist 31 A Maintenance Guide For Perennial Herbs BY BETTY ANN LAWS A bed of herbs with their quiet foliage contracts is a visual delight-a potpourri offragrances and subtle savors. Given their soil requirements and good drainage, herbs thrive with little care. Insects and plant diseases are rarely a problem. Planning the Herb Bed A southern exposure with winter protec tion on the north is the ideal location for perennial herbs: a gentle slope is fine. Otherwise, herbs can be intermingled with flowers, given a corner in the vegetable garden or a "yarb" bed handy near the kitchen door for quick snippings-as early housewives did. Just make certain that all the plants will be accessible for weeding aNd harvesting. A plot more than three feet wide should have a path through the center. For a year's supply of seasonings, one plant each of sage, lovage and lemon balm, and three or four each of the smaller herb plants are usually sufficient for a famil y. can be clipped for immediate use. the gardener'S mind when the bed was Starting the Plants Harvesting a main crop for drying is best started, and it insures peak flavor. Perennial herbs are slow growers. If grown done when the pl an ts are in full bud-just Spring: Loosen soil around plants with a from seed, they should be started indoors before blossoming. Flavor is then at its spading fork, working it back and forth in early March. Or, plants can be pur peak. Choose a clear, dry morning-early, deep in the ground, being careful not to chased. as soon as the dew has dried. Later, the damage the root systems. Seeds of French tarragon are not nor flavor dissipates in the hea t of the sun. Scratch a layer of compost or rotted ma mally available so a plant must be pur It takes two years for perennial herbs to nure, a sprinkling of bone meal and lime chased. Tarragon seed listed in catalogs is reach full growth so the first year, harves t (or wood ashes) lightly into the soil. Some Russian tarragon, which has an inferior sparingly. By the second year, two-thirds herbs, such as tarragon, have a shallow flavor. of the plants can be harvested two or three root system which can be damaged by deep Purchasing a chives clump is prefera ble times during the summer. Where winters cultivation. since it takes a year to grow a usable plant are severe, try to make the las t main har If a commercial fertilizer is used, a from seed. vest by the end of August so the plants have 5-10-5 formula is best suited for herbs. Some mints can be grown from seed, but time for regrowth before going dormant if you are particular about the variety for the winter. Summer: A mulch of hay, grass clippings or cocoa hulls controls weeds, keeps the wanted, it is better to buy plants since Seasonal Routine soil moist and friable and the foliage clean. mints have a tendency to cross. Some maintenance is needed. In time, Trimming the plants as one gathers Follow the general rules of spading and perennials such as sage, thyme and win snippings for the kitchen promotes bushy, cultivating the ground to a fine tilth in ter savory become woody; others, like shapely growth. preparing the herb bed. If needed, lime can oregano and mint, may lose their vigor. be broadcast over the area and worked in Flavor and fragrance diminish, and the Fall: Work a generous layer of compost or as the soil is raked smooth. Plants are set plants need to be reestablished. rotted manure, a sprinkling of bone meal out after all danger of frost is past. Setting up a schedule is a helpful remind and lime (or wood ashes) into the soil Harvesting er of the maintenance procedures which around the plants. When the plants begin to bush out, sprigs keep the herbs looking like the picture in After the ground is frozen, mulch plants 32 December 19791January 1980 with a thick laye r of leaves, hay or straw to when new growth appears; stem cut Spring: Pull back mulch. keep the soil frozen around the roots. Al tings in spring o r summer. Propagation: Root divisions in spring. ternate thawing and freezing ca n damage Clip flower stalks to prevent spreading. Fall: Cut spears at ground level. root systems. LOVAGE Every two or three years, divide and re- Herb beds should be rotated, but if this is Set plants in rich, moist so il with added plant root clumps. not practical, then fe.rtilize the beds well humus; light shade is preferable. SALAD BURNET before resetting old or placi ng new plants. Spring: Pull back mulch. Spring: Pull back mulch. Stem cuttings should be rooted in wet sand Propagation: Root divisions In sp ring Propagation: Allow to self-seed or divide or vermiculite. Suggestions for harv es ting when new roots appear. roots in earl y spring. are made where I have found variations H arvesting: Keep older outside stems from customary procedure to be better. pruned to pro mote tender new growth. Herbs listed require sun and average gar Harves ting a main crop Fall: Cut back plant to stimulate new den soil except as noted. growth in spring. SAGE for drying is bes t done Culinary Suggestions Spring: Cut out woody growth. when the plants are in full While sage, oregano, thyme, rosemary, Fertilization: Add calcium with bone meal bud-just before mint and chives are well-known to most and lime. herb users, winter savory, lemon balm, Propagation: Di vi de root clumps or take blossoming. Flavor is then lovage, tarragon and salad burnet are less stem cuttings in ea rl y spring; make new at its peak. familiar. Yet they add a flavorful zest to plants by layering. food that other herbs cannot supply. Start new beds every four or fiv e years. In Winter savory gives a spicy piquancy to early spring, divide root clumps, reset in Lovage requires heavy fertilization of a pot of soup beans, or to stuffings, ground new location, use compost or rotted ma compost, humus or rotted manure. meats and gravies. Use the fresh leaves in nure in potting holes. Summer: mulch well to conserve moi ture. tossed sa lads; add them to the cooking OREGANO H a rvesti ng: Clip outer stems at ground water for bland vegetables, like summer Spring: Cut out dead stems. level. For leaf harves t, cut o ut flower sq uash or eggplant. Propagation: Divide root clumps or take stalks. Sprinkle lemon balm leaves over roast stem cuttings in spring or fall; layering. Fall: C ut plant at ground level. lamb, fish and pork or add them to sauces, Start new beds every two or three years. Divide plant every four years. soups and salads. Harvesting: Cut stems an inch above MINT T arragon has a mild anise flavor for sea growing center to promote bush y Set pl ants in ri ch, moist soil; wi ll take light soning seafoods, poultry, steaks, egg growth. shade. di shes, salads and the gourmet's THYME Spring: Pull back mulch. Before new favorite-tarragon vinegar. (Mince one Spring: Cut out woody growth. growth appears, jab spade into ground, cup of fresh leaves, put them in a glass jar, Propagation: Root divisions in earl y criss-crossing the bed, slicing roots to pour two cups of vinegar over them, cap spring; stem cuttings any time; la ye ring. promote thick growth. and let steep for about 10 days. Strain out Start new beds every three or four years. Propagatio n: Root divisions in spring or the leaves through cheese cloth and bottle.) ROSEMARY fall; stem cuttings (runners). Over the years, lovage will grow to a Spring: In areas where the winter temper Clip flower stalks and trim frequently for graceful ornamental six feet in height. The ature goes below zero, set out plants bushy growth. leaves, stems and seed have the taste of when soil has warmed. Harves ting: C ut ste ms to first pai r of celery and are used, fresh or dried, in stews, Propagation: Stem cuttings or layering in leaves. soups, stuffings, casseroles and salads. late summer. Fall : Cut plants at ground level. Young tender salad burnet leaves pro Fall: Where the winter temperature falls Start new bed every three years. vide the cool flavor of cucumbers for salads. Mince fresh leaves and stir into below zero, pot for house plants, or cut TARRAGON salad dressing, or into cream cheese for a back and keep potted plants dormant in Set plants in rich, well-drained soil. snack dip. Return the dressing or dip to the semi-dark area where temperature re Spring: Pull back mulch. refrigerator for several hours for the flavor mains above freezing. Propagation: Root divisions or stem cut to age. Fresh burnet leaves also make a WINTER SAVORY tings in spring when new growth ap mild-tasting vinegar. Spring: Cut out woody growth. pears. Propagation: Root divisions or stem cut- Harves ting: Cut stems three inches above Herb seed and plant nurseries: tings in spring; layering in fall. ground. Nichols Garden Nursery, 1190 North Start new bed every two or three years. Fall: After ground freezes, mulch with pine Pacific Highway, Albany, OR 97321 LEMON BALM branches, salt hay or straw. Taylor's Herb Gardens Inc., 1535 Lone Set plants in dry, light soil; will take partial Every three or four years, divide roots and Oak Road, Vista, CA 92083 shade. reset small clumps. Well-Sweep Herb Farm, 317 Mt. Bethel Spring: cut out dead stems. CHIVES Road, Port Murray, NJ 07865 (catalog Propagation: Root divisions in early spring Set plants in rich soil. 35¢) f} American Horticulturist 33 34 December 19791January 1980 Saintpaulia Species A New Interest TEXT BY HELEN VAN PELT WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARGARET H. STONE Today many Sail1tpaulia enthusiasts are caught up in the modern trend of "ancestor hunting," as the New York Times terms it. Coll ectors look to the past to the species, instead of to the future to the hybrids, just as people are beginning to look to their own roots. So it has been that a number of Saintpaulia ancestors have been added to the originals of 1891 and 1892, S. ionantha and S. confusa. At least 20 species, perhaps more (depending on which you include), are known though not all are readily available. Undoubtedly there will be more discovered as plant hunters and plant society publications stimulate the Saintpaulia enthusiast. Although their popularity is almost worldwide, most saintpaulias originally grew only in a portion of Tanzania, East Africa, an area not quite as large as the state of Missouri. Two species come from Kenya. Some of the species growing at high elevations where temperatures range from 45°F to 90°F thrive on very cold nights and very warm days. Most Saintpaulia species like full sun, at least four or five hours of it a day, even though it is true that the native habitat of many was in the light open shade of trees. Other favorable factors influenced their bloom there. In our window gardens, sun promotes bloom as light alone or shade rarely does; under fluorescent light African violets really take off. Collecting the species seems to me to be ABOVE: Saintpauiia veiutina makes an anractive rosene specimen. Its upper leaf surfaces have an intellectual concern. True, the blooms a velvety appearance, contrasting with reddish reverses and petioles. LEFT: Saintpaulia a[(~ delicately attractive like those of other rupicola is originally found in Kenya and has pale-lavender blooms. wildflowers such as the field daisy or the wild rose, but a window garden of species alone, except to the species lover, hardly has the appeal of a window garden of hy brids in rich bloom. However, growing the species does have a certain appeal and some, as indicated in the individual descriptions that follow, are fairly flo riferous. In general the species are of three kinds: the large rosette (or rosulate) type, such as S. ionanthaj the small to tiny plants such as S. shumensis; and the trailing or pen.dant American Horticulturist 35 plants such as S. grotei and S. pendula. Knowledge of the species enables one to derive more pleasure from the hybrids, as the species' indirect infuence can be seen in these new plants. Fascination with the species has led to perhaps too fine distinctions and the pro claiming of unlikely species and varietal names. Mr. B. L. Burtt of the Royal Botanic Garden at Edinburgh, the international authority on saintpaulias, takes a conser vative view. In a letter to Dr. Margaret K. Stone, Senior Curator of the Bailey Hor torium, he writes, "Of the so-called 'House of Amani' plant, I would certainly refer it to S. ionantha." Of "Sigi Falls," now in the saintpaulia news, he says, "I do not know that 'Sigi Falls' actually came from Sigi: I do not know if it is a wild form or has arisen in cultivation or is even the result of hybridization. [Burtt uses the double quotes simply to indicate a name, neither species nor variety.] If the plant has been in ABOVE: Saintpaulia diplotricha has quilted, cultivation for any length of time anything deep-green leaves which are is possible! The one specimen I have of sometimes spooned and have wild origin labeled Sigi Falls (as distinct crinkled edges. LEFT: from Sigi Caves, though whether the locali Saintpaulia difficilis has ties are distinct I don't know), has much pointed, chartreuse leaves which are distinctly veined and rounder leaves and I have simply passed it often crinkled. as S. ionantha." When asked for a definitive statement about a plant being either species or cul tivar, Burtt makes the point that "the terms are not mutually exclusive. Most species are variable in nature and it is possible to select two or three different forms, which in horticulture merit cultivar names, al though to the botanist they are simply part of the normal range of variation of the species. Equally, many cultivars have arisen in cultivation which, even if they do not actually match wild specimens, are so essentially similar that the botanist will pass them as the wild species although the bright or shining; l'upicola means growing twist clockwise and counterclockwise with horticulturist wishes to give them hor among rocks; pendula means hanging; age. Its dark-centered flowers are short ticultural recognition." orbicularis means spherical or disc-like; lived though fairly abundant. Like other Saintpaulia species are identified by the pusilla means very small; grotei honors high-altitude plants, this species seems to shape of their seed capsule and by having Mr. Grote, and goetzeana, Mr. Goetz; thrive in average-to-cool temperatures long or short, sparse or plentiful hairs, a ionantha, from the Greek, means purple with moderate light rather than sunshine. condition most clearly seen if the leaf is cut flowered; velutina means velvety; inter S. confusa. This species, one of the first through and the pieces are viewed from the media and inconspicua offer no problems to be classified and named, was discovered side. All this detective work is a matter for to the translator, nor do shumensis (from at altitudes of 1,000 to 3,000 feet on gneiss the taxonomist to figure out, however. The Shume), magungensis (from Magunga) (banded) rock in the region of Mt. Mlinga. problems he encounters are reflected in and tongwensis (from Mount Tongwe). The locale is 15 miles north of Mt. such species names as S. confusa and S. Tongwe, the home of S. tongwensis, in the Species and Their Culture difficilis. My resurrected Latin reveals that eastern Usambara Mountains. The habitat brevipilosa means short hairs; diplotricha S. bl'evipilosa. This small grower from of S. confusa is moister than that of S. means having two kinds of hairs; grand the Nguru Mountains has thin, velvety, tongwensis, and in cultivation S. confusa ifolia means large leaved; nitida means light-green and rounded leaves which may . has shown a need for more water with high 36 December 1979/january 1980 humidity a nd good drainage. It blooms ture. It forms many rosettes of dark, ovate for a nyone to develop a cascade or hanging fairly well, though not as frequently as leaves that rise from a creeping stem. It pl ant with S. grotei, or a climber if support some species, producing clusters of two to looks like a pincushion. The fl owers are is provided. Apparently this species grows five deep-violet flowers, an inch across, pale-lilac, nearly white, and usually come better in natural light than under fluores and held well above the foliage. The leaf is in clusters of three; there is but one record cents. Lyndon Lyon has used S. grotei ex medium- to light-green, with slightly ser of it blooming in this co untry. The plants tensiv ely in deve loping his trailers. rate margins. It is very smooth, slightly have very sha ll ow roots. Its habitat indi S. inconspicua. This species was first re quilted, flat and measures up to two inches. cates temperature requirements of 40°F to corded in December, 1932. It was found The petiole is thin, about two inches long. 90°F a nd fairly hi gh humidity. It is very only occasionally in the moist soil of a The first plants of this species recorded by likely a plant suited to growth in a ter forest in the Uluguru Mountains. It has the African Violet Society were almost ranum. white fl owers with a blue spot, quite small, miniature, flat and of light rosette growth. S. grandifolia. An excell ent species from and not typical of other African violets. It 'Tiny Blue Bells' is typical. H owever, S. the western Usambara Mountains, this would do ubtless be valuable in breeding confusa is more effective if grown as a large plant was found growing in a steep valley because of its unique blossom. S. incon multiple-crowned plant. It responds well on clay (which indicates the need for a spicua may be extinct. It is not in cultiva to 1,000 to 1,200 foot-candles of flu ores heavier soil th an th at preferred by most ti on in this country and the area in which it cent light. African violets). These plants form a large grew was bo mbed in World War II. S. difficilis. Collected along the com single crown of medium ovate leaves which S. intennedia. An interesting species dis mon border of Kenya and Tanza ni a, this a re thin textured, alm ost satiny, and of a covered growing on rock in the eastern species produces an upright, si ngl e crown. clear green color. The dark-violet fl owers Usambara Mountains, this plant was given Long, bent leaf-stalks will grow overlong appear in large clusters, making this a its name because its growth characteristics without sufficient light. These plants have showy, shapely species whi ch is quite are intermediate between rosette-forming been found in three places in the same gen floriferous. Living up to its name, S. gran saintpaulias and those that trail like S. eral area; on rocks by a stream, in the difolia makes a fine, large, si ngle-crown grotei. It often grows upright, as either a evergreen Parinari dry forest valley and on plant. A favorite from seed, it does not single- or multiple-crowned plant. The damp rocks in an evergreen rain forest. The resent a dry atmosphere. It blooms with leaves are almost round with finely serrated pointed, chartreuse leaves are distinctly four to five buds o n a petiole, the clear-blu e edges and a pleasing olive-green color. veined, often crinkled, especially when flowers of which are held well above the They have a tendency to spoon. The blue young, and they have a tendency to spoon. foliage. S. grandifolia is one of th e most flowers appear in clusters of five to seven, The flowers are of average size, medium- to effecti ve of the species. in moderate numbers with no special deep-blue, are profusely borne, and usually S. grotei. Growing at an altitude of some coaxing needed. grow five to seven on a peduncle. It is in 3,000 feet in the vici nity of Amani in Tan S. ionantha. One of the original two teresting to note that a single-flowered zania, this species thrives " in dense shade, species, this and S. confusa appear to be the species like this one can still be an ancestor nea r running water ... roots not sub ancestors of the thousands of present-day of some handsome double hybrids like merged but located where drainage is per hybrids. S. ionantha, a lovely plant, pro 'Blue Nocturne', 'Neptune' or Tinari's fect," according to Burtt. S. grotei vines duces numerous light to dark blue-violet 'White Heritage' of 1978. even to three feet and has proved invalu clusters of 3 to 10 flowers, each about 11/2 S. diplotricha. This handsome species able in hybridizing. Frank Tinari produced inches in diameter on plants 15 to 20 from the eastern Usambara Mountains has the lovely and popular 'S ky Trailer', and inches across. The slightly pointed leav.es quilted, deep-green leaves which are from this hybrid 'Royal Blue Trailer' . Lyn are dark-green, usually reddish beneath, sometimes spooned and have crinkled don Lyon has used it in developing his glossy, quilted, with slightly serrated mar edges and paler reverses. The flowers are delightful procumbent growers, such as the gins and heart-shaped bases. Leaves cup pale-lilac. It is very like S. confusa. The variegated 'Lucky Lou' and 'Trail Blazer'. slightly upward and measure 21/2 inches plant is small, growing in a flat, shapely The flowers of the species, in clusters of wide by 3% inches long. The plant grows rosette with a single crown. The bloom is two or three, are bright blue-violet near the large and upright with somewhat drooping periodic but fairly good. Diplotricha 6, 7, tips of the petals, shading darker toward lower leaves. The heat tolerance of today's and 0 may be of interest to some en the center. Apparently bloom is more fre Saintpaulia varieties is doubtless due to S. thusiasts, but actually the differences are quent in warm weather or when plants are ionantha inheritance, since the average slight. It is important not to overwater this grown at temperature of 78° to 80°F. Seed temperature of its native home is 80° F. It is one since S. diplotricha prefers a dryer at pods measure more than an inch across. interesting to compare this species plant mosphere than most species, understand The rounded, dentate, slightly spooned with a modern hybrid like 'Purple Gold'. able in view of its habitat. It is fast-growing leaf is medium-green, measuring one to S. magungensis. (S. amaniensis is no from seed and is an attractive green plant. 31f2 inches. Sometimes small pockets or longer given separate status but is consid Kay Dye of Crystal, Illinois reports that depressions appear between the veins. The ered a form of S. magungensis.) This "plants from seed and barely six months long brown leaf stems are the most obvious species was collected at Magunga in the old were loaded with buds." However, characteristic of the species. These produce foothills of the Usambara Mountains, but bloom is likely to be periodic. aerial roots at the nodes, those small it is apparently extinct in Africa because a S. goetzeana. Rare today, this species is a swellings you see on the stems. Long stems planting of sisal now covers the area. small, slow-growing plant-truly minia- growing three feet or more make if possible However, it does exist in this country, a American Horticulturist 37 scarce and valuable addition to a collec Saintpaulia tongwensis tion. A trailer, it thrives on high humidity may be grown and has creeping, branching stems that single-crowned and makes a good subject root where they come in contact with soil. for the moss totem or Beautiful leaves that cup downward cover strawberry jar. the sides of a pot. The flowers, in clusters of two to four, are medium violet-blue shad ing to a darker center, and the plant is a fairly good bloomer. The rounded leaves with crenate margins, cupped under a lit tle, are medium-green above and pale greenish-white below. The midribs are prominent. The petioles are 1 % inches to 2 % inches long. S. magungensis var. minima is a small trailer which can be made bushy by pinch ing out the center leaves. It needs high humidity, .plenty of water and good drain age. Its few flowers are tiny, blue-violet, and two to a petiole. Leaves also are tiny, is an attractive upright grower and is als. The tiny leaves are purple-backed and thin, round and slightly serrated. This is a single- or double-crowned. The thin, the fruit capsule is elongated at the base. vigorous grower and quickly fills a four light-green leaves are small, almost round Short-lived in cultivation, it is in danger of inch pot. It differs from S. magungensis in to heart-shaped. The tiny, pale-lilac (al extinction as it was bombed out in World that the unusually small, light-green leaves most white) flowers with dark centers are War II and is no longer to be found in the are serrated and pointed, not rounded, and in evidence most of the time and are held wild on large boulders among moss. There they do not cup under in the manner of S. well above the foliage. is confusion between S. pusilla and S. goet magungensis. Even so the short-lived flow S. orbicularis var. purpurea has darker zeana, both of which were discovered by ers are quite hidden, so the interest here is green, rather shiny leaves and dark-purple Mr. W. Goetz in the same habitat and both in the miniature plant form rather than in flowers. It is best grown multiple-crowned, of which possess bicolor flowers. Appar the flowers. Lyndon Lyon used var. and has perhaps a better growth habit than ently S. goetzeana is a stouter plant that minima in the development of his small S. orbicularis, but the two are certainly has thicker leaves and shorter, thicker trailing hybrids. much alike. fruit, but differences seem to be academic. S. magungensis var. occidentalis is also a S. pendula. Useful to hybridizers for its S. rupicola. One of the few species from shy bloomer, producing few of its trailing habit and medium size, this is a Kenya, this one can be grown as an attrac medium blue-violet, dark-eyed flowers, very hairy, multi-crowned species. These tive rosette or multiple-crowned plant. The but it is a pretty, bushy, robust trailer with plants have almost round, gray-green fairly large blooms and pale-lavender, round shiny leaves that are less hairy than leaves that are heavy textured and slightly three to four to a peduncle, a nd the leaves the other varieties. serrated or notched. Stems are noticeably are light-green and shiny. This species is S. nitida. This round-leaved species was thick. S. pendula has proved to be tem not hard to grow as long as temperatures found near Twiani and, like many other peramental; it is necessary to take particu are not too high. saintpaulias, it was growing on rocks in lar care in watering. Too much or too little S. shumensis. This delightful miniature shade by a forest stream. It is at its best water results in immediate leaf drop. Fur species, which is well worth growing, pro with multiple crowns and makes a beauti thermore, if you care for bloom, this duces many crowns set with small, ne arly ful specimen with large, dark-purple blos species is a poor choice. The pale, round leaves on short petioles. It comes soms freely borne in clusters of eight to 10. lavender-blue flowers, solitary or in two's, from Shume, where it grows in dry forest The one-inch-wide leaves are shiny and are scarce despite regular, fairly heavy on cliff faces. Obviously in cultivation, spooned with a red reverse. S. nitida likes feeding, which is another requirement. care must be taken not to overwater. The 60° to 70°F temperatures-it droops in S. pendula var. kizara e, a miniature, is clustered flowers are quite small a nd are heat- and requires modest light and high like the species. It is perhaps more compact nearly white with a deep-violet spo t in the humidity. It is a favorite among growers of and though still a trailer, the variety has center. S. shumensis can be grow n as a species saintpaulias. The glossy leaves of thinner, darker leaves and two to four single-crown pl ant, but it is a shy bloomer. 'Coon Valley' suggest a relationship to this flowers per peduncle. High humidity and Hybrids of other species crossed with S. plant. careful watering are essential. shumensis turn out to be standard size S. orbicularis. Growing in shade in the S. pusilla. This species is a true minia rather than miniatures. This species has western Usambara Mountains at 4,000 ture, measuring only five inches across. It is been invaluable in hybridizing; Lyndon feet with daytime shade temperatures up to therefore useful to breeders interested in Lyon offers many descendants, notably 90°F and night temperatures of 45°F; this developing small types. It is also valued for 'Tiny Pink', a new hybrid that sported species thrives in cultivation under varied its bicolored flowers-light-blue and from the original 'Tiny Rose'. conditions of temperature and humidity. It white-which have nearly triangular pet- S. teitel1sis. Also from Kenya, this species 38 December 19791January 1980 grows in a forest near water as an upright, single-crowned plant. The glossy, dark gree n and somewhat pointed leaves mayor may not have reddish-purple reverses. How to Grow Species from Seed They occur on long, unbranched stalks, and mature ones tend to be spoon-shaped. When it comes to the cu lture of the Saintpaulia species, no one set of S. teitensis is said to be the northernmost growing instructions works for every type in every situation, but the same is species known. Flowers are medium also true of the hybrids. One grower often claims success by methods quite violet-blue with a darker center. No special different from those of another whose plants also win prizes. Few enthusiasts culture is required, just medium light and have been able to obtain many species seeds or plants, nor have they moisture. experimented with them over a long enough period, so what growing S. tongwensis. Discovered at an altitude techniques do seem to work haven't become universally known. In general, of 2,300 feet, B. L. Burtt found it "growing place of origin offers the best guide to culture. in humus on gneiss rock beneath a light Starting from seeds is starting from the beginning; with African violets one shade of undergrowth." This species seems enters a brand new area of Saintpaulia pleasure. Besides, the whole business to bloom more fully in 80° F temperatures is satisfyingly quick: germination in 12 to 14 days or less and bloom on some than in the usual temperature range of 65 ° species plants in five months. Although the sowing of seeds and handling of to 75° F. But under the latter conditi ons it seedlings is about the same as for other plants, continuing culture depends still blooms sati sfactorily and so is suited to considerably on the habitat of each species. Consequently, in the discussion the average wi ndow ga rden. Light-blue that follows, the need for sun or shade, temperature variations, humidity a nd flowers are 1% inches across, in clusters of moisture requirements are indicated according to the origin of each species. 10 to 12. This species may be grown But first things first, the handling of seeds: here is a schedule that has single-crowned. It does well in a semiverti produced good crops with fresh seed, sown as soon as pods were ripe. cal position and makes a good subject for Sowing the moss totem or strawberry jar. The leaf is rather transparent, heart-shaped and 1. Prepare a light, moisture-holding mixture of soil, sand and milled dentate and measures 2-by-3 1f4 inches, sphagnum moss or half-and-half perlite and sphagnum. If you include soil , it with a broad, pale band along the center is wise to sterilize it by baking. running parallel to the midrib. This 2. Use a flowerpot or bulb pan and cover it with a sheet of glass or a characteristic is particularly noticeable polyethylene bag; or sow the seeds in a casserole dish that has a clear glass under artificial light. Petioles grow to 31f2 cover. inches. Seed pods are cylindrical and are 3. Sow on a moist soil surface. Press the seeds down very lightly. one-half inch to three-quarters of an inch 4. Put on a cover. long. The pale-blue tint of the fl owers a nd 5. Strive for a 75° to 85° F temperature until germination, then 70° to 72° the banded leaf make this species interest is advisable. ing to the breeder. 6. Water just enough to maintain a barely moist condition, perhaps only S. velutina. In this species the upper leaf once a week. surfaces have a velvety appearance, con 7. When the first green appears in 12 to 14 days, remove the cover and tasting with reddish reverses and petioles. start watering once a week, sparingly, with a weak fertilizer dissolved in Leaves are scalloped and heart-shaped, tepid water. with interesting veining. The pale-blue 8. In four to six weeks, before they are crowded, transplant seedlings to flowers with darker centers appear in 2%-inch pots, or to flats (space them two inches apart) filled with a planting abundance except in very hot weather. It is medium suitable for mature African violets. Try to take a tiny earth ball with characteristic for the lobes of the fl owers to each seedling. Ready-made packaged mixes suitable fo r use with African be white-tipped. This species prefers violets are available at many garden centers. Or yo u can make your own soil slightly dry and somewhat cool growing mix. Use three parts Canadian sphagnum peat moss, two parts vermiculite conditions. A northeast rather than a and one part perlite in the mixture. To every quart of soil, add two to four southern exposure is best. Too much fer level tablespoons of lime. tilizer is to be avoided. S. velutina makes an 9. Keep the seedlings in a bright area out of direct sunlight until two attractive rosette specimen. months after transplanting, or when new leaves indicate plants are well established. Then move them to filtered sunshine. Seedlings of all ages thrive Sources of Species Saintpaulias: Fischer under fluorescent light culture. Set them three to four inches away from the Greenhouses, Linwood, NJ 08221 (no light source. 10. Start monthly preventive spraying two weeks after transplanting. species list); Albert G. Krieger, 1063 Cran 1l. Expect the first flowers in five to 12 months under natural light; brook Drive, Jackson, MI 49201 (15 species at last count); Lyndon Lyon, under a fluorescent light you may get bloom earlier. Heredity, good culture and adequate humidity will influence each plant's successful growth. Dolgeville, NY 13329 (24 species); Tinari Greenhouses, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006. 4} American Horticulturist 39 GERANIUMS CONT'D FREE! PARK'S 1980 FLOWER AND (Continued from page 25) VEGETABLE BOOK Geranium Leaves-A Variety of Uses Write today for free illust rated book c ultural directions , pronouncing index, germination table. 3,000 varieties- old and • Slip a scented leaf in letters to friends new. Many rare kinds. Yours for the ask ing.-Send postcard today! • Dry scented leaves, mix with orrisroot,' GEO. w. PARK SEED CO., INC. tie in squares of filmy material with a 87 Cokesbury Rd., Greenwood, S .c. 29647 pretty ribbon, and you have a charming sachet to use or give away. • When making apple jell y pl ace a leaf of TREE PEONIES rose-scented geranium in the bottom of the La rgest assortment of named va rieties in the world glass to give the jell y a piquant fl avor. 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Whip until foamy, pour into individual dishes or leave in the bowl, whip and rechill 72 2 3 Middl e Ridge Rd. until fi rm. 0 Madi son , Ohio 44057 Illu str ation by Ma rye ll yn Lyno tt 40 December 19791January 1980 CHELSEA CONT'D "GARDEN TALK" FR E E CATALOG 48 Pa ges of Famous .Brand. Imported and Domestic . (Continued from page 17) bromeli ad with a deep-red heart and Hard ·To ·Fi nd Garden Too ls and Accessories. All ex · ce llent quality. Make you r gardenin g more fun with white-ye ll ow leaves. th iS unique cata log . Reglliarly 25¢ . Now Free. enough water to make it a ri ch, sticky Cottage garden displays suggest new WALT NICKE, BOX 667A HUDSON, N. Y. 12534 gumbo, also was introduced. This, in the annuals to be used for th eir vivid color. hands of an attractive young Included last year was a new calceolaria, demonstrator with a special blocking 'Sunshine'; a salpiglossis, 'Painted Lady'; WATER LILIES th e marigold, 'Gold Plate'; and 'Primrose GOLDFISH. SCAVENGERS tool, was transformed into many planting AQUATIC PLANTS. LIGHTS cubes having core indentations for seeds, Jewel' and 'Orange Whirlybird' PUMPS. FILTERS. FOUNTAINS nasturtiums. FIBERGLASS GARDEN POOLS. KOI the theory being that as the seedlings New colorful 48 page catalog on ly $1 .50 develop, the blocks can be transferred Delphiniums at the Blackmore & LlLYPONS WATER GARDENS Langdon site stood six to seven feet tall 15129 Amhort Road 15129 Amhort Roa d directl y into garden beds without Lilypons. Maryland 21717 Brookshire, Texas 77423 disturbing the tender roots. in great hi gh-rise bouquets. The (301)874-5133 (7 13)934-8525 Americans already addicted to fl ower company's tuberous begonias in soli d and arranging might find assurance in reports picotee colors served as a bri ll iant base. of the success of the National Association Other si tes showed exqui si te wi ldfl owers used in a ga rd en plan and 450 of Flower Arrangement Societi es of Great "JEFFERSON AND WINE" Britain. In 20 years the organization has carniverous plants in a tropical setting acquired 100,000 members in 1,250 local with all their fl y-devouring entrapments. Ideal Gift groups throughout England. Their For some, Chelsea offers too much at The Complete Account of his 61 display area is in a separate tent. While one time. But for others it is an years Of Growing the Vine, Making educa ti onal and social event, a place to the Wine, Buying, Tasting, Serving, membership is predominantly female, Cooking. more men of all ages are joining their see and be seen. These vis itors revel in the 200 p. 20 illus. $9.45 Linen Hardcover ranks as the art of design becomes more infectious excitement of the crowds and appreciated and the demand for teachers, in the personal contacts. V.W.G.A ., The Plains, Va. 22171 demonstrators and judges in this art form With Chelsea it's all a matter of Increases. orchestration and timing. Forsythias are But at Chelsea interest in flowers is cut and stored cold, to bloom on cue. always paramount. Growers of flowering Flowering bulbs are held in abeyance to bulbs have learned through the years how produce during that spectacular week. to bring six months of color and scent Mums are grown in pots for use in both together in one glorious week in May. A indoor and outdoor di splays. Last year HEMO-GROW single exhibit may show snowdrops, vis itors marveled at black pansies and hyacinths, irises, hippeastrums, lilies and circled round the new white begonia The best source of iron crocuses in bloom at one time. Tulips are 'Fairylight' with its pink edges. A great displayed by the bucketful in modern displ ay of Iceland poppies, developed by for award winning roses: hues, or in one beautiful antique a 75-year-old hybridizer, was an A product derived from Delft-blue vase in Rembrandt colors extraordinary del ight in white, yell ow, reminiscent of the era of tulipomania. orange and red. Old and new garden healthy human red blood One seed company proudly offered a books, offered for sale in a separate stall, cells. new dwarf dahlia las t year named attracted old and new gardeners. 'Dandy' as the first true breeding strain Greenhouses in great array were of collarette dahlias that can be grown displayed in sizes small to ample, in Guaranteed to make from seed just like other bedding plastic or in glass and with or without healthier, more colorful varieties. Rhododendrons were solar engineering. roses. everywhere at Chelsea, too, in all their When the day is fair, visi tors dress to awesome variations. the hilt, but they all carry raincoats to Foreign exhibits come mainly from ward off spring showers. Still, fashion Germany, Holland, Belgium, Colombia, stops at the ankle. Rubbers or boots are a Only $4.95. the West Indies and New Zealand. There necessity against the moist and puddled are orchids from Singapore, gladioli from earth that seems to go with so grand a Brazil and azaleas and begonias from showing of plant material. Send check or money order Belgium. The Belgians also were offering Editor's Note: Should you wish to visi t to: new houseplants first developed in other Chelsea yourself, the 1980 show wi ll be countries: Dieffenbachia 'Mari anne' with open to the public May 21-23. The HEMO-GROW cream leaves and a green edge from American Horitultural Society will be P.O. BOX 1106 Brazil; Dracaena 'Souvenir Robert scheduling an exploration of England and MEDIA, PA. 19063 Morobe' from H onolulu, able to be Wales at this time, whi ch will include a propagated from cuttings; and visit to this celebrated event. Write t'be Neoregelia 'Meurouw Van Durme', a Society for details. 0 American Horticulturist 41 INDEX TITLE/SUBJECT Gardens, The . .. of Sissinghurst Will Tell Us. Jane Price McKinnon. Rhododendrons of the Southern Castle. Thomas A. Fretz. Early Oct/Nov 38. Mountains. Martha Prince. Early African violets. Saintpaulia Species Spring 26. Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden. Spring 18. -A New Interest. DeclJan 34. Geraniums, In Praise of. Dec/Jan 2;1.. JunlJul24. Rites, The ... of Spring. Lorraine & Art, The ... of Dyeing Wool. Gerberas for the Window Garden. 'Kwanso', The Forgotten . .. JunlJul Guy Burgess. Early Spring 3. Dorothea Thomas. Dec/Jan 18. Gail Gibson. Aug/Sep 24. 16. Rock, A .. . Garden Plant List. Australian Wildflowers. Tovah Pamela Harper. Early Spring 10. Martin. Early Spring 14. Roses, Some Modem ·Fragrant. Autumn in the Northwest. Aug/Sep Jun/Jul 10. 27. Rue, The ... Family. Jane Steffey. Bonsai Basics. Frances H. Quint. Dec/Jan 8. Late Winter 3. Saintpaulia Species-A New Botanical Pronunciation. Everett A Subject/Author/Title Guide to Interest. Helen Van Pelt Wilson. Conklin. AugiSep 8. Dec/Jan 34. Bright Berries for Fall. Martha articles which have appeared in Saving Our Native Orchids. David Prince. Oct/Nov 34. S. Soucy. OctINov 20. British Gardens-American Plants. issues of American Horticulturist Small Fruits for American Gardens. J. Stanley. Late Winter 22. J. N. Moore. JunlJul 30. Butterworts, Orchid-flowered. during the past year. Soil. The Garden's Foundati0n. Late Aug/Sep 28. Winter 26. Chelsea, The ... Flower Show. Some Modern Fragrant Roses. Lorraine & Guy Burgess. DeclJan Robert L. Staton. JunlJul 10. 14. Step, A ... -by-Step Guide to Collecting Wild Seed. David R. Forcing Bulbs Indoors. Susan Longland. Early Spring 22. Plimpton. Aug/Sep 5. Country Gardens-An Endangered Sweet Potato Tips: A Nutritious Tradition. David E. Starry. Dec/Jan Grafting Techniques: A How-to Landscaping with Spring Bulbs. Garden Vegetable. Ruben L. 3. Guide. Robert F. Carlson. Early Susan Gilbert. Aug/Sep 34. Villareal & S. C. Tsou. Early Spring Cryptomeria Japonica. Gail Gibson. Spring 38. Lawn Grasses. Tips on Autumn 34. JunlJul6. Grandmother's Garden. Martha Lawn Care. Aug/Sep 10. Tips for Autumn Lawn Care. Dr. Daylilies. Lorrai ne & Guy Burgess. Prince. Aug/Sep 14. Ligularia. Mrs. Ralph Cannon. Robert Schery. Aug/Sep 10. Aug/Sep 18. Groundcovers, Woodland. Late June/JuI28. Tobacco. Nicotianas: The History, Delany'S, Mrs .. . . Curious Flora. Winter 30. Magic, The ... of Water Lilies. Cultivation and Uses of Tobacco. Elizabeth Pullar. Late Winter 10. Herbs. Herbs and Folklore. Late Judith Hillstrom. Early Spring, 30. Early Spring 8. Essence of the Garden. Jon Ortner. Winter 20; A History of Old Magnolia 'Caerhays Belle'. James Townhouse, A ... Garden. Pamela Late Winter 18. Herbals. Oct/Nov 28; A Gossler. JunlJul 38. Harper. Dec/Jan 26 . Flera's Fauna. Elizabeth Pullar. Maintenance Guide for Perennial Maintenance, A ... Guide for Trees. Cryptomeria Japonica. JunlJul3 . Herbs. DeclJan32; Urban Herbs. Perennial Herbs. Berry Ann Laws. JunlJul 6; Magnolia 'Caerhays Flower Bud Cold-hardiness. Late Winter 21. DeclJan32 . Belle'. JunlJul38; Trees for Small Norman Pellett & Bertie Boyce. Herbs and Folklore. Shelton E. Memorial, A ... to an Insect. Dr. S. Spaces. OctINov 14. OctINov 11. Stewart. Late Winter 20. A. Pieniazek. Late Winter 12. Trees for Small Spaces. T. Davis Foliar Finery. Mrs. Ralph Cannon. "HiIlside"-A Perennial Garden. Narcissus. Susan Gilbert. AugiSep Sydnor. Oct/Nov 14. Late Winter 14. Pamela Harper. JunlJul18. 38. Towers, Topiaries and Trellises. Dr. Forbidding Beauty: Orchid History, A ... of Old Herbals. Nicotianas: The History, Henry M. Cathey. Late Winter 34. flowered Butterworts. Richard M. Elizabeth Pullar. Oct/Nov 28. Cultivation and Uses of Tobacco. Urban Herbs. Linda Yang. Late Adams & Katsuhiko Kondo. How-to. Dry Flowers. Oct/Nov 4; Jeanne Hawkins. Early Spring 8. Winter 21. AugiSep 28. Dye Wool. DeclJan 10; Force Bulbs Notes from the Orient. Leonore Vegetables. Sweet Potato Tips: A Forgotten, The ... 'Kwanso'. Beryl Indoors. AugiSep 5; Graft. Early Baronio. Oct/Nov 22. Nutritious Garden Vegetable. Early & Vivian Munday. JunlJul16. Spring 38; Make Water Lily Tubs. Orchids, Savi ng Our Native. Spring 34. Fruits, Small ... for American Early Spring 31; Make Poinsettias Oct/Nov 20. Water Lilies, The Magic of. Early Gardens. JunlJul 30. Bloom Again. Oct/Nov 7; Organic Gardening-A Misnomer? Spring 30. Garden'S, The ... Foundation. R. Pronounce Botanical Names. Wesley P. Judkins & Floyd F. Wildflowers. Australian. Early Milton Carleton. Late Winter 26. AugiSep 8; Train Plants. Late Smith. Late Winter 8. Spring 14; Native Orchids. Oct/Nov Gardens. British Gardens-Americal'l Winter 34. Orient, Notes from the ... Oct/Nov 21. Plants. Late Winter 22; Country How to Dry Flowers. Dorothea W. 22. Woodland Groundcovers. Martha Gardens-An Endangered Thomas. Ocr/Nov 4. Person, A . .. /Plant ViewplOint. Prince. Late Winter 30. Tradition. Dec/Jan 3; The Gardens Indoor Gardening. Forcing Bulbs Charles A. Lewis. JunlJul4. of Sissinghurst Castle. Early Spring Indoors. Aug/Sep 5; Gerberas for Plant Explorers. Tom Stevenson. AUTHOR 26; Grandmother's Garden. the Window Garden. Aug/Sep 24; Late Winter 2. AugiSep 14; " Hillside"-A Poinsettias-Making Them Bloom Plantation Gardens. Lorraine & Adams, Richard M. Forbidding Perennial Garden. JunlJul18; Again. Oct/Nov 7; What Their Guy Burgess. Later Winter 4. Beauty: Orcbtid-flowered Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden. Roots Will Tell Us. Oct/Nov 38; Poinsettias; Making Them Bloom Butterworts. Aug/Sep 29. JunlJul 24; Plantation Gardens. Late Saintpauiia Species. Dec/Jan 34; Again. Judith Hillstrom. Oct/Nov 7. Baronio, Leonore. Notes from the Winter 4: A Townhouse Garden. Urban Herbs. Late Winter 21. Praise, In ... of Geraniums. Orient. Ocr/Nov 22. DeclJan26. Indoor Plants: What Their Roots Anthony J. De Blasi. DeclJan22 . Boyce, Bertie. Flower Bud 42 December 1979/January 1980 THE GARDENER'S Cold-hardiness. OctiNov 11. Ortner, Jo n. Essence of the Garden. Burgess, Lorraine and Guy. Late Winter 18. ULTIMATE GIfT Plantation Gardens. Late Winter 4; Pellett, Norman. Flower Bud Now you can enjoy the LISTER SOLID The Rites of Spring. Early Spring 3; Cold -hardiness. OctiNov 11. TEAKWOOD GARDEN SEATS featured Daylilies. Aug/Sep 18; Chelsea Pieniazek, Dr. S. A. A Memorial to in the arboretums & gardens of Flower Show. DeclJan14 . an Insect. Late Winter 12. England. Cannon, Mrs. Ralph. Foliar Finery. Plimpton, Susan W. A Step-by-Step Teak will endure the extremes of Late Winter 14; Ligularia. Jun/Jul Guide to Forcing Bulbs Indoors. snow, rain and sun, weathering in time to a silvery-grey. 28. Aug/Sep 5. Carleton, R. Milton. The Garden's Prince, Martha. Woodland The perfect heirloom gift for church, park or private garden. Foundation. Late Winter 26. Groundcovers. Late Winter 30; Rhododendrons of the Southern Carlson, Robert F. Grafting FEATURED: The Queen's Jubilee Bench Techniques: A How-to Guide. Early Mountains. Ea rl y Spring 18 ; 5' - $395 6' - $465 Spring 38. Grandmother's Garden. Aug/Sep Captain's Chair - $275. Specify Cathey, Dr. Henry M. Towers, 14; Bright Berries for Fall. OctINov curved (illustrated) or flat arm. Topiaries and Trellises. Late Winter 34. EASILY ASSEMBLED 34. Pullar, Elizabeth. Mrs. Delany'S Conklin, Everett. Botanical Curious Flora. Late Winter 10; To order call or write: Pronunciation. Aug/Sep 8. Fl o ra's Fauna. JU n/Jul 3; A His to ry Precipitation Inc. De Blasi, Anthony J. In Praise of of Old Herbals. OctINov 28. Germantown, MD 20767 Geraniums. DeclJan22. Quint, Frances H . Bonsai Basics. (301) 428-3434 Fretz, Thomas A. The Gardens of Late Winter 3. Metropolitan Washington, D.C . Sissinghurst Castl e. Early Spring 26. Schery, Dr. Robert. Tips for Area Gibson, Gail. Cryptomeria Autumn Lawn Ca re. Aug/Sep 10. VISA Mastercharge accepted Jap onica. Jun/Jul 6; Gerberas for the Smith, Floyd F. O rga ni c Window Garden. Aug/Sep 24. Ga rdeni ng-A Misnomer: Late Gilbert, Susan. Landscaping with Winter 8. Spring Bulbs. Aug/Sep 34; So ucy, Dav id S. Savin g Our Native Narcissus. Aug/Sep 38. Orchids. OctiNov 20. Gossler, James. Magnolia 'Caerhays Stanley, J. British Gardens Belle'. Jun/Jul 38. American Pl ants. Harper, Pamel a. A Rock Garden Late Winter 22. Pl ant List. Ea rl y Spring 10; Starry, David E. Country " Hill side"-A Perennial Garden. Gardens-An Endangered How Does Your JUn/Jul 18; A Townhouse Garden. Tradition. Dec/Jan 3. Dec/Jan 26. Staton, Robert L. Some Modern Garden Grow? Hawkins, Jeanne. Nicotianas: The Fragrant Roses. JUn/Jul 10. History, Cultivation and Uses of Steffey, Jane. Some Strange Tobacco. Early Spring 8. Relati ves: The Rue Famil y. DeclJan Hillstrom, Judith. The Magic of 8. American Horticulturist is not only filled Water Lilies. Early Spring 30; Stevenson, Tom. Pl ant Explorers. with beautiful pictures, but also with helpful Poinsettia~: Making Them Bloom Late Winter 2. gardening information which you will want Again. OctiNov 7. Stewart, Shelton E. Herbs and to refer back to time and time again. Judkins, Wesley P. Organic Folklore. Late Winter 20. Gardening-A Misnomer? Late Sydnor, T. Davis. Trees for Small Winter 8. Spaces. OctiNov 14. Now you can keep your issues of Ameri Kondo, Katsuhiko. Forbidding Thomas, Dorothea W. How to Dry ca n Horticulturis t a ll in one place for Beauty: Orchid-flowered Flowers. OctINov 4 ; The Art of quick, handy reference. These attractive Butterworts. Aug/Sep 28. Dyeing Wool. DeclJan 18. binders will hold 18 issues. That's three Laws, Betty Ann. A Maintenance Tsou, S.c. Swee t Potato Tips: A yea rs' worth of garde ning know-how. Guide for Perennial Herbs. DeclJan Nutritious Garden Vegetable. Early 32. Spring 34. Our magazine title is a ttractively em Lewis, Charles A. A Person Plant Villareal, Ruben L. Sweet Potato bossed in gold on a rich, leather-like Viewpoint. Jun/JuI4. Tips: A Nutritious Garden green spine. Easil y applied gold numbers Longland, David R. Collecting Wild Vegetable. Earl y Spring 34. are included to help you add dates and Seed. Early Spring 22. Wilson, Helen Van Pelt. Saintpaulia volume numbers. Martin, Tovah. Australian Species- A New Interest. Dec/Jan Wildflowers. Early Spring 14. 34. Three or more files for $4.50 each o r McKinnon, Jane Price. Indoor Yang, Linda. Urban Herbs. Late $5.00 for one binder postpaid. Send your Pl ants: What Their Roots Will Tell Winter 21. check to Binders, The American Hor Us. OctiNov 38. ticultural Society, Mount Vernon, Vir Moore, J. N. Small Fruits for Back issues may be purchased from ginia 22121 and w e will fill your o rder American Gardens. Jun/Jul 30. the Society for $2.50 each. Write to promptly. Munday, Beryl and Vivian. The Cindy Weakland, AHS, Mount Forgotten 'Kwanso'. Jun/Jul 16. Vernon, VA 22121. 6 American Horticulturist 43 ~S~_IP_~_C_E ____~~_ Welcomed. Open Monday through Saturday, DAHLIAS AFRICAN VIOLETS 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Telephone 617-658-9017. DAHLIA CATALOG-A descriptive listing of AMERICA'S FINEST-146 best violets and MAIL ORDER gesneriads. Beautiful color catalog, illustrated the finest Dahlias available along with the latest Growing Aids catalog, PLUS 8 page "Tips" on proven cultural hims. Include 30¢ postage with Lavender ... Potpourri ... Herbal SUIDplies/ Violet Growing, 50.c. FISCHER GREEN all requests. BEDFORD DAHLIAS; 65 Ley ton Gifts ... Wholesale/Retail Brochure ... 25¢. HOUSES, Oak Ave., Dept. AH, Linwood, NJ Rd.;·Bedford, Ohio 44146. Sachet and Potpourri Crafting Booklet ... 08221. $2.00. Tom Thumb Workshops. Box 3496 ENGLISH GARDEN TOOLS (AH01) Alexandria, VA 22302. AZALEAS & RHODODENDRONS HAKD-CRAFTED ENGLISH GARDEN PECANS RHODODENDRONS, AZALEAS, from TOOLS for the professional ar:ld skilled gar Super-Hardy to greenhouse varieties; dwarf del1ler. Send $1 for catalog to SMITH & HAW PECANS: Quart each of halves, pieces, meal. conifers, rock garden rarities. We ship. Catalog KEN, ltd., 68 Homer (H), Palo Alto, California Three-quart sampler $9.75 postpaid! Hermi $1.00 (refundable), THE BOVEES NURSERY, 94301. tage Farms, Box 143-HO, Hermitage, Tenn. 37076. Free brochure. Large selection. 1737 Southwest Coronado, Portland, OR EVERGREENS-DWARF CONIFERS 97219. POSITION WANTED Over 100 varieties of dwarf evergreens de BONSAI scribed by size, shape, color and texture. For Responsible, qualified couple seek grounds BONSAI CARE made easy. A simple guide tor rock gardens, porch and patio and dwarf conifer keeper, caretaker-gardener position. Location owners. $3 postpaid. BONSAI INFORMA gardens. Catalog $1.00 refundable. WASH open. Contact: John Philion, R.D. 2 Ludwig TION GUILD, INC., Box 6140-ST Shirlington INGTON EVERGREEN NURSERY, Box 125 Rd., Gilbertsville, PA 19525. Station, Arlington, VA 22206. B South Salem, NY 10590. ROSES-MINIA lVRES Grow indoors and outdoors. No yard or apart BOOKS Dwarf evergreens, rare trees & shrubs. Hard to ment is too small to enjoy the pleasure of grow TROPICA-beautiful Colorama of Exotic find species. Catalog 50¢. Dilatush Nursery, ing these little roses. Free color catalog of plants and trees including fruit, by Dr. A. B. 780 Rte. 130, RoblDinsville, NJ 08691 (609) selected varieties. NORTHEAST MINIATURE Graf: 7,000 color photos, 1,120 pages, price 585-5387. ROSES, 58 Hammond St., Box AH, Rowley, $115.00. EXOTICA 3, Pictorial Cyclopedia of MA 01969. Exotic plants, 12,000 photos, $78.00. EXOTIC FRAGRANT PLANTS PLANT MANUAL, 4,200 photos, $37.50. FRAGRANT PLANTS OUR SPECIALTY. RHODODENDRONS EXOTIC HOUSE PLANTS, 1,200 photos, Over 150 varieties listed plus Begonias, Exotics, More than 600 varieties-Azale as, Japanese $8.95. Shipping prepaid if check wif,h order. (NJ Ferns, Geraniums, Herbs, Oxalis, Succulents. Maples, Dwarf Conifers and Bonsai material. residents add 5%). Circulars gladly sent. 1979-81 catalog with color, $2.00. LOGEE'S Color catalog worth having as a reference ROEHRS COMPANY, Box 125, E. Ruther GREENHOUSES, Dept. AH, 55 North Street, book-$1. GREER GARDENS (HT), 1280 ford, NJ 07073. Danielson, CT 06239. Goodpasture Is. Rd., Eugene, OR 97401. CARNIVOROUS PLANTS GARDENING EQUIPMENT TREE PROBLEMS-BOTANICAL Pinguicula, Drosera, Dionaea, and others, Sun PA TENTED SENSI-LEAF automatic solid state OR LEGAL Dew Environments, the original nursery offer irrigation conttols. Misting propagation of cut For Directory of m~mbers of the American Soci ing exclusively greenhol1se propagated carni tings and pulsating trickle sub-surface watering. ery of Consul ting Arborists-the experts in tree vores, plus books and supplies, is now Car Write and we will tell you about the latest and care and appraisals for legal matters, write: nivorous Gardens, PO Box 331. Hamilton, NY finest. AQUAMONITOR-Box 327-Z ASCA, 12(C) Lakeview Avenue, Milltown, NJ 13346. Catalog 50¢. Huntington, New York 11743. 08850. CHRYSANTHEMUM HOUSE PLANTS UNIQUE CATALOGS Join the NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM FINEST SELECTION Miniature/Terrarium HARPER HORTICULTURAL SLIDE LI SOCIETY, INC. USA dues $7.50, includes 5 Plants, Gesneriads, Begonias, Rare Tropicals. BRAR Y. Choose from 15,000 slides of plants/ issues of The Chrysanthemum, Beginner's Keyed Cultural Guide Color Catalogue $1.00. gardens, sale or nmtal. Lecture sets $25, many Handbook. B.!. Markham, Sec., 2612 Beverly KARTUZ GREENHOUSES, INC., 92-A topics. 1979 catalogue $1. 219 Robanna Shores, Blvd., Roanoke, VA 24015. Chestnut St., Wilimington, MA 01887. Vis;tors Seaford, VA 23696. Wouldn't you really rather have an EIiC? ENVIRONMENTAL • 20 Years Proven Reliability • Warranty-Service CONTROLS • Unique Energy Sav,ing Heating and Cooling • Temperature • Relative Humidity • Design Flexibility for Standard or Special Units • High Intensitv lighl • Programmable Environments ENVIRONMENTAL GROWTH CHAMBERS Next time-go first class. Go EGC! P.o . Box 407 Chagrin Falls. Ohio 4402212161247·5100 "Our soil has traces of oil? That's awful! DIVISion of Integrated Development and ManufactUring I'm growing everything organically. " 44 December 19791January 1980 The American Horticultural Society is pleased to offer members these excellent gardening books from Blandford Press at a special discount rate. Buy any' of these titles for 30% less than the retail price. ORCHIDS I N COLOR ORCHIDS AND T H EIR C HRYSANTH EMUMS-YEA R Brian and Wilnw Rittershausen CULTIVATION ROUND G ROWI NG .- I!~mlrm§;1 Revised Edirion Barrie Machin and Nigel Scopes :.'I David Sander The volume contains This color volume This completely up a ll th e internati onal re contains fu ll descriptions dated edition contains search carried out si nce of 11 9 popular species, new information on com 1973, and is accommo each accompanied by a posts, che mi cals. potting dated in a special large bri lliant fu ll -color photo techniques and pe t con format editi on th at con taken especiall y for the trol. $ 19 .95 retai l, tains 27 color plates and book. $ 12.50 re tail , $ 13.97 to me mber of 59 tex t illustrati ons. $8.75 to me mbers of A HS . $ 19.95 retai l, $ 13.97 to A HS. members of AHS. LEXICON OF CACTI SUCCULENT PLANTS Professor J . Borg Hermann Jacobsen This book is fi lled wi th O ve r 8,500 species are Fi rst published in everything you need to covered in this text. In- 1937 , thi s famous book is know about th ese lovely /",\inJII"/ formalion on morpho 1- tV11 still the standard work on flowers, including 21 fu ll "'1I/1',dl'rIl I J!tIll/, ogy, co untri es of ori gin cacti for amateurs. color plates. $6.95 retai l, and points of identifica $ 12.95 retail , $9.07 to $4.87 to members of ti on is arranged as a dic me mbers of AHS. A HS. tionary in one volume. $25 reta il , $ 17 .50 to members of AHS. ------Order Form Please send me th e fo ll owin g books: Send orders , accompan ied by a check made out to the American Horticultural Society, to the attenti on of Dotty Sowerby, AHS , o Orchids in Color, @ $8.75. Quantity desired Mount Vernon , VA 22 12 1. o Orchids and Their Cultivation , @ $ 13.97. Quantity desired ______o Chrysanthemums-Year Ro und Growing , @ $ 13.97. Quantity desired Name o Gentians, @ $4.87. Quantity desired ______o Lexicon of Succulent Plants , @ $ 17.50 . Quantity Adctress desired ______ o Cacti, @$9.07. Quantity desired ______C ity State Zip